Posted on 03/18/2021 3:02:48 PM PDT by MarvinStinson
The college recently recognized the anti-Israel Students for Justice in Palestine
Skidmore College’s student government refused to recognize a progressive, pro-Israel student group due to its "troublesome" perspective despite recently recognizing the anti-Israel Students for Justice in Palestine.
The Skidmore College Student Government Association denied Progressive Zionists for Peace’s request for a club trial period in a Zoom meeting on March 13. The organization’s leaders were told the group would need to "gain more diverse perspectives" before receiving official club status. Student senator Sarah Baker said a "dialogue focused" group with "one perspective" could be "troublesome."
In its request for recognition, Progressive Zionists for Peace said their intention was to "create a space for pro-Israel, pro-peace students" to promote a "more peaceful, secure, and democratic future for both Israelis and Palestinians." The group said they would provide a "supportive environment" wherein students can learn about "peaceful Zionism" and how to fight anti-Semitism.
"Ultimately, we hope to create an environment that facilitates mutual understandings between Skidmore students with regards to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and all its nuances," Progressive Zionists for Peace’s mission statement reads.
Progressive Zionists for Peace president Nessa Goldhirsch Brown said in a Facebook post that the reasons she was given for her group's denial were "false, unclear, and transparently partisan." Skidmore College spokeswoman Sara Miga said that Progressive Zionists for Peace were not officially denied recognition and told the Washington Free Beacon that the group was just "asked to return at a later date to clarify their mission and goals."
Despite rejecting the pro-Israel group, the student government recently granted a club trial period to Students for Justice in Palestine, according to a letter from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE).
School officials, the student government, and Progressive Zionists for Peace will meet Friday to discuss the club's official status.
Students for Justice in Palestine chapters have pressured universities across the country to adopt an anti-Israel stance, notably by backing Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions measures against the Jewish state. The group also has been known to intimidate Jewish students. Students for Justice in Palestine pushed Tufts University’s student government to impeach a Jewish member who spoke out against a resolution that blamed Israel for militarizing U.S. police forces.
Skidmore College boasts 19 political and advocacy clubs including Democracy Matters, the Feminist Action Network, College Democrats, College Republicans, and Voices for Planned Parenthood, in addition to the newly approved Students for Justice in Palestine.
In a letter to Skidmore College president Marc Conner, FIRE pressed school administrators to reverse the student government’s decision. The letter noted that in a similar hearing on March 8, Conner refused to reverse the student government’s "viewpoint-based" denial of another student group on the grounds that club status "is an issue of student governance."
Conner said at that meeting that Skidmore "has been abundantly clear" about its "commitment to freedom of speech and freedom of association and assembly," according to FIRE’s letter.
Goldhirsch Brown told the Free Beacon she believes the student government's decision came from a lack of understanding of Zionism and said she's hopeful the school will reverse their ruling. "I am grateful for the support from FIRE, and hope Skidmore's Club Affairs Committee takes the concerns seriously," Goldhirsch Brown said. "I am optimistic about the new vote on Friday, and hope for a positive outcome. I do NOT believe there was any maliciousness or anti-Semitic discrimination from CAC, but rather a fear of the word Zionism as well as a misunderstanding about our club. I am hopeful they will reverse their decision, and PZP can move forward in educating Skidmore about peaceful Zionism, creating a space to discuss Israel, and try to alleviate the negative connotation that goes along with the word ‘Zionism.'" Sabrina Conaz, a FIRE program analyst and the author of the letter, said the Skidmore student government’s decision was incompatible with its promises to uphold free speech.
"Many of Skidmore's student organizations likely engage in debate and dialogue while sharing a singular purpose," Conaz told the Free Beacon. "This denial does not comport with the commitments to freedom of expression and association that Skidmore makes to its students. Skidmore's student government must reverse course and recognize Progressive Zionists for Peace."
The Skidmore College student government did not respond to the Free Beacon’s request for comment in time for publication.
Time to leave Skidmark and move on,
“Students” should be running NOTHING at colleges, other than their own clubs and unable to make rules about any other student clubs.
Private liberal arts college where tuition is north of $55,000 for an undergrad.
Almost sounds anti semitic or something. Is skidless U part of the ‘bds’ movement? Will there be increased attacks against Jews because of skidless U’s remarks?
Burn Loot Murder is a “dialogue focused” group with “one perspective”
A very successful businessman in the warehousing and distribution industry who I am friends with, sent his grandkids to Skidmore - and he is Jewish. I hope he cuts off any financial assistance.
I believe this in line with Skidmore’s long history of being a fellow-traveler organization...
They should make this bitch famous.
Is there school flag a pair of soiled undies? If not it should be
Toured the Skidmore campus last year w/my daughter. Moonbat central. A future-barista ‘environmental studies’ major gave the tour. Told my daughter no way. She got into a far better college down south. My impression was Skidmore never should have gone co-ed. The men there are all uniformly milquetoast. Saratoga is a nice town, though.
It will be the godless world under the Antichrist vs. Israel once the last half of the 7-year Tribulation happens.
Then shall be Great Tribulation. 1,260 days - which shall eventually end with what is classically known as “Armageddon” and the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to Earth.
Laugh it up, unbelieving world. While you still can. God will let you have Satan’s “messiah” - the Beast; the Antichrist. Better read Revelation 13 and 14. Or just ignore it.
Mark 13:14-23 King James Version
14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:
16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.
17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
Matthew 24:21 King James Version
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Revelation 20:4 King James Version
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
These “colleges & universities” are radicalising themselves out of existence.
Why spend $100k A year for brainwashing and no marketable skills, when you can get a great online education without the minor in crazy.
These apparatchiks love to speak in code.
Translation: Any dissent from the party line is forbidden.
No Dissent. Resistance is Futile.
76,000 for full tuition.
The good news, SJP won't have to pressure Skidmore to adopt an anti-Israel stance. They already have.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.