Letter to the Editor | Divestment Referendum has no place on campus

By Elissa Hoffman

The Divestment Referendum not only puts a large number of students on this campus at risk, it is also a misleading political tool that has no place on this campus.

The referendum hides behind a facade of “human rights” activism. On its face, it aims to convince students on this campus that the University should cut ties with a long list of companies, many of which have given countless donations in the form of scholarships to students across the campus who may not otherwise be able to afford to attend the University.

Many of these companies also have strong ties with the University in other ways, providing our students with countless internships and job opportunities, some with offices located in our very own Research Park.

Globally, these companies are responsible for life changing innovation and the employment of millions. This referendum’s true intentions run far deeper than human rights issues and are, in fact, rooted in a group called BDS, which exists solely to spread anti-Israel sentiment.

No matter one’s political opinions, this University is no place for political agendas, as it actually prides itself on being a pluralistic environment that encourages open dialogue.

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Do not let this referendum deceive you. It exists as a means of cutting off all dialogue and can only negatively affect students on this campus. (It) is nothing more than a deceptive political agenda, spreading false and hateful accusations.

Vote “no” against divisiveness; vote “no” on divestment.

Elissa is a sophomore in SHS. 

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