This week, for the first time, a university has adopted an anti-BDS resolution. (Kids: do you remember what BDS is--boycotts, divestment, and sanctions against Israel?) Western Washington University is now the first university in America to adopt a resolution saying that it will not consider boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) resolutions based on national origin. This means that anti-Israel students can no longer bring resolutions to boycott Israel to the student Senate. The university student government unanimously adopted the resolution saying that the BDS resolutions lead to tensions on campus and discrimination and intimidation based on national origin (being Israeli). The resolution was brought by a StandWithUs Emerson Fellow, Alysa Kipersztok.
Kids: why does the fact that the vote was unanimous matter? What does it signify? How is this an example of proactive activism? As opposed to reactive? Discuss pros/cons of each type.
Also this week, the Modern Language Association (MLA), one of the US's main academic associations, also voted against an anti-Israel resolution, which would have said Israel denies academics entry into Palestinian territories.
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