Los Angeles – March 14, 2019 – Today, the governing College Council of Pitzer College voted to uphold a motion by the faculty to end its study abroad program at the University of Haifa in Israel. The measure had been spearheaded by proponents of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.
In response, American Jewish Committee (AJC) Los Angeles Assistant Director Siamak Kordestani and AJC Director of Campus Affairs Zev Hurwitz released the following statement:
“We condemn the decision of the College Council to end Pitzer’s study abroad program in Haifa. This is an outrageous attack on academic freedom. The decision threatens to allow a dangerous precedent – that it is acceptable for outside political influence to limit student experiences. The responsibilities of a leading university include providing as many opportunities for education and research as possible – not politicizing academia. We urge President Oliver to overturn this misguided action by the College Council.”
