Loyola U. student government again passes divestment resolution, Michigan U. votes down
Published March 26, 2014
(JTA) — An Israel divestment resolution was narrowly passed a second time by the student government of Chicago’s Loyola University, while a similar resolution was defeated at the University of Michigan.
Loyola United Student Government Association first passed a resolution on March 19 calling on the university evening to remove its holdings from eight companies that provide equipment to Israel for use in the West Bank. The vote on a measure proposed by the Loyola chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine passed 26-0 with two abstentions.
On Tuesday night the resolution was put to a revote. The resolution passed by a vote of 12 to 10 with nine abstentions.
Student government President Pedro Guerrero can still veto the resolution, but the student senate ii be able override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote. If the approval remains in place, the resolution becomes the official position of the student body and is presented to the administration.
The university in a statement issued last week said the resolution is not its position and it has not adopted the proposal.
“As a university, we welcome open dialogue and debate on differing points of view,” the statement said. “Proposals like this one benefit from broader campus discussion.”
Pro-Israel students have been assisted in their efforts to overturn the measure by the Metro Chicago Hillel and the Israel Education Center.
Also on Tuesday night, the Central Student Government of the University of Michigan reversed a decision to postpone indefinitely consideration of a divestment resolution and then voted down the resolution.
The vote, in front of hundreds of students, was 25-9 with five abstentions, the Michigan Daily reported.
More than 2,000 students watched a live-stream of the six hour meeting as well, according to the student newspaper.
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