|
|
 |
| Monday, May 23, 2005 |
| |
| Divestment Watch Praises the AFT for Upholding
Academic Freedom and Taking A Stance Against Stifling Ideas. |
| |
| The American
Federation of Teachers Calls on British Faculty Union to Reverse Boycott of
Israeli Universities and Professors |
| |
From the American Federation of Teachers
FOR RELEASE:
May 20, 2005 CONTACT:
Jamie Horwitz
202/879-4447
jhorwitz@aft.org
The American Federation of
Teachers Calls on British Faculty Union to Reverse Boycott of Israeli
Universities and Professors
Washington, D.C. — The American
Federation of Teachers (AFT), the largest union of college and university
faculty in the United States, passed a resolution at its executive council
meeting this week calling on its counterparts in the United Kingdom to reverse
their vote in favor of a boycott of Haifa University and Bar-Ilan University.
“Boycotting universities and their faculty is anathema to academic
freedom,” notes the AFT resolution, which calls upon the Association of
University Teachers (AUT) “to reverse its position espousing a boycott of
Haifa and Bar-Ilan University.”
Last month, the British faculty
union voted to boycott the two Israeli universities and faculty employed by the
institutions. The AUT has scheduled a special meeting on May 26 to reconsider
its boycott decision.
“AFT’s action is a call for AUT to
support the democratic goal of academic freedom,” said AFT president
Edward J. McElroy. “Furthermore, it recognizes that boycotts of this
nature, especially at this sensitive time, are counterproductive to the peace
process.”
The American Federation of Teachers represents 150,000
college and university faculty and staff across the United States. The union is
affiliated with the AFL-CIO.
---- Resolution-----
The
Association of University Teachers (AUT) and Boycotts of Israeli Universities
WHEREAS, consistent with its long-standing position as a stalwart
supporter of academic freedom:
RESOLVED, that the AFT call upon the AUT
to reverse its position espousing a boycott of Haifa University and Bar-Ilam
University. Boycotting universities and their faculty is anathema to academic
freedom.
[Executive Council, May 2005] |
| |
| As posted at: |
| http://aft.org/presscenter/releases/2005/052005.htm |
| |
|
|
|
|
