The AAUP statement omits any mention of Israel, but what other nation is boycotted today? Academic boycotts of Israel are a pillar of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. They’re also what motivated the AAUP’s 2006 statement.
The flip-flop is so egregious that Cary Nelson, a former AAUP president, denounced the organization this month in the Chronicle of Higher Education. “We must no longer use AAUP policy as the gold standard for academic freedom,” he wrote.
The policy shift erodes academic freedom. It legitimizes institutions and academics who rebuff faculty or cultural exchanges, cancel study-abroad programs, refuse to fund joint research projects, and withhold recommendations from students who want to study in Israel. It also emboldens anti-Israel protesters who plan to disrupt campuses again this fall. Now they can hide behind the AAUP when demanding boycotts of Israel.
This excerpt is from an article that originally appeared in the Wall Street Journal on August 25, 2024. Please visit WSJ to read the full article. Subscription may be required.
Launched in 1995, we are the only organization that works with alumni, donors, trustees, and education leaders across the United States to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives an intellectually rich, high-quality college education at an affordable price.
Discover MoreSign up to receive updates on the most pressing issues facing our college campuses.