AMHERST, Mass. – The following is a statement from University of Massachusetts Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy regarding the call for an academic boycott of Israel:
“The University of Massachusetts Amherst is opposed to academic boycotts of any kind. The current boycott of academic institutions in Israel by several academic associations is no exception. While individuals have the right to express their views, we believe that academic boycotts undermine the fundamental principles of free expression and inquiry that are central to our mission of teaching, research and service.”
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We wrote to our alma mater. Below is their response and our letter. Write to your current university or alma mater to find out their reaction to the ASA boycott.
Dear Ms. Aviva,
Chancellor Subbaswamy has asked me to respond to your recent inquiry. The Chancellor’s statement on the boycott can be found at http://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/article/statement-umass-amherst-chancellor-kumble.
Regards,
Susan Pearson
Associate Chancellor
University of Massachusetts Amherst
301 Whitmore Administration Building
Amherst, MA 01003
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January 6, 2014
Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy
Office of the Chancellor
UMass Amherst
374 Whitmore Building
Amherst MA 01003
Dear Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy,
As proud Alumnae of UMass Amherst, we were shocked and saddened to read that seven professors from our alma mater had endorsed the boycott of Israeli academia brought by the American Studies Association (ASA). These professors include: Professor Mary Wilson, Professor Ruth Jennison, Professor Jordana Rosenberg, Professor Hoang Phan, Professor Gina Ocasion, Professor Asha Nadkarni and Professor Agustin Lao Montes. This abhorrent and discriminatory boycott, which singles out Israeli scholars specifically because of their identity, has been condemned by over 100 American Universities. We urge you to join your colleagues who refuse to stand idly by when an entire nation is maliciously attacked. Do not let the reputation of UMass Amherst be defined by a few who deem it acceptable to impose institutional censorship.
We thank you in advance for your statement of condemnation of the ASA boycott, a virulent hate decree against the Jewish state.
Sincerely,
Aviva Slomich Gilad Skolnick
UMass Amherst ’08 UMass Amherst ’06
Hila Tabib Rafael Yagudin
UMass Amherst ’08 UMass Amherst ’08
Deena Neustadter Mindel Allison Medoff
UMass Amherst ’08 UMass Amherst ’08
Rebecca Barkai Ovadia Jonathan Bress
UMass Amherst ’08 UMass Amherst ’08
Morris Singer Joel Menasha
UMass Amherst ’06 UMass Amherst ’06
Steven M. Spiegel Raphael Lior
UMass Amherst ’06 UMass Amherst ’10
Helena Slomich Bloomingdale Joshua Slomich
UMass Amherst ’99 UMass Amherst ’95