Fourth Estate/Andani Munkaila

Groups claim that they were not involved in decision-making towards BDS Resolution

BY ANDANI MUNKAILA, SOCIAL MEDIA AND GRAPHICS EDITOR

On April 4, 2024, Student Senate passed Resolution #61, “a Resolution to Boycott and Divest from Israel and Corporations Complicit in the Ongoing Genocide and Apartheid in Palestine.” 

The resolution calls for the Mason Student Government to “uphold BDS policies and collaborate with Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) such as Students for Justice in Palestine,” and referenced a “long history of persecution faced by Palestinian civilians at the hands of the government of Israel labeling the systemic violence as genocide and systemic limitations of movement as apartheid.”  

The meeting included a high gallery turnout after Students for Justice in Palestine at George Mason University made a post to “Pack the Senate.” Following the passing of the resolution, SJP Mason made a post in celebration. “This resolution stands as a reminder to all that we will not give up in our fight,” the post said.

The incoming Cuesta-McAuley administration plans to “uphold and expand the Student Senate’s decision for the next academic year in principle and in practice by encouraging the Senate to pass a code bill cementing the BDS resolution…” according to their post.

Since the passing of the resolution, organizations such as Mason Hillel, Israel Student Association members and Chabad at GMU have voiced concerns with the decision. 

In an Instagram post by Mason Hillel and Chabad at GMU, they said “We are extremely disappointed in our student government for passing this deeply biased resolution. Jewish students did not know such a resolution was being considered or would be voted on at all.”

“Both the process and the resolution itself are completely one sided…” they said. “Jewish students: you have a place on this campus. You have a voice. You are an important member of the GMU community. We know it may not feel like that today.”

Regarding claims from the groups that they were not included in the decision-making process, Paul Wyche mentioned concerns from Mason Hillel during the April 4 session, saying that “[Mason Hillel] had a lot of questions in terms of the implications. They were a fair amount upset that they had not been reached out to.” Wyche said.

Wyche also requested that the incoming Cuesta-McAulay administration “make sure that all stakeholders and students are invited into the conversation.”

In response to Wyche in the April 4 session, Pro Tempore Bas Rawat said that in November 2023, Vice Presidential elect Colin McAulay reached out to the Israeli Student Association during his time as Speaker.

However, ISA Cultural Chair Evelyn Johnston has since labeled these claims as “completely and totally false.” “We’ve checked our socials. We have not been reached out to in any form,” Johnston said.

Former ISA Cultural Chair Sean, who declined to provide his last name, claims that while he did approach President Wyche and Vice Presidential elect Colin McAulay in November 2023, an official meeting was not held between SG and ISA.

Fourth Estate reached out to Wyche and McAulay, who claimed that they previously had a general conversation about SG with Sean in the past.

Sean claims that despite being told he would be contacted further, no such contact occurred. 

McAulay responded to this claim, saying if “he [Sean] said that we were going to reach out and didn’t, then he’s probably right.”

McAulay adds that while he had met with both Palestinian and Jewish students in October following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, there was no official meeting between ISA and Student Government regarding Resolution 61.

Rawat did not respond to a request for comment.

The full Resolution 61 can be read below.

________________________________________________________________________

“A Resolution to Boycott and Divest from Israel and Corporations Complicit in the Ongoing Genocide and Apartheid in Palestine

1. #61

44th STUDENT SENATE

2nd Session

IN THE STUDENT SENATE OF GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

April 4th, 2024

Sponsored by: Speaker Pro Tempore Rawat

Co-Sponsored by: Senator Fox

Resolution #61

Be it resolved by the Student Senate of George Mason University–

Whereas, Israel has strategically targeted and killed over 32,975 people with over 75,577 people being injured as of April 3rd, 2024. Within these figures more than 13,000 of the deaths and 8,000 of the injuries are children. 8,000 people remain missing, and;

Whereas, the International Court of Justice has decided, that “the facts and circumstances mentioned above are sufficient to conclude that at least some of the rights claimed by South Africa and for which it is seeking protection are plausible. This is the case with respect to the right of the Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from acts of genocide and related prohibited acts identified in Article III, and the right of South Africa to seek Israel’s compliance with the latter’s obligations under the Convention” and;

Whereas, the war crimes against Palestinians of all faiths have been well documented by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, B’Tselem, and others who have unequivocally denounced the long history of persecution faced by Palestinian civilians at the hands of the government of Israel labeling the systemic violence as genocide and systemic limitations of movement as apartheid, and;

Whereas, Registered Student Organizations on campus, such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), have called for University-wide boycotting, divestment, and sanctions within various funding sectors through peaceful movements such as protests, teach-ins, and sit-ins, and;

Whereas, a formalized structure titled Boycotts, Divestments, and Sanctions, or BDS, is a pre-existing movement created on a three-fold mission of ending occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the systemic barriers such as checkpoints, recognizing the fundamental rights of Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality, and Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194, and;

Whereas, UC Davis, UCLA, UC Riverside, and other Student Government or equally representative bodies have made commitments to implement BDS policies through bills and resolutions within their respective Student Government budget appropriations.

Whereas, BDS also acts as a manner of ethical and socially responsible spending that incentivizes Student Government to be more transparent on how funds from budgets can be used and appropriated in a manner that rejects spending money towards vendors that directly impact an ongoing genocide and apartheid in Gaza.

Therefore, be it resolved, that Student Government commits to upholding BDS policies and practices in accordance with ethical and socially responsible spending procedures.

Therefore, be it further resolved, that the Student Government of George Mason University urges all parties to implement an immediate ceasefire, return all hostages, and allow for the passage of humanitarian aid.

Therefore, be it finally resolved, that Student Government commits to working with Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) such as Students for Justice in Palestine to consult further and apply BDS policies internally in the most effective manner.

Passed the Student Senate: _______________

Attest:

Speaker: C. Scott Tatum

Clerk: Austin Emery”