2 American universities withdraw from American Studies Association over Israel boycott

[King_David]

Brandeis and Penn State Harrisburg discontinue institutional affiliation with organization, condemn academic boycott.

Two American universities, Brandeis and Penn State Harrisburg, have decided this week to withdraw from the American Studies Association in protest of the organization’s decision to join the academic boycott against Israeli universities.

“It is with deep regret that we in the American Studies Program at Brandeis University have decided to discontinue our institutional affiliation with the American Studies Association,” a message on the university’s American Studies program said.

The program views the ASA vote to affirm the academic boycott of Israel “as a politicization of the discipline and a rebuke to the kind of open inquiry that a scholarly association should foster.”

“We remain committed to the discipline of American Studies but we can no longer support an organization that has rejected two of the core principles of American culture – freedom of association and expression,” the Brandeis statement continued.

http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/2-American-universities-withdraw-from-American-Studies-Association-over-Israel-boycott-335475

[King_David]

1. And so it begins. nt

[King_David]

2. Opposing the Israel Boycott by the American Studies Association

By Russell A. Berman · Tuesday, December 10, 2013
The National Council of the American Studies Association has voted to endorse a boycott of Israeli academic institutions. That decision is now subject to a ratification vote by the ASA’s membership, which will be completed on Dec. 15.

While the ASA website prominently displays support for the boycott, it has to date not given equal play to the many opponents of the boycott within the association. In order to give space to the ASA dissidents and in the interest of academic freedom, Telos publishes the following documents: a communication by former ASA President Shelley Fisher Fishkin to Executive Director John Stephens, of Dec. 8, and a Letter in Opposition to the boycott signed by numerous ASA members, including seven former presidents.


http://www.telospress.com/opposing-the-israel-boycott-by-the-american-studies-association/

[King_David]

3. UPDATE Tax Exempt Status of Academics to Be Challenged over Boycott

A law professor will challenge the tax exempt status of the American Studies Association, because academic boycotts of Israeli universities is not in their mission statement or an activity privileged with tax exemption

Read more at: http://www.jewishpress.com/news/law-prof-will-challenge-tax-exempt-status-if-asa-votes-to-boycott-israel/2013/12/16/

[painesghost]

4. The whole academic boycott of Israel thing is so one sided.

Israel is far from the worst country in the world. There are a lot of countries more deserving of a boycott. That being said I believe in open discussion between all scholars no matter their politics or country of origin.