This message was sent to Washington University students, faculty and staff from Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton on Dec. 23, 2013.
Dear members of the Washington University community,
In response to the recently announced boycott of Israeli academic institutions by several organizations here in the United States, I wanted to assure you that as a university we strongly oppose this activity. Below is our official statement on this issue. If you have any questions or concerns about this issue, please let me or Provost Thorp know.
Best wishes for the holidays,
Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton
STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS
REGARDING THE BOYCOTT OF ISRAELI ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS
12/20/13
Washington University is deeply troubled and dismayed that the American Studies Association (ASA) , among others, has engaged in a boycott of Israeli academic institutions We believe strongly that a boycott of academic institutions directly violates academic freedom, which is not only one of our university’s fundamental principles but one of American higher education in general. This boycott clearly violates the academic freedom not only of Israeli scholars but also of American scholars who might be pressured to comply with it. We have made this position clear to the ASA.
Further, Washington University is a member of the Association of American Universities which issued a statement on this issue. We completely endorse their statement which is provided here:
“The Executive Committee of the Association of American Universities strongly opposes a boycott of Israeli academic institutions. Three U.S. scholarly organizations have now expressed support for such a boycott. Any such boycott of academic institutions directly violates academic freedom, which is a fundamental principle of AAU universities and of American higher education in general. Academic freedom is the freedom of university faculty responsibly to produce and disseminate knowledge through research, teaching, and service, without undue constraint. It is a principle that should not be abridged by political considerations. American colleges and universities, as well as like institutions elsewhere, must stand as the first line of defense against attacks on academic freedom. Efforts to address political issues, or to address restrictions on academic freedom, should not themselves infringe upon academic freedom. Restrictions imposed on the ability of scholars of any particular country to work with their fellow academics in other countries, participate in meetings and organizations, or otherwise carry out their scholarly activities violate academic freedom. The boycott of Israeli academic institutions therefore clearly violates the academic freedom not only of Israeli scholars but also of American scholars who might be pressured to comply with it. We urge American scholars and scholars around the world who believe in academic freedom to oppose this and other such academic boycotts.”
