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University Of Illinois Student Government President Vetoes BDS Resolution
A resolution in support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel passed by the student body was vetoed by the president of the University of Illinois student government last week.
The Daily Illini student newspaper reported that, remarks made during discussion of the resolution and in the aftermath of its passage, “have made students feel unsafe and have fostered a climate of hate on this campus,” according to Connor Josellis during a cabinet meeting. A statement was released by the university following the vote saying the resolution was nonbinding and had no plans to act on it.
Last week’s 20-9 vote in favor of the resolution followed a five-hour meeting of the student government on the Urbana-Champaign campus. There were seven abstentions.
The resolution, backed by 22 sponsors, calls on the university to divest from “companies that profit from human-rights violations in Palestine and other communities globally.” Three companies that conduct business in Israel were named in the resolution: Raytheon, Elbit Systems Ltd. and Northrup Grumman.