BDS movement supporters at Syracuse University express no opposition to documentary screening
Kiran Ramsey | Digital Design Editor
A statement from some members of the Syracuse University community was released in response to the filmmaker Shimon Dotan being disinvited.
About 45 Syracuse University community members have signed a statement as of Friday morning expressing support for the pro-Palestine Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and academic freedom.
The statement is a response to a report that Israeli filmmaker Shimon Dotan being disinvited to screen his film on the history of Israeli settlements on the West Bank at an SU-led conference “The Place of Religion in Film,” which will take place in March 2017.
The signatories of the statement say they endorse open and free discussions on difficult issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in accordance with the university’s academic principles, ideals and practices.
“We therefore welcome speakers, scholars, and artists whose work relates to Palestinians and Israelis in adherence with the Palestinian civil society’s BDS guidelines. Importantly, these guidelines do not call for the boycott of individuals for being Israeli or for expressing certain views,” according to the statement.
The statement, which is still in circulation, also urges “respectful campus environment” where BDS and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be discussed freely.
A controversy emerged after The Atlantic reported on Sept. 1 that SU religion professor and conference organizer M. Gail Hamner sent an email to Dotan back in June, telling him that she had not seen the film and that she would lose credibility with her colleagues if she vouched for the film without seeing it first.
She also described in her email her fear of the anti-Israeli BDS supporters on campus who would “make matters very unpleasant” for Dotan and her if he were to come to campus, according to The Atlantic.
In response to the publication of the article, SU Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly sent an email to the university community on Sept. 2 assuring the university’s support of academic freedom. Hamner apologized for her decision in a statement on the same day.
The statement claims there has not been BDS-driven opposition to block showing Dotan’s film “The Settlers.”
Published on September 9, 2016 at 2:01 pm
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