On Mon., Apr. 9, the Colorado State University Students for Justice in Palestine organized a protest on campus. During the beginning of the rally, the group listened to their demands, and the University had until Wed. May 1 at 9:00 a.m. to respond, or more non-violent protests will occur.
Full Transcript:
Military campaign in Gaza,
which has tragically claimed the lives of over 40,000 civilians,
70% of whom are women and children. We Students for Justice in Palestine
at Colorado State University are compelled to address you. This communication is anchored deeply in the spirit of CSU's
thematic Year of Democracy and the University's role as a land
grant institution with a stated mission of recognizing its institutional history,
responsibility and commitment.
In light of the devastating human
rights violations occurring in Palestine and how imminent invasion of Rafah,
where over 1.4 million Palestinians seek shelter in makeshift
camps on the brink of starvation, we insist Colorado State
University's Office of the President, Board of Governors, trustees
and directors takes a firm stance by aligning its institutional practices
with its proclaimed Democratic values. Therefore, we CSU students put forward the following demands:
financial divestment. We demand that Colorado State University
divest all finances, including its endowment from companies
and institutions that profit from or support Israeli apartheid,
genocide and occupation in Palestine. We also demand at Colorado State University commit to full transparency
regarding its funding sources, detailing affiliations of interest
and its financiers. The university must provide complete
clarity about its financial investments, as this transparency is fundamental
to maintaining and demonstrating its dedication to accountability. This level of transparency
will ensure that all stakeholders, including students, faculty
and the broader community, are fully informed of the origins
of the university's support and ethical implications
of its financial relationships. Academic Boycott. We urge the university
to sever all academic ties with weapons manufacturers
and Israeli universities. These include ending participation in Woodward Inc.,United States Department of Defense,
Ionosphere and other contractors, internship programs and halting
to all study abroad programs, fellowships, research, collaborations
with Israeli academic institutions.End the silence. We call for Colorado
State to issue a public statement advocating for an immediate
permanent cease fire in Gaza, condemning the ongoing violence
in Palestinian civilians and encouraging governmental action
on these matters. We urge you to follow in the footsteps
of your student government, ASCSU, where a cease fire resolution
passed 16 to 2. More however, the university should commit to investing
in educational programs about Palestinian history
and current affairs to foster a well-informed community that is capable
of engaging in informed dialog and understanding
global humanitarian issues. Supporting students'
First Amendment rights. In the spirit of CSU’s
thematic Year of Democracy and in light of mounting
nonviolent protests around the country, we call for CSU to acknowledge
and affirm students First Amendment rights to protest for their beliefs. This has always
been a place with activity, conversation and sharing of beliefs. Per the university's own words,
we encourage you to learn how to challenge, advocate, demonstrate,
disagree, and object to unpopular opinions in a way that moves public discourse
forward. CSU must reaffirm students’ constitutional right
to nonviolent protest. Failure to address
these demands will inevitably lead to an increase
in nonviolent student protests on campus. Our actions will reflect our commitment
to justice and the moral imperatives our faculty have instilled
and the university claims to uphold. We appreciate your attention
to these critical issues and expect the university to take prompt
and decisive action that align
our shared values of democracy
and civic responsibility.
Thank you.
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