Evergreen State College Becomes First US University to Divest from Israeli Occupation

In a historic move, Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, has become the first US university to agree to divest from companies profiting from the Israeli occupation and human rights violations. The decision comes after a student-led protest and negotiations with college officials.

Why this matters: This move sets a precedent for other universities to re-evaluate their investment policies and consider the ethical implications of profiting from conflict and human rights abuses. As the first US university to take this step, Evergreen State College's decision may inspire a wave of similar actions, potentially influencing the global conversation around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

On April 26, the Evergreen Gaza Solidarity Encampment, a student-led group, took over the school's Red Square, leading to negotiations with college administrators. The protest ended on May 1 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between students and officials.

The agreement outlines the college's commitment to divest from companies that profit from human rights violations and the occupation of Palestinian territories. The Investment Policy Disappearing Task Force will plan the divestment from certain companies, while the Grant Acceptance Policy Disappearing Task Force will determine the criteria for accepting or rejecting grants.

Evergreen spokesperson Kelly Von Holtz expressed pride in the negotiations, stating,"At the end everybody was really proud of how the negotiations went. "The memorandumalso calls for the college to issue a statement defending students' rights and free speech, including a paragraph from the president expressing horror and grief over the violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The college will halt approval of study abroad programs to Israel and prohibit students from studying abroad in Gaza or the West Bank. It also reaffirms its commitment to diversity and the prohibition of discrimination based on shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, including Jews and Palestinians.

Evergreen State Collegeholds a notable connection to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as the alma mater of Rachel Corrie, an American activist who was killed in 2003 while protesting against the Israeli military's demolition of Palestinian houses during the Second Intifada. Her father, Craig Corrie, expressed pride in the students' actions, saying,"I'm proud of the students at Evergreen for the action that they took and the way they managed to get those concerns across."

The agreement at Evergreen State College is part of a larger movement of student protests across the US demanding divestment from companies with ties to Israel or weapons manufacturers. Similar protests have taken place at Brown University, Northwestern University, the University of California, Los Angeles, and Columbia University, with some resulting in arrests and police raids.

Experts argue that while divestment campaigns can effectively raise public awareness about an issue, there is little evidence that they significantly impact targeted countries or businesses. Jennifer Delaney, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, notes that divestment can "effectively raise public consciousness about an issue" and change the discourse around topics like apartheid, climate change, and the current Israel-Hamas war.

Evergreen State College's decision marks a significant milestone in the growing movement of universities grappling with their investments and the ethical implications of profiting from conflict and human rights abuses. As the first US university to commit to divestment from companies tied to the Israeli occupation, Evergreen sets a precedent that may influence other institutions to re-evaluate their investment policies and consider the impact of their financial ties.

Key Takeaways

• Evergreen State College becomes 1st US university to divest from companies profiting from Israeli occupation.
• Decision follows student-led protest and negotiations with college officials.
• College will divest from companies violating human rights and halt Israel study abroad programs.
• Move sets precedent for other universities to re-evaluate investment policies.
• Part of larger movement of student protests across the US demanding divestment from companies tied to Israel.