Tell the Evergreen Board of Trustees what you think.
Click here to read a letter of support from Palestinian university students!
A Call to Action
Take a stand for Democracy, make campus Divestment a reality
The newly formed chapter of Olympia Jewish Voice for Peace and TESC Divest need your help. Evergreen students, alumni, and community members are asked to join the Public Comment Period during the next Evergreen State College Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, May 11th at 2:45pm in Evergreen’s Library Boardroom 3201 to voice their support for divesting from companies profiting off of the occupation of Palestine.
In the Spring of 2010 the student body of The Evergreen State College cast a historic vote in support of human rights. It was the first student-wide vote of its kind in the nation. Two resolutions were passed, one calling for divestment from companies profiting off of Israel’s occupation of Palestine, and the other for the creation of a CAT Free Zone, prohibiting the use of Caterpillar Inc. equipment on campus. The result of the vote was a resounding victory for both resolutions, passing with 79.5% and 71.8% respectively.
The voter turnout set a record at Evergreen, and was more than double the average turnout in student elections nationwide. Following the ballot, the Geoduck Student Union unanimously passed resolutions supporting the student vote and directing the Evergreen Board of Trustees to respond in a timely manner to the request of the student body. Instead, the Board and the administration decided to work in private, without student input, to squelch student support for Palestinian human rights and equality.
The students have attempted to work with the administration and the Board of Trustees in good faith through the proper channels since the passing of the resolutions last Spring. But instead the Board of Trustees and administration have taken steps to stifle the call for human rights and equality on campus:
- The Board of Trustees refused to put the resolutions on the agenda of their meeting and discussions have only taken place off the record, without transparency and excluding student input.
- Evergreen President Les Purce met behind closed doors with Israeli Consul General Akiva Tor and formally dismissed the vote for divestment.
- According to public records requests, Stand With Us, a right wing pro-Israel group who have blatantly attempted to intimidate and disrupt a peaceful gathering of anti-Occupation Jewish organizers in the Bay Area, was given assurances by the Vice President’s Office of Student Affairs that divestment is off the table.
- Most recently the Board of Trustees moved the Public Comment Period of the May 11th Board of Trustees meeting from the regular 1:00pm time to 2:45pm. For the first time directly conflicting with the Spring Student Activities and Academic Fair, greatly limiting the ability for students and faculty to participate in the Public Comment Period.
This is when the Evergreen community members can step in when the student voice has been ignored.
Divestment needs your support right now
Evergreen depends heavily on financial support from the alumni and community. Last year the Evergreen Foundation received nearly a million dollars from Evergreen alumni, friends and parents, none of which is under the control of a socially responsible investment policy. The Board of Trustees cares about how you feel about Evergreen.
Plan on attending the upcoming Board of Trustees Public Comment Period on Wednesday, May 11th at 2:45pm at Evergreen’s Library Board Room in Room 3201. If you are going to be late and still plan speaking, please contact info@tescdivest.org to make sure you are included on the list of commenters. Each speaker has three minutes to make their statement. You may also write the Board of Trustees directly at tescbot@evergreen.edu and make sure to cc: info@tescdivest.org so that we have a record of your comments.
Thank you for your support. We Will Divest!
The Resolutions
Resolution #1: We, the student body of The Evergreen State College, call on The Evergreen State College Foundation to instate a socially responsible investment policy. To this end, we ask them to divest from companies that profit from Israel's occupation of Palestine. As members of the Evergreen community, we stand with conscientious Palestinians, Israelis, and other international figures such as South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu to endorse the non-violent tactic of boycott, divestment, and sanctions for a peaceful and just resolution to the Israel/Palestine conflict. Do you support this resolution?
Passed by 79.5% of the student vote!
Resolution #2: In 2003, Evergreen student Rachel Corrie was killed by a weaponized Caterpillar bulldozer while non-violently protecting the home of a Palestinian family in Rafah, Palestine. Numerous Palestinian civilians have been killed by militarized Caterpillar bulldozers, as well. Caterpillar, Inc. knowingly sells bulldozers to Israel for military purposes in violation of international law and the US Arms Export Control Act, despite on-going pressure from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch that they desist. Their equipment is used to demolish Palestinian homes, wells, olive trees, orchards, farmland, and other infrastructure as well as to build Israel's Annexation Wall, which was declared illegal by the International Court of Justice in 2004. Therefore, we, the student body, demand that The Evergreen State College declare a CAT-Free Campus and instate the following policies:
- Refuse to allow Caterpillar equipment to be used for maintenance and upkeep of campus facilities.
- Include stipulations in all construction agreements that no Caterpillar equipment will be used for any contracted services with the college.
These policies will remain in effect until Caterpillar, Inc. ends its complicity in human rights violations. Do you support this resolution?
Passed by 71.8% of the student vote!
The Student Union resolution:
Whereas the passage by student vote of the Divestment and CAT-free Campus Resolutions demonstrates an unambiguous mandate; and
Whereas the Geoduck Student Union is the elected representative of the student body;
Therefore:
We, the Geoduck Student Union, demand:
That The Evergreen State College and The Evergreen State College Foundation instate a socially responsible investment policy and to this end divest from companies that profit off of Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. This divestment policy will remain in effect until such time as Israel abides by all applicable international law and ceases to illegally occupy and blockade the indigenous Palestinian land of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
And that The Evergreen State College declare a CAT-Free Campus and instate the following policies:
Refuse to allow Caterpillar equipment to be used for maintenance and upkeep of campus facilities.
Include stipulations in all construction agreements that no Caterpillar equipment be used for any contracted services with the college.
These policies will remain in effect until Caterpillar, Inc. ends its complicity in human rights violations.
The GSU stands with conscientious Palestinians, Israelis, and other international figures such as South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu to endorse the non-violent tactic of boycott, divestment, and sanctions for a peaceful and just resolution to the Israel/Palestine conflict.
By the beginning of the academic year 2010-2011 we insist on full disclosure of all corporations, including those held through mutual funds, in which The Evergreen State College Foundation and The Evergreen State College are invested.
Further we insist that the Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors make public a plan of action for divestment from companies that profit from the occupation of Palestine. In addition, we insist that The Evergreen State College initiates the above CAT-Free Campus policies.
We join with campuses around the world in building a movement for human rights and dignity by working to end the occupation of Palestine. We look to other campuses to join us in our common effort for justice and peace in the Middle East.
Passed unanimously!
