Brooklyn College Presidents Responds to Outcry Over Palestine Event

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brooklyn-collegeDear students, faculty, and staff,

Each semester, student clubs, academic departments, and other groups on our campus host events and invite speakers on a broad range of topics. At times, the issues discussed may be challenging and the points of view expressed may be controversial.

Next week, Students for Justice in Palestine is hosting two speakers who will discuss their views on the BDS movement, which calls for boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel. The event is co-sponsored by several campus and community organizations, including the political science department.

As an institution of higher education, it is incumbent upon us to uphold the tenets of academic freedom and allow our students and faculty to engage in dialogue and debate on topics they may choose, even those with which members of our campus and broader community may vehemently disagree. As your president, I consistently have demonstrated my commitment to these principles so that our college community may consider complex issues and points of view across the political and cultural spectrum.

Unfortunately, some may believe that our steadfast commitment to free speech signals an institutional endorsement of a particular point of view. Nothing could be further from the truth. Brooklyn College does not endorse the views of the speakers visiting our campus next week, just as it has not endorsed those of previous visitors to our campus with opposing views. We do, however, uphold their right to speak, and the rights of our students and faculty to attend, listen, and fully debate. We also encourage our students and faculty to explore these issues from multiple viewpoints and in a variety of forums so that no single perspective serves as the sole source of information or basis for consideration.

In addition, as I have said on several occasions, our college community values mutual respect and civil discourse. We ask all students, faculty, staff, and guests on our campus to conduct themselves accordingly so that Brooklyn College continues to be a learning environment where all may discuss and debate issues of importance to our world.

Sincerely,

Karen L. Gould

President, Brooklyn College

{Matzav.com Newscenter}


9 COMMENTS

  1. ITS VERY IMPORTANT TO INCITE THE ARABS through speach making ALSO TO ADD TO THE CURRICULIM BOMB MAKING 101.
    Its very important to arm egypt muslim brotherhood with weapns such as the best american f16 jet fighters and tanks and money.
    This is all very important.
    I HOVE NO CLUE WHY…
    BUT ACADEMIA SAYS IT IS IN INTEREST OF BEING IMPORTANT, AND I WANNA BE IMPORTANT SO I FIGURE SHUTTING THEM DOWN WOULD ALSO BE IMPORTANT.

    (I hear the footsteps of mashiach)

  2. I’m sure she would co-sponsor event that would have the family research council come speak on the ills of same gender marriage. Yeah right! She is an anti semitic leftist

  3. “may believe that our steadfast commitment to free speech signals an institutional endorsement of a particular point of view”

    In this case, BC’s Political Science Department endorsed the particular point of view, so the belief is in fact true.

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