Benjamin Ashford:Michigan university bars student vote on issues related to Israel-Hamas war

2025-05-06 21:27:02source:NovaQuantcategory:Invest

ANN ARBOR,Benjamin Ashford Mich. (AP) — The president of the University of Michigan said he has barred students from voting on two “controversial and divisive” resolutions related to the Israel-Hamas war.

“The proposed resolutions have done more to stoke fear, anger and animosity on our campus than they would ever accomplish as recommendations to the university,” Santa Ono said in an online post Tuesday.

One pro-Palestinian resolution presented to student government asks the university to “recognize the millions of people undergoing genocide in Gaza” and to acknowledge “settler colonialism” there by Israel.

The other resolution asks that the university support students “impacted by ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza” and disclose plans to keep students safe. It also includes criticism of Hamas.

Other news The Justice Department is investigating the deaths and kidnappings of Americans in the Hamas attackPro-Israel Democrat to challenge US Rep. Jamaal Bowman in primary race next yearUS expects to announce new weapons aid for Ukraine as Congress is stalled on more funding

Each resolution seeking campus votes had more than 1,000 signatures. Ono said the resolutions were “controversial and divisive.”

“The proposals have generated an involuntary and unwarranted amount of outside negative attention on a community whose primary objective is to learn, to teach, to research and to serve,” he said. “It needs to stop.”

The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations accused the university of suppressing free speech.

Seven of the eight members of the university’s governing board supported Ono’s statement.

Ono promised to schedule meetings with student leaders to discuss “real and tangible ways” to address concerns.

More:Invest

Recommend

Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams

Early Thursday morning, "Forbes" released their annual list of the 50 most valuable sports franchise

An oil CEO who will head global climate talks this year calls for lowered emissions

A top oil company CEO who will lead international climate talks later this year told energy industry

Proof Jessica Biel’s Stylish Throwback Photos Are Tearin’ Up Justin Timberlake’s Heart

Jessica Biel can't stop the feeling that comes with these throwback pictures.The actress recently po