What happened
Last week, the Professional Staff Congress (PSC), the faculty union for New York City’s public university system, known as the City University of New York (CUNY), formally rescinded an earlier decision to boycott Israel. The retraction came a month after initially voting to divest from Israeli institutions.
Why it matters
The boycott decision was a source of significant contention within the PSC and across CUNY, drawing fierce criticism from New York’s leadership, including Governor Kathy Hochul, the CUNY administration, and Jewish and pro-Israel advocacy groups within the university system. Reversing the vote highlights the complicated nature of balancing political stances within educational institutions while addressing the welfare and unity of faculty members.
Background
The initial resolution, passed on January 23, called for divesting PSC funds from Israeli stocks and government bonds. It drew a narrow approval in the delegate assembly, passing by a slim vote of 73-70, which polarized views extensively within and beyond the faculty union.
Key developments
A re-vote held on February 20 decisively rejected the boycott resolution, 113-63, acknowledging prior voting irregularities where alternate delegates voted improperly. Both the union’s executive council and its principal officers stood in opposition to the boycott from the outset.
The big picture
PSC’s decision to reverse the affiliation with the Cold War-era BDS movement underscores the administrative and logistical complexities involved when educational institutions weigh in on international politics—directly affecting their relations with city and state governments, especially in an international hotspot of tensions like Jerusalem. This step underlines a broader institutional responsibility toward the collective CUNY community, while denouncing practices that divide rather than unify, acknowledge peaceful resolution, or foster strategically beneficial policy adjustments.
Outlook
While the rescinding of the boycott resolves an immediate concern, it reinforces ongoing dialogues regarding antisemitism and Israel-related discourses within academic settings globally. New York’s broader educational fabric, notably CUNY, continues to work proactively against discrimination, fostering inclusivity and diversity by contributing beyond surface assurances and focusing on foundational changes aligned with university welfare and city-wide harmony.
This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.