Brown University has rejected a student-led proposal to divest from ten companies accused of supporting “the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territory.” The university’s governing body, the Corporation of Brown University, voted against the proposal on Tuesday, citing a report that found the university’s financial ties to the companies were minimal.
The Advisory Committee on University Resources Management (ACURM) determined that Brown has no direct investments in any of the targeted companies and that any indirect exposure is too small to cause significant social harm.
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University Upholds Free Inquiry
In a letter to the Brown community, university president Christina H. Paxson and chancellor Brian T. Moynihan defended the decision, emphasizing the importance of academic freedom and free inquiry.
“If the Corporation were to divest, it would signal to our students and scholars that there are ‘approved’ points of view,” they wrote. “This would undermine our mission of serving the community, the nation, and the world.”
Divestment Standards Under Review
The university leaders also announced a review of Brown’s divestment standards to ensure alignment with its policy of not making institutional statements on social or political matters unrelated to its core mission.
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This decision comes amidst a broader debate on college campuses regarding divestment from companies linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Brown University maintains that its focus remains on advancing education, scholarship, and discovery, rather than taking political stances.
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