Academic Board: BDS Enshrined in VUW Policy

By Henry Broadbent (he/him)

On Tuesday, September 23, the Academic Board of Te Herenga Waka met in the Hunter chambers. The Board—our university’s highest level of academic decision making—advises the University Council on matters from scholarship to accreditation. Members include Te Hiwa/senior leadership, all professors and deans, and seven student representatives (from the student exec), and it is convened by Nic Smith, the Vice Chancellor. It meets monthly, with varied attendance from members, and typically little to no attendance from the student body; the fare is often dry (though not unimportant). Last Tuesday’s historic meeting broke that mould. The public gallery was full to standing-room with staff and students, many holding placards and wearing keffiyeh; the testimony of Board members was personal, direct, and often moving. 

The cause of this display of public support and emotion was the successful motion—passed by an overwhelming majority: 55 in favour and one abstenstion—to ensure boycott of and divestment from Israel, for their ongoing genocide against Palestine, is placed into policy at our university. 

Driven by Student Justice for Palestine (SJP), the successful vote means the University has now been directed, by the Board, not to build ties or collaborate with any Israeli academic institutions, nor to engage with institutions known to be researching military technologies. SJP hopes that, by forestalling the possibility of academic collaboration, Te Herenga Waka can do its part to pressure Israel to comply with international law, and respect Palestinian rights. 

Now, and for as long as the scholastacide and genocide in Palestine continues—should the university fully implement these objectives—Israeli research institutions can not be legitimised by partnerships with our university.  

The success of the motion was far from a foregone conclusion. Ayah, an organiser from SJP, told Salient “it was really gratifying to have such a warm reception from everyone”, describing anxiety during the vote count, and “a huge moment of relief when that was read out.” Ethan Rogacion, VUWSA Academic VP, who observed the vote count, echoed this, saying “it was just incredibly moving to be going through that pile of paper and just keep adding and adding and adding to the ‘yes’ pile.”

It is clear that the events of Tuesday's unprecedented board meeting were a success for SJP; it seems the meeting was also a much needed place for solidarity and care between staff and students at what is an incredibly distressing time. Rogacion described “a sense of community between students and academics” forming on the day, all those present aligned by a deep sense of empathy and compassion, and an awareness of injustice—academics on the day found it entirely appropriate to speak emotionally on the genocide in Gaza, in deeply personal kōrero. 

Testimony from the Board, by all accounts, was affecting. Professor of Health Annemarie Jutel was among Board members who spoke passionately of their perspectives as Jewish academics; Jutel discussed the loss of family members to the Holocaust, and how that fact drove her to stand up against present genocide. Whole school endorsements were provided by the heads of schools, like Rewi Newnham, Head of the School of Science in Society, and Mike Ross, Head of Te Kawa a Māui. Tears were shed by Board members and those in the public gallery alike, across an hour of moving submissions. Universally, academics and board members stressed the importance of the fact the motion was brought before the board by students, and showed a genuine pride in the student body. 

Despite the wins of the day, it is clear this is merely a first step. A clause in the motion advising the University Council to “divest from corporations known to be complicit in Israel’s violations of Palestinian human rights … and pledge not to enter into new agreements” was removed by the office of the Vice Chancellor. This action was taken on advice from Legal Services (and a second opinion from Buddle Finlay) that financial matters such as the University Foundation lie outside the remit of the Academic Board. The removal of this clause was argued against by student representatives on Tuesday, but was ultimately accepted after liaison with SJP.  A possible future avenue for discussions around ongoing divestment may be the Finance Committee of University Council. 

Further, a clause advising the council to endorse “the use of boycott, [and] divestment” was similarly removed. Concrete commitments are also needed with regards to supporting at-risk Palestinian scholars (though there is clearly a desire to do so, and suggestions were heard at the meeting). 

Tuesday marked a powerful expression of solidarity with Palestine, spearheaded by students and passed with the full support of the Academic Board. It is a historic chapter in the history of our university; it is also just a beginning. This is not a salve for our collective conscience—it is a call to action. Let the backing of your institution give you even more drive; don’t stop showing up for a free Palestine.