Concerns about Student Conference at Rutgers
July 14, 2003
Dear Colleagues:
Many of you have seen the media reports about a national student
conference on the Palestine solidarity movement that is scheduled
to take place at Rutgers this fall. The university has received many letters,
e-mail
messages, and telephone calls about this event, and some of you have
taken the time to personally communicate your views to me. I am writing to
inform
you of the university’s position regarding the conference.
NJ Solidarity–Rutgers Chapter, a registered student organization with
an estimated 25 members, has applied to use the Douglass Campus Center in
October to hold a three-day conference entitled, “Third National Student
Conference on the Palestine Solidarity Movement.” NJ Solidarity–-Rutgers
Chapter is one of hundreds of registered student groups on campus that represent
a wide range of social, political, cultural and other perspectives. This organization’s
views are its own and are distinctly not the views of Rutgers University.
For myself, I find abhorrent some elements of NJ Solidarity’s mission.
In its mission statement, NJ Solidarity expresses its opposition to Israel’s
right to exist and supports “Palestinians’ human right to resist
occupation and oppression by any means necessary.” These views are in
conflict with my own and, I believe, with the majority of the university
community.
However, intrinsic to Rutgers’ own mission is the free exchange of ideas
and discourse on a variety of issues, including those that are controversial.
This university must remain a model of debate, dialogue and education.
I believe this is an appropriate and powerful role for our institution, and
we encourage
our students to express their beliefs and analyze the difficult issues
of the day. We specifically encourage students and others who do not agree
with
NJ Solidarity to express their own opinions in a public and constructive
manner.
We expect all of our students to exercise their constitutional rights
in a civil and respectful manner. Freedom of expression must not be used to
incite hatreds or demonize individuals and groups. Above all else, it must
not be used to damage the fabric of our institution's open community.
Our students come from a rich diversity of backgrounds and bring
to Rutgers many perspectives and viewpoints. They are free to organize
into groups so long as they abide by state and federal laws and adhere to
the university’s
nondiscrimination policy. Registered groups receive their support
from fees paid by students. Such groups do not receive any funding from state
appropriations
or tuition. Registered student groups also enjoy access to university
facilities. We do not place restrictions on their views, nor do we endorse
them.
NJ Solidarity–Rutgers Chapter is registered with Rutgers College. That
college’s student governing association distributes some $500,000 in
student fees to registered student groups each academic year; NJ
Solidarity-Rutgers Chapter is slated to receive a little over $1,400 from
student fees in fall
2003.
In the months ahead, Dr. Emmet Dennis, Vice President for Student
Affairs, will work closely with the conference organizers to ensure
that university procedures are followed and to coordinate university efforts
to protect the
safety of those who participate in the conference and those who may
protest it. Accordingly, Dr. Dennis will bring various university units, including
public safety, into the planning discussions so that we can be confident
that
this conference and the debate surrounding it will reflect our educational
mandate and our university’s goals and values.
Sincerely,
Richard L. McCormick
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey