Princeton Pres: “I do not intend to denounce the ASA”
Appears that Princeton will keep its Institutional Membership even as American Studies Assn imposes academic boycott on Israel
I previously sent an email to President of Princeton regarding academic boycott of Israel and specifically inquired as to whether Princeton would drop its Institutional Membership in the American Studies Association so long as ASA imposes an academic boycott on Israeli academic institutions and scholars. Both Penn State Harrisburg and Brandeis have dropped their Institutional Memberships. The Association of American Universities has come out with a strongly worded denunciation of the academic boycott oof Israel.
I just received the following statement from Princeton’s press spokesman on behalf of President Christopher L. Eisgruber:
Thanks for your email to President Eisgruber about the American Studies Association’s boycott of Israel. In correspondence with Princeton alumni who have asked about the boycott, President Eisgruber has said,
I share your dismay at the American Studies Association’s misguided boycott. Academic boycotts are almost always bad policy–scholarly engagement helps to sustain and build liberal democratic values. For that reason, among others, I believe that Princeton should continue to work constructively with scholars and institutions throughout the world, whether one admires or dislikes the government under which they operate. And, whatever one thinks of boycotts in general, to single out Israel alone is indefensible.
My personal support for scholarly engagement with Israel is enthusiastic and unequivocal. Indeed, my latest article (currently in page proofs) emerges from a conference in Jerusalem sponsored by the Israel Democracy Institute, and it will appear in a volume published by that organization.
That said, I do not intend to denounce the ASA, make it unwelcome on campus, or inhibit the ability of faculty members to affiliate with it. My hope is that the ASA’s more thoughtful and reasonable members will eventually bring the organization to its senses–here, too, engagement may be better than a boycott. That is for individual faculty members to decide. In any event, I look forward to continued interaction with the wonderful scholars and universities in Israel.
Please feel free to use this statement and attribute it to President Eisgruber.
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Comments
I don’t understand. Singling out Israel is “indefensible,” but he won’t denounce the organization singling them out. So his words are basically meaningless. Am I missing something?
Some people just have to be able to have things both ways. We denounce the organization, but remain a member. I guess that means he denounces himself.
Lefties are fairly adept at defending the indefensible.
He’s pro-choice. Perhaps that’s for the best. There is a lesson to be learned here, and it will not happen with a simple resolution. The principles are clear. The practice is not.
What do you expect from Liberal Nazis.
What’s to understand? The aptly named ‘Gruber’ wishes to stand above the fray and has no wish to dirty his carefully manicured and painted nails by fighting for principles. After all, if he were to denounce and drop Princeton membership that too would be a form of boycott.
And who’s to judge which boycott is more important? It’s all relative, anyway.
Courage!
Integrity!
Princeton?
Isn’t Princeton, like Harvard, a big recipient of Muslim money?
Herr Eisgruber is just following orders. He doesn’t make the rules, you know, and has no idea what the uberfurhren at ASA are planning. The gas, he assures us, is for delousing.
I believe Christopher L. Eisgruber is Jewish or at least has one Jewish parent. He apparently says that he was reared Catholic, but discovered later that his mother, who immigrated when she was 8, was Jewish. By Jewish law (and nazi law) he is Jewish. He now apparently claims to be an atheist Jew or something like that.
I guess it’s kind of like Madeline Albreight (sic?).
These leftist cutlist bozos…
Replace the last “A” in ASA with and “S.”
Once again, these morons are going to get millions of people killed.
Type: should read “leftist cultist bozos…”
It is a cult.
if I read between the lines correctly the Princeton President Sanctions “individual faculty” and Princeton organizations aka ASA to BOYCOTT Israel, weasel words not with standing, it’s ok 2 be antisemitic @ Princeton U according 2 Princeton.