BREAKING NEWS: In a landmark decision, the Cornell Graduate Students United (CGSU) has overwhelmingly voted to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. The referendum results were announced on November 7, 2023, after a three-day voting period that concluded on Tuesday.
This urgent move comes as members of the CGSU condemn Cornell University for its alleged complicity in human rights abuses against Palestinians, citing the university’s connections to the weapons industry and its broader role in the Israeli occupation. The union’s statement declares, “Cornell is implicated in the Israeli genocide of Palestinians through research, recruitment, and financial ties with the weapons industry.”
The CGSU’s commitment to the BDS movement is a response to what they describe as “the liberation struggle” of Palestinians. By joining the BDS movement, which has been active for over 20 years, the union aims to hold Israel accountable for its actions and to seek justice for the Palestinian people. The movement encourages individuals and organizations to cease business dealings with Israel, particularly with firms that support the occupation of the West Bank and the ongoing violence in Gaza.
The implications of this decision are profound. The CGSU argues that the interests of working-class people are intertwined with the fight against the oppression of Palestinians. They assert that the fight against the ruling class, which they claim undermines their rights, must include speaking out against the “genocide of Palestinians.”
In addition to endorsing BDS, the union will implement measures for “Funding Transparency” regarding assistantships and will actively support members who refuse funding from Israeli and U.S. military sources. They also plan to advocate for graduate workers who have faced disciplinary action for their pro-Palestinian activism.
The backdrop of this decision includes heightened tensions surrounding Cornell University, which has seen a rise in pro-Palestinian protests amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Notably, the Trump administration previously threatened to freeze $1 billion of Cornell’s research funds, leading to a settlement that required the university to pay the administration and invest $30 million in programs benefiting U.S. farmers.
The union’s statement goes further, highlighting that since 2023, the U.S. has provided Israel with $12.5 billion in direct military aid, while social services continue to be cut. This economic backdrop adds urgency to their cause, as they argue that working-class citizens have unwittingly financed what they term “Israel’s genocidal project.”
As this situation unfolds, the CGSU’s decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing discourse about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and it is likely to spur further activism and dialogue within and beyond the Cornell community.
The question now is how Cornell University will respond to this bold stance from its graduate students, and what implications this will have for future funding and partnerships with institutions like the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, known for its role in developing military technology used in the conflict.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as it continues to resonate across campuses and communities worldwide.
