President Richard H. Brodhead on the Palestine Solidarity Movement Conference
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Brodhead Reaffirms Duke Policy Not to Divest from Israel
Brodhead Reaffirms Rejection of Divestment from Israel
Decision to hold the conference:
“The decision to hold the conference at Duke has required of me that I balance my sympathy for those who would be deeply troubled by whatever decision was made and my understanding of the fundamental commitment to free speech that any university, and certainly our Duke, must uphold. Past and current horrors arising from terrible hatreds have made many concerned with the issues of the Palestine-Israel conflict profoundly sensitive to any actions that might be construed as even remotely endangering the state of Israel or that might be understood as failing to understand the plight of the Palestinians.”
Free speech and debate:
“All ideas are not equal, but it is a foundational principle of American life that all ideas should have an equal opportunity to be expressed. Universities, in particular, must give wide latitude to free speech and free debate because the pursuit of truth through the encounter of divergent points of view is the very stuff of education. When universities get in the business of suppressing speech, however vile, it lends credence to the notion that it is a legitimate function of the university to suppress speech. A notion is thereby validated that then can be activated on another occasion—perhaps to suppress our own dissent or unpopular expression. The day we start making it easy to shut down others’ opinions is the day we license a curtailment of freedom from which we could each suffer in our turn.”
“The deepest principle involved is not even the principle of free speech. It’s the principle of education through dialogue.”
“There is a simplicity at the heart of it. This is the issue of free speech, free inquiry and the free exchange of ideas.”
On Duke’s position:
“Our decision to allow the conference to be held was in no way an endorsement of the sponsors’ views. At its core, this decision tested the university’s commitment to academic freedom.”
On terrorism:
“Violence is the antithesis of reason. I deplore the violence in the Middle East and the historic inability of the Israelis and Palestinians to find a workable solution to their long-standing and awful conflict. It is my profound belief that the long-term solution to these issues will come more from open and honest discussion and the education it produces than from squelching discussion.”
On divestment:
“The University has an established position on this issue. President Keohane has clearly stated the university’s policy not to divest from Israel. I endorse this policy and the principles that underlie it. As she noted, divestment from Israel is a very blunt instrument to address an extremely complex issue around which there is little consensus and a great diversity of opinions both in the campus community and in the broader society. University policy makes clear that divestiture would be a last resort to be used only when a substantial community consensus existed to support this course of action. I am aware of no change in the situation either in the Middle East or on campus that would justify moving to a different policy.”
On whether conference organizers are linked to terrorists:
“We have seen claims from people who insist this group is anti-Semitic or connected to terrorists, including specific instances of things that supposedly were said or done at previous conferences. However, when we check out these claims with our colleagues at other universities and with police authorities, the first-hand accounts we hear are often quite different.”
“We have carefully researched this student-run group, checked with federal authorities in Washington and with our colleagues at universities that have hosted or even considered hosting past conferences. We are confident this group is not affiliated with terrorists. Its leaders are following the rules: A registered Duke student organization, Hiwar (which means “dialogue” in Arabic), has sponsored the conference in accordance with university policies.”
On the reaction:
“I have been gratified by the general recognition that Duke's hosting a speaker or conference does not imply endorsement of the views expressed. The Graduate and Professional Student Council has issued a strong statement on academic freedom and free speech, as have The Chronicle and local papers in editorials. I have sought opportunities to meet with concerned groups both on campus and in the community, including leaders of major Jewish federations in North Carolina.
“The response of the Duke community and local groups has been encouraging. While many are concerned about points of view that might be expressed, most people have appreciated the even greater importance of free speech. For example, rather than condemning the conference, students working with Duke's Freeman Center for Jewish Life and others are identifying ways to bring additional information to the public to enhance understanding of Israel and the complex issues that have made this conflict so difficult to resolve. A house course on Israel and Palestine has been developed, and a number of faculty are exploring the issue in their classes. Student groups have planned a Concert Against Terrorism for the night before the conference. Several nationally prominent speakers will be coming to Duke during the year to help all of us gain a deeper understanding of the history, cultural issues, political challenges, and potential solutions to the conflict.
“In sum, this community is working to make this controversy part of a broad year-long educational discussion of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Naturally our Student Affairs staff is working with the Duke student sponsors of the conference and with Duke Police to provide a safe and secure environment for members of the campus community, the participants in the conference, and those who wish to protest the event.”
“We have received many phone calls, letters, and e-mails supporting Duke’s decision to allow the conference. But these have been overwhelmed by communications condemning us, based largely on information, much of it inaccurate, in a petition circulating on the Internet.”
