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Academic Council Statement on Upcoming Palestine Solidarity Movement The following is a statement given by the ECAC on the Upcoming Palestine Solidarity Movement Conference: No principle is more central to the mission of the university than that of free speech. Consistent with the tradition of open debate that universities broadly represent and with the vital history of that tradition here at Duke, the Executive Committee of the Academic Council affirms that the principles of freedom -- of speech, of expression, and of belief -- must be upheld strenuously. Great universities are predicated on the notion that the free expression of ideas, however unpopular, and the critical dialogue they engender, are essential both to the vitality of the academy and to the health of democratic discourse beyond our walls. We therefore endorse the positions taken by President Richard Brodhead and others in the administration regarding the upcoming student-sponsored Conference of the Palestine Solidarity Movement (PSM). The principle of open exchange is especially important to uphold when it involves student expression. The mission of the university concerns more than the transmittal of facts. At the heart of our shared project stands the development of informed voices, the search for good arguments, and the dogged protection of a space in which these processes may unfold. As faculty, we believe we have a special obligation to support our students when they create opportunities to engage with ideas, to consider them critically, and to debate them openly. ECAC applauds the administration's efforts to gather information, and we note that the PSM website states that "the PSM does not support or endorse terrorism," and that peaceful means of resolution are the focus of this conference. We are confident that due consideration has been given to the range of challenges that holding this conference presents our campus. Respectful of the historical sensitivities that the subject of this conference evokes, we believe that the Duke community stands to gain from being the site of this conference and discussions. As President Brodhead has suggested, we recognize that the controversy it has triggered presents us with a moment to consider, openly and critically, the complex and tragic history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Respectfully submitted, |
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