Jewish Federation asks those considering protesting to refrain
Following a "forthcoming, open and honest" conversation with Duke President Brodhead, leaders of the Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Federation emailed the following message about the PSM conference to the federation's membership on Sept. 23.

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Letter from the Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Federation

September 24, 2004
9 Tishrei 5765

Letter to our Membership:

A statewide federation meeting with Duke University was held on September 21, 2004 to express our collective concerns regarding the upcoming National Student Conference of the Palestinian Solidarity Movement (to be held at Duke on October 15 - 17). Sara Lee Saperstein, Federation Past President and Marilyn Chandler, Executive Director represented our Federation in a meeting held with Duke President Richard Brodhead and members of his senior staff. Also present were delegations from the Raleigh/Cary and Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Federations (we also represented the Charlotte and Winston-Salem communities who were unable to attend). After giving him an overview of the Jewish Federations in the State of North Carolina, we presented President Brodhead with our concerns about the conference while assuring him that the organized Jewish Community is a proponent of freedom of speech, as well as freedom of assembly and therefore did not come with an agenda to challenge Duke's decision to allow the conference.

Specifically, we expressed concern about:

1. Duke maintaining a strong position against the divestment of funds from Israel
2. Duke clearly and strongly denouncing terrorism as a legitimate means to any end
3. Duke monitoring the conference and responding quickly and strongly to any evidence of hate speech, intimidation and/or incitement
4. Duke ensuring the safety and security of students, faculty and visitors during the conference weekend.

Dr. Brodhead was very forthcoming, open, and honest in his conversation with us. The highlights of the conversation:

• First and foremost, Duke will not divest from Israel as the conference organizers have asked.


• Duke is hosting the conference, not because they "favor the Palestinian Solidarity Movement" but because:
  1. It is sponsored and organized by a legitimate student organization. All rules and regulations Duke requires for such events have been met.
  2. Duke University believes in "academic freedom" - the ability of a university to be a haven of free speech, the free exchange of ideas, discussion, and discourse. From that perspective, and with all rules and regulations having been met, President Brodhead agreed to allow the conference to take place. He added, "I have to protect speech that I don't always agree with."
  
  
• Neither Duke nor President Brodhead endorses the content of the conference any more than any other conference or speaker who comes to Duke. President Brodhead has made clear in public statements that Duke's decision to be a site for the conference does not imply endorsement of it or the views expressed by conferees.


• President Brodhead condemns terrorism and terrorist acts, and has publicly stated so at the 9-11 Memorial and at the Freeman Center.


• The staff of Duke University fully researched the past conferences (at UC-Berkeley, Michigan and Ohio State), pulling fact from fiction, and felt comfortable that this could be a civil and respectful discussion.


• Duke will monitor the conference to ensure safety of the participants, but will not stop it based on speech or discussion. If the speech is hateful or anti-Semitic, President Brodhead feels that it will be rebuked at the conference without Duke making any official statement. However he went on to say that "if there is need for clarification post-conference, I'll do my part."


• Duke has been assured by the organizers that the conference is open to all who wish to attend (pre-registration is required). We understand members of the Jewish Community as well as the Duke administration will be in attendance.


• Duke will have its security at the conference, including metal detectors that all participants must pass through upon entering.

At the close of our meeting, Dr. Brodhead was invited to visit Israel, and walk the streets of Jerusalem with us. The invitation remains open and hopefully he will join with one or more of our Federations on a mission. He did tell us that he has a number of friends and colleagues working at universities in Israel, and would love to spend some extended time visiting with them.

After discussion with the other Federations, as well as with the leadership at Duke, we are asking that those who may be considering protests and demonstrations as a response to the conference to please refrain from doing so during the conference or outside the buildings where the conference will be held. Protests and demonstrations during the conference or outside the buildings will:

• make this a bigger event than it should be.
• give the PSM's message legitimacy.
• bring the press, and the message will be broadcast nationally and internationally.
• likely place participants in shouting matches which will not aid our cause.

Instead, participate in the Student Israel Initiative generated by the Freeman Center for Jewish Life at Duke. This Initiative, which will take place during the conference weekend, as well as throughout the year, is to provide Israel-based programming, including an anti-terrorism concert (that is being co-sponsored by many of the university's student groups), Shabbat discussions about Israel, nationally and internationally renowned speakers, an Israel teach-in, Israeli musical concert and letters to the editor of the Duke Student newspaper, The Chronicle.

The Greensboro Jewish Federation is proud to be a co-sponsor of the Freeman Center's program, and we encourage you to do the same with your participation and contributions. The Federation will continue to provide information as it becomes available, including the letter which appears from Dr. Brodhead in this issue of the Federation News.

If you would like additional information, we encourage you to visit the Duke University Web site, the Freeman Center for Jewish Life Web site as well as contacting either of us directly.

B'shalom v'todah

Jeff Medoff, President
Marilyn Forman Chandler, Executive Director