Q&A on the Palestine Solidarity Conference
In the months before the Palestine Solidarity Movement conference, numerous questions were raised about the organizers, Duke’s position, security and other topics. Duke’s Office of News & Communications prepared the answers to commonly asked questions prior to the conference, which was held Oct. 15-17, 2004.
The Conference Organizers
Who is sponsoring the conference?
What kind of funding does Hiwar receive from the university?
Is the Palestine Solidarity Movement part of the International Solidarity Movement or terrorist groups?
Is it true that conference organizers have said their group will not sign a statement condemning terrorism?
The Conference Details
What is the conference on Palestine solidarity that is scheduled at Duke?
What is the stated purpose of the conference?
Will the conference be open to all?
Will the conference be open to reporters who aren't affiliated with Duke or the conference organizers?
Does this conference violate U.S. law prohibiting U.S. citizens or businesses from refusing to do business with Israel at the request of a foreign government?
Duke University and the Conference
What is Duke’s general position about the conference?
Has the university screened the speakers invited to participate in this conference?
What are Duke's criteria regarding scheduling of events in university buildings?
Did Duke officials approve the decision of the student government to allocate funds to Hiwar?
What are Duke's criteria for registering student organizations?
What are you doing to ensure continuing open dialogue on all of these topics?
Have other student organizations made statements or planned activities related to this topic?
What is Duke President Richard Brodhead's view of this conference?
Does Duke endorse the views of the conference organizers?
Will Duke consider divestment from Israel?
Hasn't Duke been criticized in the past for a Web site on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Security
Will the conference take place as scheduled, given the potentially controversial topics?
What will you do to ensure the safety of students and others in connection with the conference?
Will metal detectors be used at conference venues?
Past PSM conferences
Didn't Rutgers University refuse to host this conference because of the Palestine Solidarity Movement's political positions?
Did conference attendees shout "Kill the Jews" when they met at the University of Michigan?
Did the Michigan conference present a dangerous situation to students on campus, including Jewish students?
Who is sponsoring the conference?
The conference is sponsored by a registered Duke student organization,
Hiwar, in accordance with
university rules and policies.
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What kind of funding does Hiwar receive from the university?
HIWAR - which means "dialogue" in Arabic -- received $2,250 for the FY2003-04 from the Student Organization Financial Committee. This committee is the funding arm of Duke Student Government. These funds are generated from student fees, and the allocation to this student group is consistent with the funding levels provided by DSG to hundreds of other student organizations, such as Duke Conservative Union and the Duke University Red Cross Club. (Read complete budget here.) The DSG funding is the only university-related funding the group received.
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Is the Palestine Solidarity Movement part of the International Solidarity Movement or terrorist groups?
Duke's understanding from multiple sources is that the Palestine Solidarity Movement, while related to the
International Solidarity Movement, is a distinct and separate organization. Extensive inquiries, also with police
authorities, have revealed no evidence to support a claim that there is a connection between terrorist groups and
the Palestine Solidarity Movement, which is a largely student organization.
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Is it true that conference organizers have said their group will not sign a statement condemning terrorism?
According to a story in the Sept. 20 issue of the (Durham) Herald-Sun, a spokesman for the group said
group members would not sign such a statement. The story may be viewed online
here. Duke's student newspaper, the Chronicle,
discussed this in a Sept. 14 editorial.
On its conference Web site, the PSM says it 'does not support or endorse terrorism'
(click here for additional information), a position
that has been challenged by some critics of the group (as can be found easily through a Google search).
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What is the conference on Palestine solidarity that is scheduled at Duke?
The conference, titled "Fourth National Student Conference on the Palestine Solidarity Movement," has been
planned by a Duke student organization to be held on campus in mid-October.
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What is the stated purpose of the conference?
The conference Web site outlines issues it will consider,
including Palestine solidarity and divestment of stock of companies doing business in Israel.
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Will the conference be open to all?
According to Duke policies, programs that are open to the public must be open to all, regardless of viewpoint.
The October conference on Palestine solidarity has been structured to require the participants to register.
Anyone who wishes to register may do so, up to the physical limit of the facilities in which the conference
is being held. Duke staff members are working with the student organizers to ensure that there is a clear
understanding, and proper implementation,
of university policies concerning access, speech and expression at such events.
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Will the conference be open to reporters who aren't affiliated with Duke or the conference organizers?
The university is treating the PSM conference as it does all student conferences. Duke doesn't dictate to its
students the content or structure of their events, or the speakers they must select. The student conference
organizers have determined that the conference is open to anyone who wishes to register, up to the space limit
of 500 people. They have also determined that members of the news media may register to attend, again within
the 500-person limit. Duke does not dictate whether cameras or recording equipment will be allowed at the
conference. That is properly a decision for the sponsors, consistent with Duke's policies that permit such
restrictions. For instance, the university recently honored the request of a Nobel laureate who spoke on
campus and asked that his speech not be recorded.
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Does this conference violate U.S. law prohibiting U.S. citizens or businesses from refusing to do
business with Israel at the request of a foreign government?
No. U.S. law does prohibit U.S. citizens, businesses, and other entities from refusing to do business
with Israel in some situations, including many in which a foreign government requires the U.S. party
to refuse to do business with Israel as a condition of conducting business with that government or
another party in that country. The Palestine Solidarity Movement is not a foreign government, and
there does not appear to be the type of connection between it and any foreign government such that
its activities in the upcoming conference would be prohibited under U.S. law. Additionally, the
conference is protected under the constitutional right to free speech and free assembly, and
statements made by participants in this context would generally not be considered prohibited.
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What is Duke’s general position about the conference?
The university's response is unambiguous: The Bill of Rights protects free speech, and universities
in particular have an obligation to ensure that controversial opinions can be expressed freely and openly.
Duke has a long-standing commitment to academic freedom. Last year the university celebrated the
100th anniversary of The Bassett Affair,
a defining event in the history of this institution and of academic freedom in American higher education.
A century ago, Trinity College, the progenitor of Duke University, faced a fundamental test of its core
values, and the decision of its trustees established Trinity and Duke as an institution that zealously
guards its commitment to providing a forum for the free and open exchange of controversial ideas.
At times these discussions may be heated, and the views expressed may be offensive or even repulsive to some.
But we believe members of the Duke community and the public can learn from these debates and reach
their own conclusions, based on the strength of the arguments rather than the loudness of the presentations.
Hosting such an event does not imply university endorsement for the views expressed, in this case by the Palestine
Solidarity Movement. Rather, it reaffirms our commitment to academic freedom, a core value embraced by
President Brodhead, our board of trustees and other leaders of our university.
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Has the university screened the speakers invited to participate in this conference?
No. The university's policies on freedom of speech and expression are explicit on this point. Duke University
does not place prior restraint on what people can say while on campus.
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What are Duke's criteria regarding scheduling of events in university buildings?
Any registered student group may reserve available university facilities for its events, usually on a first-come,
first-served basis. The reservation process
is neutral as to the content of the event. The university reserves the right to locate an event in space
other than that requested if there are special needs, including security, associated with the event.
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Did Duke officials approve the decision of the student government to allocate funds to Hiwar?
Duke collects a mandatory fee to support student-governed activities, but the university plays no role in
selecting the organizations that its student government (the members of which are elected by their peers) decides to
fund. The university plays no role in, nor does it endorse, the allocation of student government resources.
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What are Duke's criteria for registering student organizations?
Any enrolled Duke students may organize and register their organization with the Duke Student Government (DSG).
There are currently about 300 registered student organizations.
Here is a list of those funded by DSG in 2003-04.
The DSG registration process is neutral
regarding the goals or focus of the organization.
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What are you doing to ensure continuing open dialogue on all of these topics?
It is essential to learning and the free exchange of ideas that individuals be able to explore sensitive
topics within this diverse campus community while according one another the highest levels of tolerance
and mutual respect. Historically, Duke student leaders have risen to the challenge by proposing a series of
student-organized events promoting dialogue, education and understanding about political issues affecting
the student body. We hope that there will be ample opportunity for interested parties to provide educational
forums about the issues the conference is addressing.
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Have other student organizations made statements or planned activities related to this topic?
Duke-related organizations with relevant information posted to their Web sites include The Freeman Center for Jewish Life.
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What is Duke President Richard Brodhead's view of this conference?
President Brodhead wrote the following in response to one of the messages he has received about the conference:
"I deplore the violence in the Middle East and the historic inability of the Israelis and the Palestinians
to find a workable solution to their longstanding and awful conflict. But I truly believe 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. It is my hope that this student conference can play a catalytic role for
broad-based discussions at Duke throughout the academic year. I am encouraged by the response of many
Jewish and/or pro-Israel groups on the campus and in the community who have supported the university's
decision to provide a venue for the conference and, at the same time, are sponsoring a wide range of
activities, panels, individual speakers, and associated events to help inform and educate the university
community about Israel-Palestine issues. As Senior Vice President Burness said in his statement announcing
our decision to register this student conference, 'We believe the best antidote to speech that others find
disagreeable, is more speech, not less.' In the final analysis, affirming that principle is the role
of the university, and I stand squarely behind it." For more information regarding President Brodhead's view on this issue, click here.
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Does Duke endorse the views of the conference organizers?
No. As with all such events, the agenda of the conference represents the views of the
student organizers and their conference partners and is not an official position of Duke University.
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Will Duke consider divestment from Israel?
No. 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. President
Richard H. Brodhead is aware of no change in the situation either in the Middle East or on campus that
would justify moving to a different policy. Read President Brodhead's reply to a Duke official when asked about this issue.
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Hasn't Duke been criticized in the past for a Web site on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Last year, members of the Duke Conservative Union objected to a Web site of Internet resources
on Palestine hosted by the library. The original Web site was designed in response to a request from a Duke professor for a specific class and was altered significantly while being adapted to become a site on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Duke library administration also invited Judaic expert Arthur Kiron,
curator of Judaica Collections at the University of Pennsylvania, to assess the library's collections
of Judaica and Hebraica and to evaluate the site. In his report,
Kiron described the Web site as "balanced and representative." He said some of the
links on the site were "undoubtedly inflammatory," but said the fact that some links
might offend some patrons doesn't mean the Web site was biased. He also recommended that Duke hire
a dedicated Judaica/Hebraica librarian, which the university is in the process of doing.
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Will the conference take place as scheduled, given the potentially controversial topics?
Yes. It is the policy of Duke University to protect the right of voluntary assembly for its students
faculty and staff and their organizations, to make its facilities available for peaceful assembly,
to welcome guest speakers and to protect the exercise of these rights from disruption or interference.
The conference has been organized by a registered student group, in accordance with Duke's standard process.
The university does not evaluate the content of the ideas being presented before deciding whether to
allow an event to be held on campus. It is one of the fundamental goals of the university to create
an environment where a wide range of ideas -- popular or controversial -- can be freely explored.
This basic commitment to freedom of inquiry and speech has been articulated, among other avenues,
in Duke's Bulletin of Information and Regulations, which includes
Duke's policy on pickets,
protests and demonstrations.
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What will you do to ensure the safety of students and others in connection with the conference?
The Duke University Police Department is working with the conference sponsors to make sure
there are appropriate security provisions for the conference. The university's
policy on pickets, protests and demonstrations
is explicit in noting that Duke University discourages conduct that disrupts or interferes with its proper
operations and will not allow such conduct on its premises. Disruptive picketing, protesting or demonstrating
on Duke University property -- or any place in use for an authorized university purpose -- is prohibited.
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Will metal detectors be used at conference venues?
Given the controversy surrounding the conference, Duke Police have decided to place metal detectors at each
conference venue, through which registrants will pass to ensure no weapons are brought inside. Duke's police department,
not the student organizers, made this decision.
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Didn't Rutgers University refuse to host this conference because of the Palestine Solidarity Movement's political positions?
No. Officials at Rutgers have said explicitly that neither the behaviors of people associated with the Palestine Solidarity Movement nor the content of the proposed conference there was a factor in Rutgers' decision not to permit the conference to be held at its campus. To the contrary, Rutgers' decision was based on the failure of the student sponsors at Rutgers to follow the university's established guidelines for sponsoring an event. Even prior to Rutgers' decision, the Palestine Solidarity Movement decided to move its conference to Ohio State, partly because of frustration with the Rutgers student sponsors. Rutgers' announcement states unequivocally that its decision had nothing to do with the conference's content or the views of the Palestine Solidarity Movement.
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Did conference attendees shout "Kill the Jews" when they met at the University of Michigan?
Officials at the University of Michigan and independent members of the Michigan faculty tell us these reports are untrue, although others dispute this and insist such slurs were chanted in Arabic.
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Did the Michigan conference present a dangerous situation to students on campus, including Jewish students?
The best answer Duke has seen to that question came from Ruth L. Beitner, who at the time was assistant director of the Metropolitan Detroit Chapter of the American Jewish Committee. In a letter to the university’s president and administration, Ms. Beitner wrote: "I am a parent with two sons attending the University of Michigan. I am also an alumni and a Jewish communal professional. Last Sunday I visited the campus fearing the worst. I was concerned about the forthcoming Palestinian Students Solidarity Conference. Instead of observing out of control demonstrations, jeering students and destructive behavior, I found a different scene altogether. I saw an attentive team of University security officers monitoring the spirited group of young people draped in Israeli flags and the students filing solemnly into the Michigan League Building. I saw young men and women for the most part in vigorous and enthusiastic debate and I saw respectful disagreement." Ms. Beitner praised the university's security efforts and said she “left the campus that Sunday confident that the University of Michigan was indeed the kind of place where I want my children to learn."
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