Image by Wikicommons

The student government of Vassar College voted for a resolution calling for a statement supporting a boycott of Israel.

The resolution passed Sunday by the Vassar Student Association calls for a political statement in support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, or BDS, against Israel. The approval, which required a simple majority, passed by a vote of 15 to 7, the campus student newspaper, the Miscellany News, reported Monday.

In a special procedure, the vote was taken by the student association anonymously, as opposed to its usual open voting.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The association concurrently voted on a measure that would have amended the student association bylaws to prohibit the use of student funds to purchase goods from Israeli companies or companies that support Israel. That measure, which required a two-thirds majority to pass, garnered 12 votes in favor and 10 against.

The Vassar College administration has said it will not honor the BDS resolution and would consider taking over control of student activity fees over the proposed amendment.

Vassar students can petition the student association to send the BDS resolution to the full student body for a vote to veto the resolution.

The BDS resolution was a joint effort of Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace.

Anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentiment has been widespread in the last year at Vassar, a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., according to the Anti-Defamation League.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount