sophie chang secretary of the general assembly

SophieChangSecretaryoftheGeneralAssembly3150 Ohio Union 1739 N. High Street 614.736.2390 [email protected] 48thGeneralAssemblySpring2016,Session24March23,2016

NotefromtheSecretary:Thishasevidentlybeenacontentiousissue,andthe47membersofthe

publicwhospokeandthegreaternumberofpeoplewhocametoobserveoursessionintheGreatHallMeetingRoomandsubsequentlytheCartoonRoomintheOhioUnionillustratesthatfact.Pleasekeepinmindthatthissessionlastedfor5.5hours,from6:30pmtomidnight,whentheOhioUnionclosed.Throughtheeditingandaccumulationprocess,Ihaveinserted“NotesfromtheSecretary”intocertainareaswhereIfeelitisappropriatetoprovidethepublicwithmoreinformationonwhyacertainmeasureormotionwaspassed,orwhyacertainvoteworkedthatway.TheUndergraduateStudentGovernment,beingasortofgovernment,isbureaucraticandwillalwaysremainbureaucratictosomedegree.However,itwouldbeadisservicetopublicmembersnotinvolvedinUSGornotfullyunderstandingoftheprocess,andtoUSGmembersandrepresentatives,ifsomebureaucraticproceduresorstandingrulesweremisunderstoodasanintentionalactiontakenbytheUndergraduateStudentGovernmenttostiflestudent,minority,orinterestgroupvoice.Iurgeallreadersoftheseminutestoalsoreadtheresolutionthatwaspresented,discussed,andvotedon(48-R-43https://usg.osu.edu/posts/documents/doc_3232016_1734555.pdf)andtheminutesfromthe23rdSessionoftheGeneralAssembly(https://usg.osu.edu/posts/documents/doc_3142016_23931872.pdf)forcontext.Ithinkitcanservetoclarifymanythings.Ifnot,pleasefeelfreetoemailmeattheemaillistedaboveorcontactmeviasocialmedia.Itisnotacustomformetowriteamessagebeforetherecordedminutes,butIfeltthiswasnecessarytomaintainfairnessandminimizemisunderstandingforallparties.Ifyoufeelthatyourstatementwasmischaracterizedinanyway,pleasecontactmeviatheabovemethodsaswell.Thenamesofyourstudentrepresentativescanbefoundathttps://usg.osu.edu/generalassembly/meet_the_general_assembly.

I. Openinga. CalltoOrderb. Attendancec. SwearinginofAlternates:Ifyouareanalternate,pleaseindicatethatyou’representandlet

meknowthatyou’reanalternate.Attheendofthesession,pleasecomeupandgivemeyouremailaddress.Otherwiseyoucanemailmeatchang.1310@osu.eduwithyourname,yourOSUemail,andthesenatorforwhichyou’realternating.

i. MichaelBranum.6forMeganHowardii. MichaelFrank.457forMirandaMiseriii. WinAdissem.2forRyanCalviniv. TylerMartin.3013forEmilyMartinv. MichaKerbel.3forMaryHonakervi. CarlyHooker.199forDanielMarcheseat8:40pmvii. MariaVargo.140forVarshaChallapallyat9pmviii. YousefYacoub.11forManasaPunuguat9:40pmix. MichaKerbel.3forChrisWaidelichat10:01pmx. MichaelFrank.457forMichaelBranum.6forMeganHowardat10:34pm.xi. CarlaGracia.8forPaigeBennettat10:35pm.


d. ApprovalofMinutes

II. OpenForumforPublica. CarlyHooker.199:MynameisCarlyHookerandIamafirst-yearstudentinPublicAffairs.I

liveinSmith-SteebHallonSouthCampus.Resolution48-R-43,ifpassed,willhavecriticalimplicationsonourcommunity.Ithasalreadycauseddivisivelanguagedamagingtostudentsanditcausesextremediscomforttothosestudentsstrivingtofeelsafeoncampus.Theworddivisive,inthiscase,referstothatwhichtendstocausedisagreementorhostilitybetweenanypeople.TheinherentnatureofbillhastiestotheBoycott,Divestment,andSanctions(BDS)movementcondemnedbyourstateandourcountry.OurcongressionalrepresentativesonthestateandfederallevelhaveurgedourGeneralAssemblyrepresentativestonighttovoteagainstthisresolution,whichpromotesanti-Israelandanti-Americansentiments,andwhichispro-BDSmovement.TheworddivestmentitselfdemonizesIsrael.IthasadirectconnectiontotheBDSmovementacrosscollegecampuses,andcontainsparallellanguageinattackingtheallegedillegaloccupation.TheCommitteeforJusticeinPalestineandtheBDSmovementcomedownwiththeintentiontodelegitimizeIsrael’srighttoexistasanation-state.

b. MotiontoeliminatequestionsforspeakersFAILED.c. Motiontoextendspeakingtimeto5minutesFAILED.d. Motiontoextendspeakingtimeto3minutesPASSED.e. GarySukienik.1:Hi,I’mapre-dentalstudentandIliveoffcampus.IaminvolvedintheOSU

Pre-DentalClub,Greeklife,PrimaryCareProgress,andIamateachingassistantforthechemistrydepartmenthereatOhioState.I’mcomingheretotellyouwhyyoushouldvotenoonthisbill.Ispent10monthsstudyingabroadinJerusalemandI’vehadsomanyexperiencesinIsrael.IbelieveIsraelisaplaceofhome.IstayedneartheborderofEastJerusalemacrossfromapredominantlyPalestinian-Arabneighborhood.Iplayeddailywithpeoplefromallwalksoflife.However,terroristshavefiredmorethan11,000rocketsintoallofIsrael.Whenabroad,Iconstantlylivedwiththethreatofrocketattacksandhadtobepreparedtoreact.Onmultipleoccasions,anM-75rocketwassentfromtheGazaStrip,onceduringSabbath.Ifearedformylife.Anothertime,IwasplayingbasketballwithmyArabandPalestinianfriends,andthecoderedsirenswentoffagain.Ihadtorunintotherecreationcenter’sshelter,whenIheardanotherM-75rocketexplode.Anirondomenearbydeflectedtherocket.NooneknowswhetheritwasdirectedtowardsaJewishorPalestinianhome,butI’mthankfultobealivetoday.Asapre-dentalstudent,Ibelievethisresolutionisbroughttotheflooratthesponsor’sownvolition.HehasfailedtofulfillhisresponsibilityastheDentistrySenatorbynotreachingouttodentalstudents.Thenextspeakerwillreadyoualetteralsodescribingthereasonswhyyoushouldvotenoon48-R-43.Ifullybelieveinhumanrights,butthisresolutionfollowstheframeworkoftheBDSmovement,anddisguisesitselfasahumanrightsresolutionthatcreatesdivisionamongcampusesandreducesdialogue.Thefirststepintryingtocombathumanrightsviolationsisgettingtransparencyfromtheuniversity.


i. Buss:Firstofall,thanksforcominghere.Myconcernhereisabouttheletterwithsignatures.Whoprovidedthesesignatures?AretheyDentistryconstituents?Couldyoutellmeabouthowyoucollectedthem?

ii. Sukienik.1:Icollectedthemwithafriend.Thesignaturesarefromstudentsinthedentalschoolandundergraduatepre-dentalstudents.Allofthemaredentalstudents.IwenttotheDentistrybuildingoverthepasttwodayscollectingsignatures.

iii. Frank:Whenyousaydentalstudentsareyoureferringtoundergraduateorgraduatestudents?(NotesfromtheSecretary:theGeneralAssemblyrepresentsonlyconstituentsoftheundergraduatestudentbody,aswearepartofabranchoftheUndergraduateStudentGovernment.)

iv. Sukienik.1:Acombinationofboth.v. Kaczmarek:Whatistheproportionofundergraduatetograduatestudents?vi. Sukienik.1:About5/8aregraduatestudentsand3/8areundergraduatestudents.vii. MotiontoclosequestionsonthisspeakerFAILED.viii. Mubarak:Haveyouoranypre-dentalstudentscontactedme?ix. Sukienik.1:No,butIhavetoldpeopletoreachouttoyou.x. Mubarak:Justsoyouknow,Ididnotgetanyemailfrommyconstituents.xi. Ferzacca:Whatisthesizeofthedentalschool?xii. Sukienik.1:About110studentsperclass.

f. IlanaKramer.423:I’mapsychologymajorandapre-dentalstudent,andIwillbereadingaletteronbehalfofSenatorMubarak’sconstituents.“DearMembersoftheGeneralAssembly,thisletterisbeingpresentedtoyoufromtheundersignedDentalandPre-DentalstudentshereatTheOhioStateUniversity.WebelievethatSamiMubarakhasbroughtthisresolution,Resolution48-R-43,tothefloorunderhisownvolitionwithouttheendorsementofhisconstituents.Hewasnotvotedinbyanyofusbutwasassignedasoursenator.AccordingtoArticleI,subsection“TheGeneralAssembly”sub-subsections2and3oftheConstitutionoftheUndergraduateStudentGovernmentofTheOhioStateUniversity,“2.SenatorsoftheGeneralAssemblyshallserveasthechiefspokespersonsandrepresentativesfortheundergraduatesoftheirconstituencies.3.SenatorsoftheGeneralAssemblyshallremainaccessibleandaccountabletotheirconstituents.”SenatorMubarakhasfailedtoactingoodfaithasachiefspokespersonandrepresentativeofhisconstituencybyfailingtobeaccessibleandaccountabletohisconstituency.Althoughthesponsorclaimsthatresolution48-R-43isnotchargedataspecificnationalityorpeople,thisresolutionmirrorsthefundamentalprinciplesthattheBoycott,Divest,Sanctions(BDS)movementcampaigns.Thismovementisananti-Israelmovementbasedonanti-Semitism.ThecallfordivestmentfromthethreecompaniesoutlinedintheresolutionspecificallytargetIsraelandnothumanrightsviolationsasawhole.AlthoughwesupportthewithdrawalofOhioState’sinvestmentsincorporationscomplicitinhumanrightsviolations,theresolutionpresentedhereisflawedformanyreasonsandadditionallyfails


toproperlyidentifyallcorporationswhichviolatehumanrightsthroughtheworld.Forthisreason,weurgetheyoutovotenoonresolution48-R-43.”BDSdisguisesitselfasahumanrightsresolution.Thisinhibitsconstructivedialogueamongdiversepartiesseekingasolutiontothiscomplexissue.Weshouldbeaskingouruniversityforitscurrentinvestmentsandtransparencyinthoseinvestments,notjustinIsrael,butacrosstheworld.Iurgeyoutovotenoon48-R-43.

i. Mubarak:Haveyouemailedme?ii. Kramer.423:Alsono.iii. NotesfromtheSecretary:Atthebeginningofthe48thGeneralAssemblyterm,the

Dentistryseatwasvacant.VicePresidentAbbyWaidelichreleasedapplicationsfortheDentistryseatandsubmittedapplicationswerereviewedbytheGeneralAssemblySteeringCommittee.EligibleapplicantswerethenbroughttotheGeneralAssemblyfloorforreview.SenatorMubarakwasconfirmedbytheGeneralAssemblyafterhisreviewintheFallSemesterof2015.TheGeneralAssemblyVacancyProcedurescanbefoundinArticleXIIIoftheStandingRulesoftheGeneralAssembly(https://usg.osu.edu/posts/documents/doc_4112015_18121428.pdf) whichcanbefoundontheUSGwebsite.

g. MahmoudAbdel-Rasoul.1:Istartedouthereasundergraduatestudentin2001andIhavebeenamemberoftheOSUcommunityfor15yearsnow.ThisisnotapersonalstoryaboutadministrativedetentionsorthepopulationofGazaonadietoraboutthe4-5yearoldchildwhojusthadhislife’sdreammetbymeetingCristianoRonaldoafterhehadhisparentsburnedalive.No.Nopersonalstories.I’mgoingtotellyouwhyyouguysmatterandwhyyou’vebeenreceivinglettersfromUnitedStatescongresspeople.I’mnotsureiftheyhavecontactedyoubeforeonaresolution,butIdoubtit.HasanyoneelsereceivedcorrespondenceonthisorwhatUSGhasvotedon?Yes?Ok.Nevermind.Luckilyforyou,runningforUSGsenatedoesn’tcostmoney.Assoonasitcostsmoney,whenyou’rerunningtobethefutureleadersofAmerica,itwillthencostmoney.Onceitstartscostingmoney,theninfluencestartsplayingarole.YoujustsawtheAIPAC(AmericanIsraelPublicAffairsCommittee)Conference.HillaryClintonandDonaldTrumpandthefirstJewishcandidatetowinacampaignwenttoAIPAC.SandersisthefirstU.S.candidatetomentionjusticeforPalestinians.EveryonetalksaboutIsrael’srighttoexist,butnoonetalk’saboutPalestine’srighttoexist,thePalestinianwatershortage,etc.Butyouhaven’tbeeninfluencedyet.Youhaven’thadtheopportunitytogoontrademissions.IfyouhavegoneontrademissionstoIsrael,andhadpeopletellthemtoseewhat’sgoingonthere,thatistheequivalentofKFCtakingyoutoachickenfarmtoseehowtheytreattheirchickens.IurgeyoutoreadaboutwhatSandershassaidaboutPalestinians.Bothpartiesandtheoneissuetheyagreeon.It’sironic.TheyallparadedtoAIPACtopledgeallegiancetoaforeigngovernment.

i. Weisman:Youmentionedthatthere’sneveranytalkaboutPalestinians’righttoexist.CanyoupointtoanywhereintheresolutionthatpointstoIsraeliliveslostinconflict?


ii. Abdel-Rasoul.1:Icannot,buttheUnitedStatesissupposedtobeapurveyorofpeace

who’ssupposedtobenegotiatingpeacebetweenIsraelandPalestineandallcandidatespledgeallegiancetooneside.DonaldTrumppretendstobeneutralandgetsattackedfordoingsoandtryingtobrokeragreementsbetweenpeople.

iii. Weisman:Soifwe’rebeingneutralhere,howisthislegislationthatonlymentionsPalestinianliveslostisneutralforus?

iv. Abdel-Rasoul.1:Sometimespeoplegetcarriedawaywiththepowertheyhave.17and18year-oldsareconscriptedintotheIsraeliarmyanddon’trecognizetheharmdonebyconscripting17-18year-olds.Maybeit’sIsrael’sbestinterestfortheUnitedStatestopushthemalongandpromotebetterPalestinianrights.

v. Cramer:Isthespeakerawareofanyoneinthisroomwhoisaforeignpolicyexpert?(Pointoforder).Withdrawn.

vi. Kerbel:HowdoestheU.S.notsupportPalestinianhumanrightsandhowhavenoneofthecandidateshavesupportedthem?Areyouawarethatin1993,formerPresidentBillClintonhadYitzhakRabinandMahmoudAbbasshakehandsonWhiteHouselawntryingtobrokerpeacetreatyonbothsides?

vii. Abdel-Rasoul.1:JohnKerryandHillaryClintonwenttoIsraelforasettlementfreeze,butbothwereattackedbyIsrael’ssettlementbuildingsannouncedduringtheirvisit.ImentionedPalestinianhumanrights.I’madualcitizenofUSandPalestinebuttheU.S.StateDepartmentdoesn’tassistPalestiniancitizenswhohaveU.S.citizenshipiftheyhaveissueswithIsrael.I’mpointingoutthatnotonlydoestheU.S.notnecessarilysupportus,thepublicpolicydoesnotsupportPalehumanrightsinthewaythatitwouldattempttosupporthumanrightsinCuba,doesn’tnotsupportrightofUScitizensiftheyhavePalestinianbackgroundandIsraeldiscriminatesagainstthem.

h. AbigailNewburger.4:I’mafourth-yearJewishStudiesmajorandIliveoffcampus.Thisconversationhastobediscussedlongerthanjusttonight.It’smorecomplicatedthanitsportrayal.Thereneedtobefree-flowingideasandwehavetolookdeeperintothisbeforerushingthisdecision.It’shorrificforustostripawayfromthem.Iurgethechambertovotenoandlookdeeper.Ifwehopeforpeacewecan’ttakeastepbackbyacceptingthis.Wemusttakeastepforwardandlookahead.IwanttoseePalestiniansandIsraelisgoingtofootballgamestogetherandinvestinpeace.IwanttoseeOSUstudentsbuildprogramswherePalestinianandIsraeliyouthcancometogetherforacommoncause.Iwanttoseeeveryoneinthisroomatonelongtabletogether.ImagineanEndHateOSUcampaignthatbringsstudentstogethertodiscusspeacefuldialogue.IttakesIsraeliandPalestiniankidstomakedialoguenaturalandproductivetoinspirefutureleadersandpeacemakersofourtime.Weshouldinvestinorganizationsthatprovidetheseservicesregardlessofwhotheyare.Iwantyoutoseethefutureisbrightbydoingthis.Butthefutureisdarkifwepickaside.Weshouldnot.JoinmeinprotectingOSUstudents.Joinmeinprotectingpeaceandunity.Let’scometogether.


i. Bodey:Thespeakermentionedcampsandotheropportunitiesforstudentstotalktoeachother.CouldthespeakerpleaseelaborateonfurtherideasshemayhavetobringOSUstudentstogetherfrombothsidesoftheconflict?Iwouldalsoaskthespeakertocontactmeinwriting,butIwanttohearthemnow.

ii. Newburger.4:Ofcourse,I’dbehappytosendthesetoyou.Ithinkweshouldencouragepeacefuldialoguethroughopenforumratherthanspeakerswherepeopleattackthespeakerorotherstudents.Thereshouldbefreeandrespectfuldialoguewitheveryoneinthisroom.

i. HannahPierce.409:I’mafourth-yearpoliticalscienceandstrategiccommunicationsmajorandIliveoffcampus.IaminvolvedinmysororityandBuckeyePac.IamayoungprogressiveDemocrat.Ihavealwayswantedtochangetheworldandmakeitbetter,andthathasalwaysbeenmygoalinlife.AllIwantedsinceIwaslittletosavetheworld.IamastrongprogressiveyoungDemocrat.Myviewchangedin2001on9/11asafirstgraderinNYC.Securityincreasedeverywhereandtheoverwhelmingpolicepresenceatmysynagogueincreased.MybestfriendinthefirstgradewasaMuslim.HowcouldtheywhoemigratedfromIndiabesodiscriminatedagainst?Thatchangedmyworldview.Isawinjusticeeverywhereandsawthatdesiretofightagainstinequalityandmistreatment.Therewasinequalityandmistreatmentofwomen.IadmireIsraelbecauseithasthebesttrackrecordintheMiddleEastfortreatmentofwomen.Israelwasthefirsttoelectawomanpresident.It’snumberoneforsafeabortions.Ifightforrightsoncampus,butIdon’tseethisasawaytofightforsocialjustice.Divestingcreatesdivisiveimagethatdoesn’tallowfordialogue.Withdivestment,youwon’thearitperiod.500Palestinianslosttheirjobsmorethan10timesinthearea.WithoutthatSodaStreamincomeemployingindividuals,theyarenolongerabletoprovidefortheirfamilies.Andthat’sduetopressurefromtheBDSmovement.IwanttohelpthePalestinianpeople.Iwantthemtohavehealthcareandfood,andassistanceinhealthcare.IbelieveinastrongPalestinianstateandIsraelistate.IamayoungprogressivefemaleandIbelievethekeytohumanrightsanddemocracyisthroughIsrael.Wemakestrideswhenweworkwithherandnotdivest.Votenoonthisresolution.

j. JulianaWishne.1:IamapoliticalsciencemajorandIliveoffcampus.IamCo-PresidentatOSUHillel.ThissummerIwillbeworkingatanimmigrationlawfirmspecializinginimmigration.IamreadingaquotefromtheTorah,“Tzedek,tzedektirdorf,”whichstates“Justice,justiceshallyoupursue.”WhatisjustandfairisunequivocalsupporttoIsraelandhumanrights.PartoftheworkwedoinHillelistoserveasaliaisonandspreadknowledgeoftheworkwedo.Wehaveamultitudeofeventstopromotediscourse,includingaconcertwithMatisyahuandPalestinianartistNadimAzzamnextMondayat8pm.Eventslikethisareopentoconversationsinasettingofpeaceandunderstanding.WefosterthatenvironmentwithinHillel.IamaliberalJewwhoiscriticalofIsraelaswell,butifwewanttogettotheheartoftheissueofhumanrightsissues,thisisnotit.Iwanttoworkona


dinneranddialoguewithEndHateOSUtopromotethis.Iurgeyoutovotenoorabstainfromvoting.

k. NoahPortman.19:IamathirdyearinEnvironmentalEngineering.Thisismyfirsttimespeakingtoyouall,andit’sgreattosharepersonalinsightsandlistentosomanyuniqueanddiverseopinions.IamaJewandIwasbornaJew.IhaveastrongconnectionwithlandofIsrael.ThelasttimeIwasthere,afewmonthsago,IwasinthesoutherncapitalofBaryshevainastudyabroadprogramonsustainabledevelopmentofwaterintheMiddleEast.There,IdiscoveredthatIsraelisattheforefrontofscienceandtechnology.Israelcanserveasamodelfortheworld’sincomingwatercalamities.Israelismadeupof60%desert,yetithassolvedwaterscarcityproblemsandhasexceededabundance.Ididresearchinstate-of-the-artlabswheretechnologyandsolarcelldevelopmenthaspreparedusforanuncertainenvironmentalfuture.Therearehundredsoffacultyandstaff,withArabMuslimsandJewsworkingtogether.Abstainingfromvotingtonightisnotsignofweaknessbutasignoflackofinformation.Aresolutionshouldnotdestroyrelationshipswitheachother.Wemustinvestineachother.Thisdoesnotneedtowaitanothergenerationbutmustbegintoday.Chooselifeandchoosetofosterconnectionsathome.Inordertoenhancelifeeverywhereforeveryone,wemustrecognizeourownwrongdoings.Ibelievethattheneedforjointempathyandcollaborationisfargreatertoensurethewell-beingandcollaborationofbothnationsformanyyears.

i. Mubarak:ThankyouforspeakingaboutyourloveforIsraelandthescienceandtechnologyadvancements.AreyouawarethatthisresolutionsupportsdivestmentfromcompaniesandnotfromIsrael?

ii. Portman.19:Yes,butI’mspeakingtoprogressinIsraelinscienceandtechnology.iii. Mubarak:DoyouunderstandthatthisisnotdivestingfromIsrael,butfromthese

companies?iv. Portman.19:Understood.

l. Anani.3:Iamajuniorinhighschool.Formywholelife,I’vebeenaBuckeye.AttendingOSUwasalwaysalifegoalandsomethingI’mlookingforwardto.However,withrecentdevelopments,IfindmyselffacingamoraldilemmaasaPalestinianandproudAmerican.Manyfriendsandfamilyhavebeendrivenfromtheirhomes,demolishedbyCaterpillarbulldozersandHPandG4S.Withmuchdifficultyandpain,IdecidedthatIcan’tcontributeasinglepennyofmytuitiondependentonthedestructionofmyownfamily,asacitizenofmycountryorasamemberofthehumanrace.Don’tmakethemistakethatOSUdidwithSouthAfrica.Beattheforefrontofprogress.We’renotaskingforanythingradicalorpro-Palestinian.Weareaskingtomaintaintheneutralitythatitpledges.TheUNandStateDepartmenthavedeclaredthatsettlementswithintheWestBankareillegal.Toaidthemisimmoral.AskOSUtodivestfromthesethatcontributetohumanrightsviolations.Contributetojusticeandvoteyesonthis.

i. Kerbel:ThespeakermentionednotmakingthesamemistakethatOSUmadewithSouthAfrica.IsthespeakersayingthatIsraelisequivalenttoSouthAfrica?


ii. Anani.3:Iamnotattackinganation.SouthAfricaishometomanyhumanrights

violations.TheexistenceofhumanrightsviolationsinWestBankisnotaquestionit’safact.Therearecompaniesthatareassistinginviolationofhumanrights.OSUcontinuedtoinvestintheSouthAfricanapartheidwhichviolatedhumanrights.OSUshouldnotcontinuetoinvestinanotherviolationofhumanrights.

m. 2minutespeakinglimitREINSTATED.n. NimaDahir.13:Iamaseniorstudyingmathandeconomics.I’dliketoshiftour

conversationawayfromlogisticsandontothediscussionofmoralresponsibility.Thisisacentralquestionofvalue.Short-termlossforcorporationsandpotentiallyforOSUstudents,IsraeliandPalestinianworkers.Let’stakeastepbackandweheardaboutApartheidinSouthAfrica.WesawthattheymadelittleprogressinApartheidforalmostadecadeforittobeeffectiveinregimechange.Thoseadministratorsusedthesamemethodsofsayingno—politicalbacklashandthedesiretoremainneutral.Inthequestionofjusticethereisnosuchthingasneutrality.OhioState’smottoistheLatinphraseDisciplinaincivitatem,meaningeducationthroughcitizenship.Weshouldtakeprideinthesewordsanduseourvoicesandourvotestostandalwaysonthesideofjustice.Let’sbringactionintoexistence.VotingforthismeanshonoringPalestinianlivesandourgreatschool’smotto.Alotofstudentsheardlate80sand90sinstateagainstApartheidinSouthAfrica.Dotherightthingandvoteyesonthisresolution.RepresentthevoicesofsomanystudentsattheUniversity.

o. MotiontosuspendquestionsfortherestofopenforumFAILED.p. BaselAnani.2:I’mgoingtomakeafewcommonsensepoints.Firstoff,OSUisan

educationalinstitution.TherearePalestinians,Israelis,AfricanAmericans,andwhites.Allraces.However,OSUisinvestedin3companies.Whatdoesthatinvestmentmean?Wegenerallyseekprofitbutalsoabitofsupportfortheactionsofthatcompanybasically.WhatweseeherethroughCaterpillarassistingintheexpansionofsettlementsinIsrael,G4Sinbiometricidentificationsystems,whatweseeisOSUistakingasideinthisconflict.BydivestingthemoneyfromthesecompanieswhatweareaimingtodoissupportPalestiniansorgoingagainstIsrael,howeverthatpointcan’tbefurtherfromthetruth.OSUasaninstitutionthatshowsfavorforoneendofthespectrumoranother.Anotherpointisthemoralityissue.AsweknowallaroundtheWestBankarethemultitudeofhumanrightsviolations.I’vebeentoPalestinemyself.Alotofpeoplecan’tgetacleancupofwaterfromfaucet.Theycan’tfarmontheirownlandanddon’thavefreedomofmotion.Allofthesearehumanrightsviolations.

q. ConnieHammond.175:IamagraduateofOSU,butIamnotastudentrightnow.IamheretospeakonbehalfoftheJewishVoiceforPeaceCentralOhiochapter.Iamspeakingwiththeadviceandconsentofourlocalandnationalleadership.OurmembersandnationalJVPstandshouldertoshoulderwithOSUDivest.ThisisaresponsetothecallsforPalestiniancivilsocietyandchurchesofIsraelandPalestinebecausetheycontributetoandprofitfromtheillegaloccupationofPalestinians,expansionofsettlements,andblatantdisregardfor


humanrights.AmemberofthepublicstatedthatdivestmentmovementlikeOSUDivestisnotanti-SemiticbutiscompletelyalignedwithJewishvalues.Endsystematicandhumanrightsviolations,anintolerablerealityunderIsraeligovernmentcontrol.ActinnonviolentsolidaritywiththepeopleofPalestine.AsJVPmembers,weaskthatyouactandvoteyes.Divestingfromcompaniescanpositivelytransformandputanendto,counter,andstartafoundationforjustandlastingpeace.Thankyouforlookingatthisdifficultissue.

r. YasmeenRamahi.3:Iamasecond-yearstrategiccommunicationsmajorandIcomeherenotasaPalestiniannorasanArabbutratherasahuman.Thecompanieswe’reaskingOSUtodivestfromareonesthatarebreakinginternationallaw.Ipleadforhumanityandbasicmorals.Takeitasanethicalnotpoliticalmovement.OSUhasahandinatrocitiesandviolationsofhumanrights.Thisisnotpro-Palestineorpro-Israel,butpro-human-life.PlaceOSUinaneutralstancebydivesting.Pleasevoteyestodivest.

s. AmberHussain.99:Iamnotheretomakeacommentoneitherside’sactions,butonthisprocessbyUSG.Ihopethatyou’vetakentheseweekstothinkabutthelastUSGmeeting,lookattheresolution,lookatotherschoolswhohavesucceeded,andformulatealogicalstandpointontheissue.Twoweeksago,Isawsomesenatorsprematurelystatingdiscomfortanduneasewithpassingsuchadivisiveissue.There’salreadydivision.Onesideisunheard,ignored,andcriminalized.They’refinallyspeakingoutandthey’rebeingcriminalized.It’seasytobepatientwhentheissueisn’tpersonal.

t. AlexaRittenberg.2:TheworddivestmentitselfisdemonizingIsrael,andhasaconnectiontoBDS.IttargetsIsrael’sallegedillegaloccupation.BDSandtheresolutioncomedowntoacoreproblemofdelegitimizingIsrael’srighttoexistasanation-state.It’snosecretthatdivestmentlegislationhasbeenpassedthroughstudentgovernmentsthathavebeenseeminglyunpointed.Theyharmthecampusclimate.BDSresolutionshavepassedandmanystudentsfeeluncomfortablespeakingoutasitthreatenstheirsecurity.StatementsmadebyOSUDivestshowanti-Semitismfromotheruniversitiesacrossthecountryaswell.PeaceintheMiddleEastwillnotbemadebyorganizationswhoseektoundermineanddelegitimize.Thepathtopeacewillnotbemadebynarrow,targetedthingsorbyunderminingadministrativeauthorityandnotcreatingconstructivedialogue.SimilarlyIhaveapacketherewithhundredsofsignaturesfromundergraduateswhodonotsupportthisresolutionandwantyouguystovoteno.

i. Singh:Doesthespeakerhavecopiesofthatpackettobedistributed?ii. Rittenberg.2:Ido.Ihavecopiesforeverybody.iii. Belfiglio:Ijustwanttoverifythatallthesignaturesarefromundergraduate

students.Howdidyoucollectthem?iv. Rittenberg.2:Allofthemareundergraduatesignaturesandtheywerecollected

onlineforstudentswhocannotbeheretonight.v. Mubarak:WhereontheCJPwebsitedidyoufindthatinformation?vi. Rittenberg.2:Icannotanswerthat.Actually,canIanswer?Itwasthefactpageon

theirwebsite.


vii. Frank:Doyouknowhowmanysignaturesareonthisdocument?viii. Rittenberg.2:About400.

u. LoretteAlami.2:IamathirdyearmajoringinPublicHealth.Iurgesupportforthisresolution.AsaChristianminorityandPalestinian,Iammadthatismadeintoareligiousmatter.ThisisnotJewsversusMuslims.It’samatterofjustice.Itexaggeratedandvilifiedthemeaningofdivestment.Divestmentissimple.It’stheoppositeofinvestment.IsraeldirectlybuildssettlementsintheWestBankandI’mconcernedofancestors’homeland.ThereisdemolitionofhousesfromCaterpillarbulldozers.Senatorsclaimthattheyhavetotalktotheirconstituentsfirstasifnoneofusintheroomaretheirconstituents.Alotdosupportdivestment.

v. BrittanyKahn.93:I'ma4thyearstudyingPublicAffairs.IamalsotheResidentManagerinBakerHallEast.Ifthere'sonethingI'velearnedinmyfouryearsworkingforResidenceLifehereatOhioState,it'stheimportanceofinclusiveenvironments.Ihaveseenthedifferenceitcanmakewhensomeonefeelsincluded.I'vehadtheprivilegetoseestudentsofAfricanheritagefeelmorewelcomeandembracedinmybuildingbecausewedidaKwanzaaprogram.I'veseenLGBTQstudentsfeelcomfortableenoughtocomeoutandsharetheiridentityataresidencelifeprogramaboutLGBTQissuesbeforethey'vesharedtheiridentitieswiththeirownfamiliesandfriends.I'vewatchedinternationalstudentswhostruggledtonavigatetheirnewenvironmentgrowintoactivecommunitymemberswhotakejoyinsharingtheircultureswiththeirnewon-campusfamily.ThisisalltosaythatResidenceLife,andthisuniversityingeneral,workbestwheneffortsaremadetobeasinclusiveaspossible.Divestmentistheantithesisofinclusion.Manyofthestudentswhoareadvocatingforthisanti-IsraelresolutionwantyoutobelievethatDivestmentisinthebestinterestfortheOhioStatecommunity.TheywilltellyoustoriesabouthowtheyhavesufferedasaresultoftheIsraeli-Palestinianconflict,andIambynomeansdenouncingthelegitimacyoftheirpersonalnarratives.However,tothepeoplewhowillbevotingtonight,Iaskyou,doyoureallythinkthatthisanti-SemiticresolutionisthebestthingforOhioState?Andyes,Iusedthewordanti-Semitic.ThisresolutionisracistagainsttheJewishpeople.Therearemanypeoplewhowantyoutobelievethatthisisanissueabouthumanrights,andithasnothingtodowithJudaismoranti-Semitism.TothemIsay,youdonotgettodefinewhatanti-Semitismis.IamaJewishperson,anditisbothmyrightandmyresponsibilitytospeakoutwhenthereisanattempttodelegitimizeandtargettheJewishnation.ThisresolutiontargetsaJewishstate.TheonlyJewishstate.IhavetherighttosaywhenmyJewishpeersandIareexperiencinganon-inclusiveenvironment.Youdonotgettospeakformyexperiences,writemyownhistory,ordictatemyownlanguage.Thoseofyouwhodisagreewithme,thoseofyouinthisroomwhohavethenervetorolltheireyeswhenthetermanti-Semitismismentioned,Iaskyou,whatgivesyoutherighttodefinewhatanti-Semitismis?WhatgivesyoutherighttofeelmoreentitledtomystorythanIam?Iwouldneverattempttospeakforanothercommunity.Iwouldneverattempttospeakonbehalfoftheblackcommunity,orsaywhatisorisnotracistagainstpeopleofcolor,


becauseIamnotapersonofcolor.Sodon'tdothesametomeandtheentireJewishcommunitybytryingtosaywhatisorisn'tanti-Semitic.Allowmetotellanotherstory:lastyear,atUCLA,asecond-yearstudentnamedRachelBeydawasatameetingconfirminghernominationtoherschool’sJudicialBoard,anentitythatoperatessimilartoOhioState’sJudicialPanel.Inthemiddleofthemeeting,amemberoftheirstudentcouncilaskedMs.Beyda,“GiventhatyouareaJewishstudentandveryactiveintheJewishcommunity,howdoyouseeyourselfbeingabletomaintainanunbiasedview?”ImaginebeingRachelinthatsituation.Imaginebeingtold,inthemiddleofyourattempttojoinaprestigiousandinfluentialorganizationatapublicuniversity,thatyourreligiousandculturalidentityisaconflictofinterestthatgoesagainstyourabilitytobeunbiased.Andno,noneoftheothercandidatesinthisprocesswereaskedquestionslikethis.Eventually,Ms.BeydawasnominatedtotheBoardandtheelectedstudentwhoaskedtheoffensivequestionissuedapublicapology,butthewavesofanti-Semitismwerefeltacrossthecountry.ItellthisstorytonightbecauseIdonotwantOhioStatetobelikeUCLA.IdonotwantustogettoaplacewherestudentsinelectedpositionsfeelthatitisokaytoquestiontheloyaltiesandleadershipqualitiesofJewishstudentsbecauseofcontentioussituationsregardingdivestmentresolutions.TheonlywaytoprotectourstudentsfromthisscaryfutureistofirmlyrejectanyattemptstotargettheJewishstate.Thoseofyouwhowillbevotingtonight,IaskyouthinkaboutwhyIsraelinparticularisbeingtargeted.Itisnotrandom.Itisnotforthegoodoftheworldasawhole.AssenatorsfortheUndergraduateStudentGovernment,youeachhaveanobligationtorepresentyourconstituentsandworktomakesurethatOhioStateisaninclusivespace.Tonight,whenIgobacktotheresidencehallthatIputmyheartandsoulintomakingsureisawelcomingandinclusivespace,ItrulyhopeIcangotobedknowingthatthisresolutionthatisracistagainsttheJewishpeoplewasturneddown.ItisinappropriateforUSGtopassananti-Semiticresolution,andbadforthisuniversityasawhole.

i. Mubarak:Thankyouforexpressingyourconcerns.Wasthereaparticularclauseinresolutionthatmadeyouuncomfortable?

ii. Kahn.93:Thefactthatit’stargetingIsraelismybasisfortheclaim.iii. Mubarak:Whereintheresolutiondoesitdoso?iv. Kahn.93:TheentireresolutionistargetedatcompaniesthatdobusinessinIsrael.

w. KyleBader.79:IamafreshmanonSouthcampusandI’mfromToledo,OH.BDSdidcometoUniversityofToledo.IwasaskedtocomerepresenteventhoughtIwasn’tastudentatToledotoseehowthingswentdown.Idon’twanttosharemypersonalBDSopinionbutwanttospeakonfact.Studentjusticesruledthatitbroketheconstitutionandtheresolutionnevermadetodebateorvote.BDSthenbroughtinanoutsidelawyertothreatenthestudentgovernment,thenitwenttothefloorandpassed.ItwasthenvoteddownbytheBoardofTrusteesandbroughtupasareferendumatathirdmeetingandfailed.Now,therewere3meetingsrelatedtotheUSGandBDSresolution.SomethingthathappenedinthirdmeetingwasthattheUSGpresidentwasnotpresentandhedidnotrunthismeeting.


Why?Hewasthatstressedoutandhadthatmuchanxietyfromthisresolution.Itwascausinghimthatmuchstress.HedecidedhedidnotwanttorunthisthirdmeetingandthustheVicePresidentranit.Iwasthereforallthreemeetings.Ibelieve,alongwithcitycouncilmenthatwerethere,andformerToledoMayerwhowastheformerUSGPresidentandspokethatthemostproductivewaytocounterthisdivisivenessoncampusistovotenoonthisresolution.Thereshouldbeapeacefuldiscussiononthisheatedandpoliticalissue.

x. RavleenKaur.107:IamaPublicAffairsstudentwholivesoffcampus.Lastyear,OSUDivestproposedaninitiativetosupportdivestmentthatgarneredover3,000studentsignatures.Itwasn’tputontheballot.AndsomepeoplehavesaidJewishstudentsmayfeelunsafeafterpassingofthisresolution,butit’sokayforaUSGmembertothreaten4timestocallpolice?

y. Waidelich:Pleasedonotattackmembersofthechamberandkeepcommentsrelevanttothediscussion.

z. Kaur.107:I’mjustsayingthepolicewascalledonusfornoreason.Racialgroupsandotherminoritiesfacethesamefearsoncampusandwealsofacemicroaggressions.WefeelunsafebecausefamiliesinPalestinefeelunsafe.Divestmenttargetsthesecompaniesanddoesn’tstandforhate.Iknowwhatit’sliketofeelhateasaSikhpersonandneverwanttogarnerhate.

i. Kerbel:ThespeakerissayingthatthingsinWestBankisagenocidecomparedtoSikhgenocidethathappened?

ii. Kaur.107:ImentionedSikhgenocideasanexampleofhate,althoughmanypeoplewouldarguethatthereis.

aa. (NotefromtheSecretary:Duringthe23rdSessionoftheGeneralAssemblytwoweekspriortothe24thSession,theParliamentarianremindedmembersofthepublicthatpartofhisjobdescriptionasParliamentarianiscallingthepoliceshoulddiscussiongetoutofhandorshouldtherebeexcessivedisruptioninthechamber.WeapologizeastheGeneralAssemblyifthisseemedlikewewerecallingthepolice,orweregoingtocallthepolicebecausetherewasabnormalpublicturnoutinthechamber.Asrepresentatives,weliketoseestudentsinvolvedandappreciatewhenmembersofthepubliccometospeak.However,weneitherexpect,nordowepresume,thatallmembersofthepublicreviewtheStandingRulesoftheGeneralAssembly(https://usg.osu.edu/posts/documents/doc_4112015_18121428.pdf) whichorareimmediatelyfamiliarwithhowthechamberoperates.Therefore,atsessionswithlargeturnouts,itisthedutyoftheParliamentariantoreviewtherulesofthechamberandspeakonhisduties.)

bb. DeenaSchwen.3:IamanOSUstudent.Iwanttostressmanypointsinoppositiontotheresolutionareinfactadistractiontowhattheresolutionactuallyreads.Itdoesn’ttakeastanceagainstIsraelorIsraelicompanies.The3companiesarenotIsraelicompanies.Humanrightsviolationsnotcontroversial,andthereareno2sides.Thefactisthat2companiesareprofitingoffhumanrightsviolationsandhappentobetowardsPalestinians.Manyviewingtheresolutionfeelthatit’scontroversial,butifcorporationsaresponsoring


humanrightsviolationstowardsIsraelisorothers,thenthereshouldbearesolutiontodothat.Thisresolutionwouldsetaprecedentforthat.Wewouldnolongerbecontributingtotheoppressionofhumans.Votingnoorabstainingisstayingcomplicitinthat.Voteyestodivest,voteyesforjustice.

cc. TimothyAdams.1254:IamanOSUgraduateandampartoftheInternationalSocialistOrganizationandIsupportthedivestmentresolution.There’sbeentalkaboutanti-Semiticbehavioratotheruniversities.Thereisnoevidencethatlinksdivestmenttohatecrimesofanykind.Therearehatecrimesonlotsofcampuses,butit’softenthelocalstudentsforjusticeinPalestineandlocalchapteranddivestmentcampaignthatspeaksmostvocallyagainstthathatecrime.WhenPurduehadswastikasoncampus,itwasthepro-Palestinianstudentswhocirculatedsignaturescondemningthathateoncampus.Thedivestmentmovementlocallyandnationallypromotespeaceandnothate.Anyotheruniversitythathaspasseddivestmenthasadiverserangeofinterestssignedontoit.Divestmentisnotinherentlyanti-Semitic,butrepresentsawiderangeofviews.SayingthaterasesthefactthatJewishVoicesforPeace,anationalorganizationwithover50,000membersthatviewdivestmentassomethinginlinewithJudaicvalues,supportit.Ialsowanttoaddresstheclaimthatdivestmentisdivisive.It’sinterestingthatmanyofopponentshavetalkedaboutdivisivebutnothow.That’sbecauseit’snotdivisive.ButIwillsaythatweliveonadividedcampus.Wecometoacampusdividedbybigotry,transphobiaandothers.

i. Cramer:I’mcuriousaboutthis:iftheyfoundoutswastikasallaroundcampus,whatisthatifnotanincreaseinanti-Semiticbehavior?

ii. Adams.1254:PossiblythemainstreamPresidentandriseoftheright-wingpartiesacrossworldwhichtargetMuslimsandJews.

iii. Cramer:CanthespeakergivethedatewhenthishappenedatPurdue?iv. Adams.1254:Can’tgiveexactdatebutwithinlast2months.

dd. Motiontoextendspeakingtimeto3minutesPASSED.ee. DaniellaEglash.2:Iamasecond-yearstudyingPsychologyandpre-medandIliveoff

campus.IaminvolvedinGlobalHealthInvestmentandtheMountLeadershipSociety.Ivalueindividuals.ThisresolutiondemonizestheAfricanAmericanidentityandJewishpeople.I’vetraveledtoPolandandwalkedfootstepsofmillionsofmyancestorsandborewitnesstomillionsofdeathsofhumans.Then,ItraveledtoIsraelandsawthelightwhereallpeopleareacceptedforwhotheyare.Israelisalsosilencinghumanrightsatrocitiesthroughouttheworld.BysinglingouttheonlydemocraticstateintheMiddleEast,it’sdemonizingthehumanrightsthatweholdsodearlyasAmericans.Iurgeyoutovoteno.It’sbasedoffofBDS,whichisawell-fundedorganizationwhosemissionistodelegitimizeIsraelasanation-state.Ibelievewecanfindanotherresolutionthatdoesnotdemonizeandtargetstudentsatthisuniversity.Itdoesnotresolvetheissue—itexasperatesandpromotesanti-Semitism.Promotinghateandintoleranceisnottheanswer.

i. Mubarak:HowdoesdivestmentfromAmericanandBritishcorporationsdemonizeyouridentity?


ii. Eglash.2:DoIhavetoanswer?iii. Waidelich:No,youdonot.

ff. CarlySobol.13:Iamasecond-yearneurosciencestudentandIspentlastweekinIsraelworkinginanalternativespringbreakprogram.IhavesomecommentsIwanttoshare.ReturningfromIsraeljustafewdaysago,IsawpeaceinIsrael.IworkedwithpeoplefromArabandJewishbackgroundsforfirst-generationIsraelisataschool.Afterhearingfromamultitudeofhighschoolstudents,theimportanceofaJewishhomelandhasneverbeenmoreclear.TheJewishNationalFundisinvestedinraisingthenextgenerationofIsraelis—JewishorMuslim.EachclassroomhasaJewishandMuslimteacherandtheyteachstudentstoembracebothculturesandholidays.IwanttoleaveyouwithastoryfromanorganizationthatprotectsIsraelifarmsagainstraids.AmemberoftheIsraeliarmyprotectsotherfamily’sfarmsatnightafterwork.Iurgeyoualltolearnandthentakeaction.Iurgeyoutocontinuelearning.Wearenotreadytospringintoactionandresolvetheseissuesaswehavesomuchtolearn.Keepthestoryofvaluesofthesoldierprotectingfarmsandknowthatwecanpromotecoexistence.WeneedtotakestepsatOSUtopromoteunderstandingandpeace.

i. Mubarak:DidyouvisittheoccupationinPalestineortheWestBank?ii. Sobol.13:No,itwasnotsafetogointothoseareaswiththecollege-agestudentsand

securitywehad.gg. MarloHristovski.8:Themotivesof48-R-43mustbeconfrontedbecausewearemissinga

forestforthetrees.Tosithereandpretenddivestisnotanti-SemiticisridiculousbecauseIdon’tseehowitsupportsexistenceofJewishstate.ThisresolutionseekstounderminebothlegitimizationofJewishpeoplebutalsoprospectsofpeace.Divestmentseekstostranglepeace.EvenifnotdivestingfromIsraelorpeace,sendingdownwardpressuretothesecompaniesworkinginIsraelsowearepressuringIsrael.NoincentiveforIsraeltocreatepeacewithPales.Toalignwithresolutionistoalignwithmovementthatdoesnotseektoseebothsidesupliftedandthrived.ThisresolutionisolatesstateofIsrael.WeareBuckeyesandweareAmericansandquitefranklywearebetterthanthis.WhynotsitdownandcreatearesolutionthatseekstoupliftbothIsraelisandPalestinians?Iwouldsupportthat.

hh. QuinceGuttman.29:IcameupherebecauseIamaJewish-AmericanandIwouldliketoshedlightonwhatIfeelismostJewsinAmericaaretaughtthatIsraelisouronesafearea.WearetaughtthatIsraelistheonlythingstandingbetweenusandasecondholocaust.Whetherornotthatistrue,thatdoesnotexcuseIsraelfromthehumanitarianviolationsthatithasperpetrated.AnotherthingthatIhavelearnedfrombeingaJewish-AmericanisthatjusticerunsdeepineveryJew’sveins.That’swhatI’vebeentaughtandthat’swhatI’vebeenlearned.Justiceisacorepartofourbeing.Itwouldbeun-JewishIfeeltonotsupportdivestment.Isupportnothavingasecondholocaust.IdonotsupportIsrael’shumanitarianIforgetthewordI’msorryIjustcamefromanexamit’sbeenalongday.Idonotsupport


that.IsupporthavingaplaceforJewsandthatplacecanbetheUnitedStatesjustasmuchasitcanbeforIsrael.

ii. JanaAl-Akhras.3:Iamheretoappealtoyouasoneofyourconstituents.Liketheothersinthisroomwhosupportthisbill,nooneisaskingyouassenatorstosolvethePalestinian-Israeliconflict.Nopersoninsupportofdivestmentshouldbemakingacommentabouttheconflictorbringforthapersonalstory,becausethatdetractsfromtheissueathand.Itisadiversion,playingtoemotionsanddisregardingthefactsthathavebroughtustothisverymoment.Decadesofpeacetalkshavenotbroughtforthpeace,andthisbillifpasseddoesnotseektounderminethem.AsanOSUstudent,Isimplydonotwishtobecomplacentintheinvestmentofcompaniesthataidwarcrimes.Iaskyoutotakeahardlookatyourselfandrecognizethatyouarealienatingus.Yourconstituents,yourclassmates,yourpeers.Itispreposterousthattheterminologyusedtodescribeusinthisroomhasbeen“immigrants,”asifourhyphenatedidentitiesprovewhywearepassionateaboutthisissue.Asifwearesoeasilycategorizedwhenouridentitiesspanethnic,religious,racialandgenderboundaries.Itiseasytodisregardlegitimateconcernsbycallingthempoliticalstatementsinordertoforegodealingwiththem.Iaskyoutoconsiderwhythisissoimportanttous.Whatdowelosebyvotingyesonthisissue?Thisisonlyapolarizingissueifyoumakeitone.Attheendoftheday,investmentinacompanythatharmsothersaroundyouisaproblem,regardlessofityoupersonallyfeelasthoughyoucanrelatetothemornot.NothinghurtsPalestiniansandIsraelismorethanseparatingthemphysically.Nothingismoredamagingthancreatingdisproportionateinequalityintheireducation,housing,andsecurity.Bycommendingusforourbravery,youaretellingustobequiet,complacent,andthatyouarenotreadytoexamineourpainorexamineyourselves.Commendingbraveryiscodeforyouarespeakingfromanemotionalplace,andyourdiscomfortmakesusuncomfortable.Recognizethatthestatusquoisthenarrative.Itisillogicaltodiscountaviewpointasbiasedsolelybecausethestoryofadisenfranchisedpartyisbeingbroughttolight.Iftherearetrulytwosidestoeverystory,considerthepowerinlisteningtothesideofdivestmentandassessingitbasedonitsmeritsinsteadofyourpreconceivednotionsofthisinitiative.Wecannotdenystoriesthatmakeuswhoweare,butwecanworktowardsabetterfuture.SouthAfricanapartheiddidnothelpintegratecitizensandallowthemtounderstandeachother.Weknowalltoowellthatseparateisnotequal.WetriedthatinthiscountryandarestillsufferingfromtheeffectsofJimCrow.Voteyestodivest,andattheveryleast,remainneutralonthisissue.Wecannotclaimneutralitybycontinuingonthecoursethathasbeenlaidoutforus.Thereisnoequalityinasystemofoccupierandoccupied;colonizerandcolonized.Itiseasyfromapositionofpowertospeakfromaplaceofprivilegeinwhichyoudonotneedtoconsidertheeffectsofyouractions.TherhetoricthatArabsinherentlyhateJewsisracistinnature.ItreiteratesthenarrativethatArabsarenotintelligentorpragmaticenoughtoformopinionsoutsideofthishatethatissupposedlyinherent.Ifyouwantstudentstobevalued,considerthevoicesthatareaskingyoutoconsiderthisbill.Wehaveunitedbehindhuman


rightsandweaskyoutojoinus.Ifwearenotqualifiedtomakeforeignpolicydecisions,whyarewegivenavoteinageneralelection?Ifyoudonotthinkthatyouarequalifiedtomakeaforeignpolicydecisioninthischamber,thenIurgeyounottovoteinthegeneralelectioninthefall.Wedohavepower.I’maskingyoutotakethatpowerandconsiderthisbillinitsownright,freefromemotion.

jj. MotiontoendtheOpenForumforthePublicFAILED.kk. FuratAbdallah.51:Iamasecond-yearPharmacystudent.Ihavelivedmostofmylifein

PalestineandIwanttosharesomestoriesfromwhileIlivedthere.Asan8year-oldgirlIwenttoschooleverydayinfearofbeingsuffocatedbyteargas.IfearedeverydayandnightthatI’dbeavictimoftheIsraelioccupation.InsultsflungatmeandlifeofmybrothersbyIsraelivehicleswhohadpurposelyrunmybrotherover.Ithoughtaboutnotattendingschoolwhichhadbecomeanactofdefense.Palestinianhomesarebulldozedtomakewayforit.IfsonwantedtovisitfatherinhousehegrewupinhehadtogetapprovalfromtheIsraeliarmy,whichwashardtoget.Italsotakesatleastonedaytogettofather.Ilivedalifeundersiege.Ourrightswereviolatedandensureddeath.IalmostlostmybrotherwhenanIsraelisoldierpoppedupandshotmybrotherbutmissedthankfully.Storieswillalwaysvisuallyrememberthousandsofotherswhocurrentlysufferfromoccupation.Thisiswhyweshouldn’tsupportthese3companies.

ll. ElaineCleary.104:IamaproudJewofSocialandBehavioralSciencesandoffcampus.Iamcallingonmysenatorstovoteyesontheresolution.IamaJewwhobelievesintheJewishtraditionandfeelaccountabletorespondtothisresolution.IjoinwithJewsacrosscampuswhorealizewehavetostandinsolidarityagainstthosewhoseektosilencehumanrightsactivists.ThisresolutionseekstoharmAmericanandBritishcompanies,notIsraelanditstradepartners.Itonlyseekstoharmtradecompaniesthatarecomplicitinhumanrightsviolations.DivestmentdoesnotholdIsraeltohigherstandards.WhiletheU.S.isheldtolower,thisseekstocallonequalitytoabidebyinternationallaw.ItisintheJewishtraditiontoholdallgovernmentsaccountable.TheU.S.hasgivenIsraelafreepassandunconditionaldiplomaticsupporttotakePalestinianliveswithimpunity.TheresolutiondoesnotseektodemonizeIsraelbutdivestmentcallsonIsraeltoabidebyinternationallaw.Countrieshavecontinuallybeenlegitimizedbyabidingbyinternationallaw.Iaminspiredbythosewhotakepartinjusticeandfightforfreedom.

mm. SeemaSandhu.64:IamaPublicHealthstudent.Theissueofneutralityisnotsupportingeithersideinaconflict.IGoogledthedefinitionofneutrality.Rightnowwearetakingastance.RightnowtherearePalestinianhousesbeingdemolished.PalestinianswhodonothaveaccesstomedicalcareorhealthcarebecauseofHP’sbiometricidentificationsystems.Wedonotunderstandthatit’shappeningrightnowandthere’slegaldetainmentillegalunderinternationallaw.Pleaseunderstandanddigesttheideaofneutrality.Wearenotneutral.Theyarehurtingpeople.Thisisaseriousissueandweneedtoaddressit.Lookatthesecondpageoftheresolutiononline29.Theclausestatesthatmosteffectivewayforustoachieveneutralityisbyendingfinancialsupport.Thisclauseillustratesthatit’sby


divestingthatneithersideisbeingsupported.It’snottakingastance.It’ssayingthatwewanttobeneutralasOSU.Wearenotneutralrightnow.IwanttoaddressfactthatPalestiniansarebeingharmedandthisisnotforanyside.

nn. LeenAmin.103:IamastudentontheCommitteeforJusticeinPalestineandpeoplekeepsayingthatwedelegitimizeIsraelandsayingthatwedemonizeIsrael.ButourmissionstatementonourwebsitesaysthatweopposetheillegalIsraelioccupationofPalestineandthehumanrightsabusescommittedagainstthePalestinianpeople.TheCommitteeforJusticeinPalestineisademocraticstudentorganizationthatraisesawarenessthrougheducationactivismandopposeshumanrightsviolationsinPalestine.WeagreethatthePalestinianpeoplemustultimatelybeabletodecidetheirfutureinPalestine.Thefollowingprinciplesgroundedininternationallaw,humanrights,andbasicstandardsofjusticearefundamentaltoajustresolutiontotheplightofthePalestinians:AnendtocolonialsystemsofgovernanceintheWestBank,Gaza,andIsrael;anendtotheillegalIsraelimilitaryoccupationoftheGazaStrip,theWestBank,andEastJerusalem,perUNResolution242;anendtotheblockadeofhumanitarianaidtothePalestinianterritories;withdrawalandanendtoillegalIsraelisettlementsinPalestinianterritories;recognitionoftheRightofReturnforallPalestinianrefugeesandtheirdescendants,perUNResolution194;anendtotheIsraelisystemofapartheidanddiscriminationagainsttheindigenousPalestinianpopulation.WeaskthatIsraelstopcommittinghumanrightsabusesagainstPalestiniansandthatOSUwithdrawfromcompaniesthatcontributetotheseinPalestinefromIsrael.

oo. 20MINUTERECESSafteremergencywithSenatorMarchese.pp. Motiontoextendrecessby5minutesAPPROVED.qq. Rolecallvoteafterrecess.rr. GrantGoldberg.310:Iamathird-yearSportsIndustrymajorlivingoffcampus.Iamaboard

memberwithBuckeyesforIsraelandanemployeeofFusian.Myconcernisthebigdivisivenessfeltoncampus.ItisclearlyfeltandIfeelthattoday.Unfortunately,thisisnotthefirsttimeoncampus.Myfriendwhoaskedtobeanonymouswasatapro-IsraeleventandwasaggressivelyberatedaftervoicingsupportoftheJewishstate.SomeoneaggressivelyplacedahandonmyJewishfriendandheaskedmetowalkhimhomeduetohisfear.Thisisnotthefirsttimeandmyfearwiththisresolutionistheevidenceandstrongcorrelationoncampuseswhendivestmentispassed—thatcorrelationofdivestmentandanti-Israel,anti-Semitic,andanti-Zionistsentimentsandactionsoncampus.AnotheruniversityinwhichdivestmentpassedwasStanfordUniversity.MyfriendMollyatStanfordUniversitywantedtorunforstudentgovernmentandshehadtoundergoaninterview.There,shewasasked“GivenyourJewishidentity,howwouldyouvoteondivestment?”Shewasconfusedandaskedforclarification.TheysaidtheysawonherapplicationthatshehadaJewishidentityandaskedhowwouldthatimpactherdecisionondivestment.Shesaidshesupportednegotiationstotalkaboutthisandtakestepstowardpeace.ShealsorespondedthatsheisastrongJewishsupporterandopposeddivest.The


interviewwasthenprettymuchoverandshewasnotabletodefendherpoint.Thesearejusttwoexamplesofhowdivestwouldharmourcampus.Thankyou.

ss. Abdel-Rasoul.3:IamanOSUgradandI’mheretoclarifyafewmatters.Speakershavespokenaboutexperiences,studyingabroad,IsraelandhowbeautifulthatexperiencestudyingabroadinIsraelwas.Iwouldliketosharethataswell.However,notexactlylikethat.AftergraduatingfromOSU,Iwenttolawschoolandduringlawschool,Iappliedforstudyabroadlikemanyofyou.AnyoneofyoucangoanywhereincludingIsrael,butduetobiometricidentificationsystemsbyHP,IsraelknowsIamofPalestiniandescentandIcannotentertheirborders.HaifaUniversityinIsrael,whenIappliedforstudyabroad,deniedmebecausetheycouldn’tguaranteeIcouldgetintoIsrael.WeareAmerican,wearestudentslikeyou,wegoherelikeyouguys.Weshouldmakesurenocountrydiscriminatesagainstusandthatiswhatishappening.IsraeldiscriminatesagainstusasUScitizens.Manyofyouhavereceivedlettersfromcongressmenaboutdivestmentandvotingno.Theydon’tpayattentiontothefactthatdiscriminationbasedonidentityandnationaloriginarerejected.YoushouldnotbecorruptlikethesesenatorsandfollowthemoralsandvaluesthattheUSandourconstitutionstandsfor.

tt. MotiontocloseOpenForumat9pmFAILED.uu. Amendedmotiontocapthespeaker’slistoftheOpenForumforthePublic(requires

3/4vote)PASSED.vv. JoelyFriedman.312:Iamafourth-yearstudyingJournalismandIamthePresidentofthe

SocietyofProfessionalJournalistsatOSU.TherearesomecommentsclaimingthatIsraelisbreakinginternationallaw.Let’squestionthecredibilitythereforasecond.TheUNcreatesinternationallaw,andtheUNisthesameorganizationthatawardedSaudiArabiawithheadoftheHumanRightsCouncil.SaudiArabiaisacountrythathasnoideawhatdemocracyis.Weshouldconsiderwhocreatedtheseinternationallawssupposedlybroken.

ww. MayaSpector.45:IamafirstyearandI’mheretotellastoryaboutonesummernightin2006whenIvisitedIsrael.Wevisitedmygrandmotherandstayedwithherforanight.Thenextmorning,IrememberwakingtowhatIthoughtweremorningfireworks.Iremembermymother’sfacefullofterrorwhensherealizedwhatthesoundstrulymeant,thescreamsandpanicinmygrandmother’shomewhenwehadtopackupandleaveinstantly.Mygrandmotherrefusedtoleave,asshehadstayedinthathomesince1948.Irememberthetearsrunningdownmymother’scheekswhensherealizedthatshewouldneverconvincemygrandmotherofotherwise,thatshemaynoteverseehermotheragain.Asweleftmygrandmother’shouse,shetoldustoneverletfearwin.Drivingaway,Iwouldneveragainseeflowersinmygrandmother’sgardenormyfavoriteplaygrounddownthestreet.Mytenyear-oldself,uptothen,hadonlyseentheworldthroughrose-coloredglasses.ThatmorningwasthestartofthesecondLebanesewarin2006.Ididn’tknowwhatitmeanttoliveunderfire,whichAmericansdon’thavetodealwith.IwanttosupporthumanrightsforPalestiniansandwanttosupportthem,butwecannotforgetthehuman


rightsofIsraelis.ThecompaniesthatweinvestinsecureIsrael’sborders,andmakethemmoresafeonaday-to-daybasis.Withoutthese,Imayneverhavebeenabletoreturntomygrandmother’shome.

i. Mubarak:CouldthespeakerelaborateonhowPalestinianhomesbeingdemolishedandbeingtorturedaffectthesecurityofIsrael?

ii. Spector.45:Noresponse.xx. VidarThorsteinsson.1:IamagraduatestudentatOSUintheDepartmentofComparative

Studies.IhavebeenmoreorlessactiveinPalestiniansolidarityworkinmyhomecountryofIcelandforthepasttenyears,inUKduringmymastersdegree,inBelgium,andinIsrael,andI’vevisitedthePalestinianoccupiedterritoriesonthreeseparateoccasions.IalsodidPalestiniansolidarityworkinsideIsrael.ThePalestinianstruggleforhumanrightsisarelativelynewthinginAmericatodayin2015.InmostWesternEuropecountries,ithasbeendecadessincethePalestiniansituationhasbeenrecognizedasanurgentcauseforaction.Upholdingtheirrightsisn’taquestion,buttakenforgranted.Theirfearsandconcernsareunderstood.TheracistmicroaggressionsagainstJewsarerealconcernsbutthewaythey’vebeenportrayedareoutofproportionwhenwelookattheactualcontentoftheresolution.Thisresolutiondoesnotmakereferencetoanyone’snationalidentifyorindividualsorprofilethemordiscriminateagainsttheminanyway.It’simportanttotakeastandofhumanrightsforaparticularpopulation.That’showactivismworks.It’sbytakingastandonestandatatime.It’swhethertheresolutionisbasedonsoundprinciples,whichthisresolutionisandIencourageeveryonetoactuallylookatthetextoftheresolutionthatdispelsmyths.

yy. AndrewLin.849:I’mheretospeakonthenotionthatsupportinghumanrightsisanti-Semitic.Theonlyplaceforananti-Semiteisonthereceivingendofa--.Theideathatpassingthiswillexcludeapopulationofpeopledespitethefactthatwe’veheardfromsupportiveJewsisridiculous.Ifyoudon’tpassthisinfavorofhumanrights,youwillnotonlybeexcludingpeople,butyou’llbesayingthatPalestinianlivesdon’tmattertotheuniversityandthatisexclusionary.

zz. ArieVanderslais.3:Sayingthatanti-Semitismislimitedtophysicalviolenceisinsultingtomeandthehumanrightsyou’reworkingfor.IspentayearstudyingandvolunteeringinIsraelinthemiddleofadesertatownone-sixththesizeofouruniversity.Eachdaywasenrichingandbroughtasenseofpositivity.There,Idevelopedabrand-newpassionforsimpledialogue.Oneday,ItraveledtoamorediverseplaceupnorthandenteredaPalestiniancommunitywithskepticism—butIdiscoveredtheabsenceofhateanddesiretounderstandandreachpeace.IsatwithaPalestiniangirlanddiscussedmutualpassionanddesperationforpeace.Fordecades,bothpeoplehavelivedinanunfairreality.InnocentIsraelisandPalestiniansareputindangerousordeadlysituations.It’satragedy.It’satragedythat70%ofPalesintheWestBankareunemployed.It’satragedythatIsralelisareforcedtoleavetheirhome.It’satragedythatthousandsaremercilesslykilled.Divestmentwillonlyaffectinnocentciviliansatrootoftheseissues.


aaa. SandyBolzenius.2:IamanOSUalumofseveraldegrees.IamneitherIsraelinor

Palestinian,neitherJewishnorMuslim.IlikeeverybodyandIdon’twantanyonetosufferfromharmorexploitation.Settlementsareharmful.Iurgeyoutovoteyesonthisresolution.IamoldenoughtorememberthedisinvestmentsideforSouthAfrica.Itworkedontwodifferentlevels.ItbroughtwidespreadattentiontotreatmentofblackSouthAfricans.Ieducatedmyselfthroughdebatesanddiscussionsandmaterialsonthenewsandfromfriends.Thatforcedpositivechangethroughevenbusinessleadersandgovernmentleaderswhotookaction.ThebuildingofsettlementscontinuestocauseunconscionableharmtoPalestinians.It’swrongtotakethislandandtosupportthetakingofthisland.I’msureyouknowthatpositivechangedoesn’tcomefromthetop.Thestatusquoprofitsfromit.Changemuststartfromwethepeople.Supportdisinvestmentbecausethesettlementsaresowrong.

i. Weisman:I’daskthespeakertopleaseexplainhowapartheidinSouthAfricaissimilartoasituationinacompletelydifferentregionduringacompletelydifferenttimeandhowthosetwocouldberelatedtoeachother.

ii. Bolzenius.2:Idon’tseethemascompletelydifferent.There’sexploitationandtakingoftheland,similartoapartheid.

iii. Hooker:ThespeakermentionedIsraelisettlements.I’mwonderingwhattheyhavetodowiththisresolution.

iv. Bolzenius.2:Theresolutionisaboutsupportingdisinvestingfromcompaniesfundamentalto—maybenotfundamentalto,butinvolvedinthebuildingofthesesettlements.

bbb. NoahLeavitt.47:I’mreadingthisonbehalfofHannahNewburger,whocouldn’tbehererightnow.ThisisalettertoUSG.I’masecond-yearmathmajor.Iworkpart-timeattheOfficeofDisabilityServicesandamemberoftheGreenEngineeringScholarsprogram.Ispent9monthsabroad,madefriends,participatedinpublicservice,visitedjudicialcourt,andbecameawareofbloomingcourtandwitnessedbloomingcooperation.Thiswasn’tintheUK,Germany,oranyothercountry.ItwasIsrael.Israelembracesinnovation,cooperation,andunderstanding.It’soneofthemostinterestingpartsoftheworldwithbackgroundsandculturespresent—thereareArmenian,Israeli,Muslim,etcquarters.TheIsraelipeoplearefreetopubliclypracticewhattheybelievein.Israelprovidesmedicalcaretoeveryoneregardlessoftheirnationalorigin.I’vemetwithmembersofcommunitiesandkepthearingthesamething.Justlikeineveryothercountryinworld,therearepoliticaldisputes,butIsraelprovidesagreatqualityoflifeforitscitizens.Iurgeyoutovoteno.Divestingonlyhurtsouruniversityanddecreasesopportunitiesforstudentswhograduatefromtheuniversity,andit’screatingmoreproblemsforusandourcommunity.Pleasethinkabouttheconsequencesthatthiswouldhavetoeveryonehere.

i. Mubarak:CouldyoupinpointtheMuslimandJerusalemquarterthatyoumentioned?

ii. Leavitt.47:Iprefernottorespond.


iii. Drenkhan:Quickquestion:wasHannahNewburgerjuststudyingabroadornotable

tomakeit?Didyouhaveasimilarexperience?iv. Leavitt.47:Wehavesimilarexperiences,andshecouldn’tmakeit,sosheaskedme

toreadit.ccc. BethMoses.145:Iampassionateaboutissuesintheinternationalcommunity,andI

wanttodrawbackdiscussiontoimpactsonthiscampus.Divestmentdoesn’tcreateanyissuesoncampusit’snotdivisivemaybeyouGoogledfirstarticlethatyoucouldandreadit,buthavingreadwithpeopleonothercampusessuchasUSCandNorthwestern,theyfeltunsafeontheircollegecampusesandfeltthatitdividedcommunitiesevenfurther.Thisisapathtowardsaggression,notpeace.Idon’tthinkanysenatorswantthatonourcampus.Twomainissuesbroughtupintoday’sdiscussion.Thefirstisneutralityandhowtodefineit.Isthisresolutionneutralorisitnot,butdivestingisn’tneutralbecauseyou’reactivelyavoidingasidethroughthisresolution.Bydivestingweareactivelyavoidingthem.Neutralcasuallyinteractbutbydivestingwe’repullingoutfromthemandit’snotaneutralresolution.EveryonehereIhopewantstocreatemeaningfulchange.Weneedchangeonbothsides.Sidethatwillbenefitonesideandothersideofstudents.Ithinkweshouldcreatealternatesandproposearesolutionandhaveaconversationaboutitmultipleoronegrouponcampusthatwon’tbehappyaboutthis.

i. Cramer:Youmentionedonothercampusesthatoncedivestmentwasenacted,thingsdidn’tgoverywell.Areyouawareofthestatusquoorisolatedincidents?

ii. Moses.145:Thereareavarietyofwaystoanswer.It’sstartingtobecomethestatusquo.SeveralcandidatesrunningforofficehavecondemnedtheBDSmovementandpromotingpeaceishavingactivediscussion.Universitiesarepassingitandstudentsarefeelingunsafeanddivided.

iii. Mubarak:Couldyouclarifyhowstudentswillfeelunsafeifwedivestfrommultinationalcorporations?

iv. Moses.145:Ican’tanswerthatforyoubutIhopeyou’vebeenlisteningtoeverythingsaidbeforeme.Theywouldfeelunsafe,myselfincluded.

v. Weisman:IamwonderingifyoucouldelaborateonhowitmakesstudentsfeelwhencompaniesdirectlyrelatedtoIsraelarebeingtargeted.

vi. Moses.145:ManystudentsareemployedbyCaterpillarandG4Sandpassingthiswouldhurtthosestudents,especiallywhentheyaregivenscholarshipsbythoseuniversities.Scholarshipstakenawaynotaffectingpositivechange.

vii. Mubarak:Couldyoutellmehowstudentsfeelunsafewhentheirownuniversityisinvestingincorporationcomplicitintheirownpeople’ssuffering?

viii. Moses.145:Weshouldallsitdownandhavepeacefulconversationratherthanattackingheadon.Weshouldhearbothsidesofstory.

ix. Honaker:Whataretheuniversitiesthatyouhavefriendsat?


x. Moses.145:Ihavefriendsatalotofuniversities,includingUSC,Northwestern,and

theUniversityofChicagoatLoyola.ImyselfamatransferfromtheUniversityofMassachusetts.ItransferredandI’mheresoobviouslyIfeltuncomfortableaboutit.

xi. Honaker:ThespeakermentioneduniversitiesinherspeechandI’mphrasingmyquestionoffofthoseuniversities.Attheuniversitiesyoumentioned,they’vebeennegativelyaffectedbyresolutionsondivestment.Ihavebeensentarticlesbyconstituentsaboutriotsofpersonalattacksoncollegecampuses,doyouhavesecondhandaccountsofthose?

xii. Moses.145:NopersonalstorybutIcansendyouanemailatanothertimeforsure.xiii. Buss:Justtoclarify,thespeakertransferredtoOSUbecausetheyfeltunsafeatthe

previouscampusbecauseofBDSmovement?xiv. Moses.145:Itwasoneofthem.ThereweremanydifferentreasonsbutpersonallyI

didn’tfeellikethatwasthepathIwantedtocontinueon,especiallyifthatwasthestatusquofortheresolutiontopassonthatcampus.

xv. HamzeAhmed.502:Iamasecond-yearyearblacksonofimmigrantsandIamaMuslim.Idounderstandthesentimentsharedtodayaboutmarginalizedgroups.Ido.Myintentionsaren’ttospeakbutsittingherefor2.5hoursIfeltobligatedtocontribute.WhatIknowaboutthisresolutionI’veheardofonlineandIhaven’tbeenactive.ButthesearesomewordsIheardfromclosefriendaboutitandIagreewiththem.ItismorallyrepulsivetoadmireDr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.whenit’sthissimilardivestmentmovementwhenitbroketheSouthAfricanapartheidwhichaconcentratedminorityareadvocatingfor.ThisisnotpositionedagainstthestateofIsraelandthisisnotapoliticalbutaccountabilityandethicalissue.OurudidnotdivestfromSAapartheiduntilourUSgovtdid.WhenitcomestoHRsatOSUwe’rebehindthecurvesolet’schangethat.

1. LeviCramer:DoyouhaveexperienceinSouthAfricawithapartheid?2. Ahmed.502:IvisitedSouthAfricain2010.Mostapartheidprotestshappened.

Idon’thaveanswerforyoubutwhatIcantellyouismovementsandforumslikethiswhatwe’redoingtodayitwasthingsdoingheretodaythatcontributedtoendofapartheidinSouthAfrica.

ddd. YousufYousuf.10:There’sbeenpoliticalandeconomicjargon,butwehaven’tmadeanappealtohumanityyet.Iwanttoemphasizeagainthattheresolutionitselfistargetingcompaniescomplicitinhumanrightsviolations.Aswesaid,Caterpillarbulldozersaren’toncampusthey’remadetodestroyhomesbulletproof,etc.JustlikewetableditlasttimeandyouhadachancetoinformyourselvesIaskthatyoulooktoothermovementsthathavetalkedaboutthis.LooktoAmnestyInternationalandothers.Asstudentsweareinanypositiontodoubttheirclaimswhentheypursueit.Asyouconsiderappealtohumanityandlostlives,IwanttoquoteDr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.whenhesaidcowardiceasksquestionisitsafe…vanityasksqisitpopular.Conscienceasksquestionisitright.Timecomeswhenwetakenotsafe,popular,etc.Iappealtoyourhumanity.


eee. SarahAmusbahi.1:IamoneofthewritersoftheresolutionsoI’mfamiliarwithwhat

itsays.Therearelotsofopinionsandfeelingsonthisissue.I’dliketohighlighttwowhereasclauses,onebeingthe87thclause:“WhereasovertwentyOSUstudentorganizationsendorsedthisresolutionincludingAfricanYouthLeague,ArabStudentUnion,BangladeshStudentAssociation,BuckeyeBhangra,BuckeyeFusion,CoalitionforBlackLives,CommitteeforJusticeinPalestine,FemUNITY,IndianAmericanAssociation,InternationalSocialistOrganization,IranianCulturalAssociation,ModelAfricanUnion,MuslimStudents’Association,PakistaniAmericanStudents’Association,PeaceCorpsClub,Project:EducateXX,SayHi,SHADES,SomaliStudents’Association,SyrianStudentUnion,StillWeRise,UnitedStudentsAgainstSweatshops,andUrduClub.”Ipointtothatandsayit’snotatwo-sidedissue.We’representingastwolinestryingtocometowardseachotherbutnowit’sgoinginseparatedirections.Thisissomethingwehopetocontinue.It’snottheendallbeall.Wehopetohavedialogueandthatkindofstuffapeacefuldialogue.Idon’tunderstandwhythisisn’tagoodwaytogoaboutthatandIdon’tknowifthatresonateswithyouandI’dbehappytohearfeedback.I’dalsoliketopointtoclause66.

i. Waidelich:Sorry,thetimelimitisup.Wehavetoopenforquestionsnow.ii. Amusbahi.1:Okay,wellpleaselookatclause66.iii. Chang:Whatdoesclause66say?iv. Amusbahi.1:“Whereasthisresolutionissolelyaimedatdenouncingthisuniversity’s

supportofcompaniesthatenablehumanrightsviolationsanddoesnotaimtocondemnacountry,apeople,oracommunity,ortodetermineapoliticalsolution.”

v. Weisman:Pleaseexplainhowtargeting3companiesspecificallyingeographicallocationdoesnottargetaspecificcountry?

vi. Amusbahi.1:We’retalking3companiestheirhumanrightsviolationsextendfurtherthantheoccupiedPalestinianterritories.Thisisalotofwhereourresearchlies.Alotofstudentshavedonealotofresearchonthis,andthesecompaniesholdasignificantroleinmaintainingprisonsandstufflikethat.TheyalsoholdasignificantroleintheUS.Forexample.ColumbiaUniversityisofficiallydivestedfromthem.

vii. Weisman:Ijustwanttoclarifythisstatement.Ifthesecompaniesarespecificallydetailingacertaingeographicalregion,Iwanttoknowhowit’snottargetingaspecificcountryorstate.What’stheresearchyouhaveontheircommittinghumanrightsviolationsinotherareasoftheworld?

viii. Amusbahi.1:AlotofIsraelicompanieshavedoneresearchonthis.TheseresearchcompaniesarelocatedinIsrael.Justbecausetheyhappentobeinaregionwheretheidentityofpeopleispoliticizeddoesn’tmakeitlessvalid.We’renottargetingIsraelasacountryitself.ThecompaniesarethreeamongthousandsthathavedealingswithIsrael.TheseareAmericanandBritishcompanies.G4SisBritishandtheothersareAmerican.

ix. Weisman:Iwasaskingabouttheresearchyouhavedealingwithhumanrightsviolationstakingplaceinothercountries.Ifyou’resayingit’snottargetingaregion,


wherespecificallyintheresolutiondoesitsaythatyou’renottargetingaspecificgeographiclocation?

x. Amusbahi.1:Clauses45and48,“WhereasHPprofitsfromglobalmassincarcerationandprovidesprisonerdatasystemsforthedetainmentofundocumentedimmigrantsintheUnitedStates,and(clause48)WhereasG4Sprofitsfromthegrowthofprivateprisonsandmassincarcerationallovertheworld,aswellasbyfacilitatingthedetentionanddeportationofundocumentedimmigrants.”EmphasisonUnitedStates.Allovertheworldemphasis.Undocumentedimmigrants.ThoseaddresspopulationsoutsideofoccupiedPalestine.

xi. Cramer:Couldthespeakerpleasedefinemassincarceration?xii. Amusbahi.1:Theincarcerationofmanypeople.xiii. Cramer:Whereismassincarcerationdefinedasahumanrightsviolation?xiv. Amusbahi.1:CanIanswerwithaquestion?xv. Waidelich:Yes,buthecan’tanswerit.Youcan’tgobackandforthwithoutafollow-

up.xvi. Amusbahi.1:G4Sholdschildrenandpoliticalprisonerswithouttrial.That’sa

violationofhumanrightsandourconstitutionintheU.S.xvii. Belfiglio:Line45statesthat“HPprofitsfromglobalmassincarcerationandprovides

prisonerdatasystemsforthedetainmentofundocumentedimmigrantsintheUnitedStates.”Areyoumerelysayingthattheyprovidethesesystemsorthattheveryactofprovidingtheseisahumanrightsviolation?ByimplyingthatHPprovidesthem,arewesayingthatthosearehumanrightsviolations?

xviii. Amusbahi.1:Insomecases.Thereare…there’salotofcontroversy.Thisisjustextrainformation,butit’snotjustthat.Themainreasonwhyistheyprovidebiometricsystemsusedincheckpoints.Iwouldsaypersonallythatprovidingthesystemsbecausethey’reprofitingoffthemassincarcerationofundocumentedimmigrantsnotabletogetthelegalhelptheyneed.Personallythat’saviolationofhumanrights.

xix. Bodey:Justareminderthatwearenotcross-examiningthepublicthisevening.xx. Cramer:Couldthespeakerspeaktotheactualincarcerationofchildren?Iskimmed

articlelinkedintheresolutionandthemassincarcerationofchildrenisnotmentionedanywhere.I’mnotseeingchildrenanywherehere.IsthereanyevidencethatHPhelpswiththeincarcerationofchildren?

xxi. Amusbahi.1:ReferencingG4S.There’salinkhereofwhoprofits.xxii. Weisman:I’mwonderinghowexactlymassincarcerationisahumanrightsissuefor

you?xxiii. Waidelich:Yourquestionhastobefocusedonthecontentofthespeech.xxiv. Weisman:Withdrawn.xxv. Honaker:I’mspeakingtomassincarcerationandIreadthroughthelinksbuthas

therebeenanyevidenceorconvictions,orpicturesofmassincarceration?YoucanbeheldinajailbeforetrialinAmericaandothercountriesdothingsdifferently,and


thatdoesn’tmeantheydothemright.Iwanttomakesurethesecompanieshaveevidencethatthey’redoingthat.

xxvi. Amusbahi.1:Thelinkisgiveninreferencetothatclause.Ifyouneedfurtherevidencewecanmeetupafterandwecantalkfurther.IcanshowyoulinksandpicturesIdon’thaveanywithmenowbutwecandefinitelytalkaboutit.

xxvii. Bock:Sincethespeakerisoneofthewritersoftheresolution,amIallowedtoaskherabouttheresolution?

xxviii. Waidelich:No,youareonlyallowedtoquestionheronherspeechduringtheOpenForumforthePublic.

xxix. Cramer:Massincarcerationisnotamongahumanrightsissuementionedinthisarticle.Thisarticleincludescomplaintsfrom2012,fromthingssuchasnoqualifiedchildcare,unnecessaryforceagainstchildren,andaprisonculture.Hastherebeenactualdetentionofchildrenandanythingelsesince2012whenthisarticlewaswritten?

xxx. Amusbahi.1:Yes,therehasandIcanshowyou.Ididn’tspeakaboutmassincarcerationinmyspeech.Itwasinregardstoyourfirstquestion.

fff. TylerAlbl.1:IjustwanttoremindeverybodytounclenchandIwanttotalkaboutwhywe’rehere.ImeanAmericanJews.Whetherwedebateinternationallawornot,therearehumanrightsviolationsgoingon.WhatmakesAmericanJewsblindtothese?Iwasbefore,butnowI’mnot.ItalkedandIlookedandIrealizedthere’ssomethinginourculturecalledfear,inourpastandfutureandunseeninthenow.Wedon’tseewhat’sgoingonandinsteadweact.Inthe16thcenturyShakespearewroteMerchantofVeniceanti-SemiticcharacterinmoneyloanercalledShylock.Hedemandsapoundoffleshforhissecurityinreturnforhisdebt.ItwasnottheninVeniceaJewishthingtodemandapoundoffleshforsecurityandthat’snotthecaseinIsraelnow.Wecandivestfromideathathumanrightsviolationsarealrighttoperpetuatesomethinglikethis.I’maskingyoutosendoutabeaconofhopeandpeacethatwillletusovercomethisfear.Thankyou.

III. ExecutiveReporta. AbbyGrossman

i. NewUSGadministration—congratulations!TherewillbeCabinetnextweekasnormal.March29thwillbeaCabinetmeetingunderthe2015-2016administration.

ii. TheSustainabilityFairwillbeonWednesday,April6thwithabout40differentstudentorganizationshereintheOhioUnionfrom10:30amto2:00pm.

IV. CommitteeReportsa. Allocations–JennaGravalis

i. Q4fundingwillstartonApril1st.1. Q3isclosed,buttellyourfriendsthatthefundingapplicationforQ4isnow

open!WewillstarttolookatthosethisSunday,March27th.2. EngineeringSenators:pleasetalktomeaboutconstituencyeventandthegift

cards.


b. Oversight–DanielMarchese

i. Oversightdidnotmeetthisweek.V. DepartmentofPublicSafetyAddress

a. Adriversimulatorwasdonatedtotheuniversity.ItislocatedintheDepartmentofPublicSafety,(Secretary’snoteforinterestedparties:locatedattheMichaelBlankenshipHallonWestCampus.Theaddressis901WoodyHayesDrive.)

b. Strickenfromtheagendaduetoconflictintime.VI. OldBusiness

a. 48-R-43AResolutiontoSupporttheWithdrawalofOSU’sInvestmentsinCorporationsComplicitinHumanRightsViolations

i. MotiontobringthisoffthetablePASSED.ii. Kenyon:YieldtoJanaAl-Akhras.iii. Al-Akhras.3:Ijustwanttoclarifythatwecannotdenyourstories,butwecanwork

towardsabetterfuture.SouthAfricanapartheiddidnothelp.Separatebutnotequalisnotequality.WestillsufferfromJimCrow.Wecannotclaimneutrality.Thereisnojusticeinoccupiedandoccupier.ThisisnotanissueofIsraelisandPalestiniansandArabs.Ifyouwantstudentstobevalued,thisisn’twhatyou’reherefor.Wehaveunitedbehindhumanrights.Thereare20studentorgsofvariousbackgroundsheretosupportthisissues.There’samilliondividingfactorsweputourselvesin.wedivideourselvesonadailybasis.Thisisaunitingcause.Whatotheristhesameashumanrights?Ifyouarenotqualifiedtomakeforeignpolicydecisions,donotvoteinthegeneralelection.YouarecomingupinanelectioninwhichIsraelandPalestineissues.Youarequalifiedtomakethisdecision.It’snotgoingtogetridofIsrael.Standontherightsideofhistory.Ifyoudon’tjointhistrainyou’regoingtogetleftbehind.Youcan’tsitblackandbrownandoliveskin.ThingsinBrusselshappenedtheotherdayandwe’reworriedandthat’sagreatthing.Atrocitiesarehappeningonyourtuitiondollarsandwe’recomfortablebeingcomplacent.Contrarytowhat’sbeingsaid,withdrawingfromthisisneutralityandthat’sawordyouneedtofocusonandyouhavethispowerandpleaseusethispower.Icould’vecomeupandtalkedtoyouabouthowI’mPalestinianandmyparentswereimmigrants.YoushouldabsolutelydiscountmystatementifIspoketoyoufromemotion.Ifyoulookbackatthewordsofthisresolution,ifyoulookaroundtheseareyourstudents.Thereareamillionstudentshere,wellnotamillionliterally,butthisisaWednesdaynight.It’spastit’s9:45pm.I’vehadclasssince10inthemorning.Ican’tthinkofanyotherissuethatcangetstudentstocomeheretotalkaboutotherthanhumanrights.Wecansayourconstituentsaregoingtobemadatyou.DoyousithereandcontactallconstituentsbecauseIdon’tevenknowwhomineare.Theseareyourconstituents.You’regoingtocontinuallyshovethemandsilencethemandcontinuouslypushthemtothesideandyou’regoingtobewonderingwhytheonlypeoplearoundyouarepeoplewholookandthinkexactly


likeyou.Ifthat’swhyyou’rehereandifyou’reheretoactuallyrepresentyourstudents,thenIurgeyoutolookaround.Iurgeyoutoseethatyouactuallyhaveachancetoaffectyourconstituents.Thisisaskingyoutodosomethingsosimple.It’saskingyoutonothurtpeople.Itdoesn’tmatter.Attheendoftheday,wepaywithourdollars.Whereveryouputyourdollars,yousupport.Votenotodivest,butyouwouldbedoingyourselfadisservice.

iv. Kenyon:YieldtoYousefYacoub,alternatingforPunugu.v. Waidelich:Hehasspeakingrightsinthechamber.vi. Yacoub:Canyouaddmetothespeaker’slist?vii. Waidelich:Yes,Iwilldothat.viii. Kenyon:Theissuewe’rediscussinghereisanethicalissue.Everyonehasbasic

inalienablehumanrightsregardlessofwhatstateyou’rehere.Ourinvestmentsdictatewhatwesupport.Wehavetheabilitytochangethattoinvestmentsthataremoreethicallyconscious.AsJohnKasichsaidintheRepublicandebate,OhioStateshouldnotbeinthebusinessofparking,andOhioStateshouldnotbeinthebusinessininvestinginprivateprisonsthatrestricthumanrights.However,Idon’tagreewithsomeofthemethodsthatwereusedforthisbillsuchasnotgoingthroughsteering.G4ShaspulledtheircontractandwillbeendingtheirinvolvementinIsraelintwoyears.Wedon’thaveanupdatedlistofinvestmentsandthelastwasfromsevenyearsago.WevotewithourdollarsandIdon’tagreewithallaspectsoftheresolutionandIwouldsupportaresolutionsupportingethicalinvestmentsfortheuniversityasawhole.Idon’tthinkitmatterswhatstateorcountry.Weshouldn’tbeinvolvedinhumanrightsviolations.

ix. Hooker:Theconversationhasbeen…interesting.InmyyearsinUSG,Ihaveneverseenanythinglikethis.There’sbeen11yieldsinonespeaker,morepublicforumspeakersthanthelast5yearscombined,apackedhousenearfirecode,I’vebeencontactedbymoreconstituentsoverlast2weeksthanintheyearsI’vebeenarepresentative,andtherearemembersoftheUSHouseofRepresentativessteppingin.There’ssomethingaboutDivestandBDSingeneralthatmakespeopleactsooutrageouslydifferentfromtheirnormalselvesallofasudden.It’slikeagameofmonopoly…Thisisn’tthefirstcontentiousthingwe’vediscussed.MirrorLakeisoneofthem.ithasadirectpersonaleffectforlotsofconstituents.Peopleweregivenoneweek’snoticeandtherewerestilllesspeople.Beforegettingtothemeatofmydiscussion,therearefivethingsthatIwanttomakeabundantlyclear:First,thisissueisnotsimple,itisfarfromsimple;portrayingthisasasimpleissuedoesanincredibledisservicetothenuancethatunderliesallofthepoliticsthataccompanyatopicliketheIsraeli-Palestinianconflictamongotherthings.Second,Iwanttodisavoweverybodyofthenotionthatwearedealinginabsoluteshere;placingayesornovoteonthisresolutionisnotequivalenttobeingpro-Israelorpro-Palestine;portrayingthisissueassuchdoesnothingbutpreventpeoplefromproperly


informingthemselvesanddrawingtheirownconclusionsbasedontheinformationtheyfind.Third,IwillnotbeburdeningyouallwithyetanotherrestatementofacommonopiniononthebroaderpointsoftheIsraeli-Palestinianconflict.Fourth,Iwillnotbeyieldingmytimetoanyoneattheendofmydiscussion;wehaveplentymorepeopleonthespeakerslistforthat.Andfinally,weasstudentgovernmentcannotenactuniversity-levelfiscalchangesinadirectmanner,votingyesonthisresolutiondoesnotsaythatwearegoingtodivest,itsayswiththeweightoftheentirestudentbodythatundergraduatesbelieveweshoulddivest.Thisisnotwhatultimatelyinformsmystance,butitisimportantthateveryoneisawareofthisfact.Thepassionismisplaced.AtthistimeIwouldliketoyieldtoCramer.

x. Waidelich:Cramerhasalreadybeenplacedonthespeaker’slist.xi. Cramer:IhaveastatementthatMarchesewouldlikemetoreadonhisbehalf.xii. Waidelich:CanCarlyHookerreadit?xiii. Hooker:Wetouchedonlackofaccesstoinvestments,andnotknowinginvestments

issomethingthateffectsEVERYSINGLESTUDENT.Iwanttodealinhypotheticalsforabit.Let’signoredetailsaboutresolutionsbeingnullandvoidattheendofthesession.Let’spretendthatthisresolutionpasses.Thefirstscenario:itgoestoUniversitySenateFiscalanddiesinUniversitySenateFiscal.Secondscenario:itgoestoUniversitySenateFloor,passesUniversitySenateFiscal,diesonthefloorofUniversitySenate.Thisiswheretheissuestartstoarise.ThirdScenario:Boardoftrustees.ItpassesUniversitySenateFiscal,passesthewholeUniversitySenate.There’sabsolutelynowayintheBoardofTrustees.FourthScenario:TheissuewithlackofknowledgeofOSU’sinvestments.Eventhoughwecanbefairlycertainofit,thereisnoactualguaranteethatweareindeedinvestedinthesecompanies.IftheBoardofTrusteessaystheydivestedfromacompany,thereisnoaccountability,wehavenowayofknowingiftheyactuallydidornotbecausewestilldon’thaveaccesstoinvestmentrecords.Inthefirstscenarios,wehavelosttherespectofourfaculty,staff,andadministration,whichwillhaveadirectnegativeimpactonpracticallyeverythingUSGdoesfromthatpointforward.Inthelastscenario,werunintoanissueofpracticality,weexpendaverylargeamountofeffortwithnowayofknowingwhethertheendresultisevendesirableforstudentsandnowaytofindout.Noneofthosewillactuallyhappenbecausethisresolutioncarriesnoweightwiththeadministrationstartingat6:30intwoWednesdays.OurbiggesttakeawayfromthisisthatwehavenowayoffindingoutwhoOSUisinvestingin,andinwhatamounts.ThisisaphenomenalprojectforthenextUSGadministrationtotackle,anditappliestoeverysingleoneofourconstituents.Sotobeclear,myvotewillnotbearesultofbeingpro-Israel,myvotewillnotbearesultofbeingpro-Palestine.I’mnotvotingacertainwaybecauseI’mbeingpressuredtobyonesideortheother,andI’mnotvotingacertainwaybecausemembersofcongresssaidIshould.Iencouragethebodytotakethreethingstomind:Pleasedonotvotesimplyvotea


certainwaybecauseyouseemeorsomeoneelsevotingthatway.Iwouldimploreyounottoabstain,pleasedonotbeafraidofhavinganopinion.Iwoulddiscourageaspeakinglimitsoasnottoaccidentallyshortendiscussionpointsthatencapsulatemanysubtleties,howeverIalsodiscouragetalkingsimplyforthesakeoftalkingratherthanmakingapoint.

xiv. Harper:Thankyoutothosewhospoke,thosewhoI’vemetwithandspoke,andthosewho’veeducatedme.MyviewshavebeenchallengedchangedandreaffirmedandI’mgratefulfortheopportunities.IwouldliketospeciallythankAriVanderslaisandElaineCleary.Humanrightsandtheequalityofothersshouldbeoftheutmostimportance.Icannotstomachthatscholarshipsandinternshipsaremoreimportantthanone’slife.Myconcernwithtransparencyinwheremytuitiondollarsarebeingspent.Thiswentamillionplacesbeyondjustthe3companies,especiallyiftuitionisspentinawaythatIdon’tapprove.Iwastalkingtoafriendofmine,andthisfriendstatedthatthisseemslikeperformingsurgeryonalegwhentheproblemistheheart.Ifeelthebestwaytomakealastingchangeinhumanrightsifthatistrulyourmissioninthisbody,whileIrespectthediscussion,myvoteisstillupintheair.Idothinkweneedtoworktogetherandweneedtoworktogetherbecauseit’sscarythatIdon’tknowwheremytuitiondollarsarebeingspent.

xv. Khan:Usingthe2009investmentspreadsheetthatwasdistributedtous,Icalculatedatotalof1.04milliondollarsor0.3%oftheOSU’stotalinvestmentsgotowardsG4S,HP,andCaterpillar.Obviouslyinvestmentshavechangedoverthelastsevenyears,butIthinkitbringssomeperspectivetotheissueathand.Ibelievethisresolutionshouldbejudgedandanalyzedforthecontentwithinthedocumentandthedirectimplicationsoftheresolution.Overthelast2weeks,Ihaveresearchedthisresolutionanditsimpactsonourcampusandundergraduatestudentbody.ItwouldnothavebeenpossibleformetounderstandallvantagepointsonBDSortheIsraeli-PalestinianandJewish-Muslimconflict,soIchoosenottocommentonthatbecausetheyarenotmentionedinthisresolution.Wemustmovetowardsremovingthisuniversity’sinvestmentsfromcompanies,likethe3specificcompaniesintheresolution,whoareguiltyofbeing,attheleast,complacentwithhumanrightsviolations.IampositivethattherearemanymorecompaniesthatOSUisinvestedinthatareguiltyofheinouscrimeslikethese.Asastudentbody,wemuststandupagainstALLcompaniesthatcommitorsupporthumanrightsviolations.IagreewithwhatSenatorHarperandSenatorChangsaid2weeksago,whatSenatorHarperjustsaid,andwhatSenatorKenyonsaidearlier.Thisresolutioniswell-writtenandbringsupimportantandvalidissues,buttherearecertainshortcomingsofthisresolution.Itisdifficultnottoprovidemyutmostsupportforthis,especiallybecausewearetalkingaboutinnocentvictims.However,atthispoint,IamnotsurewhetherIwillbeabletosupportthisresolution,duetothefactthatitonlyspecifiesthreecompanieswithoutsufficientinvestigation.Iwillstandbehindthecauseof


comprehensivesustainableinvestmentsatOSU,asisspecifiedinthelastsevenlinesoftheresolution.Alotofgreatideaswerebroughtup2weeksago,suchaswriting2separatenewresolutions,workingtobringsociallyresponsibleanalystsintothepictures,askingforupdatedinvestmentinformation,andworkingwithUniversitySenatetomakeprogressonsuchanimportantissue.Inconclusion,IamstillnotcertainwhetherTHISresolutionisthebeststepforwardrightnowforthisissue.Overthelast2weeks,Ihavelearnedthatdivestmentisadiplomaticandpeacefulwaytosolveconflict.Asarepresentativegovernmentoftheundergraduatestudentbody,IbelievethatweshouldimmediatelybeginworkingtowardstheideasIlistedearlierandmakingsureALLofOSU’sinvestments,andnotjustahandful,aresustainableanddonotpromotehumanrightsviolations.Isupporttheissuebeingaddressedinthisresolution,butIwouldliketoseeitrewritten.

xvi. ChrisWaidelichappointsKrebelasalternateat10:01pm.xvii. Wydman:WhileIsupporthumanrightsanddonotsupportcompaniescomplicitin

humanrightsviolations,Iwillonlybecomfortablewithdivestingfromallcorporationsthatfollowsaidpattern.

xviii. Belfiglio:Ihaveafewproblemswiththeresolution.Forline45,Idon’tthinkweshouldbevotingonwhattheU.S.governmentdoesashumanrightsviolations.Lotsofareasoftheresolutionareveryspecificandlotsofothersareverybroad.Itcangetconfusingandtheclausesaren’tconsistentwithsupposedmessage.

xix. Shaffer:IwasswornintoprotecttheinterestsandexpresstheinterestsofstudentsatOSU.Aswecanseefromtheturnouttonight,thisresolutionhasalotofsupportandalotofpeoplethatareagainstit.Withthatinmind,Icanonlyimagineastheoffcampussenatorshavethelargestconstituencythatourconstituencyisasdivided.ThereforeIcannotseemyselfsupportingthisresolution.

xx. Waidelich:Pleaseremaingermanetothisconversation,andkeeprespecttowardsthosespeaking.

xxi. Cramer:SenatorShaffer,IamyourconstituentandIamrighthere.Well,ladiesandgentlemen,I’mgladIfinallygetachancetospeakonthisresolutionaftertwoweeks.Todaywearefacedwithoneofthemostcontroversialtopicsthislegislativebodywilleversee.We’veendedMirrorLake,thiseventookupthediscussionoftheIraqwar,wherethisbodycondemnedit,aswellassittingPresidentGeorgeW.Bush,butnoneofthatcomparestowhatwearefacedwithtoday.Believeitornotwe’regoingtohavetomaketoughdecisionsfromtimetotimeandnowisthetimetodoit.We’refacedwithanissuethatisbadforourstudents,itisbadforthisstate,anditisbadforthiscountry.Ihavethedistinctroleofservingasourliaisontothedifferentlevelsofgovernment,whorepresentallofusandthepeoplewearerepresentingtoday.Ialsohappentobeoftheopinionthattheyhaveabitmoreforeignpolicyknowledgethanthoseofussittinginthisroom.PresidentBarackObamahassigned


alawincludinganti-BDSprotectionsforIsrael,1FormerSecretaryofStateHillaryClintonhascondemnedtheIsraeliBoycottmovement2HouseSpeakerPaulRyanhassignedAnti-BDSProvisions,3SenatorChuckSchumerhasbeenvocallyopposedtotheBDSmovement.4OurOhioDelegationhasalmostentirelyspokenfavorablyofIsrael.14ofour16representativesandbothofoursenatorshavemadeMANYcommentsinfavorofIsrael.5ThecongressmenthatrepresentColumbushaveweighedinonthissubjectaswell.I’dliketopointyourattentiontothesecondandthirdparagraphsofthisletterthatread,“ItispreciselybecauseofourcommitmenttoalastingpeacethatweopposemeasurespromotedbythecampaignknownastheBoycott,DivestmentandSanctions(BDS)movement.Effortstopolitically,economicallyandculturallyisolateIsraelbreeddiscriminationandhate,andarenotreflectiveofthevaluesthatweasAmericansholddear.BDSeffortsarecounterproductivetoreform.Theycreatedivisiononcampusandinhibitconstructivedialogueamongdiversepartiesseekingtoworktogethertoachievepeacefulsolutionstoacomplexissue.Sinceitsinception,theBDSmovementhasfailedtobringIsraelisandPalestinianstogetherinpeace.”IwanttoaddherethatSteveStiversisoneoftheforemostexpertsontheMiddleEastintheHouse.ThisletterhasbeenfollowedbyonebyStateRep.NirajAntani,whoservesontheEconomicandWorkforceDevelopmentCommitteeandSubcommitteeonMinorityAffairs.Finally,wereceivedonefromRepresentativeTimBrownwherehebroughtupHouseBill476stating,”CurrentlyintheOhioHouseofRepresentatives,HouseBill476hasbeenintroducedandforbidsanystateagencyfromenteringintocontractswithcompaniesthatparticipateintheBDSmovementagainstIsrael.Thislegislationtosupportournation’sstrongestallyintheMiddleEasthasRepublicanandDemocratsupportwithco-sponsorshipfromthefollowingmembersofthe131stGeneralAssemblyleadership:

1. SpeakerCliffordA.Rosenberger2. SpeakerProTemporeRonAmstutz3. MinorityLeaderFredStrahorn4. AssistantMinorityLeaderNicholasCelebrezze5. AssistantMinorityWhipJackCera”

xxii. Cramer:Now,IknowtheothersidehasarguedthissayingthatHB476isnotcurrentlylawbuthasonlybeenproposed.I’mgoingtolevelwithyouhere.TheSpeakeroftheHouse,theMinorityLeader,andmanyotherhigh-rankingmembersoftheHouseofRepresentativeshaveallsignedontothisbill.I’dbewillingtobet

1http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/16/anti-israel-bds-movement-dealt-series-of-setbacks-/?page=all2http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/hillary-clinton-letter-support-israel-donor-haim-saban-bds-1197703https://roskam.house.gov/Customs-Bill-Signed-Anti-BDS4http://www.timesofisrael.com/schumer-pans-kerrys-bds-warnings-to-israel/5http://www.jewishcolumbus.org/contact-us/19-articles/474-ohio-congressional-statements-in-support-of-israel


thatthisbillisgoingtopass.Now,whathappensafterthisbillispassedintolaw?ItwillnowbeillegalforStateRunAgenciestoentercontractswithBDSsigningcompanies.IfOhioStateweretodothis,theStateofOhiowouldnotbeabletolegallydobusinesswithus.NowIthinkallofusknowwhythiswouldbeaproblem.Theyalsomentionthatthisbillwouldbedeemedunconstitutional,butIfindthatdoubtfulconsideringtheUnitedStatesHouseofRepresentatives,theWhiteHouse,andnumerousStateshaveallproposedsimilarpolicieswithnoactionfromtheCourts.TheyalsoaskthattheUnitedStatesCongresswomanwhorepresentsthelandwearesittingonrightnow,tostayoutofthisconversationandtorecognizeoursovereigntybystatingthattheyhavenorighttostopusfromdivestingfromcompanies.Whiletheyarecorrect,theyareincorrectinassumingthatthatmeanstheHouseasnorighttoimposepenaltiestothosewhochosetodobusinesstheBDSway.LasttimeIcheckedwewerenotabovethelaw.Nowwe’veheardbeforethatthisresolutionisnotaboutBDSbutonlyaboutdivestmentandthatthisdoesnotboildowntotheIsraelPalestineconflict.Unfortunatelythisisnotthecase.Justlookatthetworesponsesthatthegroupprovidedtothelettersfromlegislators.Theysaidthat,“Studentinitiativesurgingdivestmentofuniversityassetsfromcorporationscomplicitinhumanrightsabusesarejustonecomponentofthisvigorousandnecessarydebate.”And“whileafundamentaloperatingpremiseoftheOSUDivestcampaignhasalwaysbeenthenecessityofrecognizingandcritiquingthestructuralviolenceoftheIsraelioccupation,ourcritiqueliesalsowiththethreeaforementionedcorporationsandouruniversity’scomplicityinthosecorporations’humanrightsviolations.”ThissecondquotemakesitmorethancleartomethatthisresolutionISinfactaboutIsraelandthefirstquotemakesitevidenttomethatdivestmentisjustthefirststeptowardsanentirepolicyalignedwiththeBDSmovement.I’mnotokaywiththisandyoushouldn’tbeeither.

xxiii. Yacoub:Excuseme,howdoesLeviCramerhavespeakingrightsandvotingrights?I’mconfusedastowhytheUSGwebsitedidnotlisthisinformation.He’snotlistedasanythingontheGeneralAssembly.

xxiv. Waidelich:ThereareissuecommitteessuchastheAcademicAffairsandDiversityandInclusioncommittees.LeviCramerisDirectoroftheGovernmentRelationscommittee,whichisconsideredaseniorstaffcommittee,likePublicRelationsandInternalAffairs.Thoseareseparatecommitteesthatarenotconsideredissuecommittees.(NotesfromtheSecretary:GovernmentRelationsisnotconsideredanissuecommittee,whichiswhyit’snotlistedundertheSenateCommitteesundertheGeneralAssembly>>Committeestab.)

xxv. Yacoub:Sohewasapprovedunderseniorstaff?TheGovernmentRelationscommitteeisjustseniorstaff,notcabinetorUSG?

xxvi. Waidelich:Themainpointisthathehasvotingrightsinthischamber.xxvii. Yacoub:Whataboutthemakeupofthecommitteeitself?


xxviii. Waidelich:LeviCramerhasfullspeakingandvotingrightsinthischamber.Please

makecommentsgermanetothischamberandthistopicofdiscussion.Wecandiscussinfurtherdetailonthemakeupofthiscommitteelater.

xxix. Yacoub:Ispoketomanycurrentmembersandtheywereconfusedonwhomadeupthiscommittee.Iwasnotawarehowhewasapproved.

xxx. Waidelich:HewasapprovedinthesecondresolutionofthisGeneralAssembly’sterm.Thecompositionorthemakeupofthiscommitteeisnotgermanetothisconversationrightnow.(NotesfromtheSecretary:TheresolutioninwhichLeviCramerwasapprovedastheDirectorofGovernmentalRelationsisavailableatusg.osu.eduunderGeneralAssemblytothefarrightofthewebpage>>Legislation>>48-R-2AResolutiontoApprovetheCabinetDirectors(https://usg.osu.edu/posts/documents/doc_1182015_13471679.pdf).Hisappointmentisdetailedonlines26-27.

xxxi. Dixon:IyieldmytimetoTomerElias.xxxii. Waidelich:Aremindertokeepthisshort,sweet,andtothepoint.Wealreadyhadan

OpenForumforthePublicearlier.(NotesfromtheSecretary:ForthoseunfamiliarorlessfamiliarwithUSGGeneralAssemblyproceedings,theOpenForumforthePublicisthesecondorderofbusinessateveryGAsession.Allmembersofthepublicpresentatthe24thsessionhadanopportunitytogouptothemicrophoneandvoicetheiropinionsandconcerns.Askingsenatorstorefrainfromyieldingtomembersofthepublicanymoreandaskingthemembersofthepublicyieldedtotokeeptheirstatementsshortwasthereforenotaploytostiflestudents’voicesorrepressdiscussion,butratheranefforttomovealongwithdiscussioninvolvingthevotingmembersoftheroomsoavotecouldcometothetablebeforemidnight,atwhichtimewewouldhavetoleavetheOhioUnionandatwhichpointtheresolutionwouldbetabledindefinitelyandvotesnotcast.)

xxxiii. TomerElias:I’mafourth-yearstudentherestudyingeconomics.IwanttotalkassomeonewholivedinIsraelentirelifegonethroughconflictdealtwithspecifics.Oneissueformeisthatit’sbeingcomparedtoapartheidinitssupposedhumanrightsviolations,andwhenIreadthoughtalotoftheinfodoesn’taddressrealissueorbroaderconflict.Ittakeslegalpointsandappliesthemtotheentireglobalhumanrightsmovementthatwedon’thaveenoughinfoon.Thisisnottheforumforthat.Wedon’thavethetimetodothat.ThisdoesinmanywaysdealwiththeIsrael-Palestineconflict.IwasgrowingupinIsraelandexperiencingthoseconflicts,andthepurposeofthosecheckpointsistoprotectpeople.About10yearsago,awaveofterrorismcaused10,000Israelisdeathsbysuicidebombings.Afterinstatingthecheckpoints,thenumberdroppedfromafeweveryweektoaboutzero.Soyouhaveathousanddyingoverfiveyearstoalmostnonedyingfromsuicidebombings.Thisissomethingtheresolutiondoesnotdiscuss.Ittakestheconflictintoonespecificthingandthisissomethingtheresolutiondoesnotdiscuss.Weallwanttohavea


feelingofbeingheard,Ifelttwoweeksagothatmyvoicewasn’tbeingheardandIwasn’tabletotellmysideoftheconflictandit’shardwhen20studentorganizationsaregivingdefinitionsaboutIsraelwhenIsraelisgoingforatwo-statesolutioninwhichwecanthrivetogether.Ibelieveyoushouldvotenobecauseit’sreallyimportanttonotmakeadecisiononaresolutionthatisonesidedandnotaddressingbothsidesoftheconflict.It’simportanttohavedialogueandbringspeakersandreallyspeakatwhatwecandotobringpeopletogetherandspeaktoeachother.IsraelandPalesdon’treallyhaveachancetolearnfromandspeaktooneanother.Theycanlearnfromusthatwearecapableofspeakingandtalkingtooneanotherwhentheyarelostinaconflictinwhichwedon’tknowwhenitwillend.

xxxiv. Waidelich:Wewillhavetoentertaina15-minuterecess.Thisroomisnotoursstartingat11pm.WewillhavetomovetotheCartoonRoomandleaveby10:30pm.Wehavetogothroughaproceduretomoveroomsandentertainthisprocedure.

xxxv. Motionfora15minuterecessPASSED.Until10:33pm.xxxvi. MichaelFrankforMikeyBranumforMeganHowardat10:34pm.xxxvii. Shaffer:Whatwouldhappenifthiswentuntilmidnight,whenthisbuildingcloses?xxxviii. Glass:Tabled,myrecommendationandmyhopeisthatitcomestoavote.The

procedurewouldbetolayitonthetable,postponeddefinitelyorindefinitely,oradjournmentthatwouldenddiscussionwouldkillresolutionatthestand.We’llcheckthat.

xxxix. CarlaGracia,8forPaigeBennettat10:35pm.xl. Rolecallvoteafterrecess.xli. Glass:Goodeveninginefforttoremainimpartialservingchairasparliamentarian,I

amnotspeakingonmyopinion,butIencouragealltovoteindutytoyourconstituents.Ihopethatwhateveryouvoteit’sbecauseyoutrulybelieveinyourheartthatyou’rerepresentingyourconstituentstothebestofyourabilities.IwillnotaccepttheideathatmyvoteshouldbeswayeduponanyelectedofficialoftheUSgovernment.Whateveryouropinionontonightis,Ihopeyou’renotvotingbecausesomecongressmenorsomeelectedofficialwhosejobistorepresentyouissaying.Iwillnotbevotedbasedonthat.Iwillbevotingformystudentsandmyconstituents.Itdoesn’tmatterwhoIvotedforwhatpartythey’refromI’mnotgoingtolistentosomecongressmenortheirletterandthatshouldnotaffectyourvote.Iwouldrecthatwereachaconsensustonightwe’vehadenoughdiscussion.Aswe’renearingstrokeofmidnightlet’svoteonewayoranother.

xlii. Kaczmarek:Thankeveryoneherestillandthankyouforeveryoneherewhoemailedus.OSUDivestandProjectIsraelforhostingus.YieldtimetoRobynFrum.

xliii. RobynFrum.6:IamaseniorstudyingmicrobiologyandIamalsoamemberofMountLeadershipSociety.Iliveoffcampus.Iwanttostartbypointingoutsome


quotes.In2013,Dr.DrakestatedthatBDSnarrowsourworldviewandstiflesintellectualexchangecentraltoourmission.TheHumanRightsCampaignunitedinfightingagainstBDStoallcollegestudentswho’veencounteredthisandstatedIhopeyoustaystrong.JoeBidencontinuetogoagainstcallsinUSandabroad.ForcenturiesJewswereoutcasteverywhere.It’sacomplexanddifficultissue.That’swhatitis.ThisresolutionsilencesheartacheandbrokenhomesthatIsraelisexperience.Notlookingatbothnuancesdoesnothingtopromotepeaceorjustice.Isitjusttonotholdbothsidesaccountable?No.Itservestobreedconflict.IwanttotalkaboutSbarro,thepizzachain.OnedayIwenttoeatatSbarroinIsrael.It’sagoodthingthatwedecidedtoeatthereatthatmomentbecauseshortlythereafterthatSbarrowasbombed.It’ssopainfultothinkthatIcould’vebeenavictimofthatattackhadIgonetogetasliceofpizzaalittlebitlater.Thisisconvenientlyomittedfromtheresolution.CorruptleadershipfromthePalestinianAuthoritypaidthemtoglorifykillingsofIsraelis,whichareheinousoccurrences.That’sracismandevil.Ithascausedhundredsofthousandsofdeathfrombothsides.There’sbeenheartache,torment,death,anddestruction.Thewritersofthiscankeepusingjusticeandotherreasonsasmuchastheywant,butIdon’tthinktheyknowwhattheymean.Totreatthedemocraticstatewho’souronlyallyintheMiddleEastlikethisismorallyreprehensible.Pleaseeithervotenoorabstain.IyieldmytimebacktoSenatorKaczmarek.

xliv. Motiontosuspendtherighttoyieldtomembersofthegeneralpublic.PASSEDwith30-13-2.

xlv. Glass:Inregardstotheparliamentarydecisionthatwasjustmade,itwasbecausewewantthistocometoavotetonight.MembersoftheGAhavehadtwoweeksandmembersofthepublichavehadthattimetocontactandmeetwiththeirrepresentativesaswell.

xlvi. Mubarak:WillIbeabletoyieldtimetosponsoringcoalitionbehindthisresolution?xlvii. Waidelich:No.YoumayonlyyieldtoothermembersoftheGeneralAssembly.xlviii. Yacoub:WillthosesponsoringfromOSUDivestwilltheybeabletocomealternate

forus?xlix. Waidelich:Thesenatoryou’reanalternateforhastoagree.l. Buss:IwantedtosaysomethingsimilartowhatSenatorGlasssaidaboutnotlettingcongressionalrepresentativesaffectouropinionstonight.Thisvoteisours,weknowourcampusandtheydonot.I’mechoingthatsentiment.Thisisourvote.Iwouldencourageyoutonotvotebasedonwhatothercongressmenwouldvote.Ifyouknowmewell,Iknowthisisagrandprivilegetorepresentstudents.AsdirectorofDiversityandInclusion,Ihavetothinkalotaboutwhatthatmeans.Especiallyinthisbody,becauseIdon’thavespecificconstituents,it’sgroupsthatareinsomewaymarginalizedonthiscampusthatfallundermyvoice.Iwouldarguethatbothsidesofthisissuefallunderthatjurisdiction.Thishasbeenaveryharddecision.I’vebeen


reachedouttobybothsidesofthistellingmeIowethemtheirvotebasedonmytitleandposition.IwasgoingtoyieldbeforethemotionpassedandaskbothsidestoexplainhowIcouldsupportordenythisresolutionandhonestlywholeheartedlyrepresentallstudentsinthis.IwasgoingtoyieldtoSenatorMubarakbefore,butIwon’tbecausetherewon’tbeastudentrepresentativefromtheotherside.Idon’tknowhowI’mvoting.I’mstillupintheair,butIwanttobeveryclearthatnomatterhowIvoteIamstillachampionforyou,nomatterwhat.

li. Singh:Isupportmoretransparencyinuniversityfinanceandinvestments.lii. Mubarak:Thankeveryonethatcameouttonight.Ihadaconstituentthatcontacted

meonlyonethatcontactedmeJewishstudentthatwantedmetoreadastatementthatsupportedOSUDivestbutIwon’tprovidehernamebecauseshedidn’twanttobeseenasaself-hatingJew:“LetmeprefacethisbysayingthatthesecurityofthestateofIsraelisacausenearanddeartomyheart.IrealizethatmuchofthegreaterJewishcommunityIamaproudpartofholdsastrongpro-Israelstance,andalotoftheoppositiontothisbillstemsfromfear.ThereasonIwritethisstatementtodayisbecauseIarguethatmysupportofIsraelandmysupportforOSUDivestcomefromthesameplace—adesirefordignity,qualityoflife,andwell-beingthatboththeIsraeliandPalestinianpeoplethatarerequiredifanysortofpeacetalksaretohappen.Thefactofthematteris,manyofmyfellowJewishstudentsfearthisbillbecausewefearthepersecutionourpeoplehavefacedforaslongastheTorahgoesback.Isharethesefearsanddonotinvalidatethematall,however,aftercarefullyreadingtheresolution,Ihaveyettofindasingleinstanceofanti-SemitismordelegitimizationofIsrael.ThisbillisnotBDS,itisnotthreateningtoIsrael'ssecurity,anditisnottargetingmeasaJew.Thisbillissimple,well-intended,andnecessary—divestmentspecificallyfromAmerican/BritishcompaniesthatcontributetotheinjusticesthattheIsraeligovernmentperpetuatesintheWestBank.Meanwhile,Israel'soccupationoftheWestBanktangiblyanddirectlyharmsinnocentPalestinians.Theverypremiseoftheoccupationisabsurd.Firstly,weneedtounderstandwhatthePalestiniansaresoangryaboutonabasiclevel:theareaisdividedintothreeregions:A,BandC.AreaCcomprisesafulltwo-thirdsofWestBankland,yetIsraelmaintainsfullcivilandmilitarycontrol,ensuringthatonly1%ofthiszoneisallowedtobeusedbyPalestinians.Asaresult,nearly3millionpeopleareforcedtoliveinzonesAandB,whilethemere500,000IsraelisettlersenjoythevastexpansesandinfrastructureofZoneC,whichistwiceaslargeasareasAandBcombined.BypreventinganysemblanceofaninfrastructureintheWestBankfromforming,notonlyisthisdehumanizingandoppressivetoPalestinians,butittarnishesthereputationofIsrael'sdemocracyonaninternationalstage.MakingpeacewithPalestiniansshouldbethefirstandforemostgoal.However,assettlementshaveexpandedintotheWestBank,Palestinianslivesaredevastatedinthenameofourstate'ssecurity.It'stimetostoppretendingthatthisdoesn't


completelyunderminethepeaceprocess.Thebottomlineis,ifmyJudaismhastaughtmeanything,itisthatnothingismoresacredthanlife.ContinuingtoinvestinHP,Caterpillar,andG4Siscondoninghumanrightsviolations,whichnotonlygoesagainstmyreligionbutthreatensthedemocraticnatureoftheJewishnation.IfIsraelcan'tconductrelationswithPalestiniansinadiplomaticfashion,andmustresorttomilitaryforceagainstinnocentpeople,howcanwecallitdemocracy?Violenceandhatredonlyencourageretaliatoryviolenceandhatred.Itisforthesereasonsthatthecyclemustbebroken.ItisforthesereasonsthatIurgetheOSUcommunity,especiallymyfellowJewishpeople,totrytoempathizewiththePalestinianpeople,andunderstandtheireffortstopeacefullyprotestinjustice,ratherthanwriteoffeverysinglegrievanceasanti-Semitism.ItisforthesereasonsthatIfullysupportOSUDivest.”ClarifyingonafewcommentsthatIheardsenatorssaytodaythatifthisresolutionpasses,theuniversitywillnottelluswhethertheydivestedornot.WhenUCpassedittheydidn’tknowwhattheywereinvestedin.Theirofficeofinvestmentactuallytoldthem.PassingthiscanincreasetransparencyfromtheOSUOfficeofInvestments.IheardalotofsenatorslastGeneralAssemblysessionsuggestthatImaketheresolutionmorespecificandnotasbroad,andItalkedwithmyfellowsenatorsintownhallIattendedandtheyagreedwiththeseamendments.FirstgrammaticalamendmentswhichIdonotthinkshouldcometoavote.Theywillbefriendlyamendments.

liii. Bock:Don’ttheynothavetobevotedonsincethey’refriendly?liv. Waidelich:Iftheychangethecontentoftheresolutiontheycannotbetakenas

friendly.lv. Honaker:Howmanyareleftonthespeaker’slist?lvi. Waidelich:15.lvii. Honaker:Cananyonemakeamotionoronlythecurrentpersononthespeaker’s

list?lviii. Glass:Anyonecanmakethatmotion.lix. Mubarak:Friendlyamendmenttoline11crossoutOSUinparentheses.Line22

commaafterprivacy.ShoutouttoSenatorWarnimontforcatchingalltheseerrors.Line34removethewordmovement.Takeoutlettersinworddetentionsinline37.Addletternrightbeforeorinline68forittosaynorratherthanor.ChangeOSUtoTheOhioStateUniversityinline98.Tomakethetitleoftheresolutionmorespecificsothatit’snottargetingallcompaniescomplicitinhumanrights,I’dliketochangeitto“AResolutiontoSupportTheOhioStateUniversity’sDivestmentand/orRefrainfromFutureInvestmentsinCaterpillarInc.,G4S,andHewlettPackardEnterprise,andHPInc”(unfriendlyamendmentsinceitchangesthecontentoftheresolution).Wedon’tknowwhetherbothareinvolvedinHumanrightsviolationsbasedoffourresearch,soweincludedboth.

lx. Mattamanna:Canweexplainwhattheprocessis?


lxi. Waidelich:AlllegislationpassedthroughGeneralAssemblyisnullandvoidatthe

endofthatGeneralAssembly’sterm,whichisafterinaugurationintwoweeks.lxii. Glass:ThetitlecannotbeamendedbasedonRobert’sRules.Ifthisresolutionpasses,

itcanbebroughtupagainfordiscussionforthetitle,butthat’stheonlywaytoamendthetitle.

lxiii. Waidelich:Wewillnotbeabletodiscussthetitlechange.lxiv. Mubarak:TakeoutlasttwoLetItFurtherBeResolvedclauses(lines103-112).

(Requires1/3officialsecondaka15senatorstobeamended).lxv. Belfiglio:Areyouplanningtoproposemoreamendmentstonightforthisbill?lxvi. Mubarak:No.lxvii. Cramer:Canyouspeaktowhyyou’restrikingthese?lxviii. Mubarak:Somesenatorssuggestedtakingthesetwooutbecausetheyweren’tsure

whattheresolutionwasaskingforandthat’savalidpoint.I’mwillingtoworkwithothersenatorsinthefuturetoestablishmoretransparency.

lxix. MOVEDINTODISCUSSIONonamendmenttothisresolutionandnottheresolutionitself.

lxx. Kerbel:Ithinkthemotiontostrikeoutlines108-112speakingonthesystematicoppressionofallgroupsofpeople,weneedtomakesureitdoesn’tsystematicallyoppressothergroupsofpeople.Idon’tseethepointofpassingthisifwe’reallowingforthesystematicoppressionofpeople.

lxxi. Cramer:I’mnotafanofthisandI’dbehesitanttostrikethosetwoclausesgivenwhatwe’veseenisthenewtitleafterthis.Iwouldurgeyoutothinkaboutstrikingthesetwolines.

lxxii. Bock:Ithinklines103-106don’tharmthemessageoftheresolution.Ithinkthatleavinglines103-106,theresolutioncanstillstandandstillbetrue.

lxxiii. Warnimont:IlikehavingthoseclausestheresoIsupportkeepingthemin.lxxiv. Yacoub:AlotofpeoplearguedatlastGeneralAssemblythattheywouldsupportthe

resolutionifthosetwowerestrickensincethoselastclausesaregeneralversustheotherspecificclausesandthereasonwhyI’minvolvedinOSUDivestandthereasonwhyOSUDivestincludedthesearefortransparencyinthefuturebutalotofsenatorswantedthemstrickenatthelastGAandthat’swhywe’restrikingthem.

lxxv. Buss:IwasreferencedandIamdirectorofDiversity&Inclusion.IfSenatorMubarakbelievesthattonotonlyappeasethesenatorsthataskedforamorepointedresolution,butalsocreateamorepointedresolution—ifhebelievesthatthisclauseisnotnecessarybecausetheyaretargetingthesethreespecificcompanies,Idon’tbelievelines108-112arenecessarybutIthinkthequestionisthenatureoftheresolution.Arewetalkingabout3companiesorarewetalkingaboutallcompanies?Lines108through112arenotnecessary.Idon’tthinkit’sharmfultobeinthere,butIthinkthisisuptoSenatorMubaraktodecide.


lxxvi. Luther:Idon’tthinkeitherwaythischangesverymuchintheresolutionandIthink

ouroriginalopinionsstillstandsoI’mgoingtocallthequestion.(Endingspeaker’slistbeforethiscomestoavote).

lxxvii. Weisman:Doesn’tthischangethewholesentimentbehindit?Itgoestoshowthatthisresolutiontargetspeopleofaspecificnationalorigin.

lxxviii. Cramer:Istronglyurgeyoutorecognizewhatwe’redoinghereinstrikingtheselinesgivenwhatthenewlyproposedtitleisgoingtosay.

lxxix. AmendmenttostrikelasttwoLetItFurtherBeResolvedclausesfrom48-R-43FAILED.

lxxx. Mubarak:Isaidpreviouslythattherearenootheramendments,butsomethingcameupandIwouldliketochangeline100soit’llbe“withholdingsinCaterpillar,G4S,andHPandothercompanies”instead.Youcantakeout“theaforementionedcompanies.”

lxxxi. Waidelich:Motionistoaddtheboldandtostrikethehighlightedblue.(NotesfromtheSecretary:A1/3secondisrequiredforthemotiontomoveforward.)

lxxxii. MotiontomoveintodiscussionPASSED.(NotesfromtheSecretary:Afteramotiontomoveintodiscussionisapprovedbythechamber,weneedtofinishthespeaker’slistcreatedpriortothevote.)

lxxxiii. Cramer:Howarewedefiningviolationsofhumanrightsinthis?lxxxiv. Waidelich:Thatisnotgermanetothisdiscussiononthemotion.lxxxv. Mubarak:Sinceweweren’tallowedtoamendthetitle,rightnowthetitlesays“in

corporationscomplicitinhumanrightsviolations”soIcouldn’tchangeit.Asenatorsuggesteditduringtownhallandwethoughtitwouldbeagoodideatoadditsoitcouldreflectthetitle.

lxxxvi. Frank:IfSenatorMubarakbelievesthisistherightthingtodo,Ithinkweshouldmoveforwardwithitandcallthequestionbecausewedonothavetimeforthis.

lxxxvii. Cramer:Ithinkwe’redoingagreatdisservicetotheroomifwejustcallthequestion.We’retalkingabouteveryinvestmentOhioStatehas.Wearesayingthatanyonecancallanythingahumanrightsviolationandwearereallyopeningupacanofworms.

lxxxviii. Kahn:Ithinkthisissignificantandit’sastepintherightdirection.lxxxix. Harper:WhatFranksaid.xc. Motiontocallthequestionontheamendment.xci. Cramer:(QuestionedparliamentaryproceduredirectedbyGlass.)xcii. Glass:No,itdoesn’t.LookuptheamendmentsunderRobert’sRulesofOrder.xciii. BockasproxyforFerzaccaasheleavesfortherestroom.xciv. MotionforamendmentPASSED.xcv. Honaker:CanImotionforspeakinglimit?(NotesfromtheSecretary:Instatinga

speakinglimitrequiresa2/3majorityofmembersinroomtovotetodoso).


xcvi. Mubarak:Iwouldliketoaddresstheimportanceofthisresolutionandgivealittle

perspectiveastowhatexactlyweareherefortoday.ThisresolutionispartofahistoricmomenthereatOSU,wherestudentsrepresentingdiverseidentities,issues,andexperiencesareheedingthecalltoceaseourunethicalcomplicityintheviolationofhumanrights.Ourfriendsatschoolsacrossthenationcanattestthroughpersonalexperiencethattheseresolutionshavetrulybenefitedtheircampuses,creatingmoreinclusivediscussionsthatencouragedialogueamongourmanyconstituents.Thisresolutioncallsfornothingmorethanconsensuswithregardstorespectinghumanrights,whichissomethingthatisabsolutelynecessaryinorderfortheretobeanyproductivedialogue.Igreatlyempathizewiththepressuresyouareexperiencing,butIbelieveitisatthesemomentsthatwedefineourleadershipandhavefullfaithinthepowerofcollectivestudentaction.Youhaveinheritedalegacyofstudentactivism.Alotofusmaynothavebeenaffordedtheopportunitytobeheretodayhaditnotbeenforthosewhosoughtjusticebeforeus.WemusthonorthislegacythroughourcurrentcommitmenttoaUniversityrootedinjusticeanddignity.Throughgenerations,studentsjustlikeyouhavebeenconfrontedwithissuesthathaveoftenbeenlabeled“controversial”andeveninthefaceofpowerfullobbyingandoppositionhavefoughtforjustice.AsaproudBuckeyeandmemberofthisacademicyear’sUndergraduateStudentGovernment,Iknowthatwecandobetter.Andsincewecan,thereisnoexcusenotto.WeheardtheIsraeliperspectiveontheissue,weheardthePalestinianperspective,weheardfromJewishstudentsbothinfavorandinoppositionofthisinitiative,we’veheardtheopinionsoffourstatelegislatures.Iurgeyoutobaseyourdecisionontheprinciplestheresolutionitselfisbuilton,whichisrespectforhumanrightsandgenuineneutrality.AllitisaskingforisforUSGtosupportthewithdrawalofinvestmentsfrom3corporations:twoareAmericanandoneisBritish.NowhereintheresolutiondoesittargetIsraelasanation,nowhereintheresolutiondoesittargettheIsraelipeopleorJewishcommunity,nowhereintheresolutionisitaskingforboycotting,divestingsanctioningIsrael.Alltheseaccusationshavebroughtupoverandoveragainthesepasttwoweeks,noneofwhichapplytoresolutionorthecoalitionofstudentswhohaveworkedtobringitwhereitistoday.Again,pleasebaseyourdecisionontheprinciplestheresolutionitselfisbuilton,whichisrespectforhumanrightsandgenuineneutrality.Thankyou.

xcvii. Weisman:FellowSenators,Icometoyoutonightinanefforttoaddressafewargumentsthathavebeenmadeoverthepastcoupleofweeks.Firstly,IwanttomakeclearthatIandeveryoneelseinthisroomcaredeeplyabouthumanrights,dignity,andwell-being.Whilethesponsorclaimsthatthisresolutionisabouthumanrights,themattercouldnotbefurtherfromthetruth.Nomatterwhatyouheartonight,weatheryouarefororagainst,thefactis…thisresolutionisfocusedondirectlytargetingIsraelaspartofabroadernationalmovementknownasBDS.


ThefactthatnoonecouldgivelegitimatehumanrightsviolationsbythesecompaniesanywhereelsebutIsraelshouldspeakvolumestoeveryonehere.Wecannotbemanipulatedbytheplayonwordsanddoublespeakthathasbeenusedinthepastcoupleofweeks.Nowtheargumentmadethat“wemuststartsomewhere”isonethatdoesnottakeintoaccounttheextremecomplexitiesoftheconflict.Inaregionwherehumanrightsabusesrunrampant,IsraelistheonlydemocracyintheMiddleEast,andthecompanieswhodobusinesstherehavecreatedoneofthemostopen,inclusive,andinnovativeenvironmentsintheentireworld.CompaniessuchasCaterpillarevenemployPalestiniansintheWestBank.Inaddition,theHPfaceidentificationsystemmentionedintheresolutionwasimplementedasaformofprotectionafterhundredsofIsraeliswerekilledduringPalestinianuprisingsintheearly2000s.Fellowsenators,thepictureisnotassimpleasthesponsorwouldhaveyoubelieve.WhileIapplaudyouallforresearchingandspendingtimespeakingtoconstituents,Ihavebeenstudyingthisissueforover15yearsandstillcannotclaimasolidunderstandingofthematter.Iwouldencourageyounottomakesucharashjudgmentcallononeofthemostcomplexforeignpolicyissuesofourtime.Secondly,IneedtoaddresstheintimidationthathasbeentargetedtowardmembersofUSGanditssenatorstosupportthislegislation.Apparently,byrejectingit,wewouldnotbelisteningtothediverseandminorityvoices.Icometoyounowtellingyouthatthereisagroupjustasdiverse,justasvariedinopinionsthatwholeheartedlydonotsupportdivestingfromthesecompanies.Seeingsupportersofthisresolutionclaimamonopolyondiversityasifonlythosewhosupportthemtrulysharetheminorityvoicehasbeenquitedisheartening.Iamtrulysaddenedbythosethatwouldusesuchwordsasdiversityandhumanrightstofurtheraverynarrow-minded,one-sidedpoliticalagendaratherthancometogetherandworktowardeffortsofpeace.Thirdly,Ineedtoaddressthestatementmadehowdivestingfromthesethreecompanieswouldhavenoactualimpactonourcommunity.Asmentionedbefore,Caterpillaremploysover1100residentsofOhioandoffersover$1,000,000inscholarshipstoOSUstudents.HewlettPackardalsoprovides$900ktoselectuniversities,OSUbeingoneofthem,forresearchgrants.Theargumentthatthesecompanieswillcontinuetoinvestinourcommunityoncewedecidetodivestfromthemisillogicalandtotallyignoresthefactsofpriordivestmentaccounts.Inadditiontonegativelyimpactingourownenvironment,thisresolutionwillsendastrongmessagethatcouldinfactnegativelyimpactPalestiniansthemselves.IwouldliketodiscussspecificallythedivestmentofCaterpillar.Iwouldliketopointoutasmalllittlefactthatseemstohavebeenlostinthisdiscussion.Thefactis,thereexiststwoCaterpillardealerships,oneintheGazaStripandoneinthecityofRamallah,intheWestbank.BothofthesedealershipsarerunbyPalestiniansandsupportthePalestinianpeople.Furthermore,CATconstructionequipmenthasbeenusedbyPalestiniansfordecadestobuild


infrastructure,homes,hospitalsandschoolswithintheWestBank.Previousexamplesofdivestmentcases,suchasthosetargetedtowardIsraelicompanySodaStreamledtotheclosingoftheirmanufacturingplantintheWestBankandthelossofover500Palestinianjobs.Withthat,Iaskthischamber:whoarewehelpingbypassingthisresolution?Wenotonlyriskourownjobsecurity,academicopportunities,andscholarshipprograms,butsendastrongmessagethatcouldinfactgreatlyharmthosethatthesponsorclaimsheistryingtoprotect.Iwillnowmotiontocallthequestion.(NotesfromtheSecretary:Thiswouldcapthespeaker’slistandallowthespeaker’slisttorunout,andbeginthevotingprocess.)

xcviii. Honaker:Thankeveryoneforbeinghere.Iwantedtoaddresswhathasbeengoingonthepasttwoweeks.Ifwedovote,ifwedon’tvote,ifwevoteyes,ifwevoteno,everyoneherehasprobablyhadabadthoughttowardspeopleontheothersideoftheissue.Allsenatorshereareforsurecommitted.Wewouldn’tbehereat11:39pmonaWednesdaynightifweweren’t.Iencourageyoutonotabstain.Thinkabouthowthisresolutionwillbeused.Notoneresolutionpassedthroughstudentgovernmentsacrossthenationhasn’tbeenusedbythegreaterBDScampaign.ThinkaboutthenationalandinternationalPRcampaign,andthinkifyou’recomfortablewithputtingyournameonit.Thinkaboutwhetherit’sputtogetherenough.Thinkaboutit.That’sallIhavetosay.

xcix. Bodey:About2monthsago,SenatorMubarakcametomeaskingaboutadivestmentresolution.Atthetime,Ididn’tknowenoughtocommittoaco-sponsorshiportoevenverballysupportthebill,but—andthisisimportant—ignoranceisneverareasonforafellowsenatortoavoidavote.Leadinguptotonight,IhavemetwithstudentsofOSUDivest,BuckeyesforIsrael,andunaffiliatedstudents.Thisresolutionaddressesanincrediblycomplextopic,onethatIhaveresearchedextensivelythankstothehelpofstudentsofbothgroups.Iattendedbothtownhalls,metbothgroupsforcoffee,andfieldedendlessemails.OSUDivestisanincrediblestudentgroupwithanadmirablemission.Theyaretryingtobringtolightanissuethatdivesdeepintotheirheartsandaffectstheircommunitiessodeeply.I’vebeentouchedbytheireffortsandtheyhavebroughttomyattentionanincredibleissuewehaveinUndergraduateStudentGovernment—andthatisproportionalrepresentationofMuslimstudentsinourGeneralAssembly.BuckeyesforIsraelisanotherincrediblestudentgroupthatalsohasgreatintentions.TheycreateasafespaceforJewishstudentsonourcampus.BuckeyesforIsraelalsobringsforwardconcernsoftheircommunity.ThesestudentsalsofaceoppressionasJewsonourcampus.Asthisdebatehasgoneon,Ihaveseenemotionsrunhigh,andstudentspinthemselvesagainsteachother.YesterdayattheBuckeyesforIsraeltownhall,astudentwhowasamemberofOSUDivestbegantoaskaquestiontothepanelist.Thequestionwasrespectfulandwellthoughtout.However,withangerandintolerance,aBuckeyesforIsraelstudent,unfortunatelysomeonepermittedto


alternateinthisbody,interruptedhisfellowstudent;anactthatwasincrediblydisrespectfulandshowedjusthowintolerantthisdiscussionwas.Yettoday,Isawoffensive,anti-Semitic,andchargedcommentstowardsJewishstudentsonourcampusfrommembersofOSUDivest.Moreover,evenmyfellowsenatorsbegantodivideagainsteachother.SomethingIjustcannotaccept.Afterallofthis,onethinghasbecomecleartome.Resolutionssuchasthisoneprovidenoplaceforproductivedialogue.Regardlessofhowthisresolutioniswrittenorfedtosenators,itcreatesablatantseparationofthestudentbody.Therewasanop-edwrittenintheLanternthatsuggestedthatSenatorspickandchoosewhotheyrepresent.Icanhonestlysaythatafterthisdiscussionoverthelastfewweeks,I'vereachedtheconclusionthatUSGneedstodoabetterjobincreatingconsensus.Asasenator,itismyjobtocreateconsensusandrepresenteveryoneofmyconstituents.ItisthejobofmyfellowSenatorstocreateconsensus,notcross-examinethepublicordoubttheintentionsofstudentswhocometopleadtoyou.Thisresolutiondoesnotcreateconsensus.Itseparatesmyconstituents.USG,BuckeyesforIsrael,andOSUDivestneedtoworktogethertobuildupboththecommunitiesthesestudentsholdsodearhereoncampus.Thisdialoguehasnotbeenasafespace.Studentsonbothsideshavebeentargeted.WeheardtonightinpublicforumthatMuslimandJewishstudentsdonotfeelsafeatOhioState,andthatshouldbeacalltoactionforthischamber.StudentActivityFeefundsshouldbeusedfortownhalls,moderateddiscussions,andotherprogramstoeasethistension.Furthermore,theUndergraduateStudentGovernmentshouldtakeactionstogainaccesstofinancialinvestmentrecordstoallOhioStateinvestmentstoknowwheretuitiondollarsaregoing.Iwillneversupportaresolutionthatpitsstudentsagainsteachother.Votingyesornopitsstudentsagainsteachother.Iwillbeabstainingfromthisvote.Everyoneinthisroomknowshowthey’regoingtovote,andtimeisgoingtoexpireverysoon.Again,I’mheretocreateconsensusnotonlyamongstudentsatlarge,butalsoamongmyfellowsenators.Thankyou.

c. Yacoub:ThankeverybodywhocameouttodayIvaluebothsidesbuttwoweeksagoattheGeneralAssemblymeetingtheoppositionofthisresolutionspokeonbehalfoftheresolutionwithoutreadingitandthatspeaksvolumes.Theykeptsayinghowit’santi-Israelandanti-Semiticandthisargumentkeepsgoingbacktotheresolutionandthecontents.Sarahmentionedearlierclausesthatitdoesn’taimtocondemnanycountryorcommunityofpeople.Thatinitselfumcompletelylikedebunkstheargumentsagainstitbecauseitsaysit’snotanti-Israel,it’snotcondemningIsrael,ortryingtofigureoutasolutionfortheoccupationbutitissimplyabouthumanrightsattheendoftheday.AnotherargumentthatIwouldliketociteisthere’sover25organizationsthatsignedontothisandtheyarediverseorganizationsthatrepresentalarge,largenumberofconstituentsonthiscampuswhiletheopportunityhasonlytwogroupswhichareBuckeyesforIsraelandHillelthere


haven’tbeenendorsementsagainstthissoIdon’tunderstandwheresenatorsaregettingthis.IalsowanttocommentonhowonMondayandTuesdayOSUDivesthadatownhallandtherewasanotheronTuesday.GreeklifehaschapteronMondaynightssothat’swhywehadanoptionforMondayandTuesdaywhiletheanti-divestmentresolutiontheyhadoneonTuesdayaswellanhourafteroursandthefactthatfoursenatorswerebetweenthosetwothetownhallonlyfoursenatorspresentonMondayandmorethantenonTuesday.

ci. Waidelich:Youcannotattackwhatsenatorswerepresentornotpresentatatownhall.Wearealsoonatimeconstraintsopleasecontinue.

cii. Yacoub:Thatwastheiropportunitytohearfromconstituentsbutthenumbersshow.Sopersonallythesecorporationshaveaffectedmepersonally.AsaPalestinian-AmericanIamborninAmericathefactthatin1947mydad’svillagewasdestroyeditwasdestroyedinfrontoftheireyeswhilepeoplewerestillinbuildingsandmydad’svillageswhichisrightnexttoTelAvivwhichisnowinProperIsraelandforpeopletotalkabouthowtheirfeelingsarebeinghurtbutmyfamily’shistoryhasbeendirectlyaffectedbythesecorporationsandthehistorywasbasicallycoveredandtheruinsthereisnowasettlementontopoftheruinsinmydad’svillageandattheendofthedayIknowalotofyoupersonallyandmanyofyouspokeasPalestiniansandpeopleofcolorthesecompanieshaveaidedinharmingourhumanrightsandviolationsofthatandthatgoesbacktotheresolutionitselfandthatthere’snoconnectionwithIsraelandBDS,ithasnothingtodowiththisresolution,it’sproventhattheydidnotactuallyreadthisresolutionsoattheendofthedayIadviseallofthesenatorstoreadthisresolutionandvoteonyourfeelingsabouttheresolutionandhowtheunderlyingmessageisnotpoliticalandnotdivisiveandit’sabouthumanrights.

ciii. 9minutesleft.civ. Glass:I’mgoingtospeakontheparliamentaryexplanationImentionedbeforeof

callingthepreviousquestioninthischamber.ThereisawaythroughRobert’sRulestoforceanendtothedebatewhichrequiresa2/3voteandthatwillforceavoteonthisresolutionconsideringthere’s9minuteslefttovoteandIbelievetherewillbequestionsonhowvotinghappens.

cv. Cramer:MotiontocalltheordersofthedaywhichwillforceWaidelichtodecidetovoteontheresolutionortable.

cvi. Glass:Iwouldrecommendvotingtoenddebate.Thatwillgivemembersofthechambertheagencytodecideonwhetherornotvote.

cvii. Waidelich:Themotion’sbeencalledandit’satmydiscretionthatwewilldoasecretvote.

cviii. Glass:IhavetospeakastheParliamentarianagainstthatbutIcanreadanexcerptofRobert’sRules.


cix. Waidelich:OurstandingrulessupersedetheRobert’sRules.It’smydiscretionto

haveasecretballot.cx. Glass:I’mgoingtoexplainwhatvotingayeandnay,andabstainingmean.Votingaye

meansthatyousupportthisresolution.Votingnaymeansthatyoudonotsupportthisresolution.Abstainingmeansthatyouarenotvotingyesornotothisresolution.Thereare45votingmemberspresent.Thatrequires23yesvotestopasswithasimplemajority.(Currenttime11:56pm.)(NotefromtheSecretary:Thevotingmethodwasatthediscretionofthechair.With4minutesleftintheGeneralAssemblysession,hadwedonearolecallvoteaswesometimesdo,wewouldrunoutoftime,hadtoleavethechamber,andnotcompletethevote.Theresolutionwouldineffectbetabledindefinitely.)

cxi. 48-R-43FAILEDwith9-21-15.cxii. Meetingwasadjournedatmidnight,whentheOhioUnionofficiallyclosed.

VII. NewBusinessa. 48-R-44AResolutiontoSupporttheIncreasedUseofReusableCoffeeCupsonCampusb. 48-R-45AResolutiontoSupporttheCreationofaMakerspaceatTheOhioStateUniversity’s

ColumbusCampusVIII. AnnouncementsIX. Adjournment

sophie chang secretary of the general assembly

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