President Holloway of Rutgers Addresses Divestment and Protests on Campus.
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway recently addressed student protests over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and clarified the university’s position on the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement during a speech to the Board of Governors.
“While I do not have the authority to make divestment decisions, I want to reiterate that I believe the BDS movement is wrong,” Holloway said. “I believe it is incorrect to divest from Israel.” He emphasized that Rutgers remains committed to its existing investment policies and has not agreed to divest from companies operating in Israel. “We did agree to meet with the students who made the request—and nothing more,” Holloway added.
Meanwhile, Tel Aviv University has announced plans to open a satellite campus within New Brunswick’s upcoming Innovation & Technology Hub. The $665 million, ten-story building will also house offices for Rutgers, Princeton University, Hackensack Meridian Health, and RWJBarnabas Health. In November 2021, Tel Aviv University became the Hub’s first international tenant, leasing space for offices, classrooms, and laboratories.
In response to these developments, several Jewish organizations in New Jersey have criticized Rutgers for what they describe as caving to student demonstrators’ demands, with some threatening to withhold funding unless the university rescinds its agreements. More than 700 members of the Rutgers Jewish community signed a letter to Holloway warning that they would stop donations and other forms of support if the university did not renounce eight agreements made with protesters. Additionally, the four major New Jersey Jewish federations condemned Holloway’s deal as a “shameful capitulation to the pro-Hamas encampment” and called on the state to intervene and cut Rutgers’ funding.
Speaking to the Rutgers Board of Governors on May 6, Holloway discussed the challenging environment facing higher education. He detailed how the protests—which began as a peaceful demonstration against the Gaza conflict and in support of Palestine—had turned disruptive by Thursday. According to Holloway, a tense atmosphere arose from the mix of demonstrators and counter-demonstrators, some of whom came from outside the Rutgers community.
“Some have said I should have called in police to clear the protest and arrest those who resisted,” Holloway said in response to the outcry. “We were prepared to do that. I’m glad it wasn’t necessary.” He acknowledged criticism for engaging with the protesters but reiterated that the discussions involved Rutgers students who made recommendations on academic and student matters—such as a cultural center, trainings, and course options. Those requests are now being handled by the Chancellor’s Advisory Council on Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian Life.
Holloway also addressed the university’s existing relationship with Birzeit University, which dates back to 2022. He expressed confidence in the steps taken by the institution, noting that they had led to a peaceful return to normalcy on campus. “The result of our actions was a peaceful return to the normal course of business,” Holloway said.
The series of events highlights the complex and often charged environment in which universities must operate, balancing competing viewpoints while maintaining campus order and safety.
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