UCSJP call on UCSA to “follow the will of students worldwide” in taking a stand for Palestine

Update, 22 May: Edits made for clarifying and redacting some identifying information.

Source: Supplied by University of Canterbury Students for Justice in Palestine. 

UC Students for Justice in Palestine (UCSJP) is part of a global movement of students “united in calling for universities to stop supporting the State of Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people,” says a member of UCSJP who gave her name as “Rachel Corrie”.

The group is asking the University of Canterbury Students’ Association (UCSA) to ensure none of its investments or assets go to supporting the Israeli regime, and furthermore, that UCSA supports and joins calls to the University, to enact boycotts and divestment, and to support any protest made by the UC student body. 

“Social media feeds make a mockery of the idea of justice as we see Palestinian children starve while celebrities enjoy the Met Gala. UCSA has an opportunity to break through the noise and speak up for what matters,” she said.  

“33,000 Palestinians have already been murdered, [many] of them children; it’s time for our university to take a stand.” 

Corrie told Canta that UC has known collaborations with weapons companies Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, through the Wireless Research Centre and licensing of a patent, respectively, which she said are both companies manufacturing weapons used by Israel. 

Corrie mentioned UC’s involvement with HP, the tech company which takes part in maintaining the computer systems which are involved in running the Israeli apartheid regime. 

“We are calling for an end to all collaboration with and investment in companies that support the genocide, and calling for an academic boycott of Israel,” she said. 

“UCSA’s sole purpose is to represent and support UC’s students, and UC’s students are saying ‘no’ to genocide. UCSA’s responsibility for that is clear.” 

At UCSA’s AGM on May 7, UCSJP posed similar calls to UCSA President Luc MacKay, to which MacKay responded that the Association would support students’ right to protest, and that it would work with the University on the issue. 

In response to questions from Canta, MacKay said: “We absolutely support all students in their right to protest. We actively work with UC on these types of issues as we have a strong relationship and a partnership agreement.”  

Corrie said while the group expected the USCA to support students’ right to protest and the group are pleased with that, they remain curious about what working with the University means.  

“Will he speak to [UC finances] to withdraw UC’s investments in weapons companies? Will he be speaking with UC’s IT department to withdraw its deal with HP? Will he be speaking to department heads to make sure that UC isn’t accepting bloodstained money? We hope so,” Corrie said.