Queen’s University Rejects Divestment from Israel
- ALCCA Staff
- Mar 16
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 20
This week, Queen’s University announced that it will not divest from companies conducting business with or in the State of Israel.
After a wide consultative process, the Principal’s Review Committee for Responsible Investing recommended against divestment of Queen’s pooled endowment and investment funds from companies conducting business in or with the State of Israel and against putting in place a negative screening process for future investments.
The Committee's impeccable reasons are as important as its decision. They provide a model for how Boycott, Divestment and Sanction initiatives should be addressed by Canadian universities and colleges. The Committee determined that divestment would increase financial risk and violate the university's fiduciary responsibilities. But it is the Committee's recognition of how divestment undermines valued academic freedom and institutional neutrality that is most significant.
“Role of the University and academic freedom: Institutional neutrality was another key factor in the Committee’s decision-making. Institutional neutrality requires the University not to use its administrative functions to promote a political or symbolic stance on domestic and global current events as doing so could inhibit academic freedom and an environment of free and open inquiry. A decision to divest or establish a negative screen on the basis of a political or symbolic position would clearly be taken as the University advancing a particular position, in violation of Queen’s institutional practice of neutrality. Investment decisions that comport with institutional neutrality are based solely on an analysis of the financial risk and potential returns.”
The Committee also expressed concern about the effectiveness of divestment other than as a tool for making a political or symbolic statement. However, as already indicated, such a statement violates institutional neutrality, particularly where there is no consensus — indeed deep division — over the political issues at play.
What a refreshing approach, so different than University of Windsor’s capitulation to encampment occupiers and the students union, by entering into agreements that undermine academic freedom, institutional neutrality, and research integrity. The Queen’s Committee also commendably acknowledged the presence of fear and hate on campus and the need to foster constructive dialogue.
“The Committee saw first-hand that on and off campus, there are members of the Queen’s community that feel the presence of fear, hate, and frustration. Queen’s, working with organizations on campus and the broader Queen’s community, should use every opportunity to foster opportunities for constructive dialogue. All members of the Queen’s community should feel respected, valued, and safe.”
Respectful dialogue has been a centrepiece of ALCCA’s approach to antisemitism and other hatred and we look forward to working with all universities and colleges to continue to foster such dialogue.
We wish to thank our member organization Network of Engaged Canadian Academics (NECA) for its leading work in fighting BDS across the country and at Queen’s University. Thank you as well to all others – members and non-members – who joined this enterprise.