With a unanimous 5-0 vote, Cal State Monterey Bay’s (CSUMB) Associated Students (AS) approved a resolution “condemning human rights violations, a call for an immediate permanent ceasefire, and reaffirming student freedom of expression” at the AS Senate Meeting on Monday, April 22.
The decision comes in response to the war in Gaza, calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire as well as the safe return of all Israeli and Palestinian hostages.
With the approval of the resolution, AS will form a Divestment Oversight Committee with the authority to make recommendations to groups governed by AS on divestment targets in accordance with the Palestinian Boycott, Divest, Sanction National Committee.
According to the resolution, AS, “will no longer work with, or contribute, any student fee dollars towards companies that invest in Israel.”
The resolution also urges the University Foundation, CSUMB’s Academic Senate and students to join them in adhering to these divestment targets.
The resolution also calls upon the cities of Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, Seaside, Sand City, Salinas and Marina to pass their own ceasefire resolutions and encourages students to advocate for the cause in city council meetings.
Incoming AS President Aaron Villarreal is hopeful that the approval of the resolution sends a message to the university administration, “saying, ‘hey, this is the work that we’re doing and putting forth…what’s your response?’”
Monday’s vote comes amid rising tensions at college campuses across the country. Over 100 pro-Palestinian protestors were arrested last week at Columbia University, where in-person classes were canceled Monday due to fears of escalation as reported by the Associated Press.
“Recently there’s been a lot of suppression of student voices,” said Robin Fishman, president of CSUMB’s Interclub Council.
Fishman, who put forth the first draft of the resolution, “was very nervous that things would escalate.”
“We had gotten word that there would be opposition for the resolution. I was pleasantly surprised that there wasn’t,” said Fishman.
The Senate meeting had a larger than usual turnout, with over 40 attendees, many of whom were from CSUMB’s Abolitionist and Decolonial Learning Collective (ADLC) who came to support the resolution’s approval.
ADLC member and student sponsor of the resolution, Deborah Williams, noted the wide range of support for the Ceasefire Resolution, saying “It was very peaceful in here today surprisingly. There was a lot of support.”
Williams continued, “There’s something really lovely about having a campus where we can still have our voices be heard.”