When I think “weapons manufacturers” I think of Putin and his invasion of Ukraine. I am glad that someone is helping Ukraine. We can’t help Ukraine to defend itself without someone building weapons to send them.
In this case, it appears that the students are advocating for divestment primarily as a means to advance their position on Gaza.
The catch is that Smith has no direct investment with any of these companies. It owns Index funds in which these companies have a very small presence. Asking Smith to divest from these Index funds is fine, demanding that it happen is insane. The Trustees of the College have a responsibility to grow the endowment and divesting from these Index funds will likely result in smaller growth and (eventually) less money available for institutional aid. Additionally, the students occupying College Hall are using anti-Semitic tropes throughout their protest. They are not going to get what they want and they have absolutely no exit strategy. They are clearly being guided by outside people who don’t care what the end result is for these kids. They are also blocking access to Smith students who need to get into College Hall for Title IX, ODS, and Financial Service meetings and have no remorse for harming these already marginalized kids.
It is not necessarily true that other investments will do worse. However, it is likely that other investments will involve more work (and therefore expense) for the college’s finance people, in selecting either investments or investment managers, especially if there are additional screens against “weapons manufacturers” or whatever.
From my (admittedly limited) research, most of the funds that would eliminate anything that people might find objectionable, tend to under-perform their related Index fund over the long term. Could it be done? Sure. But there is a large cost associated with it and if the fund doesn’t perform, then Smith is losing even more money. I think part of the issue is that these students have no idea how the investment market works (or if they do, they don’t care). They want their demands met, regardless of the financial implication to the College and to the students who receive institutional aid. They asked the Trustees to divest, the answer was no, and it was explained why (no direct investment and what is in the index funds is negligible). Now they are occupying College Hall and harming the education of all the students (including themselves) at Smith for something they won’t win.
What is also often forgotten is that these companies (Raytheon, Lockheed, L3Harris, Boeing…) supply other systems that are not weapons related. And if they want full divestment, then they need to dig down into the suppliers of these companies, which would then likely eliminate GE, GM, and other companies found on these indices.
Yet they don’t realize that Israel is not a majority “white” country.
They are?
They are?
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That is what we are hearing, yes. Their “demands” and actions also make it clear they are getting guidance from others.
Doesn’t everyone have outside advisors? It doesnt mean they aren’t sincere and motivated on their own
Its actually remarkably insulting for some to suggest that Smith students aren’t smart enough to have opinions about the Mideast themselves but are stupidly following the direction of some " outside advisors".
Is the disdain because they are women or because they are college students or because some just disagree with their position? Or perhaps objectors have their own outside advisors making such suggestions?
Wait a while. Perhaps a name will appear as a Nobel Peace Prize recipient.
As an overall opinion, I don’t know whether this represents the right action to take, but it represents, at least, an action.
- Smith students are plenty “smart” but no “smarts” at all are required to have strong opinions.
- The “disdain” you are attributing to another poster is your own. The other poster stated facts, it is you who assert their post originates from disdain. (Rather than your post.)
- Protesting Smith students are parroting rhetoric that:
a) Has little/no basis in fact,
b) Mimics Hamas/terrorist talking points; not a coincidence,
c) Is untethered to practical reality. If you review the notes of the Smith SJP the “demands” made to the Smith president you’ll note they are not even within her authority.
Many Smith students are brilliant. Many are completely uncomprehending of geopolitical politics, and they ways in which even “smart” people can be manipulated by propaganda and used for political purposes by other parties.
Having spoken with many of these students, I assure you that’s what’s happening here.
If you can offer ANY EVIDENCE that these students know full-well why they’re doing what they’re doing, based on their knowledge of all relevant history, within the scope of legitimate social and human rights protest, and intended to have actual benefit to any community whatsoever, have at it.
Here is my opinion: these kids are the tragically self-righteous victims of propaganda.
Seriously? You are insinuating that I have a disdain for women? I am one. I am a Smith alum and my daughter is a student. I speak from personal knowledge of the situation and what other parents are hearing about what is going on inside. They are being advised by someone.
My kid’s education is being disrupted. Kids who need services within the building are not able to get them. These students are demanding something they will not get and expect that there will be no consequences for their actions. None of this is ok. They lost any support I may have had for them at the beginning when they started including “From the River to the Sea” in their protest. Many Jewish kids do not feel safe at school, some TA’s are giving extra credit for kids who go to the protest, making them feel even less safe. Whether I agree or not with their general stance on Palestine doesn’t change the fact that their “demands” of divestment are not reasonable (considering there is already no direct investment), and that they should not be wearing masks when they meet with officials (which is what they are doing). If they are going to protest and occupy a building, then they need to accept the risk of people knowing who they are and the consequences of their actions of violating the code of conduct.
No one who objects to this on campus is saying anything. They are too scared to because they know they will be blasted. There has been no counter protest. The many kids who do not agree are keeping their heads down and remaining silent because engaging is not an option. So no, there is no “advising” going on for those who disagree.
If you have different first hand knowledge, please share it.
I am sure all of the Smith students, including your daughter, are smart enough to know what they are doing and how to deal with any issues arising therefrom. Students at elite US LACs are among the most privileged people on the planet; no need to claim victimization there
ONE HUNDRED PERCENT.
Everything.
Everything you said.
The irony:
- Nothing “constructive” (with regards to the SJP’s demands) will be accomplished. Zero.
- There Will Be Consequences to these kids, and the “Palestinian Support for Smith Students” organization will not magically appear.
- Despite the unquestionably horrible things happening in Palestine, isn’t there, wait, uh, something about 30,000 Ukranians, countless deaths and atrocities in Burma, Syria, Sudan,… If you claim to care about human rights, why not pick a clear-cut conflict (rather than the one with the best social media activism)?
…On-and-on…
There are clear-cut/fully-worthy causes and legitimate ways to protest.
This is not that.
See Be_thoughtful’s post above. My kid has done the research into SLP and also has a very good understanding of how the financial industry works and has decided that she does not agree with the protest. Her friends are protesting because they think it’s the right thing to do. Are they smart enough to know what they are doing and deal with the issues? Sure. But are they actually researching those issues? Nope.
Again “smarts” have nothing to do with it.
I encourage you to deeply engage with some of these students.
“Smarts” has nothing to do with it.
“Smarts” has nothing to do with it.
They do not understand exactly why, and for whom, they’re doing what they’re doing.
In THAT way, yeah, they’re totally victims.
…Same. Same. Same.
Thinking you’re right – even believing it really strongly! – and BEING right are very different things.
Of course, those students might make the exact same claim about you.