Yesterday at the British University College Union Congress (UCU) a motion, 
and series of amendments, attacking Israeli academia passed by 158 votes to 
99 votes. There is some confusion as to the actual implications of the 
motion amidst the UCU leadership members at the conference and even many 
journalists. The motions broadly call for a boycott of Israeli Academia and 
a moratorium on EU funding for Israeli research.
 
 
 
I am writing to you and requesting that you write to Sally Hunt the General 
Secretary of UCU within the next 24 hours to put pressure on her to call a 
referendum so this decision can be overturned. Please do not attack her 
personally, be rude, aggressive or 'too' sarcastic. Please do express your 
concern for academia, Israeli's and by consequence Jews clearly. Feel free 
to make it personal as you are a student studying in the U.K.
 
 
 
 
 
Messaging to Sally:
 
1)       I am angry and frustrated at the decision of the UCU Congress today 
30/5/07 passed a policy that represents a step towards the absolute boycott 
of Israeli academics. I fell this is wrong because:
 
a.       its an assault on academic freedom,
 
b.       it is punishing the most progressive sector of Israeli society and 
damaging voices for peace etc,
 
c.       it will be damaging to the international credibility of UK academia
 
d.       stressing that the boycott does not help the Palestinians
 
 
 
2)       I am aware that as General Secretary  you publicly opposed a 
boycott and haven previously explained that any boycott would be decided by 
the entire membership.
 
3)       I request that as General Secretary you do all in your power to 
call a referendum immediately; to ballot the membership on the issue of a 
boycott of Israeli academics as you have said you would.
 
 
 
 
 
Sally Hunt's email address is : 
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please BCC correspondence to 
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  and 
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You may also want to view: 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6705131.stm
 
http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/worldwide/story/0,,2091498,00.html
 
 
 
You can view the text of the motions at 
http://www.engageonline.org.uk/blog/article.php?id=1046