News Bites – Week of Sept. 23

Israel-Palestine Working Group releases final recommendations, addresses free speech

The Pitzer College Israel-Palestine Working Group released its final recommendations to the student body Sept. 24 in an email sent to the Pitzer student body from Susan Catone, executive assistant to the vice president for academic affairs. The recommendations come after a year of work by the group, which was composed of students, trustees, staff and faculty.

The working group’s recommendations included that Pitzer condemn “any attacks on individuals or groups who are targeted for their views” on the Israel-Palestine conflict, and “defend the principles of free speech, open inquiry, and academic freedom.”

The Faculty Executive Committee formed the working group in fall 2017 to address the “Board’s nullification over the summer” of a Student Senate budget guidelines amendment preventing clubs from buying products from certain organizations associated with Israel, according to the recommendation document.

Additionally, the FEC requested that the group consider the issue of Pitzer’s exchange program with the University of Haifa in Israel, along with Pitzer’s current relationship with Hillel International, an organization that sponsors Jewish community across U.S. college campuses.

— Elinor Aspegren

 

ASPC releases senate election results

Pomona College students elected four new ASPC Senate representatives, Associate Dean of Campus Life Ellie Ash-Bala announced in an email sent to the Pomona student body Sept. 25.

Daniel Silverman PO ’19 was elected North Campus representative, Pie Kachru PO ’21 was elected South Campus representative, Malak Afaneh PO ’21 was elected sophomore class president, and Andriw Read PO ’22 was elected first-year class president.

Candidates spoke about their goals for ASPC at the Candidates’ Forum Sept. 23, ASPC Elections Commissioner Sean Volke wrote in an email to the student body. Seven candidates ran for first-year class president, two candidates each ran for North Campus representative and South Campus representative, and sophomore class president ran unopposed.

— Jaimie Ding