The Nominating and Elections Committee approved a referendum on the divestment of Israel by the Pennsylvania Muslim Student Association.Credit: Amanda Shen 
The Israeli divestment referendum proposed by the Penn State Islamic Student Association will proceed to a vote by the student body, according to an Instagram post at 1:55 p.m.
A petition calling for a referendum, circulated April 24 by the Penn MSA and reposted by Penn Students Opposed to the Occupation of Palestine, states that the university “does not support businesses or organizations that benefit from, are involved in, or contribute to Students are asked whether they should sell their donations. In addition to his other two questions, it's about the Israeli government's human rights abuses.
“As we have stated many times before, the University of Pennsylvania does not support boycotts, divestment, and sanctions against Israel,” a university spokesperson said in a letter to Democrats.
Voting for the referendum will be open to all undergraduate students until Wednesday. The vote was approved by the university's student government.
“This approved disclosure and divestiture referendum is a way for us, as undergraduates, to have a democratic student voice,” MSA wrote on Instagram. “…We, the students, not donors or Congress, define what our university means.”
In a statement to the Daily Pennsylvanian, an MSA spokesperson wrote that the referendum was conducted “to honestly and first-hand understand how Penn State's student body feels about these three issues.” Ta.
“This ballot is an ideal platform to elevate student voices while combating the fear of having personal information compromised and supporting student safety on campus,” they added.
The petition also asks whether universities should disclose all investments they hold through endowment funds, and whether Penn University should disclose all investments it holds through endowment funds, as well as whether Penn's investment in Penovation Works, which develops military quadruped robots that the Israeli government is said to be using for military purposes. It also asks whether it should sever ties with its subsidiary company Ghost Robotics. “commit human rights violations”
An MSA spokesperson also emphasized the importance of student participation in the referendum.
“We would like to emphasize the importance of all undergraduate students voting in this referendum,” they said. “Whether students vote up or down a question, this is an opportunity to get the most accurate perspective of undergraduate students.”
A spokesperson for the Penn Arab Student Association told DP that the group “fully supports the MSA referendum and would like to join MSA's call to extend the right to vote to all undergraduate students.” sent a letter.
The petition gathered the 500 signatures needed to be sent to the undergraduate student body and was submitted to the Nominations and Elections Committee for approval Wednesday night.
“We understand that the MSA is proposing an unprecedented referendum, and we want to uphold our commitment to amplifying student voices and our responsibility to advocate for our student body,” said NEC Chair Youssef. Eliusev and UA President Lia Herendura said in a joint statement. DP on Wednesday. “Our goal is to ensure this is a fair and transparent process.”
“Vote no on the BDS proposal now!!! It's so important, this won't pass,” the Penn Israel Public Affairs Committee posted on its Instagram Story after voting began in the referendum.
Earlier this week, in response to the proposed MSA referendum, PIPAC sought its own referendum, writing that it was a response to “the proposed BDS referendum that took place on campus yesterday.” Ta.
PIPAC will discuss whether Penn should comply with the Department of Education and Pennsylvania's anti-discrimination regulations, as well as whether Penn is an Israeli company that is leading the way in “cancer research,” “medical advances,” and “innovative technology that helps underdeveloped countries.” We asked four questions related to whether we should continue investing in . and whether universities should maintain relationships with Israeli companies committed to using technology to “protect themselves and free hostages.”
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