University of Cape Town’s ostracisation of Israeli scholarship hypocritical
University abrogates the academic freedom it is supposed to jealously guard and uphold
In much the same way as University of Cape Town (UCT) academics took Karl Marx seriously in the ’70s and ’80s, they are now following the less famous Marx. “These are my principles, and if you don’t like them … well, I have others,” said Groucho. Groucho would be applauding UCT. Last November, the university’s senate roundly defeated a motion to boycott Israeli scholars and institutions. Debate was correctly focused on principle, and not on the intricacies of a 100-year conflict. Let’s face it, no-one on either side will convince their antagonist. Importantly, the senior executive of UCT formally shared the senate’s majority view.
Less than four months later the senate has turned on its principles — at least those who attended the meeting of what was once a serious and august institution. UCT’s council will debate the senate’s decision on Saturday. Many leading UCT scholars are shocked. Even in a country that has regularly shot itself in the foot, UCT’s actions have caused ala...
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