Current:Home > NewsCalifornia university president put on leave after announcing agreement with pro-Palestinian group -消息
California university president put on leave after announcing agreement with pro-Palestinian group
View
Date:2025-04-13 09:42:34
ROHNERT PARK, Calif. (AP) — The chancellor of the California State University system has suspended the president of its Sonoma campus for announcing an agreement with pro-Palestinian activists to pursue an academic boycott of Israeli institutions as well as “divestment strategies.”
The message by Sonoma State University President Ming-Tung “Mike” Lee was issued “without the appropriate approvals,” said Mildred García, chancellor of the 23-campus CSU system, in a statement Wednesday.
“For now, because of this insubordination and consequences it has brought upon the system, President Lee has been placed on administrative leave,” García said.
Lee quickly issued an apology for the agreement he announced Tuesday after meetings with students who set up a campus encampment, one of many that have appeared at colleges to protest Israel’s actions in the war with Hamas and to press schools to cut ties with Israel and businesses that support it.
“My goal when meeting with students at the encampment was to explore opportunities to make meaningful change, identify common ground and create a safe and inclusive campus for all. I now realize that many of the statements I made in my campuswide message did just the opposite,” Lee wrote.
“In my attempt to find agreement with one group of students, I marginalized other members of our student population and community. I realize the harm that this has caused, and I take full ownership of it,” Lee said.
In his original message, Lee endorsed student activism, protest and dissent.
“None of us should be on the sidelines when human beings are subject to mass killing and destruction,” Lee had said Tuesday in announcing that an Advisory Council of Students for Justice in Palestine was being established at Sonoma State.
Lee said a review of all university foundation investments and vendor contracts was being launched.
“After the review, the Advisory Council of SJP and SSU administrators will meet with proper officials to determine a course of action leading to divestment strategies that include seeking ethical alternatives,” Lee said.
Lee said Sonoma State has no faculty or student exchange agreements in Israel and would not in the future.
Sonoma State “will not pursue or engage in any study abroad programs, faculty exchanges, or other formal collaborations that are sponsored by, or represent, the Israeli state academic and research institutions,” he said.
Lee added that engagement with “individual Israeli scholars acting in a personal capacity” would be welcome.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- Luis Rubiales, Spain's soccer federation boss, faces sexual assault lawsuit for Jenni Hermoso kiss
- North Korea's Kim Jong Un boasts of new nuclear attack submarine, but many doubt its abilities
- Foreign student arrested in Norway on suspicion of espionage including electronic eavesdropping
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- This Best-Selling Earbud Cleaning Pen Has 16,000+ 5-Star Amazon Reviews & It's on Sale
- Lauren Groff has a go bag and says so should you
- Dolphins' Tyreek Hill after 215-yard game vs. Chargers: 'I feel like nobody can guard me'
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Moroccan soldiers and aid teams battle to reach remote, quake-hit towns as toll rises past 2,400
Ranking
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Sri Lanka’s president will appoint a committee to probe allegations of complicity in 2019 bombings
- Chris Evans and Alba Baptista Marry in Marvel-ous Massachusetts Wedding
- Ravens' J.K. Dobbins updates: RB confirmed to have Achilles injury
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- Luis Rubiales, Spain's soccer federation boss, faces sexual assault lawsuit for Jenni Hermoso kiss
- Moroccan soldiers and aid teams battle to reach remote, quake-hit towns as toll rises past 2,400
- Mossad chief accuses Iran of plotting deadly attacks, vows to hit perpetrators ‘in heart’ of Tehran
Recommendation
Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
The United States marks 22 years since 9/11, from ground zero to Alaska
Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker accused of sexually harassing rape survivor
Biden highlights business deals and pays respects at John McCain memorial to wrap up Vietnam visit
Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
Lauren Groff has a go bag and says so should you
Lauren Groff has a go bag and says so should you
He's a singer, a cop and the inspiration for a Netflix film about albinism in Africa