Occidental College’s board of trustees voted this week not to divest from companies with ties to Israel, saying the move would further divide the campus and limit freedom of expression. In a letter to students, faculty and staff on Monday, Occidental Board of Trustees Chair Lisa H. Link acknowledged the devastating effects of the Israel-Hamas war but said that taking a position on a complex geopolitical situation could alienate certain members of the community and undermine its diversity.
The board's vote on the divestment proposal hinged on students taking down their pro-Palestinian encampment, not impeding commencement and not returning to occupy a space on campus without prior approval. The board held the vote after Occidental's school year ended in early June. Matthew Vickers, a co-organizer of the encampment and spokesperson for Occidental's Students for Justice in Palestine, said he was disappointed by the board's decision but not surprised.