Today is the last day for voting in the OUSA Referendum in support of OUSA adopting BDS. If you are a student, make sure you vote. Staff, remind your students that today is the last day. On Monday night, at the BDS explainer event hosted by MUSA, OSJP and SFP, Cian Dunwoody from Otago Students for Justice in Palestine had this to say:

I come to you this evening in a grumpy mood. Thank you very much for having me and I apologize in advance for my rantings.

Today is the first day of voting in the OUSA referendum. We, OSJP, submitted two important questions for their consideration.

Our first question submitted was around OUSA adopting BDS. Following review and refinement by OUSA’s independent mediators, the final wording is: “Should OUSA adopt a policy for its operations that aligns with the call for ‘Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions’ against the government of Israel, which would involve, amongst other measures, boycotting sporting, cultural, and academic institutions, and all Israeli and international companies engaged in violations of Palestinian human rights?”

As well as further explanation, included was an ‘arguments for and against’ section which was presented as follows.

Argument in favour: “Adopting a BDS policy would demonstrate solidarity with global justice movements and reflect student values on ethical investment.”

Members of OSJP have rightfully pointed out that not mentioned is the upholding of human rights or international law against apartheid, war crimes and genocide; That there is omission of the material wins of BDS movement which are so important for it’s context; That this is beyond solidarity, and we are here to place economic and cultural pressure against a genocidal state.

Arguments Against: “The BDS stance has contributed to reduced commercial revenue for OUSA, putting a strain on the OUSA budget. A BDS policy could be politically divisive and may alienate some students or stakeholders, and it involves OUSA in a complex international issue. This would also have implications for clubs using OUSA grants to purchase goods from BDS targets, particularly, food.”

Talk about a disparity in presenting both sides. To borrow more from members of OSJP, it’s astonishing enough that here, OUSA feels compelled to parrot the cowardly and vague references to something bad in Palestine. They’d already engaged with BDS prior, why not say it with their full chest and advocate whole-heartedly the position they claimed to be holding.

To mention reduced commercial revenue, as if it were somehow comparable to the lives of Palestinian people is frankly abhorrent. May those who deny the right of self-determination to Palestinians feel alienated when Palestinians are being forced out of their own land. May there be implications for the purchasing of food by OUSA grants when Palestinians are being starved by a genocidal regime. It is not complex to support the liberation of an oppressed peoples.

Critiques aside, the inclusion of the question is a strong step in the right direction for student engagement in BDS, and I’ll get back to what students can do at the end of my contribution.

Our second submission proposed the question: “Should OUSA lobby the University to adopt BDS?” This was declined “on the basis of the University of Otago’s recently adopted Institutional Neutrality Statement, and the likely passage of the Education and Training (Freedom of Expression) Amendment Bill, which would formalise institutional neutrality across tertiary institutions. In that context, lobbying the University on international political matters may exceed what OUSA can reasonably pursue through a referendum.”

To see this motion placed in the too hard basket is frustrating to say the least. How disappointing? How painful?

The University has repeatedly avoided honest discussion of their role and capacity to aid Palestinians by giving us excuses. They can’t disclose their investments because they “technically don’t have control over those funds,” and they can’t commit to BDS nor can they make a statement as the university, because they have to maintain institutional neutrality. An institutional neutrality, by the way, which they spent several months hashing up following strong pressure from students and staff.

If we were to look across the motu, we would see many adoptions of BDS policies by other representative bodies. After previously denying having ties to Israel, Victoria University of Wellington announced that they would divest from all Israeli government bonds. In October 2024, Christchurch City Council voted to sanction Israel by halting business with organisations involved in illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. This was followed, in December, by Nelson City Council who voted to boycott the same. And Regional Council, Environment Canterbury had led the way. Just recently, SJP Canterbury confirmed that the University of Canterbury were divesting $280,000 away from weapons and armaments.

The precedence is clear for institutions and councils around the country, and more importantly for us, for the University of Otago.

In the face of these calls by the University administration it’s natural to feel deflated, but we must still see that there are strong opportunities to pressure the University one way or another. We’ve already seen the efforts of the Otago Declaration underway, and OSJP will continue to fight for student involvement and a student voice against the Israeli regime.

There are three main issues to point out about the University. They purchase HP products, a priority on the Boycott list. They facilitate staff joining UniSaver, which as a superannuation scheme, invests in Israeli banks. And they encourage academics to apply for the Israel-based Azrieli Fellowship, further legitimising the actions of Israel on Palestinian land.

I therefore highlight that the University has agreed to develop ethical investment and procurement policy. While this may not be as expansive as

the adoption of BDS, this represents a place for us to pressure the University regarding things like weapons and armaments, and investments in business or institutions complicit in apartheid and/or genocidal actions.

But the most current task for students is to wholly engage with the OUSA referendum. As I mentioned at the start, the question asks whether OUSA should adopt policy in alignment with BDS. And we say, absolutely.

Further, you can add comments to each submission. Feel compelled to add critique, or additional support of yours for adopting BDS as a part of OUSA. We encourage you to say that OUSA should lobby the University to adopt a BDS policy.

Endorsing BDS in the ongoing OUSA referendum is something that students at the University of Otago can do to enact real change and support the Palestinian fight for justice and peace. We hope that OUSA will use its voice on behalf of the student body to call on University administration to do the same.

OSJP will continue to pressure the University administration to adopt BDS as a part of operations. To stand by and to claim neutrality as some sort of trump card, while the Palestinian people continue to be murdered, bombed and starved out of their homes, is unacceptable. So, we will continue to fight for freedom and justice for Palestine.