The president of Sonoma State College was positioned on depart Wednesday, a day after he launched a controversial campuswide message on the Israel-Hamas conflict that mentioned the college would pursue “divestment strategies” and endorsed a tutorial boycott of Israeli universities.
California State College Chancellor Mildred García introduced the choice in a press release posted to the CSU web site, saying that Sonoma State President Mike Lee was taken off the job for his “insubordination” in making the assertion with out “appropriate approvals.”
Professional-Palestinian pupil encampment protesters celebrated when Lee launched a letter to the roughly 6,000-student member Rohnert Park campus on Tuesday that met sufficient of their requests for activists to comply with dismantle their camp by Wednesday night.
“SSU Demands Met!” mentioned a submit on the SSU College students for Justice in Palestine Instagram with the caption “brick by brick, wall by wall” that confirmed screenshots of Lee’s letter.
In his letter, Lee promised to pursue “divestment strategies that include seeking ethical alternatives” in session with pro-Palestinian activists and mentioned he supported a tutorial boycott of Israel.
“SSU 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,” Lee’s Tuesday letter mentioned.
Lee’s assertion stood out. Whereas different universities have lately mentioned they’ll look into divesting from weapons corporations, together with UC Berkeley and UC Riverside, almost all within the U.S. have rejected calls to focus on Israel particularly or to boycott formal trade or analysis partnerships with Israeli universities.
In rejecting such calls, the schools have cited their assist of educational freedom and anti-discrimination insurance policies. Some have additionally famous {that a} 2016 state regulation signed by then Gov. Jerry Brown banned giving state grants or contracts value greater than $100,000 to state universities that focused Israel in endorsing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions motion.
Lee’s assertion instantly drew criticism from Jewish college students, mother and father and group teams.
Talking at a Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California convention in Sacramento on Wednesday, California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, who serves on the CSU Board of Trustees, slammed campuses for shifting ahead with agreements to quell protests.
“Each campus is handling these situations in their own way with inconsistencies and frankly, sometimes coming up with agreements that they really don’t have the authority to come up with,” mentioned Kounalakis, who spoke earlier than Lee was placed on depart.
Kounalakis, a Democrat, mentioned campuses had been “woefully unprepared” for the latest protests.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, who made a video look on the identical Wednesday occasion to advertise his plan to counter antisemitism, mentioned final week that he did “not support divestment.”
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) and Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), co-chairs of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, recommended García‘s decision, saying in a statement that Lee’s assist of a tutorial boycott “was totally unacceptable and evidence that former President Lee is unfit to lead one of our great state institutions. We look forward to working with Chancellor García and the CSU Trustees to pursue a different path that will promote learning, respectful dialogue, mutual respect, inclusivity, and peace.”
In her letter saying that Lee would step apart, García mentioned she was “deeply concerned” about his phrases.
“Our role as educators is to support and uplift all members of the California State University. I want to acknowledge how deeply concerned I am about the impact the statement has had on the Sonoma State community, and how challenging and painful it will be for many of our students and community members to see and read,” García mentioned. “The heart and mission of the CSU is to create an inclusive and welcoming place for everyone we serve, not to marginalize one community over another.”
In his personal letter on his departure, Lee apologized, saying he had “marginalized other members of our student population” and that “I realize the harm that this has caused, and I take full ownership of it. I deeply regret the unintended consequences of my actions.”
“I want to be clear: The message was drafted and sent without the approval of, or consultation with, the Chancellor or other system leaders. The points outlined in the message were mine alone, and do not represent the views of my colleagues or the CSU,” Lee wrote.
It was unclear how lengthy Lee might be out. He has been on the job for 20 months, about half the time as interim president.
In an interview with The Instances, kinesiology professor Lauren Morimoto mentioned she supported Lee.
“As of now, the Academic Senate has not made a statement about Mike Lee’s announcement. However, I’m meeting with the Board of the Asian Pacific Islander American Faculty and Staff Association and we stand in solidarity with Mike Lee and the student protesters…,” mentioned Morimoto, the previous chair of the educational senate. “I will ask to be added to tomorrow’s agenda to present a resolution of support for Mike Lee and the student protesters and the demands they were able to negotiate with the university.”
Workers writers Colleen Shalby and Mackenzie Mays contributed reporting.
