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Last Spring, a slate of pro-Palestinian candidates calling themselves the “Shut it Down” party ran for the student council at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and won their elections. At that time, they threatened to defund student groups, including the student council, unless the school administration divested endowment funds from Israel and military weapons manufacturers. They did this at the end of the school year.
AsschoolbeginsinAnnArbor,thestudentcouncilhasn’tbudged,andthe$1.3millioninfundsforgroupsasdiverseasafrisbeeteamandaballroomdancinggroupareleftoutinthecoldbecausetheydidn’tgetasubsidyfromtheschooltocarryonwiththeiractivities.TheuniversityregentsarestandingfirmintheirdecisionnottodivesttheirendowmentfundsfromIsraeliorIsraelicompanies.
“It’sincrediblystressful,”saidNicoletteKleinhoffer,presidentoftheballroomdanceteam.Theteamneedsthemoneytorentaspace,hireacoach,andtraveltocompetitions.
Theentirestudentcouncilbudgetcomesfromstudentfees,nottheendowmentfunds.
“Itfeelsalittlesillytometorefuseto
