“As a faculty member at UCSD since 1986, I have rarely seen a more sophisticated and tempered demonstration of student activism as the Justice in Palestine calendar of events that took place last week. The centerpiece of the events–the impressive wall on Library Walk–was a superior educational experience that provided the campus community with both empirical and artistic data with which to analyze an extremely complex political issue. The students who maintained the “wall” area were always respectful of all opinions and courteous to spectators. I understand the other events were extremely well-attended. I was able to attend the Angela Davis lecture on May 13 that attracted over 500 people. It was both informative and stimulating; I especially enjoyed the movie and remarks made by a UCSD student who returned recently from the Palestinian territories. Overall, the week’s events must be viewed as a huge success (whether or not one agrees with the content of each event) given the fact that UCSD is a campus that rarely turns out large audiences. The Justice in Palestine calendar exposed our students to one of the major issues of the day and did so in a rational and pedagogically sound way. I congratulate the UCSD Muslim Student Association and all of our students who organized the events.”

Professor Jorge Mariscal
UC San Diego
May 16, 2010

“I was asked by one of my students to participate in the Justice for Palestine events organized by the Muslim Students Association. I gladly accepted primarily because the conflict between Palestine and Israel is mostly covered from a pro-Israeli perspective in US mainstream media. In addition to being an observer of the conflict, I am also a specialist in human rights politics in Spain and Latin America. Thus, I was asked to speak about the connections between human rights abuses in the Gaza strip and similar situations in Latin America. The point of the entire “speak up” was to provide a different narrative, one that it is rarely heard in North American society. I could see that some pro Israeli students were uncomfortable with this perspective. I could also see first hand that MSA students were extremely respectful of these students and that they handled disagreements and emotional responses with an extreme degree of maturity and tolerance.

In addition to the “speak up”, I also attended the talks given by Professors Hatem Baziam and Angela Davis. Both were extremely enlightening and thought provoking. Both insisted on the fact that the Palestinian people live in an untenable situation of apartheid and colonial occupation. One can certainly disagree with this view, but no one can question the intellectual honesty and capacity of Professors Davis and Baziam to shed light on the Israeli/Palestine conflict.

As I mentioned before, several pro-Israeli students were clearly uncomfortable with the narrative of the conflict provided by professors Davis and Bazian or with my own account of human rights abuses in Palestine. However, the entire point of academic freedom is not to make students feel comfortable, or to reaffirm what they already believe, but rather to challenge their beliefs even if this makes them uncomfortable. This is the core function of critical thinking and the bedrock of academic freedom. In this regard, the activities programmed during the “Justice for Palestine week” provided UCSD students with an amazing intellectual forum to understand this important conflict from a different perspective. Therefore, far from being questioned, the students of the MSA and their supporters should be rewarded for organizing a set of activities that challenge “common sense” beliefs about the Middle East, while opening new venues to resolve the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip.

For all of these reasons, I strongly encourage the UCSD administration and the community at large to support the MSA students. If anything these students should be rewarded for enticing debate and critical thinking about peace, justice and equality for all of the people who live in Israel and Palestine.”

Professor Luis Martín-Cabrera
UC San Diego
May 16, 2010

“I came to UCSD in 2003 and in the seven years I have been teaching here, I have never been as inspired by a group of students as I was last week at the conclusion of Justice in Palestine Week. From the speak-out on Library Walk and the presentations by the invited guests, to the construction of the mock Wall that anchored the week’s festivities, the entire event was not only impressive, but provided an exceptional laboratory of learning. Admittedly, the issue of Palestine is replete with controversy and often difficult to present to American audiences, even on university campuses. Organizers of the week’s events revealed extraordinary skill and professionalism in reaching out to different constiuencies and presenting perspectives on the conflict often unheard and silent. I was proud and honored that many of the organizers were students in my classes. Those students behind Justice in Palestine Week made me appreciate once again why university teaching can be so fulfilling.“

Professor Gary Fields
UC San Diego
May 18, 2010

“Hats off to the MSA! Last week’s series of events put on by the MSA obviously generated a great deal of student interest; seldom have I seen such a broad spectrum of students genuinely interested in becoming informed and hearing diverse opinions on complicated and controversial issues in which we all have a stake. There was a lot of planning, coordinating and hard work behind all those events, and the students of the UCSD MSA have to be recognized for all their efforts. University students –and all of us– thrive in a stimulating environment. Thanks to you all for providing the campus with a thought-provoking week of speakers and events. Adelante.”

Professor Beatrice Pita
UC San Diego
May 18, 2010

“I want to congratulate the MSA for a fantastic week of presentations and discussions. A university campus like ours should be a forum to hear expressions of opinion from all sides and the MSA made it possible for us to enjoy some powerful and enlightening talks. Information and controversy make us stronger and are what the university is all about. Clearly the MSA students worked hard at creating the apartheid wall, developing the videos, recruiting the speakers, making the presentations, and setting up booths. I was much impressed, especially with the great turnout that you had for your speakers. The campus as a whole benefited from what turned out to be one of the best attended and stimulating events on this campus this school year. Keep up the good work.”

Professor Rosaura Sanchez
UC San Diego
May 18, 2010