New US bill to punish academic boycott inspired by Israeli ambassador

[L0neW0lf]

]Weeks after Ambassador Michael Oren, Israel’s former envoy to the United States, suggested it, members of the United States Congress have introduced a bill to punish American universities if their members support the academic boycott of Israeli institutions.
The so-called “Protect Academic Freedom Act” would deny federal funding to any institution that participates in a boycott of Israeli universities or scholars or even whose departments issue statements in support of a boycott.
The restrictions even on speech – issuing statements – prompted the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee to issue an action alert warning that the bill is unconstitutionaland violates First Amendment rights.

http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/new-us-bill-punish-academic-boycott-inspired-israeli-ambassador

 

[JumpinJack]

New US bill to punish academic boycott inspired by Israeli ambassador | The Electronic Intifada

As my Dad has said, "If you give money to someone, that gives you a right to ask questions and place restrictions on it."

What universities are suggesting a boycott of Israeli academics? Or is this just a theoretical bill to halt something that has not occurred?

Of course this is not a violation of First Amendment rights. Any university has total control over its functions IF it doesn't accept funding from others. Once a university accepts funding from the federal govt or others, the fed and those others have a stake in how that money is used. It works that way for anything. If your deadbeat relative asks for and gets a monthly stipend from you, you have the right to stipulate that that money must be spent on necessary expenses and not boozing it up and gambling. The relative has a right to booze it up and gambling, but NOT when he is taking money from YOU. The answer is simple. If you want to do something without oversight, don't ask for money from others.

I find it hard to believe that any universities are boycotting Israeli academics, anyway. That seems foolish to me, since Israelis are some of the smartest, most studious people culturally on the planet.

When you take money from the federal government, all sorts of restrictions come into play. You are not allowed to do things that are not the official position of the federal government. You can't, for instance, refuse to hire gay people, refuse to accept students from a country that is an ally of the country, etc. You have to provide an accounting of certain monies. That's the way it works. Don't like it? Don't take the money. It's that simple.

 

[ttwtt78640]

New US bill to punish academic boycott inspired by Israeli ambassador | The Electronic Intifada

This is what happens when the federal gov't assigns itself a power - it then uses it. I doubt that this bill will pass but the concept is clear - do whatever we want or your funding will be stopped.

 

[Redress]

As my Dad has said, "If you give money to someone, that gives you a right to ask questions and place restrictions on it."

What universities are suggesting a boycott of Israeli academics? Or is this just a theoretical bill to halt something that has not occurred?

Of course this is not a violation of First Amendment rights. Any university has total control over its functions IF it doesn't accept funding from others. Once a university accepts funding from the federal govt or others, the fed and those others have a stake in how that money is used. It works that way for anything. If your deadbeat relative asks for and gets a monthly stipend from you, you have the right to stipulate that that money must be spent on necessary expenses and not boozing it up and gambling. The relative has a right to booze it up and gambling, but NOT when he is taking money from YOU. The answer is simple. If you want to do something without oversight, don't ask for money from others.

I find it hard to believe that any universities are boycotting Israeli academics, anyway. That seems foolish to me, since Israelis are some of the smartest, most studious people culturally on the planet.

When you take money from the federal government, all sorts of restrictions come into play. You are not allowed to do things that are not the official position of the federal government. You can't, for instance, refuse to hire gay people, refuse to accept students from a country that is an ally of the country, etc. You have to provide an accounting of certain monies. That's the way it works. Don't like it? Don't take the money. It's that simple.

The bolded is the issue. To the best of my knowledge, no university is suggesting a boycott of Israel. It is a private group that exists on campuses. The group: The ASA, American Studies Association

 

[Morality Games]

As my Dad has said, "If you give money to someone, that gives you a right to ask questions and place restrictions on it."

What universities are suggesting a boycott of Israeli academics? Or is this just a theoretical bill to halt something that has not occurred?

Of course this is not a violation of First Amendment rights. Any university has total control over its functions IF it doesn't accept funding from others. Once a university accepts funding from the federal govt or others, the fed and those others have a stake in how that money is used. It works that way for anything. If your deadbeat relative asks for and gets a monthly stipend from you, you have the right to stipulate that that money must be spent on necessary expenses and not boozing it up and gambling. The relative has a right to booze it up and gambling, but NOT when he is taking money from YOU. The answer is simple. If you want to do something without oversight, don't ask for money from others.

I find it hard to believe that any universities are boycotting Israeli academics, anyway. That seems foolish to me, since Israelis are some of the smartest, most studious people culturally on the planet.

When you take money from the federal government, all sorts of restrictions come into play. You are not allowed to do things that are not the official position of the federal government. You can't, for instance, refuse to hire gay people, refuse to accept students from a country that is an ally of the country, etc. You have to provide an accounting of certain monies. That's the way it works. Don't like it? Don't take the money. It's that simple.

It isn't a violation of the First Amendment, but it is a perversion of academic principle. Generally speaking, the government isn't supposed to intrude into the world of ideas or the social changes that are happening there. Not unless it poses some kind of terrorist or revolutionary danger.

 

[L0neW0lf]

The first amendment issue is about this

The proposed law defines “an institution of higher education to be participating in a boycott” if “the institution, any significant part of the institution, or any organization significantly funded by the institution adopts a policy or resolution, issues a statement, or otherwise formally establishes the restriction of discourse, cooperation, exchange, or any other involvement with academic institutions or scholars on the basis of the connection of such institutions or such scholars to the state of Israel.

from the link

 

[Summerwind]

New US bill to punish academic boycott inspired by Israeli ambassador | The Electronic Intifada

To an extent, I wouldn't have a problem with it, even though I am strongly anti-Israeli, but since it is exclusive to Israel and no other country, it should not be passed. If they want to broaden it to include all countries, I wouldn't have a problem with academia having this rule/law over it.

 

[CalGun]

Hmm...most liberals are opposed to restrictions out on the hand outs we give people? Seems like your dad was smart, but maybe it didn't take?

As my Dad has said, "If you give money to someone, that gives you a right to ask questions and place restrictions on it."

What universities are suggesting a boycott of Israeli academics? Or is this just a theoretical bill to halt something that has not occurred?

Of course this is not a violation of First Amendment rights. Any university has total control over its functions IF it doesn't accept funding from others. Once a university accepts funding from the federal govt or others, the fed and those others have a stake in how that money is used. It works that way for anything. If your deadbeat relative asks for and gets a monthly stipend from you, you have the right to stipulate that that money must be spent on necessary expenses and not boozing it up and gambling. The relative has a right to booze it up and gambling, but NOT when he is taking money from YOU. The answer is simple. If you want to do something without oversight, don't ask for money from others.

I find it hard to believe that any universities are boycotting Israeli academics, anyway. That seems foolish to me, since Israelis are some of the smartest, most studious people culturally on the planet.

When you take money from the federal government, all sorts of restrictions come into play. You are not allowed to do things that are not the official position of the federal government. You can't, for instance, refuse to hire gay people, refuse to accept students from a country that is an ally of the country, etc. You have to provide an accounting of certain monies. That's the way it works. Don't like it? Don't take the money. It's that simple.

 

[Malik]

America is under the thumb of Israel and somehow everyone is tricked into believing it's for the betterment of America.