http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/paper/index.php?article=3251

Over 20 London School of Economics (LSE) students occupied an evening meeting of LSE’s governing body for over half an hour on October 30, in protest over what they said was LSE Director Howard Davies’ implicit support for the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Holding Academic Freedom for All and Equal Rights for Palestinians banners, the students entered an LSE Council meeting, the monthly meeting of LSE’s 25 directors, and reissued a request for a meeting with Davies to discuss the issue, as well as that a statement be displayed on the LSE website recognising the right to education for Palestinians. After lengthy deliberation and threats of forcible removal of the students, Davies and Council Chair, Lord Grabiner, reluctantly agreed to attend a meeting and let a statement be issued that acknowledged Palestinians’ right to education.

LSE staff and students had twice written to the Director to protest at his stance against any debate over a boycott of Israeli academic institutions, as proposed by the University and College Union (UCU) in May 2007. In two subsequent responses on June 22 and September 5, Davies had refused to meet with student representatives and declined to address the desperate condition of Palestinian academic institutions, stating that LSE “has no corporate position” on this matter.

Widespread student outcry emerged after Davies posted a controversial statement on the LSE website condemning the UCU resolution and any debate on the issue, ignoring entirely the plight of Palestinians.

In a joint letter to Davis, students, staff and alumni expressed concern at Davies’ apparent opposition to debate on campus. The letter also questioned what it dubbed the institution’s continued silence on “the massive Israeli assault on Palestinian academic institutions and the fundamental rights and freedoms of Palestinians, including freedom of expression, association and movement and the right to education.”

Adding, “The speed with which the School appeared to oppose any sanctions on Israeli academic institutions, while remaining silent on the desperate conditions facing Palestinian academic institutions, is bound to have created the impression of bias.”

In a statement to The Muslim News, Seph Brown, spokesperson for the LSE Students’ Union Palestinian Society said, “As a Director of a world-class academic institution, Howard Davies should represent a balanced and fair perspective, especially on the issue of the colonisation of Palestine. To condemn the discussion of an academic boycott of Israel, but to then ignore their blatant disruption and devastation of Palestinian academic freedom, is entirely hypocritical. Davies is ignoring the existence of the hardships and suffering of Palestinian students all together.”

However, the university has contested the union’s version of events. A spokesperson for the University told The Muslim News that the Director did not avoid meetings with protesters insisting, “the meeting has been arranged to take place on November 20.”

The Spokesperson added, “The society’s press release refers to a statement made by the School earlier this year on the proposal that University and College Union branches debate a boycott of Israeli academia. This statement was agreed by the LSE Council. It was not simply the LSE Director’s personal opinion.

The statement was similar to others made at the time by the Russell Group and Universities UK. The Director told protesters on October 30, that it had been appropriate for the School to take an institutional position on the boycott proposal as it had the potential to affect the School’s institutional interests. He said that the issue raised by the protestors, however, was a political matter on which it was inappropriate for the School to take an institutional position.”