On April 24, demonstrators advocating for a free Palestine discussed their views during ASUI’s open forum at their weekly meeting. They urged ASUI to make and pass resolutions to support Palestine and condemn legislators in Boise who, in their view, are using taxpayers’ money to support Israel.
“I am here, with other students, to advocate the associated students at the University of Idaho to take action against the genocide that is currently ongoing in Gaza,” Bergen Kludt-Painter, one of the student demonstrators, said. “Moscow and the University of Idaho have been silent. Meanwhile, our representatives in Boise are blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
Nick Koenig, a graduate student, further discussed the companies that invest in scholarships for UI’s students, and how they support Israel in the war.
“The letter that I recently drafted to the Director of Trusts basically states that we need to start having open and transparent conversations about these trusts and where these investments are,” Koenig said.
Another demonstrator, who wishes to stay anonymous due to the controversial nature of the topic, also took to the stand and spoke out about their goal for ASUI.
“What we are seeing is one of the greatest atrocities of our lifetime,” the anonymous demonstrator said. “Gaza is to us as the Holocaust was to Germany and that is not an understatement. ASUI is a crucial opportunity to be the first step in that change. I hope you guys will work with us by drafting resolutions and urging Boise to change their policies.”
When the floor was open for senators to ask questions, Senator Palak Pandey shared an opposing viewpoint.
“As for the news I have heard and the information I have gathered, the first attack was by Palestine,” Senator Pandey said. “Also, as for Idaho, why do you think Idaho should be using tax money to give to some other country?”
In response, the anonymous demonstrator answered by saying that their goal is not to continue to use taxpayers’ dollars for the war.
“That is what we are doing right now in sending money to Israel,” the anonymous demonstrator said. “As far as the first attack is concerned, this has been a crucial issue in the world for the past 75 years. So, saying that Palestine was the first attack that happened is factually incorrect.”
Senator Pandey also inquired about Hamas being considered a terrorist group in several countries.
“Hamas has nothing to do with the resolutions that we want passed,” the anonymous demonstrator said. “We are talking here about Boise to call for a cease-fire and to stop sending our tax dollars to Israel.”
Senator Amy Zuercher asked about what ASUI could do to help the demonstrators. She elaborated that getting the student body more informed and involved would be the most effective way to get resolutions passed.
“Writing to the legislators as 13 people is different from getting the whole campus informed through tabling and events,” Senator Zuecher said.
The anonymous demonstrator argued that the student body was already well-informed about the issues and the war.
“It’s important that we first focus on informing everyone because I know that a lot of people get information from social media,” Senator Zuercher responded. “As a representative body, we are privileged to speak on behalf of all the students, but my concern is that, if not all the students are informed, are we misrepresenting?”
The anonymous demonstrator further went back to illustrate their point and the demonstrators and ASUI need to think of a solution.
“Where is ASUI coming into this?” the anonymous demonstrator asked. “It sounds to me as if you are pushing the entire responsibility onto the students, but ASUI has a large responsibility to represent these students who cannot represent themselves. You guys need to convey what we are feeling and thinking to Boise. It’s not that you guys need to inform us. It’s that we need to inform you.”
The meeting ended with no formal comment from ASUI on the matter, nor a resolution.
Andrea Roberts can be reached at [email protected].