Dear Supporters of Academic Freedom at UCT
We are writing to inform you about recent developments concerning academic freedom at the University of Cape Town (UCT). A group of academics at UCT has taken legal action seeking a High Court review of the UCT Council's set of anti-Israel resolutions passed in June this year. We believe these resolutions will have severe negative impacts on UCT's ability to fundraise, limit academic freedom, and potentially worsen the environment for Jewish students at the university.
The resolutions in question impose restrictions on UCT academics' ability to engage with international counterparts in research groups and networks that include Israeli academics. This limitation applies across all academic faculties and directly contradicts UCT's stated goal of becoming "a premier academic meeting point between South Africa, the rest of Africa and the world" by taking "advantage of expanding global networks".
Professor Adam Mendelsohn of UCT's Department of Historical Studies has filed legal documents detailing how these two resolutions constitute an assault on academic freedom. He argues that the resolutions are vague and irrational in law, and that the Council's decision to pass them was procedurally unfair. Furthermore, he contends that the Council lacked the authority to pass such sweeping motions in the first place.
The first resolution proposes a narrower definition of antisemitism while ostensibly addressing "the destruction of scholarship and education in Gaza." This puts UCT at risk of breaching a zero-tolerance for antisemitism clause in a substantial donation contract, potentially resulting in the loss of that donation.
The second resolution calls for an academic boycott of collaboration with academics affiliated with the "broader Israeli military establishment," a term left undefined. This effectively amounts to a call for a full academic boycott, given that all Jewish Israelis are required to serve in the IDF to defend their country.
It's worth noting that international collaborations are a factor in World University Rankings, and reducing partnerships could potentially jeopardize UCT's international standing.
Trevor Norwitz, former Chair of UCT Fund (a New York nonprofit that has raised over $60 million for UCT), supports this legal action. He believes these resolutions will damage UCT's fundraising abilities in the United States, particularly among Jewish alumni. Norwitz resigned in December in protest of the Council's anti-Israeli stance.
The legal papers also raise concerns about the precedent these resolutions set for limiting research relationships. Professor Nicoli Natrass questions whether research on important topics like climate change or children's issues in non-democratic states could be prevented by "Council fiat" in the future.
We believe that basing decisions on political expediency rather than educational priorities threatens UCT's status as a free academic institution. We urge all supporters of academic freedom to stay informed about this situation and to continue advocating for the principles of open inquiry and unrestrained academic collaboration that are vital to UCT's mission and reputation.
Your support in upholding these principles is crucial as we navigate this challenging situation. We will keep you updated on any developments regarding this legal action and its potential implications for academic freedom at UCT.
Regards
Concerned Citizens for Academic Freedom at UCT