Moravian University has a mission to respond to the intellectual and moral challenges of our times. Actions taken by the University must always be dedicated to preserving and protecting the ideals which we represent as an educational institution. We, the students, as part of the Moravian community, have an undeniable responsibility to adhere to these obligations.

To uphold this mission, we call upon the University Board of Trustees to respond to the most blatant moral atrocities of our times: the genocide of Palestinians, the War on Iran, and the pursuance of the Greater Israel Project.

We call upon the Board to divest from:

• All companies which do business with, or hold investments in the U.S. military;
• All companies which operate inside of Israel, or do buisness with Israel;
• All companies with holdings or investments in Israel;
• All companies which contract with the Israeli military or government; and
• All fossile fuel manufactures, or companies with significant investments in the fossil fuel industry

The University should communicate promptly and consistently with the broad campus community - students, staff, and faculty - to coordinate these divestment efforts. The University should publicly share its investment policies, all current holdings, and all investments, including how the Endowment is invested. the University should also send letters to its independent contractors and other business partners to urge them to detangle themselves from the United Staates military-industrial complex and Israel.

There are ongoing humanitarian crises against the people of Gaza, the West Bank, the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem, and other occupied territories; Lebanonl; Cuba; and Iran. These are man-made crises, caused directly by the United States and Israel- perpetuated by our tax dollars and the institutions we, as consumers and workers, sponsor.

Divesting from Israel on the basis of its illegal war against Iran is not antisemitic. Condeming Israel's widely-recognized genocide against Palestinians is not antisemitic. Israel does not speak for all Jewish people. Zionism is not Judaism- it is antisemitic to conflate the two. We, the students of this coalition, vehemently condemn antisemitism and all bigotry.

Israel and the United States' War against Iran directly threatens not only the Iranian people: It is an existential threat to the entire world, as prices of all goods and services surge, putting immense pressure on the working class. Even if this unprovoked war of attrition against Iran ends, the hegemony of the United States and Israel will not go away without action. Iranians aren’t the only ones who will die from this war, but it is up to us to stop it.

 Israel is committed to the Greater Israel Project by any means necessary. Our elected officials repeatedly vote to send more money to Israel’s military, economy, and society, at the expense of our own material and financial conditions. Three years of the livestreamed genocide in Palestine has devolved into a regional war against Iran. As we speak, Congress is on-recess—our representatives are literally not representing us—while our President threatened that “a whole civilization [would] die.” Our government is meant to be the vessel of the people, but is clearly only the voice of its own corporate and violent interests. Therefore, our money and voices are the most basic tools against a government unresponsive to our wishes.

While these measures of divestment would not single-handedly bring an end to the war and the injustices of Israel and the United States, they send a clear, moral statement that the University stands with those of us economically impacted by this war, and most importantly that the University stands with the the Iranian and Palestinian peoples. This institution repeatedly promotes equality and inclusion, and this war is clearly antithetical to that mission. We can be an example for other institutions to decisively and peacefully aid the forces of change in Iran, Palestine, and around the world.

Divestment is the logical, reasonable, and moral course of action for Moravian University to take if we are to adhere to our educational obligations. Divestment is an opportunity for a new, collaborative relationship between the Board and the community. Furthermore, divestment is an opportunity to secure and fortify the University’s business interests by investing in holdings that align with our mission of peace. As a University, continuing on our current financial path with no change will not mitigate the danger of a tyrannical, unchecked government.

We have a duty to leave our institution better than we found it.