#Brown #University #Rejects #Calls to Divest from Companies Amid Pro-#Palestinian #Protests

Brown University has voted against a proposal to divest from 10 companies that student protesters claim facilitate the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The decision follows a report by the university’s advisory committee, which concluded that Brown’s minimal indirect investments in these companies, including Airbus, Boeing, and General Electric, would not cause social harm. The report estimated that less than 1% of the university’s endowment is tied to these companies. University Chancellor Brian Moynihan and President Christina Paxson defended the decision, emphasizing that divestment could be seen as enforcing specific political viewpoints, which would undermine Brown’s commitment to academic freedom and free inquiry. This stance has sparked controversy among student activists, who argue that the university’s decision ignores its moral responsibility. The Brown Divest Coalition expressed deep disappointment, calling the decision a “moral stain“ on the institution. W