AAUP Opposes Anti-Boycott Legislation

The AAUP has released a statement opposing legislation (currently pending in New York and Maryland) which would prevent public funds from being used to support organizations which have voted to boycott higher education institutions in other countries. The proposed legislation, variants of which are also being considered by other states, comes in response to the recent vote of the American Studies Association to impose an academic boycott against academic institutions in Israel.

The AAUP opposes academic boycotts, including the ASA's. But legislative interference in academic decision-making and with the freedom of scholars to associate and exchange views with their peers is even more dangerous than the academic boycotts this legislation is intended to oppose. Read the full statement here.