The 20142015 executive board of the Armenian

Students Association (ASA) at UCLA endorses A Resolution

to Divest from Companies Engaged in Violence Against
Palestinians.

ASAmembers werepresentatthedivestmenttownhall
meeting in order to voice any possible concerns about the
language of the resolution before it was released. We believe
that Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA and the
cosponsors of this resolution were transparent during this
entireprocess.

ArmenianAmerican students whose families have a history of being displaced and

oppressed by foreign nations as well as having those issues ignored or invalidated
internationally do not feel comfortable funding a similar situation abroad. Therefore, ASA does
not wish to be complicit in the University of California systems problematic investments in
AmericancompaniesthatviolatehumanrightsintheWestBankandGazaStrip.

We do recognize that international issues impact many Bruins and therefore directly
affect our campus. Turning a blind eye to other peoples suffering simply because it would be
moreconvenienttodosodoesnotcoincidewiththeTrueBruinValues.

We understand the nuances of the IsraeliPalestinian conflict and do not make this
decision in order to further agitate the conflict by dividing sides. ASA membershave not taken
sides in questioning anypeoples right to selfdetermination,but have insteadchosentoremain
morally consistent. Although werealizethesensitivitiesofthisissuebecauseoftherefugeIsrael
has been for people persecuted throughout history, we cannot ignore the current issue of the
settlements. If one loves their country,wantstoensureitsstability, andimproveitshumanrights
record, unconditional support is not the answer. Although the state of Israel has every right to
ensure the safety of its citizens, its government is not exempt from criticism over its settlement
policies. We hope that students do not feel singled outortargetedbysuchameasure,because
divestment resolutions are not limited to the Israeli settlements. This resolution does not
presume to be a solution to the conflict, but rather gives students the opportunity to remove
themselvesfromthesituation.

It is our hope that students can have an honest conversationabouttheconflictafter our

councilrepresentativesvoteonbehalfofthestudentbody.

Insolidarity,
UCLAASA