New Referendum Asks Brown Undergrads if They Lack Confidence in University’s Leadership

Measure comes after vote to not divest the university’s endowment from companies students say perpetuate human rights abuses against Palestinians

Olivia Ebertz/The Public’s Radio
Share
Olivia Ebertz/The Public’s Radio
New Referendum Asks Brown Undergrads if They Lack Confidence in University’s Leadership
Copy

Brown University’s Undergraduate Council of Students (UCS) sent out a referendum on Oct. 16 asking students to vote on whether they have faith in the university’s leadership, and whether they believe students should be able to elect student representatives to Brown’s corporate board.

Isaac Slevin, who sits on the UCS, said the referendum came in response to several decisions made by either the Corporation of Brown University or administrators that many students did not believe were reflective of student sentiment.

“Students are constantly pushing for things and constantly advocating for ourselves, and the university does not move,” said Slevin.

Last week the corporation voted not to divest the university’s endowment from companies student activists say facilitate human rights abuses in the Palestinian territories despite student support. A Brown Daily Herald poll taken before the announcement indicated that about 60% of students supported the divestment proposal.

A representative for Brown University did not respond to requests for comment on the new referendum.

This story was reported by The Public’s Radio. You can read the entire story here.

“Reducing your footprint” became one of the most familiar ways to talk about climate change, but why did that framing catch on? And what does it leave out?
A recycling nonprofit, through its New Bedford warehouse, puts used nets, ropes and other marine debris in the hands of local artists
Republican John Loughlin says he would reshape the office into a taxpayer oversight and accountability agency similar to a state inspector general
Federal cuts to Medicaid and food assistance complicate an otherwise encouraging revenue picture
Jewish advocacy leaders say the numbers are improving, but incidents remain higher than before the Oct. 7 attacks and the Gaza war
A Greek restaurant hiding inside a jazz club, a reimagined oyster bar and a group of diners with matching notebooks: meet the people keeping local restaurants buzzing