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.

Legislation to end indoor smoking at Bally’s casinos wins unanimous support in committee, marking major step forward for worker health despite delayed implementation and industry pushback
Senate Republicans say legislation goes too far. Some gun rights advocates say it doesn’t go far enough.
Talks resume with federal mediator and larger union presence amid mounting worker hardship, community support, and questions over hospital finances and real estate deal
After a brisk three-hour debate, lawmakers advanced a budget boosting health care funding and raising new taxes on vacation homes—while bracing for potential federal cuts that could send them back to the State House this fall