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
1 min read
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.

Unsustainable fishing, not climate change, has been the biggest threat to ocean biodiversity for decades. Scientists warn that dismantling marine protected areas could accelerate the crisis for species, ecosystems, and coastal economies alike
Union says incidents of violence against staff have risen 41% between 2022 and 2024
The measure, introduced by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Rep. Seth Magaziner, is unlikely to succeed in the Republican-controlled Congress
Barrier was built without permission along less sensitive water around same time as Quidnessett Country Club’s controversial wall
Local Catholics reflect on the death of Pope Francis and the legacy he leaves behind here in Rhode Island
Invasive sea squirts are crowding out native species and clogging fishing gear, leaving scientists scrambling to track their spread
Brown and the Library’s mission is to ‘serve the community, the nation and the world by discovering, communicating and preserving knowledge and understanding in a spirit of free inquiry’
Survey of 500+ political scientists reveals growing alarm as U.S. democracy sees sharp decline under Trump’s second termat 4