(New York Times) Tamar Lewin - The American Studies Association's endorsement this month of a boycott of Israeli academic institutions continues to stir passions, with four colleges and universities announcing their withdrawal from the association, a second leading higher-education association denouncing the boycott and a rising tide of college presidents speaking out against it. One after the other, prominent university presidents and academic leaders have issued condemnations over the last week that emphasize the importance of academic freedom. The executive committee of the American Association of Universities, an organization of the most prestigious research institutions, joined the American Association of University Professors in opposing the boycott. Lawrence H. Summers, a former president of Harvard, suggested an informal counterboycott in which university administrators would refuse to pay for professors to go to ASA meetings.
2013-12-27 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive