Ashoka University students protest against tie-up with Tel Aviv varsity

Responding to the development, Ashoka University Monday said it does not believe in curtailing the freedom of its students even as it added that the act does not represent the views of the varsity.

The protest stemmed from a petition sent by the Student Government to the university administration in May, urging for the severance of ties with Tel Aviv University. The petition cited concerns over the situation in Gaza, stating, “We call upon… (to) immediately suspend all existing academic and research collaborations with Tel Aviv (and) refrain from entering into any new agreements.”

However, the administration rejected the request, prompting the graduation day demonstration a month later.

A student, who graduated at the ceremony and was among the protesters, said, “Approx-imately 10-15 students from the Young India Fellowship programme, Ashoka’s postgraduate diploma course, participated in the protest. They displayed placards while wearing keffiyehs.”

Another student said , “It was a moral imperative of me as a student to use whatever space is available for me (to protest).”

In a statement, Ashoka University said, “Ashoka University is committed to the principle of freedom of speech and expression, and does not believe in curtailing this freedom for any individual or group that is part of our community. However, the views of any individual or group within the Ashoka community do not represent the views of the University.”

The statement further read: “Ashoka operates on the principle of institutional neutrality, in keeping with the best global conventions.

Hence, the university does not take any political positions or apply these positions to existing relationships and partnerships.”