San Diego State University‘s student government on Wednesday defeated an anti-Israel resolution by a vote of 16-3.
The resolution, which would have been largely symbolic if passed, called on the university to sell its stock holdings in top U.S. companies that supply Israel, including Hewlett-Packard, General Electric and Caterpillar.
Last year a similar divestiture measure was approved by the student government at the University of California, San Diego, though administrators quickly defended the university’s investment policies and said no changes would be made.
“We’re really happy that there was such a big margin and that people realized what the right stance is,” said Nirit Revzin, a junior at SDSU who is president of Aztecs for Israel. “Moving forward, there are a lot more productive things we should focus on — both sides.”
The divestiture measure was put before the Associated Students University Council by a group called Student Union for Representation and Justice.
Boycott and divestment campaigns have sprung up on many American campuses, but have been fought by students, administrators and organizations like Hillel.
