On Friday April 17, the Brandeis University & Al-Quds University Student Dialogue Initiative hosted a teach-in in President Fred Lawrence’s office waiting room. Students, alumni and faculty filled the room to express support for the Brandeis/Al-Quds partnership and dialogue.

The future of this partnership is a controversial issue. Brandeis suspended the partnership in November 2013, following a rally where participants carried fake weapons and shouted anti-Semitic slurs. Lawrence deemed Al-Quds’ president’s response unacceptable. Catie Stewart ’16 and Eli Philip ’15 formed the Student Dialogue Initiative to work for reinstatement of the partnership, as they believe it is essential to fostering cross-cultural understanding.

During an interview with Stewart, Philip, Naomi Hornstein ’15 and Risa Dunbar ’17, Philip explained it was about “allowing people to have a space to learn more about the partnership” and having “different groups of people express why the partnership is important for them.”

During the event, organizers expressed a desire to “own” the space and make their voices heard. “To me, political peace is only obtainable once there is coexistence and tolerance on the ground. I believe a partnership with Al-Quds University can help us achieve these goals,” Leah Susman said.

Professor Sue Lanser (COML/ENG/ROMS/WMGS), who has been involved with the partnership since its inception, spoke first. During her speech, Lanser stated that she believes face-to-face discussion is crucial for understanding. She spoke about an Al-Quds student visiting Brandeis. He learned the Israeli/Palestinian conflict “is not about right and wrong … What we have to do is give up blame and work for peace,” Lanser quoted the student. She described the astonishment Al-Quds students experienced upon learning about Jewish quota systems at many universities. She believes the partnership “fits” the Jewish-rooted, secular Brandeis, asking, “If we can’t have this conversation, where can the conversation happen?”

“From the partnership I have come to study Arabic poetry, to understand the rich cultural fabric of Jerusalem, to think comparatively about gender and to launch a new project in narrative research,” said Lanser in her email to The Brandeis Hoot. She hopes others can have similar opportunities.

Chinyere Brown ’17, Maya Cooper ’15 and Adam Jones ’15 from Black Lives Matter Brandeis then facilitated a discussion on dialogue and social movement. Participants discussed how some members of the Brandeis community feel they cannot speak up in certain movements because they are the “wrong” demographic.

“Black Lives Matter is not just for black people and this partnership is not just something for Jewish people,” said Brown, explaining students must be involved because “we’re paying Brandeis our tuition fees. We are implicated in a lot of the things that happen [at Brandeis].”

Professor Gordon Fellman (SOC) outlined the history of Brandeis activism. His talk included black students’ take over of the old Ford Hall in 1969. In regard to Al-Quds, Fellman believes the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is between “accommodationists and rejectionists,” those who will compromise and those who “will stop at nothing.” He believes the partnership exemplifies “accommodationism.”

BAASA President Esther Lee ’15 was the final speaker. She explained that her club was founded in response to the Vietnam War and a feeling that Asian students must mobilize. “Participating in the teach-in is a show of my solidarity and support for dialogue,” said Lee in an email to The Hoot. “Dialogue is crucial because it’s the only way we’re going to understand each other and make strides towards peace … One side could fill the room with passion and explain for hours upon hours, but if the other side turns their ear away, nothing will happen,” she wrote.

Lee emphasized these ideas at the teach-in, discussing a course that taught her to manage difficult conversations in business, but asked, “Why is the university teaching me something they don’t do themselves?”

Not everyone, however, supports the Initiative. The Students for Accuracy About Israeli and Palestinian Affairs (SAIPA) board sent an open letter to Lawrence thanking him for suspending the partnership.

“While SAIPA believes in facilitating open dialogue to foster cross-cultural understanding, we firmly oppose associating with any individual that does not uphold Brandeis University’s most basic values: values such as tolerance and coexistence,” the letter read. It reiterated the events of November, 2013, described a “similar rally” held in May 2014 and discussed that an Al-Quds professor was “denounced” by students and colleagues after leading a trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau.

“We wrote this letter because we felt we had to take a moral stand on this issue,” said SAIPA President Ari Givner ’17 in an email to The Hoot. Givner stated though SAIPA respects the Initiative for “speaking up … we wanted to let President Lawrence know that the advocates for this initiative do not speak for the entire student body.”

Regarding possible reinstatement of the partnership, Givner wrote, “I hope Al-Quds realizes that hatred is something worth combatting and takes tangible steps to prove that they believe it. Only then can we justify reinstating the partnership.”

Responding to SAIPA, Stewart stressed how welcoming she feels Al-Quds has been to Brandeis students and the relationships that have been formed as a result. Philip asked if Brandeis does not engage in conversation with Al-Quds, “what is the expectation that something’s going to happen?”

Susman and Dunbar are organizing another summer trip to Al-Quds, and the Initiative is determined to get Lawrence’s support before they travel. Organizers state Al-Quds offered a “warm welcome” and financial assistance, though they have less funding than Brandeis. At the end of the teach-in, participants wrote letters requesting Lawrence support this trip and slid them under his door. Organizers made it clear they expect an answer.

The students were dismayed Lawrence didn’t attend the teach-in, feeling it was a missed opportunity for him to engage with students. In a statement to The Hoot, Lawrence said, “I appreciate the students’ interest in Brandeis’ relationship with Al-Quds University, and have discussed this issue with a number of students, holding a range of opinions.” He expressed that the partnership was formed with “the best of intentions for opening a dialogue and building a foundation for peace” but restated the events which compelled him to suspend it.

“I do not believe it would be reasonable for an outgoing president to take steps that change the status of the relationship,” he said. He also doubts an interim president could do either, “as there would be great potential for any act to be misconstrued in the context of a larger transition.” Lawrence believes the decision rests with the next president.

The Initiative hopes the next administration will reinstate the partnership. Dunbar, planning to attend presidential search meetings, stated, “I think its important that we’re represented and that it is a priority for the president to listen to student movements.”

The students also have high hopes for interim president Lisa Lynch. Though they recognize she may not make large changes, they believe she can take small steps such as reaching out to Al-Quds administration.