Overview

• Several universities, including Brown and Northwestern, are considering divestment from companies linked to Israel.
• Student activists cite human rights violations in Gaza, while critics argue divestment is antisemitic and impractical.
• University leaders face backlash from donors and politicians, risking financial and reputational damage.
• The debate echoes past divestment movements, such as those targeting South African apartheid and fossil fuels.
• Institutional neutrality policies and state anti-BDS laws complicate the divestment decisions.