Boycott, Divest, and Sanction from Israel and Caterpillar

Aondover Tarhule, President, Illinois State University

Group of students in front of Schroeder Hall with a flag that says "Free Palestine"
Kaylee Sugimoto

To: Aondover Tarhule, President, Illinois State University
From: [Your Name]

To President Aondover Tarhule,

We are a group of concerned students at Illinois State University. We are sympathetic to the Palestinian cause and are increasingly concerned by the worsening situation in Palestine. We are research out in hopes on engaging in conversation and planning steps to help remove ISU's complicity in genocide and Palestinian oppression. We have previously shared with you a list of questions, hoping to learn from and assist ISU in cutting ties with problematic corporations. We look forward to a response, so that we can work together and proceed. In the meantime, this letter shall provided specific ways that ISU can be allies to the Palestinian cause.

The following is a list of demands, following the nations standards for the boycott, divest, sanction (BDS) movement:
1. DIVEST- From all companies complicit in war crimes and human right violations under Human Rights Watch & Amnesty International - including but not limited to weapon companies such as Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Boeing, Honeywell, and their subsidiaries.
Cut ties with Caterpillar, a company known to have relations with ISU, who also manufactures bulldozers used to destroy Palestinian homes.

2. BAN - Israeli companies, weapons companies (as listed in 1), and their subsidiaries from campus.

3. BOYCOTT- Complete academic divestment from militarized Israeli institutions that are currently aiding the ingoing genocide in Gaza and historically complicit in Apartheid including Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Haifa University, and Global E3's Tehcnion. This includes any study abroad programs.

4. DISCLOSE- Complete transparency with students, staff, and faculty about University investments and spending.

5. THAWABIT- Release a statement in support of ISU's Palestinian student body and recognize the inviolable national rights of the Palestinian people, the Thawabit:
a. The right to self determinations
b. Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine
c. The right of colonized people to resist against the occupation
d. The right of Palestinian refugees to return

We look forward to hearing from the university and working to improve ISU's standing in the ongoing crisis in Palestine.