University of Waterloo

UW statement on Israel boycott by President David Johnston

July 12, 2007

UW's president issued a brief statement yesterday about a boycott of Israeli universities that was launched this spring <http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,,2091768,00.html> by Britain's influential University and College Union.

Says the statement: "The University of Waterloo considers academic freedom to be an integral academic value and fundamental to unfettered dissemination of knowledge and exchange of ideas. We do not, therefore, support actions which impede our scholars' ability to share their views with colleagues across the world.

"We also strongly support internationalization and have academic relationships with sister institutions in Israel. We are committed to strengthening these relationships, just as we work to do so with other institutions globally."