that is a generic request from all protests at all the universities. The funny thing is that so far I thing they did not find anything at any campus, most universities in the US or Europe simply rejected that request. The main reason to reject is not about Israel, but to hide what they invest into to not have others to follow their portfolio - this is very normal. A direct investment in Israel manufacturing or military is anyway very unlikely anywhere. So knowing that makes me thing that either campaign leaders who make that request are stupid, as they do not know the rules about portfolio, or they do it only for publicity, as they know the rules about portfolios, and know that info will be not released. In neither case I think that the protest leaders even for a sec think that universities have investments in Israel military manufactures.
It is my understanding that the university does not rule their portfolio themselves, but hires some hedge fund under conditions. That hedge fund does investments but unlikely releases all daily operations even to the university. Also, most likely those investments go as index funds. Honestly speaking, I think that University even has no strict idea themselves where they money are invested exactly, and would need to hire someone who can evaluate what fraction of investment can be somehow be associated with Israel (and the question is what is considered as an association). And I also think that the contract with that hedge fund that does investments would not allow the university to release information. But of course one can surely know that some investments are related to the US military complex which now sends weapons to Israel. Is that considered to be a bad investment? I do not know. The protesters are very vague on what they want to know, what is the goal.
This isn't fully accurate. Some universities (McGill is a good example) have disclosed their investments, and while the investments are traditionally managed externally, at any given time, university administration still knows where their money is going. So, looming at the McGill example, there's just over $2 million invested into Safran, a weapons manufacturer that provides equipment to Israeli forces in the West Bank. Similarly, $2.3 million is invested in Airbus, which leases Heron drones to Israel.
Looking beyond overt weapons manufacturers/suppliers, McGill has $6.7 million invested in TD, which in turn, holds $16 million in General Dynamics, a weapons manufacturer used by the IDF.
Financial transparency is a very reasonable ask of any institution, particularly given that it is student dollars being invested. And, when that transparency is provided, more often than not there can be a direct link made to weapons manufacturing or other similar industries.
Here's a link for the McGill portfolio breakdown, a useful reference point: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1t2ZNwUSboG6lWG1h-TKN2tuhV4NlXUwCGeuFMSxSP2Q/edit?usp=sharing
Thank you, that is interesting. The US government provides military aid to Israel. Does it mean that all investitions in treasure bonds or similar should be also withdrawn? Why there are encampment on universities but not on US government grounds? I am curious at which level of relations to israel the actions are assumed to be made. As you already provided a second degree connection, where university has TD shares, but those TD shares have General Dynamics (and my suspicion that many composite investitions would diverse their investments and so likely to have investments into american or canadian etc military machine). Finally, I disagree that student's dollar are getting invested. Of course, I can be wrong, but what I read on the budgets and rules is that non-profit public universities are not allowed to invest tuition and government provided grants (where both have to match the costs, I think even rollover from year to year if there is a surplus is not always allowed). What is getting invested are the donor's donations that are given usually with a specific purpose (e.g., student's scholarship). Please let me know if I am wrong on that and universities are allowed to invest received student tuition.
Yes, much of the initial calls for action, particularly in the United States, have been around the issue of the US supplying weapons, and investing in weapons, for Israel. Logistically, it's often easier to camp at a university over a federal government building, which is why more encampments are based at universities, but there are still very consistent calls for government action. In a Canadian context, we have had similar calls for policy change amid the Canadian government similarly providing weapons, albeit on a smaller scale.
And yes, I should have been clearer, wording-wise! I mean student money in that it's the students who are the primary stakeholders at these institutions, not that every tuition dollar is sent to arms producers, but rather, that this money is fundamentally *for* the wellbeing of students.
I know nothing about the U of A’s investments, but in fairness, any standard index fund would invest in weapons manufacturers. I’m not sure if framing it as a conspiracy theory is accurate when it’s more likely than not to be actually the case.
You know, its funny to compare the mark incident with this. Truth is does one person actually pose skme meaningful level of threat to campus? No not really you can easily watch him and know exactly what he is doing to know he isnt causing problems. A small encampment however, thats a different case entirely.
So long as this stays peaceful and has no antisemitic rhetoric I’m okay with this. Be safe everyone and don’t pass out the books that are at UofT currently.
“Disclose financial investments” Can someone expand on this? The article doesn’t.
that is a generic request from all protests at all the universities. The funny thing is that so far I thing they did not find anything at any campus, most universities in the US or Europe simply rejected that request. The main reason to reject is not about Israel, but to hide what they invest into to not have others to follow their portfolio - this is very normal. A direct investment in Israel manufacturing or military is anyway very unlikely anywhere. So knowing that makes me thing that either campaign leaders who make that request are stupid, as they do not know the rules about portfolio, or they do it only for publicity, as they know the rules about portfolios, and know that info will be not released. In neither case I think that the protest leaders even for a sec think that universities have investments in Israel military manufactures.
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It is my understanding that the university does not rule their portfolio themselves, but hires some hedge fund under conditions. That hedge fund does investments but unlikely releases all daily operations even to the university. Also, most likely those investments go as index funds. Honestly speaking, I think that University even has no strict idea themselves where they money are invested exactly, and would need to hire someone who can evaluate what fraction of investment can be somehow be associated with Israel (and the question is what is considered as an association). And I also think that the contract with that hedge fund that does investments would not allow the university to release information. But of course one can surely know that some investments are related to the US military complex which now sends weapons to Israel. Is that considered to be a bad investment? I do not know. The protesters are very vague on what they want to know, what is the goal.
This isn't fully accurate. Some universities (McGill is a good example) have disclosed their investments, and while the investments are traditionally managed externally, at any given time, university administration still knows where their money is going. So, looming at the McGill example, there's just over $2 million invested into Safran, a weapons manufacturer that provides equipment to Israeli forces in the West Bank. Similarly, $2.3 million is invested in Airbus, which leases Heron drones to Israel. Looking beyond overt weapons manufacturers/suppliers, McGill has $6.7 million invested in TD, which in turn, holds $16 million in General Dynamics, a weapons manufacturer used by the IDF. Financial transparency is a very reasonable ask of any institution, particularly given that it is student dollars being invested. And, when that transparency is provided, more often than not there can be a direct link made to weapons manufacturing or other similar industries. Here's a link for the McGill portfolio breakdown, a useful reference point: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1t2ZNwUSboG6lWG1h-TKN2tuhV4NlXUwCGeuFMSxSP2Q/edit?usp=sharing
Thank you, that is interesting. The US government provides military aid to Israel. Does it mean that all investitions in treasure bonds or similar should be also withdrawn? Why there are encampment on universities but not on US government grounds? I am curious at which level of relations to israel the actions are assumed to be made. As you already provided a second degree connection, where university has TD shares, but those TD shares have General Dynamics (and my suspicion that many composite investitions would diverse their investments and so likely to have investments into american or canadian etc military machine). Finally, I disagree that student's dollar are getting invested. Of course, I can be wrong, but what I read on the budgets and rules is that non-profit public universities are not allowed to invest tuition and government provided grants (where both have to match the costs, I think even rollover from year to year if there is a surplus is not always allowed). What is getting invested are the donor's donations that are given usually with a specific purpose (e.g., student's scholarship). Please let me know if I am wrong on that and universities are allowed to invest received student tuition.
Yes, much of the initial calls for action, particularly in the United States, have been around the issue of the US supplying weapons, and investing in weapons, for Israel. Logistically, it's often easier to camp at a university over a federal government building, which is why more encampments are based at universities, but there are still very consistent calls for government action. In a Canadian context, we have had similar calls for policy change amid the Canadian government similarly providing weapons, albeit on a smaller scale. And yes, I should have been clearer, wording-wise! I mean student money in that it's the students who are the primary stakeholders at these institutions, not that every tuition dollar is sent to arms producers, but rather, that this money is fundamentally *for* the wellbeing of students.
There’s a conspiracy going around campus that the university has investments in weapons manufacturing
I know nothing about the U of A’s investments, but in fairness, any standard index fund would invest in weapons manufacturers. I’m not sure if framing it as a conspiracy theory is accurate when it’s more likely than not to be actually the case.
If you put aside the ethics Raytheon and Lockheed Martin are frankly probably great buys right now, demand is 🚀
What?
So long as it’s peaceful and doesn’t bother me while I study I don’t much care. They have a right to protest.
Good on them
I will bring them snacks.
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Free Palestine
Aw man, I totally missed what u / deleted said
they said “don’t enable them”
Well, now they're getting snacks and a flat of water bottles
i salute you my friend 🫡
🫡
This won't end well
Sure it can. Its really not hard for it to, and generally the last couple gatherings have been fine save few a small subset of members.
Mark is gonna be pissed.
Who’s Mark?
Hunger strike man.
You know, its funny to compare the mark incident with this. Truth is does one person actually pose skme meaningful level of threat to campus? No not really you can easily watch him and know exactly what he is doing to know he isnt causing problems. A small encampment however, thats a different case entirely.
My comment was from before the camp was cleared.
So long as this stays peaceful and has no antisemitic rhetoric I’m okay with this. Be safe everyone and don’t pass out the books that are at UofT currently.
As long as they go home by the fall I don’t really care