Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill have planned an anti-Zionist and anti-Israel conference camouflaged as a conference on Gaza, March 22-24. Several scheduled speakers have compared Israel to Nazis and many others promote boycotting Israel. One of the opening speakers refers to Israel as a “terrorist state.”
Mike Ross, Co-Chair of Voice4Israel, wrote this thoughtful, strong letter to UNC and Duke officials.
Dear UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz and UNC Board of Governors, Chair Harry L. Smith, Jr.
I am a recently retired neuroradiologist having practiced at Wake Medical Center, (instructing UNC trainees) for many years and more recently at UNC Rex Hospital.
I am greatly saddened by the recent uptick in antisemitism, which has occurred at university campuses in our great state; some of it apparently from white supremacist sources. I am equally concerned with the rhetoric emanating from the radical anti-Israel side. There it often crosses the line from legitimate criticism of Israeli policy, into demonization and delegitimization of Israel, with attacks on Israel’s very right to exist, as a Jewish homeland. Since the vast majority of Jews feel a strong connection to Israel and to the need for its survival, they also feel targeted by these malign, disingenuous and deceitful accusations. They are ostracized by some groups if they do not toe the proper line. They hide their feelings so as to avoid acrimonious situations. It is for them a very non inclusive climate.
This is all background to the alarm our community feels regarding UNC’s joint sponsorship with Duke of the upcoming Gaza conference on March 22nd through March 24th. As you undoubtedly now know, the speakers at the symposium contain many despisers of Israel who are outspoken in their desire to eliminate the Jewish State. The symposium is devoid of any pro-Israel perspective as far as we know. This is not an academic event, where true engagement with factual information, inclusion of differing opinion and dialog is championed. In contradistinction, this event promises to be entirely polemical, filled with hate and intended for indoctrination. Rather than providing honor to our distinguished institution, it compromises its integrity and tarnishes UNC’s great name.
As Elie Wiesel once told President Reagan, when he planned to visit a cemetery, where SS soldiers were buried: “That place, Mr. President, is not your place.”
Please do not maintain your sponsorship of the Gaza symposium, for that place is not your place.
Sincerely,
Michael Ross MD
Raleigh, NC
Be like Mike Ross and Make Your Voice Heard!
Contact the following UNC and Duke leaders to voice your concerns about this unbalanced and biased conference against Israel.
Duke President Vincent Price (919) 684-2424 vincent.price@duke.edu
UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz 919-962-1365 chancellor@unc.edu
Duke Chair, Board of Trustees, Jack O. Bovender, Jr. boardchair@duke.edu
UNC Board of Governors, Chair Harry L. Smith, Jr. public@bog.northcarolina.edu