The Eastern American Studies Association (EASA) has decided to reject a boycott resolution against Israel academic institutions adopted by its parent body, the American Studies Association (ASA), in December 2013.
The EASA, which represents ASA members in Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, chose to reject this assault on academic freedom and join the growing list of significant institutions and bodies that have condemned this policy, including the American Council on Education (an umbrella of 1,800 institutions), the Executive Committee of the Association of American Universities (that represents 62 top institutions in the U.S. and Canada), the American Association of University Professors (that counts more than 48,000 members), and over 250 universities and colleges.
Unlike the ASA, the annual Eastern ASA conference will not bar Israeli scholars who receive support from their local institutions from attending their national conference. As an inclusive organization committed to furthering the field of American Studies, the EASA’s statement against the boycott makes it explicitly clear that they reject, and will not comply with, the ASA’s misguided boycott, which not only prevents Israeli academic participation, but also seeks to enact a comprehensive boycott against both Israeli individuals and institutions.
While ASA members in the EASA’s member states are automatically members of the EASA, other ASA members from around the world may join by contacting them through their website.
