The Georgetown University Student Association (GUSA) election commission postponed a referendum on divestment from companies and academic institutions engaged with Israel’s government to April 26-28, amid concerns the election occurs during a “religious holiday.”
The referendum, originally planned for April 14-16, aligns with the Jewish holiday Passover, which began at sunset April 12 and ends after nightfall April 20. GUSA’s announcement only pertained to the divestment referendum, and other elections beginning on April 14, including the GUSA Senate elections, have not been postponed.
The referendum asks students whether they support the university divesting from its investments and disclosing partnerships with Israeli academic institutions. Georgetown holds investments in companies including Google’s holding company Alphabet and Amazon, both of which have provided technology to the Israeli military.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the Jewish Student Association, Georgetown Israel Alliance, Chabad Georgetown and the Georgetown chapter of Students Supporting Israel said Jewish students would not be able to vote on the referendum since those observing do not use technology for the first two days of Passover.
“Therefore, the online vote on the referendum unfairly excludes Jewish students and leaves them at a disadvantage,” the organizers wrote. “The timing of this referendum infringes on Georgetown’s policies against exclusion and discrimination.”
Students can vote from 8:00 p.m. April 26 to 8:00 p.m. April 28. The referendum will require at least 25% turnout and a simple majority of voters in favor to pass, though it will have no binding effect on university policy.