The University of Wisconsin said Wednesday that it is disappointed with the passage of an Associated Students of Madison resolution, according to a UW press release. The resolution issued a number of flawed, unrelated and illegal demands, according to the press release.
The ASM resolution, introduced by Students for Justice in Palestine, calls for the Universities of Wisconsin to divest from BlackRock index funds, which contain holdings in weapons manufacturers that supply weapons and military technology to the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan and the Israeli Defense Force, according to the resolution.
The resolution also calls for divestment from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and companies that violate Native American treaties, according to the resolution text.
According to the press release, Wisconsin state law prohibits state and local governments, including ASM, from adopting their own rules or policies involving them in a boycott of Israel. ASM leadership was counseled by university attorneys on the illegality of the resolution, according to the press release.
ASM is the student arm of shared-campus governance, and therefore its resolutions do not set policy nor bind UW.
Additionally, UW said in the press release that it is reviewing reports that allege an antisemitic term was used in an online chat including certain ASM representatives in reference to potential speakers at the March 18 ASM meeting.
“The university condemns antisemitism in all of its forms and reiterates the importance of civil and open discourse,” the press release stated. “While we recognize the variety of viewpoints in our community about investment policy and disclosure, resolutions that call for actions that would violate the law do not warrant further engagement.”


