Yale statement on hunger strike

On April 10, a collective of graduate and undergraduate students announced that they would begin a hunger strike on April 12 unless Yale made a public statement announcing its divestment from weapons manufacturing companies involved in the Hamas-Israel war.  

Over the weekend, during a hunger strike event, an individual made a public statement that was taken as a threat. We have not confirmed whether this is a Yale student. Police are investigating. As stated by President Salovey in December in his message “Against Hatred,” “Yale will not tolerate discrimination and harassment, including threats of violence, intimidation, or coercion.”

Yale is steadfastly committed to free expression and the right to peaceful protest, values that are foundational to our academic community. University Staff have reached out to student organizers to provide them with resources. 

Staff members will continue to emphasize the importance of student health and well-being during this time. Students participating in a hunger strike are encouraged to consult with clinicians at Yale Health. 

For more than 50 years, the university has employed a rigorous process to ensure the ethical management of its endowment, guided first and foremost by these longstanding principles. The Corporation Committee on Investor Responsibility (CCIR) considers and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees on policy matters related to ethical investing. It is supported by the work of the Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility (ACIR), whose members include alumni, staff, faculty, and students. You can learn more about the work to date here.  

Late last year, the ACIR was asked in its open meeting to consider a policy of divestment encompassing manufacturers of military weapons. The ACIR has looked into the issue and is preparing to provide an update to the community in the coming weeks.