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Sonoma State University (SSU) President Ming Tung "Mike" Lee was placed on leave when his plan to comply with protestors’ demands was revealed. The leaked emails have Lee agreeing to divest from and boycott Israel. 

This unprecedented move by a university president has sparked significant on and off campus controversy.

Protestors’ demands

The incident began when the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter at Sonoma State University (SSU) shared screenshots of an email from President Lee. 

This email outlined his commitment to several demands. This includes divesting from and boycotting Israel, establishing an Advisory Council of Students for Justice in Palestine, recognizing Palestinian identity, developing a Palestine Studies curriculum, and supporting a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

The email's leak caused a swift backlash, leading to Lee's suspension. 

Sonoma State University, part of the California State University system, thus became the first academic institution in the United States to explicitly declare an academic boycott of Israel. 

This bold stance elicited both condemnation and praise from various groups and individuals.

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Lee’s Apology 

In response to the outcry, President Lee issued an apology email.

 “In my attempt to find agreement with one group of students, I marginalized other members of our student population and community,” he wrote.

“I realize the harm that this has caused, and I take full ownership of it. I deeply regret the unintended consequences of my actions.” He added.

 Lee admitted that the announcement was drafted and disseminated without consulting the Chancellor or other system leaders, which was a significant oversight.

Following Lee's leave of absence, Nathan Evans, the deputy vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, has been appointed as acting president. 

Lee is expected to work with the Chancellor’s Office to determine the next steps, reflecting on the repercussions of his actions. The university is currently under scrutiny to see if it will retract the decisions outlined in Lee’s email.

Responses from Pro-Israel Advocates

The protestors’ demands are not appreciated by Jewish students of pro-Israel organizations.

The decision to place Lee on leave was widely praised.

 Roz Rothstein, co-founder and CEO of StandWithUs, stated, “StandWithUs deeply appreciates leaders across California who acted quickly after Sonoma State's shameful agreement became public.” 

She emphasized the importance of university leaders resisting pressures from groups advocating for the boycott of Israel. And is grateful to institutions standing against antisemitism.

Anti-Israel Movements 

Sonoma State's situation is not isolated. 

Across the United States, universities have faced increasing pressure from anti-Israel activists.

Brown University agreed to a divestment vote to dismantle a student encampment. And Northwestern University reinstated an Advisory Committee on Investment Responsibility without a divestment vote. Evergreen State College, San Francisco State University, and Harvard University have also made large concessions in response to anti-Israel protests.

University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce is calling on a pro-Palestinian student encampment to be dismantled. This comes after multiple buildings on the campus were tagged with what she called "quite clearly both antisemitic and violent."

"Much to my dismay, given the relatively cordial tone of many of our discussions, the encampment representatives also said the new graffiti is an intentional escalation to compel the University to agree to their demands," Cauce wrote.

The rise of boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaigns has significantly impacted Jewish students.

 According to Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, director of the pro-Israel campus group AMCHA Initiative, schools with active BDS campaigns are three times more likely to experience incidents targeting Jewish students. 

The heightened tension following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 has exacerbated these issues, leading to increased reports of antisemitic violence and harassment.