Students should not be referred as mere pawns for political causes on campus

When we fail to treat college students as persons, and instead relate to them as objects to be manipulated for our political or ideological goals, we hasten our own downfall. Since the BDS campaign began on our campus, I have heard activists on both sides of the issue speak about college students in the most dehumanizing ways. Students were referred to as “troops” to be mustered, “vessels” to be filled, “fields” to be planted, and “assets” to be positioned. Rarely, if ever, were they celebrated as thinkers, partners, or colleagues.

Rabbi Oren Hayon, “After BDS Victory, Tending a Scorched Campus Community”, Jewschool (29 May 2014) [http://jewschool.com/2014/05/29/32276/after-bds-victory-tending-a-scorched-campus-community/]