No room for dissent:
"As an organization dedicated to balanced, informed debate on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, StandWithUs was disappointed by Provost Castillo and Professor Dodson's op-ed [Sept. 23] and Rabbi Bochner's letter [Sept. 26] justifying the one-sided dialogue series they are helping organize at UC Santa Cruz. In effect, they will be advancing their own personal political views, not educating students. This is contrary to the university's mission, and repeats a disturbing pattern of one-sided presentations about Israel at UCSC.
They claim the series promotes dialogue, but not one invited speaker represents a mainstream perspective. While some recommended readings do, the lecturers who will interact with students do not. All come from far left of center, such as Yossi Beilin whose views are not shared by Israel's general public or the Israeli government.
If the organizers had wanted dialogue and education, they would have invited people like United Nations Ambassador Danny Gillerman or Israeli Consulate members to discuss Israel's policies, or other centrists. Unfortunately, such voices will not be heard and crucial issues, context and realities will be omitted. The result will be monologue, not dialogue.
Instead of addressing concerns raised about imbalance and whether it is right to use the university to advance political agendas, the writers simply defended their own narrow views about the causes of the conflict.
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