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Concert disruption – now is the time to stand by Wits

My dear fellow Witsies

My name is Andy Schmulow, and like you, I am a Wits graduate, and proud of it. I also happen to be Jewish, and ardent and unapologetic in my belief that Israel has a right to exist, with peace and in secure borders.

It has come to my attention that many alums are furious about the recent disruption at Wits of a piano recital by a renowned Israeli pianist, by a bunch of students demanding a boycott be imposed on Israel. What sane person wouldn't be furious about such a base display of political thuggery? The fury of many of the alums over this incident is also, in parts, directed at Wits. The latter aspect pains me deeply, and if you will allow me, I would like to address that head-on? The facts are, as follows:

There were (literally) running battles between SAUJS (the Jewish Student's Union) and the pro-Palestinian students since before I was a student, in the early 1990s. The background to which is:

  1. there are Jews at Wits;
  2. there are Muslims/Arabs/Palestinians at Wits;
  3. always have been, always will be;
  4. they fought then, they fight now, they'll probably fight in the future;
  5. Wits has no way to stop that. Never did have, never will have;
  6. Wits has an incredibly long history and rich association with the South African Jewish community. A matter of great pride both for Wits and for the Jewish community;
  7. nothing Wits has done has in any way, manner, or form diminished that;
  8. a small group of hotheads don't represent all Muslims/Arabs/Palestinians at Wits, let alone Wits itself;
  9. if you open a newspaper or turn on the telly you will read about boycotts in place, or proposed, in every part of the World, including Australia, directed against Israel. Even the venerable Stephen Hawking is on the bandwagon. It's not just happening at Wits;
  10. Falling out with Wits, or withholding your affection, your loyalty or your love for your alma mater should never be dependent on a bunch of uncouth rabble;
  11. when I was at Wits there were students who ran riot on campus, disrupted classes, and on occasion held lecturers hostage. Some of those perpetrators now occupy senior positions in the South African government. That's the nature of a place like Wits: a place of rigorous debate and vigorous disagreement. But take heart. It could be worse. You could be a graduate of RAU/UJ, where nothing exciting ever happens, and nothing important either, like world class research and ground-breaking discoveries;
  12. lastly, if my arguments have found currency with you today, then please heed my plea: now is not the time to cut your alma mater adrift. Now is the time to show that we will not be cowed, and we certainly will not be alienated from our academic mother; quite the contrary in fact. The actions of those that disrupted the concert will only spur us to redouble our efforts, to stand by Wits, to be involved, to be supportive, and to continue to have the incredible impact on Wits that our community has always had. And in the process, and through our support, we will continue to assist Wits in its grand endeavour: to be ranked in the top 100 universities in the world, and to be closely associated with the glory and satisfaction that will come with so great an achievement

Whatever your decision, thank you for taking the time to read my letter. Of course, I welcome your feedback.

Forever Wits

Adv Andy Schmulow
BA Honours LLB (Witwatersrand) PhD cand. (Melbourne)

andyschmulow@icloud.com

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