UC Davis student court overturns divestment resolution

Panel rules 5-0 with one abstention that motion was primarily political, violated student government constitution

An Israel divestment resolution passed at the University of California Davis last month by the student senate was overturned on February 19 by the university’s Court of Associated Students.

The court ruled 5-0, with one abstention, in favor of Jonathan Mitchell, who had filed a case with the court contending that the Associated Students UC Davis had failed to adhere to its own constitution in passing the Israel divestment resolution 8-2, with two abstentions, on January 29.

The court ruling found that any legislation passed by the senate, even those on politically related issues, “can and must be primarily concerning student welfare.”

The court found the divestment resolution “to be primarily a political document and did not deal with student welfare to the extent that allowed the ASUCD Senate jurisdiction to pass.”