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[Lord Shonus]

So something called the University of [Redacted] Divest campaign started sending me emails. They want the university to stop doing business with companies that do business in the contested parts of Israel/Palestine and therefore contribute to the Israeli settlement programs in those areas. It at least resembles a good idea on the surface, but on the list of companies to stop doing business with are giants like General Electri and Hewlett-Packard, among others, who're are essential to keeping the university running. If they were to stop doing business with them, I wonder if the university could find a replacement with the logistical capability to handle their needs. Student Government seems to have similar concerns, and decided not to act on the movement's requests. It should be interesting to see how it plays out, but I'm almost certain it'll die there before it ever gets to the desk of anyone remotely relevant.

It seems I was wrong. Just yesterday student government passed their proposal by a margin of 21 to 4. The full list of companies to be divested from is CEMEX, General Atomic, Hewlett-Packard, Proctor & Gamble, and Rolls-Royce. I wondered at first why it passed so easily when it didn't even make it to a vote before, then I went and found it and discovered this little gem had been added to the second to last paragraph.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Student Government urges the UT Foundation managers to divest, as soon as such divestment may be accomplished without injury to UT’s investment interests.

Emphasis mine. It passed by such a wide margin because the University can safely do very little while still adhering to the letter and spirit of the proposal. One of the four who voted against the proposal is bringing a vote of no confidence, but it seems unlikely that she is doing anything but posturing (for who, I wonder? Even when they're doing controversial stuff not many people pay student government much attention.) This is the only thing student government has done in recent memory that people cared enough about to go to their meeting anyway. Now it just remains to be seen what the administration thinks of it.

Can you provide a non-anti-semitic source for this? Nothing local's reported anything since it was found "totally illegal" under university policies, and literally every source I can find on it are rabidly anti-Jew websites.

[Baffler]

Can you provide a non-anti-semitic source for this? Nothing local's reported anything since it was found "totally illegal" under university policies, and literally every source I can find on it are rabidly anti-Jew websites.

I can try, but I learned this from an email the UT SJP sent people who're on their mailing list. The student government don't seem to have minutes from the meeting (or any meeting for that matter) publicly available, so there's probably not much I can do for you. I can give you the emails at least. The first contains a detail I missed earlier, the administration's response. Unsurprisingly, it was not positive.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The #UTDivest movement made history last night at the University of Toledo. In a resounding display of support for our resolution calling on UT to divest from corporations that violate Palestinian human and legal rights, Student Government voted 21 to 4 in favor. The #UTDivest movement commends the courage, integrity, and honor of those 21 senators who stood up for justice on Tuesday, March 3. The opposition attempted to silence the senators and intimidate them into not voting at all or voting against the resolution. In their heroic commitment to justice, our brave senators overwhelmingly saw through such disdainful tactics, and placed UTSG on the right side of history.


The #UTDivest movement also commends the Student Government for rectifying the errors it made in handling our divestment resolution at the Tuesday, February 17 meeting. Unlike the previous meeting, on March 3 Student Government facilitated an open, democratic debate that allowed those present to fully voice their beliefs, their concerns, and their testimony. It was a model for openness and transparency at our university, something that #UTDivest strives to accomplish.


It has been a long time since a coalition as strong and diverse as the #UTDivest movement has come together at UT. We have not seen a student movement of this size and magnitude since the divestment initiative spearheaded by the Black Student Union against South African apartheid in the 1980s. This movement could not have accomplished anywhere near what it has thus far without the support of a beautifully diverse coalition of student leaders and community activists, all of whom have a stake in the dignity and moral rectitude of our university as a central institution in our city. Among others, the #UTDivest movement sends our warmest regards and deepest sincerity to the International Student Association (ISA), the Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB), the Muslim Student Association (MSA), the Feminist Alliance (UTFA), the Community Solidarity Response Network (CSRN), and the various local church organizations, all of whom provided essential support for our movement. We desire to repay the debt; solidarity is a central tenant of our movement. We also thank the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, Jewish Voice for Peace, the Institute for Middle East Understanding, the National Lawyers Guild, Palestine Solidarity Legal Support, and the Center for Constitutional Rights, for their tremendous help in fighting for democracy and transparency on UT’s campus. Finally, we thank every single individual who has aided the #UTDivest movement, no matter how large or small the contribution was. Without your help this movement could not, and cannot, succeed.


Yet, it is vital to understand that in spite of our symbolic victory through Student Government, the real struggle has only now begun. Already Interim President Nagi Naganathan and UT Foundation President Brenda Lee have issued a statement on behalf of the administration proclaiming that they are willing to ignore the demands for justice by UT students: “Just like at many universities and colleges across the nation where during the last 15 years this debate has taken place, the University of Toledo and the UT Foundation do not support the divestment called for in the Student Senate resolution.” This position is a cowardly acquiescence to injustice. In the 1980s the Black Student Union faced a mixture of conciliation and consternation from James McComas, then UT president when BSU presented their demand for divestment. In the end, the BSU and its allies won the struggle for divestment, and McComas showed the courage to honor the will of the people. Today’s administration refuses even to consider UT students’ demand for justice. Thus, our struggle continues unabated to persuade the university to comply with the moral and ethical obligations it proclaims to uphold.


We must move forward with our plans for a student-wide referendum, asking the student body to support divestment as a collective whole. We have the support of Student Government and the leaders therein, and now we must show that UT students as a whole are champions of social justice, and not just passive bystanders. Hillel has already proclaimed its intent to run an anti-divestment campaign if we pursue a referendum. We accept their challenge. In order to meet this challenge, however, #UTDivest needs volunteers to collect and gather student signatures. Our deadline is March 30, and while we only need two hundred signatures to place divestment on the ballot, we want hundreds more. Our movement has reached into the lives of many UT students already, but we need it to reach every UT student. Every organization, every group, and every individual should be debating divestment. If you can provide any help, please contact a member of the UTSJP steering committee and they will provide you with instructions for gathering signatures. This is our moment. Let us all stand together, hand in hand, on the right side of history.

And the equally even more loaded message about the no confidence bit. Not much to this one, but it's included for completion.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Dear [Redacted],


Two weeks ago the Students for Justice in Palestine passed the divestment resolution in a landslide victory. Student Government senators voted for the resolution by an overwhelming majority of 21-4. We all celebrated this achievement which came about through the hard work and fantastic collaborative efforts of students, student organizations, as well as the indispensable support of community members. 

 

We all know such stories rarely end on positive notes and those opposing justice will always try to push back and retaliate against students who exercise their protected rights.


On March 16th, Joel Robbins, one of the foursenators who voted against the divestment resolution, submitted a frivolous “Vote of No Confidence” complaint against SJP Steering Committee leader Saleh Aburad. Joel takes issue with Saleh’s promotion of Palestinians’ rights and accuses Saleh of “lying” for informing the senators about the implications of the University's continued investments in the illegally occupied Palestinian territories.


This is a blatant attack on Saleh’s exercise of his free speech rights, his free association rights, as well as a scheme to silence SJP and discourage other senators from standing up for justice.


The Student Government Judicial Council has set the matter for a hearing on Tuesday March 24 in the Student Union. We are confident in the integrity of Saleh Aburaad and the strength of our case.

Edit: removed reference to elf-lords.

[Tawa]

-snip-
Edit: removed reference to elf-lords.

What about the river spirits? We need to know the results of the pie-eating contest; should I check my Pokédex?

[Lord Shonus]

Can you provide a non-anti-semitic source for this? Nothing local's reported anything since it was found "totally illegal" under university policies, and literally every source I can find on it are rabidly anti-Jew websites.

I can try, but I learned this from an email the UT SJP sent people who're on their mailing list. The student government don't seem to have minutes from the meeting (or any meeting for that matter) publicly available, so there's probably not much I can do for you. I can give you the emails at least. The first contains a detail I missed earlier, the administration's response. Unsurprisingly, it was not positive.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The #UTDivest movement made history last night at the University of Toledo. In a resounding display of support for our resolution calling on UT to divest from corporations that violate Palestinian human and legal rights, Student Government voted 21 to 4 in favor. The #UTDivest movement commends the courage, integrity, and honor of those 21 senators who stood up for justice on Tuesday, March 3. The opposition attempted to silence the senators and intimidate them into not voting at all or voting against the resolution. In their heroic commitment to justice, our brave senators overwhelmingly saw through such disdainful tactics, and placed UTSG on the right side of history.


The #UTDivest movement also commends the Student Government for rectifying the errors it made in handling our divestment resolution at the Tuesday, February 17 meeting. Unlike the previous meeting, on March 3 Student Government facilitated an open, democratic debate that allowed those present to fully voice their beliefs, their concerns, and their testimony. It was a model for openness and transparency at our university, something that #UTDivest strives to accomplish.


It has been a long time since a coalition as strong and diverse as the #UTDivest movement has come together at UT. We have not seen a student movement of this size and magnitude since the divestment initiative spearheaded by the Black Student Union against South African apartheid in the 1980s. This movement could not have accomplished anywhere near what it has thus far without the support of a beautifully diverse coalition of student leaders and community activists, all of whom have a stake in the dignity and moral rectitude of our university as a central institution in our city. Among others, the #UTDivest movement sends our warmest regards and deepest sincerity to the International Student Association (ISA), the Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB), the Muslim Student Association (MSA), the Feminist Alliance (UTFA), the Community Solidarity Response Network (CSRN), and the various local church organizations, all of whom provided essential support for our movement. We desire to repay the debt; solidarity is a central tenant of our movement. We also thank the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, Jewish Voice for Peace, the Institute for Middle East Understanding, the National Lawyers Guild, Palestine Solidarity Legal Support, and the Center for Constitutional Rights, for their tremendous help in fighting for democracy and transparency on UT’s campus. Finally, we thank every single individual who has aided the #UTDivest movement, no matter how large or small the contribution was. Without your help this movement could not, and cannot, succeed.


Yet, it is vital to understand that in spite of our symbolic victory through Student Government, the real struggle has only now begun. Already Interim President Nagi Naganathan and UT Foundation President Brenda Lee have issued a statement on behalf of the administration proclaiming that they are willing to ignore the demands for justice by UT students: “Just like at many universities and colleges across the nation where during the last 15 years this debate has taken place, the University of Toledo and the UT Foundation do not support the divestment called for in the Student Senate resolution.” This position is a cowardly acquiescence to injustice. In the 1980s the Black Student Union faced a mixture of conciliation and consternation from James McComas, then UT president when BSU presented their demand for divestment. In the end, the BSU and its allies won the struggle for divestment, and McComas showed the courage to honor the will of the people. Today’s administration refuses even to consider UT students’ demand for justice. Thus, our struggle continues unabated to persuade the university to comply with the moral and ethical obligations it proclaims to uphold.


We must move forward with our plans for a student-wide referendum, asking the student body to support divestment as a collective whole. We have the support of Student Government and the leaders therein, and now we must show that UT students as a whole are champions of social justice, and not just passive bystanders. Hillel has already proclaimed its intent to run an anti-divestment campaign if we pursue a referendum. We accept their challenge. In order to meet this challenge, however, #UTDivest needs volunteers to collect and gather student signatures. Our deadline is March 30, and while we only need two hundred signatures to place divestment on the ballot, we want hundreds more. Our movement has reached into the lives of many UT students already, but we need it to reach every UT student. Every organization, every group, and every individual should be debating divestment. If you can provide any help, please contact a member of the UTSJP steering committee and they will provide you with instructions for gathering signatures. This is our moment. Let us all stand together, hand in hand, on the right side of history.

And the equally even more loaded message about the no confidence bit. Not much to this one, but it's included for completion.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Dear [Redacted],


Two weeks ago the Students for Justice in Palestine passed the divestment resolution in a landslide victory. Student Government senators voted for the resolution by an overwhelming majority of 21-4. We all celebrated this achievement which came about through the hard work and fantastic collaborative efforts of students, student organizations, as well as the indispensable support of community members. 

 

We all know such stories rarely end on positive notes and those opposing justice will always try to push back and retaliate against students who exercise their protected rights.


On March 16th, Joel Robbins, one of the foursenators who voted against the divestment resolution, submitted a frivolous “Vote of No Confidence” complaint against SJP Steering Committee leader Saleh Aburad. Joel takes issue with Saleh’s promotion of Palestinians’ rights and accuses Saleh of “lying” for informing the senators about the implications of the University's continued investments in the illegally occupied Palestinian territories.


This is a blatant attack on Saleh’s exercise of his free speech rights, his free association rights, as well as a scheme to silence SJP and discourage other senators from standing up for justice.


The Student Government Judicial Council has set the matter for a hearing on Tuesday March 24 in the Student Union. We are confident in the integrity of Saleh Aburaad and the strength of our case.

Edit: removed reference to elf-lords.

Strange that none of the local news mentioned it. Of course, given the horrid reputation of the Divest movement, it was probably wise not to call attention to them.

[BlackFlyme]

Vague wording in tabletop games. Comes up too often, it seems.

Book X says to apply the Y template found in book Z. Book Z contains several different Y-type templates throughout. Book X did not specify which template to use, or even which page it is on.

Sometimes I wonder if they do that on purpose.

[Neonivek]

Just look at Exalted 2nd ed which constantly contradicted itself.

For example essence 10 is the absolute essence limit. But the first book refers to elementals casually going above 10 essence.

I miss the days of World of Darkness where the contradictions were intentional. The books were made from their perspective.

[BlackFlyme]

All I need to know is whether I fucked my horse or not.

Doesn't help when Google search brings up instances of people using different templates for the exact same purpose I am trying to find out right now.

[i2amroy]

When in doubt, house rule it. Get together with the GM (and other players if necessary), make a decision, and write it down in your house rule book. Then stick with that decision unless something else comes along that forces you to change it. You're the ones playing the game after all.

[Arcvasti]

Vague wording in tabletop games. Comes up too often, it seems.

Book X says to apply the Y template found in book Z. Book Z contains several different Y-type templates throughout. Book X did not specify which template to use, or even which page it is on.

Sometimes I wonder if they do that on purpose.

Just apply all the templates at once.

[mastahcheese]

Just apply all the templates at once.

The problem with this is you end up with housecats capable of bisecting demi-gods.

By purring at them.

[Tawa]

Just apply all the templates at once.

The problem with this is you end up with housecats capable of bisecting demi-gods.

By purring at them.

They can already do that to commoners.

The demigod of commoners shouldn't be too hard.

[flame99]

Just apply all the templates at once.

The problem with this is you end up with housecats capable of bisecting demi-gods.

By purring at them.

So just a slight step up in power from base D&D housecats?

[BlackFlyme]

The mount should not make a better paladin than its master.

As it is, the damn thing is smarter than a few of the other party members. And that's with the simplest template, which it has currently.

Though I doubt I'd get much leeway with the DM.

[Frumple]

The mount being able to casually take the master in a conflict of wits and warfare is the best part of having a sacred mount or animal companion, though...

[AlleeCat]

All I need to know is whether I fucked my horse or not.

I think you would know. Is the horse telling you about how it "had a really great time last night?"