On Wednesday, Sept. 4, the NC State Student Government held its first meeting of the school year. One of the items on their agenda was Resolution 29, the “act to promote peace and human rights by advocating for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, condemning hate speech, and enhancing educational resources on Palestine and Israel,” sponsored by Senator Naila Din, a third-year studying microbiology and current  Chair for the Standing Committee on Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach

The resolution states that the NC State Student Government “supports the release of both Palestinian and Israeli hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire.” It also “formally acknowledges the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a direct result of actions taken by the Israeli Defense Forces” and calls on the university “to disclose the recipients of their investments and divest from groups that direct their funding towards Israel.”

It urges the university to provide students with a comprehensive educational resource link, as it did for the Russia-Ukraine war, in order to give students a “ historically accurate education on the matter,” and additionally, acknowledges “the mental and emotional toll on all students affected by the aforementioned atrocities.” Students and community members packed the room to capacity to sit in on the session, with public comment being extended by 20 minutes to allow as many voices as possible to be heard.

Following the end of public comment, several amendments were proposed and voted on, most of which aimed to make the resolution’s wording “more neutral.”

Once amendments were finished the resolution went to a roll call vote, with 30 senators voting yes and 16 voting no. Having a simple majority, Resolution 29, also known as the Call for a Permanent Ceasefire Act passed.

In the coming days NC State, like other universities in the UNC system whose student governments had passed similar resolutions, may make a statement in response to the vote. 

Additionally, the Standing Committee on Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach will be tasked with advocating to the Raleigh City Council and North Carolina legislators “about student concerns on campus related to the Israeli offensive in Gaza and the ongoing repercussions for Palestinian Americans.”