TAMPA, Fla. — This weekend marks six months since the war in Gaza began. Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives, and the death toll continues to rise.
In March, University of South Florida students went on a hunger strike demanding the university stop investing in companies the students say support Israel.
After more than two weeks of protesting, and no progress, the students dropped their hunger strike.
“It became very hard to concentrate on things. Obviously, a lot of dangerous weight loss,” a USF sophomore said.
“I was only physically able to hunger strike for five days without having to be rushed to the hospital because I fell. I was so faint I fell I hit my skull, and it was terrible,” said another.
“That single action of just having no calories at all throughout two weeks is nothing compared to what's going on in the Gaza strip,” a USF junior said.
While students are no longer on a hunger strike they have not lost their passion for thousands of families impacted by the war in Gaza.
“It means everything to me. I have family overseas who I’ve personally have lost to this conflict,” a USF sophomore said.
The university said their investments are guided by our mission, fiduciary responsibilities and state and federal laws. The university does not select individual stocks or companies for investment.
“The only direct answer they ever gave us was that they don't have control over their endowment money because it's controlled by a third party,” USF sophomore said.
The university’s answer prompted students to take their campaign in a different direction. Now, they’re hoping the student government senate will support their movement.
“We are trying to push our school board to create a coalition for students and to publicize their investments,” USF sophomore said.
USF said if the resolution were to pass it would be non-binding and would not require the university to take action.
The students are planning to call for the university's student government to support their efforts with a divestment resolution. They want the university to openly discuss their investment relationships. That meeting will be on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the student center.
