The following is a letter that was sent by Student Interest Group Students for Justice in Palestine at NYU Abu Dhabi to members of the NYUAD administration on Feb. 18.

To the administration of NYU Abu Dhabi,

We, the Executive Board of Students for Justice in Palestine at NYUAD, are writing to express our concern about the transfer of NYUAD Public Safety contract from Securitas to G4S.

As an allegedly global institution that strives to create value and innovation in the world, our university has always advocated for pluralism, diversity, responsibility, cosmopolitanism and peace. However, the practical implications of the values we so fervently espouse have not always manifested in similarly praiseworthy outcomes. It is troubling that our institution repeatedly enters into contractual obligations that carry moral, ethical and ultimately political consequences that do not align with the core values of our university. Empty globalism without an ethical compass perpetuates the institutionalization of historic injustices, and obscures the practical impact of the existence of our institution.

Furthermore, in line with previous university-wide changes such as replacing GAFs with Teaching Assistants and signing with HP for technical support, the administration’s decision to sign with G4S was conducted without consideration for student input. As a university seeking to foster students “who strive to make their own mark on a more knowledgeable, productive, responsible, just, and peaceful globe,” NYUAD has disregarded the perspectives of its students in decisions that affect us all. In addition to overlooking students’ voices, the NYUAD administration never hosted a university-wide discussion on the prospective contract.

The university has awarded our security contract to a company that has serviced Israeli prisons with “documented systematic torture and ill-treatment of Palestinian prisoners, including child prisoners” and has provided equipment to Israeli checkpoints which violate Palestinian human rights. Although G4S recently announced that it is pulling out of Israel, the company cited economic and commercial motives rather than moral reasons for their withdrawal. Regardless, as a company that has profited from and aided the Israeli occupation, G4S is complicit in the violation of Palestinian human rights. Therefore, we call for NYUAD to cancel its contract with G4S.

We further acknowledge the existence of corporations that NYUAD has contracts with that are also problematic but do not bear any direct connection to Palestine. However, as the Executive Board of Students for Justice in Palestine at NYUAD, we are primarily concerned with Palestinian human rights. Nevertheless, the global struggle for justice and human dignity is a cause dear to all of our members and we stand with groups who share this aim.

In summary, because of its involvement in the Israeli occupation of Palestine and degradation of Palestinian human rights, we urge the NYUAD administration to revoke its contract with G4S.

Sincerely, The Executive Board of Students for Justice in Palestine at NYUAD