Student leaders at Columbia University on Sunday rejected a motion in support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel in a secret ballot.
The four-hour debate of the Columbia College Student Council resulted in a vote of 17-20 in favor. It was automatically rejected since it needed a 2/3 majority.
The motion, which would see the college divest from eight companies with ties to Israel, was advanced by anti-Israel students affiliated with Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Columbia/Barnard Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP).