In light of events in the United States and the ramifications across the world, the Portsmouth branch of the UCU (University and College Union) has voted to call on the University of Portsmouth (UoP) to consider divestment of activities with Tesla, Starlink, and X.
Elon Musk has used his obscene wealth to promote and amplify the far right in much of the West, whether that is through support of the AfD in Germany, spreading right-wing conspiracy theories in the UK, or by direct payments to influence the appointment of
judiciary in the US. Although not elected by anyone, Elon Musk has led the Department of Government Efficiency that has decimated the public sector in the states. He has further attacked public workers, by sharing an opinion that it was they who enacted the Holocaust.
Academia in the US is being attacked like never before. Overseas students have been
snatched off the streets and their visas cancelled, for simply expressing their concerns for the people of Gaza. Funding for research in areas such as women’s reproductive rights, or any other field that the administration considers to be ‘woke’ has been cancelled, and Harvard has had massive cuts to funding for not acquiescing to the demands of the government.
Academics publishing in these banned fields have recently started to do so anonymously as a result. The UCU branch has therefore called UoP to:
a. Conduct an audit of any research, innovation, commercial, or investment links with
Tesla, Starlink, and X; with a view to terminating any such links.
b. Commit to a boycott of Elon Musk controlled businesses, while he continues to
amplify the far right and attack the rule of law.
c. Consider offering Visiting Research Fellowships to any academics based in the USA
that the current US administration is seeking to silence, thus allowing them to publish their research, free of charge.
d. Condemn the treatment of students in the USA for expressing their perfectly legal
rights to free speech.
The branch also calls on UCU, both locally and nationally, to terminate their use of X
(Twitter) as a means of communication. The branch would be pleased to work with the
University in meeting the above recommendations.
Image entitled ‘President Donald Trump with reporters, Elon Musk and X Æ A-Xii in the White House Oval Office on February 11, 2025.jpg’ by The White House re-used as a work of the U.S. federal government, which means it is in the public domain.
