Referendum No. 5, which calls on the University to divest its endowment from companies involved in weapons manufacturing, will have formal opposition on the ballot when it goes to undergraduate voters at the beginning of next week.
“When I saw the referendum targeting these companies, it made me feel that there’s a lack of appreciation of the way that these companies are protecting Western allies and democratic values around the world,” explained Judah Guggenheim ’25 in an interview with The Daily Princetonian. Guggenheim is sponsoring the opposition to Referendum No. 5, which is set to appear on the ballot alongside the original question.
“These companies are … giving them [Israel] the opportunity to be more precise with the hope of minimizing civilian casualties,” he said, referring to Israel. “I say there’s a very positive thing that these companies are doing.”
Guggenheim’s opposition statement references a number of U.S. allies, stating, “We live in a world with genuine foreign aggressors, and targeting our own defense industry will do nothing but strengthen theirs.”
The full text of the divestment measure specifically targets Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX (formerly Raytheon), and General Dynamics for divestment for being “among the top weapons suppliers to Israel and other states that violate human rights and international law.”
Guggenheim told the ‘Prince’ he reached out to the Ukrainian Society, Taiwanese American Students Association, and Tigers for Israel (TFI) to ask if they would be willing to collaborate on opposition campaigning. He said he had not yet heard back from them, although TFI president Max Meyer ’27 later confirmed to the ‘Prince’ that his organization would be backing Guggenheim and “are already working on organizing.”
The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) will share the official opposition statements with students soon, before voting begins on Monday. According to Chief Elections Manager (CEM) Alex Sorgini ’26, Guggenheim was not the only student who submitted a proposal to be the opposition leader to Referendum No. 5, although Sorgini declined to share who else submitted one. According to the USG Elections Handbook, the CEM is alone responsible for choosing a sole opposition leader per referendum.
About 40 people rallied in Scudder Plaza on Thursday primarily to support the referendum on weapons manufacturing, although speakers also highlighted the coming votes on fossil fuel research funding and undergraduate workers.
“The U.S. government has spent over $22.7 billion since October 7 to finance this genocide. It has provided over 70 percent of the weapons used in this ongoing genocide,” said Amber Rahman ’25 of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).
“Voting for this referendum is the least that we can do,” Ibrahim Bata ’26 added.
“We also know that these referenda will not nearly be enough on their own,” Sunrise Princeton member Alex Norbrook ’26 said, citing the University’s unexpected October rollback of restrictions on research funded by certain fossil fuel companies. “That’s why we have to keep organizing in the halls of power and in the streets to fight for our communities, our land, and our planet.”
Norbrook is a staff Opinion writer for the ‘Prince.’
In 2022, the University declined to take action after undergraduates narrowly passed a referendum targeting the construction company Caterpillar Inc. for divestment due to alleged human rights violations in Palestine, a tactic associated with the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
In a striking show of opposition, a box truck with a screen displaying the words “Disarm Ukraine,” “Vote Yes on Referendum 4,” and “Support Putin” appeared around campus on Thursday morning playing the Soviet National anthem. The truck was presumably targeting Referendum No. 5 instead of Referendum No. 4, which is sponsored by USG Academics Chair Vivian Bui ’26 and would call on the University to expand pass/D/fail options to 100- and 200-level language courses.
“I automatically knew it was a mistake and it wasn’t targeted towards me, but I was very bewildered by it, and felt very unsafe and uncomfortable,” Bui said in an interview, noting that her measure did not have any formal opposition. Upon seeing the truck on Washington Road, she called the Department of Public Safety and informed the USG.
Guggenheim told the ‘Prince’ he had no part in the truck’s presence.
“I have no idea whose truck that was,” he told the ‘Prince.’ “It doesn’t represent me or what I’m saying.”
“Outside agitators getting involved in undergraduate referendums is inappropriate,” he added.
Bui also referenced a similar truck that appeared on campus last October targeting School of Public and International Affairs Dean Amaney Jamal. The group that sponsored the truck later apologized for not knowing that Jamal had issued a statement condemning the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.
Undergraduates will also vote on referenda calling on the University to stop accepting research funding from fossil fuel companies such as BP, to enhance certain employment standards for undergraduate workers, and to allow language classes to be taken pass/D/fail. If passed, none of these referenda will be binding for the University.
Annie Rupertus is a head News editor for the ‘Prince’ from Philadelphia, Pa. who often covers activism and campus governance.
Miriam Waldvogel is an associate News editor and the investigations editor for the ‘Prince.’ She is from Stockton, Calif. and often covers campus activism and University accountability.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
Read More
Play the Friday crossword, ‘Having a Cow’
Claire Kaneshiro and Jessica CurranBlast off into this legend-dairy puzzle by Senior Constructor Claire Kaneshiro and Contributing Constructor Jessica Curran.
Blast off into this legend-dairy puzzle by Senior Constructor Claire Kaneshiro and Contributing Constructor Jessica Curran.
Energy researchers report surprise, enthusiasm at reinstated fossil fuel funding
Christopher BaoProfessors are reacting with pleasant surprise to the news that the University partially reversed its decision to bar fossil fuel companies from funding research.
Professors are reacting with pleasant surprise to the news that the University partially reversed its decision to bar fossil fuel companies from funding research.
Haitian Creole language courses coming to Princeton’s French and Italian department in the next year
Isaac BernsteinPrinceton’s French and Italian Department is adding a Haitian Creole course in Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 taught by Lecturer Johnny Laforêt. Offerings may eventually expand to additional 200-level electives as well.
Princeton’s French and Italian Department is adding a Haitian Creole course in Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 taught by Lecturer Johnny Laforêt. Offerings may eventually expand to additional 200-level electives as well.
