Is silence in the face of global injustice in the “best interests” of South African universities?

SIGNIFICANCE : Invited to respond, we write here not to rebut every argument advanced in the provocation piece ‘Should our universities respond to geopolitical conflicts around the world?’. This would presuppose alignment with the issues raised as the only ones germane to questions of academic neutrality in the face of injustice of genocidal proportions. Rather, we probe assumptions we consider central to the ethical responsibilities of South African universities when faced with immense human suffering. Rather, we ask: what is the cost of silence to our society and academic communities if, as once beneficiaries of global outrage and action against apartheid, we now comfortably look on so as not to be seen as taking sides?