The Miscellany News

On Monday, Sept. 29, Vassar’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) released a statement condemning the College’s initiative with the United States Military Academy, commonly known as West Point. The statement cited the U.S. military’s involvement in international conflict and its support of Israel in the ongoing genocide in Palestine. The following week, SJP members tabled outside of Main Building, distributing pamphlets and information about their petition calling for an end to the initiative. 

The Vassar-West Point Initiative was founded in 2018 after the College received a grant from the Mellon Foundation. The initiative encourages collaboration between the two campus communities, aiming to build understanding between civilians and the military. “The Initiative allows Vassar students to understand and experience what it is to be in a military academy,” wrote Vassar President Elizabeth Bradley in correspondence with The Miscellany News for this article. According to Bradley, Vassar had previously hosted conferences, tours and research demonstrations that West Point cadets were invited to attend. In February 2024, Vassar students and faculty visited West Point to learn more about the academy. 

SJP’s statement included background regarding the U.S. military’s role in the military-industrial complex, as well as the genocide in Gaza, before providing a timeline of Vassar’s relationship with West Point. In a correspondence with The Miscellany News, a co-chair of SJP, who requested to remain anonymous, wrote, “West Point, as a military academy, is sharing knowledge and training directly with soldiers who served in Gaza as agents of genocide. Aside from the direct connection, West Point is invested in the military-industrial complex, as we explain in our pamphlet. Military-academic collaborations like the Vassar-West Point initiative legitimize this system wherein corporations profit off of the genocide.”

The organization concluded the statement by discussing how West Point has allegedly used Vassar’s science facilities to “further military technology.” The statement referenced an event hosted by Vassar in February 2025, during which West Point cadets visited the College and observed a Vassar Physics and Astronomy professor perform a demonstration of the recently acquired quantum computer. In their statement, SJP further speculated that West Point cadets may have been given some level of access to Vassar’s quantum computer for use in military research. SJP alleged, “Despite the lack of transparency about how WP [West Point] is using Vassar’s quantum computer, we know that this collaboration enables WP cadets to develop technology that will threaten personal privacy, advance war profiteering, and automate genocide… The WP students using our computer will spend careers mastering and refining larger ones. They will be at the forefront of quantum computing, with Vassar’s help.”

In the week since the statement was released, Vassar faculty and staff have communicated with Miscellany News reporters to explain their perspective on the quantum computer’s use. Jenny Magnes, Vassar Professor of Physics and Astronomy and head of the Vassar-West Point Initiative, explained, “Our quantum computer is used to demonstrate quantum states to Physics students, enabling them to gain a better understanding of quantum theory. Vassar Physics faculty and select Vassar students have access to the quantum computer… West Point has no access to the quantum computer. We have only demonstrated the quantum computer to West Point personnel for academic purposes.”

In their statement, SJP expressed that in continuing its collaboration with West Point, “The college risks materially supporting WP’s development of technology equipped for genocide.” The statement also alleged, “Quantum research aims to optimize military operations, including advancing systems of AI-targeting and autonomous weapons technology that Israel is using to carry out mass murder in Gaza.”

Quantum computers are driven by units of information called qubits. Quantum computing allows for the computer to be in more than one state at once. Quantum states can be compared to two sides of a coin: While a standard computer could exist in a heads or tails state, quantum computers can occupy both at the same time. This gives it the capability to process large amounts of data in a short amount of time. This ability to analyze data, as well as the computer’s potential to decrypt classified information, makes it a useful tool for the military. However, according to the Congressional Research Service, to accomplish a task such as decryption, a quantum computer would need to have approximately 20 million qubits. According to a Vassar Physics and Astronomy faculty member, Vassar’s computer only possesses two qubits.

Central to SJP’s concern regarding the quantum computer is West Point cadets’ possible future access to it. “We’re not trying to destroy the quantum computer or stop non-military, non-surveillance quantum research,” wrote the co-chair of SJP. “The fact that the briefing on the computer happened once means it can happen again, so we want a pledge that the college won’t allow that in the future.” 

SJP’s statement cited a quote from Colonel Peter Chapman, head of West Point’s Physics and Nuclear Engineering Department, that appeared in an article covering the Vassar Physics and Astronomy Department’s presentation of the quantum computer to West Point students. In the article, Chapman said, “Going forward we plan to see what kinds of joint research opportunities we can develop.” In response to SJP’s concern about collaborative research, Magnes wrote, “At this point, there are no specific plans for joint scientific research.” 

Despite noting to Miscellany News reporters that they were happy with Vassar’s acquisition of the quantum computer, a Vassar sophomore majoring in physics who wished to remain anonymous wrote, “I am not anti-West Point and Vassar collaborations, but there are many things to be wary of. I feel like our partnership is very one-sided; they are using our facilities and our equipment for what at least seems like no return on our end. I also agree with SJP’s message about how Vassar is complicit with the imperialistic military complex with this partnership.”

Members of SJP emphasized that their concerns regarding West Point extend beyond the issue of the quantum computer and potential research collaborations. “SJP’s [statement] is also not just referring to the quantum computer in and of itself,” said Mateo Tavarez ’26, an SJP member and Vice President of the Vassar Student Association (VSA). “That is not the only point of harm that they believe is helping materialize harm elsewhere, it’s just the relationship in and of itself, being partnered with West Point as a whole.” 

In response to SJP’s criticism of the initiative, Magnes wrote, “It appears that this criticism is based on a lack of understanding of the West Point initiative. We invite SJP to engage in a direct and productive dialogue so that they may understand the scientific context.”

According to sources from SJP, the organization’s petition had already amassed upward of 400 signatures by Oct. 3—less than one week after the initial statement’s release. Reflecting on conversations with other students, the co-chair of SJP said in an interview with The Miscellany News, “Students have mostly expressed surprise and support. It seemed like common sense to have no military presence on campus.” 

The co-chair acknowledged that, despite considerable support for SJP’s goal, not all students have endorsed the dissolution of the initiative. “It’s hard to quantify, but there are always a couple people—maybe three or four—who express disinterest, or say they have family in the military, or are Zionists. But overwhelmingly, the response has been positive, even from students who aren’t very political.”

SJP has decided to focus its attention on West Point this school year. Last year, the organization focused on advocating for Vassar’s divestment from military and surveillance companies, but was ultimately unsuccessful in their push. “We were looking for ways to have a campaign that had a more material goal,” said the SJP co-chair. “Divestment and boycotts are super vague, but West Point is directly training soldiers in Gaza. The military is developing technology that’s being used by Israel right now. So this is a direct connection between Vassar and the genocide that’s easily targetable.” 

Following the release of SJP’s statement, VSA cabinet members have worked to facilitate a conversation between the Physics and Astronomy Department faculty and members of SJP in the hopes of reaching an understanding about the quantum computer and the purpose of the initiative. According to Tavarez, the groups have a tentative plan to meet on Friday, Oct. 10 to discuss the organization’s concerns regarding the initiative.