And in more chumus news, the De Paul University student referendum to pressure the school administration to remove the Sabra brand of chumus/hummus from being sold on campus has come to a close this past Friday. The referendum failed to garner enough support, as 1500 votes in favor were required, and less than 1200 were achieved.

Israeli chumus survives yet another challenge

The organizers of the referendum are still hopeful, saying it is now in the hands of the school administration to decide. While that is true, it is also true that the referendum was non-binding even if they had garnered enough support and the decision would have remained in the hands of the administration. Now that they failed, it is unlikely the administration would go ahead anyway and support their position.

The Chicago Tribune reports on the failed referendum:

DePaul University officials say a referendum that sought to have the hummus brand currently served on campus removed has failed.


The effort to remove Sabra hummus from the university's cafeterias required 1,500 total votes to pass. The measure received only 1,127 total votes by the time polls closed Friday.


The referendum was placed on DePaul's Student Government Association's officer election ballot by Students for Justice in Palestine. The organization contends the owner of Sabra, the Strauss Group, gives financial support to two Israeli military units accused of human rights abuses.


New York-based Sabra is a leading seller of hummus. Its parent is Israel's second-largest food and beverage company, with interests worldwide.


The vote was non-binding on the university, with such decisions left to the administration after research is done.