June 12, 2008
During the ICC Spring Consultation, representatives of ICC organizations met in small groups to discuss campus Israel trends.
Tens of Thousands of New Students Involved in Israel Education and Advocacy in 2007-2008 Academic Year
Washington, D.C.: Representatives from the 33 national member organizations of the Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC) gathered in Washington today for the biannual ICC Consultation. In reviewing the coalition’s collaborative efforts to engage students across America in Israel education and advocacy, the ICC reported that through the combined efforts of ICC members, more than 20,000 students were engaged in new Israel education opportunities on hundreds of campuses across America, and large-scale “Israel at 60” celebrations and events occurred at many hundreds of campuses as well.
“From dramatically increasing opportunities to learn about Israel at hundreds of universities around the country to engaging tens of thousands of students in Israel events timed to celebrate Israel’s 60th birthday, this year has marked a virtual renaissance in proactive Israel engagement on American college campuses,” said David A. Harris, Executive Director of the Israel on Campus Coalition. “By setting common goals and working in a spirit of genuine collaboration to achieve our shared goals, dozens of national organizations have demonstrated again this year that when we work together to foster support for Israel on campus, our collective impact is far greater than the sum of our parts.”
“Today’s consultation provided an excellent opportunity for our member organization representatives to come together and review the trends observed and the lessons learned from the past academic year,” noted Lisa B. Eisen, Chair of the ICC Steering Committee and National Director of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. “It is remarkable to see this strong spirit of cooperation among such a diverse range of outstanding organizations, focused together on the key goals we all share,” she added.
During today’s consultation, representatives of the ICC Steering Committee also presented four annual ICC awards, honoring some of the strongest contributions to pro-Israel activism on campus:
- The Outstanding Collaborative Project Award for an ICC Member Organization was awarded to Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity and MASA Israel Journey, for their joint Israel at 60 celebrations engaging more than 5,000 students on 64 campuses across the US and Canada. Events were both social and philanthropic in nature, and all included information about MASA and study abroad programs in Israel. Accepting the award on behalf of AEPi and MASA were Andy Borans, AEPi Executive Director; Jared Hakimi, Director of Jewish Programming at AEPi; and Aaron Goldberg of MASA Israel Journey.
- The Outstanding Collaborative Project Award to a Campus was awarded to Columbia/Barnard Hillel and LionPAC at Columbia University for forming a coalition of organizations at Columbia University to raise awareness of the dangers of a nuclear Iran, and to protest Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s visit to their campus in the fall of 2007. Through the creation of the Columbia Coalition – comprised of more than 25 student groups, and spearheaded by Hillel and LionPAC – more than 1000 students gathered on Columbia’s main quad to hear mainstream student leaders condemn Iran’s government from a variety of political perspectives. Accepting the award on behalf of Columbia/Barnard Hillel and LionPAC were Columbia University students Ron Gejman and Devora Aharon.
- The Award for Outstanding Israel on Campus Achievement was awarded to Tigers for Israel at Princeton University for engaging campus leaders and New Jersey politicians in public support for the US-Israel relationship. Tigers for Israel targeted 60 student leaders to sign a statement in support of the US-Israel relationship that was published in the campus newspaper, and all 60 signatories then attended a gala dinner celebration – along with New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, New Jersey Representative Rush Holt and many other prominent dignitaries. Accepting the award on behalf of Tigers for Israel was Princeton University student Addie Lerner.
- The Jeffrey Ross Memorial Award for Israel Awareness was awarded to Legacy Heritage Fund Limited, for enabling hundreds of campuses to host large, public “Israel at 60” celebrations during the spring semester through generous grants. “We are so honored to receive this award today, and we’re very glad that we were able to help raise the profile of Israel on campuses across the country, helping to truly make the celebration of Israel’s 60th anniversary something experienced by thousands of students who otherwise might not have been aware of this tremendous milestone,” said Legacy Heritage Fund Senior Program Supervisor Muriel Shuchatowitz in accepting the award.