November 5, 2009
Israel Amplified 2009, the ICC’s advocacy training program for fraternity and sorority students, was successfully executed this past August in Las Vegas, Nevada. With 100 students and more than 30 staff from pro-Israel organizations in attendance, both professionals and student were able to network and develop their skills for bringing Israel to a wider population on campus. The conference, however, was envisioned to be just the first step on each student’s path to a larger pro-Israel campaign on campus, and by the middle of the fall semester it has become apparent that the lessons learned at Israel Amplified are making a big impact on campus through programs both small and large.
One of the resources given to each Amplified attendee was a copy of Alan Dershowitz’s documentary “The Case for Israel,” a video laying out and clarifying misconceptions about Israel’s birth and her legal right to exist. The students were asked to screen the documentary and follow it with a discussion, whether at a small event or for a few friends in their dorm room. Harvard University student Dan Mark, a brother in Alpha Epsilon Pi, went one step further and partnered with his school’s pro-Israel group to sponsor a large screening on October 19 that was attended by two hundred people, according to the Harvard Crimson. Immediately following the film, Professor Dershowitz himself participated in a discussion about the film and the issues he raised, directly addressing the questions and comments of the assembled crowd. The screening and discussion led into a large-scale iFest on the Harvard Yard that showcased Israel’s green technologies and commitment to environmental progress. Tables around those displays also offered Israeli food and crafts, as well as information about Israel and resources from ICC member organizations like the David Project. The apolitical but highly positive event exposed thousands of students who walked through Harvard’s central campus during the day to Israel beyond the conflict, a message that is very important in the wake of the Goldstone Report’s unbalanced take on Operation Cast Lead.
An unusual alliance has formed at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) between the Sierra Club and the newly formed Students for Israel group, yielding very positive results for the campus and Israel. The environment continues to be a prominent issue for pro-Israel activists, and the two UNLV attendees of Israel Amplified launched their new Students for Israel group right into the center of campus by co-sponsoring a day of environmental education, entertainment and political activism with local and global impact. UNLV Climate Awareness Day, in conjunction with 350.org, a global grassroots initiative to encourage governments to set a limit of 350 parts per million for carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, featured an 11-hour campaign of programs and speakers organized by Students for Israel, all highlighting the importance of controlling carbon emissions and Israel’s role in advancing environmentally friendly technologies and renewable energy sources. The president of UNLV, Neil Smatresk, and local congressional delegates spoke from a dais and were followed by comedian Robin Ray, various bands, and a group photograph of the over 300 people in attendance. The “Think Green, Think Blue” campaign from Hasbara Fellowships was also launched and endorsed by the student Sierra Club, and funds were collected to benefit the Jewish National Fund’s Blueprint Negev environmental development programs in Israel. At the close of the program, Students for Israel was presented with a certificate of commendation on behalf of Nevada Senator Harry Reid for their outstanding work at bringing diverse groups together for such an important cause.
On a smaller scale, students are continuing to report back to the ICC’s Greek Outreach Associate that they have engaged housemates and other Greeks in conversations about Israel that prior to Israel Amplified, they did not feel comfortable attempting. Whether impacting large groups of students or changing individual opinions about Israel, Israel Amplified 2009 continues to help students transform their positive feelings towards Israel into effective and meaningful actions on campus, improving Israel’s image around the country.