February 9, 2010
On Thursday, January 28, students from around the country gathered virtually to hear from diplomats, experts, community leaders and activists about the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran and the difference student involvement can make in raising awareness about this important issue. Utilizing advanced technology, students viewed live video feed from six sites and were able to pose questions in real time, making
SCANI’s inaugural web conference a truly interactive event.
Created by Hillel and ICC, the
Student Coalition Against a Nuclear Iran is being co-chaired by student leaders and Grinspoon Israel Advocacy Interns Chad Aronson of The Ohio State University and Akiva Dym of Brooklyn College, each of whom spoke on the web conference, along with Emily Berman, a student activist at Indiana University.They were joined by Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Gabriela Shalev; former CIA director R. James Woolsey; Malcolm Hoenlein, the Executive Vice Chairman of the
Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations;
Hillel’s President Wayne Firestone; and
AIPAC’s Director of Policy and Government Affairs, Brad Gordon.
(Pictured (from left to right): R. James Woolsey, Wayne Firestone, Malcolm Hoenlein, and Gabriela Shalev. Below: Brad Gordon)
Just two weeks before the web conference, Hillel professionals and ICC member organization representatives were invited to begin nominating students to participate in
SCANI. This resulted in a roster of nearly 100 students from more than 50 campuses, all now prepped and ready to institute coordinated, awareness-raising campus actions during the last week of February – SCANI’s initial short-term goal. Students who participated in the live web conference selected a campus action during the conference itself, while those who were unable to participate have since been contacted and provided with the following four options for campus action: writing an op-ed or lobbying campus newspaper staff to write an editorial about the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran; creating a petition to be signed by campus leaders and presented to a Member of Congress or Senator; training students to lobby effectively and visiting a local office of a Senator or Member of Congress; or implementing a “photo-op worthy,” high-visibility campus event to raise awareness about the Iranian nuclear issue.
Dramatic and far-reaching results are possible as a result of students’ campus efforts, continuing communication between ICC staff and members of SCANI, the support of Hillel professionals, and resources provided by ICC member organizations. We look forward to reporting on SCANI’s initial results and seeing the national movement grow and develop in the coming months.