Official SSI Report March 2015 · 2020. 1. 26. · Official SSI Report – March 2015 ... Ryerson...
Transcript of Official SSI Report March 2015 · 2020. 1. 26. · Official SSI Report – March 2015 ... Ryerson...
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
1
Official SSI Report – March 2015
March 1– March 31
Spring Semester, 2015
Drafted: April 2015
This report was written by the International Board of Students Supporting Israel.
Valeria Chazin- Chairwomen, Board of Directors.
Naor R. Bitton – Advisor, Board of Directors.
Ilan Sinelnikov – President and Founder
Marta Slobodyanyuk – Research Analyst.
Ron Feingold – Communication Director.
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
2
The Report contains the following:
1. Students Supporting Israel March highlights.
2. List of Students Supporting Israel chapters and locations.
3. The Amount of events held by Students Supporting Israel across North
America and amount of students engaged with the events.
4. A summary of activities and events hosted by Students Supporting Israel
Universities and College Campuses.
5. Articles published by or on Students Supporting Israel during the month of
March 2015.
6. Photo Appendix.
March Overview:
Students Supporting Israel was able to grow to 34 chapters across North
America!
From March 1st to March 31st –1,504 Students across North America
took part in Students Supporting Israel events.
Engaging 10,655 students since the beginning of the academic year.
Students Supporting Israel hosted 39 events on college campuses and
Universities in the month of March with overall of 277 events from the
beginning of the academic year.
Students Supporting Israel was able to get 16,149 Facebook Likes
and reach 159,636 people in March. Reaching overall of 1,118,636
profiles since the beginning of the academic year.
All SSI campuses held their Spring Breaks during the Month of
March; Overall activity was reduced due to the break.
Students Supporting Israel, now on
34 campuses across North America and Europe!
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
3
Students Supporting Israel Celebrates its 3 Year Anniversary!
In March 2012, a new organization was registered at the
University of Minnesota - Students Supporting Israel. Now it is
one of the largest Pro Israel campus movements across
North America with 34 chapters in the U.S, Canada and the
U.K.
We want to thank the leaders of SSI that transformed SSI into
an incredible movement. We are growing every day; we
are the largest pro-Israel, grassroots, student movement!
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
4
6 new chapters joined Students Supporting Israel during March!
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
5
Students Supporting Israel in D.C!
78 members of students Supporting Israel representing 24
chapters made their way to Washington D.C in order to
participate at the 2015 AIPAC Policy Conference.
President Ilan Sinelnikov presented SSI at the Israeli American
Council (IAC) – AIPAC event. SSI DePaul President Cameron
Erickson spoke at an AIPAC student activist’s panel and the
SSI President at Texas A&M, Dan Rosenfield, was chosen to
staff the conference.
Students Supporting Israel in D.C!
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
6
SSI DePaul Awarded –
Policy Conference Student Group Activists of the Year for 2014/15!
After hosting dozens of events on campus, building
coalitions and becoming a top grassroots leader on
campus, SSI DePaul was also able to win campaigns that
turned its student government into more pro-Israel. This year
SSI DePaul became one of the strongest pro Israel groups in
the country. AIPAC has recognized the leadership and
activism of the chapter, awarding our amazing student
leaders at SSI DePaul!
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
7
SSI is going overseas!
Students Supporting Israel at Kings College London!
Pro Israel activists face challenges not only across North
America, but overseas as well. After realizing that our
students need help worldwide SSI has come to London!
We are proud to establish our first SSI Chapter in Europe
which will be fully operational with the beginning of the
2015/16 academic year!
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
8
Students Supporting Israel at San Diego State University wins over campus!
SDSU Votes NO
From the beginning of the academic year, anti-Israel groups worked in
order to host a university wide referendum that will call to divest from the
only Jewish State.
The referendum was scheduled for the dates of April 6th – 9th in which 2/3
voting majority and over 10% voting turnout will be needed in order to
pass the anti-Israel legislation.
Outnumbered on campus, and against a coalition of students, student
groups, community organizations and professors- Students Supporting
Israel at SDSU launched the vote NO campaign in order cancel any
possible 2/3 majority vote.
1510 students at SDSU joined the vote NO campaign and were able to
represent 47% of the voters in order to WIN over the SDSU campus!
“I'm incredibly proud knowing that over 1500 students voted against
divestment at SDSU. We were able to educate many students and show
that Divestment is a hateful movement and does not belong on our
campus student community, I thank all of the SSI members at SDSU, the
entire SSI family and the people who supported us in the past months”-
Sarah Katularu, SSI SDSU President.
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
9
Students Supporting Israel leaders meet with Prof. Alan Dershowitz
American lawyer, jurist and author congratulates SSI
for the success of the movement
Representatives of National, Minnesota, Washington, North
Carolina, Loyola Marymount and DePaul met with Prof. Alan
Dershowitz.
Prof. Dershowitz congratulated our SSIers and called on all
of our leaders across the world to "keep doing amazing
things!"
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
10
New National Partnership SSI Partners with Jerusalem U and Hasbara Fellowships
Students Supporting Israel has officially partnered with
Jerusalem online U in order to bring the Beneath the Helmet
movie screening to its chapters. In addition, SSI has
partnered with Hasbara Fellowships in order to host the “I
vote Israel” and “Israel Peace Week” campaigns in a
variety of SSI campuses.
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
11
List of students Supporting Israel campuses:
Campus Events / Meetings
Amount of Students Engaged
Social Media Engagement
Likes
Joined SSI
University of Minnesota
2 48 2,146 March 2012
Indiana University
2 44 741 March 2014
DePaul University 1 11 556 March 2014
Augsburg College 1 16 693 April 2014
University of Kansas 3 204+ 512 April 2014
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
2 132 726 April 2014
San Diego State University
3 55 1,038 July 2014
Texas A&M University 4 131+ 1,023 July 2014
Loyola Marymount University – Los
Angeles
2 47 310 September 2014
University of Georgia Study Abroad
Resolution Progress
639 September 2014
University of Vermont 5 355+ 349 September 2014
Ryerson University 3 282+ 664 July 2014
University of Oregon - - 260 September 2014
University of Washington
- - 271 September 2014
University of Iowa 1 4 213 October 2014
Pace University NYC 1 11 430 October 2014
University of Nebraska – Omaha
1 10 188 October 2014
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
12
Columbia College Chicago
2 60 211 October 2014
University of Huston Victoria
- - 171 November 2014
Georgetown University
- - 173 November 2014
Arizona State University
1 33 275 January 2015
University of Missouri 1 15 186 January 2015
Penn State University 1 14 309 January 2015
Touro College – NYC 1 20 166 January 2015
West Virginia University
Registration Process 117 February 2015
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
Registration Process 273 February 2015
University of Maryland
Registration Process 117 February 2015
Iowa State University Registration Process 162 March 2015
UCLA 1 5 533 March 2015
Nova Southeastern University
Registration Process 103 March 2015
Eastern Michigan University
Registration Process 53 March 2015
Chico State University Registration Process 180 March 2015
Kings College London Registration Process 152 March 2015
NEST+n High School – NYC
1 7 137 December 2015
Totals Chapters:
33+1 Totals
Events / Meetings:
39
Totals Students Engaged:
1,504
Totals:
16,149 Likes
159,636 Outreach
including the national page
2071 Likes - Outreach (70,228)
Totals Academic year (September – March)
277 10,655 (38 students per event)
1,118,164 Outreach
September - March
Pro Israel. Grassroots. Movement.
*Board Meetings Only. *Registration process for the group was set up will be active in the following month.
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
13
Students Supporting Israel spot light events
1. Students Supporting Israel at Ryerson University – CLIC Delegation Tabling,
March 11&12th -
The CLIC delegation consisted of Israeli minorities who came to various
campuses in Canada to speak with and engage students positively with Israel.
SSI Ryerson tabled outside with the delegation and gave out free coffee,
chocolate, and fortune cookies that contained facts about Israel inside. Over
250 students were engaged in both of the tabling days.
2. Students Supporting Israel at Kansas University – Tabling on Campus,
March 3rd –
SSI at KU partnered with KU Hillel and several other students groups on campus
to bring Ari Shavit the author of “My Promised Land” book. Mr. Shavit spoke
about the past, present, and future of Israel and the Middle East analyzing the
different challenges the state and the region have. At the end students were
able to ask question about the views Mr. Shavit holds on different issues and to
what direction he sees Israel is going in the future. Over 100 Students attended
the event.
3. Students Supporting Israel at Illini University – YMCA International
Performance, March 12th –
The Local YMCA hosted an event in which many international groups made
dinner and performances about their country and culture to an audience of
over 100 students. Illini SSI made prepared an Israel table and performance,
baked Israeli Pitta and brought it to the event. The students who attended had
the first hand opportunity to engage with Israel and the different SSI members.
4. Aggie Students Supporting Israel Texas A&M – Israel Today: Community
Event, March 31st -
This was the first-ever SSI community event of its kind in the College Station
community. Guest speakers included Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp,
Congressman Bill Flores, and minor league baseball team owner Uri Geva. The
mayors of both Bryan and College Station were in attendance, as well as the
chairman of the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce. The event was
organized by AIPAC, Texas A&M Hillel and Aggie SSI. Over 100 people including
students attended the event.
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
14
5. Students Supporting Israel Kansas University – Tabling, March 26th –
SSI Kansas with another great tabling event! 93 students were engaged with SSI
KU and its tabling time on campus. SSI members passed out flyers, informed
students about upcoming events and signed dozens for its email list.
6. Students Supporting Israel at the University of Vermont – Laugh in Peace,
March 25th –
Israel is a country that has a lot to offer and SSI Vermont in partnership with UVM
Hillel decided to change the conversation on campus. Rabbi Bob and Mo – an
Arab Muslim who serve as two internationally loved comedians were hosted on
campus. Both, Bob and Mo used their friendship and humor to break boundaries
and spread a message of peace. 56 Students who came to the event had a
chance to engage in conversation, asked questions and get a good laugh
understanding better how people can come closer together.
7. Students Supporting Israel at Loyola Marymount University– Literature in a
Time of Conflict: An Afternoon of Israeli Poetry, March 4th –
SSI at LMU co-sponsored an event with the Jewish Studies Department to host an
afternoon full of Israeli poetry. 3 poets from the United States and Israel spoke
about their work and how it has contributed to the political arena. 40 students,
university staff, and alumni attended the event, and learned more about Israeli
culture, politics and poetry.
8. Students Supporting Israel at Columbia College Chicago – Good Deeds
Day, March17th –
The Jewish United Fund is encouraging all Chicago campus Israel organizations
to participate in Good Deeds Day, as it was started in Israel. SSI Columbia
sponsored a blood drive, as well as a simpler and small more mitzvah-spirited
good deed, such as making a card for a sick child or a donation to an
organization. 40 students attended the events during the day.
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
15
9. Students Supporting Israel at Indiana University – Beneath the Helmet,
March 3rd -
SSU IU has hosted the Jerusalem U's new film, Beneath the Helmet: From High
School to the Home Front movie screening. Beneath the Helmet is a coming of
age story that highlights five young Israeli high school graduates, who are
drafted into the army to defend their country. At the age of 18, away from their
homes, family, and friends these young individuals undergo a demanding
journey, revealing the core of who they are and who they want to be. 39
Students attended the event.
10. Students Supporting Israel at Arizona State University – Meeting with David
Bernstein, March 23th –
David Bernstein, past Executive-Director of The David Project, came to campus
to speak about one of the most controversial discussions of our time:
Settlements. Students from campus and SSI members had the chance to
understand the settlement discussion and gain a grasp the Jewish communities
in Judea and Samaria potential impact on peace. 33 Students attended the
event.
Total Students Attending Top SSI events: 851+
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
16
Students Supporting Israel in the Media:
Five Articles covering SSI activity were published in the month of March. In the
Times of Israel Naor Bitton and Ilan Sinelnikov wrote about the anti-sematic case
in UCLA, 3 days following the article the SSI UCLA chapter was established. The
Huffington Post published an article written by Ron Feingold the Students
Supporting Israel Minnesota chapter President.
A Futile Letter from a University of Minnesota Student to Academic – Ron
Feingold. Huffington Post. March 4, 2015.
At UCLA Anti-Semitism Becomes an Excuse for Anti Zionism – Naor Bitton
and Ilan Sinelnikov. The Times of Israel. March 9, 2015.
New Pro Israel Student Group Shakes Things Up at University of Washington
– The Mike Report. March 11, 2015.
An Alternative to Israel Apartheid Week – Eytan Palte. Atlanta Jewish
Times. March 20, 2015.
Remarkable Diversity of the Pro Israel Community at DePaul – Cameron
Erickson. The DePaulia. March 22, 2015.
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
17
Students Supporting Israel Photo Appendix:
SSI Augsburg Krav Maga SSI UCLA Chapter Establsiehd!
SSI San Diego State Universiy National Campus Leaders!
SSI Washington visiting elementry school kids SSI Kansas Tabling
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
18
SSI Indiana SSI Vermont
SSI Penn State – Coalition Bulding SSI Missouri Co Presidents
SSI Texas A&M with SSI Minnesota with Senator
Representative Bill Flores Texas (R) Amy Klobuchar Minnesota (D)
© Students Supporting Israel – International Student Movement
19
SSI Touro College SSI Nebraska Foudners
SSI Pace & Arizona at SSI West Virginia With
The White House Senator Shelley Moore WV (R)
Members of SSI National, Minnesota, Georgia, and Pace University, with the Israeli General Consul
to the Midwest, Honorable Mr. Roey Gilad - at Washington D.C.