Editor's Letter

Marc

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No Ordinary Fellow

D

aniel Kuhn is the new fellow on campus when it
comes to advocating for Israel at Michigan State
University. And he's a great choice.
Los Angeles-based StandWithUs — a nonprofit, interna-
tional Israel education organization — has designated the
senior from West Bloomfield an Emerson Fellow for the 2008-
2009 school year.
Embarking on its second year, the
fellowship program selects and trains
students from U.S. and Canadian cam-
puses to run events that teach about
Israel — and to collectively carve their
niche as the next generation of cam-
pus leadership.
I learned about the intriguing pro-
gram through a formal press release.
But I learned a lot more about it
through an e-mail conversation with
Kuhn, 21, a graduate of Hillel Day
School of Metropolitan Detroit and West Bloomfield High
School.
Fellows share a common goal: deploy their energy to drive
and inspire their peers, friends and colleagues to run effective
pro-Israel events on campus. They form a network of pro-
Israel student leaders across America and Canada.
The Emerson 38 passed intensive screening; StandWithUs
is known for doing its legwork. Fellows were chosen from
among 100 applicants. Selection criteria included knack for
leadership and passion for the work as well as regional and
campus climate.
Fellows receive a stipend through funding from California-
based philanthropists Rita and Steve Emerson.

enhancing the takeaway from all Israel events on campus.
"MSU has always been a place where a Jew and a Zionist
can feel very comfortable he said. "And every year, more and
more Jews are attending MSU from around the country, help-
ing to make our community here stronger."

Priming The Pump
The Emerson 38 settled in at an August orientation held in
L.A. They absorbed skills and facts to help present Israel's
image and combat anti-Israel rhetoric.
Back on campus, Fellows also will pass out Campus Post, a
new, monthly pro-Israel newspaper produced by StandWithUs
and the Jerusalem Post. The content will include anti-Israel
diatribes on campus and how students respond to it.
The Emerson Fellows seek traction at an opportune time.
Anti-Zionism continues to reverberate on campus. Pro-
Palestinian forces too often seem better prepared and aggres-
sive than Zionist brigades. MSU has more than 2,000 Jewish
students, including the largest Jewish student base from
Oakland County in the state.
Israel supporters at MSU include non-Jews. This Zionist
legion is among the most engaged on U.S. campuses.
"We chose campuses with particular anti-Israel sentiment
and the Fellows are our eyes and ears on the ground:' said
Ron Kutas, Emerson Fellowship director. "They can best artic-
ulate their needs and work with StandWithUs to formulate an
optimal response!'

Digging In
Kuhn has done his homework.
"It is college when young people are challenged to find out
who they are and what they believe in;' he said.
"It seems a cliche, but the people sitting next to
No Personal Gain
you in class will be running the country soon,
Kuhn applied to become a fellow because he
and if we are able to teach them about Israel,
cares about our ancestral homeland. He has been
to give them a better understanding of why
to Israel at least five times, including this sum-
so many are so passionate about it, it will only
mer when he wrote for the Jerusalem Post. Last
bring good things in the future."
summer, he volunteered in Sderot fixing homes
MSU is not a hotbed of political tension. But it
ravaged by Palestinian missiles. He spent his
is a hotbed of political debate. That's fine so long
freshman year in Israel as part of Young Judaea's
as Israel proponents are as adept as the other
Year Course study. He was regional president of
side. In his capacity as an Emerson Fellow, Kuhn
Central States Young Judaea during his last two
will help assure that.
Daniel Kuhn
years of high school.
As he put it, "We're able to have a healthy
"Teaching about Israel — about its people,
cultural exchange, an exchange of ideas, to both
its culture and its beauty — is a way of expressing myself
learn about others and teach about who we are. It's important
because it is such a big part of who I am;' Kuhn told the IN
for students to understand what Israel is all about and what it
last week. "I am an Israel advocate in everything I do!'
contributes to the world every day."
Kuhn teaches about Israel in his Arabic class by wearing
It sure is.
shirts with Hebrew slogans, inviting classmates over for Israeli
Just last week, the Jerusalem-based Palestinian Media
pastries and showing pictures from his travels to the Jewish
Watch reported that Palestinians kids watching a children's
state.
quiz broadcast on Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority
"Some days:' he said, "I'm a walking 'Did You Know' poster,
television were taught to see a world in which the state of
telling people all kinds of cool things in casual conversation!'
"Palestine" existed in place of Israel.
Kuhn's major is international relations. He has served on
It's hard to believe the Palestinians really want peace. ❑
the boards of Hillel and Student Government during his years
in East Lansing. He vows to use the contacts he has made
0 • What do Emerson Fellowships say about
through those experiences to advantage in his new role.
CC •
In La Jewish campus life?
"I plan to ensure that Israel-related activities on campus are
ca
Z z Why do pro-Palestinian students always
the most visible and dynamic they have been: he declared.
3 0 seem more organized?
MSU's fourth annual Israel Fest is coming up Sept. 17 at
a. 0
the MSU Union. But Kuhn intends to ramp up advocacy by

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September 11 • 2008

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