ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, SCIENTISTS, AND THINKERS.
for college students by college students
Lawrence Technological University
isn’t for just anyone. We want
the future designers, engineers,
scientists, and entrepreneurs
who will create the
innovations of tomorrow.
Developing Skills
Israel advocacy fellowship offers support
and training for student leaders.
Academic Summer Camps!
Experience the fun of college
life and make new friends.
Check out LTU’s summer camps
for high school sophomores,
juniors, and seniors.
David Solomon } jewish@edu writer
Register now at
www.ltu.edu/summercamps.
admissions@ltu.edu
800.225.5588
Southfield, Michigan
LTU ranks fifth among
U.S. colleges and universities
for boosting graduates’
earning power.
– Brookings Institution
Architecture and Design
Arts and Sciences
Engineering
Management
David Solomon, left, speaks with Linda Scherzer,
journalist, former Middle East correspondent
and Israeli TV reporter.
Possible is everything.
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Opportunity knocks. Research, internships, study abroad, and service
learning are built into nearly all of Grand Valley’s 200+ areas of study.
These, along with our liberal education foundation that fosters critical
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44 February 18 • 2016
s college students, we are taught
our experiences inside the univer-
sity prepare us for the real world.
The information we learn in class enhances
our critical thinking. Student clubs build
future leaders. We live in a society where any
reasonable goal is attainable through educa-
tion. One such example is through advocacy,
in particular, Israel advocacy on campus.
Over the summer, I was chosen by Hillel
of Metro Detroit (HMD) to represent HMD
and the University of Michigan-Dearborn
at the Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC)’s
Grinspoon-Morningstar Fellowship. ICC’s
goal is to strengthen the pro-Israel move-
ment on campuses across the country. In
doing so, ICC conducts research on anti-Isra-
el activity, educates college students on how
to combat negative propaganda and leads
conferences in Washington, D.C., to raise
awareness on the importance of Israel.
As one of 50 fellows from around the
country, and the only fellow from Michigan,
I was recently exposed to speakers all across
the political spectrum who educated us on
how to effectively approach Israel’s detrac-
tors. As a rule, ICC presents Israel advocacy
as a bipartisan issue. Recognizing that each
campus is different, Grinspoon-Morningstar
fellows are educated on effective approaches
to counter anti-Israel propaganda.
The fellowship begins with a national
training conference in Washington, D.C.
While there, I met with students from around
the country who are passionate about Israel.
These students are leaders of campus Hillels,
fraternities and sororities, activists and advo-
cates, Democrats and Republicans, Jews and
gentiles. We were united as supporters of
Israel, yet each had different experiences and
tactics in raising awareness.
A
I remember one student recalling an
incident of anti-Semitism on her campus.
Wearing a Jewish star should not instigate
conflict; however, we live in a society where
people hate us for supporting Israel. The
strongest asset of ICC is that we network
and share our ideas of what works.
In one seminar from a journalist
who writes for a national media outlet,
Grinspoon-Morningstar fellows learned
how to write an effective op-ed letter. In
this particular session, emphasis was placed
on writing to those who don’t have a firm
opinion on Israel. Learning about op-eds,
ICC showed me that, even if student groups
prevent divestment from Israel, a doubt in
Israel’s ethical behavior still remains in the
minds of our peers. If the pro-Israel move-
ment is to be successful, then a positive
image is vital.
This semester, I know I am not alone in
the pro-Israel debate. Working alongside
Hillel of Metro Detroit, I will have support
both from students and faculty. With ICC
and HMD supporting me, I plan to host
several programs focusing on dialogue and
highlighting Israel’s many contributions to
the world. All over the country, students
are rallying behind Israel and defending its
right to exist. Our universities each bring
unique qualities to the pro-Israel movement.
Grinspoon-Morningstar fellows are the lead-
ers in promoting a positive image of Israel
while countering false accusations placed
against it. @
David Solomon of West Bloomfield is a senior
at University of Michigan-Dearborn, the past
president of the UM-Dearborn Jewish Student
Organization and active member of Hillel of
Metro Detroit.