Students Supporting Israel

October 1st October 31st

Fall 2014 Report
Prepared: October 2014.

This report was prepared by the International Students Supporting Israel Board
members:

Valeria Chazin President and Co-Founder

Ilan Sinelnikov CEO and Co-Founder
Naor Bitton International Advisor
Marta Slobodyanyuk Campus Director
Ron Feingold Public Relations and Journalism Officer

The Report contains the following:

1. List of Students Supporting Israel chapters and locations.
2. A summary of activities and events hosted by Students supporting
Israel Universities and College Campuses.
3. Amount of events and students which were engaged with Israel
activity across North America including the United States and
Canada.
4. Articles published by or on Students Supporting Israel during the
month of September.
5. Photo Appendix.
Overview:

Students Supporting Israel was able to grow from 16 chapters to 22

chapters with the joining of 6 new college campuses and
Universities.
From October 1st to October 31st 1859 Students across North
America took part in Students Supporting Israel events.
Students Supporting Israel hosted 50 events on college campuses
and Universities.
Students Supporting Israel was able to get 9705 Facebook Likes and
reach an average of 43,391 people a week on social media.
7 articles covered the activity of Students Supporting Israel in the
Media.
SSI OVERTURNED the decision of Augsburg College Student
Government and registered the Augsburg chapter with the school.

List of students Supporting Israel campuses:

Campus

Amount of
Events

Amount of
Students
Engaged
365

Social Media
Engagement
Likes
(Outreach)
2031(17194)

University of Minnesota

DePaul University

March 2012

164

366 (13443)

March 2014

Indiana University

251

586 (8963)

March 2014

Augsburg College

124

615 (4828)

April 2014

University of Kansas

29

338 (8113)

April 2014

University of Illinois
Urbana Champaign

252

551 (13541)

April 2014

University of North
Carolina
San Diego State
University

691 (4360)

May 2014

125

817 (6000+)

July 2014

53

611 (8036)

July 2014

Texas A&M University

Joined SSI

Loyola Marymount
University Los Angeles

187 (1500+)

September
2014

University of Georgia

23

270 (7408)

University of Vermont

168

224 (7604)

Ryerson University Canada

107

562 (6086)

September
2014
September
2014
July 2014

New Mexico Military

Institute

104

174 (4792)

August 2014

University of Oregon

25

184 (6720)

University of
Washington
Saint Marys University
Minnesota
University of Iowa

12

57

14
(Unpublished)
74 (8168)

September
2014
September
2014
October 2014

Joined

Joined

109 (7931)

October 2014

Pace University NYC

Joined

Joined

146 (8094)

October 2014

Ball State University

Joined

Joined

63 (3751)

October 2014

Joined

Joined

120 (1509)

October 2014

Joined

Joined

55 (486)

October 2014

University of Nebraska
Columbia College
Chicago
Totals Chapters: 22

Totals
Events /
Meetings:
50

Totals Students
Engaged:
1859

Totals:
9,705
Likes
180,872
Outreach

(including the
national page
917 Likes Outreach
(32372)

2. Students Supporting Israel top September events:

I.

Students Supporting Israel at the University of Minnesota

Candles for Peace October 8th.
At an event co-sponsored with Hillel, AEPI and Sigma Alpha Mu. Four
major Jewish organizations on campus got together in order to light
candles for peace at the University of Minnesota. Over 250 students
stopped by to light a candle and were engaged at the event.
University President Eric W. Kaler was the honorable guest and
lightening the first candle of the event. For the first time SSI cooperated with Greek organizations on campus.
II.

Students Supporting Israel at Indiana University The Smart

Bomber Tabling and event October 20th October 22nd
Terrorist expert Dr. Anat Barko came to the University at an event
hosted by SSI Indiana and sponsored with CAMERA, University
Psychology Club and six campus departments. Two days before the
event SSI Indiana tabled and passed flyers along on campus engaging
approximately 170 Students. And 58 Students attended the event
which was also covered by the campus newspaper.
Students Supporting Israel at the New Mexico Military Institute
The Smart Bomber lecture October 25th
The New Mexico Military Institute SSI chapter hosted Terrorist expert Dr.
Anat Barko with an event that was sponsored with CAMERA. 81 U.S
Army Cadets attended the mandatory lecture at the institute in
addition to 23 community members who showed up. The cadets at the
institute had the chance to hear first-hand terrorist expert and gain
knowledge about suicide bombers.
III.

IV.

Students Supporting Israel at the University of Vermont Neil

Lazarus Lecture SSI Vermont hosted Neil Lazarus for a lecture on political updates and
about what is happening now in the Middle East and its relations to
Israel. 72 Students showed up for the lecture and were engaged in an
informal conversation.
V.

Students Supporting Israel at Augsburg College- TablingOctober 2nd

Starting off strong at the beginning of the month after overcoming
battles and officially becoming a student group on campus. They
engaged over 70+ students and made new interactions with their
student body.

VI.

Students Supporting Israel at San Diego State University Give

peace a hand October 28th
The creative chapter at SDSU came up with the idea of tabling and
having people dip their hands into paint and then pressing them onto
paper board to unite the campus body. This was an initiative to get all
students with all different background to give peace a hand. They
engaged over 50 students and definitely had some colorful fun!
VII.

Students Supporting Israel at Ryerson University Ezra Lavent

from Sun News Reporter October 2nd
SSI Ryerson hosted Mr. Lavent that is a sun news reporter. Mr. Lavent
spoke about the BDS movement and about how Jewish students need
to get more involved on campus. He also spoke about the bias that is
happening towards Israel in the news and on college campuses. The
Ryeronian University newspaper in four different articles covered the
event. Over 46 students from different backgrounds attended this
amazing first speaker event on campus.
VIII.

Students Supporting Israel at the University of Minnesota Bentzi

Gruber October 20th
Bentzi Gruber, a former IDF commander & sergeant came to speak
about ethics in the field. During his presentation, we were reminded
that the IDF is the most ethical army to ever exist and he explained
how they maintained this outlook even though they have so many
forces against them. 57 students came to listen to what the intelligent
Mr. Gruber had to say.
IX.

Students Supporting Israel at Depaul University Solidarity Soiree

October 20th
Depaul had students join them for an exciting dinner of Israeli food with
speakers from both the College Democrats and College
Republicans. The speakers talked about why a close US-Israel
relationship is important to the country, Depaul as college students and
how its important to them individually. There was a very diverse group
of speakers as well as 40 attendees. To close out the night, the Israeli
Consul General, Roey Gilad, spoke to the students about the
importance of Israel as well.
Illini Students Supporting Israel Less Hamas More Hummus
October 21st
The Illini students had a great event with the presence of brilliant
speaker Dr. Anat Berko sponsored with CAMERA. She spoke to the
students about the minds of terrorists as well as the SSI group promoted
peace by having a plethora of hummus and pitas. The attendance of
X.

36 students was present and it was a successful night with a positive

and intelligent message.
Total Students Engaged during SSIs Top 10 Events: 900+.
CURRENT EVENT UPDATE VICTORY:
This month Students Supporting Israel at Augsburg College had to battle
adversity with becoming an official chartered student group on campus.
At first, SSI Augsburg was denied chartering because they were named a
hate group that supports unjust case for Israel. After the students of
this group were discriminated, SSI International took action to protect and
defend these students. SSI at the University of Minnesota took the initiative
to host their event in solidarity with the Augsburg students. 63 students
attended this united event and this caused for some word around
campus. Many journalists attended this event to cover the situation at
Augsburg. Students also began contacting the administration at
Augsburg College. After a strong push from the unity of SSI over the state
of Minnesota, the Administration overturned the student government
decision calling it incorrect and Students Supporting Israel at Augsburg
College had a victory of becoming an official charted student group on
campus! We are very proud to see the strength that the pro-Israel
community is able to overcome.

3. Articles published by Students Supporting Israel

I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.

Die-In protests fuel the fire - The Daily Aztec. October 16, 2014.
Investigation Overturns Student Government Chartering Decision By Riley Hunter & Staff Writer. The Echo (PDF File, Front page).
October 10, 2014.
Gaza conflict extends Divest debate at DePaul - By Brenden Moore
& Matthew Paras. The DePaulia. October 5, 2014.
Ezra-Levant Speaks on Campus - By Jake Scott. The Ryersonian.
October 3rd, 2014.
JCRC applauds Augsburg Colleges's decision to recognize SSI as a
chartered student organization - By Jewish Community Relations
Council. October 3, 2014.
Pro-Israel Group Rejected by Augsburg College - By Casey Harper.
The Washington Free Beacon. October 2, 2014.
Augsburg College Rejects Campus Israel Group - By Bradley
Machov - TC Jew Folk. September 30, 2014
Total: 7 Articles and Blogs.
New Students Supporting Israel chapters opened in October:

Photo Appendix:

Students Supporting Israel Regional Hangouts

SSI New Mexico Military Institute

University of Minnesota President

Erik W. Kaler at SSI UMN event

Bentzi Gruber at SSI UMN

SSI Indiana at their largest event of the year

SSI SDSU at Give Peace a hand

SSI SDSU full house

SSI at the University of Illini Urbana at another full house event

SSI at DePaul University hosting Israels Consul General to the Midwest

SSI Vermont always smiling

SSI Ryerson Canada