Students Supporting Israel International Student Movement

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

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
beginning of the academic year.

events from the

Students Supporting Israel was able to get 16,149

and reach 159,636 people in March.

Facebook Likes
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!

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 Students Supporting Israel International Student Movement

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

6 new chapters joined Students Supporting

Israel during March!

 Students Supporting Israel International Student Movement

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 activists 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

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

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

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 monthsSarah Katularu, SSI SDSU President.

 Students Supporting Israel International Student Movement

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

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.

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 Students Supporting Israel International Student Movement

List of students Supporting Israel campuses:

Campus

Events / Amount of Social Media Joined SSI

Meetings Students Engagement
Engaged
Likes

University of
Minnesota
Indiana University

48

2,146

March 2012

44

741

March 2014

DePaul University

11

556

March 2014

Augsburg College

16

693

April 2014

University of Kansas

204+

512

April 2014

University of Illinois
Urbana Champaign

132

726

April 2014

San Diego State

University

55

1,038

July 2014

Texas A&M University

131+

1,023

July 2014

Loyola Marymount
University Los
Angeles
University of Georgia

47

310

September
2014

Resolution
Progress
355+

639

University of Vermont

Study
Abroad
5

Ryerson University

282+

664

September
2014
September
2014
July 2014

University of Oregon

260

University of
Washington
University of Iowa

271

213

September
2014
September
2014
October 2014

Pace University NYC

11

430

October 2014

University of
Nebraska Omaha

10

188

October 2014

349

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 Students Supporting Israel International Student Movement

Columbia College
Chicago
University of Huston
Victoria
Georgetown
University
Arizona State
University
University of Missouri

60

211

October 2014

171

173

33

275

November
2014
November
2014
January 2015

15

186

January 2015

Penn State University

14

309

January 2015

Touro College NYC

20

166

January 2015

West Virginia
University
University of North
Carolina - Charlotte
University of
Maryland
Iowa State University

Registration

Process

117

February 2015

Registration

Process

273

February 2015

Registration

Process

117

February 2015

Registration

Process

162

March 2015

UCLA

533

March 2015

Nova Southeastern
University
Eastern Michigan
University
Chico State University

Registration

Process

103

March 2015

Registration

Process

53

March 2015

Registration

Process

180

March 2015

Kings College London

Registration

Process

152

March 2015

NEST+n High School

NYC
Totals Chapters:

137

Totals
Events /
Meetings:

Totals
Students
Engaged:

Totals:

16,149

39

1,504

159,636

December
2015
including the
national page
2071 Likes Outreach
(70,228)

33+1

Likes
Outreach

Totals Academic year

(September March)

277

10,655

1,118,164

(38 students
per event)

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.
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 Students Supporting Israel International Student Movement

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.
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 Students Supporting Israel International Student Movement

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.

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 Students Supporting Israel International Student Movement

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+

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 Students Supporting Israel International Student Movement

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.

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 Students Supporting Israel International Student Movement

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

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 Students Supporting Israel International Student Movement

SSI Indiana

SSI Penn State Coalition Bulding

SSI Texas A&M with

Representative Bill Flores Texas (R)

SSI Vermont

SSI Missouri Co Presidents

SSI Minnesota with Senator

Amy Klobuchar Minnesota (D)

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 Students Supporting Israel International Student Movement

SSI Touro College

SSI Pace & Arizona at

The White House

SSI Nebraska Foudners

SSI West Virginia With

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.
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