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CUFI Response to Anti-Semitism at UGA

At the University of Georgia this week, Christians United for Israel students put their training into practice. Last Thursday the independent student newspaper The Red and Black published an editorial cartoon about the Arab-Israeli conflict with blatant anti-Semitic overtones. In cooperation with the Jewish Community, CUFI-UGA members drafted a strong letter condemning the anti-Semitism in the cartoon and calling for a retraction. This letter, signed by the heads of eight different Jewish and Christian organizations representing thousands of students was published prominently the next day and sparked debate and a closer examination of the cartoon. On Monday, the newspaper published an apology and the event was the impetus for a meeting this week of 25 diverse student groups examining the issue and looking how to foster more diversity and tolerance on campus.

Unfortunately, something like this is not unique to UGA. Anti-Semitic cartoons, biased news articles and opinion pieces full of myths are the staple on many college campuses across America. Israel’s enemies are waging a war to delegitimize Israel and its right to defend itself. College Campuses are the frontlines of this struggle. As student advocates for Israel and a strong U.S. – Israel relationship, we need to be prepared to respond to any accusation.

Four steps to become prepared:

Be INFORMED: One of the best resources to keep up with the news affecting Israel is CUFI’s Daily Alert. This free service provides a summary of the major news affecting Israel and the Middle East. To sign up, visitwww.cufi.org/dailyalert.  In addition to this, check out the CUFI on Campus blog and reading list for great texts exploring the history of Israel and Jewish/ Christian relations.

Be AWARE: Keep an eye on the campus newspaper, the University’s master calendar, and blogs by professors and students. I’d also create a Google news alerts (alerts.google.com) for your campus on issues affecting Israel.

Be TRAINED: Plan to attend the CUFI National Summit in Washington DC this coming July. The speakers and advocacy training at summit will prepare you for many of the common myths perpetuated on campus. To apply for a student scholarship, go to www.cufi.org/scholarship. You can always contact CUFI on Campus for additional training and support on specific issues.

Be CONNECTED: Connect with the Jewish Community, Student Government and leaders of other campus groups. Invite these leaders for a cup of coffee or lunch and explain what CUFI on Campus is, and what you and your pro-Israel group are trying to do on your campus. Build relationships and support what they are doing. You never know when you’ll need those connections.

One thing I’ve learned is that CUFI on Campus staff is available at a moment’s notice to help students respond to attacks on their campus. If you have questions about an issue, need help drafting a letter to the editor or need help reaching out to the community, contact CUFI on Campus at cufioncampus@cufi.org.

The battle to delegitimize Israel is taking place on every college campus in America. As a CUFI on Campus advocate, you can play a large part in shaping and changing the face of this debate.
Greg Wilson

CUFI on Campus Liaison, University of Georgia
Director, CUFI on Campus Georgia

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