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ICC Encourages Universities to "Let Our Students Go!" to Israel
September 21, 2004Comments (0) | Add | E-mail this to a friend
The Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC) and its member organizations brought together top community leaders, Jewish students, alumni and representatives of Israeli universities in New York recently to launch "Let Our Students Go!," a new initiative designed to encourage American students to study abroad in Israel.
"Students who study abroad in Israel represent one of the greatest assets of the pro-Israel community on campus. Only through a coordinated national initiative will we be able to effectively call on universities and communities to 'Let Our Students Go!,'" said Lisa Eisen, the ICC steering committee chair.
Since its peak in 2000, the number of American students studying abroad in Israel has decreased significantly. While some universities have continued to actively encourage students to fulfill their overseas studies requirements at one of Israel's world-renowned universities, others have created obstacles that have impeded or, at times, prevented students their desire to study in Israel.
By working with students and universities alike, "Let Our Students Go!" aims to promote interest in Israel study-abroad programs and ensure the opportunity exists at every university. The ICC member organizations also signed a joint declaration stating their "commitment to work together to eliminate all barriers for students desiring to study in Israel" and to "continue to prioritize our individual and collective efforts to foster a pro-Israel atmosphere on campus."
Within three years, the ICC aims to help return the Israel study-abroad participation to the pre-intifada level of 4,000 students per year, and within five years, to reach the unprecedented level of 6,000 students.
For more information, contact ICC Associate Director Aaron Goldberg or read a recent Jewish Telegraphic Agency article on the initiative.
The Israel on Campus Coalition is a partnership of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, in cooperation with a network of nearly 30 national organizations committed to promoting Israel education and advocacy on university campuses across North America.
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