OTTAWA — Student groups on the Carleton University campus have been battling for the hearts and minds of their fellow students, trying to gain support for their own perspective on the situation in Gaza.
When Israel went to war in Gaza recently in an attempt to stop the
rockets repeatedly launched by Hamas at Israeli towns near the Gaza
Strip, student groups representing the Israeli or Palestinian sides promoted their views at tables set up in the Carleton University atrium, as well as by organizing events on and off campus.
When Israel went to war in Gaza recently in an attempt to stop the rockets repeatedly launched by Hamas at Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip, student groups representing the Israeli or Palestinian sides promoted their views at tables set up in the Carleton University atrium, as well as by organizing events on and off campus.
Ariella Kimmel, the vice-president, external, for the Canadian Federation of Jewish Students, said the Israel Awareness Committee doesn’t often have tables, but thought it was important in this situation.
“We want students to know that there are two sides to this story, and not everything is as black and white as the media shows you,” Kimmel said.
“We’re trying to show an Israeli perspective on campus, where an Israeli perspective is usually not seen or [is] generally ignored.”
She said she has seen a bias against Israel in the classroom.
Alex Baker, a member of Students Against Israeli Apartheid, said he and his group try to promote a boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel.
“We’re basically trying to economically isolate Israel until it complies with UN law and international law,” he said.
Baker said one of their goals is to urge students to put pressure on legislative offices to take a stand to support the Palestinians.
Both sides used their table to promote their ideas, as well as to advertise upcoming events.
While Baker described most visiting students as “overwhelmingly supportive,” Kimmel said she found most to be seeking a debate.
Carlos Chacón, the vice-president of internal affairs for the Carleton University Students Association, stayed near the atrium as a precaution in case any of the debates got out of hand.
“I’m not really worried about the individuals in each group, I’m more worried about the reaction that the student body will take,” he said, “and I just don’t want somebody to start yelling at either group.”
He said he had to break up some of the more heated exchanges, for example when a large group of students crowded around the Israel Awareness Committee’s table. He told them they were free to debate, as long as they maintained a safe atmosphere.
Kimmel said she supports the presence of the students’ association.
“I think that it’s important that the student government keeps an eye on it,” she said. “You never want a situation where students on either side are feeling intimidated or unsafe.”
