Hear more from students who attended CAMERA on Campus’s International Student Leadership Confe
CAMERA on Campus hosts 13th Annual International Student Leadership Conference
About the Conference
It is not enough to tell students willing to stand for the truth about Israel on campus that they have an international community that supports them.
CAMERA on Campus invests in students, offering them specialized training and opportunities to form strong, enduring relationships through our International Student Leadership Conference in Boston, Massachusetts.
We believe there is considerable power in coming together under one roof.
For three days, CAMERA Fellows and CAMERA on Campus coalition members heard from expert speakers, participated in group discussions, and developed key skills required to navigate the increasingly challenging campus landscape.
Hali Spiegel, North American campus director for CAMERA believes that the campus department has identified a key piece of the puzzle:
“The rise in antisemitism on college campuses is not solely the result of “activism” by detractors; the absence of reliable, fact-based reporting on the Arab-Israeli conflict fuels the disconcerting trend of legitimized Jew-hatred. By equipping the top student leaders on major campuses with essential skills; to research, write, plan events, and debate, we ensure that propaganda on social media, in the classroom, and on the quad will not go unchallenged.”
Read our conference press release for more on our vision to equip and empower the next generation of leaders.
From left to right: Tom Yohay, Aaron Goren, and Walter Holzberg, campus advisors for CAMERA on Campus, strike a pose on the first day of the CAMERA International Student Leadership Conference.
Understanding the Challenges Jewish and Pro-Israel Students Face On Campus
Topics discussed at CAMERA on Campus’s International Student Leadership Conference included the legal rights of students on campus; addressing calls for divestment (BDS) in student government; responding to the apartheid libel; and how to navigate difficult conversations about complex geopolitical issues, domestic policy in Israel and international law.
Several sessions also focused on addressing misinformation and antisemitism on the digital frontlines—namely, social-media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
A recent study conducted by researchers at Brandeis University found “a 41% increase in antisemitic posts, a 912% increase in antisemitic comments and a 1,375% increase in antisemitic usernames” on TikTok between February and May of 2020 and 2021.
Attendees learned effective strategies to use social-media platforms for the greater good, to raise awareness about the problem of antisemitism, and to share accurate information about Israel and the Arab-Israeli conflict.
The challenges students face were also discussed at the conference, as pro-Israel and Zionist students are often silenced, harassed and singled out by anti-Zionist groups on campus.
Read more about the sessions at CAMERA on Campus’s 13th Annual International Student Leadership Conference in an Op-ed published by Adam Gordon, CAMERA senior campus advisor for the New England region.
From Principle to Action
Sabrina Soffer, CAMERA fellow at The George Washington University and fellow conference attendees posted a social media reel utilizing educational resources offered at the International Student Leadership Conference.
If you are interested in educating your peers about Israel on campus, correcting misinformation regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict and strengthening your writing or event planning skills, consider applying for one of CAMERA on Campus’s flagship programs described below:
CAMERA Fellowship
The CAMERA Fellowship is an exclusive one-year program with numerous tracks that cater to the strengths and interests of top-tier student activists. The CAMERA Fellowship application and interview process is highly selective but we encourage all interested students to apply. Our Fellows are leaders on campus, proactively spreading the truth about Israel to fellow students, professors, and campus media. Students from across North America, the UK, and Israel are selected based on their in-depth knowledge of the Arab-Israeli conflict, history of Israel, experience with Israel activism on campus, and portfolio of their published work. Fellows receive a stipend upon completion. Click here to apply for the CAMERA Fellowship.
CAMERA on Campus Coalition
The CAMERA on Campus Coalition provides educational and financial resources for student activists who want to either create a new Israel group on campus or strengthen their existing, but underfunded group. CAMERA on Campus provides guidance and extensive resources to help you build an effective, independent Israel group on campus. Members of the CAMERA on Campus Coalition learn life-long skills in debate, writing, and public speaking, and benefit from close collaboration with CAMERA on Campus staff and CAMERA researchers. Click here to apply to become a member of the CAMERA on Campus Coalition.
Featured from This Is Zionism
“This Is Zionism” is a CAMERA on Campus Instagram project that aims to show the world that Zionists come from diverse backgrounds and have diverse interests. We showcase different Zionists, their stories, their interests, and their beliefs. To be featured in our #ThisIsZionism campaign, please follow this link.
