Florida State University (FSU) sophomore Angelina Khoja has felt called to a greater purpose for a long time. They found a piece of this purpose in their idea and creation of the Rosenstrasse Foundation, a club with several chapters around the Southern United States, intended to promote education and remembrance of the Rosenstrasse Protests in 1943.
Her Campus (HC): Who or what were your influences growing up, and how did they influence your creation of the club?
Angelina Khoja (AK): My sister, Amberina, was a significant influence on me personally and one that impacted the club’s creation. When we were kids, even though she was younger, she always fought on my side. When I moved away to attend FSU, she was the first to know about the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) project that eventually led to the club’s creation and has remained my biggest supporter. She is someone I can constantly bounce ideas off.
HC: What inspired your decision to attend FSU and pursue your major? We talked a little earlier about the club you founded and the major you chose being complete opposites.
AK: I chose FSU to move away from Miami and find independence. Having lived in Miami my entire life, this has been an experience where I have been able to find myself. As far as my major, I come from a family of nurses. It was a natural progression, but I also volunteered in the hospital growing up and have always been close to my younger siblings, which has fostered a passion for caregiving.
HC: Finally, what we’re all anticipating, tell me about the club you started.
AK: The club is dedicated to the Rosenstrasse Protests in 1943 in Berlin, Germany. The protests involved women married to Jewish men captured in the Holocaust, calling for the safe return of their partners. The demonstrations were peaceful, and after seven days, the protests succeeded, and the men were released. The Rosenstrasse Protests were one of the only incidents of mass protest during the Holocaust, which makes it so important to history and emphasizes the power of public protest.
HC: What’s your current role in the Foundation?
AK: I am Secretary and Marketing Director. I oversee the website and social media, making graphics and posts. I also work with the President of the University of Florida (UF) chapter, Emma, to help UF start its chapter. At UF, I am also that chapter’s Genealogy and Biology lead.
HC: Slay. When and where was the original club chapter founded?
AK: I started the club in Fall 2021 as a UROP student and stuck around in Spring 2022 to build it further. My UROP project explored this event, and then last year, I decided to register it as a Registered Student Organization (RSO). At that time, I served as one of the board members, fostering the club into what is now the Rosenstrasse Foundation.
HC: Why did you start this club instead of something more aligned with your nursing major and future career?
AK: In high school, I took part in the Holocaust class and completed a project called “Names Not Numbers.” In completing this project, we were privileged enough to meet Holocaust survivors. I also participated in the recording of the video for a local Miami news station. I think the video is still up on YouTube. Someday, I hope to get my high school involved in the club. I have always been passionate about the Holocaust and general history. After coming to FSU, I thought it’s best to work on something non-nursing related to broaden my horizons. This club can relate to my nursing major as I am a part of our genealogy department, which is an excellent development for the forensic nursing I hope to do.
HC: Is there anything you want FSU students or Her Campus readers to know about the Rosenstrasse Foundation?
AK: I know many people will see this club as research-heavy, and it is. But it is also so much more. There are several areas students can work in, an excellent opportunity to make connections with peers and professors, and potential travel opportunities in the future. We update students on our general body meetings via social media, so please check us out!
The Rosenstrasse Foundation can be found online where their social media handles are also listed. Khoja can be found on Instagram and Twitter and can be reached out through email at ak21bg@fsu.edu.
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