This week’s campus celeb, Hilary Miller, is making moves her freshman year. Considering the average collegiate probably joins two or three clubs randomly throughout their college careers, the fact that Hilary managed to found one as a freshman is a boss move if you ask me. Hilary (being the #celeb that she is) kindly took time out of her busy schedule to chat with me about her club, Student Alliance for Israel.
Tell me about Student Alliance for Israel (SAFI).
The Student Alliance for Israel is an inclusive organization that celebrates Israel’s accomplishments and acknowledges the complexities of the conflict. We strive to communicate a pro-Israel message through education and advocacy. As an education-based org, SAFI welcomes all views and opinions of Israel. We work to deliver a pro-Israel message by making Israel relevant to all groups and individuals on campus. What is most unique about SAFI, is that we do not try to force a particular opinion or idea about Israel. As an established pro-Israel org, we find it more productive to create conversations about Israel, so that students can learn from one another.
What inspired you to start this club?
I was inspired to start this club because I saw a need to elevate Israel education on campus. As someone who loves to learn, I felt it was necessary that we provide an established organization to students on campus who are eager to learn more about various topics relating to Israel. By educating the campus through SAFI, my hope is that more students can relate to Israel’s unique multi-faceted society, and negate bias claims from the media and other sources.
Do you have any big goals that you are hoping to accomplish by the end of the semester?
As a new org, we have already done so much! Our kickoff event welcomed 35 students from across campus, and we had lots of falafel and chocolates! We have a weekly newsletter that comes out every Tuesday. Two weeks ago, we created our Ambassadorship Network, which is a leadership team comprised of 13 students who are eager to get more involved with Israel advocacy on campus. Additionally, I am teaching a six-session course called the Israel Education Project (IEP). Every other Sunday from 4:30-6:00 at the Red Gym, I facilitate a discussion for 20 students about various topics about Israel. IEP is very true to our mission; it is a forum for discussion that allows students to express their opinions in an open environment. One of our IEP students recently designed our logo, which you can check out on our Facebook page! This is our email too: madisonsafi@gmail.com.
Do you have any big events coming up on campus?
For now, a speaker and end of the year send off is in the work (nothing official yet). However, we are cosponsoring an event with badgers for Israel called “Yom HaFAC”. It is on April 8th from 1-3 at Hillel and is our campus’ annual Israel Independence celebration. As many as 300 students come through the festival that day! We will be contributing educational programs to the event that we are very excited for!
Also, on Friday, March 11th we will be representing Israel at the AISEC Global Fair. We are honored to be partnering with AISEC, and honored to be having a booth on all things relating to Israel.
How can others get involved?
We encourage anyone who wants to get involved to contact us. Anybody who is passionate about Israel education or advocacy, anybody who wants to learn more about Israel should feel inclined to shoot us an email or reach out! We are always looking for student leadership and innovative ways to spread our message across campus.
What is the most important thing you have learned thus far about being president of a club? What is your favorite thing about this leadership role?
I have learned that when you take on a major leadership role for anything, it is important to have conviction. I am proud to advocate for and educate about Israel, as these activities impassion me for a multitude of reasons. I also understand the importance of validating others. It is so important to remind all people involved with SAFI that they are contributing and helping to better our org. What I love about this leadership role is not the position itself but being the face of an org I believe in. I look forward to our events, our newsletters coming out, our board meetings, and meeting our student ambassadors because it gives me a chance to learn more about Israel and the way others connect to Israel. Being a President and Co-Founder of SAFI has kept me grounded in my beliefs and has provided me a place where I feel I am contributing to a greater cause of Israel advocacy.