Spring Break
Delegation traveling to Middle East over Feb. break
by Ruth Orbach
Staff writer
News | 1/29/08
Posted online at 3:13 AM EST on 1/29/08
/ Last updated at 7:17 PM EST on 1/29/08
A student-organized trip to the Palestinian territories-primarily funded by former President Jimmy Carter's 2002 Nobel Peace Prize Fund- will take place during February break, said Justin Kang '09, one of the trip's organizers.
Rising to the challenge set forth by former President Jimmy Carter in his speech at Brandeis last January, the students will travel to the West Bank and Israel in an attempt to have a diverse experience and make connections, Kang said.
From the $30,000 budget for the trip, $28,500 is being provided by Carter's fund for cameras and books to be used on the trip, among other supplies, and an additional $1,000 came from the Peace Awards, Kang said. The Peace Awards are given annually to people who wish to work toward coexistence and peaceful ways of addressing and resolving conflicts of many sorts, according to the Brandeis Web site. The money allows for 11 delegates to travel a full and dynamic itinerary, he said. "There were no stipulations; we had full control of the itinerary to make it open," Kang said.
"We all greatly enjoy being Brandeis students, and it is because of the ideals at Brandeis that we can go on these delegations," Kang said.
In light of the sensitive and expensive nature of the trip, the application and selection process was rigorous, Kang said. The organization came up with ideas for the focus of the trip and settled on "diversity."
Twenty members from the Students Crossing Boundaries group, founded by Kang, were on the planning committee for the trip. The goal was to "create a committee and delegation of diverse personalities, experiences and backgrounds," according to Kang.
SCB is composed of student leaders who have joined to empower each other, as well as other students, to explore the realities of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict firsthand, according the group's Web site.
The group is in no way affiliated with the University, Kang said. After discussion, University administrators decided not to back the trip due to safety concerns, according to Executive Assistant to the President John Hose. Last spring, there was a trip in cooperation with the Palestinian Al-Quds University to Turkey.
Rising to the challenge set forth by former President Jimmy Carter in his speech at Brandeis last January, the students will travel to the West Bank and Israel in an attempt to have a diverse experience and make connections, Kang said.
From the $30,000 budget for the trip, $28,500 is being provided by Carter's fund for cameras and books to be used on the trip, among other supplies, and an additional $1,000 came from the Peace Awards, Kang said. The Peace Awards are given annually to people who wish to work toward coexistence and peaceful ways of addressing and resolving conflicts of many sorts, according to the Brandeis Web site. The money allows for 11 delegates to travel a full and dynamic itinerary, he said. "There were no stipulations; we had full control of the itinerary to make it open," Kang said.
"We all greatly enjoy being Brandeis students, and it is because of the ideals at Brandeis that we can go on these delegations," Kang said.
In light of the sensitive and expensive nature of the trip, the application and selection process was rigorous, Kang said. The organization came up with ideas for the focus of the trip and settled on "diversity."
Twenty members from the Students Crossing Boundaries group, founded by Kang, were on the planning committee for the trip. The goal was to "create a committee and delegation of diverse personalities, experiences and backgrounds," according to Kang.
SCB is composed of student leaders who have joined to empower each other, as well as other students, to explore the realities of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict firsthand, according the group's Web site.
The group is in no way affiliated with the University, Kang said. After discussion, University administrators decided not to back the trip due to safety concerns, according to Executive Assistant to the President John Hose. Last spring, there was a trip in cooperation with the Palestinian Al-Quds University to Turkey.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Louise Cohen
posted 1/29/08 @ 3:34 PM EST
I hope that the group will enjoy home hospitality in Sderot to witness first hand the after effects of Israeli withdrawal from "occupied territory."
Caribbean Cruises
posted 2/11/09 @ 7:33 AM EST
You could kill students this way. The war between Palestina and Israel is a staged war so please keep your students at home and treasure their lives. I would b every sad to find out that some of your students died in that area. (Continued…)
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