When I lived in Israel this summer, I saw for the first time the hatred spewing from other campuses against Jews and Israel while attending a presentation by BOMAH's very own Itzik Yarkoni.
To the Editor,
When I lived in Israel this summer, I saw for the first time the hatred spewing from other campuses against Jews and Israel while attending a presentation by BOMAH's very own Itzik Yarkoni. While watching protests on campuses such as UCLA where students gathered to rip up and pour faux blood on the Israeli flag, I thought to myself, "I'm so thankful I go to school and live in such an accepting environment."
I have never been more disappointed in Ohio University in my life. This shouldn't be an issue, this shouldn't be an argument, there should not be arrests. Where did this hatred come from and since when is it OK? This is the reaction Student Senate President Megan Marzec wanted. She wanted to cause a rift and a rise. She doesn't care where your support is, she only cares to bring the same chaos to Ohio University that we have seen on so many campuses before. Supporting Palestinians is not the issue—I know my Jewish friends, Israeli friends, and myself would NEVER wish harm on anyone and don't condone or parade the innocent lives lost in the conflict this past summer.
Ohio University, the problem with Megan Marzec is not her personal political views, it's that she used her outlet as Student Senate President to push her own political ideals on students, while urging students to feel the same and stand by her. The ongoing conflict is sticky, long standing, multifaceted, and complicated, but why preach hate?
Megan should have used her outlet as the voice of Ohio University to address her condolences for the innocent people that have lost their lives and then make steps to unify "opposing" groups on campus, not preach to make the separation between "sides" worse. This campus needs to get it together, I don't want to be ashamed to say this is my school. I never thought this would happen here.
I think it is so important to make it known that nobody involved in any of the Jewish or Pro-Israel groups are anti-Palestine or would ever wish harm on Palestinian people. I for one, have had every innocent person affected in Gaza and in Israel in my heart. Peace is the goal.
Lisa Sheffler is a senior at Ohio University and a member of Phi Sigma Pi.
