New club at HPU seeks to make big changes
Photo from the 2019 AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, DC. Photo by Matt Levine
By Matt Levine
Staff Writer
Panthers for Israel is a relatively new club at High Point University that was formed this past semester. It is focused on educating students on the state of Israel and strengthening the American-Israeli relationship through the lobbying of government representatives and other events.
Panthers for Israel will be providing many opportunities for students to learn more about the state of Israel through its relationship with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the leading pro-Israel lobbying group in America. AIPAC regularly hosts Saban leadership seminars that teach college students about issues regarding Israeli security, intelligence, boycott movements and more. AIPAC also hosts its annual policy conference in March, an event where American and Israeli government officials come to discuss the past, present and future of this alliance in the U.S. capitol. There will be opportunities to take a trip to Israel and experience firsthand what the Jewish state has to offer. They also look forward to the opportunity of hosting co-partnered events with Hillel and Jewish life at HPU.
Panthers for Israel has just recently announced its lobbying event with representative Ted Budd, which will take place on Oct. 2. Students interested in attending this event can message the club’s Instagram page for more information. This will be an accessible opportunity to get hands-on experience in lobbying an elected official on an issue. There will also be an upcoming event featuring a speaker from the Zionist Organization of America, who will discuss issues such as combating anti- Semitism and how to respond to the Boycott, Divest, Sanction anti-Israel movement.
Co-vice president Corinne King is excited for this semester and what is to come, as she is a staunch supporter of the middle-eastern country.
“There is historic precedence of war tactics creating new borders,” King said. “Countries having the right to protect their new borders that come from wartime. I will continue to support them into the future due to the alliance we have created in every front, from political intelligence to intellectual property.”
President Simeon Hinton supports Israel because of their shared democratic values with the United States and believes that a stronger Israel will benefit the United States. Hinton is looking forward to this semester and informing students and members of Congress about the issues facing the American-Israeli relationship.
“It is rewarding to me knowing that efforts we have made have had a real impact in passing legislation,’’ Hinton said, referencing the recent legislation passed denouncing the BDS anti-Israel movement.
As the semester progresses, Panthers for Israel will be announcing more events and learning opportunities. Students interested in learning more about the state of Israel are encouraged to join. For more information, students may reach out to Dr. Brandon Lenoir, a professor of political science and communication who is the faculty advisor to the club, at blenoir@highpoint.edu. They can also attend the bi-weekly Panthers for Israel meeting in Cottrell hall. The precise times and room locations of each meeting can be found on the group’s Instagram page @p.f.i.hpu.