The newly formed student organization Tigers for Israel is hoping to cultivate awareness among University students of the benefits that accompany a strong relationship between the U.S. and Israel.
Legislative coordinator for the group, Brian Norman, said Tigers for Israel was founded after a trip to Washington D.C., in which University students were educated on the current relationship between the U.S. and Israel.
Upon returning, the group was formed by Meagan Collman and it has drawn members including LSU Student Government President John Woodard, who attended the trip to Washington D.C., Norman said.
Though he is a Christian, Norman said the group is a secular organization that is not focused on the religious climate in Israel, but rather what is to be gained by both countries in a working relationship. The main goal of Tigers for Israel is to bring pro-Israel activism to campus and educate students, Norman said.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, AIPAC, has been a major inspiration for Tigers for Israel, Norman said. AIPAC helped educate the University students who went to Washington D.C., and the organization is passionate about developing campus activists at universities, Norman said.
The mission statement for AIPAC is “to strengthen, protect and promote the U.S.-Israel relationship in ways that enhance the security of Israel and the United States.” This is similar to the mission statement of Tigers for Israel, which is “to educate and engage more people on the importance of the American and Israeli relationship.”
Part of AIPAC’s legislative agenda, said President Barack Obama, is expected to request more than $3 billion in security assistance for Israel as part of his 2015 budget.
While the issue of security in Israel is important, Norman said other issues such as economic prosperity and even advances in technology are equally important when discussing the Israeli and American relationship.
Because many companies such as DELL and IBM develop their computer chips in Israel, it is an obvious benefit to have a working relationship with the country, Norman said.
Norman said Tigers for Israel has not yet partnered with the University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, but the organization’s leadership has talked about reaching out to LSU International Services as well as other organizations.
Tigers for Israel is also trying to organize a panel in April to discuss its stance on certain issues and spread awareness, Norman said.
“We encourage students to come to a meeting and get on our radar so they can start to help with this issue,” Norman said.
In an email to The Daily Reveille, the Muslim Student Association’s board said they chose not to comment about the organization because they had not previously heard of Tigers for Israel. Though the MSA board said they did not have enough information to formulate an opinion, they said they believe everyone has the right to their own opinion and the right to participate in any organization of their choosing.
“We encourage students to come to a meeting and get on our radar so they can start to help with this issue.”