In the mix of election push cards and boisterous preachers, students also had the opportunity last week to take part in an international issue.
Tigers for Israel, a pro-Israel political student organization, is sponsoring a petition to support “maintaining and enhancing” the relationship between the United States and Israel.
The petition has around 950 signatures, but is expected to grow.
Tigers for Israel relations coordinator, Eric Gremillion said the goal of the petition is to educate and encourage students on what is going on in Israel.
“Nine hundred and fifty signatures means we talked to 950 people about Israel,” Gremillion said. “When people aren’t aware of the world around them, that’s dangerous — this is a good thing.”
Shawn Hanscom, president of Tigers for Israel and a political science sophomore, said when they reach about 1,000 signatures, in late April or early May, they plan on taking out a full-page ad in the Reveille displaying all the students that support Israel.
“It’s to make a statement,” Hanscom said. “The LSU community supports Israel and you can support Israel, too,”
Hanscom also said it is important for the University community to be aware of the Israeli side and hopefully agree with it when they go into the workforce.
“Basically, the leaders of tomorrow go to LSU,” Hanscom said. “We are trying to educate them.”
Another reason Gremillion said they organized the pro-Israel group is because of the influx of anti-Israel activity on other college campuses across America.
“We want to stop that here by merely instigating a pro-Israel atmosphere first,” Gremillion.
Palestinian student Omar Farbhoo, a computer engineering senior and former president of the Arab Student Association, said he was approached by the group several times in Free Speech Alley.
Although Farbhoo said he supports their right to promote the cause, he does not think it is necessary on campus.
Farbhoo said the United States already fully supports Israel financially and militarily through weapons distribution.
Farbhoo also believes the American sponsored Road Map to Peace is a slap in the face to America by Israel.
“Right after it was created, it was broke,” Farbhoo said. “[Israel] has its own agenda.”
According to Reuters, the peace agreement requires Israel to freeze residential construction in the heavily fought over land of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, construction in the West Bank has risen 35 percent in the past year.
Farbhoo said he thinks this is a very touchy subject and often feels muzzled.
“When I heard them talking to people about the petition, I wanted to be right next to the table and talk to them for just a minute,” Farbhoo said. “Especially after 9/11, it’s very hard.”
Gremillion said although he might disagree with some Israeli policy, he shares some of the same values with Israel that are essential to democracy, and those values are the core of happiness.