Contact: Noah Riley, 435-797-1723, noahr@cc.usu.edu
Writer: Jacob Roskelley, 435-797-1719, asusupr@cc.usu.edu
LOGAN—Associated Students of Utah State University President,
Noah Riley, was one of 13 student body presidents nationwide to
attend a seminar in Israel. The seminar, hosted by Project
Interchange, ran from Dec. 26 to Jan. 4.
During the week long seminar, the group held discussions with
politicians, religious leaders, students, and Israeli immigrants. They
also toured various sites of cultural, religious and political
significance.
The application process included writing essays and a phone
interview. The group was chosen last summer and scheduled to go at
the end of July but due to the war between Lebanon and Israel, the
trip was postponed until January.
“This was a great opportunity for me to connect with a few other
student body presidents from across the nation,” Riley said. “Israel
is a fascinating country with a long history that the major of the
world’s population can connect with. The seminar was definitely an
experience that will change your perspective on life.”
Project Interchange, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the
American Jewish Committee, conducts seminars that present
differing viewpoints on the complexities and nuances of controversial
issues in Israel and the Middle East such as the Israeli-Palestinian
and Israel-Hezbollah conflicts. The organization hosts seminars for
groups ranging from U.S. congressional staff to college newspaper
editors and from Christian clergy to university student body
presidents.
According to Project Interchange’s website “countless American
leaders began their careers in public life as student body presidents.
Project Interchange believes it is critical to educate emerging leaders
about Israel while they are still formulating their views on a variety
of issues.”
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