Karin Kahen is co-president of the Anteaters for Israel (AFI), and a second-year political science major at UCI. In our interview, we spoke about AFI goals, allegations of anti-Semitism and the future Jewish student population at the university.

1. What pivotal role do you feel that you play to help AFI grow and thrive on the UCI campus?
First of all let me start of by saying that coming to this campus as a freshman was the first time in my life that I had to go though any kind of anti-Semitism and any kind of remark against my identity and who I am. I’ve never experienced such situations in my life before because I came from a high school where there was a strong Jewish population on campus, and we are very united and connected. When I came onto this campus I noticed this wasn’t the same. There were not large numbers of students trying to do something about what was going on. I became very affected by that because I was always involved in high school with leadership roles and I wanted to do something here. I became involved with Anteaters for Israel which is a very small group of students mainly consisting of the board members and a few students. As I slowly became involved I wanted to take on a stronger and bigger challenge. Now I’m co-President of AFI. I feel that along with my Emily Shaaya, my co-President, we’ve been able to reach out to students that were afraid to have a voice. We have been able to reach out to students to show them that the issue isn’t just political. Our relationship with the Muslim Student Union is on a political level, it’s on a religious level and it’s on a social level. As students, I feel that we need to be able to make changes on campus. One of my goals for AFI this year is working with other groups on campus to coalition build. We are working with the Young Democrats, College Republicans, the Ahmadi Muslim Student Assocation and Christian student groups on campus. We’re really trying to show people what Israel is really about.
2. How do you feel you’ve been able to reach out and entice students to become more involved with AFI, especially students that feel little connection to Israel?
I feel that as co-president of AFI I’ve been able to reach out to students in various ways. I’ve been able to connect to students like myself who had to deal with extreme remarks on campus for the first time. I personally was very afraid to speak out in the very beginning, but I realized I needed to connect with my peers and connect with them so that we could work together to solve problems on campus. I’ve been able to reach out to students individually and I know how to place students in certain committees and groups in AFI that are dedicated to social or political aspects in AFI. We’ve been able to form groups and committees in AFI to promote a wider view about Israel. We’re really hoping to achieve giving out the message that Israel is not just about the war, but about fun things too that we can attract students with.
3. What are your goals for AFI for this year?
One of our biggest goals for AFI for this year is coalition building with clubs and reaching out to the Orange County community. We’d like to reach out various organizations on campus and different venues in communities in Orange County, and even Los Angeles. One of our other major goals is to educate fellow students, faculty and administration to give them Israel’s side of the story. Because when you have someone like Amid Abdel Malik Ali out on campus you have students that walk across and become sponged into what he’s saying because they don’t have the knowledge of Israel’s side of the story. Another goal is to grow and expand as an organization with student and community support.
4. AFI has stated in the past that there are anti-Semitic activities on campus. Is this anti-Semitism or is this anti-Zionism? Many groups have claimed that there is an obvious distinction. Is there a distinction between the two in your opinion?
I feel that this is definitely anti-Semitism. I don’t think there is a distinction between the two. I feel that anti-Zionism equals anti-Semitism. When I hear a speaker come onto campus and say that I don’t have the right to exist, I don’t know what to think. Does this mean that I don’t have the right to exist as a Jewish person or just as a human being? When he makes direct marks against me as a Zionist, I feel that he is saying I don’t have a right to exist as a Jewish person and a Zionist. There have been many studies that have shown that anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism are closely related. I stand by those studies. As a Jewish student on this campus I do feel that my identity and where I come from has been targeted and tarnished. I’ve been affected by this. I want all the Jewish students out there looking to come to UCI and you’ve heard about the issues try not to back away from coming here. You can make a difference and you’re the ones that we need here.
5. What is AFI trying to do regarding the alleged anti-Semitism at UCI? What is AFI’s response to that?
AFI never responds in the same manner that the MSU does. We always try to keep a proactive message on campus and we’re trying to give people the message that Israel has a right to defend itself and exist. That’s what we stand for. You know, on the back of our AFI shirts our message is “wherever we stand, we stand with Israel.� But we would never take the path of discriminating against the Muslim religion or make extreme comments towards their religion and where they come from. We stand for where we come from and that’s the state of Israel.
6. Is there anything further that you would like to add that you believe people should know about the Anteaters for Israel at UCI?
One of the things that I think is really important to address is that UC Irvine has been recognized as a school where a lot of anti-Semitism occurs, and a school where there is a much larger majority of Muslim students on campus. Before coming here I heard remarks about UCI and anti-Semitism. I tried to find out what UCI is about. I took a tour with my family and did the stay-over program. I got to know UCI before deciding to come here. I realized not all the comments are necessarily true. Yes, there are a large number of Muslim students at UCI. However if you have UC Irvine as a choice to come here and study here, that’s the only way you’re going to help make out Jewish population stronger and larger. Find it in your hearts to come here and make a difference. When I was a freshman at UCI I didn’t think I would be so involved. I am so grateful for the opportunities and experiences that I’ve had. UC Irvine really is a school of the future. Jewish students should certainly consider UCI.