Rutgers Student Groups Fighting Over Gaza Fundraiser
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CBS 2) – Two Rutgers University student groups are at odds thanks to a political issues thousands of miles away, CBS 2's Christine Sloan reports.
Members of Baka: Students United for Middle Eastern Justice are holding a fundraiser on Thursday night to raise money for the U.S. to Gaza Flotilla, which they said will take humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
But members of Rutgers Hillel, a student Jewish group, said that a donation to an organization that intends on interrupting a blockade is against the law.
"The stated purpose for tonight's event is to raise money for U.S. boats to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza," Rutgers Hillel member Andrew Getraer said. "A U.S. ship breaking an international military blockade violates federal law."
Baka member Hoda Mitwally defended the event and accused Hillel of trying to stir up controversy.
"It is not illegal. If there is anything that is illegal, it is the Israeli blockade itself," Mitwally said. "Hillel holds their own events that have a political spin and nobody ever gives them an issue with it or launches a smear campaign against them as they have done with us."
A student-run university board awarded the Baka group $2,400 for the fundraiser, but the university is reevaluating its allocation. The board has guidelines for giving money to student groups. Money raised must go to a tax-exempt, charitable organization, which university officials said U.S. to Gaza is not.
Baka may try to give the money to another group that is tax-exempt and connected to U.S. to Gaza, which has many students concerned.
"They have the right to give aid to people," Robbie Martin said.
Rachel Hodes said the issue has angered many students on campus.
"I think it is controversial type thing and I think it is very incendiary," Hodes said.
Meanwhile Rutgers University officials have told Baka that it has to let people at the door know the money won't be going to U.S. to Gaza Flotilla. They've also said they are researching the legality of all of the issues involved.
Baka members said they will hold on to the money until the university makes a decision.
