Following their second open discussion in January, the Palestinian Student Association hosted Middle Ground on April 24, an open conversation where students discussed their viewpoints on the current conflict in Palestine.
During the event, students were presented with a series of statements to which they agreed or disagreed, a format based on Jubilee’s Middle Ground YouTube series.
The members of PSA emphasized preventing prejudice and fostering respect among one another during the discussion.
Ezz Siyam, a former diplomacy and international relations major and president of PSA, said the event focused on “educating people, finding a common ground and seeing how far apart people are in what’s going on.”
He said he found that “ideas are not as far apart as initially thought.”
Hana Elbassiony, a freshman biology major, said it is essential to “teach people the history of Palestine” and to “have conversations the government won’t have.”
In this way, she said it is necessary to gain “new perspectives.”
There is a “small Arab community at Seton Hall,” Elbassiony said. “Heavy topics being discussed is important.”
The PSA treasurer and co-PR chair, who wants to remain anonymous, said there must be conversation because “there are still questions that have no answers."
She said that as a group that is often silenced, it is important for them to be heard.
Trish Salib, a junior biology and diplomacy double major, said the event allowed for a free and open dialogue.
She said it is the “only way to move past certain things."
The organization was recently awarded Outstanding Student Organization of the Year and Organization of the Year.
Dominique Mercadante writes for the Campus Life section. She can be reached at dominique.mercadante@student.shu.edu
