FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Contact: Executive Director Laurence A. Bolotin, CAE, Alpha Zeta (University of Florida) '01 | | November 19, 2015 | lbolotin@zbtnational.org; (317) 334-1898 |
ZBT pilots anti-Semitism prevention program with fellow Greeks
Fraternity partners with AEΦ, ΣAM and ΣΔT to host ADL's Words to Action INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — Continuing our efforts to be leaders in the fight against anti-Semitism on campus, Zeta Beta Tau has joined with three other Greek organizations to pilot a successful new educational program with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
In a response to a rising tide of incidents of reported hate crimes such as anti-Semitism on college campuses, Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Phi Sorority, Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity and Sigma Delta Tau Sorority in conjunction with the Anti-Defamation League came together to provide programming that helps men and women from campuses across the United States to work toward stopping hatred, bigotry and discrimination. Partnering with the ADL, students from all four organizations are coming together to learn through the Words to Action program.
“It was terrific seeing brothers and sisters from such good campus partners come together to walk with us as we address this issue on campuses. ZBT looks forward to continuing to grow this partnership as we offer training and resources to campuses across the globe,” ZBT Executive Director Laurence A. Bolotin said.
Students from Indiana University participate in Words to Action on October 28.
The program includes anti-Semitism awareness education, interactive discussion with students sharing their own examples of hate culture and an in-depth look at the history behind stereotypes and connections to modern day. Representatives from the ADL lead the program.
ZBT's Lambda Chapter at the University of Texas-Austin and Beta Gamma Chapter at Indiana University each participated in the pilot program on October 28, and the Rho Chapter at the University of Illinois participated in the pilot program on November 4.
"I thought this program was fun, interactive and a great learning experience because they taught us a new perspective on anti-Semitism that we may have never heard of," said Brother Jordan Brown, Rho (University of Illinois) '19, who attended the pilot at the University of Illinois. "We discussed how different people around the world view Jews and how anti-Semitism is evolving."
Brother Brown said he would recommend this program to other brothers.
"Part of what we learned in Hebrew School is that you can you can learn about something like bullying, but if you forget about it, a week later, you’ll be bullying someone. The point is that we keep getting reinforced and we update our knowledge and learn more. It was great to learn about anti-Semitism issues again in a fresh light."
 .jpg) LEFT: Students from the University of Texas-Austin participated in Words to Action on October 28. RIGHT: University at Illinois students discuss anti-Semitism on November 4.
All four Greek organizations encourage their brothers and sisters to be leaders on their campuses in promoting dialogue on breaking down stereotypes and stopping ignorance. Every individual student, chapter and international organization can take action that will support personal freedoms and equality for all. It is the hope and expectation that this program will assist all brothers and sisters of each organization in being champions for justice and advocates for all members of the university community.
This program is funded by a generous grant from the Zeta Beta Tau Foundation's Heritage Initiative. If you would like to support the Heritage Initiative, please donate to the Zeta Beta Tau Foundation at zbt.org/donate. Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity was founded in 1898 in New York City as the world's first Jewish Fraternity. ZBT is a Brotherhood of Kappa Nu, Phi Alpha, Phi Epsilon Pi, Phi Sigma Delta and Zeta Beta Tau. ZBT is represented on more than 90 campuses in the United States and Canada and has more than 130,000 undergraduate and alumni brothers throughout the world.
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