The San Diego State University (SDSU) teacher that eliminated Israel from the map is Ghassan Zakaria.
I called his number today (619-594-8800), as listed at the university website, and found myself talking to some random professor who tells me that Zakaria has moved to another office and that he, himself, has nothing to do with this situation, which I do not doubt in the least.
Basically what he told me was that Zakaria is no longer at this number.
I therefore called the Department of Linguistics and Asian / Middle Eastern Languages (619-594-5268) and was told that the department is no longer taking inquiries on the matter and referred me to the office of the president of the university.
Algemeiner has a recent update with a few new tidbits.
Ghada Osman, chair of the SDSU Linguistics & Asian/Middle Eastern Languages department, eventually wrote to concerned community members that Zakaria would replace the map with one that identifies Israel.How nice is that?
I think that we should all call department head, Osman, and thank her at (619-594-1910).
I tried to do so but was told by her department secretary that all inquiries were being handled by the office of the president of the university, Elliot Hirshman.
Naturally I called that number (619-594-5201) and could do nothing more than leave a message.
StandWithUs, however, is happy as they have now awarded scholarships for students to the university:
“We are especially appreciative and impressed by the university’s rapid response to concerns we expressed on behalf of students,” StandWithUs CEO Roz Rothstein said in a statement. “We only wish other universities were as responsive to student concerns.The CEO of StandWithUs is Roz Rothstein.
StandWithUs also announced the formation of two new scholarship funds to expand its relationship with the university—the “Stand With Us-San Diego State Jewish Studies Scholarship” (supporting students enrolled in Jewish Studies courses) and the “Stand With Us-San Diego State Israel Study Abroad Scholarship.
I just got off the phone with Jen Kutner, also of StandWithUs, who tells me that for the first time ever a university - San Diego State University - is putting together a fund for StandWithUs and I think this is terrific.
SDSU is handling this thing in a manner that Jewish people who care about the well-being of Israel should be pleased with.
I hope sometime this week to speak with Nicole Bernstein to get her take, as she was the StandWithUs spokesperson who spoke with ABC News on the original story.
I have no particular desire to kick San Diego State University in the head and I honestly believe that they have handled this situation in a responsible and fair manner.
Good for president Hershman and department chair, Osman.
But the main kudos must go to Nicole Bernstein, of StandWithUs, for standing up.
