With a new name and new outlook, the pro-Israel group on campus is expanding its horizons to include more people and campus organizations.
The Penn Israel Coalition -- formerly known as PennPAC -- is hoping to increase its presence on campus with different events such as lobbying trips to Washington and multicultural dinners on campus.
College senior Alexander Chester, the president of PIC, said that he wants to take the group in a new direction. By changing the name from committee to coalition, Chester and the rest of the members hope that the organizations will gain a wider base of support.
"The idea of coalition appealed to me and my members very strongly," Chester said. "We are a very diverse group of students -- Democrats, Republicans, Jews and non-Jews, Americans, Israelis and [other] people with very very diverse opinions."
In the past, the organization has brought a variety of speakers to campus, many of which attracted up to 500 people. However, the group felt that they could create a more lasting impact among those involved by focusing more on activities that involve interaction between members.
On Feb. 25, approximately 40 members of PIC traveled to Washington for a day to lobby their local congressmen about pro-Israel issues.
Many of the students that attended are active leaders in various groups on campus.
"It gave an opportunity for the congressional offices to see that there is strong support for this among the campus leadership, Jewish and non-Jewish," Chester said. "Also it was a chance for us to engage with the campus leadership itself."
Medical student Michael Hu, co-leader of PennforJesus, said that he really enjoyed the trip to Washington. He said it was "a great opportunity to not only support a group and a cause I believe in, but also to experience lobbying."
Wharton sophomore and sophomore class president Andrew Kaplan also attended the trip to Washington. "I support what [the PIC is] advocating for and the way they go about advocating, stressing education and stressing the plurality of views."
PIC, which is part of Hillel, currently has over 300 members. The group aims to promote non-partisan political activism on campus.
"It's a way to draw in a different group of students to talk or think about Israel," Chester said.
