Daily Tar Heel - University
Students share personal memories of palestine
By: Mia Moore
1/31/08

While attending a protest in Bil'in, Palestine, UNC student Clayton Pfannenstiel was hit in the face with tear gas, leaving him with four stitches and a story he'll never forget about his trip to Palestine.

The junior economics and Arabic double major from Greensboro shared this near-death experience Wednesday night in Bingham Hall as part of Palestine Week.

"I didn't take it as personal as I thought I would," Pfannenstiel said. "What really got to me was the generosity that I was shown from the Palestinians."

Humanizing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was one of the main goals the eight UNC undergraduate students said they wanted to convey during "Tar Heels in Palestine."

The discussion was part of Palestine Week, which is sponsored by Solidarity with Palestine through Education and Action at Carolina.

Sophomore Haley Koch, primary contact for SPEAC, was one of the eight students who shared their personal experience and perspective on Palestine.

Koch took a year off before coming to UNC and spent four months in Palestine, where she became involved in human rights and political activism.

Last semester, Koch started SPEAC and began working with two other students on Palestine Week. It grew into this week's events, which are co-sponsored by about 20 other groups.

One of the main purposes of this week, Koch said, is to broaden people's understandings of the conflict.

Wednesday night's discussion attracted about 40 students, teachers and community members to hear the stories and view photographs from each student's experience.

"I liked hearing the different stories that they all had," said Kate Terrill, a freshman chemistry major. "I thought they presented it from a very fair point of view."

Thus far, the week has included a look at Arabs in film and a summary of the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

But Wednesday marked a more personal connection for UNC students.

"I think that having an event which deals with UNC students who went to Palestine really brings it home," Koch said.

Tonight in the Student Union, SPEAC will hold the discussion "Apartheid, Anti-Semitism, Social Justice, Activism," addressing current critiques of Israeli policy. Friday's event will be a hip-hop concert for Palestine.

Koch said these last two events will be another opportunity for students to gain more awareness about the conflict.

"I hope that people will come away with a better understanding of Palestinians as human beings."

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.

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