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Vol. 38, No. 18 |
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1-4-2007 ‘Living Jerusalem’ class uses technology to spur dialogueLaughter spread across the room as six Ohio State students saw the video image of a Palestinian professor with a cigar in his mouth sitting beneath a giant “No Smoking” sign. It was a light-hearted moment that linked the Jewish, Arab, Israeli and Palestinian students, some who were viscerally opposed to each other’s political viewpoints. Humor was an ongoing connector in the “Living Jerusalem” class, a pilot program held last year between Ohio State and Jerusalem’s Hebrew University and Al Quds University to see how using videoconferencing and Web logs can help or hinder dialogue in a conflict zone. “Living Jerusalem” classes are planned again this spring due to the success of the first class. Three students each from the Jerusalem universities participated and, along with their OSU counterparts, put together video stories about themselves and their communities. The students also gave readings on the history of Jerusalem from an Israeli and Palestinian perspective. Because the Jerusalem students live the conflict every day, it inevitably made its way into their stories and fostered passionate discussions during the once-a-week, two-hour videoconferencing sessions. “When you discuss the conflict on an academic level, you aren’t able to incorporate the deeper feelings and why people are thinking the way they’re thinking,” said OSU student Brian Rothenberg, a pro-Israel American Jew. “In this class, the arguments are things I’ve heard before, but the expression of the arguments was new. It didn’t change my opinion so much as it made me reevaluate the entire situation.” Majdi Mojahed, an OSU grad who has family members that are Palestinian refugees, gave the students his perspective on the conflict. “There is certain history that is involved on both sides and it’s hard to deny one person’s culture,” Mojahed said. “You try to listen to each side and think outside the box.” The technology often proved more frustrating for the students than the actual discussions. Because Al Quds is essentially cut off from the rest of Jerusalem by the wall the Israeli government constructed in the city, access to quality videoconferencing for the Palestinian contingent was an issue. At many of the meetings, the video feed went out and discussions were held over speakerphone. Language also was a barrier. The class was conducted in English, but some Jerusalem students found it difficult to express their deepest thoughts in a non-native language, leaving them out of some discussions. Despite these obstacles, participants said the class dialogue was a testament to how technology can play a role in building bridges. “It creates the possibility of communication between two universities which are 2 kilometers apart but cannot react in a regular way because of the political situation,” said Galit Hasan-Rokem, a professor at Hebrew University. “It’s an important implication for the future and the role for this virtual media in communication in general.” Despite the general enthusiasm of the students for the discussions, they found it hard to agree with one another. But civil discourse was the goal rather than agreement, said Amy Horowitz, Ohio State research director for “Living Jerusalem.” “What was confirmed for us is that culture and cultural practices are a very good tool for dialogue in conflict situations because it moves them into a 3-D world,” Horowitz said. Expanding the bridge Amy Horowitz plans an offshoot to “Living Jerusalem” this spring. Muslim and Jewish students in Columbus will map out their communities and take each other on tours. The program will be funded by an Ohio State Outreach and Engagement Excellence in Engagement Grant.
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