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Practical Tips : Building Relationships and Alliances on Campus Before Controversy
Throughout your life , relationships you develop with friends and mentors will hopefully be a source of happiness and meaning . But in school as elsewhere , those relationship may also often be practically helpful in preempting conflicts and navigating obstacles . If you build friendships with those with whom you might disagree politically , those disagreements are less likely to turn toxic . And if you build relationships with campus and university leaders , and develop a reputation for honesty , responsibility and reasonableness before there is controversy , you are more likely to be taken seriously — and have advocates and allies — if controversies do arise .
STUDENT LEADERS
Student leaders , particularly of other campus ethnic , religious , or political groups , may be a helpful resource in avoiding or managing conflict . Especially in smaller campus communities , it may be possible to seek out and build relationships with students and student groups with whom you might have sharp differences . Having open communication or even genuine friendships with those with whom you are arguing can keep arguments substantive and help lower the temperature in debates .
As many students come to college in part to build relationships across ethnic and religious differences , leaders of campus religious or ethnic groups will often be particularly open and interested in meeting with Jewish student leaders . While you may eventually want to discuss Israel , it may be easier to begin by talking about shared cultural or religious interests or concerns .