Campus unites in the wake of Marzec’s ‘blood bucket’ controversy
A month-and-a-half after Student Senate President Megan Marzec’s controversial “blood” bucket video where she challenged Ohio University to cut all ties with Israel, there was a display of unification on the South Green volleyball courts.
Nathan “Nate” Kahn, philanthropic chair of the Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi, extended an invitation to Marzec at last Wednesday’s senate meeting to attend a 3-on-3 volleyball tournament as a “sign of peace,” after she received death threats following her video.
“Megan is not anti-Semitic,” Kahn said. “She made a statement, and some people misinterpreted it. We’re just trying to take small steps to make this place safe for everybody.”
Marzec accepted the invitation. The event, where students discussed issues between Israel and Palestine, comes after some members of AEPi started circulating a petition calling for a vote to recall senate. Other campus groups, including the OU College Republicans and Bobcats for Israel, are also involved in the recall effort.
The video drew international attention and vehement responses of criticism and support.
The event, hosted by AEPi and OU’s Hillel chapter, part of a national on-campus Jewish organization, intended to bring OU students together by creating 17 groups of individuals from various campus organizations for a volleyball tournament.
They also hosted a swabbing drive for the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation.
“I’m really glad that Nathan came to me because he really showed disapproval of how certain members of Hillel and AEPi have reacted, and we’re working to move on so we can actually talk about what my video was about,” Marzec said at the event.
Marzec and Kahn both agreed there is a need for more discussion on the Israel-Palestine conflict to resolve the campus divide on the topic.
“Even if we disagree, we need to talk about why we disagree,” Kahn said.
Marzec is still firm on her stance about the conflict, and the controversy surrounding her video.
“Peace, for me and for other members of the Athens Coalition for Palestine or any pro-Palestinian cause, means the end of an occupation,” she said.
She added, “Nathan and I are interested in true debate and discourse on the issue, and not interested in covering up the real discussion by strange suggestions of civility and a false sense of peace.”
Marzec was also in support of the event’s goal to register students for the bone marrow registry, having been involved with the Got Swabbed campaign through Off-Campus Life Senator, Henry Kessler.
The volleyball tournament received more than $1,600 in online donations and was successful in meeting the goal of adding 200 cheek swabs to the bone marrow registry.
Jarrad Gold, president of AE Pi, said the fraternity has been working with Hillel to organize swabbing drives and has added Gift of Life as one of its 10 partner foundations.
“Last year, we had two brothers who were matches,” he said. “There are results. It’s one of the greatest things you can do.”
@Alisa_Warren
aw120713@ohio.edu
