Al-Nur, Hillel hold Mid-East vigil
Although Muslim and Jewish students took a stand for peace last night on the Green, even at Dartmouth that peace rests on rocky footing over an issue that has tensions running high on an international level. While the Hillel and Al-Nur leaders promoted Middle East peace in their joint candlelight vigil on the Green, pro-Palestinian pamphlets circulated through the crowd and others acknowledged the peace the two parties envision is probably not the same one. Hillel President Jason Spitalnick '02 acknowledged that not all of the individual members of Hillel agree with all of the individual members of Al-Nur. However, he said even if students disagree on nine out of 10 issues, "If we can find some commonality on the 10th, we should be taking advantage of that common ground." A crowd of about 100 students and community members gathered outside Rollins Chapel yesterday evening where leaders passed out candles. Following a brief talk by Spitalnick, the group walked along the Green and to its center, where Spitalnick read a short prayer to the large circle that surrounded him, followed by a similarly short prayer by Al-Nur President Yousuf Haque '02. Al-Nur and Hillel, the Muslim and Jewish students associations each selected their prayers -- which were in English -- beforehand, and passed them by the other side for approval.