MCSG chartered these two new student groups this semester. By Katie Lund ’18.

JEWISH COUNCIL FOR PROGRESSIVE ACTION

Macalester Jewish Council for Progressive Action (JCPA) is Jewish in identity, but its goals extend beyond its religious association.

JCPA is a political and social justice activism organization that seeks to make a Jewish identity compatible with progressive action. “This is a very different approach of embracing religious and cultural history to inspire action and create discourse,” co-founder Jacob Bessen said.

The discussions will likely resonate more with Jewish students, according to Bessen.

Nevertheless, non-Jewish students interested in social action are encouraged to join.

JCPA identifies itself as pro-Palestine, as they support justice for Palestinian people. However, individual members express their beliefs in a broad spectrum of ways.

The org has many exciting projects in the works for this year. They are currently planning an academic journal of progressive Jewish perspectives. They have issued a call for papers to 25 institutions in the Midwest with Jewish or Religious Studies programs. The final result will be a student and professor edited intercollegiate journal.

The group is also planning on collaborating on a film about the Kurdish genocide that explores cross-cultural connections between this event and the Holocaust.

“We are specifically interested in looking at the Holocaust slogan ‘Never Again’ as not only a specific Jewish command but a human command,” Bessen said, “[and] conceiving of the event as an atrocity for all of humankind­, not just one demographic.”

There are many opportunities to get involved. The group aims to incorporate the interests of all members into the goals of the group. Ultimately, JCPA hopes to create a space that allows Judaism to be open to leftist, progressive action.

Meetings are held every other Thursday in CC 205 at 5 p.m.

MAC AND C.H.E.E.S.E

Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E. was born out of a great name. Even before the concept of the organization was formed two Macalester first years decided there had to be an org named Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E. at Macalester. The actual components of the acronym, which stands for Culinary Happiness: Educated Eating for Students Everywhere, came when the cofounders, Lucia Alexandrin ’17 and Rosa Durst ’17, started to finalize the concept for the newly chartered org.

The org was created out of a love for good food, and especially cheese. Despite the name, Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E is about more than really good macaroni and cheese. It is a multifaceted culinary org that seeks to create a community for food lovers.

“It will be a place where people who love food can cook together and eat together,” Durst said.
Free food is always a draw on college campuses and Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E. meetings will surely deliver on that front, with food always provided at meetings. Among the goals of the org are educating students about where their food comes from, what it is made of, and how to eat better as a college student. Anyone who loves food is encouraged to join the budding Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E. community.

Students looking to burst out of the proverbial Mac bubble should also consider joining. The org plans on taking trips to local farmers’ markets and restaurants throughout the Twin Cities to discover what unique food the cities have to offer. Durst and Alexandrin also plan to document the activities of Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E on a blog that they will create. The blog will feature recipes and restaurants that the org has visited.

Alexandrin has found that food connects people in ways you couldn’t have imagined. Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E. seeks to do just that by creating a network of people who are open and welcoming to cook and love food together.

To learn more about Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E. see the Daily Piper or email them at [email protected].