When Eduardo Kornworcel, a Boston University student, walked the halls of Congress last week, it wasn’t just a tour; it was a bold step in the relentless fight he’s leading on campus to confront rising antisemitism and anti-Israel hostility.

As a fellow in the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center’s Leadership in Advocacy Training (LIAT) Fellowship Program (in partnership with the OU’s Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus), Eduardo joined an elite cohort of Jewish student leaders from across the country for an intensive week in Washington, D.C., armed with tools, strategy, and resolve to escalate their advocacy from campus battlegrounds to the national stage. The experience marked a critical turning point in the fight for a safer, stronger future for Jewish students in America.

“Meeting leaders from every sector who shape our communities and hearing their strategies to build bipartisan coalitions has been an eye-opening experience. I’m ready to bring what I have learned back to campus and unite students against the growing tide of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment,” Eduardo said.

In response to the dramatic surge in campus antisemitism after Oct. 7, the Orthodox Union launched the LIAT Fellowship Program to forge an army of fearless student advocates, leaders equipped not just to respond but to dismantle hate with precision, innovation, and unyielding courage.

The urgency of this mission hit home in D.C. when, just blocks from where the fellows were meeting, a radical antisemite murdered two Israeli Embassy employees, an act of hate that chillingly echoed the threats these students face back on campus.

These fellows are rewriting the rulebook: forging unlikely alliances, working with university administrations to follow federal civil rights law, and launching dynamic campaigns to counteract boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) propaganda and anti-Israel disinformation.

Eduardo stands at the forefront of this movement. Alongside University of Maryland student Lucy Schneider, he co-founded AntisemitismOnCampus.net, a pioneering website and hotline that connects students directly with the Anti-Defamation League to report antisemitic incidents. The platform has become a vital lifeline for students facing antisemitic hate.

In addition, Eduardo developed a comprehensive fact sheet breaking down the connection between antisemitism and anti-Zionism, exposing how they feed off each other, and revealing the dangerous impact of the BDS movement. His creative flyers, featuring watermelon and Palestinian flag imagery, cleverly counter campus disinformation and redirect students to his site, educating them with clarity and facts.

These initiatives are part of the required “capstone project” each LIAT fellow completes. At Binghamton University (SUNY), fellows helped secure the appointment of a Title VI coordinator and the introduction of mandatory civil rights training for faculty and staff—a first for the campus. At Cornell University, a fellow led a campaign that gathered more than 5,000 signatures, successfully pressuring the university to cancel a concert by an artist with a history of antisemitic remarks.

The D.C. summit was a chance for these leaders to unite, reflect, and strategize on how to carry their work forward across campuses nationwide.

In Washington, Eduardo and his peers brought their determination to Capitol Hill. They met with senior White House officials, State Department leaders, and legal champions such as Judge Matthew Solomson, the first Orthodox Jewish chief federal judge. They were briefed by Israeli Deputy Chief of Mission Eliav Benjamin, engaged in dialogue with interfaith partners, and met influential members of Congress, including Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL), Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA), and Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), discussing key legislation like the Antisemitism Awareness Act and measures to counter Iran’s threat.

“These students are among the most visionary and courageous advocates we’ve ever encountered,” said Nathan Diament, executive director of the OU Advocacy Center. “Their moral clarity and strategic leadership are urgently needed to protect the Jewish community and strengthen our country.”

Policymakers took notice.

“If these students step into government, America will be in good hands,” said Daniel Marrow, legislative director for Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04).

For Eduardo, the week in Washington was not the beginning, and it’s certainly not the end. When he returns to Boston University this fall, he and his fellow LIAT advocates will continue their mission with renewed clarity, strength, and an unbreakable commitment to justice.

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