Tired of the apathy and the low level of consciousness regarding the Iranian identity, culture, community, and history amongst Iranian students at UC Berkeley, a group of inspired Iranian students sought to do something different to address these important matters. We built the Iranian Student Alliance in America in the fall of 2002.

Inexperienced, but motivated, we tested the waters for the 2002-2003 academic year. We sought to promote a better sense of identity and community and advocate a better understanding of Iran's history and culture. What’s more, we felt that Iranians lacked a presence on the historic campus of UC Berkeley with 32,000 students, and we worked to remedy this by being visible and organized. ISAA organized poetry nights, movie nights, brought attention to the INS detainees by demonstrating in their support, launched a semester journal titled: “Goftogoo: A Dialogue on Iran and Iranians,” and a lecture series titled: “Iran and Iranians after September 11th.”

We as a group gained much experience after our first academic year in operation. Thus, over the summer of 2003, we took our experience and revamped the entire organization. The following fall, ISAA exploded onto the scene as one of most organized and active student groups at UC Berkeley. ISAA planned 24 events for the fall semester including, three poetry nights, four movie nights, an open forum, a music night, ten lectures and documentary screenings regarding Iranian history ranging from the Iran-Iraq War to the Iranian Revolution, an Iranian-American night, a book signing by the author of “All the Shah’s Men,” Stephen Kinzer, and a lecture series pertaining to the CIA coup of 1953 in Iran, which drew an audience of 450 people. What’s more, our publication, “Goftogoo: A Dialogue on Iran and Iranians,” was published for its second semester and T-shirts and sweaters were made promoting the Iranian identity (over 300 sold as of now). At the end of the fall semester, ISAA was ranked the most popular and one of the most active student groups at UC Berkeley. This accomplishment was made in ISAA’s third semester in existence. Given that there is an estimated 500 Iranians at UC Berkeley, ISAA and Iranians had a much larger presence. We were visible and organized.

Over the winter break, the tragic earthquake at Bam struck. Although ISAA members were on vacation, we constantly sent emails updating its viewers on the tragedy, relief efforts, and informing them of how they could help, all the while planning our own fundraiser for when the semester began. Thus, on the first week of the semester, ISAA screened Tahmineh Milani’s new film: “The Fifth Reaction” to an audience of 375 people. Afterwards, Tahmineh's sister Maryam Milani who worked on the film gave a brief lecture on the women in Iran. The proceeds went to Bam as ISAA tried to do its part.

In addition, ISAA organized over thirty events for the semester including three poetry nights, three movie nights, a backgammon tournament, a book signing by the author of “Funny in Farsi,” Firoozeh Dumas, a language night, two open forums, two music nights, two Iranian dance workshops, nine documentary screenings and lectures regarding issues ranging from the Iranian Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War, to drug addiction and minorities in Iran. What’s more, ISAA coordinated a Multi-campus Iranian Awareness Week with more than twelve Iranian groups at various campuses ranging from MIT to UCLA participating. (article about the endeavor in our school paper)

To maintain a presence, we have set up a table to promote our group in front of Sproul Hall at UC Berkeley every week thus far of this academic school year. Additionally, we have hung a huge banner from one of the most visible buildings on our campus (MLK) bringing attention to our student group and proudly displaying an outline of Iran’s geographic shape and national colors.

As of now, ISAA is ranked the most active and most popular student group at UC Berkeley! (source: http://live.berkeley.edu/rankings.cgi) All in all, ISAA has organized over 50 quality events for the 2003-2004 academic year (fall and spring). Our third edition of our magazine is due to come out in a week.

ISAA does not have a political agenda and is headquartered at UC Berkeley. We have a chapter in Georgetown University. Imagine how great it would be if what we are doing at UC Berkeley was being done all over. We invite all Iranian high school students, college and university students, and graduate students to consider creating their own chapter and being a part of something big. Please take this time to visit our website http://isaa.berkeley.edu If this is something that may interest you, please contact me and I will send you a start-up kit via the internet to make its launch a bit easier. They say Iranians are divided, I say we prove them wrong!

About the Author:

Pouya Alimagham is a senior at UC Berkeley studying Middle Eastern Studies and Political. He is the president of the Iranian Student Alliance in America as well.