L inda Radin
THE JEWISH NEWS
Po tical Difference
Two area teens, pursuing politics,
reflect America's democratic
(and Republican) traditions
LISA POLLACK
Special to The Jewish News
L
ast summer, as they rode
together on the subway
after a chance meeting in
Washington, D.C., Debbie
Schlussel, 17, and Emily
Jampel, 18, must have looked like
compatible teens to the pin-stripe
suited politicians and sweaty
businessmen who surrounded them.
But what observers might not
have known was that this "compatibil-
ity" went far beyond their outspoken
voices, lively faces, and political "uni-
forms" — Schlussel wearing campaign
buttons and Jampel wearing the badge
of a Senate page. In fact, their
similarities read like an impressive
resume:
Both girls recently graduated
14
Friday, July 4, 1986
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
with highest honors from high school
— Schlussel from Southfield High and
Jampel from Lahser High in Bloom-
field Hills. They both plan to study this
fall at the University of Michigan.
They both actively participated in
school politics, school publications,
and school organizations such as Na-
tional Honor Society. Schlussel once
headed the National Conference of
Synagogue Youth; Jampel has run
committees for Temple Beth El Tem-
ple Youth functions. And both teens
have been cited for their achievements
with a multitude of honors and schol-
arships.
But, perhaps most notably, both
Schlussel and Jampel share a marked
and well-demonstrated interest in
politics. It is an interest that has kept
their school years filled with cam-
paigns and rallies, their summers
busy on Capitol Hill, and their voc-
abularies sounding like the glossary of
a high school government textbook.
Don't expect, though, to ever find
these two aspirants to political careers
on the same ticket. Last summer,
Schlussel wore the buttons of Republi-
cans Jack Kemp and Bob Dole; Jam-
pel's badge read "Senate Democratic
Page." Indeed, when it comes to ideol-
ogy, the similarities come to an end.
Yet this is not a negative sign; it
merely reflects the democracy on
which America is based. So, although
they have different ideas, goals, and
methods, Schlussel and Jampel re-
main — together — two young Jewish
leaders with promising futures.