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Some views from high school.
Sports At Akiva Stay Low-Profile
AVI EBENSTEIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
kiva Hebrew Day
School's spotts pro-
gram is so low-pro-
file that when one
student was interviewed
about it, she asked,
"What sports program?"
In fact, the school does
have a small varsity bas-
ketball team, which has
the support of adminis-
trators and students.
"The sports program is
essential to the school,"
said Headmaster Rabbi
Zev Shimansky. "It pro-
vides a good physical out-
let for the students."
"The basketball team
A
has given me something
to do after school," said
student Avi Blumenfeld.
Some students would
like the school to provide
additional sports opportu-
nities.
"I think that the girls
should be offered some
sports, too," student
Sarah Chopp said.
But Rabbi Shimansky
said Akiva tried to start a
girls' volleyball team.
Only one girl, out of 30
who expressed interest,
showed up for the first
practice, he said.
Student Danny Perl-
berg said Akiva needs a
track team. He acknowl-
edged, however, that such
a program would bear a
hefty price tag.
Some students, like
Shira Weiss, said they
oppose additional athlet-
ics if the programs come
at the expense of more
worthwhile activities.
The basketball team at
Akiva is successful as an
extra-curricular program
for boys, but it is not the
norm. Take football. The
fact that almost every
male student must as-
semble to create an 11-
man football team bodes
ill for a game that de-
mands more than double
those numbers.
Akiva cannot change
until the number of stu-
dents who have an inter-
est in additional sports
programs becomes large
enough to create self-sus-
taining teams, some say.
Rabbi Shimansky said,
"If there were to be an in-
terest in other sports, the
school would try to pro-
vide additional funds to
support these efforts."
❑
Avi Ebenstein
Diversity Isn't A Four-Letter Word
LISA HOLLENBERG AND JOSHUA UCHTMAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
Lisa Holienberg
Joshua Lichtman
Visitors who come to
Southfield-Lathrup High
School are surprised to
see that there is truth to
the rumor: The halls are
segregated into Chaldean,
Caucasian and African-
American corridors.
This appearance is
deceiving, however.
At Southfield-Lathrup,
students of all back-
grounds work together in
classes, sports and other
extra-curricular activi-
ties.
Too much attention is
given to the fact that the
halls are divided along
racial and ethnic lines.
The administration, in an
attempt to change the sit-
uation, tried to assign
lockers. Most students
switched lockers with
other students in order to
be near their friends.
"People are going to go
to their friends no matter
what the administration
does," said Kelley Carter,
an African-American
junior.
In our four years at
Southfield Lathrup, we've
Southfield-
Lathrup:
There is truth
to rumor.
seen changes in the eth-
nic make-up of the. school.
This is the first year that
African Americans com-
prise more than 50 per-
Oak Park High: School Of Many Colors
cent of the student popu-
lation. The ethnic variety
at the school has con-
tributed to some of the
many unique clubs at the
high school.
S-L also is proud to
offer Hebrew, • Chaldean
and African-American
Awareness clubs.
Most importantly, hav-
ing an ethnic mix in high
school teaches people how
to get along with each
other outside of school —
in the real world. ❑
HILARY BUXTON SPEC AL TO THE JEWISHNEWS
any years ago,
Oak Park High
School was pre-
dominantly
Caucasian. The ethnic
M
majority was Jewish.
Now, Oak Park High is
a school of many colors,
many ethnicities and reli-
gions.
`Taking Notes . How To Take Part
Taking Notes... It's a
trick of the trade,
whether you're a journal-
ist, a student — or a stu-
dent journalist. The
Jewish News invites all
high-schoolers to take
notes on school events
and submit articles to our
new student section.
"Taking Notes" com-
bines news with opinion
pieces. Anything hip to
high-schoolers is of inter-
est to us and, we're sure,
our readers. Students
need not be young writing
wizards to participate.
Editors at The Jewish
News will assist anyone
who needs help.
To participate, call
Ruth Littmann at (313)
354-6060.
The majority of the stu-
dent body is African
American and Arab
American, but it also is
made up of people repre-
senting nationalities like
Pakstani, Filipino, Hai-
tian, Indian and even
Laotian.
Our Arabic students
come from many different
areas of the Middle East.
We still have Jewish
students at Oak Park
High, but only about a
dozen in a school of more
than 500. Many people in
the Jewish community
know about the decline in
Jewish students at Oak
Park High. They, there-
fore, are surprised that I
do not feel like a minority
in the school.
Truth is, I don't — and
neither do other Jewish
students.
We are not made to feel
like a minority, in part
because Jewish High
Holy Days have been
observed by the school
district. This, however,
will be discontinued next
school year.
It bothers me some-
what, but I do not believe
it will affect the way Jews
are treated at the school.
I have grown up with
the same people my whole
life and our friendships
Hilary Buxton
have formed on the basis
of character, not race or
creed. I have never been
OAK PARK page 56
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