b otos... i TOKIO 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 55