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SOME V EWS FR O M COLLEGE STIJ11=0ENT S
Arabs And NB Discuss Peace
True To MSU
STACI BLOCH, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
STACI BLOCH, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
...F
il or the first time in
Michigan State Uni-
versity's history,
Jewish and Arab stu-
dents came together to discuss
Middle East peace.
On October 20, the Arab Stu-
dent Organization and Jewish
Student Union, along with a
campus group called Interna-
tionalizing Student Life, spon-
sored a program called Views of
Peace, designed to discuss the
recent accord between Israel
and the Palestinian Liberation
Organization.
The forum, which attracted
about 50 students, featured two
speakers. Dr. Michael Rubner,
an International Relations pro-
fessor, and MSU alumni Tom
Rifai discussed plans for self-
rule in Jericho, the status of program at MSU paralleled im-
Jerusalem, and the future of proving relations between Arabs
PLO/Israeli relations.
and Jews in the Middle East.
"Peace needs support from
"The forum is as significant
both sides," Dr. Rubner said. and symbolic as the famous
"Both sides must realize that handshake that took place on
change is better than the status the White House lawn," Dr.
quo."
Rubner said.
Mr. Rifai, a former member
Jews and Arabs attended the
of the ASO, also called for coop- event, as well as students of oth-
eration.
er ethnic backgrounds.
"Of course, questions of bor-
Graduate student Karen
ders, precious water, refugee Kennedy visited the Middle
settlements, thousands of polit- East a few years ago. Though
ical prisoners...will fit into the neither a Jew nor Arab, Ms.
goal of comprehensive peace. Kennedy is concerned about
Many others still remain, all of peace. She believes that such fo-
which are workable only if there rums help educate Americans
is a will on all sides to achieve about the reality overseas.
peace. I believe there is a will,"
"Americans don't really un-
he said.
derstand what it's like there,"
The speakers agreed that the she said. ❑
No Contradiction: Jews Attend U-D
CAROLYN RUSKEN, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
recently told someone
that I am president of the
University of Detroit
Jewish Law Students'
Association (JLSA), and she re-
sponded:
"Isn't that an oxymoron?"
I replied: "This is one of the
reasons JLSA exists."
Because the University of De-
troit is a Catholic institution,
few people realize that Jews also
attend. In fact, one of the pur-
poses of JLSA is to make people
aware of the Jewish presence on
campus.
The other goals of the orga-
nization are: to provide educa-
tional programs, speakers and
additional resources to the en-
tire law school; to facilitate com- Carolyn Ruskin
munication between faculty, and professors stopped by, and
administration and the Jewish some asked questions about var-
student body; and to promote ious Jewish traditions. Mem-
good relations between Jewish bers of the JLSA were present
law students, the legal commu- to provide answers to these in-
nity, alumni and the Jewish quiries.
community in general.
The JLSA kicked off this year
in September with a Jewish
Food Day. We played Israeli
music in the law school atrium
and provided various Jewish
foods and wine for everyone to
In October, the JLSA and two
sample. We served kichel,
other
law school religious orga-
bagels, challah, cakes, haman- nizations,
the St. Thomas More
tashen, gefilte fish and matzah.
Society and the Christian Legal
This is the third year we have Society, sponsored a trip to the
had this event. Each time, it has Holocaust Museum in West
been a success. Many students
Bloomfield. All students and
I
"Isn't that an
oxymoron?"
nce a Spartan, al-
ways a Spartan.
At least that's
how you can de-
scribe Eli Broad, a 1954 Michi-
gan State University graduate
who recently donated $20 mil-
lion dollars to the MSU business
school.
A spirited alumnus and suc-
cessful businessman, Mr. Broad
(pronounced Brode) was in East
Lansing October 15 for the
dedication of the new "Eli
Broad School of Business." Dur-
ing his stay, he met with Jew-
ish student leaders
and discussed the is-
sue of minority rela-
tions with them.
He offered advice
on establishing better
rapport between
blacks and Jews.
"We need to under-
stand other groups
and figure out why
they feel like they
do...and turn negative
feelings into positive,"
he said.
A former Farming-
ton Hills resident, Mr.
Broad
attended
MSU's College of
Business, where he
majored in account- Eli Broad
Mims
the Smithsonian Institution.
He has served as director of the
Los Angeles United Way,
YMCA and Chamber of Com-
merce, but when it comes to
the Jewish community, his
support takes on a different
form.
He is an active member of his
synagogue and advises young
Jewish students to "be proud of
being Jews."
Mr. Broad supports MSU
because he feels students can
have a Jewish life through
campus organizations and the
professors were invited to at-
tend. A group of approximately
35 law students, professors and
their families joined the tour. ing.
Most of those who attended had
"I came from De-
not previously visited the mu- troit Central High School, East Lansing community at
seum.
where 95 percent of the stu- large.
The tour was followed by an dents were Jewish," he said. "I
"Students have the best
account given by a Holocaust wanted to go where the popu- of both worlds. MSU has a
survivor. After the museum pro- lation of the campus fit the pop- diverse society yet strong Jew-
gram, we socialized with one ulation of the real world. ish supporters," he said. "A
another and talked about the Besides, MSU has an attractive great university like this is a
experience. Everyone felt it campus, great faculty and more place where people can come
was an exceptionally worth- fun."
together who otherwise
while event. We hope to spon-
Mr. Broad's blood runs green wouldn't."
sor such a tour in future years when he thinks about rival Uni-
Students were impressed
so more people will visit the mu- versity of Michigan.
with Mr. Broad — not because
seum.
"U-M had eggheads then and he donated $20 million to the
Our next major event took still does," he said.
university, not because he is
place on November 14. The.
successful — but because he
JLSA arranged for Michigan
was as generous with his time
state Sen Lana Pollack to speak
and advice as he was with his
at the law school on "Gender Is-
money.
sues and the Law." The entire
Because Mr. Broad was on a
law school was invited to this
tight schedule, MSU students
event, as well as students from
felt it was quite an accomplish-
Detroit College of Law, Wayne
Eli Broad ment to meet with him. Many
State University Law School
students were surprised he was
The personable billionaire so interested in Jewish campus
and the University of Detroit
Dental School.
now lives in Los Angeles where life.
The Jewish Law Students' he serves as chairman, presi-
"I thought he was so nice and
Association hopes to continue to dent and CEO of an $11.5 down-to-earth," said Erin Aus-
provide interesting programs billion financial services lander, marketing sophomore
throughout this year, as well as company, Kaufman and Broad who sits on the Hillel student
Home Corporation. The compa- board.
in years to come.
Carolyn Ruskin is a student ny deals in multi-national
And, of course, he's a Spar-
at the University of Detroit Law housing, commercial real estate, tan. That just about says it all.
School and president of that and financial services.
Staci Bloch is a Michigan
Mr. Broad is a major bene- State University student who is
school's Jewish Law Students'
Association. El
factor of the Museum of Con- an active leader of Jewish
temporary Art and a trustee of groups on campus. 0
"Students have the
best of both
worlds."
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