This Week
Syrian Connection
WSU signs agreement with the University of Damascus.
DIANA LIEBERMAN and
SHARON LUC KERIvIAN
Staff Writers
D
r. Irvin Reid, president of
Wayne State University in
Detroit, has signed an
agreement of scientific
cooperation with Damascus
University, according to a press release
from Syria's official news agency.
The agreement was signed Jan. 6 in
Damascus by Dr. Reid and Dr. Hani
Murtada, rector of the Syrian universi-
ty, the release says. Dr. Reid was in
Damascus to discuss health care after a
trip to Egypt for an energy conference.
According to the press release, the
agreement provides for scientific and
cultural relations and for visits to the
Syrian ministry of health and
Damascus University next September.
Richard Bernstein, who will be sworn
in as a member of WSU's board of gov-
ernors Jan. 16, said the existence of the
agreement had been confirmed by
Charles Bantz, Wayne State provost and
senior vice president of academic affairs.
Bernstein, a Farmington Hills-based
lawyer, said he was "outraged" that Dr.
Reid had unilaterally signed a coopera-
tive agreement with "a regime that
represses its own citizens and sponsors
terrrorism."
Syria is on the U.S. State
Department's list of countries
munity worldwide spoke out
that sponsor terrorism, and a
against this as they should
number of Syrian-based groups
have."
have been implicated in attacks
However, Driker said, Syria
on Israel and the United States.
may "stand in a different posi-
"I think it [the agreement]
tion than most other coun-
shows a tremendous lack of
tries because of its links with
Irvin Reid
judgment," Bernstein said.
terrorism."
WSU has instituted joint pro-
Annetta Miller, a longtime
grams with numerous countries
WSU board member, praised
in recent years. For example,
the university and Dr. Reid for
nursing students from Hashemite
promoting study of "the many
University in Jordan complete
cultural, ethnic and religious
doctoral degrees at WSU.
differences" between the world's
Eugene Driker, who was
nations.
Eugene
appointed in December to the
"Since I believe education is
Driker
WSU board, said, "Wayne State
the answer to eventual world-
University has generalized
wide cooperation and peace, we
umbrella agreements with hun-
need as much as we can to
dreds of universities around the
encourage this."
world to explore potential areas
Miller said she would ask Dr.
of cooperation."
Reid to add the Syrian agree-
Although he hasn't read the
ment to the agenda of the first
new agreement, the Detroit
board of governors meeting.
Richard
attorney said two issues come
However, David Gad-Harf,
Bernstein
into play here. "First, universities
executive director of the Jewish
have as their mission the
Community Council of
advancement of science and knowledge
Metropolitan Detroit, was disap-
that shouldn't be stymied by political
pointed.
considerations.
"While I recognize the value of
"That's why it was so reprehensible international scientific and cultural
when groups around the world tried
collaboration, the Syrian regime's
to have an academic boycott of
oppression, support for terrorism and
Israeli academics. And knowledge-
lack of peace with Israel make her
able people from the academic com-
unfit for warming relations." ❑
What's In A Name?
JCC announces contest to name new hands-on museum.
DIANA LIEBERMAN
Copy Editor/ Education Writer
A
person might think the well-
known edifice on the northwest
corner of Maple and Drake
roads has plenty of names already.
But the Center for Exploration and
Discovery, under the umbrella of the
Weinberg Judaic Enrichment Center in
the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Building
on the Eugene & Marcia Applebaum
Jewish Community Campus in West
Bloomfield is looking for a name.
The JCC and the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit are asking
1 / 1 0
2003
12
children ages 6-12 to think of an
and school groups, and devoted entire-
appropriate and catchy title for the
ly to the celebration, exploration and
hands-on museum of Jewish life
discovery of the wonders of
planned for the JCC in West
Judaism? We thought long and
Bloomfield. And whoever wins
hard about naming it," said
the "Great Name Contest" will
Penny Blumenstein, chair of
win a mountain bike and a JCC
the Weinberg Center.
family membership.
"And then it hit us: Why not
Made possible with funds
ask your children?"
from Ford Motor Company, the
Parents and teachers are wel-
facility will occupy space on the Penny
come to help their children, ages
MU 771 enstein 6-12, to come up with a name.
JCC's first floor. It's slated to
open next December.
Mail all entries, no later than
"What do you call an exciting new
Feb. 9, to Amy Camerella, Name
venue geared to entertaining and
Contest, JCC, 6600 W Maple Road,
enlightening children, their families
West Bloomfield, MI 48322. ❑
LETTERS from page 6
amazing group of motivated and fun-
loving kids. They utilized many life
skills to compete against one another,
as well as working harmoniously to
accomplish their goals.
It feels like a blast from the past: hav-
ing innocent fun while reaffirming
themselves as Jews and chanting the val-
ues of B'nai Kith Youth Organization's
founding father and mother. I would
like to thank everybody who made this
wonderful opportunity possible for all of
our children. A special thanks to the
Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit for use of facilities.
Jody Seidman
Kitzoni AZA parent
West Bloomfield
Authors Graced
Ann Arbor JCC
The Jewish Community Center of
Washtenaw County in Ann Arbor was
very pleased to see the wonderful arti-
cle by Todd Leopold about sports-
writer Jane Leavy and her new biogra-
phy of Jewish pitcher Sandy Koufax
("Baseball's 'Most Misunderstood
Man,'" Dec. 21, page 60).
During our recent and greatly
expanded 2002 Jewish Book Fair, we
were very privileged to host Jane
Leavy, who spoke about Sandy
Koufax, A Lefty's Legacy Ms. Leavy
was an articulate speaker as well as a
warm and charming individual who
answered many questions from all the
Sandy Koufax fans in the audience.
She certainly honored Mr. Koufax
and his career and discussed how he felt
about his Jewishness and his position as
a Jewish role model. She talked about
many of the incidents discussed in the
article and about how she researched the
Koufax story. Ms. Leavy's appearance
was sponsored by the Hebrew Day
School of Ann Arbor and was one of 15
different programs, which made up the
10-day event at the JCC in Ann Arbor.
Several of the traveling authors also
appeared in Detroit; we coordinated
those arrangements with the wonderful
help of Elaine Schoenberger, the Detroit
JCC's Book Fair director and her staff
Cooperation and assistance from
many helped a small and vibrant Jewish
community of 6,000 have a full roster of
intelligent and articulate speakers at their
JCC to celebrate Jewish Book Month.
Leslie Bash
executive directo r;
Jewish Community Center of
Washtenau , County
Ann Arbor