To Life!

AROUND TOWN

Sparty
Party

Michigan State president
spreads Spartan spirit
in outreach to local Jews.

A

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon and Trustee Faylene Owen

Elaine and Michael Serling of Orchard
Lake

Anna and Yale Levin of Farmington Hills

Jeffery Kirschner and David Einstandig,
both of West Bloomfield

Gail and Art Langer of Farmington Hills

n award-winning saxophone
quartet from Michigan State
University's College of Music
helped set the tone, performing as about
100 people with various ties to the East
Lansing-based university mingled at the
Farmington Hills home of Anna
and Yale Levin. The group of
Jewish MSU alumni, supporters,
and parents of current students
gathered July 31 to meet one-
on-one with MSU President Lou
Anna K. Simon and hear her
plans for the university's future.
"We have more Jewish students
at Michigan State than any other
college in Michigan," Simon told
the crowd. "Our commitment to
you is that we want to be the best invest-
ment in American education."
Newly elected MSU trustee, Faylene
Owen of East Lansing, also spoke at the
informal dessert reception. Owen is the
first Jewish woman to serve as a trustee in
MSU's 150 year history
"It means a great deal to me Owen said
about her new position. "I think Michigan
State is one of the best kept secrets in the
country — there's so much going on, so
much to do. I want to spread the Michigan
State message!'
The evening's hosts are also MSU grad-
uates and have passed the Spartan spirit

Richard and Debbie Astrein of Huntington Woods and Nancy

Steven and Jennifer Teper with Karen and Tony Levin, all of

Serlin of Farmington Hills

Farmington Hills

40

August 9 2007

down through their family's generations.
"Michigan State has done a lot of things
to create a more homey environment for
Jewish students;' said Yale Levin, pointing
to the school's Jewish studies program
which began in 1992 with the support of
Elaine and Michael Serling
of Orchard Lake, and MSU's
Hillel which dedicated a new
center in 2002, sponsored by
Patrice and Dr. Eric Phillips
of West Bloomfield.
"We love State,' added Anna
Levin. "Our children, Tony
and Jennifer, went there and
we've already brainwashed our
grandchildren — they can
sing the fight song. We're very
green and white!"
Spotted in the crowd at the MSU
gathering were: Margie Dunn and
Mark Davidoff, Susan and Dr. Alvin
Schoenberger, and Debbie and Alan
Muskovitz, all of West Bloomfield;
Brian Wolf of Oak Park; MSU Dean of
the College of Communication Arts and
Sciences, Charles Salmon and Michael
Brand, both of East Lansing; Florine
Mark and Don Benyas, and Alan
Kaufman, all of Farmington Hills; and
Debbie and Richard Astrein, Sen. Gilda
Jacobs and John Jacobs, all of Huntington
Woods.

Ron, Heather and Cheryl Kerwin, all of
West Bloomfield