On Campus
Growing Oakland
Hillel at Oakland University is increasing
its reach through programming.
Jake Sharfman
Special to the Jewish News
Rochester
A
s Mitchell Wagner makes his
weekly commute to Oakland
University, he smiles with
pride.
The OU program director for Hillel of
Metro Detroit, Wagner has worked over
the past three years to build Jewish life at
Oakland, acting as an adviser, a mentor
and a friend.
The three years have seen Hillel, or
Jewish Student Organization, at Oakland
grow from a five-person board of directors
with a non-existent program into a func-
tioning Jewish organization, meeting once
a week and attracting growing numbers of
students to its events.
"We had to learn everything in these past
couple years. It was basically just the board
of directors that made up Hillel even as
early as last year;' Oakland University Hillel
President Jereme Goodman said. "This year,
we really know what we are doing and need
to focus on our member base now more
than anything"
The meetings on campus draw more
Jewish students by the week.
The events range from social events
and trips, to lunches with educational
agendas.
"This program has truly flourished and
has made unbelievable strides in the past
couple years," Wagner said.
"Their ability to execute programs,
draw more students each meeting, and
act on their missions and goals is really
impressive:"
Being-that Oakland University is
manly a commuter school, the main
difficulty is finding convenient dates and
The OU Hillel student board plans activities for next semester.
times to meet.
"A huge difference with our Hillel and
that of U-M or Michigan State is that
they have a house. If we had a house on
campus, we would have Shabbat dinners
every week, services on holidays, etc. We
would inspire people with many more
events — it would be so much different:'
Goodman said.
But OU's Hillel prevails. Laser tag and
bowling nights are popular social events,
getting Jewish students acquainted with
one another and attracting about 40 stu-
dents at each function.
OU Hillel brought in comedian Jay Chris
Newburg for a campus-wide show that
attracted nearly 200 students.
On the agenda for next semester are
a trip to a Detroit Pistons game in late
January, a Purim event and a free arcade
night at the university.
"The bowling and laser tag nights, the
more social events, I believe, are criti-
cal. Jews are hungry to meet other Jews,"
Goodman said.
"Lag year, we petitioned for some
Jewish studies and the university just
recently added some classes and a minor,
so steps are being taken. We very much
want to build a Jewish community here"
OU Hillel also hosts lunch-and-learns
with Rabbi Leiby Burnham of Oak Park.
According to the Hillel board, the students'
questions are the most effective method of
unity, awareness and education.
"From a Jewish perspective, it's great to
gather around lunch and have heavy dis-
cussions about Judaism because Judaism,
in itself, is different for everybody:' Wagner
said. "Overall, it's education — education
through discussion."
❑
Jake Sharfman of West Bloomfield is a senior
in journalism at Oakland University.
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