www.theJEWISHNEWS.com • From left to right: Allison Berman, Zack Colman, Ilene Crane, Kale Davidoff, Jenny Gross, Michael Rubyan From left to right: Melanie Lubin, Jay Pliskow, Erica Rogers, Shelley Rosenberg, Jessica Singer, Caine Subelsky jewish @ edu staff • OUT-OF-STATE 120 Sisters Jewish sorority gives Detroiter a sense of home at t , it) --1Cjiliii :Data ran rigi)61( !.),,, :i: INDIANA UNIVERSITY ..20 ma.sura et. ' ..... (11,04,0,;) 2009 `:2 2010 it AI .4.. .... (.1, s. a~f sow ....... " el .‘ f t) editorial: (248) 351-5144 • kcohen@thejewishnews.com Reporters: Allison Berman, University of Michigan; Zack Colman, Michigan State University; Ilene Crane, Central Michigan University; Kale Davidoff, MSU; Jenny Gross, MSU; Melanie Lubin, Indiana University; Jay Pliskow, Western Michigan University; Erica Rogers, Wayne State University; Shelley Rosenberg, U-M; Michael Rubyan, U-M (IN cover story); Jessica Singer, U-M; Carrie Subelsky, Grand Valley State University • Special thanks to MSU Hillel for their contributions. supervising staff Chief Operating Officer I F. Kevin Browett Editorial Director I Robert Sklar Creative Director I Deorah Schultz IT Director I Deanna Spivey IU. by Melanie Lubin From left to right: sophomores Jamie Schwarz of West Bloomfield and Melanie Lubin of Farmington Hills, junior Dana O'Neill and sophomore Blair Alexis, both of West Bloomfield Bloomington, Ind. Leaving home for an out-of- state school was one of the hardest things I have ever done. When I chose Indiana University in Bloomington, I never fully realized what going this far away entailed. As a freshman, I made some great new friends, but I missed my old friends and the comfort of being close to home. On top of all of this, that same semester I endured the loss my dad. Because I was at school, I felt robbed of the chance to spend more time with him. My world came crashing down, and being six hours away from home, I felt helpless and alone. I was advised by professors to take an incomplete for the semester, but I knew my dad would DETROIT have wanted me to stay and try to carry on. I completed first semester with more downs than ups, JEWISH NEWS lj Jewish Supported by a generous grant from the Stephen but I was proud of myself for starting to overcome the difficulty. Federation H. Schulman Millennium Fund. of Metropolitan Detroit It wasn't until late last January that I had the strength to start to accept and deal with the situa- ALLIANCE FOR A Jewish Renaissance Media publication © 2010 tion. This was because of a group of about 120 girls I am lucky enough to call my friends. JEWISH EDUCATION I am an only child, but now I have sisters — Sigma Delta Tau sisters. We became sisters by chance the day we joined this house, and we became friends by choice immediately after. These unbelievable friendships will last FOR life, not FOUR years, and that is the best feeling in the world. These friends make your daily struggles seem magically solved after taking you to din- ner and telling you to just "let it out" after a hard day. These are the friends that pile onto the couch to watch TV and change a rainy day into a perfect day. These are the friends that offer to read over your business admissions essay, to goof off with you when you're in a silly mood or to go to services with you for the High Holidays. These are the friends I can't understand how I ever managed to get by without. As cheesy as it may sound, I am no longer an only child nor will I ever be again. For this With 132 undergraduate degree programs and 117 The total college experience - The rich campus reason, my first semester troubles no longer atmosphere is complete with residence halls, Greek life, graduate degree and certificate programs, Oakland seemed as overwhelming. I had my newfound Division I athletics and more than 170 student orgs. University is a nationally recognized university that sisters and they were there from Day One to Right in the community - Near major expressways provides an affordable, high-quality education. help me through it. My world turned around and the hub of research and business activity in after joining SDT and I can confidently say that choosing this house was the best decision I Oakland County, OU is accessible to millions of residents No fees - OU is the only public university in Michigan that have ever made. and commuters. doesn't charge fees. No activity, recreation or registration My grades and academics have improved. I fees - not even an application fee. Marketable grads - Nearly 90 percent of OU grads are have had the opportunity to take on leadership employed within six months of graduation. Here to help - More than 60 percent of OU students positions; I am now the president of my chap- receive help through more than $100 million in ter. And by choosing to join a Jewish house, I financial assistance. now have a stronger focus on my religion. To To find out more, please visit oakland.edu . me, it is a place where I can be myself, where I have unlimited opportunities and 120 best friends. My passion for SDT is only topped by the strength of the friendships I have made and the well-rounded person I have become. I have found my niche here at IU. I am for- ever grateful for my decision to join; for it is the choices we make that continue to impact us forever. @ (800) OAK-UNIV Exectuive Editor I Ken Guten Cohen qi! J oakland.edu ouinfo@oakland.edu 8 February 11 - 2010 Jew's Melanie Lubin of Farmington Hills is a sophomore at Indiana University in Bloomington. ww•Ah E \NIS H N c)