for c liege students by college stude

A New Vision

CMU sophomore hopes to make a difference
for the deaf and the hard-of-hearing community.

From left: Sean Alpiner,
Danielle DePriest, Sammy
Dubin, Laura Flusty, Ben Henig,
Shayna Hodge, Lucy Keller,
Nina Patchak

jewish @ edu staff •

editorial: (248) 351-5144 • kcohen@thejewishnews.com

Reporters: Sean Alpiner, Oakland University; Danielle DePriest,
University of Michigan; Sammy Dubin, Central Michigan University;
Laura Flusty, U-M; Ben Henig, Eastern Michigan University; Shayna Hodge,
Oakland University; Lucy Keller, Grand Valley State University; Nina
Patchak, Michigan State University

• Special thanks to all Hillels in Michigan for contributions.

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josh Finn talks in American Skill Lancfnacie with Anelisa Bailey
of Mesick.

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DETROIT
JEWISH NEWS

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Helping Out

Taiox Joey Eisman of West Bloomfield doing

community service in New Orleans during University
of Michigan Hillel's Alternative Spring Break.

46

May 19 2011

By Sammy Dubin

ince Josh Finn was in sixth grade, he had
a passion for sign language. A woman
named Melissa Gulvas, who became
his mentor, came to Berkshire Middle School
in Beverly Hills in 2003 and spoke about sign
language.
"Melissa came to my school and formed a
sign language club," Finn said. "I saw her initial
presentation and was really interested in being
in the club." In addition to his participation in
middle school, Finn later enrolled in American
Sign Language 101 at Oakland Community
College as a 10th-grader.
Finn, who is majoring in broadcasting and
cinematic arts with a minor in American Sign
Language and film studies at Central Michigan
University in Mount Pleasant, plans to utilize
his knowledge of the various disciplines he has
studied. His goal is to combine them to benefit
the deaf.
He wants to create a television station dedi-
cated to people who are hard of hearing (he
noted that "hearing impaired" is a dated term).
"Specifically, I want to create programming
for deaf people who know and use sign lan-
guage in their daily lives," he explained.
Finn's goal is to create an environment in
which he brings together those who hear and
those who cannot, and have them work togeth-
er to present news and public affairs broadcast-
ing.

with the deaf," said Finn of Southfield. "The
unique TV station will offer daily news and
replace some closed captioning with anchors
that can use sign language."
Another hope of Finn's is to have the deaf as
well as people of hearing working together in
front of the camera.
"There would be talking heads and signing
heads," Finn explained. A signer would replace
the closed captioning.
Securing adequate funding is another factor
that could affect whether the station is success-
ful or not. Finn says it would probably be hard
to get in the beginning because TV networks
wouldn't see this concept as a necessity. But, he
says, an increasing number of people in many
nations are hard of hearing than ever before.
And awareness is increasing.
Finn also hopes to focus on the entertain-
ment industry.
"If this industry would focus on the deaf
that would create even greater awareness. This
would spotlight the deaf community and give
them a chance to show that they are valuable
and contributing citizens."
Finn, who is also active at CMU as a resident
assistant, works at the campus radio station
and also in the cafeteria.
Additionally, this year, he assumed a more
active role at Hillel.
"I want to do this because I know it is
important to meet people who have common
interests. We are a small but active Hillel at
CMU."

"Those who hear will have to know sign
language because they have to interact for and

Sammy Dubin of West Bloomfield will be a sophomore
at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant.

Mount Pleasant

S