for college students = by college students
Detroit's Hidden Jewel
Annual HMD tour leaves WSU student with little doubt
about the city's vast treasures.
Mike Burda } jewish@edu Writer
A
s a commuting criminal justice student at Wayne State
University, I've never had much of an opportunity or
motivation to explore the city of Detroit or the Midtown
area. The general persona of Detroit is that it is empty, dangerous
and there really isn't much to do outside of sporting events. This
reputation, up until recently, was enough for me to pay no atten-
. Students enjoying an HMD Detroit River cruise co-
sponsored by Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue
included Jackie Snider, Schoolcraft College; Jessica
Edmondson, Oakland University; Katie Cassell of
Woodhaw-In; Jason Shanker and Steve Mavashev, both
at Oakland Community College; and Alex Tsuker,
Wayne State University.
tion to the city.
So when I was invited to speak at and participate in Hillel
of Metro Detroit's (HMD) annual Hidden Jewel Tour, I was a bit
skeptical. I knew there was a movement to bring people back to
the city of Detroit, and I knew that the Jewish community used to
have very strong roots here, but I could not imagine what our tour
guide, Eugene Driker (a Wayne State University board member),
was going to show us besides the new restaurants and a few new
businesses that have popped up. I was under the impression there
was not much of a Jewish existence left in Detroit. I was wrong.
In less than 20 minutes, my assumptions changed. I had no
idea so many members of the Jewish community had donated so
much and worked so hard to turn around not only the Wayne State
campus, but also the surrounding area including Midtown and the
Detroit Medical Center. These medical facilities and other businesses
were developed to prolong and increase the quality of life in Detroit.
There is something special about having a name on a building.
With a Jewish name comes a sense of pride and belonging to a com-
munity and a city that is starting to turn around and move forward.
Join us on
campus
Come see why Wayne State University
attracts so many of the region's
brightest students. A nationally
recognized research university in the
city's coolest neighborhood, Wayne
State is alive with possibilities. You can
choose from hundreds of academic
programs and prepare for careers in
the market's most rewarding fields
— including the health sciences,
engineering and education. Sign up for
a tour at wayne.edu and discover how
you can become a part of it all.
AIM HIGHER
30
November 8 • 2012
Wayne State Deputy President Dr. Phyllis
Vroom with WSU students Ari Jacobovitz of
Oak Park and Mike Burda of Orchard Lake
After the bus tour, the participants, other Jewish students, WSU
Dean of Students Dr. David Strauss and WSU Deputy President Dr.
Phyllis Vroom enjoyed a delicious meal catered by Gold 'n' Greens,
the vegetarian/kosher restaurant located in the heart of campus. My
presentation expressed my connections to HMD, the Jewish commu-
nity and, more importantly, how HMD has helped me grow as a stu-
dent and as an extremely proud member of the Jewish community.
Hillel of Metro Detroit creates a sense of belonging and pride not
only to the Jewish community, but also to the six campuses where
they have a presence (Lawrence Technological University, Oakland
Community College, Oakland University, University of Michigan-
Dearborn, University of Detroit Mercy and Wayne State University).
HMD really is the Hidden Jewel of Wayne State and, through
HMD, my involvement in the Jewish community has grown,
as has my curiosity and attachment to Detroit. Since becom-
ing involved, I have attended numerous social and educational
events, traveled to Birmingham, Ala., for an Alternative Spring
Break and to Israel on Birthright.
I am proud to say that I attend Wayne State University, not just
because of the education I am receiving, but because I am a part
of Detroit, a city that is coming back in a major way. @
Mike Burda of Orchard Lake is a senior at Wayne State University.