28 March 21 • 2019
jn

Fighting Anti-Semitism

New regent Jordan Acker is intent on improving 
U-M’
s campus relations.

I

n 2016, Jordan Acker was playing 
basketball when he became very 
ill. His liver was shutting down, 
but doctors couldn’
t determine the 
exact problem. His condition even-
tually landed him at the University 
of Michigan Hospital, 
where he received stellar 
medical treatment that 
put him back on the 
road to recovery.
Once healed, Acker, 
of the Goodman Acker 
Law firm in Southfield, 
was inspired to give back and to con-
tribute to the political landscape. He 
figured U-M, his alma mater, was a 
good place to start. Three years later, 
he’
s a newly elected regent at the uni-
versity that saved his life. 
With 6,700 Jewish students, U-M 
has robust Jewish representation and 
an incredibly rich Jewish life, he says. 
Additionally, the U-M Hillel, founded 
in the 1920s, continues to be among 
the best. Jewish students add to the 
diversity of the campus; however, 
Jewish students are not completely free 
of the threat of anti-Semitism. 
“Because, yes, there are flaws,
” Acker 
says. “For a lot of students, [the uni-
versity] might be the first place they 
encounter anti-Semitism. And this will 
be part of their adult lives. But there’
s 
really no better place to go from being 
a Jewish high schooler to a Jewish 
adult. There’
s a support network here 
that’
s second to none.
” 
As Acker sees it, the university pro-
vides a fertile ground for those who 
experience discrimination to learn 
how to effectively handle it. And the 
Board of Regents plays a crucial role 
in this by enacting policies to fight dis-
crimination and inequality on campus. 
Several years ago, it enacted Diversity, 
Equity, Inclusion (DEI) to bolster 
student awareness around issues like 
anti-Semitism.
This was one reason Acker was 
moved to run for regent. The Board of 
Regents has traditionally been occu-
pied by those with a few more years 
under their belts than Acker. He was 

constantly told, “Young people don’
t 
run for regents.
” 
Acker was certain the board could 
benefit from a different generational 
viewpoint, so he went into full hustle 
mode, performing as a lawyer during 
the day, then spending his evenings 
and weekends meeting people all over 
the state. He visited more than 50 
counties and tallied more than 35,000 
miles on his car to win the Democratic 
nomination. 
Acker was sworn in Jan. 1. Along 
with the challenges the board faces in 
building awareness around anti-Sem-
itism and other forms of discrimina-
tion, it also continues to take a stand 
against the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, 
Sanctions) movement. 
“BDS comes and goes in waves,
” 
Acker says. “It’
s certainly something 
that has picked up steam in the last few 
years.
” 
As a Zionist, liberal and progressive, 
Acker regards BDS as counterproduc-
tive. In its one-pointed focus, it does 
nothing to promote peace and work 
toward cooperation, he says. At its 
worst, it is considered anti-Semitic.
“With the changeover in the board, 
the line against BDS is maintained,
” 
Acker says. “This is the biggest thing 
we can do to lessen anti-Semitism.
” 
He credits university President Mark 
Schlissel and Provost Martin Philbert 
for striking a balance between the 
academic freedom of students and 
professors with the rights of groups on 
campus.
The board also continues to make 
it clear that boycotts of Israeli institu-
tions have no support in the university 
administration. 
“Divestment makes no sense,
” 
Acker says. “The university has a 
fiduciary responsibility to the people 
of Michigan. The people have made it 
clear they want the university’
s invest-
ments protected and are in support of 
the state of Israel.
” 
The anti-BDS stance is a regent-
approved policy and one which Acker 
and the board intend to keep moving 
forward. ■

jews d
in 
the

STEPH RUOPP SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Jordan Acker 

COURTESY OF THE MICHIGAN 
ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE

PHOTO CREDIT JERRY ZOLYNSKY

To shine the public spotlight on young people in our

community, the JN, the Jewish Community Center and the

Youth Professionals Network created Rising Stars: Teens

Making a Difference, a showcase that will highlight 18

remarkable Jewish pre-teens and teens in the Metro Detroit

area. Those selected will be featured in an issue of the JN

and will also be recognized on the JN, JCC and JFamily social

media pages.

Nominees must live in Michigan, identify as Jewish and be

students in grades 6-12; they can be self-nominated or may 

be nominated by others today through March 30.

Nominees should be recognized for impact, contribution

and/or achievement in areas including (but not limited) to:


Seeking
Terrific Teens!

To nominate yourself or a teen you know, go to 

thejewishnews.com and click on the Rising Stars button 

or to jccdet.org/RisingStars. The deadline is March 30.

