30 | FEBRUARY 20 • 2020 

Jews in the D

A School’s Education

GVSU to focus on Holocaust learning 
after football coach’
s Hitler comment.

G

rand Valley State 
University says it will 
increase its curric-
ulum around the Holocaust 
and Native American history 
after one of its football coaches 
referenced Hitler as “a great 
leader” and said he would like 
to have dinner with Christopher 
Columbus.
University President 
Philomena V
. Mantella 
announced the new efforts fol-
lowing the Jan. 23 comments 
by former offensive coordinator 
Morris Berger to the student 
newspaper, the Grand Valley 
Lanthorn. Berger, who had been 
hired by the school Jan. 20, 
resigned from his position 10 
days later.
“We will use this moment to 
work diligently toward institu-
tional systemic change that cre-
ates a healthier campus climate 
for all,
” Mantella said during 
the university’
s Feb. 7 Board of 
Trustees meeting.
GVSU and the coach reached 
a mutual agreement to part 
ways. He received a payout of 
$90,000, which amounts to 
$80,000 for a one-year salary 
and $10,000 in lost benefits.
A “personal review” of Tim 
Nott, associate director of 
Athletic Communications at 
GVSU, was also put in place 
after he called the Lanthorn’
s 
sports editor, Kellen Voss, five 
times after the article was pub-
lished to request the removal of 
Berger’
s comments. According 
to Mary Eilleen Lyon, associate 
vice president of University 
Communications, the review 

has since ended and has been 
dealt with internally by Nott’
s 
supervisor. 
Marlene Kowalski-Braun, 
associate vice president for 
Inclusion & Student Support at 
GVSU, says GVSU has always 
held an intersectional lens 
and hopes this committee can 
further educate students and 
faculty.
“We’
re planning on doing 
short-term programs to address 
the immediate issues elevated in 
the comments,
” Kowalski-Braun 
said in an interview with the 
Jewish News. “But we also have 
a long-term view of where we 
hope to be as a campus commu-
nity in a couple years. We want 
to continue to deeply educate 
our faculty and students who 
are a part of campus and make a 
more inclusive environment.
”
The curriculum expansion 
plans involve a temporary com-
mittee created by Mantella and 
including GVSU student lead-
ers and faculty members. The 
university will also be working 
alongside its Hillel and GVSU’
s 
Native American Advisory 
Council.
GVSU’
s Hillel chapter had 
spoken out strongly against 
Berger: “It is unfortunate to 
see a member of our Grand 
Valley community glorify the 
Holocaust, a period that brought 
such destruction and travesty to 
the world,
” the group posted to 
its Facebook page Jan. 29. “We 
appreciate the university’
s swift 
response, and we will continue 
to partner with them to educate 
our campus community.
” 

CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER

Cancer Thrivers Network for Jewish Women 

Everyone who is touched by a cancer experience 
faces many unexpected challenges. Join us as our 
panel of experts explore the physical, emotional 
and spiritual implications of the New Normal.

 When:
 Wednesday, March 25, 2020 
 from 12-2pm
 Where:
 Adat Shalom Synagogue
 29901 Middlebelt Road
 Farmington Hills, MI

 Kosher lunch served

This program is made possible by a grant from the 
Alfred and Sandra Sherman Women’s Health Fund in conjunction 
with the Jewish Women’s Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit.

RSVP to Sarah Strasberger by March 18 at 
248.592.2267 or sstrasberger@jfsdetroit.org 

Jeffrey Forman, MD 
Medical Director of Development 
Karmanos Cancer Institute

Michelle Riba, MD
Director of PsychOncology 
University of Michigan 
Rogel Cancer Center

Melissa K. Rosen, MA 
Director of Community Education
Sharsheret

NO CHARGE
Open to 
the community

