52 | FEBRUARY 20 • 2020
for college students
by college students
Grand Valley State
University senior Zack
Kirschner of Farmington
Hills participated in BBYO
alongside Gelsey. He also feels
that experience pushed him to
join Greek life.
“I don’
t think I would be
where I am now without
BBYO,
” Kirshner said.
“The ability to be a part
of something bigger than
yourself is such a good
experience, and I wanted to
have something like that in
college.
”
Kirschner is a brother in
Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi), a
Jewish fraternity. GVSU has
350 Jewish students.
“Being part of AEPi is
probably one of the most
meaningful things in my life,
”
he said. “I’
m able to combine
two things that mean a lot to
me.
”
Kirschner says being part of
a Jewish fraternity is special.
The AEPi recruitment process
seeks men who embody
the same values and beliefs
as the brothers do. He says
this results in being able
to surround yourself with
quality individuals and create
meaningful relationships.
Michigan State University
junior Daniel Wolfe of Buffalo
Grove, Illinois, is a brother
in his school’
s chapter of
AEPi as well. Wolfe said he
wanted to make the most
out of his college experience
and was convinced to rush
by a roommate. When he
discovered AEPi, he said he
felt a connection with the
other brothers.
“If I hadn’
t found AEPi and
it wasn’
t the Jewish fraternity,
I don’
t think I would have
joined a house,
” Wolfe said. “I
cannot say how amazing this
experience has been for me.
”
As an active member of
MSU’
s Jewish community of
3,500 Jewish students, Wolfe
attends Shabbat dinners and
other events at the school’
s
Hillel, which he says has been
awesome in helping him build
friendships with others who
share his Jewish values.
Wolfe also serves on the
executive board of the MSU
Jewish Business Association
sponsored by Hillel.
During his sophomore
year, Wolfe served as his
chapter president and left that
position craving even more
involvement in the Greek life
community. For him, the next
logical step was to apply for a
position at IFC.
All three men agree that
being Jewish and being
involved in IFC is a special
experience.
“I think it speaks volumes
to the values of Jewish
leadership and the values we
are all brought up with in the
Jewish community,
” Wolfe
said.
While Kirschner and Gelsey
grew up together, they applied
for their respective IFC
presidencies independently.
“I was talking to Zack on
the phone one day and told
him I’
m IFC president and he
said, ‘
Me, too!’
” Gelsey said.
“It’
s awesome there are so
many Jewish people involved
in IFC.
”
All three men said they
hope to continue making a
difference in both their Jewish
and Greek life communities
through their roles as IFC
presidents. @
continued from page 50
Jewish a
t OU
An outreach call started a
journey of Hillel leadership.
W
hen I came
to Oakland
University as a
freshman in fall of 2017, I
had no idea what to expect
from Jewish life at school.
I was interested in Hillel,
but because OU was a part
of Hillel of Metro Detroit
(HMD), I thought most of
the programming would be
in Detroit.
In my sophomore year, I
connected with Jewish life
on OU’
s campus. Early in
the semester, I received a
Facebook message from a
girl I did not know, saying
she was a student intern
with Hillel and would love
to meet me for coffee. After
that first meeting, I slowly
found myself getting more
involved.
We restarted OU’
s
Students for Israel (SFI)
organization and, before
I knew it, I was on
the executive board as
treasurer. This position
led me to attend the 2019
AIPAC policy conference
in Washington, D.C., where
I made fast friends with
students involved at the
other HMD campuses. It
was also where I developed
a passion for Israel
advocacy (and met my
boyfriend!).
This month, I performed
as a nun in Oakland
University’
s School of
Music, Theatre and Dance’
s
opera Dialogues of the
Carmelites by Francis
Poulenc. The opera is
a moving tale of the
martyrdom of the Carmelite
nuns during the French
Revolution. As a Jewish
person, playing a nun
helped open my eyes to
different religions and life
perspectives.
As I approach the end of
my junior year, I look to
reflect on how far I have
come as a Jewish student
at Oakland University. Not
only have I become a leader
within SFI at OU, but also
a leader within HMD — I
now am Applebaum Family
Engagement Intern, much
like the intern who helped
me begin my own journey
within Hillel. @
Ilyssa Brunhild lives on campus at
Oakland University in Auburn Hills.
She is studying music education.
Ilyssa Brunhild } jewish@edu writer
Ilyssa
Brunhild