AUGUST 18 • 2022 | 43

JCRC/AJC, we contacted Dr.
Mert Aksu, dean of students
at the University of Detroit
Mercy School of Dentistry,
and scheduled
a meeting with
the dental school
administration.
We are pleased
to report that
the meeting with
Dr. Aksu and Dr.
Juliette Daniels,
associate dean
of students, was
overwhelmingly
positive. The deans
agreed to speak
to the Office of
Diversity and
Inclusion about the
repercussions of the
email that was sent
out and how to do better in
the future.
HMD is now helping to
plan an anti-bias training
led by the ADL (Anti-
Defamation League) to
support students and faculty.
According to HMD Associate
Director Brittany Begun, “We
are thrilled to collaborate
with the University of Detroit
Mercy School of Dentistry to
educate the community with
anti-bias training.”

Rabbi Asher Lopatin,
executive director of the
JCRC/AJC, attended the
meeting. “It meant so much
that there was respect
for sensitivities of Jewish
students. Sometimes these
issues don’t come from
malice but from insensitivity.
In this instance, we didn’t
have to persuade someone’s
thinking, but we were able to
educate and discuss together.
“University of Detroit
Mercy Dental is a not a
challenging environment;
it is a welcoming environ-
ment,” Lopatin added.
“It is our responsibility
as Jews and people who
love Israel to step up and
provide education and use
challenges as opportunities.
After the meeting, we felt
closer to the administration
and school than we
ever had before. It
was an unfortunate
incident that
helped us come
together with a new
and meaningful
understanding.”
Hillel of Metro
Detroit not only
enhances the
Jewish experience
on campus but
also works to help
educate the greater
population about
Jewish life. Incidents
like these are not
always based on hate,
rather they happen because
of a lack of education.
I am confident that our
organizations working
together will help create a
more inclusive and tolerant
environment for the
students, faculty and staff at
University of Detroit Mercy
School of Dentistry.

Olivia Berlin is the director of mar-

keting and Jewish life coordinator for

Hillel of Metro Detroit.

Fighting
Antisemitism

Brittany Begun

Rabbi Asher
Lopatin

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