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

Lincoln Shopping Center

GREENFIELD and 10½ MILE

Advance America

ALDI 
ALDI

Bling Bling
Bling Bling

Book Beat
Book Beat

Church’s Chicken/White Castle 
Church’s Chicken/White Castle

Conservative Cuts
Conservative Cuts

Dollar Castle 
Dollar Castle

DTLR
DTLR

Dr. Lazar 
Dr. Lazar

J Anthony
J Anthony

Kroger
Kroger

Lee Beauty Supply
Lee Beauty Supply

McDonalds
McDonalds

Medical Weight Loss 
Medical Weight Loss

Metro PCS 
Metro PCS

Metropolitan Dry Cleaners
Metropolitan Dry Cleaners

Mookey’s Beans & Greens 
Mookey’s Beans & Greens

Original Bread Basket
Original Bread Basket

Rainbow
Rainbow

Street Corner Music 
Street Corner Music

Step In Style
Step In Style

Suit Depot 
Suit Depot

T Nails
T Nails

Top That
Top That

The shops at

Advance America
Advance America

The shops at

Lincoln Shopping Center