40 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023
A
HAAHHA. Free Palestine!
No wonder you came out
retarded.”
“Go to Hell, Shayla.”
“You deserve everything that’s
happening.”
These are just three of the many
messages I have received on my social
media in response to the attacks on
Israel. While I know my experience
cannot even begin to compare to what
others are going through, I still wanted
to share.
I went a week without wearing my
star necklace. It was the first time
in over a year of attending Eastern
Michigan University that I felt the
need to hide my Jewish star necklace
in public. I never felt this fear before,
the fear that I truly don’t know those
around me.
I found that the best way to feel
connected to campus was to get
involved and find a community to be a
part of. In doing so, I became a part of
Hillel at EMU my freshman year and
am now president of Hillel at EMU, with
it only being my sophomore year.
Being a leader on campus means
that you are representing your club/
organization/community that you are a
part of. Until now, I did not realize the
full depth of what being a representative
of my Jewish community meant,
especially in a place where it is barely a
percentage of the whole student body.
Until now, I never would have
thought of the importance of having
a police presence at our Hillel events.
Now, I can’t imagine having an event
without it. Until now, I never would
have thought of changing the ways
we promote our events to the other
students so that we ensure those who
view Jews in a negative light don’t come.
Until now, I never would have
thought that I would choose a location
for an event based on how visible we
would be through the windows. Until
now, I never would have thought I
would scan the IDF’s Instagram with its
lists of fallen soldiers to see if it contains
the names of friends I used to go to
camp with who are now in the IDF.
Until now, I never would have
thought I would text my former Hebrew
teacher a message of hope and prayers
for her family members in Israel instead
of just catching up on life.
EDUCATING OTHERS
“I wanted to reach out and check in to
see how you and the other members
of Hillel were doing in regards to the
events in Israel.” Within every email,
it is the same. They want to establish a
connection with the Jewish community
on campus, and they “wish it were
under better circumstances.”
I have received many emails from
different officials at EMU, making it
clear they are there to keep us safe.
I don’t know if I would describe this
feeling I have as safety. I know I have
support behind me through Hillel, EMU
for college students
by college students
Keeping My Head Down
Shayla Mostyn } jewish@edu writer
Joplin Collins, Hillel
at EMU’s Shabbat
coordinator, and
Shayla Mostyn
at the Shabbat
Education Dinner
about Yitzhak
Rabin
continued on page 42
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