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Wednesday, February 9, 2011 // The Statement
PERSONALSTATEMENT

the
statement
FEBRUARY 9, 2011

BERENSON WORSHIP
IN SECTION 17 AT YOST IC
HOCKEY BECOMES A RELI
BY JOSH HEALY

For me, visits to Yost Ice Arena
are reminiscent of a religious
experience. This sort of phe-
nomenon is difficult to wrap your
head around if you've never been
a very churchy or religious person,
but most people have at least felt
the emotions that I, as a Catholic
atheist, happen to associate with
"religion." So connecting with what
I say might be easier than it seems.
For some years now, I have been
enjoying the hedonistic lifestyle of
a Catholic atheist, yet from time
to time I must admit a slight urge
for an outlet through which to
dispense my religious yearnings.
Mostly, these yearnings are akin to
"Catholic" practice, as they are tied
to my irrepressible love for ritual,
song and consistency in mass gath-
erings. Twelve years of a mostly
happy Catholic education has that
effect on some of us.
For slightly fewer years, I have
been struggling to pinpoint exact-
ly why I love the environment at
Yost so much. I finally connected
spirit with sport at last month's
EGYPT
From Page 5B
With the protests in Tahrir
Square and elsewhere still raging,
nothing monumental happened
during Ward's exodus from Egypt.
"It was pretty eventless," Ward
said. "We took a school bus and
waited in traffic forever. Once we
got to the airport, our plane was
delayed for an hour, but nothing
really happened. The military was
in control of everything by that
point."

Great Lakes Invitational during
Michigan's game against a very
worthy annual opponent: our foes
in Houghton, the Michigan Tech
Huskies.
After Michigan's firstgoal, I was
basking in my post-goal excite-
ment and stood ready to perform
our classic goal count chant. I find
myself always wanting more goals
and prepared to say so with much
gusto. However, as I stood, some
jackass behind me barked for me to
sit down, reminding me that "You
aren't at Yost!"
Indeed, that was my come to
Berenson moment, as I realized
that it was the first instance when
I had put my "religion" above the
objections and preferences of
those around me, and felt that it
didn't matter since standing up for
a cause I believe in became more
important than the judgment of
others. Call me a jerk or say that
I should've sat down - both are
fair. However, in that moment, one
could not deny me the honor of
being called an extremist for Mich-
Now back in the United States
more than three months early,
Ward and Michalik's future is just
as uncertain as Egypt's.
Since he graduated, Ward said
he's going to look for a job in Ann
Arbor or potedtially take a class at
the University, adding he wants to
continue studying Arabic to fulfill
the Flagship Program's require-
ments.
"I'll probably just stay in Ann
Arbor," he said. "I'm waiting to
hear back from graduate schools,
so I'm kind of in an in-between
stage right now."
Michalik, meanwhile, didn't
want to discuss her future plans,
but said she was distraught that her
short trip home had turned into a
more extended stay.

is host to the most dedicated and
extreme religionists in our little
A Rmost secure and at home in my
beliefs. I use the term "extreme"
G IO N quite loosely - the most menacing
act I have ever witnessed our group
perform was the string of obsceni-
ties shouted at our in-state rivals,
the Michigan State Spartans, after
igan hockey, a child of Yost. an assault on Steve Kampfer that
While that may not seem to oth- would have been considered crimi-
ers to be an incipiently "religious" nal had it not occurred on a hockey
experience, in the days since the rink. Indeed, the student section's
GLI I have come to enjoy a confir- response warranted a reprimand
from the Universi-
"I feel (honestly!) a relationship ty - our very own
religious moder-
of faith toward my coach and my ates attempting to
rein in a group of
players: They are my gods." its extremists.
But most
mation of that moment and con- importantly, I feel an honest
nection. The list of reasons why sense of catharsis for my religious
Yost is a perfect environment to impulses at Yost: passion, faith and
express my Catholic tendencies dedication to a cause greater than

myself and complete spiritual free-
dom followedby complete spiritual
fulfillment.
The ritualistic trappings, the
engagement of my spiritual life, the
Sabbath-recallingweekend gather-
ings and a sense of belonging to a
group of fellow converts make Yost
a place of religious realization for
me. I invite all my readers, theist
and non-theist alike, to join the
services at least once this year. For
many more reasons than the ones
listed here, Yost is worth at least
one visit as a Michigan fan. Some
visit Yost Ice Arena and merely
see a game with student-athletes
competing in the wonderful sport
of hockey. For a small group of us,
however, it is the only religion we
know or care to believe in.
Who knows, you may be a con-
vert before you know it.
Josh Healy is an LSA junior and
Co-Copy Chief of The Michigan Daily

THE UNIVERSITY'S EVACUATION
OUT OF EGYPT

PAGE 4B

expands with every visit to the
Yost Ice Temple: I wear a specific
form of garb to every gathering. I
chant, cheer, dance, sing and just
generally engage in ritualistic
behavior. I feel (honestly!) a rela-
tionship of faith toward my coach
and my players: They are my gods.
And even when their presence
isn't felt, I have faith that they
will come through and do some-
thing great.
I often sit in Section 17, which
"It was just supposed to be a
two-week vacation, and after that
I was going to go back for anoth-
er three-and-a-half months,"
Michalik said. "I still had a lot of
progress in the language I wanted
to do. There were still alot of plac-
es I wanted to travel. I would've
preferred to have a formal good-
bye with all my friends and my
host family."
Both were shocked by the sud-
denness of the evacuation. One
day they were studying and living
in an idyllic city on the Mediter-
ranean coast, and the next day
Michalik is in Houston and Ward
is back in the harsh Ann Arbor
winter.
"Right now I can't believe I'm
in Ann Arbor." Ward said.

Financial aid is available
to assist U-M students
participating in U-M .
study abroad programs.
- View instructions to apply for study abroad
aid at: www.finaid.umich.edufapplyand_
receiveaidfapplyingfor aidabroad.asp.
- If you will be enrolled in a study abroad
program sponsored by the University of Michigan,
you will be considered for all aid programs
except Work-Study. Note: You must apply
for aid by completing a Free Applicationfor
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other forms
as noted on the web page above.
- If you will enroll in a study abroad program
sponsored by another institutionlagency, contact
the Office of Financial Aid immediately to
review your options.

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