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8B Wednesday, November 9, 201/ The Statement
PERSONALSTATEMENT

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Ntat m nt
NOVEMBER 9, 2011


THE LOVE OF POLITICS
HOW YOU CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE USING DEMC
BY BRANDON SHAW_

Bullets were fired. Blood was
lost. And a 5-year-old boy nearly
lost his life. Mine was changed
forever.
In August 1999, I was at sum-
mer camp at the North Valley
Jewish Community Center when
my five best friends were shot.
I was 10, entering fourth grade,
and had no idea what was going
on, why there was mass chaos or
what this man's motive was.
As what normally happens in
these situations, protocol was fol-
lowed and we were taken to a Los
Angeles Police Department cen-
tral station. That day, I learned a
lesson that I have not forgotten.
When I asked basic questions to
the authorities present, I learned
at that young age that this was an

act of pure, solid hatred. I decid-
ed at 10 years old that in some
way, in whatever means possible,
it was up to me to correct notions
of hatred and malicious acts and
replace them with a spirit of opti-
mism and a sense of connected
community.
Two years later, the worst
attack on American soil hit the
World Trade Center in New York
City, the Pentagon and United 93.
I lost a lot of family members and
many friends that day and recall
the aftermath all too vividly.
Again, hatred had acted, and I
decided I had to pursue a career
and life trajectory toward cor-
recting whatever form of hatred
I was presented with in whatever
ways I could - menial or signifi-

ting in touch with the headquar-
tered office, I travelled to Des
Moines, Iowa to work the Iowa
caucus in the last two weeks of
what had been an eight-month
)C RA C Y campaign, still in the nascent
stages of a national launch.
He won. I was hooked. I had to
do more.
In 2009, I began contribut-
cant. ing pieces on political and poli-
In late 2007, I became aware cy-driven issues for local news
that political activism was a way outlets. In writing and through
to become involved in my com- journalism, I found a way to com-
munity - at the city, state and bine the "do something about it"
nature of what I
"My goal in life is to send the had contributed
in Iowa, as well
world in an upward trajectory - as the distribu-
tion of informa-
in whatever means possible." tion I knew was

national levels. I began volunteer- spirit of
ing for charities, local campaigns commut
and any non-profit organizations Last:
I could get involved with. Greyhot
Against the counsel from Arbor t(
everyone around me, in Decem- many o
ber 2007 I sent numerous e-mails met inI
to then-Senator Barack Obama's had sin
campaign staff in Iowa. After get- The pu

a way to inject
f optimism and love in the
nity.
February, I took a 22-hour
und bus ride from Ann
o Washington D.C. to visit
f the campaign staffers I
Iowa three years ago and
nce remained in contact.
.rpose of the long jour-

ney, other than getting to see
the White House wa to interact
with policy professignals in every
arena of policy raking: health
care, violence prevention and
international affairs.
Conversations with this group
further revealed to me that each
of us, in our own way, can enact
change in our societies and com-
munities.
My goal in life is to send the
world in an upward trajectory
- in whatever means possible.
Whether this is on the campaign
trail as a strategist or a member of
the media, the notion of eliciting
change in the community excites
me. Whether it's my small home-
town or the country as a whole, I
hope to prevent racism and ste-
reotyping that stem from a lack of
accurate truth.
These various incidents in my
life have taught me that an opti-
mistic outlook and positive per-
spective usually win out in the
end.
- Brandon Shaw is an LSA
sophomore and Daily Staff Reporter
gogues and lecture halls.
While the University is not a
religious institution and has not
espoused religion for over a cen-
tury. It does espouse the open dis-
cussion of and exposure to varied
religious practices.
In the eyes of Reid Hamilton,
president of the Association of
Religious Counselors and chap-
lain of the Canterbury House, it's
not a question of what a student
chooses to study or practice when
it comes to religion. It's about fig-
uring out what's important and
then taking the next step and
making a logical choice as to how
students wish to spend their time.
"It's important for us to learn
as much as we can about as many
religions as we can discover and
know what feels like a natural
path for ourselves," he said.

U
I

,. DERBY
From Page 7B
momentum.
The 2009 movie "Whip It"
offered a first glance into the world
of roller derby for many moviego-
ers and also gave the sport a couple
hours of national attention.
In Michigan, "Whip It" struck a
chord with many kccal women and
resulted in the creation of several
leagues throughout the state. One
of these leagues was Ann Arbor's
-'Derby Dimes, headed by Coach J.T.
Slyde, who trained actresses Drew
Barrymore and Ellen Page dur-
ing the filming of "Whip It" in the
Detroit area.
Many of the women on the team
had been looking to play derby in
the Ann Arbor area, but the sports
wasn't something that was available
at the same time, Gruber said.
"I had heard about (roller derby)
happening in Detroit," Gruber said.
"I was interested in it after 'Whip It'
came out but Detroit was just too far
to go, but then the one in Ann Arbor
started."
The size of Derby Dimes's mem-
bership is steadily growing, but to
womenlike Whiskey, Biz,andK.G.B.
East, it has been an essential part of
their lifestyle and they're not giving
it up.

RELIGION
From Page 5B
One-third of New Life Church's
congregation serves in leadership
positions. One type of leader is
the residence hall prayer leader
- a student who leads fellow stu-
dents in scripture and spiritual
reflection.
"What we emphasize with stu-
dents is that they're going to be
leading in some capacity in their
lives, whether it be in the work
place or in the family," Stenson
said. "So we say even if you're not
going to lead in a formal capacity
in New Life, we'd still like you to
lead in some way because it'll be
good for your life regardless."
There are more than 50 stu-
dent groups sponsored by Hillel,
including an a cappella group, a
performance group and a literary
magazine. As Tilly Shames, asso-
ciate director of Hillel, explained,
this accompanies Hillel's mission
of promoting and contributing
to the vibrancy of Jewish life as
well as the greater campus com-
munity.
"There are many different ways
in which Judaism defines itself,"
she said. "One way is diverse and
the other is pluralistic. It's impor-
tant to span the spectrum, but we

first and foremost see ourselves
as being integral to the campus
community."
Hillel also collaborates with
the Muslim Students' Associa-
tion to improve Muslim and Jew-
ish students' understanding of
the other's religion. Events like
MuJew, a co-sponsored project
between MSA and Hillel, unite
Muslim and Jewish students in
comfortable settings to work on
strengthening ties between the
two faiths and ameliorating ste-
reotypes - both real and per-
ceived.
On its own, MSA plays a part
in educatingstudents about Islam
and creates a space for Muslims to
pray and practice their faith in a
safe and hospitable environment
on campus. From Dawah tables
in Mason Hall, where MSA repre-
sentatives make themselves avail-
able to impart knowledge about
Islam on campus, to reflection
rooms in the Michigan League
and the UGLi, MSA helps to make
Islam a visible and accepted pres-
ence at the University.
Muslim students say more
involvement with student orga-
nizations and increased ties to
academic programs such as Ara-
bic, Armenian, Persian, Turk-
ish and Islamic studies would be

welcome because of the guidance'
that Muslim professors could
provide for students in a minority
religion.
"It would be really great to
develop a stronger relationship
with Islamic Studies," said Annie
Sajid, LSA senior and MSA exter-
nal vice president. "There was
a professor of Islam, Dr. Sher-
man Jackson, who provided a lot
of guidance to students in MSA.
He was really helpful, but he's no
longer around. It would be great
to have someone to fill that void
and act as a religious adviser to
us, which is something we don't
have." ***
A continuing dialogue
The University has long aban-
doned mandatory chapel servic-
.es, yet students need only to visit
New Life Church on Washtenaw
Ave., the Islamic Center of Ann
Arbor on Plymouth Rd., Canter-
bury House on East Huron Street,
or Hillel on Hill Street to see first-
hand the thriving religious atmo-
sphere surrounding campus.
Campus religious groups and
religion classes may be exclu-
sive, but the need for and under-
standing between faiths connects
mosques and churches, syna-

Campus Faith

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