Monday, August 24,1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Hillel reaches out to potential members
By Steph Brower Kansan staff writer
The categories were similar to MTV's Singled Out—hair, music, first date, college degree and personality. But when the first challenge was to read romantically to the male contestant in Hebrew, it became evident that Hillel's version of the game was a bit different.
Hillel, a campus Jewish students' organization, sponsored the game yesterday as an ice-breaker to attract new members.
Members of the Hillel organization gathered at Veteran's Park, 19th and Louisiana, to participate in a Jewish version of Singled Out. The event took place yesterday, providing a place for both freshmen and older students to meet and minute. Photo by Corie Waters/KANSAN
In an effort to fight declining membership, the organization hired 1998 graduate Dana Blecher through the Hillel-Steinhard Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellowship.
The fellowship started five years ago at 20 universities and has grown to serve 90 schools across the country. Blecher is the first fellow at the University of Kansas. She was approached about the position by Steven Jacobson, executive director of Hillel, at the end of last school year. The two had met in a study-abroad program in Israel.
As a fellow, Bleacher will spend the next 11 months reaching out to Jewish students on campus and trying to get them to attend Hillel events. She said she planned to do this by
sponsoring more fun activities like Jewish Singled Out.
"They needed a creative, more youthful outlook," Blecher said.
"I want to talk to the students and see what they want to do," she said. "A lot of it is getting to know the students, going to coffee, hanging out."
Blecher said that when she was a student, she wasn't involved in Hillet. She said the image of the group was one of "nerdy Jewish people." Through her position, she wants to change that image and be someone Jewish students at KU can approach.
Stacy Greenbaum, Overland Park freshman, appreciated Bleher's initial efforts. Greenbaum said that she was not as religious as some of Hillel's members but that she liked the low-pressure atmosphere of the event.
"I't hard coming in not being too observant," Greenbaum said. "The social things definitely bridge the gap."
The religious understores of the organization are what have scared people off in the past, said David Radom. St. Joseph. Mich., senior.
"Too often, people think Hillel is religious," he said. "Since the majority of people are secular, Hillel has to find common ground."
Random said that although religion is still an aspect of the group, the main purpose is to unite Jewish students.
"It's important for freshman to realize there are people here like you," he said.
Hillel's membership has fluctuated over the years, Radom said, with recent years being especially low. He said he is confident that Blecher will succeed in battling that problem.
He said the day's activities were important because of the need to attract freshmen.
Megan Cohen, St. Louis freshman, and Emily Kochman, Memphis freshman, both said they wanted to be a part of Hillel and Lawrence's Jewish community.
"When you come to a small town like this and you're Jewish, it's nice to have people around you," Cohen said.
Professors meet and greet to educate students
Kansan staff writer
Two University of Kansas professors will participate in a spoof of the Jerry Springer show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at McColm Hall.
Bv Pallavi Agarwal
They will be talking about grades, time management and school.
McCollum.
Kenneth Audus, professor of chemistry and Richard Hardin, chairman of the English department, are two of the 50 professors participating in Meet a Professor, a week-long program that starts today. The program is organized by the Office of New Student Orientation.
Audus and Hardin will act as the guest experts on a mock Springer set, with an audience of students to fire questions, said Irene Ratzlaff, Moundridge senior and residence assistant at
The Meet a Professor program targets freshmen living in residence halls, scholarship halls, oncampus apartments, sororities and fraternities.
"It is helpful for students to see that professors are people too and for professors to see the students in their real environment," said Mary Ryan, director of New Student Orientation.
Margaret Arnold, associate professor of English, has volunteered for the program for more than 10 years and said she found it interesting to meet students informally.
"I let them know what the faculty are willing to do for the students," Arnold said.
Arnold will be participating in a dinner and talk at Douthart Scholarship Hall.
For other professors, it is an
opportunity to forewarn students before reality sinks in after their first exam.
"Don't say 'I'll study on weekends. Only jerk's study on Friday and super-jerks study on Saturday,'" said Tom Mulinazzi, associate dean of the School of Engineering. "Do your work through the week."
This year, for the first time, non-traditional students can also meet a professor for lunch and discussion. Arthur Skidmore, associate professor of philosophy, will speak to students from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Aug.25 at the Kansas Union.
Although the program can be helpful to freshmen, not all students turn up for the discussion.
"A lot of people don't feel they need to come," Arnold said. "But the few enthusiastic ones who come definitely stand a benefit."
MEET A PROFESSOR
**What:** A program designed to allow new students to meet professors in an informal setting.
When:Today through Friday.
Where: Professors will meet students at residence halls, scholarship halls, on-campus apartments, fraternities and sororites.
Ryan said that in the future, the Meet a Professor program might be pushed back a couple of weeks to allow students to adapt to campus life.
Mulinazizi said that the best time to conduct the program would be a little into the semester after the first round of tests have been held and results have come in.
"That is the time they feel they are hit by a two-by-four," he said.
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