UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 32, Page D4
May 21, 1992
Diversity
Two students organize Jewish community caucus

     On a campus working to create a racially and culturally diverse
community, a group representing the concerns of the University's
Jewish population might seem basic. However, such a group did not
exist until this spring, when junior Suzannah Richmond and senior
Gayle Weisman founded the Jewish Community Concerns Caucus.
     "If you are trying to create a diverse population and a socially
aware community, then Jewish students and faculty should be included,"
says Richmond, who helped found the group after realizing that Judaism
and Jewish concerns had not been effectively included in the
University's commitment to promote diversity.
     With the support and assistance of the Commission to Promote
Racial and Cultural Diversity, the caucus is beginning to organize and
plans to have a full board of members in place soon.
     It is a varied group, Richmond explains, composed thus far of a
diverse population of Jews, including faculty, students, staff,
members of the Greek system and members of campus Jewish
organizations.
     Richmond is careful to note that the caucus is not a club, but
rather a task-oriented panel, working to represent members of the
University community.
     "The basic premise of our group is to open communication between
the University of Delaware and Jewish life on this campus," Richmond
says. The group's first attempt at this was to send a memo to all
faculty, making them aware of the Passover holidays and their
relationship to students. The group also hopes to expand the Winter
Session program in Israel to a full semester program, in which
students could earn University credits. In general, the group hopes to
serve the needs of the University's Jewish population.
     So far, Richmond says, reaction to the caucus has been very good.
"There are (approximately 2,000) Jewish students on campus, and the
numbers are increasing. Up to now, a lot of people felt they didn't
have an outlet, either socially or if something negative happened. No
one was making a statement or representing Jewish students. By
(creating the caucus), we hope to make a statement on behalf of
everyone."
     For more information on the Jewish Community Concerns Caucus,
contact the Commission to Promote Racial and Cultural Diversity at
831-8703.