Department of Residence
There are four undergraduate dorms on the campus- Centennial Halls (called Halls) 303.871.2565 (one of two freshman dorms, the only dorm in which I was allowed to table, the main lounge can also be reserved and used for programming). Centennial Towers (called Towers) 303.871.2721. Johnson-McFarlane Hall (called J-Mac) 303.871.2183 (the other dorm for freshmen, located very close to the Hillel house, can use the TV. lounge for programs). Nelson Hall 303.871.2946 (the newest dorm is also located closely to the Hillel house).
Campus Life and Student Programs
For programming, tabling and flyering on campus these are the key contact personal and phone numbers. Campus Life 303.871.3111 Student Programs 303.871.4214 Conference Meeting and Event Service 303.871.4333 to reserve rooms for programs on campus like in Driscoll or Sturm Hall. Valerie Gemoets, Associate Director Student Programs 303.871.3295 vgemoets@du.edu Valerie is the person to contact to schedule and reserve tables on the Driscoll Bridge for tabling (I set up at the mid-point of the school year to have a table reserved for me every Tuesday on the Bridge), and for getting Hillel's plastic banner hung on the Bridge as well as plastic banners for specific events. The stamp that must be affixed to all flyers to be posted or put in student is affixed by at the desk in front of Valerie's office. John Nichols, Director of the Driscoll Center 303.871.3864 jonichol@du.edu John used to be the contact person for reserving rooms and tables in Driscoll, and getting banners hung on the Bridge. He is still the head of the building and is above Valerie and Conference Meeting and Event Services. If you have a problem with either Valerie or Conferencing then contact John. Brad Orenstein, Catering Manager of Dining Service 303.871.7737 when you need food or beverages at any event in the Driscoll Center Brad is the contact person. The Driscoll building has strict regulations about bringing in outside food, though Brad has been very understanding about Kashrut issues. Carl Johnson, Director of Greek Life and Student Programs 303.871.3526 cdjohnso@du.edu Carl is the person to contact to co-program with the Greek Houses and other student organizations.
The Center for Judaic Studies
Judaic Studies is a small department at the University. They have a total of 48 classes listed in the catalog for both undergrad and grads. Judaic Studies offers a B.A. minor in Judaic Studies and a Religious Studies major with a concentration in Judaism at the undergrad level and an M.A. in Judaic Studies at the grad level. They also have a Holocaust Awareness Institute, an Interfaith Intercultural Institute, and the Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society. Phone: 303.871.3020 web: www.du.edu/cjs/ I never cosponsored any events with Judaic Studies, but that is a good possibility to consider for future programming.
The Institute for the Study of Israel in the Middle East - ISIME
ISIME is a program in the Graduate School of International Studies. ISIME functions as a unique "think tank" that focuses on evaluating Israel in the context of its embedded role in the Middle East. The Director of ISIME is an Israeli professor, Shaul Gabbay sgabbay@du.edu 303.871.2560. This year ISIME and Hillel cosponsored several speakers who were brought to campus to lecture about Israel including: Professor Meir Litvak to discuss "Muslim Extremism and the West" and Ishmael Khaldi an Israeli Bedouin will share his thoughts and perspectives with us on "Israel Today". Hillel and ISIME have a very good working relationship and Shaul is a great partner with whom to co-program.
Campus Organizations and Student Leadership
Here is a list of other DU student groups, some of which Hillel and I successfully worked with and others who we tried to work with. These are the key groups on the campus to work with, build relationships, and cosponsor programs.
BSA (Black Student Alliance) A strong student organization that faces similar diversity problems as Hillel. They participated in the Freedom Seder, with an excellent power point presentation on Revolution. www.du.edu/orgs/bsa/ Maria Cruz 303.226.3228 macruz@du.edu
Circle K (a service organization) I co-sponsored the PB&J Jam on the Driscoll Bridge with this group. They also participated in the Freedom Seder by sharing what "service" means to their organization. Joe Campe and Ruth Overlease jcampe@du.edu and ruoverle@du.edu .
The Clarion (the student campus news paper) The Clarion is not the best written of college papers, but its the only one that the campus has, so you'll have to learn to make do. Over the course of the year they did a better job of covering Jewish events on campus like the Freedom Seder, Yom HaShoah, and Yom HaAtzmaut. They also participated in the Freedom Seder. www.duclarion.com Alberto Mares almares@du.edu 303.871.3131
Interfraternity Council (Greek organization for the Fraternities) I reached out to the IFC at the beginning of the school year to do programming for Greeks and to form a Jewish Greek council. They were completely unresponsive. In retrospect I should have tried harder to work with them. In the future try very hard to use this group as a way to reach the Greeks, and if they seem unresponsive go directly to the houses. Kevin Frederick kfrederic@du.edu 303.871.3831
LSA (Latino Student Alliance) This is a group to reach out to in the future. My only contact with them this year was for the Freedom Seder. Like Hillel and BSA they face diversity issues on this campus. Jackie Granados jgranado@du.edu
Panhellenic Council (Greek organization for the Sororities) Like IFC, I reached out to them at the beginning of the school year and they were unresponsive. Try them again in the future and if they are not interested in programming go directly to the houses. Megan Fullerton mfullert@du.edu 303.871. 3831
PRIDE (the GLBT student group) PRIDE is a great group to work with; they were one of the biggest and most creative contributors to the Freedom Seder and would love to continue to work with Hillel in the future. They also face the diversity issues faced by Hillel, BSA, and LSA. As of now there is one Jewish-Queer student that I know of but their may be more. They are on the verge of becoming a force on this campus; make sure to work with them in the future. Dell Vandever lvandeve@du.edu www.du.edu/orgs/pride/index.html
Undergraduate Women's Council Also critical contributors to the Freedom Seder. A very intelligent, passionate, and creative group on the campus. Make sure to work with them again. Jessica Sanches jsanche@du.edu
Helpful Hints: Tabling, Programs, Posting Flyers
Tabling- Officially I was only allowed to table in one place on campus, the Driscoll Bridge. While this is a very central location not everyone walks through there. I was also able to table in the Centennial Halls dorm twice, but there was a lot of resistance to tabling in the dorms, apparently it had never been done before and no one seemed to understand why I was not satisfied with just table at Driscoll. In the future, try to get tables in class room buildings like Sturm Hall. I was not able to do that this year, but if you ask enough times eventually someone may say yes.
Programs- DU students are not really receptive to "programming". They do like "formal gatherings", and "special events". Basically, NEVER EVER use the word program and you'll be off to a great start. On campus buildings where I held programs: the Driscoll Center, Marry Reed, J-Mac (dorm), Halls (dorm). Driscoll is centrally located but is has a very sterile atmosphere and students get tired of going there very quickly. There is not very much student space on this campus. In the future try doing more programs off campus.
Flyers- Flyers have to have a stamp of approval before they can be posted. Once you have your final flyer design, print off one copy on white paper and walk it over to the Student Involvement Desk on the ground floor of the north side of Driscoll to get it stamped. Then come back to the Hillel to make all of your copies. It does not matter wither flyers are going in student boxes or are being posted on campus, they have to be stamped. Flyers are only allowed to be posted in certain places; you can tell what they are because that's where all of the other flyers will be.
