The FYSH program was incredibly successful here at Albany, engaging many students in various programs.
LEADERSHIP: The first two FYSH programs were solely initiated by the JCSC Fellow. Half-way through first semester, the JCSC Fellow invited some students to a meeting to discuss the rest of the year of FYSH programming as well as leadership roles. By the end of the year, there were eight students invested in the success of FYSH programs. Furthermore, many of these students have taken on leadership roles on the Hillel E-board and other Jewish organizations.
The leaders of this years FYSH program should certainly be contacted by the JCSC Fellow next year in order to help initiate some early year programs and gather a body of attendance of new Freshmen and uninvolved students.
The students that composed the FYSH leadership Board included:
Ariel Cohen, Robin Forman, Rachel Harris, Adam Kofinas, Dan Mandelkorn, Ali Newman, Lindsay Rosenthal, and Ilyssa Wells.
These students are aware that they are essential in the transition of the FYSH program for next year!
Despite all of the successes of this past year with FYSH, there were several challenges that should be considered by the next JCSC Fellow:
- It was often difficult to incorporate Jewish content into the social programming that was taking place.
- FYSH is in its essence an exclusive group (targeting freshmen, transfer and uninvolved Jewish students). All of the programs, especially the more large scale ones, are open to EVERY student. It is often a challenge to engage the Jewish students specifically.
- Those students who become involved in FYSH leadership might also become involved in leadership of the Jewish community in general. It is essential to make sure these student leaders do not get burned out.
- The Albany Hillel constitution refers to a "General Board" of student leaders (most often freshmen students) and there is a position on the E-board for the Vice President of the General Board (filled by Michele Adler). This conceptually overlaps with the idea of a FYSH Board. The JCSC Fellow must be in excellent contact with Michele and consider the definitions of both in terms of what is in the best interests of potential student leaders.
