Of all the colleges on his list, there's no place like Oregon

By AMITAI ZUCKERMAN

article created on: 2008-10-01T00:00:00

When I applied to universities two years ago, I had a vague idea of what I was looking for: majors that potentially interested me, a university that had a decent reputation and a college town with a population.

During high school, I searched high and low for the best school for me. I seriously considered everything from the University of San Diego to the University of Maine. I ended up applying to six universities: Adelphi University in New York, Pacific University in Stockton, Calif., University of Nevada-Reno, University of San Diego, Portland State University and the University of Oregon. Public, private, East Coast, West Coast, religiously affiliated—it was all fair game.

I was accepted at four and eventually decided on the University of Oregon, where I also was accepted at the School of Music as a cello performance major.

I chose the UO for a few reasons. It’s relatively cheap for in-state tuition, close-but-not-too-close to home in Portland, has an active Jewish life on and off campus, and I was thrilled that a Pac-10 school took me. I also thought that I would complete two years then transfer to my dream school: the University of Maryland-College Park.

But now that I think about it, I chose the UO because of the endless opportunities that awaited me here. I knew college would be busy, but no adult or college preparation book could do justice for what was ahead.

The first year of college was chaotic to say the least; a full-time student with two part-time jobs, ROTC, the UO Symphony, a light affiliation with the College Republicans, as well as my dedication to Oregon Hillel.

I was also accepted to join the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity, North America’s Jewish Fraternity, of which I am currently a proud brother. To add to the confusion, I was elected to serve as the 2008-2009 director of the Jewish Student Union. I didn’t expect to be so involved with the UO campus, it just happened. I even had time to eat occasionally and sleep.

While my adventures were unfolding, I began to realize where I was standing in terms of Jewish life. I never thought I’d be where I am today. Before college, I thought and was determined to be a “normal” college kid, maybe join a fraternity, get a job, and keep it cool.

Instead, I vaulted into the heart of Jewish life on campus. There is no explaning how it happened other than “it just did.”

For you high-school seniors, consider these UO statistics: Not everyone is involved with Jewish life on campus. It’s hard to estimate, but it is assumed that there are approximately 1,000 Jews on the UO campus.

The Jewish organization on campus are Oregon Hillel, the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity (AEPi), Sigma Mu Omega (Sigma is the Jewish sorority), the UO Jewish Student Union, ThisIsIsrael (a new non-political pro-Israel student group), as well as Chabad of Eugene that has a close relationship to the students.

However, even in all of the glory the Ducks will have this football season, UO is not for everyone. Religious Jews may find it difficult to keep kosher, though vegetarian options are plentiful. The College Republicans still maintain their presence though they may be hard to hear amongst the droves of new and old hippies. But everyone here is tough—tough-skinned, that is. If you don’t love rain, consider applying to somewhere in California.

This is my second year at the UO where I will soon apply to the International Studies Program in Diplomacy, Law and International Relations. I’m already busy planning and coordinating events for the JSU and AEPi. And ,yes, I intend to stay as busy as I was last year. Shana tovah!

Amitai “Tai” S. Zuckerman is the son of Shaarie Torah Rabbi Arthur and Simi Zuckerman.For more information about UO and/or Jewish life on campus, contact Amitai at jsu@uoregon.edu or call 541-346-4366. Campus visits can also be arranged.