With so much already on his plate at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, freshman and Dearborn Fordson graduate Jaber Saad could be excused for using his down time to relax.

Jaber Saad

But Saad, who came to Michigan with both a full tuition scholarship and his expected medical school tuition paid for, thanks to1947 Fordson grad and philanthropist William Brehm, recently added another important activity to his already busy schedule.
The 18-year-old Saad was named to the Michigan Student Assembly last Friday, the student government body which represents over 20,000 students in the College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts, a unique honor for a first-year student.

Now, in addition to studying in the pre-medical field along with his time spent with the Arab Student Association and the Students Allied for Freedom and Equality Organization (which helps work for human rights of oppressed peoples including Palestinians), Saad will undertake the task of working to improve student life on campus.

“It’s going to be tough, but I like the challenge,” Saad said. “I hate just going to school and not doing anything else, I like being involved as much as possible.”

Saad’s friend Tarek Makki was also elected to the assembly, which has 20 members. Saad and Makki have their sights set on making various improvements including adding more reflection rooms for prayers and relaxation, which could be especially helpful to Muslims on campus.

He’s also working to help convince the university to add a check-box for students of Middle Eastern descent to declare their heritage at the school on forms.

Saad believes that the Arab American demographic on campus could use extra representation in student government.

“There are a lot of underrepresented people on campus I want to provide a voice to,” Saad said. “I’ve always had a passion for student government because it’s a good place for creating change.”

Saad founded the Fordson Pre-Medical Society at his high school alma mater and will return to speak there in a few weeks. He’s thankful to his parents Haj Mohammed and Hajji Randa Saad for their motivation and proud of the contribution he made to Fordson.

Saad hopes to give back to the University of Michigan as well now that he has made it his home.

“This place opens up so many doors for you,” Saad said. “The ideas I’ve gotten here are something you can only get on a bigger college campus.

“I actually figure that when I’m not in class I’m learning more than when I’m in class just because I’ve met so many people I wouldn’t have met if I hadn’t gone away for college.

“Going to Michigan was honestly the best decision I’ve made in my life.”