Haydar Ali has an abiding love of the written word. In addition to serving as the managing editor of Lyceum, an on-campus literary and fine arts journal, he's served as a political columnist for the on-campus newspaper The Michigan Journal. Through these experiences, he says, he has helped “to ensure that his fellow students are able to express their creativity through the outlet of Lyceum” and he has contributed “to the campus’ intellectual discourse.”

Given his desire to make a difference, it’s not surprising that Haydar chose to participate in three different Alternative Spring Breaks and to volunteer his time at Garden City Hospital and the HUDA Free Health Clinic of Detroit. He has wanted, he says, to “organize service projects that...allow the campus community to actively engage the broader metro-Detroit community.” Haydar has also contributed to the University by serving as a representative on the University’s Hearing Board for Non-Academic Student Conduct and on the search committee for the Dean of College of Arts, Sciences and Letters.