Yeshiva University Celebrates the Ordination of the Classes of 5775–5777 at Its Chag Hasemikhah
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APRIL 24, 2017 The Independent Student Newspaper of Yeshiva College, Sy Syms School of Business, and Yeshiva University Volume LXXXI Issue 9 Yeshiva University Celebrates the Ordination of the Classes of 5775–5777 at its Chag HaSemikhah President-Elect Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman addresses a capacity crowd in Lamport Auditorium at the recent Chag HaSemikhah. On the left-hand side of the stage in the front row, from left to right, sit President Emeritus Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, current President Richard Joel, YU Board Member (and uncle of President-Elect Berman) Rabbi Julius Berman, and Chairman of the Board of RIETS Rabbi Joel Schreiber. Sy Syms Student Population Why the Student Constitution Overtakes Yeshiva College, Beren Is Invalid Enrollment Down Nearly 200 By David Rubinstein Since 2013 This year’s student election ballots will ask you to ratify an amendment to the By Avi Strauss constitution. As you cast your vote, keep in mind that the constitution, and as a result, any amendment to it, is invalid. According to the latest data revealed by YU’s Office of Institutional Research, the The student constitution of the Wilf Campus is invalid for three reasons. Wilf Sy Syms student population has surpassed Yeshiva College’s for the first time ever, First, we have no official record of its ratification. A constitution is valid only if it is becoming the larger of the two undergraduate programs on the men’s campus. This accepted by the people it’s supposed to bind. Did a majority of the student body vote to follows a five year trend of the Sy Syms student body increasing in size. accept the constitution? There’s no way to know. As per the report, there are 525 undergraduate men in Sy Syms and 500 in YC. As far as we know, it could be that some years ago, three assorted student council The numbers in the data set indicated diverged slightly from the numbers released buffs seeking to pad their pre-law resumes and parcel out political power to their by the Office of Student Life for student council elections, to be held later this week. favorite rising seniors sat down in the old basement lounge of Morgenstern and Candidates are required to collect signatures from a third of the student body they seek concocted the document that is supposed to be binding on all male undergraduate to represent. students of Yeshiva University for all of posterity. After they saved their work as a PDF, The report also indicated total enrollment at the Beren campus is currently 885, they may have laughed about how they pulled the wool over their schoolmates’ eyes down from 1,092 in 2013. SEE POPULATION, CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 SEE CONSTITUTION, CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 NEWS PAGE 8 NEWS PAGE 12 FEATURES PAGE 16 BUSINESS PAGE 30 Academic Integrity Dialogue Opened YU Honors Programs Changes SAT Interview with YU Student Syms to Launch New Master’s Between Deans and Students Requirement for Admission Rapper Sammy K in Taxation this Fall WWW.YUCOMMENTATOR.ORG 2 Editorial Monday, April 24, 2017 - 28 Nissan 5777 Monday, April 24, 2017 - 28 Nissan 5777 The DITORIAL Editor-in-Chief DORON LEVINE E Managing Editor Defending Rav Schachter From His Defenders TZVI LEVITIN Senior News Editor By Doron Levine is, considering the evidence, unjust and untenable. While it is DAVID RUBINSTEIN true that Rav Schachter might not have offered his statement Junior News Editor Passion carries greater risk than apathy. An indifferent stoic had The Commentator not approached him, it is also true EITAN LIPSKY may find himself guilty of callous insensitivity, but passivity that Rav Schachter would not have offered his statement had Junior News Editor has limited destructive potential. A riled zealot, on the other Rabbi Klapper not come to speak at YU. And it is also true that hand, if he fails to think through the implications of his ire, is a Rav Schachter would not have offered his statement had Rav SHOSHY CIMENT roaming hazard, not only to the objects of his wrath but to the Schachter not offered his statement. The Commentator made Senior Opinions Editor very ideology he professes to champion. By jealously defending the decision to publish an article about these events, but there AVI STRAUSS his views with an ardor not governed by wisdom and prudence, would have been nothing to write about had the events not Junior Opinions Editor he does his own religion a disservice. occurred. YITZCHAK FRIED I’m speaking of individuals who leveled a certain sort of This situation touches on fundamental questions about our Junior Opinions Editor religious leadership. Why are many Rav Schachter talmidim criticism against The Commentator for its coverage of Rav SAM GELMAN Schachter’s actions concerning Rabbi Klapper’s appearance upset with The Commentator, and why did Rabbi Penner feel at YU. Under the pretense of defending the honor of an the need to address this situation at all? There seems to be a Senior Features Editor outstanding talmid chacham, some eagerly excoriated The widespread perception that something bad has happened here, HILLEL FIELD Commentator for publishing Rav Schachter’s opinion in a pair something problematic. But what is so concerning about our Junior Features Editor of news articles. religious leader expressing his opinion? BENJAMIN KOSLOWE To the extent that theological issues are at play here, I am In so doing, these people ignored the words of Rav Schachter Senior Business Editor himself. When I approached Rav Schachter on behalf of The no theologian; and to the extent that halachic issues are at ADAM KRAMER Commentator to inquire about his taking down a sign for Rabbi play here, I am no halachist. But it is clear even to us laymen Klapper’s shiur, he agreed to be interviewed for the newspaper, that Rav Schachter meant what he said; he unequivocally Junior Business Editor willingly offered a comment, and even stated, “you can quote and unabashedly expressed an opinion which, if we took it EVAN AXELROD me on that if you want.” The claim that The Commentator seriously, would have practical relevance to university policy. Senior Layout Editor So unless you think that what Rav Schachter said is wrong, disrespected Rav Schachter by performing an action that Rav SHIRA FEEN Schachter explicitly permitted is outrageous. what exactly is the problem here? Every ideological community You cannot criticize The Commentator for quoting Rav has its boundaries, and Rav Schachter stated where he thinks Senior Programmer Schachter without disputing Rav Schachter’s attendant ours should be. It seems incongruous to turn to our rabbeim MICHAEL PERES permission to publish his statement. So unless you neglected for matters of serious halachic import but then to fall into Junior Programmer to think through your righteous anger to its proper conclusion, disoriented turmoil when they offer pertinent socio-religious JUSTIN SAFIER assessments. People with respect for Rav Schachter’s religious your indignation at The Commentator is perhaps more Senior Business Manager insulting to Rav Schachter than it is respectful. Does a talmid leadership should be pleased rather than bothered when his YONI FLEISCHMANN chacham need to be defended from his own opinions? Can’t opinions become public knowledge. he express them without his very talmidim denouncing their One segment of Rabbi Penner’s speech touched on this Junior Business Manager publication? This attempt to defend Rav Schachter is doubtless matter. He asked, “Can you have alternative views and still be JACK GANCHROW motivated by an admirable impulse to guard the Torah’s honor a part of the YU community? And can you even perhaps speak Layout Editors: by defending one of its preeminent expositors against the on campus if you have a different view?” He answered, “The STEVEN KOHANE perceived perennial scourge of journalistic treachery. But even answer has been, and remains: yes.” He qualified, “Roshei RACHEL LOFFMAN if skirmishes between journalism and traditional authority do Yeshiva do not insist that you agree with them. But if you ask BRIELLE BRODER occasionally erupt, in this particular instance any conflict is them what they think of something, they might just answer Staff Writers: wholly imagined. you. If you ask them for their opinion, then you may have to JOEY CHESIR In a speech to the Glueck Beit Midrash about this controversy, deal with whatever that opinion is if that’s what you asked for.” ERIC SHALMON Dean of RIETS Rabbi Menachem Penner seemed to absolve In apparent disagreement with Rav Schachter’s position BENJAMIN ZIRMAN all relevant parties of responsibility other than the newspaper that Rabbi Klapper should not be allowed to speak at YU, Rabbi EZRA BERMAN itself. According to Rabbi Penner, Rabbi Klapper “was set up Penner maintained that even “if you have a different view” you ELLIOT FUCHS for failure” since he was probably invited to lecture on this can still “speak on campus.” His subsequent qualification, that DAVID MEHL if you ask for a Rosh Yeshiva’s opinion “then you may have to controversial topic; the organizers of the shiur presumably had MICHAEL SHAVOLIAN deal with whatever that opinion is if that’s what you asked for,” pure motivations (Rabbi Penner clarified this in a brief second ZACH STERMAN raises myriad questions. Does it imply that we should “deal speech to the Beit Midrash); and Rav Schachter, provoked by ELLIOT HELLER with” Rav Schachter’s opinion in this instance, given that I the presence of the signs on the doors to the Beit Midrash, “said YOSEF SKLAR asked for it? Does dealing with an opinion entail accepting and nothing publicly—The Commentator did.” NOAM BELTRAN complying with its directives? Can dealing with the opinion I cannot emphasize enough that Rabbi Penner’s evaluation JUDAH STIEFEL of Rav Schachter’s statement is mistaken – if telling a of a Rosh Yeshiva involve rejecting it? And why shouldn’t we newspaper reporter that he may quote you does not make eagerly approach our religious leaders to ask for their advice your statement public, I lose any grasp I thought I had on on all matters of spiritual import instead of grudgingly moving The Commentator is the student newspaper the parameters of that classification.