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The Yeshiva University OBSERVER VOLUME LXIV ISSUE III November 2017/ Kislev 5778

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The Yeshiva University OBSERVER VOLUME LXIV ISSUE III November 2017/ Kislev 5778 THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF STERN COLLEGE FOR WOMEN AND SY SYMS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS The Yeshiva University OBSERVER WWW.YUOBSERVER.ORG VOLUME LXIV ISSUE III November 2017/ Kislev 5778 Women’s Tennis Team Wins Conference Championship Chana Weinberg On Sunday, October 22nd, the women’s University’s Athletic Director. athletics to NCAA status and promoted “During a recent game” Adele Lerner, Tennis team defeated Mount St. Mary Bednarsh could not emphasize enough four more teams to varsity status: soccer a senior on the tennis team, recalled “a 5-1 to claim the Skyline Conference how much this championship means for and cross-country in ’07, volleyball in ’08 referee, [who was] wondering if he should Championship, the team’s first conference the University and Jewish women’s ability and softball in ’13. call off a game due to light, [so he] asked championship since 1999. After being to play sports. Since being named head Now Bednarsh can finally say that his out loud to himself ‘what time does the ousted in the Semi-Finals for the past athletics director in 2005, Bednarsh has program produced a Championship. But it sun set today’?” Hearing this I quickly three years, the Maccabees (10-1) made focused much of his efforts on improving is more than that; as he put it so eloquently, replied, “sunset was at 6:08 on Friday.” history by being the first women’s team the women’s athletic program. this championship proves that “Jewish Adele only knew this random tidbit about in Yeshiva University history to qualify When he was promoted to head women can not only compete, but excel on the solar cycle because she was familiar for the NCAA Division III tournament. athletics director, there were only three the court.” This program has raised “role with shabbat candle lighting times. “The “This year’s team had that motivated women’s sports teams at YU: tennis, models” for young Jewish women who are referee replied jokingly ‘you guys would edge. It seemed they each felt ownership of basketball and fencing, none of which looking for the opportunity to play sports know that’.” the team, thereby leading to success” said were NCAA level teams. With the help of at the college level “without having to This anecdote symbolizes how Coach Naomi Kaszovitz. After coaching administrators, Bednarsh raised women’s compromise their observance.” far athletics for Jewish women have this team for nine years, Kaszovitz said come.”They know we’re different, and all her years of commitment were “worth it would be easy to assume that our it” for this moment. The student-athletes differences would be a hinderance; but [this put in countless hours, practicing Sunday championship] proved that our differences through Thursday to be able to compete demonstrate our character and make us as this high level. stronger competitors,” Lerner said. Additionally, this year’s team The finals for the NCAA tournament features the Skyline Conference Player are wthis May, the first night of the Jewish of the Year, Shani Hava and Skyline All- holiday of Shavuot. If the team were to Conference first team member Rebecca make it there, they have no doubt that for Packer. Hava was also named to the league would continue to accommodate Skyline All-Conference First Team. for them. That guarantee is something that “These young women are the they have earned through their excellent epitome of determination and tenacity play and devotion to competing at the and I am humbled to have been along highest level available. for the ride,” said Joe Bednarsh, Yeshiva Aggrieved Former YU Economics Halakha: Is it Helping or Professors Seek Justice in Second Harming Women With Issues Court Case of Consent? Sarah Casteel Miriam Pearl Klahr News Editor Managing Editor Unbeknownst to many Yeshiva to which both professors belonged, had The #MeToo campaign has led the students and alumni of Stern college, University students and even faculty, grown substantially in previous years in thousands of women (and men) to share many of whom choose to dress modestly, just two years ago in 2016, two popular response to the rise of economics majors personal stories related to unwanted relate to such conversations. Do they find and well-known former professors, in the school. Both highly renowned sexual advances and, far too often, the Jewish laws that relate to sexuality, Dr. William Hawkins and Dr. Michael and respected in the field, Richter and abuse. In response, Mayim Bialik, an along with the way they are being taught Richter, took the school to court. The Hawkins were welcomed as popular American actor and neuroscientist, wrote and the culture they promote, protective court decision was made this past May additions to the economics departments a controversial New York Times op- or harmful when it comes to issues of 2017, and because the school has failed in both Yeshiva and Stern College. This ed claiming that dressing modestly can consent? to take the necessary actions compelled is why it was shocking to both the two serve as a form of self-protection against One Stern College student, who by the court, the petitioners brought the professors, as well as many students, assault. This article was widely criticized wishes to remain anonymous, seemed to university back to court just last month. that the school chose to terminate their as an act of victim shaming and since, agree with Bialik’s stance, and commented While Richter now teaches economics at contracts. Bialik has issued an apology via Twitter that she does think “dressing modestly The University of London, and Hawkins In order to receive tenure, a stating, “Let me say clearly and explicitly can protect women from unwanted sex.” now teaches economics at Yale, the two professor must go through the tenure that I am very sorry. What you wear and However, she did add that people who aggrieved professors continue to seek track program, which usually takes six to how you behave does not provide any choose to dress differently than she does justice. seven years. After three years on tenure- protection from assault, nor does the way are “not necessarily inviting unwanted Hawkins and Richter were hired track, the professor in consideration must you dress or act in any way make you sex.” She also expressed that this is not by Yeshiva University as tenure-track go through a review process to continue responsible for being assaulted; you are why tzniut is an important value of hers. professors of Economics, “for an initial on to the second half of the track. The never responsible for being assaulted.” Instead, she stressed that she believes it three year appointment commencing review process set forth in the University Mayim Bialik’s argument is not new to be a halakha reflective of how God September 1, 2012 and terminating Faculty Handbook requires that first, the to the women of Stern College, who are expects a dignified person to behave and on August 31, 2015,” according to department itself must recommend the often taught that the halakhic guidelines of dress. their court petition. In 2015, the two professors to be re-appointed to tenure- tzniut will protect them from sexual harm. Yael Mayer, SCW ‘18, strongly professors, who had become quite track. According to the professors’ Yet, the negative response to Bialik’s op- disagreed with the notion that tzniut popular amongst the students, were petition to the court, “The department ed witnessed among much of society can protects women from sexual advances, expecting to see the continuation of their unanimously recommended both function as a moment of self-reflection, and cited her own experience of getting tenure tracks. The economics department, continued on page 3 raising important questions regarding how continued on page 9 Editorial November 2017/ Kislev 5778 • Page 2 The Yeshiva University YU: An Educational Institution Observer Mindy Schwartz Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Mindy Schwartz Managing Editor Miriam Pearl Klahr News Editor Sarah Casteel Features Editor Leah Klahr One of the most prominent issues of our day is sexual abuse and such as the RCA and the OU have not taken a public stance on Opinions Editor harassment. Recent allegations against Harvey Weinstein have this law. On the other hand, Agudath Israel, the powerful umbrella ignited a national conversation about sexual misconduct of all organization for the Haredi community in America, has taken a Kira Paley kinds. The dialogue has stretched from the personal experiences of public stand against the CVA, specifically because they claim the victims, to societal problems which have helped abusers continue elimination of the statute of limitations on civil suits and the window Web & Social to commit abuse. As an institution with its share of sexual abuse of opportunity provision “could subject schools and other vital scandals in the recent past, such conversations are not irrelevant to institutions to ancient claims and capricious litigation, and place Media Manager Yeshiva University. In fact, it is imperative that Yeshiva University their very existence in severe jeopardy.” They end their statement Shira Feen begins to take a role in these conversations, and it is a sad reality opposing the law by saying, “We must also redouble our efforts to that currently, the university remains relatively silent. help those who have suffered the horrors of child abuse obtain the One of the major issues plaguing sexual abuse reform healing they so desperately need. However, we dare not bring down Layout Editors relates to statute of limitations laws that prescribe the time limit our most vital communal institutions in the process.” Shira Perton for convicting someone after a crime has been committed.
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