Y e s h i v a U n i v e r s i t y Observer T h e Official Newspaper of Stem College for Women

02׳. ?! October 17. 2002 Volume XLVi Number 3 11 Ho*hvao % Students Storm Michigan to Protest SCW Forced to Leave Anti-Israel Conference 29th Street Art Annex By Miriam Colton By Alisa Rose become more obvious,” said Jeffrey Rosengarten, Yeshiva Director of his Sunday, approxi- eshiva officials have Supporting Services, noting that “it’s mately fifty Yeshiva stu- announced that the SCW will very likely” that the Art Annex will be Tdents rode toAnn Arbor, Ybe leaving the Art Annex, moving to the 8th floor of 215 Michigan to demonstrate out- located on East 29th Street, is mov- Lexington, side a Palestinian conference ing. The timetable SCW began and to hold a vigil “against for the move and its leasing the fifth divestment, terrorism and anti- new home have yet floor of 118 East Semitism.” The 2nd annual to be confirmed. 29th Street as a pro-Palestinian conference, According to one temporary home for organized by Students Allied SCW Art professor, the Art Annex in for Freedom and Equality the move will be 1997 from (SAFE), supports campaigns "any day now.” Sheltering Arms, a Students lay down on ground outside pro-Palestinian to urge university and corpo- Currently, the only non-profit organiza- conference, which they picketed on Sunday rate divestment from Israel. viable location to tion that provides house an art facility various services to ticipants came from SCW, with ״ They’re going to be talking and show that“ is the 8th floor of disadvantaged city about how Israel is an oppres- The students left New York roughly 25 women making the sor, said Beth Meshel, an 215 Lexington. For youth. ” on Saturday night for the trip, many the move is a Students are disappointed The attorney for SCW senior who organized approximately ten hour trip, Upon arriving in Ann Arbor - let-down from the Art hat the Art Annex, pictured sheltering Arms, the busses to. Michigan. “It’s from three locations Stern early Sunday morning, the stu- - Annex's spacious stu * above, will be moving Diana Lee, said that completely illegitimate, and we College, Yeshiva College and dents picketed outside the - dio the building is cur as Jewish students need to go Riverdale. Over half of the par- conference, which was held at . - Also, since the move is last rently under contract for sale, and the University Michigan minute and Yeshiva has had little Sheltering Arms is relocating to League. They led a peaceful time to prepare, the 8th floor, which Harlem. Yeshiva’s lease expired vigil, holding signs, waving currently houses Barnes and last May, but arrangements have Yeshiva Endowment Israeli flags, chanting anti - Nobles, will not be ready in time. been made to extend the lease until hate slogans and singing Last week, Professors Susan January, according to Lee Yeshiva Rises in Tough Market Jewish songs. . Gardner, Marjorie Trenk and Carol officials would not comment on the “It was very scary and . Lowengrub from the Art department conditions of the lease or on why ' emotional,” said Shayndi * toured the 8th floor of the 215 they chose not to purchase the By Caryn Lift ment returns this year, accord- Raice, an SCW junior. “They Lexington. But Yeshiva officials building. l ing to a report in the The New were wearing shirts that said would not confirm the move or dis “It was a temporary arrange- s a result of savvy York Sun. free Palestine and divest from - close other possible locations for the ment,” Rosengarten said about the investment strategies, Ezra Merkin, the chair of the Israel. They were saying art annex. Yeshiva, unlike the Board of Trustees Investment nasty things, screaming at us A “Over the next few weeks it will continued on page 19 majority of colleges and uni- Committee, attributed continued on page 15 versities in the country, has Yeshiva’s success in the mar- actually posted growth in their ket, which as a whole has endowment investments dur- shown a 45% decline, to its Presidential Search Flounders ing the current economic involvement with alternative downturn. investments, investments as Shatz Withdraws In the fiscal year end- which attempt to compound a ing June 30, 2002, Yeshiva rate of return without the need By Miriam Colton sions, only saying that, “there will showed an investment return of a strong market. be some changes.” Since Stanton i of 3.5%, raising their endow- The Board of Trustees ollowing Dr. David is known to have a close relation- ments from $882 million to Investment Committee, which Shatz’s withdrawal as ship with Rabbi Norman Lamm, $917 million in one year, is responsible for making Fthe prime candidate for some postulate that Lamm will now according to Peter Ferrara, Yeshiva’s investment deci- the Yeshiva presidency, the have more of an input in the Director of Communication sions, is a volunteer committee search process that finally process than he did when Robert and Public Affairs. Yeshiva cur- comprising skilled investors. looked near completion has Beren was chairman of the Board. rently ranks within the top sev- Merkin works for Gabriel dissolved in ambiguity. Differing from former Beren, enty universities in the country Capital Group, and in addition Whether Yeshiva will continue Stanton is attempting to create for total endowments, accord- to his involvement with on its path, or create a new more of a sense of accord among ing to the United States Yeshiva’s investments, chairs process with different require- Yeshiva’s schools and Board. “I Department of Education. the investment committee of ments for the role, is undecid- don’t intend to do anything until I Although a 3.5% return is the UJA/Federation of New ed. have some kind of unification of low compared to the 14% and York. What is known is that purpose, said . There are Dr. David Shatz ” Stanton “ greater returns Yeshiva had “Ezra Merkin and the entire Ronald Stanton, the newly elect- a lot of individual opinions on all the been showing just a couple of committee have made some ed chairman of the Board of various boards of Yeshiva. We have years ago, it is considered very very wise decisions in the last Trustees is taking a firm hold on the process. Last to get some sort of consensus going.” high in the current market, in five to ten years so that they week, Stanton met twice with his Board, the first offi- Michael Jesselsohn, chairman of the search which many schools’ endow- could protect the money that cial action since Shatz’s resignation, to discuss the committee, did not return calls for comment. It is ments have suffered. For donors gave to the University,” future of the search process. “Since Shatz, nothing possible that Jesselsohn, who was close to Beren, instance, Columbia showed a said Ferrara. official has really happened,” said one top Yeshiva may lose some of the authority that he has held over return of 1.4% and Fordham, The endowment figure rep - administrator. “The whole thing is kind of falling the past year, Pratt Institute and Cooper resents endowments that have apart.” Union showed negative invest- continued on page 19 Stanton would not reveal to the Observer continued on page 19 whether or not he had reached any conclusive deci- N I

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Page 12 Page 21 . Page 7 Page 2 O b s e r v e r October 17, 2002 T h e O b s e r v e r 245 Lexington Avenue. Nev\ York, NY. 1001b. The fifty or so Yeshiva students who made the trek to Michigan for a protest should ( 2 l2 ) MO-4 »43. 1 ax: ( 212 ) 240-7773 be commended. However, they should not be commended because they traveled a ‘ Observ erfriyraail.yu.edu long distance, because they defended Israel or because they courageously stood up ,' ' to the enemy. Rather, they should be commended simply because they did something. YYW \V.Y1 OBSERV1i R.C 0VI There are hundreds of causes in the world that are worth fighting for, yet only a handful have penetrated our campus. There are so many issues to which we can devote our time. The paucity of activism on our campus is, at the very best, a sign of Miriam Colton & Caryn Litt our lack of creativity, and, at the very worst, a sign of our astonishingly high level of in״Editors self-absorption. -Chief Yes, we follow the news , and yes, we form opinions. But of what use to others are our opinions if we do not act on them? Knowledge that is merely amassed and not applied has little meaning. And, in a similar vein, information that is gathered but not translated into action really has no purpose. That the inclination toward laziness and self-absorption is always stronger than that Rachel Fyinan Alisa Rose of altruism should not be our excuse, but rather be our motivation to fight harder. Managing Editor Executive Editor

Shayndi Raice Shifra Landowne Rachel Horn The Observer News Editor Features Editor Cultural Arts Editor Andrea Gelnick Anat Barber Ariella Goldstein welcomes Photography Editor ; Staff Writer Copy Editor

Sarabeth Reingold all comments. Devorah Whidman l.ayout Staff Please call The Observer is published monthly during the academic year by the Stem College for Women Student Council. The staff of the Observer retains the right to choose newspaper 212-683-4943 content and to determine the priority of stories. While unsigned editorials represent the views of the Observer's editorial board, all opinions expressed in signed editorials, or e-mail us columns, letters and cartoons arc the opinions of the writers or artists and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Observer, Stem.College for Women, at [email protected] its student body, faculty or administration.

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CARYN LITT MIRIAM COLTON EDITOR-in-Chief EDITOR-in-Chief

On my way out of lution, all of the students who comment I received an early 70’s to make the University non- the TAC club fair last in class voice their vehement opposition email a few months sectarian so it could qualify for govern- week, a Chabad club to the theory. It is only afterwards, in the ago from a man in mental funding under the 1968 New York leader stopped me. privacy and secrecy of her office, that the Jewish commu- State Bundy Law, the student body, led “Please sign up with some students will voice support for nity who had by the Rav, objected to the secularization us," she cajoled. “We have lots of events evolution. These students say that they noticed an obituary trend. They claimed it would lead us on a - shiurs, Tanya discussions. Just sign are afraid to let their true feelings be placed by Yeshiva University in The New path away from our Torah goals and force up, it’s not a commitment.” known in a class where the majority is York Times. Supportive of the resolution us to compromise. A little hesitant to sign my name - so strongly against them. not to place obituaries in the Times, he But Yeshiva had created a huge man- more because of the inevitable inunda- In most college environments today, requested an explanation from Yeshiva. sion, and it needed the cash to build, fur- tion of junk e-mail than anything else - 1 a free exchange of different ideas is not The reply he received from the Yeshiva nish and maintain it. In the early 70’s nonetheless promised to keep on the only encouraged but considered essen- spokesman was that the University was Sheldon Socol came on board to steer look out for flyers. After all, I never tial to the college experience. The SCW “not in the business of boycotting news- Yeshiva toward financial solvency. The learned Tanya before. It might be inter- classroom, meanwhile, is at times more papers.” University had become so focused on esting. reminiscent of communist Russia than Beyond the issues of Israeli coverage acceptance into the ivory tower of acade- As I left Koch Auditorium, a thought twenty-first century America. in the Times and of placing obituaries in mics and financial endowments, that its flitted through my mind. There are so The most dangerous part of this phe- Jewish newspapers is the question of original ideology has become blurred. many different types of people at Stern. nomenon is that the censorship of ideas who makes decisions at Yeshiva. Or No matter how hard Yeshiva tries, Most people, when looking at SCW, in the classroom is student-imposed. more aptly put, what motivates these there will always be universities that are see a homogeneous population - white, When a student is intimidated into decisions. academically stronger, with better facili- Jewish and from the same tax bracket. silence, for fear of being labeled a non- For the previous issue of the ties, and more “big names," but none with But anyone who thinks that all SCW stu- religious liberal, or worse, by another Observer, I investigated the housing pol- our unique mission. The motto of our uni- dents are the same is obviously looking student, we have a case of the college icy change at Einstein that now allows versity remains Torah U’madda - Torah only skin deep. experience turned sour. What students same-sex couples to live together. At the enhanced by madda, not overtaken by it. Other colleges and universities pride often do not realize, however, is that by very time of the change, The New York Were administrators to look at the stu- themselves on their diverse student closing their minds to other ideas, their Times began printing announcements of dent body, I doubt they would meet many bodies. Their diversity, however, is own viewpoints lose credibility. gay unions in its Sunday Styles wedding who came to Yeshiva because it’s ranked defined by the number of Black, The lack of interactive discourse section. The first couple, behold, was 42, 41, or 40. The students I know attend Hispanic and Asian students they have goes beyond the classroom setting. Jewish. A Reform rabbi officiated. the undergraduate colleges for a Torah in proportion to white students. It is hard Recently, a well-meaning SCW student I believe that the coincidence is sym- environment that combines secular and to understand how these institutions that sent a letter through e-mail proposing to bolic. Science teaches us that nature is Judaic studies, the only college of its call people different based on their race match up younger students of her Israel a set of actions that invoke increasingly kind. are not themselves being racist. seminary alma mater with older stu- greater reactions. “A butterfly flapping its A blurred vision allowed for the We at SCW are, in fact, fortunate that dents from that same seminary to learn wings in China can cause a hurricane in Einstein policy change. It has also creat- our diversity hinges not on race but on together. The implication of the sugges- America,” Rabbi Lamm quoted in his ed an environment on our campuses factors of more depth and subtlety. After tion was that it is necessary for the Shabbos Shuva drasha at the Jewish where the current debate among student all, are not people who view the world young and vulnerable to be kept on the Center in Manhattan, about the impact an leaders is how (and whether) to force an through science extremely different from straight and narrow path by people individual can make. When Yeshiva, the increasingly polarized student body to those who view the world through art? whose views are similar to their own so premier spokesman for Modern wear kippot uptown and dress appropri- Are there not dozens of methods that they do not succumb to the nega- Orthodoxy puts media image, money and ately at midtown. through which one can approach Torah five influences at Stern. prestige before a basic precept of the Furthermore, this blurred vision may learning? Are there not countless inter- Students here seem to have a gen- Torah, a precedent has been set. be the root of the presidential fiasco. ests represented at SCW, ranging from uine fear of interacting too closely with When asked why Yeshiva decided to A confusion of values made it neces- poetry readings to political action to anyone who is different from them, an change its policy, administrators replied sary two years ago to establish a com- equestrian clubs? inclination which is not just a little baf- that it wasn’t worth the financial cost and mittee to determine criteria for selection If there exists any problem related to fling considering that the SCW commu- negative press coverage, especially and to hire a million dollar headhunting diversity, it is not that it is lacking, but nity is well within the confines of the when the case was likely to be lost. firm to suggest candidates, whose efforts that students here do not recognize and Jewish world. I would think that standing behind unearthed Yeshiva insiders like Shatz, celebrate it enough. Indeed, while our We are, in fact, afforded a unique what Yeshiva was founded for, especially Schnall and Riskin. (This was intended to student body is far from homogeneous, opportunity to question, explore and at a time when society’s standards have mirror a similiar search process at a climate of homogeneity still seems to debate with others within a Torah envi- become so lax, would be a most worth- Harvard.) But all the money in the world rule the campus. ronment. It would be a shame to let that while investment. At the very minimum, will not buy clarity where there is none. An English professor recently noted opportunity go to waste. Yeshiva could have fought the good fight. Now we’re back to square one. that when she teaches readings on evo- Or at the maximum, Yeshiva could Ronald Stanton, newly elected chairmen reevaluate its relationship to its graduate of the Board of Trustees, agrees that the schools and its non-sectarian charter. next step is for him to meet all relevant We only need to look back a few bodies to arrive at some consensus. WWW.YUOBSERVER.COM decades in Yeshiva history to see the Hopefully, that consensus will set Torah seeds of its current state. When as a priority and place us back on track. President Samuel Belkin decided in the

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America and Israel Impacting Others, Yeshiva’s Boys Club: Not on Par No Matter What No Girls Allowed Dear Editors, Dear Editors, By Shayndi Raice women step aside. I am writing in response to Shayndi Searching on the Internet during work, I ! do not want to imply that all men Raice’s article “The Identity Crisis: 9/11 stumbled across the column Ms. Colton hen I was seventeen,I told or all Yeshiva College students have and the American Jew” (Aug. 26, 2002). wrote about her summer experience with a cousin of mine that I was this mentality. In fact, there were I was very bothered by the topic and Leah (Aug. 26, 2002). I was stunned . I Wa feminist. He responded some incredibly supportive students contents of the article. Ms. Raice writes know “Leah” very well. She was engaged to with a shocked expression and from Yeshiva College who encour- that after 9/11 she didn’t know if she my cousin, was my sister’s friend and was whispered to me, “You mean you’re aged my friend and me to fight the should feel more loyal to America or to the most talented girl in the neighborhood. a lesbian?!” When people, particu- other students and try to create our Israel. You look in her pretty, young face, and you larly men, hear the “f word they own journal. I can understand how someone living wouldn’t dream what a past she had. She aren’t sure what to expect. Despite However, the mere idea that an in New York might have been more emo- sang, she performed and she was cute and the fact that the overwhelming ; intelligent college educated male tionally affected by the events of 9/11 then charming. majority of women who identify could even begin to think that he an outsider, and I also know that someone We will never forget the horrific accident themselves as feminists are not; had the authority to direct women in from Israel, like myself, is probably more and all that followed. All of us who know man-hating women, society continu- a supposedly equal effort was mind- emotionally affected by a terrorist attack Leah try to lend a helping hand to her fam- ally associates feminism with its boggling. Where are these young there then a Jew is in the Diaspora. ily. I am so happy to hear that she went to most radical and extreme factions. men learning that they need to be in Nevertheless, when the terrorists in New camp and was so well taken care of. Perhaps it’s, easier to dismiss femi- charge of our minds and intellectual York crashed the planes in to the Twin I will show the column to my friends and nists as crazy women who want to | efforts for fear that we will destroy Towers, they weren’t specifically trying to family so they can gain insight, and so that blame non-existent problems on any intellectual endeavor we par- kill Jews, as much as they were trying to they can see that Leah accomplishes posi- men, than it is to face the reality of take in? kill Americans. tive things even in this state. the problems in our society. Since I am not privy to what In Israel, however, when a homicide Ms. Colton’s column was astounding, I have recently been struggling takes place in certain shiurim bomber blows him or herself up, they are heartwarming and thought provoking. with my own identity as a feminist ! uptown, I can only rely on rumors I in essence trying to murder as many Jews Keep up the good work. and a student at Yeshiva University.! hear about the way certain rabbis as they can. They are trying to take away The issue of Stern College and its speak of a woman’s role. Yet, I still from us what is rightfully ours and what is Sincerely, second class status to Yeshiva don’t understand how YC students the most important thing that we as Jews Chavi Schwartz College is so old that it’s almost; could think it is acceptable to have in the world today - Israel. Williamsburg, New York cliche to talk about it as a current degrade the capabilities of women Ms. Raice writes in her article that after issue. Additionally, it would be trite : attending their own university. 9/11 she thought, “Now Americans will and simplistic to categorize the As these offenses are continuing understand, they’ll be on our side, Israel’s Time to Pay Up problems I have been facing as ; without anyone teaching these side.” I’m sorry, but Americans don’t have being merely the result of sexism. I young men that women deserve a a clue what it is like in Israel. don’t think the attitudes of many modicum of respect, I think it is our In America, high-school graduates We would like to thank the members of young men at Yeshiva College are ! job as women to fight against this don’t have to worry about getting killed the SCW student body who pledged their the consequences of an old-fash- degradation. You are probably think- while guarding a checkpoint. Mothers participation in Project One Percent. Over ioned view of a woman’s place in ing that now is when the man-hating e. kitchen) : feminism comes in, but perhaps, the don’t have, to worry about their children the past six months, thousands of students the world (i. the . getting shot while on their way to school. signed up from across the world and many of However, there seems to be a boys : response should be for us as And teenagers don’t have to worry about those students pledged substantially more club mentality that permeates the ! women to strengthen ourselves by getting blown up while hanging out at their than the minimum one percent. It is our hope walls of YU that screams, “No girls learning about ourselves. favorite pizza store. that a meaningful sum of money will be coi- allowed.” For the fist time in its history, The Jewish people have been hated lected in order to help the innocent victims of A few weeks before Succoth Stern College will have a Women’s for thousands of years, and now is no dif- terror in Israel. vacation, a friend and I were con- Studies minor available. It is quite ferent. Sure, it is safer for Jews in America It is crucial that you fulfill your commit- tacted by a Yeshiva College student, shocking that it hasn’t existed than it is in France, but do you really ment; you may do so at our website, who wanted to know if we would be already. The timing seems quite believe for a moment that if a Jew in www.pledge4israel.com. Those who have interested in working on a particular appropriate. Women should have America was in trouble and needed help, not yet pledged may stiil do so on the project Yeshiva publication. We were excit- the opportunity to see history, psy- that Uncle Sam would come rushing to the website. ed at the prospect and assured him: chology, science and religion rescue? Israel, more than any other coun- Sincerely, that we would be fully committed. At; through a woman’s perspective. try, cares about its citizens. And Jews in The Project One Percent Team that time, we were told to spread the They should study about the hard- Israel, especially now, care more about word throughout Stern and were; ships and achievements of the each other than any other countries’ citi- asked to be the midtown represen- women before them. Hopefully, this zens care for their fellow countrymen. tatives. will give them strength to realize I am very grateful to America for every- Since the magazine is a joint col- that women should create their own thing it has given me, and I have a lot of laboration between Yeshiva College : ways of dealing with the world, a hakarat hatov [gratitude] to it. What hap- and Stern College (TAC and SOY; way that will be inclusive and fair, pened on September 11th was a tragedy pay for half the funding respective- not prejudiced and derogatory. for me too, but that day I came to realize The Observer ly), we assumed that Stern would Meanwhile, the men uptown can that Israel is the only true place a Jew can have an equal say in its future on retain their opinions until they real- call home, and it’s the only place where he welcomes all letters to such things as article ideas, editors ize that without the input of feminine is welcome. It’s true that outwardly Israelis the editors. and staff decisions. Apparently, we ; intelligence, creativity and intuition, can sometimes seem very rude and were very wrong. they are only capable of producing uninviting, but a guy off the street whom The men said they were not half a product. you never met would give you the shirt off impressed with the caliber of stu- People often think if a woman is his back if you needed it. In America, you dents and their writing abilities at a feminist it means she has insecu- would not find that in a million years. We reserve the right Stern College. Rather, it would be rities about being a woman. That May this year be a safe and success- to edit letters for best, for the publication of course, if ; assumption is one of the saddest ful year, and may we be blessed with true the YC student was editor-in-chief distortions of feminist ideology. It and eternal peace and security. grammar, length by himself, and the women of Stern isn’t about wanting to be like men. and content. College interested in this endeavor ; It’s about wanting to be women - to Sincerely, accept second tier positions. The have our unique perspectives on Shaya Lerner No unsigned letters assumption is that when it comes to the world respected and valued as YC sophomore will be printed. intellectual stimulation and abilities/ much as any other.

Letters should include the Job Well Done writer’s address, as well as his or her Dear Editors, school and BUY Good job on the August issue. It broke expected date of the monotony of work nicely for me. graduation, if applicable. ISRAELI Michael Davis SSSB Class of '02 Investment Banking Division E-mail us at Salomon Smith Barney [email protected] PRODUCTS 11 Heshvan 5762 O b s e r v e r Page 5

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Yen Stand ? MESSAGE FROM SCWSC PRESIDENT As Yeshiva students standing at a crossroads in the University’s history, it is Sharon Weiss important to explore issues confronting modern Orthodoxy today. College is a time to solidify your own convictions, yet simultaneously gain a deeper under- Mrs. Smith walked into cess thanks to club heads standing of the convictions of others. my tenth grade classroom and you, the students. Both The Observer is introducing a new feature entitled, “Where Do You Stand?“ and announced that my Stern College and Yeshiva In each issue, a different topic of importance to the Modern Orthodox world and classmate had just earned College traveled to the its basic ideologies will be presented. The attitudes listed on each topic, com- herself a “zero” for the day. University of Michigan to piled by Edah, an organization devoted to Modern Orthodox thought and social The entire class looked at protest against the pro- concerns, are only basic outlines and do not necessarily represent the views of each other in shock. What Palestinian rally. We have our editorial board. was a zero? What did that created an environment of Rather than create further division among our student body, this new feature mean? As I have been concern and activism. We will hopefully provide an outlet for constructive debate. We hope that these atti- becoming more familiar should continue to con- tudes will be the basis for further dialogue and discussion. with the field I plan on tribute to life on campus and In this issue, we present the concept of Da’at Torah, rabbinic authority. The entering, formal and/or the larger community. question of Da’at Torah revolves around how much power rabbis hold and informal education, I have realized how An easy way to find out about campus whether a Jew is bound to listen to their rulings. What do you think, and where important the beginning can be. Mrs. activity is by checking out www.yustu- do you stand? Smith’s entrance on our first day of class dents.org. Chanoch Goldfeder of the created her optimal teaching environ- Yeshiva University Computer Society put ment. Mrs. Smith only assigned one zero this readily accessible website together. during the year. The teacher, in this case You should take advantage of the fruits of DA'AT TORAH Mrs. Smith, sets the tone for the class- his labor. room. We, as students, set the tone for Enjoy all of the activities on campus. Attitude 1: In all matters othaiacha, an individual accepts the binding author- our campus. Our beginning of the year Pick up a copy of The Guide, and make ity of a posek, interpreter of the law. On non-halachic matters, persuasive rea- has set the trend for the coming school sure to register for the student directory, soning on the part of the individual is the correct method for decision making, year. which can be accessed at www.yustu- whatever its source. Our year has started off on the right dents.org. Please contact student coun- foot. Orientation was extremely success- cil with any ideas, questions or concerns Attitude 2: Recognition of the authority of one or more posekim should lead ful due to those who organized it (Arthur ([email protected]). All of the student an individual to accept, with serious deliberation, the rton-halachic judgments of Guttman, Yitz Glass, Rachel Moss, and councils are here to help maintain and those posekim. This is in recognition of their outstanding wisdom and insight. Elysia Rothenberg) and those who increase the number and effectiveness of attended and benefited from it. The events and activity in Stern College. Attitude 3: The individual who has accepted the authority of one or more school, including administration, faculty posekim on matters of halacha, is bound by the judgment of those posekim also and students, united on September 11th in non-halachic areas when the posekim so dictate. to remember what happened not far from our own campus. Club fair was a sue- Attitude 4: Recognized rabbinic authorities have the jurisdiction to bind both the individual and the community to comply with their dictates in all aspects of life. They do not have to provide technical halachic justification for their posi- MESSAGE FROM TAC PRESIDENT tion. Lisa Grundman h t t p:/ / k i m b e r.c j s e r e Several aspects of ations.com/time.html. Jewish life revolve around To realize the value of the concept of time. ONE YEAR, Prayers are assigned to ask a student who failed specific time periods; the a grade. holidays are relegated to To realize the value of certain dates on the calen- ONE MONTH, dar. Milestones in life, ask a mother who gave such as a brit milah or a birth to a pre THURSDAY MAY 22 11 AM Bar Mitzvah and the mature baby. antithesis, the period of To realize the value of mourning a close relative, are bound by ONE WEEK, THE THEATER time as well. Judaism is centered around ask the editor of a weekly newspaper. this idea of time. To realize the value of MADISON SQUARE GARDEN The very first commandment given to ONE HOUR, B’nei Yisrael was to establish the Jewish ask the lovers who are waiting to calendar and set aside time for each meet. month and holiday. Shabbat is sanctified To realize the value of only by God and will occur regardless of ONE MINUTE, human involvement. Conversely, the ask a person who missed the train. commandment of recording the new To realize the value of Commencement month, and thereby setting the dates for ONE SECOND, the holidays, is a responsibility solely ask a person who just avoided an placed upon the Jewish people. This accident. wasn’t a commandment that God gave us To realize the value of in complete form. Unlike Shabbat, the ONE MILLISECOND, establishment of the new month is our ask the person who won a silver responsibility. We have to put the calen- medal in the Olympics. dar together and declare Rosh Chodesh in order to observe the festivals in their From the few weeks that we have proper times. been back at school, I have seen tremen- I am sure that I am not the first to tell dous utilization of time. Many students you that you are responsible for the sue- attended a counter rally at the University cessful outcome of your college experi- of Michigan, over 200 students attended SENIORS, HAVE ence. If the Jewish people fail to act and a Yosef Karduner concert which raised YOU FILED FOR proclaim the new months, the holidays money for the Israel Emergency will not take place. The same phenome- Solidarity Fund and dozens of students GRADUATION? non is true with your stay at Yeshiva decided to get involved in various school University. Whatever venues you choose clubs and activities at the TAC and to pursue make sure that they are worth Student Council club fairs. I am confident IF NOT, PICK UP KIT your valuable time. Time is of the that this enthusiasm will prevail through- essence. out the year. FROM THE OFFICE I obtained the following poem from OF THE REGISTRAR ON YOUR CAMPUS Looking to Place an Ad? Call us at 212-683-4943 Page 6 O b s e r v e r October 17, 2002

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Journalist Ari Goldman Announced as DEPARTMENT IN FOCUS: Scholar-in-Residence By Rachel Fyman School. EDUCATION Goldman plans to distribute articles by rofessor Ari Goldman has been the panelists before the presentation, and BY Shifra Landowne In addition to ail of the course work announced as this year’s Marcia the audience will have the opportunity to offered, the Education department is PRobbins-Wilf Scholar-in-Residence ask questions, o teach is the most noble profes- starting to introduce some “outside the at SCW. Goldman will moderate a panel In the spring semester, Goldman will sion.” This oft -quoted aphorism is box" programming. The department has of world-renowned journalists for the offer a course at SCW on the topic of jour- Ttaken very seriously in the a new affiliation with the Lincoln Center annual fall semester event and will teach nalism and religion, focusing specifically Education department at SCW, by pro- Institute for the Arts in Education, where a journalism course in the spring on Judaism. lessors and students alike. different creative programs are embed- semester. “I’m very excited to hear that "The students here are extremely ded- ded into courses, geared toward integrat- Goldman, assistant to the they’re going to offer a special icated to the field of teaching, they are ing the arts into education. interim Dean and associate pro- course in journalism,” said Alisa motivated to succeed,” said Professor Dr. Elizabeth Lazaroff, director of the fessor at Columbia University’s Rose, an SCW senior majoring Chaya Gorsetman, coordinator of the Education department, is very enthusias- Graduate School of Journalism, in journalism. “Right now there Education department. “It is not enough tic about the prospects of the partnership. as well as renowned New York isn’t much to choose from.” for them just to be teachers, they want to “The possibilities are endless,” she said. Times reporter, will moderate a The Wilf Scholar-in- be excellent teachers,” “The sessions can be used as a jumping panel presentation on November Residence program was inau- off point for teaching, or sometimes to 25th entitled “Religion in Crisis.” gurated last year with a lecture r~,. help us teach or understand something The panel, open to students by world famous author and SS better,” she said. from both campuses as well as poet Maya Angelou, followed There is also a partnership between Ari Goldman the Education department and the ' ־: to the public, will bring together by a course on Asian-American : " journalists who cover crises con- Literature by author Susan Choi. TTv - v Yeshiva University Museum. ”,The museum has many possibilities“ ־ ..; .cerning their own religions in the media. Though aware that this year’s presen- r “The panelists will be able to share tation does not have the same “name explained Lazaroff. “It can teach how to special insights into the problems faced recognition” that Maya Angelou provided, integrate museum visits into a curricu- by a person writing from within,” Goldman both Goldman and SCW Dean Karen lum, how a teacher can use certain tech- said. “It is very hard to criticize one’s own Bacon are confident that students will be niques in school to help deepen under- community.” interested in the panel discussion. standing of a subject. It’s arts education The panel will consist of Tara “It involves scandal and terrorism - Marrisa Wolf, SCW ‘02, pictured above, together with Jewish education.” Bahrampour, an Iranian Muslim writer, burning issues of the day,” commented gained from hand's on experience Not only is there innovative program- and Tom Farragher, a Catholic who has Goldman. “I hope Stern students are ming planned for the courses given in done extensive coverage of the recent interested in major issues in the news.” One of the most unique aspects of the SCW, but there are tentative plans for a scandals in the Church. Goldman will He added that the topic addresses Education department at SCW is the June education course to be given in contribute the Jewish perspective, as well “issues of our own responsibility to our amount of hands-on experience that a Israel. “The course in Israel would be a as act as moderator. community and our professions.” student has before she graduates. Each very exciting prospect for education Bahrampour, author of To See and Bacon asserted that she is not con- course requires two hours of weekly majors, a wonderful learning opportuni- See Again: A Life in Iran and America, is cerned about the number of students who field work, and every student must com- ty,” commented Professor Gorsetman. a regular contributor to the New York will register for the course and that size piete one semester of full time student With ail of its strengths, however, the Times. She writes primarily about Islam does not necessarily reflect success. teaching. Education department is not without and Muslim women, and has been “Last semester, Asian-American “I felt so capable coming out of the flaws. Dr. Lazaroff admits that she would involved in the coverage of the Muslim Literature was a small course, but it was program,” said Miriam (Mitgang) like to see “more full time faculty,” and community in the wake of 9/11. very positively received,” she said. Kaminetzky, a teacher who graduated ; “more involvement in research." Farragher, a devout Catholic who The program was made possible by a the early childhood program in May ! Students have echoed Dr. Lazaroffs reports for the Boston Globe, was part of generous endowment from Dr. Marcia 2000. “I did field work in so many places ־־ the team that investigated the recent rev- Robbins-Wilf, who wanted the gift to be while I was at Stem and was critiqued all elation that Catholic Church ignored alle- used for something both unique and edu- the way through - 1 was constantly leam- gations of sexual harassment of young cational. She was excited by the Scholar- ing and improving myself and I definitely I boys by priests. He has written critically in-Residence idea, which has been considered myself a teacher when I grad- about the conduct of the Church in cover- designed to broaden the education of uated.” ing up the scandal. SCW students by introducing them to dif- Many of the education majors at Stern Goldman, himself a graduate of YC ferent cultural perspectives. would agree with Kaminetzky, probably (71), was a reporter for the New York A first of its kind at the midtown cam- because of the serious emphasis that the Times and covered stories about the. pus, the program brings in visiting profes- Education department places on practi- Jewish community, such as the riots in sors and guest lecturers every year. cal experience. Crown Heights in 1991. He is also the Dr. Robbins-Wilf is a member of the “I feel very equipped when I go into a author of a memoir entitled The Search Stern College Board and has headed the classroom,” said Devorah Schneider, a for God at Harvard. Goldman took a Academic Affairs Committee since its junior who is majoring in Early Childhood year’s leave from his position as a inception, and holds a masters and doc- Education. reporter at the Times in order to broaden torate from the Ferkauf Graduate School According to Professor Gorsetman, a his knowledge of world religion. To do so, of Psychology. strength of the Education Department at i. he enrolled at the Harvard Divinity SCW is that a student come out with a Jamie Vichinksky, SCW '02, teaches a very broad and extensive knowledge of model lesson : child development. “They understand how children learn, and they have peda- sentiments. “The teachers here are real- gogic know-how,” she said. They can iy helpful and supportive, but sometimes conduct a class, set up a classroom or they’re just not very accessible because work with a co-teacher.” they’re not always around," said SCW By Caryn Litt The Education department at SCW junior Michal Adler, has two tracks, Childhood Education for Yet the support does continue , journal f famevaser Yeshiva’s of grades one through five and Early beyond SCW. “We have an e mail group Wjewish , - intellectual thought is Childhood Education, focusing on birth to where we all still speak, share ideas, f making a comeback A group of I . grade two. An education major who has compare notes, discuss problems," said Yeshiva^ students are hoping to rejuvenate completed all requirements graduates Adler. “It’s a great way to keep in touch the publication, which has been plagued with a temporary New York State teach with the other Education majors who I by disorganization poor quality - and for the ing certification which becomes perma- created such a strong bond with, and the past few years. nent if she finishes a graduate degree teachers are on the list also - they con- Under the leadership of YC student within five years of completing her B.A. tinue putting in time even after we’ve , is trying regain Yoel Oz Hamevaser to its The program is very extensive, offer- graduated. That’s what makes this pro- image as a sophisticated, well written and ing courses in psychology, child develop- gram so special.” thought provoking magazine on matters ment, theories of arithmetic, language, of intellectual and social importance to the literacy, teaching science, education and Orthodox Jewish world . the arts, and others. “I hope that once people see a finished or two appearing in the fall semester product, it will be something that will spur and as many as two or three coming out a Shabbos conversation,” said Oz. in the spring. The first issue is slated to not all articles submitted will be printed, in-chief from YC and one editor-in-chief Upcoming issues of Hamevaser will debut around Thanksgiving. emphasized Oz. from SCW. feature articles on, among other topics, Last year, one issue was published, Although the staff is hoping to avoid Accusations of chauvinism emerged issues related to Torah V’Chachmah, the and that issue had actually been started the disarray into which past issues of as SCW students claimed that positions Rav’s understanding of Majesty, medical the year before. Hamevaser had fallen, the publication of editorships had been offered and then ethics and the Jewish approach to the The editorial board, comprised of has already been tinged with controversy rescinded because Oz and other YC stu- study of history. mostly YC students, is still in the process this year. For the first time in years, the dents involved were not impressed with Students can expect to see several of accepting and reviewing submissions. leadership has been taken by one YC stu- continued on page 23 issues of Hamevaser this year, with one To preserve the quality of the magazine, dent, rather than consisting of one editor- October 17, 2002 C a m p u s

New Shabbat New Student Website Launched Students Visit Communities over Rabbis Hired The students of Yeshiva have launched a Simchat Torah new website, yustudents.org. The website After months of search- features upcoming events and links to club Over 500 Yeshiva College, Stern College for Women ing, the Office of Student * f§ websites, the two undergraduate newspa- and RIETS student volunteers traveled to communities Services has finally found ..A>: pers and all student councils. It also sup- all over the United States for the annual Simchat Torah two “Shabbat rabbis.” plies cafeteria menus and minyan times Blanche Schreiber Torah Tours, run by the Max Stern Micah Gimpel and Shaya Division of Communal Services. | uptown, as well as academic information. Shtern will be alternating Seventy-two communities across America, including tZS : Additionally, the website provides access to weekends. * both parts of the Guide. Palm Beach, FL, Los Angeles, CA, Dallas, TX, and Shtern, a YC Graduate The web site was designed and written Memphis, TN, hosted the Yeshiva students. '01, currently works at the by Chanoch Goldfeder, the Yeshiva Torah Tours participants were responsible for bringing spirit to the Simchat Torah dancing, giving lectures and ק & accounting firm Deloitte Rabbi Shaya Shtern will University Computer Society Vice President Douche and is planning to go and Webmaster. interacting with members of the community. be comin9 to midtown to for semicha at RIETS. The Executive Council of the Yeshiva The next major Torah Tours event will be on Shavuot, Gimpel, who was in Israel enhance the shabbos June 6-7, 2003. experience Student Union is paying the hosting fees for last year, is studying for his the site. CPA and is enrolled in a semicha program. The job of Shabbat rabbi involves making sure Shabbat runs smoothly. The rabbis are responsible for Yosef Karduner Concert Rocks giving shiurim and acting as the spiritual leader on cam- Yeshiva pus. The role of the rabbi is also to create a sense of community at SCW, according to Student Services. Yosef Karduner gave a concert at Weissberg Commons at the Wilf Campus last Monday night in order to raise money for the Israel Emergency Solidarity Fund, an organization which distributes money to Israeli victims gat Yeshiva Rises in of terror. Karduner did not charge for his performance, U.S. News and all of the $1,700 dollars collected will go to the fund. ill Publicizing the event was difficult since final approval !pi4 !Rankings for the location of the concert was not given until the For the seventh consec- Friday before the concert. Lisa Grundman, TAC presi- Zev Prince, David Katz, Lauren Pick utive year, Yeshiva has dent, was responsible for publicizing the event on the Aron Zuckerman, Yll and traveled to Young Israel of I B l % been ranked one of midtown campus, but she was only able to put up signs and Yonina Bersson III] If pf | Century City in Los Angeles for Simchat Torah Il l y l America’s top universities on the day of the concert. nil in the annual US News & Still, the event, spearheaded by Yeshiva Student World Report survey. The Union Vice President Yaakov Green, attracted around Drive Held on Campus 2003 survey ranked 200 YC students and over 100 SCW students. The mid- Blood Yeshiva up one place from town campus filled two buses, and a spill over crowd took On October 7th, SCW held a blood drive in the gym at last year. shuttles uptown. 245 Lexington. The drive, chaired by SCW senior The national university The concert began at 10:30 p.m., after a ma’ariv ser- Racheli Rubin and conducted by the New York Blood category includes Yeshiva along with 249 other schools. vice, and continued until 12:00 a.m. There was a partition Center, attracted 62 students, 40 of whom donated Yeshiva’s rank of 40th places it among the top 50 schools set up, but only the men elected to dance. blood. Twenty-two people deferred is not considered an that comprise “tier one." Other schools in tier one include abnormal amount. Columbia, Harvard, MIT, NYU, Princeton and Yale. Donors receivedI Factors which account for Yeshiva’s steady rise in the Metropolitan Experience Starts a free pint of BenI rankings in recent years include a high rate of retention with a Bang and Jerry’s ice fill and graduation among students: high SAT scores; strong cream, made possi-I faculty resources and availability of faculty to students This semester the Metropolitan Experience, a pro- ble by a generous jj due to small class size: and strong financial resources. gram through which SCW students have the opportunity deal from Sim’s 1 The ranking formula gives greatest weight to reputation to attend cultural events and dinners around New York Convenience Store. 1 since that ultimately impacts on the success of graduates City, implemented a new sign up procedure. Rather than Blood drives areI in gaining entry to top graduate programs. forcing students to skip classes and wait hours before held at SCW about 1 This year US News changed the names of the ranking allowing them to sign up, the Metropolitan Experience four times a year. 1 lottery during categories to better reflect their missions. Yeshiva was had students submit their names to a the The next one is| included in the national universities-doctoral category, day. In the evening, students’ names were called and scheduled for classifying institutions offering a full range of undergrad- they were assigned a number of order. December 9th. The , several uate majors, plus master’s and Ph.D. degrees, and Events this semester include Mama Mia New York Blood *11 emphasizing faculty research. operas, a performance by Itzchak Perlman, evenings at Center urges stu- Our Name is Mud and dinners at elegant restaurants. dents to “get the iron Professors accompany students to the events. up" and Around 200 students submitted their names through- participate in this New Registrar Appointed out the day, but there were only approximately 160 spots important event. A new University Registrar for the Yeshiva University available. Manhattan campuses has been appointed. Dr. Lea Metropolitan Experience is sponsored by the Office of Honigwachs will lead efforts to provide a wide variety of of Student Services and the Office of the Academic Students Push for Israeli Food academic record-keeping and course registration ser- Dean. vices to students, faculty and the entire academic com- Products in Cat munity. She will be responsible for the registrar’s offices Trying to be creative in their support of Israel, SCW at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Cardozo students are pushing to serve more Israeli food products School of Law, the midtown campus and the Wilf cam- in the cafeteria. pus. The Israeli government has appointed a Minister to try One of her top priorities over the coming years will be to promote Israeli food products through a marketing pro- continuing efforts to make the best use of the latesttech- ject called Israeli Fine Foods. Israel supporters on cam- nology, particularly the internet, which will dramatically pus are attempting to persuade the Food Services improve services to both students and faculty. Committee to buy more Israeli food products, in order to Dr. Honigwachs brings to the job a wealth of knowl- help support the Israeli economy. The school would be edge of Yeshiva and the communities it serves. Her able to purchase the Israeli products through their regu- administrative background includes assessment of for- lar distributors or from an Israeli distributor. eign student transcripts at the City University of New Currently, the cafeteria features some Israeli prod- York. At Yeshiva she has served as the registrar at the ucts, such as baked goods from Angel's Bakery in Israel. midtown campus and, for the past two years, at the Wilf Jessica Lovinger, Chaya Osherovitz and Barbara campus. Weinberger peruse the option for the Metropolitan experience during sign-up

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N e w V a n S e r v i c e s L e a v e s IN YOUR M i d t o w n S t u d e n t s S t r a n d e d OWN WORDS Student Life Committee Takes Action What’s your favorite book, and why? By Anat Barber

tudents are reacting angrily Lisa Getman, SCW sopho- to the new inter-campus and more Slocal van service schedule changes, which decreased the num- Cain and Abel by Jeffrey ber of shuttles and frequency of Archer. It deals with two people their trips. who were born on the exact Changes instituted at the start of same day yet are enemies. Their the 2002-2003 academic year stipu- daughter and son fall in love, late fewer vans running between adding a twist of irony to a his- campuses, as well as a timed local torical novel." van schedule. According to the new local transportation schedule, vans now leave from the various resi- dence halls, as well as the from Midtown students must travel locally on the Yole ambulletes Atara Kelman, SCW freshman school building, every thirty minutes on a new, fixed schedule number of people per vehicle, ser contacted Mr. Donald Sommers, regardless of student needs. - I like Atlas Shrugged by Ayn vice has decreased.” Chief of Security, to present their “ In previous years, local vans on Rand. It s an extremely thought Students on the midtown campus platform to him. ’ the midtown campus ran between provoking book on philosophy. are highly dissatisfied with the The committee will propose a buildings as necessary. Upon stu- The author captures the charac change. few suggestions in an attempt to - dent request, security would call for ters through brilliant development You can miss a van by five min make local van service more an available van which would “ - by being highly descriptive." momentarily arrive to transport stu- utes, and have to sit and wait twen- accommodating. Among the dents to their desired location. ty-five minutes,” says SCW junior, amendments proposed will be a The change in local van policy Michal Klein. “Sometimes a guard request to have vans leaving in was apparently a response to the will escort you between residence more frequent intervals of fifteen or halls so you don’t have to walk by twenty minutes. An additional sug- lack of student utilization of the ser- Natalie Kozlova, SCW senior vice. Assessments were based yourself, but it’s entirely inconve- gestion to expedite transportation upon the number of students on nient for everyone” between buildings is to eliminate each van and how often vans were Mostly students are upset by the van waiting time at any location “Basically I like all classical lit- ' being called. According to Mr. unsafe predicament they are being where there are no students in need erature. Im crazy about Russian Jeffrey Rosengarten, Director of forced into. “It’s very dangerous of van service. Student Life literature. I guess the best is Supporting Services, the frequent because the vans rarely come, and Committee members hope these Bulgakov’s A Heart of a Dog. It’s single passenger trips were not cost I am forced to walk by myself at suggestions can be put into effect about a doctor who picks a efficient. Additionally, Rosengarten night between the buildings,” com- as soon as possible. homeless dog off the street and stated “convenience and safety” plains SCW junior liana In regard to the inter-campus ; puts a human brain in its head, were factors in creating the new van Oppenheimer. shuttle service, the Student Life so that it turns into a human schedule. Student Life Committee leaders Committee has resigned itself to ;being. But it’s really about how “Over the last few years the have been alerted to the situation accepting the status quo. They man can never hide his animal instincts. ; safety of fifteen passenger vans and are attempting to address the speculate that efforts to make came into question and the switch issue. A sub-committee has been amendments in that area are futile, was made to the new vehicles,” formed specifically to deal with the or have already been exhausted, explained David Himber, Dean of problems arising out of the new van and they wish to focus their efforts Students. “Because of the increased service changes. They have already on the “local” problem. GET ACTIVE ON CAMPUS! scwsc IS AN AVID SUPPORTER OF

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It’s the beginning of a response departing from Manhattan, a slightly limp slogan for the Diag rally was to take back our campuses group flopped off the bus onto the campus of The .” college and Besides the counter rally and the University of Michigan and was almost "take back the campuses” - democracy, and protests on Sunday, Rabbis Weiss instantaneously revived. “divest in peace Meshel, along with other stu and Herzfeld spent the Shabbat in With Israeli flags draped around our shoul- Israel.” - addressed Michigan for A Shabbat Against ders and singing in unison “Am Yisrael Chai," dent leaders, the crowd. “ “ my who Hate, and picketed across the street the nation of Israel lives, we walked to the I came to support peers ” to with sen entrance of the conference hall that held a have deal pro-Palestinian - on their , Meshel pro-Palestinian conference calling from protesters stood outside the conference for timent campuses ” divestment of funds from Israel. the entire day remarked. , Aish Rabbi Avi Weiss addressed our group Today we have the power to stand strong in Amcha HaTorah of Michigan the Organization of before the beginning of the rally with the fol the face of our adversaries. And as was and Zionist - sponsored protest and lowing message: in a place of impurity Jews voiced by the student coordinators of the rally America the rally Amcha The Coalition for strive to bring holiness, and in a place of injus- and the survivor I heard in Majdanek, wherev- . - Concerns was in tice and slander we bring truth. Richard Joel, er that voice of evil is, wherever the voice of Jewish , founded a grass the Director of Hillel, reminded us that we injustice manifests itself, we will be there. 1992 by Rabbi Avi Weiss as - Jewish activist organization. were not at the rally to change the mind of any I was disappointed at the small turnout of roots 1 X around , the students of the conference participants, but rather to be Yeshiva students. Three large coach buses At 1:30pm PSr a University building a con . a role model for the world. It was made clear were prepared to leave from Stern on met in for - on terrorism, key that this would be a peaceful demonstration - Saturday night, but we had to send two away ference and , terror if anyone tried to provoke us, we would unused. Where were the people who had activists such as international - the respond with our undaunted continuous wanted to make it? Im sure they had other ism expert John Loftus, informed NMMII Ul places to be, were unsure of what the students about the SAFE conference * singing. Our presence would be felt by stand- good ttlt If v ing together in the group, proudly waving our rally entailed, or were thrown off by the last speakers’ histories. * flags. minute arrangements. But where are our pri- For example, one of the speakers s :M Sami Arian, a profes Our group flanked both sides of the orities during Israel’s time of need? As stu- was Al- tenured - W l Florida, entrance to the conference behind yellow dents at a religious institution, we should use sor at the University of South organi police tape, and we danced in the faces of dis- our united front and steadfast ideology to who has ties with people and - tinctly looking Palestinian students and their spread our messages on campuses that are zations that sponsor terrorist activi- Al con American supporters as they walked to the suffering from large proportions of anti- ties. -Arian caused a national - SCW Senior Shira Miller picketed conference. Semitic students and faculty members. troversy when he was suspended outside the conference holding a university Originally, I was afraid that the Palestinian Part of me felt angry when I looked into from his position for his ter- sign that read, “This is an supporters would yell hateful slurs calling for those faces of evil, some filled with incredible rorist links. anti-Semitic Hate Conference” that the annihilation of Jews, such as “From the hatred. I was angry with them for sympathiz- The Tampa Tribune reported is founder and ruling coun from the conference, held over the river to the sea Palestine will be free” ( code ing and defending inexcusable murderers who Al-Arian a - of terrorist group Islamic entire weekend. words for the annihilation of the Jewish people were leaving in their wake a population of dis- cil member , which murdered Jersey Organizers of the counter rally in the Jewish state). However, I felt mainly abled Jews who lie in hospital beds and reha- Jihad New - stressed the significance of the loca defiant when Palestinian men came by with bilitation centers throughout Israel. college student Alisa Flatow and - many others Stephen Flatow, Alisa’s tion of the rally Detroit, Michigan has their flags. What could I say to them, what did I am angry at them for justifying the terror- . . of ter one of the largest Arab population out I want to say to them? Part of me wanted to ist who blew himself up in a coffee house on father and an activist on behalf - - , to side the Arab world and the University shake them and tell them to stop being so Rechov Alenby after walking up to Kineret, the rorist victims paid for the busses of Michigan has a highly active pro- blind to believe in such lies. cashier at the cafe, and looking her in the Michigan. , Palestinian student population. I wanted to feel as if my loud singing would face. I am angry that they don’t even know Following their own conference to the Ironically, Michigan was traditionally a shake them, and in a way I think it did. We that Kineret lies in a body glove to protect her the students returned conference when Ivy League showed that Jews aren’t a small group that heeling skin from the burns that cover 90% of Palestinian to continue haven for Jews They lay on the schools wouldn t accept them can be victimized. We are the post Holocaust her beautiful body, and who can’t go out of their protest. down ’ . - the by the “We were on the defensive end, generation and will therefore not meekly doors during daylight because the heat is too ground to visualize deaths and sang ," our because Palestinians at Michigan are accept anti-Semitism. much for her body which is still hot with her bombings “Achenu , definitely in their cause, said A year ago, I stood inside the crematorium burns. But more importantly, I am here to carry brethren while someone read the fervent ” of the terrorist victims of the Hilary Lewin, an SCW freshmen. at Majdanek, Poland. Next to me, a group of on her message: we must not be scared away names Lewin was by the stories of Israeli high school boys encircled an old sur- from our homeland. Hebrew University bombing. “It was a stunned one anti Semitism on campus told to her vivor, who was saying Kaddish. After he con- My desire to “shake” those going into the little awkward for me, but every - from Kent State eluded, a strong sound rose, a sound of song, conference wasn’t aggressive in nature. else seemed moved,” said Sharon by Jewish students were the sound of many voices coming together Rather, my aim was to express that the Jews Weiss, SCWSC President. University in Ohio who also at , rally and proclaiming “Am Yisrael Chai.” The sur- are here to stay, vibrantly celebrating our cul- Last Monday, on October 7th the . from vivor added the hebrew words, gam poh, also ture, state and flag of which we are so proud. Amcha got wind of the conference The issue of divestment Israel here. And we demonstrated this pride by dancing and recognized the need for a has been raised on a number of col- , most We now realize that we don’t have to wait with our arms waving the Israeli flag over our counter-rally. They called Meshel to lege campuses notably until after a mass Jewish destruction to heads, allowing it to soar and flap in the wind enlist students from SCW and YC to Berkeley, where SAFE held its first . declare that the Jews live on. Rather, we must in front of the enemies’ eyes. travel to Michigan. “If this type of anti- annual conference last year The sing this son while the lives of our brothers Semitism is going on at a university SAFE Conference calls for an end to and sisters in Israel are being threatened. campus, the most logical thing is for Israeli occupation, refers to Zionism university students to go and protest,” as inherently racist, and states on its said Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld, an website that, “It is not our place to die- Amcha activist. tate the strategies or tactics adopted Meshel, a political activist on cam- by the Palestinian people in their pus who also co-organized a mass struggle for liberation.” student lobbying mission to The call for divestment is based on Washington D.C. two years ago, successful campaigns launched immediately got busy. She set up a against apartheid in South Africa in desk in the lobby of 245 Lexington for the 1970 and 1980s. Universities students to sign up, and plastered have been ablaze with divestment signs all over campus. debate over the past few months. Meshel also contacted Seth Harvard’s President Lawrence Jacobson, a YC student, to solicit par- Summers made waves in September ticipation from uptown. Meshel and when he cited a faculty/student peti- others worked quickly to organize the tion to divest Harvard and MIT from eleventh-hour trip. companies that do business with “The time and effort were definitely Israel and declared the petition “anti- worth it,” said Meshel. “I look at this Semitic in effect, if not intent.” trip as being on the same scale as the Many Yeshiva students who trav- Washington D.C. rally last year." eled to the conference said the expe- In three days Meshel got over 70 rience was a real eye-opener for women to sign up, with over 150 peo- them. “I didn’t know what to expect,” pie signed up in total. However, on said Lewin. “I’ve seen such things on Saturday night, less than half the TV, but when I'm standing outside the women who enlisted actually showed conference and I see kids my own age up. At the Wilf campus, the same waving Palestinian flags, wearing their thing occurred. “Its disgraceful that kaffiyehs and chanting anti-Israel slo- people signed up, busses were gans, it all becomes very tangible and Yeshiva students, along with 500 hundred others, attended a rally in support of Israel ordered and people didn’t show up,” real.” on the Diag, main square, of the Michigan campus said Motti Schleider, a YC junior. Page 16 O b s e r v e r October 17, 2002

' 11 111 ׳ fliimm * ill ו 011 jlliilyi V

Refurbished Dramatic Society

f all the world’s a stage and all the men By Devorah Heching includes a garden variety salad, in and women merely players, then the addition to a large and delicately Igoal of the Stern College Dramatics olf and Lamb: Is it a steak spiced meat knish. The delectable Society (SCDS) is to provide students with house? A delicatessen? Or meat knish was only trumped by the dramatic involvement where they feel com-I wm Wmaybe just your run of the main dish of the entree, a large mound fortable taking their roles as players whileI mill “meat and potatoes” kind of of meaty ribs accompanied by a side maintaining their religious ideologies. place? The answer is yes, yes and of roasted vegetables and some Since the student body at SCW has pro- yes. Whatever classification you give superb fries. All this can be had for gressively become more religious over the 1 it, there is no mistaking that Wolf and under twenty dollars, a pretty reason- years, involvement in public acting has 1 Lamb, located at 10 East 48th street, able price for a very satiating meal. Be diminished, explained SCDS co-presidentI is a first-class eatery. The sizzle of forewarned, though, that this is not a Bella Tendler. However, after a full house Members of the Dramatic Society steak and the smell of fresh bread good choice on a date, as the ribs tend attendance at the improvisation production (l-r), Tamar May, Aliza Blumfeld, Rachel bombard your senses as soon as you to be a “hands-on” type of food. last year, students were asking for a second Daniels, Bella Tendler walk in to this handsome restaurant. For a deep, beefy taste among showing, and SCDS realized that there still is learn about background, set design and You are immediately drawn in to the entrees, there’s little to match the a vast interest in drama on campus. directing,” said Tendler, “A student assistant time-capsule quality of the restaurant steak sandwich.The service is far The challenge for this year is to create director or producer can learn how a play is from the exposed red brick to the soft superior (and much friendlier) than several venues to explore drama available to put together.” Professor Scher will direct the Italian music and mahogany wood fin- you would expect at a regular steak- students. “In the past, we have not tapped play. The Dramatic Society is currently in the ish. house, though somewhat relaxed in into the interests of SCW students,” Tendler process of reading through scripts and The restaurant’s somewhat exotic terms of pacing. said. “Putting on a play is not the only form of selecting a play, and auditions are planned name was chosen by the two For dessert a waitress urged our drama." for this semester. Lubavitch Chassidim who own it, table to sample the chocolate mousse The responsibility of ensuring enthusiasm The Dramatic Society differs from other David Edery and Yossi Wunch. The cake. At first we were skeptical and about drama on campus falls upon the clubs at SCW in that it is an independent two chose the name because of its began to grow impatient during our Dramatic Society, according to co-president body with its own budget and account but is allusion to the time of Messiah when moderately lengthy wait for its arrival, of the club Aliza Blumenfled. “We want to also under SCWSC. As a member of the the wolf and lamb, two natural ene- but we were pleasantly surprised regain the confidence of the student body,” Dramatic Society, a student will receive e- mies, will finally lie together in peace. when it finally came. Instead of the she said. “We are here to give the students mails about upcoming events and will have While some patrons may think the somewhat stale wedge of frosting usu- what they are interested in.” the first chance to sign up to see the month- name unusual, there is no question ally posturing under the name choco- At the Dramatic Society’s first board meet- ly performance. SCDS plans to work with that the food is unusually good. The late mousse cake, we were served a ing, ideas to meet this challenge shot across other clubs to achieve maximum success. chef forgoes the flashy in favor of gen- creamy mousse concoction complete- the room. The board suggested propositions “We will work with the head of the Manhattan uinely delicious food. Even before ly covered by an overlay of thick that spanned from movie viewings to book Club, the Metropolitan Experience and the ordering, there is a large basket of chocolate. recordings for blind children to poetry Student Councils,” Blumenfeld said. “We are warm, toasted bread on the table After this delightful dining experi- “slams,” a kind of spontaneous rhythmic not just about promoting ourselves, we are boasting a satisfyingly thick and ence we were forced to conclude that sharing of poetry. about student involvement.” crunchy crust while in today’s world the wolf and The Drama Society plans to offer trips to The purpose of the origination of art, and There are approximately thirty lamb may not be at peace, this restau- theater events each month. This month they drama in particular, was to glorify God, noted entree options on the menu, with rant is proof that as a restaurant they will be viewing Metamorphosis on Broadway. Scher, who was surprised at the lack of dra- prices ranging anywhere from fifteen go together just fine. They are also looking into producing an Arts matic activity thus far on campus. “For a to thirty dollars. Of particular value is Festival, an open mike night and public read- school so defined by religion, the component the entree labeled unobtrusively as ings of monologues. They want to offer trips of drama can fill an important void,” he said. the “dinner special.” The special to museums, provide information about the- “It’s a great opportunity.” ater job opportunities and internships as well as take suggestions from the student body. SCW has recruited Professor Josh Scher as a theater professor. With an undergradu- ate degree in Drama from Brown University and a graduate degree in Drama from Yale, Professor Scher is expected to be a valuable resource for the Society. Although Professor Scher firmly believes that “the drama society is and should be a student-run organization,” he will act as an “informal advisor.” Based on the success and positive feed- back from the improvisation class last year, SCW has hired Scher to teach fundamental acting skills in a beginning acting class. “The class is designed to introduce students to the process of acting not through performance but learning what one’s job is as an interpre- tive artist through tools such as workshops, exercises and discussions,” said Scher. The class may culminate in a “Night of Scenes,” where students will perform the scenes they have written in class. The two acting classes that are being offered have reached their caps of 15 students per class, and a waiting list has already been created. “Hopefully this will be ongoing,” said Scher. “I’d like to teach accredited courses in play writing, directing and dramatic litera- ture." Scher is not yet considering the possibility of a Drama minor or major at SCW. “The proposition of a minor or major would be putting the cart before the horse,” he said. Sun-Thurs 10:30 AM- 9 PM “Hopefully we’ll see accredited courses next year and perhaps eventually that will turn into Friday 10:30 AM - 2 PM a development, but that is in the future.” Now open Saturday nights! Call for times In addition to the fresh programs SCDS hopes to implement, the Dramatic Society will continue the tradition of hosting the Cholov Yisroel * Under supervision of Rabbi A Marmorstein annual production during the second semes- . ter. The play is not only an opportunity for students who enjoy acting. “It’s a great chance for students who are interested to 10% Discount with this Ad 11 Heshvan 5762 Page 17

Up and Coming

By Rachel Horn The play opened at a workshop The proverbial fire chief’s macho Events in the sponsored by the Flea Theater and fagade, endearing New York/ltalian n Graham Greene’s novel on the has been playing there since. On the accent and difficulty expressing emo- early years of the war in Vietnam, one-year anniversary of September tion offer comic relief in good taste. Big Apple IThe Quiet American, a British 11th, the play was shown for free at The editor is perhaps too idyllic and reporter in Vietnam refers to “war Lincoln Center. Since the script has melodramatic, but then again, what films." He means movies that docu- been published, the Actor’s Gang in public speech, ceremony or article Stories with a Heartbeat ment World War II and the coura- Los Angeles and other independent written on this subject matter has not Evening with Penina Schram, Professor at SCW geous soldiers who fought for the groups have been producing the play been? and storyteller, and Mordechai Schram, Allied Powers, risking their lives for as well. The Flea Theater’s produc- The characters acknowledge the singer/drummer. their country and fellow soldiers. tion stars Terrence Mann and Polly fact that their vastly different paths October 17, 8:00 pm When Greene wrote his novel in the Draper. After October 15th, Dan would never have crossed had it not 92nd Street Y early 1950’s, America did not yet Lauria and Peggy Lipton will assume been for the World Trade Center 92nd Street at Lexington Ave have men fighting in Vietnam, and the lead roles. attacks. However, they build a strong $12 World War II was the considered the As much as this play marks a new bond based on shared human emo- archetypal model of war. In the later stage in the aftermath of the tragedy, tions rather than similarities in Fruits of a Lifetime part of the twentieth century, howev- the poignant dialogue between the lifestyle. The lesson in commonality Kathryn Yochelson Collection of Israeli Arts from er, the term “war films” evokes two characters taps into so many of that they learn is one that all the 1920s to the 1960s. Many Israeli artists fea- images of dense jungles and demor- the emotions and thought processes Americans who have suffered due to tured expressed their optimistic hopes for peace alized soldiers smoking pot and that have reverberated in the minds the calamity have discovered: pain between Arabs and Jews in the Holy Land through watching friends being blown up in and hearts of New Yorkers through- and suffering are blind to social sta- their artwork. the rice fields of Indochina. out the year. The editor’s soliloquies tus. Until October 27, 2002 Perhaps The Guys, the first public touch upon questions such as the The down-to-earth and genuine Yeshiva University Museum performance dealing with the terrorist role of religion in the event, the chal- nature of the characters makes it fea- 15 West 16th Street attacks of September 11th, is the ini- lenge of returning to “normalcy,” the sible for viewers to understand and 212-294-8330 tial step towards a new common per- pride and sorrow over our “beautiful, relate to them. Director Jim Simpson ception of war. With The Guys, a gleaming, wounded city,” and the puts it best when he describes the Yentl makeshift play written by journalist level of interaction between people in actors as being “on intimate terms A classic Yiddish play performed in Yiddish with Anne Nelson and directed by Jim Manhattan. with the audience.” English translation. Simpson about an editor’s experi- The interplay between the two The Guys serves as a testimony October 15-December 29, 2002 ence with a fire chief, the territory of unlikely partners is realistic. A yuppy to the new consciousness and char- The PCMH Theatre September 11th is no longer relegat- uptown intellectual and a blue-collar acter of New York City. The standing 344 West 36th Street, 212-307-4100 ed to news and conversation. fire chief awkwardly sit face to face ovation it receives indeed depicts the www.folksbeine.org Rather, it has become part of nation- while sipping coffee. They are anx- common spirit and understanding the al history and culture. ious to dispose of the uncomfortable audience shares with the characters. The Lubavitch of Brooklyn: Intimate Portrait This generation will now look to silence between them and stumble The Guys is unique in that it so accu- Exhibition of photographs by Steve Hoffman, docu- September 11th as the primary mile- through the difficult task of finding rately portrays the raw emotions that ments the daily life and rituals of the Jewish stone in contemporary history; it is proper words for the eulogies of the New Yorkers felt this past year while Chabad Lubavitch community of Crown Heights. the focal point to which future political fire chief’s late firemen. His transfer- it simultaneously grants the audience October 20, 2002- February 2, 2003 maneuvers and social trends will ence of seemingly trivial information a cathartic and meaningful opportuni- Museum of the City of New York refer. As the anniversary of the (“Pat once told me he made a ty to pay tribute to 9/11 as a tragedy 1220 Fifth Ave, between 103 and 104 Streets tragedy passed, The Guys served as Waldorf salad for the church picnic...I that, although freshly experienced, ; 212-534-1672 the first divider in the transformation didn’t even know they had church has passed. $4 Student Admission from the period of Ground Zero, picnics anymore”) is woven into Tickets for The Guys can be pur- funeral services, and the clearing of beautiful eulogies which unearth the chased through Smarttix, 212-206- Bukharan Jewish Folk Music: Ensemble remains and debris to the period of modest yet sterling qualities of our 1515 or www.smarttix.com. The Maqam rebuilding, rededication and remem- new-sprung heroes with the help of Guys is playing at Flea Theater, 41 A concert of traditional folk music of the Bukharan brance. the editor. White Street. Jews who hail form Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. In their festive costumes, the Ensemble Maqam uses m m unique ethnic instruments. October 20, 2002 A New Perspective on Women in the Bible Yeshiva University Museum 15 West 16th Street, 212-294-8330 By Reina Roth this final piece she depicts not only Ruth and her descen- $12 Student Admission dants but also her own family and the Biblical ancestors ach artist must search for the figures that are rep- that helped shape all of these women. Biblical women Mambo in the Catskills: The Latino-Jewish resentative of a personal search in our rapidly are represented with their names while the artist’s family Connection in Latin Music Echanging world. This prevalent theme can be is portrayed through photographs. The future generations A panel of musicians, dancers, entrepreneurs and traced throughout the portraits at the Hebrew Union of the Jewish people are represented by a bouquet of journalists/concert by the Harbor Latin Big Band College’s exhibit on Biblical Women, entitled flowers with the image of a baby protruding form its’ cen- October 27, 2002, 4:00 pm “Archetype/Anonymous: Biblical Women in Contemporary ter. This final portrait summarizes the point the exhibit: the MAKOR, Steinhardt Center ־Art.” past is only a way to the future. 35 West 67th Street, 212-4155500 Through paintings, sculptures, costumes and pho- The artists, through the characters chosen, frequently tographs, artists selected particular Biblical women as challenge our conceptions of the situation of the figures Einstein subjects of their work in an effort to creatively interpret they portray. For example, whom does one sympathize This unprecedented exhibition will profile this extra- these iconic figures. Biblical women’s lives can be exam- with - Sara, who was barren for 90 years, or Hagar, who ordinary scientific genius. View rare handwritten ined from many different perspectives. While these was evicted and discarded? manuscripts, letters, photos and political cartoons. women are usually viewed through the lenses of Biblical The art enables people to see beyond the expected. Organized by the Museum of Natural History and 1 tradition, the artists in this exhibit challenge the dominat- For instance, one normally would not see the daughters the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. ing stereotypes in a quest to find the core meaning of the of Laban as prominent biblical figures, yet artists have American Museum of Natural History textual description of each personality. chosen them to deliver a message to the public through Central Park West at 79th St. Laura Lazar Siegel's portrayal of the Ruth is an excel- their work. Begins November, 2002 lent example of the content found in the exhibit. The artist With a rich use of color, material, texture and tech- uses oil on canvas for the five scenarios that she depicts, nique, contemporary artists underscore the spiritual Why Bother With the Bible in which she highlights the main aspects of the story of power of these Biblical stories through artistic expression. Lecture by Rabbi Saul Berman, Bruce Feiler, Rabbi this prominent figure. The first painting, “Tragedy and Visual artists, drawn to the energy of the Biblical text, Harold Kushner and Ellen Frankel. Resurrection,” illustrates the death of Naomi’s husband have brought contemporary values to new interpretations 92nd Street Y and sons. Gray figures lying on a lower level depict the of the archetypical women. Although the installation of the Lexington Ave between 91st and 92nd St deceased. A red woman, Naomi, is huddled in humiliation art is typical, the spacious rooms and lighting gave the 212-415-5500 in the corner while a tall light figure stands in the center pieces an allowance of projection through their colors and November 3,7:30 pm showing Naomi overcoming this struggle with the decision textures. to return to Israel. In the past century the status of the western woman The paintings then continue with the choice of Ruth to has changed dramatically. Along with the responsibility Stories Untold: Jewish Pioneer Women follow her mother-in-law and stay by her side. The third and values that the women of the Bible possessed, the 1850-1910 scene expresses the alienation of Ruth in this foreign modern woman has circumstances of independence and Symposium with Hasia Dinerm Historian and land. The figure of Ruth stands tall but hunched over, giv- intellectual freedom. In the art chosen for illustration, the Andrea Kalinowski, Artist. ing the viewer a feeling of her loneliness, but through the woman assumes the role of activist and as historical per- Yeshiva University Museum figures’ bright colors the viewer is aware of her willingness sona. The exhibit blends the positive aspects of each peri- 15 W 16th Street to overcome her status. The fourth painting presents her od to create a picture of a strong and vibrant female. 212-294-8330 x8805 redemption where she meets Boaz in the threshing floor The exhibit is being shown at Hebrew Union College- November 10, 1:00-2:00 pm room. Jewish Institute of Religion at 1 West 4th St., through Free with museum admission Lastly, the artist depicts what she calls “Family.” On January 10, 2003. Call 212-824-2205 for more details. October 17,

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Student Discount 10% Off (minimum order $7 per person) (Valid between 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm Mon-Thurs. Valid Saturday night and all day Sunday) 15% off Party Orders (minimum order $70.00) FREE Large Fountain Drink with any two slices of Pizza (per person) - Anytime Student ID required, noncombinable with any other discount. 11 Heshvan 5762 O b s e r v e r Page 19 Search for President Continues Yeshiva Endowment Goes Up continued from front page continued from front page Immediately before school closed for that title,” though he possibly would have . Succoth break, Shatz, a long-time Yeshiva grown into the role. accumulated since the founding of tions of the university, such as heating professor, appeared as the prime presi- Zakheim as president mandated the Yeshiva, although the greatest growth and maintenance, and for capital dential hopeful and a shoo-in for the role. splitting of the presidency of RIETS and has occurred within the last five years, expenditures, such as building projects. However, upon returning to school, stu- Yeshiva, since the RIETS Board refused In 1995, for instance, the endowment Therefore, while providing some dents and administrators were surprised to accept someone without rabbinic amounted to only $375 million. relief in the approximately $400 million to hear that Shatz had withdrawn his authority as the president of RIETS. The Although Yeshiva was able to show budget, the endowment money can name, returning the search to the begin- RIETS Board would have accepted Shatz growth during a recession, the have only a limited effect on the operat- ning. as their president. University invested somewhat conserv- ing budget deficit. Additionally, Merkin “It was a question of two different kinds It is once again unclear whether the atively when the market was strong, noted that although the market has of lives and what kind I wanted to lead,” roles of president and rosh hayeshiva will While many other of the highly showed significant decline, there is no said Shatz. “During the past weeks, I’ve be split, or whether there will be some endowed universities were showing parallel decline in the operating costs of had many interviews and met with various other possible combination. “A split is def- returns as high as thirty and forty per- the university, people at the school and I got a much initely still a possibility,” said Stanton. cent a couple of years ago, Yeshiva The deficit, which has provoked rais- clearer picture of what the role entails.” Until a new president is found, Rabbi posted only a 14.9% return in 2000 and es in tuition and a hiring freeze, was Shatz claims that he did not want to give Lamm will remain in his capacity. “I believe a 13.7% return in 2001, according the caused by a shortage of unrestricted up his scholarship and teaching, and that Rabbi Lamm will stay on until the issue is U.S. Department of Education. cash reserves. the decision was wrenching for him and resolved,” said Peter Ferrara, director of “At times of the boom of the stock Restricted gifts, which are like his family. Yeshiva’s Communications and Public market, when other universities showed endowments in that they are designat- Dr. David Schnall, the other name put Relations Department. “However, that a lot of growth, we were looking at more ed for a specific use yet which differ forward in late August, which was made doesn’t mean indefinitely. I do believe the modest gains," commented Ferrara, from endowments in that they are public by the Observer, refused to confirm issue will be resolved.” “But when the market went down, we intended for use in the current year, are or deny rumors circulating among Yeshiva While all new proceedings are being retained modest gains. also generally unusable for the daily board members that he will remove his kept secret for the present time, names of Merkin himself recognized the pre- operations of the university. name as a candidate as well. presidential possibilities have been float- cariousness of the current market. The raise in total endowments Shatz is the second candidate to offi- ing around the campuses. Surprisingly, “In a relative basis, we've done very comes at a time when the $400 million dally resign days after becoming the Rabbi Shlomo Riskin's name has resur- nicely,” said Merkin. “Looking back- capital campaign is starting to slow prime runner. Undersecretary of Defense faced even though it appeared that the wards, it's been okay. Looking forward, down. Although only announced pub- Dr. Dov S. Zakheim removed his name in University was not ready to accept his we can only hope." iicly in May of last year, the “quiet March after an uproar at Yeshiva campus- conditions for the job, which included, While the increase in endowments phase” of the capital fundraising cam- es. Shatz’s resignation and the lack of among others, his commuting to Israel for adds prestige to the university, it really paign, in which major donors and other suitable candidates have led many the weekends. has only relatively minor practical sig- trustees were appealed to for signifi- to the assumption that nobody wants the One new prospect places Rabbi nificance. Since endowments are given cant sums of money, actually began position, at least as it is currently present- Michael Rosensweig, a rosh yeshiva at with the intention that they are to be one and a half years earlier, according ed. RIETS, as the president and rosh perpetuated, the university builds up to Vice President of Development “It’s a tremendously demanding job, hayeshiva. SCW Dean Dr. Karen Bacon is the endowment fund and protects the Daniel Forman. Now that the large but I don’t think it’s the case that nobody mentioned as a possible vice president principle by touching only a portion of it donors have been exhausted, there has wants it,” said Stanton. “That’s why we under him. Rosensweig holds a PhD in each year. As per policy set by the been a natural slowing down of the have to change the methodology of the Jewish History from Revel under Dr. Board of Trustees, only 5.5% of the campaign, search.” Haym Soloveitchik. endowment can be factored into the “We did extremely well in the first Part of that change will include the Other possibilities include focusing the budget. In fact, since the investment two years, we broke records,” said addition of new positions, such as execu- search on the rabbinate or to recruit can- return was lower than the percentage Forman. “Now we are spreading our tive vice president, to assist the president didates who were previously uninterested taken out of the endowment fund, the tentacles to other constituencies.” with his responsibilities. “We’re going to in the position, such as Rabbi J.J. corpus of the total endowment will post Of the $400 million goal, $340 mil- surround whoever is picked with people Shachter. “They haven’t gone after peo- a net loss. lion has been raised so far, about half of who call fill those vacancies,” said pie not interested in the position," said one Additionally, endowments are gener- which is in pledges, said Forman, Stanton. Yeshiva administrator. “Maybe they have ally designated for specific uses, such Shatz’s candidature involved the split- to make conditions right for them." as chairs, deanships and scholarships ting of the role of rosh hayeshiva and As the search process undergoes an and are unusable for the daily opera- president. Shatz would have been presi- in-depth look at its effectiveness and dent of both Yeshiva and RIETS, yet resumes a desperate air of secrecy, the would not have held the title of rosh only sure thing right now is that it’s contin- \ di hayeshiva, claiming that he “did not want uing.

Art Annex to Move Buildings

continued from front page acquisition of the 29th street space six Acknowledging the beautiful architec- : I years ago. “It lasted long enough for peo- ture of the current studios, art professor s2as» pie to forget that it was temporary.” Carol Lowengrub remarked, "It’s always The uptown campus was renamed last year in honor of the Wilf family’s Over the past six years, the Art Annex hard for an artist to move studios, but I 10 million dollar gift has developed into one of SCW’s more think it will be okay.” impressive assets, often serving as one of Administrators, too, have expressed the highlights of tours to prospective SCW confidence in the move. next semester, was also worried about great facilities,” she maintained. students and their parents. “The studio will be different,” acknowl- how the Art department would adjust to There is reassuring evidence, howev- “Moving here was arriving at heaven,” edged Dean Karen Bacon. “But it might its new home in her absence. She won- er, that the art department may continue said Gardner, referring to the unique even turn out to be better in the end.” dered if the move would take a toll on the to thrive. Yeshiva officials are currently ambiance of the studio space. The studio Gardner conceded that the new space flourishing art department, which, working on acquiring a major donor for has a high ceiling and large windows that would be adequate if it is renovated, but according to Gardner, nearly doubled SCW’s art department, according to spantthe length of the double height room, she expressed concern that no renova- since it moved into the 29th Street facili- director of development, Dan Forman. creating a bright and airy feel. tions have been undertaken yet. ties. “Students come to the Art Annex and Art faculty members and students were Gardner, who is taking a sabbatical decide to major in art because of the reluctant to let the Art Annex go. “When you walk in here, you feel ‘I could do art work here’,” said a heartbro- ken Gardner. She admitted that the 8th floor of 215 Lexington is adequate, but noted, “We’re moving from studio space to office space.” Students echoed Gardner’s senti- Ann D Koffsky ments . . “This [current location] is the ideal place,” said SCW student Sara Reif. “It’s artist upsetting.” Ketubot Q For many, the layout of the studio was less of an issue than the physical location Papercuts of the Art Annex. Many art students live in Schottenstein because of its proximity to Paintings arp> the Art Annex, and students said that the I u new location would be less convenient. h : “If I forget something in the dorm, I can : 21' just run across the street,” explained 655 Hawthorne Street m SCW senior Mirat Strobel, who, like many W. NY )!6(- 4377־art majors, spends the bulk of her day - Hempstead, 11552 5 565 and many nights - in the Art Annex. Page 20 O b s e r v e r October 17, 2002 New Committee to Draft Student Bill of Rights Campus Bulletin By Alisa Rose Services at the beginning of this year. Nulman. “It’s a good issue to take up,” said In addition to drafting a Student Bill of eshiva University administrators Nulman, who has pushed for the forma- Rights, the committee is also discussing, Help improve your school. and students have formed a com- tion of the committee. “We want to help among other issues, the need for hiring an Email Rachel Shtern and Yael mittee to deal with all non-academ- the students.” administrator who would serve as an Y Reisman, heads of the Student Life ic issues at SCW and YC, including the After an introductory meeting last week advocate on behalf of the students. Under Committee,at drafting of a joint document outlining dis between Nulman and SCW student repre the current system, Student Services offi- - - [email protected] ciplinary procedures. sentatives, Weiss praised Nulman for his cials function both as student advocates with suggestions. The need for such a document became support. “He’s really there for the stu- and as disciplinarians. clear last year when several YC students dents.” Committee members will examine were expelled without undergoing any for- other universities’ policies and legal Wanna play ball? mal process, according to student leaders issues in drafting the joint YC/SCW docu- If you are interested in joining on both the midtown and Wilf campuses, “Rules haven’t been ment. basketball intramurals on who pushed for the document. “There are different issues uptown and Tuesday nights at 8:45pm, “Rules haven’t been written down, and written down,and they downtown,” explained Weiss, but she please call Yonina Bersson they need to be,” said SCWSC president need to be.” believes that it is still important to formu- at 845-641-7897 Sharon Weiss, one of the students on the late an ali-inclusive documents that cov- or e-mail at [email protected] committee. ered the issues that could occur on either The impetus for the formation of the campus. If you are the head of a club or committee came as a result of the “inade- The committee, which is still in the Besides Weiss, SCW students organization at SCW and are quacies of the current systems that were planning stage, is expected to consist of Shoshana Davis, Rachel Shtern, and interested in placing a exposed last year,” according to YC Student Services deans, four YC stu- Beth Meshel will serve on the committee. bulletin notice here, Student Union president Shai Barnea. It dents, four SCW students, Yeshiva email the Observer at was one of the first issues Barnea dis- lawyers, and possibly faculty members. [email protected] cussed with Dr. Efrem Nulman after he Administrators are currently finalizing the assumed the position of Dean of Student members of the committee, according to

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New Volleyball Lady Macs Begin Club Campaign to Draw Fans Formed at SCW By Ariella Goldstein

By Rachel Fyman n November 23, 2002 the Lady Maccabees, or Lady his semester, after months of requests from the student OMacs as they are affection- body, SCW has introduced an official Volleyball Club. ately called, will commence the TThe club, which held try-outs last semester and hopes new season with a game at the to eventually become a varsity team, practices every Sunday Wentworth Institute in Boston -and at the Sol Goldman Y on 14th Street. few students will notice. “The women at SCW have been pushing for this for a SCW’s basketball team has while,” said Dr. Richard Zerneck, director of Athletics at long lacked student support, but Yeshiva. “The lack of an appropriate gym stopped us.” this year, a concerted effort is Students initiated the formation of the volleyball club, and underway to draw a wider fan sup- were involved in the process of finding a coach and acquiring port base. the necessary funding, according to Zerneck. The Lady Macs will soon be “We have a fencing team, a basketball team, and a tennis holding a rally called “Mac team,” said Racheli Rubin, an SCW senior who was one of Madness,” with the support of the the primary forces behind the new club. “Why not a team for SCWSC, at which there will be volleyball as well?” food and giveaways. In order for a team to attain varsity status, which will “The rally will allow SCW stu- Lady Macs 2001-2002 team, pictured above, distinguished themselves enable it to compete in a league with other college teams, it dents to meet the players and last year at several tournaments must first exist on campus for two semesters as a club. The learn about the team,” said Dr. Volleyball Club, coached by SCW volleyball teacher Vicky Karen Green, the Lady Macs Perhaps the best way for the Valuable Player of the conference. Kui, is accredited as a team sport. According to Dr. Zerneck, coach. Lady Macs to attract fans is to con- “We put a lot of time and effort the club may eventually compete against clubs from other Added to a lack of interest is a tinue playing as well as they have into the team," noted Lisa Misher, colleges. lack of convenience - the home been. SCW senior and member of the “I’m really excited about the team; there’s never been one court of the Lady Macs is in While the Lady Macs has been basketball team. before,” said SCW sophomore Tamar May. “The coach is Queens, at Yeshiva University’s most well known for its achieve- The Lady Macs also won the great and she works us very hard - hopefully, we'll be a great High School for Girls, which is an ments off the court - the Lady Medger Evers Betty Shabazz team.” hour away. SCW’s basketball Macs placed second of all Memorial Tournament last year. Previously, there had been volleyball intramurals on cam- team, therefore, does not get the Collegiate Women’s Basketball This weekend tournament is held pus. However, some students felt that the informal nature of crowds and cheerleaders that teams in the Women’s Basketball in the beginning of December and the games was not conducive to improving one’s skills. The other colleges have. Coaches Association’s annual involves three other teams besides Volleyball Club requires more serious commitment and “It’s hard to play when you don’t Academic Top Twenty-five last for the Lady Macs: Medger Evers, involves intensive drills rather than just a pick-up game, as have many supporters,” noted year, with an average team GPA of College of New Rochelle and the intramurals were. Blair Chaletzky, SCW junior and 3.679 - the team has begun to win Suny-Purchase. Rubin, who was involved in resurrecting the volleyball member of the basketball team. “It recognition on the court, as well. As a sign of the Lady Macs’ intramurals and subsequently the club, hopes that intramu- really makes a difference when According to Green, the Lady growing reputation, the host team rals will continue this year as well. Unfortunately, she is grad- there is a crowd on the sidelines, Macs are the topic of much discus- made special arrangements for the uating at the end of this semester and will not be at SCW to cheering for your team.” sion within the Hudson Valley Lady Macs. The tournament con- play on the team when it becomes competitive. The team attracts more fans Women’s Athletic Conference, the sists of two rounds, the first of “There has been a lot of interest and enthusiasm from stu- when they play at Baruch College, women’s basketball league that which is held on Saturday night. dents,” commented Rubin. “We have also had the complete just a few blocks away, according the Lady Macs joined last year. There are two games held on and unfailing support of Dr. Zerneck and the administration, to Green. This attention, said Green, is a Saturday night, one at 6:00 who, impelled by students’ motivation and initiative, have With the rally, team members result of “how far we have come in p.m.and the other at 8:00 p.m. done everything from the administrative standpoint to facili- hope to convince the SCW student such a short amount of time.” Since 6:00 p.m. is too soon after tate the realization of our goal.” body that the Lady Macs are worth Indeed, the Lady Macs were the end of Shabbat for the Lady The club is small, consisting of only about a dozen stu- rooting for. one of the top four teams in the Macs to compete, Medger Evers dents, and therefore has not needed to cut players as of yet, “The team is good and does Hudson Valley Conference, with arranged for the team to play at a step that will most likely be necessary when it attains varsi- really well,” insisted Lady Macs an overall record of 11-9 and a the 8:00 p.m. game. ty status. According to Rubin, there are currently enough manager Aliza Blumenfeld. “The conference record of 4-3. In addi- “They are very accommodat- members to play as a team, but students with experience in games are always really close and tion, SCW junior Shayna ing,” said Misher. volleyball that are interested and dedicated to playing seri- very exciting.” Greenwald was voted the Most ously are always welcome. SCW Rents Gym Space at Goldman Y By Chava Hartman College rescinded the offer because its admin- istration was unsure if it would still need the he Athletics department at SCW has gym for its own students. found a temporary solution to the prob- “The opportunity to improve what we have Tlem of inadequate gym space at the mid- fell through on their end,” Zerneck said. “But we Questions? town campus. Arrangements have been made hope to resurrect the idea as soon as possible.” to rent the facilities of the Sol Goldman Y on Over the summer, Baruch College contacted Complaints? 14th Street every Sunday night. Zerneck and informed him that the college “Although this was not their intended plan, it would again be willing to discuss the possibility still accomplishes everything they wanted, and of Yeshiva’s renting its gym. This option, how- Something to Say? rentals is what Yeshiva has to do if we want to ever, would not come to fruition until either the expand our facilities,” claimed Dr. Richard spring semester or, more likely, fall 2003. Zerneck, director of Athletics at Yeshiva. Though the gym at Baruch is not new, it is Over the last few years the administration better than SCW’s current athletic facilities has. has been trying to rent a gym in close proximi- It would centralize a lot of the sports program at Email us your ty to SCW in order to enhance the gym pro- SCW, and it would make more opportunities grams within the physical education depart available for students. SCW’s varsity teams 0 - Letters to ment. The current gym, located on the 11th would have a more convenient place and more floor of 245 Lexington Ave., is too small for time to practice, and students would have .most team practices. access to a pool for swimming classes ״ a * Last year, Yeshiva negotiated to rent the “Having access to the Baruch College gym [ !» (cpymail yu gym facilities at Baruch College. This facility, would allow us to practice more often and for • HJ . .edu located on 26th street, includes a full size gym, longer periods of time,” said Blair Chaletzky, an large locker rooms and a pool. YU planned to SCW junior and member of the basketball rent this gym at night, which would allow for the team. formation of a volleyball team and for the bas- The gym rented at the Goldman Y has been ketball team to practice there instead of having designated for practice time for the new volley- to travel to Basketball City in Chelsea Piers for ball club. The basketball team will continue to practice. hold its practices at Basketball City. However, the vice president of Baruch Page 22 O b s e r v e r October 17, 2002

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OPEN TOAIL JEWISH MUSIC BANDS •ONIV 8* WORM SEND A RECORDING INTO ־YSU S00 W.185TH ST. NY, NY4G033 DEADLINE FOR SUMBMISSIONS IS OCT. 22ND 11 Heshvan 5762 O b s e r v e r Page 23 Women’s Studies Minor New Guest Policy Enacted continued from back page continued from back page ness to say they aren’t feminists,” said ness to the minor. “There’s a new sense inated and how it will be enforced. varied, from acceptance to the policy to Racheli Rubin, an SCW senior. “People that feminism isn’t this monolithic middle “The responses we got at the first incredulousness, associate feminism with an antiquated class white women’s movement,” said meeting with facilities management “I understand if they are instituting policy of fire regula inaccurate view of bra burning. I think it’s Nachumi. “This is obviously being reflect- were rather ambiguous,” said SCW this new because - - Talya , about equal opportunity and the breaking ed, there is a renewed feeling of hopeful- junior and co-chairman of the Student tions,” said SCW senior Graber down of double standards. ness about feminism and the women’s . Life Committee, Yael Reisman. who lives in the 36th Street Residence SCW junior Shifra movement.” At the most recent Student Life Hall. , ques Landowne is interested Both Nachumi and Committee meeting, Jeffrey Socol, the However many students - “They want to overnight in completing the Hatvary are hopeful that Associate Director of Facilities tioned whether hosting no bed for Women’s Studies minor. balance their students will take advan- Management, brought a registered guests when there is empty was really a fire hazard or a “This should be the ideal tage of the minor and architect to explain the technicalities of the guests commitment to violation of codes “It place for a girl to come new courses. “I’ve taught the building codes. Yeshiva officials occupancy . and learn what it means Orthodox Judaism a range of students, from were unwilling to back down from their seems unlikely that every girl in every claim that a law exists and that they room will have a guest on any given to be a woman,” said students wh0 are openly wjth thp demands of building Landowne. “It’s surpris- calling themselves femi- must enforce it. night to the point where the will ' ," said SCW sophomore ing to many that despite being 3 Woman in nists to students who “There will be ways of making provi- reach capacity sions that will enable a guest policy to Darrah More, the number of courses in twenty fjrst century would never dream of womens studies there doing that,” said work," Rosengarten. "But I want to Other students seemed uncon- . make sure that things are safe and cerned about the new policy, sensing Nachumi. “What I find is ״,has yet to be an official America ’ be minor.” that despite many, many legal. that there is very little that can done While Bacon and Hatvary do not see differences, the students at Stern tend to A sub-committee is currently being to ensure that this policy is adhered to, every evening the addition of the minor as telling of any be concerned almost across the board formed that will work on reaching guest short of bed checks . “If growing feminism on campus, Nachumi with their identities as women.” policy that will satisfy Yeshiva officials they do try to enforce this policy, stu- surely find a way around it, pointed to changes the women’s move- as well as students. dents will ” ment has undergone in the recent years Student reaction to this policy has Graber noted. as a possible reason for the new open- H a m e v a s e r A t t e m p t s t o R e s t a r t continued from page 7 SCW, including philosophy professors Dr. mer. chief position will have ramifications on the intellectual abilities of SCW stu- David Shatz and Dr. Charles Raffel, “I am interested in preserving continu- the magazine’s funding. In past years, dents. Jewish History professor Dr. Ephraim ity,” said Oz. “Maybe we should imple- TAC and SOY have contributed equally to “We were looking for an equal collabo- Kanarfogel and Director of the Honors ment elections, appointments or by-laws Hamevaser. Currently, Hamevaser has ration,” said SCW junior Malka Zeiger, Program Dr. Cynthia Wachtell, for names no budget. one of the original candidates for editor- of qualified students who may be interest- Although the staff is Hamevaser was founded in 1963 as a in-chief. ed in editorial positions. The Hamevaser hopinq to avoid the newspaper covering Jewish news, specif- Oz, however, denied any chauvinist staff, however, has been unable to find a ^ ^ . ically for the YC programs now known as motivations. qualified SCW student willing to commit disarray into which past MYP and JSS. In the 1980’s, Hamevaser “It had absolutely nothing to do with the time and effort demanded by the pub- issues of Hamevaser evolved into more of a journal. Oz gender,” insisted Oz. “I can’t stress lication, said Oz. described the philosophical outlook of the enough how important it is to have Stern Part of the reason for the lack of had fallen, publication as one corresponding to the students involved.” female leadership is the ad hoc nature of the publication has Rabbinical Council of America. While Oz claimed that Zeiger herself the transfer of power from one editor of Oz has grand plans beyond just the had expressed reluctance about taking Hamevaser to the next. The previous already been tinged with printing of the magazine. Hoping to the job, Zeiger insisted that she had never editors, Ari Weiss and Jenny Rosenfeld, controversy this year expand the influence of the Hamevaser, officially rejected the offer. did not specifically appoint anyone to take . Oz envisions, as a long-term goal, the According to Oz, the Hamevaser staff over. Oz, a political science and Jewish creation of a society of different chapters has been actively recruiting SCW stu- philosophy major who transferred from so we can avoid these kinds of conflicts in on college campuses, which would come dents to play a role in the publication. Oz Cornell last fall, expressed interest in run- the future.” together at conferences once or twice a and his executive editor, SCW student ning the magazine last May and began It is uncertain whether the fact that year to discuss issues of Jewish thought, Dani Weiss, have asked professors at researching various topics over the sum- only YC is represented in the editor-in- Zionism, education and political issues.

SCW seniors Devorah Schrek (I) and Ayelet Rivka Jaye sign students up for Aish Hatorah learning and Bina Yeteira, respectively, at the TAC Club Fair &

T A C

Psychology Club members (l-r), Estie Savitsky, Lauren Appel, Dafna Hundreds of students crowded Koch Auditorium for SCWSC Club Fair Schindler, Lauren Yosevitz Page 24 O b s e r v e r October 17, 2002 OIM CAMPUS Yeshiva Fails to Reach Settlement SCW Introduces Women’s with Katzenstein Studies Minor By Caryn Litt Katzenstein enlisted the aid of the New By Shayndi Raice York State Division of Human Rights n a meeting mediated by the New York (DHR). The DHR, created in 1968, works A !though women’s studies have State Division of Human Rights, Ms. to compel compliance with the state’s been a popular area of academic Susan Katzenstein, the former Yeshiva Human Rights Law, which bans discrimi- I # \study in universities since the ‘60s, employee who is alleging age discrimina- nation against others because of age, for the first time in its history, SCW will tion against the University, and represen- race, creed, national origin, sex or marital now be offering a Women’s Studies tatives of Yeshiva failed to reach a settle- status. minor. English Professors Dr. Nora ment. The DHR is unable to comment on a Nachumi and Dr. Laurel Hatvary spear- During the one and a half hour meet- case until it is resolved for fear of compro - headed the push for the new minor. ing, held this past Thursday at an uptown mising the information of the case, accord- I hope the classes will provide a safe branch of the Division of Human Rights, ing to a spokeswoman for the DHR. “ place for women to explore issues about the Director of Student Finance Jean However, there is reason to believe how they want to balance their commit Belmont and Yeshiva attorney Mark Potel that Katzenstein’s case is legally meritori- - ment to Orthodox Judaism with the offered Katzenstein around three months ous, since before the DHR even accepts a demands of being a woman in twenty pay, but Katzenstein rejected the offer. case, it conducts a fact-finding investiga- first century America,” said Nachumi. “I felt that it wasn’t enough,” said tion and determines based on the evi - Dean Karen Bacon asserted that, Katzenstein. “I need something to replace dence presented that there exists a “prob- although there have always been cours Dean Karen Bacon supported the ere- the money from the time frame of my not able cause to believe that unlawful dis- - es available for students interested in ation of a Women’s Studies minor working and not getting social security.” crimination took place.” women’s studies, there simply was not Katzenstein, who came to the meeting To defend itself, Yeshiva must prove an established framework available to with her daughter and sister but with no that it had legitimate reasons for dismiss the course offerings. Currently available - those interested in a minor. However, the legal representation, is seeking a year and ing Katzenstein. Belmont, who was to students interested in women’s studies administration finally decided to create half to two years pay as compensation Katzenstein’s boss and was involved in are such courses as Chaucer’s Women, an official minor. “When a particular and is still considering taking the case to her dismissal, has submitted evidence of History of Women in the United States, framework exists, students are more court if she does not receive a satisfacto- Katzenstein’s purported unsatisfactory Psychology of Women, and the previous- ' •/ : comfortable,” said Bacon. 1- ry offer from Yeshiva. Yeshiva agreed to work. According to Katzenstein, however, ly mentioned Women in Culture and The minor will be relatively small, rethink its offer, and Katzenstein meet Yeshiva’s claims are false and inaccurate. Society. will requiring only fifteen credits, nine of with the University again before taking Indeed, almost all Yeshiva administra- Ideas for new courses include Woman which can be included in the paragraph E legal action. tors were shocked when Katzenstein was and Art, Biology of Women, and, of requirement The only required course Potel declined to comment, and fired. . course, Women in the Bible. for the minor is Women, Culture and Belmont, who left for a vacation in Florida “She was a great worker,” said one Students minoring in women’s studies Society in the Modern World, which falls soon after the meeting, was unavailable Yeshiva official. “YU never gave any indi- will be required to choose courses from under the English and History depart- for comment. cation of the reason she was fired.” at least two departments. ment It is usually co taught by Dr. Ellen Katzenstein, 64, was fired abruptly It is uncertain when the next meeting . - Many thought the change was long Schrecker and Dr Carol Silver. from her position as Assistant Director of will be between Katzenstein and Yeshiva. . due since women’s studies has been In the spring semester, Nachumi, Financial Aid last May after nearly twenty- The DHR is currently backed up with considered a strong academic field for who be in charge of the minor, plans four years of service. The termination many cases, and, according to a spokes- will some time. “It’s about time they had such to teach Introduction to Women’s Studies came with no warning and after numerous woman for the DHR, it is difficult to say a minor,” said Tamar Belsh, an SCW for the first time. It will eventually become promotions, raises and commendation let when the next meeting will occur. junior. - a prerequisite for the minor. ters over the years, according to Katzenstein, who has been unable to Part of the reason for the delay was Nachumi hopes the course will enable Katzenstein. Contrary to unconfirmed find a new job and has no other source of concerns that certain topics might make students to become familiar with certain rumors, Katzenstein was at no point income aside from her unemployment students feel uncomfortable. “One does- discourses that affect women’s lives. offered a job or rehired by the University. money, still hopes to arrive at an equitable n’t want to offend people and one does- Such include ideas of beauty and Having been given no reason for her settlement. issues n’t want to go out of one’s way to offend representation, female sexuality, abortion dismissal other than that her work had “We’re still negotiating,” said people,” said Dr. Hatvary. and violence against women. been “unsatisfactory,” and noting that two Katzenstein. “Hopefully we can reach a Although that has a been a factor in I think our students at Stern are young employees who had been hired conclusion without too much of a dispute.” “ postponing the idea for a Women’s remarkably conscious of some of these shortly before Katzenstein’s dismissal Studies minor until now, professors cur- things anyway,” remarked Nachumi. “I’d were promoted to her position, rently feel they could teach the neces- like them to really become familiar with sary courses with academic integrity discussions about these issues and be while not offending students. SCW Restricts Guests in more aware of the cultural influences that “I think it’s a balance between being affect their lives.” sensitive to student’s sensibilities and at Residence Halls The courses will come from a wide the same time addressing issues that are variety of departments, ideally including standard and addressed to these stud- courses in Art, Bible, Biology, English, ies,” said Nachumi. Additionally, both By Anat Barber overnight guests unless there is an empty History, Judaic Studies, Psychology and Nachumi and Hatvary added that stu bed in the room. - Sociology. dents who might find the idea of women’s eshiva officials have recently intro The enforcement of the policy seems - "Education today is more interested in studies offensive, would not take such duced a new policy regarding impractical. Currently, when students sign interdisciplinary studies,” explained courses overnight guests in SCW residence in guests, they are not asked if there is an Y Bacon. Students welcome the minor and the halls, creating a mild uproar among the empty bed. While many courses that will be new perspectives it will bring to their student body. According to the new policy, Officials in Rosengarten’s office included under the Women’s Studies studies. “I’m surprised by students’ quick- if there is one bed in a room, no guest claimed that the certificate of occupancy minor have already existed, a slew of may sleep over. allows for only the prescribed number of new courses are expected to be added to continued on page 23 Apparently, fire and building codes occupants in any given room. Anything mandate that any room designated as a above that number puts the building over single occupancy room may not have its maximum capacity and in violation of The statute Rosengarten cited is stat- each room, V more than one person sleeping in it, fire codes. The reason, they said, for this ic and applies to all University dormitories However, an administrative assistant ־ regardless of the capacity of the floor as a policy coming to the forefront now is that where the certificate of occupancy allows from New York University’s Residence whole. “somebody stumbled over a violation.” for only a certain number of persons in Life office claimed no knowledge of this In light of the dangers this overcrowd- law. He said the University has never had ing could cause, it is puzzling why this a problem with students hosting guests, policy is only being enacted now. even in single occupancy rooms where “This is not a new policy,” insisted there is only one bed. Similar policies Jeffrey Rosengarten, Director of allowing for guests in single occupancy Supporting Service Administration. “This rooms are in place in both Barnard and is simply an old policy being enforced.” Columbia Colleges. The Yeshiva University Resident "If you are having an extra guest in Handbook for the Midtown Campus does your room it is OK, if you are having a not require that every guest have a bed; it party or a lot of people, that is against fire merely states, “Permission must be given safety regulations,” said a tenured build- for a guest to use a student’s bed.” ing inspector for the New York City fire If enforced, the policy would have the department who wished to remain anony- greatest . impact on students living in mous. “But one person is no problem.” Schottenstein Residence Hall and in 36th The inspector said he had never heard of Street Residence Halls - dormitories with the violation which Yeshiva officials cited. single occupancy rooms. Those students Student leaders are demanding con- would be prohibited from hosting elusive answers to where this policy orig- overnight guests in fheir rooms. However, Students may now be restricted in the guests they can have in the residence continued on page 23 the policy would also prevent students in halls, such as Schottenstein, pictured above יזר Brookdale Residence Hall from hosting