HE OMMENTATOR T The Independent C Student Newspaper of Yeshiva University VOL. LXXXVII TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021 ISSUE NO. 1 Students Return to Campus With Nearly No COVID-Restrictions By SEFFI JONAS This article was published online on August 29. Yeshiva University undergraduates re- turned to campus with nearly no COVID- restrictions on Wednesday, Aug. 25, when the fall semester began. Student council leaders and the Office of Student Life (OSL) organized the back-to-school programming. Last semester, about 550 students lived on campus. Those students were required to wear masks and receive a negative PCR test twice weekly. For the 2021-22 academic year, students only needed proof of vac- cination and a negative PCR test to return to campus, without further COVID testing. Unvaccinated students who were granted exception from the vaccine requirement have stricter guidelines. Superstorm Henri, which made landfall on Sunday, Aug. 22, delayed moving into the dorms for some of the student body. Despite the storm, orientation commenced that same Sunday evening. OSL provided students with several op- portunities to do chessed during the first week back on campus. Students pack- aged kosher Rosh Hashanah packages for American military service members. During YESHIVA UNIVERSITY Continued on Page 3 Students at Beren Campus YU Faculty Council Calls for Mandatory Indoor Judge Denies Masking as Fall Semester Begins Plaintiffs’ mandate be set for all indoor interactions,” Three days later, on Friday, Aug. 27, Request By SRULI FRUCHTER the resolution said, “providing our students Associate Dean of Students Joe Bednarsh and faculty the same protection that is pro- wrote in an email that three students — one Requiring YU In an emergency meeting on Tuesday vided for the vast majority of students and from Beren and two from Wilf— tested posi- night, Aug. 24, the Faculty Council — a rep- faculty in the NYC area.” tive for COVID-19; students and professors to Allow LGBTQ resentative body of YU’s faculty to include It added that the council will “support in their classes were specifically notified. He them in forming university-wide, academic any faculty member who requires students also said that exposed individuals who are Club While Case policies — passed a resolution by a 12-2 to wear masks in their classes.” fully vaccinated and remain asymptomatic vote calling for YU to mandate masks in all Before the council meeting on Tuesday, do not need to take any action. Continues in “indoor interactions,” even for vaccinated Vice Provost for Student Affairs Chaim The Faculty Council’s emergency meet- individuals. Nissel emailed students, faculty and staff ing came after YU formally told professors of about YU’s policy, signed by Provost and its current policy the day prior. On Monday Court “Why not do everything Vice President of Academic Affairs Selma night, Aug. 23, Botman and Dr. Robert van we can for those of us with Botman. “One of the remarkable things Amerongen, YU’s medical director, spoke By SRULI FRUCHTER younger children or vulnerable about being part of a values-based commu- with faculty about the university’s policy for nity, is that we are respectful and care about the semester, who voiced their support for a This article was published online on August family members, or faculty one another and the health and wellbeing complete masking requirement, according 19. and students who might be of the entire community,” the email began. to professors who attended the meeting. “We understand that the new Delta variant Following this, faculty members reached Judge Lynn Kotler of the New York County immunocompromised?.” is of concern for everyone, and we are work- out to Professors Abraham Ravid and David Supreme Court denied the Pride Alliance and ___ ing closely with our Medical Director and Cwitich — both chairs of the Faculty Council the other plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary Prof. David Lavinsky following guidance from New York State — who subsequently contacted the admin- injunction on Wednesday, Aug. 18, allowing and New York City in order to navigate the istration but did not hear back by Tuesday. Yeshiva University to deny an official LGBTQ The resolution, which acts as a rec- uncertainty that it presents.” “There was no immediate response and club from forming on campus while the dis- ommendation to YU and is not binding, YU will not mandate masks, the email time was running out,” Ravid told The crimination case continues in court. thanked the university for requiring vaccina- clarified, but it also indicated that students Commentator. “At noon on Tuesday, with In April 2021, the Alliance, three former tions for all students and faculty to return are expected to comply with faculty requests less than 24 hours left [until classes began], students and a current anonymous student to campus but indicated that this was not to wear masks in class, though they are we decided to call a meeting of the council sued YU for discrimination under New York enough. “We request that in accordance with not required to do so. It concluded that YU on short notice.” City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) for its the latest CDC guidelines and following our “will continue to evaluate this policy based As of July 27, the Center for Disease continued refusal to allow an LGBTQ club for own Cardozo [School of Law] and Ferkauf on infection rates, as well as local and state [Graduate School of Psychology], a mask guidance, and may revisit it as necessary.” Continued on Page 4 Continued on Page 4 NEWS | 5 FEATURES | 14 OPINIONS | 17 BUSINESS | 23 YU Defends LGBTQ Club Decision Alan Broder and the Hybrid Classroom Rape and Rape Culture on the YU campus Shopping in the Workplace 2 From the Editor's Desk Tuesday, August 31, 2021 THE COMMENTATOR 2021-2022 FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK Editor-in-Chief SRULI FRUCHTER News Senior Editor Junior Editor JARED SCHARF SHLOMIT EBBIN A Year of Possibility Features Senior Editor Junior Editor DANIEL MELOOL GILAD MENASHE Opinions determine the rules of eti- issues happening in real time Senior Editor Junior Editor NAFTALI SHAVELSON ARIEL KAHAN By SRULI FRUCHTER quette. This year is a year of affecting real people. When possibility, but to make the it comes to seeking change The future is like someone most of it, we need to put in in these areas, it’s not easy. sitting at a kitchen table sur- the work. Here, change begins with rounded by empty seats, un- difficult conversations and Business assigned place settings and This year communal reckoning, things Senior Editor Junior Editor an open door. Who walks in our community particularly MAX ASH ALIZA LEICHTER is anyone’s guess. Will they is a year of struggles with. As a Jewish dine with Pain or Pleasure? possibility, but journalist recently told me, Will Disappointment come “People always care about and dominate the conver- to make the most airing our dirty laundry, but Senior Layout Editor sation, or can Something they rarely care about the MICAH PAVA Better get a word in? There of it, we need to dirty laundry itself.” are no guarantees, only put in the work. These struggles are uncertainties. not unique to YU. At The Social Media Manager The unknown is scary, and Commentator, we are cer- DANYA PARKER anything linked to the un- Positive change is not tainly not immune to our known is, by association, also made in a vacuum. It re- own serious failures and er- Website Manager scary. That’s why it’s so easy quires candid reflection and rors. Despite our best efforts RAPHAEL ALCABES to be repelled by the idea of humble accountability, abili- and intentions, I have no change. Change means dif- ties that allow us to see where doubt that there were times Business Managers ferent, and while different we were, where we are and we hurt people, fell short in Senior Manager Junior Manager can mean better, it can also where we want to be. In some our reporting and allowed JONATHAN KATZ JAMES HEISLER mean worse. For many, that’s areas, this process will not our egos to step in front of not a risk worth taking, and be too difficult. Take, for ex- our Jewish values. Even so, they’d rather avoid the kitch- ample, considerations about I can say that we are always Layout Staff en table altogether. But that’s what improvements can be seeking to change — to im- AZRIEL BACHRACH, JULIA POLSTER, a mistake. made in YU’s Shabbos life, prove, develop and grow. ESTHER POLOTSKY AND DVORAH RAHIMZADEH As the world re-emerges campus programming and Every institution, organi- in this post-COVID era, we academic opportunities. zation and society is rife with Staff Writers are faced with a new realm Understandably, practical- its own problems. The im- ELLIE GOFMAN, RIKKI KOLODNY, YONATAN of possibility, and that can be ly everyone would warmly portant distinction, however, KURZ, JONATHAN LEVIN, AKIVA LEVY, WILLIAM daunting. Naturally, there’s embrace those goals, and all is what they are willing to do MOGYOROS, RAPHI SINGER AND YOAV ZOLTY an instinct to try and return that’s left is the plan to follow to change. At YU, we must to the way things were, to through. In contrast, change ask ourselves: What are we “go back to normal.” This in other areas will not come willing to do to change? is especially apropos as we easily. In fact, it may not This year is giving us a gift The Commentator is the student newspaper of begin this year at YU. With come at all, and if it does, it we’ve never had before: pure Yeshiva University.