HE OMMENTATOR T The Independent C Student Newspaper of Yeshiva University VOL. LXXXVI MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2020 ISSUE NO. 5 MacsLive Broadcasting Service Receives $47,000 in Donations for Upgrades By SRULI FRUCHTER MacsLive, Yeshiva University Athletics’ official broadcasting service for games and tournaments, received $47,000 in donations for equip- ment upgrades and enhanced broadcasting capabilities, according to a MacsLive press release from Sunday, Nov. 14. MacsLive will upgrade from their single HD camera to four Sony a7S III cameras with greater live streaming capabilities. All four of the cameras will be stationed in the Max Stern Athletic Center, three of which will be wireless, allowing for a more efficient camera setup. New monitors in the MacsLive control room will allow the broadcasting team to create faster and cleaner streaming for at-home viewers. Additionally, new technical equipment will allow MacsLive “to put together packages and use in-game highlights for smoother transitions,” the press release said. MacsLive will also be collaborating with the Office of Student Life to livestream student council-related events. Given the uncertainty of COVID-19 developments, when equipment will arrive and whether athletic seasons will follow as planned, it is unclear when MacsLive’s upgrades will be in full effect. “A lot of exciting things have happened during my time at MacsLive, but this takes the cake,” MacsLive President David Schwartzman (SSSB ‘21) told The Commentator. “This project doesn’t just take us to the next level, but it now makes our broadcast capabilities far superior to any other broadcast in division three basketball… I can’t wait for these new changes to not only help our MacsLive staff have a more enjoyable time producing our broadcasts, but also look forward to all of the viewers MACSLIVE Continued on Page 6 MacsLive at the 2019 Red Sarachek Memorial Basketball Tournament 2021 Annual Seforim Sale International and Out-of-State Cancelled due to COVID-19 Students Complete Mandatory Safety Concerns Quarantine, Return to Campus which is usually held in February. A regis- University Housing and Residence, together By SRULI FRUCHTER tered non-profit, the book sale was estab- By SHLOMIT EBBIN with members of the YU administration, lished in 1964 and its profits go toward “YU faculty and staff, provided a full program for The 2021 Seforim Sale — North Student Life initiatives.” Sy Syms School of This article was originally published online the students at the hotel, including shiurim, America’s largest Jewish book sale held Business Associate Dean Michael Strauss, on Nov. 3. mental-health support, fitness programs annually at Yeshiva University — was can- who acts as the business and personal advi- and virtual events. celed due to COVID-19 safety concerns, The sor to the student leadership of the Seforim International students and students from The programming offered included dai- Commentator has learned. The next sale is Sale, told The Commentator, “Historically, restricted states completed their mandatory ly men’s and women’s exercise classes, a scheduled for Feb. 2022. the Seforim Sale has provided financial 14-day quarantine and returned to campus Career Center LinkedIn challenge, virtual “After much research and analysis, we support to the Office of Student Life, for beginning Oct. 26. During their quarantine social events with fellow quarantining stu- have decided not to have the in-person student programming. The Seforim Sale period, many students opted into Yeshiva dents, a virtual pre-Shabbat “schmooze” Seforim Sale this year due to social dis- will be meeting with the Office of Student University’s Quarantine Program, which with President Ari Berman and daily video tancing restrictions and health and safety Life in the near future to discuss the 2020 provided for fully-paid hotel arrangements clips from the Counseling Center. guidance,” 2020-21 Seforim Sale CEO Eli contribution.” and other accommodations. “It was important to us to know that Seidman (SSSB ‘22) told The Commentator. In past years, the Seforim Sale was held As a part of YU’s program, 49 students we were promoting some of the basics of “We explored many different options. in Belfer Hall’s Weissberg Commons on the stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn, a hotel ‘healthy quarantining’ such as the impor- However, given the ever-changing NYS Wilf Campus, involving weeks of approxi- located on 33rd Street near Beren Campus, tance of routine, exercise, embracing un- and NYC guidelines, it was not possible mately 100 YU students setting up before for their isolation period. YU did not return a certainty, and thinking about values during to plan and host the event this year and a opening and afterward for disassembling. request to comment on the amount spent on hard times,” said Counseling Center Director virtual sale was not an option.” “In terms of spacing — which is totally fair the hotel for the students; according to the Dr. Yael Muskat. “The importance of self According to Hudi Rosenfeld (SSSB ‘21), by YU, as it’s allowing students’ education Hilton Garden Inn, the rate for 49 rooms for care and focus on psychological flexibility the 2019-20 CEO of the Seforim Sale, last to take precedence — YU is using Weissberg two weeks would be $89 per room, per night. and resilience is something we hope the year’s sale sold over 28,000 books, amass- Commons as a classroom, and the Seforim This estimate totals over $61,000 and is a students internalize and nurture as they ing around $740,000 in revenue. Roughly Sale cannot be held there,” Seidman said. possible indicator of YU’s cost for the hotel. return to campus.” 89% of those sales came from in-person “In the time we’re living in right now, they The meal plan in quarantine — subsidized by Some students appreciated the initia- purchases, and the other 11% is through need these large spaces for socially-distant the university, and for which students were tives taken by YU during their two-week the online website’s sales. In 2017, YUNews classrooms and other things. YU can’t give charged $20 per day — provided choices for quarantine.“I think it’s good to have things reported that the 2017 Seforim Sale col- up these important spaces for a long time three meals each day, as well as on Shabbat. to occupy students because it can get re- lected $750,000 in revenue. as the Seforim Sale would require.” Students arrived at the hotel between ally boring to be in a room by yourself all According to its website, the Seforim Beginning Oct. 21, undergraduate stu- Oct. 12 and Oct. 14, and YU staff distributed day,” said Neeli Fagan (SCW ‘21), a student Sale is run entirely by YU students and at- dents returned to campus and YU facilities students’ room assignments and keys each from Chigaco who ended her quarantine tracts about 15,000 customers for each sale, Continued on Page 4 evening. The offices of Student Life and Continued on Page 6 NEWS | 4 FEATURES | 8 OPINIONS | 11 BUSINESS | 15 SCW Curriculum Alteration YU Enrollment Numbers Steady Remembering Rabbi Lord Sacks Sports Cards and COVID 19 2 From the Editor's Desk Monday , November 22, 2020 THE COMMENTATOR FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK 2020-2021 Returning to Campus: Editor-in-Chief A 'Dimmer' Experience than Expected YOSEF LEMEL Managing Editor best abilities, transitioning their classes situation that must be ironed out. First, ELISHEVA KOHN By YOSEF LEMEL and curricula to the online model while prices are undoubtedly much higher. For recognizing that it was not an optimal example, this year’s pasta side course Executive Editor It’s halfway through the semester experience. costs $5.00, $1.25 more than last year’s and the long-awaited return to campus To my knowledge, though, there have $3.75. There is a noticeable lack of variety. YITZCHAK CARROLL arrives. If one were to judge by a video been no substantive changes to the online A student can’t choose one slice of pizza, produced by Yeshiva University’s PR team education model that mitigate the defects. but rather the $7.00 two-slice option. — perhaps to encourage more students And woe unto us when the spring semes- There are fewer sushi options. I can’t News to come to campus — they would come ter cometh, and alas, most classes are still even find something as simple as a tuna Senior Editor Junior Editor to the conclusion that students are be- online. Who knows? Students were not or salmon roll, unlike before, when my SRULI FRUCHTER ELAZAR ABRAHAMS ing provided with a “robust” experience. yet informed about any changes to the favorite sushi chef, Todi — God bless his Remarks from students include: “They format in the spring semester. My fear soul — assembled my choice options into a Features definitely planned really well for us to is that nothing will change. culinary masterpiece. Nevermind the cur- Senior Editor Junior Editor The university must incentivize profes- rent lack of a salad bar for those who want come back and be safe” and “it feels great JACOB ROSENFELD MITCH GOULSON to come back.” While I do not discount sors to come and teach in-person classes to stay healthy. It’s understandable that the personal experiences of these students — while obviously adhering to sensible COVID-19 restrictions would necessitate — and perhaps some elements of these health regulations — or else Madda will, of the limitation of food items, but perhaps Opinions comments resonate with me — I cannot necessity, be sacrificed; otherwise, current the options are so inadequate that stu- Senior Editor Junior Editor help but think that a more nuanced view and prospective students will question the dents are incentivized to get food from AHARON NISSEL JOSH LEICHTER of the return remains unmentioned.