m tOfficial <trnmmtttfntnr Undergraduate Newspaper of Yeshiva College March 10, 1994 27 Adar 5754 YESHIVA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK, NY Volume LVIII, No.10 l� Jewish Studies In YC Under Review :,,. by Yisroel Hokzer in the near future, where it will was not inconsistent with the be further evaluated. two basic premises. "Basically, Based on suggestions made the proposal examines... how a at a meeting three weeks ago UncertaintyOver Modifications student starts at 9:00 in the with Vice President of It is unclear at this point just morning,and he may be in a lab Academic Affairs William how Jewish Studies courses will until 11:00 at night. Then he Schwartz, the Dean of Students be modified, although curtailing studies and goes to sleep at 2:30 EfremNulmanand selectRoshei the current requirements in the morning" stated Dr. Yeshiva, Jewish Studies courses appears to be under strong Schwartz, indicating that in Yeshiva College may consideration. Dr. Schwartz perhaps the workload should undergo considerable changes. was quick to point out that any be lightened. "But this proposal According to informed sources, changes made must be should not lead you to any one Rosh Yeshiva at the meeting analogous with the conclusion of eliminating propounded the idea of altering Administration's "two basic academic Jewish Studies, as was Rav Bronspeigel dances in the center of his talmidim at this year's Jewish Studies courses in YC, premises: First, the University satirically portrayed in Purim chagiga includingBible, Jewish History, is committed to the concept that Hamemoment" (Hamevaser's and Hebrew, in order to lighten students should have an Purim issue). Purim Chagiga Attracts the burden of the current dual element of basic proficiency in Although Dr. Schwartz did curriculum, as well as Tanach and Jewish History. not convey his personal feelings implementing the mandatory Second, we're committed to on the proposal, declaring that Over BOO transfer of Mazer Yeshiva having as our goal the best it was for the Curriculum by Gershon Seif eras and which questionswere asked of Program credits into YC, akin academic Jewish Studies Committee to decide on, one Moshe Kahan "members" of various Israeli to the IBC and JSS programs. program of any University in student, who asked to remain yeshivot and seminaries. Gary The proposal will be discussed the World." He also noted that anonymous,confirrnedthat Dr. Aftermuchdebateandalittle Turkel's portrayalof a Machon by theCurriculum Committee the suggestion at the meeting continued on page 5 planning, the annual Purim Gold girl and Monty Kahan's chagiga began last Thursday renditionof theIsraeli national night at 9:00 P.M., and lasted anthem drew tremendous until early the next morning. applause. Program BringsBlack and Jewish Numerous Roshei Yeshiva Asa whole,however, ma.tYU attended, including Rabbis students were not impressedby Lamm, Parnes, Bronspiegel, the humor portrayed. Rivka Students Together for Dialogue Schachter, ·Rosenzweig, Ben­ Gershon,a sew sophomore, Haim,Twersky and Goldwicht. stated, "The shpiel was lecture, the students broke up Their presence, according to horrible... I left after five into four separate workshop many celebrants, greatly minutes." DanielYolkut, a YC groups. Each group was enhanced the ruach of the event. sophomore, concurred, saying comprised ofsix students, three After threeand a half hours of that the shpiel was "trite, each from CCNY and Yeshiva. intense, spirited dancing, Rav chi,dish and immature." The workshops focused on Goldwicht led droves of Additionally, many Stern racial and ethnic stereotypes, ·students from theBeit Midrash women and even some YC men religion, freedom of expression, to the Lamport Auditorium, could not relate to the subject and affirmative action. The singing "Ana Avada D'kudisha matter being portrayed. Ilana workshop on religion was Brichu," forthe highlight of the Bracha Goldstein, a SCW moderated by YC Professor evening, thesh piel. sophomore, claimed that Mareleyn Schneider, while YC Scheduled to commence at "everythingafter'FamilyFeud' Professor Ellen Schrecker � midnight, the shpiel did not flew over my head." Eli Duker, 8 served as moderator for the begin until nearly 1:00 A.M. It shpiel a coordinator of the and ,ii0 affirmative action group. The consisted of three skitsand one YP/SSSB sophomore,conceded � purpose of the workshops was song. The most popular of the that the shpiel was difficult to Michael Meyers, Director of the NYCivil Rights Coalitio11, addresses to give the students the skits was "Family Feud," in continued on page 11 students at the recent dialogue, held at the CUNY Graduate Center opportunity to speak their minds in an intimate, informal by Sandor Bak the New York Civil Rights setting. While the workshop After Some Controversy, Senior Coalition, opened the program groups were scheduled to end . In an effort to promote by congratulating the students at 12:00 P.M., all four groups Award Winners Determined interracial dialogue, a group of for "having the guts to meet remained engrossed in twelve YU students met last potential adversaries in full discussion until almost 1:00 by Steven Miodownik Award." Greenspan, Storch, week with an equal number of equality, reason, and respect." P.M. At that time, all and Rabbi Schwartz emerged minority students fromCCNY. Meyers went on to warn the participants adjourned for a Last week, the senior class of victorious amid allegations of Theevent,calledthe Conference students that their task is a lunch buffet where the students YC voted for a second time to ballot-stuffing and 'an unfair on Social Responsibility, was formidable one. "It's not going ·continued their animated determinethe winnersof three nomination process. held Tuesday, March 1 at the to be easy to take this walk dialogue. Senior Awards, which are While the Senior Awards are CUNY Graduate Center. together, but I hope you do." The final part of the program officially presented at endowed by theUniversity, the Michael Meyers, Director of Follow.ing the opening continued on page 10 commencementexercises. Lavi Administrationhas customarily Greenspan, President of SOY, granted students jurisdiction ] \ S I I) E T 11 I S I S S l' E was selected as the winner of over Senior Award election the Lieberman Award for procedures.The Senior Awards 1 M�ssacre . Cele�' tes. Chag Dorm Talks Aft;t,th�.H;bf�J ,: ..• " ',vu ra Exemplary Service to the Committee is responsible for HaSemlkhah Student Body. The Gladstein publicizing and arranging the Award for Service to the Jewish elections, and determining i�)��{iil)i�ni�'tth1ds��i•· '. resently'}o;d_�illed. rabbbis· · AreviewoftherecentDJnnTalks, Community was conferred _,144. which names appear on the '.life1at\YU ;;{and: at YU'after •· and. theirJamilies,celebrate at at which Rabbi Lamm fielded upon Elly Storch, an active ballot. Elections for senior /a,��'.Ghi<i;t�in;:?? :){ it <t };, tlfo ,��a�rennial·fent. .. questionson homosexualityand member of the Chesed Club. awards were first held on ':,, '. womenin RIBTS. Rabbi Allan M. Schwartz, Thursday, February 17 in the Instructor ofBible, was selected Morgenstern Lounge during as "best" professor and will Club Hour. Page9 receive the "Senior Professor continued on page 7 M rch 10, 1994 �----'aga,.._e_2 ---------1 e!lfedl'.nmmentatntj a ---------------------------, Judaic Studies Requirements '<U�� a!nmm�ntatnr Is A Student Matter 500 West 185th Street, New York, NY. 10033, Telephone and Fax: (212) 740-2155. While little is known about the new Judaic studies requirements that Published bi-weekly duringthe acad emic year by theYeshiva College Student Council. are under evaluation, several matters are evident. First, there are The views expressed in these columns are those of the writers alone and do not changes happening that the Administration has remained vague about. neccesarilyreflect the opinions of The Commentator,the student body, the faculty,or Second, whatever the changes will be, students will have little or no say theAdministration of Yeshiva University. We do not endorse any of the products or about them. At the recent Dorm Talks, Rabbi Lamm reminded students servicesadvertised in thesepages. Copyright 1994 The Commentator. I � that the University is"not a democracy," and that"the Administration SENDER Z. COHEN ROBERT B. FAGIN and professors know what is best for your education." Editors-in-Chief We want the Administration to be forthright with us, and lay it on � the line. While we recognize that many changes need to be made, the OWEN CYRULNIK MOSHE I. KINDERLEHRER NOAM NOVICK easy solution of cuttingcourses or eliminating faculty·members is not � Layout Editor YISROEL M. HOLCZER Managing Editor an acceptable answer. And if any changes must be made, let's discuss • News Editors • them in an open forum; matters of such importance should not be decided upon in clandestine meetings. While it may be true that the ARI HIRT Administration knows a great deal more than the students about SiD SINGER STEVEN TIGER education, it is we who are being educated, and we deserve a better Features Editors Copy Editor explanation and a better solution. ASSQCIA TE EDITORS Steven Ackerman,Dov Simons; Copy Looking Out From SandorJ. Bak,Ryan S. Karben, AriListowsky, News Amir Perlson, Features David Goldenberg, Adam Melzer, Sports Where He Sat COLUMNISTS: As YU students, perhaps one of the most frighteningelements of the Neil Lauer & Avi Sussman � circumstances surrounding themassacre in Hebron is that many of our PHOTOG)UPHY STAFF: backgrounds are similar to Baruch Goldstein's. Less than seventeen BenjaminAronoff, Richard Soclof years ago, Baruch Goldstein sat in thesame classrooms inwhich we sit. ART EDITORS: � He had many of the same teachers we have. He probably thoughtabout Daniel Baron,Daniel Sentell TECHNICAL CONSULTANTS: � manyof thesame thingswe think about every day. Perhaps that is why • we feel such a need to comprehend why he committed this atrocity. Joshua Guedalia, Joshua Hosseinoff • However, to call Baruch Goldstein" crazy" is to ignore thereal issue Member: • Associated AMERICAN JEWISH andto reduce the discussion to a matterof semantics, or, even worse, a•• Colleglate :� ! PRESS to trivialize what he did.