245 Lexington Dedication, New Art Therapy Course, Coed Plays Addressed at Town Hall Meeting

By: Tamara Freiden

Posted: 11/25/09

Stern College for Women's 245 Lexington Avenue building will be renamed "Stanton Hall at a December 16 dedication ceremony, announced Yeshiva University President Richard M. Joel at a November 4 Town Hall meeting on the Beren Campus. The new building will be named after YU board chairman, Ronald P. Stanton. Despite his $100 million pledge to the university in 2006-in addition to other extensive philanthropy, which includes Stern College for Women's Hedi Steinberg Library, named for his mother-Stanton humbly resisted the honor, said Joel, praising the benefactor's generosity.

Town Hall meetings provide a means of reciprocated communication between the president and the Yeshiva University community. 215 Lexington's Yagoda Commons was filled to capacity with students, teachers, and faculty members, many lining the back wall, as almost every seat was occupied.

Joel emphasized that Yeshiva University "is [still] absolutely indispensable for the future of the Jewish people," despite the rough economic situation, that led last year to the laying off of over 120 staff members, and the public shame of members belonging to the Jewish community, Joel made note of two particular challenges still facing the university.

The first was the impending financial situation with which YU still struggles. "The economy apparently has given an excuse for lots of people to rethink the decision for going to Yeshiva [University]," Joel candidly declared. There are 116 students fewer than last year, though the numbers are not only low for Yeshiva University - spending a year in Israel is down 15% as well. With so many students switching to oftentimes-cheaper colleges, Joel emphasized the need to reassess why. "We have to answer the question of what's the value proposition?" he says, "Why can't you not afford to get here?" To go one step further, Joel noted that the root of the problem is not that people are not getting the financial packages they ask for, but that people do not even apply.

"It's not about the finances," proclaimed Joel, redirecting his focus, "it's about how do we work that people see the enormous satisfaction of the lives we're building here." With that, a sign-up sheet was passed between students who marked down their names and emails in efforts to contribute to a marketing crew built from within, including recruiting through example.

The second challenge is the issue of yashrus [integrity]. With the recent influx of negative Jewish press, some people feel a sense of disappointment, even shame, as a member of the Jewish nation, said Joel. In response to a particular Yeshiva College student's frustrations, Joel responds with an idiom he repeated throughout the rest of the meeting: "I don't think it's as important to make a statement than it is to be a statement." And for Joel, there is no better way than by embodying that which YU stands for, by behaving like that which YU represents. "Otherwise you can all go to Queens;" he said. "That's our mandate."

After relaying his views on these two issues, Joel opened the floor to the student body. Abby Wasserman (SCW '10) asked whether there was any progress in a graduate program for arts and sciences. In his response, Joel made note of the increasing number of committed faculty who want to offer higher-level classes to students. Programs offering master's degrees in sciences and economics do not cost a lot to add, he said. Currently, YU is looking over courses in which juniors and seniors can take that will be equated to the first year in graduate school, including some that will be degree granting.

In response to Nadine Dayan's (SCW '11) concern about cuts to SCW's joint FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) program, Dean Karen Bacon explained that SCW has added a large number of new courses to the art department, including two never offered before. Additionally, an art therapy course will be given in the spring. The School of Visual Arts (SVA) asked for the opportunity to provide the course at Stern College in hopes of gaining Stern students for their graduate school, having noted the top caliber quality of YU alumnae.

Ilana Gadish (SCW '11), referencing the visit of Maharat Sarah Hurwitz, who came to speak at Stern College, asked Joel about the balance between yeshiva and university. There were students that did speak out against Hurwitz's visit; how might one keep an open mind while maintaining this dichotomy? Joel encouraged hearing alternative perspectives that may disagree with mainstream beliefs on campus. He noted that Yeshiva University's rabbinical institution does not believe in ordaining female rabbis. "We don't take the position we take because we are not listening to other views," he says, "it's because we don't agree with them."

Laura Mitzner (SCW '11), a member of the Stern College Dramatic Society, questioned the opposition to coed theatrical performances, and wondered about the possibility of a coed play. After joking that he wanted "to complete his presidency without being killed," Joel explained that there were many hashkafic (philosophical) approaches within YU, and one must attempt to balance them without the alienation of any one view. He also referred Mitzner to Rabbi Ephraim Kanarfogel, chair of the Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies at SCW, for further discussion.

Running half an hour overtime and with audience hands still raised, Joel introduced the new chairman of the board of YU, Dr. Henry Kressel, the first alumni to fill this position. With an illustrious career in science, including a degree from Harvard and MIT and 34 patents, he focused on why he decided to take this job. "I think YU is the single most important institution we have in the world today to further the mission and continuation of yidushkeit [Judaism]," said Kressel, "and if I can help, that's what I'm here for."