Enhancing Diversity, Public School Students Thrive at Stern

By: Yaffi Spodek

Posted: 11/27/07

Though public school students constitute a very small minority of the total student body at Stern College for Women (SCW), they are a group which is growing slowly but surely.

As opposed to the overwhelming majority of undergraduates who come from Modern Orthodox high schools without the need for much targeted recruiting, the Jewish students attending public schools are "an untapped market of students who would benefit from a Jewish education," explained Rabbi Ari Solomont, YU's international director of recruitment and outreach.

At the November 4th Town Hall Meeting held on the Beren campus, freshman Abby Phillips (SCW '11) asked President Joel what initiatives the university was taking to recruit more women from public schools. The president responded positively, saying that the college, through the efforts of its admissions office, is increasingly trying to connect with prospective students through different outreach programs.

This is in fact the case, as confirmed by Rabbi Solomont. "The President has a passion for what YU can do for Jewish students," he explained. "As a former president of Hillel, he has seen what happens to Jewish public school students and yeshiva students at secular colleges."

Rabbi Solomont explained that much of the recruiting is done through organizations specializing in outreach, such as NCSY (National Council of Synagogue Youth), JSU (Jewish Student Union), and also some community kollels. These outreach programs partner with YU in reinforcing what the students have already learned through their involvement, and by encouraging them to continue exploring their Jewish identities. Both YU and the outreach groups have a vested interest in seeing the success of these public school students as they continue on the path towards discovering more about Judaism and Torah.

"I wanted to go to Stern so I could further my Jewish education," said
Phillips. Before coming to Stern, Phillips attended Stevenson High School in
Lincolnshire, Illinois. Throughout high school, she was a member of NCSY's regional board and ran a JSU chapter at her school, where she organized different events such as falafel-making and group discussions about upcoming Jewish holidays.

"YU is a good Jewish school in a good location," Phillips continued, explaining her decision to attend. Following in the footsteps of her older sister, Charlotte (SCW '06), she also chose to come here, especially when she learned of the creation of the Basic Jewish Studies program, which did not exist when Charlotte was an undergraduate.

"YU tries to recruit, just it's not possible to reach every public school student through channels like NCSY," she added. "It's better for the school if they have more students from public schools, people with more diverse backgrounds and opinions. You'll have people who are experiencing things for the first time in their lives, as opposed to those who went to day schools all their life."

Shera Sonenberg (SCW '11) from Albany, NY, also came to YU through her involvement with NCSY. "I went to NCSY events and kept in touch with advisors who went to Stern and I became interested in coming," she recounted.

Rabbi Solomont said that one of the recruiters' goals is to expand the university's population by attracting students from more diverse backgrounds, and who, if not for their efforts, might otherwise not have enrolled. "We know where the Modern Orthodox kids in day schools are, and now we need to work with people who know where the public school students are," he elaborated.

He referred to these outreach organizations as "entry points" where students who may be a suitable match for YU are then targeted in specific venues. For example, they have events like "Latte and Learn" where Rabbi Solomont goes to Starbucks with a group of students and uses conversations on Jewish topics as springboards for larger discussions about college opportunities with appropriate candidates.

Rabbi Solomont travels all over the United States, from the West Coast to Florida, and even to communities in New York.

"One way to empower these organizations and create a partnership with them is to let them know that they can play a role in getting their students to YU," Rabbi Solomont said. "If you recognize students that you feel will come and would belong in an institution such as YU, you nominate them for some type of scholarship."

Over the last few years, through the creation of the Basic Jewish Studies track at SCW, and the parallel Mechina program at Yeshiva College, YU has attempted to mainstream these students into the Jewish environment of the college. "We offer them university level courses at an intro level," continued Rabbi Solomont. "President Joel has made the Basic Jewish Studies program and the concept of a Mechina program a priority."

"It's easier to get the students here," he continued. "What is more challenging is making them feel part of the community. The program won't succeed unless they feel comfortable here."

This year, the Basic Jewish Studies track boasts an enrollment of 14 women, the largest group since its inception. The program is directed by Mrs. Shoshana Schechter, who teaches some of the classes along with Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff. Students often view the two professors as role models and as a result, have fostered close relationships with them.

"The girls in the [Basic Jewish Studies] program are happy," Rabbi Solomont asserted. "They have created their own community within a community."

Several women confirmed the validity of this statement. "I love the program," affirmed Cheryl Noll (SCW '11), who attended Edgemont High School in Scarsdale, NY. "We just had our first big shabbaton with Mrs. Schechter and Rabbi Hajioff, and it was the first time I ever observed Shabbat for real. It was amazing and I felt like I was on cloud nine."

"The whole group became friends and we really melded together," she added.
"All the teachers are really incredible," enthused Monika Lalezarzadeh (SCW '11), from Great Neck, NY. "They accommodate those of us who know nothing, and they invite us into their homes. I've never had that before, coming from [Great Neck North] public school, and it was a nice surprise."

Students also enjoy the courses and feel that they gain a lot from what is offered. "I was interested in getting a greater Jewish education in a Jewish atmosphere, and the classes here are on a good level," remarked Sonenberg. "Even though it's for people who don't have background in Judaic studies, they don't dumb it down."

But not everyone is completely satisfied with the Basic Jewish Studies program. "They try to typecast us, and say that since I'm a public school student, I must not know much," countered Phillips. "People like Mrs. Schechter try to reach out and they know what they're doing, but they need to make sure they are making the right judgment for students."

Concerted efforts are made towards giving personal attention to these students, who are recruited on a case-by-case basis. Each one is treated as an individual with different fears and hesitations, which recruiters attempt to allay before the women arrive on campus.

"There are a lot of misconceptions out there and it's a challenge to address them," observed Rabbi Solomont. "It's just a lack of knowledge."

While some of the public school students have never heard of YU prior to their involvement with NCSY, others perceive the university as a completely sheltered, very traditionally Jewish environment, lacking in religious and general diversity.

"I was misinformed before I came here, and I was scared to come," admitted Noll. "But I have not met anybody who has been anything but welcoming and kind. Everybody here has been so unbelievably nice, the opposite of what I expected."

Many NCSY advisors who are undergraduates or alumni of YU are also involved in proactively encouraging public school students attend the university. But other incoming students enrolled without having any prior exposure through various outreach mediums.

Lalezarzadeh was affiliated with YU through scientific research that she conducted at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine during her high school summers. "I wanted to learn more about ethics in biology," she explained. "I knew that ethics stemmed from Torah and I knew YU would be a place where I could combine my interests in Torah and biology and learn about both."

Regardless of what motivated them to come here, the majority of women hailing from public schools say they are happy with their decisions to attend the university and are confident that other students from similar educational backgrounds will follow in their footsteps.

"There is a lot of interest in the school," observed Phillips. "There will definitely be more people here over the years, especially since the school is working on recruitment. I would definitely encourage my public school friends to apply."

Lalezarzadeh concurred. "I have already recommended Stern to some of my friends and told them to come," she said.