In a move that signifies an end of an era at Yeshiva University, Rabbi Michael Shmidman will be stepping down from his post as Dean of Judaic Studies, effective at the end of the academic year. Although his position has not yet been articulated fully, Rabbi Shmidman will remain at YU next fall.
The overwhelming number of Yeshiva College students who feel burdened by the College's general requirements may soon get some relief. As it concludes its first full year of work, the YC Curriculum Review now enters a phase believed critical by administrators: deciding how credit should be divvied up between major and general requirements.
Over the past few years it has become evident to students and administrators that the student government system, as it currently exists, appears more like an alphabet soup than a feasible system for student governance. On the menu are SOY, YSU, SSSB, and if that is not your cup of tea then there are minor student councils wearing the banner of SBMP and IBC.
At the end of this academic year, Rabbi Zevulun Charlop will complete his tenure as the Max and Marion Grill Dean of The Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and as Dean of the Mazer Yeshiva Program after serving in capacity, or one of its earlier incarnations for 37 years.
In a final interview of the year, Yeshiva President Joel met with The Commentator to discuss a variety of issues. Some of the president's comments have been incorporated into articles found throughout this edition. The remaining topics discussed by Yeshiva's top official - namely, YU's place in Israel, budget concerns, and dormitory space at the undergraduate campuses - can be found below.
On March 30, the Community Growth Initiative (CGI), a program of the CJF, held its first conference. The conference, hosted at the Wilf Campus, aimed to bring rabbis and lay leaders from "out of town" communities face-to-face with young couples from the New York metropolitan area.