2008 Woodie Awards
President Holds Early Semester Town Meeting
Campus Expansion and Security Top the Agenda
Ephraim Tepler
Issue date: 3/8/05 Section: News
The February 11 Town Hall meeting with President Richard M. Joel was more than just another schmooze session with the university's fourth president. While fielding questions from students and faculty, President Joel announced the planning and development of a new Beit Midrash, an improved library, and enhanced security measures to be undertaken within the next few weeks. During the summer break, Yeshiva will break ground for the 50,000-square-foot Glueck Building, which will house the Center for the Jewish Future, offices for the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, and the the new Beit Midrash. The building will occupy Parking Lot A, directly behind the Mendel Gottesman Library and across from Furst Hall. The new building will connect to the library as well.
With regard to security concerns, President Joel asserted that the precinct in which the campus is situated boasts the lowest crime rates in the city. But in light of the spate of recent mugging incidents, the university has contracted Giuliani Security and Safety, a division of former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani's consulting firm, to analyze the performance of the Department of Safety and Security. Already last week, consultants from the firm surveyed the campus and spoke with students about their concerns. Yeshiva administrators expect a report within the month and will make appropriate improvements in Wilf Campus security in accordance with the prescribed guidelines.
The recent stir created by the Israeli Ministry of Education's refusal to recognize institutions accepting credits from Israel study as it relates to government salary pay scales was also addressed at the meeting. "We will not attempt to explain why we give the credits we do," said President Joel. "We have already done that to the Middle States Accreditation and the United States. The only option that the Ministry of Education has is to accept our credits."
President Joel said many have suggested boycotts and public demonstrations, though he himself did not believe it was the most appropriate response. "Aside from YU, there's no place like Israel as a place for contentiousness," said President Joel jokingly.
With regard to security concerns, President Joel asserted that the precinct in which the campus is situated boasts the lowest crime rates in the city. But in light of the spate of recent mugging incidents, the university has contracted Giuliani Security and Safety, a division of former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani's consulting firm, to analyze the performance of the Department of Safety and Security. Already last week, consultants from the firm surveyed the campus and spoke with students about their concerns. Yeshiva administrators expect a report within the month and will make appropriate improvements in Wilf Campus security in accordance with the prescribed guidelines.
The recent stir created by the Israeli Ministry of Education's refusal to recognize institutions accepting credits from Israel study as it relates to government salary pay scales was also addressed at the meeting. "We will not attempt to explain why we give the credits we do," said President Joel. "We have already done that to the Middle States Accreditation and the United States. The only option that the Ministry of Education has is to accept our credits."
President Joel said many have suggested boycotts and public demonstrations, though he himself did not believe it was the most appropriate response. "Aside from YU, there's no place like Israel as a place for contentiousness," said President Joel jokingly.