2008 Woodie Awards
Welcome Back YC Style
Yonah Bardos
Issue date: 9/4/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Welcome back! As I am sure many of you have seen, there has been a lot of work done on this campus over summer break. Many departments have found new homes, and students will soon find wonderful new spaces to hang out. According to Mr. Rosengarten, vice president of administrative services, a new breathtaking student lounge and lecture area will be coming soon to the library area. Additionally, food services have recently hired 2 new managers to oversee the quality of our food.
I want to reflect back on a letter I wrote at the end of last year. I ran on a platform of facilitating an even better educational environment at Yeshiva College. I said "I feel that there is a stalemate here. The students feel that the faculty and administration don't care, and therefore feel no reason to make their feelings known. The faculty and administration think the students don't care and therefore feel neither should we. I would like to break that stalemate."
Looking back on that letter, I feel that much progress has already been made towards breaking that stalemate. We are now entering a tremendous growth phase here at Yeshiva College. Much time, effort and money have been poured into the beautiful brand new labs for the psychology, physics and biology departments. According to Rosengarten, the bio labs in the bottom of Furst hall will soon be moved and next year they will tackle the chemistry labs. In short, the administration has put much effort into changing the educational environment and not just physically. More than just making physical improvements the administartion are trying to create a better atmosphere. Therefore, there has been a flurry of new professors added to the faculty. As Dean Srolovitz noted "much effort is being made to bring real scholars in their fields." Gone are the many adjuncts who are never around. YC has hired 12 new full time tenured track professors in over 6 different departments such as psychology, sociology, Jewish history, bible and philosophy. But the hiring is not over; there are plans in the coming year to add new professors in the chemistry, biology, political science, economics and math departments. Not only that, but the Yeshiva college curriculum review is in full swing for the first time in almost two decades. "The curriculum is being reviewed top to bottom," says Dean Srolovitz. In its second of a three year process, we are looking at how the majors are structured and what the general requirement should be. "We don't want to do something because that is the way it has always been done; it should have a good reason."
Referring back to last year's letter, one of my campaign issues was creating "Better Faculty-Student Interaction." The administration is now showing us through their actions and words that not only do they care, but they want our input. There are many ways you can get involved. We would like to create an informal student board within each major to help facilitate this student faculty interaction. The student board would allow students to have input to their departments and would allow departments can gain feedback from their students.
I would like to introduce to your 2007-2008 YC Student Council. Your Vice President is David Moisa and your Secretary Treasurer is Yitzy Feigenbaum. We encourage all of you to get involved. Those of you who want to start a new club, let us know and we will be glad to help and guide you through the process. If you see us around and need help or advice let us know! That is what we are here for.
Don't miss the wonderful new opportunities here at Yeshiva College. Get Involved. Become Active. Show you care.
If you are interested in facilitating change and helping your fellow students, whether it be on the major boards, the curriculum review committee or the creation of a new club please email me us at Bardos@yu.edu.
Yonah Bardos (YC ‘08) is YCSC President
I want to reflect back on a letter I wrote at the end of last year. I ran on a platform of facilitating an even better educational environment at Yeshiva College. I said "I feel that there is a stalemate here. The students feel that the faculty and administration don't care, and therefore feel no reason to make their feelings known. The faculty and administration think the students don't care and therefore feel neither should we. I would like to break that stalemate."
Looking back on that letter, I feel that much progress has already been made towards breaking that stalemate. We are now entering a tremendous growth phase here at Yeshiva College. Much time, effort and money have been poured into the beautiful brand new labs for the psychology, physics and biology departments. According to Rosengarten, the bio labs in the bottom of Furst hall will soon be moved and next year they will tackle the chemistry labs. In short, the administration has put much effort into changing the educational environment and not just physically. More than just making physical improvements the administartion are trying to create a better atmosphere. Therefore, there has been a flurry of new professors added to the faculty. As Dean Srolovitz noted "much effort is being made to bring real scholars in their fields." Gone are the many adjuncts who are never around. YC has hired 12 new full time tenured track professors in over 6 different departments such as psychology, sociology, Jewish history, bible and philosophy. But the hiring is not over; there are plans in the coming year to add new professors in the chemistry, biology, political science, economics and math departments. Not only that, but the Yeshiva college curriculum review is in full swing for the first time in almost two decades. "The curriculum is being reviewed top to bottom," says Dean Srolovitz. In its second of a three year process, we are looking at how the majors are structured and what the general requirement should be. "We don't want to do something because that is the way it has always been done; it should have a good reason."
Referring back to last year's letter, one of my campaign issues was creating "Better Faculty-Student Interaction." The administration is now showing us through their actions and words that not only do they care, but they want our input. There are many ways you can get involved. We would like to create an informal student board within each major to help facilitate this student faculty interaction. The student board would allow students to have input to their departments and would allow departments can gain feedback from their students.
I would like to introduce to your 2007-2008 YC Student Council. Your Vice President is David Moisa and your Secretary Treasurer is Yitzy Feigenbaum. We encourage all of you to get involved. Those of you who want to start a new club, let us know and we will be glad to help and guide you through the process. If you see us around and need help or advice let us know! That is what we are here for.
Don't miss the wonderful new opportunities here at Yeshiva College. Get Involved. Become Active. Show you care.
If you are interested in facilitating change and helping your fellow students, whether it be on the major boards, the curriculum review committee or the creation of a new club please email me us at Bardos@yu.edu.
Yonah Bardos (YC ‘08) is YCSC President
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