The Commentator

President Joel addresses a student's question at the Wilf Campus Town Hall Meting

On October 25, President Richard M. Joel held a Town Hall meeting for students, faculty and staff in the Morgenstern Hall lounge.  Most seats were full as a diverse group from various offices and segments of the student body attended.

Before fielding questions, University Dean of Students Victor Schwartz introduced the President before a crowd of students, faculty and administrators.  In his opening remarks, President Joel spoke on the importance of "gathering the YU community of faculty, professional staff, support staff and students to discuss issues facing Yeshiva." 

Junior Shlomo Yaros (YC '09) began a thought provoking series of questions directed to President Joel.  Yaros requested that the University prevent students and staff from smoking directly outside campus buildings.  "I think it's a good idea," President Joel immediately responded, adding that the University would look into creating designated smoking areas on campus.

The only question of the day that did not focus on Wilf Campus issues, asked by Eitan Kastner (YC '08) was whether the University planned to create a yoetzet halakha program.  Currently, Nishmat - an organization in Israel established to further women's learning - is the main institution training women to be sufficiently knowledgeable of issues relating to hilkhot nidah and similar topics that women might feel more comfortable asking a yoetzet halakha instead of a rabbi.  The President said that YU has a "good and cordial relationship with Nishmat" and that "given the number of people in that program and the opportunities available to them in the Jewish community" he does not see a need for Yeshiva to open a competing program.

Junior David Harari (YC '09) asked about upgrading the philosophy department and equipping it with more full-time professors.  President Joel noted that newly hired Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program Director Jim Ottesen will also serve as a tenured professor of philosophy and then he turned the floor over to YC Dean David Srolovitz to give a more thorough explanation of the YC philosophy department.  Addressing the entire crowd, Dean Srolovitz said that last year's faculty search for philosophy professors did not yield anticipated results but he is hopeful that a current search will produce one more tenured or tenure track for the Spring semester.

President Joel concluded this discussion adding that YC is trying to end its longstanding over-reliance on adjunct professors but urged students that this "will take some time and students should talk to deans about hiring part-time faculty and taking classes in other institutions."

In a second question posed by Harari about keeping the Mendel Gottesman Library open for 24 hours, President Joel was less optimistic.  "I don't think we can offer a fully staffed library with those sorts of hours," said President Joel.  "However, we do need a study center with those types of hours by the Spring or by next year."

Sophomore Yitzy Klapper (YC '09) asked the president about the possibility of providing more parking for students.  Again, frank with his response, President Joel admitted that he does not "foresee anything immediately in terms of day-time parking" but the University is interviewing various planning firms to look at parking and the overall picture of the Wilf Campus.

The president also candidly responded to a question regarding employing Sy Syms faculty who speak poor English and a question about the University's policy to remove gas from IHP kitchens.  To both questioners, President Joel referred the students to the appropriate offices but promised that he would look into the issues.

Other questions fielded by the president included scheduling finals on Christmas, YC alumni returning to campus, the continuing noise problem with the Glueck Center construction, mandatory attendance in Sy Syms classes, and the use of cafeteria cards to other food vendors on campus.

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