Richard Joel, president of Yeshiva University, held his last Town Hall meeting of the year at Stern College’s Beren campus last Wednesday. Most notably, President Joel confirmed the rumors that the start of renovations, increased prices, and new rules to campus housing will activate in the fall. Before divulging specific changes being made to the residential dorms, President Joel noted there will be a Q & A session on Monday evening about housing for next year. He then confirmed the changes being made to the Schottenstein dorms as well as the renovations being done in Brookdale and the 36th dorms. When asked about the changes being made in the regulations regarding the 35th street dorms, Joel confirmed that indeed, 35th street will now be limited as a luxury option for those not receiving more than $10,000 in needs based financial aid from the university. Student Molly Pocrass asked if the rumors regarding raising in housing prices were true. President Joel confirmed all dorms will have their prices raised, saying, “Good news, residential housing in Stern will be still be the cheapest of any college in New York.” “You earn and deserve every cent of the $40 million we give out in scholarships,” said the President, “but the school should not be sponsoring what is essentially luxury housing for students who are being given assistance with tuition.” Joel also openly admitted that the school, though having made $55 million off the sale of Cardozo’s dorm building, is still $38 million dollars in debt. The primary change regarding living in the dorms, President Joel said, is that all first year on campus students are required to live on campus. “I have agreed not to [institute this rule] until now. I decided to get obnoxious in my old age,” shared the President, explaining that this is a rule a vast majority of residential colleges uphold. Biology student Arianna asked what the exact changes would be made to Brookdale rooms. President Joel referred to Joe Cook, director of Administrative Services. “Enhancements will be made to kitchen areas you won’t have to bring microwaves, refrigerators, any of that,” said Cook. The space for the kitchen will be made by moving the dressers under new beds. Zahava Plaut asked if changes were only being made to Brookdale. Cook said Brookdale’s first floor will see the most change, but all dorms will be painted and generally repaired. Student Erin Herzfeld asked if there was any chance for a student lounge to be put into the school buildings. Rebecca Kleiner as co-chair of Student Life Committee answered that she has been working with Cook and Dean Orlian to convert space into a student lounge in the 245 building. “I embrace that 100 percent. The challenge is the space utilization, “ said President Joel. One student asked about the library renovations, which had been shared a few months back. Dean Karen Bacon said she had just shown the space to a donor. “It works in our favor that it looks so bad now,” Dean Bacon said with a chuckle. She said renovations will begin in the summer. Other recent changes to the university involve new educational programs. Mentioning the newly launched Master’s in marketing online program, President Joel confirmed that YU is awaiting approval for its Master’s in Speech and Language Pathology program and is accepting applications. He also mentioned the possibility of a Master’s in physics. Interested students should approach the deans. During Town Hall, President Joel also dove into the international issue of the BDS movement by summarizing his recent article on the matter. “I started by saying there is no BDS issue on my campus, probably the only place in the country. Yet my students are affected by BDS,” he said. “My students are affected because they view college as a place of learning and civility. They feel isolated. Free speech for all has to ensure safe space for all.” President Joel’s Higher Education article called on other college presidents, using BDS as an example, to hold civil debate and discussions on the premise that “colleges and universities are not supposed to reflect society, they are supposed to illuminate our future.” The President called out the movement: “BDS movement is not a political movement, it’s an anti-Semitic movement. People should be able to debate Israel’s meaning in the world without it being about punishing Israel or saying it’s an apartheid state.” He praised Yeshiva students on their activism, particularly at the AIPAC conference, saying, “ I know you are all aware. I think it’s important that you be in a community that you are not challenged every day by questions of your own legitimacy.” President Joel also took a few minutes to acknowledge the sudden passing of mathematics professor Tom Otway. He said, “Tom represented and represents what in many ways is what is special about Yeshiva. Tom was not a practicing Jew and yet he was so much a part of the Yeshiva University community. He was always focused on how he could add value, he cared tremendously about his students. He cannot be replaced.” He continued to thank fellow professors who have graciously offered to assist with Professor Otway’s teaching obligations, noting, “We often don’t realize that this is very much a community.”
Richard Joel, president of Yeshiva University, held his last Town Hall meeting of the year at Stern College’s Beren campus last Wednesday. Most notably, President Joel confirmed the rumors that the start of renovations, increased prices, and new rules to campus housing will activate in the fall.