It has been an eventful year for the Sy Syms School of Business Student Association. We've hosted speakers from the fields of Corporate Finance, Investment Banking, Institutional Sales, Credit Derivatives, Federal Banking, Management Consulting, Retail, Marketing, Accounting and MIS. We've also arranged an evening where professors and Rabbanim shared perspectives on the challenges confronting an Orthodox Jew in today's business world. Our Shabbaton with Rav Goldwicht was one of the largest and most successful ever.

On the academic side of things, we've arranged for an MIS exemption exam and established a Calculus for Business class to fill a void that students felt existed in their education. We've also dealt with the administration as a prelude to make the registration process more student friendly.

Campus life has been enhanced by this year's Sy Syms Tutoring Program run by Jonathon Teitelbaum, which far exceeded all expectations in truly providing for a feeling of camaraderie among students and allowing for a tremendous service to the Sy Syms community at large. There has been a trip to the New York Stock Exchange, and a Yankees game that was cosponsored by SSSBSA and YCSC.

Relationships with alumni have been strengthened by the presence of students at alumni meetings. The students were able to provide thoughtful opinions as to various ways in which the school can be improved. Due to the Student Association's work in conjunction with the Placement Office, the deans are now in the process of organizing a mentoring program between alumni and students that should allow for a practical business understanding that will truly complement the theoretical business knowledge that Sy Syms students gain in their classes.

The 1997-1998 business journal should be completed over the next few weeks. It should prove to be a true testament to the value of the Sy Syms education. We're all very excited about this year's Sy Syms dinner, which took place on Monday May 4, in the Manhattan Grand Center Ballroom. The evening served as an excellent opportunity to spend time with our friends from school as well as to meet recruiters and other professionals in the business world.

It's been a great year, and the 1997-1998 Sy Syms School of Business Student Association, composed of myself, Jonathon Teitelbaum, Josh Klaven and Michael Gewirtz would like to thank you all for giving us the opportunity to do our best to enhance our school.