Campus Failings

To the editor(s):

I’d like to preface my letter with a congratulations to all student council position victors, I believe that we will all work hard and in tandem to make next year a great year. I include in this statement the winner of the SOY President’s election, Michael Gewirtz, and I hope that he recognizes the students’ need for washing cups now so that next year we will have them at the fall semester’s start.

I was highly involved in the Yom HaZikaron Tekes and follow-up chagiga, and I must say that I was overwhelmed by the student participation. After last year’s small turnout those of us planning the event did not expect more than 300 students to show up and I must say that the large turnout was refreshing in renewing my faith in the Yeshiva University students’ connection to Eretz Yisrael.

However, I feel that I must express my disappointment with a shortcoming, not in the student body, but once again with the inadequacies of our campus. After the chagiga ended at, and even before it ended, a large number of students gathered with their own instruments, guitars -not fewer than five, harmonicas, drums, a flute and a saxophone to jam and sing on their own right in a kumzitz style comfortable to many. Eventually, there gathered upwards of 150 students gathered on the grass surrounding the benches in front of the MSAC pool.

At one o’clock in the morning the sprinkler system kicked on automatically, spraying the crowd with water in its errant attempt to water the grasó and bushes while in actuality watering the sidewalks. The crowd quickly evacuated to the top of the Danziger Quadrangle (the "Keep off the Grass" grass) and continued in its festivities. This was a short-lived recovery, as Security came over and kindly requested that people be quiet before they called the captain. The crowd next attempted to move inside Rubin Hall, but as it was after one a.m. the women participating were not allowed inside. Soon, with past YCSC President Jason Buskin’s help, the Stern women were allowed to enter. Not ten minutes later Rabbi Cheifetz came out to tell everyone to stop.

This should not have occurred. I don’t refer to Security’s actions nor to R. Cheifetz’s. I further understand that were people who were trying to sleep and were being kept awake by those who felt the night still young. I refer to the fact that there was nowhere for the group to go to continue in their Yom Ha’atzmaut festivities. On the entire Yeshiva University campus there was nowhere for the student body to celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut for themselves.

I believe I have a solution, although it may be some time in coming. As many people know, the museum that currently inhabits our uptown library is in the midst of a move somewhere downtown, and the space on the first floor that it occupies in the library building will be free for various groups to vie for. I propose that a 24 hour student lounge be opened, complete with photocopiers and other student needs, and that it be open to all students, and not just the uptown students. This is especially important, as many people feel that there is a lack of room for students to meet uptown as the women are not allowed into the dormitory buildings.

I was enormously proud of the emotional outpouring on Yom Ha’atzmaut and how everyone was celebrating together. I hope that when (not if) the same occurs next year, there will be a place for the students to celebrate, perhaps even the student lounge in the library, if necessary.

Looking forward to great things for next year,

Hadar Weiss, YC ’99

Israel Club Vice-President 97-98

YCSC Treasurer Elect ‘98