Students Defend Zucker, Professor Denied Tenure

To the Editor:

I am writing this in the hope that the cries of the political science students and those of the entire student body of Yeshiva University will be heard. It has come to the attention of the students that Dr. Ross Zucker is no longer wanted by the administration of Yeshiva College. The reasons for this do not seem to have any sort of foundation.

To see how much Dr. Zucker is loved by his students and his passion to teach, all one needs to do is to attend one of his lectures. It will become obvious that Dr. Zucker is a Political Scientist's Political Scientist. The vast knowledge that he conveys to his students on both the Uptown and Midtown campuses is truly unparalleled. I know of no other instructor that makes time for his students like Dr. Zucker. It is not often that professors will avail themselves on weekends and nights for their students, when they are busy trying to accomplish goals of their own. In addition, I am not aware of many teachers that freely distribute their home number for students to call at all hours of the night to discuss both classroom and personal matters. Such is Dr. Zucker's caring and committed nature.

I doubt whether the university will be able to recuperate from what will be a lamentable loss. The administration has made the ghastly error of letting go of possibly one of the finest political science professors that the University has ever had the fortune of having teach here.

Scott Nadel

YC '00

Vice-President SBMP

To the Editor:

The administration of Yeshiva University is lucky because the student body is a distracted and overburdened bunch. With our double curriculum and myriad of other concerns, few can simply find the time to express their concerns and opinions over the decisions being made affecting our academic careers. The administration has been very perceptive in its acknowledgment of this reality and has used it to act with impunity in its unilateral decisions affecting the student body. Why should the administration be concerned? Sure there may be some initial expressions of outrage to the latest decision imposed upon the student body, but the administration understands full well that the students' indignation will only last until we are faced with our next mid-term examination or shiur bechina.

And so we arrive at the most recent decision of the administration - to deny tenure to Dr. Ross Zucker thereby ending his teaching career at Yeshiva University. I will not go into the fact that Dr. Zucker, like no other professor I have encountered in YU, has shown a true concern for his students, nor will I explain how he has taught me to critically assess, critique and challenge accepted ideas and at the same time nurtured the ability of myself and many others to create ideas of our own. What I do want to point out is that, as usual, the student body has been totally left out of a decision that will so greatly affect the quality of our educational experience. WHAT ABOUT US?

Why are we not part of the process that is supposed to be for our own benefit? Granted, as was recently explained to me by a member of the administration, the student body is an inherently transient group and it is only the administration that is a constant, but why should this fact in any way make the administration believe that it has the right to make decisions that suit it and not us?

For too long Yeshiva University has taken advantage of its monopolistic hold of this student body. It is quite clear that there are few alternatives for a student who wants the type of education offered by YU. Why should the administration care how we are treated? It knows we are not going anywhere. Why should facilities management care how small it makes us feel? What are we going to do, leave? Why should the registrar's office be concerned about treating us as adults? What are we going to do, transfer? (Not when it takes 6 weeks to get a transcript sent out.)

And so the student's predicament at YU will continue to endure; it will endure until a day that the administration comes to the realization that the student body of Yeshiva University deserves to be part of a reciprocal relationship. A relationship in which the student body begins to be viewed as consumers and not as paupers. A relationship in which the students pay their tuition dollars and in return get shown a little bit of respect. I only wonder how long it will take for the administration to realize that our opinion matters. How long will it take for it to realize that without its students, YU is nothing?

Yonatan Bendheim

YC '99

To the Editor:

I am writing in response to the news that Dr. Ross Zucker will no longer teach at Yeshiva College. As a graduate of Yeshiva College with a BA in Political Science, I must say that I was disgusted with the notion of Dr. Zucker no longer being part of already anemic Political Science staff. Aside from the fact that there are so few professors in the Political Science department at Yeshiva College, Dr. Zucker is especially unique. Each lesson by Dr. Zucker is beautifully woven using the texts, current events and student input. Most importantly, no other teacher that I have ever taken shows so much care and devotion to each student. He is always available at school and at home for each student, with help in his class, other classes, to help get a job or to just talk. If Political Science majors at Yeshiva College lose Dr. Zucker, they lose the entire experience.

Besalel Benhaim

YC '99

To the Editor:

How does Yeshiva University reward its best professors? Does it express appreciation? Does it send them a nice thank-you note? Does it - let us savor this thought - offer them a pay raise? The answer to all of these is of course not. It fires them.

In a year when the Yeshiva University P.R. department crows over YU's ranking as one of the 50 top national universities (by no less an authority then US News & World Report!!!) and basks in the glory that will no doubt be the Honors College, it is outrageous and quite telling that one of the finest, most dedicated and knowledgeable teachers within Yeshiva has been told that his services are no longer required.

Dr. Ross Zucker, as any of his present or past students could tell you, is one of those rare teachers within YU who is extremely learned, both in his own field, political theory, and beyond. He is able to transmit this information to his students in an interesting manner and is attentive to their needs, attitudes and opinions. He is available whenever a student would like to discuss a matter privately, be it grades, reports, finding a job or a concept in political theory. In short, Dr. Zucker is an excellent teacher and worthy of tenure.

You might ask: if Dr. Zucker is really so wonderful, then why was he not granted tenure, the just due of a good and committed teacher? However, if you really wonder about that, then you do not know YU. Dr. Zucker has fallen victim to one of those internal conflicts that bears little basis in the well being of the student body or the betterment of the institution. Is this important? I think it is. Not only because Yeshiva does a tremendous disservice to one man nor even because the entire student body losses an irreplaceable asset. But also because this issue is a discouraging sign of YU's capacity to commit to and pursue academic excellence at a time when it claims to be advancing both.

To those who care about Yeshiva: Voice your outrage over this foolish and harmful action - one which harms the all around well being of Yeshiva as a purveyor of Torah U'Madda and a place of academia! Voice it to the administration. Voice it to the faculty.

As for me, I am grateful to have had the chance to learn political science from a man whose knowledge taught me much, but whose personal refinement and derech eretz have taught me far more.

It is a shame that - unless YU gets a grip of its senses - future students will not have the same opportunity.

Elliot Lowenstein

YC '98

To the Editor:

Recently it has come to our attention that Political Science professor Dr. Ross Zucker has been fired from his academic position. This comes as quite a shock to those of us who have had the privilege of taking classes with Dr. Zucker and believe him to be an excellent pedagogue. He cares greatly about his students and has a tremendous impact upon them as well. He is extremely knowledgeable not only within his field of political science, but also within other areas such as economics. He is in the process of publishing a book that captures this synthesis, redefining democratic government through an economic approach. Furthermore he has published in a variety of scholarly journals and continues to do so.

Professors like Dr. Zucker provide Yeshiva University with an academic environment that is unfortunately often absent in this institution. To achieve the academic excellence that many of us desire, more professors like Dr. Zucker are needed. I suggest, that instead of presenting Dr. Zucker with a notice of termination, the university grant him tenure, bestowing upon him the gift that he truly deserves.

Meir Katz

YC '01

To the Editor:

I would like to express my shock and disappointment at Dr. Ross Zucker's termination. He is a teacher who is extremely knowledgeable and successfully imparts that knowledge to his students. He is also a professor whom students like and admire, and with whom students feel they can talk. His termination will remove from Yeshiva University an intellectual force that cannot, and will not, be replaced. I strongly urge the University's administration to reconsider its incorrect decision and make the correct one: give Dr. Zucker tenure.

Yitzchak Soloveichik

YC '02

To the Editor:

Finding a great professor in a small university is no simple task. The ability to keep the students interested in the topic at hand and a solid work load are only two of many qualifications that a professor must possess. It has come to our attention that Dr. Ross Zucker of the Political Science Department has recently been fired. Dr. Zucker, a scholar par excellence, is both a fine person and an excellent teacher. Dr. Zucker is able to bring the best out in his students and inspires his students to bring their best efforts to class. Requiring a heavy workload is sometimes a negative factor for some students when deciding which classes to take; however, under Dr. Zucker's tutelage, students learn to enjoy the field of political science and become excited about their work.

As we head towards the twenty-first century, many academic institutions have difficulty finding teachers who are truly able to inspire confidence in their students. The Yeshiva University Political Science Department, and faculty at large, cannot afford to lose a professor with Dr. Zucker's impeccable credentials. Unfortunately, the people who make these decisions are generally unaware of a professor's value since they themselves never attended his or her class. It is for this reason that we, the students, must speak up on our mentor's behalf and force the administration to realize their error before it is too late. With more professors like Dr. Zucker, this institution would surely be a much better place. The students have spoken.

Monty Steckler and Seth Grauer

YC '01

To the Editor:

I am shocked to have heard that Dr. Ross Zucker will not be teaching in YU for an extended period of time. Rumor has it that Fall '99 will be his last semester here. As a political science major , I find this news particularly troubling. First of all, the department here is tiny as it is. Anyone who takes a look at YU's political science department reaches the conclusion that it needs to be expanded, and for some reason YU is about to let go of one of the cornerstones of the department. Secondly, and more importantly, Dr. Zucker is a leader in his field, and his absence will shake up this school dramatically. All of our political science professors are wonderful, but Dr. Zucker really is special. He devotes so much time to his students, giving the impression that they are the most important part of his life! We recently took the MFAT for political science. In earnest, 80 percent of the questions came right out of his courses. I had the great opportunity to learn with him while studying at YU. Please, do not deny this privilege to future students.

Netanel Benhaim

YC '99

To the Editor:

I have taken Professor Zucker for one and a half courses and have always found him to be more than prepared for his classes. He is a professor that cares for his students, challenges them intellectually and teaches them a great deal. Furthermore, it never ceases to amaze me how much he knows. In reply to a student's query, not only does he answer the student's question, he names titles and authors of books in which the student can find further information.

The loss of a professor of this caliber is a serious blow to all of Yeshiva College, not just the political science department, and it comes at a strange time. Today, Wednesday, March 24, the faculty of YC voted unanimously to approve the suggestions of the Honors Committee and to implement the new Honors Program. Yet a professor that should be lecturing in such a program will not have his contract renewed after the coming year.

Occurrences such as these should be bemoaned by all students at YU, not only those who, through good fortune, have learned from this man. While not a fan of student rebellion at every turn, I do feel that the administration and faculty involved in the decision should be made aware by all students of this tragic mistake. So I encourage my fellow students to go out of their way and leave a message with either the Dean of Yeshiva College, Dean Norman Adler, or with the (interim) Academic Vice-President, Dean Sheldon Gelman stating their disapproval.

Hadar Weiss

YC '00

Treasurer

YCSC '99

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