Finally

Some of my friends are doing the coolest stuff in college. Some are at Penn, some at Columbia, some at Brandeis, and as one would imagine, there's a lot to do in these colleges to keep oneself busy

Some are doing cool stuff here at YU, whether uptown or at Stern. For example, guys are involved in various things like YUSSR and spend their spare time in Russia being mekarev other Yiddin, while others go to Australia with Counterpoint, while others participate in .

Then there's Kim Glassman at Stern, who just wrote an original screenplay that will be produced on May 3^rd at 9 PM in Koch Auditorium.

Why is this remarkable? Here in college, especially at YU, we can't really make major movie productions; instead, we put on plays. In the past, there have been YCDS and SCWDS productions, both of which traditionally involved a faculty advisor. Yet this year, Stern has led the way into a new era of independent theater. What they have accomplished this year is beyond belief, at least for YU.

I considered the possibility of a completely student-run production here at YU. I talked to some of the people involved in YCDS earlier this year, who informed me that guys here practically refuse to take stage direction from Dr. Beukas, who has been directing for many a year. Now imagine these budding thespians, who don't listen to Doc, paying attention to a fellow student who tries to tell them what they're going to do. Imagine them accepting his word as that of "The Director" and not arguing. Having difficulty? I'm not surprised in the least.

Yet here is Stern - whose students often rightfully claim that we consider them second-class students - this very year, choosing their own plays, producing, directing and acting all on their own! Under the auspices their Dramatic Society! And after Lag B'Omer, they will have put on a play which they produced, acted in and wrote the script. Not really much left for them to accomplish, except perhaps get that real theater they are supposed to (ahem!, sorry, just clearing my throat) already have.

The reaction of the typical YU guy is why would I, a YU guy with other things to do on the night of Lag Ba'Omer, want to go down to Stern to see this show? I mean, for one, it's at STERN. And that's not such a small number one. I barely ever go to Stern, I don't enjoy being there, so why go do when I could be learning, having a kumzitz, getting a trophy at the YCDS Award Ceremony or using this night to go see a movie with the latest Star Wars trailer?

Well, for starters, those who remember last year's Dorm Talks, in which Rabbi Doctor Norman Lamm, Rosh Yeshiva of YU, stated his firm opinion that it was okey-dokey for guys and girls to date more than one person at a time. You just might want to show up to see an example of how his advice can be Mark McGuire-like slugged to a horrible extreme: his philosophy going bad, going evil, gone overboard.

Furthermore, you may not like going to Stern, but remember: Ezeh hu Chacham? HaLomed Mikol Adam. How does bear any connection to the rest of what I'm talking about? Just as in years' past people have written letters to point out what YU guys can learn midos-wise from others (like how some security guards handled a disagreement a little while ago peacefully and with respect for each other), I believe that we can learn from this student initiative as well. Not only how our fellow students at Stern handled the situation for their previous play, when their faculty advisor discovered he would be unable to assist them in their production, but even for pushing the administration in this play: both to allow for an outside male director, as well as to allow us guys to come watch. How much more could we accomplish up here just by learning from their example?

Additionally, the realization that this is an original play written by a YU student should be enough reason by itself for the guys to show up - how many of you can claim that you know a playwright?

You frum guys still not showing up? That's okay, we don't really take you guys into account for anything involving the world outside your daled amos, seeing as you never participate anyway. Don't be offended, it's just that after a while, people planning activities ignore your astonished reactions to every event that might interfere with your lives, as you guys never have anything constructive to add. You are almost like Aesop's boy who cried "Wolf," always having something to shout about without any substance to back up your viewpoints.

But you artsy-fartsy guys should all show up, even more so when I tell you that what's going on before we guys are allowed inside is a new mini-Arts Festival:

Instead of the usual "Sternbucks" that goes on (named so because Starbucks will actually donate food and java to groups for free if they're told about meetings, and their name is merged with Stern) like singing and various short performances, there will be poetry readings and art on display. So those guys that go down for the play, which again starts at 9 PM, whatever is left on display can be seen after the play, possibly including a short film made by Stern student Nikki Paley, who also studied at the School for Visual Arts.

To sum up, I urge all students, including those I called frummies earlier, to go down and see this play, and I welcome all letters from fellow students who care to argue with the essence of my arguments. Those of you who just want to complain about my choice of language or the way in which I framed my diatribe, please, just mention it to me at some point when I can blow you off. Nothing personal.