New Academic VP Appointed

Filling the vacancy created by William Schwartz's resignation, Dr. Morton Lowengrub, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University, has been named Yeshiva University's vice-president for Academic Affairs, effective September 1, 1999. Accompanying Lowengrub's appointment is that of Dr. Sheldon Gelman, dean of the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, to the post of associate vice president for Academic Affairs. Gelman will continue to serve as interim academic vice president until Lowengrub's arrival on campus in the fall. Click for full text

MTA's Administrative Void Filled with Appointment of New Principal

Continuing on its quest towards excellence, The Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy has found a new leader to drive the once unsteady high school back on the road to stability. On Friday, May 7, Rabbi Michael Hecht, the new Dean of MSTA announced the appointment of Ya'acov Sklar to the post of Principal, a position that has remained vacant since the school's decision to forego the contract renewal of current Principal Rabbi Michael Taubes. Sklar is slated to assume the role as principal effective July 1. Click for full text

RIETS Musmach Announces His Homosexuality

Rabbi Steven Greenberg, a graduate of Yeshiva College and YU's Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) has become the first Orthodox rabbi ever to publicly announce his homosexuality. Greenberg disclosed his sexual orientation in interviews with both The Forward, a contemporary Jewish-American newspaper, and an Israeli publication, Ma'ariv. The New York Times will be publishing a feature article on Rabbi Greenberg as well. Some interpret his move as a sign that Orthodox Judaism will soon need to respond to the conflicts of religion and homosexuality, while many YU rabbis are disturbed by Greenberg's actions and claim that his announcement profanes the Yeshiva University name. Click for full text

Student Council Elections: The Bold and the Boring

After a week of furious campaigning, the Yeshiva College General Elections for the 1999-2000 academic year were held on Thursday, April 29, 1999. The tight races saw candidates advertising signs throughout the campus touting past accomplishments and plans for the future. Although many of the future plans will go unaccomplished, it is encouraging to know that the student body should be well represented next year by dedicated individuals. Click for full story

Lamm To Deliver Keynote Address at Graduation

At the university's upcoming commencement exercise, Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, President and Rosh HaYeshiva of YU is slated to deliver the keynote address. The ceremony, marking the graduation of over 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students, will take place on May 26 at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden. This year's graduation is the fiftieth anniversary of Lamm's commencement, at which he spoke, representing his class as valedictorian. Click for full text

Danishefsky, Zucker Elected Professors of Year

On May 29th, while Student Council hopefuls campaigned for their positions with video games, candy, and bourekas, a different election was underway. The candidates for this ballot did not campaign; they were unaware that they were even in contention for any position. About eighty graduating seniors cast their votes on that day for Professor of the Year. Click for full text

Computer Society Protests Lab Fees

Voices of protest have been raised among computer science, math, and pre-engineering majors with regard to the levying of lab fees for courses that do not have labs. While this may sound like a simple oversight, it has actually been common practice for many years. Every computer science course that a student takes, incurs a $50 lab fee tacked on to the tuition bill for the semester. This fee is charged regardless of whether a lab is actually scheduled. Similarly, a $40 fee is charged to all students registered for Calculus, a course that also does not have lab sessions. Click for full text

Kaplan Creates LSAT Library on Campus

This academic year notes the addition of a Kaplan Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) Library to the Yeshiva University Pollack Library. The addition of the library has made studying for the LSATs with Kaplan much easier on YU students enrolled in the program. With the resources available directly on campus, many of the students who took the Kaplan course in the past note the great convenience the Kaplan library offers as opposed to the hassles that they had to deal with in earlier years. Click for full text