Veteran Secretary Forced Into Retirement by Jason Cyrulnik

Just days after the 1998-99 academic year came to a close, the career of Ms. Ceil Levinson came to an end after thirty-six years of dedicated service at Yeshiva. The seventy-six year old Yeshiva College secretary decided to close the Yeshiva chapter of her life, officially announcing her retirement on Thursday, June 10th.

As Levinson's distinguished career came to a seemingly abrupt and unexpected end, a cloud of skepticism immediately arose and continues to envelop the circumstances surrounding Levinson's decision.

Why now? Representatives from the Department of Human Resources would offer no explanation as to why this year became Levinson's last, citing that the office holds the policy of not commenting on any issues related to a university employee. Co-workers confirmed that the aging secretary seemed to have been physically healthy, but that her age was indeed taking its toll on her job performance. However, such claims have been floating around for years. Some students cite "a tension-filled environment" that seemed to permeate the relationship between Levinson and two of her office mates, Dean Joyce Jesionowski and her secretary, Ms. Phoebe Rock, as a possible reason for Levinson's retirement. "Suffice it to say that it didn't seem like a match made in heaven," pointed out one YC Junior who had worked in the deans office and expressed his sincere regret over the Levinson retirement.

The speculation that office mates played key roles in Levinson's retirement were met with extreme unease from YU administrators. Beyond a confirmation of Levinson's "desire to retire," Dean Adler chose not to comment on "such personnel decisions."

The cagey and defensive official reaction to questions regarding Levinson's retirement is itself enough to raise some eyebrows. Both Adler and Jesionowski refused to deny or confirm reports of an ultimatum issued by the University to Levinson effectively forcing her retirement. Workers in Levinson's office informed The Commentator that they were distinctly warned by their superiors to withhold any comment on the Levinson situation - a seemingly displaced order in light of the University's characterization of that very situation as nothing more than a simple "decision to retire."

Perhaps the best evidence that YU may be attempting to shield itself from the potential backlash that could result from its speculated unfair treatment of an employee who had worked at Yeshiva for more than a third of a century shines through most clearly in Levinson's own reaction. Insiders confirmed that Levinson received a phone call from the employment office in early June and that she was asked to retire immediately or face the penalty of being fired and its accompanying loss of benefits. These same sources informed The Commentator that the University issued similar calls to Levinson on two separate occasions within the past six years. Most shocking this time, however, was the finality of the demand and the short amount of time in which Levinson was given to offer a final decision - allegedly under an hour.

Within the hour, Levinson indeed arrived at a conclusion. Frightened by the prospect of losing her pension if she refused the retirement demands - a threat that union employees affirm could never have been carried out and was only used to intimidate the unsuspecting employee - Levinson folded. Before informing YU of her decision, Levinson first told The Commentator that "they [YU employment officials] were very rude to me. I've been working here for over thirty years, I deserve to be treated with more respect." Hours later, on what turned out to be her final day of employment, a tearful and emotional Levinson buckled up about YU treatment: "You know what, now I'm happy that I can retire. I can enjoy myself," she explained as she packed her bags and disappeared.

Other employees point not at the fact Levinson was asked to retire, but instead to the manner in which Levinson's situation was handled, as the true source of their gripes. They claim the one hour time limit serves as evidence to their concerns. Some recall the reception held for Levinson the day following her retirement: a cake rushed to a bare table-top painted the scene for what they said should have been a true thank-you tribute to one of Yeshiva's most dedicated workers. Adler recognized that "Ceil was indeed a wonderful lady who offered more than thirty years of devoted service to the University," but would offer no rebuttal comment on the gripes of the Yeshiva employees. In the words of one well-respected professor who wished to remain anonymous, "this episode proves once and for all that what was once viewed as a YU family has changed into a harsh, almost cold workplace."

The University is still searching for a permanent replacement to fill Levinson's position. Reflecting upon her dedication to a place that she might have previously felt comfortable deeming "home," Adler added that "Ceil truly found a warm spot in everybody's heart." It is that characterization that leads one YC student to exclaim, "her perennial warm presence will be very difficult to do without."