The final days of the year always evoke sentimental feelings of good times and great achievements. I have grown older, wiser, and more jaded in my years at Yeshiva. But I have also become more naïve and optimistic throughout the process as well. This paradox represents the interesting combination of experience and foresight that comprises life.

Accomplishments abound and outstanding deeds promised by the future equal and continually grow at a faster pace. Still, fundamental issues rest at the core of pathologies daring to poison the our lives as individual students and components of the student body. With a dual curriculum, a charge to learn day and night, and social pursuits, it remains little wonder that the entire campus ticks in the monotony of its walking human metronomes.

Often we fail to pause and survey our friends, experiences, or anything else that neglects to immediately pertain to our predetermined course of life. Paths created by society and promoted by our parents, educators and leaders. However if we simply took the time to survey our surroundings every now and then, we would discover that so much remains to be learned from the experiences of others, their personalities and perspectives.

This year we witnessed monumental events that stand alone as historic moments in the annals of our institution. The passing of Rabbi Wanefsky a spiritual and moral icon, the resignation of President Lamm, and Yeshiva's first Rhodes Scholar brought constant activity, thought and a roller coaster of emotions to our university. We watched as our most beloved administrator and friend was discarded like yesterday's trash because the great keepers of student interest were unwilling to stand for justice. Further embarking down this path of least resistance and policy as a matter of convenience will be the undoing of the student body if we do not emphatically reject it.

Student rights can no longer be ignored. Arbitrary character and academic assassination can no longer occur without rhyme, reason, or due process. Yeshiva's lawyers argue against establishing process, and that is because they fear lawsuit if administrators broke with that process. What an interesting reason not to define and enumerate student rights.

This is not to say that we should expect change to occur immediately simply because we will it to happen. Rather, we have to foster greater respect within the University community. No longer can lame excuses and poor work supplant responsible constructive activity. We certainly remain capable of asking for much, but at the same time much is required of us before we can receive.

Specific individuals within the administration of Yeshiva have given great responsibility and trust to the student body and we cannot afford to squander that kindness. We must harness that sentiment, utilize it to its maximum potential, and cultivate those notions for further use. Falling short of this, we forfeit the amiable countenance afforded us by friends behind the lines.

While Deans Bacon and Nierenberg conducted their own evaluations for choosing valedictorians and subsequent nominees for commencement speaker, Deans Adler and Jesionowski endeavored to include student input. They devised a system, vetted by the students and faculty, and while it might have some technical flaws, its purpose certainly stands above those difficulties. However, certain small members of the student body have perverted the process by taking injudicious actions and have tainted the results raising doubts in the deans' minds of continuing the practice. Selfishness, jealously, and childishness successfully undermined the kindness and toil of the deans. Here we have failed to maximize the gifts afforded us.

As we look forward, many opportunities lie in the uncharted waters of the future. If we can remember to learn from our experiences and take responsible action the world and all of its greatness will be ours.

The coming weeks promise to be exciting ones. Awards ceremonies, elections, and celebrations will weave through reading week and finals. Let's come together in the waning days of this academic year; reaffirm our commitments to each other, to Yeshiva and to Torah. Let us place the values of generations past with the experiences gained and advance ourselves and the world to create a truly great generation.