After years of persistently steadfast resistance to the idea of allowing a representative from Yeshiva's undergraduate population to address the students at graduation, the administration has finally yielded, and for the first time in more than a decade, YU students, ostensibly the individuals in whose honor the graduation ceremony occurs, will at last be permitted to materially contribute to the proceedings.
The shocking announcement of this monumental reversal of what was perhaps the most uniformly deplored administration policy of recent years was entirely unforeseen. Even now, the question of why the administration specifically selected this year to lift its ban on student involvement in graduation remains a mystery. However, we cannot help but wonder if the recent arrival of Peter Ferrara to the Department of Public Relations might be related to this abrupt about-face of a long-standing Yeshiva regulation.
Still, whatever the reason for the decision, we would be remiss not to express our gratitude and appreciation for this long-awaited, but much deserved, turnaround in Yeshiva policy. And though the administration has reserved the right to handpick the student speaker and has insisted on pre-screening the student's speech for objectionable material, the simple fact that Yeshiva now seems willing to concede that the students comprise an integral component of graduation is most decidedly a step in the right direction. We commend the University for seizing this opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to the interests of its students, and we convey our sincere hope that this important decision signifies renewed dedication on the part of the administration to consider student concerns as part of the decision-making process. We'll see you at Commencement, and for the first time in a while, we look forward to being there.