Yeshiva University Commentator -- Special Edition; September 12th 2001

University Reacts to Disaster
By Yehoshua Levine and Zack Streit

As the shock of the worst terrorist attack in American history reverberated throughout the Yeshiva community, administrators, faculty and students struggled to maintain a sense of normalcy in the face of truly tragic conditions.

Less than one hour after the second plane collided into the South Tower of The World Trade Center, a committee - including Director of Public Affairs Peter L. Ferrara, Dean of Students David Himber, Academic Vice President Dr. Morton Lowengrub, Director of Supporting Services Jeffrey Rosengarten, Yeshiva College Dean Norman Adler, and Vice President of Business Affairs Dr. Sheldon Socol - convened to officially formulate Yeshiva's response to the catastrophe.

From the outset, the administrators stipulated that classes, to the greatest degree possible, would continue as usual throughout the day. As it turned out, however, all the Yeshiva graduate schools closed, as did the Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy and the Samuel H. Wang Yeshiva University High School.

Dean Adler imparted a twofold interpretation of the committee's decision. "Symbolically, Yeshiva will not back down in the face of terrorism," he asserted. "And on the practical side, it is not feasible to evacuate the entire student body. Since the students live on campus and a number of faculty did show up, classes were held."

As the day progressed, however, the number of cancelled classes increased significantly, due to the mounting number of faculty absences. As of 4 PM, twenty-four YC classes were officially cancelled, and many others would soon follow. Even classes that were slated to meet suffered from understandably poor attendance. "I came to class and was greeted gloomily by two of my fellow classmates. By the end of class, only six out of nineteen students had shown up to the lecture," remarked one YC sophomore. Adding to the chaos was the fact that, despite the announcement that YC classes would convene, Belfer Hall was sealed off at approximately 6 P.M.

Confusion reigned at Yeshiva's Midtown Campus as well, less than two miles from the disaster site. "Classes were officially held," pointed out Stern College Dean Karen Bacon. As the day waned, public transportation in and out of the city tapered and, as a result, "more and more faculty were unable to get in to school. Therefore the morning classes were better attended than those later in the day."

Although both YC and SCW remained open and formally held classes, no SSSB courses met on either Yeshiva campus. "My impression was that none of the SSSB faculty was in the building when the city closed down [this morning]," revealed Bacon.

Around noon, the Office of Student Services circulated an emergency communication notice to the undergraduate campuses detailing the committee's conclusions. Among other things, the document assured students that "operations are being conducted as normally as possible: classes are in session, buildings are open, the cafeteria is continuing to serve meals." The notice also advised students to "remain on campus - and … not travel around New York City."

In the closing moments of a campus-wide rally, held outdoors because of security concerns, students were instructed to adhere strictly to the precautionary measures established in the emergency notice. "We have been in touch with the New York Police Department," proclaimed Rosengarten. "We strongly suggest that all of you stay put and urge all students needing assistance to seek us out."

Some students, in spite of the administration's warnings, did venture off- campus in an attempt to donate blood at local hospitals. Although they were ultimately refused as a result of equipment shortages, a group of thirty-five Uptown students of blood type O or O- trekked to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital on 168th Street. A similar procession of Midtown students marched down to the NYU Medical Center armed with the same intentions; they were turned away as well.

On the Uptown Campus, hundreds of Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy high school students found themselves stranded overnight, due to Manhattan's congested bridges and tunnels. "Providing for our high school students is just as important to us as assisting [YC and SSSB] undergraduates," Ferrara emphasized in an exclusive interview with The Commentator. "Therefore, we placed mattresses on the floor of Weissberg Commons and subsidized MTA students' dinners in the cafeteria." However, at press time, no MTA students had actually been placed in Weisberg Commons for the night; it is assumed that all students either received transportation home or were housed elsewhere on campus. Additionally, the cafeteria announced that the unexpected need for extra food led to shortages last night and threatened to continue throughout the day.

Certain faculty members and administrators remained on campus throughout the night, utilizing the designated guest rooms on the first floor of Rubin Hall. Accommodations were made for female on the fifth floor of Belfer Hall. Although Himber had the option of traveling home, he "slept overnight on-campus to provide support for the stranded students."

Yeshiva security also scrambled to institute precautionary measures in light of the situation. According to Yeshiva's Commander of Security Operations, some of the measures included: tighter restrictions on identification-checking requirements, prohibiting vehicles from parking in front of Yeshiva buildings, additional security guards serving double shifts, removal of campus garbage receptacles, and close, continuous coordination with the NYPD. In addition, by 11:00 A.M., the NYPD - responding to the insistent requests of Yeshiva Security and TMSTA administrator Danny Morris - closed off Amsterdam Avenue between 182nd and 190th Streets to all traffic except for public buses, Yeshiva vans, and emergency vehicles.