As of Tuesday, September 5, 2001, Yeshiva's undergraduate enrollment totaled 2271 students, the largest student body in the institution's 125-year history. This figure which includes 1274 men and 997 women from Yeshiva College, Stern College, and Sy Syms School of Business represents an unprecedented expansion of the undergraduate programs, dwarfing enrollment projections that the administration had compiled in recent years. The burgeoning student body has generated a number of problems on the uptown campus that remain unresolved almost six weeks into the academic year.

According to Director of Enrollment Management John Fisher, this year's final uptown enrollment figure of 1274 men, though unexpected, did not come as too much of a surprise to himself or his colleagues. "Last year, there were 1215 men on the uptown campus," he recalled. "We had been projecting about 35 more than that for this year, somewhere near 1250. During the first few days of school, [the number] seemed to be growing closer to 1260 or 1265, and now it's 1274. [Predicting] is not an exact science, though, so if in any given year we are over or under our predictions, there's no need to explain the discrepancy."

University Dean of Students David Himber pointed towards students who decided at the last minute not to leave for Israel as a contributing factor to the unexpected enrollment increase. "Of course, the attractiveness of our university's unique culture and educational opportunities is [something that] invariably leads to a larger student body," he began. "But as of now, ten students slated to go to Israel for their first year in Yeshiva changed their minds and came back. People had real concerns this year, more than anytime in the past. This trend can certainly explain, in part, why the current study body [has] exceeded the admission projections."

Both administrators and faculty alike have been struggling to accommodate the growing student body. Because uptown enrollment grew by 4.6 % since last year, Yeshiva has been facing shortages of classrooms, office space, and housing facilities.

Although the administration has hired a record number of new faculty members for the current term, classroom space has become a major problem. "We had to switch classrooms three times before [my] class finally found a place to settle down," one frustrated Yeshiva College Junior remarked. "And this switching around continued well into the second week of school." Yeshiva administrators have downplayed the classroom shortages as temporary problems. "We have been working closely with Yeshiva's Facilities Management Department to make sure that all of our available classroom space is being used," Fisher explained. "I apologize for the problems, but when the dust settles, we will get everyone into their permanent rooms. The arrangements have been far from perfect, but they will soon be sorted out." But incoming Syms Sophomore Jason Hartstein was not satisfied. "Not knowing where your classes are for the first week and a half of school is just not something students should have to deal with," he griped, "especially in a tier-one institution."

Fisher also promised that certain storage rooms on the upper floors of Belfer Hall will be converted into classrooms in time for the spring semester, when a small but substantial number of students are expected to return from studying in Israel. "Even though enrollment will probably increase even more in January, we will be well prepared," he asserted. One student leader was not impressed with Fisher's assurances. "If Yeshiva thinks they can solve this problem by turning a bunch of closets into classrooms, there is obviously something very wrong with the situation," he said. "Furthermore," he continued, "why is Fisher convinced that Yeshiva will be ready in January if they weren't ready for the fall."

Even Yeshiva's faculty has not been spared as the University struggles with insufficient facilities. Reportedly, because of space constraints, as many as four full-time faculty have been crammed into a number of the tiny box-like faculty offices in Furst Hall. "It's disgusting," one faculty member complained. "Yeshiva has $1.2 billion dollars, and they stuff us into these tiny spaces like a bunch of sardines. This is not a tier-one institution, it's a sweatshop."

But for the students, perhaps the worst side effect of the increased enrollment is the continuing housing shortage. According to Associate Dean of Students Dr. Chaim Nissel, by early September only two students were still waiting for some sort of University housing. However, many students have been forced into the Independent Housing Program, off-campus apartments that many students consider isolated and undesirable. "I wanted to be in the dorms," commented Yeshiva College Sophomore Avraham Adler. "I thought IHP was only for people who specifically requested to be put there." Adler explained that he feels secluded from the rest of the campus and even, at times, scared to walk back to his apartment at night. In addition to these concerns, he stressed that "the apartments do not have Ethernet connection, and it's part of my tuition to be entitled to that."

Safety concerns for IHP students are not unfounded in light this summer's muggings and a recent rash of burglaries that have ravaged apartments on 186th Street, where Yeshiva furnishes its off-campus housing solution. "This is just crazy. They lied about my safety; to me, to my parents, to everyone, this is simply ridiculous," squealed an IHP tenant. Himber acknowledged that many students would rather be placed in the on-campus dormitories, but he explained, the dormitories are already full. He pointed out that Yeshiva will continue to buy new apartments and will try to allocate them to students specifically requesting more independence. "Our ultimate goal, however," Himber added, "is to build another traditional dorm." Nissel agreed, nevertheless divulging, "I don't know of any plans regarding building a new dorm." One incoming sophomore was not pleased with this response. "I keep reading that Yeshiva has more than one billion dollars, but it still took almost a month for me to find a place to live. Why do they keep putting a band-aid on a broken bone? It's time to build a new dormitory. Period." "Tier-one institution my eye," quipped one embittered junior.

In terms of undergraduate breakdown, Sy Syms School of Business's uptown enrollment has been, in recent years, rapidly approaching that of Yeshiva College. Of last year's 1215 students uptown, 707 were Yeshiva College students and 508 were enrolled in Syms. At this point, Yeshiva admissions officials are still unsure as to this year's YC/SSSB breakdown, because students are still changing majors and switching around their courses, factors that determine which undergraduate school they are enrolled in. "If the patterns of recent years continue," predicted Fisher, "I have no doubt that [the number of students in] Sy Syms will soon eclipse [those in] Yeshiva College."

In the fall of 1998, the Yeshiva Development Office assessed the institution and produced a document projecting undergraduate enrollment and academic growth for the next five years. According to Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Morton Lowengrub, however, this document was "just a draft" and is now "obsolete." He and his colleagues are currently "in the process of reformulating new plans" for the university. "With many more students and an incoming new president, we have new priorities and must develop new strategies," he added.