Sy Syms Student Body Strikes Out

by Aryeh Leichter

Seven students attended a question and answer session with Dr. Charles Snow, Dean of the Sy Syms School of Business, on Monday, October 14th. Seven students. There were four questions in all, the most important of which remained unasked: What happened to the Sy Syms student body? Dean Snow exhibited a slide illustrating the growth of Sy Syms over the past three years, from under 700 students in 2000 to 728 men and women this year. Seven people saw it.

The usual excuses just do not apply in this situation. The Yankees are not playing in October anymore, and I sincerely doubt that many people were so riveted by a San Francisco-St. Louis pairing that they just could not justify leaving their dorm rooms. Nor were either the Giants or the Jets playing on Monday Night Football. Everybody knows that there is nothing good on television on Monday nights and midterms are weeks away. The only logical explanation is that the majority of Sy Syms students (is 99.04% a majority?) do not care enough about their own futures or the present and future of their alma mater to spend an hour of their time with the one person who can make things happen for them. This was a fastball right over the plate, an opportunity to meet and gripe about the Office of Placement and Career Services (I eat in the cafeteria, I hear the grumbles). This was an opportunity to ask the good dean what he has in store for the future. “Pathetic” is an appropriate word here. So is “embarrassing.” But I’m not going to use that kind of language. Seven people, .96% of the student body, attended a question and answer session with Dean Snow. Enough said.

I was supposed to recount the get-together for the Exchange, but why should I even bother? I doubt anyone is really that interested. But as a courtesy to those of you stuck in traffic, here goes: Dean Snow talked extensively about OPCS, the economy, strengthening classes and working for his students. He talked about the prospect of an honors program similar to the one at Yeshiva College, a possibility that almost came to fruition this year and one that Dr. Snow and the Sy Syms Board is considering for upcoming years.

I have always been a critic of the way the Office of Placement and Career Services has functioned in the past. Not anymore. Dr. Snow explained how, due to the frugality of the administration of Yeshiva, OPCS is severely understaffed. And if this is the clientele that Dr. Jaskoll and the gang has to work with, I do not blame them for their periodic irritation with their students. Dean Snow ended the mostly one-sided discussion by saying that Syms students missed an opportunity to meet with the dean. Understatement of the year. Sy Syms President Gabriel Jacobsen threw a fastball right down the plate. The student body did not even make an attempt to swing. To be fair to the students, there was no food served. There were no free mugs. Just a dean and seven people who gave a damn.

Aryeh Leichter is a Sy Syms Junior ¨

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