Volume 67, Issue 4

Yeshiva’s New Student Constitution Finally Implemented

by Zev Nagel

Most students at Yeshiva do not even realize that one exists.  No, not the pool; but, a Yeshiva Student Union Constitution and a new one at that.  The revised Constitution, which was drafted and voted in two years ago, further streamlines the legislative process and equalizes the balance of power in the hopes of improving student government.

The touchstone of the new constitution is the establishment of YSU, the centralized executive presiding over the student councils of Yeshiva College, Sy Syms School of Business, the class councils, and the Judaic Studies student councils.  In addition, the constitution calls for the creation of a Student Union General Assembly to resolve arguments and voting deadlocks.

The process of reforming the constitution began more than two years ago, when student leaders realized the flaws in the pre-existing constitution.  Moshe Singer, former Chairman of the Constitutional Committee, identified two major problems with the previous constitution: representation and financing.

According to Singer, “the old student council representative for Sy Syms was only a vice president on the Yeshiva College Student Council, which did not exactly give Sy Syms students an equal representation.”  Additionally, Singer recounted ridiculous scenes at events where “there were 200 different sponsors for the same student event.  The lack of defined relationship between the student councils added to the confusion.”  Joint student council efforts had, in the past, led to confusion in accountability, budgeting, and profit sharing.

Thus, a centralized body and equal representation among the councils became the main focus in reforming the constitution.  “Evaluating the needs of the students on campus was the key,” said Singer.

Because the modified version would need to “satisfy and make everyone happy,” assembling a representative drafting committee was key.  So, in addition to the student councils, four un-elected students joined the conglomerate.

“We tried to get input from every elective official,” asserted Singer.  After the original writing, the committee revised and approved the constitution along with the student councils and finally put the constitution to a student body vote.  Singer thought the constitution, “was overwhelmingly approved and very few people were against it.  This was probably because so many students gave their input.”

The Canvassing Committee Chairman Danny Ackerman expressed similar optimism.  Ackerman felt that, “the new organizational structure of the student union better represents students in each particular program.  I think that the new student government hierarchy is in a better position to represent the entire student body.  Having Sy Syms and YC as separate, but now equal, student governments under the auspices of the Student Union will allow those two councils to better serve their respective constituents.”

With the constitution becoming operational, YSU President Shai Barnea looks forward to the challenge of implementing the new constitutional changes.  As far as the challenges confronting his office, Barnea said, “the one additional challenge that I would attribute to the new Constitution is that I have no precedent to look back upon; in fact, one of the first things that all the elected leaders discussed at the beginning of this year was that we would be the ones setting the precedent.  My predecessors had different responsibilities.  It’s exciting to be the one trailblazing this new YSU path, but it’s also a heavy responsibility because what is done this year will be looked upon by all future student councils.”  Barnea also mentioned that he perceives no reason why council members would not adhere to the debuting protocol.

Undergraduate Dean of Students, David Himber, proudly remarked, “The students have successfully created a bureaucracy for themselves.”  As he saw it, “the students themselves decided to redo the constitution.”  Himber also assumes that fewer disputes will require mediation by the Office of Student Services as a result.

Despite the student leaders’ optimism, Wilf Campus students greeted the new constitution with much apathy if not misgiving.  “The average student feels alienated from the student government,” said YC junior Eli Cohn.  “The student government seems to be an exclusive club and the new constitution doesn’t change this basic fact.”

In contrast to students like Cohn, SSSB sophomore Mike Nahmias expressed his enthusiasm with the new constitution.  “Why should Sy Syms students be under anyone else?” asked Nahmias rhetorically.  “This constitution has finally got it right,” he added energetically.  Nahmias did mention that he would like to see more representation for the Sephardic community at Yeshiva; however, he seemed confident that until then, the Sephardic population could take care of themselves.

A copy of the new constitution can be found in the recently printed edition of The Guide for the Perplexed.  On the facing page preceding the constitutions appears the famous idiom of Uncle Ben, Spiderman’s uncle, “with great power comes great responsibility.”  One can only hope the bearers of the new constitution take the message to heart.

What do you think? Click here to send a letter to the editors.
All content is copyright © Yeshiva University Commentator.