Spring Break
245 Lexington Dedication, New Art Therapy Course, Coed Plays Addressed at Town Hall Meeting
Tamara Freiden
Issue date: 11/25/09 Section: News
Stern College for Women's 245 Lexington Avenue building will be renamed "Stanton Hall at a December 16 dedication ceremony, announced Yeshiva University President Richard M. Joel at a November 4 Town Hall meeting on the Beren Campus. The new building will be named after YU board chairman, Ronald P. Stanton. Despite his $100 million pledge to the university in 2006-in addition to other extensive philanthropy, which includes Stern College for Women's Hedi Steinberg Library, named for his mother-Stanton humbly resisted the honor, said Joel, praising the benefactor's generosity.
Town Hall meetings provide a means of reciprocated communication between the president and the Yeshiva University community. 215 Lexington's Yagoda Commons was filled to capacity with students, teachers, and faculty members, many lining the back wall, as almost every seat was occupied.
Joel emphasized that Yeshiva University "is [still] absolutely indispensable for the future of the Jewish people," despite the rough economic situation, that led last year to the laying off of over 120 staff members, and the public shame of members belonging to the Jewish community, Joel made note of two particular challenges still facing the university.
The first was the impending financial situation with which YU still struggles. "The economy apparently has given an excuse for lots of people to rethink the decision for going to Yeshiva [University]," Joel candidly declared. There are 116 students fewer than last year, though the numbers are not only low for Yeshiva University - spending a year in Israel is down 15% as well. With so many students switching to oftentimes-cheaper colleges, Joel emphasized the need to reassess why. "We have to answer the question of what's the value proposition?" he says, "Why can't you not afford to get here?" To go one step further, Joel noted that the root of the problem is not that people are not getting the financial packages they ask for, but that people do not even apply.
Town Hall meetings provide a means of reciprocated communication between the president and the Yeshiva University community. 215 Lexington's Yagoda Commons was filled to capacity with students, teachers, and faculty members, many lining the back wall, as almost every seat was occupied.
Joel emphasized that Yeshiva University "is [still] absolutely indispensable for the future of the Jewish people," despite the rough economic situation, that led last year to the laying off of over 120 staff members, and the public shame of members belonging to the Jewish community, Joel made note of two particular challenges still facing the university.
The first was the impending financial situation with which YU still struggles. "The economy apparently has given an excuse for lots of people to rethink the decision for going to Yeshiva [University]," Joel candidly declared. There are 116 students fewer than last year, though the numbers are not only low for Yeshiva University - spending a year in Israel is down 15% as well. With so many students switching to oftentimes-cheaper colleges, Joel emphasized the need to reassess why. "We have to answer the question of what's the value proposition?" he says, "Why can't you not afford to get here?" To go one step further, Joel noted that the root of the problem is not that people are not getting the financial packages they ask for, but that people do not even apply.
Be the first to comment on this story