Yeshiva University - Masmid Yearbook (New York, NY)

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F A C u L T Y

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M A S M t D 7( 1 ' n. the authorities. Students are still treated by the administrative office as though they were nothing but names In the roll book. In short, we are at the same low ebb at which we were several years ago. Scholastically, the institution shows no sign of improvement. Nothing has been done to organize and bring about a true integration of curriculum. Yeshiva remains a combination of several departments In which various different courses are given. There is no distinct academic tradition. There Is no central purpose which should set the tone of all phases of the college work. We seemed to have good reason for hope that with the beginning of this year a serious effort would be made to effect a thorough reorganization of the college program with an eye to securing such co-ordination. This could have been done In the spirit of true co-operation so that the opinions and Interests of all involved would have been consulted. The resulting plan would have benefited from the combined consideration of different groups and from contributions which could have been made from those who viewed the problem from various standpoints. What acutally happened was that a half-baked five year plan, which had not had the slightest preparation, was forced upon an unwilling student body. The administration ' s answer to the constant criticism showered upon the plan from student sources was only the stubborn stand that under no consideration would that plan be suspended. Whether the plan really resulted in the benefits claimed for it was immaterial. The whim of the administration must be attained. All other con- siderations are irrelevant. Subsequent modifications were Imposed In an equally haphazard and arbitrary fashion. The natural step to take after the resignation of a dean would appear to be an attempt to find a suitable successor as soon as possible. The fact that few people could be found who possessed the qualifications required of • dean of Yeshiva College should have only caused the Intensification of such a search. Nothing whatsover was done In this direction. When the alumni attempted to press the Issue, they were met with evasion and complete lack of good faith on the part of the President. What virtually amounted to acting deanship was given over to the regist- rar who, though he may be efficient as far as his own routine administrative work is concerned. Is not qualified to be entrusted with the academic functions of a dean. The results are known to any one who has heard the constant mur- murings of the students, and even the campaign Issues of the recent election for president of the student body. We do not know what the reaction of faculty members or of outsiders is towards this situation. As far as the students are concerned the past year has brought about a complete demoralization. Rather than being Interested In constructive efforts toward the improvements of the college activities they are filled with resentment towards the authorities. Indignation and disgust are the reactions of the students towards the present conditions. Before anything can be accomplished In the direction of real progress this situation must be eliminated. Two conditions must accompany such Improvement. The faculty members must be ready to take vital interest In the school problems and to assert their own stand, not merely to follow the administration ' s fiat, at the same time the administration must be willing to discuss controversial Issues candidly and to be ready to consider the various distasteful measures of the past year. If this is done the next step must be the appointment of a proper person to administer the policies of Yeshiva College and to organize the affairs of the school. No one can in good faith evade this issue. Yeshiva must find a dean. Ten

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M A S M I BERNARD REVEL, Ph.D.. President of Faculty JACOB t. HARTSTEIN, M.A, Reqistrar ROSE LEVITAN, LL.B, Bursar DAVID A. SWICK, M.D. Medical Director ISAAC GOLDBERG. B.A. Assistant Librarian Twelve