Yeshiva University - Masmid Yearbook (New York, NY)

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Dean Emeritus, Dean for Undergraduate Jewish Studies, Advisor to tJie Dean . . . And, of course, heading the new administration of scientists, rabbis, philosophers, and professors, is Dr. Norman Lamm — a scientist turned rabbi, and philosopher turned professor, who took over the helm of the presidency just two years ago. Closest to home, though, rema ins the appointment of a new dean of Yeshiva College. Direct from the State Department. Dr. Daniel Kurtzer has brought to his position an unparalleled responsiveness to student needs and a refreshing desire to bring about change. Like never before, students have been seeing the dean to discuss career plans, personal problems, and, quite often, just to chat with him. Although this has meant longer hours for the dean, it has also fostered a much healthier relationship between students and administration. Dr. Daniel Kurtzer takes on a position that was filled, for the past eighteen years, by one of the most outstanding leaders in Yeshiva ' s history, Dr. Isaac Bacon. Dr. Bacon guided the college through some of the most turbulent years in its history. He is a man who always spoke his mind — a man who did not hesitate to voice an unpopular view if he truly believed it was a correct one. Throughout his tenure as Dean, he was involved in a continual, almost heroic struggle in defense of the liberal arts concept. And, finally, he was a man who maintained an unusually warm relationship with all whom he was associated with. In fact, it was the faculty ' s decision to unionize, and the potential rift in this relationship that he felt it would give rise to. that led to his resignation. It is to this man that we dedicate Mas- mid ' 78. 29

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The Yeshiva Conglomerate Yeshiva University — the very name conveys a sense of permanence. Constant, immutable, and never changing. The tradition of Torah Uma- dah maintained, as it is passed down from gener- ation to generation. And on the exterior, one would never suspect the tremendous upheaval which Yeshiva University has experienced over the past few years. To all who commute over the George Washington Bridge, the Belfer Building remains on the skyhne as a testi- monial to the way things were. And for those who venture onto the Main Campus, Furst Hall, its paint beginning to crack, is evidence that our institution has been around for quite a long time. Yet, even inside these very same structures, a state of continual flux is evident. In Furst Hall, the work of the Buildings and Grounds crew never ceases, as there are new walls to be erected, new offices to be built, and new name plaques to be engraved. Even the lobby of the building connotes change, as an outstanding tribute to modern art has replaced the tablet of master builders as the hall ' s centerpiece. The imposing frame of Belfer has become a skele- ton, as a building formerly occupied by a handful of students and two handfuls of professors has been cleared to make room for new tenants. Not only are the tenants new, but even their titles were foreign to the university up until now — Dean of Humanities, Dean of Social Sciences, Dean of Natural Sciences, 28

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An Interview with Former Dean Isaac Bacon resigned, because I had no intentions of being dean of a unionized faculty . . . It reached the point where, when I spoke to someone in my office, I felt that I had to be watchful of not saying something that might be construed as an unfair labor practice . . . Now, I really was not afraid that Dr. Wiedhorn would take me to court, but I had to be care- fuV Q: Could you tell us what attracted you to Yeshiva 18 years ago, and could you describe the state of the college back in those days? A: Well, I was with the department of Modern Languages at the University of Colorado, when I received a phone call one day from the former dean asking me if I would like to come out to New York to be interviewed for the position of dean of Yeshiva College. My immediate answer was no, since I had never aspired to become an administrator. I eventually did come for the in- terview, and somehow got interested in the job but purely on a temporary basis. I took a one year leave-of-absence from U. of Colorado, figuring that in addition to my experience, this would give me an opportunity to send my chil- dren to Yeshiva for a while and would give them a chance to experience the Jewish environment of N.Y. When I arrived, I found a totally de- moralized faculty and student body. There was much to be done, and I guess it was the chal- lenge of it all that caused me to stay on. I told the president that I would remain only on the condition that faculty salaries be increased, be- cause back then the highest paid professors were receiving $7,000. In addition, soon after I ar- rived, the Fleisher Report was put on ice — a report which has served as the cornerstone of student rights ever since. Q: Last year, after eighteen years as college dean, you suddenly announced that you had decided to resign from your post. Could you tell us why? A: I resigned, because I had no intentions of being the dean of a unionized faculty, and it was within a week of their decision to unionize that I announced my decision. I had always had an excellent relationship with both faculty and stu- dents, and in the final few months — when the debate over unionization developed — I detected some cracks developing in that relationship. Camps — for and against unionization — began to form, and I visuahzed the confrontations be- tween faculty and administration growing more bitter in the coming years. It reached the point where, when I spoke to someone in my office, I felt that I had to be very careful with what I was saying. Take a man like Dr. Weidhorn (who headed the drive for unionization), with whom I ' ve always had and still do have a most cordial relationship. When we would sit in my office discussing faculty business, I always felt that I had to be under guard of not saying something that perhaps might be construed as an unfair labor practice. Now, I really was not afraid that 30