yeshiva university today orientation 2003
TRANSCRIPT
YESHIVA UNIVERSITY • NO. 8 ORIENTATION 2003 • VOLUME 8
www.yu.edu/news/publications
YUTodayF
or Hillel Davis, PhD,exchanging the frene-tic pace of corporate lifefor the challenges of
academia is a task he relishes.In both spheres, he has appliedthe values of commitment,compassion and openness—principles that he hopes willdefine his tenure as YU’s vicepresident of university life.
Dr. Davis was recruited byYU’s new president RichardM. Joel with one clear charge:to create a campus environ-ment that stresses respect,more effective communica-tion, and friendliness both inand outside the classroom.
Before joining YU, Dr. Davisworked as a senior vice presi-dent of human resources atIDT Corporation, an interna-tional telecommunicationsfirm. Previously, he held simi-
lar senior-level positions atRepublic National Bank (cur-rently HSBC) and Citicorp/Citibank, N.A.
A soft-spoken man with agentle yet strong presence, Dr.Davis graduated from YeshivaCollege in 1973. He received amaster’s degree in history fromBernard Revel Graduate Schoolof Jewish Studies and rabbinicordination from Rabbi IsaacElchanan Theological Semi-nary (RIETS) in 1975. Heearned another master’s de-gree and a PhD in industrial/organizational psychologyfrom New York University.The son of a prominent rabbiin Chicago where he grew up,he never planned to be a pul-pit rabbi; but learning Torahimpacts his daily life and hisworld view.
Dr. Davis lives in Ocean-
side, NY, where he is co-presi-dent of Hebrew Academy ofLong Beach, a member of theBoard of Jewish Education ofNew York, and is active in theYoung Israel of Oceanside. Heis a close friend and colleagueof President Joel, and is in-spired and motivated by theirshared philosophy of kavodha’briot— respect for the dig-nity of all of God’s creatures.
Meet Hillel Davis■ New Vice President seeks “friendlier environment”
These are years for dreaming dreams and growing towardtheir fulfillment. The YU community we share is a placewhere these dreams are given context, color, and luster.
The pursuit of learning, engagement in Torah studies, andgrowth in the world of ideas and ideals are at our fingertips.So are an array of opportunities that can enrich your life.
We are honored to be tour guides on this exciting journey, andwant to help ensure its success. Therefore, we encourage youto become familiar with all the resources we make available—especially the human ones—and hope that you will not hesitate to use them.
Welcome From the President
Aflurry of renovationsand constructionprojects was theorder of business this
summer, as Yeshiva Universityupgraded facilities and sprucedup grounds for students’return to both the Wilf andMidtown campuses this fall.
“We are always looking forways to improve the qualityof life and environment forstudents” said Jeffrey Rosen-garten, director of supportingservices administration.
Additional floors, each atapproximately 10,000 square-feet, are scheduled for furtherdevelopment.
Midtown CampusThe new Norman F. Levy
Lobby at Stern College for Wo-men and Sy Syms School ofBusiness at 215 LexingtonAvenue is set for completionSept. 10. The 2,500 square-footlobby is open and airy, andincludes a glass-enclosed areathat provides additional semi-nar and conference space, aswell as a comfortable area forstudents to meet.
The lobby’s terrazzo floor-ing and stone walls replicateJerusalem stone. The space
sports a modern look—a chal-lenge in converting an existingoffice building into a collegeand administrative building.
Ascending from the lobby,escalators take students andfaculty up to floors two andthree, which house multi-media seminar rooms, class-rooms, and faculty and ad-ministrative offices, includingadmissions and finance.
Spacious studio and galleryrooms for SCW’s art depart-ment comprise the entireeighth floor. Also planned is a“trendy,” 160-seat food courtand lounge on the lower level,with final construction duefor fall 2004. The building’sair-conditioning system wasupgraded, and a new sprinklersystem was installed.
“The continuing construc-tion at 215 Lexington Ave-nue, particularly the impres-sive Norman F. Levy Lobbyand the studio art spaces onthe eighth floor, fulfills adream—to match the qualityof our facilities to the qualityof our education,” said KarenBacon, PhD, Dr. Monique C.Katz Dean of SCW.
YU implemented a Mid-town Campus expansion plan
in 1994 that prompted acqui-sition of real estate, includingthe former Cineplex Odeonmovie theater on East 34thStreet (now the GeraldineSchottenstein Cultural Center),215 Lexington Avenue, the36th Street Residence Hall,the Jerome and GeraldineSchottenstein Residence Hallat 121 East 29th Street, and150 East 35th Street, a build-ing whose use has not yetbeen determined.
The University is also ne-gotiating to purchase 251 Lex-ington Avenue, which wouldestablish a contiguous block ofSCW and SSSB campus build-ings on Lexington Avenue.
The 36th Street ResidenceHall opened in 2001 after ren-ovations, and houses 100 stu-dents. The front and backlounges were redecoratedthrough gifts from MarjorieDiener Blenden and Anne andIsidore Falk, respectively.
Wilf CampusStudents will notice an ex-
panded and beautified plazaadjacent to the Herbert andFlorence Tenzer Garden andan enhanced Danciger Quad-rangle.
Midtown and Wilf Campuses Spruced Up and Upgraded
Richard M. Joelsunday, september 21 , 2003
24 elul 5763 • 2 :00pmwilf campus • zysman hall • l amp ort auditorium
186th street and amsterdam avenuenew york city
FOR I NFORMATION: [email protected] 2 12-960-52 85
the investiture of the fourth president of yeshiva university
continued on page 4
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Hillel Davis
Proposed design of the lower-level food court at 215 Lexington Avenue
Architect’s sketch of Danciger Quadrangle and the signaturesculpture recognizing the Wilf family
2 YUToday
Know Your Student Leaders
YESHIVA UNIVERSITY
Ronald P. Stanton, ChairmanYU Board of Trustees
Richard M. JoelPresident
Dr. Norman LammChancellor
Peter L. FerraraDirector of Communications and Public Affairs
Joshua L. Muss, Chairman, Board of Directors,Yeshiva College; Marjorie DienerBlenden, Chairman, Board of Directors, Stern College for Women; Bernard L. Madoff, Chairman, Board of Directors, Sy Syms School of Business; Robert A.Belfer, Chairperson, Board of Overseers, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; EarleI. Mack, Chairman, Board of Directors, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law;Robert Schwalbe, Chair, Board of Governors, Wurzweiler School of Social Work;Mordecai D. Katz, Chairman, Board of Directors, Bernard Revel Graduate Schoolof Jewish Studies; Katherine Sachs, Chair, Board of Governors, Ferkauf GraduateSchool of Psychology; Moshael J. Straus, Chairman, Board of Directors, AzrieliGraduate School of Jewish Education and Administration; Julius Berman, Chair-man, Board of Trustees, (affiliate) Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary; EricaJesselson, Chairperson, Board of Directors, (affiliate) Yeshiva University Museum.
YESHIVA UNIVERSITY TODAY
Hedy ShulmanEditor
Norman EisenbergManaging Editor
Judy TuckerArt Director
Jerry Bergman, Kelly Berman, Esther Finkle, June Glazer, Norman Goldberg, Cara Huzinec, Peter Robertson, V. Jane Windsor
Contributors
www.yu.edu/news/publications
Yeshiva University Today is published monthly during the academic year by theYeshiva University Department of Communications and Public Affiars, 401 FurstHall, 500 West 185th St., New York, NY 10033-3201 (212-960-5285). It is distrib-uted free on campus to faculty, staff, and students. © Yeshiva University 2002
YUTodayV O L U M E 8 • N U M B E R 8
WILF CAMPUS
Student Leader Organization Email Phone Number
Yummy Schacter YSU–President [email protected] 646-529-3608
Yaniv Kerem YCSA–President [email protected] 646-245-8987
Eli Renov SSSB–President [email protected] 646-739-8525
Yakov Agatstein SOY–President [email protected] 347-526-4046
Isaac Winkler IBC–President [email protected] 917-371-2877
Khashayar Hakimian JSS–President [email protected]
Joseph Saka SBMP–President [email protected] 732-306-0754
Tzvi Kahn Commentator–Co-editor [email protected] 201-837-9491
Jamie Hirsch Commentator–Co-editor [email protected] 516-330-6713
MIDTOWN CAMPUS
Student Leader Organization Email Phone Number
Anat Barber SCWSC–President [email protected] 718-614-0842
Lisa Grundman SCWTAC–President [email protected] 347-386-7812
Rachel Moss SSSBSC–President [email protected] 347-234-0044
Shaindy Raice Observer–Co-editor [email protected] 917-669-2278
Rachel Horn Observer–Co-editor [email protected] 732-306-3589
Know Your University Counselors
WILF CAMPUS
Personal Counselors
Dr. Efrem NulmanSenior University Dean of StudentsFurst Hall–419212-960-5330
Dr. Chaim NisselAssociate Dean of StudentsFurst Hall–419212-960-5330
Bradley Karasik, MAAssistant Dean of StudentsFurst Hall–419212-960-5480
Ronald LambDirector of HousingMorgenstern ResidenceHall–104212-960-5249
Guidance CounselorRabbi Yosef BlauFurst Hall–419212-960-5480
International Student AdvisorRuss SchoumakerFurst Hall–419212-960-5480
Peer CounselorsYitz GlassHead Peer CounselorSchottenstein Center–314212-928-6573; 646-529-3603
MIDTOWN CAMPUS
Personal Counselors
Zelda Braun, CSWAssistant Dean of StudentsMID–114212-340-7715
Beth Hait, MSCoordinator of Student ServicesMID–133212-340-7714
Rachel Kraut, CSWDirector of Residence LifeBrookdale Residence Hall–1G212-340-7795
Shana Glasser, CSWAssistant Director of Residence LifeSchottenstein Residence HallOffice 212-340-7466
Rochelle Ausubel, PhDPsychologist MID–114212-340-7715
Guidance CounselorRabbi Shlomo HochbergMID–623212-340-7736
International Student AdvisorMarga MarxMID–305212-340-7770
Peer CounselorsMichal Safier, Head Peer Counselorcontact information will beprovided after the holidays.
Department of StudentAffairs–Midtown Campus (Stern College for Women andSy Syms School of Business)
Dr. Efrem NulmanSenior University Dean [email protected] 212-960-5330
Dean David HimberUniversity Dean of [email protected]
Mrs. Zelda Braun, CSWAssistant Dean of [email protected]
Ms. Beth Hait, MSCoordinator of Student [email protected]
Dr. Rochelle Ausubel, [email protected]
Ms. Rachel Kraut, CSWDirector of Residence [email protected]
Student Affairs–Wilf Campus(Yeshiva College and Sy SymsSchool of Business)
Dr. Efrem NulmanSenior University Dean ofStudents
Dean David HimberUniversity Dean of Students
Dr. Chaim NisselAssociate Dean of [email protected]
Department of Admissions(YC, SCW, SSSB)
Michael [email protected]
Helen MoskowitzAssociate [email protected]
Daniel MorrisAssistant [email protected]
Carla ShronAssistant [email protected] 212-960-5277
Department of Student Aid
Robert [email protected]
Miriam EzikeAssistant [email protected]
Amelia GomesAssociate [email protected]
Ryan LoughlinAssistant [email protected]
Anthony PizzutiAssociate [email protected]
Marianela CabralBanner Systems [email protected]
After many months of work, a completelyredesigned Yeshiva University Web site de-buted on June 18.
The site has new features, new naviga-tion, and new links. “The new site repre-sents the first step in changing the philoso-phy of how the Web is used at YU,” saidPeter L. Ferrara, who heads the Communi-cations and Public Affairs department, andchairs the Web Advisory Committee. “Theapproach emphasizes the importance ofour audiences or constituencies and over
time, will make the Web the prime mediumfor accessing knowledge about YU and re-lated topics.”
The Web Advisory Committee includesSarah Bush, John Fisher, George Sullivan,and Dale Hochstein. Mr. Ferrara noted thatthe future of the YU Web will depend heav-ily on the input of deans, directors, faculty,staff, and even students, and on thewillingness of page “owners” to keep theirpages fresh.
Please see www.yu.edu.
Stop in and meet the staff in the Office of Student Affairs at the Midtown and Wilf Campuses. Youmay contact them to talk and to help you get acquainted with your new surroundings. They arealso experienced professionals who are ready to support any students having trouble adjusting tothe college environment, experiencing emotional difficulties, or wanting to discuss issues of a reli-gious nature.
Peer counselors are available to lend a sympathetic ear to fellow students. Additionally, StudentAffairs is helpful to students with learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, and special aca-demic needs.
New Web Site Debuts
The Jay and JeanieSchottenstein and S.Daniel AbrahamHonors Programs at
Yeshiva College and SternCollege for Women this sum-mer had a global feel. In threeinnovative courses, under-
graduate students left theManhattan campuses for thepiazzas and cobbled streets ofFlorence, the ancient Mayandwellings, and one of themost advanced scientific labo-ratories in the world.
A dozen women returnedfrom Italy where they partici-pated in “Art and the JewishExperience in Medici Flo-
rence,” coordinated and ledby Evelyn Cohen, assistantprofessor of art. Stern studentslearned about Jewish lifeunder the Medici, and weretreated to a private tour of Flo-rence’s great post-emancipa-tion synagogue and its mag-
nificent Jewish ceremonial artby Prof. Dora Liscia Bem-porad, director of Florence’sJewish Museum. Highlights ofartistic importance includedthe Uffizi Gallery, NationalSculpture Museum of theBargello, Pitti Palace, and theAcademia, where Michelan-gelo’s statue of David stands.
A first for the Jay and
Jeanie Schottenstein HonorsProgram at Yeshiva College,two linked courses endedwith a 12-day field trip toCentral America. “Introduc-tion to Tropical Ecology andEthnobotany” taught by Prof.Vincent Chiappetta, and
“Honors Introductionto Anthropology: MayaCivilization,” taughtby Dr. Jill Katz, adjunctinstructor in archeolo-gy and anthropology,began at the WilfCampus.
Eleven undergradu-ate men with accom-panying faculty thenvisited sites in Guate-mala and Honduras,including the ancientcity of Copan, with itsfamous ball court,inscribed stones, andhieroglyphic stairway;Tikal, the largestMayan city known forits palaces, plaza, and
pyramids rising above thetropical jungle canopy; Anti-gua, the former Spanish colo-nial capital, now designated aWorld Heritage Site byUNESCO; and Lake Atitlan, anatural lake created 70,000years ago by exploding volca-noes. Students also visitedtowns inhabited by modernMayan people, many of
whom retain traditionalwoven styles of brightly col-ored clothing, and bargainedfor items from marimbas tomangoes at the crowded mar-ket places.
“Great Ideas and Experi-ments in Modern Physics,”which featured a ground-breaking residential compo-nent, was a joint effort by theS. Daniel Abraham and Jayand Jeanie SchottensteinHonors Programs. Threewomen and nine men spentsix days performing, analyz-ing, and designing experi-ments while living on thecampus of Brookhaven Na-
tional Laboratory on LongIsland, home base of multipleNobel Prize winners. Dr. Ana-toly Frenkel, associate profes-sor of physics and computerscience; Dr. Gabriel Cwilich,associate professor of physics;and Dr. Fredy Zypman, pro-fessor of physics, team-taught the course. Experi-ments ranged from using x-ray beams and infrared light,to applying the fundamentallaws of physics to problemsin chemistry, nuclear phy-sics, and the life sciences, tostudying nuclear reactions ofinterest to the radiopharma-ceutical industry. ■
August 2003 YUToday 3
PROFILE
Robert Friedman:Customer Service With a Smile■ Student Aid Director Has a Message for YU Students and Parents: Expect Change
Sitting at a table inBelfer Hall’s cafeteriaon the Wilf Campus,Harriet Levitt remi-
nisces about her 23-yearteaching career at the MarshaStern Talmudical Academy/Yeshiva University HighSchool for Boys.
When one of her formerEnglish students and debateteam members nominated heras the high school teacherwho most influenced him,Mrs. Levitt said she felt “hum-ble” about receiving her firstformal accolade for teaching.
“My true reward is keepingin touch with former stu-dents,” Mrs. Levitt said. “I amvery curious about them and Icare about them.”
When former studentHoward Heching, YH’98 ofMonsey, NY, was inducted in-to Cornell University’s MerrillPresidential Scholars Programthis spring, Mrs. Levitt imme-diately came to mind.
Mr. Heching, 23, graduated
from Cornell in May andplans to attend Cornell’s Joanand Sanford I. Weill MedicalCollege this fall. He was one of35 graduating seniors (repre-senting the top 1 percent ofhis class) to receive the Merrillaward that recognized stu-dents for academic achieve-ment, strong leadership abili-ty, and potential for contribut-ing to society.
Merrill recipients chooseone high school teacher andone college professor who in-spired them and contributedto their scholastic experience.Mrs. Levitt was one of 35 highschool teachers (who camefrom as far as India, Singa-pore, Bulgaria, and Japan)who were honored during atwo-day event at Cornell.
“Basically, it really wasn’tmuch of a decision for me,”Mr. Heching said about nomi-nating his sophomore Englishteacher. “She is very caringabout her students and reallywants to make sure they make
the right decisions.”Mrs. Levitt, who lives in
Scarsdale, NY, describes her-self as “curious, accepting,and demanding,” and said sheoften pushes her students tofulfill their potential.
MSTA Dean Michael Hechtagrees. “We are very pleased toknow that Harriet Levitt’s self-less dedication over more thantwo decades has beenacknowledged not only by theYeshiva community, but alsoby the larger academic world.”
In addition to teachingand coaching the debateteam, Mrs. Levitt is a motherof three (her middle child,Mark, graduated from MSTAin 1983 and from YeshivaCollege in 1988) and a grand-mother of five. She plays ten-nis, participates in a Hadassahreading group, and exercisesevery morning with a walkinggroup.
But, smiles Mrs. Levitt,“My chief interest is mygrandchildren.” ■
MTSA Teacher Harriet LevittRecognized
The office of student aid is often the front line for stu-dents, parents, and management of a university. RobertFriedman, YU’s new director of student aid for YeshivaCollege, Stern College for Women, Sy Syms School of
Business, and Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, came onboard in July. He was tapped by Dr. John Fisher, director ofenrollment management, for his expertise in retooling student-aid operations.
“In speaking to col-leagues at each of Bob’s for-mer schools, the first thingpeople mentioned was hisfocus on students,” Dr.Fisher says.
A graduate of ThomasEdison State College in NewJersey, Mr. Friedman over-saw student aid at Teachers’College Columbia Univer-sity Graduate School ofEducation. He also held re-lated positions at FordhamUniversity in the Bronx andDePaul University in Chi-cago. He helps parents and students figure out how best to payfor a college education—$30,000 at YU.
“My job is to make sure our families have a sense of how tonavigate the financial aid system,” says Mr. Friedman. He callscollege tuition “daunting—students and parents need help,” andpoints to improved customer service as the best way to assistthem.
He plans to “train every person on my staff to treat peoplewith respect, sensibility, and sensitivity, especially regardingissues unique to Orthodox families.” Also, he has made walk-incounseling available during office hours at the Wilf and Mid-town campuses, and plans to make technology improvementsto give students and parents easier access to information.
“I want them to be able to read their account live, not justfrom the last day of the last bill, and I want them to have accessto their aid package,” he says.
“We have to increase the level of customer service. It all boilsdown to that,” he says.
To make an appointment with the Office of Student Aid, call212-960-5269 or e-mail [email protected]. ■
Summer Honors Programs in Exotic Locales■ Studying on site in Central America, Florence, Italy, and Brookhaven Lab
Yeshiva College Honors Contingent at San Felipe Fortress on the Rio Dulce in Guatemala
Robert Friedman
NON-PROFITU.S. POSTAGE
PA IDYESHIVA UNIVERSITY
500 WEST 185TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10033 ORIENTATION 2003
YUTodayA PUBLICATION OF YESHIVA UNIVERSITY
Define vice president of university life“My responsibilities cover en-rollment management, whichincludes the registrar, studentaffairs, admissions, and stu-dent aid. I oversee supportingservices and human resources,which touch virtually every-thing that affects studentsoutside the classroom.
“However, I am chargedwith ‘university life’ not ‘stu-dent life.’ I will focus onhuman resources regardingfaculty and administrators inaddition to students. I willalso strive to create an envi-ronment in which people feelbetter about the University byopening up the channels ofcommunication and enhanc-ing the level of respect wehave for one another.”
Management style“I want to build consensus. Iwill work with our teams inhuman resources, facilities,and finance, and we will ad-dress emerging issues attempt-ing to resolve matters in afashion that benefits the Uni-versity and its constituencies.
“For students, my door isalways open. My ultimateobjective is to create an envi-ronment in which 50 peoplewill have their doors open.Our current system works, but
it needs to empower peopleand to improve.
“Also, I see as my challengebeing instrumental in plan-ning for YU’s future. I hope towork with President Joel andthe other vice presidents tohelp articulate the vision ofthe President and then to helpbring that vision to fruition.”
Responsibilities for graduateschools“I have university-wide re-sponsibility. Geography is animpediment because the cam-puses are so spread out. Ideal-ly, I would like to return mes-sages by walking into people’soffices. Obviously that’s moredifficult regarding Cardozo orEinstein.”
Family ties“My wife, Racheyl, is a Sterngraduate, as are my two sis-ters. My brothers-in-law andsisters-in law are also alumni,as are several members of myextended family. My daughterNavah attended Samuel H.Wang High School for Girls,and graduated from Stern. Myson, Ariel, attended TheMarsha Stern Talmudical Aca-demy/Yeshiva University HighSchool for Boys and is cur-rently a Yeshiva College stu-dent. He is taking classes atBernard Revel Graduate
School of Jewish Studies andis also a student at RIETS. Mydaughter Leora just finishedher first semester at Stern aftera year and a half in Israel andour youngest, Tali, just fin-ished her sophomore year atStella K. Abraham HighSchool for Girls.”
Recent books read“I try to read non-fiction booksof Jewish interest, includingHillel Goldberg’s BetweenBerlin and Slobodka, MarcShapiro’s book on the SrideiEish, and The Six Day War byMichael Oren. In preparationfor this job, I also read JeffreyGurock’s book on YU, TheMen and Women of Yeshiva.
I struggle to keep up withDaf Yomi and try to attend ashiur four nights a week so Idon’t usually get home until10. I have been co-presidentof Hebrew Academy of LongBeach for the past six years,which takes up a lot of time.When I was younger, I didmore sports but now I don’thave very much leisure time.”
Your message to theUniversity community“I would like students, faculty,administrators, and staff togain a sense of ownershipand partnership with theUniversity.” ■
Hillel Davis continued
Situated between BelferHall and the Leah and JosephRuben Residence Hall, TenzerGarden’s entrance will be ex-panded and repaved for betteraccess and more space forrelaxation.
A signature sculpture rec-ognizing the generosity andcommitment of the Wilf fam-ily was erected on DancigerQuadrangle, and new seatingwas added to complete theQuadrangle’s overall beautifi-cation.
Also as part of the Univer-sity’s summer projects, vacantbuildings on 185th Street andat Washington Terrace wererazed for safety reasons andpossible future capital projects.
Structural renovations tothe Parking Area E garage on
Amsterdam Avenue will becompleted in September.
Brookdale Campus—Benjamin N. CardozoSchool of Law
Significant renovations atBenjamin N. Cardozo Schoolof Law’s building at 55 FifthAvenue are scheduled forcompletion this summer.
The newly expanded lobbyhouses a seminar room andthe new Jacob Burns MootCourt Room. The Dr. Rebeccaand Lillian Chutick Law Li-brary was also redesigned toinclude wood paneling, vault-ed ceilings, and showcases todisplay faculty publications.The lobby will be officiallyunveiled Sept. 24. ■
Campus Renovations continued
Wilf Campus• Re-pavement and extension of sidewalks along TenzerGarden and Danciger Quadrangle.• Installation of signature sculpture honoring the Wilffamily and addition of benches at Danciger Quadrangle.• Removal of buildings on 185th Street and at Washing-ton Terrace for possible future capital projects.• Renovation of Parking Garage Area E.
Midtown Campus• Air-conditioning upgrade at 245 Lexington Avenue.• Renovation and expansion of SCW art department at 215 Lexington Avenue, including a sprinkler system.• Renovation of SCW and SSSB lobby and lounge areaat 215 Lexington.
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