I am not going to attempt to write a goodbye editorial nor will I attempt to send one final message about “fixing the university.” (Besides, President Joel seems to have that one under control). I will not lament the apathy on campus, critique the Humanities departments, or, forgive me, talk about yogurt. All of these issues have been written about extensively ten times over, and if they haven’t, far be it from me to bring up all of these issues now.

I would, however, like to bring up a philosophical debate about the nature of education. Over reading week and finals, I have heard many a complaint about the “unnecessary” nature of many courses and the “busy work” status of many of those courses’ finals. What is the purpose of education if not to glean knowledge, understanding, critical thinking skills, and culture?

Yeshiva University is a stellar university that provides a top-notch education—although we are all sometimes cynical about the system, the knowledge acquired through formal education is, in a nutshell, arguably the most valuable possession possible. While many students think classes are “jokes,” “wastes of time,” and “unnecessary,” if you gain but one new idea from that course, it was worthwhile.

While education is valuable and this theory that knowledge stems from ideas yields the question of why a student should bother to go to class–can’t these ideas be gleaned from books, YouTube, and the internet? What is the purpose of a professor?

My response: a good professor makes all the difference.

It’s tenure season. The Yeshiva University community will soon be alerted as to who will join a part of the permanent staffing family. As these deliberations take place, it is important to think about what type of educators will best serve the students for the long haul—is it the professor who lectures well who will, without a doubt, lose their vigor after reading from the same set of notes semester in, semester out for decades, or is it the professor who goes above and beyond—who lectures well and encourages students to think critically inside the classroom and out? Is it the professor who is brilliant, or the professor who goes beyond that? Is it a great professor, or the best professor?

What, however, is the mark of the best professor? In his The Ignorant Schoolmaster; Five Lessons in Intellectual Emancipation, Jacques Ranciere addresses this specific question. The job of the schoolmaster, as Ranciere explains, is to recognize the distance between the students’ understanding and a given subject matter. What this means is that the mark of a good teacher is acknowledging where the student is in his or her intellectual level and understanding and helping them guage a given subject or idea at that level.

Louis Althusser, Rancier’s teacher and inspiration, asserts, “The function of teaching is to transmit a determinate knowledge to subjects who do not possess this knowledge.” Thus, teaching depends on the students knowing less than the teacher. As a university student who has, in many of my courses, been encouraged to think critically and expansively, that just doesn’t sit right with me: according to this logic, if a student becomes more advanced than a teacher then the student should teach the class—but that is not how the formal education system works, and nor should that be how it works.

If education then, as I claim, should not be based on the student knowing less than the professor, then how can a professor teach? How then, should the education system work?

As Ranciere explains, what a child learn best is his mother tongue, what is spoken to and around him, and this is in an age before explication is possible. Understanding is, as depicted by this example, what a student cannot do without a master, but a student can still learn. The responsibility of a professor is therefore not to teach what one can understand naturally, instinctively, rather it is just to open up your ability to think and understand.

This, you may argue, is difficult in a university setting: but I need the professor to teach me organic chemistry, you may say. Yes, that is true to an extent, but do you really need the professor to teach you what the book says, or would it make more sense for the professor to enable you to understand the book on your own?

The role of a professor is to encourage students to think—not to think something. Their role is therefore merely to facilitate critical thinking and ensure that students’ cognitive functioning is enabling them to properly understand material on their own. The role of the professor is an enabler as well as an educator.

Food for thought, if nothing else, no?

With that, I would like to announce that The Observer staff has officially named Hannah Dreyfus as their Editor in Chief for the 2013-2014 academic year. Hannah began as a writer, moved directly up to Managing Editor, and has written many diverse and thought-provoking pieces throughout her tenure at The Observer as well as in other publications. Enthusiastic students looking to get involved with The Observer should contact Hannah or any member of the staff for more information about joining a legacy of strong and passionate women.

To the future staff of The Observer: the things you write matter. You are strong, intelligent women (and men) and you have brilliant insights to share. You are the women of Stern College. You have a voice. Use it—use it to raise issues, awareness, and foster change.

Your words have the power to do that—use it.

Read more.
Think more.
Engage more. (Pun possibly intended)
Be more.
You are already so admirable and have so much potential: embrace it.

I wish you all a good night and good luck.
{Yes. I went there. For those of you who understand the allusion, either you’re well-cultured or thanks for coming on the Shabbaton. For those of you who don’t, stay in school.}

President Margot Reinstein recalls the first TAC meeting back in August vividly: “We came to our first meeting and spoke about our mission of enhancing religious life and filling the niches of every single student on campus.”

“TAC decided to be led by purpose in everything we do,” explains Yehudit Goldberg, TAC Vice President. “We outlined a number of broader goals [at our first meeting] that needed to be addressed for the improvement of the Stern Community, and [from then on,] with every big event, every meeting discussion, we tried to keep those goals in mind.”

The TAC goals were driven by the student body: “Every student should find Stern to be a positive and growth-filled religious experience,” explains Yehudit. “We did our best to accommodate the different needs of different students to make this place work for their religious growth.”

Despite their clear goals, TAC faced a challenge at the outset of this year though: Diversity—or lack thereof. Margot highlights, “Our board consisted of 4 Ma’ayanot Alumnae, 4 from Teaneck, 3 from Midreshet Lindenbaum. We knew this was a weakness of ours. But because it was our weakness, it ended up becoming our greatest strength.”

“This challenge is why we spent so many hours in ‘focus groups’ (a concept in which TAC met with several students and their friends to learn about their religious experience at Stern.) A lot of what we were doing in these focus groups wasn’t necessarily creating new programs or events to address those students’ needs. Rather, we were often just pointing out to those students that Stern already has exactly what they are asking for.”

According to some students, there is often a sense that the Stern community is too fragmented, without enough bringing together the diversity. The TAC goal attempts to bridge that fragmentation by creating events that brings different students together.

Margot passionately exclaims: “If a student wants to enhance their religious experience and find for themselves a more vibrant Judaism, I promise you, you can find it here. In fact, what you can find here you can find no where else. But you need to open your eyes.

“You’re looking for more chessed? You want all women’s environments to have fun? You’re looking to improve your gemarah skills? Gain perspective on important issues facing the Jewish communities? It’s all here!”

Via the TAC focus groups and speaking to more members of the student body, TAC was able to modify its goals to better serve the student body as the year progressed.

As Margot explains, “At the opening event of ‘Out and About Camp Out,’ we played only Jewish music. Over 30 students wrote to student council members telling us how much they appreciated it. 30 Students showing their appreciation! For something as small as Jewish music. This is one example of small and easy changes which have great ramifications for students.

“To enhance the presence of Roshei Yeshiva on campus, we brought them in every other week through TSLS and during club hour. Yehudit Goldberg spearheaded this initiative.” Yehudit expressed the feelings of TAC: “We felt that the Stern student body needs to be exposed to the Torah giants of our generation, and to religious role models, in a more frequent and concretized manner. So we turned our focus to bringing in the Roshei Yeshiva and many other Torah figures to enhance the spiritual life on our campus.”

“For those who wanted to join in on the festivities, but not necessarily in the co-ed environment, we had an all women’s Seudat Hodaah on Yom Ha’atzmatut. Spearheaded by Elana Raskas, Shacharis in the Beis addressed the needs of students across the spectrum struggling with tefillah.  It wasn’t the most innovative idea, but it had never happened before: students coming together, as a community, to pray.”

Find it bothersome that so many great events are uptown? Why should we travel up so often; can’t the men come down here? TAC agreed. “We pushed this year to have major events happen downtown – they were, to say the least, a overwhelming success. The Yachad Carnival had over 350 attendees this year in Koch, rather than Furst 501. The Latke Hamatash Debate as well, took place in a jam-packed 101-102 classroom. It was impressive the way those club heads, Rebecca Tessler, Chana Weinstock (iGive) Gabrielle Hiller and Chesky Kopel (Kol Hamevaser) took the leap of faith that major events can be successful downtown.”

Quality Over Quantity:

The TAC members explain:

An average night at Stern last year had 8 events going on, 3 of which you wanted to go to. The fan-base for events were split and there were lower numbers at events. This year we knew that needed to change. The first step was the joint SCWSC-SYMS-TAC calendar that hung next to the elevators in 245 Lex. Ari Geller, Adina Minkowitz and I recognized that from the student bodies perspective, they don’t care which council is running which event. If it’s a good event, they want to go to it. We wanted to ensure that each night there were 2 good events for students to choose from – but not more. When it comes to events, we realize, “less is more”.

Through this system, we had a plethora of shiurim which happened this year, boasting over 100 students. It was really incredible to watch. It says a lot about a student body which already works so hard because of Stern’s demanding curriculum and yet takes the time for a little more Torah or chessed, night after night.

Additionally, while we certainly had food at events, we limited the food to either kick-off events, university-wide events or events whose nature required food. This was difficult for club heads at first, who were used to having food at every event. When club heads would tell us, “People won’t come if there’s not food”, our response was, “If you need food to make your event good, we don’t want that event.” This was all part of our effort of enhancing the quality of events on campus and giving students what they want.

Addressing Communal Needs:

While TAC focused on the individuals, we recognized that it was our role as student leaders to ensure that communal needs were addressed.

At the beginning of the year there were rockets being thrown more than ever in countries in the south. Together with other colleges and spearheaded by Blanche Haddad, TAC ran a “Rally for Israel” which, thank God, had over 300 students come together to sing and pray for Israel.

When Hurricane Sandy hit, TAC led the mission to the Lower East side, and ran clothing, food and flashlight drives through iGive. We helped Housing find hosts for students for Shabbat in the Heights and led an incredible off-campus tisch with over 200 attendees.

When the Newtown Massacre occurred, TAC saw this as another time we needed to step up and mourn together. TEIQU’s Presidents, Rachel Weber, Josh Botwinick and Hillel Gross stepped up to make it happen and led a powerful ceremony. It made a powerful impact to feel the encouragement of the administration, REITS, and Office of Student Life as Rabbi Brander, Rav Blau, Rabbi Reiss and President Joel spoke and showed their support.

An unfortunate too many rallies were run through TAC’s impassioned club Agunah Advocacy. Going to a Rally and publically embarrassing someone is not an easy task. But for something so important as freeing an agunah and stopping the abuse, Stern and YU students joined together, led by Agunah Advocacy President Kimberly Hay.

Yehudit Goldberg spearheaded a 2-part series on Women and Orthodoxy, in which we spoke about important topics for an Orthodox Jewish Women which aren’t formally discussed enough: Modesty and Intimacy.

Sexual Abuse is such a delicate, sensitive–and to be quite honest, scary–topic in Jewish communities right now. TAC saw that students were looking for perspective. Led by Leah Gottfried and the Film Club, TAC showed the film “Standing Silent,” with a panel discussion with Rav Blau and the film maker afterwards.

I don’t think the importance of YUPAC needs to be stated. Led by Judith Frankiel and Ben Scheiner, it brought 70 students to DC to advocate for better Israel-US relations. It was a huge success.

When Rabbi Lamm’s Daughter, Sara Lamm Dratch, passed away, through the guidance of Rabbi Saul Berman, TAC realized what an impact Sara had on Stern College’s growth and advancement of women’s learning. Tammie Senders and Rivka Herzfeld worked together with Dr. Shatz to plan a beautiful commemorative shiur in her memory, attended by Rabbi Lamm and his family.

Shabbat on Campus:

Hearing that Tuvia and Rahel were leaving was a big blow to Stern moral. What would Shabbat on campus look like without these two powerhouse role models? This was another situation of a crisis turning into an opportunity. With the help of OSL, TAC worked to find the perfect Campus Couple and of course, we did. Every student who stays in for Shabbos realizes all that Esty and Jonathan Schwab bring to the table.

TAC realized that if we wanted Shabbat on Campus to improve, we needed to show we were dedicated to it as well. Each week we ensured there was at least one of us from each council staying in, making the announcement and showing that this is something student leaders are excited about.

Must the epitome of  Jewish Life on campus be a co-ed TAC/SOY Shabbaton? Certainly not! This year, Stern had its first-ever TAC Shabbaton entitled “Women of Vision”.  It was a Shabbat with Rebetzin Rosensweig, which focused on student visions, leadership and overcoming struggles.  It was an extraordinary success and hopefully will become now an “annual” TAC Shabbaton.

Both TAC-SOY Shabbaton were, to say the least, epic. But as a student who stayed in every week (except 2!) this year, I can tell you it wasn’t just TAC/SOY. Al Pi Darko/Kol Hamevaser Shabbaton, Athletics and Drama Society Shabbaton’s, Israel Club and Medical Ethics – the list goes on – the Shabbatonim this year were amazing. Anyone who’s been to any of those will recognize that. “The direction we are moving in terms of enhancing Shabbat on campus is really exciting,” explains TAC member Atara Clark.

Next Year’s Board:

There is definitely a long way to go for these goals to be fully accomplished, but we hope we have built on the accomplishments of last year’s TAC and that our purpose will only be strengthened in the coming years.

It was an incredible year. But none of this year’s accomplishments were because of TAC Board alone. It was only through the passions, ideas, motivations and different perspectives our diverse student body brings to the table that we were able to have such a successful year. It was because of our 50 dedicated and impassioned club heads, the office of Student Life, President Joel, the Deans, and the rest of the student body’s encouragement, support, and of course criticism, which made the year as successful as it was.

Margot expresses her desire for the student body to recognize the leaps and bound that TAC has made this year: “I want students to recognize how much thought student leaders put into everything. Student leaders aren’t just continuing what has been done in the past. They’re in constant discussion with the student body and working to address their needs. Stern is looking forward to a brighter future.”

While this year was great, if the accomplishments are not continued and if we don’t learn from our shortcomings, we can expect change and improvement. It was part of our mission to ensure that those running for TAC next year were in line with TAC’s vision and qualified for the Job. Sarah Alt, Amanda Esraelian, Ariella Rothschild, Shira Tuchman and Chaya Kanarfogel couldn’t be a more diverse board, representing from the get-go the needs of so many students. They’re so capable, passionate, empowering and each have their own inspiring story. They can’t wait to hear from you to keep Torah activities on this campus thriving.

This article was composed in a collaborative effort between the members of TAC and The Observer staff.

The comment is supposed to imply that the woman being addressed is somehow better than her fellow students. It’s a statement loaded with implications: mainly, that the woman being addressed thinks for herself and does not let others define her. Not being a ‘typical Stern girl’ is meant as a compliment. Four years ago I would have taken it as one.

When I began college, I was anxious about my decision to attend Stern. I had never really considered the school during most of my high school career. That changed during my senior year when, swayed by a generous scholarship and intimidated by the $40,000 a year price tag attached to the colleges that topped my “dream” list, I decided that Yeshiva University was a prudent choice. Still, although my decision made financial sense, I wasn’t sure it added up socially. Would I fit in at Stern? Could I possibly find the sort of people I wanted to meet, have the sort of discussions that I wanted to have, form the sorts of friendships I wanted? I wasn’t sure. After all, I knew the Stern girl stereotype, and that wasn’t what I wanted to become.

Stern College students are generally associated with uniformity. We are often thought to think alike, dress alike, to pursue the same sorts of careers and aspire to the same sorts of lives. According to some, the average Stern College student cares about little more than her dating prospects, her dream engagement ring, and the latest episode of Girls.

Of course, there is some truth to some of the stereotypes. Yes, we have far more than our fair share of science majors.  Yes, lots of students go into various therapy-related fields. Yes, many Stern students get married far earlier than the general population. And yes, it is undeniable that the student population of Stern College is probably the sole reason that knee-length denim skirts are still sold in the New York area.

But the students at Stern College are also so much more than anything a stereotype could possibly encompass. During the past four years I’ve had the privilege of studying, speaking, laughing and crying with some of the strongest, most motivated, brightest women I’ve ever met. They’ve been my friends and my role models. They are future journalists and politicians, doctors and lawyers. They are writers and artists and musicians, passionate leaders and teachers. They are women who will change the face of the Orthodox community. They are women who will not listen to anyone who tries to tell them that they cannot change the world.

Yesterday, during the last training session of the year at the Beren Writing Center where I work as a tutor, we spent a few minutes going around the room discussing our plans for the summer. One tutor spoke about the breast cancer research she would do, another about her internship at a nationally circulated magazine. We enthused over one tutor’s plans to work on a screenplay over the summer and expressed our profound jealousy of the tutor who was planning a trip to Brazil. The passion and creativity that filled the room as we spoke about our future plans was not unusual. It is exactly what I’ve come to expect from the women I’ve been lucky enough to call my friends over the past four years.

Four long years ago I took it as a compliment when a friend told me that I would never really be a Stern girl. Today I can smile, look that friend in the eye, and tell him that I hope that nothing is farther from the truth.

Scroll down for the answer!

When Benaim first began speaking to people about the project, she discovered that there was no pre-existing archive and that access to old Observers was fairly limited.  President Joel encouraged Benaim to gift the archive to the school and, with the help of Stern librarians and Dean Burger, the college’s archivist, she set to work compiling the archive.  Benaim hopes that someday soon the archive will be digitalized.

According to Benaim, because The Commentator is older than The Observer and was until recently branded the official newspaper of Yeshiva University (and not of Yeshiva College, the title it bears now), there was more of an effort to preserve it. Therefore, unlike The Observer, The Commentator already has an archive on microfilm, though rumor has it that only three Yeshiva College students and a librarian know how to use it.

Though the archive is now completed, it remains to be determined whether it will be housed on the midtown campus or on the Wilf campus. “I’m torn,” Benaim says. “On one hand, because it’s a Stern college paper it should be held here, and we should build up our libraries here.  Yet, because so much of the resources are uptown, it would seem silly to isolate it.”

Wherever it ends up, the archive will offer an invaluable glimpse into the past. Benaim marvels at the history it encapsulates: “So many important milestones in the YU world and in the Jewish world, from the Six Day War to the Rav’s Gemara Shiur at Stern College in ’77, are contained in these papers that have been boxed up for decades.”

The archive holds special meaning for Benaim, a committed member of The Observer staff throughout her Stern career.  “It makes me feel like I was a part of something—a legacy,” she says. “Seeing the progression of the paper—how it developed from four pages to the paper that it is today—is exciting and encouraging.” Looking forward, Benaim sees the archive as a critical resource for current and future Observer staff members.  “It helps writers and editors focus not only on what today’s audience wants to read  but also on what readers fifty years from now will want to read—what would give them a flavor of what Yeshiva University was like this academic year?” The Observer archive, a product of Benaim’s efforts and initiative, has preserved the memory and flavor of nearly all the academic years in Stern College’s decades-long history.

What do these four things have in common? They all fall under the category of popular diets, otherwise known as “fad diets,” whose goal is to help achieve dramatic weight loss using extreme measures. Do they actually work? Well, that’s a question most people want to know when deciding which diet will work best for them, and if they should be starting one in the first place.

A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health provides insight and empirical evidence for one of the most popular questions nutritionists face. The study tested approximately 800 participants participating in four different types of diets based on popular ones, such as Atkins and the Mediterranean Diet, resulting in four general categories: low fat, high protein, low fat, average protein, high fat, average protein, and high fat, high protein. Each of the diets was paired with group nutrition counseling and exercise. By the end of 6 months, the participants had an average weight loss of 12 pounds, and by the end of 2 years, after regaining some of the weight, the weight loss results were similar across the boards: ranging from approximately 7-9 lbs.

In addition to showing that there isn’t really proof that one “fad diet” is superior than another, “the study also found that the more group counseling sessions participants attended, the more weight they lost, and the less weight they regained. This supports the idea that behavioral, psychological, and social factors are probably far more important for weight loss than the mix of nutrients in a diet.”

What’s the message of this study? No one diet is proven more successful than the other. If you’re going to go on a diet, your diet should be one that will appeal to your taste buds and be easy for you to follow. However, like the conclusions of the study have shown, one of the most effective ways to lose weight is to consult a dietician or nutritionist. A dietician is someone who has completed a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) at an accredited institution and has taken an exam to become a Registered Dietician (RD). Studies have shown that a significant factor in achieving real, long-lasting weight loss is through nutritional counseling.

Though fad diets prove successful in achieving instant weight loss, as shown through this study, most participants gain their weight back almost immediately after concluding their diet. The reason? Most people’s weight problems not only stem from poor eating habits, but are also a result of psychological and behavioral factors, such as addiction and use of food as a coping mechanism. Meeting with a dietician throughout the weight loss process allows participants to talk out any subconscious issues they may have that are contributing to poor eating habits, as well as provide support and guidance in planning out their diets. This is done through a process called motivational interviewing, an approach used by dieticians to create an autonomous environment with their clients, increasing motivation in developing healthy habits, and helping clients resolve any ambivalence about healthy eating in general. A dietician will also work with his or her client to create a meal plan that is tailored to their likes and dislikes and is practical for them to follow.

Bottom line: Fad diets aren’t always the answer. If you’re looking for a quick, immediate solution for weight loss, these diets may help you lose the weight temporarily. If you are in fact looking to one of these diets for a quick fix, one isn’t necessarily better than the other, so just choose one that you feel you can easily follow. However, if you are looking for a more long-term, permanent weight loss solution, your best bet is to meet with a dietician. The autonomous, comfortable environment allows clients to ask any questions and work with the dietician to create a meal plan that will appeal to them and will be easy to consistently follow.

Weight loss is not something that happens by simply adding and restricting foods from your diet. Weight loss is a process that involves serious evaluation of behaviors and psychological reasons behind overeating. Consulting with a dietician can help you resolve these issues, and allow you to not only lose weight, but change your lifestyle to one that promotes health and longevity, rather than cycles of weight-loss and weight gain.

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/best-weight-loss-diet/

It all started with a trip to Scandinavia in 2008.

Dani Klein and his wife Arielle were traveling through Europe, and despite the months of research they did beforehand, they were having trouble accessing genuine kosher food and Shabbat hospitality. “The information we found was a mix of incomplete, inaccurate, and lacking nuance,” says Klein, the site’s Founder and Chief Editor. “All they had were listings of institutions, which lacked vital information such as hours/days of operation, exact entrance location, etc. which are things we take for granted in New York.”

A few weeks later, Klein started YeahThatsKosher.com, a site dedicated to offering “relevant information to kosher consumers traveling around the world.” At first, the site was a blog compiling personal travel experiences Klein and his friends had, but now, on the site’s fifth anniversary, it has expanded to contributors from around the world.

“It [is] very important… for the site to be a crowd-sourced compilation of content,” explains Klein, who encourages anyone who has traveled to share his/her experience, good and bad. “People think they should write about places with a lot of kosher food, (but) it’s important to write about the places that have very little kosher food.” If a person had a bad travel experience because s/he couldn’t find any kosher food, had trouble navigating public transportation, or couldn’t find the entrance to a Shul because it was unmarked, s/he should put that information on the site because it can help fellow Jewish travelers prepare properly. “Part of the content can be: prepare to bring a lot of food with you,” says Klein.

The site, which is funded by advertisements, is not Klein’s full time gig. He works as a Director of Social Media at Mindshare, a large marketing agency. He dedicates his spare time and energy to the site because there is a real need for this service in the Jewish world. Whether you want to go backpacking in Europe, are going on a cruise to Panama, or just want to sight-see on your 14 hour layover in Amsterdam, this site is here to provide the information you need to have a safe, seamless, kosher traveling experience.

Klein receives daily requests on the YeahThatsKosher.com’s Twitter and Facebook accounts for travel and restaurant advice from consumers all around the world. Last month, the site received approximately 30,000 visitors, many of whom were seeking restaurants open on Chol Hamoed Pesach and other Passover-related tips for travelers.

These days the site has grown to provide even more information for the Jewish world, such as kosher wineries, kosher food stands at sports arenas, Pesach program reviews, and more. It even has a Campus Directory, which lists the kosher meal plans on campuses around the world. Who knew that Bradley University in Central Illinois has an array of kosher food?

Like its adventure loving users, this site does not stop growing and innovating. There is an excited new project on the horizon. Klein and his team are already working on building the ultimate map which pinpoints every possible kosher restaurant, mikvah, and shul around the world in one user-friendly directory.

Don’t be fooled by its catchy name. YeahThatsKosher.com is not an entertainment site; it’s your secret (travel) weapon.

If you are interested in joining the force behind the traveling Jew’s secret weapon and its new project, please contact Dani at Dani@YeahThatsKosher.com.

Price is known amongst Stern students for her women’s issues and Hilchot Niddah courses. She is notable not only for her intellectually stimulating and textual Halakha and Chumash classes inside the classroom, but for the personal relationships she maintains with her over 100 students outside the classroom. On receiving the award, Price said, “Being recognized for this award highlights the bond I feel with my students.  I love teaching at Stern and I love my students.  Therefore, having the student body select me for this honor is another illustration that the relationship I have with my students is rewarding to them, too.”

As for the future of Stern College faculty and students, Price explained that it is critical that SCW continue to lead the Torah world by providing first-class education.  “I am fully confident that our leadership and faculty have the ability to continue to provide a fabulous education to continue attracting incredible students,” she said.

Professor Price looks forward to seeing the contributions that current Stern College students will offer the world, especially the Torah world.  “Women’s Torah education is a growing business,” she explained.   “Each new class of students comes on the shoulders of prior classes of women aspiring to growth in Torah knowledge.”

While her classes will – as usual – be bursting at the seams next semester, there’s no doubt that Professor Price will continue inspiring students in and out of the classroom throughout her upcoming years at Stern College.

I’m writing to respond to Rachel Delia Benaim’s Observer article of May 2 (“History. Major Problems”). Sadly, the overall thrust of the article is undeniable: under current financial constraints, fewer courses are being offered at Stern, and students have less choice; already small departments suffer disproportionately when cuts are made, and not only in the humanities. I’m not sure that re-imagining, whatever form that may take, would change the picture radically, as Yeshiva College’s budget has also been cut. Ironically, Professor Tendler Krieger’s position is an anomaly, since the history department is the most integrated between campuses, with the aim of offering students more choice of professors and courses.

I think that it is worth offering some clarifications, however (especially as Ms. Benaim did not speak to me when writing the article). In terms of scheduling, we have to think of students taking history courses to fulfill general education requirements, as well as history majors, and we have to make sure that we offer courses required for the major on a regular basis as well as more advanced electives. These considerations present important limitations. But next semester, when Dr. Freedman is on leave, we are in fact offering two new courses: one in Roman civilization, and one on contemporary Europe. Students can also take advantage of exciting new offerings in Jewish History, and use those towards their major. In the spring, when Dr. Burgess is on leave, we also hope to offer courses that the regular faculty would not normally offer, and welcome suggestions for what those would be. In addition it is, in fact, possible for students who plan ahead and work with the department to specialize in broad fields (European history, for example, or intellectual history, given the strengths of the full-time faculty we have). Finally, we have the go-ahead to search next year for a full-time professor to replace Professor Simon.

It is certainly true that students at Stern are not going to have the same range of course options that they would have at larger institutions. But the college’s small size does offer opportunities for flexibility and the ability to cater to the interests of small groups of students, and I’d be delighted to talk to majors and potential majors about their and the department’s future plans.

As you walk up the ramps, you will be walking in stride with the group’s founder Yoshihara Jirō, who will take you back to a time before Andy Warhol was mainstream. Since the group’s founding in 1954, with its Gutai Manifesto and its abolishment of the paintbrush (and its academic traditions), each Gutai member screams with individuality but also works in correlation with one another. Their strategic use of publications and outdoor installations enabled them to infiltrate into Japanese culture, and soon Western art, too. Decades later, the Gutai work still feels avant-garde. You will take more than one double-take on each piece of art and sometimes question aloud: Are those really footprints on this canvas? Am I really allowed to draw on that wooden board? The invitations that the museum offers continually and consistently will enable the viewer to not just view the art, but also to participate with it.

After meeting with Ming Tiampo, co-curator of the exhibition, I became better acquainted with the art inside the walls of the museum. Although the art tried to break down the walls of its society, the art can now serve as a didactic experience for its New York visitors. Tiampo stresses the importance of the group’s publication. Its accessibility and wide-ranging audience touched, especially in relation to the response to the war. This is displayed throughout the museum’s use of wall text, split into sections and using words of the group to emphasize that Gutai was not just a precursor to contemporary art but an important movement in its own right. Tiampo explained that after World War II, nobody could trust human thought. They could only trust bodies, matter and mud. The name “Gutai” literally means “concreteness” and this highlights their choice of materials and associations with art. Gutai members wanted to execute the paintbrush and its association with control. So, they decided to use their bodies, but some artists used glass bottles filled with paint or toy cars with ink attached to it. Mud and body being used as artistic media is especially seen in Shiraga Kazuo’s Challenging Mud, 1955- the artist creates his piece by rolling around and kicking and punching the mud on the ground. The violence and beauty in the piece references the war, but also the future of modern art.