YU Opens Alternative Study Space in Glueck Center
As of this Fall 2019 semester, Classroom 308 in the Glueck Center for Jewish Study has been designated “as a quiet study place for the talmidim,” according to promotional signs that were posted in early February. The study room, which was arranged by the Student Organization of Yeshiva (SOY) in conjunction with Yeshiva University’s Office of Events, is reserved for undergraduate male YU students from the hours of 3:00 p.m., until the classroom is closed by YU Security for the night at 11:30 p.m.
Classroom 308 features lecture hall seating that can fit a capacity of roughly 50 people. In previous semesters, the room held YU Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Michael Rosensweig’s Mazer Yeshiva Program (MYP) shiur, whose times vary by the day of the week but always finish before college classes begin at 3:00 p.m., as well a variety of Yeshiva College (YC), Sy Syms School of Business (SSSB) and Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) courses that took place in the afternoons. This fall semester, the room is used only for Rabbi Rosensweig’s shiur and three RIETS courses, all of which conclude by 3:00 p.m., leaving the room empty thereafter.
“A number of students approached me about creating an alternative and more private study area than the library that would be open the same hours as the library,” explained SOY President Moshe Spirn (YC ‘19). He added that the Office of Events was “very accommodating” in working around potential scheduling issues.
Several visitations over the past few weeks suggest that usage of the room is minimal. The room is typically empty in the afternoons, with the room at its fullest boasting no more than five students at a time.
Most of the students who do use the room expressed similar motivations. “Unfortunately, not everyone in the library dresses or behaves in accordance with halakhah,” said Matan Friedman (YC ‘21), one student who regularly uses the study room. “The new study room will hopefully alleviate some of these concerns, though the issues with the library should certainly be addressed.” Several other students preferred not to speak on the record, although in similar fashion expressed concerns with the mixed atmosphere in the Gottesman Library.
Though the official designation of an alternate study space in Glueck is something new, the phenomenon of studying in Glueck classrooms is not. Ever since the Glueck Center was opened in Fall 2009, undergraduate students have utilized the classrooms located on the third, fourth and fifth floors of the building, especially during midterms and finals seasons when the Gottesman Library fills up beyond comfortable capacity.
Photo Caption: Glueck Room 308
Photo Credit: The Commentator
