Overhauling Student Clubs: When Homophobia is All Too Obvious
In a monumental decision, YU has quietly reworked the entire student club framework, effectively canceling all clubs until further notice.
This decision comes in the wake of the YU Pride Alliance settlement, in which YU initially permitted a student-run LGBTQ club called Hareni. According to the settlement, this club would “operate consistent with all other student clubs” and “not be required to submit to any approval or oversight procedures that are not required for all student clubs.” However, mere weeks after the settlement, YU canceled the club amidst criticism from senior roshei yeshiva and Ultra-Orthodox news publications.
In one notable instance, during an informal interview session which was later transcribed, Rabbi Twersky expressed his frustration at the ziuf hatorah (perversion of the Torah) and announced that he would leave YU if things did not change.
One justification cited by YU’s legal team regarding the cancelation of the club was that Hareni did not adhere to post-settlement guidelines that YU roshei yeshiva imposed on them. Initially, it was unclear what legal framework YU would cite to justify their enforceability, as other clubs did face similar restrictions. It appears the Aug. 27 club overhaul is the answer.
The notice, which was later posted on YU’s website, was emailed to club leaders and members of the Student Council. The email elaborated on a prior announcement of the Yamim Project, which would oversee all student organizations. While the enigmatic email declared that the Yamim Project would “expand opportunities” and would inculcate “genuine leadership,” in reality, the project provides little more than a cover for YU to overhaul the current system to bar an LGBTQ club from ever forming.
The Yamim Project contains several elements that would affect the operations of student clubs.
The first element establishes a Torah Mentorship Program through which each student club will be appointed a “Torah leader.” According to the email, these Torah leaders are supposed to “embed [YU’s] values in all elements of campus.”
In the aftermath of Hareni’s establishment, a letter signed by “the consensus position of the roshei yeshiva of YP/REITS” called for similar rabbinic oversight over the club — something I discussed at length in a previous editorial. The signatories also demanded that “all materials, publications, communications and activities be consistent with [the roshei yeshiva’s] goals.” Most disturbingly, they ruled that a sexual morality disclaimer be issued in every club communication. Last year, in a response, Hareni presidents decried this last demand as “sexualizing students.” This overhaul would provide the roshei yeshiva the legal mandate to enforce these conditions on all student clubs.
It is important to note that Rabbi Neuberger, one of the senior roshei yeshiva, serves as the posek for student clubs. Historically, however, he has solely been involved in overarching considerations. As Hareni lawyers argued in their letter, “To our knowledge, Rabbi Neuberger does not individually ‘consider and determine’ all activities proposed by YU’s over 150 undergraduate student clubs.”
Moreover, the notice fails to mention that all clubs already have faculty advisors. Although this “rabbinic leadership” will likely usurp their role, professors weren’t notified about the change, and they privately expressed to me their dismay at the lack of communication from YU.
The next two elements in the overhaul address which clubs would be approved. The email mentions that all clubs would be “thoughtfully curated” and “educational.” This latter requirement mirrors another attempt of the roshei yeshiva to curtail Hareni by issuing a blanket ban on events “believed to be primarily social and recreational.” At the time, Hareni’s lawyers argued that this restriction would undermine YU’s assertion that Hareni would operate like other clubs. It is unclear whether the requirement that clubs “be thoughtfully curated” will disallow an LGBTQ club from its inception.
Regardless, these two restrictions would themselves disband the vast majority of existing clubs, both small and large. YU has a tradition of encouraging niche and recreational student interests, such as the 1968 student-run Radio Station or the 1974 Rifle Team. Its rich history of student-led clubs dates back to as far as 1926, when an SOY newspaper referenced several existing clubs. Under this new framework, student life as we know it would be systematically destroyed, departing from nearly a century of precedent. For example, the immensely popular Discover NYC and AMC Clubs — which each have over 750 students in their group chats — are recreational and would be disbanded under this overhaul. Even smaller ones, such as the Astronomy and Fantasy Book Clubs, may not meet the criteria of being “thoughtfully curated.”
The fourth element sees all clubs “maintain [YU’s] institutional integrity by not partnering with or representing outside organizations.” This too was a point of contention during the Hareni saga, when YU’s lawyer argued that Hareni acted unlawfully by hosting their first event off YU premises without administrative consent. It is also notable that Hareni is known to receive funding and occasionally partner with Jewish Queer Youth (JQY).
If the previous requirements weren’t enough to suffocate clubs, this one surely will. Two immensely popular Israel advocacy clubs, SSI and YUPAC, both represent or partner with outside organizations. Tamid, which helps students find internships, and Active Minds, which runs Stomp Out the Stigma, are chapters of larger organizations. Even the Chesed Club and West Side Campaign Against Hunger would be shut down, as they aren’t exclusive to YU.
The rest of the guidelines discuss the implementation of mandatory “Comprehensive Preparatory Workshops” and leadership training for all heads of clubs. While I commend the opportunity for leadership training, students who run clubs are already leaders. They already take charge of organizing events, arranging transportation, advertising and getting their budget approved. Instead of empowering leaders, these workshops present another obstacle for student leaders to run clubs. As of writing this, students received no direction as to how to fulfill these guidelines. The workshops haven’t been instituted, the club renewal process is closed and the Club Fair is postponed until further notice.
Instead, the Student Council — which I am a member of — and the Office of Student Life are working tirelessly to curate events for the whole campus. While enjoyable, given time constraints, smaller and more niche event ideas, which clubs historically organize, must be left to the wayside.
Club life at YU is deeply personal to me; when I first started YU, student clubs gave me an outlet after strenuous days as well as an opportunity to meet other students. I even started a few clubs of my own, including the Spanish Language Club and the Melava Malka Club. As an orientation leader, I created the presentation session highlighting clubs, and Jonathan Schwab, the director of OSL, informed me that I held the record for most club events attended during my first semester. YU’s clubs eventually provided me with the stepping stone to become proactively involved in student affairs.
Careful readers of The Commentator may notice that this is the second time YU is willing to sacrifice student life on the altar of their disgust for an LGBTQ club.
YU isn’t hiding its true intentions. Gene Schaerr, their most recent lawyer, is a devout Mormon and a notorious anti-LGBTQ activist who believes that his fight against LGBTQ inclusion is part of his “religious and famil[al] duty.” He has even gone so far as to argue that same-sex marriage would decrease the birth rate and increase teen pregnancy and abortion.
In a last damning connection between the Yamim Project and LGBTQ, YU quietly altered the Student Bill of Rights. Shortly before YU reversed their decision regarding Hareni, they tacked on a paragraph which echoed the roshei yeshiva’s requirements and provided them with unrestricted veto power in club affairs. “Any clubs … not in accordance with … Orthodox Jewish law will not be recognized,” the addendum states. “The university may immediately suspend and/or cancel a club as it may determine.”
Ever since the news about the club overhaul broke, I have been impatiently waiting for a response. For someone — another student, a faculty member, administrator or donor — to come out and speak truth to power. I have heard faculty privately express their support for LGBTQ students. I have seen JQY stickers on administrators’ offices and supportive pins on a Dean’s lapel. I deeply appreciate all the private and semi-public support that LGBTQ students and allies have received, but we need action.
Why is it always the same few students who have to fight for their rights? Why do we have to face this onslaught of hate alone? Where is our Rabbi Twersky, who will give an ultimatum and demand that queer students be given the same love as all other students?
When your disgust for queer students overwhelms your love for all other students, fierce backlash is necessary. When collective punishment is your response to a queer club, it is time for that collective to stand up. When a virulent anti-LGBTQ lawyer is your only defense, your intentions become obvious. This is not religious freedom; it’s homophobia.
Photo Caption: A protester at the YU 2019 Pride March
Photo Credit: YU Pride Alliance
