Five Year Plan Begun With Freshman Class (Vol. 2, Issue 1)

The normal time for, the attainment of the baccalaureate degree at Yeshiva College was increased to five years by the unanimous choice of the faculty, Registrar Jacob I. Hartstein announced recently. The plan has become effective with the lower freshmen of this fall.  

The purpose of the plan is to allow for concentration on academic work and at the same time to provide a greater amount of leisure for college men taking full programs in the Department of Jewish studies. However, the Commentator has it from a number of reliable sources that a report of an alleged demand for such action by representatives of Student Council was the deciding factor in bringing about the adoption of the system.

In an interview with a Commentator reporter, Morris V. Dembowitz ‘36 vigorously denied ever having made any such declarations in the name of Student Council. He emphasized that the question was never discussed at Council meetings. However, Mr. Dembowitz did add that in an individual capacity he had advocated consideration of a plan of this type. 

Under the new plan all regular students will have one elective course eliminated in the freshman and sophomore years, and will be allowed full programs in their senior years. 

The plan has not been as yet worked out in all its details, according to Mr. Hartstein, who declared that further statements of detailed policy by the administration would follow.

The plan was originally scheduled to become effective with this year’s sophomores, but such violent opposition arose to the plan on the part of the Class of ‘39 when, on registration day, they were informed of the new system, that it was finally decided to make it optional for regular students of the sophomore class.