Why The Commentator?
The life of a college student at Yeshiva University is filled with chaos, turbulence and hard work. With a dual curriculum and only three years of schooling for most students, the time for extracurriculars is slim, sometimes non-existent for many of us. Classes can often stretch from morning to night with little respite, and writing for a student paper or getting involved in any clubs or student organizations may seem like an unwelcome distraction from the road to academic success. So, if you’re a new student, first finding your footing on campus, why should you care about The Commentator? Why should you care about anything at all?
To the incoming class of students, I was in your shoes just two short years ago. The shortest years of my life, in fact. Believe me when I tell you even writing for The Commentator was the furthest thing from my radar. I was busy and saw minimal utility in writing for a student paper, only at last did I begin to write for The Commentator at the recommendation of Sruli Fruchter, a cousin and former editor in chief. Never did I receive such salient advice.
Writing for The Commentator is not simply about the stories that we tell but the people that we meet. Coming to YU, it is easy to be daunted by the seemingly impermeable administrative bureaucracy. The university is run by a complex web of administrators, deans and staff members, and it is easy to get lost in the shuffle. Through The Commentator, writers covering news stories have the opportunity to reach out to faculty, administrators and staff, getting better insight into the inner workings of the university and getting to know, in a professional and polite manner, the individuals who make the school run.
As writers and editors, we also get introduced to people of all backgrounds with all sorts of stories to tell. We interview students, faculty, writers and members of Congress. We recount our own stories for the student body and those of others, exposing ourselves to perspectives we may not share and may not have previously confronted. We strive to allow students and members of our community to share their opinions, and create a forum for informed debate.
Most of all, we get to know each other. Jonathan Levin, one of last year’s editors in chief, would often remark that The Commentator is not merely a club, but a community. Coming to YU knowing only two people in the entire school (neither of them undergraduates), some of the best friendships I have made during my time here have been through The Commentator.
Of course, The Commentator’s value cannot be stated at the expense of the stories within our pages. From YU’s myriad lawsuits, often touching upon incredibly sensitive topics in campus life, to faculty dissatisfaction with the administration, to all sorts of issues that may not even immediately present themselves, we cover it all. That being said, The Commentator is not a “gotcha” paper. We don’t seek to tear people down, but to cover stories that are important and relevant to the student body, whether good or bad. Just last year we reported on the brand new Chabad of Washington Heights, the introduction of student publications, the problem of academic integrity in the age of AI and uncovered YU’s ongoing attempt to launch its first dental school.
Most prominent in my memory of last year is YU’s response to the horrific attacks of the dark day of Oct. 7. As so many American college campuses around the country descended into pandemonium and hate, and Jew-haters and terror sympathizers reared their ugly heads across our country, YU stood out as a light amidst the darkness and a beacon of hope in a time seemingly of despair. In this crucial time, The Commentator played an important role as ever, recording the brave actions of YU and its students and providing a forum for students to share their reflections during trying times. It is the role we play in such critical times that I know fills me and my colleagues at The Commentator with the greatest pride in our work.
So, after all that, do you have time for The Commentator? Perhaps not, but perhaps now you’ve been convinced that this paper, which has been providing students with serious experience and great fun for 90 years may be worth making the time for —whether as a reader, a writer or perhaps even editor in chief yourself someday. We certainly hope you’ll join us for at least this new year, as we discover the mysteries which it is sure to hold.
