The Ram Page. Volume XXVIIl Number I
June 1995/Sivan 5755
RIAC Joins AIPAC in Washington by Tamara Mann
On May 7, eight female • members of the Ramaz Israel · Action Commillee(RIAC), · Came Elchenholtz, Stephan • Schnelder, and Noah Drezner Join Neve Rachel rounder lits. Lynn i chaperoned by Mr. BerGettenbergathcadorLagB Omer Walk•a-thon. man, joined thousands of delegates from all over the United States for the Annual AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington. AIPAC, an by Freddy Ros,nberg acronym for the American Is · rael Public Affairs Commiuee, The Yeshiva Debace League tened by the reaclion of the When asked to comment, is the only registered lobbyist group affecti ng the relationship has erupted in concroversy over other schools since their at- Rabbi Goldmintz said chat between Israel and the U.S. Ramaz's choice of lopic for its 1i1ude seems to be driven more there is "nolhing wrong with The annual meeting s designed annual spring debate 1ouma by secular, conservative scand lhe [original) 1opic...i1 is an im to inform the participating men1. The resolved, as the ards than by crue Orthodox portant legal principle." He delegates of the issues facing topic is called, rood "The U. S. rigor. Anyone who sludies the stated that the adminiscracion Israel which are of concern 10 Congress shall not allocalc any Talmud knows that sexuality, did not expect the other schools AIPAC. Delegaces undergo in funding for any activity which even in bizarre froms, is a 10 drop out of the compelilion s1ruc1ion on various lobbying is deemed pronographic or legitimate topic of discussion.•• and was disappointed when While the team was com they :dio. ·Rabbi Goldinincz techniques which can be olherwise decrimental 10 che employed both in Washingcon moral well being of society." mined to discussion of the would have liked to see the Upon learning of the resolved, resolved, they chose to have a ' original resolved debated, but and in their home states. Presidenl Clinion ond Prime five of the seven league mem debate, albeit with a less incen be believes that the new Mtn1s er Rabin delivered ad bers dropped out of the debate. diary topic. To satisfy league resolved docs :iddresi-so:ne of dresses on the peace process leaving only Ramaz and MTA members. the re!tolved was lhc same legal issues. The debale, after all the con changed to "'The War Powers during the firsc evening of the to compete in the tournament The Ramaz team supported Act violalcs thePresidenl's ex croversy, was held on Tuesday, conference. This was che firsl lime in hislory 1ha1 lhese the topic, which co-captain clusive war making powers May 23rd at Ramaz. Repre speokers oppeared cogether on Noam Milgrom Elcon under his authority as com sentatives from Ramaz, MTA, Che program. On lhe second described as "legitimate" and mander-in -chief of lhe armed SKA, HAFfR, Magen David, nigh� che delegalcs were ad- not "vile." He explained that forces." Unlike chc pornog Rambam, and Shulamil at the resolved was centered raphy resolved which was lended. The debates were.held about the National Endowment hailed with an ouccry over lack in various rooms 1hroughout (continued on page 3) for che Arts• funding of art that of tzniyut, this new resolved the school, during the after is considered obscene or por was accepted by all seven noon following G.O elections. nographic. Dr. Berkowitz, reams and also addressed the Despite the efforts of Rarnaz's faculty adviser to the team, issue of separation of powers. team, Shulamit and MTA prevailed in a first place tic. rema,ked, "I was very dishear-
Debate Team Creates League _Cc;mtrover$y
Inside this Issue:
Lag B'Omer Brings Battle to Park
by Ellan Plasse and Pia Spllke
In an effort to provide an out let for the excess stress at Ramaz, the G.O. sponsored a "Battle of che Classes" on Lag B'Omer, May 18. Preparation for th,:: event began in early ' March when lhe G.O. met with the adminiscration in order 10 assemble a program that would be both relaxing and educalion al for the students. While the original proposal was to hold an unscructured field day i n Ccncral Park, the adminiscra cion feared that disorganization would cause logistical problems. The allcrnacive of a long-<listance crip would prove to be overly cxpcn.sive and in efficient. G.O. Treasurer Rachel Far bian came up With a solution lo these potential problems in the form of the "Baltic of the Clas ses." This program was in tended to provide the students with a sense of class pride through a healthy and educa tional medium. Although Rabbi Bakst fully supported the G.O. in its vencurc, other mem bers of the adminiscration were still hesitant Therefore, the G.O. decided to make certain (conrinu,d on pag, 4)
Riklis to Head New G.O. Slate by Ariella Dzlk
Oklahoma Bombing
p.3 Arts Page p.4
Annual G.O elections took place on directly linked these issues, saying that the Tuesday, May 23rd. During an A.M. as Jailer problem results from the former. sembly, each candidace for the offices of There was a consensus among 1he canpresident, senior vice prcsidenl,junior vice didates chat the solutions to the aforcmen-. president, secretary. and treasurer, lioned problem lay in student evaluation of delivered a short speech wherein views of teachers, and strict adherence to the lhe school's problems, as well as proposed "evaluacive experience rule." Further more, according to JVP candidate Michael solutions, were prescnled. The assembly began with chc words of Gerber, teachers should be required to outoging G.O Presidenl Ben u:bwohl. return one essay before assigning another. He spoke of the large responsibility of the The school's "obligation" to take ad G.O, as well as its past accomplishments. vanlage of its location in the center of New The start of the hashkama minyan, the G.O York City also became a focus of many of box for student voices, and Che estab the candidates. Suggestions were made 10 lishment ofRosh Chodcsh simcha dancing hold Spring gym classes in Ccncral Park. were among tl1e many successes. Ariel Also, the call for more school-wide lrips to Simon, che depaning senior vice presidenl, 1hca1cr productions and museums was repeacedly stared. According to SVP can Chen introduced the candidaces. Many candidates addressed similar is didace Eli Gurock, learning through first sues, agreeing thac n lack of communica hand obscrvacion can often be more educn lion becwcen s1uden1s and faculty, and lionally effective chan studying maccrials lagging school spirit arc among Ramaz·s from 1ex1books and should chcrcfore be most pressing problems. The candidaccs instituted on a more regular basis.
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Among the other original proposals, making e-mail available to all students, inviting unaffiliated Jews to Ramaz chagigot, and demanding discounts al stores frequented by studencs received much applause. Jordanna Riklis' promise for more snow days greatly amused the crowd. The winners of the elections which took place via secret ballot, were: Jordanna Rilc lis as president, Josh Zable as SVP, Micheal Gerber as JVP, Jonathan Gribctz as secretary, and Yoni Schwartz as treasurer. 'The newly elecccd G.O official ly took office on Tuesday, June 6th, and hoed ics first meecing at che conclusion of thal day. One form IV student commented chat the eleccion "went well because the can didaces took it seriously." Mr. Rochlin concurred, remarking chat the election process has slowly progressed toward a (continued on page 4)