By Yanna Krupnikov
Justice Editorial Board

The student body has officially, if indirectly, declared that Professor Jyl Lynn Felman (WMNS) should remain at Brandeis.

In a vote with an unprecedent high voter rate, students voted “yes” on a referendum which asks the University to give Felman a teaching contract, and thus retain her as a professor. The vote took place on Dec.6 and according to Union President Joshua Peck, 371 students voted for the referendum, 315 voted against and 93 abstained.

This means that out of 979 students who voted, 58 percent voted for the referendum, making the opinion voiced in the referendum the official opinion of the student body.

“I think some people voted ëyes’ because they had experienced Professor Felman’s classes and realize what a powerful presence she is in the Brandeis community,” Nora Cundy ‘01, one of the organizers of the referendum, said in an e-mail.

This vote, like the past several union votes was conducted over the Internet, and each side had the opportunity to present a set of concise arguments for their case.

Jonathan Abbet ‘01, who compiled the arguments for the opposing side could not be reached for comment at this time.

Despite the passage of the referendum, Felman’s fate now lies in the hands of University administrators, namely Dean of Arts and Sciences Jessie Ann Owens.

Owens has recently announced the Women’s Studies department will be conducting a national search for a new director of the program.

This position was left open after Professor Shulamit Reinharz (SOC), the former director of the program, accepted a position as the director of the new Women’s Research Center. Owens explained that while the student opinion will certainly be taken into account, it will not eclipse the other facets involved in conducting this search.

“It will be a factor, but it cannot be the only factor,” she said.

“I am glad to have the official statement of the student body,” she added.

However, Cundy explained that the open position is not one for which Felman will be able to apply.

“We were dissapointed to find that this position...will be senior level and (will be) cross-listed with the English Department,” she wrote.

Although this is a set-back for the students struggling to retain Felman at Brandeis, Cundy wrote that she plans to continue meeting with professors and administrators to discuss the available options.

Peck has also said that the Union Senate will work hard to ensure that the official opinion of the student body is followed.

This input from the Union Senate is somthing that Cundy said she appreciates.

“I think having the senate involved will be an asset since they have good established relationships with the administration and they are familiar with the workings of the decision making,” she wrote.

“Hopefully we will be able to pull together once the semester gets underway and decide where we should go from here,” she added.

Cundy wrote that she hopes the passage of the referendum will keep the lines of communication open between students and the administration in order to find a way to retain Felman at the University.