As many of you may already know, Dr. Edgar Bendor, the husband of long time faculty member Dr. Susan Bendor died last week. I had the privilege of attending the funeral service on Sunday. What a wonderful gift to be able to be present for someone who has been so active in teaching bereavement counseling during her tenure at this university.
For those of you who would like to make a shiva call, she and her family are sitting on 3/30/2009, 3/31/2009, and 4/1/2009 at her home.

Details can be obtained by contacting my office
212-960-0127
or the mail office
212-960-0800

Toronto Alumni Gather to Discuss Ceremonial Violence as a societal phenomenon

On March 8, 2009, Roslyn '72 and Ben Schultz opened their home to Toronto Area alumni for a presentation and discussion by Dr. Jonathan Fast '99 of :

CEREMONIAL VIOLENCE:

A Psychological Explanation of the School Shootings.

(2008, Overlook)

D.Harvey '06 (l) R.Schultz '72 (r)

Dr Fast provided particpants a list of seminal articles which he informed his research in advance of this presentation. During the discussion alumni were encouraged to include material from their own practice as they asked questions and responded to the speaker. Participants represented a wide variety of social work practitioners, which included but was not limited to individuals working with children and adolescents. All present expressed a desire to become more familiar with this phenomenon which is a pervasive contemporary social issue.

Dr Jonathan Fast '99

The Alumni Book Discussion groups was an idea presented by Roz, who felt she and other Toronto area alumni would enjoy the opportunity to participate in academic reading opportunites. Selected Wurzweiler faculty will assemble reading relevant reading lists which will be available by email to interested alumni. A topic for the next meeting , planned for June 2009, is in process. Interested alumni should email Mark Miller : cmmiller@yu.edu, with thoughts and feed back.

Alumni meet with Dr. Fast.