On Friday March 1st, students in the Honors English Class taught by Dr. Fred Sugarman, associate dean of Yeshiva College, enjoyed a unique experience outside of the classroom.
Having recently read and discussed Walt Whitman’s monumental poem, Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, the students visited the very same East River views that inspired the famous poet. As Dr. Eliezer Schnall, director of the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program at Yeshiva College explained, “In a class centered on American individualism, the waters served as no mere pedagogical realia for the students. Rather, their reenactment of Whitman’s assumption of the universe into his person played a vital role in their understanding of the radical individualism that he embodies.”
For Abe Schoen ‘25YC, the trip “was a unique opportunity to both appreciate the beauty of the city and of Whitman’s poetry, bringing the words we read to life.” Beyond the direct experience of the encounter with the waters of the East River, the class also appreciated the monumental architectural aspects of the Brooklyn Bridge. “The students enjoyed the trip immensely, which gave them a further appreciation for the content of their Honors course,” added Dr. Schnall. “We are fortunate to have so many cultural and historical venues near our campus for the students to visit, learn from and experience up close.”
