Yeshiva University Fires Akiva Roth

Yeshiva University just fired Akiva Roth, who had previously pleaded guilty to charges related to the sexual abuse of two preteen boys but was hired this year by YU anyway.

Tablet Magazine reports:

Yeshiva University has let Roth go, stating that he had begun teaching before their screening process was complete. Here’s their official statement:

After an extensive review of this matter, Mr. Roth is no longer employed by the University. To our knowledge, he has not engaged in any inappropriate conduct during his time at YU. While all appointments are subject to thorough background checks, the University erred in this case, permitting the new hire to begin teaching before the screening process had been completed. Yeshiva University will continue to re-evaluate its hiring processes and work to close any gaps in our procedure.

5 Akiva Roth Scandal Posts:

YU Hires Pedophile Son Of Former JTS Head To Teach Students

Admitted Pedophile Taught At Conservative Movement's Flagship School

Conservative Movement's Flagship School Admits Molester Was On Staff For 4 Years

The Lies Of The Jewish Daily Forward

A Bit Of Media Bias From The Jewish Daily Forward?

Comments

[MonseyLuke]

Score !

Luke.

[Jason]

"Yeshiva University will continue to re-evaluate its hiring processes and work to close any gaps in our procedure."

I find it incredible that YU, in the immediate aftermath of the investigation and report into lax procedures that allowed Finkelstein and Gordon to prey on kids, still has "gaps" in their procedures. You would think everything would now be locked down tight. Is it too much trust in people wearing kippot? Arrogance? Incompetence? Or something else? In any accountable organization, people would be fired (aside from Mr. Roth).

[S M L]

Their reputation's shot - this is way too late, too long overdue.

[ah-pee-chorus]

+++permitting the new hire to begin teaching before the screening process had been completed.++++

oh my.....the difference between a 'screen' and a 'filter' is that a screen is meant to keep things from ever gaining entrance while a filter removes unwanted items that are already present. when you allow a guy to teach before screening is complete what youre really saying is that you have no screening process at all.
if said 'screening' process doesnt alert you to a criminal conviction within an hour, then you might as well not have one and do your hiring directly from a list of registered sex offenders.

[ah-pee-chorus]

+++ In any accountable organization, people would be fired (aside from Mr. Roth).

Posted by: Jason +++

true. some high level people must be fired if not joel himself.

[Jason]

"true. some high level people must be fired if not joel himself."

Agreed. If you are the twelfth highest paid university president in the US, and especially if you are also president of a religious institution, you have increased obligations to your constituents, who in this case include the YU family and the larger Orthodox community. If you cannot run your university like one of the big boys, then you do not deserve your salary and should be fired. What ever happened to the buck stopping with the top man?

[Jason]

And then, this, which surely justifies a mega-salary for the university president:

For the third time in two years, Moody’s, the credit ratings service, has downgraded Yeshiva University’s debt, citing the school’s deep operating deficits, weak cash flow and uncertainty about a pending $380 million lawsuit filed against it.

Just a few years ago, Moody’s gave Y.U. a healthy Aa3 credit rating.

Read more: http://forward.com/articles/185417/yeshiva-us-credit-rating-downgraded-by-moodys-as/#ixzz2hQgDIFgx

[ah-pee-chorus]

Jason-

excellent point. the usual justification for the high salaries of head guys at non=profits and schools is their success at improving the institutions financial condition thru fund raising and responsible management. a massive lawsuit, slashing of bond rating and irresponsible hiring runs counter to all that and removes those justifications.

[Jason]

Jewish communal organizations have become just another way of funneling money to insiders who get rich off of running non-profits. Just look at the list of highest paid communal "leaders." Dozens of them make hundreds of thousands of dollars for running tiny organizations. Does the Foundation for Jewish Camp, with 31 employees, really justify nearly half a million dollars to its head?

[Danny]

Good for them,who needs this fool anyway he was not such a big metziah anyway.