Articles by Miriam Renz

The Stigma Against Satisfaction: Looking at Women’s Sexual Health Through the Ages

By Miriam Renz • Published: May 9, 2017 • Comment ()
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There is a variety of topics that the discussion of which is considered to be taboo in Modern Orthodox Judaism. From questions regarding belief in God to eating at non-kosher restaurants but keeping a kosher kitchen at home, there is no shortage of hushed conversations and hidden actions. One topic that is avoided or, at […]

The Eight Best Study Spots at Stern

By Miriam Renz • Published: March 3, 2017 • Comment ()

As midterms are almost upon us here at Stern College, it is time to locate the ideal study spots that will keep us focused (and sane) throughout the turmoil that is the exam season. Though by this point in the year one can hope to have found the perfect study spot on campus, I often […]

Feminist Club’s Mural Destroyed

By Miriam Renz • Published: February 16, 2017 • Comment ()
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Just one week ago a new club was created at YU — the Yeshiva University Feminists Club. The club’s Facebook page asks, “Are you a YU Student? Are you a feminist? Then you’ve come to the right place.” Tonight, presumably during the popular intercampus event, Stomp Out the Stigma, posters and pictures were hung on […]

Coverage of the Battery Park Protest

By Miriam Renz • Published: February 4, 2017 • Comment ()
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NEW YORK. This past Sunday, January 29th, a protest was held in response to President Trump’s recent executive order to ban incoming immigrants, a ban that specifically targets Muslim refugees. After a tumultuous day at the JFK Airport, with several passengers being detained and questioned, this protest came together quickly and hosted a variety of […]

Having the Menstruation Conversation, Period.

By Miriam Renz • Published: January 1, 2017 • Comment ()
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Recently, New York removed what came to be known as the ‘tampon tax,’ a former luxury tax that was applied when someone would purchase menstrual pads or tampons. The controversy surrounding this tax was in regard to the idea that feminine hygiene products fall within the category of a ‘luxury’ item, in contrast to items […]

Family and the Reframing of American Law

By Miriam Renz • Published: December 1, 2016 • Comment ()
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There is common agreement that a “frat culture” exists amongst a variety of exclusively male communities. Whether it be depicted on sitcoms like Greek or during political campaigns, it is clear that such a culture is vibrant and encouraged amongst young (and even older) men. Though there may be camaraderie within female groups, there is […]

Autumnal Tints: An Essay for Thanksgiving

By Miriam Renz • Published: December 1, 2016 • Comment ()
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I am home and I am quieted, yet awakened, by the falling leaves of my New England town’s trees. Looking through my bedroom window, I see the creamy-orange carpet of leaves that now cover the entirety of my backyard: “Autumn,” they say. Tonight is Thanksgiving dinner, and my parents have invited over fifteen people to […]

Ansel Adams

By Miriam Renz • Published: November 2, 2016 • Comment ()
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Before social media was the common forum for sharing and reflecting on others’ photographs and artwork, artists and photographers struggled to find publishers, gallery openings, and patrons, among the many avenues of publicity. One artist who experienced this pre-digital age struggle in the art world was Ansel Adams. A San Francisco-born child of financially unstable […]

The History of American Voting Laws

By Miriam Renz • Published: November 2, 2016 • Comment ()
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As citizens of modern America, the right to vote appears to be intrinsic in our roles as humans. Regardless of race, class, gender, or religion, we are encouraged and privileged to participate in the act of shaping collective political opinions. However, within this collective thought process, there is a consciousness of recent voting restrictions that […]

“A Nod To Tradition:” An Interview with Lone Soldier and Recent Memoirist, Jonathan Sidlow

By Miriam Renz • Published: October 1, 2016 • Comment ()
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I recently spoke with Yeshiva College student, Jonathan Sidlow, about his experience in the Israel Defense Force as a Lone Soldier. Sidlow recently published a memoir, What Was Once a Dream— a journalistic collection that graphically and vibrantly paints a picture of his military service which culminated during the summer of Operation Protective Edge. The […]