The Rabbi and The Rebbetzin (18 page)

Sparks
began to fly in Shulamit’s brain. What better way is there, she asked herself,
to follow Goldstein’s advice to become known on campus? Even if she didn’t win
the election, losing candidates also achieved popularity. She was challenged by
the opportunity and decided to make a run for it. At Buffalo she had not been
active in student government, but the situation here was different than in
Philadelphia. Aside from helping her grades, it might entitle her to an article
in the University of Pennsylvania Law Review, which would advance her career
opportunities. The U-Penn law review was one of the most-cited law journals in
the world.

When
finished at the dean’s office, she drove back to her apartment. Clara Hopkins had
been working all day unpacking her clothes. She filled up the closets in Shulamit’s
bedroom rather quickly and hung the remaining garments in the empty bedroom.
Shulamit devoted several hours to explaining to Clara matters of her dress and
style. Mrs. Shapiro had already prepared a meat dinner for her which was very
tasty. She ate with relish because she was quite hungry. After dinner, she
unpacked her computer equipment and supplies and Bernie Kleinman helped her
install the devices.

Shulamit
drew up a plan for her election campaign, making a list of what had to be done.
The first item that she prepared was a nominating petition with room for twenty
signatures on the first page. The text read: “We, the undersigned, herewith
nominate Ms. Shula Levine for the office of president of the incoming class of
the University of Pennsylvania Law School.” She also had extra pages to attach
to the first page if the number of signatures exceeded twenty. On each page there
was room for the student’s social security number and his name. She then
carefully laid out a poster that she could distribute to passersby. All these
documents had to be held in readiness until school opened.

Campaign
buttons would take her a little longer to produce. Her telephones were already
installed and she had a directory which listed producers of buttons and badges.
The buttons she designed were of a medium size and contained the inscription:

A
smaller button was also ordered and that read only:

The
badges were in plastic wrappers each containing a white card saying:

Shulamit
ordered 100 badges and 200 large buttons and 300 small buttons. To avoid any
errors she set a time to examine proofs of the new material. She next went to a
nearby print shop and ordered her campaign posters. Each sheet contained
Shulamit’s picture and a brief autobiography.

The
following morning, September 5
^th
, Shulamit attached the law school
identity sticker to the window of her sports car and asked Bernie to drive her
to school. With her sticker on, he would be able to enter the campus without
any obstructions. She then asked him to pack in a bridge table together with
the buttons, badges and posters. She also included some yogurt and cottage
cheese for lunch.

Bernie
entered the campus and parked as near to the courtyard as possible. He then
unpacked the items from the car and put them on a bench facing the entrance to
the law school. He unfolded the table in front of the building. Attached to the
front side of the table was a poster which read: “Shula Levine for President.”
She had secured the poster from the sign painter downtown.

Although
instruction was supposed to start on Wednesday, there were no classes held
until the following Monday. The first few days before classes were devoted to
orientation programs, registration, course selection and purchasing of texts at
the bookstore.

Clara
had dressed Shulamit in a stunning business suit. When Shulamit had arrived on
campus, the women students she saw were dressed in slacks and sweaters while
the men were wearing jeans, except for a few who wore slacks and sports jackets.
She realized she was overdressed, but for a campaigner for president of a law
school, she would not look ridiculous. Of course, she would have to have a talk
with Clara about the dress styles at the school.

Shulamit
looked around the courtyard and noticed a group of four girls sitting on a
bench. She went over to them and asked if they would like to earn some money. Some
of the girls did not take her for a student and asked what she had in mind. She
explained that she was running for class president and needed some campaign
workers to help her with the work. She promised each girl $50 for three hours
of work on the condition that they wouldn’t tell anyone that they were being
paid.

The
girls agreed and came over to her table. She introduced herself as Shula Levine
and outlined the procedure. Two girls would stand to her right and two on the
left. When the first girl on the right hand would notice someone approaching
the table, she would ask them if they would like to meet Shula Levine, the Campus
Queen. When they agreed to do so, she would ask them for their name and their state
of residence. The girl near her on the right would overhear the answer and
whisper the name to Shula. The first girl would address Shula and say, “I would
like you to meet Joe Smith from Texas.” Shula would get a big smile ready and
say in an enticing voice, “Good morning, Joe, I would like to welcome you to
the campus. Tell me, how are things in Texas these days?” The man found Shula’s
greeting enticing and sometimes would extend their hand for a handshake.

She
would then wish the visitor good luck in his studies and hand him a copy of her
nominating petition which she asked him to sign. She made it clear that he was
not committing himself to vote for her, but he was just giving her a chance to
compete for the office of president.

When
one page of her petition was filled, she switched it for a new petition page
that was blank. It wasn’t long before she filled up two pages with a total of
forty names. She then directed the signer to the girls on the left. The first
girl would ask him if he would like to have a big button, a little one, or
both. Depending on his desire she awarded the buttons.

The
girl behind her handed the man a flyer outlining the complete biography of
Shulamit Levine. The flyer explained that Shula was running for president of
the freshman class. It included her academic standing, her extracurricular work,
and mentioned her musical and oratorical skills. It contained a message that
she would organize a student government which would work hard to make life on
the campus as pleasant as possible. On the flyer was the best picture that she
had of herself.

Shulamit confronts Dr.
Woodson.

William Mazer concedes
election to Shulamit.

A
few minutes after 12:00 noon, one of the men advised her that Professor David
Woodson had just come out of the building and was heading for her table. Dr. Woodson
was a senior faculty member and a specialist in civil rights. When he arrived
at the table he asked, “Who is this Shula Levine?”

Shulamit
stood up and said, “I am Shula Levine, Professor.”

“May
I ask what you are doing here?”

Shulamit
answered, “I am gathering nomination signatures on my petition so that I may
qualify to run for president of the incoming class.”

“Who
gave you the right to do so?” Woodson asked. “Do you realize that you are
disturbing the dignity of this law school?”

“I
have the implied permission of the dean of students,” Shulamit said in a loud
voice, so that the twenty people who were gathered near her table could hear
her clearly. “He handed me a document that spoke of the elections and stated
that I needed ten nominating signatures to be eligible. I inferred from that
that I was free to campaign to secure the requisite signatures so that I would
qualify to seek office.” With that, she pulled out the printed notice that was
in her registration package.

“Your
inference may or may not be correct, but I do not think that it allows you to
set up your campaign office in the courtyard in front of the law school.”

Shulamit
was getting more excited by the minute, and by raising her voice she was
attracting more students to the area. She responded to the professor. “There
are some totalitarian states in this world that claim that they permit
elections in their country but when anyone tries to campaign in opposition to
the governing party, they arrest them or sometimes shoot them.”

“Young
lady,” the professor cried angrily. “Are you comparing our great democracy in
the United States to some unprincipled dictatorships?”

“God
forbid,” Shulamit responded. “I am doing nothing of the sort. I am only comparing
University of Pennsylvania Law School to such states. You announce free
elections, but then inhibit the candidates from securing of nominations to
qualify. How can I run for election if you won’t let me secure my signatures
for a nomination?”

One
of the students who was listening started to applaud Shulamit’s statement. As
other students present heard the first applause, they joined in applauding and
cheering.

Woodson
was quite disturbed by the demonstration. “Listen, young lady,” he said in
anger. “If you need signatures, that is entirely your problem. You are not free,
however, to disturb the peace on this campus.” Just as he finished, the student
who had been first to applaud now started to boo the professor, and many others
joined in.

Shulamit
realized that she was treading on thin ice by screaming at a senior professor.
She quieted down the students who were booing and said in a less strained voice,
“With all due respect, Professor, I want you to know that by hampering my
campaign for president of my class, you are causing me a tangible loss. The
value of information to the effect that I was a president of my class in law
school would considerably enhance my resume and advance my career immeasurably.
More important is the fact that you are depriving me of my basic right of
freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.”

“Listen,
kid, don’t talk to me about civil rights. Before you were born I published three
major books on that subject.”

“I
know, Professor. I happened to have read all three of them. I know your
position that freedom of speech is not an absolute right. I’ve also reviewed
the Schenck vs. United States case of 1919. It was then that Justice Oliver
Wendell Holmes claimed that ‘Shouting fire in a crowded theater’ is not a
proper exercise of freedom of speech. I sincerely trust that my becoming
president of the incoming class does not pose a clear and present danger to the
university.”

After
a brief smattering of applause, Woodson said, “I am not so sure of that.” After
a few boos he continued, “I’ve had enough of your impudence. I am ordering you
to leave the courtyard within the next two minutes and take your junk with you.”

Shulamit
quickly asked him, “Or else?”

Woodson
answered immediately, “Or else I’m going right to the president of the law
school, and I’m demanding that he expel you from this institution.”

The
boos exploded spontaneously. In total exasperation, Woodson screamed, “I cannot
understand how the university admitted so much riffraff to the school this
year.” He turned his back on Shulamit and walked towards the administrative
offices.

Shulamit
sat down and noticed that the dean of students was entering the main building.
Behind him was a student running to catch up with him. The young man, whom
Shulamit had noticed earlier in the crowd, had heard the professor’s vile
remarks and was apparently running to tell the dean of students about it. After
a brief conversation, the young man came out of the building and rejoined the
crowd.

The
president, who was watching the scene from his window, noticed the dean of
students and Professor Woodson walking to the building. He quickly instructed
his secretary to hold Woodson in the outer office until he could talk to the dean
of students.

The
dean explained to the president that it was Shulamit Levine who was arguing
with Professor Woodson − the girl who was the subject of the email he had
sent to the president earlier. Not only was she Abe Levine’s daughter, but she ranked
first in academic standing in the incoming class. “Woodson should have been
more discreet before calling a girl like Shulamit and her classmates riffraff.
Webster defines ‘riffraff’ as worthless or disreputable elements of society;
rabble. Shulamit, the millionairess, is the last person in the world that I
would call worthless. As far as the rest of the class is concerned, this is the
highest ranking class academically that we have ever had at the university.”

The
dean took a seat, and the president signaled his secretary to admit Professor
Woodson. Woodson was still fuming when he entered the office. “Sit down, David,”
he said to the professor, “and calm down. Clearly, you are no match for
Shulamit Levine. Let me brief you on the importance of not belittling a person
before you know all the facts. We now have in this school the highest-ranking
academic class than we have ever had before. The highest-ranking student in the
class is one Shulamit Levine, and I doubt that you will find any other student
in the entire school who has read your three books cover to cover.

“What
is more important, she is the daughter of the computer genius Dr. Abe Levine,
the sole owner of Telacomp. Levine just turned down an offer of a hundred
million dollars for his company. Our fundraising department is already drooling
at the prospect of getting Levine to subsidize a new facility for the law
school. If, because you called her riffraff, impudent and arrogant, Levine
declines to donate any money to the university, I will hold you responsible.
Not only will I accept your resignation, but I will demand it. Furthermore, she
was absolutely right in her actions. You have no basis to deprive her of her
right to free speech and no authority whatsoever to chase her out of the courtyard.
If word gets out that we are hindering the students from electing a governing
body, we will be the laughing stock of all the universities in the United
States.

The
enormity of his blunders began to dawn on Professor Woodson. He admitted that
he wasn’t aware who Shula Levine was, and he was wrong in harassing her.

The
president was not placated by Woodson’s lame admission. “It is not sufficient
to apologize to me. Tomorrow morning when she sits down in the courtyard to
campaign, you are to go over to her and apologize for intimidating her and for
all the vulgar adjectives with which you described her. You are to tell her
that she is welcome to campaign where ever she feels necessary and that the
university has no rules prohibiting such action.”

With
head bowed, Professor Woodson left the presidential suite. The president
thereupon put on his jacket and went down to speak to Shulamit. Word had spread
through the school and large numbers of students were lined up to sign her
nominating petition. More than a hundred students had already done so. The
students were familiar with the president from his picture in the school
brochures and cleared the way for him.

“Good
afternoon, Shula,” the president said. “How is your campaign going?” Before she
could answer, he added, “I would sign your petition too and even vote for you,
but I am not eligible to do so. If you are elected president, I will cooperate
with you and with your student government to the fullest extent possible.”

“My
thanks to you, President Crawford. My campaign is doing quite well and I have
enough signatures to stand for election. I am sorry that I antagonized one of
the professors, but I feel that I was on solid legal ground.”

“You
certainly were, Shulamit, and I am asking the dean of students to put a note on
the student bulletin board that students running for elections may campaign in
the courtyard or in any other place where they are not creating a disturbance
to others.” To a round of applause and cheers, the president returned to his
office.

Shulamit
was back in the courtyard early next morning and set up her equipment. Waiting
for her when she arrived was none other than Professor Woodson.

“Good
morning, Ms. Levine,” he said. “I wish to speak to you about yesterday’s
misunderstanding. I exceeded my authority in ordering you to vacate the courtyard
and I described your behavior somewhat impolitely. I am apologizing to you for
some of the things I said and I hope you will forgive me. You may continue with
your campaigning in the courtyard.”

Shulamit
answered softly, “I accept your apology and there are no hard feelings left.
Some people become overzealous in protecting their beliefs and they make
statements that they later regret. I did enjoy reading your books and I must
admit they were written with skill and erudition.”

“Thank
you, Ms. Levine,” Professor Woodson said. “By the way, I see that one of your
opponents in the election has already followed your example and has also set up
shop.” Woodson pointed to the other side of the courtyard about fifty feet away,
where a tall young man had opened a card table and was placing material upon
it.

Shulamit
asked Professor Woodson if he knew the name of her competitor. “I happen to
know his name. He is Bill Mazer, and he is the one who reported my erroneous
words to the dean of students.”

 Shulamit
stood up and walked over to Mazer’s table. She had left her own table in care
of her campaign workers who had returned for another day of assisting Shulamit.
Unlike the first day, the girls were so inspired by Shulamit’s strong defense
of her campaign that they volunteered to work for nothing. When she reached
Mazer’s table, she leaned over and said, “Good morning, Bill. How is your
campaign coming along?”

Mazer
gave her a sad look. “I’m sorry to say it was overwhelmed by your dynamic
efforts and personality. Word of your exploits has spread all over the campus
and today you will attract big mobs to your table.

“As
you can see, I have not prepared actively for my campaign. I printed off one
leaflet on my PC printer and a nomination petition form. I am sitting here
waiting for the best. As of now, I only have nine signatures on the form, so I
am not even qualified to run for office.”

“I
am awfully sorry to hear that,” Shulamit said. “Let me see your petition.” When
he handed her the petition, she took out a pen and signed her name on the tenth
line. “I am not eligible to sign my own petition, but there is nothing that
says that I am not allowed to sign yours.” So saying, she returned the document
to him.

“How
come you knew my name?” He asked her.

“Our
friend Professor Woodson gave me your name,” she answered.

“I
saw you talking to him before, but since you were both quiet, I couldn’t hear
any of his invective.”

 “There
wasn’t any,” she said. “He was docile as a lamb and apologized profusely.”

“I
see that the dean of students had put a note up on the student board allowing
us to campaign anywhere. I owe my presence here to your bravery. Tell me,” he
added. “How come you were so well prepared for your campaign?”

Shulamit
answered him by quoting a verse from Proverbs which says: “Go to the ant, thou
sluggard… She prepares her bread in the summer so that she will have what to
eat in the winter.”

“Wow,”
Mazer said. “Not only do you read Woodson’s drivel, but you’re a biblical
scholar as well. You certainly are a formidable opponent.”

Shulamit
thanked him for his compliment and told him she had to go back to her campaign
station where a line was beginning to form. She returned to her work and
secured another forty signatures. She assigned one of her workers to deliver
the signed petitions to the dean of students. When the pages were added to the
document that was delivered to the dean the day before, she had accumulated
more than 150 signatures.