The University will launch the new International Investigative Journalism Program with an opening ceremony featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Thomas Friedman '75 on Oct. 18.Florence Graves, the investigative reporter who exposed the sexual misconduct of Bob Packwood, a former U.S. senator from Oregon, will head the program. She is also a resident scholar at the Women's Studies Research Center (WSRC).

According to Graves, the program is expected to serve as an institute where selected students work closely on research with investigative journalists.

The program will be based in the new Abraham Shapiro Academic Center. Graves said efforts to recruit working journalists as instructors are underway.

"Justice Brandeis is famous in many journalistic and political circles for his sage quote, 'Sunlight is the best disinfectant.' Our work will be guided by this quote," Graves said.

Graves said the program was made possible by a $1 million donation by Jerry and Elaine Schuster of Chestnut Hill.

"This is an extraordinarily generous gift, and we are very grateful to them for the opportunity it provides us," Graves said.

Graves said the program will give students a chance to experience the field firsthand. She also said students enrolled in the existing journalism curriculum will be able to complete their internship requirement through the new program, with the approval of Prof. Michael Socolow, who heads the journalism program.

"In the process of assisting journalists with their projects, students will be exposed to basic and advanced reporting methods, how journalists resolve ethical dilemmas, and learn about the impact of investigative reporting can have on society," Graves said.

Graves also said students may apply to become paid researchers through the Women's Studies Research Center's Student-Scholar Partnership Program, available to male and female students.

"We select students based on their written applications and their answer to questions that are designed to bring out their experience, skills and interests," Graves said. "Students don't have to be part of the Journalism Program to be chosen."

Socolow, who said he is affiliated with the new program, said he was happy about the journalism program's expansion over the past few years.

"Student interest in journalism has taken off significantly through the years...this could be seen as the administration supporting the journalism program's growth," Socolow said.

Rochelle Sharpe, another investigative reporter who worked with Graves to implement the program, will be its senior scholar. Sharpe has worked for The Wall Street Journal, Business Week and USA Today, where she focused on investigating social issues.

"I can't wait to work with Brandeis students and share my passion for this important work," Sharpe said. "I look forward to helping students learn investigative techniques and uncovering important stories with them."

They plan to teach an introductory Investigative Journalism course next year, when the program begins. Graves said other possible courses include Legal Research Methods. But she said the program must first develop further before additional courses can be introduced.

University President Jehuda Reinharz said he was hopeful for the new program. He also said the program's implementation was timely because of the high demand from students interested in investigative journalism.

Reinharz also said that to the best of his knowledge, there are not many undergraduate investigative journalism programs and found it appropriate for Graves to head this endeavor.

"She knows the field well and it just seems opportune to do it and I'm sure there will be a lot of interest," Reinharz said.

Hadar Sayfan '07, who is a research assistant at the WSRC and is working on the International Investigative Journalism Program, said that Brandeis-"such a socially active campus"-will welcome a program that raises awareness of current political and social issues.

"I think that it's really exciting that [the program is] at Brandeis because we have a history of being very socially active and this is in the spirit of the people who founded the school," Sayfan said.

Graves said that she anticipates the program will enrich student knowledge about current affairs and allow them to cover them properly in the media.

"The Brandeis program will be one of a small group of independent reporting centers that are working to help fill the increasing void in the American media," Graves said. "We want to help students learn more about investigative reporting and its vital contribution to a vibrant, functioning democracy.