At last week's "Hang out with the Dean" event, students were invited to relax and mingle with select administrators in an effort to relieve some of the stress and tension inherent in college life. This event was characteristic of the close-knit community that many at Brandeis value. We appreciate the administration's effort to reach out to students by playing a more active role in engaging in students' lives.

The event allowed students to mingle with administrators including Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer, Associate Dean of Student Life Maggie Balch and Director of Student Rights and Community Standards Dean Gendron. In the midst of the anxiety and pressure of midterms, the event provided students with a safe place to alleviate their stress.

Students' everyday interaction with the administration is usually limited to occasional town hall meetings, office hours and, most recently, feedback sessions on the newly released framework of the strategic plan.

We appreciate that this event demonstrates a new effort by the administration to directly engage with students to build a rapport with the community.

While the attendance at the event was less than impressive, we hope that with repeated similar efforts by the administration, the student body will respond enthusiastically. To further engage students, the administrators could orchestrate a game night where students can more casually interact with administrators.

Moreover, perhaps moving the event into students' dormitory lounges, such as the Polaris Lounge or Ridgewood Commons, would help further integrate the administration into student life. Melding these two spheres of campus life will only encourage a more open and productive relationship.

While the University thrives in part because of its intimate campus and close community, there remains a distance between students and the administration. This distance is not too far, however, and we encourage administrators to more frequently reach out to support and help the student body.

Promoting accessibility between the administration and the students helps to continue fostering a healthy work and learning environment.