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(02/13/12 5:00am)
How real is reality television? I was skeptical of the authenticity of what I saw as tabloid television, until this past summer, when I had the chance to go behind the scenes and see the making of an episode of Redemption Inc., Shark Tank star and billionaire extraordinaire Kevin O'Leary's new show. Thinking of Jersey Shore, The Hills and Survivor, I found that even my friends who religiously follow the lives of Snookie, Lauren Conrad and The Tribes still question the validity of the scenarios and scenes on the shows. Of course, hours upon hours of footage are shot and the producer must maximize the drama and stay true to the concept all in a 45-minute block. As a part of that whittling down, rumors purport that scenes occasionally need to be tweaked or manipulated. Although this may be true for other programs, my experience with Redemption Inc. felt mostly authentic. The show is the brainchild of multi-billionaire entrepreneur Kevin O'Leary and British company Wide Eyed Entertainment and follows 10 recently freed ex-cons as they try to persevere through challenges in hopes of a chance at true redemption with a $100,000 start-up investment along with support and personal mentorship by O'Leary. Over nine episodes and many unique challenges, including taking over a carwash and detailing center, selling charity tickets at a major sporting event and running a swanky art show, contestants are driven to work as a unified team while competing to be top-dog every week. Imagine The Apprentice with a twist and a boss as equally unforgiving and ruthless as Donald Trump. Throughout the series, the ex-cons, convicted for crimes concerning drugs, weapons, abuse and money laundering, are put to the test as team participants and leaders. Unlike any other show, however, each week the weakest participant still gets the chance for some redemption with a package offer including educational scholarships, life-coach training and resources to help them continue to foster their entrepreneurial spirit. The ultimate decision comes down to the last few minutes of the show where the contestant can pick the package and leave the show or risk it all and continue as a contestant without any future considerations. They can keep playing to win, but if they are in the bottom again, they give up any package the next time they lose and go home empty-handed. My experience with Redemption Inc. began much earlier in the summer at a Canadian-based bath, body and cosmetic products company called Upper Canada Soap. I worked in the marketing department as the social media and e-commerce coordinator put in charge of boosting online views while working with a team to help revamp the website. On a day-to-day basis, my work consisted of gathering information on the benefits of ingredients such as maple syrup, goji berry and vanilla for the skin and asking poignant questions to our loyal followers such as: "What is your favorite scent to put on every morning?" and "How do you fight the midweek work blues?" Around mid-July, one of the show's producers contacted Upper Canada Soap with a proposition to make the company a part of a new reality series by designing a challenge for the ex-cons participating in the show. My dad—company President Stephen Flatt—asked me if the show was worth pursuing. I responded with an enthusiastic "YES!" As a regular entertainment enthusiast, the chance to fuse my job with an opportunity for insight into the television world was quite exciting. After signing waivers and conducting a couple creative meetings between the producers, my dad and Director of Marketing Chantelle Tersigni, the details were worked out and filming was ready to begin. The task at hand was for the six remaining contestants to work together to design a product that transcended Upper Canada Soap's female-centric lines, a three-product men's line. They were in charge of every aspect of the super-streamlined two-day product development—from target market, to logo, to fragrance and bottle design. Seeing multiple cameras take over a workplace was one thing, but to actually see the drama unfold was a whole other ballgame. During lunch breaks on both days in the office, I spoke with the contestants and heard a lot of their personal stories and experiences on the show. Somewhat surprisingly, each contestant was frank about his or her background—whether crack dealer or financial schemer—and honestly seemed to want to get the second chance the show promised. We think about society abandoning ex-cons after they do their time, but all of the six people I met legitimately wanted to make their lives—and the world— better. While each of the contestants was extremely nice and appeared fairly down-to-earth off-camera, they still were always thinking about the competition as tensions rose and allegiances started to form. Despite being on a unified team, the feelings of the contestants from day one to day two quickly intensified. All the drama that is seen onscreen from the comfort of your couch is 100 percent true, and they needed to cut out a lot of additional material. I listened to the one-on-one testimonials of the ex-cons between challenge tasks and, at the end of the day, I really got to hear every piece of the puzzle come together while getting inside the minds of the contestants on the show. Seeing the product—labeled "Alpha M"—go from an idea into an actual three-product line in just two days was pretty remarkable, but the true action happened on the final day of the shoot in the Redemption Inc. boardroom. Meeting up with O'Leary, we talked about the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate and I moved to the control room to see where the magic happens. The three days of shooting accumulated over 20 hours of footage overall, and I couldn't wait to see the final product air on television two Mondays ago. After watching the episode, it was surreal reliving what seems to me to be highlights of a lengthy and unique experience behind the scenes. The producer did an excellent job taking the main excitement and making it prevalent while highlighting Upper Canada Soap and all its brand names and products. There were even some twists in the episode that we didn't have the chance to see during the filming process, making it all the more exciting to watch. So how real is reality television? Its entertainment comes not in the situations the contestants face, but in something much more basic—human nature. By pulling up the veil and seeing the good, the bad and the ugly of the entire experience, I not only was able to help be a part of an exciting time for Upper Canada Soap, but I got to re-examine my own relationship with reality television. Now I don't see it as just "tabloid television," despite its inherent voyeuristic nature, but instead a character drama with real people I can support, hate, love and follow. All it took was a little time on the other side of the camera for me to truly understand the synergy that is the "reality" and "television" in the ever-popular medium. Plus, if nothing else, it made for an exciting week at work. Nothing says marketing like an hour on national television.
(02/06/12 5:00am)
At its March meeting, the Board of Trustees will be discussing the budget for the fiscal 2013. The administration will give the board a list of their top-priority projects to which it believes money should be allocated. At the faculty meeting that took place last Thursday, the faculty representative to the Board of Trustees reported that the University has now deferred $170 million in renovations. In light of the upcoming budget decisions, we urge the administration and the Board of Trustees to keep in mind the following renovation projects, as their upkeep greatly affects living standards students: While Usen Castle's primary function on this campus is to house sophomores, it is also an undeniably significant landmark for Brandeis. Built in 1928, it is the oldest building on campus and a major selling point for the Office of Admissions. An article in U.S. News and World Report named the Castle as one of "8 Cool College Dorms." But what Admissions does not tell potential students and what U.S. News does not know is that the Castle is in a serious state of disrepair. In January 2011, multiple students reported that their rooms in the Castle were leaking, and one student reported that "it was raining in my room" in a February 2011 interview with the Justice. Approximately 120 sophomores live in the Castle each year, making it a prominent and unavoidable residence hall for some students. The building is also host to two social venues. Multiple clubs host coffeehouses at Cholmondeley's each semester in order to raise money and awareness for their respective causes. The Punk, Rock n' Roll club and WBRS often bring bands to play at Chum's. Any club can rent the space for whatever use they wish. There is also the Castle Commons where events, meetings, activities and even classes—currently the Peace, Conflict, and Coexistence Studies class "Inner Peace and Outer Peace"—are held. Because the disrepair of the Castle is fairly well known among students, it has become one of the least-desirable dorms on campus. Though it would be a expensive project, it is one that the administration should not put off any longer and make its top priority during 2013 in order to continue housing students in a safe dorm and protect the Castle from falling into disrepair. Other buildings are also in undesirable straits. Another sophomore dorm—East Quad—would benefit from the administration's attention. Though East is not falling apart like the Castle is, students hold it in low esteem. In order to make the dorm that houses the majority of the sophomore class more appealing, bathroom renovations and modern updates should be considered in order to increase the general standard of living in East. This would improve the housing situation for nearly 400 students. Similar repairs should be made in most first-year residence halls updating bathrooms, lighting fixtures and kitchens. The recent interior renovations have made the Charles River Apartments a more desirable dorm. The bathrooms in the Foster Mods were renovated over this past summer. Now that the pool in the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center has been repaired, the administration can turn its attention toward fixing more dorms, because the majority of students live on campus and would benefit tremendously from these upgrades.
(02/06/12 5:00am)
Fencing may not be the most highlighted sport, but as sabreist Zoe Messinger '13 noted, there is only one sport where athletes get to "play with swords."
(02/06/12 5:00am)
Medical Emergency Jan. 31—A reporting party stated that a female who was holding a glass bottle outside Ridgewood A fell, causing a laceration to her hand. University Police and BEMCo responded; the party was treated on-scene with a signed refusal for further care. Feb. 3—University Police received a call that a male in the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center pool was not feeling well, though he was conscious and alert. The police officers on scene reported that the pool water was too hot, and they would be closing the pool for the rest of the evening. BEMCo treated the party with a signed refusal for further care. Feb. 4—BEMCo responded to a report of a cut finger in Sherman Dining Hall. The party was treated on-scene by BEMCo and transported via ambulance to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. Traffic Jan. 31—University Police received a report that a University vehicle hit a wall near the Harlan Chapel on the previous day. The police compiled a report on the accident. Jan. 31—A reporting party stated that he backed up into a parked car. University Police compiled a report on the accident. Feb. 1—A motor vehicle accident was reported in the rear parking lot of the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. BEMCo went to the scene of the accident, and all units were cleared with signed patient refusals on any injuries that may have arisen. The accident involved an Escort van and a sedan. University Police compiled a report. Feb. 1—University Police received a report of a past motor vehicle accident that took place between the Usen Castle and the Usdan Student Center; they compiled a report on the accident. Larceny Feb. 1—A student in the Foster Mods reported that her wallet was stolen from Mod 33. There were no suspects; University Police compiled a report on the theft. Miscellaneous Feb. 2—The community development coordinator reported having made contact with a student in possession of marijuana and smoking materials. University Police confiscated the contraband, and the CDC will seek judicial charges. Feb. 4—University Police assisted the Waltham Police at an off-campus property with an intoxicated female Brandeis student. The student was transported via ambulance to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. —compiled by Marielle Temkin
(02/06/12 5:00am)
The pool in the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center was closed Friday evening after University Police received a report of a person "not feeling well" after swimming in the pool, according to a Feb. 3 police log entry. The entry states that the on-scene officers deemed the temperature of the water "too hot."
(01/30/12 5:00am)
With a lack of University Athletic Association competition during the season, the fencing squads have to use other top schools to see how they stack up against the rest of the nation.
(01/30/12 5:00am)
Although the attention of many American sports fans has been directed toward the upcoming Super Bowl, the United States' Men's and Women's National Soccer teams made a bold statement to fans last week, defeating Panama and Costa Rica respectively.
(01/30/12 5:00am)
After the upperclassmen that built the foundation of the men's and women's ski team graduated last year, the current leaders of the squad expected this year to be one of transition. However, resting at the midpoint of the season, both teams are not only exceeding expectations but are slated to advance to the United States Collegiate Ski Association Regional Competition on Feb. 25-26 at Sugar Loaf Mountain in Maine. The men's team currently sits at second in its division, while the women rest in third place. Coach Lauran O'Neal is pleased with the progress the club has made in her three years of coaching. "We have definitely exceeded all expectations," she said. "Our boys' squad is second in our division, and while we're thin, we're doing an impressive job in spite of that." Captain Jesse Manning '13 has also been impressed with the performance of both squads this season. He especially praises the new members for the many adjustments they have had to make. "We had a lot of turnover at the top, particularly for the girls' team," he said. "A lot of kids who raced before graduated, and now, there is a lot of new blood on the team, but these new skiers have definitely stepped up in the spots that we needed them to fill." The Brandeis ski team currently competes in a division that boasts Yale University, the University of Rhode Island, Marist College, Wellesley College, and Wesleyan University. These schools make up an assortment of Division I and Division III schools. While schools such as Yale and URI may pose challenges to Brandeis' Division III team, Manning is confident in the squads' ability to succeed. "Our division got a little weaker this year, which is beneficial to us," he said. "Also, though, our squads are only getting better, and we have a really young, exciting group of skiers." O'Neal explained, however, that the key to bulding up the team further lies in attracting more members to the team. "Our main goal simply is to raise awareness," she said. "We need to get out to the school that this team is not just for racers, but for those who have never raced and just want to have a good time." Both squads will next compete this Saturday at the Pico Mountain meet in Killington, Vermont.
(01/30/12 5:00am)
Medical Emergency Jan. 26—A student at the main entrance reported having head and neck discomfort. BEMCo treated the student, and the student signed a refusal for further care. Jan. 26—A student in Usen Residence Hall reported feeling dizzy and nauseous. BEMCo and University Police responded, and the party was treated on-scene with a signed refusal for further care. Jan. 27—A reporting party stated that a female in Shapiro Residence Hall had suffered a head injury while playing Frisbee. BEMCo and University Police responded, and the party was treated on-scene with a signed refusal for further care. Jan. 28—A caller reported an intoxicated female at a bus stop on Loop Road. BEMCo and University Police responded, and the party was transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. Jan. 28—A reporting party stated a 22-year-old male was intoxicated and conscious but not alert near the Shapiro Science Center. University Police and BEMCo responded, and the party was transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. Jan. 29—A caller said that she was the on-duty community advisor and that one of her residents may have a broken nose. BEMCo responded and treated the party on-scene with a signed refusal for further care. Traffic Jan. 24—There was an accident reported at a crosswalk off campus; the parties involved exchanged paperwork. University Police assisted both parties, and no further action by the police was taken. Jan. 24—A party reported damage to a University vehicle at the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center. University Police compiled a report on the damage. Disturbance Jan. 26—University Police received a noise complaint in Ridgewood C; they responded and dispersed an unauthorized party taking place. The community development coordinator on call was to handle University Judicial charges. The police compiled a report on the incident. Jan. 26—There was a report of a loud party in the Foster Mods. University Police dispersed the party without incident. Jan. 28—A caller reported a fight in progress in Ziv Quad. University Police responded, but there was no fight in progress upon their arrival. One of the parties was stopped and said that the other person had stolen something from his friend's apartment the previous night. There had been a verbal confrontation. The police compiled a report and took no further action. Jan. 29—There was a registered party taking place after 1 a.m. in the Foster Mods. University Police responded and broke up the party without incident. Larceny Jan. 26—A physics staff member reported that someone had entered his unlocked office and stolen his passport, checkbook and green card. University Police compiled a report on the theft. Miscellaneous Jan. 23—An alumnus had called and harassed the University President's office several times. The matter is under investigation. Jan. 24—A student in Village C reported smelling marijuana in the building. University Police checked the area and were unable to locate the perpetrators. Jan. 28—A caller in the Usen Castle reported letting a suspicious male party into the Castle B tower. The party was described as a heavy-set male with brown hair and pale skin in his mid-to-late 20s smelling strongly of cologne. University Police checked the area but did not find the man. —compiled by Marielle Temkin
(01/23/12 5:00am)
With the official reopening of the pool in the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center this past Saturday, we join the rest of the University community in celebrating the close of a rather dry chapter in Brandeis history. After three years as one of the only top-tier American universities lacking a pool, this editorial board commends the University administration for finally implementing the necessary repairs in order to make the pool once again usable, and we hope that similar projects will be undertaken as needed for other parts of University infrastructure as well. The restoration of the pool now presents all students with an opportunity that had unfortunately been lacking here over the last three years: swimming. We are certainly pleased to see that the Swimming and Diving team will have its varsity status reinstated from its current club status. Furthermore, we encourage all students to take advantage of renewed free swim hours, including certain slots which have been designated single-sex in order to make more students comfortable with pool use. Saturday night's event, "Making Waves: The Brandeis Pool Party," which was co-hosted by the Student Union, Student Events, WBRS, the Department of Athletics and the Department of Student Activities, was quite a success. We thank those groups for their involvement, along with Public Safety, which arranged for shuttles that would allow students a warmer means of getting to the party amid the frigid temperatures. Furthermore, we appreciate the student participation in the charity race took place at the start of the party. The reopening of the pool marks one very positive development for the University, but the factors that led to its initial closing were not unique to the pool. It remains a fact that University facilities require upkeep in order to avoid shutdowns like this one. We are pleased that the University allocated funds to restore and reopen the pool, yet we hope that other facets of the University that are in great need of increased upkeep, such as Usen Castle, also soon receive their much-needed repairs lest they too provisionally fall out of use.
(01/23/12 5:00am)
On a Sunday afternoon during the winter, the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center is usually packed with students and faculty cheering on the Judges' basketball squads.
(01/23/12 5:00am)
Spring semester started with a splash as students dove into the newly renovated pool in the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center Saturday night after it had been in a state of disrepair for over three years.
(01/23/12 5:00am)
In a campuswide email on Jan. 18, Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan wrote that the nearly two-week search for the individual found peering into an occupied shower in the women's locker room in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center has ended, as the individual was identified, interviewed and referred to the University's student judicial process. In an email to the Justice, Director of Student Rights and Community Standards Dean Gendron wrote that "it is not possible to discuss any active conduct matter, nor is it possible to discuss any individual's confidential records," and that the individual's violations of the Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook are private and unable to be published. In an email to the Justice, Callahan explained that "the individual was located through information provided by Community members and the aid of [closed-circuit television] technology." The individual will now have his case heard by the student judicial process. The victim, a graduate student, has not yet pressed charges but is working with Public Safety "relative to this process," wrote Callahan. According to the public safety advisory released on Jan. 6, a man "described as a lanky, 6'3 white male with longish, light brown hair" was seen looking into the showers by a student who was showering there. In a Jan. 13 interview with the Justice, Callahan explained that the graduate student contacted Public Safety, which then found a picture of the intruder on the CCTV system and circulated that photo to the Department of Athletics, Student Life and the Department of Community Living. As a result of the intruder and a desire to "tighten up security," a card reader was installed at the front entrance of Gosman, and each student or community member wishing to enter the area must have their ID swiped. In his email to the Justice, Callahan wrote that the overall feedback on the card reader has been satisfactory. "There have been a few minor system glitches with some ID cards not in the system but we are working on that," he wrote.
(01/23/12 5:00am)
Thelma Linsey, widow of former Brandeis Trustee Joseph Linsey, donated $1 million to "support the programs and operations of the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center, including the pool" Jan. 19, according to David Nathan, director of development communications. "In a conversation I had with Mrs. Linsey today, she mentioned how proud Mr. Linsey would be to see what Brandeis has become today," wrote Nathan in an email to the Justice. Director of Athletics Sheryl Sousa '90 wrote in an email to the Justice that she values Linsey's most recent gift. "We have always appreciated the generosity of the Linsey family. The late Joe Linsey, who is a member of the Brandeis Athletic Hall of Fame, was a huge supporter of our athletics program and his wife Mrs. Thelma Linsey continues to be as well," wrote Sousa. Nathan wrote that Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement Nancy Winship, P '10, P '12 regularly meets with Linsey. University President Frederick Lawrence met with Linsey in early January to discuss the million-dollar gift, wrote Nathan. Joseph and Thelma Linsey have been longtime supporters of Brandeis and funded the initial construction of the pool. The recently completed $3.5 million renovation of the pool was funded separately, through a $10-million capital lease finance agreement, wrote Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer Frances Drolette in an email to the Justice in April 2011. The term for the lease is seven years with an annual interest expense of about $150,000 per year. The annual principal payments on the lease are $1.3 million and it is funded through the capital budget, according to Drolette. —Andrew Wingens
(01/23/12 5:00am)
The Senate approved a name change for the club Positive Foundations, passed an amendment to the Student Union Constitution that implements a midyear senator position and discussed plans for outreach and upcoming events at its meeting Sunday night. Student Union President Herbie Rosen '12 began the meeting by applauding "Making Waves," the Saturday night reopening event for the pool in the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center, which the Student Union helped sponsor. Rosen said that an estimated 700 people attended. Rosen also mentioned the possibility of a Union-organized student petition to protest the proposed Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority fare increases and called on senators to promote a March 1 town hall meeting in Waltham to discuss the price hikes. In official business, members of the Senate unanimously appointed North Quad Senator Charlotte Franco '15 to the position of Senate clerk and unanimously approved a name change for the club formerly known as Positive Foundations. Positive Foundations, in an effort to clarify its mission, officially changed its name to Poverty Action Coalition. Rosen also submitted a proposal to amend the Union Constitution to provide for a midyear senator position. The proposal called for the election of one senator each January by members of that year's midyear class, who will serve for one spring semester. After much debate, the amendment was passed by a vote of 18 to none, with two abstentions, and must now go to the student body for a referendum within 15 days of the proposal to the Senate. "It would be my greatest privilege to leave this place knowing that there is a midyear senate position," Senator for the Class of 2012 Missy Skolnik said at the meeting. Other discussions centered around a Senate outreach project including dorm storming, the relatively high participation rate in the ongoing Einstein Bros. Bagels dining survey and brainstorming projects for the Campus Operations Work Group, which was created to address chronic campus housing problems. —Tate Herbert
(01/23/12 5:00am)
Miniature Oreo red velvet cupcakes dipped in chocolate ganache, cupcakes with chocolate mint frosting, mini lemon meringue pies, chocolate toffee truffles, purple and orange checkerboard cookies and cake pops covered in chocolate and sprinkles. Drooling yet? These are just some of the delicious delicacies that Maddie Ziff '13 bakes.
(01/23/12 5:00am)
Study abroad options at Brandeis span the map from Amsterdam to Australia. We arrive in an unknown country and hope for the best. We occasionally mingle with the locals, testing our broken Chinese or Spanish in brief interactions. We take one or two classes in the country's language, but often find ourselves reverting back to the comfort of the English language. But as part of a new program this semester, Heather Stoloff '13 has been forced to leave her English behind for a semester solely of Hebrew in Be'er Sheva, Israel.
(01/16/12 5:00am)
This board remembers former President Evelyn Handler, the first and only female president of Brandeis who tragically passed away last month. She was responsible for multiple important contributions to the community: Ziv Quad, the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center and a greatly improved financial situation from the initial crisis she inherited at the start of her term. Her death provides opportunity for reflection on her legacy as president, as well as where the University stands today. It has been 20 years since Dr. Handler resigned her post amid great controversy. Accounts in Justice articles from her presidency depict a leader who was sometimes unwilling to compromise on important issues. Perhaps most famous is Dr. Handler's push to "diversify" the campus community. Her desire to shake the image of a solely Jewish university and to serve pork and shellfish in university cafeterias angered many Jewish supporters. While Dr. Handler was met with resistance, our campus is now more diverse than it perhaps has ever been before. This board is confident that University President Frederick Lawrence will continue with Dr. Handler's initiatives while remaining mindful of our roots as a nonsectarian Jewish university. We can always do more to improve our image as a diverse campus, and marketing Brandeis as a global research university and Mr. Lawrence's upcoming trip to India are causes for excitement and lasting reminder of Dr. Handler's legacy. She had many unpopular initiatives during her presidency. Among them was her push for a strategic plan to increase in class size. One cannot help but compare the tension felt then to the University's current dilemma: How do we retain our small liberal arts culture in economically difficult times? This board has previously cautioned the administration to avoid a dangerous increase in student population because we do not have the resources and cannot sacrifice our core principles. While in the weeks after her inauguration she was known as a friendly president, eager to connect with students, she later secluded herself and didn't see much interaction with the student body. This board hopes that Mr. Lawrence does not fall into the same trap that Dr. Handler, and to an extent, Former President Jehuda Reinharz, did. The "honeymoon" period for a university president shouldn't exist; it's crucial that our president maintain close ties with faculty and students. While Dr. Handler may not be seen as the most loved president in our university's history and many disagreed with Dr. Handler's goals and decisions, this board acknowledges the benefits of her legacy. We mourn her loss and appreciates what she brought to the University. We trust that the University will be able to learn from both her mistakes and successes moving forward in 2012.
(01/16/12 5:00am)
A year ago, I began my presidency with great excitement and a tremendous sense of possibility, joining students, faculty, staff and alumni who were as eager as I was to write the next chapter in the narrative of this unique university. As we enter my second year, I feel even more excitement and an even greater sense of what is possible at Brandeis. I now possess deeper understanding of the university than I did at this point last year, and that knowledge fuels my optimism. I focused on many things in my first year, but chief among them were bringing several new members to the senior leadership team of Brandeis, more fully engaging the Board of Trustees, reaching out to our alumni, friends and potential students in a sustained and deliberate way, gaining a true grasp of University development, budgeting and operations, making my first presidential trip to Israel, securing the future of the Rose Art Museum, re-opening the Linsey Sports Center and launching a strategic plan review. As I reflect on 2011, I am proud to say all of those key priorities have been or are being addressed. We are extremely fortunate to be joined by people who will have enduring impacts on Brandeis for years to come. Provost Steve Goldstein '78, Dean of Arts and Science Susan Birren, Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel and Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff David Bunis '83 have already provided invaluable contributions to Brandeis. Meanwhile, our development and financial teams are steering us through very challenging times. Together we have taken several steps to engage our trustees more fully, including increasing the interactive nature of board meetings and conducting a full review of our governance procedures. We have organized 17 presidential rollout events around the country and the globe, including not only Boston, New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Chicago and Atlanta, but also Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. These gatherings have provided an important opportunity to connect with the Brandeis family. My trip to Israel last summer successfully laid the foundation for partnerships with prestigious academic institutions, a strategy about to be repeated in India. The re-opening of the newly renovated Rose Art Museum in October was one of the great events of the year. I look forward to a similar celebration when we re-open the pool this coming weekend. Last but not least, the strategic planning process is fully under way and will dominate much of 2012. I am very pleased with the information that has been gathered, the suggestions that have been made and the genuine soul-searching that has taken place during a host of gatherings held on campus for faculty and staff. This is Brandeis at its best. Summaries of those sessions will soon be available for public review and discussion. We also intend to form task forces that will delve more deeply into some key areas, like, for example, budget and finance. As I said when we began this effort, it is a time to dream big dreams and to envision Brandeis 10, 20, 30 years ahead. We are all eager to see what comes of this much-needed examination. Even as those exciting efforts continue, we will focus on other key priorities. Soon we will welcome our new Vice Provost for Library and Technology Services and Chief Information Officer John Unsworth, who will breath new life into a vital area of the university. I want to continue to promote school spirit. The successful men's soccer team run to a title last fall was a great chance for a community-wide coming together. When our men's basketball team recently traveled to New York University and grabbed a win, there were more Brandeis fans in attendance than NYU fans. That spirit extends beyond sports, of course, to events like the 24-Hour Musical, the community singing of Handel's "Messiah" and our myriad community service programs. We also want to put energy into our global initiatives, being thoughtful and strategic. As I mentioned, I am traveling to India with faculty at the end of this month to enhance relationships that already exist and to build new ones. Efforts to broaden and deepen our relationship with our alumni—in the end perhaps our greatest ambassadors—will continue throughout 2012 and beyond. With the provost and faculty, we will also work to sharpen our focus on the excellence of our academics and research and the fullness of our undergraduate and graduate student experience. It is an exciting year, full of challenges and opportunities for us all to work on together for Brandeis. I look forward to those efforts; I am ever grateful for the support of the Brandeis community and the honor and opportunity to be part of this great institution at this pivotal moment in time. Editor's note: the writer is the president of the University.
(01/16/12 5:00am)
Heading into 2012, the men's basketball team seemed to have finally righted the ship. After a 2-5 start to the season, Brandeis reeled off six straight wins, including two notable wins against University Athletic Association rivals University of Rochester and New York University.
