(04/27/04 4:00am)
Some allegations of campaigning and tallying errors accompanied elections held for the Student Union last week. Union elections included class senators, senator for racial minority students, senator at large and justices of the Union Judiciary. Massell Quad Senator Annie Rosenberg '07 and Rosenthal Quad Senator Ezra Stark '06 won senator at large. Edgar Ndjatou '06 was elected as senator for racial minority students. He ran unopposed. Elnatan Reisner '05 also won the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee position as an unopposed candidate. In the class elections, Class of 2005 Senator Mitchel Balsam won another term in that position. He will be joined by newly-elected Class of 2005 Senator Alex Amman. Current Class of 2006 senator Robyn Kaplan also won a second term in that position and will be joined by current Senator at Large Donnie Phillips '06 as class of 2006 senator.Jenny Feinberg '07 will serve another term as class senator with Albert Kahn.But allegations were made against Cahn, who had allegedly used his laptop to set-up a mobile voting station that directly linked to the UNet Balloting system. Critics said this was in violation of the campaign bylaws that prevent the solicitation of votes. "I was never disqualified and never warned," Cahn said. According to Feinberg, Cahn stopped using his laptop computer with the link to the UNet voting page after she informed him that this was in violation of the by-laws.She, along with other candidates, filed a complaint with the Elections Commission. Feinberg said that she does not have any personal reason to contest the election, but she wants to ensure the Elections Commission upholds the election rules. "The Elections Commission needs to hold themselves to the same standards for all candidates," Feinberg said. She also said that she looks forward to a good working relationship with Cahn and does not want this complaint to prevent this. The voting system also had to be reset after the preliminary rounds due to alleged technical problems. According to elections commissioner Adam Herman '04, the voting window was set for 48 hours and not the standard 24-hour period. Cahn said the reset had nothing to do with the actions he took during Thursday's final round. "The Elections Commission failed to set the correct end date for the election in the UNet elections system and, in the process of correcting the date, the vote totals were inadvertently cleared," Herman said.Igor Pedan, an associate editor of the Justice, has been elected to chief justice of the Union Judiciary. Samuel Dewey '06, Mark Samburg '07, Rachel Kohn '07 and Brian Kurtzburg '05 were also elected justices.Hillel elections were also held last week occurred without any complications.
(04/20/04 4:00am)
In memory of Mark Chopelas, the construction worker killed during the building of the Village residence quadrangle in March 2003, 30 of his family and friends gathered outside the residence hall to dedicate a plaque and tree grove in his memory. The plaque reads "a devoted friend, mentor and coach to all who knew him," and sits next to the walkway which passes below House B and House C.Executive Assistant for Student Union Affairs Adam Herman '04 spoke on behalf of Chopelas' dedication to the Brandeis community."He gave to the students of Brandeis University something that will last for many years to come," Herman said. "The buildings behind me are your buildings too." During the ceremony Herman emphasized that the Village was one of the best facilities for living, working and socializing on campus, and that it is a type of place that Chopelas would have liked. He then presented the family a framed Student Union resolution paying tribute to Chopelas and what he had done for the Brandeis community."For over a year I have been hearing from those who knew him about how extraordinary Mark was and they, too, are just as extraordinary," Herman said. "I have no doubt Mark will live on forever in the lives that they lead." Chopelas' family and friends expressed gratitude for what the University had done in his memory. "It is wonderful and makes me proud that they would think enough to do it," his mother, Jean Kelleher, said. "He was a wonderful kid." "It made me feel good when we found out they were going to do it," his stepfather, Jerry Kelleher, said of the plaque. "We appreciate what they have done. In Mark's words it would be 'awesome.'" Chopelas' family said that they plan on placing the plaque in a sports watching and recreation room in the basement of his parents' house next to his memorabilia from Super Bowl XXXVII.
(03/30/04 5:00am)
In what was an unofficial kickoff to the 2004 Senior Week, 120 seniors sipped on margaritas and slammed down beers on the first annual Moody Mile Pub Crawl last Thursday night. Pub Crawl co-coordinator Corey Leaffer '04 conceived the idea. She said that while studying abroad in Australia, her program offered a similar night on the town. She wanted seniors to have a chance for some last minute bonding before Senior Week.Seniors paid $15 for transportation and a Pub Crawl T-shirt. But the evening began with free pizza and beer at the Stein.Afterward, Crystal Transport buses ferried students to several bars in Waltham-Joe Sent Me, The Mad Raven, Iguana Cantina and Dos Amigos.The Southwestern-themed restaurant and bar Iguana Cantina closed its doors to the public in order to accommodate the large number of excited seniors. Students had to be present their IDs upon entering, but were then set loose to kick back and enjoy some good conversation and cold drinks on the eve of commencement.Iguana Cantina also provided trays with meat, shells and toppings so that students could make their own tacos. At The Mad Raven located on Main Street, Aaron Schwid '04 distributed approximately 100 free shots provided by the bar for seniors to make toasts to their time at Brandeis.At Dos Amigos, the introduction of a flock of Brandeis students made for an interesting dynamic with the bars' regular patrons. While for many Brandeisans it was a unique opportunity to hobnob with the locals, some female students did not seem to respond favorably to being hit on."[The bars] are really excited to reach out to Brandeis students," Leaffer said during the crawl..Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan said the event was "well planed." He also helped to arrange transportation for students around town. "This is a great way to celebrate our last few months here and our time at Brandeis," Jess Levenson '04 said.Brandeis seniors said they enjoyed this event."I am proud to be a part of the senior class and starting a new tradition at Brandeis," Heath Sandak '04 said. The event concluded with students decorating the Louis Brandeis statue for Spirit week.The Brandeis police report, which was released on Sunday, said that Waltham Police would arrest students for "all alcohol violations." But according Callahan, everything went as well as planned. Detective Tim King of the Waltham Police also did not hear of any serious complaints about the crawl."There were no real reports," Callahan said.
(03/23/04 5:00am)
"Sharing our Faiths," a new series sponsored by the Religious Pluralism and Spirituality this semester, allows students to attend services or gatherings of different religions, including Buddhist meditation, Catholic mass and Muslim, Protestant and Reform Shabbat services. The series is designed to educate participants through pre-service explanations, literature and pamphlets and opportunity for post-gathering discussion. Dara Klein '06, coordinator of the series, created the program because she thinks there is no program on campus that gives students exposure to different religions on campus. Klein also said that the Christian and Jewish services that make up the series will be different from those that are regularly scheduled on Friday and Sunday. For example, at the Catholic Mass, Fr. David Michael will distribute a pamphlet for people to follow along with the service. Furthermore, the reform Jewish service will be run as a learner's service so that attendants can benefit from a slower pace and additional explanation throughout the service. "It would help people understand why different parts are the way they are and hopefully give them a deeper understanding than if they were just going through the motions alone," Klein said.Klein sees the "Sharing our Faiths" series as a better opportunity for people to see where others come from while exploring their own backgrounds. "I think a lot of people are genuinely curious," Klein said. "I hope this is going to be a series where people can engage in their curiosity." Marci McPhee, Assistant Director of he International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life and founder of the Religious, Pluralism and Spirituality Group views the "Sharing our Faiths" series as a way to establish connections between different religious traditions on campus. "It is giving people exposure to other types of religions in a comfortable environment," McPhee said. McPhee added that the series serves to break down barriers and create an understanding among people from different religious backgrounds, while fostering respect and demystifying the different practices. "It is about stressing commonalities as well as respecting differences," McPhee said.Both Klein and McPhee hope to see the series continue each semester. "It should be a part of the college experience to have exposure to a wide variety of experiences," McPhee said. "It is part of a broader education mission, that being education for life." In the future, Klein hopes to expand the program to participate in off-campus activities.Michael said that in planning his Mass, there was very little he really did in order to fit the needs of the series. He planned it as he would a regular mass and considered the questions that non-Catholics might have. He gave credit to another student who put together a packet so that visitors could follow the service. "I think this type of program is very important to help people understand one another," Michael said.Michael said he hopes that attendees to the services and gathering throughout the series develop openness to dialogue and a willingness to support one another. "Anything we can do to encourage these types of programs we ought to do," Michael said. Students who have been attending the gatherings have reacted positively to the series."I think that it is nice to have this and share each other's faiths," Adam Turek-Herman '06 said. "I think it is an excellent way for people who are not familiar to gain an understanding of other religious communities," Aaron Miller '06 said. Groups participating in the series are the Buddhism Club, Catholic Students Organization, Brandeis Muslim Students Association, Brandeis Christian Fellowship and Brandeis Reform Chavurah.
(03/16/04 5:00am)
The Union Judiciary (UJ) heard arguments Monday night in the trial to remove Senator for Off-Campus Residents Bryan Lober '06 from the Union Senate based on four counts of impeachment levied by Union President Josh Brandfon '05 and Class of 2005 Senator Mitchel Balsam on behalf of the Union Senate.The Union argued that poor attendance at both Senate and committee meetings, failing to hold office hours, not fulfilling his duties as Senator for Off Campus Residents and being a destabilizing force at Senate meetings formed the grounds for Lober's impeachment during a closed Executive Session on Fed. 29.. The defense stated that while the prosecution might argue that Lober left Senate meetings shortly after attendance was taken, there is not proof since nothing was documented.Lober's representatives argued that he had in fact been an active senator. Lober was represented by Jeremy Widder '06, Michael Stern '06 and Josh Sugarman '05. The defense held that Lober was actively involved with campus activities and was an advocate for his constituents. Four out of five UJ Justices, Chief Justice Rachel Present '06 and Associate Justices Samuel Dewey '06, Avner Fink '04, and Susan Abrams '04 were present. Associate Justice Dan Mauer '05 recused himself from the case due to a conflict of interest - he is running for Union vice president against Balsam.Brandfon and Balsam said that while Lober is marked as present at many Senate meetings, he rarely stayed long after attendance. Balsam said that this violated Union By-Laws, where Article XI, Section 2 states that it is the duty of a senator "to attend all meetings of the Senate and committees on which they serve." Brandfon and Balsam also maintained that he did not "attend" the meeting despite Senate minutes reflecting that Lober was present for every Senate roll call prior to his impeachment. A roll call generally happens at the beginning of a senate meeting. They also argued that Lober only attended one Diversity Committee meeting, of which he is a member, and said this also proved that he was in violation of his constitutional duties. The Union constitution does not stipulate a senator is required to attend any committee meetings.Some Union representatives also said Lober did not fulfill his responsibilities to his constituents by not adequately informing them about the housing lottery procedure, and that he filed only three project reports describing his weekly senatorial activities since he was elected last fall. The defense argued that this was not Lober's responsibility and there was no constitutional or by-law section cited that says a senator must inform his constituents of voting procedures.The defense also said Lober's PIN number for the Student Union Web site was not working, and that this would also explain why he did not make any copies in the Union Office during that same period. The defense later offered to stipulate or agree that Lober did not make any copies using his own copy code.The court heard testimony from Union Vice President and Senate President Ken Gantz '04, who said that on the evening of the impeachment, he and Lober exchanged words after Lober left the meeting without reason. Gantz said, "I went into [the] office where Bryan was and I approached him. I asked him why he left the meeting, but didn't get a straight response. It was something like 'I don't have to justify my actions to you.' I was telling him that constitutionally he was required to be in meeting."On cross examination, Gantz said that he could not recall the exact conversation and that it is possible that Lober may have asked him to stop harassing him. Gantz also said he has not been present at all senate meetings. He refused to testify as to why Lober was impeached by the senate as apposed to only censured, saying that the decision was made in executive session.According to testimony by Club Resources Coordinator for Student Union Alyssa Kropp '04, who overheard this exchange of words, Lober and Gantz began to raise their voices at one another, and then Lober proceeded to leave and did not return for the rest of the meeting. The prosecution said this incident is an example of Lober inhibiting Gantz from performing his constitutional duty of running the Senate meeting. The defense argued that Lober cannot be accused of preventing Gantz from doing his duty because Gantz has successfully completed them. The defense further stated that since the duties are those of the Vice President and not of a Senator, Lober cannot be accused of violating the duties of another office.Union witnesses also testified that at a Senate meeting when the Southeast Asian Student Association e-board resigned, Lober asked at one point if someone was from Orlando, his hometown. The Union contended that this was inappropriate and destabilizing.Ridgewood Senator Meghan Carter '05 testified toward Lober's participation in the Charles River Apartment Barbeque, the purchasing of the Student Union tent, attempting to help off-campus students with parking and his pursuit of obtaining campus-building keys for his constituents. She also testified to Lober staying at one meeting until 6 a.m to participate in the hearing on the Dusty Baker Incident in October. Carter read her project reports for the March 7 Senate meeting, citing what while Article XI, Section 2 of the constitution mandates that all senators attend meetings, numerous senators have been absent from meetings. She listed approximately 30 instances of Senators missing meetings - Lober's name did not appear."Just something that struck me as odd and a bit unfair," she said.On cross-examination, Carter said it was possible that some Senators who have missed meetings also showed up after roll call. She said that while it is possible that Lober may have left a meeting early, she said she does not recall that happening.Union Treasurer Andrei Khots '05 was also called by the defense. He testified to Lober being active with several money requests and in buying a tent for the Union. Khots said that Lober did the research for the tent, wrote the money request, and presented to the Senate. Khots estimated that he (himself) spends about 20 to 30 hours in the Union office per week and that he sees Lober fairly frequently in the office serving his office hours. Khots also noted that he has frequently seen Lober at Senate meeting much later than roll call is taken.Brandfon, during closing statements, pointed out that Lober, while marked present in at least four Senate meetings, does not appear anyway in the minutes as participating in a meeting. The defense argued that a lack of participation does not show that he was not there, merely that he chose to stay silent. Balsam concluded that since the Senate impeached Lober, his errors are clear and convincing.In closing arguments, the Union said that it could not have only been Gantz's personal feelings, as all 13 Senators present for the Executive Session signed the articles of impeachment. The Union also argued that just because Lober did a few things as senator, this does not mean he didn't violate parts of the constitution.The defense closed by saying that Lober did not technically violate any of the four articles on which he was impeached nor was there any evidence shown to prove any of the accusations of the mangers, and that he could not be removed because a group of senators did not agree with the way he represented his constituents. After the trial, Widder said, "The case speaks for itself. The UJ will make the right decision.""We laid out our case and told them what made the Senate impeach Lober. We hope they will come to a ruling that says he breached the constitution," Balsam said.
(03/09/04 5:00am)
Mary Bromfield, director of telecommunications for ITS, resigned from her position by mutual agreement last week, according to officials in the Student Union. According to Executive Assistant for Union Affairs Adam Herman '04, Bromfield's position was not needed anymore because the new Cisco's Voiceover IP phones run over Ethernet lines and are maintained entirely through Internet connection, thereby eliminating the necessity of human operation within the system. Silverman said that she was hired originally to reform the Brandeis telecommunication system to make it more efficient and responsive to students. As part of her job, Bromfield changed the phone system at Brandeis and outsourced the long distance services to Paetec Communications and increased the cable channel lineup to add channels that students requested like Comedy Central and the Cartoon Network. "[ITS] has decided that she has done it so well they don't need her anymore," said Union Secretary Danny Silverman '05. He pointed out that it could be problematic that the staff that oversees computer technology will now oversee the phone system as well."We don't have anyone who understands phone systems," Silverman said. "Keeping it running is a complex task because people expect phones will never go down."Silverman added that Bromfield was a wonderful advocate for students and their pursuits. One project included working with Mods Senator Joshua Benzwie '04 to better accommodate the new phone system to two floor apartments and suites including the Mods. According to Benzwie, the project entailed forwarding separate phone lines from different rooms to one central phone in the common room. "I hope that we will still be able to get that kind of help from ITS," Silverman said. Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer said that Bromfield was a good and collaborative administrator who always took into consideration the student concerns about the phone system and other student services that came from his office. Perry Hanson, chief information officer and associate provost for education technology, and other ITS staff would not comment on Bromfield's resignation. Bromfield did not respond to contacts made by the Justice. -Matthew Konjoian
(03/02/04 5:00am)
Students, faculty and administrators gathered in Shapiro Atrium last Tuesday to begin the first of the "Meet the Author" lecture and discussion series, sponsored by the Office of Communications and the Brandeis bookstore, which coordinated the book sale and signing.The first of this series featured Prof. David Hackett Fischer (HIST) who discussed his latest release on the pivotal Delaware River crossing by George Washington's army during the American Revolution, entitled Washington's Crossing. Fischer said that his story of George Washington's river crossing introduced the idea of debunking myths that have developed about historical events."This story is better that it can be told," Fischer said.He said that his story is constructed around contingency, the idea of people making choices that make a difference. He said his work connects the idea of elitist, authoritative history and social history as one interconnecting story."It is about telling stories and building bridges between two ideas," Fischer said. Fischer said he placed emphasis in his book on Washington's battered army, which, after defeats in New York and New England, was on the brink of losing the war. But Fischer said Washington felt that with the uprisings against the British army in New Jersey, there was an opportunity to attack these forces while they were weak. "[The attacks] put a huge strain on that system and created an opportunity for George Washington," Fischer said. Fischer also clarified that the Hessians-German soldiers fighting with the British-were not drunkenly celebrating Christmas at the time of Washington's attack, but were actually a very professional and disciplined corps of mercenaries.Fischer said that their spies knew about an impending attack and that they were fully prepared for the possibility of Washington attacking their encampments. Fischer also pointed to the depth of primary materials written by the British, Americans and Hessian troops that he found during his research. He said he believed this further emphasized the significance of the event. "I was amazed as to how much had been written by the actors," Fischer said. His next book, scheduled to be released in September, is titled Liberty and Freedom. Fisher said it will focus on more cultural and intellectual history.
(02/10/04 5:00am)
Cards instructing students how to conduct self-tests for breast and testicular cancer will be displayed in every other bathroom of all residence halls as part of a joint project of Brandeis University Health Services and the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC). According to Kathleen Maloney, the nursing director at the Health Center, the project is designed to foster a sense of routine health care for all students. Originally, the goal was to put the cards only in the showers of residence halls inhabited by seniors. However, Maloney felt it would be best to put one in every other shower in all residence halls as to try to promote this type of personal care to as many students as possible. The cards will be placed in the showers within the next few weeks. "The goal is to try to reach as many people as possible," Maloney said.Maloney continued that the original plan was to also only include information about breast self-examinations. However, staff at the Health Center felt that the cards should include information for men as well, so as to increase health education for all students. Maloney also stressed that while there is a very high rate of testicular cancer among men ages 15-35, there is a very low rate of breast cancer among women. "Testicular cancer occurs approximately one in 25,000 men per year," Maloney said. "The risk of developing testicular cancer in a man's lifetime is approximately one in 500. It occurs most commonly between the ages of 15 and 35." She also said that women who continually do checks will notice subtle changes that may save their lives. She added that if students find something abnormal they are highly encouraged to make an appointment with a doctor. "If one life is saved, our effort and time will be well spent," Maloney said. Nicole Karlebach '04, director of public affairs and communication for the Student Union and a member of SHAC, said that she has received a positive response from the Union Senate as well as Residence Life. She added that the committee consists of several Community Advisers who are working closely with the Department of Residence Life on the project to make sure it happens quickly."We will be working to with them in order to see they are put in as quickly as possible," Karlebach said. Karlebach added that now that SHAC has become a more cohesive and organized committee, there will be more programming and promotion of health services provided by the Health Center. "Our goal is getting people to use the Health Center as much as possible," Karlebach said. East Quad Director Jeremy Leiferman said that Residence Life has not encountered any obstacles in putting these cards in the showers so far. The primary responsibility of Residence Life is to count up the number of showers in the different quads and notify the Office of Facilities Management once the cards are placed in the showers. Leiferman added that Community Advisors will most likely be placing the cards in the showers and they will be responsible for educating their residents about the information. He feels that it is a good opportunity for CAs to educate about health issues which will help lead them to approach education in other areas."We are supportive of the project and want to educate the students about the importance of self-examinations," Leiferman said. As far as working with the Health Center on other projects, Lieferman said that Residence Life would always support the projects of Health Services and any other office on campus.
(02/03/04 5:00am)
The primary round for winter midterm Student Union elections was held last Friday. Winners of this election round will compete in the final elections which will be held today. Fourteen candidates advanced to the final round of elections. In each race, the top two candidates who received votes advanced. The elections were contested for the following positions: Senator at large: Don Philips '05 and Mark Samburg '07, Union Judiciary Justice: Brian Kurtzberg '05 and Samuel Dewey '06, Village Quad Senator: Andrew Fruchter '06 and Micah Klatzker '07, Class of 2004 Senator: Teddy Tarallo and Mark Brescia, Class of 2007 Senator: Jenny L. Feinberg and Sarah L. Farhadian and Finance Board Member: Joshua Green '06 and Adam Gartner '07. For Castle Quad Senator, Thorin Tabor '06 received the mandated 50 percent plus one votes to be declared the automatic winner. However, for the position of Charles River Quad Senator, Greer Hauptman '05 was running unopposed but did not receive a mandate vote and must compete in the final election. Results of the final election will not be determined until after Justice press time. -by Matthew Konjoian
(01/27/04 5:00am)
Three banners publicizing prominent campus organizations were stolen from the railings of the third floor walkway in the Shapiro Campus Center last week, according to administration and public safety officials. The banners belonged to the Brandeis Student Union, BTV and WBRS. Edward Callahan, director of public safety, said that a report was filed with him Monday at 11 p.m. Callahan said that after a preliminary investigation, officials concluded that the banners must have been taken between 4 and 9 p.m. They will be examining eight hours of security tape and talking to people who might have seen something happen. Each banner was worth at least $100. "We are trying to interact with the building manager and people who might have been in the building. It is hard to believe someone didn't see this," Callahan said. Callahan also concluded that because ropes were actually cut to remove the banners, this was not done as a prank. "This was a malicious act that some took the time to do," Callahan said. Callahan also stressed that there are a lot of security enhancements in Shapiro Campus Center, especially in light of the plasma television theft. He also added that students, faculty and the administration can do more to keep Shapiro a safe and secure place by utilizing card access, not propping open doors and not leaving personal property unattended. Callahan also emphasized that safety and security is a very high priority at Brandeis. "The University administration spends a lot of money on safety and security in our community," he said. Louise Au Yeung '05, general manager of WBRS, said that she was not at the studio at the time of the theft but was notified by Ian Rifkin '04, WBRS program director, of the incident. She added that Music Director Sheryl Oppenheim '04 filed a report with campus police. Student Union President Josh Brandfon '05 also filed a report. Au Yeung believes that the theft was most likely a prank. "I have no idea who they were targeting," Au Yeung said.Au Yeung said she has been in constant communication between Brandfon, Callahan, and Assistant Dean of Student Life Alwina Bennett to help further the investigation. "Myself and Ian are open to helping out in the investigation in any way," Au Yeung said. She said if the banner isn't found within a few weeks to a month they would consider replacing it. Au Yeung also added that she still feels that the facilities and equipment in the WBRS studio are very safe and secure. "Any help anyone can provide would be appreciated," Au Yeung said. Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer agrees with Callahan that the acts were malicious but would not go as far as connecting them to any previous actions or events. Sawyer also agrees with Callahan in that Shapiro Campus Center is quite secure and that they encourage organizations to lock their doors to their offices when they leave. They also tell students not to leave their personal belongings unattended when they are in the library or lounge areas.
(01/20/04 5:00am)
Midterm elections will be conducted for eight vacant positions in the Student Union over the next two weeks. These include positions left after three resignations from the Union Senate at the end of last semester. Senators who resigned were Senator-at-Large Becky Fromer '05, Charles River Quad Senator David Radell '05, Castle Quad Senator Andrew Katz '06, Class of 2004 Senator Mark Brescia, Class of 2007 Senator Mark Samburg and Village Quad Senator Peter Williams '04. Elections will be conducted for the following positions: Senator at-Large, Charles River Quad Senator, Castle Quad Senator, Class of 2004 Senator, Class of 2007 Senator, Village Quad Senator, Union Finance Board Member and Union Judiciary Justice. Interested candidates will have until Jan. 21 to sign up. A candidates meeting will be held that day at 8 p.m. Primaries will be held Jan. 29-30 and final elections will be conducted Feb. 2-3.
(01/20/04 5:00am)
The Union Senate budget for spring 2004 has undergone significant changes in terms of allocation from last semester. Among the most significant changes are the elimination of discretionary funds set aside for quad senators, the Rape Crisis Hotline and the Senator at Large.This semester's Senate budget is set at $21,000, which is $7,000 lower than last fall's budget set at $28,000. According to Student Union Treasurer Andrei Khots '05, the budget figure for this term does not include rollover from last term which has yet to be determined. Although the figures for the two terms will be similar because of the eventual rollover, Khots said that he made several modifications to the budget. Among those were reductions to the advocacy, social justice, and the Office of Judicial Advocacy Action (OJAA) budgets by $100. The Project Brandeis University Spirit (PBUS) budget was increased by $100. Khots said that the budget reductions and additions for committees came about because some did not spend their money while others requested more money. "My main goal is to make sure the Student Union money gets spent on students and we spend it according to its needs," Khots said. According to Khots, the money put into the Rape Crisis Hotline was cut because they were not using the budget money allotted to them. This money went to the Senate discretionary fund. The $100 allotted to each Senator at Large was cut because this amount would most likely not meet the costs for an all campus event or program according to Khots. Khots added it would be better for Senators at Large to go to the Senate to request money and help in the planning.According to Khots, the budgets for residence quad senators were cut because less than half of the allotted money was spent, and the goals of quad budgets were not being achieved.Out of $1300 allotted, only $624.24 was spent. "Residence quad budgets are to be spent on quad programming," Khots said. According to Student Union President Josh Brandfon '05, quad budgets were added two semesters ago to ease the process of planning quad events. Unfortunately, much of the money went unspent or was used for things that did not directly benefit residents of the quads. Khots added that quad senators can still request money from the Senate discretionary fund for its events as they are required to hold quad events. "If the Senate wanted to see quad budgets again they could request them," Khots said. Meghan Carter '05, Senator for Ridgewood Quad, said that it was important that a senator should be able to use discretionary funds on a whim, but not frivously and not need two weeks notice to use it.She cited an example in which she decided to buy decorative lights for her quad last semester ."I want to just do it without any prodding from the Senate as a whole, without having to wait to weeks, and without having to make a case for whatever I feel my quad needs or would appreciate," Carter said.
(11/25/03 5:00am)
The Student Union passed a resolution on Nov. 16 to petition for membership in the Boston Intercollegiate Government (BIG) as the eighth school in a consortium of student governments in the Boston area.Other schools include Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Suffolk University, Bentley and Northeastern. BIG's two-part mission, established in April of 2003, is to share its voice in local, state and national political issues that affect college students, and to share ideas between different student governments in terms of the varying issues and projects on their campuses. Student Union President Joshua Brandfon '05 and Vice President Kenneth Gantz '04 will be the BIG Brandeis representatives upon approval of the entrance petition. Brandfon said that by having a group of Boston students together, it helps send a message to governments at all levels."They represent over 130,000 students in and around Boston. It is a powerful group," Brandfon said. Brandfon also said that one of the main visions of the group is to make sure that the voice of the students is one that politicians take seriously. "We are excited to be involved and hopefully it will put us in touch with other college campuses around the area," Brandfon said. David Bresler '04, Executive Vice President of the student government at Boston University, came up with the idea of BIG earlier this year. He felt that the students in colleges in the Boston area were not being represented because most were not registered to vote. Bresler said that it was easy to get different groups to join BIG because at their first meeting, they invited the Boston mayor, Thomas Menino.One project they have been working on includes keeping the late night MBTA bus service known as the "Night Owl." Another dealt with meeting with Congressman John Tierney, D-Mass., to contribute ideas to the College Affordability legislation. "Everything we told him is part of the legislation," Bresler said. Bresler said that BIG is also a way of sharing ideas and resources because different schools often have the same interests. "We are all fighting over the same issues," Bresler said. Bresler also added that the student governments of the different schools communicate with each other to help structure different programs and events that have already been set up at other universities.Bresler said that having Brandeis would play a very important role BIG. He added that Brandeis is a large and prestigious school, and that people notice that. Having religious ties and being located outside of the city limits of Boston, gives the organization a different perspective, he concluded. In the future, BIG is hoping to obtain joint funding between the schools to form alliances for large events. They also hope to get students to register to vote in Boston. Bresler pointed out that students might be hesitant to register to vote in Massachusetts as opposed to their home state, but said that students need to consider which issues affect them more. "I personally feel that students should be voting in the city because these issues are affecting their life more," Bresler said. "But if you feel that you should vote in your home state that is great."Bresler said that in order to get student interests out there it is important to have voices of large groups of students. "We want to be able to advocate by having big numbers of students," Bresler said.
(11/25/03 5:00am)
The Health Education Leadership Program (HELP) held its second annual Alternative Health Fair in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium on Friday, Nov. 14, exposing students to alternative health treatments and stress relievers ranging from acupuncture and massages to alternative contraceptive methods. Kara Smith '05, coordinator of HELP, said that students would benefit from learning about alternative health methods. Among the fair's offerings were aromatherapy, acupuncture, the Alexander technique, massages, contraceptives and nutrition programs. Smith added that the community response to the event was positive and that it was also an opportunity for vendors to promote their services. "People have been really excited especially about the free massage," Smith said. According to Smith, the idea for the fair came from the lack of information students have about these types of treatments, as well as the importance of educating the general student body about the availability of these alternative methods to medicine."The idea was to jump-start this type of education and raise awareness of alternative health approaches," Smith said. Smith hopes that people will pursue more information about these alternative approaches and use them in everyday life. She also hopes that clinics and demonstrations supporting these methods will be held on campus throughout the year. Brenda Diaz, owner of Virtuous Days Day Spa in Waltham and a participant in the fair, said that it is important to come to these fairs because students should know about the techniques that are being offered."I came to educate students on health, well being and stress management and relaxation techniques," Diaz said. Alex Fridel '04 of Student Sexuality Information Service (SSIS) said that she came to make the community aware of alternative sexual products such as female condoms and menstrual caps. She also stressed that learning to relive stress in students' lives is essential. "It is important for college students to learn ways to de-stress," Fridel said. Chris Dempsey, an instructor in the Alexander technique and a participant in the fair, educated students about this do-it-yourself method of reducing stress tension and pain in the muscles. "Students are doing so much that it builds up tension and they get repetitive strain injuries," Dempsey said. He added that by learning the Alexander technique one could have a self-stress relieving method he or she could adopt for the rest of his or her life. Sara Kaplan '05,who was in attendance at the fair, found that methods she learned about at alternative health fairs are effective. "I find that alternative methods can sometimes be very helpful," Kaplan said. Kaplan said that it is important that people explore other health options. With finals and winter coming up, everyone is getting sick and students should know alternatives to medicine and ways to reduce stress she said.Kaplan added that opportunities to educate students about alternative health such as the Alternative Health Fair could result in other options, such as selling aromatherapy on a daily basis.
(11/25/03 5:00am)
The Student Union will have three vacant positions next semester as Becky Fromer '05, senator-at-large, Jonathan Landsman '05, chief justice of the Union Judiciary, and Aron Wolgel '05, member of the Allocations Board, will be studying abroad next semester. The Student Union members will resign their positions at the end of the fall semester.To fill these positions, Student Union President Josh Brandfon '05 said there will be an online election the second or third week of the semester. Those who are interested in running for the positions will have to sign up and attend a candidates meeting the first week of the semester. Brandfon does not anticipate any disruption of Student Union business because of these vacant positions. "It is something that happens a lot," Brandfon said. "It is nothing abnormal." Brandfon said that the Student Union Constitution requires that a member going abroad must resign their position before leaving and that he or she will not serve in any capacity to the Union while abroad. Brandfon also added that candidates intending to run are not required to inform the Elections Commission of any intention of going abroad because they may not have definite plans for the following spring semester."A lot of times when people run in the spring they don't know whether they are going to be going abroad next spring," Brandfon said. "It is difficult to know a year in advance.
(11/11/03 5:00am)
The Brandeis Debate and Speech Society hosted the New England Invitational Debate Tournament last weekend at Brandeis. The event, sponsored by the American Parliamentary Debate Association, brought several of the top debating teams from colleges and universities across New England, New York and New Jersey for a weekend of debate here at Brandeis. Brian Schon '06, the publicity director for the Brandeis Debate and Speech Society, and coordinator of this past weekend's event, said that Brandeis has been hosting both regional and national tournaments since the mid 1990s. The tournament featured over 60 teams from 18 different schools. Some of the more successful schools represented here included Harvard, Brown and New York University. Schon said that as hosts they usually don't participate because they are responsible for running the tournament. This includes organizing five rounds of debate for all participants, championship rounds and providing trophies for the winners. Additionally, the Brandeis debate team arranges for the participants to have three meals; Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and a Saturday wrap-up banquet as well as Friday evening entertainment and housing. "We bring them here to show them a good time and also have education between other schools. This is also a great chance to make friends," Schon said. Schon also added that Brandeis has a long tradition of running tournaments and credits the Rapaporte family who left a large trust fund which goes towards funding the tournaments. "It is a great opportunity to display the Brandeis community to other schools," Schon said. Schon said that Brandeis would be hosting many tournaments in the future because it helps spread the Brandeis name and that it is the best fundraiser for the organization. He also emphasized that debate tournaments at Brandeis are going to be an annual event and encourages the community to participate. "Part of our goal is to further the good faith of Brandeis throughout the country," Schon said. Parliamentary debate, the format used in this past weekends tournament, is different from regular format in that the topic of debate is picked randomly and that it is a two-on-two team setup in which one can always rely on another team member to carry and support their arguments.Students who attended the tournament from other schools were very excited about the parliamentary debate format and the experience of going to these tournaments. Ben Hebert, a junior at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who has been doing debate for three years, likes the different tone that this style of debate takes on. "It is less formal than most debates, it is more fun and impromptu," Hebert said. Hebert also stressed the camaraderie and friendship that is built between team members on these trips to other schools."It is like having a road trip with your friends every weekend," Hebert said.
(11/04/03 5:00am)
The Department of Student Life began their first in a series of Mosaic Moments last Wednesday that the Mosaic Program will be hosting throughout the year. Mosaic is an Orientation program designed for the purpose of promoting diversity. These programs will be organized to educate the community about difference on campus throughout the year."This is a historic moment, it will go down in history as the beginning to wonderful dialogue at Brandeis," said Rev. Nathaniel Mays, Assistant Dean of Student Life and Coordinator of Diversity Service. The evening began with a lecture by Prof. Qamar-ul Huda, (NEJS) and advisor to the Brandeis Muslim Students Association. In his lecture, he discussed the stereotypes has seen as a Muslim-American. Among some of the challenges Huda has faced, he has experienced the extremes of being homogenized with the crowd as well as picked out of it. As a New Yorker living in a multicultural environment, he felt that he was homogenized and didn't see himself vis-Oe-vis other cultures. He also added that close friends homogenized his identity. "When you come to the states your are homogenized," Huda said. He has also experienced the extreme of being selected out of a crowd because of his background. While visiting UCLA, people would pick him out and ask him whether he would want to go to Muslim Chai or to Friday prayer. "In both scenarios you have people constructing your identity," Huda said. He would here people tell him that Muslim women should always wear scarves and Muslim men should always have beards and be very devout with their religion. Additionally, he said some of his senior colleagues at Boston College would go as far as assuming he had direct connections to Al-Qaida. He added that given the times, there is always a sense of guilt by association and people are always watching you."It is a crazy time. It is not the best of times," Huda said.He also said that depending on the different nations, the practice of Islam can be very different. The evening continued with a question and answer period in which Huda, along with Brandeis Chaplains Fr. David Michael, Rabbi Allan Lehmann, and Rev. Borris Collins, talked about interfaith issues. In their comments they focused on dialogue and the need for this in order to break down misconceptions. "I have devoted a large part of my professional life to correcting the distortions and misconceptions through conversation. I believe very much in dialog and mutual learning," said Fr. Michael. They also emphasized that most religious dialog is between experts but this is not helpful if it doesn't involve all members of the community. "Dialog between experts is useless if the community does not see and internalize it," said Prof. Huda. The chaplains also discussed plans on continuing dialogue on religious difference. The chaplains also hope to continue a "trialog" series which began last year as well.
(11/04/03 5:00am)
Brandeis has begun to establish the framework for a new Middle East Studies Center. The center will focus on teaching and research in all aspects of Middle East lifestyle. It will be established in response to the 2001 terrorist attacks and military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan. The University has raised $20 million for the center and is hoping to raise $30 million towards its development. The center is scheduled to open in Oct. 2004 and will be headquartered in the American Jewish Historical Society building near the Heller School. The center will offer programs for both undergraduate and graduate students and the faculty both levels. The events sponsored by the center will be open to the entire community. University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Marty Krauss said the Middle East Studies Center is intended to create a world-class and well-respected center for the study of the Middle East. The Center will also host visiting scholars, conferences, and events while broadening discussion on a range of topics relating to the Middle East. "Because of its prominence it will attract the world's leading scholars on various topics," Krauss said. Krauss also said that the administration is still unsure what departments and schools will play a role in the Center because it is still only in the planning stages. But the of politics, sociology, anthropology and history departments, as well the International Business School have shown interest. Krauss also said that the director would determine the center's overall academic mission. "Depending on who we attract and want, it will create the work for the initial years for the center," Krauss said. Krauss also said that the center is only a Brandeis project and the faculty and resources are being drawn from Brandeis. However she did say that new chairs would be part of the fundraising efforts. Krauss also sees the center as a worthwhile addition to the community from which all will benefit."This is a project that President Jehuda Reinharz has been working on and he is deeply committed to and the faculty is very supportive of it," Krauss said. "It will be of interest to students as well because of strong academic interests in the Middle East. This is a region that is on everyone's mind and having a center that represents the highest scholarship in this area will be of interests to students and faculty." Prof. Jonathan Sarna (NEJS) is the head of search committee for the director of the new center. He said he wants a leader who models high standards of objective scholarship that the center will emulate. "We are searching for a director that understands a wide range of issues facing Middle East countries," Sarna said. Sarna says that the core aspects of the curriculum and research at the Center will focus on many contemporary issues, particularly those in nations that have not received a lot of attention. "It will not be fixated on the Arab-Israeli conflict," Sarna said. Sarna also feels that student interest and involvement in the center will be very high because there is a tremendous interest among students on matters in the Middle East. Currently there are 65 Near Eastern and Judaic Studies majors at Brandeis. "Everybody has agreed that the center will have an important teaching component and students will be a big part of the center," Sarna said. Sarna also said that the center would focus on language study. In addition to Hebrew and Arabic, the center may offer courses in Persian and Turkish "To study the Middle East you need to be able to read sources in their original language," Sarna said. "Language acquisition is the first step in dealing with the Middle East process."Sarna hopes the center will give the Brandeis community a better understanding of Middle East issues. "I hope that it will help the community understand the complexity of Middle East issues," Sarna said. "It will illuminate issues that have not be part of the discussion at all.
(10/21/03 4:00am)
This month AHORA!, the Brandeis student Latino organization, is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, an annual event dedicated to promoting Hispanic culture and issues throughout the Brandeis University community. The month long celebration consists of numerous cultural and educational events that tie Latino heritage issues with academic and cultural interests in the Brandeis community. Carlos Salcedo '05, Co-President of AHORA!, said that this year's theme is Celebrating Nuestra Mezcla, Caf con Leche y Chocolate-Celebrating Our Diversity, Coffee with Milk and Chocolate. This theme focuses on the diversity of races and nationalities in the Hispanic world and less on Latinos as one distinct group. This theme also tries to trace and recognize the evolution of people in their diverse culture, whether they come from the coast of West Africa or the plateaus are Mexico. "We haven't really highlighted the uniqueness of each country," Salcedo said. The opening ceremony for Hispanic Heritage Month, held Oct. 2, featured keynote speaker Elizabeth Garcia talk about Latino feminism. The Main Cultural Event, held Oct. 11, included a flag show with every Hispanic country portrayed. The show also included different dances including an all female dance called "Las Otras" which symbolized the gender differences in the Latino world and a combination dance with the Brandeis South Asian Students. This performance, called "Flavor and Spice," had both Latino and South Asian music and even included a number in which both types were mixed together. The evening included a fashion show that traced the origins of Latino fashion throughout history. In addition to cultural presentations, the evening featured a Power Point photo presentation of the realities and struggles in the Hispanic world to help expose and open people's eyes to these issues. "It was educational, yet exciting," Salcedo said. Salcedo said that the response of the community to Hispanic Heritage Month events has been overwhelming. He said that both the Opening Ceremony and Main Event had many students. He also pointed out there was a lot of diversity among the people that were coming to the events. He also credits the role that the faculty and academic departments such as Latin American Studies, Women's Studies, English and Romance and Comparative Literature with helping them organize their programs and events."Faculty members have been serving as a support system and guiding us with everything we need," Salcedo said. Salcedo also credits the Intercultural Center and Student Support Services for their assistance.As far as the future of Hispanic Heritage Month and AHORA!, he sees the organization being more politically active in the community and planning more events for the annual celebration. "I think this is the year we brought it to another level we've never brought it to before," Salcedo said. Salcedo also thanks all of the cultural groups in the intercultural center for their help in putting Hispanic Heritage Month together. Prof. Olmanda Hernandez (ROCL) is a member of the Brandeis faculty who has been very supportive of AHORA! and Hispanic Heritage Month. She believes they do a great job preparing the events for the annual month long celebration every year. "It helps promote our culture and traditions and instill awareness about our heritage," Hernandez said. Hernandez is also pleased with the theme and believes it is necessary topic in order to promote Hispanic culture. "The important thing is not to focus on one group of people from certain cultures, but reflect on every country in the Spanish speaking world," Hernandez said. Hernandez is pleased with the role Hispanic Heritage Month plays in the Brandeis community. She would like to see the faculty and academic departments, with the help of the administration, provide more events throughout the year, particularly lectures on topics pertaining to the Hispanic world in different fields and subject areas. "To have a month dedicated to the Hispanic community is really great. I wish it wouldn't stop there and do more throughout the year," Hernandez said.Hernandez also added that she is pleased with how they have got the community interested in Hispanic Heritage Month. "All of what they are doing seems to bring not only enthusiasm in their group, but the entire community. I think they do a fantastic job," she said.
(09/23/03 4:00am)
Students returned to Brandeis this year to find changes in the guest meal policy. In previous years, students who were on meal plans had one unused meal a week set aside as a guest meal. This year students on the 14-, 21- Combo, and Flex Meal Plans are only allowed five guest meals per semester. As in previous years, students who are on the All-Points plan do not receive guest meals. Barbara Laverdiere, resident district manager for Aramark said in an e-mail that the changes were done in conjunction with increased hours of operation, increased meal equivalency and other issues. Mark Collins, assistant vice president for University Services, said this was done in a response to students looking for expanded hours of operation at the Usdan and the Shapiro Campus Center Cafe. Usdan is now open until 8 p.m. and Shapiro Cafe until 2 a.m. Because of this, it was necessary to cut costs in some area, he said.Collins said that reduction of guest meals would be the best option mainly because students are moving away from the traditional 14- and 21-meal plans and toward an All-Points plan or one of two Flex plans offered students on these plans usually use most of their meals and would not have been accumulating as many guest meals under the old plan. He added that students on 21-meal plans will be hurt the most."We tried to look at the dining program as a whole and felt this would be a fair way to cover these costs," Collins said. Collins has not received a lot of student response regarding this but only expects it to come from students on the 21-meal plan who might be concerned about losing meals.
