(04/27/10 4:00am)
The Schneider Institutes and the Programs in Sustainable International Development at Brandeis are collaborating to create an Institute for Global Health and Development, a research institute housed within the Heller School for Social Policy and Management designed to garner information that will help policymakers increase their focus on the impoverished, wrote Prof. Allyala Nandakumar (Heller), who will serve as the director of the institute, in an e-mail to the Justice. The Institute will be the third housed under the Schneider Institutes for Health Policy at the Heller School. The other two institutes are the Institute on Healthcare Systems and the Institute for Behavioral Health, according to the Schneider Institutes website. Nandakumar explained in an interview with the Justice that Provost Marty Krauss approved the establishment of the institute this month, but that he is working with Vice President of Global Affairs Daniel Terris to plan a campuswide launch event in the fall that will highlight the institute's main objectives. Nandakumar said the institute's website would be launched May 15.The mission of the institute, according to a PowerPoint presentation Nandakumar gave to the Heller School's Board of Overseers on Jan. 29, of which he provided a copy to the Justice, is "to bring the best research in global health and development to leaders and policymakers who can use the knowledge to achieve results at scale with a focus on the poor and social justice." Nandakumar presented information about the institute at the April 15 faculty meeting. Nandakumar wrote in his e-mail about the idea for the institute that the Heller School offers a Master of Arts in Sustainable International Development, a Master of Science in International Health Policy and Management and a Ph.D. concentration in Global Health and Development, but that the institute is designed to consolidate all research initiatives. "What we are doing is pulling together a community of researchers interested in this topic, both in global health and across the University. When we put out proposals going forward, the institute will become the focal point, and the institute can put the best teams together," he explained. Research projects that are currently under way, according to Nandakumar, include evaluating the investments in the maternal child health program in Egypt, researching what can be done to ensure the sustainability of these investments in the future and researching why investments in reducing mortality rates from malaria have not produced that outcome.Prof. Stanley Wallack (Heller), the executive director of the Schneider Institutes, said in an interview with the Justice that the establishment of a doctoral concentration in Global Health and Development reinforced the need for a research institute in this area. He explained that a research institute creates a different model for how to do research in a given field.The PowerPoint presentation states that the institute will focus on channeling its research into certain geographical regions such as Nigeria, where the institute will work with the Office of the President on programming debt relief funds; India, where it will work with the Gates Foundation on creating a maternal and neonatal program; China, where it will work on combating HIV/AIDS; and Rwanda. Nandakumar explained that the institute is initially focusing on these specific areas because the research environment is competitive in terms of obtaining grants, and members of the Heller School have previous experience working with these countries. "We want to build off expertise we already have in these areas," he said. He went on to explain that the institute would increase its' geographical scope as it expanded in size.When asked about the financial costs of the institute, Nandakumar responded that the institute would essentially be funded through grants provided for its research. He wrote that the institute has already obtained $2 million in research grants, and he would like it to grow by $500,000 annually. Nandakumar said he is in the process of formulating a fundraising strategy, but it is in the formative stages. "This is an ambitious target given the current global economic environment and the competitive nature of the market place. However given the outstanding faculty and researchers both at Heller and Brandeis we are optimistic of achieving our goals," he wrote.Wallack said he was very optimistic about the success of the institute."We are starting off with a good set of projects, and we will build from there, and we will be able to leverage what we have," he said.
(04/20/10 4:00am)
No students attended last Thursday's information session about the constitutional amendment regarding the implementation of a Sustainability Fund that will add $15.00 annually to the current Student Activities Fee.According to the amendment proposal, the Brandeis Sustainability Fund "provides financial support for Brandeis undergraduate students willing to undertake projects to improve Brandeis's environmental sustainability." If approved, the amendment would also result in a Sustainability Fund Board, a secured organization that would allocate funding for student projects. Three representatives from Students for Environmental Action brought the proposal with the 10 mandatory signatures from senators to the April 11 Student Union Senate meeting, and the student body will vote on the amendment on April 26. In an interview with the Justice, Matthew Schmidt '11, a former SEA president, attributed the lack of turnout to the fact that SEA did not sufficiently publicize the meeting. He explained that there would be another information session on April 22 and that members of SEA would be tabling in the Usdan Student Center and dormstorming to explain the nuances of the amendment and garner student turnout."When we get going, I expect we will have a big turnout at the vote, and I am fairly confident we will be successful," he said. Hannah Saltman '12, the current president of SEA, added that "next week would be a campuswide push."Schmidt said that he was not particularly concerned or offended about the lack of turnout-SEA had simply wanted to provide a forum for students to voice their opinions. Schmidt also said he did not expect a large amount of controversy over the amendment and raised concerns that students might not understand the amendment in its entirety. "Misinformation is the greatest cause of anger," he said, explaining that while students might have fundamental problems with the concept of a sustainability fund, a lot of the people potentially upset can simply harbor preconceived notions. Senator for the Class of 2012 Abby Kulawitz, who provided one of the necessary 10 senatorial signatures that allowed the amendment to be voted on, wrote in an e-mail to the Justice said that the students' approval of the amendment would result from their ability to understand it. "We need to understand that the money is open to any undergraduate students who want to promote sustainability. Further, we need to understand that the fee is separate from SEA. If students understand the fund, I am hopeful that it will pass."Kulawitz also wrote that she supported the amendment because she believes a sustainability fund is an efficient method of increasing environmental activism."The amendment allows students to execute projects towards energy efficiency, waste management-all-in-all, towards a more sustainable Brandeis," she wrote.
(04/13/10 4:00am)
The student body will vote Thursday, April 26 on a constitutional amendment that, if passed, would increase the student activities fee by $7.50 per student each semester to form a Brandeis Sustainability Fund, according to an April 12 e-mail Student Union Secretary Diana Aronin '11 sent to the Brandeis community. Hannah Saltman '12, Matthew Schmidt '11 and Matt Gabrenya '13, three representatives from Students for Environmental Action, brought the proposal with the 10 mandatory signatures from senators to the April 11 Senate meeting. According to the amendment proposal, a copy of which Aronin sent in her e-mail, the Brandeis Sustainability Fund would provide "financial support for Brandeis undergraduate students willing to undertake projects and/or activities to improve Brandeis's environmental sustainability." The proposal further explains that the funds would be administered by the Brandeis Sustainability Fund Board, which would become a secured organization if the amendment is approved. Saltman, the president of SEA, wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that several members of SEA began campaigning to implement this fund for the fall of 2009 after learning that several colleges and universities enacted similar "student sustainability fees" to help fund environmental initiatives."This fee is the next step in this University's commitment to sustainability and a step that brings sustainability to the doorsteps of students; allowing us to actively engage this money to shape the sustainable future of this University," Saltman wrote. Saltman provided examples of hypothetical projects the board would fund, such as improving the bike-sharing program, installing more efficient lighting in University buildings and increasing the amount of recycling and composting on campus.Additionally, there will be two elected representatives to the Brandeis Sustainability Fund Board, and the representatives will serve yearlong terms. The proposal explains, "In order to maintain a year to year leadership cycle, one representative shall be chosen during the Fall Elections and one representative shall be chosen during the Spring Elections."According to Saltman's e-mail, the board would consist of the Union treasurer, the treasurer's representative, two elected representatives, a representative from the Office of Facilities Services, the dean of Arts and Sciences or his or her representative and one faculty member from the Environmental Studies Department. Saltman explained that since it is too late to hold elections this semester, only one student would be elected to the board for this upcoming fall semester, and he or she would serve with the Student Union treasurer and the treasurer's representative until the spring semester, when the elected representative would resume the yearly position. Saltman wrote that students on the board can submit their own proposals but cannot vote on whether they will receive funding or not. She also stressed that while SEA brought forth this proposed amendment, "the Brandeis Sustainability Fund and its governing board are completely separate entities from SEA."Student Union President Andy Hogan '11 said in an interview with the Justice that he found the idea of a sustainability fund an "interesting proposal," but was unable to discern the likelihood of its passage. However, Hogan also said that while very few students voted on the amendments proposed by the Constitutional Review Committee, he hoped that more students would vote now that only one amendment was up for discussion."Most senators we spoke with were very supportive of the Fund and thought it was a great initiative to further Brandeis's sustainability," Saltman wrote, adding that SEA had met "extensively" with Hogan and Union Treasurer Daniel Acheampong '11 to further work out the details of the fund, and is holding a Brandeis Sustainability Fund Informational Meeting this Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Village TV Lounge.Saltman also wrote that SEA had also met with Vice President of Students and Enrollment Jean Eddy, Vice President for Campus Operations Mark Collins, Vice President of Capital Projects Dan Feldman, Energy Manager Bill Bushey, Sustainability Coordinator Janna Cohen-Rosenthal '08 and Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe, all of whom supported the proposal.-Anya Bergman contributed reporting.
(04/13/10 4:00am)
The University received the largest number of applications in its history this year and accepted 33 percent of those applicants for the Class of 2014 in comparison to last year's acceptance rate of 40 percent. According to a March 25 campuswide e-mail sent by University President Jehuda Reinharz, the overall number of applications increased from last year's number of 6,815 to 7,738. Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Jean Eddy wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that the Office of Admissions had accepted approximately 2,500 applicants and that she expected between 825 and 850 students to enroll in the Class of 2014. The enrollment figures, which were originally presented by Eddy at a March 23 Board of Trustees meeting, show that the number of international student applicants increased from 1,211 to 1,599. Additionally, the number of "students of color" who applied increased from 1,706 to 2,111, according to Reinharz's e-mail and Eddy's presentation. Reinharz's e-mail also explained that the mean SAT score for the accepted students had increased from 1392 to 1400."I expect that a third of [admitted students] will . join us in August," Eddy wrote. She also wrote that 1,500 students had registered for Admitted Students Day. Admitted Students Day took place yesterday in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center and included several information sessions and panels to acquaint prospective students with the University. Jonathan Chabon, an accepted student from western Massachusetts visiting for Admitted Students Day, said that he was attracted to Brandeis because of the academic facilities and the campus atmosphere. "I really liked the open atmosphere of the campus and the science facilities," he said, explaining that he was planning on majoring in Chemistry and Physics should he enroll. Chabon said he was unsure if he would enroll but that he was deciding between Brandeis and Wesleyan University. The expanded number of applications applied to the graduate schools as well, according to Reinharz's e-mail. Applications to the Heller School for Social Policy and Management increased by 10 percent, and applications to the International Business School by 14 percent.Eddy attributed the rise in applicants to intensified recruitment efforts by the Office of Admissions."I think we had a bit of bad publicity last year that we were mindful of. So the admissions team traveled a lot and reached out a lot to make sure incoming students knew that things are great at Brandeis," she wrote. Eddy did not elaborate in her e-mail on the bad publicity that occurred last year, but the University received a substantial amount of media attention as a result of the controversy surrounding the Rose Art Museum.The New York Times blog "The Choice," which provides commentary and statistics about college admissions, reported on April 2 that several selective colleges such as Harvard, Brown, the University of Pennsylvania and Dartmouth College, Cornell University, Stanford University and Duke University had reported a rise in applications, which induced record-low acceptance rates.
(03/23/10 4:00am)
The Student Judiciary will be implementing the mediation resolution process, which was approved as an amendment to the Student Union Constitution last Thursday, for the recent judicial complaint regarding a statement about the SunDeis Film Festival on the IndieLouie Film Festival Web site, according to an e-mail from Chief Justice of the Student Judiciary Judah Marans '11. According to an e-mail Marans sent to the Justice, Avner Swerdlow '10 submitted a complaint to the Judiciary on behalf of the SunDeis Film Fesitval. The complaint was filed against Ilona Yuhaev '11, who is part of the committee for the IndieLouie Film Festival, for making an allegedly libelous statement about the SunDeis Film Festival on the IndieLouie Film Festival Web site. The statement on the IndieLouie Web site explains, "Brandeis used to have a film festival called SunDeis run by students. This year, SunDeis was taken over by the film department for fundraising purposes. IndieLouie is the new student film festival at Brandeis; it is run by students, for students." Swerdlow claimed in his complaint that there was no takeover of the festival by the Film, Television and Interactive Media program. In an interview with the Justice, Swerdlow said that he filed the complaint because he believed Yuhaev was the head of the IndieLouie Committee but that the status of the defendants has since been extended to include all members of the IndieLouie Committee.Nathan Robinson '11, who is serving as the counsel for the IndieLouie committee, wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that Yuhaev is not the head of the committee and that the committee has "no management hierarchy whatsoever."Swerdlow explained that he filed the complaint because he was worried about the misrepresentation of information about SunDeis. He explained that in prior years, SunDeis had been administered by Student Activities, but that Student Activities had not been allocated the same amount of funding because of the economy. Thus, the Film, Television and Interactive Media program increased the funding it provides to the festival, he said. However, Swerdlow stressed that the festival was still completely student-run. "The festival is more student-run this year then ever. The Film department had very little involvement and is just a source of funding," Swerdlow said. Robinson said in an interview with the Justice that the complaint came as a complete surprise. "The statement on the Web site is innocuous and doesn't comply with the definition of libel," he said. He added that he did not understand why Yuhaev had been singled out for the complaint rather than the committee as a whole, and he was seeking clarification on that point from the Student Judiciary.Marans explained in an e-mail that the Judiciary had decided to engage in a mediation resolution process rather than hold a trial, a decision to which both parties agreed. According to the constitutional amendment, a mediation resolution process entails a discussion between the accuser and the accused regarding the allegation with the Judiciary acting as a mediator. "We are following this process for a rather straightforward reason: it is the required one spelled out in the constitution," Marans wrote. When asked about the length of the mediation resolution process, Marans responded that he did not now how long the process would take, as the Judiciary is still preparing for the meetings. Robinson said that he was unsure about the details of the mediation resolution process and that the details of the process would determine his ultimate willingness to comply with it. "We have agreed that we are open to it [the mediation resolution process] but will only go through with it depending on what the process will look like," he said, further explaining that he hopes the administration and faculty are not involved in the process. Marans also wrote that it would be "speculation" to assess what the outcome of this situation would have been had the amendment for a mediation resolution process not been implemented. "We were not necessarily expecting an issue to arise, but are certainly not surprised that it has. Our role is, after all, at least inter alia, to address issues of the student body in order to help achieve a just result," Marans wrote.
(03/09/10 5:00am)
The Schwartz Residence Hall section of the Usen Castle has been experiencing various maintenance issues, including a leaking ceiling that forced Kiernan Bagge '12 to vacate his room shortly before a portion of his ceiling collapsed.Bagge told the Justice that on Feb. 25, he entered his room in Schwartz and discovered that the ceiling was leaking and there was flooding in his room. He said he contacted the Department of Community Living to inquire about a temporary room change and moved into a vacant room in Hassenfeld Residence Hall. When he entered his room in Schwartz on Saturday to move his belongings, he said that the ceiling had collapsed. "All of my room was sprayed with debris, cement and rusted metal," he said, explaining that there was approximately $100 worth of damage to his personal belongings and that he immediately rushed everything to his new room in Hassenfeld.Jeremy Leiferman, the director of the Department of Community Living, declined to comment. Mark Collins, the vice president of Campus Operations, said in an interview with the Justice that the damage in Bagge's room was relatively minimal but that a representative from facilities immediately came to fix the maintenance issues."We did everything we could based on the circumstances," he said. Collins explained that the weather for the last few weeks has been detrimental to the Castle in the sense that it has produced several leaks in the building, and the Office of Facilities Services has been working to minimize these leaks. When asked about the possibility of renovating the Castle, Collins said that the recent maintenance issues in the Castle have reinforced the need to improve the building. "The recent issues have demonstrated the need for maintenance on the Castle," he said, explaining that while Facilities has done work such as plumbing, masonry fixes and painting, a major renovation needs to occur.Collins stressed, however, that Facilities had not determined when this renovation would occur, explaining that the renovations on the Charles River Apartments, which are slated to begin in May, are currently the top priority."It [this renovation] will occur in the next few years. That is best timeline I can give you," he said. Collins emphasized that while renovations are necessary in the Castle, the age of the building would make it a tricky and costly renovation, and Facilities would need to discuss possibilities to "add student residence spaces into the Castle facility."Alex Doucette '12, another resident of the Schwartz Residence Hall, said that his room had minor water damage as well, but this damage was relatively small compared to the damage to other residents' rooms. "My room, [209], has minor water damage on the wall, but nowhere near as bad as [those of] my neighbors," Doucette wrote, adding that his community adviser's closet experienced water leakage and the maintenance representative who came to fix these issues said he could easily put his fist through the wall because of the extensive water damage.Bagge confirmed in an e-mail that he and Doucette's community advisor is Mayo Hirabayashi '11. Hirabayashi did not respond to requests for comment by press time.Bagge wrote in a March 7 e-mail to the Justice that he returned to his room in Schwartz on Thursday, March 4 and discovered that the ceiling had begun to be repaired."They cleaned up most of the mess and had filled a large garbage can with the rubble," he wrote.
(03/02/10 5:00am)
During his trip to India from Feb. 1 to Feb. 13, University President Jehuda Reinharz spoke at the 2010 Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, the first major convention on climate change since the Copenhagen Summit in 2009, according to Vice President of Global Affairs Daniel Terris, who accompanied Reinharz on the trip.Reinharz also spoke at St. Xavier's College in Mumbai about the role universities could play in tackling global issues, visited the Jewish community in Mumbai and visited alumni in both Delhi and Mumbai, according to information about the trip posted on the Brandeis Web site.Reinharz wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that his speech emphasized the benefits of a liberal arts education in solving global problems. "Solving global problems requires the kind of big ideas and creative thinking that are natural outgrowths of a liberal arts education," he wrote.Reinharz called for the establishment of a Global Student Research Corps, a network of undergraduate and graduate students who could generate data and advance progress on climate change. He wrote that he received "a lot of positive feedback" about this idea. "It is clear to me that we need institutions of higher education to think big, to bring all of our many resources to bear, including the talents, energies, passion and idealism of our students and young people in general," he said during his speech at the summit, a copy of which was posted on the Brandeis Web site. Terris, who had visited India twice before on behalf of the University's advancement of relationships with India, said that Reinharz's presence enhanced the University's visibility on the trip and had increased publicity benefits, explaining that Reinahrz was interviewed by two major newspapers and a national television station."This trip reinforced our connections to Brandeis alumni and parents of current students, and it helped bring a higher level of visibility for the University within the country," Reinharz wrote.Reinharz wrote that, in an effort to solidify the alumni base in India, the University is in the process of establishing chapters in Delhi and Mumbai to enable alumni to convene for Brandeis activities and to increase opportunities available for Brandeis students in India.Prof. Harleen Singh (GRALL), the chair of the South Asian Studies program, also accompanied Reinharz on this trip. Singh had said she hoped the trip would advance the South Asian Studies program. Singh said in a phone interview with the Justice that she is in the preliminary stages of speaking with academics, professors and artists to work on partnerships between Indian institutions and Brandeis students, and she is specifically working on a partnership with TERI University, the Energy and Resources Institute in Delhi. Singh said "major progress" was made on this trip in regards to this specific partnership.Singh also served as a liaison to Reinharz and said she tried to help highlight the benefits of bridging cultural differences."I hope I helped in some ways in getting [Reinharz] to understand the differences in cultural systems and how we can use this information to help our undergraduates," she said.
(02/09/10 5:00am)
CORRECTION APPENDEDProvost Marty Krauss, chair of the Bold Ideas Group, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Apfel, a member of the Administrative Resource Review Committee, discussed the progress of their respective committees at the Feb. 4 faculty meeting. According to the charge listed on the Brandeis Web site, the Bold Ideas Group, which was formed last November, is responsible for formulating new programs that will ultimately "yield a steady-state positive net return of at least $2 million." Krauss listed the ideas the committee had discussed in a PowerPoint presentation at the faculty meeting. The ideas included expanding relationships with corporations and University partners, seeking out new markets, developing both online and offline master's programs and expanding the Rabb School of Continuing Studies by reaching out to people from different geographical areas. She also said that the committee had spoken about expanding high school programs. Krauss emphasized in an e-mail to the Justice that all of these ideas were in the formative stages and none had been definitively decided upon. She wrote that the committee's next meeting will be held Feb. 10 and that no timeline had been established to determine and implement these ideas "We don't know exactly how many more meetings we'll have, but we are continuing to meet to discuss ideas," Krauss wrote.The Administrative Resource Review Committee was established at a Sept. 3 faculty meeting with the charge of reviewing staffing trends, administrative practices and internal and comparative financial data. Apfel said in an interview with the Justice that he is in the process of drafting the committee's final report, which he will present to University President Jehuda Reinharz upon Reinharz's return from India on Feb. 13, and that the committee will make a presentation to the Board of Trustees during its meeting in March.In a Jan. 28 e-mail to the faculty, Krauss announced the formation of the Centers and Institutes Review Committee, which will analyze the centers harbored within Brandeis, a project the Curriculum and Academic Restructuring Steering committee began last year. Prof. Susan Birren (BIOL), the chair of the committee, wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that the committee had not met yet. She did not respond to a follow-up question about when the first meeting would be held. Apfel told those present at the faculty meeting that the committee had set up organizational charts and engaged in a staff complement analysis, a study that compares Brandeis staff to other institutions, and a compensation review of the staff and will work on a compensation review of the senior administration. He explained in an e-mail to the Justice that a compensation review entails a comparison of Brandeis salaries to benchmark averages. He also said that the committee was examining Library and Technology Services offerings with head of LTS Perry Hanson and was working on increasing efficiency and wants to conduct a space review to discern whether it is utilized efficiently."We're not considering outsourcing at this point in time," Apfel said at the meeting.Apfel also said that Vice President of Students and Enrollment Jean Eddy was in the process of figuring out a method of gathering student input about maximizing efficiencies. He told the Justice that Eddy had spoken with Student Union President Andy Hogan '11, and that he had spoken with Heddy Ben-Atar '11, the student representative to the Board of Trustees, but that no concrete plans had been made to accomplish this objective. Apfel also discussed Brandeis's involvement with the Advisory Board Company, explaining that the company had advised Brandeis on various fiscal matters like disciplining spending and optimizing facilities. According to Apfel's presentation at the faculty meeting, the committee has discussed forming health care and energy initiatives with the Boston Consortium, a group of 11 universities in the Boston area, and was in the process of forming a procurement initiative with the consortium.When asked to expand upon the ideas discussed at the faculty meeting, Apfel said he could not provide more details until the report was released. He said the time line of these activities was subject to the report as well.Correction: The headline of this article originally misstated the name of the committee. It is the Bold Ideas Group, not the Big Ideas Group.
(02/02/10 5:00am)
University President Jehuda Reinharz will visit India from Feb. 1 to Feb. 13 as an invited speaker at the 2010 Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, the first major convention on climate change since Copenhagen, according to a University press release sent by Daniel Terris, the vice president for Global Affairs and the director for the International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life. Reinharz will be accompanied by Terris and Prof. Harleen Singh (GRALL), according to the press release. In addition to speaking at the summit, Reinharz will speak in Mumbai about promoting social justice in an era of globalization and visit nongovernmental organizations that are focused on sustainable development and education.Singh, who is the co-chair of the South Asian Studies program, said that the trip was part of the Brandeis-India initiative, which began two years ago through the Office of Global Affairs as a method of strengthening the partnership between Brandeis and India through businesses, nongovernmental organizations and governmental institutions.Reinharz wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that the summit's sponsor, The Energy and Resources Institute in Delhi, and the Asia Society's Mumbai Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the world about Asia, extended a speaking invitation last September. Reinharz wrote that Brandeis has always had strong students from India but that no concrete effort has been made to maintain connections between these students and the University. "This effort to change that reflects the demands being made on higher education in a global environment for the University not just to serve students while they are on campus, but to build connections to continue to reach them and their communities over the course of their lives," Reinharz wrote. Singh explained that her familiarity with India will enable her to assist Reinharz as a liaison throughout his trip. "Hopefully, the result of this trip will be that [Reinharz] will see the network we have in India and be able to tell the Brandeis community the opportunities we have for them and show our alumni that this is a relationship we hope to further in the long term," she said. Terris, who said in an interview with the Justice that this will be his third trip to India for the purpose of strengthening the country's ties with Brandeis, explained that he was assisting Reinharz to help him build on the connections he had established on prior trips. "We want to solidify contact with global connections, which will provide more opportunity for our students to study and work in India, and for our faculty to be engaged in research partnership," he said.Reinharz wrote that his talk will focus on sustainability and social justice in today's globalized world."I will discuss the critical importance of institutions of higher education in addressing the pressing problems of globalized society, from the need to conserve the environment of the planet to the need to more effectively combat poverty and promote social justice," Reinharz wrote in his e-mail. Singh explained that this trip will also display a commitment to building on the University's South Asian Studies program, which began three years ago."This trip will show that the South Asian Studies program here is doing more and creating a network," she said.
(01/26/10 5:00am)
Housing options available for students studying abroad in the spring of 2011 have been expanded to include suites in Ziv Quad as well as space in the Village, according to the director of the Department of Community Living, Jeremy Leiferman. The DCL decided last year with the Office of Study Abroad, the Office of Students and Affairs and the Office of Student Enrollment that students studying abroad in the spring must live in the Village, but have now changed that policy so that those students can live in the Village or Ziv.Leiferman explained in an e-mail to the Justice that the housing options were expanded to suites in Ziv because students had requested a suite option, and more space was needed in the Village to accommodate the rising sophomore class that will live in Village A House. According to the Web site, House A of the Village is now only designated for sophomores. Houses B and C and "limited suites" in Ziv 130 are reserved for students going abroad.Leiferman further explained that the entire suite must be comprised of students planning on studying abroad in the spring, and that the number of suites available will be based on the number of students approved to study abroad at that time.Leiferman wrote that the study abroad housing policy was reviewed by an advisory board to the Student Union. "The designations are reviewed by multiple student committees and based in part on suggestions we receive from students," he wrote.Students planning to use this option were pleased with the expansion of choices."I am really excited by the fact there is an option to live in Ziv. It is nice to have the opportunity to live in a suite for a semester," said Jessica Nusbaum '12, who said she is applying to study abroad in the spring. "I think it is great that we have so much more variety now in our housing opportunities," Ariel Hirsch '12 told the Justice. According to Leiferman, the suites in Ziv that are vacated at the end of the fall semester will be filled in the spring by transfer students or students who were abroad in the fall or who participated in a Justice Brandeis Semester off campus. Students planning on studying abroad in the fall of 2010 are not eligible for room selection, a policy that Leiferman wrote was implemented last year.Leiferman also explained the concept of "Common Cause Communities," which he wrote is an opportunity for students to live together surrounding a theme. "The programming in these areas will be tailored to the theme in order to draw out students' passions in these areas," he wrote. Leiferman wrote that the ideas for this type of housing developed over the course of the past semester and were based upon feedback received from students. He added that these communities will likely be in East, Ziv and Ridgewood quads, but that the locations depend on the number of students interested.
(01/19/10 5:00am)
Valerie Wright has resigned from her position as registrar of the Rose Art Museum, and the University is seeking a replacement for this position, according to a Dec. 23 e-mail Provost Marty Krauss sent to the Brandeis community. Krauss also announced in her e-mail that she would be actively searching to hire a new director of education at the Rose, a position that has remained vacant since Emily Mello resigned last June. According to Krauss' e-mail, Wright terminated her position as registrar after receiving an offer to serve as registrar of the Art Museum at West Virginia University.Wright wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that she made her decision to leave in November. She explained that this decision was a difficult one for her to reach but that West Virginia University is providing her with a unique opportunity."Despite the economical difficulties experienced nationally, [WVU is] deciding to build a museum. They recognize the importance a museum grants to students of fine arts, sciences, and students in general," she wrote.Krauss said in an interview with the Justice that she learned of Wright's decision around Thanksgiving. Krauss said Wright's departure was amicable, and she was not surprised by the decision. "People often make career choices as they are building their career, and she found the opportunity at West Virginia University very appealing," said Krauss.Roy Dawes, the current director of operations at the Rose, wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that Wright's decision was slightly surprising but that he understood her justifications for making the decision."She has worked diligently through this difficult time period here at the Rose and I wish her the best," Dawes wrote.Dawes explained that he was currently reviewing resumes for a new collections manager to replace Wright and will begin conducting interviews within the next few weeks. When asked for a time frame regarding the announcement of Wright's replacement, he wrote that he hoped the position would be filled as soon as possible.Krauss said in an interview with the Justice that she consulted with the Office of the Arts, the Rose staff, and representatives from the Fine Arts department in an effort to reach the decision to look for a new director of education.Dawes wrote that he is in the process of forming a search committee for the director of education. He did not respond to a follow-up e-mail asking who would serve on the committee.Krauss said the committee would ultimately come to her with their recommendation. She said that she expected to have the position filled by the end of the year. Michael Rush, the former director of the Rose; Emily Mello, the former director of education; and Jay Knox, the former administrator, are no longer working at the museum. Prior to Wright's departure, Dawes; Wright; and Director of Financial Control, Budgeting and Analysis Karina Sheerin constituted the remaining staff.
(01/19/10 5:00am)
Several Brandeis students have formed a relief committee to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake and are currently in the process of brainstorming fundraising options, J.V. Souffrant '13, one of the students involved in this effort, said in an interview with the Justice.The earthquake occurred last Tuesday in Haiti, with such disastrous repercussions as the death of over 200,000 people and the destruction of several major landmarks.Souffrant, who is Haitian-American, said the first meeting was held Sunday, Jan. 17 and that right now the Brandeis students involved are looking for a unified way to raise money."We are looking to do one major event where the proceeds will go directly to the funds we choose to give," he explained. Jonah Seligman '10, another student involved in the cause, said that the meeting focused on preliminary fundraising options such as a bake sale, dormstorming and seeking alumni donations but that nothing concrete had been decided. "We want to create some ambitious yet achievable goal," he explained, adding that the fundraising goal would most likely be in the thousands of dollars but the actual figure is not yet definite.Seligman said the students involved in this effort would be tabling in the Usdan Student Center to fundraise and that there would be a vigil tomorrow at 6 p.m. for the victims of the earthquake.Souffrant said that several students raised the idea of helping to rebuild Haiti after the initial publicity from the earthquake has died down and that a portion of the funds raised would likely go towards this rebuilding effort as well as immediate relief. He also said the next meeting of the group is tentatively scheduled for Thursday. He said that many members of the Brandeis Haitian community are still in the process of grieving. Seligman said that Student Union President Andy Hogan '11 and members of Waltham Group were invited to Thursday's meeting to ensure a unified effort to help the Haiti victims. "Brandeis students are charitable by nature; I feel that I can make a difference here. The damage is unfathomable," he said.
(12/01/09 5:00am)
Seven members of the Presidential Search Committee held a town hall meeting on Monday night for students to express their views and opinions about the upcoming search for a new University president. The members present at the town hall meeting included Chairman of the Board of Trustees Malcolm Sherman, Student Union President and nonvoting committee member Andy Hogan '11, trustee and Fundraising Chair Barbara Mandel, Search Committee Chair Meyer Koplow '72 and Profs. Gregory Petsko (BCHM) and Leonard Saxe (Heller).The committee was formed in the wake of the Sept. 24th resignation of University President Jehuda Reinharz. Reinharz will remain president until a successor is chosen or until June 30, 2011."The purpose of this meeting is to see what students want," Hogan said in his introduction.Amanda Hecker '10, the Student Union vice president, was the first student to comment about the search. She said that she wanted a president who already loves Brandeis and is committed to the institution, because she believes that will lower the new president's learning curve at the onset of the first term. Heddy Ben-Atar '11, the junior representative to the Board of Trustees, said that she wanted a president who was willing to take the initiative to foster closer connections with students and lead the rest of the administration in doing so as well."We want a stronger connection with our leader," said Ben-Atar. Rachel Markman '10, a member of the Student Advisory Committee to the Presidential Search Committee, said after the meeting that she wished more students had attended, but she was very impressed with the students who came.Jason Gray '10, former Student Union president, echoed Ben-Atar's claims about the desire for a president whose chief concern is forging connections with students."If you walked into [the] Usdan [Student Center] and asked students what they want in a president, their first answer would be someone who is deeply committed to what students want. We need someone who connects with students," said Gray. Gray said his other two chief recommendations for a new president were someone who emphasized the importance of financial aid and someone who may not want to put their whole career into Brandeis. Julian Olidort '11 and Nicholas Hornstein '11, both members of the Student Advisory Committee, raised the issue of the search committee's opinion on the importance of selecting a Jewish president. Olidort said that this issue had come up among the Student Advisory Committee, but they had not reached a consensus. In response, Koplow explained that it was a necessity for the president to connect with the donor base, many of whom are people of Jewish faith. "We have learned the hard way that if the President cannot connect with the donor base, then there are bad results," he said. Saxe added that, whether Jewish or not, the new president needed to be able to connect with the values of the Jewish community."There are people that can do that who are not Jewish," he said.Tara Metal '10 expressed concern that no fine arts or humanities professors had been selected to serve on the Presidential Search Committee. Koplow said that he would be meeting with the humanities faculty before other segments of the faculty. He did not say when these meetings would occur. Jonathan Sussman '11 also stated his belief that the committee was not representative of the majority of the Brandeis community, as there is minimal faculty representation and the only student is a non-voting member. The Presidential Search Committee, chaired by Koplow, was formed after the most recent Board of Trustee meetings at the end of October and includes thirteen people in total, nine of whom are trustees as well as three faculty members and Hogan as a student representative. Sherman responded to Sussman's claims by saying that he was not necessarily looking for percentages of representation but for the best possible committee members. "I can only say that a huge amount of thought went into it," he said, adding that it was virtually impossible to satisfy all constituencies.Metal also questioned the committee members about the status of the Rose Art Museum and how the search committee related to this issue. Koplow said that "he did not want to get off on a Rose detour," but explained that the committee had enthusiastically welcomed the recommendations from the Committee on the Future of the Rose Art Museum's final report at their last meeting in October. Koplow also said the decision whether or not to sell any art would likely be determined before there is a new president. Markman said she was pleased with the meeting and that the search committee seemed receptive to the student's ideas. "I am very happy to hear students' concerns and emotions. I think in the next phase we need to hear how students want Brandeis presented," Professor Saxe said after the meeting.
(12/01/09 5:00am)
Medical EmergencyNov. 24-A female was reported to have had an allergic reaction off campus. BEMCo and the University Police responded. She was treated on-scene and transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital.Nov. 25-A party reported a patient who was potentially unconscious in the Foster Mods. University Police reported the party was conscious and breathing upon arrival. BEMCo and the Waltham Fire Department responded. The patient was transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. TrafficNov. 25-University Police responded to a report of a vehicle that was involved in a car accident with a fire hydrant by the Chiller plant near Loop Road. There were no injuries or damage. The operator cleared the area. MiscellaneousNov. 25-University Police observed three people on the roof of the Bassine Science Building. Two were identified as students, and one was identified as a nonstudent. Judicial charges will be filed.Nov. 25-A community advisor in Deroy Hall reported to University Police that a community advisor from Shapiro Residence Hall had called with a complaint that a group of potentially intoxicated males were running through the halls and knocking on doors. Two males were stopped by the entrance to the building. Both parties said that they were going to stay with a resident of the building. University Police took no further action.
(12/01/09 5:00am)
Fran Drolette, the current vice president of Budget and Planning, has been appointed to the position of vice president and chief financial officer and University treasurer, according to an e-mail sent this Tuesday to the University faculty and staff by Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Apfel.The responsibilities of the vice president and chief financial officer and University treasurer include overseeing the treasury, controls and accounting, financial services and financial systems areas, wrote Drolette in an e-mail to the Justice.Drolette wrote that she had enjoyed serving as acting vice president of financial affairs and was particularly interested in the consolidation of that position with vice president of Budget and Planning."Since the change seemed right for the University and right for me, I hoped that that we would stay on this path," she wrote.Drolette has been serving as acting vice president for finance and University treasurer since the former vice president for financial affairs, Maureen Murphy, left the position last September.According to Apfel's e-mail to the faculty, Drolette will also continue in her current position as vice president of budget and planning. Apfel explained in an e-mail to the Justice that the consolidation of these two positions was quite common in higher education and that he believed Drolette was capable of handling these dual responsibilities."I was particularly pleased with the idea of facilitating a change that would consolidate the budget and financial affairs function at a time when we, like so many other colleges and universities, are facing great financial challenges," Drolette wrote.Drolette wrote in her e-mail that she had been speaking with Apfel about continuing in the position of vice president of Financial Affairs and that Apfel had spoken with her about an official promotion "a couple of weeks" ago.Drolette said she plans on increasing the integration of the budget and financial staff members, which she and Murphy had been working on previously."Since the financial and budget staff is engaged at many levels, and with many people throughout the University, another important effort is to reinforce their important role in supporting the core work of the University with timely, accurate, and meaningful financial information and sound processes," she wrote.Apfel wrote that the general response to Drolette's promotion has been one of extreme enthusiasm, which he said is unusual for a financial administrative position. "That's a tribute to Fran's smarts, integrity and ability to communicate," Apfel wrote.
(11/24/09 5:00am)
Cholmondeley's, the student lounge and eatery, has changed its system of handling cash as a result of a series of thefts, the most recent of which occurred in October, said Tal Zaken '11, the financial manager of Chum's.Alissa Cherry '10, the events manager for Chum's, said in an interview that two years ago, the Chum's staff noticed that people were stealing money out of the safe. The staff changed its system so that money could not be stolen, but she was not at liberty to talk about the details of the changes in the system. According to Cherry, after they changed the system, a party took place at Chum's and someone from off campus stole a speaker and monitors. Daniel Orkin '10, the president of the Punk, Rock n' Roll Club, wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that there was a party at Chum's last semester during which the two main speakers, a floor monitor and two speaker stands were stolen. He could not remember the exact date but said it was around April. "I don't know exactly where the funding came from, but Chums [sic] replaced the speakers by the time the semester started. Apart from some mild frustration on my part, it did not effect [sic] the punk rock and roll club [sic] very much at all," Orkin wrote.Cherry said that the Chum's staff had to replace the equipment. "It was a huge cut in our budget, and we don't get funding from the school," she said. Cherry than said that this semester approximately $200 had been stolen out of the register at the beginning of the semester. She could not recall the exact date but said it was approximately three weeks before the Drag Ball, which took place on Oct. 24. As a result of this theft, the staff changed its system of handling money again.Zaken said he changed the system of handling cash to ensure that no more thefts occurred. He added that no thefts had occurred since the change. Zaken explained that under the initial system, a member of the Chum's staff kept the money made that night in a dorm room overnight and that staff would be responsible for transferring the money to the Shapiro Campus Center."This system was good in the sense that nothing could be robbed from Chum's, but money was just sitting in the student dorms overnight," he said. Once Zaken became financial manager, he said he implemented a new system to check if thefts were occurring. Under the new system, the money is kept in one location, and he has sole access to it along with General Manager Tim Kane and the Faculty Advisor Sarah Richardson. "We have a system of accountability-we know where the money is at all times, how much is there and who has access to the money," said Cherry.Zaken said that in between the two systems, there was a limited amount of money that all staff members had access to, and it was that limited amount that was stolen."I confirmed thefts were occurring at the beginning of this year. I noticed money was missing that should be there," said Zaken. Cherry said the money was missing from the cash register, and that Chum's staff had filed a report with the Department of Public Safety as soon as they learned of the theft, and that Public Safety had investigated but had not found the culprit. Edward Callahan, the director of Public Safety, said in an interview with the Justice that the Chum's staff had filed a complaint, and Public Safety had subsequently interviewed people involved with Chum's. He could not recall the specific names of people interviewed, however, because he did not have the official date the report was filed. "I remember there was an amount of money stolen, and that the situation dictated that the people working needed to implement more preventive measures so it doesn't happen again," said Callahan."We don't want to point fingers. The only thing we can do is change our system so people on campus don't know where our money is," Cherry said. She did not mention any particular suspicions.Zaken said that while the monetary amount that was stolen was not enormous, it did affect the budget. "I thought it was small, but when you are talking about a business that operates the way Chum's does, any amount of money seems large because we don't make a profit," he said. He explained that when the grill had stopped working, the staff had to struggle to find the funds for a new one.
(11/17/09 5:00am)
The Health Center has received its first dosages of the H1N1 vaccinations from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which have been distributed to University emergency and health care personnel, said Rick Sawyer, the dean of student life, in an interview with the Justice. The extra vaccinations were distributed to approximately 20 students with pre-existing health conditions, he said. Sawyer sent an e-mail to the Brandeis community Nov. 7 in which he explained that the department of public health recommended inoculating emergency and health personnel first, and that there would be a gradual increase in the number of dosages. He wrote in the e-mail that after the health and emergency personnel were inoculated, the subsequent round of vaccinations would be provided to those students with pre-existing health conditions. In his e-mail, Sawyer cited the qualifying conditions: pregnancy, acting as the caretaker of an infant, as well as suffering from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurological conditions, cancer or pulmonary diseases like asthma and cystic fibrosis. He told the Justice, however, that there could potentially be some ambiguity as to what constitutes a pre-existing health condition."It gets a little gray when considering who is high-risk and who is risky," Sawyer said.Dr. Deborah Poaster, the health center medical director, wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that the health center has administered 700 seasonal flu inoculations, and that she expects the last shipment of 300 doses to arrive in December.Poaster wrote in her e-mail that the health center had ordered 3,000 vaccinations. Sawyer said that after the first two dosages were distributed, he hoped to open H1N1 clinics distributing the vaccination to all who wanted it after Thanksgiving. Sawyer added that opening these clinics would likely entail bringing in additional medical help to facilitate, explaining that there is simply not enough staff to operate the clinics. He did not say where the medical help would come from. He added that outsourcing could potentially result in additional costs to students receiving the vaccinations but that the costs would be minimal. The Health Center is particularly understaffed, said Sawyer, as its nursing director and co-administrator Kathleen Maloney retired last summer. A search is under way for a new director, but Sawyer said the search has not yet been successful. "In the Boston job market, I think most of the people that would normally be a candidate are pretty well set with a job. That's what it feels like. It's a good job, and an attractive job, but the kind of person we need is probably employed," he explained. "We continue to interview candidates for this position," Poaster wrote. She also wrote that she has been working extra hours to compensate for Maloney's retirement. A student committee was implemented to interview potential candidates for the position. However, Daniel Litwok '10, a committee member and the Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps' director of operations, wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that the committee has not met since he was selected to serve on it. Sawyer explained that the student committee has not yet been involved in interviewing candidates because no candidates have visited campus yet.According to an e-mail Sawyer sent to the Brandeis community Nov. 13, approximately 170 students have been diagnosed with the flu this semester, and currently 17 students are actively ill and under treatment. Sawyer attributed the spike to events like the Nov. 5 Ben Folds concert and the Nov. 7 Pachanga, a popular, annual dance sponsored by the International Club. He said that at these type of events, during which large numbers of students are crowded close together, it is very easy for the flu virus to spread.Sawyer explained that in the upcoming weeks there would be other well-attended events taking place in crowded quarters but he did not specify any such events. He has been sending out regular e-mails to the Brandeis community throughout the semester recounting the specific number of students ill with the flu.
(11/17/09 5:00am)
Student Union President Andy Hogan '11 spoke during his State of the Union address last Thursday about ways to combat the adverse effects of an increased student body and the Student Union's goals for the spring 2010 semester, one of which is the opening of a new dining facility in Gluck Lobby.Hogan explained that in response to the University's decision to increase enrollment by 400 students in an attempt to alleviate its budget crisis, the Union will advocate that the University increase student services, and that in an effort to do so, the Union is currently addressing ways to advocate change in housing, dining and academics. "Our official position is that with the increase in students must come an increase in student services," he said. Hogan said that in regard to housing, the Union is encouraging the administration to renovate the Charles River Apartments to prevent more students from living off campus. He announced that a temporary new dining facility would open after winter break in Gluck Lobby to mitigate the problems of overcrowding and long lines in the current dining facilities. Hogan stressed, however, that this facility would only be temporary. He said that the Union hopes to put a permanent facility in the Mandel Center for the Humanities when it opens.Hogan explained that the expected continued increase in the student body would ultimately result in an average class size of 28.2 students by the fall of 2012 and that the average class size had already increased from 21.8 last fall to 23.4 this fall. "Brandeis academia may have to change, and we need to be cautious but open to this change," he said. He emphasized the Union's support of the Justice Brandeis Semester, the semester-long experiential learning program.After Hogan addressed ways in which the Union was handling this issue of overcrowding, he began to speak about the Union's accomplishments and upcoming goals. He said that in terms of student finances, the Union Finance Board was able to allocate 70 percent of the total requests made by University clubs and is in a comfortable position financially. He also said the Union is in the final stages of building the Student Union Management System, which will help clubs manage their finances more efficiently. All clubs will transfer to SUMS in the beginning of the spring semester. "SUMS will revolutionize the finance system as it creates the highest level of financial management and transparency," he said.In addition to helping clubs and organizations with their finances, Hogan said the Union wants to improve club life by implementing a "clubs in service program" to connect clubs that are not typically community service-oriented with volunteer opportunities. He also mentioned the implementation of Resource 25, an online reservation system that will enable clubs to request and reserve room space online.Hogan said the Union formed a Committee on Endowment Ethics and Responsibility to help ensure responsible endowment investment choices and was in the midst of a year long process to vet the current conduct process for student rights. Prior to his conclusion, Hogan spoke about President Jehuda Reinharz's resignation and the Presidential Search Committee. He announced that in addition to the Student Advisory Committee organized by the Student Union to assist the Presidential Search Committee, he was appointed to serve as a nonvoting member of the committee a week ago. "I know that I will do my very best in representing student interest in this process and am happy that the Board of Trustees and other decision makers of this University see the value of student input," he said.Hogan concluded by saying, "It is the involvement of students and our influence that makes me proud and honored to serve as your president. So let's embrace change and tackle 2010. Together we can help Brandeis thrive."The Student Union members in attendance at the event were pleased with Hogan's speech."I thought it was a really good speech. I think Andy did a really good job of highlighting the Union's accomplishment. He was correct that change is the word of 2009," Jenna Rubin, the executive senator and the senator for the Class of 2011, said.
(11/10/09 5:00am)
Prof. Shulamit Reinharz (SOC), Fine Arts undergraduate departmental representatives and students involved in the controversy over the "Save the Rose" buttons at the museum's reopening last week attended a confidential meeting last Thursday, according to Tara Metal '10, a Fine Arts major who works at the Rose Art Museum and was one of the students Reinharz asked to remove her button.Metal, who said her encounter with Reinharz at the Rose made her visibly upset, explained that the meeting was confidential because both parties wanted to create an open forum for discussion without any press. "We all felt strongly about keeping a safe space, trying to have an actual discussion," she said.Reinharz and the wife of a trustee whom interviewees have declined to identify asked several students and faculty to remove their "Save the Rose" pins at the Rose reopening Oct. 28. Some students wearing the button claim that Reinharz had been somewhat abrasive in requesting that they remove them. Reinharz had said in a Nov. 2 interview with the Justice that she did not view her actions as coercive.Reinharz declined to be interviewed, explaining in an e-mail that both parties had agreed to keep the proceedings of the meeting confidential and that she was going to abide by that stipulation.Provost Marty Krauss wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that she did not attend the meeting but was aware that it took place. "I was briefed by several people about what transpired at the Rose opening," Krauss wrote. She did not comment further. Beccah Ulm '11, a Fine Arts UDR who attended the meeting, said that she did not believe the discussions at the meeting provided concrete resolutions for the issues that that occurred at the opening. Ulm said she believed what occurred was essentially a violation of free speech. "I feel like the intent was positive, but there are still a lot of issues that need to be dealt with," she said. Ulm added that she hoped more communication would occur, but that nothing definitive was agreed upon at the meeting to ensure that. Student Union President Andy Hogan '11, who attended the meeting, also declined to discuss what occurred at the meeting due to the confidentiality agreement. Hogan was asked to attend the meeting but would not say who asked him. "The only thing I feel I can say is that it went well and I hope we can continue to have productive dialogue on contentious issues on this campus," Hogan wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.When asked if students had submitted an official complaint to the University, Metal said that there was a report but it was not from students and that Provost Krauss has been made explicitly aware of these cases. She said she could not elaborate further. Krauss said that she has not received a complaint. Ulm said she did not know if students had filed a complaint but that there are means by which they could.-Harry Shipps and Nashrah Rahman contributed reporting.
(11/03/09 5:00am)
Students and faculty members have made claims that Prof. Shula Reinharz (SOC), wife of University President Jehuda Reinharz, requested that people remove their "Save the Rose" buttons at the opening of the Rose exhibit last Wednesday.Emily Leifer '11, the undergraduate departmental representative for the Fine Arts department, said in an interview with the Justice that she and the other UDRs, Beccah Ulm '11, Anne Carver '10, Amy Tsao '10 and Catherine McConnell '10, convened prior to the Rose opening. Ulm and Leifer handed out the buttons at the event. Leifer said the UDRs initially wanted to have a petition table at the opening but decided to provide "Save the Rose" pins because the petition would likely incite controversy with the administration. Leifer said she and Ulm were handing out buttons when Reinharz came to the front of the museum with someone else. According to Leifer, Reinharz tried to steer people away from her and Ulm and told them that they were being disruptive. "[Reinharz] said the Rose is saved," Leifer recalled. She added that Reinharz didn't give an answer about whether the works are for sale but asked something like, "Do you want this University to fail?" Prof. Mark Auslander (ANTH) was also wearing a "Save the Rose" button and said that the wife of a trustee member asked him to remove it. He declined to provide any names but said she is good friends with Reinharz.Ulm confirmed Leifer's account and said that Reinharz was "very confrontational with us." "She came over, and I didn't know who she was at first, and [she] just kind of touched the box and touched my arm and said, 'Please don't hand those out. They're misleading and detrimental to this event,'" said Ulm. Reinharz said in an interview with the Justice, however, that she asked approximately 10 to 15 students to remove their pins, and five complied. She said she did not think she was being coercive. "If I were being coercive, I probably would have had a better success rate," she said.Rachel Comstock '10, who works as a gallery guide at the museum, said that she and Reinharz were greeting guests when Reinharz asked her for her pin. Auslander said that he also observed Reinharz speaking with the students and telling them to remove their pins. "She was forceful. She felt strongly that buttons should not be worn," he said. Reinharz explained that she believed the buttons were telling people what they should do rather than announcing an opinion or stating what the wearers were doing themselves to benefit the Rose. "They were misleading," she said. Auslander explained that he donned the pin to support the students who were wearing them but that he was also surprised by the claim that the Rose has been saved, given that the University is currently engaged in a lawsuit to ensure its right to sell paintings.Reinharz said that she discussed selling even one piece of art with a student who said that it would "violate the integrity of the collection." Reinharz said this was not completely comprehensible given the varied nature of the collection and noted that selling even one piece of art work might save jobs at the University. "Selling just one piece would also bring as many sanctions against us as selling ten pieces would. ... we would not be able to borrow work from other museums and we would not be able to loan to other museums," said Roy Dawes, director of museum operations.Valerie Wright, the Rose collection manager, said that she had not actually witnessed Reinharz and the wife of a trustee asking people to remove their pins but that the Museum's visitor service coordinator subsequently told her that the wife of a trustee had approached her about this matter. Wright also said that, since the opening, approximately five students have come to speak with her to express how they were made to feel uncomfortable."Our policy is that the buttons are a free speech choice. Students can wear buttons if they want. It's a free speech issue, so we don't have a policy on the buttons other than people can do what they want," said Wright. Auslander also alluded to free speech, explaining that this concept was what made Reinharz's actions so surprising. "Prof. Reinharz is a senior member of faculty. She is married to the president and serves as assistant to [the] president. I and other faculty watching were deeply surprised she would pressure students not to exercise their free speech rights," he said.-Anya Bergman, Hannah Kirsch and Nashrah Rahman contributed reporting.
