(04/07/09 4:00am)
A panel consisting of prominent alumni in the art field took place at the Rose Art Museum yesterday in an effort to reflect on the rich heritage of the Rose and the influence the museum has had on the students who have studied there, Prof. Nancy Scott (FA), who introduced the panelists, explained at the event.Gary Tinterow '76, Kim Rorschach '78, Reva Wolf '78, Andrea Aronson Morgan '80 and Karen Chernick '06 discussed the impact of the Rose on their educational experiences and careers at the panel discussion titled "Education Matters in the Museum," which took place yesterday and was held at the Rose. The event was co-sponsored by the Rose and the Fine Arts department; it was organized by a student committee consisting of Andrea Fineman '10, Nera Lerner '12, Stella Liberman '09, Maarit Ostrow '11, Julia Sferlazzo '09 and Aly Young '09.Michael Rush, the director of the Rose, said in his opening remarks preceding the panel that this event showed "that the Rose is still very much alive." He encouraged the audience members to hold out hope that the museum will remain open. "It's not over until it's over," he said.Rush condemned the administration for its lack of communication with the museum staff. "I've learned a lot about what leadership is and what it isn't," he said, adding that "[University President Jehuda Reinharz] has not been to the museum since Jan. 26. That is not leadership. That is hiding."Tinterow, now the Engelhard chairman of the department of the 19th Century, Modern and Contemporary Art at the Metropolitan Museum, said during the panel discussion that it breaks his heart to think the museum might close, and that working at the museum while he attended Brandeis played a formative role in his career choice. "It was the very nature of the Rose's collection that attracted me as a student and inspired me to study art," he said.Rorschach, the Mary D.B.T and James H. Semans director of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, said, "the Rose Art Museum made me who I am today. I would not have had the career I have without the Rose." She emphasized that the Rose is vital to Brandeis' reputation, explaining that "the Rose Art Museum is core to the brand of Brandeis University in the broader world in the sense that many people associate the University with the museum," and called on the University for greater transparency in regards to the University's financial state.Wolf, now a professor of art history at State University of New York at New Paltz, spoke about how her teaching style today is rooted in her hands-on experience at the Rose, explaining that she ensures her students have extensive interactions with museum exhibits.Wolf also said that she began to cry when she read the headline in The New York Times Jan. 27 that Brandeis was planning to close the Rose. "The Rose was at the center of my undergraduate education. I took for granted how special the museum is until Jan. 26," she said. Morgan, the associate director of Institutional Giving at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, said she was attracted to Brandeis both because of the University's emphasis on social justice and its valuable art collection. She said that she believes art ensures civic engagement and that she sincerely hopes the museum can remain open to the public.Like Wolf, Morgan said that she also became very emotional after the University's announcement to close the museum, explaining that "the idea that a student would come to Brandeis without experiencing the Rose was a chilling thought."The final panelist to present, Chernick spoke about her experiences working at the Rose as a student at Brandeis. Chernick was a recipient of the STARR internship, an endowed internship at the Rose that is currently underwater like many endowments. Chernick is currently a Ph.D. student at the insititute of Fine Arts at New York University. Scott said prior to Chernick's presentation that she wanted her to be a member of the panel because she "most closely represents the oppurtunities our students have enjoyed over the years and the possibilities of future students." Chernick said in an interview with the Justice after the panel that she encouraged students to take advantage of the Rose's collection. -Hannah Kirsch contributed reportingEditor's Note: Andrea Fineman is the managing editor for the Justice.
(03/31/09 4:00am)
Twenty-two professors signed a letter written to Provost Marty Krauss and the Committee on the Future of the Rose Art Museum last Tuesday recommending that the administration impose a moratorium on closing the Rose for one year, according to Prof. Nancy Scott (FA).The letter, written by Prof. Ellen Schattschneider (ANTH), urges the committee to "recommend to the administration that, at a minimum, the Rose Art Museum should stay open as a public art museum, at its current level of professional staffing and continuing to mount high-quality exhibitions, until at least June 30, 2010."Schattschneider told the Justice that she began this initiative because she believes there needs to be more time to consider all options regarding the museum. "There is concern that we are rushing into a decision without due consideration," Schattschneider explained. Schattschneider said that she was "cautiously optimistic" about the possibility of a moratorium, but could not make any predictions. Scott, who signed the letter, said that she learned of the letter through e-mail. Like Schattschneider, Scott said that delaying decisions about the museum for a year would help ensure a well thought-out decision about the matter and would give the faculty more time to digest the report by the Committee on the Future of the Rose."In the best possible scenario, the committee meeting this spring delivers a report that the larger faculty has time to discuss. The way things are going, the Rose is closing on June 30. That potentially only gives us the month of final exams and graduation to decide if we are going to push to keep the Rose open and how we are going to do it because there is not a good budget plan without selling paintings. The intent of [the] letter was to give another year to the public existence of the Rose so all recommendations currently coming in by the committee will be made in a more sober fashion," Scott explained."I hope the provost takes this letter seriously in light of our concerns about how much will be cut off short with a very uncertain future," Scott said. "I hope she will also realize that from a practical standpoint, the faculty cannot invent new programs to take the place of the old between the end of this academic year and next fall and will lose a year of Fine Arts programming," she said.Krauss could not be reached for comment in response to the letter before press time . Scott said she was very concerned about educational programming at the Rose and added the section of the letter that expresses the concern that students normally seeking to pre-enroll for fall internships at the Rose now have no such option and that educational programming at the Rose, including that funded by the endowed Starr and Warner internships, is now in jeopardy."The faculty was excluded from the initial process of decision making about the Rose, and we are trying to reignite the process," she said, adding, "I think it is very important for the faculty to speak out."The letter was sent after Prof. Robert Meyer (PHYS) withdrew his proposal to keep the Rose open as a public museum. Meyer's proposal, presented at the March 12 faculty meeting, called for the faculty to support the resolution "that the Rose Art Museum shall remain open as it is, a fully functional public art museum, with the provision that the University may, only as necessary for its financial well-being, sell selected items of art from its collection. Moreover, that this resolution of the faculty shall be widely publicized to help restore public confidence in the University." Meyer wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that the proposal was postponed at the meeting until the Committee on the Future of the Rose made its report. The faculty voted 35-22 with 23 abstentions to renew Meyer's resolution and open up discussion about the Rose. As a result of the discussion, the faculty voted to amend the proposal to remove the parts about selling the paintings and restoring public confidence in Brandeis. Scott said that, while she supported the idea behind the resolution, she was unable to support Meyer's initial proposal because it mentioned the possibility of selling paintings. While Meyer ultimately withdrew his proposal, saying that he had "heard enough" of the discussion of faculty members' opinions abut the Rose Art Museum, he said in an interview with the Justice that both Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe and Joe Baerlein of Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications, Inc., the University's temporary public relations firm, tried to discourage him from proposing his motion because they believed it could potentially cause negative publicity."[Jaffe] tried to talk me out of making this motion, saying that the story could get national headlines and would sound like a terrible conflict between the faculty and the administration and would make the faculty seem rebellious," Meyer said. Baerlein said in a phone interview with the Justice that he was not discouraging Meyer from making his proposal but that he did not think he should make it before the Committee on the Future of the Rose had even met. "As a distinguished professor, I feel that Meyer can provide a lot of perspective as to what the committee should look at, and I thought his voice along with other experienced faculty, could be important in shaping the final outcome of the Rose. The idea of putting the proposal forth would have negated future discussion about the museum, and I suggested that it was premature for him to put forth the proposal before the committee met," Baerlein said.
(03/24/09 4:00am)
CORRECTION APPENDED SEE BOTTOMThe Committee on the Future of the Rose Art Museum that was formed by Provost Marty Krauss last week held its first meeting last Thursday to discuss the charge of the committee, according to Prof. Detlev Suderow (IBS), a member of the committee. The first meeting largely consisted of discussions revolving around the exact charge, or purpose, of the committee, Suderow said. "The task at a very generic level is the future of the Rose, but there is some disagreement over whether the future of the Rose is dependent or independent of the current fiscal realities. We are currently finalizing the ultimate responsibilities of the committee. When it is finalized on paper, it will be published to the larger Brandeis community," he said. The meeting was not open to the press or the public. While Suderow said in an interview with the Justice that the committee recognized the need for transparency, the committee agreed not to discuss any specifics of their discussions from the first meeting in an effort to prevent any confusion and prevent conflicting messages. "The committee is keenly aware that the Brandeis community needs to be updated on a regular basis. Transparency is very much on our minds. This is not a secret committee, but a committee of dedicated members looking at an extremely controversial issue. The committee agreed not to make any statements until we have agreed on those formal statements," he said. Suderow hopes that a decision will be published soon but said he did not know when that would be. "When people do not know anything, they begin to speculate about what is going on," he explained. "The sooner the statement comes out, the better," he said.While Suderow said the committee had not finalized the technicalities of the communications process, he said he expects the committee to follow the established procedure of publishing minutes for the public, which he said he will suggest at the next meeting.Suderow also said the members of the committee represented a wide range of opinions about the Rose Art Museum which contributed to the delay of finalizing a decision about the specific task of the committee."The committee consists of people from the Fine Arts faculty and Roy Dawes, a member of the Rose Staff, as well as people from the business perspective," Suderow said, adding that "there are a wide range of opinions to sort through, but we will all do what is necessary to come out with a report to present to the Board of Trustees that reflects the considerate opinion of this wide-ranging committee. We will certainly agree to do the right thing for the University," Suderow said. Prof. Jerry Samet (PHIL), the chair of the committee, wrote in a March 16 e-mail to the Justice that the committee's objective is to provide recommendations about the Rose Art Museum to the administration who will then make recommendations to the Board of Trustees. "The committee will only make recommendations; it will not make final decisions. The broader Brandeis community will have an opportunity to digest and comment on the report, and the administration will ultimately make a recommendation to the board of trustees," Samet wrote, adding, "We'll try to figure out a reasonable timeline for our report at the first meeting.""In my personal opinion, recommending that the University keep the museum open as a public museum will only be valid if we present other options," Suderow wrote in a March 16 e-mail to the Justice. "Just saying 'no' is not a solution," he said. However, Samet wrote in a March 23 e-mail to the Justice that he would not be able to say "anything of substance" about the committee's first meeting. Catherine McConnell '10, the undergraduate student representative on the committee, could not be reached for comment by press time.Suderow said that while the committee agreed to try to formulate a report by the end of the semester, it will continue working beyond this semester if it does not fulfill that goal: "The committee agreed that we should not rush to form a proposal for the board of trustees, because this problem is too important to form a consensus, but that we should provide the larger community with a status report before the end of the semester."If the committee is able to compile a proposal for the Board of Trustees by the end of the semester, Suderow said that he is unsure if it will change the University's decision to close the Rose as a public museum unless it presents alternative options of handling the fiscal crisis.Correction: The article initially attributed a quotation to the wrong professor. The quote, "In my personal opinion, recommending that the University keep the museum open as a public museum will only be valid if we present other options ... Just saying 'no' is not a solution," was written by Prof. Detlev Suderow (IBS), not Prof. Jerry Samet (PHIL).
(03/17/09 4:00am)
The Rose family presented a statement condemning the proposed changes to the Rose Art Museum at an interdisciplinary symposium titled "Preserving Trust: Art and the Art Museum" Amidst Financial Crisis at the Rose last night.The statement, according to copies provided at the symposium, was written on "behalf of over 50 members of the Rose Family" and urges "the current university president and the trustees to restore the use, budget, staffing and activities of the Rose Art Museum until a final decision is issued by a court." Meryl Rose, a spokeswoman for the Rose family, a Rose Museum Board member and an art collector, read the statement to assembled Brandeis faculty and students, about 20 members of the Rose family, Rose museum staff and members of the intellectual community at the symposium.The statement also says that "repurposing the museum is closing by another name. It would not be the Rose. Any other understanding of the university's current plan is disinformation."Meryl Rose said in an interview with the Justice that the Rose family collectively decided that a written statement condemning the University's actions toward the Rose was necessary because of the family's attachment to the museum. "We just felt that we had to say something. We had to be proactive." While Meryl Rose described Brandeis as a "wonderful institution," she said that the administration needs to acknowledge its errors in the way it handled the situation with the museum. "Personally, what I would love to see is for [the administration] to say, 'We made a mistake,'" she said, adding that "there would be no shame if they admitted they made a mistake. It would be seen as a very big, bold move." Meryl Rose also said that the museum's closure will have future implications for her family's donations. "Anything we give [to institutions in the future] would have documents attached to it that would be scrutinized by several lawyers," she said.Boston attorney Edward Dangel III, who has been hired by Chair of the Rose Board of Overseers Jonathan Lee to pursue legal blocks to the administration's decision to close the museum, said that the administration needs to address the "very serious question" of "if Brandeis is allowed to break up this collection and close this museum, [whether] other people in America who have important collections and important things to give and a specific intent in mind for that gift will give in the future."Prior to Meryl Rose's presentation of the statement, Michael Rush, the director of the Rose Art Museum, told the audience that "the Rose Art Museum as we know it will not exist after the middle of May [because] the University saw the museum as a plan to assist its fiscal crisis."The panelists who presented after Meryl Rose's statement, literary scholar and Harvard professor Stephen Greenblatt, former Poet Laureate and Boston University professor Robert Pinsky and novelist Claire Messud, stressed the importance of art and the preservation of culture.Greenblatt stated that "a university without a modern art museum cannot fully make good on the cognitive life of introducing arts to the university.""We must have a Rose Art Museum because we cannot teach children of the 21st century how to solve problems without modern and contemporary art," Greenblatt said during his presentation.Pinsky said in an interview with the Justice that the administration's decision to close the museum would have a detrimental effect on students. "It's as though the University is risking saying to the students, 'We don't know how to take care of you,'" he said.Prof. Mark Auslander (ANTH), who moderated the event, said in an interview that the Rose family statement showed the impact of the University's decision on its benefactors. "The Rose family statement is enormously powerful because it shows the impact of closing the museum on the wider philanthropic community," he said.Provost Marty Krauss, who attended the event, said in an interview with the Justice that the symposium would not affect the administration's decisions regarding the museum."This is a community event for intellectuals who love the art to talk about the nature of the art. It is not a strategy meeting. The type of event tonight is not designed to make policy but to give people a space to talk," she said.Pinsky said, "[The symposium] is not a policy meeting. It is a meeting about values. Values should determine policy. If policy meetings are only determined by policy, they're tautological, they're futile."However, Beccah Ulm '11, who organized the Rose sit-in protest on Jan. 29, said that she hoped the event would influence the policy toward the Rose. "I find it frustrating that we're only taken seriously when we go through the avenues set up by the administration," Ulm said.Prof. Mary Baine Campbell (ENG) later said in a phone interview with the Justice, "The detrimental effects [of closing the Rose] for the University as a liberal arts institution are especially frightening to me not just for practical reasons, but that I believe it is possible to lose a part of the human heritage."The symposium occurred shortly after Krauss announced by e-mail the formation of a new committee to handle the future of the Rose Art Museum. The tentatively named Committee on the Future of the Rose will be chaired by Prof. Jerry Samet (PHIL) and will consist of faculty, staff, alumni and graduate and undergraduate students, according to the e-mail.Samet wrote in an e-mail to the Justice, "The committee will only make recommendations; it will not make final decisions. The broader Brandeis community will have an opportunity to digest and comment on the report, and the administration will ultimately make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees." Samet wrote in his e-mail that the committee will try to develop a timeline at its first meeting this coming Thursday.Krauss said in an interview with the Justice, "Based upon the reaction on campus to news about the Rose Art Museum, it was clear that we needed a broader representation of different constituencies of the University," she said."My hope is that our recommendations will contribute to the formation of a plan for the Rose Art Museum that will be embraced by the community at large," Samet wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.
(03/17/09 4:00am)
The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee unanimously approved the selection criteria for the Brandeis study abroad applications last Thursday, according to Dean of Academic Services Kim Godsoe.The criteria, according to the minutes from the Advisory Committee to Study Abroad's meeting March 5, is divided into four parts: academic and intellectual fit of the program, intercultural learning plan, academic achievement and preparedness and personal preparedness. Each facet has different weights of importance: academic and intellectual fit of the program is weighted as 30 percent of the application, intercultural learning plan as 20 percent, academic achievement and preparedness as 30 percent and personal preparedness as 20 percent. Godsoe said that the selection criteria do not represent a large number of changes to the current system but provide a more definitive system for reviewing applications. "This criteria formalizes the criteria we have been using informally. A student's level of preparation for the challenges of living abroad has always been a factor, but the new criteria adds more detail to the framework," she said.Godsoe initially distributed the selection criteria at the Advisory Committee to Study Abroad meeting on Feb. 5, according to the minutes from that meeting. The criteria were reviewed at the March 5 ACSA meeting before it was presented to the UCC last Thursday. Maggie Balch, the associate dean of student life and a member of the committee, said that the overall goal of the selection criteria is to ensure that students take the option of studying abroad seriously and think out the process. "The members of the committee want to see that the program for which students are applying meets their academic interests, and that students have seriously considered the implications and challenges of living abroad," Balch said.According to the minutes from the March 5 meeting, "There was some disagreement voiced early in the discussion with the percentages assigned to various categories, but those who raised those concerns later said they felt comfortable with the categories." Godsoe explained in an interview that overall, the criteria received "overwhelming support" from the students, faculty and staff on the committee. Hanna Rosenthal-Fuller '09, a student member of the committee, said, "The criteria seems to be very consistent with students' goals for study abroad because it enables them to articulate specifically why they want to go abroad and is representative of the committee's goals and options as a way of judging students' applications."While the committee generally supported the criteria, the issue of students' judicial records still remained a source of contention. This issue was brought up at the previous meeting Feb. 11. The minutes from that meeting state that currently students are only ineligible from going abroad if they are on active probation, but students applying to study abroad programs have to give the faculty access to their judicial files. The March 5 minutes state that "while no consensus was reached, it was very clear that judicial issues are very individual, thus a nuanced and balanced review of any past or pending judicial issues would be necessary." "The only question that repeatedly emerges is to what degree a student's prior experience with judicial action should impede their ability to go abroad," said Godsoe, adding that there were a "wide range of opinions on the subject.""I think assessing the judicial aspect on an individual basis is the best way of approaching the issue," Godsoe said.Rosenthal-Fuller also confirmed the debate over the issue of prior judicial action but did not specify which members of the committee thought it should prevent students from going abroad. She also did not say which members thought it should not be a factor.
(03/10/09 4:00am)
Student Union President Jason Gray '10 spoke about the State of the Union address, which will be held March 17. He also reported that the proposals for a new Business major and a Justice Brandeis Semester were passed at a faculty meeting that took place last Thursday. Gray said that the proposals were passed as a trial program and that the Union's resolutions about these proposals "made a difference in that room." He also said he is working on finishing up final projects for the Curriculum and Academic Restructuring Steering Committee. Gray reported that Director of the Office of Student Rights Laura Cohen '09 and Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer have come up with a tentative agreement on the Student Bill of Rights and that they had passed it along to the School Council. One example of a new student right, Gray said, is that in certain situations in which it would be extremely uncomfortable for a student to speak, such as if the student cannot speak English, the student's advisor will be able to speak on behalf of the student.The Dining Services Committee reported that there is a new dining Web site with a sleeker design that makes the Web site more accessible. The committee said that it will get plaques noting the name of the manager on duty to provide a way for people to voice their disapproval of the food of the day. The committee also reported that Java City has been replaced with an all-day waffle station and that there is now a kosher-to-go option at Einstein Bros. Bagels. Student Union Director of Community Advocacy Andrew Hogan '11 passed out the new editions of the Stall Street Journal for senators to distribute next Sunday. He is also making door hangers for the Union.Senator for the Class of 2010 Rebecca L. Wilkof said she is in the process of organizing a Meet the Senators event that will take place March 23.The Senate voted 12-1 with one abstention to recognize Global Business Brigades, a club providing microfinancing. The Senate also voted to recognize the Motorcycle Licensing Resource Center Club. The Senate tabled a money resolution that would provide funds for compost bins in the Charles River apartments and the Foster Mods.
(03/03/09 5:00am)
The Student Union is in the process of forming the Executive Task Force for Admissions, a committee that will encourage current Brandeis students to reach out to accepted students in an effort to help admissions recruit potential students, Student Union President Jason Gray '10 said. Gray appointed Jamie Fleishman '11 and Sofya Bronshvayg '11 as the heads of the Executive Task Force, the committee spearheading this initiative, right before the February break. The task force currently only consists of Fleishman and Bronshvayg, but Fleishman said that he, Bronshvayg and Gray are in the process of finding six or seven students to serve on the task force and that the members will be chosen "within a week." While he would not name the potential members because they are not yet confirmed, he said that they would be from all facets of the student body, not just the Student Union. "Even though we are picking from a self-selecting pool, we have reached out to people that are very active in the Brandeis community and enthusiastic about Brandeis as a whole," Fleishman said. He said he hopes to make membership an application process by next semester.Gray said that he and Dean of Admissions Gil Villanueva "realized that as a result of the financial challenges Brandeis is facing, continuing to recruit a strong class would involve recruitment from current students."Fleishman said that he met with Villanueva over February break to discuss ways in which the student body could help the Office of Undergraduate Admissions with the recruitment process. He said the task force will initiate several specific ideas over the course of the semester to help increase enrollment for the Class of 2013 such as talking to students, making a video showcasing certain students' Brandeis experiences and organizing an event on Accepted Students' Day.Admissions recently sent letters to the top 500 applicants assuring them of likely admission to Brandeis and providing them with a link to indicate a preference for student contact. Fleishman said that the members of the task force will begin calling and e-mailing these students when Villanueva gives them permission. As more applicants in addition to the top 500 are accepted to Brandeis, Fleishman said that the task force will send a mass e-mail to the student body asking for help contacting potential students. Those students who are interested will list their hobbies and interests and will then be entered into a database, enabling the task force to match current students with prospective students according to their various interests. The task force will also work with the Office of Communications to help develop a video featuring up to six students telling their personal stories about why they chose to attend Brandeis. Fleishman said that while the video will most likely feature Gray, he and Bronshvayg have not decided who the other students will be. He said that the task force was looking for a "good representation of every class year as well as students that are enthusiastic about Brandeis." The task force is also working on planning a concert on Accepted Students' Day April 7 featuring various student a cappella and dance groups. Fleishman said the task force had not chosen which groups would perform. He said the Senate Outreach Committee is organizing a mixer for prospective students and the members of the Student Union on the evening of Accepted Students' Day. While Gray acknowledged that the financial crisis "primed the need for current students to reach out to prospective ones," he, Bronshvayg and Fleishman said that they are trying to make this initiative a long-term effort."This initiative may have started because of the financial crisis, but the idea behind the initiative-student outreach to accepted students-is something that should have been started a long time ago, and we are aiming to make this committee a long-term initiative," Bronshvayg said. "We are trying to create a large number of opportunities for students to create a tangible impact and involve themselves in the University," Gray said. "If people are worried that the economic crisis will adversely effect Brandeis' reputation, this initiative enables them to get involved and change that," he added.
(03/03/09 5:00am)
The Student Union Senate voted 10-8 at last Sunday's Senate meeting to pass a Senate Money Resolution providing $900 of funding from the Senate discretionary fund for Bill Ayers and Robert H. King to speak at Brandeis March 30 and April 3, respectively. The debate over the resolution was contentious, with many of the Senators arguing that Lev Hirschhorn and Alex Melman, senators for the Class of 2011, who are members of Democracy for America, one of the resolution's sponsors, should refrain from voting. Hirschhorn and Melman ultimately voted in favor of the resolution. Ayers is a founding member of the Weather Underground and is currently a professor of education at the University of Illinois in Chicago. He became a very controversial figure during the presidential election last fall when the Republican party tried to tie him to Pres. Barack Obama. King, a member of the Black Panther Party, spent 32 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of murder.Hirschhorn said that DFA, Students for a Democratic Society, the History department and the Peace, Conflict and Coexistence program are co-sponsoring Ayers' and Kings' respective visits. Hirschhorn added that Ayers asked for $2,500 in speaking fees and King asked for $1,000. The senators who voted against the resolution thought the funding was too excessive and that the event was too controversial for the Student Union to sponsor. "The Student Union should not be supporting the visit of someone like Bill Ayers, a domestic terrorist," Senator for the Class of 2010 Rebecca Wilkof, who voted against the resolution, said in an interview with the Justice. She later said, "Regardless of my political beliefs, however, I do not think it is appropriate for the Senate to sponsor an event that is aimed at a fairly select group of people. The money in the Senate discretionary fund is for senators' projects, and this money resolution is clearly a club project." Melman said in an interview that he felt the passage of the resolution showed the strength of the Senate. "It shows that the Student Union will commit itself to controversial events that will be educational, even if it will greatly anger some people." Liza Behrendt '11, the campaign coordinator of DFA who is organizing Ayers' visit, said she came up with the idea to bring Ayers to campus when he was receiving extensive media attention during the presidential election in the fall. "Ayers has unique historical insight to share, and Democracy for America decided Ayers would be a really useful speaker to bring to Brandeis, especially in light of Brandeis' reputation for activism," she said"People often involve themselves in activism but do not think about its basis. Bringing an extreme activist like Bill Ayers to campus causes us to question the limits of activism," she added. Behrendt said last semester she contacted Liz Cole, Ayer's booking agent, who said that Ayers was going on tour and would be happy to speak at Brandeis if Behrendt raised the necessary funds. In an effort to raise the money in order to be able to bring Ayers to campus, Behrendt said she contacted multiple departments. She did not specify how many departments she contacted, but said that she received "a lot of negative responses" as a result of the potential controversy the event could generate. She would not provide the names of the departments that responded negatively.Hirschhorn said that Justine Johnson, King's booking agent, contacted the Students for a Democratic Society listserv two weeks ago, saying that King was embarking on a book tour to promote his autobiography, From the Bottom of the Heap: The Autobiography of Black Panther Robert Hillary King. Johnson explained that King would be in Boston and was looking for schools to visit. Hirschhorn, who is a member of the SDS listserv, remained in contact with Johnson and arranged to bring King to campus.The History department and the Peace and Co-existence program are currently sponsoring these events. Prof. Jane Kamensky, the chair of the History department, wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that the History department would provide $400. "Because the Weather Underground played a serious (if contentious and lamentable) role in our nation's history, this visit seemed to me to fall under History's mission," Kamensky wrote.Prof. Gordon Fellman, the chair of the Peace, Conflict and Coexistence program, said that his program had not yet decided the exact amount of money to provide, but it would fall somewhere between $100 and $200. "Ayers is a controversial figure, but something he did 40 years ago should not be a source of controversy today," Felman said in an interview with the Justice.Besides the Senate's $900 contribution, Hirschhorn said that DFA was contributing $500 and SDS was contributing $1,500 and that the clubs had received $400 from the Brenda Meehan Social Justice-in-Action grants.
(02/24/09 5:00am)
A new initiative created by the Office of Admissions and the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences will put faculty members in contact with up to five of the top 500 applicants from the Class of 2013 each in an effort to recruit them to attend the school, according to an e-mail Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe wrote to faculty explaining this initiative.The Office of Admissions began sending e-mails to these students last Friday, providing them with a link that enables them to tell admissions officers if they would like personal contact with a Brandeis faculty member, Jaffe, who is coordinating the faculty effort for the initiative, said in an interview with the Justice."By the time the actual acceptance letters go out, students are flooded with information from multiple schools, so we thought it was sensible to contact them before the acceptance letters actually went out in an effort to interest them early on," Jaffe said.Jaffe said the University's budget situation did not play a direct role in the forming of the initiative."This initiative does not have anything to do with Brandeis' budget difficulties; it is a further step in recruiting admitted students," Jaffe said. "However, given the circumstances, it will be a helpful opportunity to assuage any concerns applicants may have about these issues," he explained.Dean of Admissions Gil Villanueva wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that the office of admissions identified the top 500 applicants as those students who "achieved the highest ratings in the admissions application review program," which he said was based on "quality of courses taken and performance, personal character and potential for contribution to the Brandeis community." "Brandeis has such a self-selecting applicant pool (so many demonstrate to be some of the top high school seniors in [the] nation and abroad) that we could have easily sent 2000 preliminary admission letters," Villanueva wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. "The selection process was most thoughtful and deliberate. Ultimately, applicants that rose above the rest were chosen," he wrote.According to Villanueva, the initiative was designed to keep pace with Brandeis' competitors such as Yale, Dartmouth, Amherst, Lehigh and Duke Universities. "We are aware that some of the most selective colleges and universities, including some Ivies, send preliminary admission letters," Villanueva wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. "We understand that top students want to be wanted. By extending this preview, we are clearly expressing our interest in them," he wrote.Jaffe said that faculty members would be paired up with students based on the individual students' academic interests, which they would indicate on the Web site. Jaffe explained in his letter to the faculty that faculty would not be asked to speak with more than five students. He wrote that the admissions office would send those who wished to participate certain "talking points" that stress Brandeis' positive aspects to promote the University. He clarified in an interview with the Justice that faculty can choose the number of times they wish to contact the applicants and discuss these talking points with the students. "Once the initial contact is made with the applicant, the subsequent interaction is truly in the hands of the faculty," he said. However, he added that "the faculty really need to take this initiative seriously."Jaffe said he received 89 responses from faculty interested in the initiative, such as Profs. Judith Eissenberg (MUS), Gordie Fellman (SOC), Bong Lian (MATH) and Jane Kondev (PHYS). Heather K. Young, Jaffe's assistant, provided the list of faculty members to the Justice."The faculty has been tremendously enthusiastic about this program. Many responded affirmatively. We are grateful to them," Villanueva wrote.Eissenberg wrote that she hopes "to get a list of students who have expressed interest in my own areas of interest, which would include music, social justice, the arts, cultural production, interdisciplinary intersections, global studies and education" and that she is "happy to have a conversation either by e-mail or phone."Eissenberg wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that her own experience choosing a college showed her that faculty outreach will help persuade students to enroll at Brandeis in the fall. "When I went to school, eons ago, it was part of the process for me to play for the violin teacher on the faculty that I wanted to study with. In that try-out meeting, a sort of lesson for both of us, I could make a better decision about my choice," she wrote. Ultimately, she wrote, that "one-on-one experience" helped her choose The Yale School of Music over the Juilliard School.Both Jaffe and Villanueva hope the initiative will persuade applicants to enroll in the fall, particularly in light of the fact that Brandeis may encounter difficulties in that area as a result of the budget difficulties and the fallout from the Jan. 26 decision to close the Rose Art Museum. "While the impact of negative press is difficult to isolate and to measure, we hope that these students will take this initiative for what it is-a genuine expression of our interest in them," Villanueva wrote.
(02/10/09 5:00am)
The Student Union Club Support Committee plans to send an e-mail to over 30 club leaders threatening to decharter their respective clubs if they do not report their activities to the Senate, Sung Lo Yoon '09, chair of the Club Support Committee said.The committee said it is still finalizing the list of clubs it would e-mail and thus would not publish the list. Each of the clubs on the list has not approached the Finance Board for funds in the last two semesters, Yoon said. They said they plan to send the letters this week.The e-mail states, "It has come to our attention that your club has not requested any [Finance Board Allocations Fund] funds over the past two semesters. In order to maintain an efficient use of our limited resources and a vibrant club community, we need to make sure that your club is still active." The e-mail also tells the clubs that in order to maintain chartered status, they must respond with "a description of the recent activities of your club and the reasons for your recent lack of funding requests." Terrence Johnson, senator for the Transitional Year Program and a member of the Club Support Committee, said that the committee made the list as a result of the dual-purpose rule in the Student Union Constitution. "If people lose interest in these clubs and they dissolve, but someone wants to start a similar club, they will be unable to do so if the [original] clubs are not dechartered. Through this list, we are able to check on clubs to see if they still exist," Eric Alterman, senator for the class of 2009 and a member of the Club Support Committee, explained. The majority of clubs on the list are chartered clubs, which are clubs that are able to receive funding from the Finance Board. The rest of the clubs are recognized clubs that do not receive funding from F- Board regardless. Article VI, Section 2 of the Student Union Constitution states, "Only Chartered and Secured Organizations shall be eligible to receive funding from the Finance Board Allocations Fund, as hereafter defined, in accordance with this Constitution and its Bylaws." Nathan Goldstein '09, senator for off-campus students, said, "While [the Union] will definitely decharter one or two [clubs], the rest are up in the air," since the Union does not know the situation of the clubs' finances. He said this procedure is "routine and done every spring," and that last year 15 to 20 clubs were dechartered.However, Yoon said he hoped to decharter 90 percent of the clubs on the list, since he believes that "they are most likely defunct." The committee members do not believe that placing these clubs on the list would anger club leaders. "If a club no longer exists, we will obviously not receive any response from them at any time, but we certainly do not expect any clubs to be angry with us," Alterman said.
(02/10/09 5:00am)
The endowments of the Crown Center for Middle East Studies and the Schusterman Center for Middle East Studies are currently "under the water," according to Provost Marty Krauss, which means that the current market value of the endowment is less than the original amount. The centers cannot spend any money from their endowments and must seek alternative funds for their programming. The Uniform Management of Institutional Funds Act, which Massachussetts adopted in 1975, states that endowments that are underwater cannot be used for operating expenses. The current market value of the investments that make up the Crown Center and Schusterman Center endowments are below the initial amount of the endowments, Krauss said. She did not reveal the current endowment figures of either center but said that neither of the endowments have any interest left to spend and that only principle remains. She said that the centers cannot use that principle endowment for spending purposes and thus have to seek alternative funds.Krauss said that the fact that the centers are so new is a major factor in their financial troubles. "Both of these centers were created in the last five years, so their endowments have not had much time to grow. Since their endowments are directly tied into that of the University's, the 25 percent drop in the University endowments have particularly affected them, as their endowments have dropped 25 percent," she said.Both Prof. Shai Feldman, director of the Crown Center, and Krauss said that neither center would close, though she acknowledged that the centers would have to make "pragramatic reductions." "We may have to make major budget reductions for these centers, but nothing is closing," Krauss said."In theory, if we failed to raise the funds required then the [Crown Center] would have to close," Feldman said. "But I have confidence that we will raise the funds required to make the center successful."While Krauss said that the centers are ultimately responsible for their operating expenses, the University is collaborating with the centers to seek alternative funds. She met with the heads of the centers in January to discuss financial strategies "that will allow them to continue to perform the work they want to do."Krauss said that ideas for seeking alternative funds involve "multiple strategies of working with donors in creative ways," but would not to expand on the specifics of these projects.Like Krauss, Feldman would provide neither monetary figures about the endowment nor any information about the potential alternative funds. "It is all a work in progress," he said. Feldman said that in order to deal with the financial crisis the center has cut its travel budget, reduced its publication budget and canceled the conference it was supposed to hold in March to analyze the Middle East from 1979 to 2009. Feldman said this year's budget cuts are somewhat minimal because the crisis erupted halfway through the fiscal year. "There are only so many budget cuts we can make when we were so shocked by this crisis," he said. He said, for example, that they hired the post-doctoral fellows before the crisis occurred and thus will still pay the fellows their stipends. Feldman said the budget cuts for next year "depend on how many funds the [Crown Center] receives," but that they could potentially range from "minimal budget cuts to paralyzing the center." He said he would not be able to determine specific budget cuts until he had a clearer picture of the center's financial state and that he would know the amount of financial resources the center would be able to raise within the next few months. "We don't have figures for next year, but we will cut according to the amount of money we have raised," he said.Prof. Ilan Troen (NEJS), the director of the Schusterman Center, wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that because the Schusterman Center's endowment is shrinking, "we are therefore re-examining our priorities and aggressively seeking alternative funds," but "we do have operating funds beyond the underwater endowment that enable us to maintain our commitments and to continue with a significant program next year, and beyond." He would not expand on what the operating funds were but said that "we are raising some new funds from foundations that have resources and interested in our work." "Our emphasis is primarily on supporting graduate students (Sociology, Politics, and NEJS) and bringing visiting faculty to campus," Troen wrote. "Next year, for example, there will be visiting professors in Anthropology who agreed to come long before the current crisis. There will be a post-doc in Politics who was similarly invited. We had hoped to do more, particularly bringing a visitor for Economics. We would hope to do so in the not distant future," he said. Feldman expressed confidence that the Crown Center would raise the funds it needed to sustain itself. "I think there is a general appreciation for the [Crown Center's] work. The [Crown Center] has made huge imprints on Middle East Policy, especially our Middle East briefs, which provides analysis on various issues in the Middle East. I have high confidence that we will persuade individuals that it would be a loss for the center to be crippled by the financial crisis," he said.
(02/03/09 5:00am)
The Program in Social Justice and Social Policy, a program in coordination with the Heller School for Social Policy and?Management that serves to foster critical and creative thinking about social problems, will be awarding two Brenda Meehan Social Justice-in-Action Grants, each with a $1,500 stipend, to students who submit event proposals that promote social justice issues, according to Prof. David Cunningham (SOC), the SJSP chair.Cunningham said the funding for the awards will come from the endowment for the SJSP program, which is in the name of Brenda Meehan. This fund was donated by Brenda Meehan's daughter, Diana, and her husband, Gary David Goldberg '66, a spokesperson for the Office of Development and Alumni Relations said.Cunningham, along with Prof. Melissa Stimell (LGLS), started this initiative in a collaborative effort to reform the SJSP minor. "We are trying to broaden the ways the [SJSP] program can relate to the broader issues of social justice on campus," Cunningham said. "We see the program as a bridge between academic work and activist work, and the events, which bridge that gap, are designed to fulfill that objective," he added. Students will organize these events, Cunningham said. A committee will be formed to review the grant applications, which must be submitted by Feb. 6, Cunningham said. Cunningham and Stimell are currently the only definite members of the committee, but Cunningham said he intends to have one student on it. The committee will "favor" proposals that "incorporate both academic and activist social justice perspectives in meaningful ways, include significant participation by Brandeis students, faculty, and/or staff as well as by one or more invited off-campus guests, value collaboration between student organizations and/or between undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff and inform and/or link to ongoing initiatives that enable the proposed event to contribute to an enduring social justice impact on campus or in broader communities," according to an e-mail announcement about the grant opportunity.Cunningham noted, "We would like to see an event that incorporates broad participation from Brandeis faculty, students, and staff, and that the event has the potential to have a broader impact relating to the specific issue. For example, if it leads to the emergence of a partnership," he said. "We want to get more students involved and be a better resource for the students in terms of helping them achieve social justice," Stimell said."We are not trying to dictate the agenda of the students, as we are interested in the issue of social justice at large," said Cunningham. Stimell added, "We wanted something that was completely student-driven and [that] enabled students to conceive their own projects from start to finish but that related to the issue of social justice at large."Cunningham said he hopes to announce the recipients of the grants as quickly as possible as soon as the committee makes its decisions. "Hopefully, the grants will be announced before students leave for the February break," Cunningham said. "I think it is such a wonderful opportunity, especially in this time of economic crisis, that we can give students an opportunity to create a program of their choice," Stimell said.
(02/03/09 5:00am)
Brandeis will not be affected by the Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family Foundation's decision to suspend grants in 2009 as a result of their monetary losses in the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme because the University did not expect to receive any donations from the Shapiro family even before the Foundation's decision, according to Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement Nancy Winship.The Shapiro Foundation announced last Friday that it will provide neither grants nor capital pledges in 2009 to any organizations to which they had previously donated, according to an article in the Boston Globe. According to the statement on the Foundation's Web site, "The Foundation made this difficult decision as a result of losing a significant portion of its assets due to the fraudulent actions of Bernard Madoff," and that suspending grants for a year will hopefully "ensure the long-term health and stability of the Foundation." Despite this decision, the Foundation maintained its promise to "honor its current grant commitments for both capital projects and multi-year grants." The Foundation announced last month that it lost 40 percent of its wealth in Madoff's Ponzi scheme.Diana Pisciotta, the executive vice president of the Shapiro Foundation, confirmed the report in the Boston Globe.Winship said that Brandeis won't be affected because the University had no intention of asking the foundation for a pledge in 2009. Winship said that the Shapiro Foundation was committed to fulfilling its pledges to Brandeis for the $25 million Carl J. Shapiro Science Center, the $14 million Carl and Ruth Shapiro Admissions Center and the $3.5 million Rhonda S. and Michael J. Zinner Forum in the Heller School for Social Policy and Management. "Mr. Shapiro has repeatedly said he will honor all existing pledges," Winship said. "The Shapiros have done an amazing amount for Brandeis and have helped transform the institution. We never considered asking for new grants this year and did not think of going to Shapiro when it was apparent the University's endowment was shrinking because he has already done so much," Winship said.The Foundation has also historically given much of its gifts in the form of building grants rather than gifts to the endowment. Fundraising focus is currently on the latter, and Winship said the University has received gifts in that area from other donors. "We have been heartened by the overwhelming response from alumni and friends to help Brandeis students-our most precious resource-at this critical time," she said, adding that "Brandeis supporters are making an immediate difference in the lives of students by making Annual Fund gifts now to support student scholarships."The Shapiro Foundation sent a letter to over 80 non profit organizations in the Boston area stating their decision not to give any grants in the coming year. However, since the Shapiro Foundation's donations to Brandeis have previously been composed of capital pledges, Brandeis did not receive a letter. Pisciotta said that capital pledges are often in more in-depth contact with the Foundation and received phone calls. The letter, written by Jean Whitney, the executive director of the Foundation, informed the organizations, "We are apprising you of this situation as early as possible to allow you to either seek alternate sources of funding or to adjust your plans for this year." The letter also expressed the Foundation's desire to maintain support for the organizations despite the financial situation, stating, "Members of our team will be reaching out to a sample of our grant recipients to assess how we can support you in non-financial ways.
(02/03/09 5:00am)
The Student Union raised $2,000 to help rebuild the Macedonia Church of God in Christ, a predominantly black membered church in Springfield, Mass., after it was burned down on Election Day in what was thought to be an act of racism, Union Director of Campus Advocacy Andrew Hogan '11, who coordinated the effort, said. The Student Union tabled in the Usdan Student Center and in Sherman for two weeks and also held a fundraising dinner last Saturday night. Hogan said approximately 170 students attended the dinner, which raised about $1,700 on its own. Hogan said he plans on sending the check this week to Morrison Mahoney LLP, the law firm that is handling the church's rebuilding efforts. Bryant Robinson Jr., the bishop of the Macedonia Church, attended the dinner and spoke to students about his experience watching the church burn down. "The bishop gave a very moving speech about what it was like to experience [one's] place of worship burn down in flames," Hogan said, adding that he was "grateful" for the bishop's attendance. "[Robinson] added a personal aspect to the event. The students at the dinner could see where their money was going and how it was being used to help people," Hogan said. The all-you-can-eat buffet was catered by various Waltham restaurants such as Cappy's Pizza & Subs, the Chateau, New Mother India, Baan Thai, Margaritas, the Tuscan Grill, Taqueria Mexico, Angelo's House of Pizza, Café Angelina's and Waltham Pizza. The restaurants donated the food, enabling the Student Union to give all the money raised to the rebuilding efforts. "It is nice to help other people; we donated the food because we knew it was going to a good cause," said Cappy's manager Paul Migos.The student a cappella groups VoiceMale and Starving Artists performed at the dinner, as did the So Unique step team and the musical group Mochila.Students who attended the dinner were very enthusiastic about the Student Union's fundraising efforts. "I think this was a really good idea, and the money raised will definitely help make a difference," Amber Jackson '11 said. "I think that with all of the struggles and decisions that are going on at Brandeis, this event really shows why Brandeis is special," Hogan wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. "After a hate crime like this, Brandeis University is overflowing with students who want to help. The fact that we exceeded expectations for this event does not suprise me," he explained after saying last week that he expected to raise $1,000 at the dinner. "That's the way the Brandeis community is," he wrote.
(01/27/09 5:00am)
When Barbara Epstein '73 was a Brandeis student, the Vietnam War was raging, Richard Nixon was serving as president, the Pentagon Papers had just been published and the United States was plagued by internal political strife. Political activism had reached new heights on college campuses across America. For Barbara Strauss '02, Brandeis represented the opportunity to develop her interest in creative writing and meet students genuinely interested in social activism.Today, Epstein and Strauss hold positions at the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life, where they encourage younger generations of Brandeis students to pursue their enthusiasm for social justice. Barbara EpsteinAt Brandeis, Epstein said, "there was a lot of talk about social justice, civil rights and anti-war sentiment." Although Epstein wasn't involved in any political organizations, she said that she "could not help but be influenced" by the political activities around her, as she decided to pursue a career related to social justice.For the past year and a half, Epstein has served as the program administrator of the Slifka Program in Intercommunal Coexistence at the Brandeis Ethics Center. Epstein cites her Brandeis education as "a good part" of why she immersed herself in social justice issues. "I am naturally drawn toward people with a social conscience," she said.Despite the politically tumultuous climate, Epstein said she wasn't as politically active as some of the other students. An English and American Literature major, she took several art courses and was involved in a literary magazine.Epstein received her master's degree in clinical social work from Smith College. Between 1994 and 2003, she worked as a freelance consultant for ABT Associates, a government and business research and consulting firm, on projects such as community revitalization, education, homeless housing and workforce development. Before joining the Ethics Center, Epstein was also a senior program associate for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leadership Program, a foundation that aims to improve American health care.The Brandeis Ethics Center, established in 1988, embodies the concept of social justice that characterized Epstein's experiences as a Brandeis student. According to the Ethics Center's Web site, the institution aims to "develop effective responses to conflict and injustice by offering innovative approaches to coexistence, strengthening the work of international courts, and encouraging ethical practice in civic and professional life." The Slifka Program in Intercommunal Coexistence, a master's program that teaches students about the resolution of international conflicts, focuses on reconciliation efforts in war-torn countries. Most of its students work with international organizations. Past projects have included investigating non governmental organizations in West Africa or studying agriculture and industrialization in India.Twenty-six students ranging from 20 to 40 years old currently participate in the program. Students hail from such diverse conflict zones as Rwanda, Uganda, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Tibet. As program administrator, Epstein handles program components such as the financial and budgeting systems, fundraising strategy, general administrative systems and outreach.Barbara StraussStrauss, the Ethics Center department coordinator, echoed Epstein's passion for keeping social justice one of Brandeis' core values.Strauss said her work at the Center includes budget work, publication distribution and event planning. She also helps coordinate the Ethics Center Student Fellowship, a program that selects sophomores and juniors to design summer projects related to peace and coexistence or environmental studies. Strauss said her return to Brandeis reflected her attachment to the University more than a lingering dedication to social activism. "I loved Brandeis, so that definitely influenced my decision to look for a job [here], and this type of job would suit me forever," she said.Co-editor in chief of the literary magazine Laurel Moon and a member of the Gymnastics Club, Strauss said she most valued the relaxed atmosphere on the campus where she met her husband."I just found the students so down-to-earth," she said. "I could say whatever was on my mind-there were no pretenses."Enthusiastic as she is about the importance of social activism, Strauss is determined to pursue her more creative inclinations. She majored in English on the Creative Writing track and is currently enrolled in a program at Lesley University to receive her master's degree in creative writing. Epstein and Strauss praised the the University's general progress since their graduations and remarked on the quality of the current undergraduates. Epstein said today's Brandeis students are much more engaged in active learning than were students three decades ago. "My generation was defined as a culture of activism, but being back on campus has showed me that Brandeis as an institution now emphasizes social justice," she said.The undergraduates involved in the Ethics Center, Epstein said, are "very thoughtful with developed worldviews and an eagerness for hands-on application to the learning they are doing in the classroom.
(01/27/09 5:00am)
Student Union representatives have discovered that, according to the Union's constitution, it is illegal to hold a reelection for vice president because the president, secretary and treasurer are still in office, Student Union Executive Senator Andrew Brooks '09 said.Article IX, Section 8, Clause 6 of the Student Union Constitution states, "There shall be no mid-term election for the positions of President or Vice-President except as provided for in Article III." Article III states, "If all positions of Union Executive Office mentioned in this Constitution shall become vacant, new Executive Elections shall be held. Until that time, the Executive Senator shall serve as interim Union President and shall be responsible for appointing an Elections Commissioner to oversee these elections." The discovery, which occurred after former Student Union Vice President Adam Hughes '11 unexpectedly resigned Jan. 18 after learning of a learning disability, effectively makes illegal last semester's re-election for vice president in which Hughes was elected after Michael Kerns resigned for personal reasons. "Technically, the last election was unconstitutional, but nothing can be done about it now and Hughes did a great job," Brooks said.These provisions were discovered by Adam Gartner '07, who contacted Brooks about it last week. Brooks then informed Tia Chatterjee '09, the secretary of the Student Union, who canceled the elections. Brooks will serve as acting vice president until the inauguration of the new vice president at the end of April. He will maintain his position as executive senator. As executive senator, it is now Brooks' responsibility to chair the senate meetings in the absence of the vice president."The Union is fully prepared to move forward with [Brooks] assuming the responsibilities of both the executive senator and the vice presidency," Student Union Director of Communications Jamie Ansorge '09 wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. "In my opinion the Union has not been hindered by the changes," adding that Brooks "is entirely ready to assume his new role and has already done so promptly and with great energy.
(01/27/09 5:00am)
The Student Union is taking part in a two-week fundraiser to raise monetary contributions to help rebuild the Macedonia Church of God in Christ, a predominantly African-American church in Springfield, Mass. that burned down on election night in what was thought to be an act of racism, according to Student Union Director of Communications Jamie Ansorge '09.Brandeis students became involved in the effort to rebuild the church when a friend of the University wrote a letter to President Jehuda Reinharz urging students to respond to this act and to help the church rebuild, Ansorge wrote in the Union's press release. According to the press release, Reinharz sent the letter to Student Union President Jason Gray '10 and asked him to organize a student effort.Ansorge said that the Student Union wanted to run a relief effort similar to the one they organized for the victims of Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike last September, for which the Student Union raised over $5,000. Union Director of Campus Advocacy Andrew Hogan '11, who is spearheading the fundraising efforts, said that he spoke with Bryant Robinson Jr., the bishop of the Macedonian church, who told him that monetary contributions would be the most effective way to help at this time. "The bishop said that donations have been pouring in from across the country, but that any monetary contributions would be effective, as [it will contribute] millions of dollars to rebuild the church," Hogan said. "If an individual wants to support us, the best way to do it is through a financial contribution," Bishop Robinson said in an interview with the Justice. Robinson also said he was unsure how much money the church would raise or how much had been raised so far. There are two main aspects of the relief effort, Hogan explained. Since beginning of their tabling efforts at the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial event Jan. 19, at which Hogan said they raised the "bulk of the money so far," the Student Union has been tabling in Usdan Student Center every day for two hours. Hogan said that students have raised $290 through tabling as of Monday afternoon. The second part of the effort is an all-you-can-eat buffet-style dinner that will be held Saturday in Levin Ballroom, will be the "culminating event" of the fundraising, said Hogan. He expects to raise over $1,000 at the dinner. The night will feature entertainment from student groups like Starving Artists and the So Unique step team. "There is only enough seating [in Levin] for 100 people, but Conference and Events said they would work to provide more room if necessary," he said. Hogan met with Students Organized Against Racism, Hillel, the Catholic Student Organization, Brandeis Republicans, Brandeis Democrats, Democracy for America and the Orthodox Christian Association and said that all the clubs were willing to advertise and sell tickets for the dinner. "Although the Student Union is sponsoring this event, this fundraising is a collaborative effort, and the Union needs these clubs to help," Hogan said, adding that the clubs will not engage in any independent fundraising.
(01/20/09 5:00am)
Nine Brandeis students have launched the pilot program for the Green, Opportunity, Action and Leadership Network, an organization the students created to fuel youth interest in the green business sector by providing them with an internship in a green business. The GOAL Network's pilot program is in a partnership with the Boston Latin School, a public high school in Boston. The pilot program, which is also known as the Inaugural Fellows Program, enables six rising juniors and seniors from the school to shadow an entrepreneur in the green business sector with which GOAL is in partnership for a summer. Sarah Levy '11, the GOAL director of business partnerships, said it is currently partnered with Zapotec Energy, a renewable energy firm, and Boston Green Buildings, a green building contracting company. Paul Lyons, the president of Boston Green Buildings, which currently supplies 40 homes and small businesses throughout Boston with a solar electric system, said that the student will serve as an administrative assistant. "The student will shadow me and pitch in with general tasks, like taking notes for me at meetings and running errands."Stephanie Sofer '09, Justin Kang '09, Faith Brigham '10, Becky Fisher '10, Sarah Levy '11, Graham Miller '09, Anwar Wahab '11, Jake Yarmus '10 and Benjamin Kramer '09 were the students who began the program. The program officially started at Brandeis on Jan. 5.Kramer said that the program consists of two aspects: the "mentorship," in which the student from the Boston Latin School is paired up with a green business and shadows the head of the business; and career support for the fellows to help them advance in the green business sector. The advisory board, which consists of people experienced in environmental activism, such as Brandeis Profs. Carmen Sirianni (SOC) and Laura Goldin (AMST), will provide the bulk of this support. Prof. Goldin said that she intended to offer career support to the students in the mentorship by helping them find internships tailored to their interests. "I will help the high school students very similarly to the way I help the students at Brandeis, by directly connecting them to environmental organizations that serve their interests, whether it be a green business, a non-profit organization, or a government agency," Goldin said. The pilot program is set to begin this summer, Sofer said. The fellows will receive a stipend between $1,500 and $2,500, which will be jointly paid for by the program and the businesses. If the businesses cannot afford to pay, however, GOAL is willing to subsidize their portion with their own funding, which will come from various friends and individuals. "Hopefully, the fellows will ultimately create a strong alumni network that will enable old fellows to mentor new fellows," Sofer said. The inaugural fellows program is only open to low-income students who will be juniors and seniors at the Boston Latin School in the fall after completing the program. Kramer, the program's communications director, said the Brandeis students chose to concentrate their efforts on this constituency because they felt that the program would have the biggest impact on this age group. "Being a rising junior or senior in high school is a critical moment in terms of career choice," he said. "We wanted to instill an interest in environmental business in the students. Hopefully, this experience will further these fellows' desire to become a vital member of the Boston green movement." Although Brandeis students started GOAL, it is not a Brandeis-run organization and therefore does not receive any funding from Brandeis. "The Brandeis faculty has been invaluable, but we are trying to form a non-profit organization outside of Brandeis, and we are receiving funding outside of Brandeis as a result. We have received donations from outside friends and individuals, which we are unable to disclose, and are in the process of applying for grants like the Davis Peace Fund and the New England Grassroots Fund, which is for grassroots environmental initiatives in New England," said Levy. Levy also said she hopes the businesses with which GOAL is partnered will ultimately help provide some of the funding. "We hope the businesses can contribute. So far, in the current economic state, only some have, but hopefully if the economy strengthens and our program becomes more well-known, more businesses will provide the funding." The students who created GOAL all had previous experience working as environmental activists through Brandeis organizations such as Students for Environmental Action, said Sofer, who, along with Kang, is now the executive director of GOAL. The students collectively recognized that they wanted to increase low-income and minority communities' involvement in the environmental movement. "We wanted to give people firsthand experiences through green sector jobs, which the environmental movement typically does not focus on. Essentially, we are looking to create unique environmental opportunities for individuals who otherwise would not have them," Sofer said. Sofer said they presented the program to the Boston Latin School on Thursday and said the students there have expressed "a lot of interest." Cate Arnold, the faculty adviser for the Boston Latin Youth Climate Network, said in an interview with the Justice that the students have shown a huge level of interest and that over 30 students attended the presentation on Thursday."This program is essentially a symbiotic relationship between the green business sector and the low-income communities, and we hope both will be strengthened by this partnership," Levy said.
(01/13/09 5:00am)
The new weight room in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, which features 14 new free weights and 17 new machines, officially opened Jan. 5 after students voted last year in a specific one-time vote to use the Student Union's $100,000 in rollover funds from the Student Activities Fee to remodel the weight room and refurbish it with new equipment.Students voted to remodel the weight room, because much of its equipment was outdated and the room itself was in need of remodeling. "Most of the equipment was as old as the building itself," Assistant Director of Athletics Robin Seidman '99 said. He explained that all the weights and dumbbells are new, but that the University kept some of the bars and attachments on the machines. "There is a pretty stark contrast between the old and new equipment," he said.There are 17 new select-rise Cybex machines, in which the weights are self-contained and the users select the amount of weight they would like to use. All of this equipment was installed in the initial weight room space; the former club sport room, which was adjacent to the initial weight room, will be for free weights. "Free weights and dumbbells take up a lot of space, which previously made it very difficult to navigate the weight room. Expanding to the club sports room will make it significantly easier for people to use the weight room without feeling overcrowded," said Seidman, adding that the renovations make the weight room look "significantly different overall."Seidman also said that in remodeling the weight room, the administration intended to make it more user-friendly. "The goal was definitely to design a weight room that fits the needs of all students to enable everyone to take advantage of the new equipment," he said. All of the machines now have instructions so students will be able to use them more easily, which Seidman believes will make the weight room a "little less intimidating" for students not necessarily accustomed to such machines. In addition, Seidman said that the Athletics faculty is planning to put together at least four sessions of introductory classes for students to orient themselves to the new weight room. Any student is eligible to attend, but the dates have not yet been verified.Student Union President Jason Gray '10 said that he thinks the idea of weight training sessions will be well received by the student body. "I think more students will definitely take advantage of these classes, especially people that haven't used the weight room before, to learn how to properly use the equipment," he said. Prior to this renovation, there were two weight rooms: the varsity weight room, which was strictly for athletes, and a general weight room for the rest of the student body. Seidman said that Brandeis surveyed peer institutions like Amherst College, Babson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Trinity College, Tufts University and Williams College and found that many of them used only one weight room for both the athletes and the rest of the students, so it decided to consolidate the two rooms by moving some of the weight equipment to the club sports room. Both rooms were also repainted. Student dance groups like Adagio, who previously used the club sports room to practice, will now use the former varsity weight room, according to Seidman.The weight room was initially intended to be remodeled during Thanksgiving break, but the construction was postponed until winter break to minimize the time the gym would have to be closed. The administrative staff of the Athletics department oversaw the installation, but Gymsource, the company that sold the new equipment to Brandeis, actually installed it throughout the duration of the break.Seidman said that the feedback has been very positive so far and that students have been using the weight room since its opening. "So far everyone seems happy with the results, and I hope that continues. I hope it is a place the student body is happy with, and that it attracts more students to work out," he said. He also said that students respect the new equipment and keep it in the weight room. "In the past we have had too many incidents of stolen weights. All of the new equipment was purchased for the benefit of the entire Brandeis community, and I hope the community does not steal dumbbells and weights from the Athletic Center."Gray said that he thinks "it looks really good, and I'm glad we were able to get it done. We now have quality equipment in the weight room, and I think it is a better option for students who want to use the equipment."Ralph Harary '09, said that "overall, I really like it, especially the new dumbbells and the extra space.
(12/09/08 5:00am)
The current economic crisis will not drastically impede the Community Engaged Learning program's various projects the way it is impacting other programs, such as the programming at Prospect Hill, because CEL uses resources from the organizations with which they partner, according to Prof. Mark Auslander (ANTH), the CEL academic director. The University plans to make cuts to account for the projected gap in the fiscal year 2009 and fiscal year 2010 budgets, but because CEL programs collaborate with off-campus organizations, they will not be as affected as other academic programs and campus clubs. Auslander acknowledged that in the current economic climate, "everyone is scrambling" and working to make do with as little material as they can. "It is a strength of CEL that we do not just depend on Brandeis, because the organizations with which we partner provide a lot of the resources," said Faith Brigham '10, who was a Community Engaged Fellow for Prof. Laura Goldin's (AMST) "Greening the Ivory Tower" last spring. Students in the CEL classes, which are interdisciplinary, apply the lessons they learn in the classroom to the local community through different service projects. Projects this past semester included working at the Tenants' Center in the Prospect Hill Terrace housing development to help members with tenants' rights issues and working with a Spanish-speaking Waltham resident.Auslander said that his objective for CEL next semester in his "Museum and Memory" class is to link the minority communities in Waltham through an outdoor exhibit about the Charles River. Students will create this exhibit by interviewing various Waltham residents including Native Americans, Caribbean immigrants and African Americans about the river, and their interviews will culminate in the outdoor exhibit. "We anticipate creating a cell phone-based walking tour of the river; walkers will be able to call into a special Brandeis telephone number to access edited audio segments about locales on the river, hearing the actual voices of local community members," Auslander wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. "The goal of Community Engaged Learning," he said, "is bridge-building, trying to build community and nourish local democracy. I thought that the river, which everyone loves, will be a great way to bring everyone together and link minorities that may have felt excluded to the more established community," Auslander wrote. Auslander said that his class next semester, "Museum and Public Memory," "can do the project very cheaply, as long we have access to technology like the students' cell phones, which is certainly feasible." Prof. Laura Goldin (AMST), who teaches "Women, the Environment, and Social Justice," said she is going to try to incorporate hands-on learning into virtually everything in the course syllabus next semester. For example, she said, the class will be reading A Civil Action, the book that chronicles the story of people in Woburn, Mass. who were affected by polluted well water and the case to shut the wells down. Goldin said that the students will visit Woburn and meet with the lawyers that were part of the case, as well as the mothers of the children, as she has done with classes in the past.Through this hands-on interaction, Goldin said, students in the class will "explore how this case has changed the face of how we deal with this issue." Goldin also said there will be two community service aspects to the course. Students will be required to spend a minimum of two hours at Waltham Alliance to Create Housing, a nonprofit organization in Waltham that Goldin's "Environmental Law and Policy" class helped start last spring. She said the advocacy center mainly focuses on aiding women who have moved into low-income housing, helping them with issues ranging from the unsanitary conditions of these housing projects to potential immigration liabilities. Students will be trained to deal with these types of issues, and depending on the clients' English-speaking abilities, will either advocate for the tenant or teach them how to advocate for themselves. In addition to their work at the advocacy center, students will create their own programs based on their own interests pertaining to the environment, social justice or a combination of the two. The idea behind these projects, Goldin said, "is to bring together environmental health and the health of the community as a whole."In the past, students in this class have taught cooking classes at Waltham Elementary School and have taught the elderly about the implications of global warming. The CEL courses for this upcoming semester are "Women, the Environment, and Social Justice" (AMST), "Introduction to Computers" (COSI), "Latino History" (HIST), "Museums and Public Memory" (ANTH), "Engaged Anthropology" (ANTH), "Language Acquisition and Development " (LING), and "Spanish Conversation and Grammar" (HISP).
