(03/27/07 4:00am)
Fashion does not exist in a vacuum. Terms like "jet-setters," "fashionistas," "socialites" and "the most beautiful people in the world" are often synonymous because, believe it or not, updating a wardrobe for every season and every occasion requires a lot of money. Not that it is evil, but having loads of money is inherently available to only a certain class of individuals, and, logically, designers market to that demographic. Resort wear is a phenomenon that embodies this truth. Luxury-oriented men and women need different clothes (obviously) when they are on spring break. They can't just wear the same drab $1,000 pieces they sport around Midtown in the spring or the Hamptons in summer. Resort wear, often labeled "cruise wear," is what designers make every spring, specifically designed and constructed to meet the needs of any fashionable spring-breaker in the market. Designers love to make something as simple as a one-piece swimsuit or men's trunks into an artistic competition. This is a wonderful phenomenon.. Do you remember the swimsuit Halle Berry wore in the James Bond movie Die Another Day, the orange one with the white "belt"? That was Donatella's creation, and a very well-conceived one. For men, too, designer swimwear is a hot commodity and can even be made-to-measure to best flatter a man who is awkwardly large or even a bit soft around the edges.Cruise wear is a beauty this season, with its bright colors and creative edges gracing both the runway and the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island. This season, we have seen top designers take exciting new dares. Despite the danger, this is absolutely imperative, because no one wants to be seen at the Cite d'Azur wearing something at all resembling last season's styles. But cruise wear is not just something to be purchased from high-end boutiques in Europe and worn at the most exclusive of vacation hotspots. If you are going away this coming week, there are many different things to consider for travel.First, what to wear on the plane: There are certain items that make air travel easier (a challenge that faced Project Runway contestants just last season). The most important consideration to undertake is comfort. I find temperatures on planes to be almost always unbearably hot, so I believe that layering is key. Jackets, blazers and zip-ups that can be removed easily but also conveniently stored are always better than boarding a plane in a T-shirt or a heavy winter coat. Also, sunglasses are as much a pragmatic accessory as a fashion statement. The fact that weather can change within just a few hours and even more drastically across regions of the world makes sunglasses a must. Since there are great views to behold from the heights of an airplane, it would be a shame to close the window because of a little sunlight.And at the destination: There are some simple rules to follow in order to not appear like a sloppy American tourist. Colors are essential; bright colors belong nowhere more than the cruise ship, beach or poolside. This opportunity presents itself in swimsuits, short-sleeved sport shirts, polos, tank tops and flip-flops. As I often try to impress on my readers, clothing is emotional: Wear bright colors on vacation, and you will be happy.
(03/27/07 4:00am)
Halfway across the globe, we are allowing a global emergency to take place under our watch. There are 1.2 billion people in the world living in extreme poverty, on less than a dollar a day. The extreme poor do not have access to clean water, sanitation, health care or nutrition. Every day, more than 20,000 of these voiceless individuals perish because their most basic needs are not met.There is a fierce debate among scholars of economic development today about how to eliminate the "poverty trap." Some scholars believe that more and better foreign aid will allow the world's poorest to reach the bottom rung of the ladder of development. Staunch neoliberal supporters of the free market argue that foreign aid is ineffective and keeps poor countries mired in poverty and disease. These critics of foreign aid assert that past decades of funneling aid into sub-Saharan Africa have produced few results. With many lives at stake and very little time, such fiery debates have stalled the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to eradicate extreme poverty. But the correct approach lies somewhere in between the two extremes.Accountable foreign aid is necessary for the economic and social development of low-income countries. In order to reap the benefits of the global free market, the world's poor need to have access to commercial supply chains, receive primary education, sustain their emerging rural economies, ensure that their children are properly nourished and sustain the population through malaria and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Developed countries can provide foreign aid to sponsor measurable and affordable interventions such as roads, free and compulsory primary education, fertilizer and modern agricultural techniques, maternal and infant healthcare, insecticide-treated bed nets, and antiretroviral treatments. Furthermore, these investments do not create economic dependence, but rather develop the foundations of a self-sustaining economy. These interventions ensure that the basic needs of the impoverished are met and that globalization will not leave developing countries behind. And Brandeis students can be key players at the forefront of this international initiative.Members of the Positive Foundations club at Brandeis are leading a development project at the United Nations and the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Positive Foundations is scheduled to become the first student-led group at a single university in the nation to sponsor and partner with a "Millennium Village", a community of 5,000 living in sub-Saharan Africa on less than a dollar a day. The Millennium Villages Project is a community-led approach to bottom-up development, leaving the community with a self-sustaining rural economy after five years. Interventions include the improvement of public health, education, water, sanitation, energy and transportation systems. The development of infrastructure and agriculture effectively lifts these communities out of the poverty trap where they can independently operate on the global free market. The inspiring opportunity to sponsor and partner with a Millennium Village should be viewed as the ideal social investment at the right time at the perfect institution. The Millennium Villages Project is a secure investment with established guidelines and measurable results that will globalize Brandeis' strong commitment to social justice. Sustainable international development is a worthy cause that will unite the entire Brandeis community and enhance the image of the University. Connecting with a Millennium Village will give Brandeis unparalleled access to speakers and officials from the United Nations as well as socially active celebrities, which will surely attract positive press and publicity. Building a relationship with communities in Africa will allow for unique faculty research and study-abroad opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. Most importantly, partnering with a Millennium Village will lift 5,000 people out of the poverty trap and put Brandeis at the cutting edge of a global movement. At this exciting time, both at Brandeis and in the world, students are presented with unprecedented opportunities to implement positive change in the international community. The Millennium Village initiative and the Positive Foundations framework are sustainable and replicable models with boundless potential to be scaled up across the globe. It is time to join the fight to eradicate extreme poverty one campus and one village at a time.The writer is executive director of Positive Foundations and a member of the Class of 2010.
(03/13/07 4:00am)
Student Union officials and the Hiatt Career Center have begun collaborating on a tentative plan to provide some sort of academic recognition for students who take on campus leadership roles. Currently, students may receive academic credit or a transcript notation for academic internships, but Rusmir Music, Hiatt's assistant director of Experiential Programs, said he wants to apply that model to other positions on campus. "What [students] do in your extracurricular activities really is connected to your academic learning," Music said. Extracurricular activities would be renamed "co-curriculars" because "they really happen in parallel with your academic learning," he said.Students could potentially receive recognition on their transcript for serving as a club executive board member, community advisor, student government official, Roosevelt fellow or athlete, Music said. What exactly the recognition would be remains unclear. "We're nowhere near a plan," Music said. But he indicated that students may receive a written citation on their transcript or actually gain academic credit in the future. "We're just having some discussion to see what the plan might be and how we could go about doing it," he said. Students would not be able to receive credit for extracurricular activities in which they participated prior to this new experiential learning program, he said.Before the new program can be implemented, Music said it will be submitted first to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee to vote on and then to the Registrar for approval. One member of the UCC who was granted anonymity said, "Personally I think it would be unfortunate if students began taking on 'extracurricular' activities merely in an attempt to rack up credits or to fill out their transcripts rather than for enjoyment." The UCC?member is not authorized to discuss this issue.Jason Gray '10, Massell Quad senator, said students deserve more recognition for their extracurricular involvements than simply the satisfaction of placement on a rsum. "Students sometimes put equal, if not more, effort into extracurricular involvements than academic activities," Gray said.The added recognition for extracurricular involvement might also help students when they apply to graduate schools or jobs. "Anything that goes on your transcript that has the seal of approval from Brandeis carries more weight than something that's just on your rsum," Music said. "Not many schools do this," Music said. "If Brandeis decides to do this, we will really be cutting edge.
(03/13/07 4:00am)
CORRECTION APPENDED AT BOTTOM:When the women's basketball season ended in the second round of the NCAA tournament Mar. 3, so did the career of arguably the best player in the team's history. Center Caitlin Malcolm '07, the Judges' all-time leading scorer with 1,412 points, finished her illustrious career with 23 points and 14 rebounds in the team's 71-66 loss to Emmanuel College in round two.Over the course of her career, Malcolm accumulated an impressive list of awards and recognitions. She was named to three all-University Athletic Association first teams, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association honored her as an All-American twice, and d3hoops.com picked her as an All-American last year. The team posted four straight 20-win seasons in her four years, and is now fresh off the first two NCAA tournament appearances in school history. During Malcolm's first two years, the Judges won consecutive ECAC championships. Malcolm, also the school's third-leading rebounder of all-time at 781, reached her offensive peak during her junior year, when she averaged 16.5 points per game.Not only did Malcolm's numbers earn her individual accolades, but they also put her in the national spotlight.When she tallied 29 points after going 19 for 22 from the free throw line in a game against Case Western Reserve University her sophomore year, Malcolm even caught the attention of Sports Illustrated. During the following week, a reporter and photographer interviewed her for the "Faces in the Crowd" section which features amateur athletes. In the Feb. 7, 2005 issue, Malcolm shared pages with New England Patriots' icon Tom Brady."It was kind of surreal. Like, why me?" Malcolm said. "But at least it will make a good souvenir."Besides her tremendous performance on the court, Malcolm's leadership will be sorely missed by her teammates. "[Malcolm's] not afraid to take another player aside and show them their mistakes," Kiersten Holgash '08 said. "Caitlin has really been a huge mentor for [the other players]," she said.Coming to Brandeis, Malcolm said she was a little rough around the edges defensively. In high school, she found herself in constant foul trouble, but at Brandeis, she said coach Carol Simon always had faith in her ability."When I played in high school or on club teams, I wasn't really considered that good, but [Simon] believed in me and gave me a chance," Malcolm said. "I've played my best basketball here."While Malcolm's future plans are uncertain, her coaches are encouraging her to consider playing basketball overseas."I haven't heard anything [about my future], so it's up in the air," Malcolm said. "I don't want to be playing basketball my whole life, but I'm definitely not ready to let go of it now."Whatever's in store for her, Malcolm's legacy at Brandeis is secure."When people think about Brandeis women's basketball, they think about Caitlin Malcolm," guard Jaime Capra '08 said. "We're really going to miss her." Due to a reporting error, the article originally misstated that Caitlin Malcolm '07 received a basketball scholarship from Brandeis. She did not.
(02/13/07 5:00am)
Cereal: the staple of all college students' diets, without which we would be forced to learn how to cook-or at least boil water. But once you've munched your way through an army of cereal boxes, what do you do with all that cardboard? Throw it out? Of course not! You can make it into things like iPod cases, notebooks and wallets! Just follow my instructions and you'll be snap, crackle and poppin' all over campus-in style!The best way to construct an iPod case out of a cereal box, or any cardboard, is to imagine yourself making a smaller box with some holes cut out. Start by cutting out the front of the cereal box. Flip the cardboard panel over so that you can trace on the inside and be able to see your lines more clearly. Place your iPod on the panel and make an outline of the front and back and two skinny rectangles that match the sides and the bottom. You should end up with a template of the case's panels. Cut them all out. Next, cut out windows for the screen and wheel. Don't forget to cut out a slot in the bottom panel for the plug! Now comes the tape: Flip over your pattern pieces so the insides are facing up. Using duct tape, create seams where the panels meet. Then, fold up the back panel and, depending on your agility and skill, finish the inside seams from within or use clear tape and make seams on the outside. Using clear packing tape, reinforce all the sides and seams, being careful not to cover any openings. Once you have the basic shape, go crazy with details like tiny little straps, or if you want to make sure it won't fall out of your pocket or purse, try making a flap out of clear tape to cover the screen opening. Take a strip of clear tape about five inches long and fold it carefully onto itself, leaving roughly an inch of sticky tape exposed as a tail. Using the tail, attach the strip to the top of the back panel, reinforcing with more tape if needed. Make sure the flap is long enough so it extends and covers the screen but stops right above the wheel opening. Scrounge up some Velcro and cut a tiny piece to place between the wheel and screen and on the end of the flap. Also, cut a little opening in the flap where it covers the headphone port. If you want to, trim the flap with skinny pieces of duct tape for aesthetic reasons. And you're done! Now nobody will steal your expensive iPod because they'll think you're just holding a piece of garbage. Highly stylized garbage, that is!Maybe you don't have an iPod, but everyone needs a wallet. Save your bucks and make a nice billfold in which to house them. You can use the other side of the same cereal box. Cut out two of the identically sized rectangles, about seven inches long and two-and-a-half inches tall. Cover the inside faces with tape, using a strip to attach the two edges that are lying flush against each other. Fold the two pieces up with whichever side you want on the outside. You can cover the entire thing in tape or leave the images on the box exposed. If you choose the latter, laminate the front with clear tape, making sure to cover the bottom outside seam. You now need to make a seam on the two side edges. Cut a piece of duct tape the same height as the wallet. Cover the side seams on the outside, too, so that no sticky side is exposed. Now you have a simple billfold which can be made more intricate with pockets for cards and such. So go buy yourself something nice with all the money you saved by turning trash into slightly improved, somewhat functional trash!
(02/13/07 5:00am)
The present might not look very bright for the swimming teams after last-place finishes at last week's University Athletic Association Championships in Cleveland. Nevertheless, solid performances by the Judges' rookies gave hope for a promising future for Brandeis.Both the men's and women's swimming teams finished last out of eight teams in their respective fields. Still, James Liu '10 and Justin Wellins '10 paced the men in both individual and relay events, while Rachel Sawicki '10 and Hollis Viray '10 excelled individually for the women. The Judges couldn't overcome slow starts at these UAAs. After the men's team garnered a mere 87 points and the women's team scored 88 points on the first day of competition Thursday, the men finished with 444 points and the women had 459 by the end of the tournament Saturday. Emory University won the championship for the ninth straight year."You have to get a feel for the walls and your turns," Wellins said. "People get more comfortable and you swim faster after the first day."As they have done all season, Liu and Wellins carried the men's team despite their youth. Liu finished 10th out of 24 swimmers in the 100-yard butterfly Friday with a time of 52.58 seconds, good for third on the Brandeis all-time list. Liu then surprised himself Saturday by finishing 11th in the 100-yard freestyle event in 47.96 seconds, which qualified him for the Eastern College Athletic Conference finals and placed him fourth on the Brandeis all-time list. "I didn't know I was capable of going that fast in the [freestyle]," Liu said.Wellins complemented Liu's performance Saturday by posting the fourth-best all-time performance at Brandeis in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2 minutes, 45 seconds.Liu and Wellins also teamed up in the 800-yard freestyle relay with Bobby Morse '09 and Mike Rubin '09 to finish in 7:16.46, qualifying for ECACs. In addition, the standout rookies were part of ECAC-qualifying relay teams in the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard medley relay. Nicholas Rice '08 turned in top-five all-time Brandeis times in both the 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard backstroke events.Lerman also qualified for ECACs in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:00.55. The women also received notable contributions from their rookies. Rachel Sawicki '10 turned in the Judges' best individual performance, finishing tenth out of 24 swimmers in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:12.18. "I was surprised [by my success] because I never really swam the 200-butterfly this season," Sawicki said.In the 100-yard breaststroke, Sawicki edged out Carnegie Mellon University freshman Sara Andrews by .01 seconds with a time of 1:11.36.Another rookie, Hollis Viray '10, surpassed her season-best performance in the 200-yard breastroke, completing the race in 2:33.64 and finishing the weekend third on the Brandeis all-time list.Leah Lipka '09, Viray, Sawicki and Donna Kremer '10 joined forces in the 200-yard medley relay to take seventh place out of 16 teams.In diving, the women felt the absence of top performer Charlotte Rea '08, who qualified for the NCAA Division III championships fell ill with a stomach virus and was unable to race this weekend.The ECAC Championships take place this weekend in Cambridge.
(02/06/07 5:00am)
After the men's fencing team found itself trailing 0-3 after losses to Pennsylvania State University, Duke University and Princeton University, Sunday's Brandeis-MIT Invitational was quickly turning into a nightmare. But thanks to foil Will Friedman '09 and epee Kai Keller '07, who spearheaded a tremendous comeback effort, the Judges clinched its first win ever over the University of Pennsylvania at 14-13. "[The men] never quit or got down on themselves," coach Bill Shipman said. Friedman had an 11-2 record for the day as the men salvaged an even 3-3 record at the meet after their dismal start. Meanwhile, the women struggled to a 1-5 finish."This shows we have the stamina [and] are deep in all three weapons," Friedman said. "Every squad contributed to the comeback."The pinnacle for the men came during the UPenn match. Brandeis found itself down 0-3 after the saber team narrowly dropped its first three bouts, each by scores of 5-4. The Judges bounced back with the help of the foil and epee teams. Rookie Andrew Travis '10, a substitute in epee, turned in a 5-3 record, while foil Eugene Vortsman '08 held on for a 5-4 win after falling down 4-0 earlier. Finally, with the match tied at 13, Keller closed out the battle to give Brandeis the 14-13 edge. "UPenn has a legitimate shot to finish in the top three of the Ivy League," saber and captain Brendan Doris-Pierce '07 said. "Our performance says a lot about the character of the team."Brandeis completed the comeback with a 25-2 thrashing of Yeshiva University and an 18-9 win over New York University. Friedman's 11-2 day included a victory over Penn State's Nick Chinman, a member of the junior world team. "[Friedman] was the rock of the team," Doris-Pierce said. "He had a phenomenal record considering the level of competition." Earlier in the competition, the Judges fell to Penn State 21-6, Duke 14-13 and Princeton 19-8. Against Duke, Brandeis dug itself into an early hole, losing by one point to the Blue Devils. "We let [the match] slip through our fingers," Liberman said.The women were outscored 97-65 on the day, with three close losses and two lopsided defeats. The Judges fell to UPenn 21-6, Penn State 20-7, Tufts University 14-13, Princeton 16-11 and Duke 16-11. The women's lone victory was a 17-10 triumph over NYU, which clinched a University Athletic Association title for Brandeis. Coach Shipman took responsibility for the women's loss against Tufts."I substituted too early [in the match], and we were unable to come back," Shipman said. "The loss was primarily my fault."Shipman also explained that the women had a tough time dealing with the high level of competition at this meet."Penn State, Princeton and UPenn were too strong for us," Shipman said. "They're all deeper up and down the line. We were overmatched in some bouts." Individually, saber Kirsten Heinz '09 shined with a 12-4 mark. This was the final regular season performance for both the men's and women's squads. The Judges compete next at the Junior Olympics in Hartford, Conn. Saturday, Feb. 18.
(02/06/07 5:00am)
If gorging yourself on desserts needs a justification, a 21st birthday is as good as any. My friends and I celebrated mine over four days; decisions were made, 10 desserts were consumed and. Well, we'll be in the gym if you want to talk to us.We started out with a flan at Taqueria Mexico (24 Charles St., Waltham). It was freshly made, with a good, solid custard; a great investment at $2.50. Next up was some quality time at Fire and Ice (50 Church St., Cambridge). The restaurant is unusual: basically a you-choose raw buffet with a huge stovetop in the middle and a few chefs around the edges. It's a great place for full meals-$17 per person, all-you-can-eat-but not for dessert. The turtle cheesecake (caramel and chocolate) was pretty average, even with whipped cream, candles and some obligatory singing. The best part of our meal was the Lava Flow, a mixture of strawberry daiquiri and piSa colada with coconut and a big slice of pineapple for about $12, although it was a little light on the rum. We then headed to Om Restaurant and Lounge, where we ate in a private room. We were lucky to secure such arrangements: Om was rated highly this year among the best new restaurants in America by Esquire, has a chef with a prominent name-Rachel Klein-and desserts to die for. By this point, the girls and I had tired of heavy sweets, so we chose a rice pudding. It was a great decision-a beautiful balance of golden raisins in light syrup, pralines, caramel and, of course, a light and delicious rice pudding. Reasonably priced, dessert came to about $9. Om is also known for its aromatherapy cocktails; my roommate had a lavender cosmopolitan for $12, which she enjoyed thoroughly. I stuck with champagne while listening to the music-clubbish electronica. The prix fixe menu also seemed worth checking out: $50 per person with wine, and their wine list is one to drink by. The next day, we dropped by Ponzu (286 Moody St.) for several courses, culminating in a complimentary tapioca dessert soup and some fairly typical mochi (marshmallow-wrapped Chinese ice cream). The soup was one of the best parts of the dining experience, although the restaurant was still expensive for the quantity and quality of its fare. They do serve an excellent-if over-priced-plum wine and a very nice cream sherry, which was reasonably priced at $6. Saturday evening's close was Tempo (474 Moody St.). The menu is expensive for the college and young-professional budget, but seemed worth it. Feeling indecisive, we ordered the dessert sampler ($16), which is a selection of five mini-dishes from the kitchen of Jennifer Renaud, a pastry chef. We tried an extremely rich chocolate brownie with a ball of something good on top (it disappeared too quickly to discern its identity), a miniature cheesecake-style tart with a caramelized sugar emblem, an apple tart, a dollop of hazelnut turtle cream mousse and about two ounces of craeme brule in its own dish, complete with suitable, if out-of-season, fruits. We paired this with a dark hot chocolate ($3.75) that was too good to pass up, and a 1979 Armagnac ($12) that was excellent, if a little masculine for our tastes. Tempo also offers various specialty martinis and a long and comprehensive wine list, including some very special reds that would be fun on their own.Of the restaurants we tried this week, Tempo and Om are best saved for special occasions or parents' visits, while Fire and Ice offers a decent (if loud) birthday experience. It is significant, I think, that Ponzu's highlight is its free item (The restaurant should rethink its menu,) while Taqueria is a good everyday Mexican place and easy on the pocketbook. In the meantime, I'm not interested in eating anything sweet ever again-at least not until Wednesday.
(01/30/07 5:00am)
Most Brandeis students and their parents are acutely aware of the cost of a Brandeis degree, and the struggles that come with paying for one. "Soon, only the financial elite will be able to consider Brandeis," one parent wrote recently on the Justice's Web site. "At that point, a new Brandeis will have to be created to fulfill the ideals of inclusion that gave rise to the present institution."If Brandeis' annual costs increase at the current pace, a freshman who enters Brandeis in September 2007 will receive bills totaling about $200,939 for tuition, fees, room and board over four years, not including textbooks and other "extras." A high school junior hoping to arrive on campus in September 2008 will receive bills for about $210,986, plus extras. Together with healthcare, the high cost of a degree at a private college has become one of America's greatest challenges. Princeton University recently announced it will hold tuition steady for the 2007-2008 school year (It is still raising costs of room and board.). According to the Associated Press, "Princeton's move will likely prompt rival colleges to consider similar moves .... Princeton has been at the cutting edge of a number of bold initiatives in recent years." Will Brandeis make an effort to follow suit? If the University implements its usual increases it will cost more to attend Brandeis in September than Princeton. Will we now be told that, because Brandeis can get away with charging more than Princeton, a Brandeis degree must be better?When I first raised the issue with University President Jehuda Reinharz last June, he responded: "The actual cost to the University to educate each undergraduate student is approximately $55,000 .... The cost of private higher education is high, and it does indeed reflect a choice, the value of which must ultimately be decided by the student and his or her family." But as Paul Trusten '73 wrote on the Justice's Web site: "It is long past time for the Nader organization and the Consumers' Union to analyze the elements of college tuition and to guide people to get their money's worth from this cow that I have long since considered to be no longer sacred." When I again wrote to the president asking him to follow Princeton's lead, his executive assistant John Hose replied, "The $200,000+ figure is only accurate for students receiving no financial aid whatsoever. However ... over 60 percent of undergraduates receive merit- or need-based scholarship or grant aid, for which the University expends just under $40 million." But that leaves, by my count, at least 1000-maybe as many as 1,300-current students who are being billed the full tuition. Hose seems to suggest that because we are "only" a thousand or so, we don't count in the eyes of the administration. University presidents love to tell us that the actual cost of running the institution is more than what they charge students, but at the same time, Brandeis is quick to boast about its record fundraising and other revenue-raising activities. Parents need to be shown that the administration is doing everything possible to control costs, that there is no waste on campus and that salaries-including those of administrators-are not inflated. How about the University's chief financial officer writing to students and parents to tell us, honestly and forthrightly, what he is doing to address the escalating cost of a Brandeis bachelor's degree? I thought universities were meant to be non-profit entities with a pedagogical mission, not big businesses. A gesture from the administration might raise our spirits.The writer is the father of a member of the Class of 2008.
(01/23/07 5:00am)
At the only home competition of the season, Saturday's Reggie Poyau Memorial Meet, both indoor track teams used their depth to outrun everyone but Bowdoin College. Overall, the teams placed first in only seven of the 38 combined events, but both the men's and women's teams still posted second-place finishes behind the Polar Bears. The women's team, paced by victories from Ali Sax '09 in the long and triple jumps and Camille Stevens-Rumann '07 in the one-mile run, racked up 124 points and finished second of nine schools. The men's team had 92 points and tied for second with New York University, with a win by Mark Bercy '07 in the triple jump serving as the team's lone individual victory. "We performed really well," Matt Jennings '08 said. "We have strength in a lot of different areas." Stevens-Rumann won the one-mile run in 5 minutes, 16.55 seconds, going toe-to-toe with the second-place finisher, Bowdoin junior Laura Onderko before edging her out by a mere 1.34 seconds. It was the second straight week that Stevens-Rumann squeezed out a victory over Onderko; she also defeated her at the Jan. 13 Bowdoin Invitational. "[Onderko] was in the lead until the last 300 meters, until [I was able] to kick it in at the end," Stevens-Rumann said.Sax continued her dominance this season by winning the long and triple jumps with leaps of 5.03 meters and 10.68 meters, respectively. She previously won four events at Bowdoin Jan. 20. Linda Kropp '07 finished second to Sax in both events, solidifying a lethal one-two punch for the Brandeis women in jumping. In the 3000-meter race, Katy Agule '09 triumphed with a time of 10:38.55, while Bessie Bianco '08 won the high jump competition with a leap of 1.57 meters to round out the women's team's individual wins. The Judges also delivered a sixth victory in the 4 x 800-meter relay. The performance of Amanda Clare '09, a recent addition to the squad who came in third in the 55-meter dash, impressed coach Mark Reytblat. "[Clare] shows a lot of potential," Reytblat said. "I look forward to having her continue to contribute to the team." Sax saw the team's second-place finish as a good indicator of where the women's team stands at this point in the season. "It shows we have a lot of room for improvement," she said. "If we were faster, we could have picked up even more points."Bercy's personal-best cumulative jump of 13.44 meters in the triple jump highlighted the men's team's second-place finish. The captain had an excellent all-around day, placing second in the 200-meter dash, finishing in 23.38 seconds, and third in the long jump with a leap of 6.03 meters.The Judges took three of the top four spots in the triple jump, with Bercy, Shyam Vimal '09 and Frank Longo '08 finishing first, second and fourth, respectively. Rookie Brian McDonald '10 came in second in the 3,000-meter race with a time of 9:00.37, while the 4 x 800-meter relay team also came in second with a time of 8:13.65. Reytbalt was also pleased with Pat Gregiore's '09 performance in the 55-meter dash. Gregiore, a transfer student from Penn State University, came in second with a time of 6.65 seconds. "He's been getting faster and faster each time [out there]," Reytblat said. "He's a hard-working kid who likes the challenge."Bercy was confident that the Judges will improve as they continue to get into better shape this season. "After [winter] break, it's tough to judge where people will be [in terms of conditioning]," Bercy said. "If we're all at our peak, we'll turn some heads." The next meet for both squads will be the Terrier Classic at Boston University Friday at 10 a.m.
(01/23/07 5:00am)
Continuing its quest to improve campus social life, the Student Union has found what is by far its best idea to date: subsidized parties.It turns out, according to the results of a Union survey on myBrandeis and a forum on social life it hosted, students by and large do not prefer campuswide events like the now-defunct Modfest, which the administration had been so on-edge about. It seems we instead favor smaller parties in on-campus suites. And so, having met an unsurprising defeat with the relatively underattended Purple Rain, the Union, as its President Alison Schwartzbaum '08 announced in her State of the Union address in December, is shifting gears.By subsidizing up to $50 one registered party per week, the Union hopes to encourage small-scale partying on campus. Drawing from the Union's social-life fund, Union Director of Social Affairs Cindy Kaplan '08 and an ad hoc committee will choose the most worthy parties, whose hosts-typical open parties can cost well over $100-will no doubt find the assistance a boon.We commend the Union for this idea, but hope they will recognize that its implementation will be tricky. There's no sense in allowing a good idea to fizzle for lack of foresight.Those evaluating applications should reward creative or themed parties; a receipt that includes tortilla chips, sombreros and a piSata should be more deserving than one listing only a few handles of tequila. But the question of who should make those decisions-and exactly how they should be made-remains. As it stands, Ms. Kaplan and other Union members will decide which parties receive funding. The Union should strive for objectivity when choosing which party gets the money, however. Codifying the policy will prevent whoever selects the "winning party" from playing favorites-now and in the future.With only one grant available each week, a selection process makes the most sense, but the reality that dry parties will attract fewer party-goers raises questions about how-and whether-the grants should be restricted. The allowance would not be paid out until after the parties are held so that suites that are written up for violations of University policy-including serving alcohol in a dry quad or suite-can have their money withheld. Although students in dry suites run the risk of being written up if they serve alcohol at their parties, they shouldn't necessarily be barred from applying for funds in the first place. But the alternative-forbidding dry suites from applying for the funds-is not ideal, either, because it would unfairly bar underage students from having their parties reimbursed. The catch-22 seems unavoidable, and merits much conversation. The possibility for abuse exists, as well. Of course, Union officials should not be stopping by parties for compliance checks, but they must also ensure that the money isn't being squandered by five roommates for a private game of Tour de Franzia. If the program grows-and we hope it will, quickly and considerably-this will become a greater issue.These concerns aside, the Union's initial plan is undoubtedly praiseworthy. But even with this notch on its belt, the Union should not lose sight of its main mission: advocacy. This new emphasis on smaller parties must not distract the Union from negotiating for less stringent rules at campuswide events that serve alcohol, because those vital parts of campus social life are in even more need of revitalization.
(11/14/06 5:00am)
After countless hours of preparation since their last intercollegiate meet Oct. 28, the men's and women's swim teams proved that practice makes perfect in their first sweep of the season, beating Babson College Thursday 126-103 and 120-88. It was the women's first win of the season, giving them a 1-2 record, while the men are now 2-1 after their second straight win."We've had to take our practices a little more seriously lately," Keara Dekay '08 said. "The past two weeks our team has been working really hard, and I guess it just all paid off," Wellins said. "We have been swimming 8,500 yards, which is like 5 to 6 miles, during practices." The women were led by Dekay and rookie Hollis Viray '10, who each won two races to pick up one-third of the team's points. Dekay won the 1,000-yard freestyle and 200-yard butterfly with times of 11 minutes, 42.41 seconds and 2:29.81. She also captured second place in the 500-yard freestyle, only behind Viray, who won the event in 5:33.58. Viray also triumphed in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:03.89, less than three seconds better than Babson junior Erica Salisburry."All the hard work that I've been putting in has contributed to my success," DeKay said. For the third straight meet, the squad was backed by important contributions from their rookies. Rachel Sawicki '10 won the 200-yard intermedley in 2:21.67, while Donna Kremer '10 took the 100-yard freestyle in 58.35. Lisa Rice '10 finished second in the 1,000-yard freestyle event and third in the 500 freestyle. The women also received solid contributions from all three of their divers. Charlotte Rea '08 led the way in the one and three-meter dives, with scores of 219.67 and 219.86.The men's team was also boosted by its rookies, including Bobby Morse '09, Justin Wellins '10 and James Liu '10, each of whom placed first in two individual events. Wellins and Liu also captured the 400-yard medley with captains Todd Berman '07 and Matt Lerman '07."With the amount of talent in this year's freshman class, I think all of the upperclassmen have had to step it up," Morse said.For the second straight meet, Liu took first place in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:49.87. He also triumphed in the 200-yard butterfly in 2:07.07, edging teammates Hal Grossman '07 and Jon Eskow '08.In addition, Bobby Morse '09 won the 500 and 1,000-yard freestyle events with times of 5:13.10 and 10:45.39."I think every guy on our team does an amazing job," Wellins said. "We are becoming a really strong team with a real strong bond."The men hope to hand Bentley College their first loss at 6:30 p.m. today.
(10/17/06 4:00am)
The women's cross country team proved last weekend that it had the ability to go toe-to-toe with some of the best teams in the country. The Judges finished 10th out of 22 teams at the 40th annual University of Albany Cross Country Invitational, topping six of 13 Division I schools at the meet in the 5,000-meter race.The team also placed third out of seven Division III schools at the competition, placing ahead of a nationally ranked opponent for the first time this season, edging 12th-place St. Lawrence University, No. 32 Division III program. The Judges finished behind Middlebury College and The College of New Jersey, the fifth and 10th-ranked Division III teams in the nation respectively."We made a big jump this year to beat a nationally ranked team," coach John Evans said. "We're not picking easy tournaments. To be competitive is a big step for us.""[Our performance] showed the potential we have for the rest of the season," captain Megan Bisceglia '07 said. "It's a good stepping stone." Meanwhile, the men's team was given the week off, forgoing the trip to New York."[The men's team] had been training really hard and ran well at the New England Championships," Evans said of the Oct. 7 event. "I decided they needed an easy week." Five of the Judges' seven runners finished among the top 85 at the meet, led by Bisceglia's time of 18:48. Bisceglia finished 31st out of 196, eclipsing her personal record by almost five seconds, while coming in ahead of dozens of Division I runners."[Bisceglia] has had a great season," Evans said. "She's beaten top-level runners [and] is one of the top runners in New England. Katy Agule '08 set a personal record as well, finishing 66th with a time of 19:26. Camille Stevens-Rumann '07, Emily Terrin '08 and Mary Schillinger '07 followed in 71st, 75th and 85th respectively to round out the Judges' top five. The top five runners had a collective time of 97:10. Rebecca Happnie '09, in 108th and Rebecca Hughes '08, in 133rd turned in respectable performances as well. "We're proud of ourselves," Agule said. "We're running strong and coming together as a team."Evans said he expects placing ahead of St. Lawrence will be enough to earn the team a national ranking. Heading into the Albany tournament, the Judges were within striking distance of joining the nation's top 35 teams. This was the Judges' last competition before they compete in the University Athletic Association Championships in St. Louis, a pivotal conference tournament for the men's and women's teams Oct. 28. The UAA includes three of the nation's top 35 teams, including third-ranked Washington University in St. Louis.
(10/17/06 4:00am)
To all Brandeis students who were not present at the K Records show at Chum's Sunday: You made the wrong choice. The free concert, staged by the Punk, Rock 'n' Roll Club, attracted about 150 people who left having witnessed two phenomenal sets.Phil Elvrum's and Karl Blau's meandering, somewhat solipsistic performances -culminating in an impromptu sing-a-long led by Elvrum-were transcendent. Both sang short, barefoot, acoustic songs laced with non sequiturs and quiet percussion wedged in between chords and spontaneous hand gestures. Although their performances seemed unrehearsed and, at times, completely improvised, Elvrum and Blau, along with Bret Lunsford-the third member of D+, which opened the night-were remarkably tight after sometimes suffering false starts and early missteps.Some of the most popular performances of the evening involved Blau's use of a loop machine to combine beatboxing, electric bass and vocals, allowing him to double track his vocals on stage. The low fidelity of the machine blended the recorded samples into a percussive hum that complemented Blau's Beck-like faux-rap vocals. The main attraction of the evening, however, was headliner Phil Elvrum, as Mount Eerie. Elvrum's brief still-lifes ended abruptly, leaving the audience in a state of quiet inertia until the next song-or until his slightly awkward but entirely charming banter interrupted the post-song applause.Calvin Johnson, who founded K Records but who is probably best known for his part in 1980s indie-rock band Beat Happening, also performed. While making use of the meandering, insular style of the other performers, Johnson's songs had an ironic, oddly humorous edge to them that Elvrum's and Blau's lacked. Johnson plodded tunelessly and often chordlessly through folkish ballads in a voice like Stephin Merritt's, devoid of any sincerity. Fortunately, much of Johnson's lyrics consisted of David Berman-like wordplay that was compelling enough to keep the audience laughing hesitantly throughout his set.It must be noted that the filler between sets -an album of remixes of Mirah, a labelmate of Elvrum's who collaborated with him on his previous project, The Microphones-was entirely appropriate to the show and made the breaks between sets all the more enjoyable.
(10/10/06 4:00am)
To all Brandeis students who were not present at the K Records show at Chum's Sunday: You made the wrong choice. The free concert, staged by the Punk, Rock 'n' Roll Club, attracted about 150 people who left having witnessed two phenomenal sets.Phil Elvrum's and Karl Blau's meandering, somewhat solipsistic performances -culminating in an impromptu sing-a-long led by Elvrum-were transcendent. Both sang short, barefoot, acoustic songs laced with non sequiturs and quiet percussion wedged in between chords and spontaneous hand gestures. Although their performances seemed unrehearsed and, at times, completely improvised, Elvrum and Blau, along with Bret Lunsford-the third member of D+, which opened the night-were remarkably tight after sometimes suffering false starts and early missteps.Some of the most popular performances of the evening involved Blau's use of a loop machine to combine beatboxing, electric bass and vocals, allowing him to double track his vocals on stage. The low fidelity of the machine blended the recorded samples into a percussive hum that complemented Blau's Beck-like faux-rap vocals. The main attraction of the evening, however, was headliner Phil Elvrum, as Mount Eerie. Elvrum's brief still-lifes ended abruptly, leaving the audience in a state of quiet inertia until the next song-or until his slightly awkward but entirely charming banter interrupted the post-song applause.Calvin Johnson, who founded K Records but who is probably best known for his part in 1980s indie-rock band Beat Happening, also performed. While making use of the meandering, insular style of the other performers, Johnson's songs had an ironic, oddly humorous edge to them that Elvrum's and Blau's lacked. Johnson plodded tunelessly and often chordlessly through folkish ballads in a voice like Stephin Merritt's, devoid of any sincerity. Fortunately, much of Johnson's lyrics consisted of David Berman-like wordplay that was compelling enough to keep the audience laughing hesitantly throughout his set.It must be noted that the filler between sets -an album of remixes of Mirah, a labelmate of Elvrum's who collaborated with him on his previous project, The Microphones-was entirely appropriate to the show and made the breaks between sets all the more enjoyable.
(09/26/06 4:00am)
They've shown that they can play with the best teams in New England, but the men's soccer team still hasn't proven that it can finish off an elite opponent.And they still couldn't Wednesday, when the Judges came from behind to force overtime against host Wheaton College, but saw a golden opportunity to win in the extra period slip away. After the 2-2 double overtime draw, the Judges' third tie against ranked competition this season, the team stands at 2-2-3."You can't really be disappointed because they're a very good team and it was away, but we definitely dominated the play and we should have won," rookie forward Billy Murphy'10 said.The team saw its best chance towin get away in the extra period, when forward Ben Premo '09 sent a perfect ball through the Wheaton defense to Murphy, who came tantalizingly close to putting the Lyons away, but could not convert."It was a race between me and the goalie, and all I could try to do was poke it past him," Murphy said.Like in previous games this season, a slow start plagued Brandeis. The Lyons began the scoring in the 18th minute off a restart kick goal, taking advantage of the Judges' sluggish play early."The first half we played verypoorly," coach Mike Coven said."We didn't build out of the backwell. [Wheaton] was building out of their back and they were picking us apart." The Judges retaliated three minutes later when defender Brett Fitzgerald '08 blasted in an unassisted goal from near the top of the box. The Lyons took a 2-1 lead 10 minutes before halftime on a short cross pass that was knocked in by sophomore forward Justin Hart.The team's first-half struggles prompted Coven to make a drastic formation change to jumpstart theJudges in the second half. Instead of using four defenders, four midfielders and two forwards-a 4-4-2 formation- he removed one defender and added another forward, creating a 3-4-3 setup. Playing up front were forwardsAlex Mithoefer '09, Murphy and Premo, who have combined for seven goals this season."[The formation is] more offensive-minded because you have an extra front runner and it opens up the middle of the field," Coven said,The change yielded instant results, as the Judges came out firing after the break. The defenders had more room to get involved in counter-attacks, the midfielders were less congested and more able to create plays, and the three forwards presented a greater offensive threat and pressure on Wheaton's defense. In the 59th minute, rookie defender Tyler Morrill '10 tied the game off a corner kick for his first collegiate goal."When we spread [the team] out and opened up some space, the combination play between the midfielders and frontrunners worked very well," Coven said. As the corner kick sailed past everyone else, Morrill received the ball at the left edge of the goalie box and served the ball to the center. When the ball bounced right back to Morrill, he softly lifted it over the Wheaton senior goalkeeper Matt Pachniuk's head into the right side of the net."[My first collegiate goal] is one of the best experiences of my life so far," Morrill said.The Judges continued pounding the Wheaton defense throughout the half and in overtime, but could never put the game away. "We've had some really big ties," Coven said. "But now we need some really big wins.
(09/19/06 4:00am)
It's unfair to say that Harvard University's recent and surprising announcement-that it intends to eliminate its early admissions program next year-hit academe like, as some editorialists dubbed it, an "H-Bomb." Many elite universities said last week they do not plan to follow suit.Nor will Brandeis, Dean of Admissions Gil Villanueva told the Justice Monday, and we can't blame him for that decision. The University is able to fill a considerable chunk of its incoming class each year with early decision applicants-students who, if applying regularly, might matriculate elsewhere. Early admission can be comfortable for universities, but for applicants, it can be an unnecessary source of stress. By applying in the fall-and indicating their desire to attend a particular university-students receive a significant edge. Because college admission is so competitive today, a large premium is placed on applying early, even if that means making a hasty decision. And when students are rejected, they have mere weeks to regroup and apply elsewhere.But far more importantly, early admission "advantages the advantaged," as William Fitzsimmons, Harvard's dean of admissions, told The New York Times last week. Applicants relying on financial aid already face barriers their more affluent peers do not. It's unfair-contrary to our University's mission, even-that they should face such roadblocks when applying here.Early admission programs, Fitzsimmons rightly argues, may lock out students who cannot pay college tuition out of pocket. Students accepted early have little clout in negotiating for better financial aid packages, and are unable to compare offers from other universities. For some students, that's no big issue. But for others, the generosity of financial aid packages can prove the deciding factor in choosing a college. Furthermore, more affluent high schoolers generally have better access to guidance counselors, who not only assist students with applying, but often encourage them to do so early.Still, it's unrealistic for Brandeis to scrap its early decision program entirely and risk losing students to schools of comparable, if not greater, quality. But a switch to the early action model-by which students apply early but are not locked in upon acceptance-would allow the University to both secure a portion of its incoming class and make it more heterogeneous. While the number of matriculating early applicants may shrink under a nonbinding system, that pool of students will more closely mirror our generation's demographics.
(09/19/06 4:00am)
An offensive explosion fueled the women's soccer team this week, as the Judges won consecutive 3-1 games over Simmons College Wednesday and Clark University Saturday. After scoring just two goals in its first two games of the season, both by captain Lisa Kaplin '07, Brandeis awoke from its offensive slumber, as four other players scored this week to help the team even its record at 2-2.The Judges looked to exact revenge against the Cougars Saturday, after they ended Brandeis's season with a 3-2 win over the Judges in last year's ECAC semifinals on Clark's field at Worcester. Playing on the same field, the Judges used goals from Kaplin, backfielder Jenna Lipawsky '09 and midfielder Meredith Milstein '09 to earn a victory."We were connecting really well, passing through their team, and sending balls over the top," captain Brittany Douglass '07 said. "Everything just came together." Captain Melissa Gordon '07 said the win was extra-sweet coming against the team that had toppled them last season."This win makes it seem like last year was some sort of fluke," Gordon said. "It made them look very silly; like they accidentally beat us last year." The Judges got on the board first in the 20th minute, when midfielder Amy King '08 fed the ball to Kaplin, who maneuvered around the edge of the box and rifled it with her left foot into the top left corner of the net. It was Kaplin's fourth goal of the season and the 30th in her Brandeis career, making her the fifth player in school history to reach that plateau."That kind of shot doesn't happen for me all the time," Kaplin said. "It was definitely a nice goal and I was ready to go after that."But the Judges' lead was short-lived, as a turnover on their end allowed the Cougars to even the score. Clark sophomore forward Kari Mruz stole an errant pass and fed junior midfielder Amanda Ramos, who slipped the ball under Brandeis goalkeeper Hillary Rosenzweig '10 and into the bottom left corner of the net.The teams were tied until the 33rd minute, when Clark appeared to clear the ball, but midfielder Lizzie Bremner '08 headed it back to substitute midfielder Jenna Lipawsky '09, who chipped a shot from well outside the box over the head of Clark senior goalkeeper Nolizwe Nondabula to give the Judges a 2-1 lead. It was the first goal of Lipawsky's college career. "The goalie was a short girl, so I knew I could get it over her head," Lipawsky said.Douglass said that Lipawsky's goal was a turning point in the game for the Judges."From there, we just knew that we were going to take the game," she said. "[Lipawsky] coming in and giving us that key goal really boosted the team's confidence."The Judges kept up the pressure in the second half, dominating possession before putting the game away in the 81st minute. Gordon, taking advantage of a fatigued Cougar midfield, dribbled the ball unmarked up the field and fed Milstein, who finished the play by lacing a left-footed shot into the top-right corner of the goal. It was Milstein's first goal since her game-tying score in last season's ECAC semifinal loss to the Cougars.On Wednesday, the Judges notched their first victory of the season over Simmons at home. King, Kaplin, and Sarah Jasak '08 all scored for the Judges, who outshot the Sharks by a staggering 29-3 margin. "[Simmons] was a much-needed win," Douglass said. "While Simmons wasn't a fantastic team, the win boosted our morale and gave us the confidence we needed to go win [against Clark]."In a tough week, Brandeis travels to Wellesley College Tuesday, hosts Gordon College Thursday and Bowdoin College Sunday."We have some tough games, but now that we know what we need to do to win, we can do it," Douglass said.
(09/19/06 4:00am)
From artist-in-residence Clare Rojas's quasi-folk paintings and textiles to a series of video art concerned with surveillance and privacy issues in contemporary times, visitors to the Rose Art Museum should expect an eclectic range of art this fall. The two new exhibitions, Rojas's installation Hope Springs Eternal, and the collection "Balance and Power: Performance and Surveillance in Video Art," open Wednesday evening.The exhibitions are not so much collections of works as a complete visual experience. The staircase leading up to Rojas's installation hovers over an illuminated pool of pink water. A smiling nude sculpture of a man kneels on the landing of the staircase, holding a video screen and urinating into the pool. Rojas's installation consists of a quilt-like pattern of brightly colored wooden panels attached to three walls of the gallery at the top of the stairs.Most noticeable in Rojas's art is its lack of texture. The colored panels are covered with cartoonish drawings of naked men in coy, often feminine poses and flat images of flowers and plants in wallpaper-like patterns. The sharp edges on the plants-along with the smug, arch expressions on the faces of the men and the brazen sexual imagery-provide a sinister edge in contrast with the twee cuteness of the bright colors and folksy quilt patterns.On the right side of the wall, opposite the stairs, lurks an indeterminate cat-like animal evocative of the work of the Japanese pop artist Yoshitomo Nara. Rojas's installation includes a few malevolent-looking animals, some of which are painted to show texture. Both the animals and the people are painted with stylized, pointed feet, adding an almost Seussian quality aspect to the figures.A few feminine figures appear in Hope Springs Eternal. Unlike Rojas's men, the women are fully clothed and wear vacant expressions on their wrinkled faces. At what seems like the end of the installation, a cabin-like house hovers in a white column above a sparse landscape depicting a grassy lawn spotted with piles of ash. A few women and a man with an incredibly long mustache plod along the lawn, seemingly in silence, while three terribly sad-looking owls with stylized red faces sit on the ashes, facing the viewer.Below the installation, around the pink pool, hang a few individual works by Rojas. Many of these smaller paintings and textiles seem much more rustic and quaint and less sinister than the work upstairs. The downstairs works are something of a departure from the installation in that they are more diverse in medium and content. Some of these are a combination of textiles and painting, and seem more narrative and less sparse than the installation.According to Raphaela Platow, the museum's chief curator, the two exhibits are "related in an interesting, unexpected way." "I thought it would be really interesting to present, in conjunction with the [video art], an artist whose work is a lot about craftsmanship, colors and narratives, and just very different issues than what the Balance and Power show is about," she said.Curator Michael Rush's "Balance and Power: Performance and Surveillance in Video Art" was not available for preview. The exhibition will feature works by such pioneers of the medium as Vito Acconci and Andy Warhol, as well as Paul Campus and other artists.Rojas will perform Wednesday evening as her alter-ego, Peggy Honeywell. Honeywell's soft, feminine music recalls the Americana-folk music of Emmylou Harris and Jenny Lewis.The opening reception for the Rose's fall exhibits will be held Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free to members of the Brandeis community.
(08/29/06 4:00am)
It's time to wake up and get back into action. Last April, University administrators said that changes may be made to the Bethlehem, Berlin and Harlan chapels, which currently form a happy trio on the edge of campus. The proposals under consideration include moving the Protestant and Catholic communities into one chapel, installing a nondenominational prayer space in the Harlan chapel and renovating all three buildings.While administrators have said these proposals have not changed since last semester, the issue is still relevant. Since no final decision has been made, it is vital that any opinions about the issue be voiced now. But don't get your yarmulkes, turbans or whatever else in a knot; this article is not meant to stress you out, but to raise your spirits. Space is highly treasured, almost worshiped, on this campus, so it is essential that the eventual solution is one the Brandeis community doesn't regret. At a time when religion seems to be reigning in many people's minds, the Brandeis community should offer a neutral zone for its students, as many other universities have successfully done. A nondenominational prayer area would serve not only those who belong to various faiths, but also those who are spiritual but do not align themselves with any religion.This is exactly what our campus needs. If the University chose to build a mosque for Muslims, for example, it would be a good start, but at least one religious community would feel left out or rejected. What about the numerous Hindus and Sikhs on campus? Would there also be plans to build a Hindu temple or a Sikh gurudwara in the future? What then about the Buddhists? It seems almost impossible to serve the needs of everyone. Moreover, it is not feasible to build several places of worship. Therefore, a nondenominational building serving everyone would be ideal. A good model is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Chapel. Neither its shape or the architectural style resembles any particular religious sect's place of worship. From the inside, however, it still evokes a great deal of spirituality and brings a sense of peace to people who visit it. The MIT Chapel was designed by Eero Saarinen in the mid-1950s; incidentally, Saarinen designed several buildings here at Brandeis. He hoped to create a "seat of learning" at the heart of campus encircled by the residential quads designed in a more modern style. His original plans also included a nondenominational place of worship at Brandeis. Although his original design was rejected here, he brought the idea to MIT. Our University is at the forefront of academia and we are always striving to outdo ourselves and others. So, if MIT can create such a wonder that works to unite everyone on its campus, why can't Brandeis do the same? While MIT's chapel serves mostly as a venue for spiritual rejuvenation, ours could also host services for specific faiths or guest lectures from religious leaders from different groups. By creating such a place of worship, Brandeis would gain a force to enrich students' lives. Perhaps we would even see more religious festivals on campus from various cultures. The Brandeis chapels' current layout prevents the shadows of each religion's structure from falling on another's. With the creation of a new nondenominational temple, we can extend the message to others that we will not shy away from another's shadow simply because they are of another faith or from another community.Can I get an "amen?
