(05/20/13 4:00am)
Personally, I'm not much of a baseball fan and know very little about the sport, but the summer premiere 42, directed by Brian Helgeland and starring Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson, is about much more than running the bases. The film's emotional journey builds up to the penultimate game of the season, where Robinson stands at bat, focused and determined. The pitch comes fast and he nails it-the ball flying as he casually jogs the bases in victory. The movie tells a gripping story about love, sacrifice and bravery in post-World War II America. Based on the story of Jackie Robinson's life, the movie explores his 1946 initiation into the Montreal Royals and subsequent move to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Robinson is confronted with bitter racism, but also showered with support by both black and white fans as he pioneers the desegregation of baseball in the United States. The film begins in 1946 when Branch Rickey, the Dodger Baseball Club president, decides that the best chance the Dodgers have of winning the year's World Series is to recruit an African-American player. In doing so, Rickey mindfully breaks the unspoken rule of segregating baseball teams, and Jackie Robinson joins the team. The film eloquently gives the audience a glimpse into Robinson's spirit from the moment he is introduced: Robinson and his all-black baseball team, the Kansas City Monarchs, are filling up their vehicle's gasoline tank on their way to a game in Chicago. When Robinson heads to the restroom, the owner of the gas station stops him. Apparently the restroom is for whites only. Robinson casually replies that his team will take their business elsewhere. The owner finally relents and reluctantly points him toward the restroom. Robinson is innately outspoken and not afraid to stand up for what is right, both traits that help him along his journey to the major leagues as a racial minority. Immediately after this scene, Helgeland integrates a historically well-known episode into the script-a conversation between Robinson and Rickey. Rickey warns his new recruit of the criticism and hatred that he will be forced to deal with as the first African-American to play on a traditionally white team, and implores him not to fight back. Robinson defensively asks: "You are looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back?" to which Ricky replies that he is looking for a player with the "guts not to fight back." Fighting back in 1946, roughly a decade before the civil rights movement even began, could mean not only the end of Robinson's career, but possibly even the end of his life. This scene allows the audience to realize the severity of the danger in which Robinson experiences. Throughout the film, Robinson struggles to resist the urge to fight back in the face of hatred, resentment and prejudice. In every game crowds boo Robinson as he comes to plate. In a Dodgers game against Pittsburgh, even the Pittsburgh coach taunts Robinson from the dugout, as Robinson is about to hit. The coach's slew of racial slurs was, for me as an audience member, extremely uncomfortable to listen to. As history shows, however, by the end of the film, even the players most opposed to playing alongside Robinson come around, putting their teams before their prejudices. One of the most touching moments in the film is during a game against the Cincinnati Reds when Pee-Wee Herman, a player who, just days before, was worried about criticism from his family and friends at home for playing with a black man, stands on the field and puts his arm around Robinson, looking the crowd-and his family-right in the eyes. Jackie Robinson is a heroic legend in this day and age, known for breaking a precedent by initiating the desegregation of baseball-long before the civil rights movement even started. The film, however, considers more than his historic legacy, and attempts to make Robinson a more relatable character; the glorification of Robinson's career was not the focus of the film. Instead, Boseman's portrayal of Robinson expresses the very human emotions of fear, anger and resentment, making both his character more relatable and the film all the more moving. For someone who is not interested in baseball whatsoever, this film was unexpectedly enthralling. 42 tells a story not just about a man's journey through the minor and major leagues of American baseball in the 1940s, but of drastic societal change and the strength of one man to pioneer that change.
(05/20/13 4:00am)
Now that school is over and finals are a distant memory, we have time to relax, enjoy summer and catch a movie or two! These five movies look especially entertaining among the dozens of films that are slated for release. From adorable minions to a shady drug deal, there is something for everyone. So sit back, relax, grab an Icee and get ready for some laughs! 'The Hangover 3': May 24 At this point, The Hangover is a Hollywood icon-if you've seen the previous two films, this one is an obligatory finale to the drunken trilogy. My guess is that The Hangover 3 will continue in the same vein as the Las Vegas and Bangkok adventures, but director Todd Phillips has stated that the movie will be more of a finale. Not many details have been released, but rumors have circulated that the quartet will get into their usual antics in Tijuana, Mexico, possibly rescuing Alan from a mental hospital. The infamous Mr. Chow will also join the bunch. Though I don't have high expectations, The Hangover 3 makes the summer movie list-giving closure to a prominent film series. 'We're the Millers': Aug 9 Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber (Dodgeball), We're The Millers is lesser-known than other must-see movies of the summer, but the original comedy looks equally deserving. Jason Sudeikis stars as a small-time pot dealer who hires a fake family to help him transport marijuana from Mexico to Colorado undercover. Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts and Will Poulter form the perfect fake family, as their sketchy road trip becomes a comedic bonding experience. In addition to the great cast, We're The Millers appears promising and I'm looking forward to catching more of Aniston on the big screen after a hilarious performance in Horrible Bosses (also alongside Sudeikis). 'Despicable Me': July 3 My slight obsession with the adorable, pint-sized yellow minions automatically puts Despicable Me 2 at the top of my "To-See list" and I cannot wait to catch the latest installment of the animated film series. Villain-turned-hero Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) returns to save the world with his three adopted daughters in tow. Miranda Cosgrove voices the youngest girl, Agnes, and she gives the minions a run for their money in the cuteness contest, while the two elder girls Margo and Edith each have their own quirky personalities. Animated movies are perfect for beating the summer heat, and if the overwhelming Facebook presence of Despicable Me is any indicator, the minions will take the summer by storm. 'This Is the End': June 12 Let's face it: anything with Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Michael Cera, James Franco and Paul Rudd is bound to be hilariously epic. They are the Hollywood comedic dream team and their upcoming apocalyptic crisis movie This Is The End looks to be no exception. In the movie, the group of friends struggle to adapt after a global apocalypse leaves them struggling in Los Angeles. Adding to the excitement, sitcom super star Mindy Kaling will make an appearance, along with stand-up comedian Aziz Ansari, pop singer Rihanna and Emma Watson. Though the post-apocalyptic theme has already been heavily played out, the previous comedic genius of these actors surely indicates that This Is The End will be a great summer hit. 'After Earth': May 31 Remember that adorable little boy who joined Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness seven years ago? Jaden Smith once again joins his father, but this time in a very different movie. After the human race abandoned the planet and moved light years away, After Earth chronicles the perilous father-son journey across the dangerous terrain. In a struggle for survival, the pair rebuild a failing relationship-a classic action-meets-heartfelt theme. Ever since his first movie role, I've anticipated Jaden following in his father's footsteps and this movie is clearly a step in that direction. Will Smith, as seen in hits such as I Am Legend, perfectly puts out emotionally charged action movies and, therefore, After Earth should be a great start to the summer movie season.
(05/20/13 4:00am)
I've always been a five-year-plan kind of girl. In high school, I had my path to college all planned out by the end of my freshman year. I knew exactly which colleges I was going to apply to and what extracurricular activities I was going to do to get myself accepted into them. When I got to Brandeis, I felt less sure of what the end goal would be. Yet my sophomore year when I decided what my major would be, I still sat down with a friend of mine who was a Roosevelt Fellow and planned out the rest of my time at Brandeis, down to which classes I would take my second semester of senior year. By the end of my sophomore year, I already knew what my thesis topic was going to be and how, when, and where I was going to carry out the fieldwork for it. For all of my obsessive planning however, I never was able to figure out just what it was I wanted to do once I graduated from Brandeis. I also never thought that I would ever get to the day of my commencement without a job already secured, a place to live and a little cushion in my bank account. Yet, on Sunday I graduated from Brandeis without any plan at all. All I know is that I will pack up my room and go back to New York with my parents. I will spend the next four weeks relaxing and visiting friends before I head off to Israel for the summer. My return from Israel, however, is blank-a question mark. I am terrified. And also angry with myself for not having planned better, thought harder and worked more to secure something, anything for myself to do next year. I am worried about tight funds, especially because I do not know when I will be able to secure any employment again, even if just a job at a caf?(c). Most of all I am worried about having to move back in with my parents after a gap year and four years of college living totally independently of them. Despite all these worries, which do not cease to grow and multiply, when I laid down to sleep on Sunday night after officially joining the ranks of Brandeis alumni, I had a strangely uncharacteristic thought. It occurred to me that without any particular obligations for the coming year of where I have to be or when, I can literally do anything that I want. Normally when I make my five-year plan, I do so by placing myself in "the box." I choose paths that correspond to my strengths, and I never choose an end goal that I do not think I can achieve, or that I am not entirely sure about. Ultimately, all of my plans have fed into the notion I have that I should go to college, do exceptionally well, graduate and start my career, and later get married and start a family. As I am standing on the edge of the cliff that is the "real world," I am realizing that now is perhaps the best time I will ever have to throw all my plans to the wind and simply follow my whims. Perhaps by placing myself in "the box" all these years, I have sold myself short of the full range of my capabilities. This is not to say that I haven't done exceptionally well at Brandeis, because I have, and I am extremely proud of my accomplishments. I have, however, only made accomplishments in a very limited field. I have excelled in anthropology, but I have neglected to pursue other interests and to nourish my creative mind. I have always believed that I "can't" do art, music, dance or martial arts because I am simply not talented enough for these things. Yet in my time at Brandeis, I did not branch out beyond the obligatory distribution requirements to give myself the opportunity to even try these things. On Sunday night when it occurred to me that I can do anything I want, it also occurred to me that I am afraid of the coming year precisely because I have been placing myself in "the box" all this time. Since I don't have a fantastic job that will launch me into a steady and fulfilling career, I am suddenly sitting on the outside of this perfect little "box" with no real way to get back in, nor with any idea how I might get back in. It's unnerving to be locked out of this ideal, but it's also the greatest blessing I could possibly have. With no obligations for the coming year, I can literally choose any interest, any activity that occurs to me on a whim and do it, even if it means that I have to support myself doing a job I didn't need to go to college to do. It's time to break out of "the box" and explore everything else that I am capable of. *
(05/20/13 4:00am)
I've always been a five-year-plan kind of girl. In high school, I had my path to college all planned out by the end of my freshman year. I knew exactly which colleges I was going to apply to and what extracurricular activities I was going to do to get myself accepted into them. When I got to Brandeis, I felt less sure of what the end goal would be. Yet my sophomore year when I decided what my major would be, I still sat down with a friend of mine who was a Roosevelt Fellow and planned out the rest of my time at Brandeis, down to which classes I would take my second semester of senior year. By the end of my sophomore year, I already knew what my thesis topic was going to be and how, when, and where I was going to carry out the fieldwork for it. For all of my obsessive planning however, I never was able to figure out just what it was I wanted to do once I graduated from Brandeis. I also never thought that I would ever get to the day of my commencement without a job already secured, a place to live and a little cushion in my bank account. Yet, on Sunday I graduated from Brandeis without any plan at all. All I know is that I will pack up my room and go back to New York with my parents. I will spend the next four weeks relaxing and visiting friends before I head off to Israel for the summer. My return from Israel, however, is blank-a question mark. I am terrified. And also angry with myself for not having planned better, thought harder and worked more to secure something, anything for myself to do next year. I am worried about tight funds, especially because I do not know when I will be able to secure any employment again, even if just a job at a caf?(c). Most of all I am worried about having to move back in with my parents after a gap year and four years of college living totally independently of them. Despite all these worries, which do not cease to grow and multiply, when I laid down to sleep on Sunday night after officially joining the ranks of Brandeis alumni, I had a strangely uncharacteristic thought. It occurred to me that without any particular obligations for the coming year of where I have to be or when, I can literally do anything that I want. Normally when I make my five-year plan, I do so by placing myself in "the box." I choose paths that correspond to my strengths, and I never choose an end goal that I do not think I can achieve, or that I am not entirely sure about. Ultimately, all of my plans have fed into the notion I have that I should go to college, do exceptionally well, graduate and start my career, and later get married and start a family. As I am standing on the edge of the cliff that is the "real world," I am realizing that now is perhaps the best time I will ever have to throw all my plans to the wind and simply follow my whims. Perhaps by placing myself in "the box" all these years, I have sold myself short of the full range of my capabilities. This is not to say that I haven't done exceptionally well at Brandeis, because I have, and I am extremely proud of my accomplishments. I have, however, only made accomplishments in a very limited field. I have excelled in anthropology, but I have neglected to pursue other interests and to nourish my creative mind. I have always believed that I "can't" do art, music, dance or martial arts because I am simply not talented enough for these things. Yet in my time at Brandeis, I did not branch out beyond the obligatory distribution requirements to give myself the opportunity to even try these things. On Sunday night when it occurred to me that I can do anything I want, it also occurred to me that I am afraid of the coming year precisely because I have been placing myself in "the box" all this time. Since I don't have a fantastic job that will launch me into a steady and fulfilling career, I am suddenly sitting on the outside of this perfect little "box" with no real way to get back in, nor with any idea how I might get back in. It's unnerving to be locked out of this ideal, but it's also the greatest blessing I could possibly have. With no obligations for the coming year, I can literally choose any interest, any activity that occurs to me on a whim and do it, even if it means that I have to support myself doing a job I didn't need to go to college to do. It's time to break out of "the box" and explore everything else that I am capable of. *
(05/20/13 4:00am)
I've always been a five-year-plan kind of girl. In high school, I had my path to college all planned out by the end of my freshman year. I knew exactly which colleges I was going to apply to and what extracurricular activities I was going to do to get myself accepted into them. When I got to Brandeis, I felt less sure of what the end goal would be. Yet my sophomore year when I decided what my major would be, I still sat down with a friend of mine who was a Roosevelt Fellow and planned out the rest of my time at Brandeis, down to which classes I would take my second semester of senior year. By the end of my sophomore year, I already knew what my thesis topic was going to be and how, when, and where I was going to carry out the fieldwork for it. For all of my obsessive planning however, I never was able to figure out just what it was I wanted to do once I graduated from Brandeis. I also never thought that I would ever get to the day of my commencement without a job already secured, a place to live and a little cushion in my bank account. Yet, on Sunday I graduated from Brandeis without any plan at all. All I know is that I will pack up my room and go back to New York with my parents. I will spend the next four weeks relaxing and visiting friends before I head off to Israel for the summer. My return from Israel, however, is blank-a question mark. I am terrified. And also angry with myself for not having planned better, thought harder and worked more to secure something, anything for myself to do next year. I am worried about tight funds, especially because I do not know when I will be able to secure any employment again, even if just a job at a caf?(c). Most of all I am worried about having to move back in with my parents after a gap year and four years of college living totally independently of them. Despite all these worries, which do not cease to grow and multiply, when I laid down to sleep on Sunday night after officially joining the ranks of Brandeis alumni, I had a strangely uncharacteristic thought. It occurred to me that without any particular obligations for the coming year of where I have to be or when, I can literally do anything that I want. Normally when I make my five-year plan, I do so by placing myself in "the box." I choose paths that correspond to my strengths, and I never choose an end goal that I do not think I can achieve, or that I am not entirely sure about. Ultimately, all of my plans have fed into the notion I have that I should go to college, do exceptionally well, graduate and start my career, and later get married and start a family. As I am standing on the edge of the cliff that is the "real world," I am realizing that now is perhaps the best time I will ever have to throw all my plans to the wind and simply follow my whims. Perhaps by placing myself in "the box" all these years, I have sold myself short of the full range of my capabilities. This is not to say that I haven't done exceptionally well at Brandeis, because I have, and I am extremely proud of my accomplishments. I have, however, only made accomplishments in a very limited field. I have excelled in anthropology, but I have neglected to pursue other interests and to nourish my creative mind. I have always believed that I "can't" do art, music, dance or martial arts because I am simply not talented enough for these things. Yet in my time at Brandeis, I did not branch out beyond the obligatory distribution requirements to give myself the opportunity to even try these things. On Sunday night when it occurred to me that I can do anything I want, it also occurred to me that I am afraid of the coming year precisely because I have been placing myself in "the box" all this time. Since I don't have a fantastic job that will launch me into a steady and fulfilling career, I am suddenly sitting on the outside of this perfect little "box" with no real way to get back in, nor with any idea how I might get back in. It's unnerving to be locked out of this ideal, but it's also the greatest blessing I could possibly have. With no obligations for the coming year, I can literally choose any interest, any activity that occurs to me on a whim and do it, even if it means that I have to support myself doing a job I didn't need to go to college to do. It's time to break out of "the box" and explore everything else that I am capable of. *
(05/20/13 4:00am)
Rabbi David Pardo and his wife Ariel Pardo will be joining Brandeis as co-directors of the Orthodox Union's Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus this August, according to an email announcement from Executive Director of Hillel at Brandeis Larry Sternberg to members of the Hillel community. According to its website, JLIC aims to provide advising and counsel to Orthodox Jewish students attending secular universities by placing Rabbinic couples on campuses to serve as mentors. Currently, JLIC serves 15 colleges and universities, including Brandeis. The Pardos, who both attended the University of California at Los Angeles as undergraduates, were student leaders at the JLIC program there, they said in an interview with the Justice. David said he felt "excited" and "really fortunate" to come to Brandeis. According to Sternberg's announcement, David received his semikhah, or rabbinical ordination, from Yeshiva University and was also educated at the Isralight Institute and Yeshiva University's Center for the Jewish Future. He has done community work in several cities, most recently in Toronto, where he is the director of education and community engagement at The House, a center which provides "inspiring and relevant Jewish education" according to its website. After UCLA, Ariel attended the Nishmat's Alisa Flatow program, which "offers a unique opportunity" for women to "study Jewish texts in a warm and intellectually stimulating environment," and later received a certificate from Machon Puah's Women's Health Training. According to Sternberg in an interview with the Justice, the process of selecting a rabbinic couple began when the Orthodox Union suggested rabbinic couples, whom he then interviewed. Later four of the couples were brought to campus to meet with more members of the Jewish community. "It was a long two days. We interviewed almost everybody on campus, and their mother," joked David when he was asked about the interview process. When asked why the Pardos were selected, Sternberg answered that the couple exhibited strong interpersonal skills and an ability to relate to the Brandeis community and individuals. In addition, he said that they will be able to relate to all students, not just Orthodox Jewish students. "One of the beauties of having a couple who are different from one another a bit ... with different background and exposures is that they will invariably have a greater impact than just on Orthodox community," said Sternberg. As co-directors of JLIC, David said that he and Ariel would want to help the community "foster an incredible Jewish experience" during their time at Brandeis. "That includes learning and social events and everything in between," said Ariel. She went on to explain they will have to become more familiar with the Brandeis community before they make any specific plans, but would like to try ideas that were successful at UCLA. The couple will be succeeding Rabbi Eliot and Toby Kaplowitz, who announced last December that they would be leaving Brandeis at the end of this academic year to pursue other opportunities.
(05/19/13 4:00am)
Held at Bentley University, the first meet of the New Balance Twilight Meet Series serves as an opportunity for local track and field athletes to test themselves against elite competition. For a select few Judges, mainly those of the squad's middle-distance and distance crews, the meet yielded top performances. "There were some disappointments for some but really awesome races for others, but I have to say I'm still really amped about how my race went," said Amelia Lundkvist '14, who finished eighth in the women's 1500-meter run in four minutes, 35.92 seconds. "I honestly surprised myself and still can't really believe I ran that fast." While some collegiate meets give the Judges the chance to compete against top talent, there are few whose caliber match the aforementioned Twilight Series. Many local athletes who train with prestigious training groups like the Greater Boston Track Club and the Boston Athletic Association attend these meets. The winning performances on both the men's and women's side are usually close to those seen in events at NCAA Division I meets, as opposed to the Division III competition that the Judges usually face. The women's 1500-meter was a fast race that could have proved challenging to collegiate competitors, but the Judges fared well. In addition to Lundkvist's eighth-place effort, Victoria Sanford '14 came in 16th in that event, running the distance in 4:45.66, just a little bit less than 10 seconds behind her training partner and teammate, as the duo, who headlined most of the Judges' middle-distance performances, finished strong. On the men's side, the 1500-meter run yielded a couple of top times from Brandeis athletes. In that race, Mik Kern '13 finished 13th in 3:54.26. He was a few seconds ahead of University Athletic Association champion Alex Kramer '13, who took 26th in 3:58.50. The previous weekend, from May 3 to May 4, the Judges competed at the New England Division III Track and Field Championships held at Colby College. In that meet, Lundkvist and Sanford also competed in the 1500. Lundkvist led the way for the Judges, finishing ninth in 4:37.51. Sanford took 15th in that race, completing the three-and-three-quarter event in 4:45.56. Similar to the aforementioned female pair, Kramer and Kern also took part in the 1500. That time, Kramer led the way in the battle between the duo, as he took seventh in 3:52.73. Kern wasn't far behind, however, as he placed 13th, crossing the line in 3:56.80. While middle distance has proven to be the Judges' forte in previous years-standout Chris Brown '12 placed fourth in the 1500 at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships-the Judges qualified two competitors for the 5000-meter race in the aforementioned New England Division III Championships. After breaking 15 minutes in the 5000 the weekend before at the UAA Championships, Ed Colvin '14 took 10th in 15:11.92. Jarret Harrigan '15 joined Colvin in the 5000, and managed to break five-minute-mile pace, finishing the race in 15:26.93. Friday's Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships saw a few Judges have one final opportunity to compete. Kramer took sixth in the 1500, finishing in 3:53.78. Kern placed 27th, timing in at 4:03.71. Lundkvist and Sanford also competed well, placing 13th and 23rd with times of 4:39.87 and 4:44.80, respectively. Though the Judges will say goodbye to Kramer and Kern, as well as Erin Bisceglia '12 MA '13, the prospects for the middle-distance and distance squads look strong on both sides. Colvin, who battled injury throughout the year, will look to return healthy. Harrigan took large proverbial strides this year, and he has the potential to be a top runner next year. Taylor Dundas '14 hopes to rebound from an Achilles' tendon injury in time for the fall. Grady Ward '16 improved a great deal during the track campaigns, which should set him up for next year's cross-country season. On the women's side, Lundkvist and Sanford have made massive improvements in the past two seasons, which they will attempt to carry over into the fall. The return of Kelsey Whitaker '16, who barely missed qualifying for the women's 800-meter final during this year's UAA Championships, as well as the return of Maggie Hensel '16, Rachel Keller '16, Molly Paris '16 and Nora Owens '16, bodes well for the future. After a short time off, the Judges will begin preparation for the fall season. Based on how they performed in the last couple of races of this season, it is very possible that they will further improve in time for the fall.
(04/30/13 4:00am)
"Look! Quick!" One of my friends pawed at my face to turn my head toward the door of Sherman Function Hall, where we were seated, waiting for Starving Artists' 14th-annual collective show, "A Cappella Fest," to begin. Laughing, my friend pointed at Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel dancing through the doorway in time with the Top-40 Spotify station that had been blasting throughout the venue to pump up the audience. I could tell that this was going to be a good show. To kick off the Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts on a happy note last Thursday evening, "A Cappella Fest" assembled Brandeis' large collection of a cappella groups to showcase the impressive cache of vocal talent on campus. All 13 campus a cappella groups were present, as well as a guest group from Lexington High School. Funds raised by ticket sales for the show went to benefit a local charity, the Greater Waltham Arc, which works to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities and their families. Starving Artists' members Ellyn Getz '13 and Abby Armstrong '13 emceed the show, which was largely inspired by the theme of this year's Festival of the Arts, "Imagine the Impossible." Groups took their creative cues from iconic pop culture fixtures that are associated with imagination-ranging from John Lennon's song "Imagine" to films like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The show opened with a massive performance in which all 13 groups took to the stage and performed Lennon's "Imagine" together. Coordinating all of the harmonies, timing and solos performed during this number with such a large group was a feat in itself, but the performance was commendable-the multivalent melodies were smooth and pleasant. After the collective performance, the groups dispersed toward the back of the room, and each group took to the stage individually, performing two or three of their favorite or most well-known songs, with some groups even making debuts of new songs. Getz and Armstrong introduced each group with a fun fact about that group's history, a member of the group or their performance. Starving Artists kicked off the group performances, its members dressed in a bold red, all smiling and clearly excited for the show to come. Their first song was a stunningly resonant rendition of Neon Trees' hit "Animal," which has been a popular Top 40 radio favorite. Starving Artists set a precedent for the rest of the groups, who, continually, put complex and harmonic twists on pop songs that we are all used to hearing performed in their original auto-tuned glory. Company B, Brandeis' coed classic hits a cappella group, made a world premiere of "Don't Stop Thinkin' About Tomorrow" for the occasion, for which Sarah Brodsky '15 delivered an outstanding solo performance. The group added in some subtle choreography that made the performance all the more cheery, and Brodsky's adorable air-guitar dance moves got the audience laughing and smiling in a few seconds. The group announced that their 30th founding anniversary will be next year, but they won't stop thinking about tomorrow anytime soon. A personal favorite performance of mine was delivered by Rather Be Giraffes, who excitedly took the stage, all wearing black shirts with a rainbow variation of neckties. Getz and Armstrong introduced the group's performance of Florence + The Machine's "Shake It Out" with a hilarious story about how the song's soloist, Ryan Mulvihill-Pretak '16, accidentally auditioned for the group thinking that he was joining a giraffe appreciation club. Another of my favorite performances came from Too Cheap For Instruments, an all-female group who wore black tops and color-coordinated sashes around their hips and flaunted beautiful, and obviously rigorously rehearsed, harmony parts. Abbie Goldberg '16 sang a solo part while the rest of the group joyously stomped their feet together to Mumford & Sons' "Roll Away Your Stone." The ladies then showcased their flawless harmonic coordination to an ethereal performance of Imogen Heap's airy "Hide and Seek," their intonations following hand directions from Deena Horowitz '13. Overall, "A Cappella Fest" provided an upbeat, dynamic event that was a perfect evening performance for students and families. While each of Brandeis' 13 a cappella groups holds various performances of their own throughout the school year, seeing all of the groups together in one room, singing with light hearts and smiling faces, was a powerful and happy moment. *
(04/30/13 4:00am)
On Saturday night, the Brandeis-Wellesley Orchestra, conducted by Prof. Neal Hampton (MUS), performed the first of its two semester concerts in Slosberg Music Center's Recital Hall. Both as the culmination of a semester's worth of work, and also as one of the many events of the Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts this weekend at Brandeis, the concert was an impressive show of collaborative effort, expertise and artistry.
(04/29/13 4:00am)
"Louder, louder!" Though it was only 9 a.m. and the majority of the class was not completely awake, Prof. Hiroko Sekino (GRALL) energetically initiated conversations in Japanese with her students, geared up to begin her final week at the University. Japanese students know Sekino as a colorful character. One student described her as "straight out of a comic book." Another described her coursework as "intense." At the end of this semester, her career as a Japanese instructor, spanning almost a quarter of a century at Brandeis, will come to an end. "It does not feel like this is actually my last week. I am busy as usual and can't imagine what it will be like when I am finally done with this," said Sekino in an interview with the Justice. Japanese is one of the few language programs at Brandeis that holds class five days a week. Sekino puts emphasis on the basics because she believes they go a long way when students are pursuing upper level classes. Sekino came to the U.S. in the 1970s to study abroad at Boston University. "I was frazzled by the student activism in Japan at that time ... I felt I wanted to do something outside of Japan," she said in an interview with the Justice. It was a big and difficult decision to move to the U.S, but she had no idea that this would become a turning point in her life. After studying at BU for two years, she became a Japanese teaching assistant at Harvard University. She felt like she had found something that she could be passionate about. "I had a memorable mentor and amazing students ... It was an eye-opening change. It made me realize how fascinating and fun it was to teach Japanese," she said. In 1988, she learned that Brandeis was looking for a Japanese instructor and wanted to give it a try. That summer, with one other Japanese instructor, Sekino initiated what would become the Japanese language program at Brandeis. "When I started here, Japanese was part of the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. We basically started from scratch," she said. Initially ,the language department was limited and higher-level courses had to be taken elsewhere. Sekino explained that building the program was new terrain and that she learned as she went. "Because I was a novice, I was trying to learn every year," Sekino said. She recalled it had been difficult to offer students more extensive courses on Japan. "It was very regrettable that we couldn't offer more courses to students who wanted to learn more," she said. The Japanese language program was later extended to six semesters when it became part of the Department of German, Russian, and East Asian Languages and Literature in 2002. With the expertise of Prof. Matthew Fraleigh (GRALL) who joined the department in 2006, students are now able to take more integrated Japan-related courses that Brandeis offers, including contemporary Japanese history, literature and film courses. In Sekino's 24 years of teaching at Brandeis, she has watched the department grow and evolve. She has seen the Japanese language student demographics change over time. "When the Japanese economy was prosperous, there were many global economy graduate students taking Japanese," she said. "For these [past] 10 years, more and more students are learning Japanese because of Japan's popular culture, like manga, anime and music." Sekino explained that although Japanese is a difficult language to learn, she consistently found her students to be up to the task. "What I like about teaching at Brandeis is that students here are really dedicated and hardworking," she said. "Japanese is not an easy language, but I always find my students are tough and motivated enough to get through it." Prof. Yukimi Nakano (GRALL), a colleague of Sekino, said Sekino was always there for her students. "She is always willing to meet students after class and lend an ear to her students," she said. "She has also planned so many Japanese-related fun events and activities to make sure her students enjoy learning Japanese." Esther Cho '14 remembers her first year taking Japanese as a worthy challenge. "We were pretty much guaranteed a quiz a week," she said. Though Cho admits that the first-year Japanese class was demanding, she said she must give credit to Sekino for providing a smooth transition to upper level Japanese courses. "Sekino-sensei is very thorough when it comes to making sure her students have a strong foundation for subsequent years of Japanese language study," Cho said. Sekino has developed special connections with many of her former students. "Some of them even write me New Year's cards! I teach Japanese, but more than that I have learned so much from my students," she said. Sekino has always strived to instill in her students a global and cultural perspective that can be useful beyond Brandeis. "I don't just teach a language, but I teach Japanese culture as well. Teaching a language means teaching a culture. Understanding a language is one of the cornerstones for mutual understanding and I believe that will lead to a more peaceful world," she said.
(04/23/13 4:00am)
Jamie Bernstein has vivid memories of tagging along with her father, Leonard Bernstein, to his Young People's Concerts, at which he would conduct the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and explain various musical topics to his audience. She and her brother Alexander would run through Philharmonic Hall, unsupervised, while her father ran through dress rehearsals, camera rehearsals and script meetings before filming the concert for the public, which was then broadcast on CBS. Bernstein was born and raised in New York City, the eldest of three children to Felicia Cohn Montealegre and Leonard Bernstein. She has fond memories from her childhood and the early days of her parents' marriage. "The house was always full of people. Our mother Felicia Cohn Montealegre, who came from South America-she had a wonderful sense of style and a sense of warmth with people, and so she made our house such an attractive, comfortable, lovely place to hang out and every- body always came to our house and there were so many people among our parents' friends," she said. Among those friends were musicians, artists and writers who filled their house with music, singing and games. The adults that surrounded Bernstein's environment when she was a child made Bernstein believe that "all grown-ups did was have fun-we couldn't wait to be grown-ups," she said. Aside from keeping her father company during the Young People's Concerts, she also enjoyed going on tour with him to places in Europe, Israel and the United States. Narrating concerts entails speaking about either the composer, music or elements of the music performed by an orchestra. Hearing her father narrate and put together the Young People's Concerts would help Bernstein later in life, more than she could know at the time. About 15 years ago, her family created a concert similar to the ones Leonard Bernstein developed. This concert, however, would focus on Jamie's father's music instead of the other composers her father's program focused on. "I volunteered to write [the concert] myself because I thought it was such a great idea, but I'd never done anything like that in my life. But I sure had been to a lot of them...so I felt like that maybe by the process of osmosis I would be able to figure out how to write one," she said. Because she was not trained to play any instruments, Bernstein joined forces with Michael Barrett, Leonard Bernstein's assistant conductor, to write the script, develop the concert and introduce what they called "The Bernstein Beat" to the world. She has hosted and narrated the concert in places like China, Venezuela, Spain and Cuba. Bernstein continued narrating concerts about various topics, mostly about her father but also about Aaron Copland, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Igor Stravinsky. First, she researches the topic, then writes the script and then sets out on the road to perform the concert. "[The job] covers all the things I like to do. I love to find out more about a topic I didn't know about be- fore-that's the research part-and I love writing ... so there's that. And I love performing-getting up and sharing what I've learned and my own excitement about my topic to an audience, preferably a young one," she said. As she narrates concerts and listens to the various orchestras play her father's music, she feels a connection to her father. "I feel happy that I found a way to share him with the rest of the world, which is a nice way to give back to him, thank him in a way for everything he gave to me in the course of his life. When I sit on the corner of the stage while they're playing my dad's music and I'm in the middle of a concert about him, I always have this great feeling that I'm sort of giving him acknowledgement or giving him a hug back," she said. Leonard Bernstein, who was a visiting Music professor at Brandeis from 1951 to 1956, founded the Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Arts. Jamie will be hosting one of the events, "Late Night with Leonard Bernstein" this year on Friday, April 26 at 8 p.m. in the Slosberg Music Center. The event, which she describes as "a little tour inside my father's brain," will consist of pieces he might have written late at night, while he could not fall asleep. She explained that her father would write smaller pieces that would sometimes be developed into longer and more complex pieces of music later on. Bernstein described her father as an "insomniac" and as someone who "had this power motor that he could not shut off. His engine just kept going and going all the time. That was part of why he couldn't sleep at night. So instead, he would be up all night long by himself and would be composing ... or he would be up all night partying with his friends, roaring around the piano," she said. "You get a sense of an 'inner' person and an 'outer' person. There's a combination of the interior compositions and also the sorts of pieces he liked to entertain his friends with, not by him necessarily," she said. Besides the festival, Bernstein has several other developing projects in the coming weeks and months. She will travel to Venezuela in May to start putting together a concert in Spanish to introduce Aaron Copland's music to young audiences there. In the summer, she will narrate a concert of her father's music in Los Angeles, and then begin researching topics for next year's concerts. "[My father] himself taught at Brandeis, so he'd be thrilled to know that everything was coming around full circle," she said.
(04/22/13 4:00am)
The men's and women's track and field teams were all over the map this past weekend. While the majority of runners competed at the Fitchburg State Invitational at Fitchburg State University Saturday, a contingent of four distance runners made their way to Princeton University to compete in the prestigious Larry Ellis Invitational Friday. Alex Kramer '13 headlined the Judges' performance at the Ellis Invite. The senior finished 36th out of 60 competitors in the Elite section of the men's 1,500-meter run, going the distance in three minutes, 52.92 seconds, besting competitors from notable Division I programs such as Brown University, Syracuse University, Georgetown University and Iona College. "Competing at night, when the temperature is nice and being in a line with a bunch of the best guys in the country is really exciting," Kramer said. "When you run against better competition, you're going to run faster, so it was a great experience." Mik Kern '13 competed in the second section of the 1500, placing 18th out of 54 competitors with a time of 3:59.95. On the women's side, Amelia Lundkvist '14 and Victoria Sanford '14, as they have done all season, pulled together back-to-back finishes in the 1,500. Lundkvist placed 21st out of 46 competitors in the event, crossing the line in 4:43.48. Sanford was right behind her teammate in 22nd, finishing less than a second back in 4:43.84. The Fitchburg meet also yielded some impressive performances. Ed Colvin '14 took fourth out of 42 competitors in the 1,500, clocking in at 4:07.13. Jarret Harrigan '15 wasn't too far behind, taking 10th in 4:13.78. In the women's event, Maggie Hensel '16 placed 10th, finishing in 5:04.13. She was followed by Nora Owens '16, who finished 13th in 5:18.23, and Rachel Keller '16, who finished 16th in 5:24.69. Michael Rosenbach '15 led the charge in the men's 800-meter run, taking seventh in 2:00.97. Grady Ward '16 placed ninth in 2:01.96. Greg Bray '15 and Mohamed Sidique '15 placed 11th and 20th, respectively, timing in at 2:02.47 and 2:07.05. Kelsey Whitaker '16 took seventh in the women's 800, crossing the line in seventh in 2:24.24, while Gabriella Guillette '15 took 25th in 2:45.52. The men's 100-meter dash featured a quartet of Brandeis runners. Jacob Wilhoite '15 took 27th in 12.11 seconds. Galen Karlan-Mason '16 placed 31st in 12.21. Kensai Hughes finished 34th in 12.32, while Chi Tai '16 rounded out the field, finishing 41st in 12.64. Tove Freeman '16 was the Judges' lone competitor in the women's 100, taking 27th in 14.53 seconds. Casey McGown '13 was the other female sprinter for the Judges, taking sixth in the 400-meter dash, timing in at 1:02.14. The Judges featured several other competitors as well. Brandon Odze '16 took 14th in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:07.49. Adam Berger '15 placed third in the triple jump with a jump of 12.62 meters and took 15th in the men's long jump with a jump 5.80 meters. Hudges placed 18th in 5.68 meters. Wilhoite took ninth in the javelin, throwing 46.48 meters, just ahead of Jonathan Gilman '15, who took 13th in 42.94 meters. As the University Athletic Association Championships approach this weekend, where athletes who competed in both meets will join together, Kramer is optimistic that the teams-and particularly the distance contingent-have been making steady progress and are reaching their peak levels. "We did a big block of training right after the indoor season ended," he said. "Our mileage was pretty high, and we did a lot of long workouts focused on building strength. In the next few weeks, we'll be doing more pace-focused stuff and tuning up rather than get significantly fitter. We'll freshen up; the mileage will come down a bit." Following a week of training, the Judges will travel to New York University for the UAA Championships this Friday and Saturday, and given that Kramer and Kern hold the UAA's top two seed times in the 1,500, he's confident that they will perform well. "I'm honestly more worried about Mik than I am about anyone else," Kramer joked.
(04/22/13 4:00am)
Today, LauraBen Moore '14 is an All-American. She is the public relations officer for the Brandeis women's rugby football club and a regular player on Beantown, Boston's Women's Premier League rugby team. Yet, less than two years ago, Moore was none of those things. She was new-at Brandeis and at rugby. She was a kid who had a bold prediction: "We're going to win this game." As far as guarantees go, that promise before Moore's first collegiate game was as ambitious as they come. Heading into the fall 2011 season, the Brandeis team had grown accustomed to losing. The squad had gone so long without winning that not a single team member at that time had ever tasted victory. Moore decided it was time for a change. "She said 'We are going to win this game,' and everyone said 'Ok, that's cute,'" coach Matt Cameron said. In fact, they won handily, beating Framingham State University 27-5. "First thing she said when she walked off the field was 'I told you so,'" Cameron added. Nineteen months later, the team has kept the winning tradition alive. After winning games in Division IV, Brandeis moved up to Division III this fall and qualified for the playoffs. Next season, the squad will be compete in Division II. "The team as a whole is growing incredibly, and it's a really exciting time to be a part of it," Moore said. Additionally, Moore has begun to accumulate individual accolades. She joined Beantown last semester and began making regular appearances in the past few weeks. What happened next was even more impressive. Of the tens of thousands of women who play rugby in America, only 160 were chosen to attend one of four prestigious USA Rugby camps last month. Out of that pool, 38 were selected for the AIG Women's Junior All-American team. Last week, Moore learned that she was one of the few that made the cut. When that team is narrowed down to an active 26-person roster at a camp in Chula Vista, Cal., she'll have the chance to be in the Nations Cup, a U-20 tournament that will take place in Nottingham, England in July. "She's a very special person and a very special athlete," Cameron said of his decision to nominate Moore. "She's made rugby her priority." Not that long ago, rugby was the last thing on Moore's mind. After transferring from the University of West Georgia, she arrived at Brandeis as a sophomore. She decided to take up studies in anthropology and sculpture, and soon, began looking for a place to fit in. "I came in as a transfer and I really just needed to make some friends," Moore said. "I hadn't played a sport in a little while, so I thought I'd try something new. I'd never played rugby before, never touched a rugby ball, never even seen a game." As Cameron stated, the sky is the limit for his star athlete. "Nothing would surprise me with the height of rugby that she could get to," he said. Even the Olympics or the World Cup, "she has the drive to get there."
(04/16/13 4:00am)
Last Thursday night in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, 26 of the most attractive male Brandeisians strutted the catwalk, performed their talents and answered on-the-spot questions in the first-ever Mr. Brandeis Pageant. All proceeds from the event went to Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society. The turnout was huge-the crowd filled most of the Gosman bleachers. The event started off with all the contestants in a choreographed dance to The Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men," a move of pure genius on somebody's part. The contestants sported black shorts, button-down white shirts and ties-a comical combination of apparel that was both classy and sexy. The laughter, cheering and general noise from the onlookers was able to compete with the music, quite an impressive feat. After the opening number, the judges were introduced. The panel consisted of two Brandeis students, Clayton Campbell '13 and Mohamed Sidique '14; Brandeis alumna Amanda Kelly '08, named Miss Massachusetts in 2009; and the infamous Stephanie Grimes, director of Student Activities. The judges awarded each contestant a certain number of the 25 points for each event. Students could also participate in the decision by donating money to their favorite contestants. Each dollar donated to a contestant awarded him one point. The swimwear contest, probably the most anticipated event, came next. Each contestant walked out to the song of his choice while the two hosts read the contestant's statement about why he is involved with Relay for Life. However, the music and cheering were so loud that hosts were barely audible. Contestants accessorized with shower caps, boogie boards, turtle floatees and one contestant even came out playing a guitar. The formal wear came next, which gave the contestants an opportunity to strut their stuff in classy outfits. Some contestants got very creative with their suits and ties. David Alpert '16 walked out shirtless in a blazer and a bowtie and dropped his pants in the middle of the runway to revel, in a strictly PG-13 manner, his shorts underneath. While the contestants walked, the hosts announced the on-campus clubs in which they were involved, as well as some of their hobbies. After the two catwalk contests, it was time for the audience to vote. The event took a quick intermission so that the audience could donate to their favorite contestants. After the intermission, the final 10 contestants were announced. Only the final 10 could go on to perform their talents. Next came the talent portion. Some of the more memorable talents were Fred Berger '15 making a sandwich with his feet; Dillon Morris '14 playing the "Four Chords Song" on his guitar; and Yoni Sebag '13 making a chocolate cake while wearing a frilly pink apron. After the talent portion, there was another short intermission during which members of the audience could again vote for their favorite contestants by donating to their Relay fund. The contestants were narrowed down to five: Berger, Gustavo Lopes '15, Makalani Mack '16, Pat Seaward '13 and Sebag. These last five contestants then competed in possibly the most difficult challenge of all-answering on-the-spot questions. Some of the questions were about Relay for Life, such as: "How would you convince someone to join your Relay for Life team?" And, "If you could start a Relay for Life initiative, what would it be?" Other questions were comical such as: "Which Disney princess would you date?" Or, "If you could be any building on campus, what would it be?" At a particularly touching moment, Mack answered the question: "Define endless love" by pointing to his girlfriend in the audience. After another break to donate money to contestants, the winners were announced. Sebag won Mr. Congeniality and Seward was crowned pageant king. After the pageant, there was a live date auction in which all the contestants were raffled off. There were some interesting back-and-forth fights for contestants. Two female members of the audience engaged in a fight over Mack that was so intense it must have been planned and culminated only when the two bidders started counting up pennies. A coordinator of the event who would like to remain unnamed told me that they hope this will be an annual event to fund cancer prevention but with a couple changes, such as having the event in the Carl J. Shapiro Theater and planning performances during the small intermissions. The event was hilarious and extremely entertaining. The contestants were really good sports about all of the events, however embarrassing, and even seemed to be having a great time. I personally hope it will become a lasting Brandeis tradition.
(04/16/13 4:00am)
Congress is broken. It has become helplessly polarized, wallowing in partisan gridlock, virtually incapable of getting anything done. Or is it? Signs of productivity are beginning to show in the 113th Congress. The Senate has passed a budget for the first time in three years, and with a competing one being produced by the Obama Administration, the stage is set for a robust debate over the financial future of America. Further evidence of life is the recent bipartisan gun control plan from Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Pat Toomey (R-PA). Influential Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer (NY) has also agreed to support the plan, which will expand background checks to better prevent criminals and the mentally ill from acquiring firearms. But this is just one of many compromises that will need to take place if Congress is really going to start working again and get back to its true business: solving the problems of America. At the vanguard of such efforts is an organization Senator Manchin was recently named the honorary co-chair of: No Labels. Formed in 2010 by a coalition of Republicans, Democrats and Independents, No Labels seeks to bring together the millions of Americans who have lost faith in Congress to produce substantial, structural changes. I believe a major cause of this loss of faith is the lack of productivity from Congress. That in turn, I think, is caused by fear of many members of Congress to compromise with members of the opposing party because extremist factions in both parties are currently the most vocal groups. They intimidate members of Congress into toeing a strict party line lest they lose the support and financing of these unbending wings. This gets reduced into a political stalemate and no meaningful policy changes. This is where No Labels comes in: to change the conversation and show our representatives that reasonable Americans are the true majority in this nation. This will reassure our leaders that compromise and quality legislation are the best ways to public support and re-election. As a testament to the power of organizing this majority, this past February, No Labels had its first victory when a version of its "No Budget, No Pay" suggestion was signed into law as part of the debt ceiling compromise. The provision states that if Congress is unable to pass a budget for the next fiscal year (in this case, 2014), then Congress's pay will be withheld until an agreement is reached or the next session starts. The recent passage of a Senate budget illustrates the effectiveness of "No Budget, No Pay" as an incentive for Congress. No Labels also proposes a new policy that would set a 90-day limit in which the Senate must hold an up-or-down vote on a presidential nominee or he/she is automatically confirmed. This is to prevent a single Senator from holding up presidential nominations indefinitely. Since 2011, over 200 offices ranging from federal judgeships to key positions in the Treasury Department remain unfilled because there is no time limit on how long a Senator can delay the confirmation or rejection hearing for a presidential nominee. Another No Labels structural change in Congress is to allow a majority on any Congressional committee to override the committee chairman's decision not to move a bill to the full House or Senate to vote upon. This would empower coalitions of Congress members who support and have compromised on legislation, as they can now bypass any obstructionist chairmen. Other reforms include a monthly session in which the President would report to Congress to be asked questions directly from the legislature as well as a five day work week for Congress-members. This would require them to be in Washington DC for three full weeks out of the month and then get one week per month to return home to fundraise, meet with constituents, campaign, etc. In the status quo, our officials are free to leave D.C. whenever they choose, leading many to have 3-day workweeks where they travel on Mondays and Fridays, preventing comprehensive work from getting done. Perhaps the most promising feature about No Labels is how rapidly it has garnered support, both inside and away from the Beltway. Exactly 59 members of Congress have joined No Labels "Problem Solvers" coalition. These bold representatives are holding regular meetings to foster a spirit of bipartisanship, draft legislation together, and encourage compromise. In terms of external support, over 500,000 Americans have joined No Labels in some capacity, with over 1,300 attending the group's first national convention this past January in New York City. I myself attended and I was inspired by the show of support for compromise and the comprehensiveness and depth of No Labels's organizational and reform efforts. I see the ultimate goal of No Labels as producing a constituency of compromise. By uniting as many Americans as possible under a banner of inclusiveness and non-partisanship, we can motivate our elected representatives to take the bold actions necessary to fix Congress and America. By showing Congress that the extremes, both on the left and the right, are no longer the loudest or most organized voices; we can bring an end to the political stalemate this polarization of the body politic has produced. We can lift the gridlock paralyzing Congress and we can start moving our country forward again. *
(04/15/13 4:00am)
The Brandeis Haiti Initiative once again hosted Hoops for Haiti-a basketball game which pits University faculty against students-this past Sunday, and once again, the event proved to be both successful and wildly entertaining. The event raises money for Camp Empowering Through Education, a camp started by Brandeis alumna Shaina Gilbert '10 that works to educate nearly 100 Haitian children each summer and is staffed each year by current Brandeis students. Brandeis Haiti Initiative Co-President Amanda Dryer '13 explained that the event not only creates unity within the community by joining students and faculty members, but also highlights the importance the University places on social justice. Dryer explained that the event was purposely placed on Admitted Students Day as a way to tell the students "welcome to the family. This is what we do here." Given the amount of fun that the event proved to be for both spectators and participants this year, it appears that the event could become a staple in Admitted Students Days for many years to come. After going into the half down by five points, 25-20, coach Michael Coven led the faculty on the comeback trail during the second half, as the team stormed back to win 51-43 in a thrilling encounter. Coven, who had guaranteed a victory for his team before the match, was pleased with both the outcome of the game and the sentiment of the event, which is in its fourth year. "That's one of the things I love about Brandeis, that we are socially aware," he said. "It's a great cause." Basketball aside, a plethora of the individuals at the Red Auerbach Arena admired the Brandeis Haiti Initiative and that the event highlighted the University's commitment to social justice. "It's always great to come out and do a charity event. I've heard it's a great event, and I'm happy to take part," said men's basketball forward Ishmael Kalilou '15, who played for the student team. Kalilou was one of several members of the men's basketball team to take part in the event and, on a lighter note, said beforehand that he was looking to "take the game over" in response to Coven's guarantee of a faculty victory. Ultimately, Coven's guarantee proved to be merited, but the game wasn't short of drama. For quite some time, it appeared that it would be Kalilou's day. Once the game began, he drained back-to-back three-pointers that allowed the students to jump out to a 9-2 lead after the first five minutes. The faculty, however, responded with a 9-3 run of their own to cut the students' lead to one point with six minutes left in the first half. With both sides constantly changing players to give everyone a chance to play in the fun spirit of the event, it took time for each squad to develop a rhythm, and the first half drew to a close with the students leading 25-20. One of the bright spots for the faculty was Darryl David '08, who now works for the University in the Office of Student Activities. David, who had six points in the first half, knew that the key to the second half was to "just have fun." After the students pushed their lead to 29-26 with 15 minutes left in the second half, the faculty began clawing their way back with mid-range jumpers. They took the lead and never looked back with 6:09 remaining. David dribbled behind his back and converted a layup in traffic to give the faculty a 32-31 lead. That particular play proved to be crucial, as the faculty would not relinquish the lead after that point. The faculty pushed their lead as high as 10 points, which resulted in a 45-35 advantage with 3:05 remaining and survived a final push by the student team over the last three minutes that cut the lead to within six points at 47-41. However, the faculty team's abilities proved to be just too much for their student opponents, however, as they were able to cruise to the 51-43 victory. Despite the outcome of the game, participants on both sides were appreciative of the overall sentiment of Hoops for Haiti. "It's a beautiful thing to be part of. It's just a blessing," said David of the event. Senior Vice President for Administration Mark Collins, who coached the student team, was equally appreciative of the cause. "We all had a great time for a great cause, so I'm happy I was here," he said after the game. Coven joked afterwards that, while he has enjoyed his time coaching the men's soccer team, his time had come to move on to bigger and better things. "I want to thank Brandeis for the past 40 years, but I'm headed to the NBA right now," Coven said.
(04/09/13 4:00am)
College women are four times more likely to be raped than any other group. This statistic seems incredibly foreign to the Brandeis experience. I remember well being introduced to the Brandeis Counseling and Rape Crisis Hotline during orientation and thinking that it seemed like such a superfluous resource at a place like Brandeis. It's such a tiny campus and we never hear about rape, so it must not happen here. The sense of security that the Brandeis bubble gave me was shattered two years later when I joined the Student Conduct Board. During our trainings I learned that not only does rape happen at Brandeis, but also that it happens about as frequently as at other colleges. Since the 2008-2009 academic year, there have been five official Community Standards Reports (CSRs) of sexual misconduct to date. In addition to official CSRs of sexual misconduct, The Department of Student Rights and Community Standards (SRCS) also receives a number of disclosures of sexual misconduct, which can range from a detailed account from the survivor, who does not want to go forward with official proceedings, to a vague question from a third party, which does not specify who the perpetrator is or where the incident occurred. SRCS does not compile statistics on disclosures of sexual misconduct that do not advance to a CSR, however it is important to note that there is a larger quantity of unofficial disclosures. The fact that both reports and disclosures happen and that it is estimated that between 75 and 95 percent of sexual assaults go unreported suggest that with regard to sexual assault, Brandeis is just like every other college campus. With this knowledge in mind and with the knowledge that there are many survivors of sexual assault on our campus-whether or not they choose to identify themselves as such-I was nauseated to learn about our community's newest Facebook page, "Brandeis Hookups." The premise of "Brandeis Hookups" is that anyone can anonymously submit their "raunchiest, craziest Brandeis hookup story" to the page's administrators, who then supposedly vet the stories for content before posting them publicly on the page. Admittedly, I deactivated my own Facebook page at the beginning of March to better focus on my thesis, so I have been lucky enough to never lay eyes on the page. The idea that a public forum for sharing private sexual moments exists, however, makes me squirm. When I first heard about the page, my visceral reaction was an overwhelming sense of panic. What if someone decided that an unfortunate or uncomfortable experience they had shared with me would be appropriate fodder for the page? No one would ever know that the story was about me but that would not stop them from jeering and excitedly whispering about whatever humiliating detail someone decided to share about me. On the flip side, what if someone decided that an experience with me was an accomplishment they wanted to share so that they could get public approval for their "conquest?" Then a moment that I expected to remain private and personal has suddenly turned me into an object-a trophy to be put on display. Given my fears about my own consensual experiences, I cannot imagine the fears of someone who has had a sexual experience at Brandeis that was not so clearly consensual. To wake up one day, log onto Facebook, and see that a traumatizing and violating experience, which perhaps has not been fully processed, dealt with, or understood, has been publicly posted for the whole world to see has the potential to be just as traumatizing as the original experience itself. It is irrelevant whether or not a post was submitted by an actual perpetrator of an actual incident of sexual assault. If the details of any post are similar enough to someone's experience of a forced sexual contact, the traumatizing effects will be the same. Publicly displaying forced sexual experiences in this way is what survivors of rape and their advocates call a "trigger." What makes the triggering effects of the "Brandeis Hookups" page all the worse is the fact that people can and, as it seems, frequently do, comment on any post encouraging, condoning and applauding the sexual conquests of their peers. The potential bragging rights that any of my consensual partners have about their experiences with me are humiliating and objectifying, but those of a perpetrator of forced sexual contact are degrading, further traumatizing and incredibly perverse. Perhaps Brandeis is no different from any other college with respect to the incidence of sexual assault, but do we really have the kind of community where we applaud sexual assault when it happens as well? Unfortunately, the existence of a public page like "Brandeis Hookups" makes it seem like we do. Despite our ideas about our safety inside the Brandeis bubble, the fact of the matter is that we still live on a college campus, and women at Brandeis are still college women, who are, like all college women, four times more likely to be raped. Given that this statistic applies to us, we need to be more sensitive than anyone about the potential effects of the way we talk about sex. By allowing the "Brandeis Hookups" page to exist, we are denying the impact that our sexual discourse can have on survivors of sexual assault. Whether we actively participate in the page or tacitly support it by saying nothing against it, we are promoting and participating in the kind of culture that not only allows rape to happen, but also says that it is OK, and that the traumatizing experience of the survivor is not valid. The "Brandeis Hookups" page has shattered my perceptions of Brandeis once more. I want to believe that Brandeis is a safe, supportive and respectful environment, particularly for members of our community who may be survivors of sexual assault. As long as this page exists and is considered acceptable however, the safety and well-being of our community is compromised. *
(04/09/13 4:00am)
President Obama's new science initiative, Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies, will have a Brandeis touch as Prof. Eve Marder (BIOL) has been named to the advisory board of the initiative, according to an April 5 BrandeisNOW press release. She will join 13 other scientists who will form the "brain trust" to direct the project. "This is an extremely exciting time for neuroscience research," wrote Marder in an email to the Justice. "The new initiative is to foster development of technological innovation in support of understanding how the brain works." "I was pleased to be included in the delegation to the White House in support of the BRAIN initiative," she continued in her email. The initiative will research all levels of brain function, ranging from individual neurons to entire circuits, according to the press release. One of the goals of the initiative is to "provide insight into devastating diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and autism." The initial goal of the advisory board will be securing funding for the project to go forward. "As a member of the 14-person BRAIN working group for the [National Institutes of Health], I will be part of intensive discussions that will start very soon and will be designed [to] formulate some of the implementation of the funding plans for the NIH's part in the initiative," wrote Marder in her email. According to the press release, President Obama is planning to ask major scientific institutions such as the NIH, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the National Science Foundation for help with funding for the project. Brandeis is the smallest research university represented on the advisory board, according to the press release, joining Stanford University, Harvard University, Brown University, Princeton University and the California Institute of Technology. Marder, who has been a member of the Brandeis faculty since 1978, has a distinguished professional history, picking up numerous awards, prizes and recognitions, including the 2012 George A. Miller Prize in Cognitive Neuroscience and the 2012 Karl Spencer Lashley Award. She is also a Massachusetts Academy of Sciences Fellow. In the press release, Marder expressed unwavering enthusiasm about the potential of the project. "We're at a very interesting and exciting moment in neuroscience research right now because the technological innovations of the last decade have completely transformed the kinds of experiments we can do today," said Marder. "We couldn't even dream of these experiments 15 years ago." "Do I think new technologies will drive exciting new experiments?" she continued. "Absolutely. Will there be completely unanticipated breakthroughs in health? Absolutely."
(04/08/13 4:00am)
Cholmondeley's is usually a relatively mellow hangout spot where artsy music-lovers gather and crank up some tunes while sipping on vegan milkshakes. However, this past Friday night, the arrival of Ducktails, indie contingent Real Estate's Matt Mondanile's side project, turned the small venue into a bumping party house. Previously touring unaccompanied for his solo effort, Mondanile recently recruited keyboardist Dorian D'Angelo, Big Troubles' guitarist Alex Craig, drummer Sam Franklin and bassist Luka Usmani for onstage support. While the band set up for the show and hung out with the concertgoers in a wonderfully friendly fashion, D'Angelo informed me that, "Most of these guys have been playing together for a while. They all played on his [most recent] record, [The Flower Lane]." D'Angelo was asked to join as a replacement for Ian Drennan, who performed on the album. "I spoke to Matt a few times on the phone beforehand and was like 'Yeah, this is going to work out," D'Angelo concluded. Watching and listening to the quintet blast into its opening number, The Flower Lane's first track, "Ivy Covered House," it was hard to tell that this was a recent Ducktails incarnation and not a group that had been rocking together for years. The band's live renditions were both satisfactory representations of the album versions and possessed an added edge, supported by many extended jam intervals, as well as Franklin's powerful percussion grooves and rhythms. Mondanile sang in almost a whisper, which created an interesting, contrasting dynamic between the louder, harder music and his vocal performance. Despite the evident connection between the band members, Mondanile's control of the group was clear within the dynamic. His ability to lead the group while still interacting fantastically with the other musicians shined during what was perhaps the strongest number, "Under Control," the longest track on The Flower Lane by almost a minute. Though the tune stands as a mellow, yet trippy jam on the album, this third song was the hardest rocking, loudest blasting moment of the entire night, highlighted by Craig's raw guitar solo and Franklin's slamming drum fills. The band remarked on how full Chum's was by the end of the show; packed to the brim with a large, bouncing audience. After the concert, the party continued inside the venue, as the Chum's staff sustained the flow of dance tunes. I was able to speak to opening act, Monopoly Child Star Searchers, a.k.a Spencer Clark, for nearly an hour. He and Ducktails hung out with many audience members outside of Chum's and continued to chat, relax and have fun for several hours with some friends. As one might expect, one friend confessed to me his anti-corporate beliefs about society and government, which several members of Ducktails seemed to share, though much less strongly and passionately. Perhaps this type of interpretation was one that I am not necessarily accustomed to, hailing from the Upper West Side of New York City and attending a private collegiate institution. However, it was this attitude that dominated the 1960s and 1970s, an era during which rock 'n' roll music, in my opinion, thrived most prominently and magnificently. Thus, I welcomed his words. That being said, the concert wasn't just about the music for me, but about the overall vibe and community that was attracted to Chum's and the specific musicians who were playing there. The bands actively embraced the student population that swarmed their van after the show and had no issue talking politics, music, art and life for hours on end. That is cool-that's rock 'n' roll. It's not just about the music; it's about much more. It's about the lifestyle, which Ducktails certainly seemed to live up to.
(04/08/13 4:00am)
It is the first day of an Economics class at Brandeis University, and you find yourself sitting next to a boy of average height and light brown hair. Perhaps he's just another student, ready to hear a lecture from Prof. Michael Coiner (ECON) and his elaborate descriptions of supply and demand. Or, perhaps, he's a chess Grandmaster, one of the top players in the world and quickly improving. If the latter is true, chances are that boy is Sam Shankland '14, an Economics major. At the age of 21, Shankland has just been named the 29th Frank P. Samford, Jr. Chess Fellow, which entitles him to a $42,000 stipend awarded at the beginning of July with the sole intention of allowing him to make chess his first concern. Another $42,000 will be awarded in his second year of the fellowship when it is renewed. Shankland says the money will go toward hiring more coaches, each specified toward different aspects of his technique. Now that he's becoming more of an elite player, he says, "I understand my own game well enough that I can see its weaknesses, and I can hire specific people to target specific areas." As a Grandmaster, a prestigious title given to the top tournament players of the world, and the winner of the under-18 World Championship, Shankland's chess career is already impressive. A a native of Berkeley, Calif., he first was introduced to the chess at the age of nine when his father taught him the basic rules of the game. He joined a chess club at his school soon after. "When I started playing chess it was just a hobby," he says. This hobby turned into a lifestyle when he began attending World Youth Chess Championships his junior and senior years of high school. "At that point I had made chess my top priority, and at that point it was really clear it was a main part of my life and my main goal," he says. Competitive in his youth, chess "fueled my need to win," Shankland adds, especially as he realized that he had the potential to go far. And he has certainly gone far. Along with the title of Grandmaster and U18 World Champion, Shankland also became the youngest state champion in California history at the age of 16, and defeated the former second ranked player at the World Cup in 2011. With the Samford Fellowship, Shankland says he will be able to further improve his playing by attending elite tournaments where he is learning from professionals. "I've mostly been playing in tournaments that I'm winning money in and I'm getting paid to play in ... because I'm an elite player for them. I want to start going to tournaments where I'm the guy learning from the elite players," he says. And in the world of chess, that means traveling. His first time playing outside of the U.S. came in 2007 and 2008, when he attended two World Youth Chess Championships in Turkey and Vietnam. More recently, while other Brandeis students adjusted to life back at school after winter break, Shankland was in Brazil playing for the U.S. chess team. Even though he missed a week and a half of school, "it just wasn't a question," he says. Shankland is both reasonable and level-headed, two qualities that shine through in his style of play. A "universal" and "versatile player," as he describes himself, Shankland is able to approach matches with the ability to focus on attacking opponents' weaknesses. "If I see someone who's very good at one thing, and not very good at another, I feel very comfortable switching styles when a lot of other people have the one thing they do well, and just do that," he says. He also attributes his success to his hard work, conceding that, "there are a lot of players out there who are more talented than me and who didn't get as far because they didn't work as hard," a humble admission that translates into thorough preparation for each game. Part of this preparation, says Shankland, is studying numerous past games of his opponents in order to learn their style. For example, "I'll filter through all their games to look at what openings they play, and how they compare with my openings," he says. "It's not uncommon for the first 15 moves of chess to be completely prepared at home. There are lots of different ways they could play, so I have to prepare for all of those." Shankland, who is fondly known on campus as having set up multiple chess boards in a circle using tables in Upper Usdan and challenging any student to a match, certainly has a tenacious dedication to the game. Although, according to a previous interview done with the Justice, Shankland considered quitting upon entering college, his accomplishments in the sport have amazed the chess world. The Frank P. Samford Fellowship ensures that Shankland's chess career will be well supported. And while he may still be found attending Economics lectures at Brandeis for another year, his favorite place is in front of a chessboard, one checkmate away from victory.
