(03/14/13 4:00am)
Generations of students have continually redefined the Justice, and each year, the newspaper's leadership changes as another cohort graduates. Alumni play an integral role in preserving the institutional memory of the Justice far beyond what goes into print. Your experiences both at Brandeis and beyond continue to inform the ways we cover campus today and we'd love the opportunity to learn from you further. Please provide your information below so we can stay in touch and keep you posted about the Justice's alumni events in the future. * Please note: We will not share your contact information nor use it for other purposes.
(03/12/13 4:00am)
Fire and ice-that's what the words brand and eis mean in German. That's why to me Brandeis is the most exciting place to be-a place of radically high aspirations that embraces difference and transformation. We don't shy away from tackling questions others may deem too big, or too small, or too controversial. Brandeis students are made of that same stuff-they thrive in an environment that allows them to seek "the truth even unto its innermost parts" without giving a hoot about whether it is considered appropriate or fashionable by the rest of the world. Brandeis is different from other universities in that everyone in this community shares in these aspirations. We're not na??ve. We truly believe that we can make a big difference. And our students go out into the world and do just that. If we know so well who we are and what we want to accomplish, why do we need a strategic plan? This plan is a pragmatic document for the president. It aims to streamline fundraising efforts and direct attention to areas that need expansion. It is not a "rallying cry" or a call to action on our part. It does not say "we've gone astray and need to refocus our attention." It does not try to reinvent us. We know who we are, and we know we're good at what we do. The strategic plan just presents our portrait to those who don't know us yet so they, too, will fall in love with us and be inspired to join our community. The plan is more like Brandeis' Match.com profile. Which is why we need to get our profile right and not try to 'retouch' it beyond recognition or avoid saying things about ourselves that people may not like. There are a few places where the current profile could still be improved. As it is currently written, the plan does not do justice to the very foundation of our academy-the liberal arts. The humanities and the social sciences are the bedrock on which a liberal arts education thrives. Our largest school may be called the College of Arts and Sciences, but its foundation is not only in arts and sciences, but also in the classical and modern languages, philosophy, history and literature. And it is in the social sciences (from economics to psychology) where most students choose their major. The plan also proudly tells the story of how the Jewish community's gift to U.S. higher education has become this gem among the top research universities in the country, and how Albert Einstein dared us to achieve the name Brandeis. But that includes embracing our history, not just our future. Brandeis, after all, was not only a Supreme Court Justice, but also a Zionist. The controversies that come with this are part of what makes Brandeis unique. If we want others to recognize us in this document, we have to own it. We can check 'non-sectarian' and still acknowledge our Jewish family background. Overall, students should be very happy with this plan. It puts their experience first, not faculty research ambitions or lofty goals for a fancier campus. Many objectives outlined in the plan will lead to more small-class experiences for all students, to even closer contact with faculty from first-year seminars to capstones for seniors. Students will have more flexibility to complete their degrees and more options to pursue their multi-dimensional interests.When our alumni talk about Brandeis they don't typically talk about their major. What they often remember most about Brandeis is a class they dared take that lay far outside their chosen path, a class that challenged them to think differently. If funded, many initiatives in this plan will make more such experiences possible. The plan's most important goal is its embrace of diversity, especially of diversifying the faculty. This is an ambition truly worthy of Brandeis, and one that's long overdue. Just last Thursday Prof. Tom Shapiro from the Heller School for Social policy and Management's Institute of Assets and Social Policy spoke at the Women's and Gender Studies' annual Lubin Symposium about the devastatingly increasing wealth gap between whites and minorities in the United States. By embracing and expanding the work of the Posse Foundation, and by training and promoting new leaders with diverse backgrounds, Brandeis shows its commitment to walking the talk. All our students stand to benefit from this initiative. My personal favorite, an emphasis on sustainability, still needs elaboration in the plan. It's not just a "domestic" issue about health and student retention, but one that aims to tackle the fires and loss of ice our whole world is facing. Our very name urges us to become leaders in the fight against climate change. We have expertise in all schools to tackle the many open questions that are crying for answers, from chemistry, to economics, to sustainable development, to philosophy. Here is a perfect opportunity to align our commitment to cutting-edge science and research across the disciplines with our mission to protect and heal our world, tikkun olam. All our prospective students know that their future depends on the knowledge we produce in this area. We owe this commitment to them. Ultimately, the best part of this strategic planning exercise will not be the document that forms its conclusion. It's the very Brandeisian process that's getting us there. The many meetings, discussions and drafts meant many in our community had to learn more about the University as a whole and grapple with each other's different opinions. Everyone who participated understands Brandeis a little bit better as a result. Which is why this plan will ultimately strengthen us as a community, no matter how many well-heeled new lovers it attracts. We will continue to be hot and cool... (and that's not just meant as a pun on the HVAC system in Shiffman...) Professor von Mering is an associate professor of German and the Director of the Center for German and European Studies. She also served as the chair of the faculty senate in 2009-2010.
(03/11/13 4:00am)
I must confess I was rather unnerved when I first joined the drum circle during Thursday's event "Music+Rhythm+Community." Usually, an event review requires me to sit in the audience as I take notes on my iPhone about the actors in a theatrical production or the harmonies in a musical ensemble. At most, I stand up and applaud when I feel the performance warrants it. But I have never been asked to involve myself in the event. After all, those who can't do so write, right? Wrong. My experience with Brandeis Beats' event "Music+Rhythm+Community" wrested passivity straight from my uncoordinated hands. As I beat the Ghanaian drums, I found myself completely immersed in the rhythm of the circle. Building the beat from the bottom up, we were unified through the most unlikely of mediums. Cohesion required a certain restraint, a willingness to listen to the pulsating conversation of percussion before we could add any commentary of our own-strengthening unity among us without a spoken word. This is precisely what Brandeis Beats endeavors to facilitate. Founded last semester by Aliza Gans '15, the club fosters a creative space dedicated to bridging gaps within the Brandeis and larger Waltham communities. Led by Boston-based drummer Jeremy Cohen, professional percussionist and founder of ThisWorldMusic, the workshop taught valuable skills on how to facilitate and conduct successful drum circles in future outreach programs. Cohen stressed the importance of improvisation in making drumming accessible and creating a base from which to build a unique and cohesive sound. He encouraged students to step in the middle of the circle and conduct the various sections, and emphasizing inclusion and involvement within a medium where everyone might not feel completely comfortable. In the past, the club has visited the local elementary school in order to expose students to the power of music and to cultivate a sense of such community. Their efforts were so successful that they even enticed ten-year-old Gabriel and his mother to join us in Thursday's drum circle. Too shy to speak, Gabriel beat his drum with such intensity that he lost himself in the music. Gabriel's involvement revealed the significance of Brandeis Beats' mission, as well as the relevance of music in uniting different communities. By the end of the workshop, the rhythm in the room transitioned into a magic that transcended technicality. For a few moments I experienced what Gabriel had-I lost myself in the beat and forgot that I was drumming, entranced and mesmerized. The music was euphoric, funky, contagious, sensational and addictive, but the only word I can think to accurately describe my experience with is soul-lifting. I left the drum circle feeling invigorated, refreshed, impassioned and anxious to return the next week to immerse myself in the rhythm all over again. *
(03/05/13 5:00am)
Last Friday evening, Levin Ballroom looked nothing like it has ever looked before. Bright lights adorned the ceiling, the walls and the stage, and the audience's excitement filled the room. The audience was itching for the much-anticipated show, K-Nite Star. Sponsored by the Brandeis Korean Student Association, K-Nite featured various performing acts, and the audience voted for a winner at the end of the show. K-Nite mixed traditional Korean culture with a modern twist-a spin-off of Korea's televised nationwide talent show, the popular K- POP Star, Korea's televised nationwide talent show. For the most part, the show did a great job in showcasing modern Korean pop culture, grounded in traditional performance, blending the contemporary with deep history. They served traditional Korean cuisine-rice, Kimchi, Bulgogi and Japchae-while blaring popular K-Pop music from the speakers. The BKSA girl group Fan-Narra gracefully glided through a traditional fan dance, creating vivid fan-shaped illusions as their pink skirts paralleled the flowing movement of the fans. Halfway through their performance, they slyly transformed into little-black-dress clad dancing vixens, evolving from traditional garb into modern and fashionable Korean style. They continued to perform the Korean fan dance, but with an edgy and innovative twist. The juxtaposition of the old and new intrigued, compressing centuries of Korean culture into one exciting night. However, the performances were far from perfect, and some did prove awkward and uncoordinated. The lackluster emcees did little to excite the audience, staring nervously at their notecards the entire night. Guest performer LK, a New Jersey Korean-American rapper, floundered with technical difficulties (the electrical cord disconnected from his microphone within the first minute of his performance), and struggled through minutes of performance while pounding background tracks drowned out his verses. His odd pelvis thrusts seemed to excite the audience, but frankly looked like a overly sexualized Elvis impersonation. While he laboriously gave his performance his full energy, there was something sadly missing to bring it all together. BKSA's a cappella group Rhythm, Blues and Seoul also began equally as worrisomely. They disappointed with flat background harmonies and less-than-coordinated dance moves, but as their performance continued, they kicked up the energy with their humorous rendition of PSY's "Gangnam Style." Though their amateurish quality made it evident that they were a relatively new group, they shone with soulful high notes and fresh musical choices. The guest group Massachusetts Institute of Technology Oori, a traditional percussion music troupe, proved very impressive and stood out among previous groups. Their resonantly vibrant and intricate beats fluctuated in volume and in tempo. Throwing their bodies into Poongmool and Samulnori styled music, they mesmerized and entranced the entire room. Their electricity flowed through years of history, keeping the show grounded in the roots of Korean performance culture. Yet, the group who truly stole the show was the Brandeis rock band IndiGo6, causing the ladies in the audience to swoon and scream. With their Justin-Bieber-styled hair cuts and their boy band feeling, they ran the risk of entering territory that can only be categorized as "utterly corny," but their funky rhythms and punching percussions succeeded in submerging the room with a musical frenzy. They struck a high note with the audience, who voted them best performing act of the night, proving that the language of music speaks just as forcefully across all cultures. BKSA's K-Nite Star proved to be a night of duality. It mixed deeply traditional Korean performance with exciting contemporary K-Pop production. It shone with electric highs, but, in the same manner, sometimes flopped with disappointing lows. Yet, the audience seemed to enjoy every minute of it, and the jam-packed room was filled with continual screams and applause. Everybody left energized and delighted-and regardless of the caliber of each performance, K-Nite Star turned out to be a huge success.
(03/05/13 5:00am)
On Thursday night, Professor Inderpal Grewal, chair of the women's, gender and sexuality department at Yale University, gave a lecture titled "Bureaucracy and Masculinity in India after Independence" as part of the Soli Sorabjee Lecture Series in South Asian Studies. Grewal discussed how masculinity and patriarchy are seen in the history of Indian bureaucracy. She is currently researching the memoirs of Indian bureaucrats who joined the British civil service and continued in the Indian bureaucracy after India gained independence in 1947 and was partitioned into India and Pakistan, including Dharma Vira, H.M. Patel and S. Bhoothalingam. Grewal said the literary content of the memoirs, the accompanying photographs, the subjects of the memoirs and the people who compiled the memoirs, usually the subjects' relatives, create a snapshot of Indian history. "These memoirs have often been read simply as archives of historical information. I'm trying to understand how that moment of national significance is produced through the genre of the memoir," Grewal said. The bureaucrats were part of a group of powerful men, the "ruling class," who were viewed by some as incongruous after India gained a democratic government. In the Indian Civil Service, as the bureaucracy was called prior to independence from Britain in 1947, these men served as lawyers, doctors, teachers and government officials. They became part of the "powerful patriarchy that governed India after independence," Grewal said. New opportunities and jobs were available to the bureaucrats after independence, who became "technocrats, management experts, bankers and finance workers and workers in industrial technology," as Grewal explained. The characteristics these "national elites" tried to embody were "reason, rationality, and objectivity," as it said in one of the memoirs. The memoirs are rarely personal accounts and do not usually include information or photographs of the bureaucrats' wives and children, instead focusing on their work for the government. The exception to this is the memoir of one bureaucrat that was compiled by his daughter, and therefore includes more family-oriented photographs. The rest of the memoirs, however, focus on "key moments in national history, and include reflections on governance," Grewal said. Grewal says the bureaucrats' memoirs are "narratives of how they learned to govern," and that they "provide lessons for younger generations of administrators." They contain insights into two areas of gender: the legal world and the family, through what they include, as well as what is left out. The bureaucracy was changing at the time that these memoirs were written, and later this group of elite men was broadened to include women, which connects to Grewal's feminist research. This research differs from her studies on women and feminism, but is related as it deals with the theme of gender. "Because I've done feminist research for so long, I'm fascinated by thinking about masculinities and patriarchies," Grewal said. "How is a patriarchy formed by all sorts of masculinities that work together? How does governance become a masculine endeavor?" Grewal has written and contributed to numerous publications dealing with feminist and gender-related themes, including Home and Harem: Nation, Gender, Empire and the Cultures of Travel, and Transnational America: Feminisms, Diasporas, Neoliberalisms, according to the Yale University website. The lecture series, sponsored by the South Asian Studies Program and the Brandeis-India Initiative which focuses on themes of justice, began in 2009 and is named after the former attorney general of India. Past lectures have featured authors and professors from institutions including Harvard University, Trinity College and the University of Delhi, as well as Sorabjee himself. Grewal's lecture drew undergraduate and graduate students interested in Global and South Asian studies. "India is a really important country in terms of international relations, and the way Indian bureaucracy works is important to the way India works, not just Indian government but also Indian business," Mitch Mankin '16 said. *
(03/04/13 5:00am)
* In their first home match of the season, the Brandeis University Men's Tennis team found themselves in a 3-3 tie against Vassar College this past Saturday in Gosman Athletic Center. It was then that the squad's depth shone through to pull out a 5-4 victory. * The day got off to a good start for the Judges, as they won two of three doubles matches behind strong play from captains Josh Jordan '13 and Steven Milo '13 who won their match 8-6. They were followed by an 8-4 loss by Michael Secular '15 and Alec Siegel '15 before David Yovanoff '13 and Mitch Krems '16 won their match 9-7 to give the Judges a 2-1 advantage in the match. * The good play in doubles matches spilled over into the beginning of singles play when Jordan rolled over Vassar senior Dan Freeman 6-1, 6-2 for the easiest win of the day. From there, the men dropped two straight matches when both Milo and Yovanoff were defeated, in the tiebreaker and straight sets respectively. Milo fell 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-1) while Yovanoff lost 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. The two losses tied the match at 3-3, and it was then that the squad displayed its ability to win close matches. * Krems dropped the first set tiebreaker 7-5, but rebounded with determination to take his match 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-2 to give the Judges a 4-3 lead. * According to Matthew Zuckerman '14, Krems has been the Judges' "biggest clutch performer." * "Mitch has been really delivering big for our team. He's a hard worker and he steps it up big when we need him." * He was followed by Secular who was defeated 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to tie the match at 4-4, leaving the match in the hands of Siegel. Siegel dropped the first set 7-5 before rallying to take the second set 6-4 and cruising to victory in the third set 6-2. Siegel's comeback victory clinched the overall 5-4 victory for the Judges. * Earlier over mid-winter break, the men defeated Cal Lutherean University 8-1 in their California trip before falling to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 9-0 and the University of Redlands 8-1, nationally ranked 5th and 16th respectively. * The women's tennis team had a similar fate in California, defeating 23rd ranked Chapman University 7-2 before falling to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Redlands, ranked nationally 8th and 24th respectively. The women had the day off from matches this past Saturday. * According to Zuckerman, the Judges are focusing on typical early-season things: conditioning, efficiency and consistency. * "We've been practicing at 7 a.m. in addition to our normal practices while focusing on the task at hand," he said. "We're looking to reach our potential. If we can maximize each of our own individual levels of performance, then we have a strong possibility of being a nationally-ranked team. * Both men's and women's tennis return to action this upcoming Saturday. The men face Oneonta State before travelling to Middlebury College, while the women join them for an away match at Middlebury.
(03/03/13 5:00am)
You're Invited!
Did you work on the Justice at all during your time at Brandeis? Pull all-nighters in the basement of Usdan or the Shapiro Campus Center? Rush across campus to report on or photograph events? There are over a thousand people who've done it too. Whether you were editor-in-chief, a columnist or a once-in-a-while contributor, we cordially invite you to attend the first ever Justice alumni reunion and media conference on April 26-27, 2013. Media at Brandeis grew as the university did, and members of the Class of '52 quickly organized the Justice to report. The longest-running student publication on campus, the newspaper's multiple generations of student journalists have documented and analyzed the in's and out's of the University. We possess unique perspectives on the early days of President Emeritus Abe Sachar, controversies on campus including the housing "open-door" policy, the "closing" of the Rose Art Museum, and the student takeover of Ford Hall. We've captured student reactions to civil rights, the draft, wars, and elections, as well as spirit weeks, athletics, and the wide variety of other campus events. Today, the Justice continues to redefine itself in the face of the 21st century, bringing our coverage online. Yet it continues to invoke the camaraderie of it's origins and serve as a historical record of Brandeis to date. There is no doubt that the Justice has had a profound impact on this university, and as current students, we can attest to the fact that your hard work and dedication during your years at Brandeis have left a lasting legacy. Please join us to celebrate the Justice, and learn from the individuals who've defined it. Register Here: The cost for alumni to attend is $50, which includes a cocktail reception on Friday, and continental breakfast and lunch on Saturday. You can pay with your Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. You can register here. * Reunion Schedule
Friday, April 26
Open Undergraduate Journalism Courses 9:30-10:50 a.m. "Ethics in Journalism" Professor Eileen McNamara (former Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Boston Globe) Location: Brown Social Science Center 115 12:30-1:50 p.m. - "Media and Public Policy", Professor Eileen McNamara Location: Shiffman Humanities Center 125 3:00 p.m. Registration Opens Location: Justice Office, Shapiro Campus Center (SCC), 2nd Floor 3:30-5:00 p.m. Campus tours led by current Justice editors Meeting point: Shapiro Campus Center Atrium 5:00-6:30 p.m. - Cocktail reception, with welcoming remarks from one of the founding editors of the Justice, Sanford Lakoff '53 Location: the new Shapiro Science Center, atrium and patio Please note: At around 6 p.m. towards the end of the cocktail reception, there will be a panel discussion discussing professionalism in the media and how well the media covered the recent Boston marathon bombings. All students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to attend. Location: the new Shapiro Science Center, atrium [The Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Arts will be holding several evening performances open to alumni to attend. For more information, please see below. The featured event "Late Night with Leonard Bernstein," featuring his daughter Jamie Bernstein, is free but requires ticket reservations in advance. To reserve, please call 781-736-3400 or visit: go.Brandeis.edu/BrandeisTickets] * Saturday, April 27
All events on this day will take place in Sherman Function Hall unless otherwise noted. 8:30 a.m. Continental breakfast 9:00 a.m. State of the News, Justice Senior Editor Andrew Wingens '14, with Q&A 9:10 -10:15 a.m. How the Justice Influenced Careers (Both In and Out of Journalism) Featured Panelists: David Zimmerman '55, author of Sankofa; Alex J. Goldstein '06, Executive Director of the Deval Patrick Committee (DPC) and the TogetherPAC (TPAC); Jeffrey Greenbaum '90, Managing Partner in the Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations group at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, PC; Steve Heyman '06, Features Editor at the New York Times T Magazine. Student Moderators: Joshua Asen '13, Senior Sports Writer and former Sports Editor, and Janey Zitomer '13, Senior Photographer and Journalism Undergraduate Department Representative. 10:30 -11:45 a.m. Covering Campus Politics: The Justice as the Arbiter (and Sometimes Instigator) of Conflict Featured Panelists: Lindsay Gardner '82, Senior Advisor at Oaktree Capital Management and former television journalist; Arnie Reisman '64, award-winning writer, producer and performer as well as Vice President of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts; Benjamin Freed '06, Editor-in-Chief at DCist.com. Student Moderators: Samuel Mintz '14, News Editor, and Sara Dejene '15, Online Editor and former News Editor 12:00 -1:00 p.m. Keynote Address by Ted Gup '72, and lunch 1:15 p.m. University Update from Senior Vice President of Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel, followed by a Q&A 1:45 p.m. -2:45 p.m. Ethical Decision-Making in the Justice Newsroom Featured Panelists: Dana Coffield '86, co-metro editor at the Denver Post and chief investigator in the publication's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the Aurora theater shooting; Jon Fischer '07, Managing Editor at the Washington City Paper; Dan Hirschhorn '06, national politics reporter at the New York Daily News. Student Moderators: Glen Chesir '15 Forum Editor and Jessie Miller '15 Arts Editor 2:50 p.m. -3:00 p.m. Concluding Remarks, How to Stay Involved Andrew Wingens '14 and Robyn Spector '13 3 p.m. Campus tours will be offered by current editors [Please note: from 3:00 -5:00 p.m. there will be a folk festival on the Great Lawn outside of the Shapiro Campus Center as part of the Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Arts] ____________________________________ Further Information
Panel discussions: In addition to Friday's panel discussion on Journalism Education, Saturday's panels will touch on a variety of subjects: Educating Student Journalists, Covering Campus Politics, Ethical Decision-making in the Justice Newsroom, and How the Justice Influenced My Career (inside and outside of journalism). If you are interested in serving on a panel or suggesting a panelist, please email us (alumni@thejustice.org). Keynote Speaker, Ted Gup '72: Ted Gup is a former investigative reporter at the Washington Post who revealed the location of the underground bunker for the U.S. Congress in case of nuclear attack. He has also written for Time Magazine and more recently, The New York Times. In addition, he is the professor and chair of the Journalism Department at Emerson College, and formerly taught journalism at Case Western Reserve. He has received several awards including the George Polk Award for foreign reporting, the Worth Bingham Prize for investigative journalism, and the Gerald Loeb Award. In addition, he is a former Fulbright Scholar and Grantee of the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation. Accommodations: The Marriott Hotel in Newton (five minutes from campus) has been designated as the official hotel for the Justice Reunion. A block of rooms has been reserved with a special Justice Reunion rate of $149 a night (the usual rates are around $205 a night). You may call the hotel (617 969-1000 or 800-228-9290) to make a reservation. When reserving a room, please indicate that you are attending the Justice Reunion. Reservations must be made by March 29th for the preferred rate. For more information and to make your reservation with the discount online, please click here. Festival of the Arts 2013: The annual Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts will be held on April 25-28 at various locations around campus. Highlights of this year's festival include the Brandeis Theater Company production of "Visions of an Ancient Dreamer"; a concert by the Brandeis-Wellesley Orchestra; and "Late Night with Leonard Bernstein," hosted by Bernstein's daughter Jamie, with performances by acclaimed soprano Amy Burton and pianists John Musto and Michael Boriskin. Tickets to the "Late Night with Leonard Bernstein" performance are free but must be reserved in advance. Please email alumni@thejustice.org for ticket reservations. * Reunion Organizing Committee Mr. Paul Levenson '52 Dr. Sanford Lakoff '53 Mrs. Barbara Krasin Kravitz '57 Mr. Sy Raboy '57 Dr. Judith Walzer '58 Dr. Jeffery Golland '61 Dr. Allan Jay Lichtman '67 Mr. Paul D. Broude '79 Ms. Anne R. Exter '80 Mr. Daniel H. Adler '85 Ms. Mari J. Cartagenova '88 Ms. Michelle Leder '88 Mr. Martin R. Lieberman '96 Mr. Dan Friedell '97 Mr. Adam M. Greenwald '98 Mrs. Pam Garretson (Isaacson) '98 Dr. Jodi R. Eichler-Levine '00 Mr. Lex Friedman '02 Mrs. Jennifer (Klein) Seadia '02 Mr. David Dagan '03 Ms. Caroline Litwack '03 Mr. Dan Hirschhorn '07 Ms. Andrea Fineman '10 Ms. Miranda Neubauer '10 ____________________________________ For more information please contact Robyn Spector '13, Deputy Editor at: alumni@thejustice.org
(02/12/13 5:00am)
* Student Union senate meetings are relatively tame. Debate consists of differing parties sharing a speaker's list, moving methodically through the motions of democracy with the rarest of hiccups. * However, when I heard the Cannabis Culture Club was on the agenda, I cleared my Sunday afternoon. The purpose of the club would be to advocate for the legalization of hemp and marijuana in a drug free environment. The club's representatives, a group of six diverse and spirited speakers, had quite a bit to say. They discussed the benefits of hemp, the trend toward legalization and the way in which discussion is fundamental to policy change. The Union then asked a few basic questions about the goals of the organization, and proceeded into a discussion where the members of the club had to leave the room, standard procedure for all clubs looking to be recognized by the Union. * What ensued could best be described as a dog trying to catch its tail. The debate began calmly, but quickly became contentious, polarized in the extreme and profoundly interesting. Analogies ranged between the Klu Klux Klan and the Queer Policy Alliance. Reasons to charter the club included: "Why not?" "discourse!" and "the administration doesn't hate it," while those against the club used arguments ranging from "they should join Students for Environmental Action" to "illegality" to "asthma." * The end verdict 30 minutes later, 5 in favor, 11 against, and 1 abstain, clearly reflected personal opinions, as opposed to any constitutional reason to recognize the club or not. The discussion at its best was muddled, at its worst, crass. * Amid all the heated rhetoric and discussion underlies a more sinister and frightening truth: The Union has embraced its rituals, its unanimous votes and formalized rules, to the point that it has forgotten why it votes the way that it does. The Union has become so comfortable with what is easy to extract from its founding documents, that the senators have neglected the larger philosophies of purpose imbued within the Union's constitution and bylaws. They have so honed in on specific and simple reasons for not recognizing clubs, such as 'duality of purpose' and 'inclusivity,' that they don't have any larger principles to fall back upon. * Their division on the Cannabis Culture Club reflected the discord surrounding the Union's purpose, and the role that senators' votes play in that purpose. * Some senators decided to vote based on constitutionality, moral right, constituent base, or personal feeling. It wasn't clear what they were supposed to vote on, so each senator decided for himself. * I am not a proponent of marijuana. I don't think that people need another high-risk decision to make, I think that it is an abuse of the human body and physically addictive. Be that as it may, I am for freedom of speech. As is the saying so often surrounding the Westboro Baptist Church: "I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will always defend your right to say it." I personally believe that it is wrong for our student-elected officials to reject a club because of personal disagreements with its purpose. I don't think that the Union should reject a club for Democrats because they are Republicans, or to reject the Queer Policy Alliance because they believe that homosexuality is a choice. Without the Cannabis Culture Club, who will convince me that I am wrong? * When it comes down to it, rejecting a club based on any grounds other than constitutional ones is censorship. It is the imposition of the opinions of some to suppress the spread of the opinions of others. Our student government should not allow itself to be a part of this oppression of speech, and adjudication of opinion. Ultimately, I think that the right to freedom of expression is far more fundamental and far more important to Brandeis' mission of social justice. Good ole' Louie would never silence the Queer Policy Alliance, the Westboro Baptist Church or the Cannabis Culture Club. * The 20 words in the Student Union Bylaws on the recognition of clubs are that 1) The club may not be a fraternity or sorority, and 2) that the club cannot "duplicate the purpose or goals of another currently Recognized or Chartered Organization." When approached by a prospective club, the senators should only vote on these stated and explicit rules. The Cannabis Culture Club is unique. It may share some motives of environmental activism with other clubs, but ultimately its overall message and purpose is the legalization of cannabis, a goal no other club on campus even remotely shares. * Duality of purpose is the only stipulation in the constitution as to why clubs should not be recognized, and thus it is really the only reason the seante should not recognize. Clubs are the way in which ideas and thought are spread on campus, and ultimately allowing all people to share their ideas best serves Brandeis' social goals, and students' best interests. * I expect more out of our elected officials. I expect the members of the Union to realize that discourse, in all of its forms is a positive thing. I expect the Union to look beyond its personal aversion to the desires of some members of its student body. I had hoped the Union would hold itslef to a higher standard. Not what they felt but what is right. Not what is easy, but what is just. * Luckily the Union understands that it needs to address this issue. This Sunday's meeting, the Union decided on a date to discuss why they recognize clubs, and what the basis for recognition should be. I for one hope they choose well. * Grady Ward is the non-senate committee chair of the Club Support Committee.
(02/12/13 5:00am)
Each spring, young Brandeisian women partake in the Vagina Monologues, an Eve Ensler play that sheds light on various female experiences. With a focus on women's rights issues, the monologues are meant to provoke anger, sadness, laughter and heightened awareness. "Until the violence stops"-the slogan used for V-Day,-is a "global activist movement to end violence against women and girls" founded by Ensler, playwright and activist. Women at college campuses all over the nation have rallied together to promote female empowerment, including here on Brandeis' campus. This year's rendition featured a new campaign called One Billion Rising, which cites that one out of three women will experience violence in her lifetime. One Billion Rising encourages women and their supporters to join together to collectively combat violence against women, in solidarity that transcends geographical and cultural borders. Despite recycled scripts, new directors guide their casts to provide a different take on each year's production, giving veteran members of the audience a fresh experience. This year's director and three-year participant, Maya Grant '13 said during an interview that she brought a refreshingly new vision for this year's production by focusing on "digging deeper to visually push each piece." Working closely with coordinator Laura Ben Marger Moore '14, Grant and Moore took painstaking care to cast young women who clearly demonstrated both enthusiasm and confidence for their monologues. Contrary to typical casting practice of selecting actors based solely on talent, Grant said during the interview that she and Moore placed a priority on pinpointing women who exhibited passion while performing, gravitating towards those with "willingness to move outside of their comfort zones and embrace what makes us diverse." This willingness to embrace diversity extended beyond just casting, as the diversity and skills specific to each actress were taken into account, allowing the cast to breathe new life into their monologues. Unique to recent past productions of the Vagina Monologues, Grant incorporated contemporary dance, though admitting during the interview, "I knew going into this show that I wanted to incorporate dance in some way but had no idea for which monologue or how to make it happen." Describing the auditions of Bront? Velez '16 and Queen White '16, two members of the Atlanta Liberal Arts Posse 2, Grant says, "They amazed me during auditions, and I knew that just having them on stage speaking wouldn't do the piece justice." Tapping into Velez's experience performing and choreographing, Grant incorporated dance into the monologue "My Vagina was My Village." Accompanied by a voiceover of the script (recorded by Velez and White), the result was a visual masterpiece so riveting that the audience collectively held its breath, with no sound of the typical candy wrappers, coughing or other types of fidgeting to be heard. Other monologues with notably new takes included the famed "The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy" (often nicknamed by those involved with the production as "Moan"). It began with the spotlight on Ashley Lynette '13, but the focus eventually shifted to three silhouettes in the background, silently enacting varied types of moans as Lynette provided the soundtrack. Another, "Reclaiming Cunt" featured Carly Lenhoff '13 as she dynamically delivered her monologue, contorting and undulating her body to match the monologue's cacophony and the self-love it encourages. Through observing the skills of her cast and tapping into their varied talents, Grant successfully reinvented the Vagina Monologues experience for this University and her cast, many of whom are repeat attendees and participants. Looking back on the many hours spent bonding and rehearsing together, Grant remarks, "I am so proud of my cast this year, and I credit the success of the show to their talent, drive and commitment to the experience." A truly collective effort and cohesive execution, this year's Vagina Monologues provided a moving call to action to fight injustice against women everywhere.
(02/12/13 5:00am)
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(02/12/13 5:00am)
* A 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-class sedan. Season tickets to the New York Knicks. 65 shares of Google stock. 50,000 cans of coke. This random assortment of items has nothing in common except their market price-around $50,000. We Brandeis students however join hundreds of thousands of students nationwide in paying that same $50,000, albeit towards a slightly different investment-our annual college tuition. Every student must find a way to finance the investment that is a college education and hope that the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term costs. * Brandeis is proud of its ability to help students finance their education, offering over 50 percent of its student body some form of financial aid, according to the admissions website. Nationwide, according to a Department of Education study, between 2006-7 and 2009-10, the percentage of first-time, full-time undergraduates receiving financial aid increased from 75 percent to 85 percent at all four-year colleges. Additionally, 63 percent of students in private, not-for-profit schools and 50 percent in public institutions took out student loans. These numbers, although staggering, have not stopped a 37 percent increase in college enrollment. * The system nevertheless may have recently hit a breaking point. According to a recent Bloomberg report, Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania and George Washington University have taken students who have defaulted on their loans to court in an attempt to force students to pay up. According to a TIME magazine article on the subject, most of these suits have been filed against recipients of Federal Perkins Loans, which are subsidized loans usually awarded to lower-income students with exceptional financial need. These suits are reflective of yet another growing problem in the endless effort for affordability in higher education, as student defaults grew by 20 percent from 2006 to 2011, totaling up to over $964 million. * And so the obvious question arises: How can a college education become more affordable while creating a more secure loan process while still decreasing the amount of defaulted loans? In short, how can the college aid process become more efficient? Fortunately, as with any business firm, there are two ways to make a company, college included, more efficient: raise funds and decrease costs. * The TIME magazine article argues for the need to raise funds through potential government legislation as a way to curb the rising default rate for students. President Barack Obama recently suggested an increase in the Perkins Loan program from one billion to eight billion dollars by recruiting more schools to be involved and awarding federal money to those schools that are able to curb rising tuition rates. Although this would facilitate more students being able to apply for the loans, the article notes that the increased fund would raise the interest rate on the loans from five percent to roughly 6.8 percent, making it even more difficult for students to come up with their payments. * So, as an increase in the overall funding pool is not a viable option, what else can be done to help make college more affordable for students? * To answer that, we must look at the other end of our efficiency equation-and cut costs. President Obama has touted the cost cutting model for higher education throughout his recent reelection campaign, including proposing a grant program to reward universities for coming up with new ways to cut costs. * One way to decrease costs is to follow the recent "hybrid model" of the University of Central Florida; that is, offer semi-online, semi-in class courses. For example, a calculus class would meet twice a week using some form of online lectures and a third time in person to go over any questions, give quizzes, etc. Brandeis has already taken steps towards online learning, albeit not for a reduced price, with the recent online consortium of schools in a program called Semester Online. However, the online model, and all the reduced financial costs that arises from it, comes with all the drawbacks associated with a loss of classroom time and professor exposure. * Another way to cut costs may lie in the rise of excessive college administration. According to a report by the Goldwater Institute, the number of administrators per 100 students rose by 39 percent between 1993 and 2007. To compare, the number of faculty who either teach and or do research rose by only 18 percent-less than half the rate of administrators. Moreover, spending on salaries of administration increased by 61 percent in that time span, while spending on faculty rose by 39 percent. * To be fair, the Goldwater report notes that students pay only a small percentage of the costs associated with running a university. Much college financing comes from private gifts and government funds. However, it is clear that there are ways for colleges to reduce costs, whether by decreasing administrator salaries, offering online courses, or through some other means. * In order to be truly invested in educating the minds of the future, colleges must do everything in their power to keep education accessible to as many as possible. After all, with the reported Yale and G.W. lawsuits over a mere $6,500 and $7,000 respectively, a few cuts here and there may save a student from defaulting on his or her loans at all.
(02/11/13 5:00am)
Like many young boys who were raised in Framingham, Mass., Paul Linet '75 was instructed to love the Boston Red Sox.
(02/11/13 5:00am)
Corrections appended. A Brandeis undergraduate student worked with researchers at New York University to create a model for the biological phenomenon known as "self-organization," according to a Jan. 31 New York University press release. The model, detailed in an article in Science published the same day, uses light to activate small particles, causing them to move and assemble themselves. Asher Preska Steinberg '13, along with NYU Professors in the Department of Physics David Pine and Paul Chaikin and Post-Doctoral Fellows in NYU's Center for Soft Matter Research Jeremie Palacci and Stefano Sacanna, was named as an author of the article. Steinberg was enrolled in a summer research program at NYU. Common examples of self-organization are seen in flocks of birds or schools of fish that travel together in formation, as well as colony formations of bacteria. The authors of the paper studied this phenomenon by developing a "system of self-propelled particles" that were controlled by turning a blue light on or off. When the light was off, the particles were spread out with no order but when the light was turned on, the researchers saw that the particles formed crystallite structures. These structures were dynamic and would "actively translate and rotate, collide, join, and split," leading the scientists to call them "living crystals." After the blue light was turned off, the crystals dissolved back into colloidal particles. After performing follow up experiments, the researchers concluded that the self-organization of colloid particles was a result of both self-propulsion and an "attractive interaction" that could be activated by light, magnets and chemicals. These controls allow the same organization seen in biological phenomena to be used in materials and could "enhance the design of a range of industrial products," according to the press release. The press release also stated that understanding self-organization can help physicists create "new and enhanced materials." Preska Steinberg did not respond to requests for interviews by press time. The article has been edited to correct the following mistakes: Asher Preska Steinberg's full last name is Preska Steinberg, not Steinberg and he belongs to the Class of 2013, not 2014. *
(02/11/13 5:00am)
A refugee is someone who has been mistreated in some way, forcing them to move from their home. As part of 'Deis Impact, Students for Environmental Action and Students for a Just and Stable Future, an offshoot of SEA, set up a "refugee camp" behind the Shaprio Campus Center, hoping to convey to students the need to care about climate change and how it affects human beings across the globe, their "home." The demonstration comes at the same time as the SJSF divestment campaign, which, according to SJSF member Dorian Williams '13, "has become a national movement of students to get their colleges and universities to pull their endowments and investments out of companies that are holding fossil fuels." Divestment was especially relevant during 'Deis Impact, as the effects of fossil fuels impact less developed areas. Environmental disasters affect everyone differently, and the poorer populations have a harder time recovering. Not everyone has the resources to start over after such disasters like the one happening in the Maldives today, said SJSF member Jacklyn Gil '14. "Right now we are seeing massive devastation in countries that are more vulnerable to climate impact and climate crisis," said Gil. It is estimated that there will be around 50 million climate refugees by 2020, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. The refugee camp was inspired by the shantytowns that college students set up to protest apartheid South Africa in the 1980s. The SEA refugee camp represents the lives of the countless people already displaced by natural disasters, and those who will be in the future. "The modern-day equivalent of a shantytown would be a refugee camp," said SEA President Lisa Purdy '14. The camp was built without any funding, making it more authentic. "A shantytown looks the way it does because the people who are constructing it use whatever material they can find," Purdy said. SJSF members built the camp with items they borrowed or found in the trash and from the free section on Craigslist, creating the feel of a makeshift refugee camp. They used wooden pallets and a tarp to create the main tent structure, with a smaller tent suspended on string and signs sporting messages about divestment and climate change. Students were able to enter the main tent and take educational materials about the campaign.The refugee camp attracted the attention of students and faculty alike as they walked by. "I was intrigued by the creativity of the display, even though I wasn't sure what it was about at first," Naomi DePina '16 said. Some stopped to take a closer look or snap a picture and learn more about climate change by reading the signs. SJSF members took turns standing in front of the camp with their divestment petition, hoping to get signatures and explain the purpose of the demonstration. On Wednesday, the Brandeis Divestment Campaign hosted a "Hot Planet, Hot Chocolate" event at the campsite. Students, braving the cold, sat in a circle with hot chocolate, in mugs that they brought from their dorms, and talked with members of SEA and SJSF about divestment and climate change. A variety of environment-related songs and poetry were also performed, adding to the camp atmosphere. The camp was set up on Feb. 1 and was scheduled to remain set up through the rest of 'Deis Impact, but was taken down on Friday due to the blizzard. Turns out, even an environmental demonstration can be affected by the weather. SEA wants students to take the messages that the camp represents beyond 'Deis Impact. As Purdy explained, "we need to keep moving forward because we have a lot to do in the next four years." The club hopes students can take steps in their personal lives to reduce their footprints on the environment. Such activities include recycling, biking or walking instead of using a car, or more inventive ways of that might not immediaditely come to mind, such as not eating soy products or using homemade laundry detergent, according to Purdy. Joining with other students who care about the same issues can help spread the message on campus and beyond. "I hope to continue my work with groups like this," said Rohan Bhatia '14, treasurer of SEA. Bhatia is representing Brandeis at Swarthmore College on Feb. 24, to talk to members of different divestment campaigns at other universities. The aim of the camp was to convey the severity of climate change and how it will affect people, and help students realize they can make a difference. "We hope that people begin to appreciate the severity of climate change more, and really hope that it encourages people to push for more change, call for our university to divest, and speak out on this issue," said Williams.
(02/05/13 5:00am)
Happy February, pop culture-ites! But is it really happy when there's no news in celebrity land?! No bombshell cheating scandals, no baby-bump speculations, not even a little engagement rumor! For the longest time, the only news I was working with was Fox's announcement of the summer's new talk show, Kris, hosted by none other than Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner (no joke, they're taking over television). So, forgive me for the slow news week folks, but here goes! Shocker, shocker everyone-Rihanna and Chris Brown are an item ... again. In this past week's Rolling Stone, the Barbadian songstress acknowledged the renewal of her relationship with the guy who physically assaulted her less than four years ago. Ri-Ri told the mag that "if it's a mistake, it's my mistake," and explained that she reunited with Brown because it was "important" for her happiness. This interview marked the first time that the 24-year-old singer publicly discussed the possible public reaction to her coupling. I'm all for supporting girl power and following your heart rather than the opinions of an anonymous mob of fans, but I don't have such a great feeling about this duo... With the Academy Awards in sight (Feb. 24 for those of us who have the patience for it), Disney has officially released "Paperman" for free viewing on YouTube. The animated short, posted on the web last Tuesday, is nominated for Best Animated Short Film and has already racked up over nine million views! The black-and-white film follows a man, a woman and a swarm of paper airplanes, combining traditional illustration with computer animation-I'd recommend it as a definite must-see. In some not-quite-pop-culture news, Lindsay Lohan's a big sis again ... kind of. This past Wednesday, Landon Major Lohan joined the eclectic fam. Landon is the son of Michael Lohan, Lindsay's dad, and his girlfriend, Kate Major, making the tyke Lindsay's half-brother. But this isn't her first half-sib; Michael fathered a daughter with another woman while still married to Lindsay's mother. Talk about a mess. Anyway, while Lindsay's pop was busy welcoming his newest child into the world, Linds was at court in Los Angeles-no surprise there. I hate to beat a dead horse, but I can't leave you folks without mentioning the biggest water cooler gossip of the past few weeks-the lip-sync. Don't pretend you think I'm talking about the Ashlee Simpson Saturday Night Live debacle; I'm referring to Beyonc?(c)'s err ... karaoke performance during President Barack Obama's inauguration on Jan. 21. Everyone was blown away by the diva's rendition of America's national anthem-until a representative for the U.S. Marine Band revealed that the musicians played live for every song except B's. MAJOR UH-OH. With her anticipated Super Bowl half-time performance just around the corner, it seemed like Beyonc?(c) was really in a mess. But during a news conference this past Thursday, the Grammy-award winner made sure the public didn't get the wrong impression. She stepped on stage, asked the audience, "Would you guys mind standing?" and belted out a live performance of "The Star Spangled Banner." #WINNING *
(02/05/13 5:00am)
This past year, as a culmination of a 12 year commitment, I became an Eagle Scout-the highest rank achievable within the Boy Scouts of America. Most of my years with the Boy Scouts of America were sponsored by Reformed synagogues, which were progressive and tolerant towards all scouts and parents, regardless of their sexual orientation. However, something that always marred my experience was that the national organization was-and still is-openly bigoted against the homosexual community. When I was a young scout, my family and I were involved in a troop that was unofficially sponsored by a progressive Episcopal school. One year, the troop wanted to actively recruit membership from the school, and the school responded that they were not comfortable engaging with an organization which discriminates. In reality, all the troop leadership needed to assuage these fears was to admit that the national policy is nonsensical, and in turn assure the school that the discriminatory policy was not being actively enforced. Instead, the conservative troop leadership, sticking to its guns, sent back a condescending letter to the school elucidating on the difference between "morals" and "principles". Burning the last bridge towards gaining new members, and alienating many current members as well, the old troop slowly withered and died. I hope the same will not be said of the national organization for similar reasons. This past week, the national executive board of the Boy Scouts of America announced that it was reviewing their discriminatory policy, which currently excludes any gay people from being members or leaders. This even applies to children who had joined the organization at a very young age. According to the national board, if these boys come out at a later point, they are immediately dismissed from the program. The policy is wrong for two distinct reasons. First, the rationale used for the exclusion of gay scouts is that lesbian gay bisexual and queer leaders, or gay scouts, may not be "appropriate role models," according to the BSA's website. Essentially, the age old clich?(c) is that there is something wrong with being a homosexual, and thus, we must save our children from being exposed to it. Such a frame of thinking is dangerously reactionary, seemingly still stuck in a 1980s era of homophobia. Second, the exclusion is possibly illegal. Though the Supreme Court affirmed in the right of the BSA to openly discriminate in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale in 2000, when a gay Eagle Scout sued the organization after being dismissed following his coming out, the court also forced to recognize how the Scouts are subsidized by tax dollars from the government. The BSA regularly holds meetings at public schools and other government buildings, hosts conventions on military bases for little-to-no rent. This means that our tax money is indirectly being used to fund this discriminatory organization, and with it, its discriminatory policies. I maintain great respect for the Boy Scouts, both for its members and as an institution, just how I have always maintained great respect for this country's armed forces, even in spite of a similar prejudice held against homosexuals until 2010. Scouting provides myriad benefits for young boys, teaching them valuable leadership skills. Unfortunately, that message has been hijacked by the religious right in favor of conservative-style family values. This would not be the first time the BSA has updated its membership qualifications behind the rest of the country. It was not until 1974 that the last segregated scout troop was integrated. Further, women were not allowed in leadership roles until 1988. In both of these instances, societal pressure finally overcame discriminatory policies, which the organization insisted was absolutely necessary to the survival of Scouting. Black scouts and white scouts can now attend meeting side-by-side, and women may now become leaders; homosexuals should be able to follow suit. The original scouting organization, in the United Kingdom, has no similar ban on homosexuals. Neither do the Boy Scouts of Canada, Australia or Germany, to name a few. Additionally, the Girl Scouts of America maintain no such policy. However, the Boy Scouts of America, in perhaps one of the sadder examples of American exceptionalism, still sticks to the delusional idea that homosexuals are not "morally straight" or clean. For the record, the term "morally straight," with regard to scouting, is not in any way related to sexual orientation. It is with great hope that the Boy Scouts of America executive board votes to end this discriminatory policy once and for all. *
(02/05/13 5:00am)
Australia. Canada. Denmark. Eritrea. Estonia. Finland. France. Germany. Israel. North Korea. Lithuania. Netherlands. New Zealand. Norway. Poland. Romania. Sweden. The one thing that unites this group of 17 countries is their military policy. Women can serve in military combat roles in all of these countries. At long last, the United States is joining their ranks. Women have been part of the United States military since the Revolutionary War. Some worked as nurses and others disguised themselves as men to fight for their country. During both World War I and World War II, women joined the army as nurses and intelligence officers. By the time of the first Gulf War, more than 40,000 women were deployed in foreign combat, 15 of whom were killed by enemy combatants. Today, women make up around 15 percent of the armed forces. They serve in almost 95 percent of all army occupations. Two brigadier generals are female. Over 100 women have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet, up until just last week, women were prevented from officially serving in close-combat roles even though thousands of women have fought in close combat with enemy troops. It is time for women to be recognized as a major part of the United States military and in turn, allow them to take these combat roles. Women already serve as fighter pilots, artillery experts, engineers, sailors, everything but front-line soldiers. They have fought valiantly alongside their male counterparts, and have died for their countries. I applaud Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and leaders at the Pentagon for ending the archaic ban on women in certain combat positions. This is the 21st century. The United States is a global leader. We should be setting examples for the rest of the world, especially when it comes to gender rights and equalities. Women and men work side by side in factories, schools, law firms, government and in the armed forces and combat service, it should be no different. As a country, we should be able to move from discrimination in employment that is based simply on gender. Our troops are from all backgrounds, races and religions. Gay troops can openly serve. Gender should no longer be an obstacle to service. A common argument against women in combat is the physical strain required of soldiers. However, the military has certain physical requirements. If a man or a woman can meet them, he or she can enlist. This new policy change isn't going to do away with the physical requirements or make our soldiers less physically fit. In fact, studies by the Pentagon have found that while women have less upper body strength than men, they do have stronger legs and are less likely to get injured in the line of fire. I may not be a soldier, but I hope that in the line of fire, there are more important things to worry about than what gender your comrade is. There is also a clear and present positive externality that could come from having women serve to the same extent as men. The military has a strict code of conduct and obviously, adding women is not going to weaken it. If anything, this new policy change should strengthen that code. Rape is endemic among the armed forces, and in fact is still under-reported. Women who are sexually assaulted can be dishonorably discharged and their attackers never receive punishment. Perhaps if more women serve in combat positions and rise in the ranks, the military will be more focused on the issue of sexual assault, and will have to address it and help the victims more than they do today. Once women serving in combat is the norm and not the exception, men will hopefully see these women as their comrades and will treat them with due respect. The United States has been slowly but steadily moving towards gender equality. Allowing women in combat positions is just one more step. *
(02/05/13 5:00am)
* The good times continue to roll for the Judges. * The men's and women's fencing squads made a statement against their Division I foes at the Eric Sollee Invitational on Sunday, securing four and three victories respectively. The impressive result followed a collective eight-win performance at the second Northeast Fencing conference Meet at Brown University on Jan. 26. * Men's ?(c)p?(c)eist Michael Zook '13 noted that the squads fought well and displayed great persistence, especially against top squads such as No. 8 Duke University and No. 9 University of Pennsylvania. * "We definitely won all the matches we should have and even dominated some of them," he said. "It was a hard-fought effort against Penn and Duke, and of course, I don't think anyone feels bad about that. Overall, the day was a good success." * The Judges looked to channel their momentum into a heated first-round bout against the Stevens Institute of Technology. * The men's saberists started on the right foot with an 8-1 victory. ?ap?(c)eists Zook and Ari Feingiersch '16 then earned another two wins to continue the successful campaign. It appeared that the Judges were well on their way to a seismic victory that would set the tone for the rest of the day's bouts. * However, the rest of the journey proved to be quite formidable. While the ?(c)p?(c)eists and foilists struggled in defeats to Stevens, the men prevailed by a 16-11 margin. * Foilist Caroline Mattos '16 reeled off four successful bouts in a 6-3 victory over Stevens, but from here, the women lost the momentum in a 16-11 loss to the Ducks. * Brandeis proceeded to encounter a much more imposing challenge, then squaring off against top-ranked Duke. While the men and women ultimately failed to procure a win, losing by 15-12 and 20-17 margins, respectively, several individual fencers turned in strong performances. Saberist Jess Ochs-Willard '15, foilist Julian Cardillo '14 and ?(c)p?(c)eist Zoe Messinger '13 each earned two crucial victories against the Blue Devils, which proved a good measuring stick which the Judges were able to measure their progress. * The Judges sought revenge on New York University. And they were able to extract the justice that they sought, defeating their University Athletic Association rival by 17-10 and 15-12 margins. * Messinger and foilist Noah Berman '15 defended their UAA honors from the previous week with match-clinching bouts. Mattos earned another three victories while the men's saber squad cruised to an 8-1 victory, earning seven straight individual wins. The men continued to gain steam, defeating Haverford College by an 11-point margin. * ?ap?(c)eists Harry Kaufer '13 and Justin Kwon '16 recorded three wins en route to an 8-1 victory. Saberists Adam Mandel '15 and Ochs-Willard also paved the way for an imposing 7-2 win. These two scores contributed to an impressive 19-8 victory. * Mattos and Messinger each contributed three victories en route to a 17-10 defeat of Haverford. * Meanwhile, the Judges breezed past Yeshiva University with an imposing 51 victories, conceding a mere four points in the process. * Brandeis looked to make the finishing blow in a duel against the premier UPenn squad. However, the Judges still had work to do. While the women's foilists and ?(c)p?(c)eists contributed a total of three victories, the saberists gave the Quakers a run for their money. * Messinger and Emmily Smith '13 displayed their experience, closing to within one point of UPenn. Ultimately, though, Brandeis could not complete the comeback, losing by a tight 5-4 margin in the closing hours of the tournament. * Berman, Cardillo and foilist Ethan Levy '15 each earned two victories against the Quakers, but from there, the Judges' weapons could not pierce UPenn's seemingly impenetrable armor. * Zook noted that this experience against Division I opponents would prove to be crucial in future meets, especially against key opponents in the Beanpot Tournament such as Boston College and Harvard University. * "We have shown we can definitely pull weight against our Division I opponents," he said. * "It's a smaller sport, and with a lot of experience, you learn from quite a variation of skill levels." * The women will next travel to the New Jersey Institute of Technology this Saturday to square off against the hosts, Stevens, Temple University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. * Both squads will join together to compete in the Beanpot Tournament on Feb. 12, hosted at Boston College. * Zook concluded with a belief that the Judges have the requisite skill to succeed against their regional foes. * "It would be great to have a strong performance at the Beanpot," he said. "If we can take out BC and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and give Harvard a good fight, that'd be wonderful. We've certainly got the talent."
(01/29/13 5:00am)
This past Tuesday's Israeli legislative elections for the 19th Knesset gained relatively little international media attention despite the immense effect on the United States' and European Unions' Middle East politics and policies in the coming years, most notably with regards to Iran's alleged pursuit of obtaining nuclear capabilities. When first announced in October, the elections received much attention, but once international news outlets discovered that Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party would merge with Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) party in order to form a unified right-wing front, and in so doing, making it almost impossible for anyone but Bibi to take the prime minister's office, international interest plummeted. Many prematurely categorized the next government as one that would continue to follow the "status quo" in its relations with the Palestinians and its progress in the peace process. Outside of a few articles on Bayit Hayehudi leader Naftali Bennet's rise in popularity among Israeli voters, most notably in the form of a sizable article in the New Yorker which emphasized his radical views on how to deal with the Palestinians in the West Bank, there was an absence of news about Israel in the international media, which is otherwise fascinated by every aspect of Israeli politics. The results of the elections show how na??ve the media can be. Yair Lapid's centrist Yesh Atid party was crowned last Tuesday as the clear winner in this year's race. While the Likud-Beiteinu ticket was by far the popular winner, it received significantly fewer seats in the Knesset than originally expected, while Yesh Atid received double what they predicted to gain just days before the elections, and three times as many as began campaigning began. Lapid's party is now situated as the second largest in the country and has essentially been given the power to form the coalition that will govern the State of Israel. Yesh Atid, which was founded less than a year ago by a popular television host and whose candidate list consists of respectable community leaders, none of whom have previously held positions in the Knesset, is now in the driver's seat in deciding who will govern the United States' number one ally. I mention the lack of experience in Lapid's group not to delegitimize the party but rather to emphasize the absurdity in the lack of coverage that the international media has paid to this election. This being said, a deeper look at Yesh Atid will show that rather than keeping the Israeli government in the status quo, it is in a position to actively assist in shaping the country's policies. In every aspect, Yesh Atid is considered a centrist party. Every single one of its political stances is aimed at reaching the middle ground of the Israeli political spectrum, which it's capable of claiming, as none of its members have ever been affiliated with any other political party. The backgrounds of the party's eligible Knesset members are vast, and the central theme of Lapid's campaign has been to unify and improve all of Israeli public life. As an example, Lapid, who is commonly categorized as anti-religious due to his father's views of separating religious and public life in Israel, picked to fill the second spot on his candidates list Rabbi Shai Piron, who helped establishe one of the largest hesder yeshivot, a religious institution that combines Jewish learning and army service in the country. After the previous election in 2009, Tzipi Livni, who led the centrist party Kadima, which actually won the popular election but could not form a coalition large enough to rule the Knesset was forced to head the opposition party. Centrist political parties have always been a big part of Israeli politics, but unfortunately, after Livni began her mission of opposition to Netanyahu's leadership, her "centrist" views quickly slid leftward in order to oppose the right-wing hold on the government. This has created a scenario in Israel that seems all too similar to that of America: Right vs. Left. At times, the polarization that has formed in Israel over the past few years has shown signs of transforming a political spectrum that was once nicely distributed from one extreme to the other into one that is weighted on both sides, pulling those caught in the middle to one end or the other. The media saw this polarization continue to worsen and judged that the elections were not worth covering. However, they missed the boat on Yesh Atid. The day after the election results were announced, rumors began flying that Lapid would join an "obstructive bloc" that would contend for a chance to rule the government in a similar situation to what happened in 2009 when Livni won the popular vote, but could not take the office of the prime minister. Lapid quickly and firmly denied these rumors, stating that he would join the coalition with Likud-Beiteinu. He essentially stated that he would not take part in undermining the public opinion, which evidently preferred a center-right government. Rather than side with the left-wing bloc, which would cause an eventual leftward slide to right-wing opposition, and theoretically position Lapid as a potential prime minister, Yesh Atid claims that it will hold steady in the center. Lapid has now placed his party in a position to add an effective centrist view to the government. Rather than compromising its ideology in order to gain power, Yesh Atid will have the opportunity to make a significant change within a coalition that has shifted and been pushed to the right. By choosing to work with, rather than oppose, the most popular party in the country, Lapid and Yesh Atid will finally be in a position to bridge the gap between the right and left camps and begin dissolving the polarization which has been ravishing Israeli politics.
(01/29/13 5:00am)
Last November, alumna Leslie Aronzon '84 was officially appointed to the Board of Trustees for a four-year term after the Board voted to approve her selection. After being nominated during the summer of 2012, Aronzon went through an extensive process that included an interview with the nominating committee of the Board of Trustees. Following the nomination, interview and discussion among the nominating committee, she was presented to the full board for a vote. "I was thrilled to join [the Board]. I loved Brandeis and have remained active since I graduated," wrote Aronzon in an email to the Justice. "It is a very high powered group of individuals who have taken on great responsibility in guiding the institution. When President Lawrence and other board members asked me about it, I jumped at the opportunity." Her position took effect immediately, as due to the timing of her nomination her term technically took effect the day after Commencement 2012. "At Brandeis I developed an intellectual curiosity that I didn't have before," said Aronzon, quoted in the Jan. 22 BrandeisNOW article. "I had conversations with my peers that I never had with my friends from home. We talked about the [Reagan vs. Carter] election and the issues of the day. It really jazzed me up." Aronzon said that her experience at Brandeis has led to her active involvement since graduation. In addition to her position as the newest addition to the Board of Trustees, Aronzon is a member of the Alumni Association Board and most recently acted as its vice president. According to BrandeisNOW, Aronzon returned to California after graduation, and earned her MBA from the University of Southern California five years later. "I do not work in a traditional job at the moment, I stay home with my three children," wrote Aronzon. "I do sit on other boards and do extensive philanthropic work and lots of volunteering at their schools. My career path was an investment banker. I specialized in bankruptcies and workouts, in particular, distressed [mergers and acquisitions]." Her philanthropic work over the years has included working with the Jewish Free Loan Association of Los Angeles, as stated in BrandeisNOW. According to Aronzon, she plans to remain in her home state of California and will fly to Massachusetts for the four Board meetings that occur in person per year, and plans to conduct meetings over the telephone as needed. Aronzon is just one of approximately 28 current board members who are alumni of the University. Only roughly 10 other members remain who are not University alumni. *
