(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. *
(01/29/13 5:00am)
"Vision is what one has, but visualizing is the active challenge to all of us and that is what we are about today," University President Frederick Lawrence said at the Brandeis Visions for Israel in an Evolving World conference on Sunday. Over 200 students from 17 schools across the Northeast attended the conference, which was held to help facilitate discussions about Israel on college campuses. bVIEW is a movement created by students who feel that current discussion about Israel can be polarized and unproductive. Lawrence pointed out that the V in bVIEW stands for visions. There are multiple visions for Israel, and all of them need to be talked about, he said. The conference, as bVIEW content and program director Natan Odenheimer '15 said in the introduction, would help students "think constructively about the future." Odenheimer said he had noticed that students have "difficulty discussing challenging issues regarding Israel." The bVIEW founders believe that in order for positive change to occur in Israel, the discourse on campus needs to be improved. The conference encouraged students, who bVIEW deem as the next generation that can influence the situation in Israel, to voice their opinions in a healthy, open environment. Following the introductory session, bVIEW Codirector Erica Shaps '13 moderated a panel on Israel programming on college campuses. The panelists included Lex Rofes, a senior at Brown University and a student representative on the Board of Directors of Hillel at Brown; Matt Lebovic, senior campus associate at Combined Jewish Philanthropies; Daniel May, director of J Street U; and Larry Sternberg, executive director of Hillel at Brandeis. The first question Shaps asked the panelists was about who plays a major role in dictating campus programming on Israel. Lebovic said that he believes students should make most of the decisions but outside organizations can still be important. Student organized programs can be heavily influenced by activists, Sternberg pointed out. May added that programs do not have to be adversarial in order to be productive. "The most successful student groups are the ones that understand that the university is a political universe," he said. He continued that it is important for students to lead the discussion, but it is impossible for it to be completely separate from the outside world. The panelists were then asked what they would like campus programming to look like in an ideal world. "I think that we learn a lot more when we associate very directly ... with people who differ from ourselves," said Rofe, adding that conferences such as bVIEW allow for the necessary "constructive discomfort." May also said that different ideologies should interact, to make the discussion "intellectually rigorous, diverse and politically engaged." Lebovic said that there can be a disconnect between what students are discussing in America and what is happening in Israel, and he would like to see students continue the discussion by going to Israel to see the situation for themselves. The final question posed to the panelists was whether or not there are boundaries to the discussion on Israel. May answered that there are no limits to who is included; all parts of the population in Israel need to be part of the conversation. There are, however, limits to what should be said in the discussion, he said. "There is such a thing as hateful speech." Sternberg brought up the example of a Knesset debate, where all of the members talk over each other. "The purpose of the convening is conversation. Conversations require listening," said Sternberg. He believes that the extremes should be included if everyone listens to each other. There is a difference between having boundaries on opinions and having them on actions, Lebovic said. "Universities should be able to self-select their members and strategies based on the actions of who wants to [join]." Only expression that leads to violence should be limited, said Lebovic. The questions asked by students, as well as the individual table discussions that followed the panel, reflected the goals of the event as a whole. Students wanted to know what their impact will be on the outside world and how to make that world what they want it to be. Thirty-eight bVIEW student facilitators led the discussions, including Hannah Kober '16. "I think that people should gain a greater understanding of what Israel discussion could look like on campus, as opposed to what is looks like right now, which is very polarized," Kober said.
(01/21/13 5:00am)
As I sat in my elementary school classroom 12 years ago, two planes crashed into the North and South towers of the World Trade Center complex. New York City. Where I spent Thanksgiving, where my dad often worked and the emblem of everything American. Since then, the government has tracked down and killed many people responsible for the attacks, but most prominently spent an entire decade looking for the Al-Qaeda leader in charge-Osama bin Laden. Zero Dark Thirty, directed by Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker), chronicles the CIA's lengthy search for bin Laden and the obstacles it faced. In 2003, young CIA operative Maya (Jessica Chastain) is reassigned to the U.S. embassy in Pakistan where she joins Dan (Jason Clarke) in numerous visits to black sites, where Al-Qaeda suspects are brutally interrogated. Many of the opening scenes of the movie display these graphic, detailed torture scenes-Bigelow does not shy away from the brutality of the alleged torture that occurred throughout the bin Laden manhunt. Naturally, the scenes received mixed responses about the legitimacy of including something that controversial; some even called for the blacklisting of Zero Dark Thirty from the Academy Awards. But, let the record show, I was not surprised or shocked by the torture scenes-it was expected. We know that past and current administrations allegedly turned a blind eye to torture interrogations. It was all in the name of American security, and it is not this movie's job to judge such acts as right or wrong. As a whole, the 157-minute film left me in awe of the stellar acting, intense plot and masterful directorial vision. I was never bored, never checked my watch and never even questioned the length of the movie. The plot was fast-paced enough to keep viewers entertained, yet the drama and suspense added the substance that typical action movies lack. Though many critics may argue against the film's historical accuracy, I believe that Zero Dark Thirty is an outstanding portrayal of real events that changed the politics and culture of the United States. We know the real story, but Bigelow's adaption brings a realistic insight into this historical event. To avoid any spoilers, I can't go into detail about my favorite, standout scenes, but there are some shockers-moments that caught me completely off guard. There are also emotional appeals, leading to the turning point where Maya's search for bin Laden becomes more of a personal vendetta. In that same vein, Chastain explodes on the screen in her role. As a rising star, Chastain completely blew me away in her complex portrayal of a woman often in dangerous situations, following her own intuition despite the adversity she faces. Even when no one else believes the leads Chastain has on tracking bin Laden, she sticks to her guns and doesn't give up-nonstop for ten whole years. As for the supporting cast, Clarke's ruggedly handsome appearance mixed with badass, no-nonsense attitude make a great counter to Chastain's tough, yet feminine demeanor. His interactions with Ammar (Reda Kateb), the prisoner, are especially compelling and the two characters build an interesting cat-and-mouse dynamic. Despite the brutality, the scenes are incredibly believable and I really enjoyed watching Clarke's more psychological interrogations of Ammar, like teasing out information in return for food or cigarettes. By the time bin Laden's compound in Pakistan is stormed by special forces, the movie spirals rapidly through the raid of the building. They encounter over a dozen people in the massive house as they painstakingly search through every room for the target. This introspective into the life of bin Laden was surprisingly touching and gave a sense of humanity to one of the most hunted men in American history. I strongly recommend Zero Dark Thirty, not only as a highly entertaining movie, but also as something every American should be aware of. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and the subsequent capture of bin Laden are an integral part of American culture and I believe this movie does both events justice.
(01/21/13 5:00am)
Between running to class, balancing extracurricular activities and maintaining some sort of social life, college students barely have spare time-let alone time to watch hours of television. In honor of the new year, with so many television series back from hiatus and even some new shows celebrating their winter premiers, four Justice editors have compiled their favorite TV shows (or at least those that are worth watching). Consider this your four-step guide to televised bliss. What do you think? Check it out and tune in! 'Girls' displays real life HBO's new series Girls certainly made waves at the Golden Globes, but not all viewers are convinced of its merit. The show, which follows a group of twenty-something post-college white elite living in a stereotypical hipster neighborhood in Brooklyn, can sometimes hit a bit too close to home. The graphic, rather awkward sex scenes and the fallible, irrational characters are both easy to criticize. Yet it is the rawness of the show that, if you can bear to watch it, makes it so relatable. After all, real life includes making poor decisions and learning from them. The girls struggle in their romantic relationships, but the true beauty of their characters is found in their interactions with each other. Each female character represents a different personality that resonates with the audience: Shoshana represents a certain na??vet?(c); Marnie comes to terms with her own loneliness, dealing with rejection for the first time in her life; Jessa is that free spirit we are all somewhat envious and skeptical of; and Hannah demonstrates what it means to struggle with reaching adulthood, being cut off from her parents and losing her jobs. Writer-director Lena Dunham, who also plays Hannah, describes a double-standard in society's expectations for girls. They pursue men who treat them badly, balance their personal finances poorly and act unprofessionally at work. The behaviors are bad, but the characters are not. The writing encapsulates what has traditionally defined Jewish humor-a low self-worth and high self-confidence. Despite their flaws, Dunham hopes that ultimately the audience is rooting for them. With the new winter premier, and ratings as high as ever, it seems we all have the faith in Dunham's characters that she hoped for. -Robyn Spector 'Mindy' sasses up doctor drama Since last fall, Mindy Kaling's show The Mindy Project has fully captured my attention with its subject matter, witty writing and superb acting. On the show, Mindy plays an Ob/Gyn working with two other male doctors, creating a great dynamic for each episode because Mindy is the complete opposite of the two male doctors. The supporting cast surrounding Mindy is dynamic, adding a lot of depth to the show that some TV shows lack. The two receptionists are complete opposites, and the male nurse Morgan (Ike Barinholtz) could probably have an entire show based solely off of him-he is completely nuts and 100 percent amusing. What I find most appealing about The Mindy Project is that it seems very honest. While some aspects of the show (Mindy crashing her ex's wedding and giving a drunken toast to the couple) are probably somewhat embellished for comedy's sake, I find myself believing that these incidents are based off of ones that Mindy experienced in her own life. In the same vein as HBO's Girls, the more realistic (a.k.a. not perfect) characters add to the honesty and allure of the show. As much as I love HBO's huge hit Sex and the City, the lives of those four women were often too neatly packaged. In The Mindy Project, the characters have dilemmas that us "normal" people have. While some critics of the show complain that the problems Mindy faces are too relationship-focused for such a strong female character, I find it's the opposite: Mindy is a strong female character and she isn't afraid to go out and find exactly what she wants from a relationship. Luckily for us, her journey in her personal and professional life makes for great television. -Marielle Temkin Perry resurrects himself in 'Go On' As a Friends lover, I started watching Go On hoping Matthew Perry would continue his role as a witty and hysterical character. In his new role as Ryan King, a big time sports reporter, he attempts to cope with the loss of his wife, Janey. In doing so, he joins a therapy group containing anything but ordinary characters, all of whom are dealing with some sort of a loss, ranging from the death of a cat to the death of a child. The group, which is lead by Lauren (Laura Benanti), who has no formal training, somehow manages to encourage the members to lean on each other, creating a family-like bond and support system. They help one another move on through weekly get-togethers and supporting each another in and out of their meetings, including birthday celebrations and family events. While he has struggled to transition to new roles after finding success with Friends, Matthew Perry makes the leap brilliantly into this comedic, yet realistic series in which he once again immerses himself in a television pseudo-family. In Perry's past role, he was one of the six gifted actors who equally contributed, but in Go On he establishes himself as the clear star. Initially skeptical of joining this group of misfits, Ryan soon finds he's more like them than he thought and ends up establishing himself as their new leader. They seem to idolize him, not only because he is a famous sportscaster but also for his phenomenal sense of humor. With his "too good" attitude Ryan ridicules the group members for their strange characteristics, yet also pokes plenty of fun at himself along the way, and joins in their antics. Although Perry excels at his role, the show's plot, while often humorous, can seem uncreative at times. All of the plot's most basic elements have been seen before, such as a lonely, successful man searching to find love, and a seemingly strange group of people who happen to get along. Overall, Go On is a simple yet immensely satisfying show. With the seemingly depressing theme for a show, the writers do a great job of deciding what about the subject of loss is funny and what is just sad. It may not have won any Golden Globes, and I'm not sure it should, but I still find the time to keep up with the episodes. -Rachel Burkhoff First family isn't all it's cracked up to be NBC's new comedy this season has been compared to The West Wing and Modern Family, two masterful shows in their respective genres. But 1600 Penn, a sitcom based on a fictional first family and their life in the White House, doesn't live up to the promotional hype. The show has funny moments but it largely disappoints due to predictable and caricatured characters. 1600 Penn follows President Dale Gilchrist (Bill Pullman), his second wife Emily (Jenna Elfman) and his five children from his first marriage. Josh Gad, the Book of Mormon star, plays Gilchrist's young adult son, Skip, who has moved back in with his parents after seven unsuccessful years of college. He is a sweet-hearted idiotic buffoon who acts like a kid in a candy shop while running around the White House. Becca (Martha MacIsaac) is a goodie two-shoes, and an impressive and intelligent daughter. However, in a moment of weakness, she makes one of the first poor decisions in her life and doesn't use a condom, leading to an embarrassing pregnancy plastered all over the media. The show has moments of true humor, like when son Josh Gad mouths off at a racist old senator at a public reception--or when he inadvertently lets slip details of his sister's pregnancy to the media. But as much as Gad brings the humor, his character's flaw is that he is too lucky to believe (he secures an international trade treaty by giving a pep talk to a room full of Latin American ambassadors). Aside from Gad, wit is hard to find in the first three episodes of the simplistic comedy that defines 1600 Penn. In all, it's a decent new show for NBC, which is facing some significant losses in its sitcom repertoire. The good news is that the characters have the potential to grow and improve. -Andrew Wingens
(01/21/13 5:00am)
The American narrative is composed of stories of struggle, triumph and coexistence. The promise of happiness and freedom is literally written into the fiber of our country, but it is a promise systematically kept out of the reach of the country's minority populations. Between two of America's most culturally conspicuous minority groups, blacks and Jews, there has been a tumultuous discourse that follows both groups in pursuit of these promises through a shared history of oppression, disparities in the allotment of privilege, rise in socio-political awareness and access to the American power infrastructure. And it is these themes in our history that have led the two groups from zenith to nadir to hiatus over the last six decades. If we posit Brandeis, like all colleges and universities, as a microcosm of society, we can follow these trends in the social interactions between black and Jews on campus. A mass influx of Jews to the North following WWII was met by a mass exodus of blacks from the South-the Great Migration. It was in the North that the first substantial contact between black and Jews was made. Until this point there was little to go on in terms of black and Jewish relations. Out of this northern context grew the first strands of tensions between the two. While both groups faced discrimination, Jews, who typically were seen as white, were in a more privileged position. As Civil Rights picked up during the mid-50s there was massive Jewish interest in the fight against injustice in the South. The majority of whites involved in the movement were Jewish as well as its funders. This is the atmosphere that Brandeis University was created in, the 'zenith of the coalition' both groups drawing on their oppressive histories working together for the greater good. Our University's history offers a unique approach in addressing the need for greater diversity on college campuses. The institution was founded in response to quotas place on Jewish applicants at elite institutions. Since its inception, Brandeis has been dedicated to promoting the virtues of equality and social justice in honor of our namesake Louis Brandeis. But there came a time when more radical identity politics were necessary for the true advancement of the black race and this created an awkward space for white involvement. At Brandeis, the 60s witnessed what was happening at universities throughout the nation when black students voiced their needs and demands in radical ways. Black students forced Brandeis to take more aggressive steps to bridge the gap between diverse communities and different peoples. While there are currently no major tensions flaring, black and Jewish relations, on- and off-campus, are embarrassingly stagnate. We are two sub-cultures that have drifted so far from our beginnings-our world changing marches, our paradigm shifting clashes of opinion. We have become so content in this distance that there is no room for mutual growth. This is dangerous in a society so drenched in hierarchy that silence implies consent. With this in mind, the leaders of Brandeis Black Student Organization, MLK and Friends and the Brandeis Israel Public Affairs Committee, have joined together, despite their different interests, to challenge our communities to candid discussion, hoping to change the way black and Jewish students at Brandeis interact with one another. In an effort to 'lay the wood' for these fires, these groups have joined to create a joint pilgrimage to Israel with a delegation of five black and five Jewish students. The aim of this trip is to use education and cultural immersion to bridge the gap of cultural differences and create an environment in which the participants understand each other better, and bond over what brings us together, rather than what separates us. Called Brandeis Bridges, the intercultural pilgrimage will be the first step in enhancing and developing student leaders of various backgrounds knowledge and appreciation for all the Brandeis has to offer -exposing non-Jewish students to the importance of Israel in the lives of Jews around the world, as well as exposing students of Jewish descent to a culture that often goes overlooked on campus with a second pilgrimage to a site of equal importance for people of African descent. Additionally, the trip will expose students to the holiness and history that Judaism, Christianity and Islam holds in Israel. Most importantly, Brandeis Bridges will serve as a vision of unity for current and future Brandeis students to reach out to the strange and unfamiliar. Many say that Brandeis is the microcosm of the greater American Jewish community, a center of thought that produces innovative and forward looking ideas during any given generation. We would like to go further; to see Brandeis become the microcosm of intercultural dialogue on college campuses across the United States. We hope to change the way peoples of different backgrounds, cultures and religions interact with one another. The only way to achieve this is through our common voice and action. Bringing together the Black and Jewish communities at Brandeis will serve as the first step. Alex Thomson and Ryan Yuffe are the co-presidents of Brandeis Israel Public Affairs Committee, Amanda Dryer is president of MLK and Friends, Ra Imhotep is president of Brandeis Black Student Organization and D'Andre Young is treasurer of Brandeis Black Student Organization.
(01/21/13 5:00am)
Despite having only one week of training under their belts since winter break, the men's and women's track and field teams had yet another weekend to remember. Following a solid showing at the Dartmouth Relays on Sunday, Jan. 13, the squads turned in several strong performances at the Greater Boston Track Club Invitational this past Sunday.
(01/21/13 5:00am)
Few authors would be able to write a New York Times bestselling memoir as a rowdy and uncontrollable ape wreaks havoc on their daily thought processes. For Daniel Smith '99, and his "monkey mind," it has become second nature. Smith, author of the critically acclaimed Monkey Mind: A Memoir of Anxiety and a contributor for such notable publications as The Atlantic, The New Yorker and New York Times Magazine, has suffered from a lifelong battle with anxiety. It all began in 1993, the moment in which, at 16 years old, he lost his virginity to a middle-aged woman in an upstate New York motel. Smith's decision to engage in this spur-of-the-moment threesome, and the persistent sexual and moral ruminations that ensued, laid the foundation for his "monkey mind," a mental planet of the apes. From there, his harrowing journey continued as a student in the "epicenter of anxiety" at Brandeis, through his turbulent years as a staff editor at The Atlantic Monthly, and eventually, to a moment in which his ever-growing anxiety extended into the irrational. Faced with an impending libel lawsuit and failed relationship, Smith stood immobilized at the condiments counter of a Roy Rogers restaurant, convinced that a choice between ketchup and barbeque sauce meant life and death. In addition to its critical success, Monkey Mind is groundbreaking, as it is the first memoir to confront the pervasive problem of anxiety in American life. "Although there were many memoirs of depression, there was no book that detailed what it is like to live a life of anxiety," Smith said. "Everyone talked in metaphorical terms about anxiety, either through the lens of clinical or self-help psychology, but no one tethered it to work, family, love and relationships." Anxiety consumed every detail of Smith's life, figuring prominently in his sexual, professional and even routine decisions. It caused him to wear sweat pads under his armpits and chew his cuticles until they bled. Despite all of this, Monkey Mind reads less like a taxing account of anxiety and more like a stand-up comedy routine. Smith noted that this memoir marked a return to an approach he had not practiced since his short-lived stint as a humor columnist for the Justice. He diverged from the hard-hitting stories about anxiety and psychotherapy, and instead, just "wrote funny." "Monkey Mind was something I had not done since my time at Brandeis," he said. "I finally just sat down and reverted back to my humor writing days. While I may have agonized for days, for the first time, I truly enjoyed writing." Yet, after resigning from the Justice, he channeled his nervous energy as a Brandeis student into one of the most anxiety-inducing professions: acting. Smith's involvement with the improvisation group False Advertising caused him to emerge as an entirely different person. He explained that acting allowed him the opportunity to engage with the present and, in turn, dissociate from past and future thoughts that continually plagued him. "Anxiety is related to time," he said. "I always looked forward to something that could be wrong or reflected upon a past mistake. I wasn't anxious on stage because I immersed myself in the present and displaced time. More importantly, I enjoyed myself." As Smith reflected on his college experience, he noted that Brandeis allowed him to establish a system of order and expand his scholarly horizons. "Brandeis signaled to me what would be at the core of my anxiety," he said. "It also allowed me to explore things that presented order and lent me the opportunity to engage in the intellectual world." Smith used that opportunity to his advantage, beginning his professional career as a staff editor in the hallowed halls of The Atlantic Monthly. Anxiety didn't figure prominently into this decision. Smith relished the prospect of working with the mythic giants of literary journalism and, after college, brought the battle to the legendary North End office. "In my college experiences, I discovered that communication was an art form and I wanted to join the priesthood," he said. "I breathed in the air of literary giants and found that journalism was the safe way to get to writing." It wasn't too safe though. After his highly controversial feature on shock therapy for The Atlantic, the prospects of a lawsuit and the intense criticism overwhelmed Smith's tireless efforts to manage his anxiety. It nearly destroyed his relationship with his future wife and threatened his sanity. Yet, after the latest chapter in a heated battle with anxiety, Smith is winning the war. He boasts a storied literary career including the publication of his first book Muses, Madmen, and Prophets: Hearing Voices and the Borders of Sanity, currently holds the Mary Ellen Donnelly Critchlow Endowed Chair in English at the College of New Rochelle and is already in the process of writing a third book. Monkey Mind taught Smith a valued lesson: He learned that anxiety does not preempt the ability to exhibit self-control and change one's lifestyle. "If I could provide any advice for those suffering from anxiety, it would be that you can actually exert discipline and change habits," he said. "It can in fact change how you think to not be a train wreck." For Smith, that means his next trip to Roy Rogers will hopefully be a smooth one.
