(01/15/08 5:00am)
Medical EmergencyDec. 16-A caller in Ziv Quad reported that her roommate was sick. BEMCo treated the student and transported her to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital.Dec. 17-Psychological staff in Mailman requested an ambulance for a patient. The party was transported without incident.Dec. 18-A caller in the Foster Mods reported that an individual fell on ice and had a laceration on the wrist. BEMCo treated the individual, who was transported to theNewton-Wellesley hospital for further care.Harassment Dec. 18-Human Resources received a harassing e-mail. University Police compiled a report. Dec. 29-A suspicious letter was received in the Shapiro Campus Center. University Police compiled a report. LarcenyDec. 18-An individual in the Science complex reported her her purse and laptop were stolen. University Police compiled a report.DisturbanceDec. 19-A group of students in Rosenthal Quad were reported being loud and yelling. The individuals were Bentley College students. The group was dispersed. TrafficDec. 17-An individual in the Castle lot reported that she hit a car near the castle. University Police compiled a report.Dec. 18-A vehicle on the Loop Road hit a parked car. University Police compiled a report. Dec. 18-A vehicle in Kutz Lot hit another vehicle and left. Damage was found on the hit vehicle's bumper. University Police compiled a report.Dec. 18-Damage was discovered on the left front bumper of a police car in Stoneman Lot. Dec. 20-An individual in the Castle Lot reported a hit and run to his vehicle. University Police compiled a report. Vandalism Jan. 3-A vehicle owner reported that the car was broken into during the night. A GPS charger was removed from the vehicle. University Police compiled a report.MiscellaneousDec. 17-An individual in the Castle reported an older man wearing a blue hat and coat banging on the doors, trying to get into the building. The man works for Watertown flooring and they were installing carpet within the area. All was in order.Dec. 21-An individual on Charles River Road reported a suspicious male sleeping on a couch. University Police checked the area but did not find anyone. Dec. 21-An individual was stopped at the back of the Castle. The Brandeis graduate student was advised not to be in the rear of residences. -Compiled by Anya Bergman
(05/22/07 4:00am)
When students return to Brandeis in August, they will be arriving on a campus busy with construction.In a memo sent to the Brandeis community May 10, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Peter French detailed the demolitions, renovations and constructions that will begin over the next year.The construction of the Shapiro Science Complex will continue throughout the summer, as will the renovation of the Heller-Brown building, the memo says. New projects include the on-schedule demolition of Ridgewood Quad; the restoration of the Rabb steps; the renovation of the Deroy residence hall in Massell Quad, to be finished in time to house the midyear class of 2011; the removal of the gravel pile from Chapels Field; and the conversion of the space vacated by the University Registrar in Kutz Hall into a graduate student center.Construction of the Safra Center for the Arts is scheduled to begin early next year.French's memo did, however, note one planned project that will not be happening in the immediate future: The construction of a new parking lot has been postponed, French said, because it would be too disruptive with the other projects going on around campus. After talking to the construction managers of the new residence hall and the science complex, "the conclusion was that we have to postpone [the new parking lot] for a couple of years," French said. "And that's exactly what we're doing."This was also decided in concordance with the Waltham Fire department and the Waltham Police, to ensure that there would be enough emergency access.Aggregate Industries, which has its concrete plant adjacent to the campus, has been talking about selling its property to the University French said. It is not clear whether or not this will actually happen, he said. About seven years ago, French said, there was also talk of this."That would be a good site to put a parking garage on," French said about the property. French speculated that the project would be pushed back about two-and-a-half years.
(04/24/07 4:00am)
Medical EmergencyApr. 16-An individual in Massell Quad called to report that a student had a 104-degree temperature. BEMCo treated the student on-scene with a signed refusal for further care.Apr. 17-There was a report from East Quad that a male had a seizure. He was transported by ambulance to a Boston-area hospital.Apr. 17-There was a report from Massell Quad of a female who received a head injury the day before and was not feeling well.Apr. 20-There was a report from North Quad that a male had suffered a head injury. BEMCo transported the student to the Newton- Wellesley Hospital.Apr. 21-An individual in the Shapiro Campus Center was elbowed in the face by an unknown person when the victim tried to separate a fight between that person and another individual. BEMCo responded to the injured party.Apr. 21-There was a report of an intoxicated female in the Shapiro Campus Center. An ambulance was called with a signed refusal for further care. Apr. 21-A male injured his knee on the soccer field at Gosman. BEMCo was notified.DisturbanceApr. 16-There was a complaint in North Quad that a group of individuals were screaming inside the lounge, and that the caller asked them twice to quiet down. University police found two students sitting quietly.Apr. 19-There was a complaint in Ridgewood Quad that a student's roommate was smoking inside the apartment and playing loud music. University Police told the student to turn down the music.Apr. 19-There was a noise complaint in Ziv Quad of a person playing drums loudly.Apr. 20-There was a complaint in Cedarwood Park of individuals playing with paintball guns. Waltham Police were notified.Apr. 21-There was a noise complaint in the Foster Mods of loud music and people yelling. The group dispersed after leaving the authorized party.Apr. 21-Knight Security was called into the Shapiro Campus center to break up a fight. An unknown student fled prior to the arrival of University police. An individual from Student Events broke up the fight.Apr. 22-There was a noise complaint of loud music at 567 South St. The party complied and turned off the music.Apr. 22-There was a complaint of people talking loudly and laughing outside of Ziv Quad. The group was asked to move inside.Apr. 22-There was a noise complaint of loud music in Ziv Quad. When approached, the party turned off the music.TrafficApr. 17-There was a report of a small accident involving motor vehicles in Charles River Lot. University Police checked the area, but was unable to locate the vehicle.Apr. 18-There was a report of a two-car collision in the Charles River Lot. Apr. 20-A Public Safety officer backed into a BEMCo vehicle and hit the door on the driver's side. A report was filed.Apr. 21-There was a report of a hit-and-run in Kutz lot.Apr. 22-There was a report from the Main Gate of a minor accident and injury. BEMCo treated the parties on-scene with signed refusals for further care. Larceny/TheftApr. 20-An individual from the Foster Mods reported that a car was broken into. The window was smashed and an iPod and radar detector were stolen.HarassmentApr. 18-A faculty member reported receiving harassing e-mail.MiscellaneousApr. 15-A caller in Lown reported that his computer was turned off when he left his classroom and wanted someone to check the area. University police responded.Apr. 20-There was a report of unknown parties entering a room in Ziv Quad. The bed in the room was tipped over and pieces of clothing were thrown on the floor. Nothing was reported missing, and no report was filed.Apr. 21-There was a report of two males trying to open doors to Ziv and Ridgewood. -Compiled by Anya Bergman
(03/06/07 5:00am)
In an effort to improve the efficiency of our distribution, the Justice has made several changes to how our circulation is distributed over the past year. Newsstands have been placed at several outdoor locations throughout the campus, and issues are available on news racks in numerous buildings on campus. Issues are also available throughout Waltham. In this reorganization, it is inevitable that some readers may no longer find issues of the Justice in familiar places. We regret any inconvenience. Complete list of distribution sites:Massell QuadNorth QuadEast QuadRosenthal QuadLibraryZiv QuadRabb stepsShapiro Campus Center New Distribution Sites VillageScience ComplexUsdan Student CenterSherman Dining HallAdmissions buildingGosman Sports and Convocation CenterSacharBernstein MarcusSlosbergWSCRHealth CenterStonemanRose Art MuseumKutzResidence LifeHellerBrownPresident's officeOff campusWalgreensHannafordProspect CafSabatino'sCappy'sPrime DeliLizzy'sBack Pages BooksWatch City Brewery
(02/13/07 5:00am)
New safety features that Vice President for Campus Operations Mark Collins said would be in place on East Quad Hill by the start of this semester have not yet been added.Collins and Student Union officials say a railing will be put in place within the next few weeks. Collins said in December that Facilities would add a new coat of asphalt to the hill and build a third railing along the middle of the path, as many students, including members of the Campus Operations Working Group, complain the hill is slippery and unsafe. COWG is a group of undergraduates that brings student concerns about campus infrastructure to Collins. Senator at Large Andrew Brooks '09, a COWG member and East Quad resident, said he brought the issue to Collins' attention.East Quad Senator Jessica Blumberg '09 said in December she was aware of several injuries due to the hill. Collins said the improvements haven't been made yet because Facilities Services was busy over winter break with higher priority projects, such as moving the pipelines by the hill closer to Kutz Hall. "Fortunately, the hill has been kept well-salted and I have not heard of anyone getting hurt since returning to school," Blumberg said. "[Until] the construction is done, we will continue to treat the hill as necessary to prevent ice buildup," Collins said. "And I would encourage students to also consider using the stairs on either side of the path." The middle railing would only be a temporary solution to the hazard of the steep hill. Collins said last December that completely fixing the hill by building a staircase or platforms would require lengthy planning and careful budgeting, but did not rule out that possibility in the future.
(02/06/07 5:00am)
As part of a long-term plan to make Usdan a one-stop location for student services, the offices of Undergraduate Academic Affairs and Student Enrichment Services merged to become the Office of Academic Services, located on the second floor of Usdan.The two offices, formerly located in Kutz Hall, are now steps away from the Office of Residence Life, the Hiatt Career Center and Student Financial Services.Kim Godsoe, who assumed the newly created role of Dean of Academic Services after a nationwide search, said it is "wonderful" that the office is so close to other services such as the Hiatt Career Center.After a search that some faculty members felt was not transparent, a search committee headed by Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer chose Godsoe.Godsoe's former position as head of Enrichment Services and the position of head of Academic Affairs, held by Michele Rosenthal, were eliminated in the merge.Rosenthal and Godsoe were both candidates to become the new director of the merged office, and the position was eventually offered to the latter.In a campuswide e-mail, Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Jean Eddy wrote, "During her eight years at the University, Michele has been tireless in her advocacy for students and the programs that support them."Eddy said Rosenthal is an academics consultant until the end of the academic year.Dean for the Junior and Senior Classes Wendy Russman-Halperin, who previously served under Rosenthal, expressed pleasure with the merger: "The two offices are together, so it makes it much easier to confer with each other. It's much easier to work together with Student Enrichment." Student Enrichment provided services for students who need additional support, such as study groups, free workshops, textbook vouchers and other programs now part of the new office. Undergraduate Academic Affairs included the Roosevelt Fellows program, class-specific advising, study-abroad guidance and pre-professional advising. Godsoe called the split between the two offices "unnatural.""We're trying to make academic advising at Brandeis a lot easier to get to," Godsoe said. "My vision is really a space that students" find welcoming and comfortable, and that they can use as a resource.According to Godsoe, one of the new features of the new department is drop-in hours between 1 and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. "Every afternoon, you can come in . and there's somebody there to talk to you," even though they may not be your advisor, she said.The Office is in the process of hiring a first-year advisor, Russman-Halperin said.According to the job listing on the Human Resources site, that advisor would develop programs for first-year students and supervise "undergraduate peer advisors." These duties were previously responsibilities of Rosenthal.According to Godsoe, the number of student appointments for academic advising has increased significantly since the beginning of the semester. "I think more people will take notice of [Academic Affairs] and they can do more activities which will bridge the two services," said Keren Stiebel '09, participant in the Student Support Services Program.
(10/17/06 4:00am)
A power outage left much of the campus without electricity Thursday night. Parts of upper campus-including the Goldfarb Library and the Usdan Student Center-were without power from around 11:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Friday, said Joseph Castronovo, the electrical supervisor for Facilities Services.The cause of the blackout is still under investigation, Castronovo said, but the problem involved some of the University's new electrical equipment.In a campuswide e-mail, Chief Operating Officer Peter French said off-campus work done Thursday by the electric company NStar may have triggered the power surge that disrupted the campus electrical network.Electricity was also lost in the Science Complex, North Academic Quad, North Residence Quad, Kutz, Goldfarb, Rosenthal, Massell, the Administrative Complex, Sherman and the Faculty Center, according to French. The campus' computer and phone systems remained operational during the blackout, he said.
(09/19/06 4:00am)
Medical EmergencySep 11-A Castle resident reported a femle friend was having chest pains. BEMCO was dispatched and the individual was treated with a signed refusal for futher care.Sep 13-There was a report of a woman at the Usdan Student Center with back pain. BEMCO transported her to Newton-Wellesley Hospital.Sep 13-There was a report of a 20 year-old female at the Shapiro Campus Center with a nosebleed. The patient was treated with a signed refusal for futher care.Sep 14-There was a report of a woman feeling faint behind Spingold Theater. BEMCO was notified, and an ambulance transported the patient to Newton-Wellesley Hospital.Sep 16-There was a report of an intoxicated female in Ziv Quad. The individual was transported to the hospital.Sep 16-A resident in North Quad reported he wasn't feeling well.Sep 16-There was a report of an intoxicated female in North Quad. The woman was conscious and alert.Sep 17-There was a report of an intoxicated female in Castle Quad. BEMCO arrived and requested an ambulance. The woman was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital.DisturbanceSep 15-There was a complaint of loud music coming from East Quad. Residents were asked to turn the music down and they complied.Sep 16-A group of nearly 500 people was broken up in the Foster Mods. Alwina Bennett, assistant dean of student life and quad director of the foster mods, will follow up with individuals who were having the unregistered parties.Sep 17-A noise complaint was made from Ziv Quad. The crowd was dispersed.Sep 17-A noise complaint was made outside the Foster Mods. Alwina Bennett handled the group.Sep 17-There was a complaint of loud noise at 567 South Street. Residents were asked to turn the music down and complied.TrafficSep 11-There was a minor two-car accident near Stoneman. The parties exchanged paperwork.Sep 14-A construction worker reported his privately owned vehicle was damaged by party or parties unknown.Sep 14-A vehicle was stopped for speeding near East Quad. The driver received a verbal warning.Larceny-TheftSep 14-A couch was reported stolen from Kutz Hall.Sep 18-A male in the Gosman Sports Complex reported his locker was broken into.FireSep 16-A fire alarm was sounded in North QuadVandalismSep 17-Two male students were found at the rear of the Usdan Student Center loading dock ripping down signs.Sep 17-There was a report of two flower pots that were pushed over in North Academic Quad. The flowers were destroyed.MiscellaneousSep 15-There was a report of a past sexual assault in the Foster Mods.Sep 16-Two individuals who were sitting within a BEMCO vehicle following a medical call ran away from the vehicle when BEMCO returned. University Police stopped the individuals.Sep 17-There was a report of a suspicious-looking orange truck near the Heller School construction site. The driver was unloading furniture.-Complied by Michael Grillo
(04/11/06 4:00am)
After an unusually high number of staff turnovers at Hiatt Career Center, there are currently only four counselors on staff for about 3,000 students. Director Martin Ford says the center should have five. Ford also said that this ratio has been making it difficult for students to schedule appointments and meet with counselors familiar with their specific backgrounds.Compared to other colleges, Brandeis has a low ratio of counselors to students. "Hiatt as a rule is understaffed compared to other career center institutions," Ford said.While schools such as Williams College and the University of Rochester have a ratio of one counselor to 394 and 348 students respectively, Brandeis has a ratio of one to 803. Ford said he is concerned, but not surprised. "Unfortunately we don't get a lot of people now professionally who come into the field to stay for a long period of time," Ford said. "It has created some real interesting situations, having not enough people to go around." He said that high staff turnover is not unusual. Senior Vice President for Student and Enrollment Jean Eddy agrees."I think it's fair to say that anytime you impose a new structure on an organization, you will get people who will pursue other opportunities, or in some cases, go to another career center," Eddy said. "It's a fairly common practice . that when a new director comes in, there is some turnover. And that certainly was the case when Marty Ford came to Brandeis."But even before Ford became Hiatt's director in fall 2004, the administration had been receiving complaints from both current students and alumni concerning the center's services and accessibility.These spurred the center to conduct research comparing Hiatt to career centers at similar institutions."The University called together a group of alumni, many of whom were trustees, to come together in advisory capacity to see if we couldn't get the Hiatt Career Center to do more of the things that we hoped they could do," Eddy said.The Hiatt staff found that they were short three or four staffers when compared to similar institutions. In March 2004, then-director Meryl Glatt-Rader stepped down after seven years at the helm. The search began for a new director, and after about six months, Ford was found and hired. He brought with him a plan to improve Hiatt, which included creating new positions. Such positions include pre-law advisers, internship and business development advisers, and broader career counselors.The advisory council is currently conducting further research to see how Hiatt stands now, a year later, in comparison to the same institutions."The hope is that within the next few months we will have another timely update on exactly what we need for staffing," Eddy said, "so that we can bring it forward and hopefully get it perfect."Eddy also attributed the challenges Hiatt is facing to the fact that, in past years, the center did not focus as much on reaching out to new students, resulting in a smaller group of students taking advantage of its services. But that has changed this year, Ford said. He said the fall semester saw a 28 percent increase in students coming to Hiatt, and that this semester has seen a 21 percent jump on top of that. "You can say we're a victim of our own success," he said.Despite four recent staff departures, Ford said that the current counselors are handling their short-handed situation very well. "They have been phenomenal ... No one has said, 'well it's not my area.' If there is a student waiting, they'll take them and give them some help." The resulting inconvenience has led to some student complaints, which Ford said he understands."[The complaints] are not unexpected ones. Students used to come in and usually had an appointment in two or three days," Ford said. "Now we have some kids waiting for two weeks because of who they want to see and what they want to access." Amir Cahn '08, a student employee at Hiatt, said student complaints don't result just from the smaller staff."Most student frustration that I've encountered has stemmed from the fact that they have to get used to working with new people who don't know their backgrounds," he said.Cahn, along with other peer counselors, runs a table Thursday nights in Shapiro where fellow students can come with all types of questions. Tanya Bakerman '07 said her experience at Hiatt has been less than satisfactory."I went to look over my resume and talk about internships, and the lady was like, 'Oh you have to go to Kutz.' They just directed me to 10 different people and it was very confusing," Bakerman said. "The person they sent me to was definitely not the person I needed to talk to."Not all students have been disatisfied with their experiences of Hiatt.Katie Wrynn '08 had just finished taking the "Do What You Are" survey, which involves reading a number of scenarios and choosing how you would act in those situations. The purpose is to make sure students enter professions that are in line with their values."At the end of the test, they e-mailed me so I went in and made an appointment," Wrynn explained, adding that she experienced no difficulty in scheduling one."I met with Abigail [Crine]. She is so willing to work with you, and wanted to make sure I had a follow up appointment. I could really tell she was there to help you," Wrynn said.While Hiatt may be hitting some rough water here and there, Ford is optimistic of the center's future."If we were doing the same thing we were doing a year ago," Ford said. "I would say we're in trouble. But we're not. We've changed.
(04/04/06 4:00am)
Three students and a professor spoke to a packed room Thursday about how their disabilities have affected their lives at Brandeis and elsewhere. This Disability Panel, organized by the Student Committee on Disabilities, was the first event of its kind at Brandeis and sought teach the audience that one definition of disability does not fit all. Hearing the daily struggles that each person experienced on account of his or her disability was very moving. "Weird" is a term that my family and I have coped with almost my entire life. Growing up with a brother with Asperger Syndrome-a well-known form of autism that typically induces extreme social awkwardness, among other things-I have heard and witnessed every cruel joke and name imaginable. Harmless fun is always seen differently from the receiving end of the line and can often cause serious repercussions. Educating people about disabilities would do a substantial amount to make the lives of people like my brother much easier. The committee's coordinator, Mara Blumenthal '06, along with Gabe Sassoon '06, Noah Wolfson '08, and Prof. Stephen Gulley of the Heller School, made it clear from the beginning that they hoped telling their stories would help to raise the shocking lack of awareness present on this campus. As Gulley so quaintly said, the fact that these people each have a disability does not make them particularly inspiring or brave. Rather, they are courageous because they exposed themselves to a large crowd in order to help better educate people about the extensive meaning of the term disability.Getting up in front of a crowd is not easy to begin with, but to open up your private life in a public forum must take a level of bravery that many of us may never know or understand. At a campus like Brandeis, which prides itself on its supposed dedication to social justice, why is there so much widespread ignorance on the issue of disability?True, there is an amazing course offered each fall, currently taught by Gulley, called "Sociology of Disability," which presents the topic of disability by requiring students to think beyond the traditional view of disabilities, which classifies people as "invalids," and to instead understand that individuals with disabilities do in fact lead very valid lives. After taking the course last semester, I definitely believe its content challenges conventional thinking, but I still feel as though so much more could be done to keep people informed. We need campus-wide events seeking to educate and enlighten, such as information sessions where people can feel free to ask and receive answers to their questions about disabilities. The campus should also be improved so that those with physical disabilities don't need to find longer and inconvenient routes in order to get around.Despite the fact that Brandeis does meet the Americans with Disabilities Act regulations, which mandate that all new buildings built after 1990 must be fully handicap-accessible, there is more the school could do. For example, panelists spoke of the difficulty that a student with cerebral palsy faces in climbing the Rabb steps alone due to the lack of railings. While railings may not be covered under the act, clearly they are a necessary accommodation for someone who has difficulty walking, and one that Blumenthal said she has long sought.Having worked closely with adults with both physical and mental disabilities at the Life Focus Center in Boston for seven years, I have witnessed how difficult it is to push or self-navigate a wheelchair up or down an incredibly steep hill, such as the one leading up to Kutz or down to East Quad due to a lack of efficient ramps. At least a portion of the exorbitant $42,000 we pay in tuition and fees should fund the much-needed campus work, such as adding railings to Rabb steps that would eliminate such unnecessary struggles. Most buildings, rooms and classrooms should also be fully handicap-accessible so that students and visitors, as well as professors, are not restricted to the few rooms on campus that they can easily reach.Though the panelists all said that they have never suffered blatant discrimination due to their disabilities at Brandeis, I myself have witnessed, and verbally stopped numerous students exhibiting open hostility and mockery towards students classified as "weird." While it might be annoying when a perfect stranger attempts to sit with or speak to you as though you're life-long friends, but mild annoyance is not a reason to overreact and say something nasty or rude. Something that you perceive as socially inappropriate can seem entirely normal to someone else, especially someone dealing with disabilities that restrict perception of societal norms.College students are supposed to be too mature for such displays of ignorance. Simply knowing that students with disabilities attend Brandeis should inspire the proper authorities to organize events to educate the student body in which these individuals must exist, and ultimately survive. The Student Committee on Disabilities seems to go forgotten under the giant umbrella of the Diversity Committee.The committee's efforts are also diminished because its events, such as the panel, are poorly advertised. Students were only notified of the panel via an all-campus e-mail the day before, and no fliers or advertisements appeared anywhere on campus. It is highly revealing that the entire student body is notified and encouraged to attend dances weeks in advance and only given a day's notice in a small e-mail to come listen to an hour-long Disability Panel attempt to raise awareness. Clearly, something is drastically wrong with our priorities.
(02/14/06 5:00am)
Medical EmergencyFeb. 5-A caller in North Quad reported she was having stomach pain. BEMCo transported the individual to Newton-Wellesley Hospital.Feb. 6-A caller reported that a male in Gosman had cut his chin. BEMCo transported the individual to Newton-Wellesley Hospital.Feb. 6-A caller reported that a female in East Quad was feeling faint and nauseous. The individual was treated on scene by BEMCo with a signed refusal for further care.Feb. 7-A caller reported that a female in the Castle was shaking and feeling ill. The individual was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital by ambulance.Feb. 10-A caller in Ziv Quad reported that her friend was having difficulty breathing. The individual was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital by ambulance for further care.Feb. 11-A caller reported that her friend was not feeling well, and they would wait at the main gate for BEMCo. The individual was treated on scene by BEMCo with a signed refusal for further care.Feb. 11-A caller reported that an individual in the Shapiro Campus Center inhaled vapors from cleaning products. BEMCo and University Police responded, and the individual was treated on scene by BEMCo with a signed refusal for further care.Feb. 12-A caller reported an intoxicated female in M-Lot. The individual was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital by ambulance.AssaultFeb. 11-A caller reported that a male in Massell Quad was hit in the head with a glass bottle. BEMCo and University Police responded. BEMCo transported the individual to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care.Larceny-TheftFeb. 6-A caller reported stolen property in North Quad. University Police compiled a report.Feb. 6-A caller in Gosman reported that his wallet was stolen from an unlocked locker. University Police compiled a report.Feb. 7-A caller in the Castle reported that his coat had been stolen. University Police compiled a report.VandalismFeb. 5-A caller reported that his car had been hit in N-Lot. University Police compiled a report.Feb. 10-A caller reported that as he was driving by the Usdan Student Center he noticed that a window on the building had been shattered. University Police compiled a report.Feb. 10-A caller reported that when he came to work at Kutz Hall in the morning he noticed that a window on an Aramark van had been smashed.DisturbanceFeb. 12-A caller reported a loud party in Ziv Quad. University Police dispersed the group without incident.MiscellaneousFeb. 8-A caller in Gosman reported that an individual who was waiting outside the back door of the gym entered once the caller exited the gym. University Police checked the area but were unable to locate the individual.-Compiled by Adam Gartner
(02/14/06 5:00am)
Guadalupe Ordaz is a soft-spoken, pleasant woman who cleans the Shapiro Campus Center from 3 to 7 p.m., and is the reason why Brandeis' Green Monster always looks like nobody uses it. Her favorite movie is Rocky, and she loves John Travolta's work. Ordaz is the kind of Brandeis employee who would rarely get noticed unless she stopped doing her job. She is one of dozens of workers around campus that trudge through sometimes lonely and almost always messy conditions to keep the school looking fresh.On her break, Ordaz retreats to a small room in Shapiro that is equipped with few amenities. "I take a break when I can, because nobody takes care of me," she said. "I keep an eye out, and where there aren't a lot of people, I take my break. We have a little room on the third floor."Ordaz also mentioned feeling lonely working in Shapiro at night. "I don't have anything to do on my break," she said. "We used to have a TV, but the manager took it out. I don't have anyone to talk to. I feel very lonely a lot."Instead, Ordaz said, she often leaves her break early to watch the students. "It's better to be out than to stay inside," she said, "because I don't have anything to read, nothing to watch. I need something."Head of University Services Mark Collins said Brandeis is doing everything in its power to keep workers like Ordaz happy. He said he recognizes that they are integral to the university, not just in terms of keeping it clean, but as a part of the community."Custodial and kitchen workers are a part of the students' everyday lives," Collins said. "They are an important part of the community and it's important that we keep them happy by treating them fair and well." Collins said he recognizes that despite efforts on his part, not everybody will be happy. "We're still not perfect," he said.Some workers said they do feel like part of the community. For Victoria Mello, a native of Brazil, working at Brandeis is a pleasant experience, so pleasant that she can often be found singing Portuguese songs in the kitchen of the Sherman Dining Hall. Mello spends her time mopping the floor, cleaning the bathroom and washing dishes, but she said her favorite part of the job is interacting with students."I like seeing the students. They say 'Hello, Victoria, I like your earrings.' The people know me here. I talk to the students all the time."Not all workers feel quite as connected to Brandeis. Some, like Ordaz, expressed feelings of isolation. For some, Brandeis feels like a place where people do not feel the need to reach out. One custodial worker who wished to remain anonymous said he does a lot for the students, including mopping up after parties and even once cleaning feces off of a wall. Yet, he said he rarely receives gratitude from the people he cleans up after. "Sometimes the students will say 'hi' to me or thank me, but for the most part, we don't say anything to each other. It's like we are in our own worlds."Some of these "dirty jobs" are undertaken by students, who often suffer less from loneliness, but still have to deal with the mess. Eric Pekar '08 sweeps, mops, wipes counters and cleans dishes in Sherman. The latter, he said, is usually the "dirtiest" job of all, especially on days the kosher side of the cafeteria serves dairy food. "Dairy is a lot worse than meat," he said. "On dairy days there's a lot of really gross stuff like sour cream. You don't actually touch anything, you wash it off with a hose, but it's still gross to look at."Most often, he said, he sees the remnants of pizza on students' plates. The most disgusting thing Pekar has encountered was an unidentifiable substance stuck to the wall of the kitchen."It was clear and had red stuff in it, but it was solidified," he said. "And I couldn't wipe it off. I had to get a scraper and I had to sit there and hit it and try to scrape it off, try to get it to crack." But Pekar said he realizes it's all part of the job."It's a job, I need money. I don't really care," he said.Several custodians who attended a Brandeis Labor Coalition meeting, all of whom work through Hurley of America, agreed that the floors and bathrooms were the hardest to clean.Luis German, a sharply dressed man in a pink polo shirt and stylish glasses, worked as a banker in his home country of the Dominican Republic. Now, he said, he earns the same amount in a week cleaning the kitchens in Usdan that he did in a month as a banker. German said that the kitchen floors are often soiled with grease, covered in water and littered with foods such as potatoes and onions. Large spills are common, and he said he works hard at removing stains. Because of his contract, which entails shorter shifts and more days, he said he often finds it difficult to clean everything that has to be cleaned during his shifts. "There isn't enough time," he said. He added that because he works seven days a week, there is not a lot of time left to go to the movies or go dancing. Cafeterias aren't the only difficult locations to clean. Noemy Marquez works in Goldfarb Library and Goldsmith, cleaning tables, bathrooms and study areas. She said the bottom floors of the library are dirtier than the top floors. Jose Pichirlo, who works in Golding, said that cleaning the floors requires the most time. And according to Carlos Mara, a custodian in Kutz, entrances are the hardest."The front door is the dirtiest," Mara said, because during the winter, salt, snow and sand are tracked in and wiped off. Jos Jimenez, who works in Rabb, agreed, and added that he often finds garbage on the floor in the bathrooms. Mario Estrada, who cleans Lown, concurred that the bathrooms are the worst, specifically the garbage in them. He said the floors collect a fair amount of trash as well. Students, according to Estrada, often leave their gum underneath the seats or their empty coffee cups on the ground. Picking chewed gum off the underside of seats is not one of his favorite pastimes; no, that would be watching soccer on TV.
(01/31/06 5:00am)
Medical EmergencyJan. 23-A parent of an individual in North Quad reported her daughter was having stomach pains. BEMCo was notified, and the individual was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital by ambulance.Jan. 23-A caller in Massell Quad reported that a female was having an asthma attack. The individual was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital by ambulance.Jan. 28-A caller reported an intoxicated female in North Quad. The individual was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital by ambulance.Jan. 28-A caller reported an intoxicated female in Massell Quad. The individual was treated on scene with a signed refusal for further care.Jan. 28-An individual in J-Lot called complaining of head pain. BEMCo transported the individual to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care.DisturbanceJan. 23-A BEMCo member reported that a student was interfering with BEMCo workers while they were attending to a patient. University Police and a Quad Director on call handled the situation.Jan. 25-A caller in Massell Quad reported that individuals were playing loud music. The caller said that he had attempted to ask the individuals to turn the music's volume down twice. The first time he asked, they ignored him. The second time, the caller said they threatened him with physical violence. University Police compiled a report.Jan. 28-There were numerous reports of individuals yelling and screaming in Ziv Quad. The small group of individuals was dispersed by University Police without incident.Jan. 28-There were complaints of a loud group in Massell Quad. University Police located a small group of individuals having a snowball fight.Jan. 28-A caller in G-Lot reported that a group of youths were throwing snowballs and harassing people on South Street. University Police checked the area but were unable to locate the youths.MiscellaneousJan. 24-A staff member came into Kutz Hall and smelled a strong odor of marijuana in the hallway. University Police were unable to locate the source of the smell.Jan. 28-A caller in Massell Quad reported that individuals were setting off firecrackers near the pond. University Police checked the area but were unable to locate the individuals.Jan. 29-There was a complaint of loud music in Rosenthal Quad. University Police responded and discovered very loud music being played. The occupants were asked to quiet down, and they complied.VandalismJan. 23-A caller in the Foster Mods reported that her common room had a cracked window. University Police responded and determined that the exterior pane of glass had been cracked by some unknown source. It was determined that repairs could wait until there is a second pane of glass broken. University Police compiled a report.Jan. 25-A university snow blower in the Epstein garage was tampered with. University Police compiled a report on the incident.TrafficJan. 28-An individual in X-Lot reported that someone had hit his car. University Police compiled a report.Larceny-TheftJan. 23-A caller in Sherman Function Hall reported that his wallet was taken from his coat.Jan. 25-A caller reported that her iPod was taken from the Gosman cardio room after she forgot it accidentally and left it there overnight. University Police compiled a report.Jan. 26-A caller reported that her backpack was stolen from Usdan. University Police compiled a report.Jan. 27-A caller in Rosenthal Quad reported that his bike was stolen. University Police compiled a report.-Compiled by Adam Gartner
(03/08/05 5:00am)
Medical EmergencyMar. 2-A caller in North Quad reported that a student had fallen and hit his head sometime the previous day while playing basketball. The caller stated that the individual was conscious and alert. BEMCo responded, and the patient was treated on scene with a signed refusal for further care.Mar. 4-There was an intoxicated male in North Quad. University Police and BEMCo responded. The patient was treated on scene with a signed refusal for further care.Mar. 5-There was a report of a drunk female in Massell Quad. The individual was falling in and out of consciousness and vomiting. The individual was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care.TrafficFeb. 21-A caller in the Foster Apartments reported that a vehicle had struck a building. University Police responded. There were no injuries, and no damage was reported to University Property. The vehicle was towed from the scene.Mar. 2-A caller in G-Lot reported that ice had fallen onto the roof of his car.Mar. 3-A caller reported that his car was struck by falling ice and snow while parked next to Gosman.DrugsFeb. 20-A CA requested police assistance after marijuana and a bong was found in Massell Quad. The contraband was confiscated by University Police, and judicial charges were to be filed.Mar. 3-The Quad Director in Massell Quad requested assistance with the smell of marijuana, and the confiscation of alcohol. The Quad Director handled the judicial referral.VandalismFeb. 27-A caller reported that there was a smashed shower partition in a bathroom in North Quad. University Police compiled a report, and the Physical Plant Department was advised to make repairs.Mar. 5-A caller in the Castle reported that individuals were attempting to remove an access door. University Police responded, the Quad Director was notified, and pictures were taken.Larceny-TheftMar. 6-A Victoria's Secret bag was stolen from Usdan.HarassmentFeb. 22-A message was left on a phone in Kutz from a disturbed male caller. University Police compiled a report, and an investigation was to follow.Mar. 1-An individual walked into Stoneman to report harassment by e-mail. University Police compiled a report.DisturbanceMar. 2-Police units were dispatched to the Charles River Apartments to check on a noise complaint. Police spoke to individuals who were playing the loud music, and the music was turned down.Mar. 5-There was a report of loud music in Rosenthal Quad. The music turned off upon request.Mar. 6-A caller report loud noise in Ziv Quad. The group was asked to quiet down.MiscellaneousMar. 4-An individual came to Stoneman to report that her ex-boyfriend was making statements and comments to her that made her feel uncomfortable. University Police interviewed and took a statement from the reporting individual.Mar. 4-A caller in the Shapiro Admissions Center reported that the office had received a white envelope with what appeared to be marijuana seeds.Mar. 4-A caller in Goldfarb Library reported that he had found a vial with a white, powdery substance in it.-Compiled by Adam Gartner
(11/23/04 5:00am)
Study Abroad Information SessionA meeting for all students interested in studying abroad will be held today from 4 to 5 p.m. in Kutz 108. Attendance at an information session is required before studying abroad. For more information, please contact J. Scott Van Der Meid at abroad@brandeis.edu. Garin Aliyah: Finding a Community in IsraelZach Kessin '03 emigrated to Israel after graduation. He will speak about his search for a community in Israel Monday from 8 to 9 p.m. in Feldberg Lounge located on the upper floor of Sherman. Contact pkandel@brandeis.edu for more information.Documentary: Confrontation at ConcordiaOn Monday from 9 to 10 p.m. in Feldberg, the Brandeis Zionist Association is showing a documentary about the violent protest that denied free speech to Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he came to address Hillel at Concordia University in Montreal in 2002. The 45-minute documentary will be preceded by a speaker who will put the film in context. Doughnuts will be served. Contact sspeiser@brandeis.edu for more information.Master of Arts in Teaching Open HouseMaster of Arts in Teaching Elementary is a small program combining intensive guided teaching in elementary schools with challenging study of educational problems, principles and practices. The program will hold an open house Tuesday, Nov. 30 from 6 to 7 p.m. on the first floor of Abraham Shapiro Academic Complex. Faculty will describe program and discuss your particular interests. Refreshments will be served. An RSVP is appreciated but not required. Please call Eileen Kell at 781-736-2022 to RSVP or for more information.Thanksgiving FeastThe Intercultural Center will host its traditional Thanksgiving supper at 6 p.m. this Sunday in the ICC Lounge in the Swig Building in East Quad. The menu will include turkey and ham with a choice of desserts. Kosher and halal food will not be provided and those abiding by dietary restrictions are encouraged to bring appropriate food. The event is co-sponsored by the Brandeis Christian communities including, Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant. All students are welcome. Cooking will take place Sunday afternoon and volunteers should contact Anny Jones at annyj@brandeis.edu. A Discussion with Ben Bradlee Ben Bradlee, the former executive editor of The Washington Post, will speak at Brandeis at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 1. Bradlee is most famous for having worked on the Watergate stories that eventually forced President Nixon to resign. He is the author of A Good Life: Newspapering and Other Adventures and is currently the vice president-at-large of The Post. The program is sponsored by the investigative journalism program. Admission is free. For more information, call 781-736-4200. -Compiled by Joshua Adland
(11/02/04 5:00am)
Medical EmergencyOct. 25-A caller reported a female with asthma was having trouble breathing. University police and BEMCo responded. An ambulance was requested, but the patient was treated on scene and refused further treatment.Oct. 26-There was a report of male in Kutz Hall with a foot injury. The patient was transported by BEMCo to Sterling Medical Center for further treatment.Oct. 27-A caller in Massell Quad reported she spilled boiling water on her arm. BEMCo responded and treated the patient who refused further action.Oct. 27-A caller a female in Kalman who was possibly fainting, had a pale face and was semi-alert. The individual was transported to Health Services.Oct. 28-An elderly man in the sports complex tripped on portable chair cart while the custodian was pushing it and cut his face. He was conscious and alert with a possible broken nose and dislocated shoulder. BEMCo requested an ambulance.Oct. 30-A caller reported an intoxicated female in Massell Quad. BEMCo was notified and an ambulance was requested. The patient was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further treatment.Oct. 31-A caller reported an intoxicated male in Usen Castle who is going in and out of consciousness. BEMCo requested an ambulance, and the patient was transported to a hospital for further treatment.TrafficOct. 26-There was a minor two-car accident on South Street. Waltham police were notified.DrugOct. 26-University police investigated and resolved an illegal drug issue in North Quad.Oct. 26-After an investigation, a student in North Quad was placed under arrest for drug violations.Larceny and TheftOct. 26-A caller reported his bicycle was stolen from the Shapiro Campus Center.Oct. 28-An individual walked into the University police station to report that her pocketbook was stolen out of the ladies' room in Usdan.HarassmentOct. 25-A caller reported that her ex-boyfriend had been harassing her over the phone. University police compiled a report and investigated the incident.Oct. 26-An individual arrived at the University police station to report harassing phone calls in East Quad. A report was to be compiled, and an investigation was to follow.WeaponOct. 25-An individual reported to University police that drugs and a fireman had been seen in an apartment on campus. University police investigated the matter and handled it as required by Massachusetts law.VandalismOct. 29-A computer cabinet door in the Goldfarb Library was pushed in for an unknown reason.Oct. 29-A custodian reported that one of the pictures in hallway of Hassenfeld Conference Center had been vandalized.DisturbanceOct. 28-There was a complaint of loud music in East Quad.Oct. 31-A University police cruiser was vandalized while the University police were dispersing an unregistered party in the Foster Apartments. University police are investigating the incident.MiscellaneousOct. 27-A student was found on the rooftop of Farber Library watching the eclipse. The student was asked to get down from the building.Oct. 30-A caller in Massell Quad reported that a male wearing baggy clothes was asking people to let him into buildings. University police checked the area, but were unable to locate the individual.-Compiled by Adam Gartner
(10/05/04 4:00am)
A sign in the window reads, "Brandeis students welcome-we accept WhoCash," and, sure enough, several Brandeis students are scattered at random tables, talking, laughing and enjoying their lunches. The scene is the Prime Deli, one of eight Waltham businesses that currently accept WhoCash, Brandeis' campus debit program. Standing behind the counter, storeowner Tasos Mitrousis explains in his rich accent, "We have regulars that come in every day from Brandeis. They come because they like the food, and many pay with WhoCash." Not all Waltham business owners are so upbeat about the system, however, citing high startup costs and transaction fees as deterrents. Overall, businesses are split on the advantages of catering to students in this way.The other Waltham locales that accept WhoCash are Domino's, Take Out Taxi, Cappy's, Pete's Pizza and Wings, Lena's Pizza, South Street Market and the newest addition, College Bellhop. Many students say they prefer these locations because they can pay with their campus identification cards instead of using cash or a credit card. "It feels less like spending money when you're using WhoCash," Ashley Firestone '05 said.For some, this is because someone else keeps the WhoCash flowing for them. Until this fall, students could bill WhoCash to their student accounts, but now they must pay up front with cash or check. Even so, students often have extra money on their cards, left over from money their parents gave them for books at the beginning of the year.WhoCash, created in fall of 2000, was accepted only on campus until January of 2002, when Rick Dovidio arrived in the Campus Card Office. He began to implement the debit system at a few off-campus locations, starting with Domino's Pizza on Lexington Street. Students benefit, as they can occasionally ignore the level of their cash reserves and dine out anyway. Waltham businesses also benefit because WhoCash attracts a higher volume of student patrons. "When the WhoCash machine first got put in two or three years ago, we saw the difference in business," said Suzanne Gasparyan, the manager of Pete's Pizza and Wings on Main Street. "I think it's helping [attract students]." "It's been good for business," the kids come down a lot," said Rob Green, manager of the South Street Market. "What's more of the issue that people don't know we accept it."Potential WhoCash carriers usually approach Dovidio at the Campus Card Office with their initial interest stimulated by Brandeis student requests. Before a business can accept WhoCash, it must install a device called a Verifone, which costs around $300. The businesses pay for the instrument themselves, and they also need a separate phone line. Most businesses already have separate lines for credit card machines, but others pay to install a new line. The Verifones are programmed to dial up to a modem at Brandeis in a small room in the Kutz basement. Officials at the Campus Card Office note each transaction along with the business name and the amount charged. The Verifones are usually incompatible with the databases used by ordinary cash registers, discouraging larger businesses and chains from purchasing them. According to Dovidio, these businesses consider it a hassle to track WhoCash purchases separately. He mentioned that the 99 Restaurant and Victory Supermarket-two of the original targets for off-campus WhoCash-expressed this motive for abstaining from the system. The manager of the Waltham Victory Supermarket, Angelo Bisol, said WhoCash is unrealistic for the 20-store chain. "We just don't have the technology to support those systems," Bisol said. He added that this could change soon, as Victory was recently purchased by the Portland, Maine-based Hannaford Bros. supermarket chain.Dovidio mentioned that Lizzy's Ice Cream decided against accepting WhoCash because of the Verifone installation fee. When asked about WhoCash, Lizzy's manager Nick Pappas expressed some contempt for the system. "These programs require you to buy a piece of equipment that costs a significant amount of money. On top of that, they take out a percentage of every transaction," he said. "Whoever I spoke to just didn't have any good answers about how much it would cost me. It just wasn't obvious what the benefits would be."Franca's Pizza is another Waltham business that turned down the proposal for WhoCash. Owner Steve Rosenberg said, "It could be worth it except that you're paying five percent every time you make a transaction. With a MasterCard or a Visa charge, it's 10 cents, and then another two percent. [The WhoCash charge] does come out to more." Dovidio confirmed the five percent charge per transaction. He said that the money goes back to the Campus Card Office, helping to "offset the expenses of the equipment, supplies and the maintenance agreement set up for the printers.""We're not looking to make money off the system," he said. He said that by comparison, Northeastern University and Boston College both charge higher transaction fees for their campus cash. Boston College uses a system called Eagle Bucks that works similarly to WhoCash. At the Angora Too Cafe in Brighton, manager Abbes Khelsa said that Boston College takes 15 percent out of each transaction using Eagle Bucks. Manager Mark Selind of Eagle's Deli gave the same statistic. At Maddie's Market, in Boston, manager Al Lishman said that he thinks the transaction fee with Eagle Bucks is seven or eight percent, though the discrepancy could be because he was guessing, or because convenience stores receive less profit and pay lower transaction fees, as Dovidio mentioned at one point.Over at Franca's, Rosenberg also said he felt that Brandeis' system of paying vendors through weekly checks works too slowly. "With MasterCard or Visa, the money is on my account the next day by direct deposit," he said. "[With WhoCash], I'm waiting for the money for a week, where the turnaround time on credit cards is the next day. If you're doing a lot of business, it's a lot of money you're waiting on." At the South Street Market, Green said he wanted to make it clear that he has a "very good business relationship" with Dovidio. Even so, he mentioned that the WhoCash system is slow and breaks down too often.If all Waltham businesses accepted WhoCash, this would actually hurt the system, according to Dovidio. He said he is reluctant to add additional sandwich or pizza vendors to the WhoCash list because this would disperse students too thinly and remove the competitive advantage for the businesses that initially invested in the Verifones. When WhoCash first moved off-campus, the Student Union president e-mailed a survey to the student body to identify the most frequented restaurants in Waltham. Then Dovidio contacted the most popular joints, encouraging them to begin accepting WhoCash. "I still feel this is the best way to do it," he said. "Businesses shouldn't waste money on a Verifone when only the same three students will use it." A case in point is the Watch City Diner, a restaurant on Prospect Street that installed the system as a response to Brandeis student requests. The company rarely used the Verifone, and in fact went out of business altogether six months later. Dovidio said he suspects that the demand for WhoCash seemed larger than it really was. He maintained that a student survey remains the best way to avoid similar problems.This fall, WhoCash merchants say they have noticed a significant decrease in students paying with WhoCash. "I've seen a very lage drop in sales, it's almost to the point where you wonder whether something was wrong with it," Green said.Mitrousis attributed this problem to the recent policy change at Brandeis where students must pay up front for WhoCash, instead of lumping the purchase onto their overall Brandeis bill without the billpayers'-usually their parents'-approval. "When students could charge it to parents' accounts, they would spend money like crazy. I'd say we get about 800 [fewer] dollars a week from WhoCash this year," he said.Mike Votano, co-owner of Lena's, observed the change as well: "WhoCash has definitely been beneficial for us, but people used it more last year. Before, we'd get a lot of kids in here on Friday and Saturday nights using only WhoCash. A handful of kids still come in and use it, but a lot of others just use cash or credit cards." Mark Collins, associate vice president for University Services, commented on probable reasons for the policy change. "My understanding was that individuals were charging money to their accounts and subsequently not paying it," he said. At Cappy's, where students spend the most WhoCash, manager Kappiopi Koutounidou said that WhoCash business now is "about the same as last year."She did note, however, that the Verifones were functioning very slowly. Dovidio said that this is due to the fact that there are only four phone lines leading back to Brandeis. Since most people use WhoCash at the same times of day, the lines often become tied up.WhoCash will soon expand its available variety of services, according to Dovidio. One example is the newly launched College Bellhop, a student cleaning service that installed a Verifone even prior to opening its doors. Manager Alan Ringwald said that eventually, College Bellhop business will also allow students to use WhoCash to buy tickets to movies and nightclubs. "We feel that it will be easier for students to use our service if they can use WhoCash. Their parents can help them out," he said. Dovidio mentioned that CVS has shown interest in acquiring a Verifone as well. He also added that the percentage fee for such a business would probably be decreased, since they make less profit per dollar than a restaurant. Not all students think WhoCash is worth the effort. Jen Makridakis '07 said, "I don't feel the need to bother with it anymore. I may as well use cash directly rather than going through the trouble of buying WhoCash." Though the system is imperfect and some students and businesses choose to opt out, students like the sensation of free money and businesses appreciate customers, so WhoCash continues to expand.
(08/31/04 4:00am)
As part of the switch to the new student administration software PeopleSoft, students are now being issued new Brandeis Identification cards. The University will no longer use Social Security numbers to identify students, and thus will no longer have them encoded on the card's magnetic strip.Old ID cards will stop working in October and will no longer open doors or bill students' meal or WhoCash accounts, according to Associate Vice President of Students and Enrollment Brian Walton. "We stepped away from Social Security number for identity purposes," Walton said. "We didn't want to have that on the Mag-Stripe continually. It printed at the off-campus terminal when students would use them at different points of sale off-campus."Walton said that retailers in the area who accepted WhoCash could have potentially seen a student's Social Security numbers.Walton said that while switching to PeopleSoft, the University simultaneously changed to a newer version of their electronic dining software-Diebold Gold. This allowed the University to veer away from using Social Security numbers to charge student's meal plans and WhoCash accounts. Previously, an ID card needed to contain the student's Social Security number for it to successfully debit a student's account. One of nine proposals on how to spend the $122,000 found in a Union rollover account-eventually spent on the game room-suggested to use some of the money to investigate how to remove Social Security number from ID cards."With the current use of Social Security numbers for the purpose of Student Identification, the system generates a gross violation of privacy," the proposal read. "From the dining services to ordering food from off campus to receiving grades from the registrar, the SSN is treated as an insignificant series of 9 numbers."The proposal also said that using Social Security numbers was a "serious issue." It further read: "With someone else's social security number, bank statements, credit card history, a person's driver's license, insurance information, medical history, and other important documents can be accessed."Last semester, the Justice learned a student using a $500 card encoder purchased on eBay encoded his friend's Social Security number onto his card and successfully debited an account other than his own without being caught.But with the new system, obtaining another student's Social Security number will no longer give anyone access to a student's account.But the Justice learned that the only information encoded on the new cards is the students' 15 digit ID number, which is also printed on the front under each student ID pictures-followed by a 0 for the card issue number."Well, I think it's a really good thing they took the Social Security numbers off the cards," the student told the Justice. "I've scanned a lot of other college ID's and almost all of them were encoded in some way, which Brandeis hasn't done." "But I don't think it's really a problem here, so it's probably not worth the money they'd need to spend to encode them differently," he said. Walton said he has not heard of any student impersonating another to steal meals or WhoCash with a falsely encoded card. Walton said the University, in part with this change, has worked to be in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which clarified what the University must do to protect "financial privacy information."According to Walton, the only cost to the University with this initiative was purchasing the Diebold Gold system.Because of this switch, the magnetic stripe on old Brandeis identification cards, which have a student's identification number encoded on them, will no longer work starting sometime in October.According to Walton, the University started issuing the new cards in July and printed cards for returning students. The cards are available for pick-up at the campus card office in Kutz.
(03/23/04 5:00am)
After spending a year overseas, I came back to Brandeis with a newfound appreciation for the numerous opportunities this university offers to its student body. Feeling generous, I donated a nice chunk of money to the Senior Class Gift to express my late-coming gratitude toward this institution. This year, the gift is a music collection, which will be donated to the Goldfarb Library.As a show of thanks from Brandeis for my contribution, I have been made an "Emerging Leader." When I was first made aware of my newfound status, I was not exactly sure what this meant, until I received the following information in an e-mail:"Justice Brandeis Society Emerging Leaders constitute members of the class of 1993-2003 who make a gift of at least $100 multiplied by the number of years since graduation and current seniors contributing at least $100 to the Senior Class Gift. Emerging Leaders are invited to special lectures, receptions and gatherings throughout the year which provide opportunities for young alumni to stay closely connected to Brandeis as well as to network with other emerging and established alumni business and community leaders.""How nice," I thought. They are recognizing that I donated the money and are displaying their appreciation. But the more I thought about what it meant to be an Emerging Leader, the more uneasy I felt about being a member of this elite group. I have nothing against the Senior Class Gift, and I am happy to contribute and receive acknowledgement for contributing. However, I could not deny the pressing symbolism of the situation.The term "Emerging Leader" itself has many implications. To me, it says that I am more likely to become successful because I have money to donate to organizations that will provide me with social connections. I am a leader merely because of my financial status. I would feel differently if we all had the same means to donate to the Senior Class Gift, and the choice of contributing (or not) would exclusively be based on our own personal desires. But we know this is not the case.We cannot all afford to donate the amount of money that will get us invited to special events where we can informally network with alumni. However, it should be noted that all students do have the opportunity to get in touch with alumni and network using the services and events provided through the Hiatt Career Center. What I find unsettling is that the extra events are exclusive to those students who were able to bestow a certain amount of money.It is no secret how expensive it is to attend Brandeis. A witty pen given out at the Campus Card Office in Kutz displays the figures outright: "Brandeis Tuition....$28,999; Room and Board....$8,323; This Campus Card Pen....Priceless." Sure, the pen is free now-we have most likely already paid for it. Whether on scholarship, financial aid or full tuition, I think it is safe to say that many of us are already under some financial constraints. To donate a significant amount of money on top of tuition is not such an easy task. Perhaps as a thank-you to all donors, any amount of money could qualify someone as an Emerging Leader.Because tuition costs bring us monetary limitations, the high price of tuition should entitle all of us to the same events. We are already at a selective institution. Is it really necessary to create even more exclusivity among our own? This elitist attitude is not unique to the Senior Class Gift by any means. Justice Brandeis Scholars have their own events, as do other merit-based organizations. Perhaps I am being hypocritical because I am already partaking in a form of elitism simply by attending Brandeis. In spite of this, my uneasiness with the matter persists.The most irksome implication of being an Emerging Leader is the larger social issue it reflects. After we graduate from Brandeis, we will continue to see this type of elitism in various sectors of our lives. Money can buy us social connections, better health care, political campaigns, and better education. The list goes on and on. I am aware that this is currently the way of our world, and I am not naave about our economic system. I am, however, disenchanted by the fact that we need to experience these types of elitist structures within a group of students that should theoretically be presented with equal opportunities.
(03/02/04 5:00am)
All electrical power went out in the northern part of campus on Monday afternoon after a steam line located on the peripheral road between Rabb and the Heller School ruptured. According to University Executive Vice President Peter French, the first indications of the rupture occurred mid-morning, as steam emerged from the ground between Heller and Rabb. The decision to shut down the steam and electricity was made around noon, and a notification was sent out to the Brandeis community at 1:44 p.m.Academic and administrative buildings affected included Heller, Goldfarb, Rabb, Olin Sang, Golding, Lown, Schiffman and Kutz. Additionally, all residence halls in North Quad, including Scheffries, Gordon, Reitman and Cable were without power.The incident caused all classes and offices in Rabb and Heller to be cancelled until Monday afternoon. In his e-mail to the Brandeis community, French requested that all computers in the affected locations be unplugged in order to prevent power surge damage as power is restored. French sent out a campus-wide email alerting the Brandeis community of the North campus emergency power shutdown. "The facilities people saw that the steam was in the electrical conduits," French said. "[The steam] basically interrupted the flow of electricity to the northern part of campus. What we had to do is shut down the steam and the electricity, testing all the lines and rerouting some of the lines because some of the main electrical feeder lines have been damaged and we're not able to transmit all the electricity we need."According to French, there was no way to foresee the exact time and location of an incident such as this from occurring. "Do we know that the steam distribution system is in bad shape?," French said. "The answer is yes. This is the type of thing that can happen when you don't maintain these kinds of systems. That's why we want to do this type of project...so we can stop this from happening."Director of University Services Mark Collins also said that this event was not easily foreseen. "We hope that it will not happen again but, given the fragile nature of the systems, until we replace them, the chances are good that there could be [another incident]."Collins said that 16.8 percent of the recently acquired $25 million bond from Mass Development will go toward updates in the underground maze of steam and electrical lines"We've got steam lines running perilously close to power lines - that's the root of the problem," Associate Vice President for University Operations Mark Collins said.. Director of Residence Life Maggie Balch said that student accommodation and overall safety in North Quad were her department's main concerns. "We have put little door tags on their doors with places they can go to use computers, check voicemails, etc.," Blach said. "There is going to be updated info on the bulletin board in the AB lounge in north... we'll let them know as soon as we can." She said that there is some generated lighting in hallways, and student life is in the process of trying to distribute flashlights. "It is a threat to safety if students use candles," Balch said. "We have enough people around and enough visibility that I think we're going to be okay."In another e-mail sent at 8:45 p.m.to the Brandeis community, French announced that power was restored to Rabb, Kutz, Goldfarb and the North Quad residence halls. Balch praised the facilities department for their ongoing initiative and activity throughout this power shortage. "We are very lucky to have a facilities department that is very committed to the students and to making things work for them," she said.Collins said that the problem could have been a great deal worse, and attributed the mitigation of the emergency to Brandeis Electrical Supervisor Joe Castronovo and his staff."Thanks to Joe and his crew for catching this early- it could have been a lot worse," Collins said.
