(01/27/04 5:00am)
The TintThe 11th HourOn Primary Voltage Grade: BNew to the Boston music scene is The Tint, consisting of Evan Evans (vocals, guitar), Sean Will (keyboard), Sean Green (drums) and Mike Geher (bass). The band is hoping that its second album on Cambridge's Primary Voltage Records, entitled The 11th Hour, will be its big break. While the songs seem typical to those one would hear on the radio, I didn't find anything mind-blowing about this album. In the press releases sent with the CD, The Tint was often classified as a punk-rock band. When I think of punk, however, I think of hard guitar with a vocalist who screams and yells more than he actually sings. Therefore, if I was going to classify this band, it would be more of a mellowed out Green Day-type punk. The main thing that stands out about The Tint is the interesting keyboarding that appears most obviously in the title track and throughout the rest of the album. This aspect of the band sets them apart from other punk groups. The songs are catchy, and it is very possible that the title track could become a radio single. However, their overly-familiar sound prevents them from being exceptional. Besides the innovative addition of a keyboard, The Tint's music could pass for that of many other bands. Along with Green Day, they sound similar to Sugarcult and the small Long Island band, The Reunion Show. Yet, not "mind-blowing" does not necessarily mean "not good." The guitar sound is more distinctive than I have heard in recent bands, and their songs display some variety-some tracks have a good dance beat while others are more melancholy. However, sometimes the rhythm and the lyrics of a song do not match. For example, the title track, "The 11th hour," talks about being left behind, feeling a little lost and perhaps needing to start over, but the music is surprisingly upbeat. Though it's not a requirement, I would expect the lyrics to mesh with the sound of the song. In spite of a few setbacks, this album has potential. The songs are catchy and easily got stuck in my head, particularly "Bad Mood," which I found myself singing at a later time. Some lyrics are convincingly heartfelt. In "Splinter," for example, after repeated listening, you can start to feel the longing in Evans' voice.Regardless of the occasional catchy tracks, this band also has the potential to fade in to the background due to the already too-familiar sound of the songs. On the positive side, The Tint does have the talent to develop their style. Evans has a lot of room to expand on the guitar, and could be great if he took some more risks with his method. The drumming from Green gives the band its punk sound. It's a little more frantic than your average rock song, giving some songs a much-needed edge. Their lyrics are also a little smarter than normal rock lyrics. While still broaching normal topics like heartbreak, it's more of a "this is how I feel about it" approach instead of "how could you do this to me?" If The Tint's songs make it to the radio, they have a good chance of going far. Fan of mellower punk or alternative rock will find this band up their alley. With some growth and maturing, The Tint has the potential to become an established punk band.
(01/20/04 5:00am)
"All things that have a beginning have an end." This might be true, but the era of The Lord of the Rings series is anything but over. Director Peter Jackson has only made it stronger with the third installment of The Lord of the Rings movies, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. The final installment of this trilogy hit movie theaters on December 19 and became the number one grossing movie at the box office. The third installment chronicles the end of the journey to save the mystical Middle Earth and all its creatures from falling under the dark rule of the evil Lord Sauron. While Hobbits Frodo and Sam continue their quest to destroy Sauron's ring of power in the Mountain of Doom, the remainder of the Fellowship: the wizard Gandalf, the hobbits Merry and Pippin, Legolas the elf, Gimli the dwarf and Aragorn the man prepare for the final battle against Sauron and his dark army. The movie focuses on the last kingdoms of Men left in Middle Earth - Gondor, Rohan and a few smaller tribes - as the only hope in restoring order and good against the ominous threat of Sauron.Full of amazing battle scenes, views of the countryside and some surprise guests, The Return of the King has to be one of the best-made movies in a long time. The sheer magnitude of the scope of the movie itself is huge, celebrating the once great Gondor. The Realm of the Men in full length shots are jaw-dropping in their beauty. The Witch King of Angmar (Paul Norell, in his major film debut) is a physically menacing figure in movie, as is Sauron's enormous red eye beating down upon the land as he observes the surrounding events. The intensity of these characters help keep a sense of urgency as their powers grow stronger by the day and serve as some of the great examples of the extreme details Jackson pulled from the original story.Set designs for Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor, Edoras in Rohan, Mordor, Mount Doom, the encampment and other scenes - designed by Alan Lee and Dan Hennah and brought to life by Grant Major - were breathtaking. Special effects cemented the look so well that one could not tell which sets were really built and which were just scaled models. Filmed in the beautiful countryside of New Zealand, the masterfully shot panoramic scenes were awe-inspiring views of lush green valleys and snow-capped mountains. Not to be outdone by the scenery were the impressive battle scenes. Sitting proud on noble horses, the armies of men fearlessly charged the revolting masses of Orcs, the hideous and ruthless creatures groomed by Sauron. The thousands of computer-generated men and orcs were an outstanding example of the amazingly realistic reaches of technology.This movie began a little differently than the first two, opening with a scene years before when Smeagol-Gollum, played by Andy Serkis, was still a hobbit, and found the Ring of Power. It showed how the Ring was so powerful that it transformed Smeagol into the creature Gollum. The scene also gave a picture of what Gollum had went through during his incredibly long life and showed what lengths Gollum would go to for the Ring. The small glimpse into Gollum's life was a nice change, but it might have had a bigger impact if the scene had been longer with more detail. After that, we return to the present where Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) are with Gollum, still making their way to Gollum's "secret" entrance into Mordor. At the same time, Gandalf (Ian McKellen) Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) Legolas (Orlando Bloom) Gimli (John Rhys-Davies,) are arriving at Isengard to find Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) triumphant after "extinguishing the evil fires that had arisen there." From there they return to Rohan where more trouble befalls them, causing Gandalf and Pippin to ride to Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor. There we meet Denethor (John Noble), the fading steward of Gondor , and discover he has gone mad over the death of his son Boromir (Sean Bean), which happened towards the end of the first movie. Gandalf and Pippin have to warn Rohan, so they take the fate of Gondor into their own hands, setting off the alert fires to call for aid.After that, the final battle for Middle Earth begins, with a few surprises in store for the enemy. Aragorn takes up his rightful position, accepting his fate as the King of Gondor, and binds a special army to him until the end of the battle. Aragorn's recognition of his past is a big turning point in the movie, and the moments that follow bring real hope to audience that the people of Middle Earth just might survive. All of the actors in the film brought together their respective talents, which resulted a superb ensemble performance. Bloom and Rhys-Davies create a nice dialogue between their characters, who have become close friends since the beginning of this tale, providing the intense tale with comic relief. They stand behind Aragorn together, especially when death looks them in the face. During the battle, Miranda Otto is strong and determined as Eowyn, the niece of the king of Rohan, longing to earn respect as she shows that women can definitely fight and even wield more power over others than men. Boyd and Monaghan bring a goofy, yet resolute element to their characters as they struggle to be taken seriously despite their small size and the prove their worth and heroism in battle.Astin is convincing in his role as Sam becomes a real hero in this last film. He shows such strength, courage and strong desire to help Frodo complete his task that one believes he would give his life to help Frodo throw the Ring into the fires of Mount Doom. Astin truly brought the character of Sam to life with heart-wrenching emotion and convincing acting.While all things must come to an end, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - as well as the first two films - will remain a film legend for a very long time.
(11/25/03 5:00am)
To the Editor:Opponents of the recent Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) ruling on same-sex marriage are quick to say that the SJC is overstepping its bounds by legislating. Nothing could be farther from the truth. A case was presented to them which concerned a discrepancy between the written law (the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts) and the practice of the Department of Public Health. As the SJC determined, there was no law that prevented same-sex marriages in Massachusetts. They did not come close to legislating. They simply restated what the constitutions says - that the only two restrictions on marriage in Massachusetts are that you cannot be related to the person you wish to marry and that you cannot be currently married. I know that it is difficult for people to look at the process if they don't like the result, but the SJC did exactly what they were supposed to do in a case such as this one. They simply affirmed what was always legal in Massachusetts. The fact is that same-sex marriages have been allowed since that constitution was written.Now, the SJC has competently ruled on the issue of whether the constitution forbids same-sex marriage. It doesn't. Anyone that has read it and can be impartial can see that, but there is something much more important in the decision than a simple restatement of the constitution. Writing for the majority, Marshall points out that "The Massachusetts Constitution affirms the dignity and equality of all individuals. It forbids the creation of second-class citizens." That is a big statement. Referencing this part of the constitutions with this case labels homosexuals a group of people with an inherent quality - like Jews or African Americans. It treats people who are gay as gay, and not as people who choose to have relationships with those of the same sex. Marshall goes on to write that excluding homosexuals from same-sex marriage "is incompatible with the constitutional principles of respect for individual autonomy and equality under the law." This might be the most important sentence in the opinion. It clearly states, to me at least, that even a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage would be illegal in Massachusetts. It says that in order to deny marriage rights to homosexuals, you would have to take out all provisions that make African Americans, Hispanics, Jews, Christians, Moslems, women, men and every other person equal under the law.There are key moments in history and this moment would not be one if the SJC had simply affirmed same-sex marriage. What makes this a key moment in history is that homosexuals are now, in the opinion of the SJC, just that, gay. They are no longer people that choose to have relationships with people of the same sex. They are no longer people who can be denied their rights.- Sean Parick Hogan '07
(11/04/03 5:00am)
Grammy award winning Jamaican reggae legend Burning Spear (real name Winston Rodney) has been producing roots reggae for more than three decades now. With more than 35 studio albums under his wing, Burning Spear is prolific to say the least, and he shows no signs of slowing down. On his newest album, "Freeman", Burning Spear continues to impress by newly capturing the essence of the reggae music to which he has devoted his life.When newbie reggae fans think of reggae, they usually assume Bob Marley is the embodiment of Jamaican roots music. Not to discredit Marley or his music, but veteran fans of the genre are just as likely to think of Burning Spear as an approximation of roots reggae, its sound, and for what it stands. It is fair to say that when most Americans think of reggae music, laid-back images float into their head as well as visions of ganja smoking Rastafarians complete with dreadlocks engulfing their heads. While the relaxing nature of reggae cannot be denied, it is also true that the soul of reggae music lies in protest against racism and against the urban poverty which plagues much of Jamaica. These contrasting realities of reggae are incredibly apparent on "Freeman." While the rhythm and pulse of the album is suggestive of a day spent blazing up herb with some friends in a tropical locale, the lyrics of "Freeman" are politically charged and evoke memories of great political activists like Martin Luther King Jr. Nearly every song on the album features a political call to arms or an appeal for peace. The song "They Can't" harkens back to the days when Jamaica was a slave colony that took a terrible toll of human lives, and also to current day race motivated violence when Burning Spear sings, "They can't kill us all/ They can't kill us all, hey/ Yes they always take too much, but not from themselves." Meanwhile, on the track "Rise Up," Burning Spear comments on the strength of Jamaican culture and its triumph over slavery, "We rise up from this little island, where reggae music spring from." Burning Spear is joined on "Freeman" by reggae legends including "Horsemouth" Wallace, Chris Meredith, Pam Hall, and Lukie D., all who contribute to making the album an exemplary model of everything superior Jamaican roots music aims to be. Percussion that could only have originated on a small island in the Caribbean adds rhythmic weight to the album. Steel drums and congas slyly populate every song. Bob Marleyites will recognize and respond to the electric rock guitar sounds that are layered and warbled throughout. Lending more credibility and strength to the album is the fact that it sounds as if it was produced in mid-20th century Jamaica, when roots reggae truly found its voice. On the track "Old School," Burning Spear freely admits to giving the album a vintage feel. Instead of feeling rehashed and fried like much modern-day "vintaged" music, the songs on "Freeman" are authentic sounding, possibly due to the fact that Burning Man was actually making music back in the era he so easily recalls. As genuine as some modern bands (The Strokes, The Jets, etc.) interpretations of 70's music may sound, they were mere babies when their influences were making waves. Burning Spear, on the hand was actually there living the moment. "Music is an art. It makes people love," says Burning Spear in the song "Rock and Roll." "Freeman" is sure to be loved by anyone who values and appreciates classic roots reggae in its purest form. Fans of Sean Paul-type dance "reggae" music need not apply and should probably pass up "Freeman" so they can go purchase something more in their ballpark -- far less accomplished and less substantial music; R. Kelly anyone? "Freeman" stands as a true testament to reggae past and present. Fans of Bob Marley are eagerly encouraged to have a listen and to fall in love with another great reggae musician: Jah Rastifari.
(10/21/03 4:00am)
Clint Eastwood is known as something of a rarity in Hollywood today. As a director, he sticks to being minimalist in an age of over-done, computer-animated filmmaking. From "Unforgiven" to "The Bridges of Madison County," he makes it easier for the audience to be a part of his world. He allows the audience to relate to the characters in a realistic manner. His latest film, "Mystic River," is certainly no different, proving how talented a filmmaker he can be. It is his greatest achievement since the 1992 Best Picture Oscar winner, "Unforgiven.""Mystic River," filmed beautifully by Tom Stern, is set in a blue collar Boston neighborhood. It is filled with drunks, crooks and sadness. Eastwood brilliantly shows the audience what life is like for these hardworking, average Americans. Poorly kept-up houses, rusted cars and dirty sidewalks inundate the characters' everyday lives. The miserable setting causes two of the characters to dream of leaving the neighborhood to find a better life. The theme of escape is underlying throughout the film as each of the three main characters dreams of escaping either physically or emotionally.The three main characters are Jimmy, Dave, and Sean, who were best friends as kids. While the three kids are writing their names in wet cement, Dave is kidnapped. One kidnapper appears to be a cop and the other a priest. The men brutally molest him and when he finally escapes he is never the same, resulting in a weakening of the bond between him and his friends. The film glosses forward to the present day when all three men are much older. Dave (Tim Robbins of "Antitrust") is an alcoholic still traumatized by his childhood. Jimmy (Sean Penn of "I Am Sam") is an ex-convict who now owns a corner store and is also a very prominent figure in the community. Sean (Kevin Bacon of "Hollow Man") is a state police officer whose wife recently left him. All of these men come together once again when Jimmy's daughter is brutally murdered. Sean is assigned to and many accuse Dave of being the culprit.The film is much more than a simple whodunit, however. It is a complex study of the mind when tragedy occurs. It shows how Dave copes with his constant flashbacks to the four days when he was held captive as a child. Jimmy has to cope with the loss of his oldest daughter and the lengths he will go to get revenge. Sean has to find out who is the murderer while dealing with a wife who left him but constantly calls and says nothing. Also, Dave's wife Celeste (Marcia Gay Harden of "Pollock") is unsure about her husband's actions and cannot stand by her husband as Jimmy's wife Annabeth (Laura Linney of "the Mothman Prophecies") does.The film is beautifully supported by Eastwood's own eerie score. The screenplay is adapted by Brian Helgeland from the novel by Dennis Lehane. Helgeland is experienced with adapting screenplays as he also penned the Oscar-winning screenplay for "L.A. Confidential." His work is shown using Eastwood's directing and it makes for a perfect piece of film. Joel Cox edits each frame of film so as to make it effortless to watch - a typical Eastwood preference. As a result, the viewer will be enthralled in the film without having to look at any outrageous cuts or effects.Eastwood is back to his old form, and from the looks of his latest film, he could very well receive further recognition from the Academy. The performances by Robbins, Penn,and Harden should certainly not be ignored around Oscar season as they are some of the finest of the year. Penn, especially as the father of the deceased perfectly portrays what any father would do if his child was taken from him. In one scene, he is at the funeral home and asks to see his daughter's dead body. He whispers to her that revenge is in order and promises to find her killer. His performance is true cinematic brilliance by one of the greatest actors of our time.
(09/23/03 4:00am)
About a decade ago, National Football League (NFL) commissioner Paul Tagliabue made it his mission to establish a league with more parity than any other major American sport. Dynasties like the Pittsburgh Steelers' "Steel Curtain," Super Bowl champs four times in the 1970s, were relics of the past. Only the Broncos (1998-99) and Cowboys (1993-94) managed to repeat over the past decade, and it seems unlikely that any team will accomplish that feat in the decade to come. With just 17 weeks of play all season and seven postseason contests, the NFL is the league most attractive to the major television networks. While baseball games can linger for hours if a pitcher's duel has stagnated both offenses, fans see the potential for a bone-crushing hit or crucial interception in every play. CBS and Fox have a captive audience, and the astronomical dollar figures they annually shell out to the NFL and its owners gives Tagliabue the leverage necessary to maintain his stranglehold on the league's relatively low salary cap. In January 1998, CBS Sports president Sean McManus agreed to pay $4 billion over eight years for the right to televise AFC games. According to Richard Sandomir of The New York Times, McManus had no choice but to reach into his deep pockets and make the investment."Losing pro football had decimated CBS' sports programming, eroded its relationship with viewers and advertisers and damaged network morale," Sandomir said.In no other sport do team executives work harder to crunch salary numbers and restructure contracts. In the era of colossal signing bonuses, job security is now at a premium in the NFL (just ask former Patriots safety Lawyer Milloy). But as Week 3 proved, parity is more pervasive than ever before. Here are five games from Sunday's action that demonstrate why there are no longer any automatic wins in the NFL. Browns 13, 49ers 12: San Francisco fans still don't understand what Steve Mariucci did to deserve his unceremonious firing after last season's playoff loss to the Bucs, and now they can start taking out their frustration on new coach Dennis Erickson. The Browns ventured west on Sunday and came away with their first win of the season, as quarterback Kelly Holcomb recovered from a dismal first three quarters to salvage the crucial victory. After compiling just 113 yards of total offense over the first three quarters, Holcomb - playing for the ineffective Tim Couch -orchestrated two touchdown drives, the second of which capped a 91-yard surge. Holcomb made the first Browns-Niners meeting in a decade a memorable one, completing 25 of 38 passes for 222 yards. After the loss, the San Francisco media flocked to their favorite sound bite artist, 49ers malcontent Terrell Owens, whose feuds with Mariucci became the stuff of legends last season. "I don't know how many times we've been in the red zone and my number hasn't been called," Owens complained. "I feel bad from an offensive standpoint, because we're letting the defense down. They're playing their tails off, and we can't help them out." The Browns defense, which was bulldozed in Week 2 by Ravens running back Jamal Lewis for an NFL single-game record 295 yards, recovered to squash the San Francisco ground game, as tailbacks Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow rushed for a paltry 32 yards combined. The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Niners, who travel to Minnesota to face Daunte Culpepper and the unbeaten Vikings at the Metrodome. Cardinals 20, Packers 13: Despite the presence of a host of Green Bay fans in Phoenix, the Packers were completely out their element in the 100-degree desert heat, as veteran QB Jeff Blake burned them for 273 yards passing during one of the most surprising upsets in Arizona's less-than-spectacular history. The Cardinals (1-2) earned just their second victory in a span of 12 games when last year's Super Bowl MVP, safety Dexter Jackson, picked off a Brett Favre pass in the end zone with under ten seconds to play. Favre, who insists he'll retire after this season, looked weary all day, completing 23 passes for 226 yards. The two-time MVP and Super Bowl champ is an astounding 35-1 in temperatures 34 degrees or below, but just 12-18 when the thermometer surpasses 70. With the score tied at 10, the second half got underway with the temperature at a boiling 105. The Cardinals seemed unaware of the sweltering conditions and marched down the field on a seven-minute drive that culminated with a 38-yard Bill Gramatica field goal. With Arizona at the Green Bay 45 in the fourth quarter, a Blake pass intended for rookie Anquan Boldin was deflected and intercepted by Green Bay's Nick Barnett. But the Packers were unable to capitalize on the Cardinals' league-high 10th turnover of the season, as the normally sure-handed Ahman Green fumbled on the ensuing drive. Blake's QB sneak from the Green Bay one with four minutes left capped the scoring. Seahawks 24, Rams 23: Mike Martz has officially lost the title of offensive guru. After relying on a concussed Kurt Warner during St. Louis' Week One debacle against the Giants at the Meadowlands, the Rams once again looked flustered offensively against the defensively-challenged Seahawks in Seattle. Seattle, which is now undefeated after three games for the first time since 1986, bounced back from a 13-point third-quarter deficit to stun the visitors. Seahawk quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, a Boston College product, was on the mark all day, completing 22 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Hasselbeck, whose three-yard touchdown pass to Koren Robinson tied the score at 23 in the fourth, was ecstatic after the win. "It really is unbelievable," he said. "We were talking at the start of the year that we could be 3-0 going into our bye week. To actually do it is another thing." When Seattle returns to action on Oct. 5 at Green Bay's legendary Lambeau Field, it will be a homecoming of sorts for coach Mike Holmgren, who led the Packers to a Super Bowl win over the Patriots in 1997. Holmgren, who has a street adjacent to Lambeau named in his honor, hasn't been able to capture the same degree of success in Seattle, where he was stripped of his dual general manager role in the off-season. For those of you looking towards Week Four, interesting matchups abound. Bill Parcells makes his second trip back to the Meadowlands, as the Cowboys face off with the winless Jets, who are fighting to save embattled head coach Herm Edwards' job. The Colts, unbeaten through three games, will get their first true test on the road in New Orleans, where Aaron Brooks and Deuce McAlliser await. Peyton Manning, who was dogged in the off-season by questions about his big-game capability, can make a statement with a win in the city where dad Archie excelled.
(09/16/03 4:00am)
It isn't news to the world that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, the couple America has been obsessing over for much of the past year, have postponed their wedding. The news that has taken America by storm all of a sudden is that the couple has actually parted ways entirely, if not permanently. It was reported this weekend in People that the Academy Award-winning screenwriter and original Flygirl boarded separate planes at Los Angeles International Airport. Lopez reportedly went to her home in Miami, while Affleck was spotted at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.Affleck and Lopez have been the subject of an abundance of media coverage since their initial sightings together and have lived with intense media scrutiny. They appeared on numerous magazine covers, tabloid pages and television specials, forging a cultish national obsession in the process. Spokesmen for both actors cited the relentless coverage in announcing the delayed wedding. One speculative reason for the postponement is the disastrous box office performance of Gigli. Although heavily advertised for its stars, Gigli was almost universally slammed by film critics as one of the worst movies in recent history. The film was so rejected by audiences that it grossed less than $10 million during its theater run. Affleck's appearance last month at a topless bar in Canada also hurt the pair. And Lopez is known for the brevity and publicity of her relationships. The marriage to Affleck would have been her third, in addition to a tumultuous long-term relationship with hip-hop mogul Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs."Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date," Affleck and Lopez said in a joint statement released over the weekend. The wedding was scheduled for a location in the Santa Barbara, California area, but details regarding the guest list and precise location were kept private. No new date has been reported.
(09/02/03 4:00am)
We enjoyed reading the August 26 Editorial entitled: "Welcome new and old students alike to a Bran' new year." Or at least until we got about halfway through the article where you state; "Relish drinking cheap beer under your RA's nose, and discussing Camus at the same time. Have fun seeking out those certain perfect spots on campus - and there are many - and smoking whatever it is you kids smoke." We're just wondering what message it is you are trying to convey? Are you suggesting that students take risks? Personally, we think that idea has merit, but not necessarily at the expense of some unhealthy choices. Please understand that we are not saying this because of who we are or the positions we hold at Brandeis. We're just concerned about our students' health, and perpetuating the idea that students need to be "drinking cheap beer" and "smoking whatever it is that you kids smoke" to enjoy their time at Brandeis. While we understand that this behavior occurs, we hope that our students make choices that are in their best interests, and in the best interests of their communities. Thank you for your time.-Sean McGuirk Director, Student Development and Judicial Education -Dawn Skop, LMHC, Drug and Alcohol Counselor /Educator, Health Servic
(08/26/03 4:00am)
Dear Editor: We enjoyed reading your most recent article entitled: "Welcome new and old students alike to a Bran' new year", at least until we got about halfway through the article where you state; "Relish drinking cheap beer under your RA's nose, and discussing Camus at the same time. Have fun seeking out those certain perfect spots on campus - and there are many - and smoking whatever it is you kids smoke." We're just wondering what message it is you are trying to convey? Are you suggesting that students take risks? Personally, we think that idea has merit, but not necessarily at the expense of some unhealthy choices. Please understand that we are not saying this because of who we are or the positions we hold at Brandeis. We're just concerned about our student's health and perpetuating the idea that students need to be "drinking cheap beer" and "smoking whatever it is that you kids smoke" to enjoy their time at Brandeis. While we understand that this behavior occurs, we hope that our students make choices that are in their best interests, and in the best interests of their communities.Thank you for your time.Sean McGuirkDirectorStudent Development and Judicial EducationDawn Skop, LMHCDrug and Alcohol Counselor/EducatorHealth Services
(04/29/03 4:00am)
The Brandeis University baseball team (18-11-1) is making its run towards a repeat berth in the Division III College World Series, winning four out of five games last week as they head down the final stretch of the season.On Friday against Bentley College (6-15), the Judges made the most of their opportunities by scoring seven unearned runs on four errors in a 10-7 victory.Bentley took an early lead when freshman rightfielder Gabriel Vicente led off the game by clubbing his second home run of the season off Brandeis pitcher Paul Ramsdell '04. Ramsdell would not yield anymore runs until the sixth when he was pulled leading 8-4. The Judges did most of their damage during a four-run fourth inning as well as two-run innings in the fifth and sixth. In the seventh and eighth, the Judges began to break down defensively, committing an error and giving up three hits to allow the Falcons a combined three runs in the seventh and eighth to cut the deficit to one. In the bottom of the eighth, the Judges were able to put away the game by scoring two runs on a Bentley throwing error that allowed third baseman Lars Borssen '04 to score from second after he reached base on a double, and leftfielder Jon Brown '04 later drove in centerfielder Andrew Kahn '03 who reached on the throwing error. Both runs were unearned. Bryan Lambert '04 pitched a solid ninth to earn his fourth save and preserve Ramsdell's second win of the week.Brown and Borssen both had outstanding games, collecting three hits apiece. On Thursday at St. Joseph's College, Brandeis won 4-0 behind an outstanding pitching performance from Co-captain Mike Parissi '03. Parissi pitched a complete game, giving up just two hits and one walk while striking out seven. On offense, the Judges were powered by Kahn, Co-captain Tom McShane '03, Nick Adams '03, and KC Tenukas '03 who had all of the Judges' runs and RBI.Against the University of Southern Maine (18-11) on Wednesday, the Judges suffered their only loss of the week by a 3-1 score.Brandeis led briefly after scoring a run in the fourth when Brown scored on a fielder's choice. But the Judges soon lost the lead when senior second baseman Andy Lang led off the fourth with a double and scored when senior first baseman Tyler Delorme drove him in with a single. Southern Maine scored what were ultimately the winning runs in the bottom of the sixth when they got two runs on three hits, including another double from Land. The Judges made some noise in the seventh, but were unable to score despite having runners on second and third with one out. Adams hit a fly ball to center for the second out of the inning, but catcher Sean Ewers '03 was thrown out at the plate after tagging on the fly ball. That was the last serious scoring threat Brandeis made. Despite giving up only three runs over seven innings, Lambert suffered the loss, bringing his record to 2-3. On Tuesday against Bowdoin College (12-14) the Judges gained an easy 5-1 win. The game was scoreless until the fifth inning when Brandeis scored three runs on two hits. The Polar Bears struck back in the bottom of the fifth with one run on three singles. The Judges went on to score one run in both the sixth and seventh innings to secure the victory. McShane pitched a complete game, yielding eight hits, one earned run, and one walk while striking out 12. The victory raised McShane's record to a team- best 6-1. McShane helped his cause with an excellent day at the plate, going 3-5 and scoring a run. First baseman Dan McIntosh '04 and Brown chipped in with two hits and two runs scored. Ewers also had a solid day with the bat, going 1-4 and driving in two runs. Against Johnson & Wales (20-12) on Monday, Brandeis captured an easy 10-2 victory. The Judges scored five runs in the first and five runs in the fifth to take a 10-0 lead which was never seriously threatened. Ramsdell (2-1) got the win, as the junior gave up no runs and two hits in six innings. Kahn, McIntosh, and Adams each had multi-hit games. Given last year's success, the Judges had very high expectations going into this season. After a rough start, they are now on track heading down the stretch."I think we just kind of got in a groove," McIntosh said, "We had so many rain-outs and snow-outs. It's been a weird season. We were lax a little bit. Early on we panicked but now we're just playing to have fun and I think it really shows in the wins."With the season winding down, the Judges are looking to take the necessary steps to get back to the College World Series. Brandeis is an independent team in the northeast region. To make it to the postseason, they must win the northeast tournament. All northeastern conference champions earn an automatic birth in the northeastern tournament, but as an independent school, they can only get into the tournament based on their record. Every game is crucial to the Judges, and after a 15-9 win over Amherst College yesterday, they appear to have enough momentum to make their tournament dreams a reality. Although each win moves the Judges closer to the postseason, they do not control their own destiny. "It just depends on a lot of factors. All we can do is win and hope," McIntosh said. Brandeis plays its final regular season game at home today against Babson College (20-12) at 3:30. The beavers are playing well of late, having won nine of their past 12 games. On offense the Beavers are led by freshman catcher Ted Dzubia who is hitting .400 and senior second baseman Kevin Higa who is batting at .397. The Beaver aces are junior Jason Kosow, who is 3-0 with a microscopic .90 ERA, and senior Bill Fitzgerald who is 3-1 with a 3.48 ERA. Babson has won three of their last four games, including two victories over Clark and a 13-5 win over UMass-Boston.
(04/08/03 4:00am)
Sunday, the Brandeis baseball team got Head Coach Pete Varney (in his 22nd season with the Judges) his 501st career win at the Division III level with a come-from-behind 7-6 victory over host UMass-Dartmouth in Dartmouth, Mass.The Judges' 6-3 win over Suffolk University Thursday, coupled with the UMass-Dartmouth victory, helped the squad raise its record above .500 (9-8-1) for the first time since their trip to Florida in March. Sunday at Umass, the Judges finally pulled everything together for their best performance of the season, winning 7-6. Brandeis struck first in the top-half of the first frame, as centerfielder Andrew Kahn '03 scored on designated hitter Tom McShane's '03 sacrifice fly. The roof appeared to be caving in on Brandeis in the bottom of the second, as Dartmouth roughed up Judges starter Mike Parissi '03 for four runs on four hits, including a three-run home run. Trailing 4-1, the Judges got two runs back in the third, but gave up one run in both the third and fourth innings to fall behind 6-3.The Judges entered the eighth trailing by that same three-run margin. In the top of the eighth, Brandeis displayed the talent that allowed them to win 14 straight games last year. The inning was initially promising, as second baseman Nick Adams '03 led off with a double. It began to appear that Brandeis would be unable to take advantage of Adams' clutch hit when shortstop Lars Borssen '04 struck out and Kahn popped up to first base. With two outs, third baseman Jeff Krasner '05 came to the rescue with a single. First baseman Dan McIntosh followed up with a double to send Krasner racing to third. Tom McShane then delivered, doubling to drive in two runs. The offensive explosion continued, as leftfielder Jon Brown '03 drove in McShane with a double. The inning ended when catcher Sean Ewers '03 lined out to rightfield. With a 7-6 lead and two innings to hold it, Russ Stutsky '04 came in to face the bottom of the UMass-Dartmouth order in the bottom of the eight. Stutsky was ineffective, giving up a single and a walk without recording a single out. Faced with two on and nobody out, Bryan Lambert '04 was able to retire the side in order with two groundouts and a strikeout. With the Judges unable to add an insurance run in the ninth, it was up to Lambert to preserve the win. Three batters faced Lambert, and all three went down without making much noise to cement the Judges' 7-6 comeback win. Paul Ramsdell '04 got his first win of the season and Lambert picked up his first save."The team has been playing much better as of late, and we just played our best game of the season at UMass-Dartmouth," Ewers said. Against Suffolk, the Judges' 6-3 triumph gave Coach Pete Varney his 500th career win.McShane pitched an excellent game, going the distance and giving up only five hits and three runs to earn his third victory of the year. On offense, the Judges were led by Krasner, Kahn, and Adams. They combined for seven hits and five RBIs. The team was excited about Varney's milestone, but made sure to pay homage to those who helped get Varney to that point."It made everyone remember the outstanding lineage of Brandeis baseball players, who starred on the field before us," said Kahn, "Although we were the players to give Coach Varney his 500th win, it was combined effort of twenty years worth of players just like us."Varney's record in 22 seasons at Brandeis is 501-280-5, putting him in the top five amongst active Division III baseball coaches. The Judges also played a game on Tuesday at Wheaton College that was called because of darkness with the score tied at six. This was another comeback game for the Judges. Trailing 6-4 in the top of the ninth, they scored two runs on a single by Kahn and a groundout by Borssen. The inning was completed before play was halted."The team has been playing much better as of late and we just played our best game of the season at UMass-Dartmouth," Ewers added, "We're finally starting to get some clutch hits and our comeback win against Dartmouth was a very important step on our quest towards the playoffs. We have no quit in us and we'll continue to play hard to the last out. When we do that good things will continue to happen for us."The Judges will look o make their run toward the playoffs beginning Thursday at home against the University of Southern Maine (USM) at 3 p.m. The Huskies have won two D-III national titles in the 90s (1991 and 1997).
(04/08/03 4:00am)
Sunday, the Brandeis baseball team got Head Coach Pete Varney (in his 22nd season with the Judges) his 501st career win at the Division III level with a come-from-behind 7-6 victory over host UMass-Dartmouth in Dartmouth, Mass.The Judges' 6-3 win over Suffolk University Thursday, coupled with the UMass-Dartmouth victory, helped the squad raise its record above .500 (9-8-1) for the first time since their trip to Florida in March. Sunday at Umass, the Judges finally pulled everything together for their best performance of the season, winning 7-6. Brandeis struck first in the top-half of the first frame, as centerfielder Andrew Kahn '03 scored on designated hitter Tom McShane's '03 sacrifice fly. The roof appeared to be caving in on Brandeis in the bottom of the second, as Dartmouth roughed up Judges starter Mike Parissi '03 for four runs on four hits, including a three-run home run. Trailing 4-1, the Judges got two runs back in the third, but gave up one run in both the third and fourth innings to fall behind 6-3.The Judges entered the eighth trailing by that same three-run margin. In the top of the eighth, Brandeis displayed the talent that allowed them to win 14 straight games last year. The inning was initially promising, as second baseman Nick Adams '03 led off with a double. It began to appear that Brandeis would be unable to take advantage of Adams' clutch hit when shortstop Lars Borssen '04 struck out and Kahn popped up to first base. With two outs, third baseman Jeff Krasner '05 came to the rescue with a single. First baseman Dan McIntosh followed up with a double to send Krasner racing to third. Tom McShane then delivered, doubling to drive in two runs. The offensive explosion continued, as leftfielder Jon Brown '03 drove in McShane with a double. The inning ended when catcher Sean Ewers '03 lined out to rightfield. With a 7-6 lead and two innings to hold it, Russ Stutsky '04 came in to face the bottom of the UMass-Dartmouth order in the bottom of the eight. Stutsky was ineffective, giving up a single and a walk without recording a single out. Faced with two on and nobody out, Bryan Lambert '04 was able to retire the side in order with two groundouts and a strikeout. With the Judges unable to add an insurance run in the ninth, it was up to Lambert to preserve the win. Three batters faced Lambert, and all three went down without making much noise to cement the Judges' 7-6 comeback win. Paul Ramsdell '04 got his first win of the season and Lambert picked up his first save."The team has been playing much better as of late, and we just played our best game of the season at UMass-Dartmouth," Ewers said. Against Suffolk, the Judges' 6-3 triumph gave Coach Pete Varney his 500th career win.McShane pitched an excellent game, going the distance and giving up only five hits and three runs to earn his third victory of the year. On offense, the Judges were led by Krasner, Kahn, and Adams. They combined for seven hits and five RBIs. The team was excited about Varney's milestone, but made sure to pay homage to those who helped get Varney to that point."It made everyone remember the outstanding lineage of Brandeis baseball players, who starred on the field before us," said Kahn, "Although we were the players to give Coach Varney his 500th win, it was combined effort of twenty years worth of players just like us."Varney's record in 22 seasons at Brandeis is 501-280-5, putting him in the top five amongst active Division III baseball coaches. The Judges also played a game on Tuesday at Wheaton College that was called because of darkness with the score tied at six. This was another comeback game for the Judges. Trailing 6-4 in the top of the ninth, they scored two runs on a single by Kahn and a groundout by Borssen. The inning was completed before play was halted."The team has been playing much better as of late and we just played our best game of the season at UMass-Dartmouth," Ewers added, "We're finally starting to get some clutch hits and our comeback win against Dartmouth was a very important step on our quest towards the playoffs. We have no quit in us and we'll continue to play hard to the last out. When we do that good things will continue to happen for us."The Judges will look o make their run toward the playoffs beginning Thursday at home against the University of Southern Maine (USM) at 3 p.m. The Huskies have won two D-III national titles in the 90s (1991 and 1997).
(04/01/03 5:00am)
Alcohol - a monitored, restricted and often enjoyed American pastime - has recently been redeemed by the most unlikely source: the medical community. Conducted by the American Cancer Society, the most extensive study of alcohol's effects on health was recently completed with irrefutably positive results, according to The New York Times. As many reports have shown in the past two decades, the study confirms that moderate drinking facilitates cardiovascular health. Analysis of data from over 21,000 men during a 12-year period demonstrated that the consumption of two to four drinks per week reduced a subject's risk of cardiac-related death by 60 percent. Similar results are confirmed by what is know as the "French paradox." A study found that of 21 countries, France has the highest wine intake but the lowest cardiovascular mortality rate. But unlike previous studies, which also found a direct relationship between alcohol and increased risk of breast cancer and other diseases, the American Cancer Society reported that the benefits far outweigh the risks. The popularization of the medical benefits of alcohol has occurred in tandem with heightened concern over its underage consumption. A study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University reported that 20 percent of alcohol use in this country is attributable to underage drinkers. Moreover, another 30 percent is consumed by adults who drink excessively, meaning more than two drinks a day.Motivated by these alarming statistics, the researchers have commenced an aggressive public health campaign to limit the advertisement and sale of alcohol to minors, according to an article in the Boston Globe. In the article, Chelsea Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program Director Amy Harris underscored her outrage, saying children as young as 11 or 12 are able to get their hands on and consume alcohol. But while alcohol is held responsible for a public health crisis, it continues to receive positive medical attention. In addition to protecting individuals from heart disease and stroke, light drinking may actually benefit the liver, according to The New York Times. In a rat study conducted by the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, scientists found that light alcohol consumption actually expedites the recovery of damaged livers. Moderate and excessive consumption, as well as abstinence, had negligible effects on the liver.Whether in prevention of liver or cardiovascular disease, moderate drinking is key - one drink a day for women and two for men as defined by CNN's medial correspondent. In hotbeds of underage and excessive drinking, such as college campuses, is it then possible to promote such sensible consumption of alcohol, or must it be fully counteracted? Legally, the simple answer is "no," according to both Assistant Dean of Student Life Alwina Bennett and Director of Student Development and Judicial Education Sean McGuirk. With more than half of its students under 21, a university cannot promote any type of alcohol consumption. Still, Bennett recognizes that "as long as alcohol is legal and such a significant part of our culture, it is unrealistic to expect that people won't drink." She added that the "risks associated with alcohol are widely associated with (its) excessive use," giving the examples of "binge drinking, drinking to unconsciousness, drinking to the point of being unable to assess situations, (which) ... are certainly the focus on a college campus."McGuirk, chair of the Brandeis Alcohol Task Force, agrees that completely eliminating alcohol abuse on a college campus is a laudable but unmanageable goal. "If a student is under 21, then helping that student not drink at all would be the ideal," he said, "but if suppression were the goal for all students, you would see far more colleges around the country go to being 'dry' campuses ... but even then you would probably have some students drinking."Despite resigning to the inevitability of drinking, when it comes to underage consumers, both Bennett and McGuirk say they feel moderation is not a sufficient goal. "The sights are set on educating students about the decision-making power they have, the personal effects of alcohol ... and the expectations of the University," McGuirk said. "If indeed moderate use of alcohol lowers the risk of everything from cancer to heart conditions," Bennett said, " its probably just as effective to eat well balanced and nutritious food, exercise, get adequate sleep and wait to order that drink until you are of legal age!
(04/01/03 5:00am)
The Brandeis University men's baseball team (4-2 UAA, 7-8 overall) proved inconsistent at home last week, defeating Wentworth Institute of Technology, Salve Regina University and Springfield College, but losing to Endicott College and St. Joseph's College (ME).Saturday against St. Joseph's, The Judges lost 6-5 and couldn't convert on several opportunities to win late in the game. Brandeis jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. The first three Judges reached base on two hits and a walk and scored on a double by Captain Tom McShane '03 and a single by rightfielder Sean Ewers '03. Brandeis maintained that lead through three innings, as pitcher Chris Pickford '05, making his first career start, yielded just one hit. But in the fourth inning, he began to lose his composure and surrendered two runs on a walk that was followed by a home run to senior first baseman Jesse LaCasse. Pickford then settled back down to get the next two Monk batters to fly out and end the inning.The score remained 3-2 in favor of Brandeis until the sixth inning. Pitcher Mike Botelho '04 struck out the first batter before giving up a hit and a walk. With two outs, sophomore centerfielder Howard Rutherford hit a grounder to shortstop Lars Borssen '04, but Borssen could not field the ball cleanly and everyone was safe. The next batter, designated hitter Andy Exley ripped a double to drive in two runs. The following two batters walked to score another run before Botelho struck out senior pitcher Charlie Buker looking. The Monks now led 5-3 after scoring three unearned runs. Brandeis was unable to answer in the bottom of the sixth, but St. Joseph's scored another run in the top of the seventh on a single by sophomore catcher Derek McIntosh. Trailing 6-3, the Judges finally made some noise in the bottom of the eighth. After the first batter struck out, Borssen singled and scored on a double by centerfielder Andrew Kahn '03. The next two batters walked to load the bases for catcher Jeremy Taro (GRAD). But St. Joseph's pulled its starting pitcher Buker for sophomore Matt Vasil. Vasil proceeded to strike out Taro and got designated hitter Jeff Krasner '05 to ground out to second. The Judges were unable to take advantage of an excellent opportunity to tie or take the lead, but they had would receive another chance in the bottom of the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, with the Judges trailing 6-5, leftfielder Jon Brown '03 began the inning by grounding to freshman shortstop Tyler Bryant, but Bryant threw wildly to first allowing Brown to reach second base. With one out, second baseman Nick Adams '03 singled Bryant home, but was later caught stealing to record the second out. With no one on and two outs, Borsen grounded out to end the game. Buker got the win for the Monks, while Vasil received a save. Botelho took the loss for the Judges to lower his record to 0-2 and raise his ERA to 5.19. The loss also left Coach Pete Varney one short of his 500th career win. Although the Judges yielded six runs, Captain Mike Parissi '04 feels the team pitched well enough to win."I think Pickford pitched well overall," he said, "Anytime you're in a position to win, I think you pitched pretty well." On Friday against Springfield College (4-3 in NEWMAC play, 4-8 overall), the Judges played another close game and escaped with a dramatic 7-6 win.The Judges fell behind early as the Pride executed their own version of "small ball," scoring a run in the first inning with a walk, a stolen base, a fielder's choice groundout and a single. Brandeis evened the score at one in the third inning on a Taro single that drove in first baseman Dan McIntosh '04 from second base. The Judges scored again in the fourth as Kahn drove in Adams on a single and third baseman David Graham '04 drove in Kahn with another single. The Judges cruised through the first five innings, as pitcher Tim Dunphy '06 gave up just one hit after the first frame. But Dunphy gave up a run in both the sixth and the seventh innings, tying the game at three.In the eighth inning, the Judges fell apart. With one out, the first Pride baserunner reached on an error by Adams. After another out was recorded, two consecutive singles drove in a run and Dunphy was pulled for Russ Stutsky '04. Stutsky did not fare any better than Dunphy had earlier, throwing two wild pitches and giving up a single that the Pride turned into two more runs to take what seemed a commanding 6-3 lead.In the bottom of the eighth, the Judges were able to answer. McShane, the leadoff hitter, singled up the middle. The next two batters singled before Adams was hit by a pitch, scoring McShane. With the bases loaded, two consecutive groundouts produced three RBIs to give the Judges a 7-6 lead. McShane came on to pitch the ninth. He turned in an excellent performance, yielding a mere leadoff single before striking out the side to preserve the win. While Stutsky got the win to improve to 2-0, McShane picked up his first save of the year. On Thursday against Salve Regina University (3-0 Commonwealth Coast Conference, 7-6 overall), the Judges displayed a rare offensive barrage, drubbing the Seahawks 12-3. Brandeis jumped on the Seahawks for three runs in the first inning and never looked back, scoring six in the second, two in the fourth and one in the seventh. Every Brandeis starter got at least one hit, and McShane and Brown each homered once. Kahn, Graham, McIntosh, Taro, McShane, and Brown all enjoyed multi-hit games. Bryan Lambert '04 pitched a solid game, giving up two runs and six hits over six innings to pick up his second win of the season. On Wednesday against Endicott College, the Judges' bats fell silent and Brandeis dropped a tightly-contested pitcher's duel 2-1. Endicott scored first on rightfielder Pat Vincent's two-run home run to left. That single blow would be decisive, as the Judges managed only one run for the game. That run came in the eighth inning when Kahn drove in pinch runner Joe Loynd '05 with a single. Both pitchers were masterful on the afternoon, as Brandeis starter Parissi gave up just five hits and two earned runs in 7.2 innings of work. For his effort, he received his second loss of the year to run his record to 1-2 despite a solid 3.48 ERA. The Endicott starter, sophomore Greg Allain, pitched a complete game (he yielded just one unearned run and three hits).Tuesday against Wentworth Tech, Brandeis came away with an easy 7-1 victory. The big inning for the Judges was the bottom of the fifth when, leading 3-0, they scored four runs on four hits. The inning began when Borssen led off with a double to left. McIntosh grounded out to move Borssen to third before Taro singled to left to drive him in. Brown then doubled down the rightfield line, scoring Taro. Following another groundout, Ewers walked and Botelho was hit by a pitch. Centerfielder Paul Ramsdell '04 then singled down the rightfield line to score Ewers and Brown. A third groundout finally ended the inning, but the damage was done. McShane pitched seven innings of one-hit ball to earn his second win of the year. Although the team has played well in spurts, the Judges are disappointed with their progress thus far."I think the reason that we are performing below expectations right now is because we are starting to press," remarked the senior, "We've been hitting better, but we still aren't getting that clutch hit, and it seems that hitters are sometimes trying to score five runs with each swing." Through 15 games last year, the Judges were 9-6. They then embarked on a record-setting 14-game winning streak that allowed them to earn a coveted birth in the Division III NCAA tournament. Just two games off of last year's pace, the Judges aren't ready to panic."We're talking a difference of two games for our record, which I do not consider to be something that we need to get overly concerned with," said McShane, "It's done and over with, we need to learn from it, and we need to work a little harder come game time to gain control and dictate how the game is going to play out. This upcoming week is going to be a big week for us to gain confidence by beating good teams such as Wheaton and Eastern Connecticut. Once we do that, I think we'll be on the right track again."The Judges visited Wheaton College today at 3 p.m.
(03/18/03 5:00am)
The fifth annual Culture X show was held on Saturday, the day after the newly-announced Diversity Day, in Levin Ballroom. This year's show was coordinated by four dedicated members of the intercultural community at Brandeis: Ana Yoselin Bugallo '03, Shalwah Evans '05, Bryan Jung '04 and Chieko Nakai '03. Emcees Ebone Bishop '04 and Judy Olivo '04 guided the audience through this virtual tour of the world and its myriad cultures.The first performance of the evening was by the Brandeis Ballroom Dance Team, who has recently started to compete with other groups in the country. Daniel Ludevig '06 and Olga Polotoratskaya '06 immediately raised the temperature in Levin with their hot cha-cha number. Boris Glants '04 and Anna Levin '06 followed with a samba dance, and Tekoa DaSilva (TYP) and Shayna Skelley '06 performed a slow and romantic rumba piece.Culture X insisted on going beyond representing different countries and provided a stage for other kinds of communities. The next "X-hibition," for example, was a dance performed by students of the Transitional Year Program (TYP). For the numerous people in the audience who were not aware of TYP's mission, there was a brief introduction explaining how TYP gives an opportunity for talented students from disadvantaged academic backgrounds to enroll at a prestigious college such as Brandeis. In "TYP Coming To Bust a Move," the students revealed such great talent and danced powerfully to music by artists such as Aaliyah and Sean Paul.Many people in the audience seemed delighted to see popular Brandeis acts, such as the Lion Dance Troupe and Umoja, who always know how to work a crowd. Umoja, Swahili for "unity," used their coordinated steps and cheers to share their ideas on unity as the secret to a healthy community. The Lion Dance Troupe boasted two new lions and monk heads and impressed the audience with their complicated movements and loud drumbeats. As usual, their performance was breathtakingly colorful.Even in its fifth year, Culture X was able to introduce new cultural dances. The Southeast Asia Club did an interpretation of the Filipino Tinikling Dance that involved stepping and dancing between two moving bamboo sticks. After having danced to a traditional Tinikling song, they incorporated some modern hip-hop into their piece. The Korean Drum Ensemble explained that their ancient form of communication, imagry used by farmers to call nature gods, has now become a tradition at sports games and other festive events. These pieces clearly demonstrated how tradition and ancient cultures keep up with changing times and continue to be used by cultures to promote unity and pride.The show also revived dancehall reggae, "ol' skool" and other forms of music that represent minorities and revived musical styles. "Break You Off," featuring Claudia Fontes '03, Shanelle Henry '06, Tara Mathis '03, Abiola Saliu '03, Melissa Scott '03 and Nyssa Thomas '03, was fun and seductive, with dancers dressed in velveteen tracksuits shaking their booty and dancing with chairs. While all the performances featured costumes that were somehow representative of their individual cultures, "Going Around The World" brought the different fashion cultures together to create a visual mosaic. This fashion show, coordinated by Jason Colon '05, Asavari Kamerkar '03 and Sarah Light '05, displayed a variety of ethnic fashion. Both traditional and modern dress were included from Indian saris and Japanese kimonos to Hawaiian hula dress, men's modern suits and exotic street-wear.Culture X also had its solemn moments, when the audience was encouraged to think seriously on social issues related to diversity. The slideshow presentation, "Where There Was No Trail," was created by Marci Surkes '03 and Ana Yoselin Bugallo '03 (with help from the Robert D. Farber Archives) as a tribute to all the trailblazers of equality and justice. Famous quotes by Louis D. Brandeis as well as black-and-white photographs of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the student occupation of Ford Hall were effectively spliced into the performance and the audience clapped in approval. In a similar way, Jasmine Vallejo '03, Brandeis' own spoken word artist, shared two passionate poems, of which one, "Free Fall," talked about how the world is falling like a set of dominoes. Themes of war, injustice, hatred and discrimination were eloquently expressed and were extremely well received by everyone present, including President Reinharz. The members of Triskelion, which is almost in its 20th year, then put humor back in the show with their skit on stereotypes about homosexuality. This skit, written and performed by Seth Bernstein '05, Ben Kampler '05, Dave Libber '06 and Andres Roman '06, portrayed the dilemmas of a teenage boy revealing his homosexuality to two confused and bigoted parents. Their piece was comical, yet direct and absurdly true, and they did a wonderful job of representing the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer, Questioning and Straight Alliance (GLBTQSA).In terms of choreography, there were two pieces that were particularly outstanding. AHORA's "Oye Bien?" (Spanish for "Can you hear that?") combined tambor, meringue, salsa and samba. Their performance was energetic and Bugallo and Colon's collaborative efforts as choreographers shone through. "Jaadu" by Ashwini Apte '03 was also impressive. Sharmila Bandyopadhyay '03, Sheralyn Diaz '03, Purnema Madahar '05, Olinde Mandell '04 and Faizeen Rahman '06 danced elegantly to this mystic number that experimented with Hindi music, Arabic music and even the latest hip hop party anthems.The show closed with Brandeis Black Student Organization's "The Playground," which was an overall fusion of African American music and street culture. Towards the end of the act, all ten dancers donned different basketball jerseys, closing the show with a rainbow of colors and ethnicities.The considerable turnout at the show and deafening applause proved Culture X to be, yet again, a success. It would probably be accurate to say that the performers enjoyed the show as much as the audience did. After the show, Coordinator Bugallo said, "Culture X is not about being what 'they' think about you, but being who you really are ... All the performers looked happy because they knew while they were performing, they had Brandeis in the palm of their hand."As John F. Kennedy once said, "If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity," and Culture X clearly makes a significant attempt to make Brandeis such a place. Emcee Bishop summed up the meaning of Culture X, saying, "Culture X is about experiencing other cultures -- the cultures that we see visually but don't necessarily understand. Culture X answers questions." With the threat of another global war, Culture X emphasized the importance for tolerance and coexistence. For the two hours that the show ran, all the students in Levin Ballroom became one.
(03/18/03 5:00am)
What began as a promising trip to Florida for the Brandeis University baseball team ended in disappointment, as the team lost five consecutive games after winning four of its first five.During the trip, the Judges stopped at Sanford before venturing to Daytona Beach, where they battled rainy weather as well as difficult opponents. Brandeis defeated UAA foes Case Western Reserve University (twice), Emory University and the University of Rochester. Head Coach Pete Varney' s squad then fell to Washington University and Rochester, as well as non-conference foes Cortland State University, Rochester Polytechnic Institute (twice) and Missouri Baptist College."I believe the margin of error against the teams at the end of our trip was much smaller and we simply didn't play up to our ability, and that is why we lost," Captain Tom McShane '04 said.The Judges came into Florida with very high expectations. The 2002 team was one of the best in the history of a strong Brandeis baseball tradition. That squad captured a UAA title for the first time since 1997 and earned a trip to the NCAA Division III tournament. Last season, the Judges returned from Florida with a 7-4 record. This year, they expected to fare similarly well."The general consensus on the team is disappointment. We always expect to win every time we step onto the field and if we leave the field with a loss, it is very disappointing. We don't expect to go undefeated, but five losses in a row is definitely frustrating," McShane added. Despite the string of defeats late in the trip, the Judges learned a great deal from their experience in the Sunshine State."We learned a lot about ourselves on the trip and can now focus on improving in areas that hurt us. We know that our pitching staff is good enough to keep us in most games. We are not a team that is going put up 10 runs often, so whoever is in the lineup on any given day has to do the little things that will allow us to score enough runs for our pitchers," catcher Sean Ewers '04 said. In the games the Judges won, they scored an average of 5.75 runs, while giving up just 2.25. But in their losses, Brandeis scored only 1.83 runs per game and surrendered 4.83, meaning that they generally pitched well enough to win but did not provide their pitchers enough run support. The Judges left Florida with a team batting average of .235 and 4.50 team ERA."We have a ton of ability, we were just missing key hits here and there. At this point in the season the pitchers are always ahead of the hitters, but that will change," said outfielder Andrew Kahn '04."Baseball is a battle of confidence, and I think that in our last two games our hitters started regaining last season's form with runners getting on, and players coming up with clutch hits. Of course, if our offense continues to produce two, three, or four runs per game, our defense needs to be spectacular," added Kahn.Ewers is leading the Judges with a .357 batting average, with Kahn second at .320. McShane pitched better than his 4.91 ERA and 1-1 record would indicate and Tim Dunphy '06 showed considerable promise during his bullpen appearances. "(What) really impressed me was his composure on the mound. He knows what he can do and doesn't try to do too much at once. He lets the game come to him and is not easily rattled," Ewers said.The Judges (4-2 in UAA action and 4-6 overall) host Salve Regina University Sunday.
(02/18/03 5:00am)
Two weeks ago, the United States woke up to an event it had not witnessed in seventeen years: a catastrophic failure in the space program. While returning from a routine mission to deliver more components to the International Space Station, something went horribly wrong on board the space shuttle Columbia, causing it to disintegrate over the western United States. For some at Brandeis' Ashton Graybiel Spatial Orientation Laboratory, which conducts research used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on spatial orientation under various gravitational conditions, the loss of Columbia is particularly acute.Prof. Paul DiZio (NPSY) was acquainted with Michael Anderson, one of the seven astronauts killed in the explosion. "I met him twice flying in parabolic flight," DiZio said, referring to the flights in which a zero gravity environment is simulated. Shortly after the destruction of Columbia, DiZio, along with two others from the Graybiel Lab, flew to Houston to work with NASA on parabolic flight. A memorial service for the Columbia was a somber addition to previously planned trip.Columbia's launch on this mission, like that of most space flights in recent years, received minimal coverage. However, DiZio said he still believes this disaster is important for the entire country. "It's a national disaster. It's still a source of pride," he said. Despite this setback in space exploration, the Graybiel lab is continuing with all of its projects. "Everyone is doing their job," DiZio said, while adding, "the research we do right here has some impact on the shuttle program. We do research for the long term, like a Mars mission. That's going ahead full force."Where NASA goes next is uncertain, but DiZio is optimistic about the overall survival of the space program. "I have friends who have applied to be astronauts. None of them are considering backing off," he said. The immediate future may be grim for NASA; it was between 1986 and 1987 when the entire shuttle fleet was grounded after the explosion of Challenger. One of the most pressing issues, according to other members of the Graybiel lab, is the economics of the space program. Concerning the future of space travel, Isaac Kurtzer (GRAD) said, "There are clearly valid questions; also really expensive questions." During the 1960s, the budget allocated to NASA at times exceeded five percent of all federal spending, but now it is less than one percent of the federal budget, according to NASA and the White House Office of Management and Budget Information. "NASA's been running on $14 billion for the last 15 years," Graybiel researcher Simone Bortolami said. Another Graybiel researcher, Joel Ventura, also pointed out NASA never received all the money it wanted for the shuttle program. "When the program started, NASA asked for money for six orbiters because they expected to lose two. Congress said, 'Just don't lose any,'" NASA has now lost two shuttles.The investigation into the cause of Columbia's failure may take time. Investigators now have formulated theories about a missing tile in the shuttle's heat shield and a collision with a piece of space junk. Last week, during a NASA press conference, correspondents reported that a wheel became de-pressurized under intense heat during reentry, and plasma (superheated gas) filled the wheel well, sparking the explosion. "Debris, foam, human error: many, many things could go wrong. We just have to collect the facts and analyze," DiZio said. Bortolami speculated on a specific cause of the tragedy. "The Columbia was 22 years old," he said. "In its years of service, the Columbia went on twenty-eight missions, including its last. Another seventy-five missions would have taken decades to complete, so it is possible that age was a factor.Still, DiZio does not feel that the future of space exploration is in jeopardy. He said the prospect of space exploration will continue to drive space travel, regardless of the risks and dangers involved. "Exploration of the Earth was not held back by the condition that all voyages be 100 percent safe. We can't not explore (space). It's hard to imagine not having a presence," he said. The Graybiel lab is focused on how people adapt to gravity and spatially orient themselves. DiZio said he feels the space environment is one of the greatest tools for this study, because gravity is the most constant force in the world. "What does the brain do if the one, most constant thing changes?" he asked.Kurtzer said he is not sure about the future and usefulness of the space program. Adding to his prior comments about the costs of the space program, he said, "There might be more efficient ways to spend the money. It's a hard call. Research doesn't always have benefits. It's hard to imagine the theory of relativity helping people get over a cold." However, he doesn't believe that NASA is in true peril. "It's a matter of national pride. There's no way we're going to dump it," he said.NASA is currently putting future shuttle missions on hiatus while the failure of Columbia is investigated. It took over two years for Americans to return to space after the Challenger explosion, and it could take as much time, if not more, in this instant as well. In an appearance before a joint hearing of Congress last week, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe stressed that NASA must and will continue working towards its goals. "We will find the problem that caused the loss of Columbia and its crew, we will fix it, and we will return to flight operations that are as safe as humanly possible in pursuit of knowledge," he said.Knowledge and exploration are what drive DiZio's research. "We have to know more about ourselves. That's why we explore. That's what research is," he said.The Graybiel lab is still working toward greater knowledge of human nature and the future of space flight. According to DiZio, exploration is too important to ignore, and that is why NASA and space flight should not be stopped. "Anything that puts the lid on exploration is wrong. It's natural; right now we've just hit a serious snag. We've got to fix it and go on," he said.
(02/04/03 5:00am)
The packed audience at Spingold Theater was certainly in for a musical treat on Saturday, when Brandeis' own Spur of the Moment hosted the Northeast quarter finals of International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA). Brandeis University's Up the Octave and Voicemale, Boston University's Terpsichore, Northeastern University's Downbeats, SUNY Albany's Serendipity and Amherst College's Bluestockings all competed to be one of two groups to advance to the ICCA Northeast semi-final round at M.I.T. on March 22. These six elite a cappella groups were selected from hundreds of entries to compete in this prestigious, highly competitive quarter final event.In the quarter finals, three judges assessed each group based on musicality and performance. Judges evaluated the a cappella ensembles on their pitch, blend and solos in the music category, while critiquing their stage presence, energy and costuming in the performance category. In addition, the groups would be penalized if they exceeded the 15-minute performance time limit. First place for best arrangement went to the Northeastern University Downbeats for "Garbage," and Brandeis University's Voicemale finished second with their arrangement of "Let Me Entertain You." The first place and runner-up prizes for best soloists went to Sarah Chase and Christie Beaulieu, both from Boston University's Terpsichore. Finally, the competition winners were announced, the top two finishers advancing to the next semi-final sound. Although BU's Terpsichore finished in a shocking third, the home-crowd audience exploded when their own Brandeis Voicemale finished second. The surprise winners of the ICCA Northeast quarter finals were the Northeastern University Downbeats, redeeming themselves from a third place finish last year.The four women of Brandeis's Up the Octave, the night's smallest ensemble, opened the competition with Tori Amos' "Silent All These Years." Up the Octave had great blend and fluid harmonies on songs such as "Lullaby, Goodnight My Angel" by Billy Joel. However, the women appeared nervous singing on stage and did not add choreography to pieces like several of the groups did, as they had only put together their songs for the competition during the previous week. The 15 ladies of BU's Terpsichore performed next, singing Annie Lennox's "Walking on Broken Glass" and Seal's "Kiss From a Rose." Terpsichore's exuberant energy and well-synchronized choreography on the Pointer Sisters' "I'm So Excited" proved why this ensemble was the ICCA Northeast region champions last year. Northeastern University's Downbeats, the only coed a cappella group that participated in the competition, followed. Their selections of songs were the most musically diverse of the evening, ranging from Garbage's "When I Grow Up" to "One by One" of Broadway's "The Lion King." The audience laughed when the members of the Downbeats held up signs and the soloist performed a little jig during their rendition of Counting Crows' "Big Yellow Taxi." After intermission, Brandeis's own boy band, Voicemale, took to the stage, as the enthusiastic female members of the audience produced rowdy screams. In a competition that featured four female a cappella ensembles, the smooth, well-blended harmonies of Voicemale were a refreshing sound coming from the night's only all-male group. Performing songs such as Robbie Williams "Let Me Entertain You" and Seal's "Don't Cry," Voicemale received the biggest applause of the night. The crowd also enjoyed the sweet voices of SUNY Albany's Serendipity and the soulful sounds of Amherst College's Bluestockings. Serendipity sang Fiona Apple's "Criminal" and "Survivor" by Destiny's Child, among other pieces, while the Bluestockings' performance was highlighted by an exciting and rocking rendition of Stevie Wonder's "As." While the judges tabulated their results, Brandeis Spur of the Moment, the competition hosts, entertained the crowd with songs such as Uncle Kracker's "Follow Me" and Shakira's "Objection." Spur President, Aaron Fischlowitz-Roberts '03, commented that hosting the quarter finals was a great opportunity to hear fabulous a cappella groups from all over the northeast and provided great exposure for Spur and all Brandeis a cappella groups.Many audience members and performers expressed surprise at the outcome of the competition. Voicemale member Sean Cotton '05 remarked, "We are very pleased to be continuing on to the semi-finals, but we were surprised that BU is not moving on as well." Karen Travis '06 summed up the overall mood of the concert, saying, "I was surprised at the outcome of the awards. The BU group was really good, equally good to the Northeastern group. But all in all, I had a blast." The ICCA Northeast region semi-final competition will be held at M.I.T. on March 22. For tickets, go to www.varsityvocals.com.
(01/21/03 5:00am)
Four Yale University athletes were killed early Friday when their SUV collided with a jackknifed tractor-trailer on Interstate 95 in Fairfield, Conn.A memorial service for driver Sean Fenton was held Sunday at Yale's Battell Chapel. Fenton, a 20-year-old junior from Newport Beach, Calif., perished along with sophomore Kyle Burnat of Atlanta, sophomore Andrew Dwyer of Florida and sophomore Nicholas G. Grass of Holyoke, Mass. While two students remain in critical condition at Bridgeport Hospital, sophomore Zachary Bradley is listed in stable condition.The accident took place at 5 a.m., as the nine students were returning from a Delta Kappa Epislon fraternity event in New York.Grass, who was the fourth student pronounced dead, helped lead the Yale baseball team to the regional finals as a pitcher in 2001.Fenton, the driver, was remembered fondly as an outgoing athlete and computer whiz. "He was about netowrks, insand messaging, and intramural sports," Yale's Davenport College master Richard Schottenfeld said."(Yale) was his home away from home and his friends were his life," Sean's father Robert Fenton said.
(01/14/03 5:00am)
Men's Bball winless on road trip.The Brandeis men's basketball squad dropped four consecutive games on a road swing that culminated with a three-point loss to Carnegie Mellon. The Judges also fell at the hands of Babson College, MIT and the University of Rochester. While their overall record dropped to 1-7, the Judges are now 0-2 in University Athletic Association conference play. Down by eight at halftime against the host CMU Tartans, the Judges opened the second half on a 13-4, surging ahead by a single point. After Jonathan Marks knocked home a three to knot the score at 48, Carnegie Mellon put the game away with a crucial 6-3 run.Globe columnist dead at 67.Legendary sportswriter Will McDonough passed away on Thursday. McDonough, whose son Sean is the play-by-play man for the Boston Red Sox (and a college football commentator for CBS Sports), spent over four decades with The Boston Globe. A Beantown native and graduate of Northeastern University, McDonough made his mark covering the early years of the National Football League. He covered all 36 Super Bowls during his lifetime and crossed over into television, where he became an Emmy Award-winning correspondent for CBS and NBC. "He was an institution," said New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, "not only in Boston, but in the world of sports journalism."Yao leads Shaq in All-Star Balloting. As if his agonizing recovery from off-season toe surgery and ninth place in the Western Conference weren't bad enough, Los Angeles Lakers center Shquille O'Neal is facing another tough battle. As of Jan. 2, he trails Houston Rockets rookie phenom Yao Ming by over 100,000 votes in the NBA's latest All-Star ballot tally. Yao, who is currently listed as day-to-day with a strained knee, is averaging 13 points per game through the season's first 36 games, 25 of which he has started. In 24 games played, Shaq has averaged over 26 points and 10 rebounds per contest.-- Rob Siegel
