(05/01/12 4:00am)
A Brandeis Hoot article published on April 27 has prompted widespread discussion on campus about the implementation of the University's sexual assault policies. According to the Hoot article, an anonymous undergraduate student who is currently on medical leave alleged she was raped by an anonymous Heller School for Social Policy and Management student in their off-campus apartment nearly a dozen times from October 2010 to January 2011. The case went before the Student Conduct Board last May, and the alleged assailant was found guilty of nine of 11 code violations in the Rights and Responsibilities Handbook, including section 3.1, which prohibits sexual contact without explicit and clearly communicated consent, according to the Hoot. The article chronicles the story of the female student who felt the University was inadequately responsive to her grievances and questions the University's full compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 policies concerning sexual harassment, stating, "a case file in the office of student rights and community standards contained no evidence of a university police investigation, a Title IX requirement." The Justice could not independently verify the facts of the case. University officials declined to comment to the Justice on details of the specific case due to federal privacy laws. The article does not present the male party's information. In April of last year, the Obama administration announced a new set of guidelines for colleges and universities to address sexual assault violations. "A school that knows, or should reasonably know, about possible harassment must promptly investigate to determine what occurred. ... Title IX investigation is different from any law enforcement investigation, and a law enforcement investigation does not relieve the school of its independent Title IX obligation to investigate the conduct," according to the "Dear Colleagues" letter from Vice President Joe Biden that clarified policies under Title IX. The Hoot article also states that the Student Conduct Board used a "clear and convincing" standard of evidence in this case, as opposed to the lower "preponderance of evidence" standard required by Title IX. The University student handbook outlines the Rights and Responsibilities of victims of sexual assault. The handbook states that "the Department of Public Safety has full police powers and the staff is trained to provide accurate information on preserving evidence and the options for criminal prosecution, campus disciplinary proceedings, or both." The handbook, however, does not elaborate on what this training entails, including what information is taught and when the training is received. The Brandeis University Class of 2015 Facebook group currently has 42 comments in response to the article and the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance hosted an open forum yesterday to discuss sexual assault and harassment on campus and create a "decisive" plan for change. FMLA has been examining the University's sexual harassment policy and FMLA President Amalia Bob-Waksberg '14 said in an interview with the Justice that "we found that there were a lot of issues in the policy ... and issues with things within the policy not being enacted." She added, "So many students have told us that they were sexually assaulted and they didn't feel safe telling Public Safety about it, and now they have to see the person who assaulted them on campus, and they didn't know their resources." Bob-Waksberg describes the administration as being generally silent about sexual assault. She says the administration cites a low incidence rate of sexual assault on campus, when in reality, sexual assault is being grossly underreported. Bob-Waksberg and other FMLA members are involved in the planning of a silent protest of these circumstances, which will take place in the Goldfarb Library tomorrow from noon to 4 p.m. Prof. Anita Hill (Heller) wrote in an email to the Justice, "Sexual assault[s] on college campuses, as in general, are under-reported. Brandeis is reviewing its sexual assault policies and procedures so that we can guard against the threat of sexual assault. However, when they occur, we want to make sure individuals can come forward without fear, raise charges and be heard, and be treated fairly during and after the complaint process." Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel informed the Justice about one new policy the University is planning to enact to combat sexual assault on campus. "One of the opportunities that we're exploring is the creation of a [staff] position specifically [addressing the issue of sexual assault]. We're likely crafting this out of an opening we have at the counseling center. My hope is that we'll be able to find resources to have a full-time position in this role," said Flagel. Students were generally upset by the implications of the Hoot article, and also expressed some skepticism. "It's problematic that the administration didn't prosecute this case to the fullest extent," said Dillon Harvey '14. "The administration should be creating a safe environment." "My concern is how the University can be so negligent to take care of students," said Alina Cheema '15. "They were inconsiderate of the student's safety." Student Union President Herbie Rosen '12 said that he wants to learn more facts of the case. "Students want to know what they can do about it," he said. "I want to understand the legal barriers and what's stopping us from doing something about it." "I have just a ton of questions about it," said Daniel Goulden '14. -Shafaq Hasan and Tess Raser contributed reporting
(05/01/12 4:00am)
Students, faculty and other members of the Brandeis community gathered in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium last Tuesday to attend a daylong teach-in on the Occupy movement. Prof. Gordon Fellman (SOC), Collections Manager and Registrar of the Rose Art Museum Kristin Parker and a team of student volunteers organized the events, bringing in a variety of Brandeis professors, administrators and Occupy activists to speak.
(05/01/12 4:00am)
A caption in News incorrectly stated what page an article about Hoops for Haiti was on. The article was on page 14, not on page 13. (April 24, pg. 1) An article in Forum should have stated that the transcript of aspeech given by Tarek Mahenna went "viral," not a video of the same speech. (April 24, p. 12) A photo caption in Arts incorrectly stated that six seniors were performing a piece called "Blast to the Past." In fact, the photo is of the Brandeis bhangra team Chak De Deis performing another piece. (April 24, p. 20) An article in Arts last week incorrectly stated that Rachel Klein's '12 dance performance "Rivers are Lost in the Sea" would take place on Saturday, April 28. It actually occurred on Friday, April 27. (April 24, p. 18) In the Festival of the Arts preview, Arts stated that Top Score is a six-piece student band. The band actually has over 25 members. (April 24, pg. 27) The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@thejustice.org.
(04/24/12 4:00am)
As a response to student questions about the recent tuition raise, the Student Union held an open forum with Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel on Wednesday April 4. About 10 students attended the forum, hosted by Student Union President Herbie Rosen '12.
(04/03/12 4:00am)
As college students in the 21st century, we are fixated on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, Myspace-the list goes on. We try to post, upload and tweet as much of our lives as humanly possible. We can create gatherings, movements, events and social justice causes all by making a profile page. Facebook makes it easy for us to show our support for a certain profile or page. A simple click of the "like" button and your opinion is expressed. Dean Terry, the director of the emerging-media program at the University of Texas at Dallas, feels that only half of his opinions are properly expressed on Facebook-more specifically, only the opinions of those he agrees with. Therefore, Terry has created a Facebook application called EnemyGraph that allows you to declare people, ideas or pages as "enemies". In his explanation of the app, Terry says, "It's social media blasphemy, in that we're suggesting that you share differences you have with people and share things that you don't like instead of what you do like." Terry would have preferred to use the word "dislike," a natural antonym for "like," but the word is literally banned on Facebook to prevent app developers, like Terry, from creating a "dislike" button. Facebook officials have declined to comment on the app. They have also not responded to an online petition with over three million signatures to date asking for a dislike button. One would think that a company like Facebook, that is always updating and looking for new features to satisfy its users, would love to implement what Terry and the three million signees have been calling for, a dislike button. So what's the holdup? Terry and the three million signees are determined to make Facebook even more integral in their lives. They call for a way to disagree with someone or something, on a cyber platform. However, there are many reasons Terry ignores as to why a dislike button should not be added. These reasons are precisely why Facebook has banned the word for app developers. Firstly, from Facebook's perspective, it wants a friendly and open image associated with its name, for its entire success is built upon business with other people. They want their users to be able to share and express their opinions freely. With the EnemyGraph app, people will become more hesitant to express themselves on their profiles. Facebook has created an environment where everyone can post freely with little to no concern about how others will react to it. The users who download this app will become less personal and avoid revealing certain aspects of their life that they would otherwise have posted online. For example, EnemyGraph has a list of "trending enemies." The top three as of last Friday were GOP candidate Rick Santorum, rock band Nickelback, and the investment firm Merrill Lynch. If someone works for Santorum's campaign or is a fan of Nickelback's music, he or she may be less inclined to share that piece of information on his or her profile. The creators of this app would argue that those people don't have to use the app because, after all, it is created by an outside party and it is not required on your profile. This counter-argument is precisely the reason why EnemyGraph has struggled to get off the ground despite national coverage on CNN, among other media outlets. People are less likely to express themselves via posting if anyone can criticize that post with the click of a button. Another reason why this app should not be added to Facebook is the unavoidable negative conversation that would follow. In today's world, our in-person interactions are dwindling due to the ever-expanding cyber universe. For most topics, stating your distaste is totally appropriate online. However, there are sensitive topics about which this app could spark conversation. Facebook cannot form a list of controversial or potentially condescending issues that should be avoided, for those issues are subjective and relative to each individual. Some may feel that disagreeing with their religious beliefs is inappropriate and insensitive, while others may feel that disagreeing with their sexual orientation is tasteless and disdainful. This kind of conversation will inevitably stem from an enemy button and is not appropriate on Facebook. With the ever-growing world of social media, we must make calculated decisions as to what belongs on our profiles and what does not. Referring to people, places or ideas as enemies is neither in the best interest of Facebook nor Facebook users. This is not what Facebook was created for. Rather, it's a forum for online socializing, keeping in touch and reconnecting. Facebook is not the ideal forum to discuss sensitive matters; rather, these topics should be discussed in-person.
(04/02/12 4:00am)
An article in Features contained a number of errors. Olga Golovanova '10 did not organize a protest; she organized the delivery of food and water to those taken to police stations from the protests. The protests were held not only in Russia, but in various places worldwide. Golovanova does not work for Hillel in New York City. In fact, she works for a private archive in the same city. The international fundraising project mentioned should have been spelled as "WakeUpRussia!," not "Wake Up, Russia." (March 27, p. 8) The name of a musical artist in the "Brandeis Talks Back" section of Forum was misspelled. The artist's name is Andrew Bird, not Andrew Byrd. (March 27, p. 10) The author of a letter in Forum should have been identified as Bernard "Buddy" Macy '79, not Bernard "Buddy" Macy '72. (March 27, p. 11) The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@thejustice.org.
(04/02/12 4:00am)
Newton police arrested one Brandeis student and dispersed approximately 15 protesters in total at last Monday's panel of members of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, during a town hall-style meeting at Temple Emanuel in Newton, Mass. Knesset members Ofir Akunis, Lia Shemtov, Ilan Gilon, Raleb Majadele and Fania Kirshenbaum, all Ruderman Fellows, spoke at the meeting as part of the Ruderman Fellows Program, which partnered with the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies to bring Knesset members to the Boston area to learn about the American Jewish community. During the forum, members of Brandeis Students for Justice in Palestine, all wearing blue T-shirts emblazoned with the word "apartheid" in Hebrew, stood up and yelled "mic check," when Akunis began to speak. A few students from other Boston-area universities and local activists were also in attendance, according to SJP member Seth Grande '12, along with members of the peace activist group CODEPINK, according to Newton police reports. Protesters continued to chant slogans such as "Israel is an apartheid state and the Knesset is an apartheid parliament," "Mr. Akunis and Ms. Kirshenbaum, how do you feel to be silenced?" and "free, free Palestine," for approximately one minute until they were led out of the room by police. Director of the Schusterman Center S. Ilan Troen '63, who moderated Monday's panel, wrote in an email to the Justice that the protest was "silly ... actually infantile" and "a non-event" compared to the two-hour-long panel. Troen also pointed out that the panel included Majadele, an Arab Member of Knesset who has held several powerful political positions. Protesters were particularly opposed to Akunis and Kirshenbaum because they "sponsor this legislation that shut down international funding to human rights [non-governmental organizations] operating in Israel and Palestine," said Grande. "We go in, stand up, do the mic check, and [Newton Police] start pulling us out," said Grande in an interview with the Justice. "Some of us were in the middle of the pews, so it was a bit harder." One of the students who resisted police efforts to remove the protesters, Leila Einhorn '12, was arrested for disorderly conduct, according to Lieutenant Bruce Apotheker, director of the Department of Community Services for Newton Police. Einhorn declined to comment on the events. Einhorn "was sitting on the edge of the benches, one of the cops grabbed her pretty violently," said Grande. She pulled away as the officer grabbed her and was consequently arrested, according to Grande. Apotheker declined to comment on allegations by SJP members that protesters had been assaulted and that one was thrown to the ground by police. SJP also disrupted a similar event held on campus last year. "The walkout last year got such a big press response and got so many people noticing," said Grande. "[Knesset member] Avi Dichter ... is an international war criminal. The glossing over of all these problematic aspects of Israeli government policy, I don't find that right," he added, referring a member of the delegation of MKs that came to Brandeis last year. A group of plaintiffs did, in fact, attempt to try Dichter for war crimes in 2005, but the case was dismissed in 2007, as Dichter was found to have immunity. "We don't really feel comfortable with the relationship between Brandeis University and the Israeli government," Grande said, explaining SJP's position. "We are opposed to actions of the Israeli government as a whole. We will not welcome any Israeli officials to Brandeis university events," he added. -Sam Mintz contributed reporting
(03/19/12 4:00am)
A student in Forum's "Brandeis Talks Back" was misquoted. The quotation attributed to Jake Weiner '13 should have said "It should not be the only source you use when learning about Kony," not "It should be the only source you use when learning about Kony." (March 13, p.6) A photo caption in Arts mistakenly identified its subject as Malika Imhotep '15. In fact, the person pictured is a student from Harvard who attended the same event. (March 13, p. 17) A photo caption in Sports should have specified that it was a Justice file photo. (March 13, p. 12) The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@thejustice.org.
(03/05/12 5:00am)
A graphic in Forum stated that 72 percent of respondents to a poll answered "no," while 29 percent answered "yes." The numbers should have been 72 percent for "no" and 28 percent for "yes." (Feb. 14, p. 12) The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@thejustice.org.
(03/05/12 5:00am)
It was standing room only last Thursday evening as Brandeis students, residents of Waltham, state Senators and representatives of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority addressed the proposed MBTA fare increases and service cuts at a town hall forum in Waltham's Government Center Auditorium. Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives for the MBTA Charles Planck, outlined prospective changes to service and fares on the T, and then moderated an open mic session with MBTA General Manager Jonathan Davis. By the time the meeting started at 6 p.m., over 100 people had signed up to speak. "We know this affects people," said Davis. "All people of the Commonwealth [of Massachusetts] should be concerned about the proposals we have on the table." Student Union President Herbie Rosen '12 and Student Union Vice President Gloria Park '13 were among the first 50 people scheduled to speak. Park urged the MBTA representatives, "please don't forget us, students, as proud members of the Waltham community," emphasizing that many students do not have access to cars and therefore rely on public transportation to travel to and from internships—that are often unpaid. "Our pockets aren't as deep as you think," said Rosen of the potential fare increases. With higher prices and less frequent service, particularly on the commuter rail and the 553 bus, the benefit of Brandeis' proximity to Boston is severely diminished, said Rosen. "We are feeling that these proposals are … cutting that entire experience," he argued. Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy, the first speaker of the night, also mentioned concern that students at Brandeis and Bentley College would be "severely impacted" by the changes. Residents of Waltham and neighboring cities focused their comments primarily on the issues of pollution, traffic congestion, transportation to jobs and doctors, effects on house values and the debt from Boston's "Big Dig" project being saddled entirely on the MBTA. "Without this bus route, there is no work," said one Watertown resident of the local bus route that she rides to work every day. Members of the Waltham City Council, State Senator Susan Fargo, and 10th Middlesex District State Representative John Lawn all spoke out against the proposals. Fargo said that they were "a source of much conversation at the state house." According to Davis, over 4,500 people have attended such town hall meetings to date. Waltham's meeting was the next to last of 24 held by the MBTA. The last town hall forum is scheduled to take place tonight at Massasoit Community College in Brockton. Under the first proposed scenario, the commuter rail fare from the Brandeis-Roberts station to Boston would increase from $4.75 to $7 per trip and service would be eliminated on weekends and after 10 p.m. on weekdays. Bus fare, which now ranges from $1.50 to $5, would grow to $2.25 to $7, while the 553 bus (Downtown Crossing via Newton Corner and Central Square, Waltham) would be eliminated on Saturdays. Under the second proposed scenario, the commuter rail fare would rise to $6.50 and service would be eliminated on weekends and after 10 p.m. on weekdays. It would also mean a fare increase to $2 for local buses and $4.50 for inner express buses, as well as the complete elimination of the 553 bus. Charlie Ticket prices for the subway would rise from $2 to $3 under both proposals. While the MBTA continues to take suggestions, Davis cites statutory requirements and pressure to submit a balanced budget to the state by April 15 as reasons for the proposals that are currently under consideration. Any plan that is adopted—likely a combination of the two, according to Davis—would be implemented by July 1. While Davis reported that ridership was at an all-time high last year, the MBTA still expects to see a $161 million shortfall in Fiscal Year 2013. Rosen and Park plan to circulate a petition on campus protesting the cuts in the coming weeks, and will submit it to Davis and Waltham's state Representatives by March 12, Rosen said in an interview with the Justice. The text of the petition will be emailed to the student body, and it will be available to sign outside the Student Union office on the third floor of the Shapiro Campus Center. Rosen said he and some of the senators would also be passing the petition around to students in dining halls.
(03/05/12 5:00am)
Continuing to expand Brandeis' international connections, University President Frederick Lawrence returned from India on Feb. 15, his second trip abroad since becoming president of the University. Lawrence was accompanied by News Director Charlie Radin and Vice President for Global Affairs and Director of the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life Daniel Terris. This trip logically follows the visit to India less than two years ago by former University President Jehuda Reinharz, according to Radin. In an interview with the Justice, Lawrence outlined the trip's main purposes: to engage with a number of constituencies in India—prospective students, parents of current and prospective students and alumni—and to explore possible collaborations among students and faculty at different research institutions. Radin and Lawrence likened this trip to India to Lawrence's first overseas trip of his presidency to Israel. The purpose of both trips was "broadening scientific collaboration, increasing opportunities for our students to study abroad and for students from abroad to study at Brandeis [and] strengthening our alumni networks," according to the president's blog. Lawrence expanded on the similarities between the two trips by mentioning that India was originally thought of as a potential destination because of the efforts Reinharz had already began. "The fact that it fits so well with Israel is not an accident. It really gives us ways to think about not only … building programs and engagements with both Israel and India, but will hopefully give a chance to triangulate all three [Brandeis, Israel, and India]," said Lawrence. Brandeis already has a strong connection to India because a large percentage of Brandeis alumni and students hail from the country. Terris said that the group received warm welcomes in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. He also mentioned that the group exceeded its own goals and expectations for this trip. Besides expanding the Brandeis name, the University is now involved in a collaborative mission to assist in the development of an Israel Studies Center at Jindal Global University. According to BrandeisNOW, Rohee Dasgupta, executive director of Jindal's Centre for European Studies, expressed interest in creating an Israel Studies center. Das Gupta will be participating in the two week Schusterman Center for Israel Studies' Summer Institute this summer and then will travel as part of a study tour to Israel for a week with other members of the Schusterman program. Two Brandeis professors who were involved in this trip were already in India and joined the visiting group. Prof. Bulbul Chakraborty (PHYS) was attending a conference in India. She met up with the group to discuss scientific collaborations and connections within India. Prof. Harleen Singh (SAS) was on leave in India and also joined the group. Radin called Singh "the other star besides Lawrence" of the trip and said that she was "electric." Singh aided in moderating a forum between Lawrence and former Indian Attorney General Soli Sorabjee. When asked about his next trip abroad, Lawrence said, "How do we choose where to expand to next? We have students from 116 different countries on this campus. We need relations with all of these places, ... but we need to focus specifically on a smaller number of countries. ... I have a received quite a few invitations, but as of now I do not know who we should be keeping up with." Radin also expressed this idea while discussing Global Brandeis, a plan created by Lawrence and Terris. Instead of putting the Brandeis name everywhere, "[the University] can engage more deeply. Go deep rather than go broad. We are not huge and we do not want to be huge. Being small and focused is what is acceptable for us," said Radin.
(03/05/12 5:00am)
The Strategic Planning Committee has made another step forward in the planning process with the February launch of a website designed to share the feedback gathered so far and to garner further input.
(03/05/12 5:00am)
"Now is the Time."
(02/13/12 5:00am)
The Student Union hosted a town hall forum last night on the proposed Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority fare hikes and service cuts to hear opinions from students who would be affected if the changes were to take place. Student Union President Herbie Rosen '12, Student Union Vice President Gloria Park '13 and Senior Vice President of Communication and External Affairs Andrew Gully ran the meeting. Rosen opened the forum by explaining the possible changes to the MBTA, which include two different scenarios. According to a document published by the MBTA last month, one scenario would include fare hikes that could rise as high as $2.40 for a subway ride and $7 for a ride on the Fitchburg commuter rail line into Boston from the Brandeis/Roberts station. In addition, it would include service cuts. The second scenario would include "slightly lower fare increases but larger service reductions." In both scenarios, commuter rail service into Boston on the weekend and weekdays after 10 p.m. would be cut. Students who attended the meeting voiced objection to the proposed scenarios, saying that they would negatively affect students' ability to travel to and from Boston. One student, who wished to remain anonymous for privacy reasons, said that higher fares and decreased service would result in fewer people traveling into Boston to shop and spend money, which would hurt Massachusetts' economy. "The entire eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island region, which is like seven and a half million people, [is] going to be affected in one way or another because of this," the student said. "We need to basically say as students … who use the commuter rail, we will not stand for this." Other students noted that while many local residents who would be affected would rely on cars more, this would not be feasible for many college students who do not own cars. Those who attended the forum also discussed prospective students' decisions to come to Brandeis because of its proximity to Boston and the ability to go into the city via commuter rail. They said that college students would be affected more than other local residents because of their already constrained budgets and inability to rely on more expensive forms of transportation, such as taxis and cars. "[This will] disproportionately affect college students versus other people," said Asaf Reich '12. Gully noted that the cuts will not only affect students but also staff and faculty, who utilize the commuter rail to commute to and from the University. In an interview with the Justice, Park said that the meeting, which was attended by three students, was "small-scale" but that "it was good to see that students cared ... and shared their opinion." Park said that she looks forward to spreading the word to the student body. Rosen said that the Student Union will move forward by sending out a survey and petition to the student body and preparing to attend one of the MBTA's local town hall -style meetings. One such meeting will be held in Waltham at the Government Center Auditorium on March 1 from 6 to 8 p.m.
(02/13/12 5:00am)
The Student Union Senate is considering changes to the way student clubs are recognized, but some members dispute how certain problems should be addressed by the Senate and one member walked out of last Sunday's meeting.
(01/23/12 5:00am)
This February, University President Frederick Lawrence and a delegation of professors and administrators will leave for a two-week trip to India in order to explore networking and partnership opportunities, according to a Jan. 13 BrandeisNOW press release. The trip, which is scheduled to take place from Feb. 2 to 12, will include visits to Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. In an email to the Justice, Lawrence wrote that he and the members of his party will meet with scientists and university administrators, in addition to civil rights and social justice activists and alumni "who are working to make India and the world a better, healthier place." University News Director Charles Radin, Director of the International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life Daniel Terris, Prof. Bulbul Chakraborty (PHYS), Helaine and Alvin Allen Assistant Professor of Literature Harleen Singh (SAS), Prof. Preeta Banerjee (IBS) and Julie Smith-Bartoloni '90 from the Office of Development and Alumni Relations will accompany Lawrence on this trip. In an interview with the Justice, Radin said that Lawrence will meet with various leaders in Delhi, such as Atul Punj, chairman of the Punj Lloyd Group, and Israeli ambassador to India Alon Ushpiz. Lawrence will also speak at two public forums: one in Delhi with former Attorney General of India Soli Sorabjee, who delivered a lecture at the University in April 2010, and one in Mumbai titled "Seeking Social Justice." In Bangalore, Lawrence will visit the National Centre for Biological Sciences, the Indian School of Business and Director of the Indian Institute of Science Professor P. Balaram. Lawrence will also make a two-day stop in Singapore with Terris, where he will meet with President of Singapore Management University Arnoud De Meyer, President of the National University of Singapore Tan Chorh Chuan and Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS Professor Kishmore Mahbubani, who was the former Singaporean ambassador to the United Nations. Lawrence will also meet with prospective students in both countries. The structure and goals of this trip are similar to that of Lawrence's trip to Israel last summer. According to Lawrence in the email, both trips are a part of the Brandeis Global Initiative, which was developed by the Office of Global Affairs. "We are working to identify a limited number of countries in major regions of the world where the most valuable collaborations can be formed between Brandeis and local institutions," wrote Lawrence. The trips to India and Israel were scheduled first because of the University's existing connections in those countries, but the office is also "carefully exploring" potential additional collaborations with other countries. Radin said that the University already has ongoing partnerships with institutions such as The Energy and Resources Institute in Delhi. In Bangalore, Profs. Eve Marder (BIOL) and Chakraborty have ongoing research connections, which have "laid the groundwork" for more potential collaborations, said Radin. Lawrence wrote that there is a "vast potential" for partnership between the United States and India, especially in the fields of science, social justice and sustainable development. Radin said he hopes this trip will result in an increase in students from the India studying at the University, more study abroad opportunities for Brandeis students in India and further development with the Global Initiative. During his trip to Israel, Lawrence recounted many of his experiences on his blog. Radin confirmed Lawrence will continue to update his blog while he is in India.
(01/23/12 5:00am)
Earlier this month, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority proposed a reduction in operating hours and an increase in fare prices to go into effect this July in order to close the growing deficit gap while still continuing to provide their services. We're pleased that Student Union President Herbie Rosen '12 raised this issue in an email to the student body that encouraged students to oppose the cuts. Given our dependence on these services as a university and the potential negative ramifications of these changes, we encourage the student body to get involved in the discussion. Further, we urge the University to begin looking at providing alternative methods of transportation if these proposals should pass. The MBTA is considering two different scenarios, both of which would result in cutting the service hours of the Fitchburg commuter rail line after 10 p.m. on weekdays and completely eliminating service on weekends. The agency is also planning on decreasing the frequency of the 553 bus from Brandeis/Roberts Station to downtown Boston, often used by students and university employees. Further, the fare prices of the commuter rail and subway are both set to increase. While Brandeis' proximity to Boston is often promoted in the University's brochures and booklets, these proposed cuts would certainly strain this connection. By limiting the commuter rail's service hours on weekdays and eliminating them on weekends, traveling back to the University from South Station, Logan Airport, internships or jobs would become time-consuming and expensive. The University should start planning how they are going to address the cuts given the impact they are going to have on campus. While the Riverside shuttles failed to gain support last semester, the Union should rethink providing a shuttle to the Riverside T station as the commuter rail becomes less available. The administration may also want to increase the number of shuttles currently offered Thursday through Sunday, open the service to other days earlier in the week and start operating earlier in the morning on weekends. Perhaps the University should consider charging students to operate the additional buses. While not ideal, a small fee compensates for the inconvenience of the commuter rail hours. Graduate students and University employees who rely on public transportation would also appreciate these shuttles taking the place of buses or the commuter rail. While it seems these cuts are under serious consideration, the Boston Globe recently reported the cuts may not be enough to bridge the deficit gap and bring the agency out of their financial sinkhole. As these plans appear to be flexible and the MBTA is open to suggestions, Mr. Rosen has encouraged students to voice their concerns to the agency by signing up for Waltham's Town Hall Forum at the Government Center Auditorium on March 1 discuss the proposals. We echo the Union's sentiments and also encourage the administration to begin looking into employing additional shuttles if these cuts are made.
(01/23/12 5:00am)
This February, University President Frederick Lawrence and a delegation of professors and administrators will leave for a two-week trip to India in order to explore networking and partnership opportunities, according to a Jan. 13 BrandeisNOW press release.
(12/12/11 5:00am)
The Senate Log incorrectly stated the amount of a Senate Money Resolution. The SMR for pictures for the Student Union bulletin board was for $75, not for $151.71. (Dec. 6, pg. 2) An article in Forum incorrectly described an Israeli family. The family should have been described as "the Sumarian family," not "a Sumarian family"; Sumarian is the family name. (Dec. 6, pg. 11) The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@
thejustice.org.
(12/05/11 5:00am)
This week, Student Union President Herbie Rosen '12 will deliver his State of the Union address to the community. While Rosen will update the student body about any upcoming Union initiatives and discuss the process of forming the strategic plan, the Union has decided to operate the address like a town hall meeting, where students will be allowed to ask the president questions. We encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity and let their voices be heard on issues that are important to them. The format of the event is a welcome departure from previous Union addresses. While past addresses have featured the president's speech, this new style will allow Mr. Rosen to relay any pertinent information to students first in his speech and then open the floor for questions. Mr. Rosen will be then be joined by a panel of other Union representatives who will answer questions from the audience. Following the question-and-answer session, the Union president, along with Provost Steve Goldstein '78 and Andrew Flagel, the senior vice president for Students and Enrollment, will examine the strategic planning process with students. Through this new system, students are able to communicate directly with the Union and administration in an unprecedented way. We applaud Mr. Rosen's attempt to incorporate the strategic planning initiative into the town hall meeting. As the strategic plan is currently being assembled, allowing students to be part of the discussion on the future of the University will only help the strategic planning committee during this process. Students can lend their voices and help shape the plan that will undoubtedly affect their time at Brandeis. Further, this format creates transparency between the administration and the student body, encouraging a healthy relationship between the two communities. This editorial board acknowledges Mr. Rosen's dedication to creatively gathering student opinion through this new town hall format. His genuine concern for feedback from the student body is refreshing and we support him to continue his efforts. Creating a forum for students to feel comfortable questioning the Union and administration's initiatives will facilitate a productive conversation, that is beneficial to the entire Brandeis community. This editorial board encourages students to attend the town hall meeting with their questions and ideas. Students should take this opportunity to help steer the University toward a cohesive vision.
