(04/01/08 4:00am)
The Health Center at Brandeis University came under immense criticism last week during a forum in the Shapiro Campus Center. Although the Health Center Advisory Committee, which moderated the discussion, was eager to hear suggestions, the assembly members voiced complaints and shared mostly negative experiences. It would be unfair to say that some of the complaints were unjustified, because patient satisfaction is the most important part of any health care service. Yet, the objections did not reflect any specific failings of the Health Center, but rather the frustrations of being sick."Brandeis students work very hard, and a debilitating illness such as mono or strep can be very frustrating," said Kathleen Maloney, Nursing Director at the Health Center. "Hearing there isn't a quick fix just adds to the frustration. I think some complaints are due to lack of knowledge."One of the most common complaints that students have is that they are misdiagnosed. The Health Center serves a population that, for all practical purposes, is generally healthy and presents approximately the same types of medical issues. For this reason, the nurses are very confident in the diagnoses as they examine the 30 to 60 students that come into the Health Center every day. Unfortunately, antibodies that indicate a specific illness may not become detectable until the second or third weeks of illness. A student may have flu-like symptoms for a week, but blood tests are not useful until seven days after. For instance, with bronchitis, the cold or flu comes first, and after the cough persists for a week, it is then called bronchitis.During the forum, it seemed that many students were concerned about their confidentiality being breached or being judged by the staff; especially when it came to pregnancy or other sexually related topics, for example. This is a valid concern. Questions about private sexual life should only be asked when absolutely necessary. Most often the "have you ever ." questions are not being asked out of curiosity, but rather as a part of your regular checkup for your protection. Medical providers are only curious about student's sexual activity "because it is an important piece of the history," Maloney reiterated. Some STD tests may be indicated depending on the type of answer you provide. But being completely honest is the only way to receive effective treatment.Students also have a responsibility in the treatment process. When symptoms begin to emerge, it is crucial to seek the Health Center right away so that you can receive proper advice for staying healthy. Symptoms that go untreated for too long a time may turn into a serious issue that is difficult to treat. Some time ago, a friend of mine sprained his ankle during intramural basketball. He decided not to go the Health Center and instead, used ice to treat the injury himself. The next day, his foot was purple and very enlarged. When he was finally X-rayed, it showed that he had broken his ankle. Instead of seeing the Health Center right away, which would have made that diagnosis and helped with a cast, he was further injuring the ankle.The Health Center strives to improve the lives of students and has undoubtedly caused more good than harm. Medicine is an imperfect science, and any medical facility would be prone to the same risks and failures as the Brandeis Health Center. Moreover, the forum meeting only included a handful of students, probably less than 1 percent of the school population. The other majority believes that the Health Center is working at its full potential and is providing a very excellent service. Maloney read me a thank-you letter from a student thanking them for their competent and comforting care. "It is very rewarding to hear students say, 'I feel better." We should be so lucky to have a staff and facility that provide competent medical resources.
(03/25/08 4:00am)
After a year mired by resignations, closed executive sessions and the continued degradation of student autonomy at the hands of the administration, we are yearning for a president who can turn the Union into a more open advocacy body that can fight for the rights of students. It is because of this that we wholeheartedly endorse Jason Gray '10 for Student Union President.The focus of Mr. Gray's time as Director of Union Affairs has been working to gather student feedback in order to attempt to transform the Union into an agency capable of fighting to defend students. He has held open forums and senator-representative luncheons in order to solicit input and created itsmystudentunion.com to allow students to effortlessly submit their concerns. Mr. Gray has spoken out against the closed executive sessions that characterized this administration, and emphasizes providing clubs and students with the information needed to maximize efficacy.Mr. Gray has also been an effective advocate for student's rights and autonomy. He was one of the primary organizers of the protest against the usurpation of the Student Activity Fee by the administration. Yet, Mr. Gray also has developed close ties to the administration through his position. He realizes that part of the controversies of this past year stem from a lack of communication and voicing of concerns. The good working relationship will hopefully allow the Union to proactively persue projects rather than jump from crisis to crisis. Mr. Gray's work on the Student Bill of Rights also shows him to be committed to protecting students.We choose Mr. Gray rather than Assistant Treasurer Justin Kang '09, the second best candidate in a pool of four, because we feel Gray is more experienced in the intricacies of government and has proven he can deliver results for students. However, we hope that Mr. Gray does not lose sight of the areas where Mr. Kang is strongest such as advocating for social justice and working effectively with clubs across the spectrum of campus interests. These are certainly things that could help unify a divided campus.Mr. Gray brings both an experience that has allowed him to develop effective relationships with those in charge and an urgency to change the bickering culture and gridlock that has plagued our leadership.
(03/25/08 4:00am)
While the entire country is following the 2008 presidential race, Brandeis is getting ready to pick its own Student Union president.Two current Union officials and two Union outsiders have announced their candidacies for Student Union president, with the first round of elections to open next Sunday. Director of Union Affairs Jason Gray '10 and Assistant Treasurer Justin Kang '09 are the current Union officials vying for the position, while Daniel Baron '09 and Frank Golub '10 are also running. Other positions that are open in the first round include Union vice president, Union secretary and Finance Board members. Student Union President Shreeya Sinha '09 said she is not running again because after three years in the Student Union, she said she wants to apply what she learned by taking advantage of an opportunity to study abroad at the London School of Economics and work for the British government. "I think that both Justin Kang and Jason Gray are excellent candidates," she said. "I'm running for president because I want to transform the Student Union," Gray said, expressing his frustration with the its current state. As president, he said, he wants to lead a team that is dedicated to a mentality of working for students by meeting with them one-on-one, as he had the previous year. He said he would seek student input for plans to renovate the Usdan Student Center, advocate for longer dining hours by building on the relationships he has developed with administrators, and create a more accessible Union Web site. Gray said he would meet with club leaders before enacting new policies that affect clubs. He said he intended to change an attitude he sensed among club leaders that "they feel like they're in conflict with the Student Union." Gray will be holding an open platform meeting in Upper Usdan today at 9:30 p.m. Kang pointed to his "unconventional route" at Brandeis as a member of student-run newspaper The Hoot, secretary of the Korean Student Association, treasurer for Students for Environmental Action and as assistant treasurer of the Union. He also emphasized the president's need to be familiar with campus finances. "This campus revolves around finances." he said. Baron talked about his experience as a member of several clubs and his experience as a community advisor. "I know what people want not just because I've seen it, but I've lived it," he said. Baron said he is organizing a forum on the subject of diversity in the Intercultural Center today at 5:15 p.m. Golub, who unsuccessfully ran for the same office last year, said he is running again in an effort to change the "pettiness and the egotism" of the Student Union. "We just need a fresh face," Golub said. The race for the vice-presidency attracted more Union officials to sign up. The candidates are: Senator-at-Large Andrew Brooks '09, F-Board member Jordan Rothman '09, Village Quad Senator Mike Kerns '09, Senator for Class of 2009 Julia Sferlazzo and Student Union Secretary Nelson Rutrick '10. Brooks said he would hope to make the Senate less intimidating to students by increasing transparency. "These aren't national security matters that we are dealing with in that room," he said. Rothman pointed out his membership in 19 clubs and participation in two varsity sports, as well as his involvement as a community advisor and a tour guide for the Office of Admissions would help him be a good VP.Candidate for treasurer Ryan McElhaney '10, who is not currently affiliated with the Student Union, said he gained experience handling large budgets as an employee for the Department of Orientation and First-Year Services and as manager of the Free Play Theatre Cooperative. He stressed the need for student oversight over the Student Activities Fee, with regard to Senior Vice President of Students and Enrollment Jean Eddy's decision to allocate 17% of the SAF to Student Events directly from the Department of Student Activities.Current Student Union Treasurer Choon Woo Ha '08 has endorsed Assistant Treasurer Max Wallach '09, the other person running for the position.
(03/25/08 4:00am)
The Student Union released a draft of a student Bill of Rights last Monday, the purpose of which is to inform students of their rights and the ways in which they can defend them. The bill has been in the works since the start of the 2007 to 2008 academic year, and members of various sectors of the Brandeis community helped compose it. The Union will hold a forum to discuss the draft today at 6:30 p.m. At the end of the academic year, a revised bill will be put up for a referendum, at which point the student body will vote on whether or not to enact it."The purpose of the bill is to substantiate the rights that students deserve," said Director of Union Affairs Jason Gray '10, who spearheaded the project.The bulk of the document affirms students' First Amendment rights, including the freedoms of speech, press and association. It states that students "should be free to advocate for any viewpoint in which they believe and that is protected by law," that the administration cannot censor or regulate student speech and that students cannot be disciplined for expressing controversial viewpoints.The bill guarantees due process to students facing disciplinary action, including the right to a fair hearing and the right to present witnesses. It also establishes students' right to privacy and the system by which the administration can legally invade it. In addition to establishing due process, the bill states that "Students have a right to request emergency treatment without fear of punishment" in order to encourage underage students to report excessive intoxication.The bill also asserts that the students have the right to congregate and engage in any legal activity, and that the administration does not have a right to impose advisors on student organizations. However, the bill does impose some restrictions on students' right to protest, stating that although students may hold rallies, they cannot disrupt campus life, and they must notify the Office of the Dean of Student Life before the event.The Student Union also incorporated a section upholding its own right to exist, stating that the students are entitled to an elected, representative body with the right to express its views on matters of importance to the student body and that only the students have the right to modify their government. The Bill of Rights ends by affirming the student body's right to academic freedom.The Union is working with Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer and Director of Student Development and Conduct Erica Lamarre to incorporate the bill into the Rights and Responsibilities handbook, Gray said. Currently, he said, the handbook is "heavy on responsibilities and light on rights." Gray also said that the Union will distribute cards containing information on students' rights.This bill represents an agreement between the student body and the administration, said Director of the Office of Student Conduct Advisors Laura Cohen '10, a member of the committee.Despite the bill's affirmation of the student body's rights and independence, Gray said, "At the end of the day, we are trying to work with the administration, not against it." He said that his committee will continue to work closely with the Department of Student Life until they have created a Bill of Rights that is acceptable to both the student body and the administration.-Matthew Brock
(03/18/08 4:00am)
Catholic services in a harmony of Spanish, French and other languages echoed through the grates in the floor and across the tombs of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.In the Vatican grottoes, alongside the burial sites of past popes, 12 members of the Brandeis Catholic Student Organization and Catholic chaplain Father Walter Cuenin celebrated Sunday mass in the Irish chapel of St. Columbanus. The mass was the spiritual culmination of a week-long trip to Italy that was subsidized by Catholic community members in the Boston area."Celebrating Mass in St. Peter's with the students, down in the crypts where the popes are buried" was the most meaningful experience of the trip to Rome, Cuenin said, because it drew members of the Catholic community closer together in a shared religious experience.St. Peter's Basilica, the burial site of its namesake, one of the 12 apostles, is located in the home city of the pope and is known as one of the holiest places and greatest churches in Christianity. More than just a religious site, however, the church is also an architectural and artistic masterpiece, boasting the famous dome designed by Michelangelo, Giacomo della Porta and Fontana. Because of the site's beauty, the group spent much of the day quietly taking it all in, joining together to pray at mass."The rest of the day we just explored St. Peter's Basilica," Rachael Cotter '10 recalled. "We got to climb the dome, which was incredible," she said.For students on the trip-which cost students only $550 for flights, accommodation and most meals-visiting famous churches and religious sites in Rome brought the history of the Catholic Church to life."Rome is the Catholic homeland," Stephanie Sapowicz '10 said. "It was just really interesting to see not only the history of the art in Rome but also of the Church as well." Carolyn Burns '10 said the group was thrilled to hear Pope Benedict XVI speak to a crowd of 15,000 at the Vatican. When the English-speaking priest at the pope's side announced that he was pleased to have a group from Brandeis visiting, "we made a pretty good amount of noise for a group our size," Burns said. "We represented Brandeis."Burns said the experience was comforting in that she could share her feelings of awe and inspiration with fellow members of the Catholic community."To be able to share that [powerful experience] with people who also feel the same way, share my religion and are practicing Catholics, definitely makes a difference," Burns said.The trip offered some students a new setting in which to bond with students, as well as the opportunity to get closer to members of the Catholic community who they usually only see at Sunday mass at Brandeis."One hour a week is really hard to build good relationships," Sapowicz said. As a religious minority at Brandeis, traveling to Rome helped students "build a network" to discuss their connections to Catholicism.This week-long tour wasn't limited to religious sites. The group visited the town of Assisi, known as the birthplace of St. Francis, founder of the Franciscan religious order. Inside the walls of this small city, which is in the mountains two hours north of Rome, students experienced the quiet and peaceful side of Italy. Exploring Assisi "was nice because that was very much the other part of Italy," as opposed to the busy city of Rome and Vatican City, said Sapowicz. "You don't see many walled-in little cities in the States," she said.After visiting St. Francis' Basilica and the town's many historical churches and landmarks, Cotter said the group enjoyed climbing around in the medieval castles in the city, from which they could see an amazing view of the countryside. Students remember the historic artwork they saw in Assisi and throughout Rome as beautiful and inspirational. "Everywhere you looked in these places," Fullerton said, "was just the most unbelievable art." Inside St. Peter's Basilica, "We got to see the Pietá," Fullerton recalls. Walking around Rome, students met daily at the Parthenon and saw the Coliseum and the Roman Forum. There was "just unbelievable history" compared to anything in the United States, Fullerton said. In particular, he remembers walking on stones at the Roman forum, where people have been walking for a thousand years. Students were impressed by the Catholic churches not only because of their religious significance but also because of their architecture."The old churches were really cool because there's so much [architectural] detail. . You could walk around them for days," Burns said. Most days, the group toured the city together in the morning and explored independently in the afternoons.In the Italian section of Rome, Fullerton said he went exploring with Burns and Ashley Ruskiewicz '08 and practiced his Italian. "I wanted to have as authentic an Italian experience as possible," said Fullerton, who remembers sitting in a café, entranced by the way everyone knew each other by name. "It was really nice just to get lost in Rome," Cotter said.Cuenin said he enjoyed getting to know students in the Catholic community on the trip and hopes to lead another trip next February break. "I'm a great believer in pilgrimage because I think it makes your faith come alive," Cuenin said. "I've found that it's one of the best ways to connect people, not only to our faith but also to one another.
(03/18/08 4:00am)
The Department of Residence Life aims to implement a gender-neutral housing policy which allows for coed rooms after the first two weeks next semester, according to Director of Residence Life Rich DeCapua. After the first two weeks of each semester, students may request to change rooms. According to a newly proposed plan, students who prefer gender-neutral housing may switch rooms after that period. Although this initiative will not affect room selection this month, "the student body should expect to see changes as early as this coming fall," such as more comprehensive training on gender-relevant issues for Community Advisors, said Social Justice Committee Senate Chair and Village Quad Senator Michael Kerns '09, who is helping to spearhead this initiative. Students said they have expressed concerns about the inclusiveness of the housing policy, which currently allows for coed suites and halls but not for coed rooms unless students approach Residence Life with individual concerns. "We can't rely on the traditional gender binary to be one of those things that we base all policies on, because that's just not true," DeCapua said.First-years can choose to live on a coed floor. Sophomores and upperclassmen can choose to live in coed suites. The problem with the traditional housing system, Triskelion president Alice Ittelson '08 said, is that it assumes a static gender and heterosexuality and creates an uncomfortable situation if students must make a special case to Residence Life. "If you're trans, that means you have to go to Res Life, and you have to out yourself, and for some people that can be an issue," TransBrandeis chairperson Emily Burd '08 said.This initiative has been a collaborative effort among the Social Justice Committee, Trisk and TransBrandeis, Kerns said. The group's goals are: a gender neutral housing policy for all upperclassmen and sophomores, "a gender-blind option that does not presuppose or force first-year students to self-identify [with regard to their gender] or live with a same-sex roommate unless they choose to do so," Kerns said. The group also advocates for stronger CA training in gender-related issues.Burd said it has been one of TransBrandeis' goals to have gender-neutral housing.Student Union Advocate Brian Paternostro '08 said he met with DeCapua last year to discuss the possibility of gender-neutral housing. "We discussed what's currently being done with ResLife and how they're moving toward getting the policy in place," he said. Last year, the Board of Trustees changed the University's non-discrimination policy to include protection of people on the basis of "gender identity and expression.""We have to make sure that every process is at a point that reflects terminology for gender-neutral housing," to make sure that the process is done appropriately and correctly, DeCapua said. DeCapua also stressed that this policy would not only affect trans people, but also allow males and females to live together. According to Kerns, there will be a forum to discuss gender-neutral housing at Brandeis in April, which will include members of Residence Life.One concern that many students involved in this initiative had was the housing form that first-years fill out upon entering Brandeis. "If your documentation doesn't really show who you are, it's not ok to go by that," Burd said. "One way for people to be more comfortable is to have more questions that just have to do with personality, completely unrelated to gender,"?she added.
(03/18/08 4:00am)
Students voiced their concerns about the Health Center, including misdiagnosis, privacy issues and confusion about insurance coverage at last Monday night's forum in the Shapiro Campus Center.Eleven people attended the informal forum, during which members of the Health Center Advisory Committee, which planned the event, moderated the discussion and encouraged the participants to share both negative and positive experiences they have had at the Health Center. Participants were also urged to offer suggestions for health services that are not currently offered on campus. The chairwoman of the committee, Jessica Blumberg '09, said that many students don't know much about their insurance plans and what they cover, and that perhaps the health center should actively provide more information.Noah Kaplan '09 opened the discussion: "I didn't get an insurance card on time. . I'm still having problems with that." More students followed by relating other negative experiences. The participants agreed that misdiagnosis and lack of attention are ongoing problems at the health center.Laura Cohen '09 said she was proscribed a certain type of antibiotics despite a big sticker on her file noting that she is allergic to that family of antibiotics. . "Luckily, I hadn't taken it yet," she said. "I've been misdiagnosed twice," Hillary Mishan '09 said. "First I was told I had the flu when I actually had bronchitis, and then I got told I had the flu but actually turned out to have mono[nucleosis]."Not everyone, however, was there to criticize. Rebecca Wilkof '09 said that upon mentioning in passing that she had never had chicken pox, a nurse gave her a shot on the spot. But most students present at the forum seemed to have had opposite experiences from Wilkof. "It would be nice to see people smiling when you go to the doctor, welcoming you, instead of making you feel like you are a burden to them." Justin Zullo '09 said. The issue of privacy was another concern that students discussed during the forum. "You're judged by the nurses; it's embarrassing," Sridatta Mukherjee '09 said. "A friend of mine asked for a pregnancy test, and they gave her a look." Comments concerning the lack of privacy at the reception, as well as a reluctance to trust the nurses with confidential information, echoed around the circle.Student Union President Shreeya Sinha '09 added that "they tend to assume that you are sexually active." Cohen added that the nurses at the health center automatically assume all kinds of risky behaviors, including inferring that an injury occurred because the student was drunk, or that any complaint might be a sexually transmitted disease. Students also said that it is difficult to schedule an appointment with the doctors at the center. "You tend to know your body. If you think you have strep, you need to see a doctor. You shouldn't have to jump through hoops," Kimberlee Bachman '08 said.The forum was not just about voicing complaints; the participants also suggested improvements that were brought up throughout the forum. "I think they could provide more preventative measures," Cohen said. Some ideas for this included sending out e-mails informing students of viruses going around, or even placing preventative care packages with information in student mailboxes. But since most flyers travel from the mailbox to the bin within seconds, Blumberg asked if perhaps part of the problem consists of student apathy.
(03/11/08 4:00am)
Last Tuesday the Center for German and European Studies provided an open forum to discuss the question of whether Jews should visit Germany. The initial discussion focused on the validity of the idea that Jews who visit Germany are overlooking the country's actions during World War II.The dialogue was lead by Prof. Sabine von Mering (GRAL) and guest lecturer Matthias Oppermann, a DAAD Visiting Scholar, part of the German Academic Exchange Service. As the discussion progressed, its scope broadened to include many other topics, some of which brought forth emotionally charged sentiments and enlightening statements regarding the fate of the Jewish legacy in Germany and modern German-Jewish relations. After each member of the group introduced him or herself and elaborated on his or her German or Jewish heritage, von Mering jumped into the discussion by asking those in attendance whether it was important for those of Jewish descent to visit Germany. Zachary Zorfas '10 detailed the personal importance of visiting Germany; he explained that he traveled to the country last summer in order to "get in touch with the history" and to learn about the Jewish culture that was left behind there. He was confused that some Jews are reluctant to visit Germany and Poland today simply because their relatives who were affected by the Holocaust refused to return there themselves. Dr. Lawrence Wangh (BIOL) expressed a similar sentiment, explaining that it is also important for Jews to visit Germany in order to explore the portions of their heritage that are German or Polish. "One goes to Germany and recognizes portions of one's character that are uniquely German," Wangh said. "Everything is familiar in a certain way, and part of the tragedy of the Nazi era is that Jews wondered, 'How could this happen to us? We're German.'" One of the dominant topics of the discussion was how Germans today view and interact with Jews. Wangh, as well as several other Jews in attendance, described that when they visited Germany, they felt a sense of unease on the part of the German population while in the presence of Jews. Wangh described an instance when it was revealed that he was Jewish in the company of several Germans. The reaction, Wangh said, was "complete silence." Von Mering inquired as to why he believed that this had happened. Wangh explained that the Germans "simply did not know how to deal" with those of Jewish ethnicity.Von Mering, who is German and was raised Christian but has brought up her children with an awareness of their grandparents' Jewish heritage, elaborated on this idea. She explained that while Germany makes an attempt to recognize the Holocaust through memorials and educational programs in areas such as Berlin, there is a distinct inability amongst those of the German population "to talk about the Holocaust, to talk about things Jewish ... even if there are no Jews around.""There is a fear of concentration camps," she said, "to be confronted with the real horror [of the Holocaust]. You think, 'My grandfather could have been one of the people who killed.'"However, Dr. Tatjana Meschede of the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, a German who converted to Judaism prior to the birth of her sons, explained that there is a desire amongst Germans to be educated on Jewish tradition and culture. For instance, she said, there are many Germans who requested to be invited to her son's bar mitzvah in Germany so that they might be able to experience Jewish culture. The discussion, as it continued, drifted among a variety of subjects, including the science of Jewish genetics, family planning according to religious customs and the role of women with children in general society. Ultimately, however, the forum concluded with the participants discussing more personal aspects of their lives. Talk of hometowns and families further narrowed a divide that had already been breached through a personal and revealing evening.
(03/04/08 5:00am)
Steve DeLuca's '08 named was spelled incorrectly in a sport's teaser on the front page. (Feb. 12, p. 1)A correction in the Feb. 12 issue said the Wetmen, an Intramural basketball team, had two other baseball team members besides Ben L. '08. L. was the only baseball team member on that team. (Feb. 12, p. 2) Prof. Jonathan Sarna's (NEJS) name was spelled incorrectly in his letter to the editor. (Feb. 12, p. 13) An article in Forum reported that Océ Business Services has a slogan, "With Océ Business Services you have fewer direct and indirect staff on your payroll." Océ Business Services has no such slogan. (Feb. 12, p. 14)
(03/04/08 5:00am)
All students deserve to feel safe and comfortable in their living environments. That's the message of the National Student Genderblind Campaign, a student movement that advocates for gender-neutral housing on college campuses. Institutions across the country, approximately 30, have responded to those students who say the traditional residence life policy that mandates only students of the same sex be roommates is antiquated and unfair. These universities have made gender-blind housing available to accommodate those students-many of whom are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or intersex-who feel more comfortable rooming with someone with no gender or someone of the opposite sex or gender. Transgender students who come to Brandeis or undergo the transition while at Brandeis may prefer to live with a roommate who's comfortable with their identity or who is gender-variant as well. In adjusting the heteronormative housing policy, Brandeis has the opportunity to be more alert and sensitive to the needs of gender-variant students. We support the students of Triskelion, TransBrandeis and the Social Justice Committee in their effort to bring gender-inclusive housing options to Brandeis. This sort of housing would be optional. We encourage the Department of Residence Life to work with students to reach a compromise regarding this issue as soon as possible.No student should be forced into a living situation that causes undue anxiety and discomfort. That also goes for students, many with religious concerns, who frequently request more single-gender floors, suites and buildings to be available. These students should have the housing that best suits their identities as well. It's difficult for ResLife to balance these competing needs, but that's why we need a greater variety of housing options. An inclusive rooming option, maybe starting with one dorm, would make for a good test run. ResLife and Trisk discussed the possibility of opening gender-neutral housing in a Thematic Learning Community. This is a great idea, but ResLife has to revamp the TLC program first, as it's currently on hold. ResLife could also conduct a survey and hold open forums to receive more feedback from students on this issue. A forum might bring to light some of the heteronormative assumptions that the housing policy makes. It assumes that only students of the opposite sex can be in relationship and that only men perpetrate violence against women. If these generalizations were true, then separating men and women in housing might make sense.According to the National Student Genderblind Campaign, colleges that allow for gender-neutral housing reported that only 2 to 3 percent of their students choose to live with a roommate, regardless of sex. Allowing these minority groups to feel at home is reason enough. Multiple models exist for gender-neutral living. Since 2003 Wesleyan University has offered multiple gender-blind dorms and Ithaca College and Dartmouth College each allocated one hallway in a dorm as gender-neutral. We hope greater progress is made on our campus as well.
(03/04/08 5:00am)
Students who traveled to the Palestinian territories during February break on a trip funded by former President Jimmy Carter's Nobel Peace Prize called the journey "a once-in-a-lifetime experience" that offered them a unique perspective on the Middle East. Eleven Brandeis students went on the trip, an initiative of the campus club Students Crossing Boundaries. SCB hired an organization called Birthright Unplugged to help them make the finishing touches on the trip's itinerary.Justin Kang '09, founder of SCB, said, "We hired Birthright Unplugged as an important asset because of their access and expertise of the area."Birthright Unplugged is an organization that helps groups plan and facilitate travel programs within the Palestinian territories. According to its Web site, "Birthright Unplugged offers opportunities for people to gain knowledge through first-hand experiences and to use that knowledge to make positive change in the world." Members of SCB emphasized that the club doesn't have any particular political affiliation, and that every student on the trip came in with a different perspective. Participant Alison Schwartzbaum '08 said she approached this trip from different points of view. "I so much feel like I went on this trip for myself, to learn, to have this experience and this opportunity for me," she said. "Another part of me feels like I went as part of this unit, this group of people, and together we were experiencing."Noam Shuster '10 said the trip provided her with a perspective that is usually not available. "This trip gave us the initiative and we saw human suffering . We went and we met real people. We went to see what is not available for us to see; we saw the real people," she said.For Deborah Laufer '08, being able to have tangible imagery about the situation in the Palestinian territories was a valuable aspect of the trip. "To seek out an opportunity that challenges your core identity and everything you may or may not have believed is something that I would encourage anyone to do," she said.However, not everyone was entirely pleased with the way the trip unfolded. A junior who went on the trip, who did not want to disclose his name for the Web site, said, "I found the cultural encounter element excellent, but this was overshadowed by the inappropriate simplicity of the political aspects of the trip." "I found it to be incredibly interesting to be on a trip organized by people with hateful biases [Birthright Unplugged], but I was very disappointed by my peers' intellectual approaches to this experience," he said. Various participants on the trip said one of the most meaningful parts of the trip was their stay with host families in the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem. Noam Shuster '10 said, "It was amazing to feel such warmth and optimism in a house that barely has running water." "They just want peace; they just want to live," she added.Other highlights from the trip included meeting with Amal Jadou, the U.S. foreign policy advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, an independent Palestinian Legislative Council member and former Palestinian Authority Minister of Information. Students also had the opportunity to meet with Allegra Pacheco, United Nations officer for humanitarian affairs in Jerusalem, born into an American Orthodox Jewish family. Another profound aspect of the trip was having the opportunity to see the Israeli West Bank Wall from both the Israeli and the Palestinian points of view, participants said. Lisa Hanania '10 described kindness she experienced: "One day we were in a cab, and the cab driver just stopped in the middle of the street and got everyone coffee at his expense. We tried to offer money but he just said, 'No, you're in my cab, so you're in my house.' I have never seen anything like it.""Part of what we were learning was not just the gravity of the situation. It was also just about, in general, telling a story of the Palestinian narrative," Laufer said.An example was the story of Yousef El Azeh, a 10-year-old boy, involving a settler grabbing him by the throat, choking him and then painfully scraping away his teeth by rubbing a stone hard against them. Lisa Hanania '10, however, said, "The fact that we were going and listening and learning doesn't mean we were only seeing the Palestinian perspective." Upon returning, SCB began discussing plans for future programs. The group plans on holding some type of open panel or forum, and possibly a photo exhibit, to share their experiences with the Brandeis community, Kang said."It's hard being back to the Brandeis routine after such an eye-opening experience," Shreeya Sinha '09 said. "I feel that I have a responsibility to represent all that I've seen to help our generation move closer to peace and coexistence in the Middle East," Sinha said.
(02/12/08 5:00am)
Israel advocates are certainly at home at Brandeis. We wish the same were true for those who feel conflicted about Israel. If you love Israel, if you care about its politics, the peace process or any other aspect, you can count on the array of Zionist clubs (Zionists for Historical Veracity, Student United for Israel, Brandeis Israel Political Action Committee, Brandeis Religious Zionist League, etc.) to frequently offer events. Every week it seems the campus hosts a lecture, a panel discussion or a social event about Israel. Last week, for example, Hillel hosted an Israel-themed Shabbat dinner. Events about Jewish-Israeli culture, medicine, politics and the education system are all important educational programs that enrich our community. But these events are generally missing voices that anyone who is concerned about Israel today must engage. It is short-sighted to think that attending only events that reinforce what many already believe about Israel will bring peace to such a troubled land. And it is unfair to deny anyone seeking to learn more about the situation the opportunity to develop a nuanced perspective. A university, and more importantly a student body, that prides itself on pluralism should indeed embrace intellectual diversity in its many forms, not stifle it in fear.Obviously, not all events can or should address all sides at once. Zionist groups on campus are entitled to program as they see fit. But when events are held that challenge these groups' political and ideological assumptions, their members barely turn out at all. Chelsey Berlin '08 studied abroad last year in Egypt and spent a great deal of time in the West Bank. She has first-hand knowledge of Palestinian and Middle Eastern life in general. I, Rachel, attended her communiversity class last week, to watch a stimulating film and participate in a discussion about life for Palestinians in the territories. Only five students, including me, attended this class. It was disappointing also last week when no more than a dozen students besides the organizers attended a panel discussion held for "Lighting Gaza Week" featuring Prof. Gordon Fellman (SOC) and a Palestinian student from Harvard. The discussion challenged popular American Zionist beliefs about Israel's role in perpetuating the conflict and explored the misery many Palestinians feel Israel continues to cause. Students with little to expansive knowledge about Israel could have benefited tremendously from hearing this alternative narrative expressing the horrors of daily life for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. While few attended this event, an upcoming event featuring Khalid Abu Toameh, a West Bank-born, Israeli-Arab journalist who is critical of free speech abuses in the Palestinian territories, has dozens of confirmed attendees on facebook. Toameh's presentation will provide analysis of Palestinian society but will likely serve only to affirm many students' notions about Palestinians. The facebook invitation hints at this by stating that he's "the most neutral perspective," yet Students United for Israel is sponsoring the event.Part of the resistance to hearing these alternatives is apparently institutionalized. Anne Lawrence, the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies academic administrator, sent out an e-mail over the NEJS and Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies list-serves advertising "Lighting Gaza" events last week. Within the hour, Ms. Lawrence sent out an e-mail apologizing: "Indeed, our NEJS list-serve is not a political forum, and it was my mistake to distribute it under our department's name." We were perplexed by the apology. Far from an endorsement, the e-mail simply notified students of the event's logistics. Seeking further explanation, we e-mailed Dept. chair Prof. David Wright (NEJS). He echoed Ms. Lawrence, writing, "We seek to avoid advocacy on any side of political or religious issues, and therefore we generally do not send out announcements of this sort on our list-serve." Apparently, "some faculty members observed that the message should not have been sent out."But the department sends out announcements over the NEJS and IMES list-serves about trips to Israel sponsored by Zionist organizations and opportunities to hear Israeli representatives speak all the time. Although these events are not always explicitly political, they do tend to view Israel through one lens. The "Lighting Gaza" panel was not explicitly political either, but rather aimed at exposing students to an experience seldomly shared at Brandeis. The department shouldn't shy away from promoting a multitude of Israeli and Palestinian political and religious events. NEJS and IMES should publicize events for open dialogue and events with varying perspectives, without fear that they are dolling out an endorsement. Academic freedom relies on the courage of an institution to embrace intellectual and political diversity. Likewise, those students seriously concerned with Israel must know that encountering alternative and often deeply challenging perspectives brings about progress towards mutual understanding.
(02/05/08 5:00am)
Welile Nhlapo, the United States ambassador to South Africa, will speak about the country's current political climate next Monday during the annual Ruth First Memorial Lecture.Sponsored every year by the African and Afro-American Studies department, the lecture series is endowed in memory of Louise Joy Schiff by her family. The series is designed to fund annual lectures on black liberation in Southern Africa. The late Professor Glenda Waite and current AAAS Chairman Wellington Nyangoni determined the series' name before the first lecture in 1985.The ambassador's presentation will focus on contemporary developments and the political environment, where racism and conflict remain major issues, according to Nyangoni. "Hopefully it will touch also on the ideals of Ruth First and to what extent they have been met," Nyangoni said.Having previously served as South Africa's ambassador to Ethiopia and permanent representative to the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa since 1995, Nhlapo became the South African ambassador to the United States in August 2007. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa Nhlapo was the co-author of the publication "Black Review" which discussed the activities of black organizations in the early 1970s. After being exiled to Botswana in 1973, Nhlapo joined and served many roles on the African National Congress. Nhlapo will be the second foreign U.S. ambassador to visit this academic year following German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth, who came to campus last fall. The series' namesake was born to a family of white Jewish South African communists and dedicated her life to the freedom of all South Africans under the ruling apartheid regime. A highly respected individual and eminent scholar, First worked within the South African Communist Party and in close association with the African National Congress, which ultimately brought down the apartheid regime in South Africa. A lifelong columnist for the radical weekly publication Guardian, which was repeatedly banned by the South African government, First was assassinated in 1982 when an envelope sent to her by a U.N. agency exploded upon opening. First's husband, Joe Slavo, was the head of the South African communist party and among the leaders of the ANC. The ANC has always been multiracial and admits any members committed to equal rights.Nyangoni met First through his work for South African civil rights, and said, "She was a very dynamic woman who exemplified the fight for racial justice in Africa. ... I was a very strong believer in what she was doing." First's writings reflected her belief in ideal political and economic egalitarianism, he said.The memorial series began as an educational forum, according to Nyangoni. "We try to educate the community on Africa issues, politics and ethnicity," he said. As the African country with the largest Jewish population, South Africa has significance for Brandeis as a university with a significant Jewish community, Nyangoni said."We share a lot with South Africa," Nyangoni said. The story of South Africa is, "a human story about human relations, different people working together toward a common good," he said.The event will be held on at 5:30 p.m. in the Hassenfeld Conference Center.
(02/05/08 5:00am)
The arming of Brandeis police officers will most likely begin in late spring or early summer, according to Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan. Currently, Brandeis public safety officers are being trained in the use of firearms, Callahan wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. No officers have been armed yet. "Training has been underway for weeks and is presently ongoing," Callahan wrote.University President Jehuda Reinharz reached the decision to arm campus police last September based on the recommendations of a committee of students, faculty and staff that convened over the summer. Student opinion on the decision is sharply divided, and Reinharz announced the formation of a firearms advisory committee responsible for writing policies involving the arming of campus police last November following a student protest during his office hours. The officers will not be armed until there is a set policy in place, said Matt Rogers '08, one of the students on the firearms advisory committee the first meeting of which took place last Thursday. According to Callahan, training will entail the same procedures as firearms training for the Waltham police officers. "This includes, among other things classroom, range and simulation exercises," Callahan wrote. Student, faculty and staff representatives of the committee attended last Thursday's meeting, Rogers said. During the meeting, committee members "discussed the beginning of a possible policy, but nothing by any means [was] set in stone," Rogers said. The committee is drafting a wide range of policies regarding the arming of campus police, he added. Callahan said that the policy will attempt to address student concerns which have been raised about this controversial decision. "We'll be making sure that the committee addresses all the concerns that the students have," Rogers said. There have been varied student responses to this policy, Callahan wrote, and "as always it is important to maintain open channels of communication with all community members."The next meeting of the firearms advisory committee will be Tuesday, March 4, Rogers said, and will consist of presentations by experts about comparable policies on other campuses. In order to best represent student opinion to the committee, "we're looking to have a forum before our next meeting," Rogers said.
(01/29/08 5:00am)
A committee to develop a bill of rights for the Student Union Constitution met for the first time last Wednesday, Director of Student Union Affairs Jason Gray '10 said. Goals of the committee include identifying what rights students have, what rights students should have, and framing the bill of rights in a clear and understandable manner, Gray said. Gray, who put forth the idea, said that the bill would seek in its final manifestation to protect such student liberties such as those pertaining to freedom of speech and rights in the classroom.In addition to defending such privileges, the eventual official bill of rights would also "provide for students an easy to read document that tells everyone what their rights are," Gray said. He said he believes that a great deal of students are not actually conscious of what their liberties are. Union President Shreeya Sinha '09 agreed, saying she thinks that the student bill of rights is much needed on the grounds that "students have many rights, but aren't always aware of them, including the ability to activate the Community Prejudice Task Force, the University Board of Student Conduct, or the Student Union."Union Vice President Alex Braver '09 said a bill of rights would be "a great way to empower students and re-emphasize the 'rights' part of 'Rights and Responsibilities.'"Gray and his fellow committee members plan for the development of the bill of rights to be a fully inclusive process, as they intend to involve students, faculty and staff in its creation. Through the use of open forums, discussions and the Internet, the comittee hopes to incite comments and other contributions from the Brandeis community.Members of the committee include Gray, Student Union Advocate Brian Paternostro '08, Asher Tanenbaum '08, Patrick Garofalo '08, Justin Kang '09, Laura Cohen '09, Julia Simon-Mishel '09, Ryan McElhaney '10 and Gabriel Gaskin '08. Gaskin said he recalls instances in which he would have benefited considerably from knowledge of his rights as a student. Consequently, when Gray approached him with an idea for a document detailing student's rights, Gaskin said he decided to join Gray on the committee due to his strong conviction that "students deserve to know just what they'reentitled to and exactly what they are expected to avoid doing.
(01/22/08 5:00am)
Monday night's speech by U.S. Sen. Carl Levin was the first event co-sponsored by the General Education Now club, an organization started by two sophomores trying to bring more prominent speakers to campus in an effort to reinstate a program from the 1950s and '60s.The club's co-founders, Jonah Seligman '10 and Daniel Gillman '10, said the idea to create Gen Ed Now grew out of Prof. David Hackett Fischer's (HIST) introduction to former President Jimmy Carter last January. Fischer noted that Carter's visit was "an event that rises from a Brandeis tradition of inviting leaders to meet with our students, who we think will lead in the future." He explained that the idea was part of the original Brandeis curriculum in the form of General Education Senior, which "was meant to be the capstone of the undergraduate curriculum." In the '50s and '60s, the Gen Ed S program was required for all seniors and offered them the opportunity to hear from high-profile speakers from various fields in a more intimate setting. The program brought such speakers as former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, according to reports from the Brandeis Review and a University Archives Web page.Gillman emphasized the intimate nature of the interactions between students and visitors. "Eleanor Roosevelt had breakfasts with students," he said. The organizers of Gen Ed Now, however, said that changing times created a challenge for them as they tried to recreate that atmosphere. "With Gen Ed S there were maybe 80 students in a class; now there are 800," Seligman said.In their research to establish a viable new concept, Seligman and Gillman came across the Chicago Society at the University of Chicago, a student-run group that organizes discussion events and speaker visits on topical issues for the community. Gen Ed Now could also model itself after the Chicago Society in terms of financing events, Seligman said, because the Chicago program doesn't pay speaker fees. The group is also working with the Office of Development and Alumni relations to approach alumni to fund Gen Ed Now's activities, Seligman said. "To have [programs] be student generated or faculty generated- that's the way a university ought to run," Charles Radin, Director of Global Operations in the Office of Communications, and one of the organizers of yesterday's Levin event, said. "I think they are very ambitious, and I'm for that." In the future, Seligman and Gillman said they envision working together with groups on campus to organize forums and speaker events related to topics such as the environment and affirmative action. During a citizenship week, speakers from service organizations such as Teach for America could come to Brandeis, during which there could be career fairs, Seligman said. Seligman and Gillman said the enthusiastic input they received from alumni at Brandeis from the 1950s and '60s served as an inspiration for their goals. In particular, Trustee Barbara C. Rosenberg '54 provided much guidance, they said. "What a great idea to revive the General Education S Program," Rosenberg writes in comments provided by Seligman and Gillman. "I loved [Arthur Miller's lecture] because I was an English major. However, through this course, I was exposed to scientists, musicians, philosophers, and mathematicians.
(01/15/08 5:00am)
Over winter break, Brandeis Academic Debate and Speech Society competed in the 28th World University Debating Championship at Assumption University of Thailand in Bangkok, with one two-person team advancing as far as the semifinal round, a first in Brandeis history. The Brandeis team consisted of Evan Green-Lowe '10 and Joel Todoroff '09, who made it to the semifinals, as well as Alex Levine '08, Jackie Saffir '10, Mariel Gruszko '10 and Jason Gray '10. Jack Bouchard '10 participated as a judge. "We did the best Brandeis has ever done in this particular championship in its history," said BADASS president Levine, who went with varsity teammates to the 10-day, student-run event, which ran from Dec. 26th to Jan. 5th. According to Levine, the team was selected "by a highly selective process done by the BADASS executive board based on ability and commitment to the team." He says preparation involved everything from newspapers to Wikipedia to learning about different international organizations and conflicts. Similarily, Saffir explained, "Some teams read months of the Economist magazine, others kept up on newspapers, others bought fact books that had sections on the history and political background of all the countries of the world. We also practiced a lot with teams from MIT and Harvard." It seems that the effort paid off. Semifinalists Todoroff and Green-Lowe ranked in the top eight teams at the competition, which is attended by debaters from some of the highest-ranking colleges and universities around the world, including Israel, India, Spain, China, England and Australia, among others.To get as far as the semifinals, teams must last through both "in-rounds" and "out-rounds." The in-rounds are the rounds that occur at the beginning of the tournament. The topics included, "'This house would assassinate Vladimir Putin,' to 'Taiwan should declare independence' to 'This house would deny scarce medical resources to the terminally ill,'" Saffir explained. No eliminations are made until debaters' scores from all nine rounds are tallied and ranked in relation to each other. The top 32 teams emerging from this first set then face each other in the octo rounds, the first of the out-rounds. The out-rounds directly eliminate the losing teams and propel the winners to the next, more selective, pool-from octo to quarters, semis, and then finals, explained Levine. Despite the intensity of the competition, it is not an all-work-and-no-play event. The teams also get a chance to be tourists. "We explored temples, got buried in sand on the beach, wandered around Bangkok," Saffir said. "To be cheesy for just a second, the best part of the trip was that everything I did, I did with six of my best friends." The debate also presents a great opportunity for international interaction, and the organizers arranged forums, dinners and other social events to encourage debaters to interact outside of each round, according to the event's Web site."It's a competition first and foremost, but if you ask the people running it, they tell you that it's an opportunity to meet to people from other places," Levine said. "When you're in a room with Oxford's A team and Cambridge's A team and the best team from Monash [a top Australian school], you're likely to get your ass kicked, but you're also likely to learn a lot from them.""The people who debated were sophomores and juniors," Levine, the only senior to make the trip, added about his team. "How dominant and successful we're going to be reminds you that really, the sky's the limit, and that should be pointed out," he added. "I think that momentum is important and that the team has been gaining momentum over the past semester," Todoroff commented. "Worlds was a testimony to the power of teamwork, and I think we will continue to see tangible benefits to the team's communal feel over the coming semester."He also thinks that name recognition will help Brandeis in the upcoming North American Championships and other local debates. "The talent we have is not a talent that is going away," said Levine, noting "It's a talent that's going to be on the team for two more years.
(12/04/07 5:00am)
In the midst of the end-of-term academic scramble to get things done, a flurry of activity at a local public housing facility near campus has quietly achieved a different kind of success.A coalition of students, faculty and tenants received approval last month from the Waltham Housing Authority to proceed with plans to establish a community center at Prospect Terrace, a state-owned development located off of Prospect Hill Road. It's an achievement that deserves the recognition and financial backing necessary to capitalize on the momentum.A semester of outreach to Prospect tenants has proved the dedication of the activists heading the community center initiative. In perhaps its most vibrant partnership, the group of students, led by Prof. Mark Auslander (ANTH) and Prof. Ellen Schattschneider (ANTH), participated this fall in two "work days" at Prospect, cleaning up the run-down property and working alongside tenants and their children to paint a mural on what was once a drab concrete facade.But good deeds alone are not enough to kickstart the community center.Although the project has the go-ahead from local officials, it has yet to pass a hurdle that rears its head far too often in the realm of public housing: a lack of consistent and reliable funding. Approval from the Housing Authority means only that the space will be available and does not guarantee funding. The money, whatever its source, would certainly be well spent. Several initiatives for the new space are under discussion, including a computer center, student-run classes and a free legal clinic for tenants. There's no arguing that the center isn't a worthwhile investment as a tool for the kind of social justice on which the University prides itself. Bentley College, the other private institution in town, has for years run a successful volunteer computer center at another Waltham public housing facility. With sturdy connections and a hoard of eager activists at the ready, there's no reason Brandeis and its wunderkind fundraisers couldn't gather the money to do the same.At last week's housing forum, Marci Diamond '91, president of the tenant advocacy group WATCH, put forth a philosophy that captures the spirit behind much of the recent activism at Prospect Terrace. "Public housing isn't just a building," she said. "For us, it's about the neighborhood and community."As a neighbor to the Prospect tenants and now a participant in their community, Brandeis should support the project and put up the funds for meaningful change in the lives of those who reside nearby.
(12/04/07 5:00am)
The use of intimidation, the cost of campus events requiring security and the number of campus police officers that will be armed were among the concerns students raised at last Tuesday's forum on the procedures for the arming of University Police. Approximately 18 students attended the forum, which was organized by the Student Union Outreach Dream Team, a task force to communicate between the Union and the student body. Student representatives on a firearms advisory committee formed by University President Jehuda Reinharz at the end of October, including Matt Rogers '08, Fanny Familia '09 and Student Union President Shreeya Sinha '09, will bring the concerns raised at the forum to their first committee meeting.Reinharz reached the decision to arm campus police last September after the recommendations of a committee of students, faculty and staff that convened over the summer. The date for the first meeting of the new advisory committee, the members of which also also include Prof. Robert Moody (THA), Prof. Paul Jankowski (HIST), Chief Operating Officer Peter French and Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan, has yet to be determined, according to Rogers.Senator for the Class of 2009 Julia Sferlazzo, who led the forum, and representatives on the advisory committee said student response is extremely important in communicating ideas to the administration during meetings. "What's really important is that we continue these forums [as decisions are being made]," Sferlazzo said. Concerns brought up during the forum included whether all public safety officers will be armed, proper procedure in using or motioning towards guns worries about intimidation by public safety officers and how the decision to arm public safety officers will affect the cost of events on campus that require security. The psychological effects that could result from having guns on campus were also discussed."There's a lot of elements that go into the [gun] policy," Sferlazzo said, "and we just want to gauge what students want."Etta King '10 raised the issue of students' lack of knowledge about the policy to arm Brandeis police and called this "one of the greatest issues surrounding guns on campus." Students don't have the time to gather the information they need, she said. According to student representative Fanny Familia '09, representatives will put minutes from the advisory committee meetings online so that students can access them. King agreed this would be beneficial and added that having resources online would allow parents and those outside the Brandeis community to know what is going on regarding the arming of campus police. "To be able to have that be a transparent process would be most comfortable for me" and for other students, King said. Other students brought up the issue of having protocols for when officers are allowed to draw their weapons, and if they do so, how it should be done.I want to make sure that if a police officer gets upset for some reason, he won't just be able to pull out his gun, Sahar Massachi '11 said. According to Senator-at-Large Jessica Blumberg '09, there should be clear steps that all public safety officers must take before pulling out their guns or certain phrases they must say. "If all students know what those phrases are . that would be a good way for people to have that extra level of checks on [the proper use of guns by police officers]," Blumberg said. Students then discussed whether or not all public safety officers should be armed. "Arming campus police does not necessarily mean that every police officer has a gun in their holster," Sferlazzo said. "There's a big spectrum between every police officer having a gun in their holster and no guns at all.""I think the ability to stop violent crimes is a lot greater with guns," Sarah Bernes '10 said. Ben Serby '10, who formed the group Students Opposed to the Decision to Arm, disagreed. "I really don't see a need for any [public safety officers] to carry their weapons on a day-to-day basis," Serby said. "[Virginia Polytechnic Institute] police were, in fact, armed, and it didn't really serve as a deterrent to the shooting that ensued." Jamie Ansorge '09, however, said that with respect to Virginia Tech, "the idea was to have quicker first-response time with armed officers," and that here at Brandeis, public safety officers know the campus and would be able to arrive at the scene of emergency situations quicker than the Waltham Police Department would. Students also expressed the need for an improved relationship between students and public safety officers at Brandeis, adding that intimidation is a big factor introduced with guns. "Especially at night when they're breaking up parties, that's the only time when people come into contact with public safety officers," Senator for Racial Minority Students Gabriel Gaskin '08 said.
(11/20/07 5:00am)
The Senate unanimously passed a resolution calling on the administration to deny a request from Student Events to receive money directly from the Student Activities Fee. The Senate confirmed Matt Rogers '08 and Fanny Familia '09 as the student representatives to the Firearms Advisory Committee established by University President Jehuda Reinharz. The Senate confirmed the change of the Outdoors and Mountaineering Club's name to Brandeis Mountain Club to reflect the club's commitment to organizing a variety of activities.The senate recognized the Gen Ed Now Club, which aims to emulate a speaker series program organized for seniors at Brandeis during the 1950s and 1960s. The club hopes to organize thematic speaker series open to the whole campus speaking on topics such as climate change or political satire.The Senate recognized the Brandeis IT Entrepreneurship club, which has the goal of providing a forum and networking opportunity for students interested in business opportunities related to information technology. The Senate recognized the ONE Brandeis chapter. ONE is a national campaign lobbying elected officials to allocate more foreign aid toward alleviating poverty and fighting diseases such as AIDS and malaria. The senate did not recognize the Choon Woo Ha: Get a Girlfriend club, presented by Yuki Hasegawa '09, senator for the Class of 2009. The Senate tabled a bylaw amendment that would confirm renaming the Student Union Office for Judicial and Academic Advocacy to Student Union Office for Student Conduct Advisors.?The amendment didn't pass.The Senate tabled a bylaw amendment to change the name of the Project Brandeis University Spirit Committee to the University Spirit Committee. It shifts focus to encouraging University Spirit in general. Director of Academic Affairs Kimberlee Bachmann '08 reported the take-your-professor-to-lunch initiative would take place again next semester after a number of successful years.Senators Tamar Ariel '10 for East Quad, Jenna Brofsky for the Class of 2010 and Rebecca Wilkof '10 for the Castle reported that big-screen plasma TVs would be set up in the Castle Commons, the East Airplane Lounge and the Shapiro Lounge. Director of Union Affairs Jason Gray '10 said there were processes by which Finance Board funds could be reallocated. Student Union Treasurer Choon Woo Ha '08 said that in discussions with Student Events Director Lauren Adler, the F-Board had established that it could provide Student Events with some discretionary funds. -Miranda Neubauer
