(02/01/05 5:00am)
Put yourself in my shoes... It's October 2003. You're in your third week as editor in chief of the flagship campus publication (don't flatter yourself, we don't have many other publications). An allusion to a racial epithet just appeared in the sports section. The Black Student Organization wants your head on a pike for the paper's less-than-alacritous response to their demands. Meanwhile, division has already started within the editorial board about how to assume accountability for the incorrigible epithet, while separating it from the paper in general - and its dedicated staff. The University president has called you into his office. Wary to act sluggishly after criticism following the last racial controversy with the campus radio station, he is quick to denounce you and the paper in sweeping fashion, broadcasting a lie that will likely sink you in the days to come: that three editors, including you, read the article in question and saw no issues with it. He says you should resign. You're nervous. You probably appear now even younger than 19, slouching on the sofa in Bernstein-Marcus. And as you realize that your career playacting a hot-shot editor is careening into a tailspin, you see something remarkable. University President Jehuda Reinharz is balancing a Daffy Duck coffee mug on his lap as he talks to you. Absurd. He's got Daffy by the beak, and you by the balls.Writing 'The Dusty Baker Incident'Admittedly, the title we gave this controversy, "The Dusty Baker Incident," which refers to an allusion to the word "nigger" in an Oct. 21 sports column and the subsequent firestorm of opinion, protest and resignations it prompted-was crafted with popular memory in mind. After all, calling the event, "The Justice Incident" would forever tie up the paper's name with scandal. And naming in every reference its author, Daniel Passner '06, would only intensify the cloud that currently surrounds his name; few mistakes made in youth should follow you forever. "The Dusty Baker Incident" pegs the controversy to the Chicago Cubs' manager for whom the epithet was intended. While this saga now has a title, no one has yet succeeded in writing a full, unbiased account of the event. What has been written about the Dusty Baker Incident, though, is not insignificant: a series of articles and editorials in this newspaper, a blurb in the Chronicle of Higher Education, two brief stories in The Boston Globe, a piece by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and a fiery poem in Free Your Voice, a campus literary magazine.But the most ambitious attempt at capturing those frenzied moments which roiled this campus was made by Justin L. Moore '04, a former president of the Brandeis Black Student Organization and a key player in the controversy. In his manifesto, Just-Us, Moore recounts the fallout from October.Moore's manifesto had all the simplicity of a Hollywood movie, where the unambiguously correct triumphs over the unambiguously incorrect. And it made no attempts at sparing us the requisite good-guy bravado. Here's an excerpt from "Down With The Justice," Moore's chapter on the night of the Oct. 27 protest outside of the newsroom in the Shapiro Campus Center: "While people were still arriving, I decided to walk up to the first floor and scout out the area where we would be protesting ... Coincidentally, while walking down the hallway, I ran into a member of the Justice walking in the other direction. He looked like he had just seen a ghost. The look of surprise was hilarious because I knew that I was the absolute last person that he wanted to see. I stared right at him and screamed, 'oh yeah.' Powerful couldn't even describe half of how I felt when I saw him run away. The stage was set for our final confrontation." Moore's 71-page document amounts to little more than a self-righteous and ill-informed ramble of the events. But while Just-Us was ill-informed, it was not ill-conceived. The monumental reaction mounted by BBSO, other clubs in the Intercultural Center and community members warranted historical documentation. As Moore writes, "This was our Ford Hall," referring to the 1969 takeover of what was then Brandeis' administrative building to encourage the hiring of minority faculty members and the creation of the Afro- and African-American Studies department. Moore isn't that far off. In some circles, this is regarded as Ford Hall "part deux." But that idea, I think, is another tragedy of The Dusty Baker Incident. It should not be recorded in the annals of Brandeis history as a "movement," as an act of civil disobedience that was as justified as the peacenik protests it imitated in form. Those who saw the tumult up close knew it had no hope of even intimating these protests in purpose.A FarewellThis is my last issue as editor in chief. My term is up. My time at the top of this paper was marked by so many memorable moments; I certainly didn't need to trudge up the most painful one. But as I sat down at one of Boston's few all-night diners to think of what to write in this obligatory farewell note, I couldn't get past the event that really inaugurated my term. Daniel Passner's column appeared in my second issue as editor in chief. By the next issue-which was published on Friday instead of Tuesday-I had resigned. Four other editors left with me. Some of us, however, never really left, ascending back to the masthead in the weeks and months following the incident. Some resigned in protest and some to appease the forces that were besieging us. With what seemed to be the entire campus pitted against us, public relations became our only method of salvaging the paper's reputation. We did everything we could to isolate the event, to separate all of the Justice's editors, contributors and the paper's history from what I regarded as a tragic confluence of conditions that vaulted an all-too-common editorial slip-up to the level of deadly sin. I don't mean this to be a polemic. And I write it with much trepidation. The events of October left me daunted; they shook me down to my bones. But I think I have a story that, even after all this time and all that's been written, still deserves to be told. The BeginningI have always derived a tremendous sense of joy from seeing students read the Justice on Tuesdays. And, at first, the reception of the Oct. 21, 2003 issue seemed to be no different. Our issue had gone to press smoothly, and in the early afternoon it appeared to be well received. Looking back, however, there were warning signs that something was amiss. I remember a pretty girl in lower Usdan, flipping the Justice around on two fingers so her lunchmate could see, "this column by Dan Passner." And when I got home to my East Quad single, I remember a black hallmate of mine arguing passionately about something with her friend. I spent the next three hours on the phone. I honestly can't remember who I called first-BBSO or Passner (or even if they called me), but I suppose it doesn't much matter. It's now clear to me that during our first conversation both Passner and I were incapable of imagining the hurt and rage his words were causing the campus at that very moment.Many of our detractors couldn't understand why Passner wasn't canned instantly. It was difficult for me to assign blame to him, though, because if Passner's column had been afforded the treatment we gave every other article in that issue, the odious quotation would have been stricken, and, for better or worse, Passner would probably still be writing for the Justice. I naavely thought that because his column ran unedited, punishing him for writing something "stupid," as Reinharz later called it in my meeting with him, was unfair. Of course, after my first conversation with BBSO, such thoughts were quickly rendered quaint. And, as the days passed and editors began to drop like flies, Passner's departure from the staff became undoubtedly the most deserved exit. Playing the blame game and stickballThere are few words that manage to evoke such a painful history as the one alluded to in this newspaper. But that the allusion made it to press represents an editorial gaffe for which we will never cease to apologize. Who was really to blame? This is a question I've grappled with since that October. I do know the people who were punished exceeded in number those who were culpable. First, there was obviously Passner, the writer, who resigned and admitted full responsibility less than 24 hours after our phone conversation. If Passner hadn't written "Dusty Baker Exposed," I'd be writing about something else now. Not blaming him, therefore, is an impossibility. Then there's the sports editor, Rob Siegel, who was responsible for editing every story in his section. Passner's late-arriving column wasn't edited by Siegel, a doubtless source of much regret for the sports editor, one of the Justice's most dedicated and eloquent contributors. But the blame for this started and ended with me. It started with me because the editor in chief is both initially and ultimately responsible for everything printed in the paper; having someone around to stick his neck out if things get messy is so important, in fact, that we designate a "hit-by-the-bus editor" to step up if the editor in chief is incapacitated. It ended with me because the brouhaha was only settled with my resignation. Before the column printed, the paper was accustomed to making journalistically "bad" mistakes. We had misspelled headlines, cut stories off short, attributed quotations to the wrong individuals, misquoted sources and published numerous photos taken by someone named "ALLCAPS." It was difficult to imagine having one of our section editors not read a story. But it was not impossible. College newspaper editors are typically unpaid and overworked, bound together by some as-of-yet-undetermined level of interest in some aspect of journalism. But we get the pleasure of delivering news to an insulated audience with a vested interest in reading the news of the school. But with this, come weighty expectations. While we don't see a dime, the paper is rewarded handsomely -both in advertising revenue and in funds from an activities fee attached to the undergraduate tuition bill. So you can think of the Justice as a pick-up game of stickball held in a stadium filled with 4,000 people, all of whom paid for admission. You play ball, but it's notoriously difficult to please the fans. Reasoning with BBSOI first heard from BBSO shortly after talking to Passner. Shalwah Evans called me to give me her group's list of demands. "First, Passner-gone," she said. "Next, Rob, the sports editor-he's gone." These two demands were coupled with some real estate on the front page for a BBSO column, later penned by Moore and titled in his distinct style, "Unbreakable." They also wanted an apology from us on the front page. Evans was a triumph of composure in conversation, walking all over my stuttering entreaties and ignoring my attempts at contrition. She said that if the Justice did not meet each of BBSO's demands by 6 p.m. on Wednesday, "We're going to come after your job." Passner's lightning-fast resignation gave the community's mounting anger nowhere else to go but onto the shoulders of the editorial board. While their first demand-Passner's resignation-was now irrelevant, we were foolish in essentially fighting BBSO on every other point. We wanted the news story about what happened to go on page 1 and our apology to be in the editorial space, in the Forum section. We also wanted BBSO's piece there, and not on the front page, which we thought should be reserved always and only for news. Most damnably, we decided as an editorial board not to encourage the sports editor to resign. We would stand together, united, and try desperately to assume accountability as a board.This last error was one of pragmatism-a principle woefully lost on the entire editorial board and on me personally during the initial days of the controversy. We reasoned that because none of us was perfect, because we've all had the experience of having our eyes gloss over late on a Monday night, we couldn't hold Siegel to a different standard. That it was racism he missed, instead of a dangling participle, was just bad luck, we said.The rest is history: the public forum in the Shapiro Campus Center which devolved into a circus. The ostentatious walkout that ensued. The resignation of Siegel from the editorial board. And, finally, with some encouragement from senior members of the administration, my own resignation. But most notable of all was the turbulent protest on in the early morning hours of Oct 28.The Protest"We're not niggers! We're not niggers! We're not niggers!" was a protest chant that Justin Moore failed to mention in his manifesto. But I'll remember it forever.The protest started because negotiations between the Justice and BBSO came to a halt. By far the most significant concession we had made was to delay our print date to allow BBSO time to compose a collaborative letter-which we had agreed to print on our front page. This was anathema to our cause: A newspaper exists to go to press regularly. But we were between a rock and a hard place, where there is very little room for grasping on to principles.The night before the protest, relations between our groups reached an all-time low, and communication was cut off completely. Given that our sole reason for the print delay was to accommodate BBSO's letter, there no longer seemed to be a purpose to holding off.While we went into production Monday night in good faith, our utter lack of contact with BBSO led to this being interpreted as an act of defiance. We were accused of going behind their backs and those of the administration.Many students arrived to protest the Justice in hopes of getting us to stop printing; no one knows exactly, and the numbers fluctuated through the night. I would say it was about 60 people at the height of the protest who filled the hallway, pounding on the glass windows and taunting editors. Imagine the explosion of noise which occurs when a circuit breaker goes ka-boom. Imagine that noise outside of a preschool. That was our soundtrack. And everyone was in tears at one point or another. It just took a panicky phone call to a parent or a glance from across the newsroom to get there. But these were not tears of guilt. We weren't lamenting Passner's column. Instead, we were shocked by how disfigured and complex the situation had become. This was a room primarily of young, excessively active liberals-the kind of people who fought for social progress, and who advocated for underrepresented students in the editorials of this newspaper. So when we heard the chant, "We're not niggers!" the prevailing reaction on the minds of people in the newsroom would've been "duh"-if only the moment wasn't so grave. The tragedy of October, a tragedy of competing good intentions, resulted from immaturity. We were still playing stickball, but so was everyone else. BBSO thought is was in Birmingham. The Student Union regarded itself as the U.N. We were stuck in the New York Times newsroom. BBSO realized that the legitimate pain had legs, and they ran with them to an illegitimate destination. The Justice, meanwhile, underestimated the anger and mismanaged the situation until it spun out of control. And once the heat was turned up, our contrition lagged, making our regret about what happened unclear.In the end, all it took was a petite administrator in a black parka to bring it to end.The UpshotThe final effect the Dusty Baker Incident will have on my life remains unseen. At a dinner with family friends six months after the event, I mentioned I went to Brandeis, to which a member of our party replied, "Didn't something happen with the newspaper there?" I had never met him before. The incident was also not lost on a high-ranking editor of The Boston Globe, who mentioned it in an internship interview. (I didn't get that job.)To my friends and family, the idea that I was tied up in such an affair is laughable. My mother, in particular, has often said I'm not intended for such business - that I'm "too sweet." Aside from the sweetness bit, she's probably right; the experience has made all politics, even the politics of journalism on the college level, highly undesirable.I didn't write about October, 2003 because it defined my term as editor-in-chief of the Justice but because it was a good story. After all, writing a good story is what made me join this paper in the first place. I think we've written many good stories since then. With our trust shorn down to almost nothing, we were given the chance to reinvent ourselves. The paper you read today takes itself seriously. It still makes stupid mistakes. But it has come to reflect accurately and fully the contributions of its talented staff and editors - their imagination, curiosity and passion. In a very real sense, we've grown up a bit since then, and I hope it shows.
(01/25/05 5:00am)
The Mad Raven841 Main StreetThe Mad Raven is the place to be Wednesday nights to enjoy some drinks and some pre-weekend socializing. The bar is small, so it appears to be full without having a lot of customers, with no room for dancing or even much milling around. The music is pretty random, as one can hear anything from hip hop to Jamiroquai on a given night. However, its convenient location makes it, along with neighbor Joe Sent Me, a choice place to get over that middle-of-the-week hump. Located across from Victory Supermarket, the Raven is pretty fair with its pricing, and a thriftier customer-who doesn't care what he or she is drinking as long as it "does the trick"-can enjoy Pabst Blue Ribbon drafts for $2 or pitchers for $7, which yield four to five beers. On Tuesday nights, a patron will often find him or herself in the midst of a Bentley crowd, and, on weekends, a smattering of Waltham residents.Joe Sent Me849 Main StreetLocated right next door to the Mad Raven, Joe Sent Me seems to be the underdog competitor. Joe's is actually much more spacious and has a better set-up, with more seating, bigger and better TVs and an area more conducive to socializing and moving around. Additionally, the redesigned wall dcor makes for a laid-back atmosphere, a drink menu boasts different types of martinis and specialty drinks and Busch Lite drafts are typically offered for only $1. Yet, somehow Joe's still seems to struggle compared to the Mad Raven for Wednesday night debauchery, although in the past, and during certain weeks, Joe's will be more crowded instead. For some Brandeis students, it's less about where and more about who will be there. Monica Asher '05 frequents both Main Street bars, and has no real preference of one over the other. "I just go where everyone else goes," she said. However, others do actually have a preference for the Raven over Joe's. "It's crowded, there's no music and it just feels like a local townie bar rather than a college bar," said Brian Snyder '05. According to a Joe Sent Me bartender, Wednesdays tend to be Brandeis nights, while Bentley students come out on Tuesdays for their weekly alcohol fix. Margaritas227 Moody StreetThere are two main attractions at Margaritas: its namesake drinks and free chips and salsa. While a customer can certainly order a Corona, or any other popular beer or drink, the margaritas themselves are a must-try. An entire page of the drink menu is devoted to various flavors, and the bar also offers other frozen specialty alcoholic drinks as another delicious option. These drinks are not only among the best you can get north of the border, but they're also decently priced, costing between $5.50 and $6.50. The free munchies make up for what the service sometimes lacks, and Margarita's sit-down atmosphere make it a great choice to just catch up with friends or for an introductory drink before a long night of revelry.The Skellig240 Moody StreetThe Skellig is an Irish bar that boasts 18 beers on tap, dozens of bottled choices, cider and wine in addition to standard alcoholic beverages-all with standard prices. Live Irish music is frequent, and the bar has live cover bands on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Brandeisians sometimes go on Monday nights for Trivia Night where teams of five pay $5 to enter, rack their brains and compete against other teams for the pool of money and a round of drinks. Justin Gelfand '05 is a frequenter of these trivia nights. "It's fun pretending you're intellectual while intoxicated," he said. Two rooms leave a lot of space to move around and socialize, although during certain weekdays and on slower nights it can leave the establishment looking bare. The crowd is random, and it's anyone's guess what type of clientele the Skellig will attract on a given night.Iguana Cantina313 Moody StreetThis Mexican restaurant draws a drinking crowd on nights with a full bar and an extensive specialty drink menu offering modestly priced, strong and tasty drinks. Iguana Cantina also offers a few drinks meant for two which cost about $12 for a massive bowl of alcoholic fun. One fun promotion is free tacos on Thursdays from 10:15 p.m to midnight, which frequently lures students in the fine college tradition of always coming out for free food. Although the tacos themselves leave a little something to be desired, the hope is that by close to midnight no one will care. The bar at Iguana Cantina is very small, but a small crowd makes it appear full and lively. Watch City Brewing Company256 Moody StreetWatch City is rarely patronized by students, but for beer lovers it offers the best brew around. A full restaurant by day, the bar is sparsely populated at night but is a perfect place to grab a drink or two in a quiet, low-key atmosphere. They brew their own beer in the restaurant and offer five flagship choices such as Moody Street Stout and Tick-Tock Ale, in addition to seasonal brews. Descriptions of the different beers are available at the bar, and the bartenders are happy to provide guidance. "I like the beer a lot," said Greg Sasso '05. "I'm going to buy some to bring home." Watch City sells sampler packs as well as large jugs of your choice brew called growlers. Other Waltham bars or pubs in the immediate area that draw students from time to time are John Brewers Tavern at 39 Main Street, Dos Amigos at 139 Felton Street and Shoppers at 725 Moody Street.Overall, Waltham bars are pretty standard, although generally described as "sketchy" or "lame." While indeed there is no dancing, no trendy or upscale establishment and nothing particularly unique, the drinks are of high quality and priced well almost across the board. "Although I usually drink in Boston...Waltham is definitely cheaper," said Diana Yarmovich '05. And while Waltham bars may seem at times unremarkable, they can provide a forum to chat with friends or maybe even the chance to meet someone new. In general, a patron looking for some fun and alcohol in Waltham will find him or herself in an occasionally awkward, yet always amusing, mix of students and Waltham residents, with weekends drawing an almost entirely older crowd as students remain on campus or flee to Beantown. In a college town, students want to go somewhere crowded, upbeat and lively, so drawing a young crowd is a vital, yet difficult, task. "Waltham bars need to cater more to the college students by having dancing," said Adam Goldstein '05. According to Snyder, special promotions aimed at college students are needed to make the bars more popular. "Things like one dollar shots, beer pong tournaments or wet T-shirt contests would definitely get more people to go out," he said.
(01/25/05 5:00am)
As a citizen of this country and a great believer in its values and purpose I love the first amendment. I love that it protects speech in any form, and I love that we hold this right more dear than any other. I applaud those who protect this right, whether here at home or abroad, and I applaud those that exercise it. What I cannot stomach, what bothers me to no end, and what makes me question the actions of my ideological opponents is when the "right to free speech" becomes the "right to free obnoxiousness." It occurred to me after watching my first college protest at Brandeis that not only was a loud, angry, and sometimes abusive use of free speech impolite, it was almost always ineffective. I have been for several months now a republican Capitol Hill staffer (which believe me was no easy picnic at Brandeis.) At the inauguration I had what were probably the best seats one could have without being related to or best friends with a Congressman. I could see W pretty clearly and certainly hear him well. As CJ Rehnquist began administering the oath, 3 people stood up from about 10 feet from me and started screaming "NOT OUR WAR, YOU ARE A CRIMINAL, BRING THE TROOPS HOME" so loud that we missed the entire oath. Now I had been sitting out for 4 hours in the cold at that point pretty much just to witness that, and I missed it. When does it become right that free speech interrupts my freedom to enjoy a historic moment. Why must it be that way, why must some people ruin a good moment for everyone else?I do not pretend to think that we should legislate against some kinds of free speech. This would be wrong. But in the fight for a political voice we must begin to show some restraint. Partisan politics in Congress is not nearly as bad today as partisan politics on the street. The first step that would go a long way to repairing the rift in this country is to start practicing respect. You want to protest the war? Please, I applaud your effort. But don't take away me right to show support to a person I look up to. Don't take away my right to watch what I believe to be a piece of history.Ari Stein '04
(01/18/05 5:00am)
The Humanities Council wrote a letter of recommendation to the administration during the break about Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe's strategic planning analyses and proposals, saying that some of his ideas would be beneficial while others "extremely harmful" to the university.In the letter, the council writes that it is "delighted that the dean is undertaking a systematic review of the arts and sciences as part of the University's integrated plan." The council also states that they are supportive of leaves for junior and contract faculty and appreciative of efforts for more competitive stipends for graduate students.But the letter expresses apprehension that Jaffe's proposals may harm the core of a liberal arts education.The council acts as the oversight body for the humanities at Brandeis, approving courses in the humanities by considering syllabi and the purposes of instruction. The letter argues that multiple cuts in Near Eastern Judaic Studies would "either close down or very adversely affect a strong graduate area," and that the creation of additional tenure-track positions in other departments should not hinder the availablity of foreign language faculty."I believe that the Humanities Council statement is a constructive contribution to the ongoing discussions," Jaffe said in an e-mail to the Justice. He could not be reached for further commentProvost Marty Krauss said that while she does not wish to comment on the letter at this time, she does not expect complete agreement from the community in regards to the dean's proposals. She also said that it is "healthy" for the community to scrutinize the issues. "I don't want to be naive about the pain and the upsetedness that a lot of the faculty members very legitimately and understandably feel," Krauss said. "I mean, I'm not underestimating that at all and I would feel the same way if my program was on the block."The letter states that "some savings might accrue by reconsidering the USEM requirements" and that Prof. Richard Lansing's (ROCL) proposal on reforming the program deserves serious discussion (see related article, this page).The elimination of the teaching of ancient Greek would make Brandeis "anomalous among our peers," the letter argues. According to Prof. Ann Koloski-Ostrow, chair of classical studies, every major university with a classical studies department offers this language because of its importance to understanding and appreciating large amounts of scholarly material.Koloski-Ostrow said that her colleagues felt the retention of ancient Greek was the most important aspect of the letter, and that she was delighted by the act of support."This was not because I wanted it, but because my colleagues wanted it," Koloski-Ostrow said of the council making the teaching of ancient Greek a priority in the letter.Prof. Leonard Muellner, who teaches ancient Greek and has taught at Brandeis since 1970, said that he continues to be thankful for those inside and outside of the community who offer him and the department their support. He said that he is also pleased with how the Faculty Review Committee for the arts and sciences portion of the Integrated Plan are conducting their duties.But Muellner is still worried."We will see what happens," he said. "I would like to be fully confident. I think I've tried as vigorously and in as many ways as possible to [retain] the teaching of ancient Greek."Provost Marty Krauss said she created the committee in collaboration with the faculty senate to review Jaffe's proposals for the arts and sciences. The report is expected to be submitted by Feb. 15 and will be posted on University President Jehuda Reinharz's Integrated Planning Web site. (See related story, this page).Many students and professors questioned the dean's proposals about the elimination of teaching ancient Greek, linguistics and the graduate program in music composition during a forum on Dec. 9 in which faculty and students gathered in the Levin Ballroom,"It's vitally important that students at Brandeis have the opportunity to be prepared the best they can in their fields of concentration and I was wondering how you would respond to this if ancient Greek was not taught in classical studies," one student said.Jaffe said he had no direct response to this question at the forum. But he later said that he respects that people are willing to share their feelings and that he wanted to assure the audience that he is "listening very carefully."
(01/18/05 5:00am)
David Elwell, the director of the International Students and Scholars Office, said that according to available information, none of the 86 Brandeis students from South Asia were directly impacted by the deadly earthquake and ensuing tsunami that struck Dec. 26 and claimed the lives of at least 175,000 people.Since the disaster occurred during break, Elwell said that it was incredibly difficult for his staff not to hear from students who live near the affected areas."We are still trying to figure out the impact on the community, both direct, with effects on their own lives and families, or indirect, with impact on their friends and countries of origin," Elwell said. "For us, it's indicative that we really are a global community at Brandeis."According to a CNN report, the lethal waves devastated 12 countries in South Asia, most severely of which were Indonesia with casualties mounting to approximately 115,000 by some counts. The Sri Lankan death toll is around 30,000.Elwell said that most of the students from the region come from central and northern India, which is far from the affected areas.According to Director of Student Life Alwina Bennett, no students postponed their arrival time to campus. But she said that the administration is "respecting the privacy of those profoundly affected and are not releasing information about individual students, alumni or their families at this time."Jackie Suckhontarut '07, a native of Thailand, was in Bangkok when the event occurred. He was not affected because the tsunami was limited to the southern portion of the country."I went back [to Thailand] to visit my family and we planned to go down to the islands that were affected but luckily we didn't go down," he said.Since the disaster, Suckhontarut has been helping with donation management in Thailand.Jin Kim '07, who lived in Thailand for 10 years, said that he was shocked by the magnitude of the disaster. Like Suckhontarut, his plans to travel to the country were canceled just before the earthquake."I don't have friends who passed away but some of my friends stayed on top of the mountain on Phi Phi Island where they saw it with their own eyes, but were not affected by it," Kim said.Kim said that his friend's father was directly impacted by the tsunami, so he is currently donating money, clothing and food to help his friend's family.The University held a vigil on Jan. 14 in the Carl J. Shapiro Theater which around 50 people attended. The service was comprised of speeches from members of the Brandeis community, including University President Jehuda Reinharz and Elwell. Several departments and student groups are currently organizing fundraising campaigns and events to promote awareness about the tsunami and relief efforts.Vanita Neelakanta, president of the Graduate Student Association, was among several people who spoke at the vigil last Friday. She was in India when the tsunami struck."I was in South India at the time, celebrating Christmas with my family," Neelakanta said. "We felt the tremor, but it was mild and we thought little of it until we turned on our television sets a few hours later and saw the face of death. We were the lucky ones. It was only on a screen."Milanga Abeysuriya, a graduate student at the Heller School, is originally from Sri Lanka. She was in the United States when the tsunami occurred. "I was not physically affected by what happened but I have family who live in Sri Lanka and they were not directly affected by the tsunami," she said. "But I think anybody from Sri Lanka has been impacted-either directly or indirectly-by what happened," Abeysuriya said.There will be an event held in the Heller School on Jan. 18. Members of the community are invited to discuss different points of view and specific American response to the tragedy.The Intercultural Center will hold a tsunami relief effort program with a forum on Jan. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium and an open meeting on Jan. 21 to discuss plans to help raise money and unify the community."I look forward to working with other administrators, staff, faculty and students to explore ideas on how to meaningfully contribute to Tsunami Relief," Talukdar said. "I am thankful that, as far as I know, there are no students who have been directly impacted by this tragedy.
(01/18/05 5:00am)
Brandeis' new and, according to many, improved Web site debuted on Dec. 17.Senior Vice President of Communications Lorna Whalen said that the initial decision to redesign the site was made in response to a vast number of unsolicited requests for such a project received since coming to Brandeis just over a year ago.Whalen described the prior home page's lifespan of four years as "a long time in today's world."According to Whalen, the bulk of the complaints she received about the old Web site were targeted at difficulties in page navigation and trouble searching for information. "We found repeatedly that the old design could not accommodate multiple news stories in a way that was dramatic or easy to navigate," Whalen said.The new Web site was designed at Brandeis and is the culmination of 10 months of comparative research, discussion and design revisions. The concepts and specific graphics were considered by a committee of students and professors. In an e-mail to the University sent on Dec. 17, Whalen explained the redesign process. "The group studied the latest trends and patterns in website design and met almost every week for several months to discuss their findings," the e-mail read. Whalen said that the contributions of Dave Wisniewski and Zack Shaw from the Office of Communications as well as Danny Silverman '06 were especially important in the implementation of the redesign. Whalen said it was important for the new Web site to be able to highlight the achievements of alumni and to attract prospective students."When Brandeis grad Rod MacKinnon received the Nobel Prize, we wanted to shout it from the rooftops on the home page, but the old design would not allow it," Whalen said.Whalen said that the activities page is designed to give visitors more information on what is happening at Brandeis during any given week. An online forum for comments on the site's redesign, available at my.brandeis.edu, was launched the same day as the Web page. According to Whalen, this forum has generated a great deal of feedback and constructive criticism. Some students, though, aren't happy with the redesign."The problem is that the site is way too functional." Alexander Toplansky '07 said. "There is no attempt to capitalize on Brandeis' aesthetic potential, like the castle and the view from Rabb steps...our sense of community." Other students are bothered by basic aesthetic elements, like the color scheme.Barri Yanowitz '06 said there is an "80s feel to the startling disjointed styles used throughout the page...none of which are really pleasing, slick, or easy to use."But Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs and First Year Services Michele Rosenthal said the Web site is aesthetically much more pleasing and will be developed with further community input. "I see the new page as a wonderful beginning-easier to navigate, more accessible, and no more black or dark home page.
(12/07/04 5:00am)
While the building's exterior appears drab, a cursory glance indoors suggests the incredible diversity of the people who meet there. A colorful world map delineating each of the countries adorns the back wall, posted behind a seemingly out-of-place piano. Seating areas are scattered throughout the room, with brochures about scholarship opportunities and introductions to Asian cultures strewn all over the tables. Though the building blends seamlessly next to its red-brick neighbor of East Quad, the Intercultural Center is actually Brandeis' locus for cultural collision.Created in 1992, the ICC serves as a bridge between Brandeis students and various cultures. The ICC's essence is its 14 clubs and organizations, each with its own cultural, political and social goals and ideals. "Not a lot of people have a chance to see what the ICC is about-it's not only for minorities," said Brandon Luk '06, co-chair of the Student Programming Board It's an open place for people to hang out and learn about different cultures and ideologies. It's not limited by skin color."The South Asian Student Association (SASA)SASA co-president Arnab Mukherkee '06 said that their role on campus is to provide a place for south Asian students to meet and mingle.SASA's main event is its annual cultural show MELA, held every November. The show places the limelight on SASA, allowing the group to educate its audience about Asian customs, including traditional dances and songs.SASA also works to attract attention toward political issues occurring throughout the seven country that make up Southeast Asia, such as religious conflicts within the region and women's rights in Pakistan. Mukherjee said onlookers have viewed the organization as acting as its own entity within the ICC, so they want to work with and increase their involvement with other clubs. They will also be working on intercollegiate activities in the spring. SASA also looks forward to celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage month, a joint effort by all of the ICC's Asian clubs. This event is similar to Black History and Hispanic Heritage months. Brandeis Asian American Student Association (BAASA)According to Janet Kim '06, president of BAASA, this group attempts to "create a sense of family for the Asian-American community and further promote Asian-American awareness on campus through social or political means."In order to achieve their goal, Kim said, BAASA addresses issues like the Asian-American model minority myth and the lack of Asian-Americans in U.S. politics. Through discussions and forums, BAASA promotes an active dialogue surrounding these issues. Kim said that BAASA focuses on the American aspect of the ICC's other Asian groups, embracing student diversity while also encouraging "unity and solidarity"."We try to define what 'Asian-American' means to us, to define our identity," Kim said.Students for a Free Tibet (SFT)Both a political and cultural organization, SFT performs three major tasks: raising awareness on the political state of Tibet, working toward inciting change for Tibet and introducing Tibetan culture to Brandeis, club president Len Pader '05 said. Through films, forums and discussions, SFT informs the Brandeis community about Tibet's political situation and the religious persecution throughout the country. To encourage change, SFT writes petitions to private American corporations, the Chinese government and human rights organizations urging them to stay aware of Tibetan issues. "Freeing Tibet is a very daunting task that's hard to accomplish on a large scale, so we focus on a smaller scale," Pader said. Culturally, SFT offers events like Tibetan poetry readings, discussions on Tibetan Buddhism, and Tibetan dancers. The club also looks forward to introducing a group of Tibetan nuns to campus in March. The South East Asia Club (SEAC)As SEAC president Jackie Sukhontarug '07 explained, this smaller club is a merger of the former Vietnamese and Cambodian clubs. "Our purpose is to promote and increase awareness of South East Asian culture, which is very diverse, through celebration and education," Sukhontarug said. SEAC instructs people about well-known South Asian countries like Vietnam and Thailand, as well as lesser-known regions such as Burma and Brunei. The club's most anticipated event is SEAC week, held the last week of January. It includes instruction about the colonization of Asia and the internal issues and culture clashes faced within its nations. The Brandeis Black Student Organization (BBSO)According to co-president Kyle Turner '06, BBSO, brings black American culture to Brandeis. This includes the cultures of both Africa and western India.Two of BBSO's main events are its Kwanzaa celebration in December and Black History month in February, which involve active participation by both members and non-members. BBSO also hosts black American speakers and promotes discussion on black culture."We have had speakers in the past. We try to be as creative as possible with our events so that people are constantly learning new things about black culture," Turner said.According to Turner, their goal for this year is to incorporate more of the Brandeis community into BBSO activities, whether or not they identify with black culture. "The more people we have, the better we can achieve the educational goals we aspire to," Turner said.Editor's Note: Kyle Turner is an arts writer for the Justice.The International Club (I-Club)"We try to unite international and American students and provide a place where they can talk and ask questions," said co-President Katie Zelenka '05. The I-Club's past events include "International days," like this semester's African day that highlighted African speakers and dancers. Other past events include wine and cheese tastings, cultural films and dances."The Purpose of the I-club is to raise awareness of the world's different cultures, whether [they] be Latin, Asian, European or African," said Mara Minski '06 the co-president. "We don't have a lot of members in our club, but people learn a lot from our events."I-Club's most widely-known event is Pachanga, a popular all-school dance featuring international music. Minski added that organizing I-Club events sometimes proves difficult because of the club's broad scope. "It's hard because we cover such a broad community," she said. "We're the club that covers all the others together, and it's difficult to do [that] effectively."The Hispanic and Latino Student Association (Ahora!)Because Latin America is such a large and diverse region, Ahora! is responsible for a large subject area. "We try to shed light on a lot of [Latin America's] different customs," said co-President Claudia Martinez '07.Ahora!'s biggest events are held in September and October, which is acknowledged as Hispanic Heritage Month. The club holds different events every year during this time, from dancing shows to cooking lessons on arroz con pollo-a rice and chicken dish.The theme of this year's Hispanic Heritage Month was "Making History: Ahora, MaSana y Siempre (Now, Tomorrow and Always)." "To us, this theme conveys ideas of diversity already present within the Latino culture," said co-president Jasmin Salcedo. "[This includes] the status of our Latino culture now, the positive changes we hope to see for tomorrow and empowering our youth for the future." Salcedo said that Ahora! will continue to foster Latino awareness on campus, but especially focus on social issues facing the Latino community as they grow into the largest minority group in America.The Korean Student Association (KSA)" KSA's goal is to promote a better understanding [of] Korean and Korean-American culture, history, language, social concerns," said vice president Yein Lee '05 said.KSA's paths to this goal focus on urging and facilitating discussions facing the South Korean and Korean-American communities. These range from sexuality and image to conflicts within North Korea and between Korea and Japan. The KSA also encourages discussion of life as a Korean-American. They also hold an annual culture show to represent Korean culture at Brandeis.Brandeis Chinese Cultural Connection (BC3)Stacey Chan '06, a co-president, said that BC3 originally began as a literary club and has since expanded to educate the Brandeis community about Chinese culture. This semester's events have included a dumpling night with the culinary arts club and a celebration of the Chinese moon festival. "We want to create political awareness of the Chinese-American experience," Chan said. "While our main focus is cultural awareness, we also try to address political issues since they are a part of culture," Chan said. "We see importance in finding our Chinese roots or identity. Whether we live in China or America, we share common roots that go back in history."Students Organized Against Racism (SOAR)In the past, SOAR has held forums or meetings addressing topics related to racism. Now, in an effort to increase membership, SOAR is modifying the program. New workshops will bring in facilitators from off campus who will initiate dialogue about racism."We're not just dealing with the white race as the oppressors," co-president Ashley Hill '06 said. "We will address the fact that every group is potentially racist."SOAR's workshops attempt to show Brandeis students about racism in the working world, as well as serve as a forum for discussion on mitigating racial discrimination on campus.The Caribbean ConneXion (CC)The Caribbean ConneXion explores the social, political and cultural customs of the Caribbean region."Because of the [large number of] resulting cultural interactions, we have to try hard to portray all different aspects of the culture," co-president Genielle Salazar '05 said.A typical CC get-together features discussions over matches of dominoes, a popular game in the Caribbean region.CC members host several fundraisers throughout the year, and donate proceeds to non-profit organizations based in the Caribbean region, East Africa and West Africa. This year, the CC donated profits from their fall dance to the island of Grenada, which was devastated by hurricane Ivan in September. The CC is also promoting a Grenada spring break trip for students interested in helping to restore its infrastructure. Additional annual CC fundraisers include live reggae and salsa concerts as well as dance parties. Other activities planned by the CC include film screenings, which will be featured alongside dancing, art and theater productions in this April's Caribbean week. The Japanese Student Association (JSA) Ryushi Shinagawa '07 called the JSA "an introduction to the true Japan." Shinagawa said that Japanese and American cultures are more similar than most people realize. He believes that Japanese culture is misrepresented in America, and aims to introduce its accurate form to the Brandeis campus. According to Shinagawa, despite the club's low membership, it remains dedicated to introducing students to Japanese culture. Their favorite medium is Japanese films. Shinagawa said that more widely viewed American films poorly depict Japanese society. Japanese films offer a more truthful representation and contribute greatly to cultural awareness.Next semester, the JSA will host a dinner of "shabu shabu," a common Japanese dish of various meats and vegetables cooked in hot broth. Each diner will choose their preferred ingredients to boil a personalized concoction.The Taiwanese American Student Association (TASA)TASA concentrates on introducing Taiwanese food, which Shinagawa said differs from that of other Asian countries. They present foods unique to Taiwanese cooking such as port fish. TASA's fall event celebrated the Taiwanese Moon Festival. They gathered in celebration of the annual harvest moon, the largest and brightest of the year. They prepared and shared moon cakes-round pastries filled with treats like bean paste, nuts and dried fruit. TASA also runs films that introduce the daily life of Taiwanese citizens.The Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA)The CSSA exists for the benefit of Chinese graduate students and alumni, but focuses on current Brandeis students. According to doctoral student and CSSA president Zhipeng Yan, its objective is to make life in the United States easier and happier for its members. The club organizes activities for CSSA students to meet one another and to promote their joint outreach to other parts of the Brandeis community. They aid the transition for new international students through various means, such as transportation from the airport and to the grocery store. Activities organized by the CSSA include various team sport activities, such as hiking trips or tennis matches, as well as parties to celebrate Chinese holidays.The ICC's members exert effort and time to promote acceptance on the Brandeis campus. With its eclectic mix of cultures, the ICC ushers in and embraces the diversity of the world outside of Brandeis. Through candid discussion and the co-hosting of events, the individual clubs espouse each culture's uniqueness while allowing comparison and fusion with others.
(12/07/04 5:00am)
We applaud the birth of Lies magazine and hope the publication will fill a needed niche of edgy, stimulating media at Brandeis. However, we must note that the Lies editors tainted their debut by including an article titled "The Lies Guide to Banging Sorority Girls." Assuming more discretion in the future, we are glad the Union senate did not follow through with their threat to de-charter the magazine, and we look forward to seeing what Lies can produce. There is a dearth of general interest magazines on this campus, and those that do exist publish too erratically. In their opening note, the Lies editors pledged to provide a "music based forum on cultural critique," a broad territory that includes comments on college life in general. This is what people want to read.Still, we must not ignore the contentious sorority article, which pushed the limits just a bit too far. There is a delicate line between writing that is clever or thought-provoking and writing that is downright offensive. This article described various ways that college boys could get sorority girls in bed. Admittedly, the piece was meant in jest, but the attempt at satire failed. Too few people found the article funny. Despite this article's nature, we are relieved that the senate ultimately decided not to de-charter the magazine. This would have been rash and unconstructive. A new organization is bound to make mistakes as it gets off the ground. Last year at Harvard, two students battled for months to launch a magazine called H Bomb that would contain nude photography. They eventually succeeded, and the magazine is a tasteful collection of portraits and ruminations on sex, drugs, the body, and life. Though Brandeis approval for nudity might be a long shot, we do need something in this vein on campus.Lies currently stands alone as the only incisive, witty publication on campus. We hope it fine-tunes the art of satire before trying this genre again. Otherwise, we are eager to read future issues, and hope they will inspire existing publications to shape up or even perhaps lead new publications to be developed.
(12/07/04 5:00am)
Last Tuesday, Miri Eisin, a spokeswoman for the Israeli government and a former intelligence agent for the Israel Defense Force, addressed the Brandeis campus on issues surrounding the Middle East after the death of Yasser Arafat.The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, Brandeis-Israel Public Affairs Committee, Zionists for Historical Veracity and the Middle East Forum at Brandeis sponsored the event.Eisin discussed the political results of the death of Palestinian Authority leader and Palestine Liberation Organization chair Yasser Arafat. She said that Arafat's death may prove less significant than some believe in aiding the peace process.The crux of the problem, Eisin said, lies in "the issue of mutual recognition"-each state must acknowledge the other's right to exist.Eisin moved to Israel from her birthplace of California at the age of eight. She began a military career in her late teens, serving in various posts within the army.As a colonel in the IDF, she served as an army spokesperson and was valued for her fluid, accent-free speech in both Hebrew and English. At the pinnacle of her career, she served as official spokeswoman of the Israeli government during Operation Defense Shield, a 2002 military effort intended to destroy Palestinian terrorist strongholds.According to Eisin, the Israeli and Palestinian views of Arafat's death and its implications are diametrically opposed.She said that while Arafat's death gave Israeli's hope for peace, Palestinians still deeply mourn his loss. She said that Palestinians view him as a "deity" whose footsteps are impossible to fill. "While Arafat represented many different Palestinian factions, from left to right, all the other candidates for the upcoming election represent more specific political groups," Eisin said.As a result, according to Eisin, Palestinians are "apprehensive" rather than "excited" about their upcoming presidential elections. She said the country wonders who would replace the leader who so aptly represented their fractious nation.
(11/23/04 5:00am)
The senate recognized the Linguistics Society of Brandeis, a chapter of the Linguistics Society of America. According to their approved constitution, their purpose is to promote the fields of Linguistics and Cognitive Science through activities such as lectures by students and prominent experts, films, and games.The Anti-War Coalition asked the senate for permission to change its name to Students for Peace. They also wished to change their objectives. The senate approved the request.The senate chartered the Hindu Students Council. The club hopes to provide educational opportunities for all students, as well as cultural events for Hindu celebrations and prayer.The Middle East Forum at Brandeis requested $800 to help pay for an honorarium for Soner Cagaptay, the Director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy , which the senate approved. He will speak on Nov. 29 at Brandeis.The senate granted an amended total of $347.40 to the Women's Ultimate Frisbee team for a tournament they attended in mid-November.The senate tabled a money request that would help fund Modfest, now set for Dec. 10.The senate tabled a money request from Students Talking About Relationships.The Brandeis Chinese Cultural Connection requested $630 for unforeseen expenses incurred at the MELA after-party on Nov. 20. The senate encouraged the group to seek additional sources of funding before returning.The senate tabled a money request for $4,000 by the Volunteer Vacations club for their planned "alternative spring break" trip to Harrisburg, Pa. with Habitat for Humanity to build houses for low-income families.-Compiled by Joshua Adland
(11/23/04 5:00am)
Poetry readings are largely hit-and-miss affairs; some of the classic great poets have proved to be the worst readers of poetry. E.E. Cummings mumbled and spoke as slowly as possible, leaving large gaps between individual words and sentences. Robert Pinsky, on the other hand, has the richest, most welcoming voice in poetry today, and he speaks often, too. The popular recent forum for poetry readings, the poetry slam, seeks to change the sporadic nature of poetry readings by emphasizing the musicality and sound of the words. Overall, poetry slams have brought an excitement and enthusiasm that seems to often be lacking in poetry readings. However, it also has seemed to de-emphasize the importance of the poetry, creating poetry that is more immature and less substantive. It is a rare feat to find a poetry reading that caters to both sound and meaning.This past Wednesday, eminent American poet Robert Creeley read poetry that he composed in response to the paintings of artist Francesco Clemente, whose work is now being displayed at the Rose Art Museum. Although there were some sound difficulties with the choice of room and the large amount of people attending, Creeley did an excellent job of performing poetry with vast meaning while engaging the audience through a combination of his humor, geniality and warmth. It was not an intimate poetry reading, but it was a successful one.Creeley started the talk very humbly, relating some stories about his first coincidental encounters with Clemente in New York and Finland in the '80s. Creeley discussed his larger themes and ideas relating to the art, mainly that works are "places to be entered...places not just to respond to, but places to be." He noted that these were places that were "not distracted with description...hidden places." The main themes of his poetry revolved around space, the gaps between peoples, echoes and circles. He seemed very concerned with resonance as well and attempted to transfer his impressions of the paintings without stressing the imagery too much.The real charm in the reading was Creeley's careful voice. He picked apart lines without slowing up the natural rhythm of the words, and his voice had a sad, salty sound that was perpetually on the brink of some tortured truth. Creeley let his voice-scratchy and real-tremble at times, the quality of his age coming across proudly yet very particularly. He is able to mix and transpose the intellectual to the audience, regardless of their background. He seemed to be an approachable, human poet-a rare feat indeed. He often stopped abruptly in the middle of reading poems to elucidate what he just said, or explain his intentions when he wrote. Then he would read a poem all over again so the audience could appreciate it even more. It was in this off-handed presence that he seemed most comfortable. In this refreshing mutual appreciation and respect by poet and audience, a superior atmosphere was forged; everyone together was thinking about, pontificating on and trying to understand the wonderful paintings of Clemente.
(11/23/04 5:00am)
Recently, a surprising trend has developed among Republicans on this campus: a dire case of sore-winnerism. Republicans complain that Brandeis is "sorely lacking the most important kind of diversity, the diversity of ideas." In article after article, they denounce the "terrible manners and lack of character" of campus liberals, accusing them of tearing down posters, attacking Republican supporters and deliberately stopping their voices from being heard.For those of us who have been involved in political dialogue on campus this past semester, these claims come as a bit of a shock. After all, the same Republicans who urge "diversity" and a commitment to "character" in civic dialogue have time and again represented themselves in characteristically undignified ways. Before the election, vitriolic fliers with quotes from the vicious right wing pundit Ann Coulter were smeared all over campus, accusing John Kerry of-among other things--serving dishonorably in Vietnam and hating America. After Bush won, a new batch of posters went up, mocking Democrats for their losses and triumphantly congratulating President Bush on his "mandate from the people." They ignored the fact that 55 million Americans went to the polls on Election Day urging for change in our country's leadership.Sadly, not one single poster was put up actually addressing the fundamental issues in this campaign: the President's choice to take us to war in Iraq, an economy still in recession, millions of people continuing to lose needed healthcare and issues of concern to college students, such as the environment, women's rights, gay rights, civil liberties and the rising cost of higher education. In light of their scornful and partisan content, it is not surprising that the posters were poorly received by students on this campus. While the Brandeis Democrats certainly do not condone the destruction of other people's property and respect all forms of free speech on this campus, I believe it is not unfair to claim that the display of obnoxious, deliberatively inciting posters before the election and triumphant, demeaning posters after the election was won is not the best way to create a climate of respectful dialogue and exchange of ideas on campus. They do not promote the "diversity of ideas" Republicans claim to desire. One might even say that they are a gross display "terrible manners and lack of character."As a lifelong Democrat and strong believer in liberty and social justice, I am legitimately afraid for the future of our country now that all three branches are controlled by a single, conservative party. It goes against the transparency and accountability of American government, our checks and balances. Therefore, while I concede that the Republicans have legitimately won (this year), my sincere hope is that those now in power will realize that Democrats love this country, too. We Democrats want to see America's best interests defended. The best way to craft policies that will aid all of America's citizens is to appreciate our thoughts and concerns as well.But enough partisan rhetoric. The plain truth is that in the past semester, liberals on this campus have made many attempts to reach out to the Republicans. Most notably, the Democrats participated in the Senate-sponsored debate prior to the election which featured Republicans prominently; a Brandeis Israel Public Affair Committee event in which both sides were given equal opportunity to represent their views; on Brandeis TV, with programming that showed both sides of the political spectrum; and in the Justice, where opinions from both sides of the political spectrum were printed. Of course, Republicans are going to have a harder time here than they would at another school. This is the unfortunate result of attending a traditionally liberal school founded on liberal principles and composed largely of people with Democratic political leanings. However, Brandeis also prides itself on being an institution where anyone with an informed voice can make himself heard. Therefore, I encourage the Republicans to move past the "whining, moaning and screaming insults" for which they blast their fellow students, and instead join the Brandeis Democrats in working together in a spirit of bipartisanship to focus on what is the best course for our country and the world. One way we can begin accomplishing this goal is by making groups from across the political spectrum come together to create programming that allows for the expression and open debate of multiple points of view. Our upcoming event "What's Next? A Discussion of Bush's Second Term," a panel discussion the Democrats are holding on Dec. 1 with four Brandeis professors, is an opportunity for this type of open debate. We welcome the Republicans to encourage their members to show up, ready to engage in frank, respectful dialogue.However, I do not believe that a single event is enough to bridge the partisan divide on this campus. This is why I have been personally working on a proposal with the Student Union to create the Political Advocacy Forum-a group comprised of the club leaders from all the politically affiliated groups on campus-that can meet a few times a semester to work on programming reflective of the great diversity of opinion of this campus and create an open space where people who feel discouraged from voicing their opinions can speak out and be listened to in a dignified way. Editor's note: Adam Schwartzbaum '07 is vice president of the Brandeis Democrats.
(11/23/04 5:00am)
In its first issue published last week, Lies, a new student magazine, printed an article about members of sororities, which some readers found offensive toward women. The article, "The Lies Guide to Banging Sorority Girls," was written by Stephen Chang '06. According to Chang, a member of the Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) fraternity, the article was intended as a satire. "It was a satire article written for Lies magazine and it's clearly meant to be satire at which it succeeds," Chang said. "Clearly the tone of the article is satire and it's abundantly clear it is funny and not meant to be taken seriously."The most contentious section is titled, "Don't Respect Her!" It opens with, "The worst thing you can ever do with a sorority girl is show her any respect at all." The article continues describing how to treat sorority girls.Lena Katsnelson '05, a member of the sorority Delta Phi Epsilon, said that she was appalled upon reading the article, not only for its attack on sorority members but also its broader statement on women."I was in utter and complete shock," Katsnelson said. "Because I'm in a sorority, it caught my eye and I'm offended not as part of Greek life, but as a woman and by the slanderous remarks about women."ZBT member Eli Wolfhagen '05 said the incident reminded him of the "Mens' Room" incident on WBRS several years ago where a program ridiculed Asian women and the thought of the repetition of such an event amazed him."I'm sort of dismayed," Wolfhagen said. "I'm all for freedom of speech but you don't call a group of women sluts and you don't represent a group of guys as just wanting to get laid and mistreating women. There was no point to this article and that's my take, even if it was in jest."The fraternity released a statement last night stating that Chang's opinions do not represent those of his fraternity. Chang was also placed under a "brotherhood review" last night - a process that will determine the appropriate action to take based on his merits as a member of the organization."ZBT sincerely apologizes to those who, like us, were offended by the statements of Mr. Chang and does not endorse the statements of this horrendous article," the statement read. "We are dismayed that these misogynistic statements, as well as a gross misrepresentation of the Brandeis University Greek Life system, have found haven in a student publication at Brandeis."Zach Reff '05, an editor-in-chief of Lies, said that when they selected the article, the editors were aware of its controversial content. They printed it because, according to Reff, it was important for the magazine to be the only publication that would print material other publications would not. (Reff is a staff writer for the Justice.)"I think people have every right to be offended by what we've printed but I also think we've every right to print such an article," Reff said. Assistant Dean of Student Life Alwina Bennett said she was shocked by the material printed in the publication and said that humor, especially when dealing with issues of gender and race, is a very sensitive and subjective issue."I think it's difficult to write humor about offensive things," Bennett said. "I don't think it's a matter of being politically correct but that satire is written based on how the audience responds to it and so [Chang] misjudged his audience." Bennett also said that such material as racial and gender-related humor would involve a community-wide discussion to resolve it.Katsnelson, who is also off-campus senator, raised the issue during the open forum part of the last weeks Union senate meeting. She said that this article was only one indication of the publication's "misogynistic" content.According to Katsnelson, the cover and several photographs in the issue portray women in a negative light. She cited the cover image with a woman with her eyes censored sitting on a subway with exposed legs and the inside picture of a woman behind bars.Another problem Katsnelson found with the magazine was printing unattributed photographs on the pages containing the disputed article, which she said were taken from Victoria's Secret advertisements.Jen Goldberg '05, Lies' other editor-in-chief, said that the article's aim was not to mock sororities or women, but rather college misconceptions. (Goldberg is also a staff writer for the Justice.)"When I read the piece, I saw it as laughing at men and the preconceived notions that people come into college with, the idea like in Animal House and Revenge of the Nerds," Goldberg said. "I'm a little surprised that the people are so outraged. I read it. I thought it was funny. I see it as satirizing through hyperbole instruction magazines such as Cosmo, Maxim, FHM and the fact that that is accepted in our culture, this piece uses the medium in the same form to satirize that."Dilip Sidhu '05, senator for the Foster Mods, said a major issue for the Union is its affiliation with the magazine because of the senate-controlled money that funds it.Katsnelson said that though the senate has not yet determined a formal response to the article, at this point those offended would like to see recognition that their feelings were hurt.She said that should the senate consider de-chartering Lies, it would most probably occur on broader critiques of the magazine.
(11/16/04 5:00am)
The senate heard monetary requests this week from the Zionists for Historical Veracity (ZaHaV), Brandeis Chinese Cultural Connection (BCCC), the Middle East Forum at Brandeis (MEFAB) and the Women's Ultimate Frisbee club.ZaHaV requested money to purchase bracelets with names of victims of terror to sell to students. The profits would go towards an unspecified charity. Their request was tabled. BCCC's request was not heard because of lack of approval to be heard. They needed security for their event and Finance Board would not fund it. MEFAB requested $850 retroactively for the event they held last week. Because the organization is not chartered, they did not go to Finance Board. Their request was tabled.The Women's Ultimate Frisbee club requested funding for their trip back from a tournament. They requested $500 from the Senate. Their request was tabled.Class of 2007 Senator Albert Cahn was confirmed as senate parliamentarian, a position designed to follow up on constitution, by-law and rules of order updates.Class of 2007 Senator Jennifer Feinberg was confirmed as the senate's Club Resource Coordinator.-Compiled by Jacob Olidort
(11/16/04 5:00am)
Brandeis is very picky about the minorities it chooses to protect. Last year, when an article in the Justice alluded to a racial epithet there was uproar; forums were held and the incident even made it to local news. This is not in any way to excuse the near-use of the racial slur, but rather to demonstrate the great care that the Brandeis community took to act against a certain type of discrimination. However, over the past few weeks much discrimination has been shown to a different minority on the Brandeis campus; a minority that-although you cannot differentiate those who belong to it by the color of their skin or their ethnic background-is still very much present and very much worthy of the same respect and concern afforded to other minorities on campus. We are referring to Republicans.The campus newspaper, which is supposed to represent the views of the student body, is guilty of minimalizing the importance of some of those whom it purports to represent. Gracing the cover of the Justice the day following the election were two large photographs of students saddened by John Kerry's loss. But where were the equally important pictures of proud supporters of President Bush? After shifting your eyes downward, you might have found one at the bottom, in a picture a quarter of the size of the two photos of Kerry supporters. Why not grace the front page with two, equally prominent pictures-one of Democrats, and one of Republicans? Why aren't Republican smiles as important as Democratic tears? Why not emphasize that America's president has the respect of some Brandeis students? Why not show off Brandeis' diversity? Here's why. The Justice, representing the majority of the student body, is ashamed of having Republicans on campus, and therefore mocks and belittles them, as if to reassure the community that conservatives do not really matter. It wishes to show that the rest of the campus, while a minority in America, can be comfortable in its enclave of "free-thinking," thought-oppressing liberals. Think these grievances are exaggerated?Consider the following sampling of recent incidents of hate and discrimination against Republicans at this campus, that would have stirred great controversy if conducted against most other groups considered to be a minority :n The day after the election, while sitting in a crowded room in the Shapiro campus center and wearing a Students for Bush T-Shirt as a way to demonstrate pride in her President and happiness at the results of the election, Rebecca was told loudly by another student, whom she did not know, that because she has conservative views she should have chosen a different school-people like her do not belong on a liberal campus. A while after Rebecca's pointed and biting response to the comments, the student returned to apologize for having behaved in such a way, which is much appreciated. However, the point is that because that student is surrounded by a security blanket of like-minded students, it was not even a consideration that demeaning and ostracizing a conservative might not be appropriate. n Caring friends warned Rebecca that she was taking a risk by wearing that T-shirt. But why? Were Democratic students afraid of the consequences of wearing their Kerry T-shirts? The concern was appreciated, but submitting to fear of liberals is aiding and abetting them, and the fact that there was need for concern is indicative of the reign of liberal tyranny at Brandeis.n That same day, while wearing the Students for Bush shirt, Rebecca also found gum in her hair. Coincidence? We think not.n When carrying a Bush-Cheney sign, Aviva was given the finger by a student she does not know. When she asked why, the other student replied, "Look who you're voting for," and drove away. n The most horrifying of all are the stickers that were found throughout campus of a Ku Klux Klan member with a caption that read: "This is what a Republican Looks Like...Act to End Hate." That is incitement to riot against Republican students-it is hate literature and it was found in at least Usdan and the Shapiro Student Center.And yet, there is no uproar, there were no forums, no groups came together to condemn the discriminatory acts against fellow Brandeis community members. Rather, this is how the paper with the ironic title of "the Justice", which supposedly represents the Brandeis student body, reacted to Republicans: the "Unnatural Triple" cartoon was cut and replaced by a protest of Bush's re-election. Here is part of the message contained within the protest: "[conservatives'] political actions are dictated by religion. People are not voting on...foreign policy, but on taking away other people's rights." Our actions are not dictated by religion-one of our foremost concerns in this election was foreign policy-and we are horribly offended by the suggestion that our aim is to deny rights to others. The protest goes on to say "ignorance is swallowing up our freedom." Well yes, yes it is-the ignorance of what could potentially be some of the best and brightest students in this country keeps these students so consumed by their "liberal" ideals that they swallow up the freedom of those who have alternate views.The above is only a sampling of incidents from the past few weeks-imagine having had to deal with such intolerance and hypocrisy from professors and students alike for three years and still have more Brandeis open-mindedness to endure. We are outraged that this campus has not shown the same respect and care for a group that, although is not a minority outside the Brandeis bubble, certainly constitutes one within it. Perhaps it is time for Brandeis to reevaluate what it actually means to be liberal and progressive and take steps toward realizing true tolerance and acceptance.Editor's Note: Rebecca Langer '05 and Aviva Fink '07 are members of the Brandeis Republicans.
(11/16/04 5:00am)
Due to the volume of recent submissions and our ongoing effort to ensure fairness in the presentation of outside opinions in the Forum section, the editors have decided to change the submission policy. Letters to the EditorThe Justice continues to encourage letters to editor but will now only accept letters that address articles or other items that appear in the pages of this newspaper. Letter submissions are limited to 400 words and will be edited for space, in addition to style, grammar, spelling, libel and clarity.Op-Ed SubmissionsSubmissions of general interest to the University community-that do not refer explicitly to material printed in the Justice-should be between 600 and 800 words. Like any other opinion piece in the paper, they will be selected on the merit and relevancy of their argument and content, with no bias otherwise. If a submission is refused for publication one week, it will have to be re-submitted to be considered for the next issue. The deadline for all letters and op-ed submissions is Friday at 5 p.m. Submissions may be e-mailed to justforum@courier.brandeis.edu or mailed to MS 214 Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass. 02454, attention: Forum Editor.
(11/09/04 5:00am)
When John Kerry conceded the 2004 presidential election to George W. Bush on Wednesday morning, the mood on the overwhelmingly liberal Brandeis campus was one of anger, despair and disillusionment. Even many Red Sox fans had stopped smiling.The majority of Brandeis students had not simply favored electing John Kerry as the next president, but had assumed the coming of the apocalypse should Bush win another term. Kerry followers had been supremely confident that their fellow students would show up in record numbers to vote for Kerry and that domestic economic troubles and foreign unrest would be enough to boot Bush from office.None of these assumptions held true, however, and suddenly their deepest fears were realized."At first, I was just angry at the country," said Kat Gamer '06, a member of the Brandeis Democrats and Brandeis Students for Kerry."Bush hadn't proven himself in four years, so why should he get anotherchance?"After several days students said the anger had subsided, but it was followedby a sense of despair."I had always felt that no matter what happens, there's always something youcan do to fix it, but for the first time in my life I was hopeless," Gamersaid.For the campus minority-the Republicans-the mood was not so much one ofelation as it was relief."It was a relief that a competent, principled leader will remain in the WhiteHouse for four years," Jacob Baime '08, the vice president of the BrandeisRepublicans, said.On Tuesday night, while campus Democrats sat in shock as the map becamegradually redder, Brandeis Republicans saw their faith in President Bushvalidated."I expected President Bush to win because the American people trust him toprosecute the war on terrorism and keep America safe and that was thetranscendent issue of this election," Baime said.Despite their satisfaction with the outcome of the election, some Republicansfelt the national media's perceived liberal bias was obvious on Tuesday nightand that it put a damper on their celebration."I have to criticize the mainstream media for denying us a victory party onNov. 3," Baime said. "I was disappointed with CNN's reluctance to call statesfor Bush when he had clearly won."For many of the disappointed Democrats, much soul-searching has taken placeover the past week. Some students looking for answers attended a forum in theShapiro Atrium last night titled, "What Just Happened? Examining the 2004election."At the forum, Professors Jacob Cohen (AMST) and Richard Francis (POL) gavetheir opinions on the outcome of the election and its impact. Francis saidthat he had predicted that Kerry would win the election and even called itfor him last Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. But he believes that he was wrong forseveral reasons."Kerry failed the likeability test," Francis told the assembled students. "Hewas seen as patrician and aloof while trying to claim to represent the commonman."Cohen also predicted that Kerry would win the election, but cited numerousstatistics to explain why the senator failed to be elected. According toCohen, 51 percent of women, 53 percent of Latinos and 54 percent of votersaged 18 to 25 voted for Kerry. Cohen said he believes the major problem goesbeyond John Kerry's image, but extends to the image of liberals on the whole.Cohen told a story about Democrats who have threatened to throw themselvesunder Bush's car when it makes its way to his inauguration in January."These are not political people," Cohen said. "They are exhibitionistnarcissists who win votes for Bush. These people are religiousfundamentalists about the Democratic Party. Come on Democrats, be Democrats,not depressives," Cohen implored.Both Cohen and Francis spoke of the future of the Democratic Party as one ofrebuilding."There's nothing like a lover scorned," Cohen said. "What do the Democratsneed to do? I think they need to define themselves in a way John Kerrydidn't."While Democrats nationwide have a long road ahead, this election has taughtthe Democrats on campus that the oft-mentioned Brandeis bubble is truly notan accurate depiction of America."Because I have lived in Massachusetts my whole life and raised by veryliberal parents, coming out of the election, I feel I am very out of touchwith how America feels," Gamer said.
(11/02/04 5:00am)
It is a common mistake to believe that a young, active college student, such as yourself, is completely immune to health consequences and illness. I've heard students react to issues ranging from sleep deprivation to testicular cancer with a "that will never happen to me" attitude. However, these issues are likely to affect your friends, classmates, family and, believe it or not, you. It's important to be aware of the health concerns that affect our age group, and that's where we can H.E.L.P. you. H.E.L.P., or the Health Education Leadership Program, is a student organization that serves the Brandeis community by addressing college health issues, including alcohol and drug use, fitness, nutrition and stress and time management. We focus on the topics that are most relevant and beneficial to Brandeis students, for instance how to eat a balanced diet in the dining halls or how to cope with the pressure of finals. But H.E.L.P. isn't your average health education club (so put those thoughts of high school gym classes out of your mind). We put our own fun and original twist on the issues. Through our unique and interactive programs, we hope to make students think about the many facets of their wellness and take active steps toward a healthier, balanced lifestyle. A prime example is the Alternative Health Fair, which will be held on Nov. 4 in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the area will be filled with unusual sights and sounds: an acupuncturist meticulously inserting needles tipped with incense, the pounding rhythm of hand drums and students demonstrating the art of Tai Chi. This will be the third annual Alternative Health Fair, an event that introduces students to non-Western and unconventional approaches to wellness. As I attend this event each year, I am amazed by the wide array of diverse approaches to health and balance. I am always surprised to learn that diseases that I associated with strictly conventional medicine, such as asthma and diabetes, can be alleviated with acupuncture and herbal medicine.This event is not only a forum for education about alternative health, but also a rare opportunity to experience it firsthand. If you're feeling stressed or anxious (feelings all too familiar as midterms drag on), you can experiment with yoga, meditation, aromatherapy and other relaxation techniques. These approaches may have been completely unknown to you previously, and can now become healthy alternatives that you can implement in your daily life. Even if you don't have a specific health-related problem, the Alternative Health Fair can teach you techniques to optimize and maintain your physical, mental, and spiritual wellness. Featured guests will include Lillian Sober-Ain, Ph.D., a specialist in drumming for health and transformation, Gary Morrison, massage therapist, Dawn Skop, yoga and meditation instructor, and many more. Now that you know all about H.E.L.P. and its important mission, we'd love to have your H.E.L.P. (sorry the pun is too easy)! Our organization is striving to get our messages heard and increase our presence on campus. By joining H.E.L.P., you'll have the opportunity to voice your concerns about wellness on campus and use your creativity to design programs that will greatly benefit our community. Please join us at our meetings on Thursdays, from 8 to 9 p.m. in room 314 of the Shapiro Campus Center.
(10/19/04 4:00am)
The three religious chapels at Brandeis were built in a triangle so that no building's shadow would intrude on another's. In spite of this architectural gesture, many students here are saying Judaism that eclipses other faiths.Most attribute this to the sheer size of the Jewish community, which, according to a first-year survey, hovers at around 55 percent, but may be even larger.For non-Jewish students, this atmosphere takes some getting used to, but according to many, it ultimately provides a chance to re-evaluate personal connections to their own religions and beliefs. It's not easy, and at times, non-Jewish students do feel excluded. "People are really receptive about your being Catholic, but they're not as receptive to your being pro-life or pro-death penalty," said Jonathan Sham '06, an executive board member of the Catholic Students Organization (CSO). Growing up in Bible-Belt Texas, Sham was a Catholic in a highly Protestant area. Brandeis is just about at the opposite end of the spectrum, but Sham said he's found a way to use that to his advantage. "Part of being at college is defining yourself," he said. "Part of my definition is the CSO."The Rev. David Michael, Brandeis' Catholic chaplain, also spoke of this readjustment, and said it can be positive but certainly challenging. He noted a "sense of dislocation" for students accustomed to a Christian majority: the general issues that engage the campus are those that engage the Jewish community and the rhythm of life revolves around the Jewish holidays and Sabbath."The place feels very Jewish," he said. "Someone once said that there is a Jewish 'overlay' on campus. I call it a 'Jewish feel.' "Sham said the CSO has about 20 active members, and that 50 students attend Catholic Mass each week. He noted that about 11 percent of first-year students-400 individuals-say they are Catholic on the annual survey, but that fewer participate in religious events on campus.Michael said he does not think Catholic students leave Brandeis with a deep sense of connection to the University. Perhaps they feel connected to the CSO or to athletics, he said, but not to the school as a whole. He said this is reflected in the fact that the only building or room on campus named for a Catholic donor is the Charlie Napoli trophy room in Gosman. "I definitely don't take my faith for granted anymore," said Rebecca Collins '06, co-president of the Brandeis Christian Fellowship (BCF), the umbrella organization for Protestant students on campus. When a community is small, she said, "religion becomes such an important part of who you are."Brandeis was overwhelming in the beginning, she said, especially with the Jewish holidays that come right at the start of the school year. She recalled that her first year here, her dorm hall suddenly emptied for Rosh Hashanah, and the few girls who remained were dressed up and going to services. Kelley Collachi '06 also said that Brandeis was initially a shock. "At Brandeis, religion is an everyday part of people's lives," she said, noting that this was a major shift from her hometown of Londonderry, N.H. Collachi was confirmed as a Catholic and went to church every Sunday for 15 years, but said that during her senior year of high school, she started to move away from the religion. "I do not associate myself anymore with Catholicism or Christianity in general," she said.She still notices the Jewish atmosphere at Brandeis, but it is becoming more normal as she learns more about the holidays and their origins. She has attended services, went to her friends' break-fast celebration on Yom Kippur, and said she has even picked up "remedial conversational Hebrew" from hearing her friends speak to each other. "Judaism is definitely a bigger part of my life than any other religion," Collachi said. "I become so used to being ingrained in this kind of culture that when I go back [home], I almost feel out of place." She said that her discussions of Judaism have always been an open forum. "The [Jewish] presence is not so imposing that you get it no matter what," Ben Woodring '06 said, echoing Collachi's point. Woodring said he identifies as Roman Catholic, but that he is more religiously active at home in Pennsylvania, where family ties play a part, than he is at school. "What I've experienced at Brandeis is that no one else's choices and decisions will really influence yours unless you want them to," he said.He mentioned a trend that puzzles him. "Ninety-nine percent of people who I've heard complain about Brandeis being too Jewish are Jews themselves," he said. "I'm really confused about that kind of comment; I don't know how to react."Segregated religious groups?Students interviewed said that Jewish students do seem to group together, but mostly because there are more of them. As far as the reverse, non-Jewish students said their numbers are too small to stick to themselves. "For college students, religion almost isn't a factor when choosing who to hang out with," said Mehreen Rahthore '07, the interfaith, inter-club and intercollegiate representative of the Muslim Students Association (MSA). "On weekends, I don't hang out with just MSA students."The MSA provides a social and religious environment for Muslims on campus, including prayer, speakers and more relaxed events like movie nights. The other religious groups are similar, providing a range of religious, cultural and recreational events.Sham noted that two of the leaders of the CSO live together, but added, "If we were just friends with each other, we wouldn't have a ton of friends. The demography isn't set up so that we can just have a Catholic clique."The 'token' non-JewDespite general acceptance, non-Jews said they are sometimes singled out. "We could technically be considered diversity at Brandeis," Collins said.She said she's been asked to speak on behalf of all Christians, which is a big responsibility. "It's not fair that you end up being the token diversity in the group, the one in class that has to defend the history of the Crusades when you obviously weren't around during the Crusades and obviously can't explain it."Sham said his friends tease that he's the token Asian, Catholic, Texan and conservative. "It's only in joking, but it certainly sits at the back of your mind," he said.During the priesthood abuse scandal two years ago, people looked to him for answers, which made him uncomfortable.The same duty falls on Muslim students as well. "Being a Muslim at Brandeis has a lot of demands and assumptions and stereotypes," said Prof. Qumar-Ul Huda (NEJS), the MSA adviser. "Some Muslims feel the burden of defeating the stereotypes; they feel that's on their shoulders. But some Muslims don't feel that way-they have another cause."Either way, Huda said, the Muslim students he knows are very aware that they're a "minority in a predominantly Jewish university."Academic intimidationBrandeis is a leader in Near Eastern and Judaic studies, but those classes can be daunting to someone Jewish or non-Jewish without enough background in the subject. "I ended up having to drop a class," Collachi said. She attended the first two weeks of Ending Deadly Conflict, taught last fall by Ambassador Dennis Ross, and said that students asked Ross to skip ahead in the material. "It was just kind of assumed that everyone knew what Zionism was and where it came from. I honestly wanted to learn about those things, but I found myself not able to participate." She said she had the same experience in another class as well.Sharing the campusOverall, Brandeis students of different religions live peacefully together, but recognize that they could interact and mesh more smoothly."I haven't met anyone who is against me being a Muslim," said Taimur Dad '07, co-president of the MSA. He said that people hold stereotypes anywhere, but no more at Brandeis than elsewhere. He added that Brandeis students are quite informed about Islam compared to his high school peers."A lot of Jewish people feel that they're connected to Israel, and the Middle East, and so they're more open to learning about Islam," Rathore said. "[The Jewish majority] almost makes it better for us."As far as intra-group tensions go, students in the MSA, CSO and BCF all said that there are too few of them to be divisive. A group exists on campus specifically aimed to educate students about each other's religions: the Religious Pluralism and Spirituality (RPS) group. RPS treasurer Dara Klein '06 described the Sharing Our Faith series last year, where each religious group invited the campus community to one of their prayer services. She also mentioned the Winter Lights Festival, the multifaith Seder, and the "Tuesdays" series, where Brandeis professors speak about life lessons.The individual religious groups also hold open events. Islam Awareness Month begins this Thursday with the start of Ramadan, and will include speakers, as well as campus-wide and multifaith iftars, which are break-fast gatherings at the end of each day's Ramadan fasting.True religious pluralism, according to Klein, is a community "where a lot of different religions are not only present, but accepted ... where people not only know there are different religions, but are friends between the religions and understand their differences."This is a long process, she said, and it has yet to be "really achieved at Brandeis." She said non-Jews are often asked why they're at Brandeis, and "have to justify their position on campus." Indeed, Collachi said this is the first question she receives when people find out she isn't Jewish and attends Brandeis. "You don't have to actively be Jewish [at Brandeis]. But for other religions, you have to be more active," Klein said."We describe ourselves sort of jokingly as a small but vibrant community," Sham said. "Especially when you have spirituality-based groups like the CSO, God always plays a part in the planning. That really sort of gives us a sense of purpose, meaning and direction that is not given to other groups.
(10/19/04 4:00am)
You've heard our name, maybe chuckled and wondered what the Future Alumni of Brandeis, or FAB, actually do. At least once, you made the joke that FAB must be FAB-ulous. You probably came to the obvious conclusion that we're all future alumni of Brandeis and you probably wondered why, if we're only undergrads, we should care about being alumni. Well, I'm here to answer your questions.FAB is the student branch of the Alumni Association, a network of about 35,000 people who-since 1948-have has similar experiences as you at Brandeis. The creators of Friends, David Crane '79 and Marta Kauffman '78, loved the Cholmondeley's coffeehouse atmosphere enough to recreate it with Central Perk, and Emmy Award-winning actress Debra Messing '90 performed on stage at Spingold. Even not-so-famous alumni have left their mark. I remember talking to an alumnus who used to steal sandwiches from Sherman and sell them in the residence halls. But whether the alumni are famous or not, young or old, they were all our age at one time and did the same sorts of goofy things we do today. The Brandeis community extends beyond the peripheral road to all regions of the world, and they work in all types of professions. Even though alumni have established careers and families, they still hold a vested interest in Brandeis. They contribute time, money and energy into the development of the University. Although they no longer attend Brandeis, they still feel a certain bond to the school and with each other. They share their pride in Brandeis and use it as a way to connect to their past, leaving their day-to-day lives to remember the fun four years of young adulthood.Last weekend was Homecoming/Alumni Leadership Weekend, when alumni from around the country returned to their alma mater to attend meetings, listen to presentations, discuss the future of the University, laugh, smile and reminisce about how Massell Quad looks the same as it did 30 years ago. Even though this weekend is one of two scheduled times alumni visit campus, the connections and relationships never cease. The Office of Alumni Relations invited all of the alumni, while FAB was in charge of inviting all of the students, so they wouldn't miss out on this once-a-semester opportunity to bond with alumni. FAB ensures that alumni are constantly connected to Brandeis students. The only way for alumni to know what's really happening at Brandeis is to listen to the current students. Through various receptions, activities and parties, the dialogues can prosper. With alumni from around the world organized into chapters from various cities, students are able to serve as liaisons to these chapters. These liaisons are proud of their hometown, from north to south and coast to coast. They celebrate the unique characteristics of home by organizing events with and without alumni, providing a forum for students to be introduced to the alumni world. Having a good time is essential, too. Last year, for example, liaisons from Southern California, South Florida and Hawaii organized a Brandeis beach party, hoping to bring the sunshine and palm trees from back home to Waltham. And, just last week, students from New York gathered in the apple orchards, searching for the Big Apple.The legacy reception and Beyond Peripheral Road are other events FAB organizes to celebrate alumni and students. The legacy reception honors current students whose parents, grandparents or family members attended Brandeis, while the Beyond Peripheral Road prepares students for life after graduation. You may be surprised, but Brandeis' very own Ollie the Owl is managed by FAB, as well. A dedicated core of students sweat it out wearing the costume to provide all the spirit Brandeis fans need at sporting and special events.FAB has made great strides since it began just a few years ago. We have expanded our membership, organized committees with exceptional leaders and publicized our services to the best of our ability. There is still a long way to go. Our next step is to schedule events on campus with alumni speakers. We also want to expand our services to student clubs who want alumni participation, providing information and resources for contacting alumni. Even though we are not alumni just yet, it is a joy to mingle and work with these adults. The Office of Alumni Relations gives us incredibly strong support and the students involved give nothing but 100 percent. Join us in our growth because, soon enough, we're going to be looking back, wanting to be young again. Editor's Note: Matthew Closter '05 is the co-coordinator of FAB
