(05/19/13 4:00am)
In the sporting world, it's always more fun to root for the underdog. That's why last spring, on May 13, 2012, the majority of England's football neutrals celebrated when Manchester City-minutes away from losing the Premier League title to rivals Manchester United-scored two goals in stoppage time to snatch the title from their greatest foes, who were in pole position to win. However, City would find itself the favorite going into the F.A. Cup Final at London's Wembley Stadium on May 11. So when Wigan Athletic-which only entered professional competition in 1978 and boasts a budget of far less than the Blues-beat City on an added-time goal from midfielder Ben Watson to win the FA Cup, the Blues found the country seemingly celebrating a victory over them. Wigan coach Roberto Martinez was fully aware of the scale of the victory. "When you are a football club you dream of playing at Wembley, and today we saw the underdogs play with incredible bravery, incredible belief and they defied the odds again," he said. "That's the F.A. Cup." Though billed as the underdog, Wigan exerted control over the opening stages of the game. And it should have been ahead on nine minutes, when winger Callum McManaman cut in from the right wing and fired a shot toward the City goal with just Blues goalkeeper Joe Hart to beat. His effort flew wide of the post, though, and the Latics had spurned a glorious chance. City then had a chance of its own on 29 minutes, when striker Carlos Tevez sent an effort on goal from the top of the penalty box. Unfortuantely for Tevez, Latics goalkeeper Joel Robles somehow got his boot to the effort to make a miraculous save, which deflected the shot over the bar. McManaman continued to make his presence known, and would likely have scored if not for a flying block from City right back Pablo Zabaleta. Meanwhile, the Blues could only muster a 20-yard effort from midfielder Samir Nasri, as the teams went into the break scoreless. The game was turned on its head with less than 10 minutes to go. With McManaman bearing down on goal, Zabaleta threw himself at the Wigan winger in an attempt to halt his attack. That challenge ultimately proved costly for his team, as he was shown a red card, reducing City to 10 men with less than 10 minutes to play. Just before the start of injury time, the Latics, who boasted a man-advantage, had a claim for a penalty when McManaman was knocked over by City right back Gael Clichy as he bore down on goal. And while Andre Marriner didn't award a spot kick, he did signal for a corner kick as the game ticked past the 90-minute mark. Any justice that Wigan sought was then delivered. Midfielder Shaun Maloney sent an out-swinging corner toward the penalty spot. Watson rose highest to power home a header toward the far corner, sending the Wigan section into bedlam. From there, the Latics held on to secure undoubtedly the biggest victory in the club's history. For City, it proved to be a taste of its own medicine. What's more, both injury-time games occurred on the second week in May in successive seasons. However, given that the club ended its 44-year Premier League title drought last year, most Blues fans would have accepted losing this year's F.A. Cup Final before last year's season if it meant winning the Premier League, given the latter's increased significance-a case of accepting the lesser of two evils. Both teams suffered in the days following the Final-City fired manager Roberto Mancini on Monday, while Wigan was relegated from the Premier League to the second-tier English Football Championship after a 4-1 loss at Arsenal on Wednesday. For Wigan, though, the F.A. Cup Final was a victory to savor, and will likely stay in Latics folklore for many years to come.
(05/19/13 4:00am)
In a split second, the Boston Marathon became a crime scene. As locals began to pick up the pieces of their lives in the hours after the tragedy, one community in Dorchester, Mass. had already started collecting something together to ease the burden of loss. Tim Deihl '04 has lived in the Boston area for much of his life, including his time at Brandeis, where he received a degree in American Studies. He is a neighbor and friend of the Richard family. His son, eight-year old Martin Richard was killed, while Martin's mother and sister remain in critical condition. Bill Richard and Deihl are both involved in the St. Marks Area Main Street organization in Dorchester, a group that focuses on the commercial revitalization of the St. Mark's Area business district. Richard is on the board of directors and former president, while Deihl is currently the acting president of the St. Mark's board. Deihl was at home with his wife when the explosions happened. They had family members running in the marathon that day whom they were tracking online; they were about to finish the race. Once they were aware of the explosion, "[i]t was a full wave of emotions going from nervousness about your family, to feeling relieved that they were OK to absolute shock that some of the victims were people that you knew ... that were active members in your community," Deihl said. "People were trying to figure out how to help," Deihl said. Almost immediately after the tragedy happened, Deihl began filling out the paperwork that would allow him to open an account under the St. Marks Area Main street non-profit status in which all donations would go directly to the Richard family. "We decided to become the connection between those inquiries... [and] connect people to an opportunity to pass along those gifts." The account was nearly ready for business, but Deihl still had one problem: he needed to figure out how to make people aware of the fund's existence. He needed a way to get the word out to a large audience through some kind of online platform. Luckily, another friend of the Richards family, Chris Peterson, was working with a team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Civic Media on a website at the same time. Peterson found out about the fund and got in contact with him."I had no idea how to connect to any kind of webpage platform so it was a blessing that he happened to call," said Deihl. The family needs money to offset the steep health costs they will incur over the next few years. Many people were immediately trying to figure out how to donate, but as Deihl explained, there was a period of a couple days between when the website was ready to be launched and when the family gave its permission to open the site. "Initially the need was for privacy and space so there was a delay in launching the website," he said. "In these moments of tragedy the most important thing anyone can ever remember is to not just act to satisfy your own desire to help but act to satisfy and fulfill the needs of those going through the tragedy." Through word of mouth and social media, the Richard Family Fund took off. Local sports teams such as the Boston Bruins reached out, but there was also an "outpour of love from all around the world," said Deihl. He explained that people from countries around the world were calling him saying they had held a private fund-raiser and were hoping to find a way to donate that money directly to the family. In this way, the Richard Family Fund became a direct, safe and reliable way of giving back. When the account was first opened, Deihl did not have a specific amount of money in mind; he merely acted "in response." So far, the website has raised over $726,330.29, and that number continues to rise. They chose to use an independently-run website as opposed to a large fund-raising site to avoid the costs associated with that method, which might cut into the money that would otherwise end up in the wallets of the Richard family. Deihl said he was totally impressed by the community response to the unfortunate circumstances of the Richard family. "Dorchester as a community is by far and away one of the strongest neighborhoods I've ever lived in," Deihl said. Deihl reminds us that as uncomfortable as it may feel to admit, the marathon bombings brought out the best in many people, especially himself. "The way these people pull together to help this family is one of the beautiful things that comes out of something so tragic." Corrections appended: It was previously stated that Bill Richard was runner in the 2013 Boston Marathon. Richard was not a participant of the Boston Marathon.
(04/23/13 4:00am)
Medical Emergency April 14-A party in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center requested BEMCo for a 20-year-old female who injured her ankle. The party was transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo ambulance for head pain and the ankle injury. April 15-A party in Hassenfeld Residence Hall stated that he experienced a traumatic brain injury over the summer and got hit in the head with a softball two hours ago. He was treated on-scene by BEMCo and refused further medical aid. April 16-A staff member reported that a female student fainted in the Shapiro Science Complex after donating blood. The student regained consciousness and was treated on-scene and refused further medical aid. April 16-A female student in Olin-Sang felt nauseous after donating blood. She was treated on-scene by BEMCo and refused further medical aid. April 16-University Police received a report of a female student feeling dizzy in Ziv 127 after donating blood. She was treated on-scene by BEMCo and refused further medical aid. April 17-University Police received a report of an 82-year-old female party who fell down in the Shapiro Campus Center. BEMCo and Cataldo ambulance were requested to respond, and the party was transported via ambulance to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for treatment. April 17-A male party in Bernstein-Marcus reported a finger laceration. He was treated by BEMCo and refused further medical aid. April 17-University Police received a report that a 20-year-old male fainted at the International Business School. He was treated by BEMCo and refused further medical aid. April 19-University Police received a report of a female student vomiting in Ziv 128. She was treated by BEMCo and refused further medical aid. April 21-A female student in the 567 apartments reported that her earring was stuck in her ear and was bleeding and swollen. She was treated by BEMCo and then transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital via police cruiser. Disturbance April 16-University Police received a report of a verbal dispute in the Epstein building. Police units spoke with both parties, one of whom was a Brandeis student and the other from Suffolk University. Both parties departed together on the train. There was no physical violence. University Police sent the parties on their way. April 21-A student in Ridgewood B complained of loud music. The offending party complied with the University Police request to turn down the music. April 21-A caller in the Charles River Apartments reported that people were being loud in a room above him, which he believed was the third floor. The noise was coming from a nearby apartment; the group was dispersed without incident. Larceny April 17-A student left his belongings in an unlocked locker in the Linsey Pool locker room. He reported that his wallet was stolen while he was swimming. Miscellaneous April 18-A party at the main entrance reported seeing a coyote near the main gate. University Police officers were dispatched to check on the situation, but the coyote could not be located. April 19-A student in Scheffres reported being pushed by another student. A report on the incident was composed. The student is contemplating a judicial referral. -compiled by Marielle Temkin
(04/22/13 4:00am)
Today, LauraBen Moore '14 is an All-American. She is the public relations officer for the Brandeis women's rugby football club and a regular player on Beantown, Boston's Women's Premier League rugby team. Yet, less than two years ago, Moore was none of those things. She was new-at Brandeis and at rugby. She was a kid who had a bold prediction: "We're going to win this game." As far as guarantees go, that promise before Moore's first collegiate game was as ambitious as they come. Heading into the fall 2011 season, the Brandeis team had grown accustomed to losing. The squad had gone so long without winning that not a single team member at that time had ever tasted victory. Moore decided it was time for a change. "She said 'We are going to win this game,' and everyone said 'Ok, that's cute,'" coach Matt Cameron said. In fact, they won handily, beating Framingham State University 27-5. "First thing she said when she walked off the field was 'I told you so,'" Cameron added. Nineteen months later, the team has kept the winning tradition alive. After winning games in Division IV, Brandeis moved up to Division III this fall and qualified for the playoffs. Next season, the squad will be compete in Division II. "The team as a whole is growing incredibly, and it's a really exciting time to be a part of it," Moore said. Additionally, Moore has begun to accumulate individual accolades. She joined Beantown last semester and began making regular appearances in the past few weeks. What happened next was even more impressive. Of the tens of thousands of women who play rugby in America, only 160 were chosen to attend one of four prestigious USA Rugby camps last month. Out of that pool, 38 were selected for the AIG Women's Junior All-American team. Last week, Moore learned that she was one of the few that made the cut. When that team is narrowed down to an active 26-person roster at a camp in Chula Vista, Cal., she'll have the chance to be in the Nations Cup, a U-20 tournament that will take place in Nottingham, England in July. "She's a very special person and a very special athlete," Cameron said of his decision to nominate Moore. "She's made rugby her priority." Not that long ago, rugby was the last thing on Moore's mind. After transferring from the University of West Georgia, she arrived at Brandeis as a sophomore. She decided to take up studies in anthropology and sculpture, and soon, began looking for a place to fit in. "I came in as a transfer and I really just needed to make some friends," Moore said. "I hadn't played a sport in a little while, so I thought I'd try something new. I'd never played rugby before, never touched a rugby ball, never even seen a game." As Cameron stated, the sky is the limit for his star athlete. "Nothing would surprise me with the height of rugby that she could get to," he said. Even the Olympics or the World Cup, "she has the drive to get there."
(04/16/13 4:00am)
Last Thursday night in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, 26 of the most attractive male Brandeisians strutted the catwalk, performed their talents and answered on-the-spot questions in the first-ever Mr. Brandeis Pageant. All proceeds from the event went to Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society. The turnout was huge-the crowd filled most of the Gosman bleachers. The event started off with all the contestants in a choreographed dance to The Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men," a move of pure genius on somebody's part. The contestants sported black shorts, button-down white shirts and ties-a comical combination of apparel that was both classy and sexy. The laughter, cheering and general noise from the onlookers was able to compete with the music, quite an impressive feat. After the opening number, the judges were introduced. The panel consisted of two Brandeis students, Clayton Campbell '13 and Mohamed Sidique '14; Brandeis alumna Amanda Kelly '08, named Miss Massachusetts in 2009; and the infamous Stephanie Grimes, director of Student Activities. The judges awarded each contestant a certain number of the 25 points for each event. Students could also participate in the decision by donating money to their favorite contestants. Each dollar donated to a contestant awarded him one point. The swimwear contest, probably the most anticipated event, came next. Each contestant walked out to the song of his choice while the two hosts read the contestant's statement about why he is involved with Relay for Life. However, the music and cheering were so loud that hosts were barely audible. Contestants accessorized with shower caps, boogie boards, turtle floatees and one contestant even came out playing a guitar. The formal wear came next, which gave the contestants an opportunity to strut their stuff in classy outfits. Some contestants got very creative with their suits and ties. David Alpert '16 walked out shirtless in a blazer and a bowtie and dropped his pants in the middle of the runway to revel, in a strictly PG-13 manner, his shorts underneath. While the contestants walked, the hosts announced the on-campus clubs in which they were involved, as well as some of their hobbies. After the two catwalk contests, it was time for the audience to vote. The event took a quick intermission so that the audience could donate to their favorite contestants. After the intermission, the final 10 contestants were announced. Only the final 10 could go on to perform their talents. Next came the talent portion. Some of the more memorable talents were Fred Berger '15 making a sandwich with his feet; Dillon Morris '14 playing the "Four Chords Song" on his guitar; and Yoni Sebag '13 making a chocolate cake while wearing a frilly pink apron. After the talent portion, there was another short intermission during which members of the audience could again vote for their favorite contestants by donating to their Relay fund. The contestants were narrowed down to five: Berger, Gustavo Lopes '15, Makalani Mack '16, Pat Seaward '13 and Sebag. These last five contestants then competed in possibly the most difficult challenge of all-answering on-the-spot questions. Some of the questions were about Relay for Life, such as: "How would you convince someone to join your Relay for Life team?" And, "If you could start a Relay for Life initiative, what would it be?" Other questions were comical such as: "Which Disney princess would you date?" Or, "If you could be any building on campus, what would it be?" At a particularly touching moment, Mack answered the question: "Define endless love" by pointing to his girlfriend in the audience. After another break to donate money to contestants, the winners were announced. Sebag won Mr. Congeniality and Seward was crowned pageant king. After the pageant, there was a live date auction in which all the contestants were raffled off. There were some interesting back-and-forth fights for contestants. Two female members of the audience engaged in a fight over Mack that was so intense it must have been planned and culminated only when the two bidders started counting up pennies. A coordinator of the event who would like to remain unnamed told me that they hope this will be an annual event to fund cancer prevention but with a couple changes, such as having the event in the Carl J. Shapiro Theater and planning performances during the small intermissions. The event was hilarious and extremely entertaining. The contestants were really good sports about all of the events, however embarrassing, and even seemed to be having a great time. I personally hope it will become a lasting Brandeis tradition.
(04/16/13 4:00am)
Medical Emergency April 9-A staff member at the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center collapsed on the athletic fields. University Police and BEMCo responded, and the Waltham Fire Department and Cataldo ambulance were both notified. Cataldo treated the party on-scene for Type 1 diabetes. All units were cleared with a signed refusal for further care. April 11-A reporting party in Cable requested police assistance for a voluntary psych transport at the Mailman House. The patient fled on foot from the Mailman House toward Cable. The party was located in their room. The staff requested an ambulance to transport them to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. April 13-BEMCo was notified of an intoxicated party at Pachanga. An ambulance was contacted and the student was transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. April 14-BEMCo staff on-scene at Pachanga requested an ambulance for a 19-year-old female student who was intoxicated. The patient was transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. April 14-A student reported a female party near Deroy going in and out of consciousness due to alcohol intoxication. BEMCo responded and requested an ambulance to transport the party to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. April 14-BEMCo evaluated and released an intoxicated 19-year-old female at Pachanga. April 14-BEMCo transferred the care of a 19-year-old female party at Pachanga to the Cataldo ambulance stand-by crew at the event. She was evaluated by the staff and released. Larceny April 7-A party walked into Stoneman to report a stolen computer and iPhone that had been left unattended in the Goldfarb Library. April 8-A party in Ziv 128 reported that he returned to his room, which had been left unlocked, and found that his 15-inch MacBook Pro laptop, worth approximately $2,000, had been stolen. April 10-A unit reported that the plumbers' workshop in the basement of East Quad appeared to have undergone an attempted burglary within its front doors. April 13-A party in the Shapiro Campus Center reported a past theft of Ollie the Owl's gavel. It was stolen on April 12. On April 14, University Police recovered the item. Traffic April 10-University Police received a report of a female hit by a car near the bus stop at the Admissions Lot. BEMCo and University Police responded, as did the Waltham Fire Department and an ambulance. The party was transported via ambulance to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. Miscellaneous April 7-A party in Hassenfeld Residence Hall reported on Friday, April 5 around 1 a.m., she saw a male party in her unlocked room. A report was compiled on the incident. April 9-A party in Shapiro Residence Hall reported that a masked individual ran through the second floor of the dorm and sprayed an unknown substance that left a strong odor. University Police checked the area, but the party was gone on arrival. They appeared to have left a stink bomb. No further police action was taken. April 10-A person determined not to be a student was at the main entrance desk of the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center and was making the security student feel "uneasy." The subject was told to leave by staff. The student was satisfied, and did not wish to make a statement. -Compiled by Marielle Temkin
(04/16/13 4:00am)
Last Wednesday, Student Union President Todd Kirkland '13, Treasurer David Clements '14, and Senator at Large Charlotte Franco '15 held an open forum regarding the proposed club restructuring plan. Student Union leaders and staff devised the new structure proposal to try to resolve organizational problems within the current free-for-all system of 275 on-campus clubs. The structuring plan strives to foster communication, organization and fiscal efficiency between clubs. The new proposal still features 12 associations separated by categories such as performance, dance, sports and competition. Each association would exist to foster communication between both the clubs under their umbrella and other associations. According to the Student Union leaders, a club would formally fit under one association and its council, but would be able to attend open meetings for other associations. According to Clements, in addition to following in the path of models that are currently in place at many schools such as Tufts University, Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania, the plan would be similar to existing structures of the Intercultural Center and Club Sports Council. Regardless of size, all clubs would elect seven people to hold voting power in each association's council. "The main difference [between the first and newer club proposals] is eliminating the main fiscal attribute to it," said Kirkland in an interview with the Justice. "What I mean by that is the first draft said that if you are a club requesting money, instead of going directly to F-Board you would go to the council for which your club falls under and you would put the request through there and then they would look over it." Still, according to the Student Union representatives, the recently revised proposal seeks to create fiscal efficiency. Associations would be sent a list of events and items clubs ask to obtain. In this way, collaboration would be possible when groups' goals align. However, funding would be approved by the F-Board and not the association under the revised proposal. The requirement to share activities and plans in order to gain funding would be solely to promote collaboration and avoid overlap. "Clubs won't suffer at all," said Clements, but he emphasized that this new plan will be an investment for the future. The new structure would allow for associations to receive some funding from the account of rollover funds from previous years. Associations' votes would serve primarily to use discretionary funds for any type of collaborative work, such as larger events, with multiple clubs' sponsorships. After the Student Union representatives gave a presentation, there was a feedback session during which students scrutinized the plan's details. These students voiced a number of concerns. One student expressed concern over whether an unpopular club could be negatively affected by these new guidelines, especially if they do not hold secured club status. The Student Union leaders assured the student that the new structure would not serve to oust or marginalize certain clubs. An advisor assignment for each association is also part of the plan. Clubs would be able to ask these faculty or staff advisers for help in areas such as hiring any teachers clubs might need and providing ideas for club progress. The Student Union representatives said that advisors could be especially useful when clubs are created and need help developing their activities. Some staff members have expressed interest in these positions, said Franco, but suggestions for advisers would be welcomed from councils and the student body. "If our adviser is from the Politics department who has coached Model U.N., et cetera., they maybe wouldn't be familiar with working with other wider national groups. So who are these people; where do they come from?" asked Avi Snyder '13, the president of Mock Trial Association and a columnist for the Justice. Another forum is planned for next Friday. A meeting has also been held where faculty and staff from the Intercultural Center, the Hiatt Career Center as well as Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel discussed the proposal. According to Kirkland, criticisms from that meeting and from the student body will be taken into account for proposal edits. "I would say that how the council is defined would have to change because we're sort of pulling on two ends where it's like, you don't want to give no definition to what a council is and just let the association make it up, but on the other hand you don't want to put too much regulation on it because then it seems too bureaucratic," said Kirkland in the interview. Kirkland emphasized the hope that people will continue to be proactive in giving their input. "I hope people provide feedback, otherwise we won't be able to identify what the issues are," said Kirkland. He urges people to contact him with any further input and to participate in these forums. The final vote and amendment referendum for this proposal will take place when it is felt that the proposal has been formulated at the student body's satisfaction. A two-thirds vote in favor would allow it to pass. "We have our niche kind of interests and it's great because everyone works toward their own causes, but there's a huge lack of communication and bigger lack of collaboration and that's detrimental to everyone who is involved in campus life... I think this plan does increase efficiency," said Jessica Goldberg '13, who is part of Hillel and the Brandeis Interfaith Group, in an interview with the Justice. She added her support of passing the proposal this year, saying that whether we pass it now or later, it will need to be done in order to proceed to fix any issues that should arise. "I think it's a really good idea, it will allow for better events with more funding going toward each one, and more creative ideas will be in place as different clubs will be in contact with each other," wrote Harris Cohen '16 from WBRS radio in an email to the Justice. Clements said in an email to the Justice that gathering feedback is a necessary part of creating good policy. "This is just another step in the process, we're going to see where it goes," he wrote. "We don't want to just put up a proposal that's going to be forced upon students, we want the students to be happy with it and to understand it before it's even put to vote." Kirkland hopes to have the student body vote on the club proposal before the end of the year, although it may not be ready. "[W]e don't want to put anything to a vote until we believe that it's a solid plan that most people agree upon. You can't really just say like, 'We're going to vote on it on this day no matter what,' because that's just extremely rigid and that shows that we are not caring about what people are saying," he said. -Marissa Ditkowsky and Sam Mintz contributed reporting.
(04/16/13 4:00am)
The Union presidential candidates expressed their ideas and platforms to the Justice. Daniel Schwab '14 I consider myself ... very social ... I believe that I'm able to communicate very well and efficiently with the student body ... I'm not a candidate who's going to get stepped on by the administration, I'm going to be the voice of the students and push the administration to get what we need and make life more suitable and convenient for the students at Brandeis. [T]here's a problem on campus ... [T]here's not a lot of time to study ... I believe as a very academically-driven university, that 24/7 library hours is something that should be established year-round ... Also, the funds that can be diverted from Einstein's [Bros. Bagels] to EcoGrounds, in addition to keeping at least the green room open 24/7 ... Additionally, I'd like to open the bar on campus, at the Stein, as a sports bar, keeping it open throughout the week ... I feel like it would promote a safer environment if [the bar were] controlled by the University, in addition to the fact that it would have a nice place for the students to hang out and collaborate, talk and socialize. David Clements '14 I've proven myself as the treasurer, which is probably the hardest, most rigorous position .... As part of the Union, I was an assistant treasurer as a freshman and sophomore and then treasurer for this year ... I also understand that I was not able to do this alone. Thankfully, I have 10 assistant treasurers who were able to do a lot of the work with me. I was able to delegate and because of this, I understand the need to delegate in order to get things done but at the same time maintain a responsible and business-like atmosphere within the Union. I've proven myself to be not only accessible to student leaders and student clubs, but I've also been a past club leader ... I think the main issue with the Student Union now is that we're viewed as a governing body looking over the students, and looking over student clubs and controlling their finances ... I plan on changing the image of the Student Union to being a resource for students, to being the segue for students through which they can voice their concerns, propose an initiative ... I just plan on getting more out there, having a presence on campus, Ricky Rosen '14 In my two years in the Student Union, I have demonstrated that I am a proven leader and a proven representative who will not stop until the needs of his constituents are satisfied. As the Class of 2014 Senator, I achieved nearly all of my goals to reform dining, including creating the Senate Dining Committee, adding items to the [Provisions on Demand Market] meal plan, extending [its] hours on Saturday nights and Einstein's hours on Sunday afternoons. Students have come to me over the last two years with a multitude of issues, and they have trusted me to address their concerns with university officials ... I am driven and endlessly determined to carry out every single one of my goals. If elected ... [i]f Aramark stays the provider, I would push for students to have the ability to use more than one meal per meal period and allowing unused meals to carry over into additional guest meals until a limit of 15 guest meals is reached. If Aramark is not the service provider, I would fight for students to have a say in what dining options are available ... I would work to expand Brandeis's work-study program since there are a considerable number of students eligible for Federal Work Study who were not able to find on-campus employment (myself included). By working with the Provost, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Hiatt, I would be able to create more jobs in offices across campus for which only Work-Study students are eligible. My other major goal is for the Union would be to find new ways to connect with the student body-this would involve working with BTV and Getz Media Lab on creating entertaining monthly video updates to inform the student body of Union initiatives.
(04/16/13 4:00am)
The first round of Student Union elections will take place this Thursday, for the positions of Student Union president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. The candidates for vice president are Daniel Marks '14, Charlotte Franco '15 and Shukai Zhang '15. Marks, Ziv Quad Senator, is running because he is "everywhere." "I'm just trying to meet people, hear what they have to say about what they think can be improved on campus, because I don't think our Student Union should be a bunch of kids sitting in a room just plotting out things without hearing what everyone actually wants," Marks told the Justice in an interview. "One thing I would be doing as vice president is making sure that every senator is accountable for the initiatives that they promise," Marks said. "I would really get on every single senator to not only make sure that they're accomplishing their initiatives, but helping them, pushing them, making sure they do it, and helping to do it with them, and that way we would have way more things done on this campus," he said. Franco has been on the Senate for two years. "One of the most important things I want to implement is more training for the Student Union officers, especially Senators," Franco told the Justice. "This training would cover the basics of the position on top of how to contact administration, who to ask about different things on campus, how to answer questions in the office, diversity training and ally training." She also wants "to open the lines of communication between [Finance] Board, the clubs and other members of the Union so that we can find the balance between efficient spending, club effectiveness and University goals." Her proposed initiatives include "the club restructuring that I have been working on for the past two semesters" and "continuing the small-scale dining changes through the Senate Dining Committee ...getting additional study spaces and study days for the future (a test run for two days is already planned for next year); and work[ing] on improving residence halls and other buildings on campus." Zhang has served as the Castle Senator, and as a member of the Dining and Service Committees and the Campus Operations Working Group. He wants to improve student life, particularly in the areas of housing and dining. "Working on the Dining Committee makes me understand that both the food quality and price are beyond student control, the Student Union can only address issues like extending hours to convenience the students," said Zhang in an interview with the Justice. "Therefore, the only way to significantly improve food quality is to push for another food provider. If this fails, we will change the meal plan system so that it is fair, transparent and convenient," Zhang said. "For housing, I will work with the school to renovate the oldest buildings. The school should be able to provide more on campus housing to upperclassmen and offer help for students finding houses in Waltham," he continued. Miicah Lehmann '15, Harry Greenberg '15 and Sunny Aidasani '14 are running for Student Union treasurer. Lehmann has served as assistant treasurer for two semesters. "If elected, I plan on making the treasury process as smooth as possible. Together with my assistant treasurers, I want to ensure that all forms are processed in a diligent fashion and make sure that the money gets to where it belongs in the quickest way possible," Lehmann told the Justice. "I plan on being here for you, the student body, and to always be available to answering any treasury questions, concerns and the like," Lehmann said. Greenberg has also served as assistant treasurer for two semesters. "The treasury can do a better job at educating club treasurers and at connecting with them throughout the year. Many times someone will submit a form and then find out weeks later that there was a mistake on it and that they need to fix it," Greenberg told the Justice. "I think that there should be a weekly email sent out to people whose forms are in the incomplete forms bin, so these things do not happen," he said. Aidasani could not be reached for comment by press time. The candidates for secretary are Ethan Levy '15 and Sneha Walia '15. Levy served on the Senate this year. "I've seen the great things that the Union can do, and I want to take a step up to the [Executive] Board [and] help my constituency even more," Levy told the Justice. He said he wants to improve communication and transparency in the Union. "I want people to know what's going on and be more out there and personable," Levy said. He also said that he wants "to get people more involved with sporting events." Walia has been a Senator for both of her years at Brandeis, and she has served as outreach committee chair for two semesters. "I do have a lot of experience with the way that the Student Union reaches out to the student body, and in fact worked closely with the Office of Communications," she said in an interview with the Justice. She said that as secretary, she would like to work on connecting different groups within the University, including clubs, staff and the Union, and also wants to bring groups together to develop the culture of social justice within the University. -Marissa Ditkowsky, Tate Herbert and Sam Mintz contributed reporting
(04/09/13 4:00am)
Baylor University women's basketball center senior Brittney Griner just finished her illustrious collegiate career as one of the best players of all time. She will graduate with the second most points in NCAA Division I women's basketball history, and her 748 career blocks are the most ever in men's or women's college hoops. She is six feet, eight inches tall and a three-time All-American. She will undoubtedly be the first pick in Monday's WNBA draft. Last Tuesday, Mark Cuban, the owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, said that he would consider taking Griner in the NBA draft and give her the opportunity to prove that she could play in the men's league. "If she is the best on the board, I will take her," Cuban told reporters before his team faced the Los Angeles Lakers. "I've thought about it already. Would I do it? Right now, I'd lean toward yes, just to see if she can do it. You never know unless you give somebody a chance." Would Griner make it in the NBA? I'd be inclined to say no. She has thrived during her career playing against defenders that are typically six inches shorter than her. She would struggle against someone as tall and muscular as Lakers center Dwight Howard. The difference in speed, strategy and even the size of the ball between the men's and women's games are all working against her. She could potentially find room on a team as an undersized power forward, but the odds are slim. But the important question is not whether or not Griner could compete in the NBA. We should be asking, if she could, should she? A woman in male professional sports is certainly conceivable-Miami Heat forward Shane Battier said that he believes that it will happen in our lifetime. When that player comes along-whether it is Griner or someone else in the future-should that player forego the WNBA in favor of the men's league? Think about the question from that athlete's perspective. Were she to stay in the WNBA, she would likely become a star. Griner or another once-in-a-generation player would probably become the face of the league, and would have hall of fame potential. That player could aspire to become her sport's Mia Hamm-the star soccer player who put her team in the national spotlight during the 1999 World Cup and made women's soccer relevant to the American public. The WNBA is struggling financially, and could desperately use such a marketable star. If she immediately jumped to the NBA, such a player would likely be a middling talent. Few rookies are able to make an immediate impact in the league, and those players are used to the style, speed and size of men's basketball. This is why Griner (or another future player) should enter the WNBA, not jump straight from women's college basketball to the NBA. The WNBA has a copious amount of talent, and the potential trailblazer should prove that she is too talented for the best female players in the world before moving on from the women's league. Only at the point where she is dominating the women's game in the same fashion that Heat forward LeBron James is dominating the NBA should such a player consider making the switch. A few years of professional basketball would also better prepare her to handle the massive spotlight that would be shining at all times, as well as the many predictable sexist comments. Ultimately, the issue of women competing in men's leagues poses many difficult questions. It's probably unfair to even compare Griner to male athletes-ESPN columnist Jemele Hill wrote that Cuban's comment "perpetuates the dangerous idea that great female athletes need to validate themselves by competing against men." She's not wrong. We should be celebrating Griner's tremendous accomplishments rather than criticizing her for not being able to stack up against NBA behemoths. But it is a question that will be asked, and a barrier that will likely be broken. Only Griner and other superstar women's players that follow her will be able to say what is best for them. It is human nature to want to compete against the best of the best, and that will eventually lead a woman to try her hand in the NBA. Hopefully how and when it happens, that player will not rush the integral decision. *
(04/08/13 4:00am)
It's shaping up to be a great season for Tiger Woods on and off the green. On March 18, both Woods and Lindsey Vonn, an Olympic gold-medal-winning skier, confirmed their relationship via their respective official Facebook pages. Woods posted a series of professional photos, writing, "Lindsey and I have been friends for some time, but over the last few months we have become very close and are now dating." Vonn explained to fans, "I guess it wasn't a well-kept secret but yes, I am dating Tiger Woods." Let's be real: this marks the first positive headline for the 37-year-old golfer in a while. Toward the tail end of 2009, Woods' life seemed to unravel faster than he could hit a hole-in-one. It began with a gossipy story in the National Enquirer about an alleged affair with an NYC nightclub manager which, to be honest, seemed like just another run-of-the-mill fabricated story. Until things started getting fishy-and FAST. Two days later, Woods crashed his SUV into a fire hydrant and a tree at 2:30 in the morning while he was still on his own block. His questionable behavior skyrocketed when, days later, Us Weekly published a voicemail message reportedly left by the sports legend for a mistress. And then, in what seemed too unbelievable to be true, over a dozen women came forward in the next few days, admitting to having affairs with Woods. The public couldn't believe it-Woods was a young, athletic guy married to a gorgeous former model with two utterly adorable children. But, in mid-December, the pro announced he'd be taking an indefinite break from professional golf and it seemed that the ridiculous rumors might have some truth behind them. Sure enough, as we all know, Woods was, uh, sleeping around to put it gently. He went to rehab for sex addiction; lost huge sponsorship deals with companies like AT&T, TAG Heuer and Gatorade; and his wife filed for divorce. He gave a televised statement in early 2010 admitting to his indiscretions: "I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt I was entitled." At the end of his heartfelt speech, Woods asked fans to "find room in your heart to one day believe in me again," but it seemed like his career would be a nearly impossible endeavor to rehabilitate. And now, with 28-year-old Vonn on his arm, it seems that Woods may be on the road to a successful comeback. Professionally, he's currently ranked number one after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational. And personally, he's been courting Vonn for months. The two are carefully calculating every step of their courtship, including the deliberate plan to announce their pairing: "It's very simple," Woods explained to reporters. "We're very happy where we're at, but also we wanted to limit the 'stalkerazzi' and all those sleazy websites that are out there following us." So the duo released the information-and the pics!-on their own terms in hopes of stealing the thunder from gossip mags and television outlets. So, are you a Woods skeptic? Or will love between athletes conquer all? *
(04/08/13 4:00am)
Though the calendar may say it is spring, the weather outside still proves to be cold. Regardless of the temperature, this past Saturday was a perfect time for a charity soccer event. The Kickin' Cancer Tournament, created by the men's soccer team and Alex's Lemonade Stand's Brandeis chapter, is a five-on-five co-ed tournament featuring some of the biggest names from both the men's and women's soccer teams. The tournament, created to raise money for Brandeis Relay for Life, sought to combine the players' joy of soccer with a creative way of raising money. Men's soccer forward Tyler Savonen '15, the chair of the event, had high hopes upon creating the fundraising tournament. "We obviously all have a passion for the game, and many of us have had families and friends affected by cancer, so we decided 'What better way to raise money against cancer than to play the sport we love?'" he wrote in an email to the Justice. As the tournament got underway, the stars came out to shine. A 16-team field featured the depth of the men's soccer team, allowing for many competitive games that were often decided by merely a single goal. Teams Kostel Still Goes Here and Joe's Angels both made deep runs at the title, but were eventually defeated by early tournament favorite "Tape A Cheetah To Your Back." Tape A Cheetah To Your Back, led by superstar forwards Sam Ocel '13 and Dara Spital '15, who earned All-America honors for the men's and women's soccer teams, respectively, made it all the way to the finals before running into Team Nick George. Team Nick George, led by Ocel's strike partner from the fall, Lee Russo '13 and midfielder Tudor Livadaru '14, went undefeated throughout the course of the tournament, using a late goal to take a 2-1 lead in the finals over Tape A Cheetah To Your Back. And while they faced a furious onslaught from their opponents, they were able to claim the championship in dramatic fashion. The event was a huge success, according to Savonen, who additionally hopes that the event will become a yearly tradition for both the Judges' soccer teams and the greater Brandeis community. "Going forward, we would like to establish Kickin' Cancer as an annual fundraiser and hopefully increase the number of participants each year," he said. With the enthusiasm generated in its first year, there is lots of potential for future years.
(04/08/13 4:00am)
Medical Emergency April 2-A caller stated that a student suffered an elbow to the face while playing basketball in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. BEMCo responded and treated the party on-scene, and University Police transported the party to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. April 3-A party in Ridgewood B stated that his roommate was not feeling well and that she believed she was having a reaction to something she recently ate. BEMCo and University Police responded, and the party was treated by BEMCo with a signed refusal for further care. April 5-University Police received a call of a student in Pomerantz not feeling well. BEMCo and University Police responded, and an ambulance was requested for a 19-year-old female having difficulty breathing and feeling lethargic. The party was treated and transported via ambulance to the hospital for further care. April 6-The state police routed a 911 call made from the Brandeis campus to the Waltham Police Department. The student had requested medical aid for "ringing in her head." The student was located via people search and officers were sent to the Charles River Apartments. University Police and BEMCo located the student and directed the dispatched ambulance to the student, who was transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. Larceny April 3-A party near the Shapiro Admissions Center reported that her bicycle was stolen. University Police compiled a report on the theft. Drugs April 3-The community adviser on duty in Gordon reported there was someone smoking marijuana in the basement of the building. University Police responded and reported that they will file judicial charges on the students found in the area. The on-call community development coordinator was notified but did not respond. Harassment April 4-A party reported that while in the Usdan Student Center, she was the victim of sexually harassing remarks. She stated that the white, college-aged males had left the area and that she was back at her dorm. Without any further description or direction of travel, the parties were not located. University Police compiled a report on the incident. Miscellaneous April 1-A party in the Rose Art Museum reported eight by 11 inches size construction paper taped to the walls under artwork. University Police attempted to review security camera footage and compiled a report on the incident. April 1-A party in the Usen Castle reported that someone entered her unlocked room and went through her backpack. University Police compiled a report on the incident; nothing was reported missing. April 1-A custodian in Scheffres reported an unknown male party sleeping on a couch. The party was gone prior to the arrival of University Police. April 2-University Police received a call that a white male wearing a black hoodie and carrying a small flat screen TV tried to gain access to Shapiro Residence Hall. The party was "scruffy looking" and not a student known to the reporting party. University Police checked the area, but the party was gone prior to the police's arrival. April 5-University Police received a report of a past sex crime in Rosenthal South, which is now under investigation. -compiled by Marielle Temkin
(04/08/13 4:00am)
It is the first day of an Economics class at Brandeis University, and you find yourself sitting next to a boy of average height and light brown hair. Perhaps he's just another student, ready to hear a lecture from Prof. Michael Coiner (ECON) and his elaborate descriptions of supply and demand. Or, perhaps, he's a chess Grandmaster, one of the top players in the world and quickly improving. If the latter is true, chances are that boy is Sam Shankland '14, an Economics major. At the age of 21, Shankland has just been named the 29th Frank P. Samford, Jr. Chess Fellow, which entitles him to a $42,000 stipend awarded at the beginning of July with the sole intention of allowing him to make chess his first concern. Another $42,000 will be awarded in his second year of the fellowship when it is renewed. Shankland says the money will go toward hiring more coaches, each specified toward different aspects of his technique. Now that he's becoming more of an elite player, he says, "I understand my own game well enough that I can see its weaknesses, and I can hire specific people to target specific areas." As a Grandmaster, a prestigious title given to the top tournament players of the world, and the winner of the under-18 World Championship, Shankland's chess career is already impressive. A a native of Berkeley, Calif., he first was introduced to the chess at the age of nine when his father taught him the basic rules of the game. He joined a chess club at his school soon after. "When I started playing chess it was just a hobby," he says. This hobby turned into a lifestyle when he began attending World Youth Chess Championships his junior and senior years of high school. "At that point I had made chess my top priority, and at that point it was really clear it was a main part of my life and my main goal," he says. Competitive in his youth, chess "fueled my need to win," Shankland adds, especially as he realized that he had the potential to go far. And he has certainly gone far. Along with the title of Grandmaster and U18 World Champion, Shankland also became the youngest state champion in California history at the age of 16, and defeated the former second ranked player at the World Cup in 2011. With the Samford Fellowship, Shankland says he will be able to further improve his playing by attending elite tournaments where he is learning from professionals. "I've mostly been playing in tournaments that I'm winning money in and I'm getting paid to play in ... because I'm an elite player for them. I want to start going to tournaments where I'm the guy learning from the elite players," he says. And in the world of chess, that means traveling. His first time playing outside of the U.S. came in 2007 and 2008, when he attended two World Youth Chess Championships in Turkey and Vietnam. More recently, while other Brandeis students adjusted to life back at school after winter break, Shankland was in Brazil playing for the U.S. chess team. Even though he missed a week and a half of school, "it just wasn't a question," he says. Shankland is both reasonable and level-headed, two qualities that shine through in his style of play. A "universal" and "versatile player," as he describes himself, Shankland is able to approach matches with the ability to focus on attacking opponents' weaknesses. "If I see someone who's very good at one thing, and not very good at another, I feel very comfortable switching styles when a lot of other people have the one thing they do well, and just do that," he says. He also attributes his success to his hard work, conceding that, "there are a lot of players out there who are more talented than me and who didn't get as far because they didn't work as hard," a humble admission that translates into thorough preparation for each game. Part of this preparation, says Shankland, is studying numerous past games of his opponents in order to learn their style. For example, "I'll filter through all their games to look at what openings they play, and how they compare with my openings," he says. "It's not uncommon for the first 15 moves of chess to be completely prepared at home. There are lots of different ways they could play, so I have to prepare for all of those." Shankland, who is fondly known on campus as having set up multiple chess boards in a circle using tables in Upper Usdan and challenging any student to a match, certainly has a tenacious dedication to the game. Although, according to a previous interview done with the Justice, Shankland considered quitting upon entering college, his accomplishments in the sport have amazed the chess world. The Frank P. Samford Fellowship ensures that Shankland's chess career will be well supported. And while he may still be found attending Economics lectures at Brandeis for another year, his favorite place is in front of a chessboard, one checkmate away from victory.
(04/04/13 4:00am)
Dr. Rick Hodes, a physician known for his work treating severely ill children in Ethiopia, will address graduates and receive an honorary degree at Brandeis' 62nd commencement ceremonies this May, the Office of Communications announced today. Hodes will share the stage with five other honorary degree recipients. The 2013 commencement ceremonies will be held May 19 in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. Hodes, the medical director of Ethiopia for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, has spent over twenty years in the country treating children with life-threatening scoliosis or kyphosis. In his role with the JDC, he also oversaw the health care of thousands of Ethiopians seeking to immigrate to Israel in the early 1990s. Hodes and his work have been documented in HBO's Making the Crooked Straight and Marilyn Berger's book This is a Soul. Hodes was a 2007 "CNN Heroes" finalist and an ABC Person of the Week in 2010. "Dr. Hodes exemplifies what one person can do to heal the world," said President Fred Lawrence in a statement. "By helping thousands of children and working to ensure that many more get life-saving or life-changing medical treatment, he reminds us that social justice is personal and that every child is worth saving." The other honorary degree recipients are Vartan Gregorian, former president of Brown University and the New York Public Library; Ellsworth Kelly, the abstract painter, sculptor and printmaker whose paintings "Yellow Curves" (1954) and "Blue White" (1962) are part of the permanent collection of the Rose Art Museum; Chaim Peri, former director of Yemin Orde Wingate Youth Village in Haifa, Israel; Elaine Schuster, co-founder of the Elaine and Gerald Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis and a public delegate to the United Nations General Assembly; and Leon Weiseltier, literary editor of The New Republic and author of several works, both fiction and nonfiction. According to the Office of Communications, all members of the Brandeis community may nominate candidates for honorary degrees. A selection committee composed of trustees, faculty and staff submits a final list each year, which is subject to approval by the Board of Trustees and the University President.
(03/19/13 4:00am)
There are two things to know about Dr. Seuss, and they are "Thing 1" and "Thing 2." Believe it or not, the first time I was exposed to a Dr. Seuss story was in fourth grade, when a teacher read my class the story of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Still, as the Cat in the Hat (Jason Haberman '15) would tell us in the Hillel Theater Group's production of Seussical, we should always expand our horizons and thoughts when we are in the world of Horton and the Whos. Before the show started, the two famous Things from the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2 (Abby Kirshbaum '16 and Courtney Comart '16), sought to liven up the audience as they cartwheeled around the theater and even stole the band conductor's (Alex Faye '15) baton. The show began wildly with a loud yet playful musical ensemble singing about the wonders of imagination, accompanied by the Things, who played joint roles in the show as assistants, and playful, acrobatic clowns. Soon, the Cat and his guest (Nicole Wittels '15), who act as narrators, transport the audience to the Jungle of Nool, where a sad elephant named Horton (Aaron Hentoff '16) lives a solitary life. Gertrude McFuzz (Kristi Freedman '14), a bird with a one-feather tail, constantly tries to seek his love and attention, but loses her confidence because she doesn't sport extravagant plumage like her friend Mayzie La Bird (Caley Chase '16). The story comes into focus as Horton hears invisible cries for help emanating from the air. Although the other inhabitants of the Jungle brand Horton as delusional, the sad elephant was still determined to find the beings in distress, and he eventually does. He soon discovers the beings that cried for help, known as Whos, on a speck of dust. With his signature lyric, "a person's a person, no matter how small," Horton promises to protect the Whos even if the other jungle inhabitants think he's crazy. Hentoff manages to capture Horton's lonely yet determined attitude in his singing, combining a fine mix of perseverance and occasional dejection. Meanwhile, in a subplot of the show, the audience gets to see a magnified version of the Whos' world, which comprises the Mayor and his wife (Robbie Steinberg '13 and Valarie Timms '16); General Schmitz (Matt Crowley '15), who uses a spoon as a weapon and playfully folds "green eggs and ham" into his marching chants; the Grinch (John Schnorrenberg '14), dressed in a Santa suit; as well as other Whos. While all the actors captured the peculiar character of the Whos, the main focus of the Whos' world was a young boy named Jojo, who is, funnily enough, portrayed by the Cat's female companion Wittels (after some hair and headwear adjustments, that is). Much like Horton, Jojo is considered an outcast in his community of Whos. His parents, the mayor and his wife, think Jojo was on a dangerous path of delinquency for "thinking too many 'thinks.' " So, they send him to the General's military school where he can "become a man," not knowing that Jojo's "thinks," from his interactions with Horton, would actually save the Whos world. As the plot unfolds even more, the audience is brought along with Horton and Jojo on a wild chase around the world after Horton loses the Whos when Jungle hunters, the Wickersham Brothers (Ian Carroll '15, Felix Liu Ku '15 and Danny Steinberg '15) confront the elephant-who is hilariously sold to the Circus McGurkus after the Cat tries to auction him off to the audience. Eventually, Horton is put on trial to confirm his supposed craziness and delusions from believing in the invisible Whos. It was at this moment that Gertrude McFuzz finally perks up her confidence to stand up for her beloved elephant, and prove the existence of the Whos, who, under the leadership of Jojo, manage to cry out loud to summon the jungle's attention and clear Horton and Jojo's names. The show concludes with an ensemble of the cast, who once again reminded the audience of Dr. Seuss' most central lessons: to have many "thinks" in our lives, and to always expand our imaginations. As someone who has not experienced the world of Dr. Seuss that much, Seussical, with all its hilarity, audience interaction and general insanity, certainly made my midterm season a lot more fun. It teaches all of us, in a hilariously ridiculous kind of way, that the world is much more than the mere establishment, and that the most successful tend to be the most determined, albeit awkward, individuals.
(03/19/13 4:00am)
At the end of March, the University's Board of Trustees will make its final decisions about next year's budget. Currently, the Board plans to vote on a raise of the cost of attendance for the second year in a row by roughly four percent for the coming school year, raising incoming student costs to about $59,000. Even before this anticipated price hike, the Boston Business Journal ranked Brandeis as the second-most expensive college in Massachusetts based on last year's cost. It is clear the University must be more frugal and resourceful in its spending. This need is amplified by the effects of the economic crisis as families are still struggling to recover and obtain basic needs. During his recent State of the Union address, President Barack Obama announced a tool, the College Scorecard, that intends to help families with limited budgets find "where [they] can get the most bang for [their] educational buck" when picking colleges. This approach of cost-based analysis is not only appropriate for comparing schools, but also appropriate for a variety of fields. For example, in the realm of health care, health economists use cost-based analysis to compare different treatments. They would assign a monetary value to the benefits of one treatment, and perform a benefit-cost ratio calculation. They perform the same calculation on the other treatment as well, and the one that yields the higher ratio would be the smarter investment for society. Cost-base analysis is not only implementable for health care technology, but it may also be a pragmatic approach for allocating scarce budget resources in universities that face constraints and have few other solutions other than raising prices. Evident in the constant increase in cost of attendance, Brandeis seems ripe for such an analysis. Some of the investments that Brandeis undertook in recent semesters suggest that the time for proper spending analysis and allocation is long overdue. For instance, while I have nothing against last year's reopening of the Rose Art Museum or the pool in the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center, realizing that they add to Brandeis' heritage and prestige, I question whether they were the most pressing investments to make during a time of high costs and economic stagnation. The museum's renovation cost the University about $1.7 million, while the pool's renovations cost $3.5 million (although donor Thelma Linsey did contribute $1 million to the latter initiative). A considerable portion of last year's cost increase can be attributed to these projects. In April 2012, former Student Union President Herbie Rosen '12 voiced his concerns about these investments. He thought that "it [was] unsettling that the University [was] relying on [students'] tuition for prior financial situations" such as the repairs of the museum and pool. Although the museum and the pool are useful resources for many members of the Brandeis community, an investment in campus housing, a resource used by all students, would have been more appropriate. The funds could have been dedicated to refurbishing and reinforcing infrastructure such as older residence halls, which include the first-year and sophomore dormitories. Almost every first-year and sophomore student lives year-round in dormitories that are not in strong condition and need modernizations. More resources could be dedicated to repairing the Castle and modernizing East Quad, both of which are aging and deteriorating. Both quads have known problems with insects, infestations and leaks, among other issues. Taking on these projects would require resources, but their benefits can produce a higher benefit-to-cost ratio, because they will help almost every resident and visitor of East Quad and the Castle, where an overwhelmingly high percentage of students will live at some point during their Brandeis careers. Furthermore, the distinguishing feature between such investments and the museum or the pool, is that they would resolve the most salient issues that students face on a daily basis, rather than add an extra investment that students may not utilize as much. In a time of limited resources, we need to wisely choose the investments that are truly important and will yield a larger benefit for their cost. We must decide which investments really matter to our everyday lives, and those that we can put off until we have more stable and abundant financial resources. I still say that the most pressing investments for Brandeis' resources should be its high-caliber undergraduate education, as well as quality, but economic, living conditions for its students. Brandeis families pay large amounts of money every year for an excellent education, and they expect that the most basic products that the University offers them meet high standards. Andrew Flagel, senior vice president for students and enrollment, has criticized the Boston Business Journal's state ranking of Brandeis' costliness, saying that Brandeis cannot be perceived as a state institution when it is actually a national institution, and should be compared instead to colleges nationwide. I do want to point out however, that with the Class of 2016, more than one-third of its students are from the New England region, and when those families make decisions between attending a cheaper state school or Brandeis, the comparison of Brandeis' costs versus state school's costs does matter. As costs are about to rise for most families, the University needs to make better considerations in setting its investment priorities. *
(03/18/13 4:00am)
While the men's and women's tennis teams have yet to face off against University Athletic Association rivals, they tested themselves last weekend against strong New England Small College Athletic Conference foes. Hosting all of their matches this weekend indoors at the Gosman Sports and Recreation Center, the No. 23 women downed No. 29 Bates College 5-4 last Saturday. The men, however, fell to Tufts University by a score of 5-4 on Saturday, while they also lost to No. 21 Bates on Friday 7-2. * "When you're playing good teams-like Bates, who is number 21 in the country, for example-the windows to win aren't very big," said head coach Ben Lamanna of the men's performance. "You might get a few points here and there. We got swept in doubles and lost two tiebreakers. We got closer versus Tufts; we're improving our level of competing but that doesn't mean that we're going to get it done. We've got to learn to step up in the big moments." * Given that the women's match took nearly seven hours, it would be safe to say that there was no shortage of excitement. * Faith Broderick '13 and Maya Vasser '16 won their match at first doubles 8-4, but second doubles yielded the first loss of the day for the Judges, as Alexa Katz '14 and Marissa Lazar '14 fell 8-5. Third doubles yielded a similar result, as Dylan Schlesinger '15 and Sarita Biswas '16 lost a tough 9-7 decision, leaving the Judges down 2-1 going into singles action. * Playing at first singles, Broderick downed Bates sophomore Elena Mandzhukova 6-2, 6-2. Katz took her match at second singles against senior Ashley Brunk by a score of 7-5, 7-6, (7-3). * Bates junior Lucy Brennan took the match at third singles over Vasser 6-2, 6-0, while Bobcats senior Nicole Russell beat Schlesinger 6-1, 6-2 at fourth singles. * With Bates only needing one singles victory to win, a pair of first-years won their matches at the last two singles spots to give the Judges an unlikely victory. * Emily Eska '16 bucked the trend of Bates wins, downing Bobcats sophomore Audrey Grauer at fifth singles 7-6 (7-4), 6-0, while Hannah Marion '16 sealed the win by beating junior Kristin Doerer 6-4, 6-3. * "The girls do a heck of a job training for that kind of stuff," said Lamanna of the women's ability to perform throughout the long day. "They work a lot, getting ready for matches like that. It was a long day with three indoor courts. We got down 4-2 and we came back. Emily Eska took charge at number five singles, and Hannah Marion was unbelievable at sixth singles." * The men's match against Tufts followed a similar nature. The duo of Josh Jordan '13 and Steven Milo '13 won 8-5 at first doubles. * Jumbos senior Mark Westerfield and freshman Nick Telkedzhiev downed Mitch Krems '16 and AlecSiegel '15 at second doubles by a score of 8-4, and Danny Lubarsky '16 and David Yovanoff '16 took their match at third doubles with a 9-8 (7-5) victory. * Holding a 2-1 lead going into singles action, Milo took his match against Tufts senior Ben Barad by a score of 7-5, 6-4. Telkedzhlev then downed Jordan 5-7, 6-4, 1-6, while senior Andrew Lutz beat Krems at third singles 6-0, 6-3. * Siegel then restored some parity by beating junior Austin Blau 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, but Tufts sealed the win when freshman Rob Jacobson downed Yovanoff by a score of 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-3. Lubarsky lost to Jumbos sophomore Brian Tan at sixth singles 7-5, 6-4. * Though not quite as close as Saturday's match, last Friday's match against Bates proved to have many close points. At first doubles, Jordan and Milo dropped a 9-8 (7-5) loss to a pair of All-Americans-seniors Matt Bettles and Rob Crampton. Junior Tim Berg and sophomore Pierre Planche downed Krems and Siegel 8-4 at second doubles. Bates completed the sweep in doubles by having junior Ben Bogard and sophomore Henry Lee beat Lubarsky and Yovanoff 9-8 (7-4). * Milo then picked up a big win at first singles, gaining a measure of revenge by downing Crampton 7-6 (12-10), 6-1. Bettles then defeated Jordan 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-1 at second singles, before junior Timmy Berg beat Krems 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) in the third singles matchup. * Planche compounded the Judges' misery at fourth singles, handing Yovanoff a 6-1, 6-2 loss at fourth singles. Fifth singles saw Lee beat Michael Secular '15 6-3, 6-4, while Siegel downed Bogard, 8-6, at sixth singles. * Moving forward, Lamanna is eager to see how his teams compete against new opponents. * "We'll be playing a couple of good teams over spring break," he said. "They should be good matches and we should have good chances to win them. It's time for us to step up." * Both teams will receive a stern test later this week from cross-town rival Bentley University. The women will take on the Falcons at home on Thursday at 3 p.m., while the men will do battle on Friday at home at the same time.
(03/18/13 4:00am)
For Jeremy Pachter '14, table tennis serves as more than just a hobby. It has become a lifestyle. At six years old, he practiced for five hours a day in his basement, looking to defeat his father, a regular player, at every opportunity. * As a first-year, Pachter lost in his very first match at the Brandeis Tennis Table Club, falling to a graduate student from India. Even in the face of defeat, though, he had much to gain from the outcome-he re-discovered his passion for the sport. * "I hadn't played table tennis in a while, and after that match, I was immediately determined to beat him," he said. "The goal was to become better from that moment...and I did." * Since then, Pachter has smashed his way through countless regional tournaments, rising to a No. 137 national ranking. After securing second-place finishes in both the New England Regional Tournament and the New York Regional Division, he will compete for the New York and New England regions at the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) Championships. The NCTTA Championships is a 48-player tournament from April 11 through 14 in Rockford, Ill. * With three weeks to prepare for the competition, Pachter noted he must maintain a consistent playing schedule and work on fundamental skills. * "At this point, I'll just be playing every day, mostly at the Boston Table Tennis Club [in Medford, Mass.]" he said. "I know what I have to work on and how to compete against the highest level of competition in the sport." * Pachter noted the journey would not have been possible without his coach, Liyung Liang. As an active player, Liang attained a top-75 national ranking and, following retirement, has coached collegiate table-tennis squads in the Boston area. * "Liang was my primary inspiration," he said. "He coaches for premier squads such as [Massachusetts Institute of Technology], and having the opportunity to learn from him as coach of the Brandeis table tennis squad has really been great." * Pachter stated that one of Liang's most important lessons has been to benefit from one-on-one competition. * "When you see yourself against a superior opponent, you use them as stepping stones, and the goal is to eventually become better than them," he said. * At the NCTTA Championships next month, Pachter will look to make the most of that strategy. * "I'll work as hard as I can for this tournament, and from there, I'll see how far I can go," he said. "Sponsors and the US National Table Tennis squad appear at this tournament, and if I do well enough, the Olympics may even be a possibility one day."
(03/05/13 5:00am)
An article in News was incorrect about the name and year of a student. The student is named Asher Preska Steinberg, not Asher Steinberg, and he is '13 not '14. (News, p. 5)
