(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)
(03/05/13 5:00am)
Medical Emergency Feb. 26-A female in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center fainted while exercising. University Police and BEMCo responded, and University Police transported the party to the Health Center for further care. March 1-University Police received a call that a student in Cable cut his hand. BEMCo was notified and treated the party on-scene. University Police transported the party to the hospital for further care. March 2-University Police in the area of Shapiro Residence Hall observed an intoxicated female and requested BEMCo to treat the party. She was transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. March 2-A caller reported an intoxicated male party in the lounge in the Hassenfeld Conference Center. University Police and BEMCo responded, and BEMCo treated the party with a signed refusal for further care. March 2-University Police received a report of a student in Village C feeling dizzy. BEMCo was dispatched, and an ambulance was requested to transport the party to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. The community development coordinator was notified. Drugs Feb. 27-University Police received a report of residents in the Foster Mods smoking a class D substance. The community development coordinator was contacted, and University Police seized the contraband. University Judicial charges are to be filed by University Police. A report was compiled. Disturbance March 1-A party in the Foster Mods reported loud music coming from an unregistered Mod party. University Police responded and dispersed the crowd, and University Judicial charges were filed on the disturbance. Larceny Feb. 28-A party in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Complex reported that an unknown party purchased items using her University credit card. A report was compiled, and an investigation will follow. March 1-On Feb. 20, two wireless Internet access points were taken from the ceiling in the hallway near the men's locker room in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. University Police compiled a report, and CCTV footage will be reviewed for possible suspect identification. Miscellaneous Feb. 25-University Police received a report of a past indecent assault from Feb. 16 to 17. The victim is considering various options, and the case will remain open pending further information and investigation. Feb. 28-A Brandeis housekeeping supervisor states that it appeared someone was using the Village B 130 common area as a living space. University Police and the community development coordinator responded, and the belongings were confiscated and brought to the police station. Feb. 28-A community development coordinator received a report that a Brandeis student might have been letting a non-Brandeis affiliated family member live in his assigned room in the Charles River Apartments. University Police and the CDC responded and spoke to the student. The report appeared unfounded; no further action was taken. March 2-A custodian in the Usdan Student Center notified University Police that a male party was sleeping on the couch on the second level of the building. University Police identified the party as a former student. A trespass notice was issued to the party in hand that states he would be subject to arrest if he returns. University Police escorted the party off of University property. -compiled by Marielle Temkin
(03/04/13 5:00am)
Max Fabian '15 left quite the first impression for the Judges this season, shattering the record for the 1,000-yard freestyle in the Oct. 20 home opener against Wheaton College. * From there, he swept countless distance events and made his biggest splash at the University Athletic Association Championships on Feb. 16, shaving 22 seconds off of the school record in the 1,650-yard freestyle. He came within four seconds of earning the first All-Association honor for Brandeis since 2009. Swimming is more than a school sport, though, for Fabian; it is a family affair. * "Swimming runs in the family," he said. "My dad [Dr. Jack Fabian] has always been a very skilled coach and my sister [Eva Fabian] has always been a rewarding presence in my path to success." * Dr. Jack Fabian, head coach of the Keene State University Owls, has transformed the swimming program into a perennial powerhouse, with his swimmers accruing five All-American honors and two consecutive New England Championships in 2009 and 2010. He also serves as an assistant coach on the USA Swimming National Team, leading a crop of premier international swimmers. * Eva Fabian, currently a freshman distance swimmer at Yale University, has plunged into the world record books as a member of the USA National Team. She won the 10,000-meter race at the 2011 Open Water National Championships held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and has accumulated top three finishes in numerous international competitions, all while she was in high school. * Needless to say, Fabian has made his own mark in the swimming lanes. He excelled in his first season at Connecticut College and competed at the USA Swimming National Open Water Select Camp last summer, a launching pad for elite distance swimmers to enter the international scene. * Yet, after transferring to Brandeis last fall, Fabian found what he was looking for; a second swimming "family"-the Judges. * "My experience at Brandeis has been really enjoyable, especially working with such a great mix of teammates," he said. "We-both the seniors and the underclassmen-are all in this together, looking to help each other out and put the Judges back on track." Fabian knew the road to success would be an uphill battle. The turning point for the Judges, though, came after a mid season training venture to Puerto Rico. * "Puerto Rico was really the first time where we could just focus solely on swimming," he said. "We entered as a group of swimmers, but came out as a team. We finally built what we started to put together in the preseason." * The tide finally turned in the Judges' favor when Brandeis earned its first victory since 2010 in a Jan. 11 meet against Bridgewater State University and accumulated 27 victories versus Regis College the following month. * Fabian noted that the UAA Championships, rounding out the Judges' inaugural campaign, marked the most memorable moment of the season for the swimmers. * "After a successful three-day tournament, we became close as a team and really got to know each other," he said. * The Brandeis swimming and diving "family" was established. One figure, particularly, stood out in this journey-not only as a leader of the squad, but as a mentor for Fabian: coach Mike Kotch. Fabian referred to Kotch as a coach who, through his intimate knowledge of individual swimmers and leadership, has been instrumental to the team's success. * "Coach really brought home what it meant to swim for this team," he said. "I'm glad to have had the privilege to work with such a great coach. He is very resourceful and really gets to know each member of the team." * However, the program's rebuilding process is far from over. As Brandeis looks toward its second season in the water, Kotch and Fabian will continue to increase recruitment and build off of a successful campaign. "In terms of next season, we just have to work with what we established," he said. "Now that we know what to expect, we need to expand our numbers. The goal is just to pack more of a punch." Fabian plans to maintain his rigorous regimen of distance workouts and train with his father over the summer. * Ever since his first swimming lesson with Eva as a young child, the pool has been one of his favorite places. * "I'm just looking to stay in the water," he said. "I love swimming." It shouldn't be a surprise-a passion for the sport runs in the family.
(03/04/13 5:00am)
The Brandeis Sustainability Fund has awarded a $25,000 grant to TapBrandeis, a group advocating against the sale of plastic water bottles, to build six "Hydration Stations" across campus. According to TapBrandeis Co-founder Sara Taylor '16 in an interview with the Justice, the plan includes four stations in indoor locations and two in outdoor locations. The exact locations have not yet been confirmed, but Taylor stated that the group had suggested areas such as the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, Usdan Student Center and Mandel Quad, as well as dormitories where there are currently no water fountains, such as East Quad. The stations themselves are similar to water fountains but more convenient, according to Taylor. The indoor stations, for example, would be mounted on walls, where bottles could be placed and be automatically refilled. "Some of [the models] even have a little screen where it says 'You have filled this many bottles,'" which could be used to make an educational impact, according to Taylor. According to TapBrandeis Co-founder Jamie Garuti '15 in an interview with the Justice, the stations also address sanitation concerns, as the stations can be fitted with a filter and the water spout does not make direct contact with water bottles, preventing cross-contamination. Ultimately, the goal of the stations is to encourage the use of reusable water bottles as an alternative to buying bottled water. In an interview with the Justice, Sustainability Coordinator Lea Lupkin said that the stations would be a "fantastic tool" to provide students with clean water and to educate them. "I'm really excited because I absolutely support the students' effort to reduce bottled water but it's very difficult to ask people to change a behavior when there isn't an easy, convenient way for them to change that behavior," said Lupkin. Similar stations are already in place on several other college campuses, airports, parks and other public spaces, according to a Sept. 15, 2011 USA Today article. TapBrandeis, which is also composed of Alina Pokhrel '15, Emma Balmuth-Loris '14 and Jeremy Goodman '14, was formed last semester while the students were taking the experiential learning course "Greening the Ivory Tower," where they were required to come up with a project to promote sustainability on campus. Taylor and Garuti said that they and other classmates were inspired by the documentary Flow, which depicts the negative environmental and ethical consequences of the bottled water industry. The group decided to advocate against the sale of bottled water at Brandeis. Currently, there is a ban on selling bottled water in Usdan Boulevard and Cafe, instituted under former University President Jehuda Reinharz, although bottled water can still be purchased in convenience stores, such as the P.O.D. market. The group started a petition against bottled water sales and has hosted events to raise awareness about the bottled water industry. They also met with Marketing and Sustainability Coordinator of Aramark Erin Fletcher and held a survey to gather student opinions about their cause. "We found that we needed to have a solution before we got rid of the problem," said Taylor, which prompted the group members to research how other schools have implemented bottled water bans, leading them to the idea of Hydration Stations. Originally, the group wanted to retrofit existing water fountains with gooseneck spouts to accommodate water bottle refills. However, after more research, they found that Hydration Stations would be safer and more convenient. This semester, two members-Balmuth-Loris and Goodman-are studying abroad but the group has teamed up with Students for Environmental Action, while continuing to receive survey responses from students and support from administrators. Many details of the project are yet to be determined, according to Lupkin, Taylor and Garuti, but they will continue to meet with school officials and Facilities Services to work out a final plan and timeline. "We want to make Brandeis students more aware and get them in a mindset that they act in an environmentally responsible way," said Garuti. According to its website, the BSF "provides grants, advice and support" to undergraduate students who wish to create a project that supports sustainability on campus. Created in 2010, the fund originally had $50,000 to provide to student projects and was awarded an additional $25,000 from National Office Furniture in 2011. According to Lupkin, the Hydration Stations project received the most funding out of all the projects this year. "It's one of the biggest BSF projects to date and the biggest one this year," she said.
(03/04/13 5:00am)
* Several Brandeis sports teams competed over break. Here's a brief recap of how they performed. * Softball
The softball team opened their season in New York over the winter recess, winning all three of their games. Before defeating Union College 8-7 in extra innings on Feb. 22, the Judges swept the doubleheader Feb. 21 against Castleton State College, shutting out the Spartans first by a score of 8-0 and then 1-0. * The Judges came out swinging in their first game of the season, tallying 12 hits. The game remained scoreless until the fifth inning, where first baseman Melissa Nolan '14 connected for her first home run of the season. Nolan's run was a part of a four run inning for the Judges. * Brandeis did not stop there, however, as the squad got another four runs in the sixth inning, which was highlighted by a RBI double from right fielder Amanda Genovese '15 and a RBI triple from left fielder Danielle Novotny '16. Starting pitcher Nikki Cote '15 went the distance, recording 10 strikeouts to pick up the win. * In the second game against Castleton State College, the Judges scored their lone run just two batters into the game on a RBI double by Novotny. That was the only run Brandeis needed, though, as Cote got the save, finishing Nolan's scoreless effort over the final two innings. * The third contest of the road trip provided a challenge for the Judges. Union College got on the scoreboard first with a run in the first inning. The Judges responded by tying things up on a home run by Cote in the game's second inning. * After trailing by four runs heading into the sixth inning, the Judges scored three runs, including a two-run home run by second baseman Madison Gagnon '16. Brandeis scored the tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a two-out fielding error by Union to force extra innings. * In the eighth, Union intentionally walked the bases loaded and then recorded the second out of the inning, but centerfielder Anya Kamber '15 the hit a walk-off single to win the game. * The Judges next play in Florida against Salve Regina University and Haverford College on Saturday and Sunday, where they will look to continue their winning streak. * Baseball
The baseball squad concluded its first road trip in Florida with a 6-5 victory over the Rochester Institute of Technology on Feb. 24. With the win, the Judges improved to 2-4. * Although the Judges opened their season in Florida with a 12-3 win on Feb. 18 against Warner University, they endured a four-game losing streak throughout the week. The Judges fell to Southeastern University 4-1 on Feb. 19, followed by three losses in as many days to Augustana College, falling by 3-2, 5-4 and 6-0 margins, respectively. * In Brandeis' first game of the season, the Judges broke open the game in the fifth inning, scoring six runs on just four hits to take the 6-1 lead against Warner. The Judges never looked back, scoring three runs in the sixth, one in the seventh and two in the ninth to cruise to the opening day victory. Starting pitcher Colin Markel '14 picked up the win, and he was supported by formidable hitting performances from catcher Chris Ferro '13 and left fielder Nick Cortese '13, who each tallied three hits. * Though the Judges gained the early lead in their second game with a run in the first inning, their bats went silent the rest of the way as the Judges lost a close one against Southeastern. First basemen Dan Gad '14 had the lone RBI for the Judges. * Brandeis' third contest of the week featured a notable pitching performance from pitcher Kyle Brenner '15, who allowed just two earned runs in six innings, while striking out three. However, Augustana College senior pitcher Jared McIntosh outdueled Brenner, allowing two earned runs in eight innings to pick up the win. * In the Judges' second game against the Vikings, Brandeis rallied twice from two-run deficits. In the seventh inning, Brenner's single brought in runs from Ferro and Cortese, and in the ninth inning, RBI singles from third baseman Kevin Barry '14 and right fielder David Tyre-Vigil '16 tied the game again. * The Judges did not close the game well, however, as Augustana College scored the winning run in the bottom of the inning to record their second straight victory against the Judges. * In their next game, the Judges were shutout for the first time this season, but still accumulated seven hits. However, they bounced back and recorded their second win of the season, as pitcher Craig Rothenberg '16 secured his first collegiate win. * The baseball squad will now have some time off to prepare for their University Athletic Association tournament, set to begin this Saturday against Washington University. * Men's Basketball
On Feb. 23, the men's basketball team had a chance to knock off rival New York University at the Coles Sports Center and put itself in a position to make the NCAA tournament. However, the Judges lost 59-57 in a game that came down to the last few possessions. They finished the season at 17-8 (8-6 UAA) and failed to make the tournament for the third season in a row. * On Feb. 17, the Judges fell to Washington University, 76-60. Guards Jay Freeman '13 and Anthony Trapasso '13 and center Wouter Van der eng '13 were all honored for senior day. On Feb. 15, the Judges defeated the visiting University of Chicago 75-56. Against NYU, the Judges failed to make shots down the stretch. Although they led by eight with a little more than 10 minutes left in the first half, NYU made a run to end the half. The game was close the rest of the way. * NYU held a 57-56 lead with nine seconds left in the game. Brandeis ran a play for center Youri Dascy '14, who was fouled on his shot attempt. However, he missed both free throws and NYU secured the rebound, forcing the Judges to foul with just five seconds to play. * NYU senior forward Max Wein knocked down both free throws. Brandeis called a timeout. They then got the ball up the court, but NYU intentionally fouled forward Alex Stoyle '14 with one second on the clock. * Stoyle made the first free throw. Coach Brian Meehan called his final timeout and set up a play for Stoyle to miss and hope, somehow, that a Brandeis player would tip it in. * The shot went up, and an NYU player batted the ball out of bounds, causing a frenzy. * "We got all our best athletes, best jumpers in there," forward Connor Arnold '14 said. "We tried to get a miss off the rim so we could get a tip in. Unfortunately, they blocked us out well and we didn't get a chance." * Guard Gabriel Moton '14 led the team with 14 points. Dascy had 11 points and eight rebounds. * Against WashU, the Judges trailed for almost the entire game. Dascy led the team with 17 points. * On Feb. 15, the Judges led the entire way, opening up a 25 point lead at halftime. Stoyle led the all scorers with 28 points on 10-12 shooting and 4-5 from three. Freeman added 15 points, 5-5 from beyond the arc, in 16 minutes off the bench. * With the possibility that Freeman and Trapasso will return next year due to redshirt eligibility, the outlook for next season is bright. * Women's Basketball
The women's basketball team came from behind to defeat New York University on Saturday in front of a boisterous crowd in the packed Coles Sports Center in New York City. A big second half run sparked the 72-61 victory, giving the Judges an overall record of 10-15 and,4-10 in the University Athletic Association. * On Feb. 15, Brandeis dominated the University of Chicago 68-50, and on, February 17, the Judges put up a fight against No. 13 Washington University but ultimately fell, 62-57. Both games were at home.
* "The three seniors (forwards Erika Higginbottom '13, Courtney Ness '13 and Samantha Anderson '13 ) showed great leadership and determination throughout the entire game," said coach Carol Simon. * "I thought all three seniors ended their careers not only with a great win but all contributing significantly in the win," she added. The Judges started the game quickly by taking a 6-0 lead just one minute, 30 seconds into the game. The game's pace picked up from there, and NYU made a late run to take a 36-28 lead into halftime. * At the end of an eventful second half, guard Kasey Dean '14 nailed a jumper with 3:48 to go, extending the Judges' lead to 58-50 and all but put the game out of reach. Higginbottom led all scorers with 16. Guard Janelle Rodriguez '14 and Samantha Anderson '13 both contributed 12 points. * On Feb. 17, the Judges' game against the highly-touted WashU team came down to the wire. The biggest lead of the game came at the 4:55 mark of the second half with the Bears leading 53-44. The Judges still had a fight left in them to rally. * The Judges cut the lead to two, 54-52, after Cain's jumper with 2:33 to go. After a block by Higginbottom, guard Hannah Cain '15 drove down the lane and laid the ball in to tie the game at 54. On the next possession, however, Bears sophomore guard Maddy Scheppers nailed a three-pointer and gave the Bears a three-point lead. A late basket by senior guard Nishi Tavernier sealed the deal for the Bears. * Cain scored a career-high 17 points to lead the Judges. Dean and Higginbottom both scored 10 points. * On Feb. 15, the Judges dominated the University of Chicago from the outset. Just 3:30 into the game, the Judges held a 9-2 lead. They took a 33-21 lead into halftime, which they bolstered in the second half. Rodriguez led the way with a career-high 22 points. Higginbottom added 10 while Ness had eight points. * Simon said she was proud of the way the Judges played during the last month of the season. * "This was a group that really improved throughout the year," she said. "It's almost like you wish there was another month. I could see the maturation of the team, and the way we all matured as players was great." * The Judges finished the season sixth in the University Athletic Association but the coaches hope that the improvement over the last month will carry into next season.
(03/03/13 5:00am)
You're Invited!
Did you work on the Justice at all during your time at Brandeis? Pull all-nighters in the basement of Usdan or the Shapiro Campus Center? Rush across campus to report on or photograph events? There are over a thousand people who've done it too. Whether you were editor-in-chief, a columnist or a once-in-a-while contributor, we cordially invite you to attend the first ever Justice alumni reunion and media conference on April 26-27, 2013. Media at Brandeis grew as the university did, and members of the Class of '52 quickly organized the Justice to report. The longest-running student publication on campus, the newspaper's multiple generations of student journalists have documented and analyzed the in's and out's of the University. We possess unique perspectives on the early days of President Emeritus Abe Sachar, controversies on campus including the housing "open-door" policy, the "closing" of the Rose Art Museum, and the student takeover of Ford Hall. We've captured student reactions to civil rights, the draft, wars, and elections, as well as spirit weeks, athletics, and the wide variety of other campus events. Today, the Justice continues to redefine itself in the face of the 21st century, bringing our coverage online. Yet it continues to invoke the camaraderie of it's origins and serve as a historical record of Brandeis to date. There is no doubt that the Justice has had a profound impact on this university, and as current students, we can attest to the fact that your hard work and dedication during your years at Brandeis have left a lasting legacy. Please join us to celebrate the Justice, and learn from the individuals who've defined it. Register Here: The cost for alumni to attend is $50, which includes a cocktail reception on Friday, and continental breakfast and lunch on Saturday. You can pay with your Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. You can register here. * Reunion Schedule
Friday, April 26
Open Undergraduate Journalism Courses 9:30-10:50 a.m. "Ethics in Journalism" Professor Eileen McNamara (former Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Boston Globe) Location: Brown Social Science Center 115 12:30-1:50 p.m. - "Media and Public Policy", Professor Eileen McNamara Location: Shiffman Humanities Center 125 3:00 p.m. Registration Opens Location: Justice Office, Shapiro Campus Center (SCC), 2nd Floor 3:30-5:00 p.m. Campus tours led by current Justice editors Meeting point: Shapiro Campus Center Atrium 5:00-6:30 p.m. - Cocktail reception, with welcoming remarks from one of the founding editors of the Justice, Sanford Lakoff '53 Location: the new Shapiro Science Center, atrium and patio Please note: At around 6 p.m. towards the end of the cocktail reception, there will be a panel discussion discussing professionalism in the media and how well the media covered the recent Boston marathon bombings. All students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to attend. Location: the new Shapiro Science Center, atrium [The Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Arts will be holding several evening performances open to alumni to attend. For more information, please see below. The featured event "Late Night with Leonard Bernstein," featuring his daughter Jamie Bernstein, is free but requires ticket reservations in advance. To reserve, please call 781-736-3400 or visit: go.Brandeis.edu/BrandeisTickets] * Saturday, April 27
All events on this day will take place in Sherman Function Hall unless otherwise noted. 8:30 a.m. Continental breakfast 9:00 a.m. State of the News, Justice Senior Editor Andrew Wingens '14, with Q&A 9:10 -10:15 a.m. How the Justice Influenced Careers (Both In and Out of Journalism) Featured Panelists: David Zimmerman '55, author of Sankofa; Alex J. Goldstein '06, Executive Director of the Deval Patrick Committee (DPC) and the TogetherPAC (TPAC); Jeffrey Greenbaum '90, Managing Partner in the Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations group at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, PC; Steve Heyman '06, Features Editor at the New York Times T Magazine. Student Moderators: Joshua Asen '13, Senior Sports Writer and former Sports Editor, and Janey Zitomer '13, Senior Photographer and Journalism Undergraduate Department Representative. 10:30 -11:45 a.m. Covering Campus Politics: The Justice as the Arbiter (and Sometimes Instigator) of Conflict Featured Panelists: Lindsay Gardner '82, Senior Advisor at Oaktree Capital Management and former television journalist; Arnie Reisman '64, award-winning writer, producer and performer as well as Vice President of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts; Benjamin Freed '06, Editor-in-Chief at DCist.com. Student Moderators: Samuel Mintz '14, News Editor, and Sara Dejene '15, Online Editor and former News Editor 12:00 -1:00 p.m. Keynote Address by Ted Gup '72, and lunch 1:15 p.m. University Update from Senior Vice President of Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel, followed by a Q&A 1:45 p.m. -2:45 p.m. Ethical Decision-Making in the Justice Newsroom Featured Panelists: Dana Coffield '86, co-metro editor at the Denver Post and chief investigator in the publication's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the Aurora theater shooting; Jon Fischer '07, Managing Editor at the Washington City Paper; Dan Hirschhorn '06, national politics reporter at the New York Daily News. Student Moderators: Glen Chesir '15 Forum Editor and Jessie Miller '15 Arts Editor 2:50 p.m. -3:00 p.m. Concluding Remarks, How to Stay Involved Andrew Wingens '14 and Robyn Spector '13 3 p.m. Campus tours will be offered by current editors [Please note: from 3:00 -5:00 p.m. there will be a folk festival on the Great Lawn outside of the Shapiro Campus Center as part of the Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Arts] ____________________________________ Further Information
Panel discussions: In addition to Friday's panel discussion on Journalism Education, Saturday's panels will touch on a variety of subjects: Educating Student Journalists, Covering Campus Politics, Ethical Decision-making in the Justice Newsroom, and How the Justice Influenced My Career (inside and outside of journalism). If you are interested in serving on a panel or suggesting a panelist, please email us (alumni@thejustice.org). Keynote Speaker, Ted Gup '72: Ted Gup is a former investigative reporter at the Washington Post who revealed the location of the underground bunker for the U.S. Congress in case of nuclear attack. He has also written for Time Magazine and more recently, The New York Times. In addition, he is the professor and chair of the Journalism Department at Emerson College, and formerly taught journalism at Case Western Reserve. He has received several awards including the George Polk Award for foreign reporting, the Worth Bingham Prize for investigative journalism, and the Gerald Loeb Award. In addition, he is a former Fulbright Scholar and Grantee of the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation. Accommodations: The Marriott Hotel in Newton (five minutes from campus) has been designated as the official hotel for the Justice Reunion. A block of rooms has been reserved with a special Justice Reunion rate of $149 a night (the usual rates are around $205 a night). You may call the hotel (617 969-1000 or 800-228-9290) to make a reservation. When reserving a room, please indicate that you are attending the Justice Reunion. Reservations must be made by March 29th for the preferred rate. For more information and to make your reservation with the discount online, please click here. Festival of the Arts 2013: The annual Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts will be held on April 25-28 at various locations around campus. Highlights of this year's festival include the Brandeis Theater Company production of "Visions of an Ancient Dreamer"; a concert by the Brandeis-Wellesley Orchestra; and "Late Night with Leonard Bernstein," hosted by Bernstein's daughter Jamie, with performances by acclaimed soprano Amy Burton and pianists John Musto and Michael Boriskin. Tickets to the "Late Night with Leonard Bernstein" performance are free but must be reserved in advance. Please email alumni@thejustice.org for ticket reservations. * Reunion Organizing Committee Mr. Paul Levenson '52 Dr. Sanford Lakoff '53 Mrs. Barbara Krasin Kravitz '57 Mr. Sy Raboy '57 Dr. Judith Walzer '58 Dr. Jeffery Golland '61 Dr. Allan Jay Lichtman '67 Mr. Paul D. Broude '79 Ms. Anne R. Exter '80 Mr. Daniel H. Adler '85 Ms. Mari J. Cartagenova '88 Ms. Michelle Leder '88 Mr. Martin R. Lieberman '96 Mr. Dan Friedell '97 Mr. Adam M. Greenwald '98 Mrs. Pam Garretson (Isaacson) '98 Dr. Jodi R. Eichler-Levine '00 Mr. Lex Friedman '02 Mrs. Jennifer (Klein) Seadia '02 Mr. David Dagan '03 Ms. Caroline Litwack '03 Mr. Dan Hirschhorn '07 Ms. Andrea Fineman '10 Ms. Miranda Neubauer '10 ____________________________________ For more information please contact Robyn Spector '13, Deputy Editor at: alumni@thejustice.org
(02/12/13 5:00am)
Three years ago, Brandeis' Music Department began planning annual productions aimed at expanding the opportunities for vocal students at the University. These efforts culminated in the premiere of a folk opera this weekend titled Love in Schlossberg Village. Conceived and directed by Pamela Dellal, a mezzo-soprano concert vocalist and vocal instructor at Brandeis, the production was performed by the Brandeis University Chorus, the Chamber Choir and voice students of the Music Department, the entire performance conducted by Prof. James Olesen (MUS). Originally scheduled for performance on Saturday evening in Slosberg Recital Hall, the production was hastily cancelled due to Winter Storm Nemo, and as road maintenance was undertaken, it was thankfully rescheduled for the following morning in the same location. The scheduling shuffle did not seem to greatly affect attendance to the production, as the recital hall bustled with students, parents and University affiliates alike. The robust attendance is a fitting testament to the anticipation of a performance of this genre at Brandeis. Love in Schlossberg Village is the first production of its kind to have been performed at Brandeis-it is not based on an existing opera, but was created by Dellal by piecing together several works by German composer Johannes Brahms. The storyline, which follows the romantic woes and wants of townspeople in a small village in Germany in the early 19th century, emerged as Dellal re-created the lyrics of the original Brahms works. One of Dellal's main concerns in creating the production was to accommodate the need for active parts for a great number of students, which was very successfully tended. The show featured almost 20 leading roles and up to 60 performers took the stage at once during larger chorus pieces. Technically, the production was no small feat for the performers to pull off-the entire one-and-a-half hour performance was sung in meticulously practiced and largely memorized German. Love in Schlossberg Village has no narrator, contrary to the form of many traditional operas. Rather, the production was kept fluid by slick transitions between songs, and the continuous accompaniment of a single piano, seamlessly executed by pianist Mark McNiell. To ensure that the largely English-speaking audience could keep up with the story, Dellal chose to do something novel-project a pithy English translation of the lyrics to each song onto the main stage wall. As the students performed, viewers could simply glance above their heads to read what they were singing to one another, sans the distracting flipping of program pages. The performance itself was very well planned out and prepared for by Brandeis vocal instructor Pamela Wolfe-the stage was set and every performer was in costume. The male students wore white or blue button-down shirts, similar trousers and some even sported lederhosen-esque suspenders. The female students pranced around the stage in billowing white cotton skirts and dresses with modest corset-structure bustiers, decorated with delicately embroidered flowers. Their hair was braided and tied with ribbons while flowers and trees on the set gave the stage the charm of a small, rural German village. Love in Schlossberg Village follows the story of two young, star-crossed couples, and the townspeople who surround them during the throes of their romances. The audience is first introduced to the slew of busybody townspeople; then as the songs change, each number lets the audience take a closer look at the dynamic between two or three performers: siblings, friends, lovers, mothers and children. The performance concludes with the resolution of all of the woes between the pairs, ending in the festive occasion of a wedding between two of the town's blossoming lovers. As the tale of the townspeople wrapped up, the audience doled out a solid wave of applause while the cast basked in the success of their performance. Despite the technical challenges that were presented in the scheduling and showcase of the performance, Dellal and her colleagues managed to pull off quite a feat in Brandeis' musical history.
