Last Tuesday, Vice President of Student for Affairs Sheryl Sousa ’90 sent an email notifying the student body that the search committee for the position of Director of Sexual Assault Services and Prevention had selected three finalists for the position.
According to an Oct. 19 Buzzfeed article, actor Anthony Rapp revealed that actor Kevin Spacey made sexual advances on him when Rapp was only 14 years old. With Spacey’s eventual coming out as a gay man, one wonders if the homophobic bigots will commence pressing the case that LGBTQ people are a threat to children.
Something is rotten in cyberspace. Internet platforms of all kinds have become cesspools of organized harassment and bigotry, with those supposedly in charge of maintaining civility and decency allowing it all under the mistaken banner of “free speech.”
The power outage at the Charles River Apartments led students to question the University's emergency preparedness.
Seniors deserve priority for class decision especially those that only need a few requirements fulfilled.
According to a Nov. 2 New York Times article, Americans convicted of sex offenses against children will now have a passport to reflect their actions. Individuals in the Department of Homeland Security's database will be notified that their current passport will be revoked and replaced with the modified version. However, the Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws is against the decision, calling it a "slippery slope." Do you agree with this policy or is it violating individuals' rights?
Exam season is underway and with this comes the influx of students stressed and studying ardently to earn a good grade. This is a commendable action, but intense studying, coupled with the pressure to do well and the high expectations imposed upon students, makes it easy to become discouraged or overwhelmed. School is competitive and right now, outperforming peers can feel like the only thing that matters. This stress can be detrimental, and in order to prevent any disastrous outcomes, it is vital that students keep the truly important things in mind. Grades matter, but they are not everything.
Undoubtedly, simple experiments are exceedingly useful to teach larger concepts and theories. Take Boston’s Museum of Science, for example: One would be hard pressed to describe the hands-on experiments at the exhibits as complex and innovative, but certainly they seem to be enjoyed by the public. I, for one, still remember the toy cars and ramps experiments my science teachers used to teach basic physics theories.
The progressive doctrine that has taken over college campuses across the country in the last few years not only raises legitimate concerns about free speech and First Amendment rights, but, more importantly, it has isolated young millennials in platonic bubbles where diversity of all kinds is king, except when it comes to ideological diversity.
In recent years, some clinical psychologists have debated the rise of narcissism in American college-age students. A May 2010 survey by researchers at the University of Michigan revealed that the level of empathy in college students has dropped 40 percent since 2000. In this context, empathy can be defined as a sensitivity or awareness of the thoughts and experiences of others.
Harvey Weinstein, a name once solely representative of Hollywood’s elite, is now marred with the taste of disdain and contempt. As the discouraging trend of powerful Hollywood men such as Bill Cosby and Bill O'Reilly being accused of sexual assault continues, Harvey Weinstein only adds his name to the growing list. The accounts of Weinstein’s alleged sexual harassment and assault distinguish themselves, as he is one of the biggest producers in Hollywood. Weinstein has launched the careers of some of the biggest actors of the 21st century through his acclaimed films such as “Shakespeare in Love” and “Chicago.” The ways in which he allegedly manipulated women, which many more are beginning to speak about, often put their careers in jeopardy.
According to an Oct. 26 New York Times article, President Donald Trump ordered the release of over 2,800 documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. After the release of these documents, Trump stated that agencies should be extremely circumspect when requesting redactions because "the need for continued protection can only have grown weaker with the passage of time." CIA officials claim that releasing the records may be a threat to national security and intelligence gathering methods, contrary to the belief that more secrets are being protected. How do you feel about this and do you think that all of the documents should have been released?
According to an Oct. 27 New York Times opinion piece, we do. Ruth Whippman asserts that “good social relationships are the strongest, most consistent predictor there is of a happy life,” and also that “the average American spends barely more than half an hour a day on social communication.” So where’s the disconnect? The problem with happiness is that we simply don’t value it. We say we do, of course, because saying we don’t care would be blasphemous. But by the numbers, happiness is far down the societal priority list as income inequality and a competitive, numbers-driven society pressures us economically.
Urge the university to re-evaluate conditions surrounding the Creative Arts Award.
Reform the jail sentencing for individuals charged with drug possession.
With celebrities speaking out about sexual assault in Hollywood, it is important that more celebrities utilize their status and impact for benefiting society.
According to an Oct. 16 New York Times article, former Marine Sergeant Major, Damien Rodriguez was charged with a felony-level hate crime and assault after he attacked employees at an Iraqi restaurant in Portland, Oregon. His friends and family, however, claim that his actions were the result of PTSD and not hatred. Do you feel that Rodriguez’s charges are appropriate?
While Sodexo's success in the recent "Battle of the Chefs!" is commendable, there are still more improvements to be made.
President Donald Trump chose to go forward with rescinding DACA, despite previously saying he would handle the situation "with heart."
The United States, more so than other countries, seems confused about marriage on a conceptual level. Despite the government’s purported separation of church and state, marriage is rewarded with the bureaucratic benefits of tax deductions and implicit visitation rights. The sanctity of marriage is something to be protected within a society in which television programs such as “The Bachelor” and “Married at First Sight” thrive. Over the years, both the meaning and the societal role of marriage in America have become inscrutable.
Brandeis staff, student, and facilities members protest against merit delays
Fight breaks out at Springfest over presence of Israeli flag
A look towards the upcoming French Open
Team Mangok: Mangok Bol and other staff work to resettle Bol’s niece and nephews in the U.S.
Tara VanDerveer, women’s basketball legend, retires