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Brandeis University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1949 | Waltham, MA

Nehama Libman


Articles

National newspapers no longer provided for free

Returning students were surprised not to find the usual copies of major national newspapers outside the game room in the Usdan Student Center when they returned to campus this semester.The USA Today Readership Program, which provided the USA Today, the New York Times and the Boston Globe, was discontinued this fall "due to budget constraints," Director of Student Activities Stephanie Grimes said.Student Activities cut the program because it determined that its cost was disproportionate to its effect on student life, she said."The program costs in excess of $10,000 for the nine-month school year," Assistant Dean of Student Life Alwina Bennett said in an e-mail to the Justice.The funds previously allocated for the program are now used for campus activities like Stein nights, Bennett said."Given that many folks now subscribe to papers online and that we were spending 20 percent of our budget to fund the program, we decided that the monies could be spent better elsewhere to benefit the student body," Bennett said.


Professors recognized for talents at annual ceremony

Four professors were honored for excellence in teaching and mentoring with the annual Brandeis Teaching Awards on May 16.At a reception in the International Lounge, students gave presentations in honor of the recipients.The winners, who were announced at a university faculty meeting in April, received three awards from the Committee for the Support of Teaching and one from the Student Union.Professors Ibrahim Sundiata (AAAS), William E.


Institute trains profs in Israel-area studies

A program to train professors in Israel-area studies instruction is gearing up for its second year, this time incorporating a trip to Israel as part of its appeal.The Brandeis University Summer Institute of Israel Studies consists of two weeks of seminars on Israeli topics at Brandeis, followed this year by a week in Israel visiting archaeological sites, Arab communities and other sites of public interestSeminars at Brandeis will address current issues ranging from Middle Eastern politics to Israeli film, art and culture.Among its featured scholars are director of the new Crown Center for Middle East Studies Shai Feldman, Professor of Israeli Society at New York University Zvi Ben-Dor and Professor of Jewish Thought at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem Aviezer Ravitsky."The program is designed for professors who aren't necessarily professors of Judaic Studies," Charles Givre, an intern with the Summer Institute, said.


CORE stands up to 'Take Back the Night'

Approximately 150 students and faculty gathered at Rabb steps last Tuesday for the annual Take Back the Night anti-sexual assault rally run by the Committee on Rape Education (CORE).Holding candles and chanting, "Brandeis unite!


Confusion develops regarding religion in Atrium

After Sarah Slone '05 filed a request in March to use the Shapiro Campus Center atrium for Chabad's annual Purim Megillah reading ceremony-during which the book of Esther is read to commemorate the Jewish triumph over a potential execution-Linda Corriveau, a manager in the campus center, said the event could not use the space.Slone was told that according to conditions laid out by the building's donor, Chabad's program was prohibited because of its religious nature"[Corriveau] said we wouldn't be able to use [the Atrium] because the donor had requested it be a neutral space," Slone said.


Admissions: applications up 26 percent from last year

The number of applications for fall 2009 undergraduate admission increased by 26 percent this year, according to newly released statistics from the admissions office.Director of Enrollment Deena Whitfield said next year's incoming class was chosen from a pool of 7,344 applicants, allowing the University to choose more selectively and from a larger, more diverse group of applicants.Whitfield said she estimates that the overall acceptance rate will ultimately be around 38 percent, depending on the number of applicants accepted from the waitlist.


Campus-debit card planned

Picture this: A student waiting in line at Walgreen's pulls out his wallet, distraught to find his wallet empty, save of course, for his student identification card.The Student Union Advocacy Committee is seeking to allow student IDs to be used as debit or credit cards.Committee co-chair Ezra Stark '06 said ID cards would be backed by a bank picked through a bidding process.


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