The Justice, January 18, 2011 issue

ARTS Page 19

SPORTS Track teams excel at home 16

SPRING COURSES

FORUM Lawrence reflects on Tuscon shooting 10 The Independent Student Newspaper

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of

B r a n d e is U n i v e r sit y S i n c e 1 9 4 9

Justice

Volume LXIII, Number 16

www.thejustice.org

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

administration

THE QUEENS HOLD COURT

Univ plans inauguration ■ The Inauguration Planning

Committee is planning a week of events including panel discussions leading up to President Lawrence’s inauguration on March 31.

By EMILY KRAUS JUSTICE EDITOR

On Saturday, Jan. 1, Frederick Lawrence began serving as the University’s eighth president ahead of his inauguration, which will take place Thursday, March 31 in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center.

When asked to describe his first week as University president, Lawrence wrote, “Hectic, inspiring, gratifying and humbling all come to mind.” He sent an e-mail to the Brandeis community just after be-

Waltham, Mass.

coming president at midnight on Jan. 1, writing, “Together, we will write the next chapter in the great story of Brandeis.” Over the next week, in addition to attending an event and meetings on campus, Lawrence traveled to Chicago, New York City and Palm Beach, Fla. to meet with trustees and other University supporters.

The inauguration will be just one part of a week of events for the Brandeis community. In a Jan. 13 e-mail to the Justice, Lawrence wrote, “The inauguration, of course, officially installs a new president. But what I want this to be is a celebration of Brandeis and all that has been accomplished, and all that lies ahead.”

The Inauguration Planning Committee is co-chaired by Senior Vice President of Administration Mark Collins and Assistant to the

See INAUGURATION, 7 ☛

CRIME

Student charged in hit-and-run ■ Four charges were

pressed against the student who hit two girls returning to East Quad after dinner at the Chabad House on Dec. 3 of last year.

By SARA DEJENE JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

A Brandeis University student has been pressed with both criminal and civil charges in the hitand-run incident that occurred on campus the evening of Dec. 3 2010, according to Sgt. Timothy King of the Waltham Police Department.

The student was charged Dec. 8 2010 with “leaving the scene of a collision with injury, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, fail-

ure to slow for pedestrians on a roadway and speeding following a hit-and-run accident,” King said in a telephone interview with the Justice yesterday. The charges of leaving the scene of a collision with injury and negligent operation of a motor vehicle are criminal, while failure to slow for pedestrians on a roadway and speeding are civil offenses. However, King said that all charges will be read on the same day when the student is summoned to appear in court.

According to King during the same interview, the student charged will most likely be summoned to court if he or she has not been already. However, when initially contacted on Jan. 14, the clerk’s office at the Waltham District Court did not have any file of the driver on record; the office

See CHARGES, 7 ☛

ROBYN SPECTOR/the Justice

INSPIRING WORK: Gloria White-Hammond delivered a keynote speech during the “Queens of His Dream” memorial last night.

Performances honor late Dr King ■ Students honored the Rev.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through community service, music and poetry.

By FIONA LOCKYER JUSTICE EDITOR

Brandeis commemorated the late Rev. Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. yesterday in the University’s sixth annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King

tive Metropolitan Ministries, which organized the volunteer opportunities.

“All he did was e-mail me and ask if we could put it [the Memorial and the Day of Service] together and I said sure, and he put the word out and lo and behold he got 300 folks to be involved with the day of service,” Adams explained in an interview with the Justice. of service,” Adams explained in an interview with the Justice.

See MEMORIAL, 7 ☛

Afternoon of academia

Men set new record

New Atlanta Posse

Brandeis bade Jehuda Reinharz farewell at an academic symposium featuring well-known speakers.

 The men’s basketball team won 11 games in a row to start the season before falling twice last weekend.

 Incoming Liberal Arts Posse members have been chosen from the southern city.

FEATURES 9 For tips or info call (781) 736-6397

Jr. Memorial, capped by a collection of performances titled “The Queens of His Dream.”

The memorial, which was announced on Jan. 10 by a communitywide e-mail from Associate Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams, took on a new aspect this year by becoming a day of service coordinated by the Rev. Alexander Kern, in addition to its role as a memorial.

Kern, in addition to being the University’s Protestant chaplain, is also executive director of Coopera-

Let your voice be heard!

Submit letters to the editor online at www.thejustice.org

INDEX

SPORTS 16

ARTS SPORTS

17 16

EDITORIAL FEATURES

10 8

OPINION POLICE LOG

10 2

News 3 COPYRIGHT 2011 FREE AT BRANDEIS. Email managing@thejustice.org for home delivery.

2

TUESDAY, january 18, 2011

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THE JUSTICE

NEWS AP BRIEFS

POLICE LOG

Virginia Thomas: phone call to Anita Hill was “a mistake”

Medical Emergency

Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, now says that it was a lapse in judgment that led her to solicit an apology from Prof. Anita Hill (Heller), the woman whose testimony almost derailed Clarence Thomas’ Senate confirmation nearly 20 years ago.

In an interview with the Daily Caller’s Alex Pappas, Ginni Thomas declined to explain the reasoning behind her decision to leave a voicemail on Hill’s office phone at Brandeis in Oct. 2010 with the request.

She termed the subject of the call “a private matter,” but she also acknowledged that “it was probably a mistake on my part.”

Thomas’s call shocked the Washington political establishment and left many observers scratching their heads over why she would want to lift the scab on an old family wound. Hill, for her part, said at the time that she’d initially assumed it was a prank.

“Good morning Anita Hill, it’s Ginni Thomas,” she said in the call. “I just wanted to reach across the airwaves and the years and ask you to consider something. I would love you to consider an apology sometime and some full explanation of why you did what you did with my husband. So give it some thought, and certainly pray about this, and come to understand why you did what you did. OK, have a good day.”

If the idea was to bring some sort of closure on the matter for both herself and Hill, that clearly didn’t work. News of the call roused the long-dormant media debate over Clarence Thomas’s character. In partial response to the news of Ginni Thomas’s call, Lillian McEwen, a longtime ex-girlfriend of Clarence Thomas, came forward and corroborated some of Hill’s original accusations—even though McEwen declined a request to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thomas confirmation at the time.

Ginni Thomas also recently resigned her post as the head of the Tea Party-affiliated activist group Liberty Central, leading some to speculate that fallout from the controversial call had prompted her departure. In her interview with the Daily Caller, Ginni Thomas dismisses this notion as “laughable,” saying that she quit her leadership post mainly to clear up time for other pursuits—such as consulting on a partnership between Liberty Central and the Patrick Henry Center for Individual Liberty.. She still remains an active member of Liberty Central, she stressed.

Dec. 8—University Police received a call from a party having muscle spasms and difficulty breathing.

BEMCo treated the party onscene, and the party was then transferred to the NewtonWellesley Hospital.

Larceny

Dec. 7—A caller in Deroy Hall informed University Police that his laptop had been stolen from his unlocked room.

No suspect information was provided. University Police compiled a report on the theft.

Dec. 7—A student in Rosenthal East informed University Police that a laptop had been stolen from an unlocked room.

University Police compiled a report on the theft.

Dec. 11—A student in Reitman Hall reported that his unattended laptop was stolen from the lounge.

University Police compiled a report on the theft.

Dec. 15—A party informed University Police that her unsecured bicycle had been stolen from Rosenthal Quad.

University Police compiled a report on the theft.

Dec. 16—A party in Gordon Hall reported a stolen laptop from an unlocked room. University Police compiled a report on the theft.

Disturbance

Dec. 16—A party in the Foster Mods informed University Police that she heard a woman screaming, but when she went outside, she did not see or hear anyone.

University Police reported that a female in the Mods was screaming and crying. She informed police that her boyfriend had just broken up with her over the phone. No further action was taken.

Dec. 16—A party in the Village reported hearing screaming by the fitness room.

University Police reported finding an intoxicated, combative female screaming and yelling. The party was handcuffed and transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital by ambulance.

Vandalism

Dec. 17—A party reported that two vehicles in Hassenfeld Lot had been “egged.”

University Police compiled a report on the incident.

Dec. 22—University Police reported that a rear passenger window was broken in a car in Theater Lot. University Police notified the student who owned the car and compiled a report on the incident.

Jan. 7—University Police received a report of vandalism in a men’s bathroom in Kutz Hall.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS nAn article in Forum misspelled the writer’s name. The writer’s name is Rebecca Blady, not Rebeca Blady. (Dec. 7, 2010) The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. E-mail editor@ thejustice.org.

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Miscellaneous

Dec. 11—Two parties were seen on closed-circuit television camera lighting objects on fire and throwing them into the Massell pond.

University Police spoke to the parties and compiled a report on the incident.

Dec. 11—A reporting party informed University Police that a dog had entered the Goldfarb Library.

University Police removed the dog, which was then returned to its owner.

Dec. 15—University Police received a report of a student stealing paid software.

University Police compiled a report.

—compiled by Fiona Lockyer

AP BRIEF Gov Patrick appoints Middlesex sheriff

Massachusetts court orders hearing in 1986 slayings BOSTON—The highest court in Massachusetts on Tuesday ordered a judge to review new DNA evidence in the case of two men convicted of murdering two alleged associates of the mob in the 1980s.

Frank DiBenedetto and Louis Costa were convicted in the murders of Frank Chiuchiolo and Joseph Bottari in Boston in 1986.

Both DiBenedetto and Costa argued that newly discovered evidence shows that DNA found on DiBenedetto’s sneakers could not have come from either of the victims.

The Supreme Judicial Court on Tuesday sent the case back to Superior Court for a judge to consider the DNA evidence.

The court said that it did not find that a new trial is “necessarily called for,” but sent the case back to Superior Court for further findings on the DNA evidence “and its importance to the defendants’ claim DiBenedetto was not the third shooter in light of the evidence presented at trial.”

The bodies of Chiuchiolo and Bottari were found in a park in Boston’s North End on Feb. 19, 1986.

Chiuchiolo had been shot seven times, including five times in the head. Bottari had been shot sixteen times, six times in the head.

During the second trial, the judge rejected a defense request to allow testimony on the defense theory that the victims, alleged mob associates, were killed not by DiBenedetto and Costa, but by fellow mob members as fallout from an earlier mob murder.

University Police took pictures and compiled a report on the incident.

ASHER KRELL/the Justice

Last-minute play before work

Robbie Steinberg ’13 enjoys snow left over from recent snowstorms by sledding on the hill next to Goldfarb Libary the day before classes begin.

BOSTON—State Rep. Peter Koutoujian has been named the new Middlesex County sheriff, replacing James DiPaola, who committed suicide last year.

Gov. Deval Patrick said he tapped the Waltham Democrat in part because of his background as a Middlesex County prosecutor from 1991 to 1995 and his record as an advocate for crime victims.

Koutoujian most recently served as House chairman of the Financial Services Committee and has served as past chairman of the Health Care Committee.

As sheriff, Koutoujian will oversee the Billerica House of Correction, Cambridge Middlesex Jail and all sheriff’s office operations. There are 54 cities and towns in Middlesex County.

Patrick called Koutoujian “a relentless advocate for both crime victims and social services.”

Koutoujian, who has spent more than a decade at the State House, said he’s looking forward to the challenge.

Koutoujian, 49, is also one of Patrick’s supporters and has contributed $200 to Patrick’s campaign committee since 2009.

Koutoujian graduated from Bridgewater State University and New England School of Law and received his MPA from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

He was first elected to the Massachusetts House in 1996.

Police say DiPaola killed himself with a single gunshot to the head after checking into a Wells, Maine, hotel in November. He had been the subject of a front-page Boston Globe story reporting that he planned to both collect his salary and a nearly $100,000 annual pension.

Koutoujian will serve until the next statewide election in 2012.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Understanding protein-RNA interactions

Andy Berglund of the Institute of Molecular Biology at the University of Oregon will be giving a lecture about protein-RNA interactions in myotonic dystrophy and a small-molecule approach to target the toxic element in this disease.

It will be hosted by Prof. Douglas Theobald (BCHM) as a joint Biology and Biochemistry Seminar and part of the Kaplan Lecture Series. Tomorrow from 4 to 5 p.m. in Gerstenzang 121.

Investigating gene-brain relationships

Susan Rivera of Center for Mind and Brain at the University of California Davis will be giving a lecture titled “Investigating Gene-Brain Relationships Across the Lifespan in Fragile X.” This is a Psychology department colloquium and a Weiner/Igert Lecture.

Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in LevineRoss in Hassenfeld Conference Center.

Study abroad info session

Navigating the off-campus study process and finding the best study program for you can be challenging.

Each of the information sessions is designed to give students an overview of the off-campus study process at Brandeis. The information session will include tips for researching programs and destinations, the application process, getting credit for work off campus, financial aid and resources and services the Office of Study Abroad provides.

Attending a general information session is mandatory for students wishing to study off campus for the semester or academic year.

After attending an information session, students can set up an appointment with a member of the study abroad staff.

Thursday from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Usdan Student Center Alumni Lounge.

“If only he weren’t named Cassirer”

This Jewish Studies colloquium provides a critical forum for graduate students and faculty to present and discuss works in progress, fostering an interdisciplinary intellectual community in all areas of Jewish studies.

In each session, participants will discuss a paper presented by faculty or graduate students from Brandeis and other institutions.

The presenter will begin with a brief overview (5-10 minutes) of the work, and the rest of the session will be open to questions and answers. Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. in Lown 315.

BINGO!

Kick off the semester with a bingo series and win great prizes for the start of the new year! Thursday from 10 to 11 p.m. in Ollie’s Eatery.

THE JUSTICE

Univ begins search for a new provost President Lawrence, hopes to choose another provost for the new academic year.

By Sara Dejene JUSTICE Editorial assistant

University President Frederick Lawrence has created a search committee to look for the next provost, according to a campuswide e-mail he sent out Jan. 5. The committee is made up of six faculty members, three staff members, a trustee, a graduate student and one undergraduate student, according to the e-mail.

The committee has also partnered with the search firm Storbeck/Pimentel and Associates, LLC, the same firm that helped identify Lawrence as a candidate for president, to recommend potential candidates for the position.

In his e-mail, Lawrence said that the committee would search for both a provost and a senior vice president for academic affairs.

However, in a telephone interview with the Justice, Senior Vice President of Communications and External Affairs Andrew Gully said that the newly formed committee would search for the provost first and then conduct a separate search for the senior vice president for academic affairs once the provost had been selected.

Gully explained that the provost, once chosen, would assist in appointing a senior vice president for academic affairs.

The provost search committee, which is chaired by Prof. Sacha Nelson (BIOL), includes Ph.D. candidate Jane Harries, Student Union Director of Academic Affairs Marla Merchut ’12, Prof. John Plotz (ENG), Chair of East Asian Studies Prof. Aida Yuen Wong (FA), Prof.

David Cunningham (SOC), Prof.

Anita Hill (Heller), Prof. Carol Osler (IBS), Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer Frances Drolette, Dean of Academic Services Kim Godsoe, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Michaele Whelan and member of the provost Board of Trustees member and Heller School Board of Overseers Thomas Glynn.

In an e-mail to the Justice, Lawrence said that the search for a new provost is “now is under way.”

Current provost Marty Krauss announced her plan to step down from her position as provost and

vice president for academic affairs

by June 2011, according to a Sept. 7, 2010 issue of the Justice.

According to a press release from the committee members, the committee “hopes to consider a diverse field of candidates from inside and outside the University.”

The press release outlined a plan to identify potential candidates.

The committee aims to recruit interested individuals by placing a brief advertisement in major venues.

In addition, the committee will also accept nominations.

Those who are interested will receive documents, which the committee is currently working on, that will fully describe the University and the provost’s responsibilities based on the report from the Administrative Structure Advisory Committee.

Once 10 to 20 candidates are chosen, the committee will conduct inperson interviews and will ask outstanding candidates for references.

Lawrence will be provided with a final short list of candidates from the committee.

The press release also stated that Brandeis community leaders would also be consulted towards the end of the completely confidential search process.

When asked if students would be offered opportunities to place input in the search, the president wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that he would speak with the committee about ways to gain input from “across the community, including from students beyond the two now on the committee. ... That effort needs to be balanced with confidentiality concerns, of course,” he explained. “But I am sure we can find the correct balance.”

The committee stressed the aspect of confidentiality in its press release.

“Many top candidates will not apply if they are not promised strict confidentiality,” stated the press release.

It went on to explain that candidates would suffer the risk of not being taken seriously for other positions if it was public knowledge that they have already been “turned down somewhere.”

Lawrence wrote in his e-mail that it is the committee’s hope and expectation to find a new provost in by the next academic year.

—Fiona Lockyer contributed reporting.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2011

3

COMMITTEE REVIEW

administration

■ The committee, formed by

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YOSEF SCHAFFEL/Justice File Photo

REVIEWING POLICIES: Adam Jaffe and others will use hypothetical case studies to examine the merit of faculty contributions.

Faculty contribution to be reviewed ■ Adam Jaffe and the

Faculty Workload Committee will look at ways to increase contributions from the Arts and Sciences faculty.

By Andrew wingens JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe announced at the Dec. 2 Arts and Sciences Chairs meeting that he will be looking for volunteers to work with him and the Faculty Workload Committee to review the merit of faculty contributions using hypothetical cases, a plan of action based on the findings of a May 2010 Faculty Workload Committee report.

The hypothetical cases would examine the merit of intervention by University administration that could potentially increase faculty contributions.

Jaffe said he plans to report back to the Arts and Sciences Chairs about the composite hypothetical cases in February or March.

In May 2010, the Arts and Sciences Faculty Workload Committee released a report that reviewed the contributions of faculty members in the School of Arts and Sciences to the established missions of Brandeis University.

The Faculty Workload Committee

report reviewed the “overall parameters governing what constitutes fulltime work for an Arts and Sciences faculty member,” according to the report.

A complete workload for a faculty member is based on three dimensions: service, teaching and research or creative work.

Teaching includes a suggested minimum annual enrollment of 40 students, office hours and responsiveness to students. Service is defined by departmental service obligations and student advising among other commitments.

The third aspect is that “all tenured and tenure-track faculty are expected to engage in scholarship/research or creative work,” according to the report.

“Expectations with respect to scholarship/research or creative work will vary by discipline,” stated the report.

The report recommended that the University intervene to adjust the workload of those faculty who fail to make adequate contributions to the University.

Faculty members who do not contribute enough to the University can be assigned additional teaching, advising and service assignments, stated the report. If the faculty do not meet the expected levels of contributions in the area of research and do not take on additional teaching or service, they may be subject to a salary reduction.

The report concluded that “for the foreseeable future, the increase in enrollments and limitations on faculty hiring will inevitably increase the overall burdens borne by the faculty in terms of teaching and service, especially advising.”

Prior to the May report, a February 2010 Faculty Workload Committee report proposed a new merit review process, which was not ultimately implemented.

According to the report, “It was decided not to try to implement the new process this year, but rather to experiment first with modifications of the existing system.”

The report defined contributions as helping to advance to the University’s missions in the areas of scholarship or creative work, teaching and service.

The February report recommended that the University follow “a formal procedure by which all tenured faculty members in Arts and Sciences will report on their recent contributions to the university and their plans for the near future, which is updated and reviewed every 5 years.”

The May report essentially voided the findings of the February report.

“Implementation of a once-in-fiveyears reporting mechanism for tenured faculty that we recommended in our earlier memorandum has been suspended in favor of expanding the existing annual faculty activity’s report,” stated the May report.

admissions

Eleven Atlanta students chosen for next Posse ■ The students will be

members of the Liberal Arts Posse after its yearlong hiatus.

By tyler belanga JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The Brandeis Liberal Arts Posse program, part of the nationwide Posse Foundation dedicated to preparing exceptional students for college, will resume in 2011 after a year-long hiatus. Eleven high school seniors from Atlanta were selected for the program in Dec. 2010 and will be on campus this semester, according to Dean of Academic Services and Posse Foundation Liaison Kim Godsoe.

Due to budgetary constraints, the Liberal Arts Posse program was suspended in fall 2009, according to an Aug. 31, 2010 Justice article.

Then-University President Jehuda

Reinharz announced in an Aug. 25 campuswide e-mail on that the program would be able to return due to donations from several anonymous donors.

Godsoe, in an e-mail to the Justice, wrote about the return of a program that she believes is very valuable to the Brandeis community.

“The return of Liberal Arts Posse means many wonderful things for our community. Posse Scholars are selected for their leadership skills, and it is a very, very competitive selection process—less than 10% of students who are nominated for this honor are chosen,” wrote Godsoe.

Godsoe added that students at Brandeis who have received the Posse scholarship in past years are all active in many aspects of campus life as Community Advisors, Student Union representatives and Intercultural Center leaders, for example.

According to its website, the Posse Foundation was founded in 1989, and since that time, over $334 million has been awarded in scholarships by the foundation’s university partners. All students admitted to the Liberal Arts Posse program receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship.

High school students selected for the Posse program are trained throughout the second half of their senior year of high school to further develop their leadership skills, communication skills and problemsolving skills.

Godsoe wrote, however, that it is important to remember that students selected for the Liberal Arts Posse program are already very accomplished and capable people.

“Posse students, whether from Atlanta or New York, are already very prepared for college. They are often the valedictorian or salutatorian of their class, have won many academic

awards and community awards, and are recognized leaders in their schools and communities.”

Godsoe wrote that, as was the case with most other colleges and universities around the country, many difficult financial decisions had to be made during the recent economic downturn.

“Posse is a very valuable program to the University, but also a very expensive program. It was heartbreaking to have to suspend it for a year, but Reinharz was instrumental in raising the funds so the program could be reinstated,” wrote Godsoe. “[University] President [Frederick] Lawrence also cares greatly about the program, and he is working with prospective donors to ensure that it continues at Brandeis,” Godsoe wrote.

According to a Dec. 14, 2010 article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution,

President Barack Obama also donated a portion of his $1.4 million Nobel Peace Prize Award to the Posse Foundation last year.

The Brandeis Liberal Arts Posse program came to campus in fall 1998, and the first Science Posse arrived at Brandeis in fall 2008.

Godsoe praised the next group of Posse students, writing that the scholars from Atlanta are “absolutely fantastic.” She also added that most universities with two Posse groups on campus select students from two different cities, and the reinstatement of the program this year gave Brandeis the opportunity to be a “dual city campus.”

Godsoe wrote, “While the University is very well known and respected in many parts of the country, it is less known in the south.

This was an opportunity to help Brandeis become a household name in all regions of the U.S.”

Attention Brandeis clubs and local businesses:

This could be your ad!

Special low rates for local businesses and on-campus groups.

Contact Cody Yudkoff at ads@thejustice.org for a rate card and more information.

THE JUSTICE

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Tuesday, JANUARY 18, 2011

5

Centers and institutes

VOLUNTEERING FOR PEACE

Study finds larger Jewish population ■ The study found that there

are 20 percent more U.S. Jews than previously thought and addressed Jewish community involvement.

By ANDREW WINGENS JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

ASHER KRELL/the Justice

King’s memory honored through service Protestant Chaplain Alexander Kern speaks at the day of community service to honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., sponsored by the Department of Student Life and the Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, which coordinated volunteer efforts.

A study conducted by the Steinhardt Social Research Institute at Brandeis found that there are now 6.5 million Jews in the United States, which is 20 percent more than previously thought.

Klutznick Professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies Leonard Saxe (Heller), the lead researcher of the study, presented the findings last December at the Association for Jewish Studies conference in Boston.

The new study employed a new paradigm that increased researchers’ ability to accurately study and measure small groups by aggregating more than 150 national surveys conducted by the United States government and independent institutions that asked about religious identity.

The findings contradict previous estimates by the 2000-2001 National Jewish Population Survey, which noted a negative trend in Jewish population growth.

In a Dec. 27, 2010 op-ed published in The Jerusalem Post, Saxe wrote, “Concern about shrinking U.S. Jewish community has been fueled, in part, by socio-demographic studies. But, as has been suspected for some time, many of the key studies dramatically underestimated the Jewish population.”

The National Jewish Population Survey consisted of surveys and interviews that were administered to thousands of Jews and non-Jews, according to the Jewish Virtual Library.

In an interview with the Justice, Saxe noted his study signifies that the Jewish community should no longer be seen as a “melting ice cube,” and the narrative of the Jewish community can change to reflect the growth of American Jewry.

One challenge of calculating the number of American Jews, Saxe explained, is that Jews define themselves in a variety of ways.

Therefore, it is difficult to understand the Jewish community only by asking individuals whether they are Jewish.

Another part of the study additionally examined the involvement of American Jews in the Jewish community.

Saxe conducted a survey of 1,400 Jews and used that data to estimate that about 82 percent of Jews see themselves as Jewish by religion, while others identify as Jews for other reasons, such as culture.

Saxe, however, noted that this means that Jewish institutions like synagogues are even less successful than previously thought because they are attracting an even smaller percentage of the Jewish population.

Additionally, over half of those who identify as Jewish by religion do not belong to a synagogue, and the vast majority of Jews have limited to no understanding of the Hebrew language.

“The problem isn’t the rejection of Jewish identity; the problem is the lack of the number of meaningful experiences for people to be involved in,” said Saxe.

Saxe pointed to the potential for programs such as Taglit-Birthright to engage young Jews with their Judaism and the State of Israel.

A 2009 study conducted by the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies concluded that Birthright alumni are more likely to become members of a synagogue and give their children a Jewish upbringing than Jews who have not taken part in the program.

At a January 2011 Birthright event, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu promised to double Israel’s investment in Birthright, reported The Post.

“My government will give more than double its investment in Birthright and over the next few years, we will invest more than $100 million in Birthright,” said Netanyahu, according to the Post.

DINING SERVICES

Fall Aramark fundraiser Physicists contribute to ATLAS collects for homeless RESEARCH

■ Findings from the ATLAS experiment give insight into what matter was like at the beginning of the universe.

By MARIELLE TEMKIN JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

The Brandeis Experimental High-energy physics group contributed to the ATLAS experiment’s latest findings regarding a quark-gluon plasma which support certain theories about the earliest stages of the universe, according to Prof. Craig Blocker (PHYS).

This plasma is important because there is a theory that predicts that the very early universe went through a stage during which it was a quark-gluon plasma, and all the matter that we know now was condensed into a very small volume at a high temperature, Blocker said. “The fact that [this state of matter] was predicted and we see it is significant.”

“In the plasma, sometimes a pair of very high-energy particles is created, and what we see is that one of the particles loses a lot of energy as it travels through the plasma. So we see an imbalance of the two particles, and that is the evidence we have for the plasma,” Blocker said.

The members of the group are Physics Profs. Jim Bensinger, Hermann Wellenstein, Larry Kirsch and Blocker; associate research scientist Christoph Amelung, who works in Geneva at the Large Hadron Collider; and Brandeis gradu-

ate students Scott Aefsky, Dan Pomeroy, Serdar Gozpinar, Lou Bianchini and Laurel Coffey.

Blocker said in an interview with the Justice that the Brandeis group did not specifically work on the analysis of the plasma but that “we are part of the collaboration [of the ATLAS experiment], and we built and installed parts of the detector that were used.” The ATLAS experiment studies protonproton collisions, particle physics and heavy ion physics, according to Blocker.

The Brandeis group became part of the ATLAS collaboration after it was involved in building a superconducting supercollider near Dallas, but the construction of that collider was canceled by Congress in 1993, according to an e-mail from Blocker. The Brandeis group looked for another outlet for its efforts and “decided that the LHC had the most promise for providing interesting new particle physics results,” Blocker wrote.

The heavy-ion experiment, which was conducted in the LHC in Geneva using lead nuclei, rendered evidence that is significant because it “is probably the first definitive evidence of the creation of a quark-gluon plasma in collisions like this,” Blocker said.

He explicated quarks and gluons by explaining that protons and neutrons are made of quarks, while gluons are what bind quarks together. If protons and neutrons collide at very high-energy densities, as in the LHC, the “state of matter [of] the quarks and gluons is different than what is normally found in

a proton or neutron,” Blocker said.

The LHC, according to the European Organization for Nuclear Research’s website, is a circular accelerator 17 miles in circumference that has a beam of protons going in one direction in the circle and a beam of protons traveling in the opposite direction. Those beams collide at very high energies, almost reaching the speed of light, in various places around the circle, and it is from these collisions that the quark-gluon plasma was created.

Blocker further explained how the plasma was created in the LHC. He said that the scientists at ATLAS started colliding lead nuclei, which contain a high number of protons and neutrons, at very high energies, and during the 3 weeks in December 2010 that they ran those experiments, the scientists discovered the presence of the plasma.

High-energy experiments like this one are only conducted at a few places around the world, Blocker said. Thus, the actual experiment is conducted in Geneva, and data is processed there, but then the group at Brandeis uses that data for their analyses of the findings.

“These heavy-ion collisions were done just at the end of running [the experiment] in December, and this data came on very suddenly, which is unusual. We were happy about it, but it was somewhat surprising,” Blocker said. He went on to say that once ATLAS starts running again in a few weeks, they will return to proton-proton collisions and “hopefully we’ll find some very interesting and new physics” from those collisions.

■ Dining Services collected

$500 for the Community Day Center to be used for program and service funding.

By TYLER BELANGA JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

A fundraiser held by Dining Services last semester raised $500 to benefit the Community Day Center, a local homeless shelter located in Waltham, according to a December Aramark press release. The event ran throughout the month of November and involved the sale of baked goods to the campus community.

According to Sarah Conduragis, the marketing manager for Dining Services who organized the fundraiser, this was the first fundraiser of its kind held

by Dining Services.

With the support of campus organizations including the Waltham Group, Student Union and Hillel, 312 pies and loaves of bread were sold. One dollar from each purchase was donated to the Community Day Center. The baked goods were all freshly baked at Brandeis in the campus bakery.

In addition to the money raised from the sale of the baked goods, Dining Services then donated money to bring the total to an even $500. Conduragis called the extra money added by Dining Services a “thank you” to those at Brandeis who supported the fundraiser.

“In past years, we have coordinated an annual Thanksgiving pie sale, ... but this year we decided to put a charitable twist on it in an effort to increase campus support to build on existing community relationships,” wrote Condu-

ragis in an e-mail to the Justice.

Operating out of the basement of a local church, the Community Day Center now averages about 50 guests daily.

Marilyn Lee-Tom, executive director of the Community Day Center, expressed in an interview with the Justice the importance of fundraisers like the one held by Dining Services.

“It is critical, especially during the harsh winter, to have a place for homeless people to stop in.” said Lee-Tom. She added, “The majority of the funding we have is through private donors, so we constantly rely on these types of donations.”

Students, faculty and staff were able to preorder baked goods and to pay with various forms of payment, including Dining Dollars, WhoCash and points, a fact that Conduragis believes very was helpful for increasing participation.

According to a Brandeis press release, the money raised by this fundraiser will help the Community Day Center fund important programs and services that they provide to their guests, including job assistance and health and legal access.

Several Dining Services Managers presented the $500 check to the Community Day Center at the homeless shelter’s annual holiday celebration in front of its Board of Directors and major donors.

“It was so energizing to see the enthusiasm and participation of the various student groups and the Brandeis community come together to support the cause,” wrote Conduragis.

The next charitable event planned

by Dining Services will be to team up with the Brandeis Be Our Guest Group to help provide meals donated by students to local homeless shelters.

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THE JUSTICE

INAUGURATION: Activities for Lawrence will begin in March CONTINUED FROM 1 President and Director for Special University Events Suzanne Yates.

Fourteen other university officials were members of the committee, and Lawrence and his wife, Kathy Lawrence, also participated in the planning, according to Collins.

Collins wrote in a Jan. 17 e-mail to the Justice, “We want to be very inclusive and engage students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, donors and friends of the university. Also, as the president said in his blog, we are ‘the Global Liberal Arts University’ and that will also be reflected in the program.”

According to the inauguration

schedule posted on the University’s website, two academic symposia will take place Monday, March 28: “The Business of the University and the University as a Business: Issues of Work, Money, and Power and the Liberal Arts University” and “Sciences, the Creative Instinct, and the Liberal Arts” will both include faculty panelists and will both be moderated by Judith Shapiro ’63, the former president of Barnard College.

The following day will include two more symposia, “Human Values and Global Challenges and the Liberal Arts” and “Diverse Communities and the Liberal Arts,” which also include faculty panelists

and which will both be moderated

by Michael Sandel ’75, a Harvard University political philosophy professor.

The University’s trustees will hold meetings Wednesday, March 30, and an invitation-only trustee inauguration dinner will take place that evening.

Lawrence’s inauguration ceremony on March 31 will be open to the entire Brandeis community, as will the reception following it that evening. Two days later, there will be a student dance to celebrate Lawrence’s inauguration in the Shapiro Gym in Gosman.

According to Collins, the committee is working to ensure that the

week is planned in such a way that it will include many different facets of the University community. He wrote in his e-mail to the Justice, “Scheduling is always a challenge at Brandeis and even more so for an inauguration. We continue to work on it but we’re confident that we will be able to have events that include and appeal to a wide range of community members.”

Collins also wrote that the costs for the inauguration events have not yet been determined. He noted though, that “this is a special occasion for Brandeis and we are treating it that way, but as always, we will be prudent in how the dollars will be spent.”

CHARGES: No court date currently set CONTINUED FROM 1 could not be reached again to confirm this by press time.

The student who was operating the vehicle hit two pedestrians who were walking on Loop Road according to a Dec. 7 Justice article. The victims, who were 18 and 20 years old and also Brandeis students, both sustained head injuries that King described as “fairly serious” and were taken from the scene via ambulance. One was brought to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital and the other to Beth Israel Deacon-

ess Medical Center, according to a Dec. 7, 2010 police log entry in the Justice. In a Dec. 7, 2010 Justice article, Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan stated that one of the victims was released from the hospital but the other was held for a longer period of time.

Callahan wrote in an Jan. 17 email that he believed by now both victims have been released, but neither he nor King had further information regarding the victims’ medical conditions.

Both victims declined to comment.

According to King, the Brandeis Police Department was initially dispatched at 9:58 p.m. to Loop Road, where the accident took place. In a Jan. 13 e-mail to the Justice, Callahan said that both the Brandeis Police Department and the Waltham Police Department were investigating the accident but that the investigation was later taken over by the Waltham Police Department.

Callahan wrote in his e-mail that with incidents similar to this one, usually “an investigation is initiated with the possibility of a Crim-

inal and/or judicial complaint be [sic] filed.”

When asked about the frequency of car accidents happening on campus, both Callahan and King said that this particular type of accident does not occur often.

“Vehicular accidents have occurred over the years, but this incident appears to be very unique,” stated Callahan in his e-mail.

King also said that he could not recall an accident in recent years on Brandeis property requiring involvement from the Waltham Police Department.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2011

7

BRIEF Brother of IBS student killed in Tuscon shooting One of the victims in the Jan. 8 shootings in Tucson, Ariz. was a relative of a member of the Brandeis community, according to a Jan. 10 communitywide e-mail from University President Frederick Lawrence.

Gabe Zimmerman, an aide to Representative Gabrielle Giffords, the alleged main target of the attacks, was International Business School student Ben Zimmerman’s brother.

In his e-mail, to the Brandeis community, Lawrence wrote, “Any act of violence is abhorrent, but the shooting of an elected public servant strikes at the core of our democratic society.

The tragedy of the attack hit this community in a very personal way.

“I know everyone at Brandeis joins me in extending our heartfelt sympathy to Ben and his family during this very dark time,” Lawrence wrote.

At a Jan. 12 memorial event for the victims of the shootings held at McKale Memorial Center at the University of Arizona, President Barack Obama said, “Everything—everything—Gabe Zimmerman did, he did with passion. But his true passion was helping people. As [Giffords’] outreach director, he made the cares of thousands of her constitutions his own, seeing to it that seniors got the Medicare benefits that they had earned, that veterans got the medals and the care that they deserved, that government was working for ordinary folks. He died doing what he loved—talking with people and seeing how he could help.”

—Jillian Wagner

MEMORIAL: Females represent women’s role in activism CONTINUED FROM 1 “[Kern is] always doing things in the community, and this year, he asked if he could join the Dr. King Memorial by connecting it to what he was putting together, which was a day of service for the Rev. Dr. King, so it kind of worked out together,” Adams said.

According to a Jan. 14 BrandeisNOW press release, volunteers for the day of service worked on issues concerning immigration, Haiti, homelessness, poverty and Sudan.

The volunteers were spread out across the Greater Boston area, working in Boston itself as well as other Massachusetts cities including Mattapan, Jamaica Plain, Sherborn, Dorchester and Waltham.

While some students volunteered, others participated in the activities offered as a part of the memorial celebration, including a free lunch in the Shapiro Campus Center, where students listened to what motivates people from different immigrant, ethnic and religious groups to serve on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, according to the BrandeisNOW press release.

The day finished with “The Queens of His Dream,” an event which took place at 6:30 p.m. in the Carl J. Shapiro Campus Center Theater featuring all female performers.

Student performances included a song by Darlene Zephyrine ’12, which included a part of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, poems by Claudianne Philippe ’13 and Amanda Dryer ’13, songs performed by Jewish a cappella group Ba’note and a dance performance by So Unique.

Adams explained that the performances focused on female performers because it celebrated a lessmentioned aspect of the Civil Rights movement.

“What a lot of folks don’t recognize enough is, historically speaking, women have been forgotten too often, and for what is happening and what happened in this particular moment in history, there would be no freedom without women,” he said. “I tell my [5-year-old] daughter … ‘Girl

ROBYN SPECTOR/the Justice

POWERFUL POETRY: Claudianne Philippe ’13 delivers a heartfelt poetry reading that addressed the crisis in Haiti and the aid that was given to the country. power is what?’ And she says, ’Real power.’”

In addition to the memorial’s focus on the important role of women, it also focused on the University’s commitment to raising aid and aware-

ness for Haiti.

“Part of the program is a discussion about Haiti that’s been happening for 2 years,” Adams said.

Napoleon Lherisson ’11, one of the leaders of the initiatives to raise

money for Haiti, said in an interview with the Justice that he saw the night as a way to show what Brandeis students have done to support Haiti, including raising $30,000 for relief efforts and pledging support to con-

tinue to help the nation.

While the dates have not been finalized, Lherisson said that Hoops for Haiti and a Night for Haiti, popular fundraising events last year, will likely take place again this year.

8

features

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2011

just

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THE JUSTICE

VERBATIM | FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.

ON THIS DAY…

FUN FACT

In 1993, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was officially observed for the first time in all 50 states.

Double Dutch jump rope is considered a cross-training sport.

voice

A new on campus Singer Elizabeth Ann Hutchinson ’12 records her own music

By SARAH GILSON SPECIAL TO THE JUSTICE

In today’s hyper-technological, increasingly Auto-Tuned, Lady Gaga-dominated music scene, Elizabeth Ann Hutchinson ’12—stage name Ellie Ann—stands out. That’s not to say that Hutchinson is out of her league or that she has anything in common with the teen queen pop star, but she wants you to know that she’s the real deal.

Hutchinson, a pop-rock singer/songwriter who transferred to Brandeis this year, is double majoring in Music and Hispanic Studies and has high hopes of becoming a famous musician. The future starlet, who has an athletic build and milk-chocolate-colored hair, boasts a constant smile. Not only does she possess the talent to succeed, but she has the personality to go along with it. Hutchinson hopes to infuse some of her authentic music and fill in some of the gaps in today’s radio airwaves.

“I want to be what I believe the music industry is missing right now, and that’s real music.

If you break down Lady Gaga’s songs, they are entirely computer-generated beats paired with altered instruments. There are no real instruments in her songs other than drums. It’s artificial,” Hutchinson says.

A fan of ’90s alternative pop-rock music, Hutchinson says one of her biggest inspirations is Elton John, a fellow pianist. Fans, though, would compare her more to the likes of Taylor Swift and Alanis Morissette—strong female singer/songwriters who possess an I’msinging-you-pages-ripped-out-of-my-diary feel.

The 21-year-old, who hails from from Concord, Mass., has cultivated a résumé that reads like a classic “before they were stars” music superstar’s biography. Hutchinson is a classically trained pianist who took lessons for 10 years. Her mother signed her up for lessons at age 7 in an effort to compensate for Hutchinson’s dyslexia. Hutchinson’s mom felt that sight-reading sheet music would help Elizabeth develop her reading skills. Though piano did not come naturally at first, over time it helped Hutchinson read, and it became a passion of hers. Singing, however, was innate.

Hutchinson transferred to Brandeis from Graceland University, a much smaller school in Iowa. Hutchinson attanded the Midwest school before she transferred to Brandeis as a junior because she felt Brandeis would be more challenging academically and because it offers a rare Musical Composition major.

Being a well-rounded person is important to Hutchinson, whose parents encourage her career but always first and foremost wanted her to have a typical childhood.

“So many teen stars have so many severe problems, and [my parents] were worried that I would lose my childhood and my grasp on reality and modesty,” said Hutchinson.

Her family encouraged her to stay within the realm of musical high school extra-curricular activities until she entered college, as opposed to launching full force into a music career and taking time away from a normal upbringing. As a teenager at Concord Carlisle High School, Hutchinson was president of Select Choir, a vocal group (in addition to the

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ROBYN SPECTOR/the Justice

HITTING THE NOTES: A classically trained pianist, Elizabeth Hutchinson ’12 reads music with ease after learning to play piano at a young age and singing for years.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELIZABETH ANN HUTCHINSON

STUDIO TIME: Hutchinson writes her own songs and records her music in a studio with her own producer. school’s regular choir) that required auditions to be accepted. In addition to choir and playing piano, Hutchinson took an active role in theater productions in her high school, summer camps and local community. Hutchinson’s favorite role, she said, was playing the White Witch from The Chronicles of Narnia.

It wasn’t until she was 17 that her parents took her to a music producer to get a taste of real-world expectations. At Blink Music Studios, Hutchinson spoke with an executive who told her that she needed to sing a certain way and become better at the piano. The executive felt she was “talented,” Hutchinson recalls, but that she needed “more training.”

At the time, as a junior in high school, Hutchinson had a difficult time expressing her

wants. “I wasn’t able to express who I wanted to be musically so I was easily persuaded to do what he wanted. ... He wanted me to be a really great pianist but I really wanted to be a singer who writes on the piano,” Hutchinson wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.

However, the meeting left her feeling sure of one thing: that she wasn’t ready to dive in to a full-time music career just yet.

Since graduating from high school, Hutchinson has landed herself a music producer named Brian Sargent. She was immediately drawn to him because he “wasn’t pushy,” said Hutchinson, and “he didn’t try to make my music something else that it wasn’t.”

Hutchinson has two recorded songs– “Hopeless Woman,” which was released April

27, 2010, and “One More Time,” which became available on iTunes Jan. 11. Through an online service called Tunecore–—a digital music distribution service which essentially works as a middleman between artists and iTunes— Hutchinson was able to submit her music to iTunes.

In her experience, her best songs come from the worst situations. Over the years, Hutchinson’s music has become more than just melody and lyrics—it’s therapy for her. When Hutchinson was 14, her family suffered a major tragedy when her older brother was involved in an accident that left him mentally handicapped. To cope with her feelings about her brother’s accident, Hutchinson wrote what she considers her first real song, “Louie’s Prayer.” In total, Hutchinson has written roughly 25 songs.

Her viral popularity is virtually undeniable; on YouTube, Hutchinson’s “Hopeless Woman” has close to 19,000 hits. “Ellie is really good at putting herself out there and connecting with people her age about her music,” Stephanie Cohen ’11, Hutchinson’s fan and friend, says.

In addition to using YouTube, Hutchinson promotes her music on Facebook and Twitter.

“Every day, I go on Twitter and get these messages from these teenage girls from around the world and they tell me how much they love my song and how they feel like I am writing their stories,” beamed Hutchinson. “And I love that. That’s what fills me up.”

Once Hutchinson graduates from Brandeis, she plans on continuing doing what she is doing now and playing for more audiences.

On Jan. 17, Hutchinson performed at Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. Since she doesn’t have a lot of time to rehearse or assemble a band, Hutchinson mostly performs at open mic nights, using just the piano and her voice. She hopes that upon graduation she will get to play more gigs in Boston clubs, which is something she doesn’t have a lot of time for while she is enrolled full time in school.

In the past, her only opportunities to perform for an audience have been in high school choir concerts, plays and piano recitals. Hutchinson is eager to get onstage again and start playing her music for her followers. In the meantime, school is a major priority for the singer.

“I’m extremely realistic. Even though I am fully pursuing my passion, I am also double majoring and getting a solid education from a great school.”

“I want to be a musician for the rest of my life, but I need to find a way to make it a sustainable living financially. So I’m really just focusing on graduating and being able to do what I want to do and get paid for it,” Hutchinson says.

“I don’t feel like I am meant to do anything else. Making music and performing is what makes me want to wake up in the morning.”

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, january 18, 2011

9

An afternoon of

DEBATE: Thomas Friedman ’75 and Michael Sandel ’75 addressed a variety of issues and their own views.

academia

Brandeis bade Jehuda Reinharz farewell with a special event

By REBECCA BLADY JUSTICE editor

BRANDEIS BEAR: Reinharz receieved a special Brandeis teddy bear to take with him at the end of his term.

WEIMAR IN WALTHAM: Prof. Stephen Whitfield (AMST) described German culture’s influence on Brandeis.

Photos by Robyn Spector  the Justice

What do University President Emeritus Jehuda Reinharz, Prof. Stephen Whitfield (AMST), famed New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman and renowned political philosopher Michael Sandel all have in common? They all call Brandeis their alma mater.

For Reinharz and Whitfield, the University offered a haven for high scholarship; the two received their Ph.D.s together in 1972. Friedman and Sandel, on the other hand, experienced something a bit more comparable to our own undergraduate years and obtained their bachelor’s degrees together three years later in 1975. Put together, all four of these scholars have a past interwoven by friendship, scholarship and their connection to Brandeis.

This impressive group of four reconvened on campus on the afternoon of Dec. 15, 2010 for an academic symposium to celebrate the conclusion of Reinharz’s presidential tenure.

With administrators, trustees, faculty members and students present, the symposium offered only a taste of the high degree of intellect cultivated at this University.

All told, the program appropriately contextualized the main themes of Reinharz’s presidency and personality within Brandeis’ political and academic history. With Whitfield’s presentation on elements of German Jewry, which was the focus of Reinharz’s scholarship, coupled with Friedman and Sandel’s dialogue on issues in contemporary Brandeis thought, the event was a perfect way to honor the outgoing president. “I’m thrilled that good friends Michael Sandel and Tom Friedman, [and] Steve Whitfield are all involved in this.

It’s a big honor, and a wonderful way to end my presidency,” Reinharz said.

And none could have done it better than the three alumni who took the stage in the Carl J. Shapiro Theater before an audience of approximately 200.

Initiated by the Faculty Senate, the concept of an academic symposium to honor Reinharz emerged in spring 2010, Faculty Senate Chair Prof. Tim Hickey (COSI) said in an interview with the Justice. “The faculty really wanted to have an academic symposium to honor [an] academic, and I think this served the purpose really well,” said Hickey.

Whitfield spoke during the first part of the event, titled “Weimar in Waltham: An Early History of Brandeis.” The topic was fitting for the symposium. In an interview with the Justice, Whitfield explained, “The aim of this program is to honor the president by addressing issues that have mattered to him not only over the 16 years of his presidency but over his entire academic career … because he started as a historian of German Jewry.”

Undoubtedly, Whitfield’s intentions were fulfilled. Through remarkable detail, he described how German intellectual achievements in art and thought shaped traditional Brandeis thinking at the University’s birth.

Having fled their homes in Germany, German thinkers founded Brandeis on the ideal of bildung, or, as Whitfield explained, “the cultivation of character through the refinement of taste, the intensification of education through the exploration of the heritage of thought and art.”

The 30-minute talk spanned generations of historically significant German thinkers who had direct involvement in Brandeis’ beginnings, from Albert Einstein, who began writing to Justice Louis Brandeis in 1935 on the notion of forming a Jewish-sponsored institution of higher learning in response to domestic bigotry, to Herbert Marcuse, the most famous German-born Jew to ever teach at Brandeis.

In between, Whitfield also mentioned the careers of other figures, such as Rudolph Kayser, who fled Berlin and made his way to Brandeis to teach philosophy and, later, Germanic language and literature. Whitfield also highlighted the career of Nahum N. Glatzer, “the first Judaic scholar to arrive in Waltham,” who chaired of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies department until 1969.

The symposium progressed easily from Brandeis’ foundations to the products of its intellectual culture as Friedman and Sandel took the stage and prepared to engage in conversation on an ambitious topic, “Brandeis, Social Justice and the World.”

To begin their dialogue, the two contextualized their relationship, which actually predated their undergraduate careers to their years as students at Talmud Torah Hebrew School in St. Louis Park, Minn. Once they touched base again while “walking up the hill to [the Usdan Student Center],” as Sandel said, the two have been in constant discussion and debate over just about everything.

And in honor of Reinharz, Friedman and Sandel proceeded to launch into a discussion of—well, just about everything, including their own evolving careers, their friendship with Reinharz, their commitment to the University, and a topic on which each has considered extensively: globalization and its impact on the world, which certainly reflected on Brandeis’ mantra of social justice.

The two scholars shared with the audience their differing worldviews on contemporary politics. Friedman classified himself as a “technological determinist,” explaining his rationale: “If it exists, people use it.” In his opinion, technology has generated this deterministic element of globalization, creating social phenomena such as Interpol and WikiLeaks. Technological development and economic growth, said Friedman, have allowed for greater social mobility.

Sandel, on the other hand, expressed his belief in “market triumphalism.” He explained his philosophy by citing the eras of United States President Ronald Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as defining moments for this philosophy, which treats markets as instruments for achieving the public good. In contemporary times, however, this means that the primary focus of society has shifted toward the market and away from the government, leading to “an exhaustion of the sense of democratic purpose,” he said.

“The open question now is whether the financial crash will represent the end of this period of unquestioned market triumphalism, and generate a new debate about what the public good consists of and what democratic purpose should be,” Sandel said.

Friedman responded to this question with some concern about the challenge facing the United States to translate these social concerns into public policy while maintaining a strong democracy as well as its status as “a beacon of those values.”

At the conclusion of the presentation, Prof.

Sabine von Mering (GRALL) awarded Reinharz a special Brandeis teddy bear in the spirit of the symposium, which she explained was “meant to spread the love.”

“I didn’t know how smart my move to Brandeis was when I came here in 1968. [My wife, Prof. Shula Reinharz (SOC)] persuaded me,” said Reinharz as he received the memento. “It was the smartest thing I ever did.”

Friedman concurred. “[Reinharz] has really been a dear friend to both of us. … But [the event] was just fun for Michael and I. We’ve been having a conversation for 30 years. You heard a little bit. … You see where we sort of intersect and agree and disagree, and it’s always different. Going mono a mono with him is always a challenge; … [it] really sharpens your mind. That’s what Brandeis is about.”

And truly, the academic symposium outdid itself in celebrating Reinharz, Brandeis and a wonderful web of friendship, scholarship and heritage. In an interview with the Justice, Whitfield articulated the sentimentality of the event.

“President Reinharz and I both got our doctorates together in the same year from this institution in 1972. I suspect that he was a bit more serious about that commencement than I was, because I chose to play tennis that day. I did not quite see the point of attending a ceremony in which my role would be very a minimal one. But Jehuda and I did get our Ph.D.s together. … We have that sort of entwined career.”

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TUESDAY, January 18, 2011

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THE JUSTICE

Justice Justice

the the

Established 1949, Brandeis University

Brandeis University

Established 1949

Brian Fromm, Editor in Chief Rebecca Blady, Managing Editor Brian N. Blumenthal, Production Editor Ian Cutler, Nashrah Rahman and Jillian Wagner, Associate Editors Fiona Lockyer, News Editor Dafna Fine, Acting Features Editor Eitan Cooper, Acting Forum Editor Jeffrey Boxer, Acting Sports Editor Wei-Huan Chen, Acting Arts Editor Asher Krell and Robyn Spector, Photography Editors Debra Friedmann, Layout Editor Emily Kraus, Copy Editor Cody Yudkoff, Advertising Editor

Keep students’ priorities in mind This month, the University welcomed its eighth president, Frederick Lawrence. With the new year comes a new era for Brandeis, and this board is excited about Mr. Lawrence’s potential to effect long-term positive change. In that spirit, we hope that Mr. Lawrence keeps issues important to the student body in mind as he shapes his priorities for his tenure as president.

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been pleased to see that Mr. Lawrence has kept in communication with the University community by updating his “Brandeis First” blog and sending e-mail messages. He has noted a commitment to interacting with students and becoming actively involved in student life, and we are excited to see that he is participating in the Battle of the Brandeis DJs this Saturday. We also appreciate his upcoming appearance in a “Meet and Greet” at the Hiatt Career Center at which he will share his thoughts on legal education and practice. We hope that he remains a visible part of student life and that the lines of communication between him and the student body stay open.

We also note the involvement of students in various committees, including the search committee for the next provost. This board welcomes the effort to include students in important University decisions. We hope that the new president and his administration continue this transparency.

Mr. Lawrence should also continue the University’s tradition of academic excellence while remaining true to its core values. While this page acknowledges that the addition of the Business

Lawrence era holds potential major last year was a positive change, we urge Mr. Lawrence to ensure that Brandeis keeps its focus on the liberal arts. Encouraging innovative research and keeping class sizes small would also go a long way toward increasing the University’s level of prestige in the academic communities in this country as well as worldwide.

In the same vein, this board believes that Mr. Lawrence should strive to expand the University’s donor base nationally and globally. It is important to maintain Brandeis’ strong connection to its Jewish roots; however, this is a unique opportunity to make our school known to a wider audience and to encourage diversity among its supporters while keeping close ties within the Jewish community at the same time.

Attention to the physical campus itself would measurably improve student life.

Mr. Lawrence has already discussed the renovation of the Linsey pool—a project that this page called for as well—but residence halls are also in dire need of repair. The Usen Castle, the Foster Mods and Shapiro Residence Hall all have maintenance problems that should be addressed, and we hope that Mr. Lawrence prioritizes student accommodations over academic building projects.

We are aware that these goals are ambitious and that it may be unrealistic to expect them to be realized in the short term. However, we urge Mr. Lawrence to keep them in mind as he begins his tenure and ushers in an exciting period in this university’s history.

Day of service proves successful In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Interfaith Chaplaincy, along with student organizations on campus, hosted the fourth annual Boston Day of Interfaith Youth Service. This board commends all those involved in planning and carrying out the day of service for bringing the campus together and creating the opportunity to aid a variety of causes in the area.

While each year there are events on campus that honor Dr. King’s legacy, they typically focus on the arts. This year, though, an entire day of reflection and service preceded the performances at the King Day Celebration in the Shapiro Campus Center, giving the event a context that made the day’s significance even more apparent.

The press release about the event states, “This day focuses especially on linking US-born volunteers and agencies with refugee/immigrant agencies and volunteers, to build bridges of understanding and cooperation and forge a more welcoming, civil America.”

This message is particularly apt following the political strife and violence that have dominated our country’s national discourse in the past weeks, and emphasizing unity while working together to help those around us is a commendable way to memorialize Dr. King.

We particularly applaud the manner in which the participants in the day’s events were connected to causes that are locally based with global reach. Brandeis students have worked tirelessly to reach out to communities affected by tragedy

Participate in years to come across the globe, and yesterday, volunteers were able to work with on-campus initiatives as well as nearby organizations to help people all over the world.

This page would specifically like to applaud the Rev. Alexander Kern, the Protestant chaplain; Associate Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams; and the various student groups that worked to bring performances and service opportunities to make the day memorable for its participants.

Hosting this day introduced members of the Boston-area volunteer community to the University and highlighted important parts of Brandeis’ culture. Not only did student performances showcase our commitment to the arts, but the reflection upon service and community building at the start of the day emphasized the crucial role social justice plays at Brandeis.

We hope that the Interfaith Chaplaincy continues to use Martin Luther King Jr. Day to connect the University with larger community service efforts in the area. The traditional show of student acts is a fitting end to a day filled with work in Dr. King’s honor, and the two aspects of the celebration demonstrate two of Brandeis’ finest characteristics.

Our community would benefit from participating in the Boston Day of Interfaith Youth Service in years to come, and we hope that the leaders who facilitated the events this year are able to do so again in the future.

A. ELI TUKACHINSKY/the Justice

Moral complexities spark debate after Tuscon shooting

By Frederick Lawrence Special to the Justice

The tragic events in Tucson, Ariz. earlier this month focused intense scrutiny on the nature of political discourse in our society today and the question of responsibility for the violent crimes that occurred.

As the facts of the Tucson shooting have emerged, the connection between the current political climate and the shooter’s actual motivations has been called into question.

However, the subject has engaged many commentators across the political spectrum, most notably United States President Barack Obama. These horrifying events have triggered a new and forceful public examination of this deeply American debate.

It is an examination in which students at Brandeis, and all members of the Brandeis community, should take part, for it informs the discussions, debates and arguments we will have on myriad topics over the coming days and years.

Surely the person who pulls the trigger with intent to kill or who causes serious injury is directly responsible for the deaths and injuries of his victims.

But what about those whose words and deeds have given rise to a climate and context in which this shooting took place? How should we react to speech that creates a climate that breeds violence, what we might call “violence-conducive speech”?

Too often, the discussion of the limits of responsibility ends where it ought only to begin—with the twin questions of whether expression is constitutionally protected and whether the expression may be criminally punished. Under our First Amendment as interpreted by the courts, violence-conducive speech is protected unless it is intended to incite “imminent lawless action.”Advocating or encouraging violence in the abstract and without some actual link to a criminal act is therefore protected by our Constitution.

Our criminal law yields a similar result with respect to the limits of complicity. There may be no “legal” responsibility for criminal behavior that takes its inspiration and encouragement from violence-conducive speech, but there may very well be moral responsibility, and a civilized and decent society must find a place for such a discussion.

One may have a legal right to articulate views that are conducive to violence, but that does not mean that one should do so. It is one thing to disagree, even vigorously, with a policy; it is quite another to question the very legitimacy or humanity of someone who advocates that policy.

It is one thing to campaign against a party in power; it is quite another to picture members of that party as targets on a Web shooting gallery.

In the current climate, where violence has come to form the underlying metaphor of too much political discussion, speakers, particularly political leaders, commentators, public figures and all those who seek to shape and influence public opinion and discussion, cannot escape the moral responsibility for those who are influenced by careless violence-conducive expression and who commit acts of violence.

In response to words and deeds that create a climate in which senseless acts of violence take place, we have a form of redress that does not require government action and does not represent censorship: It is for us to label violenceconducive speech by political and social leaders as outrageous and irresponsible and out of bounds in any civilized debate.

Of course, we may disagree as to precisely where the boundary lies as to what constitutes speech that is conducive to violence, but this is a public debate worth having.

And it will not do simply to say that we are not morally responsible for our words when there are predictable and tragic consequences, even if not intended or desired. Violence-conducive speech delivered by our opinion leaders may be constitutionally protected, but that is far from saying it is morally acceptable. On the contrary, it is dangerous and it is wrong.

Editor’s note: The writer is president of the University.

OP-BOX Quote of the Week “A one-time exposure can be thrilling and ear-opening, but an immersion, which is what this semester-long course offers, invites a student to learn from the inside.”

—Prof. Judith Eissenberg (MUS) on the new course “Music and Dance from Ghana.” (See Arts, page 19).

Brandeis Talks Back To what are you most looking forward this semester?

Nora Bradshaw ’11 “Graduating.”

Skye Fishbein ’12 “SpringFest.”

Afzal Ullah ’14 “Getting to things on time.”

Gabriel Saul Distler ’13

“Seeing friends again.”

—Compiled by Eitan Cooper Photos by Yosef Schaffel/ the Justice

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, jANUARY 18, 2011

Embrace the advantages of Yiddish studies

11

Elizabeth

STOKER BREVITY

As I searched for courses last spring, I was burdened with a particularly heavy heart. I was in the midst of completing a course about the Holocaust, of which I seldom spoke but often thought.

Having grown up in Texan public schools, I had been exposed only to a somewhat sanitized version of the Holocaust and was unprepared for the sheer scale and horror of the thing, especially as so clearly and elegantly revealed by our own Prof. Antony Polonsky (NEJS).

After a semester of nightmares, guilt and an impending sense of dread, I felt it my duty to the victims to carry more of their story with me—only as they would have told it, independently of the shadow of the Nazi regime.

In short, I wanted to learn about the Jews of Europe in happier times, or at least different ones. I realized quickly that if I were to hear that story, it would have to be in Yiddish.

If my knowledge of the Holocaust was embarrassingly shallow, my understanding of Yiddish was even less mentionable. I had learned a couple of words since attending Brandeis, and I was aware that some of the names and sounds I had heard around—slightly Teutonic, yet a bit wry, more playful on the tongue—had to belong to that mysterious language.

Thus, when I came upon the course “Secularisms: Yiddish Culture in the Modern World,” I made it my top priority. It was the first course I enrolled in for fall 2010 and the one I pondered over most intensely all summer.

In order to save money on ink, I asked my mother to print out my numerous course readings on her industrial printer at work. Along with my readings, though, came a change in our nightly phone conversations: “So is the Tevye you’re reading about the same one in Fiddler on the Roof?”

I paused.

“Mom, have you been reading my coursework?”

She explained that it was boring just standing there waiting for it all to print out and that she had, indeed, secretly joined my Yiddish culture class, albeit from a distance. She read the folk tales, the short stories, the snippets of this and excerpts of that, and at night, I would discuss the lectures with her.

When I visited home, an informed viewing of Fiddler on the Roof took place, and then— voilà—my dad and brother joined the secret Yiddish reading circle as well. And suddenly, the horizons of a few unassuming Texans for

ARI TRETIN/the Justice

whom Yiddish had only ever been something to come up now and then on Seinfeld expanded dramatically.

I could never have expected Yiddish culture to be so infectious, but in hindsight, the source is clear: the contagious passion of my professor, Prof. Ellen Kellman (NEJS). Every day, Kellman brought all of the sensory elements of Yiddish culture to an upstairs classroom in Lown: photographs of her travels, songs (some recorded, others performed for us), paintings, poems, films, newspaper articles and scholarly works, autobiographies and fragments of history, all of which combined to create the stunning image of a single person bringing a cul-

ture in decline back to life.

But the wonder extends beyond the beauty of Yiddish culture itself. This course and many other Yiddish courses offered at Brandeis exist, to a degree, against some odds. Yiddish isn’t a common subject to find offered at American universities, and even here at our school, the department has never so much as enjoyed a chair. You’ll find no Yiddish major or minor.

Throw in the fact that Yiddish is only spoken by about 2 million people worldwide—compared to the 11 to 13 million speakers who lived on the eve of World War II—and one might be led to believe that Yiddish is a language and way of life nearing its end.

The wonder and richness of the course was almost magical, creating daily in me the sense that I had discovered some sort of Atlantis, a world with textures, thoughts and traditions both foreign and familiar. Yiddish has begun to reveal itself to me in the unlikeliest corners of daily life: a word here, a phrase there, its sounds and suggestions unique and vibrant.

In a semester, a single course in Yiddish culture changed my family and me. As an exorcism for the turmoil bred by my Holocaust course, it has been more invigorating than soothing—and, for that reason alone, I would urge anyone to look into Yiddish studies at Brandeis.

Planned inauguration balances self promotion and expenses Rebecca

BLADY MaeLströM

One morning over winter break, I sat as usual with my coffee, cereal and print edition of The New York Times, poring over the front page and attempting to navigate the current events of a very confused global society. (Yes, I am a college student on vacation and not a middle-aged professional, I swear.) Of all the articles detailing various tragedies, the following headline jumped out at me: “Tricky Call for New Governors: The Price of Inaugurals.”

Hmmm. Politicians overspending on themselves—surprising? Not really. I read on, looking for some good dirt on our esteemed congressmen and -women.

And boy, did I get it. The article began, “To warm up the Florida crowds for his inauguration as governor, Rick Scott has been flying around the state this week on a seven-city ‘appreciation’ tour. For the main event on Tuesday, he will lead a parade featuring 26 marching bands, followed by a black-tie dinner for 2,100 people, with oysters Rockefeller and fried calamari served in mini-martini

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glasses.”

And there was more.

“In Nevada, Brian Sandoval, a Republican, will host back-to-back $1,000-a-head V.I.P. receptions, one of them at the Wynn Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.”

“In Oklahoma, Mary Fallin, also a Republican, has organized two ‘preinaugural balls,’ not to be confused with the inaugural ball itself, which will be held later at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.”

The Times’ vested interest in singling out Republican expenditures aside, it struck me that these governors seem to have such a stake in their own self-promotion. I don’t mean to insinuate that this is wrong; on the contrary, I believe it’s quite worthwhile for these governors to invest in creating a positive image for their constituents.

In politics, it is crucial for the public to recognize one person in a solid leadership role.

This way, people can identify one person upon whom they can depend and hold accountable.

They can identify an image of trust, responsibility and character and associate a face with their country.

So it’s understandable, to an extent, when 26 newly elected governors and their staffs plan parades with marching bands, receptions on the Las Vegas strip and multiple preinaugural balls. They want nothing but a good image for their governor, and they’ll do whatever they

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can to obtain it.

However, in this day and age, people are growing ever more conscious of budgets, both personal and public. Lavish spending may have its benefits, but in the face of the unemployed these affairs will likely have an opposite effect. Governors here risk alienating some of their constituents who today could not fathom having the means to attend an event as extravagant as some of these inauguration agendas.

As I contemplated the meaning of these governors’ self-promotion parties, the thought of planning these events on tight budgets brought to mind the plans for Brandeis’ own newly elected President Frederick Lawrence.

Curious as to what they were, I checked the website for the Office of the President and stumbled upon a page titled “Global Liberal Arts University: Scholarship and Service.”

Below that, in smaller type, was the tagline: “The Inauguration of the Eighth President of Brandeis University.”

Well, I thought, so much for self-promotion.

Aside from not mentioning Lawrence’s name anywhere in the title, the focus of the weeklong inauguration schedule seems wholeheartedly academic, with the first two days devoted entirely to symposia moderated by famed Brandeis alumni and Brandeis faculty panelists.

Moreover, the theme of the week seems to indicate a pronounced effort on Lawrence’s

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part to integrate a renewed focus on the distinct role of the liberal arts university with the start of his new career.

Needless to say, a university president’s need for self-promotion does not exactly parallel that of a governor. But each should take into account how much and what sort of visibility is necessary.

As students, we don’t vote, we don’t pay taxes, and we have a necessarily limited role in determining university policy. But nonetheless, we do play an important part in the University, whose goal is to expand the mind and challenge assumptions. And participating in an inauguration ceremony like the one planned for Lawrence will directly serve our interests while simultaneously elevating his image as Brandeis’ leader.

While the inauguration schedule also includes the requisite ceremonies, assemblies, meetings with the Board of Trustees, not to mention an inaugural ball, the Office of the President has made academics and the spirit of the liberal arts the basis for a weeklong celebration.

So while Govs. Rick Scott, Brian Sandoval and Mary Fallin have respectable agendas, perhaps they should consider the plans for our own new president. Self-promotion is the goal, but there are many different ways to achieve it. And involving constituents along the way to that end goal may be among the best options a new leader has.

Editorial Assistants News: Sara Dejene Arts: Aaron Berke, Emily Salloway Photos: Yosef Schaffel, Tali Smookler Copy: Marielle Temkin Staff Senior Illustrators: Rishika Assomull, A. Eli Tukachinsky News: Tyler Belanga, Andrew Wingens Features: Rocky Reichman, Deborah Salmon Forum: Hannah Goldberg, Shafaq Hasan, Rebecca Kellogg, Ethan Mermelstein, Liz Posner, Leah Smith, Avi Snyder, Elizabeth Stoker, Naomi Volk Sports: Josh Asen, Julian Cardillo, Jonathan Epstein, Max Goldstein, Sam Liang, Jacob Lurie, Adam Rabinowitz, Jonathan Steinberg

Arts: Taylor Baker, Eric Chow, Alex DeSilva, Julia Jerusalmi, Elly Kalfus, Morgan Manley, Amy Melser, Douglas Moore, Alex Pagan, Bryan Prywes, Emily Salloway, Sujin Shin, Shelly Shore Photography: Genevieve Armstrong, Amy Bissaillon, Lydia Emmanouilidou, Nathan Feldman, Morgan Fine, Nathaniel Freedman, Hilary Heyison, Davida Judelson, Joshua Linton, Mansi Luo, Alex Margolis Copy: Taylor Baker, Rebecca Brooks, Allyson Cartter, Jacob Chatinover, Hilary Cheney, Erica Cooperberg, Philip Gallagher, Ariel Glickman, Patricia Greene, Celine Hacobian, Jeff Herman, Rachel Herman, Liana Johnson, Rachel Mayo, Mailinh Phan-Nguyen, Zane Relethford, Maya Riser-Kositsky, Mara Sassoon, Dan Willey, Amanda Winn Layout: Nadav Havivi, Nan Pang, Denny Poliferno Illustrations: Stacy Handler, Ari Tretin Ads: Alex Fischler

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TUESDAY, January 18, 2011

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THE JUSTICE

FORUM

Reap the benefits of taking a course for interest

By Matthew Kriegsman Special to the Justice

I have always been overwhelmed by the registrar’s course selection process.

This is not because of the vast amount of classes, but rather because of other restrictions such as major requirements, time constraints and class size. However, as a senior studying Philosophy and Politics at Brandeis, I have come to realize that there are 10 to 20 classes that I never took because of these restrictions, and I may never have the chance to study those subjects again.

One of the biggest problems that I have with the institution we call “college” is that I feel I am not truly being educated: Instead, I am being pigeonholed in a specific and rigid path.

This idea is not something new; Sir Ken Robinson, an author, speaker and international adviser on education outlines this assertion in a Technology, Entertainment and Design talk titled, “Ken Robinson Says Schools Kill Creativity.”

In his TED talk, Robinson points out that the educational system we follow today is replicated after the industrial revolution’s model of factory economics. It is designed to manufacture students rather than cater to individual intellectual preferences, and in many ways, it does not allow for flexible creativity and the true pursuit of passion, excellence and sheer curiosity.

So, by last semester, I decided to finally do something about it.

Instead of actually registering for Prof. Richard Gaskins’ (PHIL) course, “Philosophy of Economics,” I committed myself to sit through the class for the entire semester in addition to my fall 2010 semester course load. Although this is similar to auditing a class, which is not officially allowed at Brandeis, the difference is that it will never appear on my transcript.

I never had to write any of the papers, take any of the tests or sit for the final exam, and as a result it was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had at Brandeis.

I just wanted to learn for the sake of learning and did not care in the slightest about any grade or official recognition on my transcript.

This is not to say that I do not care about my grades. I am proud to say that I have worked very hard to earn them—but join me with this idea for a second.

My influences for the decision to sit in on the class were individuals such as Albert Einstein, George Orwell, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Steven Spielberg. These people have contributed revolutionary ideas to society despite dropping out of college or never attending at all.

They pursued knowledge or their passions for their own sake and did not rely on an institution or sys-

STACY HANDLER/the Justice

tem to dictate how they were going to achieve their accomplishments and goals. They followed their intuitions and supplemented what the “system” and strict guidelines either failed to provide or, at times, impeded.

The biggest criticism against this, of course, is that these extraordinary people are the outliers, the rare exceptions. And I completely agree, which is why I didn’t actually take the initiative to completely throw away my college degree.

But I did use one role model in particular to help me make my course selections for the fall 2010 and try, to some degree, follow in his footsteps: Apple, Inc. CEO Steve Jobs.

Jobs dropped out of Reed College in 1972 just after a few semesters,

yet he continued to sit in on a calligraphy course that—get this—he really wanted to take. He felt college was just too expensive and that all of the required courses he needed to take were not really helping.

The calligraphy, however, was something he was simply curious about. He was able to participate without worrying about other coursework.

The benefit? When he was working on the first Macintosh computer 10 years later, that very information he learned helped him drastically raise the standards of word processing when he designed the first-ever computing system with varying typography and fonts—information that he had first learned in his calligraphy class.

Admittedly, I am not entirely

sure how the information in “Philosophy of Economics” will contribute to my future. At the very least, I am incredibly grateful for what it gave to me in my first semester of senior year.

I sat and paid attention without jotting down every word. I was able to appreciate the intricacies of one area of study without concentrating on the others that did not interest me as much. I even took the opportunity to go to Gaskins’ office hours in which, on several occasions, we had some of the most eye-opening discussions I have ever had with a professor.

Issues and questions that had been bothering me could finally be discussed without any hesitation or concern about how “stupid” these questions might appear or how “off

track” they may be from the actual class.

As it so happened, one of the issues that was brought up in our class was questioning the incentive of the educational grading structure. Is competing for grades a proper incentive and indicator of what a student has actually learned?

While I am not in any way arguing for a complete overhaul of the institutional guidelines and means of assessing and differentiating between students, I would like to argue that I am an example of just how absurd it is to associate receiving a grade or a transcript notation with the true acquisition of knowledge.

And as it so happens, it was the best class I’ve never taken.

Editor’s note: The writer is a Roosevelt Fellow

Short-term service holds potential for tremendous impact Leah

Smith In a word

At a university dedicated to social justice, many of us frequently ask ourselves, “How can I make a difference in the world?” And in a world full of corruption, poverty, disease, hunger and a slew of other maladies, this question is becoming increasingly harder to answer.

Making a difference is even more difficult from within our sheltered Brandeis “bubble.” On campus, we are far removed from the suffering of humanity, and volunteering and raising money and awareness often seem futile when we cannot see the direct results of our efforts.

Yet despite these limitations, 18 other Brandeisians and I got the chance to make a real impact over

winter break. Together, we spent a week volunteering in Kiryat Gat, Israel through the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s short-term service program and Hillel.

I must admit that before our departure, I was extremely skeptical about the program. After spending a year in Israel, I knew what a fiasco volunteering there could be.

My prior experiences were poorly organized, and the language barrier essentially forced our placements to bend over backwards to help us rather than the other way around.

Despite my reservations, I wasn’t about to turn down a highly subsidized trip to Israel, so I went.

When we arrived in Kiryat Gat, however, I quickly realized how wrong I was. Not only was our work desperately needed, but it was also meaningful.

In the mornings, we painted the dark, dingy and decrepit entrance of a complex that houses over 100 families. By the third day of paint-

ing, the neighbors were so grateful and enthusiastic that they started donning their own work clothes and coming out to help us.

Five members of the group also painted the inside of a run-down community clubhouse and helped plant and weed a communal garden. In the afternoons, we worked with youth groups for various ages by playing games, participating in community-building activities and helping the youth learn some English. In one youth group, we helped raise 1,000 shekels for the bat mitzvah of a girl whose family could not afford the expense.

In a word, our short time spent in Kiryat Gat was amazing. It’s difficult to explain the impact of our work without sounding overly cheesy, but we watched a transformation occur in the community before our very eyes.

We left an obvious physical mark by renewing that which had been in a state of disrepair. But our presence also united the community:

our projects gave the community a common focus to rally around, and they brought us all a little bit closer together.

OK, so our experience was all happy-go-lucky cupcakes and rainbows.

But why am I writing a column about it? Judaism-oriented service in Israel is not exactly a universally applicable cause. And while this experience certainly allowed me to make an impact, not everyone would find the work to be done in Kiryat Gat as fulfilling or meaningful as I did. I am not writing this column to emphasize the Jewish or Israeli aspects of my experience. I am writing instead to emphasize the importance of short-term service.

After making such a big difference in such a small amount of time, I would be doing the Brandeis community a disservice not to share my experience. All the work we do on campus to raise money and promote awareness for various causes is still extremely important, and I applaud those who dedicate their time

and energy to that work. However, short-term service has broader results.

One week is not enough time to make a real connection and build a strong relationship with a community, but it is enough time to get a feel for the issues facing the community and what it might take to solve those issues. Advocating for a cause is important, and a person can do so all the more effectively if he or she has experienced the cause firsthand.

Furthermore, with the proper equipment and enough able bodies, one week is enough time to paint a housing complex, plant a garden, build a house, clean up a communal space or dig a well, and while doing so, a volunteer can show the community that it is important and someone out there cares.

Whether it be in Israel or in Waltham, short-term service is an important and meaningful way to make a real difference for ourselves and for those who are most in need.

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, january 18, 2011

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SPORTS

MBBALL: Team drops two after record start CONTINUED FROM 16

rebound,” said Meehan. “We have guys who are good shooters. We just have to take better shots.”

The Judges could not improve their shooting on Sunday and dropped their second straight game as they fell 66-63 to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

The Judges trailed from the start, falling behind 24-10 with 5:19 left in the first half.

Brandeis committed 16 turnovers in the first half, and only shot 32 percent from the field. They trailed 31-22 at the break, despite 15 first half-points from Kanya.

The Judges did not go away quietly and went on a 10-2 run to cut the deficit to 45-43 with 7:35 to go in the second half. The Judges kept the game close the rest of the way and got within one point with 55 seconds to go after Kanya hit two foul shots.

But Case freshman guard Tim Chung managed to get to the line

NEED FOR SPEED

on two straight possessions, hitting four straight foul shots as Case went up 63-58 with 19 seconds to go. Kanya responded with a quick 3-pointer, but it proved to be too little, too late, as Case Western held on to win the game 66-63.

Kanya led all scorers with 20 points and added eight rebounds, while Kriskus scored 11. The Judges continued their poor shooting performance, as they were just 32 percent from the field, and 28 percent from 3-point range.

“Dropping two wins that would have been good wins on the road is disappointing; we got to move and look to our next game,” Meehan said. “Losing two on the road that were winnable hurts. Overall, it’s two games, we try to play 25 as though they are equally important.”

The Judges are next in action on Friday at home against the University of Chicago before hosting Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday.

NATHANIEL FREEDMAN/the Justice

WBBALL: Squad splits a pair of weekend games CONTINUED FROM 16 lead. The game quickly grew out of reach, and Brandeis eventually lost by an 18-point margin. The Judges were held to a season-low 38 points, and no one on the team was able to crack double digits in points.

Guards Kelly Ethier ’11 and Morgan Kendrew ’12 supplied most of the offensive firepower. Ethier had a team-leading 8 points and three assists, and Kendrew notched 7 points and five rebounds. Kendrew struggled all day and shot just 2-16 from the field, including 1-7 from behind the arc. Forward Amber Strodthoff ’11 accumulated 6 points and a teamhigh 10 rebounds.

Last Friday against Carnegie Mellon, the Judges struggled to keep pace with the Tartans in the first half and trailed by 12 with 6:03 left. Carnegie Mellon quickly built a 12-point lead and led by six, 32-26, at the half.

Coach Carol Simon believed the team’s difficulties in the first half could have been averted with better ball control. “[We need to be] valuing the ball better and decreasing our turnovers,” she said. “We need to be more disciplined and consistent with our philosophies on the offensive and defensive ends.”

However, Brandeis came out strong in the second half and im-

mediately chipped away at the lead.

The Judges tied the score at 34-34 in the first 3 minutes of the second half. After a few back-and-forth possessions that brought the score to a 42-42 stalemate, Brandeis took control. After Carnegie Mellon cut the Judges’ lead to 50-49 with seven minutes remaining, Brandeis launched a 9-0 run to stretch their lead to 59-49 and put the game out of reach. Carnegie Mellon battled back at the end, but Brandeis held on for a 65-62 win.

Kendrew led all players with 20 points and four assists despite logging only 4 minutes in the first half due to foul trouble. Kendrew also hit 11 of 15 free throws, including six of eight down the stretch. Strodthoff notched a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Mia Depalo ’11 turned in a solid effort with 13 points, five rebounds and five steals.

Simon was impressed overall with the Judges’ play.

“We are a young team but a team that works very hard in practice, working to get better each day,” she said. “When we are disciplined, we can be a very good defensive team.”

The Judges continue play next weekend with two key UAA matches at home.

The team will host the University of Chicago on Friday, Jan. 21 and play Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday, Jan. 23.

SPRINT FOR THE FINISH: Vincent Asante ’14 (far right) and Charlie Pino (second from left) race in the 55-meter dash.

TRACK: Selig ’11 and Asante ’14 pace the Judges at home CONTINUED FROM 16 and Brown, who tied for third with a time of 4:17.91. Alex Kramer ’13 placed fifth just 0.28 seconds back, and Dundas grabbed seventh 0.69 seconds after Kramer.

The team had four runners in the top nine in the 3,000-meter run.

Paul Norton ’11 finished third with a time of 8:42.72. Ed Colvin ’14 finished fourth, while Dan Anastos ’11 grabbed sixth. Vega was the fourth Brandeis runner across the line, grabbing ninth with a time of 8:54.23.

Southern Maine won the men’s side with 170 points, while Brandeis accumulated 111 points. The Huskies placed first in the 400-meter dash, 800-meter run, 55-meter hurdles, high jump, pole vault, shot put, and weight throw.

Amherst placed second with 161 points. Amherst senior Tommy Moore won the 600-meter run in 1:24.30. Amherst also captured the 1,000-meter run in a time of 2:32.61, the mile, the 3,000-meter run, the 5,000 meter run, the 4x400-meter relay and the long jump with 6.55 meters.

Lasell came in fourth with 24

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points and won the triple jump with a distance of 12.47 meters. University of Massachusetts Boston had 22 points.

The women’s side was led by Selig, with her record-setting 3,000-meter time of 9:50.01. Selig set the school record for both the mile and the 1,500-meter races last season.

Lucia Capano ’11 won her best event, taking the triple jump with a length of 10.96 meters. Capano also grabbed third in both the long jump and the 55-meter dash. Kim Farrington ’13 placed third in the triple jump and fourth in the 55-meter dash.

Lily Parenteau ’12 won the high jump in 1.60 meters.

The Judges also had two runners in the top four of the 400 meter dash.

Anifreed Sinjour ’13 and Casey McGown ’13 placed third and fourth, respectively, with times of 1:02.88 and 1:02.95.

In the 4x400 relay, the team of Capano, Sinjour, Farrington, and McGown grabbed second in 4:19.45.

Selig wasn’t the only successful distance runner for the team—Hannah Lindholm ’11 placed second in the 1,000-meter run with a time of

the

3:09.78. Amelia Lundkvist ’14 placed fourth.

Marie Lemay ’11 won the mile race for the Judges with a time of 5:13.51.

Overall, the team was happy with its performance. “[The meet] was good. Everyone ran well,” Lemay said.

Amherst dominated the women’s meet, scoring 190 points. The Lord Jeffs won the 200-meter dash, 800-meter run, 1,000-meter run, 5,000-meter run and long jump.

Smith won the 55-meter dash, 400-meter dash, 600-meter run and 4x400 meter relay for 70 points and third place at the meet. Lasell won the shot put with a distance of 10.22 meters, earning 41 points in total, good for fourth place.

The race was the first on the new track in Gosman. The floor of the fieldhouse had been torn up and renovated during the winter break.

Heading in, the team was excited to test out the new surface.

“We’re excited to race on the new track,” Brown said.

Both the men’s and women’s next meet will be next weekend at the Greater Boston Track Club Invitational.

Justice!

Contact Jeffrey Boxer at sports@thejustice.org for more information.

THE JUSTICE

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Amber Strodthoff ’11

3

rd Brandeis record set by Grayce Selig ’11 in her win in the 3,000-meter run last weekend. She already holds the school’s mile and 1,500-meter records.

JOSHUA LINTON/Justice File Photo

Asked about the team’s focus so far this season, Strodthoff said that she was proud of the team’s effort. “I feel that our team this year [is] doing a lot right,” she said. “We practice every day and work as hard as we can—putting out our best ev-

ery game. Basketball is truly a rollercoaster, and I think I and the team have done a great job of staying focused on the next game and the task at hand.”

—Jeffrey Boxer

Men’s Basketball

Not including Monday’s games UAA Conference W L W Case 3 0 7 Emory 2 1 11 Rochester 2 1 10 Carnegie 2 1 5 Chicago 2 1 5 JUDGES 1 2 11 New York 0 3 11 WashU 0 3 6

L 7 3 4 8 9 2 3 8

Overall Pct. .500 .786 .714 .385 .357 .846 .786 .429

Women’s Basketball

Not including Monday’s games

UAA Conference W L Chicago 3 0 Case 3 0 WashU 2 1 New York 2 1 Rochester 1 2 JUDGES 1 2 Emory 0 3 Carnegie 0 3

W 11 9 11 8 11 9 7 2

L 3 5 3 6 3 5 7 12

Overall Pct. .786 .643 .786 .571 .786 .643 .500 .143

TEAM LEADERS

11 2 6 21

straight wins for the men’s basketball team to start the season, a school record.

losses apiece for the men’s and women’s baskeball teams in UAA play. The teams are 11-2 and 9-5 respectively, but both are 1-2 in conference play.

games that the men’s basketball team has played that have been decided by two points or less. The team is 4-2 in those games.

rebounds pulled down by forward Amber Strodthoff ’11 in the women’s basketball team’s two games last week, one quarter of the team’s total rebounds.

15

Steelers beat the Ravens, will face the Jets for the AFC Championship

UAA STANDINGS

Judging numbers

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2011

AP BRIEFS

■ The senior forward and cocaptain pulled more than a quarter of the team’s rebounds last week and has become a leader on the very young women’s basketball team.

After starting 18 of the team’s 24 games and finishing third in scoring a year ago, Amber Strodthoff ’11 has taken her game to a new level this season. The senior forward has increased her scoring average to 9.3 points per game, raised her shooting percentage from 40.9 percent last season to 44.4 percent this season, leads the team in rebounding and already has four more blocks and three more steals this year than she had all of last season.

Strodthoff was also instrumental in the team’s victory over Carnegie Mellon University last Friday, scoring 10 of the team’s 26 points in the first half and pulling down one quarter of the team’s 44 rebounds on the game. In the squad’s loss to Case Western Reserve University last Sunday, Strodthoff scored 6 points in just five shots, easily the most efficient result for a Judges team that shot just 27.3 percent. Strodthoff also grabbed 10 of the team’s 34 rebounds, twice that of anyone else on the team.

Yet Strodthoff feels that her most important role on the team this season is her role as a co-captain. The senior’s leadership both on and off the court has been instrumental for a team with just two seniors and seven first-years, many of whom see significant playing time.

“Being captain has absolutely changed [my] perspective of the game and even the world around me,” Strodthoff said. “It has inspired in me a new sense of commitment, and encouraged me to think of others on a more frequent basis. I’ve really enjoyed this more active role and am glad to be able to impart knowledge to my fellow teammates.”

●

Men’s BBall (points per game)

Women’s BBall (points per game)

Vytas Kriskus ’12 leads the team with a 13.4 points-per-game average.

Morgan Kendrew ’12 leads the team with a 14.5 points-per-game average.

Player Vytas Kriskus Derek Retos Youri Dascy Tyrone Hughes Christian Yemga

Player Morgan Kendrew Amber Strodthoff Mia DePalo Kelly Ethier Janelle Rodriguez

PPG 13.4 8.5 8.4 7.8 6.0

PPG 14.5 9.3 6.8 6.4 4.7

Men’s BBall (rebounds)

Women’s BBall (rebounds)

Christian Yemga ’11 leads the team with 5.7 rebounds per game.

Amber Strodthoff ’11 leads the team with 7.2 rebounds per game.

Player Christian Yemga Youri Dascy Vytas Kriskus Alex Schmidt Tyrone Hughes

Player Amber Strodthoff Samantha Anderson Mia DePalo Brighid Courtney Kelly Ethier

RPG 5.7 5.2 4.6 3.8 3.5

RPG 7.2 4.6 4.3 3.7 3.1

UPCOMING GAME TO WATCH Men’s and Women’s basketball vs Chicago The Judges will face Chicago this Friday at Red Auerbach Arena at 6 and 8 p.m.

The men’s and women’s basketball teams have both struggled to 1-2 records in conference play thus far this season, and they will both need to step up their game if they hope to defeat the visiting Maroons. The University of Chicago men’s team is only 5-9 on the year, is above Brandeis in the Univer-

sity Athletic Association standings.

The Chicago women are 11-3, including 3-0 in conference play.

Last season, the Brandeis men won both games between the teams, and the Brandeis women lost twice.

The women’s game starts at 6 p.m., and the men play at 8 p.m.

A most fitting comeback for Ben Roethlisberger.

With the kind of playmaking that put two Super Bowl rings on his fingers, the Steelers quarterback connected on a 58-yard pass to rookie Antonio Brown with less than 2 minutes to go. The go-for-broke toss set up the winning touchdown in a rough-and-tumble 31-24 victory Saturday over the archrival Baltimore Ravens.

“Let’s just chuck it deep,” Roethlisberger told offensive coordinator Bruce Arians just before he threw his biggest pass of the season. “If they pick it, it will be a pick way down there, just as good as a punt. ... I just throw it as far as I can.”

He did.

“It was kind of amazing,” Brown said. “It kind of stuck to my shoulder.”

As a result, the Steelers (13-4) are a win away from their third Super Bowl in six seasons. The Steelers will play the New York Jets in Pittsburgh this weekend.

Rashard Mendenhall scored the winning touchdown from 2 yards with 1:33 left. That ended any ideas the Ravens had of finally winning a playoff game against their division rivals.

Roethlisberger took his shots early from the Ravens’ defense but threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns.

“He may not be [New England Patriots quarterback Tom] Brady or all those other guys, but when I see him in the huddle I know we’ve got a chance to win,” said Hines Ward, who caught a touchdown pass. “He’s a proven winner. And history shows he’s a proven winner against Baltimore.”

While the Steelers trailed by two touchdowns at the half, it was the Ravens who fell apart in the second half as the team they love to beat most came back to knock them out of the postseason. The Steelers are 9-0 against division teams in the postseason.

The Ravens’ last chance to beat the Steelers—they haven’t done so in three postseason tries—ended when T.J. Houshmandzadeh dropped Flacco’s fourth-down pass at the Steelers’ 38 with 1:03 remaining.

“We knew it would be a close game,” Houshmandzadeh said. “I didn’t think it needed to be, but it was.”

“What better way to put the Ravens out of the tournament,” Ward said. “They keep asking for us, and we keep putting them out of the tournament. They’re going to be ticked about this for a long time.”

With Baltimore up 21-7, Ryan Clark forced a rare fumble

by Ray Rice on a screen pass and LaMarr Woodley recovered it at the 23. The play re-energized the crowd of 64,879 that had grown silent as Baltimore opened its two-touchdown lead.

“You know what, our offense went in there (at halftime) and said, ‘We played terrible. We gave them the ball in prime position too many times,’” Roethlisberger said. “We had to do something about it.’”

Mendenhall ran for 14 yards before Roethlisberger’s 9-yard scoring pass to Heath Miller, who missed two games after sustaining a concussion on a hit by Jameel McClain during the Steelers’ 13-10 win in Baltimore last month.

Later in the quarter, Flacco overthrew tight end Todd Heap and Clark returned the interception 17 yards to the 25.

Three plays later, Roethlisberger found reliable Ward, absent in the offense most of the day, for an 8-yard touchdown pass, and it was tied at 21.

Along the sideline, the Ravens had the look of a team that couldn’t believe it had squandered the lead and couldn’t figure out how to get it back. They never did.

Each team took advantage of a long pass interference penalty to score during a penalty-filled first quarter. Josh Wilson’s 37-yard penalty for yanking on Mike Wallace led to Mendenhall’s 1-yard touchdown run during the Steelers’ first possession.

On a third-and-15 play, Steelers backup Anthony Madison’s 33-yard pass interference penalty set up Rice’s 14-yard touchdown run up the middle. Then it really got interesting.

Terrell Suggs knocked the ball loose from the quarterback as he tried to get off a pass. Roethlisberger pump-faked, but before he could bring his right arm forward, the ball came out.

As Suggs celebrated the apparent incompletion, the ball lay on the turf for 3 full seconds. Haloti Ngata was closest to it, but no one touched it until an alert Redding —realizing the whistle hadn’t blown—picked it up and ran it into the end zone from the 13.

Mendenhall fumbled on the Steelers’ subsequent possession, Ed Reed recovered it, and Flacco threw a 4-yard touhcdown pass to Heap.

Manchester City wins to stay atop the English Premier League Table Manchester City hung on to beat Wolverhampton 4-3 and move past Manchester United for the Premier League lead Saturday, defending champion Chelsea beat Blackburn to end a two-match winless streak and Arsenal compounded West Ham’s woes.

After Kolo Toure canceled out Nenad Milijas’ opener for the Wolves, City went ahead 4-1 in the second half through Carlos Tevez’s double and Yaya Toure’s strike.

But Kevin Doyle and Ronald Zubar struck back to give City a scare.

City went a point ahead of United, which plays the first of three games in hand at Tottenham on Sunday.

Tottenham was dislodged from fourth place—temporarily at least—when Chelsea beat Blackburn 2-0.

Arsenal remains third after a 3-0 victory at West Ham, whose manager Avram Grant was facing an uncertain future with the team rock bottom in the standings.

Chelsea secured only its second win in its last 10 league games after Branislav Ivanovic scored and then set up Nicolas Anelka.

Arsenal leads Chelsea by 5 points after its blanking of West Ham on two goals by Robin van Persie, including a penalty shot in the 77th and one by Theo Walcott.

Also, West Bromwich moved 4 points clear of the relegation zone by beating Blackpool 3-2 to end a run of six successive defeats, Bolton was consigned to its fifth consecutive away defeat as Stoke won 2-0, and Andrew Johnson scored a late goal after collecting a pass from American Clint Dempsey to salvage a 1-1 draw for Fulham at Wigan.

just

Sports

Page 16

CLEANING THE GLASS Forward Amber Strodthoff ’11 pulled down 21 rebounds in the women’s team’s two UAA games last week, p. 15.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Waltham, Mass.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Historic streak snapped at 11 games ■ The men’s basketball team

won a record 11 games in a row to start the year before falling twice last weekend.

By MAX GOLDSTEIN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The men’s basketball team began the week by setting a school record for the best start to the season, defeating Bates College on Jan. 11 to move to 11-0. However, the squad cooled down later in the week, dropping two straight UAA matches on the road. The team is now 11-2 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

Despite shooting 21 percent from 3-point range, the Judges were able to defeat Bates with shutdown defense, holding the Bobcats to their worst shooting performance of the season (34 percent) and out-rebounding Bates 36-29. The first half showcased four ties and three lead changes, going back and forth until Brandeis ended the half with a 7-2 run to get ahead 27-23.

The Judges continued their run in the second half, eventually leading 49-41 with 3 minutes, 39 seconds to play. Bates, however, fought back on a 9-2 run to cut the lead to 51-50 with 28 seconds to go. Yet the Judges were able to hold on and won 53-50.

Forward Christian Yemga ’11 led the Judges with 13 points, shooting 6-8 from the field, and Tyrone Hughes ’12 added seven assists.

Coach Brian Meehan, though happy about setting the record, which was previously held by the 1956-1957 team, says the team is more focused on what lies ahead.

“It’s not something we’re concerned about. It’s nice, but during the season, our goal is to get to 19 [or] 20 wins and get into the [NCAA] tourney,” he said.

The Judges failed to build on the new record, as they saw their winning streak and undefeated season come to an end last Thursday in a 5352 loss to Carnegie Mellon. The team lost its first close game of the season as it came into the game 4-0 in contests decided by a basket or less.

“We’ve won our fair show of close games, but it will even itself out,” Meehan said. “We’ve had our share of good fortune. Now we have to start playing better, but we just have to get everyone on the same page,” he added.

Brandeis was in control early in the first half and outshot Carnegie Mellon 48 percent to 35 percent from the field on the half. Guard Tyrone Hughes ’12 and forward Vytas Kriskus ’12 scored 8 points each to lead the Judges, combining for al-

most half of Brandeis’ points in the first period. However, the Judges squandered an early 21-13 lead, allowing Carnegie Mellon to tie the game at 29-29 with 2:25 to go. Despite losing the early lead, the Judges led 34-31 at the half.

Brandeis opened the second half with a layup by center Youri Dascy ’14 to move ahead 36-31 but was unable to hit another field goal for more than 12 minutes. The team missed 12 straight field goals.

“We didn’t shoot well at all; we struggled and we struggled to get good shots,” Meehan said. “You’re not gonna shoot at a high percentage when you shoot bad shots, and we took a lot of bad shots where we were out of control.”

Carnegie Mellon took advantage of the Judges’ poor shooting to go on a 15-4 run, taking a 46-38 lead with 6:46 to go. Brandeis fought back, cutting the deficit to 4 with 3:08 to go.

Yemga and Hughes then came up with steals on back-to-back Carnegie Mellon possessions, leading to 4 straight points for Brandeis and tying the game at 50 with 55 seconds to go. Carnegie Mellon broke Brandeis’ full-court pressure on the next possession for an easy layup by senior Shane Rife.

On the next possession for Brandeis, Hughes was fouled, leading to two free throws, both of which he converted. However, 5 seconds later, Brandeis fouled freshman guard Christian Manoli. The freshman hit the first shot to give Carnegie Mellon a 53-52 lead but missed the second. Guard Ben Bartoldus ’14 grabbed the rebound and called a time out. On the Judges’ final possession, Bartoldus found a lane and drove to the basket but was swatted

by Manoli as time expired.

Hughes scored a game-high 13 points for the Judges, while Ruben Kanya ’14 added 11. Riley, Manoli and Rife each contributed 10 points for Carnegie Mellon.

“I thought over the weekend, we showed how young we are; we make silly mistakes, and lose focus easily,” Meehan said. “We can’t keep relying on putting ourselves in the hole and coming back. It’s a formula for disaster.”

Brandeis came into the game as the second-best 3-point shooting team in the country but was only 5-17 from beyond the arc against Carnegie Mellon.

“It’s hard to get threes from the half court set, especially since teams now know that we can shoot well from beyond the arc. We have to get back to running and be a transition team, we have to defend and

See MBBALL, 13 ☛

JOSHUA LINTON/Justice File Photo

TIPPING IT IN: Center Youri Dascy ’14 tips the ball in over a Newbury College defender during the Judges’ Nov. 19, 2010 victory.

TRACK AND FIELD

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Teams excel in home meet

Judges split two UAA matches on the road

■ The men’s track team

placed second and the women’s team finished third at the annual home race.

By JONATHAN EPSTEIN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

In his first home meet, rookie Vincent Asante ’14 won two races and just missed setting a school record in the 55-meter dash. He was one of several Brandeis runners to win their respective events, and the men’s team grabbed third place at the annual Reggie Poyau Memorial Invitational, which was held last Saturday in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. The women’s team finished in second, led

by Grayce Selig ’11, who set a new school record in the 3,000-meter run.

Asante won the 55-meter dash in 6.62 seconds. He ran the preliminary race in a time of 6.59 seconds, just .05 seconds off of the school record. He also won the 200-meter dash in 23.57 seconds.

Also running in the 55 and the 200 was Charlie Pino ’12. Pino earned second in the 200 with a time of 23.90 seconds and third in the 55 with a time of 6.85.

The 4x800-meter relay team won its event as well. The quartet of Alex Kramer ’13, Mik Kern ’13, Taylor Dundas ’14 and Chris Brown ’12 finished with a time of 8 minutes, 19.34 seconds, more than 30 seconds ahead of Southern Maine University.

Brandeis placed fifth in the 4x400meter relay. The team of Stanley

Xuelin ’12, Pino, Asante, and Jung Park ’14 finished in 3:44.98.

Park finished second in the 55-meter hurdles.

Kris Stinehart ’14 finished second in the shot put with a distance of 11.23 meters.

Brandeis had several top finishers in the distance events as well.

Kern and Sam Donovan ’11 placed fourth and sixth, respectively, in the 800-meter run. Both of them finished less than 4 seconds behind Southern Maine freshman Julian Gazzeloni, who won the event.

Ben Bray ’11 grabbed second in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2:34.18.

Brandeis had four runners finish in the top seven in the mile. Leading the way were Devon Holgate ’11

See TRACK, 13 ☛

■ The women’s basketball

team edged Carnegie Mellon before being blown out by Case Western.

By ADAM RABINOWITZ JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The women’s basketball team split its two University Athletic Association contests this weekend, suffering a 56-38 loss at Case Western University last Sunday, following the team’s 65-62 victory at Carnegie Mellon University last Friday. The

team now has a 9-5 record, including a 1-2 mark in conference play.

Against Case, the Judges fell early and trailed throughout the game.

Brandeis managed to remain within 4 points of the Spartans for the first 10 minutes of the first half, but quickly ceded control. Case’s lead grew to 8 points just before the half, but the Judges closed the margin to 3 points, 22-19, by the end of the half.

Brandeis maintained its momentum to start the second half and seized a 25-24 lead with 16:47 remaining. Yet the Spartans quickly took control and built a double-digit

See WBBALL, 13 ☛

January 18, 2011

just

ARTS g n i t r a h C the

top albums of

2010 p. 20

Photo and design: Robyn Spector/the Justice.

18

TUESDAY, January 18, 2011 ● THE JUSTICE

POP CULTURE

INSIDE ON CAMPUS

19

■ Sign up for new arts courses 19 Spring 2011 offers several experiential classes that help to bridge the gaps between various cultures.

■ Embrace the arts

19

The arts scene at Brandeis is both vibrant and exciting, and students of every major should take advantage of the school’s various offerings.

OFF CAMPUS

■ Top albums of 2010

20-24

Katy Perry, B.o.B and Taio Cruz top this writer’s picks for the best albums of the past year.

20

■ Album preview 2011

21

■ ‘Black Swan’ review

21

■ ‘True Grit’ review

23

■ Innermost brew

23

Indie album releases experiment with new technology and vocal tones to create thrilling tracks.

JustArts dissects Darren Aronofsky’s latest award-winning film. Does the thriller starring Natalie Portman live up to all the hype?

The Coen brothers have once again perfected the Western genre in this riveting action/adventure flick starring Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon.

The winter season ensures the arrival of tasty new flavors of everyone’s favorite brews, including beers from Sierra Nevada, Mass. and Brooklyn, N.Y.

CALENDAR

Interview

Looking toward the New Year

by Shelly Shore

Kids, I have to be honest with you. A whole bunch of stuff happened over winter break. So much, in fact, that there really isn’t room to squeeze it all into one itty bitty column. Technically, I could pick and choose—talk about the Oscar race, the award season, the baby boom that’s going on (seriously, it seems like every time I crack open a gossip blog there’s another baby bump! Something in the water, perhaps?), but really, there’s one story that’s really caught my eye, and that’s the current love life of Ms. Natalie Portman.

Now, far be it from me to judge anyone’s life decisions, especially those of the celebrities I adore. But Natalie is heading down a very slippery slope, and I think it’s time to point out a very disturbing comparison.

For those of you not caught up on the news, Natalie recently announced that she is pregnant (what did I tell you? Baby boom!) and engaged to Black Swan dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied. While Natalie has done nothing but gush about her sexy fiancé and her pregnancy, one can’t help but notice the eerie similarities to another Hollywood romance— that of one Britney Spears.

Back in 2004, Britney announced that she was dating backup dancer Kevin Federline.

“Oh, ok,” we said. “Whatever makes you happy, Britney.” But as the facts came out, we learned that not only was Kevin kind of a sleazy guy who seemed to be using Brit to further his (doomed) rap career, he had also left his girlfriend, Shar Jackson, to be with Britney. Ignoring all the warning signs, Britney went ahead and married him, and 2 years and two kids later, they were divorced. Britney still shells out hundreds of thousands of dollars to K-Fed a year, and we recently learned that K-Fed is putting off marriage to his new girlfriend because if he ties the knot again, he loses Britney’s money.

 The Brandeis Chinese Cultural Connection will celebrate the Lunar New Year Jan. 29 with performances in the Levin Ballroom.

NAME IS/Flickr Creative Commons

SLIPPERY SLOPES: If Britney Spears were to give Natalie Portman advice, it would be “get a prenup.”

Natalie’s a smart girl, and I like to think that she has a bit more sense than dear Britney. But with new information surfacing that Benjamin left his long-time girlfriend Isabella Boylston to hook up with Natalie, it’s hard not to worry that Natalie might be rushing into marriage because she’s expecting Benjamin’s child. Don’t be a Britney, Natalie! All this gossip might bump up your hype during Oscar season, but that statue isn’t worth a failed marriage!

If nothing else, let’s at least hope she gets a prenup.

What’s happening in Arts on and off campus

ON-CAMPUS EVENTS

WSRC “Alive by Her Own Hand: Women Composers as Performers of Their Work”

This program of original compositions by female creators and performers will include instrumentals varying in jazz and avant-garde styles. Composers will provide commentary to illuminate the ideas that inspired these original pieces. This is the opening concert for Alive by Her Own Hand, a fest/conference presented by the Women’s Studies Research Center.

Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Slosberg Recital Hall.

Tickets are free for Brandeis students, $5 for nonBrandeis students and $10 general admission.

WSRC “Alive by Her Own Hand: Women Composers as Performers of Their Work (Part 2)”

This conclusion of the Alive by Her Own Hand event contains a program of works featuring soprano Janet Youngdahl from the early music group Cecilia’s Circle, mezzo-soprano Pamela Dellal, harpsichordist Vivian Montgomery and violist da gamba Laury Gutierrez.

The concert will feature music from 17th-century Italian composers Barbara Strozzi, Chiara Margarita Cozzolani, Isabella Leonarda and contemporaries.

Sunday at 3:30 p.m. in the Slosberg Recital Hall.

Tickets are free for Brandeis students, $5 for students and $10 general admission.

Prof. Daniel Stepner and friends violin concert

Prof. Daniel Stepner (MUS) will perform new musical selections with his trademark violinist skills, along with Donal Berman on piano and Frank Kelley on tenor. Musical compositions include pieces by Yu-Hui Chang, Prof. Eric Chasalow (MUS), Howard Frazin, Paul Hindemith, Carl Ruggles and Charles Ives.

Saturday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Slosberg Recital Hall. Tickets are $20 general admission, $10 for the Brandeis community and $5 for students.

Lunar New Year performance

Brandeis’ Chinese Cultural Connection presents this celebratory event signifying the arrival of the Chinese New Year. The centuries-old Chinese New Year tradition, which is marked by ancient myths and rituals, will honor the Year of the Rabbit. BC3 will commemorate the event with a large dance showcase by Brandeis performers as well as outside dance crews.

Saturday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Levin Ballroom. Admission is free but limited on a firstcome, first-served basis.

Brandeis University Chorus and Chamber Choir performance

Prof. James Olsen (MUS) conducts this ensemble performance of Brandeis’ premier chorus and chamber choir. The evening will feature a program of music entitled “Songs of Love for People and Place: Songs for Voices, Early and Modern of Weelkes, Elgar, Senfl, Lassus, and Brahms.”

Saturday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Slosberg Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

‘Little Monsters’

This new play from Maria Alexandria Beech tells the story of a poet named Sarah who lives with a hypochondriac mother in a small studio

NATHANIEL FREEDMAN/Justice File Photo

YEAR OF THE RABBIT: The Brandeis Chinese Cultural Connection celebrates the beginning of another Chinese New Year with an exciting concert and dance showcase, featuring Brandesians and other performers. apartment in New York. Despite their small and relatively solitary existence, Sarah attempts to find a significant other through Internet dating sites. Throughout this journey, she learns that she is looking for much more than a mate; she is looking to find herself and a way to express herself through writing. This workshop-style production will be presented along with post show discussions with the playwright and members of the creative team, giving audiences an opportunity to contribute to the play’s continuing development.

Thursday, Feb. 17 through Saturday Feb. 20 at the Spingold Laurie Theater. Tickets are $10 general admission.

Marty Boykan 80th birthday concert

A celebration of Prof. Emeritus Martin Boykan’s (MUS) musical works and his 50 years as professor of composition at Brandeis. His 80th birthday will be commemorated with premieres of two works performed by mezzo-soprano Pamela Dellal and pianist Donald Berman.

Sunday, Feb. 13 at 3 p.m. in the Slosberg Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS ‘Mamma Mia!’

The smash hit musical returns to bring magic to the Boston theatre scene. This contemporary classic, featuring ABBA’s greatest hits, including “Dancing Queen,” “S.O.S,” “Super Trouper,” “Take A Chance on Me” and “The Winner Takes It All,” will be sure to enchant audiences with a heartwarming tale of love, laughter and friendship.

Three-day run begins Friday at 8 p.m. The Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester, Mass. Tickets range from $39 to $69.

Screening of ‘Full Metal Jacket’ with Jonathan Shay

The Coolidge Corner Theatre will host a presentation of world­-renowned director Stanley

Kubrick’s powerful drama about the dismantling of the human psyche used to train young men to become weapons during the Vietnam War and the execution of their dehumanized tactics on the warfront. As part of the Coolidge’s continuing Science on Screen series, the screening will include a talk by Dr. Jonathan Shay, a national expert on combat trauma.

Shay spent 20 years as a psychiatrist at the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Boston, where he dedicated his life to the treatment of Vietnam combat veterans with severe psychological deficits. He now furthers his work by practicing preventive psychiatry in military organizations.

Monday at The Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass. Tickets are $9.75 general admission and $7.75 for students.

‘The Secret Garden’

This revival of the play based on a classic book written by Frances Hodgson Burnett will take to the stage at the Wheelock Family Theatre. This new production is being headed by book writer and lyricist Jane Kosoff and music writer Jane Staab, with their original takes breathing new life into this enchanting classic.

The story revolves around British orphan Mary Lenox, a girl who finds herself without a home after a deadly cholera epidemic hits India.

She winds up living with her uncle Archibald Craven, who is consumed with mourning over his deceased wife Lily. Craven’s constant absences from his Yorkshire estate leave Lily alone, surrounded by confining castle walls and an empty road in front of her. Her life is mysteriously reinvigorated when the chatters of a secret garden begin to call to her. Mary enlists the help of Colin, Archibald’s ill and bedridden son, and together the two of them set out to find the garden, and bring meaning back into their lives.

Monthlong run begins Friday Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Wheelock Family Theatre, 200 The Riverway, Boston. Tickets range from $20 to $30.

On Feb. 3, Chinese all around the world will be giving hong bao (red envelopes containing cash) to their family members, eating hot pot dinners and participating in lion-dance performances. Max Xu ’13, co-president of BC3, talks to justArts about how the club will usher in the Year of the Rabbit in two weeks.

JustArts: Why do people celebrate the Lunar New Year?

Max Xu: Lunar New Year is the beginning of the new year on the lunar calendar, which is shifted over by a couple months from the Gregorian calendar. It typically is a time to get together with family and friends, and everyone in China gets several days off from school and work to enjoy the company of loved ones.

JA: Why is the holiday important for Brandeis students?

MX: For Brandeis students who celebrate Lunar New Year, it’s a time to call or Skype loved ones and wish them a happy new year as well as celebrate with loved ones in whatever regard they can. For those who don’t typically celebrate the Lunar New Year, it’s an important holiday among Asian cultures that will hopefully become more well-known over time as more than simply an excuse for those lucky Chinese kids to get free money from their parents (until you finally find a spouse and marry at whatever age, you typically will receive a red envelope containing money from your parents on Lunar New Year)!

JA: What does the Chinese New Year mean for you?

MX: Chinese New Year is always a great excuse to eat way too much Chinese food both at home and out in Chinatown. As an Americanborn Chinese, I’ve never enjoyed the long break from school that international students rave about, but the atmosphere during the days leading up to and during the Lunar New Year is always relaxed.

JA: What should students expect for the performance?

MX: Lunar New Year is easily BC3’s biggest event of the year, and showcases a variety of performances ranging from traditional Chinese dance and singing acts to comedy and skits.

There will be outside performers as well as student performers. The event will be held in a completely decorated Levin Ballroom, and promises to be a spectacular event!

JA: With the event at Levin Ballroom for the first time, how will Lunar New Year be different?

MX: Last year we ran into some overcrowding issues with audience members standing in the aisles and causing fire hazards because there were no more seats. The Levin Ballroom allows for a much larger audience as well as a wider atmosphere, and we hope the venue will allow for even more people than last year!

JA: What is your favorite part of Lunar New Year?

MX: My favorite part of Lunar New Year is the Lion Dance. The dance is typically several minutes long and features impressive acrobatic and rhythmic performances by the head and rear of the lion, done completely in sync. Kids always love it, too! Their jaws drop at the end when the two parts of the Lion stand up and reveal themselves.

JA: Who have you been collaborating with to organize the event?

MX: This year, we’ve received help from members of Brandeis Asian American Student Association and Southeast Asian Club, in addition to partnering with several outside performing organizations and the East Asian Studies program.

This was all done in order to expand Lunar New Year beyond previous years, and we can’t thank everyone who helped out enough for supporting our venture.

JA: With less than 2 weeks to go until the event, what will the process be like in putting everything together?

MX: This year we opted for a much earlier event date (last year, we didn’t have Lunar New Year until mid-February), so we still have plenty of work to do in preparation for Jan. 29. Flyering and performance rehearsals are the biggest things we have to accomplish these upcoming weeks. Every year, our executive board develops several ulcers and grows dozens of white hairs organizing Lunar New Year, and this year will be no different—I would be lying if I said we weren’t all freaking out a bit (especially Karen Hu ’12, this year’s event’s coordinator and last year’s co-president, who is the mastermind behind the entire event. Without her we wouldn’t have much of a show!)

JA: Will there be free food at the event?

MX: Part of me wants to say “No, there will be no food served at the event, free or otherwise,” but in fact there will be so much free food (over $1,000 dollars worth, just like last year’s showing) that I wouldn’t be able to come close to finishing it if I tried hoarding it all for myself. It would be a shame if nobody showed up and I ended up having to take all of it home with me.

—Wei-Huan Chen

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, january 18, 2011

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ON CAMPUS ACADEMICS

Arts courses to offer hands-on learning ■ Brandeis arts departments unite cultures through studies of international music, architecture and film.

By EMILY SALLOWAY JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Registration reopened Jan. 12, and spring’s shopping period, the allotted time during which students can try out and add classes to their schedules, will run until Jan. 31. Within the arts departments, spring 2011 offers many exciting and innovative choices that will liven up any weekly routine.

The Music department has among its wide selection two new, especially unique options this semester. “Music and Dance from Ghana” offers students the chance to work with Ghanaian instructor Nani Kwashi Agbeli, who has taught dance and drums in schools in Ghana as well as in the United States. The course is being brought to Brandeis students

by MusicUnitesUS, an initiative at Brandeis that seeks to bring people of different backgrounds and cultures together by sharing a love of music.

Director of MusicUnitesUS Prof.

Judith Eissenberg (MUS), told justArts what makes this opportunity one that shouldn’t be passed up: “A one-time exposure can be thrilling and ear-opening, but an immersion, which is what this semester-long course offers, invites a student to learn from the inside. ...

The process is no longer a comparative one but one that is located in and through the tradition.” According to the course description, there will be a chance to study and perform using traditional Ghanaian instruments, vocal call-and-response pieces and choreographed dance numbers, all of which will culminate in a semesterend performance. “Even the name of the course is a lesson; in traditional African performance, the arts are intertwined—music and dance are part of the performance. Music is expressed through the body, dance is expressed through the music, and so on,” said Eissenberg. The class will meet on Thursday nights from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Another interesting musical option for students is “Women and Music, Past and Present: Style, Identity, Culture.” The course will be taught by Profs. Vivian Montgomery (MUS) and Liane Curtis (MUS), who are both scholars at the Women’s Studies Research Center. According to its syllabus, the course “will consider the role of women from a range of perspectives: as creators and performers of music, and shapers of culture, and also the concept of ‘woman’ as an abstraction evoked and depicted in musical works com-

SWEGGS/Flickr Creative Commons

SOUND THE DRUMS: “Music and Dance from Ghana” will teach students to play traditional Ghanaian instruments under tutelage of renowned instructor Nani Kwashi Agbeli. posed by both men and women,” and will span the time period from 1080 to the present day. Part of the course will require attendance at the Alive

by Her Own Hand “fest-conference” on Jan. 22 and 23. The conference will be held at Brandeis and feature many female musicians performing in addition to several speakers who will discuss their experience as female artists. Another unique aspect of the course is the activism project, which Montgomery told justArts will be modeled after the work Curtis has done “advocating for performance of women composers’ works, as well as the healthy presence of women in the major orchestras and other musical institutions.”

The Fine Arts department also has some good choices for classes, including an architecture course called “Modernism Elsewhere.” Taught by Prof. Talinn Grigor (FA), the course will offer exciting hands-on opportunities such as field trips to Boston and Cambridge, a two-part modelbuilding project and case study projects in which students team up and present to the class the history of modernism within the context of various locations around the world.

There is also a class called “Palestinian and Israeli Art, Film and Visual Culture: Intersecting Visions.”

The class, according to Prof. Gannit Ankori’s (FA) syllabus, will teach about the historical and current con-

WISEFLY/Flickr Creative Commons

MUSIC IN THE BODY: In Nani Kwashi Agbeli’s new course, “arts are intertwined.” flicts in the Middle East by looking at the changes in art through two different textbooks, one Israeli and one Palestinian. Ankori writes, “in a region subsumed by turmoil and conflict, Israeli and Palestinian art-

ists have been tenaciously engaged in the creation of vibrant and innovative works of art. Characterized by diversity and boldness, these paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, films, performances and

videos both reflect and transcend the violent contexts in which they are being produced.”

Within the Film, Television and Interactive Media program, Prof.

Shilpa Davé’s (AMST) class, “Race and American Cinema,” with its inclusion of many great American films including Crash, Do the Right Thing and The Gentleman’s Agreement in its list of texts, looks very promising. The syllabus reads, “This course will explore how images of racial and ethnic minorities such as African Americans, Jews, Asians, Native Americans and Latino/as are reflected on the screen, as well as the ways that minorities in the entertainment industry have responded to often limiting representations.”

The class includes a basic introduction to film at the start of the semester to put all students on the same level of terminology since a lot of class time will be spent discussing the films that will be screened every Monday night.

It is clear from these great options that the arts at Brandeis are becoming extremely hands-on and culturally eye-opening. No topic is too controversial or sensitive to be discussed, and many of the professors for the above courses have firsthand experience in their subject. Don’t pass up the opportunity to fill your schedule with these creative and mentally stimulating courses.

opinion

Passion for creativity sets the University apart ■ A sophomore student

finds that opportunities for involvement on campus are most abundant in arts clubs.

By SUJIN SHIN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Everyone has been touched by the arts in some way or another, whether it’s obvious or not. Every day, one can listen to the radio and hear the latest pop song, the result of an intense collaboration between dozens of very talented and creative people—though the quality of the final product of this collaboration can be disputed. The statue one passes on the way to class—that is a piece of art. The countless ballet classes—that is art. The design of the cityscape, the dress on the runway, the graffiti on the wall is all art. But art is more than just a final product: It is also the painstaking and eye-opening process—the burst of inspiration, the lengthy collaboration, the final execu-

tion and the joy. It is so important to draw from inspirations, the work of others and the support of your peers when trying to indulge the arts, and Brandeis’ active and enthusiastic arts community is the perfect atmosphere to start.

When I first arrived at the University, I already knew where I would begin my arts career. I had sung in a choir since the seventh grade. I loved singing, I loved harmonies, I loved creating music with my peers. It’s difficult to describe the feeling one gets when hearing the wash of 100 voices filling a hall; of course, they all have to be in tune. Every year I’d audition for choirs, and I relished each opportunity to sing.

But my choral and vocal curiosity ended with the pieces my conductors had chosen. Some were West Side Story mash-ups, some were traditional folk songs, and some were Bach’s chorales. I loved the way they sounded and enjoyed every minute I sang them, but for some reason, I never gave other pieces a chance. I guess I was uninter-

ested in something that I would probably never perform.

But after receiving the shock of suddenly being a college student and having so many other responsibilities to take care of before music, I became disinterested in almost any music that I couldn’t perform. Tchaikovsky became ho-hum, show tunes became annoying and pop songs became simple background noise so that it wouldn’t be so lonely in a quiet room. I felt this degradation in my interest in music, something that had fueled my creative energies for so long, and I was upset.

In fact, I was disinterested in a lot of things to which I had some emotional attachment: dance, drawing and poetry. However, our University’s dedication to presenting and fostering the arts is, thankfully, hard to ignore.

It only took a few moments of having my nose out of a textbook to see the amazing things going on creatively at our University. Student theater groups, choirs, dance performances, poetry slams, concerts, recitals, culture shows, visiting professionals,

Rose Art exhibitions, even the library’s extensive collection of CDs and DVDs­—the list of amazing things seems endless. And behind each show, recital or performance are so many talented and wonderful people, all working together to create something that touches people on another level.

I indulged myself a little in the arts: I joined the choir, helped out in the theater, visited the Rose, etc. New experiences await anyone who delves into the arts—sometimes they are difficult, other times frustrating, always exhilarating. And it is in the collaboration, the drawing of inspiration from others or what inspired the others, that stirs the creative animal inside.

What I think sets our University apart from others is the enthusiasm for the arts that is exhibited in the students, the faculty and the deans.

I was shocked to learn that my First Year Seminar professor, who is also a biophysics professor, openly talked about the arts in his class. My naïve ignorance aside in not realizing that biophysics professors are still

only human and don’t only conduct experiments in cold labs all day, the omnipresence of the arts struck me the hardest then. Director of the Office of the Arts Scott Edmiston, couldn’t be more hands-on in the artistic community, as shown by his dedication to making last semester’s Sunday in the Park with George, some of the finest theater seen on campus. And of course, who knows how else the arts have inspired and moved those who move us? It is a scary and wonderful thing.

The arts are so important to the active and creative minds of our University, of any healthy society, so that people can come together and create; it is creation and inspiration that drive a community forward. And as for me, I’m not immune to the spell of the arts.

The arts also encourage exploration, and thankfully, that’s happening for me. The new semester beckons, with dozens of new performances, collaborations and presentations, and I can’t wait to experience every single one of them.

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THE JUSTICE

OFF CAMPUS

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2010

Pop albums dominated the past year in music but were not without flaws

By Iyvon EDEBIRI JUSTICE contributing WRITER

This year was an awesome year for music. Country music groups became more popular, hitmakers continued to shine and many newcomers hit the stage and radio with songs that became stuck in our heads. Auto-Tune was the big crutch that most artists used, but sometimes to artists’ benefits. Unfortunately, artists whom we had seen and heard before didn’t seem to change much, but they still managed to give us chart-topping songs.

Here are my top 10 albums of 2010:

4. Animal—Ke$ha At first, I didn’t find anything on the album particularly noteworthy. It’s neither new nor cutting edge, but it is fun. After a few minutes, I was enjoying some of the songs and was already humming them to myself. Ke$ha also knows that the main thing that pop music needs is a catchy tune, and, as expected, this album is stuffed with them. Whether she’s singing about getting really drunk at some dude’s house or about her one true love, the beats accompanying the songs will always be infectious or simply very fitting to the song’s theme. It doesn’t take long to realize that this album has one message: party hard and live life to the max.

Favorite Song: “Animal”—The title track for this album is not a typical party song. It is something that can be easily enjoyed while sitting down and relaxing.

1. Doo-Wops and Hooligans—Bruno Mars This year was the year for breakout musician Bruno Mars. We first see Mars in B.o.B.’s “Nothing on You,” an ode to beautiful girls. He then followed up with Travie McCoy in the summer hit, “Billionaire.”

After releasing his single “Just The Way You Are,” Mars received what most male artists look for when beginning a career: women’s hearts.

Mars followed up with the hit “Grenade” at the end of the year, which is still dominating the charts today.

Doo-Wops and Hooligans is a short album with just 10 songs, but it is effortlessly tuneful. The songs often sound as if they have been written on the spot, a quality that is endearing.

The album flows well and is great to listen to when you want to chill.

Favorite song: “The Lazy Song”— Mars sings about not doing anything, and it’s the college student’s dream.

2. Teenage Dream—Katy Perry

is a risqué album that pushes the envelope with its sexual innuendos and connotations that can only be described as scandalous and typical for Perry.

Favorite Song: “Not Like the Movies”—A great way to end the album. Perry doesn’t necessarily show us her best vocals, but the song has lots of heart as Perry sings about true love.

3. Thank Me Later—Drake Many of you may know Drake as the cute, wheelchair-bound Jimmy on Degrassi. But on his album, Thank Me Later, we see that he is so much more. Drake began to

This year, no one could get away from Katy Perry. From her catchy “California Gurls” single, which was played over and over on the radio, to the chart-climbing “Firework,” Perry was a pop goddess force to be reckoned with. Despite the songs we all know and love, Perry has something fun to offer in this album. It

Album art courtesy of Billboard.com

dominate the airwaves with his hit “Over.” Who can forget “Last name: Ever; first name: greatest,” one of the best rap lines ever said? Drake is not, inherently, a bad rapper. The album’s guest stars interact with these sometimes lackluster beats in different ways, turning an all-star team of support into a motley crew of mixedbag backups. One issue I have with Drake is that he sometimes sounds lethargic and lazy when he raps. He luckily has synthesizers and other hot beats to bring it back.

Favorite Song: “Find Your Love”—A rap ballad for the ages.

Drake has great lyrics and a very catchy hook in this song.

5. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy—Kanye West I generally am not fond of Kanye West. But, ego aside, West actually manages to put out a good album with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

So what makes West’s new music so ‘Dark’ and ‘Twisted?’ His outrageously hedonistic lyrics. In short, the album is brilliant. The rhymes are clever, the music is rich, the emotions are raw, and the themes are dark.

Favorite Song: “Power”—West admits that he is the epitome of arrogance: “I embody every characteristic of the egotistic, he knows he’s so gifted.”

6. B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray—B.o.B. This album is a very good debut album because it introduces the listeners to B.o.B as an artist. The album is good creatively, but there is no real balance to it. It feels like he is experimenting a bit too much, because every single track is different (some might consider that to be a good quality), but for me, it is hard to stay focused on who B.o.B. really is. The Adventures of Bobby Ray will be well received by consumers who have an open mind and ear in the case of hip hop, but those looking for pure hip hop will likely skip B.o.B. As evidenced by such tracks as “Magic” with Rivers Cuomo, B.o.B. can fit in with mainstream pop music as well as dip into the realm of mainstream cleancut rap.

Favorite Song: “Airplanes”— There is something very endearing about wishing for a simpler time when you’re an up-and-coming millionaire hip-hop star.

7. Rokstarr—Taio Cruz Rokstarr lives up to its name. It guiltily caters to the general public in a broadened, generic sense while still maintaining a sloppy sense of selfindulgence. Rokstarr is one of those albums that you will either love or hate, but if you’re already a fan of Taio Cruz, then you are going to love this album. Tracks such as “Dirty Picture,” “Higher” and “Dynamite” are all excellent songs that will get you to dance and celebrate. I recommend this album to those who are always looking for the next party.

Favorite Song: “Dynamite”—The second chart-topping single from Cruz.

“Dynamite” is an anthem to looking good and feeling good anytime you want.

8. Pink Friday—Nicki Minaj Nicki Minaj is one of the most creative female rappers of all time. Her will to rocket her way to the top of the music industry is apparent in her artistic lyrics and over-the-top music videos. If you like the singles “Right Thru Me,” “Check it Out” and “Your Love,” then you will love Pink Friday. Pink Friday has some songs aimed directly at the Top 40.

Favorite Song: “Last Chance”— Featuring vocals by Natasha Bedingfield (shocker!) the song is a great flow of Minaj’s rap and Bedingfield’s soulful vocals.

9. Recovery—Eminem For years, Eminem has only had his pain and anger from the problems with his mother and ex-wife to rap about, and it got tiring and annoying after a while. Now that Eminem has gone through the hardships of rehab and survived a suicide attempt, he gets a little raw and begins to rap about real things.

Favorite Song: “Talkin’ 2 Myself” ft.

Kobe—This song is very engrossing and draws you into singing the chorus along with Kobe. I never heard of this guy before, but the track was very effective and enjoyable.

10. Crazy Love—Michael Bublé Michael Bublé is the anomaly in this top-10 list. He’s not a typical pop star, but he has had some success on the mainstream radio with “Haven’t Met You Yet.” This is Bublé’s first album in 2 1/2 years, and it features two original songs along with his always-original take on 11 standards from various eras.

It’s a great compilation of soulful and poetic works that our generation has forgotten.

Favorite Song: “Georgia on My Mind”— A classic song that is soulfully recreated by Bublé; this is a great destresser.

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, january 18, 2011

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film

‘Black Swan’ delves beneath the psyche ■ Darren Aronofsky’s mindbending thriller teeters on the edge of horror, yet captivates the minds of audiences.

By sujin Shin JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

There are a formidable number of great films this season surrounded

by Oscar buzz. There is the highly acclaimed and controversial film The Social Network, about the titanic networking giant, Facebook; the most star-studded and raved-about sci-fi film, Inception; and several worthy others. But undoubtedly the sexiest and darkest of these films is Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan, a look into the fragile mind of a young ballet dancer and her struggles to embrace both personalities of the title role of the Swan Queen in the classic ballet “Swan Lake.”

An exciting and well-made film, it deserves the buzz it has garnered over the past months. However, the general high quality of the film itself cannot mask all of its imperfections, some of which steer the movie into the realm of campy horror rather than artful darkness.

The story centers around Nina Sayers, played by the soft-spoken and unsettling Natalie Portman, a principal dancer of the New York City Ballet. Nina is a quietly dedicated but strong performer vying for the coveted Swan Queen role that has been recently vacated by a veteran of the dance stage, Beth Macintyre (Winona Ryder).

Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel), the hypersexual director of the NYCB, tells Nina that although she is a strong dancer, she rarely actually performs. Her execution is too restrained by her constant attempt to be technically perfect. She cannot release the dark sexual passion required of the role that gives the Black Swan such power and beauty.

Thomas compares her frigidity with the wilder nature of a newcomer to the Ballet, Lily, played by the sassy and wiry Mila Kunis.

At Thomas’ prompt to start rethinking the way she approaches the role, Nina starts to experiment with the dark and hedonistic side of life, with Lily leading the way. But as her obsession with exploring the role deepens, she begins to become paranoid, thinking that Lily, who was named her understudy, is after her. She is thrown into the terrifying world of her own delusions and

PHOTO COURTESY OF FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES

FRACTURED MIND: Natalie Portman explores her psyche and discovers new sides of herself that are both astounding and frightening in Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Black Swan.’ suffers the hazards that follow.

Portman’s portrayal of the shy and confidence-lacking Nina is astounding. Her tiny frame, even tinier since her weight loss for the role, is perfect for creating a believable dancer’s physique, and her quiet stutter make her transformation all the more intense.

She is treated as a child by her overbearing mother, and she acts like a child in situations that are difficult to handle. Portman takes all of the facets of Nina’s personality, dramatizes each timid movement and each quiet whisper, and she turns the “uncertain Nina” on

her head, while remaining believable all the while.

Black Swan’s palette of colors seems to be slightly desaturated, with all of the exposition scenes devoid of most bright colors and hues.

However, during the final scene of Nina’s performance as the Swan Queen, the stage is lit up with magentas and oranges and the fire of the Black Swan’s passion enflames the entire palette of the film. Exciting and moving, Portman dazzles till the end.

Some issues, however, hinder the film’s smooth sailing into Oscar history. Occasional scenes, meant

to send goosebumps through the skin, are just overly melodramatic and scoff-inducing. Nina’s rage before her first performance as the Swan Queen, far from being moving and believable, turns into something eyebrow-raising and almost laughable. Some moments, like the possessed mirror reflection, are familiar horror—movie tactics, while others, like a sudden appearance of a pale, haunting figure in the corner, bring The Blair Witch Project into mind. A thriller doesn’t always have to include elements of horror movies, and Black Swan certainly could have done without its share of

horror movie clichés.

That being said, Black Swan is still an intense and heart-pounding movie, combining the beauty and artistic elements of both film and ballet into one. Aronofsky masterfully highlights the beauty of ballet in his film without forgetting the strengths of his proper medium, using intimate close-ups to create vulnerability and frantic camera work to mimic Nina’s mental degradation. A strong, leading cast rounds out the film with real human experience and Black Swan draws all into its world of beautiful ballet, erotic themes and haunting secrets.

music

Indie bands will release new albums in 2011 ■ Favorite under-the-radar

artists keep listeners rocking, while bringing raw emotion and lyrical depth to their unique sounds.

By Leah Igdalsky JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Last year was certainly a great year for music. Spin.com featured lists of the best of the past year’s albums, songs, videos and concerts.

Pitchfork and Rolling Stone showcased guest reviews of the year’s best in music. In the wake of this inundation of “Best of 2010” lists, it’s easy to lose sight of the highly anticipated albums to be released in the beginning of 2011. Here’s a breakdown of just a few of these, spanning a wide range of the ambiguous genre known as indie.

First, The Decemberists drop The King is Dead today. For fans of the Portland-based indie-rock quintet, The King is Dead is a relief of sorts following 2009’s overly dramatic and convoluted The Hazards of Love. The band tried to create a rock opera, presenting a complicated story of the protagonist, Margaret, and her experiences in a mystical world featuring an evil queen and a true love at last.

Singer Colin Meloy and company are known for the fantastical elements of their music, such as the dreamy, baroque sound and lyrics about his-

PHOTO COURTESY OF BILLBOARD.COM

STRAYING FROM THE HERD: Iron & Wine’s new CD takes risks that pay off. tory, myth and legend.

Thankfully, The King Is Dead is more like the band’s 2006 album, The Crane Wife, than The Hazards of Love. Both feature inherently listen-

able tunes, blending folk and roots rock and always allowing Meloy’s yearning vocals and pensive lyrics to shine. The rootsy vibe is present throughout, from the sound of duel-

ing fiddles on “Rox in the Box” to the moody, strumming guitars on “January Hymn.” Americana singer Gillian Welch joins the band as backing and harmony vocalist on many of The King Is Dead’s 10 tracks. Her complementing harmonies help craft the first song, “Don’t Carry It All,” into a yearning, mid-tempo, folkcountry sing-along. The King Is Dead is a triumphant return for the band, stripping back the layers hiding the naturalness that has so endBeared the band to their listeners.

Next comes Kiss Each Other Clean

by Iron & Wine, to be released on Jan. 25. Based on the limited previews available online, Kiss Each Other Clean should be both a progression and a continuation of vocalist Sam Beam’s usual style. A bearded, mellow folk-rock singer-songwriter, Beam is often grouped with Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes, among others. On “Walking Far From Home,” the album’s first single, he retains his penchant for sensitive, yearning lyrics but leaves behind the whispery backing of acoustic guitars for a more full, fleshed-out sound. Surrounded by drums, backing vocals and chants, his voice is more passionate and powerful than usual. On “Biting Your Tail,” Iron & Wine really surprises, featuring an almost dance-electronic backing beat. Kiss Each Other Clean has the potential to please fans and also draw in new listeners who may have dismissed the act as too quiet, folky or mellow.

On Feb. 15, Bright Eyes will release their first album since Cassadaga in 2007. The country-folk group expanded beyond its typically brooding style on Cassadaga, featuring snippets of a more electronic, stylized sound.

Still, it remains to be seen what the band has up its sleeve with the forthcoming The People’s Key, given lead singer Conor Oberst’s recent diversions with other acts. Oberst has performed with Coner Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band as well as The Monsters of Folk, blending his own Bright Eyes elements with other musical styles.

Lastly, Lykke Li is slated to release Wounded Rhymes on March 1. Judging by “Get Some,” the album’s first single, this Swedish singer-songwriter has progressed beyond the lilting, almost ethereal sound of her first album, Youth Novels. Li now presents a darker, stronger sound, with lyrics to match. Chanting lyrics like “I’m your prostitute, you gon’ get some,” the song is weirdly anthemic, playing like a moody, postmodern version of girl power. The single’s video is dark and flashy, like a trip into a cult-like world in which Li is in charge.

While these upcoming indie releases may not garner the hype or attention of some other upcoming albums, like Lady Gaga’s Born This Way or Jay-Z and Kanye West’s collaboration, Watch the Throne, they promise a varied and intriguing illustration of the progression of the broad indie style.

Join the Arts section of

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Write reviews for theater, movies, dance and music.

Contact Wei-Huan Chen at arts@thejustice.org for more information.

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THE JUSTICE

● TUESDAY,

january 18, 2011

23

Film

Gritty Western wrangles in audiences

■ The Coen brothers’ latest

is a triumph of wit and grit, breathing new life into the classic Western tradition.

By AARON BERKE JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Joel and Ethan Coen have proven themselves masters of the Western/ action genre. The Oscar-winning Western opus No Country for Old Men from 2007 proved a critical and commercial success, featuring an edgy storyline centered around a riveting, psychotic villain, played to perfection by Javier Bardem. That film was no run-of-themill western, redefining the Western’s classical traditions. Instead of a rousing adventure story, it was a psychological character study with the Western overtures played to a minimum.

True Grit, the Coen brothers’ latest dramatic effort, returns the directors to a much more action/adventure-oriented Western tale full of guns, horses, cowboys, Indians and every other Western pleasure a viewer could expect. Unlike No Country, True Grit does not try to redefine the genre but instead plays out its best elements, creating a bold and harrowing tale. Although none too thought-provoking, it nevertheless features sharp writing, crisp directing and solid performances.

It should be mentioned that True Grit is based on a novel and is also a remake of a ’60s film starring John Wayne. I’ve never read the book, nor seen the first film version, so my judgment of this film is based on this version alone. From what I understand, this film is very faithful to the novel, and although films sometimes suffer constraints in their writing when catering to a literary source, True Grit appears to fare very well in its own cinematic terms.

The film’s plot revolves around a 14-year-old girl named Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) who is on a relentless mission to avenge the murder of her father at the hands of gang member Tom Cheney (Josh Brolin). To accomplish this, she enlists the help of the gritty, battle-hardened and drunken U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). A Texas ranger named LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) also wishes to find and execute Cheney for unrelated crimes, and so he joins Mattie and the marshal on the road to bring Cheney to justice.

Although Bridges is given top billing, the film’s heart and soul is really Steinfeld, who brings an astounding aura of intelligence, assertiveness and maturity to Ross. Though the character is only 14, the film’s compelling storyline, along with Steinfeld’s stellar performance, makes her character’s attitude and resolve entirely believable. Her competence and lack of fear when attempting to get her way with adults of supposedly superior intelligence is put on display within the film’s first few scenes when she manages to talk her way into selling her ponies to a disgruntled salesman for no less than $320. Then, she convinces the retired Cogburn to come out of his drunken stupor to aid her in finding her father’s killer. Even when Cogburn attempts to leave without her, Ross manages to track down both him and

PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES

UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTERS: Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) and Maddie Ross (Hailee Steineld) face strange obstacles in their quest to bring her father’s killer to justice.

LaBoeuf, refusing to let her retribution be fulfilled without her. Ross’ serious, sometimes even cold disposition becomes her driving force but is always countered with her sardonic sense of humor. Steinfeld balances these different character elements with phenomenal precision and charm.

Bridges, meanwhile, gives an expectedly brilliant performance as Cogburn, playing the marshal’s dual combination of rugged exterior and soft center with a great balance of wit and grit (excuse the pun). Bridges gives Cogburn the air of a man who has been through a great many battles, killed a ton of people and has decided to create a bubble around the difficulties of his life by turning to alcohol.

The character nevertheless retains great strength, and it is the journey to find Cheney that breathes new life and purpose into his stagnant life. Bridges balances these character traits with a great sense of humor.

It should be noted that Cogburn appears to grow progressively more drunk throughout the movie. I would ordinarily find this penchant to be an overly desperate desire to grasp for laughs, but in the hands of both the Coens’ and Bridges, this alcoholic quality provides an excellent counterpoint to moments where Cogburn breaks through and shows his heroic nature. The biggest downside to Cogburn’s appeal is that Bridges mumbles incessantly throughout the movie. It is at times nearly impossible to understand what he’s saying, and I missed probably about a quarter of his lines.

I’m sure Bridges is not to be faulted

for this, and this characteristic mumbling is no doubt taken straight from the novel, but it’s still a little annoying when a great performance is impeded by incoherent gurgling.

Damon provides the nice-guy counterpoint to Bridges’ Cogburn, appearing as a character of nobility and honor. He also tends to preach a fair bit, throwing all his faith to his Texas ranger allegiance. This tendency has the side effect of giving LaBoeuf the appearance of someone who talks a good game but really has nothing to show for it. His early dealings with Ross also lend to this image, as he at first appears to show little respect towards her. Their relationship changes later on after she and Cogburn come to his rescue during a raid, and LaBoeuf’s real personality begins to show forth.

Damon brings an impressive element of multidimensionality to the character and, while not an overtly difficult character to play, Damon provides the perfect balance to give the character weight. LaBoeuf is firmly placed as a polar opposite character of Cogburn, while the two are simultaneously maneuvered into the same position as Ross’ protectors.

The Coen brothers masterfully craft the trio’s journey to find Cheney. Moments of palpitating suspense and action are spaced by slower character moments. For the most part, these sequences flow nicely, although there are a few oddball moments where random characters, including a coroner and a traveling Indian, appear momentarily to deliver a few awkwardly funny quips and then leave. They’re

PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES

HORSEBACK JUDGMENT: Cogburn (Bridges) and LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) take a bewildered pause and attempt to deal with their wiley, young new acquaintance. odd moments for the film, but they do offer some comic relief.

While overall the film is very sharply written, the conclusion seems unnecessarily dragged out. The ultimate confrontation between Ross and Cheney is handled well, but just when the movie appears to be over, the film is awkwardly extended for another 15 minute sequence, with an extra plot point about a poisonous snake seemingly thrown in to deliver an emotional kick. While this extra moment works to an extent, it feels a little thrown together to give the story a more cohesive ending, including an unnecessary epilogue. Truthfully, a much simpler and straightforward ending would have sufficed. From what I under-

stand, the conclusion is drawn directly from the book, but what works in literary form doesn’t always translate well to the screen.

For the most part, True Grit succeeds as an excellent action/adventure Western flick. While not exactly Oscarworthy, the film works on several different levels—strong performances by Steinfeld and Bridges, a finely crafted story and crisp, stylish directing.

Although True Grit is not as interesting or thought-provoking as some of the Coens’ other efforts, it doesn’t have to be. It’s a fun film that plays out its story and style to perfection and is definitely one of the best Western genre films to have been released in recent years.

food

Winter beer flavors collide to bring new tastes Douglas

MOORE INNERMOST BREW

Welcome back, everyone. I hope you had a satisfying break and are ready to get back to class. Over this break I had some fantastic beers, and I will review some of the most notable ones I had. I drank winter beers, which are higher in alcohol to help warm a person up in the December and January chill.

Sierra Nevada Celebration This is a favorite of the beer community, released every holiday season since the 1980s. It is a wet-hopped IPA

(steeping fresh, undried hops in the fermenter with the beer) that is 6.8 percent alcohol by volume. This beer poured into a pint glass a light amber color with a frothy white head. The smell is of spicy citrus American hops, with a bitter aroma that is neither underwhelming nor overwhelming.

The taste brings more of the same: a balanced bitter citrus flavor, notable but not so overwhelming that it kills the palate. There isn’t a ton of malt flavor here, only a subtle bit in the middle of the taste. A lot of winter beers really hone in on the malt flavors, creating a cloyingly sweet beverage that can be bothersome to enjoy. This is a refreshing change, and the beer is still thick enough to be a winter beverage. The finish is bitter with a bit of spiciness from the hops flavor. A lot of rumors circulate around this beer, such as that Sierra Nevada puts cloves and ginger

in. I don’t taste that—just a wonderful balance of hops that creates a wonderful brew. I give Celebration a 9 out of 10.

Pretty Things Our Finest Regards This is the new winter barley wine from Massachusetts-based Pretty Things Brewing Project. The beer poured a deep amber color, an almost ruby red, with an off-white deep head.

This beer looks beautiful in the glass.

The smell is of booze and hops, with dark fruits such as cherries, figs and plums somewhat coming through.

This beer has an alcohol content of 13.5 percent, and while the booze does appear, it is quite unnoticeable.

There is a great deal of hops in the taste that is herbal and blended with booze and some raisin taste. The hops flavor provides a bit of peppery spice, which balances out the malt quite

nicely. A lot of times I don’t like barley wines for their overly sweet flavor.

This is balanced quite well, and the mouthfeel is thick but not syrupy, so it helps complete the profile of the beer.

Overall, Our Finest Regards is yet another success from Pretty Things Brewery. I give this beer an 8.5 out of 10.

Brooklyn Black Ops This is a rare Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout from Brooklyn Brewery in New York. Shared with a friend, this beer poured dark black with a tan head; it was not the darkest beer I’ve ever seen, but it still blocked any light that tried to shine through. The smell was that of wood and hints of chocolate from the stout. I didn’t detect much sweet whiskey in the aroma.

I did notice whiskey, however, in the taste. It sneaks up in the finish after go-

ing from chocolate to oak to whiskey and alcohol. It has great tasting notes, but sadly they don’t seem to mesh well together. I’ve had some bourbon stouts that blend perfectly with the wood and whiskey, playing off the dark coffee chocolate in a symphony of flavor, but this isn’t one of them at the moment.

A couple years of age, which will help tone down the alcohol and bring up the chocolate and bourbon flavor, should make this a wonderful beverage. I bought another bottle and will drink it in about 5 years. Maybe at that point I’ll report back as to how it tastes. I give Black Ops an 8 out 10.

Stay tuned this semester. I’ll be doing more reviews of beers and restaurants, and at some point a special feature on home brewing or making your own beer. Until then, drink good beer, and drink responsibly with respect to laws. Don’t drink and drive!

24

TUESday, january 18, 2011

●

THE JUSTICE

TOP of the

ARTS ON VIEW

TRIVIA TIME 1. In which body of water are the Seychelles Islands located?

2. Who directed the movies Stagecoach and The Grapes of Wrath?

3. Which element’s symbol is C? 4. Which rock n’ roll band included members Marty Balin and Paul Kantner?

5. Which Union general captured Vicksburg, Miss., after a 40-day siege?

6. Which fictional character had a flying lab called Sky Queen?

7. Who wrote Riders of the Purple Sage?

8. Hera was the sister and the wife of which Greek god?

9. Which U.S. president was born in West Branch, Iowa?

10. When was the ballpoint pen invented?

CHARTS Top 10s for the week ending Jan. 16 BOX OFFICE

1. The Green Hornet 3D 2. The Dilemma 3. True Grit 4. The King’s Speech 5. Black Swan 6. Little Fockers 7. Tron: Legacy 8. Yogi Bear 9. The Fighter 10. Season of the Witch

WBRS

ANSWERS 1. The Indian Ocean 2. John Ford 3. Carbon 4. Jefferson Airplane 5. Ulysses S. Grant 6. Tom Swift 7. Zane Grey 8. Zeus 9. Herbert Hoover 10. 1938

SHOWTIMES 1/18–1/20 The King’s Speech Tues-Thurs: 2:00, 3:00 4:50, 7:00, 8:00 The Green Hornet Tues-Thurs: 2:30, 5:10, 8:00 Little Fockers Tues-Thurs: 2:40, 5:00, 8:10 The Social Network Tues-Thurs: 2:10, 4:50, 7:50 The Fighter Tues-Thurs: 2:20, 5:00, 7:40

MORGAN FINE/the Justice

STARSTRUCK: While at the Leo Carillo beach near Malibu, Calif., during winter break, photographer Morgan Fine ’14 snapped this High Dynamic Range photo of a tide pool at low tide.

CROSSWORD

iTUNES

1. Britney Spears – “Hold it Against Me” 2. Bruno Mars – “Grenade” 3. Katy Perry – “Firework” 4. Enrique Iglesias – “Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)” 5. Ke$ha – “We R Who We R” 6. The Black Eyed Peas – “The Time (Dirty Bit)” 7. Avril Lavigne – “What the Hell” 8. Rihanna & Drake – “What’s My Name?”

9. Diddy-Dirty Money – “Coming Home” 10. Far East Movement – “Rocketeer”

ACROSS 1. Bound 4. E-I connection 7. Snaky shape 8. The Little Mermaid 10. Hot box?

11. Approach the curb 13. Noted Texas musician/novelist/ politician 16. South Bend’s St. 17. Moves like a moth 18. Story of a lifetime?

19. Two-way 20. Deserve 21. Like Shirley Temple’s hair 23. Coffin stands 25. Broadway award 26. Make fun of 27. Pretend 28. Expiate 30. Dandy 33. “Yakety Sax” musician 36. Poet’s name for England 37. Tire pattern 38. Column features 39. Leave a lasting impression?

40. Agent, for short 41. Request DOWN 1. Pooch 2. Barnyard sound 3. Frolicsome 4. Some produce 5. Saint honored on Sept. 1 6. Maintained 7. He slew 25 percent of the world’s population 8. Time for foolishness?

9. Of the loins 10. Schuss 12. Two-somes 14. TV chef Bobby 15. “Smoking or —?”

19. Parch 20. “A mouse!”

21. Winter warmer 22. Incalculable 23. Former European capital city 24. Summertime quencher

BILLBOARD

1. Taylor Swift – Speak Now 2. Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday 3. Bruno Mars – Doo-Wops and Hooligans 4. Daft Punk – Tron: Legacy (Soundtrack) 5. Eminem – Recovery 6. Rihanna – Loud 7. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 8. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More 9. Jason Aldean – My Kinda Party 10. Soundtrack – Country Strong

25. Bill 26. Reacts to a pun 28. In reserve 29. Scout unit 30. Particle 31. Colorful fish 32. Third degree?

34. Mountain transport 35. Scraps

Album information provided by Billboard Magazine. Box office information provided

by Fandango. iTunes top sellers provided

by Apple.com.

STAFF PLAYLIST

“Freelance Jesus” Solution to last week’s crossword

King Crossword Copyright 2011 King Features Synd, Inc.

Coming Soon: The Way Back 1/21 Rabbit Hole 1/28 The Illusionist 1/28

STRANGE BUT TRUE  It was American astronomer, astrophysicist and author Carl Sagan, who made the following sage observation: “The fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown.”  If you’re like the average American woman, you will eat 4 to 6 pounds of lipstick during your lifetime.

The Embassy is located at 18 Pine Street in Waltham

1. Rihanna – “Only Girl (In the World)” 2. The Radio Dept. – “Never Follow Suit” 3. Cloud Nothings – “Hey Cool Kid” 4. Crocodiles – “About A Month Ago” 5. Daft Punk – “Derezzed” 6. Diamond Rings – “All Yr Songs” 7. Dom – “Living In America” 8. First Aid Kit – “Heavy Storm” 9. Orange Juice – “Rip It Up” 10. Robyn – “Call Your Girlfriend”

 You probably won’t be surprised to learn that Alaska is the most northern and western state in the Union, but would you believe that it’s also the easternmost state? Yep. Because the state crosses over into the Eastern Hemisphere, it’s technically farther east than Maine.  In Alabama, lawmakers once thought it necessary to pass a law forbidding the operation of a vehicle while wearing a blindfold.

 Traffic is so bad in Tokyo that for most trips shorter than 50 minutes, it’s faster to ride a bicycle than it is to drive a car.  You’re almost certainly familiar with the grouping of stars known in the United States as the Big Dipper, made up of the seven brightest stars in the constellation Ursa Major. You might not know, though, that other cultures call it different names. In India, for example, the stars are known as the Seven Sages, and Mongolians call them the Seven Gods. Many in Northern England see a Butcher’s Cleaver rather than a dipper. Scandinavians say the stars make up King Charles’ Wagon, those in Finland call it the Salmon Net and the Dutch have named it the Saucepan.  A shrimp’s heart is located in its head.

Thought for the Day: “If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must man be of learning from experience.” —George ­­ Bernard Shaw

By ELLY KALFUS

Justice staff writer

Mix a dash of Freelance Whales with a bowl of Jesus Christ Superstar and what do you get? A melodic combo of hipster and rock opera featuring music about love, change and the son of God. THE LIST 1. Freelance Whales – “Generator ^ First Floor” 2. Jesus Christ Superstar – “Hosanna” 3. Freelance Whales – “The Great Estates” 4. Jesus Christ Superstar – “Pilates’ Song” 5. Jesus Christ Superstar – “Could we start again please” 6. Freelance Whales – “Location” 7. Jesus Christ Superstar – “Simon Zealotes” 8. Jesus Christ Superstar – “King Herod’s Song” 9. Jesus Christ Superstar – “The Last Supper” 10. Jesus Christ Superstar – “Everything’s Alright”