The Justice - March 31, 2009

FEATURES PAGE 8

FORUM Put an end to pull-ins 12

PERETZ POLITICS

SPORTS Softball team sweeps and splits 16 THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

the

OF

BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY SINCE 1949

Justice www.theJusticeOnline.com

Volume LX, Number 25

Waltham, Mass.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

ACADEMICS

CAMPUS EVENT

$10.8M grant to provide academic scholarships

Ayers visit postponed

■ The grant will offer about

200 scholarships to Russian-speaking Jewish undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D students.

By HARRY SHIPPS JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Brandeis has received a $10.8 million grant that will establish an institute and provide about 200 scholarships for Russian-speaking Jewish undergraduates, graduate students, Ph.D candidates and participants in the school’s high school summer programs, according to a University press release March 25, 2009.

The organization is called the Brandeis Genesis Institute for Russian-Speaking Jewry, and the grant came from the Genesis Philanthropy Group, according to

the release. Vice President of the Office of Global Affairs Daniel Terris said that the exact procedures for granting scholarships had not yet been worked out, citing the fact that the grant was received a very short time ago.

According to the University’s press release, “The Genesis grant will fund scholarships for between 36 and 60 undergraduates, 14 master’s degree candidates, six Ph.D. candidates and 132 participants in Brandeis summer programs for high school youth over the next five years, starting in 2009.”

Founded in 2007, the Genesis Philanthropy Group focuses on issues of Russian Jewry in the former Soviet Union, North America and Israel. The Group’s website states: “The mission of Genesis Philanthropy Group is to develop and enhance Jewish identity among Russian-speaking Jews worldwide. … We are committed to supporting and launching projects, program-

■ The event, delayed in

part due to funding issues such as the $900 Senate Money Resolution, may occur April 30.

ming, and institutions that are focused on ensuring that Jewish culture, heritage, and values are preserved in Russian-speaking Jewish communities across the globe.”

Terris said, “Students who accept [the scholarships] will participate in a series of extracurricular activities on Jewish education, Jewish culture, Jewish tradition.” Those activities will include retreats, speakers and other experiences to engage students intellectually and physically in the Jewish community.

The BGI is described on the University Web site as focusing on “developing and sustaining the Jewish identity of Russian-speakers [that] is at the center of the BGI’s mission.”

However, Terris said that religious affliations were not required of scholarship recipients and that the University would not ask prospective students about the religious affiliations on applications.

By DESTINY AQUINO JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Due to financial constraints regarding the security costs involved, an event that would have brought Bill Ayers, cofounder of the Weather Underground and current professor at the University of Chicago, to speak on campus yesterday did not occur and has been tentatively rescheduled for April 30, according to a member of the club hoping to bring Ayers to campus.

The event was coordinated by students from Democracy for America and Students for a Democratic Society. Originally the coordinators had brought a

Senate Money Resolution to the Student Union Senate asking for $900 to go toward the costs associated with bringing Ayers to campus. The SMR was passed and then overturned in a Union Judiciary case regarding whether the Ayers event was a Student Union project that would qualify it for the use of Senate discretionary funds. The UJ ruled that the Ayers event was not a Senate project and therefore could not use the $900 previously granted to it by the Senate. This ruling left the coordinators missing funds needed to pay the rising costs of the event.

“DFA is still in discussion with [Director of Campus Security] Ed Callahan and [Vice President of Student Affairs] Mark Collins regarding the cost of the event, but it is being scheduled for April 30,” said Senator for the Class of 2011 Lev Hirschhorn, the event coordinator.

In an interview with the

See AYERS, 7 ☛

ROSE ART MUSEUM

Faculty ask to put off closing Rose for a year

See GRANT, 7 ☛

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY

■ Twenty-two faculty

signed a letter asking that the Rose remain open until at least June 30, 2010.

By ALANA ABRAMSON JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Twenty-two professors signed a letter written to Provost Marty Krauss and the Committee on the Future of the Rose Art Museum last Tuesday recommending that the administration impose a moratorium on closing the Rose for one year, according to Prof. Nancy Scott (FA).

The letter, written by Prof. Ellen Schattschneider (ANTH), urges the committee to “recommend to the administration that, at a minimum, the Rose Art Museum should stay open as a public art museum, at its current level of professional staffing and continuing to mount high-quality exhibitions, until at least June 30, 2010.”

Schattschneider told the Justice that she began this initiative because she believes there needs to be more time to consider all options regarding the museum. “There is concern that we are rushing into a decision without due consideration,” Schattschneider explained.

Schattschneider said that she was “cautiously optimistic” about the

REBECCA NEY/the Justice

Adagio Spring Fever Adagio’s annual Spring Show last week showcased student-choreographed and -produced dances in a wide range of genres that included hip hop, tap, modern, and jazz.

Adagio is Brandeis’ largest student-run dance company, offering about 20 acts per show.

possibility of a moratorium, but could not make any predictions.

Scott, who signed the letter, said that she learned of the letter through e-mail. Like Schattschneider, Scott said that delaying decisions about the museum for a year would help ensure a well thought-out decision about the matter and would give the faculty more time to digest the report by the Committee on the Future of the Rose.

“In the best possible scenario, the committee meeting this spring delivers a report that the larger faculty has time to discuss. The way things are going, the Rose is closing on June 30. That potentially only gives us the month of final exams and graduation to decide if we are going to push to keep the Rose open and how we are going to do it because there is not a good budget plan without selling paintings. The intent of [the] letter was to give another year to the public existence of the Rose so all recommendations currently coming in by the committee will be made in a more sober fashion,” Scott explained.

“I hope the provost takes this letter seriously in light of our concerns about how much will be cut off short with a very uncertain future,” Scott said. “I hope she will also realize that from a practical standpoint, the faculty cannot invent new programs

See ROSE, 7 ☛

SKIN deep

Back to .500

All your candidates

■ Asian student designers display their talents and works.

■ The baseball team won three of five games last week to move to 10-10.

■ The candidates for the upcoming Student Union elections discuss their goals.

ARTS 21 For tips or info call Let your voice be heard!

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INDEX

SPORTS 16 ARTS

17

EDITORIAL FEATURES

10 8

OPINION POLICE LOG

10 2

SPORTS LETTERS

NEWS 3 16 11

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2

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

●

THE JUSTICE

NEWS POLICE LOG

AP BRIEF Gov. Patrick talks about deficit and education at a town meeting Gov. Deval Patrick fielded pointed questions on transportation reform, education funding and the appointment of a political supporter to a long-vacant state job during a televised town meeting Thursday at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston.

Patrick defended the hiring of state Sen. Marian Walsh (D-Boston) to a $175,000-a-year post as assistant executive director of the Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority, a position that had gone unfilled for 12 years. Walsh later agreed to take a $120,000 salary.

Patrick said he understood why people were upset but said Walsh was a good and capable person who had been asked to fill a meaningful job.

“Give her a chance to do the job, and then judge her on the job she does,” the governor said.

One audience member implored Patrick to be “honest with the people of Massachusetts” about reforming the state’s transportation system before asking for more revenue.

The governor, who has proposed a 19-cent-agallon increase in the gasoline tax as part of a major transportation overhaul, said he was “not interested in revenues without reform.”

He said his package would replace six major transportation agencies with one and provide a more transparent means of funding those operations.

A teenager who identified herself as a student at Boston Latin High School questioned Patrick about the distribution of federal stimulus money for education.

The teenager said the affluent suburb of Wellesley had received $1.1 million while Boston had received nothing.

“This is a good opportunity to put one urban legend to rest,” Patrick replied.

“A lot of people seem to think that from this recovery act there has been one great check written to me personally, and that you just have to get me in a good mood and I will write you a check,” Patrick said.

“Most of [the money] is actually for very specific things,” Patrick explained.

Patrick went on to say that there was more than one channel for education funding and that all communities would receive their share, though he could not say exactly how much Boston would receive.

On several occasions, Patrick deferred questions to cabinet secretaries and administration officials, such as when a man who said he had recently lost his job complained about the lengthy delays in handling claims at state employment agencies.

Medical Emergency Mar. 23—University Police assisted a community member in the Usdan Student Center who wanted to go to the NewtonWellesley Hospital for psychological care. The individual was transported to the hospital by ambulance.

Mar. 24—A party reported that an unconscious 25-year-old female in Spingold Theater was having a seizure. BEMCo and University Police arrived, and BEMCo treated the female on-scene. The female was then transported by ambulance to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

Mar. 26—An 18-year-old female volunteered for a medical evaluation at the Golding Heath Center.

The female was conscious, alert and non violent when she volunteered. The female was transported to the Newton- Wellesley Hospital with the assistance of University Police.

Mar. 26—A party reported that

a conscious 35-year-old female in the Brown Social Science Center was suffering from an allergic reaction and that the female had a history of allergy-related problems. The patient had taken a shot of cortisone prior to the arrival of help. The female was transported to the Newton- Wellesley Hospital by ambulance with the assistance of University Police, BEMCo and the Waltham Fire Department.

Mar. 26—University Police were informed by an off-campus doctor that a student who lives on Angleside Road was in need of psychological assistance. The student was transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital by ambulance with the assistance of University Police.

Disturbance Mar. 29—A party reported that there was a gathering outside Cholmondeley’s that was making a lot of noise. University Police responded and the loud individuals

were sent on their way without incident.

Theft Mar. 26—University Police compiled a report on a stolen reserved parking sign outside the Administration Complex. “Assistant VP of Development” was denoted on the sign.

Miscellaneous Mar. 25—A party in the Charles River Apartments informed University Police that while he was jogging, a suspicious person appeared to be following him. The suspect darted off into the woods near the apartments upon realizing that the party had become aware of his presence. University Police arrived to investigate, but the suspicious person could not be found. University Police cleared without further incident.

The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification.

E-mail jsw5@brandeis.edu.

theJustice The Justice is the independent student newspaper of Brandeis University. The Justice is published every Tuesday of the academic year with the exception of examination and vacation periods. Editor in Chief office hours are held every Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Justice office.

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Harassment Mar. 25—University Police received a call from an off-campus individual who threatened to do harm. University Police compiled a report on the incident. An investigation in conjunction with the New York Police Department and the Boston Police Department will follow.

Fire Mar. 24—University Police extinguished a small grass fire near the construction site of the Shapiro Admissions Center. The fire was extinguished without incident.

Traffic Mar. 23—University Police as-

—Compiled by Nashrah Rahman

SENATE LOG Union debates about recognizing religious club

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS An article in News last week incorrectly spelled the last name of a student. She is Rebecca Erenrich ’12, not Rebecca Eisenrich. (Mar. 24, p. 1).

An article in News last week incorrectly stated the position of Brian Koslowski. He is the Massell Quad Community Development Coordinator, not the Quad Director. (Mar. 24, p. 1).

An article in News last week incorrectly stated the postion of Stephen Costa. He is a budget analyst in the Office of Students and Enrollment who also handles Student Union finances, not just a budget analyst for the Union. (Mar. 24, p. 3).

An article in News last week incorrectly stated Jason Gray’s class year. It is 2010, not 2011. (Mar. 24, p.

5).

An article in News last week incorrectly spelled the last name of a student. He is Charlie Gandelman ’09, not Charlie Gandleman. (Mar. 24, p. 5).

The Op-Box in Forum last week quoted Brent Arnold at an improvisation workshop hosted by Nettle: Music for a Nu World. Arnold is the cellist for Nettle. (Mar. 24, p. 10).

An article in Features last week incorectly spelled the last name of an alum. She is Amy Debra Finstein, not Amy Debra Feinstein. (Mar. 24, p. 9).

An article in Features last week mistakenly omitted the class year of an alum. Amy Debra Finstein’s class year is 1998. (Mar. 24, p. 9).

An article in Features last week incorrectly stated the year Pachanga started. It started in 1997, not 2001.

(Mar. 24, p. 8).

The Justice was informed that Pachanga began as a house party in the former Ridgewood Quad. Pachanga became an officially funded party in 1998.

sisted a vehicle in the Athletics Lot that had driven into a pole. No injuries were reported. A report was compiled on the incident, and Facilities Services was informed about the damaged pole.

MAX BREITSTEIN MATZA/the Justice

Carnival craze Zev Rowlett ’11 interacted with members of the community at the Mitzvahs for Mumbai Carnival last Sunday. The event was held to combat the hatred that culminated in last November’s Mumbai blasts.

After much discussion, the Senate recognized the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles. According to its constitution, the club seeks to “create a culture of peace on college campuses by upholding the ideal of ‘One family under God’ as explained in the Divine Principles, … the teachings of the Unification movement, written by Rev. Sun Myung Moon in 1957.” Some senators expressed concern because Moon made statements in the past that could be considered intolerant of homosexuals and Jews or skeptical of the veracity of the Holocaust.

The club members stressed that they wanted to organize events for students from different faiths to exchange ideas and promote religious tolerance. Club members and other senators said that not recognizing the club would counter Brandeis’ ideal of religious tolerance.

Union President Jason Gray ’10 said that the changes to be proposed by the Curriculum and Academic Restructuring Steering Committees could likely include changes to the administration of departments rather than what subjects students concentrate on. He said that there would likely be cuts to graduate programs due to their expenses. He reported that the Union admissions task force had received applications from 255 students to get in touch with 1,200 prospective students.

Gray said a report in The Hoot about his involvement in the Union presidential election was factually inaccurate.

The Senate went into an executive session for 10 minutes before considering a bylaw change introduced by East Quad Senator Jenna Rubin ’11 that stated that no candidates running for office should promise favors to individuals in exchange for political support. The bylaw was tabled.

The Senate voted against a bylaw under which Student Money Resolutions would need to be used “for the betterment of the Brandeis University undergraduate student body” instead of for “Student Union Government projects.”

The Senate chartered Gen-Ed Now and Students crossing Boundaries.

—Miranda Neubauer

ANNOUNCEMENTS Get the Scoop on Life After ’Deis Seniors can learn about successful job search techniques from recent alumni. The alumni will also advise on how to manage finances, negotiate salaries and benefits and how to handle work-related stress.

There will also be an all-you-can-eat sundae bar at the event. Today from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the International Lounge.

Poetics Between Languages Join poet Zafer Senocak, who has been living since 1970 in Germany, where he has become a leading voice in the German discussions on multiculturalism and national and cultural identity and a mediator between Turkish and German culture. The widely published poet, essayist, journalist and editor has won several prestigious literary awards in Germany. RSVP to this talk at cgees@brandeis.edu. Wednesday

from noon to 2 p.m. in the Faculty Club Lounge.

Study Abroad Selection Criteria Workshop Students who submitted a preliminary application for spring 2010 are strongly encouraged to attend this session in which the Office of Study Abroad will review the newly approved selection criteria for applicants. The workshop will also consider how the new selection criteria might effect a student’s course selection for fall 2009.

Wednesday from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge.

A Career in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Join Ilka Chavez, acting director for policy from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as she speaks about implementing public health and emergency preparedness and response policies. Chavez will also speak about the wide range of exciting career opportunities in the federal government. Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the International Lounge.

Law School Application Jump Start Students interested in attending law school can learn what they need to do to decide if law school is the right path for them at this Jump Start event. Information on how to prepare for the application process will also be discussed. A complimentary LSAT prep course will be raffled for attendees. This event is primarily for juniors but is open to all. RSVP at https://bran deisu-csm.symplicity.com/students. Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Feldberg Lounge.

THE JUSTICE

BUDGET

Board approves $2M in reserves ■ The money from the $85

million fund will help close a $5 million budget gap.

By MIRANDA NEUBAUER JUSTICE SENIOR WRITER

The Board of Trustees approved a proposal to use another $2 million from the University reserves of $85 million to help close a $5 million budget gap for fiscal 2009 and also voted on a preliminary budget proposal for fiscal 2010 in a meeting last Wednesday, according to several attendees.

The Board of Trustees voted unanimously in favor of the proposal for another $2 million, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Peter French wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. The Board requested that the University repay the $2 million in fiscal 2010, which will raise a projected deficit for that fiscal year from $6.9 million to $8.9 million, French had explained last week. “The board members’ consideration included the implications of moving more of the deficit into next year as weighed against the impact of a further budget reduction this year on faculty, student and staff morale and the overall disruption to University operations,” French wrote in his e-mail.

The Board also voted to approve the

preliminary budget for the next fiscal year, which includes a 3.9-percent increase in tuition and fees but no increase in faculty and staff salaries.

In an e-mail to the Justice, French explained that the $5 million deficit will be covered in part by a previously requested $2 million from the University reserves and a projected $1 million in bequests, gifts left behind in a will.

French said at the March 12 faculty meeting that another $2 million is necessary to cover the gap completely.

Prof. Peter Conrad (SOC) told the Justice last week that some of the options under consideration for closing the budget gap for 2010 include raising parking fees, reducing the operating budget, selling University assets, staff furloughs and temporarily suspending payments into retirement funds.

The University will present a gapclosing plan for fiscal 2010 to the Board in May, French wrote. He wrote that the administration would consult with administrators on the Integrated Planning Committee, the University Budget Committee, students and faculty advisory bodies. Conrad said a decision regarding options to close the increased budget deficit for the next fiscal year would need to be reached by May. “That was the right thing to do. We didn’t have a lot of alternatives,” Provost Marty Kraus said of the approval for another $2 million.

HANDS-ON LEARNING

president of the Student Union are Andy Hogan ’11 and Philips Loh ’11.

By MICHAEL NEWBORN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The campaign for positions on the Student Union during the 2009 to 2010 school year began last week.

Candidates are vying for the roles of president, vice president, junior representative to the Board of Trustees, junior representative to the Alumni Association, treasurer, secretary, members of the Finance Board, Member of the Finance Board for racial minority students and junior representative to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. The polls open April 2 and close April 5.

Current Senator for Rosenthal Quad Philips Loh ’11 and current Director of Community Advocacy Andy Hogan ’11 are the two candidates for president. Loh has been the chair of the Diversity Committee, coChair of the Brandeis Operations Working Group and leader of the Student Support Services Program, which is a program designated to provide academic and professional guidance to students throughout their college careers. He has also been involved in Brandeis’ environmental sustainability efforts, specifically in increasing the number of garbage cans, recycling bins and bicycle racks on campus as well as adding water tabs on the Usdan Student Center soda machines.

Loh said he aims to make the Student Union more accessible to students and more receptive to student voices. He also said he intends to implement programs that will provide clubs with greater sources of funding, such as the establishment of a grant that clubs and individual students can apply for in order to acquire funding for their projects.

“It is now time for the Union to work with the administration to uncap the Student Activity Fee and ensure clubs have sufficient funding,” Loh said. He also plans to increase opportunities for students to act as leaders outside of the Student Union by giving passionate students access to higher-level administrators and staff that are usually only accessible to the Student Union senators.

“As president, I’ll ensure that stu-

dents know the Union is a studentrun club and that anyone can come to the Student Union as a resource to get involved and better our campus,” Loh wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.

Hogan said he has a wide range of experience spanning from Squash Club president to North Quad senator in 2008 and director of the Student Union Executive Board of Community Advocacy. Earlier this semester, Hogan implemented a cell phone reception amplifier in Lower Usdan and led a fundraiser in which the Student Union raised $2,000 in response to the burning down of a predominantly African American church in Springfield, Mass. early this semester.

Hogan said that he wants to foster financial partnerships between clubs in order to create a system of co-sponsorship for a club event. In this system, a club that lacks sufficient resources to fund an event can request another club to co-sponsor the event, thereby providing clubs with an additional outlet for funding as well increasing the number of events on campus. He also aims to give the student body a greater voice in the Student Union by including students in important decision-making processes such as the various budget cut committees that will be formed next year to reduce costs in all areas of Brandeis affairs. Hogan said he is committed to implementing the Clubs in Service Program and expanding it to ensure that all clubs add community service projects to their clubs “Next year is going to be a defining year at Brandeis, and I am running because I know I will do a great job serving the Brandeis community,” he said.

Current Senator for the Class of 2010 Amanda Hecker and Castle Senator Nathan Robinson ’11 are the two candidates for vice president.

Hecker, who served on the F-Board from 2007 to 2008, said, “I want to make it easier for students to voice their opinions in Union decisions.”

Hecker plans on instituting office hours for senators directly before their senate meetings and wants to get involved with the student side of the club chartering process. “If someone is going to put their heart and energy in creating an organization based on what they care about, I want to be there to make sure they succeed and that it gets approved,” Hecker said.

In addition to being Castle senator, Robinson has been an attorney

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

3

CONSTRUCTION

Gerstenzang Library may hold classes ■ Academic programs

moved out of the Kalman and Friedland buildings may be moved into the top floor of the science library.

By NASHRAH RAHMAN JUSTICE EDITOR

JULIAN AGIN-LIEBES/the Justice

Spotlighting experience Mariah Rich ’10 and Ronya Gordon ’09 discuss their experiential learning projects at a symposium held last Thursday in the International Lounge. Students explained their experiences at the Social Justice Activism and Community Panel Session.

Union candidates announced ■ The candidates for

●

in a Union Judiciary trial. “I have been immersed in Union politics, and I feel that I am qualified to point out the Hogan strengths and weaknesses of the organization,” Robinson wrote in an email to the Justice.

Three candidates—Heddy Ben-Atar ’11, Loh Sahar Massachi ’11 and Phillip Lu ’11—are running for the position of junior representative to the Board of Trustees. BenAtar wrote in an e-mail to the Justice, “I will work with trustees to ensure the University continues to improve the undergraduate student experience.” Ben-Atar is not including any specific issues to her platform because she recognizes that “general student opinion can change, and I’m ready to adapt to those changes in order to properly represent the student body,” she said.

Massachi has been involved with the Brandeis Budget Cut Committee, a student-led committee formed to argue for transparency in budgetary issues that arise, Brandeis Votes, which was a Student Union-led initiative to increase voter registration, and the Committee on Ethics and Endowment and Responsibility as well as a founder of the blog Innermost Parts. According to his Web site, Massachi intends to organize an Alumni Union to provide Brandeis alumni with a formal outlet to voice their opinions. Lu could not be reached for comment.

Daniel Acheampong ’11 is running unopposed for Student Union treasurer. Diana Aronin ’11 and Esther Yi ’11 are competing for the position of secretary. Akash Vadalia ’12, Gabriel Weingrod-Nemzow ’12, Julia Cohen ’10 and Makensley Lordeus ’11 are running for F-Board.

Lisa Qi ’11 is running unopposed for Member of the Finance Board for racial minority students. Competing for the position of representative to the Alumni Association are Jordan Kert ’11, Samuel Fuchs ’11 and Jourdan Cohen ’11. Nicole Cordero ’11 is running unopposed for junior representative to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.

Sens recant comments Two Union senators who initially questioned current Student Union President Jason Gray’s ’10 advice to candidates in the upcoming Union elections have since changed their minds.

Massell Quad Senator Nipun Marwaha ’12 and Castle Quad Senator Nathan Robinson ’11 both initially suggested Gray was manipulating the elections in favor of Union presidential candidate Andy Hogan ’11.

Marwaha originally told the Justice, “[Gray] spoke to me encouragingly about running for president, and I think that was [Gray] just playing the political game and using me as a ploy because no one is going to elect a [rising] sophomore.”

However, Marwaha later said “the situation as it occurred when [the earlier quote] was taken … was possibly in a moment of heat and not something that I would mean to say in a legitimate form.”

Robinson informed the Justice earlier in the week that he had “heard from fellow senators and elections candidates that [Gray] was purposefully taking people out of running in efforts to support [Hogan].” Robinson later said, “I was totally wrong [about Gray’s involvement].”

Gray wrote in an e-mail to the Justice, “In a few instances, people specifically came to me to ask for my personal opinion. … When asked for my advice, I gave it. That’s it.”

—Destiny Aquino and Nashrah Rahman

The University is considering ways to replace the upper floor of Gerstenzang Library with classrooms in order to accommodate academic programs that need to be relocated due to the closing of the Kalman and Friedland science buildings scheduled for later this year, according to Provost Marty Krauss.

Krauss stated that while the science library will not close, it may not continue to exist on both floors.

She clarified that in this situation the lower floor will continue to operate as a library.

“I have to look at the budgetary implications [of relocating academic programs], and I’m working on [the budget] sort of as we speak,” Krauss said. She added that some preliminary budgets for relocating certain programs have been drafted. She declined to specify the particular academic program that the University will consider relocating to the library.

Some academic programs have already been relocated to the new Carl J. Shapiro Science Center, according to Vice President for Capital Projects Dan Feldman. However, there is still a need for classroom space to accommodate the remaining programs, because some of the rooms in the Center are teaching labs that have specialized uses and thus cannot be used as ordinary classrooms, Krauss explained.

A variety of plans regarding how the books that are currently housed on the top floor will be accommodated should the upper floor become classrooms was discussed at the Provost’s Advisory Committee meeting last Tuesday, according to Adam Ross ’09, chair of the committee.

“The books that we currently have that we also have electronic form are probably going to be donated to some other institution or given somewhere,” Ross said. “The other resources that we don’t have in electronic form or that we want to keep will be moved to a storage space downstairs or potentially moved to the Science Center,” Ross said.

However, Chief University Librarian Susan Wawrzaszek said, “We’ve done some preliminary measurements … in discussion mode, but we’re pretty confident that in either the upper floor or the lower floor we could accommodate all the print collection.”

Feldman explained, “[Kalman and Friedland] are coming down because they are the two oldest buildings in the complex; they are in terrible condition.” Feldman estimated that Friedland will close in the late summer and Kalman by the end of this calender year.

Krauss explained that the Gerstenzang Library staff has been taking hourly statistics of the number of students who come to the library in order to “to make sure that we’re using our resources as efficiently as possible.” She said that the statistics showed that the lower floor of the library, which currently includes computer clusters and seminar rooms, still has a “tremendous amount of space” that could be better utilized.

“I might be able to reuse the top floor for other academic purposes and still have a tremendous capacity [on the lower floor] to meet student and faculty needs, which is our goal,” Krauss said.

“From the way [Krauss] was sounding [at the Advisory Committee’s meeting] it doesn’t seem like they are going to be doing any renovation to [the top floor of the Gerstenzang library] but only reorganizing it,” Ross said.

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THE JUSTICE

ACADEMICS

●

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

5

STUDENT UNION

Board passes academic proposals SAF to be ■ The Board of Trustees

gave the final approval for the Business major and the Justice Brandeis Semester.

By MIRANDA NEUBAUER JUSTICE SENIOR WRITER

The Board of Trustees spent most of its meeting last Wednesday approving several academic restructuring proposals that had been approved by the faculty over the past year, according to Provost Marty Krauss.

The Board gave the final approval to both the Business major and the Justice Brandeis Semester, which the faculty had previously approved. The Trustees also approved the Film Studies major, which the faculty approved last semester.

In addition, the Board approved a Master of Arts in Computer Science and Information Technology Entre-

preneurship, a Master of Arts in Philosophy, a Master of Arts in Greek and Roman Studies, the Jewish Studies B.A./Hornstein M.A. Degree and the Heller School for Social Policy and Management M.P.P. and M.B.A. dual degree.

The idea behind the Justice Brandeis Semester is to offer more experiential learning opportunities oncampus during the summer and offcampus learning opportunities during the fall or spring.

The JBS aims to attract more students and increase the University’s enrollment without increasing the capacity of residence halls, faculty and administrators have said.

The University also hopes to attract more students by offering a new program in the form of the Business major.

Faculty proposed the Film major in response to increased student interest in the field and because of the proliferation of digital media, they said last semester.

Four members of the Curriculum and Academic Restructuring Steering committees presented their work so far to the Board of Trustees.

Chair of the subcommittee on Admissions and Recruiting Prof.

Steven Burg (POL) presented the University’s plans to change admissions literature and the admissions’ Web site.

Prof. Ben Gomes-Casseres (IBS) presented the new business major.

Prof. Tim Hickey (COSI) presented the Justice Brandeis Semester.

Prof.

Sabine von Mering (GRALL) from the Subcommittee on University Degree Requirements and Advising spoke about possible changes to the general education requirements.

The University plans to present the final Curriculum and Academic Restructuring committee proposals to the Board in May, Krauss said.

Krauss said, “We had been telling

[the Board] that we were working on a plan that would both increase the number of students on the campus and that would make some changes in the curriculum both to attract more students but also to manage within a tighter budget, so this board meeting was spent describing to them where we are with respect to both of those goals.” “[The trustees] were very supportive, they were very excited, they could tell that we as a faculty were excited about this opportunity to innovate, and it would indeed help [Brandeis] as an institution be another tool to solve some of these problems that have arisen,” Hickey said.

Board members were “inspired” by the presentation, Krauss said.

“One Board member said ‘I might apply to come back to Brandeis’.”

She said she thought “the Board is solidly behind the feverish planning that the University has been undergoing.”

EMILY BERK/the Justice

Icelandic finances Björn Gunnarsson (GRAD), Center, spoke at an event last Wednesday called “Iceland and the Financial Crisis” about how the international financial crisis has impacted Iceland’s financial institutions, its domestic politics and its government, as well as its relations with its neighbors. The discussion was held in the International Lounge.

STUDENT LIFE

Interim title removed from current Jewish chaplain ■ Rabbi Elyse Winick

was confirmed as Jewish chaplain after being interim chaplain for over a year.

By JILLIAN WAGNER JUSTICE EDITOR

Rabbi Elyse Winick ’86, who has served as interim Jewish chaplain for more than a year, is now the “unconditional” Jewish chaplain of the University, according to a campuswide e-mail from Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer yesterday.

Winick “confirmed her unconditional status” as Jewish chaplain on campus and “accepted [the University’s] offer to remove the interim condition from her appointment,” Sawyer wrote.

When asked about the timeline for the decision, Associate Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams said that this has been a consideration “for a while, this is a process.” He also said that the decision was a joint effort between Winick and the University.

“I think what taking out the ‘interim’ title means is a greater commitment on the part of the University to have her on a regular position,” Coordinator of the Interfaith Chaplaincy

Rev. Dr. Walter Cuenin, the Catholic chaplain of the University, said. “It’s an affirmation on the part of the University of the importance of Jewish life on the campus and for us as chaplains. … This just makes it more official of her presence with us,” he said.

Winick did not respond to requests for comment and could not be reached before press time.

Cuenin explained that Winick is not on campus every day of the week because she is also the associate director of KOACH, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism’s College Outreach Program, which “provides college-age students the opportunity to maintain and develop connections to Conservative Judaism,” according to its Web site. This will not change with her newly solidified status as official Jewish chaplain.

The other members of the Brandeis chaplaincy, as well as students and members of the Brandeis community, value Winick as an important member of the community and are pleased that her position is now solidified as Jewish chaplain. “[Winick] has been a great asset to the Brandeis community,” Alex Kern, the Protestant chaplain for the University, said. “She’s a wonderful colleague, an excellent educator, a wise mentor, and readily available to stu-

dents, faculty and staff. [She’s] very learned as a Brandeis alum and brings a wealth of experience and understanding of the Brandeis community that simply will enrich [the] lives of those on campus,” Kern said.

“This is something that was really long overdue, and Rabbi Winick needs to be here and part of this community,” Bryan Wexler ’09, president of Hillel, said. “She’s such an asset to the Jewish community and to the Jewish students on campus. She’s an incredible leader and role model and thinker, and a phenomenal chaplain. She has and will continue to serve the Jewish students and any students who will seek her out in a wonderful way,” Wexler said.

Adams said, “Before I even met her, Rabbi Winick was spoken fondly of by all who had ever experienced her, so there was a reputation that preceded her, and now that I’ve actually had the opportunity to be in the same space as [Winick], it has been nothing short of family.”

“The students are the fuel for her engine and Brandeis University is the vehicle that she loves being in. … I think [Winick] bleeds our colors,” Adams said. “We’re an above-average institution so we need above-average folks, and she has been fabulous, ... and it’s nice to be able to allow this po-

sition to exist with her in the driver’s seat,” he said.

“It’s a delight to work with her, and I think it’s wonderful to have a woman rabbi,” Cuenin said. “Rabbi Winick is very personable. She’s very knowledgeable in Jewish tradition and yet very contemporary and open to modern discussions. … It has been a blessing to have her as part of the community. We’re glad to have her as part of the chaplaincy,” he said.

“It’s very good that there’s someone for the whole Jewish community on a permanent basis,” Ezra Fishman ’09, a gabbai, a coordinator of Jewish services in the Brandeis University Conservative Organization, said. “She really has something to offer to everyone,” he said.

“Conservative and Reform groups on campus and Jews who aren’t affiliated with any [particular] group will feel comfortable talking to her,” said Shira M. T. Rosenblum ’10, a former gabbai in BUCO. Mimi Cooper ’10, a member of Brandeis Orthodox Organization, said that even though Winick is a Conversative rabbi, it’s “important that she’s able to [work] comfortably within different [religious] groups on campus.”

—Shana D. Lebowtiz contributed reporting.

uncapped next year ■ The Student Activities Fee,

which is 1 percent of each student’s tuition, will equal $377 for each student.

By HARRY SHIPPS JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The Student Activities Fee, a small percentage of each student’s tuition used to fund University clubs and organizations, will be uncapped for the 2009 to 2010 academic year after the Board of Trustees approved a budget containing that stipulation last Wednesday, according to Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Jean Eddy.

The decision to uncap the fee means that 1 percent of each student’s tuition will be placed in the SAF and used to finance the operations of Universityrecognized clubs and organizations.

Eddy said that the decision to uncap the Activities Fee means that it will grow with the 3.9-percent tuition increase that was also passed at the Board meeting. “If the tuition is increased by 3.9 percent, which is what the Board just voted on, then the SAF would increase accordingly,” said Eddy. A tuition increase of 3.9 percent would set tuition for next year at just over $37,680, creating an activity fee of almost $377 per student.

The decision comes approximately a week after the Student Union submitted a proposal calling for the fee to be uncapped. Student Union President Jason Gray ’10 explained last week that the Union took this initiative because on-campus clubs and organizations have become strapped for funds as more clubs are being chartered by the Senate and because the quality of events planned by clubs are improving.

Last year, an agreement was reached between the Student Union and the administration to cap the activity fee for the current academic year at its level during the 2007 to 2008 academic year due to an excess of money resulting from the SAF caused by money continually rolling over from year to year.

The agreement was reached with the understanding that the issue of uncapping the SAF again would be revisited this year if a compelling case could be made in its favor, according to Eddy.

Eddy said the Student Union had made a compelling case in calling for the activities fee to be uncapped, citing the Union’s contentions that “they had totally taken care of the rollover from last year and, in addition to that, they had significantly more requests for funding than they had the ability to fund, more so than in any other administration.”

In a previous interview with the Justice, Stephen Costa, a budget advisor to the University, stated that the entire amount of rollover at the beginning of this academic year, approximately $151,000, had been either spent or allocated.

Based on the evidence that the Student Union presented to her, Eddy said that she put forward the Union’s recommendation to uncap the activities fee as part of the larger budget voted on by the Board at its meeting last Wednesday.

“Because of the fact that the SAF is dependent on 1 percent of tuition, it’s important to uncap it so that you can derive the increase in tuition,” Eddy said. This means that as SAF increases with the tuition, it is important to uncap the SAF so that there will be extra money due to tuition increases.

Eddy said that traditionally the Board of Trustees votes on a University budget in its entirety as presented by senior administration instead of checking the budget line by line. Last year, when the Activities Fee was capped, it was done with the support of the Board.

Gray said that he is very happy about the decision because clubs and organizations on the Brandeis campus need the funds that the uncapped activities fee will provide to continue their operations.

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THE JUSTICE

ACADEMICS

CAMPUS EVENT

IBS is named one of the top 15 business schools

Bobo speaks about wage theft

■ Brandeis’ International

Business School was ranked as one of the top 15 business schools by Princeton Review.

By MICHELLE LIBERMAN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Brandeis’ International Business School was named one of the top 15 business schools nationwide in the Princeton Review’s “Student Opinion Honors for Business Schools” in the publication’s issue on the Best 296 Business Schools.

IBS was included among the top 15 business schools in two of six core qualifications of finance and global management that are the foundations of a successful business school, according to Holly Chase, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid for the IBS. The other categories include accounting, general management, marketing and operations.

The list for the Princeton Review’s top business schools was compiled based on a national survey of 19,000 MBA students attending the best 296 business schools as determined by the Princeton Review, Chase wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.

The “Student Opinion Honors” list is based on students’ assessments of how well they felt their business school courses had prepared them to succeed in each of the six categories, according to the Brandeis Press Release.

“Receiving this honor from The Princeton Review is a tremendous achievement for Brandeis International Business School and our faculty, staff and students. I am particularly pleased that we were recognized in two categories: fi-

nance and global management.

This illustrates that Brandeis IBS delivers academic excellence with a global focus,” Bruce Magid, dean of the Brandeis International Business School wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.

“We feel it demonstrates that our approach, to integrate both global theory and real-world practice into our curriculum, is of great importance to our students,” Chase wrote.

Chase wrote, “It enables those graduating from Brandeis IBS to develop the skills they need in the major business functions while also offering opportunities for acquiring international experience and advanced expertise in their chosen field,” Chase wrote.

“I think it’s very beneficial that IBS is ranked so high because it helps spread the word about the program and will increase the number of qualified students applying to the school,” wrote Rebecca Kalinowski ’10 MBA in an e-mail to the Justice.

However, Edmund Walsh ’10 MA wrote in an e-mail to the Justice, “I did not choose IBS because of its business school credentials. I chose IBS for what I consider to be a unique and particularly well-focused mix of Economics and Finance that [fits] my career goals.”

Ram Iyer ’09, referencing the publicity surrounding recent University decisions, wrote in an email to the Justice, “This ranking is important to me because amidst all the negative press that has been given to the University regarding its handling of the Rose Art Museum situation, I think positive reviews like these could diminish the negative publicity, and is adding value to the resume of those students who are graduating in May and looking for jobs.”

■ Kim Bobo, founder of

Interfaith Worker Justice, addressed ways to tackle wage theft last Wednesday.

By DESTINY AQUINO JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Kim Bobo, founder of Interfaith Worker Justice, columnist for Religion Dispatches and author of several books, spoke about her new book and contextualized her ideas within Justice Louis Brandeis’ life as part of an event sponsored by the Louis D. Brandeis Legacy Fund for Social Justice last Wednesday.

Bobo’s book is called Wage Theft in America: Why Millions of Working Americans Are Not Getting Paid—And What We Can Do About It. Several other Brandeis Departments and clubs including the Brandeis Chaplaincy and the Legal Studies Program sponsored the event.

Bobo began her discussion by explaining the term “Wage theft,” which she says encompasses several actions employers take which, include paying minimum wage, not paying overtime, misclassifying workers, withholding tips, withholding the last paycheck and failing to pay workers at all.

Bobo explained that “Wage theft occurs because of greed left unchecked by pushbacks,” meaning unions, ethical business and the Department of Labor.

“Three million people in this country are paid below minimum wage Walmart alone, one of the country’s largest employers, has $300-600 million in unpaid overtime to its workers,” Bobo said.

Bobo used a biblical story to convey that wage theft has occurred for centuries. “Deuteronomy 24, verses 14 and 15 say ‘Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is an Israelite or is a foreigner residing in one of your towns.” she said.

MICHELLE STRULOVIC/the Justice

TACKLING THEFT: Kim Bobo spoke about her book on wage theft last Wednesday.

Bobo added that even today the majority of people who suffer wage theft are the working class—people who really count on their paychecks.

Bobo spoke about how Brandeis and his close friend Sam Warren set up a corporate law firm in Boston after Brandeis served in the U.S. Supreme Court. “When questioned about his actions, Brandeis said, ‘I feel that lawyers must come out of the courtroom sometimes, if they see the law obeyed or implemented in the streets. They’ll see Law and life are not separate,” she said.

The lecture concluded as Bobo discussed the five things Brandeis stu-

dents can do to help the wage theft epidemic. These included working to create a just society, talking about wage theft with workers, helping the development of unions and using money wisely.

In an interview with the Justice, Bobo said, “The most important thing to remember is that wage theft happens all around you. Three people in this room have told me stories about their personal wage theft, [so] it’s not just an idea; it’s a reality.”

Dmitriy Kozlov ’11 said, “I’m really big into entrepreneurship and I had no idea about all the problems there are with wages and corporations.”

THE JUSTICE

GENDER IN MEDIA

7

Senate votes against SMR bylaw change Senate voted against a bylaw change that would allow Senate Money Resolutions to be used for projects beneficial to the entire student body.

By MIRANDA NEUBAUER JUSTICE SENIOR WRITER

HSIAO CHI PANG/the Justice

A journalist’s perspective Cai Yiping, a journalist and advocate in China on genderrelated issues, discussed her views on the women’s movement in China and spoke about coping with political constraints and gender bias in the journalistic profession.

ROSE: Faculty ask to postpone closing the Rose to take the place of the old between the end of this academic year and next fall and will lose a year of Fine Arts programming,” she said.

Krauss could not be reached for comment in response to the letter before press time .

Scott said she was very concerned about educational programming at the Rose and added the section of the letter that expresses the concern that students normally seeking to pre-enroll for fall internships at the Rose now have no such option and that educational programming at the Rose, including that funded by the endowed Starr and Warner internships, is now in jeopardy.

“The faculty was excluded from the initial process of decision making about the Rose, and we are trying to reignite the process,” she said, adding, “I think it is very important for the faculty to speak out.”

The letter was sent after Prof.

Robert Meyer (PHYS) withdrew his proposal to keep the Rose open as a public museum. Meyer’s proposal, presented at the March 12 faculty meeting, called for the faculty to support the resolution “that the Rose Art Museum shall remain open as it is, a fully functional public art museum, with the provision that the University may, only as necessary for its financial well-being, sell selected items of art from its collection. Moreover, that this resolution of the faculty shall be widely publicized to help restore public confidence in the University.”

Meyer wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that the proposal was postponed at the meeting until the Committee on the Future of the Rose made its report. The faculty voted 35-22 with 23 abstentions to renew Meyer’s resolution and open up discussion about the Rose. As a result of the dis-

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

STUDENT UNION

■ The Student Union

CONTINUED FROM 1

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cussion, the faculty voted to amend the proposal to remove the parts about selling the paintings and restoring public confidence in Brandeis.

Scott said that, while she supported the idea behind the resolution, she was unable to support Meyer’s initial proposal because it mentioned the possibility of selling paintings.

While Meyer ultimately withdrew his proposal, saying that he had “heard enough” of the discussion of faculty members’ opinions abut the Rose Art Museum, he said in an interview with the Justice that both Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe and Joe Baerlein of Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications, Inc., the University’s temporary public relations firm, tried to discourage him from proposing his motion because they believed it could potentially cause negative publicity. “[Jaffe] tried to talk me out of making this motion, saying that the story could get national headlines and would sound like a terrible conflict between the faculty and the administration and would make the faculty seem rebellious,” Meyer said.

Baerlein said in a phone interview with the Justice that he was not discouraging Meyer from making his proposal but that he did not think he should make it before the Committee on the Future of the Rose had even met.

“As a distinguished professor, I feel that Meyer can provide a lot of perspective as to what the committee should look at, and I thought his voice along with other experienced faculty, could be important in shaping the final outcome of the Rose. The idea of putting the proposal forth would have negated future discussion about the museum, and I suggested that it was premature for him to put forth the proposal before the committee met,” Baerlein said.

The Senate voted against a bylaw change that would allow Senate Money Resolutions to be granted to projects that benefit the student body as a whole instead of just to Student Union government projects after some original supporters of the amendment changed their minds at last Sunday’s Senate meeting, several attendees said.

Senators for the Class of 2011 Alex Melman and Lev Hirschhorn, Senator for the Class of 2010 Amanda Hecker, North Quad Senator Alex Norris ’11 and Ridgewood Quad Senator Aaron Mitchell Finegold ’09 had proposed the bylaw last week.

The Union Judiciary originally ruled March 11 that a Senate Money Resolution of $900 toward an event with former Weather Underground member Bill Ayers and former Black Panther member Robert King violated a Student Union bylaw that stated that all Senate Money Resolutions must go toward Student Union government projects.

The decision stated that to be Union projects, substantial Student Union involvement in the planning of the event is necessary, which the UJ ruled was not the case for the Ayers and King event.

At the beginning of the Union

debate on whether to pass the amendment last Sunday, Melman and Hirschhorn stated that the Senate could serve as another funding source when the Finance Board was not able to fund due to insufficient funds.

Supporters of the bylaw change also pointed out that the Senate was spending a large percentage of its discretionary fund of $9221.66 for the semester on free food and Tshirts for events such as the Midnight Buffet rather than on more worthwhile events.

However, in an interview with the Justice, Melman, who was also an event planner for the Ayers and King visits, said that the opposing arguments had convinced him to change his mind.

“There was something to the idea that we don’t want to get bogged down in really long debates and we don’t want to become an organization that wastes its time giving out money. … We want to be an organization that spends its time doing advocacy,” he said afterward.

Melman was originally in favor of the bylaw because he thought it would enable the Senate to get involved in more projects that were not necessarily Senate-initiated.

Hirschhorn said he still supported the amendment. “The F-Board is one body that gives out [a large amount of money] to clubs to do all these projects; the Senate has a pool between $5,000 and $10,000 ... that we could use to co-sponsor events,” he said. “The F-Board doesn’t co-sponsor events; the Senate co-sponsors events. [The Union Judiciary] basically took away the Senate’s power to co-sponsor events” because the Senate could not fund events put on by other groups.

Melman said he and Hirschhorn had not intended to use the bylaw

change if it had been passed to request funding for Ayers and King because of the event’s controversial nature. He added that they had secured funding from other sources but declined to give further details.

Chief Justice of the Union Judiciary Rachel Graham Kagan ’09 said during the debate that the idea behind the UJ’s March 11 ruling was that the Union needed to be intimately involved in the planning and that groups should not come before the Senate in a “last-ditch effort” to receive funding.

She went on to say that the bylaw could be unfair because only club members who happened to know senators would be aware of the option.

Graham Kagan and other senators referred to the 2006 reform to the Student Activities Fee, during which students voted to move funds from secured groups such as Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps, BTV and the Student Union to the Finance Board to allocate to chartered clubs. The previous system led to overlong Senate meetings because the Senate had to debate so many requests for SMRs, Kagan said.

“When F-board tells you to go seek other sources of funding, they’re not talking about Senate; they’re talking about grants from different departments,” Graham Kagan said.

She also said at the meeting that “F-board is the best way to allocate money, and if you have problems with the way money is allocated, you fix F-board, you don’t fix Senate.”

“If the Senate is not utilizing all its money, is spending too much of it on free food, then maybe some of it should go back to the Student Activities Fee,” Melman said.

GRANT: Univ gets $10.8M grant CONTINUED FROM 1 “This is not a religious program. … I think that is cardinal,” University President Jehuda Reinharz added.

Terris, who is also the director of the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life, elaborated: “The Office of Global Affairs is really designed to help nurture major international initiatives, and the [initiatives associated with the Genesis grant are] … an opportunity to coordinate between internal communities, here at Brandeis and external communities, in the United States and in other countries.”

Reinharz said that the focus of the Brandeis Genesis Institute for Russian Jewry would be on undergraduate students, and it would not be a requirement for graduate students or for high school students who take part in the Genesis program during the summer.

The Genesis and BIMA programs are Brandeis’ two summer programs for high school students that provides high school students with a college-like atmosphere.

Reinharz said that he first met with the principals of the Genesis group approximately two years ago, and discussions surrounding the grant have been ongoing for almost a year.

While Reinharz referred to the elements the grant could bring to the University, he said: “My emphasis, and the emphasis of the development staff, in terms of fundraising, is on scholarships.”

Reinharz added that, “We don’t raise any more money for buildings. ... My main concern is to make sure that student can continue to come to Brandeis regardless of their ability to pay.”

The grant has a distinctly international aspect, as Terris said: “This grant represents confidence in us as an educational institution.

… This helps put Brandeis in touch with communities in various parts of the world.”

He added that “it goes alongside … our Brandeis-India initiative, our partnership with Palestinian communities and our work on projects in Africa.”

Reinharz added that he believes Brandeis’ involvement with Genesis also supports the University’s pillar of Jewish sponsorship and continued the University’s involvement with the Jewish community both on campus and around the world.

Julia Rabkin ’11, publicity coordinator for the Brandeis Russian Club, said that members of the club were not aware of the circumstances surrounding the grant until last week.

Rabkin said that, personally, she is “really happy and excited, because in this uncertain economy, the more scholarships the better.”

AYERS: Visit postponed because of concerns over security costs CONTINUED FROM 1 Justice, Ayers said, “I haven’t seen any paperwork done or anything, but I think it’s for sure.”

Callahan and Collins could not be reached for comment.

Ayers said that DFA and SDS have asked him to speak about activism and involvement in social justice issues. He said that he will also address “questions of war and peace, questions of good, equality and recognition ... and I’m sure

that I will talk about the rising expectations of young people in social movements, the danger of war and the current escalating war and the current situation.”

Ayers said about Brandeis’ message of social justice, “It’s what I’ve spent my entire life working for, so I love it.” He added that he is looking forward to visiting the University.

Hirschhorn said, “All details are still being worked out, but I am optimistic that we will get Ayers to

campus before the end of the semester.”

A bylaw amendment that would have allowed the Senate to have greater control over its discretionary funds, possibly allowing the $900 Senate Money Resolution regarding the Ayers event, was not passed at last Sunday’s Senate meeting. It was created by several senators, including Hirschhorn.

—Nashrah Rahman contributed reporting

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just

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THE JUSTICE

features

VERBATIM | Thomas Jefferson I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.

ON THIS DAY...

FUN FACT

In 1972, the British government assumed direct rule over Northern Ireland.

The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.

A slightly different kind of liberal Editor in chief of The New Republic Martin Peretz ’59 speaks about his career path and unique political ideology

By SHANA D. LEBOWITZ JUSTICE EDITOR

Martin Peretz ’59, editor in chief of The New Republic magazine, has the kind of presence that grows more intimidating with time. He speaks in a deep, gravelly voice that can be heard traveling from his diaphragm into his throat. Dressed in a hunter green button-down shirt tucked neatly into his belted slacks with his silvery hair slicked across the back of his head, Peretz uses big hand gestures and welltimed bits of comic wit to narrate his personal life and professional career.

Speaking to an audience of about 60 Brandeis students and faculty in Olin-Sang Auditorium last Thursday, Peretz—who received an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Brandeis in 1989—described the path to his 25-year career at a magazine now known for its unique balance of liberal politics and conservative foreign policy.

“I have been a ghostwriter, in a certain way, to the history of the last 35 years, to American politics and society, simply by my editorship,” he said.

After working as a professor of social studies at Harvard University for over 30 years, Peretz purchased The New Republic in 1974 and quickly became editor of the magazine.

Though he remains editor, Peretz sold his ownership of the magazine to CanWest Global Communications two years ago.

Peretz’s speaking style is a combination of subtle arrogance and genuine interest in his audience. In one sense, he’s so comfortable with himself that he doesn’t need to engage anybody’s trust. (When his cell phone rang in the middle of the presentation, Peretz waved off faculty’s scrambling attempts to shut it off: “It’ll stop.”) On the other hand, moments when he loses himself in reminiscing about the old days give him a more grandfatherly air than you’d think would surround one of the most powerful figures in publishing. (After interrupting his lecture with a brief biography of Franklin Foer, the magazine’s current editor, Peretz suddenly lost his train of thought: “Where am I?”) Peretz gives off a sense of mature pragmatism, no longer bothering to coat his judgment of his intellectual abilities with modesty. He told the audience about his motivations for leaving academia: “For a while, I thought, ‘God, I have an 800page book in me.’ And it didn’t come. For a while, I thought, ‘I’m really good at 12,000 word essays.’ And I’m not.”

At some point, Peretz told the audience, he discovered his niche in journalism. “My métier,” he said, “is really 1,000 words.”

Peretz joked about his rise to editor of the magazine.

“I did have to work my way up at The New Republic,” he said, the slightest hint of a smile breaking an otherwise serious expression.

“After a long, long search for an editor, I chose myself.”

Still, Peretz denied any regrets about the decision. “It was the easiest choice,” he said. “I had no bad conscience.”

With Peretz’s editorship came significant developments in The New Republic’s structure, as well as in the political views it espoused. In place of the magazine’s pro-Soviet Union political stance of the 1930s and 1940s, Peretz created a publication that was consistently anti-Communist and anti-radical. Color, cartoons and cleverly artistic covers appeared in place of dry, witless politics.

The magazine “was a dull, butcher-block publication” before Peretz’s term, Prof. Steven Whitfield (AMST) said. “Everything about the magazine breathed dull. … It was a different magazine when [Peretz] took over.” He said that Peretz offered the magazine an “enlarged sense of what you could say about people and how you could say it and how cynically.”

Beyond his role as editor of the magazine, Peretz sees himself as instrumental in defining the goals of the Democratic Party. Among his reasons for purchasing the magazine,

REBECCA NEY/the Justice

RESHAPING POLITICAL JOURNALISM: Editor in chief of The New Republic Martin Peretz ’59 talks about developing his magazine and finding his journalistic niche.

Peretz cited Senator George McGovern’s 1972 presidential campaign.

“I thought George McGovern was a moral and intellectual,” he paused, “disaster. McGovern’s slogan was ‘Come Home, America.’

That was his literal slogan. That seemed to me to be symptomatic … of his isolationism, his sympathy with world revolution. I bought The New Republic to somehow fight the battle in the Democratic Party.”

Whitfield said, “Something had to be done to reshape the Democratic Party [after McGovern’s candidacy.] The New Republic was very important in doing that.”

Throughout his editorship, Peretz has shown little inhibition in departing from the stereotypical liberal movement. Most notably, the publication supports a more conservative foreign policy, particularly its conservative stance toward Israel.

A self-proclaimed Zionist, Peretz discussed his pro-Israel ideologies.

“There are so many states which are built on such dicey foundations. And here is a people who actually gave definition and content to the very idea of a nation. It’s very strange to me that people should question it.”

The magazine also shocked some of its readership when it expressed support for the Iraq War (although most of the magazine’s writers have since retreated from their positions).

“We’re still in trouble with a lot of our readers,” Peretz said regarding the publication’s position on the war. “We’re a slightly different kind of liberal.”

For Peretz, his experiences at Brandeis helped create the political curiosity and willingness to challenge authority that have characterized his journalistic career.

Yet, talking about the evolution of Brandeis’ Jewish community, Peretz lamented the replacement of intellectualism with religious conviction.

“Almost everyone was Jewish,” Peretz said

of the student body while he attended Brandeis. “But this was an era in which Jewish life was very contentious, driven from all sides.”

“Jews were defined by their quizzical instincts—not their dogmatic instincts,” he added later. (“Is that right?” he asked, pointing to Whitfield, who nodded in agreement.)

“It was evident that [Peretz] was very intelligent; he knew what he was talking about,” Ron Kendler ’09 said. “But he also had a down to earth, very personable style.”

Peretz was clever, quick to self-criticize, but nonetheless nostalgic in reflecting on the beginnings of his Brandeis career.

He’d initially planned to attend Harvard University, he said; Brandeis was more of a backup plan. Still, he showed a quick glimpse of sentimentality talking about his alma mater.

“I had one safety school,” he told the audience. “And it was Brandeis. And I never regretted being here.”

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TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

JULIAN AGIN-LIEBES/the Justice

ILLUMINATING HISTORY: University of California Los Angeles history professor and Pulitzer Prize winner Saul Friedlander gives his perspective on the importance of having an integrated history of the Holocaust.

Hearing the

Holocaust

By GRETA MORAN

JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Among the vestiges of the Holocaust, one particular photograph stands out to the University of California Los Angeles Prof. Saul Friedlander. At first glance, the photograph depicts an ordinary scene: David Moffie receiving his doctorate in medicine at the University of Amsterdam Sept. 18, 1942. Yet upon closer inspection, one may notice a palm-sized Jewish star with the word Jooh inscribed on Moffie’s sleeve.

What makes this photograph intriguing is that at the date that it was taken, a German decree had banned the enrollment of Jewish students in Dutch universities. The minor detail in this photograph tells a story absent from solely studying German records. It tells a story of the interaction among German administrative measures, Dutch institutions, individual choice and, at the center of it all, the fate of the Jewish individual, explained Friedlander in a presentation March 16.

Friedlander, who lived through the Holocaust, used the detailed description of the photograph to open a broader talk, “Voices of the Victims: Challenges of an Integrated History of the Holocaust.” In a rich, storytelling manner, Friedlander argued for an integrated history of the Holocaust that isn’t limited to the factual accounts of history books but also includes visceral, personal

accounts from a multitude of perspectives.

Friedlander’s speech was given in honor of the first chair of the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies department, Simon Rawidowicz, as the “The 46th Simon Rawidowicz Memorial Lecture.” The lecture was sponsored by the Center for German and European Studies and the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies department.

Friedlander was born in Prague to German-speaking Jewish parents and moved to France during the years of Nazi occupation. There, Friedlander was forced to hide in a Catholic boarding school. His parents soon attempted to flee to Switzerland but were arrested by Germans and sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp. In 1948, Friedlander moved to Israel and joined the Israeli army. After, he studied political science in Paris and eventually earned a Ph.D. at the Graduate Institution of International Studies at Geneva. He currently is a history professor at UCLA and was recently awarded a Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction for his work The Years of Extermination: Nazi Germany and the Jews, 19391945.

Friedlander’s argument for an integrated history objects to the view of German historian Martin Broszat. Broszat argued that personal accounts of the Holocaust must be overlooked because they are too subjective. He pleaded for a

“historicization of the Third Reich,” which would remove personal narratives from the reconstruction of the Holocaust.

Friedlander dismissed Broszat’s view, favoring an integrated history of the Holocaust. The concept of an integrated history has three main distinctions from Broszat’s view. He first explained that an integrated history is not limited to only German historical records, authorities and institutions, but includes the voices of all those affected.

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Diaries have to be used with the same critical attention as any other document.

SAUL FRIEDLANDER

Secondly, an integrated history includes the Jewish narratives of the Holocaust within the history.

The Jewish voice is an “integral part of this history and thus cannot be considered a separate domain,” Friedlander said.

He added that, “Of course, the diaries have to be used with the same critical attention as any other document.”

Finally, an integrated history of

UCLA Prof. Saul Friedlander argues for an integrated history of the Holocaust the Holocaust should capture “a simultaneous representation of events occurring at all levels.” He said that history shouldn’t be considered in a “vertical” time frame, studying events as they occur in a chronological order. Instead, he argued that history should be considered in a “horizontal” time frame, studying events as they occur simultaneously to allow for an understanding of the context that surrounds them.

Friedlander shared several letters from Holocaust victims to show the irreplaceable information gained from personal accounts. He spoke of the necessity of personal accounts of the Holocaust in learning of the victim’s “everyday world: that of despair, rumors, illusions and hope, in constant succession, mostly to the end.”

Friedlander shared a letter from 17-year-old Louise Jacobson when she learned that she was next to be sent to the concentration camps.

“You should not worry, daddy.

First, I am leaving in very good shape. This last week, I have eaten very, very well. I got two packages by proxy, one from a friend who was just deported, the other from my aunt.”

Friedlander also spoke of the value of personal letters in learning of “the amount of information about the extermination available throughout Europe about the fate of the Jews.” To illustrate this point he shared a letter to home written by

Wehrmacht Private H.K. June 18, 1942: “1,300 Jews had just been shot on the previous day. ... Men, women, children had to undress completely and were then liquidated with a shot in the back of their neck. The clothes were disinfected and used again. I am convinced that if the war goes on much longer, the Jews will be turned into sausage and served to Russian war prisoners and to Jewish specialized workers.”

After sharing several shocking letters from Holocaust victims, Friedlander stated that a “momentary sense of disbelief” is essential not only to Holocaust studies but also to the history of world catastrophes. This perpetual sense of shock can only be achieved by integrating the large number of diaries and letters written during the Holocaust “into an increasingly comprehensive, albeit at times contradictory, picture.”

Prof. Sharon Rivo (NEJS), executive director of The National Center for Jewish Film, agreed with Friedlander’s argument: “It is one thing to have the timetables of when [Holocaust victims] left [for concentration camps], but letters and documents are absolutely important,” Rivo said.

Aaron Press Taylor ’10 agreed and said Friedlander’s talking “about the telling of the Holocaust raised important questions about the place of the Holocaust within the identities of all those exposed.”

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TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

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THE JUSTICE

the Justice Established 1949

Brandeis University

MIKE PRADA, Editor-in-Chief ANDREA FINEMAN, Managing Editor HANNAH KIRSCH, Deputy Editor J OEL HERZFELD, SHANA D. LEBOWITZ, DAVID SHEPPARD -B RICK and DANIEL D. SNYDER, Associate Editors JILLIAN WAGNER, News Editor NASHRAH RAHMAN, Acting News Editor REBECCA KLEIN, Features Editor REBECCA B LADY, Forum Editor IAN CUTLER, Sports Editor JUSTINE ROOT, Arts Editor JULIAN AGIN -LIEBES and MAX B REITSTEIN MATZA, Photography Editors B RIAN B LUMENTHAL, Layout Editor B RIAN FROMM, Copy Editor C OURTNEY B REEN and SARA ROBINSON, Advertising Editors

Focus Rose commitment Anyone who has read University email updates knows of the newly formed Committee on the Future of the Rose Art Museum, a faculty organization designed to guide the Rose’s closing in an appropriate fashion or prevent it altogether. Yet for all the blustering prose stemming from the formation of committees, readers may have noticed little in the way of actions.

Without pointing fingers at any individuals, this paralysis is the fault of both the committees and the administration, which has failed to define the role and level of effectiveness that these committees will have in the decision-making process. More unity on the part of the faculty and more respect for their recommendations on the part of the administrators would help to involve both parties more effectively in decisions regarding the Rose.

Since the first Rose Art Museum announcement was made, members of the faculty have been impressively active in involving themselves in policy recommendations about the future of the museum. Provost Marty Krauss recently formed the Committee on the Future of the Rose Art Museum chaired by Prof. Jerry Samet (PHIL).

Prof. Ellen Schattschneider (ANTH) and Prof. Nancy Scott (FA) compiled yet another letter last week asking for the Rose to remain open. But in order to be effective, these efforts should be more organized. As it is, the faculty’s committee- and speech-making seems more like they are spinning their wheels than making changes in policy.

While the faculty’s enthusiasm for having a say in Rose-related policy is admirable, more cooperation and better focus will help the faculty be more effective. CFRAM’s first meeting, the details of which are not being dis-

Faculty must work together cussed with the public, was held to decide the charge of the committee itself. The provost and committee members should have created a more directed committee whose goals would be clear from the beginning.

Meanwhile, Profs. Schattschneider and Scott’s letter was signed by a mere 22 faculty members. The fact that only 22 out of the entire very interested body of faculty members signed it shows a lack of cohesion that will have little effect on internal policy or external views of Brandeis.

The administration’s behavior vis-àvis the hemming and hawing going on around the Rose is also pertinent to this discussion. Ms. Krauss described the March 10 Rose family’s discussion, featuring a former poet laureate and a recipient of the Man Booker Prize, as “just a meeting of intellectuals [that] isn’t designed to change policy,” which makes it seem like Brandeis’ administration does not demonstrate enough respect for the ideas of “intellectuals.”

What administrators say has a considerable impact on faculty and students’ perception of their credibility. In the face of this situation, how can a committee made up almost entirely of professors and museum workers be expected to take their charge seriously and act energetically?

It’s important to note that the blame here rests on all sides. The administration is indeed caught between a rock and a hard place; the Rose issue, like the recession issue, isn’t going to solve itself overnight. However, it is our opinion that in light of these facts, it is now more necessary than ever to work concretely and considerately toward a resolution of the Rose problem.

Hogan for Union president Brandeis needs a leader who will bridge the gaps in communication between administrators and the rest of campus and address students’ concerns. With this in mind, we endorse Andy Hogan ’11 for Student Union president.

As director of community advocacy, Hogan has substantial experience on the Executive Board. This year, Mr. Hogan set tangible goals and delegated work to other members of the Board in planning several successful initiatives. For example, when the Macedonia Church of God in Christ was burned down in Springfield, Mass., Mr. Hogan spearheaded the campus response, organizing a fundraiser in record time. Mr. Hogan also helped direct the Clubs in Service program, establishing a partnership between Brandeis and the Waltham community. Although Mr. Hogan’s opponent, Philips Loh ’11, chairs the Campus Operations Working Group, he has made changes on a much smaller scale and has had minimal involvement with the Executive Board.

Mr. Hogan’s skill in communicating with administrators also makes him a strong candidate for Union president.

As a member of the Executive Board, he participates in regular meetings with administrators. Mr. Hogan’s familiarity with administrators will

His experience matters help him fulfill his goals as Union president. While Mr. Loh has worked extensively with Vice President for Campus Operations Mark Collins, he does not have the same administrative connections that Mr. Hogan has.

Mr. Hogan has a firm grasp on Union affairs and wishes to improve and involve all branches of the Union in order to make positive change. Mr. Hogan also plans to integrate student input into important Union decisions.

We also feel that Mr. Hogan’s accomplishments are more concrete and farreaching than his opponent’s work in COWG. Mr. Hogan’s résumé boasts of his implementation of the cell phone signal amplifier in Lower Usdan. This editorial board questioned the need for and appropriateness of such a device at a time when the University struggles with its budget gap, yet Mr. Hogan’s ability to negotiate this expensive item with the school is impressive. We only caution that he use proper discretion when deciding where to apply his efforts in the future.

Notwithstanding this reservation, Mr. Hogan’s experience and achievements make him the more qualified candidate for president of the Student Union. We encourage students to cast their votes in his favor.

ELI TUKACHINSKY/the Justice

Fire emergencies never get old, and neither should safety concerns Jules

LEVENSON JULES OF WISDOM

In January, I wrote a column discussing a widespread fire safety problem on campus. This problem had centered around the discovery of a number of covered smoke detectors in dorm rooms and the subsequent arising issues, including charges to the University from the Waltham Fire Department.

In that column, I argued that the specifics of how room inspections were to be done seemed to conflict with students’ rights and responsibilities. However, I wholeheartedly agreed that fire safety is something very important and that this needed to be understood by those who covered the smoke detectors. But random spot checks were not the right way to go about finding a final solution to the problem.

With this in mind, it was very heartening to learn of the fire safety program planned for the first two days of April.

The event, run by the Waltham Fire Department, the Office of Student Development and Conduct and the Student Union will attempt to help educate students about fire safety by distributing informational pamphlets and making firefighters available to answer any questions that students may have.

The event will include a 20-foot fire safety trailer with the appearance of a typical dorm room whose interior will be able to simulate different levels of smoke during a fire.

The trailer will be situated between Sherman Dining Hall and Rosenthal Quad.

Such a thing may seem unnecessary for college students, many of whom have presumably gone through various fire education programs at some point in their lives.

But fire emergencies are extremely hectic, and a refresher on the finer points of what to do in case of fire can never hurt.

Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly in the current situation, there was clearly a need for a reminder on campus about the danger of fires and how people need to better their fire safety tactics.

While the chance of a fire is, thankfully, remote, this does not excuse people from placing themselves, their friends and their property at risk simply to avoid detection of certain activities in which they wish to engage.

This, it seems, was lost on the people responsible for the fire problems that were discovered on campus. Further education about fire safety, as ridiculous as it may seem, is certainly warranted here.

Continuing further in this vein, it seems that education in particular is the solution to the problem of covered smoke detectors. While threats of monetary and judicial action may be effective in the short term, such threats treat the symptoms that are being manifested, not the underlying problem.

Fire safety is not an issue that is particular to Brandeis or any other university or institution for that matter; rather, it is something that continues to be vital throughout the lives of all the students here.

Due to this continuing relevance, it is necessary to adopt a long-term perspective on determining a solution to the problem of negligence in a fire emergency—and this is what it seems has been done. I applaud those responsible for organizing this program.

Even if only a small number of students take advantage of it, it will be worthwhile. Each little bit that can be achieved to improve proper fire safety techniques is a step forward.

Everyone can learn a lesson from the smoke detector fiasco and the subsequent resultant actions. When someone messes up, there is almost always a proper way to go about correcting the behavior to minimize the possibility of reoccurrence, and this is what finally seems to be happening. This is the right way to go about finding a solution. Fire safety is important regardless of our age. Let us not neglect it.

OP-BOX Quote of the Week “We’re looking forward to Springfest taking place on the last day of the Festival of the Arts, for the opportunity to add an unexpected seasoning to a delicious dish— like balsamic vinegar and strawberries.”

—-Ingrid Schorr, producer of the Bernstein Festival of the Arts (See Arts, page 19)

Brandeis Talks Back What are the most important factors you look for when deciding whom to vote for in the election for the next Student Union president?

KAT TEETER ’12 “How involved they’ve been in the Union beforehand.”

MICHAEL WINSHIP ’12 “I’m probably not going to vote, so you should ask someone else.”

ROBYN BLUMBERG ’11 “Dedicated, committed, and wants to see change at Brandeis.”

VICTORIA ROOMET ’09 “Somebody whose leadership is able to bring the student body together.”

THE JUSTICE

In response to your article “The legend of Pachanga” (March 24 issue): It’s very nice to see that the International Club and Pachanga are still going strong, but there appears to be a disconnect with the heritage of the event.

It didn’t start in 2001; I attended my first Pachanga as a first-year in 1999, and the party had already been going on for a couple of years. I was president of the I-Club from 2002 to 2003, and we already played music from around the world, such as Latin, Arabic, Greek, Euro techno, hip hop and other styles.

We had very good DJs (DJ Endri T and DJ IA, original Pachanga DJs who made the party—as you said—a “legend”). They also happened to be Brandeis students who were incredible DJs, so there was no need to look for outside talent.

Finally, we were already preselling Pachanga tickets ahead of time back in 2002.

Presale tickets were sold at a discount and provided a separate VIP entrance that took partygoers straight to the metal detectors, so they wouldn’t have to wait in line with the people who decided to buy tickets last minute at the door.

I appreciate the challenges the current club leaders face in maintaining the party a success but feel this article did not do justice (no pun intended) to the old leaders of the IClub who created the event and took it from a house/suite party all the way to Levin Ballroom in just a couple of years.

—Gustavo Giske ’03

Pachanga began with different values In response to your article “The legend of Pachanga” (March 24 issue): My name is Michael, and I was one of the co-founders of Pachanga.

The year Pachanga was founded, a group of students started the International House. We were from Bolivia, Romania, Greece, Argentina, Bulgaria, Venezuela, Israel and New Jersey.

Our goal was to bring diversity awareness to campus, and we started to have events in our Ridgewood house. These events always had a cultural element attached to them (eclectic food, music from all over the world, speakers, etc.)

As these events grew in popularity we started holding them in larger venues: first in Cholmondeley’s and eventually in Levin Ballroom.

We called the events “Pachanga.” Through “guerrilla” marketing (yes, we were the first ones to form the word Pachanga out of fliers on the walls of Sherman), we were able to make these events a larger and better part of every semester. Heck, those parties were awesome!

I am thrilled to hear that Pachanga continues to grow; however, it would be great to see the event revert back to its original values of integrating diversity into campus through food, music and fun times. Violence was never a part of it, and until we graduated, the party was always free of charge.

Many people deserve credit for making it such a successful event and allowing it to live for over 10 years.

—Michael Winer ’98

Pay tribute to founders of Pachanga In response to your article “The legend of Pachanga” (March 24 issue): To shed some light and provide some credits, Pachanga first happened in the deep winter of 1997 in a Ridgewood apartment. It started as a house party at the suite of Manuel Costescu ’99, Michael Winer ’98 and Christos Stergiou ’99, who were members of the board of the International Club at the time. I was the first DJ. It first became an official, open-to-everyone and funded party in 1998. It went on to become bigger and bigger since then. Five different I-Club boards ran it during my tenure as DJ from 1998 to 2001. Then DJ Endri T took over for the next few years.

Forgive me for not recalling all the names of all the board members who contributed and helped in the founding of Pachanga, but credit should at least go to: Winer, Costescu, Stergiou, Monika Todor ’00, Ricci Wolman ’00, Brita Gaffey ’01, Yonca Heyse ’02, Naama Laufer ’03, Eleni Tsolakis ’03 and Gustavo Gyske ’03.

Also thanks to Kabir Kumar, who received his master’s from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management in 2003. As a treas-

Write to us

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

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THE BENEFITS OF BICYCLES

READER COMMENTARY Remember Pachanga’s rich heritage

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urer, Kumar believed in what would later become legacy and handily funded the project.

—Alex Mizan ’00

Pachanga once a symbol of diversity In response to your article “The legend of Pachanga” (March 24 issue): I would also like to reiterate what a great event Pachanga was while I attended Brandeis. I remember it in Schwartz in 2000, when it would spill out onto the sidewalk because of its popularity, and then afterwards in Levin Ballroom, where it was until I graduated in 2003.

Yes, there was a lot of drinking, but I never encountered any negative behavior or violence to the extent described in the article above. I think this was due to the organization and positive feeling associated with the event, which was fostered by the International Club.

And, by the way, it was never just electronica music, but international dance music that reminded me why I chose to go to a diverse place like Brandeis. As someone who wasn’t international, this event truly broadened by horizons.

—Rebecca Smith ’03

Rose family has responsibility to act In response to reader comment “Rose family can’t keep museum open” (March 24 issue): The Roses may not have had legal attachments with their donation, but they gave it to the entity of the Rose Art Museum.

The family has a responsibility to try to do as much as it can and, if not reverse the decision, make it clear to the public that this decision is a mistake—morally, ethically, humanely, educationally and financially (the art market couldn’t be any worse at this point).

Michael Rush, the director of the museum, has expressed recently that this event will change how people make donations for the arts in the future because donors will have to take into account that their donation could be used for something that is not what they originally intended. It’s a matter of trust and intention, something that Brandeis’ Board of Trustees completely underestimated.

I don’t believe that closing the museum is a good way to maintain the quality of Brandeis students’ education. Art and art history students who are getting a degree there could not have been betrayed more, and I think getting rid of one of the more impressive art collections in the country is a counterproductive move to maintain quality.

—Helene Schlumberger The writer is an art installer at the Rose Art Museum.

Brandeis is acting in line with values In response to your article “Reinharz to ask Board of Trustees for $2M” (March 24 issue): There is understandable concern that the financial challenges facing Brandeis will have a negative effect on its reputation, especially among potential Brandeis students. However, those concerns lack perspective. Brandeis is hardly alone in this economy. According to news reports, many universities, even the wealthiest, like Harvard, are making serious budget cuts in response to severely diminished endowments and donations. There is no reason to believe that there should be any long-term jeopardy to Brandeis’ reputation unless such negative comments out of context become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

In context, the budget proposals and the plan potentially to sell some paintings from the Rose Art Museum highlights the University’s commitment to students, education and financial aid.

The art-sale proposal is just one method Brandeis is considering to fund the school’s pledges to preserve financial aid and maintain or improve the world-class education that it offers by resisting the type of budget cuts that could undermine its core mission. Brandeis is prioritizing students over things, and that approach should be attractive to most students.

This is the context that should be shared with the Brandeis community and with the public. All of us who love Brandeis should tell that story and reaffirm that Brandeis is a special combination of small liberal arts college and world-class research university.

Talented students, high-powered faculty who actually teach in small classes illustrious alumni to be proud of and a special mission of social justice are all parts of that story.

Preserving this special institution is the purpose for balancing the budget, and if that purpose is discussed, the University's reputation will remain intact and even flourish.

—Stuart Young ’77

The Justice welcomes letters to the editor responding to published material. Please submit letters through our Web site at www.thejusticeonline.com. Anonymous submissions cannot be accepted. Letters should not exceed 300 words, and may be edited for space, style, grammar, spelling, libel and clarity, and must relate to material published in the Justice.

Letters from off-campus sources should include location. The Justice does not print letters to the editor and op-ed submissions that have been submitted to other publications. Op-ed submissions of general interest to the University community—that do not respond explicitly to articles printed in the Justice—are also welcome and should be limited to 800 words.

All submissions are due Friday at 5 p.m.

The opinions stated in the editorial(s) under the masthead on the opposing page represent the opinion of a majority of the voting members of the editorial board; all other articles, columns, comics and advertisements do not necessarily. For the Brandeis Talks Back feature on the opposite page, staff interview four randomly selected students each week and print only those four answers.

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Fine Print

REBECCA NEY/Justice File Photo

A POSITIVE INITIATIVE: The new ’DeisBikes program will benefit the Brandeis community in many ways.

DeisBikes program is laudatory

By ZACHARY MATUSHESKI JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

One of the truly remarkable things about Brandeis is the quality of leadership here.

Students and faculty members have taken great initiative in terms of putting forth ideas on how to make the University a more environmentally friendly place. Initiatives regarding using more sustainable materials in take-out containers, pushing the reuse of plastic cups over disposable paper ones and expanding recycling programs are marks of hard work on the part of the Brandeis community.

This week, the community debuted the new ’DeisBikes program. According to the official ’DeisBikes Web site, ’DeisBikes is a “bicycle sharing program of Brandeis University. Our mission is to promote bicycling as desirable means of transportation, in a greater effort to strengthen a culture of sustainability on campus.”

Some may ask why the Student Union, the Department of Student Activities and the Campus Sustainability Initiative are supporting ’DeisBikes. With the financial problems the University faces, some may argue that providing bikes for free is a waste of resources.

Cost is something that we should always keep in mind; to this end, the program is cheap. According to the student task force for implementing the project, it cost $1,500.

Considering the benefits of the program, that is a small price to pay.

A bicycling program promotes student exercise. In recent months, fans of exercise have had to deal with disappointing changes—-the most disappointing being the closing of the Linsey pool. While ’DeisBikes may not appeal directly to those who once used the pool, it is a sign that voluntary exercise is still a priority at the University.

Secondly, ’DeisBikes is a renewable, fun activity. Now friends can take bikes out for rides around Waltham to places like Lizzy’s or More than Words. The bikes can provide fun transportation to town events and the town farmers market. Imagine how much value would be added to the experience of participating in events in Waltham if instead of riding in a van or bus, students were able to ride a bike to these events. ’DeisBikes will also allow students to venture to new places that are not easily

The Staff For information on joining the Justice, write to justeditor@ brandeis.edu

accessed by the BranVan. There is a biking trail that runs from Waltham to Cambridge.

On this trail, there are all sorts of trees, flowers and woodland creatures.

One of the most beautiful parts of the trail includes a stand of the Japanese cherry blossoms. Each year, for a short while they bloom, and running or walking through this trail feels like being in a magical world.

Geese, fascinating animals to observe in their natural habitat, are in abundance on the trail.

With ’DeisBikes, students will be able to enhance their connections to Waltham by exploring this wonderful trail. Toward Moody Street, there is a bridge where the sounds and smells of fresh water are both soothing and refreshing. There are few better places I can think of to sit and have a conversation with a friend. Stress melts away. ’DeisBikes provides a way for Brandeis to support local businesses. For instance, the program has a contract with Spoke ’n’ Wheel on Main Street. Two Student Union resolutions provide for the purchase of 10 bikes, 10 tune-ups, one set of tools, 15 helmets, one pump, 15 locks and 11 decals.

Since that resolution, the Justice reported an extra two bikes were added to the list. ’DeisBikes users will learn the benefits of bicycle riding. This could mean trickledown business for Spoke ’n’ Wheel in addition to the support of the University.

Finally, ’DeisBikes’ mission is realistic.

It benefits the environment by giving students an alternative to using environmentally unfriendly means of transportation to travel to Moody Street and other parts of town. ’DeisBikes will show experientially that bicycling is a realistic and practical alternative to the BranVan. If the ’DeisBikes program catches on, use of the BranVan may decline. This would save the University money and make the University’s carbon footprint smaller. ’DeisBikes is a program of great promise and little cost. It enhances student lives by promoting voluntary exercise, gives an alternative way of getting to the hot spots in town, opens up places not reachable by van and has the potential to help local businesses while also possibly lowering costs for the University and benefitting the environment. And it comes with a mere $1,500 price tag—a sound investment.

Naomi Spector Arts: Daniel Baron, Wei-Huan Chen, Sean Fabery, Laura Gamble, Caroline Hughes, Rachel Klein, Emily Leifer, Wei Sum Li, Daniel Orkin, Alex Pagan, William-Bernard Reid-Varley, Shelley Shore, Ben Strassfeld, Brad Stern STAFF Photography: Rachel Corke, Rebecca Ney, Adina Paretzky, Senior Writers: Miranda Neubauer, Jeffrey Michelle Strulovic Pickette, Melissa Siegel Sports: Eli Harrington, Andrew Ng, Sean Petterson, Adam Rosen Senior Photographers: Sara Brandenburg, Copy: Ariel Adams, Emily Kraus, Marissa Linzi, Danielle Myers David Brown, Hsiao Chi Pang Illustrations: Lisa Frank, Gail Goldspiel, Eli Tukachinsky News/Features Staff: Alana Abramson, Layout: Kathryn Marable Destiny Aquino, Sam Datlof, Reina Guerrero, Michelle Liberman, Ruth Orbach, Greta Moran, Michael Newborn, Harry Shipps Forum: Richard Alterbaum, Hillel Buechler, David Litvak, Zachary Matusheski, Ethan Mermelstein, Doug Nevins, Eileen Smolyar,

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ARTS: Sarah Bayer

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THE JUSTICE

FORUM

An even bigger housing crisis awaits ResLife Hillel

BUECHLER AND SO ON

Dissatisfied with The Department of Residence Life’s housing process this year? Just wait until next year.

With the University’s current plans to substantially increase to the student body population, it’s only going to get worse for both next year’s firstyears and upperclassmen. ResLife needs to start improving the current system and brace itself for the impending housing shortage that will inevitably begin as soon as the 2010 to 2011 academic year.

At the moment it appears that ResLife isn’t too partial to changing much of anything. This is a mistake.

ResLife had enough trouble trying to house the Class of 2012 for this upcoming year, as we saw this month when some students who were guaranteed housing were waitlisted. It’s only going to get worse.

The incoming Class of 2013 is 10 percent larger than the Class of 2012.

And with an endowment that keeps on dipping, it looks as though the administration wants the size of the Class of 2014 to be just as large. The prospect of housing a large class of rising sophomores while simultaneously saving space for a large class of incoming first-years is bound to cause trouble somewhere—and it will likely be most problematic for upperclassmen.

The Justice Brandeis Semester is supposed to lessen the housing burden of the University. But until someone figures out a way to pitch the optional JBS in a financially appealing manner, I’m going to assume that there will be plenty of extra people seeking housing next March. At the moment, I just don’t think anyone will be jumping at the opportunity to pay for a semester’s worth of vague classes and alleged social justice.

So, in the meantime, a Brandeis housing crisis for juniors and seniors appears to be in the works. Of course, there are small things that Res Life could do to alleviate some of the stress of the housing lottery in general. Maybe they won’t be able to do this for upperclassmen, who will likely lose some of their housing availability in the short run due to

KAREN HU/the Justice

the increased number of underclassmen; however, there is something that Res Life can do to make the housing lottery a little more fair for rising sophomores.

It’s time to get rid of neighborhood pull-ins in the Hassenfeld building of East Quad. The idea of neighborhood pull-ins seems really great at face value. But, in fact, the pull-in system currently operates much like a regressive tax policy in which those within the lower brackets are forced to suffer disproportionately to those better off. And each person’s initial

standing in the housing lottery is arbitrary. It is, after all, a lottery, which by definition determines everyone’s fate based on pure luck.

If you’re fortunate to have a low enough lottery number, you get better choices of housing. That should be enough. It makes sense to pull in for the suites because of the nature of suite life. But is this really a fair policy for Hassenfeld? No—especially in the absence of Scheffres, which will likely become a permanent first-year dorm out of necessity.

As people unnecessarily pull their

friends into neighboring rooms, numbers devalue in what should be a reasonable part of the lottery spectrum, such as the upper 400s and lower 500s, at which point housing in East Quad and the Castle ran out this year (Rosenthal Quad was gone before number 100). Obviously, those with the highest numbers are in trouble either way, but it’s unfair to supply the extra advantage of neighborhood pull-ins in Hassenfeld, especially in light of the fact that housing for Pomerantz, the other building in East, works out just fine without

such a pull-in system in place.

Perhaps future upperclassmen are simply doomed to fight the increasingly tougher odds of not getting campus housing. But if ResLife takes a second glance at the process, they may just find a little room for improvement—for some. There is some hope for a little more fairness for rising sophomores. But we future upperclassmen might want to take advantage of the weak housing market right now, because our forthcoming housing availability is looking imminently limited.

Brandeis mishandled administration of the Wabash study Richard

ALTERBAUM THE SCOOP

Something was not right about the way Brandeis handled the administration of the Wabash National Study, which investigates the impact of liberal arts education on first-year students. No, not just the questions it offers (though changing those would be nice, too) but rather the way Brandeis advertised it to us. Instead of just rudely pushing us to take the survey, those who managed it should have either made it mandatory or guaranteed students a real incentive to take it.

When I first came to Brandeis back in August, one of the first people who I ran into was a Wabash promoter. I admit that at the time, I was a naïve, impressionable recent high school graduate who had not yet fully grasped the fact that he was in college.

Also, I had the chance to get Bruce Springsteen tickets, Red Sox tickets and other items of that nature. So I said, “Why not?” and signed up to participate.

What awaited me was painful to the say the least. First was the fact that I had to wake up at the unprecedented time (at least for college) of 8:30 in the morning. But what was more annoying was the survey itself. It included two hours of headache-inducing, mind-numbing questions concerning

KAREN HU/the Justice

abstract hypothetical situations and philosophical quandaries that left me thinking, “What did I just take?”

I did not gain anything from it, and at the time I wondered whether the school did either. But most importantly, I felt taken advantage of. Here was an innocent first-year who felt as if he’d been essentially used and tricked by manipulative test adminis-

trators. This was not fair.

So I became a tad irritated when I saw a Wabash promoter again when I was selecting my housing for next year. Again, it seemed as if I had to take it. I was directed to the desk of yet another Wabash promoter along with everyone else immediately after checking into room selection, no questions asked. I tried to get around

signing up for it, but the representative was adamant, so I grudgingly acquiesced to her demands.

Because I remembered in full detail how agonizing the Wabash survey was last time, I skipped its second administration. But regardless, I was incensed by the way in which this test was presented to students. After waiting for over an hour to hear my lot-

tery number called at room selection, the last thing I wanted was to be reminded of this cruel assessment.

And the fact that I couldn’t simply say, “Sorry, I just don’t want to take it again,” was unacceptable.

Now, I understand why the University has participated in the Wabash National Study and why it promotes it so heavily. After all, it would like to assess how our college experience has changed us with regard to such things as our ethics, morality and critical reasoning. So although I would like Wabash to disappear, I realize why it is here to stay.

It has just been advertised incorrectly.

Therefore, the school needs to change the way it promotes the survey. It can make the test mandatory for graduation, although chances are that this would not go over very well with the student body.

A more reasonable alternative is to promise every student who participates in it something in return, instead of the slim chance to get some random items that some students might not even want. The school can give these individuals free food, or, if they’re feeling generous, even a cash reward.

If the school does not change the survey in these regards, administrators should be aware that students will not take the survey seriously.

The way the survey is currently administered seems to take advantage of students: Shoving the Wabash survey in the faces of innocent first-years simply does not seem right.

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

13

SPORTS

BASEBALL: Squad reaches .500 mark CONTINUED FROM 16 second baseman Julien Cavin ’12, all rookies, combined to make five of the team’s six errors. “[Our effort] was just ugly,” captain Mike Alfego ’09 said. “They came out of the gate and put it on us. We made a ton of errors and didn’t hit the ball. You can’t give any team extra outs, [especially] one of the top ranked teams in the country.”

The loss to Wheaton was a stark contrast to the Judges’ performance earlier in the week. They entered last Sunday’s game on a three-game winning streak led by the performances of the three rookie infielders, who combined to hit .391 and drive in eight runs over the three-game span. “[The rookie infielders] are starting to come around and starting to mature on the field,” assistant coach Brian Lambert ’97 said.

After falling to Wentworth 6-3 at home last Wednesday, Brandeis started its winning streak against Salve Regina last Thursday. The Judges were able to keep the game within reach throughout, setting the stage for another Judges victory decided in the ninth inning, the third such instance this season.

This time, first baseman and pitcher Pat Nicholson ’11 delivered.

The Judges had just tied the game at six in the bottom of the ninth inning when Nicholson stepped to the plate with runners on first and second and two outs in the inning. Nicholson ripped a single through the left side to score first baseman Drake Livada ’10— who had tied the game with an RBI single of his own—from second base.

Brandeis had chipped away at an early 5-2 deficit to bring the score to 5-4 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. The Judges then tied the game at five when pinch hitter Eric Rosenberg ’11 delivered an RBI single through the right side to score catcher Zach Wooley ’11, who hit a single and reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Nicholson.

But Salve Regina took a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth inning when an error by O’Hare allowed rookie Gabriel Constantino to score from second base. Nicholson, who relieved James Collins ’09, allowed no more runs in the inning, setting the stage for Brandeis’ comeback. “[The win] was huge, actually,” Nicholson said. “It wasn’t the prettiest, but it was huge for momentum heading into the weekend.”

The Judges fed off that success, taking both games of a doubleheader against Springfield College last Saturday, winning 6-2 in the first game and 5-3 in the second.

Nicholson was Brandeis’ starting pitcher in the first game and held Springfield to only two runs on five hits while striking out four. He pitched a complete game, improving his record to 4-1 on the season.

“I worked to establish my fastball early on, so when they started adjusting, I started mixing in more sliders. The slider was working well today, and that kept them offbalance,” he said.

Offensively, the Judges’ rookies carried the team as Chu and O’Hare

CONTINUED FROM 16

DAVID SHEPPARD-BRICK/the Justice

DEFENSE: Second baseman John O’Brion ’10 throws out a runner against Springfield College in the first game last Saturday. each went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. In the second game, pitcher Drew Brzozowski ’10 turned in a complete game, allowing only four hits and three runs, while striking out eight over the course of the seven

inning contest.

The Judges are next in action at home today against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at 3:30 p.m. They will then host Fitchburg State

University Thursday at 3 p.m., Clark University Saturday at noon and Keene State College Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Judges are 5-1 in home games this season.

TENNIS: Women’s team falls despite edge in doubles CONTINUED FROM 16 five matches.

“We’re taking our lumps, but the guys are doing a good job of staying fairly positive and taking things away from each match, and I give them credit,” Lamanna said. “There [are] no excuses out there; they’re playing hard. Their confidence is a little down, clearly, but they continue to work hard.”

In doubles, the closest match saw the No. 1 duo of Simon Miller ’11 and captain Scott Schulman ’09 lose to junior Spencer Feldman and senior co-captain David Yahng 8-6. No. 2 pairing Mayur Kasetty ’11 and Craig Elman ’12 were swept in their match

SOFTBALL: Judges take three of four games

8-0 while No. 3 tandem Seth Rogers ’10 and Josh Bookman ’12 were also were blown out 8-1.

The Bantams dominated singles play. No. 1 singles player Miller was the only Brandeis player to win more than two games in a set, falling to Feldman in three sets 6-3, 5-7, 7-5.

No. 2 Schulman lost to rookie Anson McCook 6-0, 6-2; No. 3 Rogers was swept by senior co-captain Gautam Samarth 6-0, 6-0; No. 4 Kasetty lost to Yahng 6-1, 6-0; No. 5 Bookman fell to junior Nick White 6-1, 6-2; and No. 6 Elman was defeated by junior Adam Lanza 6-1, 6-1.

“The bottom line is [Trinity is] a top-15 team in the country, and we were overmatched,” Lamanna said.

However, Lamanna said the team would benefit from playing such

“

They just make you work. They keep the ball in play a lot.

COACH BEN LAMANNA

tough competition.

“We don’t mind playing those really good teams,” he said. “We’re going to get better because of it.”

The women’s team’s match scheduled today at Babson College and the men’s team’s home match against Babson originally scheduled for tomorrow were both postponed due to a campuswide virus that forced Babson to cancel all athletic events and other school operations until at least tomorrow, according to The Associated Press.

The men’s team will instead host Babson April 6 at 3 p.m. The women’s match at Babson has not yet been rescheduled.

The women’s team will next compete at Wellesley College April 7 at 3:30 p.m.

The men’s squad will play at Amherst College Saturday at 10 a.m.

fielder Darcy Kurashige-Elliot’s error before being thrown out between second and third base.

The game remained tied until the eighth inning, when each team is allowed to place the player who made the last out in the previous inning on second base to start the inning for the sake of speeding up the game.

Left fielder Chelsea Korp ’10 took that spot for the Judges and Cagar reached base on an error, setting the stage for Grimm’s game-winning double, her seventh RBI of the season.

“She hit the ball in the air; whenever that happens you sit there for that half a second, and then once you know no one’s going to catch it, you just straight shoot to home plate,” Korp said. “[Cagar] came around, and it was just one of those things that was perfect.

[Grimm] came up there and did her job.”

This was not the first time the Judges have had to come from behind this season. Brandeis fell behind 2-0 in the third inning against the University of Rochester March 12 only to take the lead 3-2 in the fifth in a game they would eventually win by that same score.

They also fell behind 2-0 in the first game of a doubleheader against Wellesley College March 18 before scoring the next four runs to win 4-2.

“It would be a lot better if we could come out there and set up a little better, but we definitely don’t want to give up, and I think that’s what that [comeback] shows,” Korp said.

In the second game against Clark, the Cougars scored their only run of the game in the first inning after Clark junior second baseman Lauren Blake singled to left field and eventually scored off a wild pitch by pitcher Caroline Miller ’12. While Miller allowed only six hits and did not give up a run the rest of the way, Brandeis could only manage five hits against Clark sophomore starter Sarah Carter.

“We usually have a tougher time when [Carter] was slower pitching, so that’s our biggest concern at the moment,” Cagar said. “I wouldn’t say that she was a great pitcher. She wasn’t doing anything special, it’s just we couldn’t adjust to her.”

Miller, despite the loss, still leads the Judges with a 2.45 ERA and a 4-2 record. Emily Vaillette ’10, the winning pitcher of the first game last Wednesday, is right behind her with a 3.02 ERA and a 3-5 record.

Miller and Vaillette have combined to start 14 of the Judges’ 16 games this season.

They also have accounted for 52 of the team’s 63 strikeouts and seven of its eight wins.

The Judges play three doubleheaders next week, starting with one at Worchester Polytechnic Institute tomorrow at 3 p.m.

The team will then come home for its first home games of the season in doubleheaders against Framingham State College Friday at 3 p.m. and against Bowdoin College Sunday at noon.

THE JUSTICE

■ The second-year baseball player has succeeded at three different positions this season.

8

combined RBIs for the baseball team’s rookie infielders—Sean O’Hare, Julian Cavin and Jon Chu—in the Judges’ three wins last week. The team went 3-2 last week.

0

matches won by the men’s tennis team at Trinity College last Saturday, as the Judges were swept 9-0. The women’s team also fell to Trinity but kept it close, dropping the match 5-4 after leading 2-1 in doubles matches before singles play began.

9

strikeouts in six innings for softball pitcher Caroline Miller ’12 in the Judges’ 8-3 win in the second game of a doubleheader at Lasell College last Tuesday.

2

wins this week for pitcher Pat Nicholson ’11. Nicholson pitched a complete game for a win last Saturday against Springfield College and got another win in relief last Thursday against Salve Regina University, a game in which he also got the game-winning hit.

3

RBIs for softball second baseman/outfielder Lara Hirschler ’12 in the Judges’ 3-2 win in the first game of a doubleheader at Lasell College last Tuesday. Hirschler hit a three-run pinch-hit double in her only at-bat in the top of the fourth to give Brandeis the permanent lead.

17

more runs scored by No. 6 Wheaton College in its win over the Brandeis baseball team last Sunday. Wheaton took the game 19-2 and put Brandeis at 10-10 on the season.

15

Billy Gillispie out as Kentucky opts for coaching change

Pat Nicholson ’11

Judging numbers

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

AP BRIEFS

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

In theory, the presence of the designated hitter position in baseball enables players to specialize in either hitting or pitching. However, one hybrid player still exists on the Brandeis baseball team: Pat Nicholson ’11.

The part-time pitcher, first baseman and designated hitter from Walpole, Mass. has picked up where he ended his successful rookie season and led the Judges to a 32 record last week.

“He’s our best pitcher, and everybody knows it. As a batter, he doesn’t get cheated up there at the plate and gets his swings in,” assistant coach Brian Lambert ’97 said.

Last week, Nicholson appeared on the mound in three of five games, playing a key role in the outcome of two of those wins.

Last Thursday, he switched from first base to pitcher to record the final out in the top of the ninth inning after Salve Regina University went ahead 6-5 on an error. After the Judges tied the game in the bottom half of the frame, Nicholson stepped to the plate with runners on first and second base and delivered an RBI single to earn himself and the Judges a 7-6 victory.

“The [opposing] pitcher wasn’t really throwing a lot of strikes in warm-ups, so I was just looking for a strike to hit.”

Nicholson said.

Two days later, in the first game of a doubleheader against Springfield College, Nicholson delivered a complete game pitching performance and earned another win for the Judges.

●

JULIAN AGIN-LIEBES/the Justice

As a rookie last year, Nicholson led a veteran pitching staff in ERA and saves, appearing in 19 games as a pitcher while also appearing in 33 total games as a hitter. He had an ERA of 3.23 over 30.1 innings to go along with three saves and notched a .330 batting average with 18

RBIs in over 100 at-bats.

Through 19 games this season, Nicholson has shown improvement on his rookie campaign. After last week, he is 4-1 and leads the staff in innings pitched.

—Eli Harrington

UAA STANDINGS Baseball

Softball

Not including Monday’s games Overall W L 15 3 17 8 12 7 6 17 10 10 5 5

UAA W L Rochester 4 2 Emory 3 3 Washington Univ. 3 3 Case Western 3 3 JUDGES 2 4 Chicago 0 0

Not including Monday’s games Overall UAA W L W L Washington Univ. 7 1 13 4 Emory 5 3 23 5 Rochester 5 3 11 6 JUDGES 3 5 8 8 Chicago 0 0 7 3 Case Western 0 8 8 12

TEAM LEADERS

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Kentucky kept waiting for Billy Gillispie to get it, to openly embrace everything that comes with coaching college basketball’s winningest program.

The Wildcats kept waiting for the winning too, the kind that’s expected at a place where seven national championship banners loom over the floor at Rupp Arena.

Gillispie didn’t give them either.

The University of Kentucky fired Gillispie last Friday following two rocky seasons in which the coach struggled to connect with his players, his bosses and one of the nation’s most passionate fan bases.

“There is a clear gap in how the rules and responsibilities overseeing the program are viewed,” athletic director Mitch Barnhart said. “It is a gap I do not believe can be solved by just winning games.”

Still, winning always helps, and Gillispie didn’t do enough of that.

He finished 40-27 with the Wildcats, including a 22-14 record this season that saw Kentucky miss the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1991.

The Wildcats were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the National Invitational Tournament by the University of Notre Dame last Wednesday.

Gillispie declined to speak to reporters last Friday afternoon but addressed the media last Saturday at a Lexington hotel.

He seemed resigned to his fate last Thursday night during his radio show.

“A lot of teams would be happy with 22 [wins] but not always around here when it’s not the right 22,” Gillispie said.

Saying the program “deserves a coach that understands this is not just another coaching job,” Barnhart pledged to find a replacement who appreciates the unique role.

Candidates could include University of Memphis coach John Calipari, Oklahoma State University coach and former Kentucky star Travis Ford, Michigan State University coach Tom Izzo and former Kentucky coach and current University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino.

Calipari met with Memphis officials yesterday to discuss a potential offer from Kentucky that has only been rumored to be on the table.

Pitino remains beloved across much of the state more than a decade after leaving the Wildcats for the NBA. He angered some when he decided to coach the hated Cardinals, though his eight years in Lexington are still considered among the best in the program’s long history.

Gillispie likely will be remembered as a two-year mistake.

“The chemistry just wasn’t right,” Barnhart said.

And this divorce could end up costing Gillispie millions.

He signed a memorandum of understanding in Barnhart’s house following a whirlwind courtship that lasted less than a day. Yet he never signed a formal contract as his lawyer and the university fought over the wording.

Barnhart said the university did not plan to pay Gillispie a $6 million buyout that was to be part of his unsigned seven-year deal.

Barnhart said the school would abide by the memorandum of understanding, but he considers it to be a year-to-year contract. Gillispie made $2.3 million annually.

“We’re willing to put together a fair settlement, a fair separation,” Barnhart said.

For Kentucky is ready to move on.

Baseball (on-base percentage)

Baseball (runs batted in)

Second baseman John O’Brion ’10 leads Brandeis with a .514 on-base percentage.

Shortstop Sean O’Hare ’12 leads the Judges with 16 RBIs.

UConn women’s basketball extends perfect season to Elite 8

Player John O’Brion Nick Gallagher Jon Chu Drake Livada Mike Alfego

Player Sean O’Hare Jon Chu Drake Livada Tony Deshler Three tied with

TRENTON, N.J.—It took almost a half for the University of Connecticut express to get rolling. Once it did, the University of California could not stop it.

UConn freshman Tiffany Hayes scored a career-high 28 points as the undefeated Huskies beat fourth-seeded Cal 77-53 last Sunday to advance to their 14th regional final in the last 16 seasons.

The Huskies will face Arizona State University tonight with a trip to the Final Four at stake.

UConn (36-0) continued its march toward the school’s third perfect season. The Huskies have entered the NCAAs unbeaten three other times. Connecticut went on to win the national championship in 1995 and 2002.

In the 1996 to 1997 season, the Huskies lost to the University of Tennessee in the regional final.

Ashley Walker scored 21 to lead Cal (27-7), which was making its first trip to the regionals after blowing out Fresno State University and the University of Virginia in the first two rounds.

Hayes finished 9-for-10 from the field and also had seven assists and five rebounds.

Maya Moore added 22 points, and Renee Montgomery had 13 for the Huskies. Moore is now seven points short of breaking the UConn single-season record of 694 set

by Kara Wolters in the 1995 to 1996 season.

UConn has dismantled opponents this season, including beating seven ranked teams by an average of 31 points.

Cal didn’t seem bothered by the noon tip and jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first few minutes. It marked the first time UConn had trailed in a game since an early deficit against Seton Hall Feb. 28.

It didn’t get much better for the Huskies, who fell behind 31-23 on Walker’s three-pointer with 6 minutes, 38 seconds remaining before the break, forcing UConn coach Geno Auriemma to call timeout. Amazingly, that was the largest deficit UConn had faced all season.

That’s when UConn turned up its defense and started looking like the best team in the country. Over the next 20 minutes, UConn outscored Cal 41-12, holding the Bears to 4-for-27 shooting and 10 turnovers.

Cal would get no closer than 16 the rest of the way.

Arizona State is a sixth seed and upset No. 2 Texas A&M University to reach the regional finals.

OBP .514 .500 .462 .395 .392

RBI 16 12 11 11 6

Softball (on-base percentage)

Softball (runs batted in)

Utility player Marianne Specker ’12 leads Brandeis with a .488 on-base percentage.

Catcher Erin Ross ’10 leads the Judges with nine RBIs.

Player Marianne Specker Danielle Lavellee Brittany Grimm Chelsea Korp Melissa Cagar

Player Erin Ross Brittany Grimm Marianne Specker Four tied with Danielle Lavelle

OBP .488 .391 .364 .351 .339

RBI 9 7 5 4 3

UPCOMING GAME OF THE WEEK Softball vs. Framingham State College The Judges will play in their home opener in a doubleheader Friday at 3 p.m.

The softball team will play its first game at home this Friday when it hosts the Framingham State College Rams in a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.

The Judges are coming off a week in which they won three out of four games in two doubleheaders at Lasell College last Tuesday and at Clark University last Wednesday to put the team’s record at an even 8-8 overall this season.

Framingham State is off to a rough start: The Rams lost their first 14 games before finally beating fellow

Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference opponent the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 3-0 in the first game of its home-opening doubleheader last Saturday. The Rams are 1-15 overall.

Last season, Brandeis and Framingham State split a doubleheader at Framingham State April 24. The Rams took game one 5-2 while the Judges won game two 14-6.

The win was the first of 23 consecutive victories for the Judges, the longest winning streak in school history.

just

Sports

Page 16

HYBRID PLAYER Baseball player Pat Nicholson ’11 has excelled for the Judges at multiple positions, p. 15

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Waltham, Mass.

STABLE PITCHING

SOFTBALL

Squad evens record on road

■ The softball team went

3-1 last week, with its third comeback win of the season last Wednesday at Clark University, to improve to 8-8 this year.

By MELISSA SIEGEL JUSTICE SENIOR WRITER

The game-tying run rookie shortstop Brittany Grimm ’12 drove in against Clark University last Wednesday was unusual; it came on a play in which she reached base on an error and was thrown out trying to advance all the way to third base. When Grimm later came to bat in the top of the eighth inning with the game still tied at one, she drove in runners in a more conventional way.

Grimm hit a double to left field with two runners on base, scoring both runs for the Judges, who went on to win the game 3-2 in eight innings. The Judges are now 8-8 overall after losing the second half of the doubleheader to Clark 1-0 and winning both games of a doubleheader at Lasell College March 24.

“I don’t think it really matters what class you’re in; I think that’s what’s expected of you anywhere you are in the lineup,” second baseman Melisa Cagar ’11 said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a rookie or if you’re a senior; when you come up to bat, we’re expecting everyone to do their part and produce runs.”

The softball team’s home doubleheader against Bates College scheduled for last Sunday was canceled due to rain.

The first game of the doubleheader against Clark was scoreless until the fourth inning, when Clark rookie right fielder Stefanie Kettenacker hit an RBI triple to right center. Brandeis tied the game in the sixth inning when outfielder Samantha Gajewski ’12 scored after Grimm reached base on an error by Clark University junior center-

See SOFTBALL, 13 ☛

DAVID SHEPPARD-BRICK/the Justice

GOING THE DISTANCE: Pitcher Drew Brzozowski ’10 lasted a complete seven innings in the second game of a home doubleheader last Saturday against Springfield College.

Wheaton slows Judges’ streak ■ The baseball team went 3-

2 last week and had won three in a row before losing 19-2 to No. 6 Wheaton College last Sunday.

By ELI HARRINGTON JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The baseball team’s fortunes changed as dramatically as the

Waltham spring weather last week.

With the weather warm in the middle of the week, the Judges snapped off three wins, including a doubleheader sweep and a walk-off win but bookended those wins with two losses, one on a cold day against Wentworth Institute of Technology last Thursday and one in a blowout against No. 6 Wheaton College (Mass.) last Sunday on the day of a large rainstorm.

The Judges went 3-2 last week, losing to Wheaton 19-2 last Sunday,

defeating Springfield 6-2 and 5-3 last Saturday, winning 7-6 in the final inning against Salve Regina University last Thursday and falling 6-3 to Wentworth last Wednesday. The team is now 10-10 on the season.

Last Sunday, Wheaton scored all 19 runs in the first three innings as the Judges made six errors.

Wheaton’s win was its 16th in a row as the Lyons enjoy their best start in program history.

Pitcher John McGrath ’11 took

the loss in his first career start, lasting only through the first inning. Wheaton scored six runs, four of them earned, in that first inning on the strength of five hits and two Brandeis errors. Justin Duncombe ’11 relieved McGrath but surrendered seven runs in the second inning and six more in the third as the score ballooned to 19-0, with seven of the 19 runs being unearned. Third baseman Jon Chu ’12, shortstop Sean O’Hare ’12 and

See BASEBALL, 13 ☛

TENNIS

Women’s team drops tight match; men’s team loses 9-0 ■ The women’s team lost a

close match at Trinity College last Saturday while the men’s team was swept.

By ADAM ROSEN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Despite the huge disparity in their records this season, both the men’s and women’s tennis teams met the same fate last Saturday as each dropped their matches at Trinity College.

The women’s team lost a close match 5-4, dropping the squad to 8-4 on the season and snapping its two-

match winning streak. The men’s team was swept 9-0 by the No. 12 nationally-ranked Bantams, putting them at 5-8 on the season and adding to their losing streak, which now stands at six matches.

The women’s squad held a 2-1 lead after doubles play, but losses in four out of six singles matches ultimately led to its defeat.

“Usually I love our chances going up 2-1 in doubles, but it wasn’t [the case]. [Trinity] played a really good match,” coach Ben Lamanna said.

The No. 2 doubles pairing of captain Gabrielle Helfgott ’09 and Nina Levine ’12 picked up right where they left off with their second-set doubles tiebreaker win against Bates

College last week, knocking off Trinity junior Olivia Merns and sophomore Robyn Williams 8-5. No. 3 doubles partners Ariana Sanai ’10 and Emily Weisberger ’10 won their match in a second-set tiebreaker, beating sophomores Arielle Leben and Jillian Steckloff 8-7 (8-6). The lone loss at doubles for the Judges came at the No. 1 slot, where Rachel Rosman ’11 and Mackenzie Gallegos ’09 fell to seniors Amanda Tramont and Sarah Gould 8-3.

In singles, while No. 1 Rosman was able to knock off Tramont 6-3, 6-4 and No. 2 Helfgott beat Leben 6-1, 6-4, the Judges could not get a victory from any of the other four singles matches.

No. 3 Sanai lost to Gould 6-2, 6-2; No. 4 Gallegos fell to Steckloff 6-2, 6-4; No. 5 Weisberger dropped her match to Williams 6-1, 6-1; and No. 6 Levine was handled by Merns, 6-2, 6-0.

“I think our team battled well on the singles court, but we’re used to winning those key matches in singles, and it just didn’t happen,” Helfgott said.

Lamanna described the Trinity women’s players as being “pushers,” meaning they focus less on making aggressive shots and more on placing the ball on the court and prolonging each point.

“They just make you work,” Lamanna said. “They keep the ball in play a lot.”

Helfgott said that Trinity’s ability to dictate the pace of the singles matches and play out long rallies played a huge role in the outcome of the match.

“In singles, it’s very easy to get lost,” she said. “If you’re having a tough time, you’re by yourself.

There’s no other partner on the court, so I’d like to see our team stick to our guidelines on the singles court more, because I think that the matches that we’re losing on the singles courts are basically from giving the opponents a chance to make us play their game.”

On the men’s side, the squad was swept for the third time in its last

See TENNIS, 13 ☛

March 31, 2009

Brandeis Ensemble Theater presents ‘Philadelphia, Here I Come’

Photos and Design: David Sheppard-Brick/the Justice

18

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

●

THE JUSTICE

POP CULTURE

INSIDE ON CAMPUS

18-21

■ Manginah 19 The co-ed a cappella group’s spring theme was the “Manginah Monologues.”

■ Springfest 19 Organizers announced this year’s lineup, which includes college radio favorites, up-andcoming acts and a campus band.

20 ■ Spring Fashion The boyfriend-cut jean, menswear jackets, maxi dresses, hats and headbands in neutral colors are going to be the fresh trends filling wardrobes this spring.

21 ■ SKIN The annual fashion show, which is run by Brandeis Asian American Student Association, featured pieces by designers like Aimy Tsao ’10.

OFF CAMPUS

23-24

23 ■ Britney’s Circus The star’s breathtaking concert in Boston proved that after facing personal troubles, she still retains her flair for show business.

23 ■ Wilson’s Diner A limited menu and cramped conditions did not overshadow the pleasure of a bargain breakfast in this often-overlooked restaurant.

23 ■ The Mountain Goats A gig at the Somerville Theater rewarded one fan’s devotion to the one-man band with an obscure set list and clever stage chat.

CALENDAR

U-WIRE

by Shelly Shore

It might be a woman’s prerogative to change her mind, but Grey’s Anatomy star Katherine Heigl is getting a little out of bounds.

Since starring in blockbusters such as Knocked Up and 27 Dresses, Heigl has apparently been trying to break free of the small screen. Rumors have been floating around since May that she’s been trying to break free of her Grey’s contract despite her status as being a major player on the hit drama.

“She’s working really long hours and is ready to move on,” a source close to the actress told People last May. And with rumors of behind-the-scenes feuds and drama, it seemed increasingly likely that Dr. Stevens would be leaving the show, especially with the recent development of the “Izzie’s dying” storyline.

However, on Friday, Heigl told the Associated Press that she wants to stay with the show, but the final decision rests with the producers. “I don’t know yet if I live or die. I don’t know how Izzie fares,” she said Friday.

Attending a studio party for the show’s 100th episode, Heigl said she wouldn’t assume Izzie’s days are numbered just yet. “I was assuming that at one point, and I got a lot of shrugged shoulders and shakes of the head, so I don’t know if that’s a yes or a no. No one will tell me, and I don’t know how this is going to go,” she said lightly, keeping her mouth firmly shut on any spoilers in accordance with creator Shonda Rhimes’ policy on plot secrecy. If Izzie remains a part of Grey’s Anatomy, however, “I’m there,” she said, and dismissed rumors of feuding among the cast by saying “We’re all great friends.”

In response to the rumors that she wanted to ditch the show for her film career, Heigl demurred that she would be willing to bal-

Gaslight guitarist discusses origins ■ Alex Rosamilia believes that bands such as The Cure have influenced his group most.

By JUSTIN JACOBS THE PITT NEWS (U. PITTSBURGH)

RICHARD DREW/the Associated Press

HAUGHTY HEIGL: Rumor has it that ‘Anatomy’ star Katherine Heigl is ready to move on. ance movies and TV by working on films during the summer hiatus from Grey’s. “I’m more than happy to make that compromise.

As my agent likes to say, ‘High-class problems,’” she said Friday.

Heigl might be playing nice this week, but she’s said some fairly nasty things about the writers in the past. So while Izzie might survive her brain surgery, we might see her leave the show anyway. And according to the majority of the fans’ feelings about Izzie right about now, she probably won’t be missed.

What’s happening in Arts on and off campus

‘Journeying Within the Human Landscape: Photographs by Karin Rosenthal’ Karin Rosenthal has been photographing “nudes in the landscape” since 1975, initially in traditional black and white and now in digital color. Primarily using light and reflection, Rosenthal creates abstractions that challenge us to see beyond the predictable. This slide talk will discuss the evolution and range of her work.

Tuesday from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the Epstein Lecture Hall.

‘Forgotten Transports: To Estonia’ Of the tens of thousands of Czech Jews deported during the Holocaust, most were sent to virtually unknown camps and ghettos. Of those, fewer than 300 survived. (Czech deportees to Auschwitz survived at 10 times this rate.) To Estonia traces the three-year odyssey of several dozen young women who arrived in Estonia in 1942 aboard a transport of 1,000 Czech Jews.

Amazingly, the women quickly formed a mutual support network, surviving together through a willful combination of youthful naiveté, denial, humor, optimism and camaraderie. This New England Premiere will also feature a special guest, Director Lukas Pribyl ’96.

Tuesday from 7 to 10:30 p.m. in the Wasserman Cinematheque.

‘28 Up’ The Up series consists of a sequence of documentary films following the lives of 14 British children, beginning in 1964 when they were seven years old. The children were selected to represent the range of socioeconomic backgrounds in Britain at that time with the explicit assumption that each child’s social class predetermines his or her future. Every seven years, the director, Michael Apted, films new material from as many of the 14 subjects as he can get to participate. This particular film takes place when the participants were 28 years old. For more information on the film, visit www.pbs.org/pov/pov2007/49up/about.html.

Thursday from 7 to 9:10 p.m. in Kutz 132.

‘Hecuba’ Euripides’ compelling story of a woman’s devotion and revenge gets a new translation in this production, courtesy of Brandeis Kay Fellow Prof. Eirene Visvardi (CLAS), Prof. Leonard Muellner (CLAS) and Muellner’s students. At

WHAT’S ON?

SARA BRANDENBURG/Justice File Photo

UNIQUE CULTURE: Each year, Culture X brings together various performers (such as those pictured above during their set in 2007) to deliver a message that encourages students to embrace diversity. the end of the Trojan War, the Greeks are unable to return home until the ghost of Achilles receives the sacrifice he demands: the death of Polyxena, daughter of the now enslaved former queen of Troy, Hecuba.

Hecuba grieves the loss of her daughter and vows revenge for the death of her son Polydorus at the hands of the King of Thrace, Polymestor. Hecuba and her women plot their retaliation for her loss since justice is no longer an option in their conquered state. This adaptation is directed by Prof. Eric Hill (THA) and will feature Prof. Janet Morrison (THA) as Hecuba.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8 to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. on the Spingold Mainstage.

by Paul Hindemith. Conductor Nicholas Alexander Brown will also lead the AdagioAllegro from Schubert’s Octet, and Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll. There will be a free postconcert reception.

Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Slosberg Recital Hall.

Culture X 2009 This year, Culture X will reflect a culmination of the past and the present through performances of dance, spoken word and music. Free tickets will be distributed Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 6 to 9 p.m. from the ticket booth of the Carl J. Shapiro Theater.

Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Levin Ballroom.

Boston Unhinged Chamber Players Concert Boston Unhinged Chamber Players present a program dedicated to the evolution of German music during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Legendary Boston singers and Brandeis vocal instructors Prof. Pamela Dellal (MUS), mezzosoprano, and Prof. Pamela Wolfe (MUS), soprano, will perform works for voice and ensemble

Brandeis Wind Ensemble Under the direction of Thomas Souza, the Brandeis Wind Ensemble will perform works

by Bernstein, Tull and Grainger.

Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Slosberg Recital Hall.

There are good bands, and then there are bands with music so good they become the standard of a genre.

The Hold Steady has done just that for bar room rock, The Roots have done it for live hip hop. More recently, punk rock got its contemporary standard in the form of New Jerseyites The Gaslight Anthem.

The band, made up of singer Brian Fallon, guitarist Alex Rosamilia, bassist Alex Levine and drummer Benny Horowitz, make music that is a synthesis of two of New Jersey’s finest exports—the epic, storytelling, everyman rock of Bruce Springsteen fused sonically with the fast, fist-pumping punk of the Bouncing Souls.

Rosamilia, on his last day off before hitting the road, called The Pitt News to talk rock, Jersey and meditation.

TPN: You’ve had a pretty incredible and quick rise to rock fame.

AR: It’s weird. It’s a constant barrage of surreal moments and pinching myself. I don’t believe this is actually happening because everyone told me it was too impossible for someone like me. We just got back from Europe and most of the shows were sold out.

TPN: How’d the band come together originally?

AR: Brian and Alex were playing together in a band and drafted Benny. The previous guitarist wanted to go back to school, and Benny asked if I wanted to join, but I was cautious at first—I’d given up the dream at that point. I was OK with being assistant manager at a sneaker store. I made enough money to do whatever. But he twisted my arm enough to do it.

TPN: A lot’s been made of the band being from New Jersey. Do you feel a particular connection to Jersey bands?

AR: I wouldn’t say there’s a specific Jersey sound or a Jersey genre. But even though everything sounds different, there’s a similar sense of desperation. There’s a hint of claustrophobia because of how easy it is to get stuck in New Jersey. So it’s not a genre, but a state of mind.

TPN: Gaslight’s music has a timeless quality.

Is that where the ’59 Sound concept comes from?

AR: The whole idea behind the record was that we’d found out that we all liked soul music.

We basically tried to make an homage to an earlier time. We’re reaching for that sound on purpose—the Stax sound, the Motown sound.

TPN: A lot of songs on the record were written specifically to be live tunes. How do you feel onstage?

AR: This is going to sound really cheesy, but it’s a meditative process. It’s the hour a day where I don’t worry about anything, the only time I feel really focused. We’ll be driving all day, doing photo shoots and interviews, but I get onstage and it all makes sense for an hour.

Then I step offstage and it stops making sense again. Onstage I don’t have to worry about creditors calling and asking for money, what I’ll do when I get home.

TPN: There are a lot of styles going into Gaslight Anthem music. What are some acts that have influenced you the most?

AR: Personally, I’d say The Cure. Robert Smith and Johnny Marr have had more say over what I sound like than any guitar player.

Peter Green, the original guitar player of Fleetwood Mac, and I’d have to throw in Dave Knudson from Minus the Bear. He’s too good— it’s not fair.

TPN: If you could control the future, what would the next five years look like?

AR: We’d keep doing what we’re doing, but I’d have my own place. That’s the consensus of everybody. I’m currently residing on my friend’s couch. When you’re not home at all, it’s not worth spending money. And I’m not the only one—a few of us are living the nomadic lifestyle right now.

Top 10s for the week ending March 31

Box Office

WBRS

Billboard

Staff Playlist

1. Monsters vs. Aliens 2. The Haunting in Connecticut 3. Knowing 4. I Love You, Man 5. Duplicity 6. Race to Witch Mountain 7. 12 Rounds 8. Watchmen 9. Taken 10. The Last House on the Left

1. Various Artists – Thwomp 2. Zion I – “Antenna” 3. Black Lips – “Drugs” 4. Lou Reed – “Lady Day” 5. Hotels – Hydra 6. Leroy Carr – “Midnight Hour Blues” 7. Say Hi – “Elouise” 8. Nite Club – “Burma” 9. Cursive – “Mama, I’m Swollen” 10. Beep Beep – “Mermaid Struggle”

1. Kelly Clarkson – All I Ever Wanted 2. U2 – No Line On The Horizon 3. Soundtrack – Twilight 4. The-Dream – Love VS Money 5. Lady GaGa – The Fame 6. Taylor Swift – Fearless 7. Nickelback – Dark Horse 8. Gorilla Zoe – Don’t Feed Da Animals 9. Beyonce – I Am ... Sasha Fierce 10. Jamie Foxx – Intuition

1. Os Mutantes – “A Minha Menina” 2. Peter Fox – “Alles Neu” 3. Sliimy – “Trust Me” 4. Chester French – “She Loves Everybody” 5. Sharleen Spiteri – “All the Times I Cried” 6. Grizzly Bear – “Two Weeks” 7. Velvet Underground – “I’ll Be Your Mirror” 8. Beyonce – “Halo” 9. Prague Ska Conspiracy – “Madness” 10. Dave Clark Five – “Glad All Over”

Album information provided by Billboard Magazine. Box office information provided by Yahoo! Movies.

—Sarah Bayer

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

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ON CAMPUS MANGINAH MONOLOGUES

JOAN FLEISCHER/the Justice

A CHORUS LINE: The members of Manginah perform their spring concert in Golding Auditorium. The evening, which featured impressive singing and many puns, also served as a farewell to four graduating seniors.

Manginah sings with humor, gusto ■ Emotions ran high at the concert as singers saw off seniors and joked onstage.

By SHELLY SHORE JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

In true Brandeis fashion, Manginah’s spring show stuck to campus time, starting 10 minutes late while the crowd piled into the Golding auditorium.

Playing off the infamous mispronunciation “man-JY-nah,” Manginah’s spring theme was the “Manginah Monologues,” which began with an opening monologue by Louis Polisson ’12. “We were worried about Manginah,” he told the audience, and then the group proceeded to explain the different names of manginahs around Brandeis campus—jin-

gling Jews, harmonizing chasids and even “coochie snorchers.”

The show kicked off with “Kama Od Efshar,” with soloist and musical director Harrison Bannett ’11 promising “I love you/Even if you don’t deserve it.” Living up to his tenor part, he hit some serious high notes as he managed both to stay in key and to win over the audience.

From there, Jaclyn Frankel ’11 took over with “Yonatan Shapira,” a song about a girl finding the perfect boy in Jonathan Shapira despite her mother’s advice. Staying with the Jewish parent theme, Harrison Kessler ’09 and Becky Fisher ’10 took over with “Uf Gozal,” describing the experience of watching their chicks fly away from the nest and causing the parents in the audience to sniffle.

While the mothers and fathers dried their eyes, Manginah slowed things down with “Erev Shel Shoshanim,” a slow love song about a

walk through a rose garden, before Adam Lapetina ’12 and Hanna Rosenthal-Fuller ’09 sped things up again with “Come Back,” a song about being called back to Jerusalem in the east.

Taking a break from the music, the group began another monologue, “if my Manginah could ….” Some of the categories included “If my Manginah could give musical advice” (“It’s a little sharp!” “Hold that note!”), “if my Manginah could sing” (“Harder, better, faster, stronger!” “I kissed a girl and I liked it!”), and, of course, “if my Manginah was a Brandeis donor” (“Carl J. Shapiro!” “Um…”).

With the audience still laughing, Bennett took the stage again with “Through Heaven’s Eyes” from the soundtrack of the popular Dreamworks movie The Prince of Egypt. Following that, Max Fischlowitz-Roberts ’10 performed “Beit Café,” complete with choreography by the rest of the group. In the last song before the in-

termission, Fisher, Akiva Fishman ’09 and Liz Imber ’09 slowed down again with “Latet,” which included a short rap breakdown by Fishman and some seriously high notes by Imber.

After a short intermission, Kessler opened the second act with a short monologue about being asked to shave his “Hair … rison,” explaining that he refused to shave his Manginah. And then it was time for the usual spring concert mushiness: saying goodbye to the seniors. In true college fashion, the boys were a bit more humorous than the girls—in his farewell speech to Fishman, Fischlowitz-Roberts lamented his leaving with, “You really brought up our average height,” while Bannett recalled joining Manginah in his goodbye speech to Kessler: “When I got into Manginah and there was already a Harrison, I said, ‘Oh, crap.’” On the girls’ side, Fisher and Frankel said goodbye to seniors Imber and Rosen-

thal-Fuller with considerably more emotion: “You’re amazing,” Frankel gushed to Rosenthal-Fuller, while Fisher hugged Imber before saying, “I feel so blessed to have known you.”

The seniors sang their final songs, blowing the audience away one more time. Fishman hit some impressive low notes in “Shir B’Iparon,” while Kessler went ridiculously high in “Happy Ending” with Jen Levy ’12 and Fisher. Rosenthal-Fuller and Frankel brought tears to the audience’s eyes with the emotional “Ha Masah” while Imber and Lapetina broke out their inner reggae stars with “Jerusalem.”

Wrapping up the concert with their “flagship” song “Amen,” the group called up all the alumni in the audience for the final rousing number.

The show was a great success, and even if we still can’t pronounce Manginah, we certainly know what it could say if it could talk: L’chaim!

LIVE MUSIC

Decemberists to grace Chapels Field stage in April ■ Student band Mochila, which won a Student Events battle of the bands contest last semester, will open for the indie rock band.

By ANDREA FINEMAN JUSTICE EDITOR

Fans of mainstream indie rock, rap, hip hop and experimental music alike, take note! Student Events and WBRS’ annual Springfest music festival will feature indie band the Decemberists as well as supporting acts Asher Roth, RJD2 and Deerhunter.

Said WBRS Music Director Jeremy

Karp ’10, “We picked bands we thought the students would like. We sent out a survey that got over 1,400 responses, and it informed our choices.” Student Events concert director Amanda Okafor ’09 added, “We chose the highest-rated artists that were available on the date of Springfest and could work best together. It was really important that the bands weren’t too similar or too different and could perform well in a festival type of arena.”

The festival, which will take place on Sunday, April 26 on Chapels Field, is traditionally a co-sponsored event between the chief student-run events group and the campus radio station.

Like last year’s Springfest, this year’s falls on the morning and afternoon after the Junior/Senior Formal. This year’s Springfest coincides with the ac-

tion-packed performance day of the Office of the Arts’ annual Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts.

“We’re looking forward to Springfest taking place on the last day of the Festival of the Arts, for the opportunity to add an unexpected seasoning to a delicious dish—like balsamic vinegar and strawberries. Personally, I know I’ll stick around for the Decemberists,” Bernstein Festival Producer Ingrid Schorr said.

Said Okafor, “Springfest usually coincides with Bernstein, but the open format of [this year’s] Springfest provides the option to roam the campus and enjoy everything that’s going on, including Bernstein. I hope people can enjoy both activities that are set to occur that day, instead of having to choose one or the other.”

As in years past, Springfest 2009 will feature a beer garden—a fenced-in area of the venue where those over 21 can enjoy free beer. This year’s Springfest will also include booths from clubs such as National Collegiate Volunteers and Peers Educating about Responsible Choices. While last year’s Springfest did not include booths for club demonstrations, juniors and seniors may remember 2007’s “Sex Olympics” booth, care of Student Sexuality Information Services, and other demonstrations by clubs like Students for Environmental Action.

Another change to this year’s program is the fact that there will be no spring concert in Gosman Sports and Convocation Center as in previous years. When asked why, Okafor mentioned a number of factors including

increased costs for using Shapiro Gym as a performance space, the gym’s abysmal acoustics and student feedback asking for more outdoor live music. “When we were planning the Nas concert, many people approached me and asked why it wasn’t outside.”

She continued, “In order to save money ... I proposed the idea of combining both shows, and everyone involved seemed to really enjoy the idea,” Okafor said.

Said Karp, “it’s going to be way better than last year’s—the bands are a lot better, the budget is bigger, the weather will be warmer,” referring to last year’s 40-degree weather when Springfest took place April 2 as well as last year’s line-up, which included rock group State Radio, indie group Minus the Bear and ska act The Pietasters.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

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THE JUSTICE

FASHION

Spring fashion blooms Vivid accents and comfy jeans will rule the season Laura

GAMBLE WARDROBE PUNDIT

STYLIN’ IN THE RAIN: Amber Kornreich ’12 is ready for April with rain boots over skinny jeans, which will remain popular this spring.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JULIAN AGIN-LIEBES/the Justice

The great William Shakespeare wrote: “April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.” And while the Bard may have not been a direct inspiration for the upcoming spring trends, the youthful sentiments that he invokes are an undeniable force even in our day.

Spring clothing has generally embraced the color palette that reflects the warmer season: pink, green and yellow. This season will see a slight departure from this trend, however, with clothing that will feature a greater emphasis on neutrals.

The maxi dress’ silhouette provides the best mode of expression for the typical spring colors and patterns. It is also likely to be one of the most common trends of the season, as nearly every national store from Bloomingdale’s to Old Navy has come out with its own version of the floorlength day dress. Nordstrom is carrying the Gypsy 05 Ombre Maxi Dress, a floorlength, dip-dyed number that comes in pink and purple. Coming in black and blue, Old Navy is offering a tiered maxi dress with a floral lace detail at the bodice.

These long dresses are not the only flowy trend that is going to be unavoidable in the warmer months to come.

While skinny jeans are still a trendy option, a significantly more casual choice is the boyfriend-cut jean. Often featuring some kind of deconstruction, these jeans run loose from the hips to the ends of the legs—which are usually cuffed—to give a nice, cropped look that can be well paired with a pair of colorful flats. This cut of denim is typically breathable and comfortable.

Bloomingdale’s offers the best boyfriend denim options, most notably in the form of the Boyfriend Vintage Love Jeans in Footloose Vintage Wash by Rich and Skinny ($196).

Women aren’t just borrowing from the boys for our jeans; jackets cut more like menswear are gracing the pages of all of the fashion magazines and are making a splash on 5th Avenue. An outfit consisting of a well-fitted menswear jacket paired with skinny jeans and smart ac-

cessories is bound to turn heads. Marc Jacobs’ MARC line carries the French Terry Jacket, which comes in black and features an optional interior vest and a contrasting blue liner.

Bloomingdale’s offers up Aqua’s Boyfriend Jacket with Striped Cuffs. At $88 the jacket has a notched collar and a striped lining.

Accessories are going to be all about the headwear with a focus on hats and headbands. Coming in a variety of hues, small, brimmed hats, comparable to fedoras, will be a staple in the wardrobe of fashionistas everywhere.

While straw is not a material known for being sturdy, many of these hats are inspired by the grassy material while using more practical substances. Forever 21 is selling the Vented Straw Fedora, which at $8.80 can add a bit of panache to any outfit.

Nordstrom offers a bolder look with the Tarnish Straw Fedora, which has colorful stitching and a yellow band to add a pop of color.

While hats are a classic look, headbands will not be featured in a traditional way: This season, they will most likely be seen going across a forehead and directly back as opposed to the standard position, behind a girl’s ears.

Urban Outfitters and other retailers call this a headwrap to distinguish the different use, although headbands and headwraps are essentially the same thing and can be used interchangeably. Urban Outfitters offers a variety of these accessories in various patterns and colors. Cheaper alternatives can also be found at Forever 21.

Wrists are another place where the hottest trends can make a bold statement.

Neon-colored watches have been popping up all over and can add some visual interest to any outfit. Forever 21 serves up the Fab Jeweled watch for $8.50; however, at that price, not much quality can be expected. For a more substantial (and pricier) option, Nordstrom is the place to go: In addition to Michael Kors, Toywatch’s Plasteramic Collection offers analog watches in fluorescent hues from green to purple and fuchsia. These options are a great way to mimic the colors of warmer months without going overboard. They add a pop of color to an outfit of more neutral tones or complement an equally colorful ensemble.

Put that winter coat in storage and dust off your favorite flats and sandals, because warmer weather is on the way.

HAT TRICK: Michelle Miller ’11 sports a knit beret, anticipating the coming season’s craze for adornments worn on the head.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JULIAN AGIN-LIEBES/the Justice

RELAXED FIT: Jenna Kon ’10 rolls up her jeans and puts on a bright sweater over a tee to hang out in Shapiro Campus Center.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JULIAN AGIN-LIEBES/the Justice

FLOWER CHILD: Abby Kulawitz ’12 dons a neutral sweater and cuffed slacks as she awaits the arrival of warmer weather.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JULIAN AGIN-LIEBES/the Justice

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

FASHION

In 2009, SKIN is in

LOVELY LOOKS: Students model the fashions that were created by Asian-American designers for BAASA’s annual fashion show. SKIN presented looks for both men and women, focusing on innovative styles that were still practical for average college students. While most designers opted for traditional presentations, the label Plastered T-shirts painted its models’ faces, as seen at right and above left.

Students show off latest trends for a worthy cause

By SARAH CHUN JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The lights dimmed to black while DJ Vovka spun a careful mix of Radiohead and Estelle’s “American Boy” from his booth.

Master of Ceremonies Justin Kang ’09 was sharply dressed in a navy suit jacket and button-down shirt as he walked down the runway. He introduced the beginning of the SKIN fashion show, hosted by the Brandeis Asian American Student Association. In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, BAASA chose five Asian-American designers to showcase their works on the runway.

The fashion show is a way for Americans to transcend the stereotypes we might have of Asians and Asian culture and to show, as Kang put it, “that Asians can be sexy too.”

BAASA also collected donations at the show for the China Care Foundation, which helps special-needs Chinese orphans by providing them with educational programs and medical assistance. A night of fashion and creativity became a way to support young Chinese children in hopes of presenting them with better opportunities.

The first designer to show her clothing was Jacqueline Rose, the force behind the label Lamixx. The Vietnamese designer creates stylish, wearable clothes while keeping them affordable and accessible.

The collection presented during the SKIN fashion show included figure-flattering styles such as high-waisted minis. Rose’s dresses, which looked comfortable and feminine, were among the show’s highlights.

Following Lamixx was Ce Ce Chin’s shoe

PHOTOS BY HSIAO-CHI PANG/the Justice

line 80%20. The shoes were coupled with color-coordinated sunglasses, and the models wore all black to bring attention to the footwear. Most of the footwear, which included a wide range of boots, Mary Janes and sneakers, had a cleverly hidden wedge heel. The stand-out styles included patent leather booties in bright neon colors and green sneakers with gold soles.

The third designer was Brandeis junior Aimy Tsao, whose collection was made entirely of eco-friendly materials. She presented a balanced mix of both progressive and comfortable fashion. The opening look was a statement-making white mini dress with one shoulder strap and asymmetrical draping. Another highlight was a shredded long sleeve dress, which looked inventive yet surprisingly wearable. People gasped and clapped as a bold split-skirt silver mini made its way down the runway. The closing looked was a sophisticated full-length tube dress with discreet side seam pockets.

Plastered T-shirts, a line inspired by the streets of Beijing, sent models down the runway in male-female pairs. The men wore colorful face paint to complement their colorful graphic T-shirts. The Chinese characters, cartoons and other graphics were printed in tastefully complementing colors, such as red and navy.

May Aye, a student at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, closed the show.

Her clothes were very feminine. There were corset tops, a flirty red bubble skirt dress, an understated pleated black dress and a beautifully tailored military inspired jacket.

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THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

23

OFF CAMPUS FOOD

Busy Wilson’s derails meal ■ The prices are right for typical diner fare and cramped conditions at this Main Street greasy spoon with an antique atmosphere.

MUSIC

Goats fan gladdened ■ The Mountain Goats’ lead singer interacted with his followers at a concert.

By CAROLINE HUGHES

By SOPHIE WEINER

JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Wilson’s Diner is an often overlooked Waltham eatery due to its distant location past Moody Street on Main Street.

It sits a little out of place among beautiful churches and ratty, family-owned storefronts. The entire restaurant is contained within a Worcester Lunch Car Company train dining car. Built in 1949, the car is on the National Registry of Historic Places, a list that also includes Brandeis’ very own Usen Castle.

Remnants of the dining car era appear in the large, metal refrigerator doors that can be locked shut to prevent any unwanted spilling of its contents. Patrons settle in small booths along the right wall, or at the countertop and only about thirty customers can be seated at a time.

A Greek family owns the restaurant and works together serving customers.

On a busy Sunday, the three workers worked as efficiently as a single machine as plates are passed seamlessly from the cook to the two servers, presumably his wife and daughter. The cook, a grizzly-haired man with a moustache, has a reputation for jocundly chatting with customers but did not speak to me. Instead, perhaps due to the hungry crowd at 11 a.m. on a Sunday, he methodically chopped, flipped and plated without looking up from his grill.

I use the verb “plated” very loosely: He plopped home fries on a plate, threw bacon on top and whipped the plate down the counter to a server. I was in a prime location to watch the action from the counter, and it was exciting to watch him work. The three family members yelled at one another in a mix of Greek and English, communicating orders verbally rather than writing the order and passing it on to the cook.

The Greek heritage of the restaurant appears in the menu and complements an otherwise unexciting breakfast selection. The omelets contain feta cheese

MAX BREITSTEIN MATZA/the Justice

COUNTERTOP CUISINE: Weekends tend to attract a crowd at the family-owned Wilson’s Diner, located in a cozy train dining car. and spinach; one can order chicken kabobs for lunch. Besides those Greekinspired dishes, the restaurant provides standard diner fare. Home fries, pancakes, French toast, muffins, and ham omelets round out the options. I opted for French toast with raisin bread, bacon, and home fries. Out of my three dishes, I was sadly disappointed by two of them. My bacon was overcooked and the home fries had little taste, even after I sprinkled them liberally with salt. My French toast, however, was done very well and served with a slab of butter on the side.

Although I enjoyed my front-row seat,

sitting at the counter weakened the atmosphere of the restaurant. Since I could not see anyone but the servers and cook, I felt isolated from the rest of the patrons. I would have been more content sitting across from my companion and people-watching. If arriving on a typically busy Sunday morning, I suggest sitting at a booth. On less busy days, I imagine the servers would chat with customers and make the experience more worthwhile.

The biggest pro of this restaurant is the price. Especially after recent dining experiences, I craved a good meal for a good price. The most expensive dishes

on the menu were around $7, while drinks and sides were mostly under $2.

French toast with bacon, a side of home fries, blueberry pancakes and two hot chocolates amounted to only $16.50: With tip, I paid $20.00. An inexpensive breakfast is always appreciated, despite my burnt bacon and unremarkable home fries.

Although I do not think I will return to the diner in the near future, I enjoyed the historic feel of my surroundings. Its supposed friendly service did not accompany my meal, but if I visit the restaurant again, I’d go on a weekday morning and pass on the bacon.

CONCERT REVIEW

Spears arrives as ‘Circus’ ringmaster Brad

STERN POP MUSE

As the velvet curtains begin to rise up from the ground, the silhouettes of a half dozen circus performers slowly file out across the smoke-filled stage. From above, the outline of a hanging cage pokes through the darkness. The ringleader stands motionless inside, wearing a crimson jacket and black riding boots, a long whip grasped securely in her right hand. The cage is halfway down at this point, now slowly rotating for all to see.

On her face she wears a cheetah mask, with wildly ornate plumes flaring out from all sides.

The cage touches ground. She steps off, slowly removing the mask to unveil a buoyant bob of healthy, blonde, shoulderlength hair. Smirking slightly, she raises the whip behind her head: “There’s only two types of people in the world: the ones who entertain, and the ones who observe.” With a short crack of the whip, the stage explodes with lights, sound, and smoke. Noticing an eerie silence from my right, I turn to find my neighbor frozen in pose, mouth agape and hands pressed firmly against her cheeks in disbelief. Yeah, I’d say Britney’s back.

And so, “The Circus: Starring Britney Spears” began—a show that, until only about three months ago, would have seemed more like a cruel joke if offered up in conversation than an actual event.

I’ve tried to evade the cringeworthy “C word” in describing the night’s events (Get your heads out of the gutter—I’m talking about “comeback”). However, to remove the narrative from the equation would ultimately mean ignoring the symbolism behind The Circus: Standing here is a young woman, who, despite being reduced to a mere shell of herself only two years ago, drugged against her will and lost in a barrage of shady associates and media scrutiny, is now performing in the center of a sold out TD Banknorth Garden, an arena that seats approximately 18,000 people—a reality that lifts the production from the ranks of mere brilliance to a damn near miracle.

Split between four main acts and an encore, The Circus remains true to its name: Incorporating a healthy dose of magicians, aerial artists, gymnasts, ringmasters, clowns and a fair share of freaks, the show is a dizzying 90-minute powerhouse of 19 of Britney Spears’ finest pop anthems set within a threering stage in the round.

While the show may borrow its incredibly marketable theme from her latest album, Circus, (Britney-branded popcorn, balloons and light-up lollipops are all sold from faux-vending carts), its musical contents are ironically Blackoutbased; the show includes only three tracks from Circus, as opposed to Blackout’s eight.

Accordingly, the show is as manic as the album it most heavily borrows from.

For instance, during the “House of Fun” segment, the performance jumps from the Rhythm Nation-like military stomp of “Boys” to the girly glee of “If U Seek

Amy.” Brandishing a glittery, pink, Super Mario-sized hammer, the star merrily skipped her way around the stage, bopping her dancers over the head and effectively turning the last 30 seconds of the song into a live- action game of whack-a-mole.

Never one to shirk her duty to get dirty, the “Freakshow” segment of The Circus comprises a medley of her most seductive numbers, leading with one of the show’s greatest highlights, the “Sweet Dreams” interlude—a gritty raunchfest featuring Spears and her dancers entangled in an orgy of limbs and leather, all set to the sound of Marilyn Manson’s cover of the Eurythmic’s classic. Very “My Prerogative” meets “Erotica,” and very much essential.

The only drawback to the most provocative sequences of the show was the costume selection, which went from bad (a glittery one-piece with obnoxious tassels) to really bad (a faux-tattoo onepiece with Keith Haring-like squiggles pasted across Brit’s naughty bits.) Thank you, William Baker (pop star stylist), for your continued hatred of the female form.

Scattered throughout the show were many moments designed to re-establish Spears’ image as the shot caller. Following “Boys,” the singer instructs her male dancers to drop down and “give me ten—real ones.” After counting it out, Spears skips up and down the line of sweaty soldiers at her feet, sing-songing along in an army chant: “I don’t know what you been told—This mama is in control. Sound off!”

Truly, the mama was calling the shots.

Whether it can be attributed to creative

input or simply to threatening to cancel the tour, Britney is getting her way this time. As anyone familiar with Spears’ personal tastes might conclude, the setlist comprises nearly all of the singer’s favorites, including “Boys,” “Touch of My Hand” and of course, “Do Somethin’,” during which the singer dons a pair of sunglasses, drills away at a metal contraption and flips off the audience several times while images of tattooed pin-up girls flash overhead.

As the media has been quick to pounce upon, the show was indeed lip-synched.

Shocking, I know, given that Britney Spears has always been known for her vocal prowess and artistic integrity. It’s difficult to believe that people still harp on the lip-synching gig. Honestly—and trust me, this comes from a loving place—but does anyone actually want to hear her live? While I pride myself upon being one of the greatest fans of Spears’ ill-controlled, drowning cat warble, even I would put my foot down at the notion of a live concert.

Nay, vocals should not be the reason one attends the Britney show. For, The Circus is exactly that—a circus, an engaging visual experience put on by one of the world’s most established pop artists, complete with an extensive array of choreographed stage theatrics, provocative imagery and catchy beats. Above all, it’s just plain fun.

As I turned for a final word with my neighbor, one of her high school gal-pals said it better than I ever could have: “This is the best night of my life. Seriously, this is probably going to be better than my wedding night.” I couldn’t argue with that.

The Mountain Goats are not a normal band. Even calling them a “band” might be stretching it, as the show at Somerville Theater last Wednesday consisted of but one man, an acoustic guitar and a microphone. This man, John Darnielle, began his musical career while working as a psychiatric nurse in southern California in the early ’90s. Up until a few years ago, Darnielle’s 27-plus albums as the Mountain Goats were recorded onto a boom box in his living room.

But times have changed: Darnielle has since started recording in a studio and toured with bassist Peter Hughes and former Superchunk drummer John Wurster. The current tour, called “Gone Primitive,” represents a temporary return to his lo-fi days.

Darnielle plays all of the shows solo, with his friend, San Francisco singersongwriter John Vanderslice, coheadlining.

This was my fourth live Mountain Goats experience, but I was unsure what to expect. The crowds at Mountain Goats shows are always interesting, and this one proved no exception; the plaid-wearing, bearded college students that usually dominate the shows I attend were in the minority.

On my left was a balding man sitting with a few others who were at least forty, and on my right was a twentysomething in a black peacoat who obsessively wrote down every song’s name in a small notebook.

Though I am a fairly obsessive member of the cultlike Mountain Goats fandom, I’d barely listened to John Vanderslice before the show.

Vanderslice produced the last few Mountain Goats albums, and writes well-constructed songs using both acoustic instruments and electronics.

After seeing his set, I think he’d be more enjoyable with a full band as, unlike the Mountain Goats’ music, his focus is not solely on the lyrics.

The audience seemed to wake up instantly when Darnielle walked onstage. Of the first four songs he played, I only recognized one—a shocking statistic considering the 344 Mountain Goats songs contained in my iTunes library. The set list quickly took a turn toward awesomeness, though, with several tracks off 2000’s The Coroner’s Gambit, and I was even more thrilled when John began soliciting requests.

As far as I’m concerned, seeing the Mountain Goats is only partially about the music. John Darnielle’s stage banter is unmatched by any musician I’ve ever seen, and its content wanders somewhere between hilarious and profound. For instance, before playing a song he had written in a hospital in Sweden, he told us, “There are two things you need to know—first, there are many things terribly wrong with me, one of which will probably kill me, if not tonight, then very soon. And second, I’m a hypochondriac.”

John’s manner is so entertaining, I almost wouldn’t mind if he forgot to play any songs during his set. I was pleased to finally get to see him perform what is probably his most popular song, “No Children.”

It must have been a strange show for casual fans due to the high concentration of obscure material. For me, however, hearing other audience members shouting along to a song like “Commandante”—from a limited edition 2002 EP—created a unique feeling of community, reassuring me that there are other people out there with whom I share a certain musical appreciation and worldview. The Mountain Goats’ tendency to bring diverse people together in this way proves John Darnielle’s incredible ability to create music that is simultaneously specific and universal—and that is why I will continue to go to his shows whenever I can.

24

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

●

THE JUSTICE

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes isn’t easy for you. But if you do it, you’ll gain a better perspective of what you need to do to achieve your goals. Be open to new ideas.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) There are still some problems you might have to deal with before moving on to your next project. It’s a good idea to accept help from those who share your objectives.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) It’s time to recognize the difference between those who are truly concerned for you and those who simply plan to use your good nature to their advantage.

New ideas become increasingly attractive.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Depending on a promise made becoming a promise kept could be more than a mite unwise at this time. It’s best to proceed on your own rather than wait for aid that might never arrive.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) A recently revitalized relationship might not be quite what the Big Cat expected. But give yourself more time to deal with the changes. A little flexibility can go a long way. Good luck.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A major change could prompt more adjustments. Some of them might be difficult to deal with at first.

But hang in there, and before you know it, you’ll be coasting to your next goal.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your sense of justice prompts you to speak out against an unfair situation, even if you seem to be the only one who feels that way. But you soon learn that many others agree with you.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Creating a fuss is not usually your style. But that doesn’t mean you should tolerate an illACROSS 1. Prospector’s hope 5. Tie up the phone 8. Distort 12. Eye layer 13. Have bills 14. Tower city 15. Stationer’s quantity 16. “— the ramparts ...”

17. “Meet Me — Louis” 18. Like debts 20. Thingie 22. Pigs’ digs 23. Solidify 24. Harbor structure 27. Airy 32. George’s brother 33. Exist 34. Heady quaff 35. Bliss 38. Sailors’ hoosegow 39. Listener 40. “CSI” evidence 42. Balance 45. Sent packing, at a talent show 49. Bakery buys 50. 2008 Texas hurricane 52. “— want for Christmas ... ” 53. Caspian feeder 54. Meadow 55. Subject, usually 56. Withered 57. Pitch 58. Competent DOWN 1. Mentor 2. Microwave, e.g.

3. Bound 4. Grayish red 5. Tire company

mannered attitude. Speak up for yourself, and you’ll earn the respect of others.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) You might have a few loose ends to tie up before you can stamp your project as complete.

But once that’s done, you might want to celebrate with someone special in your life.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Disappointment darkens the Goat’s mood. But close friends rally to pull you through with words of encouragement. Use their confidence in you to rebuild your own self-esteem.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) An upcoming decision might be more difficult with inaccurate information. Best to recheck the data you have at hand right now to be sure it won’t mislead you later.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) An offer you previously turned down might no longer be available. But if you do some checking around, you could find something else that would suit you just fine.

BORN THIS WEEK: You believe in helping those who cannot help themselves. Although it embarrasses you, the fact is people like you and tell you so.

BRANDEIS

Through the Lens

Solution to last issue’s crossword.

JULIAN AGIN-LIEBES/the Justice

Diligent demonstrators Democracy For America staged a bed-in in the Shapiro Campus Center this week to call attention to the need for health care reform. For

Sudoku 6. Idolater’s feeling 7. Opera composer Alban 8. Arachnophobe’s worry 9. Mad monarch of drama 10. Being, to Brutus 11. Power measure 19. Tagged player 21. Time of your life?

24. Conk out 25. Tulsa sch.

26. 1962 Peck movie remade with De Niro in 1991 28. Numerical prefix 29. Millinery 30. “The Greatest” 31. Journey segment

36. Big bother 37. Raw rock 38. Split need 41. “Fuhgeddaboudit!”

42. Comic strip penguin 43. Pink-slip 44. Pinball no-no 46. Amorphous mass 47. Hebrew month 48. Eat in style 51. Mauna —

King Crossword Copyright 2007 King Features Synd., Inc.

■ President Abraham Lincoln’s widow, Mary Todd Lincoln, did not attend her husband’s funeral.

■ It was Nobel Prize-winning French poet, journalist and novelist Anatole France who gave the following sage advice: “Never lend books—nobody ever returns them; the only books I have in my library are those which people have lent me.”

■ Have you ever had your IQ tested? If not, I’m sure you’ve wondered how your intelligence would rate on that well-known scale. Famed theoretical physicist Albert Einstein had an IQ of 160. The highest recorded IQ is 210, with that brain belonging to a Korean named Kim Ung-Yong.

■ There are so many Swedes and people of Swedish descent in Minnesota that the Scandinavian country created a holiday for them: Sweden celebrates Minnesota Day every Aug. 12.

■ There are 147,000 identified species of moth.

■ If you’re visiting San Luis Obispo County in California and want to check out a book at the local library, you’d better be sure to take a shower first. It’s legal there for library officials to kick out anyone who is deemed to have offensive body odor.

■ American bank robber Pretty Boy Floyd got his start in crime early, robbing a grocery store at the tender age of 14.

■ In the Eastern European country of Belarus, the names of the months can be quite descriptive. Their word for February, for example, means “angry month,” April is “beautiful month,” June is “red month,” September is “blooming month” (which seems odd, since most things bloom in the spring), October is “fires month” and November is “falling leaves month.”

Thought for the Day: “Electricity is actually made up of extremely tiny particles called electrons, that you cannot see with the naked eye unless you have been drinking.”

—Dave Barry

Enter digits from 1 to 9 into each blank space so that every row, column and 3x3 square contains one of each digit.

Sudoku Copyright 2007 King Features Synd., Inc.

students struggling with the interbreak workload, the protest had the added benefit of allowing them to catch up on their studying.