The Justice, March 16, 2010

ARTS PAGE 21

FORUM Debating Pass/Fail Plus 12

LIQUID LATEX

SPORTS Successful softball road trip 16 THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

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OF

BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY SINCE 1949

Justice www.theJusticeOnline.com

Volume LXII, Number 21

Waltham, Mass.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

ASSESSING THE DAMAGE

ACADEMICS

IBS, Heller, Rabb to increase in size ■ The Heller School for

Social Policy and Management will increase enrollment and faculty.

By MIRANDA NEUBAUER JUSTICE SENIOR WRITER

The International Business School, the Heller School for Social Policy and Management and the Rabb School for Continuing Studies all plan to raise their enrollments over the next five years in order to increase their revenue and direct contributions to the University’s overall budget, the directors of the school said at last Thursday’s faculty meeting.

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jeff Apfel explained at the meeting that the three schools contributed to the University’s overall budget through a Responsibility Center Management model. Under that model, an institution does not just just manage its finances centrally but also gives some discretion to its subunits regarding the allocation of financial resources and then negotiates with them about how the subunits can contribute back to the central organization.

By fiscal 2015, the Heller School plans to increase its enrollment by 26 percent from 476 to 546, mainly in the master’s programs, Dean of the Heller School Lisa Lynch said at the meeting when presenting the school’s preliminary plans. This will go hand-in-hand with a necessary increase of four faculty members in order to maintain a higher student/faculty ratio of 25-to-1, up from 21-to-1 in 2007. She explained that 40 percent of faculty compensation at Heller comes from outside funding through sponsored research. Lynch noted that the

See GRADUATE, 6 ☛

ROBYN SPECTOR/the Justice

SOAKING UP THE FLOOD: Alyssa Pisarik ’12 said, “This morning we could splash around in the puddles” in her East Quad room, which she dried out using newspapers.

Torrential rains flood University buildings ■ Ceilings in the Shapiro

Residence Hall and the Usen Castle collapsed last Sunday after rainfalls.

By HARRY SHIPPS JUSTICE EDITOR

Several buildings across Brandeis’ campus have experienced leaks and structural damage as a result of the recent rains. Almost every residential quad has experienced flooding or leaking problems, according to an email to the Justice from Director of

Community Living Jeremy Leiferman.

There have been reports from students and staff members of flooding in several residence halls, and ceilings collapsed in the Shapiro Residence Hall and in the Usen Castle. The Usdan Student Center experienced minor flooding on Sunday, and leaks in the library led to the temporary closure of the Farber Green Room.

Library and Technology Services Director for Integrated Services Josh Wilson said in an interview with the Justice that the library had experienced some window and roof leaks on the first floor and Mezzanine level of

the Farber Library that led to the temporary closing of the Farber Green Room as well as some other minor leaks in the Farber and Goldfarb libraries, but he called the flooding “fairly minimal.”

He added that some people were affected by leaks in the Green Room last night and today. He said that some ceiling panels had fallen and others were waterlogged, so LTS staff decided to take the safest route and temporarily close the room, although he said that classes had taken place in the Farber classroom. He said that library staff planned to re-open the first floor of the Green Room at mid-

night this morning.

Laurel Adams ’12, a resident of the Usen Castle, said that a leak had developed in her roof on Sunday morning and the resulting leak had forced her to move everything off of her desk. Adams said that she had put in a work order to Facilities Services around 9 p.m. on Sunday night, but that no one from Facilities had been by to look at the damage. She did say, however, that two representatives of the Department of Community Living had viewed the damage.

Vice President for Campus Operations Mark Collins could not be

See FLOODS, 6 ☛

ACADEMICS

Faculty approves interdisciplinary German major ■ The new German Studies

major will allow students to count classes from a variety of fields like history and music in order to gain more familiarity with the culture.

By CLARE CHURCHILL-SEDER JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The German Language and Literature faculty is proposing a more interdisciplinary German Studies major to replace the current one, said Stephen Dowden, German program director, at last Thursday’s

faculty meeting.

The current German major—and trraditional German Language education—focuses on German literature, but the new major will be able to incorporate German-focused courses from other disciplines, Dowden said.

He specified that students would be able to count history, philosophy and music courses toward the major and

hypothetically, any other courses with a German focus. “The idea is that it’s no longer just literature, but it’s German culture and history all together,” Dowden said.

Under the new major, students will still be required to take the old language requirements, including cer-

See GERMAN, 6 ☛

Improved dining

NCAA Tournament loss

Univ gathers at vigil

■ Students create the Real Food 2020 plan at Brandeis.

■ Williams College beat the Judges Saturday in the Division III Quarterfinals.

■ Sahar Massachi ’11 and the Muslim Students Association organized a vigil last Friday.

FEATURES 7 For tips or info call Let your voice be heard!

Submit letters to the editor online (781) 736-6397 at www.thejusticeonline.com

INDEX

SPORTS 16 ARTS SPORTS

17 16

EDITORIAL FEATURES

10 7

OPINION POLICE LOG

11 2

COMMENTARY

11

NEWS 3 COPYRIGHT 2010 FREE AT BRANDEIS. Call for home delivery.

2

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010

●

THE JUSTICE

NEWS BRIEF

POLICE LOG

Birren updates faculty on Centers and Institutes Review Committee

Medical Emergency

The Centers and Institutes Review Committee has begun to gather information about the 24 centers and institutes at Brandeis that report to the Dean of Arts and Sciences or the provost, committee chair Prof.

Susan Birren (BIOL) said at last Thursday’s faculty meeting.

Birren said that in addition to the committee's charge of investigating how the centers can maximize academic and fiscal contributions to the university, she hopes that the committee's report can contribute to transparency so community members can understand “what the [centers and institutes] roles are in the University and how they can interact with the components of the University.”

Centers and institutions at Brandeis include the Crown Center for Middle East Studies and the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism.

The committee plans to collect information about teaching and scholarship connected to the centers as well as their interaction with students in addition to budgetary information. The committee intends to give an update at the last faculty meeting of the year and complete a report by the end of the semester.

She said that the committee has created a survey to send out to the centers and institutes over the coming weeks. Regarding the financial information “the question is not only what are the centers and institutes spending money on [but also] what are the constraints of that money,” she said.

The committee is working with the President’s office to collect “information from the original donors’ agreements that set the constraints of these funds.”

In addition, she said that the committee would talk with faculty and the departments about their interactions with centers and institutes. While the committee will not examine in detail centers and institutes at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, the committee will communicate with those responsible for centers at the Heller School to share insights.

The committee is also working with the Development Office, Birren said. “These centers exist not in isolation but as part of the development priorities of the University,” she stated. The committee intends to give tailored recommendations to individual centers, she said in response to a faculty question. “Individual centers are remarkably diverse,” she explained. “We decided that general recommendations that cover all the centers would be significantly less useful.”

While the Brandeis 2020 committee had expressed interest in receiving the information from the committee early, Birren said that the large amount of data the committee intended to collect made this difficult.

In a presentation at the start of the faculty meeting, University President Jehuda Reinharz noted that Brandeis has 35 centers and institutes overall, compared to an average of 100 for the top 25 research universities.

He pointed out that donors who often initially give money to centers very often give money to other aspects of the University later.

Mar. 8—University Police received a report of a student with a migraine in the Village.

BEMCo was requested, and an ambulance transported the student to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care.

Mar. 8—University Police received a call from a student feeling faint in the Shapiro Campus Center. University Police and BEMCo responded.

The ambulance transported the student to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care.

Mar. 11—University Police received a report of a shoulder injury in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center.

BEMCo treated the party onscene with a signed refusal for further care.

Mar. 12—A reporting party complained of dizziness and nausea after he was hit in the

head during a soccer game. The ambulance transported the patient to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care for a possible concussion.

Mar. 13—A caller reported a male party in Renfield Hall was intoxicated. University Police and BEMCo responded, and the party was treated on-scene with a signed refusal for further care.

Mar. 13—A caller requested BEMCo because a female was vomiting in the bathroom in East Quad. BEMCo treated the party on-scene with a signed refusal for further care.

Larceny Mar. 8—A student reported that her laptop was stolen from Farber. University Police compiled a report on the theft.

Mar. 9—An act of theft was reported in the convenience

store in the Usdan Student Center. University Police compiled a report on the theft and will review the closed-circuit camera footage.

Vandalism Mar. 10—University Police received a report of vandalism in the kitchen area of the Intercultural Center. University Police compiled a report on the incident and will patrol the area more frequently.

Harassment Mar. 13—A party reported that her roommate had pushed her other roommate to the ground. University Police compiled a report on the incident and campus living staff will file University judicial charges.

Traffic Mar. 10—A reporting party

A story summary in News did not state the full title of a position. Edward Callahan is the director of Public Safety. (Mar. 9, p. 5) An article in Features misstated the name of an institution. The correct name of the institution is the "Asper Center for Global Entrepreneurship,” not the “Aspen Center for Entrepreneurship.” (Mar. 9, p. 9)

An article in Arts misrepresented information.

Musika Rox was not created because of low turnout at Culture X last year, but the idea was formulated at Culture X. (Mar. 9, p. 19)

Mar. 9—University Police received a complaint from a female party claiming she had received repeated text messages from an unknown number asking about her whereabouts on campus and her possession of mushrooms.

The party stated she would file a report with the University Police.

—Compiled by Alana Abramson

LTS discusses potential technology changes

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

A photo in Arts misidentified a student. The B’yachad member in the photo is Rachel Feldman ’11, not Naomi Kling ’11. (Mar. 9, p. 19)

Miscellaneous

SENATE LOG

—Miranda Neubauer

There was a misrepresentation in a Features article.

Kevin Ryan did not buy a country he was managing; he bought a company he was managing. (Mar. 9, p. 9)

claimed a student crashed a vehicle near the Slosberg Recital Hall. No injuries were reported but the light pole and directory sign were damaged. An electrician was notified about the damage, and University Police took photos and compiled a report on the incident.

ASHER KRELL/the Justice

Dancing the night away Students socialized and danced with their friends at Pachanga, the dance sponsored by the International Club. Pachanga, which is held every semester, took place Saturday, March 13 in the Levin Ballroom.

Representatives from Library and Technology Services spoke about possible overhauls to campus communications and computer infrastructure and discussed suggestions with senators. Possible changes up for discussion included transitioning to an entirely wireless network in dormitories, the distribution of room phones and converting the Shapiro Campus Center computer cluster into laptop-specific study space.

JV Souffrant ’13, the senator for racial minority students, proposed that the Senate issue a resolution to show disapproval for the vandalism of the Muslim Student Association lounge. The Senate voted in favor of the proposal.

Souffrant also requested $1,500 to assist the Brandeis Haiti Relief Effort in holding a semiformal reception to benefit Haiti. The benefit will be held at the beginning of May and is open to students, faculty and the larger University community. The request was approved.

Michael Newborn, senator for the Class of 2011, proposed a bylaw that would require the Student Union name to be put on twothirds of Union-sponsored giveaways and events. The Senate rejected the bylaw because many senators thought it was considered common sense and would make senators unnecessarily liable.

The Senate voted to charter the Ecology Club, which focuses on education about the local ecosystem. The Senate also chartered the Quidditch Club. The Quidditch Club will join an intercollegiate Quidditch league and form an intramural Brandeis Quidditch team.

Senator for Massell Quad Linda Li ’13 talked about tabling for spring break shuttles. Li stressed the importance of recording every person who purchases a ticket to make the spring break shuttle program run smoothly.

Senator for Ziv Quad Ryan Fanning ’11 asked for volunteers to table and sell -shirts to help raise money for the Committee of Social Justice and Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ruben Abergel, senator for the Class of 2013 also asked for volunteers to table to sell raffle tickets.

—Clare Churchill-Seder

ANNOUNCEMENTS The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant corection or clarification.

E-mail justeditor@ 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 Wednesday from 1 to 2 p.m.

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Study Abroad information session The Office of Study Abroad is holding an information session designed to give students an overview of the off-campus study process at Brandeis including tips for researching programs and destinations, the application process, getting credit for your off-campus work, financial aid and resources and services the office provides. A general information session is mandatory for students wishing to study off campus for the semester or academic year. Today from 4 to 5 p.m. in Usdan Student Center 116.

The Most Dangerous Places to Eat in the Developed World and Ways to Survive While Enjoying Exotic Food in Developing Countries Jambalmaa Khainzan will give a talk about the lack of statistics available regarding the consumption of contaminated food in developing countries. The talk will explore why people visiting these countries get sick and the opportunities available to help mitigate this issue. For more information,, e-mail

taormina@brandeis.edu. Today from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Epstein Lecture Hall.

women and four decades of Our Bodies, Ourselves. Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Epstein.

There Were Many Babi Yars Joshua Rubenstein author of “The Unknown Black Book” will be on campus to talk about the Soviet Holocaust and the response it yielded from Moscow-Jewish intellectuals.

The Unknown Black Book is a revelatory compilation of testimonies from Jews who survived open-air massacres and other atrocities carried out by the Germans and their allies in the occupied Soviet territories during World War II. Wednesday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Hassenfeld Conference Center.

Meet the majors of the Classical Studies Department Andy Volpe and the Classics faculty will provide information about how to major or minor in Classical Studies as well as Classical Studies internships, prizes, competitions, study abroad opportunities, and how to apply for a fellowship in Classical Studies. Thursday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in Shiffman 219 .

2010 census The Personal is Political: Feminist Activism Over Time Panels and performances illuminate the impact of activist feminists nationally and internationally from recent history to the present.

The topics include women’s roles in international conflict resolution and governance, the continuing struggle to combat violence against

For a couple of weeks in March, Student Affairs staff members will be encouraging students to participate in the census, which happens every 10 years. Student participation is important to ensure that Brandeis receives its fair share of political representation and government funding. For more information email Jenny Abdou at jabdou@brandeis.edu.

THE JUSTICE

●

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010

3

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Case statement in search process released ■ The case statement

outlines the goals that the next University president should seek to achieve.

By NASHRAH RAHMAN JUSTICE EDITOR

The Presidential Search Committee released Brandeis’ case statement, “an overview of the university and all that it offers, as well as a description of the ideal candidate and priorities the committee feels our next president must be prepared to address,” last Tuesday, according to Chair of the Presidential Search Committee Stephen Kay’s update on the presidential search Web site.

The case statement, which is available online, includes information on the University’s history, campuswide community, academic programs and financial affairs. It states the qualifications desired for the next president and also lists four goals that he or she should strive to achieve.

A subcommittee of the Presidential Search Committee, co-chaired by Prof.

Gina Turrigiano (BIOL) and Student Union President Andy Hogan ’11, was

in charge of developing the case statement. Hogan told the Justice that the case statement was developed after communicating with University constituencies including academic departments, donors, alumni and students.

The faculty and student advisory committees reviewed a draft of the case statement.

Hogan said that the purpose of the case statement is “to give the potential candidates an idea … about what Brandeis is like. It’s got statistics and merits about Brandeis’ culture so potential candidates will know what the job entails.”

As set forth in the case statement, the qualities in the ideal presidential candidate include “excellent” fundraising skills and the understanding that Brandeis is “a small research university.” The case statement specifies that Brandeis must continue to provide “intimate and collaborative education and scholarship” while retaining its research and graduate education facilities. Presidential candidates should also be aware of the University’s Jewish background and principles of social justice, said the case statement.

One of the goals the next president should aim to achieve is concerned with establishing “Brandeis as the best

small liberal arts research university in the country” by “enhancing the integration and synergy between graduate and undergraduate education” among other factors, according to the case statement. The next president must seek to further campus community engagement as well as “generate and articulate a vision for Brandeis, both within the university community and to the outside world.” According to the case statement, the University’s “financial stability” should be strengthened by “finding creative solutions to enhance revenues and reduce resource shortages” and “managing resources wisely and focusing them where they will be most effective.”

Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, the search firm assisting the University in the presidential search process, will provide presidential candidates with the case statement, Kay wrote in his online update. At last Thursday’s faculty meeting, Presidential Search Committee member Prof. Gregory Petsko (BCHM) said that the committee has received over 50 presidential nominations.

The Faculty Advisory Committee cochairs and Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates deferred to Kay for comment.

Kay declined to comment further about

ADDRESSING THE COMMUNITY

the case statement.

Under the leadership of former Chair of the Presidential Search Committee Meyer Koplow ’72, the Faculty Senate was also going to review a draft of the case statement. After reading the case statement, Chair of the Faculty Senate Prof. Sabine von Mering (GRALL) said that she believes the next president’s top priority should be to focus on Brandeis academics.

“I think that all through the last year and a half we have focused on the budgetary issues, … and I think it’s going to be very important for the next president to lead the University in shaping the Brandeis education, because ultimately it’s not about money … Ultimately, it is about intellectual curiosity and education,” Von Mering said.

Although Von Mering said that it was “not a problem” that the Senate was not involved in reviewing a draft of the case statement, she said that she would have like to see a clearer explanation of the concept of “shared governance” as specified in the case statement. According to the statement, the University president should have “candid and open communication with faculty, staff and students in the belief that transparency and collegiality—

Hogan expands on constitutional proposals Andy Hogan ’11 spoke about long-term dining plans in his State of the Union address.

By FIONA LOCKYER JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

SHAEFALI SHANDILYA/the Justice

SPEAKING OUT: Imam Talal Eid condemned the vandalism of the Muslim Students Association’s suite at last week’s vigil.

Univ reacts to MSA vandalism the Muslim Students Association planned a vigil to address the vandalism.

By MAX BREITSTEIN MATZA JUSTICE EDITOR

Brandeis students, faculty and administrators voiced their solidarity with the University’s Muslim community at a vigil held last Friday after the March 5 vandalism of the Muslim Student Association’s prayer suite in the Usdan Student Center. University President Jehuda Reinharz, Associate Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams and the four University chaplains also e-mailed a joint message of support to the Brandeis community last Wednesday.

“We unite in solidarity with all our Muslim students and assure them that this kind of action will not be tolerated at Brandeis. Any act of vandalism, especially those that target a particular religious or cultural community, is deplorable,” according to the e-mail. The statement was made as the vandalism was being reported by the Boston Herald, the Boston Globe, WCVB-TV Channel 5 Boston and the Huffington Post.

Last Friday, President of the MSA Neda Eid ’11 and her father, Imam Talal Eid, discovered that the MSA suite had been vandalized only three weeks after $80,000 in renovations had been completed. The intruders had vi-

olated the privacy of the suite by unplugging electronics, bending silverware as they attempted to use it to open a sealed door and stealing the Imam Eid’s Quran containing two years of notes and sermons. The vandals had also left their shoes on while in the prayer space, an act that desecrates a mosque. University Police are continuing their investigation on whether the act was prompted by animosity against Muslims.

Innermost Parts founder Sahar Massachi ’11 began to gather online signatures for an open letter expressing Brandeis’ solidarity with the Muslim community. The letter reads, “We, the students, faculty, and staff of Brandeis University, love and support our dear Muslim friends and family. ... We reject this hateful and juvenile act. ...

Know this—the vandalism does not reflect the sentiments of the Brandeis community or our values.” Regarding his decision to intitiate the open letter, Massachi said, “I was feeling really angry and helpless.” As of last night, 575 signatures were on the list.

Massachi and MSA leaders organized the rally last Friday during the weekly peace vigil. In the presence of at least 50 attendees, Massachi presented Imam Eid with the open letter.

The normally low-key weekly peace vigil was attended by University President Jehuda Reinharz, Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan, the University chaplains and local media.

Robert Mesike ’12, who attended the vigil, praised the imam’s speech for “condemning the acts rather than the [vandals] themselves and still wanting

—Miranda Neubauer contributed reporting.

STUDENT UNION

■ Student Union President

■ Sahar Massachi ’11 and

the hallmarks of shared governance — lead to stronger and healthier institutions.”

“We feel [the case statement] accurately represents the aspirations of the Brandeis community and the challenges and opportunities the eighth president of the university will find upon arrival. It will guide the committee and the candidates in the next phase of the search, which begins now,” Kay wrote in his online update.

Petsko said at last Thursday’s faculty meeting that the Presidential Search Committee is “making contact with nominees to find out what level of interest they have.” He added, “the hope is that the interview process will commence by sometime in early May or sooner.”

The search for the next president began after University President Jehuda Reinharz announced his intention to resign in a Sept. 24 campuswide e-mail. Reinharz will remain president until a new president has been selected or until June 30, 2011, whichever comes first, according to a Sept. 24 University press release.

to keep the Brandeis community intact.”

In a March 12 interview for the Waltham newspaper The Daily News Tribune, Imam Eid said that the missing Quran “is what keeps me upset. …

It is very difficult; I’m not able to pinpoint the reason for the vandalism.”

Innermost Parts blogger Hyder Kazmi ’12, who is also an executive member of the MSA, echoed Imam Eid’s sentiment in a March 12 post on the Web site. Kazmi wrote, “The stealing of a copy of the Qur’an indicates something more than just a prank or some ultimately-harmless mischief. …

That’s two years of dedication to faith and education and introspection lost.

Having really thought about it, this was more than just disrespectful, it was–yes, I’ll say it–a hateful thing to do.”

The Faculty Senate and the Student Union Senate passed resolutions this week condemning the vandalism. The Faculty Senate resolution reads, “Such actions simply have no place at Brandeis, and we urge those in charge to follow through on their promise of a full investigation into the incident.”

In a March 11 e-mail to the MSA listserv, Neda Eid wrote that she is working on “Peaceful Response,” an intiative that aims to address the “larger issue of hate on university campuses.” She told the Justice that a new card access system will be installed next week in response to the vandalism.

—Alana Abramson and Harry Shipps contributed reporting.

In his semiannual State of the Union address last night, Student Union President Andy Hogan ’11 elaborated on the measures announced in the Constitutional Review Committee report.

The report, released last week, proposed changes to the structure of the Student Union and initiatives affecting the Brandeis student body in areas including but not limited to dining and transportation.

Hogan addressed “long-term plans for dining, the next president [and] student conduct” in his speech. In an interview with the Justice, Hogan identified the changing “emphasis the Student Union is putting on its identity” as an area of specific Union interest by focusing on “outreach to the Brandeis community” instead of solely legislation.

The speech identified the constitutional review as a “new stage for the Student Union, one based solely around advocacy” for Brandeis students and their interests.

As a result of previous student opinion polling, Hogan announced a new reconsideration for the dining program. More details about MarketMatch, a new initiative in dining, will be announced later this week, but it will address “the meal plan, food quality, dining hours, locations” and other student requests concerning dining.

In his address, Hogan explained that Aramark will be “interviewing students, staff and faculty to see what our dining needs are. They will then match our dining needs by changing the current dining program to a more longterm solution that fits Brandeis.”

When asked what student services will expand most to meet the needs of an expanding student body, Andrea Ortega ’13, the senator for North Quad, identified MarketMatch as a service that will greatly benefit students.

Other expansions of student services will include running additional BranVans Mondays and Thursdays from 5:45 to 9:45 p.m. In an interview with the Justice, Hogan identified this change as one of the most immediate ones that Brandeis students will notice as a direct result of the student opinion that went into the choice of time expansion.

The speech focused largely on increased student involvement in changes concerning the future of the Union and the University in general, with Hogan expressing his satisfaction

“that administrators and trustees are continuing to come to students to engage in discussion about what should be cut or increased in the future.” Taking into account student responses regarding budget cuts, Hogan will be “passing along” suggestions recorded in the questionnaire, including what he said was the most popular idea: turning off lights to save energy in buildings late at night.

Other topics of the speech included the proposed constitutional amendment that the Student Union Senate “be split into two separate bodies.”

One body would work exclusively with clubs and one, which would be called the Union Assembly and would no longer be governed by Robert’s Rules of order like the current Student Union Senate, would emphasize “outreach to the Brandeis community,” taking into account more student opinions on legislative decisions. Moreover, the Union Judiciary would be renamed the Student Judiciary, with more focus on mediation instead of the “adversarial trial[s]” that Hogan referred to in his speech. This is in an effort to change the history of “countless cases that were arguably not best served by a trial,” and would better benefit from mediation activities. Furthermore, “next year the Department of Student Rights and Community Standards is adding peer mediators,” to the “student conduct world.” According to Tamar Ariel ’10, director of Student Rights and Advocacy, this was the first time that the new mediation program was “vocally publicized,” and applications are currently available for the Brandeis Peer Mentor program.

Additionally, the senator for racial minority students will be renamed the representative for historically underrepresented races. In his speech, Hogan stated that “currently, only students that have registered as a racial minority with the University are eligible to run and vote,” but if the Constitutional Review Committee’s proposals are accepted by the student body, “[the representative for historically underrepresented races] will be changed to allow anyone to run and only racial minorities to vote for their representative.”

University President Jehuda Reinharz and Provost Marty Krauss were both present for the address. Krauss stated in an interview that the changes to the Student Union were indicative of the “reflection of everybody [at Brandeis] to be as efficient as possible” in “an era of examining ourselves,” in light of recent committees formed to review Brandeis such as the Curriculum and Academic Restructuring Steering committee and the Brandeis 2020 Committee. Reinharz described the changes as the result of a “longterm process of a highly responsible student body” working together.

Please join the Heller School for Social Policy and Management Programs in Sustainable International Development’s SID Friday Speaker Series Spring 2010 in welcoming

LARRY BIRNS Director, Council on Hemispheric Affairs

Why Haiti Suffers: U.S. - Latin American Relations Leading to the Obama Era March 19 from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m.

Glynn Amphitheater G4, Schneider No RSVP necessary. All are welcome to attend.

General inquiries can be directed to Cara King-Anderson at clka@brandeis.edu.

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You are in business for yourself but never by yourself. Stop imagining and start living.

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CLASSIFIED Large 7 bedroom, 2 full bath apartment close to Brandeis. Great for students looking live with a bunch of friends. Available for June 1. Large bedrooms.

Parking and laundry on site. Nice back yard for sunning/grilling. The rent is $3,675 per month, which breaks down to be $525 per person. Call (978) 5012632 or e-mail dennisbford@gmail.com. Easy to show.

THE JUSTICE

ADMINISTRATION

Resource review committee reports ■ The committee looked at

Brandeis’ spending habits compared to comparable institutions in the market.

By FIONA LOCKYER JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

On March 9, the Administrative Resource Review Committee released its final report, the results of months of the committee’s efforts to make Brandeis more economically efficient through “[examining] staffing levels, compensation and trends” as well as “prospectively [assessing] possibilities for efficiencies and savings going forward,” identifying “an additional [added to previous administrative cuts] $1.49 million-$2.74 million in savings, with some achievable starting in 2011 and others achievable, as with ongoing academic initiatives, over a longer time period through 2015,” according to the report.

Created by University President Jehuda Reinharz on Oct. 19, 2009, the Committee focuses on the organization of the administrative staff at Brandeis as well as the broad interests of the University, such as faculty and facilities staffing, compensation and benefits, energy investments and use of space on campus.

The committee, chaired by Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Apfel, worked with other non-University research groups to analyze University spending habits and compare them to the spending habits of comparable institutions in the market.

The report states that Brandeis’ procurement, widely defined as purchasing the right materials for the right price at the right time, in the future may dovetail with other institutions of the Boston Consortium, which is comprised of universities in and around Boston including Brandeis, Tufts University, Emerson College and Wellesley College, since “the bulk of the projected savings are tied to collective action.”

A wellness initiative and joined purchase of health care are two areas in which the Committee predicts possibly working with the Boston Consortium as early as 2011, while Apfel stated in a recent interview that efforts such as combined paper and office supply procurement are more likely to take place in the near future.

According to the ARRC report released on the Brandeis Web site, “The Committee found that salaries for both staff and the senior administrative component tied closely to market levels for the positions in question.” Moreover, the salaries of the top paid academic administrators were found to be at 50.5 percent, extremely close to the 50th percentile within the market for similar institutions.

This means that Brandeis academic administrators are being paid roughly the average salary of employees of a comparable position in the market. Moreover, senior administrators weighed in at 57.4 percent, a slightly more elevated salary than the average, but

based on 12.1 years of service at Brandeis compared to the fouryears average of academic administrators.

Employee compensation has increased over past years, as newly hired staff has been acquired at rates closer to market averages, where previous staff was acquired at rates below the market average.

While staff benefit packages at Brandeis, which include healt-care benefits and retirement contributions, are not quite as expansive as other comparable institutions according to Apfel, the ARRC report concludes that compensation for recently hired staff has risen to meet the market 50th percentile.

Facilities employees at Brandeis are paid slightly above the market average, which the ARRC report justifies by explaining that the “University has in the past supported this for social justice reasons.” When asked if more competitive pay has brought more qualified educators to Brandeis, Apfel replied that although his time at Brandeis has been short, he has noticed the retention rate of professors increase at Brandeis and noted the efficiency of a more market-competitive pay, which combats the “lost productivity” that occurs in the process of rehiring a position.

The report also focused on areas such as energy investment. The committee has endorsed facilities findings, which encourage the University to “modify its natural gas and electricity contracts to take advantage of current market conditions for savings.” Keeping in mind the advantages of correct procurement—a term that describes buying the right materials at the right time for the right amount in order to create return income—the Committee is also embracing “an important green initiative: another round of mechanical investments capable of generating a positive financial return from utility savings.” Moreover, the Committee embraces a “managed printing initiative,” which was brought to attention through public forums held by the ARRC. In a recent interview, Apfel referred to a “new capability” for Brandeis, which will be the result of a movement to centralize physical information about the University in the form of a space study.

The study will compare “physical configuration [of buildings] to use to time of day” to make Brandeis more efficient by scheduling better use of the time and resources available.

Library and Technology Services has proposed a “reduction of public desktop computing clusters [that] would result in an immediate cost savings of $45,000” as well as “migration from locally supported email services to hosted email services [that] would result in annual cost savings of $35,000.”

The Committee is still in the process of reviewing many of the concerns raised through the community, many having to do with green initiatives such as paper reduction, fax machine reduction and “analysis of whether Brandeis might emphasize perennials in its landscaping program.”

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CREATING CHANGE THROUGH COMEDY

ASHER KRELL/the Justice

ARAB-ISRAELI PERSPECTIVE: Sayed Kashua, creator of the Israeli television series Avoda Aravit, spoke at Brandeis last Tuesday.

Kashua discusses how comedy can create cultural understanding ■ Israeli journalist and TV

producer Sayed Kashua discussed his award-winning show ‘Arab Labor.’

By RYAN KUHEL JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The Schusterman Center for Israel Studies brought Israeli-Arab journalist Sayed Kashua to Brandeis last Tuesday to screen his popular satirical Israeli sitcom Avoda Aravit, or Arab Labor, in the Wasserman Cinematheque. Kashua is the author of Let it be Morning and Dancing Arabs and is also a columnist for Ha’aretz, an Israeli newspaper.

The television show depicts a young Arab family struggling to assimilate into the Israeli cultural milieu. Amjad, the protagonist, is a writer for a Hebrew newspaper who lives in the outskirts of Jerusalem with his wife, Bushra, and their daughter.

The dialogue in the show is primarily in Arabic in the hope that Israelis will become familiar with the lovable characters and the show will help dilute the tension between the two cultures.

Kashua told the audience that this approach is intended to bring Arab culture to “the living rooms” of the Jewish viewers.

Arab Labor won an award for Best Israeli Television Series in the Jerusalem Film Festival in 2008.

Kashua’s books have also received praise in the press; of his 2002 novel Dancing Arabs, Publisher’s Weekly

wrote, “Kashua resists stereotype in this slyly subversive, semi-autobiographical account of Arab Israeli life. … Nearly absurdist at moments, this is a chilling, convincing tale.”

Prof. Ilan Troen (NEJS), the director of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies, invited Kashua to Brandeis to offer a new perspective on the dynamics of living in Israel, emphasizing the use of humor as a tool for learning.

“Many people learn about Israel through stereotypes and miss nuances of actual life that the arts can bring with great clarity. We try to balance the presentation of Israel between right and left and cultural understanding. ... It’s the balance of the different perspectives one would need to understand any society,” said Troen.

Troen noted in his introduction to the program, “Humor is an important form of commentary. … Jews are used to humor and engage in it very often. Humor expressed by a minority is a useful form of commentary on society. Everyone is a target: not just majority, but also the minority.”

Concerning the Arabic dialogue in the show, Kashua explained, “All I want in the first season, without [Israeli viewers] being aware, [is] to see [sic] relationship to work [between Arabs and Jews].”

Kashua’s personal style is selfdeprecating and cynical. After Troen quipped that Kashua himself had been the object of Arab labor based on the number of events he attended at Brandeis last week, Kashua retorted, “I always have fun being abused by Jewish people.”

When asked by an audience member if the show is “normalizing relations between Jews and Arabs,” Sayed responded sarcastically “[The] peace agreement in the Middle East was signed because of [the show]. I don’t know if it is going to help something … but my bank account.”

On the other hand, some movements in the Arab world have criticized Kashua for writing for a Zionist newspaper and portraying stereotypes of Arab people. In a 2008 interview with The New York Times about the series, Kashua said, “The Arabic press reviews have been deadly—the critics are attacking everything I’ve done.”

David Goodtree ’84, who attended the event, said, “It was great, funny, insightful, clever. [It is] hard [for me] to know about Israeli Arabs, so I don’t know if [the show] is accurate or exaggerated.”

Goodtree also noted; “[Arab Labor reminded me of the] All In The Family [sitcom from 1970s] and how crazy your parents are.”

Kashua concluded that while the show is supposed to be funny, it is essentially, a very sad story about how Arab Israelis often struggle to fit into the larger Israeli society.

When asked about his personal identity, Kashua responded that while he would rather talk about his role as a member of his family, his national identity is always targeted.

“National identity,” he said, “I let the facts talk. I don’t have the privilege to choose identity. I am attacked like a Muslim because Mr. Bush said I am a threat like a Muslim. [The] majority chooses my identity.”

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THE JUSTICE

GRADUATE: Enrollment will increase CONTINUED FROM 1 addition of faculty was necessary because she had “significant concerns with the current average class size about our ability to deliver a quality education.”

Lynch continued, “we will need to think about how we deliver our classroom experience to make sure that the quality is there even as our size is up.”

She said that while the Heller School’s growth in terms of enrollment and academics was beneficial to the University financially, the school’s academic vision was the main force behind the Heller School’s future plans.

She added that the growth of the Heller School was the continuation of a process that began with the construction of the Schneider building in 2006. Lynch also said that she has asked the directors of Heller academic programs and Heller centers and institutes to develop five-year strategic plans for themselves.

Rebalancing enrollments in different programs would be part of the school’s growth, she said. For example, this past year, enrollment in the master’s Program in Sustainable International Development had been higher than the school had initially been able to accommodate, meaning that in the future, the SID program would be smaller while the school looks to grow a newer master’s degree in Public Policy.

Enrollment in the Heller School has already increased in the past decade, with the average class size increasing from 17 in 2005 to 26 this year. In addition, Heller receives a large portion of funding from sponsored research, particularly in the form of indirect cost recovery funding from the government that compensates institutions for supporting research. The growth in tuition revenue resulting from a sharp increase in demand for masters’ programs and the increased indirect cost of recovery funding have played key roles with regard to Heller’s ability to respond to the University’s financial crisis, she wrote in an e-mail.

Under the Heller School’s preliminary projection, tuition revenue would increase from $7 million this year to $10 million by fiscal year 2015, and the direct contribution to the University’s budget would increase from $2.4 million this year to $3.6 million.

Lynch wrote that some of that tuition revenue would go to providing additional support in student and career services.

She noted that Heller had already responded to the financial crisis by working with donors in cooperation with the Development Office to move funds from the endowment to current use or soliciting additional gifts.

Going forward, she said, risks to the school’s future plans could be a decrease in enrollments due to improving economic conditions and possible decreases in government-sponsored research or the payout from the endowment. Beneficial impact on the school’s plans could come from an increase in government funding, the implementation of new offerings in executive education or the creation of distance learning options for health professionals.

The IBS intends to increase its enrollment from this year’s figure of 394 to between 450 and 500 over the next five years, IBS dean Bruce Magid said at the meeting.

For this year, the IBS is projecting a contribution of $2.2 million

that would rise to between $3.6 million and $4.1 million over the next five years. Magid added that while the IBS currently serves between 90 and 100 business minors a year in 18 classes, IBS would soon be responsible for about 400 students and an additional 16 classes as part of the new Business major.

He cautioned, however, that “the constraint is going to be our ability to find faculty …our ability to find the faculty we need from the caliber that we need from a research perspective but who are also willing to take on very heavy teaching loads.” The reason the IBS ranks highly, he added, is because students highly rate the accessibility of the faculty. With four senior faculty, he said, it would be hard to interview and mentor a large number of new faculty. In addition, he stated the IBS could not hire a large number of adjunct professors without hurting its accreditation. Magid wrote in an e-mail that additional tuition revenue would enable IBS to hire new faculty and contribute to the University’s budget.

Another issue, he said, is that “the facility that we have was not built for this number of students,” noting that the school needs to schedule classes from early in the morning to late at night in order to accommodate students. With limited office space, one recent hire received space in a refurbished custodian’s closet. He added in an e-mail that the school would also consider holding classes in other spaces on campus.

Magid noted that the IBS had already responded to the financial crisis last year by cutting non personnel expenses by 11 percent and putting faculty searches on hold.

For future growth, Magid said the IBS was looking at offering an accelerated version of a master’s program and more BA/MA options.

Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Michaele Whelan discussed plans for growth at the Rabb School, which includes the Graduate School of Professional Studies, Summer School and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

The school’s direct contribution is about $1.9 million, Whelan said, with a projected annual growth of $100,000. She said she could not say exactly how much enrollment would increase, because unlike students in the other schools, students in GPS could try out one or two semesters before declaring their degree.

The GPS is exploring partnering with an external company that has expertise in marketing to develop new revenue-generating programs, she said. The company helps market and grow an existing online degree in exchange for a percentage of tuition revenue as a pilot program, she explained in an interview with the Justice.

She said that the Summer School is piloting a summer program focused on social justice and is offering new midyear students the opportunity to take science classes over the summer.

BOLLI has developed a new teaching partnership between third-year graduate students in Arts and Sciences and a residential community for the elderly called Newbridge that is part of Hebrew Senior Life. For a stipend, the students have been teaching courses on American humor, the Middle East and music. In addition, the residents can receive a membership to attend events at Brandeis.

GERMAN: New German Studies major approved last Thursday CONTINUED FROM 1 tain 100-level German courses Dowden said. However, there will no longer be a literature requirement. Instead, the requirement would be to take “Any five German literature, history, music and/or culture courses above GER105a, at least two of which must be conducted in German,” according to the proposal. Although literature courses are no longer required, they are currently the only upper-level culture courses offered in German, and according to Dowden, majors would most likely continue to take them.

The decision to change the major was driven by suggestions from the Curriculum and Academic Restructuring Steering committee and by student requests, Dowden said.

“The students have wanted a way to count other courses that aren’t specifically German language and literature,” he said.

The CARS committee, created last year, suggested the change as a way to use course offerings more efficiently,

according to the Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe in an interview with the Justice. Jaffe said that the CARS committee saw the expansion of the major as a way to maintain quality at a time when the University is looking to increase enrollment and to decrease faculty.

The current German Language and Literature major “forces us to offer small classes at a high frequency,” said Chair of the Faculty Senate Prof.

Sabine von Mering (GRALL) in an interview with the Justice. She continued to say that with the new major, students will have more choice in what they study.

Von Mering said that in the long run, the department might need to adjust the amount of literature courses offered depending on student interest.

She added that because of the flexibility of the program, there may also be an increase in students seeking independent study opportunities.

The proposal is expected to increase interest in German as a major, said Dowden. “That’s what I’m hoping, and

I think it’s going to be true because that seems to be the experience … in Russian,” he said.

The Russian program made a similar change to the major last spring at the same suggestion from the CARS committee, and has had great success according to Jaffe.

Sinéad Sinnott ’12, the German Language and Literature Undergraduate Department Representative, expressed enthusiasm for the new program. Although the change means not all of the courses will need to be offered in German, she said it is “a good way to get people interested in any language.”

The proposal was passed upon the first reading at the faculty meeting on Thursday and will be voted on again at the next meeting. If the proposal is passed, the new German Studies major will go into effect in the fall. Current German majors not graduating this spring will be able to choose whether to graduate with a German Language and Literature degree or one in German Studies, said Jaffe.

FLOODED FLOORS

MAX BREITSTEIN MATZA/the Justice

WATER DAMAGE: Students in Massell Quad observe the damage to the Shapiro Residence Hall basement from the recent rain.

FLOODS: Campus buildings experience maintenance issues due to the weather CONTINUED FROM 1 reached for comment by press time because he is currently off campus.

Adams also said that her neighbor’s roof collapsed and that the neighbor had to be moved out of her room. She added that the hallway was partially flooded and that in the Castle Commons, roof panels were waterlogged and falling from the ceiling .

Aziz Sohail ’13, who lives in the Shapiro Residence Hall, said that he woke up on Sunday morning to find

water on the floor of his room. He said that he thought the water was coming in through the windows and that while he considered putting in a work order, he decided just to mop up the water with a towel.

According to an article in the Boston Globe, Governor Deval Patrick declared a state wide state of emergency yesterday in response to the continuing rains. Patrick said that Eastern Massachusetts has been hit particularly hard and that the communities of Waltham, Melrose and

Lawrence specifically were dealing with spreading flooding problems.

“Fred Laskey, executive director of the [Massachusetts Water Resources Agency], said the agency considers this weather pattern to be at least a 25year storm—meaning it’s a rainstorm that occurs just once every 25 years—and fears it may be a 50-year storm by the time the rain stops,” according to the Globe article.

—Nashrah Rahman contributed reporting.

THE JUSTICE

just

features

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TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010

VERBATIM | Henry David Thoreau Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes.

ON THIS DAY...

FUN FACT

In 1968, Robert F. Kennedy announces Presidential campaign.

The number of axe murders has dropped every year in the U.S. since 1970, while machete murders have nearly quadrupled.

Initiating culinary change

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MAX BREITSTEIN MATZA/the Justice

REAL FOOD ACTIVIST: Seth Grande ’12 is working with the Real Food 2020 movement, a campus coalition between SEA and DFA, that is trying to bring healthier, locally grown food to Brandeis by 2020.

Students work to improve the quality of Brandeis dining

By LIAT ZABLUDOVSKY JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

If you’re looking for real food around campus, it is not going to be easy. You grab a wrap from Usdan Boulevard, but do you know that what you’re eating is real food? What about the high-fructose corn syrup in the tortilla, the pesticides that the vegetables were grown with or the meat made from hundreds of different animals that are fed food they should not be eating?

In an attempt to raise awareness about these issues, Students for Environmental Action brought Robert Kenner, the director of the Oscarnominated documentary Food, Inc., to Brandeis on Feb. 28 to speak in the Olin-Sang Auditorium.

After sharing a homemade vegan dinner with the Food Policy Group of SEA, Kenner gave a speech and presented unseen footage from the critically acclaimed documentary to an auditorium full of enthusiastic Brandeis students.

Sitting in the crowded room, it was a snapshot of the sort of energy that has been brewing at Brandeis and across other college campuses.

Kenner says the high level of secrecy and poor business practices that surround the food we are served everyday may still be well-hidden by the industry, but students are starting to take notice and demand answers.

This is the impetus behind Real Food 2020.

Kenner spoke about the American food system and ways to help improve it, and then he gave the floor to a panel of local experts on local, organic and sustainable eating in the Waltham area that included journalist and senior editor of The Atlantic magazine Corby Kummer, local artist Lisa Cunningham and farmer John Lee of Allandale Farm in Brookline, Mass.

Seth Grande ’12, the Food Policy coordinator for SEA and organizer of the entire event, felt it was a great way

for students to connect over the issue and realize that there are other people who are invested in food policy.

Louis Polisson ’12 says he found the event “enlightening.” Polisson attended the event because he recently became a vegetarian and is interested in the food industry and where our food comes from.

The event not only raised awareness about the flaws in the American food system but also generated enthusiasm for the Real Food 2020 movement, a national campaign on college and university campuses that has now come to Brandeis.

As the formal kickoff for the Brandeis Real Food 2020 movement, Kenner’s speech preceded a presentation

by Grande and Emilie Schuler ’10, another fellow Real Food activist, about the initiative to dedicate 20 percent of the funds Brandeis spends on food to “real food”—or food that is local, sustainable and humane—by the year 2020.

The Real Food 2020 group is a coalition of members of SEA, Democracy for America and outside members.

The initiative began when a few enthusiastic Brandeis students attended the Real Food Summit 2010 in Boston from Feb. 19 to 21.

The program highlighted ways students could be effective advocates for food policy issues, including making farming more sustainable and more humane and ensuring fair labor practices in every level of the food system.

Students and recent graduates run the Real Food Summit, which focuses on changing policies on college campuses and teaching student activists to challenge food conventions at schools, in the real world and in their own communities.

The movement holds workshops around the country to educate college students about public policy and methods to help change it. Its 2010 meeting in Boston inspired the Real Food 2020 plan at Brandeis.

Shea Riester ’12, a member of the

Real Food initiative, hopes that the project will unite students on campus no matter what their beliefs.

“What we care most about is the sustainable aspect. What can go hand -in- hand with sustainable is delicious food. Hopefully, we can unite those fronts for people who don’t know or who are not concerned with the food industry and why we need to make it local, with people who just think the food tastes bad,” says Riester.

The goals of Real Food 2020 consists of several components. The first component of Real Food 2020 is getting food on campus that is local and community-based.

This means supporting small family farms that pay and treat their workers well. In doing this, consumers also contribute to the sustainability of food because it travels so few miles compared to the food that they are eating now.

The second goal of Real Food 2020 is to make food ecologically sound. Real Food 2020 intends to make 20 percemt of food sustainable. This means food that is less processed and more local than the food currently available through Aramark.

The third goal of Real Food 2020 is to make food distribution at the University more fair.

According to Amy Englesberg ’12, a former member of the Student Union’s Dining Services Committee and an active member of Real Food 2020, the food we have at Brandeis should follow the same activist mentality as the rest of the University.

Our food shouldn’t come from operations where workers are exploited, because we are then funding that exploitation, according to Englesberg.

Englesberg ’12 says our food needs to be fair “if we really want to keep with our values of social justice— which we say that we stand for and is one of the four pillars of the institution.”

The fourth goal of Real Food 2020 is to make agricultural business more

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TALI SMOOKLER/the Justice

OSCAR NOMINEE: Robert Kenner, director of ‘Food, Inc.’ spoke about food policy. humane. Though the humane goal mostly addresses the meat aspect of food at Brandeis, it is an important consideration of Real Food 2020. According to Englesberg, most animals we consume are not treated well. They are locked up in cages, allowed little room to move or breathe, and they are sick.

Though these initiatives may seem ambitious or overwhelming, Englesberg is optimistic that the project will be a success.

“If [Aramark] is willing to work with us and receive more support and guidance by students, faculty and staff, then I definitely think it’s feasible,” says Englesberg.

Riester agrees. “It starts with a few very easy things that we can get within 30 miles, such as milk and apples. You can get this stuff [very] close by and it’s not difficult. It’s about that first step.”

For Real Food 2020, that first step means informing students of what they are eating. The initiative is beginning with a push to get ingredient lists posted in Usdan Café and Sherman on a daily basis, letting students know exactly what is in their food.

“Food is something that involves everybody,” says Grande. “It’s not a black-white issue, it’s not a womanman issue, it’s not a straight-gay issue. It’s an inclusive issue; it affects everyone.”

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010

Evaluating the economy Professors and students discuss future economic recovery

By DEBORAH SALMON JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

In early 2008, the gross domestic product, which acts as a measure of all goods and services being produced by the United States and is ultimately a scale of U.S. productivity, began to drop severely. Around the same time, the unemployment rate rose to over 10 percent. The United States was experiencing an economic decline that affected almost all sectors of society— students, parents, homeowners and bankers alike. Through this, Brandeis’ International Business School professors and students have watched as the economic crisis has affected the world at large, and Brandeis as a microcosm of society. The Justice spoke with IBS professors and students majoring in business about what they thought of the economic recession and what they think is likely to happen in the future.

Evaluating what happened Over the last year, while the economy of the United States was experiencing a financial crisis, the economies of underdeveloped countries were affected less.

Prof. Catherine Mann (IBS), says this is because what took place was a crisis of industrialized countries.

“When the recession first began one-and-a-half years ago, people were saying that the crisis was going to be even worse for developing countries than for industrial countries, and in fact that was not true,” says Mann. “[Developing countries’ growth rates are] doing quite well, but it stems from a situation where they were already doing not so bad. That means they’ve had far less of an adjustment to make, and they’re growing from a base that was okay,” says Mann.

Mann says that the United States’ unemployment rate was hit harder than that of industrialized European countries.

“Europe didn’t have as much of a decline in employment because they have a much stronger social safety net. So they didn’t have much unemployment. As a result, they also didn’t have as big of a decrease in GDP, because if people are employed, then they go out and spend,” says Mann.

What this means for students The high employment rate brought on by the economic crisis especially affected college students and recent college graduates.

Business undergraduate departmental representative, Sara Enan ’11 talks about effects of the recession and how it has specifically hurt juniors and seniors.

Enan says that a cycle “begins by making it difficult for graduate students and seniors to find jobs, so they start applying for internships instead.” This, then, affects juniors who are trying to find internships because firms would rather give an internship opportunity to graduates and seniors.

Since it is difficult for seniors to find jobs, more and more are applying to graduate schools, and with the high influx of applications, graduate schools have become a lot more competitive than usual, thus causing more stress and hardship for current seniors.

Joshua Bellet ’10, another Business UDR, adds that because it has become more painstaking for graduates to find jobs in a recession, “many graduates are forced to take a job in an area in which they would not have worked in better economic times.”

Graduates take these jobs knowing that they might need to work at them for at least a year or two. Yet it is not all “doom and gloom” for college graduates. Bellet added, “It is possible that companies will let go of higher-paid, more experienced employees and will thus hire new col-

lege graduates.”

Associate Prof. George Hall (IBS) explains that unemployment problems are a function of the times in which this recession hit. The difference between this recession and the one that occurred in 1982 is that “in ’82 a worker got laid off, and six months later he got rehired in same firm.”

This time, someone who is left unemployed will have to begin working in a different industry because many jobs are being substituted by technology. This obviously creates a range of problems in society because people will have to learn new skills in order to find work.

Enan states, “It is clear that economics and business majors are facing the most competitive industry, whether it’s banking, consulting or government jobs. Adding one of the analytic majors, such as Mathematics, Physics or Computer Science ,could really put someone in a better position in terms of finding jobs.”

Bellet added that certain professions—particularly those that are not core to business operations— such as positions in communications, marketing and advertising, are often the first to get cut.

Looking to the future In October 2009, the IBS hosted a discussion panel to mull over the prospect of when the recession will be over. Economists seemed to be in accord regarding what lies ahead for the global economy: that the worst was over.

According to the IBS Web site, Dean of the IBS Bruce Magid asked the panelists if they thought the economy could emerge potentially better or worse as a result of the economic crisis. The panelists, Sara Johnson, managing director of Global Macroeconomics for IHS Global Insight; and Geoffrey Somes, the vice president and senior economist at State Street Global Advisors both agreed that things had stabilized.

Now, almost five months after the discussion panel, Mann believes that the economy is still moving in the right direction.

“People are looking at the global economy with a lot more optimism than they were six months ago,” says Mann.

Hall stated that the U.S.’s GDP has stopped declining; However, he says this decline is not going fast enough to create the number of jobs that have been lost since December 2007. The current unemployment rate in the nation fluctuates around 10 percent. Once this rate reaches 5 percent, the recession is over.

Mann says the real question is how long it will take to be back at the point where the world was before the recession —in other words, at a low 4- or 5-percent unemployment rate. She says an exact date cannot be placed because there are too many factors to consider.

Mostly, she says, it all depends on how fast people’s confidence levels rise.

Mann and Hall have differing views on what role the increase of the money supply will play during economic recovery. Yet they agree that the final outcome will not result in inflation for the U.S. economy.

Hall says that the Federal Reserve Board should increase moneylending to ensure that there is no liquidity crisis. He says that many people are concerned that this would cause inflation, but that he believes the Fed would be able to make that money back by selling stocks and bonds.

In contrast, Mann thinks that the extra money being supplied is kept by the Fed. By increasing the money supply, Mann believes the Federal Reserve “is assuming a more rapid growth” than we will actually see. However, since the money is kept in the reserve, the chances for a substantial inflation after the recession are diminished.

JULIAN AGIN-LIEBES/the Justice

NEW PERSPECTIVES: Dean of the International Business School, Bruce Magid, asked a panel about the economic recovery.

JULIAN AGIN-LIEBES/the Justice

EXPERT IN ECONOMICS: Prof. Catherine Mann (IBS) offers predictions of and recommendations about the economic crisis.

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THE JUSTICE

the Justice Established 1949

Brandeis University

HANNAH L. KIRSCH, Editor in Chief J OANNA SCHORR, Senior Editor B RIAN FROMM, Deputy Editor ANDREA FINEMAN, Managing Editor ANYA B ERGMAN, REBECCA B LADY, SHANA D. LEBOWITZ and MAX B REITSTEIN MATZA Associate Editors NASHRAH RAHMAN and HARRY SHIPPS, News Editors REBECCA KLEIN, Features Editor HILLEL B UECHLER, Acting Forum Editor J OSH ASEN, Sports Editor SARAH BAYER, Arts Editor ASHER KRELL and ROBYN SPECTOR, Acting Photography Editors B RIAN N. B LUMENTHAL, Layout Editor EMILY KRAUS, Acting Copy Editor B RAD STERN, Advertising Editor

Improve campus infrastructure The University’s failure to sufficiently maintain campus buildings became abundantly evident during this past week’s rains, as many on campus found themselves working and living in hazardous conditions.

Brandeis has borrowed money to renovate the Charles River Apartments; it should similarly prioritize ensuring that buildings meet basic upkeep standards for the safety of the community.

Last month, a portion of the ceiling in the Schwartz Residence Hall section of the Usen Castle collapsed directly over Kiernan Bagge’s ’12 bed.

Fortunately, Mr. Bagge was not in his room at the time; had he been there, he could have been seriously injured.

This was not the first time neglected structures have nearly caused harm.

For example, late last semester a tile fell from a leaky ceiling in Gerstenzang 122 during a class, just missing a student seated nearby.

We recognize that Gov. Deval Patrick declared Massachusetts in a state of emergency due to the unusual weather, but the recent storm only exposed and exacerbated preexisting problems; it did not create them. Over the past few days students have reported water leaking into their rooms in East Quad and the Village. There were leaky ceiling tiles in the Usdan Café, and the Farber Green Room was closed

Prioritize safety yesterday due to leaks. There was flooding in North Quad, the Foster Mods and Shapiro Residence Hall, and part of Shapiro’s ceiling collapsed. The Castle has extensive flooding, with water entering stairways, the laundry room, the Commons and bedrooms.

Brandeis already faces a shortage of student living space, so it is necessary to keep rooms in working order so that the Department of Community Living does not have to scrounge for empty rooms for students displaced due to the effects of poor upkeep.

Chair of the Board of Trustees’ Budget and Finance Committee Meyer Koplow ’72 told the Justice in January that the University has an annual budget shortfall of about $25 million, which comprises expenditures and deferred costs like building maintenance, a cost that must not be ignored when community safety is at stake.

It is understandable that in its current financial state Brandeis must be cautious in its spending, but safety is not an acceptable area for cutbacks.

These problems must be addressed before they worsen and dangerous conditions render even more rooms unusable. It is in the University’s best interests to fix problems now to avoid more costly repairs in the future.

Senate lacks financial discretion In the interest of serving the student body, the Student Union Senate has the ability to pass Senate Money Resolutions and emergency SMRs at its discretion from its Capital Expenditures and Emergency Fund of $10,000 per semester. While the Union does spend much of its $52,000 constitutional benchmark on practical student services such as the Turkey Shuttle, we question other recent Union budgeting decisions. We suggest that the Union reexamine the purpose of its budget to pursue the wisest possible spending plans.

Last week, the Senate passed five emergency SMRs for a number of different causes, the largest expenditure consisting of $1,601.10 to purchase giveaways such as clip magnets and spatulas to increase outreach between the Union and the student body. We appreciate the Senate’s effort to enhance the relationship between the Union and the student body.

Accomplishing this goal would hopefully improve student participation in everyday campus issues and offer students a voice that has been ostensibly absent.

However, we question the Senate’s means of cultivating this relationship.

Despite their initial novelty and occasional usefulness, giveaways do not necessarily improve the connection between the Union and the student body. In the past, this editorial board has suggested that giveaways, free food and musical entertainment on the Rabb steps attract a student’s attention for a few brief moments but do not make a difference in a student’s overall perception of his or her role in student affairs. Instead of resolving to pass a bill for $1,601.10 on an effort that may or may not be effective, the Union

Use SMRs more wisely should pursue other initiatives with a greater chance of success.

On the other hand, campus relations, while necessary, should be funded at a lower cost. Magnets are an effective way to communicate the Union’s mission with students, but novelty items like spatulas and umbrellas simply waste excess money.

The recent Web site launch party hosted by the Union Feb. 24 is another example of a superfluous initiative to expand outreach; free food is certainly appealing to college students but should not be a Union priority.

Further, the premise behind this event seemed silly at best, especially given that at press time, the Union Web site remains unchanged.

At its March 7 meeting, the Senate passed several humanitarian resolutions. While we understand the Senate’s admirable desire to contribute to the University community’s larger cause of social justice, we believe that these projects should remain the work of humanitarian campus clubs and organizations like STAND and the Student Philanthropic Front. While these groups may appreciate the Senate’s support, philanthropy should not be the Senate’s concern.

This will contribute to a crucial effort by the Student Union to refocus its spending habits to better serve the student population. We applaud the continued support of programs like the the Campus Operations Working Group, a committee that works with Facilities Services to improve living conditions on campus. Hopefully, rather than continue to spend irresponsibly, the Senate will pursue new and fruitful projects.

A. ELI TUKACHINSKY/the Justice

Brandeis spirit persists

By WAJIDA SYED SPECIAL TO THE JUSTICE

Chapels Field—so named because of the Protestant, Jewish and Catholic chapels there—does not have a space for Muslim worship. Muslims historically have not constituted a large population at Brandeis, so it makes sense to have a proportionally smaller space designated for us.

Recently, the number of Muslim students, as well as that of those interested in learning about Islam, has risen. The small, windowless suite in the bowels of Usdan is getting to be claustrophobic; we are compelled to move to the International Lounge for Friday prayers due to our larger congregation of worshipers and visitors. Lack of natural light and flushing noises from the women’s bathroom with which we share a wall make it a place less than ideal for reflection and prayer.

I don’t mean to grumble unnecessarily, but I want to convey the conditions under which the Muslim community operates. With this in mind, you can certainly imagine our joy, relief and enthusiasm when the University told us about a complete renovation of the Muslim Students Association suite. After renovations, the suite is beautiful, with newly carpeted floors and a refurbished kitchen.

Most notably, the MSA suite has an area to comfortably perform wudu, pre-prayer ablutions. We were grateful for Brandeis’ generosity, and soon the suite became a much more popular place for us to relax, do our homework, pray and hang out. We decorated the suite with bright colors, artwork and cute flowers from IKEA, and we spent days painting the walls a perfect shade of blue.

So our shock is understandable when just weeks after an expensive and long-awaited renovation, the MSA suite was found damaged. Seriously, what is the point of trying to pry open a painted-over door with utensils? What purpose is there in stealing the imam’s Quran? Why on earth would someone go through the trouble of upturning every single lamp in the room and unplugging all the appliances? Most of our books hadn’t been relocated from the Chaplaincy storage to our suite yet; had they been, there’s no telling what else might have been done. Sure, it could have been worse, but it was hurtful to see a place that just went through renovation subject to any sort of harm when we were so careful to not even spill a drop of juice on the carpet. There is a sense of mutual respect for spaces, even more so for spaces considered holy.

The MSA members weren’t the only ones annoyed. Any student who knew about what happened responded indignantly and even angrily. People understood and empathized with the resentment that we felt and defensively decried the vandalism. It was incredibly touching to find fellow Brandeisians, who otherwise are unaffiliated with the MSA, feel a connection to the suite simply because it is a shared space at our university. At the vigil on Friday, the Peace Circle was overflowing with people ranting, reassuring and uniting in their anger to achieve a goal of peace, acceptance and comfort.

Even so, newspapers around the area reported on the vandalism against the MSA and coincidentally added phrases like “Brandeis has one of the highest proportions of Jewish students in the state.” Was that supposed to be suggesting something? Instead of engaging in simple empathy and reassurance, some proceeded to make this incident yet another arena for discussing the politics that have become part of recent Muslim and Jewish history.

Surely, Brandeis is just as susceptible as other places in terms of stereotypes, suspicion, distrust, misconceptions and the whole slew of human-to-human communication failures. Surely a single incident should not erroneously color all such problems as those particular to Brandeis University.

Certainly no one will deny that at Brandeis, Muslims are socially and administratively underrepresented, and minority status comes with its own set of perpetual problems and need for continual outspokenness and activism.

But I’ve met more open-minded people at Brandeis than my mosque in Worcester, my high school in Shrewsbury, my home in India and my communities around the world.

Am I glorifying nonexistent comforts or being oblivious to political tensions? Am I just inherently a more relaxed person than an indignant one? No. A typical conversation at Brandeis may certainly mean a polarizing disagreement, an angering comment, a hearty debate or an awkward acknowledgment. But somehow, in spite or because of such diversity in our perspectives and the sincerity with which we engage with others, we are a community continually pushing for progress. At Brandeis, I’m home.

Editor’s note: The writer is an officer at large of the Muslim Students Association.

OP-BOX Quote of the Week “Just teaching [the kids] the great things they can do with their bodies, if anything, that's what I left them with. And also that theater specifically is a source of empowerment.”

—Zohar Fuller ’10 on her teacing children theater in the slums of Mumbai, India (See Arts, page 19).

Brandeis Talks Back How has the weekend rain affected you?

TRIPTI SINGH ’13 “I was cold and disgusting on my way back from Pachanga.”

ELIEL EPELBAUM ’13 “I got wet. It was a lot of wind and rain going from the Village to Rabb.”

JANEL RABBANI ’11 “It has not let me get out of bed.”

SHOMAY WILLIAMS ’13 “It made me really sleepy and kind of depressed, to tell you the truth.”

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010

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READER COMMENTARY Cherish University’s Italian major To the Editor: I was profoundly disappointed to read that the University declared the Italian Studies program unworthy of continuing status in the future. If the only reason for declaring certain concentrations obsolete is the number of graduates in the major, I can see why Italian made the list. I was the sole major from the Class of 2006.

However, is this the true indicator of whether or not a time-honored, classic and beautiful language should be deemed unimportant to the future of liberal arts education? I can’t imagine so. My Italian major did exactly what a Brandeis liberal arts education should: It educated me, inspired me, made me unique and advanced me. It made me a true Brandeis alumna, a well-rounded scholar committed to giving back to the world.

In failing to commit to these values by extinguishing a critical liberal arts concentration, Brandeis intentionally changes its place in the world and its purpose. By limiting creative course offerings, Brandeis diminishes its ability to produce graduates with diverse backgrounds, educations and opportunities. As Blutinger eloquently relates in his article, an Italian studies education serves an important role, applicable to both current events and history.

The Brandeis department and faculty is excellent. Prof. Paola Servino (ROMS) is the favorite professor of most who have had the honor of knowing her; she imparts passion for her language and culture in a way that makes you want to learn more.

The education I and many others received from this fine faculty should not be undervalued. The Italian major should be available to future Brandeisians who will in turn make use of their degree in inspiring and lifechanging ways. I call on Brandeis to look for alternatives to the very un-Brandeis plan to cut this traditional discipline from its curriculum and to commit itself to preserving the inclusive academic liberal arts education that has always served as the base of our incredible institution.

—Monica Katz-Lapides ’06

Students, respect donor plaques To the Editor: I wanted to make a general plea to Brandeis students in response to a communication I received earlier this week from a generous, longtime friend to the University.

I have long known that from time to time students will remove letters from the sides of campus buildings. I understand that it’s sort of a “tradition” among students, and it has been happening for years. I can also understand how it may be perceived as a victimless crime.

However, earlier this week, a good friend to the University informed me that several of the letters that spelled out her father’s name were missing from the side of a building that had been named in his honor. Her father had been a dedicated and early supporter of this institution who gave everything he could to see that Brandeis would succeed. The building named in his honor is his legacy. It was therefore disappointing for this man’s daughter to see that his legacy had been made a sort of joke. I urge students to remember while an act may appear to be victimless, this is not always true.

—Erin Warnke The writer works in the Development and Alumni Relations Office.

Maintain amiable religious climate In response to your article “New Muslim Student Association lounge vandalized” (News, March 9): This incident is terrible, and I am really upset that something like this would happen at the school I called home for four years. I attended the peace vigil on Friday afternoon, however, and I was very encouraged and inspired by the positive community response I witnessed.

Hopefully this incident will continue to inspire a renewed spirit of welcoming and religious and cultural pluralism. That is what the Brandeis I know is all about.

—Mike Bohen ’08 The writer is a former member of the Catholic Student Organization leadership.

Affirm campus religious freedom Regarding your article “New Muslim Student Association lounge vandalized” (News,

Write to us

March 9): Brandeis University came into being in the post-World War II years as a reaction to religious and ethnic persecution.

And for years we prided ourselves upon one fact of campus architecture; that the chapels are designed so that one does not overshadow the other. I think it would be appropriate for the Brandeis community to react to this dastardly attack on its Muslim members by having a convocation to reaffirm its social justice values. Freedom of religion, a part of the U.S. Constitution, should be upheld as a particularly precious right at Brandeis.

—Paul Trusten, R.Ph. ’73

DREAM is step in wrong direction In response to your article “Congress, Pass DREAM” (Forum, March 9): I am quite sure students given legal U.S. status through the DREAM act would continue to be active and involved on campus and beyond—active in getting laws passed to legalize their parents who came to the U.S. illegally knowing full well that they were breaking the laws of this country and risking future deportation and separation from their loved ones.

These highly educated students should go with their families back to their home countries and use their pricey U.S. education (one wonders how they are financing it now; undoubtedly through U.S. taxpayer largesse) and work to improve their own country, thus avoiding the fear of separation from their families.

—Ann Pennell

Keep senior thesis as optional Regarding your article “Senior theses should be mandatory for students” (Forum, March 9): I spent nearly four years at Brandeis working for the Justice. Unless I go senile someday, there’s no chance I’ll forget the interviews I did, working with the writers or staggering home in an advanced state of sleep deprivation after yet another 30-hour day in the newsroom (we called it a “Justice Sunrise”). Time of my life, man. But it was a struggle to keep up with classes, and if a mandatory thesis had been added to that, I would have had to stop working for the paper. Period. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.

I commend Cooper for seeking a lasting college experience, but advocating for a mandatory thesis-writing program for everyone isn’t the way to do it. Maybe it’d be helpful for the students who aren’t doing anything other than taking a regular course load and partying, but when I went to Brandeis, most of the people I knew were either working a side job to pay for school, competing as part of a sports team, writing for one of the newspapers or magazines, acting in productions, carrying out community service programs, and so on. Many of them, myself included, have ended up in jobs which directly require the skills picked up from those extracurriculars.

When compared with those enjoyable alternatives for self-improvement and growth, “you can even pick the font” just doesn’t seem like a compelling enough reason for many students to spend their college days researching a subject they’ll always remember but not necessarily use.

—Jennifer Morrow ’07 The writer is a former Justice Arts editor.

Do not switch to instant runoffs In response to your article “Constitutional Review Committee releases report” (News, March 9): Look before you leap. Learn from the University of Virginia’s experience with instant runoff voting. Read how instant runoff voting results baffle UVA students. The University Board of Elections should educate the student body further about its voting methodology. UVA students were confused by the results of recent instant runoff voting election for student body. The results of the election were bizarre: The candidate with the most first- and second-choice votes lost. Even the winner of UVA’s instant runoff voting election didn’t understand the results. Consider that U.S. News has ranked UVA among the top 25 colleges since 1988. What more do we need to know to tell us that instant runoff voting is bad for voters?

—Joyce McCloy The writer is director of the North Carolina Coalition for Verified Voting, a grassroots nonpartisan organization promoting clean and verified elections.

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.

SOPHIE KRUPP/the Justice

Set aside apathy and vote on proposed Union amendments Eitan

COOPER DOWN TO BUSINESS

Jerry Seinfeld has an absolutely hilarious commentary on the experience of being on an airplane. In his routine, he points out that an airplane is really a scaled-down version of our world—we have a tiny table, a tiny TV, a tiny seat, tiny utensils and a tiny bathroom. We can find literally everything we could possibly need for the duration of our flight on the plane (including a used razor blade slot in the bathroom, which, as Jerry Seinfeld astutely points out, is a rather ridiculous concept. Who is shaving on a plane? And who is shaving so much on a plane that he would use up an entire razor blade?)

Similarly, college students—whether they like it or not—find themselves on their own small island for four years. While there may not be any clever Seinfeld jokes to make about this reality, the fact is that there is almost nothing about college that is similar to the “real” world. In many ways, the Brandeis campus is our own little country. We have a judicial system, a currency, a police force and a transportation system. And most importantly, we have our Student Union.

This being said, it’s fairly obvious that while Brandeis attempts to offer us all of the services that the “real” world offers its citizens, students do not pay nearly as much attention or care nearly as much as actual citizens do. This applies especially to the Student Union. Let’s be blunt: Most people couldn’t care less. Why is this? Simply put, the stakes are lower here. There aren’t any serious repercussions for our lack of participation in the system. And most students see the Student Union as merely a group of individuals who allocate funds. There is no greater evidence for this apathy than our pathetically low voter turnout. The voting procedure really only requires a 30-second process of clicking a few links on a Web site that is conveniently e-mailed to us.

But alas, this is too burdensome. Here’s a statistic that sums up the problem nicely: “Last semester, the highest percentage of voters, at 56.23 percent, participated in the Class of 2013 senator election while the lowest, at 4.10 percent, participated in the off-campus senator election.” In the real world, on the other hand, the election of a president or even a local government official can have a real impact on our lives. The unstable democracy of Iraq recently held historic elections in which voter participation will literally determine the fate of the country. Here at Brandeis, though, voting is more of a favor to a friend, or sometimes even an “eeny, meeny, miny, moe.”

I could spend the rest of this column blaming the Student Union for our indifference. After all,

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.

The Justice is the independent student newspaper of Brandeis University. Operated, written, produced and published entirely by students, the Justice includes news, features, arts, opinion and sports articles of interest to approximately 3,000 undergraduates, 800 graduate students, 500 faculty and 1,000 administrative staff.

In addition, the Justice is mailed weekly to paid subscribers and distributed throughout Waltham, Mass. The Justice is published every Tuesday of the academic year with the exception of examination and vacation periods.

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if the government gave us good reason to think that voting is worth even 30 seconds of our time, there could be less apathy around campus. However, I’m not going to take this route. It’s too easy, and it’s been done.

I could also go to the other extreme and spend the rest of this article trying to argue that voting is extremely important. We are doing ourselves an injustice and not taking ourselves seriously enough by passively ignoring the whole process.

It’s totally our fault. We just happen to be a less idealistic and more distracted generation. However, this is a fairly naïve and preachy argument; I’m not going to take that route, either.

There’s a middle ground to be argued here, and it occurred to me two weeks ago when I read about the 11 amendments proposed by the Union Constitutional Review Committee. For those who have not heard (and I am sure there are many, unfortunately), the Constitutional Review Committee recently completed the process of reviewing the constitution of the student body. Some of the proposed changes would have an indirect effect on the way we go about our day-to-day lives as students. If you are curious, refer to last week’s article and editorial. But here are two examples: The replacement of the Student Union Senate with a student “assembly” and “club support board” will “increase the efficiency of student government advocacy.” Additionally, the amendment to permit additional student representation on the Board of Trustees will continue to ensure that our voices are heard.

Some of the ideas seem super technical, while others look incredibly practical. Some of them should be trashed, and others supported. But regardless of what you think about the specifics of these amendments, there is one thing that should hold true: They should all be voted on.

This Thursday, we will all receive that familiar e-mail with a link to vote on the constitutional amendments. But unlike the normal, seemingly pointless votes in which the majority of us do not partake, this vote carries real meaning—the examination of a crucial document. Unlike positions such as “off-campus senator,” it’s obvious why a constitution has inherent value to the lives of Brandeisians. The constitution helps determine how and where our money is spent. It helps determine how we elect our officials. It helps ensure that our student rights are maintained. It is literally the backbone of the Student Union, and we hold strongly to it (as witnessed by the impeachment process of Union Secretary Diana Aronin ’11). Whether you realize it or not, the Student Union Constitution plays a role in your life as a student.

While it would be cool if a majority of students voted in every Student Union election, this will never happen. And, to be honest, that’s OK. But this upcoming vote is unique, and we should treat it differently. For once, let’s prove that we aren’t hopelessly apathetic.

Matt Lawrence, Ethan Mermelstein, Liz Posner, Leah Smith, Avi Snyder Sports: Quincy Auger, Jeffrey Boxer, Trevor Cohen, Max Goldstein, Jonathan Steinberg Arts: Rebecca Brooks, Wei-Huan Chen, Alex DeSilva, Elly Kalfus, Morgan Manley, Daniel Orkin, Alex Pagan, Bryan Prywes, Justine Root, Ben Serby, Sujin Shin, Shelly Shore Photography: Genevieve Armstrong, Maegan Bautista, Jessica Christian, Jaxson Dermer, Nathaniel Freedman, Davida Judelson, Rozi Levi, Yosef Schaffel, Shaefali Shandilya, Tali Smookler STAFF Copy: Danielle Berger, Rebecca Brooks, Jacob Chatinover, Senior Writers: Miranda Neubauer, Melissa Siegel Senior Photographers: Julian Agin-Liebes, David Sheppard- Hilary Cheney, Jenn Craig, Camille Dolfen, Ariel Glickman, Patricia Greene, Rachel Herman, Liana Johnson, Daniella Brick Kohlhagen, Mailinh Phan-Nguyen, Zane Relethford, Senior Copy Editor: Joyce Wang Marielle Temkin, Amanda Winn, Liat Zabludovsky Senior Illustrator: A. Eli Tukachinsky Illustrations: Rishika Assomull, Stacy Handler News: Erin Doniger, Fiona Lockyer Forum: Eitan Cooper, Hannah Goldberg, Rebecca Kellogg, Layout: Nadav Havivi, Karen Hu, Nan Pang

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS

NEWS: Alana Abramson FEATURES: Tess Raser ARTS: Bryan Flatt LAYOUT: Debra Friedmann ADS: Cody Yudkoff

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TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010

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THE JUSTICE

FORUM PASS/FAIL PLUS POLEMIC

RISHIKA ASSOMULL/the Justice

IN FAVOR

Initiative could enhance academics for many Leah

SMITH IN A WORD

As an Anthropology and International and Global Studies major, math and science are not my fortes—although not for lack of interest.

My brain just can’t seem to wrap itself around equations, functions, graphs and chemical combinations—I’m getting a headache just thinking about it.

So of course I was thrilled when I got to college, where unlike high school, I found myself free to take classes in anything I wanted. The thorn in my side, however, was the general University requirements in quantitative reasoning and the School of Science. The problem is not that I wouldn’t love to take a class in say, neuroscience—I find the functions of the human brain quite fascinating. The problem is that the work in said neuroscience course would be nearly impossible for me, but the grade would still show up on my transcript and count toward my GPA. For that reason, my

“

In reality, not all students are naturally good at everything.

current plan is to take the easiest, least scientific science course possible to fill that requirement.

But that plan could change. Two weeks ago, the Student Union proposed a new initiative called Pass/Fail Plus. If created, the initiative would allow students to take one course that fulfills general university requirements on a pass/fail basis, which under the current system we are not permitted to do.

Understandably, there is some anxiety about what effects this new proposal might have. University Registrar Mark Hewitt said in an interview with the Justice that he “would just be concerned that this Pass/Fail Plus option would simply increase students trying to pad their GPAs,” and that “in some cases, a pass would allow students not to work as hard.” Hewitt’s concerns are quite valid, of course. Many students could easily take advantage of this new option to either put in less effort or “pad” their GPAs. But these concerns should not stop the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee from passing such a proposal.

Firstly, many students who will use the Pass/Fail Plus option are already trying to protect their GPAs by taking easier courses to fill University requirements. If the UCC does not pass the initiative, it will not stop students from trying to keep their GPAs up.

Secondly, students who do use Pass/Fail Plus to fulfill their requirements will still be motivated to do the coursework. Multiple Ps on a transcript instead of actual grades could be just as harmful as a lower GPA. Therefore, students might see Pass/Fail Plus as a safety net if the course work is particularly difficult.

However, they will still do the coursework to avoid the need to cover a low grade with a P. This university prides itself on being a liberal arts institution, and our general University requirements are in place to ensure that students actually get a diverse liberal arts education. But despite the intended purpose of the requirements, they don’t necessarily provide a truly diverse educational experience. In reality, not all students are naturally good at everything. Some students, like myself, struggle in math and science while excelling in the

humanities or vice versa. When students opt for easier courses, they’re not getting as wellrounded an education as the general requirements are intended to provide. However, if the Pass/Fail Plus initiative were passed, students would be given an opportunity to take harder classes of greater interest without having to worry too much about what their grade would look like in the end. This initiative has the potential to bring students out of their academic shells: I, for example, could take neuroscience—a subject I’m genuinely interested in—knowing that my GPA wouldn’t drop a whole grade point. Pass/Fail Plus could actually enhance our university requirements by giving students a chance to get a real taste of all the disciplines Brandeis has to offer, while still maintaining their GPAs. As an institution that values a well-rounded liberal arts education, Brandeis should accept the Pass/Fail Plus proposal for the benefit of its students. If the UCC passes the proposal, it could open up many educational opportunities for students. I, for one, will be taking that neuroscience class.

IN OPPOSITION

Pass/Fail Plus would be detrimental to Univ

By LIZ POSNER JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Earlier this month the Student Union proposed an amendment to the existing pass/fail system at Brandeis. The new initiative, Pass/Fail Plus, would allow students to satisfy one of the eight general University requirements with a pass/fail grade.

There are two distinct ways in which such a Pass/Fail Plus policy could be detrimental to the strength of academics at Brandeis. The first concerns the way this amendment will amplify the negative aspects of the already existing pass/fail policy. The second pertains to the problems of the Pass/Fail Plus policy itself.

Ordinarily, chances are that a student enrolled in a course pass/fail is taking the class out of pure interest. Curiosity alone may motivate a student to complete the assigned work.

On the other hand, students who use the Pass/Fail Plus option and enroll in the course to complete a University requirement may not be as interested in the subject matter, as their motivation for joining the class differs from that of the regular pass/fail student, and they will be less likely to keep up with their work.

This proposal would amplify the destructive consequences of the already existing pass/fail option. Undoubtedly, under the new Pass/Fail Plus option, more students will choose to take a class pass/fail each semester.

“

Discipline for the sake of discipline can be extremely rewarding.

It is likely that several more students per class will not be taking the course with intent to receive a standard grade.

Let’s look at a hypothetical class to examine these consequences. Let’s say it’s a science class. This class of 25 students is marketed toward nonmajors. Certain interdisciplinary courses that are cross-listed between departments are, after all, most likely to be bombarded with students taking the class pass/fail under the new policy. I doubt most of the advanced, strictly departmental courses—many of which require prerequisites— will be affected. Even though the cushion of pass/fail status will encourage students to take more challenging classes, most students who do not plan on pursuing studies within that particular field will not want to put the additional time or energy into maintaining only grades that only need be above a C+. An English major may very well still be at risk of receiving a C or worse in Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy and will elect to enroll in a course like Astronomy to satisfy his or her science requirement regardless of Pass/Fail Plus.

In these cross-listed courses, it is very likely that students who take the class pass/fail to fulfill a University requirement will not complete the assigned readings for each class and will not be prepared every time. Really, what

is their motivation to do as much work as the other students when they only need to earn a C+ to pass the course? This might not be such a big deal when only four students are taking the class pass/fail, but if more neglect to complete the assigned work, there will be repercussions. As with many courses offered at Brandeis, classroom discussion is a critical element of this science class. Now discussion of the assigned readings in class will be less enlightening, and the burden of participation will fall on the remaining students who did complete the readings. The entire class, including the professor, suffers as a result.

This scenario would be amplified by the nature of the new Pass/Fail Plus option.

This policy is also detrimental to the entire purpose of University requirements and, by extension, the standard of academics here at Brandeis. The school requires certain standards of its students. Graduation requirements are flexible enough thanks to the wide diversity of courses offered and the frequency with which overlapping requirements can be satisfied. The satisfaction of these requirements can be an excellent opportunity for students to explore other disciplines and make connections with faculty in different departments before they seal themselves off in a particular field when they declare their majors.

Think of the requirements as a gentle push by

Brandeis to ensure students’ full exposure to the liberal arts. Students can and should embrace this opportunity and not dismiss requirements as just something to “get out of the way.” Pass/Fail Plus would only encourage this attitude.

Finally, and maybe most importantly, any Brandeis student is well aware that it can be immensely satisfying to be forced to work hard in a subject he does not consider his strong suit, especially when he ends up doing better than expected. Discipline for the sake of discipline can be extremely rewarding. In fulfilling University requirements, students are asked to learn how to struggle with their work. Completing majors can be time-consuming, but when students choose majors in areas they consider themselves naturally inclined toward, these majors can be relatively easy to satisfy. University requirements ask more of students, and the Pass/Fail Plus option would remove that necessary pressure.

Passing this proposal would exacerbate the problems already inherent in the existing pass/fail policy and undermine the principles of general University requirements. Its disadvantages outweigh potential advantages, and cross-departmental learning and the intellectual standard in the classroom would deteriorate as a result of its implementation.

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010

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SPORTS TAKING THE LEAP

FENCING

Bedor moves to Nationals ■ Four women were placed

on the all-UAA Northeast Conference team as épée Will Bedor ’10 moves on.

By MAX GOLDSTEIN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The Brandeis men’s and women’s fencing teams were in action for their last meet of the season last Sunday, the NCAA Northeast Regionals at Brown University. Will Bedor ’10 qualified and is moving on to the NCAA Nationals in the men’s épée.

Bedor placed sixth overall in épée, powered by strong showings in nearly every round, placing seventh, ninth and sixth in the second, third and fourth rounds, respectively.

Although only Bedor qualified, many on the team came close to qualifying. Adam Austin ’11 made it to the final 12 but placed last in that final round.

Austin “needed to make the top eight, but he ran out of gas and had a little muscle pull,” said coach Bill Shipman. Sean Norton ’10 finished 12th, which was a good finish considering that he was seeded 29th.

This week, four women’s fencers were placed on the allUniversity Athletic Association Northeast Conference team. Anna Hanley ’11, Emma Larkin ’11, Zoe Messinger ’13 and Vikki Nunley ’13 received these honors. This was Hanley’s second straight year being placed on the all-UAA Northeast team and the first time for everyone else.

Hanley was also named fencer of the year in the UAA Northeast Conference last year.

The women tried to build on these honors and had a somewhat successful day. While no fencer qualified for nationals, the team did field younger students who fenced very well.

According to Hanley, the women’s first-years are looking forward to a good year next season.

“I think the freshmen did really well; they all made it out of the

first round. They definitely met expectations,” said Hanley.

Nunley fell in the second round.

“Vikki fenced really well for her competition,” noted Shipman.

“The freshmen set a good foundation for their future,” said Hanley, who qualified for Nationals last year but fell in the semifinals Sunday to what Shipman later said was strong competition. “[I’m] a little disappointed; [it was] not her best in the semifinals when we needed it. There is not much of a margin for error in this tourney,” said Shipman. Alex Turner ’11 had a solid tournament as well, finishing in the top 25, but she did not qualify for regionals.

“I thought a lot of people fenced well, but I wasn’t happy with the qualifying results; I hoped to get two or three [fencers] in,” said Shipman. However, Regionals is the toughest competition that Brandeis faced this year. “[Regionals was] definitely our most important meet of the year,” said Hanley.

“Competition included former Junior all-Americans and fencers on the world team. You have to really fence your best to make an impact; there is not much of a margin for error,” said Shipman.

Although the ending to the season was a bit disappointing, both teams can definitely look forward to next year, as they are both very young and have a lot of potential.

“We have everyone back, and we’ll add some new people. I’m hoping that [the returning team members] keep their enthusiasm and desire, improve and be even better next year,” said Shipman.

However, the team will have to replace Bedor, Brandeis’ only qualifier and one of its top fencers.

“Hopefully our returning men’s épée will step up to fill Bedor’s hole,”added Shipman, who is first looking forward to Bedor’s NCAA Nationals in two weeks and is confident he will finish high despite the tough competition.

“Physically and athletically he can do well; he’ll be able to hold his own,” said Shipman.

MBBALL: Loss ends Judges’ season

SOFTBALL: Florida road trip ends with 2-2 split CONTINUED FROM 16 Jessica Thomas that allowed senior second baseman Caitlin Fitzgerald to cross home.

An unearned run in the bottom of the third secured Emory’s lead.

After Ross singled to center field to start the fourth inning, Casey Ducinski ’13 scored Brandeis’ only run. Ducinski pinch ran for Ross and was advanced by Porcaro and Maxie Hirschler ’12, who pinch hit for catcher Courtney Kelley ’11.

Carly Schmand ’11 grounded out to the pitcher, allowing Ducinski to score on the throw.

Wednesday, the Judges played a double-header, dominating both Rochester (8-0) and WashU (11-0), ending both games in six innings.

Against Rochester, Grimm and Schmand brought home two runs apiece while teammates Specker, Korp and Stacy Berg ’13 combined for three more. A Rochester error allowed Korp to score in the bottom of sixth. Vaillette notched six strikeouts and allowed only four hits.

Kelley gave special kudos to the pitching staff.

“Our pitching staff did a tremen-

DAVID SHEPPARD-BRICK/the Justice

PUSHING BACK: Guard Kenny Small ’10 fights off a Williams College defender to put up a shot in Saturday’s Elite Eight loss.

dous job this week being smart about their pitches and getting the job done,” she said.

Against Case Wednesday afternoon, Berg led the Judges with five RBIs complemented by Melisa Cager ’11, Specker, Lara Hirschler ’12, Kirby and Samantha Gajewski ’12 who each hit an RBI. Miller, Mussen and Kirby each tallied one strikeout and allowed no runs in the victory.

Johnson credited the wins to “really good leadership.”

“There are seniors who in their four years [at Brandeis] are now where they’re supposed to be. We’re not such a young team,” Johnson said in reference to the team’s eight sophomores. This year, she continued, “the majority of this team could anticipate what was [expected in Florida], and that really helped.”

Grimm saw the tournament as a success. “Every single game we won was a team effort,” said Grimm. “It was never one person doing something—it was everyone on the lineup coming together and contributing.”

The Judges face Wellesley College in a doubleheader tomorrow at 3 and 5 p.m.

CONTINUED FROM 16 digit win.

“Rhode Island plays a fast tempo, so early in the first half we got caught up in playing their style of basketball,” Roberson said. “In the second half we just wanted to execute more offensive-

ly, and during the halftime we talked about a couple of defensive assignments that we weren’t covering.”

The team’s four seniors leave the team as the winningest class in school history, ending their careers with 83 victories, four NCAA appearances and two Elite Eight berths. All four of the

seniors started for this year’s squad, but the team still returns starting guard Tyrone Hughes ’12 and key reserves Kriskus and forward Christian Yemga ’11. The squad also will have several recruits coming in next year after getting none last fall.

BASEBALL: Team starts off slow CONTINUED FROM 16 board in the third on a one-out double.

In the Brandeis half of the fourth, third baseman Tony Deshler ’11 singled with one out and was driven home on the next at-bat by Ferro’s double to left center field. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Ferro scored on a sacrifice fly by Posch, putting Brandeis within two runs.

“He threw me an off-speed pitch, and I just sat on it,” Ferro said of his RBI double off of Emory pitcher Matthew Katten, who got the win. “He kind of left it up in the zone.”

The Eagles scored two more in the fourth, but Brzozowski was able to control the damage, striking out left fielder Patrick Biebsame with the bases loaded to end the inning.

The Judges had no such luck in the bottom of the fifth. After a one-out solo home run, Emory put runners on at first and second. Brzozowski recorded

the second out and then got junior first baseman Ryan Jones to fly to right field for what should have been the third, but a fielding error allowed two runs to score and the inning to continue. After a pitching change, the Eagles scored two more on a home run, totaling at four unearned runs in the inning.

Brandeis was able to close the gap in the sixth, scoring one on a Posch single down the left field line and two in the seventh on a two-run single by James Likis ’10, pinch-hitting for right fielder Kenny Destremps ’12.

While this year’s Judges have a good group of returning veterans, the team’s defining element might be its rookies, who Posch believes will act as a significant component of the group.

“All of our freshman class is really talented, and a lot of them are going to be playing vital roles this year,” he said. “Whether it’s our pitching staff or infielders [or] outfielders, … we got

a good group of kids that came in this year, so they’ll definitely be an important part of the team.”

The influence of this new class of players is most seen in the pitching staff, who has added five new members, including three southpaws.

Some have struggled early in the season, but Posch says such difficulties are characteristic of the transition to college ball.

“In high school, there’s maybe one or two kids in the lineup that can hit,” said Posch, “but in college, the whole lineup is everyone’s best hitter from high school, so [pitchers] don’t get away with as many mistakes as they may have in high school.”

Perhaps the chilly Massachusetts weather will cool down opponents’ bats, as the Judges return to Brandeis for their home opener on Thursday to take on the Bears of Bridgewater State College.

14

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010

●

THE JUSTICE

TRACK & FIELD

TENNIS

Relay team earns all-American

Tennis teams split debut matches

■ The women’s relay team

came in third at the Division III championships held at DePauw University.

■ Both teams defeated New

By JEFFREY BOXER

York University and lost to Middlebury in their games March 12 and March 14.

JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The Brandeis women’s distance medley relay team earned allAmerican honors with a thirdplace finish at the 2010 NCAA Division III Championships.

The event was one of two that the women’s track and field team competed in this weekend at DePauw University in Indiana.

Suzanne Bernier ’10 also tied for 13th place in the high jump.

The highlight of the tournament for the Judges was the podiumworthy performance by the relay team.

The group, consisting of captain Beth Pisarik ’10, Anifreed Sinjour ’13, Emily Owen ’11 and Grayce Selig ’11, finished the 4000-meter race in just 11 minutes, 52.94 seconds.

The finish was less than twoand-a-half seconds off first place finishers University of St. Thomas and bested the fourth-place team by nearly four seconds.

Pisarik led off the relay, running the 1200 meter leg in about 3:41 and putting the Judges in a good position to open the meet.

Pisarik’s quick start wasn’t her only contribution to the team’s strong relay performance.

According to coach John Evans, the senior’s leadership also played a major role in the team’s impressive finish.

“She’s been the leader of our team these past few years. We have one of the strongest middle distance groups in the country, and Pisarik deserves a lot of the credit for that.”

Owen echoed her coach, saying that “[Pisarik’s] a really great captain. It was great having her here, and I think that that really helped all of us perform to the best of our abilities.”

Running the middle two legs for the team were Sinjour and Owen.

Sinjour ran the 400-meter leg for the team, finishing in just over a minute. “It was a really impressive leg, especially for a freshman,” Evans said.

Meanwhile, Owen’s time in the 800-meter portion of the race just eclipsed her personal best time of 2:15.92 that was set in the preliminary race at UAAs the previous week. “[Owen] ran a really solid leg. She really helped keep us in the hunt,” Evans said.

The relay team was anchored by Selig, who also had a phenomenal race.

Though individual splits in the race are not officially recorded, her mile time was several seconds faster than the Brandeis record time of 4:56.12 that she set at the UAA Championships just a week ago. “[Selig] ran a phenomenal race,” Sinjour said. “She had a look of determination, and it was just very comfortable having her anchor for us.”

The final Brandeis competitor at the meet was Bernier. She cleared

By JON STEINBERG JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

ASHER KRELL/Justice File Photo

FINAL STRETCH: The women’s relay team earned all-American honors last week. a height of 1.61 meters in her final jump, good enough to place her in a tie for 13th.

It was a fitting end to a fantastic season for the senior, who earlier this year set the Brandeis record in the high jump with a height of 1.67 meters.

“Qualifying was a huge step for [Bernier], and she did a phenomenal job as she has all season long,” Evans said. “It was a great way for her to end her indoor season,” added Sinjour.

Heading into the meet, the relay team had been seeded eighth in the country.

Still, Evans was confident heading in that the team would do well, and was extremely enthusiastic about the results.

“I thought that we could be right up there, and the race just went really well. Really well.”

With only two of the five competitors at the Division III Championships graduating this year, the future for the distance medley

relay (and the track and field team as a whole) looks very bright, and both Sinjour and Owen were excited about the prospects for the relay team next year.

“The relay team has a very bright future. [Pisarik] has been fantastic, and it will be difficult to replace her; but if we can find someone with a time close to hers, then we should be pretty great next year as well,” Sinjour said.

“The fact that it was three underclassmen just shows how much potential we have and how deep our team is,” added Owen.

Evans was excited for the prospects for the rest of the team going forward as well.

“This was a really huge step for us,” he said. “Next year, we can hopefully bring several competitive individuals in addition to the relay team.”

All five of the competitors will take a few days off and then begin to train for the outdoor season, which begins in a few weeks.

This week, the men’s and women’s tennis teams made their spring season New England debut against thirdranked Middlebury College and University Athletic Association rival New York University. Both squads split, sweeping NYU and losing both to Middlebury. The men improved to 5-3 on the season, while the women proved they deserved to be nationally ranked at number 29 for the first time in school history.

The men’s match against NYU March 12 was nothing short of a blowout, with the squad running off to an easy 9-0 victory, their first against NYU in over three years. The Judges’ sweep of the doubles matches was paced by an 8-0 victory at the number two spot by Steven Nieman ’11 and Mike Tatarsky ’12. Simon Miller ’11 and Nick White ’11 also took an 8-3 win at first doubles, while rookies Dave Yovanoff ’13 and Fred Rozenshteyn ’13 walked away with an 8-5 win at third doubles.

On the singles side, the team cruised through four of the six matches. White won 6-2, 6-0 at second singles. Yovanoff, at third singles, also handled his opponent, taking a 60, 6-3 win. Rozenshteyn had the most lopsided match of the day, dropping just a single match in his 6-0, 6-1 defeat of senior P.J. Marranca of NYU. At sixth singles, rookie Steven Milo ’13 also walked away with a 6-1, 6-1 win.

The two close matches took place at first and fifth singles. Miller, who had already taken an easy win at first doubles, breezed by the first set, taking it six games to three. He had to work in the second set but still managed to notch a 7-5 win and clinch a first singles win. At fifth singles, Nieman had to fight back from behind after dropping the first set 7-6. After an easy 6-2 win in the second set, the match went to a supertiebreaker third set in which Nieman came away with a well-deserved 10-3 win, clinching the sweep of NYU with his defeat of junior Matt Gross.

“Beating NYU was really nice,” said Miller during an interview. “We haven’t beaten them since I’ve been here and it’s always been close with them. We have a bunch of new guys, and we’ve been working hard off the court and doing a lot of working out and extra fitness. It was a sweet win.”

Against Middlebury, the men’s team did not fare as well, falling 8-1 to the strong No. 3 seeded opponent.

While the team was swept in doubles and lost all but one singles match, it was in the sixth singles match in which the squad was able to take some pride.

Milo played, in the words of teammate Miller, “the best match I’ve ever seen.” After dropping the first set 6-2, Milo rebounded with a 7-3 tiebreaker win in the second set. It was not until

1 a.m., with all of the members of both teams watching, that Milo could claim victory in the third set supertiebreaker.

Not only was it the sole win of the day, but it was also the first point the men’s squad had taken off Middlebury in the history of the team. “He’s been one of our quickest learners this year,” said coach Ben Lamanna.

“He’s just a terrific fighter and has a desire to get better. It was very highlevel tennis and just a phenomenal performance.”

Milo ended up scoring 19 winners, or points off serves, and saved six match points. “[The loss to] Middlebury was a tough one,” said Miller. “Those guys are always tough, and they came out firing. We just need to improve a little bit in fitness and mental preparedness, but Steven Milo really just stole the show at Middlebury.”

On the women’s side, the squad also split Sunday, falling to Middlebury 7-2 but claiming a hard-fought 53 victory over NYU. Against Middlebury, the team’s two wins came off the racket of Rachel Rosman ’11, who took a close second singles match and won the first doubles match along with partner and rookie Faith Broderick ’13.

While the team lost the overall match, players take pride in the fact that they won their first two points off Middlebury ever. “It’s the first time in the program’s history that we’ve taken off one point from Middlebury, let alone two points,” said assistant coach Payum Payman. “There are a lot of positive things we saw out there, and from what we’ve been working on, it’s definitely encouraging to see them headed in the right direction.”

The squad notched its first victory against NYU in a number of years.

The women came out strong in doubles play, with the team of Rosman and Broderick taking the first doubles match, and the pairing of captain Ariana Sanai ’10 and Nina Levine ’12 winning a close one at third doubles.

In singles play, with Brandeis up 21, Broderick dropped a tight one at first singles, but Rosman kept pace with a close win at second singles. It was the back end of the lineup that picked up the slack for Brandeis.

Levine played well in the fifth singles match, winning 6-1, 6-1. Sara Richman ’12, who was filling in for captain Emily Weisberger ’10, who went down with a knee injury against Middlebury, ended up winning the clinching match at sixth singles 6-4, 62 against her NYU opponent.

With regards to Weisberger’s injury, the team is concerned, but it has no further information regarding its severity. “She had lost the first set in a tiebreaker against Middlebury,” said Payman. “She ran for a shot and we’re not sure what happened, but she came down hard on her knee.”

Lamanna and Payman did not comment on the extent of the injury and said only that Weisberger’s condition would be analyzed in the coming week.

The men’s team will next face Boston College on Wednesday, and then both squads will travel to Bates College for a dual match on Saturday.

THE JUSTICE

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

and field distance medley relay team finished third in one of the most competitive races at the Division III National Championships last weekend.

4

women’s fencers placed on the all-University Athletic Association Northeast Conference team.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY OWEN

petitive races there, even more so than we were anticipating. … The race just went really well,” he continued.

Meets for outdoor track start in just a few weeks, so all four plan to be back in the gym by the end of the week.

“It’s a pretty quick transition,” explained Sinjour. “We will all probably take a few days off, and then it is right back to the gym.”

—Jeffrey Boxer

UAA STANDINGS Baseball Rochester Case Emory Washington JUDGES Chicago

3 83 5 11 29

career victories for this year’s seniors on the men’s basketball team, the most in Brandeis history.

new members in the baseball team’s pitching staff, including three lefthanders.

runs scored by the women’s softball team in Wednesday’s six-inning shutout against Washington University in St. Louis on Wednesday.

th-place ranking for the women’s tennis team. This year marks the first time in school history the team has been nationally ranked.

The NCAA Tournament will look monumentally different this year.

The University of Connecticut, the University of North Carolina, the University of California at Los Angeles, the University of Arizona and Indiana University didn’t make it into the field of 65, the first time since 1966 that five of the biggest names in college basketball missed the tournament in the same season.

That’s three of the four schools with the most championships, out. The second-longest string of tournament appearances, done.

North Carolina was the defending national champion and figured it would get back to the tournament even after losing Tyler Hansbrough and nearly everyone else. Instead, the Tar Heels floundered through one of their worst seasons in years, finishing 16-16 and needing a big run in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament that never happened.

A program with five national titles and the record with 27 straight NCAA appearances is headed for the National Invitation Tournament.

Connecticut was a No. 1 seed and reached the Final Four a year ago. Without intimidating Hasheem Thabeet, the Huskies backtracked, finishing 12th in the Big East during the regular season, suffering another inglorious one-game exit from the conference tournament for the fifth straight year and settled for the NIT. Arizona had the nation’s longest active streak of reaching the NCAA tournament at 25, within sight of North Carolina’s record run. After salvaging tournament bids the past two years, the Wildcats didn’t stand much of a chance at getting its 26th, finishing 16-15 after losing to UCLA in the Pac-10 tournament.

The Bruins are the king title-holders with 11, and they went to three consecutive Final Four appearances under coach Ben Howland. Their run came to an end with the worst season (14-18) since 2003-04 and a loss to eventual champion University of Washington in the Pac-10 tournament semifinals.

When this year’s Final Four was awarded to Indianapolis in 2003, there was hope the basketballcrazy state’s most recognizable school would make a magical run to a title. Indiana had once gone to 18 straight NCAA Tournaments, so why not dream? Still mopping up from the Kelvin Sampson mess, Indiana won just 10 games. An improvement from a year ago, but nowhere near NCAA Tournament-ready.

There’s a chance one of Indiana’s biggest schools can still get through to the Final Four. Purdue University is the fourth seed in the South Regional, but the Boilermakers’ chances of going deep in the bracket took a big hit with Robbie Hummel’s season-ending knee injury.

Softball

Not including Monday’s games UAA W L 4 1 4 2 3 2 1 4 1 4 0 0

Overall W L 6 2 6 7 10 8 6 5 2 7 0 0

Not including Monday’s games Overall UAA W L W L Emory 6 2 12 8 Washington 5 3 11 3 JUDGES 5 3 7 3 Rochester 4 4 5 6 Chicago 0 0 0 0 Case 0 8 3 9

TEAM LEADERS rd-place finish for the women’s distance medley relay team at the 2010 NCAA Division III Championships.

15

Big Dance missing some of its biggest names

■ The women’s indoor track

Judging numbers

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010

AP BRIEFS

Medley relay team

Headed into the indoor track and field Division III National Championships, Brandeis coach John Evans had an important decision to make.

Several of the competitors on the women’s distance medley relay team had qualified to compete in individual events, and the coach needed to decide whether to run them individually and potentially hurt their relay time or to rest them in the hopes of running one successful race.

Coach Evans chose to save his runners for the relay, and his decision led to a strong third-place finish for the group, consisting of Beth Pisarik ’10, Anna Sinjour ’13, Emily Owen ’11 and Grayce Selig ’11. “[Pisarik] and [Selig] both would have done great at the mile, but [Evans] was looking for four allAmericans,” explained Owen (who had also qualified to run in an individual event), adding, “He thought we could really excel, and in the end it was a really good decision. The teams that did double up didn’t do as well.”

Evans explained that the top few teams put their most competitive runners solely in the relay: “We kept them solely in the relay because we felt that we really had a chance to be one of the top few teams there.”

“The top few teams all stuck just with the distance medley relay, so it ended up being one of the most com-

●

Baseball (hits)

Baseball (runs batted in)

Catcher Artie Posch ’10 and infielder Tony Deshler ’11 lead Brandeis with 12 hits each.

Catcher Artie Posch ’10 leads Brandeis with nine RBIs.

Player Artie Posch Tony Deshler Sean O’Hare John Chu Nick Cortese

Player Artie Posch Chris Ferro John O’Brion Drake Livada Two tied with...

Hits 12 12 9 8 8

RBI 9 6 6 5 4

Softball (hits)

Softball (runs batted in)

Utility player Brittany Grimm ’12 leads Brandeis with 15 hits.

Catcher Stacy Berg ’13 leads Brandeis with 11 RBIs.

Player Brittany Grimm Marianne Specker Melisa Cagar Stacy Berg Erin Ross

Player Stacy Berg Brittany Grimm Marianne Specker Carly Schmand Two tied with...

Hits 15 13 12 10 8

RBI 11 9 7 5 4

UPCOMING GAMES OF THE WEEK Softball doubleheader tomorrow vs. Wellesley Brandeis will begin its New England season at home tomorrow at 3 and 5 p.m.

After opening its season 7-3 in a Florida road trip that ended with two wins last Sunday, the softball team will play its first New England games tomorrow in a doubleheader at home against Wellesley College.

Tuesday’s game starts Wellesley’s softball season. The last times these two teams matched up were the Judges’ 11th and 12th games last year. Brandeis hopes to see a similar outcome to last year’s matchup after sweeping the doubleheader at Wellesley March 18, 2009.

Brandeis players to watch include Brittany Grimm ’12, who has played in all 10 games so far, leading the team with a .441 batting average. The utility player is tied with catcher Stacy Berg ’13 for the most home runs, with her three long balls contributing to her 11RBI total. Righthander Emily Vaillette ’10 was hot in Florida, holding her opponents to an 0.68 ERA and allowing only three walks in 41.0 innings pitched in seven games.

Martinez glad to have time to learn Red Sox staff FORT MYERS, Fla.—Victor Martinez was thrown into the fire of an American League East pennant race after joining the Red Sox as a trading deadline acquisition last season.

The catcher didn’t have time to learn and adapt to the nuances of all the pitchers on his staff.

It’s different now.

“It was something that I was really looking forward to coming into spring training, just having a chance to work with every single guy,” Martinez said. “It makes me feel a lot more comfortable.”

He acknowledged that it was difficult when he first joined Boston. Leaving the Indians, the organization that signed him as a 17-year-old out of Venezuela, adapting to a new team, a new city and a new pitching staff were major adjustments.

Martinez, who turned 31 in December, now has the opportunity to learn about the subtleties and idiosyncrasies of his staff without the heat of a pennant race bearing down on him.

“We got six weeks before we get the season started,” he said. “I’m just trying to find out, get on the same page with them, just kind of learn what they like to do in certain situations.

“That little stuff that is going to make my job a little easier to call a game for them.”

The pitchers must also become comfortable with him.

Earlier this week, Martinez caught Josh Beckett against the Cardinals. On a scale of 1 to 10, Beckett said his comfort level with Martinez behind the plate is about a 7.

“I think we’re comfortable with each other,” Beckett said.

“I think it’s a feel. He gets a feel for what I like to throw in certain counts, and that creates rhythm. For us right now, it’s just about getting on the same page every pitch.”

Beckett pointed out that Martinez caught Cy Young winners Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia in Cleveland.

“Victor’s a very, very smart guy,” Beckett said. “I don't think it will take him long. He knows how to call a game. If there is some sort of issue between what he’s calling and how well I’m throwing it, it’s probably me, not him.”

Martinez has supplanted incumbent Jason Varitek, the team captain who is entering his 14th season with the Red Sox on a one-year contract. Martinez said the transition would have been much more difficult if it hadn’t been for Varitek.

“Man, he did it,” Martinez said. “He pretty much did it all for me last year. He was the one that got me ready for the pitching staff. He was the one that really helped me out. He told me what pitches, if a pitcher is in a hole or in trouble, call this pitch, it’ll relax him. And you know what, if it wasn’t for Jason, things would be a lot tougher last year.”

It was a situation that could have been very awkward.

“Well, that shows you what kind of player he is,” Martinez said. “He’s all about what’s going to win a game, and that shows you why he has that C on his chest.”

Last season, Martinez also saw time at first base and as the designated hitter. He has been taking pregame groundballs at third base and shortstop this spring, but don’t expect him to add those positions to his résumé.

just

REWARDING RELAY

Sports

Page 16

The women’s 4,000-meter relay team finished third at the NCAAs, earning the team all-American honors, p. 14.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Waltham, Mass.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Men booted from NCAAs after close loss ■ Saturday’s 71-57 loss to

Williams College eliminated Brandeis from the NCAA Division III Tournament.

By MELISSA SIEGEL JUSTICE SENIOR WRITER

With 3 minutes, 47 seconds left in the Brandeis men’s basketball team’s Elite Eight matchup against No. 2 Williams College, a 3-pointer by forward/guard Vytas Kriskus ’12 pulled the Judges within 1. Brandeis had trailed for the past six minutes of game. But just when it looked like the Judges had a chance to get back into the game, the Ephs showed why they were the second-best team in the country coming in, going on a 16-3 run for the rest of the game to ice the contest.

“It wasn’t more what they were doing [in the second half]; it was more we just weren’t hitting shots we made [earlier in the game],” guard Andre Roberson ’10 said of the team’s play at the end of the game.

The Judges fell to Williams 71-57 in the national Division III quarterfinals Saturday at Williams after defeating Rhode Island College 76-65 in the Sweet 16 on Friday night. The loss was the last game for the Judges’ four seniors: Roberson, forward Terrell Hollins ’10, guard Kenny Small ’10 and center Richard Magee ’10, who missed the game after suffering a season-ending injury against the University of Rochester on Feb. 19.

The Judges got off to a quick start against the Ephs, taking a 21-12 lead with 11:11 left in the first half after a 3pointer from Kriskus. The 9-point deficit was the largest the Ephs had faced in either their conference play or the NCAA Tournament. But from there the Judges went cold, not hitting another field goal for the next 7-plus minutes. By that point the Ephs had come back to take the lead, holding a 5point lead with 8 seconds left in the first half. But then Hollins scored his

first points of the game on a layup as time expired to pull the Judges back within one basket at the break.

The teams traded the lead several times at the start of the second half.

Brandeis pulled back ahead 47-46 on a 3-pointer from Small with 10:37 left.

But this was the last time they would lead on the day, as Williams junior center Troy Whittington tipped in his own miss with 9:48 left to give the Ephs a 48-47 advantage and the lead for good.

Roberson led the way for the Judges with 14 points, while Small was the only other Brandeis player in double figures with 11. Hollins led both teams with 13 rebounds, while Roberson had nine, just one shy of a double-double.

However, no other Judge had more than two rebounds. The team finished with 27, eight of which were offensive, while the Ephs had 39, 29 of them defensive.

“They were bigger than us,” Roberson said of Williams. “They were getting a lot more hands on balls than we were. That’s basically what it came down to. We tried to box out as much as we could, but their size matched our quickness [Saturday].”

On Friday the Judges reached their second Elite Eight in the past three years with a 76-65 win over Rhode Island College. The victory avenged the team’s second-round tournament loss four years ago, when the current seniors were rookies. It was a game of runs, with the Anchormen going up by nine with 12:53 left in the first half only to see the Judges go on a 12-0 run of their own, taking a 23-20 lead on a three from Kriskus. Rhode Island College then reclaimed the lead at the end of the first half and went up by six just under a minute into the second half.

The game then went into a series of lead changes. The Anchormen took the lead 59-58 on a pair of free throws with 7:10 left, but the Judges then saved one of their best runs of the game for last.

Brandeis closed the game on an 18-6 run to turn a close game into a double-

See MBBALL, 13 ☛

DAVID SHEPPARD-BRICK/the Justice

FIGHTING FOR THE FINISH: Guard Andre Roberson ’10 attempts a layup in Saturday’s season-ending NCAA Tournament loss.

BASEBALL

SOFTBALL

Weekend is unkind to Deis in Florida

Judges return home with seven wins

■ The baseball team lost its

last three games to finish off a 1-4 Florida trip, lowering its record to 2-7 overall.

By TREVOR COHEN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

As the rest of the student body continued to brave the end-of-winter cold, the Brandeis baseball team concluded its season-opening Southern road trip last week, competing in the five-day University Athletic Association round-robin tournament in Sanford, Fla. The Florida sun wasn’t enough to heat up the Judges, though, as they finished the tournament on Sunday with a 12-5 loss to Emory University, dropping their UAA record to 1-4.

Emory took the lead early and held it on Sunday against right-hander Drew Brzozowski ’10, who lasted 4.2 innings, giving up 10 runs, seven of which were earned. The Eagles scored two runs in both the second and third innings to take a 4-0 lead. Brandeis got on the board with two in the top of the fourth on an RBI and a run scored by rookie left fielder Chris Ferro ’13 but were matched with two more from Emory in the bottom of the inning.

The Eagles then pulled away with five runs in the fifth, taking an 11-2 lead that was too much for the Judges to

overcome.

The story was similar throughout the UAA tournament for the Judges, who gave up high run totals to every opponent, reaching into the double digits in four of the five UAA games last week. The round-robin started Tuesday, when Brandeis lost to Emory 7-1. The Judges pulled out a comeback victory in a 13-11 slugfest against Washington University in St. Louis on Wednesday before losing to Case Western Reserve University 12-5 later that day. After a day off on Thursday and a rainout on Friday, Brandeis fell to Rochester University on Saturday 11-1 before Sunday’s final loss.

Despite the tough start, captain catcher Artie Posch ’10 doesn’t see the losses as a reflection of the team’s ability.

“Obviously we’ve gotten off to a rough start,” said Posch, “but talentwise, out of the four years that I’ve been here, this is one of the most overall talented teams that I’ve played with. We need to just figure it out and play as a team.”

After striking out the side in his first inning of work on Sunday, Brzozowski gave up a leadoff double to start the bottom of the second, followed immediately by a two-run homer. Emory put two more on the

See BASEBALL, 13 ☛

■ The Judges went 2-2 over

the weekend to finish a 7-3 season-opening road trip in the Sunshine State.

By QUINCY AUGER JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The Brandeis Judges finished a 10game road trip in Altamonte Springs, Fla. on Sunday with a 5-1 victory over Case Western Reserve University.

The win improves the Judges’ record to 7-3 overall and 5-3 in the University Athletic Association conference play.

Emily Vaillette ’12 pitched six innings to hold the Spartans to just one run. Vaillette struck out four batters before being relieved by Keliann Kirby ’13, who sealed the Brandeis victory.

An RBI single by Chelsea Korp ’10 in the first inning brought home the first score of the game. Melisa Cager ’11 would score Brandeis’ second run as Brittany Grimm ’12 smacked an RBI single into left field in the second inning. Just two batters later, Erin Ross ’10 doubled down the left field line to bring Marianne Specker ’12 home.

The Spartans were held scoreless until the fourth inning when a single to left center field by pitcher, junior Beth Andrasik, brought freshman Melissa Moore home.

Brandeis finished the game strong when a ground-rule double by Lauren Porcaro ’12 gave the Judges a

four-run lead. Kirby struck out the final two batters to end the contest.

Saturday afternoon the Judges posted a 4-0 win over the Washington University in St. Louis Bears.

Brandeis gained control early as the second batter, Grimm, homered to left center field in the bottom of the first.

In the bottom of the fourth, Grimm and Korp scored off a single up the middle by Specker.

Vaillette paced the Judges with a four-hit and no-run performance. She notched seven innings and four strikeouts.

Due to rain delays, Brandeis faced three games Saturday afternoon.

“Our schedule got a lot harder than it was supposed to be,” Porcaro mused, noting the rainouts Thursday and Friday. “We ended up having to play the three toughest teams on Saturday and Case [Western Reserve University Sunday]. … I think [the tournament] could have gone another way if the schedule was different,” she said.

Coach Jessica Johnson felt that the team was basically “on-call” for the majority of the weekend, implying the difficulties the team faced in game preparedness.

“We knew the game plan,” Johnson said. “We knew there were three games and we just had to respond to it, … face it head-on.

Unfortunately we lost two of three yesterday.”

The Judges took the field shortly after the completion of the WashU

contest to face the University of Rochester Yellowjackets in a disappointing 5-0 loss.

Brandeis matched the Yellowjackets in hits with four but failed to capitalize with players on base, stranding four to the Yellowjackets’ six.

Rochester took a decisive firstinning lead after pitcher Caroline Miller ’12 walked and then hit successive batters.

Minutes later sophomore right fielder Kim Grimes homered to center field to drive home three runs.

Brandeis managed to get out of the inning down 3-0.

In the bottom of the second, the Yellowjackets struck again to score two more. A walk and a single allowed the scoring runs on base and a wild pitch advanced the runners to scoring position before a single by junior Lindsay Macaluso drove them home.

Allie Mussen ’10 replaced Miller in the fourth, allowing only one hit and keeping the remainder of the game scoreless.

Ross doubled in the bottom of the seventh for Brandeis in an attempt to breathe life back into the team but was left on base after Porcaro was struck out looking.

In their final game of the day, the Judges dropped their third of the season to Emory University, losing 3-1.

Emory’s first run of the game came off a single by sophomore outfielder

See SOFTBALL, 13 ☛

just

ARTS

March 16, 2010

Liquid Latex electrifies audience, p. 21

Photos: Asher Krell/the Justice. Design: Robyn Spector and Asher Krell/the J

18

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010

●

THE JUSTICE

POP CULTURE

INSIDE ON CAMPUS

18-21

■ ‘Cocktail Time in Cuba’ 19 Brandeis Theater Company’s production of a play about an American journalist swept up

by Cuban culture was enchanting and thought-provoking.

19 ■ ‘Dreaming Up Nonsense’ Zohar Fuller ’10 wrote and directed a captivating play about her experiences in Mumbai.

20 ■ ‘Vagina Monologues’ Student actors provided moving interpretations of the controversial feminist play.

21 ■ Liquid Latex The annual dance extravaganza showcased student talents in dance, choreography and painting with a noticeable presence of Lady Gaga’s music.

OFF CAMPUS

22-24

22 ■ Mad Raven The food at the Main Street bar and grill was found lacking despite its inviting ambience.

■ Teatro 22 The restaurant in Boston’s Theater District provides luxurious meals at reasonablerices.

23 ■ Restaurant Week Boston Prominent Boston-area restaurants will offer prix-fixe menus through March 26.

23 ■ Pop Muse Ellie Goulding’s debut album, Lights, promises great things for the pop star’s future.

CALENDAR

INTERVIEW

by Julia Jerusalmi

Lindsay Lohan is at it again. No, she’s not checking into rehab for alcohol abuse, flashing her goodies to the paparazzi or publicly brawling with her girlfriend. This time she’s gaining attention by suing the financial company E-Trade for a commercial that uses her first name to describe a “milkaholic” baby.

The ad, part of a series that places babies in adult situations, features a baby girl who is angry at her boyfriend for not calling her back. Though the baby boy tries to excuse his absence by claiming he was busy on ETrade, the girl doesn’t buy it and snaps, “And that milkaholic Lindsay wasn’t over?”

The ad aired during the Super Bowl and was popularly received by everyone but Lindsay. Lohan’s lawyer claims, “Many celebrities are known by one name only, and E-Trade is using that knowledge to profit. They used the name Lindsay.

They’re using her name as a parody of her life. Why didn’t they use the name Susan?

This is a subliminal message. Everybody’s talking about it and saying it’s Lindsay Lohan.”

Lindsay’s mother, Dina (never one to shy away from an opportunity to speak), agrees with the lawyers, stating, “Everyone knows Lindsay, like Cher or Madonna.”

Though Lohan is undoubtedly famous, comparing her to Madonna is a bit of a stretch, and unlike Cher or Madonna, Lindsay is a pretty common name. Chris Brown (no, not that one), a spokesman from the company that produced the ad, denies the claim, saying, “We just used a popular baby name that happened to be the name of someone on the account team.”

Though it’s probably true that E-Trade

HTG’s ‘Eden’ brings the Bible to Deis ■ In an e-mail interview with

JustArts, Hillel Theater Group directors Viktoria Lange ’13 and Rebecca Miller ’13 discuss the upcoming show Children of Eden.

EVAN AGOSTINI/The Associated Press

LITIGIOUS LINDSAY: Lindsay Lohan claims that E-Trade’s Superbowl ad damaged her image. was poking fun at her, who doesn’t poke fun at Lindsay Lohan? After all her years of desperately trying to stay in the limelight, shouldn’t Lindsay have a stronger backbone? Apparently not. Lindsay wants $100 million for her “pain and suffering,” and based on new evidence that shows the original name choice for the ad’s character was Deborah, it looks like she’s going to get it.

Time to stock up on the self-tanner, ladies, because Lindsay’s hitting the stores with cash to spend.

What’s happening in Arts on and off campus

ON CAMPUS EVENTS ‘The Vagina Monologues’ open house If you enjoyed the production of The Vagina Monologues last week, you are sure to have a great time at the open house. Come and watch an array of artistic talent such as slam poetry, art, music and dance revolving around issues of gender and womanhood put on by the Vagina Club as part of V-Week. For The Vagina more information on Monologues, see the review on p. 19.

Thursday from 6 to 11 p.m. in the Castle Commons.

‘Children of Eden’ Hillel Theatre Group’s annual spring musical is back with a performance of the show Children of Eden. Directed, produced, managed, choreographed, sung, danced and acted entirely by Brandeis students, the play is a glance into parent/child relationships through familiar Bible stories. The play, originally written in 1986 by John Caird with music by Stephen Schwartz, humanizes familiar Bible characters through a combination of music and storyline.

Thursday from 8 to 10:30 p.m., Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Carl J. Shapiro Theater.

YOSEF SCHAFFEL/the Justice

PERFORMING FEMININITY: V-Week activities started with a production of ‘The Vagina Monologues’ (shown above) over the weekend and will continue with an open house on Thursday night.

Vocal Gala ‘Invisible Children’ Brandeis Academic Debate and Speech Society; Phi Kappa Psi; Mock Trial Association; International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life; and the Student Union present the screening of the film Invisible Children. The film tells the tragic story of the children who have become victims, targets, soldiers and weapons of Africa’s longest running war: the fight between the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Ugandan government.

Thursday from 8 to 10 p.m. in Levin Ballroom.

B-DEIS Records benefit concert for autism awareness B-DEIS Records is holding a benefit concert for autism awareness and for the Autism Awareness Club on the Brandeis campus.

The concert is free but with a suggested donation of a dollar or two from attendees to help support advancements in autism research. All proceeds from the concert will go to the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism. Come and watch your fellow Brandeis students perform to raise money for a good cause. Many acts are perfoming such as Zoey Hart & Paul Gale, Doug Moore, Aatma, Lisa Fitzgerald and Code Rad. Friday from 9 p.m. to midnight at Cholmondeley’s.

Students of voice instructors Pamela Dellal, Pamela Wolfe and Jason McStoots (MUS) perform a concert of vocal pieces.

Saturday from 8 to 9:30 p.m. in the Slosberg Recital Hall.

Leonard Bernstein Scholars recitals Recipients of the Leonard Bernstein Scholarship will perform in ensembles formed by class year. In its last performance as a group, the Class of 2010 ensemble will perform a repertoire of works by Beethoven, including Piano Trio, Op. 1, No. 1 in E flat major and Piano Trio Op. 70 No. 1 in D major, “Ghost”.

Sunday from 1 to 2 p.m. (Class of 2012 Quintet), 4 to 5 p.m. (Class of 2011 Quartet) and 7 to 8 p.m. (Class of 2010 Trio) in the Slosberg Recital Hall.

False Advertising’s annual alumni show Laugh away your evening as you join False Advertising for its annual alumni show.

With artistry, musical talent and a little comedy to boot, this could be a fun and funny night for all. Don’t miss the return of Alex Fleming ’09 and Anthony Scibelli ’09 along with the rest of the False Advertising crew.

There is a suggested donation of $2, and all proceeds will go to the Brandeis Haiti Relief Effort.

Saturday from 9 to 11 p.m. at Chum’s.

TCFI’s third-annual carnival Too Cheap For Instruments, the all-female a cappella ensemble that specializes in folk hits, brings back its yearly carnival, which will include games, face painting, food and music. Brandeis Juggling Club will perform and there will be opportunities to build sand castles and decorate cookies. Admission is free but tickets to the various booths cost 25 cents apiece.

Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the South Campus Commons.

Sophomores: Come Taste Waltham Brought to all sophomores by the Student Union, Monday will be a night of free food and fun as delectable dishes from many different types of Waltham restaurants will be brought to campus. The menu will include items from restaurants such as Lizzy’s, Margarita’s, Bombay Mahal, Tom Can Cook and Sabatino’s.

Monday from 8 to 11:30 p.m. at the Intercultural Center.

OFF CAMPUS EVENTS ‘I Drink the Air Before Me’ Celebrating its 25th anniversary season, the Stephen Petronio Company is performing the Boston premiere of I Drink the Air Before Me. Choreographer Stephen Petronio is one of the leading dancemakers of his generation, combining compelling music, visal art and fashion. The performances are being presented by WORLD MUSIC/CRASHarts and include a free preperformance talk with Stephen Petronio himself and a post-performance question and answer session after the Friday show.

At the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m.

‘The Red Shoes’ Moira Shearer stars as a young ballerina named Victoria who seems headed for superstardom until she falls in love with a charming ballet composer. She struggles to choose between romantic passion and her devotion to her art. This classic film has recently been restored to its original Technicolor vividness.

Tuesday at 4:15, 7 and 9:45 p.m. and Wednesday at 4:15 and 7 p.m. at the Brattle Street Theatre, Cambridge.

‘The Skin of Our Teeth’ George Antrobus is a family man: a 5,000year-old family man. Join the members of his modern Stone Age family as they survive disasters from ice ages to apocalypses and great floods by the skin of their teeth.

Directed by Scott Zigler, this play penned by Thornton Wilder is a Pulitzer Prize-winning philosophical comedy that reminds us of humanity’s ability to rebuild in spite of ecological or economic disaster.

The show is running Friday through Sunday at 7 p.m. at the American Repertory Theater.

JustArts: How did you get interested in theater? Are you a theater major (or do you plan to become one)?

Viktoria Lange: I’ve always enjoyed theatre and grew up going to see Broadway shows with family, but it never occurred to me that I could get up on stage and be in a show, too! I had a nanny when I was thirteen who really got me into it because she ran a children’s theatre group in her hometown. I finally realized that kids could create theatre as well! I do intend on being a theatre major, but a huge reason for why I came to Brandeis was because I could do theatre AND other academics. I think learning as much as I can in other areas makes me a more well-rounded theatre artist.

Rebecca Miller: I first became exposed to theatre when as a child I was taken to Broadway shows by my grandparents. I began performing at a relatively young age and my interest and passion in theatre has only grown from there.

JA: As a freshman, have you directed many plays before, or is this a new experience for you?

VL: This is my first time directing! Some aspects of directing are new to me, and some aren’t. At my theatre group at home as well as my high school theatre, we don’t have stage managers, run crew, or designers. My directors did it all. Because of this, they entrusted their casts with a lot of responsibility. So running a review of show materials, exploring scenes, and talking about character with peers is not new to me. I also taught theatre at my home theatre group’s summer program to very young actors, so the work I am doing now is similar, just with a different age group. What is new to me is the collaboration with a large production staff, but it has become one of my favorite aspects of this whole journey.

RM: My directorial experience is limited to what I had done in high school. I had student directed two shows in my senior year. However, I came to this process with a clear knowledge of what is expected of a director, and what my (our) vision was for this show. I cannot begin to explain how much I have learned from this process.

JA: How did you and the others decide to do this play in particular?

VL: Rebecca (my co-director) and I became friends during Orientation. Both of us are a little obsessive and picky about plays and musicals, and we discovered we both shared very specific views on how Children of Eden could be done. It started as a game (“if you had no limits to what you could do with this show, what would it look like?”) but quickly turned into something we really wanted to do at some point in our college careers. The music (by Stephen Schwartz) is absolutely gorgeous, and the show humanizes the choices of some familiar characters as well as draws some amazing parallels between three familiar Biblical stories. We then heard that a student studying abroad (Rob Orzalli, now our set designer) also was in love with this show and interested in working on it.

And the rest is history!

RM: Children of Eden is a show I happen to have some unfinished business with. Not only does it have beautiful music and a compelling story, but I once performed in an abridged version at a summer theatre program. I felt that there was so much more that could be done with this piece of storytelling and so when my codirector and I found that we were both equally excited and engaged by this piece, we knew that we had to direct it.

JA: How would you describe your particular staging of this play?

VL: Something Rebecca and I agreed upon from the start was that, if performed in a certain way, this show could turn into a cartoon, something too childish with not enough depth for the Brandeis community to think about and enjoy.

The scenes and music are whimsical and energetic, but there are large parts of the show that are quite serious. We wanted to bring out the seriousness as well as let the show be fun and cute and whimsical at appropriate times. In short, we wanted to be sure it had levels of fun and levels of seriousness. For this reason our interpretation of the show is more on the abstract side. The ensemble is made up of Storytellers who create much of the scenarios before the audience’s eyes, and comment on the action they are describing. We leave a lot up to the imagination of the audience, providing them with enough guidance to follow the story but also being careful not to bombard them with too much extra. The story is what is most important here, and our Storytellers and production staff are doing an amazing job with this concept.

—Andrea Fineman

THE JUSTICE

●

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010

19

ON CAMPUS THEATER

‘Monologues’ mull over female plights ■ The annual performance of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues portrayed an array of female experiences with insight and poignancy.

By JOYCE WANG JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

I admit it. I was skeptical about The Vagina Monologues. The premise is promising—author Eve Ensler interviews over 200 women of all backgrounds about their vaginas, writing a series of monologues inspired by their stories—with the goal of removing that last taboo of openly discussing and even celebrating women’s sexuality. However, I was still wary. Why? When I was trying to research the play, I came across an interview Ensler did with Women.com.

When she was asked “Do you think all women’s power is rooted in their sexuality?” Ensler responded, “Absolutely.” She went on to say “Look, I’m not anti-intellectual. I’m not saying women don’t need to think. But I am saying that you can think all you want to and have all the great ideas and theories, but nothing changes. I completely lived in my head for years and years and nothing changed. It was only when I began to live in my vagina that the world really changed.” I wondered how such a reductive assumption of the power of women could hold up in an actual production.

I still find these answers troubling, but after seeing the play, I think I better understand Ensler’s intentions and what she meant about living in her vagina. There are some missteps.

For instance, the “Wear and Say” piece for which she asked women what their vaginas would wear and what they would say was just insipid.

The play was at its best when each individual monologue, performed by one or various performers, really breathed life into the text, enriching the dialogue so it could be experienced on a visceral and emotional level. The setting for this was ideal: simple costumes, a black stage and two screens on either side of the performers for close-ups of their faces.

Indeed, in the first half of the play, two pieces were particularly poignant. Shira Rubenstein’s ’13 performance of “The Flood” was subtle, understated and moving. She took on the voice of an elderly woman afraid for many years to explore her own

sexuality after she was scarred by a profoundly embarrassing experience with her vagina in her teen years. The piece emphasized how much the emotion of shame has been tied to female sexuality in the past–not to say it isn’t now, but part of the emotional impact of the piece came from the realization of how much the woman had missed over the years by relegating her vagina to the shut-out, secret cellar of her personhood. On a more uplifting note, Ashley Lynette’s ’13 performance of “Because He Liked to Look at It” offered an epiphany never given to the first woman. In this piece, perhaps the only one that depicted men in a positive light, a woman was finally able to accept her own vagina as beautiful after seeing her male lover do so.

Both monologues dealt with the importance of sexual acceptance and self-acceptance of women.

However, Ensler is not content to make sure that affluent, neurotic women are okay with their bodies.

She wants you to know that sexual violence is being committed against women around the world, that it is a serious matter and that horrific crimes occur. She attempts to transmit these facts to you through two pieces titled “My Vagina Was My Village” and “The Memory of Her Face.”

The first related the stories of Bosnian refugees who were brutally raped in war camps. Two performers on opposite sides of the stage, one representing the pre-war woman in a state of virginal innocence and the other representing that same woman after intense physical and sexual abuse by enemy soldiers, were drawn closer and closer together as the narrative pulled forward. The twin halves of her life finally collapsed in on each other as the two actresses embraced. This piece was bluntly powerful but painful to watch. I continued to be disturbed and confused by the following piece, “The Memory of Her Face,” which related the stories of three women from Pakistan, Iraq and Mexico, all of whom were abused in harrowing manners: one disfigured by acid thrown on her face, one injured by enemy bombs, another raped and eventually mutilated by unnamed soldiers. I was confused by the switching among the three narrators, and I didn’t understand why these events were occurring or what exactly was going on, except that terrible things were happening to these women. Instead of being told a story, the audience was emotionally pummeled by bits and pieces of tragedy with very little context.

JESSICA CHRISTIAN/the Justice

SEXUAL SUFFERING: The “Spotlight Monologue” movingly depicted a young Congolese girl’s experiences as a sex slave.

I finally realized why I didn’t find these two pieces as powerful as I should have when “Spotlight Monologue,” a new monologue titled “A Teenage Girl’s Guide to Surviving Sex Slavery,” was performed. The piece related rules a young teenager from the Democratic Republic of Congo had built for herself in order to psychologically survive living as a sex slave.

The writing was sharp and spot-on, capturing the teenage girl’s carefree innocence then ripping it away to expose the survivor’s soul beneath. But it also told you why it was happening—it told a coherent narrative that had a clear protagonist and provided a more complex perspective of the situation, offering the context that was absent in previous pieces.

The piece was wholly moving, coherent, eloquent and empowering. I finally understood what Ensler meant about not just living in her head but living in her vagina—she wanted women to reclaim their bodies, and she wanted to make it clear that vaginas, sexuality, femininity and agency were all inextricably tied. Okay, so the line “No one can take anything from you if you do not give it to them” is a bit of a rip-off of Eleanor Roosevelt’s “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent,” but the message is consistently powerful. It

still works. And it certainly made me feel like I owned my body in a way I hadn’t before.

Perhaps the other most memorable piece, and certainly the one best-received by the audience, was “The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy,” the story of an ex-lawyer turned dominatrix sex worker, as performed by Desiree Murphy ’10. Murphy’s interpretation of the character, in addition to her considerable personal charisma and ease, simply commanded the audience to sit up, pay attention and laugh really hard. The monologue required the actress to engage in extensive verbal, aural and physical comedy where one off note could tip the tone from outrageously hilarious to embarrassingly awkward. She managed this with aplomb.

Before dispensing with the rest of the praise, I must mention a certain section of “The Little Coochi Snorcher That Could” that for me, lived up to its controversial reputation. In the narrative, a 16-year-old girl (13 in the original Monologues), is seduced by an older woman who introduces her to sex. She tells us it’s a positive experience, a salvation. But imagine if the gender of that older woman had been changed: 24-year-old man plies 16year-old girl with alcohol and introduces her to the joy of sex—how does

that sound? Like statutory rape. The fact that the 24-year-old woman is excessively attractive and that it is homosexual sex, not heterosexual sex, does not make a difference. There is nothing inherently more virtuous in a homosexual relationship between women. I found the performance —played with giddy abandon and youthful laughter by Karen Lowe ’10—creepy, and not at all the kind of love story its inspiration (two women meet at a homeless shelter, fall in love, leave shelter) seemed to intend.

But that’s an aside—despite the pieces I found less successful, some of the monologues were so good they made the entire production worthwhile. Overall, The Vagina Monlogues overcame my initially skeptical perspective to imbue me with a definitive sense of empowerment, not exclusive to an additionally sober outlook on the seriousness and prevalence of violence against women. The Monologues have come a long way since they were written and first performed in 1996. They are lurid, dramatic, entertaining and moving. And they are still emotionally excruciating. But that’s how you know they matter.

Editor’s note: Associate Editor Shana Lebowitz ’10 was Head Coordinator of The Vagina Monologues.

THEATER

‘Dreaming’ captures reality of Mumbai’s slums ■ Zohar Fuller’s ’10 play was

a thoughtful reflection on her experiences in Mumbai.

By LIAT ZABLUDOVSKY JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

At the conclusion of Zohar Fuller’s ’10 senior thesis play Dreaming Up Nonsense, the audience stood in awe, discussing their reactions. One audience member summed up the performance particularly well: “Amazing how much thought went into everything,” observed Sarit Friedman ’13.

It was this meticulous detail that characterized not only the performance by the actors, but also the stage design and various elements of the show. There did not seem to be any component of the piece that went overlooked by Fuller. There was the makeshift performance room with walls of plastic and tarp, the projections of video clips from Fuller’s own trip to Mumbai, the unique and surprising interactions with the audience and even the authentic Indian kurtas. Not one element seemed neglected, and the resulting performance reflected it.

Dreaming Up Nonsense, besides

being incredibly well-executed and well-acted, also offered a take-home message to its audience. As the thesis project for Fuller’s independent interdisciplinary major in Theatre for Social Change, the play was intended to offer a perspective on going abroad to volunteer, women’s education, the unsanitary and almost unlivable conditions of Mumbai and Mumbai’s culture, which is so different from our own in the emphasis it places on religious fulfillment over academic and economic achievement.

Dreaming Up Nonsense is a semiautobiographical piece about the time that Fuller spent in Mumbai with a group of young schoolchildren teaching them to put on a street play.

The students were transformed by the creative outlet, each of them growing into confident, enthusiastic dreamers by the end of the performance. The play follows Laura (Carly Lenhoff ’13)—who portrays Zohar’s perspective—through her experiences in Mumbai, as well as the evolution of a particular student, Aadesh (Tony Rios ’11) and his relationship with his abusive father (Hank Lin ’10).

Upon our arrival at Spingold Theater Center, audience members stood waiting to be invited into the rehearsal room where the performance

was held. A few minutes before showtime, Demitra Kampakis ’13 crawled into the lobby and began silently and enthusiastically examining each person. She poked at shoes, pulled at coats and even stole gum from one of the audience members. Moments later, Bryan Prywes ’11 and Bryan Belok ’12 walked into Spingold lobby and began playing a game with a red rubber ball. The audience was captivated by these interactions, and the scene took on a surreal quality.

Though the Spingold lobby is not quite the same as a street in Mumbai, it began to feel that way as we watched the costumed actors socialize with each other and with us.

Following the performance in the lobby, we were led through several hallways and into a rehearsal room.

As we navigated through the small trail of space left between the wall of the rehearsal room and the homemade tarp of the inner performance room, there was a general, overwhelming feeling of being cramped and crowded. On the projector screen as we walked in, a similar encounter was occurring in the Mumbai streets—a small path flooded with eager people that looked undoubtedly cramped and crowded. We were instructed to sit on the floor, offered only a small amount of space and

then were left to feel uncomfortable and restricted for the remainder of the play.

“I was offered using the black box theater in Spingold,” explained Fuller, “but I really needed the audience … to feel trapped and to get a sense of the slum itself. … I didn’t want the audience to feel comfortable.” Fuller liked the classroom feeling of floor seating as much of the play took place in a classroom setting, but she also wanted to create the impression for the audience of being part of the crowd. She wanted to share what she felt while in Mumbai as a white foreigner; she wanted the audience to feel like it was on display and a part of the show.

The acting itself was flawless. Each actor paid as much attention to the details of his or her role as Fuller did to the rest of the performance. This was particularly apparent during the more emotional scenes, such as one shared between Aadesh and his father toward the end of the show. The audience sat on the floor as the two actors shared the powerful scene, and the makeshift room filled with raw emotion. As the two argued, the audience sat completely still, captivated by the spirit of the performance.

In writing the piece, Fuller’s goal

was to enlighten Americans about the lives led by these people living in the slums of Mumbai and the issues that they face on a daily basis. The play also discusses the idea that volunteering abroad is not necessarily a helpful endeavor, especially when there is no follow-up. (Luckily, Fuller’s program will be running again this year, and another Brandeis student will be following up on the work she did during her time there.) Mostly, though, she wanted to reveal her message through theater.

“It really is one of the only things that doesn’t require anything but your body. … Just teaching [the kids] the great things they can do with their bodies, if anything, that’s what I left them with. And also that theater specifically is a source of empowerment.” With such a powerful and flawless performance, Dreaming Up Nonsense certainly accomplished its goal to connect with and educate the audience. The semi-autobiographical piece dealt seamlessly with issues of class, race, religion, culture shock, gender and a slew of other intense topics. In regards to Fuller’s goal for theater to address and mediate social issues, Dreaming Up Nonsense was a shining success.

Editor’s note: Bryan Prywes ’11 is a Justice staff writer.

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THE JUSTICE

THEATER

BTC’s ‘Cocktail’ proves intoxicating brew ■ ‘Cocktail Time in Cuba,’ a

new play by Rogelio Martinez staged by Brandeis Theater Company, explored Cuba’s indolent atmosphere with understated aplomb.

By SUJIN SHIN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Cocktail Time in Cuba by awardwinning playwright Rogelio Martinez is the story of an American journalist named Michael who is trying to pull together pieces of his life as they all crumble apart. He hasn’t written for a credible magazine for months, his relationship with his wife is essentially in shambles, his contact who promised a meeting with Fidel Castro suddenly dies in a truck accident, and nothing is going the way that he planned.

He’s come to Havana to write the article of his life, but the world seems to be plotting against him.

The stage was spare: yellowing curtains framing the back with a simple wooden outline to enclose the performance area. No other significant background drops were used save two sandy-colored walls on the sides with simple rectangular cutouts for doors. The props were worn and old—not particularly Cuban, but overall in stride with the rustic feel of the set. The lights were warm and yellow, bringing to mind the soft and balmy tones of the Cuban sun and sand. No one would want to leave the Caribbean beaches, but the feeling the set evoked was not so much a warm vacation area as a humid prison. The constancy of the yellow light was an inescapable reminder of where the characters were and how quickly time slips by if every day is the same. I give much commendation to

the director and all of the show’s designers for this very minimalist but effective execution of scenic artistry.

The cast, as is usual with the Brandeis Theater Company, was well-suited to the play. Benjamin Rosenblatt (GRAD), who played Michael, finely portrayed a man who was a little here, a little there and generally nervous and reactive.

His energetic performance balanced out that of Robert McFadyen’s (GRAD) who played the lanky, imperturbable and opportunistic Henry. Though Henry was not as multifaceted a character as Michael, and though McFadyen’s inherent talents weren’t able to shine in such a narrow role, he still performed with a relaxedness and ease in character that only comes with years of training and a natural flair for acting. Marisela, Michael’s Cuban love interest, played by McCaela Donovan (GRAD), was a sultry and fiery Latina with an air of mystery around her. But Donovan also gives her character a depth beyond what the role demanded, a kind of spark that makes Marisela a more memorable and genuine woman. The speech given by Johnnie L. McQuarley (GRAD) as he played the purported Castro (whether he was really Castro or not is debatable), was engaging and also humorous at the same time. His monologue was the most emotional and moving part of the whole play. The cast is rounded out by Equiano Mosieri (GRAD), who played with great believability the intimidating yet backhandedly benevolent Ruben. Finally there is Levi Rion Ben-Israel (GRAD), who played many different characters. None of them had many spoken words, but his characters each had a gripping stage presence—even the statue.

One notable aspect of the theatrical artistry was the contrast between the sleepier speed of the

MIKE LOVETT/Brandeis Theater Company

ISLAND INTERVIEWS: Benjamin Rosenblatt (GRAD), left, acts opposite Robert McFadyen (GRAD) in ‘Cocktail Time in Cuba.’ scenes and the sudden alarming transitions. The ends of the scenes were accompanied by a loud screeching sound, like the rewinding of a tape recorder. Most of the time, the sounds were indistinguishable and disconcerting. But they paralleled what was happening to Michael during his time in Cuba.

He keeps being wrenched away from his plans and expectations for his stay, often by surprises and unwanted news. The junction of the two created a very effective way of keeping the audience’s attention, in the vein of Haydn’s Surprise Sym-

phony. However, something about the scenes lacked a certain dynamism. One would feel as if the scenes dragged a bit, as if the Cuban heat itself was slowing the action down. And yet combining what should be moving and emotional times, like a surprise pregnancy, Michael’s darker past or Marisela’s desperate pleas for Michael to stay with the tired movement of the scenes softened the blows of the revelations and left the emotional shockers to the transitional whirs.

However, just as Michael says to Castro, “Your vanity isn’t allowing

anyone to live their lives,” my own vanity isn’t allowing me to fully appreciate this play. I don’t particularly like the plot devices that were utilized during the second act; the loud transitions kept me jumping uncomfortably in my seat; and for the life of me, I couldn’t understand the symbolism of staging scenes around the statue of John Lennon in a Cuban park. But then again, I’m a picky eater. If one enjoys political commentary, a unique storyline and natural-yet-driven dialogue, Cocktail Time in Cuba is a fine play to watch and mull over.

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010

Liquid Latex illuminates Levin

MAX BREITSTEIN MATZA/the Justice

EMOTIONS EMBODIED: Dancers in Liquid Latex’s final act, shown above during the finale, represented emotions accidentally released into the world.

ASHER KRELL/the Justice

MIME MAN: A dancer from “Circus” shows off his paint before the show.

Ensembles show energy

By REBECCA BROOKS JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

At the crossroad of eroticism and progressive expressionism, one leaves behind clothing and inhibitions in exchange for latex paint and provocative dance. Liquid Latex’s 2010 performance, subtitled “Social Skin,” accomplished this last Thursday when Brandeis students ranging from dancers and painters to choreographers showed off their creative talents through a variety of interpretive dances in the crowded Levin Ballroom. With only 10 sets in two acts, Liquid Latex forced the already openminded student body to push the envelope and accept the natural beauty of the human form.

The first performance of the night, “Circus,” hyped up the energy already racing through the room. “Revolution,” the next set in the show, was much more intense and highly charged. The dance told the story of a police officer enforcing the law on those who refused to conform to the strictures of society; however, the rebels get revenge and start a revolution.

With its erotic choreography, occasionally spiced with a humorous action by one of the models, the audience was enthralled from beginning to end.

“The Botany of Desire” was one of my favorite performances. It retold the story of Adam and Eve but switched things around by having Adam eat the apple first and then offer it to Eve. The models were painted like animals from the Garden of Eden, and the painting was phenomenal. The snake was especially well-done as it sinuously curled around the body of the model. The choreography was less structured and more along the lines of interpretive dance, giving the story a poetic feel. The creators of this act chose the music well; a soft, melodic song played when Adam and Eve frolicked with the animals, but when Adam took a bite of the apple, Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” blasted from the speakers.

The next set, “Man vs. Empire Brain Building,” was a cute story about the stresses of the modern man. Because of its simple plotline, it lacked the intensity of some of the other performances, but it managed to draw some laughs through the funny disco moves and unexpected can can dance by the models.

“Biohazard,” the last scene in the first half of the night, was probably the most extensive with the exception of the grand finale. It really pushed the envelope with its onstage kissing but toned down by having the bacteria in sombreros chasing the doctor soon after. The music was great; the models danced to cutesy songs like “Doctor Jones” by Aqua and then some Lady Gaga (again).

Act II began with a skit called “For My Eyes Only” in which six women danced to the “Cell Block Tango” from the Chicago: the Musical soundtrack. As one of the most erotic performances of the night, it was definitely a crowd (and more specifically, the men’s) favorite. Although it began with Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” (I know—again), it quickly moved into the famous song from the musical. The choreography was very good; all of the models knew their steps and performed them with precision. What was a little disappointing, however, was that not all of the dancers knew the words to the song.

The “Runway: World Runner” skit kind of threw me off. All of the previous acts had specific themes that the performers tried to portray, but this show just reminded me of an avant-garde fashion show. I can’t say I understood most of the costumes, but the detail was astounding. There was no Lady Gaga (thank the Lord), and the music was different and fun.

In “Dancing in the Streets,” all of the childhood characters were represented: Big Bird, Elmo, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, etc. Big Bird had an amazing paint job and was coated in yellow feathers. Oscar the Grouch frowned throughout his entire song, and you couldn’t help but want to hand Cookie Monster a cookie just for being so endearing.

The grand finale of the night, titled “:-D ;-* 8^{ :-0 >:-[ :’(,” was by far the best performance. The story is that when the “Wise Voice” created humans, he/she/it decided to withhold emotions from humans, but a few escaped. The dancing was sensational. The paint on these “emotions” was on a whole other level.

The best was the two-faced man, who was grotesque yet compelling. I am so glad that Liquid Latex made this the final act; the choreography, music, lights, set and everything fit together perfectly. Bravo!

I laughed, I cried, I felt uncomfortable, but not once did I consider leaving the show. The energy of the performers made it an electric night. Some of the music, on the other hand, was a little repetitive.

There should have been more collaboration between the creators of each act: There was a lot of Lady Gaga, which made for less variety. A lot of credit, however, must go to the models themselves.

They were the ones with enough self-confidence to dance nude in front of a large percentage of the student body; without their talent and (dare I say it?) chutzpah, the show would not have been nearly as successful as it was. Everyone seemed extremely enthusiastic about what they were doing, and because they had so much fun, the audience, in turn, had a blast.

MAX BREITSTEIN MATZA/the Justice

BRAIN BOYS: “Man Vs. Empire Brain Building” depicted stresses on the psyche of the modern man.

MAX BREITSTEIN MATZA/the Justice

POLICE BRUTALITY: In “Revolution,” a group of rebels takes on an overly oppressive police officer.

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THE JUSTICE

OFF CAMPUS FOOD

Teatro’s menu offers tantalizing tastes ■ The bustling restaurant

provides an elegant dining experience at a fair price.

By HANNAH KIRSCH JUSTICE EDITOR

When I embarked upon the torturous, tantalizing road of vegetarianism last April, I knew there would be challenges, and I knew there would be regrets. But never had I felt pangs of regret so sharp as the ones I suffered upon reading the description of modernized Italian restaurant Teatro’s namesake burger: “10 oz. All Natural Niman Ranch Ground Beef With Fontina, Crispy Pancetta, Oven Cured Tomato Jam, Onion, Arugula, Roasted Garlic Aioli & Rosemary Fries.”

Holding back additional groans at the sight of pappardelle with Marsalaglazed veal meatballs a little further down the menu, I turned my attention to the varied selection of piattini, or small-plate appetizers intended for sharing. My similarly vegetarian—if thoroughly regretless—dining companion and I selected the eggplant caponata with Parmesan toasts after briefly considering other fresco plates, like the tangerine and shaved fennel salad, and caldo plates like porcini butter and Parmesan risotto. We did not choose poorly. Studded with briny olive halves and papered with fresh basil, the caponata took eggplant, an often capricious vegetable that can be tough and bitter in the wrong hands, and turned it into a tender, mouthwatering complexity mixed with a shot of sweet caramelized onions. Although we loaded as much as possible onto the mere three thin toasts provided, we were left glancing surreptitiously at the ample remainder, wondering whether good manners forbade us from forking caponata directly out of the dish.

We were forced to glance because the bread, a heartier three slices, arrived simultaneously with the main course rather than with the appetizer: The service was not poor, but it was absolutely oddly paced. I might attribute this to the fact that the dining room, a softly blue-lit, arched-ceiling Art Deco

KRISTIN TEIG/Columbus Hospitality Group

EXCELLENT EATING: Customers at Teatro enjoy luxuriant meals in the restaurant’s spacious and elegant dining room, which can be noisy and chaotic when filled with diners. interior that was originally a synagogue (take note, approximately 50 percent of Brandeisians) was packed to the brim, leaving little room to maneuver and causing a few scares when the server at the table next to ours poked an elbow dangerously close to my head.

At first, the efficiency of the service was, in fact, worrying. The speed at which the piping hot plate of spinach and mascarpone ravioli dressed with crème fraiche and parsley arrived led me to speculate, briefly, that the ravioli might have become tough and dry after marinating under a heat lamp.

But one bite of the tender pasta stuffed with tangy green filling dispelled all fears. Cutting the ravioli in half to nobly sacrifice a taste to my friend, I glanced at the ceiling of the former synagogue and pondered whether Solomon would have decreed that the ravioli be split or that she who loved the ravioli more allow her friend to enjoy the whole dumpling. My friend opted for a simple tomato pizza with fresh mozzarella and oregano, and although the dish itself is almost plebian as far as Italian dining goes, the perfectly crisped crust and complex sauce

made it a delight.

If the entrées and appetizer were any indication, the desserts should have been delicious. But none was compelling or creative enough to induce us to have one; vanilla panna cotta with fresh berries and even the mocha semifreddo just seemed standard, and we opted to splurge only so far as having wine with our meal rather than try an unadventurous dessert.

Teatro is just upscale enough to jazz up a night on the town—for which it is conveniently situated at 177 Tremont St., across from the Boylston T stop,

next to the movie theater and minutes away from theaters and concert halls— but not so upscale as to be intimidatingly priced. A shared appetizer and a main course and glass of wine each, plus tip, cost me and my dining companion $34 each, a reasonable rate for our classy evening. And passing through the dining room that, an hour and a half later, was still full to capacity let me preview the pile of calamari with lemon aioli, grilled asparagus and wild mushroom pizza, and vegetable polpetti that I’m going to try when I go back.

FOOD

Great deals abound as Restaurant Week returns ■ Prominent Hub eateries

will offer discounted prix-fixe menus through March 26.

By COLEMAN MAHLER JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A lot of students here may have heard of Restaurant Week Boston, but they might not know what it actually is. Beginning two days ago, many of Boston’s restaurants, including some of its best, are offering prix-fixe menus for generally low prices. This year the prices set for most restaurants on the list are twocourse lunches for $15.10, three-course lunches for $20.10 and three-course dinners for $33.10. This is really a fantastic deal when you consider some of the restaurants on the list, though not so great for others. So the name of the game when it comes to choosing a restaurant during Restaurant Week is getting your money’s worth and finding a bargain.

The “Week” is actually two, ranging from March 14-19 and then again from the 21st through the 26th. Unfortunately, this schedule excludes Saturdays, days that might be the best for many students to get lunch, but Friday is still a great time to grab a great dinner—and great dinners are to be had.

As I said, the key is choosing the right restaurants, so listed below are a few that I recommend where you can feel like you experienced a great meal for an incredibly low price—though $33 isn’t exactly low for a college student, at some of these restaurants an entree can cost upwards of $35.

The first I’ll recommend is my per-

sonal favorite restaurant in the city (Cambridge, actually): the East Coast Grill, owned by Chris Schlesinger, famous for his series of grilling cookbooks (Thrill of the Grill, Let the Flames Begin, License to Grill, etc.) and his other past restaurants, including the Blue Room. The Grill only has a dinner menu available for Restaurant Week with a selection of appetizers, entrées and dessert. The restaurant specializes in seafood with Latin American and Caribbean flavors, as well as barbecue.

The appetizers include fish tacos and Vietnamese BBQ pork; the entrées, jerk bluefish with tamarind jam, a big bowl of mussels and chourico; the desserts, mango-berry crisp. Note that this is only a partial menu—I’m just picking off what looks the most interesting. But there will always be fantastic sides as well, which you’ll have to order separately. These include my all-time favorite, deep-fried plantains, and no one does them better than Schlesinger.

No. 9 Park is also a good bet for a great meal. Run by the James Beard Award-winning chef Barbara Lynch for the past 10 years, it’s perennially considered one of the best restaurants in the city. Lynch now has other restaurants in the city including B&G Oysters, The Butcher Shop and Sportello. But No. 9 is the flagship, serving contemporary Italian and French dishes. First courses include seared foie gras, or goose or duck liver, and a fluke crudo.

Second courses include potato gnocchi with mushroom ragu and a slow roasted skirt steak; for desserts, choose from lime tart, crème fraiche mousse and a chocolate napoleon. Lynch’s signature dish, prune-stuffed gnocchi, is conspicuously absent, but for $33, this

JUSTIN IDE/Barbara Lynn Gruppo

SPECIAL SERVINGS: No. 9 Park is one of many area restaurants offering discounted meals as part of Restaurant Week Boston. menu still sounds like a home run. Unfortunately No. 9, like the East Coast Grill, only offers a dinner menu.

You may now be asking, what about lunch? As for that, I have two recommendations: Toro and L’Espalier. Toro is owned by Ken Oringer, one of Boston’s premier chefs and owner of Clio and Uni Sashimi Bar, and it offers a great menu filled with different tapas.

Toro also offers a great dinner menu.

The lunch menu is not available on Sunday and the Restaurant Week menu is not available on Saturday, but if you

can make it out there during the week, get ready for some of the best tapas in the city. L’Espalier, Boston’s premier French restaurant, offers a lunch menu for $20 and unofficial dinner menu for $42. The lunch menu offers grilled Thai shrimp with spaghetti squash, roasted Berkshire pork loin and tropical mousse cake with lychee foam. Also, L’Espalier is running Restaurant Week menus all month long, so it doesn’t have the same time restriction as some other places.

With any of these restaurants, try to

make sure you get a reservation in advance, except at Toro, which does not take reservations. Some of these places are nestled deep into Boston, so make sure you have time and patience to get there. Otherwise, get ready for a great meal at a great price. If you want to stay local, both Il Capriccio and Solea are offering dinner menus. Of course, part of the fun of the Week is finding restaurants you didn’t know existed, so you can check out the menus for the places at www.restaurantweekboston.com, and happy hunting!

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010

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MUSIC

MAD RAVEN DISAPPOINTS

Goulding establishes her name in ‘Lights’ Brad

STERN POP MUSE

MAX BREITSTEIN MATZA/the Justice

MADDENING RAVEN: The Mad Raven’s strong points include friendly décor and delicious sweet potato fries, but the service is very spotty and many dishes are unfulfilling.

Waltham pub pales in service ■ Though it boasts a unique

atmosphere, the Mad Raven offers inconsistent dishes and inattentive waitstaff.

By KELSEY GRAB and JASON HENRY SIMON-BIERENBAUM JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

On one of the rare weeknights a Brandeis workload allows for it, Waltham boasts a wide variety of options to break up the monotony of Aramark. With St. Patrick’s Day coming in less than a week, the Mad Raven, an Irish-themed sports pub, seemed like a good idea. We walked in and sat ourselves down at a small booth. At 6 p.m. we were the only college students present in a room of 30to 40-year-olds, but it still felt comfortable for us.

The setting had a little bit of everything. Four flat screens were tuned to sports, but it wasn’t exactly a sports bar. There were St. Patrick’s Day decorations and a few other bits of Irish flair, but the decor was not overwhelmingly Irish. The soundtrack was mainly indie music and laid-back in general, balancing out the sports bar element. While boasting a complete menu, the Raven did not exactly feel like a restaurant, even with most of the tables full of people eating. It was full of vintage concert posters and signs from random cities but didn’t feel like a T.G.I. Friday’s or Applebee’s. It felt like the Mad Raven.

The service was disappointing at best. The waitress had a subtle Irish accent, which added to the authentic atmosphere. She was nice, but the service overall was not memorable.

When we were asking for dinner suggestions, she gave one to each of us in regard to our stated palates and did not offer much description. The soup took about 15 minutes to come out, which seemed like a long time considering that soups are normally premade and warmed in restaurant kitchens. Our water glasses were not refilled. After the restaurant started getting a little busy (it was almost dead at about 5:45, but by 6:30 was about three-quarters full) we wondered if the waitress had forgotten about us as we looked at our finished plates.

KELSEY’S MEAL French Onion Soup Kelsey: At first sight I was impressed by how nice it looked. That a French onion soup was not overflow-

ing surprised me. I was happy that the first sip did not have an overbearing amount of salt—I find that with French onion soup, the salt content often takes away from the soup.

On the second sip I realized that while it was not bad soup, it was not especially good either. The reason it did not overflow was because there was not enough cheese. The croutons were too soggy, and there was no excess of onions on the bottom. All $5.95, this was way too expensive for a mediocre-tasting, small bowl of soup.

It is listed as an entrée on the lunch menu, but I advise otherwise—this barely filled me up and did not impress me.

Jason: It looked pretty good. Gooey, but not too messy in the expected French-onion-soup-style crock.

Steak Tips Kelsey: These looked fantastic.

They were smothered in sweet barbeque sauce and were fairly well cooked for steak tips. I ordered these medium rare to test them, and they ended up closer to well done, but this is to be expected of steak tips. For the quality of meat steak tips usually are, these were quite good—they tasted soft and sweet. The texture was surprising for a tip meat: It was not too chewy but certainly no filet mignon.

The barbeque sauce was exquisite and really made the tips something special.

Jason: It looked like meat. It smelled like meat. Five bucks says it tasted like meat.

Veggies Kelsey: I am such a stickler with my vegetables. I hate when restaurants try to overdo and overspice their veggies. The Mad Raven assured me that fresh vegetables would be good on their own, and they were.

They were not grilled or seasoned, but a light oil and steamed flavor left them tasting like fresh zucchini, summer squash and carrots. It was great.

The portion could have been a little larger, but all in all, I was really happy with this side dish.

Jason: They had a nice slivered cut to them that made for a nice medley.

Nothing too interesting, but fresh. A good complement to a meaty, starchy meal.

Sweet Potato Fries Kelsey: Brandeisians, this is what you’ve been waiting for. Ever since The Stein gave up their sweet potato fries there has been an outcry for replacement. I have found it. These were fantastic. A huge portion accompanied my steak tips, and after a few bites I was wondering if I’d even want to try my other dishes. The fries

were well-cooked but not burnt.

Jason: The few Kelsey let me have were very good. As a self-proclaimed French fry connoisseur, these were some of the better sweet potato fries.

They were well-crisped on the outside while remaining tender on the inside.

They were balanced well by what the menu called “Cajun Mayo.”

JASON’S MEAL Raven’s Brew Beer Jason: This sounded exciting. I’m a fan of home or microbrews, so why not start with this while perusing the menu? I figured it would set the tone well. Despite being labeled as and appearing like a dark beer, the flavor was rather weak, reminiscent of a mass-produced pale lager. It was drinkable but not at all filling. While to some that may be the sign of a good meal accompaniment, when I order a dark beer, I expect rich, sometimes mildly bitter flavor. It was good but nothing that memorable, especially when there were better beers on draft for that price.

Kelsey: Well, Jason did not reek of beer afterwards. I appreciated that. It didn’t smell like a strong brew, and I was surprised by how dark it was.

Was there food coloring in it?

Veggie Burger Jason: Know how I said I expected the home-brew beer to set the tone for the meal? It did. This sounded interesting but left me very unsatisfied.

According to the menu it was “topped with Cajun mayo, grilled eggplant, zucchini, and peppers.” If the Cajun mayo was on the veggie burger to begin with, it was so weak I had to ask for more to notice it. The grilled vegetables on top were very small and unnoticeable. The biggest disappointment was the very burger itself.

After nearly eight years of being vegetarian, I’ve eaten a wide variety of veggie burgers in restaurants, boxed at the supermarket or made from scratch, and this was easily one of the least interesting. It was like a pattyshaped blob of green mush punctuated by peas that were still a bit hard.

It was so soft that with each bite I took, the “burger” would squish out onto my plate. It fell apart just halfway into eating it and I was left holding onto a soggy bottom bun.

This was not the most attractive thing to have happen on a date. The highlight of the sandwich was its Cajun mayo sauce (after having to ask the server for more and only getting a small portion) which tasted like a less flavorful remoulade (a usually delicious Cajun staple).

Kelsey: This was all Jason. It

looked like a fresh veggie burger, all veggie-ish. It was really messy looking and mushy.

Seasoned Fries Jason: Seasoned? I think there was a little red pepper on one or two of the fries. These were steak fries. They were pretty good, especially after adding some pepper or dipping in ketchup. However, with the name “Seasoned Fries,” I was disappointed.

Kelsey: These had nothing on my sweet potato fries.

AS A DATE Jason: This meal left me unsatisfied. For a restaurant whose Web site boasts of its “healthy portions,” I did not leave full, and my appetite is not that big. I contemplated dessert (a rarity for me), but after that meal none of the desserts’ descriptions excited me that much at $5.50 each. The waitress did not even try to convince us. Yes, it’s bar food. No, it’s not exactly the place for vegetarians.

Maybe I was so disappointed because the good write-ups in the menu were way better than the actual food, and if I went in with lowered expectations (just sneaking a snack and a drink) I might enjoy what the Mad Raven has to offer.

We knew going into it that this wasn’t a place that necessarily caters to dates. However, it did not work well at all. The atmosphere was fun, maybe nice for drinks on a double date, but the echoes started to make conversation hard and the disappointing food did not set a romantic tone. It was one of the few times I left a restaurant feeling unhappy.

Kelsey: I really enjoyed my meal.

I’m not sure this place is made for a date. When we got here at 6 p.m. it was quiet and calm, but by 6:30 it was bustling with young professionals out for a drink on a Thursday night. The atmosphere seemed to try to be friendly with its indie pop music (which I really loved) and the pretty decorations by the bar, but it is still a sports bar. There were three large TVs with either ESPN or ESPN2 on.

Don’t get me wrong: This was not a dive bar by any stretch, but the candle on the table did not create my tender moments. I would go here with my friends for dinner, but I would not expect Jason to try and impress me romantically here.

So maybe you should not take your vegetarian boyfriend to a place that has a whole page dedicated to burgers but swears by its veggie burger.

Jason: Will I probably eat again at the Mad Raven? Quoth the raven, nevermore.

Lights is the debut album released March 1 by Ellie Goulding, the 23year-old British electro-pop chanteuse recently awarded (or damned with, depending on your interpretation) the title of BBC’s Sound of 2010 Artist.

The distinction stems from a list compiled at the start of each year by the broadcasting network responsible for predicting the next movers and shakers in the industry (Little Boots topped the list in 2009, Adele in 2008).

With the title also comes a responsibility to deliver, something that has always seemed to plague the shortlist of winners with an impossible amount of criticism and hype before their debut ever reaches shelves.

Luckily, Ellie Goulding can officially breathe a sigh of relief.

Lights is a buoyant, fluttery album complete with 10 numbers that flow together effortlessly, all tied together with Goulding’s signature childlike warble that falls somewhere between Joanna Newsom and a far less moody Lily Allen; strong for belting, though often fragile enough to shatter into pieces at the end of each word’s syllables.

The cohesive quality of Lights can be largely credited to its main producer, Starsmith, a newcomer to the mainstream music scene as well. The two established a wonderful working relationship (as seen in the ever-increasing number of YouTube videos they recorded together) that lent itself to the strong collection of tracks that became the singer’s debut. The producer’s work on Lights is as responsible for Goulding’s skyrocketing to fame as it is his own; now he’s producing for a variety of major-ticket acts including Cheryl Cole and Diana Vickers.

“Starry Eyed” and “Under the Sheets,” the album’s two lead singles, are undoubtedly its strongest offerings: the former a hectic explosion of twinkling sounds and jittery vocal tics that won the blogosphere’s approval as one of Goulding’s first offerings to the public, the latter a brilliant, kaleidoscopic mesh of plodding drums and exasperated cries of “We’re under the sheets, and you’re killing me!” that easily trumped most of the other pop singles released last year.

While it’s true that there aren’t many obvious standouts on the record, that fact doesn’t take away from the album’s plentiful successes.

“This Love (Will Be Your Downfall)” is probably the album’s greatest triumph apart from its singles, as Ellie goes through the motions of a relationship: “This love is be and end all/This love will be your downfall,” she warns throughout the glittering, dance-ready chorus.

The spectacular combination of synth-pop, vocal layering and dramatic strings grant “Your Biggest Mistake” some of the catchiest riffs and brightest melodies of the bunch.

Later on, during the chilly longing of “Wish I Stayed,” Ellie touches down to Earth in the song’s echoed introduction and prompts: “Why can’t we speak another language, one we all agree on? Why when men look outside, they see houses, instead of the fields they grew from?”

Goulding’s debut is an honest, delicate collection of flowing ambient pop that doesn’t fill the airwaves with messy gobs of loud instrumentation—a welcome addition to counter the increasingly busy sound of pop in 2010. While the album may not produce any gigantic radio hits, there are still plenty of wonderful, heaven-sent sounds and melodies here to keep Lights burning bright long after the first play.

24

TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010

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THE JUSTICE

TOP of the

ARTS ON VIEW

TRIVIA TIME 1. Who wrote the children’s book Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing?

2. Who played the lead roles in The Silence of the Lambs?

3. What kind of bird is the fastmoving Road Runner?

4. What occupation is traditionally associated with leprechauns?

5. Who wrote the song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”?

6. What is the modern-day equivalent of the ailment once described as “grippe”?

7. The country of Wales was known in Roman times by what name?

8. What figure is depicted by the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World?

9. Which two letters of the alphabet have the highest values in the game of Scrabble?

CHARTS Top 10s for the week ending March 16 BOX OFFICE 1. Alice in Wonderland 2. Green Zone 3. She’s Out Of My League 4. Remember Me 5. Shutter Island 6. Our Family Wedding 7. Avatar 8. Brooklyn’s Finest 9. Cop Out 10. The Crazies

WBRS 1. Judy Blume 2. Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins 3. Cuckoo 4. Shoemaking 5. John Lennon and Paul McCartney 6. Influenza 7. Cambria 8. The Greek sun god Helios 9. Q and Z, 10 points apiece A. ELI TUKACHINSKY/the Justice

ANSWERS

CROSSWORD

SHOWTIMES 3/19 - 3/25 Green Zone Fri-Sun 1, 4, 7, 9:35 Mon-Thurs 2:30, 5, 8:10 The Hurt Locker Fri-Sun 12:40, 3:40, 6:40, 9:30 Mon-Thurs 2:10, 4:50, 7:40 The Bounty Hunter Fri-Sun 1:10, 4:10, 7:10, 9:45 Mon-Thurs 2:40, 5:10, 8:20 Shutter Island Fri-Sun 12:30, 3:30, 6:30, 9:30 Mon-Thurs 2, 4:50, 7:50 The Ghost Writer Fri-Sun 12:50, 3:50, 6:50, 9:40 Mon-Thurs 2:20, 5, 8 Alice in Wonderland Fri-Sun 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, 9:45 Mon-Thurs 2:50, 5:10, 8:30

ACROSS 1. Neatnik’s bane 5. Navigation aid 8. Small plateau 12. Hippocratic, e.g.

13. Blackbird 14. Previous nights 15. Wound reminder 16. Lunchbox occupant, usually 18. Tears to smithereens 20. Culpable 21. Cry 23. Conclusion 24. Chicago Poems writer 28. Suitable 31. Ostrich’s cousin 32. Attempted 34. Away from WSW 35. Grand story 37. Resin used in making varnish 39. Drunkard 41. Intend 42. Noah’s mountain 45. “Monty —” 49. Where the Chargers play 51. Rabbit 52. Not pizzicato 53. Modern prefix 54. Greek vowels 55. Hammerhead part 56. — Aviv 57. Thaw DOWN 1. Rolling stone’s lack 2. Apiece 3. Luminary 4. Crafty 5. Rubbers?

6. Literary collection 7. Pong preceder 8. Kitten’s commentary 9. Villain 10. Denomination 11. Wan 17. Payable 19. Amount owed 22. Trojan War king 24. Glimpse

COLLEGE RADIO 1. Spoon – Transference 2. Beach House – Teen Dream 3. Hot Chip – One Life Stand 4. Yeasayer – ODD BLOOD 5. Vampire Weekend – Contra 6. Magnetic Fields – Realism 7. Fourtet – There Is Love In You 8. Surfer Blood – Astro Coast 9. Charlotte Gainsbourg – IRM 10. Los Campesinos! – Romance Is Boring

BILLBOARD

25.

26.

27.

29.

30.

33.

36.

38.

40.

42.

43.

44.

46.

47.

48.

50.

Rock band’s need Pest Interbreeding data — budget Year-end abbr.

Crucial time Rope (off) Country song?

Skater Babilonia Pronto, on a memo Exceptional Circus covering Loathe Exam format Egg container “Golly!”

1. Lady Antebellum – Need You Now 2. Sade – Soldier of Love 3. Blake Shelton – Hillbilly Bone (EP) 4. Danny Gokey – My Best Days 5. Soundtrack – Alice in Wonderland: Almost Alice 6. Lifehouse – Smoke & Mirrors 7. Lady Gaga – The Fame 8. Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D. 9. Raheem DeVaughn – The Love & War Masterpeace 10. Easton Corbin – Easton Corbin Album information provided by Billboard Magazine. Box office information provided by Yahoo! Movies. Radio charts provided by CMJ.

STAFF PLAYLIST

“One Love”

By MAX BREITSTEIN MATZA

Solution to last issue’s crossword.

King Crossword Copyright 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.

STRANGE BUT TRUE It was British romance author Jilly Cooper who made the following observation: “The male is a domestic animal which, if treated with firmness, can be trained to do most things.”

What do Steve Martin, Donald Trump, Dan Aykroyd, Gene Simmons, Leslie Nielsen, Burt Reynolds, Jerry Seinfeld and Peter Sellers have in common? They’ve all been featured on the cover of Playboy magazine.

Those who study such things claim that the hair on top of your head grows more rapidly than the hair on the sides of your head.

The Embassy is located at 18 Pine Street in Waltham

1. Phantogram – “Mouthful of Diamonds” 2. Yeasayer – “Ambling Alp” 3. Cash Box Kings – “I-94 Blues” 4. Joanna Newsom – “Go Long” 5. Frightened Rabbit – “The Loneliness” 6. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists – “Ativan Eyes” 7. Lawrence Arabia – “Look Like A Fool” 8. The Bird and the Bee – “Sara Smile” 9. Four Year Strong – “Flannel Is the Color of My Energy” 10. Drink Up Buttercup – “Gods and Gentlemen”

If you’re up on your Biblical standards of measurement, you probably already know that a handbreadth equals three inches, a span is nine inches and a cubit equals 18 inches.

Before horror author Stephen King became famous for novels such as Carrie, The Stand and The Shining, he wrote four novels and 60 short stories that failed to be accepted for publication.

If you’re ever visiting Woodruff, Wisc., be sure to stop by and see its penny. The tourist attraction is 10 feet tall and weighs 17,452 pounds.

It’s not surprising that the word fondue comes from the French verb fondre, which means “to melt.”

With the health care debate so much in the news these days, you’ve probably heard of the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb. Given its multibillion-dollar revenues today, you may be surprised to learn that way back in the 19th century when William McLaren Bristol and John Ripley Myers were just getting started, they paid a mere $5,000 for their fledgling pharmaceutical company.

If you suffer from ophidiophobia—and many people do—you may find the following tidbit to be rather unsettling: There are more than 3,000 different species of snakes.

Thought for the Day: “A clever person solves a problem.

A wise person avoids it.” —Albert Einstein

JUSTICE EDITOR

All praise to the most high, His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie I, Jah Rastafari! to whom all blessing flow. Screw your hat on tight, because this playlist will blow your bumboclaat baldheads. As King David says, “Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like grass. And they shall whither like the green herb” (Psalms 27:1). Jah liveth!

THE LIST 1. Peter Tosh – “Igziabeher” 2. Augustus Pablo – “We Rule the School” 3. Peter Tosh – “No Sympathy” 4. Skatalites – “The Reburial” 5. Lee Scratch Perry & the Upsetters – “Soul Fire” 6. King Tubby & the Skatalites – “Zion I Dub” 7. The Congos – “Solid Foundation” 8. Lee Scratch Perry – “Fungaa” 9. Patrick Wolf – “Penzance” 10. Bob Marley – “Satta Massagana (live cover)”