The Justice, March 27, 2012 issue by The Justice

arts page 21

FORUM Reactions to Trayvon Martin killing 12

‘PHOENIX’ RISES

SPORTS Softball team splits doubleheaders 13 The Independent Student Newspaper

the

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

Justice

Volume LXIV, Number 24

www.thejustice.org

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

HOUSING BY THE NUMBERS

PUBLIC SAFETY

Crystal Shuttle fire alarms passengers

LIVING

ON CAMPUS

■ A Boston-Cambridge

Brandeis

80-81%

2,875-2,895

shuttle pulled over on Loop Road Friday night after students saw smoke.

National Average

38.5%

By TATE HERBERT JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

A Crystal Shuttle bus briefly caught on fire for unknown reasons as it was returning to campus from Cambridge last Friday night, according to University Police reports and accounts of student passengers. The Waltham Fire Department extinguished the fire and no injuries were reported. Students on the bus first detected smoke as the bus was pulling onto Loop Road at about 10:35 p.m., according to University Police’s report. The bus pulled to a stop in front of the Stoneman building, and the passengers and driver evacuated the bus out the two main doors. “I was sitting near the front of the bus, and I heard someone yell, …‘The bus is smoking,’” said Rohan Narayanan ’15 in an interview with the Justice. Narayanan was one of two students who ran inside Stoneman and notified the Department of Public

Projected number of students living on campus next year

Data provided by the Department of Community Living and the Division of Students and Enrollment.

DESIGN BY NAN PANG/the Justice

Large first-year class limits housing options ■ The Department of

Community Living gave an additional floor of the Village to sophomores. By SAM MINTZ JUSTICE EDITOR

The large size of the Class of 2015 meant that 35 fewer juniors and seniors than last year were able to select on-campus housing in this year’s housing lottery, according to Department of Community Living Senior Director Jeremy Leiferman. This shift was caused by DCL’s decision to designate an additional floor in the Village for sophomores that had previously

been reserved for upperclassmen. Sophomores are guaranteed on-campus housing, and the change had to be made to ensure that all sophomores who requested housing were accommodated. There are also slightly more students who are planning on studying abroad next spring than there are this spring, according to Leiferman. Students who are studying abroad in the spring are guaranteed on-campus housing in the fall, and an increase in these students adds to the number of students who are guaranteed housing, further cutting down on nongauranteed juniors and seniors receiving housing. According to Leiferman, changes in class designations,

Safety that the bus was on fire. The other student, Avi Cohen ’15, said that he was near the back of the bus when the fire started. “I was sitting with a friend in the back of the bus when people started yelling at the driver to pull off the road because there was smoke coming from the back of the shuttle. I turned around and there was smoke inside the bus coming out of the back wall,” Cohen wrote in an email to the Justice.

“

People started yelling. ... I turned around and there was smoke inside. AVI COHEN ’15 “When someone yelled, ‘There’s smoke in the back of the bus,’ it was like instant panic,” said Narayanan. “The moment [the bus] stopped, everyone kind of, like, jumped up and was, like, pushing people. … I was

See FIRE, 7 ☛

STUDENT LIFE

Next Pachanga to be held in Spring of 2013 ■ The annual dance was

meaning which floors of which buildings are reserved for which classes, like this one, are not abnormal. “The housing designations do change each year,” he said in an interview with the Justice. “It’s not an anomaly for us to change these designations.” Leiferman suggested that while the Class of 2015 is large compared to classes in recent years, it is not that far outside the sizes that classes have reached in the longer-term history of the University. However, a 2001 Justice article quotes then-Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Jean Eddy as saying that University admissions had a tar-

cancelled this semester because no appropriately sized venue was available. By SARA DEJENE JUSTICE EDITOR

After questions regarding Pachanga’s fate this semester, International Club President Andrea Verdeja ’14 and Vice President Michael Mutluoglu ’14 said in an interview with the Justice that Pachanga will not take place this semester. The reason, according to Verdeja and Mutluoglu, is a lack of venue. Pachanga was originally booked to take place in Levin Ballroom, but the International Club members raised concerns about whether

See LOTTERY, 7 ☛

Levin’s capacity was enough for anticipated attendance. Verdeja said that in the past, tickets for Pachanga have sold out within a few days and attendance would probably exceed Levin’s capacity, of about 700 people. For this reason, Verdeja and Mutluoglu said that they attempted to schedule the event at the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, which would be able to hold more people, but all spaces were booked a year in advance. Unless the coordinators of one event agreed to let the International Club use the space instead of them, the club would have to wait until next spring semester to hold Pachanga. In any case, Verdeja said that Pachanga will be held every spring semester, while Rumba will be held

See PACHANGA, 7 ☛

Bronstein Week

Spring awakening

Website standards

Prof. Peter Gould (PAX) explained how Bronstein Week was created in an article originally published in 1987.

 The Boston Red Sox look to turn the page on last year’s seasonending collapse with a new manager and general manager.

 Dean of Academic Services Kim Godsoe serves as chair of the Technology Accessibility Committee.

FEATURES 9

For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org

Waltham, Mass.

Let your voice be heard! Submit letters to the editor online at www.thejustice.org

INDEX

SPORTS 14

ARTS SPORTS

17 13

EDITORIAL FEATURES

10 8

OPINION POLICE LOG

10 2

COMMENTARY

News 3

TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012

●

THE JUSTICE

NEWS AP BRIEFS

POLICE LOG

Justices to hear health care case

Medical Emergency

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Supreme Court this week will take on one of the most significant issues in recent history: a challenge to the health care overhaul central to President Barack Obama’s legacy and hated by opposition Republicans. The court has acknowledged the importance of the health care law by scheduling more time for arguments than on any case in more than 45 years. Government lawyers and those representing the 26 states and private parties opposing the law will have six hours over three days beginning yesterday to make arguments. A ruling is expected later this year. The biggest issue before the nine justices is whether the government can require Americans to acquire health insurance. Businesses could also face a fine if they fail to provide employees with insurance. The Obama administration argues that the insurance requirements, known as the individual mandate, are permissible because the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the right to regulate interstate commerce. It notes that health care costs consume 17 percent of the U.S. economy. Opponents argue that the mandate unconstitutionally requires Americans to buy a product and interferes with the rights of the 50 states to set their own insurance rules. Federal judges in lower courts have come down on both sides of the question, forcing the issue onto the Supreme Court docket. The suits challenging the law could result in the court and its five-justice conservative majority ruling the entire law unconstitutional or conversely leaving it standing as is. The court also could strike down individual portions of the overhaul or delay a ruling for at least two years until the law goes fully into effect.

March 19—A party reported that two students playing basketball in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center had collided and might be injured. BEMCo responded and treated both parties on-scene with a signed refusal for further care. March 21—A party in the Gosman lower -level training room reported that he was having trouble breathing and requested BEMCo. BEMCo treated the party on-scene. The party was transported via ambulance to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. March 23—A reporting party stated that a female in the Spingold Theater Center fainted. University Police and BEMCo responded, and the party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via ambulance for further care. March 25—University Police received a report of an intoxicated male student in need of medical attention in Ridgewood B. University Police responded, requesting additional officers for crowd control. The Community Development Coordinator on call also assisted. The party was treated on-scene by BEMCo with a signed refusal for further care.

Larceny

March 22—A reporting party stated that his back license plate, I20 form and vehicle registration were stolen from his vehicle one to two

months ago while parked in the South Residence lot. University Police compiled a report on the theft.

Traffic

March 19-—A student reported an accident at the intersection in front of the Spingold Theater Center in which there was no damage to either vehicle. There were no injuries. University Police sent to speak with the involved student and subsequently cleared the incident with no further action. March 23—Two students arrived at the police dispatch center to report that a Crystal Shuttle bus was on fire on Loop Road in front of the University Police station. The Waltham Fire Department was notified and extinguished the fire. The Crystal bus dispatcher was notified to have the bus towed off campus as soon as possible. There were no reported injuries.

Miscellaneous

March 20—University Police encountered a white male near the rear of a Turner Street home whom they identified as a homeless person well-known by Waltham Police. University Police arrested him for trespassing after notice and transported him to the Waltham Police Department. March 23—University Police observed a

n A photo caption in News mistakenly stated that housing selection sessions were scheduled to end at midnight on the 20th. In fact, some appointments were scheduled for Wednesday, the 21st. (March 20, p. 2) The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@ thejustice.org.

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the

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March 22—University Police received a call from a Waltham resident who reported that students were yelling near Chapels Pond. Police checked the area, as well as Massell and Rosenthal Quads, and found nothing. March 24—A reporting party stated that there appeared to be over 100 students outside the lower Foster Mods. University Police found parties in three Mods and dispersed them without incident. The CDC on call was advised of the events. —compiled by Tate Herbert

Racket SMR passed

NORTHFIELD, Vt.—Barely six months after the expiration of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy prohibiting gay servicemembers from serving openly, the nation’s oldest private military academy is holding its first gay pride week. Norwich University’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Allies Club held its first meeting in September within hours of the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Now, the organization is planning a week of events highlighted by Norwich’s first queer prom, at which Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin is going to be the keynote speaker. Many alumni are expected to return to campus, said club president and Norwich senior Joshua Fontanez. The gay pride week, kicking off Monday, will feature six days of events—one for each color of the LGBT flag— with lectures and presentations on topics as varied as workshops on bias, harassment and bullying, to HIV testing to the Condom Olympics. Norwich officials believe the club is the first of its kind on a military campus in the country. Organizers are hoping to get members of U.S. military academies to attend the week’s LGBTQ prom. Thirty to 35 people attend the club’s meetings with about three-quarters of them from the school’s military arm, the Corps of Cadets. Fontanez, who is the third-ranking cadet and who is planning to be commissioned as an infantry officer in May, said his friends at Norwich didn’t know he was gay until after the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” He said he’d always wanted to be a soldier, but felt he would have to hide his sexuality to pursue his vocation and serve his country. “It’s something I feel I was truly called toward and truly loved, so it’s great that I don’t have necessarily to make that sacrifice,” Fontanez said. Norwich has about 1,300 students in the Corps of Cadets and 1,100 civilian students. About 115 of the 200 graduating members of the Corps of Cadets plan to be commissioned in the armed forces through ROTC. “It’s saying that we as a military community are looking more to the future, that we’re not quibbling about the past, what was or what wasn’t, that we can take a leadership role to help move our students to a more enlightened future,” said Norwich Vice President Michael Kelley.

n A student inductee into Phi Beta Kappa was misidentified in a News article. She is Ariel L. Hirsch, not Ariel P. Hirsch. (March 20, p. 2)

Disturbance

SENATE LOG

Military academy holds pride week

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

male party wearing only black underwear behind the Slosberg Recital Hall. The party fled when police attempted to stop him; police eventually apprehended the party and identified him as a student. University judicial charges will be filed. March 24—A party reported a suspicious male party at the Foster Mods, describing him as 30-to 35-years-old with brown hair and a mustache, a sunburned face and wearing a plaid shirt. A party matching this description was found and identified by University Police as the guest of a graduate student. A check revealed that there were no warrants for the party in question. University Police took no further action.

ROBYN SPECTOR/the Justice

A formal feast Students partake in the buffet at the Junior and Senior Formal Saturday night. The annual dinner-dance was held at the Hilton Boston Logan Hotel this year and featured entertainment by Brandeis’ own DJ Octokyu.

The Union Senate chartered two clubs and passed a Senate Money Resolution at its meeting Sunday night. The first club to be chartered was Brandeisians Against Animal Cruelty, a club created by Alex Bernstein ’14 and Neal Rabinowitz ’13. According to the club’s constitution, its purpose is to “spread awareness among the Brandeis community and the Waltham area about preventing animal abuse, as well as to raise money for animal rescue efforts.” The Senate voted to charter the club by a vote of 11-5. The second club chartered was a Brandeis chapter of Project Plus One, a non-profit co-founded last year by Paul Sukijthamapan ’13. According to the club’s constitution, “Through empowering under-served communities in East Timor, PP1 projects will help the poor to become self-sufficient in providing healthcare for their own people.” The Brandeis chapter will support the efforts of the non-profit. The Senate voted to charter the club by a vote of 16-1. The Senate also passed an SMR, which was proposed by Senator Ricky Rosen ’14 and calls for $248.43 to buy six new squash rackets for the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center and replace several broken rackets. In other business, Union Vice President Gloria Park ’13 announced that she and Union President Herbie Rosen ’12 had put together a petition for students to sign regarding the MBTA’s proposed budget cuts, which will soon be circulated to the Brandeis community. She also reported that she met with Steve Romanelli of Facilities Services and Senior Vice President for Administration Mark Collins to discuss facilities on campus, especially in residence quads. Executive Senator Missy Skolnik ’12 announced that she hopes to host this semester’s Midnight Buffet on the Great Lawn. She later told the Senate that they have about $10,000 in funds remaining for the semester. Ricky Rosen announced that he is in contact with administrators about a trial run for new hours at Einstein Bros. Bagels, and that he hopes to initiate such a trial before April break. —Sam Mintz

ANNOUNCEMENTS White House internship

Join Nicholas Alexander Brown ’10, who recently completed an internship at the White House serving in the Social Office of the First Lady, during his visit to campus on behalf of the White House Internship Program. Brown will answer questions about the program, presidential departments, the application and interview process and how to make yourself stand out as a candidate. This event is sponsored by the Hiatt Career Center. Today from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Hiatt Career Center.

Genesis and the big bang

Physicist and Bible expert Dr. Gerald Schroeder will speak on “Genesis and the Big Bang: Ancient Wisdom with Modern Science.” There will be a lecture, a questionand-answer session and a book signing, with books will be available for purchase. This event is cosponsored by the Brandeis Orthodox Organization, MEOR Boston, Hillel at Brandeis, Brandeis University Conservative Organization, Brandeis Reform Chavurah, Brandeis Reconstructionist Organization, the

Neuroscience Club and the Physics Club. Today from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Rapaporte Treasure Hall.

Law student panel

Come hear from Brandeis alumni who are currently attending Boston-area law schools and learn their perspectives. They will share advice on the decision-making and application process and probably have a word or two about the LSAT. All are welcome. Tomorrow from 6 to 7:30 pm in the Hiatt Career Center.

Arguing about World War I

Philipp Stelzel, an assistant professor at Duke University, will speak on the transatlantic debate about the origins of World War I between the 1920s and the 1970s and the controversy caused by Fritz Fischer’s 1961 study on the cause of the war. This event is co-sponsored by the Center for German and European Studies and the Department of History. Thursday from noon to 2 pm in Mandel Center for Humanities 228.

‘Hearts on Fire’

In her book Hearts on Fire, philanthropist and author Jill Iscol identifies 14 extraordinary visionary leaders. Iscol will present her own brand of philanthropy and tell us what inspired her. Jacob Lief will also speak on the Ubuntu Education Fund model, a South African project providing education to orphaned and vulnerable children. This event is sponsored by the Eli J. Segal Citizen Leadership Program and the Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy. Thursday from 6 to 8:30 pm in Heller School of Social Policy and Management Zinner Forum.

ABC Medical Correspondent Dr. Tim Johnson

ABC Medical Correspondent Dr. Tim Johnson will be speaking on his new book, The Truth About Getting Sick In America. There is limited seating and about 50 signed copies will be available for purchase for $5 after the event. Those interested can sign up on Facebook. Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Rapaporte Treasure Hall.

THE JUSTICE

TECHNOLOGY

Academic Services Kim Godsoe will ensure that sites follow federal standards. By FIONA LOCKYER JUSTICE EDITOR

Following a concern over the accessibility of University websites raised at the Oct. 6, 2011 faculty meeting by Provost Steve Goldstein ’78, Dean of Academic Services Kim Godsoe has created an advisory group to evaluate University websites for compliance with federal standards from the U.S. Department of Education. Godsoe chairs the Technology Accessibility Committee; other members include Associate Vice President of Communications Bill Burger, Director of Integrated Marketing Audrey Griffin-Goode, Associate General Legal Council Steven Locke, Director for Integrated Services in Library and Technology Services Josh Wilson, Assistant Provost for Graduate Student Affairs Alwina Bennett, Undergraduate Summer School Director Gwenn Smaxwill, Prof. Judith Tsipis (BIOL) and Prof. Susan Parish (Heller). According to Godsoe, the committee was formed to evaluate forms of University technology, especially websites, for their accessibility. Website accessibility has to do with how students who use readers, which change text to speech, are able to access and navigate the various University websites. The Admissions website, newly designed and released, was designed to keep all of these compliance standards in mind. Many other websites have been evaluated, however, and many websites remain unevaluated. “Overall our webpages are OK,” Godsoe said in an interview with the Justice, going on to say that there are still “pockets where we [the Committee] need to do some work,” continuing to tag pictures with supplemental information for

those with vision impairments, for example. The first phase of website evaluation is anticipated to be completed by 2013, Godsoe explained. “It’s not a project that is discrete,” Godsoe said, “the Web is always changing … it’s not like you can say that after a certain date its done; this is ongoing.” For the most part, members of the Committee who work in the Office of Communications or LTS are overseeing the evaluation process. In an email to the Justice, Burger wrote that “Communications and LTS are in the final stages of evaluating and selecting a product that will enable the University to systematically review our websites and establish a baseline for where we stand today.” Following this basic evaluation, a training program for University web editors will be put in place to ensure that as web content changes, accessibility of individual sites remains the same. Noting the ongoing nature of the accessibility process, Burger went on to write, “In addition to addressing the University’s public websites, the committee is also looking at accessibility requirements for other University services, particularly LATTE and sage.” These changes were brought into focus by a June 2010 letter posted on the U.S. Department of Education’s website, which stated, “It is unacceptable for universities to use emerging technology without insisting that this technology be accessible to all students.” Godsoe said that there have not been any complaints from inside or outside of the institution that have brought on this evaluation process. Rather, she said, “We’re Brandeis, we care about social justice. We want to make sure things are accessible to everybody.” Burger echoed this sentiment in his email, writing, “Accessibility of websites and learning materials is an important issue for every college and university. Students with disabilities should not be disadvantaged. For that reason, we don’t look at this as a one-time project, but rather a long-term commitment to the community.”

BRIEF Profs. Rosbash and Hall win Gairdner Award for research on circadian rhythms in flies Brandeis Profs. Michael Rosbash (BIOL) and Jeffrey Hall (BIOL) and Rockefeller University Professor Michael Young won the 2012 Canada Gairdner International Award on March 21 for making a breakthrough in understanding the circadian rhythms of living organisms. The prize is Canada’s highest international scientific honor, bestowed on researchers “whose work contributes significantly to improving the quality of human life,” according to the Gairdner Foundation’s website. Funded by the foundation and the Canadian government, the award amounts to $100,000. Rosbash is the newly endowed Peter Gruber Professor of Neuroscience, director of Brandeis University National Center for Behavior Genomics and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. Hall is Professor Emeritus of Biology, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the National Academy of Sciences. Young is the vice president for Academic Affairs and the Richard and Jeanne Fisher Professor at Rockefeller University in New York. Rosbash, Hall and Young were awarded the Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize for Basic Research of Biology or Biochemistry from Columbia University last year and the Peter and Patricia Gruber Neuroscience prize in 2009.

The three have been studying circadian rhythms for more than 20 years. These rhythms are built-in biological clocks; they regulate everything from body temperature to wakefulness and sleep. Their study utilized drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly. According to BrandeisNOW, “the researchers discovered that circadian clocks are regulated by a small group of genes that work together to set up daily rhythms starting at the level of individual molecules and then cells.” Rosbash’s website asserts that the machinery and function of the fruit fly’s internal clock is largely conserved in the mammalian clock. Hence, their findings can be applied to more complex organisms, including humans. In an email to the Brandeis community, University President Fredrick Lawrence lauded the team’s work and wrote, “[it] was extraordinary and it represents the best of Brandeis.” In an interview with BrandeisNOW, Provost Steve Goldstein ’78 commended their research. “[Their] work shows how basic science can both explain and improve the human experience,” Goldstein said. The professors could not be reached for comment by press time. —Raquel Kallas

TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012

EIRAN ON LEBANON

Univ websites to be evaluated ■ A group led by Dean of

●

JENNY CHENG/the Justice

ISRAEL-LEBANON RELATIONS: Ehud Eiran spoke about Israel’s past and present relations with the unstable country of Lebanon.

Israeli foreign policy expert discusses the Middle East ■ Ehud Eiran Ph.D. ’10

lectured on the challenges involved with relations between Israel and Lebanon. By TATE HERBERT JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Ehud Eiran Ph.D. ’10, Israeli foreign policy expert and Post-doctoral Fellow in International Relations at Haifa University, spoke and hosted a discussion on the challenge of relations between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday afternoon at the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies. The event was cosponsored by the Schusterman Center and Brandeis’ Department of Politics as the latest installment in Schusterman’s Spring Speaker Series. Eiran’s presentation, titled “Our Test Grows Out of Their Weakness: Israel and the Security Challenge of the Feeble Lebanese State 19682000,” examined the security threat of weak states, focusing on Israel’s past relations with, and policy toward, the unstable neighboring country of Lebanon. He also framed the discussion in the context of the recent “Arab Spring,” which gave rise to many new weak governments in the region. Within the time frame of his topic, Lebanon was the only unstable country in the region, but now many others also pose a threat to Is-

rael. “In a way, we are almost back in the [1950s], where the neighboring countries are unstable,” said Eiran. “We tend to think of the Middle East as an unstable environment, but if you look closely, from the early 70s, the Arab state system … was generally stable and did not seriously challenge Israel,” said Eiran. “Part of the challenge Israel may face is not the strength, or the renewed energy, of these regimes, but rather their weakness,” he explained. States’ weaknesses confront Israel with the challenge of defending itself from an abstract, decentralized enemy, according to Eiran. Unstable countries in general are also more likely to go to war and cannot effectively control people within their borders. Eiran repeatedly referred to the terrorist organization and political force Hezbollah as an example of this, which he called “a major player in Lebanon.” Eiran explained that Lebanon’s weak authority is partly due to a lack of recognition given to the Lebanese state by its own people, or what he termed an internal “legitimacy gap.” According to Eiran, Lebanon’s government representation, according to their constitution, is based partly on the religions of the demographics. However, that data is from 1932, when the majority of the population was Christian. Now, Muslims make up the majority. Lebanon’s struggles can also be

attributed to its long history of conflict and civil war (including the Lebanese Civil War of 1975-1990), said Eiran. “As we all know, the Mideast is an area where memories play an important part,” he said. Challenges to Israel include attacks from the Palestine Liberation Organization and Hezbollah, which uses Lebanon as a base, indirect fire from conflicts within Lebanon and drugs filtering through the Lebanese border—something that Eiran described as “an ongoing problem that is far from being resolved.” Israel has responded to these threats in part with counter-attacks, which were met with little success. Israel “quickly realized the problem is not the state, but the non-state actors,” said Eiran. Other strategies over the years have been invasion of Lebanon and the instrumentation of a regime change, establishing local militia along the border and the installment of a fence. However, said Eiran, these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. “This episode ends with Israel being haunted by the same problems that haunt the Lebanese state,” he said. Eiran emphasized that Lebanon’s nature as a weak state that was home to “numerous groups with different ideologies” made the challenge especially complicated. Lebanon is “a country of constantly shifting alliances,” said Eiran. Eiran concluded the discussion with a question-and-answer session with the audience.

ASHER KRELL/the Justice

THE JUSTICE

Gary Saul Morson speaks on wit and its elements at the Spring Lemon Cake Lecture. By SHANI ABRAMOWITZ JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

JOSHUA LINTON/the Justice

SHARING THEIR STORIES: Students examine posters detailing Experiential Learning projects at Thursday’s symposium.

Symposium showcases Experiential Learning

Experiential Learning Symposium displays student projects from 23 majors. By SUZY SCHATZ JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On Thursday, 23 majors were represented in the fourth annual Experiential Learning Symposium. The symposium took place in the Levin Ballroom and had panel speeches and a poster viewing of different EL programs. According to the booklet distributed at the symposium, “EL is the process, facilitated by faculty and staff, through which students develop knowledge and insights from the practice of skills, from direct experiences, and from reflection, both in and outside of the classroom. The process of learning by doing enables students to engage directly with issues, including those related to social justice.” With over 300 EL courses at Brandeis, these programs are available to students in most fields of study. The symposium began with an introductory speech by Provost Steve Goldstein ’78. Goldstein said his EL experience took him to South Asia with Save the Children, where he learned how the organization was teaching literate South Asians to examine and treat their sick children in

teach students to manage a collection of artifacts, and ultimately to make a museum quality exhibit which will be displayed in the mezzanine of the Goldfarb Library. This year, the program focuses on ancient Roman glass artifacts. Federlin brought out an example of such glass work, a small vile, to show the crowd, and nearly dropped it but humorously brushed off the precariousness of the incident. The final pair to speak was Prof. Laura Goldin (AMST) and Samuel Porter ’14. Goldin energetically described the Environmental Health and Justice semester, part of the Justice Brandeis Semester program. This semester-long, multidisciplinary program focuses on environmental justice and community engagement. Students in this program participated in various community projects from Massachusetts to Kentucky, working to reduce toxic exposures in the domestic and professional spheres. Following the panel, there was a poster display by students involved in other experiential learning programs. The symposium concluded with a sushi and ice cream reception and music from DJ Marcos. Leia Ruseva ’15, who attended the symposium, commented, “It’s really great to know how you can pair up with a professor and you can develop that relationship and how those relationship[s] can actually translate to the real world and how what you learn in the classroom can be applied.”

The Dean of Arts and Sciences and the European Cultural Studies program hosted the Spring Lemon Cake Lecture series featuring Gary Saul Morson, the Frances Hooper Professor of the Arts and Humanities at Northwestern University, in the Shiffman Humanities Center this past Wednesday. Approximately 30 people were in attendance. The lecture, which was divided into 14 brief sections, highlighted the importance and use of wit. According to Morson, wit has evolved into a genre as legitimate as any other, displaying style, intelligence and agility. Morson said, “Witticism depends on timing. Miss the moment, and the witticism misfires.” He emphasized the role of “presentness” within the various contexts of wit. “The sort of intelligence displayed by a successful witticism testifies to the importance of presentness in both senses of the term.” “The witticism,” Morson continued, “responds to a specific situation, at which the wit is present at the present moment.” Wit also demands an audience, as well as a story, according to Morson.

Throughout his speech, Morson focused on some historical examples of wittiness, gathering samples from the works of Oscar Wilde, the Marx Brothers and Ambrose Bierce. Morson went on to discuss the sport of wit and various types of wit, but the resonating theme at the end of the lecture was that wit solely depends on the moment. Immediately following the lecture, lemon cake was served and a question-and-answer session with Professor Morson began. In an interview with the Justice, Prof. Steve Dowden (GRALL), one of the organizers of the event, spoke a bit on the nature of the Lemon Cake Lecture series. “We have a Lemon Cake Lecture every spring and we try to bring important scholars for Brandeis students to hear.” “Wit is a universal topic,” Dowden continued, “it’s a lot of fun, and good for laughter, and we all had a good laugh.” When asked by the Justice why he believes it important to keep wit alive, Morson replied, “It is important to be able to shift one’s perspective to see points of view other than your own.” John Nunes ’13, spoke with the Justice about the overall impression he received from Morson’s lecture. “Though I was only able to catch the tail end of Professor Morson’s lecture, I was impressed with the scope of his knowledge and his ability to navigate the complex ideas and sources about which he spoke.”

JOSHUA LINTON/the Justice

QUICK WIT: Morson delivers the annual Spring Lemon Cake Lecture in Shiffman.

BRIEF Provost Goldstein announces launch of website and creation of three task forces as next steps in strategic planning process The Strategic Planning Steering Committee has launched a website and created three task forces to start to direct and focus the process, according to an email to the Brandeis community from Provost Steve Goldstein ’78. In the email, Goldstein thanked the over 1,000 students, staff and faculty who have participated so far in the strategic planning process and explained the progress made so far by the committee. Along with the website, which was launched earlier this year, the committee has also created three task forces to “address prior-

ity areas,” according to Goldstein’s email. The first task force is the Financial Planning Task Force, which will “propose an overall financial strategy to underpin and enable the strategic plan and provide the financial framework for ongoing long-range planning and decisionmaking at Brandeis,” according to Goldstein’s email. This group will be headed by Trustee Meyer Koplow ’72, who is an attorney, and has previously led the board’s budget and finance committee and the search for a new president. The second, led by Trustee Mi-

Morson lectures on wit and timing

■ Northwestern Professor

an effort to save lives. In describing this, he said that “experiential learning transforms us, it transforms the communities that we’re in, it teaches us things, … so I think this program is incredible.” The symposium then continued with a panel of speakers hosted by Student Union President Herbie Rosen ’12. The panel members, who were both students and faculty, spoke about the Experiential Learning programs in which they are involved. Prof. Bruce Goode (BIOL) and Jessica Pullen ’13 were the first to elaborate on their involvements in EL. The students in Goode’s EL program perform research with funding from the National Health Institute. Goode said that he pairs undergrad and graduate students to form research teams he believes will work well together in the lab. He noted that this pairing provides the students with a unique and mutual learning experience. Pullen praised her time in the Goode Lab, stating that it has given her the “opportunity for true personal growth that [she is] not sure [she] would have found otherwise.” She and her research partner are currently researching “the inner workings of cells on a molecular level and how cell architecture is determined.” The next to speak were Prof. Ann Olga Koloski-Ostrow (CLAS) and Benjamin Federlin ’14. They spoke about their internship program, called Classical Studies Artifact Research Collection. The program aims to

TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012

CAMPUS SPEAKER

REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE

■ The fourth annual

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chael Sandel ’75, is the head of the Benchmarks Analysis Task Force, which will analyze how certain institutions became more desirable over the last 20 years and thus are drawing more students from across the nation and the world. Sandel is the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass professor of Government at Harvard University. The final task force is the Academic Innovations Task Force, which will propose “new programmatic approaches and flexible models for delivering a Brandeis education.” This group will be led by Associate Provost for Assessment and

Innovation in Student Learning and Associate Professor of Biology Dan Perlman. In an interview with the Justice, Perlman said that he was excited about the opportunity to lead a task force. He mentioned two major factors that his group would examine. “One is [that] the number of traditional students who live on campus for four years is shrinking ... [the second is that] there are a lot of opportunities of all kinds including distance learning [or online learning] and experiental learning.” He continued to say that “we want to see where do we want to go in those

different trends and opportunities.” Goldstein also reported that the committee met on Mar. 23 to continue exploring key themes from the input sessions and started to “articulate a broad vision for the Strategic Plan and identify areas for additional research.” This meeting followed an all-day retreat on Feb. 12 at which the committee named and addressed themes such as Social Justice, Brandeis as a Global Institution, and the Cost of Higher Education. —Sam Mintz and Sara Dejene

THE JUSTICE

LOTTERY: More than 200 students waitlisted CONTINUED FROM 1 get class size of 775 students for the Class of 2005, which contrasts with the 972 students in the Class of 2015, including midyears. Additionally, Common Data Sets available on the Brandeis website reveal that between 1993 and 2004, the largest entering class was 874, in 1995, almost 100 less than this year’s. These statistics suggest that the student body has grown significantly in recent years. One adjustment that has resulted from larger class sizes is the increasing use of lofted triples, or double rooms that are converted so that three students can be housed within them. This year, 225 firstyear students live in 75 lofted triples, an increase from last year, when there were only 90 students living in 30 lofted triples. “For the foreseeable future, lofted triples will remain part of the housing for freshmen,” said Leiferman. “We realize that they’re not an ideal situation, but in order to manage the number of students on campus total, it’s what we are working with.” The housing lottery ended at lottery number 1535 this year, almost 300 numbers earlier than last year’s end number of 1816. Leiferman said that this is another statistic that can vary from year to year. According to the DCL website, housing has run out at anywhere between 1404 and 2136 in the last seven years.

“There’s a lot of things that can affect that. It’s really, at the end of the day, about efficiency, and how efficiently students progress through room selection,” said Leiferman. He explained, “It’s really about how pull-ins are used. If the first 400 numbers are pulling students with numbers 2000 and above, that’s going to concentrate the use of those numbers, whereas if number 1 pulls in numbers 5-10, it trickles back up.” Because more juniors and seniors were denied a selection in the lottery this year, there are also more students who were placed on the waitlist for housing. According to Leiferman, there will probably be over 200 students on the waitlist, which represents a greater number than in previous years. But Leiferman was again quick to point out that these numbers fluctuate every year, and have been this high or higher in the past. “Looking back five years ago, the number for the waitlist was much bigger than 200,” he said. Students placed on the waitlist are given spaces initially reserved for potential emergencies that are no longer needed or rooms opened up by students who transfer, leave school or decide to live off campus. Leiferman said that he was “optimistic” that DCL would be able to accommodate all of the students placed on the waitlist. According to the DCL website, all students on the housing waitlist in

the last three years have been offered on-campus housing. In an email to the Justice, Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel expressed pride in the fact that such a large undergraduates live on campus, projecting that between 2,875 and 2,895 students, or 80 to 81 percent of the student body, will do so next year. This is a large percentage in comparison to the average for national universities, which is 38.5 percent. However, he also acknowledged the “very real challenge of supporting our students, both … [in] housing and in maintaining a close sense of community on and off campus.” He wrote that the strategic planning process will likely address the development of that community. Flagel also emphasized the importance of off-campus housing, saying that the University “will continue to explore best practices in keeping off-campus students actively engaged.” He pointed to the Office of Community Living’s new connection with an off-campus housing posting service called jumpoffcampus.com, which allows landlords to list their properties and students to search for apartments. Flagel concluded his email by saying that “like every major institution, we’re seeking to balance the amount of housing to have available with other resources needs across the institution.”

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TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012

COMBUSTION

JENNY CHENG/the Justice

BROKEN DOWN: A shuttle stopped near Stoneman after students smelled smoke.

FIRE: No student injuries reported CONTINUED FROM 1 lucky to be in the front of the bus, so I got out quickly.” The section under the bus’ back bumper was emitting smoke, sparks and some flames, according to Narayanan. Ethan Roseman ’15, who was also on the bus that night, confirmed in an email to the Justice that he saw sparks and what appeared to be “pieces of burning material falling out of the bottom of the bus, near the back.” The Waltham Fire Department and University Police came to the scene and told the passengers and driver to leave the area while they attended to the bus. Many of the students went to Cholmondeley’s, according to Narayanan, from where he and others saw the firemen reduce the amount of smoke coming from the bus. Roseman said that, after the initial evacuation of the bus, he and the other passengers “then ran even fur-

ther away, in fear that the bus could explode. No one initially knew how severe this fire was, so the best option was to be far away.” Narayanan estimated that there were about 40 students on the bus at the time. “It was pretty full,” he said. “A lot of my friends were standing because there were no seats available,” Roseman wrote. “It was a very, very stressful situation for the first minute or so. I was honestly afraid that my friends and I could have been seriously hurt before we managed to get off of that bus,” said Roseman. “I’m also shocked that something like this happened in the first place.” Police reports detailed that the Crystal Shuttle dispatcher was notified to have the malfunctioning bus towed off-campus as soon as possible. Public Safety officials and the general manager of the Crystal Shuttles did not respond to requests for comment by press time.

PACHANGA: University to work with I-Club CONTINUED FROM 1

JENNY CHENG/the Justice

“Kony” comes to Brandeis Invisible Children representative Rosa Colman speaks at an event hosted by the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. The event featured a screening of the controversial “Kony 2012.”

every fall semester. In addition, Verdeja and Mutluoglu said that the administration was completely supportive of holding Pachanga again. “The event itself has never been a bad event,” said Associate Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams in an interview with the Justice. “It’s an incredible event. That’s been [the University’s] stance since the beginning.” Pachanga, which was previously held every semester, was changed to an annual event, according to Director of the Intercultural Center Monique Gnanaratnam in a February 2011 interview with the Justice, following the Oct. 23, 2010 Pachanga, which resulted in overcrowding and hospitalization of multiple attendees, who were treated for intoxication. The decision to hold Pachanga every spring was made in order to avoid “having a duplication of the negative things that surround the event happening,” according to Adams in a February 2011 interview with the Justice. Adams said in the recent interview that the University will also work with the International Club to

ensure that a location of reasonable size is secured, working with health education resources to educate students on alcohol consumption and addressing the issue of fraudulent ticket sales, which contributed to overcrowding at the last Pachanga. In addition, Verdeja said that Pachanga will eventually be selfsustainable, meaning that although the first Pachanga event will most likely be funded by the Finance Board, all subsequent Pachangas will be funded by their own ticket sales. F-Board had allocated $10,000 to the International Club in the event that Pachanga would be held this semester, according to F-Board Chair Gabriel Weingrod-Nemzow ’12 in a February interview with the Justice. According to WeingrodNemzow in a recent interview, that money will be returned to the FBoard for reallocation in the future. Mutluoglu said that the next Pachanga will be an “opportunity to show that Brandeis can step it up,” and Verdeja commented that their goal is to make Pachanga something “the University can be proud of.” “I think the community will love [Pachanga],” said Adams. “I think it will be successful.”

features

TUESDAY, march 27, 2012

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THE JUSTICE

Active efforts for

VERBATIM | MARK TWAIN Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed.

ON THIS DAY…

FUN FACT

In 1884, the first longdistance telephone call was made from Boston to New York.

Pranks in U.S. offices have decreased in recent years, replaced by media hoaxes.

democracy PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANATOLY KASHLEVSKIY

POSITIVE THINKING: Supporters in front of the Russian consulate observed Maslenitsa, a holiday that celebrates the end of winter, and saw it as a way to affirm their hope that spring would bring a new political order.

Olga Golovanova ’10 fights to gain fair political voting in Russia By YAEL ANNIS JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

BREAK TIME: Golovanova paused conducting exit polling outside the Russian Consulate after nine hours in New York on March 4.

STANDING AS ONE: Protesters wanting fair voting in Russian political races gathered together in the first massive protest of 2012.

The United Russia Party won the Russian elections on Dec. 5, 2011, resulting in a surge of protesters demanding justice in voting procedures, elections and accountability to the people. Olga Golovanova ’10 has made it her goal to help these voices be heard. Golovanova wondered how she could get people in the United States involved in her cause for political justice in Russia while she is here. Her plan was to co-found “Wake Up, Russia,” an organization that fundraises among the Russian community in the United States to raise money for non-governmental organizations in Russia that support political protests, along with Maria Gaidar. Her main complaint is the manner in which the Putin administration has handled the democratic process. United Russia, a conservative political party in Russia, has been supporting Putin, its current leader. “I was automatically sucked [into the political scene] because I was appalled by the amount of people who voted for United Russia. I was appalled by their reasoning for voting for United Russia. But then I also saw... that they could not have possibly gotten the 6465 percent that they got as the official results,” she said in an interview with the Justice. She was not alone in this belief. On Dec. 5, a large movement born on the Internet rose up to protest the election results and the political system it reflected, in a movement now called “Fair Vote for Russia.” Unfortunately, this movement was only popular in Russia. Golovanova was able to participate in the movement, although she was in New York at the time. She used Twitter to organize people for protests and explained, “I don’t think I could be a part of establishing [the movement]. It just kind of emerged on Dec. 5. Everybody came out onto the streets. This whole Internet community rose up and automatically, we knew we had to do something in New York.” Golovanova said that she felt the same frustrations as the protesters. “It hurts you when you go and give your passport, and you vote for somebody, and then you just realize that your vote and 13 million other votes are completely stolen away from you and they’re going to do whatever they want with it, the same way they do whatever they want with your taxes and everything else.” Golovanova was born in Moscow, but spent most of her childhood moving around the world because of her mother’s job. Her interest in Russian politics stemmed from its recurring

presence in her household. Golovanova’s mother was a political analyst and a major influence in her life, but the catalyst for her political involvement was her decision to volunteer at the Russian parliamentary elections exit polls in New York City on December 4, 2011. At Brandeis, she was a Psychology major and History minor. She currently works for Hillel in New York City, archiving diaries, interviews and documents of Russian Jewish veterans who fought in the Red Army against the Nazis in World War II. She is also very involved in both Russian political movements “Fair Vote for Russia” and “Wake Up, Russia.” Golovanova explained her belief in the spread of protests and changes in government through united voices. “If you hit the street and you get your neighbor to hit the street, and you understand why you’re going out there and you understand that this is going to directly benefit [both your life and your children’s lives,] … I think people are really going to cave into that and I think they’re going to realize that some change could be really good and you don’t need to be scared of it.” Upon returning to Russia in July, Golovanova hopes to pursue a career involving event planning, while continuing to spread awareness and be a voice for the political issues facing the country. “I love getting people together and getting them excited about something.” She is hoping to both have a career as well as focus on the political movement and raising awareness of the dire situation. She was moved by her experience speaking at Brandeis on March 6 in Rapaporte Hall about such rebellions in Moscow because of Putin’s rule and fair voting in elections. “I was on stage looking out at 50, 70 ... people and they were all chanting that Russia will be free. And it was … an incredible feeling that I’m in the right place at the right time. This is exactly where I need to be: with my people fighting for my own future.” Golovanova believes that everyone should strive to find some goal they are passionate about and devote their time to it. Her drive and ambition have already had an impact on many lives and will continue to do so after her return to Russia. “You’ve got to find your own cause. You’ve got to find your own calling. You’ve got to find something you’re really excited about, and that you really feel you can become an active participant in, and you can make a difference, and you know how to do that. … You’ve just got to go for it!”

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012

EST. 196 7 The beginnings of

Bronstein

Week

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROBERT D. FARBER UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES & SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DEPARTMENT

KNEE-DEEP IN FUN: University students were not afraid of getting dirty while taking part in the various activities planned to celebrate school spirit during Bronstein Week in 1988.

Gould explains tradition’s origin Most students celebrate the activities planned for Bronstein Week, which they know as the University’s version of a “spirit week.” Few are aware, however, of the origins of the week or why we celebrate the professor after whom the week is named. Prof. Peter Gould (PAX) wrote an article published in the Justice for the first time in 1987, which was the twenty-fifth anniversary of the tradition. His article, obtained from the University’s archives, was meant to educate students and other members of the Brandeis community about why we celebrate and call this week “Bronstein Week.” By PETER GOULD SPECIAL TO THE JUSTICE

In the years since I left Brandeis, I imagine much has been written about Bronstein Day or Bronstein Weekend. To honor the 20th anniversary of the first Bronstein celebration, let me tell you here the true story of the festival’s origin. Leo Bronstein was my teacher. For me and for hundreds of other students, many of whom had no prior interest in art history, it was a special experience, an hour of grace, to sit in his darkened classroom while images of Rembrandt paintings or ancient Hindu stone carvings shone on the slide screen, and his voice, heavily accented, Russian, Jewish, Spanish, French, intoned stock Bronsteinian phrases like “this unseizable totality,” or “the deerness of the deer.” For some of us, the cosmic consciousness inherent in his teaching dovetailed with our drug experiences of those years. For most of us, the challenge was vaster, deeper: to incorporate the work and human aspirations of these long-dead painters and sculptors into our own lives. Many of us were devoted to Leo for various reasons. His intense humility stood in contrast to the arrogance displayed by many teachers and students. His atmosphere of asexuality was a relief on a college campus. His pacifism affected us: it was a time of war–in Vietnam, in Israel. Jon Landau (now Bruce Springsteen’s manager) wrote in his rock-and-roll history of the 60’s that “an obscene personality cult surrounded Bronstein.” I would call it now, as I did then, respect and love for a man we allowed to teach us. It was January 1967. I was having lunch at Dr. Allen Grossman’s house. He said, “Peter,

somebody should do something nice for Leo. He is retiring this year.” The instant he said this, a vision of the Usen Castle courtyard done up as a medieval scene sprang into my mind. “I have an idea,” I said. “I think it will work.” I called my friend Clif Trolin, who is now a Jewish liturgical mime practicing in California. I said, “Clif, you’re a good organizer—I am not. Let’s hold a medieval pageant for Leo. Let’s do it in the Castle courtyard. Let’s serve wine from giant goatskins; let’s roast an ox on a spit. Hire dancers and acrobats. Get in touch with the old Italian wandering hurdy-gurdy man on Salem Street in the North End. Where can we get …” Clif made that festival happen. Somehow we found a pickup truck big enough to bring that giant hurdy-gurdy out to Waltham. What an instrument that was! You can still see it, not for sale, in an antique store in Brookline Village. Wine and other recreational substances flowed in the Castle yard from the dawning of that day. A ’67 Mustang was decked with a unicorn’s head and streamers and drove to Cambridge to pick up Leo Bronstein. Afternoon classes were cancelled. The ox turned on the spit. In those days there were no jugglers and acrobats. But some were found. They tumbled in the courtyard. Renaissance instruments played in camerata. Someone raided a garbage shed; 20 empty drums were rolled out and turned over; tree limbs were brought in; we pounded the drums and ecstatic music filled the campus. The Dionysian element of medieval May festivals showed its face: Greek olives, wine and cheese appeared, donated by Dean Peter Diamondopolous. When the unicornmobile wheeled Leo into the midst of

the already-bubbling event, he could not fathom that it was in his honor. Nor did he identify with the “Professor of the Year” award he had just won. But he received, with understanding, embraces from many students and teachers who had never paused to thank him before. That was 20 years ago. Other people’s memories of that day would flesh out mine. It was a great party. We drove Leo back to his apartment before the rain came, dousing the fire under the long-since empty barbecue. I threw up, many times, in my Waltham digs, and soothed my belly with the cheapest grade of sherbert from the Waltham supermarket. Part of the crowd gravitated to downtown Boston where a Sack theater was offering free admission to some new movie. The theater overflowed; there was a riot; some draft cards were burned; some people were arrested. The next morning in the Castle courtyard, wet crepe paper hung from the stone windowsills, and 20 half-filled garbage drums stood scattered among the puddles. Campus dogs chewed on big bones. The first Bronstein Day was history. Leo Bronstein’s classroom insights about art and artists– Islamic, Chinese, Indian, medieval European–are a part of what I know. He labored after his retirement that year on writings which are difficult to read. On a pilgrimage to Europe, I believe in 1975, he returned to where he had been found, many years ago, as an orphan. His eyes were failing. He was dazzled by the fabulous Grunewald altarpiece in Strasbourg. Walking out of the dark church into the afternoon glare, he never saw the motorcycle hurtling at him down the street. Editor’s note: Peter Gould is a professor in the Peace, Conflict and Coexistence Department.

FULL OF SPIRIT: Constant enthusiasm from students was evident during Bronstein Week in 1988.

BRANDEIS BUBBLE: Students gathered on Chapels Field to celebrate outdoor activities in 1988.

TUESDAY, march 27, 2012

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THE JUSTICE

Justice Justice

the the

Established 1949, Brandeis University

Brandeis University

Established 1949

Emily Kraus, Editor in Chief Nashrah Rahman, Managing Editor Brian N. Blumenthal, Production Editor Andrew Wingens, Deputy Editor Alana Abramson, Rebecca Blady, Eitan Cooper, Bryan Flatt, Rebecca Klein, Asher Krell, Fiona Lockyer, Tess Raser, Robyn Spector and Marielle Temkin, Associate Editors Sara Dejene and Sam Mintz, News Editors Celine Hacobian, Features Editor Shafaq Hasan, Forum Editor Adam Rabinowitz, Sports Editor Ariel Kay and Emily Salloway, Arts Editors Jenny Cheng and Joshua Linton, Photography Editors Nan Pang, Layout Editor Hillel Buechler, Online Editor Maya Riser-Kositsky, Copy Editor David Wolkoff, Advertising Editor

Promote club productivity Last week, the Club Support Committee of the Student Union’s Senate continued their mandatory club renewal project first initiated last November. In the email to select club leaders, the committee members asked students for a second time to promptly fill out the club renewal form to avoid dechartering and de-recognition. While we commend the committee for continuing to weed out idle clubs, we also encourage club leaders to consider absorbing other smaller clubs with similar agendas into their own organization. By undertaking these steps, both club leaders and the Senate can work to effectively increase the overall productivity of clubs and funding allocations. As this most recent email indicates, 83 clubs passed the Nov. 23 deadline from last semester without filling out the appropriate form. Among those included in the email were Women’s Ultimate Frisbee, Voices of Soul and the Ski Team—clubs that routinely demonstrate their active club membership and role on campus. Instead of dechartering these clubs, the committee took the extra step to allow leaders another chance to reiterate their interest and commitment to operating their club. Further, according to the chair of the committee, Shekeyla Caldwell ’14 in an email to the Justice, the committee members are also personally emailing club leaders and only plan on dechartering non-existent clubs, “not clubs that are, even slightly, active.” We appreciate their intentions to help club leaders rather than simply

Finish dechartering process dechartering clubs that missed a deadline. While the committee works to increase the productivity of the myBrandeis page, we urge club leaders to also consider the productivity of their own clubs and the benefit of incorporating their functions into a larger club that has a similar interest and purpose. For example, while currently two separate clubs, the Mountain Club and the Alpine Snow Sports Club are both chartered clubs that plan and execute trips specifically for snowboarding, rock climbing and hiking among other activities. Though both clubs have very similar functions, they each receive separate funding from the Finance Board and further deplete our resources. Aside from affecting funding, clubs whose purpose and level of activity change over time are then also hurting new prospective clubs that hope to become chartered as well. As the committee moves forward with the club renewal process, we urge them to remember the purpose of the undertaking. Clubs that do not fill out the form again—if the committee follows through with their second warning—should effectively be dechartered. While we appreciate the second attempt at eliciting responses, the committee should follow through with the initial purpose of the project to eliminate inactive clubs and help leaders fully maximize the value of their clubs by reducing redundancy.

Plan future Pachanga accordingly This week, International Club President Andrea Verdeja ’14 told the Justice in an interview that Pachanga would not be taking place this year due to lack of an appropriate venue. The Shapiro Gym in Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, the venue chosen for its larger capacity, was unavailable. While this editorial board understands students will be disappointed that the popular event will not be taking place this year, we appreciate that the club has seriously considered the potential dangers of continuing to hold Pachanga in a smaller venue like Levin Ballroom. Overcrowding has been one of the more significant problems with the event in the past, and this board is glad the International Club is taking steps to solve it. For many upperclassmen, Pachanga is an event ingrained in the Brandeis social scene that they look forward to every semester. As a result of the dangers of overcrowding, as well other past complications like the hospitalization of several attendees for alcohol poisoning, the event which was once semesterly became annual, and the University officially suspended last fall it until this spring. In attempting to plan Pachanga this semester, however, the I-Club chose not to hold it in a venue that would create unsafe circumstances for attendees. We applaud the I-Club for considering

Continue prioritizing safety the safety of the students before the pressures to administer the event. While the I-Club members could simply have continued the tradition and held Pachanga in the same venue, they are actively trying to improve their event to make it as enjoyable for students as possible. If space permits, I-Club plans to hold Pachanga next year in a safer environment. Furthermore, following the release of the Alcohol and Drug report, we expected increased communication between students and the administration to avoid making the same mistakes from last year. We are pleased that the partial result of these talks is an increased focus on safety. While we understand the reasons for this second postponement, we also believe students expected that the I-Club and the administration would be able to follow through with the event after the hiatus. While we are disappointed with the cancellation after its three-semester ban, it is also important that Pachanga live up to the standards of the University in terms of safety. We hope that next year the I-Club and the administration plan accordingly in order to meet students’ expectations for this fun and traditional campus event.

SARA WEININGER/the Justice

Compel government to address high tuition Avi

snyder voice of reason

Brandeis isn’t worth the money. In fact, most universities aren’t worth the money. College students and their families often will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for four years of education. This cost is a significant burden on many of our parents, and far too many of us will be strapped with tens of thousands of dollars of debt before we even land our first jobs. Many causes have brought about skyrocketing rates that outpace inflation. One of these causes has undoubtedly been the federal and state governments’ policies that encourage higher education over the past several decades. Two prominent center-right intellectuals, Reihan Salam and Vance Fried, recently noted in an article for National Review that, the federal government has spent years pumping ever-increasing sums of money into the higher education sector, with ever-fewer results to show for it. In the ten years after the end of the Clinton administration, the federal government increased the amount it spent funding higher education by over 100 billion dollars. Yet this increased spending has done virtually nothing to slow the increase in the cost of higher education. Why hasn’t the smorgasbord of government grants and loans given to students and universities managed to lower college costs? Salam and Fried propose several reasons for this counterintuitive outcome. One reason is that universities have almost no incentive to control their costs. New sources of revenue are not seen as a way to defray other costs, but as a justification for more expenditures. The increasing expenditure is then used as a justification to seek more revenue in a vicious circle of sorts. Another cause Salam and Fried identify is the power of regional accreditation boards to determine which colleges are eligible for government funds. These boards often create cumbersome obstacles that prevent the creation of new schools with innovative, and potentially more cost-effective, education models that could compete with existing institutions. So what is to be done? Salam and Fried propose several reforms that deserve serious consideration. The first may seem a bit draconian, but it is ultimately right-headed: Gradually reduce the amount of money the federal government provides in low-interest loans. While it may seem at first glance that such a policy will simply hurt students, many of whom will no longer be able to afford college tuition, there are two distinct reasons for such a policy. The first is that default rates on federal loans have risen considerably over the past years. Gradually reducing the size of the federal loan program will encourage more caution and costconsciousness among students and their families, and prevent them from making what may ultimately be a poor long-term investment. Another benefit of this policy is that it will bring cost-containment to an industry where virtually none exists. If potential college students become more cost-conscious, if they are forced to look for bargains when it comes to their educations, then colleges and universities will respond accordingly. They will develop new management and educational models that are more cost-effective. A second promising reform would be decreasing the power of regional accreditation boards. If state governments develop alternative routes to accreditation, and thus access to state funding, that will bring more variety and competition to the higher education industry, leading to better results at a more manageable cost. Finally, a promising reform not mentioned by Salam and Fried, but recently put forward by President Barack Obama in his most recent State of the Union address, is making universities’ receipt of federal funds conditional on their ability to control costs. Just as more elastic consumer demand brought about by fewer federal loans and a greater variety of schools can enforce cost controls, so can a reasonable amount of government strong-arming through the power of the purse. The government has been involved in the field of higher education for well over half a century; the skyrocketing cost of a college education is, to some extent, the government’s problem. If meaningful reform of this sector of our society is to be accomplished, we college students must play a role in bringing that change about. In a country where every interest group, for better or worse, speaks out forcefully for reforms and positions that are important to its community, we, the youth vote, ought to make higher education reform the national issue it deserves to be.

OP-BOX Quote of the Week “We are constantly pushing ahead. … Right now we are going to dwell on this album for a little bit because we are really excited, but we’re also looking to the future in terms of albums and performances.” —Jason Sugarman ’13 on VoiceMale’s newly released CD, Phoenix (Arts, pg. 21)

Brandeis Talks Back Which bands would you like to see at SpringFest?

Kimi Van Wickle ’14 “Andrew Byrd.”

Clayton Campbell ’13 “Lady Gaga.”

Alyson Eller ’15 “Colbie Callait.”

Zach Smith ’15 “Adele.”

—Compiled by Rebecca Klein Photos by Tess Raser/ the Justice

THE JUSTICE

READER COMMENTARY Reexamine Israel Apartheid Week To the Editor: In autumn 1978, between poker at Renfield and pinball at the Stein, I protested with fervor and pride at a campus demonstration, demanding Brandeis divest from companies doing business in apartheid South Africa. During Israel “Apartheid” Week at Brandeis, Ali Abunimah, co-founder of Electronic Intifada, stated: “It’s uncomfortable and ugly, but the good news is that apartheid can end.” Richard Goldstone recently wrote: “In Israel, there is no apartheid.” Mr. Abunimah knows it firsthand, as well. Unlike the abhorrent treatment of religious minorities and the severe discrimination against women, homosexuals and political dissenters that is prevlanet in Arab countries, in Israel, 1,000,000 Arab citizens enjoy full civil rights and legal protections, and representation in Israel’s Supreme Court and Parliament (10 Arab members). Contrast that with the Palestinian Authority and Gaza, in which there are no Jews, whatsoever. Additionally, since 1948, 800,000 Jews have fled persecution from Arab countries. These Jewish refugees left behind their homes, their livelihoods and their possessions to avoid continued oppression. Persecution in Arab countries is just as vicious and unrelenting today. The Christians living in the Middle East are targeted with all of the venom previously reserved solely for the Jews. The Christian population is dropping precipitously there. Tragically, some within the Brandeis community have fallen victim to the generationsold propaganda campaign of Israel’s enemies, which came into full force when Haj Amin al-Husseini, the mentor of Mahmoud Abbas, current leader of the PA/Fatah, visited Hitler in Nazi Germany and helped Eichmann plan the Final Solution. I urge them to read “Understanding the Palestinian Movement,” on the Historical and Investigative Research website. To Brandeis’ Students for Justice in “Palestine”: The use of false, perverted terms provokes hatred and violence—not debate, as Noam Lekach would have you believe! To Brandeisians of conscience: Tell President Lawrence “Stop the import of hate-filled lies about Israel!”

By Glen chagi chesir jUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“A national tragedy.” That is what French President Nicolas Sarkozy called the recent shooting of a rabbi and three children at a Jewish day school in Toulouse, France. Twenty-threeyear-old Mohammed Merah walked into the school, found his targets and stopped at nothing until they were killed—including chasing a seven-year-old girl through a courtyard, grabbing her by the hair and shooting her point-blank. Merah recorded the entire event on a camera strapped to his stomach. After the attack, Merah fled to his apartment where he hid from police for over 30 hours before he was finally shot and killed in a crossfire. Multiple members of the police force were injured in the standoff. Merah was also wanted for the killing of three French paratroopers. During the standoff, Merah stated that all of his attacks were in an effort to avenge France’s involvement in the war in Afghanistan. In response to the Toulouse shooting, the European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief, Catherine Ashton, remarked, “When we think of what happened in Toulouse today, when we remember what happened in Norway a year ago, when we know what is happening in Syria, when we see what is happening in Gaza and in different parts of the world—we remember young people and children who lose their lives.” Many believe Ashton intentionally slandered the Israeli military policy with this statement. Ashton’s comments have shown a complete lack of respect for the Jewish community in France by making such a comparison. This event

Editor’s note: Seung Hee Esther Lee ’15 is the treasurer for the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance.

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was a tragedy; children were dehumanized and murdered at the hands of a terrorist. While comparisons to other previous attacks, shootings and tragedies are inevitable, they are not necessarily appropriate. The focus should be on Toulouse and Toulouse alone. Many members of the Israeli Senate were flabbergasted by Ashton’s remarks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned “the comparison between a targeted massacre of children and the surgical defensive actions of the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] intended to strike at terrorists using children as human shields.” In an attempt to appease her critics, Ashton’s office released the transcript of the speech, which had slightly different wording, specifically mentioning Sderot, a southwestern Israeli city. With tens of thousands of rockets fired by Gaza militants into the city of Sderot and aimed directly at civilians, children live in constant fear of rocket attack. However, adding the situation in Sderot to her comments does not make it any more appropriate. Ashton clearly does not see the major flaw with her comments; no comparison is appropriate. While Ashton has tried to clarify her statements, the fact remains that she inappropriately compared two situations that should not be compared. Firstly, in France, the terrorist’s sole intention was to kill innocent Jewish children. This was a single act of terror, not part of a war or previous violence. Gaza is a war zone. To compare children who are targeted and murdered pointblank to children who have been killed unintentionally by the result of war is simply absurd.

Furthermore, the IDF has employed numerous military tactics in order to prevent civilian casualties. These tactics include but are not limited to: pinpoint targeting, which involves singling out terrorists for an airstrike in a way that won’t harm civilian bystanders, and aborting strikes due to risk of civilians being injured or killed. The IDF has heavily invested in smart bombs and has developed special missiles, such as the F-16I Sufa and the Delilah missile, which have the ability to cancel a strike while midair. These tactics, proven successful in preventing civilian casualties, have been commended by many, including Col. Richard Kemp, a commander in the British Army. He testified before the United Nations saying, “Based on my knowledge and experience, I can say this: During Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli Defense Forces did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare.” However, some civilian casualties cannot be avoided. Ashton’s comparison of those unfortunate circumstances in Gaza to a terrorist attack deliberately meant to harm children in France shows her complete misunderstanding of the situation. Ashton’s comments are out of line, disrespectful and simply not factual. She displayed minimal regard for the emotional state of the victims’ families and undermined the true tragedy that this event represents for the country of France. Those grieving deserve a time to mourn without political debate surrounding them. Ashton’s illadvised comments have detracted from the tragedy itself, and that is unfair to the victims, their families and all of France.

Law degree leads to a futile job search Phillip

Gallagher back to basics

Feminists share empowering cause

— Seung Hee Esther Lee

TUESDAY, march 27, 2012

Israel comparisons malign tragedy

—Bernard “Buddy” Macy ’72

In response to your article, “Feminism loses credibility amid misconceptions,” (Mar. 20): I’d really like to say something about your comment regarding feminism’s inclusivity. Intersectionality is an important term in feminism, and its significance may explain why you claim that feminism tries to “include everything under the sun.” Simply put, feminism fights against different kinds of oppressions because one oppression is not the same as any other oppression. Oppression of one sort can’t be separated from another type. My experience as a feminist does not reflect the experience of every other feminist. It’s important to remember that an understanding of intersectionality is crucial in the discussion of feminism because a previous wave of feminism did not work to fight against the oppression of certain minorities. I can’t “fight for women’s rights” without fighting for my rights as an Asian American woman. Those two aspects of my life can’t be separated from each other. You’re right in that you say that feminism means something different to everyone, but I disagree with your comment that states feminists don’t know what they’re fighting for, because if you ask any feminist, I’m sure the person will have an answer. I know what I’m fighting for as a feminist. I’m also wondering if you read the description next to the bras. The poster explained that the bra-burning never occurred and that it is a myth to vilify feminists. Like Victoria [Jonas ’15] stated [in an online comment], there were many other events that explained the different facets of feminism. There are some misconceptions used in your article that haven’t been cleared up. Last, I’d like to say that the movement is not a disorganized cacophony to those who are involved. It is an empowering and interpretative movement in which all its members share the value of equality and fight to ensure that no group is oppressed.

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As a Politics major, I sometimes get the sense that every one of my classmates wants to go to law school. I remember sitting in “Introduction to Political Theory” as a first-year when Prof. Bernard Yack (POL) asked how many of us wanted to go to law school, and it seemed like almost everyone in the room raised their hands. I was not one of them. A year and a half later, I stand by my disinterest in law. Now, despite the fact that graduation from law school is years away, I have an additional, more compelling reason that my peers should seriously consider: lawyers are having trouble finding jobs. In June of last year, The New York Times published data from Economic Modeling Specialists Inc. in its article on the massive surplus of lawyers, writing that every state, except for Wisconsin and Nebraska (and the District of Columbia), had many more students passing the bar exam in 2009 than there was an estimated need for new lawyers each year until 2015. The state of New York, with all its glorious Manhattan firms, had the biggest gap in raw numbers, with 9,787 new attorneys in 2009 for an estimated 2,100 new lawyers needed each year through 2015. These numbers translate to job placement for about 21 percent of the state’s new attorneys. Many of the other states that have surpluses of lawyers are the home states of many Brandeis students, such as Massachusetts, which has jobs for about 33 percent of its new attorneys; Connecticut, which has jobs for just under 36 percent; and New Jersey, which has jobs for under 28 percent. Washington D.C. does have a surplus, but that surplus is only for 345 new attorneys each year, which certainly wouldn’t cover the gaps present in other states. The country as a whole suffers from a large surplus of lawyers, with 53,508 new students admitted to the bar in 2009 and 26,239 expected new jobs that make for a surplus of 27,269 lawyers, or 51 percent, without employment as lawyers, according to data the Economic Modeling Specialists Incs. Potential law students have begun to recognize this employment gap, according to another article from The New York Times. The number of students taking the Law School Admissions Test,

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ARIELLE SHORR/the Justice

more commonly known as the LSAT, has fallen by almost 25 percent in the past two years, suggesting that the legal field is not recovering in the near future. Before you get excited that a drop in LSAT administrations means that the legal job market will suddenly open up, I should point out that there is no definitive link between LSAT testing and new attorneys. In any given recent academic year, the LSAT was administered well over 100,000 times (possibly to the same student more than once), while there were only 53,000 students admitted to the bar nationwide in 2009, according to data from the Law School Admission Council. A drop in LSAT administrations, therefore, will not necessarily improve employment prospects for young lawyers. Some young lawyers who have had difficulty finding a job have even sued their alma maters, claiming that the schools inflated post-graduation employment rates to entice students. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, 15 law schools are facing lawsuits for allegedly inflating post-graduate employment statistics.

The Staff

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Given the debt that many students take on during law school, that they expect to be paid off with a job upon graduation and bar admittance, becoming a lawyer might not be in most students’ best interest. Like many private law schools, New York University School of Law charges almost $50,000 each year for tuition alone, and I can tell you firsthand that the additional cost of living (and eating) in New York City is incredibly high. Over three years of law school, students can end up accumulating over $175,000 in debt. Without clear employment prospects, taking on this type of debt, which can take years to pay off, can be daunting. Unless you graduate with good grades from a top-tier law school, law is not the lucrative and reliable career that students perceive it to be. Entering the field because it seems like a safe way to earn a comfortable living would be uninformed and risky. Even if your plan is to become a lawyer to further an interest in social justice, it is vital to consider the realities of the job market and ask whether there is a more financially secure way to achieve those goals.

Editorial Assistants News: Tate Herbert Layout: Rachel Burkhoff Staff Senior Writers: Josh Asen, Aaron Berke, Wei HuanChen, Amy Melser, Shelly Shore Senior Illustrator: Sara Weininger Senior Photographer: Alex Margolis News: Shani Abramowitz, Tyler Belanga, Jonathan Epstein, Danielle Gross, Luke Hayslip, Raquel Kallas Features: Selene Campion, Jessie Miller, Rachel Miller, Gabrielle Santoro Forum: Aaron Fried, Philip Gallagher, Diego Medrano, Joshua Nass, Sara Shahanaghi, Naomi Volk Sports: Jacob Elder, Becca Elwin, Henry Loughlin,

Jacob Lurie, Jacob Moskowitz, Madeleine Stix Arts: Damiana Andonova, Alex DeSilva, Olivia Leiter, Leanne Ortbals, Louis Polisson, Mara Sassoon, Ayan Sanyal, Maya Shemtov, Aziz Sohail, Viet Tran, Dan Willey Photography: Jon Edelstein, Nathaniel Freedman, Josh Horowitz, Josh Spiro, Michelle Wang, Anna Yatskar Copy: Aliza Braverman, Jennie Bromberg, Kinza Kukhari, Patricia Greene, Andrew Hayes, Max Holzman, Brittany Joyce, Eunice Ko, Megan Paris, Christine Phan, Mailinh Phan-Nguyen, Leah Rogers, Suzy Schatz, Will Schneiderman, Amanda Winn Layout: Jassen Lu, Denny Poliferno, Michelle Yi Illustrations: Mara Sassoon, Arielle Shorr, Tziporah Thompson

TUESDAY, march 27, 2012

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THE JUSTICE

STUDENTS REACT TO TRAYVON MARTIN KILLING

Carefully assess facts before assigning blame Aaron

fried free thought

TIMOTHY KRAUSE/Flickr Creative Commons

MEDIA MEMORIAL: An onlooker at Martin’s Vigil in Union Square in New York City on March 26 captures a picture of a young man holding Trayvon Martin’s poster.

Self defense laws in Florida enable unnecessary death By MICHAEL Abrams jUSTICE cONTRIBUTING wRITER

On Feb. 26, 2012, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, the captain of the neighborhood watch in the gated community in Sanford, Florida where Martin was walking home. There is no doubt of Zimmerman’s guilt with regard to the killing. He has confessed to it, claiming “self-defense,” but he has yet to be arrested. Even if he is arrested, there is a possibility he will be acquitted because of Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” law. This piece of legislation radically redefines “self-defense” as an extension of the “Castle Doctrine” to virtually anywhere in the state. The “Castle Doctrine” is an American legal doctrine derived from English common law that states because a man’s “home is his castle,” he is allowed to use whatever force necessary, even lethal force, to defend it. However, in any other location, someone has a “duty to retreat” from a dangerous situation before resorting to force for protection. “Stand Your Ground” laws eliminate that requirement. The merits of “Stand Your Ground” are quite clear; the right to self-defense is immensely important. If an individual’s life is being threatened, why should he or she have to retreat first before fighting back? Retreating may give someone’s assailant the opportunity to hurt or kill him or her. In the intense moments when your life is being threatened, it is difficult to distinguish the extent of the danger. When the police or a Good Samaritan is not around to help you, you need the legal protection of the right to self-defense. So while tragedies like Trayvon Martin’s death may occur, isn’t “Stand Your Ground” a fundamentally just and useful law? No, and here’s why. “Stand Your Ground” has opened the door for simply unjustified instances of “self-defense.” The elimination of the “duty to retreat” means lethal force can now be used in situations where it is unnecessary to resolve the conflict. Rather than requiring citizens to retreat first and avoid using lethal force until absolutely necessary, unwarranted deaths can occur, and the killers can be acquitted. It is precisely because of deaths, like Martin’s, that even if the idea behind “Stand Your Ground” makes sense, it is a flawed policy. Consider what happened in the Trayvon Martin case. An armed man shot an unarmed teenager, claiming that he used his gun only after a fight broke out. It is unclear exactly who started the fight. Martin began walking quickly to leave the neighborhood when he noticed Zimmerman following him. Witness-

es later that said they heard cries for help before hearing the gunshot that ended Martin’s life. Considering Zimmerman had a gun and Martin had a bag of Skittles, it does not seem like Martin was ever a real threat. Zimmerman could have easily intimidated Martin with his gun rather than harass him to prompt a violent outburst or start the fight himself. In a case such as this, “Stand Your Ground” would be letting an armed citizen kill an unarmed citizen with impunity. Unfortunately, Martin’s murder is the not the first case of “Stand Your Ground” being abused to potentially justify murder. Take the story of David James, who was murdered while playing basketball with his 8-year-old daughter when an elderly man, Trevor Dooley shot him in 2010. The two men were arguing when Dooley revealed his gun and James, an Iraq War veteran, tried to disarm him. As they struggled, Dooley shot him through the heart. Even in this case, where a fight clearly occurred, the leniency of “Stand Your Ground” may lead to Dooley being exonerated—he is currently on trial—for a potentially unwarranted murder. There appears to be no evidence that he was in any immediate danger, and it was Dooley who escalated the situation into a violent one by drawing his gun. Beyond all of this, the fact that Dooley could have easily retreated from the court and called the police shows how requiring retreat from such situations can prevent unnecessary deaths from occurring. But, by removing the duty to retreat before resorting to force, “Stand Your Ground” can be easily abused by people like Dooley to get away with murder. To me, the lesson we should take from cases like these is that self-defense is a very complicated right. People need to feel that if their life is truly in danger, they can use any force necessary to protect it. But when armed individuals can potentially be acquitted for killing an unarmed person, especially in cases where numerous alternatives to firing the gun exist, the law needs to change. That is the value of the “duty to retreat,” which makes sure that citizens avoid using force until they absolutely have to. It is indisputable that firearms, or any weapon for that matter, are valuable selfdefense tools. And lethal force, be it from firing a gun or beating someone to death, is sadly sometimes needed. But, we must structure the law to limit the use of deadly means to those extreme situations. “Stand Your Ground” is counterproductive to this end, and will only lead to more and more unnecessary deaths if it remains in effect.

Feb. 26, Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old boy from Florida was returning home from a convenience store, carrying only the snacks that he had purchased there, when he was shot and killed. The man who killed him, George Zimmerman, is an officer for the local neighborhood watch and was on duty when he saw Martin walking alone, wearing a hoodie. Zimmerman was alarmed by Martin and called the 911 dispatcher to report that he was following a “suspicious” person. Zimmerman was found, wounded on the back of his head and bleeding from the nose, standing over young Martin, who was already dead from a fatal gunshot wound. Naturally, considering the shocking facts of the case, it has received national attention and a massive public outcry. At best, Martin and Zimmerman tragically misunderstood one another. Perhaps this was an ill-fated scenario in which a man, with the intent to protect his neighborhood, acted overzealously and killed an innocent young man, who could not understand why he was being pursued and ran in fear. At worst, as many national voices are alleging, this was a violent crime, motivated by race, as Martin was African American and Zimmerman is Latin American. In fact, much of the public outcry centers on the possibility that this killing did stem from the latter scenario. There is very little evidence to prove this scenario—in fact, there is insufficient evidence to prove any crime—which helps to explain why Zimmerman has not yet been arrested. The police do not believe this was a murder, and the only charge that they could feasibly bring against Zimmerman is manslaughter. In Florida, he is protected from this charge by the “Stand Your Ground” law, which permits citizens to use lethal force in self-defense. Because Zimmerman and Martin fought, Zimmerman is able to claim that he fired his gun in selfdefense. The public outrage in response to this case is focused on getting Zimmerman arrested. Protests have cropped up around the country, including the recent “Million Hoodie March” in New York City, which stabs at his suspicion of Martin, seemingly based purely on that he was an African American boy wearing a hoodie. Several petitions have also been circulating on the Internet, including a petition on Change. org calling for Zimmerman’s arrest, which has nearly one million signatures. While this reaction is understandable, all of us who are outraged by this case ought to take a step back and pay mind to the integrity of our judicial system. Simply put, the public does not—and should not—decide who should be arrested.

Our involvement in this case must not exceed keeping a watchful eye on the police officers who are investigating. It is essential that, as a populace, we are vigilant of our law enforcement officials to ensure that they carry out their tasks properly, but we must not intrude upon or attempt to bypass those tasks. Rather than maintaining this vigilance, the public has demanded that the police skip all due process, which is absolutely essential in assuring that those who are accused of crimes have their rights respected, and move to arrest Zimmerman without evidence that he was not acting in self-defense. The simple fact is that, until there is substantial evidence that Zimmerman did not act in self-defense—that is, evidence that can be used in court, not circumstantial evidence or popular suspicion— Florida’s laws do not permit the Sanford Police Department to arrest him. I cannot fault those who are calling for Zimmerman’s arrest. As a culture, most Americans have either forgotten or have never been taught the value of a judicial system that operates on an “innocent until proven guilty” basis. If we choose to act on the presumption of guilt rather than the presumption of innocence, being accused of a crime is as dangerous as committing one. When due process is gone, and the will of the majority becomes judge, jury and executioner; innocents have no protection from false accusations, a la the Salem Witch Trials. I can, however, fault those who stoke the flames of this dangerous mentality. Media personalities have demonstrated their typical heinous lack of conscience in promptly taking advantage of Martin’s heartbreaking demise to further their political agendas. Perhaps the most despicable act of political self-aggrandizement came from Karen Finney, an MSNBC host. After setting the stage with an anecdote about her exposure to institutional racism, she diverged, and made a bizarre, illogical leap to blaming Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum for Trayvon Martin’s death. Despite my disagreements with and distaste for these three men, I am shocked by Finney’s blatant and baseless opportunism. The only way to conquer divisive racial tension is through the recognition that skin color is no more than the amount of melanin you have in your skin. We recognize the evil of forming judgments on the basis of race. It is crucial that we remain consistent in this view and adamantly refuse to accept the toxic notion of divisions between different shades of mankind. Even the most emotionally shocking cases must not make us act purely on emotion. We must protect ourselves and our judicial system from political opportunists who seek to pull at our heartstrings to create enmity for their own gain. It is absolutely imperative that each and every one of us assesses the facts of cases like Martin’s with objectivity, lest we be led astray and lose our ability to protect the innocents we so deeply yearn to save and seek justice for.

DAVID_SHANKBONE/Flickr Creative Commons

ONE MILLION STRONG: A protester from the“Million Hoodie March” in Union Square in New York City on March 21 holds up a bag of Skittles to protest the shooting of Trayvon Martin.

THE JUSTICE

BASEBALL: Squad fails to notch win CONTINUED FROM 16 Similarly, the Judges rallied from a late 5-2 deficit to force extra innings. From there, it was not a pretty scene, as Brian Ing ’14 conceded six runs. Ing took the loss for Brandeis in that game, relieving Brenner, who had faced 39 batters and allowed eleven hits in his eight innings, while tossing five Ks. The Judges also fell at home to Bridgewater State University on opening day by a score of 19-4, as Colin Markel ’14 took the loss on the mound. The visiting Bears piled on 13 runs in the first two innings to put the game out of reach for the Judges. Brandeis managed to scrape together a late comeback, piling on four runs in the seventh and

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TUESDAY, March 27, 2012

FLAMETHROWER

eighth innings. However, the effort proved to be too late. Despite the team's rough luck, Tynan explained that one of the best things about baseball is that, with the increased amount of games, there are plenty of opportunities to turn things around. “The best thing you can do is just to get out and practice,” he said. “We don’t have many long layovers, and tomorrow’s game [at Salem State University] will be a great opportunity to get things back on track. We have good composure and the ability to bounce back; we just need to go and do it.” The Judges will try to gain some momentum in a match at home tomorrow vs. Suffolk University at 3:00 p.m.

TENNIS: Men struggle while women succeed CONTINUED FROM 16 they suffered a 7-2 loss in their home opener to Bentley Universitylast Wednesday. With the defeat, the team drops to 2-5. The Judges did not start the match well, ultimately losing all three doubles matches. Siegel and Michael Secular ’15, who usually play the No. 3 doubles match, were called up to the big stage in the No. 1 slot. The duo performed admirably, taking Bentley to the wire, but ultimately losing 8-6. Filling in at number one for singles, Jordan played an incredibly tight match. After falling in the first set 6-2, he took the second set 6-4 and proceeded to win the super tiebreaker

10-7 to take the match. Siegel was even more impressive at No. 2, breezing past Bentley sophomore Zach Tuckman 6-1, 6-4 in his first match in the slot. However, Brandeis failed to win any singles matches after impressive victories at the top two slots. No. 3 Secular lost 6-3, 6-3, Mike DeFeo ’14 fell to his opponent 6-4, 6-3 and Matthew Zuckerman ’14 lost 6-2, 6-2. After a hard-fought victory in the first set, No. 4 Adam Brown ’14 lost his momentum and eventually fell in the closest match of the day, 6-7 (8-10), 6-4, and 10-7. The men’s tennis team travels to Babson College tomorrow, while the women will also travel to face off against Babson this Saturday.

JOSHUA LINTON/the Justice

WINDY CITY: Caroline Miller '12 winds up for the delivery in a 2-1 home victory over Worcester Polytechnic Institute last Friday.

Team splits in its first week of play at home ■ The softball team won

two out of four games last weekend against WPI and Salem State University. By JACOB ELDER JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

ISAAC STEINBERG/the Justice

GOOD SERVICE: Adam Brown '14 delivers a powerful serve in a close three-set defeat to Bentley University sophomore Jimmy Rindo last Wednesday at home.

After a tough conference tournament, the softball team looked to rebound in a less competitive nonconference schedule. They moved a step in the right direction last weekend, splitting two doubleheaders against Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Salem State University. Last Friday, the Judges faced WPI in their first doubleheader of the season. Brandeis won the first game, 2-1 in a drawn-out pitcher’s duel, before losing in a 13-12 slugfest later that day. Brandeis came out swinging in the first inning of its home opener, scoring twice in the first inning. Utility infielder Amanda Genovese ’15 singled to center field to start the game. Infielder Brittany Grimm ’12 added a triple to the right-field corner, while utility infielder Marianne Specker ’12 drove Grimm in for what proved to be the game-winning run. The bats went silent afterward, but the team had no reason to worry. Starting pitcher Caroline Miller ’12 did the rest for the Judges, allowing only five hits and one earned run, leading to the final 2-1 score. She earned her third complete game of the 2012 season and

the 14th of her career. During the night game, WPI exploded early, bringing twelve hitters to the plate and scoring eight times against pitcher Nikki Cote ’15. Brandeis scored three runs of its own at the bottom of the first inning to keep the game within reach. Once again, though, WPI pulled ahead and led 12-4 in the fifth inning. Yet, the Judges still had life left in them. In the bottom of the sixth inning, 10 Brandeis hitters came to the plate. The action started with singles by Miller and utility infielder Leah McWilliams ’14. Grimm drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly, which advanced the two other runners. Specker, outfielder Lauren Porcaro ’12, Cote, and pitcher Casey Ducinski ’13 all delivered RBI hits to trim the WPI lead to 13-12. The Judges, however, did not produce that elusive final run. Genovese stated that it took a little while for the Judges to start clicking, but the offensive firepower at the end made for an encouraging result. “It started off a little rough, and nobody was communicating, and nobody was hitting, but then we definitely started working together,” Genovese said. Specker was the offensive star for Brandeis, going 3-for-4. Porcaro and Genovese also did well at the plate, hitting 2-for-4 and 2-for-3, respectively. In the matinee against Salem State, Miller pitched a solid game to carry Brandeis to an 11-6 win in

extra innings. In the top of the third, Genovese singled to help break a 2-2 draw. Then in the sixth inning, Brandeis once again erased a 4-3 deficit on a RBI triple from Miller. The game remained tied until the 11th inning, as Brandeis scored five times to take an 11-6 lead. Grimm had a strong day at the plate, going 4-6 with three RBIs. In the nightcap, the Judges could not secure the result until the final inning. In the opening frame, Grimm doubled and scored on a RBI single from third baseman Anya Kamber ’15. The Vikings jumped ahead in subsequent innings, but Brandeis drew to within one in the third inning after a triple from Porcaro and a sacrifice fly from second baseman Megan DeNubila ’14. Brandeis once again rallied in the top of the 6th. After three singles loaded the bases, Specker hit a two-run single to tie the game at 4-4. The valiant comeback would not prove to be enough, as Salem State eventually won 5-4. Brandeis was paced on the offensive end by Kamber, who went 3-for4 in the game. Though the season has just begun, Genovese noted the team has been performing well and can only do better in the weeks to come. “I think we are very talented. ... I’m excited to see what everybody can do,” she said. Brandeis has back-to-back games at home against Emerson College and then against Lesley University, which begin at 3:00 p.m. today.

TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012

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THE JUSTICE

BOSTON RED SOX PREVIEW

Red Sox turn the page to a new era in Boston ■ After a season to forget,

Red Sox ownership has made significant changes to the team for the 2012 season. By JOSH ASEN JUSTICE Senior WRITER

KEITH ALLISON/ Flickr Creative Commons

SWAN SONG: Catcher Jason Varitek (above) announced his retirement this month.

The 2012 Boston Red Sox are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get. Sorry for the cliché, but it’s true. The Red Sox have the potential to finish first in the American League East and contend for a World Series title, as they were expected to do last year. Then again, they could also fail to make the playoffs for a third year in a row. The beer-drinking and fried chicken-eating Red Sox of 2011, who were 31 games over .500 on Aug. 31 and then went on to suffer the worst collapse in baseball history, have disassembled. Manager Terry Francona, who led the Red Sox to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007, is gone. Ditto to starting pitcher Tim Wakefield and catcher Jason Varitek, both of whom retired after serving Red Sox Nation for more than 15 years. Closer Jonathan Papelbon took his talents to Philadelphia after signing a lucrative four-year deal worth $50 million. Although the remnants of the infamous 2011 squad are back, Bobby Valentine, the new manager of the local nine, will lead them all. Valentine, who previously managed the Texas Rangers and New York Mets, was the big-time hire that the Red Sox ownership craved. The move was designed to instill excitement in a team that was perceived as lazy, arrogant and selfish. Valentine is loud, opinionated,

brash and controversial. He will not be afraid to criticize his highest-paid players in front of the media. He already called out New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter for a play that happened more than 10 years ago. For a team that was comforted and protected by Francona, a “players’ manager,” Valentine’s managing style may raise tensions in the Red Sox clubhouse. It just might be a recipe for disaster. While Valentine’s antics will be the focus of the press coverage throughout the season, the players, especially the starting rotation, will be evaluated with even more scrutiny than in years past. The starting rotation has the talent and résumé to flourish in the regular season and postseason, but one would be hard-pressed to forget the horrific collapses of each starting pitcher this past year. Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, Boston’s two aces and primary culprits of the clubhouse antics, will need to rebound from a lackluster September to solidify the rotation. Starting pitcher Clay Buchholz must show he can overcome his back problems to pitch a full season and newly converted starting pitcher Daniel Bard will be counted on to make an immediate impact in the fourth hole. As for the fifth and final starter, that question will be decided in spring training. A host of pitchers, including Vicente Padilla, Aaron Cook or Alfredo Aceves, can be called on to take the ball every fifth day for the team. On paper, the Red Sox have one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball. Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, second baseman Dustin Pedroia, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, third baseman Kevin Youkilis and designated hitter David Ortiz are all AllStar caliber players that can carry

Fenway Park

the team offensively. Like the starting rotation, though, question marks continue to persist. Can Ellsbury duplicate his near-MVP season from last year? Can Youkilis stay healthy for a full season? Can Ortiz hit lefthanded pitchers like he did last year? The list goes on and on. But left fielder Carl Crawford, who signed a seven-year $142 million contract before the 2011 season, is certainly the biggest question mark of them all. After hitting over .300 five times and stealing more than 50 bases five times in Tampa Bay, Crawford hit .255 in 506 plate appearances and stole only 18 bases his first year in a Red Sox uniform. If he fails to attain the same numbers he put up in a Rays uniform, Crawford will be labeled as yet another bust. In the bullpen, closer Andrew Bailey faces the tough task of replacing Papelbon, a closer whose 219 saves are the most in Red Sox history. Bailey was acquired in a trade with the Oakland Athletics during the offseason, and while he has the stuff to strike out batters and rack up saves, the team must monitor his chronic injury history. Reliever Mark Melancon will be the primary set-up man, replacing Bard after a trade with the Houston Astros. Many of the pieces are in place for the Red Sox to capture a third championship in nine years, but the players must unite under Valentine and put 2011 behind them. If they fail to win the division or even a wild card spot, more heads will roll next year than during this past off-season. Until then, all 162 regular season games must be played. After all, it is only the start of the baseball season. Finally.

12TH SON OF LAMA/Flickr Creative Commons

survives the test of time at 100th anniversary

Red Sox will honor Fenway’s storied history at centennial By Carly gutner-davis JUSTICE contributing WRITER

On April 20, 1912, Fenway Park opened its gates to embrace its future as “America’s Favorite Ballpark,” home to the beloved Boston Red Sox. After a storied century in the annals of major league baseball history, the Red Sox are ready to commemorate the park’s 100th birthday next month. Fenway Park has proven itself to be the heart and soul of Red Sox Nation. John Taylor, the original owner and founder of Fenway Park, built the stadium specifically for the Boston Red Sox. From its first game in 1912, where the Red Sox defeated the New York Highlanders—known now as the New York Yankees—to today, Fenway Park, in its authentic and historic nature, has undergone an immense transformation through the centuries. From its first decade, Fenway Park hosted some of baseball’s finest moments. In their first season,

the Red Sox won 105 regular season games, the American League Pennant and a World Series title. Due to the pitching of “Smokey” Joe Wood and Cy Young in the 1910s, Fenway witnessed many wins, including four World Series titles. After arriving in Boston in 1914, Babe Ruth, considered to be one of the greatest players the game has ever seen, began his career with the Red Sox at the age of 19. After leading the Red Sox to two World Series Championships in the 1910s, the franchise sold the “great Bambino” to their rival, the New York Yankees, in 1920. The “curse of the Bambino,” a World Series drought purportedly spurred by the trade of Babe Ruth to the Yankees, not only precipitated the team’s misfortune on the field, but the state of the ballpark itself. In 1926, a fire burned the wooden bleachers in the left field seating section, which would not be rebuilt until the 1930s. The ballpark neared its death sentence – at least until Thomas Yawkey arrived

on the scene in 1933 to purchase the struggling Boston franchise. Yawkey would spend the next four decades building not only a team but a park that reflected his passion for the game. While the pesky bleachers would finally be repaired in 1933, Yawkey initiated major renovations to the ballpark, expanding the grandstand and enlarging the seating capacity. The most notable feature that was added to the ballpark was the famous “Green Monster,” a 37 foot-high wall in left field. Throughout the decades, its authentic mystique has been decorated with countless banners and billboards as well as a panorama of the nation’s history. Even with the dearth of World Series titles, Fenway witnessed some of the greatest players in baseball and most stirring moments in the game’s history. Second baseman Bobby Doerr and left fielder Ted Williams would lead the Red Sox to numerous playoff berths but also heartbreaking

collapses in the 1940s and 1950s. Left fielder Carl Yastrzemski, right fielder Tony Conigliaro and catcher Carlton Fisk would serve as the icons of the Red Sox in both the 1960s and 1970s, playing key roles in the team’s miraculous 1967 surge to the American League pennant, which led to an eventual loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, and run to the 1975 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. Fisk’s walkoff homer in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series not only landed him in World Series history but also symbolized a key turning point in the history of Fenway. After the play re-energized a fan-base, the ballpark quickly became even more of a phenomenon, welcoming over two million fans per year and boasting such innovations such as Conig’s Corner, Yawkey Way and the electronic scoreboard. The 1980s was an era rife for change at Fenway, a period that brought the park into the era of the modern baseball stadium. Amid ownership disagreements and

struggles on the field, including the 1986 World Series collapse, ownership still built luxury boxes, a revamped press area and Fenway’s first elevator. The 1990s, while an era of playoff disappointment, featured the arrival of Red Sox icons such as shortstop Nomar Garciaparra and starting pitcher Pedro Martinez. Finally, though, in 2004, Fenway Park would boast its longawaited championship banner. For the first time in 86 years, the Red Sox were World Series champions. Fenway Park continues to live up to its billing as “America’s Favorite Ballpark,” welcoming baseball fans from throughout the nation to bask in its storied history. From 100 years of Fenway Franks, home runs over the Green Monster and cheers from the game’s most passionate fans, the oldest ballpark deserves to celebrate its 100th anniversary with all the love and respect it has given, and will continue to give, to its team and fans alike. GR33NT4U/Flickr Creative Commons

THE JUSTICE

jUDGES BY THE NUMBERS TEAM STATS

Runs Batted In

Not including Monday’s games UAA Conference W L Emory 7 1 WashU 5 3 Case 4 4 Rochester 3 5 JUDGES 1 7 Chicago 0 0

Overall W L Pct. 16 7 .696 17 6 .739 13 8 .619 3 9 .250 5 14 .263 8 4 .667

UPCOMING GAMES: Wednesday vs. Suffolk Thurs. vs. Western New England Saturday at WPI (2) Sunday at UMass Dartmouth

TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012

INTRAMURAL SPORT

baseball UAA STANDINGS

●

Pat Nicholson ’11, MA ’12 leads the team with eight RBIs. Player RBI Pat Nicholson 8 Dan Gad 8 Zach Malis 6 Sean O’Hare 7

Heat wave hits Gosman courts in soccer finale

Strikeouts Kyle Brenner ’15 leads the pitching staff with 15 Ks. Player Ks Kyle Brenner 15 Pat Nicholson 11 Colin Markel 10 Mike Swerdloff 10

SOFTBALL UAA STANDINGS

TEAM STATS

Not including Monday’s games UAA Conference Emory WashU Rochester Case JUDGES Chicago

W 6 4 4 3 3 0

L 2 4 4 5 5 0

W 25 13 5 12 5 9

Runs Batted In

Overall L 3 6 6 7 7 3

Pct. .893 .684 .455 .632 .417 .750

UPCOMING GAMES: Today vs. Emerson Today vs. Lesley Tomorrow vs. Wellesley (2) Tues. April 3 vs. Lasell (2)

Brittany Grimm ’15 leads the squad with 12 RBIs. Player RBI Brittany Grimm 12 Marianne Specker 12 Anya Kamber 6 Lauren Porcaro 6

Strikeouts Caroline Miller ’12 leads all pitchers with 13 strikeouts. Player Ks Caroline Miller 13 Lauren Porcaro 9 Amanda Genovese 8 two tied with 5

FENCING Overall Results from the fencing squads this season.

TOP PERFORMERS (Men’s)

TOP PERFORMERS (Women’s)

SABER Adam Mandel

RECORD 52-14

SABER Zoe Messinger

RECORD 52-36

ÉPÉE Alex Powell

RECORD 46-29

ÉPÉE Leah Mack

RECORD 52-39

RECORD 52-20

FOIL Vikki Nunley

RECORD 43-16

FOIL Julian Cardillo

EDITOR’S NOTE: The fencing season ended after a 19th-place finish from Julian Cardillo ’14 at the NCAA Fencing Championships at Ohio State University.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM RAND

T-SHIRT TIME: Members of “Kickin Ballz” touted their victory T-shirts after winning the women’s indoor soccer championship.

■ Teams Theo Didnt Make It

Either, Kickin Ballz, and Semi Pro-Tryoutees all won their indoor soccer finals. By MADELEINE STIX

TENNIS

JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Results from matches vs. Bentley University on March 23-24.

NOTABLE FINISHES (Men’s)

NOTABLE FINISHES (Women’s)

MEN’S SINGLES Steven Milo

RECORD 5-3

WOMEN’S SINGLES Carley Cooke

RECORD 8-2

MEN’S DOUBLES Bielfield/Siegel

RECORD 2-2

WOMEN’S DOUBLES Cooke/Levine

RECORD 2-1

UPCOMING MEET: The men’s tennis team will travel to Babson College tomorrow at 3 p.m., while the women’s squad faces off against the Beavers this Thursday at 3 p.m.

It felt like summer outside last Thursday, and the heat was present inside Gosman Sports and Convocation Center as Theo Didn’t Make it Either notched a tight 2-0 victory over IBS Coed. The two-week indoor intramural soccer season initially had not been scheduled to occur this year, but because of high demand from the student population, Associate Director of Athletics Tom Rand revived the sport for the 2012 season. While the gym was packed with Brandeis students cheering on IBS Coed, the overall skill and persistence of Theo Didn’t Make it Either, which includes senior varsity midfielders Theo Terris ’12 and

Ari Silver ’12, were too much for IBS Coed to handle. Terris notched both goals, hitting the first one off of a rebound in the first half. He then ensured victory in the second half by sending the ball into the lower right corner of the net with 10 minutes left in the game. However, the game was not over yet. After the second-half goal from Terris, IBS Coed made a ferocious attempt at a comeback. With five minutes left in the game, things got interesting. Taylor Bracken ’11, MA ’12, goaltender for Theo Didn’t Make it Either, let a ball slip past him to seemingly cut the lead to 2-1. However, the referee’s call would define the game—he ruled that the goal was invalid due to sliding. Frustrated by the call, members of IBS Coed mobbed the referee, hoping to convince him to change his decision. Gosman Manager Zach Malis ’12 stepped in to settle the situation, maintaining the call on the field. The controversy

would not end there, though. With three minutes left in the game, a questionable tackle at the top of the box led to another altercation between IBS Coed player Ben Zimmerman ’11, MA ’12 and Terris, leading to red cards and ejections of both of the players. IBS Coed was able to notch a few more shots on goal, but Bracken kept the ball out of the net, giving Theo Didn’t Make it Either the chance for those coveted intramural t-shirts. The Semi-Pro Tryoutees won T-shirts in the men’s indoor intramural league 4-0 against Alex Yovanoff-Meyerowitz. In the women’s championship, Kickin Ballz earned a tight 4-3 final score, in which the result ultimately came down to the final penalty kicks. In the end, they notched the victory against The S-Dogs. Brandeis students can look forward to intramural softball next, which is set to begin this week.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE BRIEF Sean Payton suspended next season for role in bounty scandal, causing setback for New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints have met their maker. After years of collecting payouts for deliberately hurting other players, such as quarterback Brett Favre, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended coach Sean Payton for the 2012-2013 season, while also seizing the franchise’s next two second-round picks. Plays in the bounty system started with a standard pass. Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy snatched the ball from his center. As his receivers struggled to get open, McCoy scrambled to evade the flashes of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense that barged toward him. Approximately one second later, however, a vicious helmet-to-helmet assault from Steelers’ linebacker James Harrison sent McCoy reeling. He then lay writhing on the ground.

Football is inescapably a rough sport. However, with the increase in awareness about the dangers of helmet-to-helmet collisions, rules have been instituted to ensure that hits like the one suffered by McCoy occur less frequently. Still, however, these hits happen. According to a poll conducted by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, Alzheimer’s and similar diseases related to memory loss have been diagnosed in former players at a rate of 19 times the standard for men ages 30 to 49. Another poll from the University of North Carolina’s Center for the Study of Retired Athletes discovered that over one-fifth of former NFL players that claim to have sustained three or more concussions have also developed depression-like symptoms. These polls suggest a link

between the head trauma obtained from participating in football and neurological disorders developed later in life. This sobering data affirms why news of the New Orleans Saints’ bounty scandal is so disturbing. “We are all accountable and responsible for player health and safety and the integrity of the game,” said Goodell. “We will not tolerate conduct or a culture that undermines those priorities.” Payton attempted to cover up the bounty system, even when the league established that no such system could exist. Gregg Williams, the Saints’ former defensive coordinator who now works with the St. Louis Rams, has also been indefinitely suspended by the league. The Saints were also fined $500,000 .

The bounty program officially began in 2009, the year in which Williams first joined the Saints and New Orleans secured their franchise’s first Super Bowl championship. The bounty system continued up through the 2011 season, even after continued warnings from the league that warned teams to put a stop to any potential misconduct. Players were paid hundreds of dollars out of a pool created by the players, coaches and others affiliated with the Saints. At one point, during the team’s 2009 championship run, the pool grew to as large as $50,000. Who is truly to blame for the Saints’ scandal? Certainly Williams had a role in perpetuating the bounty scheme. Payton and the players involved can’t be excused either. Football is a form of entertainment. In today’s fast-paced world, hard-hit-

ting football is a must. We want to witness brute contact. We need explosive collisions that dismantle players like McCoy. The focus of the American people does not yet take into account the safety of the players involved in the sport of football. The Steelers crowd booed emphatically as Harrison was tagged with a penalty in a game, indifferent to a man twisting on the ground. If you are looking for someone to blame for the Saints’ bounty scandal, perhaps we should all take a long look in the mirror. The coaches and players broke rules and endangered the livelihood of many individuals. However, perhaps it is the spectators’ attitude towards the sport that also needs readjustment.

— Jacob Lurie

just

Sports

Page 16

DOUBLE THE TROUBLE The softball team split each of its doubleheaders last week in non-conference action, dropping to 5-7 this season, p. 14.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Waltham, Mass.

BASEBALL

TENNIS

Judges falter in extra innings Women bounce back in victory

■ The baseball team failed to deliver in high-pressure situations, losing all four games in the past week. By HENRY LOUGHLIN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The Judges had all of the momentum heading into the 10th inning of last Sunday’s game against Framingham State University. Starting pitcher Pat Nicholson ’11 MA ’12 was in cruise control after a rough start, delivering seven scoreless innings. The offense scrapped together a rally by driving in three runs to send the game into extra innings. Fate finally was in the Judges’ favor until the 10th inning. Framingham State brought in two runs and shut down the Brandeis offense in the bottom of the frame en route to a 5-3 victory. Late-inning struggles seemed to be the theme of the week for Brandeis. The team suffered two of its four losses in extra innings. Despite forcing extra innings on Sunday, the Judges lost their fourth game of the week to the 8-7 Framingham Rams, who took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning. “It was a little up and down today,” said pitcher Alex Tynan ’12. “They put up three in the second inning. Their guy [senior Ryan Stoller] was throwing strikes and doing well.” Following the second inning, Nicholson, who didn’t allow a run for the rest of the game, was relieved in the ninth inning by first baseman Kyle Brenner ’15. The offense, meanwhile, finally began to click in the eighth inning, with an RBI single by outfielder Zachary Malis ’12 to cut the deficit to two runs. With the score still 3-1, the game would take another twist in the bottom of the ninth. The Judges scored two runs to send the game into extra innings with RBI hits from catcher Kenny Destremps ’12 and infielder Brian Allen ’15. Malis then almost won the game for the Judges with a shot to left field, but it was not to be – the screamer just went left of the foul pole to keep the game tied. However, the Judges would regret that missed opportunity. Framingham State scored two runs in the top of the 10th with RBI singles from sophomore and Waltham native Ivan Colon and senior Chris Cole. Although the Judges made it interesting, boasting two runners on base with two outs in the bottom of the 10th, Framingham sopho-

■ The men’s tennis team suffered a 7-2 loss to Bentley, while the women cruised to an 8-1 win. By JACOB MOSKOWITZ JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

JOSH HOROWITZ/the Justice

CLEAR CONNECTION: Pat Nicholson ’11, MA ’12 gets ready to make contact in last Wednesday's 11-5 loss against Wentworth. more reliever Brendan Busa was able to get the win. “In baseball, the little things really can come back to get you,” said Tynan. “When you have a bad day individually, you feel bad for the team.” Brandeis dropped another tough game at Salve Regina University

last Thursday. Though the bats were alive for the Judges on that day, pitcher Mike Swerdloff ‘13 suffered the loss on the hill. In the game, Brandeis trailed 8-4 going into the eighth inning. The Judges relied again on some lateinning magic, scoring three runs to pull within a run. However, the

Seahawks managed to get some breathing room, scoring an insurance run in the ninth to account for the 9-7 final score. Brandeis suffered another 10-inning loss earlier in the week, falling 11-5 at home to Wentworth Institute of Technology last Wednesday.

See BASEBALL, 13 ☛

BRIEF

Cardillo places 19th out of 24 foilists in NCAA Fencing Championships

Foilist Julian Cardillo ’14 finished 19th out of 24 foil fencers in the 2012 NCAA Fencing Championships at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio last Sunday. Cardillo, the sole representative from the men’s and women’s fencing squads to qualify for the NCAA Championships, finished 7-16 in the two-day tournament. “Obviously, it’s never fun to win less than you lose, but with that said, a lot of the bouts I lost, six of them actually, were 5-4,” he said. “So, on a different day, I could probably have snatched victories in all of those matches.” Although Cardillo finished 17th in last year’s NCAA Championships as a first-year, he acknowledged that he was more satisfied

with his fencing this time around. “Last year, I had a terrific first day, and it actually was my tournament to do poorly at, and that’s exactly what I did,” he said. “I fenced really, really poorly the second day. Even though this year I have a worse result, I am actually happier because I was very consistent and fenced well throughout the entire thing.” Of Cardillo’s seven victories, two came against top-seven fencers. In his second bout, Cardillo scored a 5-2 win against No. 5 University of Notre Dame senior Reggie Bentley. In his last contest on Sunday, Cardillo defeated Yale University senior Shiv Kachru 5-3. The upset victory put Notre Dame senior

Enzo Castellani in the top four. “Obviously, being from Yale, [Kachru’s] from my region, so we go back and forth, so there’s a little bit of a rivalry there,” Cardillo said. “That was my last bout of the day, and I beat him. I beat him good, so I’m happy with that.” With his fencing season now over, Cardillo has his eyes set out on becoming an All-American, which is awarded to the top 12 finishers in the NCAA Championships. “I am still waiting for that AllAmerican result,” he said. “I think I am worthy to be an All-American, which means I deserve to be here. I still have two years to do that, and I expect to be back here by junior and senior year. I expect

that before I graduate, I will be an All-American.” In order to become an AllAmerican, Cardillo said he must be more disciplined, especially in close matches. “A lot of it comes down to my own discipline,” he said. “I am not the best fencer in the room. There are people here who are just as good as me or better. A lot of it is just skill, and unfortunately, desire isn’t enough. The desire is very important to want that goal, but in the future, I think I need to be a little more disciplined; be able to close the matches that are 4-4 and get that fifth touch and get that win.” –Josh Asen

The women’s tennis home opener on Thursday told a positive story. All the top players competed, avoiding the injury bug and leading Brandeis to an 8-1 victory over Bentley University. Even as the team was riding high into the match, sustaining a No. 25 ranking, the Judges managed to stay focused and dominate their lower-ranked opponent. “We go into every match with a 'fear none, respect all' attitude,” said Allyson Bernstein ’14. “We all had specific things we are working on, so playing our game plus working on incorporating new strategies helped us to focus.” The Judges began the match with quite the statement, as Carley Cooke ’15 and Faith Broderick ’13 routed their opponents 8-1. The other two doubles ended in he same manner, as each Brandeis doubles squads came away with 8-1 victories. No. 1 Cooke started off singles play with a 6-3, 6-1 victory. Alexa Katz ’14, at the No. 4 hole, clinched the match with Brandeis’ fifth victory in a 6-0, 6-2 win. At No. 6, Jill Martin ’15, in just her third career match, defeated Bentley freshman Stephania Adonakis 6-3, 7-5 in the closest win of the day. After winning an 8-1 doubles match with Marissa Lazar ’14 earlier in the day, Bernstein won her singles match 6-2. The lone loss came at the hands of Bentley junior Katie Van Gilst. After she teamed up with Katz in the doubles competition, Dylan Schlesinger ’15 lost a close single match by scores of 7-6, (7-4), 6-3. Despite being a very young team, the Judges’ play this year has catapulted them to regional and national prominence. The team has just one senior and one junior and boasts four sophomores and four freshmen. Regardless, Bernstein is very confident in the team’s ability to succeed due to great chemistry and perseverance. “We have a really strong culture,” she said. “It makes matches easier, knowing an entire team stands behind you. It has helped us win matches.” On the other hand, injury plagued the men’s tennis team, leading to a flurry of roster moves that dramatically altered the pecking order. With three of their top players gone, Josh Jordan ’13 moved up to the No. 1 slot and Alec Siegel ’15 then jumped from the No. 4 spot to the No. 2 spot. This would be an ominous development for the Judges, as

See TENNIS, 13 ☛

just

March 27, 2012

ARTS K-Nite closes APAHM

with class

p. 21

Photos: Nathaniel Freedman/the Justice. Design: Jenny Cheng/the Justice.

TUESDAY, march 27, 2012 ● THE JUSTICE

POP CULTURE

INSIDE ON CAMPUS

19-21

■ Indie Louies recap

Brandeis Film Collective’s third-annual student-produced festival hosted short films from around the country.

■ ‘Footloose’

In this Hillel Theater Group musical about a town where dance is banned, the actors’ enthusiasm rubbed off on their audience.

■ K-Nite

■ VoiceMale interview

Brandeis Korean Student Association hosted its yearly variety show that brought together modern and historical Korean culture.

JustArts sat down with several members of the all-male a cappella group’s executive board and discussed its newly released album, ;Phoenix.’

OFF CAMPUS

22-23

■ ‘Mad Men’ returns

■ ‘Hunger Games’

■ ‘21 Jump Street’

■ ‘Footnote’

The beloved AMC show returned this week for its fifth season after a year-long hiatus. The film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ novel pleased fans and newcomers alike. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum won over audiences with their comedic charm.

The Academy Award-nominated Israeli family dramedy comes to the United States.

CALENDAR

Interview

by Shelly Shore

We’ve heard in recent weeks about LGBTQ rights groups “glitter-bombing” anti-gay or anti-trans public figures as the Republican presidential race has continued to capture the nation’s attention. But this week, another type of “bombing” overwhelmed the headlines: flour-bombing. Last Wednesday, a young woman tossed an entire bag of flour at Kim Kardashian while the celeb walked the red carpet for the launch party of her new fragrance, True Reflection, in West Hollywood. The mystery flour-bomber tried to make a run for it, but Kim’s rep caught her and security escorted her away. According to E! Online, Kim “walked away calmly, got cleaned up, and returned to the carpet about 10 minutes later.” “That is probably the craziest, unexpected, weird thing that ever happened to me,” Kim told E! “Like, I said to my makeup artist I wanted more powder, and that’s a whole lot of translucent power right there!” Kim might have been willing to laugh off the ordeal, but her sister was less forgiving. “Classy to flour-bomb my sister at her charity event helping women,” Kourtney Kardashian tweeted, referring to the launch, which benefited Dress for Success, a nonprofit which provides interview-appropriate clothing to low-income women. Kim’s mother, Kris Jenner, went for pride rather than retribution. On Thursday, she took to her blog on Celebuzz, writing, “I am so proud of my daughter for handling this situation so professionally and with such poise!” While no one other than the lone attacker has been implicated so far, TMZ and E! have both attributed the attack to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which has criticized Kim in the past and is known for its red carpet attacks on celebrities, though

Eric Hill conquers ‘She Stoops’  The director of ‘She Stoops to Conquer’ speaks about Brandeis Theater Company’s newest endeavor.

KALUMBA2009/Flickr Creative Commons

PUNK’D: Kim Kardashian had flour dumped on her at a recent charity event, possbily by a PETA activist. such attacks usually take the form of red paint, not flour. So far, PETA has denied any involvement in the flour-bombing, but, according to E!, “gives [its] support to the attacker.” Sounds like it was PETA to me. So far there’s been no official word from the Kardashian camp about whether or not they will press charges. On Friday, Kim told E! News, “I said earlier, no, I wasn’t [going to file a complaint]. I’m just going to think about it, because I don’t want someone to think they can really get away with that. So we are going to handle that.” I’ve never in the history of this column used the words “classy” and “Kim Kardashian” in the same sentence. But, Kim, in this case? You’ve been very classy.

What’s happening in Arts on and off campus this semester

ON-CAMPUS EVENTS

The Artist Who Wouldn’t Stand Still

Curator John Elderfield will speak about the Dutch abstract expressionist artist Willem de Kooning. From 2003 to 2008 Elderfield was the Museum of Modern Art’s chief curator of Painting and Sculpture. Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Lee Gallery of the Rose Art Museum.

Liquid Latex

This event, which rose to national fame after its 2010 honorable mention on Playboy’s website as one of the “Best College-Supported Art Project[s],” is back for its 12th year. Liquid Latex club sponsors this annual extravaganza of mild nudity, extreme body paint and upbeat musical accompaniment. Tonight at 8 p.m. in the Levin Ballroom. Tickets for standing room are $5 and seating is $7.

OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS ‘Les Miserables’

One of the most well known and beloved Broadway musicals, Les Miserables is a love story set against the backdrop of the French Revolution. The play is based on Victor Hugo’s seminal 1862 novel of the same name. The performance includes such favorites as “On My Own,” “Do You Hear the People Sing” and “I Dreamed a Dream.” Running through Sunday at the Wilbur Theatre, located at 246 Tremont St., Boston. Tickets are $50 to $75.

‘Detention’ screening

Director Joseph Kahn will show his newest film, Detention, tomorrow. Kahn has previously directed music videos for popular artists including Britney Spears and U2, but Detention is his second feature-length film and the first film he has written. Detention is a slasher flick starring Josh Hutcherson as a love-sick high schooler and Dane Cook as his principal. A question-and-answer session will follow the screening. The film premieres April 13. Tomorrow at 7 p.m. in the Wasserman Cinematheque.

Memoir as Process

This workshop, subtitled “Four Writers’ Perspectives on Truth, Honesty, Privacy and Memory,” is a chance to develop memoirwriting skills and discuss your work. Discussion topics will include choice of focus, where and how to start and what to include and omit. Women’s Studies Research Center scholars-in-residence Frinde Maher and Mary Mason will read from their works. Thursday 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the Epstein Lecture Hall of the Women’s Studies Research Center.

Sarah Zell Young: Occupy Sanhedrin opening reception

Young is an up-and-coming multimedia artist. She has created a site-specific installation on campus as part of her Hadassah-Brandeis Institute residency. For the piece, Young created an interactive feminist version of a Sanhedrin, or a rabbinical court, which is traditionally open only to men. Young will also exhibit photographs. The artist hopes to engage in discussion of justice, Judaism and the body. Thursday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the Kniznick Gallery of the Women’s Studies Research Center.

Women take the reel

The feminist documentary Miss Representation will be screened in celebration of Women’s History month. The documentary explores how the media’s portrayal of women affects their ability to succeed in their professional careers. Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. in Golding 110.

‘She Stoops to Conquer’

Theater lecturer Eric Hill discusses the upcoming performance of ‘She Stoops to Conquer,’ which has been in the rehearsal stage for five weeks as of press time and will be shown on the Spingold Recital Hall stage this weekend. JA: Why did you choose this play for the Brandeis stage? EH: I [didn’t] actually, ... but I recommended the play when asked what period piece might be possible with a brand new MFA acting class. She Stoops to Conquer offers a challenge in language and period style without being overwhelming. It’s a comedy, so it has those specific challenges —how to keep material written in the 18th century alive and fresh today—but it has a very funny story and is very playful, so the actors can have fun with that aspect of the play. JA: What about this play is relevant to a modern audience? EH: Love and misunderstanding are universal. JA: Have you directed anything similar to this before? EH: Every project is different. I’ve done similar things before, however. JA: What can audiences look for to in She Stoops to Conquer? EH: Comedy presented in a wonderfully stylized way. JA: What is one of the best scenes or elements? EH: The best scenes are always at the end. — Ariel Kay and Emily Salloway

Brandeis Theater Company will present this 18th-century comedy of British manners. Charles Marlow, the play’s protagonist, is reduced to a bundle of nerves around high-soci-

F. EVELEENS/Wikimedia Commons

DUTCH MASTER: “Seated Woman,” by Willem de Kooning, is located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Curator John Elderfield will come to the Rose Art Museum on Monday to discuss de Kooning’s works. ety women but is comfortable around females of the lower class. Therefore, his suitor, Kate Hardcastle, pretends to be a maid to entice his fancy. See interview on this page. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Spingold Center’s Main Stage. Ticket are $5 for students and $20 for general admission.

‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’

Catch up with Snoopy, Linus and other beloved members of the Peanuts gang with Tympanium Euphorium. You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, based on the comic by Charles Schultz, is a series of vignettes featuring Brown and his friends. Full of memorable songs, this show has a small cast but packs a big punch. Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Carl J. Shapiro theater. Ticket are $3 for students and $5 for general admission.

Ali Fessler junior recital

Fessler will perform classical works on the cello for her junior rectial. Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Slosberg Recital Hall.

FreePlay presents ‘Hedda Gabler’

Under the direction of Christopher Knight ’14, FreePlay Theatre Cooperative will present Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler. The play, first published in 1890, received negative reviews upon its first performance but has since gained international acclaim as an example of realism and world drama. Hedda, considered by some to be the female version of Hamlet, has just returned from her six-month honeymoon with her husband, and it becomes apparent throughout the play that she is pregnant.

The entire show takes place inside her living room and an adjacent room as people come and go, visiting with her. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m in the Mandel Center for the Humanities atrium. Free admission.

University Chorus and Chamber Choir Celebrates Irving Fine

Irving Fine was not only one of the most accomplished American composers of the 20th century, he was also an original member of the Brandeis Music department. The University chorus and chamber choir will perform some of Fine’s popular works, including “Three Choruses from Alice in Wonderland” and “Old American Songs.” Saturday from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Slosberg Recital Hall.

Second annual cultural food gallery

The Anthropology Club presents their second-annual cultural festivity. Come get your fill of food from countries around the world. You may find your new favorite dish from the choices provided by clubs like Russian Club, The Cheese Club, AHORA!, Korean Student Association and many more. Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the South Campus Commons.

Etgar Keret: ‘Suddenly, a Knock on the Door’

One of Israel’s most beloved fiction writers, Keret fills his tragi-comical short stories, novels and screenplays with magical happenings and regular people doing irregular things. Keret will read from his latest work, Suddenly, a Knock on the Door as well as screen a short clip from his newest film, What About Me. Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Mandel Center for the Humanities G03.

‘Next to Normal’

This three-time Tony-winning rock musical takes a dark look at bipolar disorder, depression and mental illness. Next to Normal is also one of only eight plays to win a Pulitzer Prize for drama, which it received in 2009. Running through April 9 at the SpeakEasy Stage Company, located at 527 Tremont St., Boston.

Beckett shorts

The American Repertory Theatre will be performing “Not I,” “Act Without Words” and “Rough for Radio I.” The director of Donnie Darko, Marcus Stern, will be re-interpreting these classic shorts written by Samuel Beckett. Friday through Saturday and April 4 to 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the First Parish Church in Cambridge, 3 Church St., Cambridge. Free admission, but a reservation is required.

ArtsEmerson presents Tomáš Kubínek

ArtsEmerson: The World on Stage presents “Tomáš Kubínek: Certified Lunatic & Master of the Impossible.” World-renowned and Czech-born Kubinek will be performing what ArtsEmerson calls an “exuberant spectacle.” The show will be a combination of theater, music and spoken word, and Kubinek will be showcasing his inventions, unique ideas and musical talents. Thursday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Paramount Mainstage, 559 Washington St., Boston. Tickets start at $25.

‘Of Worlds Apart’ ballet

Choreographer Jose Mateo brings together four pieces inspired by an array of world music composers. The performance tells a story of personal conflict and growth through movement. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre, 400 Harvard Street, Cambridge. Tickets start at $38.

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, march 27, 2012

ON CAMPUS FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE

JOSHUA LINTON/the Justice

SPIELBERGS IN TRAINING: Students gathered Friday night as part of the Indie Louies film festival in Cholmondeley’s to watch the results of Brandeis Film Collective’s 48-Hour Films and chow down on pizza.

Students go behind the camera for BFC ■ Brandeis Film Collective

hosted its third annual film festival, a two-day event of comedy, music and videos. By Ariel kay JUSTICE editor

You walk into a darkened theater populated by an audience grouped in twos and threes. On the screen, images twist about, a combination of avant-garde film techniques and accidentally unfocused camerawork. You’re at Indie Louies’ third annual film festival, hosted by the Brandeis Film Collective. Let the experience begin. Indie Louies is Brandeis’ answer to Cannes. You might not see celebrities pulling up in yachts outside of the Mandel Center for the Humanities, but within its doors there was definitely talent—and entertainment—to be found. Students from throughout the country can submit their short films to the festival, all of which are accepted. Viewers are given a ballot to vote for their favorites,

which are then recognized at the Awards Ceremony in the Shapiro Campus Center Multipurpose Room. Asia Wok catered, which I like to think is the Waltham equivalent of the hundred-dollar swag bags that celebs get at big awards shows. The two-day festival started in Cholmondeley’s on Friday night with a screening of BFC’s 48-hour films (a.k.a. films that were made in a 48-hour period earlier this year). Next up, student comedians Emma Avruch ’13 and Diego Medrano ’12 took the stage, performing short individual sets. Cinncinnati-based indie-rock band Foxy Shazam was set to perform after them, but due to a last minute cancellation, several student groups took the stage in their place, including the newly formed band Swanson. The fun may have kicked off Friday night, but Saturday was the main event. From 1 to 5 p.m., 27 films played in the Mandel Center Auditorium. The audience was composed of clumps of friends and film enthusiasts. Host and projector operator Tom Phan ’14 took advantage of the casual crowd to crack a

few jokes about the screening’s poor visual quality. It was unclear if the problem lay in the computer, the screen or the projector, but all of the black shading in the films appeared to crackle or glitter with white highlights. Despite these setbacks, viewers gamely sat through hours of the lowor no-budget films. It was easy to tell which clips were favorites, such as “Don’t Tell Jenn,” a documentary produced by Rhode Island University senior Colby Blanchet. “Don’t Tell Jenn” follows Blanchet as he struggles to remain afloat after dropping out of his California State University exchange program due to lack of funds. Instead of returning home rejected, he filmed the last month of his time in California, including antics like basement sumo-wrestling tournaments and couch surfing around the greater Los Angeles area. Blanchet was able to spend the entire time without revealing to his mom—the “Jenn” of the film’s title— that he was not actually enrolled in school. Students were drawn to the film’s sarcastic humor, as well as to the variety of comedy Blanchet em-

ployed, including several songs. The video ended up taking home both Best Documentary/Autobiographical Film and Best Comedy. “Communion Cups and Someone’s Coat,” the music video shot by Myles Tyrer-Vasell ’12 in early February, was another well-liked clip. TyrerVasell created his own video for “Communion Cups,” an Iron and Wine song, as the band currently doesn’t have an official video for the single. The music video features the ups and downs of a couple’s (Joanna Nix ’12 and Suffolk Univeristy student Alec Lawless) love life. The threeminute film was shot all in one take, an impressive feat that worked well given the song’s simple elegance. A third film that had the crowd in fits of laughter was host Phan’s own mockumentary, “Portrait of a Skater.” The film features Phan’s attempts to “go pro” as a terribly misguided skateboarder. I was impressed by David Yun’s ’14 camerawork and behind-the-scenes interviews and flashbacks that have come to exemplify such shows as The Office and Parks and Recreation. Phan,

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a member of improv comedy troupe Bad Grammer was hilarious as an uptight skater with little talent who dreams of becoming a star. Other winners at Indie Louies included “Lifeguard on Duty,” another mockumentary by Temple University’s Janky Liver Productions, and “Premonition,” a psychological thriller by Emerson College senior Anthony Esposito. “Lifeguard on Duty” won People’s Choice Award, Best Screenplay and Best Directing, and “Premonition” secured Best Sound Design, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography and Best Picture. Brandeis alumna Amy Thompson ’11 also took home Best Editing for her comedic short “Lint.” While not all the films were as successful as the ones I’ve mentioned— a documentary about an elderly woman infested with maggots comes to mind—Indie Louies continues to be a fun and always-interesting look at what our friends and peers are up to behind the camera. Editor’s Note: Diego Medrano ’12 is a Justice staff writer.

Justice!

the

Write reviews for theater, movies, dance and music. Contact Ariel Kay and Emily Salloway at arts@thejustice.org for more information. AMY BISAILLON/the Justice

TUESDAY, March 27, 2012

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THE JUSTICE

JON EDELSTEIN/the Justice

ASHER KRELL/the Justice

HTG’s

‘Footloose’

ASHER KRELL/the Justice

is pure

entertainment

HTG gave four fun, high-energy performances last weekend By mara sassoon JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

“Bomont! Where the hell is Bomont?” When snarky teen Ren McCormack announces he’s moving from Chicago to the tiny, middle-of-nowhere town of Bomont, his friends all cry the above comment in unison. But the play’s setting is certainly not the only question that was posed in Hillel Theater Group’s vibrant and surprisingly thoughtprovoking performance of the stage adaptation of Footloose last weekend. Many people associate Footloose with awesome ’80s clothing, rocking music and epic dance numbers. Oh, and Kevin Bacon. The original 1984 movie, which starred Bacon as Ren, was adapted for the stage in 1998. Then, in Oct. 2011, a remake of the film hit cinemas. Dean Pitchford, who wrote the screenplay for the 1984 movie and assisted in penning the remake, also co-wrote the stage adaptation with Walter Bobbie. Pitchford’s lyrics, along with music by Tom Snow, Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins and Jim Steinman are a combination that makes for a foot-tapping good time. HTG’s production, the open-cast (meaning that anyone who auditioned made it in) musical for this year, naturally followed the resurgence of Footloose mania. The show, which was directed by Jade Sank ’12 and Aliza Sebert ’12 and produced by Lizzy Benway ’14, opened last Thursday to a full house in the Carl J. Shapiro Theater. The first act begins with Ren’s (Brett Torres ’12) relocation to Bomont with his mother Ethel (Bethany Adam ’15) to live with his strict uncle (Ben Rifkin ’12) and milquetoast aunt (Viktoria Lange ’13). Later, it is revealed that Ren’s father has walked out on his family, which hints at an explanation for the pain that lies beneath Ren’s tough exterior. In Bomont, Ren and Ethel go to church where they encounter the über-traditional Reverend Shaw Moore (Harry Webb ’12) and the townsfolk who heed everything the Reverend says without argument. Rev. Shaw’s major pull in Bomont has allowed him to implement a law banning dancing, after a group of teenagers died a few years before in a tragic car accident. However, there is no immediate explanation as to why this would have prompted him to come up with this seemingly absurd rule. Also sitting in the pews is Rev. Shaw’s teenage daughter Ariel (Katrina Michalewski ’15), who both catches Ren’s eye and stood out to the audience in

this production with her bright red cowboy boots. It soon becomes clear that these cowboy boots are a symbol of Ariel’s passionate rebellion against her father’s backwards mentality and ridiculous laws. Two scenes later, the defiant Ren shows up at school and starts dancing in the hallway, and his goofy classmate Willard (Nick Petrocchi ’12), a selfproclaimed mama’s boy, warns him about the ban placed on dancing. Their fellow classmates are just as wary of Ren’s dancing, including Ariel’s friends Rusty (Nicole Wittels ’15), Urleen (Eliza Dumais ’14) and Wendy Jo (Rachel Benjamin ’14), who sing the number “Somebody’s Eyes” which warns Ren that everyone in town is under constant scrutiny. Here, they also reveal to Ren that the teenagers who were killed in the crash were returning home from a dance—and even later, Ariel reveals that one of the victims was her brother, Rev. Shaw’s son. The story of Footloose becomes particularly poignant when Ariel and her much more reasonable mother Vi (Sarah Brodsky ’14) sing “Learning to be Silent” with Ren’s mother after the Reverend refuses to listen to his daughter’s complaints about his irrational ways. This provokes the members of the audience to ask themselves what it would mean to not be able to express themselves, whether through speech or even dance. The cast’s joy for performing was palpable. They were clearly having a great time on stage, and that is really what matters in a show for which all who auditioned were cast. Torres’ singing was delightful—calm, natural and fitting for the character of Ren, since he was not forcing outrageous powerhouse vocals. Michalewski, too, sang beautifully, especially in Ren and Ariel’s duet, “Almost Paradise.” Petrocchi was hilarious in his portrayal of the awkward Willard. Audience members couldn’t help but cheer for his character as he fumbled through talking to Rusty, his crush, and when he finally broke out his outrageous dance moves. Also, in a show so focused on dancing, choreographers Beth Green ’12, Danielle Zipkin ’12 and Tara Loeber ’14 did a fine job crafting the fun and energetic dance routines that the show needed. HTG’s production of Footloose definitely met my expectations for a good time—the cast and crew delivered a really entertaining evening. In this show about restoring people’s freedom of expression, those up on stage appropriately conveyed how important it is to be able to do what you love in life.

PUT ON YOUR DANCING SHOES: (clockwise) Reverend Shaw (Webb) and his wife (Brodsky) embrace; Willard (Petrocchi) woos his crush, Rusty (Wittels); The Reverend preaches to his congregation; Ren (Torres) sings with Ariel (Michalewski). ASHER KRELL/the Justice

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012

PERFORMANCE

K-Nite blends history with pop culture ■ BKSA’s well-organized

variety show used skits, music and dance to help the audience “Explore Korea.” By SARA DEJENE JUSTICE EDITOR

When it comes to building up hype for a show, the Brandeis Korean Student Association is a team of professionals. Over the past few weeks, they have plastered every door, hallway and staircase on campus with flyers advertising the annual K-Nite, a compilation of Korean culture, history, music and dance, which blends both traditional and modern aspects of Korea into one two-hour-long event. Levin Ballroom itself was inviting and representative of the effort put into the event. Tables were set up to allow attendees to sit in small intimate groups, rather than the traditional auditorium setting. Each table had a centerpiece resembling the design of South Korea’s flag and pamphlets on Korean culture. In addition, every attendee was given a program and two chocolate coins engraved with “BKSA.” This year’s highly anticipated show invited audience members to “Explore Korea.” Emcees Christina Sulgee Lee ’14, Rebekah Lee ’14 and Jennifer Sae Buel Kim ’14 acted as tour guides in between performances and introduced the audience to various iconic cities and historic sites in Korea, such as Hongdae, a college town with a modern atmosphere, and Bukchon Hanok, a traditional village. There were also film clips of daily life in South Korea interspersed between acts. After BKSA President Derek Jungwoo Cho ’14 and Vice President Jung Park ’14 gave a welcome speech, KNite opened with two acts new to the line-up this year: the Instrumentals and Samulnori. The Instrumentals, an all-Brandeis student ensemble, played Korea’s unofficial national anthem “Arirang” and “Onara,” the theme song of the Korean drama Dae Jang Geum. Samulnori, a division of the recently chartered Korean Performing Arts Club, played the traditional Korean percussion instruments janggu, buk, gwengari and jing. The drumming started out steady, but increased in intensity, which could be seen in the performers’ faces. One student lifted his drum over his head at one point, impressing the audience. The show transitioned into the more modern side of Korean culture with a performance by K-Soul, an a cappella group from Boston University. K-Soul

NATHANIEL FREEDMAN/the Justice

FANS OF THE FAN DANCE: K-Nite concluded the evening with a traditional dance performed by members of the Brandeis Korean Student Association donning beautiful opened with the G-Dragon remix of “This Love,” originally by Maroon 5, and continued into “Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbinson. Although they ran into some technical difficulties with their microphones not working at first, the all-male five-member group was a hit with the crowd. The audience often cheered and clapped along during the songs. The members of KSoul finished their act in true gentlemanly style, with each singer presenting a rose to a member of the audience. K-Nite also explained Korea’s history through a skit depicting a folktale. The tour guides explained beforehand about the presence of folktale villages in Korea, which are towns that are considered “recreations” of traditional Korean culture. This particular skit told the story of two brothers Heungbu and Nolbu. Heungbu is poor, yet kind and generous, while Nolbu, who is wealthy, is also greedy and selfish. Heungbu and his family are later rewarded with riches for showing kindness toward an injured swallow, and Nolbu, jealous of his brother’s

new prosperity, attempts to solicit the same fortune from the swallow, but ends up being presented instead with trash. K-Nite’s performance of the folktale emphasized generosity and the dangers of greediness. The actors successfully incorporated humor into the play, with a few students dressed in Angry Birds costumes. After a 15-minute intermission, the program continued with a heavy focus on music and dance. The KSA band performed “First Poem” by Shin SungWoo and “Red Sunset,” which was originally by the South Korean singer Lee Moon Sae and later remade by the well-known South Korean rock band YB. The band showed off its powerful vocals and talented musicians. While “First Poem” was slower and closer to a ballad, “Red Sunset” was more upbeat and transitioned well into the subsequent dance acts. Modern Dance, an act with an allBrandeis student dance team, took the stage with Taeyang’s “Wedding Dress.” The dancers moved smoothly, with fluid hip-hop-influenced moves.

The tempo picked up with dance covers of “Please Don’t Go” by CL and Minzy from the group 2NE1 and TARA’s “I Go Crazy Because of You.” The act finished with “Chulsa” by No Hong Chul and Psy and for which dancers donned brightly colored shirts and sunglasses, matching the song’s fun and upbeat tone. All of the dances were high energy and well-coordinated and smoothly transitioned between songs with the performers rarely missing a step. Bulletproof Funk, a dance group that was also from BU, next performed to both Western and Korean music. The performance was set up as a miniplay, set at a bar, with the members playing characters such as waitresses and drunken customers. The dancers broke into smaller groups, taking turns performing. Bulletproof Funk also featured fluid transitions and extremely talented dancers, never failing to keep the audience’s attention. While Modern Dance and Bulletproof Funk exhibited bold and recent dance styles, the finale, which was the

signature Fan Dance, was more traditional. Slower movements complemented the intricate handling of the fans, gracefully bringing the night to a close. After the performances, a wide array of Korean dishes were served to the attendees. Although the lines for food seemed infinitely long, the meal was well worth the wait and filling, featuring a diverse selection of Korean dishes, including the signature dish kimchi. Overall, the effort put into K-Nite 2012 was evident from every performance and the setup of the room itself. Although a few technical difficulties occurred during the show, K-Nite ran like clockwork. The event was also inclusive, with both Korean and non-Korean performers in most of the acts. As someone who had never been to K-Nite before, I was impressed to see both the traditional and modern aspects of Korean culture combined into one performance, while being entertained throughout a fantastic show.

MUSIC

VoiceMale shares birth of new album, ‘Phoenix’ ■ JustArts spoke with three

members of the all-male a cappella group VoiceMale regarding its latest projects. By EMILY SALLOWAY JUSTICE EDITOR

It may come as a surprise that VoiceMale Publicity Manager Ben Udo ’14 hadn’t done much singing before coming to Brandeis. Or that the all-male a cappella group’s president, Chase Hiller ’12, starred in his high school’s production of High School Musical. And fans of Jason Sugarman ’13, VoiceMale’s business manager and current Music minor, might find it especially shocking that he only learned how to read music after joining the group. But the one thing that shouldn’t come as a surprise is the amount of success the group has had since releasing its newest album, Phoenix, for digital download on Dec. 31 and beginning to promote the availability of their CDs with a show last Monday in the Shapiro Campus Center atrium. Already, they are nominated for four Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards and have gotten nothing but positive feedback from fans. The group, whose current membership also includes Daniel Schreiber ’14, Schuyler Brass ’14, Eli Siegel ’14,

Greg Bray ’15 and Adam Jones ’15, has been working on the album for several years. “We spent a lot of time picking songs,” Sugarman told JustArts. “We had like three options for each slot and went through the pros and cons and had lists and crossed out. We had … multiple three- or four-hour Skype sessions. … It took a long time to come up with the 10 tracks, exactly where they were going to be, why they’d be in that slot and what emotion they portrayed.” “I think maybe what distinguishes [Phoenix as a] concept album … is that it’s really kind of … cohesive,” Hiller said. “It takes you on a journey and each song is linked to the next one and the previous one.” “Each song has its own special transition,” Udo added. Sugarman explained that the album’s name comes from the group’s idea that the overarching story would be reminiscent of the life of a phoenix, the great mythological bird that is “beautiful and then crushes into ashes and then is reborn from the ashes.” Phoenix is VoiceMale’s eighth album since the group was started in 1994. The 10 tracks that made the cut are an assortment of covers and two songs that the singers of VoiceMale wrote themselves: “Phoenix” and “Hold On.” Although both tracks were primarily written by alumni of the group, (“Phoenix” by Adam Levine ’11 and “Hold On” by Eric Freeman ’11),

JENNY CHENG/Justice File Photo

CASUAL CONCERT: The group promoted the availability of ‘Phoenix’ last Monday night. all of the men had input with the final CD versions. Phoenix also includes bonus instrumental versions of these two songs, which Udo said was done “to [show] the evolution.” As is evidenced by their contributions to Phoenix, VoiceMale, like many clubs at Brandeis, has an extensive alumni network. However, unlike other groups, former VoiceMale members often go to great lengths to support the current lineup of guys. “Whenever we go dorm-storming or if we need help with auditions, our alumni are always awesome,” Hiller said. “I think that’s a

testament to the fact that … they still love our group. … Some of them have kids and full time jobs … but they’re always willing to lend a hand to us, which is so powerful.” This is partially due to the sheer amount of time the members spend together. They rehearse for seven hours a week, not including preparing for performances, and go on tour together once a year. “VoiceMale compared to other groups [at other universities] retains more people for all four years,” Hiller noted from his observations while on tour at other schools. “You

can develop musically and interpersonally and contribute a lot to the group across those four years.” That’s not to say that they get bored or run out of things to improve upon. “It is a constantly shifting dynamic,” Udo said. “People’s personalities, people’s musicality. … Last year was very different from this year. … Two of our most musical people in the group … graduated … [last] year, [and] … all of us have had to step up in terms of taking responsibility to pick the group up. … It’s been a huge growing experience for all of us.” So what’s next for the group? An appearance on NBC’s The Sing Off, perhaps? “We tried out for The Sing Off [before the show’s first season in 2010, where they made it to the top 30 teams] and I’m sure that in our group’s future … we will audition [again],” Hiller said. “We’re already thinking about our next album,” Sugarman admitted. “We have an idea of what it’s going to be like, the stylistic, the thematic. We are constantly pushing ahead. … Right now we are going to dwell on this album for a little bit because we are really excited, but we’re also looking to the future in terms of albums and performances.” “Albums are a great way to share our music,” Hiller added. “That’s what it’s all about: to be able to share our artistic vision with audiences everywhere.”

TUESDAY, march 27, 2012

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THE JUSTICE

OFF CAMPUS TELEVISION

FIGHT OR FLIGHT

AMC’s ‘Mad Men’ returns to 1966 ■ The AMC period drama

‘Mad Men’ returned this week after an 18-month hiatus. Not much has changed. By emily kraus JUSTICE editor

MURRAY CLOSE/Lionsgate Films, Inc.

INTO THE WOODS: Katniss (Lawrence) is forced to compete in the Hunger Games, a competition to the death among children.

Lawrence impresses in ‘The Hunger Games’ ■ The first installment of

Suzanne Collins’ beloved trilogy is faithful to the book and to fans’ expectations. By marielle temkin JUSTICE editor

The film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling book The Hunger Games has become one of the most-hyped films of 2012. With the fifth-highest Friday opening of all time ($68.25 million), it’s safe to say that this is the year’s “film on fire.” As a fan of the original trilogy, I was simultaneously excited and nervous about the movie, but I found director Gary Ross’ vision to be loyal to the book and very well done. Ross opens the film with a silent textual introduction explaining the story behind the Hunger Games. Every year, one boy and one girl “tribute” are taken from each of the futuristic country Panem’s 12 districts and forced to fight to the death in a televised pageant. Only one tribute out of 24 is left alive at the end. The Games were enacted by Panem’s government, the Capitol, to punish the districts for a past rebellion and to keep them under control. The first sound the audience hears is screaming, the result of Primrose Everdeen’s (Willow Shields) nightmare. Prim is the sister of protagonist Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), and we see the sisters embracing as Katniss attempts to calm Prim. The 12-year-old is scared because this is the day of her first Reaping—the ceremony in which the tributes are chosen. Throughout these beginning scenes, we see glimpses of the poverty in District 12, whose industry is coal mining. Visually, the district evokes the feel of an Appalachian town: Its citizens are dirty, live in run-down shacks and are starving, as indicated by a man sucking the marrow out of chicken bones. Their destitute nature is juxtaposed by the blatantly opulent lifestyle of the citizens in the Capitol, who are the target audience for the broadcast of the Hunger Games. At the Reaping, Effie Trinket (Eliza-

beth Banks) is dressed in head-totoe pink (including her eyelashes and hair) and exudes a cheerfulness that is sickening to watch, considering that she is in the district to choose two children to compete in the Games. Her declaration that it is an “honor” to be chosen falls flat on the frightened and horrified faces of the kids. As Prim’s name is called for the female tribute, there is complete silence, punctuated only by Katniss’ screaming as she volunteers to take her sister’s place as tribute. Effie is excited by the turn of events and asks the crowd to applaud for Katniss, but they merely hold their hands up in a three-fingered gesture of respect, refusing to bend to the conventions of the Capitol. Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) is chosen as the male tribute, and the two stand stock-still on the stage with terror in their eyes. Katniss and Peeta travel to the Capitol where they begin to train for the Games. Their mentor, Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson), is a drunkard and offers little help at first. The only character we meet who seems to understand Katniss is her stylist, Cinna (Lenny Kravitz). Kravitz plays Cinna with a gentle and upfront nature so different from anyone else in the Capitol that he is immediately endearing. When they first meet, Katniss says, “Most people just congratulate me.” Cinna responds, “I don’t see the point in that.” Lawrence as Katniss is incredible. She has an ability to show every emotion she experiences on her face, allowing the audience to see into Katniss’ thoughts and motivations. In the moments before she goes into the arena, Katniss speaks to Cinna and you can see her visibly trembling in fear, her face almost devoid of expression as she contemplates the awfulness of what she is about to be forced to do. In contrast, Hutcherson as Peeta is decent. His character is more emotionally static than Katniss, and we just don’t see as much of him. There was little chemistry between the two, so I had a very hard time believing that he loves Katniss, something which he confesses in a pre-Games interview; and,

despite Lawrence’s acting skills, I didn’t believe that she cared about helping Peeta. But the plot is driven by much more than the feelings between the two, so the storyline of the film was not much affected. There are many small details in the film that enhance the viewing experience. For example, after an explosion, the only noise to be heard is a single high-pitched note, similar to the ringing in one’s ears after an extremely loud incident. Also, the camerawork tended to be shaky, which added to the hectic, tension-filled subject matter. Collins co-wrote the script with two other writers, so there were few major plot details different from the book. But one detail that sticklers to the book—and fans of Gale, Katniss’ best friend from home— will probably take issue with is that Gale (Liam Helmsworth) plays a very small part in the film. We get the sense that she and Gale hunt together in the woods a lot, but the depth of their relationship is not communicated clearly. Another plot change fans may take offense with is that Prim gives Katniss the mockingjay pin (which comes to symbolize resistance in the districts) instead of the mayor’s daughter. Despite these changes, however, Collins’ involvement should assuage viewers’ concerns that the movie deviates too much from the book in this instance. But there are also aspects of the Games that we are able to see that were not in the book simply because the novel is solely from Katniss’ perspective. We see the gamemakers controlling the arena from behind the scenes as well as reactions from citizens in the districts as they watch their tributes suffer. That is not to say that the movie is better than the book, just that the movie is able to go beyond firstperson, making it possible to reveal further details of how the Games function. Overall, the film is a well-executed adaptation that stays, for the most part, true to the original story. Fans of the book and newcomers to the series alike should find themselves drawn into the dystopian world of Panem and enthralled by Lawrence’s remarkable performance.

Mad Men is back. For those of you who haven’t been keeping track, Sunday night was the season five premiere of AMC’s critically acclaimed drama, finally bringing the series’ year-and-a-half-long hiatus to an end as Don Draper and the rest of his gang returned to prime time. At the end of the show’s last season, fans were left wondering if they would ever see their beloved characters again. Negotiations between Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner and AMC became publicly heated—so heated, in fact, that Weiner told The New York Times in a recent interview that he quit at one point—and it seemed unlikely that the show would return. Rumors about budget cuts and characters being written out swirled. Luckily for us, though, Weiner got his way, and Mad Men is set to continue for two more seasons after this one, concluding at the end of season seven. To say that a lot went down at the end of last season would be an understatement. Don Draper, the show’s twisted protagonist, played by Jon Hamm, got engaged to his secretary, Megan (Jessica Paré) and dumped his then-girlfriend of sorts Dr. Faye Miller (Cara Buono) after the fact. Joan Harris (Christina Hendricks) found herself pregnant after a one-night stand with her former fling, advertising executive Roger Sterling (John Slattery), and we saw her on a bus traveling to an unknown destination after deciding not to get an abortion. Betty Francis (January Jones), Don’s ex-wife, who has landed herself in another unhappy marriage, has seemed like she’s been on the verge of a breakdown for a while now. At the end of season four, she fired the family’s beloved maid Carla (Deborah Lacey) and started co-opting her daughter’s therapy sessions so she could talk about her own issues. And we can’t forget Peggy Olson, played by Elisabeth Moss, who is continuing to rise through the ranks at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce and basically proving herself to be the most competent person in the whole place (girl power!). That quick summary doesn’t even scratch the surface of all of the subplots and complex relationships that were left up in the air at the end of season four. It makes sense, then, that this season’s premiere was two hours long—after all, we had a lot of catching up to do.

Weiner is notorious for his refusal to let any spoilers slip before the show airs and the lead up to Sunday’s episode was no different. Various news and entertainment websites deduced from the song slated to play as the credits rolled (which was released the week before the episode aired) that the show was going to be set 18 months after the last episode had taken place. That was basically all we knew about the premiere before Sunday night. Needless to say, my expectations were high for this episode, and after watching it, I wasn’t quite sure how I felt. The fact that the show was set a year and a half later than the end of last season made it feel as if the characters had just been going on with their lives even though I hadn’t been watching, which made for an odd sensation as I rejoined them. When the episode opened, the audience was immediately reminded of the tumultuous era in which the show is set (this season takes place in 1966); we saw civil rights protestors picketing outside a Midtown office building and listened in as Bert Cooper talked with some of the younger men about the Vietnam War. More notable than those events, though, was the fact that the men and women around whom the show is centered seem to be pretty isolated from broader social and political trends. Pete Campbell spent most of the episode angling for a better office; Megan planned Don a surprise party; Joan took care of her new baby and worried that the company had replaced her. Despite everything going on around them, all of the characters seemed to be focused entirely on themselves. It seemed kind of strange that nothing big happened in this episode, considering the fact that this premiere was so hyped and so anticipated—I kept waiting for a shocking moment, but one never came. I didn’t really mind that, though. This episode felt like a normal episode of Mad Men, and I’m sure that was intentional on Weiner’s part. This show builds slowly, and one of the best parts of the way it works is looking at a character’s whole arc and seeing how he or she developed and evolved without seeing one “aha” moment that completely transforms him or her all at once. That kind of slow unraveling was already apparent by the end of Sunday night’s premiere. Everyone looked a little bit uncomfortable (and more than just a bit in some cases) and everyone seemed to want to be somewhere different than where they found themselves as the episode began. And if I know Mad Men, those characters will be somewhere different by the time this season draws to a close—but we can be sure that they won’t be entirely comfortable there, either.

FRANK OCKENFELS/AMC

BACK IN BUSINESS: ‘Mad Men’ is set to run for two more seasons after this year.

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, march 27, 2012

FILM

Hill and Tatum update ’80s TV classic ■ Director Phil Lord puts a

comedic spin on ‘21 Jump Street,’ in which Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill go undercover at a high school. By rachel gordon JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Watching Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill fingering each other’s throats in a high school bathroom may seem slightly strange. However, because the young men are trying to rid themselves of a new synthetic drug metabolizing in their bloodstream, I personally think it’s fine. In 21 Jump Street, based on the TV series of the same name, Tatum and Hill co-star as undercover cops who return to high school to suppress the sales of a new drug and take down the dealers and creators. Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs), this action comedy was written by Hill and Michael Bacall (Project X). Former classmates Morton Schmidt (Hill) and Greg Jenko (Tatum) meet again when they are enrolled in the same police academy. Assigned as partners on park patrol, they manage to escape the lessthan-glamorous duty when they take down drug dealer Domingo (DeRay Davis). The partners are reassigned to a division of 21 Jump Street, and the film cuts to a close up of Ice Cube, er, Captain Dickson, who tells the boys they have been transferred because “You some Justin Beaver, Miley Cyrus lookin’ muthaf——ers.” Schmidt and Jenko return to high

SCOTT GARFIELD/Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.

BACK TO SCHOOL: Untalented cops Morton Schmidt (Hill) and Greg Jenko (Tatum) try to bust up a high school drug ring. school posing as brothers, each with his own new identity. Once a popular jock, Jenko must now take “app Chemistry” while shy nerdy Schmidt has to face his insecurities in drama class. I suspected that upon returning to school, someone who looks like Tatum would be practically stampeded, Robert Pattinson in Twilight-style, yet it is Schmidt who becomes “one of the popular kids.”

The crunchy granola progressives, (in this decade the popular crowd), are led by drug dealer Eric (played by James Franco’s little brother Dave). Eric takes a liking to Schmidt, and this friendship brings him closer to finding the supplier of the synthetic drug called H.F.S., which stands for Holy F—ing S—. The action scenes in Jump Street are less than impressive, but the comedy, while ridiculous, is also ri-

FILM

diculously funny. The audience members around me were laughing for the majority of the film; Hill and Bacall included plenty of comedic details in the script that worked seamlessly on the big screen. Jenko and Schmidt’s bromance is smooth and humorous, and their back-and-forth banter provides just enough spring for the other to bounce off of with ample wit. While

the acting isn’t anything earth shattering, Jump Street is a “so good it must be bad for you” feel-good comedy that is hilarious without being trite. The concept is fresh, and there were unforeseen, but great uncredited cameos by Johnny Depp and Peter DeLuise reprising their roles from the original series. Tatum brought his effortlessly tantalizing charm, making it possible to dispel the fact that he’s 31 and playing a high schooler. A skinny Hill, who, besides co-writing and starring in the film also served as executive producer, did his expected comedic nerd thing, but unexpectedly (and not incredibly believable when your partner looks like Tatum) was the one who scored any high-school romance. Most surprising was Franco’s portrayal of Eric, the obnoxiousdrug-dealing-hippie-popular boy whose parents don’t care about him. This was the first film I’ve seen him in, and he proved himself as more than just James’ younger sibling through his interpretation of the pretentious, laid-back character who’s chronically spewing lines such as, “Yo, it’s chill man, recycle” when he’s not too busy selling drugs. Ice Cube nailed every one of his lines; I started to condition myself to laugh before he even opened his mouth, Pavlov’s dog-style. Hill’s take on turning 21 Jump Street into a film is an alluring concept, and the comedy never felt forced, including the action component, which was more comedy than anything else. The film is definitely worth watching, and laughing with everyone in the theater is an experience well worth the trip to the big screen.

FOOD

‘Footnote’ roasts Jewish life French bistro Mistral delivers unexpected foods and flavors

■ The Oscar-nominated

Israeli film centers around a father and son who are in competition to receive a prize. By viet tran JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Footnote, written and directed by Joseph Cedar, begins with a rivalry between a father and son. But as the story unfolds, the increasing crises reveal more about the tension between humans in general. The audience experiences a chain of indignations where characters must hurt someone else to relieve their pain. Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Academy Awards and winner of Cannes Film Festival’s Best Screenplay, this acidic—and hilarious—Israeli film begins with Uriel Shkolnik (Lior Ashkenazi) being accepted into the prestigious Academy of Sciences, as his father, Eliezer Shkolnik (Schlomo Bar-Aba), who is not a member, sits in bitter jealousy. These two men are rivals and both professors at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Talmudic scholars (though they approach their religious interpretations from different angles). Eliezer worked for 30 years on reconstructing a definitive version of the ancient Talmud, when, only a month before publishing his findings, Grossman (Micah Lewensohn) discovered the original binding of the Talmud, making Eliezer’s work unnecessary. Grossman is praised; Eliezer is forgotten. For 20 years, Eliezer submitted his name for consideration for the Israel Prize, the nation’s highest honor, only to fail every time. His only scholarly recognition, on to which he desperately holds, is a thank-you in a footnote of a textbook on the introduction to Talmud literature—hence the film’s title. Eliezer regards with contempt any success his son gains. Then an ironic twist occurs: Eliezer receives a phone call that he has finally been awarded the Israel Prize. Everyone is surprised and Eliezer is glowing. He is so changed that his son barely recognizes him. Then another ironic twist occurs:

■ Boston Restaurant Week

provides students with an opportunity to sample restaurants above their typical price range, like the elegant, inviting Mistral. By nashrah rahman JUSTICE editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

HEBREW SCHOOL: Schlomo Bar-Aba plays a Talmudic scholar in rivalry with his son. the Ministry of Education made a mistake. The minister of education meant to call Uriel to award him the Israel prize, and she thought that she was talking to him when she spoke to his father. This presents a serious dilemma for Uriel: he must give up the prize so his father can have it after coveting it for so many years. This allows Cedar to set up another series of funny events. It’s delightful and hilariously ironic to watch Footnote’s characters respond to the awkward situations, which often occur when one character knows something that another doesn’t. These characters receive what they don’t deserve. I often laughed as the son tries to keep his composure as he watches his father celebrate his award, or as one character tries to help another while the other tries to harm him. Irony gives us a strange vision. Who has the upper hand? Who is the underdog? And what happens when the situation is suddenly reversed?

We understand the characters in ways that would have been impossible before the crises as they react to situations that uncover the dynamics of their relationships. The misadventures of the film’s characters are all accompanied by perfect orchestral music, highlighting the capricious nature of the events, which quickly turns to a menacing tune that reflects the cruel irony of the situation. All of the actors handle their parts brilliantly. They balance on a tightrope of awareness. They understand the story as actors but remain involved as characters in their anger and pains. They make moments shine in hilarious awkwardness, yet remain entirely true to the logic of their characters. Overall, this film challenges the meaning of family. To confront his father means that Uriel may potentially sever their relationship. But then are these people still a family if they must hide the truth in order to function?

For the average college student, French cuisine is often impossible to afford. This is why, for Boston Restaurant Week (March 18 to 23, and March 25 to 30), when most of the city’s upscale restaurants offer bargain prix-fixe menus, I easily decided on Mistral, a southeastern French establishment that promised high ceilings, charming decor and of course, excellent French food. I was not disappointed on any of these three accounts. For the appetizer, I ordered white mushroom bisque, while some of my friends opted for the beef sirloin carpaccio. The bisque was surprisingly light despite its very creamy texture, with subtle hints of truffle. Not a fan of consuming raw meat, I hesitated a little before sampling a friend’s carpaccio. The beef, layered with parmesan, toasted brioche and herbs, had a pleasant and tangy taste, and I had to agree with my friend that it was quite refreshing. Within our dining circle, we ordered nearly every one of the entrées offered: blackened sea bass with crabmeat, roast chicken with risotto, grilled salmon with cured bacon and braised pork with yam polenta. I could not differentiate between the taste of bass and crabmeat, given the similar texture of the seafood, but served in a bittersweet

lemon-thyme sauce, this entrée was extremely fresh-tasting, even if a little bland. A friend commented that the combination of salmon and bacon was unexpected but delicious. The pork and yam tasted like fine comfort food, but the best entrée selection was the chicken with risotto. Not too dry or moist, the chicken was roasted to perfection alongside a bed of rich, creamy risotto with mushrooms and herbs. Despite the deceptively light and refreshing taste of the appetizers and main courses, when it came to dessert, I was quite full. This was probably due to Mistral’s proportions, which are surprisingly generous compared to French standards. I could not finish my selection of the rich (but of course, light!) chocolate devil’s food cake with vanilla ice cream, though it tasted heavenly and sent me into a prolonged state of bliss. I still sneaked a bite of a friend’s vanilla panna cotta with candied nuts and salted caramel and struggled to decide which dessert I liked the most. I concluded that the panna cotta with mild hints of cinnamon was the more unique selection to end a richly flavored meal. The food at Mistral is excellent, the ambience sophisticated and the décor simply beautiful under the romantic dim light. However, the service falls a little short. Understandably, Mistral must be a busy establishment, especially during Restaurant Week, but with a reservation, a dining group should not be asked to wait an additional 20 minutes to be seated. Nonetheless, if you want to try one of Boston’s finest dining establishments and are willing to spend the extra money, this is the French restaurant that should be on your list.

TUESday, March 27, 2012 ● THE JUSTICE

TOP of the

ARTS ON VIEW

TRIVIA TIME 1. What kind of meat is used in a Reuben sandwich? 2. In the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” how many maids are milking? 3. What was Matthew’s profession before he became an apostle of Jesus? 4. The annual PATSY Award is given for outstanding accomplishment in what area? 5. What is the most abundant element in the human body? 6. What ancient sport gave rise to the modern version of kickboxing? 7. What Shakespearean character said, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be”? 8. Whose biography was titled One Giant Leap? 9. Which one of the Great Lakes is located entirely within the U.S. border? 10. Who discovered the St. Lawrence River?

ANSWERS 1. Corned beef 2. Eight 3. Tax collector 4. Animal acting 5. Oxygen 6. Muay Thai 7. Polonius, in Hamlet 8. Neil Armstrong 9. Lake Michigan 10. Jacques Cartier

STRANGE BUT TRUE oIt was American humorist Evan Esar who defined a zoo as “an excellent place to study the habits of human beings.” oThe New York Times Best Seller list was first published on April 9, 1942. Since that time, only eight authors have managed to have books place No. 1 on both the fiction and nonfiction lists. Those who have accomplished that feat include Ernest Hemingway, Jimmy Buffett, William Styron, Dr. Seuss and John Steinbeck.  If you’re planning a trip to New Orleans, you might want to keep in mind the following law: It’s illegal in that city to curse a firefighter while he or she is engaged in official duties. oAmerica’s first vending machines were found in New York City train stations; they dispensed gum.  The European sturgeon (also known as the beluga sturgeon) is the source of the highly coveted beluga caviar—the world’s most expensive—bringing in up to $5,000 per pound. This sturgeon can live more than 100 years and is the largest freshwater fish in the world; the record holder, caught in 1827, was 24 feet long and weighed 3,460 pounds.  In a 1982 issue of the magazine American Film, a writer named Chuck Ross claimed that he retyped the screenplay to the 1942 film Casablanca, changing only the title and one of the character’s names, and submitted it to 217 agencies. Of the 85 who responded, only eight recognized it as Casablanca, though it seemed familiar to another 25. Three of the agencies thought it might be commercially viable, while one thought it should be turned into a novel. The Oscar-wining screenplay was rejected outright by 38 of the agencies.

CHARTS Top 10s for the week ending March 25 BOX OFFICE

1. The Hunger Games 2. 21 Jump Street 3. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax 4. John Carter 5. Act of Valor 6. Project X 7. A Thousand Words 8. October Baby 9. Safe House 10. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

NYT BESTSELLERS

ISAAC STEINBERG/The Justice

POLITICAL PICTURE: Justice Photographer Isaac Steinberg ’14 took this shot while he was in Dharamsala, India in 2010 visiting the Dalai Lama’s monastery. The monks are Tibetan refugees.

ACROSS 1. Mary’s pet 5. Sleepwear, for short 8. Commotions 12. Brit’s exclamation 13. Debtor’s letters 14. Domesticate 15. Made moist 17. Send forth 18. Lance 19. Crouches 21. Line of fashion? 24. Boom times 25. Auction actions 28. Asian desert 30. Animation frame 33. Historic time 34. Bolivian city 35. Guitar’s cousin 36. Jewel 37. War god 38. Cruising 39. Pick a target 41. Profound 43. Jamaican music style 46. Blunder 50. Satan’s specialty 51. Greek threatened by a sword 54. Flintstones’ pet 55. Wildebeest 56. Aid 57. Lily variety 58. Tackle’s teammate 59. Slithery DOWN 1. Covers 2. Now, on a memo 3. Jerry Herman musical 4. Circumvent 5. Wrestling win 6. Scarborough of MSNBC 7. Lather 8. Enjoyed thoroughly 9. Syrian city 10. Leave out 11. Collections 16. Before 20. Classroom surprise 22. Culture medium 23. Segway alternative

CROSSWORD

Nonfiction 1. American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History — Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice 2. Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever — Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard 3. The Power of Habit — Charles Duhigg 4. Steve Jobs — Walter Isaacson 5. Better than Normal — Dale Archer

iTUNES

1. fun. feat. Janelle Monáe — “We are Young” 2. Gotye — “Somebody that I Used To Know” 3. Flo Rida feat. Sia —“Wild Ones” 4. The Wanted — “Glad You Came” 5. One Direction — “What Makes You Beautiful” 6. Taylor Swift — “Eyes Open” 7. Carly Rae Jepsen — “Call Me Maybe” 8. Kelly Clarkson — “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” 9. Train — “Drive By” 10. Katy Perry — “Part of Me”

BILLBOARD

25. Plead 26. Rage 27. Harmful 29. Diamond corner 31. — out a living 32. Meadow 34. Dalai — 38. Iraq War helicopter 40. Nome dome home 42. Id counterpart 43. Cincinnati team 44. 1960s singer Sands 45. Rim 47. Run away 48. Toppled 49. Catch sight of 52. Massachusetts cape 53. Pie filling?

1. One Direction — Up All Night 2. Adele — 21 3. Guns N’ Roses — Greatest Hits 4. Bruce Springsteen — Wrecking Ball 5. Passion — Passion: White Flag 6. Whitney Houston — Whitney: The Greatest Hits 7. Drake — Take Care 8. Various Artists — Now 41 9. Gotye — Making Mirrors 10. fun. — Some Nights Solution to last week’s crossword

Top of the Charts information provided by Fandango, the New York Times, Billboard. com and Apple.com.

STAFF PLAYLIST

“Around The World” By JASSEN LU

SUDOKU

Justice layout staff

INSTRUCTIONS: Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

oThe king of hearts is the only king without a moustache on a standard playing card. Thought for the Day: “The successful revolutionary is a statesman; the unsuccessful one a criminal.” — Erich Fromm

Fiction 1. Lone Wolf — Jodi Picoult 2. Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse — Troy Denning 3. The Thief — Clive Cussler and Justin Scott 4. Kill Shot — Vince Flynn 5. Private Games — James Patterson and Mark Sullivan

Solution to last week’s sudoku

From the Beatles, whom we all know and love, to the more foreign tunes of “Arirang,” here’s a list to take you here and around the world in 10 songs. THE LIST 1.o“The Humours of Glendart” — Greg Knowles and Mike Taylor 2. “From Me to You” — The Beatles 3. “Eight Days a Week”— The Beatles 4. “Jailhouse Rock” — Elvis Presley 5.o“Si El Norte Fuera El Sur” — Ricardo Arjona 6. “Arirang” — Unknown Composer 7. “Help!” — The Beatles 8.o“All You Need Is Love” — The Beatles 9. “Can’t Buy Me Love” — The Beatles 10.o“The Grass Is Blue” — Dolly Parton