ARTS Page 19
SPORTS Softball earns silver 16
ERROL MORRIS
FORUM President Lawrence reflects 10 The Independent Student Newspaper
the
of
B r a n d e is U n i v e r sit y S i n c e 1 9 4 9
Justice
Volume LXIII, Number 28
www.thejustice.org
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Waltham, Mass.
60TH COMMENCEMENT
Brooks stresses commitments ■ The NYT columnist gave
a humorous speech, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed at the commencement By sara dejene JUSTICE editor
New York Times op-ed columnist David Brooks spoke to the graduating Class of 2011 about making commitments and their correlation with happiness in an uncertain future in his keynote address during the University’s 60th commencement ceremony. According to BrandeisNOW, the ceremony, which was held May 22 in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, was attended by about 8,000 students, family members and faculty. As one of this year’s six honorary degree recipients, Brooks received a degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa. Executive Assistant to the President and Assistant Secretary of the Corporation John Hose described Brooks as an “oasis” of both reason and humor at the ceremony. Brooks began his speech humorously. “As I look out on this audience, the first thing I realize is that the Rapture must actually have hap-
pened yesterday,” said Brooks. “because, from the looks of it, America is now 50 percent Jewish.” He later gave advice for the graduates' futures while reflecting on their pasts. “Young Americans today live the most supervised childhoods in American history,” said Brooks. He referenced cartoon images of the “Tiger Moms, Über-moms and Helicopter Parents” who raise their children to be well-rounded and extremely accomplished. “So, by the time these Über-mom kids will apply to college, they will have cured four formerly fatal diseases, started three companies, done environmental awareness training in Tibet and competed in the Olympic trials in some completely obscure sport like fencing or competitive yoga,” joked Brooks. “Over the past 15 years of your life, you have been funneled through a set of rigorous and supervised institutions. The paths have been marked out; the grades you had to get and the tests you had to do well on,” said Brooks. “But, starting today, or in a few years when some of you leave graduate school, you will shoot out
See GRADUATION, 5 ☛
ACADEMICS
ASHER KRELL/the Justice
A SENSE OF HUMOR: NYT columnist David Brooks encouraged his audience while providing jokes and advice.
dining services
Scarry speaks to Workers to negotiate contract Phi Beta Kappa ■ The current contract
between Aramark and Dining Services workers was last negotiated 5 years ago.
■ The speaker drew protest
at the organization’s initiation ceremony speaking about nuclear weapons. By Robyn spector JUSTICE editor
Harvard University English and American Literature Prof. Elaine Scarry spoke at Saturday’s Phi Beta Kappa initiation ceremony about how beauty can inspire in-
dividuals “to repair the injuries of the world” and argued—with an audience member’s interruption— that nuclear proliferation is a “destroyer of beauty.” There were mixed reactions about Scarry’s speech from this year’s 71 seniors and nine juniors inducted into the national academic society and from their family members in attendance. The 49th ceremony, which took place on the Spingold Theater
See SCARRY, 6 ☛
By andrew wingens JUSTICE editor
With their contract set to expire on the last day of June, Dining Services workers and UNITE HERE Local 26 will begin negotiating a new contract with Aramark on May 26, said Dana Simon, a staff member with UNITE HERE Local 26, in an interview with the Justice. UNITE HERE Local 26 is the union that represents about 125 unionized Brandeis Dining Services workers. The current contract between
garding which proposals they will put forth during the bargaining process with Aramark, according to Simon. As of May 13, Simon said the proposals were finalized and that UNITE HERE representatives and volunteers from among the workers would meet with Aramark executives for the first time on May 26. At that meeting, the union and the workers plan to present their proposals to Aramark management, said Simon. The most important issues for the union members include livable wages, decent and affordable health insurance and regular and predictable employment, said Simon. Simon said these issues are con-
See ARAMARK, 6 ☛
Aiding Africa with art
Baseball falls in upset
Jack Mandel dies
Jessye Kass ’13 cofounded an NGO to help children in Ghana express themselves.
The baseball team finished off a solid season in disappointing fashion, falling 8-5 to Anna Maria College.
Philanthropist and benefactor Jack N. Mandel passed away at the age of 99.
FEATURES 8 For tips or info e-mail editor@thejustice.org
Aramark—the food service provider contracted by the University—and the workers was last negotiated 5 years ago, wrote Director of Dining Services Aaron Bennos in an e-mail to the Justice. If a new contract is not negotiated by the last day of June, the current contract will expire. However, Simon said he plans to continue negotiating. Senior Vice President for Administration Mark Collins declined to comment on the negotiations, saying that the University contracts with Aramark to provide dining services and is therefore not involved in the talks between Aramark and the workers. Dining Services workers have been meeting for several months in an effort to come to a consensus re-
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INDEX
SPORTS 16
ARTS SPORTS
17 16
EDITORIAL FEATURES
10 7
OPINION POLICE LOG
10 2
COMMENTARY
11
News 3 COPYRIGHT 2011 FREE AT BRANDEIS. Email managing@thejustice.org for home delivery.