The Justice, November 1, 2011 issue

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Justice

Volume LXIV, Number 10

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Tuesday, November 1, 2011

campus speaker

SNOWTOBER

Watkins reflects on her role in Enron collapse ■ Sherron Watkins said that

whistle-blowers’ lives are often destroyed after they expose a fraud or scandal.

By erica cooperberg JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Former Enron Corporation Vice President and whistle-blower to the company’s 2001 financial fraud Sherron Watkins gave a lecture about her experience as a whistleblower and its impact on her life last Wednesday. The event also featured a discussion with Alison Bass (AMST), a lecturer in journalism, during which they discussed the relationship between whistle-blowing and the media.

The event, which took place in the Mandel Center for the Humanities, was presented by the Journalism program and the International Business School and co-sponsored by the American Studies pro-

gram, the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences and the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism.

Watkins’ role as a whistle-blower for Enron, an American energy and services trading company, began in August 2001, when she wrote thenCEO Ken Lay an anonymous memo alerting him to the company’s accounting irregularities. She met with Lay later that month and expressed her concerns; he responded by assigning the company’s law firm to look into the situation and whether or not Watkins could be fired without legal trouble. In September, Lay informed the company that all was well, but on Oct. 16, Enron reported quite the opposite for the third quarter—including a loss of more than $600 million. This was linked to the information Watkins had previously detected and exposed, which led to her identification as a whistle-blower.

Watkins used the tale of the Emperor’s New Clothes as an analogy

See ENRON, 7 ☛

student life

BSF awarded 25 thousand dollars ■ Janna Cohen-Rosenthal

’03 accepted the grant last Tuesday from National Office Furniture.

By danielle gross JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

National Office Furniture presented the Brandeis Sustainability Fund with a check for $25,000 last Tuesday. The “Gift of Inspiration” grant is part of a program designed

by NOF to give back to the communities that support their company, said General Manager and Vice President of the NOF Kevin McCoy at the event Tuesday.

The NOF operates two gift pro-

grams each year, one specific to healthcare and the other specific to education. This check to the BSF marked a total of $110,000 that the NOF has distributed, he said.

Janna Cohen-Rosenthal ’03, Brandeis sustainability coordinator, was at the event to accept the check and welcome the executives from the NOF. Cohen-Rosenthal is the one who entered the contest on the website for the National Office Furniture, and she opened the event by introducing Brandeis Sustainability Fund Representative Lisa Purdy ’14, who gave a brief overview of BSF to the executives.

McCoy discussed the “Gift of Inspiration” program during the

See FUND, 7 ☛

TALI SMOOKLER/the Justice

Seekers in the snow Brandeis’ club Quidditch team defeated an opponent from Massachusetts 40-10 on the Great Lawn after a snowstorm caused power outages in the Northeast this weekend.

research

Scientists learn about Parkinson’s ■ Researchers hope that

this production of a protein will lead to treatment methods for Parkinson’s.

By shani abramowitz JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

A group of researchers from the Petsko-Ringe and Pochapsky laboratories have produced and determined the structure of alpha-synuclein, a key protein associated with Parkinson’s disease, according to an Oct. 21 BrandeisNOW press release.

Their findings, which were recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provide information that may someday be used to produce a new kind of treatment for the incurable degenerative disease, according to BrandeisNOW. More than half a million Americans suffer from Parkinson’s disease, and about 50,000 new cases are

reported annually, according to the National Institute of Health.

While Parkinson’s patients present typical symptoms such as tremors and weakness in facial and throat muscles, the press release explains that the characteristic diagnosis of the disease is only discovered post-mortem, when the alpha-synuclein proteins become denatured and form clumps called Lewy bodies in the brain.

Prof. Thomas Pochapsky (CHEM) and one of the authors of the paper, said in the press release, “We don’t really know whether [the alpha-synuclein] is a side effect or whether it’s the cause of Parkinson’s disease, but we do know that the clumps of proteins are always there.”

In an interview with the Justice, Pochapsky spoke about the impetus behind studying the alpha-synuclein protein.

“No one really knows what it [alpha-synuclein] does, but we do know that it misbehaves in Parkinson’s,” said Pochapsky. “So the

motivation was to try and figure out what this thing actually looks like under normal circumstances, when it’s not denatured or misbehaving; because if you can stabilize it, in its good form, whatever that form may be, you can slow it down and maybe even reverse Parkinson’s.”

“The question is whether the unfolded or coagulated Lewy body protein just represents the pathological form of something that’s normally doing something,” Pochapsky said in the BrandeisNOW press release.

In the BrandeisNOW press release, Prof. Gregory Petsko (BCHM) compared alpha-synuclein to an origami bird that is harmless when folded but dangerous when unfolded. This knowledge may someday lead to the development of drug therapies that act like glue, helping the protein maintain its shape.

While some drug therapies perform in this manner in the treatment of other diseases, the possibility of one for Parkinson’s has not yet been discovered, or even

See SCIENCE, 7 ☛

Making history

Men split matches

Business lecture

 Freedom Rider activists and an author spoke about the Civil Rights movement last Monday.

 The men’s soccer team defeated Carnegie Mellon 2-1 following a 1-0 loss to Emory.

 The former chairman of Unilever discussed leadership and ethics in business.

FEATURES 8 For tips or info e-mail editor@thejustice.org

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INDEX

SPORTS 16 ARTS SPORTS

17 16

EDITORIAL FEATURES

10 7

OPINION POLICE LOG

10 2

COMMENTARY

News 3 11

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

2

TUESDAY, november 1, 2011

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THE JUSTICE

NEWS SENATE LOG

Senate approves SMR to pay for Turkey Shuttles to New York City At this week’s Union Senate meeting, Adam Hughes, senior representative to the Board of Trustees, reported on last week’s Board meeting.

According to Hughes, Brandeis continues to recover strongly from the economic recession. “[The Board is] starting to talk about maybe updating and improving some of the buildings on campus,” said Hughes. “There are going to be concrete plans to go forward on that by the end of the year.”

From the Board’s Student Enrollment Committee, Hughes reported that Brandeis is committed to remaining need-blind in the undergraduate admissions process. Hughes also told the Senate that “there are a lot of people on the Board who are excited to get more in touch with the student body.” He also said that he would make a more detailed report on the Board meetings available to the senate and to the student body next week.

Student Union President Herbie Rosen ’12 swore in Senator for the Mods Betsy Hinchey ’12, Senior Representative to the Alumni Association Destiny Aquino ’12, and Student Judiciary Justices Zach Breslaw ’15, John Fonte ’12 and Claire Sinai ’15.

One club requested recognition and charter from the Senate, and another requested only recognition.

After about 20 minutes of discussion by the Senate, the Association of Professionals in Finance and Accounting at Brandeis was recognized and chartered as a chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting, pending a change to the club’s constitution which would make it more distinct from the already existing Business Club.

The Senate also recognized the Neuroscience Club. According to the club’s constitution, its goal is to “enlighten neuroscience majors and others interested in neuroscience in the latest research and information about the brain and neural processes.”

The Senate also approved two Senate Money Resolutions. The first, proposed by the Outreach Committee for $147.82, is for supplies needed for the creation of a bulletin board in Usdan Student Center.

The Union will use the board to publish information about initiatives, as well as directory information, in an attempt to increase interaction between students and the Union.

The second SMR, for $2,964, will cover the costs of Turkey Shuttles from Brandeis to Penn Station in New York at Thanksgiving break. The Student Union has a constitutional responsibility to assist students in getting home to home to New York during Thanksgiving. The Senate is aiming to pay back most or all of this money through ticket sales.

POLICE LOG Medical Emergency

Oct. 24—University Police received a call that a student had injured her finger in a doorjamb. BEMCo was notified and treated the party on-scene with a signed refusal for further care.

Oct. 25—A party in Deroy Hall reported that she cut her finger with a razor blade and the cut would not stop bleeding despite applying constant pressure. BEMCo responded and treated the party on-scene with a signed refusal for further care.

Oct. 25—University Police received a call that a staff manager in the Usdan Student Center was having problems with low blood sugar. BEMCo was notified and the party was transported via ambulance to a hospital.

Oct. 27—An ambulance was called to Stoneman for a voluntary psychiatric transport.

University Police assisted without incident; the party was transported.

Oct. 27—An elderly female in the Heller School for Social Policy and Management complained of dizziness and vomiting. University Police and BEMCo assisted her; the party was treated on-scene with a signed refusal for further care.

Oct. 28—University Police received a report of a 50-yearold kitchen staff member with a finger laceration in the Usdan Student Center. University Police drove the party to an urgent care center.

Oct. 28—A student in Ridgewood reported experiencing tremors to BEMCo. BEMCo treated the party on-scene with a signed refusal for further care.

Oct. 28—University Police received a call from the shuttle bus requesting that BEMCo meet the bus in Hassenfeld Lot. BEMCo requested an ambulance for an intoxicated male; the party was transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care.

Oct. 29—A caller reported

that an intoxicated male in Reitman Hall was vomiting. The party was transported via ambulance to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

Oct. 29—A caller from Hassenfeld Conference Center reported that a female party was on the ground in front of the men’s bathroom. The party was unconscious upon the arrival of University Police. An ambulance was notified to respond for a college-aged female who was non-responsive. The ambulance transported the party to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

Oct. 30—University Police received a report of a 20-yearold intoxicated male. An ambulance was notified and responded to treat the party, who was not a Brandeis student.

Judicial charges will apply for the non-student’s host.

Disturbance

Oct. 29—A caller reported a group outside the lower Foster Mods being loud. The parties

Two candidates run for mayor in upcoming Waltham city elections

Waltham residents will vote next Tuesday for the next Mayor of Waltham, nine ward councilors, six councilors at large and three members to sit on the school committee.

Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy—running for a third term—faces off against Andrew Wirth, a 22 year-old Mass. Bay Community College Student. McCarthy has also served two years as a councilor at large and six years on the Waltham School Committee, according to the Waltham city website.

Wirth told the Waltham News Tribune in August that he would like to focus on improving the roads and sidewalks. McCarthy wrote to the Waltham Patch that she has “two major projects” that she would like to pursue.

They are to properly plan for the use of “the 200-acre state-owned Fernald School property off Trapelo Road and the privately owned 119-acre former Polaroid property off Main Street,” according to the Patch.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Hands-on learning

—Andrew Wingens

The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@ thejustice.org.

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The Justice Brandeis University Mailstop 214 P.O. Box 549110 Waltham, MA 02454-9110 Phone: (781) 736-3750

Oct. 27—University Police compiled a report on possible email scam messages received by a community member in the Village. The email address was forwarded to Library and Technology Services for review.

Oct. 30—The quad director on call for East Quad called stating there was a drug violation. A University Police officer was sent to the location to confiscate the contraband. The quad director will file a judicial report.

—compiled by Marielle Temkin

Northeast snowstorm causes power outages

BRIEF

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

Miscellaneous

AP BRIEF

—Sam Mintz

n A headline in Arts about a forthcoming BTV Web series incorrectly characterized the role that actress Nikki Blonsky will play in the series. Blonsky will be appearing in an episode of the series, not starring in it. Additionally, the article’s story summary incorrectly stated that the plot of the series takes place in a high school. In fact, it takes place at a university. (Oct. 25, p. 21)

were advised to quiet down without incident.

Oct. 30—A caller reported a loud party in the Foster Mods and said that people were screaming, yelling and knocking on the door of her Mod. Upon University Police’s arrival, there was a small group in a Mod with loud music playing. The individuals turned the music down.

JANEY ZITOMER/the Justice

A student showcases her work during the Fall 2011 Experiential Expo poster exhibition. The event, which took place last Tuesday in the Levin Ballroom, featured presentations from undergraduate students participating in a variety of programs and internships.

SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn.—Millions of people from Maine to Maryland were without power as an unseasonably early storm dumped heavy, wet snow over the weekend on a region more used to gaping at leaves in October than shoveling snow.

The snow was due to stop falling in New England late Sunday, but it could be days before many of the 2.7 million without electricity see it restored, officials warned.

The 750,000 who lost power in Connecticut broke a record for the state that was set when the remnants of Hurricane Irene hit the state in August. People could be without electricity for as long as a week, said Governor Dannel P. Malloy.

At least three deaths were blamed on the weather, and states of emergency were declared in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and parts of New York.

The storm worsened as it moved north, and communities in western Massachusetts were among the hardest hit. Snowfall totals topped 27 inches in Plainfield, and nearby Windsor had gotten 26 inches by early Sunday.

“Look at this, look at all the damage,” said Jennifer Burckson, 49, after she came outside Sunday morning in South Windsor to find a massive tree branch had smashed her car’s back windshield. Trees in the neighborhood were snapped in half, with others weighed down so much that the leaves brushed the snow.

Compounding the storm’s impact were still-leafy trees, which gave the snow something to hang onto and that put tremendous weight on branches, said National Weather Service spokesman Chris Vaccaro. That led to limbs breaking off and contributed to the widespread outages.

“We can’t even use the snow blower because the snow is so heavy,” Burckson said.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Carney, Sandoe & Associates Info Session

Carney, Sandoe & Associates is an educational recruitment firm that places teachers and administrators in private, independent and like-kind (charter, magnet, pilot and merit) schools across the nation and worldwide. CS&A has placed over 27,000 teachers and administrators in independent schools since 1977 and has thousands of teaching positions available in all primary and secondary subjects each year. All fees are paid by the client school; personal and professional placement services are free to the candidate. All students are welcome to attend the information session. Seniors may apply for a 30-minute interview slot. Those students studying and interested in teaching math, chemistry, physics, Latin, Spanish or Mandarin, are highly encouraged to meet with CS&A while they are on campus. Today from 6 to 7 p.m. in Hiatt Career Center.

Anthropology Q-and-A with Professor Ferry

Join the Anthropology Club for another session in this popular series featuring an

iLouis Louis: Ice Ice Baby

anthropology professor talking about her fieldwork. Prof. Elizabeth Ferry (ANTH) will talk about her work in Mexico. Enjoy free Mexican food, and bring your questions and curiosity to this hour with Prof.

Ferry! Today from 7 to 8 p.m. in Brown 115.

No snow? No ice? No problem! Come skate away on the ice rink! Free s’mores and hot cocoa will be served. First 50 people will get free Louis Louis week scarves. Tomorrow from 7 to 11 p.m. in Levin Ballroom.

Soli Sorabjee Lecture

City Year brown bag info session

Drawing upon fieldwork among police in New Delhi, this presentation explores the enforcement of sodomy law, or Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. It analyzes the discourses through which Delhi police name some groups as consistently queer and criminal, even while allowing for the possibility of the decriminalization of homosexuality. Racializations, pejorative queerings, sexual rights and governance in contemporary India are the issues highlighted in this presentation. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. This event is cosponsored by the Brandeis-India Initiative and the South Asian Studies Program. Tomorrow from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Mandel Center Atrium.

Join the recruitment team from City Year as they visit the Brandeis campus and discuss City Year as a program and how to effectively prepare your application to this competitive service and leadership program. This event is sponsored by the Hiatt Career Center and is open to students, faculty and staff. Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. in Hiatt Career Center.

Alumni shadowing program info session

Learn about the benefits of shadowing a Brandeis alumnus this Winter Break. From career exploration to specialized networking, a shadowing experience can help you learn about career options and connect you with experts in a field. This event is sponsored by the Hiatt Career Center. Friday from noon to 1 p.m. in the Hiatt Career Center.

THE JUSTICE

and two seniors in the IGS department discussed the current economic crisis.

By Jonathan epstein JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

ASHER KRELL/the Justice

INSPIRING LEADERS: In addition to discussing economic issues, FitzGerald also lectured on leadership and ethics in business.

Former CEO speaks on leadership in business Perlmutter Award and lectured on topics ranging from Occupy Wall Street to his own professional past.

By tate herbert JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Niall FitzGerald, former chairman and CEO of Unilever and former deputy chairman of Thomson Reuters, spoke yesterday about leadership and the role of ethics in business. FitzGerald spoke at both a private lunch at the Faculty Club, where he was presented with the Perlmutter Award for Excellence in Global Business Leadership, and also later in the day in the Lee Lecture Hall at the International Business School.

FitzGerald is the second recipient of the Perlmutter Award, which is given by the IBS Perlmutter Institute for Global Business Leadership to “a leader who has had great success in the global economy … [and] demonstrated a commitment to society and the environment beyond the

3

Debt situation in Europe examined ■ Kent Lucken of Citigroup

bottom line,” in the words of Louis Perlmutter ’56, co-founder of the Institute.

Perlmutter introduced FitzGerald as a person with “a very strong sense of corporate social responsibility” and the “prototype” for the award, while Bruce Magid, dean of IBS, called presenting the award to FitzGerald a “great honor.”

FitzGerald’s remarks at the lunch focused on the current economic climate and the responsibility of business leaders to “acknowledge what has gone wrong … to rebuild trust.” FitzGerald criticized banks and business leaders for the actions that led to an economic crisis, emphasizing that “There is a difference between making money … and creating sustainable wealth.” He encouraged what he coined “enlightened self-interest,” or running a business morally not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because it makes the business more profitable.

“I don’t think that regulation is the whole answer, or even part of the answer,” said FitzGerald. “Regulation cannot be a substitute for individual responsibility.”

In the question-and-answer ses-

TUESDAY, november 1, 2011

panel

ECONOMIC EXPERT

■ FitzGerald received the

●

sion, FitzGerald addressed several issues, including the Occupy Wall Street movement, which he called “not surprising” because many people are “very unhappy for a very good reason.”

In response to these types of protests worldwide, “Those of us who are lucky enough … to be very successful under this system have to stop now and think about the things we haven’t done right,” said FitzGerald in an interview with the Justice.

Later in the day, FitzGerald gave an informal lecture in IBS on leadership. The lecture emphasized trust, the ability to deal with change and learning from mistakes as important qualities in a leader. FitzGerald called his mistakes “the most important qualification I have,” and described his role as CEO of Unilever as “chief anarchist,” constantly inspiring change within the company.

In an interview with the Justice, FitzGerald expressed his admiration of Brandeis students’ “curiosity and need to understand” the current economic situation. However, FitzGerald also stipulated that there are no “clear-cut answers” to the global economy’s problems.

The International and Global Studies department hosted a panel on Wednesday analyzing the current economic crisis, with a focus on European sovereign debt, featuring Kent Lucken, a Citigroup managing director, former diplomat in the Balkans and adviser to Mitt Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign.

Two seniors in the IGS department, Craig Elman ’12 and Adina Weissman ’12, also spoke on the panel, which was held in the Mandel Center for the Humanities.

Just as the audience was arriving for the panel, news of an agreement on the Greek debt crisis began to spread. Shortly after the panel ended, just before 4 a.m. in Brussels, 10 p.m. in Waltham, European leaders officially announced that they had cajoled European banks to accept a 50-percent loss on their Greek debts, according to The New York Times.

Lucken stated that he believed Greece would not be the last European country in this crisis to at least partially default on its loans. “If you saw your neighbor not pay, what would you do?” he asked.

Lucken took a conservative, prolender, view of the debt crisis, generally blaming those who took out loans and did not repay them as responsible for a significant portion of the global economic crisis, and said that borrowers who defaulted were morally guilty.

“So what is debt?” he asked. “Debt is really, fundamentally, it’s a promise to pay. It’s an agreement between two parties where one takes something and promises to repay it at

some point in the future.”

“Debt is a moral obligation,” he continued. “It is not just a financial contract. ... You are making a promise to pay. Your character and reputation depends upon making, taking on a debt, and agreeing to repay it. We forget about that a lot in our society.”

Lucken reiterated his belief that the economic crisis was caused by borrowers walking away from loans.

“If everyone would’ve paid back their promise, we wouldn’t have a problem,” he said. “But they stopped.

Some people couldn’t, so let’s be fair.

Some people couldn’t, but a lot of people could. And these governments are not going to keep their promises either.”

Using a PowerPoint presentation, Lucken diagrammed the growth of America’s national debt, and blamed its growth on both democratic and republican presidential administrations, calling the tendency to “borrow today and pay tomorrow” “a disease of democracies.”

Lucken argued that there is a strong correlation between China’s low level of debt and the growth of its gross domestic product. Conversely, he contended, a significant catalyst of poor European economic growth is heavy national debt. “The pattern … continues to hold,” he said. “High debt, low growth. High debt, problems with employment.”

Elman spoke about his experience studying abroad in Spain and the high rate of youth unemployment there, and Weissman spoke about studying in England and its government’s recent imposition of austerity measures.

In response to a question from an audience member, Elman blamed America’s inability to accept a compromise mix of spending cuts and tax increases on American stubbornness. “It’s a cultural issue,” he said.

Lucken’s wife, Kristen Lucken, is a lecturer in the Sociology department at Brandeis.

JOSHUA LINTON/the Justice

COUNTRIES’ CRISES: Lucken analyzed the Greek and American debt situations.

research

Report finds US cost of hunger to be over 167 billion dollars ■ According to the report,

the cost of hunger has risen 37.7 percent from 90 billion dollars in 2007.

By ALLYSON CARTTER JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

A recent report co-authored by Prof. Donald Shepard (Heller) and Elizabeth Setren ’10, titled “Hunger in America: Suffering We All Pay For,” estimates that the cost of hunger to the U.S. is $167.5 billion per year.

The report was released in October by the Center for American Progress, an organization “dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action” through “dialogue with leaders, thinkers, and citizens,” according to

its website. Donna Cooper, a senior fellow with the Economic Policy team at American Progress, co-authored the report with Shepard and Setren.

According to Setren, Farhad Farewar and Godfrey Mudariki, both in the Master of Science International Health Policy and Management program, also contributed research to the report.

According to the report, the calculation of the cost of hunger in the U.S., called the “hunger bill,” is based on “the combination of lost economic productivity per year, more expensive public education because of the rising costs of poor education outcomes, avoidable health care costs and the cost of charity to keep families fed.” It does not include federal nutrition programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The nation’s total hunger bill in

2010 breaks down to approximately $542 per person, or $1,410 per household, according to the report. These costs, it says, are reflected in “taxes, our contributions to charities that address hunger, and the costs paid directly and indirectly for the poor health condition of those who are hungry and their lower productivity.”

The report also shows that the cost of hunger has increased nationally by 33.4 percent since 1997, with the highest increases occurring in Florida, California and Maryland. Every state received a rising hunger bill.

Massachusetts has the ninth-highest increase in its hunger bill from 2007 to 2010 with a 37.7 percent increase, the report says.

The report is a follow-up to a 2007 report, also co-authored by Shepard and sponsored primarily by the Sodexo Foundation, an organization

that, according to its website, “supports innovative programs to help children and families in the United States who are at-risk of hunger.”

The 2007 report estimates the 2007 hunger bill to be $90 billion.

Quoting the original 2007 report, the 2010 report states that “[t]he nation pays far more by letting hunger exist than it would if our leaders took steps to eliminate it.”

This most recent report proposes that policy approaches “that rely on a mix of federal policies to boost the wages of the lowest-wage earners, increase access to full-time employment, and modestly expand federal nutrition programs” could help to lower the hunger bill.

In an interview with the Justice, Setren said that the most recent report was written in response to the financial crisis. “We thought it was important to update the study to

show the extent of the problem and the implications it has on healthcare costs … for many people in this country,” she said.

“Ultimately the value of estimating the cost of hunger is that is shows most likely that there are definitely more cost-effective solutions than we’re doing now,” Setren said. The numbers are also conservative estimates, she said, and likely don’t reflect “the full extent of the impact.”

In an email to the Justice, Shepard said that the report was compiled from “secondary data analysis from published studies, reports and data sets on the web, and expert opinion.”

“We hope that decision makers, particularly in the federal government, will be more aware of the problem of hunger and help solve it,” he wrote. “I believe the solution entails job creation and continued funding of SNAP.”

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THE JUSTICE

Barnett questions stereotype of boys that scientific studies need to be used to combat public perceptions of boys.

By TYLER BELANGA JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Last Thursday, Rosalind Barnett, senior scientist at the Women’s Studies Research Center, lectured in the Epstein Lecture Hall about her recently published book, in which she investigates the misconceptions that label boys as academically, intellectually and emotionally inferior to girls.

Co-authored with Caryl Rivers, professor of Journalism at Boston University’s College of Communication, The Truth About Girls and Boys: Challenging Toxic Stereotypes About Our Children, was released this September. The book’s main focus is dispelling the myth that there is a “boy crisis.”

“This crisis came to attention a few years ago,” began Barnett.

“Boys are falling behind girls in education; these stories are everywhere in the media, … but where do these narratives come from, and do they tell an accurate story?”

According to Barnett, the answer to this question is a resounding “no.” There is only a “some boy” crisis. According to a June 2006 study from the Education Sector, over the past three decades, boys’ test scores have actually improved and more boys are going to college.

“The real story is not bad news about boys doing worse. It is good news about girls doing better,” said Barnett.

She also dispelled the notion that empathy and nurturing do not come naturally to boys and that boys are often forced to mask these traits due to other factors, such as societal expectations.

“There is no evidence that men, by their nature, cannot nurture. …

In fact, major studies show that fathers can be just as good at parenting as mothers,” said Barnett.

She emphasized that parents play a significant role in the way in which boys develop differently than girls. According to Barnett,

studies have shown that a mother’s interactions toward her children depend on the child’s sex. Many mothers engage in conversation with and expect responses from their young daughters, asking them questions such as, “You’re playing with the toy. You like that, right?”

With boys, however, this sort of conversation is not as often elicited by mothers, who are more likely to issue firm commands like “come here” to their sons.

“I greatly admire [Barnett] and her work. Because I work in this arena, I was not surprised by her work, but her lecture gave me new insights and helped me think more deeply on the subject of boys in our culture,” said Janet Freedman, a visiting scholar at the Women’s Studies Research Center, after the event.

Approximately 20 people attended the event to listen to an overview of Barnett’s findings in the book, which was followed by a discussion session.

In an interview with the Justice, Barnett said that there is a public misconception that boys have a lower intellectual capability than girls do and that it is essential to bring scientific findings to public attention in order to correct this incorrect perception.

“The junction between popular and scientific literature is so different. By writing this book, the goal was to challenge the popular literature with science and put it into a presentable form,” said Barnett.

Barnett is the author or coauthor of eight books and 115 articles, which have been published in publications such as The New York Times, the Washington Post and the Boston Globe.

Barnett has also received a number of national awards, including the Kennedy School of Government’s 1999 Goldsmith Research Award and Harvard University Graduate School’s Ann Rowe award for outstanding contribution to women’s education. She and Rivers are currently working on a new book titled, The New Soft War on Women, according to her biography on the Brandeis website.

TUESDAY, november 1, 2011

5

FALL FEST RETROSPECTIVE

CAMPUS SPEAKER

■ Rosalind Barnett argued

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JOSHUA LINTON/the Justice

OVER THE YEARS: Senior Vice President for Administration Mark Collins said students challenge him and keep him creative.

Admins reflect on Univ past, discuss the future ■ Mark Collins, Rick Sawyer

and Elaine Wong spoke about Brandeis from their administrative perspectives.

By SHANI ABrAMOWITZ JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

As part of this year’s Fall Fest, the University hosted “A Retrospective: The Internal Perspective,” at which students and administrators alike were came together to learn about and discuss the past, present and future of Brandeis.

This year’s Fall Fest, the annual family weekend, was given a retrospective theme: students and parents were invited to discover the rich history of Brandeis through engaging programs and entertaining events.

The event’s panel consisted of Senior Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences Elaine Wong, Dean of

Student Life Rick Sawyer and Senior Vice President for Administration Mark Collins. Three questions were asked of the panelists and each had the opportunity to respond based on his or her specific position within the University.

When asked about the most prevalent changes she had seen at Brandeis, Wong spoke about the academic transformations she has seen over the years.

“Brandeis is much more interdisciplinary than it was in 1982.

We now have more interdisciplinary academic programs at Brandeis. Some of our most popular majors now are Business; International and Global Studies; Health, Science, Society and Policy and Neuroscience.”

Wong also stressed the increase in departmental research, and the incorporation of undergraduate study into that work.

Wong added that there has been an increase in the number of international students and

experiential learning opportunities.

When asked what motivated him to stay at Brandeis, Collins spoke about the creativity that is constantly cultivated through his position.

“The students keep us challenged, they’re respectfully demanding, they hold us accountable,” said Collins.

When asked how he forsees Brandeis’ future, Sawyer spoke about the increasingly global role that Brandeis will play in future academics and the fiscal future of the University as well.

“We’re definitely going global. So all of us, but especially those involved in student life, in the business of providing services to our students, are learning a lot about how our practice needs to change,” said Sawyer.

Sawyer added that the financial perspective of higher education is challenging. “We just came out of an era where all of us have basically had to design our business to meet the budget. At least now, we are being encouraged to think differently.”

CAMPUS SPEAKER

Tibetan Buddhist monk speaks on human rights violations ■ The Chinese government imprisoned Palden Gyatso for 33 years after he took part in peaceful protests in 1959.

By ALLYSON CARTTER JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Ninety-year-old Tibetan Buddhist monk Palden Gyatso, imprisoned for 33 years in Chinese prison and labor camps, visited Brandeis last week as part of a series of lectures to raise awareness about human rights violations in his home country.

He spoke last Tuesday in the Rapaporte Treasure Hall about maintaining his religious beliefs during his 33 years in a Chinese prison and labor camps.

The event was co-sponsored by Students for Tibet and the International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life.

Palden spoke in Tibetan while an interpreter translated into English.

He said that he was born in Tibet in 1933 and began studying at a local monastery at age 10. When he was 17, he joined a larger monastery just outside of the capital city of Lhasa to continue his study of Buddhist philosophy, he said.

On March 10, 1959, Palden traveled into Lhasa, where he observed people gathering to protest the Communist Party of China’s occupation of Tibet.

The protesters wanted the Chinese government to “go back to China to live peacefully there,” Palden said.

He joined in the “peaceful protest,” which led to his arrest.

Palden was initially put in a Chinese prison in Tibet for seven and a half years. In 1961 and ’62, a famine in the prison due to lack of food killed many inmates, Palden said. He tried to escape to India at this time but was arrested along the way, he continued.

He explained that he remained in prison until 1975, when he was sent to a labor camp to work for a brick company. He was returned to prison for an additional nine years after his time there and was released in 1992 after a total of 33 years in prison and labor camps.

During his time in prison, Palden underwent frequent torture. During his talk, he removed his dentures, explaining that he lost his teeth after undergoing electric shocks. Some prisons in Tibet today, he said, still torture their inmates.

“Luckily, I’m still alive,” Palden said.

He said that his Buddhist teachings helped him during his time in prison.

He explained that he does not hate the police or prison workers because they were following orders so that they did not lose their jobs, and he does not hate the Chinese government because it was doing what it believed was right at the moment.

Conflict between China and Tibet has resulted from the Chinese government “forcefully” imposing their practices on Tibet, Palden said. He explained that he does not argue for independence in Tibet or for the right to the land, but for religious autonomy

MORGAN FINE/the Justice

LOOKING BACK: Palden spoke about his years in a Chinese prison and labor camp. and human rights.

“We are just trying to get a bit of freedom,” he said, urging students to “investigate the real situation in Tibet.”

Due to several factors, including economic constraints, he said Tibetans “have no power to resist what the Chinese government practices in Tibet.” He hopes that Tibetans will be able to live “peacefully [and] harmoniously” with the Chinese.

“Everyone wants a happy life and a peaceful life and a … peaceful world,” he said.

In the question-and-answer ses-

sion that followed his talk, Palden elaborated on how his practice of Buddhism helped him during his time in prison. He said that he views anger as both an obstacle to his religious beliefs and inner peace and as a cause of self-suffering and “a lot of conflict and dispute in the world.”

He also believes that his suffering could have been caused by having done harm to others in a past life.

In response to a question about how he remained compassionate while in prison, Palden said that he viewed suffering from a cause-and-effect perspective, focusing on the reasons for

or circumstances around difficult times and understanding that others feel pain and suffering too.

Palden currently lives in Dharamsala in northern India.

In an interview with the Justice, Kunsang Gyurme ’13, vice president of Students for Tibet, said that the goal of the event was “to educate everyone … from both sides of the issue [between Tibet and China]” particularly concerning issues of human rights and “having … basic freedom for Tibetan people” rather than politics.

David Weinstein, communication specialist for the International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life, said in an interview with the Justice that the Center hoped for the event to “generate some … meaningful conversation and thinking around issues of international justice and human rights.”

“I think the event was an opportunity for yet another individual’s experience and perspective to become part of the conversation [about these issues] at Brandeis,” he said.

Tenzing Yonten ’12, founder and president of Students for Tibet, said in an interview with the Justice that the event received “a lot of support” from the Brandeis community.

He said that the club asked Palden to speak because of the “compassion” and “ingenuity” he exhibited in response to his imprisonment and his message that both the Chinese and the Tibetans should “solve the issue and look to the future, because he doesn’t want anyone to go through the experience that he had been through.”

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THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2011

7

FUND: Grant augments BSF

WHISTLE-BLOWER

CONTINUED FROM 1

JOSHUA LINTON/the Justice

BUSINESS ETHICS: Sherron Watkins (above) spoke with Alison Bass about the role of both journalists and whistle-blowers.

event.

“We don’t have anything tied to this gift, so it is up to the school to decide what they want to do with it. ... This is one of the most exciting gifts that we have given out.

When we pulled that application out and saw that the efforts of the University dovetailed some of our efforts, we were all thrilled,” said McCoy. Senior Vice President for Administration at Brandeis Mark Collins spoke about the development of BSF and the drive for sustainability at Brandeis over the past 25 years. The check was presented to Cohen-Rosenthal, Collins, Purdy and Student Union President Herbie Rosen ’12.

In an interview with the Justice, Vice President of Product and Marketing for NOF Kourtney Smith explained that NOF spent 120 days promoting the program through electronic marketing and received 1,300 applications from educational institutions.

“The process is a completely random draw from our computer system. Brandeis was the winner, and we were all thrilled. To read how Janna described the money would be used is actually a perfect match

for what we as a company believe in,” said Smith.

Smith added that NOF is “excited” to see how Brandeis will distribute the funds. “On the topic of sustainability you can never go wrong. It doesn’t specifically matter to us what the money is used for as long as it is something that will benefit the University and make the students feel part of something bigger, we will be proud,” she said.

The BSF was created by a student body vote two years ago when students decided to start collecting and raising money to support campus environmental sustainability projects. According to the BSF homepage, the fund “provides grants, advice and support to any undergraduate student for their projects promoting sustainability.”

Every semester there is a $15 “green fee” added to each student’s tuition. This money is taken out and put into the BSF. The fund is money for students to implement their ideas on how to make the Brandeis community less ecologically destructive and more sustainable.

Last year about $50,000 was given out to fund five sustainability projects on campus.

ENRON: Watkins alerted Lay to accounting fraud CONTINUED FROM 1

to describe the Enron's demise. She compared the tale’s emperor to Lay and equated his disregard of his kingdom and attention to his clothes to Lay’s focus on the price of the company’s stock rather than its overall goals.

Watkins said that even higher-ups had difficulty speaking up regarding the company’s financial situation.

“We hired the sharpest accountants, the sharpest bankers. Arthur Andersen is the most well respected accounting firm, [so if] they’ve signed off on [documents], … even our board of directors was intimidated into saying, ‘What brilliance!’”

Up until late 2001, the company had been incredibly successful, doubling its stock price every three years in what Watkins described as a “phenomenal performance.”

Enron had been “well regarded throughout the media empire and the business financial press, in business schools and, of course, on Wall Street” prior to the scandal, Watkins said. However, the company crumbled quickly; less than two months after Watkins met with Lay, Enron filed for bankruptcy on Dec. 2, 2001.

This quick downturn also turned out to be her saving grace. “Enron imploded too fast to actually fire me,” she said, referring to the consequences she might have faced for whistle-blowing.

Dana Gold, director of the American Whistleblower Tour: Essential Voices for Accountability, through which Watkins was brought to campus, moderated the discussion and provided a legal perspective on the

issue. She explained that a whistleblower is a “current employee of a company who discloses concerns in a reasonably believed evidence of, [for example,] a violation of laws.”

Gold noted that Watkins’ fate is one that is unique to most whistleblowers. Watkins admitted that she has heard from many people who “did something like what I did and their lives have been wrecked … in every single, solitary way. … Because they spoke truth to power and the emperor crushed them, crushed them like a bug.”

☛ Read an exclusive interview with Sherron Watkins online at go.thejustice.org/enron At the time she approached Lay, Watkins believed the company could still be resurrected. “I felt as if this was very significant fraud, that a company rarely recovers from cooking the books to this magnitude, [but] if they are going to recover, they needed to come clean on their own.” But throughout fall 2001, she noted that “no one took [her] concerns seriously.”

Turning the discussion toward the relationship between whistle-blowers and journalists, Gold cited the issue of the Pentagon Papers in 1977, which she claimed is a “great example of the important relationship between whistle-blowers and … the media, or journalism, as a vehicle to

get that information out.”

Watkins acknowledged that she is “often criticized” for not bringing her story to the press, but defends herself by asking her audience, “Please show me evidence where someone reported financial fraud and a financial journalist listened.”

Bass recognized Watkins’ point and agreed that “it’s tough when somebody calls you up, out of the blue [as a sort of whistle-blower]. … You don’t know what their motivations are. … Just like it takes individuals who will speak truth to power, it also takes journalists who are willing to challenge authority and speak truth to power.”

Leigh Nusbaum ’11 attended the lecture and was impressed by Watkins’ approach to the situation. “It seems like it’s so easy [to just speak the truth],” she said in an interview with the Justice. “But when you hear about the pitfalls … that other people have gone through [as a result], it really shows how courageous people like Watkins are to blow the whistle on fraudulent corporate practices.”

Daniel Werl ’15 agreed, and said that he did not realize how serious the repercussions of whistle-blowing could be. “It’s interesting to hear that these stories have terrible consequences for standing up for what’s right and end up going so wrong,” he said in an interview with the Justice.

Watkins made it clear that blowing the whistle on such an immense issue is something from which she has yet to fully recover. “It’s ancient history to you guys,” she told the audience, but “it feels like a recent current event to me.”

SCIENCE: Researchers find protein CONTINUED FROM 1

investigated, because until now, scientists and researchers thought the Parkinson’s protein lacked structure.

The possibility that the protein does have a structure means that an approach can now be considered, according to the press release.

Quyen Hoang, who was a postdoctoral researcher in the PetskoRinge lab and is continuing with

the research in his own lab at Indiana University School of Medicine, played a key role in developing the methodology to produce the protein.

In an email to the Justice, Hoang described his involvement.

“A traditional method for isolating alpha-synuclein involves boiling the protein sample,” explained Hoang. “I felt that the boiling step could denature the protein; there-

fore, I developed a purification procedure that avoided the need for boiling, thereby maintaining the protein in its native form.”

Hoang added that his research is important at the molecular level.

“Now that we understand a little more about the disease [Parkinson’s] process at the molecular level, we can start to think of ways to alter the course of the disease,” wrote Hoang.

ANDREW WINGENS/the Justice

CHECK GRANTED: (From left) Senior Vice President Mark Collins, Herbie Rosen ’12 and Lisa Purdy ’14 received a check for the BSF from National Office Furniture.

BRIEF

Aspen Institute ranks Heller MBA

The Heller School of Social Policy and Management's Master of Business Administration program in non-profit management received high marks in a recent ranking by the Aspen Institute, ranking 38th out of 149 similar programs in the “Beyond Grey Pinstripes” rating.

That category “spotlights innovative full-time MBA programs leading the way in the integration of issues concerning social and environmental stewardship into the curriculum,” according to the Aspen Institute website.

The program was ranked second out of seven participating Bostonarea schools, behind only the Simmons School of Management and ahead of schools including Bentley University and Babson College.

The highest-ranked program in the country was the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

The Aspen Institute exists to “foster values-based leadership … and to provide a neutral and balanced venue for discussing and acting on critical issues” through seminars, fellowships, policy programs and public conferences and events, according to its website.

“It is great to see this recognition

of our MBA in non-profit management,” wrote Dean of the Heller School Lisa Lynch in an email to the Justice. “At Heller we are committed to student exposure to social, environmental and ethical issues within all of our degree programs. The MBA in non-profit management at Heller has, since its inception, worked hard to make sure that our students are exposed to these aspects of management.”

The Heller School established a Masters of Management in Human Services in 1977, according to Lynch. In 1998, this was transformed into the MBA program, which is offered jointly by the Heller School and Brandeis’ International Business School.

“We’re basically training all of our students for a social mission,” said Brenda Anderson, director of the MBA program, in an interview with the Justice. “You have to be ready for anything in this economy, so we try to train students towards their social mission goals across sectors. Increasingly so, we see intersections of non-profit organizations and for-profit organizations.”

—Sam Mintz

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THE JUSTICE

VERBATIM | HERBERT N. CASSON The men who succeed are the efficient few. They are the few who have the ambition and willpower to develop themselves.

ON THIS DAY…

FUN FACT

In 1800, President John Adams became the first President to live in the White House.

Fresh cranberries can be bounced like a rubber ball.

The road to civil rights PHOTOS BY TALI SMOOKLER/the Justice

INFLUENTIAL PANEL: (From left) Freedom Riders Ellen Ziskind and Paul Breins; Diane Nash, an organizer of the Freedom Rides; and author Ray Arsenault MA ’74, Ph.D. ’81 discussed the Freedom Riders movement.

Freedom Rider activists and author shared their story last week By tess raser justice editor

POLITICAL ACTIVIST: Ellen Ziskind shared her experience with the Freedom Rides and her involvement in the movement challenging segregation and Jim Crow laws.

WRITING HISTORY: Author Ray Arsenault spoke at the event last week on the book he wrote in 2006 that discusses the Freedom Riders and Civil Rights Movement.

“I’m takin’ a trip on the Greyhound bus line. I’m ridin’ the front seat to New Orleans this time. Hallelujah I’m a-travelin’. Hallelujah, ain’t it fine.

Hallelujah, I’m a-travelin’ down freedom’s main line.”

These words come from one of the many songs that brought inspiration to those on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement. In the summer of 1961, about 450 activists of different races conducted Freedom Rides— trips on interstate buses into the deep South to desegregate public spaces and challenge the Jim Crow laws.

Last Monday, the organizer of the Freedom Rides, Diane Nash; two freedom riders, Paul Breins and Ellen Ziskind; and historian Ray Arsenault MA ’74, Ph.D. ’81 spoke at the University to discuss the admirable rides and to show a documentary on the subject, The Freedom Riders.

The event, sponsored by the Louis D. Brandeis Legacy Fund for Social Justice, took place in the Levin Ballroom and started with a 30-minute scene from the Emmy Award-winning documentary that came out this year.

The film was inspired by Arsenault’s 2006 book, Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice.

Both the book and documentary tell a poignant history of an essential chapter of the Civil Rights Movement that is seldom discussed.

“When I did the book on the Freedom Rides, it was the first book [on the subject], which is incredible,” Arsenault said in an interview with the Justice.

“A lot of what we’ve tried to do in the last few years is point out that the devil is in the details. If this story hadn’t happened, the timing of the movement would’ve been very different,” he continued.

The Freedom Rides began in May 1961 with a group of men and women from the Congress of Racial Equality.

There were 13 riders who planned on sitting in interracial pairs on the bus and stopping at segregated interstate bus stop facilities.

However, the CORE riders were met with extreme violence in Birmingham and Anniston, Ala., and decided to end the Freedom Rides and return to the North. A bomb was thrown at the bus, and the bus went up in flames. The Riders were also brutally beaten as racist segregationists spewed hatred at them.

The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, one of the leading national organizations of the Civil Rights Movement represented by Diane Nash, a student at Fisk University at the time, decided that the rides needed to continue.

“When those buses were burned, it was clear that if the rides stopped, then the opposition would have thought anytime we start a movement about anything, … all you had to do to stop the campaign was to inflict massive violence. We couldn’t do that or the whole movement would’ve stopped right then,” Nash said in an interview with the Justice.

Nash, originally from Chicago, witnessed the cruelty of Southern segregation when she moved to Nashville, Tenn. to study at Fisk.

“I got outraged when I saw ‘Whites only’ signs. There were places I couldn’t go. I couldn’t treat myself to a cheap lunch at Woolworth with a girlfriend. … You could get food on a carryout basis, but you couldn’t eat it there. … Sitting along the curb in the alley is humiliating,” she said.

Nash and other members of SNCC decided that every time a bus was stopped on its journey to Mississippi, a new bus would be ready to head south.

If the Riders were arrested and put in jail, new riders would still continue.

Nash became a leader in organizing the Freedom Rides, she says, because of how well-organized she was.

“I was afraid not to be efficient because somebody could have gotten hurt or killed if we were not efficient and staying ahead of things. So, after those of us who worked in the Nashville movement worked together for a little while, people saw that I worked efficiently,” she said. “[Nash] didn’t know, no one knew what was going to happen, but she intuited that this risk had to be taken to make anything happen. It was kind of a clarity of intuition, and it was done on the basis of a kind of faith, not knowledge of what might happen,” Paul Breines, one of the visiting Freedom Riders, said in an interview with the Justice.

Breines was a student at the University of Wisconsin when he decided to “get on the bus.” As a white man, he did not feel the dehumanization that Nash felt by segregation, but he had firsthand experience seeing racist malice in his freshman year at Wisconsin. Breines was inspired by the Woolworth counter sit-ins and wanted to become involved in the movement.

“I was a pledge in a fraternity, and I took a little baseball cap that I had, and I went to a pledge dinner and passed a hat around to raise money to send down to these students. … My pledge father knocked the hat out of my hand and redefined me for myself by calling me a n— lover and saying, ‘We’re not gonna have that s— here,’” he said.

That negative inspiration sent Breines to a fundraiser in New York for the Freedom Rides, where Breines met Jim Zwerg, a white Freedom Rid-

er who had been injured by Southern segregationists. Zwerg called for more “white folks” to become involved.

Breines didn’t think twice about the decision. He said he believed that he had to be on the bus.

“For me to be who I am, this is what I have to be doing,” Breines said he thought at the time.

Ellen Ziskind experienced a similar calling to the movement. Ziskind, from Lowell, Mass., had been working at CORE and had the chance to meet four or five men that had come from the South.

“They’d been Freedom Riders, and we were doing a telethon to raise money for the Freedom Rides, and I was talking to these guys, and I get chills. I had never met anyone like them. They were like from another world, which of course they were,” said Ziskind about her first encounter with the Freedom Riders.

“I was very devoted and committed to the cause and working for it, but there’s something about meeting people that live in that land. It becomes non-academic and not a [distant] story anymore,” she continued.

Ziskind traveled from Nashville to Jackson, Miss. Along the way, like many other Freedom Riders, she met violence and hatred.

“It was pretty scary, although I can’t remember being scared because there is some part of you that takes over, and [that’s] just keeping you going,” said Ziskind.

On Sept. 22, 1961, after nearly five months of Freedom Rides, the Interstate Commerce Commission issued an order to take down all the Jim Crow signs from all of the interstate bus and train stations in the South.

“In the ’60s, we were using nonviolence and challenging segregation.

We didn’t know it was going to be successful,” explained Nash. “We had changed ourselves from people who could be segregated into people that could be no longer segregated.”

The Freedom Rides story can be seen in the documentary The Freedom Riders, which was distributed on DVD at the event and can also be read about in Arsenault’s book.

“The film all of this, … it’s an extension of the Freedom Rides. It’s like it’s been reborn. … If you think about Occupy Wall Street, Arab Spring, people are actually using non-violence again after ignoring it for years,” Arsenault said on the film’s relevance.

Nash and the Freedom Riders would like their story to show Americans that there must be more done to achieve social change than to simply rely on elected officials.

“Can you imagine if we waited for elected officials to desegregate? We would probably still be waiting,” said Nash.

THE JUSTICE

WORLDVIEW: CHINA

The duality of

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China PHOTOS COURTESY OF AVI SNYDER, PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NAN PANG/the Justice

THE VIEW FROM THE TOP: Avi Snyder ’13 (second from left) and other students studying abroad climb the steps of the Temple Heaven, a complex of Taoist buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing.

Beijing culture offers strong traditions as well as social and political change

By AVI SNYDER Special to the Justice

As we stood on top of the legendary wall, with an endless expanse of mountains on our left and the city of Beijing on our right, it was hard not to feel as if we were living in some alternate reality. After 15 minutes or so of walking along the Great Wall of China, one person in our group finally said out loud what the rest of us had been thinking: “Guys, is this real life right now?”

The truth is that, as a foreign student studying in China, it’s hard not to get that feeling of surrealism a lot.

After all, I am living every day in that faraway place to which so many of us tried to dig as children.

It isn’t just that China is so culturally different from the United States that makes it feel unreal. After a short while, using chopsticks to eat came naturally, and China’s infamous squat toilets stopped being so frightening.

Nor is it simply the magnificence of tourist attractions like the Great Wall or the Yellow Mountain. What consistently takes me aback, what makes me wonder if I’ve stepped into an alternate dimension of sorts, is the social and cultural contradiction that permeates Chinese society through and through.

China has one of the longest histories of any nation in the world. Its traditional culture stretches back thousands of years and remains deeply ingrained in the country’s culture.

The Confucian emphasis on hierarchy, social stability and deference to authority is visible in many daily interactions with native Chinese.

At meals, it is expected that everyone wait for the oldest or most prominent person at the table to begin eating before anyone else reaches for food.

When store clerks hand you change, they almost always use two hands to give you the money, as if presenting you, the customer, with a gift. Compared to Westerners, the Chinese are far more conscious of social status and the hierarchical relationship of any given interaction.

At the same time, the past century has been a period of incredible social and political upheaval in China. As it was exposed to Western influence at the end of the 19th century, the sacred cows of Chinese culture began to be questioned. The overthrow of China’s final imperial dynasty, its long civil war, the massive social changes of the Mao Era and China’s recent economic reforms have all left deeply confusing and contradictory marks on the Chinese psyche.

Nowhere are the internal contradictions of Chinese society more starkly embodied than at Tiananmen Square.

Though Westerners see Tiananmen as a symbol of the Chinese government’s violent suppression of dissent, walking around the square feels far

more like walking around Capitol Hill than a battlefield. However, what does make Tiananmen unique is the way it seems to capture the turmoil of China’s last few centuries in such a small space.

The square is located on Beijing’s north-south axis, along with many of the city’s important sites and monuments. Directly to its north lies Gu Gong, also known as the Forbidden City, the imperial palace complex during the Ming and Qing Dynasties that symbolizes the architecture, culture and social structure of ancient imperial China.

Yet just south of the city lies an enormous picture of Communist China’s founding father, Chairman Mao Zedong, looking out over the Square.

That a man who so detested traditional Chinese culture, who started a Cultural Revolution to tear down that ancient world, is memorialized right next to the greatest symbol of that imperial China is an irony of epic proportions.

As if this mishmash of symbols and monuments were not disorienting enough, smack in the middle of Tiananmen stand two enormous television monitors. The day I visited the square, the monitors were showing flashy pictures to promote one of China’s most modern, Western cities; Shanghai. As your gaze moves from north to south along Tiananmen Square, Chinese history flashes before your eyes in a nonsensical juxtaposition of ancient culture, Communist memorials and Western advertisements.

I have seen similar scenes in many places throughout China. I once walked through an alleyway connecting the traditional Chinese street market in Shanghai to a Western-style mall. It is common for street vendors selling knockoff Rolex watches and other products of the capitalist West along with Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong, small red books promoting Maoist ideology.

Despite what Western stereotypes of Chinese people may be, there are quite a variety of different views among people here about their country in the modern age.

Just last week, I was sitting on a train between Shaoxing and Hangzhou listening to the man on my right sing the praises of his native country and invite me to his hometown for a visit. Not a minute after he finished speaking, the man on my left interjected, telling me to go back to the United States where my life would inevitably be better than it would in China.

Seeing all of this contradictory culture and hearing these contradictory views leaves me with the sense that the Chinese don’t really know what to make of their recent or ancient history. It seems to me that the Chinese

wish to preserve all of their historical legacies despite the cognitive dissonance that may require. Still unable to fully make sense of all the changes it has undergone in recent years, China remains a surreal mixture of the ancient and the modern, the socialist and the entrepreneurial, the East and West.

Yet, as confusing as this apparent clash of cultures appears to me at times, I have come to believe that, in a very important way, it has helped me make China my home.

The factors that push a Western college student to put his or her life on hold and come to China are numerous to be sure. But as wildly diverse as the many students who come here are, there are important commonalities that bring us together. We all have a sense of adventure. We all appreciate the excitement of exploring the as-ofyet unknown. And we all have a little something to run away from back home.

A little over a month ago, just a few weeks into my program, another student and I were having one of those heart-to-hearts that often happen late at night. I was expressing my frustration about my inability to make sense of the many contradictory thoughts and emotions that were running through my head at the time. After venting for a bit, my friend shared with me words of wisdom that I have attempted to carry with me ever since.

“Avi, don’t worry about it right now,” she said. “We’re in China.”

Though neither she nor I understood it at the time, the meaning of what she told me was far more insightful than it would seem at first blush.

China isn’t a good place to stop worrying about life’s problems simply because we happen to be abroad. After all, despite what I might wish, the rest of the world doesn’t pause simply because I’m not a part of it.

China is the right place to let internal contradictions and conflicts sit without resolution because China is a country that does just that. Though it has finally grown out of its stormy adolescence, China has yet to put all the chaos of that period behind it.

It is a country in its young adulthood, trying to make sense of all the cultural and political upheaval it has undergone. China, like myself and many of my fellow students, is full of contradictions, stumbling clumsily into a future it hopes will be more peaceful and harmonious.

I have come to realize that as foreign and unfamiliar as China may be to the Western college student, it inhabits a space many of us find all too familiar.

And thus, for both my fellow students and myself, China certainly is real life, in the truest possible sense.

Editor’s note: Avi Snyder ’13 is a former columnist for the Justice.

A NATURAL WONDER: Snyder visits the Yellow Mountain range in the south of China.

MEET THE BRIDE: Students meet a Chinese bride while out in Beijing’s Art District.

CLOWNING AROUND: Snyder and a friend enjoy themselves visiting a park in China.

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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 Hillel Buechler, Deputy Editor Alana Abramson, Rebecca Blady, Bryan Flatt, Rebecca Klein, Asher Krell, Tess Raser and Robyn Spector, Associate Editors Sara Dejene and Andrew Wingens, News Editors Dafna Fine, Features Editor Eitan Cooper, Forum Editor Jeffrey Boxer, Sports Editor Wei-Huan Chen and Ariel Kay, Arts Editors Yosef Schaffel and Tali Smookler, Photography Editors Nan Pang, Layout Editor Marielle Temkin, Copy Editor Cody Yudkoff, Advertising Editor

Registering with ease Pre-registration for the spring 2012 semester begins this week, when students have the opportunity to select their next semester’s course loads in advance. With over 3,500 students selecting courses and with myriad professors, classes and departments to organize, the Office of the University Registrar has, as it does every semester, made everything very easy and accessible for students.

The registrar’s system that allows students to select classes is consistently organized and easy to work with. Some universities require students to register by hand or have websites that are poorly laid out and difficult to navigate.

Other universities give registration preference to seniors. Our university, however, creates an equal opportunity for all students to pre-register and provides an easy-to-access and clear website that lists the classes from which students can choose.

The lottery system that distributes students’ registration times, while occasionally frustrating, is designed to provide all students with an equal chance of obtaining their first-choice classes. Under this system, students are arbitrarily assigned a time to register for the first of three days to select courses, with their subsequent two time slots based on the first one. Additionally, the system benefits students studying abroad—all of whom live in different time zones than theirs—by giving them the advantage of registering first. This system is by no means perfect; many of the most desirable slots get filled during the first period of registration, prohibiting students with later time slots from

School’s system is accessible enrolling. Nevertheless, this system is commendable because it gives students a fair chance for the first enrollment slot.

Also, the system allows students to add gym classes, which are generally capped, in addition to other classes because they have not been assigned a credit value. This enables students to plan to fulfill their gym requirements fairly easily.

While our course selection website is easy to navigate, there is room for improvement. Our system has three separate websites: LATTE, Sage, and the registrar’s course selection page. It would be useful to explore possibilities for integrating these three sites into one platform.

This would benefit students by streamlining the process of registering for courses.

Overall, the convenience of the registrar’s website offers a clear incentive for students to pre-register, which is helpful for the registrar, faculty and departments as a whole. According to Registrar Mark Hewitt, 96 percent of undergraduate students enrolled for spring 2011 classes last year.

This impressive rate of pre-registration participation indicates that the registrar is accomplishing the goal of providing an efficient mechanism for students to choose their courses.

Given these successes, we hope the Office of the Registrar will continue to provide elements that please the community and retain students’ interest in pre-registration in the future.

Meet student safety needs Blue light emergency phone stands are among the important University safety measures available throughout campus. While these stands and boxes appear sporadically around campus, they are notably absent from areas en route to the Charles River apartments.

Students may find that the emergency boxes are not as numerous or prominent as is appropriate for a college campus. We believe the absence of blue lights in the Charles River area should prompt the University to reassess the protection measures of other parts of the campus as well.

Students who live in Charles River apartments often walk through the University Office Park lot or along Angleside Road to get home. According to the Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan, there are currently four blue stands in the Charles River vicinity, yet there are no emergency stands in University Office Park or on Angleside Road. This leaves a long stretch between the Women’s Studies Research Center and the apartments without any safety measures in place if a student is in need.

Further, the section of South Street between the Women’s and Gender Studies building and the main gate also lacks basic street lights and is unnecessarily dark. Given the assaults

Reevaluate security measures that occurred on South Street last year, it would be prudent to try to make the street as safe as possible for students.

Even with a blue light stand outside Ziv Quad, the absence of street lights is particularly daunting to students walking home alone at night. On campus, there is no sidewalk on Loop Road between the Rose Art Museum and Hassenfeld Lot. Last year’s hit-and-run highlights the possible hazards of walking along roads without sidewalks at night.

While the University does not the own property on South Street, Angleside Road or University Office Park, we encourage the Department of Public Safety to discuss the idea of installing lights and blue stands with Waltham’s town council and the owners of University Office Park in the interest of the students living in this area.

Though the blue light call boxes are rarely, if ever, used, their presence on Charles River can give students the comfort of knowing assistance is close by. Likewise, the additional lights on South Street can help students feel more comfortable.

We implore the University to consider these measures to further promote safety on campus.

RISHIKA ASSOMULL/the Justice

Obama plan should fund state schools Sara

Shahanaghi enlightened

This past Wednesday, President Barack Obama gave a speech in Denver explaining his new plan to help ease student loan woes. His initiative builds on a set of legislations he passed last year to help students with crushing student debt, especially from four-year colleges.

The plan consists of two new policies as well as an improvement to a law passed in 2010. First, it includes a consolidation of students’ government and private bank loans into a single “direct loan” program in which participators would refinance to receive a reduction in their interest rates. Second, the federal government would require colleges to disclose financial information to students using a standard form, making it easier for students to compare financial aid packages and therefore make more financially prudent decisions when choosing which college to attend. These reforms are an important step in helping graduates, current students and prospective students to better manage college costs. According to a report released by the Project on Student Debt, students in 2008 graduated with an average of $23,200 in student loans, a 24-percent increase from 2004. This, combined with high unemployment rates among recent graduates, has made repaying these loans increasingly difficult. Both of these proposed reforms guarantee that student debt will become more manageable and will help reduce default rates.

However, student loan reform may be given credit for doing more than it actually can. The reforms are advertised by the Obama administration as a means of making a college education more accessible to students from low- and middle-income backgrounds. These changes will likely help college seem more affordable for students who have to incur debt, but to have a significant impact on student affordability, more than student loan reform is required. When a student decides that he or she can’t afford to go to a four-year college at all, it is likely because he or she lacks affordable options. Often, the most affordable schools for students are their local state schools. According to the College Board, tuition and fees for a college degree from a private institution average about $28,500 per year, while public fouryear colleges cost only $8,200 for in-state students on average.

Unfortunately, the affordability of an in-state public education has been compromised over the past few years. This is because state schools have been subject to rapidly increasing costs of attendance. College Board’s 2011 Trends in Student Aid report showed that tuition and fees have been growing at a higher rate in public colleges than private ones over the past five years. Instate tuition and fees for the 2011-12 academic year increased by 8.3 percent compared to last year alone because government funding for higher education has not been keeping up with demand.

According to a report by the State Higher Education Executive Officers, due to a six-percent rise in enrollment, the perstudent funding at public universities fell seven percent in the last year to a level lower than it’s been in 25 years. In order for the government to ensure that students from all socioeconomic backgrounds get a chance at an education, they must not only make student loans more manageable, but also keep in-state costs of attendance low.

Maintaining affordable state schools will improve students’ best financial alternative and encourage enrollment more than a loan reform program would.

While public colleges are primarily funded by state governments, the federal government can achieve this goal of improving access to higher education for lower-income individuals by keeping state schools cheap. This could be done by subsidizing state spending on higher education or providing scholarships and grants for students who attend their local state school. Such federal aid to state colleges is not unheard of. In 2010 and 2011, some federal stimulus funds went toward state higher education amid the decline in state funding. While this is a start, more substantial aid over a sustained period is necessary for a lasting impact.

Given the current political climate, pushing through reforms that would increase federal spending will likely be difficult. Perhaps this is why Obama has taken the path of least resistance and chosen reforms that would minimally increase spending.

However, equal access to higher education is an objective too important to be neglected because of funding.

OP-BOX Quote of the Week “Moments of the past are like friends; they are not who we are, but we should be kind to [them].”

— Michal Govrin, an Israeli author commenting on her latest book Hold on to the Sun (Arts, page 23)

Brandeis Talks Back What are your thoughts on a snowstorm in October?

Lisa Katsnelson ’15 “The snow is ridiculous and proves that climate change exists.”

Paul Vancea ’14 “I think it’s cool.”

Aditya Sanyal ’13 “It’s pretty freaking great.”

Sophie Krupp ’12 “It’s typical for Minnesota. ... I like it.”

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

THE JUSTICE

READER COMMENTARY GAC misjudged and misrepresented In response to your article “GAC should reassess and refocus mission,” (Oct. 28): As a former co-president of the Greek Awareness Council and a member of the executive board of Delta Phi Epsilon, one of Brandeis’ sororities, I was part of the decision to create the distinction between the GAC and the presidents’ council that you wrote about.

According to its constitution, the Greek Awareness Council was founded to “foster strength in the Greek system at Brandeis and improve the relationship between the Member Organizations and the Brandeis administration, students, faculty, and wider community.”

The GAC also became an organization that dealt with inner conflict between Greek organizations, which is something you clearly grasp. The decision to separate the presidents’ council and the GAC, which is made up of representatives from each organization and anyone else who wants to be part of it, was made to take away the mediation factor so that the GAC can focus on three events to be planned every semester, including a philanthropy event.

It was not a direct result of the incident during Rush week, despite the timing, and it was absolutely not a direct result of incompetence.

You suggest that the GAC is unable to successfully have “serious oversight of Greek organizations,” which again reminds me that you didn’t do any research—the GAC no longer oversees Greek organizations.

That job now belongs to the presidents. Moreover, none of us are claiming that we joined Greek organizations to do community service. We do it, and we love it, and it’s an important part of our organizations and our philosophy.

It may have been a factor in many people’s decisions, but it was never exclusively a reason. I appreciate your comments about Greek parties and alcohol problems.

Also, I can only speak for Delta Phi Epsilon, but all of the money we raise goes directly to the organization for which we are fundraising.

Unfortunately, the GAC can’t regulate what organizations do at their own parties, but I know from experience that the GAC advocated for safe drinking, including meeting with members of the Alcohol and Drug Policy Committee last year.

There may be people who feel the need to hide the nature of Greek life, but I am not one of them.

I’m proud of my sorority, the GAC and Brandeis Greek life as a whole, and I have never and will never apologize for that.

I hope that my Greek brothers and sisters feel the same way.

Finally, I just hope you realize that your understanding of Greek life and the GAC is less than perfect, and you are more than welcome to come to GAC meetings (Tuesdays at 8 p.m.) to offer suggestions if you have them or contact me if you have any questions or responses.

—Leah Finkelman ‘13 The writer is the vice president of Delta Phi Epsilon and the vice president of programming for the Greek Awareness Council.

Turkey shuttles have merit and purpose To the Editor: The services committee of the Senate has been working extensively on the Turkey Shuttles for the past two weeks. Turkey Shuttles will indeed run this semester, as we are constitutionally obliged to make this initiative happen. In order to eliminate financial loss, we have altered our strategy to do so.

We are partnering with Waltham Group’s Volunteer Vacations to run local shuttles to South Station ($10 each way) and Logan Airport ($15 each way) on Tuesday, Nov. 22 and Wednesday, Nov. 23 and all profits will benefit their organization, as they will be helping us run the local shuttles with manpower and vehicle usage.

In order to meet the continued demand to New York, even with the rise of discount bus services from the Boston area, we will also be chartering two buses to New York’s Penn Station, one on Tuesday, Nov 22 at 5:30 p.m. and another on Nov 23 at 11 a.m. for $30.

We anticipate that all seats on the N.Y .bound buses will fill up at these convenient times and extremely reasonable rates and are confident that this year, for the first time in many (or ever, we’re not sure) the Turkey Shuttle initiative will be one that does not spend money on “unneeded buses” but in fact, one that breaks even or turns a small profit for the Union.

We encourage an open conversation about this and are most interested in meeting the changing needs of our student body.

—Jeremy Goodman ’14 and Melissa Skolnik ’12 Goodman is the Turkey Shuttle steering officer and East Quad senator, and Skolnik is the Services Committee chair and senator for the Class of 2012.

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Op-ed submissions of general interest to the University community­—that do not respond explicitly to articles printed in the Justice—are also welcome and should be limited to 800 words. All submissions are due Friday at 12 p.m.

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TUESDAY, november 1, 2011

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FDA must regulate fish industry Phillip

gallagher back to basics

A recent investigative report in the Boston Globe uncovered a pattern of mislabeling fish sold in restaurants. Both suppliers and restaurant owners have participated in this illegal behavior, resulting in a system that has become completely unregulated.

In response to this scandal, Massachusetts lawmakers have initiated investigations into the mislabeling of seafood products. State legislators are holding a hearing through the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure to learn more about the mislabeling. Senators Scott Brown and John Kerry are speaking with federal regulators to determine the causes of this lack of enforcement. Attorney General Martha Coakley is attempting to determine the role that the state can take in correcting seafood mislabeling.

All this sudden action begs the question of why our politicians were unable to discover the mislabeling that occurred before the Boston Globe’s report. According to an Oct. 27 article from the Boston Globe, the Food and Drug Administration has the primary responsibility for ensuring the quality of the fish we eat, including its proper labeling.

The recent mislabeling fiasco demonstrates that the FDA has clearly failed in this respect.

In fact, an Oct. 26 article from the Globe indicates that seafood is bafflingly unregulated in comparison to meats, fruits and vegetables.

The article explains that only two percent of our seafood undergoes inspection, even though 84 percent of our seafood is imported. Congressman Barney Frank has a good response to this problem: Give more funding to the FDA. I agree with this solution for a few reasons.

First, it is clear that the fish industry cannot regulate itself. The lack of oversight that occurred before the investigation demonstrates that fish suppliers and sellers alike will do whatever they can to make a quick profit.

Considering that 48 percent of the fish that the Globe tested was found to be incorrectly labeled, it is obvious that the industry can be deceptive. In fact, the Globe found that all 23 samples of white tuna that they tested were actually escolar, a fish that can cause gastrointestinal problems. This mislabeling reflects

the industry’s serious lack of concern for consumer health.

Second, a government organization is the only type of organization that really has the clout to penalize companies that are negligent or fraudulent. Nonprofit regulatory organizations can sound an alarm to federal officials when they notice rampant mislabeling, but they have no actual authority to force the seafood industry to act properly. The FDA, on the other hand, does have this authority.

Third, the FDA would be able to solve this problem on a national level. The Globe stated that testing conducted by Therion International, a major tester of seafood, suggested that fish was frequently mislabeled in over 50 U.S. cities. Such widespread deception needs to be combated by an organization that has jurisdiction throughout the United States. State regulators can work to combat state-specific problems, but the FDA is needed to effectively address a national system’s negligence. In the interim before more effective regulations are implemented, the Brandeis community should

ARIELLE SHORR/the Justice

be cognizant of fish that is ordered from offcampus restaurants. According to the online database of restaurants whose fish was tested by the Globe, only one of the restaurants tested was in Waltham, Naked Fish. Fortunately, Naked Fish passed the Globe’s identification test, serving the same fish that they advertised on their menu. However, there are several restaurants in Waltham that serve fish in some capacity that were not tested. Although we cannot determine mislabeled fish by looking at it, we should educate ourselves about which fishes could potentially have been substituted with dangerous alternatives—such as the escolar for white tuna—and avoid those dishes.

The lack of federal oversight of the fish industry is concerning and should be rectified immediately to protect consumers from price inflation and health risks associated with reckless corporate behavior. Although the fish scandal may not directly affect us at Brandeis or in Waltham, it is still worthwhile to educate ourselves about the topic so we can be vigilant consumers.

Gadhafi’s treatment stains Libyan victory

By ULA RUTKOWSKA JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

For the past year, I have been reading countless articles on the subject of Moammar Gadhafi, the tyrannical dictator of Libya against whom his whole country rebelled. Although Gadhafi relinquished his rule and disappeared into hiding a few months ago, Libya, and in particular various rebel groups, was intent on acquiring total justice through his capture.

Around a week ago, a mob of National Transition Council fighters was successful in capturing, torturing, and killing Gadhafi, while simultaneously filming all of it and later posting it to the Internet. After being killed, his body was flown to Misrata and displayed in public for four days to be observed. Finally, his body was discarded in an unmarked grave at night in the middle of the Libyan desert. I am offended by the celebration of his killing, despite his malevolence and immorality.

Although he was not the most profoundly devout follower of Islam, his burial was not fully in line with Islamic tradition as Islam calls for the cleaning and shrouding of the body, with a burial facing toward Mecca. Before being handed over for burial, his body was simply washed and a short prayer was recited. The displaying of his body for four days is particularly offensive, as it is contrary to Islamic custom. Furthermore, it is along with it being simply distasteful to take photos of destroyed dead bodies.

I understand that his death is a symbolic end of tyranny in Libya, and thus there is a certain cause for celebration, but I do not think that the abandonment of certain Islamic tradition in

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his treatment and burial is acceptable. I am offended by the fact that I can now simply Google Gadhafi’s name and watch videos of his killing and look at photos of his corpse. It is sickening that people are revering and taking joy from looking at photos of this man’s tortured corpse, no matter how terrible he may have been.

People from all over Libya were encouraged to come take part in the celebration of his death and to take photos of his body.

The way in which Libya responded to Gadhafi’s death parallels the United States’ response following the killing of Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden’s death was incredibly controversial regarding whether or not it was acceptable for the government to kill and later celebrate his death. Even so, I appreciate the way in which his burial was handled. Obviously, Osama bin Laden and Moammar Gadhafi are not people who deserve to be celebrated for their atrocious acts against humanity, but I do think that there is a certain sacredness that accompanies a burial that necessitates respect for the deceased’s beliefs.

The fundamental elements of Gadhafi and bin Laden’s religions that determine the proper methods of burial are not what led them to becoming tyrants or terrorists, but rather it was their convoluted interpretations of these beliefs, along with their personal aspirations. I do not think that it is acceptable to deny people the possibility of spiritual fulfillment simply by burying them in ways that are contrary to their beliefs. The fact that Gadhafi was laid out for observation after his death made him a trophy of violence and killing. Instead of marking the ending of oppression in Libya and the begin-

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ning of a transition toward real democracy, his death feels much more like a continuation of his policies of unnecessary violence and disrespect for human life. In a certain sense, I feel like capturing him was a waste of time as it was not able to make the sort of statement that it could have. Nothing was done to encourage a peaceful transition toward better government, nor did it change the perception of the government of Libya.

Instead, I think that Gadhafi should have been sent to the International Criminal Court to stand trial for the various crimes that he committed. The case of Slobodan Milosevic, the war criminal charged with crimes against humanity during the wars in Bosnia and Croatia, sets the precedent for the effectiveness of this sort of resolution, as his trial resulted in the strengthening of the importance of the international judicial process.

The condemnation to death without trial is entirely wrong, as it is not up to any individual to simply decide whether or not one deserves to die.

I also think that it was wrong to deny people the opportunity to see the necessity of a wellfunctioning legal system in which justice is successfully achieved through peaceful means.

Gadhafi’s capture and following trial could have had a positive impact on the government of Libya and on anyone who feels that it is okay to suppress and murder their people. Although the fact that Gadhafi is no longer able to commit various crimes against humanity is comforting, his death fails to make the sort of powerful statement that it could have, nor does it help in the transition to a better Libya.

Editorial Assistants Forum: Shafaq Hasan Sports: Adam Rabinowitz Staff Senior Writers: Josh Asen, Aaron Berke, Max Goldstein Senior Illustrator: Rishika Assomull Senior Photographer: Alex Margolis News: Shani Abramowitz, Tyler Belanga, Jonathan Epstein, Danielle Gross, Tate Herbert, Sam Mintz Features: Dave Benger, Claire Gohorel, Rachel Miller Forum: Aaron Fried, Philip Gallagher, Hannah Goldberg, Tien Le, Diego Medrano, Liz Posner, Sara Shahanaghi, Leah Smith, Elizabeth Stoker, Naomi Volk Sports: Julian Cardillo, Henry Loughlin, Jacob Lurie, Jacob Moskowitz, Natalie Shushan

Arts: Damiana Andonova, Alex DeSilva, Leah Igdalsky, Olivia Leiter, Amy Melser, Leanne Ortbals, Louis Polisson, Mara Sassoon, Dan Willey Photography: Amy Bisaillon, Jenny Cheng, Jon Edelstein, Lydia Emmanouilidou, Morgan Fine, Nathaniel Freedman, Rachel Gordon, Yifan He, Hilary Heyison, Josh Horowitz, Davida Judelson, Joshua Linton, Alex Margolis, Maya Shemtov, Josh Spiro, Madeleine Stix, Diana Wang, David Yun, Janey Zitomer Copy: Aliza Braverman, Jennie Bromberg, Rebecca Brooks, Allyson Cartter, Hilary Cheney, Erica Cooperberg, Patricia Greene, Celine Hacobian, Max Holzman, Liana Johnson, Lauren Katz, Eunice Ko, Felicia Kuperwaser, Jessie Miller, Tarini Nalwa, Christine Phan, Mailinh Phan-Nguyen, Maya Riser-Kositsky, Mara Sassoon, Holly Spicer, Amanda Winn Layout: Rachel Burkhoff, Nadav Havivi, Denny Poliferno, Michelle Yi Illustrations: Arielle Shorr, Ari Tretin, Sara Weininger

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TUESDAY, november 1, 2011

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THE JUSTICE

FORUM

Dr Pepper ad shows industry’s sexism Diego

Medrano missing link

Really?

That’s the initial reaction given from anyone I’ve been around while watching Dr. Pepper Ten’s new “It’s Not For Women” ads.

If you haven’t seen the ads, they feature a group of soldier-esque action heroes engaged in a firefight in a jungle while driving a Jeep.

Then, one of the men turns to the camera and says, “Hey ladies. Enjoying the film? Of course not. Because this is our movie and this is our soda. … You can keep the romantic comedies and lady drinks. We’re good.”

The tagline then follows, “It’s Not For Women.”

But the campaign doesn’t end with the ads.

They have a male-only Facebook page, complete with manly games that let you shoot items like heels and lipstick. The packaging even comes in gun-metal grey, laden with bullet decorations.

Some view the campaign as an example of blatant sexism by corporations and advertisements. Others say that they simply won’t buy the drink.

Overall, I can’t find a man or woman who seems to think the ads are a good idea.

Oddly enough, the people most outraged usually weren’t outraged for themselves, but for all women who might to be offended. Still, I couldn’t find someone who was really personally offended.

That’s because this ad campaign is inane, but not terribly offensive. Or at least no more offensive than all advertising in general.

The campaign is supposed to be poking fun at the typical male advertisement while also attracting men who don’t like to drink diet sodas.

The way I feel about the advertisements is the same way I felt about Don Imus during the Women’s Basketball debacle at Rutgers State University on New Jersey, where he referred to the team as a bunch of “nappy-headed hos.”

I never felt like he was actually racist, just that he tried to make an edgy joke, but awkwardly and tastelessly failed. It’s the same as hanging out with friends at Brandeis and hearing an off-color Nazi joke made that sends cringes through a room.

I don’t think that the people at Dr. Pepper are any more sexist than other advertisers; they just awkwardly failed at trying to make a joke.

This campaign will eventually subside into the vaults of pop culture’s past, only to be brought up every now and then as a “remember when” when someone drinks a Dr. Pepper.

But that doesn’t mean the sexism will diminish in advertising.

My issue with people getting offended by this ad is that those same people often fail at being outraged at every other company. While

NAN PANG/the Justice

Dr. Pepper is telling us exactly what they’re doing, other companies assume that we’re so oblivious that we’ll fall for every one of their ploys.

Diet Coke and Coke Zero are practically the same drink.

But no one makes a fuss over Coke advertising a drink purely because the corporation knows that removing “diet” will make more men drink it, after their marketing research revealed an association with diet sodas and women.

Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Max have separate ads, with the majority of Pepsi Max ads running during sporting events and playing up stereotypical American masculinity. That men need their own version of the same drink is insulting and condescending, but no one brings that up.

Hair products, beer, sports, cars, clothing

and just about every product’s ads are guilty of sexism.

Companies want to make money and they want to appeal to their target audiences. To do so, they play up the sex divide as much as possible, but would never admit it. Some products are obviously going to be geared toward one sex and that’s fine.

However, the extremes can be insulting; I personally feel embarrassed for all men every time I see an ad that makes it seem like the only way to be a man is to objectify women, drive trucks and drink beer.

Sure, some are pretty funny, but the canon of these ads produce an insulting stereotype of men.

Axe body spray shows me that the key to an attractive woman’s heart is to smell as good as a four-dollar can of spray can make you smell.

Budweiser taught me that the only thing I

want more than beer is attractive twins of ambiguous sexuality.

Burger King made me realize that eating copious amounts of meat (read: bacon and beef) is the only way to align myself with the rest of the male population.

Plenty of advertisers make ridiculous generalizations to sell a product; Dr. Pepper just made the mistake of being the only one to admit what they’re doing.

Dr. Pepper shouldn’t be given a free pass, and no, there aren’t larger implications for their ads. But more importantly, people should be annoyed with all advertising, not just Dr. Pepper’s ads.

Taking issue with these ads alone is way too easy and is a shallow way of tackling a larger issue. If anything, Dr. Pepper’s newest ads are less condescending than those other ads who try to do so secretly.

Change lecture style for shorter attention spans Shafaq

hasan into the fire

I’ve realized it may be impossible for me to listen to a 50-minute lecture without checking my email, doodling in the corners of my notebook or scanning the pages of the Huffington Post. Sitting still in a swivel chair as my professor discusses Roman art in a dark, auditorium-style classroom is simply too much to ask. My attention span is just too short.

I often wonder why I’m so unfocused. Why can’t I start something and finish it in the same sitting? Why is it is so difficult to read a 14-page excerpt from a book without taking a Facebook break or switching to other work?

Indeed, I’ve already checked my email four times in the time I began writing this; and I haven’t yet reached the thesis of my argument.

Sadly, I’m a college student, and this is an issue that even much younger children have to overcome.

Certainly part of the answer is the immediacy and interactivity of technology. The initial high of receiving an email or Facebook notification defeats the drudgery and monotony of schoolwork. John Milton can’t compete

with Netflix, and the Parthenon doesn’t come close to playing Angry Birds. If we expect to be entertained all the time, we will lose our ability to concentrate on one task at a time.

Susan Greenfield, an Oxford University neuroscientist and director of the Royal Institution, released a report in 2009 claiming that constant exposure to social networking sites could actually rewire the brain and, in effect, shorten a person’s attention span. As Greenfield theorizes, it’s possible that the immediate gratification and wonderment of being always connected is slowly eroding our concentration capacities.

However, from time to time, classwork does spark my interest and keep my attention.

Once in a while, I find myself reading ahead of the assignment because I want to. I have the potential to focus but have lapses in attention.

Perhaps another reason we’re so unfocused is because that’s how our minds are supposed to be: undisciplined and disorderly. Technology only enhances the chaos.

“One of the reasons it’s so difficult to stay focused is that humans are naturally prone to interruption,” says Maggie Jackson, author of Distracted: The Erosion of Attention and the Coming Dark Age. According to Jackson, we’re programmed to react to new information as a survival method; we see a threat and respond to it. This survival method in today’s age has become the unstoppable urge to respond to a buzzing text message. By attempting to react to this new information, we find that we’re unable to fully concentrate on one

task without doing multiple things at once.

In 2009, Stanford University organized a study looking at the different attention spans of 19 heavy-duty multitaskers versus 22 individuals who rarely concentrated on more than two or three tasks. The test called for the students to determine if the positioning of a red rectangle changed without getting distracted by superfluous blue rectangles.

The study found the single-taskers performed significantly better because they avoided distractions. While it would seem the multitaskers would have been able to manage the increased stimuli, their approach was different from the single-taskers. Though most of us are able to do homework while we listen to music and instant message our friends, we may not realize we’re significantly less attentive to our work. But is this a result of the constant interactions we now have with technology, or because fundamentally most individuals can’t adequately perform multiple tasks given their diminished concentration?

It seems the addition of technology to our lives has forced us to multitask. We are in essence constantly over-stimulated and are therefore unable to concentrate on one task at a time without being distracted by our phones, computers or iPods. And even if we’re naturally programmed to have lapses in attention, how can we fix this problem?

The solution can potentially be found in the classroom. Research shows that the brain can better process information in smaller 15-to-20 minute intervals of activity. While a

50-minute lecture is by no means a feat to sit through, staying engaged continuously for that amount of time can be challenging. In a study conducted last year by the Journal of Chemical Education, the researchers tested how students’ attention spans responded to various different methods of teaching. The study indicated professors can engage students with demonstrations and clickers, or devices that have students answer questions interactively.

We can also take it upon ourselves to lengthen our attention spans. A study released by the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2008 found that meditation can help. Volunteers spent three months learning and training in Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian routine that involves self-observation. When volunteers were faced with distractions after the experiment, they were better able to complete full tasks.

Technology does play a part in the erosion of an individual’s attention span; however, at some point, we’re all going to stop listening during that lecture. Along with the convenience of text messaging comes the distinctly inconvenient problem of being unable to concentrate on anything that doesn’t light up or buzz.

These distractions, however, have become integral parts of our lives. While we can manage to stay awake during class, professors must recognize that it is necessary to make their lesson plans more engaging and interactive to hold our attentions.

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, November 1, 2011

13

SPORTS cross country

READY FOR LIFTOFF

Squads finish strong at UAAs ■ The men’s and women’s

cross country teams earned 4th- and 7th-place finishes, respectively, at UChicago.

By josh asen JUSTICE Senior WRITER

The men’s cross country team secured four of the top 22 finishes in the University Athletic Association Championships in Chicago last Saturday, placing fourth overall out of the eight UAA schools. The women’s cross country squad also raced in their UAA Championships this weekend, finishing seventh overall. “[The men’s team] did pretty well,” Marc Boutin ’12 said. “We are happy with how we did. There are a lot of really good teams in the UAA. ... We all raced well and think we can do even better.”

Chris Brown ’12 was the only men’s runner to finish in the top 10 among the 75 UAA runners in the eight-kilometer race, crossing the finish line ninth overall with a time of 26 minutes, 0.05 seconds. Boutin finished five spots behind Brown at 26:20.24.

Brown and Boutin both earned second-team all-UAA honors for their results.

“I was happy with my performance,” Boutin said. “It was the best finish I had at the UAA meet in the four years I’ve been here, the first time I’ve been all-UAA. I kind of wish I was a little bit higher up so I could have helped the team a little bit more, but I can’t be mad finishing where I did with the competition I had.”

Ed Colvin ’14 and Alex Kramer ’13 placed 21st and 22nd in the race, respectively. Colvin finished at 26:35.23, while Kramer notched a time of 26:40.10.

Taylor Dundas ’14, Michael Rosenbach ’15 and Greg Bray ’15

were the remaining Judges to earn scoring times for the squad. Dundas finished at 27:57.38, finishing 59th, while Rosenbach crossed the line 66th overall at 28:15.02. Bray finished one spot behind Rosenbach at 28:19.42.

Although he did not score in the meet, Jarret Harrigan ’15 placed 74th at 29:36.96.

The men’s team did not improve on their overall finish from last season, as they also placed fourth overall in last year’s UAA Championships.

The women’s squad finished sixth overall in the 2010 UAA Championships but fell to seventh in this year’s meet.

Kate Warwick ’12 led the squad and finished 17th overall out of 72 runners at 23:82.22 in the sixkilometer race. Miriam Stulin ’15 finished at 23:55.86, good for a 31stplace finish.

Ali Kirsch ’14 came in 37th at 24:08.73, while Vicki Sanford ’14 and Monique Girard ’12 finished 60th and 67th, respectively. Sanford crossed the finish line at 25:15.65, while Girard yielded a time of 25:55.17.

Kristi Pisarik ’15 did not finish with a scoring time, but she finished 69th in the race at 26:33.08.

Having completed the UAA Championships, both squads will next compete in the Division III Regional Championships on Nov. 12 at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.

Boutin believes that the men’s squad will succeed at Bowdoin because the course will play to their strengths. “[Bowdoin] is a very flat course and good for a team like us,” Boutin said. “Most of us are milers, so a flat course is really good for milers. We need to be just focused on that day of the race and run our race. If we just run the way we know we can, then we’ll be fine.”

MSOCCER: Team splits road games CONTINUED FROM 16

really good ball, and the defender on the other team tried to clear it, but it went off his head and into net.”

“The first half was probably some of the worst soccer we played all year,” lamented Coven. “We gave it away a lot; we couldn’t keep possession. But in the second half, we came out with more intensity.

We rose to the challenge and ended up playing pretty good soccer.

We’re moving along, but honestly we played a better game on Friday night [against Emory].”

Last Friday, the Judges should have cruised to victory with more scoring chances and control of possession. Russo hit the crossbar twice, in the 15th and 46th minutes.

The Judges also outshot their opponents by double digits, but the Eagles scored against the run of play.

In the 56th minute, midfielder Kyle Feather ’14 went on a breakaway that was halted by Eagles goalkeeper Andrew Goldblum. Moments later, junior Andrew Jones

played the ball wide to senior Zack Daniels. Daniels picked up his head and crossed to David Garofalo, who headed the ball into the net to hand Emory a lead they would not relinquish.

“We could have won the Emory game four or five goals to one,” said Coven. “I mean, a fraction of an inch on either of the two of Russo’s shots that hit the crossbar and it’s a different game. Luck wasn’t on our side [last] Friday.”

The Judges have just one game remaining in the regular season, a UAA matchup against New York University on Friday at Gordon Field. Despite the loss, Coven is still holding out hope that the team can make the NCAA tournament.

“It’s a long shot,” Coven said of the Judges’ NCAA tournament chances. “We have to win next Saturday. Plus, the results of some of the other teams in New England are important and will be taken into consideration. Our chances are very, very slim. But there is still a chance.”

JOSH EDELSTEIN/the Justice

UP AND AWAY: Setter Yael Einhorn ’14 taps the ball for middle blocker Becca Fischer ’13 (No. 9) to spike in a Oct.29 loss.

Judges falter at home against UMass Boston ■ In its final home match

of the season, the women’s volleyball team lost 3-0 to No.18 UMass Boston.

By JEFFREY BOXER JUSTICE EDITOR

When a Brandeis varsity team plays its final home game of the season, it is customary for the team to hold a small ceremony for its graduating seniors. For the volleyball team, no such ceremony was needed for this season’s home finale, as the team has five first-year players but only three juniors and no seniors.

And while the team started the game off strong, its youth ultimately shone through in last Saturday’s 3-0 loss to the University of Massachusetts Boston. The Judges dropped in straight sets, 25-19, 25-14 and 25-19 to fall to 9-18 on the season. The No. 18 Beacons improved to 24-4 on the year.

“Our energy was really high in that first game, and it dropped a bit when they started getting a few points on us,” middle blocker Becca Fischer ’13 said of the team’s performance. “Once they started running the faster plays, our defense wasn’t able to keep up with them. They were able to keep a lot of things alive that we weren’t expecting them to.”

The Judges hung with the Beacons

at the start of the match, surprising their opponents with a high-intensity game for much of the first set.

After UMass Boston pulled ahead to a 10-8 lead, Brandeis took six of the next eight points, due in large part to service aces by both setter Yael Einhorn ’14 and outside hitter Susan Sun ’13. But an unforced error halted Brandeis’ run, and UMass Boston reeled off a 9-2 run of their own to pull ahead 21-16. The teams traded blows for the next five points before back-to-back kills sealed the game for the Beacons.

“We talked a lot in the first game and played better as a team,” outside hitter Si-Si Hensley ’14 said. “[We had] better energy and better intensity, and as the game went on, we lost a lot of that.”

UMass Boston roared out to an 8-4 lead in the second game. Brandeis regrouped after a timeout was called by coach Michelle Kim, pulling to a one-point difference at 10-9. Yet the Beacons closed on a 15-5 run, squelching any chance of a Brandeis comeback.

“A lot of it is about focus—we lost focus,” Hensley said. “As long as we hold each other accountable, it’ll go better [in the future].”

The Beacons quickly pulled ahead in the third set as well, taking 8-3 and 16-9 leads against an outmatched Brandeis squad. The Judges pulled back within four points, but had no answer for junior middle hitter

Shannon Thompson, who had eight kills in the third set alone.

“It takes a lot to stop a player like her,” Fischer said. “It’s all about timing, especially when it comes to blocking. A great player like that can hit both quick and slow sets. It’s all about watching her arm speed and knowing when to jump.”

“It’s one of those things where we have to adapt quicker to them,” Hensley added. “We need to point out what her strengths are and work on placating them. And I don’t think we did that as well as we could have and should have done.”

Offensively, Brandeis was paced by outside hitter Liz Hood ’15, who had 11 kills on the game. Hensley added eight kills and a team-high 12 digs. Setter Yael Einhorn ’14 chipped in 22 assists.

UMass Boston was lead by Thompson’s game-high 18 kills. Senior setter Casey Hannenman added 33 assists, and junior libero Kayla Wilson had 16 digs.

The Judges close out their season at the University Athletic Association tournament this weekend, held at New York University. The squad takes on the top-seeded Emory University Eagles on Friday. Saturday’s match will be determined based on Friday’s results.

“Emory is a very good team,” Fischer said. “We need everyone at the top of their game and with high energy for the match.”

WSOCCER: Women falter on the road against conference foes CONTINUED FROM 16 forward Merrill Bachouras and senior forward Caroline Coates connected with sophomore defender Clare Mullins who pulled away and put it in the net. It was Mullins’ fifth goal of the season. The Judges did not allow

another goal in the first half and gave themselves a chance to respond, but Emory quickly broke the game open after the intermission. Coates assisted senior midfielder Lidija Baraiskas in the 57th minute to put Emory up 2-0.

Mullins soon found her second goal of

the game and seventh of the season in the 70th minute.

Brandeis was outshot 20-8, with Emory recording 13 shots on goal to Brandeis’ two. Midfielder Mary Shimko ’14 led the team with three shots, one of which was on goal. The Judges

were anchored in the back by captain Ali Maresca ’12, as they have been all year.

“Maresca did an unbelievable job,” Theodore said. “Even after playing with her for four years, I still am amazed at how well she does. There is

no doubt that games would not have turned out the way they did if it had not been for her.”

The Judges play their final game of the year against New York University on Saturday, where they hope to find their first UAA victory.

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THE JUSTICE

jUDGES BY THE NUMBERS

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TUESDAY, November 1, 2011

15

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Men’s Soccer UAA STANDINGS

TEAM STATS Goals

Not including Monday’s games UAA Conference Overall

W L D W L D Pct. WashU 4 2 0 13 3 1 .794 Case 4 2 0 13 4 0 .765 Emory 4 2 0 10 7 0 .588 Rochester 3 2 1 9 4 2 .667 JUDGES 2 3 1 11 5 1 .676 Chicago 2 4 0 9 6 2 .588 NYU 2 4 0 7 8 1 .469 Carnegie 2 4 0 6 8 1 .433

Lee Russo ’13 and Tyler Savonen ’15 lead in goals.

Player Goals Lee Russo 6 Tyler Savonen 6 Kyle Feather 5 Theo Terris 5

Assists Steve Keuchkarian ’12 and Sam Ocel ’13 lead in assists.

Player Assists Steve Keuchkarian 6 Sam Ocel 6 Tyler Savonen 5 Theo Terris 4

UPCOMING GAMES Saturday vs. NYU at noon

WOMen’s Soccer UAA STANDINGS

TEAM STATS

Not including Monday’s games

Points

UAA Conference Overall

W L D W L D Pct. Emory 5 0 1 14 0 2 .938 WashU 4 2 0 14 4 0 .778 Case 4 2 0 12 3 2 .765 Carnegie 3 3 0 9 6 0 .600 Chicago 2 2 2 9 5 2 .625 NYU 2 4 0 11 6 0 .647 Rochester 2 4 0 8 7 0 .533 JUDGES 0 5 1 6 10 2 .389

Mimi Theodore ’12 leads the team in points with eight.

Player Pts Mimi Theodore 8 Mary Shimko 7 Hilary Andrews 5 two tied with 5

UPCOMING GAMES Saturday vs. NYU at 2:30 p.m.

Shots Alanna Torre ’12 leads the team in shots taken with 58.

Player Shots Alanna Torre 58 Hilary Andrews 30 Mimi Theodore 28 Mary Shimko 25

JENNY CHENG/Justice File Photo

BREAKING THROUGH: Forward Tyler Savonen ’15 dribbles past Wentworth Institute of Technology defenders on Sept. 28.

VOLLEYBALL UAA STANDINGS

TEAM STATS Kills

Not including Monday’s games UAA Conference Overall

W L W L Pct. Emory 7 0 32 3 .914 WashU 6 1 29 1 .967 Chicago 5 2 27 4 .871 Case 4 3 21 8 .724 NYU 2 5 18 14 .562 Rochester 2 5 19 14 .576 Carnegie 2 5 14 13 .519 JUDGES 0 7 9 18 .333

UPCOMING GAMES At the UAA Tournament at NYU: Friday vs. Emory at noon, Saturday vs. TBA

Liz Hood ’15 leads the team in kills so far this year with 266.

Player Kills Liz Hood 266 Si-Si Hensley 179 Becca Fischer 130 Lauren Berens 118

Digs Elsie Bernaiche ’15 leads the team in digs this year with 347.

Player Digs Elsie Bernaiche 347 Si-Si Hensley 179 Susan Sun 154 Yael Einhorn 148

Savonen proving to be a force up front ■ Rookie men’s soccer

forward Tyler Savonen ’15 has scored six goals to pace the team so far this season.

By henry loughlin JUSTICE staff WRITER

cross cOuntry Results from last Saturday’s UAA Championships in Chicago

TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)

TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)

RUNNER TIME Chris Brown 26:00.5 Marc Boutin 26:20.2 Ed Colvin 26:35.2 Alex Kramer 26:40.1

RUNNER TIME Kate Warwick 23:22.8 Miriam Stulin 23:55.9 Ali Kirsch 24:08.7 Victoria Sanford 25:14.7

UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday, Nov. 12 at New England DIII Championships at Bowdoin; Saturday, Nov. 19 at NCAA DIII Championships at Wisconsin-Oshkosh

An athlete’s transition from high school to college athletics can be daunting. A faster game, a new system and a new coach—not to mention adjusting to college life—are all obstacles that can discourage an athlete who moves to a higher level of competition.

However, none of these challenges has impeded the progress of men’s soccer forward Tyler Savonen ’15. Savonen was a Boston Globe All-Scholastic selection in high school and has quickly made himself known at the collegiate level, scoring a team-leading six goals

thus far this season for the Judges, including two strikes against Lasell College on Oct. 24.

Though the front man started playing the game at a young age, Savonen didn’t focus on soccer until high school. “I gave up baseball in eighth grade,” he said. “Soccer became my focus. I started playing travel when I was 12.”

At the start of the recruiting process, many college coaches were interested, but ultimately Savonen opted for Brandeis, in large part due to coach Mike Coven.

“Coven was my head coach for my U-18 travel team, so I knew I’d be in a good situation coming here.”

Savonen is listed as a defender on the Brandeis Athletics website but makes sure that he plays in the opposite third of the field. “I’m pretty bad at defense,” he said, laughing.

However, he has proven himself a threat to opposing backlines with

his imposing frame and prowess both in the air and on the ground.

“I just really try to learn from the other forwards,” Savonen said, referring to strike partners Lee Russo ’13, Sam Ocel ’13 and Steve Keuchkarian ’12. “Lee, Sam and Keuch are all really good, so I just try to do what they tell me.”

When asked what the keys to his success have been thus far, Savonen instead chose to focus on the team’s chances of qualifying for postseason play.

“We really just try to work together and put together good possession soccer. We’re playing a lot better now than we were earlier in the season. If we get some big wins and improve finishing, we could definitely make it to the NCAA tournament.”

While he still has plenty of potential to fulfill, Savonen’s first collegiate season is already one to remember.

Boston Bruins beat Bruins fall to 3-7-0 with another loss to Original Six rival Montreal Canadiens at the TD Garden A season after watching their archrivals lift the Stanley Cup at their expense, the Montreal Canadiens had some consolation last Thursday when they defeated the Boston Bruins by a 2-1 score at the TD Garden.

When the defending Stanley Cup Champions jumped out to a first-period lead, the Habs looked like they would be relegated to another loss against their Bostonian rivals. However, the visitors struck twice—once each during the second and third periods—to send the Bruins to defeat.

The game started out with several nervous moments for the Bs, including a scramble for a loose puck in front of the net, but Bruins captain and defender Zdeno Chara was able to deflect the puck before a Canadien player could capitalize.

In evenly matched games, goals are

often scored as a result of a great play or a fatal mistake. With five minutes, 55 seconds left in the first period, Montreal defender Tomas Plekanec sent the puck through the legs of his own netminder, Carey Price, to send the sold-out Garden into raptures.

Looking to build on their momentum from the first goal, the Bs came flying out of the traps at the beginning of the second, as forward Milan Lucic just missed a feed from linemate Nathan Horton. Montreal almost leveled the score moments later, but winger Mike Cammalleri fired a shot that goalkeeper Tim Thomas snared. The Montreal forward, breaking in alone on Thomas, was prepared to tie the game at 1-1, but the Boston custodian spread himself wide to protect the goal to maintain the lead, resulting in raucous applause.

Despite his heroics to to keep the Bruins out front, Thomas would be beaten moments later. Left wing Eric Cole scored his second goal of the season as he redirected a shot from defenseman Jaroslav Spacek just past the game’s halfway point, which evened the score. Boston center Rich Peverley broke in solo on Price with 5:45 left, looking to regain the lead for his team, but Price stood tall and kept the game level.

Boston’s dominance in possession became more apparent as the game wore on, and it seemed that it would only be a matter of time before they recaptured the lead. However, the Canadiens went ahead when Plekanec fired a wrister that evaded Thomas and snuck into the net. With his goal, which went against the flow of play, momentum began to shift in favor of

Montreal.

Down, but not out, the Bruins put the Canadiens on the ropes with Price sprawling to keep out a blast on the doorstep from Horton. However, the hosts would get no closer to an equalizer, crashing down to their sixth defeat of the season.

Bruins coach Claude Julien’s diagnosis for his team’s poor performance was rather straightforward: “The inability to focus for 60 minutes is obvious and apparent,” he said. “When you play the way you do the first period and seem to be heading in the right direction, then come out in the second period and play that way, it certainly shows a lack of focus and what that translated to was a lack of execution.”

“I don’t care where we are in the standings,” Julien added. “What I care about is how we play, and right now,

we’re not playing at all to the level we should be.”

Given their 3-7-0 start to the season, which leaves them last in the Eastern Conference standings, Boston has reason to be worried.

“It’s one thing to see that we’re right there, but that’s not good enough,” lamented forward Patrice Bergeron.

“Right now it’s about finding answers and not getting frustrated, not getting down on ourselves. We got the start that we wanted and found a way to get that first goal, ... but we couldn’t follow up in the second period.”

With some formidable tests in the near future, the Bruins must start finding the correct answers. Boston hosts the Washington Capitals tonight at 7 p.m. before traveling to Toronto to face the Maple Leafs.

—Henry Loughlin

just

Sports

Page 16

CHRIS BROWN RUNS IT Chris Brown ’12 led the men’s cross country team to a fourth place finish at this weekend’s UAA Championships, p. 13.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Waltham, Mass.

men’s soccer

Judges split UAA road matches ■ The men’s soccer team lost

to Emory 1-0 before notching a 2-1 double-overtime win against Carnegie Mellon.

By julian cardillo JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The Brandeis men’s soccer team didn’t make a pit stop to gamble in Atlantic City during their trips to Pittsburgh and Atlanta over the weekend, but there was an element of luck in their games against Emory University and Carnegie Mellon University last weekend. Brandeis fell 1-0 to Emory last Friday despite outshooting the Eagles 22-10 and clipping the crossbar twice. However, the Judges rebounded in Pennsylvania two days later, an own goal by a Carnegie defender in overtime giving Brandeis its first University Athletic Association road win of the season.

“We actually played better against Emory,” midfielder Lee Russo ’13 said. “We had four or five opportunities that just didn’t go in.

We hit crossbar, we created great plays but just couldn’t finish it for some reason.”

“The game-winning goal [last Sunday] was lucky,” continued Russo. “But if you put the ball in dangerous positions, good things will happen. [Last Sunday], luck was on our side, and Friday it wasn’t.”

Last Saturday, the Judges trained at the Tartans’ brand-new, socceronly stadium to get accustomed to the field on Saturday. By game time on Sunday morning, there was no snow on the field or remnants of a nor’easter like there was in Massachusetts. Even so, the Judges struggled at the opening of the game.

Blake Minchoff ’13 had to make five first-half saves as the Judges failed to control the ball in midfield.

The Tartans play a direct passing style and had the advantage in height, with most of their outfield players over six feet tall. Brandeis, who has just four of their usual starters listed over six feet, rely on a possession-based style that was stagnant in the first half.

The Tartans, who outshot Brandeis 11-4 in the opening half, opened up the scoring in the 22nd minute. Senior midfielder Kyle Young played the ball to the right flank for junior forward Alex Abedian, who beat two defenders on the edge of the penalty area before rifling a shot past Minchoff from 16 yards out. Carnegie continued to threaten, though Minchoff and his defense were able to cover for the Judges’ struggles, which needed a change of tactic heading into halftime. “[Carnegie] took it to us. I challenged [the team] at halftime to rise

Squad shut out against its rivals

■ The women’s soccer

team fell to UAA rivals Emory and Carnegie Mellon last weekend.

By MAX GOLDSTEIN JUSTICE SENIOR WRITER

ALEX MARGOLIS/Justice File Photo

GOAL KICK: Goalkeeper Blake Minchoff ’13 boots the ball down the field during the team’s 2-0 Oct. 16 loss to the WashU Bears. to the occasion and play with more passion,” explained coach Mike Coven. “We play an attractive possession game, but we had to change our game a bit. They’re a big team, so we had to go in hard and be more aggressive and match them and [create] chances out of the gate.

Brandeis notched their equalizer 30 minutes into the second half.

In the 75th minute, forward Tyler Savonen ’15 took control of the ball on the edge of the penalty area and shot at goal. Sophomore Tartan goalkeeper Chris Madden made the

save but spilled a rebound right into the path of midfielder Theo Terris ’12, who slotted the ball into the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season.

“The goal was a huge relief,” Terris said of his equalizer. “We’ve been having trouble finding the net the past few games, but we knew it was a matter of time before we started scoring again.”

The Judges tacked on the pressure in search of a late goal, but Madden blocked numerous Brandeis scoring chances in the final moments

of regulation. The game was forced into overtime, where the Judges finally grabbed the winner. Forward Steve Keuchkarian ’12 drew a foul 25 yards from goal in the 106th minute. Russo took the set piece, his curling cross deflecting off the head of senior defender Nick Gianopolous and into the goal for the victory.

“I put the ball down, and I wasn’t even shooting it,” Russo said. “I was trying to cross it. It was actually a

See MSOCCER, 13 ☛

BRIEF

Tim Morehouse ’00 takes silver medal at the Pan American Games Representing the United States in the Pan American Fencing Competition, Tim Morehouse ’00 came within one point of taking the gold medal last Thursday. However, he lost to Joseph Polossifakis 15-14 in a hard-fought match.

“I’m 33, and this was my first Pan American Games, so it would have been great to take the gold, but I’m just proud to be here,” Morehouse told usfencing.org. “Now I’m looking forward to fencing with the Olympic team. What a joy to represent your country individually and then with a team.”

Thursday marked Morehouse’s first time competing at the individual level in the Pan American Games,

WOMEN’S SOCCER

where he notched a silver medal. In the team competition last Saturday, he helped the United States to a gold medal.

Morehouse, a three-time All-American and 2000 NCAA Fencer of the Year, is the first-ever Brandeis graduate to go to the Olympics. He earned a silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. He is also a four-time Pan American team champion (2005-09), a team gold medalist (2010) and a national team champion (2004).

He stated that these accomplishments are due to his experience at Brandeis.

“I really wasn’t highly recruited going into college,” said Morehouse.

“Coach [Bill] Shipman saw my po-

tential and really helped me set high goals for myself as well as develop the confidence to excel at the professional level.”

In addition to his fencing achievements, Morehouse is a former public school teacher. He built upon this passion since 2000 when he was a member of Teach for America. He is also creating a foundation to spread fencing to high-risk neighborhoods.

“I am very excited to begin work for my new foundation, Fencing and the Schools, which has a goal of bringing fencing to disadvantaged communities in rural and urban areas,” said Morehouse.

“This allows me to combine my two main passions of education and

fencing.”

In 1999, Morehouse led Brandeis to a No. 2 ranking among Division III teams. As a senior captain, he led the Judges to a No.1 Division-III ranking in 2000 and a 10th-place national ranking among Division I teams.

That year, he received the CharlesNapoli Scholar Award, awarded to the top student-athlete at Brandeis.

He graduated from Brandeis with a degree in History and received a Master ‘s in Education from Pace University in 2003. He was inducted to the Brandeis Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

—Jacob Moskowitz and Adam Rabinowitz

The Brandeis women’s soccer team not only failed to find a win last weekend, but they also failed to find the net. The Judges fell 1-0 to Carnegie Mellon University last Sunday after a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Emory University. The Judges are now 6-10-2 overall and 0-5-1 in University Athletic Association competition.

“UAA teams are definitely the best teams we face all year,” forward Mimi Theodore ’12 said.

“They are bigger, faster and just all-around better soccer players than the teams we play in non-conference games. We could just never catch a break with these team[s].

When we had a breakdown, they capitalized on it.”

Last Sunday, the Judges travelled to Pittsburgh to face the Tartans.

Carnegie applied great pressure on Brandeis from the opening whistle and outshot the Judges 14-1 in the first half. However, Carnegie could not find the goal thanks to three saves from goalkeeper Francine Kofinas ’13. Brandeis’ only shot in the first half came from forward Alyssa Fenenbock ’15 in the 35th minute.

Brandeis’ strong goalkeeping continued with Michelle Savuto ’15, who took Kofinas’ place for the second half. Carnegie rattled off three early shots on goal, forcing Savuto to action. The Judges applied some pressure on the Tartans in the 54th minute with a shot on goal from defender Kelly Peterson ’14. However, Carnegie was able to notch the first goal of the contest in the 61st minute. Freshman midfielder Savina Reid converted a corner from sophomore defender Rachel Contopoulos to take the lead.

Yet the Judges would not go down without a fight. They outshot the Tartans 8-2 for the remainder of the game and tested Carnegie sophomore goalkeeper Anna Albi. She was called upon to save five shots, including two attempts from Hilary Andrews ’14, one in the 67th minute and another in the 73rd minute.

“Their defenses were strong,” Theodore explained. “They possessed the ball well, whereas we had trouble stringing together passes.

Even when we did get into the other team’s defensive third, their goalies were strong and defense in the right position to clean up any rebounds.”

Carnegie presented Brandeis with several challenges, nearly doubling their lead by hitting the crossbar in the 64th minute and the post in the 83rd. Despite not being able to add to their tally, the Tartans were still able to preserve their 1-0 win by outshooting the Judges 24-10. Carnegie improved to 9-6 and 3-3 in UAA play.

Last Friday, the Judges fell behind No. 5 Emory University early and never recovered. Brandeis allowed the first Emory goal a mere 35 seconds after kickoff. Junior

See WSOCCER, 13 ☛

ROSE SPECIAL SECTION

In

November 1, 2011

m o o l b l l u f

e h t g n i t a r b e l e C

0 5 t a e Ros

INSIDE ■ Review of the new exhibits, p. 18 ■ Coverage of opening events, p. 18 and 19 ■ Profile of the new docents program, p. 20

Photos: Robyn Spector/the Justice. Design: Brian Blumenthal and Robyn Spector/the Justice.

18

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2011

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THE JUSTICE

New exhibits draw upon Rose’s rich artis

By Bryan Flatt JUSTICE editor

The Rose Art Museum has an almost visceral feeling of change surrounding it. From the exterior—no longer illuminated by a neon glow—to the newly spacious interior, something about the space just feels different; maybe that’s because it is. It’s finally over the dark cloud of uncertainty of the past few years. When one walks into the Rose Art Museum, known simply as “The Rose” to many familiar with the building, one aspect stands out more than ever before— the art. It makes sense, though: Art is its middle name.

Celebrating 50 years of innovation and prosperity, the three new exhibitions at the Rose have turned the museum into a timeline of pieces that show both how impressive and how historic the permanent collection is.

“Art at the Origin: The Early 1960s” in the Gerald S. and Sandra Fineberg Gallery celebrates the less-than-humble beginnings of the museum, showcasing many of the priceless pieces (including prints, sculptures and paintings) purchased by the Rose’s original director, Sam Hunter, primarily through the $50,000 Gevirtz-Mnuchin Purchase Fund. Just the top floor of the Fineberg Gallery alone has pieces significant enough to admire for a full day. One would think that all the notable art in one location might be distracting to the viewer. Instead,

the pieces work in unity in the newly opened-up space to create an awe-inspiring appreciative vibe as soon as one enters the museum.

Of the many pieces (and there are too many great ones to mention them all) Wilem De Koonig’s “Untitled,” Roy Lichtenstein’s “Forget It! Forget Me!”, Gene Davis’ “Moondog” and James Rosenquist’s “Two 1959 People” stand out. All of them—a combination of abstract impressionist and pop art pieces—are constantly re-contextualized depending on the angle and depth of the viewer’s position. Davis’ “Moondog” specifically, a multi-colored entire wall of stripes, changes ever so subtly as one walks by the painting. De Koonig’s “Untitled”—one work almost synonymous with the museum—appears to be a calm beachscape from afar while up close one can see the layers and complexity in the thought of the painting. Each work shares that complexity and needs to be seen up close in the gallery among the other formidable artwork in order for the viewer to gain a true appreciation of all the exhibition has to offer.

On the lower level of “Art at the Origin,” now easier to navigate since the reflecting pool has been removed, hang more artistic masterpieces that may be less familiar to viewers. Among the works, including the edgy pop art pieces “Still Life 25” by Tom Wesselmann, “Double Red Bathroom” by Jim Dine and the avant-garde scientific splatter “The Vegetable Cell” by Asger Jorn, sit pieces grouped by style that bring the

varied selections all together. Tying the exhibit back to the Rose’s history in a glass enclosure at the end of the gallery are archives that show historical photos of the museum, brochures from past exhibitions and remnants the original 8-mm print of the Rose’s newest acquisition —the 2006 digitalization of Bruce Conner’s 1965 controversial triptych video originally shown at the Rose—“EVE-RAY-FOREVER.” Located in the Mildred S. Lee Gallery, “EVERAY-FOREVER (1965/2006)” presents viewers with three out-of-sync black-and-white films that portray a multitude of quick-cut images.

The images span from classic Mickey Mouse cartoons to graphic cuts of wartime footage along with countless bouts of nudity. The piece is no less than a complete sensory overload. From the occasional sounds of slides changing to the bright flashes and ever-changing controversial imagery, it is difficult to focus both on each clip individually and the triptych collectively.

However, the piece works. It’s a complex commentary on consumerist culture and its ability to exist as an innovative product of technology.

Its reflective mark and importance to the art world can only be truly absorbed after leaving the viewing experience. As the first moving images acquisition by the museum, “EVE-RAYFOREVER” marked a fresh and innovative step for the Rose and secured its place as a risk-taker and innovator among the contemporary art scene. It takes a piece of the Rose’s history full

circle, reutilizing its potential for renewed innovation over the next fifty years.

While “EVE-RAY-FOREVER” shows the technological innovation over the years at the Rose and “Art at the Origin” shows the Rose’s early days, “Collecting Stories”—in the Lois Foster Gallery—takes the viewer through the iconic first fifty years of the museum. The exhibition begins with a fantastic 1959 cubist piece, “The Siphon” by Juan Gris, that was a part of the Rose Art Museum’s inaugural show. The show highlighted the previous century of European painting. Gris’ work, alongside other great pieces from one of the first collections of experimental art at any university, welcomes museum patrons through a Rorschach test of canvas and sculpture. Its meaning is open for individual interpretation, which also allows for widespread appreciation.

What is truly amazing about the past 50 years is the range of different mediums present throughout the collections over the years. Having Nam June Paik’s “Charlotte Moorman II,” a sculpture made out of television cabinets, television screens and cellos, in the same room as Audrey Flack’s photorealistic “Family Portrait,” Hannah Wilke’s ultra-feminine “Needed-eraseher” and Pablo Picasso’s “Reclining Nude” testify to the countless variety of styles displayed in the museum over the years.

As the exhibit ends and visitors pass by satirically innovative selections such as Mel Ramos’

“I S ert Koo I”— Jen one hum bee (Ar pro two est “A ack forc if “ is th are In the “ye the the seem tion and whi in i stan unl will mor

The Rose at 5 Rosenquist discusses Rose at dinner, campus lecture

By Alana Abramson and Robyn Spector Justice editors

As part of last week’s celebration of the Rose Art Museum, renowned pop artist James Rosenquist spoke at two major events on campus last week: an invitation-only dinner for trustees, donors and faculty members last Wednesday at the Rose and a lecture for students last Thursday in Pollack Auditorium.

The Wednesday night event consisted of a dinner and panel with Rosenquist and Adam Weiner ’77, the director of New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art. The event began with an hour-long viewing of the museum, allowing participants to mingle and see the new exhibits and renovations. The Rose is currently features three exhibits: “Art at the Origin,” which displays 17 of the first pieces of art collected for the Museum; “Collecting Stories,” which delineates the major exhibitions of the Rose’s history; and Bruce Conner’s “EVE-RAYFOREVER” (1965/2006), a film originally shown at the Rose in 1965.

The preview of the exhibitions also marked one of the first showings of the museum’s $1.7-million renovation, which was completed in summer 2011.

Following the preview of the exhibitions, the attendees were ushered into the tent attached to the Rose—set up specifically for the anniversary—where they were treated to a meal and a discussion between Weinberg and Rosenquist, whose work “Two 1959 people” is featured in one the Rose’s new exhibits, “Art at the Origin.”

University President Frederick Lawrence opened the dinner by claiming that the room was “filled with people delighted to be here tonight,” and thanking the Board of Trustees, the Rose Board of Overseers and Lois Foster and Gerald Fineberg for their support for the Museum.

Weinberg, who introduced Rosenquist and moderated the discussion with him about his paintings, talked about the importance of the Rose to his Brandeis experience, explaining that, as an Art History major, many of his college memories took place at the museum.

Weinberg also lauded Lawrence for understanding the Rose’s intrinsic value and thanked the museum’s donors before introducing Rosenquist, who congratulated the Rose on making a comeback, claiming that it “now exists bigger

and better than ever before.”

Following their opening remarks, Rosenquist, prompted by Weinberg, discussed several of his works, including “I Love You with My Ford” and “Brancusi’s Pillow.”

Rosenquist also spoke about these paintings and additional topics at the Thursday lecture in Pollack Auditorium, which was open to students, faculty and other community members.

Rosenquist also spoke to students about challenges they would face if they choose to pursue art professionally.

“Artists appear, work like hell, give everything away and disappear,” he said, referring to the cycle of artists creating and selling art.

Though he admitted art was a difficult profession, Rosenquist added that, “I like the humanism that the Rose Art Museum brings to this community for you people. Because it will educate you to show you that maybe you should try to do something, whether it’s art or history or science. … Invent something. … That’s why art is important.”

In September 2010 Rosenquist was supposed to display his work at the Rose Art Museum but was unable to due to a studio fire. He subsequently said in an interview with the Boston Globe that he wanted to refrain from getting involved in the “mess” of the Rose financial battle.

At the Thursday lecture, Rosenquist said, “I’m so happy that the Rose has been stabilized and is going forward. And it’s got nowhere to go but up from now on.”

The attendees at Wednesday and Thursday’s events were impressed with Rosenquist’s descriptions of his work and pragmatic approach to art. In interviews with the Justice, Meryl Feinstein ’12, a Warner Curatorial Intern at the Rose, who attended both events, thought both presentations were “fantastic.”

“I think that it’s nice to get a human face to all the artists we have at the Rose, especially because Rosenquist is one of the last of his movement that is still alive. I think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Feinstein stated.

“He has so much history, and he’s such an iconic person,” said Director of Museum Operations Roy Dawes in an interview with the Justice.

“I loved the fact that he talked, very pragmatically, about how to paint—the actual doing of it, rather than the aesthetic … stuff that a lot of us talk about,” he said.

JOSH HOROWITZ/the Justice

APPRECIATING ART: Museumgoers view pieces from “Art at the Origin.”

PRESIDENTIAL WORDS: Pre

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stic past

Still Get A Thrill When I See Bill #2” and RobColescott’s “I Gets a Thrill Too when I see De o”—both homages to De Koonig’s “Woman —along with modern installations such as nny Holzer’s jarringly brilliant “STAVE,” e can fully take in just how significant the mble museum on the Brandeis campus has en to the art world. With Steve Miller’s “ATM rt Trumps Money)” infamously created to otest the announced closing of the Rose just o years ago placed right across from the new2011 Perlmutter Visiting Artist Sam Jury’s Thousand Pities,” the exhibition boldly knowledges the past while confidently reincing the museum’s future. But, then again, “Collecting Stories” has shown anything, it hat the museum’s bold moves over the years part of what make it so special. n Sam Hunter’s 2001 “A Personal Memoir of Founding of the Museum,” he wrote that his ears at the Rose, from 1960 to 1965, [reflect] epoch’s dynamic, pioneering spirit and set museum on the path it still follows.” It only ms appropriate, then, that the new exhibins at the museum serve to recognize the full d diverse history of the museum—and still ile only showing a fraction of the 7,000 works its permanent collection. By remaining conntly forward-thinking and taking bold steps like any other university museum, the Rose l surely continue to blossom in bolder and re beautiful ways for years to come.

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ROBYN SPECTOR/the Justice

esident Lawrence speaks at the opening event.

ROBYN SPECTOR/the Justice

DISCUSSING THE WORKS: Whitney Museum director Adam Weiner ’77 (left) speaks onstage with artist James Rosenquist at a Wednesday night event at the Rose.

Museum’s reopening draws crowd

By Tate herbert JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Brandeis students, staff, alumni and various other supporters of the Rose Art Museum gathered there last Thursday evening to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its founding, in addition to its reopening.

The reopening marked a symbolic end to the two years of upheaval that followed the 2009 decision by the Brandeis Board of Trustees to allow then-President Jeuhda Reinharz to sell the Rose’s collection. The University backtracked on this decision after it was met with ardent protests from students, faculty and patrons of the Rose as well as a lawsuit brought by members of the Rose Board of Overseers.

After University President Frederick Lawrence settled the lawsuit this summer, a $1.7-million renovation project funded by a donation made by Gerald S. and Sandra Fineberg—which was announced in March—was completed and the Rose ushered in a new era by celebrating its history.

The main gallery displays an exhibition called “Art at the Origin: the Early 1960s,” which featured works acquired by the museum in its earliest years. These included pieces by such renowned modern artists as Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Willem de Koonig, Robert Indiana, and Claes Oldenburg.

Also displayed were Bruce Conner’s silent,

never-ending film “EVE-RAY-FOREVER (1965/2006)” in the Mildred S. Lee Gallery, and a variety of old and new acquisitions, titled “Collecting Stories,” in the Lois Foster Gallery.

An hour and a half into the program of art, food and drinks (served buffet-style in a large tent in front of the Rose), and music of the 1960s (courtesy of local disc jockies Chances With Wolves), Lawrence gave a formal welcome to the attendees.

Director of Museum Operations Roy Dawes introduced Lawrence, thanking him as well as the museum staff, student workers, volunteers and donors for making the event possible.

“Brandeis students have so much passion for [the Rose],” said Dawes. “It’s incredible, and I’ve seen it firsthand over the last two years.”

Lawrence welcomed everyone to “the beginning of the second 50 years of the Rose Art Museum,” which was met with cheers and applause. He acknowledged the resolution of the controversy over the potential sale of the Rose’s collection, saying that “[the story of the Rose] is not a story with a happy ending; this is a story with a new beginning.”

Lawrence called the Rose’s collection “iconic” and suggested that it is worthy of any museum in any city. “A university that can have a great art museum has a great treasure and a great asset,” said Lawrence.

“Our goal now is to make sure that this museum and its collection is thoroughly interwoven into the life of this university.”

After a nearly three-year period of turmoil surrounding the Rose, students received its reopening with equal enthusiasm.

Warner Curatorial Intern Meryl Feinstein ’12, who sits on the search committee for the next director of the Rose, said in an interview with the Justice, “[The Rose is] an amazing resource for students to learn from, and I think that educational mission got lost a lot during that … controversy.” However, Feinstein continued, “I think the mission of the Rose is definitely going back to its roots, so I’m very optimistic that things are only getting better.”

Student Union President Herbie Rosen ’12 called the reopening event “a loud declaration that [the Rose] is here to stay.”

“I just started school and now I get to come in and be a part of it,” said Eve Herman ’15, who, like the majority of current Brandeis undergraduates, was not at the University to experience firsthand the dispute over the Rose’s collection.

For Becca Ulm ’11 PB ’12, who was at the center of the student movement to protest the sale of the Rose’s collection, the reopening of the Rose is “the greatest possible outcome.”

“Come experience it, we’re still here,” said Ulm.

ASHLEY LAU/the Justice

EXPLORING THE GALLERIES: Visitors to the Rose Art Museum wander the newly renovated galleries, checking out the highly anticipated exhibitions for fall 2011.

BACKGROUND PHOTO BY ASHER KRELL/the Justice

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A guided

art

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Students offer new tours at the Rose Art Museum

By Josh Gibbons justice contributing writer

Johns, Lichtenstein, de Kooning, Warhol. These names are familiar, but you aren’t quite sure of their significance. You peruse the vast halls where museums house their treasures. Walking what seems to be an endless path of paintings and sculptures, you see the various names of their creators etched upon a bronze plaque below.

You wonder how Ellsworth Kelly’s “Blue White” shows minimalism or how Max Weber’s “Seated Woman” reflects subtle Jewish themes. You wonder if someone else shares your questions or if anyone can answer them.

Recently, the Rose Art Museum unveiled a new student guide program to accompany its myriad works and help visitors navigate the museum. The new tours will change how students visit the Rose Art Museum after its reopening this past week.

“The tours are a new and great opportunity for students to interact with art,” said Rebecca Pollack ’13, an Art History major and one of nine gallery guides for the museum this semester. In addition, Pollack is a member of the Student Committee for the Rose Art Museum, a student group that works with the Rose to organize events for students.

Though the program is first opening this semester, its development has been in the works since last spring. Over the course of several meetings, the museum was able to gather the input of several students and art lovers alike, listening to what each group wanted out of the program.

The gallery guides underwent an intense two-day weekend training session in April, according to Diana Flatto ’12, who is working as a guide this semester and previously worked as a guard for the museum.

The premise of the training was “based on simple guiding to more comprehensive visual expression, thinking and how people perceive art.”

In addition, those students chosen as guides have continued to train throughout this semester, with two-hour sessions each week.

Though the guide program is open to all applicants, it is recommended that those who apply have at least a background in art.

Although the museum has been on campus since 1961, prior to this semester, no official guide program was offered at the Rose.

In some special circumstances last year, Director of Academic Programs for the Rose Art Museum Dabney Hailey had visual thinking programs for anyone who wished to come.

This year, students have an opportunity to enjoy a more hands-on approach to the works of the museum.

“The most exciting part about the

program is [that] it is run by students,” Pollack said.

“Brandeis students giving tours for Brandeis students: [It’s about] mutual contribution and critical thinking, whose purpose is to look at art in new ways together, and not for me to talk at you,” she said.

This method of guidance will be done with the use of visual thinking strategies. The idea is that a tour guide will invite the group to look at and silently analyze a work of art for approximately one minute, after which they will ask the group what is happening concerning the piece.

In this way, every idea discussed is that of the tour group rather than that of the guide. In addition to the guide program, a new feature for the Rose Art Museum is the incorporation of iPod Touches, allowing people quick and easy access to information about works of art.

Though anyone from Brandeis can contact the museum and book a tour, the guide program is primarily geared toward clubs or classes, according to Pollack and Flatto. And although it is a small program, with only nine guides so far, each tour will be led by more than one guide.

“No tour will be led alone, there’s always going to be someone with you, ... one guide leading and the other listening,” Pollack said.

Currently, the majority of guides for the museum are involved in some sort of art on campus, be it for their major or a club. Still others are majoring in education. However, many of the guides are people simply focused on and admirers of art. Though art is not their major, several of these students in the past took a few Art History or Studio Art classes, enjoying them enough to help serve the museum.

Guides like Pollack hope that the program will attract tour groups filled with art-intensive people as well as those looking to pique their interest in the subject.

In addition, the program will provide an open forum for students to express their artistic opinions.

“It’s our museum, a great asset we have on campus. Every Brandeis student should experience it,” Pollack said.

“The Rose was built 50 years ago so Brandeis students could learn about art,” Pollack said on the Rose’s close proximity to students.

“It’s a fabulous museum, probably one of the best university museum collections that there is. We’re here.

It’s a really great resource for anything from art history to sculpting to painting,” she said.

The guided tours are now open to the public since the Rose reopening last week.

“Some people don’t even realize the Rose is open, … and it’s a shame.

It’s a great museum with a really great collection,” she said.

“We want to get students involved with the Rose again,” Flatto added about the program’s purpose.

DAVID YUN /the Justice

ARTISTIC ENGAGEMENT: Rachel Klein ’12 (right) leads one of the first museum tours.

DAVID YUN /the Justice

ALL EYES ON ART: Tour guide Rebeccah Ulm ’11, PB ’12, analyzes a work of art with a member of the group.

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ARTS

Tales turned upside down in ‘Cinderella Waltz’

Photos: Alex Margolis and Josh Horowitz/the Justice. Design: Asher Krell/the Justice.

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POP CULTURE

INSIDE ON CAMPUS ■ Michal Govrin talk

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■ Joan Houlihan reading

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■ Fall Fest variety show

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Govrin recently wrote a book, titled ‘Hold on to the Sun,’ which she spoke on last week.

The poet read excerpts from her work, ‘The Us,’ to an enamored crowd last week.

Students gathered in the Levin Ballroom last Saturday for a huge performance.

■ Navarasa dance show

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■ A cappella mixer

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MusicUnitesUS hosted the Navarasa Dance Theater last week, which culminated in a performance titled “Encounter.”

VoiceMale, Brandeis’ all-male a cappella group, joined in with Up the Octave, a Brandeis’ all-female a cappella group.

OFF CAMPUS

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■ Waltham artists

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A cotton and wool factory in downtown Waltham has hosted art studios for 30 years.

■ ‘The Rum Diary’ review

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■ ‘MissRepresentation’ review

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■ Ponzu restaurant review

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Johnny Depp stars as a boozing writer in this film based on Hunter S. Thompson’s novel.

The new documentary film highlights modern-day issues facing women in the workplace, the household and the media.

Ponzu, an Asian fusion restaurant in Waltham, serves Asian tapas and more.

CALENDAR

Interview

by Shelly Shore

I love an action movie as much as the next girl—really, I do. The fights, the excitement and the explosions all make for a fantastic movie-watching experience. It’s no wonder movies like Transformers and Iron Man make major bank at the box office.

But this week, a stuntman was killed on the set of The Expendables 2, and another is in critical condition.

According to E! Online, the stuntmen, whose names were not provided, were shooting an explosion scene on Thursday in Bulgaria. An accident occurred, and one man died on the scene while the other was rushed to the hospital. He underwent an emergency five-hour surgery and is still unconscious.

“It is with great regret that we confirm this unfortunate accident,” Nu Image/Millennium, the film’s producers, said in a statement to Deadline Hollywood. “Our hearts go out to the families and those on the production affected by this tragedy. The filmmakers are working closely with the authorities in responding to and investigating this accident.”

None of the big-name actors—one of whom the stuntman was likely standing in for— were present at the time of the accident, instead filming over two days away in a scenic mountain resort village, and none could be reached for comment.

While I really am glad that these incidents are being reported and talked about and not just tucked under the rug, it worries me that no one is talking about the fact that people are literally dying for the sake of our entertainment. I get that it’s the thrill of seeing real people in danger that makes action movies so exciting. Heck, that’s why the Romans had gladiator fights and why wrestling still draws such a big audience. We like seeing violence. It’s human nature.

But considering the advances we’ve made in CGI and green screen technology just in

Looking ahead to Tymp’s ‘Urinetown’  JustArts emailed with the director and the producer of Tympanium Euphorium’s musical, ‘Urinetown,’ coming in December.

NICO GENIN/Flickr Creative Commons

STUNT TROUBLE: A stuntman recently died on the set of Sylvester Stallone’s ‘The Expendables 2.’ the last 10 years, there’s really no reason to put actual human lives in danger for movie production anymore.

Taking it a step further, why are the lives of actors valued more than the lives of stunt doubles? Sure, Arnold Schwarzenegger draws a lot more viewers, but the last time I checked, human lives weren’t important because of the number of zeros on their paychecks.

What do you think? Should movie productions be able to intentionally put lives at risk for entertainment? Or should we start getting safer before American Gladiators starts featuring fights to the death?

What’s happening in Arts on and off campus

ON-CAMPUS EVENTS Session X

Session X mixes funk classics such as James Brown, Funkadelic and The Meters with improvisation that not only stimulates the mind and ear but also gets the body moving. Session X features Tom Hall (MUS) on saxophone, his wife April Hall on vocals, Amadee Castenell on saxophone, Kevin Barry on guitar, Thomas Hebb on bass and Mark Purrington on drums.

Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Slosberg Recital Hall. Tickets are $20 for the general public, $10 for Brandeis community members and $5 with a student ID.

Naoko Sugiyama recital

Piano soloist and chamber musician Naoko Sugiyama is based both in the Northeast and her native Japan and is a faculty member at the New England Conservatory.

Sunday at 7 p.m. in the Slosberg Recital Hall.

The concert is free and open to the public.

University Chorus and Chamber Choir

The Brandeis University Chorus and Brandeis Chamber Choir present “Music of the 17th Century.”

The bill features Italian composer Giacomo Carissimi and his classic composition, “Jephte,” a musical setting of the story from the Book of Judges that tells of Jephte’s triumph over the Ammonites, his assumption to Israel’s throne and the loss of his daughter. “Plorate Israel,” the work’s final chorus, is famous for its powerful expression of a nation’s grief. Solo roles will be sung by students chosen from the University Chorus and Chamber Choir.

Sunday at 7 p.m. in the Slosberg Recital Hall.

The concert is free and open to the public.

‘Birth of a Duo’ at Slosberg

PHOTO COURTESY OF WORLD MUSIC/CRASHARTS

RISING UP: Water is Rising is a collective of musicians and dancers from the Pacific islands of Kiribati, Tokelau and Tuvalu, which risk being submerged as a result of climate change and rising sea levels. what it means to be South Asian, SASA presents this year’s Mela theme: “Pehchaan,” a Hindi word meaning “identity.” Co-sponsored by the Brandeis Pluralism Alliance, the goal of this year’s Mela is to portray what it means for Brandeis students to be South Asian.

Nov. 19 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Levin Ballroom. Tickets are $4 presale and $7 at the door.

OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS Béla Fleck and The Flecktones

Cellist and Prof. Joshua Gordon (MUS) and pianist Randall Hodgkinson have been recognized by The New Yorker as an “insightful and impassioned ... duo.” They plan to explore the history and tradition of the musical combination of a cello and a piano, a topic that has been explore extensively by composers such as Ludwig Van Beethoven. Mozart and faculty member Arthur Berger also contribute compositions that juxtapose the sounds of the respective instruments.

Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. in the Slosberg Recital Hall.

Tickets are $20 for the general public, $10 for Brandeis community members and $5 with a student ID.

Banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck is has been nominated for Grammy Awards in the jazz, bluegrass, pop, country, spoken word, composition, and world music categories. Together with his band, the Flecktones, Fleck has been brilliantly removing boundaries between musical genres for over three decades.

Presented by the Celebrity Series, the concert will feature the original cast of the Flecktones, consisting of renowned bassist Victor Wooten, percussionist Roy “Future Man” Wooten and harmonica player Howard Levy.

Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. at Sanders Theatre at Harvard University, Cambridge. Call (617) 496-4595 for more information.

Mela 2011: Pehchaan

Company One’s “The Brother/Sister Plays”

The free, authentic South Asian food the South Asian Students Association serves at the end of its annual Mela can convince anyone on campus to attend, but this cultural extravaganza also embodies the Brandeis message of intercultural learning.

To start, South Asian is already a complex and multifaceted term that can describe a variety of cultural and national backgrounds. The way each South Asian identifies with his or her culture is unique to their upbringing and where they live.

In order to fully experience and understand

Tarell Alvin McCraney wrote “The Brother/ Sister Plays,” three modern-day works about discovering love and life through the closest members of one’s family. In Red and Brown Water, The Brothers Size and Marcus; Or the Secret of Sweet are gritty and lyric, urban and mythical. One of the most startling new American theatrical voices of the 21st century, McCraney redefines the boundaries of language, form, race and sexuality.

Running until Dec. 3 at 539 Tremont St. in Boston. For ticketing information and a full schedule, visit www.companyone.org.

Water is Rising

The Pacific islands Kiribati, Tokelau and Tuvalu are on the front lines of global warming and risk becoming submerged by rising sea levels. They represent cultures on the verge of decimation as a result of climate change.

The islands’ history, spiritual teachings and social values were passed down using dance and song rather than writing. Now, 36 dancers and musicians from Kiribati, Tokelau and Tuvalu are stopping by Boston to create an elegant and emotional performance that has deep ties to nature, tradition and the issue of global warming. Presented by World Music/ CRASHarts, the members of Water is Rising share a spirit and energy that represents the joyful vitality of their coming together.

Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. at Sanders Theatre at Harvard University, Cambridge. Tickets are $28-40.

Call (617) 876-4275 for more information.

Boston Ballet’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’

Before Boston Ballet puts on its popular seasonal show, The Nutcracker, the troupe gives a nod to the Bard.

John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet, set to Sergei Prokofiev’s eponymous score, premiered in 1962. Germany’s Stuttgart Ballet exquisitely performed this challenging ballet inspired

by William Shakespeare’s timeless tale. The Stuttgart Ballet danced the American premiere in 1969 and soon the Boston Ballet also performed the piece, becoming the only American company to hold three of Cranko’s greatest works, including Onegin and The Taming of the Shrew. In Boston, Romeo and Juliet was met with rave reviews for its eye-popping choreography and vivid storytelling.

Running Thursday until Nov. 13 at the Boston Opera House, located at 539 Washington Street in Boston. Tickets are $25 and up. Call (617) 695-6955 for more information.

According to Johanna Wickemeyer ’12, director of Tympanium Euphorium’s upcoming production, Urinetown is “a satiric, comedic view of a Malthusian world sometime in the future” where people have to pay the government in order to go to the bathroom. Producer Nick Maletta ’13 chimes in with Wickemeyer on the musical production, which hits the Carl J. Shapiro Theater in early December.

JustArts: Give justArts an update of Urinetown’s progress. How far along are you guys to being able to put on the final show?

Johanna Wickemeyer: From the rehearsal staff point of view, the cast has learned all of their music, dance numbers and movement.

Now we are in the process of perfecting and integrating all of those musical-play components into a concise, smoothly-running performance. From the production staff point of view, the creative team is finalizing plans, collecting materials and coordinating their ideas with one another and myself.

Nick Maletta: We’re fortunate to have a performance date that’s late in the semester.

Putting up a musical requires a huge amount of dedication from a large number of people.

At this point, the actors have been taught the staging, music and choreography for the entire show. This week, they’re expected to have committed most of the script to memory. From this point forward, the rehearsal production staff will be doing full runs of the show and developing it into a more polished product.

From a design perspective, the costumes and props designers are working on pulling together their materials based on their budgets, while the lighting, sound and set designers are starting to think about their plans for the final production. The set design must be determined relatively early in the process so that the director and actors can understand how the stage will be arranged during the performance.

JA: Tell me about Urinetown. What kind of production is it? How do you connect with it?

JW: Urinetown is one of my favorite contemporary musicals. Urinetown is a satiric, comedic view of a Malthusian world sometime in the future, where clean water is sparse, and a rich upper class charges and taxes the masses of the poor who, of all things, must use publicly-controlled restrooms. Urinetown is a hilarious, punny and intelligent story that often breaks the fourth wall, poking fun at not only the status quo, but also other musicals themselves. The show is both comical and thought-provoking; it is enjoyable for all audiences. I connect with it, not only because I relate to the witty humor, but also because I’ve performed in the show two times in the past.

During my third production of Urinetown, I keep finding new jokes and unique viewpoints for this show, emphasizing the strengths of the actors, and production staff.

NM: Urinetown is a comedy with some dark political undertones. It deals with a society in which a water shortage has essentially eliminated private toilets and placed a single corporation in control of all public restroom facilities, forcing people to pay to relieve themselves. This sparks a passionate backlash from the oppressed citizens. I can’t say that I have a particular connection to the show, but its themes are fairly relatable. Actually, it’s kind of funny, but the “Occupy” protests are sort of timely for our production due to the fact that Urinetown was definitely written as a commentary on the system of capitalism, an issue that is so central to current events at the moment.

JA: What are the greatest challenges so far for the production?

JW: The greatest challenges thus far in production have to do with funds. Money is tight, and it’s difficult to produce a quality and professional product with little funds. Between the rights, set, lighting, sound, costuming, and props, even small productions require large sums of cash. Another challenge is that Urinetown’s production runs relatively late in the semester. My plan for the production is to ease stress by getting everyone ready for performance before Thanksgiving break, so no one is rushing last minute to get everything in place.

NM: There are a number of challenges we’ve encountered so far ranging from generating a high quality product with a very limited budget to ensuring that all essential roles in the show are filled (sometimes students decide they can’t commit after being cast). As any theater group could tell you, it’s also a challenge coordinating among all of the people involved. Theater is extremely collaborative, and clear communication and cooperation is key throughout the entire process. Our show goes up on Dec. 8 with performances throughout the weekend.

—Wei-Huan Chen

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, november 1, 2011

ON CAMPUS INSPIRING WRITERS

Author brings layered Holocaust tales ■ The daughter of a

Holocaust survivor, author and artist Michal Govrin read from her latest book.

By Maya shemtov JUSTICE contributing WRITER

Students, staff and other members of the Brandeis community paused their busy days last Wednesday to be transported through myriad perspectives of characters living in the post-Holocaust era. First, through the eyes of a young woman leaving the familiarity of Israel and traveling to Poland for the first time, then through a congregation of Israeli tourists in France, and finally from the first woman again but, this time, years later, as she reflected on her mother’s mysterious past. Awardwinning Israeli author Michal Govrin managed to at once inspire and enthrall as she spoke about her newly published collection, Hold on to the Sun, in the Rapaporte Treasure Hall.

Govrin also read passages from her previously-published short stories and essays and signed copies of her book.

This event was arranged by a partnership with the Schusterman Center for Israel studies and the Haddasah-Brandeis Institute. The HBI is a research center devoted to the advancement of Women’s and Gender Studies and Judaic Studies through supporting work in the field and introducing aspects of each field to one another. It was co-sponsored by the Near Eastern Judaic Studies department and the Hebrew Language and Literature Program. According to Assistant Director of the Center Rachel Litcofsky, the Schusterman Center has a tradition of bringing prominent Israeli authors to Brandeis, including Meir Shalev, Amos Oz, Sayed Kashua, Etgar Keret and Ronit Matalon.

Govrin and many of these authors are part of an effort to present current Israeli culture to students and familiarize them with modern Israel from a cultural, and not solely political, perspective. “[We try to] combine authors well established in America and also authors who are very significant in Israel but less so in America. They are unique voices in Israeli society,” Prof. Ilana Szobel (NEJS) said.

Govrin, in addition to being a

prominent Israeli author, is actually quite closely connected to Brandeis through her latest book. Hold On to the Sun is part of the Reuben/Rifkin Jewish Women Writers Series, a joint project of the HBI and the Feminist Press. These organizations worked with Govrin and her editor, Judith Miller, to compile specific works and publish this collection.

Govrin was born in Tel Aviv and has lived in both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. She received her Ph.D. at the University of Paris with a thesis in contemporary sacred theater. She is both an author and a theater director and has 10 novels of both poetry and fiction so far. In addition to her many awards for theater productions and books, she was selected by the Salon du Livre of Paris last year as one of the most influential writers of the past thirty years.

Hold on to the Sun is a compilation of several essays and short stories and encompasses a broad range of Govrin’s work. She wrote some of the pieces while she was a student at the University of Paris (one piece was originally a letter to her parents), while others are as recent as 2006. While working on the collection, Govrin read through anthologies that she had not read for many years and compared the process to meeting another self. “Moments of the past are like friends; they are not who we are but we should be kind to [them].” She continued, “I did not change the tone or voice that came with them but accepted them as layers of multiple voices that we all carry.” Shulamit Reinharz, the director of HBI, said that the diversity between this poem, an essay, nine pieces of fiction, two more essays and an interview included in this collection is one of its most interesting dimensions.

“The beauty of this book is that it brings some of her most significant work together so students can easily get to know her various voices,” Reinharz said.

Although the Holocaust is a central issue in Govrin’s work, she has a very unique way of incorporating it into her stories. Govrin’s mother was a Holocaust survivor. During the talk, Govrin recounted the riveting tale of her mother’s escape. She revealed how, while growing up, she never knew about her mother’s life before the Holocaust. As she grew up, she learned of her mother’s experience in the concentration camps

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SCHUSTERMAN CENTER FOR ISRAEL STUDIES

SURVIVOR STORY: Israeli author Michal Govrin wrote about the aftermath of the Holocaust in her collection ‘Hold on to the Sun.’ and of the death of her mother’s halfbrother. Her writing reflects this personal experience. She focuses on the lingering effects of the Holocaust on individuals, family life and society as a whole. “She calls for readers to pay attention to the victims themselves in camps and ghettos more than the Nazi machine,” Szobel said.

“As a writer, [she presents] a beautiful, unique, touching literature with her own experience but also a theoretical contribution about general ways of thinking about the Holocaust,” Szobel said.

Like most of Govrin’s work, Hold on to the Sun is centered around the many facets of Jewish and Israeli society and culture, but even more so than other books, a wide range of readers will appreciate it.

Govrin’s editor and longtime friend Judith Miller was instrumental in the construction of this work, and comes from a completely non-Jewish background. Part of the joy of reading comes from traveling to new worlds and living through a different perspective. Govrin has also experienced so many cultures, from her time at the University of Paris as a student to living in New York, working with the Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University, or even from her trips to Poland and Russia, that her work represents the fusion of cultures and experiences that have shaped her perspective on the world.

“The title story [Hold on to the Sun] is a good example. It is a layered story within a story, like a Chinese

box,” Govrin said.

“The juxtaposition of analogous experiences of very different cultures, Jewish ultraorthodox neighborhoods, an anthropological photographer going to exotic missions in Australia and a young student American from San Francisco all somehow merge into an uncanny community of an analogous mystical experience,” she added.

Govrin’s talk was inspiring and fascinating. The author’s experience compiling this collection taught her a lot about herself and the evolution of her worldview. “[This book’s message is] ‘Go on expressing yourself’ as you develop. ... Every stage [of life] is valuable in its own terms,’” she explained.

Raw emotion flares in Joan Houlihan’s ‘The Us’ ■ The Massachusetts-

based poet read from her latest work at Perlman Hall last Wednesday.

By rachel gordon JUSTICE contributing WRITER

Poet Joan Houlihan came to Perlman Hall on Wednesday to read from her latest work, 2009’s The Us. A Massachusetts native, Houlihan acquired both her master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Besides her published works, including 2006’s The Mending Worm, her work has appeared in an abundance of articles and literary magazines such as Gulf Coast, the Harvard Review, the Gettysburg Review, Poetry International, Fulcrum, Passages North and the Boston Review. She is the winner of the 2005 Green Rose Prize in Poetry.

The Us contains an immense plethora of detailed imagery, raw emotion and seemingly ancient diction. Upon arriving, Houlihan, in a soft-spoken manner that commanded the attention of the audience, explained the characters of her recent poetry. The Us consists of “Father,” who is the leader of Us; “Gwen,” who is the mother; “I,” the son; “Grey,” the second son; “Sen,” the wise female elder;

and “Greb,” the one of the Us who is sly.

The Us are primal people, driven by their need for food, water and survival and the bonds faced by those needs. The Us function as a working whole and strive for their needs as a group, not as individuals. As put simply by the author, “Without the other members, they don’t exist. [It is] a step in evolution in consciousness of ‘us.’ The voice is in the collective because the characters perceive themselves as one.” The Us, at odds with a more powerful culture, named “them,” “must live outside civilization in order to be free and fully alive.”

A rare form of naturalistic observation stems throughout Houlihan’s work, dissimilar to the more prevalent use of the poem as a “confessional.” Houlihan stated that she had never been comfortable with that part of poetry and, for her, poetry was more of a medium to use voices that you wouldn’t hear on a day-to-day basis.

The audience listened attentively as she read from her poem, “From Dirt, a Stir.” “From dirt, a stir put forth its mix, smell/ of weed and green-held bud, deep cups/ sweet and sharp.

Warmer started day./ Sun lay wider where us walked.”

When I inquired about the inspirations behind her recent work, Houlihan said that it was born out of

JANEY ZITOMER/the Justice

SPINNING WORDS: Joan Houlihan gave an evocative performance of her work. a mistake. “I misread my own writing. I was writing about a group of people sailing to an island [referring to them] as ‘we.’ I mistook the ‘we’ I had written for ‘us,’ and then I had this sense that an ‘us’ [existed], and I went with that route.” Houlihan said that after this mistake she began doing “backwards” research, looking into more indigenous cultures that refer to themselves as an ‘us,’ the Us being a collective society.

During her research and writing

for the collection, which she mostly completed over the course of six to seven months, Houlihan said she would simply wake up and write a poem a day. Throughout her writing process, Houlihan paid specific attention to origin of speech and kept her specific use of language consistent.

Due to the nature of her writing, the author said that her poems are not always easily translated at first glance.

Therefore, she includes marginalia to clear up any questions about vocabu-

lary and plot points.

Houlihan’s animalistic, metaphoric words captivated the already attentive audience this past Wednesday. “Him would leave us nothing but a god. Beside the bed, us hailed and poked his length with sticks.”

The sensory world that was created in front of my eyes was every bit as graceful, controlled and fluid as her introduction upon arriving. Usually I find myself drawn to dark, personal poems stemming from periods of insanity from writers such as Sylvia Plath. However, I was particularly attracted to the non-explicitness of Houlihan’s work that still found a depth through descriptions. By the end of her reading, I was curious how the author would be able to separate herself after being immersed in the world of The Us. Houlihan said that it was difficult to leave the world of her parallel universe. Her use of consciousness between the collective cultures caused me to question the role of an individual in society, and how transformative a world of the “Us” would be in our current individualdriven nation.

As far as her next poetry collection goes, Houlihan will soon release a new book, Ay (pronounced “I”). Until its release, I will eagerly await to return to the created world with one collective consciousness that Houlihan has made uniquely her own.

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TUESDAY, november 1, 2011

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THE JUSTICE

Families gather for the

Fall Fest Variety Show TALI SMOOKLER/the Justice

MONSTER THRILLER: Hip-hop dance troupe Kaos Kids got spooky with its costumes and choreography in its tight, energetic performance of Kanye West’s “Monster” before a crowd of cheering students and parents.

Students and parents braved the snow to see Brandeis’ top performing groups

By Alex Desilva and ayan sanyal JUSTICE STAFF WRITERs

As the first snow of the season fell in Waltham last Saturday night, parents and students packed the Levin Ballroom for Fall Fest’s Variety Show. It was an opportunity for Brandeis’ performance groups to showcase their talents. With acts ranging from comedy to a cappella to dance, there honestly was something for everyone. Associate Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams emceed and gamely kept the crowd warmed up between sets, even when that meant shanghaiing a random sixth grader to act as his co-host or dressing up as an Angry Bird (his daughter told him to).

Adagio Dance Company, one of Brandeis’ many dance crews, opened the event with its upbeat modern dance moves to songs by Phoenix, Ratatat and more. Wearing neon garments adorned with ribbons, the performers dazzled the crowd with their perfectly-timed steps and synchronicity.

VoiceMale performed two numbers that, as Adams told parents, “made you fall in love with the person next to you all over again.” The group performed one original song, “Ask Myself,” and a Kris Allen song, “Live like We’re Dying.”

Then Adams sought the help of an

elementary school student, presumably a Brandeis sibling, to introduce the next group. After finding an understandably shy girl, he quizzed her on her spelling abilities and reawarded her with a free T-shirt.

The next dance group to perform stomped onstage with attitude and pride. The So Unique Step Team wowed the audience with its insanely fast, highly choreographed step moves. The group played short snippets of background music that would suddenly stop, and the audience would be left only with the sounds of their feet and hands clapping, stomping and tapping to the same rhythm.

The theme of So Unique’s performance was “Britain versus America,” and the group filled the space between songs by performing skits toying with British and American stereotypes and filled with sass.

The next group was Brandeis’ Gospel Choir. These girls, led by their director, piano maestro and Berklee graduate Rashad McPherson sang uplifting hymns and songs about worship and faith. For someone who has never been to a church service, this way of sharing music and joy was definitely something worth sticking around for. However, the acoustics of this group seemed a little sparse and the voices barely reached levels louder than the electric piano.

B’yachad, another one of Brandeis’

dance troupes, performed unique Israeli folk dances with a modern twist.

The self-choreographed group danced to a song by Israeli pop artist Moshe Peretz called “Mehashamayim.”

Company B, Brandeis’s oldest performance group, rounded out the vocal performances with a medley of Beatles songs. Top Score, Brandeis’ student-run orchestra also graced the audience with arrangements of popular music.

Well worth the wait, Kaos Kids combined hip-hop dance, lights and Halloween for an extra spooky show.

They performed Kanye West’s smash hit, “Monster” and boldly included some explicit lyrics that West and his friend Nicki Minaj spewed throughout the song. However, their performance was tight, well-rehearsed and coordinated and anyone could see they put a lot of effort into their work.

The night wasn’t all music though; comedy troupe Boris’ Kitchen was definitely one of the more memorable acts of the night, if only for introducing the audience to phrases like “birthing duct.” It was a clear break from the more musically inclined acts, and, from its position in the middle of the show, provided a nice breather for the audience.

Despite the uninviting weather, the show was a success; the groups were at their best, and the audience, young and old, loved every minute of it.

TALI SMOOKLER/the Justice

SOULFUL SINGERS: A cappella group Company B belts an impassioned tune during last Saturday night’s Fall Fest performance.

TALI SMOOKLER/the Justice

KING OF COMEDY: Associate Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams donned an Angry Birds costume as the lively emcee of last week’s Fall Fest Variety Show.

YOSEF SCHAFFEL/the Justice

ACTING OUT: Chris Knight ’14 performed in one of Boris’ Kitchen’s comedy sketches.

THE JUSTICE

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TUESDAY, november 1, 2011

25

DANCE

Vivid “Encounters” with Indian dance ■ The Navarasa Dance Theater

gave an emotional, thrilling performance as part of the MusicUnitesUS program.

By HALEY Deberry JUSTICE contributing WRITER

Last Saturday night, the Navarasa Dance Theater performed “Encounter,” its final performance in a series of shows at Brandeis. The dance company, originally from Mysore, India, was hosted by the MusicUnitesUS program. “Encounter” brought exciting interpretations of human experiences with love, the self, Bob Marley and the military to the Slosberg Recital Hall stage.

Co-choreographers Aparna Sindhoor and Anil Natyaveda’s IndoAmerican dance style fuses classical Indian dance with Western styles, such as modern and contemporary, as well as martial arts. But the melding of these styles, Sindhoor says, is more than a creative choice. “When I say Indo-American, I’m talking about life experiences, because I live partly in India, partly [in America], so the style of movement that is influenced by life is both Indian and American.”

The performance opened with three short dances. In “Encounter with Love,” Sindhoor’s choreography delighted her audience with sprightly, lilting movements and intensely expressive eyes. “Encounter with Bob Marley” was performed to his song “No Woman No Cry” and included decidedly Western dress and props. However, the highlight of the show’s first segment was “Encounter with Self.” Dancers Rajesh Raveendran and Natyaveda captured viewers with a sensual exploration of mental and physical identity, juxtaposing slow, calculated gestures with quick, impulsive movements to create a contemplative dynamic between them. Steeped in red light, they beautifully articulated the elusive nature of meaning-

JANEY ZITOMER/the Justice

MOVE YOUR BODY: Three dancers show off their impressive skills as part of Navarasa’s “Encounters” piece, choreographed by Aparna Sindhoor and Anil Natyaveda. ful self-reflection. “It has a lot of physicality, with a lot of lifting and jumping and balancing. It’s a very challenging piece,” said Natyaveda in an interview with justArts.

The second part of the evening was a longer piece titled, “Encounter with the Military,” which combined narrative, singing and dance to reinterpret Indian author Mahasweta Devi’s well-known story about the military’s disturbance of an indigenous group. A military troop occupies a community of native “tribals,” subjecting its members to torture, starvation, fear, dehydration and, in the case of Sindhoor’s character, rape. “They think they can break her, but they can’t,” said Sindhoor of her character’s vicious refusal to allow the soldiers to clothe her after the heart-wrenching scene.

The dances in this piece ranged in mood and content from festive

to somber to sensual to aggressive to disturbing. The soldiers repeated a phrase that epitomized the blind cruelty of a situation such as this one: “All tribals look alike.” Interestingly, though, the soldiers are native to the same area as the “tribals.” Sindhoor explained, “[It’s also about] who gets to wage the war, who gets affected by it. Sometimes it’s the state.”

An interesting prop used in all parts of the narrative was an enormous wooden pole that stood about 14 feet tall. It acted as a center for celebration as well as terror; dancers even supported themselves on it, undulating at its peak and acrobatically navigating the vertical space around it. “All religious things happen around and emerge from the pole, and suddenly it becomes a symbol of torture,” Sindhoor explained of its universal purpose in

the story.

Torture, starvation and rape are all emotionally difficult ideas for an audience, but the nature of “Encounter” and the title itself also have differing implications in South Asian and American cultures.

“In most of the world, the word ‘encounter’ is so loaded. If you read any newspaper in India, if you just see ‘encounter,’ it’s almost the military or the police brutality that comes to mind. I just wanted to reinvent that word and kind of reinterpret it. So the first half [of the performance] is all about the positive encounters, … the second one is the military encounter,” Sindhoor said.

Brandeis graduate Asa Bhuiyan ’11 made an impressive appearance as a soldier in “Encounter with the Military” after only one week of training with the Navarasa Dance Theater. “It was difficult developing

the mentality of the character in a condensed amount of time,” she explained.

The reception after the performance included Indian food and drink and a discussion between those involved in the production and interested audience members.

“I realized that one thing that was missing was the interaction with people,” Sindhoor said to explain this additional feature. The dancer meant that asking the audience to watch such emotionally draining scenes called for a discussion afterward so they could get closure instead of just having to leave.

The Navarasa Dance Theater’s “Encounter” was an immensely successful event. “We just want to fill [the audience’s] hearts ‘til they burst,” expressed dancer Raghu Narayanan. They undoubtedly succeeded.

CONCERT

Two single-sex a cappella groups unite in song ■ VoiceMale and Up the

Octave came together in concert this week to bring their fans twice the a cappella.

By VIET TRAN JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Last Friday night, students and parents crowded into Golding Auditorium to hear VoiceMale, One of Brandeis’ all-male a cappella group, and Up the Octave, one of Brandeis’ all-female a cappella group, in their joint concert titled “An Acapella Mixer.” The idea for this concert has been on the table for months but had not occurred in recent history.

“Both groups were very excited at the prospect of collaborating in some way since we are [both] single-sex ensembles,” said Dena Ayzikovich ’13 of Up the Octave. “We thus decided that Fall Fest would be the perfect time to have a joint show that would showcase the unique sound that an all-female and an all-male group have to offer.”

The audience cheered at the entrance of the a cappella groups. It was also an opportunity to compare and contrast the two and see the richness that each group has to offer. With five songs each, the two groups displayed their ranges, from classics like VoiceMale’s “In the Still of the Night” by the Five Satins and Up the Octave’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder to contemporary songs such as VoiceMale’s original creation “Ask Myself” and Up the Octave’s “This Love” by Maroon 5. “Our groups have somewhat similar musical tastes in that we both perform a variety of genres, such as pop, rock and oldies,” said Ayzikovich.

“The phenomenon of Justin Bieber,” as Chase Hiller ’12 announced, also made its way into the VoiceMale repertoire. They performed “Baby,” complete with corny choreography, as Hiller—the most Bieber-esque member of the ensemble—sang the solo.

If that wasn’t enough, Ben Udo ’14 stepped in for the Ludacris rap verse.

In brilliant irony, they poked fun at Bieber with their humor yet honored his talent with their silky-smooth sound.

Up the Octave’s members demonstrated that they were no strangers to comedy either, performing “It’s Raining Men” by the Weather Girls, also with choreography. Each of the group members belted out a section of the solo, and when they reached the climax of the song, all pointed at VoiceMale, belting, “Halleluyah.” The juxtaposition of their soulful voices with over-the-top moves elicited laughter from the audience. For both groups, these punch lines never distracted from the music but rather creatively built on the songs.

Their performance completely engaged me; I felt both the groups and the audience reveled in the moment.

Though the two groups differed in personality and sound, they were united in their commitment to and joy in the music and each other. “We set our sights high, but we don’t forget to have fun in the process. At the end of the day we can look back and admire what we’ve accomplished as a group,” said Udo. Margaret Huey ’13 of Up the Octave agreed with the sentiments. “I honestly feel like I can have so much fun with every single one of the girls in the group, and they are an amazing support group. However, when it comes to rehearsal time, we can really get down to business and push ourselves to learn the songs and perform them well. We play hard, and we work hard.”

The real purpose of the event was to share music.

“We felt like this would be a really great way to give parents, relatives and friends of both groups an exciting show for Fall Fest weekend,” Udo explained. “We also hadn’t done this kind of thing either with Up the Octave for Fall Fest, so we thought it would be an exciting first for our groups.”

DAVID YUN/the Justice

BREAKING IT DOWN: VoiceMale delighted the crowd with its rendition of Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” complete with choreography.

In addition, the collaboration between these a cappella groups promised progress for the future of Brandeis a cappella. “As a member of A Capella Etc., [an organization that facilitates communication between groups] I hope that this show promotes positive relationships among all a cappella groups on campus” said Ayzikovich.

“We hope for fans of Up the Octave and VoiceMale to come together and get exposure to the group that they do not usually see,” added Huey. “I would also agree with what Dena said about this being another step in bringing a cappella groups together to work on more collaborative projects.”

When the night closed, the audience roared. Immediately after the rustle to leave began, a man yelled from the back, “Duet?! Duet?!”

“Oh, I forgot!” announced an Up the Octave member to the audience.

“VoiceMale and Up the Octave are doing a duet Dec. 3. Please come!”

DAVID YUN/the Justice

SINGLE LADIES: Up The Octave brought props to spice up its “It’s Raining Men” cover.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2011

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THE JUSTICE

OFF CAMPUS FINE ARTS

DRUNKEN FOOL

Arts flourish in Waltham mill ■ Artists have taken over an

old factory, which now serves as a communal workspace.

By TESS RASER JUSTICE EDITOR

PHOTO COURTESY OF DARK & STORMY ENTERTAINMENT

DOWN ON HIS LUCK: Depp plays Paul Kemp, a journalist living in Puerto Rico in this remake of a Hunter S. Thompson novel.

Plot bombs in ‘Rum Diary’ ■ Despite a famous and

acclaimed cast, Johnny Depp’s latest film, ‘The Rum Diary’ is a boring flop.

By AARON BERKE JUSTICE SENIOR WRITER

I honestly don’t know what to make of The Rum Diary—other than the fact that I vehemently despise it. Bruce Robinson’s movie has no imagination, no drama, a teeny bit of comedy, bland actors, blander characters and an aimless story that goes nowhere. It’s important to note that The Rum Diary is based on a novel of the same name by renowned author Hunter S. Thompson. I’ve never read the book, so I can’t comment on how the film holds up to it, but I can only imagine that the book is leagues better than the film. Either that, or Mr. Thompson is phenomenally overrated.

The film stars Johnny Depp as boozing journalist Paul Kemp, who moves to Puerto Rico to take on a job working for The San Juan Star, a crumbling local newspaper. After being hired, Kemp runs into a crooked businessman named Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart), who wants to pull a real estate swindle on a nearby island. He tries to recruit Kemp to write a few articles for him that would paint his housing schemes in a positive light.

Kemp agrees—for reasons that are completely unfathomable to me— and, by association, meets Sanderson’s girlfriend, Chenault (Amber Heard), on whom Kemp develops a crush.

If by this point I’ve written this movie to appear as though it has an intelligible plot, I’ve given it far more credit than it deserves.

The movie is, in fact, about absolutely nothing. It’s Seinfeld on Exlax. There are a few motifs going around that seem semi-plausible and almost interesting—like the efforts of the Star’s editor, Lotterman (Richard Jenkins) to keep his paper alive; the love triangle between Kemp, Sanderson and Chenault; and Kemp’s struggle to become a novelist amid his struggle with alcoholism. But all of these elements

never really come together, and we are instead left with a series of frustratingly disconnected plot threads.

Even worse, the movie can’t seem to decide whether it wants to be a comedy or a drama.

If my plot description reads like a drama, that’s because it’s what the movie should have been, and what it was promoted to be. On IMDb the film is listed as a “drama/mystery/ thriller”—that’s how confusing this film’s content is.

The biggest issue is that the film is shot like a drama. The camera is extremely stagnant, utilizing mostly close-ups and the interpersonal shot-reverse-shots that are typically found in scenes of intense conversation. But the actual content of these shots is totally goofy, with the characters engaging in would-be witty banter, usually ending with one character saying something absurd and Depp looking at him with a confused and uncomfortable expression.

Speaking of uncomfortable, the most notable of the comedic scenes are just plain awkward, like when Kemp uses a telescope to watch Sanderson and Chenault having sex out at sea. This might be funny for a brief moment, but Kemp, drooling like a horn dog, jams his face up to the lens and appears to be settling in comfortably to watch them for a good long time before an attendant interrupts him. This just gives the impression that he’s a complete pervert and robs the scene of any comedy.

There are further examples of this, such as when Kemp and his pal from the paper, Sala (Michael Rispoli), cram into a buggy and, in a very typical gag, the motion of the car combined with their erratic motions makes them look like they’re in a homosexual tryst. Similarly, when Kemp first meets Chenault out at sea, she pops her head out of the water randomly after he had already been sitting in his boat for quite some time (had she been holding her breath for 10 minutes?) and he literally greets her by saying, “I thought you were a mermaid.” Ugh. The acting, meanwhile, is subpar. Aside from the drug-addled disgruntled former employee of the Star, Moburg (Giovani Ribisi), none of these actors were given charac-

ters who were remotely interesting.

Depp, meanwhile, is unfortunately just as bland as Kemp. His rum binges and quest to be constantly inebriated just make him seem like a watered-down Jack Sparrow.

And that act is tired enough as it is. Meanwhile, Chenault merely exists to be Kemp’s temptress, while Eckhart does the best he can with his character Sanderson. He at least makes the attempt of taking his role seriously, which no one besides him and Ribisi seem capable of doing.

This movie is so bad it doesn’t even do us the courtesy of wrapping up any one of its dangling plot threads. To give an example of the way the movie “handles” resolution—without giving too much away—let’s take a look at the love triangle: Chenault, despite her impending marriage to Sanderson, makes it clear from the get-go that she has the hots for Kemp. She never expresses any discontent with Sanderson; she just blatantly flirts with Kemp right in front of him all the time, though her fiancé doesn’t seem to notice. Later in the film, there is a scene in which the three of them go to a club and Chenault gets drunk and starts dancing with other guys and letting them undress her. After Sanderson and Kemp get kicked out of the club, Sanderson becomes furious and blames Kemp for the whole thing, completely ignoring the fact that his fiancé is currently flirting with 30 random strangers. But it’s all Kemp’s fault.

Makes sense, right?

This movie fails on just about every level. There is one funny scene where Kemp, hallucinating from one of Moburg’s drug concoctions, sees Sala’s suddenly-gigantic tongue coming at him. But a few rare inspired moments don’t make up for the fact that nothing is resolved in a manner close to satisfying, and the movie’s genre remains ambiguous up until the very end.

I don’t know how the movie wound up so bad, but apparently this is director Robinson’s (whom I had never heard of) first film in almost 20 years, so I think we know who to point fingers at. Let’s hope it’s at least another 20 before he steps behind a camera again.

Hidden behind the Waltham commuter rail stop looms several large brick, industrial-looking buildings.

Inside this enormous complex that looks over the Charles River, there was a bustling cotton and wool factory 200 years ago. Now the buildings serve a different purpose: Instead of cotton looms there are canvassed easels and paints, and instead of factory workers, there are artists. The factory, now the Waltham Mills Artists Association, was repurposed as a space for art studios over 30 years ago.

In 1977, a group of artists, led by painter Andy Haley, got together and decided to rehabilitate the vacant factory to create studio spaces. The factory, built in 1888 and once the home to the Boston Manufacturing Company, now houses more than 70 artists.

“We have usually a longer [wait] list than there are openings,” said artist and Open Studios Event Coordinator Michelle Arnold Paine on the high demand for studios at Waltham Mills. According to a press release by the WMAA, the association is “one of Greater Boston’s oldest artists’ communities.” It was also one of the first mills to be revamped into a space for art studios in the area. In the space’s earlier stages, garment workers were still working on several of the floors as the artists created their pieces in other parts of the building.

The space played a large role in revitalizing downtown Waltham by bringing a new crowd of artists and supporters to the town. The buildings have varying types of studio spaces, including live-in studios. With their high ceilings and large windows, the former wool mill buildings are a perfect inspiration for the artists.

Painter Liza Bingham has been renting out studio space for about four years, after a colleague of hers in the master’s program at the Museum of Fine Arts suggested it to her. She said in an interview with justArts, “I have a view of the Charles. … It’s gorgeous. … I put the painting on the wall and saw variations of colors in it that I hadn’t seen [before], that I hadn’t seen at home, because this light is so special.”

The studios have made a name for themselves in the Greater Boston art scene. New artists are constantly renting out spaces, despite the difficult economy. Helen Jacobson, who has painted at the WMAA for two years now, says this has a lot to do with the prestige of the building.

“An artist I know, he’s very serious, more than I. [He said,] ‘It’s so great you got into a place that’s real.’

That’s not to say that there aren’t other places, but it has that reputa-

tion,” said Jacobson, who paints women’s figures.

Many of the artists at the studios previously had workspaces in their homes but noted that there is something to be said for working alongside other artists. Many of the studios are shared between two artists, sectioned off by cubicle-style walls.

The artists do not always interact with each other. They all work on different schedules, but the studios are cooperatively owned and the artists work together to discuss logistics.

There are clear benefits to the communal work environment.

“It’s nice because, especially if you’re a painter, it’s a really solitary endeavor, so it’s nice to have at least someone that you can sort of say hello to or say, ‘You know, I’m having trouble with this. Can you come take a look?’ [It’s] a community for mutual encouragement but also mutual opportunity as well,” explained Paine.

The Open Studios, an annual event during which community members can see the studios, also brings benefits to the artists. During the Open Studios weekend, the studios see swarms of visitors.

“As an artist, that’s good, because you have a lot of people coming through to see your work, and people that might be interested in purchasing,” said Paine. The high caliber of artists in the buildings help the artists at different levels get exposure they might not have gotten. Paine continued, “I know there is at least one artist here that shows on Newbury Street, so then you know there’s also a higher caliber audience coming through too. So that I could only hope that his gallery director comes to Open Studios.”

This access to exposure is essential for artists. Still, the studio attracts its creative inhabitants for other reasons as well. Many of the artists are drawn to Waltham not only for the river and its convenient location on the commuter rail but because the city offers a lot of unexpected inspiration.

“I like working in a place that has history. So you can look at … some of these steps, and you can see how much they’ve been worn down by so many workers,” said Paine.

Kelly Harwood, an artist from Weston and a member of the studios for the past three years, finds inspiration in the diverse culture in Waltham. “I just love the feel of downtown Waltham, Moody Street.

It feels very unsettled and you can kind of do anything. There’s a great mix. [There is] a nice roughness in Waltham,” Harwood said.

All the studios are for working, and aren’t very conducive to hosting events, but if Brandeis students wanted to become involved, they could volunteer at the Open Studios event. When asked about the relationship between University students and the WMAA, Paine said, “I would say Open Studios would be the beginning of the dialogue.”

CLAIR WEATHERBY/the Justice

PAINT BY NUMBER: The studios first opened in 1977 and now house 70 artists.

THE JUSTICE

●

TUESDAY, november 1, 2011

27

Film

‘Miss’ film educates about media biases ■ Women in a variety of

industries share their struggles for equality in ‘Miss Representation.’

By amy melser JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The sad reality is many people do not even recognize the inferior status of women in this country, as it has become a normalized aspect of quotidian life. Young girls are growing up in a culture where empowered, intelligent and influential women are underrepresented and girls are instead led to believe, based on the media’s representation of women, that the most important aspect of a woman is her beauty.

One may believe this is problematic solely for women, but that is not the case. The new documentary film Miss Representation, written, produced and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, provides a thorough and engaging lens into this culturally constructed phenomenon.

Newsom informs the audience at the beginning of the documentary that she began thinking critically about the state of women in our society upon receiving the news that she was pregnant with a baby girl.

She is also quite candid in the documentary about her own struggles as a female, such as her battle with an eating disorder. However, the majority of the documentary features highly influential individuals from politics, the media and academia, such as Nancy Pelosi, Cory Booker, Katie Couric, Jane Fonda, Geena Davis, Rachel Maddow, Paul Haggis and Jean Kilbourne, among others.

Students are also represented in the film as they explain how they have felt the negative effects of the media’s representation of women.

A vivid example shown in the film of a powerful and successful woman who has been underemphasized by the media is the 60th Speaker of the House from 2007 to 2011, Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi, the first woman to ever hold this office, was not featured on any magazine covers, while current Speaker of the House, John Boehner, has been featured on numerous covers including Time Magazine, Newsweek and The New Yorker even before taking office.

Moreover, when women are in high-powered positions, the me-

SVETLANA CVETKO/Miss Representation

FEARLESS FEMALES: Regina Kulik Scully (left) and Gloria Steinem are two feminists who share their insights in the film. dia focuses on their appearance far more often than the issues that truly matter. For example, when Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was running for president in 2008, the media dwelled on her decision to wear pantsuits; at the same time, the media ogled Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin for her sex appeal. Additionally, when Katie Couric was the first female ever to host the CBS Evening News, the criticisms surrounded whether she was showing “too much leg” or questioning her wearing “winter white.”

In addition, journalist Lisa Ling

is interviewed in the film and admits to purposely wearing non-sexy clothes on television as to not distract from the stories being covered.

Nonetheless, most journalists on television today are highly sexualized with come-hither makeup and what Couric describes as “tousled hair.”

There is a push for “infotainment”—information provided in a most diverting light that does not have the journalistic demand for truth—as it is cheap to produce and viewers obviously seem to devour it.

The documentary showed a fa-

mous clip of journalist Mika Brzezinski refusing to discuss Paris Hilton’s release from jail on the television show Morning Joe. Brzezinski understood that there was much more important news to be covered that day, despite her producer pushing her to discuss Hilton.

Men are fed false images of women just as women are. Famous feminist speaker and activist Jean Kilbourne, legendary for her Killing Us Softly series about advertisements’ effects on societal views of female beauty, explains that men judge women harshly due to the fact that they want something that does

not exist in reality. What is more, Kilbourne explains that women are highly objectified in advertisements, making it easier for men to commit violence against them as they are seen not as human beings but simply as objects.

Jackson Katz, famously known for his documentary, Tough Guise, also speaks to this in Miss Representation, as he believes the association between men and violence is an extremely disturbing effect of our cultural constructions of gender. Additionally, Cory Booker, mayor of Newark, N.J., explains that, thanks again to our society’s construction of gender, men are “emotionally constipated” because they are brought up in a society where masculinity means one cannot show emotions and instead has to be “tough”—among other things.

A major reason why empowered women are not represented in the media is due to the fact that men run the majority of the media. When Pat Mitchell, president and CEO of the Paley Center for Media, first attempted to start an all-women’s network, she was turned down because one already existed: Lifetime. However, there are 22 ESPN channels.

Director/producer Catherine Hardwicke, best known for Thirteen and Twilight, admits to being turned away from many jobs due to her gender. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice explains that she would often be the only woman in the room but that a female perspective is vital in big decision making and, I would argue, in all arenas in life.

Newsom and her team capture the strife women endure thanks to the media’s false representation of them. Interestingly, Siebel Newsom has worked as an actress, in an arena she criticizes. While this does give her firsthand experience of the corruption, it also makes her a player in it. At the same time, the film is so powerful that the wellestablished patriarch may even be compelled to change his attitude for the good of mankind.

I saw a screening of the film, put on by the Women’s Bar Association at Suffolk University Law School in Boston on Oct. 25. If you are interested in seeing the film, it will be at Brandeis in March for the Women Take the Reel Festival. hosted by the Boston Consortium in Women’s Studies.

FOOD

Ponzu boasts tasty Asian dishes, simple setting ■ JustArts visited Ponzu, a Waltham restaurant serving Japanese, Chinese and Malaysian food as well as its signature dish, Asian tapas.

By Ahmed Kouddous and Jeremy Elkaim JUSTICE contributing WRITERs

These days, too many sushi restaurants try to put on a show. Eateries such as Basho on Boylston Street try to replicate the chic atmosphere of sushi restaurants that have come of age in New York and Los Angeles.

Papier-mâché chandeliers descend from the ceilings, spotlights are focused on the chefs and a general somber energy emanates from the walls.

The worst part of it all is that the food is too often overpriced. It’s as if the priority for these restaurants is atmosphere rather than quality of ingredients.

Thankfully, Ponzu in Waltham does not operate in such a manner. It simply delivers good-quality food at respectable prices in a nofrills, straightforward atmosphere.

Founded in 2006 by a chef from Malaysia, the restaurant specializes in Japanese, Chinese and Malaysian cuisine. It is now owned by a friendly fellow named Billy, who will go out of his way to make sure that you are being well taken care of.

The decor is simple: non-imposing yet aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The immediate feeling Ponzu

provides is that it is a particularly clean environment. Walking in, one is greeted by a quaint Japanesestyle fountain and a golden Buddha covered in dollar bills.

On the left, there is a sushi bar with very comfortable stools that provide a great view of the action going on behind the counter. The chefs are known to make friendly conversation with their customers yet remain focused on the precision of their work.

As far as the service goes, it is nothing short of prompt and friendly. We are under the impression that the waitstaff know each other quite well, which serves to create a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere. In this way, Ponzu is very much a kind of neighborhood establishment: a place where you can get to know the chefs and waiters while at the same be able to enjoy high-quality eastAsian cuisine. The menu is divided into several categories: small plates (also called Asian tapas), big plates and specialty Maki rolls.

Despite this wide selection, however, the chefs at Ponzu are not bound by the menu; they are very much open to creating dishes outside of the menu to the satisfaction of their customers. One thing is certain: The chefs behind the counter truly care about the quality of the food they are sending out.

Naturally, the traditional sushi and sashimi dishes at Ponzu are fresh and well prepared. The true genius, however, lies in the specialty Maki rolls. One roll that particularly impressed us was the Vol-

cano Roll, which combined spicy salmon and baked scallop, creating an interplay between hot and cold that seemed effortless yet exquisite.

Equally simple and irresistible was the Red Sox roll, a combination of savory eel, creamy avocado, flying fish caviar and a special king crab paste that put David Ortiz’s best efforts to shame.

Our waiter recommended that we order as many Asian tapas as we could, for, as he put it, “This is where the restaurant’s creativity is truly revealed.” One of these, the chicken satay which is served with a traditional peanut sauce, was flavorful and moist to perfection. It is truly the mark of a good restaurant when the chicken is cooked to the optimal point, not raw yet not cooked a moment too much.

The other Asian tapas plate we ordered was the sea urchin shooter.

Served in a shot glass, it tasted like a soy-infused ocean brine. To say the least, it was delicious. To culminate our meal, we decided to try one of Ponzu’s Malaysian offerings and settled on Mee Goreng, a fried noodle seafood dish that perfectly exemplified the fusion of influences that make up Malaysian cuisine.

In short, our experience was excellent. The true appeal of Ponzu is that it not only serves great sushi but also a variety of other East Asian dishes. It is a good-quality restaurant that anyone can make into their reliable neighborhood sushi joint. Flashy may be interesting, but good food in a simple setting is timeless.

AVLXYZ/Flickr Creative Commons

FISH FOOD: Ponzu serves exotic Malaysian food, including noodle dish Mee Goreng.

28

TUESday, November 1, 2011 ● THE JUSTICE

TOP of the

ARTS ON VIEW

TRIVIA TIME

CHARTS

1. Which gland produces human growth hormone?

2. What does Donald Duck always wear?

3. What is the basic currency of Iraq?

4. In Western churches, what day is set aside for the Feast of St. Stephen?

5. What is the Latin word and chemistry symbol for lead?

6. What 1969 movie was made from a Philip Roth novel and starred Richard Benjamin and Ali MacGraw?

7. What was the title of Charles Lindbergh’s autobiography, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1953?

8. What 1920s novel features a narrator named Nick Carraway?

9. What is a fata morgana?

10. Into which body of water does the Mississippi River flow?

ANSWERS 1. Pituitary gland 2. A blue sailor suit 3. The dinar 4. Dec. 26 5. Plumbum (Pb) 6. Goodbye, Columbus 7. The Spirit of St. Louis 8. The Great Gatsby 9. A mirage 10. Gulf of Mexico

STRANGE BUT TRUE  It was British writer and humorist Jerome K. Jerome who made the following sage observation: “It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do. There is no fun in doing nothing when you have nothing to do. Wasting time is merely an occupation then, and a most exhausting one. Idleness, like kisses, to be sweet must be stolen.”  According to an international survey of taxicab drivers, passengers who use cabs in London are twice as likely as those in eight other major metropolises to leave a laptop behind when exiting the taxi.  Sharks can live for a century or more.  Velcro came to market in 1957, after a Swiss inventor named George de Mestral spent nearly 10 years developing the idea. His inspiration came to him in 1948 on a hike, when he had difficulty removing tenacious little burrs from his clothes. He reasoned that if he could create synthetic burrs, they could be used as fasteners.  The Parker Brothers game Monopoly is the best-selling game in history. It’s available for purchase in 28 countries, and it can be played in 19 different languages.  If you speak some French, you might know that the phrase “tout a l’heure” means “see you later.”

You might not realize, though, that that phrase is the origin of the English term “toodle-oo.”  Chances are, there’s a Park Street in your town. It’s the most common street name in the United States.

Top 10s for the week ending October 30 BOX OFFICE

1. Puss in Boots 2. Paranormal Activity 3 3. In Time 4. Footloose 5. The Rum Diary 6. Real Steel 7. The Three Musketeers 8. The Ides of March 9. Moneyball 10. Courageous

NYT BESTSELLERS

JOSH SPIRO/the Justice

MASSIVE MONOLITH: This photo, by Justice photographer Josh Spiro, depicts Usen Castle on a blustery fall day, flag fluttering in the breeze. The Castle is a replica of a Scottish fortress.

ACROSS 1.­— Mahal 4. Parisian pals 8. Choose from a group 12. Fuss 13. Color quality 14. On the briny 15. Old communication method 17. Bit of banter 18. Comestibles 19. Stallion or mare 20. Malaria symptoms 22. Transaction 24. Tranquil 25. Pollen-caused allergy 29. Under the weather 30. Cupid’s yokemate 31. Is for you?

32. Short-term employment 34. Schleps 35. Shakespeare’s river 36. Cockpit VIP 37. Steeple 40. Regimen 41. Lumber 42. Spring parade leader 46. Initial stake 47. Birthright barterer 48. Old studio letters 49. Paraphernalia 50. Sommelier’s offering 51. Stitch DOWN 1. Noisy dance 2. Oklahoma city 3. With glee 4. Friend of D’Artagnan 5. Disposition 6. Hostel 7. Get a glimpse of 8. Wheedle 9. Addict 10. Not so much 11. Tardy 16. Verse 19. Weapon’s handle 20. Alkali neutralizer 21. Festive 22. Pythias’ pal

CROSSWORD

iTUNES

1. Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris — “We Found Love” 2. LMFAO — “Sexy and I Know It” 3. Adele — “Someone Like You” 4. Foster the People — “Pumped Up Kicks” 5. Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera — “Moves like Jagger (Studio Recording from The Voice Performance)” 6. Flo Rida — “Good Feeling” 7. David Guetta feat. Usher — “Without You” 8. Gym Class Heroes feat. Adam Levine — “Stereo Hearts” 9. Kelly Clarkson — “Mr. Know It All” 10. LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett and GoonRock — “Party Rock Anthem”

BILLBOARD

23. Watchful one 25. Vagrant 26. Some track-and-field athletes 27. Therefore 28. Take a break 30. Bear lair 33. Pantry 34. Stead 36. Resentment 37. Booty 38. Corn concoction 39. Tittle 40. Actress Cannon 42. Kitten’s call 43. “­— was saying ...”

44. Scratch (out) 45. Promptly

1. Adele — 21 2. Casting Crowns — Come to the Well 3. Scotty McCreery — Clear as Day 4. Evanescence — Evanescence 5. Tony Bennett — Duets II 6. Lil Wayne — Tha Carter IV 7. Lady Antebellum — Own the Night 8. Joe ­— The Good, The Bad, The Sexy 9. American Capitolist — Five Finger Death Punch 10. Lauren Alaina — Wildflower Top of the Charts information provided

by Fandango, the New York Times, BillBoard.com and Apple.com.

STAFF PLAYLIST Solution to last week’s crossword

“Be Nostalgic”

By DAMIANA ANDONOVA

Justice CONTRIBUTING WRITER

King Crossword Copyright 2011 King Features Synd, Inc.

SUDOKU 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.

 Europe is the only continent without a desert. Even icy Antarctica has deserts—including the world’s largest cold desert.  It is impossible to fold any piece of paper more than seven times.

Thought for the Day: “We need anything politically important rationed out like Pez: small, sweet, and coming out of a funny, plastic head.”

— Dennis Miller

Fiction 1. The Best of Me — Nicholas Sparks 2. The Christmas Wedding — James Patterson and Richard DiLallo 3. Bonnie — Iris Johansen 4. The Marriage Plot — Jeffrey Eugenides 5. The Affair — Lee Child Nonfiction 1. Killing Lincoln — Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard 2. Boomerang — Michael Lewis 3. Unbroken — Laura Hillenbrand 4. Suicide of a Superpower — Patrick J. Buchanan 5. Seriously ... I’m Kidding — Ellen DeGeneres

Solution to last week’s sudoku

Sudoku Copyright 2011 King Features Synd, Inc.

Songs have a way of triggering memories. It’s as if lyrics and notes are woven with images from my life. Whether it’s dancing to Mondo Bongo as I rocked my baby sister, or remembering a song from my childhood on a different continent, it’s all coming back to me now.

THE LIST 1.f“Mr. Saxobeat” — Alexandra Stern 2. “Someone Like You” — Adele 3. “Sex on Fire” — Kings of Leon 4. “Mondo Bongo” — Joe Sturmmer and the Mescaleros 5. “My #1” — Helena Papizarous 6. “Cuando me enamoro” — Andrea Bocelli 7. “Nuestro encuentro” — Andrea Bocelli 8. “Pepelyashka” — Gloria 9. “Over the Rainbow” — Israel Kamakawiwo’ole 10. “Message” — Coldplay