ARTS Page 20
FORUM Framework lacks inspiration 11
LITERARY LECTURE
SPORTS Men’s soccer continues to roll 16 The Independent Student Newspaper
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B r a n d e is U n i v e r sit y S i n c e 1 9 4 9
Justice
Volume LXV, Number 7
www.thejustice.org
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
student union
OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS
Kaplan’s case ends in mediation with Union ■ Dean Kaplan’s ’15 suit
against the Student Union for removing him from office will not go to trial. By TATE HERBERT JUSTICE EDITOR
As of about 10 p.m. last night, Dean Kaplan’s ’15 quest for the restitution of his Student Union Senate seat is over. He will not, as was the original goal of his claim against the Student Union, resume his position as off-campus senator, but instead will spearhead the creation of a University Committee that will focus on issues concerning Brandeis students living offcampus. Sunny Aidasani ’14 will continue to serve as off-campus senator. Kaplan and Student Union President Todd Kirkland ’13, who represented the Union, reached this compromise during an approximately hour-long private mediation held in the Student Union office last night. The mediation, the initial step in the process of resolving formally filed Union disputes, was conducted by the Student Judiciary. According to Article IV of the Union constitution, mediations are intended to encourage “an informal, non-adversarial approach to an outcome that will be agreed upon, final and binding.” As the attempts for resolution were successful, Kaplan’s case will not go to a public trial. Instead, at the suggestion of Kirkland, Kaplan will begin the process of forming a University
JOSHUA LINTON/the Justice
GATHERING FEEDBACK: University President Frederick Lawrence speaks at a strategic planning feedback session last Friday.
Planning details released ■ Provost Steve Goldstein ’78
issued the individual reports of nine task forces online. By SAM MINTZ JUSTICE EDITOR
On Tuesday, following requests from vocal faculty members, the strategic planning steering committee and Provost Steve Goldstein ’78 released the individual reports from nine of the 11 task forces that were created last
spring and met throughout the summer. These reports contain many of the details and specific tactical plans that faculty and others had hoped to see included in the plan, but were absent from the framework. The task forces were assigned to work on Academic Innovation, Alumni and Building Community, Benchmarking, Facilities and Campus Evolution, Faculty, Scholarship and Research, Flexible Education Through Technology, Global, Integrated Arts and Learning Communities and
Waltham, Mass.
Student Experience. There are two reports which are not yet complete, according to an email from Goldstein. The Financial and Development Task Forces are “still at work,” he wrote in the email. After comments that the framework was “uninspiring” and lacked specific ideas, the release of the reports shed more light on the planning process to this point, and members of the
See REPORTS, 5 ☛
Committee, or a Union-affiliated group designed to “[provide] student input and [share] the student perspective with University departments,” according to the Student Union website. These Committees are created with the approval of the Union president’s chief of staff (in this case Jesse Manning ’13) and are usually advised by a faculty or staff member. Student membership is limited to one year per Committee, according to the Union website. Examples of such groups can be found on the website and include the Alcohol and Other Drug Coalition, the Academic Services Advisory Committee, the Dean of Arts and Sciences Advisory Committee and the Festival of the Arts Planning Committee. Membership in many committees is capped at anywhere from one to eight students. According to Kaplan, his committee will focus on the needs and concerns of students living off-campus; more specifically, the committee will focus on the issues that would normally fall under the Department of Community Living’s jurisdiction if the students lived on campus. “I’m not expecting the University to pay for repairs, fix things, or beautify people’s back yards, but some kind of … organization with the students themselves for improving their day-to-day lives, whether it be better access to food [and] to books” and the like, is needed, said Kaplan, noting that “the off-campus constituency is a potentially very powerful force for change.” Manning agreed to help Kaplan
See MEDIATION, 6 ☛
student life
Dept of Student Rights answers policy questions ■ Students address concerns
with changes to this year’s “Rights and Responsibilities.” By jess linde JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
This year's edition of Brandeis’ “Rights and Responsibilities” was published by the Department of Student Rights and Community Standards with some big additions. Specifically, the “Student Conduct
Process Code” gained a special focus on situations dealing with sexual harassment, and a new process called the “Special Examiner’s Process” was dedicated to that topic. To elaborate on the details of the new process and to clarify the language used in the new handbook, the Student Conduct Board held a public forum in the Shapiro Campus Center’s Art Gallery last Thursday. The discussion lasted for about an hour. About 15 students attended, representing various clubs and student organizations.
The forum, led by Student Rights and Community Standards Director Dean Gendron and Student Conduct Board member Rachel Usnik ’13, was designed to address any concerns or confusion students had about the “Special Examiner’s Process” through a series of questions directed toward Gendron. Major student groups represented at the forum included Young Americans for Liberty and the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance. Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer was also present in case questions with
complicated answers needed further elaboration. According to the current “R&R,” the “Special Examiner’s Process” involves “cases where the [Department of Student Rights and Community Standards] determines that one or more possible violations of Section 3 (Sexual Responsibility) or Section 7 (Equal Opportunity, NonDiscrimination, and Harassment) exist.” The section in the handbook further describes the process as one in which a “Special Examiner” (as opposed to a board of faculty and
See CONDUCT, 6 ☛
The Mafia mindset
New beginnings
Candidates spar
Alexander Stille discusses the Italian Mafia’s involvement with the Italian government.
The swimming and diving squads look to reestablish their legacy with a plethora of young talent.
Brandeis reacts as President Obama and Governor Romney face off in two debates within the past week.
FEATURES 7 For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org
Student Conduct Board members) appointed by Sawyer performs an investigation after the DSRCS receives a Community Standards Report and judges the case as violating one of the aforementioned sections. The Special Examiner’s investigation consists of interviewing both the accuser and the accused with an observer present, examining any evidence provided and conducting interviews with other persons of interest such as witnesses. The
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INDEX
SPORTS 14 ARTS SPORTS
17 16
EDITORIAL FEATURES
10 8
OPINION POLICE LOG
10 2
News 3
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