VOL 8, NO. 2
J A N U A R Y 2 8 , 2 0 11
B R A N D E I S U N I V E R S I T Y ' S C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R
WA LT H A M , M A
Lawrence appoints first Brandeis chief of staff BY NATHAN KOSKELLA Editor
PHOTO COURTESY Peter Lobo of The News Tribute (Waltham)
ACCIDENT: BEMCo transports a student to the hospital following the Dec. 8 hit and run that occured on Brandeis’ Loop Road.
Inconsistencies in Dec. hit and run
Courts have no record of police citation BY JON OSTROWSKY Editor
Despite a citation issued by the Waltham Police for the criminal charges against a Brandeis student following a hit and run last
month, the Waltham District Court has no record of the individual’s name in its system, an official in the clerk’s office said. Waltham Police charged a Brandeis student on Dec. 8, 2010 with leaving the scene of an accident with injuries, negligent driving, failure to slow for pedestrians and speeding. These
charges followed a car accident on Loop Road on Dec. 3 that sent two female students to local hospitals—Newton-Wellesley Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The two students are no longer being treated at the hospitals. See HIT AND RUN, p. 4
Boston lawyer and Brandeis alum David Bunis ’83 has been named chief of staff to President Fred Lawrence, who met Bunis while both men were working on the AntiDefamation League’s (ADL) Civil Rights Committee. There has never before been a chief of staff at Brandeis for any past president at Brandeis. Bunis will “manage and coordinate the activities of my office,” Lawrence said in a statement for The Hoot. Bunis, who met his wife while both were students here, will return to campus and begin work Feb. 1. “I am thrilled to be returning to Brandeis,” Bunis wrote in a statement upon accepting the position. “Although years have passed and much has changed at Brandeis since my graduation, my pulse still quickens as I turn off South Street onto
Haitian poet: writing can heal pain BY DEBBY BRODSKY Staff
In observance of Haitian remembrance and dedication month, the student-founded Brandeis Haiti Initiative hosted Professor Patrick Sylvain from Brown University this week to lead a discussion of Haitian art and literature on campus. Professor Jane Hale of the Romance Studies department introduced Sylvain while expressing her determination that Haitian culture should have a bigger presence on campus. Sylvain began by describing the trust he holds in young people. “I don’t trust adults,” he said, “my trust is in the young folks, because they don’t have destructive agendas. I absolutely believe in the youth, because they can really change and empower the world with their energy.” Sylvain then explained his inspiration behind poems from the book, “Open Gate,” and how he struggled to learn to write about the love of others, and later about his own process of finding love.
As the discussion progressed, Sylvain continued his poetry reading on a more difficult topic, about the January, 2010 earthquake in Haiti. “There is no anchor for anger and no anchor for despair,” he read. “Life mocks us with sadistic laughter. I need a stronger port to anchor their souls.” The final poem Sylvain shared, expressed his frustrations with how long it took the Haitian president, 19 days, to respond to the catastrophe in Haiti. Titled “Stanzas to a Silent Executive,” Sylvain wrote, “The angels must be exhausted from seesawing the axis of life and death.” Following the poetry reading, Sylvain held a discussion with the audience, and talked about how he processed the trauma of the earthquake in Haiti, and then learned to write about his feelings. “Ones who have been traumatized must go through the trauma to process it, only then can they free themselves,” Sylvain explained. “First you must live and witness the pain, then you must be driven
PHOTO BY Internet Source
DAVID BUNIS
campus. The university has always been a very special place for me, and our large circle of friends is full of Brandeis alums. I am excited about working with trustees, faculty, students, alumni and staff who are the heart and soul of this great institution.” The chief of staff ’s job will be primarily to harmonize the many other administrative officers, who all report to the president, and the president’s inner See BUNIS, p. 4
Lawrence to teach criminal justice class BY JON OSTROWSKY Editor
University President Fred Lawrence will teach a seminar in the fall called “Punishment and Crime” that will focus on issues related to hate crime and self-defense, Senior Vice President for Communications and External Affairs Andrew Gully wrote in an e-mail. “If you don’t let me teach, it’s like shutting off my oxygen,” Lawrence said during a reception Wednesday evening in the Hiatt Career Center. Despite his hectic schedule as university president, Lawrence said that he told his senior staff that he will find time to teach students. Before coming to Brandeis, Lawrence taught law at both Boston University Law School and George Washington University Law School, where he PHOTO BY Anthony Losquadro/The Hoot
SLAM: Patrick Sylvain leads a discussion of Haitian art and literature Thursday evening. See HAITI, p.3
See LAW CLASS, p. 3
NEWS
2 The Brandeis Hoot
January 28, 2011
President Lawrence advises students on law school BY JON OSTROWSKY Editor
PHOTO BY Nate Rosenbloom/The Hoot
COUNSEL: President Fred Lawrence gives Brandeis future lawyers advice on law school at an event sponsored by the Hiatt Career Center on Wednesday. Lawrence, who recently left his post as Dean of George Washington University Law School to become Brandeis’ president told students that law is “a nobel profession.” ADVER TISEMENT
Law school rankings from the U.S. News and World Report do not fully portray all of the criteria that students should consider when applying, university President Fred Lawrence said during a reception at the Hiatt Career Center on Wednesday evening. Lawrence, himself a graduate of Yale Law School, said that Harvard, Yale, Stanford and University of Chicago belong to the most elite group of law schools in the country, but outside of the top tier, it is difficult to rank and compare the next 20 schools by numbers. But he added, rankings can change and many lower-ranked law schools use large financial aid packages as a way to attract top students being offered less money at more competitive schools. “One of the glories of this country, with all of its problems, is that we reshuffle the deck occasionally,” Lawrence said. Some law schools have particularly strong programs in specialized fields such as patent law, international law, and legislation or lobbying, so it is unfair to compare them all on one ranking list, Lawrence said. The Pre-Law Society helped organize the event along with Hiatt Pre-Law adviser Nancy Waggner. They plan to host several others this semester, including a law school panel with Brandeis Alumni and a seminar on the first year in law school, according to the society’s president Christopher Lau. Lawrence explained to students that the rigors of a first year in law school are different from the challenges of an undergraduate education. Many law professors, including Lawrence, call on students at random and ask them to defend their positions and ideas, not to intimidate, but rather to create an environment similar to a stressful day in a courtroom or in a private firm. “On your worst day in law school, nobody goes to jail,” Lawrence said. Having spent his career in private practice, government and academia, Lawrence advised students to enjoy the surprises that their careers and lives present. “Only in retrospect does [life] feel to be a
straight line,” Lawrence said. “It’s got a lot of zigs and zags when you’re living it.” Admitting that if former GW Law School Dean Michael Young had not left to become president of the University of Utah, then he may never have ended up as dean at GW Law or president at Brandeis, he told students to accept uncertainty. “You don’t always know the path that’s chosen for you,” Lawrence said. “I think if you accomplished all your dreams in life, your dreams aren’t big enough.” Lawrence clarified that although he knows many common jokes about law and the legal profession, he does not find them funny. “I happen to have this old-fashioned belief that this is a great and noble profession,” he said. Growing up, “much of the most interesting social change seemed to involve lawyers in one way or another,” Lawrence said. In modern U.S. legal history, he cited the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 1968 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as evidence of the social change that lawyers and courts can use to create improvements in society. Lawrence’s diverse legal background includes work in private firms such as Dwyer & Collora, LLP in Boston and Kramer, Levin, Nessen, Kamin & Soll in New York as well as serving as the Chief of the Civil Rights Unit for the U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York. While many people complain about the work in private firms, Lawrence said that he enjoyed all of his work, both in public and private practice. At the private firms, “I didn’t hate it for a moment.” “I learned what it meant to practice law at the highest level with integrity,” Lawrence said about his work in the U.S. District Attorney’s Office. In his role as president, Lawrence has already used many of the skills he acquired through a career in law and legal education. “Whatever people say about lawyers, they rarely accuse us of being impulsive,” he said. “We believe in process because that’s what knits communities together.” Lawrence joked that he recently told Senior Vice President and General Counsel Judith Sizer, “the major way in which your life is about to change is you finally have a boss who likes lawyers.”
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January 28, 2011
The Brandeis Hoot
NEWS
3
Public Safety, Union plan events to foster community BY JON OSTROWSKY Editor
Hoping to improve communication between students and university police, the Student Union and the Department of Public Safety will host an informal reception next Thursday in the Shapiro Campus Center, Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan said. “I thought it would be good to [create] interaction so it wasn’t [this] us-versusthem situation,” Callahan said. During the event, students will have an opportunity to ask university police questions and learn more about Public Safety. Callahan said that Public Safety is also working to organize a game night in the Usdan Student Center later this semester. “Getting to know the people that protect us on a personal level is really important,” Student Union President Daniel Acheampong ’11 said. The event, which will be held at 1:30 p.m., came to fruition after Glickman suggested the idea of an afternoon reception with pizza and soda. Callahan said he thought it would be a helpful way to clear concerns related to events that occurred the night of Pachanga when university police arrested two students for assaulting a police officer, among other charges. Some students questioned the validity of the alleged assaults and nine students were also hospitalized for alcohol poisoning the same night.
PHOTO BY Alan Tran/The Hoot
Pachanga is a student-organized event, therefore Public Safety cannot cancel it or other similar events planned under different names, despite university students’ tendency to pre-game the events, Callahan said. “We’re a support division,” Callahan said. “Obviously if the event does happen, we have to support it to the best of [our] capabilities.” There are several large on-campus dance parties scheduled for the next month. On Saturday evening in Sherman
Function Hall, B’Deis Records will host a party called “Snow White.” As of Thursday, nearly 300 people planned to attend, according to a Facebook page. Last weekend, the Student Union, Student Activities, Student Events and the Office of the President hosted “A Battle of the DJ’s” in Levin Ballroom where university President Fred Lawrence ran the party as master of ceremonies and was joined on stage by his wife, Kathy Lawrence. One female student showed up intoxicated and needed to be transported to a
hospital for treatment after being found inside the restroom in Levin. Three other students were also transported to hospitals for alcohol poisoning last weekend, according to Callahan. Three of the students were first-years—one of them a midyear—and the fourth student was a sophomore. Callahan said that the number of transports surprised him because it was only the first weekend back, but he added that most transports for intoxication happen with first-years.
Professor discusses Native Americans’ bloody history with United States BY JOSH KELLY Staff
PHOTO BY Nate Rosenbloom/The Hoot
Lawrence criminal justice class to premiere fall 2011 LAW CLASS (from p. 1)
also served as dean. “We pride ourselves on being a worldclass research institution that takes teaching seriously and I share both of those commitments, “Lawrence said in a statement. “I’m really looking forward to joining my faculty colleagues in the classroom. It’s a great privilege as a president to engage students in that way.”
Fred Hoxie, a professor of history from the University of Illinois-Urbana gave a lecture Thursday that highlighted the political participation of Native Americans in their long, bloody history with the American nation. Entitled “Word Warriors: Native American Political Activists and the American State, 1776-2000,” the lecture explained various thematic patterns he has seen in the history of the relations between Native Americans and the United States government, while also weaving in descriptions of chapters in his anticipated book on the same topic. During Professor Hoxie’s introduction it was noted that it was not his first time being in Olin-Sang. Hoxie both completed his undergraduate work at Brandeis, and received his doctorate from Brandeis. Prior to taking up his position at the University of Illinois, Hoxie taught at both Antioch College and Northwestern University. He is an expert on American Indian history, both as a narrative of the people themselves and as a chronology of the interactions between an indigenous people and an ever-expanding United States society. He has written three books and numerous articles on such topics. Early on in his lecture he addressed the way in which we view Native Ameri-
cans as a society. He pointed out how poorly this culture is understood today. Hoxie described one of his common habits when teaching Native American History survey classes. “I begin with an opening exercise, which is I ask students on a three by five card to write down the names of three Indians and I say this is just a way to sort of inventory what’s in your head when someone says that. And for 30 years I’ve gotten three-now four-names, which are Geronimo, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and, thanks to Walt Disney we now get Pocahontas.” Hoxie used an anecdote to Segway into his goal for his new book, which he describes as “to promote new people [for] that list” and in doing so to create “a new lens for thinking about native people in the United States.” The major theme in both his lecture and in his book is that of a steadily growing presence of Native Americans in United States political affairs. He traced the early era in which Indians were treated more as foreign dignitaries who were given formal treaties of alliance, to the point at which the treaties became less ceremonial and more of a contractual means through which the Native Americans could survive. He explained the gradual integration of Indians into American society, specifically through gaining political recognition in courts, and comes to the conclusion at the end, that “over the past two
centuries the United States has become an Indian country in the sense that it is no longer possible to define American Indians-as the Supreme Court did in 1913-as a separate people ‘simple, uninformed and inferior.’” Each chapter of Hoxie’s book is a story of its own, focusing on a specific character in the narrative of Native American activism. For example, one chapter concerns James McDonald, the first Indian lawyer who campaigned in favor of the Choctaw people in the 1820s as President Jackson ordered the Native Americans of the Mississippi area to leave. After gaining victory for the Choctaws, the people came to the general consensus that in order to survive they would have to integrate into United States society, but that they would still attempt to retain their culture. The speaker was met with many questions at the end of his lecture, one of which concerned the possible parallels between African-American and feminist activism. At the end of the event, a graduate student in the audience described that Hoxie’s book could be useful in indicating these parallels. “I think a lot of folks who study some of those other movements would be surprised by the parallels…there’s a Red Power movement, alongside the Black Power movement, so I think his book maybe has the opportunity to open some people’s eyes to some of the similarities.”
4 NEWS
The Brandeis Hoot
January 28, 2011
Experiential learning expo set for March BY NATHAN KOSKELLA Editor
Brandeis academic services along with the Dean of Arts and Sciences’ office has begun preparations for the semester experiential learning symposium, to be held later this spring. “We look forward to showcasing a way to see what students are doing on campus,” Alyssa Grinberg, program manager for the Justice Brandeis Semester (JBS) project and a member of the committee overseeing and expanding other field-based learning, said. Experiential learning at Brandeis is “hands-on” learning that incorporates teaching with “independent research … internships, community-engaged projects, studio and art work, and study abroad programs,” according to the university website. The experiential learning push includes, in addition to JBS and dean’s representatives, members from Study Abroad and faculty members already accustomed to meeting the goals of the project. “Some majors, like Theatre or Arts, are already experiential by nature,” Grinberg said.
The symposium, set for March 24, seeks to provide other interested members of the community with the relevant projects that the university has succeeded in putting on in the past, particularly from the previous fall semester. In addition to demonstrating academic opportunities students have chosen to participate in, the committee has also asked students to design the advertisement for the event in a poster contest, complete with a cash prize for the successful proposal for the conference. Poster applications are due Feb. 7. “We’re looking to accomplish more access for more people to more info for interested students,” Grinberg said. President Fred Lawrence will deliver an opening address at the session, extolling the virtues of combining classroom experience with applied knowledge outside the classroom. Faculty will then lead moderated panels and winning posters will be presented, along with projects from past experiential learning students, Grinberg said. “It’s amazing what students are doing on campus,” she said, adding, “It’ll be a great time to learn about experiences and activities in areas you have never thought to look yourself.”
AIEA to host forum this weekend BY LUKE HAYSLIP Special to The Hoot
In partnership with a number of other colleges and universities from the east coast, the university’s Office of Global Affairs will be hosting an AIEA forum on Jan. 28 and 29. The Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) is a “membership organization formed in November 1982, composed of institutional leaders engaged in advancing the international dimensions of higher education,” according to their website. The organization seeks to enlighten educators and students with new techniques toward improving dialogue with colleagues, incorporating international affairs to a greater degree on campus, and creating workshops on topics pertaining to members of the organization. The forum will be designed as a series of small-group conversations, focused on “sustained global commitments,” and educational programs offered overseas, including “partnerships, exchanges, study abroad, and internationalization hubs, campuses, programs or offices,” according to the Brandeis website. Along with Brandeis, a number of colleges and universities will be attending the conference, including such as Boston College, Princeton, Vanderbilt University and Wellesley College. On Friday, Jan. 28, following registration and a welcoming event, an opening session entitled “Understanding Sustained Global Commitments” will begin the events. Among other topics discussed, AIEA will outline elements of sustained global commitments and focus on how small-scale institutions can bring about change and continue long-term efforts. The conference will be presented as a reporting session, where each school will present their strategy, their approach toward their commitments and how they will do so compared to large
scale university strategies. Other sessions throughout the day will pertain to the liberal arts institutions’ special roles in sustained global commitments, collaboration with overseas institutions, and technological tools which may be used to more easily create and keep such valuable connections. At the close of Friday’s events will be a dinner, which will engage members of the faculty into the sustained global commitments programs, based on personal experience and knowledge of such programs. Saturday, there will be a number of available groups to choose from for discussions over breakfast, including “Working with international student populations related to sustained global commitments,” “International operations challenges facing smaller [schools] without a single regional focus,” and “Outreach to new student markets.” The latter will focus on “non-degree, first-year students or high school students, students abroad looking for an American degree, adult learners, executive education, short-term programs and other pertinent topics.” A forum will also be offered, entitled “Challenges of Senior International Officers and Internationalization Planning, from Vision to Bottom Line.” Some of the topics of discussion will be balancing current revenue strains with long-term targets, incorporating and balancing social justice goals, and creating realistic time tables for success. The final meeting of the forum will be “Creating and Maintaining a Strategy,” which will focus on the continuation and future implications of sustained global commitments. After lunch and continued informal discussions with members of AIEA the forum will come to a close. Costs of entry will be $125 per participant, and will include two-day registration, three meals, all materials and resources required for the events, and local transportation to and from the forum hotel.
PHOTO COURTESY The News Tribute
ACCIDENT: BEMCO transports a student to the hospital following the Dec. 8 hit and run that occured on Brandeis’ loop road.
Court does not have record of hit and run citation HIT AND RUN (from p. 1)
Waltham Police issued a citation for the charges against a 19-year-old Boylston resident, but declined to release the name or the police report because the individual was only charged and has not been arrested, Sgt. Timothy King said in a phone interview on Tuesday. An assistant at the Waltham District Court Clerk’s Office said that there was no record of the individual’s name on file, and that police were likely still researching it. But King said that a citation has been issued for the 19-year-old Boylston resident and should be on file at the clerk’s office. Because of the holidays last month and the length of the investigation, King said it may take longer for the courts and police to share the report and citation. Last week, Waltham Police Lt. Joseph
Brooks declined to comment on the case because, since it was a “pending criminal matter,” it was an “exception [to the] public records law.” Callahan declined to comment on any action the university had taken against the student. On Dec. 3, university police officers found the individual’s car parked behind East Residence Quad from a description provided by student witnesses. The officers contacted the driver and spoke with him that evening; however, he was not immediately charged. University police initially contacted the Waltham Police Department because of the personal injuries, according to Callahan. The two departments originally conducted a joint investigation but, after the criminal charges were pressed against the student, Waltham Police assumed control of the investigation.
Bunis hired as pres chief of staff BUNIS (from p. 1)
office staff, executive assistant and thus Lawrence’s schedule. “I will be helping [to] coordinate and manage President Lawrence’s priorities,” around the campus, both administrative and otherwise Bunis wrote. “Fred and I have worked closely together for several years. From that experience I know the energy and dedication and inspired leadership that he is bringing to Brandeis. Returning to Brandeis to work with Fred is a once in a lifetime opportunity I just couldn’t resist and I can’t wait to get started.” Lawrence said that his decision to hire a chief of staff is one that involves trust. His previously announced plans to travel across the country and abroad
in the coming year played into the decision to hire a chief of the president’s staff. Lawrence wants Bunis to keep him updated on all the workings of the university when he is absent. Although Brandeis has never before used the title, nearby Tufts University in Medford has a presidential chief of staff, and Brown University’s staff director post is similar. According to Lawrence, Bunis will face the job of “immersing himself in the university.” Bunis will be leaving a post at the firm of Dwyer and Collora. In addition to working at the ADL and Dwyer and Collora, (where he had represented Tufts University) he has represented low-income families throughout Greater Boston facing eviction, and is a vice president of Temple Emanuel in Newton, where he lives with his wife.
January 28, 2011
NEWS 5
The Brandeis Hoot
New provost. Know the old one? BY NATHAN KOSKELLA Editor
While the search committee for a new provost has already received many nominations for who should replace Marty Krauss, it is also faced with overcoming the obstacle of what members of the committee call widespread student apathy, or ignorance, as to what being provost actually entails. “It’s very frustrating to me that students don’t know who the provost is,” student committee member Marla Merchut ’12 said. While faculty member chair of the search committee Sacha Nelson (BIOL) insisted, “We are simply looking for the best person for the job,” the student member of the search committee acknowledged that Lawrence’s ideals were a result of practical reality. “Too many people just don’t know who Provost Krauss is and what she’s done for this community,” she said. Michaele Whelan, vice provost for academic affairs, is one person who does. The provost’s job involves “troubleshooting and synthesis between the many university departments,” she said. Indeed, the provost must review new potential master’s degrees and act as liaison to the board of trustees; work with the faculty senate and every other tenured or hired member; merge the various and at times competing interests of both graduate and undergraduate students; decide classes
that will (or will not) be offered again by weighing factors such as over- or under-enrollment; and interpret each semester’s course evaluations and feeding them back through the entire system to monitor it all over again. In the coming years, according to Whelan, Krauss’ successor will also make decisions even more explicitly affecting students, up to and including merging or reshuffling departments as seen in last year’s 2020 committee recommendations. Last year, the provost personally made the “judgment call,” in Whelan’s terms, to allow the Anthropology department to continue internally accepting doctoral students. Other departments were made into programs and told they could no longer tenure new faculty. Any departments similarly “saved” from committee recommendations would be made by the provost. The provost’s sweeping powers, only expanded after the administrative structural committee report made the position the second after the president’s, are perhaps why Merchut believes the committee should be so determined to find a provost who students will know. “We need to take the position out of the shadows, because you need to see what [a provost] is doing,” she said. The provost search committee hopes to complete its work by April, and Lawrence plans to name a winning candidate shortly afterward.
PHOTO BY Max Shay/The Hoot
Poet believes in young people’s power to create change HAITI (from p. 1)
live and witness the pain, then you must be driven to the page to relieve your pain, and finally, you must write about it.” He continued, saying “pain is something we must confront eventually, if you repress
it, it’s going to come out somewhere else.” As he continued, Sylvain explained that he came to the United States as a college student in 1981, but he still goes back to Haiti often. “It’s tough,” Sylvain said, “the United States is my home, but someADVERTISEMENT
times I hate it because of the discrimination I face.” He then said he has learned to cherish the pragmatism of Americans, and called the American make-it-yourself culture amazing. “Haiti is tough,” Sylvain noted. “I’m
not going to romanticize about Haiti. I am fortunate, because I have a passport. While most Haitians become literate and self-made in the United States, the danger is when they go back to Haiti, they forget the conditions in which they lived, and act like big shots. That mentality is like a cancer to the poor people.” Sylvain continued to express the difference in mentalities between Haiti and the United States regarding money, saying that in Haiti, individuality is not welcome, and that because of the level of poverty, it is important to Haitians to remember the collective. While in the United States, there is no obligation to share your money. Over the course of his discussion, Sylvain repeatedly expressed how much faith he has in the youth of the world. “There’s a moment of discovery,” Sylvain said, “when innovated youth come up with something miraculous, just from talking to people, and seeing what works best for a compromise.” The Brandeis Haiti Initiative has raised 30,000 dollars to date, and continues to host speakers like Professor Sylvain, in order to spread the message of their mission.
6 NEWS
The Brandeis Hoot
January 28, 2011
Scenes from a snow delay By Ingrid Schulte, Editor
FEATURES
January 28, 2011
Always Arguing Mock Trial team continues to win, impress
BY ALANA BLUM
A-TEAM: Mock Trial Team A poses at a competition.
Brandeis’ Mock Trial team has only been around since 2001, but its recent victories and awards have proven that the club has come a long way in the past 10 years. The club, which started with a small group of core founders, now has approximately 30 members, who all have the opportunity to compete as witnesses or attorneys.
The club is also unique in that it is entirely student-run. Mock Trial teams from most other competing colleges are trained by attorney coaches. Brandeis’ team, however, maintains a system in which older members train the newcomers. This system continuously proves itself as the team is able to compete in more invitationals than ever before.
Staff
PHOTO COURTESY OF Ryan Fanning
The trick to winning is not simply knowledge of the law. “The real key in Mock Trial: you always want to keep your composure, always want to appear in control. That’s what separates a good team from a great team,” Joshua Seiden ’13 said. The team has consistently placed at See MOCK TRIAL, p. 8
‘Nerf or nothin’:’ now or never BY ARIEL WITTENBERG Editor
Students who wander into the Shapiro Campus Center this evening at 9 p.m. will find themselves in the middle of a war zone—a Nerf gun war zone that is. The war will be the main event of Game Knight’s weekly meetings. The Brandeis club, which formerly spelled it’s name “Game Night” until it decided that “knight with a K, like a mounted knight looks cooler,” spends its Friday nights “playing all the group games like the ones you play on the playground in kindergarten,” club leader Jesse Appell ’12 said. The club, which explicitly does not play video games, plays a range of interactive games from charades and mafia to more active games like “the floor is lava.” The idea for a “giant Nerf war” came after the Student Union Finance Board allocated $500 to the club. “We have 15 hand guns, and the rest are big rifles or air pump guns,” Appell said. “It is going to be utter madness.” Indeed, the war will be fought in two parts, or battles. The first will be “a giant free-for-all” in which students will simply shoot as many people as possible with their Nerf guns. “If you get shot, you get shot—like See NERF, p. 8
The Brandeis Hoot 7
You Know We’re Right
Major problems with majors Dear Leah and Morgan, I’m seriously stressing about declaring my majors and minors! I’ve taken a bunch of classes that I love, but I’m not sure what I want to do with the rest of my life. I’m a sophomore, so it’s almost time to declare. What should I do? Sincerely, Stressed-out Soph Dear Soph, First things first—don’t stress! It’s normal to be worried about declaring your major; it’s a big decision! Most students go through a life crisis at some point in their college career, but we’re here to help you work through that. Take a deep breath. Think back to your past semesters and the classes you took—which did you enjoy the most? Meet with your academic adviser. Sometimes talking these things through with a knowledgeable person will help to clear your head and figure out which direction you want to go in. Drop-in hours for the academic advisers happen every weekday from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Office of Academic Services (Usdan 130). Professors are another great resource—they can provide guidance and support, as they know what you are going through and have probably helped many other lost and confused students just like you to figure out their paths. All professors have office hours and we’re sure your professor will be excited to talk to you, an interested student! Take a serious look. Remember to think about what you do outside of classes. Do you participate in any activities on campus? Volunteer with a local organization? Asking yourself these questions will help you to realize what subjects you enjoy. Think to your future. Your major won’t automatically get you a job or stop you from getting into a particular field. That said, you probably want to think about a major that will teach you real-world skills. Love theater, but don’t plan to pursue it as a career? Add another major or minor to your Theatre Arts degree. Consider minoring. A minor is a great way to let your personality shine through! Love languages? Science? Art? If you don’t have time to complete an additional major, minors are much easier to finish. Remember: Just because you are majoring in something doesn’t mean those are the only classes you will be taking at Brandeis! Peace, Love and Great Advice, Leah and Morgan.
BATTLE PREP: Appell gets his guns ready for the Nerf war.
PHOTO COURTESY OF Jesse Appell
Have questions that you want answered by the lovely ladies of The Hoot? Submit your questions to advice@thebrandeishoot.com or at formspring. me/leahandmorgan! They will be answered by Leah Finkelman ’13, Features Editor and Morgan Gross ’14, Impressions Editor. We’re so excited to hear your questions!
8 NEWS
The Brandeis Hoot
January 28, 2011
This Week ’Deis clubs serve greater Waltham community in History BY ARIEL MADWAY Special to The Hoot
Brandeis
2003 President Reinharz
gives an honorary degree to Carl J. Shapiro, a longtime donor of the school in Palm Beach, Fla.
2009 President Reinharz
announces to the university community plans to close The Rose Art Museum and sell its art.
Massachusetts
1787
Shays’ Rebellion, the post-Revolutionary clash between New England farmers and merchants, occurs in Massachusetts.
1986
Massachusetts resident Julia Ward Howe becomes first woman to be elected to the American Academy of Arts.
The Brandeis student community is as diverse in interest as it is in composition. Students actively participate in more than 250 clubs ranging in topics from cooking to Korean culture and from environmental awareness to slam poetry. Each of these organizations caters to a different faction of the student population, allowing students to explore that which they feel most passionate about. Two years ago a partnership between the Waltham group, student union and the Waltham community was created with the purpose of encouraging all these clubs and student organizations to embrace Brandeis’ social action mission, along with whatever else they do. Known as Clubs in Service, this initiative helps any group of like-minded people directly to engage in the Waltham community, helping them find and participate in community service opportunities. While it took a while to take off, it is now flourishing. Currently run by a committee of nine, very devoted, student leaders, it has
already worked with close to 50 clubs on campus. Every couple of weeks, Clubs in Service helps another club successfully complete an action project. Clubs can choose to do anything as part of the initiative and are provided not only
Th
ere are so many clubs and so much passion ... but we live in a Brandeis bubble. We need to see the rest of the world.” - Lara Solinsky with the venue but also with money, transportation and training whenever necessary. Prior to engaging in the service project, club members are prepared for whatever they are about to do, especially in situations where the subject matter may not be easy. After completing a project, they are asked to reflect upon the experience, a process that makes the project not only meaningful to those helped, but also to the club
Nerf war comes to campus
United States
1950
President Truman announces the development of the hydrogen bomb, a successor to the atomic bomb, developed during WWII.
1986
The Space Shuttle Challenger explodes right after taking off on its 10th mission, killing seven crewmembers.
1948
1972
World
Mahatma Gandhi is killed after leading Indians to gain independence from Britain and working towards harmony. Bloody Sunday occurs in Northern Ireland when British soldiers shoot unarmed civil rights protesters.
NERF (from p. 7)
a pillow fight,” Appell said. “It’s no problem if you get hit, just hit someone else.” Later, participants will play in “capture the flag scenarios” with a flag placed in the center of the Shapiro Atrium as fighters try to bring the flag back to home base without getting shot. In order to facilitate the evening of Nerf warfare, Game Knight will bring furniture into the atrium to transform the space into a battlefield, complete with overturned tables that can act as shields. The bulk of the play will take place on the atrium floor. Students can take the elevator to the second floor—during capture the flag, some students will be allowed to throw plush balls down at the players below—but running up the stairs will not be allowed for safety reasons. Students will not necessarily be restricted from taking the elevator to the third floor for play, however, Appell said, “it doesn’t have the best angles for shooting anyway.” Game Knight will also have referees posted at various levels of the building to make sure the play is fair. “Part of the fun is how does the game evolve, how does that work for
PHOTO COURTESY OF Jesse Appell
fairness,” Appell said. “Strategy plays a large part in these games.” Even so, Appell said he has his eye on a Game Knight-bought Nerf gun that can shoot up to 20 darts in 1.5 seconds. Though some memebrs of Game Knight originally wanted to have the Nerf gun war in the Castle because the dorm’s curvaceous corridors would be conducive to an all-out war, they decided to relocate to the Atrium in order to foster a larger event. “As far as I know, this is the largest nerf-gun war we’ve ever had at Brandeis,” he said. So far, the Facebook event for the Nerf war has 61 confirmed attendees. In addition to the 30 recently purchased Game Knight guns, many of the clubs members will be bringing gun stashes of their own for non-gunowners to borrow for the fight. “That’s the kind of club we are,” Appell said of the cooperative nature of the club. “We share our guns. “One of the core points of Game Knight is that skill is not important,” he continued. “It doesn’t matter if you hit a single person at the Nerf gun war, we still want you here.”
members who participated. Furthermore, by working together to achieve a common goal, participants in Clubs in Service can bond as a group. “It is a win-win situation,” Lucas Malo, director of the Department of Community service, said. Some projects are one time occasions; for example, they organized a Pokemon-themed Halloween party put on by the Anime club at the local YMCA, while others have materialized into even bigger entities. Spectrum, Brandeis’ autism awareness club, now works on a regular basis with Waltham’s autistic population and members from the ICC work consistently with residents in the Greater Waltham area. Ultimately, Clubs in Service hopes to turn general interest clubs into service clubs by helping them create long-term projects and connections with the Waltham community. “There are so many clubs and so much passion … but we live in a Brandeis bubble. We need to see the rest of the world,” Lara Solinsky, committee coordinator, said.
Trial team wins
MOCK TRIAL (from p. 7)
top level tournaments. In October, Brandeis was invited to compete at the Columbia University Big Apple Invitational Tournament (CUBAIT) and took fifth place. This past weekend, Brandeis’ Mock Trial Teams C and D competed at Villanova Rivalry Weekend. Two of the members from Team D were studying abroad last semester, so the team only had four days to prepare the case. Despite this major setback, the team still succeeded to win first place. Team C also performed well, placing third. The pressure remains high during the next couple of weeks as regionals quickly approach. Most of the year is spent in preparation for regionals, in which the top eight teams get to proceed to the Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS). This year, the case deals with a father who wants to hold a toy company responsible for his son’s death after the two-year-old boy died having consumed 25 beads out of his sister’s bead kit. The attorneys and the expert witnesses have a crucial role to play. Effective communication among the teammates and the ability to recognize the opposing team’s strategy and improvise accordingly are all important elements to winning at Mock Trial. “The skills you gain in Mock Trial could be applicable in every career,” explained the Mock Trial team’s president, Ryan Fanning ’11. For example, Mock Trial offers the ability to practice public speaking, effective communication and even the art of persuasion. Teammates bond through a common interest. Whether united through their interests in law, public speaking or the desire to try something new, members end up spending many hours together in preparation for the tournaments. “You spend a lot of time together,” said Avi Snyder ’13, captain of Team C. “The vast majority of that time is conducive to making good friends.”
ARTS, ETC.
January 28, 2011
The Brandeis Hoot 9
Schlossberg details ‘Life in Miniature’ Author to speak at Mandel Center Feb. 3
BY KAYLA DOS SANTOS Editor
From birth, Adie was different—tiny. From the beginning of the novel “Life in Miniature,” Adie—the smallest girl in her grade—is marked out as unusual. Her small stature gives her a unique vision of the world around her, which author and Brandeis alumna Linda Schlossberg depicts with poignant and specific imagery. Adie notices and remarks on the undersides of tables and whether or not people tie their shoes. When her beautiful mother, however, begins to give into her paranoid delusions and embarks on a dizzying road trip through California, Adie discovers that what seemed like a toobig world is closing in around her. Schlossberg’s debut novel manages to capture the voice of a young girl confronted by adult choices. She explores the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship, a bond grounded in love but shaken by the mother’s growing irrational fears and Adie’s inability to decide between being loyal to her mother and caring for herself. As her mother spirals out of control, Adie must find a direction for her own life. In an interview with The Hoot conducted via e-mail, Schlossberg answered questions about the experience of writing this coming-
of-age novel. Kayla Dos Santos: What inspired you to write “Life in Miniature?” Linda Schlossberg: Questions of mental health and illness have always fascinated me, especially as they are represented in fiction. I’m also a big fan of coming-ofage novels, and I wanted to write a story from a child’s point of view. In “Life in Miniature,” I tried to explore how a child, with her limited understanding and frame of reference, might narrate the story of a family member’s mental illness. KDS: What surprised you about the experience of writing a novel? LS: I’m always surprised by the degree to which so much of the writing process takes place at an unconscious level. When we read a published novel it always seems as if the author must have known all along what was going to happen, but the truly strange and exciting thing about writing is that it often escapes from you. Despite your best intentions, the characters end up doing all sorts of things you did not anticipate, and the story goes in directions you did not plan ahead of time. KDS: How has your role as di-
rector of WGS influenced your work? Were there time conflicts? Did your work influence your writing? LS: Most of the courses I teach in WGS are on topics related to literature and writing. But teaching fiction and writing it are such different things. One is about explicitly trying to reveal or unveil meaning and the other—hopefully— is about hinting at that meaning in a more subtle way. In terms of scheduling, I had to set aside blocks of time that were specifically devoted to writing and revision. At first I thought it would be impossible to designate a formal schedule for being “creative,” but I soon realized that it actually made things easier, as it allowed me to experience the writing process as everyday and normal, as opposed to something I did in my spare time. KDS: I noticed in the acknowledgement section that you thanked your writing group; how has the group impacted your work? LS: Writing for publication can make you feel extremely vulnerable, so it’s very reassuring to have a trusted circle of readers. At the same time, being in a writing group is only helpful if you are
PHOTO COURTESY OF Linda Schlossberg
EXAMINING ‘LIFE:’ Author Linda Schlossberg will come to campus on Feb. 3 to discuss her first novel, “Life in Miniature.”
open to criticism. Nonstop cheerleading feels good, but it won’t improve your work, and it can keep you from taking important risks. I was lucky to be in a group
that was both supportive of my writing and able to challenge it, and the members of the group are See SCHLOSSBERG, p. 12
‘Listen to This’ makes sweet music
BY ADAM HUGHES Staff
While reading a chapter on Johannes Brahms in “Listen to This,” the latest book from music critic and “New Yorker” writer Alex Ross, I realized a key difference between so-called “classical” and “popular” music—namely, that you can’t really write about pop music. Sure, you can deconstruct lyrics, examine musical elements, and endlessly examine and analyze the lives of its performers, but you’ll never really capture the essence of a pop song. The simplicity of structure that defines the genre condemns it to skeletal prose description. I’m not saying that the whole practice of music reviewing is pointless; I’ve spent hours reading reviews and have written a few myself. But at a certain point, the reviewer is forced to throw up his hands and admit to a certain indefinable quality that a song either does or doesn’t have and that his readers either will or won’t hear. Of all the words I’ve ever read about Bob Dylan (and that’s no small amount), none have come close to describing what makes “Like a Rolling Stone” so incredible. It elicits a unique emotional response that only music provides and, if another listener doesn’t
PHOTO COURTESY OF Internet source
‘LISTEN:’ Author Alex Ross illuminates the stylings of musicians from Brahms to the Sonic Youth in “Listen to This.”
have the same reaction, there’s little I could say to convince her of its genius. Classical music is different, however, particularly in the hands of its most skilled composers. Its complex forms allow entire stories to unfold in minute detail, needing no words to be highly descriptive. Ross’ greatest gift as an author is decoding these narratives and sharing them in evocative ways and I felt that I could
understand and appreciate works that I’d never heard. In Brahms’ Second Symphony, he sees the composer “shoot a ray of darkness into a world of light” before “whirling away in a fast diminuendo, like a group of revelers vanishing down an empty street;” in the First Piano Concerto, chords are found “tumbling head over heels.” Of course, classical music can provide the same extra “something” as the Dylan song;
still, words can penetrate much more deeply for the symphony. Ross wouldn’t bother agreeing or disagreeing with this premise; I feel he’s much more likely to simply reject the initial premise that “classical” and “popular” music should even be discussed as separate entities. The very first sentence of the book reads, “I hate ‘classical music’: not the thing but the name,” which Ross considers a symptom of “a cult of medio-
cre elitism that tries to manufacture self-esteem by clutching at empty formulas of intellectual superiority.” His musical tastes know no bounds and the subjects of his chapters range from Franz Schubert to Kurt Cobain. He prefers to look at all music as a continuum, remarking in a section on Sonic Youth and Cecil Taylor that “practitioners of free jazz, underground rock, and avant-garde classical are, in fact, closer to one another than they are to their less radical colleagues.” I agree with Ross on this point and I believe a term like “classical music” should only be used with the understanding that it’s a convenient shorthand, better for describing musical characteristics than for a bounded repertory of music. Nevertheless, I acknowledge it as a useful phrase for establishing meaningful distinctions; on the whole, I’d say my favorite chapters of “Listen to This” are those dedicated to classical composers, largely because of his aforementioned descriptive facility. When writing about musicians on the “popular” end of the spectrum, Ross shifts his storytelling to biography. The finest of these chapters is his study of Dylan, but
See LISTEN, p. 11
10 ARTS ,ETC.
The Brandeis Hoot
January 28, 2011
The unbearable lightness of being American abroad BY SEAN FABERY Editor
“You’re going to learn a lot about what it means to be an American,” a veteran of the study abroad experience told me before I left last semester to study in Germany. At the time I acknowledged her statement but also shrugged it off—sure, I’d be an American, but hadn’t I always been one? It wasn’t exactly new. Once I arrived in Germany, however, I quickly realized what she had meant. During my first weeks abroad, I became hyperaware of my American identity. Every time I ordered something at a restaurant or went grocery shopping, I wondered how quickly people would realize that I wasn’t German. One word? Two? At times it seemed that it was enough for them to simply take a gander at me—on at least two occasions, people approached me on the street and instantly began speaking in English to me without my having ever opened my mouth. I promptly responded in broken German, but I think they knew what was up. It wasn’t that I wasn’t proud of being American. I simply wanted to belong. In many ways, my first weeks abroad were kind of like my first semester of college, with one pivotal difference: most of the people around me spoke a different language. Of course, I wasn’t the only one with this problem. Everyone in my program—and likely the vast majority of students who study abroad—appeared to feel something similar, and everyone coped with this feeling of being adrift differently. Some skyped home every day. Others complained constantly about the culture around them. One kid dined almost exclusively at McDonald’s and Starbucks because it was both cheap and, yes, familiar. I took solace in bookstores. Because I spent the semester in a university town, virtually every bookstore had a decent-sized English literature department. Though I
GRAPHIC BY Ariel Wittenberg/The Hoot
didn’t usually have much time to read, I made a point of visiting at least one bookstore per week. The English sections fascinated me because it gave me insight into what books had transitioned well. Perhaps unsurprisingly, copious copies of books by Stephenie Meyer and Dan Brown littered the shelves, but they were joined by authors ranging from Mark Twain to Philip Roth. It was simply the strangest thing—an oasis of English in a lovely if unfamiliar culture. It also proved bizarre coming across so many familiar books in their translated form. I traveled extensively throughout western Europe, and virtually every street
was covered with ads for Jonathan Franzen’s “Freedom”—though, instead of “Freedom,” it was “Freiheit” or some other iteration. One of my favorite translations was actually in the realm of movies—“Easy A,” the comedy with Emma Stone, became “Einfach zu haben,” which translates to “easy to have.” Not that I didn’t engage with German culture or people. In fact, one of my favorite things was to compare notes with Germans my own age. During my orientation, the program director “warned” us that German students actively followed the news and would likely interrogate us about American politics.
While these discussions were certainly direct, they were never anything less than interesting, as they shed light on the facets of American political life that fascinated Germans. For instance, more than one person expressed their disbelief that Obama had been compared to Hitler during the health care debate (understandably a touchy issue). The conflict in Afghanistan—which actually indirectly led to the resignation of the German president last year—also came up frequently. Most people with whom I spoke hardly focused on anything political, though. Instead, they wanted to know about tiny details of American life. What was prom like? Does everyone own a gun? Is high school just like “Mean Girls”? And why are most Americans still under the impression that Germans love David Hasselhoff? These questions—both political and apolitical—made me think about aspects of our culture that I often don’t take into consideration. So, not only did I get insight into a culture that differs from my own, but I also learned something about my own. Not too shabby for one semester. Perhaps the most wonderful aspect about that is the fact that this questioning of American culture hasn’t stopped just because I’ve returned home. When I find myself inevitably fielding questions about my time abroad, I think of all the things that were different about Germany. For one thing, there weren’t any “one-stop-shops” like Wal-Mart or Target and relatively few chain stores and restaurants. Virtually every street has at least one bakery. Everything shuts down on Sundays save for restaurants and museums. The list goes on and on. Of course, when you list the unique qualities of another place, you naturally begin to consider the characteristics of where you yourself live—both the good (Sunday shopping!) and the bad (good chocolate croissants are few and far between). Either way, though, I love that thrill of inquiry.
Sylvain tackles ‘Love’ and ‘Loss’ during ‘Night of Haitian Poetry’ BY KAYLA DOS SANTOS Editor
As part of an evening celebrating Haitian poetry, Brown University Professor Patrick Sylvain used his strong and vibrant poems to voice the pain, the strength and the love that have been prevalent themes among the Haitian people. The night was one of the efforts of Professor Jane Hale (FRE) to incorporate more of Haitian culture into the Brandeis community as well as part of the Haiti Initiative, which was launched after the devastating earthquake on Jan. 12, 2010 to help improve the lives of the people of Haiti. Sylvain read the works of several Haitian poets, as well his own, launching a discussion with Brandeis students about the present state of Haiti and its potential for positive change. Sylvain performed a few poems from his book titled “Love, Lust and Loss,” a powerful and personal collection of works. His collection resulted from a challenge issued by Paul Laraque, a fellow poet who edited the first bilingual collection of Haitian Creole poetry, “Open Gate.” Sylvain said that Laraque argued that “a lot of poetry written in Haitian is very political, I would like a book about the personal.” Sylvain definitely succeeded. The poems Sylvain read from the collection were poignant (one about his first encounter with his wife was particularly beautiful) and painful.
must confront.” Sylvain’s poems weren’t all somber, however, some incorporated his love of jazz music—some even arguably traversed the line between poetry and music, creating an entertaining and interesting performance. Later that evening, he explained how music is a necessary part of his writing process. “Language PHOTO BY Anthony Losquadro/The Hoot is music … I’m a jazz head. I have POWERFUL VOICE: Patrick Sylvain read selections from his collection “Love, Lust to listen to muand Loss.” sic when I write … it gets you into a zone One of the most memorable and heartwhere you have to reflect. ” wrenching of Sylvain’s pieces dealt with his While most of Sylvain’s poetry dealt with grief over his father’s death. The poem is personal themes, he also dealt with the poan exploration of how poetry can help ease litical. His “Stanzas for a Silent Executive” tremendous pain, a theme that pervaded was a criticism of the Haitian government’s the evening’s discussion. He described po19 days of silence following the earthquake. etry and prose as “molasses to sooth life’s The poem used apocalyptic imagery of a bitter taste.” During the discussion that folcity “canvassed by dust” with “topsy-turned lowed his readings, he explained how writing helps people “bear witness” to traumatic streets... and cutting-edge poverty” to illusexperiences. He said, “Pain is something we trate a country that needed to hear words
of guidance, something from their leaders. He read, “I know you are not a wordsmith, but your tongue must be baffled by your mouth’s silence.” Throughout the discussion after his reading, Sylvain broached controversial subjects, which gave his poems about pain and love greater meaning. On the present state of Haiti, Sylvain was blunt, “Haiti is tough,” he said, “I’m not going to romanticize about that.” He indicated that there was a certain level of civility that was missing in Haiti, largely due to an almost absent government. However, he stated that Haitians continual resilience was due to the fact that “Haitians are a loving people. They love life.” Sylvain suggested that positive change for Haiti would come from the youth, who do not operate under an agenda and have “energy and vision.” Another enriching part of the discussion was Sylvain’s comparisons of Haitian culture to American culture. He compared America’s pragmatic individualism to Haiti’s emphasis on the collective. “If an American wins the lottery, that’s his money. He doesn’t have to give it away. He can, but he isn’t under an obligation.” In contrast, in his example he explained how in Haiti he would have to give the money to a large community of relatives. “A Night of Haitian Poetry” provided the Brandeis community with a peek into the different and vibrant culture of Haiti through the powerful voice of Patrick Sylvain.
January 28, 2011
The Brandeis Hoot
ARTS, ETC.
11
The Weekly Glutton: Ollie’s provides late-night treats BY AARON SADOWSKY AND IMARA ROYCHOWDHURY Special to the Hoot
Have you ever craved a pancake and waffle fries at 2:15 a.m.? How about three bleu cheeseburgers and a buffalo chicken wrap? It happens to the best of us. We all know Waltham shuts down at around 11 a.m. and that the C-Store is notoriously closed whenever you need it most. If this has happened to you, you’ve inevitably ingested the delicious creations at Ollie’s Late Night Eatery. In the wee hours of the night, Ollie’s helps students satisfy their most primal need (no, not sex): hunger. You walk into Sherman and veer left, where you probably see masses of students waiting outside begging the wait-staff to be seated, so it’s off to Ollie’s, the “it” place for Brandeis students and the aspiring gastronome. Upon entering the eatery, you’re assaulted by the loud speech and laughter of your peers, most of whom have probably come back from a long night at one of the oh-so-happening houses off of South Street (or, let’s be honest, maybe even a Rosie). Now you are at your seat. Your waiter is probably someone you’ve seen around campus. Become their friend. It will only help if you want to become an Ollie’s regular. The menu card is a two-sided, laminated strip of heaven, with food choices from breakfast to dinner. There are even options for you vegetarian folks out there. But, the most important and most famous of all of the foods at Ollie’s are the iconic waffle fries. These, combined with a milkshake, are the calling card of a true Ollie’s fanatic. If you are lucky, they’ll have both. Here are our choices for best in show. Once you get one of the items below, your taste buds will thank you; this food will satisfy even the most discerning of gluttons.
PHOTO BY Nafiz R. “Fizz” Ahmed/The Hoot
CHOWING DOWN AT OLLIE’S : Students grab late-night snacks at Ollie’s, the Brandeis diner geared towards the university’s resident night owls.
ing that is the namesake of this sandwich. Those who keep kosher: beware—there is a combination of milk and meat inherent in this gastronomical sensation. 2) Do you like to spice things up? Well, your eyes should go straight to the buffalo chicken wrap. For the more serious gluttons, this wrap complements the bleu cheeseburger(s) wonderfully. 3) Ollie’s may be better after midnight, simply due to the late night cravings that it satisfies, but the milkshakes are al1) The bleu cheeseburger is a solid ways good, whether it be day or night. You dish, except when prepared with Caesar can choose from coffee, chocolate and vadressing in place of the bleu cheese dress- nilla milkshakes, and they’re all delicious.
Book proves good ‘Listen’ LISTEN (from p. 9)
but Radiohead and Björk also receive in-depth profiles. I enjoyed these sections of the book very much, but they come off as more gener ic—he doesn’t say too much PHOTO FROM Internet source about the MUSIC TO MY EARS: Alex Ross, a music critic for “The New Yorker,” brings both artists that classical and popular music to life in his latest book, “Listen to This.” I hadn’t already read, even if he says it with more to single out institutions or mentalities that style than most authors. he feels diminish the music’s potential as a Perhaps the most thought-provoking cultural touchstone, truly proving himself chapters are about music as a cultural to be as deft a social critic as he is a music phenomenon. Ross explores the burgeon- critic. ing classical music scene in China, warns Ross’ previous book, “The Rest is Noise: about the crisis in modern American mu- Listening to the Twentieth Century,” set a sic education and visits Marlboro Music, a difficult precedent for him to follow and summer retreat that attracts the most bril- mere regression to the mean predicts that liant orchestra performers in the world. “Listen to This” won’t match the armful of His abiding faith in classical music as a awards that the prior work received. It will relevant and evolving art form leads him to be a joy, however, to any ardent music fan follow it to all corners of the world, from looking to expand the boundaries of his the halls of the Los Angeles Philharmonic taste and Ross’ compelling prose should to the small towns where touring quartets guarantee it a spot as one of the best books eke out modest livings. He doesn’t hesitate of 2010.
If you can’t get chocolate, aim for coffee. If you can’t get coffee, then the vanilla is pretty great, too. I can’t speak to the strawberry milkshake’s deliciousness, but I’ve heard great things. 4) Although we are putting this last, it is certainly not least. The waffle fries of Ollie’s will please your taste buds to no end. Each delicious, crunchy bite will only leave you begging and pleading for more. If you are a cheesy fries person, don’t worry, the wonderful wait-staff can help you with your needs. If you are more on the spicy end, they can also add jalapeno peppers for your satisfaction.
After you are done, don’t worry, because this is a real restaurant. There’s no putting away plates or throwing out trash. You just have to find a way to obtain your check and pay on the way out. The A+ wait-staff cleans up for you, just as if it were in the real world and not a college diner! At the cash register, you can pay using points, WhoCash, RealCash ($) or you can whip out the plastic. Whatever your goal, be it nights to remember or nights to forget, from the moment you make the decision to go to Ollie’s, you can say that you made at least one good choice that night. Gluttony—it happens.
Arts Recommends Not everyone has the time to see the latest films. We make some recommendations that you can pick up at the nearest library. Long before films like “The Omen” tackled the hot-button issue of infants that may or may not be the antichrist, director Roman Polanski did it with 10 times the style in 1968’s “Rosemary’s Baby.” Everything appears idyllic for newlyweds Rosemary (Mia Farrow) and Guy (John Cassavetes) when they move into their new apartment, save for the annoying elderly couple (Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer) that lives next door. When Guy befriends them just as his stagnant acting career suddenly flourishes, a newly pregnant Rosemary becomes suspicious, her worries only increasing when a family friend goes comatose. Just as she begins to voice her concerns, Rosemary’s pregnancy experiences numerous complications, raising the possibility that her baby may somehow be involved. “Rosemary’s Baby” may be Polanski’s masterpiece, imbuing his film with an ever-growing tension while fully immersing us in Rosemary’s world. Farrow turns in the defining performance of her career as the beautiful but haunted titular character. Gordon, meanwhile, creates a character that would be equally at home in a Florida retirement community as in a satanic cult.—SF
Film Pick “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968)
12 ARTS ,ETC.
The Brandeis Hoot
January 28, 2011
Schlossberg discusses ‘Life in Miniature’
SCHLOSSBERG (from p. 9)
now some of my dearest friends. KDS: What were the challenges or joys of writing in the voice of a pre-adolescent girl? LS: It’s extremely challenging in that you are limited by what the character can reasonably know at that age. At the same time, you need to make sure the child-narrator doesn’t sound too innocent or too naïve. Children know a lot, even if they don’t always have a sophisticated vocabulary or fully understand the subtleties of the adult world around them. KDS: Adie seems to notice the small details that adults miss. Why are small details important? LS: Adults have a larger range of vision than children do—they see things in a broader perspective because of their greater understanding of the way the world works, and their more clearly de-
fined sense of past, present and future. Children effectively live in the moment, which accounts for why they seem to focus so intently on the details right in front of them. KDS: Why set the book in California? LS: I grew up in California, first in San Francisco and then in suburban areas not unlike the ones in the story. So whenever I picture what it means to “be a child,” I imagine it with a California backdrop. It’s hard for me to imagine writing from a child’s point of view that didn’t take a California landscape into account. KDS: During the second half of the book, Adie and her mom spend a lot of time in motels; what intrigued you about motels as a setting? LS: At the most basic level, motels are transient places where people can hide out, and they
tend to be relatively anonymous and generic, which made them a good setting for Adie and her mother’s “escape.” On a thematic level, the “smallness” of the motel room—the tiny soaps, etc.—fits in with the novel’s broader theme of an ever-shrinking world. KDS: Why are the mother’s fears centered around drugs? LS: I’ m really interested in the question of how people’s individual fears and anxieties are shaped by the preoccupations of the larger culture. The early 1980s in America were steeped in the rhetoric of “Just Say No” and a pervasive anxiety about drug use and abuse. In a sense the mother’s delusions are a logical—if exaggerated—response to the cues being fed to her by the wider culture. KDS: What projects are you currently working on now? LS: My next novel is very dif-
ferent from “Life in Miniature.” It has multiple narrators— instead of a single point of view— and is told from the perspective of adults. On Feb. 3 at 5:15 p.m., Schlossberg will take part in a fiction reading as part of “Women and the Coming of Age Novel” with Professor John Plotz (ENG) in the Mandel Center Reading Room.
PHOTO FROM Internet source
No glove, no love: practicing safe sex BY GABBY KATZ Staff
There is nothing like a week of frostbitten fingers, frozen ears and rosy cheeks to encourage us to curl up and stay in bed—and what better way to stay warm than to snuggle with somebody in bed and create your own heat? Ah sex, it is the perfect substitute for sledding: you can get slippery without the ice, wet without the snow and take wild rides without snow pants and a toboggan. The quintessential perfect snow day begins with properly bundling up, picking a place to go sledding and taking precautions while playing. The same applies to sex. As your token health columnist, I am always trying to give you guys the latest sound information in all areas of health, so this is the first in a three-part series on sexual health, since sex plays a major role in emotional, mental, spiritual and physical health. Let’s begin with basic penile and vaginal health and then we can discuss fun ways to put on condoms. Now, you’re probably thinking, “I’ve been through the high school health class and the sex talk with my parents, I know what STIs (sexually transmitted infections) are and I’ve put a condom on a banana—really, what else do I need to know?” As it turns out, that kind of attitude gets a lot of people in trouble. Sami Grosser ’12, an SSIS coordinator, believes that people can easily think of STIs as a problem that “can’t happen to them,” but that these strong stigmas and lack of knowledge leave many at risk. Sometimes CDC (Centers for Disease Control) statistics are a little more persuasive than your old gym teacher, so here are some percentages: in 2004, 15-to-24year-olds represented 25 percent of the sexually active population but a whopping 50 percent of new
GRAPHIC by Estie Martin/The Hoot
STI cases every year. Additionally, about one of six people 14-to49-years-old in the United States are infected with genital HSV-2 (herpes), meaning that at least one person in every class could be infected. The CDC’s 2009 studies showed a 5 percent increase in syphilis prevalence in the U.S. population and a 3 percent increase in chlamydia prevalence from last year. Still think you’re not at risk? Grosser suggests three of the many easy and important preventative methods available for reducing your risk of contracting a sexually-transmitted virus or infection. Number one is being informed of your STI status, as well as that of your partner’s. The more you know, the safer you are; frankly, I find it confusing why somebody would not actively check on the status of their own sexual health. You should be getting a routine physical every
year—even when nothing hurts— in order to ensure your health. Shouldn’t all parts apply? Unfortunately, many STIs can be contracted and exhibit little-to-no effects at first, so making time for routine testing, even when nothing hurts, is crucial. STI testing is surprisingly more accessible then one would think. If you have university health insurance and go to the Brandeis Health Center to get an STI test for a small $20 co-pay, they will usually list it as a generic “culture,” so you can maintain your privacy. If you still think that’s too risky, free STI testing is available every Thursday at Massachusetts General Hospital, located just one block from a red-line MBTA stop, and you can hop on the red line directly by taking the BrandeisCambridge shuttle. Whether or not you feel comfortable asking your partner about his or her status, knowing your own is the first
step to having a safer sex life. Secondly, you can reduce your risk through proper condom usage. Condoms are the secondmost effective method for STI prevention; of course, there’s abstinence, but we all know how well that works. When using a condom, check the expiration date, ensure that there are no holes, make sure there is an air bubble or else it could be punctured and finally put it on properly by pinching the tip and rolling it down. Different condoms have different textures. SSIS has high-quality thin ones, studded ones, pleasure tips and glow-in-the-dark condoms. Think whipping out that condom is going to ruin the mood? Au contraire, it can make things spicier. Here’s how: Put the condom on your partner using your mouth and lips. Turn buying condoms into a form of foreplay. Browse the condom selection at SSIS to help get
your partner excited. Slip a condom in your partner’s pocket to hint at what’s going to come. Use glow-in-the-dark condoms to ward off monsters under the bed and your fear of the dark! Lastly, here’s my favorite tip: lubrication provides the best sensations. Finally, my physics class this year comes to good use. Microtears from friction are the number one cause of condom breakage. To quote Grosser, “Chafing isn’t sexy. Smooth is sexy.” By using a water or silicone-based lubricant (oil-based ones essentially melt the condom into gross goop), you can reduce friction and prevent micro-tears. Water-based lubes won’t even stain your sheets and silicon lubes are great for keeping everything wet when playing in water. Incorporating lube into the bedroom is easy with a little touching and massaging. You can even have a tasty low calorie treat with SSIS’s glycerin-free vaginasafe flavored lubes! If you eat right for your heart, sleep for your mind and workout for your muscles, why would you not put equal effort towards maintaining vaginal or penile health? Knowing your status and actively taking STI prevention methods is empowering. The best resource for any questions on any of the subjects discussed in this series is the SSIS office on the third floor of the Shapiro Campus Center. You can also contact SSIS online on AOL Instant Messenger by using the screen name ssisbrandeis for anonymous questions, and you can also phone them at 781736-3695. If you’ve learned anything from reading this article, just remember: don’t be silly, protect your willie—seriously! As always, tune in this semester for more health tips and send me an e-mail at gkatz10@brandeis. edu with any health-related questions you may have.
EDITORIALS
January 28, 2011
Established 2005 "To acquire wisdom, one must observe." Alex Schneider Editor in Chief Destiny D. Aquino Managing Editor Nathan Koskella News Editor Jon Ostrowsky News Editor Leah Finkelman Features Editor Morgan Gross Impressions Editor Alex Self Impressions Editor Kayla Dos Santos Arts, Etc. Editor Sean Fabery Arts, Etc. Editor Gordy Stillman Sports Editor Leah Lefkowitz Layout Editor Vanessa Kerr Business Editor Yael Katzwer Copy Editor Savannah Pearlman Copy Editor Photography Editors Nafiz R. “Fizz” Ahmed Ingrid Schulte Alan Tran Associate Editor Ariel Wittenberg Senior Editors Bret Matthew Max Shay Staff Candice Bautista, Alana Blum, Debby Brodsky, Becca Carden, Emma Chad-Friedman, Jodi Elkin, Andrea Fishman, Adam Hughes, Gabby Katz, Josh Kelly, Alex Norris, Morgana Russino, Aliza Sena, Emily Stott and Ryan Tierney
FOUNDED BY
Leslie Pazan, Igor Pedan and Daniel Silverman
A failed lesson in leadership
A
student’s negligent and careless driving hospitalized two students last month. We are outraged that this university has had no formal response or statement to the community about what happened and what we can learn from it. We are not ignorant to believe that accidents do not happen or that they may never happen to us one day. We do not know all the facts behind what happened on Dec. 3, 2010, and we would like to learn them. But more importantly we would like this community to acknowledge that there is a way to prevent future accidents. It requires warning students of the dangers in their lives. Here at Brandeis, we occasionally all need to be reminded that our actions have consequences. While after other public safety concerns, such as drinking before
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Pachanga and the flasher in the chapels, the university rightfully saw fit to inform students of the issue at hand. It is inconsistent and unacceptable that they would not do the same after a hit and run that sent two students to the hospital. To pretend that the accident does not warrant a campus-wide statement about the need to drive safely around campus and be aware of all surroundings represents a failure of leadership from this administration. At the same time, to pretend that the Loop Road that circles Brandeis is safe is similarly wrong. The layout of the Loop Road did not cause this accident, but changes in its design have the potential to increase the safety of pedestrians. The road is wide and invites speeding, has few warning signs and includes parking spaces that, especially at night, obscure the presence
of pedestrians. In winter, patches of the sidewalk are not shoveled, forcing pedestrians into the street. We recommend that the university invest in speed bumps, stop signs and other markers that warn drivers and pedestrians of the dangers of the road. The alternative choice is to ignore that an accident occurred on the Loop Road. But that alternative just is not acceptable. This university knows better than to ignore a potentially tragic accident. We hope it will acknowledge the concern and outrage of this editorial board–but more importantly as members of this community who care about one another’s safety. If we do not learn from the accident last month, a similar accident could happen again. That is a terrifying possibility, and one that should frighten all of us.
Provost role key, misunderstood
SUBMISSION POLICIES The Hoot welcomes letters to the editor on subjects that are of interest to the general community. Preference is given to current or former community members. The Hoot reserves the right to edit any submissions for libel, grammar, punctuation, spelling and clarity. The Hoot is under no obligation to print any of the pieces submitted. Letters in print will also appear on-line at www.thebrandeishoot.com The deadline for submitting letters is Tuesday at 8 p.m. All letters must be submitted electronically at www. thebrandeishoot.com. All letters must be from a valid e-mail address and include contact information for the author. Letters of length greater than 500 words may not be accepted. The opinions, columns, cartoons and advertisements printed in The Hoot do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial board. The Hoot is a community student newspaper of Brandeis University. Produced entirely by students, The Hoot serves a readership of 6,000 with in-depth news, relevant commentary, sports and coverage of cultural events. Our mission is to give every community member a voice.
The Brandeis Hoot 13
T
he provost search committee has already received many nominations for potential replacements for Marty Krauss, who currently holds the position. The provost is one of the most influential and important people on campus. Charged with shaping the university’s academics, choosing a new provost is as important as picking a new president. But you wouldn’t know that from the way students are talking-or not talking-about this decision. Because students, quite frankly, are apathetic. This apathy can by attributed, for the large part, due to the confusion many students have about what exactly a provost is. This ignorance is unacceptable, and students must educate themselves about the position so they can be adequately engaged in the provost-picking process.
However, as important as it is for students to educate themselves, the committee members, and future provost, must meet them halfway. Because the position of provost is as important as that of a president, the committee members should be treating this decision with the same care for student input as they did when choosing new President Fred Lawrence last year. Town halls and discussions about what we as a community value in academics, and thus in a provost, should be held in order to ensure that this is a community decision. If students are unaware as to the importance of this position, the committee, which has only one student member, should make an effort to educate them, not use student ignorance as an excuse for a lack of transparency. Even after the new executive is
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selected, we urge the future provost to make their presence known around campus and to be involved in campus life. Members of the provost search committee lamented in this week’s issue of The Hoot that “too many people just don’t know who Provost Krauss is and what she’s done for this community.” We contend that it is the provost’s job to meet and convene with students to the extent that the student body is familiar with not only the provost’s job description, but also their name and their face. When it comes to a university, the quality of Brandeis’ academics is our most important value. We cannot allow student ignorance or a lack of administrative involvement to come in the way of ensuring that our university remains at the top of its game.
IMPRESSIONS
14 The Brandeis Hoot
January 28, 2011
Bad news for Republicans: Obama is fulfilling his potential BY SAM ALLEN Staff
When President Obama entered office on Jan. 19, 2009, initial expectations were beyond unrealistic. Additionally, the raucous health care debate and the White House’s political operation’s failure to trumpet their many legislative successes made President Obama appear to be a disappointment. After two years in office, however, President Obama has finally begun to hit his stride and is well on his way to getting reelected. It is hard to believe, but just a few months ago, Republicans and political pundits could not stop talking about President Obama’s apparent imminent political demise. After all, according to a Gallup poll, President Obama’s job approval rating stood at just 42 percent on Oct. 19 of last year. A few weeks later, the Democrats got “thumped” in the midterm elections, losing a historic 63 seats in the House of Representatives and six seats in the U.S. Senate. President Obama, however, responded perfectly to the election results of last November by negotiating a tax deal with Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and getting the New Start treaty, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and the 9/11 First Responder’s Health Care Bill passed during the lame duck ses-
Book of Matthew
BY BRET MATTHEW
GRAPHIC BY Internet Source
sion of Congress. Additionally, President Obama recently gave a universally acclaimed speech after the tragedy in Tucson. Today, the same Gallup poll puts President Obama’s job approval rating back up at 50 percent, and a focus group put together by Democracy Corps, which was filled with Independent- and Republicanleaning voters, had a very positive reaction to his State of the Union address. Politically, President Obama
is clearly back on track, with his reelection in 2012 all but assured due to the advantages of the Democrats in the Electoral College and the likely weak Republican field of candidates. In the 1970s and 1980s, political pundits spoke about a Republican “lock” on the Electoral College. This talk was justified because Republicans won 24 states in every presidential election from 1972 through 1988 that equaled 219 electoral votes, and another
17 states worth another 196 electoral votes in five of those six presidential elections. Since 1992, however, the Democrats “Blue Wall” have replaced the Republican “lock.” Ronald Brownstein, writing for National Journal, has pointed out that Democrats have won 18 states plus the District of Columbia in all five of the last presidential elections, which after the recent census equals 242 electoral votes. Additionally, Democratic presi-
dential candidates have won three additional states in four out of the past five elections as well, worth another 15 electoral votes. This structural advantage in the Electoral College that Democrats currently enjoy will make President Obama’s reelection campaign much easier. When the Republican nominee for president finally emerges for 2012, they will likely have spent a year running in a hotly contested and highly negative Republican primary. During this time, President Obama will get to appear presidential and make full use of the resources available to an incumbent president. Additionally, the Republican field of likely presidential candidates is looking exceptionally weak, as each potential candidate has flaws; Mitt Romney will have to explain away his support of the Massachusetts health care law, Mitch Daniels has caused an enormous rift between social conservatives and himself due to his call for a “truce” on the social issues, and Tim Pawlenty has failed to generate any excitement around his potential candidacy. President Obama is no savior; instead he has proven to be an effective center-left president who is well on his way to reelection, and still maintains the potential of changing the country’s political trajectory like Reagan and Roosevelt did before him.
Common sense in the Department of Homeland Security
Editor
President Obama gave a good speech Tuesday night, but he could have made it even better by mentioning a small but important piece of news. Starting this week, the Department of Homeland Security will begin phasing out the Bush-era Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS). Few people—except perhaps those stuck in an airport—pay attention to the HSAS anymore. But there was a time when this color-coded chart made headlines as the great arbiter of the terrorist threat to America. Created in 2002 in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the system’s five threat levels (green for “low,” blue for “guarded,” yellow for “elevated,” orange for “high” and red for “severe”) were designed to “communicate with public safety officials and the public at-large through a threat-based, colorcoded system so that protective measures can be implemented to reduce the likelihood or impact of an attack,” according to the Department of Homeland Security website. It had just one problem: Like most Bush Administration initia-
tives, it didn’t work. In fact, the HSAS has been endlessly criticized (and often mocked) by journalists, comedians, security experts and President Bush’s political opponents for its inability to effectively warn Americans of danger. Each threat level provides a laughably vague analysis of the supposed threat. (For example, the yellow “elevated” level means that there is a “significant risk of terrorist attacks”). The government never published specific criteria for the threat level, nor did it make much of an effort to explain why it made changes. But between 2002 and 2009, the HSAS level has been raised to orange five times (and three other times for specific industries) and raised to red once, in August 2006, after British authorities announced that they had stopped a plot to blow up an aircraft. Today, like most days, the threat level is set to yellow (orange for all domestic and international flights). It has never dropped to blue or green. Because of the seemingly nonsensical nature of the threat level changes, some critics suspected that the Bush Administration simply used the HSAS to frighten more voters into choosing can-
didates whose main focus was national security (Republicans). Considering that during a yellow security threat the Department of Homeland Security website advises Americans to “ensure disaster supply kit is stocked and ready,” “develop alternate routes to/ from work or school and practice them” and “continue to be alert for suspicious activity and report it to authorities,” it’s understandable that people might be scared and seek protection. In 2004, one Cornell sociologist claimed that, after tracking Department of Homeland Security Alerts and 131 Gallup polls taken since 2001, he had discovered an average 2.75 poll bounce for President Bush per terrorism warning. Indeed, in August 2004 the Department of Homeland Security notably raised the HSAS level from yellow to orange just as the presidential campaign season was in its home stretch. In his dramatically-titled 2009 book: “The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege ... and How We Can Be Safe Again,” former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge claimed that many of Bush’s top aides tried to convince him to raise the threat level to red just before the election in November (not that former Vice President Dick
Cheney—who once told a group of Des Moines Republicans that a Kerry victory would put the United States at risk for another major terrorist attack—would have ever attempted such an underhanded political ploy). Ridge wrote that he never gave into those demands, yet many Democrats still argued that the damage was already done: The HSAS level was not dropped from orange back to yellow until Nov.10, 2004—eight days after Bush won re-election. Some doubts were raised about the HSAS after that election, but the issue was more or less ignored until 2009, when an extensive review of the policy found a “disturbing lack of confidence in the system.” This prompted the Obama Administration to try a comparatively “no drama” approach. Called the National Terrorism Advisory System, Obama’s plan will scrap the xylophoneesque color scheme and replace it with something about as simple but much more effective: Terrorist alerts that will be specific to each threat that the administration uncovers. These alerts will have two (colorless) levels signaling either an “immediate threat” or an “elevated threat.” They will be sent only to
the audiences that need to know about them—like the NYPD, in the case of a serious threat against New York City. And when these alerts are sent out, they will include a description—perhaps as short as one page—explaining to law enforcement officials the nature of the threat, the precautions they must take and how the government plans to respond. In the unlikely event of a major nationwide threat, the administration plans to issue a specific announcement that will be released to news organizations and social media outlets. Rather than keep Americans in a perpetual state of ignorance and paranoia, wondering how many guns they will have to buy and who to point them at, the Obama Administration is going to issue warnings only when there is something worth warning people about. What a novel idea. It’s a stark difference between Bush and Obama that would have fit well in a State of the Union address that focused on responsible government for the 21st century. But all things considered, I’d rather see an effective plan implemented with little publicity than the opposite. And we’ve been through nine years of the opposite.
January 28, 2011
The Brandeis Hoot
IMPRESSIONS
Delving into sleep: time well spent?
BY RICKY ROSEN Special to The Hoot
How many times during the course of a day do you hear someone behind you in class groan: “Ugh, I’m so tired!” Or better yet, how many times have you been the one complaining about how little sleep you got the night before. Look around you—everyone in college is in a state of perpetual exhaustion: most of us fall asleep the second our heads hits the pillows at night and many of us cannot wait until then, falling asleep in class, during meals or amidst conversation … it happens to the best of us. I personally sleep three hours a night and I wish I could sleep even less than that. I just do not see the benefits of squandering away a third of our lifetimes in a bed, unconscious, unaware and unproductive. I always ask myself to think about all the fun things I could be doing instead of sleeping or all the things that I need to do that I haven’t yet done. There’s just no time to sleep when I have to read a book for class or talk to an old friend on the phone or develop an exciting new obsession (or for the less neurotic of us, a hobby). The reality is that our lives are just too busy to sleep. As overachieving Brandeis students, we absolutely have to be a member of at least four clubs, take five classes and overall spread ourselves out too thin. And during the course of a day, we need to attend rehearsals or sports practices, do our homework at the latest possible hour, write papers, study for exams, organize our schedules, eat three meals per day, maintain proper hygiene (the hardest thing of all), manage to see our friends at least once a day, and squeeze in a few hours on Facebook or another website we use to avoid being actually productive. But as you’ve heard, and probably said to many of your fran-
Engrossing
BY MORGAN GROSS Editor
Winter break sucked. NOWAITDON’TYELLATME. Just let me explain. Hot off of the first semester of my first year at Brandeis, I craved the constant stimulation of being on a college campus; the luxury of always having a friend around to talk to, to watch a movie with or to have a drink … of milk with at any time, regardless of the hour. Somewhere in the midst of my thousandth game of brickbreaker, sixth season of “How I Met Your Mother” and my 105th conversation with my
tic, stressed-out friends, there are only 24 hours in the day. The earth just won’t rotate at an exponentially-slower rate so you can finish a paper on the history of the Ukraine that you should have done two weeks ago. So where do we cut time away from to extend the day? Sleep. Since the invention of the light bulb in 1880, the average sleep time for adults has been drastically reduced. The onset of electricity gave people the opportunity to work through the once dark and unproductive night. As a result, during the past century, people have spent less and less time sleeping. And that’s the way it should be. I’m not arguing that sleep in its entirety is useless. That’s just not true. Sleep is crucial to consolidating memory, recharging the brain, lowering a person’s metabolic rate and energy consumption, slowing down circulation, repairing muscles and replacing chemicals. All that has been scientifically proven. But what scientists and doctors don’t seem to agree on is how much sleep you need each night. Some doctors claim eight hours is the minimum—some say six. Others assert you can get by with four or five hours per night. The truth is that it’s not the quantity of sleep that matters but the quality. Sleeping without interruption and sleeping in a quiet atmosphere and having a regular sleep routine can improve the quality of your sleep; and if you improve the quality of your sleep, you can decrease the quantity. I personally function just fine with my three hours per night. Sure I feel tired every once in a while, but it passes as time goes by. And if you can sleep efficiently for three or four hours, that is a far more useful way to spend your time than sleeping for eight hours and still being tired. Many people that sleep for eight hours per night end up equally, if not more tired than people that sleep for a few hours
15
GRAPHIC BY Ariel Wittenberg / The Hoot
per night. And if you consider some of the most successful people in history, they have all thrived with a few hours of sleep per night. According to Science Base, Leonardo Da Vinci slept for one and a half hours per night, and no one ever caught him falling asleep on his canvas. Thomas Jefferson slept for two hours per night, and that didn’t stop him from drafting the Declaration of Independence or purchasing Louisiana from France. Ben Franklin also slept for two or three hours per night and he invented countless commodities, was a key Enlightenment thinker, an admired author, politician, scientist and the “First American.” And never once did he complain that he was tired (or at least he never said it aloud to the press). Psychology professors and biology majors will argue that three hours of sleep per night does not allow us enough time to enter the deep, restorative third and fourth stages of sleep (including the crucial REM phase). During a period of time of diminishing sleep, however,
your body will condition itself to enter REM faster, as a way of maximizing your sleep time. A key difference between a person who sleeps for four hours per night and a person who sleeps for nine hours per night is that the person who sleeps for nine hours spends a lot more time in Stages One and Two of sleep, which are light and not restorative. In addition, not all animals need to sleep. Certain insect species like ants are able to survive without anything comparable to sleep. While humans do have some things in common with ants (ants are actually more rational decision-makers than humans are, an Arizona State University study shows), it may be a long time before humans are completely able to eliminate sleep from their daily lifestyle. There are actually ways to eliminate sleep right now, such as ingesting a brain hormone known as a “sleep replacement” drug, but none of them have been tested and could pose potential health risks. If a drug did come about, though, that would completely eliminate the need
for sleep, it would be in all of our best interests to sign up for a dosage. Imagine for a second a world without sleep. Life without sleep would be made 33 percent longer. People who live to be 60 years old right now are actually only living 40 years of their life (the other 20 years are spent in a state of dreary unawareness). But it doesn’t have to be that way. What if you could be alive for all 60 years? Or better yet, all 100 years? What if you could truly live life to the fullest? It’s definitely something to think about. Friedrich Nietzche once said: “Sleeping is no small art. For its sake one must stay awake all day.” I think Nietzche would agree that sleeping is a waste of valuable time and if you can spend a few less hours sleeping per night, you can spend a few more hours doing something productive or fulfilling. We’re only in this world for a short period of time so why spend our lives asleep? Remember one thing—nobody’s last words were: “I wish I slept more.”
The girl who spoke too soon mom, as she tried to figure out if “nothing exciting” translated, in some cryptic way, to “I have found the love of my life. He is Jewish, pre-med and we are engaged to be married next week,” I realized that I was just about done with winter break. I was praying to return to my cozy room in Usen, to the warm embraces of my new friends, to Sherman! Well, maybe not Sherman … but you get what I mean. I was counting down the days until my fateful return to Waltham and the new life that I had grown to love, until the day came for my return. I sat through the six-hour train ride, from Trenton Transit
Center to South Station, lugged my stuffed suitcases into a taxi and wiggled in my seat all the way to Brandeis. As the cab reached the final stretch of South Street, an overwhelming calm came over me. I was finally going to be back, it was clear that soon, all would be right in the world, and it was … Just kidding. As I jumped back into the life that I had missed so much, I started remembering some of the less savory pieces of life at Brandeis. Like that constant nagging feeling that you have something to do, and the accompanying re-
alization the next morning that you were right. This transition from lethargy to constant engagement was a hard one for me. I went from my schedule of sleeping 10 hours per day and playing the “how many days can I wear the same pair of pajama pants without anyone noticing” game, to being in a perpetual state of engagement, stretching myself just a little too thin. Two weeks into the new semester, I realize that I may have spoken too soon. I don’t know about anyone else here at Brandeis, but I wouldn’t mind a few mindless games of brick-breaker, or a season or
three of “How I Met Your Mother.” I guess the moral of this story is the same as the much quoted line in Joni Mitchell’s classic song, “Big Yellow Taxi:” “don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got ’till it’s gone.” Unfortunately, winter break is very much gone, and I don’t think that any huge blocks of time suitable for watching hours of mindless television are in my future. But maybe I’ll have a chance for a stray episode here or there and I will have to be content with that. Oh winter break, we hardly knew thee.
16 IMPRESSIONS
The Brandeis Hoot
Borde-nough
Altered Consciousness
Hot air on a freezing night
BY CHRIS BORDELON Columnist
President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union message on Tuesday night. It was followed by a response delivered by the Republican Chairman of the House Budget Committee, Paul Ryan. For more than an hour, millions of Americans curled up on the couch and forgot about the frigid temperatures outside as the hot air ushered forth. Some pundits complained that both speeches lacked detail. Many pointed to the second week in February, when the administration plans to release its budget proposal, as the moment when the uncertainties, which Obama and Ryan left their listeners to ponder, would be resolved. But if one wanted to know the real state of the union, one would have done better to turn off the television and look back at an important political deal that was struck in December. None of them had as much to say about the course being charted for the ship of state as December’s arrangement between the parties—not Obama’s typically soaring, empty rhetoric, not the attendees’ dutiful, unthinking applause in the grand tradition of speeches before the Supreme Soviet, not Ryan’s canned and unsuccessful effort to mask his illegitimate desire to redistribute wealth to the wealthy with false talk of deficit reduction. Obama and Congressional Republicans agreed to renew two legislative triumphs of the present Monopoly-money era of government that would otherwise have expired: continuing benefits for the long-term unemployed and tax breaks for even the richest taxpayers,
which had first been enacted during the administration of George W. Bush. The deal showed how little substance really divides the parties. The retention of tax breaks for the rich had been Republicans’ top priority or close to it. Obama had been lambasting the tax breaks’ unfairness since the 2008 campaign, and with the veto power and continued Democratic control of the Senate even after November’s Republican victories, he could easily have ended them. His concession on this point, one might think, was worth a lot. But he sold it cheaply. Republicans would have had a very hard time politically letting unemployment benefits expire under any circumstances. Too many of their own members are dependent on the votes of people for whom the continuation of the benefits was a vital matter. Rather than a give-and-take in which Obama secured the renewal of benefits in exchange for a renewal of the tax cuts, he and the Republicans might be better said to have arrived at a take-and-take. Based on his behavior, Obama’s real attitude toward tax cuts for the rich was no more hostile than Republicans’ real attitude toward renewal of the unemployment benefits. What neither wanted was to be held accountable for offsetting the cost of this spending or of the tax cuts in terms of the budget. The giving, then, was done by the American public, which for decades will have to pay down the loans that Obama and the Republicans are taking out today to finance their political opportunism. This week, the cost of this opportunism became a bit clearer when the Congressional Budget Office revealed that America’s See OBAMA, p. 17
GRAPHIC BY Estie Martin/ The Hoot
January 28, 2011
GRAPHIC BY Estie Martin/ The Hoot
Put more pressure on Iran BY RICK ALTERBAUM Columnist
Perhaps the most troubling foreign policy dilemma for the United States today is the question of Iran. According to news reports, the infamous Stuxnet virus has sabotaged approximately 1,000 centrifuges at Iran’s primary uranium enrichment plant at Natanz. The success of this cyber-attack is encouraging but it will only delay the growth of, rather than eliminate, Iran’s nuclear capacity. Despite this setback, the Iranian regime is still a menace. With U.S. power waning in the Middle East, Iran is actively seeking to fill the vacuum in its quest for regional dominance. Indeed, Iran is constantly trying to challenge
the U.S.-backed Sunni Arab and Israeli order by inciting Shiite populations in countries like Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen, and by leading a panIslamic resistance bloc, which stretches from Syria to Lebanon and Gaza. Also, Iran is behind much of the chaos in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has funded militias in both countries with the purpose of killing American soldiers and impeding U.S. efforts in these conflicts. Recently, several events have shifted the balance of power further toward the Persians. The collapse of the Lebanese government led by Prime Minister Hariri is providing an opportunity for Hezbollah to completely take over the country. Smaller Sunni states, such as Jordan and Qatar, sense that Iran is the strong horse in the region and are increasingly being drawn
Iran is behind much of the chaos in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has funded militias in both countries with the purpose of killing American soldiers and impeding U.S. efforts in these conflicts.
into its orbit. The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia, although heartening for pro-democracy advocates, may culminate in an Islamist takeover and inspire similarly destabilizing events in other countries. Additionally, Turkey, which has long been seen as a moderate pro-Western country, is also gravitating towards the resistance bloc under the leadership of Islamist Prime Minister Erdogan. In light of this situation, what can the United States do? Certainly, the multilateral U.S., E.U. and U.N. led sanctions regime has had an impact. The Iranian government has been forced to cut back on subsidies for food, gas, oil and other vital goods. Additionally, the unemployment rate for the country stands at around 15 percent, its budget deficits and national debt levels are sizable, inflation is at 9.4 percent and the value of its currency, the rial, has been declining. The United States needs to expand upon these efforts in the hopes of achieving two goals: change the decision-making calculus of the regime in the hopes that it is an at least somewhat rational as opposed to ideological actor and destabilize Iranian so See IRAN, p. 17
January 28, 2011
Sexcapades
The Brandeis Hoot
IMPRESSIONS
17
Too much of a good thing
BY SOPHIE REISE Columnist
We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded by sexual images and fascinating tales of intrigue. From childhood we have access to things that horrify our grandparents and scare our parents. No question is too personal and no content is too salacious. But how much is too much? Have we lost our internal filter? I’ll admit, I’m majorly guilty of all of this (shocker!). My own family is very liberal about sexual content, which is perhaps why I am. Talking about sex and my past encounters doesn’t bring any feelings of embarrassment or exposure but, rather, I’m happy to share, as you may have noticed. Since high school, I’ve been a sort of sexual encyclopedia for my friends, who come and ask about everything from facts to techniques and this is something I’ve always embraced. But as I’ve looked around in the past few months and begun to monitor the language I use publicly—my dad keeps reminding me that anyone over 30 finds “sucks” very offensive—it has occurred to me that it may not be better that we are so open, as a society, to share what should be so personal. Don’t get me wrong, I think there’s nothing wrong
with having a sex talk or two with your friends and sexual education is a priority in my opinion, but should we really be sharing so much with so many people? As single college students, it is hard to see how our decisions create repercussions down the line. H o p e f u l l y, you’ve never done anything you regret, but that doesn’t mean you should be sharing everything. I know that this seems a little hypocritical, since part of my job is to overshare, but it’s something to seriously think about. I can tell you from experience that talking about sex is definitely a way to get a guy’s interest but talking about it too much can definitely be a turn off. No guy wants to hear about how amazing your ex was or the crazy stuff you’ve done but won’t
do with him. This is especially true in relationships, no matter what the basis for it is. If you were friends for a few years before you got together and you know what seems like everything about each other’s pasts, it is not an allowance to continue to over-share, but rather a sign that you are forgetting about all those people and positions of the past. But old habits die hard and, when you are used to talking about anything
and everything, it can be hard to put a stop to it. So in our hyper-sexualized world, where should we draw the line on sex talk? What is reserved for friends and what for boyfriends? Should we think about reevaluating context and language to make sure we are not being offensive? Or is it a lot to ask of college students that they don’t over-talk and over-sex? If sex is private, then
why are we so loathe to keep it that way? This is all hypothetical, in the sense that I’m going to continue writing this column and you’ll continue reading it, so, at a minimum, there’s going to be some continuing sex talk. The questions are all fair, however, and with the pressure of employers and grad schools invading our private lives, maybe this is something we should think a little harder about. OBAMA (from p. 16)
IRAN (from p. 16)
Solving the question of Iran ciety through economic means, which will in turn increase pressure on the government from the bottom up. Specifically, this would require that the United States tighten sanctions without fear of harming the Iranian populace. Additionally, a strengthening of multilateral efforts needs to take place. American allies such as Germany, Spain, Switzerland and Italy still maintain close economic ties with Iran, particularly in the energy sector—this has to change. Also, while I am wary of China and Russia’s intentions and foreign policies, it is crucial that the Obama administration get these two countries on board with meaningful sanctions. The main point, fundamentally, is that the United States needs to make Iran become as politically and economically isolated as North Korea. In generating this additional international support, the United States should not just emphasize Iran’s nuclear program, but also the fact that its government has, through either direct or indirect means, brutalized and repressed countless innocents and
GRAPHIC BY Leah Lefkowitz/The Hoot
civilians at home and abroad. Ask any imprisoned member of the Green Movement, religious minority of the Islamic Republic, defiler of Sharia law in Iran, or victim of the savagery of groups like Hezbollah or Hamas, and they will attest to this. If all else fails, a military strike must be an option. The only thing worse than an attack is the advent of a nuclear Iran, which would greatly destabilize the region, disrupt international oil flows, and empower extremists and Islamists all around the world. But, before considering this, more energy ought to be put into sabotage efforts, like the Stuxnet virus and the assassination of Persian nuclear scientists, and a regime change strategy that exploits all of the political, ethnic, religious and economic cleavages of Iranian society. These solutions can prove potent. In the last century, the United States has faced down and outlived the tide of global fascism and communism. In contrast, the problem of Iran and radical Islam, although challenging, is certainly solvable.
The real state of the union
budget deficit this year would be its largest ever. That’s becoming a not-unfamiliar headline and our country’s creditors cannot help but take notice. China has been financing a big chunk of both the overspending of America’s politicians and the debts racked up by America’s households. One wonders how much Obama’s recent meetings with China’s President Hu Jintao took on the aspect of a beggar groveling pathetically before a deep-pocketed onlooker. The new spending plans hinted at by Obama in his message this week suggest that Hu must have indicated to Obama that he would not interfere as Americans dug themselves deeper into a hole of debt filled with the rubble of future poverty and dependence. Things can go on for awhile this way but not forever. Japan found that out this week, when credit rating agencies downgraded its bond ratings. The debts that Japan’s politicians have been heaping on the backs of its taxpayers since the 1990s just got that much heavier. Alas, if America’s political leaders can’t look past their own interests, Americans might wind up paying more interest too.
18 The Brandeis Hoot
SPORTS
January 28, 2011
The calm before the storm: the Pro Bowl BY GORDY STILLMAN Editor
Long before the AFL-NFL merger, the NFL has played various forms of “All-Star” games. The current incarnation, with teams divided between the AFC and NFC, has been played continuously since the 1970 season when the merger between the two leagues began. From the 1979 season through the 2008 season, the game has been played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. After a brief hiatus last year, when the game was played at what is now called Sun Life Stadium (although this stadium’s name changes so often one can hardly keep track), the Pro Bowl has returned to the more traditional home of Honolulu. While the move back to Honolulu is a welcome change, the continued change of playing the Pro Bowl in the week between conference championships and the Super Bowl still doesn’t make much sense from any perspective. Why this is a problem is quite simple. By having the game the week before the Super Bowl, players from Super Bowl-bound teams
are made ineligible for the game. While the idea of the Pro Bowl and other all-star games is to have an entertaining game played by a combination of fan, coach and player votes, playing the game at a time that requires some of the best players to miss out basically for just being top-caliber players is incredibly stupid. The Pro Bowl simply should not be played before the Super Bowl because the risk of injury during a “for the fans” game prevents players from playing due to fear of being unable to play in the Super Bowl. With the Super Bowl placed after the Pro Bowl this year, 10 players including fan favorites such as Clay Matthews (Packers) and Troy Polamalu (Steelers, he shared the Madden 2010 cover with Larry Fitzgerald) are unable to play. While the Pro Bowl’s move to the week before the Super Bowl was aimed to add interest to the game, it arguably fails this objective. By removing players elected to the game for reasons other than injury or disinterest, fans have even less reason to watch the game when the players they elected are arbitrarily removed. Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green
Bay Packers, while they may have a bigger game to look forward to next week, arguably have nothing to look forward to in this week’s game. The issue rises when large numbers of players from the same team are elected, as displayed last year. During the 2009 season, 10 players from the Minnesota Vikings were elected to the Pro Bowl. While the Vikings did not advance to the Super Bowl (losing to the Saints 3128 in overtime ended the problem), it raised the issue of needing to replace a significant portion of the teams a mere week before the game. Luckily, unlike Major League Baseball’s all-star game
Two fencers receive UAA honors
deciding a homefield advantage in the World Series, this game has no effect on the Super Bowl since its location is determined long in advance of the actual games. Whatever your opinion on the Pro Bowl’s worth, it cannot be denied that it has become a big attraction to sports fans like the many all-star games in other sports. While the value of changes
Indoor track finishes with strong performances BY ADAM HUGHES Staff
BY NATHAN KOSKELLA Editor
The men’s and women’s fencing teams placed two saber fencers on the University Athletics Association’s Athlete of the Week honors list during the week of Jan. 23, according to a Brandeis statement on the event. Anna Hanley ’11 earned the honor for the first time this season while Adam Austin ’11 earned it again in a great personal achievement. In the second Northeast Fencing Conference meet of the season, Hanley helped the Judges capture a 5-1 record with wins against Boston College, Dartmouth, Tufts, Brown and Smith, with one loss to Vassar. Hanley went 15-1 to
help the saber team win against Brown and Boston College. The Judges defeated Boston College (14-13), Dartmouth (20-7), Tufts (19-8), Brown (1413) and Smith (19-8) while falling to Vassar (12-15). Hanley bested Brown in three to help the team to a 5-4 win, and the squad’s record of a 7-2 margin against Boston College in a pair of one-point wins. She has 39 dual-match wins this season, the Judges’ leader. Brandeis women’s fencing has now finished their NFC schedule at 10-2 this season, tied with several other teams with only one potentially make-or-break meet possibility remaining. Austin, also a saber fencer, was named as UAA Men’s Fencer of the Week, his second
PHOTO BY Andrew Rauner/The Hoot
of the season. At the second Northeast Fencing Conference he went 9-2, held Jan. 22 at Brown University. But the Judges went 2-3 overall, defeating Dartmouth (18-9) and Tufts (15-12), yet falling to Boston College (12-15), the homefield Brown (12-15) and Vassar (1017). The saber squad fared a bit better, with a majority-win 3-2 overall record. The Brandeis men are 6-4 in the NFC now and have reached a 7-7 overall this season, while Austin is 38-4 on the campaign in an impressive run. Julian Cardillo was the best player at this meet, a rookie who nonetheless went 11-0 in the foil.
can always be debated, ultimately the Pro Bowl breaks down to simply being a game for the sake of a game, and any changes luckily shouldn’t harm the overall entertainment value of the game. Even while the game counts for nothing, it’s a fun way to get excited for next year and indulge in a little AFC/NFC pride.
The Brandeis men’s and women’s indoor track teams travelled into Cambridge on Sunday for the Greater Boston Track Club Invitational. While the Judges didn’t walk away with any first place finishes, several strong performances ensured that the trip was a success. Grayce Selig ’11 continued her unparalleled Brandeis career with a third-place finish in the mile run, finishing less than three seconds behind the winner with a time of 4:57.99. In the process, she set the new top time for the UAA this season, a mark that had previously been held by... Grayce Selig. Two other athletes found their way to the podium for the women’s team. Hannah Lindholm ‘11 ran a strong 10:48.48 in the 3000 meters, good for third place and only .28 seconds away from the lead, and Casey McGown’s [‘13] 1:01.86 gave her third in the 400-meter dash. Other top ten finishers for
the Judges included Lily Parenteau ‘12 (7th in the high jump, 1.57m), Lucia Capano ‘11 (T9th in the long jump, 4.77m; 5th in the triple jump, 10.72m) and Kim Farrington ‘13 (8th in the triple jump, 10.23m). The men weren’t as successful, with only one athlete finishing in a podium position. Chris Brown ‘12 had the best Brandeis finish of the meet, taking second in the 800-meter dash in 1:58.04. The Judges got top ten results from Vincent Asante (7th in the 60-meter dash, 7.13) and Alex Kramer (4th in the mile run, 4:20.59). Brandeis got some good news on Tuesday when Grayce Selig was named a UAA Runner of the Week on the strength of her GBTC performance, which was cited as fastest mile run this year in the NCAA Division III. This marked the second such honor for Selig this year. Both the men’s and women’s teams are back in action today at the BU Terrier Classic, which runs through Jan. 29th.
January 28, 2011
The Brandeis Hoot
SPORTS
19
Victory eludes women’s b-ball BY ARIEL WITTENBERG Editor
The visiting Washington University women’s basketball team outscored host Brandeis University 21-1 during the first 5:18 and 30-3 during the first 9:24 as the Bears defeated the Judges, 66-36, in Red Auerbach Arena. The Bears improve to 13-3, 4-1 University Athletic Association (UAA), while the Judges, who lost their second-straight game against a ranked opponent, fall to 9-7, 1-4 UAA. The Judges hit just two shots during the first nine-plus minutes, going 1-for-10 from the floor and 1-for-2 from the line, while committing seven turnovers. Meanwhile, Washington, led by senior Kathryn Berger, scorched the nets to open up their 20-point lead. The Bears connected on seven of their first eight shots, including 6-of-7 from beyond the arc. Berger had five of those seven buckets and four of the trifectas, giving her 14 points little more than five minutes into the game, a mark the Judges wouldn’t hit until 17 seconds remained in the first half. After Berger’s hot streak subsided, Washington sophomore Kristin Anda scored 10 points in the next stage of the half, including a jumper at the 10:46 mark that made the game 30-3 in favor
of the Bears. The lead extended to as many as 32 points before late hoops by Brandeis’ Morgan Kendrew ’12 and Anda made the score 42-14 at the break. The Judges played improved defense in the second half, but were unable to get anything going on the offensive end, holding the Bears to 24 points and 37 percent shooting after a 53.3 percent performance in the first half. For the game, Brandeis was led by Julia Scanlon ’14, who had nine points on 4-of-8 from the floor with a three-pointer. Fourteen of the 15 active players on the Brandeis roster had a rebound, led by four each from Scanlon, Mia DePalo ’11 and Kasey Dean ’14. For Washington, Berger finished with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor, 4-of-8 from three-point range. Anda finished with 10 points on 5-of-9 from the field. Washington junior Dani Hoover and senior Monika Monson tied for game-high with four rebounds, while Hoover’s older sister Alex led all players with three assists. The Bears had 17 assists on their 26 buckets, with nine different players recording helpers. Earlier in the week the Brandeis University women’s basketball team was bested by the 16th ranked University of Chicago, 71-
36, in Auerbach Arena. With the loss, the Judges fall to 9-6, while the Maroons remain undefeated in conference and improve their record to 12-3. Forward Amber Strodthoff ’11 led the Judges in scoring tonight with eight points. Scanlon was just behind her with seven points. This was Brandeis’ second game in a row with no players scoring in double digits. Defensively, DePalo led the team with five rebounds. Chicago was paced by junior guard Meghan Herrick who scored a game-high 17 points and led the game with four steals. Junior forward Taylor Simpson posted a double-double, with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. The Maroons set the pace early on, scoring eight unanswered points to take a 9-1 lead over the Judges just four minutes into the game. But the Judges answered back with two uncontested shots from Strodthoff and Shakara Scott ’13 bringing Brandeis within four points, making the score 9-5, for their smallest deficit for the rest of the game. For the rest of the half, Chicago outscored the Judges, 30-7, making 14-of-31 from the floor and 9-of-10 from the line. The Maroons closed the half with a 29-point lead at 41-12.
The second half saw a stronger Brandeis squad, improving their shooting percentage to 33.3 percent in the second from 19.2 percent in the first half. Chicago’s junior guard Joann Torres opened the second half with a threepointer, to give her team a 44-12 lead. A three-pointer by rookie forward Christiane Murray gave Chicago their biggest lead of the
PHOTO BY Alan Tran/The Hoot
game, bringing the score to 6629 with four minutes left in the game. Brandeis is next in action next Friday night when they host Emory University in a UAA contest at 6 p.m. The Bears take on Carnegie Mellon University at the same time in St. Louis and Chicago takes on Case Western Reserve at the same time.
Men’s basketball suffers third consecutive loss BY BRIAN TABAKIN Special to The Hoot
The 21st-ranked men’s basketball team suffered its third loss in the past four games as the Judges fell to Washington University. The Judges fall to 12-3, 2-3 in the University Athletic Association (UAA), while the Bears improved to 8-8, 2-3 in the UAA. The Judges did not lead in the entire game and put on a clinic for how not to play a basketball game. They had both their worst offensive and defensive performances of the season all in the same game. The Judges gave up 13 more points than their average and scored 30 points fewer than their average. Center Youri Dascy ’14 led all Brandeis scorers with eight points on 4-of-4 shooting. The rest of the squad, however, shot an abysmal 10-of-54 from the court, as the Judges finished the day at a season low 24.1 percent from the court. Sophomore center Wouter van der Eng (Alphen aun der Rijn) led Brandeis with a career-high five rebounds and senior forward Christian Yemga had two assists. Bears senior forward Spencer Gay scored 23 points in 33 minutes shooting 10-of-15 and 3-of3 from the line. Gay scored 15 points in the second half, more than the entire Brandeis team, which only scored 14. Underscoring the Judges defensive failures, the Bears shot 52.7 percent from the floor for the game (29-55) and 63.6 percent in the second half (14-22). Rookie guard Ben Bartoldus hit
a three-pointer seven minutes into the game to tie the score at 12-12. The Bears responded, however, with a 17-4 run during the next seven minutes to establish control for the rest of the game. Brandeis had already overcome two 18-point deficits this season, so when sophomore guard Anthony Trapasso hit a jumper with 9:17 left in the second half, to pull Brandeis within 15 at 5035, a comeback was not out of the question. The only scoring the Judges managed the rest of the way, however, was a mere free throw. Earlier in the week, the Judges beat the University of Chicago 5953. The Judges had lost their two previous games by a combined four points. Brandeis improved to 12-2, 2-2 in the UAA, while Chicago fell to 5-10, 2-2 in the UAA. Bartoldus scored a career-high 20 points, with 10 of them coming in the first eight minutes of the second half. He connected on 3-of8 field goals, 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, and 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Other than Bartoldus, no other Brandeis player scored more than seven points; however, the Judge’s bench outscored their counterpart 24-8. Junior forward Vytas Kriskus contributed six points along with a team leading 10 rebounds, matching a career high. Junior guard Tyrone Hughes dished out a game-high seven assists, matching the entire assist tally of Chicago. The Judges capitalized on 17 Chicago turnovers scoring 15 points, while limiting Chicago to
only nine points on 13 turnovers. Chicago managed to keep the game competitive thanks to a game-high 27 points, a little more than half of Chicago’s entire points, by junior guard Matt Johnson. Johnson connected on 4-of-13 field goals, 5-of-10 from beyond the arc and 4-of-6 from the line. The rest of the Maroon roster, however, shot a tepid 6-of26 from the field and 4-of-11 from downtown. The first half of the game saw four ties and six lead changes. Chicago took a handful of leads early on and, eight minutes into the game, pulled ahead 15-12 on a Johnson three. Rookie forward Alex Stoyle and guard Trapasso never let the Maroon take control of the game, scoring the next 13 points for the Judges. Stoyle capped off the run with a threepointer at the 1:56 mark of the first half that gave the Judges a 26-23 lead, which they never relinquished. Bartoldus started his scoring binge just before the break, scoring the Judges’ final five points, giving them a 31-25 lead at the half. Johnson and Bartoldus began the second half in a shooting duel. Bartoldus scored eight of Brandeis’ first 10 second-half points, while Johnson dropped nine early points to pull Chicago within one at 37-36. After a timeout, Dascy began a 13-2 Brandeis run during the next nine minutes. The Judges’ defense limited Chicago to 1-of-8 shooting during the same period, while also forcing four turnovers.
A Bartoldus layup with 6:27 left to play gave Brandeis a 14-point lead, their largest of the game, at 52-38. Chicago hung around going on a 15-7 run paced by eight points from Johnson, including a threepointer to pull the Maroon within five points at 56-51, with a little less than two minutes to play. Chicago got a stop on the next possession, but then missed on three clean looks from beyond the arc, forcing them to foul Kriskus after he grabbed the Chicago miss with 49 seconds remaining. He hit one of his two free throws to extend the Judges’ lead to 5751. On the next Chicago possession, Matt McKenzie connected on both of his free throws to pull
PHOTO BY Alan Tran/The Hoot
the Maroon within four at 57-53 with 27 seconds remaining. The Maroon forced a Judges turnover on the ensuing inbounds play. As Chicago threw the inbounds pass into the backcourt, however, Hughes stole the ball and was immediately fouled. He connected on both of his free throws sealing a six-point Judges’ win. Brandeis returns to UAA action next weekend when they host Emory Friday night at 8 p.m. and Rochester at noon on Sunday. Washington hosts Carnegie Mellon at 8 p.m. Friday night and Case Western Reserve at noon on Sunday. Chicago hosts Case Western Reserve at 8 p.m. Friday night and Carnegie Mellon at noon on Sunday.
20 The Brandeis Hoot
HOOT SCOOPS
January 28, 2011
Juggling club shows off versatility When Skyler Kasko ’14 arrived at Brandeis, he knew how to juggle and sought out the Brandeis Juggling Society. “It’s a pretty small club, so I’m one of the few regular members,” he said. “I learned something from the club though. The first meeting I went to, I learned to juggle clubs.” The juggling club meets weekly, but meetings are very informal. The club members hang out and joke around, clearly very comfortable with each other. They spend two hours each week practicing juggling, teaching each other tricks and techniques, and showing off newfound skills. “We just hang out and have fun ... and throw things,” President Simona Dalin ’11 said. The majority of club members didn’t know how to juggle when they arrived at Brandeis. “I’ve wanted to learn how to juggle since high school,” Elena Livak ’13 said. “I realized Brandeis had a club and I decided to check it out. It was the first time I seriously tried to learn how. I had tried before, but the balls ended up in three different corners of the room.” The Juggling Club has been on campus for more than a decade. Although they focus on juggling balls, beanbags, clubs and more, the
BY LEAH FINKELMAN Editor
PHOTOS BY Alan Tran and Haley Fine/The Hoot
members are incredibly versatile. The group’s myBrandeis page describes them as “[a] group of people who share an interest in different types of object manipulation, including poi, staff spinning, juggling, contact juggling, yoyo, devil sticking, diablo, and whatever else members are interested in learning.” All three members of the executive board are able to ride a unicycle and walk on stilts. The board includes Dalin, Vice President Phil Lessans ’11 and Secretary Noah Fields ’12, who is currently abroad in Israel. “Now if only I could juggle,” Dalin joked, saying that her goal for the year was to finally learn to juggle well. She’s been trying since she was a first-year, but she still ends up with balls behind a table leaning against the wall. Dalin makes up for it by practicing poi, a form of juggling with balls at the end of strings, often with tails attached, that create illusions when swung in special patterns. Until 2007, members of the club were able to juggle fire, but Dalin explained that a Waltham ordinance against open flame prohibits it. The Juggling Club practices every Wednesday from 8 to 10 p.m. in Winer Lounge, to the right of Levin.