The Brandeis Hoot

Volume 9 Number 16

www.thebrandeishoot.com

Brandeis University’s Community Newspaper • Waltham, Mass.

Former VP Peter French received $3.2m upon leaving

By Jon Ostrowsky Editor

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Peter French received more than $3.2 million in reportable compensation in 2010, in large part because illness forced him to retire earlier than expected, a university spokesman said.

His total reportable compensation is listed at $3,225,538 on the university’s 990 form, part of its federal tax filings as a non-profit.

French received $2.99 million in “earned retirement related compensation” and “a lump sum disability payment triggered by forced retirement due to illness,” Associate Vice President for Communications Bill Burger said in a phone interview this week. French also received $226,000 in consulting fees after his retirement in 2009.

“We needed him to help in a period of presidential transition,” Burger said. “He was able to provide consulting help to Brandeis and we were very thankful for that.”

French, who retired at the age of 66 after working at the university for 14 years, earned $734,623 in salary, benefits and compensation in 2009.

“His illness cut his working life short,” Burger said, explaining that

Editor

An extra half a million dollars has been allotted to LTS each year, which should help them recover from the large budget cuts of the economic downturn.

John Unsworth, Vice Provost for Library & Technology Services, explained that LTS plans to use the extra funds for continued improvement and library development. A

Univ sexual assault inquiry policy shifts

By Jon Ostrowsky Editor

photo by nate rosenbloom/the hoot

when consulting, French only worked part-time, as opposed to the rigorous full-time schedule, as the university’s second-ranked administrator under former President Jehuda Reinharz.

Through his assistant at the Tauber Institute, Reinharz declined to comment for this story. He is currently traveling abroad in Israel.

Burger declined to specify the nature of French’s illness, citing privacy, but called it an “incurable and ultimately life-threatening disease,” adding that his early retirement was the result of “unusual and unfortunate events that no one foresaw.”

French did not respond to a phone message left Wednesday evening at his

home in Rhode Island. Burger wrote in an email that he was at a hospital receiving treatment and therefore unavailable for comment.

French’s 2010 compensation included deferred compensation, meaning that he was paid the large See FRENCH, page 3

LTS future improvements include new Farber café

By Rachel Hirschhaut

August 31, 2012

number of projects are already in the works, most visibly a new Java City-run cafe in Farber Two and a large-scale cleaning of the library’s books.

The 2012-2013 budget, announced last April, specifically designated a portion of funds to rejuvenate Brandeis’ library and technology services, which had been stripped during the 2008 crisis.

“The increase for LTS was about half a million, and that was welcome

because in the downturn, there were large cuts,” Unsworth said.

Library and Technology Services includes both the physical library, which employs librarians and plans to hire more subject-specific personnel; information technology, including network security, phone and Internet systems, software and hardware repair; and the Getz Media Lab. Unsworth explains the connection between the library and technology sides of the department.

“Library and Technology are connected because ultimately, they are about information and informational services. Librarians have been long-time early adopters of information technology.”

Only a small portion of the funds for the new Farber cafe came from the budget. Instead, it was made possible by extra funding from the franchise that runs it. Java City is

More than one year after the U.S. Department of Education released new guidance regarding Title IX and university sexual assault cases, Brandeis has adopted a separate grievance process for cases of sexual misconduct.

The new addition to Rights and Responsibilities this year, titled “Special Examiner’s Process,” and listed under section 22.6, applies to one or more violations of Section 3, which deals with sexual responsibility, or section 7, which deals with equal opportunity, non-discrimination and harassment.

The special examiner role is defined in this year’s handbook: “The examiner of allegations and related evidence regarding the allegations.

The Special Examiner will conduct an investigation and prepare a report of their findings at the conclusion of the Fact-Finding Phase that is submitted to the Dean of Student Life in support of the Outcome Phase of the process.”

Under the new process, unlike other violations of Rights and Responsibilities that appear before the student conduct board, the special examiner will investigate sexual assault and harassment cases and the dean of student life will render the final decision for the outcome of the case.

The change in evidence standards, which took effect immediately following the April 2011 guidance from the Department of Education, will also be applied under section 22.6.

“This process will use the Preponderance of the Evidence standard in evaluating the responsibility of the Accused,” Rights and Responsibilities states. “Under this standard, the Accused is presumed not to have engaged in alleged conduct unless a

See LTS, page 4

See CONDUCT, page 4

Heat replaced in Castle, more renovations to come

By Connor Novy Editor

As students return to Brandeis, they will notice a number of improvements around campus: new sidewalks between the Castle and East, and a new entry floor in the Shapiro Admissions Center. More than 23 bathrooms in East Quad were renovated, and new steam pipes were installed in North Quad. Buildings were made more energy efficient, which will reduce costs for Brandeis in the long run, Associate Vice of Communications Bill Burger said.

The most long-needed renovations, however, occurred in the Castle, according to Brandeis. As Brandeis’ oldest building, many feel

Inside this issue:

it is also in the most need of repair.

In 2008 during the economic downturn, Brandeis was forced to cut back on maintenance and repairs that it is now just starting to confront. Many of these repairs were meant to fix problems in the Castle, and are just now being addressed.

Burger cites maintenance as an everyday procedure, something you do or “you’re going to pay later.” For the Castle Quad, Brandeisians say, payment is more than due.

During the 2008 downturn, physical maintenance was hard-hit. Many projects were delayed indefinitely, even if they were then necessary.

The Castle was shortlisted as a site in See CASTLE, page 4

News: Globe columnist to teach sports course City: Bentley students lend small for impact Arts, Etc.: Brandeis’ artistic early days Sports: Women’s soccer expects to start strong Features: All about international orientation Impressions: If you can’t do it, tell somone

Page 1 Page 2 Page 5 Page 9 Page 11 Page 14

photo by nate rosenbloom/the hoot

A look at Saz.É

Raising the bar

Features: Page 15

Sports: Page 8

Rapper Osaze Akerejah ’14 identifies himself first and foremost as an artist.

The men’s basketball team discusses their self-funded Croatia trip.

city

2 The Brandeis Hoot

August 31, 2012

Police: Boyfriend attempted murder

Corpse found in Charles

Former police chief to appear in court

Univ among happiest colleges in US

Police still searching for stabbing suspect

A 31-year-old Waltham man has been arrested for attempting to murder his girlfriend, police said.

Authorities took Brett Savage, of Adams Street, into custody Aug. 22. Savage was engaged in an argument with his partner when he placed his hand over her mouth and nose and punched her in the stomach, in what police called an attempt to suffocate her. The girlfriend escaped and was able to call 9-1-1 before police found Savage on Moody Street.

A man’s body was found floating in the Charles in Waltham on Aug. 16. There were no signs of trauma. The Globe reported that an autopsy was to be conducted in order to determine the manner and cause of the man’s death, but no other information has been released since his discovery more than two weeks ago.Stephanie Goyatte, a press officer from the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office told The Hoot that no identity has been discovered yet.

Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix has been released on his own recognisance after his wife, whom he is accused of assaulting, agreed with judge on his case that the restrictions on his release could safely be lowered.

LaCroix has also been given permission to see his two sons, albeit under supervision. He is next scheduled to appear in court on Friday, Sept. 14.

Brandeis was named the sixth happiest college in the United States this month by Unigo College Rankings, which tabulated the schools where it said the vast majority of students voted that they were happy with their school choice. The five schools placing higher than Brandeis on Unigo’s happiness scale, in ascending order, were George Washington University, Grinnell College, Boston University, Barnard College and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Waltham police are searching for a man they believe stabbed two women, one in the leg and the other in the forearm. Both women were hospitalized but neither are at serious risk of death. Juan Francisco David, 40, is accused of the crime, which police say happened Thursday morning.

source: huffington post

source: nbc boston

source: waltham news tribune

source: waltham patch

source: waltham news tribune

Toxic bacteria found in Charles River in Waltham

By Connor Novy Editor

For the majority of the summer, Newton’s Crystal Lake has not been so crystalline. Cyanobacteria, a kind of algae bloom, was detected in the Charles River in Waltham and Weston at the end of July. In addition, two mosquitos were discovered with cases of West Nile Virus in Crystal Lake.

Both are dangerous to humans.

While most algal blooms are not harmful, cyanobacteria is toxic to people and animals. The state’s Department of Public Health has warned swimmers to stay out of the water.

In a publication from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “Contact with high levels of cyanobacteria has been found to contribute to eye, ear and skin irritation. Ingestion can lead to more serious health effects such as muscle cramps or twitching.”

Prolonged exposure may lead to serious liver damage. At the beginning of August, levels were nearly twice the safe limit and Crystal Lake was closed. It will remain closed for the rest of the season. Incidents of algae have occurred with increasing

frequency over the past decade. Currently in the area around Brandeis, the Charles River near the Moody St. Dam, Waltham and Lasell College Boathouse, Newton Dean Pond and Crystal Lake are all closed to algal blooms. It is linked to waters that are high in nutrient-filled run off like septic tank overflows and fertilizer.

While most people have only mild flu-like symptoms, or no symptoms at all, West Nile is dangerous to children and the elderly. There have been four recent West Nile-related deaths in Massachusetts. This year, 119 mosquito pools in Massachusetts have tested positive for West Nile.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Aug. 23 raised the Boston-area threat level for the virus to “high.” The designation signifies that the presence of West Nile-carrying mosquitoes is very likely.

At least five neighborhoods in Boston have seen mosquitoes afflicted with disease, while the second human case was reported this week.

The high-threat rating applies also to the cities of Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, Belmont, Brookline and Watertown.

Nationally, there have been 1,118 cases of West Nile, 41 of them resulting in death this year. Authorities are not clear on cause of the recent increase. photo by nate rosenbloom/the hoot

Bentley microfinance lends small for big impact

By Ben Federlin Staff

A group of students at Bentley University recently founded a microfinance group intended to provide loans for small startup companies in or around the Boston area. The organization, Bentley Microfinance Group was first founded in 2008 but has expanded greatly in the past few months. The first loan they provided was to Aspire Magazine in the spring of 2009. Since then, Bentley Microfinance has provided start-up loans to a variety of different organizations, including woodworking and construction companies as well

as a number of local shops and businesses. The process for receiving a loan from the Bentley Microfinance Group involves the completion of a number of forms as well as approval from a group of four Bentley students who are in charge of selecting businesses.

The students involved in Bentley Microfinance have a good deal of sway regarding the process of selection, though they are overseen by a board comprised of Bentley faculty and members of larger companies in the greater Boston area who are intimately involved in the process.

Ultimately, however, the students have the final say in determining who receives loans.

photo from internet source

news

August 31, 2012

Globe’s Peter May to teach sports writing class

By Debby Brodsky Editor

Peter May, a journalist for The Boston Globe who has also written for ESPN and The New York Times, will be teaching a new journalism course this semester, focusing on the unique reporting required for covering sports.

For May, the husband of Pulitzer Prize-winning Professor Eileen McNamara (JOUR), this will be the first time teaching a course on sports writing. “This is new for me, new for the kids and new for the school,” May said. “This is the first sports writing class I’ve ever taught. Hopefully by the end of the semester the kids will be able to put together good stories.”

May said that he has a creative syllabus planned. Classes will include guest speakers such as Bob Ryan and Shira Springer, sports columnists at the Globe, Joe Sullivan, one of such paper’s sports editors, and Pete Hamill, former editor-in-chief of The New York Daily News.

Speakers will also include Brandeis sports coaches and the school’s sports information director.

“This class will cover sports writing from a number of angles,” May said.

He listed such topics as column writing, how to put together a sports section, how technology changes sports coverage, how to cover a team, and

how to write investigative pieces.

“Starting with covering team sports, to the the business intersection with sports and the actual playing of sports. It’s going to deal with television and ESPN as well as how the arrival of social media such as Twitter and Facebook affects the coverage of sports,” May said.

Before coming to Brandeis, May wrote freelance for ESPN-Boston, and since 2007, The Times. While working for ESPN, May covered the Celtics and while at The New York Times he covered Boston sports and events such as the Boston Marathon, Bruins hockey and the Red Sox. Prior to his freelance work, May worked at The Boston Globe covering the Celtics and the NBA. May has also covered the World Series, the Super Bowl and the Athens Summer Olympics.

“I’m looking forward to getting the kids into writing,” added May. “In many ways writing is a lost art. If the kids can get that out of the course, I’ll be happy.”

According to May, the sports writing course will be both informative and entertaining. “The sports part will be fun. I’m going to get ten or twelve Red Sox or Yankees fans in my class, and they will find that they can’t root for their team if they want to do a good job,” May said. “The writing part will be work. Since this course places an emphasis on writing, we’ll try to get the kids to write frequently. Sports

writing should be both descriptive and fun.”

May does not root for one team as many sports fanatics would; as a professional sports writer he simply enjoys sports as a whole. “If you’re going to go into this for a living, you have to lose the fan part of it,” he said.

“I’ve looked at it as a sport. Basketball is the sport I’ve covered the most. The great Celtics games of the 1980s were some of the finest basketball games I’ve ever seen. Though basketball and the Celtics are what I’ve covered most of my life, I also love covering the Olympics because I get to learn about sports I’ve never covered before like water polo and volleyball.”

photo from internet source

The Brandeis Hoot 3

Sarna discusses Jewish voting on WBUR

By Leah Finkelman Editor

There has been a lot of talk of religion during this election cycle, Kara Miller noted on WBUR on Monday. From Mitt Romney’s Mormonism to the evangelical right, theories and predictions have permeated the media. She spoke about the role of Jewish voters in 2012 with Professor Jonathan Sarna (NEJS), a professor of American Jewish history and the director of the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program.

On the program, Sarna discussed Jewish voting patterns, including why Jews tend to vote Democrat, and how Obama fares with Jewish voters in his re-election campaign. The program was preceded by a June Gallup poll showing that Obama had fallen 10 points with Jewish voters.

Until the 1928 election, Jewish voters were much more evenly split between political parties, Sarna explained, but since 1928 have voted overwhelmingly Democrat—up to 90 percent for presidential candidates like Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson. The single exception since then was the election of 1980, when the majority of Jewish voters voted against Jimmy Carter, who had been perceived as anti-Israel.

While Israel is an important topic to Jewish Democrats, Sarna empha-

sized that the Republican base is actually thought to be more consistent and unyielding in their support.

At the time of the June Gallup poll, Obama’s popularity had dropped several points. Jews, Sarna said, are moving away from Obama for the same reasons as other Americans. Though reasons include his seeming lack of support of Israel as an additional cause, this is not their most influential.

Other politicians have demonstrated a more personal investment in Israel, Sarna explained on WBUR, joking that Bill Clinton “could be elected Prime Minister of Israel tomorrow.”

It helped, he added, that Bill Clinton was significantly more ideologically similar to then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, whereas Obama and current Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu are at different ends of the political spectrum.

Israel, however, is just one of many factors in Jewish political ideology. “Jews vote according to their perceived interests,” Sarna said on WBUR, listing examples like discrimination, the separation of church and state, and domestic issues.

Jewish voters also have a much higher rate of turnout than most other demographics, increasing their importance, especially with large populations in swing states like Florida, he said.

French paid $3.2m in 2010 FRENCH, from page 1

sum at once, but will not receive additional compensation in the future.

Although the 990 form reports information based on the fiscal year, the compensation table reports numbers from the previous calendar year.

In 2009, Reinharz received $1,536,401 in salary, benefits and other compensation while French received $734,623, according to the 990 Form. French’s base salary that year was $389,005.

President Fred Lawrence hired Steven Manos this summer, a former executive at Tufts University, to serve as the university’s chief operating officer. Burger explained, however, that his role is not meant directly to replace French’s position.

photo from internet source

photo by nate rosenbloom/the hoot

Castle budgeted for repairs

CASTLE, from page 1

much need of repairs, but the university lacked the funds to do so.

The Castle is to finally undergo renovation before weather turns cold at Brandeis. According to Burger, the university is to replace the heating system in the Castle and install a set of new, high-efficiency gas-fired boilers. “The old steam heat exchange equipment has been demolished and removed and the new gas line has been installed,” Burger said. “The new boilers will be in place before the heating season starts.”

Many students feel, however, that further renovations could be made.

Alberto Lalo ’14, says they aren’t all infrastructure, either. “Make the hallways a little prettier,” Lalo tells Brandeis administrators. “There are

cables and circuit boxes and pipes just kind of hanging out. They could also paint the … place.”

Kiernan Bagge ’12, lived in the Castle in 2009. In April of that year after days of heavy rain, a portion of his ceiling collapsed while he was sitting at his desk. The university reimbursed him for damaged items and repaired the roof, but he feels that the accident was more serious.

“If I was on my bed I would have been injured, and this would have been something beyond mere reimbursement for damaged items,” he recently told The Hoot. He feels that the Castle’s problems cannot be solved by coats of paint.

“Not only was the damage far from recent (the rebar mesh support was rusted to dust flakes), there was also mold damage in other sections of the

Castle that required repair and caused inconvenience,” said Bagge ’12. “But this is about health, first and foremost, and Brandeis did not handle this appropriately.”

Heat has been a problem in the Castle a number of times. In late October last year, heat in the Castle went out and a number of students were left out in the cold. Students with broken windows, a common occurrence in Brandeis’ first and oldest building, had rooms that at night reached freezing. Castle Quad Senator Kelly Davis sent an email to residents that day, bringing the issue to their attention, informing them that the heat should be on by the end of that week.

This year’s renovations, students hope, will be followed by others. Broken windows, leaky roofs and dilapidated toilets are common complaints

peter french garden A plaque in this garden behind the photo by nate rosenbloom/the hoot administration building commemorates French’s years of service.

from students living in Schwartz and Usen Castle. But they are glad of the repairs they are getting.

“It’s a good thing they are replacing the heating system, because they were quite old and outdated,” said Lalo. “I mean, I was sleeping with a furnace

and hot pipes next to my head, which I don’t think is a good idea.”

Bagge says it is just the beginning.

“Heating isn’t enough. This is not about making it 100 percent comfortable for students; it’s about making it 100 percent safe.”

4 NEWS

The Brandeis Hoot

Special examiner’s process to oversee sexual assault cases CONDUCT, from page 1

‘preponderance of the evidence’ supports a finding that the conduct occurred. A preponderance of evidence means a greater weight of evidence or more likely than not.”

Under the earlier “clear and convincing” standard, which most universities used (used or still use?), it had to be “highly probable or reasonably certain that the sexual harassment or violence occurred.”

Under the dear colleague letter sent to school administrators in April 2011, the guidance included a combination of recommendations and requirements in order to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

The guidance letter reminded any school receiving federal funding that sexual violence is a form of sexual harassment prohibited under federal law. It did not require schools to

adopt a new grievance process such as the special examiner, but many colleges have followed suit, in line with the recommendations to ensure compliance with Title IX. Other new and significantly revised sections to Rights and Responsibilities this year include cyber bullying regulations, banning of drinking games and a confidential complaint hotline.

“We celebrate a vivid plurality of ideas and individuals on our campus through the practice of honest scholarship and respectful discourse,” Dean Gendron, director of Community Rights and Standards, wrote in an email on Monday to the university community. “Our student code of conduct, ‘Rights and Responsibilities,’ is the compendium of many years’ worth of Brandeis conversations about what makes our University strong.”

“ ” Upon the receipt of a Community Standards Report, the Special Examiner will meet in-person with the Accuser and request that the Accuser compose in writing a thorough statement of the allegation(s) if the contents of the initial report do not represent a full account.

-Rights and Responsibilities, 2012-2013

August 31, 2012

LTS to see $710K in upgrades LTS, from page 1

paying for most of the work done in Farber. “The cost of the cafe is by the vendor,” Unsworth explained.

“We’re putting some money into the reset of the space, re-carpets and painting.” It will be accessible directly from the patio of the library, and include extra seating.

Unsworth is not concerned about the noise level that the cafe would create. “One of the reasons we chose this space in Farber is because it is traditionally called the loud-study area,” Unsworth said. The plan was instigated by Unsworth. “It’s something that I initiated, though it’s been talked about at LTS a lot.”

The book cleaning has cost the university approximately $100,000, according to Unsworth. It had not been cleaned in more than a decade.

Unsworth explained why: Books and shelves have to be individually removed and vacuumed, then reshelved in the right order. “When it’s not done, everything gathers dust and dirt and looks like it’s not cared for,” says Unsworth. “If people look around and their environment looks uncared for, they will be less likely to care for it themselves.”

Future plans for LTS include a new system to make campus-wide decisions, which Unsworth calls a “new IT governing structure.” This new governing structure would give the greater campus input in campus decisions. It would create a new “decision-making structure” that would allow the campus to share opinions and information on issues.

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photo from internet source

Unsworth has also begun “a conversation with faculty about open access,” which would make current access publicly available to be read by anyone, though still protected by copyright.

Since his appointment last year, Unsworth has worked for greater transparency in LTS. This transparency has already been seen in the many emails LTS sends to the entire campus. Examples include, interruptions in phone and Internet, and the telephones that went down temporarily this week and last spring.

“Since I got here in February, I’ve made it a policy to send an email about any campus-wide outage.

Generally people seem to appreciate these changes,” Unsworth said.

Unsworth is also teaching a class in the fall: “Introduction To Digital

Humanities”, a pilot program where students take courses in-person and online from any school while enrolled at Brandeis.

The program would mimic the Women’s Studies Research Center’s program, where classes can be taken at any campus in the program and count toward a Brandeis degree, explained Unsworth.

The idea of the program, Unsworth said, is to allow a Digital Humanities program to exist when no single campus had the resources to put one together. “No institution has a faculty to amount to a program,” he explained. In the program, however, that Unsworth is hoping for, “you can take a course online or physically, depending on how it’s offered, at any of the universities.”

August 31, 2012

arts, etc.

Brandeis shines through rich artistic history

By Juliette Martin Editor

Throughout the past 60 years, Brandeis has indisputably been a hotbed of protest and other significant political activity. As political movements have come and gone through the university, so have the artistic and cultural ones, going hand in hand with these fresh political leanings.

Brandeis has always had a role in the cultural history of modern America as a home for protest and politics.

The art provides a gateway into the cultural movements of the past and Brandeis University’s long-held traditional history of being at the forefront of liberal and artistic movements, demonstrated and established in the generational and artistic movements that characterized the first two decades of its existence.

Though the campus today remains a bastion of liberalism, some of the well-known stories of its past highlight that trend. Though arguably the most well-known golden age of liberal thought and protest occurred in the ’60s, as the civil rights movement roared forward on the shoulders of the hippie generation, the campus had already been established as a liberal and artistic community by the beat generation which came before it in the 1950s, emerging shortly after Brandeis’ founding in 1948.

The beat movement was a heavily artistic and literary-minded progression, pioneered by the writings of Jack Kerouac, a writer of poetry and prose iconic to the 1950s. Brandeis’ place in that particular cultural movement, and an early statement of Brandeis’ dedication to playing a role in such artistic movements, is illustrated in a 1959 debate that took place at the Brandeis University Club of New York. It asked a simple question: What is the beatnik generation? Then-Dean of Students Joseph Kaufman presided over the debate, and Kerouac himself was featured as the opening speaker. This early example of artistic discourse from Brandeis’ history serves to demonstrate the fact that, from its earliest days, the university has been a center for the many tides of artistic expression and the academic discourse that surrounds it. The 1950s also saw the opening of Slosberg Music Center in 1957.

The final speaker of this particular debate, Ashley Montagu, was an academic and anthropologist who listed the defining characteristics of the beat generation as “fatalism, cultural rootlessness, detachment from traditional values, alienation from themselves and extreme individualism.”

Though not an exact measure of modernity, these characteristics, which defined the first artistic movement of

Brandeis University’s relatively short history, continue to echo in the modern era.

The idea of “extreme individualism” certainly rings true with regard to many liberal movements, and the modern one is no different. The hipster movement, which is alive and well here at Brandeis, places emphasis on the often cynical individualism that is reflected in the artwork it has produced, both within and outside of the university. The often detached and disillusioned aspects of modern youth culture seem to reflect this early cultural idea of “alienation from themselves.” At the time, Brandeis was considered a bohemian intellectual center, and that historical tradition is present in the modern way that art is discussed and presented on campus.

The era of the beatniks, in addition to being one of the many artistic movements that played an important role at Brandeis, has given us another permanent artistic gift: the Leonard Bernstein Festival for the Arts. The festival, which provides one of the most artistically relevant and active weekends of the year, was established in 1952. The festival was founded on the principle of showcasing art that demonstrates the principles of the era in which it was produced. The art of generations from the beatniks of the ’50s to the present day have always demonstrated and debated here.

Though the first major cultural, artistic and political movement of Brandeis’ history occurred in the time

of the beatnik generation, the ’60s are arguably the most significantly renowned. The hippies who spearheaded that decade’s artistic direction were the political force that created the often-discussed Ford Hall takeover, in which Brandeis students did their part in the fight for civil rights. That same student generation also played a major role in shaping Brandeis’ history of dedication to the arts when work began on the building that became The Rose Art Museum in 1960.

Though Brandeis had been home to a significant art collection before the official founding of The Rose, the museum’s opening demonstrated a commitment to the arts and to the risk-taking that such a dedication requires. It was considered a foolish idea at the time, when the money that went into the museum was needed in so many other places.

In the 1960s, Brandeis was symbolic of all the things that that decade had espoused, and became truly emblematic of major college cultural trends in both politics and art. In fact, Brandeis played host to a major artistic show at that time, when Bob Dylan performed on the campus in a concert that is still available on vinyl recordings.

In its first two decades, Brandeis established itself as a center for both artistic production and debate. As a key component of culture as a whole, the arts are a reflection of the time in which they are produced, and Brandeisian culture has long reflected the cultural trends of the era.

brandeis arts throughout history Students gather outside Ford Hall; beat pioneer Jack Kerouac; the vinyl recording of Bob Dylan’s Brandeis concert; and an audience at the first Bernstein Festival.

photos from internet source

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6 ARTS, ETC.

The Brandeis Hoot

August 31, 2012

Literary podcasts educate and inspire

john paul riquelme Riquelme is the guest on pme of the Literature Lab podcasts, alongside hose David Sherman.

By Emily Beker Staff

This past spring, the Creative Writing department began a program called Literature Lab. Literature Lab is a series of podcasts, available on iTunes with a free subscription, featuring different authors who discuss different genres of writing. David Sherman, an assistant professor in the English department, leads all of the podcasts.

The podcasts are well produced and the questions and answers are clear, even over the recordings. The

topics of the different podcasts are relevant to the literary world and today’s society. It may be a challenge for Sherman to connect the literary world and modern day issues, but he succeeds in doing so.

One podcast released in April is titled “Virtual Reality in 9/11 Fiction,” featuring Laura Tanner from Boston University. Throughout Sherman’s interview with Tanner, the discussion of the text is related to today’s society.

Tanner particularly mentions social media and how it affected the experiences of the event. Tanner approaches the problem with the idea of locating the real; drawing attention to the con-

trast between the immediacy of the event and the fact that 9/11 seemed unreal. It could have been considered something out of a movie because of the way 9/11 was constructed.

A different podcast in the series, “Things To Do With Books In Victorian Britain,” talks about how people viewed the books, and how they saw the difference between texts and books. Before the interview begins, Sherman says that it is important to look at the spirituality of the text.

Later in the podcast, Sherman delves deeper into how people would take the idea of books as material objects for granted, and use them for purpos-

photo from internet source

es other than reading and enjoyment.

The most recent podcast, “The Gothic Novel,” discusses the genre of Gothic writing, which is considered a dark literary form. In the podcast, it is revealed that Gothic writing is not necessarily only a literary form, but can also be considered a cultural form. Sherman states that a major aspect of Gothic novels is the idea that something in our world is dangerous, but what that is, is not clear. He elaborates and says that this is due to a dangerous aspect of ourselves, used to hide behind normal behaviors.

In discussing the Gothic genre, he mentions the historical element of

vampires, with a focus on the earlier years. Vampires are once again a popular character in writing, so the historical significance of vampires that began with “Dracula” is once again relevant. When “Dracula” was first published, the cultural aspect of vampires was associated with violence.

The idea of cultural boundaries and cultural symptoms are all a common theme in the podcasts. They mix in the historical significance of the writing and how it relates to the cultural significance of the topic today. The arts department’s values are directly connected to the podcasts, because both are focused on historical and modern day culture.

Brandeis, as a university, prides itself on being up to date on modern issues and learning how to integrate those into different areas of study. The Creative Writing department has the ability to initiate a program that does so, while maintaining a focus on writing.

The culture of the arts at Brandeis encourages the community to raise questions and use the arts as a teaching opportunity, while leaving room for enjoyment. The Literature Labs are informative but also raise questions about relevant aspects to our lives as students, such as social media and how to differentiate between material value and symbolic value of an object. It is important to the arts at Brandeis for students to experience new areas of the arts that they had not previously seen.

Literature Lab accomplishes these goals. The ability for people to hear professors of other schools talk about different works in varying genres is a rare opportunity. The interviews give insight into ideas outside of literature, sometimes focusing on the history of paper or social media. The professors expose others to writing they may not approach by choice.

‘Nothing but the Truth’ thrills and provokes

By Gordy Stillman Editor

In 2008, “Nothing But The Truth” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. The distributor went bankrupt before the U.S. release, resulting in little to no publicity here in the States. In fact, I had never heard of it until a friend of mine decided to watch Kate Beckinsale movies every day at the end of the summer. Despite the obscurity of the film, it is surprisingly good.

“Nothing But The Truth” is very loosely based on the 2003 incident where the identity of CIA agent, Valerie Plame was revealed to the public.

Beckinsale portrays Rachel Armstrong, an ambitious reporter who got the scoop on fellow soccer mom, Erica Van Doren’s (Vera Farmiga) career as a CIA agent. Armstrong and Van Doren know each other personally due to their children’s friendship.

Before Armstrong publishes an article identifying Van Doren as a covert agent of the CIA, she approaches her at a little league soccer game for a chance to comment on the article.

By this point it is clear that Armstrong will not hesitate to publish the article, and reasonably hopes to win a Pulitzer with it. The movie then illustrates the fallout that results due to publishing an article that identifies a CIA agent to the public.

After reaching 100 percent certainty that publishing the article would be legal, Armstrong’s paper publishes the article and Van Doren is exposed. Federal Prosecutor Patton Dubois (Matt Dillon) quickly brings Armstrong in for questioning.

While everyone is in agreement that she hasn’t committed a crime, he asks for the identity of the original source.

espionage, journalism, and politics Kate Beckinsdale stars in ‘Nothing but the Truth.’

It is a possible risk to national security, and depending on their connection, they could be charged with treason. Sticking to her principles of journalistic integrity, Armstrong refuses to reveal her source. Even when brought before a grand jury, with sworn statements from anyone considered a possible source giving permission to reveal them, she refuses to testify regarding the identity of the source.

Meanwhile, as Armstrong endures months in jail, Van Doren believes that she was set up by someone within the agency, and seeks to find out why she was targeted. She assumes it has to do with a report she filed, suggesting that the incumbent president had no cause to go to war in Venezuela. This element of the story serves to mirror the weapons of mass de-

struction claim that former President Bush used to justify the war in Iraq.

After being unable to proceed with her own investigation, and learning that as part of standard procedure she is also under investigation for possibly outing herself, Van Doren quits the CIA. She demands that her unseen protective detail leave her alone, paving the way for her to be targeted by nefarious organizations.

Being found in contempt of court, Armstrong is put in jail indefinitely until she is compelled to testify. Over the next year, her husband (David Schwimmer) becomes unfaithful, and she is beaten savagely over a bunk in her prison cell. In a twist, near the end of Armstrong’s eleventh month in jail, Van Doren dies. Nevertheless, Armstrong adamantly refuses to reveal her source. As it becomes clear that

photo from internet source

imprisonment will not compel her to change her mind, she is released.

As her legal troubles continue, with charges of obstruction of justice for the year that she refused to testify, she reflects back on the people she interviewed for the article and reveals to the audience her original source.

The greatest strength of the movie, along with an intriguing plot, is the talented cast. Aside from the people listed above, the rest of the cast is consistently strong throughout the film.

Schwimmer, for example, does a great job as the fiction-writing husband of Beckinsale. Additionally, Noah Wyle, playing the legal council for the newspaper does a great job as the skilled legal expert who knows when to hire a better lawyer for the case.

The biggest flaw of the movie is that its topic is at times unclear. It could be

about the CIA leak, it could be about journalistic integrity, it might be about the first amendment. Ultimately it covers all of these themes, but it is generally unclear which theme was meant as the main focus. Clearly all of the themes in the movie are related and are meant to complement each other. The problem was that they all appeared to compete for the main theme. When two themes could have blended together and been more than the sum of their parts, the integration was not well executed.

If you like political thrillers, enjoy movies that pull part of the story from headlines or are looking for a Kate Beckinsale movie that you have not yet seen, give this one a chance. In addition to being available on DVD for less than five dollars on Amazon, it is also available on Netflix and Amazon.

August 31, 2012

The Brandeis Hoot

ARTS, ETC.

7

Chum’s to welcome unusual fare

By Max Randhahn Special to the Hoot

With the new semester upon us, students will be looking to balance their coursework with a slew of campus events. For the musically inclined, Punk Rock ’n’ Roll Club has a bevy of bands lined up for this semester. No dates have been set yet, but flyers will be around campus advertising each show. The bands featured here are by no means a comprehensive list of what is coming to Chum’s this semester, as many remain unconfirmed, but this is a peak at the selection of bands that will hopefully be visiting Brandeis soon.

First up is No One and the Somebodies, whose style makes it seem like they took a completed song and then dropped it down the stairs. Composed of four brothers raised in Hawthorne, NY, the band incorporates some unorthodox items into their music; on one track, a guitar is played with a maraca to some electronic harmonies. All of the noise blends together into an upbeat sound brimming with passion. Time Out New York wrote, “No One and the Somebodies has long had the most aggressive urinal-stickering campaign of any NYC band. It’s a shame the outfit can’t afford a publicist: Its lo-fi art pop crackles with zany fervor.”

Joining them is Cave Cricket, a smaller outfit featuring two of the Somebodies and focusing more on a

playing this semester at chums The Vacationers, Braids, DIIV and No One and the Somebodies

to perform.

photos from internet source

lighter, breezier sound. Swapping the traditional punk instruments for ukuleles, glockenspiels and banjos, Cave Cricket’s music seems to reassure the listeners that everything is going to be all right, and then makes them a cup of tea. The band is every bit as upbeat as the Somebodies, but with a more reserved style; they are more likely to be found at an outdoor festival than a house party.

Turbosleaze is the final band involving members of the Somebodies; all three bands will be playing the same show at Chum’s. The band’s website biography is a mess of toilet humor and unrelated nouns, which somehow end up conveying their tone rather well. Amidst droning guitars and aggressive drums, the audience gets the sense that these people are here to play whatever they choose, regardless of crowd approval. These three very different bands are going to make for a night of intense juxtaposition.

Another show will feature Vacationer, a band that lives up to its name. A relaxing electronic outfit, their warm sound almost makes it seem like the audience is on a vacation of their own. Their bread and butter are lo-fi samples set to beats, often incorporating marimba or chimes to brighten the sound. The sound of the drums themselves make Vacationer seem like a surf-themed instrumental hip-hop outfit, which would be true if not for the traditional indie lyrics. Vacationer

will take all your class-related woes and melt them away.

Braids, set to play alongside Vacationer, is a Canada-based postrock group with a touch of shoegaze.

Braids have all the characteristics of a classic post-rock band; the guitars are not at the forefront of their songs, the songs themselves are on the lengthier side and the echoes are turned up.

They are missing the sadness inherent in post-rock lyrics, instead putting the listener into a dream-like fugue state.

The Braids/Vacationer show should prove to be the most relaxing event on campus this fall. Should anyone become particularly infatuated with them, Braids is also playing at the Iron Horse in Northampton on Sept. 20.

DIIV (pronounced “dive”), the final band announced, is a Brooklyn-based indie collective that will be playing solo this fall. The band cites Nirvana, krautrock and world music as influences, making for a fluid sound that could be mistaken for up-tempo, lofi post-rock. Originally formed as a solo project by Beach Fossils’ touring guitarist Zachary Smith, DIIV was formed in 2011, and it released its first record in June. Smith conscripted three of his friends and put out “Oshin,” a record that has gathered praise from Pitchfork (and the attention that follows a favorable review). It’s exciting for Brandeis to host an up-andcoming band, since no one knows exactly where they will end up.

8 The Brandeis Hoot

SPORTS

August 31, 2012

Men’s basketball pays for trip to Croatia with fundraising

By Brian Tabakin Editor

The men’s basketball team funded their overseas trip to Croatia by raising nearly $50,000 during the past five years.

In a follow up interview with The Hoot, forward Alex Schmidt ’14 said the international competition should serve as key preparation for the NCAA tournament later this season.

“Coach [Meehan] does it every four to five years, so we try to get money for the team each year. We typically have a charity raffle and a dinner each winter. Alumni and old players come for that, as well as our families.” Additionally, the team runs a camp each year, and hosts an AAU tournament each year where they work concession stands to raise money.

Over the course of the last five years the team raised $4,000 for each player, including “flight, hotel, meals and a stipend. Eleven players went and Tyrone Hughes ’12 joined us as well.”

“We were already a really tight group on and off the court,” Schmidt said. “The goal of this trip was to completely get us on the same page on and off the court and we had great success. While we were already friends last year, now we’re fighting for each other, something we really lacked last year.”

Furthermore, the trip provided the team with more experience. “It’s a real battle to go to another country to play against teams you’ve never played against or seen in 100 degree gyms, while the fans are rooting against you.

It’s a real fight to keep your cool in a completely different environment.”

The team entered the 2010 season with 10 first-years, and an extremely

international play: Team poses for photo at Kornati National Park

The waterfall

photo from brandeis athletics

quick 13-0 start; even though they stumbled down the stretch, the team had announced their presence on the UAA scene. The following season, the team was plagued by inconsistency.

They would lose to some of the lowest ranked Division III teams while beating No. 2 ranked Amherst by 15 points.

Schmidt hopes that their experience from this trip will help them develop the consistency to accomplish their overall goal this year. “Clearly, the goal this year has to be not only to get in the NCAA but also show we belong there. We’re clearly going to have to make a statement and our goal is to win the UAA and make a statement in

the NCAAs.” While the team was playing basketball for the majority of the trip, they also had a chance to enjoy the culture and scenery of Croatia. “We went to a waterfall that was unbelievable. It was 80 meters high and located in a national park. It was great for my teammates who have never been to Europe to get to experience the Mediterranean culture.” The most incredible trip was a four to five hour boat cruise “where we toured the hundreds of islands surrounding Croatia. The islands could be as small as the SCC or as big as the entire campus.”

When the team played against Croatian teams, they had to play by

photo from brandeis athletics

European rules instead of the typical NCAA rules. Schmidt believes this will help them in the upcoming season.

“It really helped us to execute faster and sharper. They play with a 24 second shot clock while we play with a 35 second shot clock in the UAA. It really helped us develop a faster game.

Not only did it make us play more uptempo but it also forced us to execute our plays quicker and crisper. We couldn’t grind out sets.”

With the experience, battle-toughness and faster-paced game, the Judges are poised to make their goals a reality but consistency remains the challenge.

Volleyball looks to take step forward this season with new teammates

By Gordy Stillman Editor

Last fall, the volleyball team had no seniors and finished 9-21, 0-10 in University Athletic Association (UAA) play. While they struggled, they had a chance to rebuild for this year.

Yael Einhorn ’14, last season’s captain, wrote in an email, “We had all young players, [and] no seniors. Now that we have played together for a year we are hoping for better results.”

Becca Fischer ’13 wrote that from the experience they built last year “we are now ready to come out fighting and utilize what we learned to have a fantastic season.”

Aside from retaining 10 of 10 players from last season, the team has added four new players from the class of 2016.

“It is too early to tell” exactly what the impact of the incoming teammates will be, odds are that the added players will only help, Einhorn wrote.

Fischer noted “[we] are so glad to have them … we have a million new options.” While a million options might be a slight stretch, there’s certainly no doubt that with four new players, there are quite a few new options for a team that has played together for nearly a year.

Among reasonable expectations, Einhorn included “we [expect] to do well this season. Our conference is

photo from brandeis athletics

Huddle up: The team talks strategy during a break.

always tough [and includes] the best teams in Division III.” “We are ready to play the best volleyball we know how to, and are ready to work together to bring home as many wins as possible,” Fischer wrote.

The most recent NCAA rankings from Aug. 16, lists two UAA teams ranked in the top 10, and a third team among the top 15. Washington University in St. Louis and Emory took the number two and four spots respectively, while the University of Chicago took 15th on the list. “They all deserve to be in the top 15,” Ein-

horn said.

“Emory and Washington University are challenging every year, and [the] University of Chicago did very well last year,” Einhorn wrote. “The UAA is the hardest Division III Conference; all of the UAA teams are great.”

The Judges will also face non-conference opponents at various tournaments this season. This weekend the Judges have three matches at the Western Connecticut State University Invitational. Next Wednesday they will host a home opener against

Wellesley, and the first of two tournaments with the Brandeis Invitational.

The Judges will also close their season by hosting the Judges Classic at the end of October, before competing in the UAA championships tournament in early November.

Einhorn relates that the non-conference schedule “is definitely not easy. Most of the teams we play are very challenging, but it is good because they [help] prepare us for the tough competition we face in the UAA.” Among non-conference opponents, the NCAA’s regional-ranks

from the end of last season, place Tufts and Wellesley among New England’s top eight.

There’s no doubt that this season will be challenging. With four new players joining their roster, this season should be very exciting as they work to improve on last year’s record.

The season starts tonight, Aug. 31, with their first match at the Western Connecticut State University Invitational against Salve Regina at 7:30 p.m.

The Judges will host Wellesley on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

August 31, 2012

SPORTS 9

The Brandeis Hoot

Opinion: drugs and sports, an uncomfortable partnership

By Brian Tabakin Editor

Over the past month the issues of steroids and drugs has resurfaced in the sports world. In the mere span of a week, reports surfaced that San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera and Oakland Athletics pitcher Bartolo Colon were both suspended by Major League Baseball for 50 games, for the use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).

Then less than a week later, Lance Armstrong dropped his defense in the ongoing crusade against him by U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), over his alleged use of blood thinners and drugs in his record seven Tourde-France victories.

The issue of drugs in sports is not a new one; however, it has come under the microscope in the age of Internet and social media.

The NCAA recently revamped its drug policy. According to the NCAA’s official website each year, “approximately 11,000 Division I and II student athletes in all sports will be randomly tested for steroids, diuretics and masking agents, peptide hormones and ephedrine.”

Additionally, the NCAA tests randomly at every championship in all three divisions at least once every five years while others are tested each year.

Furthermore, many institutions and universities have even stronger testing and policies that serve to amplify the NCAA’s existing provisions.

The NCAA’s strict bylaws and rules, however, are nearly absolute and provide little leeway. An Aug. 28 report from NBC Sports detailed how New York Giants safety Tyler Sash was sus-

pended for simply using the prescription drug Adderall.

Additionally, once an athlete tests positive for any banned substance, the governing body of their sport as well as the media, immediately criticizes them.

In the court of public opinion, there are no considerations for extenuating circumstances or personal medical conditions. These policies are even more dangerous considering the very real possibility of false positives.

Furthermore, no test is 100 percent foolproof. With any test, there is always an inherent risk of a false positive. The stringent and guilty until proven innocent methodology of anti-drug agencies run the risk of ruining an athlete’s career from false accusations even if they were the victim of a false-positive test.

There is also an inherent moral ambiguity and double standard. All sports were not created equal with regards to PED use. MLB has a history of records that are considered sacred.

The emergence of PED use has threatened the integrity of these records and the sport as a whole.

When Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s record 755 home runs, his feat was regarded with suspicion, vitriol and anger over his alleged use of steroids to accomplish his newrecord 762 career home runs. In comparison, however, in recent years no eyebrows were raised due to shattered NFL records.

HGH, human growth hormone, is the new battleground in the crusade against drugs in sports. While it is admirable that sports want to eliminate drug use, it is not that simple. As athletes have gotten quicker, stronger and larger, they cannot be expected to rely on the same medical treatments

photo from internet source

as previous generations of athletes.

The short-term and long-term effects of HGH are still relatively unknown; however, consider this: Hypothetically, if HGH could counter the detrimental effects of concussions or help repair torn muscles, ligaments and bones quicker, would we really continue to crusade against them?

There can be no middle ground concerning this issue. Sports leagues cannot decry and crusade against drugs while at the same time not enforce a comprehensive and fair drug policy.

Sports must go all-in. Either allow drugs in sports or develop a compre-

hensive plan to deter athletes from using them. The current short to midterm suspensions that result from a positive test of drugs is not enough.

In baseball, it is easily worth the risk to players to use drugs. If they aren’t caught they are likely in line for a new contract worth upwards of $50 million; and if they are caught, they just get a 50-game suspension, still able to play baseball. The money is well worth the risk.

Additionally, if college athletes can stand out to scouts through the use of PEDs, why would they not use them?

For most of them, it is their lifelong dream to play professional sports. If they can accomplish their dream by using PEDs, the risk of getting caught is easily outweighed.

Sports are inherently entertainment. If PEDs provide a better product on the field, healthier athletes and more revenue for teams, what is the downside? The NCAA and major league teams need to decide where they stand on the issue.

They can no longer enforce two different sets of rules.

photo from internet source

Women’s soccer looks to new season with first years

By Nathan Koskella Editor

The women’s soccer team plays their first game at MIT Friday, and Coach Denise Dallamora is optimistic about the team’s prospects this year.

The team has 12 new first-years, Dallamora said, who are part of the “awesome group of players in both talent and as people.”

When asked about the impact of the new recruits, Dallamora said that “it really depends on the talent, and of course it’s easier to have senior players, but we will start [as many as] five first-years.”

About the now-graduated seniors, Dallamora said it would be tough without them simply because they are such great players.

Captains this year will be Francine Kofinas ’13, Kelly Peterson ’14, Mary Shimko ’14 and Zoe Siegel ’13.

The team will use a different formation this year, the coach said. “Tactically, we’ll have three front runners this year, so we’re hoping to get a boost of scoring power by using a different [formation].”

Last year, the team went 6-11-2 overall, and in the conference the team went winless, losing six games and tying one.

One returning player, Alec Spivack ’15, predicted a more successful season, starting with tomorrow’s match at MIT. “I think we’re going to do really well,” she said, especially as compared to last fall.

Spivack, who plays defensive center-mid, said, “Last year was upsetting, but the new first-years are going to make a big impact this year,” adding that “at least two and maybe more are starting, which is huge.”

She attributed her optimism as well to greater team morale.

“The team as a whole, we’re trying to make sure everyone keeps their head up, that everyone stays positive,” she said. “We’re doing a lot more team bonding—we were really missing that type of chemistry last year.”

The seniors will be missed, Spivack said, especially since “all six of our graduating seniors started, so we have at least six new positions.” But at the same time, the team is hopeful, she added, due to the new talent that happens to be scheduled for those six spots.

photo from brandeis athletics

FEATURES

10 The Brandeis Hoot

August 31, 2012

Students return from across the globe

By Debby Brodsky Editor

This week 144 Brandeis students return to campus from study abroad, after spending at least one semester last academic year living, traveling and studying in schools all around the world. Brandeis encourages students to study abroad for a semester to gain a broader understanding of the continuously globalizing world and to emphasize becoming “global citizens.” Each year roughly more than 40 percent of the junior class studies abroad at as many as 350 programs in 70 countries across the globe.

Upon returning to the United States, students sometimes find that the dramatic transition from hostcountry back to the United States is challenging, as the two cultures sometimes vary greatly.

“This really varies from student to student,” J. Scott Van Der Meid, director of the Office of Study Abroad, said. “I think many students struggle with how to balance what they experienced abroad and how they can share it with friends, family and the Brandeis community. When students first get back, everyone is interested in hearing about the experience in short sound bites but it’s hard to paraphrase a year or semester’s worth of experience into something like that.”

While students are abroad they often encounter a fascinating variety of experiences, such as taking classes in

a host country’s language, shopping and bargaining in foreign markets, and traveling independently from country to country during break periods.

Though Brandeis holds reentry sessions for students returning from study abroad, students will inevitably face the difficult readjustment to life back in the United States and life at Brandeis at their own pace.

Ilana Pomerantz ’13 returns this fall from Jerusalem, where she studied psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She anticipates that the adjustment back to Brandeis life here in the United States will be difficult, and that she will miss the “mentality and honesty” of the Israeli people, “the fresh fruits and veggies from the Shuk (market)” and “speaking Hebrew all the time.”

Pomerantz, who was abroad for seven months, decided to study abroad in Israel to experience a culture with which she was familiar but not yet accustomed to, and also to learn more about herself.

“Studying abroad is necessary,” Pomerantz said. “Take every opportunity that comes your way. Before you go to the country, have somewhat of an idea of what you want to gain from it, and know how you want to grow as a person.”

“We’re also launching a study abroad ambassador program as a way for returned students to share their experiences with prospective stu-

the hebrew university of jerusalem

dents and help promote study abroad to prospective students,” Van Der Meid said.

Sadye Sagov ’13 studied abroad at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. Sagov spent her spring semester abroad, and found that, while she didn’t miss places or things about the United States, she missed her close friends and family much more

Still stuck deciding on classes? Here are a few of our favorites, most of which are still open. Since you’ve probably already set your schedule, any of these can be your “just for fun” class”!

NEJS 148B: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Jews and Christians­­—Bernadette Brooten This class will teach you all you need to know about homosexuality, gender relations and ambiguity throughout Judeo-Christian biblical history. This course, taught by the woman who literally wrote the book, shows a different side of religion and GLBT relations.

ENG 28: Nature Writing—Caren Irr

This experiential learning course with make students feel one with nature through literary odes to the environment from Thoreau to his critics to the present. Spreading across nonfiction, memoir, natural history to explorative fiction, students will be able to write down their responses to the world around them in so many different ways.

SAS 130A:Film and Fiction of Crisis—Harleen Singh This course looks at works, literary and film, that document South Asian crises of all kinds. On one of the world’s most dynamic regions, students will be forced to decide which side they are on in conflicts in India, Pakistan, Nepal and others.

LGLS 138B: Science on Trial­­—Daniel Breen

Have you ever wanted to know how trials come to a verdict? Science on Trial looks at how expert-witness evidence makes it from scientific journals into the minds of jurors deciding innocence or guilt. This course will question everything you think you learned on CSI—the actual scientific (in)validity of fingerprints, DNA samples and more.

photo from internet source

than she expected to.

“I traveled abroad to explore the world,” Sagov said.

After taking advantage of travel opportunities, learning from classes offered at the University of Copenhagen on Danish language and culture, and embracing the Danish way of life, Sagov feels the transition back to life at an American university will be easy.

TOP

“I loved my time abroad, but I am also very happy to be back home again,” she said. Sagov stressed the importance of studying abroad to students currently considering the study abroad opportunity. “Do it!” said Sagov. “Live with people from the country, take advantage of immersion opportunities and travel, travel, travel!”

8 FALL ’12 classes

COSI 118: Computer Supported Cooperative Learning­—Richard Alterman

Computer Supported Cooperative Learning is an experiential-learning course that seeks to take the basic techniques of computer science and provide them with real-world, cooperative applications. The course is designed to cater to all needs and skill levels, welcoming students from across the academic spectrum.

SOC 154: Community Structure and Youth Subcultures—Jennifer Marie Girouard Community Structure and Youth Subcultures SOC 154 places a special focus upon youth subcultures within regions ranging from rural areas to suburbs to the cities. Taught by Professor Girouard, it allows students to formulate predictions based upon the dynamics of communities.

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August 31, 2012

FEATURES 11

The Brandeis Hoot

International students’ orientation prepares class of 2016

By Debby Brodsky Editor

Brandeis hosts an orientation for new undergraduate international students two days prior to the arrival of domestic students. Run by the Brandeis International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) and the Department of Orientation and the Core Committee, the international student orientation offers students from around the globe a chance to get acclimated with their new host culture and institution.

According to Gillian Boulay, the international student adviser, the international student orientation begins with the training of orientation leaders and Roosevelt Fellows. “We talk about some of the challenges and transitions that international students go through,” explained Boulay.

“The ISSO’s involvement in the international orientation regards issues such as culture shock, visas and coming to the United States for the first time. We make Orientation Leaders and Roosevelt Fellows aware of the transitions that students will be going through.”

To ensure the preparedness of Orientation Leaders and Roosevelt Fellows, Brandeis allots four and a half days of training to communication and facilitation skills.

“The Department of Orientation

emails the international students during the summer and does airport pickups from Logan,” Jenny Abdou, the director of orientation, said.

“Most arriving international students are anxious about getting here safely, and we want to help alleviate that stress.”

Mitchell Schwartz ’14, the coordinator of orientation this year, explained how diligently Brandeis students and staff work in order to make sure international students feel at home, and have the same orientation experiences as their domestic classmates.

“On Friday [Aug. 17] all of the international students arrived on campus,” Schwartz said. “The students are moved in by Orientation Leaders, and attend a new student reception held for students and family members.

Students meet one another, attend icebreakers on the great lawn as well as an ice cream social.”

Schwartz continued to describe how on Saturday the international students attended specific information sessions about visas, social security numbers and the American classroom experience. Students are counseled on what it is like to be a student in America, and are provided with resource workshops about community standards, career opportunities and staying healthy.

Following the information work-

shops, students and Orientation Leaders were bused to Babson University, where they went ice skating.

Many students had never seen snow before, let alone ice.

“It’s important to keep international orientation low key,” Schwartz said.

“These students are drained from jet lag, and worrying about visa statuses.

Low key events are extremely helpful to them.”

At the conclusion of the international student orientation, international students were assigned new orientation groups; thereby integrating them with domestic students who arrived on Sunday, ensuring equal experiences for all incoming students.

Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of being part of the Brandeis community, is that once oriented, students form close bonds regardless of country of origin. “Brandeis is such a warm and welcoming community for international students because there is no difference between American and international students,” Schwartz said. “The community is so integrated because Brandeis makes great strides to ensure that all students are included in the same clubs and activities.”

As students form friendships and develop routines, Schwartz highlights the importance of making friends with as many different people as possible in order to broaden the overall Brandeis experience.

brandeis welcomes class of 2016 .

photo from internet source

“The natural reaction is to get as much of your home culture while away,” Schwartz said. “It’s important for students to get out of their comfort zones.”

“We all naturally clump together with people who are like us,” Ab-

photo from internet source

dou said. “That’s totally normal. It is great though when people from different cultures can share their backgrounds, their foods and their traditions to celebrate where they are from and what they’re about. International students can teach us so much. Hopefully we’ll teach them things about living in America as well.”

“For new international students coming to Brandeis and transitioning to their new life in the United States, enjoy yourselves and have adventures,” Boulay said. “Meet not only other international students, but make friends with American students as well. Take advantage of all the wonderful people.”

Summer internship with Obama campaign fuels love of politics

By Dana Trismen Editor

Sarah Margulies ’15 understands the intangible benefits of working an unpaid internship. This summer she served as a Summer Organizing Fellow for the Obama campaign, combining her love of politics with a cause she believes in. “[This internship] made me a lot more interested in community organizing and in developing better personal skills. The Obama campaign is about trading stories, and I learned a lot about empathy and where people are coming from,” Margulies said.

Margulies has always been interested in politics, and will most likely declare a history major while at Brandeis. Hailing from Rhode Island, Margulies strove to find an internship in her hometown. State director Devin Driscoll headed the program that Margulies says changed her life.

“I always knew I wanted to be involved with people and politics, and this campaign helped me see how I could do that.”

On a daily basis, Margulies made phone calls on behalf of President Obama. While her calls were not president obama speaks to new hampshire voters

margulies in action

photo courtesy sarah margulies

about fundraising, Margulies said they were about “people building neighborhood teams. Obama’s campaign is a grassroots one, and Obama is able to organize a lot of people to do good. Here we are organizing people to make change.” Describing her home state as “blue as could be,” she would instead call to request that Rhode Islanders go across state lines into New Hampshire and work to persuade voters there.

According to Margulies, the most interesting experience she had resulted from large group trips to New Hampshire. “People in New Hampshire are really interesting, because they truly believe in live free or die.

It was really cool to get their thoughts on the election. They are so friendly because they are used to talking with politicians.”

Although New Hampshire is worth

only four Electoral College votes, Margulies believes she has made a difference. “Obama is winning in New Hampshire right now by five points.

If Al Gore had switched votes in his favor in New Hampshire in 2000, Florida would not have mattered.”

As for the upcoming election, Margulies said that Obama has a platform to stand on. “A really big focus is stressing what he has actually accomplished in office. A lot of it is completely glossed over by mainstream media since people are so focused on what Congress is doing wrong now.

Obama cut taxes for small businesses 18 times, and nobody ever talks about that.”

Margulies argued that Obama’s triumphs in office and wealth of experience make this a much different campaign than that of 2008.

Margulies also gave Hiatt Career

photo courtesy sarah margulies

Center credit for helping her land her internship. “Hiatt was really helpful.

They don’t get as much credit as they deserve, they really did help me with my resume.”

While Margulies discovered her internship on her own, the changes Hiatt made to her resume made a difference, and she advises students to start looking for internships now.

“Looking early is the most important thing. I started thinking about what I wanted to do in February and I felt like even that was too late.”

Margulies feels that graduating with a degree in history from Brandeis will prepare her for the cutthroat world into which she is planning to head. “Working in government can do a lot of good for people,” she says about her chosen career. She currently plans to be a field organizer upon graduation.

12 The Brandeis Hoot

“To acquire wisdom, one must observe.”

Editor-in-Chief Jon Ostrowsky Managing Editor Leah Finkelman Associate Editors Nathan Koskella Emily Stott Brian Tabakin Connor Novy News Editor Debby Brodsky News Editor Rachel Hirschhaut Deputy News Editor Victoria Aronson Features Editor Dana Trismen Features Editor Candice Bautista Arts, Etc. Editor Juliette Martin Arts, Etc. Editor Zoe Kronovet Impressions Editor Nate Rosenbloom Photography Editor Morgan Dashko Copy Editor Senior Editors Ingrid Schulte Suzanna Yu Business Editor Gordy Stillman

Volume 9 • Issue 16 the brandeis hoot • brandeis university 415 south street • waltham, ma

Founded By Leslie Pazan, Igor Pedan and Daniel Silverman

Mission As the weekly community student newspaper of Brandeis University, The Brandeis Hoot aims to provide our readers with a reliable, accurate and unbiased source of news and information.

Produced entirely by students, The Hoot serves a readership of 6,000 with in-depth news, relevant commentary, sports and coverage of cultural events. Recognizing that better journalism leads to better policy, The Brandeis Hoot is dedicated to the principles of investigative reporting and news analysis. Our mission is to give every community member a voice.

SUBMISSION POLICIES The Brandeis Hoot welcomes letters to the editor on subjects that are of interest to the community. Preference is given to current or former community members and The Hoot reserves the right to edit or reject submissions. The deadline for submitting letters is Wednesday at noon. Please submit letters to letters@ thebrandeishoot.com along with your contact information. Letters should not exceed 500 words. The opinions, columns, cartoons and advertisements printed in The Hoot do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial board.

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To learn more, send us an e-mail at join@thebrandeishoot.com, or visit our website http://thebrandeishoot.com/join. unsolicited submissions

We welcome unsolicited submissions from members of the community sent by e-mail to eic@thebrandeishoot.com. Please limit submissions to 800 words. All submissions are subjected to editing. corrections

An article from August 24, 2012, titled “Esther Kartiganer, 60 minutes producer, dies at 74,” misspelled Allen Alter’s name. The article also stated that Esther Kartiganer was a founding member and co-chair of the Women’s Studies Program. She was a founding member of the Women’s Studies National Board which supports and advises the Women’s Studies Program at Brandeis.

An article on August 24, 2012, titled “African and Afro-American Studies names new department chair,” misidentified Professor Faith Smith as Faith Hill..

EDITORIALS

August 31, 2012

French compensation package unacceptable When Brandeis’ former Executive Vice President and COO Peter French retired in 2009, he was given $2.99 million in his termination package, and an additional $226,000 in consultation fees on top of it. Even given the circumstances of French, who was very sick and retired unwillingly, we find the size of this package beyond the pale.

Under any definition the money is too much for one official, and moreover,

Letter to the Editor

Brandeis has a long list of priorities for which the money could have been much better spent.

Our university administrators work hard, and Brandeis’ benefits from diligent leadership are exemplified in the rapid rise of our U.S. News rankings in recent years and the increased national and global brand recognition. But more than $3 million?

Coming at a time when the univer-

sity cut staff, demoted departments to programs and has steadily, repeatedly increase the price of tuition, the 2009 package for French is a disturbing decision. Avoiding several tuition hikes, renovating shabby residence halls or keeping staff and broadening their departments: such are only a few better uses for millions of dollars, and we are quite sure every Brandeis student can think of more.

PennLive report reveals new facts in Joe Paterno case

Since The Brandeis Hoot has not yet picked up the recent PennLive.com Sandusky Investigative report by recent Pulitzer Prize winner Sarah Ganin, I request that you please consider scanning the five-part special report. This letter is being sent to you as a request to your paper, and is not being posted as a response to your writer’s article on your site. This is solely a request for further investigation by your staff on this issue.

Dr. Emmert based the NCAA sanctions on the Freeh Report, which focused on the University Athletic Department and the University Administration. The Freeh Report did not look at other involved parties. I guess my question to you is if the child welfare professionals—both state (PA) and nonprofit (Second Mile) recognized Sandusky had abuse issues—why is Penn State the only entity being punished? Should Penn State, Joe Paterno and current Penn State students be held more accountable than the Pennsylvania state agencies and the nonprofits who specialize in child welfare?

Why in 1998 did the Pennsylvania State Department of Welfare—not no-

tify Second Mile they were investigating Jerry Sandusky for child abuse as is required by Pennsylvania law (effective 1994). Had this happened, Mr. Sandusky might have been caught much earlier by the Child Welfare trained licensed professionals at Second Mile via the written safety plan that is required

by Pennsylvania law to have in place in such situations. How could Paterno follow up on this as the writer suggests, if the authorities would not?

Why in 2001 did Second Mile not follow Pennsylvania law (of 1994) that requires a written safety plan be put in place for anyone under investigation for child abuse after they were informed by Penn State Tim Curley of the “shower episode.” Again such a play should have caught Mr. Sandusky much earlier.

Why in 2008 did Second Mile after being told by Jerry Sandusky that he was under investigation for inappropriate contact with a minor, not follow Pennsylvania law (of 1994) that requires a written safety plan be put in place for anyone under investigation for child abuse. It was not until 2009 when Sandusky finally lost his

state sex-abuse registry clearance—did Second Mile limit his access to their “at risk” children. And, even then Second Mile did not share this information with the public.

From the PennLive.com article I was left to wonder: How can academics or athletic trainers be expected to identify and aggressively pursue a suspected pedophile if the child welfare agencies, like Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare or Second Mile, can not, do not or will not identify and pursue a person of interest? And how could the Department of Public Welfare allow Sandusky to adopt multiple children, one of whom who has already stepped forward and stated he was abused?

Where were the child experts in Child Welfare for the past 10 years?

The Sandusky Scandal story is not yet finished. It is likely that more relevant information will come out as federal investigations continue. Yet this information may get less coverage since there is no “big name school” or “big name coach” to attract readership to the story. I hope you will continue to follow this story as more details unfold.

-Dottie Dietitian

impressions

August 31, 2012

The Brandeis Hoot 13

Realizing an American identity while abroad

By Zoe Kronovet Editor

During an interview with Steve Inskeep of NPR, writer Ta-Nehisi Coates commentated that, “country is sort of like family.” That statement rings true.

No matter what your reaction is to American culture, it has an impact on your values and personality, even if it escapes your notice.

I have never been a patriotic person.

An American flag was never hung up in my room; the Fourth of July was never my favorite holiday. Once I became politically aware, it seemed like I always had a bone to pick with the good ole US of A. It wasn’t until I left the country for my first abroad adventure, that I began to realize the influence that America had on me. When I was in Israel in

high school, while walking around Jerusalem, I often felt like I had a flaming arrow that hung over my head and said “American.” From my Americanized Hebrew to my occasionally culturally inappropriate behavior, I felt my identity distinctly and regretfully.

While I missed the Ben & Jerry’s and the instant access to Internet and cable, I didn’t mind taking a sabbatical from American life and experiencing a new culture. While at home I would have been sick of the political diatribe, with joy I watched President Obama during the 2008 election from a hangout shack on the kibbutz on which I lived and rejoiced in the positive changes coming for America.

I returned home to America right as the Gaza War was starting in Israel. Even though I never felt a lick of danger or fear when I lived outside of

Jerusalem, I was glad to return home and not have to deal with the pressure and stress of living in a country that often seemed to be on the brink of something major and treacherous.

Most of the time living here is easy.

Our country does not require something from its citizens every day besides following the laws. For a middleclass kid in America, life is carefree, and I came to appreciate how amazing and rare that is in most parts of the world.

When I returned to Israel after high school, I knew Israel a little better, but still couldn’t escape my American identity. Salespeople and waiters would tell me to “just speak English, please. It is much easier” every time I tried my Hebrew out in public. Like most journeying to Israel, I had space problems; I was uncomfortable be-

ing bumped, shoved, and pushed all the time; and I missed the streets of Charlotte where everyone left plenty of room for passing on the sidewalk.

When I got to London, I felt like I had a greater shot at fitting in. Sure, my English sounded a little different, but it was English all the same. I adjusted fairly well to the afternoon tea but the accent continued to trip me up. Every time a British person spoke, I expected to be able to understand all the words that came out of their mouths, but even after three and a half months I was caught off guard when someone spoke to me on the street. In some ways, it was easier to fit in while in London because it was such a melting pot of culture. There were many Americans in London, but the ones to whom I spoke told only of the dedication, time and difficulty it took to fit in

once they moved to the city.

Since I am not European, I can’t speak to how they feel during their adventures when they travel out of their state, but I do feel as though being American gives you a specific identity, one that is not necessarily translatable to other cultures and places.

When you are in America you are so entrenched in your daily life—the political rhetoric that poisons our radios and TVs, the mundane tasks that fill up the spaces in our day—that you forget that you actually like the place.

It took leaving the country for me to be appreciative of what it has to offer, both in a theoretical sense and in my day-to-day life.

Maybe the saying “distance make the heart grow fonder” is true when applied to patriotism and not just romantic entanglements.

Maintaining Brandeis’ campus is harder than it looks

photo from internet source

view from the top Brandeis’ beautiful campus requires more maintenance than students realize.

By Lila Westreich Staff

Coming from a bustling, Minnesota farming town, I didn’t have many options as far as a summer job. My only choices included working on a friend’s farm, manning a gas station counter or working for the city. I chose the most difficult of the three options: I spent 40 hours a week doing odd jobs for the parks and recreation department. I really enjoyed parts of my job. I got to handle a lot of large machinery and drive a lot of big trucks. At one point I found myself using a saw that came with a warning from my boss, “If you mess this up, you may lose a hand.”

I was recruited to take down trees that had been planted in the wrong place, cut down bushes of buckthorn that were sprawling over community gardens, and even help out with a controlled burn on a part of a prairie. Those were the exciting parts. The duller and more mundane aspects of my job involved the monotonous trimming of hedges and grass during long days in the hottest July on record.

Undoubtedly I learned a lot about nature and the environment, but it was my exposure to the people that made a greater impact. If you’ve ever wondered why you couldn’t find a job, you can blame it on the 70-yearold guys with whom I worked. There was one retirement party during the time I was working there, and it was

for a stout Irishman who had turned 81 that year.

At the end of the workday, all of the old men and young hunters would grab a Mountain Dew from the vending machine, sit down on a plastic chair and discuss as many brands of beer as they could. They compared; they Venn diagrammed; they argued; and sometimes harsh words were exchanged. In the end, they agreed that beer was the greatest thing ever invented by man, afterward going their separate ways.

So maybe it wasn’t a four-month vacation in the Hamptons. And maybe my tan lines can be seen from space. But even through all of the hot days and early mornings, I learned a lot about trees. I learned how the government works, how to

care for newly planted flowers, and how to use a wood chipper and a handsaw like a pro.

My job changed the way I think about landscaping. Just maintaining the few parts of the city belonging to the parks department was hard enough, let alone the entire Brandeis campus.

The Brandeis Office of Facilities Services employs more than 150 people who are responsible for the “operation and maintenance of all university-owned buildings and grounds,” according to the university website.

To maintain a university campus, especially one like Brandeis, which is covered in flower beds, beautiful trees and sprawling lawns, would take many more hours than I could

even imagine. And while to many students, our campus may feel like it’s a bit small, it boasts 100 buildings spread across 235 acres. The maintenance that this campus requires is mind-boggling, and the Facilities Services staff deserves our respect and admiration. I have only spotted landscapers a few times since I arrived at Brandeis, working mainly near the SCC and Sherman. I have to give them a hand: the campus looks fantastic.

Through my experience this summer I learned to appreciate the work that goes into the beauty on campus, the beauty that students tend to take for granted. The next time I see a groundskeeper, I will be sure to say thank you for all that is done to keep Brandeis’ campus beautiful.

14 IMPRESSIONS

Call Me, Tweet Me

If you can’t do it, let someone know

By Leah Finkelman Editor

Last week, my column mentioned several times that I try to be accommodating whenever possible. Part of that includes taking the initiative in being helpful—if I see a way in which I can help someone, there’s a good chance that I’ll offer my assistance.

In no way am I trying to say that I’m perfect, nor am I the best thing to happen to the people I know, but if a friend is overly stressed, I’ll go out of my way to try to take something off their plate.

The biggest problem I have found with this system is that I’ve come to realize that sometimes I won’t have time to do everything I need to do or everything that I offered to do. When this happens, I do something else that is so helpful that it seems like it should be common sense: I tell the friend that I’m not going to be able to do what I said I would.

The situation went as follows: I was waiting on Tuesday for my furniture to be delivered and assembled by IKEA. They said it would be delivered between 2 and 6 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., when they had not arrived, I called IKEA and left a message after being put on hold. I explained the situation, asking them to call me back in order to reschedule. At 8:30 p.m., I went to a friend’s birthday/going away party.

Just 15 minutes later, I got a call from my new friend at IKEA, letting me know that he was just a few minutes away and would arrive shortly.

I don’t know enough about their process to know who was at fault, but my new friend and his coworkers were lovely and extremely apologetic, promising to hurry when they realized I had plans. From what I understood, they were simply scheduled for too many deliveries that day and ran extremely late. OK, I understand.

What IKEA did wasn’t malicious and I doubt that they consciously made a decision not to deliver my furniture or call me back. There needs to be, however, a better system in place.

It’s a matter of personal and professional responsibility, and when you’re doing it in a business setting, good or bad communication can influence your customer relations.

In his inaugural address, President Lawrence explained that a liberal arts education was one of the best types of education, saying, “a true liberal arts education is the most practical education there is.” I agree completely.

While I’ve certainly sat in class and wondered how learning about a honeybee’s waggle dance is ever going to be relevant, I know that I am in the right place at the right time.

He explained his opinion by listing various skills that we as Brandeisians learn that wouldn’t necessarily be taught if we were getting a trade-specific degree. Among them he included critical analysis and my personal favorite, the ability to communicate.

This column, “Call Me, Tweet Me,” was originally intended to be about communication, and I’ve somewhat strayed from my roots. Being a skilled communicator is an art, but being able to communicate competently enough that you don’t alienate people is not difficult.

Good communication and personal responsibility are traits that are hard to relay in a resume, but they will get you the furthest in life.

The Brandeis Hoot

August 31, 2012

Job well done, but future diversity programs need more ‘class’

By Nathan Koskella Editor

Job well done, but future diversity programs need more ‘class’ As an orientation leader two years ago, I walked my six new students, with a bit of trepidation, to that year’s version of orientation’s program on diversity. A year before as a first-year myself, I had sat down in Hassenfeld and witnessed a presentation of racial and anti-gay slurs aimed to provoke our introspection. My own OL had apologized in advance, but I was not fully prepared for the menu of discomfort I ended up experiencing.

And now I had to lead my six kids into what the 2010 CORE committee called “the Tunnel of Oppression.”

Part of me really liked facing uncomfortable truths and statistics, but I was anxious as an OL because I knew some of my aide-lets may not feel the same way.

Whether you liked past diversity programs or not, this year’s team had something entirely new in mind.

And according to CORE member Sam Gordon ’14, who directed the program this year, the diversity program was designed specifically to move away from the uncomfortable, offensive-assault approach.

Gordon’s direction is to celebrate instead the diversity that Brandeis has to offer.

This year, new students enter into five unique spaces—one each for touch, smell, sound, sight and even taste.

The celebration approach of hers is the reason the smell room has jasmine sticks and herbs from around the world to experience. The taste

area is similar. The hearing room?

It contains the five CORE members, Jamele Adams and President Fred Lawrence talking about what diversity means to them. The sight room retained a small amount of the old, with statistics on homosexuality and faith but with none of the disturbing images or hateful words that remained unexplained.

I was not oppressed and more than a little impressed.

The program will not provoke as much uncomfortable rethinking or inward-looking reflection, and that is a shame.

The buzzword for Gordon’s take could be multiculturalism. The touch, smell and taste rooms especially have hit this goal head on. For instance, I had never before worn a saree.

There were smells I knew were saffron or jasmine from various restaurants I’ve visited but seeing the connection between my olfactory sense and a unique culture were worth the visit through the program. And Sam’s point was even starker: How many people at Brandeis had never before held, let alone handled and caressed, a cross?

This theme of opening viewers’ eyes to things they may in the past have only read or heard about consumes Gordon’s entire project. “Instead of staring at things,” she says, “diversity needs to be experienced.”

The one area where the presentation falls short is its capturing of class distinctions and the differences associated with divergent income groups. As fitting with other parts of the Brandeis experience, the diversity program handles countering homophobia and racism very well.

But perhaps because of how tolerant Brandeis often is in these areas, Brandeis students should especially be made aware of the many different lifestyle choices and background variations that come from living a life in which some needs just simply are not met. There were some statistics about global poverty and housing rates, but knowing that one of a hundred people have a computer, worldwide, is different than realizing that a solid one-fifth of the children in America don’t always eat in a day.

And half of America makes less the $55,000 a year.

Gordon for her part admitted that “I wish I could have done more about class.” She said that many Brandeis students, before coming here, lived in their “own little world, but should see how others live.”

Gordon’s own past is no silverspoon getaway. She works as many jobs on campus as she can, currently two and searching for a third. She will be in debt up to her eyeballs when she graduates. And all of her loans are taken out alone, in her own name.

Her description differs from so many of us here, who thankfully have parents who have been more fortunate financially, or able to receive so much more federal aid. And even among students on near-total aid packages, of which there are few here, the background differences can be as determinative as between people of different races, nationalities and/or religions.

And Gordon said that these vast consequences that differences in wealth bring are exactly why Brandeis programs should increase their con-

sciousness of class in further years.

She said that she hopes this year is a “stepping stone” to future diversity programs.

We need programs that are not only more interactive, like Gordon’s, but more attuned to the diversity awareness Brandeis really needs.

Gordon did have some good ideas, some unfortunately that were not included in the current program. She wondered aloud about a “Game of Life” activity that would have incoming first-years play people from different walks of life, and try to experience the differences income levels can make.

Getting a simple loan to try to move up the ladder, buying a safe car, even going to the dentist the recommended number of times—these are just a few examples of problems a number of students’ families at Brandeis have had to face. They are, however, large, endemic problems for so many Americans.

Some parents, in order to pay for college, put off their own retirement plans, shortchange younger children’s future or simply go without what some of us would consider necessities—like health insurance. Some families at Brandeis, no matter how few, have never taken a vacation and cannot afford to send their student home for the holidays and breaks.

Next year’s orientation diversity program should perhaps look a little closer to home. I am happy to learn about Japanese cuisine or wear the saree. Some of my classmates have stories that might be uncomfortable to hear, but as such, are all the more important to hear.

Still Writing

Voter ID: Making it harder to vote or preventing fraud?

By Gordy Stillman Editor

Last month I applied for an absentee ballot to be sent to my Brandeis mailbox so that I could vote in my state’s election. Sure, I could have registered as a Massachusetts voter, but I wanted to vote under the same address that I did four years ago. My desire to vote for my home state is not because my state is a battleground state (it’s almost surely going to President Obama), or because my district is competitive (it usually goes to some republican), or because I hope to reelect a certain senator (that’s just a bonus).

I care about voting in my home state because of two Constitutional amendments that are on the ballot this year. The first amendment is one I already know my stance on: whether or not to constitutionally ban samesex marriage. Same-sex marriage is not currently legal in my state, but the amendment would define marriage in a way that constitutionally bans it.

I will be voting against the amendment.

The other one is a bit trickier. It’s an amendment that would require the presentation of government ID when voting in future elections. Currently, any resident of Minnesota who is 18 years of age or older can vote on Election Day. If they are not already registered, they can register on Election Day at their voting precinct. There are many forms of ID that are permissible when registering on Election Day; even that, however, is unnecessary if a person is willing to swear under oath to verify another’s address.

Under the proposed new amendment, voters would have to present government-issued identification in order to receive their ballot. While anyone interested in voting should

be willing to get the necessary ID, especially since the amendment would require the ID to be free, it is an unnecessary burden on what can—at times—be an apathetic electorate.

Additionally, a provision of the amendment would eliminate the ability for voters to register on Election Day because they would be required to have registered IDs before casting a ballot. Election Day registrants simply cannot be subject to the same checks if they are to be able to vote.

Arguably, the verifications needed to vote on election day should be enough, as they ask potential voters to show a reasonable amount of proof that they live at their claimed address.

The new amendment also does not flesh out potential problems that this mandatory government ID poses. As someone who is voting via absentee ballot, the amendment, should it be enacted into law, could pose a major problem for future absentee voters.

Voters who arrive at their precincts will be required to present an ID, so what are voters by mail supposed to do? The most reasonable thing to do would be to photocopy an ID; but how is that secure? A simple Google search pulls up plenty of images that someone skilled in Photoshop could most likely alter. Furthermore, a photocopy lacks the many built-in security details of an official ID. Although the supporters of this amendment claim that it makes voting safer, it in no way benefits absentee-ballot fraud, and actually might make it harder for an out-of-state citizen to vote in their home state.

Unlike the other amendment on an absentee ballot, this one appears to have good intentions. Preventing voter fraud is certainly a worthy goal.

Having voted in an election that was decided by a handful of votes after a mandated recount (resulting in the

election of Al Franken), I agree that potential voter fraud could theoretically change elections. But is fear of fraud worth making it more difficult to vote?

At the same time, I’ve always been a little bit proud of how easy it is to register and vote in my home state. For instance, if I were not currently registered to vote, the necessary application would have been sent with my ballot. Considering the low levels of national voter turnout, it’s really nice that some states encourage people to vote by making it easy to qualify.

Among other things, the same-day registration benefits people whose 18th birthday is close to Election Day. As district voter lists are printed in

advance of Election Day, it’s possibly the only way to ensure that anyone who’s qualified to vote, is able to vote.

Both sides of the argument are understandable; however, it is hard to say that the proposed changes would be beneficial to Minnesota and its population. While the attempt to better our state by preventing voter fraud is appreciated, I think this new amendment stops short of its goal.

Election Day is about more than just voting for a presidential candidate and congressional delegates; It’s also the date when changes to a state’s constitution can be made. For that reason, it is imperative that we carefully consider all issues that are on our ballots.

photo from internet source

FEATURES

August 31, 2012

The Brandeis Hoot 15

Student artist finds true passion in music

By Victoria Aronson Editor

Far from only labeling himself a rapper, Osaze Akerejah ’14, a philosophy major who is more recognizable by his stage name Saz.É , identifies himself first and foremost as an artist.

Rebuking the pressure merely to conform to what is deemed popular by mainstream artists or society, his creative passion becomes evident as he adamantly proclaims the desire to convey emotional experiences and musical quality through his work. In an interview with The Hoot, Akerejah revealed the personal struggles that have served as a source of inspiration to his work, and the redeeming effect that music had in his life.

Akerejah is originally from New Jersey, and released his first mixtape, “DjFreeez Presents … Saz.É’s The Little Black Boxx ,” in 2010, and a second tape, “DjFreeez Presents … Saz.É’s Invincible Tomorrow,” in February 2012. Akerejah is currently collaborating with producer Dom? Beats on the upcoming release of the project “One Hell of an Internship.”

One of his most popular songs, “Dear Daughter,” which he performed on campus last year at Culture X, expresses his desire to raise a black daughter, as evident through the lyrics “I am a black father / or soon to be a black father / can’t help but want a pretty black daughter.”

As Akerejah spoke, his passion for music became evident. “I feel like above all else music should be very emotionally connective as well as thought-provoking,” he said.

Akerejah traces his love of rap to his youth, and he recalled initially falling in love with rap at age six, when he would listen to records with his brother. Despite exploring the possibility of becoming a zoologist in subsequent years, Akerejah once again became enraptured with music in seventh grade while experiencing the emotional turbulence accompanying his parents’ divorce. Calling music his savior, he said that music was a “mean to channel negative energy in the household and give me a space to talk about it and express myself.”

Rather than narrowing the scope of his music to a certain audience, Akerejah said, “I don’t make songs for specific people or groups, I make music for specific emotions and feelings.” Akerejah also uses lyrics as an outlet not only to express his own emotions, whether it be heartbreak, depression or even elation, but as a means to channel the struggles and experiences of those around him as well. While discussing his passion for music, he simply stated, “I always said that it saved my life, because it’s been the thing where when I was suicidal, I thought ‘well man, if I’m dead I couldn’t write songs anymore.’ I always say music is my ground.”

Akerejah continued to explain that he idolizes musicians and artists such as Kanye West, DJ Fiasco, Jay Z and The Beatles. “Rap is very musical,” he said. “The way they put together their verses is like putting together an arrangement for any instrument.” In terms of his own personal style, he labels himself as a conscious rapper, meaning his lyrics focus upon real issues, reflecting the personal ties in his music.

Despite the overwhelming number of individuals hoping to pursue careers as artists, Akerejah distinguishes himself through his unique sound.

When questioned as to what he will contribute as an artist to the blend of music that is already produced, Akerejah referenced his background in poetry, a factor that lends itself to his distinct writing approach and complex lyrics. He explains, “I don’t get

osaze akerejah

photo courtesy of osaze akerejah

“Brandeis is the place I really want to love my music. If you don’t have support from family, and I consider Brandeis family, you have nothing.”

too caught up in trying to do what’s hot, I just try to do what sounds good

performance by osaze akerejah

-Saz.É musically.”

Beyond the individuals he idolizes

in the musical world, Akerejah continues to look up to other prominent figures, including President Obama.

He also has very personal idols, including his deceased brother Nelson, who was autistic. “In his silence, he taught me a lot. He taught me strength,” Akerejah said.

Utilizing this strength, Akerejah remains driven to continue pursuing his musical career post-graduation, confessing, “I will either succeed in music or die trying. I really feel like this is what I am best at and what I was put here to do.”

During his classes at Brandeis, Akerejah said the most rewarding compliment he has received was from a fellow peer who confessed, “You made me appreciate rap. You showed me how it can be an art form and how it can be poetry.”

Akerejah appreciates support from his family and friends, and wishes to perform at SpringFest this year, saying that “Brandeis is the place I really want to love my music. If you don’t have support from family, and I consider Brandeis family, you have nothing.”

photo courtesy of osaze akerejah

16 The Brandeis Hoot

THIS WEEK IN PHOTOS

August 31, 2012

photos by nate rosenbloom/the hoot