The Brandeis Hoot - 10/4/13

Volume 10 Number 17

www.thebrandeishoot.com

Brandeis University’s Community Newspaper • Waltham, Mass.

Student blood donors multiply

Robert Kraft honors wife’s memory with generosity

By Theresa Gaffney Editor

By Victoria Aronson Editor

Recently awarded the Life Share Program Silver Level Award for increased turnout of donors within the Brandeis Community, the Waltham Group hosted its annual October blood drive in conjunction with the American Red Cross this past Monday through Wednesday.

The drive was one of three sponsored throughout the year, occurring in February and April as well. According to Colin Gibbons ’14, one of the coordinators, the Waltham Group aims to collect 800 pints of blood in total. “We always say that blood is meant for circulation—not just through our own bodies but throughSee BLOOD DRIVE, page 4

photos by shanlai shangguan/the hoot

Editor

In the aftermath of the shutdown of the federal government, Brandeis will experience minimal impact.

Most services will still be available, including financial aid and research operations, although some federal website resources have been negatively affected.

PubMed, a resource many students access to find scientific journal articles, will still be operational during the shutdown, as long as major technical malfunctions do not occur. Associate University Librarian for Collections Sherry Keen wrote in an email to The Hoot, however, that “We have been notified by many of the Government libraries, including Library of Congress that interlibrary loan (resource sharing) services are closed.”

Other government-run websites are currently unavailable, including census.gov, American Factfinder, USDA.gov and NOAA.gov, among others.

Director of Financial Aid Sherri Avery commented that financial aid will remain largely unaffected if the shutdown is temporary. “Since the Pell Grant and Direct Loan programs (the largest federal financial

Inside this issue:

aid programs we administer) were appropriated prior to the shutdown, we are still able to award and receive funds from these programs for all eligible Brandeis students. During the shutdown, students may also continue to work under the Federal Work-Study program and the online federal financial aid application remains available to all students who wish to apply for federal aid at this point in the semester,” she wrote.

In regards to scientific research, labs will remain open on campus, although federal funding agencies are unable to accept proposals during the shutdown. Ellen de Graffenreid, senior vice president for communications, wrote, “We have substantial existing funding for projects that use prior federal fiscal year authorizations, so those projects can continue.” Research at Brandeis should be able to continue as originally planned even if the shutdown is prolonged.

Although administrators are optimistic that the shutdown will have few lasting effects on most campus activities, it is unclear what may happen if the shutdown continues for a long period. “It is a complex, ongoing situation that can be affected by all kinds of different factors,” wrote de Graffenreid.

Editorial: Admin considers student opinions NEWS: Digging deep in Israel Arts, Etc.: Racing movie is touching Opinion: End of a television era Sports: Women’s soccer prevails 7-2

Page 10 Page 2 Page 9 Page 12 Page 16

Myra Kraft, wife of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, died in July 2011 of ovarian cancer. Her memory lives on with the team, with her husband and now with Brandeis University. The Transitional Year Program (TYP) was renamed for Myra Kraft this summer, after a $5 million donation by her husband.

To honor her memory, Robert Kraft invited TYP students and alumni to his home.

According to TYP alumnus Dennis Hermida ’16, throughout the entire event, Kraft referred to his late wife as his “sweetheart.” According to an interview with the Boston Globe, Kraft went through a period of deep depression after losing his wife. “I sort of feel robbed,” he told The Globe. The Krafts were married for 48 years before Myra’s death.

The sentiment Kraft exuded was echoed by Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who appeared at the event briefly to express his own admiration and love for Myra.

“If we were just meeting [Brady], it wouldn’t have been as cool, but the fact that he was so passionate about Myra Kraft was what struck me the most. He was on the verge of tears

talking about how wonderful this woman was,” Hermida recalled.

Brandeis’ Transitional Year Program prepares students for university academics who may not have had opportunities for upper level classes in their high schools. During their first year, a TYP student takes two classes with everyone in the program, two others with half of the group, and one university course each semester.

Students must keep their grades high, or else they will have to petition for their right to stay in the program, and by extension, at Brandeis. “C+ won’t cut it,” Hermida said, “You’ll have to petition.”

Looking back, Hermida believes that the most valuable part of the program was the confidence it instilled him. “You were a big fish in a little pond, but now you’re a little fish in an even bigger pond, and TYP teaches you that no matter what the means were for you to get here, you got into this institution.”

While Hermida has graduated from TYP, he and all of this year’s alumni are still involved. “Each alumn is given a mentee,” he said, “it’s kind of like keeping the legacy going … the fact that I can bestow the little amount of wisdom that I have is really really awesome.”

See KRAFT, page 4

Michael Corn joins Univ information security

Brandeis to be impacted little by government shutdown

By Emily Stott

October 4, 2013

photo courtesy miichael corn

By Dana Trismen Editor

It was announced last week that Michael Corn has joined Brandeis staff as Chief Information Security and Privacy Officer and Deputy CIO. Corn will begin at Brandeis on Nov. 11. While he describes his education

as a “train of thought (that) took the scenic route,” Corn will now be responsible for various tasks, from handling attacks on Brandeis’ open internet network to educating students on privacy issues.

John Unsworth, Vice Provost, University Librarian and Chief Information Officer, was influential in the hiring of Corn. In an email sent to students, faculty and staff, Unsworth

“Seagull” shines

Philanthropy

Arts, etc.: Page 8

Opinion: Page 14

Brandeis Theater Company takes to the stage again.

praised Corn’s varied background.

“At Brandeis, we like to say that other schools talk about interdisciplinarity, but we live it; in addition to his background in IT and security, and his many professional certifications, Mike Corn originally trained as a musicologist,” Corn said in the email. “We are very pleased to welcome him to Brandeis, where we are certain that he will make a difference.”

In an interview with The Hoot this week, Unsworth stated that he himself studied multiple disciplines. He teaches courses in the English department, and is currently in the works of proposing an article for next semester.

“I also worked as an RA and TA in the astronomy department (and was a telescope operator on Manua Kea one summer),” said Corn, continuing to detail his academic career. Corn began working as the Chief Information Security Officer at the ChampaignUrbana campus of the University of Illinois in late 2003.

“I’m very active both locally and nationally in security and privacy … for the last few years I’ve been deeply involved in cloud service offerings, initially with an eye toward

Phi Psi gives back despite of stereotypes.

See CORN, page 4

news

2 The Brandeis Hoot

October 4, 2013

Professor combines classics and chemistry to unravel ancient mysteries

By Emily Stott Editor

Researchers at Brandeis University are unique in both their discoveries and backgrounds. Professor Andrew Koh (CLAS) unearthed an unusual find in Tel Kabri, Israel, this summer, with classicists, archaeologists and laboratory scientists. In a palatial complex, 40 large perfume vessels were found largely intact, creating great mystery as to their survival and importance.

Beginning his college career as a pre-med student who volunteered in the coveted ER, Koh originally thought he would become a doctor.

But after seeing how unhappy and dissatisfied doctors were in the hospital, he pursued a degree in biophysics. Despite the heavy course load, he remained interested in the classics— Latin, Greek and Roman civilizations—and continued to take classes in the humanities.

Koh attended the University of Pennsylvania for a graduate program in archaeology, distancing himself from science until a professor approached him. This professor was pioneering a new method for archaeological analysis: organic residue analysis. Although hesitant to go into a new field, Koh had the right blend of backgrounds in science and humanities to make the project a success.

Chemistry and archaeology can combine to provide clearer insight into how the world once worked.

“I’m interested in cross-culturalism.

I’ve always been interested in the end process, too,” Koh said. “How do you store it? How do you market it? How did it affect the way people lived? In that sense, it’s very applicable to people today.”

Veronica Saltzman ’16, who was part of the summer dig at Tel Kabri, expanded on how the classics are still relevant today. “The humanities is a means of searching and discovering humanity and the bonds that have

held people together since the beginning of time. It is the pursuit of understanding the human condition,” she wrote in an email.

Archaeologists have difficulty identifying rooms because artifacts disappear or disintegrate. At a dig, Koh expected to find a kitchen. “Then we got the residues. They were totally different. It’s not like wine. These were aromatics referenced by [Roman] authors like Livy, Pliny,” Koh said. Organic residue analysis proved it could have been a perfume workshop, as discussed in Roman literature.

At Brandeis, Koh combines his loves of science and the classics.

When he isn’t teaching, he works with students who have an interest in science, conducting sample analysis in the lab. Professors Christine Thomas (CHEM) and Barry Snider (CHEM) allow him to use the GCMS (gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer) to analyze samples found in ancient artifacts.

“Any time a humanist comes to them and knows what’s going on … we’ve been getting significant help,” Koh said. “We’re preparing and running the samples ourselves.” This analysis determines which organic compounds, those containing carbon, were once held in jars and vessels. Two posters have already come out of this mutually beneficial agreement, and undergraduate students, including Alison Crandall ’13, are scheduled to present them at upcoming prestigious scientific conferences.

This summer, students and faculty from the University of Haifa, George Washington University and Brandeis excavated a site in Tel Kabri. The site has been excavated since the 1990s, but was abandoned for a few years before it started up again in 2003, using new techniques. Saltzman discussed her interest in the dig even though she does not intend to pursue archaeology as a career. “The experience of being outside, working hard, learning about the process and meeting the people is so special. You really become part of the family,” she said.

The room they chose was a lucky

tel kabri Students help excavate the dig at Tel Kabri, finding perfume vessels that were identified by

organic residue analysis.

one. Once the archaeologists reached the floor, they found ancient vessels.

These were not just tiny scraps of vessels but 40 almost fully-complete, large vessels, each more than one meter tall, scattered across the floor.

In this region, earthquake activity destroys many ancient ruins. Ruined buildings were usually filled in and leveled, crushing any items inside.

This room was exciting because although it had been filled in, it was never leveled, and intact items still existed. There were even vessels in the

entryway of the room, indicating no one had entered to steal items or consume the contents of the jars.

Initial analyses reveal that the vessels contain perfume. Although it can’t be proven, even with scientific evidence, Koh hypothesizes that the room used to be a storage space for perfume production.

It remains unknown why the room was filled in but then abandoned. “It’s an unusual site that way … we don’t know why they never built another structure. It’s one of those mysteries.”

There may also be other exciting discoveries to be found in Tel Kabri, particularly if researchers find evidence of fire. “If you have fire, then you could have produced tablets.

They’re sunbaked [mud] tablets, and if there is no fire to bake them, then we don’t have them.” As both archaeologists and scientists continue to investigate the site, more artifacts and scientific evidence may allow us to better understand how ancient society lived.

photos courtesy andrew koh

October 4, 2013

NEWS 3

The Brandeis Hoot

University lab discovers fascinating new ion channel

photos from internet source

christopher miller

By Iona Feldman Staff

Professor Christopher Miller (BCHM) co-authored a paper on the structure of a newly discovered fluoride-exporting ion channel. This channel, which removes ions toxic to certain microorganisms, has a partic-

ularly unique structure that fascinates scientists. Meanwhile, as Professor Miller is out of the country, students at Brandeis conduct research in his lab on fluoride carriers.

The paper, which was written with postdoctoral research students Randy B. Stockbridge, Janice L. Robertson and Ludmila Kolmakova-Partensky,

was published in the scientific journal eLife at the end of August.

Professor Miller, currently on a seven-month sabbatical in England, gave some insight into its themes in an email exchange earlier this week.

Although he draws no final conclusions about their practical use, Miller noted the scientific value of the fluoride-exporter channels for their own sake. “Their real interest lies in their very unusual chemistry,” he said, a chemistry that differs in shape from all other channel proteins discovered in the past.

In addition to researching fluoride-exporting channels, Miller’s lab at Brandeis also looks into fluoride transporters. Although these proteins perform a very similar function, their study involves biochemical research that is fundamentally different from that which goes into studying channels. Students explained this research, including Ashley Brammer, a fifth-year graduate student in the biochemistry program, and Lily Ji ’14, who majors in HSSP and Business and is also a biochemistry MSBS candidate. Both have done research in the area of fluoride transporters while working in Miller’s Lab. Brammer focuses on the fluoride pumps that actively remove fluoride from inside cells. The transporters, also known as antiporters because they move different ions in opposite directions, were first discovered at Yale University.

“My involvement has been basically to characterize this protein from the bottom up,” Brammer said. “It’s a brand new protein. No one has ever looked at it before.”

Because the protein in question came from a family that also exports chloride, Brammer worked to discover if this protein also exports chloride.

She and her colleagues found that it does but not as well as it does with

fluoride. These properties may be attributed to the protein’s selectivity, and another task of the researchers has been to understand how this selectivity works.

Ji’s research focuses on the mechanism that allows these bacteria to resist fluoride poisoning. She works in an artificial environment to best observe its effects and concluded that despite the bacteria’s overall ability to survive in fluoride environment of 100 micromolars, it grows much faster when it has the correct transporter protein to remove the fluoride. Ji also studies how bacteria take in fluoride, leading to the crisis from which they need to be saved in order to survive.

Brammer, Ji and their fellow researchers use a variety of tools to collect data. A key focus of this is the molecular biological methods that manipulate cells to change just one part of the protein. The researchers use E. coli to overexpress the proteins that they study, later removing bacteria from the cells. The proteins are then examined in an artificial fat environment. Researchers can properly examine the proteins only in such places because membrane proteins do not fold and function well in water environments. This is one of the primary challenges faced in a lab that specializes in membrane proteins.

The research also depends heavily on crystallography, which is significantly more difficult to do with membrane

proteins. Through the use of these diverse techniques, the lab aims to understand the structure and function of membrane proteins.

For anyone interested in getting involved in biological research on campus, Brammer and Ji offer advice.

As an undergraduate, Brammer did research in organic chemistry and decided to change directions in graduate school toward biochemistry. She recommends that graduate students doing research rotations in their first year should try to diversify them, to test out labs of varying sizes and areas of this. She believes that this is one of the best ways to determine where they would work best in the future.

Ji has some suggestions for undergraduates looking to excel in fields such as this.

Coming to Brandeis for its prehealth track, Ji took organic chemistry and physics as a first-year. “Take these higher-level core courses early on. Take the risks. You’ll be freeing up more of your time and opportunities to do more things that you’ll like in the future.”

Ji also became involved with research by approaching Miller and inquiring about different opportunities.

Although students may also apply to posted positions, Ji made the first move and spoke to Miller before a position appeared. A proactive attitude will reveal some excellent opportunities available on campus.

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PRE-REGISTRATION FOR HUMAN OSTEOLOGY ANTH 116a Spring 2014 Human Osteology is a lab course with limited seating, and the demand for seats in this course usually exceeds the number of available spaces. To address this, the Anthropology Department follows a priority system among students who indicate interest in advance via a sign-up sheet.

Anthropology majors who participate in this sign-up will be given first priority for admission into the course. Seniors in other majors will be given priority over juniors, sophomores, and freshmen.

Pre-registration for ANTH 116a for the Spring 2014 semester will be held on Monday October 21 through Friday October 25. Sign-up sheets will be posted on those days only outside the Anthropology Department Office, Brown #228, starting at 9:30 a.m. Individuals who cannot signup personally should ensure that their names are entered on the sheets by a designate.

Note that there are two sections. Section 1 meets in Block K on Mon & Wed from 2 pm to 3:20 pm.

Section 2 meets in Block M from 5:00 to 6:20 pm. Students should indicate if they can enroll in either section. Note also that Human Osteology is offered by Professor Urcid during the summer term and there are always spaces available in the summer.

By the following Friday, November 1, the anthropology department administrator will email everyone who signed the pre-enrollment list. Students who are being offered a seat in the course will receive a SAGE ‘permission to add’ code in order to register for this class during the registrar’s fall enrollment period (Nov 5-Nov 11). Once both sections have reached capacity, the section will show as closed and students should waitlist themselves during early Registration Rounds I and II. Enrollment will be 18 per section. Students will be moved into sections during Round III with priority to anthropology majors, then seniors, then juniors. Only waitlisted student will be considered for enrollment.

If enrolled individuals drop the course during the fall enrollment period, individuals on the waiting list may be moved up into the final list. All enrolled students should attend the first day of class in order to reaffirm their interest in the course.

4 NEWS

The Brandeis Hoot

High holiday hiatus: blessing or curse?

By Rachel Dobkin Special to The Hoot

The smell of fall is in the air, and along with pleasant weather, changing leaves and pumpkin spice lattes, autumn at Brandeis is filled with several Jewish holidays. On most college campuses, observant Jewish students must miss class to celebrate these holidays, but since there is such a large Jewish population at Brandeis, and it is not feasible for so many students to miss class, there are no university exercises.

Observant students, of course, are thrilled that they will not be penalized academically for missing class to observe important holidays. College classes are rigorous and missing one lecture can mean a lot of catching up. Elsewhere, professors discourage students from missing classes for almost any reason, which is understandable. What is not understandable, however, is how some professors at schools do not accommodate their students’ religious needs. As the Syracuse University newspaper “The Daily Orange” writes, Jewish students feel “pressured to come to class by professors or do not receive accommodations that fairly allow for them to make up work.”

Brandeis understands the injustice of this situation, and by shaping the academic calendar around Jewish holidays, hopes to avoid blunders such as these: But is Brandeis cater-

ing to everyone?

It makes sense for observant Jewish students to miss class for holidays, but does it make sense for the rest of the student body to miss it too? Do many days off so early in the semester put students at an unfair disadvantage by creating gaps in the learning process, disrupting retention of information and routine? For the most part, the general consensus is no. Sara Cardenas, a non-Jewish first-year, enjoys having the extra time off to relax and bond with friends and roommates.

“It’s been kind of nice as a firstyear to have the days off, so I’m not too overwhelmed—especially in the first month. I can understand how these days off can be annoying to some people, but I feel this has helped me get into the flow and rhythm of school. It’s nice to have the day off to relax, step back and take a breather,” she said.

Jewish students are grateful for the breather, too. Liora Zhrebker ’17 said that as an observant Jew, she was so glad that missing classes wasn’t a burden on her. Zhrebker said, “I know if I didn’t have the days off and had to arrange to make sure I got class off, I would be really stressed knowing that professors covered information that I missed.”

Dean of Student Life Maggie Balch views the days off as a potential difficulty for students getting used to a new routine. “It’s hard enough to remember your normal schedule, but when you combine that with a Brandeis day and you have to attend

October 4, 2013

Brady visits TYP students

your Thursday classes on a Tuesday, that makes everything even harder … everybody loves some level of structure, and classes and schedules provide that,” she said.

Balch thinks that the schedule disruption makes it hard for clubs and other activities to have meetings. She brought up another ideal—non-Jewish students are immediately introduced to Jewish holidays and culture with the holidays so early in the semester. “It’s an interesting and exciting time to learn,” she said. As for any suggestions she had about having no classes, she said, “Perhaps if the holidays happened later in the semester, a faculty member who isn’t observant may hold open office hours or study sessions for that day, but as the holidays fall early on in the semester, that’s not practical.”

Even professors have a positive view of getting time off. Jen Cleary (THA) said that the time off from classes can be an advantage. “It’s almost a reconvening of the community when classes meet again after a while. People miss each other and get back into their schedules rejuvenated.” When asked if she has been affected negatively by days off from classes and Brandeis Thursdays, she said, “I haven’t been so affected, but the holidays [two weeks ago] affected one class that only meets on Tuesdays. I’m flexible, though. I add a lot of planning because I know the fall has a lot of Jewish holidays, and they definitely should be observed,” she stated.

photo courtesy the boston globe

KRAFT, from page 1

Myra Kraft ’64 loved Brandeis University. She was a Brandeis trustee and served on the board for 10 years.

The ceremony at his home took place on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Robert Kraft explained how passionate his wife felt about the university and particularly about TYP. Myra once had the opportunity to work on a non-profit with a TYP alum in Haiti.

According to TYP alumnus Dennis Hermida ’16, Kraft revealed that “out

of all of Myra’s last wishes, the most pleasing wish was giving this money to the Transitional Year Program because with every fiber of her being she thought that TYP scholars would change the world.”

Hermida said that in hearing this, the TYP students were honored that a woman some of them had never even heard of thought so highly of them.

“She could have donated her money to any other program or to the university, but the fact that she chose the Transitional Year Program is huge.”

photo from internet source

Corn hired CORN, from page 1

film discussion Filmmaker Rob Montz screened his 20-minute film on North Korea at the Wasserman

Cinematheque on Thursday. He argues that national ideology through propaganda kept the country united.

photos by dana levine/the hoot

security and privacy, but more recently I’ve become quite evangelical about cloud offerings and how they represent both a challenge and an opportunity for higher education,” said Corn.

Unsworth reports that the position Corn will fill is technically a position that existed in the past, though it has remained vacant for two years. “I have tweaked the position to add the privacy piece,” said Unsworth.

This aspect of the position is rather unusual, stated Unsworth. “Students need to know more about this, it will be more aimed at the individual, we will be looking for teachable moments,” he said.

In addition to informing students about their right to keep information privy, Corn’s job will also involve defending the campus from attacks.

“This campus, like any university campus, is being probed and hacked many times an hour and we do many

things to defend from that,” said Unsworth. “This kind of activity has gone up in the last couple of years, there is a lot of computing power on college campuses and they are pretty open because they have to be.”

Corn agrees that this will be a key aspect of his job, and relates to why he wants to work in a university setting. “The evolution of technology has brought so many nuanced security and privacy issues to the forefront of our national dialog. I can think of very few places where these critical issues can receive the deliberate and thoughtful investigation they deserve.

Universities are the crucible that forges the intellectual vanguard for that conversation.”

Corn is excited to begin working at Brandeis. “Brandeis represents to me personally an opportunity to become much more deeply engaged in the academic mission of the institution.

Most organizations are really driven by the networks of relationships that develop between members of the community. I’m very excited by forming that new network at Brandeis,” he said.

October 4, 2013

NEWS 5

The Brandeis Hoot

Waltham Group brings blood drive to campus BLOOD DRIVE, from page 1

out the community,” said Gibbons.

According to Gibbons, donors are provided with three paper hearts to decorate, each of which signifies a life saved. The blood drive works in collaboration with Project Linus, a nonprofit organization based in Boston that creates blankets from the decorated hearts for children afflicted with critical illnesses.

In light of the tragic Boston Marathon bombing last year, Gibbons reveals the record turnout of donors within the Brandeis Community last April, only one week after the incident. He remarks “It was incredibly heartwarming and motivating to bring our community together to serve our fellow man and achieve a common goal.” According to Christina Fischer ’14, a fellow Waltham Group coordinator, nearly 100 more pints of blood were collected at the April drive than in previous drives.

The Waltham Group Blood Drive was awarded the title of Massachusetts Sponsor of the Year in 2012 as well, notably for its growth, sustainability, and impact according to Gibbons.

Despite the impressive efforts of the community to band together in response to the tragedy, Fischer stresses the continued need for eligible donors. She explains, “Quite simply there is a constant need for blood donors, around 90 percent of the population will need to receive a blood transfusion at some point in their lifetime, however, only around 5 percent of the eligible population donates.” Citing the need for donations

College Notebook

Law school may become one year shorter

By Charlie Romanow Staff

photo by shanlai shangguan/the hoot

to stem from the local community, Fischer explains that blood donations cannot be transported long distances to patients awaiting transfusions.

Due to the relative decrease in donations during this October drive, Fischer reveals that the Waltham Group is “currently working on strategies to motivate the Brandeis community to recognize the need that is present consistently in our community.” Beyond donating blood, interested students can also contribute to the cause by working the donor signup table and volunteering with operational tasks during the drive itself. Fischer asserts, “Every person who walks into the drive whether a volunteer, a donor or simply to in-

quire about the drive and help spread the word is helping save lives.”

Fischer, who is currently majoring in neuroscience and biology, plans on attending medical school with the intention of specializing in rural medicine following graduation, pursuing her commitment to health care. Gibbons not only serves as a coordinator for the the Waltham Group, but as an EMT for Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps while working at a suicide hotline in Waltham, as well.

“Brandeis students are amazing individuals. I feel so privileged to facilitate such a heartwarming event and love to empower our incredibly gifted and humble student body,” Gibbons said.

Special elections results Associate Justice Village Quad Senator Off-Campus Senator TYP Senator

Luky Guigui Bowen Li Abstain Jennifer Almodovar

According to the Princeton Review, 13 percent of Brandeis graduates will attend law school. Law school can be an adventurous and joyous time for students who wish to dedicate their careers to upholding justice. With the prevalence of economic insecurity among college graduates, attending law school can be a method of ensuring a more secure financial future. It can also be a major financial decision, as the cost of obtaining an advanced degree has risen.

A legal career can be prosperous, but it requires a large financial investment. The average debt of a 2013 law school graduate is $140,000, which will likely take years to make a return.

Young lawyers often earn six-figure salaries early in their career, but a law degree does not guarantee a position in a highly prosperous law firm. The New York Times reported that only 55 percent of law school graduates take jobs that require a law degree, putting them in a tight financial position after spending more than $100,000 on law school and spending an equally exorbitant amount on undergraduate education.

Difficult economic times have hit law firms; they are hiring 40 percent fewer lawyers than five years ago, according to the National Association for Law Placement.

Additionally, the economic climate has forced law firms to outsource work overseas. They have begun to hire more part-time lawyers as well as those who do not have a law degree, who will therefore expect a lower starting salary.

An option that has gained popularity after being discussed in academic circles for decades is that the duration of conventional law school should be reduced from three to two years. This sentiment has gained popularity with some of the nation’s premier politicians and lawyers.

On Aug. 23, President Barack Obama said, “This is probably controversial to say, but what the heck, law schools would probably be wise to think about being two years instead of three.”

Due to the exorbitant debt that law school graduates face, many are inclined to search for work in the private sector, although lower paying jobs in government and nonprofits are in high demand.

A common adage in the legal community regarding law school is: “In the first year, they scare you to death, in the second they work you to death, and in the third they bore you to death.” It seems that law students could benefit from losing the final year and condense the most applica-

ble courses and experiences into the first two years.

Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals Jonathan Lippman remarked, “Could I have made it as a lawyer after two years? Probably,” according to The Economist.

New York University held a discussion about shortening law school, which attracted the attention of notable legal educators. Samuel Estreicher, professor at New York University Law School and co-author of “Make Law Schools Earn a Third Year” also believes a change in legal education could be beneficial.

“They’d be better off clerking or practicing in a firm, even if they weren’t even getting paid that much.

But that step alone would reduce the cost for the student,” said Estreicher according to Inside Higher Ed. The idea has faced opposition from universities that are not eager to forfeit a third of the law school tuition that they receive. Estreicher noted that many believe law school graduates are underprepared, after a 2007 report from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching was published. Numerous members of the American Bar Association (ABA), the group that currently only accredits schools that have three-year programs, remain resistant to the change.

ABA President James Silkenat supports innovation to reduce costs but believes schools yield “a better product with the full three years,” as reported by The Economist.

The ABA Task Force for the Future of Legal Education has been formed to conduct a review to see what changes should take place, the report for which is set to be released later this year.

The National Association of Graduate-Professional Students also opposes the shortening of law school by stating, “This view treats legal education as a means, not an end unto itself.” In the Inside Higher Ed article, they go on to say, “The third year presently functions to shelter students while they are searching for employment after graduation by providing them with the time to enhance their qualifications by pursuing opportunities like a judicial externship, public interest internships, gaining exposure to interacting with clients through serving at one of their campus’ legal clinics or even by refining their legal writing skills when devoting most of their time to editing a journal.”

Supreme Court Justice and Harvard Law School valedictorian Louis Brandeis described his law school days as “the happiest of [his] life.”

Times have changed since Brandeis’ graduation in 1878, and with the changing circumstances will come alterations in ideas and practice.

photo from internet source

6 The Brandeis Hoot

arts, etc.

October 4, 2013

Renowned professor emeritus honored with concert

By Dana Trismen Editor

Composer and professor of music at Brandeis for almost 40 years, Harold Shapero made a huge impact in the field of classical music. Born in April of 1920, he became a central figure in the neo-classicism style of composition. Known for writing piano sonatas and eventually full symphonies, Shapero was also a professor who motivated students. Shapero died this May, at the age of 93. Brandeis held a concert in his tribute on Saturday, to honor a professor emeritus who made a difference in lives of many students.

“He was always feisty, full of strong opinions and good humor. I enjoyed his company when I saw him at Brandeis, at his home or at concerts we both attended,” said Daniel Stepner, Professor of the Practice.

Stepner is the first violinist of the Lydian String Quartet, and joined the faculty in 1987. Shapero was already retired at this time, but Stepner worked with the legend and recorded his music.

“I understand from students that he was a good teacher that challenged them. He taught composition and was an early experimenter with electronic composition. He was also an imposing pianist,” said Stepner.

Sally Pinkas and Evan Hirsch performed the concert on Sept. 28; their team is known as the Hinsch-Pinkas Piano Duo. Pinkas received her Ph.D. from Brandeis when Shapero was still on staff and is currently a professor of music and pianist-in-residence at Dartmouth College. Hirsch is a current professor at Brandeis who teaches piano. The pair are married and knew Shapero well. “[Shapero] was quite outspoken, lively and irreverent. I only took one class with him as an undergraduate at Brandeis. He had amazing stories about an interesting period in American music, the days of Bernstein, Copland and Stravinsky,” said Pinkas.

During the concert, Pinkas played two solo works, and then the duo performed a work from his younger years, for one piano and four hands.

The couple felt as though it was wellreceived.

When describing his music, Pinkas

said, “There is great rhythmic vitality, deep feeling but also robust texture.

It is very pianistic, especially the solo works.”

Shapero composed the piece titled the “Four-hand Sonata” in 1941.

This is the piece the duo performed together during the concert, and it was dedicated to Leonard Bernstein when Shapero originally composed it. “The two used to play piano duets together and toured as a duo, though, according to Shapero, Lenny never practiced,” said Pinkas in the program for the concert. “Indeed the work is demanding and the close proximity of the parts makes for some challenging encounters between the duo partners.” The work was written during Shapero’s student years.

While Shapero’s style is technically defined as neo-classicism, the man was known for being inventive while composing. “He is thought of as a neoclassicist because of his tonal writing, but this doesn’t do him justice,” said Stepner. “He had remarkable facility and inventiveness with basic musical materials. His music could be bracing, lyrical, ghoulish, driving.” In regards to Shapero’s music, Stepner highlights

the lyricism and rhythm.

Pinkas also agreed that Shapero was one of a kind. “The young Shapero of the 1940s had to contend with a musical zeitgeist, which was turning in ways quite contrary to his nature,” said Pinkas in the program.

“Musicians of my generation, educated at Brandeis in the 70s and 80s, got the tail-end of that ebbing musical tide and have lived to experience a remarkable sea-change in musical tastes. Playing the two solo pieces in the 21st century brings us back fullcircle.”

It may be possible to keep Shapero’s legacy alive even after the concert rang out its final notes. “Brandeis can best carry on his legacy by supporting the Department of Music in a way they used to and have had to curtail rather drastically due to the economic downturn,” said Stepner.

“Musical tastes and teaching methods change, but what does not change is that the arts need serious support, not window-dressing.”

Pinkas is in agreement. “The Brandeis Music Department had amazing musicians in it, at its inception, and it has wonderful musicians

in it now. But it cannot thrive without institutional support to infrastructural and to concert presentation.”

photo from internet source

harold shapero Born in 1920, Shapero changed the music scene. He died in May at the age of 93, and is remembered for his good humor, his outspokenness, and his compositions.

10 fall movies to keep on your radar

By Zachary Bellis Staff

The fall film season is often stereotyped as a time when movie studios release the films they thought wouldn’t make enough money to compete with summer’s blockbuster hits. This year, however, anticipates the release of several big-budget blockbusters as well as many potential Oscar contenders and under-theradar indie films from Sept. 22 to Dec. 22.

“Gravity” (Oct. 4) George Clooney and Sandra Bullock star as two astronauts working at the International Space Station in director Alfonso Cuaron’s return to science fiction. While they are on a routine spacewalk, a terrible accident occurs, and they are untethered from the craft to find themselves drifting alone in the black emptiness of space.

The movie has already received much praise following its screening at various film festivals and is being hailed as a landmark in the history of special effects.

“Captain Phillips” (Oct. 11) “Captain Phillips” recounts the 2009 hijacking of the USS Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates and the Navy’s subsequent mission to rescue the ship’s crew. Tom Hanks plays the titular captain, who struggles to contain the situation before the pirates take him hostage on a lifeboat, demanding millions of dollars in ransom money.

“12 Years a Slave” (Oct. 18) “12 Years a Slave” received rave reviews following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The film presents the true story of a free black man, Solomon Northrup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who was kidnapped and sold into slavery on a New Orleans plantation. Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender and Benedict Cumberbatch co-star.

“Carrie” (Oct. 18) While the movie is a remake of the

1976 film based on the Stephen King novel, that doesn’t mean it should be automatically written off as another Hollywood cash-in on the original film. Chloë Grace Moretz stars as Carrie White, a social outcast who unleashes her telekinetic powers at her senior prom, while Julianne Moore stars as her religious fanatic mother.

“The Counselor” (Oct. 25) Pulitzer Prize-winning Cormac McCarthy, author of “No Country for Old Men” and “The Road,” teams up with Ridley Scott, director of “Gladiator” and “Alien,” to tell the story of a greedy lawyer, played by Michael Fassbender, who becomes involved in the world of drug trafficking and finds himself in over his head. The star-studded cast also includes Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz.

“Ender’s Game” (Nov. 1) Humanity stands on the brink after its first encounter with a race of insectoid aliens in the First Formic War years ago. The international military begins training the brightest children in warfare to prepare for the aliens’ return, and humanity’s best hope lies with the brilliant youngster Ender Wiggin, played by Asa Butterfield. Ender is sent to train under war heroes Commander Graff (Harrison Ford) and Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley) in this adaptation of the award-winning novel by Orson Scott Card.

Wall Street. Based on Jordan Belfort’s memoirs of his days as a crooked banker, the film looks to blow Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street” out of the water and become the definitive chronicle of financial system corruption.

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (Nov. 22) Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) returns for the second chapter of the Hunger Games saga. After the financial success of the first film, it’s not unrealistic to expect this one will top the box office for several weeks.

“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” (Dec. 13) The second film in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy follows Bilbo Baggins as he and his dwarf companions continue on their quest to reach the Lonely Mountain Erebor. To do so, they must pass through the gloomy forest of Mirkwood and face the terrible dragon Smaug. One has to wonder, however, how much the novel’s conversion to a motion picture trilogy will bloat the film, a problem the first installment suffered from.

“Thor: The Dark World” (Nov. 8) Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returns to the big screen following the events of “The Avengers” to battle Malekith the Accursed (Chris Eccleston), and his army of dark elves. Directed by Alan Taylor of “Games of Thrones,” “Thor: The Dark World” promises to balance epic battles and high-stakes drama.

“The Wolf of Wall Street” (Nov. 15) Martin Scorcese and Leonardo DiCaprio collaborate on a tale of greed, excess and all the other moral failures you can expect from a film about

photos from internet source

fall into movies New installments of “The Hunger Games” and “The Hobbit” along with the film “Gravity” will hit theaters in the coming

weeks.

October 4, 2013

ARTS, ETC. 7

The Brandeis Hoot

Gatsby screening a quiet success

By Rachel Dobkin Special to the Hoot

On Saturday night, about 30 students gathered in Schwartz auditorium to watch a special screening of “The Great Gatsby,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton.

The movie follows Yale graduate and hopeful writer Nick Carraway, who moves to the West Egg neighborhood of Long Island, New York from Chicago. After giving up on his writing, Nick becomes a bond salesman on Wall Street.

Nick encounters a man he knew from his days at Yale, Tom Buchanan and his wife, Daisy, who also happens to be Nick’s cousin. Nick meets his mysterious next-door neighbor, a man referred to as Gatsby, who throws lavish and wild parties.

Jordan Baker, a friend of the Buchanans, finds out from Gatsby that the parties are all a plan to lure Daisy to Gatsby’s mansion. She reveals that Gatsby and Daisy were madly in love five years ago and that Gatsby is still in love with Daisy. Nick invites Daisy to tea at his house, facilitating an awkward reunion for Gatsby and Daisy.

The film follows Nick and his developing friendship with Gatsby. This parallels Gatsby and Daisy’s secret love that has prevailed over Gatsby’s five-year absence from her life, while he was building up his wealth. The film is adapted from the novel of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The movie quality was excellent and was shown through a projector.

The audience, while quiet, seemed to

party like its 1920 Student Events sponsored a filming of “The Great Gatsby.”

enjoy the movie very much, becoming enthusiastic at key moments from the novel, such as Gatsby’s first party, the car crash or even subtler moments such as Nick’s forgotten birthday, the man with owl eyes and the eyes of T.J. Eckleberg.

The novel is famous for its portrayal of the decline of the American Dream in the 1920s. Though it revolves around Gatsby’s love for Daisy,

the movie symbolizes America’s infatuation with materialism and the insatiable and interminable need for excess goods that was so prevalent during the stock market boom. Gatsby wants more and more from Daisy, so much that he eventually causes a violent scene in the movie that ultimately drives Daisy away from him.

Likewise, America wants more and more luxuries, fun and prosperity.

photo from internet source

Director Baz Luhrman does a fantastic job representing the absence of morals in America caused by the never-ending frenzy of parties, alcohol and wealth. He captures the sweltering desperation of Manhattan, which mimics Nick’s eventual desperation to escape from his unscrupulous contemporaries. The pounding bass of the rap music so prevalent in the movie, combined with sweaty danc-

ing, flowing alcohol and raging emotions, allows the audience to experience the intoxicated stupor of many Americans in that era.

“The Great Gatsby” screening was part of the film series done by Student Events, a selection of movies for students to enjoy free of charge on Friday and Saturday nights. Upcoming movies include “Hangover 3,” “Iron Man 3,” “Hocus Pocus” and “Pitch Perfect”.

Wacky rapper strikes gold with seriousness

By Jess Linde Staff

In the contemporary hip-hop landscape, artists with big personalities and raunchy lyrics are pretty much everywhere. The club “banger” market of pounding bass and encouraging illicit behavior is seemingly endless, and the Internet has provided careers to independent artists such as Trinidad James, Waka Flocka Flame and Chief Keef, and countless DJs who get paid decent money just

to blast songs. Rap that talks about “popping Molly” is arguably its own subgenre at this point, with mainstream artists like Rick Ross and Lil Wayne embracing it.

Still, there are plenty of serious independent rap artists doing their own (great) things with the art form, including but not limited to The Underachievers and Run The Jewels.

At some point in recent history, these two opposites of the hip-hop spectrum collided and formed Danny Brown. His breakout 2011 album “XXX” is an hour of brilliant mad-

ness, featuring all the drug-fueled sex talk one could want, as well as deep and introspective lyrics about the effects of said drugs and the poverty and violence of Brown’s native Detroit. That combined with Brown’s famously wild live shows and his outgoing and silly personality helped make Brown himself worth watching, not just as an artist. Of course, it helped that his music is awesome, too.

Since then, Brown has cultivated this image of a “fun” MC, someone who isn’t afraid to go crazy and party, but also has the rap chops to back it

photos from internet source

up, something complemented by his very funny Twitter feed. But for “Old,” his second album for the Fool’s Gold label, Brown has changed his game almost completely and delivered 19 tracks of pure gangsta-rap coolness.

“Old” begins with bragging and gunwaving with songs like “Side A” and “The Return,” and slowly progresses, moving into emotionally vulnerable and brutally honest lyrics on “Torture,” and “Lonely.” Album features such as prolific indie MC Freddie Gibbs beef up the tough parts, and surprise guests like dream-pop act Purity Ring add emotional layers to the sadder stuff.

The emotional realness of the album reaches its peak with “Clean Up,” in which Brown raps about his relationship with his absent father and his severely poverty-stricken mother and how his family made him get his own life together. Here, Brown uses a deep, sad monotone not heard in any of his previous work. Then the powerful, pulsing “Side B (Dope Song)” comes along to introduce the second part of “Old,” and suddenly the party is back, in a big way. The following songs, including highlights “Dubstep,” “Smokin’ & Drinkin’” and “Kush Coma” use the weird voice and flow Brown is famous for to produce his familiar craziness that both comes out of nowhere and fits right in.

“Old” is many things, including one of the year’s best hip-hop albums and a concept album representative of Brown’s life and career. But more than anything else, “Old” is a heck of a good record, even if you’ve never listened to “XXX.” The songs

on “Old” are fun, interesting and, at points, touching. Brown has always been a very up-front and in-your-face kind of artist, but here, he strips his image and public perceptions bare, and shows them to the world before building them back up better than ever. With Brown, what you see is what you get, and in that case, “Old” is a great deal.

danny brown Brown raps about varied topics, from smoking and drinking to his difficult family life. Born into poverty with an absent father, Brown is not afraid to bring listeners in by rapping about topics and issues very close to his own heart.

8 ARTS, ETC.

The Brandeis Hoot

October 4, 2013

“The Seagull” starts slow but enthralls audiences

By Victoria Aronson Editor

Exploring distraught mother-son relationships, marriages tainted by romantic affairs and the tortures of fame, The Brandeis Theater Company’s production of “The Seagull,” although slow to start, quickly enthralled the audience through its dramatic and comedic performances.

Written by Anton Chekhov, the play was originally produced in 1896, with its opening night a complete failure. Reportedly, the actress playing the role of Nina lost her voice at the onset of the production, causing the night to fall to ruins shortly after.

Despite its initial rocky start, the play later seized a spot as an acclaimed piece of Russian theater, its disputable history no longer discernible in later productions.

Held in the Laurie Theater, an intriguing choice due to its small scale, the show was slow to capture the attention of the audience. One can’t blame this failure on the cast, but on the play itself. In the opening scene Alex Jacobs plays Pyotr Sorin, an el-

derly man and brother of the famous actress Irina Arkadina, played by Sara Schoch. The emotionally unstable Konstantin Treplev, played by Eddie Shields, attempts to garner the approval of his mother Irina by testing his capabilities as a playwright. Casting his young lover, Nina Zarechnaya, played by Alex Johnson, as the central character of the play within a play, Konstantin is utterly destroyed by his mother’s mockery of the production.

Shield fully commits to the fragile, emotionally unstable character of Konstantin, plunging into a full fledged tantrum before storming off stage. Konstantin is unable to acquire his mother’s love and approval, instead vying for a place in her world among prominent writers, actors and producers. Plagued by severe feelings of inadequacy, Konstantin instead serves as a constant reminder of his mother’s departure from youth, highlighting the turbulent mother-son relationship which destroys his sense of self worth.

The self-absorbed persona of Irina is manifested in Schoch’s performance, while the audience becomes suspicious of sexual undertones elicited between the majority of the cast.

love gone awry Konstantin embraces Nina in Act 1.

It quickly becomes evident that Irina’s husband, Yevgeny Dorn, played by Jonathan Young, is having an affair with the wife of the groundkeeper, while Irina herself is pursuing the acclaimed writer Boris Trigorin, played

by Brandon Green.

The production manages to portray a sense of dark humor, placing a comedic spin on deep rooted psychological disorders. Laura Jo Trexler, who plays the character of Masha, a depressed young woman who is tormented by her love for Konstantin, effortlessly collects laughter from the audience.

One could easily forget the play was written in the 1800s, incorporating themes of drug abuse and sexual scandal that are perfectly relatable to today. Masha turns away to sneakily snort some cocaine from a small metal tin, enraging the character of Yevegny, a physician who condemns substance abuse while engaging in sexual affairs outside his marriage. In a later scene, Masha slyly turns her head to sneak shots from her small flask, becoming increasingly tipsy to the amusing ignorance of other characters.

Stumbling from her seat on the sofa, she claims her leg fell asleep, evoking laughter from the audience. Dressed in gothic attire, Texler effortlessly embodies Masha’s ironic personality and sense of dark humor.

Lingering between humor and darkness, the production takes on a disturbing light as Konstantin plunges further into a role of complete emotional instability. Burdened by feelings of inadequacy and tormented by his mother’s mockery, Konstantin kills a seagull and brings the dead corpse to Nina, his young lover. Coming to her in a moment of complete depression, as if crying out for help, Konstantin shoves the mangled form of the bird at her feet repeatedly, sweat glistening on his face, his hair plastered to his scalp.

Unable to serve as a source of comfort, Nina instead reacts in complete disgust, throwing the corpse of the seagull away from her feet. Konstantin is plagued by jealousy as he hears the footsteps of Boris Trigorin approaching, accusing Nina of having masked feelings for him. Konstantin successfully portrays a man savaged by self doubt, portraying the terrifying potential of inadequacy and depression within the scope of romantic relationships as well. Although not inherently violent, his completely irrational behaviors cast a deep sense of unease, as

his groveling form holds the carcass of the dead bird.

Yet another standout performer was Brandon G. Green, who reflected on the torment of being a writer while developing an intimate bond with Nina.

Convincing through his timing and delivery, Green describes how thinking of his next novel in order to appease the public has shattered

the possibility of relaxing even for a moment. He bemoans the constant acknowledgment of his flaws, questioning his works the moments they are published.

Through outstanding performances from its cast, the Brandeis Theater Company’s production of “The Seagull,” captures themes of inadequacy and psychological torment in a darkly humurous light.

photos courtesy mike lovett

mother-son tension Irina sobs after fighting with her son Konstantin (below).

collapse Pyotr is in ill health through the play, and later collapses in grief.

October 4, 2013

ARTS, ETC. 9

The Brandeis Hoot

“Rush” pits rival racers in a cinematically splendid film

By Shreyas Warrier Staff

The movie “Rush” portrays a historic battle between two Formula 1 drivers at the height of their powers—James Hunt and Niki Lauda. In the 1970s the two raced for McLaren and Ferrari respectively, but in vastly differing styles.

Hunt was the definition of a party boy, who spent his time looking for the thrill of life, his reason for racing.

He spent his time with wine, women and drugs, while Lauda focused solely on racing. Based on a true story, “Rush” brought these historic characters to life.

The two work their way up from the lowest division of racing, consistently winning races and slowly but steadily building a great rivalry. Chris Hemingworth’s portrayal of Hunt fits his image perfectly—known for his devil-may-care attitude, Hunt started smoking at age 10, and would consistently smoke, drink and have sex minutes before his races.

During the 1970s, Formula 1 started to collect a larger and larger fanbase, and Hunt was celebrated for his playboy behavior and nonchalant attitude.

Daniel Brühl plays Niki Lauda brilliantly, serious and calculating, never one to easily make friends or even want them. As he states in the movie, making friends gives one something to care about, which means “you lose the ability to take the risk.”

The movie is cinematically splendid, changing scenes with ease and bringing the viewer into the movie each time. Time lapses are very rarely mentioned; once in a while, the date of a race is shown to mark the passage of time.

Other characters, although important and influential in the actual history, are given a short shift, briefly mentioned and sometimes not even named, even though they reappear.

Although it attempts to follow the lives of both Hunt and Lauda, the movie does a far better job of characterizing the more serious of the two drivers.

Lauda’s story line is packed with emotion, giving the audience a wellrounded sense of the character. Viewers can see his battle with his family, with his home life and within himself.

From a wealthy family, Lauda did not win his father’s approval when admit-

ting his desire to become an F1 driver.

Lauda had to take a loan out by himself to buy his way into a team and from then on, continued to adapt his car to be the fastest it could be.

Throughout the movie, the viewers receive a sense of complete disregard for everything but the end goal from Lauda.

He didn’t care how anyone responded to him, just that he ultimately became the best. As the movie continues, the audience is given insights into Lauda’s love life, marriage and especially the sense of trauma and despair after his infamous crash.

Lauda spent over a minute inside a searing inferno that reached well over 800 degrees. The entire stadium (and movie audience) hushed as fire marshals and other drivers attempted to help their fellow driver out of the flames.

He was finally withdrawn after suffering severe burns to his face, body and lungs. Lauda lost an ear, received terrible scarring to his head and lungs and had to have his lungs vacuumed to empty out all the ash that had fallen into them.

When he returns to the track, just six weeks after his terrible accident, in severe pain with bandages across his body, he is given a standing ovation as he finishes fourth.

He and Hunt have a quick discussion, where Hunt apologizes for forcing the other to go through with the race in which Lauda was injured, as it was raining and Lauda had discussed boycotting it. Lauda stares him in the face and levelly replies, “It was because of you that I got back on the track.”

This moment is one of the only times the audience sees another facet of Hunt’s character. Very rarely do we see an input into his social life; His marriage to model Suzy Miller (Olivia Wilde) is dismissed as an action made to give himself some amount of legitimacy in the eyes of the officiating board and the F1 world.

Hemingsworth, however, gives great life to the role, living the splendor in a most lifelike fashion.

The real Hunt was confirmed to have slept with over 3,000 women, with estimates reaching a total of 5,000. Hemingworth’s charisma on screen, different from his far less serious role as Thor, carries the character, making him exceptionally likeable despite the fact that screenwriters gave him no true depth.

The movie demonstrates a great un-

hunt in real life The real James Hunt died at the age of 45 from a heart attack.

derstanding and compassion between the two rivals and the actors themselves. While they show almost no emotion for anyone else, their hidden respect for the other is highlighted just as much as their fierce rivalry and dislike, as each attempts to persuade the other that his way was the best.

From start to finish, the movie pulls the audience in, complete with stunning scene changes, amazing cinematic shots, great casting and fantastic interpersonal dialogue, which both main actors pull off with perfect timing. This is one of the best movies to come out so this year. playboy Hunt was known for his promiscuous and risky lifestyle.

deadly accident Lauda almost lost his life in one of the races, but returned only six weeks later, bandages still on, in an attempt to keep Hunt from winning the championship.

photos from internet source

recovery Niki Lauda before and after.

EDITIORIALS

10 The Brandeis Hoot

“To acquire wisdom, one must observe.”

Editor-in-Chief Emily Stott Lassor Feasley Managing Editor Victoria Aronson Managing Editor Dana Trismen Managing Editor Morgan Dashko Copy Editor Theresa Gaffney Copy Editor Suzanna Yu Copy Editor Jesse Zeng Photography Editor Jun Zhao Graphics Editor Katie Chin Online Editor Rachel Hirschhaut Deputy News Editor

Volume 10 • Issue 17 the brandeis hoot • brandeis university 415 south street • waltham, ma

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Shota Adamia, Zachary Bellis, Emily Belowich, Dani Chasin, Andrew Elmers, Iona Feldman, Ben Fine, Evan Goldstein, Jaye Han, Maya Himelfarb, Eli Kaminsky, Julie Landy, Jess Linde, Nathan Murphy Needle, Vinh Nguyen, Alexandra Patch, Max Randhahn, Charlie Romanow, Emily Scharf, Alec Siegel, Naomi Soman, Diane Somlo, Sindhura Sonnathi, Jennifer Spencer, Matthew Tagan, Alison Thvedt, Coco Tirambulo, Yi Wang, Shreyas Warrier, Pete Wein, Linjie Xu

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.

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E

October 4, 2013

Univ appeases student activists

arlier this week, President Frederick Lawrence sent the Brandeis community an email announcing the formation of a new committee designed to explore the possibility of divesting Brandeis endowment funds.

While there is no consensus on the wisdom and workability of divestment, we applaud the university for taking student concerns seriously.

Last year, community members orchestrated a highly conspicuous and effective campaign to spread awareness of the possibility of Brandeis divesting itself of corporations dedicated to the extraction of fossil fuels. They claimed that due to their contribution to climate change, these corporations violated Brandeis’ commitment to social justice.

The committee, which is to be com-

posed of faculty, staff, students and trustees of the Investment Committee, has been given a relatively limited advisory role. Though it will assess how socially responsible our investment strategies are and suggest potential changes, the only real power it has is to issue recommendations for consideration by the Investment Committee.

Beyond that, the committee has been entrusted with no significant powers or responsibilities.

According to Brandeis investment policy, as quoted by President Lawrence in a recent email, “Where a corporation’s conduct is found to be clearly and gravely offensive to the university community’s sense of social justice ... consideration should be given to selling that corporation’s securities.” Because of the

nature of college endowments, which are largely composed of indexes and funds over which administrators have little digression, divestment is easier said than done. It is clear, however, that many in the Brandeis community feel that oil companies implicitly breach the mores of our social justice mission.

The fact that the university is being so responsive to student concerns is a breath of fresh air. In his email, President Lawrence stated that one of the directives the committee has been issued is to assess “the views and appeals of students and alumni.” It appears that administrators are taking a proactive approach to establishing a higher sensitivity to the concerns of the Brandeis community.

sports

October 4, 2013

The Brandeis Hoot 11

Baseball playoffs open with new organization

By Charlie Romanow Staff

The Major League Baseball Playoffs have finally begun, albeit in a different manner than we would usually expect. Instead of the system that has been used since 1995, where four teams from each league earn a spot in the postseason, five teams from each league will now get a chance. Onegame wild card matchups took place this week to see which of the two wild card teams in each league would advance to the division series.

This year’s race for the World Series championship is being fought by the remaining eight teams that are all within five wins of one another.

In the American League, the Boston Red Sox enter with the best record in the league and will face the division rival Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on Friday. The Sox will be difficult to beat with home-field advantage. The Rays are nearly as strong at home, so Tampa will have to upset the Red Sox in Boston to win the best-of-five

series. Boston won the season series against the Rays 12-7 in a slew of lowscoring games. This trend will likely continue into the playoffs with pitching a key factor. Both teams have had strong offenses this year, but the Sox stand out in the MLB, leading the league in runs with 57 more than the second place Tigers. Boston’s hitters have had a good eye all season long, seeing the most pitches faced, but the Rays can match up with them in this category, as they lead the majors in base on balls.

With the Red Sox regular season advantage over Tampa, this is Boston’s to lose. Their strong core of hitters will need to be led by veterans Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz with the myriad of newcomers continuing their strong play from the regular season. The Rays have had fewer stars with none of the players gaining more than 90 runs batted in, or hitting an average over 300. On the mound, both teams have a strong group of starters, but the guys at the back of the rotation will have to step up their game to push their team ahead.

The Detroit Tigers will face the Oakland Athletics on Friday. These

division leaders faced off against each other during two series during the season with each team winning on the road. The teams were nearly even during the season in terms of runs scored and runs allowed. The Tigers are led by MVP incumbent Miguel Cabrera, who put up big power numbers and led the majors in hitting.

The A’s come into the postseason with less star power and playoff experience than the Tigers, who have won the division in each of the last three years.

Oakland is 80-28 when hitting a home run, so the Tiger’s pitching will have to focus on not giving up the long ball. The A’s will be led on the mound by 40-year-old Bartolo Colon who may begin to tire out in October. The Tigers come in with a strong starting rotation that has been disappointed by former ace Justin Verlander’s lackluster performance this season. Detroit seems to have the advantage in this series, even with Verlander’s sub-par pitching, but they may need him to advance further in the postseason.

The National League Division Series began on Oct. 3 with the Pittsburgh Pirates facing the St. Louis Car-

dinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers facing the Atlanta Braves.

Despite the Cardinals’ winning the division title, they were 8-10 against the Pirates this season. The run differential in those 18 games was nearly identical with six of the games being a shutout. St. Louis enters with a much stronger offense led by Matt Holliday and veteran Carlos Beltran.

The Pirates are led by the duo of Andrew McCutchen and power hitter Pedro Alvarez. Alvarez only hit .233 this season but was able to amass 36 home runs. The Cardinals have the advantage in this series, dominating the league in hitting with runners and scoring position and have a clear dominance in their veteran players with plenty of experience; the Pirates have not made the playoffs in 21 years.

The final series between the Dodgers and Braves pits two teams that have not had great success in the playoffs recently. Atlanta’s home-field advantage in the series will be an asset as they are 56-25 at home and Los Angeles has near identical records at home as on the road. The Braves won the season series 5-2. Each team is

nearly even in terms of runs scored and runs allowed. The Braves offense will be led by youngster Freddie Freeman, while the Dodgers have a solid group of hitters that have the potential to break out at any moment. Los Angeles stars Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp have disappointed this year with Kemp having to be kept out due to injury for much of the season. The Dodgers’ first three starting pitchers, Clayton Kershaw, Zach Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu, give the Dodgers the leg up in this series.

A survey of 21 general managers was conducted found that eight favored the Red Sox to win it all, six believed the Tigers would win, and five thought the Dodgers would win, with the remaining two not predicting a winner. General managers are wary about rooting for the Dodgers who had been inconsistent this year.

The Red Sox have the experience to lead them to a championship, and the Tigers have the star pitcher and batter to carry the team. This year’s postseason has less of a clear front-runner than previous years; any of the eight teams have the talent to make it to the World Series.

photo from internet source

12 The Brandeis Hoot

Elmer’s Escape

opinion

October 4, 2013

The end of an empire

By Andrew Elmers Staff

We lost an integral part of our lives this past week, and it will be extremely difficult for anything else to ever fill that void. It was not the federal government, which barely does anything useful to begin with. It was “Breaking Bad,” the critically-acclaimed drama that aired its series finale this past Sunday night. For many, the show was a weekly monument, an appointment viewing. It shaped the way people looked at television and what makes for a captivating series. For me, it presented maybe the most spectacular thing I will witness in my life while sitting in front of my computer.

A little more than two weeks before the finale aired and everyone’s theories about how the series would end would be validated or denied, I decided to finally watch this frequently discussed show. I had seen some clips, understood the basic premise and even knew some spoilers from conversations with friends, but I never thought too much about a chemistry teacher cooking methamphetamine to fund his cancer treatment. How naive I was. I proceeded to spend almost 50 hours of my time during the next two weeks to cram in the entire series before the finale. With the first four-and-a-half seasons on Netflix and a marathon running on AMC before the finale, it was simple to catch every scene. But going through the entire character arcs of Walt and Jesse was not.

Unlike those who watched Break-

photo from internet source

ing Bad like it was meant to be, with weekly episodes each season and a long break between, this felt like watching a movie—a movie that went into extensive detail and was incredibly well thought out. I was able to see the call-backs to previous episodes and recognized foreshadowing that came through some 10 to 20 episodes later on. It reminded me of reading a

piece of literature in high school with my English teacher forcing us to analyze every last paragraph for the motifs and symbolism. Nothing seemed out of place or jumped around too fast; it was almost as if Vince Gilligan planned this entire show all at once. I was completely engrossed in this piece of media, and with the end of each episode I had to hold my-

self back from clicking next so that I could get to class. It was a magical story that never stopped, set in the land of enchantment.

However, there are major drawbacks to waiting until two weeks before a show is set to end to begin watching it. First, there was the complete disregard of anything else in my life as I tried to watch every second.

The lack of a community to watch the show with also detracted from my experience. Whether it be on an online forum, discussing with friends or talking around the water cooler, the beauty of television and story arcs is that there is extensive time between chapters to discuss every last bit and See EMPIRE, page 15

No vacancy in Sherman

By Robin Breindel Staff

You’re tired and hungry from a long day. Being the typical Brandeisian you are, aside from your classes, you’ve had two club meetings, spent time at work and maybe had a spare moment to exercise. You enter Sherman after this long day, hoping to have a nice, relaxing dinner, re-energize with some food and decompress with friends. This is what a college dinner experience should be. But the current chaos that characterizes Sherman Dining Hall each evening at dinnertime makes the notion of eating one’s dinner in peace impossible.

At this point, there have been numerous reviews of of our new dining services provider, Sodexo. With this in mind, I will not venture into that already well-covered territory but instead focus on another dining-related problem: the ability to sit down and eat!

In theory, Sherman provides us with the typical college dining hall experience. With buffet-style stations offering all-you-can-eat, it is not difficult to imagine gaining the dreaded “freshman 15” from the volume of food available. This year, however, the serene environment that was the former Sherman has been completely uprooted. Now, if you walk into Sherman at dinnertime you will find a scene resembling a zoo. People circle the seating areas hunting for tables, sometimes even standing over other groups to rush their meal and steal their seat. By the time a seat is acquired, you are frustrated and ex-

photo by janet jun zhao/the hoot

hausted, but the fun is not over. Now you get to wait in a long line for food that may not even still be there by the time you get to it! Say you want french fries from the grill. You’ll need to wait 10-15 minutes in addition to the 30-45 you already spend waiting for your burger.

So what exactly has led to these changes in Sherman? Are there more students than before? Maybe Sodexo workers just haven’t gotten into their groove? I couldn’t really tell you, but

this needs to end.

The current state of the Sherman dinner experience is poor, yet we should not lose hope. Somehow, Sherman was able to operate more efficiently in previous years, and it is not unreasonable to think it could return to such a place in the near future. For one, there could be a maximum capacity for the dining hall, monitored by cashiers. In this scenario, cashiers would have the responsibility to turn away students when the building had

reached capacity or when no seating is left. This would reduce the crowds and perhaps bring some order.

Another option could be to expand Sherman or build a new dining hall.

This would be an expensive solution, but it could have a great payoff for students. Having more space to eat would make it easier for students to eat at the same time. Since Brandeis students seem to have mass consensus that 6:30 p.m. is dinner time, this could greatly aid all in a search for a

seat. During Sukkot, a sukkah was built as an extension to Sherman for those observing. Perhaps for the remainder of the year, this space could be used as overflow dining space.

I find it hard to believe that other schools face this same chaos in their students’ dining experiences. In this regard, it may be time for us to look to our peer institutions and see what they do. I’d like to return to a day where I can eat my dinner without engaging in warfare to do so.

October 4, 2013

OPINION 13

The Brandeis Hoot

Misdiagnosing hyperactivity

photo from internet source

By Jennifer Spencer Staff

Wrongful use of prescription drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin on college campuses has come to the media spotlight in recent years. Designed for patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), college students use the stimulant as a study aid to improve focus.

Sports Q&A

However, in light of recent research on the extreme and medically unjustified rise in rates of ADHD diagnoses in America, one must be skeptical— are patients even given the right meds or are they being misdiagnosed?

ADHD is frequently mentioned lightly, but the overwhelming rise in ADHD diagnoses is something that should be seriously discussed and curtailed. According to the CDC,

“The percentage of children with a parent-reported ADHD diagnosis increased by 22 percent between 2003 and 2007.” Looking at further research published this year CNN states, “11 percent of children aged 4 to 17 were diagnosed with ADHD, a 16 percent increase since 2007.”

It has come to the point where almost everyone knows someone diagnosed with ADHD. Frankly, these

huge increases in diagnosis numbers during the years are startling. If that doesn’t sound shocking enough, consider this next fact: According to the New York Times, “Figures showed that an estimated 6.4 million children ages 4 through 17 had received an ADHD diagnosis at some point in their lives.” That’s a 41 percent increase this decade.

These statistics speak measures, and many more to attest to the monumental rise in diagnosis. While it may not seem like a big deal, the negative effects of being quick to diagnose a patient with ADHD are long term.

The possibility that kids and teens are being misdiagnosed not only seems highly plausible, but also poses a danger to the health of our over-prescribed society.

Before I continue, I want to let it be known that this disorder is very real and those diagnosed deserve the best medical treatment. I’m not here to question the struggles of those who have to deal with ADHD. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “ Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over-activity).” Many times ADHD takes therapy and medication to be treated and can still pose a daily challenge for those afflicted.

However, I want to emphasize that ADHD diagnosis is not a slapstick answer to a large number of patients who want to know how to decrease and justify anxiety, spotty attention and other mental issues. While ADHD may be less stigmatized and discussed than related disorders such as anxiety and depression, it is important to consider the full spectrum of mental disorders before coming to a conclusion about what one has.

So how exactly is ADHD diagnosed? Well, it is a tricky diagnosis with no exact test. Doctors look at a variety of behaviors and symptoms when making diagnoses. I have no doubt that the certainty of individuals or parents that ADHD is present, in themselves or their children, could be an influence when explaining symptoms of what they perceive is wrong.

People don’t want to assume themselves or their children could have a mood disorder consuming their attention and causing anxiety. Rather, it is more appealing to fall in line with the masses in explaining hyperactivity and other symptoms as ADHD. If anxiety, depression and other disorders slip under the radar, they can get worse. With the right treatment and therapy, however, people with See DIAGNOSIS, page 14

Brandeis Women’s Volleyball: Mid-Coast Classic Q&A

By Robert Xie Staff

Last week, Brandeis womens volleyball participated in the Mid-Coast Classic against Colby-Sawyer, Bowdoin and Bates. Although the Judges ended up going 1-2 during the threegame stretch, the team managed to end on a high note by eking out a 3-2 win over Bates. With position changes all over the court, the weekend turned out to be quite an eventful one. We caught up with Elsie Bernaiche ’15 for her take on what took place.

Q: Going into the weekend, did you have any personal expectations?

A: My personal expectations for this weekend were to just maintain a positive attitude and high energy, even though I was feeling sick. Our team plays really well when we all have high energy, and because I’m usually on the court most of the game, I try to keep that energy consistent by keeping myself positive in my head.

Q: Did your team have any specific expectations?

A: Our team went into this weekend really driven to beat Bowdoin.

We had lost to them at the Brandeis Invitational, and we felt like we had an opportunity to win this time around.

We also wanted to come away from this weekend with a win.

Q: Were these expectations met?

A: We accomplished our goal to win a game, and I thought we played really well against Bowdoin. We led during two of the sets, and we pushed them to a 24-26 game. We played really aggressively on offense, which is something we have been struggling to make happen every game.

Q: What do you expect looking forward into the season?

A: We expect to move into the UAAs with a lot more experience as a team unit. We have really begun to develop a more competitive mentality, and hopefully that will translate to some wins within the conference this coming weekend.

The team looks to continue a highenergy style of play as they take on the University of Chicago in the UAA Round Robin this Saturday.

photos by edwin gonzalez/the hoot

14 OPINION

The Brandeis Hoot

October 4, 2013

Philanthropic greek life

By Eli Kaminsky Staff

Throughout my life, I’ve been heavily involved in community service and philanthropy, having performed outreach to the elderly, distributed food to low-income families and walked against cancer. When I initially toured Brandeis at the beginning of my college application process, I was struck by what I described at the time as “the overall vibe of the campus,” unable to place exactly what caused such a positive and unique atmosphere.

Subconsciously, I was reminded of my childhood thanks to the social justice mindset found around campus. However, I never found myself volunteering by my own volition, merely accompanying my parents on their philanthropic endeavors. To a young Eli and presumably to many other children and young adults, simply sitting down and deciding, “Today I’m going to make this change in the world,” was a somewhat daunting task. That being said, people tend to overstate how much effort it actually requires to initiate change. One does not need an administrator, a community service club or even a chaperone—making a difference simply requires initiative.

During the first semester of my first year of college, I joined Phi Kappa Psi, a fraternity whose creed and agenda is deeply rooted in its philanthropic classification. During my recruitment period, I distinctly recall current president Colin Gibbons informing me that, “While some fraternities are Jewish fraternities and some fraternities are literary fraternities, we’re a philanthropy fraternity. It’s what we do.” At first, I brushed the idea off as a mere gimmick to convince me to join. Just a few weeks after I began the pledge process, I found myself in a string of

cars filled with brothers on our way to volunteer at the Rodman Ride for Kids in Foxboro, Mass.

The Rodman Ride for Kids, an organization in its twenty-second year of life, hosts an annual non-competitive bicycle tour and donates the proceeds to aid underprivileged children. Five years ago, Phi Psi brother Justin Meltzer ’11, reached out to the coordinators of the ride, offering the fraternity’s services for the day. We shipped out to Foxboro and helped feed the tired riders, grilling many hamburgers, hot dogs, spare ribs and steaks.

The event was so successful that Phi Psi has returned every year since.

I was surprised that the fraternity actually took philanthropy so seriously, having been accustomed to the stereotypical depiction of Greek life.

Although, I was far more impressed that a group of college guys could get together and make such an impact at this special event. Simon Romano ’16, one of the fraternity’s current philanthropy chairs, worked at the 2013 installment of the Rodman Ride. “We cooked for about 2,500 people, helping to raise 10.9 million dollars,” he said. No one asked Meltzer to call up the coordinators five years ago, yet almost the entire fraternity has returned every year since.

Although it might sound rather overdramatized, the Rodman Ride is somewhat sacred to the Massachusetts Beta chapter of Phi Psi. This event has consistently had the best brother and alumni turnout. When asked to summarize the significance of the Rodman, alumnus Ben Sargent ’13, former president and philanthropy chair, responded, “It isn’t just about camaraderie or earning the gratitude of the organizations that we help; it is about contributing to the greater community in which we live.”

It does not surprise me that a

photo from internet source

Brandeis fraternity would jump at the first chance to get involved in an event like this. The university was founded to provide higher education to those who otherwise would not have access.

Every student is attracted to the university for a unique reason, though on that first day of orientation, every student also realizes he or she is actually

pretty similar to the person sitting to the right of him or her on those Gosman bleachers. Our student body is filled with true go-getters. Every year, our peers can organize a musical in one day, bring an incredible array of performers to campus, rally against sexual violence and coordinate a complex system of intramural sports.

Why not take such initiative outside the gates of Brandeis? You don’t need to run a food pantry or start an elderly outreach organization to make a difference. Any student is capable when it comes to finding a way to make a difference. All that is necessary is the drive. In the words of the 2005 film, Robots, “See a need, fill a need.”

What does ADHD mean for Brandeis?

photo from internet source

DIAGNOSIS, from page 13

mental disorders can be very productive, successful and happy. It is much more frustrating and alienating to be misdiagnosed than to accept what you have and know how you can effectively help yourself.

There are also serious long-term medical implications with misdiagnosis. Aside from invalidating the actual mental disorder one has, misdiagnosis has other health effects.

Medicine prescribed for ADHD can have serious side effects; according to CNN, “ADHD drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall have been linked to dramatic weight loss and suppressed growth.” Furthermore, the article states, “Experts have voiced concern that early use of the behavior-modify-

ing drugs could alter the natural arc of children’s social and creative development.”

Knowing the dangers of misdiagnosis can lead one to having the best approach when going in for testing.

Keeping an open mind and making sure the doctor has more time than a usual office visit to access a patient is crucial. If the doctor or patient is in a rush, or there are preconceived ideas, this will hinder the ability to accurately assess one’s condition.

Time is the key part of the equation. Building a good patient-doctor relationship, where observation takes place in a relaxed setting, will allow the most comprehensive analysis and treatment plan. Don’t rush answers; just as treatment is a multifaceted process, the initial diagnosis should be as well.

photo from internet source

October 4, 2013

OPINION 15

The Brandeis Hoot

Building up to Felina EMPIRE, from page 12

then predict what comes next. Fantastic fan theories arise and hopes build for a certain outcome to a major plot conflict, only for fans to be left completely dumbfounded by the twist the director throws at the end.

Opinions about the morality of characters—agreeing with Walter White’s justifications for his crimes or whether or not Skyler is a complete bitch— build and crumble weekly. Viewing the entire medium at once does not

Eliana’s Advice

allow for personal thought about what is happening; one can only feel completely saturated by the imagery, music and dialogue.

As I got closer to the finale Sunday night, spending the whole day watching the last eight episodes of probably the greatest television show I will ever see, I regretted my previous decisions.

All of them: From not asking that girl out, to not paying more attention in chemistry so that I could one day cook the blue, but mostly that I had not started watching “Breaking Bad” sooner. I missed out on a lot of great

suspense that comes with waiting between episodes, or even seasons, to see whether or not a character is spared.

And also the personal joy that comes out of sharing something as awesome as this show with other people. I probably would have understood a lot more if I had given myself the opportunity to really study the show. It was such a shame to squeeze the entirety of a program into as small a window as possible rather than savoring every last second.

A smoker who has just quit has to figure out how to live without a ciga-

rette in his hand. For these past couple of weeks, I have spent pretty much all of my free time with my eyes glued to my computer, and like the millions of others who watched “Breaking Bad,” I have to figure out what to do with my life now. It is such a depressing feeling to instinctively go to Netflix and look for Heisenberg sitting in a Hazmat suit only to realize that there are no more episodes to watch.

If I had the chance, I would have begun watching “Breaking Bad” so much earlier and been able to really savor each episode as it came. There

photo from internet source

was a reason that it was produced as a television show and not a major motion picture, and I realize that. But I am ever so grateful that I was at least able to see every part of such an incredible piece of art. The characters, dialogues, monologues and plots will live with me for a long time, and I feel all the greater having witnessed it.

The deterioration of Walter White was something to behold, and his relationship with Jesse was spectacular.

Some of the most powerful scenes known to man were a part of this show, and I am completely in awe.

Study spaces and peaceful places

photos from internet source

By Eliana Sinoff

Since the year has started, I have not left campus. I have had classes, or studying, or something else to keep Dear Eliana, me here. I’m starting to get a little The people on my floor are really tired of the “Brandeis Bubble,” but loud, and I have a hard time studyI don’t seem to get the chance to go ing in my room. Where could I study anywhere else. Any advice about how without as many interruptions?

I can fix that?

-Lots of Work -No Life Special to the Hoot

Dear Lots of Work, There is a library here. You should definitely check that out. There are a lot of quiet places in there if you look around. Sometimes, it can be crowded, but I’ve found that if you’re patient and persistent, there are some really nice places to study there. Also, the SCC is a nice place to work. It has comfy areas, too. The great thing about the library and SCC is that both of them have places that sell coffee, so you can keep going for hours! If the weather is nice, and you like nature, there are places outside that can be nice and secluded if you need quiet.

If you just look around, there are a lot of places you can go. Just keep an eye out.

-Eliana Dear Eliana

my own. What should I do?

-Unsure

Dear Unsure, Calm down. The professor expects questions from students. That is his job, so you aren’t wasting his time. Just be confident, go up to him, introduce yourself, and ask that question. If that is too much for you, you can also send Dear No Life, him an email. That way there is no I know how hard it can be to find face-to-face contact. If he is just too the time to get out of Brandeis with all scary to talk to directly, chances are, that’s going on. If I were you, I would there is a TA you can ask, as well. TAs set aside a time in advance to take a tend to be less frightening. Just relax, break and just leave. For instance, if and go for it. I believe in you! you don’t have any major assignments -Eliana due, put aside a few hours this weekend to just go and explore Boston. The Dear Eliana, shuttle can take you there, and you I’m really good friends with this can just go hang out with some friends guy, but lately, he’s been acting kind of off campus. If you just plan ahead, it weird. My friends say it’s because he shouldn’t be too hard to take some has feelings for me and wants to take time out. our relationship to the next level. The -Eliana main problem here is that I do not feel the same way. I do not like him in Dear Eliana, that way, and I want us to just remain I want to ask a professor a question, friends. Does this make me a bad perbut he is super intimidating. I feel like son? How can I make it clear to him I’m wasting his time by asking extra that we are not in the same place, and questions, and since this is college, I I do not want to date him? feel like I should just figure it out on -Super Cliché Question

Dear Super Cliché Question, As you seem to know, this situation is quite common. One member of a friendship wants to take the relationship to the dating level while the other does not. This can lead to heaps of awkwardness. My suggestion is to just tell him as soon as possible. The longer you wait to tell him, the more he’ll think he has a chance, so by not getting it out in the open, you are just hurting him more. This is definitely something that you guys need to talk about. By the way, it does not make you a bad person, just because you don’t like someone in the same way he likes you. If he really likes you as much as he seems to, he might be a little hurt, but he should understand.

I hope that helps!

-Eliana

What should I do?

-Need My Space Dear Need My Space, You should try talking to your roommate again, but this time be very insistent and clear about how you feel.

Don’t be mean, but make sure you are taken seriously and listened to. You two should have a discussion about how things will work in the future.

Try to reach some compromise. For example, your roommate can have people over while you’re in class or at other specified times, as long as nobody touches your stuff. If nothing at all works, you could always go to your CA, as they are there to handle this kind of stuff.

Dear Readers, I would love to hear your questions.

They can be about anything you want.

Dear Eliana, I can’t promise that I will always know My roommate always has friends what I’m talking about, but I would over to our room. I know it is shared love to try to help you with anything. space, but I’m not always in the You can reach me at elianasadvice@ mood for company, and I don’t actu- gmail.com ally know a lot of the people who are there. Whenever I try to bring it up, Thanks, my roommate just kind of blows me Eliana off. It’s really starting to annoy me.

sports

October 4, 2013

The Brandeis Hoot 11

Judges led by Spital seal 1-0 win against Smith

photo by eden shoshan/the hoot

By Dani Chasin Staff

After suffering a 4-0 loss during the weekend against Bowdoin, the Brandeis women’s soccer team bounced back on Tuesday with a 1-0 win against Smith College. The showdown on Gordon Field against the Pioneers proved to be a tight match, but the Judges managed to sneak in a goal with forward Dara Spital ’15 leading the team.

With the victory, the Judges improved their record to 7-2, while the Pioneers lowered their record to 3-51. Currently ranked 3rd in the UAA behind Washington University and Carnegie Mellon, Brandeis holds a perfect home record with six straight

games.

Spital, the leading scorer for the Judges so far this season with eight goals, remarked on the difficulty of getting ahead of the Pioneers and breaking the 0-0 score.

“The game was definitely a battle.

They were physically all over us, but we found ways to get around them,” Spital said.

The transfer forward from Miami, Florida, admitted that it took a team effort to overcome Smith and find their openings. When asked to what she attributed Tuesday night’s win, Spital answered, “Our defense played smart out of the back, and we created chances up front.”

Even Spital’s game-winning goal

came off a joint effort after she received the ball from forward Holly Szafran ’16 in minute 25. Szafran managed to intercept the ball in the middle of the turf and turned up field to find Spital with a through pass.

Spital described her run to the ball as a “foot race” between her and the defender after she overlapped Szafran to the left and created an opening in the front of the goal where she ripped it with her left foot into the bottom right corner of the net.

Brandeis heavily dominated the game, keeping the play almost entirely on the Pioneers’ end in the first half and taking 23 shots throughout the game, 11 in the first and 12 in the second. Only eight of those 23 tries

by Brandeis were on goal, as none of Smith’s were on frame throughout the game.

While the Judges’ goalkeeper Michelle Savuto ’15 did not see any action during the game, she achieved her sixth shutout of the season. There were a few close opportunities for the Pioneers as they intercepted the ball at times in the middle of the pitch, but they got shot down by the Brandeis defense every time. The Smith goalkeeper, on the other end, had to make seven saves for the game.

After they scored, the Judges kept up their momentum for the remainder of the match. They had a few close attempts on goal, but the 1-0 score held until the final buzzer. Though

the Pioneers tried to overcome the home team, the Judges kept the ball and pace of the game in their favor for most of the time.

The Judges still took this game seriously in order to seal a win and recover from their loss last weekend.

“We want to make it farther than last season, so every win is a big win for us,” Spital said.

Fresh off this win, the Judges will prepare to face some tough competition on the road, facing Case Western for a UAA matchup, and then facing Eastern Nazarene, who are currently 8-2 with their record. The Judges hope to continue their winning streak and make it back home without any disappointments.