The Brandeis Hoot - 10/25/13

Volume 10 Number 19

www.thebrandeishoot.com

Brandeis University’s Community Newspaper • Waltham, Mass.

‘Boeing-Boeing’ a comedic hit

Committees to address substance abuse and medical amnesty

By Emily Stott Editor

The Alcohol and Other Drug Task Force will now be divided into subcommittees to focus on specific issues of importance to the student community. These additional committees will use time more efficiently and give students the opportunity to be involved in particular issues that interest them.

Brandeis created the Alcohol and Other Drug Task Force to give students, staff and faculty the chance to regularly discuss alcohol and drug use on campus. The group meets to understand university policies and approaches to substance use and examines how students are using drugs as well.

The committee reorganization was proposed by Allison Leventhal, assistant director for programs and resident support. She said that the subcommittees would allow for the time between meetings to be better used, so that at monthly meetings, the focus remains on reporting and brainstorming new ideas.

“There were so many great ideas and projects that students and other members have expressed interest in that we formed the subcommittees to divide up the work!” Diana Denning, nurse manager at the Health Center, wrote in an email.

There are four new subcommittees proposed. The first will discuss alcohol and drugs and be led by Lauren Grover, the alcohol and drug counselor at the Health Center. “She is putting together a report with the help of Student Union Alcohol Committee members, which will include info on alcohol and drug use and impacts at Brandeis, preventive programming and resources at Brandeis,” Denning wrote.

The second subcommittee will focus on medical amnesty policies, which are laws that help protect people from liability if they seek medical help because of their involvement in illegal activities. In a university setting, this would likely pertain to underage students who are drinking excessively and need to call for help. These students, under medical amnesty, would be protected from judicial consequences even though they participated in illegal actions.

Leventhal, who is also the co-chair of the Task Force, will lead the group.

She is currently working with staff at the ICC and students in BEMCo to examine the university’s current policies regarding medical amnesty.

Denning will also run a subcommittee on tobacco use, which will examine “ways to promote reducSee DISCUSS, page 3

October 25, 2013

boeing-boeing Brandeis Players presents an enthralling show.

By Dana Trismen Editor

One man. Three beautiful women who worship him. Seems like a dream come true, doesn’t it?

In “Boeing-Boeing” (written by Marc Camoletti), Bernard, played

by Austin Koenigstein ’17, is one such man. Bernard, an American businessman living in Paris, has

managed to snag and shag three stewardesses: an American, Gloria (Corrie Legge ’14); an Italian, Gabriella (Lisa Galperin ’14); and a German, Gretchen (Joanna Nix ’14). None of these women, who are all his fiancées, are aware of his polygamous ways because of their different flight schedules. Unfortunately for him (but fortunately for us), he and his three fiancées

photo by mariah beck

are joined by his sassy French maid Berthe (Kelsey Segaloff ’15) and his awkwardly charming American friend Robert (Ray Trott ’16), who reminded me of Michael Cera.

The first thing that I noticed was the nicely organized and realistic set. From the carefully placed furniture to the cleanly painted walls, the entire set looked like it should have See BOEING-BOEING, page 8

Lisa Boes hired as new Dean of Academic Services

By Victoria Aronson Editor

colors cover campus Changing leaves bring fall to Brandeis. See more photos on page 16.

photo by marian siljeholm/the hoot

Indian economist and activist impresses and inspires

By Jess Linde Staff

An audience of faculty, students and others gathered Tuesday in the Heller School’s Zinner Forum for a conversation with Indian economist, professor and social activist Sukhadeo Thorat. Thorat first spoke for about 15 minutes before opening the floor to questions from the audience.

Inside this issue:

In his introductory speech, Thorat humbly told the impressive story of how he rose from extreme poverty in a small Indian village to several respected university positions both at home and overseas. He served as the chairman of the University Grants Commission, which is responsible for upholding standards for educational institutions in India.

Thorat’s prolific work, including 22

News: Students learn to rebound from crises Opinion: Collegiate sweater culture needs work Arts, Etc.: Online magazine makes business art Opinion: Live music evokes new meaning Editorial: Gateway Buddies bridge cultural gaps

Page 2 Page 14 Page 8 Page 12 Page 10

published books and hundreds of essays, has influenced Indian social and economic policy. He praised Heller for its commitment to social justice through education, something he believes in fiercely. His activist work is dedicated to the breakdown of India’s ingrained caste system, which Thorat believes must be eliminated from InSee ACTIVISM, page 2

Emerging among a highly-competitive pool of qualified candidates, Lisa Boes has been selected at the new dean of academic services here at Brandeis University. She will officially commence her new position on Monday, Nov. 4th.

According to Kim Godsoe, the former dean of academic services who was promoted to the position of assistant provost for academic affairs in mid-July, Boes “brings a lot of rich experience and a lot of creativity to the position.” Godsoe worked in close collaboration with Academic Services to fill the vacancy following her promotion.

Prior to arriving at Brandeis, Boes served as the Allston Burr Resident Dean for Pforzheimer House at Harvard University, a role that encompassed serving as the dean for over 400 students in addition to supervising resident tutors. Godsoe cites one of Boes’ most notable accomplishments as the creation of a sophomore advising program at Harvard University.

Describing Boes’ work as multifaceted, Godsoe explains that Boes is equipped with experience in prehealth advising, advising students with disabilities, fellowship advising and general academic advising, as well. Although Boes’ impressive career accomplishments provide her with the background experience necessary for the role, Godsoe stresses the significance of being able to communicate and relate to students.

As a component of the strenuous selection process, applicants underwent a series of interview not only with faculty and staff members, but also with students. “She had a really strong rapport with students when she met with them,” Godsoe said about Boes,” and she had an equally strong rapport with the faculty.”

Explaining the importance of student involvement in the hiring process, Godsoe further explained, “It was a process by which we tried very hard to involve all different facets of the university community.”

The position of dean of academic services entails, among other duties,

Food staff bring

Nobel prizes

Pivotal members of the Brandeis community should be commended for contribution.

Nobel honors pioneer in chemical weapons prohibition.

warmth to campus

Opinion: Page 12

announced

News: Page 2

See BOES, page 2

news

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October 25, 2013

Waltham police chief granted pension

Waltham elections fast approaching

Former Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix was granted his full pension benefits, despite resigning in 2012 after being convicted of assault against his wife.

Waltham residents are preparing for a local election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. There are 12 councilor-at-large candidates running for six open seats, five ward councilor races and six School Committee candidates running for three seats.

by Rachel Hirschhaut, Editor

The Waltham Retirement Board unanimously voted to give the benefits to LaCroix, an agreement that is known as a “superannuation” package. LaCroix had been on administrative leave with pay following his arrest and formally resigned after he was convicted.

LaCroix worked for the Waltham Police Department for 26 years.

Mayor Jeannette McCarthy began the search for the next Waltham Police Chief earlier this month. Four applicants are now under consideration, according to the mayor.

by Rachel Hirschhaut, Editor

Residents of Massachusetts’ Fifth Congressional District are also gearing up for a special election to fill Congressman Ed Markey’s seat on Dec. 10, since Markey was elected to the United States Senate. Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, whose campaign offices were headquartered in Waltham, came in second place and lost by a narrow margin in the October primary.

State Senator Katherine Clark of Melrose is now the Democratic frontrunner.

photo from internet source

photo from internet source

Boes joins Univ team with advising expertise BOES, from page 1

meeting with students for advising appointments, supervising pre-health advising and disabilities services, providing fellowship advising, working closely with members of Transitional Year Program (TYP) and overseeing BUGS tutoring and student support services.

Although she describes advising as a highly rewarding experience, Godsoe reveals aspects of the job that can prove difficult, requiring a candidate who is apt to handle such dilemmas. In particular she explains the importance

of weighing individual student needs while maintaining adherence to the rules and regulations of the institution. Elaborating, she described this process, “You always want to be working toward what is in the best interest of an individual student, but you want to be respectful to what is fair to all students and the rules in place after very careful consideration of the faculty.”

As Godsoe said, “Advising is a really important part of student experience in college, and I think that [Boes] will bring a lot of creativity to what we do, and I’m sure she will have ideas of how to make what we do even better.” lisa boes

Students inspired to find resilience

By Rachel Hirschhaut Editor

During the stressful time of midterms, students often need a reminder that others have successfully overcome the same struggles they face and that there are many established support systems available. Brandeis Academic Services and the Hiatt Career Center worked to provide a community forum for support Tuesday night at their panel, Bouncing Back: Stories of Resilience in College, Work and Life.

The panelists, who represented a variety of ages and experiences, each candidly shared an obstacle that they have overcome in their personal, academic or professional lives. The presenters ranged from Brandeis professors such as Susan Parker (MATH) and Andrew Koh (CLAS), to students and recent alumni, including Jermaine Hamilton ’14 and Keith Sherman ’13, to Lisa Schreider ’96, an alumna and founder of a personal concierge business.

Hamilton talked about his journey of dropping out of Boston public schools, earning his GED and becoming the first member of his family to attend college. He is currently planning to pursue a master’s degree in education so as to empower others in similar circumstances.

When asked what advice he would like to impart to his peers, Hamilton said, “Don’t be afraid to put your pride aside and ask for help.” He continued, saying, “Have a strong ‘why’ for anything you do.”

The concept of resilience was discussed by all panelists. Sherman defined resilience as “the ability to remain strong and optimistic” in the face of setbacks and challenges.

Others described what helped them build resilience and overcome their setbacks. Parker and Koh relied on the support of their family and friends to get through difficult graduate programs. Schreider worked several odd jobs before settling on a career.

“The things we face, we’re definitely not alone in facing them,” academic advisor Julia Moffitt said, explaining her rationale for planning the panel.

photo courtesy brandeisnow

Thorat discusses need for equality in India ACTIVISM, from page 1

dia for an equal society to exist. “[After college] I had the terrible choice of going into academics or professional activism, as I thought one would prevent me from the other,” Thorat said. “After going into academics, I realized that you must use [power and prestige granted by academia] to create progressive change.”

Thorat also stressed that India’s caste system creates a completely unique type of inequality and social stratification, as it actively excludes members of specific castes from any and all education and economic opportunity. Thorat reached this conclusion after 34 years of research, and it has served to strengthen his egalitarian activism.

“Once you understand the roots of poverty and social exclusion, the size of it and its consequences on the groups [in society], then you come to policy and progress,” Thorat said. His research took him all over the world, including Singapore and Japan, where he only became more certain that poverty is multifaceted and must be dealt with as such.

Following his speech, Thorat answered questions from the audience. In several answers, Thorat claimed that merely opening opportunities in India’s capital markets for more people was not enough. He said that “the market has had very positive movement forward [recently], but it is unable to eliminate the caste system.”

When asked for an example of breaking down the caste system,

Thorat turned to the institution of marriage. “Inter-caste marriage has been important because marrying within caste only enforces institutional stratification … marriage is a major remedy to the caste system.”

Though the event was under an hour, Thorat was a highly effective orator. He confidently and honestly told the gathered crowd about his strong commitment to social justice, remaining modest and frequently returning to his assertion that an egalitarian world is possible in our lifetimes. Some questions targeted the viability of Thorat’s theories, but the huge applause at the event’s end and the hopeful expressions of the attendees showed that Thorat’s dream of a better India and a better world are not so high-reaching after all.

photo from internet source

October 25, 2013

Schlesinger to support UDRs and BPA

Nobel prizes for chemical weapon prohibition and short stories

By Charlie Romanow Staff

photo courtesy brandeis

By Emily Stott Editor

Student leaders have a new resource to help them develop programs for the Brandeis community.

Sybil Schlesinger will replace Gretchen Rowley as the new Program Administrator for the Undergraduate Departmental Representatives (UDRs) and the Brandeis Pluralism Alliance programs. Schlesinger will be available to students to help plan events and provide support.

Schlesinger brings a wide variety of experience to the campus, as she directed several non-profit organizations, coordinated volunteer programs and taught English and political science courses at local colleges, such as Babson and UMass/Boston.

She currently volunteers as a GED tutor at the Middlesex Correctional Institution in Framingham.

She described her reasons for wanting to become part of the Brandeis community: “This program seems to be a unique option at Brandeis, and it is a great way to give Brandeis students leadership experience while at the same time promoting their departments and their own interests and encouraging more students become as enthusiastically involved,” she said in an email to The Hoot.

In her role, Schlesinger will re-

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cruit and train UDRs, support them in their programming throughout the year, assist with financial support and fix any problems the students may have. She will also be part of the group that decides Outstanding UDR awards and assesses their efforts.

When faculty and department chairs propose students who they would like to see as UDRs, Schlesinger will work with them to select the best candidates.

“We see the program as a leadership development program for UDRs who serve as peer resources and advocates within majors and minors,” Elaine Wong, senior associate dean of arts and sciences, said.

The Brandeis Pluralism Alliance (BPA) awards grants to students who propose projects that address issues of identity, pluralism and unity.

Schlesinger will support the grant selection process and assist with BPA programs, including a spring exhibition, which awards cash prizes.

There are currently no new initiatives Schlesinger is ready to begin, but she hopes to help expand the program in the near future. She expressed that one possibility for expansion would be to “explore ways that parents and alums could become more involved in both the UDR and BPA programs.”

“I hope to be able to provide support to the programs and the students so that the goals of all can be accomplished,” she wrote.

The Nobel Prize winners were announced last week: the Peace Prize will go to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the Prize in Literature is awarded to Alice Munro. The ceremony will take place on Dec. 10 in Stockholm.

The OPCW is being given prestigious recognition for its work toward eliminating chemical weapons, especially as the need for such intervention has risen due to conflict in Syria.

The intergovernmental organization based in The Hague promotes and verifies adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention which was established shortly before the OPCW in 1997. The Convention prohibits the use of chemical weapons and calls for their destruction. The organization acts as a conference that allows representatives from around the world to voice their opinions, as well as using verification and inspection divisions to manage the destruction of chemical weapons among the 190 member states.

The Nobel Committee stated that the award was given to the OPCW because they “have defined the use of chemical weapons as taboo under international law,” taking a major step in the monumental task of eliminating an entire class of weaponry.

In its statement, the committee criticized Russia and the United States for not meeting the April 2012 deadline for the destruction of their chemical weapons. The organization’s complete impact has yet to be seen as they continue to work on their mission in Syria.

A civil war rages in Syria, resulting in over 100,000 deaths and millions

more forced from their homes. The United Nations and OPCW hope for Syria’s arsenal to be taken care of by mid-2014. Some Syrians have reacted negatively toward the award being given to the OPCW. Many see chemical weapons as not being the primary weapon in the war and believe that the honor overshadows the conflict’s true form and issues.

This year’s Peace Prize received 259 nominations, more than any year before. The OPCW is the 22nd organization to win the prize. Peace Prize laureates include U.S. presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Wilson, Carter and Obama, as well as Henry Kissinger, Elie Wiesel, Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan and Al Gore.

The winner of the Prize in Literature, Alice Munro, is an 82-year-old Canadian short story writer. The committee recognized her for being a “master of modern short story.”

Munro won the O. Henry Award and Canada’s Governor General Award for Fiction three times, despite not publishing her first set of short stories until she was 37.

She has since published 13 additional collections that highlight the small town settings and life of those in Huron County, Ontario. Her work has been compared to that of Anton Chekhov, William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor. She is the first laureate chosen since 1978 who is primarily known for short stories, although her writings are known for having the emotional depth of full-length novels.

Her literary style is characteristic of the Southern Ontario Gothic tradition which was first noted in 1972, four years after Munro’s inaugural book was published.

Alice Munro, née Laidlaw, was born in Wingham, Ontario before

studying English and journalism at the University of Western Ontario, but left without a degree to get married. She later received an honorary doctorate from the school in 1976 and worked as writer in residence at the University of British Columbia and University of Queensland. She won the Man Booker International Prize in 2009. Munro has been honored by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Royal Society of Canada, the U.S. National Arts Club and the Order of Arts and Letter. Her works have appeared in The New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly and The Paris Review.

She currently lives a quiet lifestyle in Clinton, Ontario. The Swedish Academy, the organization which chooses the winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature, was not initially able to inform Munro of her win. She finally heard the news after being woken up by her daughter at 4 a.m. in British Columbia.

She is the first Canadian to win the award and the first North American to win since 1993. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement saying that “Canadians are enormously proud of this remarkable accomplishment, which is the culmination of a lifestyle of brilliant writing.”

Munro is equally proud of her heritage, saying, “When I began writing, there was a very small community of Canadian writers and little attention was paid by the world. Now Canadian writers are read, admired and respected around the globe.” She went on to say that she hopes being chosen for the award “fosters further interest in all Canadian writers.”

After a lifetime of writing, Munro had decided to take it easy in the future, but the prize may change her mind.

Students, faculty to examine health issues DISCUSS, from page 1

tions in tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure on campus.” Students in Colleges Against Cancer and interns in HSSP and sociology programs will be the main participants who will work to make their goals become reality.

The Alcohol Task Force is currently open to any student who would like to participate, and the subcommittees will operate similarly. “Since the task force is an open meeting, any student interested in such issues is invited,” Leventhal said.

The task force used to be chaired

by Dean Gendron, director of student

rights and community standards.

Leventhal, from the Department of Community Living, became the new co-chair this year because Gendron became more involved in other programs.

“My hope is that the ideas and reports generated by members of this task force will promote safe and responsible use of alcohol and other drugs on campus,” she said.

Committees are also particularly recommended for students in groups with a focus on health and substance use, such as BEMCo, PERC, Colleges Against Cancer and the student senate’s committee on alcohol and other drug issues.

nobel prizes Above: Alice Munro. Below: Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Warfare.

photos from internet source

sports

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October 25, 2013

Cross country sweeps the competition

By Theresa Gaffney Editor

The men and women’s cross country teams finished 10th and third respectively at the Connecticut College Invitational last weekend. Each was ranked out of 21 total teams.

The women were led by Amelia Lundkvist ’14, who finished second out of 257 total runners on the sixkilometer course with a time of 21:34.

This was her third race in a row this season in which she not only came in

second place, but also finished within five seconds of the first place runner.

Quinton Hoey ’17 of the men’s team became the third runner to be Brandeis’ top performer in four meets out of the season. Hoey came in 32nd out of 248 total runners. He finished at a time of 26:27 on the eight-kilometer course.

Other women who finished in the top ten were Maddie Dolins ’17, who came in fifth, Kelsey Whitaker ’16 in sixth and Victoria Sanford ’14, who made it in 10th place. Maggie Hensel ’16 was the final Judge to score points,

coming in 96th place overall.

Also scoring on the men’s team were Jarret Harrigan ’15, who came in just behind Hoey in 35th place, Michael Rosenbach ’15 in 42nd, Grady Ward ’16 in 67th and Liban Aden ’16 in 154th.

Lundkvist was proud of her team’s performance in Connecticut. “We all had great races on Saturday ... We all got out well and moved up as the race went along, and most of us felt good at the end to finish strong,” she said in an email. “I am so proud of how everyone did last weekend. People really

stepped up.”

Many of the cross country runners this fall will also participate in track and field in the winter. However they aren’t thinking of winter just yet, as they approach the big meet for this season. “We’re not thinking too much about indoor [track and field] right now because our two biggest races are coming up in the next few weeks, so we’re focusing on that,” Lundkvist said.

Lundkvist noted that they are almost fully prepared for their last races. “I think we want to improve on

our finishes, maybe finishing stronger than we have been,” she said.

While Connecticut College was their fourth race of the semester, the team is looking to the UAA Conference Championships, which will take place Nov. 2 at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. The main goal at UAAs is to come in third, “or to beat as many teams as possible,” Lundkvist explained.

After UAAs, the teams will compete at the New England Division III Regional Championships in Gorham, Maine on Nov. 16.

Women’s soccer suffers defeat

By Charlie Romanow Staff

The women’s soccer team had a tough stretch on the road against conference opponents Emory University on Sunday and Carnegie Mellon University on Friday.

Brandeis lost their second UAA match over the weekend against Emory. The Judges knew that it was going to be a tough game heading into Atlanta as the Eagles were ranked seventh in the nation. The score remained deadlocked at zero at halftime, but Emory had the clear advantage in momentum. The Eagles outshot the Judges 12-3 in the half with seven of the Eagle’s shots being on goal. Emory had a season-high 11 corner kicks while Brandeis had two.

Brandeis’ shooting struggles lasted through the game as they were outshot 21-5 in the second half.

Sapir Edalati ’15 had a free kick opportunity from 18 yards out but was unable to convert. Cidney Moscovich ’17 had two shots on goal. Goalie Michelle Savuto ’15 had 13 saves.

The Judges will have a break from their tough UAA opponents and travel to UMass Boston on Thursday before finishing the regular season with three UAA home games. Brandeis stands at 9-4-1 overall and 1-2-1 in the UAA. The women’s soccer teams’ previous game was a 1-0 overtime loss in Pittsburgh against 17th ranked Carnegie Mellon. The winning shot came on a penalty kick six minutes into the extra period. Shots on goal were sparse in the game as the Tartans managed five and the Judges had only three. Brandeis was once again outdone in corner kicks managing only one against Carnegie Mellon’s seven.

Emma Eddy ’15 and Sapir Edalati each had early shots but the Judges could not capitalize on either. Edalati

and Dara Spital ’15 then had two shots on goal early in the second half.

Edalati attempted Brandeis’ only overtime shot. Savuto made three saves.

The Eagles followed up this match by gaining their seventh shutout of the season defeating Agnes Scott College and stand at 10-3-1 overall and 3-1 in-conference. Carnegie Mellon followed up the home win with another against New York University.

They are currently 8-2-2 overall and 2-1-1 in the UAA. They have moved up in the rankings to 15th.

All but two of the Judges games were shutouts, the wins and the losses. They have played well defensively in their wins but have generally not managed to stay competitive in the losses. Brandeis will end the season against Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Chicago and New York University. Wash U. is the No. 2 ranked team in the country. The Judges are fifth in the UAA standings.

photo by matt brondoli/the hoot

arts, etc.

October 25, 2013

The Brandeis Hoot 5

True Confession of a Netflix Addict: Vampire Diaries Edition

By Sophia Baez

Special to the Hoot

Every month, there is a charge on my debit card of $8.64 from a website that most college students are quite familiar with. A website that has a subscription base of 29.2 million people in the U.S., according to The Business Insider. A website that last year’s revenues for the quarter grew to $1.10 billion, as reported by RTT News. This little website is known as Netflix.

For those who do not know, Netflix is a website where you can watch television shows and films instantly, for a monthly fee. This is what Netflix is for normal people. For me, Netflix is a magical portal to happiness. My name is Sophia Baez, and I am a Netflix addict. I constantly log on to the magical site from my laptop, phone or iPad. I am delighted every time it gives me a suggestion. To this day, my Netflix has never been wrong. The website can read my soul; it understands my likes and dislikes. I ingest show after show. I fall in love with characters, cry when they die and rejoice when they find true happiness. My Netflix addiction has fed my already obsessive personality. After finishing “New Girl” in less than a week, I started watching “Avatar: The Last Airbender” religiously (yes, this was my first time watching the show, and yes, I did

pretend I was an earth bender). After which, I started and finished “Breaking Bad.” As you can see, I have a very eclectic taste in shows, seeing as a kid airbender and a middle-aged Chemistry teacher and meth cook do not have much in common. I know this, but Netflix understood my craziness and recommended my latest show: “The Vampire Diaries.”

Now, before you judge, I was in the same boat. While I was part of the vampire craze in high school, I thought it ended after Kristen Stewart’s performance in the first “Twilight” film. I did not know it at the time, but this show has brought back all my vampire-related emotions. This show has everything. It has witches, werewolves, ghosts, drama and comedy all wrapped in a 45-minute package.

But one of the most addicting aspects of the show is the romance.

There is a love triangle between the girl-next-door character Elena Gilbert, played by Nina Dobrev, brooding good guy Stefan Salvator, played

by Paul Wesley, and his enticing bad boy brother Damon, Ian Somerhalder.

Stefan, who is a 150-year-old vampire, returns to his small hometown of Mystic Falls, which has a history of vampire hysteria. When he returns, he sees and automatically falls in love with Elena. The audience later discovers that Elena is more than just an ordinary high school sophomore.

photo from internet source

vampire love The show depicts a supernatural love triangle.

She is a doppelganger of Stefan’s love Katherine. Centuries ago, both Stefan and Damon fell under Katherine’s spell and were turned into vampires.

As a consequence of their past love of Katherine, they are now even more drawn to Elena. While Nina Dobrev is not the most interesting character, I was completely enthralled with the story. Especially when it came to badboy Damon.

Damon is the older brother who seems to have no problem killing innocent people to get what he wants.

After some time, he realizes that his brother’s girl is who he truly desires.

For the past week and a half, I have been immersed in this show. My behavior was a bit outrageous. I ate, walked and went to the bathroom with these characters.

My boyfriend and friends were

frustrated when I would rather watch Damon trying to win Elena’s love than talk to them in Sherman. This is my life, my burden as a Netflix addict. I have accepted my fate, and I will continue to accept these characters into my life. In regard to “The Vampire Diaries,” if you want a show where you will laugh, cry and feel deeply connected to characters, this is the show for you.

Mindy Kaling on track for world domination

By Karen Brier

Special to the Hoot

Although Beyoncé will always be queen of the world, Mindy Kaling is starting to give her a run for her money. She’s certainly dominating the comedy world, creating and starring in the hit show “The Mindy Project.”

Comparable to “New Girl,” the show features Dr. Mindy Lahiri as an OB/ GYN who spends most of her time with her crazy coworkers.

Yet where Jess is quirky and lovable, Mindy is sassy and self-centered.

Working in the same office, the entire cast is filled with a diverse set of characters that often don’t seem to understand each other. However, they all manage to somehow support each other through break-ups and exes seeking revenge and make some pretty raunchy and clever jokes in the process. Throughout the series, Mindy is also on the prowl for her fairytale love. Her ultimate dream is for her life to turn into a romantic comedy.

After being the only woman writing for “The Office,” the real Mindy took a shot at creating her own show.

In 2013, she was recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

She attended Dartmouth College where she took up writing a comic strip for the college’s humor magazine and performing in an improv comedy group. The character of Dr. Mindy Lahiri is actually based on Kaling’s mother, who was also an OB/GYN. So what makes Mindy so hilarious?

Most of all is her confidence. She’s constantly reminding the world that she’s hot, smart and funny, and her coworkers are lucky to have her. Although her coworkers often say otherwise, nothing ever seems to bring her down.

She’s also not ashamed to admit that most of her life revolves around popular culture. Her somewhat irrational but serious concerns keep the show lively. Examples of her fears are: having her butt sucked into the sink of an airplane bathroom and being murdered by a serial killer (she keeps a knife under her pillow when she sleeps and slips a knife into her glove when she goes on dates).

While the rest of the universe is trying to be hipster, be alternative and pretend they’ve never heard of Nicki Minaj, Mindy is proud to say her favorite singer is Katy Perry and she watches “The Real Housewives” in her free time. Her brutal, and sometimes embarrassing, honesty makes her extremely relatable and entertaining.

The rest of the ensemble cast enforce the show’s comedic value.

Danny Castellano is essentially the Luke to Mindy’s Lorelei. Hailing from Staten Island, Danny attempts to put on a macho front but is actually quite sensitive. They are similar, but the humor plays out while they’re bickering — which is often. The show has yet to directly address their sexual tension, but keep an eye out for when Mindy starts to have some romantic dreams about him. Also be sure to watch the budding relationship between the eccentric Morgan Tookers and the feisty Tamra, both nurses at the practice.

For anyone looking for a new comedy that’s filled with deadpan humor, pop culture references and romance, “The Mindy Project” is for you.

photos from internet source

mindy kaling The actress and writer was named one of the most influential people in the

world by TIME magazine.

6 ARTS, ETC.

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October 25, 2013

‘Bangerz’ an insight into Cyrus’ private life

By Robin Briendel Staff

People may criticize Miley Cyrus for her recent overtly sexual displays at the VMAs and in her “We Can’t Stop” music video, but her new album Bangerz is awesome. People may think her behavior is simply an effort to draw attention to herself and it may well be, but the the quality of the music on her newest album speaks for itself.

With much hype, the album dropped on Oct. 8. The 20-year-old’s fourth album has gained much momentum in its first few weeks, reaching the coveted number one spot on both the US and UK charts.

It has been three and half years since the release of her last album, “Can’t Be Tamed,” and during this time Cyrus has continued her transition from Hannah Montana to adulthood. “Bangerz” is a sensational album putting the saga of Cyrus’ relationship and breakup with Liam

Hemsworth into song. On The Ellen Show, Miley described the album as telling a “real story,” and her description is true to form.

The album begins with the song “Adore You,” a ballad in which Miley proclaims her love for Hemsworth and that their love will never end.

She continues to profess her love for him in the more sexual song “#GETITRIGHT” in which she sings, “I feel so alone when you were gone/ Feeling right back home when I’m in your arms.”

As the album progresses, Cyrus’ adoration and love transition to anger and rage as she details to listeners the pain and betrayal Hemsworth’s cheating on her has caused.

In her song entitled “FU,” the 10th

song on the album, Cyrus sings “Oh, you broke my heart/ I told you I was weak for love/ but then you went around/ And did what you wanted to do” and “I got two letters for you/ One of them is F/ And the other one is U.” She makes clear to all that her heart has been broken and that she has been wronged.

Cyrus’ emotional journey continues through the end of the album.

Concluding “Bangerz” on a more positive note, she sings about how she will make it and how she does not need anyone else.

Her newly discovered independence shines through as she sings, “Don’t be afraid to do it alone/ You’ll get it done on your own!” in the second to last song of the album.

Aside from providing fans with an intimate look into the Cyrus-Hemsworth relationship and its subsequent destruction, “Bangerz” delivers fans with catchy and fresh tunes to jam out to.

It provides variation in style and form as the album contains ballads, rap and pure pop. The album is further diversified by its features of Britney Spears, Nelly, Big Sean, French Montana, Mike-Will-Make-It and Ludacris.

Overall, Bangerz is an incredible album. With many good songs and an ultimate theme of empowerment through difficult times, fans have and will continue to flock to it. I know I will be blasting it in my car for several weeks to come.

photo by firstname lastname/the hoot

dancing with miley Despite the controversy that surrounds her, Miley Cyrus has two hit singles and a top selling album.

Her Campus Brandeis an online art source, despite controversy

By Dana Trismen Editor

While Her Campus may promote how to do Halloween makeup right and which campus cutie you should actually be crushing on, Her Campus has become both its own art form and a business.

Launched in 2009 by three Harvard University undergraduates, the online magazine targets college females interested in style, health, tips on their love lives and future careers.

Her Campus collaborates with other businesses trying to market to the undergrad female, and nationwide, the firm reports over 100,000 hits on its sites daily.

Her Campus may be made into

satire and mocked for its extensive advice on what to wear to parties, but on one level, Her Campus is a type of artistic expression and a chance for college students to write about what other students want to read about.

“Due to HC being based entirely on the web, this makes sharing of the articles very easy. I love being able to post on Facebook and watch my article travel through the blogosphere,” said Ryan Molloy ’16, a writer for Her Campus Brandeis.

The Her Campus Brandeis boasts a website, a Facebook page and a Twitter, and writers contribute on a volunteer basis.

Articles focus on everything from what Brandeis students can do to get away from campus to how females can maneuver the weight room at

Gosman.

Rachel Gomes-Casseres ’15, copresident of Her Campus Brandeis, said that the website actually inspired her to attend Brandeis.

“I’ve been involved [in Her Campus] since freshman year. When I was researching colleges, I came across the Her Campus Brandeis page. The site gave me a new perspective on Brandeis and actually influenced my decision to come here,” she said in an interview this week.

Gomes-Casseres said that Her Campus Brandeis posts both stories and events on topics college women may find helpful.

“Her Campus tries to be light, easy to read and fun. Although we do post some news stories, we focus mainly on stories about what it’s like to be a

college woman.”

According to Molloy, Her Campus Brandeis may have a more serious message hidden behind many of its more shallow topics.

“I think Her Campus offers a great platform for feminist voices, something I find is both necessary and lacking at Brandeis,” Molloy stated.

“It requires [being attentive] to pop culture and campus life, but it also takes an ability to view these through the feminist lens.”

Gomes-Casseres stated that the site “offer[s] a different perspective from a straight up news publication.”

But some at Brandeis are not sure that Her Campus even hits its target audience.

“I find their articles unnecessary,” said Gabby Drillich ’15, a female right

in the demographic the site is aiming to enthrall. “It is a shallow way to look at the Brandeis male population and gives the Brandeis female population a bad rep.” Drillich referred to the “Campus Cutie” postings, where Her Campus staff pick a male on campus and ask him questions about his major, favorite album, favorite food and most romantic ideal date.

While Her Campus’ legitimacy as an art form may still be up for debate, it is clear that it gives students the opportunity to write on topics they may be interested in and already invested in. “Participating in Her Campus brings women together who wouldn’t normally interact…[To write, you need] just interest, enthusiasm and the ability to relate to others through writing,” Gomes-Casseres said.

October 25, 2013

ARTS, ETC. 7

The Brandeis Hoot

Red Fang a callback to eighties’ thrash

By Jess Linde Staff

When I first discovered the bearded, beer guzzling members of Portland’s Red Fang, the first thing that came to mind was their city of origin.

At the time, I was in the city visiting my grandparents, and among the hipsters and overcast weather, there were a couple things I was amazed to find.

First, a good old-fashioned dim sum restaurant instead of another organic café or medieval food truck, and second, 2nd Avenue Records, a record store that dedicated itself to punk rock and heavy metal, instead of another emporium of indie rock and experimental jazz cassettes.

When I walked into the store, the owner and I discussed music and I ended up asking for a recommendation on some new music. With a smile he handed me a CD of Red Fang’s eponymous debut album; I bought it, listened to it, and became hooked.

Soon after I also purchased their 2011 follow up “Murder The Mountains,” which took the head banging to a new level, and subsequently became very excited for their latest album “Whales and Leeches” when it was first announced this year. Though two years is a pretty standard waiting period between albums, it is a long time, and again I was excited to wait for the new record. I couldn’t wait for another healthy dose of chugging guitars, pounding drums and of course bassist and singer Aaron Beam roar-

ing his heart out. “Whales and Leeches” provided all that, but not in the way I expected.

Beginning with “Doen,” “Whales and Leeches” is immediately interesting, because the produced sound calls back to eighties’ thrash, a total 180 degrees from the fuzzy sludge/ stoner anthems that opened the first two Red Fang albums. “Blood Like Cream” is more familiar and is a lot of fun and should definitely be on the soundtrack of a slasher movie. “No Hope” is a loud, fierce, awesome song that highlights the band’s musical skills, as are the equally great “Crows in Swine” and “Voices of the Dead.”

All three of these songs are Red Fang at their best, stomping all over the place, but they show considerable growth from the last album, as they use more complex guitar parts and vocals.

“Behind the Light” is another good song and sounds a lot like Pantera (a metal band), in a very good way. The stride of “Whales and Leeches” is unfortunately broken with the next song “Dawn Rising,” a decent tune with some great drumming, yet is killed by YOB singer Mike Scheidt’s utterly terrible guest vocals. Scheidt’s part takes over the song, but sounds like a hair metal singer doing a Ronnie James Dio impression, and it is completely out of place.

I actually skipped the song the first time I listened to it, and have so far only listened to it all the way through once, with great effort. “Failure” is a slow song that isn’t as bad as “Dawn

red fang The band shows it is capable of experimentation and exploring genres beyond metal.

Rising,” but I’d be lying if I said I particularly enjoyed it.

The final three songs, “1516,” “This Animal” and “Every Little Twist” are interesting because they’re each totally different. “1516” again sounds like a thrash metal song and is the fastest song on the album, while “This Ani-

mal” could be a Queens of the Stone Age single and “Every Little Twist” sounds like a cut from “Murder the Mountains.” I enjoy all three because they prove that Red Fang is capable of experimentation and that they have diverse influences beside other metal bands. Overall, “Whales and Leeches”

photo from internet source

isn’t nearly as good as Red Fang’s first two albums, but it is still a perfectly solid piece of work. I’m curious to see these songs played live, and I hope that Red Fang can figure out how to experiment with their strengths and that they never hire Mike Scheidt again.

American Horror Story: “Coven” brews up TV magic

By Vinh Nguyen Staff

The bewitching premiere of American Horror Story’s “Coven” drew in 5.54 million viewers. The premiere is noted for being the largest ever within the American Horror Story series; marking a 44 percent increase in viewers from last year’s critically acclaimed “Asylum.” Coven marks the third installment in the American Horror franchise for previous fans, and provides a peek into the devilish terror is in this next chapter of television horror.

Created by Murphy and Falchuk, the same duo behind “Glee,” American Horror Story rarely displays the pep and saccharine sentiments of its Glee predecessor. Coven begins in the 1800s and follows through into the present day in timeless New Orleans. This season starts out in 1834 where we meet Marie Delphine LaLaurie, played by the powerhouse Kathy Bates, who is a Louisiana socialite with a dark habit of killing and torturing her house slaves in the attic as well as using their blood for her beauty rituals. From here, Coven jumps to the present time where a young teenager, Zoe Benson (Taissa Farmiga, who also played Violet Harmon in the first season of American Horror Story) discovers she is a witch in the most awful way. She is then sent to a boarding school to protect and train young witches in New Orleans called: “Miss Robichaux’s Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies.”

There, Zoe encounters her fellow peers: a teen movie starlet who can move objects with her mind and is as snobbish as she is defiant, Madison

Montgomery (Emma Roberts); the ever sassy and fire tongue Queenie (Gabourey Sidibe), who as a human voodoo doll who can inflict pain on others using her body as a medium; and the charming Nan (Jamie Brewer), a clairvoyant who also has Down Syndrome. Zoe meets the school’s headmistress, mild-nature Cordelia Foxx (recurrent American Horror story actress, Sarah Paulson), as well as the unapologetic and bold Supreme witch of her generation, Fiona Goode (Jessica Lange), who has returned to Miss Robichaux’s to train the girls herself.

Subtlety is generally not in the vocabulary of the show. Expected to be shocked, disgusted, and appalled in any given episode. Other than just shock value, what makes Coven a must-watch is the way Murphy and Falchuk wield horror to tackle deeper issues creating a show that is just as socially thoughtful and substantial as it is graphic. For example, brought out of the history books, Kathy Bates’s real-life character, Madame LaLaurie, is a reminder of perhaps America’s greatest horror story of them all: slavery.

Racial tension is very much felt in Coven, with the issues of whites against blacks and a minority group marginalizing another minority group being conveyed through the battleground of witchcraft vs. voodoo. We are able to see this tension between Queenie and Madison, and on the larger front, between the Supreme, Fiona and the Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau (played by the poised Angela Bassett). The exchange between Fiona and Marie Laveau not only notes the deeper societal disparities between the races, but also makes for an entertaining battle from

american horror The cast of the hit TV show.

the witty remarks the actresses throw at each other, with Laveau delivering one-liners like: “I wouldn’t help you even if you offered me a unicorn that shits one hundred dollar bills.”

All the while, interspersed between the gore and blood, there are rich moments of humanity from Lange’s character of Fiona. As the Supreme witch of their generation, Fiona must confront her own mortality as the show progresses. As her time is running up, and with the treat of a new emerging Supreme coming into maturity, we see Fiona struggle to come to terms with her mortality and the time left she has to reconcile her relationship with her daughter Cordelia (Paulson) that helps ground Coven to a believable reality.

Also of note is the predominant cast of female actresses—all talented in their own right. American Horror Story has a delicate hand of tiptoeing the boundaries of feminism and misogyny; showing both female empowerment and oppression in past seasons. Coven remains true to this DNA of AHS, asserting both the control and power of its female characters as well as the challenges that they are faced with, from rape, abuse and relationships with each other to the limitations of sexuality, fertility and mortality. In this sense, Coven is very much a story of different identities of womanhood as each character navigates through their individual limitations.

Presented as an anthology series,

photo from internet source

each season of American Horror Story tells a different story with a beginning, middle, and end that is all contained within thirteen episodes. For example, “Murder House” portrayed the Harmon family who move into a renovated mansion haunted by the its past residents, while last spring’s “Asylum” follows the occupants of the horrific Briarcliff Mental Institution in 1964 and then cuts to the present.

Although each season of AHS offers a unique story, what remains constant is the series’ ability to deliver proactive themes and fresh characterization of gore and horror to tell underling social issues. Coven follows this recipe of success that makes for surely wicked and enchanting seasons to watch.

8 ARTS, ETC.

The Brandeis Hoot

October 25, 2013

Solid acting and a lot of lip action: ‘Boeing-Boeing’ at Brandeis BOEING-BOEING, from page 1

been in an IKEA catalogue. The second thing that I noticed was that the play began quite a few minutes after 8 p.m. I like to be on time.

Bernard likes his fiancées to be (and leave) on time, so you would think that the play would be on time.

Despite this minor inconvenience, the play was nothing short of a comedic hit.

Right before the actual play began, the audience was treated to an adaptation of the in-flight passenger announcements that precede every flight.

While an overhead voice instructed audience members on how to sit, two stage crew members acted out what was being said — it was a cute and creative way to start the show.

The beginning of the play is a little stretched out, but with such an absurd situation to explain, how could it not be? My favorite character of the show is Berthe, who is amazingly sarcastic.

Segaloff, who plays Berthe, does an

excellent job of speaking in a French accent while making a disgruntled face. Every word she said was dripping in irony. If I recall correctly, it was she who made the audience laugh for the first time. Every word, facial expression or body movement had the entire room convulsing with laughter.

Unsurprisingly, there was a lot of kissing involved in this play; but it wasn’t just friendly kissing like in many of the plays I’ve watched.

Whether it be between Bernard and each of his women or between Robert and Gloria (the sex-crazed American), most of the on-stage kisses were pretty intense.

A few of the kissing scenes lasted for a considerable number of seconds, leaving the audience to sit there and giggle awkwardly. Perhaps the small audience size was the reason why no one really reacted to the making out that was happening in front of us.

Every character was brilliant in his or her own way. Bernard, the careless but funny player, made an excellent team alongside Berthe and Robert, who both said so many stupid things while trying to cover up for Bernard

that I could not help but feel bad that both were even acquaintances of Bernard. I have to give improv credit to Koenigstein, though.

When the lights accidentally went off (and stayed off for a minute), he continued his lines and even adlibbed, “It’s getting a bit dark in here,” in such a natural manner that we were all fooled into thinking that it was written in the original script.

Legge, Galperin and Nix are also wonderful actresses; each put her own cultural spin on her character.

As the American woman, for example, Legge does a great job acting like a cocky New Yorker who, like her fiancé Bernard, thinks that she is better than everyone else.

I laughed an incredible amount during this show, probably more than I ever have while watching any stage production. “Boeing-Boeing” is a worthwhile play, and I highly encourage Brandeis students to see it.

For those whose families are visiting this weekend and have a relatively mature and comfortable relationship with their parents, consider bringing them to the theater for a night of laughter and fun.

photo by mariah beck/the hoot

vivacious actors Undergrad actors bring audiences to roaring laughter.

‘Cinema Paradiso’ a nostalgic and poignant piece

By Victoria Aronson Editor

“Cinema Paradiso,” an Italian film, traces the lifelong journey of a filmmaker who looks back upon his life in sorrow, unable to reconcile lost loves and memories of his childhood with his successful career in modern Italy.

Although I have always been more of a fan of horror movies, psychological thrillers and comedies, and actually have never seen famous romantic movies such as “The Notebook” or “Titanic,” for some reason I am admittedly obsessed with the film “Cinema Paradiso.”

Originally assigned the movie “Cinema Paradiso” for a homework assignment, I quickly fell in love with it, as did most of my classmates.

Set amid beautiful, crumbling landscapes, the sense of nostalgia and the melancholic themes of a lost love are complemented by the musicality of the Italian language.

“Cinema Paradiso” explores the nostalgic memories of a filmmaker, Salvatore, who first fell in love with the art of cinema as child growing up in a beautiful Italian town, under the guidance of an elderly man, Alfredo, who managed the local theater.

In one heart-wrenching scene, the small, boyish figure of Salvatore struggles to pull Alfredo from the burning flames of the theater, which caught on fire from a single strip of nitrate film.

Left permanently blind, Alfredo can no longer continue his duties at the cinema, but forms a strong and everlasting bond with the young boy. Salvatore grows to experience the pains of a lost love, falling for the young Elena, but is tortured by her departure.

It is only at Alfredo’s insistence that

photo from internet source

tight knit bond Alfredo and Salvatore become fast friends in this heart-wrenching movie.

Salvatore abandons his childhood home to become a successful filmmaker, only to be reminded of his past when he receives notice of Alfredo’s unfortunate death years later.

Traversing the span of Salvatore’s life, beautiful in its tragic portrayal of loss, the film provides comedic relief while tracing the changing social and political views dominant in Italy.

Townspeople boo as films showing in the theater are censored, skipping over intimate kissing scenes be-

tween actors and actresses that now would be given a PG rating at most.

It seems like two completely different time periods are represented in the film, which is part of the nostalgia that makes the movie so enjoyable.

The young Salvatore and the adult Salvatore are almost irreconcilable.

Returning to the town after learning of Alfred’s death, Salvatore is forced to confront all the memories of his childhood he had chosen to block off psychologically.

Encountering Elena, they hook up in a car, old flames refusing to die.

The scene is powerful in the sense that both have aged tremendously, wrinkles lining the corners of their mouths, hair beginning to grey.

It’s as if the hook-up is only a reminder of what they lost, and each departs their separate ways to their respective partners and lives.

Although some critics argue the movie is too sappy and emotional, I would argue it is powerful, and its

comedic moments alleviate the mood from becoming too melodramatic.

Unlike an easily predictable movie where everything magically falls into place for the key characters, Salvatore remains tortured by his past.

He achieves success in his career, but must abandon his childhood home and lose the love of his life to do so.

It is only once he receives a phone call about Alfredo’s death that his past sneaks up to encapture him once more.

October 25, 2013

this week in photos

The Brandeis Hoot 9

photos by nate rosenbloom/the hoot

etiquette Seniors dine on a free meal while learning proper etiquette for

professional meetings and interviews at the Faculty Club on Wednesday night.

art Students learn from visiting professor Reva Wolf about Andy Warhol at the Rose Thursday evening.

photos by sarah stein/the hoot

photography The first of the Art and Gender: Global Perspectives series, students listen to a lecture in

Mandel about women photographers in Iran and the Arab world.

photos by marian siljeholm/the hoot

EDITIORIALS

10 The Brandeis Hoot

“To acquire wisdom, one must observe.”

T

Gateway Buddies immerse international students in community

his year, Brandeis welcomed 65 Gateway Scholars to a program that integrates students whose primary language is not English from Lassor Feasley Managing Editor all areas of the globe into the Brandeis Victoria Aronson Managing Editor Dana Trismen Managing Editor community. For each of these scholars, Brandeis provides intensive language Morgan Dashko Copy Editor Theresa Gaffney Copy Editor development courses, tutors and analytSuzanna Yu Copy Editor ical writing skills. But The Hoot would Jesse Zeng Photography Editor like to commend the university for one Jun Zhao Graphics Editor specific program: the Gateway Buddies.

Katie Chin Online Editor Rachel Hirschhaut Deputy News Editor Launched in 2012, the Gateway Buddy program pairs each Gateway Scholar with an upperclassman student.

Volume 10 • Issue 19 This student exposes the scholar to the brandeis hoot • brandeis university 415 south street • waltham, ma American culture, the colloquialisms Founded By Leslie Pazan, Igor Pedan and Daniel Silverman of the English language and provides a support system for a student who is miles and miles away from home. This staff program has matured in the past year.

Brandeis now employs 42 upperclassShota Adamia, Zachary Bellis, Emily Belowich, Dani Chasin, Andrew Elmers, Iona Feldman, Ben Fine, Evan men as Buddies. Each Buddy meets Editor-in-Chief Emily Stott

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.

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

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

connect phone • (781) 330-0051 e-mail • editor@thebrandeishoot.com online • thebrandeishoot.com twitter • twitter.com/thebrandeishoot facebook • facebook.com/thebrandeishoot

ADVERTISE

Advertising in The Brandeis Hoot helps spread your message to our readers across the Brandeis campus, in the Waltham community and beyond through our website.

All campus organizations receive a 25 percent discount off our regular prices. We also design basic ads for campus organizations free of charge.

To reserve your space in the paper, contact us by phone at (781) 330-0051 or by e-mail at ads@thebrandeishoot.com.

GIVE A HOOT, JOIN THE HOOT!

Writers, editors, photographers and graphic artists wanted to join The Brandeis Hoot, your weekly community newspaper.

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

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

October 25, 2013

one-on-one with his or her student(s), giving each scholar the ability to truly connect with an upperclassman.

On the surface, this program appears rather strange, since Brandeis is paying students to be friends with other students. Buddies are paid to go out to dinner with the scholar and to attend club events and musical performances.

But what Brandeis is implementing is invaluable for these scholars: the opportunity to speak English with a native speaker and to understand cultural norms and manners that they otherwise would not be exposed to.

Gateway Scholars have varying English skill levels. Some speak English almost fluently while others still struggle to understand basic units of the language. Some may feel as though they don’t need a Buddy to help them navigate Brandeis. But the program se-

lectively hires upperclassmen, choosing students who are interested in connecting across cultures and bonding despite language barriers. Unlikely friendships can be formed from what began as an informal learning experience.

Other universities both in the United States and abroad should be keen to learn from Brandeis’ example. We do not accept international students and then leave them to fend for themselves in crowded science classes and intense English seminars where they must write papers in a language less familiar to them. The Gateway Scholars are supported on all levels, both academically and socially, and Brandeis rightly goes above and beyond to ensure their success.

See our issue next week for an in-depth news article about the Gateway Program.

members of sororities. Perhaps that’s just a coincidence, but from our own personal experiences, we have found that in both professional and personal times of leadership, we have relied on the skills we learned from being leaders of Sigma Delta Tau. Being in a sorority not only taught us traditional leadership skills (public speaking, time management and the art of delegation), but we would argue it taught us something much more valuable. As sisters of Sigma Delta Tau, we learned about compassion, kindness and the true meaning of friendship. We relied on these skills when we led meetings attended by more than 60 members, worked with university administrators, raised money for charity or conducted the day-to-day business of the sorority. It is the same interpersonal and professional

skills we learned from Sigma Delta Tau that have allowed us to pursue careers in HR, public relations and financial software consulting. We may never be CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, influential political figures or whatever else one may define as a leader. However, we all stand firm in our belief that Sigma Delta Tau gave us the skills necessary to chase our dreams and pursue our own career aspirations.

Letter to the Editor We write this letter to you to express our disappointment with Debra Edelman’s recent article (“Sorority life is incompatible with workforce mentality,” Oct. 18, 2013).

In an effort of full disclosure, we all served as President of Sigma Delta Tau, the sorority not so subtly referenced in her article, from 2009-2010, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 respectively. However, we write this letter not only as former members of Sigma Delta Tau and the Brandeis Greek community, but also as Brandeis alumnae.

The writer suggests that by joining a sorority, women are unable to fulfill future leadership roles. We could cite countless statistics of powerful women, both historical and contemporary, who have achieved career success and were

Thank you, Jordan Longert ’11, Jaclyn Lewis ’12 and Morgan Fine ’13 Presidents of Sigma Delta Tau 2009-2010, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013

sports

October 25, 2013

The Brandeis Hoot 11

Judges lose two UAA matches on the road

By Dani Chasin Staff

On the road last weekend, the 12th-ranked Brandeis men’s soccer team suffered two United Athletic Association losses against Carnegie Mellon and Emory. In Friday’s game against the 23rd-ranked CMU team, the Judges fell 2-1 against the Tartans in overtime. Against the Emory Eagles on Sunday, the Judges lost 3-1.

The results from both games bring the Judges’ overall record to 11-4 and their UAA record to 1-3.

In a closely contested match against the CMU Tartans, in minute 71 the Judges were the first to score.

Right when the Judges got their only two corner kicks of the game, the first cross by midfielder Kyle Feather ’14 led to a close attempt on goal by

defender Ben Applefield ’14 that was deflected out by a CMU defender.

Feather’s second corner kick found the head of defender Conor Lanahan ’16 who nailed the ball into the net to achieve his second goal of the season.

The Judges maintained the 1-0 lead until the 78th minute when the Tartans rebounded with a goal of their own. Brandeis goalkeeper Joe Graffy ’15 came off his line to meet the goal, but the Tartans’ Jerome Reano beat him to it and poked the ball into the corner of the net. Graffy was tested twice more in goal before the end of the period with one shot that went just wide and another that Graffy intercepted.

With a 1-1 score into overtime, both teams battled to get the gamewinning goal. Brandeis had the first attempt on goal with defender Josh Hacunda ’16 stepping up to take a shot that went high over the goal post.

The Tartans responded with a counter-attack that led to a shot by CMU’s Chris Wysocki that was saved by a diving Graffy, but the ball got loose and was deflected into the goal by a Brandeis player.

Graffy made a total of three saves for the game. The match signifies the Judges first time losing in overtime for the season. They now carry a 1-1 record in OT contests for the season.

In Sunday’s match against Emory, the Judges fell 3-1 to the home team.

With an overall record of 10-4-1 and the top rank in the UAA, the Eagles managed two goals in the first half and one in the second against Brandeis. The win extended the Eagles’ undefeated streak to six games.

The Judges secured their only goal within the first 21 seconds of the game. A quick throw in from about 10 yards away from the end line

photo by mariah beck/the hoot

reached midfielder Michael Soboff ’15 who went one-on-one with the Emory goalkeeper. Soboff then found forward Evan Jastremski ’17 open in the box and fed him the ball to finish it into the back of the net. The goal signifies Jastremski’s third of the season, while Soboff picked up his eighth assist tying with Applefield for best of the team.

The Eagles’ first goal came in the 19th minute of the game when they capitalized off a throw in of their own on the Judges’ end of the field. One Emory player was able to head the ball past Graffy off of the long throw.

Their second goal came in minute 27 off a long run by an Emory player who cut through the Brandeis defenders and made a beeline for the goal. The player ripped the ball into the corner of the net past Graffy and sent Brandeis into halftime behind with a score of 2-1.

In the 53rd minute of the game,

the Eagles scored their final goal for the game. Graffy blocked a shot by an Emory player but another player free in the box rebounded the ball into the goal.

The 3-1 score remained for the rest of the game, despite both teams having equal chances on goal with seven shots apiece. Graffy made a total of seven shots for the game while the Emory keeper had six. Brandeis even had more corner kick opportunities with seven crosses compared to the Eagles’ five. Although both teams almost measured up in statistics, the Judges were unable to create many offensive opportunities after their early goal in the first minute of the game.

Now carrying a record of 1-3 for their UAA matchups this season, the Judges have three more opportunities against Wash. U, Chicago and NYU to make up for their losses before the season ends. Their next game will be away to face Mount Ida on Oct. 28.

photo by marian siljeholm/the hoot

opinion

12 The Brandeis Hoot

October 25, 2013

Food service staff form foundation of Univ culture

photo from internet source

By Andrew Elmers Staff

One of the things I was worried about coming back to school this semester with the change in the food service provider was whether or not the same employees would still be around to be handling our meals. Of course, it would be extremely difficult to train an entire team of new employees over one summer, so I expected a good amount to be back, even if it was a new company running everything.

Still, I was relieved that almost all of the familiar faces were in Usdan the first time I stepped back in there.

I was excited to see most of the employees had carried over because they form a major part of our community here at Brandeis. It feels sometimes I interact with them almost as much as

I would a professor, or maybe I just eat a lot. They are incredibly kind, helpful and are usually quick with a light-hearted joke to make your day.

If ever I am feeling down or stressed with class, I can count on them to cheer me up. The food service employees just make Brandeis a warmer environment, and I can not imagine this school without them.

We can not blame them for the inadequacies of Sodexo and the poor quality of food they provide. They work really hard and are typically generous with their serving sizes. It is as if they completely understand the students’ qualms with them and take our side on most issues. Even if the food here suddenly turned into a four-star restaurant, I would still appreciate the efforts of the food service staff. I

believe that they truly care about our well-being and want to see the best in us. And that is incredible after dealing with around 3000 stressed out college students daily, and we are not always the kindest people on earth.

My respect on campus does not end at the cashier. The facilities staff provides an invaluable service to our school. Living in Hassenfeld, the bathrooms and halls generally stay clean, except on the weekends, when I assume most of the cleaning staff is home enjoying their weekends as they should, and it makes me appreciate them all the greater. The bathrooms on my floor become trashed after just two days with no one around to clean up after us. It can be really disgusting sometimes, especially as the showers sit with dirt and standing water

over a weekend. I wish they would work everyday so the bathrooms can stay fresh, but that would be cruel. I might not interact with them as often as with the food service staff, yet I am still as grateful to see a custodian around.

Now, I know that some of the staff can be grumpy at times, and it might take them a bit longer to serve us some days. Maybe they did not take your order right, and instead of getting guacamole on your sub, it is just very dry and bland. I know I have gotten frustrated waiting for a bagel at Einstein’s for it never to come and I have to ask to make sure that it is on the list. Things can get a little bit crazy when it gets to be around six o’clock in Usdan or during the morning rush at Einstein’s. The staff here are hu-

man, and they will make mistakes, just as we are likely to lock ourselves out of our rooms or just completely blank on a question during an exam.

That is what we have to remember everyday during the semester, and also remind ourselves of how terrible and disgusting this school would be if all of the staff were to just stop showing up to work. They are an integral part of Brandeis, and make our lives as students tremendously simpler.

The food service and facilities staff deserve our utmost respect and gratitude. Even if it is a simple “thank you,” or just cleaning up after yourself at the table, it can go a long way. I would not know how they compare to other schools, but the staff here are wonderful, and make this school shine like the top of the Chrysler Building.

The Young Grasshoper’s Guide

Live music gives a fresh perspective

By Lassor Feasley Editor

As I write this article, I am listening to a track entitled “Cotton” by the Mountain Goats. The lead singer, John Darnielle belts out his signature monotone as he explores themes of addiction, loss, reconciliation, change, and so fourth. Darnielle is a singer/songwriter by trade, and he plays guitar as well, but today he is accompanied by base and piano. I have a habit of playing this song on repeat when I’m in a certain mood, and the lyrics are permanently carved in my memory, but something about the choreographed perfection of the track seems to defy its subject matter.

Its as though the band is numb to its own message.

If you follow back Darnielle’s career to its infancy, you will learn that his first recordings were on cassettes. In his interviews, he has spun rhapsodies about the nature of that medium and how it inspired him and educated his art. Now, he says, everything is done on software, a fact which stifles the creative authenticity of the music.

How? In Cotton, the guitar, base, and piano tracks are all recorded independently then arranged on a computer.

Then Darnielle sings to the tempo which has already been established in the other compositions. There is no room to speed up or slow down, to alter the intonation of his voice to mirror the content of his song. The computer has effectively forced artists to conform to an invisible metronome.

The result is a perfectly produced

graphic by janet jun zhao/the hoot

track, almost robotic in its precision.

Whether or not the artist intend it, this adds meaning. It creates a sheen of invulnerability which is only broken by the limited range of emotion which he may display in the prearranged. Darnielle is inspired by the Jazz greats, many of whom relied on improvisation and spontaneity. But how can he honor that legacy if he is confined within the strictures of a

digital world?

This is not so much a problem in pop music, where artists relish in the machined perfection of each track.

Music software has created a great way for musicians, marketers, producers, singers, and songwriters to collaborate in a way which resonates with larger audiences than ever before. Mindless, unmarred, beautiful perfection is the goal, not an unin-

tentional byproduct of digitized processes.

Popular musicians, in their live performances, strive to recreate that digital sound on stage. Often, this proclivity leads to controversial exposes in which artists are revealed to be lip-syncing a recording. Personally, I have no problem with this.

Popular music was not meant to be heard live. As the Beatles work be-

came more and more produced by the likes of Phil Spector and other technical mavericks, they stopped performing live. There music was meant to be heard through a stereo. The fans who showed up to the Beatles late performances were probably more enamored by their image than by their music.

See MUSIC, page 13

October 25, 2013

OPINION 13

The Brandeis Hoot

Boston offers students a wealth of opportunities

photo from internet source

ByMichael Wang Staff

Here at Brandeis, one might wonder what there is to do with a free day sticking out amidst the thick slurry of lectures, tests, clubs, homework and—for some—real work that is characteristic of everyday college life.

When you finally manage to break the surface of that lethargic soup and find a bit of respite—say, a holiday or a weekend—you might realize you’re

at a loss for what to do. Of course, you could sit around Sherman Dining Hall and converse with a bunch of random friends you’ll see there, their numbers constantly being replenished by new diners as they leave.

Or, you could go to the Game Room and play some table games or video games. You could also sit in your room and watch TV or screw around on the Internet; but those are arguments for some other time. What I would like to relate to you, today, is

my first experience within the city of Boston.

Among America’s great historical cities, Boston is relatively small and somewhat unremarkable beside all the fancy private schools that lie in its general vicinity. It’s home to around 650,000 inhabitants, its layout is fairly confusing, it smells of sewage in some places and it has some beautiful, canopied parks scattered throughout like sheets of moss clinging to smooth, gray, culturally significant rock. Most

people will immediately comment on the aesthetics of the city and how impressive the parks are in the fall, and certainly they are. But I’d like to deviate somewhat from this and recount a few particular details regarding my time in the city. In fact, I’d like to tell you just what happened during this particular foray into the city.

At around 4:00 pm, I got off the Brandeis shuttle and was walking around in a party of 10. One of the first things we came across was a Sci-

entology information center giving out free DVDs. Curious as we were, we went inside and inquired just what exactly we ought to know about the religion, to which a representative replied, “Come over here. I have something to show you.” I couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy as we walked across the room to a massive shelf exclusively shelved with the works of L. Ron Hubbard, facing a See BOSTON, page 15

Emotional music from The Mountain Goats

photo from internet source

MUSIC, from page 12

To me, there is nothing wrong with a digital performer lip-syncing. They are being true to their art. However, when a live performer, a singer song writer, uses digital methods or recording for the sake of expediency, something is lost.

I recently found an old live recording of Cotton. It was performed by Darnielle who stood onstage, unac-

companied by a band and unadorned by any outside music. Just a man and his guitar.

The vocals started slow, full of disappointment and nostalgia. Then its pace hastens, responding to ebb and flow of the emotional content of the music. He rises to his toes as he is taken by the implicit meaning of his own song. The performance starts writhing in its own despondency and hopelessness, but soon an undertone of anger takes hold, the light in Dar-

nielle’s eyes illuminating into a burst of furry. But as despondency turns to anger a detect a hint of hope mixed into the narrative. In the last lines, the singer abruptly raises his voice in a desperate fury of rage mixed with subtle hints of determination. Then suddenly, as if embarrassed, he addresses the audience in a much more vulnerable, almost tender tone. And the song ends.

The video was taken on a phone then posted online where I saw it.

The video and audio quality is, as you might expect, abysmal. But the medium of live performance gave Darnielle a much broader range of emotion.

I never really understood the song before I saw that video, and in a way, I didn’t really understand the singer either. What compels a singer/songwriter to compose beyond the primal need to be understood?

If you consider yourself a fan of independent or alternative music, really any genre which isn’t dominated

by digital production techniques and groupthink, I encourage you to watch your favorite artists live. If you can’t see them in person, find videos of them performing live online. Listen to the intonation of their voice and watch their body language. You will find that only a small fraction of the message which the artist wants to convey is on the studio track. And I think that you will love the music all the more for it.

14 OPINION

The Brandeis Hoot

October 25, 2013

Sweatshirt diversity not welcome

By Andrew Elmers Staff

Whenever I walk around campus, I have to question where I actually go to school. Yes, the high density of yarmulkes and gross tonnage of bagels suggest that I am at Brandeis, the apparel does not always share that opinion. While a good amount of the sweatshirts and keychains display the school colors, a fair amount are from different schools.

Brown, Harvard, Columbia and Stanford are all the schools that I applied to and was rejected from, leaving me to my safety, Brandeis. That didn’t actually happen, but those seem to be the hot fashion trend for sweatshirts this fall. It leaves me a bit perplexed whenever I pass by someone wearing a Cornell sweatshirt. I am left to wonder a few different things as to why they are wearing this completely irrelevant item. Did a sibling or a parent go there? Are they about to transfer or attend grad school and want to display the next step in their life? Or were they premature in thinking that they would end up going to this school when they visited and bought it when the tour ended right at the bookstore?

I can make no sense of this occurrence. It is as if we are all high school seniors and will be heading off to different colleges next year. I used a sweatshirt to showcase my new home for the next four years, as did most of the other people in my class. But that is not even slightly close to what is happening. Instead, these people are just too lazy to remove out-of-date clothes from their rotation once they leave for school. Or they just do not want to eat the $50 investment they made into a sweatshirt from when they were visiting Ithaca or Providence with their parents and were so excited about their life-long dream of climbing the ivy tower. Well, it is time to wake up because the dreams are over.

At least students here could show some pride in their school. Otherwise, why even show up? Do they pre-

photo from internet source

fer to wear other college’s logos when they are home or off campus? Do they want others to associate them with the name on their chest, ashamed of Brandeis? I would like to think that there are good reasons to display our school’s name on ourselves. Maybe I am wrong in that assumption, and maybe our school just is not good enough to warrant advertising it on ourselves.

However, I am the first to admit that these are just clothes. There are people

in this state who would do anything for a warm sweatshirt or pair of sweatpants. I should be grateful that I have the clothes to keep me warm and also are able to display my personality. So no one should have to get rid of a perfectly good sweatshirt just because it says the wrong name. I would hate to be judged by the labels I have on my clothes and what it could implicate about me, so I shouldn’t judge, either.

Nike uses unfair labor practices in foreign countries and might be vastly

overmarked, but I will still wear their sweatshirts and sneakers because they are comfy. Besides, one can only have so many gray and blue t-shirts before they get bored and might want to mix it up with Harvard crimson or Dartmouth green.

I am not asking for you to go broke buying every shirt and hat at the bookstore or even one. But when you decide to go to a school and shell out over fifty grand a year, at least have the respect to not wear compet-

ing universities’ apparel. Imagine if someone wore an LSU sweatshirt at Alabama. Now of course, we are not as consumed by a sports team here at Brandeis as is Alabama, but it is a relevant argument. This university is one of the more competitive schools in the country in terms of admissions, and wearing other schools’ clothes seems like a slap in the face, at least to the admissions counselors. And without them, none of us would be here, so we at least owe them this.

Reflections on secularization at Brandeis

By Naomi Soman Staff

Sodexo isn’t done making changes on campus. Next semester, a Kosher New York Deli will replace Quiznos.

However, there are questions about the point of having more kosher options, including the soon-to-beopened Dunkin’ Donuts, on campus. Though Brandeis is technically a secular institution, it seems like it disproportionately caters to its Jewish constituency. In the modern day, what is Brandeis University’s connection to its Jewish roots?

In 1948, a few Jewish immigrants who bought an old Medical and Veterinary School intended to establish the “Harvard for the Jews.” While no one believed them at the time, they soon opened up Brandeis University, named after Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis. Though major universities refused to accept Jews at the time, Israel soon became an established country and Jews became regulars at Ivy League institutions. As the top universities in the country became diverse, they were quickly enveloped by a robust Jewish community.

As a result, Brandeis also had to work harder to attract a Jewish population that was now empowered with more collegiate choices.

Brandeis has the largest percentage of Jewish students of any other secular university in the country. While originally overwhelmingly Jewish, the current population hovers around 50 percent. In the past several years, the

administration has worked to attract a more diverse population, possibly at the cost of de-emphasizing Jewish life.

At first this trend caused some controversy, but despite the pushback, Brandeis has succeeded in becoming a more secular institution. Sherman Dining Hall is the only kosher dining hall; Upper and Lower Usdan, Einstein’s and Quiznos are non-kosher eateries. While there may not be a lot of pork or shellfish available (there aren’t many different dietary options available in general), there are certainly many more non-kosher than kosher options on campus. Furthermore, anyone can eat kosher food, while those Jews who keep kosher are restricted to only one half of Sherman and some prepackaged sandwiches in the C-Store.

On the other hand, the percentage of students who actually keeps kosher on campus is not very high. Some of the students who do live off campus cook their own food anyway. So should the school go through so much trouble to provide a variety of kosher options for a small percentage of students?

The central issue, though, is that Brandeis has a unique secular-Jewish identity. Without this, we are just another small liberal arts school. Not only do we have a reputation, but we also have Jewish donors. The multiple Shapiro families did not donate the money for buildings on this campus because we were a secular university; they gave because they identified

graphic by janet jun zhao/the hoot

with Brandeis’ unique secular-Jewish identity. They will not want to donate millions of dollars to just another university.

Those who do keep kosher deserve more places to eat than just Sherman Dining Hall. Brandeis stresses pluralism, accepting people of all backgrounds and denominations, but many Jews of all denominations value the option of having kosher food.

Even though Jews who keep kosher do not dominate this campus, having a Jewish presence is still important. Brandeis can promote diversity, but it should still remain true to its

roots. Without our roots, who are we?

They define who we are and where we stand. Times change, and learning to deal with an increasingly secular world is part of Jewish reality.

There is no reason not to have a kosher deli and kosher options at Dunkin’ Donuts. While non-kosher eaters may have to suffer without some pork or bacon, they can easily go 10 minutes off-campus to any restaurant in Waltham. Observant Jews do not have that luxury. Besides some ice cream at Lizzy’s, the closest kosher restaurants are in Brookline, a good hour trip or more just one way.

Anyone can eat at a kosher deli, but for Jews with very few other options, a kosher deli is a gift from heaven.

Jews need to realize they live in the real world, but if they came to Brandeis in the first place, they already want to embrace that fact. Maintaining important aspects of Jewish life on campus does not hurt non-Jews in any way, and anyone non-Jewish who wants to attend school here should know what they are getting into when they apply.

Judaism is part of Brandeis’s past, present and future, and this is something we should embrace.

October 25, 2013

OPINION 15

The Brandeis Hoot

Eliana’s Advice

In clubs and in groups

By Eliana Sinoff

Special to the Hoot

Dear Eliana, I am a freshman and I’m involved in a bunch of clubs. The thing is, I don’t feel like I’m able to be as active as I would like in them because it seems like the upperclassmen are in charge.

I have ideas and opinions that I want to share but it doesn’t seem like I can. What can I do to make my voice heard and take on a bigger role in everything I’m involved in?

-Helpless

Shuttles foster discovery

Dear Tiny Bladder, I’m sure you’re not the only one with this problem. Classes are long, and people drink a lot of water. If I were you, I would speak to the professors about this problem. If they know the whole story, they might be more understanding about you leaving class and you will be able to make some sort of arrangement.

-Eliana

photo from internet source

BOSTON, from page 13

photo from internet source

Dear Eliana, I’m working on a group project for one of my classes and I have some really good ideas, but my group is not listening to what I want or are not Dear Helpless, It can seem hard to make yourself heard in getting things done on time. I’m afraid they’re these situations, but you just need to be assertive going to make me get a bad grade. What should and patient. You need to speak up in meetings I do to get people to listen to me?

-In Charge whenever possible and if you are having a hard time doing that, talk to the person in charge about your ideas so that they can bring them up to the rest of the group. You don’t need to attack people, but let them know you’re interested in a larger role. Be persistent and contribute whenever possible.

Something else to keep in mind is that you have been here for only a few months. The people who are in charge of many of the clubs and groups have been here for a few years already, so they know how things work around here. It could be beneficial for you to learn from them and to listen to what they have to say. Soon you’ll figure out how everything works and you will be able to make your voice heard.

Good luck!

-Eliana photo from internet source

photo from internet source

Dear In Charge, It can be very frustrating when people won’t listen to you, but you should try to discuss things with your group rather than just telling everyone what to do. Your classmates are intelligent as well, and you should utilize each other’s strengths. You might find out that someone else has a good idea and it letting them contribute would probably make them more likely to help you. If you continue having problems with your group, then you could talk to the professor and inform him of the situation.

I hope your project goes well!

-Eliana photo from internet source

Dear Eliana, I am one of those people with a tiny bladder and I have to pee all the time. The problem is that I don’t want to leave class every time I have to go because I’m afraid I’ll offend the professor and that it will affect my participation grade.

What should I do?

-Tiny Bladder

photos from internet sources

photo from internet source

I would love to hear your questions. They can be about anything you want. I can’t promise that I will always know what I’m talking about, but I would love to try to help you with anything. You can reach me at elianasadvice@gmail.com Thanks, Eliana

board that must have been at least eight feet long by eight feet wide. Expecting something momentous, I was disappointed when he grasped a book, opened it up to its front cover, and firmly pointed to the opening sleeve’s first paragraph. What I read sounded suspiciously similar to the Bene Gesserit philosophy featured in “Dune” by Frank Herbert.

We then went in search of a place to eat. Never having made restaurant reservations myself, I was unaware that almost every restaurant is strapped for vacancies on the weekends. Originally, we had made plans to eat at a very chic hot-pot restaurant by the name of Q Restaurant, but were dissuaded from that course of action by an estimated wait of three hours. Instead, we ate at an allegedly Korean restaurant entirely staffed

by Chinese. Beware, this particular eatery (and a few others, no doubt) will factor tip directly into your bill when you’re ready to pay.

Following a surprisingly okay meal, we just started roaming about Boston aimlessly, bumping into things as they came and enjoying them while a master keytarist works his craft or a pianist managed to play just about every request given him in the background. For example, we came across a flat fountain that would shoot columns of water directly from the ground into the air in patterns, which we’d attempt to anticipate and pass through without soaking ourselves.

Elsewhere, we encountered another gaggle of college students who had come down from

Northeastern, some of them familiar with old classmates of mine and other members of the Brandeis collective.

We bantered for a bit until he propositioned a member of our group, which compelled us to leave. When a friend and I returned to retrieve a particularly expensive bottle of shampoo he’d bought, we noticed the man we’d been speaking to earlier unfurling a sleeping bag on the grass. For a moment we contemplated whether this man was a sort of modern day Thoreau; his tone of voice, body language, and everything else made him come off as though he were completely satisfied with his lot and he even seemed to be going out of his way to live his life so. I legitimately thought he was joking with me the entire time I talked to him, amidst a backdrop of sweet night music.

Following that little conversation, the group found itself having only a few minutes to go before the midnight bus to Brandeis departed. As fast as we drove ourselves to catch it, we were unfortunately unable to make it; and we had to sit around for another hour waiting for the 1:00 AM bus to come around and deliver us back into the warm confines of Brandeis University, devoid of tipping, stately parks, proud vagrants and three-hour wait.

I feel that Boston nightlife is an underutilized resource which Brandeis students should be more aware of. To tell you the truth, even I originally thought going into Boston would be boring. What could you do other than walk about and admire the trees? Get on a Brandeis shuttle and you can find out yourself.

October 25, 2013

THIS WEEK IN PHOTOS

The Brandeis Hoot 11

Fall decorates campus

photos by marian siljeholm/the hoot