The Brandeis Hoot - 1/24/14

Volume 11 Number 2

www.thebrandeishoot.com

Brandeis University’s Community Newspaper • Waltham, Mass.

January 24, 2014

Reported sexual assaults Thefts from locked offices raise concerns increase on campus

By Emily Belowich Editor

Brandeis University police are currently investigating five separate cases of harassment, assault and sexual violence crimes that occurred on and off campus and were reported to the department for further review. Prior to students leaving for winter break in the beginning of December, the public safety media log listed an investigation into acts of harassment, assault and a sex crime of forcible fondling. Last week, on Jan. 13 and 14, there were two more sex crimes reported, one of forcible sodomy and one of rape by force, both occurring on campus.

According to Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan, no arrests have been made to date. When incidents occur off-campus involving Brandeis students, Waltham police notify Brandeis police, and occasionally, Waltham police will ask for their assistance depending on the circumstances. Callahan says the role of the Brandeis police is to protect the safety of all members of the community and to help students bring more attention to their cases.

“The university police are here to assist students and advise of their

options in filing a Community Standards Report/University judicial referral and/or a criminal complaint depending upon the incident which has occurred,” Callahan said. “It is disturbing when crime occurs. Students should feel comfortable talking with their Community Living Coordinators and other campus mentors who work with the university police.”

On Wednesday, President Barack Obama signed a memorandum creating a task force to respond to campus rapes. He spoke about the college sexual assault epidemic and how it is often concealed, as many sexual assaults go unreported.

Callahan believes that the increasing number of reports is indicative of a higher number of students coming forward and feeling comfortable to report incidents.

This is a trend that Sheila McMahon, Brandeis’ sexual assault and prevention specialist, says is a positive shift for the university.

“It’s not uncommon when services are advertised and put in place that rates of reporting go up,” McMahon says. “It’s a good thing. You want people to be able come forward.”

The statistics shown to the public, See ASSAULTS, page 3

PHOTO BY EDWIN GONZALEZ/THE HOOT

THEFTS Recent thefts have occured in the library and from locked offices in the SCC, such as the Archon office and the BMC.

By Jess Linde Staff

Two Nikon camera bodies, four lenses, a camera bag and other related equipment were reported stolen from the Brandeis Media Coalition room last Sunday by the head staff of The Brandeis Hoot. Hoot editorial staff met with Detective Sergeant Dana Kelley the following Tuesday

Students share MLK’s legacy

By Dana Trismen Editor

On Monday, Waltham Group joined with Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries to host the fourth-annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Interfaith Service. Over 50 middle and high school students flocked to Brandeis for the day, for mentor sessions, lessons about Dr. Kings legacy and key insight into the offerings of

higher education. “We brought the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. into the awareness of the middle and high schoolers who participated, as well as Brandeis students,” said Matthew Carriker, the Protestant Chaplain.

Carriker credits some inspired students from Waltham group with the idea behind the event. “Together, Waltham Group and CMM (Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries) put their heads together for a grant idea

and applied for funding from the Massachusetts Service Alliance to fund the event. Thankfully, we got the grant! This is the fourth year in a row that Brandeis and CMM have partnered together to hold a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Interfaith Service,” Carriker said.

In years past, Brandeis students and community members alike have See SERVICE, page 5

Nerf battles in the atrium

NERF Students took over the SCC Atrium on Thursday evening, at war with their Nerf guns.

Inside this issue:

News: TapBrandeis provides refreshing service Arts, Etc.: A cappella show draws mixed reviews Opinion: Univ. needs work-study reform Sports: Men’s basketball suffers two road defeats Editorial: New compensation philosophy unclear

Page 5 Page 6 Page 13 Page 11 Page 10

PHOTO BY MIA EDELSTEIN/THE HOOT

to discuss the incident. The meeting came very soon after a similar one, called to discuss the theft of two Macbook Pro computers from the Archon office this past November.

It is thought that the camera theft occurred sometime between finals week of the Fall 2013 semester and the first week of the Spring 2014 semester.

A significant problem in both cas-

es is the lack of ability to track stolen devices. “Unfortunately, there is really no way to track down a camera,” Hoot Editor-in-Chief Emily Stott ’14 said.

It’s the same in the case of the Archon theft: “[Public safety] can only inform us if the laptops were used within the Brandeis network,” wrote Archon’s Editor-in-Chief Evelyn Wiyanto ’14.

See THEFTS, page 3

Univ adopts new compensation philosophy; Reinharz given $4.9m

By Jess Linde Editor

The board of trustees announced several changes to Brandeis’ controversial “executive compensation” policy Thursday, including the adoption of a more comprehensive “Statement of Compensation Philosophy.” The policy, which first came under scrutiny in the wake of a November Boston Globe article detailing the continued compensation of former Brandeis president Jehuda Reinharz, caused uproar from the Brandeis community in juxtaposition to rising tuition costs and Reinharz’ extremely lucrative current position as president of the Mandel Foundation. An alumnigenerated petition against the policy gained over 1,600 signatures last fall.

The university also disclosed today that, in addition to the initial $600,000 of earnings reported on by The Globe, Reinharz was paid a total of $4.1 million in deferred compensation on Jan. 2. An additional $811,000 was paid due to untaken sabbatical time Reinharz accumulated over his 17 years as president.

New policies are designed to ensure that “students and alums are involved

in setting compensation through the elected student and alum reps to the board of trustees,” said Brandeis Senior Vice President of Communications Ellen de Graffenreid in an email to The Hoot. Other significant changes include more transparency from the board, who will now immediately provide information about compensation to Brandeis faculty, rather than make them wait for Brandeis’ tax returns to be released at the end of the fiscal year.

Students and alumni, however, will “see the compensation figures when the university discloses its tax return,” de Graffenreid said. Usually this information is not available until 18 months after taxes are filed, but de Graffenreid expects that “the state of Massachusetts will be accelerating that disclosure date in the near future.”

Reinharz will continue to receive a yearly salary from Brandeis as part-time President Emeritus, a salary which will drop from $287,500 to $180,000 in July of 2014. The university also asserted that Reinharz remains an important public ally to Brandeis, especially in the realm of fundraising.

NEWS

2 The Brandeis Hoot

January 24, 2014

College Notebook

Bard College offers new admissions option

By Charlie Romanow Staff

A small liberal arts college in the Hudson Valley of New York has recently made headlines for making a change in their admissions process that will give a radical new option to prospective students.

Bard College, located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, between Albany and New York City, is allowing high school students to apply to the elite liberal arts school without submitting standardized test scores, recommendations or transcripts prior to admission. The college’s Bard Entrance Examination allows interested students to write four 2500-word research papers in lieu of the standard admissions process. The essays will be graded by Bard faculty members and if the average grade of the papers is at least a B+, the student will be admitted. Once admitted, students will need a character reference and transcript from their high school, but they will do this with the assurance that they have been accepted.

The exam includes questions from three topics: social science, history and philosophy; arts and literature; and science and mathematics. Students who choose this application method will have to submit one essay from each of the categories plus another one from any of the three.

The use of the distinct categories will allow Bard to be certain that the applicant is able to work and learn in differing disciplines but the B+ requirement will allow the student some leeway in making up for a lower performance in one category with a great score in another.

There are a total of 21 question options broken down into the three categories. The questions are not standard Common Application or even high school-level questions; they are at college-level and will help judge whether students will be able

to handle the kind of courses and assignments that college students must complete. The questions include analyses of Kant, Confucius, Chaucer, Gogol and Feynman, scholars that many high school students may not have heard of in their high school courses. Though applicants may not be very familiar with the information and work behind the questions asked in the Entrance Examination, Bard believes that their unfamiliarity will allow for greater freedom and equality than most admissions processes allow and enable a process that more closely parallels college academics.

The Bard website states that the exam is “not a test of what you already know; rather it is an opportunity to demonstrate close reading, critical thinking and the ability to interpret problems.”

Students will have months to complete the papers. Bard will provide relevant materials but encourage applicants to delve deeper into the subjects using various resources.

The college believes that this will allow students to learn and work for themselves to provide a better idea of a student’s work ethic. Although easily corruptible, students will have to pledge that their work is their own.

Applicants applying through the free entrance exam will receive their admissions decision by the end of January. Applicants that receive a B will be allowed to complete the Common Application and considered to have met the Jan. 1 deadline. The admissions department has stated that students’ performance on the entrance exam will complement their application during the regular admission review process.

The Common Application essays often include short essays about why the students want to go to the specific school. Many students receive outside assistance from parents, teachers, counselors and private tutors on the Common Application essays as well

as the rest of the admissions process.

Bard hopes to level the playing field.

Leon Botstein, president of Bard, told The Huffington Post, “We are interested in recruiting students who have real curiosity, motivation and ambition.” He went on to say that the common admissions system was “loaded with a lot of nonsense that has nothing to do with learning” and believes this new method is a “return to basics, to common sense.” Botstein has been the president of Bard College since 1975 after having served as president of Franconia College since he was 23. He is also the music director and conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra.

He also pointed out that an increasing number of students are coming from abroad and are not used to the standardized tests that are common in America. Bard was one of the first schools to make standardized tests optional, a practice that hundreds of

institutions across the nation have adopted. More schools will likely make standardized tests optional as the National Association for College Admission Counseling has recommended that colleges eliminate these requirements because it gives an unfair advantage to students who can afford test coaching. Despite the school’s optional SAT/ACT policy, 60 percent of Bard applicants still submit their test scores.

Students may continue to apply in the usual admissions method. Some believe that it is unreasonable to expect high school students to write papers accumulating to 10,000 words in such a short period, especially while they have many extracurricular going on and are applying for admission to other colleges. Botstein believes that students may start the research papers in their junior year or the summer so that they will have ample opportunity to write the papers.

Bard also has a unique non-binding Immediate Decision Plan option that allows applicants to take a seminar on campus, be interviewed the same day and receive an admissions decision by the following week.

The school has pointed out that the new admissions option was announced too late during the current admissions cycle but that they believe that it will make a larger impact next year. It will not be evident for a few years if students gaining admission through the exam may end up having higher grade point averages or graduation rates than peers earning acceptance through the conventional method. It will be interesting to see what effect the Bard Entrance Examination has on its student body and the admissions process at other schools. It may be a more effective way to judge which students will be able to thrive at the college level.

PHOTO FROM INTERNET SOURCE

Popular Brandeis professor elected President of the Association for Jewish Studies

By Rachel Dobkin Staff

Brandeis is lucky enough to have many world-class faculty members who are esteemed researchers, authors and scientists and have greatly impacted American academia as well as different facets of cultural history that constitute this university’s hallmark of diversity. Recently, one faculty member was elected the sixth president of the Association for Jewish Studies at its annual meeting.

Jonathan D. Sarna, a Brandeis alumnus and a professor of American Jewish history, is the fourth Brandeis alumnus to receive this distinguished position. This role is especially dear to Sarna’s heart, because his late father Nahum Sarna, also a Brandeis professor, was a founder and president of the AJS. Sarna is the Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish history in the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Department, “chief historian of the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia and … a JTA board member,” according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. He

is also thought to be one of the most distinguished historians of American Jewish history. Sarna developed his interest in American Jewish history in high school and fostered it at Brandeis as an undergraduate student, where he could access the American Jewish Historical Society on campus. Sarna also studied at Boston Hebrew College, Merkaz HaRav Kook in Jerusalem and Yale, where he acquired his doctorate.

Although Sarna’s area of interest differs from his father’s, he says that he tries to “live up to the high standards that he set in his own scholarly career.” Brandeis has served as a template for other institutions’ Jewish Studies. Sarna, who spends a great deal of time in the NEJS department, is very enthusiastic and satisfied with the program, although in the near future he foresees many retirements and subsequent positions that will need to be filled.

“It is fabulous that at Brandeis, students study with faculty who teach their specialty and who often have written the definitive books in their field. Of course, our department is aging and we have experienced and will continue to experience a spate of retirements in the coming years. It

is imperative that vacancies be filled and that we strive to recruit the best young scholars in the world. Ours should be nothing less than the finest Jewish studies program in the United States,” he said.

Some of Sarna’s goals for his presidency include improving the financial position of the AJS, conducting a “state of the field” survey and helping Jewish scholars publish and market their books. He feels honored to hold this position and walk in the footsteps of his father.

Sarna will truly be an asset to the AJS because he brings with him leadership skills and vast knowledge that will only improve the organization and lead to success. He believes that the field of American Jewish history is “new, and much scholarship remains to be accomplished. It is, to my mind, impossible to understand the present and future of the American Jewish community without a full understanding of its development and past.”

He will combine history, passion and confidence in what Jewish studies can be to truly set him apart from past presidents.

The AJS is “a learned society and professional organization that seeks to promote, maintain and advance

PHOTO FROM INTERNET SOURCE

SARNA The Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun professor of American Jewish history in the Near

Eastern and Judaic Studies Department at Brandeis, Sarna was recently elected President of AJS.

research in Jewish Studies at colleges, universities and other institutions of higher learning” in addition to fostering a “greater understanding of Jewish Studies scholarship among the wider public.” Since its inception in 1969 at Brandeis when Jewish studies was just taking off as a new field of study, AJS has grown to more than 1,800 members that include faculty, students, independent scholars and

professionals. The AJS’s original goal was to create a “forum for exploring methodological and pedagogical issues in the new field of Jewish Studies,” and has grown to be a giant in the world of Jewish academia, being the largest professional organization representing Jewish Studies scholars on a global scale. The Association for Jewish Studies is currently directed by Brandeis alumna Dr. Rona Sheramy.

January 24, 2014

NEWS 3

The Brandeis Hoot

More students coming forward in sexual assault cases HEADLINE, from page 1

PHOTO COURTESY BRANDEIS

MCMAHON Sheila McMahon offers confidential counseling and support to students who

report sexual assault.

McMahon believes, are sometimes deceiving. According to a study from 2002 by a team of scientific researchers at UMass Boston and Brown University School of Medicine, between 64 and 96 percent of all rapes are never reported to criminal justice authorities.

“We have here five reported cases in two months, which only means five people chose to come forward in that time,” McMahon said. “So it’s actually very helpful when people come forward because more reports means that we can see what the similarities and differences are from other college campuses, and from there we can make our students feel safe.”

Other members of the Brandeis community agree with McMahon’s thinking. Victoria Jonas ’15 says the increasing number of reports is indicative of a cultural shift that’s currently happening at Brandeis.

“People are talking about this more because they feel safer using the reporting systems,” Jonas, who is currently interning at the Department of Public Health under the Sexual Assault Prevention and Survivors unit, said. “They see how the special examiner’s system and how the police system have been taking action on campus and this, in turn, makes peo-

Public safety increases patrols after thefts occur THEFTS, from page 1

Both the BMC room and the Archon office’s card readers only open to people on listservs for the clubs housed in the rooms, but as the BMC is home to Gravity Magazine, Where the Children Play and other clubs; this includes over 50 people.

In an email to The Hoot, head of Brandeis Public Safety Edward Callahan said while the first determination in the investigation related to card reader access, that Public Safety is focusing on a larger problem. “It was discovered that on numerous occasions the access doors were in the held open position, which could have possibly given access to anyone who is not supposed to be within the areas in question,” Callahan said.

While Stott agrees that the cameras could have been secured in a lock box or safe of some sort, she said, “If someone wants to take something, they will find a way to do it.” Wiyan-

to, however, is more critical. “No, I’m not satisfied by their response,” she said. “The university should install cameras, especially in offices where there are valuables such as computers, cameras, artwork, etc.” Stott agrees that Brandeis “could do more” by installing cameras, “particularly the smaller hallways of the SCC,” as well as rooms containing expensive equipment.

The sentiment echoes in other recent larceny cases, such as the string of catalytic converters stolen from cars in Brandeis parking lots and around Waltham. “[Campus police] said that there just wasn’t enough surveillance footage,” said Andrew Kouides ’16. “I definitely think that’s something Brandeis could address.”

The issue of theft from hidden corners of campus also relates to February 2013 reports of students’ computers stolen from the lower levels of Goldfarb library.

This is not to say that the university has left students to their own

devices. After the aforementioned library thefts and similar incidents, Public Safety promised to increase patrols in the library and work with Library Technical Services to abate the problem. The patrols did indeed increase in the later hours of the day, and students returning from this year’s winter break were greeted with small, bright yellow signs decorating the library, warning students against leaving property unattended.

At the moment it is unknown if a more comprehensive security camera system would be considered by the university, at least until theft is not officially considered an increasing issue. “Theft is a concern on any campus,” says Callahan, “and [it] may be prevented by securing property and reporting any suspicious incidents to the university police.” Of course, it is also up to students to “be more conscious of who they are letting into buildings or rooms,” as Stott put it, to continue to make the Brandeis a safe place.

PHOTO BY EDWIN GONZALEZ/THE HOOT

ple feel safer in reporting their own experiences.”

Jonas remarked that Brandeis not only has a legal obligation to protect the safety of students, but also that the administration should recognize this responsibility as something broader than that.

“If one person doesn’t feel safe, that will spread really quickly,” Jonas said.

Jonas said although there has been a shift in our culture in talking about these issues, the work isn’t over, and Brandeis has a responsibility and obligation to respond to these allegations in a timely and appropriate manner.

According to McMahon, the Sexual Assault services and prevention work closely with Brandeis police. When students file a report to public safety, they will offer McMahon’s name as a resource, and she says that many students come to see her.

“My job is to accompany them and

give them coping skills. I also offer ongoing resources for them that may be helpful, whether it be academic services or psychological services, I offer a way for them to figure out what to do in the aftermath,” McMahon said.

McMahon, who joined Brandeis in November, said that she’s also currently working on a bystander prevention initiative that she hopes will be up and running this spring.

“The goal is to get people on the look out,” she said. “We want to train people to know what to look out for so they can prevent assault from happening in the future.”

In addition to Brandeis public safety, students can also seek help from services such as Community Living, the ICC, Student Activities, the dean of student life, Student Rights and Community Standards, Public Safety, Community Service, the Health and Psychological Counseling Center, the chaplains and the Title IX coordinator.

“ ” We want to train people to know what to look out for so they can prevent assault from happening.

Sheila McMahon

4 ADVERTISEMENTS

The Brandeis Hoot

January 24, 2014

PHOTOS BY MIA EDELSTEIN/THE HOOT

January 24, 2014

NEWS 5

The Brandeis Hoot

Water stations provide alternative to bottled water ple felt like we wanted to take away their buying freedom or were worried about the safety of tap water if there should be a natural disaster.”

A memo from the BSF’s meeting in February of 2013 indicates that while a completely bottle-free campus is not feasible, due to visitors who may not carry their own bottles, students could place stickers at venues that sell water to inform visitors that the refilling stations do exist.

TapBrandeis was inspired by the film “Flow: For Love of Water,” directed by Irena Salina and released in 2008. The film investigates the bottled water industry and discusses the costs to the environment and the people who are harmed in the pro-

cess. “We saw how companies like Poland Spring and Dasani exploit freshwater resources of a region, leaving it polluted and even desolate of good drinking water,” Taylor said. She mentioned that tap water is more regulated than bottled water, so it is safer to drink. “As a social justice-centered institution, we decided we needed to move toward banning the bottle.” she said.

When the university switched dining services providers this fall, from Aramark to Sodexo, previous plans for decreasing the sale of bottled water were forgotten. TapBrandeis intends to continue to work with Sodexo to encourage students to buy less bottled water.

FLOW A new outdoor water station was installed next to the walkway leading to the Goldman-Schwartz art building.

By Emily Stott Editor

Over the past week, new water fountains have sprung up across campus. On the walkway toward the art building, in East residence hall and other places, TapBrandeis has helped bring water stations across Brandeis in an effort to phase out bottled water sales.

The new units contain a drinking fountain along with a tap for refillable water bottles. They offer students a free alternative to purchasing bottles of water in dining halls, hoping to decrease students’ environmental impact. TapBrandeis, an initiative on campus originally started by Emma Balmuth-Loris ’14, Jeremy Goodman ’14, Jamie Garuti, Alina Pokhrel ’14 and Sara Taylor ’16, secured $25,000 in funding from the Brandeis Sustainability Grant to purchase the hydration stations.

The stations are both indoor and outdoor and typically cost between $1,500 and $4,000. They have been installed by Facilities Services across campus. There are currently units existing or in the process of being

installed in Farber Library, the upper floor of Sherman Hall and the Shapiro Campus Center. Additional stations will be installed within the next year.

Brandeis Sustainability Fund (BSF) provides grants and support to students for any projects that promote sustainability. Each year, students can submit proposals to secure funding for their projects. Past projects have included adding bicycle racks and a shelter, signs to identify recyclable materials, the Greenbean recycling machine and drying racks for students’ laundry.

While participating in the class “Greening the Ivory Tower,” taught

by Laura Goldin (ENVS) in the fall of 2012, students thought of potential plans to decrease the sale of bottled water on campus, before bringing their ideas to the BSF. This experiential learning course will be taught again in the fall of 2014.

“There is considerable support in the class for the students’ projects, from discussing their underlying rationale and potential impact to the design and implementation,” Goldin said. “Since the creation of the Brandeis Sustainability Fund, a majority of these projects apply suc-

cessfully for BSF funding as needed.”

Some of these projects include Deis Bikes and the organic student garden behind Massell Quad.

When the project was brought to the BSF, the board granted TapBrandeis $25,000 in funding. Sara Taylor, who spearheaded the project, spoke about their progress since being funded. “I’m also happy to say that the BSF has expanded our grant by $10,000 this year so that we can get more units and provide the incoming freshman with re-usable bottles!” she said. Taylor also indicated that reusable water bottles will be given out to the student body to increase use of the water fountains.

Although the project was approved in the fall of 2012, the stations have not been installed until this winter due to the many other projects that Facilities Services needed to complete first. According to Taylor, TapBrandeis has predominantly encountered support for their goal to pursue a bottled-water free campus.

“We offered a blind taste test of bottled-water versus tap and more than 60 percent of people couldn’t tell the difference or guessed wrong,” Taylor said. “We faced resistance when peo-

PHOTOS BY KATIE CHIN/THE HOOT

Volunteering in the spirit of MLK SERVICE, from page 1

packaged 6,440 macaroni meals, held interfaith dialogue between participants and organized poetry readings and celebration songs. Many wellknown nonprofit organizations have played a role over the past four years, from Cradles to Crayons to Outreach, Inc. This year, participants packaged 11,300 macaroni and cheese meals to be distributed to food shelters in the Greater Boston area. “I think a lot of the impact from today was reminding people that through community projects like this that bringing us together, we learn to love and care for each other and also to offer a helping hand to someone in need. I believe today had a very positive impact on all those attended, whether they are service veterans or new faces,” said Nate Shammay ’14, the hunger and homelessness coordinator and budget and steering coordinator for Waltham Group.

Younger middle school students were paired for mentoring purposes

with Brandeis students. “I believe [they] got to explore the life of typical college students and also see that we are doing community service for our own sake, not for a service requirement to graduate,” said Shammay.

Rachel Mayo ’14 also stated she believed “the middle schoolers and the high schoolers left feeling that their mentor was invested in their success, and that their mentor really valued them.” Younger students participated in a “March on Brandeis” tour, expected to emphasize the social justice values and principals Dr. King. stood for. “This event got people reflecting: How do I live out King’s legacy today?” Carricker said. “The middle and high school students got a sense of how important social justice has been since Brandeis’ founding, and the crucial role it still plays today.”

Mayo is president of Hillel at Brandeis, and stated, “Hillel participates in the MLK Interfaith Day of Service annually because we believe it is important to provide opportunities for tikkun olam [a Hebrew phrase that translates as repairing the

world]/social action. We aim to use our service to exemplify the words of Abraham Joshua Heschel, a contemporary of Martin Luther King Jr., who said, ‘I pray with my feet.’”

Perhaps the most celebrated aspect of the day was the way in which it honored Dr. King. “Martin Luther King focused on community togetherness, giving and non-violent protest. Today we did just that,” said Shammay. Carriker points out MLK’s commitment to higher education, all areas of social justice and his interfaith collaboration. “King’s passion for justice came from his faith. King believed that God cared deeply for all people, and that God calls all of us to the work of ending oppression and injustice in the world,” said Carriker.

For students who missed the event this year, Carriker pointed out there is always 2015. He said, “We’d love to have you not only participate, but join in the planning! We are open to new suggestions about how to educate, serve and live out the legacy and wisdom of Martin Luther King Jr. Won’t you join us?”

PHOTO BY KATIE CHIN/THE HOOT

6 The Brandeis Hoot

ARTS, ETC.

January 24, 2014

Spring into art at The Rose

By Theresa Gaffney Editor

“Chris Burden: The Master Builder” is coming to Brandeis. Burden is an installation and performance artist, who will come to campus to build an installation piece for Brandeis’ own Rose Art Museum.

The piece is called “Light of Reason,” and it will stand on the lawn in front of The Rose Art Museum. 24 restored Victorian-style street lamps will be projected out in three lines, imitating rays of light coming from a single point. According to The Rose’s website, the work is inspired by “the three torches, three hills and three Hebrew letters in the Brandeis University seal.”

The name of the piece also holds a special significance relevant to Brandeis. Justice Brandeis once said, “If we would guide by the light of rea-

son, we must let our minds be bold.”

While a date for the commencement of the installation has yet to be released, students will be able to experience a taste of Burden’s work at the opening of The Rose’s main spring exhibitions. “Chris Burden: The Master Builder” will be featured in the Upper Gerald S. and Sandra Fineberg Gallery from Feb. 14 to Jun. 8.

The collection is comprised of Burden’s model bridges, modeled for “bridges imagined and actual,” said The Rose’s website. “Burden’s erector sculptures extend the artist’s work as a social engineer, demonstrating his dual commitment to empiric and symbolic inquiry.”

Ellen de Graffenreid, senior vice president for communications, told The Hoot in an earlier article that she expects that “Light of Reason” will not only bring more visitors from the Waltham community to The Rose, but also from within the Brandeis campus.

“It could become a campus symbol

in the way that the Castle or the Louis Brandeis statue are now,” she said.

“There have been discussions about performances, community art events, meditation groups and other activities. The possibilities are limited only by the imagination of the Brandeis community.”

Chris Burden: The Master Builder” will open at the same time as the other main exhibitions featured at The Rose this spring. In the Lois Foster Gallery, “Mika Rottenberg: Bowls Balls Souls Holes” will be presented.

Rottenberg is a video installation artist, and her exhibit will demonstrate much of the growth that she has gone through over the course of her career.

The other spring exhibitions are “The Matter that Surrounds Us: Wols and Charline Von Heyl” and two Rose Videos, “Mark Boulos and Josephine Meckseper” and “Maria Lassnig and Mary Reid Kelley.”

On Feb. 13 from 5 to 8 p.m., The Rose Art Museum will celebrate the opening of its spring exhibitions.

A YOUNG CHRIS BURDEN In one of his earlier

PHOTO FROM INTERNET SOURCE

performance stunts, Burden endured a shot to the arm.

VoiceMale and Up the Octave perform at midyear show

By Michelle Kim Editor

Each January brings us cold weather, new classes and fresh faces.

Brandeis, the ever-welcoming university it is, received the Class of 2017’s midyear students with open arms.

Among the many midyear-oriented activities was the Brandeis VoiceMale and Up the Octave collaborative a cappella show.

Held in the Village TV Lounge, the gig was attended by a good mix of midyears and older Brandeis students. Many of the midyears likely came expecting to see something from the movie “Pitch Perfect,” and luckily for them, they got to see most of the talent that was presented in it.

To the delight of the midyear girls, VoiceMale, which consists of Dan Schreiber ’14, Eli Siegel ’14, Adam Jones ’15, Ben Udo ’15, Elan Wong ’15, Shobhik Chakraborty ’17, Austin Koenigstein ’17, Kaelan Lynch ’17 and Antoine Malfroy ’17, performed first, singing a handful of songs from

their 2013 Steamy Winter Concert.

They started off the night with their traditional song, “Fallin’ Over You,” which was originally performed by Rockapella. Cheerful and easy to clap to, “Fallin’ Over You” was an obvious crowd pleaser. The smooth, well practiced vocals—kudos to Lynch and Schreiber—and euphonious harmonies was a great way to open the show.

The only minor problem was the less-than-perfect acoustics in the TV Lounge, but because the performance was midyear oriented, the lounge was a logical venue since all midyear students live in the Village.

Following VoiceMale’s first performance was Ferras’ “Hollywood’s Not America.” Sung by Chakraborty, it was noticeably more somber in comparison to the previous song. Blame it on the poor acoustics, but it was a little hard to hear Chakraborty over the background vocals.

Despite the fact that some soloists were overpowered, VoiceMale still had an impressive range of dynamics.

However, Chakraborty may be better suited for a more upbeat song.

The third song performed was “In the Still of the Night,” a 1950s doowop and soul classic from The Five

Satins. Schreiber was again the featured soloist. As in most concerts with a group of guys performing, girls fawned over VoiceMale and were loudly enthusiastic.

It was evident that the VoiceMale members are very close to each other, which was nice to see; watching an ensemble with good group dynamics is always enjoyable.

What also helps is that VoiceMale is made up of charismatic performers who know how to work a crowd.

In the middle of “In the Still of the Night,” for example, a particular girl in the audience was serenaded, which was admittedly a cute and effective method of boosting the energy in the room.

VoiceMale’s final song was “Talk You Down” by The Script. Sung by Koenigstein, who sounds similar to The Script’s lead singer, “Talk You Down” ended VoiceMale’s half of the show on a strong note.

Although the giggling girls in the crowd thoroughly liked VoiceMale, it would be refreshing to see more variety and relevance in their repertoire.

Overall, VoiceMale is a fine a cappella group.

Up the Octave followed Voice-

Male. The all-female a capella group is made up of Molly Lortie ’14, Anna Hirst ’15, Bethany Adam ’15, Emily Horowitz ’16, Kavi Dave ’16, Jane Berry ’16, Evelyn Milford ’16, Sarah Steiker ’17 and Margaret Morris ’17.

I genuinely enjoyed the energetic beatboxing, which Adam performed fantastically. She was critical to bringing liveliness to their half of the show.

Another excellent aspect of their performance was their usage of alternate solos within one song, which is a fresh way to show off their singers.

Up the Octave also employed adorably humorous synchronized dance moves, which upped the level of fun.

However, Up the Octave does have room for improvement.

Vocally, Up the Octave sounds more like an ensemble of choir girls than a group of unique artists, thus giving an unmemorable performance. Although musically talented, some of the songs were not suited for the soloists. Their rendition of “Demons” by Imagine Dragons was out of soloist Horowitz’s voice range; it was too low for her, and it was a pity that her warm and pleasant tone could not be heard until the higher notes were sung. Songs with lower

ranges are what make having an allfemale a capella group risky.

Furthermore, Up the Octave’s performance of “Titanium” was not the most original arrangement out there.

Just as in “Pitch Perfect,” the girls sang a mashup of “Titanium” and “Bulletproof.” Although it is perfectly all right to perform a cover that is not your own, giving credit to the original artists is highly recommended.

Up the Octave’s mashup was still fun and it was clear that the members are very supportive of one another.

“Lights,” a classic Journey song, is an Up the Octave tradition. It was their best performance of the night—dynamic, heartwarming and pitch perfect, and I finally realized Up the Octave’s merit.

While Brandeis’ VoiceMale needs to revamp their setlist and Up the Octave should reevaluate the types of songs they sing in order to emphasize the talent they have, at the end of the show, the midyears were extremely impressed and enthused by Brandeis’ a cappella. Talented and charming, yes. Fresh, no. On the other hand, this was only a casual gig, and I look forward to seeing what VoiceMale and Up the Octave perform in the future.

PHOTOS FROM INTERNET SOURCE

PERFORMING EARLIER THIS SCHOOL YEAR Founded in 1994, VoiceMale is Brandeis University’s award-winning all-male a cappella

group.

CLOSE FRIENDS Up the Octave is Brandeis’ premier all-female a cappella group.

January 24, 2014

ARTS, ETC. 7

The Brandeis Hoot

Syfy’s new show ‘Helix’ thrills viewers and critics alike

By Rachel Dobkin Staff

A good thriller consists of a few important elements: provocative characters, an interesting and unpredictable plot, a touch of humor and, of course, unexpected scenes to jolt your adrenal glands.

Syfy’s new show, “Helix,” encomposses all of those components and far more. “Helix,” which follows the Atlanta CDC to Arctic Biosystems, an Arctic research facility, was released on Jan. 10 of this year.

The show begins in an unknown

destination with a computerized voice stating, “contamination,” repeatedly, while two men in HAZMAT suits walk into a room with several battered and dead men on the floor.

One is still alive, and when a man in a HAZMAT suit gives him water, the injured man’s throat begins to bulge and twist in sinister ways.

We then meet Dr. Alan Farragut (Billy Campbell), the director of the CDC’s outbreak field team who is training a new batch of field workers with sass, humor, history and the brutal truth of how scary the world of epidemiology can be.

When it is revealed that Alan’s brother, Peter (Neil Napier), a re-

searcher at Arctic Biosystems, has been infected with a mysterious retroviral disease, Peter promptly flies out to investigate the disease outbreak that has stricken him as well as a few other employees.

Peter and his team are perplexed and scared by what they see at this facility, and it soon becomes obvious that a project was being covered up that could have transmitted the disease to other workers. Other notable characters are Dr. Julia Walker (Dr. Farragut’s ex-wife and co-worker, played by Kyra Zagorsky), Dr. Sarah Jordan (Dr. Farragut’s assistant and possible crush, played by Jordan Hayes) and Dr. Doreen Boyle

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT A COMEDY SHOW “Helix “, Syfy’s new show, is for those who like science and

PHOTO FROM INTERNET SOURCE

thiller shows.

(a sarcastic and brilliant veterinarian pathologist, played by Catherine Lemieux).

Although the episodes are only 40 minutes long, they are packed with activity, insight into the characters’ lives and a surprise attack or maimed body. Although there are some graphic and potentially upsetting parts of the show, it is not scary per se and should be suitable for most viewers (with the exception of those who fear blood or other bodily substances). According to the creator of “Helix,” Cameron Porsandeh, each episode is supposed to be a day long, and the season will consist of 13 episodes, covering just under two weeks

of scintillating events.

This show, although centered around science, epidemiology and pathology, has something for everyone. There is an imminent romance in the works already predicted by a character. While the characters are constantly working in a specific field of work, humor is employed in most scenes. Even viewers with a limited to nonexistent background or interest in science will be sucked into the show thanks to its fascinating plot and surprising events. It is easy to fall in love with some characters, to become interested in the field workers’ discoveries and to become ensnared in the mysterious Arctic Biosystems.

SCI-FI ON SYFY The show has something for everyone.

PHOTO FROM INTERNET SOURCE

Mr. Brandeis nominations bring charity pageant to life

By Michelle Kim Editor

Talented and attractive Brandeisian guys? Welcome to the Mr. Brandeis Pageant, which is headed by Relay for Life of Brandeis University. The organization restarted the pageant to not only engage the Brandeis community but also be an entertaining way to publicize and fundraise for Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society.

Today, over 5,000 Relay for Life fundraisers occur in local communities, school campuses and online in over 20 countries. So far, the organization has raised over $5 billion and is the American Cancer Society’s most

successful fundraiser.

Last year, Alyssa Fenenbock ’15, a chair of the publicity committee for Relay for Life, was asked to create an event that would take place during Paint the Campus Purple week. “After a lot of brainstorming, I came up with the Mr. Brandeis Pageant. My high school did something similar, and it was really popular. It struck me as something that could encompass the entire campus and be a lot of fun but could still find ways to connect for Relay and publicize the event,” Fenenbock said.

After asking Noah Newberger ’15 and a few others to help her plan it, the event sprung to life. Paint the

Campus Purple Week in 2013 happened to coincide with both Bronstein Week and Division III Week that Student Events and the Brandeis Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, respectively, hosted. Fenenbock reached out to both groups and asked if they wanted to include the events in their respective weeks.

Both groups agreed to be co-sponsors and included it as their philanthropy event of the week.

Previous Mr. Brandeis competitions were run by Peers Educating about Responsible Choices (PERC).

Compared to the current version of the pageant, they were also different: people could buy votes and students

campaigned to become Mr. Brandeis.

The pageant allows Brandeis students to nominate their peers online.

Once the nomination deadline passes, individual emails are sent out to those who were nominated asking to schedule an interview.

This year’s pageant nomination period is over; a total of 150 nominations were collected. Each 10-15 minute interview allows chair members to see not only how contestants handle themselves but also if they would be fun to watch on stage. Once the interview process is over, approximately 15-20 contestants will continue on to participate in the actual show.

The 2014 Mr. Brandeis nominees

PHOTO FROM INTERNET SOURCE

KEEP CALM AND RELAY ON The Mr. Brandeis Pageant is run by Brandeis University’s Relay

for Life organization.

ALL LINED UP Last year’s Mr. Brandeis contestants stand in line.

have been attending interviews and should check their emails to find out the results of the selection process. In the meantime, Fenenbock encourages everyone to sign up for Relay for Life.

Although the Mr. Brandeis pageant is two weeks later, some of the fundraising and voting will happen at Relay.

The Mr. Brandeis Pageant will take place during Bronstein Week on Thursday, Apr. 3 from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Gosman Athletic Center Field House. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

Students can help Relay for Life and support the Mr. Brandeis pageant as well as the actual Relay for Life event, which is on Sunday, Mar. 23 from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.

PHOTO BY ALLISON CLEARS/THE HOOT

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The Brandeis Hoot

January 24, 2014

New Springsteen album tops charts

By Eli Kaminsky Staff

It has been eight years since the prominent Rolling Stone magazine has given an album by Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen a rating lower than 4.5/5 stars. But is that to say that the 2009’s mediocre “Working on a Dream” is of the same musical caliber as 1984’s “Born in the U.S.A.,” a tremendous ode to America’s working class? Both albums received the same 5/5 rating but “Born in the U.S.A.” is arguably one of the best rock albums of all time. Now, one might wonder why this phenomenon might occur so often with artists in the same godlike category as Springsteen. The answer is simple. Springsteen’s songs are all extremely well composed both lyrically and musically. The man knows how to tell a story and place it over a catchy and unique chord progression that stands out in a world of pop music dominated by the same four chords. While one Springsteen song may not even compare to another, most of his pieces outshine the majority of releases in the music world. And music publications simply adore him.

Springsteen’s 18th studio album, “High Hopes,” which hit stores on

Jan. 14, quickly topped the charts, becoming the artist’s 11th album to occupy the number one position.

However, “High Hopes” does not consist of any truly original material.

The album is composed of 12 previously written songs, many of which had never been recorded, let alone released on a studio album, save for “The Ghost of Tom Joad” and the title track. Such a direction is not totally surprising, as Springsteen’s previous Grammy-award winning record, “Wrecking Ball,” included several rerecorded songs including the ode to Giants Stadium, “Wrecking Ball” and the anthem, “American Land.” However, Springsteen has never released an entire album of such songs before.

While the structure and style of each of “High Hope’s” songs screams “Springsteen,” the musicality and instrumentation, accompanied by heavy studio production and layers of sound, follow in the footsteps of the album’s predecessor, 2012’s “Wrecking Ball.” Springsteen has continued to experiment with new production techniques, vocal effects and various genres, including African and Caribbean reggae and soul, grunge, industrial rock and stadium guitarrock. Furthermore, the replacement of Steve Van Zandt by Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello significantly affects the sound dynamic on

the album. Each song is a little heavier and more electrified, not to mention often highlighted by feedback and distortion-driven Rage Against the Machine-esque riffing.

The opening title track, a cover of a 12-string acoustic blues song by Tim “Ledfoot” McConnel, revamps a previously released Springsteen rendition of “High Hopes,” from the 1996 “Blood Brothers EP.” While both versions are similar, the newer interpretation flaunts Morello’s guitar style tremendously. While “High Hopes” starts rather abruptly, building upon diminished, acoustic chords, Morello’s screeching feedback and Springsteen’s gruff vocals, the track builds into a massive jam that could only be orchestrated by the Springsteen’s talented E Street Band.

Had the next track, “Harry’s Place,” been released in the 70s or 80s, it would probably have sounded somewhat folky and driven by a bluesy piano riff, slapped onto the end of “Darkness of the Edge of Town.”

The song tells a story of the standard Springsteen character, the working class recluse searching for an escape from it all. However, musically, the song leans away the classic Springsteen sound and instead boasts an industrial-alternative feel reminiscent of Nine Inch Nails or Garbage.

The song is wonderfully dark and

catchy, but seems as though it could have been an outtake from “Wrecking Ball.”

The album’s fourth song, “Just Like Fire Would,” comes as a refreshing breath to all fans loyal to Springsteen’s classic rock roots, playing on a fun Tom Petty-esque guitar progression, exploding into a light, catchy chorus. The track could fit right in next to “Hungry Heart” and “Out in the Street” on 1980s “The River.”

However, the finest two tracks on the album are “American Skin (41 Shots)” and “The Ghost of Tom Joad.”

“American Skin” was originally written in 2000 in response to the brutal police shooting of the unarmed Amadou Diallo after he withdrew his wallet from his jacket pocket. The song had only been previously recorded live, though in a more folk-like manner. The version on “High Hopes,” like the original live version, builds up over the course of seven and a half minutes in an explosion of swirling keyboards, distorted vocals and an electric guitar blowout. The only difference between the versions is the dominance of Morello’s screaming lead guitar fills. The new rendition of “Ghost of Tom Joad,” which bares a strong similarity to that performed by the E Street Band and Morello at the 2008 Rock and Hall of Fame 25th anniversary concert, transforms

the original song, a melancholy and somewhat lukewarm interpretation, into a grandiose and detonating arena rocker full with a harmonized chorus, multiple lead singers, dueling guitar solos and drum fills like machine gun fire.

Springsteen has managed to turn a set of mostly archaic and somewhat lackluster tracks into banging musical brutes. That being said, even after being totally revamped, many of the songs, are still somewhat subpar.

Often, artists seem to second guess themselves and release music that was purposely withheld from past albums. There had to have been a reason for such a decision when it was first made, so why need it be undone?

While the raw songs on “High Hopes” are objectively well written songs, especially compared to music by other artists. However, most of the tracks on “High Hopes” pale in comparison to anything on classic Springsteen albums. Additionally, the overproduced sound that appears throughout the entire album detracts from what could otherwise have been a more easily digested record. Definitive releases like “Born to Run,” “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” “The River,” “Born In The U.S.A.” and even 2007’s “Magic” capture the denim-clad power of Bruce Springsteen’s timeless American magnificence.

SPRINGSTEEN HITS AGAIN Bruce Spring-

steen released another album this month.

Despite its lackluster quality compared to other albums, it is Springsteen’s 11th album to top the charts. While the album doesn’t provide any truly new material, Springsteen’s ability to write music that reaches audiences hasn’t diminished. All 12 of the songs on the album have been previously written, and many had never been recorded. This is the first time that Springsteen has released an entire album of pre-written songs. Despite this recycling of material, Springsteen continues to experiment with different sounds and production techniques. Overall, “High Hopes” brings more of classic American Bruce Springsteen.

PHOTOS FROM INTERNET SOURCE

HIGH HOPES Springsteen’s 18th studio album was released January 14, 2014.

January 24, 2014

ARTS, ETC. 9

The Brandeis Hoot

Vinepeek streams newest videos

By Jason Kasman

Special to the Hoot

People make Vines for different reasons. Maybe they’re hoping to become an Internet star, or maybe they’re looking to document an event. Sometimes they’re just looking to say hello to friends and family. Whatever their motivation, they probably haven’t considered the artistic potential of their medium. Individually, a Vine is about as good as it is long. When strung together in series, a strange new artform is created.

Vinepeek provides this new context.

By streaming the newest Vines as they’re posted, Vinepeek offers users the opportunity to “watch the world in realtime.”

In just one minute on the site, I saw everything from people demonstrating their singing abilities, to wannabe actors, to friends enjoying

a food fight in the kitchen. The videos ranged from friendly shout outs to absurd parodies. While most were in English, at least one certainly took place in a French-speaking country.

But all were posted at around the same time.

Watching Vines on this site has a strange way of shrinking the world.

You watch each Vine in the context of the others, making strange connections between videos that never were intended to be viewed at the same time. At one point, for example, I saw three different birthday parties celebrated over the course of several minutes. Though the people were turning different ages and celebrating in different parts of the world, they all turned to the same medium to share their moment.

You also get a sense of the diversity of the Web. In one moment you’re watching a heart beating in an x-ray; in another you’re connecting with a celebrity. Vinepeek is a cross section

of the Internet that quickly shows you the depth and variety on the Internet at any given moment.

I should warn you, though, once you get to the website, recognize that this is not always safe for work. It is, after all, an unfiltered view of the World Wide Web. And yes, even in six-second format, there are obscene images. But even this contributes to the artistic nature of the experiment.

It proves that the stream is unedited and uncensored. It reminds you that what you’re watching is authentic.

You could argue that this is not art, and you’d certainly have a fair point.

Individually, there is no artistic merit to most of the clips. They are poor quality videos that, for the most part, took little to no thought to create. It is when they are viewed together that something magical happens. Vinepeek is an instantaneous zeitgeist machine that shows you an up to the minute view of the world (with Internet access).

VINEPEEK Watch the latest vines as they are produced.

PHOTO FROM INTERNET SOURCE

‘Downton Abbey’ adopts relevant themes

By Christa Caggiano Special to the hoot

Shouted expletives, wild cheering and forlorn gasps directed at Sunday evening television are typically reserved for football. But not this past week. During this Sunday’s dramatic “Downton Abbey,” viewers across the nation rooted for their favorite resident of Downton Abbey, a 1920s mansion that is a bastion of classism and conservatism in the face of the eroding British aristocracy. Typically a show dealing with all the snobbery associated with the noble Grantham clan, this episode was revolutionary and relevant in its treatment of race, sex, rape and class.

Replacing the show’s typical slow and artistic beginning (think a sunrise over the massive estate fading into a scene where the kitchen maids mix porridge), this episode gets dirty right away. Tom Branson, the chauffeur who married one of Lord Grantham’s daughters, is simultane-

ously dealing with his wife’s death and his feelings of inadequacy in the aristocratic world he now finds himself in. Last episode, Tom drowned his sorrows in gin.

This episode, it is revealed that Tom, in his inebriation, hopped into bed with a maid. It is the one night stand from hell. Not only does Tom inevitably have to deal with 20thcentury encapsulations of honor, class and guilt, the maid he slept with claims there is chance she is pregnant. She tries to wheedle Tom into marrying her, seizing an opportunity to climb the rigid social ladder of her time. Of course, “affluenza” is not just a disease that plagues our time. This ignominious almost-scandal is neatly cleaned up for Tom, who faces no repercussions as the conniving (and decidedly not pregnant) maid is sent away.

The spirit of Tom’s indiscretion seeps into the rest of the house, pervading a sense of change in the two firmly patrician daughters of Lord Grantham. Lady Edith is the profoundly desperate friend whom we all have. Having been left at the altar by an old and crippled man, she is ready

to commit to anyone who claims to love her. In this episode, not only does she sign an “authority contract” with her married boyfriend who is about to jet off to pre-World War Two Germany (he is something less than a catch), she spends the night with him.

This is beyond scandalous. Lady Edith is bargaining with the only commodity she has. Perhaps mirroring the attitude of our own society, Lady Edith’s disapproving aunt scolds, “A lot may be changing, but some things stay the same.”

Lady Mary, the eldest Grantham daughter, has an equally dramatic romantic encounter in this episode, albeit more traditional. Mary, who is still grieving her dead husband (Dan Stevens abruptly left the show last season, throwing Lady Mary’s character arc completely off track) is nonetheless pursued by the handsome Lord Gillingham. Yes, Gillingham. Despite his ridiculous name, Lord Gillingham is attractive and rashly in love with Lady Mary. In an unexpected proposal straight out of a Jane Austen novel, he claims “I’ll never love again as I love you in this moment.”

She refuses his suit—after all, her

DOWNTON ABBEY The cast of “Downton Abbey” poses on the lawn in front of their property in England.

PHOTOS FROM INTERNET SOURCE

husband is only six months in the grave—but in the “Downton Abbey” fashion of long-drawn-out plots, the audience should expect to see more of the dashing Lord Gillingham. The couple parts with a passionate kiss in the English country side, and Lady Mary’s enthusiastic participation makes it clear this liaison is not quite resolved.

Away from the glittering follies of Lady Mary and Lady Edith, the house is dealing with the very real implications of rape. Anna, the maid who was violently and brutally raped last episode, is stuck in a miserable place.

She is obviously coping with extreme psychological trauma but is unable to tell her husband for a legitimate fear that he will kill her rapist.

Mrs. Hughes, the housekeeper, encourages Anna to report the rape, saying that no woman should have to deal with a violation of her most basic human rights. In this regard, “Downton Abbey’s” treatment of rape is valiant. It reflects the changing momentum of the show toward real issues, and, although much is undetermined, suggests a more heady and profound plot.

Despite all of this, perhaps the biggest legacy of this episode is a relatively unshocking element to modern audiences: the introduction of the first black character. Diversity is a hot issue in television these days.

“Downton Abbey,” in its refreshing attempt to step firmly into the 20th century, succumbs to diversity pressure, despite there being infinitesimal numbers of black servants or black aristocrats during the time period (in fact, the introduction of the first black British aristocrat only happened in June 2013).

Perhaps because of this, “Downton Abbey” milks the opportunity to show a black character. A singer at a respectable jazz club, they place Mr. Ross in front of a perfectly white curtain. He is given plenty of air time, probably an unnecessary amount for any other background singer. The scene is astoundingly climatic in its simplicity.

“Downton Abbey” is finally embracing change, and the show wants its audience to notice it. The show is at last maturing, aging just as the fine wine Lord Grantham obsesses over instead of merely discussing it.

MAGGIE SMITH The famous actress, known for her work in the Harry Potter series, plays

Violet Crawley.

EDITORIALS

10 The Brandeis Hoot

“To acquire wisdom, one must observe.”

Editors-in-Chief Emily Stott Dana Trismen Andrew Elmers Opinion Editor Dani Chasin Sports Editor Mia Edelstein Copy Editor Julie Landy Copy Editor Jesse Zeng Photography Editor Jun Zhao Graphics Editor Katie Chin Online Editor Theresa Gaffney Deputy Arts Editor Michelle Kim Deputy Arts Editor Jess Linde Deputy News Editor Emily Belowich Deputy News Editor Nate Rosenbloom Senior Editor

Volume 11 • Issue 2 the brandeis hoot • brandeis university 415 south street • waltham, ma

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

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

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

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January 24, 2014

Univ’s new compensation philosophy leaves many questions

n mid-November, Brandeis students were shocked when news of Jehuda Reinharz’s immense salary was leaked by The Boston Globe. Reinharz had the second-longest term of any president to serve Brandeis, and since January 2011 he has acted as part-time president emeritus. While President Lawrence stated in a recent BrandeisNOW article that Reinharz is “a champion for Brandeis,” a man who will “continue to be a strong partner in our ongoing development efforts,” applauding Reinharz’s supposed contributions did not cease student uproar. Students posted on Facebook and Twitter, and passed around petitions in Usdan and the library protesting Reinharz’s weighty compensation. Since 2012, Reinharz has received $287,500 a year in salary.

On Thursday, Brandeis announced that compensation disclosure will become more of an open discussion. The Board of Trustees approved new policies surrounding executive compensation, including a commitment to full transparency and an annual review of compensation. It was also mentioned that while Reinharz received $4.1 million in deferred compensation and $811,000 for untaken sabbaticals on Jan. 2; his salary will drop to $180,000 in July.

The Hoot commends the administra-

tion on its attempt to make executive compensation a sort of conversation, between administration officials and students, faculty, staff and the community. This attempt at a full disclosure is needed and well-timed and demonstrates that Brandeis officials are responding to the student body.

That stated, the Statement of Compensation Philosophy outlined by the trustees meeting is very vague, and we believe it will prove hard to follow. There is no measuring stick outlined in the philosophy, it simply states compensation must be consistent with “the University’s mission, culture, values, reputation, and tax-exempt status” and with “the need to attract and retain highly qualified, experienced and motivated leadership for the university.” But who or what measures whether a monetary amount is in line with Brandeis’ mission and culture?

Who decides if Reinharz’s compensation is correct when we consider Brandeis’ reputation? Other non-descriptive statements are made, such as compensation setting being tied to “the best interests of Brandeis University.”

While this attempt at disclosure is valient, it still does not trickle down to the student body. Reinhartz was paid millions of dollars before the Brandeis student population had any idea it was

happening. This may be a trend that continues. After meeting on Executive Compensation, the trustees decided executive compensation will be more transparent, but it may only affect the faculty. In an interview with The Hoot on Thursday, Ellen de Graffenreid, senior vice president for communications, stated, “The faculty will get a report of the president’s comp from the board chair. The students and alums will see the compensation figures when the university discloses its tax return.

We expect that the state of Massachusetts will be accelerating that disclosure date in the near future.” Therefore, we students will not see any figures until far later, even with this new development.

Data will only be available to students after the tax return has been released, though faculty will hear before this.

In the article on BrandeisNOW, de Graffenreid states “Instead of disclosing [Reinharz’s salary] in 2016, we are disclosing it now.” This should not be a point of pride for Brandeis. Students expect better of their administration.

We should not have to wait until 2016, but we also should not have to wait until tax returns are released. If Brandeis is to claim full disclosure, students should have it at their fingertips immediately.

SPORTS

January 24, 2014

The Brandeis Hoot 11

Women’s fencing triumphs over Wellesley 17-10

PHOTOS BY HANNAH MITCHELL AND HALLEY SAUL/THE HOOT

By Mia Endelstein staff

In a competitive match against Wellesley College on Wednesday at home, the women’s fencing team prevailed to go 17-10, bringing their season record to 8-5.

The meet began with Jackie Hammond ’17 scoring the first touch on the saber strip and beating Jasmine Davis 5-0. Following on the saber squad was Deb Abiri ’16, who won 5-4 over Dania Wright. Abiri was successful in her next two bouts, which was an improvement over

her previous record against Wellesley. Having fenced them in November, Abiri went 2-1, but was 3-0 on Wednesday.

Nina Sayles ’17 closed the saber squad’s first round with a victory, allowing her opponent, Alice Xu, only one touch. Hammond and Abiri fenced twice more and Sayles fenced one more time, all going undefeated.

The penultimate bout belonged to Jessie Kirshner ’15, but she fell to Davis.

While the epee and foil squads lost and won by one bout each respectively, the saberists brought Wellesley to its knees, with the Judges going 8-1.

Sonya Glickman ’16 started for the epee squad. Her opponent Charlotte

Treadwell won, however, by a score of 5-2.

The squad’s score then turned around to 1-1 under Gwen Mowell ’16. She and Kathryn Ledbetter of Wellesley were tied 4-4 when the clock ran out after three minutes, and the referee tossed a coin to determine which fencer received priority. Priority dictates that the winner of the coin toss, in this case Mowell, wins the bout if neither fencer scores a touch or if the pair scores only double touches in the one-minute overtime.

This advantage was unnecessary for Mowell since she got a touch within the minute and won instantly, 5-4.

Glickman also fenced a bout into

overtime, and while she too had priority, she was victorious without it.

Alexis Gremillion ’16 was victorious in another epee bout, coming out on top, 5-2. Epeeist Eliza Powell ’15 lost both of the bouts she fenced, and Rose Zhang ’16 lost her sole bout.

Eventually, Wellesley’s epeeists beat the Judges 5-4.

The foil squad started on a high note, as Caroline Mattos ’16, Emilia Dwyer ’16 and Vikki Nunley ’14 defeated Wellesley in the first round.

Although Mattos outscored her opponent 5-0, the result showed as 5-1.

This was the consequence of Mattos’ equipment failing and delaying the bout, allowing the referee to award

Mattos a red card, which resulted in a point for her opponent at the beginning of the bout. Annie Kim ’16 lost in a hard-fought 4-5 bout, during which she advanced her opponent to the end of the strip for the Brandeis fencer’s first touch. She came back strong, however, to clinch the third round and the squad’s victory of 5-4 despite Eva Ahmad ’16 and Chaya Schapiro’s ’17 losses.

Both the women’s and men’s fencing teams will travel to Boston College on Saturday where they will face several schools, including crosstown rivals Boston College and Tufts, and have the chance to improve their records.

Men’s basketball loses two double-digit UAA games

PHOTOS BY MARIAN SILJEHOLM/THE HOOT

By Charlie Romanow Staff

The men’s basketball team lost two University Athletic Association games this week in the Midwest against Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Chicago.

Early struggles and foul troubles characterized both games.

The Judges lost on Friday to seventh-ranked Wash U. The Bears led throughout most of the game, including the entire second half but the Judges outscored them by one in the latter half.

Brandeis’ final lead of the 82-72 loss came with 10:36 left in the first half, at which time they led 15-13. Wash U. reacted to this early pressure by going on a 19-1 run that left Brandeis without a field goal for nearly eight minutes. The Judges came within five points early in the second half but faced more resistance from the Bears who gained a 20-point lead before Brandeis came back within nine.

The game’s high scorer was guard Gabriel Moton ’14 who put up 18 points in the second half and 27

total throughout the game. His efficient shooting performance was done through 9-16 shooting from the floor, 4-9 from beyond the arc and 5-6 from the free-throw line. He also led the team with three steals. Moton is currently second in the UAA in scoring with an average of 17.4 points per game, behind Emory’s Jake Davis with 23.3 points per game. Forward Ishmael Kalilou ’15 led the Judges with seven rebounds off of the bench.

Center Youri Dascy ’14 had six rebounds, including four on offense.

The Bears had four players score in double digits led by Chris Klimek who had 25 points and seven rebounds. Allan Aboona had 17 points and Tim Cooney had 15 points and seven assists. Matt Palucki, the previous week’s UAA Athlete of the Week scored 10 points.

Six Judges had at least three fouls, which fostered the Bears’ successful night from the free-throw line, making 26 of 35 while the Judges were 11 of 15. Brandeis was not able to capitalize on offensive rebounds, converting only four second-chance points against Wash U.’s 14. The victors shot 48.1 percent overall and 42.9 percent

from three-point range; Brandeis shot 43.3 percent overall and 34.6 percent from long-range, attempting 26 three pointers.

Wash U. is 12-2 overall. At 3-0 inconference, they are the only team to be undefeated in the University Athletic Association. Despite their two wins last week, the Bears moved down one spot in the national rankings to eighth in the nation. They are on the road this week against Case Western Reserve University and Carnegie Mellon University.

Brandeis lost another tough game on Sunday afternoon at the University of Chicago, 85-75. The team was unable to make a dent in the tough Windy City team, who held a multipossession lead through the majority of the game.

The home team came out with an early 15-8 lead, but Brandeis was able to go on a 12-4 run to lead by one, their largest lead of the afternoon.

The Maroons left the half with a 3931 advantage. Brandeis played better in the second, scoring only two points fewer than Chicago. The victor’s largest lead of the day was 18 points with 12:13 left in the game.

Eight players were able to score double-digit points, four for each team. Guard Derek Retos ’14, Kalilou, forward Alex Stoyle ’14 and Moton each scored at least 10 points.

Kalilou made all of his field goal attempts in his 19 minutes off of the bench. Forward Connor Arnold ’14, guard Ben Bartoldus ’14 and Dascy’s minutes were limited as each had four personal fouls. Stoyle had five fouls.

Moton led the team with seven rebounds and was six for six from the free throw line. Moton is in the top 10 in the conference in rebounding and free throw shooting. Retos and guard Robinson Vilmont ’17 each had three assists.

The Maroons’ Royce Muskeyvalley led the game with 18 points. Jordan Smith, Wayne Simon and Alex Voss also scored in double-digits. Voss had six rebounds and Nate Brooks led the game with eight.

13 players took the floor for Brandeis as foul trouble plagued them throughout. Brandeis shot 72.2 percent from the free throw line as Chicago shot only 60 percent. The Maroons shot less efficiently from the free throw line but had many more

opportunities, making 24-40, while the Judges had only 18 foul shot attempts. Both teams shot well from the field, Brandeis making 50 percent and Chicago making 52.8 percent. The Maroons also had a slight advantage over their opponents from beyond the arc, converting 30 percent and 35.7 percent respectively. Chicago led Brandeis in second chance points, 19 to 7. Both teams had a lot of support off the bench as four of the eight double-digit scorers did not start. The Maroons had 42 reserve points and the Judges had 38.

Chicago is 9-5 overall and 2-1 in the conference, having defeated New York University 58-50 on Friday. The Maroons will face Carnegie Mellon University on Friday. Brandeis is 8-6 overall and 0-3 in the UAA. This is their first 0-3 conference start since the 2005-2006 season. The team’s conference record places them in last place in the conference. Brandeis returns home for this weekend’s eventful UAA games against the University of Rochester on Friday and Emory University on Sunday. Friday is the program’s Hoopcoming, and Sunday is Alumni Family Day.

OPINION

12 The Brandeis Hoot

January 24, 2014

How entry level courses can be smaller

PHOTO FROM INTERNET SOURCE

By Andrew Elmers Editor

If you remember walking into your first class here at Brandeis and being completely astonished at how many students were sitting in this tiered lecture hall, you are one of many. As I am early in my college career and have not finalized my major, I have

By Tzlil Levy

had the pleasure of having taken quite a few introductory lectures, where you are simply listening to the professor drone on while trying not to fall asleep. Many students will not say that they chose Brandeis for the lectures. Incoming students want smaller, more personal classes. While the statistics might suggest that Brandeis is quite competitive in that category,

it does not tell the whole story of exactly which classes are less crowded than others.

When entering college, students typically take the required courses first. Unsure of what subject they want to major in and looking to get a broad range of ideas and knowledge, first-years and sophomores enroll in classes that they absolutely need to

pass in order to graduate. They tend to save the more sophisticated and specialized classes until they have already declared that subject as a major or minor and take it as an elective.

These habits seem to force the lowerlevel classes to enroll a vast amount more students than the higher-level courses in the same subject.

The university should try to lower

the enrollment in these entry-level classes, even if it means that the smaller classes have to suffer. What I have gathered from my time here at Brandeis, I take it that the Introduction to Psychologys of the class catalog are partially filled with students not entirely sure if they want to major in psychology and just want to see what it is about. Perhaps they need to fill a graduation requirement and just pick the first one that comes up on the search and enroll. Yet for students who have already declared psychology as a major, this oversaturation of students makes it more difficult to receive the proper instruction in a crowded room.

All majors require students to pass a certain amount of courses to receive a degree in that field. These include a few core courses, depending on the department, and an additional amount of electives are required to round out the program. If the college were to limit enrollment into the required courses of a major or minor to only those who have already declared a major in that field, the amount of students in these usually crowded lecture halls will decrease. The professors would have an easier time parlaying the information to their class with more ability to discuss questions that might arise—questions that may not have been asked if the student was sitting towards the back of the hall.

For those who need to fill one of the general university requirements, they would have to take a higherlevel course. While it may be a bit advanced for a biology major to take See REQUIRED, page 14

Midyears in the wild; five observations

Special to the Hoot

Ever wonder what’s it like to be a midyear at Brandeis? For the average student, he or she will never be able to experience the constant welcoming remarks for the first two weeks, nor will he or she experience the extravagant first-year living arrangements.

Some may say midyears are just lucky, others will note that being a midyear is a privilege. Whatever your stance may be, midyears are definitely a special bunch. Without midyears, Brandeis wouldn’t have the diversity it upholds nor would Brandeis feel like its usual community. Students anticipate the midyears’ arrival, and let’s be honest—who could blame them? Nevertheless, some may not realize that transitioning to a new environment can be a tough process.

Transitioning in the middle of the winter to a new institution can be very challenging for anyone; however, transitioning to Brandeis is a different kind of story. When I stepped on campus, I didn’t feel like I was part of a university. I felt part of a community. For current Brandeis students and future Brandeisians, it’s a wonderful concept to keep in mind that at Brandeis you feel at home. I’ve only been here for two weeks, and I already know the preferred paths to my classes, the connecting building between Mandel and Olin-Sang, and the warmer routes by going through buildings to avoid the cold, icy Massachusetts weather. I can certainly say that students on campus are willing to answer questions, and they will give their most genuine responses, which is a reassuring feeling. Yet there are

PHOTO FROM INTERNET SOURCE

still ways to distinguish midyears from first-years, and even from upper classmen.

The first way to distinguish midyears from first years is by sharing their cool first semester experiences.

Somehow, midyears always have in-

teresting stories to tell about their previous volunteer commitments, internship positions and traveling adventures. Every midyear whom I have met has always shared something remarkable that he or she embarked upon during their fall semester.

As for me, I enrolled in the Washington Mentorship Program with American University. Another nine Brandeis students joined me on the program. We took four classes: Politics in the U.S., Cross-Cultural Communication, College Writing and an

elective class of our choice. I selected Comparative Politics as my elective, and I really enjoyed the concepts that the professor taught regarding the connection between pre-, cur See MIDYEARS, page 14

January 24, 2014

OPINION 13

The Brandeis Hoot

New semester brings new chances for activity

By Monique Menezes Special to the Hoot

A rainy Saturday seemed like as good a day as any to try something new. I could have easily slept in that morning. Instead, I chose to be a little productive, learning a couple of things about boxing and getting a heck of a workout. Do not be mistaken, though. I did not join boxing on a whim, but I also had absolutely no idea what to expect. I walked into the gym, and heard the shouting of an instructor, “Two, three, two.” Every few minutes, he would change the combination of numbers. The boxing number system, in which a number from one to eight is assigned to a certain punch, may be familiar to some.

I was clueless.

Nevertheless, I really did not have anything to fear. A more seasoned boxer quickly showed me the basics, “One is your jab, two is your cross …” and so on. He even taught me how to properly wrap my hands, something that must feel like second nature to those more experienced boxers.

Nonetheless, one of the many things I learned on my first day of boxing is that basics are the key. Safety and proper technique are important. It is pretty easy to get hurt. Let’s face it, though, I could also trip on the sidewalk and land hard on my face if I do not pick up my feet properly. Boxing is the same. Not paying attention can lead to the equivalent of a twisted

GRAPHIC BY JUN ZHAO/THE HOOT

ankle and a bruised ego because it is avoidable.

The instructor called for people to warm up, whether that included stretching or shadow boxing was up to you. Again, I had no idea what I was doing. I knew how to warm up, but the large room filled with rows

of punching bags reminded me that I still did not know for what. A few minutes later, I found out. I was sweating and looking around the room, and so was everyone else. We switched between floor workouts and combinations on the bag. I slid my gloves off after the first round, releas-

ing a stench I did not notice before, a smell I did not know existed before. I had officially shared my sweat with the other users of the borrowed gloves. As unhygienic as it sounds, that is the moment I realized how much of a bonding experience boxing is, literally sharing sweat together.

The first practice was a struggle. By the end, I was drenched in my own sweat and feeling the onset of stiffness slowly come over my muscles. Then, as I walked back to the locker room, everyone kept saying good job, See BOXING, page 15

Does work-study offer time for work and study?

By Naomi Soman Staff

Though Brandeis is a very expensive school, as all private schools are, it does tend to give a good amount of financial aid. Tuition has been steadily increasing over the years, and without scholarships, Brandeis would not even be a possibility for many students here. However, the problem with student financial aid is not that they are not giving enough, it is that they are sneakily exaggerating the amount they give by “giving” an exorbitant amount of money from work-study. While students who need to earn extra money to help pay for their education should try to work to help pay for it, the amount Student Financial Services expects students to earn from work-study is too high, and the system of work-study here on campus is difficult and confusing.

Brandeis likes to make prospective students believe that they are helping them out, but in truth, it is unreliable and unhelpful.

The statistics back up the amount of financial aid Brandeis gives, but statistics do not tell the entire story.

According to the College Board, 61 percent of undergraduate students at Brandeis applied for need-based financial aid, Brandeis offered 85 percent of these students aid, and $35,353 was the average need-based scholarship or grant award. However, the total cost of attendance is slightly higher than $60,000 leaving an average of $25,000 for the family or other loans to cover. College Board states the average indebtedness at graduation is $27,906, a large sum of money for young people just about to begin their lives.

However, that sum is actually even larger because a sizable portion of financial aid is work-study. By plugging in what I believe were average, middle-class statistics into Brandeis’s net price calculator on the College Board’s website, I received an amount in the $30,000 range as College Board’s average confirms, but $3,000

GRAPHIC BY JUN ZHAO/THE HOOT

of this was part of work-study. That means a student has to earn $1500 a semester in order to receive their full financial gift. There are about four months in a semester, so that means there are about 16 weeks to work, but many students take off for vacation, especially with two spring breaks at over a week long. Let’s assume though that a student works for 15 weeks. That means he or she has to learn $100 every week. At a job that pays between $8 and $10 per hour, that’s a minimum of 10 hours a week.

Not only do many students not have time to work 10 hours each week, but many jobs will not even offer them that many hours every week. That means he or she not only has to find a

job, he or she has to find another job to make up for what the first one cannot pay him or her.

However, let’s not begin to talk about what a student earns until we discuss how he earns a job in the first place. The advantage of having work-study is that only students with federal work-study can apply to jobs before October. First of all, this does not apply at all to the spring semester, but in the beginning of the year, this still does not provide adequate assistance. Work-study does not guarantee someone a job because those without it can just as easily get a job, and a majority of students on campus have work-study anyway. The on-campus job system is messy and

disorganized. While some of the jobs available to students get posted on the website, many are not, such as those in food services. If work-study is a part of a student’s financial aid package, Brandeis should assure those who receive it that they can reasonably acquire a job to earn that money.

They are unfairly robbing students of their money by promising them aid without providing a reasonable venue to secure it.

Brandeis tuition continues to rise every year, and even with the large sum of financial aid they provide to a majority of students, the fact that a considerable portion comes from work-study is suspect. Work-study is not guaranteed but can be rather dif-

ficult to secure. It provides an advantage over non-work-study students, but since a majority of students have already been granted work-study in the first place, it helps even less. The fact that students have to work more than 10 hours every week, assuming they get a job right away, without any vacation is an unreasonable expectation. The approach for providing federal work-study ought to be reevaluated to provide a greater advantage for work-study beneficiaries. An advantage so that they have a better opportunity to find a job as well as to accurately portray the amount of aid students receive when coming to this school. The current situation is deceptive, unfair and unreasonable.

14 OPINION

The Brandeis Hoot

REQUIRED, from page 12

January 24, 2014

Introductory courses be limited to majors?

a class on English Romanticism, that student will end up more capable of succeeding in other similar courses because of it. Since there is a more personal approach in a specialized class, the pupil is more responsible for their participation and effort they give the class. Instead of just a general knowledge of the field, they have to really focus on that particular subject matter.

The same general knowledge that was taught in the introductory class is still covered, albeit in a more broad, quick stroke, and the student is able to pick up on the major ideas of the subject and almost take two classes at once.

The same applies to students who simply want to see what anthropology is about or want a better understanding of how economics work in predicting supply and demand. They would have the opportunity to enter a class that would be more suited to their specific interest in that subject.

Also, the first-years who usually take a class to get an idea of what it is are introduced to the department in a more personal approach. They get to communicate with the professors more and see what exactly this field aims to study.

To accomplish this, the registrar might need to offer more elective classes each semester in order to provide room for all of these students that are not allowed in a lecture with a 999 enrollment cap. A wider range of electives would create more opportunities for discovering an unknown skill or interest. Another approach would be to create a new class in each department that aims to teach some of the basic tenets of a subject for those not looking to continue past this course without needing to make sure all of the material is covered for the next course in line. I know that the economics department has a class just like this, Econ 2A, that, on the course summary, states that it is intended for

PHOTO FROM INTERNET SOURCE

students not exactly looking to major in economics. Some of the more popular majors and departments can start a class like this that only runs in the fall semesters.

This whole design does not really work for science majors, however. The sciences typically have a set pathway that must be followed each semester to finish the major within four years.

Students who do start off in a science class either already know that they will continue with this plan or jump off at the first possible point. I would be surprised to find a student at Brandeis taking a chemistry class just to see what it is about or because they are thinking of majoring in chemistry.

It would also create a need for more classes, professors and buildings if

more electives were offered each semester, which might cost a bit too much for the benefits offered by a change in class enrollment policies.

Yet it is certainly something to consider. The university should always be open to new ideas that can create a better environment for learning. Smaller lectures would make it easier for students majoring in a subject to get

the most from the class. Students not majoring in that subject would end up with more interest-specific knowledge of the field. Every student would end up benefiting from this, I believe, and due to that alone, a change in course enrollment should be enacted. Sadly, matters such as this are never determined by just one group.

Differences between midyears and first-years

PHOTO FROM INTERNET SOURCE

MIDYEARS, from page 12

rent and post-democracy principles. In addition to our college courses, we also had an internship twice a week. I interned for a candidate running in the Virginia elections for the House of Delegates. Some of my friends interned on Capitol Hill for congressmen, and my other fellow Brandeis friends interned for nonprofit organizations in D.C. Upon my arrival on campus, I have learned so many more stories of people traveling to Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. Brandeis midyears have touched almost the entire world and make positive impacts by influencing change and bringing their inner social justice qualities. Regardless of the journeys midyears embarked on,

more is on their way.

This leads to my second approach as to how midyears differ from firstyears. Although midyears have been on many fascinating expeditions, midyears are constantly exploring and searching for new friendships, clubs and teams. Some of them are even auditioning for a cappella groups and theater performances. The great thing about Brandeis is that every person has a place to join, compete and demonstrate their talents. Although midyears search for new friends, you will never fail to see them walking in groups.

As a third approach, midyears enjoy socializing with each other. They like going in large groups of five or more to Sherman and Usdan for meals or even to classes. This is not

to say that some of them do not like to be independent, but for the most part, many of them appreciate each other’s company. Since orientation, most midyears clicked instantly and are inseparable. It is actually nice to see how friendships formed from the very start, and it’s a wonderful thing to experience in the first few official weeks of the semester. Moreover, midyears have minimal to no drama in comparison to other first-years.

Midyears are better off than other first-years because of their disengagement with the drama act that commenced in the fall semester. Many first-years are soaked in drama from their first semester, but that is not to say they have it all figured out. Although many of them are stuck in their previous semester, by next se-

mester, that will probably be us. However, midyears have the absolute power to refrain from such happenings.

Beware midyears: This is your call to abstain from any possible dramarelated issues. Luckily for us, we have some perspective from our own firstyear friends who can warn us from getting too involved in the drama.

The fifth major way, and probably the easiest, to distinguish a midyear from a first-year is by housing. Fortunately, midyears live in the Village. The Village is comprised of juniors who study abroad and midyears and transfers who enter in the spring semester.

Although the building is oddly shaped and divided into A, B and C houses, midyear students do not have to experience the first-year dorms in Massell or North. After visiting my first-year

friends, I can confirm that the Village is by far a better selection. By the end of the day, midyears go their separate ways and hangout in the lounges. Let’s not forget how effective the fire alarms are—going off twice already. For the most part, the Village feels like home.

Receiving an acceptance letter to Brandeis is exciting, but receiving an acceptance letter as a midyear brings about mixed feelings. Regardless of how we reacted to the news, most midyears can honestly say that they wouldn’t have it any other way. The midyear class of 2017 is extraordinary, and we’re ready to take on any fork in the road and every opportunity given to us. As a midyear, I know I made the right decision, and I cannot wait to embark on my new Brandeis adventures.

January 24, 2014

OPINION 15

The Brandeis Hoot

Pugilism; not just for the brutes BOXING, from page 13

congratulating each other and me on getting through a tough workout. My day may have started out a bit intimidating. I did not spend my Saturday morning in a room of ruthless fighters who made me cringe, however. I spent it with a supportive bunch, who were willing to help me through that initial state of confusion and patience associated with not really knowing what is going on.

Naturally, after any good workout, we were all ravenous. Together we made a trip to Usdan through the flurry of snow to eat lunch. The boxing club is a community. Talking to them, I learned that they did other activities together, too, such as movie night screenings of “Fight Club.” It is not just about the fighting. Just listening, I could hear what boxing really meant to some of them. For some, the aspect of discipline allows them to strive and make themselves better after every practice or even for their own accord in their academics.

My favorite story was when one fellow first-year told me how it felt to finally get her own gloves last semester. Finally investing in her own gloves was not just about the hygiene, escaping others’ sweat and stench. It was a physical representation of her progress, the dedication devoted, the sweat given and the soreness overcome. Having her own gloves is like committing to the sport, proof to herself that there is something about boxing that is now a part of her life, under her possession.

Boxing can be simplified to the practice of punching, but it is something more. It is the kind of activity where people are allowed to be aggressive. Unsurprisingly, people tend to feel less vulnerable if they box. It is not the mere physicality, though.

PHOTO FROM INTERNET SOURCE

Feeling your fist on the bag, watching it swing away by the force in your hand, gives you confidence. You discover this small force that can affect the world, a small power that reminds you that you have the ability to do something. You always feel better after the practice than before, partially

due to the logical and scientific explanation that may include endorphins and so on. Nevertheless, it is a true stress-reliever, where you get to use your time productively, and there is something so satisfying about waking up sore the next day.

While boxing does entail punching,

I think people get the wrong impression. It is like any other club where you meet new people who happen to share an interest. You all did end up there for one reason or another.

People join boxing for a good time, and even a good workout. Just because you box does not necessarily

mean you fight. As I have said before, boxing is not something to be intimidated by despite your first impressions. The club does not even let you spar until you have trained for a full semester. So do not let a little fear to try something, like boxing, stop you.

You may be pleasantly surprised.

Dorms provide shelter from cold

By Michael Wang Staff

It’s a new year and a new semester for those of us returning to college at Brandeis. The weather is growing harsher, it’s snowing a bit more, the people in general seem to have developed some degree of resistance to getting sick here and everybody is steadily acclimating themselves to sleeping at ridiculous hours. As we progress toward the coldest month of the year here on the east coast (typically February), there’s a good chance that people may find themselves wallowing in their dorms more than they had during the comparatively warmer parts of the year. Whether it’s due to convenience, sickness or comfort, it is time for them to decide or discover.

And it’s for this reason that I’ve come to recall a few particularly confusing aspects surrounding the residence halls. For example, I certainly didn’t expect my dustpan to become arguably one of the most essential tools at my disposal when I first started school here. The sheer volume of dust that’s generated seemingly materializes out of nowhere in loose puffs of gray absurdity that one has to subsequently gather up and throw away. It’s a contender against the idea of shoveling snow in terms of silliness. But seriously, to whom it may concern: You need a dustpan or vacuum cleaner.

But there are quite a few dorms out there that have a few more problems than just flakes of dust. I have heard

talk of how disorganized and tragic a college student’s living space might become as soon as they are allowed that bit of semi-autonomy that comes with attending university—but goodness, is it stunning at times. I’ve seen old French fries, piles of unwashed clothes, a detached window frame and veritable mounds of assorted papers piled high into little hills of fibrous rebellion. It doesn’t help that occasionally there’ll be this strangely common, sickly sweet scent reminiscent of an unholy mixture of cheap perfume, deodorant, and vomit occasionally lingering about. Seriously, throw those French fries away or at least keep a cover on the tray.

But speaking about scent, another thing I’ve noticed living here is how amazingly efficient halls are in disseminating the odor of certain foods whenever someone uses the kitchen.

Macaroni and cheese, one of my greatest enemies, is seemingly most potent among these obscene smells, with the ability to render the entire length of a corridor rank with a smothering miasma of warm dairy. In fact, even when nobody is using the kitchen at all, there’s still a suspicious odor wafting about, maybe from reckless usage of the appliances or unwashed plastic.

Whatever it was, it was probably the reason why the kitchen on my floor closed down.

At this moment, I realize the majority of this article has basically been ragging on how filthy my peers and I, mighty champions of scholarship, are.

This was not my intention, though reflecting upon the above has made me a little down. But as unkempt

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and frumpy as we’ve made our living spaces, they’re still very frequently some of the most interesting places to visit on campus by virtue of the people who occupy them. I’ve actually noticed a few patterns. For one, for every guy who’ll give you some zucchini bread—the existence of which still fascinates me—there are sixteen who will be playing guitars or pianos.

For another, I’ve found that many students I’ve met seem to really enjoy Pepperidge Farm cookies.

But of course, I can’t really talk about the dorms without mentioning the heating. It’s occasionally so hot and dry in the dorms that it will feel as though you’re standing in an extension of one of Israel’s less rainy districts. I remember a time when I left a bottle of apple juice loosely capped on my desk for a day (I am no better than my peers, I know), and discovered that it had been converted into a slightly alcoholic cider within that miniscule period of time. That

is amazing, I thought. Words can’t describe how impressed I was by the heat generated by my room on the “Snowflake” setting. I can only imagine the entire bottle completely sublimating were I to put the heat on its highest setting.

But those are the dorms. Love them or hate them, they’re pretty much needed for the basic survival of the majority of kids going to school here.

As we pass further into winter, just remember to drink more water.

HOOT SCOOPS

January 24, 2014

The Brandeis Hoot 11

Celebrating MLK and the legacy of Ford Hall

By Vinh Nguyen Staff

On Jan. 8, 1969, 70 impassioned African-American students seized control of the university’s Ford Hall.

In an effort to obtain more recognition from the administration, the group of students occupied Ford Hall for 11 days. It was through their resilience and resistance against the racial tides of their time that the 10 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarships were created as part of their demands for creating a more socially conscious institution.

Although Ford Hall no longer stands, replaced by the Shapiro Campus Center, what remains today is an outstanding legacy to the very words and vision of Dr. King that Brandeis students continue to uphold. In this sense, it is appropriate that the annual MLK Memorial Program should take place in the very spot that Ford Hall stood nearly 44 years later.

Presented in Shapiro Campus Center Theater and in collaboration with the African and Afro-American Studies Department, Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams and Brandeis’ MLK and Friends Club, the memorial service marks the ninth year of this celebratory tradition of Dr. King’s life and work.

Titled “For A Love of A Dream,” a namesake alluding to King’s monumental 1963 speech, the memorial program brought together many talents and notable speakers to honor the legacy of Dr. King.

“The Brandeis University MLK Memorial began as an event to complement the annual community reading of Dr. King’s ‘I Have A Dream’ speech as conducted by Michelle Rosenthal,” described Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams. “The MLK Memorial is designed to be an artistic memorialization of Dr. King, inclusion and love. The event is what it feels like because of all the people in the space. If we all feel moved in the same room, we will naturally move each other in my opinion. Hopefully, we all feel connected to each other a little bit more by the close of the evening,” said Adam in an interview after the show.

Indeed, beautifully embodying the title of “For A Love of A Dream,” the idea of love was resounding through the entirety of the program from the presenters that night.

The program began with opening remarks by Adams, who has hosted

the show in previous years. Delivering a slam poetry piece, Adams used his words to bring up the stark reality that we still have work to do in order to attain the more tolerant nation that King gave his life to create.

In writing the piece, Adams said that he tapped into all he has “read and been exposed to regarding sacrifices made by Dr. King to simply speak about one in particular of his many dreams; and taking that and applying it to today and attempting to pose and answer the question “For the Love of A Dream?””

Adams also asked the audience to stand up for “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” to which many students sang along. From this, a palpable feeling of comfort and community unified the Shapiro Campus Center Theater.

Adams then introduced the host of the night, passing the torch to Professor Chad Williams (AAAS). Williams, recently named chairman of African and Afro-American Studies to Faith Smith, hosted the show. Williams’ friendly and open demeanor not only provided high energy and much hype throughout the show, but also demonstrated his passion for African and African-American studies.

The Boston Tap Company, an audience favorite who also appeared last year, took the stage next and performed to much applause from students. Showcasing their intricate and percussive style, the Boston Tap Company synchronized their rhythm to Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” to the delight of the audience.

The dancers of Boston Tap Company are always excellent, but perhaps most notable about the performance was when the group’s director, Sam Fielder, went on stage after the performance and thanked everyone in the audience who coordinated the event for inviting their group to share their talent and passion for dance. Fielder even compared Adams to MLK, as other speakers did throughout the night, referring to Adams’ ability to engage others in acts of kindness and equality.

Current MLK Scholars at Brandeis spoke about the Brandeis Bridges program. Amaris Brown ’15 discussed the scholars’ recent experiences traveling to Israel. Over the winter break, five MLK scholars and five Jewish students went to Israel to learn about Jewish culture and religion. Brown emphasized how much they learned from each other and have come to appreciate each other

as friends. The students planned their events and fundraised the entire cost of their program themselves, including flight costs. The next chapter is making a trip to Ghana or West Africa to continue the bridge making between people and culture.

The program also featured beautiful musical renditions by Makalani Mack ’16 and Jane Sapp. Mack ’16 channeled the smooth vibes of Sam Cooke by giving a touching performance of “A Change is Gonna Come.”

Sapp, who was also one of the keynote speakers along with her husband Hubert Sapp, shared her gospel music tradition of the American south.

Playing on the piano while also singing, Sapp heralded the young people in the audience to be unyielding to their passion and dreams.

Bronte Velez ’16 also delivered very powerful poetry that night. In writing her poem, Velez explored and reflected on what blackness means in this country, saying she felt “confined to social constructs of what blackness is and must look like” and found inspiration in Angela Davis’ words. She said, “Angela Davis writing, ‘Radical simply means grasping things at the root’ refers to the idea that being ‘radical’ is just a return to original truth.

There’s nothing ridiculous about being radical. Nothing about it is crazy like the connotations of the word hold. Love is then ‘radical’ only because it is the origin of freedom.”

HONORING MLK Shapiro Campus Center hosted performers such as the Boston Tap Company, Jane Sapp

and Kaos Kids.

Toward the end of the program, Jermaine Hamilton ’14 delivered King’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech.

With incredible diction, conviction and sense of emergency, Hamilton brought the historic words of Dr. King alive as if King himself were behind the podium.

The program was an undoubtedly a powerful evening of love and community, in dreams and realities. Though the dreams described by King are still not fully realized, it was inspiring to see members of the Brandeis community like Velez, Mack, Hamilton, Williams and Adams celebrating and living up to Dr. King’s dream in their own individual ways.

PHOTOS BY KATIE CHIN/THE HOOT