The Brandeis Hoot - 3/28/14

Volume 11 Number 10

www.thebrandeishoot.com

Blackwell speaks on minorities and economic growth

By Emily Belowich Editor

On Tuesday, March 25, members of the Brandeis community filled Rapaporte Treasure Hall to listen to Angela Glover Blackwell, the founder and chief executive officer of PolicyLink, deliver the inaugural Fred and Rita Richman Distinguished Fellowship in Public Life lecture. The keynote speech, “All-In for an America That Works for All,” was hosted by the International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life on behalf of the Office of the President. Blackwell received a $25,000 award that was presented by Dan Terris, director of the International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life and Lisa Lynch, dean of the Heller School for Social Policy and Management.

As part of the fellowship, Blackwell also spent time with Brandeis faculty and students earlier in the week through meetings and a luncheon, discussing the field of social justice and providing insight on effective social justice advocacy.

Blackwell founded PolicyLink in 1999, a national nonprofit research and action institute advancing social and economic policy. Under her leadership, according to The Huffington Post, PBS and other leaders in public life, PolicyLink has become the leading voice in the movement to use public policy to improve access and opportunity for all low-income people and communities of color, particularly in the areas of health, housing, transportation, education and infrastructure. The organization See BLACKWELL, page 4

Brandeis University’s Community Newspaper • Waltham, Mass.

New program will educate future leaders in disability care

‘1984’ spooks viewers

By Dana Trismen Editor

Thursday afternoon, Brandeis announced a significant new program, one that is designed to make Brandeis a forerunner in preparing students to become leaders in disability-related fields.

The program was made possible by a $450,000 grant, donated by the Ruderman Family Foundation. These funds have created the Ruderman Social Justice Scholars in Disability, and will provide for scholarships, new Brandeis courses and stipends for internships and research assistants. The scholarship can also only be awarded to a Health: Science, Society, and Policy (HSSP) major and will include 15 scholars over a period of four years.

This semester, the inaugural scholars are Danielle Sackstein ’14 and Ruth Zeilicovich ’14.

See DISABILITY, page 2

1984 Audience left rattled by intense performances by Kersey ’17, Guerra ’14 and LeVangie ’14

By Jamie Wong

Mandel G3’s seats were filled with a small crowd of students, mostly young women and few young men for a film screening of “Girl Rising” followed by a question and answer session with the producer, Justin Reeves, on Tuesday, March 25. The event was co-sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Global Brandeis, Department of Anthropology, the Education Program, the International and Global Studies program, the Brandeis South Asian Studies Program and the Women’s and Gender Studies Program.

“Girl Rising,” the film, focuses on how education has impacted the lives of nine girls from Cambodia, Haiti,

Inside this issue:

photo by mei ming cornue-hollander/the hoot

on opening night.

Catalyst Fund to raise $100 million for scholarships

By Emily Stott Editor

President Fred Lawrence announced the formation of the Catalyst Fund on Thursday at the 12th Annual Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon before students and donors to the university. The Fund aims to raise $100 million, and this money will solely be used to fund scholarships for undergraduate students and fellowships for graduate students.

The funds will be in use by Dec. 2016.

Brandeis has already raised more than one-third of the fund’s goal due

to generous gifts from leading donors. Alumni trustees have donated $7.5 million and $5 million, and two friends of the university have donated $5 million.

“The Catalyst Fund is a bold statement of our belief that a Brandeis education—open to all—truly changes the arc of young people’s lives. As our alumni demonstrate, these individuals go on to change the world for the better in many large and small ways. Accessibility and affordability of higher education has been a core commitment of Brandeis since its founding,” said President Lawrence.

Of the $100 million, $75 million will be raised for endowment while $25 million will be for current use.

The amount put toward endowment is high because this money will be invested, and five or six percent of this will be put toward student scholarships every year. The university aims to allow this money both to be used immediately and to be accessible for future classes of students. When $75 million is placed in endowment, this provides about $3.75 million each year, according to David Nathan, director of development communications. The more that is placed in en-

dowment, the greater the return that will be available for student scholarships.

Last year, undergraduate students were awarded $54.5 million in grants and scholarships. Nathan said that it is too early to know how the Catalyst Fund will impact individual financial aid packages.

“The Catalyst Fund will help Brandeis continue to attract the most promising students—regardless of their financial backgrounds—and ensure that the diversity of the student body is reflective of the wider world See FUND, page 4

SKIN celebrates breaking barriers

The continuing influence of ‘Girl Rising’ Special to the Hoot

March 28, 2014

Nepal, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Peru, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan. Their experiences were conveyed through voice-overs written by a woman writer from each girl’s country. An array of famous women such as Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Kerry Washington lent their name to the cause. Between the vignettes were segments, narrated by Liam Neeson, designed to educate the viewer with statistics related to young women around the world. For example, there are 33 million fewer girls attending primary schools than boys.

Reeves spoke and explained the context of “Girl Rising.” It came out last year on International Women’s Day, and now, anyone can bring the film to any organized event or a theSee GIRL RISING, page 2

News: Delving into death and dying Arts, Etc.: ‘Psych’ says goodbye Opinion: Changing culture to work smarter Sports: Baseball has easy week to end March Editorial: New fund should provide more aid

Page 4 Page 6 Page 13 Page 11 Page 10

runway SKIN Fashion Show, as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, was put on by BAASA last

Friday. See page 9.

Home-wrecker goat

First-year’s ‘Fiction’ pairs with ‘The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?’

Arts: Page 9

Three fence at NCAA championship

Mandel ‘15, Berman ‘15 and Mattos ‘16 lead Brandeis to 21st place at Ohio State tournament

Sports: Page 11

photo by katie chin/the hoot

NEWS

2 The Brandeis Hoot

Article retraction: “Clubs battle over more than a name”

Last week, The Hoot published an article titled “Clubs battle over more than a name.” We formally retract the article, due to the inclusion of quotes attributed to Joshua Nass ’14, which were not factual and not appropriate for publication. These quotes portrayed Claire Sinai ’15 incorrectly, and Nass’ statements should not be taken as fact. There is no evidence that the board voted against Brandeis Libertarian-Conservative Union due to personal feelings or disagreements. To be clear, the vote against the club was conducted by a board of three justices, rather than a singular student.

The article also indicated that Luky Guigui ’15 was present during an interview with Nass because he agreed with Nass’ statements. He has since communicated with The Hoot to say that his presence did not corroborate Nass’ accusations and that he did not agree with what was said.

The Hoot deeply regrets this error and apologizes to Sinai for any problems this article may have caused. The Hoot has removed the article from our website and issues this formal retraction. The article may only reappear after significant edits. The Hoot also sincerely regrets any distress Sinai may have suffered as a result of the article.

The Hoot has also amended its constitution to include a statement banning all articles that may defame a person’s reputation unfairly.

Alumni share impact of service on their futures

By Jaye Han staff

Members of the Brandeis community gathered for an alumni panel, “The Intersection of Service and Your Career” in the Shapiro Campus Center Multipurpose Room on Monday, March 24.

Co-sponsored by Waltham Group, Hiatt Career Center and the Department of Community, the event’s purpose was to engage current and former Brandeis students in a discussion about how Brandeis’ offerings prepared students for a career in service. The panelists were five young Brandeis alumni who previously held positions as Waltham Group Coordinators. The alumni spoke about the various experiences that being Waltham Group Coordinators offered and how they were incorporated into their careers. Nate Shammay ’14 moderated the panel.

Mariah Rich ’10 explained how Waltham Group prepared her for her current path. She said that she learned problem-solving skills and how to manage different personalities and overcome challenges. Rich was a Waltham Kid’s Club coordinator, who became part of the Budget and Steering Committee during her senior year.

Corey Bisceglia-Kane ’03 offered remarks about the skill set learned through leadership positions in Waltham Group.

“Dedicating the time to be a coordinator and learning the skills the job required prepared me for work,” Bisceglia-Kane said. “It taught me how to be an independent thinker and a problem solver.”

At her job in social work as a case manager, Bisceglia-Kane often relies on the “real-life job skills” she earned as a Waltham Group Coordinator, she said.

Allie Joseph ’12 said that when she was prompted to articulate her skills in job interviews, it was extremely helpful to be able to tell stories from

her experiences as a coordinator.

“It’s a different way of sharing your experiences and who you are,” Joseph said.

Joseph emphasized how her job as a coordinator taught her how to plan an event, a skill that helps her every day as a third-grade teacher. She learned how to build relationships, bring people together and lead discussions.

Hilary Heyison ’13 replied that her experience as a Companions to Elders Coordinator helped her interview for her current job as a Research Assistant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She emphasized how important it was that she was able to gain real life experiences in college to be prepared for the real world.

When Tom Coughlin ’11 was a senior at Brandeis, he realized that he didn’t want to pursue a career in his major, biology, although it was something he had thought he wanted to pursue when he entered as a firstyear.

“I thought about what I really loved and enjoyed about my experiences at Brandeis, and I decided that I really loved my job at Waltham Group,” Coughlin said. Subsequently, he decided to follow a career in service programs and eventually decided to work in education.

The five alumni agreed that looking back, they would have approached their experience differently at Brandeis: to “embrace the not knowing and give yourselves time to figure it out.”

They echoed each others’ sentiments that when they graduated from Brandeis, they weren’t sure what they wanted to do.

“Until the moment you graduate from college, a lot of your decisions are laid out for you. We go from school to school, and when you graduated high school, you knew you were coming to study at Brandeis.

This is the first time in your life where you really get to choose what you are doing; and it’s okay to not know,” they said as a group.

March 28, 2014

Ruderman Scholars honored with grants and mentorship DISABILITY, from page 1

The Ruderman Family Foundation is a Jewish institution, one that works in both the United States and Israel.

According to a press release issued

by Brandeis, “The Ruderman Family Foundation believes that inclusion and understanding of all people is essential to a fair and flourishing community. Guided by our Jewish values, we support effective programs, innovative partnerships and a dynamic approach to philanthropy in our core areas of interest: advocating for and advancing the inclusion of people with disabilities throughout the Jewish community; fostering a more nuanced understanding of the American Jewish community among Israeli leaders; and modeling the practice of strategic philanthropy worldwide.” The inaugural scholars all hold a strong passion for working with people with disabilities.

Sackstein is a longtime member of Brandeis Buddies, a Waltham Group program that works with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also worked at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children and Partners Health Care. She became an activist for policy reform, attempting to help a woman who had lost access to medical files about her disabled son.

“I applied to the Ruderman Scholarship because I want to further my understanding of the challenges that people with disabilities face in their access to health care services and information, and also because I want to investigate the ways in which policies and procedures are being implemented to positively address these challenges,” said Sackstein, in the formal essay she wrote to apply for the scholarship.

Sackstein was very excited to hear she had become a Ruderman Scholar.

“The scholarship comes with a stipend, but the most rewarding aspect of the Ruderman Scholarship is the mentored research and truly experiential learning that accompanies the award,” she said in an interview with The Hoot.

After graduation, Sackstein plans to continue working on improving the health care system. “I plan to pursue a career in health care quality and process improvement, with a particular focus on patient-centered care. I believe that patient empowerment and engagement is critical to the success of the American healthcare system,” she said.

The other scholar selected this semester, Zeilicovich, has focused on a specific aspect of the umbrella term that is “disability.” “My personal passion is in the mental health field and the disabilities that those suffering from these disorders and their families have to face,” Zeilicovich said

photos courtesy bill schaller/brandeis university

in an interview with The Hoot this week. “They have really been neglected by the health care system. I spent this past summer interning at the HaSharon Hospital in Petakch Tikvah, Israel, where I worked with the Department of Social Work. During this time I had direct contact with those who suffer from disabilities and worked to make sure that they would not be neglected by the health system.”

After hearing she was one of this semester’s scholars, Zeilicovich reports feeling shocked and honored that she was chosen for this competitive award. “I was also really excited and ready to start learning about how I could personally make a difference in the world,” she said.

Zeilicovich also spoke about her responsibility as a scholar. “Danielle and I are responsible for the creation of an intervention to encourage the caregivers of women with intellectual disabilities to get their clients screened [via mammogram and pap test]. The intervention will educate caregivers on breast and cervical cancer, and it will focus on how to stand up to doctors … The intervention will tell caregivers that [disabled] women are in fact eligible, they are covered through Medicaid, and it will teach them how to be advocates. The program will be free for all, and we are going to partner with the ARC of the United States,” she said.

In addition to naming these two scholars, Brandeis also announced two faculty contacts. Sara Shostak, associate professor of sociology and chair of the HSSP program, along with Susan L. Parish, the Nancy Lurie Marks Professor of Disability Police and the director of the Lurie Institution for Disability Policy, will oversee the program.

“Professor Parish and I are responsible for selecting scholars, helping to place scholars in internships in organizations working in the disability field and providing them with an opportunity to be mentored in research projects focused on disability issues,” said Shostak in an interview. “I’m also very excited that this program includes support for two new courses … my other role is to help guide these

new courses through the development and approval process.”

These new course offerings are a way that the Ruderman grant will affect all students, regardless of whether or not they receive the scholarship.

“The new courses on disability being established with the support of the Ruderman Family Foundation’s gift will be open to the student body.

So, the grant directly benefits all students at Brandeis who are interested in issues of disability and inclusion, as well as the students selected to be scholars,” Shostak said.

When asked why this grant is such an honor for Brandeis, Parish responded that the partnership between Brandeis and the Ruderman family is very significant.

“As two major institutions within the Jewish community dedicated to the concept of Tikkun Olam—healing the world—it is especially meaningful for Brandeis and the Ruderman Family Foundation to partner on this project, because it speaks to our shared mission to improve society. Disability inclusion is a vital aspect of creating and maintaining an open and just society. However, few universities provide courses and out-of-classroom experiences to undergraduate students in this area.

This new funding support … enables Brandeis to do just that,” she said in an interview with The Hoot this week.

Zeilicovich also believes this grant is huge achievement for Brandeis. “It continues to put Brandeis on the top of the list for disability research. In my eyes, Brandeis and social justice are synonyms and this program is just another example of that,” she said.

Sackstein has words of advice for people interested in applying for this award in the future.

“Know that this is a truly handson, experiential opportunity. You will have the unique ability to work alongside leaders in the field of disability policy and play an instrumental role in designing and implementing interventions that serve to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

A strong candidate is compassionate, open-minded and demonstrates a desire to create a more inclusive society,” she said.

Film continues to tell stories GIRL RISING, from page 1

ater to spread a simple but powerful message—educating girls will change the world.

To Reeves, the idea behind making this film was “to show the opportunity that the girl represents, not the difficulties that she faces in her life.”

After the screening, he fielded questions from students in the audience. Most of the questions centered on how they obtained these stories

and what happened to the girls in the film. All answers pointed to the same conclusion that this film, and this movement, provides honest accounts of real girls and their uplifting experiences to push forward their fight for girls’ education.

“Girl Rising” is continuing to rise. The film has been translated or dubbed in over 30 languages, and a remake with Bollywood actresses is on the way. Tens of millions have seen the film, donations to the Girl

Rising Fund measure more than $2.1 million, and The Girl Rising Country Partnership (GRCP) continues to raise awareness and take community action in the Democratic Republic of Congo, India and Nigeria.

But one of the movement’s main focuses is on gaining individual support through film screenings like these.

On the “Girl Rising” website, they call for everyone to take action: “It doesn’t matter what it is, or where. What counts is that we all do something.”

March 28, 2014

The Brandeis Hoot

NEWS

3

French and Francophone Club Plan to decrease debt revitalized on campus may cost students more College Notebook

By Rachel Dobkin staff

This year, Leslie Kamel ’16, Samantha Way ’16 and Breanna Vizlakh ’15 have decided to revive Brandeis’ dormant French and Francophone Club.

Brandeis is known to have hundreds of different clubs that cater to an array of interests and causes. It may come as a surprise that something as prevalent on a college campus as French did not have a club that was consistently maintained. The French Club will now return with the purpose of celebrating and promoting “awareness of French and Francophone culture.”

The club’s priority is to generate interest in French and Francophone history, art, politics and literature, and will provide “unique opportunities for growth and development of French language skills in a comfortable environment.” The club is open to anyone in the Brandeis community.

“There was a French club at Brandeis in the past, but by the time we came, it was no longer active.

After speaking to professors in the French department and conducting brief presentations in their classrooms, we noticed a genuine interest and excitement for a restoration of the club,” Kamel said.

The club is not yet officially established but does have an Executive Board consisting of seven active leaders who meet on a weekly basis in Farber Library. Students have been working closely with the faculty members of the French and Francophone Studies department as they work to become a chartered club, as

well as introducing the club to students in French classes.

Vice President Vizlakh hopes the club will serve as a staple in the extracurricular community at Brandeis.

“My vision for this club is to establish a permanent niche in the Brandeis community,” Vizlakh said.

“I feel very strongly about the benefits and exciting possibilities this club has to offer to all Brandeis students, and I believe that there is a genuine interest from students in all French levels in having this club available to them.”

Vizlakh also discussed what the club’s plans are for the future, including events that they hope will take place to encourage more participation within the Brandeis community.

“As a club, we plan to create exciting events that attract all students, regardless of language proficiency and to create a relaxed, enjoyable environment in which all French and Francophone students can come to practice their language skills, socialize and

learn about French and Francophone culture,” Vizlakh said.

Some things that the club wants to emphasize include film, food, French culture and of course, the language.

The club’s first event will be held on Tuesday, April 1, from 5-6 p.m. in the Castle Commons. Immediately after, the club will go before the Student Senate to petition for recognition as a club. If they are granted recognition, club members can look forward to monthly events that are planned to take effect during the Fall 2014 semester. Some of these events include eating Francophone foods, watching films and participating in events hosted by the French Consulate.

“My hope is to share my interests and passions with my peers and to offer all Brandeis students an outlet that lets them take the knowledge they have acquired within the classroom and apply it in a friendly club atmosphere,” Kamel, the club’s president, said.

graphic from internet source

SpeakOut! Brandeis hopes to dispel misconceptions about sexual assault

By Shayna Korol staff

SpeakOut! Brandeis, a newly created website by an anonymous group of Brandeis students, seeks to dispel the misconceptions about sexual assault on campus. Hosted on the social media website tumblr.com, SpeakOut! is described on its website as “a studentled initiative to promote awareness of the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment on our campus, and allow those affected by it to anonymously share their stories.”

Sheila McMahon, the sexual assault services and prevention specialist hired earlier this year, said that the intention of the group, which she does not work with directly, is to allow survivors to share their experiences without fear of being identified. The website does not provide any identifiable information on survivors or alleged perpetrators.

She adds that the group is powerful and that it’s something that can make people uncomfortable.

“On a college campus, especially in a community that’s small, with many talented, thoughtful students, I think it’s hard for some people to imagine that these things are happening to our students. I think it’s a very important conversation students have initiated,” McMahon said.

And a conversation certainly has been initiated. The anonymous coordinators of SpeakOutBrandeis. tumblr.com, have recently included a tab on the page that lists on- and

off-campus resources for survivors of sexual assault and harassment.

Victoria Jonas ’15, a member of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA) and a student involved in spreading awareness about sexual assault on college campuses, spoke about what she believes the mission of SpeakOut! serves on the Brandeis campus.

“SpeakOut! fills the gaping hole that had been present in community conversations around sexual violence—survivors, specifically survivors on small, contained, liberal-arts college campuses, very much live under a shroud of silence surrounding experiences of sexual violence,” Jonas said. “SpeakOut! creates the necessary venue to anonymously and safely share these experiences, and to break down the barriers around understanding sexual violence at Brandeis.

Feeling ‘heard,’ and like a member of a community is an incredibly important part of healing from any sort of trauma, and before SpeakOut!, there was no such opportunity for students who had experienced rape or sexual assault at Brandeis.”

Jonas added how McMahon is making effective changes in the Brandeis community.

“She brings expertise and compassion to a difficult role, and the fact that Brandeis created such a position is indicative of the strides the university is making toward a safer campus surrounding sexual violence,” Jonas said.

SpeakOut! is unaffiliated with the work that McMahon does on cam-

pus. She heard about the project from a number of students who had come to her to tell her that they had posted something on the website, or because they had a reaction to something that was posted.

“They are doing a lot to organize and coordinate resources available to students on campus,” said McMahon, who is listed as a valuable resource on the SpeakOut! page. Her work complements rather than stands in opposition to the efforts of SpeakOut!, write the anonymous coordinators of the page.

On-campus resources that will keep reports confidential include the Psychological Counseling Center, McMahon’s office, the Health Center and the chaplains. Employees outside of that group are legally obligated to inform the Title IX officer of the assault.

While McMahon is not a mandated reporter, she does have to report crime statistics to the police department, but she clarified that she reports only numbers and not any personal identifying information.

Brandeis is obligated to publish these statistics every year.

McMahon hopes that further efforts will be taken by the administration to attend to the needs of survivors. Individual survivors react differently to assault, she said, and some can take years to put a name to what happened to them and to recognize the incident as what it was.

“Stepping across that threshold,” she said, referring to the door to her office, “is an incredible step forward.”

By Charlie Romanow staff

Legislators in Michigan have proposed a “pay it forward” bill that aims to decrease the burgeoning educational debt that students face.

House Bill Number 5315, also known as Smarter Michigan and Retaining Talent Program (SMART), is a tuition grant program that would allow Michigan residents to attend state community colleges and universities tuition-free before being required to pay back an interest-free percentage of their yearly gross adjusted income (GDI).

SMART would allow Michigan residents to attend in-state public community colleges or universities while receiving free tuition, books and required academic fees. For every year of taking part in the program, a student will have to pay a percentage of their income for five years after graduation or disenrollment. Community college students would need to pay two percent of their income each year, while university students would pay four percent per year. Additionally, these students would be able to take part in the program for a maximum three years and university students for five years. Students in this program will be required to have a 2.5 grade point average and are ineligible if their marks dip below this benchmark for more than one term or semester. Only those whose household incomes are below $250,000 can apply. Participation in the program will be optional.

Students will contribute a portion of their income beginning in the first calendar year that they obtain employment after graduation or cease attending the college as long as their income is above the federal poverty level. The state treasury department would be tasked with tracking students’ payments and verifying their income. The funds gained through the program would go toward paying for future students’ tuitions.

The bill was proposed to the Michigan State Legislature on Feb. 12 by Democrats David Knezek and Theresa Abed of the State House of Representatives and Jim Ananich of the State Senate. All three of these politicians graduated from public universities in Michigan as state residents.

The proposal will need approval by the state legislature before the $2-million tentative pilot program is put into place. The proposed bill calls for an initial program to take place that would include 100 eligible community college students and 100 eligible university students. Legislators hope to receive most of this preliminary

money from federal funding.

In stating the purpose of the program, Knezek told The Detroit Free Press, “The goal is to remove every financial barrier to high[er] education.

We’ve increasingly placed the financial burden of college on the backs of the students. This is a no-interest plan that allows you to pay back as you go and as you can afford it.”

John Burbank, executive director of the Economic Opportunity Institute furthered Knezek’s call to action saying, “with disinvestment in higher education by states, there’s tremendous financial pressure on students. When they take out large loans, trying to pay them off can really hurt their ability to do other things,” according to U.S.A. Today.

Some experts believe that the payit-forward bill is not a solution. One issue that the state would have to deal with is how the universities would operate early-on during the program before students are able to pay a large enough portion of the tuition back. A more impactful caveat of the plan is that students will be required to return a consistent percentage of their income even if they have already paid back the cost of tuition. Susan M. Dynarski, professor of public policy at the University of Michigan, believes that the state’s plan is unsustainable and would deter students with high aspirations.

“As a result, those who expect to earn a lot won’t participate. If the future starving artists flood into pay it forward and the future engineers shun it, the program will spiral into insolvency. An easy fix is to denominate debt in dollars rather than years.

When a borrower finishes paying off her loan, she stops paying it,” said Dynarski according to The Detroit Free Press.

Dynarski’s adjusted plan calls for students to pay interest on the loan, but “if a borrower instead runs into hard times and still owes money after 25 years, the balance will be forgiven.”

Nearly 20 states are looking into a program similar to Michigan’s approach. Most states are merely in the process of studying the viability of the program, and Oregon is further than most. An idea that began at a senior capstone course at Portland State University has been reported to Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission about testing a program with newly admitted college students in the 2016-2017 academic year. The group has expanded to include a representative of the state treasury and financial aid agency, financial aid experts and a local college affordability researcher. Limitations similar to Michigan’s plan have been pointed out in Oregon’s program as well.

photo from internet source

4 NEWS

The Brandeis Hoot

Exploring the figuratives of death

By Jess Linde staff

A small group of students gathered in the International Lounge in Usdan for a discussion on both the literal and metaphysical concepts of death and dying on Wednesday, March 26.

Waltham Group’s Companions to Elders program (C2E) hosted the event, which consisted of an intimate discussion among students, moderators from C2E and a select group faculty members and other guests. The moderators, consisting of C2E members Hannah Diamond ’14, Adrian Hincapie ’14, Matthew Chamberlain ’15, Linda Nakagawa ’15 and Melanie Gomes ’16, welcomed students and invited them to sit in a small circle of chairs.

Guests at the event were then introduced to the diverse panel of faculty in attendance, including Professor Sarah Lamb (ANTH), Women’s Studies Research Center Scholar Rosie F. Rosenzweig and Dean of Academic Services Lisa Boes. After students introduced themselves, the moderating students passed out small pieces of paper and pens to the attendees and asked the members of the circle to draw “their personal visualization” of death. After a few minutes, people went around the circle sharing their drawings and explaining the meaning behind them. Like those at the event, the drawings were diverse, evoking spiritual and religious imagery as well as fantastic plans for funerals.

The event then turned to guided discussion topics by Diamond, beginning with a question about why talking about death is such a taboo in modern Western society. The answers from those in attendance again came from various viewpoints.

People began to reveal their diverse backgrounds and told stories about personal experiences that led them to form their current opinions about death and what comes afterward.

Further questions from Diamond followed in a similar vein, dealing specifically with abstract concepts such as the afterlife and ways to reconnect with loved ones who have passed away.

One of the most active participants

sarah lamb (anth)

in the discussion was Rosenzweig, who offered insights influenced by Buddhism, which her son currently studies. “We have no ways in our society to directly deal with the pain [of losing someone],” she said to the circle. “And the fact is that it hurts when someone passes away.”

Similar concerns were voiced by others in the circle. Many people brought up the social pressures surrounding death in the United States, including how grieving, even by friends and family of the deceased, is often correlated with weakness. One student, who did not give her name, told a story about how a family member was committed to appearing as “tough,” as someone would not cry, no matter how tragic the loss.

Audience members also agreed that the hypothetical “afterlife” is a concept essentially impossible to define. Lamb drew from her anthropological studies in Southeast Asia and the region’s religious beliefs, such as reincarnation. “I’ve spoken to many people and been amazed at how calm they were with the concept of death,” Lamb said. “That isn’t anything I ever encountered here, even when dealing with my own personal health issues.”

Though there were personal differences, the members of the circle did share a consensus on most of the larger topics brought up during the event’s eighty-minute runtime. For example, there was general agreement that in today’s world there is so much pressure to appear young, vital and constantly happy, that there is barely any time to sit down and talk about death.

People were also particularly critical of what they saw as the modern, more secular world’s failure to find secular ways to deal with religious concepts of death without belittling them. Toward the end, the conversation drifted to C2E and the volunteers’ experiences, some of whom expressed sadness that even in old age, people were reluctant to discuss death. The event concluded with a calmer atmosphere, and the attendees thanked the event’s organizers for providing a space where they could express their fears and beliefs about death.

photo from internet source

Fund will open more scholarship opportunities FUND, from page 1

around us,” said Trustee Jonathan Davis ’75, co-chair of the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees.

The university will ask alumni, parents, trustees, friends and members of the Brandeis National Committee to donate to the Catalyst

Fund.

The Fund was initiated in January of this year but was announced to the public on Thursday.

The university expects many students to be impacted by this fundraising campaign, as almost two out of three students receives some form of financial aid.

March 28, 2014

PolicyLink increases equity in communities across country

photo from internet source

BLACKWELL, from page 1

collaborates with a broad range of partners to ensure that these groups can contribute to and benefit from economic growth and prosperity.

The mission statement of PolicyLink highlights that the work is grounded in the conviction that all dimensions of equity must drive all policy decisions, as Blackwell emphasizes later on in her lecture.

Terris offered opening remarks about the Richman fellowship and its importance to the Brandeis community. The fellowship honors a person who is active in American public life, has a record of accomplishments and contributions that have had a significant impact on improving American society, strengthens democratic institutions, advances social justice or increases opportunities for all citizens to realize and share the promise of the United States.

“A very high bar, but I think you will agree after today’s lecture that our honoree has not only met but exceeded over her career and in the message that she has been spreading about the values in equity all over the United States,” Terris said.

The Richman fellowship was established by Dr. Carol Richman Saivetz ’69, P’97, P’01, in honor of her parents, Fred and Rita Richman, and is funded by the generosity of the Richman and Saivetz families.

Lynch followed Terris’ remarks, sharing more about Blackwell’s background and legacy.

Blackwell grew up in St. Louis, Mo., in the 1950s, which, according to a talk she gave to graduate students on Monday, was at the time “very racially segregated.” After her years in college at Howard University, Blackwell moved back and forth between the East and West coasts, initially working as a community organizer, and then getting her law degree from the University of California at Berkeley and becoming a partner at the nationally-known public interest law firm, Public Advocates. Following her time at the firm, she established the Urban Strategies Council in Oakland, Cali., where she pioneered new approaches to neighborhood revitalization. She is the co-author of “Searching for the Uncommon Common Ground: New Dimensions on Race in America.”

“The most compelling piece of Angela’s biography is her infectious smile, her positive attitude in the face of extraordinary adversity; even if it takes you 30 years to make progress

on an issue, this woman will not be stopped,” Lynch said. “She will find her moment to make a difference for communities, and we are so fortunate to have her first and foremost in our nation and locally here at Brandeis.”

Blackwell opened her talk by stating that Brandeis students are the “most energetic and most committed students that she has met in one time and in one place.”

She spent the beginning portion of her lecture talking about America being at a crossroads and that the current stalled economic mobility can be attributed to a shrinking middle class.

“The middle class is the thing that has made this country so extraordinary,” Blackwell said. “When you think about poverty, any poor country you can think of is not poor because of the absence of rich people.

They are poor because of the absence of a middle class.”

Blackwell continued to speak about inequality becoming a defining feature of this country and its economy.

In the past, she said, inequality happened elsewhere, but now, she believes that it is a defining characteristic of the country. There is a current seismic shift occurring in terms of demographic change, in which the United States is rapidly becoming the nation in which the majority of the population consists of people of color.

Blackwell sees this diversity as an asset that the nation needs exactly at this moment.

“To be competitive in a global economy, it is an asset to be a world nation, and that is what we are becoming,” Blackwell said. “We are growing to see a population that is connected across the globe through kinship, culture and language.”

Blackwell believes that the country needs to invest in the people who are going to be the future.

“I’ve always said that America can see its future. It’s a five-year-old Latina girl, it’s a seven-year-old black boy, but we have to invest in them to realize the full potential. It is a challenge we have to not run away from,” Blackwell said. “We have to embrace it and think about how to educate ourselves and how to talk about the tough issues.”

Blackwell’s talk continued to speak about the correlation between inequality and economic growth. The International Monetary Fund did a study of 100 countries and found a 10-percent decrease in inequality was associated with a 50-percent increase in the period of growth. Researchers working out of the University of Southern California did the same

study in the United States looking at 100 metropolitan areas and found the exact same statistics, highlighting the negative effects of inequality on the nation’s economy.

She added that economic mobility is becoming a part of the national conversation. Researchers at the University of California have been receiving attention from the New York Times for their focus on stalled mobility.

“It’s been stalled for a long time. 30 years and we haven’t seen much of a change, but inequality is growing, and we have a real problem,” Blackwell said. “When you look at what’s contributing to the problem, it has a lot to do with where you live and who your family is, but the general notion is that inequality is bad for growth.”

In moving forward, Blackwell recommended three solutions: grow good jobs, build capabilities and erase barriers to expand opportunities.

“Equity is the antidote to inequality,” Blackwell said. “If we invest in equity, we are immediately dealing with inequality and immediately helping to push growth forward.”

The talk ended with examples of communities that have begun to create new opportunities because the current situation in America, according to Blackwell, is proving that living conditions can be a deterrent from the best possible life for its citizens.

Communities in California, Maryland and Ohio at various periods of time had large percentages of the population living far below the poverty level, but administrators turned this around by building renowned education systems, opening small business and growing upon industries that generate jobs.

“Where you live in America is a proxy for opportunity,” Blackwell said. “It determines whether or not you get to go to a good school, whether you live near a public transit system, whether there are jobs in your community. It determines whether or not you are lucky enough to own that home, and it even determines how long and how well you live.”

A former senior vice president at the Rockefeller Foundation, Blackwell has appeared on Nightline and PBS’s NOW and is a frequent commentator for the nation’s talk news organizations. She serves on numerous boards, including President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and most recently she was appointed by the President to serve on his advisory commission on educational excellence for African-Americans.

March 28, 2014

ARTS, ETC.

The Brandeis Hoot 5

Stellar novelist to read debut ‘Necessary Errors’ at Brandeis

By Dana Trismen Editor

Caleb Crain is the author of “Necessary Errors,” a novel that received stellar reviews from The New York Times, The New York Review of Books and others. This novel was actually Crain’s debut, due to a career Crain himself describes as “like a ride on the F train when it’s going over the A line because of construction. I knew where I was going, but a lot of people who saw me going through their station were confused.”

Crain, who is a friend of John Plotz (the English Department chair and professor at Brandeis), will be hosting a reading at Brandeis on Wednesday, April 2.

Crain will read a section from “Necessary Errors,” which The New Yorker claims is a piece that “heralds the fiction debut of a writer with intelligence and an engaging prose style … the book also serves as a document of a unique cultural moment that has vanished.” The Los Angeles Review of Books calls it “one of the best American novels of the past decade.” Crain can describe his novel in one word: “youth.”

“Literally, the novel is about the friendships and love affairs that a young gay man has in Prague a year or so after the Velvet Revolution. It’s about being between childhood and

adulthood, between Communism and capitalism, between straight and gay, between friendship and love,” Crain said in an interview with The Hoot this week.

Crain was inspired to pen his novel after reading works by other authors, such as “Goodbye to Berlin” by Christopher Isherwood, “A Legacy” by Sybille Bedford and “The Ambassadors”

by Henry James.

Crain faced many challenges when writing “Necessary Errors.” “During the five years of writing, I shared the manuscript with only two people, and even with them, parsimoniously,” said Crain. “I knew that many readers would find the finished book too quiet and a bit peculiar, and it was hard to continue to believe it was sane to persist in an effort that was so slow and invisible and might be fruitless.”

For others interested in undertaking a similar writing journey, Crain has one significant piece of advice: “Keep a journal.”

Crain is looking forward to the reading at Brandeis on Wednesday. “I hope new readers will find the book because of it, and I hope to meet and hear from some students,” Crain said.

Crain and Plotz were friends as undergraduates, when they attended the same college. Plotz visited Prague before Crain did, and encouraged Crain to visit the city. Eventually, Crain set his novel in the same location.

“It’s great to be back in touch with

necessary errors Caleb Crain’s first novel is an instant success.

him,” said Crain about Plotz. “We worked together on a college literary magazine, as part of a circle of fairly intense young people, many of whom are now professors, journalists and other kinds of writers.”

As stated, Crain walked a very winding path that eventually led him to write “Necessary Errors.”

“After college, I got a Ph.D. in early American literature. Then I left aca-

demia for a job as a magazine editor.

Then I quit the editorial job to write journalism. Then I signed a contract to write a book of history—which I never wrote. And somehow I ended up writing essays about American history for The New Yorker and a few other magazines. During all this wandering, my secret wish was to write novels, and in fact I was writing them, though they weren’t any good. ‘Nec-

photos from internet source

essary Errors’ is my fourth or fifth first novel, as it happens,” said Crain.

Crain’s reading will be held on April 2 in the Shapiro Admissions Presentation Room at 5 p.m. The reading will be followed by an interview with Plotz. There will also be a drawing, where some copies of Crain’s novel will be given out to members of the audience. Crain will also sign copies of his book.

First-year directs dark and intriguing performance

By Rachel Dobkin Staff

Edward Albee’s “The Goat, or Who is Sylvia” and first-year Ayelet Schrek’s “Fiction” opened this past Friday, March 21 in the Schwartz Auditorium, sponsored by the Free Play Theatre Cooperative. A bold and unique play, “The Goat, or Who is Sylvia” highlights love, sexuality and bestiality.

“Fiction” preceded “The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?” and set a chaotic and tragic tone that complemented the plot of “The Goat.” It was set in a restaurant where friends Em (Sarah Duffett ’17) and Kay (Miriam Esther Goldman ’14) meet under mysterious pretenses; Kay is wearing gloves, and the time period is unclear. She slowly reveals that Em slept with Kay’s boyfriend, resulting in his abuse of Kay. Kay eventually retaliated by killing her boyfriend, Em’s lover. Finally, Kay takes off her gloves and reveals her blood-stained hands and a knife, and stabs Em, leaving her to die.

While both actresses skillfully execute their roles, some aspects of the play were flawed. While Em used a prim and proper-sounding English accent, Kay spoke with a normal American accent, which was jarring. Despite this slight confusion, Schreck’s play did an excellent job of establishing the mood of the evening along with the themes of tragedy, death, betrayal and love for “The Goat,” which followed promptly.

In “The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?”

Martin Gray (Yuval Yossefy ’17) is a 50-year-old architect who has just won the prestigious Pritzker Prize and is married to Stevie (Ariel Hopes ’15). They have a gay teenage son, Billy (Connor Wahrman ’17), whose relationship with his father is laced with tension due to Gray’s mostly hidden homophobia. Martin and Stevie are seemingly in love and quite content

who is sylvia? Ayelet Schrek ’17 directed her own “Fiction” and “The Goat” this past weekend.

in modern day urban America, until Martin falls in love with a goat he named Sylvia. When he tells his best friend Ross (Zephry Wright ’17), the friend can’t keep such a secret and sends a letter to Stevie, leading to complete mayhem and despair in the Gray family.

Although the central issue in the play is bestiality, its underlying themes are not quite as abhorrent. In fact, they result in the essential question of how sex and love are interrelated, as well as how these manifest according to sociological expectations and norms. The play serves as an excellent forum for this discussion. Although the bestiality component of the play is rather repugnant, it prompts the audience to ask what constitutes love, what kinds of love are socially acceptable and if there is a right or wrong way to express this love.

Schrek asks, “Why is having sex with an animal wrong, why do we feel so grossed out by it? To me, it is entirely an issue of consent. An animal cannot give consent, therefore sex with an animal is rape.” It also prompts the audience to think about

loving a soul versus sexual love. In the program, Schrek writes that “‘The Goat’ explores the complexity of the natures of and interplay between love and sexuality.”

The most memorable moments of the play were the most climactic, which produced these essential questions to the comprehension of the play. An unforgettable scene of the play is when, during Stevie’s confrontation with Martin, Stevie becomes so upset she starts smashing and overturning almost every object in the living room. Hopes does a phenomenal job of playing a distraught, betrayed and irate lover, which brings clarity to Martin, allowing him to articulate the devastating fact that he loves Sylvia, an animal, in the same way and extent as he does his wife of many years.

Another scene that parallels this confession of “wrong” love is when Martin, in a state of stress, curses at his son Billy, illustrating how though Martin accepts his own unaccepted love of an animal, he has trouble accepting his son’s homosexuality. All of the actors did an absolutely phenomenal job representing the ten-

photo courtesy jason kasman

sion pulling at each family member.

Hopes and Yossefy somehow concocted a chemistry that only longmarried couples seem to generate, of a couple deeply in love yet also still best friends—a great triumph. Wahrman, attempting to act as a mediator between his parents during their massive fight, portrayed an aura of both compassion and composure, but also demonstrated his own tumultuous feelings resulting from his sexual orientation and his father’s struggle with it. Wright did not appear as frequently as the other actors, but played both a loving and concerned friend who, despite his disgust of Martin’s new love, stayed loyal to both Stevie and Martin. The character’s desperation to help his friends was clear through Wright’s acting.

The plays were set on the floor of Schwartz Auditorium in front of the stage rather than on it, and the audience sat in chairs about 10 feet away, giving the performance a more intimate feeling. The set looked incredibly professional, consisting of a simple table and chairs during “Fiction” and various living room furniture during

“The Goat.” The stage crew and actors were absolutely phenomenal technically, seamlessly rearranging the set in between plays and playing sound effects exactly on cue. Although the overall setup of the play was superb, the venue still felt awkward due to the fact that there was a relatively small audience. It might have felt less awkward having the play on the stage, but executing the play right in front of the audience gave it more of a cozy ambiance.

The Free Play Theatre Cooperative is an independent experimental theater company that is “devoted to producing experimental and innovative works focused on examining issues we face as a human race, such as social injustice, war, and coexistence” and aims to “create a dialogue within the Brandeis community about such issues, to help cultivate diversity and a better understanding of ourselves and the people around us.”

Schrek and her cast and crew certainly accomplished this goal with sophistication, skill and depth in “Fiction” and “The Goat or Who is Sylvia?”

6 The Brandeis Hoot

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March 28, 2014

‘1984’ a frightful and intense interrogation

By Theresa Gaffney Editor

“This is not your 10th grade English class,” said Sarah Waldron ’17 in her director’s note for Brandeis Players’ performance of “1984.” This much was clear instantaneously, as audience members entered the SCC theater on Thursday to see that Winston (Reno Kersey ’17) was already splayed across the stage on the ground, motionless.

Chains were wrapped around his chest, and strapped to his chest was a device that looked like a bomb, which was later found to be an electrocution

instrument.

The stage was bare, decorated only with grimy walls and a set of stairs.

On two walls hung gray screens that blended in so well to the plain background that one couldn’t even notice them until the first time they lit up in the performance. These were “telescreens,” used to deliver messages from the infamous Big Brother.

Even before the show started, a dark and frightening mood was set, exactly what one would expect from George Orwell’s iconic dystopian world.

The entire performance took place during Winston’s interrogation. Four nameless Party Members, played by Gabe Guerra ’14, Samantha LeVangie ’14, Raustin Hernandez ’14 and Ryan Millis ’15, joined Winston on stage,

to aid in the interrogation. As a voice from above interrogated Winston, the Party Members acted out his actions from before he was caught. Guerra and LeVangie acted out the actions of Winston and his lover Julia. At the beginning, audience members may have felt confused as to what roles Guerra and LeVangie were playing. Were they acting out the scenes just for the audience, so that we didn’t get bored?

Soon we learned that they were acting out the scene within the play as well, as their characters were also becoming confused about which side of the equation they were on.

“You must be precise,” the voiceover told Winston. When the voice convinces Winston to speak out loud, he admits, “Down with Big Brother.”

Then Winston is electrocuted by the torture device strapped to his chest.

The lights throughout the entire theater began to flash, and Kersey seized, screamed and actually fell to the ground. Kersey embodied the role of Winston brilliantly. During each instance of torture—physical or emotional—Kersey would scream and writhe and wither. Many times, globs of spit could be seen spewing out of his mouth as he cried out. The anguish was real, and the effort was constant throughout the entire performance.

Kersey did not leave the stage for the entire show. Audience members entered and he was there, motionless. During intermission and as the theater emptied afterward, when the lights were up he simply laid there, motionless. Here, Kersey demonstrat-

ed great strength, given he was under the audience’s eyes for approximately two and a half hours.

The entire cast held a high level of intensity for the entire show, which was even more impressive as there were no scene changes and barely any time offstage. One or two would leave for a moment, to change costumes, but that was it. The four Party Members often moved completely in sync together, creating an eerie picture of conformity. Hernandez and Millis gave vivid performances as various Party Members and friends from Winston’s diary. At one point, with Kersey, the three acted as friends.

Hernandez hunched over embodying the paranoid word-obsessed character he played as he muttered and stuttered his words. At the same time, Millis questioned his fate in a fearful tone.

Both also gave notably chilling performances as criminals later on, when demonstrating Winston’s capture.

While Kersey played the real Winston, Guerra spent much of the performance acting out the actions that the Kersey described, with LeVangie at his side as Julia. The couple displayed a wide range of emotion and energy. In one moment, they would be sitting quietly on a bench in the background, watching Kersey. The next moment, they would jump up, enraged, growling and fierce. They didn’t hold back in any aspect of the drama. When the romance between Winston and Julia was described, they appeared to simply switch into another gear and began holding each other

close, even rolling on top of each other on the ground and thrusting, holding nothing back.

The atmosphere was thick with tension, but also with the paranoid fear that none of it was real, typical of Orwell’s world. Intermission was granted to the audience after an hour.

The second half dragged along. The retracing of Winston’s actions continued, and the point was finally reached where he had been captured and was sitting in front of the audience at the present moment. However, the audience was not free yet. Winston had to be broken, and so did we. Brian Levi Dorfman ’16 played O’Brien, the Party Member that tricked Winston into believing that there was a revolution forming. Dorfman acted as interrogator for the final movement of the show. He was calm and cold—a polar opposite of everyone else on stage.

“1984” “begs your attention. It demands your participation. It yanks you from comfort,” Waldron again warns the audience in the director’s note. She is right. The show drained the audience of a little bit of their own hope for two hours, just as Orwell and playwright Michael Gene Sullivan intended. Brandeis Players took a bold risk to put on a play of such a wellknown novel, and it paid off. They presented a shocking and rattling performance.

“1984” will continue over the weekend with evening shows at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the SCC Theater.

photo by mei ming cornue-hollander/the hoot

a dystopian world “1984,” first a novel by George Orwell (author of “Animal Farm”)was performed as a play by the Brandeis

Players on Thursday and will continue to show throughout the weekend. The play, written by Michael Gene Sullivan, was directed by first-year Sarah Waldron. The performance was a dark and frightening atmosphere that revolved around Winston’s interrogation

by Big Brother. .

March 28, 2014

The Brandeis Hoot

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7

USA’s ‘Psych’ bows out true to its classic self

By Jason Kasman Editor

On Wednesday night, March 26, the “Psych” team bid a final farewell as it finished an eight season run on the USA Network. The show follows the shenanigans of fake psychic Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his partner Burton Guster (Dulé Hill) as they assist the Santa Barbara police department in solving crimes. Its series finale was a real tear jerker, especially for those who have made it through all 119 episodes. It was also the best episode of a tragically flawed season.

The final season of “Psych” could not have been harder to watch. Each episode fell flatter than the last, with gimmicky plotlines that so obviously exist only to play out the whims of a soon-to-disband writing team. This season brought viewers a hastilythrown-together musical episode, a “remake” episode (in which the game of the whole episode is “aren’t remakes the worst? Look how bad this episode is!”), a ’60s themed episode and more.

Important plot developments fell by the wayside as silliness prevailed.

And, while “Psych” has certainly succeeded in being silly in the past, the greatest part of the series is the relationships between characters. There’s the ever-present bro-mance of Shawn and Gus, the adorable love story of Shawn and Detective Juliet O’Hara (Maggie Lawson) and the complex father-son situation of Shawn and his father, Henry (Corbin Bernsen), just to name a few. The past seven seasons spent a lot of time cultivating these characters and making sure we, the viewers, cared where they went. Everything had crescendoed to a point when Shawn was about to propose to Juliet, who now knew the truth about

his life, they were going to move in together and start a new chapter of their lives, when suddenly— The show’s cancellation was announced and all of that character development was dropped. Juliet does not even appear in the first three episodes of the season and is nearly invisible for the remainder (not appearing in over half of the episodes). Juliet and Shawn’s relationship might as well have been unchanged. There was no consequence to his big reveal that he is a fake, nothing happened. Chief Vick (Kirsten Nelson, who had played the lovable, straight-shooter woman so well) was replaced by a random character two episodes from the finale who seems to serve no other purpose than being strange. Nothing seemed to be leading to an end.

And so, as the season crawled toward the finish line, it was a reasonable fear that this last episode would not be a sufficient conclusion. However, I’m quite happy to report that the season finale was a near-perfect culmination to a phenomenal show.

The final episode, “The Break-Up,” tugs at the heartstrings and amps up the funny. It has a wonderful balance of series callbacks without feeling like a “flashback” episode. As a loyal viewer, I left the episode confident that the characters I loved so much would live on contentedly in some non-televised non-reality.

The episode begins with a webcam confession from Shawn. He narrates the story of how he tries to tell Gus that he has decided to leave Santa Barbara for San Francisco to live with Juliet. He would be closing up the Psych Office. But of course, Shawn being the immature man-child he is, he cannot find an appropriate time to break the bad news to his lifelong friend, especially considering Gus’s recent appointment to a cushy new job. The

wait for iiiiiiiiiit The dynamic duo said their final goodbyes this Wednesday as the series finale wrapped

photo from internet source

up the long successful run of the hit TV drama.

case, whatever it is (because really, that is not the point of this episode) is solved rather quickly—the villain is actually nabbed by Henry, who gets in a touching scene with his son. Meanwhile, the hunt for a Junior Detective is completed as McNab (Sage Brocklebank), the loveable but laughably inept patrolman, is promoted to the position.

The meat of the episode comes at the end, when Shawn tracks down Juliet at a crime scene in San Francisco.

Mere moments later, Gus barges in to announce that he’s quit his job to follow Shawn up north. And oh the

tears, the tears that flow. Finally, after eight seasons of agony-inducing impatience, Shawn pops the question to Juliet who, of course, says yes.

As the final credits rolled, it was clear that “Psych” had ended on a high note. After weeks of painful drudge, the show was able to conclude with the formula that had made it so enjoyable in the first place: a mixture of laughter, emotion and characters worth caring about.

Where USA network will go from here is the real question. “Psych” followed in the footsteps of “Monk,” the comedic crime serial about OCD de-

tective Adrian Monk (Tony Shaloub).

There is even a quick reference to Monk at the end of the episode where Juliet explains they’ve already got a “guy,” and he’s in the kitchen alphabetizing the cereals. Both shows filled that specific genre of criminal comedy and found a pattern that worked, not only because of the set up, but because there were characters that people genuinely cared about. It’ll be interesting to see what the network can drum up next, or if the timeslot will just be filled with “Law and Order” reruns.

Lord knows Dick Wolf could always use another rerun.

‘Liquid Latex’ performers impress with bold dance moves

By Shikha Chandarana Staff

You know an event is going to be a riot when the announcers talk about strobe lights and having BEMCo on hand, although the crowd remained safe and enjoyed “Liquid Latex: Lights, Camera, Latex.”

“Liquid Latex” is one of those Brandeis traditions that is quirky, hilarious and extremely entertaining. It involves students being painted in latex and then dancing to interestingly choreographed routines. While the doors were supposed to open at 7:30, there was a long line of students waiting to get inside long before that.

Even before the show started, the environment in Levin Ballroom was that of excitement and curiosity. Some people there knew exactly what to expect, but others, like me, were very curious as to what the show would entail. The first performance was based on “Pirates of The Caribbean,” and the entire performance had a good amount of shock value in the beginning as newbies finally realized what the point of the show was, but as the performance progressed the fascinating choreography and the extremely confident performers revealed the art behind it all.

The greatest thing about the show is the fact that people are courageous enough to be on stage wearing nothing but latex paint.

“Being a part of ‘Liquid Latex’ was a fantastic experience. It was really incredible to see the art that could be created by the human body through movement and paint,” said Samantha

Laney ’17, who was one of the dancers for “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” routine.

A performance after “Pirates” was inspired by Pixar films, and the body painters did a marvelous job with portraying these beloved films in a fun manner. Hearing the soundtracks of those movies in such a different concept was an odd experience. The next act was one inspired by “Prince of Egypt.” The painters in this act did an excellent job with the intricate painting.

In such a dance- and choreographyheavy show, it was no surprise that there would be acts inspired by musicals. Both the “Grease” piece and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” piece were very well choreographed and performed.

One of my personal favourites was the “Veldt” piece, as it incorporated a novel concept and very compelling choreography, which had been lacking in some performances. The next act, which was inspired by movies that have been acclaimed at the Oscars, was done in the form of a runway with models painted as tribute the films.

While the dancing was not much of a focus for this performance, the beautiful painting stole the show.

The next two were based on films.

“Adurna” used elements of the horror genre, giving the chance to the painters to be creative with the paint. The finale of the show was a modernized version of “Snow White,” which was hilarious and left the entire audience wanting more.

Although the choreography was a little repetitive at some times throughout the show, the energy and confi-

the show of the semester The annual performance was a great hit, as always.

dence of the performers kept the in- ping and cheering them on. terest of the audience going all along.

“I didn’t really know what to expect There was not a dull moment during from it, but it was really entertaining. the show, as the audience kept clap- I’d definitely go again next year!” said

photos by matt brondoli/the hoot

Bryce Dreifus ’17. I will definitely be one of the people lining up to watch the show again if I am not brave enough to perform.

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March 28, 2014

‘Vagina Monologues’ empower women through descriptive skits

By Clayre Benzadon staff

The 2014 “Vagina Monologues,” originally compiled by Eve Ensler, premiered on Friday, March 21 in the Shapiro Theatre, prompting a huge turnout. The monologues were composed of different narratives told by all different kinds of women, each with a distinct experience.

Each skit covered a range of issues, from the oppression of women, embarrassment with their vagina, rape and sexual mutilation. The first monologue, acted out by Ariella Assouline ’17, portrayed a woman’s account of her frustration concerning the fact that she felt obligated to shave her vagina in order to please her husband, who cheated on her because she was reluctant to do so.

The next couple of monologues inspired women to love their vaginas.

One of the narratives involved two women, played by Angela Acevedo ’16 and Sara Fried ’15, who go to a vagina workshop, which strives to help women see that they are unique, beautiful and fabulous. The two women are scared and reluctant to perform the workshop activities, but once they finally “went inside themselves and became the vagina,” they are finally able to appreciate their shells, beautiful tulips that open and close with pleasure.

The next account was acted out by Yael Platt, who reenacted the story of a woman who falls in love with Bob, an average-looking, thin, nondescript man. He doesn’t just have sex with

the woman but also helps her fall in love with her vagina just as Bob does, as he spent hours looking at it, as if he were a palm reader or studying a map, finding beauty in every aspect of the body part.

One of the most poignant monologues was “My Angry Vagina,” which criticizes the way that the vagina always have to be cleaned up and stuffed with scents and so many uncomfortable accessories and items like thongs and tampons. The two women who act out this skit, Amaris Brown ’16 and Queen White ’17, warn women, “Don’t believe [your lover] when he says [the vagina] smells like roses, when it supposed to smell like pussy!” They claim that in this way, men are cleaning up the vagina when in fact, women should feel proud that their vagina smells just the way it’s supposed to smell, without any aromas to mask it.

The monologues then turned more serious, as they discussed rape, beginning with the frightening statistic that 200,000 women are raped in the United States every year. One narrative was a poetic account about a woman (played by Alia Abdulahi ’17) who angrily speaks about “something that is between my legs. I do not know what it is, I do not touch, not anymore … There was a deep dark animal stuck inside of me that has left a permanent stench that had invaded my vagina, my village, my home. I do not touch, not since the soldiers came and put a long, thick rifle inside of me, monsters, doctors with black masks and I became river of poison

lick it and love it “The Vagina Monologues” took place last weekend in the SCC Theater.

and pus.”

The narrative titled “The Little Coochie Snorcher,” records the accounts of a young girl’s memories, acted out by Solanny Sanchez ’16, Sam Daniels ’16, Sharada Sanduga ’14 and Hannah Caldwell ’15. One of the girls recalled the moment when she was at her father’s house during a party and one of his friends rapes her. On a more positive note, another itera-

tion of the woman speaks of falling in love with a woman. When she sleeps over her house, the girl also learns to love her “coochie snorcher.”

The last part of the show included a video of a sex worker, a woman from Pittsburgh who became obsessed with making women moan. It all started when she was little, when she watched women making love. She admired the sounds that were capable

of coming out of a woman’s mouth: “I became a moaner.” She talked about how her artwork became a job, finding pleasure in giving other women pleasure.

Overall, “The Vagina Monologues” were powerful and inspiring dialogues. They likely stuck in the minds of the audience, particularly women who may now feel more empowered and proud of their bodies.

photos by katie chin/the hoot

March 28, 2014

The Brandeis Hoot

ARTS, ETC.

9

Showing our colors in the SKIN fashion show

By Jamie Wong

Speical to the Hoot

Last Friday evening, you might’ve seen some students walking around dressed to the nines looking stylish on campus. They were most likely dressed up for the SKIN Fashion Show which was hosted by BAASA (Brandeis Asian American Student Association) and co-sponsored by Project Plus One and the Fashion Design Club for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. As a part of APAHM, the SKIN Fashion Show aims to celebrate successful Asian American designers and unite all people of color through a common factor: fashion. With the theme of “Seams of Color,” BAASA organized a chic event any student interested in fashion or the celebration of Asian Americans in the field should attend.

The Best Dressed Contest they hosted allowed the winner to take home a Fujifilm Instax instant camera. Like most shows, SKIN displayed a video to kick it off titled “My Style is…” This video highlighted the styles of the SKIN 2014 Models and introduced us to their handsome faces: Megi Belegu ’16, Ama Darkwa ’16, Leila May Pascual ’15, Agnes Walden ’15, SoojungCrystal Wang ’15, Bridgett Corbin ’15, Becky Zhang ’15, Lulu Dong ’15, Weixi Shen ’16, Nicole Muther ’14, Jesse Chen ’17, Kaiwen Chen ’16, Alex Schmidt ’14, Dan Truong ’15, Rosby Kome-Mensah II ’14, Minsung Chris Hong ’15 and Byungkwan Lee ’15 all showed off their impressive walks and Blue Steel looks.

Timeless Brand started the night off with their casual and cool line of street wear. Introduced as a brand that represents the hustle and bustle of the American Dream, the Timeless Brand describes itself as the “quintessential counter culture, a movement catered to the conscious and the dreamer; the motivated and the disenfranchised.”

Jennifer Kim ’14 then spoke about the message of APAHM and why the SKIN Fashion show is an important event for the student body to have.

Through APAHM, BAASA recog-

nizes the struggle that Asian Americans have in embracing our own skin and identity. This, for some, can be expressed through style. The SKIN Fashion show celebrates the success of Asian Americans in the fashion and beauty industry, and the theme Seams of Color purposely aims to unite people of color to share their connection between identity and style. Adding to this idea, pictures of the outfits of Asian Americans with text about these connections were put up on the walls.

The Brandeis Fashion Design Club also supported the “seams” theme with their collection filled with clean cut lines and the unconventional use of bright seams in the form of zippers, patches of fabric and unusual textures.

Taking a break from models, Project Plus One members Kathy Rivera and Nyah Macklin gave a presentation about tais. A tai is a traditional weaving made from cotton from Timor. After learning all about how tais are worn and an interactive presentation where they asked a guest to wear goatskin ankles, a gold headdress and a tai for the crowd, they explained how tais are a major source of income for Timor women. In conjunction with the theme, tais are the threads that weave together generations and districts—an example of how clothes can connect communities.

The Fashion Show took a turn toward couture with Kimono Dragons and their unique alternative designs.

Their line featured unique patterns, long flowing dresses with sashes and long tails, splashes of color and unconventional patterned hoodies. It was a perfect example of modern clothing with well executed Asian flare.

A lot of the brands were ones that I, and likely most of the guests, had never heard of. But the next line with its impressive success and popularity is a perfect example of Asian American entrepreneurship. Founded by Do Won Chang and his wife Jin Sook Chang in Los Angeles, Forever 21 is

one of the most loved female brands worldwide. They showed off their spring line with some of the newest trends for young women: crop tops, high waisted leggings, floral patterns, cardigans, as well as men’s shorts and more.

One of our very own alums, Grace Kim ’01, showed off her line g.KIM. It boasted a mix of contemporary and classic for the modern woman with a distinct mod style and clean cut silhouettes. Another break promoted a fundraiser for Mangok Bol, a Brandeis employee who recently left the U.S. for Sudan to search for his nieces and nephews, which features a raffle. Enzoani gave the ballroom a formal feel with vibrant formal wear designed to bring a mix of innovation and high quality to the bridal world.

Every event has a highlight or a special guest speaker, and the SKIN Fashion show’s highlight was a guest speech by Julia Rhee. Rhee’s company, Retrofit Republic, switched the style from classic to innovative with some gems like see through striped leather

pants, leather overalls, a long, skintight dress with slits on the sides and more outfits any guest could appreciate. Unlike the rest of the brands, Retrofit Republic is a fashion styling firm which has a focus on social impact.

They emphasize sustainability and social responsibility; Retrofit Republic also commits itself to initiatives that benefit low-income populations, communities of color and LGBTQ people.

As the cofounder of Retrofit Republic, Julia Rhee effectively conveyed these values through the Asian American experience. She shared her story about how she grew up in an immigrant family in Washington and attended a Catholic school where she was only one of three Asian kids. She described how every time she walked through the door she felt as if she couldn’t share her culture with her peers and kept to herself as a shy kid until she opened up in college with the Asian American club there. With her best friend they started from the bottom and built up their company.

Retrofit Republic began as a modest garage sale designed to help the community express themselves through their styles, and now stands as a styling firm that styles everybody (including various famous clients).

Rhee’s story has elements similar to those of many members of the Asian American community, and she ended with an important message. When we go out we’re a part of a new world where we can chase whatever dreams we have even if they’re in fashion instead of expected fields like medicine or law. But, Rhee advised, we should remember who came before us and use our opportunities to break down the barriers that hold the rest of our community back. Rhee captured the mission of the SKIN Fashion show well; APAHM aims to recognize and share both the struggles and the accomplishments of Asian Americans.

We break down the barriers that the community faces in fashion and more by empowering ourselves through celebrations like the SKIN Fashion show.

photos by katie chin/the hoot

EDITORIALS

10 The Brandeis Hoot

March 28, 2014

Catalyst Fund signifies investment in students “To acquire wisdom, one must observe.”

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

Volume 11 • Issue 10 the brandeis hoot • brandeis university 415 south street • waltham, ma

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Nathan Benjamin, Clayre Benzadon, Matt Brondoli, Shikha Chandarana, Rachel Dobkin, Roy Fan, Haley Fine, Evan Goldstein, Edwin Gonzalez, Jaye Han, Maya Himelfarb, Eli Kaminsky, Josh Kelly, Shayna Korol, Joe Lanoie, Nabi Menai, Vinh Nguyen, Charlie Romanow, Lisa Petrie, Sasha Ruiz, Emily Scharf, Shanlai Shangguan, Eliana Sinoff, Naomi Soman, Michael Wang, Shreyas Warrier, Jamie Wong, Linjie Xu, Ludi Yang

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.

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C

ollege tuition has risen over the past several years, even though median household income has remained stagnant. The recently formed Catalyst Fund, announced Thursday, is a fantastic first step in aiding students pay a steep tuition.

This fund aims to raise $100 million for undergraduate and graduate financial aid over the next few years. It will be financed by donations. This fund may also signify that tuition should not have to rise as much as expected. As financial aid packages are usually funded directly by students’ tuition income, usually tuition prices rise to an amount higher than first deemed necessary. Universities take this preventative measure to ensure they maintain a consistent percentage of financial aid. The new Catalyst Fund will provide more money for financial aid, without drawing from students’ tuition, perhaps leading to a less expensive tuition for all.

A college education has evolved into an important part of living within society, since more and more jobs require a diploma as the first part of one’s resume.

A Brandeis education in particular pro-

vides the necessary tools to succeed in life, because of the university’s focus on social justice as well as academic excellence. The establishment of the Catalyst Fund will help attract more students to this school, perhaps students that would not originally have been able to afford a college education. This could in turn help to build a more diverse Brandeis student body.

Many of the recent financial decisions made by the administration have been met with contention from the student body, such as the large payments to part-time and former administrators such as Jehuda Reinharz. This is a step in the right direction. We commend the university for making a forthright attempt in providing a quality and somewhat more affordable education, something that the administration itself has called a core commitment of the school’s academic mission.

Obviously, the creation of the Catalyst Fund does not address everything.

Student concerns, including postgraduate student debt and the aforementioned policy of “executive compensation,” have still not fully been addressed. But the

creation of this fund is significant. It will give many students the chance to access a high-class education and gain a second home at Brandeis. It proves not only that Brandeis itself takes the issue of financial aid seriously, but also that the school’s sponsors are dedicated.

Brandeis’ financial supporters clearly believe in the school’s message of social justice, and they have shown it through the Catalyst Fund. And though it would be great for the funds to exist immediately for students, we understand that the creation of a new scholarship is a long process. By the time aid provided through the Catalyst Fund is officially available by Dec. 2016, it will be well funded and structured enough to help as many students as possible.

While more steps must be made, the establishment of the Catalyst Fund is an important one that not only supports Brandeis’ present, but also its future. One of the defining characteristics of a university are is its students, and Brandeis’ creation of this program signals that it is dedicated to investing in its own. That signal is one worth celebrating.

SPORTS

March 28, 2014

By Mia Edelstein

The Brandeis Hoot 11

Fencers rank No. 21 at NCAA finals

Editor

After sending three fencers to Ohio State University for the NCAA Championships March 20-23, Brandeis ranked 21st.

Adam Mandel ’15, Noah Berman ’15 and Caroline Mattos ’16 competed among 24 fencers in each of their respective weapons selected from Division I, II and III varsity programs throughout the country. The Judges qualified during the NCAA Regional tournament earlier in March, which sent fencers from colleges across the Northeast to the championships to meet competitors from the Mid-Atlantic/South, Midwest, and Western regions. Mattos was fourth in women’s foil, Berman was 11th in men’s foil and Mandel was fifth in men’s saber.

Considering that the national tournament hosted most of American colleges’ best fencers, the Brandeis fencers knew that they were in for some tough competition. The tournament was formatted so that the fencers in each weapon fenced everyone, a total of 23 bouts per fencer, and wins and losses determined the winner. In some cases, it came down to the touch differentials, the numbers of touches a fencer scored minus those scored against them, to rank the fencers.

Pennsylvania State University stole

the day as the top-ranking school.

The best eight schools, a mix of Ivy League universities and athletic powerhouses, sent fencers from both genders for all weapons. Out of the 25 colleges at the competition, Brandeis scored 18 points, which earned the Judges 21st place.

Mattos and the women began the competition on Thursday. Mattos came out with four wins and placed 24 overall, dropping one ranking from last year despite having won one more bout this time around.

Her big win on the first day was against Lee Kiefer, an Olympian who is now a sophomore at Notre Dame University. The Judge scored 5 to Kiefer’s 2, a solid win. Mattos was one of only four fencers to outtouch Kiefer during the competition. Two of Mattos’ losses came down to the wire, ending with scores of 4-5. During her second day of the tournament, she secured three more victories, 5-4 against Kathryn Hawrot of Brown University, 5-3 against Mary McElwee of the United States Air Force

photo from internet source

Academy and 5-1 against Cassidy Seidl of the University of Pennsylvania.

Kiefer successfully defended her title as the NCAA Foil Champion, boasting a 19-4 record.

The men took to the strips on Saturday and Sunday. Starting first, Berman picked up five wins for a 5-18 record. His victories were over fencers from Princeton, UPenn, NJIT, New York University and St. John’s University. Berman started his first day on a strong note with a win against NYU’s Christian Vastola 5-0, and his second

win later that day was 5-3 over Princeton’s Michael Dudley. Wins against UPenn’s Jason Chang 5-4, NJIT’s David Kong 5-4 and St. John’s Max Blitzer 5-4 came on Sunday, and Berman ranked 23rd.

Gerek Meinhardt of Notre Dame claimed the men’s foil champion title, with a 20-3 record.

Defending his 12th-place ranking from last year’s NCAA Championships, Mandel returned to the strips.

His 9-12 record qualified him for 15th place, dropping three spots from his prior ranking, which had entitled him to All-American status. In five bouts, Mandel came up just short of a win, dropping each by a score of 4-5. Mandel’s first day of competition saw a 4-9 record, followed by day two’s record of 5-3. His strongest win was 5-1 over Yale’s Hugh O’Cinneide.

The remaining wins were over fencers from San Diego, Yale, UPenn, NYU, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Columbia. With one or two more wins in his close bouts, Mandel may have ranked high enough to earn a second consecutive All-American bid.

The top male saberist was Penn State’s Kaito Street, who registered a 20-23 score.

With the post-season finished, the Brandeis fencers will not compete with the school until next fall, but the team will continue conditioning and individuals will continue to practice on a pick-up basis with teammates.

Baseball team defeats Salem State

By Charlie Romanow Staff

The baseball team left the University Athletic Association Champion earlier this month with a 2-6 record but had some bright spots as Ing, McCarthy and Craig Markel made the All-UAA Tournament Team. Ing was the only player in the competition to be honored in both hitting and pitching.

The team had an easy week to end March as four of their last five games have been postponed. They defeated Salem State University 8-2 on Monday. Brandeis scored the first run of day in the second inning as Rob Trenk `15 was brought home on a fielder’s choice by Max Hart `16. They tacked on another run in the fourth when Liam O’Connor `16 singled, reached second on a bunt and scored two batters later on a fielder’s choice by Brian Ing `14. The Vikings scored their first run in the bottom of the fourth on two hits. Brandeis extended their lead in the following inning off of

relief pitcher Matt Turmenne. Salem was able to get the first two batters to ground out but a single and hit batter allowed O’Connor to double home Dan Gad `14. Hart then hit a single that scored O’Connor and Trenk.

Tom McCarthy `15 was able to reach on a fielder’s choice and round the bases off of a triple swing by Greg Heineman `16. Starting pitcher Kyle Brenner `15 was able to force the first two batters of the sixth inning into a double play but fell into a hole when two runners reached base on an error and a single. Ryan Beliveau brought home a runner from second and the next batter was hit, allowing the Vikings to load the bases. Brenner got out of it though as the runner advancing to second was forced out, ending Salem’s offense for the game. Another relief pitcher took the mound against the Judges but could not stop the consistent offense. O’Connor and Trenk were able to advance to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Hart. A single by Brian Allen `15 and groundout by Ing allowed both runners to score.

photo from internet source

Although not earning any hits, Ing was able to put the ball where it needed to go, bringing home two runners in the game. Hart had three RBI’s.

Trenk, O’Connor and Allen each had a trio of hits with the first two players scoring three times apiece as well.

Brenner earned his second win of the year in eight solid innings, allowing

eight hits, one earned run, and four walks while striking out two. Ryan Healy `16 came into the ninth to close the game, pitching a perfect inning.

Viking Ryan Hyjek received the loss, giving up five hits on two runs in four innings, walking one and striking out one. Ben Kendrew pitched the last two innings without allowing a run

or hit. Salem State struggles down to a 6-9 record while Brandeis moves to 7-8. The Judges are scheduled to face Bridgewater State University at home on Thursday at 3:00 and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Friday in Cambridge.

Men’s tennis conquers Coast Guard Academy

By Charlie Romanow Staff

The men’s tennis team defeated the Coast Guard Academy on Saturday to improve their team record to 5-3. The 7-2 victory was accomplished through losing only one singles and doubles match.

The first seeded doubles team lost but was vindicated with an 8-6 win

by Michael Arguello and Danny Lubarsky, and 8-2 victory by Jeff Cherkin and Alec Siegel. Arguello continued his success in singles play winning the first seeded match 6-4, 6-3. Cherkin was also 2-0 on

the day, winning the fourth placed match 6-0, 6-0.

Ryan Bunis, Matthew Zuckerman and Adam Brown round out the Judges other singles winners. Bunis lost his second set but came back to win a close final set 7-5. Zuckerman won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2 and Brown won every point on 6-0, 6-0 sets. Brian Granoff won the first set of the second seeded singles match but lost each of the next two sets by a 6-2 margin. The Bears fall to 1-4.

The Judges scheduled match against Babson College on Wednesday was postponed. The team returns to their home court on Saturday to face Bowdoin College at 11 am.

photo from internet source

OPINION

12 The Brandeis Hoot

March 28, 2014

Baking out of the Brandeis bubble

By Andrew Elmers Editor

Around the beginning of the semester, the most wonderful thing was going on in the SCC. A Girl Scout troop had set up a table and was selling cookies—Girl Scout Cookies. Since I did not have any cash on me, I couldn’t buy any cookies. But it wasn’t the possibility of a box of decadent Samoas or Tagalongs that made me think twice while I walked past their table.

It was their relative youth and innocence that seemed so out of place here on campus.

Brandeis is primarily composed of two somewhat homogenous groups—students and faculty. It’s not that we are homogenous in our backgrounds or ideas; that’s the opposite of what I mean here. Instead, every student is faced with the same problems every day on campus. Studying for midterms that always seem to occur around the same time for every class, struggling to find a job (either on campus or a real one) and dealing with relationships that appear to be more complex than the Gordian Knot. At the core of our education, students are trying to understand the fundamentals of whatever field they choose to study. The faculty share this aspect as well, since their jobs revolve around students grasping concepts they have devoted their lives

to studying. What this creates is the oft-mentioned “Brandeis Bubble,” where everything at the forefront of our minds centers around what is in front of us, and we cannot be bothered with the world’s problems.

This leaves us lacking in the “cheer” department. Life can get considerably dreary just going in and out of class, trying to make everything work. Friends can help keep spirits high, but they are susceptible to the same downfalls that plague each and every one of us, and a bridge can’t support itself if its beams rely on only each other to stand up. There needs to be a foundation, which is why everyone needs to find some sort of break in the daily grind to make it through the week.

To find a solution for this, some go for a hike while others like to stay in, listen to soothing music and sip some Earl Grey.

Yet the most apparent problem with activities like these is that they might not always offer a different perspective. While hiking or listening to music can relax and bring one to conclusions on issues they are facing, one can only reach this sense of sublime through their own volition.

Finding a way to incorporate a divergent mindset is paramount to making a prudent decision.

Obviously seven- and eightyear-old girls trying to earn a badge are the pinnacle of judgment when it comes to figuring out whether or not to pursue

graphic by janet jun zhao/the hoot

that relationship.

Though they might not offer any direct advice on the subject at hand, young children do provide that source of innocence that is lacking from our view

of the world when we are surrounded by a majority of people so close to us in age. When this troop of Girl scouts first ran in with their mothers and their overwhelming joy just to be with

their friends, it transported me back in time. A time when recess was a right, not a privilege, a time when a tree branch could See COOKIES, page 15

Religious groups should be given own space

By Joe Lanoie Staff

I missed my usual Latin Mass in Newton last Sunday morning, so I had decided to go to Father Cuenin’s service at 7:30 that night. instead.

As I walked to the Bethlehem Chapel to go to Mass, I passed by the Protestant and Jewish chapels. Out of the three chapels, only one was dark on a Sunday night. Not the Jewish chapel,however, as one would predict. The Protestant Chapel laid dark, barely brighter than the night.

photo from internet source

I remember wondering if it was ever used. In my three years at Brandeis, I have never seen anyone ever in the Protestant Chapel worshiping. I have seen dancing, a cappella groups performing and every so often a person practicing the piano, but these activities are not worship in themselves.

Yet I have seen people in the Jewish chapel outside of Shabbat services, and I have been in the Catholic Chapel outside of Mass to pray.

A few weeks back, the Hindu and Protestant communities had a falling

out over that space. Hindu worshippers on campus do not have a designated prayer space to have services.

They planned to share the Protestant chapel by establishing a Hindu murti (statue of a god) in the chapel. At the last moment, some Protestant members felt uneasy with the murti and the plan did not come to fruition. The situation shows the innate religious tensions that happen at Brandeis as well as the lack of religious knowledge and understanding on campus among the non-Jewish religions.

Religious illiteracy is a growing problem in America and needs to be addressed on campus. Why? Because religion motivates everything everyone does. Just look at the Supreme Court and Hobby Lobby. The entire case is based on religious objections.

If members on campus would criticize the defendants for having those “erroneous” beliefs and not understand why the defendants have those beliefs, they are no better than those they criticize. They are both ignorant in each other’s eyes, in different ways.

I want the Hindus to worship on campus, as it is their right. Brandeis grants us the ability to worship as we please. Not being able to do that is against all the founding principles of this university. The Hindu community on campus needs to find a place to worship that is their own. It will have to be in an existing building, but it cannot be in the Chapels. All the religions present in those chapels see the murti as a hindrance toward their worship rites, and they have the right to refuse whatever they believe to be against their faith in their respective chapels. I believe the Hindus on campus need to worship in a place in Usdan or possibly the Airplane Lounge, which remains vacant for most weekdays. That would be a realistic and practical solution to the problem.

Brandeis University would not lose space nor have to dole out money to build a new building. Hindus could worship there as soon as possible.

I do understand the Protestant uneasiness toward the situation. Martin Luther and other Protestant Reformers believed that Catholics’ ancestors worshipped the statues they criti-

cized. To some Protestants, the Hindu murti seems unorthodox in that it utilizes idol worship. It seems to contradict the entire 500-year separation between Protestants and Catholics for them to have a murti in their chapel, believing and knowing it to be only a statue. To Hindus, it is the god it represents during the worship. To them, there is no controversy. The statue is only God during the service and leaves the minute after the service is done. Knowing this fact, when I went to a Hindu temple a few years ago, I was able to appreciate the devotions more despite being an outsider. I neither believe in Hinduism nor Protestantism, but by studying both, I learn more about the religions of my friends and family.

In the real world, not everyone is Jewish. Not everyone is Hindu.

Not everyone is Protestant. Not everyone is atheist. When I graduate next year, I will be on the path where I will meet thousands of people, all with diverse faiths. Brandeis gave me a great opportunity to learn as much as I could about Judaism and other faiths so I could understand.

In a school founded on activism, we must learn as much as we can in order to act. And our perspectives can change. That’s fine. Our beliefs can be and should be challenged. It is exactly as Aristotle said, “The most intelligent minds are those that can entertain an idea without necessarily believing it.”

And that includes religion. We need to learn about religion to understand the world, and we learn by discussion.

I know that many are here to listen.

They are willing to do so, provided you learn from them too.

March 28, 2014

OPINION 13

The Brandeis Hoot

Recognize and reach out to overwhelmed peers

By Emily Stott Editor

Every day brings new obstacles, some days more than others. At Brandeis, we expect our course load to be difficult, and there is a mentality to fill every waking hour with a different activity. Students are no strangers to complaining about all the stress or work they have to deal with.

But perhaps we should take these complaints more seriously. No one should feel miserable here.

College is hard, but we shouldn’t be so eager to burn ourselves out.

Earlier this month, The Guardian published an article by an “anonymous academic” about a culture of accepting poor mental health in academic situations.

Though the article specifically pertained to graduate-level programs, many undergraduates at Brandeis face the same problems.

Late nights of homework, three tests on one day, difficult family situations and problems with friends all compound the already stressful nature of college. Why should we accept that students are unhappy, anxious and unwell? Why shouldn’t every student feel healthy in a university environment, regardless of their major or the difficulty of their program?

Almost every single week, there is another voluntary psych transport listed in the Brandeis police log, as another student is taken to the hospital due to psychiatric concerns. The school is doing the right thing in taking care of its students, but why do we accept this without question? Students are under enormous amounts of stress at times, but we tend to tell our friends, “I have so much work to do. I’m so stressed,” as if it’s some sort of accomplishment. Other students seem to make it a competition, feeling as if they have to be stressed too, or else they aren’t doing enough, or they’re missing out. Our goal should not be to have the most

graphic by linjie xu/the hoot

hectic schedule. Instead, let’s make sure we and our friends are not overwhelmed.

The mental health of our student body should not be dismissed. Students deserve to feel comfortable, well and happy. If something in the environment of the school is causing that to falter, we should take steps to understand and fix the problem.

Professors, especially those in the sciences, should make an effort to know when concurrent classes have exams and take those dates

into account when making their schedule. There is no reason why students need more stress piled on them.

When students are doing poorly in a class, professors and TAs should be expected to at least make an attempt to speak with the student. Perhaps there are outside factors that are making the class more difficult. Perhaps they are taking six classes and are heavily involved in three clubs, and literally do not have enough hours in the day to complete ev-

erything. Genuine concern from a professor might be what a student needs to feel they can take a step back and take care of themselves.

The culture of a university is always telling students to do more, be involved, work harder, work faster and meet more deadlines.

One can claim that this is meant to prepare us for the “real world,” but how are we supposed to be prepared if we can’t make it to graduation? There is no need for students to work to the point of

sickness. One imperfect test, class or even thesis is not the end of the world. We have to recognize that there are so many opportunities available to us, just as students who attend a university. You will get through it—but you have to make time for your own mental health, too. Your friends and teachers should understand when things get to be too much.

It is unacceptable that a community would perpetuate the idea that working yourself to the point of illness is an appropriate goal.

The class of 2014 has lost two students who took their own lives.

I can’t pretend to know why this happened, but clearly something needs to change. Academic stress is only one of many difficulties that students encounter. We have to take better care of those in our community who are struggling, rather than telling them that the struggle is what they should strive to achieve. It only takes the simple question, “Are you okay?” asked in a way that expects a genuine answer, not the generic reply of “I’m fine.”

Students, professors, staff and administrators need to be more in tune with the feelings of those they work with. This means making students feel more comfortable talking about mental health issues. This can start as early as first-year orientation—including a presentation on how to care for your own mental health, as well as where to go for help if your friend has an emergency, can give all students the information they need. In classes, in clubs and in sports teams, there should be a discussion of mental health issues and the available resources on and off campus for a listening ear and treatment options. A university should not pretend mental health isn’t important. But it’s up to individuals to make a small difference every day, checking in on their friends and students, to change a culture of working harder to one of working smarter.

Looking for possibilities of social movement

By Monique J. Menezes Staff

Brandeis has become a campus more than fairly involved in social justice. With that in mind, I thought about how exactly social justice is conveyed throughout campus. Just the other day, someone knocked on my door with a message of one of many groups on campus. This particular student was going door to door informing their fellow Brandeisians of the divestment campaign.

Their intent is to encourage the school, as described on their flyers, “to remove its investments from fossil fuel companies … [as part of] a national movement with campaigns at over 300 schools pushing for divestment and nine already divested …” This brief encounter encouraged me to take even a closer look at another group here at Brandeis.

A couple of weekends ago, Posse scholars came together at a retreat.

This year’s event pertained to social movements, a concept aligned with Brandeis’ mantra of social justice.

I spoke to a few students who attended. After some icebreakers, the group delved into topics related to their theme “Social Movements of the 21st Century.” By Sunday night, they had looked at social move-

ments over the span of history, even tightening that focus to the issues here on campus. With that in mind, they made up a list of what they considered priorities of Brandeis.

This committee of students came up with a list that included things such as leadership, school spirit, integration, rape awareness, cross-cultural education and racism consciousness. As the Posse retreat exhibited by making a list, knowing what the issues are is a good place to begin.

You can’t build something if you don’t know where to lay the foundation. They cannot expect to change anything for the sake of social justice unless they know what they want to change.

This list led to an experience of realization for many. One student, Alleah Salone ’17, told me about a particular activity where they used a few prompts such as “critical and urgent,” “critical but not urgent” and “something that can wait.” Each participant had to determine the urgency and importance of each listed item. One that stuck out for Salone was “school spirit.” She was relieved to see others agree with her on the fact that it is “critical but not urgent.” As she explained it, “I’m from the South, and I’m used to going all out.” She recognized that lacking eagerness did not just pertain to ath-

graphic by katherine selector /the hoot

letics but even to attending theater productions. “We should be spirited and proud to be here. I wish I knew how to do something,” she con-

cluded. This begs the question, if so many are aware of this as an issue, why was it not addressed yet?

A weekend full of discussion can

be empowering, and as one of the attendees summarized it, a “catalyst.” They did not draw out plans See JUSTICE, page 15

14 OPINION

The Brandeis Hoot

March 28, 2014

Finding a new perspective

photo from internet source

by the prospect of a term paper due the next day, never mind transform into whatever my a 15-page one at that. There is imagination wanted it to, a time something to be gained by this when I was never brought down youthful exuberance at display COOKIES, from page 12

whenever cookies are for sale in the SCC, at least more than just a few pounds.

It’s easy to forget that there is more to life than a biology exam

when everyone around you is only studying and worrying about said exam. Or that while not being accepted to be an Orientation Leader may seem to be

the end of the world to you, it really is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. It would be sobering to be combated on these perceptions by someone with real struggles, but that could wind up being a bit too dispiriting for someone looking to change the world. Instead, a conversation with a child on what makes them tick, what they savor and what they think about things can be just as sobering and more satisfying than being reminded why the world is rotten.

Numerous opportunities are offered on campus to connect with and reach out to children.

The Waltham Group has several programs that merge students and local youth in a positive environment. While the main purpose of these programs is to help the at-risk or disabled youth of the community, what winds up occurring more often than not is that the student benefits more than the child. If you believe that your time is more valuable than volunteering, you can seek employment at Lemberg Children’s Center and spend quality time with your professors’ kids.

All that aside, there truly is a need for students to burst the bubble that seems to form every time they walk back on campus. It isn’t healthy to surround yourself with only like-minded people when making important decisions. Just being reminded of what it means to be young and naive when class has got you down can instantly bring you out of that funk. Or you can just use it as an excuse to watch some cartoons.

Climbing the social justice ladder JUSTICE, from page 12

or make a sequential list of how to fix everything. Instead the Posse retreat, as I understood it, expanded the consciousness of social issues of these students and of the few invited faculty who attended. It was a setting where these individuals could be inspired to make a change. Nevertheless, I do not think it is enough.

As students, a majority of our time is learning and talking about what we learned. The Posse retreat was a fantastic outlet for a set of specific issues in the social realm. But just like any other discussion in a classroom, sometimes nothing goes beyond the classroom. When someone takes a class in their major, they are planning on using what they learn in the classroom. They have concrete plans to do something with what they learned. Are people from the Posse retreat or any other group involved with social movement going to do the same thing as that student taking a class in their major? I want to know if that “catalyst” will produce something or not. Talking to Salone, I knew she really wanted to make a change, gushing about how inspired the Posse retreat was. Nevertheless, even she admitted, “I am just a freshman, so I wonder if my voice matters … I went there to listen and learn.”

She went on to say she’d be more inclined to help and do something more if she had a guide of some sort.

Awareness of the issues is step one, and that is one of the things the Posse retreat addressed. Nonetheless, it is hard to tackle such big

problems when we keep waiting for others to start it out for us. It may be easier to just join a group already established in cross-cultural education

or integration than start one. That is no excuse, though. At this point, we are bystanders, knowing the issues, but not doing anything about

it, waiting for someone else to do something. Well, not all of us. I did have that one student who knocked on my door just a couple of days ago.

photo from internet source

March 28, 2014

OPINION 15

The Brandeis Hoot

Debate at Brandeis not as advertised

By Jess Linde Editor

As most people probably remember, a few weeks ago, Brandeis Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) created a Facebook event called “Brandeis Israel Apartheid Week (IAW).” The event, simply the Brandeis extension of one that occurs all over college campuses nationwide, went viral in less than a day. ProIsrael Brandeis students flooded the page with angry comments and accusations of “anti-Semitism,” even going so far as to throw personal insults at fellow students.

IAW’s supporters got just as angry, and the whole thing turned into a flame war between Brandeis students and some trolls who somehow found the page. It should’ve ended when the event’s administrators deleted the harmful comments.

But it didn’t. Pro-Israel students made their own fliers in protest of the event and put them up in East. A couple of Brandeis students used Twitter to gather opposition to the event, and when the keynote by Max Blumenthal finally rolled around, no Brandeis administrators attended any of the week’s events, and Fred Lawrence was at a national AIPAC conference.

A friend stopped talking to me because I argued for SJP’s right to free speech online. The narrative set by IAW’s detractors, that anyone who attended

photo by the hoot

or supported it desired the utter annihilation of Israel and its people and every Jew in the world, became the narrative taken by Brandeis, eliminating the idea of “vigorous debate” on the issue in any substantive way. I can’t say I was surprised.

Brandeis, after all, is “that Jewish school,” as several of my offcampus friends have referred to it. When I call it that, friends on campus and family disagree with the description, but think realistically. Brandeis is 55 percent Jewish, with a very visible Orthodox/conservative population.

We have nine actively pro-Israel clubs on campus and hundreds

of pro-Israel students. And after all, we go to “that Jewish school,” so why should I be surprised that “vigorous debate” on the IsraeliArab conflict doesn’t really exist?

Whenever I hear a conversation starting up on it, I immediately exit, because I don’t want to have a shouting match.

This is not the Brandeis University I applied to. I did not apply to a place where being critical of a country means that you want to murder an ethnic group.

I did not apply to a place where survivors of sexual assault have to create a blog in order to feel like they are not being ignored.

And I definitely did not apply to

a school that fails to justify why it pays former executives millions while raising tuition and driving out students without the money or scholarships to stay. At least I thought that I had applied, been accepted and ultimately enrolled in an institution that valued all opinions creating new leaders in fields of social justice, not just promoting the concept of it.

Instead I find myself at a school that stubbornly defends indefensible choices with minor concessions—an extra stop on the Bran Van, or blaring music and bad coffee in front of Usdan at nine in the morning. I am “represented” by a student government

that holds public forums where they thank the administration for taking time out of its schedule to talk to students and argue against other students. I help pay for my president’s car, but my school cannot justify why, nor can it justify why it does most of the things I have named.

All they can say is “we’re working on it,” and I am left with the fact that the students don’t have much power at all; the fact that some of us get to put on a tie and sit next to this dean and that department head doesn’t mean we have the ability to change much.

But hey, “We’re working on it.”

Since coming to Brandeis I have made amazing friends and had amazing experiences with my education and during recreation. I just wish all this didn’t feel like it had conditions, such as supporting Israel or being tenacious enough to get my friends to click my name, just so I can speak with an administrator. Students love being here, but they acknowledge that it is far from perfect. To recognize that, the administration should stop acting as if they know what we want, and come down to earth and have a “vigorous debate.”

Brandeis students deserve an administration willing to treat them as equals, but to do that, the administration should first acknowledge that both faculty, students and staff all go to the same school, even if only some of us are enrolled in classes.

Gaps in housing coverage need to be addressed

By Naomi Soman Staff

Housing is over, and once again it has caused more pain than pleasure and split up more friendships than it has created.

There is not enough campus housing to fit everyone in the first place, but the people who will be living on campus have to deal with the ridiculous prices and the limited options.

One new feature this year is that there are no neighborhood pull-ins. Last year, a student could not only pull-in his or her own roommate(s), but could also pull-in students in a room next to him or her in East or the Village. This system allowed a group of friends to all live in the same area even if only one of them had good numbers. Without neighborhood pull-ins, students can choose their roommate, but the rest of their friends may be spread all across campus because of high numbers.

This new change specifically hurts the rising sophomores.

Juniors and seniors have more suite-style housing, and while a few sophomores can live in Rosie, most of them have to live in East, the Castle or the Village. Last year, most of my friends chose to live on floors two and three of East, and while I wanted a single in the Castle, I always knew where to go when I wanted to hang out with all of my friends. First-years and their friends, who similarly might have all lived together, will end up living all over campus next year.

Rooming with one’s friends is an underratedly important fac-

tor in overall happiness in college life. Living in the Castle I can attest to this. The Castle can be very lonely at times. It’s quiet, and everyone stays in their rooms unless they have to go to the bathroom. 24-hour quiet hours is true nowhere but the Castle. I had to make the effort this year to go and see my friends in East, but it would have been a lot easier to connect with them had I lived next to them. Though I liked having a large space all to myself, I missed seeing my friends all of the time.

College is stressful. When I come back to my room at night after a long day, I want to be able to relax with my friends. Without friends, campus life would be pretty depressing. Yes, one can participate in clubs and activities, but I do not always want to go out of my way to make time for friends. If they live next to me, though, I can easily see them whenever.

On a second note, dorms with kitchens are significantly more expensive than those without them. Soon, everyone who lives on campus is going to be required to have a meal-plan, but then those living with a kitchen have to pay more than their share. As of right now, someone living in a single in East, Castle, Village, North or Massel pays $7,946, and someone living in a double in these locations pays $7,204. Someone living in Ridgewood, the Foster Mods, or a regular single in 567 pays $9,610.

The extra $1,664 for a kitchen is much cheaper than paying for a meal plan. Right now, the meal plans start at $3,910 for the Vil-

photo from internet source

lage Plan and $4,930 for the 5 Meal Combo Plan if you live outside the Village. Costs add up for students, and every dollar counts, so there needs to be a response from housing and dining as to how meal plans and housing prices will be altered for this new policy.

I understand the extra price of dorms with kitchens because they cost more to build, but if those students have to have a meal plan, this extra cost is ab-

surd. There is no reason that someone who wants to live on campus in 567, the Mods or Ridgewood, should have to pay for a meal plan and the extra $1,664 for living in a dorm with a kitchen. By all means, if they do not want to cook for themselves, then they should have the option to have a meal plan, but not be required to do so.

Ultimately, this new housing system is a mess that empties students’ wallets and tears them

away from their friends. Sophomores do not get to room with all of their friends, and juniors and seniors will soon have to pay not only for the facilities to cook their own food, but for a school meal plan, too. The university is trying to pull a ridiculous scam to make students pay excessively more for their food than the price of what they actually eat.

This needs to be addressed before the administration puts it into action.

March 28, 2014

HOOT SCOOPS

The Brandeis Hoot 11

Relay for Life displays hope, promise and committment to ending cancer

By Ethan Berceli

Special to the Hoot

In a display of coordination and generosity, Brandeis hosted its seventh annual Relay for Life last Sunday, March 23 and raised over $42,000 for cancer research.

Relay for Life is a communitybased event that takes place nationwide, sponsored by the American Cancer Society. As its most successful fundraiser, Relay raises money for both cancer research and for improving the quality of life for cancer patients and their caretakers.

At Brandeis, Gosman Athletic Center hosts the 12-hour event, and this year over 667 participants across 61 teams signed up for the fight against cancer. This year, the event, which took almost a year of planning, campaigning and fundraising, was co-chaired by Judith Faye Giller-Leinwohl ’15 and Lindsay Fitzpatrick ’16.

From 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., teams camped out around the track, selling food and souvenirs to raise money. For Foti Andromidas ’15, at his third Relay for Life, the many different kinds of food were overshadowed by something even better.

“The bounce house was simply incredible. I wish the track was made of that stuff so I could have bounced my way around it,” Andromidas said.

Members of each team take turns walking around the track while games and activities, including the bounce house, provided built-in entertainment for an event that kept partici-

pants engaged all day long.

Feedback from last year’s Relay committee indicated that the event could be even bigger with more publicity. The publicity committee, headed by Talia Holtzman ’15 and Dylan Schlesigner ’15, spread the word with a number of events that started as far back as the beginning of first semester.

Jail and Bail is a fundraising and awareness event held in the fall, where students and faculty are jailed and need to raise money for bail. This year’s new event, Passport to Relay, informed students about Relay with a passport-stamping frenzy that rewarded them with pizza at the end.

The committee focused on reaching out to first-years, who may or may not have been previously introduced to this event, to ensure they are incorporated into the Relay culture and will maintain the Brandeis tradition.

Three weeks before the event, volunteers stormed Massel Quad, North Quad and the Village during Paint the Campus Purple Week. Fitzpatrick thinks this was an important step in new recruitment.

“We got to talk one-on-one with the students and explain the event and why it was so important. Talking to individuals was incredibly successful, and so many of them seemed so interested once they were informed,” Fitzpatrick said.

The event kicked off with the signature Survivor Lap, the first lap of the event undertaken by cancer survivors to celebrate their successful battle.

To raise money, the teams sold baked goods, pancakes, guacamole and even fresh grilled cheese to provide a constructive source of nutrition for the walkers. Teams that weren’t selling food came up with other creative ways to raise money, with one team raffling off tickets to win a date with one of the men on their team. At another table, participants could write cards to cancer patients in the hospital, a more direct form of emotional support and a moving reminder of why everyone was brought together.

The flagship event, the Luminaria Ceremony, headed by Maddie Engeler ’16 and Summer Koop ’16, began at 8 that night. Luminaria, a ceremony in which candles are set in small paper bags lining the track, is a dedication to those who have battled or are currently battling cancer. Behind the stage, an arrangement of candles spelled out the

word “hope,” an inspiring and reoccurring theme throughout the night.

Every person in the gym is given a glow stick, and walking a single lap together, each participant throws the glow stick into a giant luminaria. As descriptions of parents, siblings and friends are announced, participants toss their glow sticks in to remember their loved ones who have been affected by cancer. It is visually stirring to see how cancer has no restraints.

For Engeler, the ceremony is significant as a time and space to remember, honor and mourn loved ones affected by cancer.

“Seeing the Brandeis community

stand together during the ceremony was such a powerful moment. It makes us realize that we are not alone in our sadness but can come together and truly overcome the past and look to the future for hope,“ Engeler said.

It is a testament to both the scope of this terrible disease and the hope that Relay provides to see that everyone, on some level, has been affected by cancer.

The fundraising isn’t over yet. The last event, the Mr. Brandeis Pageant, will take place Thursday, April 3 as 16 contestants compete in yet another event where all proceeds will go to Brandeis Relay for Life.

photos by matt brondoli/the hoot