The Brandeis Hoot - 4/4/14

Volume 11 Number 11

www.thebrandeishoot.com

Tuition to rise 3.7 percent

By Dana Trismen Editor

This week, Brandeis announced a 3.7-percent tuition increase, one that has been approved by the Board of Trustees.

“While we know very well that no increases are welcome, this keeps the increase substantially below the level envisioned in the strategic plan; both the Board and the administration are very sensitive to the need to control, insofar as possible, the cost of a Brandeis University education,” reads an official statement released to Brandeis media this week. The statement highlighted the university’s efforts on improving efficiency and cost effectiveness across all operations.

The statement also reads, “Thanks to our improved efficiency and committed donors, we have exceeded our annual target, and the Board is able to reflect that in our student charges for next year.” In an interview with The Hoot this week, Ellen de Graffenreid, senior vice president for communications, affirmed that indeed, this signifies that while Brandeis will increase tuition, financial aid will grow as well.

“We expect that financial aid will increase proportionally to costs, thanks to the generosity of Brandeis’ donors and friends and to savings that we are finding in other parts of university operations.”

The original increase as envisioned by the strategic plan was at least 4 percent. De Graffenreid compared the official 3.7 percent increase for the 2014-2015 school year to other competitor schools, such as Tufts and Boston University. “We know that Tufts has estimated a similar increase.

BU announced a 3.9 overall cost increase,” she said.

See TUITION, page 2

Brandeis University’s Community Newspaper • Waltham, Mass.

April 4, 2014

’Deis Talks showcase students’ ideas

By Jess Linde Editor

On Thursday, April 3, the Presentation Room in the Shapiro Admissions Building was packed with students, faculty and other guests for the second annual ’Deis Talks event, presented by Brandeis’ Education for Students by Students (ESS) club. The event, also sponsored by the Brandeis Pluralism Alliance, LTS and Brandeis’ Experiential Learning program, consisted of seven short speeches by Brandeis students of all years, as well as a recent graduate. The speeches, designed to be similar to the popular TED Talks, were introduced by ESS members Brendan Reardon ’14 and Ben Wang ’15 as “the culmination of a program designed to help students who change the world.”

The first talk came from Tali Fleitman ’17. Fleitman, who was raised in Mexico City and whose family is half-Mexican and half-Israeli, spoke See TALKS, page 4

photos by katie chin/the hoot

deistalks The audience enjoyed inspiring speeches from Brandeis students. Pictured above (left

to right): Afzal Raiaan Ullah ‘14, Sindhura Sonnathi ‘14, Abie Troen ‘14.

Anita Hill confronts past and future in documentary

By Emily Stott Editor

In 1991, Anita Hill stood alone in front of a panel during the hearings to confirm Clarence Thomas. Today, 22 years later, she revisits the trauma of the hearings while also offering hope for equality in her documentary, “Anita.” The documentary premiered in Waltham Thursday night, April 3.

This week, Hill spoke with The Hoot to discuss her experiences during the hearings, what students can learn and how students can engage in a conversation both at Brandeis and in larger situations. And this is only the begin-

ning.

“The important thing is really to learn about the proceedings of 1991, the importance of a fair hearing and process in discovering the truth …

I want everyone to know that the process does matter,” Hill said in an interview. She hopes the new generation of people who have been born since the hearings can learn from her experiences and see why the process is vital to securing equality.

“The hearings themselves were really traumatic, and I don’t think that is an exaggeration in any sense … it was a deeply hurtful experience, especially the tone that some of the ques-

tions took and some of the behavior some of the senators engaged outside of the hearing room,” Hill said. Some senators made claims outside of the hearings that were not based on any facts.

She felt that “the government was failing you, not just a failure to believe what I was saying but to really understand who I was.” People began to deny her statements exaggeratedly, and this followed her even after the hearings ended. Alan Simpson said that a claim of sexual harassment was “crap,” and even after Hill moved back to Oklahoma, lawmakers there followed the senator’s behavior and

continued to cause her additional pain.

When she looks back at the photos taken during the hearings, she still feels that the photos represent her.

At the time, the experience felt surreal. To her, one of the most striking photos is that of “that bank of white, male, middle-aged senators, all of whom were older than I was, questioning me, an African-American female, about behavior that so many women had experienced but which they seemed to know nothing about.”

There was a stark contrast between See ANITA, page 2

Islam Awareness Week promotes positive understanding of Islam

By Emily Belowich Editor

This week on campus, Brandeis hosted its annual “Islam Awareness Week,” established to raise awareness about Islam and to remove misconceptions about Islam and Muslims.

Sponsored by the Muslim Student Association, the various events held over the course of a week included an Islam 101 lecture, photography exhibit, an Interfaith lunch and prayer and more.

Islam Awareness Week is a national project that was started by the Muslim Students Association of the United States and Canada in the early 1990s.

According to its website, Islam Awareness Week seeks to promote a positive understanding of Islam and hopes to build and strengthen connections and relationships within the university community.

The organization claims a successful Islam Awareness Week “not only involves first understanding who your target audience is, but also involves choosing which activities your audience would be interested in and thus attend.”

Keeping that in mind, members of the Brandeis Muslim Student Association started discussing this week’s events at the end of fall semester.

They primarily started planning for it about a month before so that they could create committees for each of the events.

Zoha Hussain ’14, a member of the Brandeis Muslim Student Association, explained that each year the events change slightly, but it always starts and ends in the same way.

“We always start off with an Islam 101 event with a professor on the first day so that the community can have some basic background for the week.

And we always end with the weekly See ISLAM, page 2

Inside this issue:

News: Change in mascot could be coming Arts, Etc.: Senior writes and directs play Opinion: Problems with PCC forces stigma Sports: Softball splits doubleheader Editorial: Muslims underserved by Univ

my jihad As part of Islam awareness week, Brandeis students were encouraged to write down their struggles,

whether they be religious or personal.

Mr. Brandeis named

World record for pies in the face gets broken as undergrads dance and sing in formal and swim wear to fight cancer.

Page 3 Page 8 Page 12 Page 11 Arts, etc.: Page 9 Page 10

Baseball falls while on the road

Judges lose to Tufts despite strong performances by Brenner ’15 and Tettemer ’17, due to hollow bats and critical errors.

Sports: Page 16

photos courtesy of zoha hussain

2 The Brandeis Hoot

Board of Trustees votes to raise tuition TUITION, from page 1

Graffenreid justified the increase in this way: “No increase in costs is welcome, although it is critical that we maintain the quality of a Brandeis education. The cost to provide this kind of education is significantly greater than the tuition that is charged to Brandeis students,” she said.

According to the statement, the increase is expected to aid in a number of efforts, from upgrading buildings to hiring new faculty. These new efforts include the promise to accelerate “employer outreach in the Hiatt Career Center as we seek to build on our exceptional 95-percent placement rate within six months of graduation” and the expansion of “our student offices in community services and LGBTQ services, responding to specific requests by our student body.” Other new initiatives include upgrading lecture halls, the new building for the Lemberg Childcare Center and several “dynamic” faculty hires.

The statement also highlighted the in-the-works installment of Chris Burden’s art. Burden is a world-renowned performance and installation artist. “We will also see the addition

of true regional landmark with the installation of a massive light sculpture outside the Rose Art museum by renowned artist Chris Burden,” the statement reads. “The Burden sculpture was commissioned exclusively with restricted art acquisition funds.”

Perhaps the most anticipated upcoming installation is not of Burden’s art but of improvements to residential dorms. “[We will be] continuing our investment in campus infrastructure with a long-anticipated renovation of the Usdan dining area, as well as refurbishing the Foster Mods, part of the Ziv residence halls,” the statement reads.

“At least my tuition money is going to affect me, as I’m living in Ziv. It will directly benefit me. If it’s something like that its OK with me,” said Fay Laborio ’16, a Health: Science, Society and Policy (HSSP) and Anthropology major and varsity swim team member. Later in an interview with The Hoot, Laborio also expressed worry about the increase.

“I also don’t know if I can afford that,” she said. “College is expensive to begin with. You can’t do anything without a college education now, so I don’t really have a choice.”

Muslim students seek on-campus understanding via events ISLAM, from page 1

prayer on Fridays,” Hussain said.

This year’s Islam 101 featured Professor Joseph Lumbard from the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies department.

An assistant professor of classical Islam, his research focuses on Islamic intellectual traditions with an emphasis on Sufism and Islamic philosophy.

He is the editor of “Islam, Fundamentalism, and the Betrayal of Tradition” (World Wisdom, 2004), a collection of essays concentrating on religious, political and historical factors that led to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism.

He is currently researching the development of Sufi theories of love in the early Islamic period and their influence on Persian Sufi tradition.

Lumbard’s talk focused on the five pillars of Islam, the Hajj and the similarities between Islam and other Abrahamic faiths.

According to co-president Alina Cheema ’15, Lumbard’s speech was originally supposed to be only about 25 minutes, but he ended up using the entire hour and a half designated to answer the questions from mostly non-Muslim students.

“Students were eager to hear more, and the entire event was much more than we hoped for,” Cheema said.

Lumbard spoke about the meaning of each of the five pillars of Islam. The last pillar, Hajj, is the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and is the largest gathering of Muslim people in the world every year.

It is considered the most significant manifestation of Islamic faith and unity in the world and according to Lumbard, is a “once in a lifetime duty that is the peak of their religious life.”

Lumbard also spent a portion of his time talking about the Quran, the Holy Book of Islam.

The Quran is organized into chapters called surah, and verses called ayat.

Specifically, he argued that parts of the Holy Book give an inkling toward other religions.

This year’s Islam Awareness week also featured the “MyJihad” project, a

public education campaign that seeks to share the proper meaning of Jihad as believed and practiced by the majority of Muslims.

Hussain claimed that this year’s mission was to break down misrepresentations of the word jihad, a term that is often portrayed badly due to Muslim extremists, the media portrayal and attempts at public indoctrination by Islamophobes. ]The campaign was started in Chicago by an activist named Ahmed Rehab. It was an independent initiative to break down the meaning of the word “jihad,” which translates to “struggling in the way of God.” Brandeis took part in this effort through a photography project, where students wrote down their struggles. It could be something religiously-affiliated or not, the choice was left open.

They then used “#myjihad” to relate it to the struggle for justice that Muslims currently face.

Hussain said that they did this last year, but this year the project had an even larger presence.

“We had over 50 people participate,” Hussain said.

“We asked the Brandeis community to take part in our project because everyone has a struggle, whether it’s related to religion or not.”

Other events from Islam Awareness Week included “Scarves for Solidarity,” giving women on campus the option to wear a headscarf who don’t normally wear one and then participating in a discussion later on in the day.

Lastly, Brandeis will host an Interfaith lunch and prayer on Friday in the International Lounge at 12:50 p.m., and the club has invited MSA groups from Tufts, Wellesley, Boston College, Boston University, Simmons and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

“We want to invite other schools to this event to show them what we’re doing to raise awareness about Islam on our campus,” Hussain said.

“We also hope that people of all religious groups come to this event to listen, learn and contribute to an interesting discussion.”

NEWS

April 4, 2014

‘Anita’ documentary offers rare insights ANITA, from page 1

what the senators felt was their world and the people whose lives they could not understand or relate to.

Even in the midst of a traumatic experience, Hill never thought she would give up. She had many supporters, including her mother, seven brothers who all supported her and her colleagues at the University of Oklahoma. “I had so much going for me that a lot of people don’t have … sometimes people don’t have their colleagues.” A person’s colleagues might think it will reflect poorly on them if someone makes a claim of sexual harassment.

“You really have to know that you’re being truthful, and you really have to know in your heart, and the right to speak out, and the importance of what you’re saying.” She said that it could be more impactful by bringing others to come support you. Hill initially came forward because she wanted to uphold the integrity of the court, but later realized from other people who spoke up that it resonated with women across the country. “Get the perspective of other people who believe in the same thing … We are strengthened when we can engage with others,” she added.

Certainly much has changed in the past two decades. More women come forward in sexual harassment claims, more women are represented in politics, and there is greater understanding of problems of gender inequality. But there is still a long way to go.

Recently in the case against General Jeffrey A. Sinclair, he admitted that he has mistreated a subordinate, with whom he had an adulterous affair for three years. Yet he was hardly held accountable, given only a fine and reprimand, but no jail time.

Hill thinks it is unlikely that her experiences will be repeated exactly by another woman, primarily because it’s likely that a committee would conduct a more robust vetting of the candidate up front, uncovering any such claims before the confirmation went near a hearing.

Students should understand the importance of a fair process to grant people the ability to safely come forward, Hill says. “If there are people who retaliate against them, that they can be brought to account for their behavior as well,” she said.

She believes it is important for students to recognize just how much the culture supports the discrimination and erasure of women who have

been harmed. Recently at a college, students marched in Take Back the Night, taking a stand against sexual violence against women, but were met with taunts, primarily from men.

The public seems to feel it is acceptable to ridicule an important issue. At Brandeis, Sheila McMahon, sexual assault services and prevention specialist, is working to combat the culture by promoting bystander prevention.

“We all need to take responsibility for changing the environment … We can participate in ways that are positive to bring effective change,” Hill said.

Although most news tend to show Brandeis as dealing with sexual assault poorly, Hill discussed how there are many qualified people working to make the university a safe environment. Particularly in the last few years, committed staff try to change the environment. “Some very committed people are trying to make Brandeis the kind of environment where sexual assault is not considered to be the norm, and sexual harassment is not just something that is accepted,” Hill said.

There is an increased effort currently being made to make Brandeis a safe space for all people to feel respected and able to come forward if they are harassed, discriminated against or assaulted. Professor Bernadette Brooten (CLAS, NEJS, WMGS) speaks on campus and others across Massachusetts. Brandeis hosted a sexual assault training program that brings together schools from around the area.

The president and provost of Brandeis have made clear statements indicating their support for students.

Director of Employee Relations Linda Shinomoto is responsible for harassment and discrimination claims and is the Title IX coordinator. She was unavailable for comment this week,

photo by haley fine/the hoot

but Hill indicated that she has developed sexual harassment training available to personnel and is an important resource on campus. And in the next few weeks, President Obama will be releasing a report from a committee about the best practices to combat sexual harassment and assault.

As The Hoot recently reported, the Women and Gender Studies program released its report on gender equality. “We have to ask ourselves, Is this the best Brandeis can be?” Hill asked.

She believes there is much room for improvement. More women with degrees are coming of age, and now is the time for them to take on leadership positions. “They’re in a position to take on the challenges, and to lead in taking on the challenges,” Hill said.

As a female professor at Brandeis, Hill has not experienced nearly the same overt bias as she did when she was sexually harassed. Sometimes, however, men are given benefits over women due to the system.

“Are we valued as much … are our contributions valued as much?” she questioned. “Equality is a work in progress … Sometimes you even feel that you’re moving backwards, but it doesn’t mean that you stop.”

Anita Hill will not be teaching any courses next year, as she was granted her first sabbatical at Brandeis. She will use the time to read through the thousands of letters she has received over the past two decades, and plans to possibly create courses that come from the material. “It’s not over!” she said. “This is just the beginning.”

“The conversation is just restarted after 22 years, and we’ll see where it takes us,” Hill said.

“Anita” will continue playing at the Waltham Embassy Cinema and the Cambridge Kendall Square Cinema.

Major-General offers military perspective on the media

By Shayna Korol Staff

On Wednesday evening, Major General Anthony Cucolo gave a talk entitled “The Media: A Serviceman’s View” in Mandel G3. He spoke about the relationship between the media and the army at an event organized

by Brandeis University’s American Studies Department.

Cucolo is the 49th Commandant of the U.S. Army War College and the Commanding General Third Infantry Division. His most recent assignment was director of Force Development for the U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff.

Once a crowd had assembled, Cucolo opened up a PowerPoint presentation that outlined the content of his speech. He stressed the importance of journalistic ethics as well as transparency on the part of the Army, where it could be provided without jeopardizing American interests.

A student in the audience raised her hand and asked for his opinion

on Edward Snowden’s leaking of classified materials and how that contributed to the “great liberty versus security” debate. Cucolo replied that Snowden had greatly damaged American interests. He acknowledged that college students at a university with a reputation for liberalism might not agree with him, but stood firm in that conviction as a member of the Armed Forces.

When questioned about his view of the National Security Agency (NSA) and its alleged spying on American citizens, Cucolo said that “your emails, your phone conversations … those aren’t what’s being recorded.”

Unable to go into much more depth, he assured the students that the NSA, while imperfect, was not flaunting civil liberties.

He emphasized the importance of reaching out to representatives of the media in the context of a “professional relationship,” and helping them seek out and publicize the truth. Cucolo said that it was in fact in the best interests of the Army to be honest and open, contrary to popular belief.

“The Army is much harder on itself than the media can ever hope to be,” he said. “Trust me on that.”

He values investigative journalism as a means to bring abuses to light and correct them, which entails reporters calling out their colleagues for incorrect information, regardless of how that might affect career advancement. He recounted an incident where he spoke to a reporter, who told him candidly, “I’d rather be first than right.” Such a breach of ethics cannot go unchecked, he said, since information is especially powerful in the form of imagery, and first impressions, right or wrong, often last.

Maj. Gen. Cucolo described the relationship between the media and the Armed Forces as similar to that of a “rocky marriage.” To clarify, he said that “[the Army’s reputation and relationship with the media] is still recovering from Vietnam.”

Another student asked him for his viewpoint on journalists like Lara LoSee MILITARY, page 4

April 4, 2014

The Brandeis Hoot

NEWS

3

Northwestern football moves toward unionization

By Charlie Romanow Staff

The framework of college athletics may be dramatically altered after a regional director of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that football players at Northwestern University fit within the definition of employees. This judgment allows these football players to form a labor union.

Peter Ohr, regional director of the Chicago NLRB Office, reached the controversial verdict after considering the time commitment that the student athletes must make to football. It is an obligation that can amount to 60 hours per week during portions of the year.

The students are seeking compensation for use of their images and reputations. Yet they do not intend to ask for a salary or regular pay for their athletic commitments. The players also want better medical coverage for injuries sustained during competition and practice along with an increased focus on prevention measures in terms of head injuries.

In 1953, when collegiate football players were seeking workers compensation for injuries received during competition from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the organization developed the phrase “student-athlete.” This term emphasized the scholastic aspect of students’ college experience to avoid having to pay for long-term disability benefits. In recent years, journalists, athletes and the public have been skeptical of the NCAA’s “student-athlete” practices, as Division I football and basketball programs’ revenues have skyrocketed from ticket sales, regional and national television contracts and merchandising. Some are also critical of colleges maintaining non-profit statuses, despite bringing in millions of dollars from sports.

The NCAA has been involved in a number of lawsuits and controversies in recent years. The case of O’Bannon v. NCAA is an antitrust suit stipulating that the NCAA unfairly forbids athletes who have graduated to earn compensation for the continued use of their likeness. Other lawsuits pur-

photo from internet source

port that the NCAA has not sufficiently prevented players from receiving head injuries and has not helped them deal with the financial burdens of injuries afterwards.

Northwestern University is a Division I school of nearly 20,000 students located just north of Chicago in Evanston. The college’s athletic teams, known as the Wildcats, are members of the high-profile Big 10 Conference.

The school is one of the most highly ranked scholastic institutions in the nation with rigorous academic standards. 97 percent of Northwestern football players graduate, more than any other Division I football program. Ohr’s findings report that the monetary value of a year’s scholarship for Northwestern football players is as high as $76,000.

In addition to the effect that the decision will have on Northwestern students, the case is expected to become a precedent in similar labor cases. The rationale will only apply as a precedent for private colleges. The NLRB does not have jurisdiction over public schools, where labor and collective bargaining restrictions are governed by the state.

Richard Epstein, labor law professor at New York University believes

that the ruling has “vast implications for the structure of the sport, if upheld,” according to The Wall Street Journal.

The determination of athletes as employees applies only to students receiving full athletic scholarships.

There are currently 125 Division I football programs that are each allowed to award 85 full scholarships.

There are additionally 315 Division I basketball programs that can each give 13 full scholarships.

In Ohr’s report detailing the reasoning of the decision, evidence was given to demonstrate the control the university exerts over athletes, specific conditions that are not applied to other students. These include the requirements of scholarship students to live on campus for their first two years and that all athletes sign a release for the school and Big 10 conference to use their name, likeness and image for any purpose. It also includes not allowing students to have media interviews, swear or receive any compensation or advantage due to their athletic reputation and that all players must be drug tested. Athletes must also inform the coach regarding what car they drive, where they work and where they live off campus.

Numerous students report not being able to take certain required classes in their preferred major and not being able to major in the subject they wanted, due to the heavy time commitment of athletics. This last consequence has been shown to be prevalent across schools and sports. CNN reported that nearly 15 percent of Division I men’s baseball, basketball and football players would have majored in something different if they had not participated in sports.

Numerous individuals and groups believe that the students forming a union could hurt their cause and have negative repercussions for college sports. It is argued that one such flaw could be that athlete strikes and athletic department lockouts would be possible. Another caveat of such a future would be the possibility of altering the non-profit status of schools (or their athletic programs). As a non-profit, revenue from donations and ticket sales are tax exempt, as are athletic scholarships, but the potential income of players would not be.

Henry Bienen, president of Northwestern from 1995 to 2009, believes that the formation of a union could lead to a downfall in college football.

“If we got into collective bargain-

ing situations, I would not take for granted that the Northwesterns of the world would continue to play Division I sports,” said Bienen to Bloomberg News.

Bienen believes that Northwestern and other academically-oriented Division I private schools such as Stanford University and Duke University could decide to downgrade their football program to avoid the struggles that go with unionization and maintain their reputations for academic integrity. The Ivy League went through a similar process in 1981, when they were demoted from Division I football to Division I-AA. Although eligible, the Ivies do not participate in postseason play due to conflicts with the academic schedule.

Despite continued academic success, the Ivy League schools’ football programs that were once the best in the country receive a smaller portion of the revenue, attendance and attention that they once drew. Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships in any sport.

Northwestern plans to file a request for a full review by the NLRB, whose members were appointed by President Obama and serve five year terms. The school has until April to appeal, and the athletes must respond

by April 16. There is no deadline for the NLRB to reach a decision.

A statement by Northwestern’s Vice President for University Relations Alan K. Cubbage read, “Northwestern believes the decision overlooked or completely ignored much of the critical testimony supporting the University’s position that student-athletes are not employees of Northwestern.”

Northwestern’s athletes and cooperating organizations are meeting with legislators in the nation’s capital this week. The athletes have received financial and administrative backing from the United Steelworkers Union.

To unionize, 30 percent of Northwestern scholarship football players must agree to the decision. As Northwestern University is likely to appeal any decision ruling in favor of the students, the case may potentially be heard by the Supreme Court, and it may take years to reach any conclusion.

Administration strives towards graphic unity

By Dana Trismen Editor

Over the past year, Andrew Flagel, senior vice president of students and enrollment, and Ellen de Graffenreid, senior vice president for Communications, have eagerly begun planning a new graphic identity for Brandeis.

In an email to The Hoot, Flagel reported, “There isn’t any plan to change the institutional ‘brand’—the effort focuses on our graphic images and recruitment messages.”

De Graffenreid was able to expand upon the subject over the course of this week in an interview with The Hoot. “Most universities update their graphic identity—the look and feel of university materials, web sites, logos, etc.—about every 10 years. Brandeis does not have a history of doing this, unlike all of our peer institutions,” she said. According to Graffenreid, the timing for this venture is finally right.

“It is a great time to create a research-based graphic identity and a set of messages to test with our key audiences, because the university is starting to implement the strategic plan. The strategic plan provides a fantastic definition of what Brandeis aspires to be, what our current strengths are and does so in a highly

inclusive way that involved faculty, staff and students in the process,” she said.

De Graffenreid thinks new, unified graphic messages would be a great vehicle to help promote the strategic plan. “These graphic identity and messaging efforts build on Brandeis’ identity and will help us express this distinctiveness to audiences who aren’t as familiar with our great history and culture,” she said.

Many different fonts and colors can be seen on display at Brandeis, from the giant banner on the bridge overlooking South Street to the logos on sweatshirts in the Brandeis bookstore.

This disunity in appearance is what has prompted the need for a new graphic identity.

“Brandeis has a great deal of variety in how we present ourselves, and studies and experience show that a more unified ‘look and feel’ can help increase recognition of universities among their key target audiences, including prospective students,” said de Graffenreid.

This even applies to the Brandeis mascot. Officially, Brandeis represents itself as the Judges, and the university has the honor of being the only institution with that particular mascot. But the owl, seen on campus at places like the Hoot Market and

photo from internet source

Ollie’s, is another sort of mascot that other students connect with.

“The owl is an unofficial ‘spirit mark’ or symbol of the university and is important to many students and alumni,” said de Graffenreid. Flagel even has a collection of owl statues and figurines inside his office. “While the owl is not our official/athletics mascot, there are lots of ways that it might be used in student and alumni communications, and we are exploring how this might be done in a more consistent way,” said de Graffenreid.

The final goal in revitalizing Brandeis’ graphic identity is to reach consistency and unity. “The current situation at Brandeis has evolved over the years, and the goal of updating how it presents itself is to assist various parts of the university with tools for presenting their work and accomplishments in a way that is both recognizable as Brandeis, and that helps highlight their distinctive achievements,” said de Graffenreid.

Brandeis will soon welcome students into helping create this new-

found identity. “We are holding three town hall meetings for students, faculty and staff to hear from our research partners and our graphic identity team. There will be opportunities to provide feedback on a few different concepts for how we talk about ourselves and for an updated ‘look and feel,’” said de Graffenreid.

The meetings will be held on Thursday, April 24 both in the afternoon and evening and on Friday, April 25.

All students are invited to voice their opinion.

4 NEWS

The Brandeis Hoot

ESS projects consider the future TALKS, from page 1

about her personal experiences learning English and how that has shaped her interactions with other people.

Fleitman specifically spoke of a recent event where a fellow Brandeis student spoke to her with an imitation of her accent, thinking that it would somehow make it easier for her to understand. “I am still learning how to communicate in American situations and in English,” Fleitman told the audience. “But this made me think very hard about how language and accents affect our personal lives.”

Second came Abie Troen ’14, whose speech dealt with the storytelling power of photography. A film major, Troen has been actively taking photos since he was a child, including a series of photographs of his service in the Israel Defence Force and photos of his summer internship in Kenya. He created a photo database for Kenyan University of Street Vendors in Nairobi. According to Troen, photos are often “the greatest way to show a truth.”

In the third speech, Naomi Rodriguez ’16 described the gap year that she took last year. Rodriguez came to Brandeis with the aim of becoming a psychology major. She then considered taking a gap year after her academic performance suffered due to stress. “I was burned out,” Rodriguez said. It was only after deciding to take a gap year that Rodriguez was able to pursue several hobbies, eventually finding a class on aiding survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence hosted at a local women’s shelter.

Rodriguez returned to Brandeis this year as a double major in business and women’s and gender studies, and encouraged the audience to consider a gap year in case they felt lost at school.

Up next was Afzal Raiaan Ullah ’14, who gave one of the most passionate and personal talks of the evening. Ullah’s talk dealt with his experience as a gay Muslim and person of color, how his community background made

it hard to understand his sexuality, and how he has since become very involved in programs empowering people who deal with similar social stratification. Ullah spoke about his interactions with LGBT activists of color who had been denied by family and friends, even outed by others without their consent. It was these experiences, he said, that influenced his current work in creating and improving programs of empowerment.

William Hicks, the only graduate student speaker, described his love of computers and personal fascination with their constant evolution.

Hicks has recently created a program that can recognize familiar faces in photos, even when said photos are distorted in some way. He said that computers “are a great platforms to take amazing human traits to their furthest potential.” Sindhura Sonnathi ’14 gave a similar talk on her passion for photo editing, specifically with the Photoshop editing program.

Sonnathi, who can be seen around campus taking photos, started experimenting with Photoshop recently and discovered that she could express herself creatively through it.

The final speaker was Shaina Gilbert, who graduated in 2010. Gilbert, who worked at various jobs on campus as a student, currently works as a public school teacher in Boston. She teaches English as a second language to the young children of Haitian immigrants. Gilbert is also the founder of Empowerment through Education (ETE), which gives poor Haitian children a head start in school. Speaking on activism, Gilbert advised the audience on “working with our peers as equals, even if you’re completely different people.” She also outlined ETE’s goals for creating a “sustainable program” for easily accessed education in one of the world’s poorest nations and to “build on the future of Haiti.” The talks ended with wild applause from the audience, service of coffee and various types of pie and the opportunity to talk to ESS members who are still working on their personal projects.

April 4, 2014

General explores the relationship between military and journalism MILITARY, from page 2

gan, who was fired from “60 Minutes” for inaccurate reporting concerning the Benghazi Affair. Cucolo said that Logan is a real “journalist … there’s a difference between journalists and reporters,” and that he admired her determination in seeking out the facts.

He said that he believed she learned from her experience and would become a better journalist for it.

Cucolo expressed frustration over the way news outlets often drill representatives of the military for information, even if those individuals have not been briefed on the issue.

The military and the media, he said, should complete, not contradict, one another.

photo by haley fine/the hoot

Ronny Zinner, trustee, passes away at 70

By Dana Trismen Editor

Ronny Zinner, a longtime trustee of Brandeis University and president of the Shapiro foundation, passed away recently at the age of 70. As the eldest daughter of Carl and Ruth Shapiro, she joined the Brandeis Board of Trustees in 1992 and served many posts from treasurer to secretary.

While the Shapiro family made incredible changes to Brandeis, Zinner had her own personal passion, the Heller School of Social Policy and Management. She died on March 18 in Boston.

“Ronny Zinner was respected by fellow members of the Board of Trustees. She was well informed and chose her moments in meetings to make the most impact. When she spoke, everyone listened,” said President Fred Lawrence in an interview with The Hoot this week.

Zinner attended Sarah Lawrence College, and earned a master’s degree from Boston University’s School of Social Work. She also graduated from Harvard University School of Education. Her main passion was philanthropy.

Given her focus on the Heller School, Zinner and her husband,

Michael Zinner, were inspired to establish the Rhonda S. and Michael J. Zinner Forum, a sort of gathering space for interested students and community members. She also financially supported Heller graduate students, and offered career guidance.

Nancy Winship, P’10, P’13 reported to BrandeisNOW that Zinner truly cared about students. “Ronny was a warm, caring person who had the innate ability to connect with students and make them believe in themselves,” Winship said to BrandeisNOW. Despite this central focus, Zinner was still involved in many aspects of Brandeis. “One example was that she brought a group of her friends to hear Ellsworth Kelly’s gallery talk at The Rose Art Museum that took place during last year’s commencement weekend,” said Lawrence.

Lawrence compared Zinner to an artist. “She saw the campus as a canvas, working closely with the university to envision and re-landscape the entrance area to the Science Center.

This is a wonderful example of just one thing she did to help improve the look and feel of the campus,” he said.

In her involvement outside of the Brandeis campus, Zinner served as an overseer at the Museum of Fine Arts. She was also associated with

photo from internet source

the Thomas Segal Gallery, the Boston Symphony and Tanglewood.

She leaves behind her husband, father and her daughter, Jennifer Herman, and son, Jonathan Segal. Her two sisters, five grandchildren and two stepsons also survive her.

“She was kind, wise, supportive and generous and will be missed by everyone who knew her,” said Lawrence.

Documentary examines effects of income inequality

By Jaye Han Staff

photo by katie chin/the hoot

deistalks Photograpohed above is Shaina Gilbert ‘10, who spoke on building sustainable

programs for social justice.

This Monday evening in the International Business School, the workin-progress documentary “Exit Zero” was screened. The event was followed by a brief Q&A with the filmmaker, Christine Walley. This event was sponsored by the Edie and Lew Wasserman Fund, the Film, Television and Interactive Media program and the Department of Anthropology.

“Exit Zero” is produced and written

by Christine Walley and her husband Chris Boebel, who directed and edited the documentary. In first-person narrative by Walley, the documentary explores the experiences of the Southeast Chicago’s steel mill community during “deindustrialization.”

Southeast Chicago used to be one of the largest steel-producing regions, Walley said. Before the closure of the steel mills, the mills employed hundreds of thousands of people. However, in the 1980s the mills began to close. The area was left with a crum-

bling economy and a toxic environment. “Exit Zero” seeks to recapture the stories of the people in this region.

As an anthropologist, Christine Walley examines the experience that turned her and her family’s lives upside down. She interweaves her home movies, found footage, first-person narrative and stories of multiple generations of her family and neighbors to put together a story of people impacted by the steel mill closures.

In addition, she researched various past newspapers and local museums to learn beyond the personal experiences for this documentary.

Walley’s father used to work in the Wisconsin steel mill. The plan for him was to work in the mill for 40 years and receive pension just like his father and grandfather, who also worked in the steel mills. However, one day the mill suddenly closed, and his plans were shattered, Walley says.

Her father was one of the thousands of employees who experienced this sudden closure. Footage in Walley’s documentary reveals that her

father was one of the lucky ones—he watched his fellow employees have their families torn apart as they developed alcohol problems, and even committed suicide.

The director explores the experiences in this steel mill town before and after the closures by exploring the stories of both her father and her great grandfather. Her great-grandfather immigrated from Sweden and worked in the mills. Although he never talked much, Walley later discovered a 40-page manuscript in which he wrote out his thoughts and experiences, which added great value to the documentary.

The documentary “Exit Zero” is accompanied by a book, “Exit-Zero: Family and Class in Post-Industrial Chicago,” and an interactive website that collaborated with the Southeast Chicago Historical Museum, the MIT Open documentary Lab and Legwork Studio. Overall, Walley sought to expand and deepen the storytelling experience in the film through multiple media.

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Post-Baccalaurette Painting and Sculpture Gallery at Springold Theatre

By Clayre Benzadon Staff

From March 26 to April 6, the Spingold Theater is holding an art exhibit featuring Post-Baccalaureate painting and sculptures. The gallery includes work by artists Shona McAndrew, Julia Wolfe, Sara Weninger, Eric Edstam and Eung-Sun Lee. As I walked around the gallery, I was captivated by all the innovative styles of artwork that lined the walls, each containing their own vibrant energy that made me feel as though I were stuck inside the paintings. Each artist had a distinct style and technique that they incorporate in their pieces.

Most of McAndrew’s paintings seem to capture movement and a specific moment in time. Most of her

pieces were human subjects, uniquely illustrated in a cubist sort of style, with bright colors that call attention to the caricatures. This adds a sort of layer into the work that could reflect something deeper than just a person, perhaps a hidden story or symbolism contained within the colors and materials of her compositions. One of her paintings that really embodied this idea included a wooden chair with a pink dress on top of it, with other dresses hung all over the room, as if the person in the scene (who is not depicted) were getting ready for a formal event and was searching through his/her closet, trying to find the perfect dress. We can also see the chaos portrayed through the cushions and magazine that are messily thrown onto the floor, with the motion portrayed through the flowing details of the dress and the displace-

Hoover joins creative writing department

By Rachel Dobkin Staff

Michelle Hoover, an acclaimed novelist and instructor, will join Brandeis University’s creative writing faculty in the upcoming fall term.

The award-winning novelist and instructor at Emerson College, Boston University, Bucknell University and Grub Street (a creative writing school in Boston), is joining Brandeis as its new creative writing fiction writer-in-residence. She was chosen because of the caliber of her first novel, “The Quickening,” and because of her “stellar reputation as an exciting, innovative and deeply committed teacher,” said Professor Stephen McCauley (ENG).

Brandeis’ fiction writer-in-residence position was originally funded by (and filled by) novelist Fannie Hurst. She greatly embodied Brandeis University’s values, addressing several social issues in her writing, including racism, issues in the labor force and women’s rights. Hurst also hosted a 1950s talk show in which she allowed homosexuals to discuss their rights on the air. Today, many popular film adaptations of her work exist. In fact, Brandeis’ philosophy of social justice was what drew her to this institution in the first place. In addition to her status as the first writer-in-residence here, she donated money to have Brandeis bring in fiction writers on a rotating basis.

Brandeis’ atmosphere is an aspect that attracted Hoover to campus. Recently, she said she loves the sense of community and students. “Brandeis seems to be the kind of place where students take risks and are willing to explore, while the school supports both. BU was a wonderful place, but it was overwhelmingly large and the thinking there was rather inside the box. I’m excited for a change,” she

said.

Other notable writers-in-residence who have served at Brandeis include Alice Walker (“The Color Purple”), Nobel Laureate Saul Bellow and the current writer-in-residence, Colin Channer, whom Professor McCauley said is a “wonderful writer and a teacher many students have come to love, who will be greatly missed on campus by students and faculty alike.”

McCauley described Hoover’s “The Quickening” as an “elegiac and moving novel based partly on her own family’s history with farming in the upper Midwest.” It is about two women living on farms before and during the Great Depression, their friendship and how they cope with living in the rural Midwest. Hoover has been published in several journals such as “Story Quarterly,” “Prairie Schooner” and “The Massachusetts Review.” She is a MacDonald Fellow and the recipient of the PEN/New England Discovery Award for Fiction. She hopes to contribute a new sensibility, energy and unique way of reaching her students.

Hoover thinks that the writer-inresidence position is perfect for her because “it allows me to join a great department, continue to teach what I love, while also giving me time to write without starving.” She wants to aid students with their own goals and sense of vision as much as she can. “I tend to challenge my writers to go deeper, to push into their own experiences, fears and eccentricities, in order to find what’s unique about their way of mirroring the world. I hope they are willing to take up that challenge.”

Hoover is teaching two courses next semester: Directed Writing: Short Fiction (ENG 109b) and Directed Writing: Fiction (ENG 119a).

Students can expect her classes to be lively and inspiring and to find the same level of individual attention they’ve come to expect from the creative writing faculty.

ment of the articles thrown all over the room.

Wolfe’s pieces are more abstract, almost surreal, as lines and shapes are interpreted into objects that can be left to each person’s imagination.

In her paintings, it seems as though she has been influenced by Dali’s style of artwork. One of the objects in her painting looks like the duck that lays down in pain in Dali’s work. Also, the many other cluttered objects all around the piece, bright with colors of orange and blue and disorganized with squiggly shapes, reflect the chaos that is also portrayed though Dali’s painting.

Weininger’s displays are a series of sketches. All of them are very different in style, but the one that stuck out to me the most was her drawing that resembled something of a demon or monster of some sort, simi-

lar to the one in Goya’s piece, “The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters.”

Weininger also outlined landscapes and interesting still life pictures, each very unique with the different brushstrokes, colors and angles that she decided to illustrate through each of her works.

Edstam’s large compositions are particularly fascinating. Using a style similar to that of pointillism, Edstam creates a human portrait with long green lines that look like birds flying all over the canvas. His paintings, like McAndrew’s also contain that element of movement, as the long lines look as though they are flying out of the artwork, not only making the image look three-dimensional but also brings the body to life.

Eung-Sun Lee’s paintings are reminiscent of abstract expressionist Barnett Newman, as his paintings

contain the bright red and blue colors that are depicted as dripping down the canvas, lines and random shapes creating abstract decorations. This contemporary style adds drama to the work as Lee provides a versatile style, not only using bright colors but also pastel ones, illustrating a sort of landscape with pastel colors and shades of pink and orange. The sunset scene that is conveyed through the artwork as though it is influenced by Georgia O’Keeffe’s works, since they both contain the light colors and brushstrokes that flow with a sort of beautiful fluidity.

Whether or not you are interested in art, I recommend visiting the gallery as soon as you can so that you can open yourself up to a different world of art that all these wonderful artists have contributed to in such exquisite and powerful ways.

Reaching across the void: the legacy of Nirvana and Kurt Cobain

By Zachary Bellis Staff

On April 10, Nirvana will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The band’s induction will take place only five days after the 20th anniversary of singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain’s suicide. In the years since Cobain’s death, he has been remembered as the last great rock star, a martyr who despised his own success and whose tortured lyrics contained an authenticity unadulterated by the mainstream music machine. 20 years later, it all seems inevitable, and the ghost of “Saint” Kurt still casts a shadow over the modern rock landscape. Nirvana was the biggest band since Beatlemania, and in the aftermath of Cobain’s death, rock and roll’s popularity has been in continual decline. And yet, the man who railed against his own fame and major-label exploitation on 1993’s “In Utero” has been even more commercialized in his death, as the Rock Hall induction demonstrates.

Kurt Cobain’s legacy remains contested among fans due to the unresolved tension between Cobain’s punk rock ethos and his incredible mainstream success. Nirvana first emerged from the Seattle rock scene with the release of their first album, “Bleach,” in 1989. Released by the independent label Sub-Pop, “Bleach”’s fuzzy, distortion heavy guitars, drop D tuning and incomprehensible vocal delivery made the record largely inaccessible to mainstream audiences.

“Bleach” largely went unnoticed by the public until after the release of “Nevermind” on major label DCG Records in 1991. Thanks to the success of lead single “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Nevermind” went on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide, and Nirvana went from obscure indie punk band to international rock

sensation overnight. In comparison to “Bleach,” “Nevermind” had a much more polished, radio-friendly sound, which undoubtedly contributed to its success. Cobain expressed his unhappiness with the record’s sound even as he admitted that when writing “Teen Spirit” he had tried to make the “ultimate pop song.”

In 1993, Nirvana released “In Utero,” described by Cobain as a “true alternative record” which returned to the screechy guitars and raw vocals that characterized “Bleach.” In various interviews, Cobain made clear that he was unhappy with the media attention he and his family had received following the release of “Nevermind,” particularly with the reveal of his heroin addiction and troubled childhood. In songs such as “Radio Friendly Unit Shifter” and “Dumb,” Kurt attacked the media, his own success, his fans and Nirvana’s imitators.

“In Utero” was a commercial disappointment relative to “Nevermind,” only selling four million copies, but it had succeeded in reestablishing Cobain’s punk credibility against criticisms of selling out. In their most famous performance, Nirvana appeared on “MTV Unplugged” in Nov. 1993. Cobain’s performance remains haunting to watch, as the set was made to deliberately resemble a funeral. Only six months later, Cobain died; bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl dissolved the band only days later.

In hindsight, it is clear that Cobain likely suffered from clinical depression, which combined with his heroin habit led him to take his own life. Symbolically, the violent manner of his death cemented Cobain’s status as an outcast who resented the music industry which had made him.

He has been even more commercially exploited in death, anointed as “the voice of a generation,” “the last great rock star” and a patron saint of rock and roll. Every lyric Cobain wrote,

every word he ever said in an interview and almost every photograph of him have been purloined to sell tshirts, books and an endless number of greatest hits albums. There is no doubt Cobain would have rejected the Hall of Fame induction if he had lived. His music remains in heavy rotation on rock radio, and a new generation of teens have adopted Nirvana’s music today. Rock and roll has been on a slow decline commercially ever since Cobain’s death, and today’s rock scene remains dominated by Cobain’s peers in groups such like Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam. But it is difficult to reconcile the mythology that has grown out of Cobain’s death with the reality of his life.

How then does one reckon Cobain’s legacy? He may not have been the rock and roll saint he has been made out as since his death, but his music’s impact certainly resonates as much today as it did when it was first released in the 1990s. Nirvana’s music arguably has more of an emotional punch today, and Cobain’s voice haunts us in songs like “All Apologies” and “Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle.” Cobain’s ghost casts a long shadow over today’s indie rock scene, and contemporary artists from Arcade Fire to Lil Wayne have acknowledged his influence. That the accolades have mostly come after Cobain’s death does not take away from the accomplishments of his life. Undoubtedly, Nirvana is worthy of induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, even if Cobain would refuse.

Contrary to popular myth, Cobain was not infallible, but the world certainly lost a great voice far too soon when he passed away 20 years ago.

We can pause and remember Cobain on April 5, without needing to elevate him to sainthood. We don’t need to glamorize his death in order to celebrate his life. Ultimately, Cobain’s legacy is in his music, which still invites new listeners to “come as you are.”

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‘How I Met Your Mother’ delivers disappointing finale despite past seasons’ success

By Shikha Chandarana Staff

After nine seasons, “How I Met Your Mother” has finally come to an end, leaving behind a lot of hilarious memories and recurring jokes—most of which were used very well in the final episode of the show.

However, the finale of this long story of how Ted Mosby finally met the mother of his children was a lot less than legendary. It’s safe to say that the episode was a tad disappointing.

For the final season of the show, the show’s makers have focused on Robin Scherbatsky and Barney Stinson’s wedding, while gradually divulging

more information about the mother.

Thus, “Mother’s” audience has been getting more and more excited about finally meeting the titular character.

In the span of the past few years, the creators have continued to focus on the fact that Barney and Robin are the perfect match. But within the first few minutes of the finale, the show reveals Barney and Robin’s subsequent divorce. This messes with the character development that had taken place over the past three seasons. The finale takes the story from 2014 to 2030 in the span of 40 minutes, which seemed rushed and did not work at all. Within the first 20 minutes, we saw the couple who was going to be married all season get divorced, Marshall and Lily had a third child, and Robin ex-

pressed how she should have ended up with Ted instead. It was a fast forward into the lives of the “gang” that has decided that they aren’t really a close group of friends anymore.

One of the problems I had with the episode is the way it completely chose to ignore the titular character throughout the entirety of the episode. The mother, whom the audience was waiting for, was just used as a minor plot device to finally get Robin and Ted together. Her story was mashed into a random series of forward skips, and her death, which should have been a big deal, was used as the impetus to finally get the writers to give us the seemingly happy ending that none of the viewers cared about. As a viewer I felt cheated be-

cause the entire story just seemed pointless.

Neil Patrick Harris’ character, Barney, definitely got the short end of the stick, as the finale showed him going back to his womanizing ways. When he meets his daughter, born of a woman he accidentally impregnated, his feelings are slightly altered, and although the one moment is beautiful, the rest of the episode clashes with the four seasons we saw before, where Barney finally became a good and caring person. All of this was thrown away. It was a terrible end for his character.

If the final episode had been different, I would have said that this was one of the best seasons of the show, as it tried to give closure to a lot of open

ends from previous episodes. Yet the messy and cheesy finale ruined the season and, to a certain extent, the entire show for me and a lot of other devoted fans. Creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas could have salvaged the finale if they hadn’t included the last five minutes when Ted’s kids give permission to their father to find his happy ending with Robin. The finale says that the story was really that of Ted falling in love with Robin, which was immensely disappointing.

“How I Met Your Mother” has been a beloved comedy, and its antics and hilarity will still be missed despite of the ending. I have been watching this show for a long time, and I will definitely miss seeing the “gang” try to figure out their lives on my TV screen.

Rugrats producer visits campus, proves his exciting spirit still lives

By Ethan Berceli

Special to the Hoot

In a display of both hilarity and nostalgia, Paul Germain, the creator and writer behind celebrated childhood TV shows “Rugrats” and “Recess,” visited Levin Ballroom on Monday evening to share his story. As part of the successful launch of Bronstein Week, he illuminated the story behind these two shows.

At first glance, Germain seems a wholly ordinary guy, and he barely acknowledged the earnest applause from the audience that filled the room as he was first announced. His story to eventual success was a rollercoaster of ups and downs, and at one point before “Rugrats,” he had even made up his mind to leave the industry and teach high school. Germain insisted his introduction to animation was accidental.

“I’m here to tell how I slipped on a banana peel in the 1980s and ended up in animation,” Germain said.

However, as soon as he started speaking about his first project (which, in another astonishing example of his influence, later became “The Simpsons”) it became clear that his bounding enthusiasm for his work has been the driving force behind his success. Germain showed several clips from the previously mentioned initial version of “The Simpsons,” a never before broadcasted pilot of “Rugrats,” and one of his favorite episodes of “Recess.” During each scene, he was captivated by the screen and repeatedly delighted by the audience’s reactions to the old shows.

Indeed, Germain’s first break toward the eventual direction in animation that would define his career came when sitting in on an ideas session for a new comedy TV show, “The Tracy Ullman Show,” in 1985. He jumped at the opportunity when the director mentioned putting animation skits between the comedy sketches.

“I love it, that’s a great idea!” Germain exclaimed, and although he was the youngest and least experienced in the room, the director, the famous James L. Brooks, put him in charge of finding animation. Germain had studied live action direction in school and had no idea how to go about animating, but his eye for creativity and his excitement led to the project’s burgeoning success.

Germain discovered Klasky Csupo, a then tiny animation company

run out of an apartment by the two owners, Arlene Klasky and Gàbor Csupó, and although they were small he recognized their innovative work in animation. Klasky Csupo was hired by Brooks to animate the clips that appeared on “The Tracy Ullman Show,” and these cartoons would later become Matt Groening’s “The Simpsons.” After the project was finished, Germain stayed on for Klasky-Csupo, coming up with ideas for animated television shows because they rightly believed animated shows were about to take off. Indeed, Nickelodeon, having heard what the company had done with “The Simpsons,” approached Klasky Csupo about ideas for a new show. Germain pitched seven concepts to Nickelodeon’s people, and his last pitch, the one they liked best, became “Rugrats.”

The most anticipated part of the event was the screening of the neverbroadcasted pilot episode of “Rugrats.” Germain said the audience grew up watching only a rudimentary version of the “Rugrats.” The main characters, Chuckie and Angelica, were still only ideas, and the only adult that was developed in any way was Grandpa, but the story and dialogue were true to the eventual show.

“The show would have failed if it was too cute,” Germain said. He believed this at the time when “Rugrats” took off.

Something he stressed that was rather heartening to an audience of college students was that “Rugrats” was such a success because initially, he and his team had no idea what they were doing.

“When you don’t know what you’re doing, you make stuff up, and that’s when you’re really in the zone,” Germain said.

Make stuff up they did, and as the creator, Germain had some interesting tidbits to share with the audience about the background of the beginnings of “Rugrats.” His idea of intelligent babies came from one of his earliest childhood memories. His younger brother had just been born, and was sitting in a baby chair, and Germain vividly remembers his vacant expression as he sat there drooling.

“He can’t be this stupid. No way,” Germain said to himself, and although it was to come many years later, the idea of babies displaying their intelligence when the adults left the room was born.

Tommy was named after his atthe-time six-month-old son, and a girl bully who had picked on him in

elementary school inspired Angelica’s character. A friend in the Navy told him “rugrats” was the word sailors in the Navy used for toddlers, because of how they crawled around on the floor.

Voila, the show had a title.

Germain believes good television should be a means to convey a story from a point of view. In “Rugrats,” that was particularly difficult because the story was from the point of view of a baby, and all of the creative forces behind the show were of course adults.

For babies, he said, everything in the world seems grand, and to make this idea usable for a show, Germain focused the story around the theme, “exploring the world you don’t know.”

For “Recess,” they interviewed children who had just graduated from elementary school, so they were fresh off the playground. Germain and cocreator Joe Ansolabehere wanted to create a more realistic portrayal of elementary children’s lives, and they went off the premise that the most

important moments and relationships happen during recess. Germain believes the most important element of cartoons should be the story, and the episodes were edited like a radio show; the animation was a later step.

“If you could listen to it without pictures and it was still funny, they weren’t going to screw it up,” he said, speaking about the animators.

Animation was not under his control as much as the story was.

Germain said he didn’t finish with a script until every part of it made sense. For successful stories, Germain said conflict is key, and he believes conflict that comes from characters is most engaging. A testament to how seriously he takes his work is that, in every episode, Germain said he tried to create emotional significance to connect the audience with the show.

“Kids are smart. They deserve smart television,” Germain said, explaining the philosophy behind “Rugrats” and “Recess.” Indeed, when

he took questions at the end, he expressed his disappointment with most of today’s cartoons.

In addition to the “Rugrats” pilot and another episode, “The Chair,” the audience was treated to one of Germain’s favorite Recess episodes “The Box” and several one-minute clips of animation from “The Tracy Ullman Show” that would later become “The Simpsons.” Members of the audience said the event was educational, including Jordan Zides ’14, who even described it as a meaningful experience.

“These shows were a huge part of my childhood. Hearing Paul Germain speak today, I felt like a kid again,” Zides said.

Afterward, questions carried on for a long time, and judging by the number and variety of questions that were asked and just how happy Germain was to answer them, the magic that “Rugrats” once evoked is still alive and well.

photo from internet source

throwback One of everyone’s favorite childhood shows, Rugrats, was created and written by speaker Paul Germain.

April 4, 2014

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New novelist offers insight to writer’s mind

By Andrew Elmers Editor

The Brandeis Creative Writing Department and History of Ideas program sponsored their last novel reading of the semester this past Wednesday. Professor Steven McCauley (ENG) introduced the featured writer—Caleb Crain—a few minutes after 5 p.m. in the Shapiro Admissions Center presentation room.

It was somewhat thrilling to hear McCauley list the reviews of Caleb Crain’s first novel, “Necessary Errors,” and begin to understand what exactly the novel consisted of. Crain mentioned during the interview with John Plotz (ENG) toward the end of the event that he was fortunate to receive good reviews on his work, and that’s an understatement. Most of the great literary critics have lauded Crain’s

work, some mentioning that this is the best novel written in the past 10 years. People are always looking for that next classic piece of American Literature, something to be taught along side Steinbeck and Hawthorne.

And for that potential classic to be read at Brandeis is a treasure.

After McCauley turned the podium over to Crain, he gave a humble response to the great amounts of praise he was given. He then quickly went into reading a passage from the novel. “Necessary Errors” is about a young man with an artistic spirit and an awakening sexual freedom. It takes place in Prague, a town undergoing political transformation during the early 1990s. Crain acknowledged that the setting was a major theme of his work; the changing city and political landscape affected his character, who is going through changes on his own.

Crain’s reading covered a section

where the main character, Jacob, gets familiar with his new apartment building after buying some books.

While writing a character’s inner monologue, Crain refrains from overextending his use of detail to set the scene and describe what the character is thinking. He moves the pace along quickly while still leaving the reader with enough of an idea of how to envision what is happening. Too often writers feel like its their duty to accurately paint the scene in fear of the reader not getting out of it what they hope. Crain doesn’t follow this trope, however, and gives the reader the freedom to make what they want out of his writing.

Audience members could tell Crain wasn’t very comfortable speaking in front of a crowd. For a former professor, this was unexpected. He failed to look up while reading from his hardcover edition and stumbled over his words a few times. These were his own words he was reading, yet he wound up making numerous mistakes. While this didn’t take away from any of the content of the novel, it was a noticeable flaw in Crain’s presentation.

After this initial passage, Crain narrated his own text while four drama majors played the parts of characters sitting in a bar having a conversation.

Offering a different aspect of fiction than the earlier scene, dialogue presents different challenges for the written word. Here Crain was visibly more comfortable off to the side providing the narration for the scene.

He was even more at ease dur-

ing the question and answer period with Plotz. Old college classmates at Harvard, these two old friends transformed a somewhat complacent reading into a fireside chat. Covering aspects of the writing process and their previous experience in Prague, Plotz and Crain really drew the audience in with their subtle banter. They also fielded questions from audience members, some of whom have evidently read the book already.

Crain brought great insight into the writing process. He mentioned his feelings on submitting his work to others to review and criticize it. A for-

mer literary critic himself, he rationalized it by claiming he never intended for this novel to be published. Crain also made note of his obsession with page length. Previously he had problems trying to get a novel-turnednovella published because it was too short.

He had no difficulty this time around, as “Necessary Errors” weighs in at an impressive 480 pages.

All told, Crain makes a strong statement with his initial foray into novel writing. He is bound to become a well-read name in English classes the world over.

photos from internet source

Asian Pacific Hertiage Month closes with great performances

photos by katie chin/the hoot

inspirasian Students celebrated the closing of Asian Pacific American Hertiage Month. For more, see

article on page 9.

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April 4, 2014

‘Killer & Me’ entertains but lacks depth

By Michelle Kim Editor

This Thursday in the SCC Theater John Schnorrenberg’s ’14 “Killer & Me” opened for the first time. “Killer & Me” is like one of those Netflix movies that you choose to watch despite its triteness. Starring Andrew Agress ’17, Sarah Duffett ’17, Isaac Rabbani ’14, Michelin Bellmore ’15, Tristan Ramirez de Haro ’17, Page Smith ’17, Lisa Galperin ’14, Ryan Mouton ’17 and Danielle Frankel ’17, the play was inspired by a similar monologue Schnorrenberg wrote for his playwriting class. “Killer & Me” was going to be a drama before he decided to make it into a romantic comedy.

“While studying romantic comedies, I became aware of a number of tropes that I found problematic.

Particularly troublesome to me was how many women would give up their dreams, ambitions and careers simply because some wonderful man had wandered into their life,” wrote Schnorrenberg in his director’s note.

This problem is definitely portrayed in the show; Detective Rachel Amalea (Duffett) falls for her case study, serial killer Ted Bunstein (Agress).

While there was plenty to laugh at (the play was full of sexually suggestive jokes and references to Judaism), the production of “Killer & Me” could have been more polished. The sets, which were well crafted (Ted’s apartment has a modern painting that has blood-like splashes of red paint on it) had a number of extremely awkward transitions. At one point, Rachel sits on her desk chair while random cast members went on stage, pulling furniture off to the side. The lights were not even shut off during this set change, thus making it unclear whether or not this was intentional. This confusion is cleared up when Duffett pretends to freeze in place but ends up calling over a crew member and conspicuously whispers something; the awkward and unprofessional transition was, in fact, unintentional.

Other parts also could have been played out more smoothly. Some moments were way too long. One such scene is when Rachel sorts through blood-stained female clothing (af-

ter meeting Ted and agreeing to go to his apartment even though they are strangers at that point of the show); it seemed like she was sitting in his apartment and sorting through clothes for an eternity. Pulling out stained clothes and bras was funny for the first couple of moments. After what seemed like the hundredth clothing item, I was ready to fall asleep. The audience seemed to feel similarly. There was an awkward silence in the theater as Rachel held up yet another womanly garment.

Although it is known that Ted and Rachel end up together, I did not enjoy their relationship on stage. There is very little chemistry between the Duffett and Agress. This may be attributed to the extremely cliché situations written for the two: For example, their first kiss happens while they have their first fight. Equally unoriginal is the (awkward) sex scene that occurs right after they start canoodling.

Ted and Rachel even bump into each other for the first time on the street, an unoriginal meet-cute.

While I did not like Ted and Rachel as a couple, I found Rachel’s character compelling. At first, she is not eas-

ily excited, in contrast to Bellmore’s Ashley, who is your stereotypical tearful and ditzy best friend. Bellmore utilizes high pitched squeals, whiny sobbing and overly excited jumping to portray Ashley. Duffett, clad in her work clothes, emits sensibility while portraying steady-headed Rachel.

Whenever Ashley cries or gushes over Rachel’s romantic life, Duffett is able to maintain a bored and annoyed disposition while trying to discourage Ashley’s bursts of emotion. Sensible, hardworking and career-oriented, Rachel seems like she has a good head on her shoulders. Instead of staying like this, she becomes the stereotype that changes after falling in love. This aggravated me, just as Schnorrenberg intended.

It is intriguing that in the end, she becomes just as neurotic as her lover Ted. Duffett clearly transitions into a person who has lost all perspective and sense. She becomes restless and is distressed at the thought of losing her beloved Ted. It’s sad to see her character end her career and lose her mind over a man. This is what Schnorrenberg was aiming for: to show the stupidity of throwing away everything

one has ever worked toward in order to be with “the one.”

There was no onstage chemistry; Rachel only becomes obsessive over Ted when she is alone. There is hardly any flirtation, unless you count making out and having sex as flirting. Ted and Rachel’s relationship is the focal point of the show, so the absence of relationship development does not make much sense. Although I enjoyed Agress and Duffett’s acting, I only enjoyed their characters when they weren’t together. Every trait was well played out, except for their scenes as a couple. There simply wasn’t enough chemistry to convincingly convey the attraction that probably existed on paper.

However uninspired the scenes revolving around Ted and Rachel were, the supporting characters were what really brought light and entertainment to the show. All three of Ted’s victims who come back as ghosts, the persistent environmentalist and the sleazy bar creep are all well-written characters who were all brilliantly acted out.

A personal and crowd favorite was Venus, a hipster druggie who was portrayed by Frankel. Her drug-induced

monologue-turned-poem (which made fun of social justice at Brandeis) was very funny. After loudly rambling on about the “cosmos” while wildly waving her arms about and throwing her head back and forth, Frankel elicited snaps from the audience.

With her sloppy, medicated manner of speaking, Frankel was able to portray a poetic hipster-stoner who goes to poetry sessions.

Another great character was Doug Carson (Rabbani), who is Rachel’s boss and work partner. Overbearing, dimwitted,and desperate for Rachel’s love, Doug harasses Rachel every day and even goes so far as demanding to meet Rachel after she begins seeing Ted. Rabbani did an extremely good job of acting like an annoying redneck boss. He was even able to create an extremely annoying yet distinguishable posture for Doug—thumbs tucked in his shiny red overalls, cowboy bootclad feet wide apart.

In the end, “Killer & Me” is definitely not a high-quality play. However, it does provide entertainment (and quality banana juggling). Go with friends, laugh at the sexual innuendos and have a good time.

the so-called perfect couple Rachel and Ted share a laugh over drinks.

photos by nate rosenbloom/the hoot

April 4, 2014

The Brandeis Hoot

ARTS, ETC.

9

Mr. Brandeis Pageant raises money for cancer

By Theresa Gaffney Editor,

On Thursday in Levin Ballroom, Brandeis Relay for Life and Student Events teamed up to put on the annual Mr. Brandeis Pageant. Contestants were announced on the event’s Facebook page in mid-March and have been training since then to put on this show as Bronstein Week comes to a close.

The event opened with a group dance, featuring all 15 contestants.

While the guys had clearly rehearsed, the act was a little clumsy. However, it was helpful to note throughout the show that this was not a prestigious pageant featuring scary dance moms but simply a fun event for a good cause.

All of the contestants seemed to have a lot of fun. The competition was broken into four rounds: formal wear, swimwear, talent and Q&A. Max Berner ’16 could not arrive at the pageant on time due to a rescheduled baseball game, so in the middle of contestants walking on stage in suits (or other strange adaptations of formal-wear) a large screen scrolled down to show Berner in his own formal and swimwear, recorded in his room earlier in the day.

There were many highlights from the formal and swimwear portions of the show. While most of the participants went for the classic suit and tie look, a few diverted from this to stand out from the fierce competition. Joe

Graffy ’15 went the complete opposite direction, sporting a black sparkling halter top dress and heels. Ryan Molloy ’16 came out later wearing a shiny gold jacket, tie and what looked like boxer briefs.

The swimwear portion of the evening again saw some great creativity from the contestants. Felix Liu Ku ’15 wore an apron with a flattering picture of a buff torso and speedo bathing suit. A few students opted for the lifeguard look—Jared Swezey-Gleason ’16, however, stood out from the others by doing a headstand on stage. Unfortunately, this was not enough to get him through to the second round. Ten contestants made it to the next round of the evening: Andrew Savage ’16, Liu Ku, Grady Ward ’16, Graffy, Joe Robinow ’14, Jonathan Bywater ’14, Berner, Max Bernstein ’15 and Molloy made it to the talent show.

If you were at last year’s pageant, you may remember strange and only slightly impressive talents such as being able to pick a sandwhich up with one’s feet. This year’s contestants brought their A-game. Robinow, eventual Pageant winner, went up against the world record for the number of pies thrown in one’s face within one minute. The previous record was 56 pies. Robinow smashed this record, with a video rolling for the “Guinness Book of World Records,” having 60 pies thrown in his face in the span of one minute.

Other talents were as exciting, including singing performances ranging from acoustic to rap. Berner sang John Legend’s “Ordinary People” to an

acoustic guitar accompaniment. Liu Ku sang and rapped to Justin Beiber’s “Baby” ft. Ludacris. Finally, Molloy sang the classic “Believe” by Cher.

Robinow won the competition,

and Graffy was runner up. The proceeds from the event all went to the American Cancer Society. In addition to ticket charges, each contestant had a jar in the back of the room in

which the audience could put money, where each dollar was an extra point.

The Mr. Brandeis Pageant was not the most smoothly run event, but it was a fun night for a great cause.

photo by matt bondoli/the hoot

relay for life holds mr. brandeis pageant The event was rough around the edges but

photo by may cornue-hollander/the hoot

was for a charitable cause.

APAHM 2014 ends with a night of “inspirasian”

By Jamie Wong

Special to the Hoot

After a month of celebration, APAHM (Asian Pacific American Heritage Month) came to an end last Saturday night with a closing ceremony

by BAASA (Brandeis Asian American Students Association). The theme of the night was a witty play on words: inspirASIAN. Tifani Ng’s ’16 opening speech reflected general thoughts most of us share: All great things must come to an end and even after the end of APAHM the community remains. She spoke of how everyone has their own personal identity, but share their aims and efforts in order to make a positive impact on their community. The closing ceremony was stylized as a dinner show complete with a three-course meal served by students-turned-waiters for the night.

The first act, Frances Chang ’16 and Leila May Pascual ’15, dazzled the guests with their jazzy rendition of “Feeling Good.” After their impressive performance, Paul Sukijthamapan ’13 came on stage to talk about Project Plus One. As one of the founding members of Project Plus One he shared his own inspiring story. Sukijthamapan was born in Northern Thailand in a small farming community where he used to gather mangos and sell them in the market streets.

Money did not come easy, and he emphasized the limited choices he had for education and food.

Sukijthamapan’s family then moved to the United States, and the American dream became a reality. He’s now on his way to become a doctor after studying biology at Brandeis. He explained why Project Plus One was created. A question occurred to him in the midst of his new life filled with promise. What about those who don’t have the same opportunities? After his revelation, Sukijthamapan went on to

volunteer at a free clinic in Timor and discovered the pressing need for medical services—a need that he, with the help of others who value non-profit care for those left behind by capitalistic market culture, could meet.

Project Plus One focuses on the health and needs of the local people first and aims to strengthen the local health system with compassion.

Sukijthamapan’s story inspired the audience and urged us to utilize all the choices we have; it’s not about your job, or background, but how you serve. He ended his inspirational segment with a phrase any motivational speaker would be proud of: “You are more than you think you are. You are

braver than you think you are.”

A musical break lightened our charged spirits with covers of “Next To Me,” “We All Try” and “Strength Courage & Wisdom,” all sung by Giang Luc and Sophia Pascual. Their unique voices were outstanding. Luc and Pascual returned to the stage later on with previous performers Chang and Pascual with “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” a Whitney Houston classic, to close the night.

The Jubilee Project is a familiar name to anyone involved in the Asian American community on Youtube.

But for those who didn’t know, members of the Jubilee Project Brandeis Chapter explained how they aim to

inspirasian The APAHM closing ceremony as as musical as it was inspiring..

promote and produce media that spreads awareness about current-day issues. In this case, their debut film, “A Perfect Match,” featuring Sichan Kim ’16, Catherine Fuh ’16, Andrew An ’16 and Andre Tran ’14, promoted awareness of Leukemia blood cancer.

The film was directed by Minh Pham ’16 and tugged at the audience’s heartstrings with a cute romance and a heartbreaking epilogue.

Next was the endearing and talented feature performer of the night, Jun Sung Ahn, otherwise known as Jun Curry Ahn on YouTube or the winner of Kollaboration 2012. He charmed the audience with the bow of his violin and classical covers of “River Flows

photo by katie chin/the hoot

in You,” “The Moon that Embraces the Sun,” “Counting Stars” and a “Big Bang” Mashup. As a pleasant surprise he added a cover of “Let It Go” from the popular movie Frozen. Like most of the past feature performers, Ahn shared his own experience as an Asian American. Ahn was born in South Korea and moved to America when he was 10 years old. His YouTube channel started with a modest 500 subscribers but he now boasts over 400,000—a number he describes as both humbling and amazing. One of his most popular clips is a humorous violin and dance cover of the ever popular “Gangnam Style”.

Ahn entertained a quick Q&A session. He answered questions like, “How has your career shaped your identity?” “Of all instruments, why the violin?” “Has your violin playing ever helped you with the girls?”

“What’s one piece of advice to Asian Pacific Americans who want to pursue their artistic passions?” Ahn’s answers ranged from humorous to frank. He voiced his appreciation of the big Asian American community on YouTube and commented on the racism he faces in YouTube comments. Phrases like, “Oh, he’s good because he’s Asian”, devalue the time and care Asian Americans put into the videos they make and work they do.Ahn left the audience with a hopeful—and, dare I say, inspirational—message. He advised that we shouldn’t be daunted by the racism, and instead we should find our voice, and pursue our dreams. The celebration of our achievements and encouragement to dream big isn’t limited to the month of March. APAHM may be over but as Bruce Thao, a community leader in St. Paul MN, said, “Becoming Asian American is a process of identity formation, exploration and recreation. It is the amalgamation of part Asian, part American, part self.

It is Thanksgiving dinner with eggrolls and stir fry. It is a discovery, but once uncovered, it is a precious gem.”

EDITORIALS

10 The Brandeis Hoot

April 4, 2014

Muslim students deserve more awareness “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 Nathan Benjamin Deputy Sports Editor Nate Rosenbloom Senior Editor

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

Founded By Leslie Pazan, Igor Pedan and Daniel Silverman

STAFF

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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T

his week, Brandeis’ Muslim Student Association hosted their annual Islam Awareness Week, a series of events designed to break down stereotypes and increase non-Muslim students’ knowledge about Islam. This year marked a higher attendance in various events, many of which were centered around highlighting the social issues that Muslims face around the world today. Islam is, after all, a religion of over one billion people. Yet in Western countries, Muslims are often portrayed very negatively in media and popular culture, serving as villains or terrorists. Islam Awareness Week seeks to fight that on a human level, by bringing students together, but the administration has fallen short of supporting this on campus.

As an institution that prides itself on a representative of social justice, Brandeis is designed to promote religious diversity and tolerance. But occasionally, the atmosphere on campus says otherwise.

Brandeis’ student body is majority Jewish, and the majority of religious clubs on campus are related to Judaism. While each major denomination of both Judaism and Christianity has their own prayer spaces, Muslim students at Brandeis are designated a shared space in Usdan. Unlike the Judeo-Christian prayer spaces, the Muslim prayer space

has been vandalized several times, most recently when the words “enter here in peace and solidarity” were cut from the space’s welcome sign. The still-unknown perpetrator also stole Dr. Imam Talal Eid’s personal Qu’ran, which had many notes the Imam used for his lectures during Friday prayers. Combined with the fact that posters for Islam Awareness Week were taken down without explanation (which severely inhibited MSA’s ability to advertise the event) it is clear that Brandeis could do more to make the campus more inclusive of Muslim students.

While Islam Awareness Week is a great way to spread awareness about modern Islam and Muslim students at Brandeis, the aforementioned issue with advertising and the lack of administrative support is telling. Muslim students at Brandeis deserve more visibility. This is particularly poignant given that Brandeis is a university that often throws administrative support behind events that spread awareness around Israel. Furthermore, during the online flame war that took place on the Brandeis Israel Apartheid Week Facebook page, many of the more abusive comments were virulently Islamophobic.

These types of incidents make MSA members uncomfortable with the way

they may be seen on campus and this is simply unacceptable. Many students come to Brandeis not only for its academic pedigree, but also for its commitment to social justice and international programs.

With so many clubs on campus dedicated to battling social inequality and other problems in the world, it is simply hypocritical for any student to feel like an outsider because of their religious beliefs.

Again, there are more than one billion Muslims worldwide, and they deserve as much respect as any other people of faith. Brandeis, which often talks of helping students achieve life goals and create new generations of global leaders, must be more proactive in creating a modern space in which everyone is represented fairly. The administration should work with Muslim students at Brandeis to create a campus that is not only diverse, but also fair and inclusive, and openly supported. Otherwise, we will have a campus where only some students feel comfortable in expressing their religious and cultural traditions, which is antithetical to the school’s mission, as well as unfair. Israel Awareness Week only goes so far and is only one week out of an entire year. These students need to be supported and accepted every day.

SPORTS

11 The Brandeis Hoot

April 04, 2014

Softball team splits doubleheader

By Charlie Romanow Staff

The softball team split a doubleheader on Saturday with Husson University in Maine. The women won the first game 9-4 and lost the second 6-2.

Brandeis put the first run up as Amanda Genovese ’15 singled to begin the game and was brought home by an Anya Kamber ’15 double. The Eagles came back to take the lead in the second, coming up with a timely two-out double with a runner on first.

The next three batters earned a hit to lead 4-1.

Incrementally, Brandeis managed to come back. Kamber drove in Madison Gagnon ’16 and Genovese in the third after the runners reached second and third base on steals. Cori Coleman ’15 scored in the fourth on a single by Nikki Cote ’15 thanks to an error by the left fielder. The next four batters reached base, but two fielders’ choices prevented the runner furthest along the base paths from scoring.

With the game tied in the fifth, Coleman singled with two outs to extend the inning, eventually allowing a walk

by Genovese to bring home Coleman.

Coleman continued her hot streak in the sixth with a three-run homer with two outs.

While holding the lead the Judges did not slow down, adding a run in the seventh. Four consecutive hits in the final inning included a single

by Kamber to bring home Genovese. Coleman led the game going 3-4 with three runs and three RBI’s, only a triple shy of hitting for a cycle. Her marks in runs, hits and RBI’s each tied or broke career-highs.

Genovese, Kamber, Cote and Melissa Nolan ’14 each knocked in multiple hits. Kamber had four RBI’s, and Genovese scored three times. After a difficult second inning, senior cocaptain Nolan pitched a gem, lasting the whole game and allowing six hits while striking out eight. She earned her second win of the season. In the complete game effort, Husson’s Kayla Merrill earned her first loss after earning four prior wins. Because of the team’s strong offense, the Judges left 11 runners on base. The Eagles had four errors to the Judges’ one.

Brandeis was not able to further their success in the following game.

Once again, Genovese began the

game with a single and subsequent run. Husson tied the game in the second, being able to score because of a wild pitch by Nolan on the previous at-bat. Emma Krulick ’17 entered in relief in the fourth allowing a hit to the first three batters before getting the final three out. One runner was able to score because of an earlier wild pitch.

The bottom of the fifth began badly for the Judges as an error allowed runners to reach second and third with no outs. Four hits in the inning produced two runs. Coleman hit a solo home run in the sixth to put the teams second run on the board but it was not enough. Two more Eagles runs in the sixth put the game out of reach, ending with Husson on top 6-2. Husson reacted strongly in this match, not being struck out a single time. Brandeis was able to eke out seven hits in the late game opposed to 16 in the earlier contest. Coleman was 2-3 with two RBI’s. The Eagles’ Amanda Ryan pitched a complete game to improve her record to 2-3.

Brandeis lost in a home opening doubleheader on Wednesday, April 2 9-6 and 11-1 against Wellesley College. photo from internet source

photo by rosie ettinger/the hoot

photo from internet source

Tennis teams fall short in underdog matches

By Charlie Romanow Staff

Saturday featured two tennis competitions on campus between nationally ranked squads. The 24th-ranked men’s tennis team faced 12th-ranked Bowdoin College in a tough 6-2 loss.

The fifth singles match ended early for the teams due to rain.

The competition began with a bang in the doubles match featuring Brandeis’ Michael Arguello ’17 and Danny Lubarsky ’16. The home pair led early, but the Polar Bears rallied

to come back to come within one at 7-6. Bowdoin tied the match in the next game, which featured 10 deuces and five Brandeis match points. After an 8-8 tie Brandeis was able to win a close tiebreaker 7-5.

Brian Granoff ’17 and Michael Secular ’15 lost the next doubles match 8-3, and Jeff Cherkin ’17 and Alec Siegel ’15 lost the third match 8-2.

Arguello, Ryan Bunis ’17 and Secular lost the first three singles matches in straight sets to allow a Bowdoin clinch. Granoff won his singles match with a tiebreaker 6-2, 2-6, 10-8.

Lubarsky lost the third-place singles match in straight sets before the fi-

photo from internet source

nal match of the day, featuring Siegel, was stopped due to weather. Each team moves to a 5-4 record. Brandeis’ matchup at Babson College on Sunday was rescheduled for Thursday.

They will then head to Worcester on Friday to face Clark University.

The 24th-ranked women’s tennis team lost to 14th-ranked Trinity College 5-4. The Judges were outplayed in doubles matches, losing two of three.

Allyson Bernstein ’14 and Marissa Lazar ’14 had a dominant 8-1 victory in the second doubles match.

Brandeis started advantageously in singles, winning two of the first three.

Carley Cooke ’15 and Roberta Bergstein ’14 won their matches in straight sets. Bernstein lost the second placed singles match after nearly winning the set. The teams were tied with one singles match remaining.

Simone Vandroff ’15 lost the fourth singles match in straight sets while Alexa Katz ’14 won the sixth-seeded singles match 6-2, 7-5. In the final match, Emily Eska ’16 began the first two sets with a 3-0 lead. She lost the first set but persevered to win the second. Eska led 4-1 in the final set but as had happened in the previous sets, Elizabeth Gerber came back to lead 5-4 before Eska tied it once again.

Gerber won the final two games to win the match and team competition.

Trinity improves to 5-1.

The women returned to the courts the next day to face seventh-ranked

photo from internet source

Bowdoin. The Judges were close, being down by one at 4-3 but could not pull off the upset, subsequently losing 5-3. Brandeis leaves the weekend 3-7.

They traveled to Babson College on Wednesday, April 2 and won 7-2. The team returns home on Friday, April 3 against Skidmore College.

IMPRESSIONS

April 4, 2014

The Brandeis Hoot 12

Mailman needs to improve service to gain respect

By Andrew Elmers Editor

I think it’s time I come out of the closet about something.

I have told my parents about this, kept them up to date with my progress, and they have been extremely supportive about the whole affair. General media and society have respected the circumstances I have been through, and numerous people I know have done the exact same thing, and I think nothing less of them. Yet I feel vulnerable disclosing any aspect of it with friends. I worry that peers will wind up with a distorted view of me based on this one fact, and I would rather keep it a secret.

Additionally, I have had some aspects of my situation derided by those not so familiar with it.

I am in therapy. I go to Mailman House every few weeks or so to talk with someone about issues I’m dealing with. I won’t go into exact detail about it, but it is mostly feelings that date back to before my time in college. I see a counselor back home regularly, with whom I have made a lot of progress. I attend the Brandeis Psychological Counseling Center (PCC) as a sort of support system. I don’t want to fall back into old habits that are potentially destructive, so I make the trek down to one of the numerous brick buildings on campus.

Though I recognize it is a great

problem to have and I am fortunate to have the opportunity to speak to someone and work on the obstacles in my life, there is a problem that persists. For whatever reason, some students do not particularly respect the work the PCC does and impose this on whoever utilizes their services. Simple jokes that either mock the level of competency at the PCC or the nature of someone’s particular issue create a dangerous product in the minds of those in need—doubt. If someone is led to believe that seeking help at the PCC won’t amount to anything constructive or that their feelings are baseless, they might be prevented from reaching out in their greatest time of need.

Most people do realize that what they say matters, but the amount of contempt toward the PCC outweighs this. While I appreciate their efforts to help me, I understand that there are gaps in their service. Students have called looking for emergency help, only to be neglected in a dire circumstance. Although some work best through regularly scheduled meetings with a therapist, the most important job of the PCC is to be there as a support for anyone in need at any time. If they cannot help prevent someone from doing something extremely damaging, then they are failing the community. It is nice to offer students options to sit down and discuss matters of stress and anxiety

graphic by janet jun zhao/the hoot

with someone of experience, but if it is late one night, and someone starts falling into a intense depression, a meeting a few days later won’t suffice.

The school does advise students to call Public Safety in

times of life emergencies, but that might not always be the best solution. Instead of dealing with the embarrassment of a police cruiser coming to pick you up, a student might want to simply talk with someone without hav-

ing to enter a hospital. Every case is different, which is why the PCC needs to be more flexible in their services and hours so that no single person is left behind.

See MAILMAN, page 15

Moody Street offers experiences other colleges don’t

graphic by janet jun zhao/the hoot

By Josh Kelly Staff

I must say that I deeply enjoy being around various places on campus as tour groups pass by. There’s something exciting about being observed in my natural habitat of the SCC library as parents and prospective students pass by, scrutinizing me like I’m some sort of fascinating furry

creature in his own terrarium. While in my terrarium, I have noticed that generally, the tour guides do a very good job selling Brandeis to potential students. However, one of my experiences of tour-group-watching left me feeling like a lot was left unsaid by the guide.

Perhaps it happened about a year ago. I was just sitting in a chair in the SCC as a group passed by. A par-

ent asked a question about Waltham, trying to figure out what there is to actually do in the town. I can’t really blame her. This is a typical question that one would have when applying to Brandeis. I know that my college decision wound up being a choice between Brandeis and George Washington University. One is in a bustling city and the other is in … well …

Waltham. However, the answer given

left me unsatisfied. The tour guide said something about how there was a nice square downtown with a lot of banks.

I don’t recall the exact details of what he said, but what I do remember is the bit about the banks. It goes without saying that when you’re trying to answer a question about what there is to do in a city, banks are not the correct route to take. I do not write this to put the tour guide on the spot or in any way admonish admissions, but to suggest that many of us are guilty of not recognizing what Waltham has and taking advantage of it.

Sure, Waltham is not New York City or Washington, D.C. That much goes without saying. If a prospective student wants to be in a bustling city, then they should go somewhere else.

However, Waltham has what I would call “gritty charm.” It is not a flashy place, and indeed some of the buildings are run down. Nevertheless, one need not look far to see that it has a lot to offer.

When I think of Waltham, one of the first things I think about is food.

If you walk along Moody Street, you will find numerous good restaurants to eat, from a tapas bar to a delicious brunch place to a pizza place that even my smug Long Island friends insist is “almost as good as New York pizza.”

Furthermore, it goes without saying that Lizzy’s ice cream is fantastic, and certainly worth a trip into downtown Waltham.

Beyond that, the Common really is very nice—especially in the spring.

There is even something to say for how the Common looks with Christmas lights all around in December.

There is also a movie theater that really should be taken advantage of. Like

many of Waltham’s institutions, the Embassy is not part of a large country-wide brand. It is a nice, classy theater where people can feel like they’re part of something unique to the town.

I must also say that the Skellig is a pretty decent bar, although I do admit that this should maybe not be the selling point to a crowd of 17-year-olds eager but unable to drink legally.

While all of this is true, I’ve got to confess that my favorite thing to do in Waltham isn’t something that can be bought. One of my greatest joys in Waltham is running across the Charles River at sunset. I’m a runner, and will be running a marathon in October. While I am not in “training mode” yet, I still do like to go out for a few miles every now and then.

If I were to try to sell Brandeis to a prospective student, I would simply tell them about the magical sensation of running along Moody Street, feeling the strength and exhaustion that comes with the pursuit, and then looking out over the sparkling water as I cross the bridge. I would tell them how I always turn my head for at least a few seconds to check out the view. I would tell them how I smile after I see what I see.

It is fine for people to want to move on to new places. I know that I want to move on to a new city after I graduate. However, I would caution those who are still underclassman to try to stay positive regarding their surroundings. So many ache to get beyond the “Brandeis bubble,” and I’m confident that everyone can find something they love about Waltham.

It just takes a little looking. For me, it happens to be running at sunset across the Charles. What is it for you?

April 4, 2014

OPINION 13

The Brandeis Hoot

Look between lines for true information

By Nabi Menai Staff

It goes without saying that college students are tremendously busy. Whether it pertains to academics, extracurricular activities or socializing, one’s schedule is often teeming with an array of events. As perpetual as this cycle may seem, it is still important to remind ourselves of what occurs outside of college. Everyday history is being shaped, in ways that go unnoticed by thousands of people. As we pride ourselves on keeping an open mind and connected to several crucial issues, it is imperative to go beyond simply knowing about what happens in the world, and understand what that change means for the future and indeed, for ourselves.

Every now and then, you will find yourself scanning your Facebook newsfeed out of sheer boredom. As you scroll through the interminable posts, a Huffington Post article will likely emerge with a glaring headline, which one of your friends has shared. If you happen to click on the article it will likely lead you to a site in which the main points of a certain event are delineated, but with little context or in-depth analysis. This brevity attributed with many social sites that also contain news, is not necessarily a fault.

The objective of sites such as the Huffington Post is not to deeply educate the masses but rather to inform them. The challenge then lies in us, the audience, to take from “headline news” what we

will and expand on it by pursuing matters further. Being cognizant of events around us is great, but it is the first step of many.

The implications of major events, from domestic affairs to foreign calamities have realworld implication that no one is immune to. As distant as the Crimean crisis or the Syrian civil war may seem, these are events that culminate in forging the path of history. This path is always subject to change, and the more informed and knowledgeable we are as a collective society, the better able we will be to forge that path in a better direction. Finding solutions to such elusive issues is not easy, but it is worth the effort to become as informed as we can, so we can evaluate the solutions put forth by those whose job it is to do so.

The potential we have to garner all this information is boundless.

For every global matter, there is a plethora of information available at the touch of a button. We often take for granted the vast resources we have to learn. The internet itself can provide us with so much, as all college students will eventually find out through the course of their academic career. The most important aspect, however, is creating a context for everything around us and adding to the foundation we get from the news and social media. We need to use our own reserves of knowledge.

When we have built this reserve up for ourselves, the debate surrounding any issue will take up more importance and make much more sense.

It is easy to distance global mat-

graphic by janet jun zhao/the hoot

ters from our individual lives, especially when they do not seem pertinent in any way. How is your physics major related to the politics of Austria? What does climate change legislation have to do with philosophy class? These are all questions that easily arise when we consider different events. In the end, the goal of a liberal arts

education is to tie everything around us together. To take what we gain from school and observe in the world around us. We need to strive for optimum solutions that make the world a better place. Even if what we study now and what happens outside our lives seems drastically unrelated, everything is intertwined.

With the advent of social media, the technological realm is nothing like it was a decade ago.

Information is constantly pouring into all of our newsfeeds from all corners of the world. It is up to us, individually, to make the decision of just noticing it or acting upon what we learn to make a difference in the future.

Students have same goals even if they have different backgrounds

By Monique J. Menezes Staff

As someone who has attended her fair share of car shows as a child, it is in my nature to appreciate a quality vehicle. I am biased to the classics, but how could I ignore some of the new BMWs and Audis parked around campus? I think there might even be a Maserati driving around Loop Road. In the past, I always just admired the car itself. But a quote from Michelle Obama has made me think twice. As she wrote in her thesis at Princeton, “I remember being shocked by college students who drove BMWs. I didn’t even know parents who drove BMWs.” Earlier this year, the first lady visited a Virginia college to discuss the same issues that she acknowledged in this quote. I think the larger issue she has touched upon is the socioeconomic divide that seems to be accentuated in college.

Starting at the application process, financial means becomes a defining attribute for a student.

We are forced to answer countless questions on the FAFSA and submit our taxes and other documentation, determining if we can even afford to go to these schools. Not to mention, all this hassle takes place after the stressful process of trying to get accepted into these colleges. Many students scramble to earn other scholarships or figure out which loans to take out to continue on with their education after high school. Just getting to college can be a struggle for many.

Then actually being in college,

photo from internet source

staying in college, is a whole other set of obstacles on its own.

Students juggle classes, extra curricular activities, a social life and not to mention often a job.

Thus, on top of the workload and hectic lifestyle of a college student, there are students who are constantly aware and concerned with the financial balance beam they have to walk on in order to get by each semester. The varying

cost of attending an institution from student to student is just a big picture view, however. These students differ in more than just how much they pay for college.

Not everyone is “well off ” and not everyone is “struggling.” People’s socioeconomic background contributes to the experiences that make them an individual.

Some students have stories about living in a cramped two-bedroom

apartment, while others may know about the loneliness of an empty house and workaholic parents. There are a lot of factors to a person, and I do not think it fair to summarize them based off their financial background.

I am not going to think someone with a nicer car than me is better off. Sure, I would love to have Beamer of my very own.

Nevertheless, there could be a lot

more going on in their life that I do not know about. For those of us not so well endowed, we have something to work toward, a Maserati if that is what you so please. Maybe we can just be aware that socioeconomic differences exist and realize that it is a part of what makes each of us See JUSTICE, page 14

14 OPINION

The Brandeis Hoot

Eliana’s Advice

April 4, 2014

Looking for help with internet addiction sections by. That way you can all look over each other’s work and discuss possible ways to change it. Have another meeting with the entire group, and review the work to make sure everyone is happy with everything. Be honest, but nice, when telling people what you want, and hope everyone else will be as courteous. Just remember, you can’t control others, but you can control yourself.

-Eliana

photo from internet source

By Eliana Sinoff Staff

Dear Eliana, My French professor assigned a group project as the final for my class, and we weren’t allowed to pick the groups. That’s fine with me, but I’m not so sure that I can trust the other people in the group to contribute their fair share of the workload. I don’t know any of them personally, so I don’t know exactly how to establish any sort of trust. I understand that this isn’t high school anymore and that everyone here probably cares a great deal about their grade and won’t slack off, but I’m still nervous about it.

How do I go about working with

these strangers?

-Isolate Me, Cap’n Dear Isolate Me, Group projects can be hard.

You are not alone in disliking them, but you can make the experience easier for yourself and the others in the group. It can be hard working with people you don’t know, but use the fact that you don’t know these people well to your advantage. You don’t have to be as worried about favoring or insulting people. Just be straightforward. First, get everyone to meet and assign everyone even parts of the work. Then establish a deadline a little bit before the due date to finish your

Dear Eliana, I usually drive a friend of mine to her dance class off campus.

This one time when I get there to pick her up, I find her making out with a guy I’ve never seen before. I was concerned because I didn’t want to step out of bounds and encroach on their personal space while it was is going on, but I would like to get on with my day. How do I approach this sort of situation if it happens in the future? Because I’m sure it will.

-Wide-Eyed Dear Wide-Eyed, That is one of the most awkward situations to be in. “Waiting around while my friend hooks up with this random dude” is a setting we all try to avoid. You could have been blunt by honking or calling out to her, but I understand your decision not to do something like that. You could text her or call her, and hope she takes a break to answer the phone. When you get a moment to talk to her, tell her what you told me. Say nicely, but firmly, “I’m doing you a favor by picking you up, the it would really be nice if you could be ready to go when I get there.” Hopefully,

she’ll understand and the prob- aren’t my sort of jam. I probably lem will not persist. wouldn’t go and instead spend -Eliana the time working on papers due the last week of class, but all my Dear Eliana, friends are really excited about There’s this new game that’s it. I don’t want to let them down been making the rounds on the and not go, but I just can’t see Internet—2048—and it’s pretty myself enjoying anything about addictive. I find myself turning Springfest this year. How should to it during any slight period of I approach this? boredom, even if I’m supposed -Deaf Ears to be studying or taking notes in class. It is extremely distractDear Deaf Ears, ing and so easy to get hooked Even if Icona Pop is not quite on. How do I refrain myself from your jam, it doesn’t mean going wasting my time adding two plus to a concert and hanging out two (literally), and how do I go with all your friends would be about making sure I stay focused any less fun. It’s just like when on the task at hand? you go to a party and there is a -Carpal Tunnel Man song you don’t like playing in the background. Also, there will be Dear Carpal Tunnel Man, other bands, so you won’t have I too have fallen prey to the to listen to music you dislike the addictiveness of 2048 and un- whole time. If you tell yourself derstand your difficulties. For that you don’t like the band and me, the hardest part is stopping. that this couldn’t possibly be fun, The first step is to resist the urge. then you will just be a downer When you get bored, find a dif- and not enjoy yourself. Focus ferent activity to do. Do some on the parts that will be fun, like reading for class, review your partying with all your friends notes or even just talk to a friend and going to a free concert. instead. It’s hard to resist, but try -Eliana to wean yourself off of it by just playing less and less every day.

Dear Readers, Something else to try is deleting If you can’t already tell, this is the app off your phone or just an advice column and I’m here putting your phone away when to help you with any questions there is something important that you might have! If you want to do. Don’t just always have it more exciting questions, send with you, asking to be used and them in and I will do my best to played with. I believe that you answer them. Whether it’s relacan do this! tionships, social problems, or -Eliana just life in general—send them here. I can’t wait to start hearDear Eliana, ing about everyone’s problems So the line-up for Springfest (how often do you hear people was recently announced, and I say that? Oh yeah, never). Send would have to say I am a bit dis- questions to Elianasadvice@ appointed with it. I’m sure Ico- gmail.com. Thanks! na Pop tries hard, but they just -Eliana

Neither clothes nor cars should set students apart JUSTICE, from page 12

unique.

Money is such a material facet of our society but such a significant one that is noticeable even on your walk to class. Sometimes you may see someone who wears the same pair of jeans constantly.

Now, maybe that is their favorite pair of jeans, but I am not going to sugar coat it for you. Fads such as North Face coats, Uggs, Sperry’s and so on are another way clothes illustrate such a subtle but real difference between students. Some people will wait for Christmas or their birthday to just have one of these things. Others can go out and buy it any day of the year.

Clothes are such a superficial aspect, but as students with ambitions, the way we dress can represent something more. They don’t tell you to dress for the job you want for nothing. Unfortunately, even on a day-to-day basis, students feel pressure to put their best foot forward and sometimes to wear those name brands.

People have always been separated according to their economic status in society, but these different social classes look different on a college campus. In high school, middle school or even elementary school, there were always indicators of who was well off and who was not. One almost sure-fire marker was the divide between private school students and public school students. This difference

extends even to the college atmosphere. Almost every student on this campus has a friend who is going to a state school or community college, and for many, their choice in school pertains to cost.

No matter what you wear on

your back or on your feet, college is a diverse place where all kinds of different people come to develop, fulfill goals and take another step toward their future. Michelle Obama was shocked at the cars she saw around her campus, and

the ones on ours might make us turn our heads. Whether we like it or not, our socioeconomic status is just another one of our characteristics that adds the total diversity of our campus. Even though we may be different in college and

have different hometowns, we all have the same intentions to have a better tomorrow. So I am going to appreciate a nice car when I see one today, even if it reflects a certain contrast between me and another student.

photo from internet source

April 4, 2014

ARTS, ETC 15

The Brandeis Hoot

Students don’t need to deal with stigma from PCC

photo from internet source

MAILMAN, from page 12

Beyond the need to adapt to the lives of students, the PCC needs to find a way to be more amiable in their customer service. Whether it is not being diligent in contacting someone back about setting up an appointment

or not providing the gentleness someone in a state of stress or depression needs, the PCC lacks in grace. The office itself runs like a typical private practice with old magazines and random pieces of cheap art hanging on the walls. Having sat in their waiting room numerous times

before, I’ve grown accustomed to the mundane level of service, but for someone looking for comfort, as I once was, it isn’t ideal.

It isn’t even acceptable. Anyone that walks into Mailman for the first time is there for a very distinct reason, and there should be more acknowledgement of that

in the level of compassion shown by the staff.

There is no question that the areas where the PCC falls short are at the forefront of students’ minds. Whenever the subject is mentioned in conversation, there is bound to be an anecdote of one of the many times a student felt

overlooked by the PCC, and then the conversation devolves into bashing the department. It is all warranted, and the PCC needs to realize that their shortcomings reflect negatively on the students that utilize the service.

Every student was embarrassed when news broke of President Emeritus Reinharz’ enormous compensation, and the same holds true here. The institutions we associate with, whether it be a university or just a portion of it, come to define us as individuals.

I wish I could be more open about my struggles and how much I have overcome personally over the past 18 months or so, something I take pride in, but the general level of incompetence displayed day in and day out by the PCC prevents that. Some of the onus of being ignorant toward therapy and psychological treatment is on the students who chastise it, but they are not alone.

The PCC could easily start educating the community as a whole on how to manage not only their own stress or problems, but also friends and peers who suffer through the same things everyone faces and have decided to talk to someone about it. No one should feel ashamed of taking the steps to help themselves, but the way the PCC handles their business makes that the case. Some students have enough to worry about; they don’t need to be worried about the stigma attached with walking into the Mailman House.

Bronstein Week can offer more in terms of spirit

By Naomi Soman Staff

This week is Bronstein Week.

Who was Bronstein? Why do we celebrate him, or better yet, why do we celebrate him with making slime and learning about “Rugrats”? I loved Tommy Pickles just as much as anyone else, but I don’t have the time or the interest to pretend I am six years old again. Every year Brandeis has a spirit week called Bronstein Week run by Student Events, and every year it is kind of pathetic. Some of the events are somewhat cool, but overall, it just does not do the job of getting everyone excited and fired up about Brandeis.

Back in high school, homecoming week was my school’s big spirit week. Mondays were when seniors wore formal dress, and the underclassmen had pajama day. On Friday was the pep rally, and the days in between were anything from Wacky Wednesday to Superhero Day to Safari Day. The point was that everyone was excited. Everyone was decked out every day, and on Friday, the only visible colors were green and gold, our school colors. The week ended with the outdoor dance and the indoor semi-formal dance, highlights to everyone’s year.

Brandeis already lacks spirit because we do not have a football team. This is not to say that students do not love coming here. Quite the contrary, as far as I know, most people love it here.

However, there are few times where we all come together and cheer as a unit. Last year, when “The Today Show” crew came to

video us for a contest, there was such a measly crowd that the cameraman told everyone to squeeze in to make it look like there were a lot more people than there actually were. This was our chance to get on national news. Did we actually have a chance against schools as big as Syracuse and Ohio State?

No, probably not, but we should have been more excited about our school than that.

The whole point of a spirit week is to, as its name suggests, promote school spirit and remind people why they chose to come to this school in the first place.

Something here is not right. First of all, Bronstein Week is in the spring. At this point in the year, professors are piling on the work leaving little time for other activities like making slime, as enticing as that sounds. Second of all, even though the weather has started to get nicer, it’s still sort of cold and dreary. It even hailed the other day. People would be much more excited about activities were they in the warm weather. Warm weather would also be conducive to many more exciting activities.

Furthermore, why is Bronstein Week at the end of the semester anyway? We have been here all semester, and now Brandeis wants us to get excited? Bronstein Week should act like homecoming week and take place about a month after the beginning of the semester, to get people keyed up to start the new semester.

These are all small problems though. If we really want to make Bronstein Week a week worth celebrating, then it has to be bigger.

A few tables in the SCC is nothing, and forget laser tag. In high school we had a fireworks display. If my

photo from internet source

high school could pull that off, then Brandeis should be able to do much better. If Student Events put more money into a couple of really good events rather than a bunch of all right events, they could really make a difference in how

Brandeis students feel about this school. Yes, they love the academics and the atmosphere, but there should be more than that. Bronstein Week in its current state is a waste of time, money and energy.

We need to go big or go home.

Right now, no one is doing anything wrong, but since when is the bare minimum good enough for Brandeisians? Bronstein Week has the potential to be great if Student Events can take what they already do and crank it up to the max.

16 The Brandeis Hoot

THIS WEEK IN PHOTOS

photo by katherine chin/the hoot

SPORTS

By Nathan Benjamin editor

This past Tuesday, Brandeis’ men’s baseball team faced off against Tufts University, a school commonly referred to by many as the Judges’ largest athletic rival. Advantage was given to the Jumbos as the game was played on Tufts’ own Huskins Field.

Despite this fact, the game was evenly matched, as all other potential influences on the game were minimal. The weather remained sunny and only slightly windy throughout. Ranked as the 24th team within the Division III league, Tufts has been a strong competitor within the division this season.

The match began in Brandeis’ favor,

photo from internet source

April 04, 2014

photo by matt bondoli/the hoot

Baseball team struggles on offense with head coach Pete Varney choice to play starting pitcher Kyle Brenner ’15. Captain of the baseball team, Brenner has been pitching well all year. Here, he showcased his talents against the Jumbos. Pitching for all eight innings, Brenner only allowed seven hits. The Judges’ defense kept strong, and Tufts was kept in check for most of the game, despite the Jumbos’ early scores in the third and fifth innings of the game.

Regardless of a strong defense, the offense ultimately fell through for the team. Unable to move on-base players in for the score, it was not until the seventh inning that Brandeis was able to execute their first and only run. Here, Liam O’Connor ’16 made it on base with a single to center field.

After successfully stealing to second, O’Connor was hit home by first-year Ryan Tettemer’s single.

The 2-1 loss on Tuesday represents Brandeis’ urgent need to improve their skills in batting. While generally the Judges offense was clean, a need for improvement was demonstrated by the fact that this game was lost despite the fact that they had more hits by the end of the game than their opponents.

A major error by the Judges occurred by Brian Ing ’14 at second base, in which an opportunity to hit him home was available with less than two outs that inning. While leading, the player was picked off and tagged out, and lost Brandeis an opportunity to score their first run of the game. With a few additional errors similar to this

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one occurring on Tuesday, the Judges’ ability to win the game was limited.

First-year Michael Musto reflected, “Both teams were competitive, and if we were able to execute better on several opportunities than the outcome may have been different.”

The Brandeis baseball team has been experiencing shortcomings since their beginning of the spring season. After attending the University Athletic Association tournament

in Sanford, Florida, two weeks ago, the team tied with the University of Rochester with two wins and five losses. Overall, head Varney has had a very successful career leading the Judges baseball team. At the helm for 32 of Brandeis’ previous seasons, Varney successfully has brought the Judges to the post-season 21 times.

With his longtime experience in the sport and knowledge of Brandeis’ opponents, Coach Varney has what

is necessary to be able to bring the Judges out of their current rut.

As all games thus far for the baseball team have been away, Brandeis has not been able to maximize the potential of home court advantage.

Understanding this difficulty as well as their shortcomings in the game against Tufts, Brandeis is preparing for their first home game against Framingham State. It is scheduled for this Sunday, April 6 at noon.

photo from internet source