The Brandeis Hoot 3/2/2018

Volume 15 Issue 5

“To acquire wisdom, one must observe” www.brandeishoot.com

March 2, 2018

Brandeis University’s Community Newspaper · Waltham, Mass.

Univ. hosts forum on campus mental health

By Hannah Schuster editor

PHOTO BY CELIA YOUNG/THE HOOT

The undergraduate Student Union hosted the forum “Mental Health at Brandeis,”the first in a series of three student forums, page 4.

MENTAL HEALTH FORUM

Ensuring the Brandeis Counseling Center (BCC) has adequate resources to meet student need and improving communication between the center and students were two major points of discussion at an open forum on campus mental health, hosted in the Gosman Napoli Room on Thursday, March 1.

A crowd of around 30, about two-thirds of which were students, engaged in discussion with a panel comprised of Sheryl Sousa, the Vice President of Student Affairs, the BCC’s director, Joy von Steiger and other counseling center staff.

Students posed questions about BCC staffing, policy and outreach. Audience members cited frustration and loss of trust in the BCC, stemming in part from complications last semester when

wait times for a brief assessment (or intake) had stretched to four weeks. Students also expressed concern about the BCC not being able to accomodate the volume of students seeking treatment, and referring some to group therapy or off-campus services. The BCC hired two new part-time counselors and three temps to accommodate increased demand, reducing brief assessment wait time to one week by mid-October.

At the forum, multiple participants asked about how the BCC decides whether a student will receive one-on-one or group therapy.

Center staff explained how they evaluate each student’s intake survey to get a sense of how they are doing and what they are hoping to get out of treatment. “It helps to get a sense of what [students] are struggling with and what is the best treatment option,” said von See MENTAL HEALTH, page 4

Admissions will not penalize student protestors

By Celia Young editor

Brandeis Admissions stated high school students who chose to participate in peaceful protests will not be penalized when applying to Brandeis. The message posted on Brandeis’ Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, is in ref-

erence to protests and walkouts organized in solidarity with the 17 students killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday, Feb. 14, and to advocate for gun control. Brandeis published the message Feb. 23, at 3:32 p.m.

A nation-wide walk out, dubbed “#Enough” by the Women’s March Network, is planned for March 14, exactly one month

after the shooting, at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes to honor the 17 students who died. Two Brandeis students, Renee Korgood ’20 and Sagie Tvizer ’19, are organizing student leaders and organizations to support the walk-out as well as “March for Our Lives,” a march planned for Mar 24 beginning at the Boston Commons.

The tweet Brandeis University released reads, “#Brandeis sup-

ports student’s right to stand up for their beliefs. Those who participate in peaceful protests will not jeopardize their admission to Brandeis. Speak up, speak out.”

According to Dean of Admissions Jennifer Walker, the tweet is “intended to reassure high school students, some of whom may be facing disciplinary action for expressing their views in upcoming protests that are being planned

across the country.”

Walker stated that if a student were to face disciplinary action, the circumstances would be detailed on the application, allowing Brandeis to know whether or not a student was punished for participating in a protest. In an interview with National Public Radio See ADMISSIONS, page 2

Panel discusses women and politics in the ‘Trump Era’

By Celia Young editor

Marching then Running, as part of the Lubin symposium, discussed women’s engagement in politics with three panelists, Glynda Karr, Ryanne Olsen and Charlotte Golar Richie. The panelists focused on the growing involvement of women and women of color in politics, how to increase that growth and then concluded by taking questions from the audience.

The Lubin symposium is an annual event honoring Tilly Lubin, which focuses on contemporary

Inside This Issue:

issues of women and gender studies. This year, the symposium focused on women in the “Trump Era,” through a panel where the three female panelists, Carr, Olsen and Richie, discussed their roles in politics in the International Lounge on Feb. 26. Professor Jill Greenlee (POL), whose research focuses on women’s political participation, introduced the panelists.

Carr is the co-founder of “Higher Heights for America,” an organization aimed at elevating and amplifying black women’s voices in politics. She formerly See MARCHING page 4

PHOTO BY CELIA YOUNG/THE HOOT

MARCHING THEN RUNNING

Rose art

News: Anita Hill to speak at Wesleyan graduation Page 2 museum opens Ops: Recognize problematic nature of Olympics Page 11 Features: Brandeis Bridges takes trip to Chicago Page 5 New exhibitions open up at Page 9 the art museum on campus.

Sports: Track team to compete at UAAs Page 7 ARTS: PAGE 16 EDITORIAL: Support walkout for gun control

Glynda Carr, Jill Greenlee, Ryanne Olsen and Charlotte Golar Richie discuss women in politics.

Snowboarding Three snowboarders are headed to Nationals.

SPORTS: PAGE 9

NEWS

2 The Brandeis Hoot

March 2, 2018

Admissions, students respond to Florida shooting ADMISSIONS, from page 1

(NPR), Walker is quoted saying that students who protested are “a good fit for our campus culture.”

During the admissions process, “Cases are reviewed individually and every university reviews them differently…Brandeis, like MIT, Dartmouth and other schools that released statements recently, supports student’ right to participate in peaceful protests without jeopardizing their admission,” stated Walker.

Brandeis students have also responded to the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Tvizer and Korgood have begun organizing student leaders at Brandeis for two events: The walk-out on March 14, and “March for Our Lives,” a march planned for March 24 starting at the Boston Commons.

Tvizer has contacted the students from Marjory Stoneman

Douglas High School over Facebook, mentioning that he wanted to get involved and help centralize their voices. “Pretty much they just said ‘go for it,’” Tvizer said, relating the high school students’ response.

Korgood and Tvizer have contacted a variety of student groups, including the Brandeis Democrats, with which they hope to create a united response from the Brandeis community. When asked for the name of their organization, Korgood responded, “We’re not an organization. We’re students trying to cause change.”

Korgood and Tvizer discussed the walk out, saying that they had been in “cursory contact” with members of the administration.

As of the date of publication of this edition, the Brandeis administration has not yet released a statement regarding the walk-out on March 14.

Tvizer described his position on the walk-out and the admin-

istration, saying, “If my professor says…I’m not going to move the midterm that day you’re faced with a decision. It’s your decision whether you chose to disrupt which is exactly the intention of that walk out, or, whether you’re pacified. Civil disobedience is about disobeying. I would love the greenlight from the administration but I don’t need it.”

Korgood and Tvizer plan on organizing extra shuttles so students can attend the March, as well as a shuttle service so students can also take the Greenline to Boston Commons. According to Korgood, they plan to also have a tabling session for the week leading up to the march where students can write to or call their congressmen.

Tvizer and Korgood also intend to raise awareness for the march through poster campaigns, and organize a collective time for Brandeis students to attend the march.

They also want to create a series of “action items” for students when they return to their local communities, and are working with the first year Media and Politics Leader-Scholar Community to do so. This way, they hope to create change on a national front, according to Korgood. Tvizer also made clear that they wanted the voices of the survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to be centralized in this movement.

Through this action, Korgood and Tvizer want to create a united response from the Brandeis community, and mentioned that an infrastructure for activist organization doesn’t yet exist at Brandeis. Korgood hopes that the group they create, which is not organized by any partisan political group on campus, will be applied to future social justice events.

Tvizer continued to describe their goals, saying, “We want to be partisan, we want to advance poli-

cy change in favor of gun control,” said Tvizer. “But our advocacy for a specific policy stance doesn’t imply the kind of partisanship… where we’re saying the other side shouldn’t get to speak.”

Tvizer and Korgood have spoken with the Brandies Democrats, the Brandeis Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA), the Undergraduate Student Union, the Brandeis Academic Debate and Speech Society (BADASS), of which Korgood and Tvizer are both members, and other organizations and student leaders on campus.

Tvizer and Korgood are holding a meeting with Ruth Nemzoff of the Women’s Studies Research Center March 13 at 7 p.m, in the SCC multi-purpose room. Students interested in getting involved can email Brandeisneveragain@gmail.com.

Brandeis start-ups awarded $50,000

By Olivia Ellson speical to the hoot

SPARKTank 2018, the Brandeis International Business School’s fourth annual start-up pitch competition, awarded 10 teams of Brandeis students, faculty and staff a total of $50,000 to fund their start-ups. Brandeis and greater Boston area community members met at IBS on Feb. 4 to watch what the Brandeis University website called “the most anticipated competition of the winter.”

Each of the fourteen competing teams had a few minutes to pitch their ideas for innovation before the panel of judges questioned them on the details of their ventures. Teams fielded questions

about “how they would monetize their ideas and whether they had assessed their competition,” according to a Brandeis website.

SPARKTank, is one of only a few university competitions in the nation where students, faculty and staff compete against each other as equals. Teams spend weeks or more creating business plans to pitch at the competition where they hope to receive feedback, prize money and mentorship.

The Grand Prize winner, receiving $10,000, was A.I. Capital Management (AICM). The company was founded by Brandeis alumni Marshall Chang ’16 and Duncan Wong ’16, who have been working on this project since 2016. AICM applies artificial intelligence to investment

strategy, to help avoid emotional trading patterns. Chang praised SPARK for accelerating the project’s introduction to the market, according to a Brandeis University article.

In second place was African Women Energy Solutions (AWES), a biogas energy start-up aiming to allow African women to be involved and empowered in grassroots development. AWES came away from the competition with $9,000. Eight other teams were awarded varying amounts of funding. The projects ranged from “GreenChoice,” an app for sustainable shopping, to “sySTEMic flow” which promote opportunities in STEM for young women of color. Other ideas reached globally, such as Nomad

Anita Hill to replace ‘Lemony Snicket’ as Wesleyan commencement speaker

By Celia Young editor

Anita Hill (HS) is speaking at Wesleyan University at the school’s commencement in May instead of Daniel Handler, more commonly known by his pen name Lemony Snicket, due to accusations of sexually inappropriate conduct, according to the Associated Press.

Handler, the author of the wellknown children’s books “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” graduated from Wesleyan in 1992. Wesleyan President Michael Roth announced that Handler would step down as commencement speaker Thursday, March 1, according to the Wesleyan Argus, a Wesleyan student newspaper.

Originally, Hill, Handler and Joshua Boger, a scientist and Wesleyan board of trustees member, were scheduled to receive honorary degrees for their respective works. Due to the allegations, however, Hill will be giving the 186th commencement address, according to the Argus.

Hill was quoted in the Argus as

saying, “President Roth invited me to deliver Commencement remarks and I was honored to accept the invitation.” She continued, “I’m looking forward to what I know is an important day for all graduates, myself included.”

Roth emailed the Wesleyan student body about the change, saying “Daniel Handler has chosen to withdraw as Wesleyan’s Commencement speaker this May. We’ve agreed that the focus of the event should be on the Class of 2018, their families and the celebration of graduation. I’m pleased to share that Anita Hill has graciously agreed to deliver the Commencement address.” A copy of the email was obtained by The Hoot.

The accusations against Handler came from Kate Messner, a children’s book author, and were first reported by the Pacific Standard.

According to a blog post authored

by Messner, she and Handler were on their way to the Rhode Island Children’s Festival of Books and Authors when the first incident of inappropriate conduct occurred.

After another person on the bus heading to the festival asked if Messner lived in the Midwest,

Handler shouted, “Are you a virgin, too?!” According to Messner’s account, later while people were being introduced at a hotel, Handler also stated, “These children’s book events always turn into orgies!”

Messner’s accusations have been followed by a number of women who work in children’s literature who have also described inappropriate sexual comments made to and about them by Handler, according the the Pacific Standard’s reporting.

Handler responded to the accusations on a blog post on the same forum as Messner’s original post, apologizing and claiming an understanding of the subject, saying that he is a survivor of sexual violence himself.

Handler continued, “I apologize for any gaps in conversation, as sincerely as I apologize for any lapses in taste. I do not find comments sections the ideal place to discuss incidents in which my memories, and the memories of others who were with me, sometimes differ. And I believe the people who are talking. I am listening and willing to listen; I am learning and willing to learn.”

Dairy, which supports local Ethiopian camel milk producers.

“The amazing diversity of our innovators continues to inspire us,” said Rebecca Menapace, Associate Provost for Innovation, in a Brandeis article on SPARKTank, “It’s remarkable what they’ve been able to achieve in such a brief amount of time. They all come from different disciplines, and range from freshman to faculty.

To see them work so hard, and go so far, so quickly, shows the dedication of the Brandeis community to really solving the big challenges we face globally.”

The four-member judges panel was composed of Bobbie Carlton, the founder of Mass Innovation Nights, a company that provides networking and visibility for

entrepreneurs; Sean Rush, the former CEO of Junior Achievement, an organization preparing students for the working world; Barbara Finer, the founder of TechSandbox, a start-up accelerator with a focus on network development; and Johan Bergmann, the director of Strategic Alliances at the HULT Prize Foundation, an organization providing capital to young entrepreneurs.

Last year’s SPARKTank winner was WorkAround, an online service connecting refugees with employment in the United States.

WorkAround went on to be a finalist in the world-renown startup accelerator MassChallenge, and the company has already employed 300 refugees from nine different countries.

Waltham best place in MA to live

By Sabrina Chow staff

Money magazine ranked Waltham #13 out of 100 on their list of the “Best Places to Live,” an annually released list of the best cities to live in around the United States. Waltham was the top ranked city in Massachusetts. Members of the Waltham, Brandeis and Bentley communities celebrated this achievement on Feb. 15 through a variety of performances.

Money magazine had strict criteria in choosing which cities could be ranked. According to the methodology, cities that were considered needed to have a population between 10,000 and 100,000. Also included in their criteria were economic status, property values, crime rates, convenience, culture/recreational activities, cost of living, education and an overall ease of living.

Other cities in Massachusetts that made the top 100 were Newton (26th), Weymouth Town (73rd) and Norwood (78th).

Members of the Waltham, Brandeis and Bentley communities joined together to celebrate at Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. Music Unlimited,

Waltham High School’s premiere show choir, performed three pieces at the event: “Man in the Mirror,” “Bridges over Troubled Waters” and “I Don’t Feel Noways Tired.”

Interspersed throughout the performances, Waltham Mayor Jeannette C. McCarthy, President Ron Liebowitz and Herlyne Das ’18, a Waltham High School graduate, addressed the crowd. Mayor McCarthy is quoted in BrandeisNOW stating, “We’ve always known Waltham was a hidden treasure. There’s one thing that Waltham has always celebrated: its people. We’ve always been diverse, and for the most part, we’ve always gotten along.”

The joint academic and communal connection that the Brandeis community boasts with Waltham is a point of pride for the university. Liebowitz pointed out that over 1,000 of the students at Brandeis participate in Waltham Group focused on community outreach and incorporating Brandeis students into the city of Waltham. He also spoke about the connections between students on campus and different Waltham businesses that provide not only their services but also internships for students.

March 2, 2018

NEWS 3

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‘Big Chicken’ book talk with Maryn McKenna discusses dangers of antibiotic resistance

By Rachel Wang staff

In a talk about her most recent bestseller “Big Chicken: The Incredible Story of How Antibiotics Created Modern Agriculture and Changed the Way the World Eats,” Maryn McKenna told the story of how feeding antibiotics to poultry and other meat animals has caused greater antibiotic resistance in human consumers and consequently, increased public health concerns.

McKenna is an independent science journalist and a Senior Fellow at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, located in the Brandeis library. She has written for a variety of publications and has given a TED talk on antibiotic resistance that has more than 1.5 million views and has been translated into nine languages. She presented on bacterial resistance and her book in Rapaporte Treasure Hall on Feb. 26 with the Schuster Institute’s Founding Director, Florence Graces, moderating the discussion. After a presentation on McKenna’s work, she took questions from the audience and held a book signing.

McKenna described the history of antibiotics in farming. She began in 1948 when scientist Thomas Jukes discovered that feeding chicks small doses of the antibiotic aureomycin would cause them

to gain twice as much weight as normal chicks. This was termed “growth promotion,” and lead to the widespread use of antibiotics on chicken farms.

Widespread use of antibiotics can be cause for concern with regard to public health, said McKenna. “On a global average...at least twice as much antibiotics are going into livestock as they are going into people,” she said, and every time an antibiotic is used, “we are taking a risk that disease bacteria will adapt to the drug and become resistant.”

McKenna emphasized the importance of recognizing that healthy chicks and not sick chicks were being fed antibiotics. When using antibiotics, she said, “we’re balancing the risk of resistance against the benefit of curing an infection.” If antibiotics are given to an animal that is not sick, however, “we shift the balance almost entirely over to risk.”

In an example of the consequences of widespread antibiotic use, McKenna explained how the first drug-resistant bacteria, penicillin resistant staph, emerged in 1947 and caused outbreaks in British hospitals, then Australian hospitals and finally American hospitals. Resistance had arrived in the world of medicine, but as McKenna observed, “no one seemed to consider that it might happen in farming, too.”

The problem manifested itself first in dairy farms where chil-

dren who drank milk from penicillin-fed cows developed penicillin allergies from overexposure, said McKenna. As drug resistant foodborne illnesses continued to spread, the United Kingdom, in 1971, became the first government to restrict farm antibiotics.

There is researching pointing to

PHOTOS BY YARISA DIAZ/THE HOOT

the dangers of antibiotic feeding, said McKenna, including an experiment conducted by American scientist Stuart Levy, which, in 1976, demonstrated that resistant bacteria was moving from meat into kitchens, homes and people.

It also showed that bacteria could travel through animal manure and get into the atmosphere.

McKenna then focused on the modern day use of antibiotic feeding, suggesting that Americans didn’t take the issue of resistance very seriously because “we always assumed that however bad resistance might get, there would always be another drug to fix it.”

McKenna was clear that the issue is serious. She asserted that pharma companies have mostly backed off antibiotic production since 2004, reluctant to spend 1015 years getting a new drug on the market when “bacteria birth a new generation every twenty minutes.”

McKenna warned that a “post-antibiotic world’ would mean loss of what most consider to be modern medicine like surgery or stents. Antibiotic resistance would most immediately endanger the most vulnerable patients like those with cancer, HIV or a transplant. Even a slightly weak immune system suddenly could become life threatening.

While McKenna admitted that large scale protein production

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and antibiotic use are growing around the world (especially in developing countries), she believed that ultimately, the “narrative arc of the story turns toward the positive.” In 2014, the poultry producer Purdue announced they would be going antibiotic free, and they did so without losing any profits. Many other poultry companies and popular fast food chain restaurants followed suit.

McKenna attributes the unusual compliance of these meat producers to ditch antibiotics to “consumer pressure.” According to McKenna, school systems, health care systems, families, and farmers overwhelming communicated such a strong desire for antibiotic free meat that large companies could safely make this change knowing that “there would be a market waiting for them on the other side.”

McKenna concluded with the heartening image of the public actively advocating for the conditions of their consumption, but also cautioned that the antibiotic resistance movement will always exist as a problem, and increasingly as a global one.

The event was sponsored by the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, the Environmental Studies Program and a variety of other student and administration groups at Brandeis.

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Mental health forum brings up concerns about lack of communication, treatment options MENTAL HEALTH, from page 1

Steiger. She explained there are certain issues that can be best addressed in group therapy, which research shows is very effective in combating feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression. Von Steiger said it is best not to go in with expectations and said it depends on each student’s “unique circumstances.” Amy Scobie-Carroll, the assistant director of the BCC also noted a student’s treatment options can change over time.

“Embedded in the question is the idea that one is better than the other,” said Rachael Pucillo, the eating disorder specialist and group therapy coordinator at the BCC. “As group coordinator, I believe strongly in the power of group,” she said.

This conversation about BCC policy spurred several attendees to comment on a lack of communication between the BCC and the student body. Students noted much of the information they receive about the BCC comes via word of mouth, as opposed to official communications from the center about policy changes or new programs.

Anne Kat Alexander ’18 said she often hears about the BCC from who have had an experience there, such as wanting individual therapy but feeling the center was “trying to get [them] into a group.” She said that messaging about group therapy needs to be related more directly to students.

Frankie Marchan ’19, who is involved with Active Minds, also

said there should be more information on the BCC website, so if students find they need to advocate for themselves, they can learn about the types and benefits of various treatments.

Von Steiger acknowledged the BCC does not communicate directly with the student body and agreed, throughout the forum, that the center could improve these efforts. She asked for student feedback on ways to get information to students.

Alexander said the university is effectively communicating about many other issues via email and social media, citing the active shooter training set for March 21.

She also suggested disseminating a BCC newsletter with information on new group options or research they’re looking at. Participants also suggested having CAs reach out to their residents or posting signs in bathroom stalls similar to the “Get Help Now” posters (which provide information sexual assault support services).

At the forum, von Steiger announced a new program the university is piloting this semester called “embedded therapists.”

Through the program, therapists are holding drop-in hours in locations around campus, including the athletics center and the Intercultural Center, and staff members will soon be available in North Quad and the Village.

Students do not need to make an appointment or fill out the intake form, and they can meet with the same counselor three times before

PHOTOS FROM THE HOOT ARCHIVES

likely being referred to the BCC. The audience expressed widespread support for this program, but called it a prime example of the communication gap as no present students were aware of its existence. The Department of Community Living is working on communication the program to students, according to one Area Coordinator.

With the university’s next budget cycle approaching, the BCC’s “central ask” is for additional staff, said Sousa. Last semester, they were able to lobby for funds to address staffing issues, and Sousa

described von Steiger as “relentless, persistent and unyielding,” in pursuing resources for the BCC. Over the course of this academic year, the BCC has hired four new half-time counselors, including one at the beginning of this semester. The center also rehired last semester’s temps, who work for only part of the year, beginning on Feb. 1, according to von Steiger.

The group also discussed ways to encourage international students to seek mental health services. International students are less likely to seek out counseling

services, according to Von Steiger, and for years, the center has struggled to hire additional counselors who speak Mandarin and Cantonese. An international student in the audience encouraged the BCC to be aware of the cultural differences that affect international students seeking services.

BCC staff are in the process of forming a student advisory committee to explore campus mental health policies. At the forum, von Steiger encouraged any students interested in serving on the committee to reach out to her.

Marching then Running: Panelists focuses on women in public office PANNEL, from page 1

served as campaign manager and chief of staff to New York state senator Kevin Parker of Brooklyn.

The organization provides training to black women considering running for political office and provides support to black female voters, who “have been outvoting our male counterparts since the late 1990s” and have “been increasing our voting share over the last decade,” according to Carr.

Olson is the executive director of Emerge Massachusetts, an organization focused on increasing the number of democratic women in public office. She has

worked on a variety of progressive campaigns and candidates, such as Russ Feingold for United States Senate, and is an activist and a lobbyist. Emerge Massachusetts recruits and trains women to run for office. Their training programs, which have grown to around 60+ participants per session, teaches skills for phone banking, knocking on doors and fundraising.

Richie, who Greenlee described as a “powerhouse in Massachusetts politics,” represented Suffolk’s fifth district in the Massachusetts State House from 1995-1999 and is the former senior advisor to Governor Deval Patrick, as well as the executive

PANELISTS DISCUSS WOMEN IN AMERICAN POLITICS

PHOTOS BY CELIA YOUNG/THE HOOT

director of Patrick’s election campaign. She has also worked as a journalist and in the non-profit sector.

The panelists described their backgrounds in politics and discussed what kind of challenges women face in running for political office, including funding, current laws, the idea of the “old boys club” and women’s tendency to want to be over-prepared.

“Women are more likely to think they are unqualified even if they very well might be over-qualified for that position,” said Olsen.

“What ends up happening is a 19 to 23 year-old man will run for office and sometimes win, when she is wondering whether she’s qualified or not.”

Members of the Barbara Lee Family Foundation, a group that aims to advance women’s equality and representation in American politics, were also in attendance and distributed their research on women running for public office.

The panelists answered questions from the students in attendance and Greenlee, and gave advice about how students could run their own campaign or get involved.

Carr advised the audience that everyone has a role to play, and though “not everyone has to run for office,” she encouraged audience members to run. She also stated that running a successful campaign depended on authenticity.

Richie cited the variety of organizations that exist to support women running for office. “We’re

WOMEN CANDIDATES IN THE TRUMP ERA

going to feel more powerful and we’re going to perform at a higher level as a candidate…if we know that we have people with us, backing us up, and that’s why I mention these organizations.”

Finally, Olsen encouraged the student attendees to get involved in campaigns.

“Campaigns and organizations are always…drastically underfunded and under resourced,” Olsen said. “If you are willing to show up, work hard, be smart

PHOTOS BY CELIA YOUNG/THE HOOT

and put the time and energy into it, you will learn so much and be given so much more responsibility than you probably would get in any other industry.”

The event was sponsored by the Brandeis University Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department and cosponsored by the Politics Department, Sociology Department, Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, Gender and Sexuality Center and Brandeis Democrats.

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Brandeis Bridges fellows bridge the gap between Black and Jewish communities in Chicago

By Polina Potochevska editor

Over the February break, members of Brandeis Bridges traveled to Chicago for a week of sightseeing, open dialogue and bonding.

The Brandeis Bridges Club is a group on campus dedicated to creating dialogue between the Jewish and Black communities. Their mission, as stated on their webpage, is to “create a safe space where members of the Jewish and Black community can speak freely about racial and religious relations at Brandeis, in their community, and beyond.”

Two Bridges Fellows, R Matthews ’19 and Lanthara Langlois ’21, attended the trip. Matthews, a computer science and African and Afro-American Studies (AAAS) double major, told The Brandeis Hoot that Bridges participated in tours and sightseeing around Chicago. “I had a great time getting closer with the cohort as we explored the city together… We also spent time in Bronzeville, a historical Black neighborhood in Chicago which was really exciting for me to see some of the places where some of Black America’s greats lived. We drove by Muhammad Ali’s house, The Obamas’ house, and Louis Farrakhan’s house all within a 4 minute drive of each other,” wrote Matthews.

Langlois, an intended HSSP major and Renaissance and Medieval Studies minor, said her favorite part about the trip was visiting the DuSable Museum of African American History and the Illi-

PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK.COM

nois Holocaust Museum, where all of the fellows learned new things and could discuss them.

“Those two museums allowed each and every one of us to... [have] dialogue with each other after about how it made us feel,” said Langlois. Each night of the trip, the Fellows would have a debrief where they spoke about the day’s activities and reflected upon them.

Matthews also noted that visiting the two museums were a memorable highlight of the trip for him. “I think the two most powerful visits for me were the Holocaust Museum and the DuSable Museum. Just learning about both communities’ respective traumas was really powerful and emotional,” wrote Matthews to The Hoot.

Matthews also talked about his exposure to Jewish communities

during the trip to Chicago. “Another really cool experience I had was attending Orthodox Jewish services for the first time. That was a new experience for me, especially growing up in a predominantly Christian environment.

We also had Shabbat dinner at various community members’ houses, which was great!”

Aside from appreciating Chicago’s architecture, Matthews also noted that downtown Chicago is home to “some really beautiful buildings, many of which were used in famous movies.” They also visited famous tourist sites like the Cloud Gate public sculpture by artist Sir Anish Kapoor.

Langlois said that another great part of the trip was becoming closer with the other fellows. “...I got closer to people I would’ve never expected to, which was

PHOTOS COURTESY R MATTHEWS

PHOTOS COURTESY R MATTHEWS

PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK.COM

PHOTOS COURTESY R MATTHEWS

amazing because I thought I had a lot of friends, but I met even more people and it was just amazing.”

For Matthews, Brandeis Bridges serves as a learning experience. “To me, Brandeis Bridges means learning more about the Jewish community both at Brandeis and at large, while also learning about the Black community to which I’m personally a part of,” Matthews wrote.

Langlois said that being a Brandeis Bridges Fellow allows her to connect with more students on campus. “I can connect to students that I wouldn’t be able to connect to on a more personal level.” Langlois said that she has met many current and past fellows. “...It’s a good way to make connections to people ... who you wouldn’t be friends with if it wasn’t a set-

ting like [Brandeis Bridges], but this allows them to become like your second family, in a sense.”

“I think having Brandeis Bridges is important because it’s legit building a bridge between black and Jewish people, because blacks are not really represented in this campus and the Jewish population is like the most populated and I feel like to bridge the gap is Brandeis Bridges,” said Langlois.

Matthews wrote that future Brandeis Bridges events will include talking about their experiences during the trip and more.

The Brandeis Bridges Club Facebook page and listserv are a great way for interested students to learn more about the program and discover the ways that the Black and Jewish communities can learn and bond together.

PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK.COM

PHOTOS COURTESY R MATTHEWS

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Students create app to simplify travel arrangements

By Sabrina Chow staff

Right before and after breaks, all the respective MyDeis Facebook pages fill up with students desperately looking for people to commute with them to or from the airport to save a bit of cash.

With the influx of these posts, everything gets lost in the shuffle and no one is able to find rides.

The Facebook group specifically for Travel Arrangements at Brandeis never seems to work properly, or register that a student is actually a student at Brandeis.

Having dealt with these constant struggles, Benjamin Segal ’20 and graduate students Akiba Sato and Tom Willkens, created the app Shift, in effort to create a mutual platform in which all students searching for possible travel companions can see them in one place.

“The app makes life a lot easier because people can post right

SCHEDULE YOUR RIDE

on the calendar. Everything is centralized and it gets rid of the lack of organization that is seen in the Facebook groups,” said Willkens in an interview.

Similar to Uber and Lyft, Sato, Segal and Willkens wanted a name for the app that was short, sweet and simple. When discussing the name, Sato said in an interview, “It kinda just happened. It was a nice one syllable thing that relates to cars.”

Prices for services like Uber Pool and Lyft are often higher in smaller cities, leaving students searching for more affordable alternatives. Using Shift helps give students a more user-friendly and convenient interface to coordinate rides. The team is hoping to work with Uber or Lyft to get discounted rides for all passengers.

Since its launch, Shift has seen almost 100 users’ rides, with just over 60 rides initiated. Still in their beta phase, Sato, Segal and Willkens are hoping to update the

interface for mobile users, not just desktop. “We are looking to make the website more mobile-friendly so people can access it on any device,” said Willkens in an interview. Websites tend to see much more traffic in general than apps.

“Statistically speaking, apps are not necessarily the most efficient way of getting information. The average phone user downloads less than one app a month,” according to Sato. The website is much more effective at having all the information in one place without requiring its users to download an app. The team hopes to potentially combine with other apps to create a multi-functional app for all students.

Once on the website, users are shown a calendar in which they can see when people are traveling and where they are travelling to and from. Just click on the time that matches up with yours and join the ride. The Shift team encourages people to ac-

WILLKENS, SATO AND SEGAL The

faces behind the app.

tually join the ride instead of merely contacting the organizer so all people know how many available seats are left in the car.

Screenshots of the Shift app reveal how users can schedule ride with other students to and from nearby airports and train stations.

PHOTO BY SABRINA CHOW/THE HOOT

To get onto the website, go to http://shiftbrandeis.herokuapp.com/login and login with your Brandeis email.

PHOTO FROM HTTP://SHIFTBRANDEIS.HEROKUAPP.COM

Graduate students create campaign for compost

By Sara McCrea editor

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 20 percent of all waste in landfills is compostable, totaling almost 35 million tons a year of food waste that emits methane gases in landfills. While Brandeis composts food waste in the Sherman and Usdan dining halls and Kutz Bakery, academic buildings and residence halls only offer recycling and trash bins for students to dispose of the snacks they couldn’t quite finish.

When the Environmental Justice Working Group (EJWG) at The Heller School of Social Policy and Management began brainstorming projects to take on, integrating a compost system into the graduate school was a priority. Co-leaders of the Working Group Meredith Beaton Marx, Mitali Pinto and Marissa Rosen, graduate students at Heller, introduced composting to the community by way of a campaign that allows students to compost their food waste in conveniently placed bins in the academic building.

The Brandeis Sustainability Fund granted the EJWG $500 for the project, which the group has used to purchase bins, com-

postable liners and a compost pickup site outside of Heller’s main building. To create an effective plan, EJWG consulted Mary Fischer, Brandeis’ Manager of Sustainability Projects, who suggested they run a pilot program to collect data on the efficacy of introducing two compost bins in student frequented areas.

“Mary [Fischer] at the Sustainability office was extremely helpful,” Marx said. “She really cares about what she’s doing, and really loves it when students are wanting to make this campus more green, so I think she was excited about the project.”

The group expected the pilot plan to run two weeks, but decided to extend it for an additional two weeks to collect data after the initial excitement about the program reduced. Heller students that volunteered as “Compost Ambassadors” helped with the process of getting the compostable waste from the students to Black Earth Composting, a pick-up composting service Brandeis has recently partnered with to dispose of compostable waste, and marketed the campaign to Heller students, staff and faculty through emails, signs and in-class explanations.

“What we had to do is get some bins, let people know that we wanted to collect some compost, measure the bins at the

end of each day, see how much we can compost here at Heller and also pay attention to how much people can comply with composting and if they understand what to put in each bucket,” Marx said. During the pilot program, the pickup point for Black Earth Compost was outside the Faculty Club, so the students transported the bins back and forth after weighing the waste.

The data from the pilot report showed that as the program progressed, the amount of composted waste increased. While there were a few errors, such as students putting non-compostable Starbucks coffee cups in the bins, the data also reflected the posters that detailed what waste could be composted were effective in helping students sort their waste correctly.

After the successful pilot run in which they collected a total of 512.3 pounds at an average of 25.6 pounds a day, leaders of the working group drafted a report with their findings. The report stated the group’s purpose as an effort “to increase awareness around the importance of composting, while diverting a significant amount of food scraps from the landfill at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, which maintains a social change mission and core value of environmental sustainability.”

IS THAT COMPOSTABLE?

PHOTO BY SARA MCCREA/THE HOOT

Before you throw something away, check to see if anything can be composted first.

Composting is the process or turning organic waste into a rich soil additive, cutting down on food waste, saving water and keeping the waste out of landfills that would cause it to emit CO2 and methane gases. By using an external composting service, students can compost meat waste as well as vegetable and fruit waste. Additional compostable items include wooden coffee stir-

rers and paper towels, items that college students use frequently.

“We really felt that composting is a practice that goes along with the mission of Heller,” Marx said.

“With Heller being a social policy school with a social justice mission and having an environmental sustainability focus, we should be practicing what we’re learning about and what we’re learning to do in the development field.”

EDITORIALS

March 2, 2018

“To acquire wisdom, one must observe.”

Editors-in-Chief Hannah Schuster Emily Sorkin Smith Senior Managing Editor Allison Plotnik Senior Editor Sarah Jousset Copy Editor Emily Botto News Editor Celia Young Arts Editors Ben Beriss Rebecca Goldfarb Opinions Editor Katarina Weessies Features Editor Polina Potochevska Deputy Features Editor Sara McCrea Sports Editor Zach Cihlar Deputy Sports Editor Shea Decker-Jacoby Photo Editor Yarisa Diaz Layout Editor Candace Ng Editors-at-Large Katie Decker-Jacoby Abigail Gardener Ryan Spencer Elianna Spitzer Sarah Terrazano

Volume 15 • Issue 5 the brandeis hoot • brandeis university 415 south street • waltham, ma

STAFF

David Aizenberg, Juliana An, Robert Banks, Caleigh Bartash, José Castellanos, Anindita Chanda, Sabrina Chow, Kevin Costa, Daniel Freedman, Natalie Fritzson, Ariella Gentin, Rebecca Goldfarb, Noah Harper, Kevin Healey, Daniel Johnston, Daniel Kang, Jonah Koslofsky, Matthew Kowalyk, Samantha Lauring, Jerry Peng, Elana Rombro, Rachel Wang

MISSION As the weekly community student newspaper of Brandeis University, The Brandeis Hoot aims to provide our readers with a reliable, accurate and unbiased source of news and information. Produced entirely by students, The Hoot serves a readership of 6,000 with in-depth news, relevant commentary, sports and coverage of cultural events.

Recognizing that better journalism leads to better policy, The Brandeis Hoot is dedicated to the principles of investigative reporting and news analysis. Our mission is to give every community member a voice.

SUBMISSION POLICIES The Brandeis Hoot welcomes letters to the editor on subjects that are of interest to the community. Preference is given to current or former community members and The Hoot reserves the right to edit or reject submissions. The deadline for submitting letters is Wednesday at noon.

Please submit letters to letters@thebrandeishoot.com along with your contact information. Letters should not exceed 500 words. The opinions, columns, cartoons and advertisements printed in The Hoot do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial board.

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

A

The Brandeis Hoot 7

Engage in protest and political action for gun control reform

t 10 a.m. on March 14, Brandeis students will walk out of classes for 17 minutes in solidarity with the 17 students and faculty members killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and in support of the #NeverAgain movement. In the wake of the horrific tragedy in Parkland, FL, the many mass shootings that preceded it and the incomprehensible lack of policy change surrounding access to guns, The Brandeis Hoot’s Editorial Board feels it is imperative students advocate for their safety and national change by attending this event. In addition, students can go to Boston or Washington D.C. for the March for Our Lives on March 24 and protest against political leaders who continue to extend nothing but “thoughts and prayers” to victims of mass shootings while accept donations from the National Rifle Association and holding back gun control legislation.

We, like 68 percent of the American electorate, support

expanded gun control measures, such as background checks, restrictions on purchases of “bump stocks” and raising the minimum age for gun buyers.

These changes should have happened years ago and should not inspire controversy. A stronger background check system that is also necessary, and 97 percent of Americans believe this, according to Quinnipiac University.

This should not be a partisan issue. In 2018 alone, there have been 24 gunshot victims in school shootings. Many of the victims of the Parkland shooting were only a few years younger than us and were murdered in classrooms and hallways much like the ones we see everyday.

We commend the Brandeis administration for their commitment to supporting the rights of students to peacefully protest when their lives are in danger and we commend the student organizers of walkouts and protests both at Brandeis and in schools across the coun-

try for giving young people a voice. The active shooter drill on March 21, organized before the most recent mass shooting, shows the university is proactively responding to the persistent threat of guns that faces our society. These drills have become common practice at universities around the country, and while we appreciate Brandeis’ efforts, we hate that this has become so necessary.

As students, we must recognize that the only way to make change on this issue is to continue to pressure our elected officials to listen to their constituents. We must write letters to our representatives, not just at the federal level but at the state level as well, and remind them that the voices of Americans, gun-owning and not, support gun control measures. We must engage in peaceful protests and marches to show our support for student safety. We must take this opportunity to use our voices and demand reform.

SPORTS

8 The Brandeis Hoot

March 2, 2018

Men’s club volleyball earns 11-1 record

By Shea Decker-Jacoby editor

The Brandeis men’s volleyball club team (MVC) starts off their season with a 11-1 record in the Division II in the New England Collegiate Volleyball League (NECVL). The team has a history of competing at a high level in the NECVL, but after the tough losses last season, the team’s President, Wyatt Emenaker ’19, decided to have the team compete in Division II this season in hope to see more success. In Division II, the MVC plays against Bentley, Williams, University of New England, University of Maine, Brown and Trinity, to name a few. With many new players who have never played volleyball before, the team has grown into their new identity and have found success.

Recently, the team captains Wyatt Emenaker ’19 and Philip Cooper ’18 gave us some incite to the MVC and spoke about their experiences as members of the team. Emenaker joined the team in the fall of 2015 as a freshman outside hitter. Following in the footsteps of Milo Charney-Rosen ’16, Wyatt has grown into a leadership role as captain for two years and President for a year. He says he enjoys, “playing competitive volleyball with a fun group of guys. Personally, I can get some of the same kind of competition as if I was a NCAA Division III without the huge time commitment. Emenaker says playing for the teams has been a “fun way

to compete while not letting it take over your life.” In the middle of his third year playing for the team, his goal is to “win our region. That hasn’t been done by the club for a while I think.” The team is defiantly on track for that only having lost to the University of New Haven.

As senior captain, Cooper enters into his last season representing the Judges on the volleyball court and reflecting on his favorite memory playing, which is, “the opportunity to travel across New England and the country with my teammates. We have a number of tournaments in the fall and spring that start early in the morning and sometimes don’t end until late that same evening.

These long days have given me a lot of chances to get to know the other guys on the team, and make a lot of good memories.” Cooper

also says “his favorite memory was winning second in the region my sophomore year; it was the best the club has done since its inception! It was so exciting and rewarding to see the hard work we did in the off season build up our endurance pay off!”

Cooper has played for the team a total of four seasons, and coming into his last he says he has “gained a lot from my time playing on the team. First and foremost, the friends and support system I’ve developed from being on the team has truly made my experience. I’m close with guys that are currently on the team and still keep in contact with many of the guys that have graduated since I joined the team. More selfishly, I think being on the team has provided a lot of structure for me in developing my schedule at Brandeis, and allowed me devel-

op necessary leadership and time management skills.”

The team has gained a new head coach this season since the departure of Brett Crandall. Lauren Yung has taken the position and has led the team to 11 victories this season. Yung played volleyball at Washington University of St. Louis, competing in the University Athletic Association for four years. After graduating, she moved back to her home state of Massachusetts and joined the Brandeis volleyball coaching staff as a volunteer coach in fall 2016 and was offered a permanent position as the assistant coach. Yung helped guide the women’s volleyball team to their first positive record season for years and has set the Brandeis men’s volleyball team on track to be competitive for the league championship.

While Yung has only coached

the team for a couple of months, she says her favorite part of coaching a men’s volleyball team is, “The guys know how to push each other, but still be supportive. They have great quips at each other that keep it competitive, but light. It’s a fun atmosphere to be a part of.”

While coaching for the Brandeis women’s team, Yung was offered the position of head coach. “I knew it would be a different experience. The game is very different so I wanted to see what I could learn about it. That said, the game isn’t so different from the women’s so I knew I could bring a lot to the table. In short, I really wanted to see how those two things merged.

So far so good.”

The team hopes to win the championship for the Judges and head to St. Louis to compete at Nationals.

PHOTOS BY SHEA DECKER-JACOBY/THE HOOT

SETTING THINGS STRAIGHT Wyatt

Emenaker ‘19 steps in as setter due to player

injuries.

GOING FOR THE KILL

The team took first place during the tournament at Brandeis.

Flipping fun with Brandeis Gymnastics

By Zach Cihlar editor

It’s never too late to learn how to flip! The Brandeis Gymnastics club team is an all-inclusive club sport that rosters individuals of all skill levels.

Three times each week, the team holds off-campus practice at a gym in Cambridge. They hire coaches to oversee practices, offering advice concerning basics and fundamentals to new or novice gymnasts, as well as offering coaching to veteran gymnasts familiar with the sport. “One of the great things about having our coaches at the off-campus gym is that they can really focus on some of the newer members and offer

suggestions of beginner skills to try and more experienced team members are great resources as well,” Gianna Petrillo ’19, the club’s president, explained.

Although each off-campus practice is limited to 12 gymnasts (enough to fill one club sports van), the team rosters about 20 active members, who rotate in attendance at the practices and some who do not attend regularly.

Brandeis Gymnastics also meets bi-weekly on campus. The time commitment is up to the individual, according to Petrillo.

The off-campus practices have a loose structure, Petrillo stated.

Once the team has arrived at the gym and warmed up, students can choose the skill set they want to practice for that day, allowing

new gymnasts the opportunity to gain a diverse skill set. “If you are new to the team and want to try one event in particular, or are working on a certain skill, or if you don’t even know where to begin, you can find something for you at gymnastics,” Petrillo said.

The most dedicated of members also have the opportunity to compete in both local and travel competitions. “This year was our most competitive year as a club,” Petrillo said of the club’s competition schedule. The team will compete in a total of seven competitions this year, from a local competition in Greater Boston to a larger one in Fort Worth, TX. Competitions help expose members of the club to the atmosphere of competition and the skill levels of competing

Captain Gianna Petrillo ‘19 said one of her favorite parts of the team is the untiy between members who otherwise might never have interacted.

FLEXIBLE COMMUNITY

clubs. They are building up to the annual National Competition, which the club team participates in every year and can happen anywhere in the country. Co-president Hannah DeRoche ’19 is the 2016 Floor National Champion and the 2017 Floor runner-up.

Petrillo is the 2017 beam runner-up.

Petrillo herself is no beginner when it comes to competition.

The club president started her gymnastics journey at the age of three and grew up competing until time commitments forced her out of practice during high school.

When she arrived at Brandeis, the club gymnastics team offered her the perfect outlet to get back into gymnastics without consuming too much of her time.

Not only does the club gymnastics team offer Petrillo an outlet to practice her sport, it also provides an environment for fostering friendships she otherwise wouldn’t have made at Brandeis.

“Although I may study something entirely different than my teammates, so I may not take classes with them, our unity over the sport allows me to interact with a much larger student population who I get to see and flip with several times a week,” Petrillo said.

Connecting over their love of gymnastics and competition, Petrillo and her gymnastics friends have become a tight community, which she said has become her favorite part of competing for Brandeis gymnastics.

PHOTOS COURTESY GIANNA PETRILLO Co-Captains Gianna Petrillo ‘19 (left) and Hannah DeRoche ‘19 (right) are experienced gymnasts.

LONG TIME LOVE

March 2, 2018

SPORTS 9

The Brandeis Hoot

Brandeis ski and snowboard team heads to Nationals

By Sarah Jousset editor

During the week of March 5, the Brandeis Ski and Snowboard Team will compete at USCSA (United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association) Nationals at Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid, NY. The Ski and Snowboard Team races the first five weekends during second semester of every year. The team competes in the alpine slalom and giant slalom events in the McBrine Division of the USCSA’s Eastern Conference. The skiing team finished their races for the academic year during the weekend of Feb. 10 and skipped regionals, which fell during the most recent school recess. Although the skiers have finished for the season, the team’s last events of the year will be Nationals, where three snowboarders will be competing. The snowboarding team typically qualifies for Nationals, but since every other year Nationals are held on the west coast, attendance for the team is quite difficult.

Overall, the Ski and Snowboard Team fared well this season. The men’s skiing team placed third overall in the McBrine Division and took home a trophy for Brandeis. This year’s Men’s team consists of captain Zach Phil Schwartz ’18, Tiff Lyman ’21, Addison Pitha ’20, Oliver Koch ’20, Quinn Rickert ’19, Abhishek

Kulkarni ’18 and Jasper Rodgers ’21.

The women’s ski team finished fifth overall in their division, with Sonja Unica ’18 finishing as the top ranked female skier for Brandeis, in 11th place overall.

As for snowboarding, there is no gender differentiation. Snowboarder and captain Sophie Grutzner ’18 finished the regular season in first place overall for snowboarding in the McBrine Division. Grutzner will be competing at Nationals during the week of March 5. Riely Allen ’18 and Olivia Kalsner-Kershen ’19 will also be competing at Nationals alongside fellow snowboarder

Grutzner. The trio will compete for the best time in boarder-cross, slalom and giant slalom. While slalom and giant slalom involve movement around gates, the boardercross event includes jumps, berms and rollers.

Grutzner is favored by the judges in the National competition, however, her priority is to have fun and represent her team well. She commented on the opportunity to compete, “For me, after qualifying for three years, getting to go is a super exciting and largely due to the team’s enthusiasm and willingness to chip in with volunteering as gatekeepers, driving the 6 hours to Lake

Three snowboarders from the Brandeis Ski and Snowboard team, pictured above at a costume race on Feb. 12, will head to Nationals next week.

NATIONALS BOUND

Swimming race in conference tournaments over the break

By David Aizenberg staff

The Brandeis men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams (BUSDT) built on their strong seasons with positive results at the University Athletic Association (UAA) tournament and at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships at Emory and Rutgers, respectively.

At the UAA tournament, Amy Sheinhait ’18 closed out her final UAA event by setting a school record in the 50-yard freestyle (24.66s, 23rd place). In addition, three other Judges finished with top ten all time finishes in Brandeis history (Richard Selznick ’21 in the 500-yard freestyle, Daniel Wohl ’21 in the 50-yard freestyle and Sabrina Greer ’20 in the 200-yard individual medley).

Tamir Zitelny ’20 continued to

put the NCAA on notice as he continued his dominant swimming while breaking school records set by himself earlier in the year. In the 100-yard backstroke, Zitelny swam a 50.24 second race, finishing in ninth place overall while lowering his school record by 0.13 seconds. Further, Zitelny placed tenth in the 100-yard butterfly (50.22s), breaking his school record by four-hundredths of a second.

At the end of the final day of competition, both the men’s and women’s team achieved their best point totals ever under coach Mike Kotch. The men totaled 472 points while the women finished with 381.5—good enough for an eighth-place finish for both teams.

In the diving, the Judges had three scoring performances. Julia Tartaglia ’19 finished 19th (250.65), Tessa Carreiro ’21 fin-

ished 20th (229.85), and Genna Karp ’18 finished 21st (178.00).

At the ECAC Championships at Rutgers, the Brandeis men’s swimming team finished in 13th place (91 points) and the women finished in 17th place (62 points). In the individual events, the Judges had two swimmers competing on the final day. Zach Diamond ’18 finished with a time of 16:19.03 in the 1650-yard freestyle (16th place), and Richard Selznick ’21 finished with a time of 17:05.52 in the same event (21st place).

Again, the Judges were shooting to break records, as Richard Avrutsky ’21 tied a school record (27.17s) in the first lap of the 200yard breaststroke.

In the women’s relay, the Judges ended in 12th place (3:47.73).

Amy Sheinhait ’18 along with Uajda Musaku ’21, Audrey Kim ’21 and Emily McGovern ’21 represented the Judges in the event.

PHOTO FROM BRANDEISJUDGES.COM

JUST SHORT

Placid, and a special effort from my invaluable co-Captain Zach Schwartz. I am looking forward to competing against people from all across the country and measuring up against the new competition … This will also be my final collegiate race as a part of the Brandeis ski and snowboard team so although I will be sad to leave them it is a great note to go out on.”

Both Co-Captains commented on the team going to Nationals, and not only what it means for the athletes, but the future of the club at Brandeis.

Grutzner exhibited pride in all the hard work her team contributed this season, “For the club, I

Emily McGovern ‘21 missed out on qualifing for the final round of the 200 yard breaststroke in the ECACs.

PHOTO COURTESY ZACH PHIL SCHWARTZ

hope that this means we will get the support we need from club sports to be able to compete again. Almost all of the money being spent on fees, housing, transportation, ect. is coming out of a now very depleted fundraising budget. It is also the culmination of a lot of hard work on the part of the entire team especially the snowboarders who have competed on skier courses and awful conditions all season in order to qualify.”

Schwartz also commented in the team going to nationals, “Obviously the goal is for our snowboarders to do as well as they can.

We have a great team this year and I’m really excited to see how they do. Many of us will also be there volunteering at the event and cheering them on.”

Commenting on the season, he explained, “I feel like the biggest thing from this year was a rejuvenation of the team. It is full of new first year and sophomore skiers and snowboarders and that really is a great thing for keeping it going in the future.”

Schwartz also mentioned his belief in the bright future of the team as a graduating senior and his hope for the team’s continuing growth stating, “As a senior I hope to see the club keep expanding and continue to do well. Personally I think the team’s accomplishments go very much under the radar and continuing to do well will get us noticed.”

Zach Phil Schwartz is a former editor for The Brandeis Hoot.

Track takes UAAs

By Sarah Jousset editor

The men and women’s indoor track team took on the 2018 UAA Championships this past weekend in Cleveland, OH. The men’s team finished sixth overall with 55 points, their highest point total since 2006. The women’s team placed fourth in the competition with 41 points, their highest finish since 2010.

Day two of the competition marked the finals. Churchill Perry ’20 started off the day with an outstanding performance in the triple jump, recording his personal best and taking his first UAA victory with a distance of 14.24m.

Perry’s performance earned him the ranking of 29th in the country.

Graduate student Irie Gourde ’17, HS ’18 took home his his first top finish after five career second place finishes at the UAAs. Gourde’s finish came in the men’s 200m race with a time of 22.54, which was slower than his prelim time of 22.09 that places him in the top 10 nationally. Gourde also finished second in the 400m with a time of 49.03 and third as part of the 4x400 relay, which also included Perry, Patrick Quinlan ’21, and Henry McDonald ’19.

Regan Charie ’19 recorded a personal best in the prelims of the 60m even on the first day of UAAs, and finished in second place in the 60m final on day two with a time of 7.11. Charie also placed fourth in the 200m final with a time of 22.89. Ryan Stender ’18 placed third in the 3000m race with a time of 8:38.61, earning his second career All-UAA honor in the 3000m event.

Emily Bryson ’19 also stood out

for the Judges. Bryson won the distance medley relay on the first day of UAAs and the 3000m by almost ten seconds with a time of 9:54.68 on day two of the UAA competition. This win makes Bryson one of the only UAA athletes to ever win six UAA titles in six different events, including cross country, the outdoor 5000m, the indoor mile, the 1500m outdoors, the distance medley relay and the 3000m. Bryson’s time in the 3000m ranks her 12th nationally, which means she could qualify for both the mile and the 3000m events in the NCAA championships later this month.

Doyin Ogundiran ’19 earned a second place finish in the 800m event, running a personal best of 2:14.05. She is now ranked in 4th place nationally. The 4x400 relay team, consisting of Ogundiran, Kayla Fahey ’20, Leinni Valdez ’21, and Lisbeth Valdez ’21, placed fifth with a time of 4:03.52.

Julia Bryson ’19 was the final runner for the women’s team, finishing sixth in the mile with a time of 5:14.05.

In the field events, three Judges placed. For the women’s team, Jordin Carter ’18 finished fifth in shot put with a distance of 11.33m on day two, along with her second place finish the previous day in weight throw. Scott Grote ’19 and Breylen Ammen ’21 were the two scorers for the men’s team. On day one, Grote finished fifth in the weight throw with a distance of 13.09m for All-UAA honors.

Ammen placed sixth in the pole vault with a height of 4.21m in his UAA debut.

The men and women’s indoor track and field team continue their season this coming weekend against Tufts University in Medford.

OPINIONS

10 The Brandeis Hoot

March 2, 2018

Philanthropy and Bill and Melinda Gates’ annual letter

By Sabrina Chow staff

It is remarkable that Microsoft has been around for 43 years already, and that one of the founders, Bill Gates, has been the richest person in the United States, according to Forbes, for 24 years straight. With a net worth of 91.1 billion dollars, it makes me happy to know Bill and Melinda are doing so much as philanthropists and humanitarians.

For the last decade, the Gates have released annual letters regarding their philanthropic commitments and general views on society. In honor of their 10 year anniversary of these letters, they decided to tackle their top ten most asked questions.

Throughout the letter, both Melinda and Bill showed an optimistic point of view on our society, stating that “Being an optimist isn’t about knowing that life used to be worse. It’s about knowing how life can get better. And that’s what really fuels our optimism.”

Despite the Gates’ optimism, their philanthropic convictions have not gone without criticism.

As the richest couple in the world, many ask why they don’t give a larger portion of their fortune or donate to causes closer to their home in the United States. Although these criticisms do have some validity, the Gates’ decisions regarding their fortune are honorable and reasonable.

One key criticism of the Gates’ donations is that they don’t give enough to domestic causes. Of the money that did go to the US, much of it went towards education for underprivileged students, but those donations are miniscule in comparison to the amount of money they send overseas. They explained the choice to spend more money on developing countries helps to impact a larger group of people. Since its founding, the foundation has already spent 15.3 billion dollars on vaccines for people in developing countries, to help limit the spread of disease. That number seems like an exorbitant amount, but with vaccines costing a few dol-

PHOTO FROM CNBC.COM

BILL AND MELINDA GATES

lars at most, that’s millions, maybe even billions, of lives saved.

This means that their money goes much further in developing nations, influencing more lives than in the US. Many critics also wonder whether the Gates’ have anything to show for the billions they’ve given to US education. The Gates’ Foundation was donating billions of dollars on US education and yet we still rank relatively low globally. Why? With all of that extra money, why does it appear that our public school system is not improving? As with all government programs, the public school system will be slow to change, but Bill and Melinda Gates are working to improve the schools despite this slow pace. The Gates’ Foundation asks recipient schools to show where exactly they used the donations, in order to ensure the money is not spent on useless updates or corrupt administrators. Hopefully, the accountability-centered donation process will improve our schools in the longrun.

The Gates’ Foundation is also criticized for not donating to an-

ti-climate change organizations.

Personally, I am passionate about climate change, so I was shocked to learn about this gap in the Gates’ Foundation’s donation goals.

The Gates’ Foundation is doing plenty, however, to work against climate change in its own way. Bill Gates uses his position as a public figure to encourage political effort and research into bridging the gap between the public and private spending on clean energy, making it easier for countries to fight climate change. As for his personal endeavors, Bill is part of a private investment fund, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, that has over $1 billion from different investors to help fund innovators.

One can worry, given all these international donations, that the Gates’ are imposing their values onto other cultures. Bill and Melinda definitely have the capability to fully submerge themselves in any culture and change it, but do they? As philanthropists, they believe not.

“In all our work, we are interested in making sure people have the knowledge and power to make

the best choices for themselves,” said Melinda in the letter. A common theme here is Bill and Melinda make an effort to encourage success in developing nations without changing their culture.

Other critics of the Gates’ international focus believe saving lives in developing nations causes overpopulation, worsening the countries’ state in the long-run. At first glance, this criticism sounds reasonable. Saving lives means that more people grow old, get married, and have more children.

Since the Gates’ foundation is saving lives, however, families may no longer need to have as many offspring. Furthermore, most nations considered “overpopulated,” such as India and China, actually have the space and resources to maintain their population. Individuals experiencing poverty in these nations are not held back by overpopulation, but by poor distribution of resources, an issue that the Gates’ Foundation seeks to fix.

Back in the US, the Gates’ are criticized for their continuing relationship with Donald Trump.

While Bill and Melinda are not

particularly enthusiastic about President Trump, they continue to keep contact with the Trump administration. Melinda and Bill have stated that they hope their wealth and status will influence Trump to act with more respect, particularly in terms of his treatment of developing nations. Their greatest worry is the threat to Foreign Aid. With the proposed cut to foreign aid, the efforts to save lives abroad will not only cost lives in foreign countries, but also jobs in the US. To avoid this, the Gates hope to use their wealth and fame to persuade the Trump administration to keep its current foreign aid commitments.

Many people believe that the massive influence of the Gates’ foundation is unfair. I agree with this criticism, but I also believe that the way that the Gates have chosen to use their wealth is honorable. The precariousness of their massive influence is evident when Bill and Melinda have disagreements over what to do with their money. As with any married couple, disagreements are bound to happen. Bill and Melinda emphasize the open line of communication that helps them make joint decisions. By continuously giving each other feedback, each know what they need to improve on as well as what needs to be changed.

Despite the many criticisms of the Gates’ Foundation, what Bill and Melinda Gates have chosen to do with their money is commendable. No one needs the amount of money that Bill and Melinda have accumulated over the years. For a less noble couple, it would just be extra money that sits collecting dust. Bill believes in his responsibility to use his extra wealth to improve the world, stating “once you’ve taken care of yourself and your children, the best use of extra wealth is to give it back to society.”

Bill and Melinda Gates have the potential to impact society in massive ways. Their conscious and far-reaching donations make them some of the most prolific and effective philanthropists in the world.

Future of the Winter Olympics

By Kevin Costa staff

Only every four years during the Olympics are we allowed to indulge in obscure sports, human interest stories and even a healthy bit of nationalism. But now that this year’s games in PyeongChang, South Korea, are over, we are now faced with assessing the viability and structure of the Olympics, especially that of the Winter Games, in the years to come. There are serious problems that face the Olympics and which need to be addressed looking forward. Historically, host cities have displaced large numbers of citizens to clear space for Olympic venues and amenities. In preparation for the 2008 Beijing games, the Chinese government forced roughly 1.5 million citizens from their homes. In Vancouver two years later, construction led to a housing squeeze, which increased homelessness in the area. This trend has tended to disproportionately marginalize people of

low economic status. In London during the run-up to the 2012 Games, many families were evicted by rent-gouging landlords.

In 2016, over 70,000 Brazilians, mostly poor residents, were evicted from favelas to make room for the Olympic Park. In all, one study estimates around two million people have been displaced in the last 20 years by cities in order to accommodate Olympic facilities and venues.

For the PyeongChang Games, the village of Sukam was destroyed to make way for a luxury resort, parking lots and a helicopter pad. These amenities sat on Mount Gariwang and next to the Jeongseon Alpine Center, the central hub for the Games’ ski events.

Just 14 of the 32 original homes in that village were rebuilt through government payouts on a hill within a quarter mile of the original village. The rest, renters and a few homeowners who, because of technicalities in the law, did not qualify for a land-grant, were given relocation assistance but were told to find a new place to live.

Not only has construction leading up to the Olympics negatively impacted local citizens, it has taken a toll on the environment. The South Korean government cut 58,000 trees from the ancient forest on Mount Gariwang to make way for the alpine course. According to the nation’s forest service, the city had no other option.

Mount Gariwang possessed the only ridge in PyeongChang large enough to meet the regulations of the International Ski Federation. This only adds to the climate change crisis that threatens the existence of winter sports.

According to USA Today, nearly half of the 21 cities that have held the Winter Olympics will not be consistently cold enough to host them again by mid-century.

By the same date, the duration of snow season across the U.S. could be cut in half. By 2090, the length of the ski season could be reduced by up to 80 percent. City plans for the Olympics do not focus on sustainability measures. The PyeongChang Olympics Organizing Committee (POCOG) says it has

begun planting trees to offset deforestation on Mount Gariwang, and organizers plan to reforest the Olympic ski course after the games. However, it is unclear who will pay, which brings up the increasing financial burden for cities that host the Olympics.

The rising costs of Olympic regulation facilities along with scant returns from tourism, trade and foreign investment are dissuading cities from hosting the Olympics. Previous cities have floundered, as shown by a Vox article titled “A Spectacular impracticality of putting on the party could cause hosting bids to vanish altogether.” Each successive year has seen a fewer number of cities casting bids.

Twelve cities put up bids for the 2004 Summer Olympics. That number shrank to five cities for the 2020 Olympics. Only two cities bid for the 2022 and 2024 Games.

South Korea is estimated to lose upwards of $10 billion from hosting the Olympics. After hav-

ing spent $13 billion, the country will only get back $2.5 billion, according to AndrewZimbalist.

E xtravagant to say the least, the brand new Olympic stadium with a seating capacity of 35,000 will be demolished after the Olympics.

The stadium cost $109 million to build and was used just four times. This is a disappointment for the government and various think tanks who estimated a surplus anywhere between $18.5 to $60 billion.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) needs to consider making the Games more sustainable and beneficial for all parties. One solution would be to rotate the Olympics among a handful of host cities able to maintain facilities for use every 16 to 20 years. This would help solve the issues dealing with displacement, environmental degradation and financial debt that the current arrangement raises. The IOC could also create incentives for bid cities come up with plans that are socially ethical and that propose modest budgets.

March 2, 2018

OPINIONS 11

The Brandeis Hoot

Senator Mitt Romney: A win for Democrats, Republicans and civility

By Joseph Silber columnist

In these hyper-partisan times, Americans are looking for something to hang their hats on as a sign of hope, and Mitt Romney could be the answer.

Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, announced his candidacy for the upcoming Senate race in Utah this November. Romney has been a frequent critic of President Trump, his criticisms putting him at odds with the national Republican Party.

But Utah Republicans are unique: Trump fared poorly there during the 2016 primaries, receiving just 14 percent of the vote and finishing in a distant third place. And while he won the state in the general election, Trump garnered just 46 percent of the vote, the worst performance by a Republican in Utah since Barry Goldwater in 1964.

Romney, who is widely popular

in Utah, is almost certain to get elected this November in the reliably red state.

His style of politics couldn’t be more different than that of the current President. While conservative on most issues, including support for tax cuts, deregulation and increased military spending, Romney diverges from the Trumpian Republicans in terms of his heavy emphasis on civility and respect.

The former Republican presidential nominee has been critical of Trump’s behavior at times, most notably when Trump endorsed Roy Moore, the accused child molester and twice-expelled Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, for the Senate race in Alabama last December. In a tweet sent out one week before the election, Romney stated that “Roy Moore in the U.S. Senate would be a stain on the GOP and on the nation … No vote, no majority is worth losing our honor, our integrity.”

On several policy matters, such as U.S./Russia relations, the Paris Climate Agreement and free trade, Romney also disagrees with Trump.

Most importantly, as seen by his successful four-year-tenure as Governor of Massachusetts, Romney is able to work across the aisle in a civil manner to achieve results. He can do the same in the Senate, which badly needs some fresh blood considering the degree of bickering and partisanship in our current Congress.

The sad truth behind our current political climate is that extremism, in all its forms, is gaining momentum. The hard-line conservatives, represented by the 31 members of the House Freedom Caucus, are among the most influential members of Congress these days, and are backed by infamous right wing radio personalities such as Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham. This growing faction in the Republican Party

is here to stay, and will continue to promote primary challenges to more moderate Republican members of Congress.

The Democrats, meanwhile, are in the midst of their own identity crisis. The progressive left, led

by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, are on the rise within the party.

This momentum has translated into several primary challenges in the upcoming election cycle, one of which is against centrist Democratic congressman Dan Lipinski of Illinois’ 3rd District, who is in the fight of his life in his bid for an eighth term.

Lipinski, whose Chicago-based district is considered a safe seat for Democrats, is being challenged by progressive candidate Marie Newman. “[Lipinski’s] votes on immigration and his votes on health care have been astonishing to me and just demonstrate how out of touch he is with the people of this district,” said Newman.

With the mainstream versions

PHOTO FROM BUSINESSINSIDER.COM

of the American far-left and farright gaining energy, the one glimmer of hope for centrism remains in Utah, where Romney has a 69 percent approval rating, and is likely to win the primary.

This may be the last chance either party has to elect a congressional candidate that is committed to working across the aisle.

By sending Mitt Romney to the Senate, Utahans would be doing a favor for the American people.

From Iceland to Senegal, underdogs look to make noise in Russia

By Robert Banks staff

With the inaugural match of the 2018 World Cup between host nation Russia and relative newcomers Saudi Arabia set to kick off in just a few months time, the World Cup will indeed go on without the inclusion of the United States for the first time since 1986.

The absence of the Stars and Stripes from the biggest soccer competition on the planet should not take away from the magic the tournament will deliver this coming summer. The event still has plenty of excitement to offer fans in the United States, with global giants set to battle it out with unheralded, up-and-coming squads hungry to seize the opportunity to cement their places in the history books.

Of these teams on the rise, Ice-

land is arguably the most intriguing.

With a population of approximately 334,000 people (about 57 percent of the population of the least populous American state, Wyoming), Iceland made their presence known upon their European Championship debut two years ago, drawing 1-1 with eventual champions Portugal in their opening match. Characterized by their “compact, belligerent, and committed” style of play, the consistency and trust amongst the players in Iceland’s well-organized 4-4-2 formation were crucial to the team’s success in the tournament.

Upsetting England 2-1 in the quarterfinals before falling to France at the hands of Olivier Giroud’s brace, along with goals from Paul Pogba, Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann, Iceland had proven their legitimacy on the European stage for the time

being—but was Iceland’s performance at Euro 2016 a fluke? Finishing at the top of their group in European World Cup qualifying with seven wins, one draw and two losses, Iceland showed their ability to surprise once again by topping World Cup group-mates Croatia in the Group I table in UEFA qualifying.

Building off the same organization and confidence they have shown in both Euro 2016 and the recent World Cup qualifying campaign, along with the worldclass spark of playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson, Iceland are primed to make some noise in Russia this summer.

Senegal is appearing in its first World Cup since 2002, when the team surprisingly topped Uruguay and defending champions France to advance to the knockout stage before crashing out of the tournament in the semi-finals against Turkey. In this year’s edi-

tion of the tournament, Senegal has the tools at their disposal to make another shock run. Advancing through the group of African qualifiers undefeated, with four wins and two draws in six games, the team is strong in midfield with a talented group of forwards. With Liverpool’s Sadio Mane leading the line along with Monaco striker Balde Keita and 2010-11 Ligue 1 top scorer Moussa Sow, the Lions of Teranga have the ability to create and finish off chances as a result of the pace, creative ability and technique of their forwards.

This fact, along with the physicality and defensive ability of defensive midfielder Alfred N’Diaye, and with Premier League regulars Idrissa Gueye (Everton) and captain Cheikhou Kouyate (West Ham), puts Senegal in a good position to succeed against any other midfield combination in Group H (which also

includes Poland, Colombia and Japan). Aside from Napoli center back Kalidou Koulibaly, however, Senegal’s defense and goalkeeper are seen as its weakest points.

That said, as articulated bluntly by Sports Illustrated’s Avi Creditor, “you’d be unwise to sleep on Sadio Mane-led Senegal” as a result of the assets Senegal has in its midfield and attack.

With Iceland, Senegal, and other hungry, upset-seeking squads nipping at the heels of the global soccer elite, this summer’s World Cup is sure to be overflowing with emotion and excitement, culminating in a special moment for the country who will come away with the coveted FIFA World Cup trophy.

Despite the long odds the aforementioned underdog nations face, only time will tell what color the confetti falling after the World Cup Final will be.

It is not my job alone to save the world

By Alex Kougasian special to the hoot

Walking around Brandeis, it is hard to miss the posters promoting green lifestyles. From composting food to turning off the lights, Brandeis does a great job of reminding students of the steps that they can take in order to do their part for the environment.

But what exactly is “their part?”

Often, the effort to slow global warming rests upon the idea that individuals have a responsibility to future generations or to the planet. I believe the individual should not carry such a responsibility but that it should instead fall to the government.

Individuals cannot be expected to refuse convenience in favor of something that is beneficial to the planet, under most circumstanc-

es. This is certainly not to say you should not turn off the lights when you leave a room; individuals should be encouraged to help when it is not difficult for them or even if it means going slightly out of their way. People should not be expected to choose the planet over expediency, or need to worry about the entire planet or an entire generation with every action they take. This is also true for corporations.

Both individuals and corporations are reluctant to forgo their self interest for the environment.

Large companies harm the environment through many means, from the use of fossil fuels to the use of plastic packaging. Corporations, for the most part, don’t do what is in the best interest of the environment unless it is profitable to them in some way. They cannot be trusted or expected to forgo

profits for sustainability without some kind of incentive.

This is why I do not fault Brandeis for investing in fossil fuels. Our college is a great supporter of sustainability, but the fact of the matter is that money is tight. If Brandeis does not take measures to support itself financially, its plight to teach the future generation of the dangers of global warming will be shut down.

Brandeis is not responsible for the fact that fossil fuels are currently a worthwhile investment.

Who, then, is responsible for the future of the planet? Global warming is a problem that, by nature, falls under the responsibility of the government. It is the job of the government to distribute resources to combat outbreaks of disease and to help recovery efforts for immediate natural disasters. So why shouldn’t a govern-

ment’s role in global warming be to make it as easy as possible for the individual to choose a sustainable option and advantageous for companies to manufacture and sell their products in a sustainable way? The government is uniquely situated to regulate society in ways that stymie global warming.

They can do so more powerfully and effectively than any individual or corporation, so the responsibility should fall to them.

That’s not to say that there is no individual role in sustainability. The individual’s role in this stems from the fact that “the people” define what the government should do. Rather than taking it into their own hands, individuals should support those who have the means to bring about change.

This means focusing less on turning the lights off and more on voting for political figures and donat-

ing to interest groups that make an environmental difference on the larger scale. While reminding people to do sustainable things does help in many ways, this long term threat requires a long term solution.

A top-down solution to environmental issues, while desirable, is not perfect. Individuals, corporations and governments don’t function ideally. The people may define what the government does, but, in the real world, the government is also influenced by many other factors, including anti-sustainability interest groups and corporations. This makes allocating responsibility for environmental issues much more difficult in practice. Nonetheless, I believe that the biggest impact an individual can have in the situation is to try to bring about governmental change.

12 OPINIONS

The Brandeis Hoot

March 2, 2018

Brandeis needs more nature

By Matthew Kowalyk columnist

Recently I came across a large photo book, the photos depicting Brandeis through the decades until the late 2000s. It has fantastic images of this place pre-1948, when it was Middlesex University, a medical school primarily centered on the castle (as everyone learned if they took a tour with Admissions). Rows of metal tables with sinks and hoses for practicing filled the inside of what was once the beloved Castle Commons, which is now completely gone and replaced with the new residence hall.

Post-1948, the Commons was upgraded, taking on a look somewhere between a 1950s living room and an office reception area. It may be the manufactured nostalgia of our age that is telling me that it looked far better than it ended up looking the last time I saw it before the Castle was torn down, but what an aesthetic!

The book contained images of the rest of the campus grounds, the style of which has been greatly altered over the years. Brandeis used to consist of cottages and smaller buildings farther apart from each other, a dream-image of a liberal arts college. Other interesting points include a reservoir where Usdan is now and well as an amphitheater between Abelson and the Fellows Garden.

Why bring any of this up? It is

not that I would want us to return to that type of school or that it was clearly better for useless criticism, but to see Brandeis in its old splendor made me think about the look our school has adopted since its early days.

I am a fan of the modern architecture of the 1960s through the 1980s, but I cannot say our campus displays the best of it. The more recent buildings are striking in their angles and lines, but look cold without a natural complement. The winter here certainly does not bring out the life in the stark brick facades and steel and glass edifices.

According to a survey or two done over the years, we’re not known for the beauty of our buildings, and although in isolation many are wonderfully modern, on the whole, the reputation has credence.

The one thing that certainly stood out in those old photos of campus was the connection with nature: wide expanses of grass, trees, making the place look quieter, more serene and calmer.

Imagine if we placed a few more perennials around to create a more intimate space, maybe on the edges of Chapels Field and the Great Lawn. Adding shorter trees and shrubs in places around the science complex and in the Fellows Garden and any spot of green in between pathways would break up anyone’s line of sight. I know that this cannot happen overnight, but there is a trend of trees being removed that, al-

WHERE NATURE MEETS TECHNOLOGY

View from Mandel Center for Humanities.

though I am sure it occurs for legitimate reasons, might create an uneasy feeling through drawing attention to stark, modern buildings and the open spaces that surround them.

If I had the money, resources, and time, I would make the areas in between our buildings as close to small forests as possible. Cleaner air, quieter outdoor space (not that it is loud by any measure), the

comforting embrace of nature.

These are all things that would make our campus prettier and more comfortable. It would make spaces fuller, cast more beautiful shadows in the summer, and provide even more shade in the summer and spring to encourage people to lay outside. It’s all about complementing the modern architecture with myriad varieties of flora. That, and I would pay to

PHOTO FROM HOOT ARCHIVES

paint the buildings around campus with streaks of vibrant colors.

That is another project in itself.

It is not that the architecture is bad; it only calls for more foliage.

It needs to be complemented with an abundance of trees, hedges, bushes, anything. We’ll all feel more comfortable and at home while bringing back that old spirit of nature that the campus used to have.

America must reform gun control laws to prevent mass shootings

By Katarina Weessies and Sabrina Chow editor and staff

Too often in recent years have we become accustomed to hearing about mass shootings in the news. A mass shooting, according to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), is the use of any gun that produces four or more injured or dead victims. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), defines it as an event in which at least four victims, including the shooter, end up dead. In the recent years, we have seen way too many mass shooting, some of the most notable including the Las Vegas shooting and the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Mass shootings have become a fixture in American news and culture, with most mass shootings going under the radar of public political conscience. Because of the sheer volume of mass shootings, we oftentimes do not realize how many occur every week, every day. The GVA has already documented 36 mass shootings in 2018. That’s almost one every two days.

Despite the recent uproar over these gun-related incidents, particularly in relation to the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, we are doing little, if anything to prevent these situations from occurring in the future. While, yes, it is a constitutional right for citizens to be allowed to bear arms, there are some major flaws in the way our country legislates and regulates responsible gun ownership.

Our laws do not make a sufficient distinction between guns

that are primarily useful for self-defense, like handguns and weapons of war. Lt. Colonel Ralph Peters, a retired Army lieutenant and Fox News contributor, is one of the many who have expressed strong opposition to the sale of AR-15 guns. In his Op-Ed in the New York Post, Peters says “But I believe, on moral, practical and constitutional grounds, that no private citizen should own an automatic weapon or a semi-automatic weapon that can easily be modified for automatic effects.

These are military weapons. Their purpose is to kill human beings.

They’re not used for hunting (unless you want to destroy the animal’s meat). They’re lousy for target shooting. But they’re excellent tools for mass murder.” It would be much more difficult for mass shooters to inflict the amount of casualties that they do currently if they did not have access to automatic weapons. The only weapons that citizens should be allowed to easily purchase should be non-automatic or semi-automatic weapons, as there is no need for automatic and certain semi-automatic weapons like the AR-15 in a self-defense, hunting, or target shooting scenario.

Another possible regulation for preventing gun violence is an age minimum. The perpetrator of the Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting is 19. In the U.S., any adult is legally allowed to obtain a weapon. This low age limit is ironic given the legal drinking age in the United States is 21. A common, if flawed, justification for the 21-year drinking age is that the frontal cortex of the brain does not fully develop until the age of 25 and that not drinking

before the brain is close to its full development encourages poor decision-making. If we are going to use this justification for drinking, we should certainly treat guns the same. The American government regulates anything it might consider dangerous, from drinking to cars to food, so why not apply that same level of scrutiny to guns?

That being said, establishing a minimum age to buy a gun will do little to stop mass shootings.

The Washington Post reports that the vast majority of mass shooters since 1966 have been between the ages of 20 and 49, meaning most would have access to guns even with a higher minimum age. Additionally, younger mass shooters could obtain guns from parents or older friends.

In order to understand why mass shooters are violent and how to stop them, we have to look into demographics besides age. Since 1966, all but three of recorded mass shooters in the US were male. This indicates that there is something about how American culture treats maleness and masculinity that causes males to lash out violently. The American government needs to research and address the causes of this male anger to better prevent these shootings from happening.

Mental illness is another common fixture in the nationwide debate about mass shootings. Many people mistakenly believe that most mass shooters are mentally ill. That is not the case. While the friends and family members of some mass shooters sometimes say perpetrators did show signs of mental illness before the shooting, most did not. According to Harvard Health, people with di-

agnosed mental illnesses are not any more likely to commit violent crimes than the general population and are actually more likely to be the victims of violence. Someone with a mental illness, due to their increased likelihood of becoming the victim of violence, might very reasonably want to buy a gun for self-defense. That being said, rates of mental illness among mass shooters are incredibly difficult to measure, as some mentally ill shooters might not have shown obvious signs or obtained a diagnosis. Certainly some of the 150 mass shootings since 1966 could have been prevented with better access to psychiatric care and more sensible gun restrictions. To prevent shootings by mentally ill people, the government must provide easier access to mental health care through programs like Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act. It could also restrict gun ownership for people with illnesses that make them suicidal or homicidal, at least until they receive effective treatment. This would allow most people with mental illnesses to buy guns, while keeping them out of the hands of particularly dangerous mentally ill individuals.

There is plenty that our representatives in government could do to try to prevent mass shootings, so why don’t they? These past weeks, much of the blame for our country’s lack of gun restrictions have centered on the National Rifle Association (NRA), a lobbying group that donates to political campaigns in an effort to prevent politicians from passing gun control legislation.

The NRA is funded partially by enthusiastic members and partially by gun manufacturers who

benefit from widespread, unregulated gun ownership. In 2017, the NRA reported 5.1 million dollars in lobbying expenditures.

It’s unclear how much of that 5.1 million went to donations, but it’s very clear that as long as the NRA wields this kind of financial influence, any gun restriction bill that enters Congress will struggle.

The only way to encourage politicians to break from the NRA and support reasonable gun control is to make them fear that their ties to the NRA will cost them the next election. According to Miami News Times, Florida Governor Marco Rubio’s approval rating has hit an “all time low” in the wake of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Governor Rubio, who accepts donations from the NRA, likely fears that his political career is under threat because of his anti-gun control stance. It’s possible that he and other politicians like him will drop the NRA in order to save their careers.

People have the right to own guns, but they don’t have the right do own any gun they want, whenever they want, regardless of their age or mental state. For now, it’s unclear which gun control regulations will be signed into law, and if the regulations will work. However, it’s inexcusable for our government to not make some meaningful attempt to prevent mass shootings. These attempts can come in the form of regulations of which types of guns people can buy, age restrictions, or mental health-related restrictions. In order to promote reasonable gun control legislation, we the people need to hold our legislators accountable.

ARTS

March 2, 2018

The Brandeis Hoot 14

Proscenium offers first-years artistic community

By Rebecca Goldfarb editor

A cappella plays an important role in the arts community at Brandeis, with multiple groups representing different genres and themes of music. One of Brandeis’ many a cappella groups, Proscenium, specializes in musical theatre and Disney songs. Proscenium won the “Relay For Life” singing competition a few weeks ago, when three Brandeis a cappella groups performed for the opportunity to sing at the Luminaria Ceremony for this year’s upcoming Relay For Life fundraiser in April.

First-year members of Proscenium, Adam Fleishaker ’21, a tenor in the group, and Sam Forman ’21, a baritone and bass in the group, spoke about their experience at the competition in an interview with The Brandeis Hoot.

“It was a great experience because we were going to help people in a way as we put ourselves there.

It was also great to make people have a good time with a cappella,” Fleishaker reflects. Forman added, “It was my first performance with the group too, so I was excited and nervous, but mostly excited.”

Both Forman and Fleishaker reflected on what it is like to be a first year student in an a cappella group. Fleishaker first joined Proscenium in the fall of this year.

He wanted to join an a cappella group right away and knew that Proscenium would be a good fit

because he had been interested in musical theatre ever since he was a kid. “Instead of buying jewelry, my mom bought Broadway tickets. It has always been her jam and by extension its been my jam,” he said. Fleishaker auditioned for other groups back in the fall and received callbacks, but felt a connection with Proscenium when auditioning for them and immediately cancelled all of his other callbacks. He knew it was the group he wanted to perform with.

Fleishaker convinced Forman to consider auditioning this semester, and Forman quickly agreed with his friend’s assessment. “The instant vibe I got when I walked into the room was just so nice and familial,” Forman said. “I tried out for a bunch of a cappella groups beginning of the semester, but didn’t get into any of them because I wasn’t really trying. I was more interested in the idea of trying out for improv, and I thought improv was the only performing arts group that I would do. One night, a few of our friends were talking about how we were going to try out for Proscenium, so Adam was like ‘Hey Sam you should try out why not you’re a good singer,’” he explained.

Forman prepared for the audition over break and got a callback, something he was not expecting, and went into the callbacks feeling much more confident. The moment he found out that he got into the group was really exciting, he said. “I literally started jumping through my hallway screaming with my friends and busted down

the hallway screaming ‘friends! I just got into Proscenium!’ I was just jumping up and down the entire time,” he said.

Fleishaker found his passion for singing in 10th grade, when he got involved with his high school’s production of West Side Story. Forman, however, has been singing his whole life, and came from a musical family. The only other real point in his life where he would sing “professionally,” he explained, was in his middle school chorus. “I am a very happy person, so I like a song where you can put a lot of emotion into it,” he said. One of his favorite songs to sing is “Gotta Get Back To Hogwarts,” a Harry Potter parody musical song. He also enjoyed performing “Goodbye Song,” which is more somber and a little melancholy. The song is powerful and emotional, however, allowing the singer to convey the real strength of the song. Forman enjoys singing all types of music, though. “I like singing really loud political punk rock or I will sing a really quiet acoustic or broadway or something on a movie soundtrack. I have a huge range of music that I listen to,” he said.

“It is so nice to see the newbies step into Proscenium because this group is a place where we hold high esteem,” Fleishaker said. Both Fleishaker and Forman have great respect for all of the hard work the club’s E-Board members put in. “Everybody here is absolutely wonderful. One of the things I was worried about coming in was how well I might

gel because I have to warm up and get more comfortable with groups, but instantly I felt like I was just able to come in and just be myself,” Forman said. “Everyone has helped me and the rest of the newbies to feel super welcomed and a part of the family that Proscenium really is.”

For Fleishaker, the best part of Proscenium is the passion students bring in performing such a broad array of music. People practice outside of rehearsal in their dorms, and when they come back to rehearsal, their sound has improved immensely.

“It is also really cool to see how diverse the academic interests of the group are, because one thing that I expected with most a cappella groups, especially with Proscenium, that it would music majors and theatre majors exclusively, but everyone has different kinds of majors,” he said.

“Everyone is there for a reason because we all love doing this and we all want everyone else to succeed and do better.” All of the songs that Proscenium performs are from a Proscenium library, so the group does not just pull the sheet music from a musical.

The group writes it to fit all of the voice parts. “I am going to have a solo eventually,” Fleishaker said. “Either I have to arrange it or someone in the group will arrange it for me. However, it is amazing that we all get the experience of arranging music and coming to terms and grips with how that process goes because it really gives us a much broader

PHOTO COURTESY RACHEL GREENE

understanding of it,” he contemplated.

Fleishaker hopes to major in computer science and business, while Forman hopes to major in history. They both agree Proscenium has allowed them to explore outside the world of their academic interests and broaden their college experience with seven hours each week of artistic community. They look forward to the next three years as they have this secure community of passionate artists to dedicate themselves too. They hope that one day they will take positions on the club’s E-Board.

If you are interested in checking out their upcoming performances, they regularly post on their Facebook page. They also post their performances on their YouTube channel.

BAASA “Redefines” fashion stereotypes in annual SKIN fashion show

By Hannah Schuster editor

The Brandeis Asian American Students Association (BAASA) hosted its annual SKIN fashion show in Levin Ballroom on Feb. 15.

SKIN was the first event in BAASA’s celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which is in March, but BAASA decided to kick things off early this year with SKIN. The theme of the 2018 SKIN was “Redefine,” and its goal was to confront stereotypes in the fashion industry and in beauty standards. “It is also a reference to the personal journeys of the models as well—whether it be redefine self-confidence, self-love or one’s

self,” said the evening’s hosts.

BAASA SKIN promotes diversity in the fashion industry and showcases Asian American designers. The show was engaging, thanks to both the clothes and the models themselves. The fashions ranged from innovative, contemporary ready-to-wear pieces to striking high-fashion gowns and coats. The models were a diverse group of students whose strong, confident performances on the runway were essential to the show’s success.

The first collection, by Brandeis student Jackie Chapman ’18, featured high waisted skirts paired with graphic T-shirts inspired by the flags of Southeast Asian countries. The inspiration translated well into ready-to-wear tops,

PHOTOS BY SANDRA CASAREZ/THE HOOT

and it was great to start the night off with a Brandeis designer.

The second collection, with clothes from designers Phillip Lim and Yohji Yamamoto was both fun and elegant. It transitioned from colorful items in shades of blue and yellows to grey and black garments. The oversized, color-block sweaters were a personal favorite.

The formalwear collection, by Nhan Khan and Yumi Kim, began with a series beautiful floral gowns. The prints themselves were stunning and the long skirts flowed elegantly as the models walked. This collection also transitioned to darker hues with strong black gowns and gold or red accents and, finally, striking red gowns. One red gown had a train like a cape, which the model played on skillfully in her walk.

There was also a collection of work by students from the Rhode Island School of Design, Parsons School of Design, the School of Visual Art and Brandeis. A standout feature of this collection were the long oversized coats that draped beautifully on the models and complemented each of the outfits underneath.

This collection also experimented with interesting fabric choice, using sheer and plastic materials.

Tamara Garcia ’18, the SKIN coordinator for BAASA, designed two pieces in this collection.

She used bright colors and plastics to create clothes that were eye-catching and innovative.

The event also provided opportunities for students to express their personal style. Each of the models and members of BAASA’s e-board walked the runway in their own clothes.

Students in the crowd were encouraged to walk the runway as part of the Audience Best Dressed contest. In attire that was clean and classy, formal or casual, students were clearly enjoying themselves on the runway.

The rest of the audience voted for their favorite models; first prize was a $50 Nordstrom gift card and second prize was $25.

Tamara Garcia said planning SKIN was truly “a yearlong experience.” She had to start reaching out to designers very early to secure the clothing. The designers donate the clothing, and it is thanks to their generosity that SKIN can present these fashions.

Garcia described SKIN as an empowering experience, and said she wanted to give this ex-

perience to as many students as possible. She enjoyed seeing some of the models and BAASA e-board members come out of their shells on the runway.

“More than anything, it wasn’t the show itself, but it was how much fun the models had that make it most meaningful,” said Garcia.

The night also featured a performance from Fusian, Harvard’s Asian-interest a cappella group. Their second of two pieces was particularly strong, with two soloists harmonizing, their voices meshing perfectly with the rest of the group members.

Students could also purchase $1 tickets to vote for their favorite model. The winner won a prize, and all the proceeds went to the Asian Community Development Center, a charity working to preserve affordable housing in the Boston area for Asian Americans.

It was founded in 1987 to address a lack of “affordable and reliable” housing in Boston’s Chinatown.

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‘Shades of Blackness’ serves as powerful reminder of black students’ past, present and future

By Caleigh Bartash staff

The Brandeis Black Student Organization (BBSO) held a “Shades of Blackness” celebration on Saturday, Feb. 10 in Levin Ballroom to honor Black History Month. Hosted by resident comedians, Cyril Ojilere ’21 and Curtis Beatty ’21, Shades of Blackness opened to an enthusiastic and inspired crowd.

Shaquan McDowell ’18 was first to the stage, where he discussed the difficulty of having an interest in history without having a clear

knowledge of his own history. He emphasized the importance of his grandmother’s stories on his passion for history and reminded the audience that for many African-Americans, tracing historical roots is hard to come by.

As a young historian, he focused on sharing the cross-generational links and influences from African-American ancestors.

After hosts Curtis and Cyril tried to demonstrate moves of their own, Platinum Step Team took the stage to show everyone what “step” really means. Their intricate and powerful moves of stomping, clapping and even

PHOTOS BY RACHEL WANG/THE HOOT

jumping drew cheers from the audience. The steppers made sure their audience was enjoying the performance but also ensured that everyone got their “daily dose” of Black Girl Magic.

Their fierce display of rhythms and sounds made with only their bodies almost stole the show in just its second act.

Herlyne Das ’18, an empowered Haitian poet, followed up the step team with a proud performance of an original poem about the strength of the people from her home nation.

Das honored the accomplishments of a few Haitian scholars at Brandeis, praising their scholarship earnings and dreams. She directed some of her words at President Donald Trump over the crude language he used to describe Haiti, Ecuador and countries in Africa.

One of Brandeis’ very own acapella acts, the R&B group, Voices of Soul, brought the audience to a standstill with their strong and sweet voices.

Jessica Whimper ’21 and Andrew Baxter ’21 were soloists of the first part of the Voices of Soul performance, while the rest of the group provided backup vocals and harmonies. The talented students’ serenades were simple, but wonderfully moving.

The Women of Color Alliance’s

WoCa fashion show took the audience’s breath away. A crew of talented and stylish women—and a few men—strutted across the stage and past the lively audience, inspiring calls of admiration. The stars showcased their signature styles through their wardrobes and their commanding presence on the catwalk.

The soundtrack progressed from one powerful anthem to another to showcase the music and fashion flairs of the performers.

A University of Massachusetts student, Bridget Kamanzi and her group of young dancers started off the second half of “Shades of Blackness.”

Girls in the group, including one as young as four, clearly formed fun memories as they demonstrated African dance styles in a beautiful and exciting way. Eyes were especially on the littlest girl, who was both adorably confused and a successful dancer Latin Xtreme took over the stage next, with members donning white face paint in an proud effort to represent Afro-American religious cultures such as those from Haiti, Cuba, and Brazil.

Their outfits were pretty, but their moves were flowing and precise.

As the penultimate act, LaShawn Simmons ’18 recalled Ntozake Shange’s “For Colored Girls” to deliver a witty monologue. The

act incorporated historical figures like Toussaint Louverture and George Washington Carver, with one line joking about Carver’s penchant for working with peanuts. The content was interesting but Simmons’ speech stood out for its power and creative flair.

Finally, Brandeis’ sole majorette line, Toxic, brought the performance to a riveting close. Decked in sparkling outfits, the majorettes switched from one complicated formation to the next as they danced along to songs from Beyonce’s “Lemonade.”

Lovapalooza: a Valentine’s Day a cappella showcase

By Rebecca Goldfarb editor

A cappella groups from Brandeis and the Boston area performed to celebrate Valentine’s Day last Saturday, as part of Lovapalooza, an event hosted by the Brandeis men’s a cappella group, VoiceMale.

Brandeis groups Starving Artists, Rather Be Giraffes, Too Cheap for Instruments, Company B and Up the Octave were featured throughout the night.

A cappella groups from other Boston colleges performed at the showcase, including Pitch Please from Northeastern University, the Chorallaries from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Sirens from Simmons College.

With the incoming stress of midterms, students were able to take a relaxing break to simply enjoy the music being delivered right in front of them.

Company B opened up the night with classic love songs. Standouts from their performance included “You Can’t Hurry Love”, soloed

by Isabella Stahler Stork ’18 and their take on Ray Charles’ “Georgia On My Mind.” The solos were

passionate, and the singers’ strong vocals set the jazzy scene of the song.

Up The Octave followed with Gnarles Barkley’s “Crazy,” soled

by Emily Arkin ’20 and Rihanna’s “California King Bed,” soloed by Lily Bickerstaff Richard ’20. Their covers of these songs were mellower than the originals, but the soloists made the renditions stand out. Both Arkin and Richard have impressive vocal ranges and really made the solos their own.

To Cheap For Instruments, another Brandeis group that focuses on folk music, took the stage next.

The songs they performed were also a mellow take on the original version, such as “Ophelia” by The Lumineers. The dynamics delivered by the background vocalists created a pleasant ambiance of the overall performance.

Up next to sing was Rather Be Giraffes, a pop a cappella group.

Their take on Ed Sheeran’s greatest hits songs in a jazzy way, with immense levels of energy, in addition to the abundance of emotion in their vocals. Another pop oriented a cappella group, Starving Artists, opened their set with Sam Smith’s “Nirvana,” soloed by Isi Filipovic ’18 and Brian Rauch

PHOTOS BY REBECCA GOLDFARB/THE HOOT

RATHER BE GIRAFFES

’19. The group did a nice gospel take on this song. Their second song, “I Found” by Amber Run, incorporated good use of lower tones and dynamics enhancing the darker ambiance of the song.

Three outside groups, The MIT Chorallaries, Northeastern’s Pitch Please and the Simmons Sirens also made appearances throughout the night. Out of all the performances that were not from Brandeis, the MIT Chorallaries stood out the most. The highlight of the performance was certainly their rendition of Evanescence’s

“Bring Me To Life.” Not only did they earnestly turn this emo song into an opera ballad, but their visual choreography was on point.

Their high level of energy really engaged the audience. The background vocalists seemed just as passionate about what they were singing as the soloists, while incorporating phenomenal dynamics in their performance.

VoiceMale concluded the evening’s program with a Beatles medley of “Dear Prudence” and “Hey Jude,” in addition to Panic at the Disco’s “Death of a Bachelor.”

The Beatles medley consisted of powerful dynamics and passionate solos, while “Death of a Bachelor” illuminated the impressive vocal ranges from the members in the group.

Overall, each of the a cappella performances last Saturday manifests the existing musical talent not just on the Brandeis campus, but of other universities in the local area as well. Definitely be on the lookout for more a cappella performances from these acapella group this semester. It is worth checking out!

Annihilation: a work of surreal science fiction

By Jonah Koslofsky staff

There is a part of me that loves Alex Garland’s “Annihilation.”

The problem is, that is not the part of me that is a very good critic. “Annihilation” skirts the line between pretentious and obnoxious, and ends up falling firmly on the side of the former. A film that is completely committed to

its themes, “Annihilation” is not as good as any of its contemporaries, and yet, perhaps in spite of myself, I found myself liking it.

“Annihilation” is the second film directed by Garland, a longtime screenwriter who made a name for himself writing movies like “28 Days Later” and “Sunshine” (both directed by Danny Boyle, Garland’s longtime collaborator). Garland’s directing debut was the excellent “Ex Machina,” in 2015, a tense, provocative piece of

science fiction that turned a lot of heads and opened a lot of doors for Garland. Now armed with a bigger budget, cast and scale, “Annihilation” is certainly bigger than “Ex Machina,” but it is not better.

Part of what made “Ex Machina” such a success was how weird and unsettling the movie felt, and “Annihilation” boasts a similar off-putting vibe. The film follows Lena (Natalie Portman), an ex-military biology professor at Johns Hopkins, forced to venture

into an area known as “The Shimmer” after her special forces husband Kane (a muted Oscar Isaac), unexpectedly returns home. The Shimmer is a top-secret, potentially extraterrestrial bubble that is expanding throughout northern Florida and the source of Kane’s mysterious illness. It is a compelling set-up, bolstered by Garland’s style of direction.

The Shimmer itself is an aesthetic triumph, illustrated by an odd combination of lens flares

that make the whole world look like a soap bubble. It’s not especially pretty–at least at first–but thanks in part to some engaging production design the bleachedout look of the movie grew on me. I liked that everything within the world of The Shimmer looked consistent, and again reflecting the “off ” vibe of the film, and there is a sequence about two-thirds of See ANNIHILATION, page 15

March 2, 2018

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‘Car Seat Headrest’ delivers a replacement that is not as authentic as the original

By Carl Warmuth special to the hoot

In 2011, William & Mary sophomore Will Toledo poured all he had into his sixth Band Camp concept album called “Car Seat Headrest.” Layering both soft and shrieking vocals over his own guitar, bass and drum rhythms, he dosed the indie scene with the rawness it sought. Drawing loads of online acclaim, “Twin Fantasy” propelled Toledo into assembling a four-piece band, signing a record deal with big name indie label Matador and knocking out a national tour. Despite this, his earlier online release remained the fan favorite.

Last year, Toledo decided to return to “Twin Fantasy,” replacing the purportedly ancient laptop he had used back when he was just 19 with studio musicians and meticulous mixing. Saying “it was never a finished work” in 2017 when the plan to rerelease the album was announced, the goal for Toledo seemed pretty simple: take advantage of his new resources

and polish his best work. It proved way more ambitious, though, as the lengthy project comprised everything from melodic tweaks to total overhauls.

Toledo’s replacement of the echo-like drum synth on opening track, “My Boy” with a stripped down, plain synth that swiftly distinguishes “Twin Fantasy (Mirror to Mirror),” as the original is retrospectively called, “Twin Fantasy (Face to Face).” Further, Toledo trades heavy vocal distortion for clean vocals, emphasizing from the get-go that it is a refined work.

Of course, that does not mean it is without its silliness. In fact, a big part of the acclaim for “Car Seat Headrest” comes from it treating every note, verse and title with a little levity.

For instance, when 13 minute album highlight “Beach LifeAnd-Death” comes on, the listener is met with a false start in which Toledo slurps something and fumbles the first word.

Even with these and various other changes, the mostly untouched lyrics remain the neatest part. Unsurprisingly, almost all of

them are about what it is like to be a confused college kid. While maybe banal at a glance, what can safely be called “informed informality” he broaches it, which could make anyone return to their good ol’ dorm days. Lines like “A book of Aubrey Beardsley art corrupted me in youth,” thrown in as a playful jab at hipsters, are put next to “now I’m trapped inside my youth, and you’re in love with last-stage youth.” As you can see, the tone switches from very comic to very personal in a flash, just like many folks approaching 20. Further, themes of sexuality, loneliness and drug abuse hit popular subjects of the age. The latter two, though, are mainly used as lenses for the first, as every song has a speaker, presumably Toledo himself, talking to a male friend he thinks he may admire. On “Stop Smoking (We Love You)”, for instance, he begs this friend to put down cigs, repeating “stop smoking, we love you, and we don’t want you to die” over and over. This song and pretty much everything that is at one point declared in the album

is later questioned. On the later “High to Death,” Toledo dejectedly sings, “keep smoking, I still love you.” Additionally, this song title is a play on the earlier “Sober to Death,” showing how much Toledo is willing to flip flop in regards to his friend.

In order to pick a favorite, one must go back to the instrumentation. While the new album is without doubt better crafted, its creation fails to spot that a big reason Twin Fantasy (Mirror to Mirror) got so much attention to

begin with was its rawness. The idea of Toledo having to labor away all by himself, and further, to obtain a top tier product out of doing so, is too tough to top. After all, wanting to make something that packs a punch and compensating for inexperience with heart is not just what Toledo’s mentality is, but also his lyrical core. While the new album has its charms, a collegiate process makes for a collegiate record, which is the very essence of “Twin Fantasy.” If you have time, give it a shot.

PHOTO FROM PITCHFORK.COM

Back from break in Boston

By Ben Beriss editor

It’s easy to have lost touch with the Boston arts scene over break.

Fortunately, we’re here to help you figure out what to do and where to go over the next week.

Waitress: A hit on Broadway, this musical is now coming to Boston to provide with songs about love, pies, and coming to terms with your responsibility for your own happiness. The show follows a titular waitress as she seeks to find her way out of a loveless life in an unexciting small town.

Created by an entirely-female team, “Waitress” offers a contemporary look on this classic musical plot. Tickets run from $40-300, so buy early. The show is running through March 4 at the Boston Opera House.

The Pajama Game: If you want an even more classic musical, check out “The Pajama Game.”

Originally produced in 1954 and

revived in 2006, this musical follows the stories of the workers in a pajama factory. The factory is heating up over refusal to meet the union’s demands for a raise and over a brewing but seemingly romance between the new superintendent and the union leader.

As the labor dispute drags the two further apart and management starts fight among the workers, the factory becomes a dramatic, and entertaining, setting for a classically adorable love story.

Tickets run $20-25. The show is running from March 3 to 10, presented by the Friendly Society of Performing Arts at Weston Town Hall.

Every Brilliant Thing: If you don’t like Broadway musicals, “Every Brilliant Thing” offers a totally different experience (though it’s just as, if not more, compelling). A moving show structured around a girl’s list of things worth living for compiled for her depressed mother, this play makes liberal use of youthful energy and a uniquely engaging take on audi-

ence participation to create a little-over-an-hour-long celebration of life and remind us why we keep going even in the midst of tragedy.

It also stars Brandeis professor Adrianne Krstansky. Tickets can run from $25-65, with $25 the norm for those under 25. The show is running from March 2 through 31, presented by SpeakEasy Stage Company.

Boston Poetry Slam, CUPSI Preparation: Every Wednesday, Boston Poetry Slam hosts a slam at the Cantab Lounge. This week they are featuring performances from college teams preparing for the national collegiate slam poetry tournament, the CUPSI. Featuring poets from Emerson, Wheelock, Wellesley, Smith, Tufts, and UMass Boston this event promises a night of quality slam poetry presented entirely by college students. If you can’t get enough of Brandeis’ slam poetry or want to see other performers, this event is for you. The cover charge is $3 and is strictly 18+,

with photo id required.

HARD: Subversive Representation: This exhibit brings together work from self-identified females portraying female subjects to push beyond traditional, limited views of the female experience.

The exhibit is based around the theme of portraying art which portrays women realistically, rejecting traditional objectifying and stereotypical portrayals. The gallery also portrays women with a variety of gender and sexual identities, expanding the traditional view of women.

The exhibit is open to the public and is being shown in the University Hall Gallery of UMass Boston.

Kansiime Kubiryaba Anne: Anne Kansiime is one of the most popular comedy performers in Uganda, earning herself the title “Africa’s Queen of Comedy” from some news outlets and is performing this Thursday in Boston.

She is most well-known for her popular videos on YouTube and now is now touring as a standup

comedian. She is coming to Boston March 8, as part of Wellesley College’s “African Women’s Leadership Conference.” Admission is free but requires prior registration.

Landscape Lecture: Also on Thursday, Michael Desvigne, internationally recognized architect and designer, is giving a lecture at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on the field of landscape architecture. The museum also features extensive gardens which exemplify many of the principles which the lecture will discuss, creating relaxed oases of nature.

If these don’t interest you, there are also exhibits on a variety of types of art, from contemporary to the traditional Mexican work of “the Barefoot Designer,” to a restored centuries-old guitar. Admission is $5 for students and $15 for adults.

If you know any upcoming Boston arts events which we’ve missed or may want to feature in the future send them in at eic@ thebrandeishoot.com

Annihilation, both unsettling and flawed ANNIHILATION, from page 14

the way through that is downright terrifying, easily the best creature/ monster design since 2008’s “Cloverfield.”

The problems instead lie in the characterization. The movie definitely reminded me how much I like Natalie Portman as an actress (she can carry a weak script pretty well, just look at the “Star Wars” prequels). Portman’s been pretty absent from the limelight since her Oscar win for 2011’s “Black Swan” (not counting “Jackie,”, which I do not think anybody watched), and she does what she can with the material she’s given. Isaac is rarely on-screen, but the real problem is that Garland botches the relationship between

Portman and Isaac. It is not clear if we are supposed to be rooting for these characters to be together or not, which is partially because the narrative gets so muddled.

First, there is a frame narrative (with Portman being interrogated about her time in The Shimmer).

Afterwards, there are also flashbacks to Kane and Lena’s relationship before the existence of The Shimmer. As I said in my “Molly’s Game Review,” I am all for non-linear narratives, but here it feels like Garland’s reach exceeds his grasp, making it difficult t find the movie’s emotional center. The most engaging part of “Annihilation” is The Shimmer, however, flash forwards and flashbacks constantly remove the audience from the interesting aspects of the

movie.

Character problems persist throughout the film. On her mission into The Shimmer, Lena is joined by psychologist Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason-Leigh), who makes a strong impression in early scenes and successfully emulates that unsettling vibe but quickly fades into the scenery, Josie (a criminally underused Tessa Thompson) and Anya ( Gina Rodriguez of “Jane The Virgin”).

The issue is that “Annihilation” pretends to be “hard sci-fi” in the vein of movies like “Arrival” or “The Martian,” but the characters do not really act like scientists. In a film like “Arrival,” which takes a very similar approach to its science fiction conceit, the scientists always make seemingly logical

and rational decisions, which you would expect scientists to make.

With “Annihilation,” there is not any of that internal consistency, and the “surrealist” explanations the film makes to justify the character’s actions are weak at best. In other words, Natalie Portman acts like a scientist sometimes, but in other instances she can make really stupid, unrealistic choices.

The ending, is bold, unique, beautiful … and is sure to drive some viewers up the wall.While it is sure to anger some, however, the third act is probably my favorite part of the film. The movie has a very J.J. Abrams Mystery Box conception, but in this case, the ending is satisfying (at least for me).

Again, I am left grappling with

my own subjectivity. “Annihilation” has a lot of what I personally like: I am a fan of Garland’s style, and I like a lot of the cast, but I have to recognize a lot of the glaring flaws. The dialogue can be poor, the non-linear narrative hurts the film and the hard sci-fi that is promised is noticeably absent.

Nevertheless, I am a big enough fan of the atmosphere, production design and themes (that I cannot really delve into for fear of spoiling) that I would still recommend it. Of recent sci-fi fare, “Annihilation” ranks between “Interstellar” and “Arrival” in terms of quality, and it offers something that is engaging and different.

Maybe that is enough, at least, it was for me.

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Rose Art Musuem opens with new exhibits

By Ben Beriss editor

The Rose Art Museum opened three new exhibitions this Thursday as it transitioned between semesters. The new exhibits emphasize diversity and unconventionality in art and education.

The exhibits are “Tenderheaded” by Jennifer Packer, “Praying for Time” curated by the director of the Rose, Luis Croquer, and “Blueprint for Counter Education” organized by museum assistant curator Caitlin Julia Robin.

The exhibitions, first premiered at the March 1, 2018 Spring Museum Opening, will be up until July 2018.

Jennifer Packer’s “Tenderheaded” is a series of paintings which unite the various themes she has explored throughout her career.

Paintings of funerary bouquets recall a sense of loss. They juxtapose the beauty of the flowers with the loss which inspired their creation.

Her method, as described by The Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago which curated the exhibition, involves extensive repainting, “returning again and again to rework the surface, ‘undoing’ the image, as she says, un-

til a balance is struck.” The work plays with artistic tradition to create insightful portraits and posit a personal response to how “black bodies navigate within the present political landscape.” “Tenderheaded” was curated by Solveig Øvstebø.

“Praying for Time,” curated by Croquer, features works from the Rose’s permanent collection from the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s.

The Rose owns many works that are kept in storage and rotated into exhibitions.

“Praying for Time” is organized to reflect the diversity of artistic responses to the events during the transition into the 21st century.

The events of this period, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the September 11 attacks, had deep effects on society which continue to be felt today.

The art featured in “Praying for Time” helps show the diversity of understandings and responses to these events. It also serves as a marker of the culture which existed before the 21st century revolutionized our world. Pavla Berghen-Wolf ’18, who works as a student curatorial intern at the museum along with LaShawn Simmons ’18, explained she is particularly excited for “Praying” be-

cause “it focuses on art from the decade when most of [Brandeis’ students] were born” and hopes “art from the turn of the 21st century will resonate with students in a unique way.”

“Blueprint for Counter Education” is an exhibit organized around the revolutionary book of the same name. The book, created by the then-chair of Brandeis’ sociology department Maurice Stein and his student Larry Miller, encouraged students to create their own education, providing a bevy of resources in its charts of ideas.

The Rose exhibit features primary documents from Brandeis’ archives which map the books’ creation from the Stein’s first ideas and drafts to the first edition. These are supplemented with other pieces from the archives and the Rose’s collection which were selected to help contextualize “Blueprint.” Berghen-Wolf describes it as “a great chance to better understand Brandeis’ history and legacy of radical politics.”

The Rose’s new exhibits will stay until July 8, giving ample time for Brandeis students to visit and experience these impressive exhibits.

PHOTO BY EMILY SORKIN SMITH/THE HOOT