The Brandeis Hoot 09/04/2015

Volume 12 Number 13

www.brandeishoot.com

Brandeis University’s Community Newspaper • Waltham, Mass.

September 4, 2015

Brandeis works toward completion of renovations

By Charlotte Aaron, Emily Smith & Hannah Schuster Editors

The Brandeis campus underwent quite a few changes over the summer. In an email to the Brandeis community on Aug. 31, Vice President of Operations Jim Gray outlined the changes that took place.

The university renovated Sherman Dining Hall, with expanded seating. For more information, see the article in The Brandeis Hoot’s Features section.

Gray also announced that “we made progress on our five-year plan to refresh the Mandel Humanities Quad, installing new fire-safety and window systems in Rabb and Golding.” According to Gray, the new systems reduce energy consumption, and the plan is to install these items in other buildings in Mandel in the future.

Old dorm furniture donated to nonprofit The university renovated many

shiny new buffet in sherman

residence halls over the summer, including buildings in Ziv, Rosenthal and North Quads. The renovations included the purchasing of new furniture. One student, Sophia Lavrentyeva ’17, a co-coordinator of Brandeis’ Habitat for Humanity chapter (which falls under the umbrella of the Waltham Group), organized the donation of old dorm furniture to the non-profit orga-

Editor

This summer, three Brandeis students, Hannah Kober ’16, Risa Dunbar ’17 and Leah Susman ’18, along with Brandeis Professor Bernadette Brooten (NEJS) visited Al-Quds University. Brandeis maintained a partnership with Al-Quds University until November 2013 when a rally on the Al-Quds campus led former President Frederick Lawrence to suspend the partnership. The Brandeis University/ Al-Quds University Student Dialogue Initiative believes it is time to reinstate the partnership.

In an interview with The Brandeis Hoot, Susman and Dunbar discussed their summer trip to Al-Quds and the Dialogue Initiative’s plans for the future.

They explained that the organization of the trip began with Professor Sue Lanser (ENG), who has been involved with AlQuds since the inception of the partnership. Lanser visited AlQuds in May and began planning the trip with students and faculty.

At the end of the spring 2015 semester, students with the Dialogue Initiative wrote letters to President Lawrence asking him to help fund the trip, but the students did not receive any funding from Brandeis. Susman, Dunbar and Kober were each in Israel for personal reasons: Susman volunteering with the inter-

Inside this issue:

faith organization Kids for Peace, Dunbar as an art specialist at an integrated summer camp and Kober doing thesis research and studying Arabic, and they decided to make the trip happen.

The three students met with Brooten, who was in Israel working at Hebrew University at the time, to coordinate the trip to Al-Quds.

“It was wholeheartedly the four of us with the support of Sue and the administration from AlQuds” that made the trip happen, said Dunbar.

Dunbar and Susman explained that Al-Quds funded their stay at a four-star hotel and provided them with meals even though it was during Ramadan. Their AlQuds hosts insisted on paying for their meals, transportation and even ice cream when they visited a famous shop one night.

“It just showed so much about how hospitable they were,” said Susman.

While at Al-Quds, the group from Brandeis toured the university’s Abu Dis campus. Students and faculty at Al-Quds showed the Brandeis representatives around the area, exposing them to their culture.

“The special part about being there was that it was during Ramadan, so we were able to celebrate Iftar,” said Susman, noting that they attended a break the fast at a faculty member’s home See AL-QUDS, page 3

News: Schuster Inst. helps exonerate innocent man Online Arts, Etc.: Senior thesis modernizes “Macbeth” Page 6 Opinion: New residence halls should be priority Page 13 Features: Opposites attract in Ziv Page 11 Editorial: Univ. must step up upgrade quality Page 10

See UPGRADES, page 2

photos by sharon cai/the hoot

usen castle under wraps while surveyed

Policies remain the same at PCC

Summer trip to Al-Quds

By Hannah Schuster

nization Household Goods Recycling of Massachusetts (HGRM).

HGRM is located in Acton, MA, and offers furniture and home goods to families in need.

“The organization runs primarily on donations and volunteer hours,” wrote Lavrentyeva in an email to The Hoot. “As we have spent more time at HGRM,

photo by emma hanselman/the hoot

mailman house: home to the psychiatric counseling center

By Charlotte Aaron editor

In a sign of dedication to student mental health, the Brandeis Psychological Counseling Center (PCC) will continue to provide every student with 12 free individual therapy sessions, as well as over 20 group therapy options, an increase from the 12 group therapy options available last year.

The student demand for counseling at the PCC has increased six to 12 percent each year for the past seven years, said Dr. Mi-

chael LaFarr, executive director of health and wellness, in an interview with The Brandeis Hoot.

Because of the continuous increase in student usage of the PCC, LaFarr and other staff members have recently begun exploring options to assure mental health treatment remains available to all students.

In late August during an Orientation Leader and Community Advisor training session, Dr. Joy von Steiger, PCC senior associate director and clinical director, discouraged student leaders from using language such as “12 free

photo by marian siljeholm/the hoot

therapy sessions,” as questions had arisen about whether or not this would be an option in the academic year 2016-2017.

In her presentation to the student leaders, von Steiger announced the PCC was considering billing student insurance for psychotherapy sessions beginning with the first time a student sees a PCC therapist.

This raised many immediate concerns for student leaders.

Questions were asked regarding anonymity within the health in-

Improv showcase

Men’s soccer scores

Arts: Page 16

Sports: Page 4

Campus comedy groups perform for first-years before opening up auditions

Christian Hernandez ’18 wins game for Judges with late-game heroics

See PCC, page 3

2 NEWS

The Brandeis Hoot

September 4, 2015

Students arrive on campus amid renovations plained that the bathrooms were being located in Reitman (the majority of the students contacted did not express any concerns) and sought to address any issues this change created,” Gray said.

Satin, however, stated that no one reached out to him concerning the mix-up with the bathrooms.

From UPGRADES, page 1

I’ve gained an appreciation for the organization’s efficient functioning and ability to serve such a wide populatin.”

Lavrentyeva reached out to Timothy Touchette, the director of the Department of Community Living (DCL) and put him in contact with the director of HGRM. According to Lavrentyeva, the furniture was donated in May. “It will be very exciting to return to HGRM on our first volunteer trip, to see Brandeis furniture in the warehouse for clients to furnish their homes,” Lavrentyeva concluded.

Castle update

Renovations in North Quad ongoing on move-in day The renovations to North Quad that began over this summer and are still being completed. They have left many residents with unfinished facilities, early-morning construction and safety concerns.

There has not been a clear date by which these renovations will be finished, nor do students hear beforehand of any potential disruptions the construction might cause.

One incomplete project is the railing on the balcony of Reitman’s lounge. The balcony has a missing segment of railing with wooden beams standing in their place. The door to the balcony is open, and the only notice about the situation is in hand-written signs outside the lounge that read “Hi! Please don’t go on the Balcony if you value your life!” In smaller, also hand-written print, reads “We are not responsible for any falls that could possible occur—the balcony is not complete!!!” The signs went up on the morning of Sept. 2.

Gray wrote in an email to The Hoot that the construction is expected to last a few days “during which time students will not have access to the balcony until the work is completed.” Gray stated that the existing handrail was safe, but did not meet current building codes.

Some of the bathrooms in North are still under construction and, in the case of one women’s bathroom in Cable Hall, the door for the handicapped stall is missing, rendering it unusable. The work crews that have been finishing the renovations were instructed not to begin work until 9 a.m. and to work in only one bathroom at a time, leaving those on other floors open for use. The presence of work crews unannounced in hall bathrooms, however, has made some residents uncomfortable, including Kate Kesselman ’19, a resident of Reitman Hall.

In his email to The Hoot, Gray stated, “Our crews did a fantastic job in getting the vast majority of the work done in a very compressed period of time. We needed to do some additional work after move in, but, in many instances, the work has been minor.” He apologized for disruptions but believes the renovations necessitate the inconvenience.

Kesselman has a double room in Reitman where the window and the string that controls the shade are so close together that the shades often cannot be operated properly. “It’s really frustrating because they put the windows so close that you can’t actually closes the shades unless you shut [the window] and pull it.” The paint in her room, which was also updated

this summer, is already beginning to chip. The women’s bathroom on her hall, she reported, had not received any hand soap until Wednesday, Sept. 3. Most issues in her hall were minor, she said, but collectively caused frustration among her classmates.

Another issue North residents reported is the fact that the braille numbering that accompanies all room numbers, making room’s accessible to the blind or sight-impaired, have yet to arrive. In its place are room numbers made out of paper with flat dots to represent the raised braille. In regard to this, Gray wrote, “We discovered while reviewing the signage that some of the signs were incorrect and we have reordered the correct signage.” The current paper signs are temporary, he explained, and new signs will go up as soon as the school receives them.

Gender-neutral bathrooms introduced in North Quad This year, Brandeis introduced gender-neutral bathrooms to North Quad for the first time.

First -years were able to request a hall with a gender-neutral bath-

photo by sharon cai/the hoot

der-neutral bathroom but was placed on a hall with only gender-binary bathrooms. They told The Hoot that they became aware of the lack of gender neutral bathrooms on their floor after they had arrived at Brandeis and moved into their room.

“I am disappointed in the lack of [a gender-neutral bathroom] on my floor but also understand the difficulty of effectively housing each student precisely where they prefer to be.”

Rafi Diamond ’18, a resident of Cable Hall, said that he was told during Community Advisor and Orientation Leader training at the beginning of the year that floors one and two in Cable Hall would have gender-neutral bathrooms.

“I was pretty excited about that, especially because, you know, it’s a move toward progress at my school … I had a lot of pride to be the first resident on a gender-inclusive floor.” He said that upon moving in, the signage in the bathrooms was unclear, something he brought up with his CA. Diamond said that the signs put up in the bathrooms featured both a man, a woman, and a person in a wheelchair, with two of

photo by jacob edelmanthe hoot

room. However, students in newly renovated Cable and Reitman halls arrived at school to find out that the halls they lived in did not have the bathrooms they requested.

Gray wrote in his email to The Hoot, “Our renovation plans this summer called for constructing two gender-neutral bathrooms on the North Quad, which we did in Reitman Hall.” The students, however, were not all placed in halls with the type of bathroom they requested.

First-year Isaac Satin ’19, who is gender-fluid, asked for a gen-

the figures crossed out to denote who the bathroom was intended for. This made him uncomfortable, though he continued to use the men’s bathroom. “I assumed they’d be coming in and moving all these people in and some of these people are going to be uncomfortable with the bathrooms,” Diamond said. “It’s an actively discomforting setting” “The Department of Community Living reached out to the students who were assigned to Cable and who expressed an interest in gender-neutral bathrooms, ex-

In his recent email, Gray explained that the Castle, despite the ongoing construction, is at “a point where maintaining the status quo is not practical or sustainable for the long run.” A team of experts, including a structural engineer, architect and project manager, is developing a plan to retain as much of the Castle as possible.

While Castle residents faced issues for the first few weeks after move-in such as broken floor tiles, missing dressers and an outof-service bathroom, according to resident Maggie Ziegel ’18, all issues have been resolved as of Tuesday, Sept. 2. “At this point, everything is pretty much on par,” said Ziegel. Despite the structural issues, Castle residents are content with living conditions.

Arts facilities For years, Brandeis has maintained art studio space on Prospect Street, about one mile from campus. Many have called the space remote and substandard.

These studios are now moving on campus, to the Epstein building in what many have called a positive step for the Fine Arts department.

In an Arts article from February 2014, The Hoot reported that the floors of the space were often dusty with exterior staircases, requiring students to go outside to

access the upper floor. The article quotes Vikki Nunley ’14 stating, “When I first saw it, I thought it was an abandoned building, not the building I would be having classes in … Facilities all but forgets about us … it seems like poison when you walk in … I don’t think the floor has ever been cleaned.” Nunley also commented that she, and other students, often felt unsafe while waiting for the BranVan outside on Prospect Street.

There is a fine arts building on campus, Goldman-Schwartz, but many upperclassman and the Fine Arts Post-Baccalaureate students have their space in the Prospect Street studio. Many feel it is less than ideal to have the underclassman separated from advanced art students. Associate Professor of Sculpture Tory Fair expressed this sentiment in the February 2014 article, also noting, “We are working very hard to bring all the art students on campus.”

In his email to the student body on Aug. 31, Gray called Prospect Street a “less-than-ideal space remote from campus,” and announced the relocation to Epstein.

“Not only does [the move] provide a better location, but the quality of the studios for the students and visiting artists will also be upgraded dramatically,” Gray said. He explained that portions of the Institutional Advancement team moved to a different space and Facilities consolidated their space in Epstein to make the move possible for the Fine Arts department. He thanked these groups for their help in this process. The new art studios will open on Thursday, Sept. 24.

Professor Jonathan Unglaub, chair of the Fine Arts Department wrote in an email to The Hoot, “We are thrilled to have state of the art, light-infused studios to accommodate our seniors and post-baccalaureate students.”

He agrees the old studio space was “sub par” and “over a mile off-campus.”

He continued, “Having these advanced students back on campus will inject a new vitality and continuity into the studio art curriculum, and more readily provide inspiration to our beginning students.” Unglaub explains the studios will provide space for students’ independent work as well as critiques. “The new studios will provide facilities that the creativity and ingenuity of our studio art students and faculty deserve,” he believes.

Einstein’s and the bookstore get a facelift Over the summer, Einstein’s was transformed into a full-service cafe. Now in addition to the grab-and-go items, drinks, bakery items and bagels, Einstein’s also serves items such as sandwiches and wraps. The space is larger and the tables that once sat next

photo by sharon cai/the hoot

to Einstein’s have moved into the main part of the SCC atrium. The renovation of Einstein’s also corresponded to renovations of the campus bookstore.

“The campus bookstore’s makeover will improve its layout and customer flow.

The bookstore will remain fully functional while these renovations are being completed over the fall,” wrote Gray in his campus-wide email.

Since the expanded Einstein’s opened at the beginning of this semester, service at the cafe has been slower than in the past, with the line occasionally stretching well into the atrium.

“Service is slow right now, but I think it will improve,” said Fallon Bushee ’16, “It’s a practice thing.

They have an expanded menu to get used to.”

Gray commented that at Einstein’s “the customer volume has exceeded our projections,” and stated he is working to improve service, with plans to introduce “better signage to direct people to the express line for coffee and more grab-and-go items, and continued training for the staff.”

September 4, 2015

The Brandeis Hoot

NEWS

3

PCC confusion cleared up From PCC, page 1

surance documentation, the increase in wait time for therapy because of insurance paperwork and comfort in always having “12 free sessions.”

Further, students were concerned about language von Steiger used that implied, in the case of limited therapists due to high demand, students would be sent to group therapy as an alternative to individual therapy if their problems were not severe enough.

“My biggest issue with the presentation was their implication that they were going to be interviewing people to gauge whether or not they ‘deserve’ free sessions, or whether they aren’t mentally ill enough, or whether they aren’t upset enough or distressed in any way to merit getting a one-on-one session, or getting 12 one-on-one sessions.

That they were going to try to judge someone’s level of distress,” said Gabby Lamm ’17, and a Community Advisor present at the meeting.

In his interview with The Hoot, LaFarr made it clear that under no circumstance would a student be denied individual therapy. “People are coming to us for a reason,” said LaFarr.

“We will give our professional opinion and say, ‘We really think group therapy would be helpful for you in this way,’ but it wouldn’t be you have group therapy or nothing.”

With the increased student usage of the PCC, there has been pressure on LaFarr and staff to continue to provide resources to fill all student needs. Last summer, two new psychologists were hired to reach more of the student body.

“We were able to add a sexual assault specialist, and we were

From AL-QUDS, page 1

photo by marian siljeholm/the hoot

lobby in mailman house

able to add a specialist to serve our international populations,” said LaFarr. “Specifically we hired a therapist fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin.”

To help fund more programming for students desiring mental health treatment, LaFarr is working with a PCC advisory group, comprised entirely of Brandeis students, to identify other options at funding PCC staff. One option, introduced by van Steiger at the meeting with student leaders, mentioned the potential plan to bill insurance companies starting with a student’s first visit to the PCC.

While von Steiger was correct in that the PCC is considering billing insurance earlier in the therapy process, no policy has actually been changed.

“We will bill for psychotherapy after the 12th session, and psychiatry, as has been for the last decade, we bill from the beginning,” says LaFarr. “There have been no policy changes in terms of number and limitations of sessions.”

Currently, the PCC offers students 12 free psychotherapy sessions per semester. This means, students may walk into the PCC and schedule an appointment

completely free of cost.

While therapy remains free of cost for students after 12 sessions, the PCC begins to bill student insurance. Brandeis subsidizes the co-pay and/or deductible, so while the insurance company and Brandeis University will pay, the therapy sessions remain free for students.

Over the course of the next year, LaFarr hopes to work more closely with the PCC advisory group to figure out “how to continue to meet the needs of Brandeis students.”

The role of the group, open to all Brandeis students interested

in being involved in the PCC, is to help the PCC staff understand what the student body needs, mental health trends on campus and to create and adjust policies, practices, and procedures of the center said LaFarr.

As of now, no policy changes have been made to the PCC. LaFarr invites any students interested in being involved with future changes to contact von Steiger and join the PCC advisory group. “This is really the student’s center,” said LaFarr. “We are only the guardians of the center to be sure we are doing what you need.”

Lynch seeks to reopen communication with Al-Quds

at 1 am.

The Brandeis delegation also participated in programs focused on community organizing and dialogue, including ways to open up the Brandeis campus to dialogue concerning the partnership. The trip culminated in a letter-writing campaign. Students from Brandeis and Al-Quds wrote letters to the presidents of each university, asking them to make contact with one another.

Their letters to Interim President Lisa Lynch also requested that she meet with a delegation of AlQuds students planning to visit Brandeis in the spring, and help fund their trip.

Dunbar and Susman believe the delegation will be a great experience for members of the Brandeis community.

“I think it’ll be a really great opportunity for Brandeis students to be able to put faces to some of the people at Al-Quds,” said Susman.

“I think it’s lifting up their voices as a presence here. We are not experiencing their culture or their narratives directly and that’s a problem,” Dunbar added.

President Lynch responded to the students’ letters and Dunbar

and Susman were thrilled to see Lynch express her willingness to consider both their requests— reaching out to the Al-Quds president and meeting with visiting Al-Quds students. Students form the Dialogue Initiative are aware that, as interim president, Lynch is unable to formally reestablish the partnership, but they are hopeful she will take certain steps toward mending the relationship between the two universities.

“We want to have a continuous relationship with her, to keep the conversation ongoing for her to know our faces, for us to know her. We want there to be an accountability there,” said Dunbar.

She and Susman stated they are in the process of scheduling a meeting with Lynch and again praised Lynch for her willingness to speak with them.

In an email to The Hoot, Lynch stated that she found the letters from Brandeis and AlQuds students “thoughtful and moving,” conveying tales of a “remarkable experience where [the students] found meaningful points of commonality despite cultural and experiential differences.”

She said she will, schedule permitting, be happy to meet with the delegation of Al-Quds

students in the spring, writing, “This will be an opportunity for the dialogue to continue amongst our campus community.”

Regarding the reinstatement of the partnership, Lynch wrote, “I am of the view that we need to allow time for the next president to review all aspects of this issue and to reach her/his own decision on this important matter.”

Discussing Lynch’s successor, Susman stated she hopes they will be “aware of what the partnership was and the events that have happened since its suspension,” said Susman. She hopes the new president is open to speaking and engaging with students.

“I think there are two hopes, that this president will listen to students and engage with the students, and that this president is in line with our values and represents Brandeis’ values,” said Susman. The Dialogue Initiative believe Al-Quds is in line with Brandeis’ values.

Later this semester, the Dialogue Initiative is planning an event during which students who have visited Al-Quds will speak about their experiences. This event will be similar to the event held in October, 2014 following the delegation that visited AlQuds in the summer of 2014.

photo from internet source

SPORTS

4 The Brandeis Hoot

By Lily Wageman

September 4, 2015

Men’s soccer starts with a win

Special to the hoot

Tuesday evening, Sept. 1 was the perfect way to open the men’s soccer season at home on Gordon Field.

The Judges started the season with a 1-0 victory over Bridgewater State.

The weather was beautiful, warranting a large crowd for the pre-game tailgate with chips, popcorn and free Jury shirts, which marked the last event of Orientation. The stands were filled with supporters, while Louis the judge pumped up the onlookers for what would be a close game.

The first shot attempt of the game was made within the first five minutes

by Brandeis’ mid-fielder Jesse Caron ’17. Subsequent attempts to score were made by Josh Ocel ’17 with five attempts, Jake Picard ’16, Robbie Lynch ’16, Josh Berg ’16 with two attempts and Zach Vieira ’17, with one attempt. The best opportunity for the Judges to score was when a header by Vieira from six yards away sailed high of the net. The Judges while not scoring were able to get in more attempts than Bridgewater’s three by dominating the field.

With the first period resulting in a 0-0 score despite there being several attempts by both teams, the second half started to heat up as the teams became desparate to make it on the score board. Brandeis once again was able to get in the first attempt to score at the start of the second half when Ocel’s shot was blocked at 55:17. This was soon followed by a failed attempt from Bridgewater that went wide.

Bridgewater went on to make three more unsuccessful attempts to score against the Judges. Brandeis tried to score five times in the second half which continued to produce little success.

It was clear that both teams were becoming frustrated and tension was mounting. There were 14 fouls total

hernandez lifts judges to win

Christian Hernandez ‘18 scores the winning goal in the Men’s soccer game Tuesday.

and two yellow cards issued (one for each team) before the first goal of the game was finally made. In the 81st minute, Brandeis’ sophomore Christian Hernandez fired the strike that would give the 7th-ranked Judges a 1-0 win. From 20 yards out with no clear passing targets, Hernandez saw an opening in the net and made the shot for his first collegiate goal in his fourth start. The crowd erupted for

Hernandez as he turned, screaming with joy, toward his family in the stands, while his teammates rushed to congratulate him. The Judges held on as Bridgewater State prepared an attack late, forcing a corner kick in the 88th minute, but could not score to even the game with the Judges.

Brandeis’ Ben Woodhouse ’18 in his first start as goalkeeper had three saves and earned his first collegiate

win and shutout. Woodhouse was in for the whole game while Bridgewater State made seven attempts to score.

For head coach Mike Coven, who is in his 43rd season, this win was No. 496. Coven is hoping to become the sixth Division III coach and 11th overall in NCAA history with 500 career wins. He is the second longest tenured active coach in collegiate soccer behind Tony Tocca of DII Rock-

photo from internet source

ford University.

Don’t miss out on the men’s soccer season, as it is sure to be exciting. The Judges will be in Texas this weekend when they take on Hardin-Simmons Friday Sept., 4 and number 6-ranked Trinity University on Saturday. You can check out the live stats online to keep up with the games this weekend. The Judges will be home against Nichols, Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 4 p.m.

First-years impress during marathon day

By Sarah Jousset Editor

The Brandeis women’s volleyball team took on their first opponents of the season Tuesday. The Judges took on Babson and Colby-Sawyer College at Colby-Sawyer. The Judges split the games, losing to Babson, 3-0 and beating Colby-Sawyer College, 3-2, in an extensive two-hour match. The double header starts the Judges off with 1-1 record on their season.

In the first game against Babson, a team that made the NCAA tournament last year, the Judges got off to a slow start in the first set with a loss of 25-9, but picked up as the game went on, as the Judges gave Babson a game in the second and third sets with scores for 25-14, 25-17. A first-year shined for the Judges as middle hitter Kirsten Frauens ’19 accumulated seven kills and a .412 hitting percentage. However, the rest of the Judges’ hitters struggled as none of Frauens’ teammates managed a hitting percentage better than .100 for the game against Babson.

After the tough loss against Babson, the Judges came out full force against Colby-Sawyer College. The Judges went all five sets with the Chargers and kept each set close. The Judges couldn’t shake their losing streak in the first set, dropping 21-25. However, they answered in the second set with a 25-18 win. The pattern of back and forth continued as the Chargers answered in the third set with a tight

judges comeback in second game

After a tough lost against Babson, the Judges came back to defeat Colby Sawyer College in their last game.

score of 25-23, but the Judges took the fourth set 25-17. The Judges couldn’t be edged after their victory in the fourth set and went on to secure the game with a fifth set win of 15-7.

The players came alive after not performing in the first game. The first-years again stepped up, as outside hitter Shea Decker-Jacoby ’19

had her first double-digit kill match with 10 kills in the game against Colby-Sawyer College. The Judges’ new setter, rookie Leah Pearlman ’19, had a terrific match, contributing 20 assists, six kills which lead to a .455 hitting percentage and 5 service aces.

Adding to the freshman contributions was libero Yvette Cho ’19 with 27 digs

to strengthen the Judges’ defense. To round out the astounding comeback by the Judges, middle hitter Maddie Engeler ’16 contributed eight kills on the offensive side, and a team-high five blocks for the Judges on defense.

With a slow start against Babson, the Judges came alive and finished strong against Colby Sawyer Col-

photo from internet source

lege. Brandeis continues their season with their home opener as part of the Brandeis Invitational, a two-day tournament in the Gosman athletic center this coming weekend. The Judges will face Johnson & Wales at 5 p.m. and Wellesley at 7 p.m. on Friday night and Endicott at 12 p.m. and Southern Maine at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

September 4, 2015

ARTS, ETC.

The Brandeis Hoot 5

Halsey’s new album ‘Badlands’ enchants

By Talia Franks Staff

I’m not one of those people who highly anticipates an album. My usual policy is not to pay attention to rising artists, but that all changed when I heard Halsey perform live this past July. The 20-year-old New Jersey native had such a stage presence that, while I was disinterested at first, a third of the way into her first song I was hooked, and by the end I forgot she was an opening act and that I was actually at an Imagine Dragons concert.

When I went to purchase her debut album, “Badlands,” I was disappointed to find out that it wouldn’t be released until Aug. 28, so I satisfied myself by pre-ordering the deluxe version on iTunes and listening to the few songs that had already been released as singles.

While only one song on the album is named “Haunting,” it is a word that aptly describes most of the album. Halsey’s voice is like someone took all the best parts of Ellie Goulding, Dan Reynolds, Ryan Tedder and Christina Perri and blended them into its own beautiful resonance.

Melodious and harsh all at the same time, it’s hard not to fall in love with every note.

Halsey’s enchanting lyrics stand out in an age where every song seems to sound the same. I can jam out to popular music just as well as the next person, but there is something to Halsey’s “Hold Me Down,” a song that expresses her personal efforts to fight her demons that try to hold her down in a series of booming backbeats, to which I felt a deeper connection.

photo from internet source

The general feeling I got from the album was that of a life lived. Many artists attempt to capture their experiences, and perhaps they do, but “Badlands” is the first album where I perceived an artist as being authentic. Part of the reason for this is that Halsey is open about the fact that she is not revealing her entire life. In her song “Strange Love,” she says “I’m gonna write it all down, and I’m gonna sing it on stage/ But I don’t have to f*****g tell you anything, anything/ That’s the beauty of a secret/ You know you’re supposed to keep it.” The entire album is full of raw and honest emotions that we are able to connect with our everyday lives, yet she still manages to keep her life her own.

I confess that as I write this I am listening to the album for the 20th time according to iTunes. It’s the kind of album that you can just let play in the background of whatever you happen to be doing. It has a sort of magical quality where if you want

to pay attention to the music there is an amazing complexity to it and the songs build in on themselves which itself is beautiful. However, if you just want something to play in your earbuds so you can ignore your roommates while you have to finish a paper, “Badlands” is a good choice. The songs blend into themselves so well that it just becomes soothing noise that is still energizing enough to keep you from falling asleep on top of your notes when you should be studying.

The most popular song from the album is “New Americana,” which is not particularly surprising. Full of cultural references and with a pulsing beat, “New Americana” is easily the most relatable song on the album. In the chorus she sings that “We are the new Americana/ High on legal marijuana/ Raised on Biggie and Nirvana/ We are the new Americana.” The associations that she makes in regard to herself, her fans and America by alluding to various events and men-

Creative clubs recruit at club fair

By Clayre Benzadon Staff

Clubs at Brandeis with an artistic bend got the opportunity to introduce themselves to first-years at the activities fair on Sunday, Aug. 30.

One of the campus’ newest literary publication, Jaded, was in attendance.

The literary magazine’s goal is to spark activism on campus, particularly concerning issues of cultural assimilation and immigration. The first issue came out last semester, and it is showcased not only poetry and prose, but also photography and comics that serve to represent discrimination and depict struggle, whether it be satirical, serious or a combination of both.

Cupcake Obsession, informally known as the Cupcake Club, presented their exquisitely decorated

desserts in the hopes of luring new members. The group’s activities consist of baking and decorating cupcakes in a relaxed environment. The smell of fresh cupcakes brought me back home the first semester I was on campus and tried out the club for the first time. No baking experience is required and students get to be creative with frosting, fondant and other fun material used to adorn cupcakes.

And of course, the best part about the club meetings is getting to eat your creation.

Another literary club on campus is Laurel Moon, a group of creative writers and anyone else interested in reading and writing works of literature. The works consist mostly of poetry and prose. At the beginning of the semester, students get a chance to workshop their pieces, as the semester carries on, the editorial board chooses which pieces are published and works on the magazine’s design.

This publication is the oldest literary

magazine on campus, and every year, the English department chooses a recipient for a Poetry Prize as well as a Fiction Prize.

Also at the fair was the Brandeis Israeli Cultural Club. Formerly known as the Brandeis Zionist Association, BICC rebranded itself to get rid of the political connotations that “Zionism” carries. The club gained momentum last semester, with President Tzlil Levy ’17 and Vice President Shayna Hertz ’17 working hard to preserve the club. They organized Tel-Aviv Club Night and an Israeli breakfast.

While all of Brandeis’ a cappella groups were recruiting in full force on Sunday, No Singer Clef Behind had a unique pitch of accepting anyone interested. An all-inclusive group, No Singer Clef Behind turns no one away. Sophomore Steven Hoffman founded the group last fall, and last spring, their semester was packed full of people clapping along with the songs.

tioning various people throughout the song are not what many of the older generations would appreciate and exactly what the typical youth of today highly enjoy. The song is catchy, and I do like it, but I like the other songs just as much, if not more.

“Badlands” is a solid album, and my favorite of 2015 so far. Sept. 6 kicks off her tour for this album, including a show at the House of Blues in Boston on Oct. 24. As an album, “Badlands” is not one you would want to miss out on.

Surviving Sodexo: deconstructed pesto

By Charlotte Aaron Staff

How to survive Sodexo? Get food from the farmer’s market! This week’s dish requires an ingredient that you can’t find within the walls of Usdan or down the stairs of Sherman—basil, a Farmers’ Club delicacy. The dish below, titled Deconstructed Pesto Pasta by creators Stephanie Strifert ’18 and Yael Matlow ’18, contains all the delicious ingredients of pesto, but separated and mixed into a delicious pasta dish.

Ingredients pasta spinach cherry tomatoes

basil olive oil vinegar garlic powder oregano Directions Fill a bowl with plain pasta. Head to the salad bar and drizzle olive oil and vinegar on top of the pasta. Over by the pre-made sandwiches, a collection of spices can be found on the counter.

Add garlic powder and oregano. Finally, mix spinach and cherry tomatoes with the basil from the Farmers’ Club and add to the pasta. Put the pasta into the microwave and let cook until fully heated. Remove the dish from the microwave, and enjoy your Deconstructed Pesto Pasta!

photos from internet source

photo from internet source

6 ARTS

The Brandeis Hoot

September 4, 2015

Senior adapts and modernizes ‘Macbeth’ for thesis

By Alana Hodson Special to the Hoot

What comes to mind when you think of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”?

The heated battle between countries?

The deadly greed that accompanies kingship and power? Frightful hallucinations of a slaughtered companion? Or even the uncanny ability to foresee one’s fate? While all of these are iconic aspects of the play, there is much more to this production than meets the eye—much more to be learned about the very essence of human nature. In her Theater Arts senior thesis, director Zoë Golub-Sass ’16 hopes to reveal the humanistic emotions, familial bonds, and psychological struggles in Shakespeare’s characters, particularly those of the Macbeths, whom many thespians consider Shakespeare’s most perfect couple.

Auditions for “Macbeth,” through the Brandeis Theater Company, were held this past week, and, despite the

proximity to the start of the semester, Golub-Sass reports that there was a fantastic turnout and that over half of all the auditions were first-years.

Even before the cast list was set, the production had already begun to take life as the actors alike prepared for their auditions. Golub-Sass is excited to be able work with new people, as well as previous colleagues, and believes that there will be a great group for the production, incorporating a “mix of upperclassmen, lowerclassmen, experienced and inexperienced.”

Golub-Sass is a Theater Arts and English double major, and has been directing, acting and teaching Shakespeare since age 10, when she attended a Shakespearean summer camp.

Her passion has since driven her greatest projects here at Brandeis, such as “R&J: How I Love Thy Company,” where she worked as the director of the show.

For this upcoming production, Golub-Sass dedicated the majority of the past year to adapting the play

from the original 16th-century folio and researching various versions and footnotes in order to trace the development of the characters’ relationships to get as close as possible to Shakespeare’s original intentions for the play. She also labored over transcribing the play into a contemporary, kitchen-sink-drama type setting, where the audience would be able to understand the Macbeths in a different light—a family unit facing the emotional and psychological strain of childlessness and broken dreams.

“It’s accessible in a lot of ways: the language … the story … It’s really about introspective people; how things can get out of hand. It’s an interesting story, and to look at it with a modern lens, it brings up a ton of stuff that we don’t talk about and that there isn’t a lot of theater about today,” Golub-Sass said about why she selected “Macbeth.”

Now that the script has been finalized, Golub-Sass is shifting her focus to a new set of exciting chal-

lenges, the most perplexing of which is devising a way to incorporate the three witches into a contemporary setting. As we observe the home life of the Macbeths, “we’re also guests,” describes Golub-Sass, and she states that “childlessness, and trying to understand that will be a huge challenge for me … trying to understand what that can do to a person, the way it affects you.” Another mission currently underway is having the actors understand and try to humanize the Macbeths and their behavior. “There’s this idea of playing the mood of the play versus playing the play. I really want to play the play,” she explained.

Golub-Sass hopes that her actors will be inspired to research the emotional intensity of Shakespeare’s writing.

This year’s production of Macbeth will contain many exciting installments in regard to both the costume and set design and the director’s adaptation. Among the production’s technical staff, there are two senior students in charge of set design and costume as well as two professional

sound and lighting designers from Boston. Golub-Sass is thrilled to see how the set will turn out, especially how Shakespeare’s open-theater venue will be balanced with the adapted, indoor kitchen setting. “We’re working on maybe having a functional sink. It would be really exciting to have running water on stage,” she said.

Like the calm before the storm, the action seems to have receded in the wake of auditions, but the actors and staff are now working hard to prepare for rehearsals which are set to begin in the second week of October. When asked what kind of mindset the audience should have when viewing this production, Golub-Sass responded, “Just being open to … a less political, more domestic production; being open to looking at it in a different way and coming to the theater knowing that you’re going to see ‘Macbeth,’ but it might not be the movie you watched in high school or the book you read.”

“Macbeth” will hit the Brandeis stage on Dec. 4-6.

Location Location LOCATION!

By Naomi Klickstein Special to the Hoot

Across 1. Whack 5. Org. seen on stickers on the 8-across of pick-ups 8. See 5-across 12. Dollar across the Atlantic 13. Where you may sit in the middle of a theatre 15. What sticks out of a scabbard 16. One of Freud’s developmental stages 17. Repeated, an expression of attraction 18. Water in Mexico 19. This building was designed to hold 750,000 volumes 22. Text slang for stating one’s view 23. Israeli airline 24. Document for college athletes 26. Pal of Curly and Larry 27. Sack 29. Follower of a Jamaican religion 32. Brandeis lays plenty every spring 35. Coordinate (abr.)

36. Archer of the skies 37. Carly and Sremmurd 39. One who is full of pie (from last week’s puzzle) 40. Prominent news source 41. Dyeing technique 42. Org. known for tapping 44. One of two Brandeis study abroad dorms 46. Calculator brand 49. Word of negation in French 50. Namesakes of one of the Brandeis dining halls 56. Aged 57. With “Odd”, 007 villain 58. Alternative to .org 59. Falsehood 60. The ‘S’ of SCC or SSC 61. Historical period 62. May be en or em 63. Famous designer (abr.)

64. Originally housed a medical school Down 1. Kyle or Corey, MLB players 2. “Moon” in Esperanto 3. Continent-dividing range 4. Judaica or Health building 5. May end in “–logy” or “–science” 6. Dreaded path for many

7. Typo in Craigslist post perhaps 8. AKA “Grad” 9. Org. for designers 10. English rock band of the 90s 11. Did not leave 13. Admissions building namesake 14. Home of the PCC 20. Cry of despair (abr.)

21. Repeated twice, black and white 34. Narc. org.

47. Celebrity power couple (abr.)

DC cutie 35. Building often compared to a 48. With “itate”, to weaken 25. Not clean top hat 51. Eljero, Dutch soccer player 27. “See ya” 38. Houses the Public Safety de52. Appreciative poems 28. May be a worker or a queen partment 53. Clocks 30. Section of a circle 43. 2002 Sci-Fi film with Mel Gib54. These may be Italian 31. Amount of clubs at Brandeis? son 55. Describing classes required for 33. Acorn ancestor 45. Beginning (abr.) all students

September 4, 2015

ARTS 7

The Brandeis Hoot

High on Fire smash expectations on new album

By Jess Linde Editor

High on Fire is a unique band, particularly for the metal scene, in that they have released seven albums over the years, and somehow managed to make each better than the last. Evolving from always-shirtless singer/guitarist Matt Pike’s stoner rock background and influences ranging from Slayer to H.P. Lovecraft, the Oakland, California trio keeps improving. It is because of this ever-improving appeal that High on Fire has gone from playing tiny clubs and releasing fuzzy (but great) lo-fi metal to being profiled on NPR and headlining festivals. Their latest album, “Luminiferous,” may be their highest-reaching record yet, and is certainly one of their best.

When I discovered the band through a gift of their 2002 release “Surrounded By Thieves,” they still had a lot of the stoner rock carrying over from Pike’s previous band, Sleep, but I was immediately hooked and poured over their back catalogue. I have seen them live twice, and every day of the three years between their newest release and their last one was an eternity.

“Luminiferous” begins with “The Black Plot” and “Carcosa,” two songs that draw lyrics from horror and weird fiction and guitar riffs that come down like a thunderbolt. They start the record in an explosive in-

stant, with Pike smashing through chords and roaring like a madman.

“The Sunless Years,” and “Slave the Hive,” are just as amazing, with incredible aggression in every note and some very memorable choruses. The speed of “Slave the Hive” is of particular note, because said speed does not quash the complexity of the songs.

Bassist Jeff Matz and drummer Des Kensel provide an incredible rhythm section to the slow, rolling destruction of “The Falconist,” with some of the best blast beats this side of “Reign in Blood.” And Matt Pike, who plays a nine-string guitar, still pulls of solos like he has an extra hand working the fretboard.

The production by Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou is also of note. Ballou, who has been producing some of the best extreme albums in recent years (including High on Fire’s 2012 album “De Vermis Mysteriis”) brings a mix to each album he works on’s sound that brings out the best in the band. This is why slower songs on “Luminiferous” like “The Dark Side of the Compass” and longer tracks like “The Cave” and “The Lethal Charmer” are never boring, always interesting and aurally crushing.

“Luminiferous” just sounds huge all the way through, and Ballou is definitely a part of that. This is an interesting contrast with 2005’s “Blessed Black Wings” that was lauded for its stripped-down production by Chicago analog purist Steve Albini, but which I found underwhelming. High

on Fire may have felt the same way, since they have gone bigger and louder with each consecutive album.

Case in point how “Luminiferous” reaches its thrash-metal peak on the title track, which is also the screamiest and the shortest on the album. Like the eponymous songs

of “De Vermiis Mysteriis” and 2009’s “Snakes for their Divine,” it is an epic, with the band giving their all. And it’s just great, which is what I can say for the entire album. While “Snakes for the Divine” remains my favorite High on Fire album, “Luminiferous” brings back the same feelings of ex-

citement I felt when I heard the band for the first time. As a jaded music snob feel I should be worried that High on Fire will break their streak on their next album, but they have not for seven straight, and as “Luminiferous” shows, that may not be possible as long as this band exists.

photo from internet source

New Rose exhibits reminder of campus hidden gem

By Sabrina Pond Editor

The Rose Art Museum is Brandeis’ equivalent of Narnia’s wardrobe. It is a largely unappreciated resource, known as little more than a building on one half of campus as the wardrobe was considered little more than a convenient piece of furniture to hang coats. Only the truly curious would venture to look inside the wardrobe to discover it’s hidden secrets, and it appears that the same is applicable to Brandeis’ student body; very few dare to go through the trouble to explore the Rose. Although it is entirely possible to spend a weekend touring Boston’s various art galleries such as the famed Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) or the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, there’s something to be said about Brandeis’ own that is also worth a perusal. Sometimes there are treasures in our own backyard so we don’t have to venture far to find wondrous things.

The Rose will showcase several new exhibitions this September, one of which is titled “The Brood,” a more feminist collection of artwork.

Created by artist Lisa Yuskavage, the exhibition displays 25 years worth of originality in imaginative and very visually complex oil painting. Yuskavage’s work challenges social conventions about the female anatomy and largely works to empower and raise questions about how women view themselves in the framework of their society. “The Brood” is Yuskavage’s first solo museum exhibition in over a decade in the United States, and is not so much just a collection of her work over the last quarter century and more of a timeline streamlin-

ing her evolution as an artist as she honed her skills and developed her own voice through her work. Her oil paintings are incredibly thought provoking and completely capable of intrigue. An altogether remarkable exhibit, her work incorporates brilliant color, sharp detail and figures whose relationship with the viewer is all the more necessary in this new wave of feminism. “’60s Pop From Both Coasts,” as

denoted from the title, will showcase masterful and rather iconic ’60s pop art. Both west coast- and east coastbased artists will be featured alongside each other, and include more well-known and obscure works by Roy Rosenquist, Marisol Escobar, Andy Warhol and Judy Chicago, among others. Considering that the ’60s predated the vast globalization that we are so familiar with today, the art featured in this exhibition

was chosen to increase awareness of lesser-known work. Sam Hunter, the Rose’s founding director, paid special note to artists who were overlooked during this time based on their rather remote locality and not their talent.

The Foster Stairwell mural by Joyce Pensato calls upon viewers to rediscover infamous American cartoons as they are redrawn with an altered psychological state, and the darker

photo from internet source

side of our favorite childhood cartoon characters comes out. Pensato said the following in regards to her work: “Yes, it looks like Mickey Mouse or Felix the Cat, but I want to make it my own … take it apart and put it back together with my own voice.” Using 1Shot enamel paint in all of her work, Pensato depicts well-known cartoons using varied lines that force us to reevaluate happy-go-lucky characters.

For example, Pensato’s portrayal of Felix the Cat is gloomy, even haunting, as his eyes are intensely emphasized with thick, haphazard strokes.

Her work showcases the perfect blending of the abstract and pop illustration, resulting in wholly original and almost unsettling creative pieces.

Other upcoming art exhibits include “The Undisciplined Collector,” a video by Nira Pereg and “Multiple Deviations.” These exhibitions include sculpture, video and other varied media. Most excitingly, “Mark Dion: The Undisciplined Collector” reflects on the Rose Art Museum’s opening and surveys Brandeis’ special collections and includes items from Brandeis University Library’s Special Collections, the Classical Artifact Research Collection and the Department of Anthropology’s Study Collection, as well as Brandeis Athletics’ collection of trophies.

No matter the exhibit, the Rose welcomes a plethora of new exhibits that will be shown from Sept. 13 through to Dec. 13. Though many students complain that there’s nothing to do on campus, the truth is that the Rose, despite its small size, is chock full of memorable, groundbreaking and otherwise engaging art that would titillate any art lover. Do yourself a favor and check out the Rose when you get a chance, because sometimes the most inspirational things are right in front of you, and you only have to open your eyes to see.

8 NEWS

The Brandeis Hoot

September 4, 2015

A cappella groups welcome auditions as part of their next chapter

By Sabrina Pond Editor

With the arrival of Brandeis’ activities fair comes the generalized excitement and optimism that accompanies a new year. First-years who were very active in their high school clubs hope to continue that same level of involvement in college, oftentimes to an even higher degree, and thus sign up to practically every listserv out there. Even though they might not be all that interested in pottery or belly dancing, they might consider going to one or two club meetings, because undiscovered passions are a college

student’s right to explore.

The same is true for a cappella.

With so many a cappella groups on campus—Brandeis is home to an outrageous 15 in total—Brandeis has the most a cappella groups per capita compared to all other U.S. colleges.

Given that there are so many a cappella groups, it’s around this time of year that Brandeis is not unlike the movie Pitch Perfect—there’s a real push to recruit and find the vocal talent hidden among the masses circulating the activities fair. A cappella groups wrestle over the incoming first-year body to add to their club.

That isn’t an overstatement either; first-years will typically audition for multiple a cappella groups and then must choose the one they prefer. The

pressure is enormous and the decision final.

With names like Ba’Note, Rather Be Giraffes, and Too Cheap for Instruments, groups have a specific genre of music that they specialize in, from oldies music to folk to pop music. Some groups are co-ed and others are all-female or all-male, and still others are Jewish affiliated. It probably isn’t too strong to say that there’s a group for just about everyone on campus who has an interest in singing. If that isn’t the case, however, it is entirely possible to propose a new a cappella group so long as it is different from other groups and there is interest among the student population to join.

Although different clubs practice

photo from internet source

for different amounts of time, a cappella groups are a weekly commitment and therefore require a considerable amount of investment on the student’s part. Generally speaking, a cappella groups practice for approximately five to six hours a week, though this number usually increases before a performance. The time commitment might also explain the close bonds that various club members form with each other over the course of the semester.

The a cappella groups on campus have different focuses. Company B, sings songs like Eric Clapton’s “After Midnight” and Elton John’s “Your Song,” primarily focusing on classic hits from at least 25 years ago. A more recent group, founded in 2011, The Freshmen Fifteen is a non-auditioned group that sings a wide range of music including but not limited to contemporary pop, country and folk music. This group is good for those who are interested in a less competitive environment but love to sing and connect with other people on campus. A similar group, No Singer Clef Behind, works in much the same way; it invites students of all levels of experience to join.

The list doesn’t end there. Proscenium, on the other hand, Brandeis’ star musical theater a cappella group, is co-ed, and primarily performs music from musicals. Rather Be Giraffes is a co-ed, all-genre group that prides itself in its cute mascot and versatility. Starving Artists, another co-ed group, is known for it’s eclectic mu-

sical choices as well as it’s food drives, all items of which are donated to local charities.

Brandeis’ all-female and all-male groups include Up the Octave, VoiceMale and Too Cheap for Instruments. Up the Octave is an all-female group that performs pop music and Too Cheap for Instruments, another all-female a cappella group, is known for its soulful renditions of both folk and folk pop.

Brandeis also has many options for students who want to join Jewish and otherwise spiritual a cappella groups.

Jewish Fella A Cappella is an all-male Jewish group that focuses on Jewish music. Manginah is a co-ed Jewish group that arranges its own music and performs a variety of Jewish music such as Jewish liturgy and prayers, anything composed by Jewish-American songwriters, Israeli pop songs and parodies of popular American songs. Ba’Note is an all-female group that sings both Jewish and non-Jewish songs in Hebrew as well as in English, and Voices of Praise, Brandeis’ only gospel choir, performs spiritual music.

A cappella groups represent a great way to get involved on campus, to meet new people and to have a creative outlet, a chance to decompress, when all the homework and exams have you down. There’s nothing more rewarding than working with others toward a common goal, to blend each individual vocal talent and together to generate a sound that fully discloses each person’s hard work.

‘Jurassic World’: bigger, louder, more teeth

By Zachary Gordon Special to the Hoot

In 1993, we were first introduced to the little theme park in the Caribbean where you can buy over-priced souvenirs and get eaten alive by a 65-million-year-old dinosaur with teeth the size of your forearm. Spielberg’s classic “Jurassic Park” broke ground in the film industry and was rewarded both in the box office and with a loyal fan base. After two sequels, however, the franchise entered a 14-year hiatus. This June, Colin Trevorrow took us back to the island with the blockbuster of the summer: “Jurassic World.” With such a ubiquitous franchise returning to the big screen the stakes were high, and undoubtedly so was the hype—on both sides of the camera. The question is, did the film live up to it?

“Jurassic World” takes place back on Isla Nublar, the same location as the original park. Whereas the first park was in its trial run when the events of “Jurassic Park” took place, “Jurassic World” is a fully imagined, fully functional and fully attended vacation attraction. With the dino numbers up, the money flowing in and the park filled to capacity, it’s pretty easy for fans of the series to see where this is going.

The film centers around a new dinosaur that has been added to the park and, keeping with the most recent science fiction trend, this one has been genetically modified. A genetic hybrid of classified dino-genomes apparently gives us a giant white dinosaur eerily reminiscent of Rudy from “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.” Despite its Blue Sky Studios doppelganger, the Indominus Rex is a dinosaur to be reckoned with.

Without too much spoiler-mate-

photo from internet source

rial, the dinosaur inevitably escapes and starts terrorizing the populace.

The trope is a little overused, but what would a “Jurassic Park” film be without a dinosaur on the loose? It would be nice at some point to see a dinosaur movie without the mandatory character-chomping, however. I suppose that’s what movies like Disney’s “Dinosaur” (an extremely underrated film) are good for. I will say of the series, and of all the rampaging dinosaurs, “Jurassic World’s” big-bad had me on the edge of my seat more than the rest.

Rather than blatant violence and gore, “Jurassic World” uses pure, Hitchcock-ian suspense. The infamous Indominus Rex isn’t even fully shown until about halfway through the film. The audience is only given glimpses of a gleaming red eye or a

set of massive claws, building more terror for what it could be than what it actually is. Any film that can cause more unease and disturbance with what it doesn’t show you gets major points in my book.

As good as the CGI monsters are, the characters without teeth and claws are the real stars of “Jurassic World.” Star of the recent Marvel hit “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Chris Pratt plays Owen Grady, a roughand-tumble Navy officer who works in the park to train its four velociraptors. As ridiculous as it sounds, the relationship between Owen and the raptors is an emotional one, and frankly one of the best parts of the film. Playing opposite Pratt is Bryce Dallas Howard as Claire, one of the directors of the park who is also aunt to the necessary-by-trope children,

Zach and Gray (played by Ty Simpkins and Nick Robinson). Howard is an absolute powerhouse in this film, and will surely be a favorite for high-profile roles in the future. And not to worry, the rapport between the Claire and Owen is far less creepy than the controversial clip from the first trailer made it seem.

Okay, great, so “Jurassic World” has some nice suspense and some quality acting, but is this just a remake of “Jurassic Park” for the 21st century? The short answer is yes.

“Jurassic World” takes a classic story and updates it for a more commercialized, more scientific culture. The result of those shifts is a dinosaur that is, as Claire so neatly phrases it, “bigger, louder, [with] more teeth.”

It also pays more attention to the science—or it tries a little harder at

least.

Will “Jurassic World” blow your mind? Will it be the best picture at the Oscars? No. The plot is a little predictable, and the tropes are a little stale, but do those things stop it from being a good movie? Absolutely not.

If you see “Jurassic World” and keep in mind what it is and that you are indeed not seeing the drama of ages, you’ll come out with exactly what you went in looking for. It is a great movie for the summer and a great addition to the Jurassic Park franchise. I give it 8.5 out of 10 mutant dinosaur teeth.

Now go out and see a movie.

Student Events will be screening “Jurassic World” on the great lawn at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, and in the Schwartz Auditorium at the same time on Saturday. And yes, there will be free food at both.

September 4, 2015

THIS WEEK IN PHOTOS

HEADING UP THE RABB STEPS

photos by karen caldwell/the hoot

HEADING TO CLASS THROUGH FELLOWS GARDEN

The Brandeis Hoot 9

EDITORIALS

10 The Brandeis Hoot

“To acquire wisdom, one must observe.”

Editors-in-Chief Andrew Elmers Theresa Gaffney Senior Managing Editor Jess Linde Senior Copy Editors Mia Edelstein Julie Landy Deputy News Editors Charlotte Aaron Hannah Schuster Deputy Arts Editor Sabrina Pond Features Editor Jacob Edelman Sports Editor Sarah Jousset Deputy Hoot Scoops Editor Emily Smith Copy Editor Allison Plotnik Senior Layout Editor Sasha Ruiz Layout Editors Lisa Petrie Ludi Yang Website Editor Zach Phil Schwartz

Volume 12 • Issue 13 the brandeis hoot • brandeis university

STAFF

Clayre Benzadon, Rachel Bossuk, Sharon Cai, Karen Caldwell, Jake Greenberg, Talia Franks, Emma Gutman, Emma Hanselman, Curtis Zunyu He, Kevin Healey, Emma Kahn, Shayna Korol, Nabi Menai, Monique J Menezes, Joon Park, Emily Scharf, Marian Siljeholm, Eliana Sinoff, Hannah Stewart, Michael Wang, Sophia Warren, Katarina Weessies 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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September 4, 2015

Once again, campus upgrades fall short of expectations

ver the summer, Brandeis’ campus was filled with construction crews renovating and updating many different buildings. Some updates were long overdue, such as the relocation of arts facilities from Prospect Street to the Epstein building on campus. The Prospect Street studios were dusty, run-down and over a mile from campus. Two years ago, The Brandeis Hoot reported on these conditions and for two years, students and professors in the Fine Arts department have worked to see improved conditions. Though it took too long for university to act on this issue, The Hoot is happy to see the Fine Arts department receive the space they need to flourish.

Other major renovations included those still ongoing in North Quad. The amount of work that was incomplete when first-years arrived on move-in day and is still incomplete now is unacceptable. It is apparent that crews were working very hard to finish as much work as possible before the semester began. However, not only did they not complete all the necessary work, but much of the work was shotty and there are many small issues in North Quad. A handicapped bathroom stall is missing its door

on Cable 1. The balcony on Reitman two is incomplete, and residents had been using the balcony for days before someone put up a sign warning students not to visit the balcony for safety reasons. Construction is still very much ongoing. Crews must sometimes close one of the bathrooms to work. This is an inconvenience that could have been avoided if work was complete before move-in day.

The Hoot is also concerned about the status of one of Brandeis’ most iconic buildings, the Usen Castle. We hope the university is thorough in their examinations of the castle, as there are students living in a building with questions circulating regarding its structural integrity. Last year, several students were forced to move out of the Castle due to issue such as roofs caving in. The Hoot supports the committee formed to address the castle’s future.

We hope this committee will be transparent with their findings. In the future, we would also like to hear the university’s plans regarding the future of sophomore housing if more and more of the castle becomes unusable as a sophomore residence hall.

In terms of the renovations to Sherman

1 CAMPUS. 5 YEARS. 2 DEGREES.

Dining Hall, The Hoot does not feel the renovations have improved the dining experience.

The space echoes and is, as a result, very loud.

Furthermore, according to Vice President of Operations Jim Gray’s email to the Brandeis community, construction on the upper level of Sherman is incomplete and will not be finished until October, when it is already beginning to get cold. Due to this, the outdoor rooftop space will not be usable until the spring. The Hoot also does not support the use of university funds for an outdoor eating space that will be unusable except for a few months a year.

Year after year, the university promises monumental renovations, in particular to our dining services, and every year the student body is left disappointed and having to fight to make their voices heard. We at The Hoot do not enjoy complaining about campus facilities, and understand that for the most part, Brandeis is privileged to have a functional campus to learn on. However, with renovations like those to Sherman being used to justify raises in the tuition that we pay, we have to demand higher standards from the university’s upgrades.

YOU DO THE MATH.

It all adds up to a World Ready education, right here on campus.

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September 4, 2015

FEATURES

The Brandeis Hoot 11

Two ideologies, one Ziv

By Jacob Edelman editor

Of all the suitemates at Brandeis, Mark Gimelstein ’17 and Brian Hough ’17 are arguably two of the most ironic to be found. Why is this? Gimelstein is the vice president of the Brandeis Conservatives, and Hough is the vice president of the College Democrats of Massachusetts.

Hailing from New Hyde Park, NY, Gimelstein finds himself double majoring in economics and business.

Hough hails from Marblehead, MA, double majoring in psychology and politics and double minoring in Social Justice and Social Policy and International & Global Studies. Upon entering Brandeis, the two discovered in themselves a passion for ideas pertaining to the public good, and they each set out on their own exploits.

Setting out to found the Brandeis Conservatives in January 2015, Gimelstein describes an organization that is beyond the Grand Old Party, Libertarians or the Tea Party, and instead describes an organization dedicated to conservatism as a principle, in whatever form the conservatism may manifest. He described the group by saying, “We believe in free markets, constitutional liberties, leaving you alone,” continuing “whatever your [conservative] framework is, we work around it to individualize to our personal beliefs. It’s a lot of different,

politically conservative people talking about politics.”

Hough was drawn to the Brandeis Democrats because of their positioning as a group that, as he said, “came into their light as people who want to empower others and inspire change.

They want to educate their members, empower them to get involved, get active in their government and call out injustice when they see it.” Hough continued, “A lot of these issues stem down to racial injustice, which is a big one, LGBTQ+ equality, environmental sustainability, women’s issues. A lot of issues come under the progressive movement. Brandeis is a perfect place to inspire that sort of change.”

Gimelstein asserts that the Brandeis Conservatives don’t focus on advancing a party agenda, and believes that by operating in such a way, his group can attract a wider range of students to their events and functions. Since the Conservatives’ conception, they have brought commentator Ben Shapiro to speak at campus. Shapiro is widely known as being a founder of the conservative group Truth Revolt, a media watchdog. “Brandeis Conservatives exist to partner with other groups on campus to create a public forum, we’re open to debating and discussing issues with anybody,” he said.

The Brandeis Conservatives also have tentative plans to bring Dr. Christina Hoff Sommers ’79, who received her Ph.D. from Brandeis, to campus to speak. Sommers is well known for her writings and critiques of modern

feminism in America. On Sommers, Gimelstein said, “Some people who are turned off by our ideas are willing to listen to her ideas. She advances an equity feminist perspective that resonates […] it creates an enthusiasm that otherwise wouldn’t exist.”

Hough finds himself involved greatly in progressive movements beyond the Brandeis campus, serving as both the vice president for the College Democrats of Massachusetts and the membership program Coordinator for the College Democrats of America. Hough spoke of his group’s current advocacy for environmental sustainability, which is part of a broad climate change push also taken up by the White House. He also recounted advocating at the Statehouse over the summer for education equity, and plans to soon take up advocating for gender nondiscrimination legislation.

Relating both the Ayaan Hirsi Ali and the Khadijah Lynch-Daniel Mael controversies of past years, Gimelstein places large amounts of blame for campus speech issues at the top. “People need to pressure the administration and the faculty to be open minded. It’s ironic that people who advocate free speech are the least tolerant, being totalitarian in how students should behave on campus,” Gimelstein said.

“If you want to address the problem, you have to tell the administration to stop. I’m a proponent for free speech for everyone.”

Speaking on the difficulties of running political clubs and events on

photo courtesy brian hough

a campus that is often a fiery hub of debate, Hough believes that Brandeis needs to foster an environment that spurs conversation on the issues in a forum where people can voice their points of view without getting burned by others. Hough stated that the administration should come down on political bullying. He said that leaders should be inspired and shouldn’t be brought down or torn apart for their points of view, stating that the university should foster an environment where people can hear the issues and everyone’s point of view. Hough concluded, “Political bullying should not be tolerated at all, it’s disgusting, and it’s the bad kind of politics that turns

people off and ruins people’s lives.

It’s happened at Brandeis and other schools as well, and you just can’t stand for it.”

Hough and Gimelstein acknowledged engaging with each other politically almost daily in their suite, often in the hours between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Gimelstein said, “What I like about living with Brian, and other liberal minded people, is that they are very respectful and civil with their disagreements with me. It stays away from the ad hominem attacks that you see, and we focus on the intellectual disagreements we have. We find where we differ and where we agree.

It’s a nice thing to see.”

New Sherman, a schmear of perspectives

By Albert Reiss Staff

Of all the buildings on campus, the dining halls might be among the most used by the student body. Over the summer, the Sherman Dining Hall received a complete renovation.

Part of the renovation involved both redecorating as well as reconfiguring the floor plan for a more efficient use of space. Additionally, Sherman is still awaiting even more construction updates which will further expand the dining hall. This move was intended to create more seating in a dining hall that many people previously have called “cramped” and “lacked seating.”

The Hoot asked a couple students this week what their thoughts were on the updates to Sherman and if they could envision any improvements.

Of the many comments that students made, one in particular was that the renovation was an inefficient use of money. Ashia Miller ’17, commented that “if you are renovating the inside of the place you also need to renovate the food.” She also stated, “I do not like the seating arrangement, I feel like it is very prison-like and very not open to find seating around dinner time.”

“The main topic of conversation around the new Sherman is that it feels like a loud dungeon that one cannot escape, the food is just as mediocre, and the renovation was a waste of money that could have been used elsewhere. All in all, a bit of a waste but there’s nothing we can do about it—Brandeis will be Brandeis,” Emma Maier ’18 commented. She also found that it’s “virtually impossible to have a conversation without

photo courtesy jacob edelman

screaming across the table. Though the food wasn’t fantastic—it still isn’t fantastic—I didn’t think there was much wrong with the old Sherman, especially considering the food hasn’t changed.”

Maier did have this to say in appreciation of the renovation: “In old Sherman it was virtually impossible to leave without smelling like it afterwards due to poor ventilation. Fortunately, I can now leave Sherman without smelling like a frying pan. Also, I

appreciate that things are a little cleaner and not covered in layers of grease and grime. I miss the warm and cozy feel of Sherman. There was something wonderful about being in a comfortable environment that was easy to navigate—it really lent itself to quality Sherman schmoozing.”

In contrast to Emma, Shmuel Trieger ’16, found that the new Sherman dining hall actually is “much louder” and the “old dining hall dampened the noise much better.” However, Casey

Lamar ’18 commented that “I don’t like that there isn’t a door downstairs.”

In spite of these perceived misgivings, one student in particular, Benjamin Margolin ’17, noted that “Sherman is my favorite spot on campus, and the new renovations only make it more aesthetically pleasing.” Margolin also noted that “Some of the main problems that have been fixed include broken dishwashing machines, old equipment, and the old structure.”

Despite being “uglier, the atmosphere

of old Sherman is unparalleled anywhere else, and a small part of that has unfortunately been lost, in my opinion.” So maybe not all problems can be cured by a simple renovation.

One point worth noting is that the entire renovation of Sherman has yet to be completed. Brandeis students are still awaiting the expansion which will allow for increased seating in the dining hall. Before everyone chimes in, students will have to wait until the new Sherman is fully complete.

OPINIONS

12 The Brandeis Hoot

Dear Eliana: Back-toschool problems

By Eliana Sinoff staff

Hi Eliana, So far my classes have been fine.

But the professor for my Spanish class is giving me fits. It’s a mid-level Spanish course, but she usually speaks only Spanish during class.

Half the time we all have no idea what we are supposed to do, since none of us are that accomplished at speaking Spanish. Should I drop the class or try talking to the professor?

-Confused Dear Confused, While it is harder for a class to take place in a different language, especially in a lower level class, it does help you with your understanding in the long run. It will definitely get easier as the semester continues, but in the mean time you should not be afraid to talk to your professor. I would assume that she wants you to know what’s going on in class, so if it’s ever unclear, just raise your hand and ask for clarification. If the rest of the class is having trouble as well, then you have no reason to be embarrassed and people will probably be glad you asked. If it continues to be a problem, go to the professor’s office hours and just tell her that you’re having some difficulties. She will most likely want to help you, so you can go from there. ¡Buena suerte!

-Eliana Hi Eliana, I turned 21 over the summer and it’s been great. But since I’ve come back to school, some of my other friends are asking me to go out and buy alcohol for them since I have a car and can now do so. While I don’t mind helping them out, I’m starting to get worried that the cashiers at Gordon’s think that I have a problem since I’m in there almost every day. I want to tell them that this isn’t all for me, but I think that would just get me into more trouble.

What do I do? Should I start cycling through all of the local liquor stores so it doesn’t look so bad?

-Old Man Jenkins Dear Old Man Jenkins, It’s very nice of you to buy alcoholic beverages for your friends, but if it’s going to continue, you’ll probably want to create some guidelines.

It might be helpful if you make a Gordon’s run only once a week. Tell your friends to decide if they want anything and what they want by Thursday, for example. If they don’t let you know by then, they have to wait until next week or find someone else. If you still feel uncomfortable buying alcohol in bulk every week, then don’t do it. There are many other ‘adults’ on campus with cars. You could also rotate who you’ll buy for each week, so you don’t have to get as much at once.

September 4, 2015

Don’t touch the third rail

By Samuel Bernheim special to the hoot

It’s the third rail of politics.

Touch it and you die. If you aren’t familiar with this reference, its about Social Security. Before any discussion of Social Security is initiated, the context of its creation should be considered.

Passed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1935 as part of the New Deal, Social Security was an idea to combat poverty and unemployment due to increasing age and inability to work. It was the middle of the Great Depression, people were unemployed, homeless and hungry. Social Security was created to try and ease the burden for the elderly who were not able to weather these times and who only had their usually meager savings to help them.

Two key elements of Social Security were defined. The retirement age was set at 65 and everyone was enrolled. Funded through a payroll tax system, people’s income in addition to businesses would be taxed. Once one reached the retirement age they would be allowed to collect benefits, part of what they had paid in over their working life.

The reason to impose this tax on

photo from internet source

everyone was to avoid a vicious cycle and to ensure that everyone would have at least a basic plan for the future. In this manner, everyone would have access to an income once they retired and the financial burden of living without an income would not be as press-

ing. By passing the Social Security Act, people would contribute to their own retirement without having to manage accounts or actively take action. It was and still is an elegant solution.

Of course, now there’s just one problem: The trust fund ran out.

And not recently. It’s been empty for quite awhile. The simplest explanation is that people who pay the tax now are paying the current elderly population and so the money they put in isn’t being See POLITICS, page 14

Crowding leaves students in a tight spot

By Jacob Edelman editor

As I waited for my professor to enter the room and begin today’s lesson in Shiffman, I came to the realization that the rows between desks were too narrow. Indeed, the classroom measured perhaps 20 by 20 feet, and yet there were more than 40 desks packed into this small space.

The number of seats per room presents a conundrum. College exists to educate, so logic might lead one to assume that the more students that can fit in a classroom, the more students can receive a quality education, and the more that the mission of education is fulfilled.

That being said, there comes a point when the mission of educating lots of students collides with the obstacle of the cap on the number of desks that can reasonably fit a certain area.

Quite a number of the students in the room noticed the cramped conundrum upon arrival. As more and more students sat down and set their bags by their seats, it became almost impossible for additional students to file in without pushing desks around and forcing others to get a little too up close and personal with their neighbors for the sake of letting someone through.

Once everyone got seated, it became quickly apparent that the volume of students in the small room raised the ambient temperature by a noticeable number of degrees. Everyone got to sit and sweat it out together as the professor spoke about desertlike, infertile land and famines. On such a hot early September day, this was no help.

What most sprang to mind with the crowding, however, was the thought of what would happen in the event of an emergency. I fear that such a classroom with that

photo from internet source

number of desks and students would be unable to promptly empty in the event of an evacuation. Student safety is always stated paramount to the university administration. However, there are always areas ripe for study and improvement to better safety—I suspect that some classrooms would find themselves worthy of a logistical review.

In addition to safety considerations, overcrowding in classrooms brings to mind education concerns.

Do students learn the same when there are 35 students sitting shoulder to shoulder in a room designed to fit perhaps 20? How well does a student, attempting to pay attention, maintain their focus while a less dedicated neighbor is sitting inches away inexorably checking Facebook? How adequately can a professor view and communicate with the room they’re commanding if all the faces are practically side to side? I believe that sitting so tightly packed isn’t beneficial

toward the ultimate goal of effectively educating.

I suggest that before embarking on another cycle of assigning classrooms to sections, a study should be initiated to see how many students should optimally fit in each classroom, and in cases of a classroom being an inefficient size for the classes it is to host, the location of the class should be reevaluated. I believe that instituting this review would lead to a safer, more favorable college environment.

September 4, 2015

OPINIONS 13

The Brandeis Hoot

Loss of Castle can push forth new residence halls

Dear Eliana

By Andrew Elmers editor

By Eliana Sinoff staff

In two separate emails welcoming students back to campus from both Interim President Lisa Lynch and Director of Operations Jim Gray, the inevitable is mentioned. They don’t shy away from saying how Usen Castle has reached a point in its life where it is “showing its age” and we have “reached a point where maintaining the status quo is not practical or sustainable for the long run.”

Certainly the writing’s on the wall of the Castle that it will not last that long. Surprisingly enough, students have been allowed to live there despite the fact that some people were moved out of the Castle last year after their rooms were deemed unsafe.

If, as Jim Gray alluded to in his email, the Castle is no longer used as a residence hall, that would leave 120 students without a room. Since housing is guaranteed for the first two years at Brandeis, the sophomores who would have lived in the Castle have to be placed somewhere else, creating the need for another 120 beds, otherwise forcing even more upperclassmen to seek off-campus housing.

These facts are undeniable, and the administration and Board of Trustees are most likely working up plans to at least maintain the status quo when it comes to campus housing. Yet what needs to occur is not simply keeping up the status quo, but actively improving the quantity, and quality, of on-campus housing.

The most recent addition to campus housing options was the

Hi Eliana, I’m living in a suite for the first time and I’m having trouble keeping everything clean. Cleaning the kitchen, bathroom and common areas is a pretty big hassle on top of having to go to class and working during the week. How the heck do I find time to get this done?

-Stuck in a Pigsty Dear Stuck in a Pigsty, Cleaning is an unfortunate necessity. However, you are not alone. If you live in a suite, that means you are living with other people who can also help you clean! Get together as a group and work out a system to split the work. Maybe you rotate who’s in charge of cleaning one area for the week. Perhaps you each have a chore, like dishes or vacuuming.

The possibilities are endless! That way, it’s not just one person cleaning everything all the time. Besides that, just be aware of the messes you make and clean as you go. Don’t just leave everything to pile up and then have to do everything at once. photo from internet source

Ridgewood Quad, which was completed in 2009. Six years later, there is no real talk of adding another residential building, and with the need for more options extremely present, starting a new project would probably take a few years to complete if started today, given the time it takes to design,

acquire space and build a brand new quad. That would mean that the time between opening the two newest residence halls would be about 10 years.

A popular quote that gets thrown around the Internet states that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, but the second

best time is now. Sure, it would be extremely convenient if there were already plans to replace the aging castle, while adding even more rooms for students, in progress. If so, there wouldn’t be an upcoming gap where some See HOUSING, page 15

Add extra BranVans for efficient routes and use

By Zach Phil Schwartz editor

The Escort Safety Service, colloquially known as BranVan, is a campus staple, shuttling students around Brandeis’ campus for 16 hours a day: from the crack of dawn to the early hours of the morning. Its operation is essential to the day-to-day life of many students, some of whom live too far to walk to class. In days of extreme weather, the BranVan is an escape from the long campus walk. Sadly, what is offered is not enough.

There are a few thousand undergraduate students who depend on the few BranVans and the Joseph’s shuttles that circulate around campus, obviously too few to have everyone ride when they want to.

At peak times you can find scores of students at the Rabb bus stop waiting impatiently as they are unable to board the few and consequently rapidly filled vans and buses. The lack of van availability creates unnecessary consequences, like lateness to classes and other appointments.

Even when one does manage to catch a van or a bus, the prescribed set route unnecessarily delays the trip they take around campus. Those who wish to travel to the Rabb bus stop from H-lot, Spingold and Admissions must ride to Charles River, 567 South

Street, Gosman and the Mods before even climbing Loop Road to Rabb. By the time a passenger gets to their destination, they have already lost 15 minutes, which they could have used to just walk to where they need to be. The real situation here is that these excursions to the Charles River and to Gosman areas are time consuming to many, but still required to others who rely on the service to get to the main campus. This issue gets worse when combined with the small fleet of vans and buses, but the combination can also be solved in tandem.

Having worked for BranVan, I can attest that the student employees are some of the best, brightest and most hardworking people around, and the shortfalls of the service are completely out of their hands. In fact, the main issues the Escort Safety Service faces are simply issues of a lack of sufficient van and bus numbers, not a lack of integrity. As the situation is simple, the answer is equally simple.

This year, BranVan added a brand new vehicle to their fleet as a replacement, reflecting the wear that the vans receive over the course of their service. This kind of turnover can easily be prevented with more rest, which can be accomplished with more vans. Coincidently enough, having more vans is the solution to

the delays and crowds also plaguing passengers.

Adding two or three more vans to the fleet, perhaps along with more or bigger Joseph’s buses will go a long way toward quelling the groans of the student body. Any costs associated with expanding the fleet would be relatively easily absorbed and dwarfed compared to those of the recent campus upgrades. The university will face

Happy cleaning!

these costs in the future anyway as vans turnover and bus service prices rise, so why not reduce the tax on the current fleet?

Increasing the fleet size will allow for less heavy usage on the individual vans during nonpeak times, and it will allow for more efficient rides with fewer people left behind during peak See BRANVAN, page 15

-Eliana Hi Eliana,

photo from internet source

In an effort to save a lot of money on books, I ordered a bunch of used books through Amazon marketplace. But since they’re from places like Oregon and Ohio, it might take a while to ship them to me. Some classes are already assigning readings from these books, but they haven’t come in yet, and probably won’t for a while. How I do tell my professors that I don’t have the books yet, so I can’t complete the reading?

-Waiting Patiently Dear Waiting Patiently, Saving money is always nice.

While you’re waiting for your books to arrive, here are some ideas on how to keep up with the work: 1) Ask a friend! If you know someone in the class, ask them if you can borrow their copy until yours comes. If you don’t already know someone in the class, this is also a great opportunity to make a new friend!

2) Go to the library! Many professors put a copy or two of the class’ books on hold. Go to the front desk and see if they have a copy you can use. You can also photocopy the pages you need, so you can bring the text to class.

3) The Internet! Some texts are available online, so you can always check there if there isn’t a hard copy around.

I hope this helps! May all your books arrive speedily.

photo from internet source

-Eliana

14 OPINIONS

The Brandeis Hoot

September 4, 2015

Hard choices ahead for retirement plans POLITICS, from page 12

spent. When generational gaps form, a dichotomy arises between the amount of workers and retirees leading to an unbalance. More retirees than workers means less money in and more money out.

For example, the 76 billion retired baby boomers is one of the largest groups ever to retire and there are not enough people to compensate for the difference.

The next question we face becomes when will the fund truly run out of money. The Department of Social Security predicts that by 2034, the coffers will be empty. For all the students reading this, we will be approaching 40, still a far cry off from 65. Perhaps this is why 51 percent of non-retired Americans believe they will not see their paycheck. Since 1998, the percentage of Americans who think that Social Security is in a state of crisis or has major problems has stayed above the 66 percent level. Not very promising.

This is relevant since 36 percent of non-retirees believe Social Security will be the major source of income once they retire and another 48 percent say it will be a minor source. Combined that produces 84 percent of non-retirees who are saying Social Security will be important in their retirement.

The final kicker is this: people are retiring earlier, and this has two implications. The first is a bigger drain on Social Security. The second, less money going in. And this at a time when people are living far longer.

photo from internet source

When first passed, the retirement age was set at 65 for one very specific reason. In 1935 the life expectancy of the average person was 61 and by using the age 65, the system could be self sustaining because not everyone who paid in would live to get back their benefits. This meant that for people to collect benefits, they would have to beat the odds by at least 4 years to collect Social Security. More people would pay into the fund than who would receive benefits

and this difference is what allowed Social Security to work effectively.

But a lot has changed since 1935.

Life expectancy in the United States has risen by 18 years since 1935. How much has the retirement age increased to match this change? None. No wonder the fund is running out of money. I sit writing this article knowing that once I graduate, I will have to work for at least the next 45 years of my life. Retiring at 65 is not practical and conducive to being

able to support my future family, and to ensure that I will be safe and financially secure for the rest of my life.

The only solutions to this issue are to either raise the retirement age or cut benefits. Two outcomes that always produce outrage and shock. I believe some combination of the two must be enacted, otherwise the entire system will break, and it will be the elderly who suffer. Can people really retire earlier and earlier while we

live longer and longer? Should we expect that people rely on Social Security from 65 until 79 or longer (14+ years’ worth of income) when the founder of the program knew providing benefits for such a protracted period was impossible?

Is it right to pass the buck on this issue simply because it will upset parts of the population, when the entire program is at stake? It’s better to cut the off the arm and save the patient then to watch as he wastes away.

Overcommitted, the Brandeisian story of citizenship

By Monique J. Menezes staff

This past Sunday, the Great Lawn was a setting for a semesterly ritual that has come to be known as the Activities Fair. To the untrained eye, it seems like a burst of energy at the beginning of the semester, a joyous occasion filled with the sounds of enthused members of the Brandeis club community, and it is. Nevertheless, a veteran of such events knows that there is more than just a passionate zeal behind the expressions of those who stand behind their respective tables. Almost every single one is a member of another club, if not clubs.

A first-year may even turn their head, suddenly seeing a familiar face at one table even though they just spoke to them at another. There is a theory to why people find themselves juggling so many clubs. Most abide by the strategy of signing up for everything they think they could be interested in. Following the hundred emails that spam their inbox, aforementioned strategists begin to unsubscribe to listservs, figuring out which ones fit in their schedule or after a meeting or two, discovering their preference.

Nevertheless, there’s a hitch in such a rational course of action. More often than not, people find many clubs that they love. Before they know it, they are overcommitted. Don’t worry, you are not alone. The overcommitted student has become a uniquely Brandeisian phenomenon, even a norm across our campus. Such a quality that embodies loyalty, passion and the deluded thought that “we can do it all” is probably one of the many reasons we find ourselves to be Brandeis students. But, we are not in high school

photo from internet source

anymore. A roll call of activities was expected from us in our formative years, resume builders that could get us to college. I guess it’s hard to change when all you have ever known is being busy. I am more than guilty of this.

This is not a call to give up doing the things you love. Neither is it a recommendation to bite off more than you can chew. I am merely pointing out what is fact: Brandeisians try to rule the school after a day full of classes that entail their own lofty workload.

Yet, I have an inkling that the extracurricular craze is more than just about a list on a resume. A student has had a hand on almost every single thing that occurs on this campus.

If anything else, Brandeis students are involved and rightly should be. This is their campus after all. The busy atmosphere of the Great Lawn was just a single exhibition of students’ influence on their environment. 415 South Street, Waltham, MA is where undergraduates can make a simple and otherwise unused rooftop into an innovative environmental initiative, act as their own emergency medical service and rank number one in the country for community service (Princeton Review). Honestly, the going to class part of being a student at Brandeis is the minimum.

From events planned by students to publications written by students to

shows performed by students to artwork created by students, I wonder when anyone sleeps. It would explain the long lines at any source of caffeine on campus. Either way, being a student at Brandeis is being a member of a community, one that is fortunately filled with citizens who care. That’s why they join so many clubs and yell in your face at the beginning of every semester. Upperclassmen are eager to invite underclassmen to experience the clubs they fell in love with. They want to offer opportunities to have unforgettable memories, just like the intangible and irreplaceable moments that have made up their time at Brandeis so far.

You will never attend an event on this campus where a student, if not a bunch of students, have not played a role. This commitment to being so involved is one of the aspects that makes Brandeis a mystical entity. It’s not a very large school, but an inexplicable amount occurs here on a daily basis.

As a plea of communal sanity, I simply suggest the concept of prioritization: Know what is important to you, and don’t feel obligated to do things that don’t make you happy. These vague words of wisdom can stretch to your studies and day-to-day activities, especially as a busy Brandeisian, experienced in the practice of time management.

September 4, 2015

OPINIONS 15

The Brandeis Hoot

Increased housing demand calls for quick action HOUSING, from page 13

would have the disadvantage of attending Brandeis when there were less available rooms in years past.

But that opportunity has passed, so the Board of Trustees, who really are in charge of the greater planning of the university, must now begin work on building new residence halls.

This needs to be actual plans to build, not just surveys into a possible new building. A few years ago, there were plans to build a parking garage structure where X-Lot currently stands, according to an April 2007 article in The Brandeis Hoot, yet that was never completed. Then in 2013, the Student Union sent out a survey to the campus community seeking insight to parking issues on campus.

The responses to those were overwhelmingly in favor of the notion that there is not enough space on campus, and the construction of a parking garage would be welcome, but no one ever followed up on that survey.

Perhaps the need for more housing being far greater than the need for additional parking, especially

in a time where we ought to be using vehicles less in order to lower carbon emissions, will push the board to get started on improving the campus quickly. And while part of the castle will likely stay in order to maintain the iconicism for the school, unused land will have to be developed in order to shoulder the load of housing at least 200 students. The wooded area that is surrounded by the library, Chapels Field and the Heller School certainly provides enough space for a residential area that could house the displaced students from the Castle. Currently, there is absolutely nothing in there, save for a few makeshift shortcuts people have created over the years.

The problem of funds is also a concern, and with the financial collapse of the late 2000s creating a large downfall in funding for the university, the construction boom of that time has certainly slowed down. Now eight years later, the economy has recovered somewhat, as has the university’s endowment. Tuition has risen regardless of the economy, so lack of funds should not be seen as an excuse.

photo from internet source

While living off-campus has its benefits and luxuries, the majority of students who live off-campus now would probably choose to live on-campus if it were available.

The convenience and security of living on-campus is simply too good to pass up. More so, improving the quality of the campus with

a brand new residence hall will only provide benefits, as it would attract more students with a flashier building. More applicants begets better statistics for incoming first-years, which in turn begets better rankings and a greater reputation for the school.

Brandeis provides a great educa-

tion and community. Its time for the facilities here to match that.

And although the castle might be lost as a residence hall, it should not be closed down in vain. Hopefully it creates the spark and drive for the board of trustees to start improving the campus both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Students lose time on insufficient bus service BRANVAN, from page 13

Also, with an increased van and bus fleet, a set number of vehicles can be designated as Charles River- and Gosman- area routes, lowering travel times for passengers headed for those areas and for those uninterested in making the excursion. By and large, increasing the BranVan and Joseph’s bus fleet size solves a lot of nagging problems facing campus transportation at a reasonable cost.

Although Brandeis is considered a small university relative to other research universities, we still have a several thousand student community. The circulation of campus vans and buses is therefore critical to everyday life at the university and should not be jeopardized as demand for the services fluctuates at peak times or due to weather.

If the university is to somehow make transportation around campus easier for everyone, there is no better option that kills multiple birds with one stone than increasing the vehicle fleet size.

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16 The Brandeis Hoot

ARTS, ETC.

September 4, 2015

Improv showcase entertains and recruits new members

photos by sharon cai/the hoot

By Santiago Montoya Special to the Hoot

On Sept. 1, students from different corners of campus were all sprinting toward one location: Ridgewood Commons. It was, once again, that time of the year when Brandeis University’s four improvisational comedy groups perform for an audience of new and returning students in the annual Improv Comedy Showcase, a showcase that serves as a tidbit for first-year students of what the university has to offer.

This year’s show began with False Advertising, followed by Crowd Control, TBA and Bad Grammer.

The showcase allowed the groups to demonstrate their compelling comic prowess for students who may want to audition.

False Advertising, the only improv group that incorporates music,

took the stage first. They decided to start the night with a game where the audience picked the subject, opting to go with the word “soap.” In fact, this random word was used in quite a few of their skits throughout the performance, including the skit about priest “Soapiness,” which drew big laughs out of the audience. Even though False Advertising did not put to use too much of their uniqueness as a musical improv group, they managed to engage the audience thanks, in part, to their fresh and amusing material and to their performers, who were able to be frisky, fierce and, of course, funny. The group had their auditions the next night and welcomed one new member into their troupe.

Crowd Control started off their performance with a line game, the classic “I like my [x] like I like my [y]” formula. Some raunchy yet hu-

morous phrases were created. Like False Advertising, Crowd Control also tackled skits based solely on a word that was presented by the audience (the selected word was pickle).

However, some jokes fell flat, forcing the performers to rapidly shift to another skit, leaving the one they started unfinished. The highlight of Crowd Control was their one liners and the versatility of the performers to become colorful characters in a matter of seconds. The group will host auditions in the Shapiro Residence Hall Lounge Monday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.

When the third group, TBA, took the stage, they picked a volunteer from the audience and conducted a brief interview with the individual, who turned out to be naturally funny. Then two performers decided to play a game with him, in which they recited a romantic love speech, both

declaring their love for the audience member. As they recited the poem, they would constantly tack on random words, again all volunteered by the audience. This created a playful, absurd swirl to the speech’s meaning.

After the declarations, the volunteer had to decide between one of the two performers to break the love triangle. TBA also performed various line games, and most of the jokes landed well, but there were a few that were misplaced. The performers were energetic, natural and worked well with the material, but a notable quibble is that there was a cast member who apologized for not being clear enough with certain joke; in improv comedy you should always be unapologetic because there is really no wrong answer.

The fourth and final group was Bad Grammer, which does exclusively short-form improv. They

performed a particularly relatable and entertaining skit for all the new first-year students in which the audience would suggest topics on how to survive during their first year of college and there would be four answers: a good one, a bad one, an evil one and a robotic one. Bad Grammer did a splendid job mocking Brandeis in a way that all students can relate to. Since they are a short-form improv group, they performed a skit about a father, a son and a chainsaw five different times, and each time they would have to perform it in a shorter amount of time. It started as a 60-second bit, then 30, 15, five, and ultimately one-second long; the increasing haste of the same skit and the rush the actors underwent is what made it a delight. Bad Grammer was a delight itself. Bad Grammer will hold auditions Wednesday, Sept. 9 in the Gluck Lobby in Upper Usdan at