The Brandeis Hoot 04/24/2015

Volume 12 Number 11

www.brandeishoot.com

Sheila McMahon addresses the prevalence of sexual violence on college campuses

Students share vision for future of Brandeis

By Victoria Aronson editor

In light of President Fred Lawrence’s impending departure from Brandeis, students were invited to join Larry Kanarek, member of the Board of Trustees and chair of the Presidential Search Committee, members of the Board of Trustees and the Student Union this past Thursday to vocalize their concerns and aspirations for Lawrence’s successor and the future of Brandeis.

Among the primary concerns dominating the conversation, students discussed their discontent with the university’s current engagement with social justice and issues of diversity on campus. “People who have different racial backgrounds are very segregated on this campus,” said one student in attendance.

“I don’t really think [it is] an atmosphere that fosters conversations,” another student said in

April 24, 2015

Brandeis University’s Community Newspaper • Waltham, Mass.

photo by dana trismen/the hoot

Members of the Brandeis Board of Trustees took the time to speak with students. board of trustees

reference to the administration’s response to student activism.

This includes recent decisions to

remove the signs placed around campus in support of the national Black Lives Matter campaign.

“Students are hurting,” one student said. “We need to have a president that will critically engage with us at a level that feels human.” Pointing to the emails sent by Lawrence in response to controversial topics, the audience member urged the need for physical engagement and dialogue between the administration and the student body.

Exiting Student Union Vice President Charlotte Franco ’15 elaborated on the issue of social justice. “Brandeis should be at the forefront of change. In recent years, it seems like we are reacting instead of being proactive,” Franco said.

Mohamed Sidique ’15, senior representative to the Board of Trustees, raised the potential to tie diversity on campus with See PRES SEARCH, page 2

By Emily Belowich editor

On Tuesday afternoon, scholars and professors gathered in the Women’s Studies Research Center to listen to Brandeis’ Sexual Assault Services and Prevention Specialist Sheila McMahon discuss the intricacies of addressing the prevalence of sexual violence on college campuses. The discussion also explored prevention strategies and their effectiveness, responsibilities for faculty and staff at the university and how to best respond to disclosures.

McMahon started off her talk by speaking about the Rights and Responsibilities, which is the Brandeis code of conduct compiled by the Department of Student Rights and Community Standards. All students who enroll at Brandeis are required to abide by the rules and regulations from this code of conduct.

McMahon focused on speaking

about the sexual misconduct part of the Rights and Responsibilities, which she claims is “an umbrella term which includes all behaviors that do not have consent including sexual contact, sexual intercourse, sexual force or any type of sexual harassment.” She noted that Brandeis addresses consent very explicitly in its code of conduct, which is something that many other similar universities have failed to do.

“Consent is something that this institution takes very seriously,” McMahon said. “Violations of consent are a violation of the code of conduct. I think sometimes that’s news to students.

They didn’t realize that is part of what they’re signing up for when they enrolled in the university.”

In addition to issues with consent, McMahon notes that matters around domestic violence are very prevalent on college See MCMAHON, page 4

Students fight for Al-Quds partnership amid controversy

By Hannah Schuster editor

On Friday April 17, the Brandeis University & Al-Quds University Student Dialogue Initiative hosted a teach-in in President Fred Lawrence’s office waiting room. Students, alumni and faculty filled the room to express support for the Brandeis/AlQuds partnership and dialogue.

The future of this partnership is a controversial issue. Brandeis suspended the partnership in November 2013, following a rally where participants carried fake weapons and shouted anti-Semitic slurs. Lawrence deemed AlQuds’ president’s response unacceptable. Catie Stewart ’16 and Eli Philip ’15 formed the Student Dialogue Initiative to work for reinstatement of the partnership, as they believe it is essential to fostering cross-cultural understanding.

During an interview with Stewart, Philip, Naomi Hornstein ’15 and Risa Dunbar ’17, Philip explained it was about “allowing people to have a space to learn more about the partnership” and having “different groups of people express why the partnership is important for them.”

During the event, organizers expressed a desire to “own” the space and make their voices heard. “To me, political peace is

Inside this issue:

only obtainable once there is coexistence and tolerance on the ground. I believe a partnership with Al-Quds University can help us achieve these goals,” Leah Susman said.

Professor Sue Lanser (COML/ ENG/ROMS/WMGS), who has been involved with the partnership since its inception, spoke first. During her speech, Lanser stated that she believes faceto-face discussion is crucial for understanding. She spoke about an Al-Quds student visiting Brandeis. He learned the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict “is not about right and wrong … What we have to do is give up blame and work for peace,” Lanser quoted the student. She described the astonishment Al-Quds students experienced upon learning about Jewish quota systems at many universities. She believes the partnership “fits” the Jewish-rooted, secular Brandeis, asking, “If we can’t have this conversation, where can the conversation happen?”

“From the partnership I have come to study Arabic poetry, to understand the rich cultural fabric of Jerusalem, to think comparatively about gender and to launch a new project in narrative research,” said Lanser in her email to The Brandeis Hoot. She See AL-QUDS, page 2

News: CEO of TripAdvisor advises entrepreneurs Arts, Etc.: “Vagina Monologues” inspires Opinion: Female colleges are still necessary Features: BIRC performs well at first conference Editorial: Campus climate survey not complete

Page 3 Page 16 Page 13 Page 5 Page 10

take back the night

photo by karen caldwell/the hoot

Students gather on the Rabb Steps to begin a march around campus.

Students show solidarity at Take Back the Night

By Jess Linde editor

More than 200 members of the Brandeis community marched across campus on Tuesday, April 21 as part of Brandeis’ annual Take Back the Night event. Students, faculty and members of the administration walked in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence on campus, rhyming in anti-assault chants and holding lit candles. Stopping in each quad, the group called on fellow students to join the march, be-

fore opening a silent space for members of the community to share personal stories, assault statistics and other testimonies relating to taking back strength and personal agency following trauma. The event was co-sponsored by the Brandeis Office of Prevention Services, Brandeis Students Against Sexual Violence (B.SASV), Students Talking About Relationships (STAR), the Brandeis Rape Crisis Center (RCC) and the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA).

Administrators in attendance included Senior Vice President

of Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel, Sexual Assault Services and Prevention Specialist Sheila McMahon and Dean of Students Jamele Adams. Brothers of Brandeis’ Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity also came to show their chapter’s support for the event and survivors, and were the only representatives of male Greek life present. The majority of the crowd was a diverse showing of Brandeis students, with students of all years, racial See TAKE BACK, page 4

Scram jam

Tennis defeats NYU

Arts, Etc.: Page 6

Sports: Page 11

Dance party under “Light of Reason” brings students together to celebrate Rose Museum

Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams scored a victory at home during senior night

NEWS

2 The Brandeis Hoot

April 24 , 2015

Students to journey to Al-Quds this summer, seek President Lawrence’s support AL-QUDS, from page 1

hopes others can have similar opportunities.

Chinyere Brown ’17, Maya Cooper ’15 and Adam Jones ’15 from Black Lives Matter Brandeis then facilitated a discussion on dialogue and social movement.

Participants discussed how some members of the Brandeis community feel they cannot speak up in certain movements because they are the “wrong” demographic.

“Black Lives Matter is not just for black people and this partnership is not just something for Jewish people,” said Brown, explaining students must be involved because “we’re paying Brandeis our tuition fees. We are implicated in a lot of the things that happen [at Brandeis].”

Professor Gordon Fellman (SOC) outlined the history of Brandeis activism. His talk included black students’ take over of the old Ford Hall in 1969. In regard to Al-Quds, Fellman believes the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is between “accommodationists and rejectionists,” those who will compromise and those who “will stop at nothing.” He be-

lieves the partnership exemplifies “accommodationism.”

BAASA President Esther Lee ’15 was the final speaker. She explained that her club was founded in response to the Vietnam War and a feeling that Asian students must mobilize. “Participating in the teach-in is a show of my solidarity and support for dialogue,” said Lee in an email to The Hoot. “Dialogue is crucial because it’s the only way we’re going to understand each other and make strides towards peace … One side could fill the room with passion and explain for hours upon hours, but if the other side turns their ear away, nothing will happen,” she wrote.

Lee emphasized these ideas at the teach-in, discussing a course that taught her to manage difficult conversations in business, but asked, “Why is the university teaching me something they don’t do themselves?”

Not everyone, however, supports the Initiative. The Students for Accuracy About Israeli and Palestinian Affairs (SAIPA) board sent an open letter to Lawrence thanking him for suspending the partnership.

“While SAIPA believes in fa-

cilitating open dialogue to foster cross-cultural understanding, we firmly oppose associating with any individual that does not uphold Brandeis University’s most basic values: values such as tolerance and coexistence,” the letter read. It reiterated the events of November, 2013, described a “similar rally” held in May 2014 and discussed that an Al-Quds professor was “denounced” by students and colleagues after leading a trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau.

“We wrote this letter because we felt we had to take a moral stand on this issue,” said SAIPA President Ari Givner ’17 in an email to The Hoot. Givner stated though SAIPA respects the Initiative for “speaking up … we wanted to let President Lawrence know that the advocates for this initiative do not speak for the entire student body.”

Regarding possible reinstatement of the partnership, Givner wrote, “I hope Al-Quds realizes that hatred is something worth combatting and takes tangible steps to prove that they believe it. Only then can we justify reinstating the partnership.”

Responding to SAIPA, Stewart

stressed how welcoming she feels Al-Quds has been to Brandeis students and the relationships that have been formed as a result. Philip asked if Brandeis does not engage in conversation with Al-Quds, “what is the expectation that something’s going to happen?”

Susman and Dunbar are organizing another summer trip to Al-Quds, and the Initiative is determined to get Lawrence’s support before they travel. Organizers state Al-Quds offered a “warm welcome” and financial assistance, though they have less funding than Brandeis. At the end of the teach-in, participants wrote letters requesting Lawrence support this trip and slid them under his door. Organizers made it clear they expect an answer.

The students were dismayed Lawrence didn’t attend the teach-in, feeling it was a missed opportunity for him to engage with students. In a statement to The Hoot, Lawrence said, “I appreciate the students’ interest in Brandeis’ relationship with AlQuds University, and have discussed this issue with a number of students, holding a range of

opinions.” He expressed that the partnership was formed with “the best of intentions for opening a dialogue and building a foundation for peace” but restated the events which compelled him to suspend it.

“I do not believe it would be reasonable for an outgoing president to take steps that change the status of the relationship,” he said. He also doubts an interim president could do either, “as there would be great potential for any act to be misconstrued in the context of a larger transition.” Lawrence believes the decision rests with the next president.

The Initiative hopes the next administration will reinstate the partnership. Dunbar, planning to attend presidential search meetings, stated, “I think its important that we’re represented and that it is a priority for the president to listen to student movements.”

The students also have high hopes for interim president Lisa Lynch. Though they recognize she may not make large changes, they believe she can take small steps such as reaching out to AlQuds administration.

BRIEF: Judy Glasser joins Brandeis as interim senior VP for communications In an email to the Brandeis community on Thursday, President Frederick Lawrence announced that Judy Glasser was appointed as interim senior vice president for communications.

Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel has been serving in this position for the past nine months. Lawrence’s email thanked Flagel for his work in these “dual roles.”

The email explains Glasser will be involved with “media relations, university publications, websites and of-

ficial social media channels and creative services.”

Lawrence’s message details Glasser’s professional experiences.

“Judy brings a wealth of communications experience and knowledge with her,” the email stated.

Glasser spent 13 years serving as senior vice president of communications for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

She was the vice president of communications for the Massachusetts Hospital Association, a consultant at public affairs company in Boston, and

a public information office at both City Hall and the Massachusetts Industrial Finance Agency.

“We weave many different threads—tweets, admissions brochures, action shots, stories in The New York Times and in other media outlets and much more—to create a compelling picture of the vital, global, innovative and diverse tapestry that is Brandeis University,” reads Brandeis’ Office of Communications website.

Glasser will work with other members of the Brandeis communications in the context of this ambition.

Students share opinions on ideal characteristics for future president PRES. SEARCH, from page 1

funding initiatives on behalf of the university. “By having a diverse pool of people that donate to Brandeis, you can also bring that diversity to Brandeis,” Sidique said, explaining his desire to see a president with the capacity to tap into new and more diverse sources of funding. Broadening the diversity of donors could bring valuable resources to departments such as Women and Gender Studies or African and Afro-American Studies, he noted.

There was also discussion on the relationship between alumni and current students. “I feel as though there is a giant disconnect between how donors and alumni perceive the school and how students perceive the school,” Sarah Margulies ’15 said.

She describes what she calls a

lack of empathy demonstrated by the public for current students, noting that many alumni feel as though Brandeis is no longer pro-Israel or pro-Jewish enough.

Referring to what he deemed the “paradox of Brandeis,” Kanarek acknowledged the strong Jewish roots upon which the university was founded upon.

However, he emphasized that many of the founding principles of Brandeis, such as combating discrimination and championing diversity, are not Jewish concepts, but universal concepts.

Likening the need to simultaneously honor Brandeis’ Jewish roots while upholding the ever evolving nature of social justice to a balancing act, he said that one must always move forward.

Franco acknowledged that Brandeis was founded as a home to members of the Jewish faith who may have been barred from

accessing higher education elsewhere. She urged the need to serve communities who are facing discrimination today and to continue to provide access to education for marginalized communities, an effort which has been launched by the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program and the Posse Scholar Program.

In addition to raising concerns over diversity on campus, members of the audience discussed their discontent with the lack of dialogue occurring between members of the administration and the student body. “You can see that students care deeply and intimately about the future of the university, but there is a huge cloud of discontent,” Student Union Chief of Staff Flora Wang ’15 said.

“I think the administration needs to accept that we are students, but we are also adults,”

photo by dana trismen/the hoot

Many students shared their opinions on the future of Brandeis and the new president on Thursday. open conversation

Wang urged, emphasizing the need for dialogue between administration and students. “We want a seat at every conversation that this university wants to talk about,” she said, including all major decisions that may affect the student body.

Matthew Kuruvinakunnel ’15 touched upon Sidique’s previous point and said that Lawrence’s successor should be “someone

who appeals to enough of the donor pool that future students don’t have to carry an even heavier financial burden for our university’s progress.”

“It’s really heartening to see that maybe we can use this search to bring this community together,” Kanarek remarked, pointing to the commonality expressed for the vision of Brandeis’ future.

3 NEWS

The Brandeis Hoot

April 24, 2015

TripAdvisor CEO speaks on entrepreneurship

By Andrew Elmers Editor

On Wednesday evening, April 22 in the Shapiro Admissions Center, the Hiatt Career Center welcomed Steve Kaufman, parent of a 2013 Brandeis graduate, the founder and CEO of TripAdvisor, to campus to give a talk about entrepreneurship. As the largest travel site in the world, TripAdvisor hosts user-written reviews on hotels and restaurants, as well as offering visitors the option to book a hotel right on the site. Inspired by having difficulty with a travel agent, and not being able to adequately research a hotel in Mexico for a 1998 family vacation, Kaufman has grown his website from the ground and earned the 2005 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Following a brief introduction by the Executive Director of the

Hiatt Career Center Andrea Dine, Kaufman gave a presentation detailing how he founded, established and grew his business. Kaufman worked the room much like fellow entrepreneurs Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg.

Escaping from behind the podium, he made sure to address the entire audience.

After Kaufman’s experience with a low-quality hotel in Mexico, his wife gave him the idea to start the website. It was a solid start, but Kaufman needed to raise money. The venture capitalists he met with supported his idea, but weren’t sure of how it could be viable. Kaufman then listed the reasons investors presented on why his idea wouldn’t work. From logistical concerns about how he would accumulate a vast library of reviews, to the more philosophical concern on how it would make money, Kaufman admitted it was disheartening to be rejected.

photos by andrew elmers/the hoot

He explained how the entrepreneurial spirit kept him going despite the bad news. “You’re going to have some misses before you hit. You hold yourself up on Mark Zuckerberg, who was a success right away, but I had three failures before starting TripAdvisor,” Kaufman shared with the audience of mostly students. He then rattled off how TripAdvisor overcame all of these obstacles to become the success it is today, after he eventually received a small amount of funds to start the website.

Kaufman detailed how TripAdvisor flatters those who write reviews by thanking them for contributing and alerting them when someone else has found a review helpful. One reviewer has submitted over 3,800 reviews, receiving nothing in return except meaningless titles such as “Top Contributor” or “Senior Reviewer.” “I don’t know what he does for a living that he’s able to visit all of these places

steve kaufman

and write all of these reviews, but its fantastic,” Kaufman joked. In order to make money, TripAdvisor utilizes banner ads on webpages, subscription services for hoteliers to keep their pages updated and “cost-perclick” booking when visitors book hotels on their website. With over 315 million unique visitors per month, and 75 percent of this traffic being international, TripAdvisor has become highly profitable.

With plans for expanding into China, offering more personalized services for frequent visitors and the convenience of online booking, Kaufman is confident his business will continue to grow, despite the ever-changing climate of the internet.

“I’m a hard-wired, Type A kind of guy.

I’m worried about who’s gonna knock me off my perch,” Kaufman said, even though his website receives more traffic than Expedia, as well as the top 10 airline companies combined.

Kaufman finished off his presentation by offering the slew of undergraduate and graduate students his advice on entrepreneurship and running a business. He provided six quotes on his personal guidelines to business. From “Speed wins,” and “Done is better than perfect,” to more specific tips like, “Hire slowly, fire quickly,”but perhaps the most useful of all his tips was the last one. “Embrace change (and reinvent when times are good).” Kaufman said he doesn’t like change, and was nervous when his CFO recently resigned, but knows it is something everyone has to embrace.

Ending his presentation with a cartoon from the Harvard Business Review featuring two people walking through hell, with a caption that read, “What did TripAdvisor say about this place?” Kaufman finished by taking questions from a very engaged audience.

TripAdvisor CEO hosts a presentation for Brandeis students

The Brandeis Farmers Club hosts its first farmers’ market

By Rachel Bossuk staff

On Saturday morning, under a clear blue sky, The Brandeis Farmers Club hosted their first event in the Gosman parking lot. Over 500 people attended the Farmers’ Market that Gerrianna Cohen ’18, Market Manager of the Farmers Club, planned and executed. She started her planning process in the fall, when she visited The Waltham Farmers’ Market to meet with vendors and get a better understanding of the organization process. In addition, she spoke to members of the Brandeis Administration who expressed support for project.

Ten vendors sold goods at the market, including Doos P.K. (selling an all-natural product that can be used as a dip, a spread or a drink mix), a group of Brandeis graduate students known as Chocolatina, Harriet’s Bakery and Brandeis’ own Pottery Club.

However, the favorites were definitely Bread Obsession and Halvah Heaven.

When Varda Haimo of Bread Obsession arrived at the Gosman parking lot, her bread was in such high demand that she sold out within the first hour and a half of the market’s opening. Students could be seen during and after the market carrying around loaves, baguettes and rolls and enjoying them with the olive oil they also bought at the market. Halvah Heaven was similarly adored by market-goers.

The crowd’s favorite flavor seemed to be the Earl Gray halvah. Overall, students raved about the food sold at the market and could be seen soaking up the sun while eating what they had just bought. Julie Kim ’18 said that she and some of her friends swiped into lower Usdan that day, only to eat their goodies from the market.

Also featured at the Farmers’ Market were various a cappella groups including Company B, Too Cheap For Instruments and Proscenium. Rebecca Weiss ’18 and David Chernack ’17 also played folk tunes on their guitar

and violin.

The Farmers Club was only recently chartered, so this was the only Farmers’ Market they were able to plan for this year. However, in the fall the club plans to organize several more markets where they will be able to sell their own produce as well as

harriet’s bakery

support outside vendors. The produce will come from the rooftop farm that the club will begin building before the end of the spring semester. It will be located on top of the Gerstenzang Science Library and will be made out of milk crates. It will also include its own drip irrigation system. The

Local businesses participate in Brandeis Farmers’ Market

Farmers Club has scheduled Rooftop Farm Build Days for Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30 and still needs more volunteers to help build. The Farmers Club would like to express their sincere thanks to everyone who helped make this event run so smoothly.

photo by charlotte aronson/the hoot

4 NEWS

The Brandeis Hoot

April 24, 2015

McMahon addresses sexual violence and how univ. can improve MCMAHON, from page 1

campuses today, specifically because of definitions that could be misinterpreted by students.

In the state of Massachusetts, domestic violence is defined by the relationships of people living with one another, not necessarily by the intimacy of their relationship. She notes that this can be problematic in terms of how cases can be adjudicated on campus. All colleges and universities around the country are now being required to incorporate working definitions of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking and consent.

McMahon went on to discuss how the university works to dispel myths when students first arrive on campus. One of the myths she mentions is about the date rape drug, Rohypnol, most commonly known as “roofies,” which she points out is less common than people think it is. She mentions that alcohol is the number one date rape drug

on college campuses. One of the other important myths, according to McMahon, is that undetected campus rapists often use instrumental (rather than gratuitous) violence.

“What that means is that they [undetected campus rapists] often harm people by controlling their movements … for example, putting an arm across someone’s windpipe might not leave any marks on a body,” said McMahon. “So the use of instrumental rather than gratuitous violence is very important for us to keep in mind.” McMahon continued to speak about how common sexual assault is on college campuses today. She cited that one in five college women will be the victim of an attempted or completed rape in their college years. She notes that this is alarming, not only because of the statistic, but also because this is only referring to rape—and as noted, there are a number of other behaviors that fall under the category of sexual misconduct. She also stressed

that rapists in college tend to be “people who lack empathy, cannot do perspective taking, are not remorseful about their behaviors, and they tend to both sanitize their violence and then blame the person whom they have harmed.”

In an attempt to further address the prevalence of sexual violence on campus, Brandeis, along with other liberal arts schools in the northeast of the same size, participated in the National College Health Assessment that was conducted last spring.

McMahon said the data collected from the study raised more questions than answers. In the question, “Have you been sexually touched without your consent in your time at school?” 7 percent of males at Brandeis said yes, while 2.5 percent of males from similar size schools in the cohort said yes; 14.6 percent of females at Brandeis said yes, while 9.7 perecnt of females in the cohort group said yes. McMahon points out that while these rates are

Heller panel educates on how to cope with high-stress careers

By Emily Smith Staff

The Heller School for Social Policy and Management hosted a panel on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the pressures of working in a high-stress environment and provide advice for students on how to find balance in their personal lives.

The event ended with a short stress-management workshop led by Justin Haaheim, a leadership coach that works with social movements. Panelists included Dr. Maria Torres, a senior research associate at Heller, and Elizabeth McClintock, founder and managing partner at the consulting firm CMPartners. The panel was titled “Taking Care of Ourselves, Taking Care of Others.”

The discussion centered on the topic of avoiding burnout while working long hours in situations of crisis or urgency.

Haaheim shared his own story of burnout and stressed the importance of long-term self-care, the kind that would allow a person to continue to work hard while staying passionate about their work. Part of this, he explained, is acknowledging that people can approach social issues from different avenues and that not every person is suited for certain jobs.

In order to avoid these crash and burn situations, Haaheim said, sometimes people have to pause and assess how they are feeling. “When we see that we are really struggling, sometimes the first thing that we need to do is put the brakes on.” Taking this step can help maintain balance over long periods of time.

Haaheim talked about longterm self-care that helps keep people motivated and successful.

He argued that “the self care that happens when what we are do-

ing, in particular what we are doing and the way that we are doing it is fulfilling us. That we can do something and get through the end of the day and be more energized than when we started.”

Some people, the panelists argued, will over-work themselves on the theory that they are simply meeting the job requirements. They will continue to work much longer hours than they are expected to, until they burn out and lose the drive that led them to their careers.

This issue can often be avoided, however, if job expectations are clearly explained in the beginning. Also important is looking to colleagues for feedback, they explained, about what amount of work is normal.

One of the central concepts that the panelists centered on is the importance of building a supportive community of friends, mentors and coaches. These people can provide opportunity for the reflection and feedback that is essential in any high stress environment.

Elizabeth McClintock, who spent part of her career working in one of the poorest countries in the world, Burundi, shared some suggestions for balancing professional progress with personal health.

For her, exercise has been critical to keeping healthy physically and mentally. When in Burundi, she said, she chose to join an exercise club instead of going out running, her preferred activity, because of potential danger.

Though it wasn’t ideal, being able to keep that form of stress-relief was still of great importance.

McClintock argued that having local friends when in a foreign country can be one of the greatest resources to provide perspective in times of conflict. She was in Burundi during an attempted coup d’etat, a situation both foreign and potentially very danger-

ous. However, she explained, the friends she had made in Burundi were more accustomed to dealing with these conflicts and were able to check in with her and advise her.

Being able to assess one’s own emotional or physical depletion can also help long-term self-care.

Torres described one strategy she uses that involves assessing at the beginning of the day what ones goals are and what ones weaknesses that day might be, and figuring out how to help oneself throughout the day. Remembering the things that motivate you, she said, is key to sustaining happiness and health.

At the end of the session, Haaheim brought up a phenomenon known as “monkey mind.” This type of indecisive, restless thinking is what often drives people to feel like they are the only ones that can complete certain tasks, causing them to over-work themselves.

He handed out a sheet of these “monkey mind” symptoms, encouraging participants to check off what they felt most applied to them. Haaheim explained that channeling these tendencies can help foster success, both in a career and in personal lives.

The Heller School is home to many graduate programs that deal with conflict in both the international and domestic spheres.

Many of the students in attendance come from places with high levels of conflict and poverty, and many will go to these places later in their careers.

The panel was sponsored by the Coexistence and Conflict and the Sustainable International Development Graduate Programs at the Heller School, the Heller School Diversity Working Group, the Heller School Student Social Services, the Heller School Office of the Dean and the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life.

higher than their cohort groups, it does not necessarily suggest that there is more sexual assault happening on this campus.

“The question becomes, are the rates higher because our students are more able to label their experience? Or is it actually that students are having more of these kinds of experiences? It’s an empirical question and we don’t yet have the answer,” McMahon said.

Brandeis came under scrutiny in September when the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education filed a federal investigation regarding the university’s handling of a sexual assault complaint. The investigation was prompted by the accused student in the case, who filed a complaint with the university for noncompliance with Title IX. Since then, Brandeis has opened its Rape Crisis Center. Brandeis Students Against Sexual Violence (B.SASV), along with the Task Force for Sexual Assault Response Services and Prevention, have also worked to-

ward bettering the services and resources available for students on campus. This week, the Office of the Provost released the campus climate study on sexual violence to the Brandeis community to gather students’ feedback regarding sexual assault issues on campus.

McMahon closed her lecture by discussing the many ways in which students can reach out if they are seeking help. If a Brandeis community member you know has questions or would like additional support with concerns related to sexual violence, please contact the Office of Prevention Services at 781.736.3626, email sasp@brandeis.edu, check out the website at www.brandeis. edu/preventionservices or stop by the office in Usdan (room 106). The campus Rape Crisis Center is open until May 7, 2015. The RCC can be reached at 781.736.3370 or by email at rcc@brandeis.edu. Walk-in hours are posted on the RCC website: www.brandeis.edu/rcc.

Take Back the Night lights up campus TAKE BACK, from page 1

backgrounds and sexual and gender identities. The march began at the Rabb Steps, where students were given candles, both wax and electronic. Standing on top of a stone bench, Provost Lisa Lynch expressed her admiration for the crowd. “Sexual violence and abuse takes power from survivors and victims, and wants to dehumanize them and keep them scared,” Lynch said.

“It is incredible to see you all here; lets take back some power.”

RCC Volunteer Coordinator Samantha Daniels ’16 and B.SASV member Evelyn Milford ’16 then took the stand to explain the parameters of the event, outlining the march’s route and identifying members of STAR, the Queer Resource Center and the Psychological Counseling Center who were able to assist people experiencing any emotional distress.

The crowd then walked through residential quads, starting with North, making its way down to Massell, through the Shapiro Campus Center and ending the event on the Great Lawn. At each stop, the marchers formed a circle and shouted three times, beckoning students of the quad to join them. While only a few students came out to join the circles, a good deal came to windows to listen as their peers spoke, also snapping

their fingers and making other expressions of support for those gathered. It was the student testimonies and stories that had the most emotional effect. Students, many with prepared statements, came forward to speak about sexual assault and violence they had experienced during their time at Brandeis. Often told while fighting back tears, the testimonies illustrated emotional trauma and abuse in the aftermath of assaults, while also speaking to the event’s goal of creating a space to regain agency, self-worth and a feeling of safety. The effect was palpable, and most of the crowd was brought to tears as well. While the speakers remained anonymous, some addressing the crowd as complete strangers, there was also a feeling of full support. Unlike the Take Back the Night event in 2013, this week’s event was unmarred by heckling students or other disturbances, though Adams and other staff members kept close watch while people were sharing.

Students who had never learned one another’s names before the event embraced each other, crying together and offering support to those who shared. By the end of the night, sexual violence and assault’s disturbing prevalence on campus was abundantly clear, but so was the sense of community and support the people had for their fellow Brandeisians.

photo by karen caldwell/the hoot

5 The Brandeis Hoot

FEATURES

April 24, 2015

BIRC displays early success

By Jacob Edelman Editor

While Tanya Jajal ’17 enjoys discourse, upon entering Brandeis she found herself looking for something that was more policy-focused than what the university’s debate club offered. As a double major in politics and economics, she soon was motivated to build a new discourse club on campus—the Brandeis International Relations Council.

Similarly to model U.N. organizations, the BIRC offers discussions on the subject of international politics in U.N. format, model Arab League and model NATO. The BIRC was formed in December with help from other universities and prepared to hit the spring semester running. “We saw that Northeastern was successful along with Georgetown and a few other schools, so we decided to work in collaboration with Northeastern and create a club with their help. Their model U.N. is as successful as our debate club, so that’s how this whole thing started,” Jajal said.

“A lot of what BADASS does does not necessarily fall under the sphere of politics, while what we do specifically falls under policy and international relations,” Jajal went on, explaining that the format of the BIRC helps to train students to think diplomatically. “While I’m a debater at heart, I wanted to do something that focused on research and politics, so I decided to start my own thing,” she said, continuing, “In model U.N., rhetoric and quick responses matter, but they don’t mean anything without solid research and solid ideas behind them.”

There are conferences that are held all over the nation and beyond in places such as Washington D.C., New York and Montreal. This past weekend the club attended Northeastern for the

Boston Model Arab League Conference.

The BIRC has started to demonstrate success similar to that of Northeastern’s club. Jajal sumed it up as the BIRC having “kill[ed] it” at the weekend’s conference.

Representing Morocco at the model Arab League, Brandeis went up against UMass Boston and several other schools. Given that it was their first conference, BIRC’s success came as a surprise to club members, who were working together as a team for the first time. Although a less formal conference in terms of format, all club

members got dressed up and were thrown into crisis situations by the conference coordinators. Forced to negotiate with different countries and form quick alliances, the Brandeis Moroccans made out terrifically. “As Morocco, we’re not as relevant a state in the Middle East as Saudi Arabia, Iran or Iraq, but we still made it and created a sense of political dominance,” Jajal said.

Zach Kasdin ’18, a BIRC member who attended the conference at Northeastern said, “It was really exciting to be able to engage in hands-on diplomacy with other representatives

of countries … I look forward to going to more conferences around the area next year.”

Thinking about how the BIRC could improve, Jajal noted that the club is working on greater recruitment efforts to get more of the student body involved. “We need to work on spreading the word,” she said.

In the future, Jajal would like to see Brandeis hosting its own conference.

She also envisions the possibility of integrating the BIRC program into Brandeis’ current IR and politics programs to count as some form of credit, which is done at many other colleges

photo by tannya jajal/the hoot

and universities. “It’s competitive, but really educational,” she remarked.

Next year, BIRC plans to attend five conferences, including those in Boston and Washington, D.C. Jajal described her goal for the club to “get a solid team of people, train them and send them to these conferences to have a blast.”

Following Brandeis, Jajal hopes to attend law school and get into the field of international and political law.

It seems that if she continues on her trajectory with the BIRC, things in this personal direction are certainly headed down a positive track.

Tips and tricks from Brandeis alum, Chinese comedy celebrity

By Albert Reiss

Special to the Hoot

Back in the United States, Jesse Appell ’12 headlined the Wednesday, April 22 International and Global Studies (IGS) department Meet the Majors event. An alumnus of the IGS department as well as the East Asian Studies (EAS) department, Appell is currently living in China, performing stand-up and other comedic activities. The event also featured kosher Chinese food and an introduction by IGS Professor Chandler Rosenberger. Throughout the talk, Appell went through his various comedic pursuits in China as well as the new culture he had to adjust to.

When Appell started at Brandeis, he was unsure what to major in. He started as an East Asian Studies major and also took some chemistry courses. “I was probably the only student in Chemistry 11A who actually enjoyed chemistry and was not pre-med,” Appell said.

It would not be until his junior year when he studied abroad in China that he would find his passion for Chinese culture. There, he enrolled in an intensive six-month Chinese language program. After returning to Brandeis, Appell knew that he would want to go back to China. What interested him

the most was seeing both American and Chinese cultures doing the same things, despite cultural differences.

This led him to pursue a two-month internship in Beijing that eventually led him to receiving a Fulbright Fellowship to learn Chinese comedy. For the past two and a half years, Appell has been working as an apprentice under the wings of various important Chinese comics.

Since leaving for China after his senior year, Appell has earned various opportunities in the spotlight. For example, he has performed on Chinese television and several Chinese comedy clubs.

One thing missing from the comedy scene in China, however, were stand-up or comedic talk show programs. According to Appell, these programs were “nonexistent two years ago in China.” One of Appell’s major goals thus far has been to introduce the Chinese audience to the medium of stand-up comedy. This is contrary to regular Chinese comedy routines, where there is traditionally a backand-forth between two comedians.

Appell continued the talk by going through some tips that he has learned studying and living abroad in China.

The “strangling phenomenon” was what Appell said was his first tip. Appell saw these words on a sign talking about a special type of a tree.

photo from internet source

Appell encouraged attendees to appreciate the different meanings present in cultures. For example, in China, six is considered a very lucky number.

So lucky that Appell caught a lady in China wearing a T-shirt that said 666 as well as a restaurant room number 666. Jesse also talked about how he got dysentery from eating at a restaurant that was given a backwards “C” as a health rating. It is important to “listen to the culture, but make sure to think for ourselves,” said Appell.

Another important comedy tip that

Jesse picked up was to know the audience. When preparing to perform in front of Chinese government officials.

Appell was worried because in China there are many restrictions on free speech and disrespecting any government officials could land him in hot water. He decided that he would try and make the highest ranking official laugh, which would make the other officials laugh. The plan worked out and the performance was a success.

Appell was asked about what jokes he can and cannot say. He mentioned

that anything about Tibet will never come out on a TV show. “If the audience is uncomfortable, they will not find the joke to be funny,” said Appell.

Appell concluded the talk by talking about the difficulties of working in China. There are no writer’s guilds and no intellectual property protection, and thus it is very hard to make it as an artist, he said.

Appell continues to work in Beijing, China where he performs his comedy routines regularly live and on television.

ARTS, ETC.

April 24, 2015

Outdoor SCRAM Jam connects students to Rose

By Michelle Kim Editor

Last weekend, the Student Committee for the Rose Art Museum (SCRAM) held their yearly SCRAM Jam celebration. Alexandra Hall ’15 planned the event and had help from the committee and Rose Art Museum staff.

This year, for the first time, SCRAM Jam was held outdoors. The practical reason was that the number of floor pieces and sculptures in the Rose Art Museum this year made it impossible to have a real dance party indoors as SCRAM did not want to risk damaging any of the art on display. “[However], the primary reason was that we wanted to share the new outdoor space under the ‘Light of Reason’ by Chris Burden with the student body.

The outdoor sculpture is for students to utilize and with the long winter over, we wanted to remind students that this is a space for them, a space for art and a space for organized and approved events and we invite other clubs and groups to reserve it for their events,” Hall said in an interview with The Brandeis Hoot.

SCRAM’s main purpose is to plan events that provide opportunities for the Brandeis community to be involved with the museum, utilize its resources and connect people of all disciplines here at Brandeis to the arts. The goal of SCRAM Jam in particular is to throw a party for the Brandeis community. The celebration aims to bring as many students to the

Rose as possible.

The organization was founded with the opening of the Rose Art Museum back in 1961. Over the years, SCRAM has developed a lot and had a huge role in helping to save the Rose Art Museum during the financial crisis of 2009 when the president of Brandeis wanted to sell the museum’s art collections. SCRAM’s history of activities— aside from SCRAM Jam—includes artist talks, close looking events and professor lectures in the museum.

Previously, SCRAM Jam was funded by alumni Alex Barkas ’68 and his wife, Lynda Wijcik, whose idea it was to provide a generous gift to the museum that would allow the students to host SCRAM Jam annually.

Although the weather on the night of SCRAM Jam was a tad chilly, the upbeat music provided by DJ Bosq and Vinyl Canvas created a festive atmosphere, especially for those who were old enough to enter the beer garden. The event, held under the ‘Light of Reason,’ was beautifully lit once the sun set and provided a great outdoor dance floor. DJ Bosq was great to create party vibe that was fun but not crazy. Vinyl Canvas performed a very good set and was quite popular to those who attended.

While it was unfortunate that we could not go indoors, the party was still enjoyable, although not as visually interesting as previous years’ SCRAM Jam celebrations. The night went by flawlessly, even though it was a little sad that the food truck from Tenoch Mexican only served one (delicious) dish. Future SCRAM Jams will be even better if students

The Brandeis Hoot 6

Fond Farewell By Katherine Selector

are allowed to flow in and out of the museum and outdoor space.

Hall, along with the rest of SCRAM wishes for every student to go to the Rose to learn from the exhibits and know that it is a museum for students. Chris Bedford, the director of the Rose, has made it a part of his mission to connect the museum’s goals to the learning goals of the university and promote social justice. Not all students may connect the dots, but two of the exhibits up this semester promote art made by people who were (and are) sidelined in the art world and society: African Americans and women. The museum has had great events partnered with the AAAS department this year to promote more conversation around these issues of social justice in the exhibit New Acquisitions, all artwork

by African American men purchased by the Rose within the last 18 months.

“I hope more students recognize the importance of the museum and how it can be a resource for them and a space for people to talk about art, meaning, social issues and the act of looking. It’s your museum. Use it!” said Hall.

photo by michelle kim/the hoot

A preview of Springfest: fun for all

By Cheshta Singh Staff

On Chapels Field from the mid-afternoon through the late evening this Sunday, April 26, hundreds of students will be dancing and singing along with Springfest performers Stolen Jars, DJ A Smooth, St. Lucia, ILoveMakonnen and headliner Jessie J. Cody Fitzgerald created Stolen Jars as a solo venture, but it grew to be bigger when he started creating more songs and making music. It extended to include some of his friends and they started to become more well known as they performed shows in the New York area. Their second album, “Kept,” will be coming out this summer.

Jean-Philip Grobler, better known as St. Lucia, his stage name, is a Brooklyn-based musician who plays indie electronic and synthpop music.

His inspirations include Michael Jackson, Phil Collins and Sting. “When the Night,” his full-length album, was released in October 2013. Grobler has been making music since he was 12 years old and lists many different musical influences like Fleetwood Mac, Phil Collins, Radiohead and Paul Simon.

Makonnen Sheran, whose stage name is ILoveMakonnen, is a hip hop recording musician who gained much recognition in 2014 after Drake remixed his song “Tuesday.” He provides vocals and plays the keyboard in his songs. He started making music on his computer in 2008 and uploading them to Myspace, where he met other artists including Adele. He released his self-titled EP “ILoveMakonnen” in July 2014 which became more popu-

lar when Miley Cyrus shared his song “Don’t Sell Molly No More” on her Instagram page. While in August 2014, Drake asked if he could remix his song “Club Goin’ Up on a Tuesday.”

The remix, titled “Tuesday” helped to garner attention in Sheran and brought him more fans. He has said that he plans to record and make music independently instead of signing to a major record deal. He enjoys the freedom and flexibility that being an independent artist brings and thinks he would lose that flexibility if he did sign.

The main event of the night will be Jessie J. Jessica Cornish was born in London, England, and is a singer/ songwriter. Her musical style is pop and R&B. She has three albums out: “Who You Are” (released in 2011), “Alive” (released in 2013) and her most recent one, “Sweet Talker” (released in 2014). Some of her more popular songs are “Bang Bang” (a collaboration with Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj), “Price Tag,” “Burnin’ Up,” “Domino,” “Who You Are,” “It’s My Party” and “Masterpiece.”

She likes to call her fans “heartbeats” and has shown great appreciation for them. “They support me and buy my albums and singles, and they stand outside hotels, and they come to shows, and they get tattoos of my lyrics and they cut their hair like me.

You have to love your fans. That’s why I call them my Heartbeats, because without them I wouldn’t be here.”

Last year’s Springfest featured Icona Pop, American Authors and Atmosphere. Previous Springfests have included well-known musicians like Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, fun. and Chiddy Bang. Springfest always provides a good break from the stress of finals and offers outdoor en-

photo from internet source

7 Arts, Etc.

The Brandeis Hoot

April 24, 2015

Up the Octave harmonizes at semester show

By Sabrina Pond staff

There’s nothing cuter than a cat, or more accurately, a tiny, wide-eyed kitten poking its head out of a boot.

There’s something so innocent about its posture and expression that sucks you into its gaze and won’t let you go.

It’s very possible that the members of Up the Octave (UTO) knew that this irresistible image would reel audiences in for their semester show on Saturday, April 18. It worked. The “Boots and Cats” theme was a deliberate play on the sound that beat boxers make when they suck air in and push air out. It just happens to sound like they’re saying “boots and cats and boots and cats” over and over again.

Up the Octave is an a cappella group known for its covers of modern pop music. To prepare songs for their performances, the group members dedicate a full seven hours a week just to singing. The amount of time they spend together each week collaborating has enabled them to become more than just an a cappella group, but a close-knit family that finds pride in what they do.

In Pollack Fine Arts Building, the performance showcased a total of 12 songs, two of which were senior solos.

One of the senior solos, “Godspeed,” was written and composed by Jonah Hirst ’15, the musical director of UTO. From Lorde’s “Royals” to The Beatles’ “Drive My Car,” the range in musicality allowed almost all of the group’s 12 performers to take a step up to the plate. What’s astounding about UTO’s group is the varied musical talent; the voices are not one and the same,

photo from internet source

as in some groups, but vary from an Adele-like voice—deep and powerful—to a more Taylor Swift-sounding voice. Together these voices blend to produce an angelic and inspirational sound.

The songs “Cosmic Love,” sung

by Jessica Star ’17, and “Gotta Have You,” soloed by Margaret Morris ’17, were poignant. As was apparent in these songs and others throughout the program, UTO as a group has an incredible ability to speak to its audience. The song’s original message, as the artist intended it, becomes all the

more gut wrenching, emotional and moving. It might be the soloist’s powerful, supported voice, it might be the composition itself, or it might be the complex background vocals; it could be a mix of things, but what we can take from it is that UTO is one exemplary a cappella group.

As a final goodbye to UTO, senior Bethany Adam soloed “Streetcorner Symphony,” a lively and fun-loving song, near the end of the performance. Though she hobbled back and forth on the stage on crutches, nothing seems capable of hindering

her spirit or optimism. After the performance, Adam had a few words to say to reflect on her time with UTO. “I cried during a lot of senior solos.

I didn’t because I picked an upbeat song. There’s such a loving and accepting environment, and I’m glad that I was given closure with the best people in the world,” Adam said.

UTO is a must-see a cappella group that does nothing but harmonize, sing covers that sound better than the original recordings and find a way to touch our hearts. Hirst spoke to his UTO experience. “I had an interest-

ing relationship with UTO as a woman and individual, though I almost wound up leaving the group. However, I formed relationships and found I understood them [the group members] as musicians. I am the one man in the all-female a cappella group, but I only got support and sheer love. I have been able to do musical things that I couldn’t have done otherwise. In a lot of ways I’ve fulfilled my personal dreams.” And with that, it becomes all the more apparent that UTO has gone places, is going places and will go places.

‘Handwritten’ shows promise for up-and-coming musician Shawn Mendes

By Jessica Chow staff

Social media has taken over the lives of many teenagers in this generation.

This is not necessarily a bad thing.

Take a look at 16-year-old Shawn Mendes. Mendes is a singer/songwriter from Canada who got his big break on YouTube and Vine.

From 2013-2014 he was a part of a group of Viners called Magcon.

Mendes has opened for Austin Mahone, has headlined for Jingle Ball 2014 and is scheduled to open for Taylor Swift’s “1989 Tour” this summer. He was signed to Island Records in January 2014 and has since released an EP and now a full album, “Handwritten.” For a 16-year-old, Mendes shows a lot of potential, as he demonstrates with “Handwritten,” released earlier this month.

The deluxe version of “Handwritten” features 15 songs, including his hit singles “The Weight,” “Life of the Party,” “Stitches” and “Something Big.” Overall, this album encompasses a variety of sounds, centering on pop and singer/songwriter. Mendes’ sound can best be described as a mixture of Ed Sheeran (whom he credits as one of his biggest inspirations) and Sam Smith.

I love how soothing this album is.

My favorite songs off this album are “Imagination,” “Kid in Love,” “Something Big” and “Life of the Party.” Each song has a different sound, but what makes them stand out to me were the lyrics.

“Imagination” is my favorite song

from this album because it is a slower, acoustic song, which makes me feel like it’s easier for me to relate to the emotions behind the songs. There’s just something about slower songs that makes them seem so much more meaningful than songs that are more upbeat.

Maybe it’s because you can hear more of the emotion in the singer’s voice. In “Imagination,” the sound is beautiful, and the lyrics are adorable.

The song tells a story about a boy who’s crushing on a girl and he can’t find the right words to tell her how he feels.

This song is relatable for most teenagers, but what struck me about the lyrics were how much they were able to capture the essence of what it is like to have feelings for someone and how meaningful they were.

Mendes writes all of his own lyrics and the fact that he is able to relay his experiences and emotions into his music so well at just 16 makes him even more impressive.

“Kid in Love” is also another cute song about being young and in love.

It is one of the more upbeat songs on the album, but it follows the theme of love and romance that prevails through the songs on the album.

What I like about the song is that it reminds me of Ed Sheeran’s music, and I think that is shows how much Mendes has grown as a musician. I love lyrics like, “If this is what it’s like falling in love, then I don’t ever want to grow up.”

“Life of the Party” and “Something Big” are also some of my favorites off of this album, though they were both released on his EP that came out a few months prior.

photo from internet source

“Life of the Party” is Mendes’ first single that gave him his big break in the music industry. The song strays from his usual theme of love. Rather with “Life of the Party,” the lyrics speak about being who you are and staying true to yourself.

“Something Big” was released about three months ago, right around the time he announced that he would joining Swift on the Canadian and American legs of her “1989 World Tour”. “Something Big” is a stand-

out song for me because, in terms of how it sounds, it is a new sound for Mendes. It is the most upbeat of the songs on “Handwritten,” and it has become my motivational song.

Whenever I hear it, I just get motivated to be very productive. The lyrics remind us to take charge of our lives and to do something with our lives because as he sings, “something big is happening … I can feel it in my bones.”

It is amazing how social media can

change lives. Look at what it has done for Mendes. At 16 years old, he is the youngest headliner in Jingle Ball’s history to tour; he was chosen by Swift to open for the “1989 World Tour”; and he has several hit singles and a top charting album.

From six-second covers on Vine to the Billboard Hot 100, Shawn Mendes is the next big thing in the music industry. Be sure to check out “Handwritten,” available now on Spotify and iTunes.

8 The Brandeis Hoot

HOOT SCOOPS

April 24, 2015

Student Union leadership speaks candidly about future

By Emily Smith editor

Sneha Walia ’15 delivered the State of the Union Address on Wednesday night, April 22 and swore in President-elect Nyah Macklin ’16. Both Macklin and Walia emphasized the importance of bridging the divide between university administrators and the student body and reasserting student involvement in the administration of the university.

Walia began her state of the union speech addressing concerns she has about the lack of solutions provided by school administrators. She acknowledged the anger that many students feel toward university administration and the divides that seem to exist between the two parties.

“When communication is broken between administrators and students on issues and conditions that matter deeply to those students, then it is no wonder that protest and anger have felt commonplace among student body this year. When frustration and communication have become a major part of what we know, then how can we not feel like we have to break down the door in order to have access?” Walia argued.

The search for the new university president will be a critical moment, Walia insisted, for students to reassert their involvement in university processes. The administration is soliciting voices from across the Brandeis community, and students must not take for granted their role in this decisionmaking process.

Walia argued that there are some things that students not only need, but are also entitled to, and that the administration must be attentive to these needs. However, there is balance that must be kept between the financial situation and the needs of the student body. “This balance is made difficult by the school’s youth, precarious financial situation and constant transitioning,” Walia said.

Though Walia was critical of the administration, she recog-

nized many successes that involved both administrative efforts and student efforts. One of these successes was the opening of the Rape Crisis Center, a center started by students that provides counseling, education and advocacy. Walia expressed optimism for the Student Union and the Brandeis community in the coming years.

Walia swore in new Student Union President Macklin, former Class of 2016 Senator. Macklin focused on increased communication between the university administration and the student body. “The Student Union is not here to protect the administration from the topics that you are most passionate about. The Student Union is not the gatekeeper to stop you from voicing your concerns or your praises that you have of this university,” Macklin said.

She praised the Board of Trustees for their consideration of student needs but said that students must be willing to participate in important decision-making processes.

The Student Union, Macklin insisted, must work to keep students informed about the actions of the university’s administrators. “We are here to empower you, to make sure that we are doing everything in our various powers to make sure that while at this university you are given the tools to realize your dreams. And if we can’t do something to help you, we wont keep you in the dark about the realities and the stresses that this university is under.”

Macklin, in an email to The Brandeis Hoot, expressed her desire for students to break down barriers that exist within the student body. “These divisions are preventing us from getting real work done. It is preventing us from banding together to attack larger issues with a critical lens.

We must work to close these boundaries before we can do anything else,” Macklin argued.

Both Macklin and Walia voiced concerns about tensions between

Brief: Climate Survey On Wednesday, April 22, Brandeis University released a Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Violence via email. The survey is divided into many sections and seeks to learn about the experiences of as many Brandeis students as possible. It was sent to undergraduate and graduate students and is entirely confidential.

In an email to the Brandeis community, Provost Lisa Lynch explained that the task force consisting of faculty, staff and students “has been working to evaluate our policies, response and prevention efforts relative to campus sexual assault,” and recommended a campus climate survey.

The survey poses questions about the “sense of community” ones experiences at Brandeis. It assesses how capable students feel the university is in terms of responding to crises. On the student-to-student level, it seeks to understand how students view rape and sexual assault, asking how they would respond or believe others would respond in a given situation.

Other sections examine students’ experiences with harassment and unwanted sexual behaviors in different settings on campus. The survey aims to understand how aware students are of the various confidential and non-confidential services available to them and their specific roles. It also inquires about students’ understand-

ing and execution of bystander intervention. In her email sent to the community, Lynch stressed that students’ voices are “critical.” She wrote, “As members of the Brandeis community, we all share a responsibility to prevent sexual violence from occurring and, when it does, to do all we can to support those who have experienced it.

In her email she notes that, “Given that the survey is confidential it is likely to provide more information regarding incident rates than we currently have available to us.” Lynch believes the survey will have an important impact on the Brandeis community, allowing the university to appropriately “tailor prevention and response efforts.”

“I think [the survey] is a really important opportunity for us to get feedback in a very sort of systematic way from students about their experiences on campus,” said Brandeis’ Sexual Assault Services and Prevention Specialist Sheila McMahon in an interview for a Jan. 16 Hoot article.

Every single student who completes the Campus Climate Survey is offered their choice of $5 dollar Amazon or Chipotle gift card. This is an increased incentive, as it is a change from previous Brandeis surveys, where usually only a few students receive a reward.

Students can also enter a raffle to win an iPad.

student union past and present

Franco ‘15, Walia ‘15, Macklin ‘16 and Hermida ‘16

administrators and students, whose commitments often seem at odds with each other. They expressed the need for the two parties to work together to create a better campus environment.

Macklin wrote that part of the frustration comes from the lack of understanding of university processes.

“I believe firmly, that it is a problem that the student body has been left in the dark about why these issues have not been realized sooner,” Macklin wrote.

Understanding the obstacles that the university faces in decisionmaking, she said, could help the Student Union and the student body accomplish their goals.

Macklin ran for the seat unopposed and received 70 percent of votes cast. She is majoring in Afro and African-American Studies and serves on both the Ethics Center Advisory Committee and the Richman Fellow Selection Committee.

After delivering her speech, Macklin swore in the other members of the new Student Union, including her vice president, Dennis Hermida-Gonzales ’17. About the new Student Union, Macklin said, “We are passionate about the future of our university too. Give us the opportunity to change it.”

photos by emily smith/the hoot

union president nyah macklin ‘16

THIS WEEK IN NEWS

immigrant experience

Students share stories of their backgrounds

photos by sharon cai/the hoot

9 The Brandeis Hoot

THIS WEEK IN PHOTOS

panel with president lawrence

opinion box

arts festibal

golems

Pres. Lawrence and Brandeis professors talk at panel

Students asked to participate in schoolwide

photo by jacob edelman/the hoot

Former Brandeis student conributes colorful figures to Brandeis art festival

photo by andrew elmers/the hoot

find your light

fafali

Students have drum performance in Slosberg

Brandeis University celebrates Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Arts

photo by jacob edelman/the hoot

prof sara lamb

Brandeis professor speaks at panel

April 24, 2015

photo by jacob edelman/the hoot

photo by jacob edelman/the hoot

photo by andrew elmers/the hoot

EDITORIALS

10 The Brandeis Hoot

“To acquire wisdom, one must observe.”

Editors-in-Chief Dana Trismen Andrew Elmers

Senior Managing Editor Victoria Aronson Managing Editor Theresa Gaffney News Editors Emily Belowich Jess Linde Arts Editor Michelle Kim Sports Editor Sarah Jousset Opinions Editor Kevin Healey Features Editor Jacob Edelman Deputy News Editors Charlotte Aaron Hannah Schuster Deputy Hoot Scoops Editor Emily Smith Senior Copy Editors Mia Edelstein Julie Landy

O

April 24, 2015

Students should work with univ. to combat sexual assault

n Tuesday night, April 21, Students Talking About Relationships (STAR), Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA), the Rape Crisis Center (RCC), the Office of Prevention Services and Brandeis Students Against Sexual Violence (B.SASV) hosted Take Back the Night to break the silence around sexual violence and work towards eliminating sexual violence on campus. We cannot avoid tough conversations if we wish to see change. The Brandeis Hoot editorial board would like to emphasize how important it is that students recognize this and participate in events like Take Back the Night.

The event itself was moving and powerful, and demonstrated the importance of supporting survivors. It is essential that we come together and create a community of support, as this will encourage more survivors to seek support and ensure they feel safe on their campus. Take Back the Night is an excellent opportunity for students to do this. Activists on this campus fight hard for reform, but beyond those who lead the fight, all Brandeis students must offer their support for and commitment

to this important issue.

Although changes within the student community are important, there are—of course— changes that must occur at the administrative level. This week, Brandeis demonstrated a willingness to move forward when they released the Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Violence. The survey seeks to understand what is happening on campus in terms of student experience with sexual violence and the resources available to survivors. The survey is detailed but not tedious and long so as to discourage participants from abandoning mid-survey. A task force included faculty, staff and students.

We appreciate their work as it is evident the questions were well thought out.

The Hoot editorial board believes survey results can translate into valuable campus improvements. The survey does not include many questions about emotional abuse; however, Sexual Assault Services and Prevention Specialist Sheila McMahon said she hopes to continue this process next year with further surveys. McMahon and everyone involved with the climate survey has demonstrated how committed they

are to bettering Brandeis University.

We would also like to acknowledge that fact that Brandeis is very interested in having as many students as possible respond to this survey. All students who participate will receive their choice of a $5 Chipotle or Amazon gift card. With the recent dining services survey, the university offered to donate $10 to the Sodexo foundation for each participant, with a certain monetary limit.

The gift cards are incentives which are designed to encourage high levels of participation.

This makes us believe that the administration is eager work with the information they gain from the survey.

The Hoot encourages all students to take the campus climate survey. Students can provide responses through this confidential vehicle and in doing so help the university to understand student experience. The Hoot has often called for the university to listen to students and understand their needs. In the case of the survey, the university appears willing to listen, so students must respond in order to help the university continue in the right direction.

Copy Editor Allison Plotnik Senior Layout Editor Sasha Ruiz Deputy Layout Editor Ludi Yang

Correction

Graphics Editor Linjie Xu Website Editors Zak Kolar Zach Phil Schwartz

Volume 12 • Issue 11

the brandeis hoot • brandeis university 415 south street • waltham, ma

Founded By Leslie Pazan, Igor Pedan and Daniel Silverman

STAFF

Clayre Benzadon, Ethan Berceli, Rachel Bossuk, Robin Briendel, Sharon Cai, Karen Caldwell, Shikha Chandarana, Jake Greenberg, Talia Franks, Emma Gutman, Emma Hanselman, Curtis Zunyu He, Emma Kahn, Shayna Korol, Joe Lanoie, Nabi Menai, Monique J Menezes, Joon Park, Lisa Petrie, Sabrina Pond, Emily Scharf, Marian Siljeholm, Chesta Singh, 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.

CONNECT phone • (781) 330-0051 e-mail • editor@thebrandeishoot.com online • thebrandeishoot.com twitter • twitter.com/thebrandeishoot facebook • facebook.com/thebrandeishoot

ADVERTISE Advertising in The Brandeis Hoot helps spread your message to our readers across the Brandeis campus, in the Waltham community and beyond through our website.

All campus organizations receive a 25 percent discount off our regular prices. We also design basic ads for campus organizations free of charge.

To reserve your space in the paper, contact us by phone at (781) 330-0051 or by e-mail at ads@thebrandeishoot.com.

GIVE A HOOT, JOIN THE HOOT!

Writers, editors, photographers and graphic artists wanted to join The Brandeis Hoot, your weekly community newspaper.

To learn more, send us an e-mail at join@thebrandeishoot.com, or visit our website http://thebrandeishoot.com/join.

UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONS

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

An article printed in The Brandeis Hoot on April 17 titled “FMLA educates students on sexual violence” in the print edition, and printed on

April 19 titled “FMLA hosts third annual sexual violence awareness week to educate student” on the online edition was incorrectly attributed to

Emily Smith. The article was written by Hannah Schuster.

SPORTS

11 The Brandeis Hoot

April 24, 2015

Kickin’ Cancer with Brandeis soccer

By Sarah Joussett Editor

Need a way to blow off some steam amid finals stress, but want it to count for something? On Sunday, May 3, the Brandeis men’s soccer team will host their third annual Kickin’ Cancer soccer tournament.

The men’s soccer team started the event three years ago after seeing its success at other schools. The players feel that cancer is the one thing that almost all of them have been either directly or indirectly affected by.

“We think it is important that we do our part in eradicating this disease once and for all,” commented Chris Bradley ’16, who is helping to run the event. Tyler Savonen ’15 added “It is important that we as a student body, athletes and non-athletes, come together and collaborate in the fight against cancer.”

However, this event is not just a soccer tournament: “We would like to emphasize that it is first and foremost a charitable event targeted at fundraising for Relay for Life,” Bradley stated. 100 percent of the proceeds from this tournament will go to Relay for Life, an international organization that sets up all-night events where participants walk or run to earn money for Cancer research.

For Chris Bradley the tournament means an opportunity to give back as

kickin’ cancer

Last year’s winning team from the Kickin’ Cancer soccer tournament

well as get to know a larger portion of the Brandeis community. “We all have experienced personal problems and family tragedies and I think that it’s beneficial to know that other people have gone through the same thing and it helps to create a collective ef-

fort in doing something meaningful.

Also, this gives some of us athletes an opportunity to meet other students (particularly non-athletes) and engage in a fun-spirited and positive environment for three or so hours … which is nice,” commented Bradley.

photo from internet source

As Kickin’ Cancer is in its third year, the team hopes to surpass previous years’ success. The first two years saw over $400 raised with 90-100 participants. The team hopes to see those numbers grow. “Our goal is to exceed the amount of participants and funds

raised from last year’s event while also sustaining a fun environment where everybody can have a great time for a good cause. Also, we would like to continue to raise awareness of our event possibly further than our school. We really want to cement this as an annual event that can be improved on each year,” Savonen and Bradley stated.

The event will take place at 7 p.m. on Gordon Field under the lights and all students are invited to partake in the event. Students can enter a team by emailing Tyler Savonen at tysavonen@aol.com with a list of participants and a team name. The entry fee is $5 per person; however students can donate additional funds or donate on their own at www.relayforlife.org. If you wish to enter a team parameters include: one current varsity men’s soccer player, two current varsity women’s soccer players, one alumni varsity soccer player (current seniors included) and/or one varsity soccer player from another college.

The Brandeis men’s soccer team cannot wait for their Kickin’ Cancer event May 3 at 7 p.m. “The combination of fundraising and a sport we love (soccer) seemed like the perfect way to create both a meaningful and fun environment for everyone to be a part of,” added Bradley. Please show your support and join the men’s soccer team in their efforts to combat cancer.

Tennis finishes their season with senior night

By Sarah Jousset Editor,

The Brandeis men’s and women’s tennis teams finished their seasons at home Saturday, April 18 against New York University.

The No. 27 ranked women’s tennis team ended their season with a 6-3 win over NYU, improving their season record to 10-8. Brandeis took two of three matches in doubles play against NYU. In the No. 1 spot, Carley Cooke ’15 and Haley Cohen ’18 took an 8-3 decision. Meanwhile, Charlotte Aaron ’18, deputy news editor at The Brandeis Hoot, and Sarita Biswas ’16 added another win for the Judges in the No. 3 spot with an 8-5 win. The Judges were edged in the No. 2 spot as Dylan Schlesinger ’15 and Maya Vasser ’16 lost a tight match of 9-7.

The Judges moved close to victory when two quick wins came from Cohen at No. 2 and Aaron at No. 6 with twin scores of 6-3 and 6-2. NYU took one match in the No. 4 spot by a score of 6-3, 6-1. The other three matches went three sets. NYU took another win from the Judges at the No. 3 spot by scores of 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Vasser clinched the win at No. 5 by scores of 6-3, 2-6, 6-2. All-American Cooke stole a three hour match from her opponent in the No. 1 spot. After Cooke lost the first set 6-3, she came back in the second with a score of 6-2. Cooke then went 12 games with her opponent at 6-6. Cooke finally silenced her opponent in the tiebreaker with a 7-5 victory.

The final match marked the team’s senior day during which the Judges’ three seniors, Cooke, Schlesinger and Simone Vandroff were honored. The Brandeis women’s tennis team left for Florida on Wednesday for the UAA conference tournament.

The No. 29 ranked men’s team also finished their season Saturday against NYU at home, beating NYU 6-3. The win brings the Judges’ record to 8-9

photo by alison plotnik/the hoot

on the season heading into UAA conference play in Florida this week.

The men mirrored the women’s team’s performance, taking two of three matches in doubles play. Brian Granoff ’17 and Danny Lubarsky ’16 earned a win in the No. 1 spot with a score of 8-5. Michael Arguello ’17

and Jeffrey Cherkin ’17 took the No. 2 spot with a score of 8-4. Brandeis players Michael Secular ’15 and Alec Siegel ’15 fell in the No. 3 spot in a close match of 8-6.

In singles play Granoff was ahead 6-1, 3-0 at the No. 1 spot when his opponent retired, rendering him the

winner. Cherkin earned the Judges another victory at the No. 6 spot with a 6-1, 6-3 win.

Meanwhile, Arguello sealed the win for the Judges in the No. 2 spot with a 6-4, 6-3 victory. NYU clinched wins in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots, while Lubarsky won the final match

of the day at No. 3 by a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

The match also marked the team’s senior night, honoring Secular, Siegel and Matthew Zuckerman. The Judges will join the women’s team in Florida for the UAA conference tournament this week.

ARTS, ETC.

April 24, 2015

The Brandeis Hoot 12

‘Grace’ provides enlightening perspective on schizophrenia

By Clayre Benzadon Staff

With a book and music written and composed by Charlie Madison ’15, “Grace” debuted in the Senior Thesis Festival on Wednesday, April 22.

The Festival allows seniors to showcase their theatrical talents, often through original pieces, in the Laurie Theater in Spingold.

There was a big crowd for the first day and the audience seemed very engaged throughout Grace’s journey through her mental illness, as she suffers from schizophrenia from the age of 15 years old and progresses through high school.

In the first scene, we see Grace in the scene by herself, singing that she hears voices everywhere. Not too long after, we see the rest of the characters dance around her as her voices start to get louder and louder and progress into her episodes of panic. The character who played Grace did an incredible job of acting out her sheer anxiety, but because of this passion, it was hard to get the piano to follow along with the voice, because sometimes the

voice turned into a scream rather than a continuation of a song.

The first song, like many of the other songs were cliche and cheesy, but they were entertaining nonetheless.

The class starts to break out in a dance about prom and Grace is sitting by herself, sketching in her book, hiding herself behind it, before her friend Joy starts talking to her and one of the boys asks her to prom.

The next time Grace goes to the doctor’s office, they offer her a new drug that could have bad side effects but she remembers what her guidance counselor tells her: to be a “yes” person. After a couple of moments of hesitation, she agrees to take the pills, but is scared because the doctors don’t tell her anything else about the drug when she asks what the potential risks are.

However, the drug helps her to think clearly and get rid of the voices, but only until she mixes alcohol with the pills and the relapses into her schizophrenic state again.

This musical was interesting in that it seemed to accurately depict the struggle of living with mental illness and provided more of a background for the audience to understand the

pressures of high school coupled with mental disorder.

Grace was portrayed as a stereotypical introvert, but the depth in her character, which we see progress throughout the play, helps us to understand why she acts the way she does, withdrawing from social situations in order to save herself and the others around her. Therefore, we can see how her personality changes as a result of her illness and the way her friends react. This is a mere demonstration of how people react to mental illnesses in an ableist society where people are too scared to confront “crazy” or to understand problems that are different from their own, too consumed with their own lives to care or be empathetic towards others.

“Grace” helps us to give us perspective and view the world in relation to others. We can see that people hide their mental illnesses and that that everyone deals with their own problems. For instance, Joy’s friend confesses to Grace that he has bipolar disorder, when the guidance counselor spends too much time devoting herself to Grace. Therefore, even though the songs in the scenes were about

overused themes prominent in high school, they got their point across and reflected the immaturity of the high school students.

“Grace’s” next and final performance is Friday, April 24 at 5:30 p.m, and performances of the other senior theses follow on Saturday and Sunday.

For Finals By Linjie Xu

THIS WEEK IN ARTS: VOICEMALE

photo by karen caldwell/the hoot

April 24, 2015

OPINIONS

The Brandeis Hoot 13

Beyond diversity for diversity’s sake

By Esther Lee and Zuri Gordon Special To The Hoot

Amid the excitement of Admitted Students Day, there is always one word repeated by student representatives, faculty and administration: diversity. Brandeis, as a university, recognizes diversity in academia as a linchpin for intellectual growth and stimulation, but that recognition does not always translate into a climate that is safe for students of color.

There exists an unwillingness to challenge the prevalence of subtle racism on campus.

As two student leaders of color, we have dealt with the repercussions of an environment that treats diversity simply as a requirement, and not in conjunction with the accountability of actually maintaining safe spaces.

Students at our university are in accordance with the notion that diversity is one of the university’s crucial values, but during our four years at this university, we, and other students of color, have been subjected to casual racism.

Oftentimes, it’s clear that these remarks do not stem from a place of malice, but rather ignorance. Yet this does not excuse the emotional violence or diminish the effects of these words on the wellbeing of students.

One of the ways we both seek to provide support for our respective communities and our intersecting community as well is by encouraging dialogue with students to discuss the subtle racism we face on a daily basis. Through sharing our common experiences, we heal and validate the emotional pain we feel from comments such as, “All you Asians look the same,” or “Do you eat dog?” The impact of

these microaggressions is more profound than they seem. Microaggressions build upon each other and the constant bombardment of racist remarks from students and faculty create a climate in which students of color are othered and rejected.

We have heard students make comments about affirmative action being the sole reason students of color are here. These comments are made to invalidate our presences by assuming we do not deserve to be here. We hear racist slurs like the N-word and appropriation of African American Vernacular English terms like “ratchet” and “ghetto” used casually and without a real understanding of where these words come from. This is also made clear visually: People of color are made invisible or erased from faculty, administration and student leader positions outside of the Intercultural Center, which is isolated in a corner at the end of campus. It seems as though the only place we can see people who look like us is in the facilities and dining hall staff. Students of color are also complacent in creating unsafe spaces for their peers, whether because they say racist statements themselves or allow them to be said without consequence.

Regardless of the intentions of anyone complicit in these racist acts, the effects for people of color are always harmful. We don’t experience racism any differently when a person doesn’t mean it.

For students of color at predominantly white institutions, racism is distracting, emotionally draining and tiring. We find it hard to find safe spaces where we can share our voices and experiences without judgment and retaliation

or trustworthy people with whom we can talk to about or report racist actions. When we do speak out, we are met with tone policing and respectability politics—as though we have no right to be angry or should just be silent about these issues. Even in this piece, we feel a need to list experiences of racism as proof, and sanitize our emotions and opinions so they will be better received. At Brandeis, when we already have the responsibilities that come with being students, the added task of educating our peers about racism should not be left to us.

If we understand the need for diversity, then we need to listen to students of color, even when we are called out on racism. When our voices are ignored or silenced, we are victims to the hypocrisy of Brandeis’ commitment to social justice. We need to hold ourselves and each other accountable to make sure that anti-racist spaces where students of color feel s exist on this campus. We must

stop making excuses for racist remarks and for all-white spaces, and if we are called out, we shouldn’t get defensive. It seems like students here are more upset about accusations of being racist than the actual racist acts themselves. Students of color should also know that they can and should work together. There is also no threat in supporting each other in our endeavors and activism.

Brandeis students of color have always been working to combat hate and prejudice, and it is a crucial responsibility for all of us to continue that legacy. The preamble for the constitution of the Brandeis Asian American Students Association reads: “Established in 1971 [as a result] of anti-Asian sentiments, the Brandeis Asian American Students Association (BAASA) felt the need to create a safe place for Asians and Asian Americans to freely voice their opinions and concerns.” This is still relevant in 2015; we need to continue to value and maintain

photo from internet source

safe spaces in hopes of a better Brandeis.

As graduating seniors, we write this out of love for our Brandeis community and the love for those who have helped us create safe spaces for students of color.

We have both benefitted from the Brandeis students who have worked to carve out these necessary spaces and been inspired by their work. It has been empowering and challenging to be involved in ways that allow our peers to speak freely and to learn from and support each other. We thank the Brandeis students of color before us who have done this work: creating clubs, starting conversations and engaging in direct action to ensure that their peers were supported. We hope that the students of color currently at Brandeis and those who will matriculate know that this is their school too, even when it seems like they are not represented or heard here, and that they will continue to work together and empower each other.

Women’s colleges still relevant today

By Sarah Margulies Special to The hoot

lThe recently announced decision to close Sweet Briar College has incited a movement of women and their allies who are passionately trying to save women’s colleges. Over the past 50 years, 186 women’s colleges have closed their doors. Many of these schools were founded in the 19th century as a response to women being barred from other avenues to higher education. Even though the world has changed and women make up the majority of college students, women’s colleges remain necessary.

Women’s colleges provide a space where women can assert themselves without worrying about seeming “overly aggressive” or “unladylike.” Even at a school like Brandeis, which constantly preaches the gospel of social justice, men often dominate academic discussions no matter how many women are in the classroom. Some may argue that we have moved past this predisposition to value men’s voices more than women’s in the classroom, and many professors do make serious efforts to divide attention equally between men and women. Yet these strategies are not enough.

A 2014 study concluded that faculty members were most likely to respond to emails seeking help from graduate students when the

student was a white male. These subtle forms of bias are problematic, and impact women on a daily basis. Women’s colleges do not entertain these subconscious biases and are an important option for women who want to avoid these microaggressions.

This is especially important in STEM fields that are traditionally more difficult for women to ac-

cess. STEM jobs represent a huge growth sector in the American economy, and the fact that only 31% of STEM degrees are issued to women is limiting. Women’s colleges have been pioneers in giving women greater access to science education. They are able to offer special programs specifically geared toward guiding women in science. Some may ar-

gue that science is objective and it simply recognizes the people who do the job in the best way possible, but as Henrietta Lacks, the Tuskegee Experiments and the field of eugenics represents, science has the potential to become a tool of the oppressors when minority viewpoints are not represented.

The benefits of women’s colleges extend outside of the classroom.

Even though many women participate in extracurriculars, sometimes it is difficult to summon up the confidence to lead when many student leadership positions are held by men. For example, the Brandeis debate team (number two in the country) just elected its first female president in over seven years despite the fact that See COLLEGE, page 15

photo from internet source

14 OPINIONS

The Brandeis Hoot

April 24, 2015

The Brandeis Hoot: more than just a newspaper

By Dana Trisman Editor

I never had any preconceived intention of joining a newspaper when I arrived at Brandeis. The Brandeis Hoot was just one of the clubs I signed up for at the club fair my first year, and I figured it would be fun because I could try my hand at writing arts articles. I had no idea The Hoot would become one of the most central and influential aspects of my college career. Now, as I wrap up my final issue as editor-in-chief, I am having a hard time saying goodbye.

As editor-in-chief, I can say in recent years The Hoot has required a huge amount of my time. It has been no minor commitment. Yet despite all the hard work, I have always invested myself fully in tasks related to The Hoot, and it has paid off. My purpose in writing this article is to highlight all the ways The Hoot has changed my life, and to encourage other undergraduates to consider the academic and social benefits of writing for a newspaper.

When I was a first-year, The Hoot became a social outlet for me. As I struggled to get my footing in the new university environment, the BMC, where Hoot production night happens, became a place I felt at home. It was also a source of pride—my roommates and I used to take every single article we wrote, cut it out of the paper, and tape it up next to our beds in our dorm room. I felt great when the arts editor said my article was well written, and was excited to be appointed features editor.

When I was a sophomore and a junior, I worked as arts editor and managing editor. I began to not just connect with my fellow peers who were writing for the paper, but also with Brandeis professors, staff and administration members. As I wrote more articles and interviewed dozens of people, my network at Brandeis grew. I learned more about the history of Brandeis, this campus and the amazing accomplishments of many Brandeis community members.

The summer after my sophomore year, I held an internship at a daily newspaper. This was the best internship of my life, and something I never would have pursued if not for my background at The Hoot. I reported from the scene of accidents and court cases. I did man-on-the-street interviews, and wrote feature stories on topics I was passionate about, such as teenage homelessness.

I came back to Brandeis as a junior

By Zach Phil Schwartz

photo from internet source

determined to use the skills I had gained over the summer. I worked on investigative journalism pieces. I like to think I had a part in helping the Brandeis community become a better place, as I shed light on some aspects of Brandeis that needed improvement, such as the lack of funds for the fine arts department, the handling of sexual assault cases or the abrupt firing of many Brandeis mailroom workers.

I chose to pursue the editor-in-chief position because the reputation of The Hoot mattered to me. I wanted to

continue building upon our tradition of being a reliable news source for the Brandeis community. The Hoot should always remain a bold newspaper, with staff who are unafraid to report on both positive and negative aspects of the university. As a senior, I spent more time editing and managing other editors than writing myself, but I learned many skills from time-management to cooperation to how to be a true leader.

I am an English and Creative Writing double major. However, the writ-

ing, editing and interview skills I gained from being on The Hoot were perhaps more helpful in actually getting employment. My journalism background became a springboard into public relations, a field I love because it lets me be creative and tell stories about people and companies. I landed a full-time position at a public relations agency before even graduating, and I was hired partly because of my experience at The Hoot.

Socially, The Hoot has always been my family. The specific editors who

have stayed up with me late on Thursday nights have changed over the years, but I have loved many of them.

Out of everyone on this campus, those are the people I will stay in touch with.

I am not good at goodbyes, and I refuse to say them. But I hope my legacy at The Hoot, and as editor-in-chief, is a positive one, and I have high hopes for the paper’s coming years. Everyone should consider the beneficial impact a club like The Hoot can have on them, and their college experience as a whole. I will miss it terribly.

Tuition hikes should be judicious

Editor

On March 30, President Fred Lawrence sent an email to the Brandeis community outlining a 3.7 percent increase in annual billed charges to students for the next school year. With the increase in our tuition will come a new upstairs deck for a fully renovated Sherman, a full repair for Ziv Quad and expanded Einstein’s and bookstore area. Also detailed in the email were updates for the first-year residence halls, new faculty hirings and further investment in the RCC and the Hiatt Career Center. These are reasonable uses for tuition hikes, if of course these were the only things said hikes are going to.

In a perfect world, our tuition does not increase, or at least it increases with the rate of inflation. However, tuition has been increasing at a rate much higher than the current inflation rate in the United States, making for an increase in how much the uni-

versity is taking in from students. The increases in the budget go to general improvements to the university like those listed in Lawrence’s email, but the same budget also feeds other campus programs with our tuition money.

Last Sunday, April 19, we had ’Deis Day coincide with Admitted Students Day, complete with a carnival on Chapels Field. It seems almost as if the Student Union didn’t spare any expense to provide a joyous event for stressed out students as well as prospective students who wouldn’t always see something like this at Brandeis.

Although the Student Union meant well in its attempts to aid admissions and the student body as a whole, the resources that went into the carnival were wasted. The money that Student Union has to use comes out of our tuition, which has been rising annually for a while now. Make the logical connection and you’ll see that some of our tuition money is going to events like the ’Deis Day carnival. In today’s economic situation, the annual billed charges that the university hands

down to its students are hard enough to deal with as is, which is part of the reason hikes are not popular among students and their families. Nobody likes having to pay more money, especially when you know that it’s being squandered.

The question of the carnival does not produce the results that the Student Union would expect. Many students found themselves unable to attend due to the proximity of the ’Deis Day/Admitted Students Day festivities to the end of the semester and its associated workload. A few students on separate occasions pointed out to me on Sunday that they did not agree with the idea of using the carnival for the purpose of attracting prospective students, who may see the attempt as childish. Do we want our school to be seen as a continuation of high school silliness or an institution of higher learning? True, for some it was a great way to relieve stress, and for some prospective students it provided an enjoyable experience at Brandeis, but it isn’t a good way of broadcasting

what the university does with its resources.With ’Deis Day over and Student Events’ (which also gets around 2 percent of our tuition) Springfest just around the corner, it’s time to rethink how the administration distributes resources around campus departments given the continuous increases in annual billed charges. From a perspective that focuses on the student body, both ’Deis Day and Springfest stand as pathways to alleviate stress, and that’s all well and good, but having both of them in the span of two weeks to accomplish the same goal is redundant and a waste of money.

Given that Springfest is more of a student favorite, I believe that the features of ’Deis Day should be rethought, along with other redundant and/or unnecessary programs being funded by our ever-increasing tuition. If for a good cause, the hikes are more palatable, but with events like carnivals being funded by our money, it makes it seem more and more that the university is wasting the generous amount of resources it accrues.

photo from internet source

April 24, 2015

OPINIONS15

The Brandeis Hoot

Bail is obstructing justice in Massachusetts

By Hannah Marion Special to The hoot

From the time of Aaron Hernandez’s arrest on June 26, 2013 until his conviction on first-degree murder charges this month, he was held in jail without the option of bail. Such measures are necessary for people who pose a risk to the safety of others in the community, yet many people accused of victimless crimes are being kept in jails across Massachusetts simply because they cannot afford bail, despite the fact that they do not pose a risk to community safety. These practices are abhorrent and should be eliminated.

Currently there are 731,200 people held in American jails.

Three out of five of those inmates have not been convicted of a crime. Rather, these inmates have been accused of crimes and are awaiting trial in jail because they cannot afford to pay bail. A report from the Vera Institute of Justice shows that jails are “massive warehouses primarily for those too poor to post even low bail.”

Our Constitution protects against unlawful imprisonment, so it cannot be proper to hold people in jail who haven’t committed a crime. Poverty is not a crime. It makes sense to detain people who pose a flight risk or are likely to commit more crimes, but it simply does not make sense to hold

people who cannot pay.

The size of bail has no correlation to preventing flight or future crimes. This cash bail system fails to serve its purpose and keep our communities safe because highrisk people with money can pay for their release into society. According to the American Bar Association, the cost to hold these people is $9 billion a year. Data from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security similarly indicates that keeping a single person in jail in Massachusetts costs the state $145.31 per day.

This is clearly a broken system.

Not only does it fail to provide justice to those with few financial resources, but it costs our taxpayers a lot of money each year. This money could be saved or spent on programs and services that reduce the incarcerated population instead of fuel its growth.

Some people may argue that potential criminals should not be released into society. However, imprisoning these people only serves to create a greater danger to our public safety. A recent study of 750,000 pretrial cases found that inmates who were detained more than 48 hours were four times more likely to commit another crime within a two-year time frame, regardless of their criminal history, risk and age. Why would we put people in jail if they have not been convicted of a crime

photo from internet source

when this only makes them more likely to commit a crime?

Although Massachusetts has always promoted a progressive image, states in the South have implemented pretrial services instead of incarcerating people and are eliminating cash bail altogether.

What’s more is that these reforms work. According to the American Bar Association, in Washington, D.C., 80 percent of people accused

of crimes are released pretrial.

During their release, 97 percent of people are not charged with an additional felony and 91 percent are not charged with a new misdemeanor. An act reforming pretrial process is the solution to these problems in Massachusetts’ criminal justice system. This legislation would eliminate the cash bail that we know to be discriminatory and ineffective and instead would use a

department of pretrial services to ensure that people would receive services to help them with the behavior that led to their arrest. This bill ensures true justice to those accused of crimes no matter their financial status and increases our community safety.

If you believe that poverty is not a crime, reach out to your legislators and express your support for an act reforming pretrial process.

Women’s colleges allow a safe space for personal discovery COLLEGE, from page 13

the majority of its members are women. When the idea of women leading is the default instead of the exception, women are better able to advocate for themselves and have their ideas respected. These social benefits can even be found in the ability to associate with other women without the omnipresent male gaze. There is a reason why one of the seminal works of second wave feminism, The Feminine Mystique, revolved around the experiences of Betty Friedan and her friends from Smith College in 1950s America. Women’s colleges can be a training ground for feminist ideas.

This is not to say that women’s colleges are perfect. Many have recently received a fair amount of criticism regarding their less than friendly admissions and accom-

modations policies toward transgender women and those who have non-binary gender identities.

These are serious issues that need to be addressed, but the activism that many students at schools such as Smith have instigated demonstrates that women’s colleges can become safe spaces for people of many genders. Mount Holyoke’s recent decision to admit women in the process of transitioning indicates that this hope is not misplaced.

Women like Zora Neale Hurston, Gloria Steinem and Alice Walker received some of their formative training at women’s colleges. These women and their experiences have revolutionized our view of gender, and without women’s colleges they never would have had the opportunities they deserved. It would be a tragedy if these institutions faded from view.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD Write a letter to the editor to express your views on our writers opinions and see yourself featured in next weeks issue! Submit to letters@thebrandeishoot.com Have a piece you want published? Submit it to us at eic@thebrandeishoot.com Have an idea for a column? Contact join@thebrandeishoot.com

photo from internet source

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.

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

GIVE A HOOT, JOIN THE HOOT! Writers, editors, photographers and graphic artists wanted to join The Brandeis Hoot, your weekly community newspaper.

To learn more, send us an e-mail at join@ thebrandeishoot.com, or visit our website http://thebrandeishoot.com/join.

CONNECT phone • (781) 330-0051 online • thebrandeishoot.com twitter • twitter.com/thebrandeishoot facebook • facebook.com/thebrandeishoot

ARTS, ETC.

April 24, 2015

The Brandeis Hoot 16

Powerful performances abound in ‘Vagina Monologues’

By Talia Franks Staff

I went to the Friday night performance of “The Vagina Monologues” earlier this month and was blown away. It is hard to put into words what I most liked about this piece, but I think I will have to go with the brutal honesty of the scenes presented and the raw emotion that the actresses put into the portrayal of their characters.

Jessica Hood ’15 was a standout performer in “My Angry Vagina.”

This was my, and if the audience’s response was any indication, many people’s favorite monologue. Hood’s character said things that I am sure almost every person with a vagina has thought in their life. Like every actress in every scene, Hood put her whole soul into her performance.

Each monologue was about a different woman’s experience, in some cases the experiences of many women combined. There were some monologues, such as “Because He Liked to Look At It” (performed by Sydney Exler ’18), which involved a woman who came to love and accept her vagina and had a happy ending for the

women speaking.

I thought “The Woman Who Loved To Make Vaginas Happy” was also an excellent piece because it portrays sex workers in a much different light than many people think of them.

Zari Havercome ’16 did a good job of showing a different side to the industry that I do not think enough people talk about.

Along with these monologues about the empowerment of women and their vaginas, there were also pieces that discussed the horrors that have been inflicted on women, such as the startling and terrible truths about the statistics of female genital

modification.

Another piece that struck me was a heart-wrenching performance of “My Vagina Was My Village” by Kiana Nwaobia ’17 that express the horrors women experienced when raped as an act of aggression in the Bosnian War and forced into rape camps, framed through the perspective of one woman. Before I saw this monologue I never spent much thought on how horrible rape is as a war crime. I like to read and watch a lot of things about world history, and when people speak of history and war crime the phrase “raping and pillaging” is used so often that I suppose I have become

photo by sasha ruiz/the hoot

photo from internet source

desensitized to it. This monologue reminded me that each statistic that we hear about is more than just a number on a page. They are real people that have experienced the awfulness of having their control over themselves and their body ripped from them in the cruelest way possible.

Overall I think that this year’s performance of “The Vagina Monologues” had a good balance of the good and the bad and everything in between when it comes to a person’s relationship with their vagina.

The show made me think of things I hadn’t thought about in a long time, if I ever had. “The Vagina Monologues” is a show that everyone should see at least once in their lives.

Even so, no two performances of a show is the same, and no performance is perfect. These facts are true of any live production, and many films as well. There were slip ups in the production, as there are in many shows, but the difference between this performance of “The Vagina Monologues” and some other shows I’ve seen in my life is the quick and professional recovery from the very few mistakes that I was able to notice. The actresses in this production were all amazing, and while there were bumps along the way, the show was well put together, and I applaud them for their efforts. I am sure that the graduating seniors will do great things beyond Brandeis, and I hope that those who are staying continue to star in more Brandeis productions such as this one.

Garisch ’15 shines in Senior Festival performance

By Sabrina Pond Staff

“Song of a Murderess,” a performance written and directed by Jade Garisch ’15, was performed on Tuesday, April 21 as part of Brandeis Theater Company’s Senior Festival.

Posters around campus that advertise the senior thesis are enough to make the unthinking passerby inquire what “Song of a Murderess” is about. If you caught a quick glance of it you would have noticed a blonde woman, her eyes open wide and outlined with eyeliner, wearing an orange jumpsuit and staring deep into your soul.

The poster is more than unsettling because the woman’s lifeless eyes call us to hear her story and try to make sense of it.

This one-woman show tells the story of Fallon, a woman accused of murdering her boyfriend. Fallon attempts to prove her innocence to the court—the audience—through a haphazard interplay of memories from various points in her life. Garisch explores the unreliable nature of memories throughout her performance as she recounts parts of Fallon’s childhood, her relationships with the most important people in her life (her grandmother and boyfriend) and her most troubling memories. Each of these add depth to her character, though the audience has to judge whether or not these impressions are true or fabricated. At multiple points through “Song of a Murderess” it can be difficult to tell.

From the moment Garisch walked on stage to the final seconds of the

performance, she was a fireball of energy. Throughout the show she was stomping, singing, laughing and crying, screaming and wailing. Her complete and total commitment to the part made me wonder if she aged 10 years or so after each performance.

Also, her ability to perform on stage alone, somehow circumventing the need to perform with other actors, is more than noteworthy. Without even a moment’s hesitation Garisch changed positions, at one point wearing a mask as one character, the next taking off the mask as another character. Her performance was fruitful and said more about Fallon’s life and experiences than any other format for the show could.

It’s a hard watch. “Song of a Murderess” is a challenging performance to sit through because of the sense of dread and bleakness it elicits; how else can a person feel after discovering that Fallon’s closest relative can’t remember her name? Or that Fallon is haunted by the image of a poor man on the street begging for money for food? Or most tragic of all, that she has no one to turn to for love and solace? The story is a tragic one, but that is not to say that it isn’t an engaging or satisfying one.

The show asks difficult questions that cannot be answered, and that leave the audience squirming in their seat because they have no proper explanation. The show, which incorporated video, dance and music, engages the audience in a fresh way. According to Garisch, her senior thesis was meant to explore the following ideas: “I hope that the story of ‘Song of a Murderess’ challenges people to look at the way they view their memories and ask themselves whether the way

they perceive their past experiences is affecting how they live in the present.

I also hope this piece promotes the use of non-traditional theater devices.

My last hope for this story was to deal with some of the psychological issues and pressures facing young women today in a very conceptual and experimental fashion.” All in all, Garisch’s

very ambitious “Song of a Murderess” proves fascinating and adventurous on multiple levels, but not because it supplies us with any sort of answer.

Rather, it is a point of interest because it denies us an easy answer.

At the end of the performance, Garisch asks the audience two difficult and pointed questions. “Those of

you who think Fallon’s guilty?” which is followed by “And those of you who think Fallon is innocent?” The jurors raised their hands, and a final verdict reverberated through the room, reaping final judgment on Fallon’s life. The next and final performance is Saturday, April 25 at 2:30 p.m. in the Laurie Theater in Spingold.

photo by samantha laney/the hoot