Volume 13 Issue 24
“To acquire wisdom, one must observe” www.brandeishoot.com
December 2, 2016
Brandeis University’s Community Newspaper · Waltham, Mass.
Marketing analyst presents research findings on Brandeis campus By Ryan Spencer staff
‘martyr’ Frau Roth ( Jamie Semel ’17) ponders the divide between science and religion in the classroom. Mr
photo courtesy mike lovett
Batzler (Alex Jacobs MFA ’13) looks on. See ARTS page 9.
“To present the most accurate and marketable image of Brandeis, the university should decide whether or not Brandeis is a Jewish institution,” said Mark Neustadt, a marketing analyst with a specialized focus on the needs of colleges, universities and schools. Brandeis should present itself not as a Jewish institution, but as a university based on the broad Jewish values of “a reverence for learning and scholarship, cultivation of critical thinking, and using one’s gifts and accomplishments for the betterment of society,” suggested Neustadt. He spent the past several months at Brandeis conducting
research through focus groups of prospective students, undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty. He also conducted two surveys: one of prospective students and one of Brandeis alumni. “Focus group results show a favorable response to his proposed identification of Brandeis as a university based on Jewish values,” Neustadt said. He presented his findings and suggestions to the university on Tuesday, Nov. 29 in a meeting open to the Brandeis community. More than 50 students and faculty attended the meeting. He quoted one anonymous prospective student from the focus groups as saying that, though they were originally “turned off See MARKETING, page 3
Petition circulates to make BLC presents petition on working Brandeis a sanctuary conditions to Sodexo campus By Hannah Schuster and Elianna Spitzer
By Abigail Gardener editor
A petition calling on the administration to investigate the possibility of making Brandeis a sanctuary campus began circulating soon after the results of the presidential election were released. Addressed to University President Ronald Liebowitz, Provost Lisa Lynch and Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel, the petition asked for immediate investigation into “the possibility of our campus serving as a sanctuary for students, staff and their family members who face imminent deportation,” according to the petition. The petition cited President-elect Trump’s plan for his first 100 days in office to deport millions of immigrants and abolish the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program as a reason for Brandeis to become a sanctuary campus. The petition also referenced a 2011 Homeland Security memo as a reason for Brandeis to designate themselves a sanctuary.
Inside This Issue:
The memo set forth a policy for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers that “is designed to ensure enforcement actions do not occur at nor are focused at sensitive locations such as schools or churches,” the memo said. These enforcement actions include arrests, interviews and searches, according to the memo. However, the policy does not prohibit these actions entirely; enforcement actions should not occur unless pressing circumstances exist or prior approval for the action has been obtained, the memo stated. Brandeis’ petition’s call for action urged the university to “develop a protocol for making itself a sanctuary campus” and to “take all possible steps to uphold the promise of DACA.” The administration was also encouraged to “ensure that university mental health services are equipped with mental health professionals who have cultural competency in working with politically marginalized commuSee SANCTUARY, page 4
MELA
editors
Students and workers filed into the office of Sodexo’s general manager and presented him a petition with 3xx signatures calling for Sodexo to ensure workers have their full 40 hours and hire more 40-hour employees to avoid overworking and long lines. Workers said they are often working 32, 36 or 28 hours which
is a concern because they have to support themselves and their families. “I was hired as a 40 hours a week employee and I should be getting those 40 hours,” said Gary Mendez. Workers also expressed concern that they are overworked because Sodexo does not have enough employees. They want Sodexo to place more workers at certain locations during busy times of the week. Specifically, workers mentioned Einstein’s, Currito’s and Sub Con-
nection and said the Pho station is sometimes not open because there is no one to work it. “Everywhere is so busy. It’s no reason to cut our hours,” a worker said to Andy Allen, the general manager. Marta Turcios works at Curritos and is frustrated, not that her hours have been cut, but that they have been changed. She used to work from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., giving her three and a half or four and a half hours of prep See BLC, page 4
photo courtesy tim bouwer
final four bound
Superb performances electrifies the stage.
Page 4 News: Union report to help support clubs Opinions: Ad block services can be harmful Page 5 Arts: Adagio exhibits exceptional choreographyPage 11 Features: Students celebrate Thanksgiving Page 13 ARTS: PAGE 9 EDITORIAL: Support sanctuary petition Page 14
Men’s and women’s soccer teams make it to Division III soccer championships. See SPORTS page 16.
Salah Hassan
New AAAS professor offers insight on African art and culture. ARTS: PAGE 10
NEWS
2 The Brandeis Hoot
NYT bestselling author speaks about adapting novel to film By Abigail Gardener editor
New York Times bestselling author, screenwriter and producer Tom Perrotta spoke to students on Wednesday, Nov. 16 about his experiences adapting his books into a film and a television series. Perrotta talked about the challenges he encounters while adapting his writing for TV or film. Turning a book into a television show or a movie is a “mysterious process,” he said. The novel becomes less of a blueprint for the TV series, and is more of a “junk shop” to pull characters and ideas from, according to Perrotta, who noted that his 350-page novel, “The Leftovers,” has been converted into 28 hours of story in the television series. To exemplify one such difference, he read an excerpt from “The Leftovers” in which a character named Holy Wayne is introduced for the first time. In the book, the character is introduced as a white UPS driver whose defining characteristic is his ability to relieve other people of their pain by taking their burdens upon himself. Perrotta then showed the audience the scene in the television series in which Holy Wayne is introduced. The same character, who is described in the book as a white UPS driver, is portrayed by a black man with a British accent in the TV show. There is also no mention in this introductory
scene of the special power Holy Wayne holds, which is so prominent in the book. Aside from this, in the beginning of the process there were some aspects of the show that Perrotta was disappointed in. When the first season of “The Leftovers” was released, the show was “un-watchably dark,” Perrotta said, as opposed to the novel which strikes a balance between humor and tragedy. However, he quickly learned how to remedy those issues. “I really started to appreciate the show more as we let a little light in,” he said. Perrotta acknowledged that the world of the screen is vastly different than the world of books, but he is not put off by that difference. In fact, he has relished being part of the writing team for the television series. He has been drawn to TV in recent years because it is collaborative; book writing is a lonely profession, he said. The most profound difference between writing novels and writing for film and television is that, as a screenwriter, one is limited in describing the characters’ actions, Perrotta said. At a certain point it is up to the actors to figure out how to interpret the writing. Giving a script to the actors is like giving them sheet music and saying, “play the song,” he said. The lack of space for rich description was never a problem for Perrotta.“I really struggle with pure descriptive writing,” he said, “screenwriting was such a liberation for me.”
Perrotta also elaborated on the differences that exist between writing for film and writing for television. In film, the director is the ultimate authority, Perrotta said. The script is finished by screenwriters before the movie begins shooting, and is often altered by actors or the director during the creative process without consulting the writers. “As a screenwriter, you have to understand that you have a very limited role in this long process,” he said. In contrast, “TV is a writer’s medium,” according to Perrotta. While the director can change with each episode, the writers remain the show’s constant. “The hierarchy is shifted … the director doesn’t know the show as well as the writers,” Perrotta said. Perrotta has embraced the differences that come with adapting writing into television or film and is humbled that people are being exposed to his work in this way. “People are able to do things with your material you couldn’t have done yourself … the show takes risks I wouldn’t have dreamed of taking,” he said. Perrotta is the author of six novels, among them “Election,” “Little Children” and “The Leftovers.” “Little Children” was made into a movie in 2006, the screenplay for which Perrotta was nominated for an Academy Award. “The Leftovers” was adapted into a TV series on HBO in 2014. The third season of “The Leftovers” is set to be released in January.
December 2, 2016
IN THE SENATE: Nov. 13, 2016 • Charters/Recognitions Brandeis Stand-Up Comedy Club up for recogni- tion Passed by acclimation Aviation Club for chartering Motion fails. Will go back to Club Support to gauge more interest Basement Records for chartering Passed in roll-call vote • Executive Office Reports Vice President Paul Sindberg ’18: Bystander training initiative has passed 700 students, more than accomplished in entirety of year last year. Senate initiative is responsible for this Reaching out to club leaders about what resources are most needed on campus, work ing on intercollegiate union • Senate Committee Chair Reports COW-G (Senator-at-Large Shaquan McDowell ’18): Met previous Monday, met with students to get survey out regarding menstrual products on campus along with Social Justice com mittee and Paul. Next steps are meeting with Jim Gray, discussing results of survey. • Unfinished Business SMR on Club Resources Library Up for a vote this evening, proposed last week— Passed by acclimation • New Business SMR to get Midnight Buffet Decorations Executive Senator Hannah Brown ’19: Need to decorate Midnight Buffet. Senator-at-Large Nathan Greess ’19 request- ed specifics. Motion to suspend the rules—Passed in roll call vote
- Zach Phil Schwartz
Liebowitz updates community on diversity efforts By Samantha Lauring special to the hoot
President Ron Liebowitz described updated diversity and inclusion efforts made over the past 12 months in an email sent to the Brandeis community on Friday, Nov. 18. The presidential campaign run by President-elect Donald Trump featured, “rhetoric of racism, misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia and jingoism,” Liebowitz wrote. “Such rhetoric and the acts it has inspired are the antithesis of Brandeis’ values. While we embrace diversity of thought and difference of opinion, we will always be committed to inclusion and equity.” Mark Brimhall-Vargas has been named Brandeis’ first chief diversity officer (CDO) and vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, mentioned as a part of the diversity and inclusion up-
dates. He will begin this position in January and, “will coordinate and advise on activities in departments and academic programs throughout the University to develop integrate and articulate Brandeis’ commitments to a more diverse and inclusive community,” according to a previous email from Liebowitz. Brimhall-Vargas has held various diversity management positions over the course of 17 years, including the position of CDO at Tufts University for the last year. Faculty and staff were provided with a series of three diversity training sessions this fall, which included Building an Inclusive Classroom, Inclusive Learning Spaces, and The Science of Diversity and Implicit Bias. More than 120 faculty members and 200 staff members registered for at least one of these trainings, according to President Liebowitz’s email. Many of these events were
photo from brandeis.edu
Last year’s protest at the ‘Light of Reason,’ holding the university accountable for sexual assault on campus. sexual assault advocacy
focused on how to create a more inclusive classroom and be aware of different backgrounds of students. Another diversity effort was to provide faculty chairs in the School of Arts and Sciences two videos that featured Brandeis students describing negative classroom experiences related to diversity and inclusion. The videos also included suggestions for teachers on how to create a more inclusive classroom. Faculty chairs were asked to share these videos with their respective departments. The university is also trying to increase the recruitment and retention of underrepresented faculty and staff of color. A tenure-line position in African-Anglophone literature has been approved as well as for Kay Fellows in Asian-American Pacific Islander Studies and race and medicine. Each search committee in the School of Arts and Sciences now includes a diversity representative, who has “been trained to understand the issue of implicit bias.” By utilizing and spreading news of programs such as the Students Exploring and Embracing Diversity (SEED) program and the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program, the university hopes to increase the number of new students of color who enroll here. To enhance excellence in teaching and learning, the Task Force on General Education Requirements has discussed the possibility of outlining new requirements
that address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. Additionally, the Office of the Provost and the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences continue to organize and fund diversity events on campus such as Natasha Warikoo, of Harvard University, presenting The Diversity Bargain: Dilemmas of Race, Admissions, and Meritocracy at Elite Universities, and Tony Jack, also of Harvard, presenting Moving from Access to Inclusion: Lessons From First-Generation College Students. Through staffing and programming, the university is trying to create inclusive communities that provide professional development and support for a more diverse population. The graduate schools have participated in these efforts. The Heller School for Social Policy created the position of associate dean for diversity and inclusion and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences’ launched its Diversity, Excellence, and Inclusion Scholarship (DEIS) program. The Office of Study Abroad hosting a program on being black and studying abroad and Brandeis creating a Waltham/Brandeis Freedom Team. This will include the Waltham mayor and chief of police. The Hiatt Career Center hosted programs such as Navigating Gender and Race at Work. Other efforts to foster diverse communities include the Department of Community Living (DCL) and Community Advisors (CAs) participating in training sessions on social identity and
diversity. The Counseling Center staff engaged in multicultural training program to further improve cross-cultural mental health competence. Atticus Ranck also joined Brandeis as the new coordinator of the Gender and Sexuality Center. The Rape Crisis Center (RCC) posted Get Help Now signs in English, Spanish, Mandarin, French, Arabic and Portuguese. This will make information about the RCC more accessible to students who do not speak English. The Community Prejudice Response (CPR) task force—a group of staff, faculty, and students who address issues of discrimination affecting the Brandeis community—actively engaging in the support of students. The CPR “proactively nurtures an inclusive campus culture and is responsive (when necessary) to any acts of bias or prejudice,” wrote Liebowitz. In his email, Liebowitz mentioned last year’s Ford Hall 2015 movement. “The passion and dedication of the students who participated in and continue to advance these efforts was critical and must not be forgotten,” he wrote. In regard to fostering diverse and inclusive communities, Liebowitz noted that, “An educated populace is one of the core strengths of a strong democracy, and, to fulfill our educational mission, our University must be a place that promotes the safety of all community members.”
December 2, 2016
The Brandeis Hoot
IN THE SENATE: Nov. 20, 2016 • Club Recognitions and Charters TRII (The Right Immigration Institute) up for recog nition—passed by acclamation BCI (Brain Computer Interface Club) up for recogni tion—passed in roll call vote Brazilian Culture Club up for recognition—passed by acclamation Robots Club up for charter—passed by acclamation • Communications Vice President Paul Sindberg ’18: Moving forward with intercollegiate union: a tool to provide resources to anti-oppressive student move ments on campuses. Will be using Social Justice Com mittee to put this together. Also talked about sanctuary campus initiative; wants to support undocumented population on campus. Executive Senator Hannah Brown ’19: Would like to start looking into student rights (Office of Student Rights and Advocacy, something the Stu dent Union is supposed to have but currently de funct). • Committee Chair Reports Social Justice and Diversity (Ziv Quad Senator Michelle Jimenez ’18): meeting with Chief Diversity Officer Mark Brimhall-Vargas • New Business Brown: SMR for Midnight Buffet t-shirts. Part of tradition. Rules suspended. Passed by acclamation • Senator Reports Saint Cyr Damache ’19 (Castle Senator): concerns over moving times out of the Castle Christian Nuñez (Class of 2018 Senator): Talked about what people think of menstrual product dialogue, noting a generally positive response. Plan on meeting with Johnny Wilson about expanding electrical outlets in the SCC.
- Zach Phil Schwartz
A-Board funds requests for Spring Marathon By Elianna Spitzer editor
The Allocations Board (A-board) funded 68.3 percent of requests, according to Spring Marathon decisions released through the club leaders listserv on Tuesday, Nov. 22. A-board received requests from 139 clubs for an amount totaling $632,199.18. They funded requests from 135 clubs and allocated $431,787.09. This is the first time that clubs have requested funding for the entire spring semester during a marathon in the previous fall semester. In the past, Regular Marathon took place during the semester that the club would be using its requested funding. For example, A-board would hold a regular marathon at the beginning of spring semester for funding that a club would use later that semester. A-board announced the change to the marathon process on Feb. 29. This semester and last semester, funding requests were not always realistic. Game Knight requested a VT-55 Recovery Demilitarized Vehicle that would cost $20,200. They cited the recent election as the reason they needed the vehicle. A-board also rejected requests if they did not meet certain guidelines. Yourstory requested $39,750 for a trip that would take place over the summer. A-board
Panel discusses post-election thoughts at Town Hall for Unity By Ryan Spencer staff
A discussion of the racism, sexism and bigotry surrounding the election of Donald Trump and how to respond to it dominated in the Town Hall for Unity on Tuesday, Nov. 15 which drew over 100 students, faculty and staff to a Brandeis lecture hall. “Not all of those voters [who voted for Trump] are racist,” said Prof. Chandler Rosenberger (IGS/ SOC), one of the six professors who was part of the discussion panel. Moving forward, those opposed to Trump should attempt to understand what Trump’s voters were thinking when they cast their vote, Rosenberger suggested. Prof. Chad Williams (AAAS) agreed that many of those who voted for Trump were not themselves racist, but blamed them for being complicit in Trump’s racism. “Those voters who still voted for Donald Trump and did not see his racism as a disqualify-
“
ing quality are complicit,” he said, prompting a round of applause from the audience. Trump supporters are racist because they allow “a situation to continue where people’s race determines whether you have a chance to succeed,” according to Prof. Sabine von Mering (GRALL/WMGS). “I want Brandeis to stand unequivocally with those who are being targeted by President-elect Trump and his supporters,” von Mering said. “Donald Trump’s ascent has really authorized a new show of misogyny and homophobia and racism and antisemitism,” said Prof. Anita Hannig (ANTH), referencing numerous events on college campuses after the election of Trump. Hannig told the audience not to become complacent and to continue to be outraged at the expression of misogyny, homophobia, racism and antisemitism. There has been a sharp rise in reports of racist and antisemitic vandalism, graffiti and harass-
NEWS 3
ment across the country according to the Anti-Defamation League, a national civil rights and human relations agency. University President Ronald D. Liebowitz encouraged the Brandeis community not to allow hate and bigotry on the Brandeis campus and warned, in a campuswide email prior to the event, that “our own campus is not immune to the bigotry and bullying taking place with greater frequency since the election.” The battle against racism, sexism and bigotry is not a short battle, according to Provost Lisa Lynch, who told students to prepare themselves not just in the short term but also in the long term. Aggressive action, rather than discussion may at times be appropriate, according to Prof. Daniel Bergstresser (ECON/IBS). If incivility moves us toward justice and the truth, argued Bergstresser, then we should not privilege civility over incivility.
To present the most accurate and marketable image of Brandeis, the university should decide whether or not Brandeis is a Jewish institution Mark Neustadt
”
cannot fund events that do not take place during the semester. A-board Chair Alex Feldman ’19 admitted that he knew clubs would find the new marathon difficult to adapt to. However, using this new format of Marathon made funding “more manageable for us but also it just gives us better oversight,” Feldman said. Instead of looking at the semester as two different parts, A-board can now look at a club’s calendar for a whole semester. This will allow A-board members to make more informed decisions, according to Feldman. A-board held office hours before the Spring Marathon closed. Feldman said that the change in how they are conducting Marathon made the final office hours stressful. Four A-Board members spoke to approximately 60 clubs in the last hour and a half of Marathon drop-in hours. “We were swamped,” Feldman said. Overall, there were fewer formatting errors than in previous Marathons. However, the rush to file requests on the last day increased the possibility of mistakes by three or four times. Only a few of these mistakes were incorrect RA type. Feldman said that the new format affected some clubs more than others, using the theater clubs as an example. A club may know what show they plan to put on next semester, but not who is going to design the set or how much the costumes will cost. In
these situations, A-board asked clubs to estimate costs based on past performances. The appeals session opened on Monday, Nov. 28. Club treasurers will have one week to revise requests that were denied, partially funded, or incorrect and meet with A-board members during office hours. A club cannot make new requests during the appeals process. Treasurers use appeals to edit requests that have already been made. Emergency funding will take place throughout spring semester, but requests will be considered on a case by case basis. “If a club really can’t function [without the funding], we would consider it during emergency,” Feldman said. Clubs can get in contact with A-board through the Club Finance email. Feldman hopes that the new process will give A-board time to focus on new policies. A-board has 11 members as of a constitutional amendment on Nov. 7, 2015 which increased the members from nine. “It’s an exciting time to be sitting behind the spreadsheets,” wrote Feldman in an email to the club leaders listserv. Four A-board positions will be up for election next semester. Students interested in filling the positions must contact the Union in order to run.
Statistics say Brandeis lacks marketability MARKETING, from page 1
Jewish component” of the school, the summary of Brandeis as a school based on Jewish values “reassure[d] me that they don’t just want a Jewish student.” Brandeis ranked low in marketability, according to a statistical test by Neustadt. The Net Promoter Score is calculated by asking a surveyed population to rate, on a scale of 0 to 10, how likely they would be to recommend a product, or, in this case, a university. Those who give a rating of nine or 10 are considered “promoters,” while those giving a rating of zero to six are considered “detractors.” The percent of detractors is then subtracted from the percent of promoters, giving the Net Promoter Score. Those surveyed who give a seven or eight are considered passive and do not add or subtract to the score. With a +6 Net Promoter Score, Brandeis had the lowest Net Promoter Score that Neustadt has seen of any university. The average university Net Promoter Score is +54, according to Neustadt. “The research suggests that this low Net Promoter Score has nothing to do with… the academic enterprise at Brandeis,” said Neustadt. “Alumni from all generations consistently give Brandeis very high marks for the quality of their academics.” President Ron Liebowitz said Brandeis “does not do enough to promote the excellence of the institution.” Brandeis should boast about its accomplishments more, he suggested.
Although he recognized Brandeis’ focus on social justice, he denied that the university could define itself by the concept of social justice. Social justice is not a broad enough platform for Brandeis to market itself on, he said, using the physics department as just one example of an important part of Brandeis which social justice does not cover. Housing and facilities and the size of the student body at Brandeis were points of of concern to prospective Brandeis students, according to Neustadt’s findings. These as well as the size of the student body were of medium to high importance for prospective Brandeis students who rated Brandeis in their top three choices, but prospective students were only content at a medium level with these two qualities of Brandeis, according to a scatterplot graph presented by Neustadt. Neustadt equated the prospective students’ low contentment with Brandeis’ size to Brandeis’ tendency to promote itself as, “the combination of a small liberal arts college with faculty research.” Instead, Brandeis should describe itself as “a medium-sized, undergraduate-centered, research university,” Neustadt said. This description is more comparable to schools such as Boston University, Cornell University, Tufts University and Yale University, which prospective students most commonly cited in their top three choices in Neustadt’s survey of prospective students.
4 NEWS
The Brandeis Hoot
December 2, 2016
Sodexo manager tries to remedy employee issues BLC, from page 1
fore Curritos opened at 11 a.m. or 12 p.m., depending on the day. Now, she works from 9:30 to 5:30 which is a concern because she wants to get home to her kids. She also has less time to prepare ingredients that will last the day. On some days of the week, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, there are only two employees working at Curritos, according to Turcios. There used to be an additional employee who could refill ingredients like salsa and guacamole while the others served the students. Now, if Turcios is making more salsa, students are waiting in line and growing frustrated. “Every day I feel sad to come into work,” said Turcios. Workers, like Mendez also expressed concern that supervisors or managers are doing jobs that should be union work. “When we walk through the door we see 4 managers and 4
employees, [it’s] wrong,” he said in Allen’s office. Allen said he recognizes employees might feel overworked or pressured to take overtime due to the size of the staff he has. “Nothing would make me happier than to be fully staffed,” he said during the gathering in his office. A portion of positions remain unstaffed and he posts requests to fill these positions about every two weeks. Transportation creates a major obstacle to filling empty service positions with full time staff. Brandeis’ campus is not as accessible as campuses where Allen has previously worked such as Harvard or Simmons. Those campuses were accessible by Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority trains, also known as “the T.” Brandeis is on the Fitchburg commuter rail line. Workers in the dining and food service industry often do not have cars and rely on public transportation to get to work. The commuter rail costs $6.75 one way compared to a trip on the T which
costs $2.50. Allen is looking into creating a shuttle that would run between campus and the green line riverside station (10-15 minutes from Brandeis) at convenient times for workers. An increase in accessibility may make Brandeis a more desirable workplace, said Allen. Scheduling may also pose an obstacle to working a full 40 hours per week. Positions and hours are distributed through what is called a “bidding process”, mandated by the Sodexo union, UNITE HERE Local 26 . The bidding process takes place at the beginning of each school year. Positions and their hours are posted and workers submit their preferences. The positions are then distributed based on seniority. The worker who has been at Brandeis the longest gets preference for hours and positions over a new hire. Changes in operational hours enacted this year have altered work hours. “As the students tell us what they want, schedules get adjusted, and with that, some
workers unfortunately are affected,” said Allen. Lower Usdan is now closed on the weekends and Upper Usdan has extended hours. Upper Usdan had the “most dramatic change in business this year.” The changes have impacted what hours are available to workers and where. Managers are still looking at when and where they need workers as a result of the new hours. “Every workforce has challenges and my job is to work through them one at a time,” said Allen. Allen oversees 133 union employees who work at various locations around campus, from the coffee stand in Mandel to Sherman Dining Hall. In the past eleven months that Allen has held his position, he has not seen a change in the number of full time positions. Allen would not state how many workers are full time or, on average, how many hours they work, stating that he considered it personal information. In response to the petition
and complaints voiced by staff at the meeting, Allen sat down with management to reevaluate scheduling. “I committed to the shop stewards that we would get together and go over each and every one of these challenges as well as the challenges that I face,” said Allen. They will make changes if they believe they are necessary and would improve the working environment. “In any food service you are either moving forward or you’re moving backward. If you find yourself in a place where you don’t have any transition at all then you’re not looking to improve the program,” said Allen. The easiest time to make changes will be over winter break. Allen offered to keep BLC informed but they asked that he deal directly with the workers involved with the petition. “It just really comes down to trying to fix what might be wrong,” said Jade Lara ’17.
155 schools across U.S. distribute sanctuary petitions SANCTUARY, from page 1
ties and trauma-related issues of familial separation and the chronic threat of deportation,” the petition stated. Although the term sanctuary campus is not universally defined, Brandeis already has policies in place that achieve some of the goals listed in the petition. “While no one knows what will happen in the future, and although we join many universities in studying what the term ‘sanctuary campus’ means, we wanted to reaffirm the practices Brandeis University already has in place,” Liebowitz said in an email to the Brandeis community on Nov. 17. These practices include not permitting immigration enforcement on campus without a war-
rant or demonstration of pressing circumstances, not allowing Brandeis police to act on behalf of federal agents in the enforcement of immigration laws and not releasing immigration status information unless mandated by a court order to do so, Liebowitz said in the email. Liebowitz has also signed his name on a “Statement in Support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program and our Undocumented Immigrant Students,” which, at the time of publication, has been signed by 441 college and university presidents. Gannit Ankori, professor of art history and theory and chair of the School of Creative Arts Council, advocated to make Brandeis a sanctuary campus. She wears a safety pin “as a symbol of my
solidarity with anyone who feels unsafe or alone,” she said in an email to The Brandeis Hoot. “My conviction is that we must do EVERYTHING to protect and nurture all our students and everyone on campus … Brandeis needs to actively fight against any form of racism, xenophobia, islamophobia, sexism and all other forms of discrimination,” she said. Students at colleges and universities across the United States have been circulating similar petitions to make their own campuses sanctuaries, but that could mean different things to different people, according to a Chronicle article published on Nov. 17. New Haven, Conn., is already considered a “sanctuary city,” and Yale University was just declared a sanctuary campus within that city, according to Carly Gove, a
student at Yale University. New Haven’s status as a sanctuary means that the New Haven police will not inquire into anyone’s immigration status during questioning or if they have reported something to the police, according to Gove. “Basically the only way someone in New Haven can get deported is if there’s an ICE raid,” she said. Yale’s status as a sanctuary campus means that “Yale won’t actively collude with ICE or give up any information on students without an explicit warrant … this also means the university is willing to offer legal representation to students should they get entangled in any immigration battles,” Gove said. Xavier Maciel, a student at Pomona College, began a Google spreadsheet to keep track of all
the institutions of higher education that have started sanctuary campus petitions. At time of publication, the spreadsheet listed 155 schools. Each entry on the spreadsheet includes a link to the specific school’s petition, states who is able to sign the petition (some schools are only allowing those affiliated with the school to sign their petition, while others will let anyone sign), the state the school is located in, and any updates, progress or statements made by the school. The spreadsheet also directed visitors to a petition guide/template in case schools needed help starting a petition. Brandeis’ petition had 988 signatures at the time of publication. The petition was last updated with names on Nov. 18.
New report will gauge club participation By Abigail Gardener and Elianna Spitzer editors
Club leaders will be required to report information about their events, attendance, inventory and allocated funds spent each semester to the Club Support Committee of the Student Union, according to members of the committee. The committee has been working on a Club Support Report all semester, and plans to release it within the next two weeks. The report is mandatory and must be filled out by Jan. 30. The goal of the report is to “provide support for clubs on campus,” according to Ryan Tracy, Class of 2017 senator and chair of the Club Support Committee. Brandeis has 280 chartered clubs that the committee is unable to provide full support for, simply because of the sheer volume. “It’s tough for us to know what’s going on in 280 different organizations … So our goal is to learn what they’re doing, and to support them in ways that are going to help them reach their potential,” Tracy said. The report will ask clubs to list
goals they had for the semester and whether they reached those goals. This information will allow members of the Club Support Committee to figure out how to assist the clubs that were unable to reach their goals. The report is “a way for us to help club leaders to improve the way they manage their clubs,” said Tal Richtman, class of 2020 senator and member of the Club Support Committee. Club leaders will check participation and “set goals for the next semester or for this semester. This is what we expect club officers to do when they lead a club.” The committee is asking for information on things that a club is already expected to provide for their members, the senators said. They do not want clubs to feel afraid or policed by the report. It is more of a tool for the committee to see the status of the club and to help them improve. The committee will not punish clubs for poor attendance, underused funding or unpopular events. Instead, members of the support committee plan to use the information to reach out to club leaders and advise them on how to improve issues like attendance.
“We’re not trying to grade the clubs. If we see a club is struggling and we have the tools that can help benefit them, we would want to email them, bring them into a meeting, and have a conversation with them about it. And not … like a slap on the wrist, but … let’s work together,” Tracy said. The committee will also use the reports to gauge the usefulness of workshops they are developing for next semester. Richtman listed possible workshop topics, among them public relations, social media outreach, conflict resolution and administrative management. The reports will contribute to promoting a collaborative environment between clubs on campus. Some clubs do not realize that other clubs function with similar purposes, Richtman said. The reports will allow the committee to reach out to clubs that may be able to share advice and work together to increase the benefit of their event. The committee hopes that these reports will also help to put together a highlight reel of sorts to show the best of what Brandeis clubs are doing. “We want to be able to put these highlights together to say, ‘These are what
photo by hannah schuster/the hoot
Brandeis clubs are doing and this is what makes Brandeis so great,’” Tracy said. The report will act as self-reflection for clubs as well, Tracy said. By filling out the report, clubs will have a clearer platform to track the progress of their goals and can monitor how successful they have been in achieving them. The committee expects all members of a club’s E-board to help fill out the report. The information provided in the report will only be shared with the Club Support Committee. “We are not going to be telling clubs what other clubs are doing,” Tracy said. The information about a club’s in-
ventory and use of allocated funds may be shared with A-board as well. However, A-board already has access to a club’s SUMS account and can view their use of allocated funding, according to Tracy. An anonymous survey will also be accessible for club leaders and members by the end of the semester. This survey will allow any students to voice concerns or questions about problems or difficulties they face within a club. It will allow Club Support Committee members to facilitate discussions and better the working environment within the club.
December 2, 2016
OPINIONS
Technology wars: What you don’t know about ad block By Anthony Winszman and Karthik Rangan special to the hoot
At first glance, ad blockers seem to be a convenient tool for avid Internet surfers who can bypass intrusive and “annoying” advertisements from popping up on their screens and “interrupting them in their reading.” Simultaneously, ad blockers have become the nightmare of many website owners and publishers who have begun to lose significant revenue generated from advertisements. This is the battle we are discussing today. In a technology vs. technology world, where users appreciate the convenience of free access to information, they also seem to have become a bit greedy at the expense of many information providers. In fact, 15 to 20 percent of the revenue generated by advertising is lost each year due to ad blockers, which is what really raised concern about this issue. Prof. Benjamin Shiller (IBS) is a specialist in the economics of the Internet, which led him to
perform research on the effects of ad blockers starting in 2015. Ad blockers are a free software (downloaded from the Internet) that allow Internet users to go on websites without seeing any advertisements that would usually pop up on the side (or sometimes middle) of their windows. These advertisements, when unblocked, are placed on a variety of websites that charge the advertised company a fee for the space. This is how many websites generate revenue, and is especially what allows information from these websites to be free for users, who would otherwise pay a subscription. Our research—led by Prof. Shiller and assisted by us—shows that ad blockers are hurting not only producers in the short term but also consumers in the long term. With the loss of revenue these media houses suffer, as specified above, the quality of free information could decrease significantly in the coming years, resulting in lower quality of content and causing a depression in the bank of knowledge. Free information has brought society very far,
especially by educating citizens in a democracy, and taking away from this progress could bear grave consequences. With this research, our purpose is to prove the above, and present a solution before it is too late. From Sept. to Dec. 2016, we as assistants have had the honor of contributing to Prof. Shiller’s research in the department of Economics at Brandeis University. We pursued this research by focusing on France: a country where around a third of the Internet-using population has an activated ad blocker on their computer. Campaigns have already been conducted in France, led by Le GESTE (an administrative representative for all media sources in France), to make Internet users aware that ad blockers lower editor revenues. Two campaigns took place in France thus far: The first lasted one week in March 2016 and the second lasted one month in Sept. 2016. The goal of these campaigns was to raise awareness about the negative effects of See AD BLOCK, page 7
The Brandeis Hoot 5
Not enough progress for free menstrual products By José Castellanos columnist
On Nov. 11, Brandeis Students for Reproductive Justice and Brandeis Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance authored a statement of progress for their menstrual product campaign and submitted it as an op-ed to The Brandeis Hoot, which I cosigned. The statement of progress outlined the survey that they had created “to gauge students’ views on menstrual product use, availability and pricing on campus” and presented the data that the survey found. Overall, they “found that the quality of products available, inconsistent pricing and availability and financial insecurity were all factors that students cited as inhibiting them from getting the care they needed during menstruation.” Obviously, this is an amazing development. This is most likely the most comprehensive survey of its type ever done at Brandeis: The survey collected 455 responses from Brandeis students who menstruate, and is part of
a continued effort on behalf of the student body to provide aid for people who menstruate. Free menstrual products may soon be implemented on campus, which is something to be celebrated. Though not listed in the article, the current plan is to use a Senate Money Resolution (SMR) from the Student Union to fund the test based on the survey. However, this does bring up a number of questions, not the least of which is why Brandeis administration, in face of the conversation that is being had regarding access to menstrual products on campus, is not stepping up to address the issue, but is rather leaving it up to the students. According to Senator Shaquan McDowell ’18, chair of the Campus Operations Working Group (COW-G) Committee, “The COW-G Committee along with student activists are formatting an SMR which will be brought to the Senate. The SMR will be used to fund the beginning of a test that will prove the model proposed to facilities is sustainable. This resoSee PROGRESS, page 7
Why you should not protest Trump By Daniel Freedman columnist
Spiritual leaders often have mA reactionary, leftist movement has arisen in response to the election of Trump, and rioting has ensued as protest. This election response from the public is not unprecedented, as many disillusioned voters took to the streets in the wake of Obama’s victory eight years ago. As a democratic right, political demonstrations show discontent with the results whether grounded in righteousness or not. The marches against Obama were born out of racism, nativism and xenophobia. The marches now are against these very traits in the president-elect. While there is a false equivalency being made between the two protests, I will tell you why I disagree with the Trump opposition movement despite my strong personal feelings about the choice. My logic is not influenced by Trump supporters arguing that the protests are preemptive, and that he should be given a chance to govern before public uproar unfairly condemns him. After the plethora of inexcusable and disqualifying actions and statements that the president-elect has made, I do not equivocate about the disaster this spells for us as a nation and world. Trump has made campaign promises throughout his run that are wholly against democratic and ethical principles. Then why do I disagree with the many protestors? Liberal protests are the political tongue-lashing of the liberal elite telling Trump supporters they are wrong, and appears as a defeatist death stroke: The rejection of a liberal ideology in this country. You might ask, how could the Trump supporters not see how wrong they are from the protests? But I return with a question. How did you feel when the Birther movement protestors marched in response to Obama’s victory? The
discontent was palpable, but maybe you, like I, internally smiled with a smug satisfaction that a black man was their president too. Did their anger and disbelief that a black man had risen to the highest office in the land give you pause, or make you question either the legitimacy or excitement at his appointment? If you are like me, you laughed it off. You were content that the law of the land was on his side, and that at least the majority of people in this nation were not so bigoted that they were prohibited from selecting an immensely qualified candidate regardless of his racial background. Unfortunately the tables have turned this election cycle, and the public scorn manifesting in riots is greeted by the alt-right in much the way liberals greeted protests
an anti-trump protest in washington, d.c.
of Obama: sad that the other side cannot appreciate your “enlightened” vantage, but happy they are bound by the elected choice. The rise of the euphemistically coined alt-right movement of neo-Nazi nativists is not a product of Trump’s election bid and subsequent win. It is quite the other way around: Trump’s successful bid is a product of the underlying discontent and hate from the “silent majority” that have found a voice in a demagogue. Trump was not elected despite his views and blatant disregard for the truth. He was elected for these very reasons. The electorate in this nation is not synonymous with the prevailing culture. There is a large group of U.S. voters on the political right who feel disenfranchised and ignored by the
political establishment and the media. They feel their views are shut down and dismissed through political condescension and social elitism from liberals. An overzealous movement of political correctness has shunted their ability to comfortably speak freely and express their worldview. Many of the political left view this as a triumph: Racism is becoming less socially acceptable as liberal circles and media gain more control. Hooray, but the superficial victory does not scratch the surface and reinforces the staunch opposition in the hearts and minds of the alt-right. Maybe your Confederate grandfather from the Deep South learned not to use derogatory words in liberal company. What does that accomplish if the views are still held, and
will be used the next time he steps in a voting booth? Shaming racist remarks builds resentment, but there is no shame in the voting booth because no one is watching, no one is listening. In the voting booth—the ultimate bastion of freedom—bigotry is not accompanied by a political tongue-lashing. To those who are profoundly disappointed, know that an angry protest is futile to effect change, and buys little more catharsis than screaming in the streets. If you want change, engage people with disparate views. Do not shame those who disagree. Condescension convinces no one, and that resentment and unchanged view will certainly make its debut the next time they wander into a voting booth.
photo from wikipedia
6 OPINIONS
The Brandeis Hoot
December 2, 2016
Anti-racists should reclaim Pepe the Frog By Katarina Weessies editor
Earlier this year, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) declared the “Pepe the Frog” meme to be a hate symbol. The ADL, an anti-bigotry organization that dedicates itself to the issues of anti-Semitism, racism and white supremacy, has a database of hate symbols called “Hate on Display.” The database catalogues a wide range of hate symbols, including those associated with violent organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazi groups. More recently, “Hate on Display” has expanded to keep up with the rising tide of hate in the Internet “alt-right” community, meaning that the database must now include memes like Pepe the Frog. The “Hate on Display” entry for Pepe the Frog details the history of Pepe’s descent into racism. It explains that “the Pepe the Frog character did not originally have racist or anti-Semitic connotations” and that “the majority of uses of Pepe the Frog have been, and continue to be, non-bigoted.”
However, “as the meme proliferated in online venues such as 4chan, 8chan and Reddit, which have many users who delight in creating racist memes and imagery, a subset of Pepe memes came into existence that centered on racist, anti-Semitic or other bigoted themes.” In other words, what was once a stupid, benign joke that was shared between friends on the Internet was appropriated by racists until it became unusable for those with good intentions. Unfortunately, the racist appropriation of non-bigoted imagery, symbolic culture and language is not an uncommon or new issue. Bigoted organizations have been taking advantage of previously unproblematic cultural symbols for at least a century. The classic example of this is the swastika, which was a sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism before it was appropriated by the Nazis. Earlier representations of the swastika had good connotations, representing peace and harmony. The symbol’s comforting associations served as an advantage for the Nazis. After the Holocaust, the swastika was never
fully reclaimed by any of the cultures that once used it as a sacred symbol. For example, in 1940, the Navajo, Papagos, Hopi and Apache Native American tribes, all of whom used the swastika as a sacred symbol, officially renounced the swastika, stating that it had been irreparably “desecrated” by the Nazis. Of course, most of the symbols featured in the “Hate on Display” database are far more benign than the swastika. Most are somewhat obscure symbols that those outside of white supremacist circles would not recognize. These less widespread symbols, especially the ones that were appropriated from non-bigoted culture, have the potential to be reclaimed. Reclaiming a word or symbol that was once used for racist purposes can be a profound and empowering experience for marginalized people. The ability to claim something that was once used against you and use it in a manner that affirms and empowers you can help heal the psychological effects of bigotry. Furthermore, reclaiming racist terms and symbols causes these terms, and by extension the
culture associated with the terms, to become weaker. Pepe the Frog is one of the least immediately offensive symbols on the database. This is a good sign for those who hope to reclaim it, since many users of the meme already do not associate it with bigotry. In the Internet age, symbols like Pepe the Frog can easily be reclaimed via anti-bigotry communities on social media. Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Reddit are all appropriate forums to post and share Pepe memes that fight bigotry rather than promote it. If enough of these memes are proliferated throughout various social media platforms, the Pepe meme will be successfully reclaimed. As college students with a relatively extensive knowledge of social media and meme culture, it is our moral responsibility to do what we can to reclaim Pepe the Frog. Most media-savvy college students are simultaneously amused and disappointed with the racist descent of Pepe. Jose Castellanos ’18, columnist for The Hoot and local meme expert, remarked that “it is really disappointing that a joke that we used
to forget about the stresses of the world was used against us.” He argues that young people should attempt to reclaim Pepe the Frog and other bigoted memes, explaining, “It is our responsibility to show the alt-right that we will not stand for the perversion of our beloved memes.” Obviously, posting anti-bigotry Pepe memes is not going to end bigotry. Young people with the goal to minimize the increasing hate in our country need to engage in activism outside the Internet and work with organizations that directly and actively help marginalized people. However, it is important that online alt-right bigots be fought on their own turf. Young people with a social media following are in the best possible position to counter the racist use of memes. If college-aged people do not take active steps to use memes like Pepe the Frog in an anti-racist context, they will probably never be reclaimed. However, since most people do not strongly associate Pepe with bigotry, young people on the Internet should have a relatively easy time reclaiming Pepe.
Thank you, Rabbi Winick By José Castellanos columnist
Spiritual leaders often have more responsibilities than just leading services. Often, they are mentors and guides who lead by example, and this is especially true on a college campus. The leader in question has to speak to a larger community that is under almost constant stress and pressure, and faces a multitude of questions unique to that community. The unique challenges faced by spiritual leaders can understandably be overwhelming for some. However, thankfully this is not a problem that can be seen at Brandeis due to the extraordinary chaplains that we have on this
campus, especially Rabbi Elyse Winick. Rabbi Winick is a Brandeis alum who graduated in 1986 and returned to Brandeis in 2008 to serve as the Jewish chaplain. She has consistently demonstrated her ability to be an extraordinary leader, in both a spiritual and secular sense. From speaking on the need of Jewish students to support the Ford Hall 2015 protest, to imploring those who attended services this Rosh Hashanah to become politically involved and actively bring forth the change we want to see, to leading the founding of Brandeis Bridges, Rabbi Winick has time and again been a community leader who has always promoted positive change
for Brandeis, and beyond our campus. On Nov. 16, Senior Vice President of Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel sent a campuswide email stating that Rabbi Winick had accepted a new position with the Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) as the director of adult learning. First, I want to congratulate Rabbi Winick on her new position with the CJP. The CJP does incredible work, such as their anti-poverty initiative that has provided immediate food and financial assistance, support with emergency services and their social justice and volunteerism branch, which helps charities ranging from Family Table, which assists kosher food banks, to the
Greater Boston Jewish Coalition for Literacy. There is no doubt in my mind that Rabbi Winick can continue doing incredible work with CJP and have a much broader outreach there than she had at Brandeis. However, as happy as I am that Rabbi Winick is going to have this incredible opportunity, I am immensely saddened to see her go. Yes, she has been a guiding voice for the Jewish community at Brandeis, and has never hesitated to speak up when the situation required a voice of reason, but more than that, she is an incredible human being. Few times have I witnessed someone so selfless, so impassioned about what she believes and so dedicated to those around
her. Judaism teaches us that certain people, referred to as either a tzadik or tzadeikes, have a merit which surpasses their iniquity, and have no evil inclinations. It is my opinion, and I hope everyone who has ever met her would agree, that Rabbi Winick truly embodies the Jewish tzadeikes, or righteous person. There are few whose impact on the Brandeis campus has been as immense as the impact she has had, and I sincerely wish Rabbi Winick the best of luck on whatever journey life takes her on. However, first, I want to personally thank Rabbi Winick for being an incredible leader, and an even better person. Thank you, Rabbi Winick, for all that you have done for us.
On leaving Brandeis By Zach Phil Schwartz editor
I have written for The Brandeis Hoot for well over two years now, and have been an editor for nearly two. I’ve edited this section for a year and a half. But as time moves on, so must I to begin a new journey in my academic career: my semester abroad. In late January 2017, I will be leaving the United States and beginning my studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands with the Brandeis-led program there. The home stretch at the end of each semester leading into finals week and break has always been difficult for me, but I’m finding this one especially so, thanks to the time I will not be on this campus. There are many things I love about this university, but none more than the community—the Brandeis family. I cannot overstate the value to my life of the many friends, peers and mentors that I’ve come to know here. The goodbyes will be bittersweet. While I will see most everyone again in August, there is a pos-
sibility that I will never see my many to-be-graduating senior friends again after December, which is a truth that I don’t like to think about. That all said, despite my praise for the university, there are some things I hope to see worked on by fall 2017. The administration, for example, must sit down and listen to the menstrual products campaign and actually take action to address the students’ concerns. I hope to see the university honor and build upon its promises to diversify the student body, the faculty and the staff as indicated in President Liebowitz’s “Update on Diversity and Inclusion Efforts” email dated Nov. 18. The institution must continue to reaffirm its commitment to social justice in all facets of university life, and while I may not be physically present to experience progress here, I trust and believe in the student body to push said progress. Of course, the time away from the university will not be about what I am not experiencing. It will be about a new set of experiences. It is about diverging from the familiar (and after five semesters, the mundane) immersion in
a different culture, building new bridges and exploring different pedagogies. Although I’d like to minimize my own expectations in favor of keeping an open mind, I anticipate a semester like no other that I have experienced in Waltham, all while coming to know a new set of friends, peers and mentors. I also am looking forward to seeing friends in Europe that I have not seen for a long time. Chances are that this will be my final article for The Hoot until Au-
gust 2017, but my final time spent as a junior at the university will be with the Ski and Snowboard Team. I consider myself privileged to have been a part of the team for the last three years, and it will be especially hard to say goodbye to my friends on the team’s training trip, which ends just days before I leave the country. While this may be my last article for The Hoot for a while, Brandeis University’s community newspaper will continue to occupy a place in my heart. The Hoot was
the first club I got involved with, and I am unequivocally glad that I stuck with it. I’m proud of the work I’ve done at the paper copy editing, as the website editor and as the Opinions editor. I’m proud of many of the ideas I’ve seen. I’m proud of the people I’ve met and the friendships I’ve made, and I am counting down the days until I can once again be a meaningful presence to the paper. But in the meantime, Europe, here I come.
December 2, 2016
Ad blockers have hidden harms AD BLOCK, from page 5
ad block for media companies. Hence, online media websites either “fully or partially blocked” access to their websites unless the user accepted to deactivate their ad blocker. The media sites displayed messages such as, “We have noticed you are using an ad blocker. Please deactivate your ad blocker to continue browsing, as the revenue of our website comes from advertisements. If you wish to continue browsing ad free, please subscribe.” These messages were effective indeed, based on the results of the campaign, but the impact may have been shorter term than they hoped. The GESTE provided our team information on the campaign participants, their approach to users and the number of people who “whitelisted them” as a result. The
GESTE then sent us a complete report of the September campaign results—which was put together with the help of a French start-up known as AdBack—containing both “good and bad news.” With a high 66 percent of the French media market participating in the campaign, they were able to reach millions of users throughout the experiential month. However, the September report read that while about half the ad block users were responsive to deactivating their ad blocker, a strong majority (more than 60 percent) of these users reactivated it in the following week. This showed us that while the campaign was successful, there is still much work to be done to make a permanent change, to which our team seeks to contribute. Furthermore, we need not only prove the damage caused by ad blockers, but we need to justify
the potential coordination of action that media firms should take in France. It is well known that such collusion between firms is likely illegal, yet we have found that unilateral action is insufficient to combat the ad block users winning thus far. Going beyond incentivizing users to deactivate their ad blocker, we would like to help install policy to ensure the economic prosperity of media houses through advertisements and promote free information. This is the first overview of current economic research ongoing at Brandeis University. While the research is still in a primary stage, it is coming along successfully and we expect that the progress we make every day will contribute to a bigger project overall: to promote consumer well-being and ensure that economies continue to operate smoothly without such conflicts of interest.
High demand for free menstrual products PROGRESS, from page 5
lution will fund the initial money needed to start the test, but in the spring, plans will be made to discuss accessing Student Union funds in general for the remainder of the test.” In short, the administration is saying that it does not have faith that such a program would actually bring change to the Brandeis community, and is therefore not planning on acting until students prove that it can be funded and provided free of charge. This in and of itself raises major concerns about how the Brandeis administration takes the concerns of its students. However, I’m frankly not shocked, given that, when I wrote an opinion article for The Hoot saying that we shouldn’t be buying new vending machines but rather addressing the need for menstrual products, a top administrator was more concerned with my mistake in who was actually paying for the vending machines than the fact that students still saw this as a legitimate concern that needed to be addressed. Though admit-
OPINIONS 7
The Brandeis Hoot
tedly the article was incorrect in my assuming that the university paid for the new machines, the fact still remains that this was the part, rather than the needs of the students, which received an actual response from an administrator. It has been more than two months since the original article directed at the administration, saying that students who menstruate deserve the right to free and accessible menstrual products, was published and this has been the closest thing to a response from the administration. That is unacceptable. At this point, the Brandeis administration has entirely too much to answer for. It is absolutely ridiculous that administration is so unwilling to address this issue themselves that money has to be moved from the Student Union to be able to provide a basic health need. When the statement of progress signed off with, “We continue to move forward with this project with the hopes that the administration works to accommodate the expressed student need,” it shows that there is a concern that, despite the results of the survey and the actions of
the proposed SMR, the administration may still choose, for whatever reason, to refuse to provide free menstrual products to its students, and that is a problem. The survey speaks of a student body that has stated time and again that, for various reasons ranging from availability to financial insecurity, they do not always have the access to the products that they need for the menstruation that is entirely out of their control. Students who menstruate have legitimate concerns and fears, many of which are not being acknowledged by administration, and it is frankly upsetting that this needs to be debated and argued for to begin with. It seems like an obvious right that people who menstruate have consistently asked for, and it’s even worse that none of their concerns were taken seriously until they were written about by someone who has no idea what it feels like to menstruate. But worst of all, it’s absolutely shameful that administration is leaving it up to the students to pay for their own overpriced menstrual products, rather than providing them this right to begin with.
On being disappointed in America By Faria Afreen columnist
I’m not sure if it’s crazy and naive for me to feel this way, but I’m happy. I’m happy because I know that although the man-whoshall-not-be-named has become the president-elect of the United States, I’m part of a community that will make damn sure he is checked and that he is unable to progress with any of his racist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic, sexist, ableist and other bigoted views. This is a wake up call to Americans and especially to my generation, which has learned that they need to take elections seriously and realize the views of our elders still matter and should not be disregarded so easily. We have learned that all our voices, even those who don’t agree with us, do matter. More importantly, it is a call to do things more intelligently, kindly, compassionately and respectfully. I am also disappointed because, like so many others, I was confident that we would have our first female president for the next four years, my college years. I’m disappointed in the Democratic National Committee and in those who voted for a dead gorilla, Harambe. I’m upset with those who simply voted for the Republican candidate because he was against the establishment, those who thought their votes wouldn’t matter, refusing to vote even though there are people who wished they
had that privilege. I’m upset with those who didn’t take Trump seriously, those living in swing states who didn’t realize the impact of voting for a third party, and that the psychology behind this whole election was deeply flawed. Because of this election, so many people are hurting. It is hard to forget my mom’s face, beaming of hope quickly turning to one of such disappointment and sadness, and all those other sad faces I saw walking by. What finally broke me down and made me cry were these words from Clinton’s concession speech: “To all the little girls watching, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world.” It made me think of my family, my immigrant household, my Muslim parents, my (mentally and physically) disabled relatives and my LGBTQ+ friends, but mostly it made me think of my little sister, my mom and myself. No doubt, I’m scared because people think they’re justified in acting belligerently, because the recent calm in America is probably the peace before the storm. I’m afraid because after building myself up, I feel small again, and because I’m too optimistic for my own good. It is scary that the future is more murky than ever, and that I really can’t comprehend the weight of this. I thought too well of others, and I hate that only now am I noticing how terrible they can be. Ain’t I lucky?
photo from theodysseyonline.com
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8 The Brandeis Hoot
ARTS, ETC.
December 2, 2016
‘Urinetown’ sparks laughter with distressed bladders By Katie Decker-Jacoby editor
Jokes, singing, costumes, a live orchestra, dancing, melodrama and satire galore—Tympanium Euphorium’s production of “Urinetown” had it all. “Urinetown” seriously impressed and excited loads of laughter among audience members, on Nov. 17-20 in the SCC Theater. “Spare change! It’s expensive to pee,” exclaimed actors at the door, on stage and trudging through the audience before the show began. Right off the bat, the actors’ interaction with audience members roused interest and took advantage of the entire auditorium. With a musical titled “Urinetown” and actors complaining about the price of peeing, it is quite natural to ponder the meaning of this show. Narrator and police officer Lockstock, played by Zain Walker ’19, immediately addressed the audience’s curiosities. Urinetown is “a mythical place, a bad place,” he clarified. Walker went on to explain that they were experiencing a calamitous water shortage. Members of this dystopian society had to use costly public restrooms to urinate, one of which was a yellow tiled stall labeled “Public Amenity No. 9.” The opening song detailed the public’s struggle to pay for the bathrooms. “Our bladders are distressed,” the actors sang in the first number. Penelope Pennywise, played by Mo Pepose ’17, managed Public Amenity No. 9, checking that everyone paid their dues. “It’s a privilege to pee,” she said, further emphasizing the miserable condition of the lower class of society.
Having been in a drought for the last 20 years, nobody gets to use the toilets for free, according to Ms. Pennywise. Pepose did an outstanding job staying in character throughout the entire show. She always sported a hateful, forbidding expression on her face, and her body language reinforced her character’s cold aura. Ben Steinberg ’18 as Cladwell B. Cladwell also had a strong stage presence. He commanded the stage in a domineering yet humorous way as Mr. Cladwell, the unscrupulous boss of Urine Good Co. Cladwell outwardly took pride in his ability to “manipulate great masses of people,” as he was intentionally scamming the public throughout the whole musical. Cladwell’s strong stage presence and humor continued when he and his employees danced in a chorus line, donning silver hats and praising the almighty Cladwell. Lead roles Derek Scullin ’18 as Bobby Strong and Caitlin Crane-Moscowitz ’20 as Hope Cladwell most certainly captured the audience’s attention with their singing and acting. The two followed a cliché first meeting scenario, with cheesy antics like shyly avoiding eye contact and listening to each other’s hearts. They literally listened to each other’s hearts, unhesitatingly placing their heads on each other’s chests. This foolish young love resumed in several other scenes. Above all, their singing skills unquestioningly impressed and stood out. Determined to rid society of any corruption, Strong launched a rebellion with other penniless individuals. Old Man Strong, played by Alex Peters ’18, showed up
photos by irving perez/the hoot
waving a flag with a toilet plunger painted on it. Other insurgents protested with signs that read, “Urine Trouble,” “Pee for free,” “I’m mad!” and “I’m mad too!” When Ms. Pennywise announced she had a plan to fix the corrupt system, and when Strong declared his love for Hope, characters on stage said, “Whaaaaaat?” and turned dramatically to the source of shock. Characters’ evident stupidity and over-exaggeration were a constant source of jokes and laughter. “Urinetown” also showed its witty side, like when Leah Sherin ’19 as Ms. McQueen exclaimed, “What an unexpected surprise!” and Hope replied, “Is there any other kind?” The musical additionally entertained with satire. “Nothing can kill a show like too much exposition,” Walker joked after he rambled on introducing “Urinetown” to the audience. When Little Sally, played by Nyomi White ’20, asked Officer Lockstock what was happening, regarding the revolution, Lockstock answered, “the Act I finale.” There were plenty of other moments when Lockstock reminded everyone that this was all just a musical, not reality. His sarcastic disposition provided a successful source of satire throughout the show, evoking much laughter from the audience. His partner in crime, Officer Barrel, played by Eli Esrig ’19, made the two a very amusing dynamic duo on stage. Ultimately, Strong and his rebels took Hope captive in hopes of Cladwell surrendering, Pennywise and Hope joined the revolution, Bobby died, or “expired,” as they said in the musical, Pennywise turned out to be Hope’s
mother and it was up to Hope to fix society. However, as narrator Lockstock warned the audience, “Urinetown” is not a happy musical. Although “Urinetown” does not have a happy ending, costumes, lighting, sound, the live orchestra, set design and all other contributors definitely succeeded in making this theater production one of the best shows I have seen at Brandeis. The cast displayed an abundance of talent in addition to the lead roles. It was awesome how a few members of the ensemble got solos, so the audience could hear other incredible voices too. The ensemble’s talent was impossible to overlook. It was clearly a group effort to produce such a seamless, lighthearted, comical show. “Every single cast member was extremely committed to his or her role and the energy put towards each performance was clear,” remarked Hannah Taylor ’19, who was part of the ensemble. “The cast had a great group dynamic and that comes largely from the effort Gabe Walker put into the show,” Taylor expressed. Taylor commended director Gabe Walker’s ’19 efforts to help each and every actor develop their characters. Walker additionally made it a top priority to instill confidence into his cast and crew, according to Taylor. “The cast was also close off stage. There was a sense of gratitude that was seen in the way everyone interacted with one another,” Taylor added. The audience seemed to share a very positive reaction to “Urinetown” as well. “Quality experience,” Matt Guerra ’18 concluded. “Gabe did a really good job of direction. He made the town
feel alive. He really thought about every single aspect and made sure everyone had their own character,” raved Ellie McKnight ’18. “It was really smart to have the characters naturally ambling around before the show, and also to make sure that everyone in the ensemble had these little personal touches. It just made it more of an engaging show,” Isaac Satin ’19 said. In addition to the cast’s effortless group dynamic, it collected donations to help residents in Flint, MI, who are currently struggling in a water crisis. They raised an impressive $170. On top of directing his first show at Brandeis, Walker played Senator Fipp on opening night and both Saturday performances due to an injury with the original actor for Senator Fipp (Emily Bisno ’19). “It was certainly an interesting experience! It made me feel much closer with the cast, and was ultimately pretty fun. Senator Fipp is a pretty strange character, so it was fun to tackle it,” Walker expressed. Even though this was Walker’s first solo directing gig at Brandeis, he has had plenty of experience directing in the past. It is safe to say that in addition to the cast and crew’s commendable efforts, Walker’s extensive theater skills and knowledge helped “Urinetown” become a very noteworthy Tympanium Euphorium production. “I didn’t know most of them very well when we first started, so I was flabbergasted by the talent and professionalism they put into each and every rehearsal,” Walker said, continuing, “I hope we all created something they can be proud of.”
December 2, 2016
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The Brandeis Hoot
‘Martyr’ impresses with dark, challenging themes By BT Montrym, Madi Samus and Sarah Terrazano special to the hoot and editor
A dark and deeply stimulating production that tackled religious fundamentalism, tolerance and sexuality, Brandeis Theater Company’s “Martyr” stunned audiences from Nov. 17-20 in Spingold’s Laurie Theater. The play, written by Marius von Mayenburg and translated by Maja Zade, broaches the issue of religious zealotry and offers some answers as to how people may respond when faced with it. Because of the breadth of the issue, audiences are left without satisfying answers to this question— they must instead come to their own conclusions. Raphael Stigliano ’18 took
on the role of Benjamin, a high school student who turns to religious fanaticism to deal with his teen angst. By becoming increasingly invested in his religious beliefs, Benjamin draws his classmates, school officials and family into arguments about fundamentalism and the extent to which his beliefs should be respected in his high school. One of the most sympathetic and well portrayed characters of the show was George, played by Daniel Souza ’19. His story arc is endearing, hapless and tragic, and Souza embraced the social othering of playing a gay teenager also deemed a “cripple” with aplomb. Perhaps most deserving of praise is Jamie Semel ’17, who worked opposite two hired actors with grace while employing her lines to her advantage. Her stage
presence was subtle and determined, and her character’s dedication to her secular beliefs was a dynamic force within the produc-
photos courtesy mike lovett
tion. The set, designed by Prof. Cameron Anderson (THA), created an unsettling atmosphere to match the rising tension between the characters. The stage, stark against the dimly lit theater, was in the shape of a cross. At the top of the set wall was a pool ladder, mimicking the high school pool which various ensemble members “jumped” into throughout the play. The set was minimalist, consisting of a few desks for the classroom scenes, a few pieces of furniture in Benjamin’s home and a skeleton that served as a constant reminder of the biology class that was central to the play. Towards the end, the entire set is overshadowed by a large wooden cross that Benjamin places on the wall. The scene transitions were jarring, in keeping with the style in which the play was written. Director Dmitry Troyanovsky made use of the Laurie Theater well,
placing important events at striking locations and creating powerful stage images. The play itself has some unaddressed plot points that are meant to be brought out through direction. At times, the plot was unclear despite the deft direction. As the play progresses, it becomes apparent that the questions being raised cannot be answered in the theater, but are meant to challenge the audience to think about these issues, especially in light of the current global climate. Additionally, for audience members who wanted to discuss the play’s topics further and get more insight into some of its more controversial elements, a talk-back was offered after the show to talk with cast and crew members. A very affecting and well-built production of a play that has some inherent structural difficulties, “Martyr” was a sight to behold.
MELA energizes after countless hours of preparation
By Katharine Mound staff
Music, dancing and culture were on energetic display in Levin Ballroom on Saturday, Nov. 19 as part of the Brandeis South Asian Students Association’s (SASA) annual charity show, MELA. The theme of this year’s show, which marked the 15th anniversary of the event, focused on Raahi, the Hindi word for “traveler.” This was further reinforced by the spectacular painted backdrop of a silhouette riding a camel, juxtaposed against miles of mountains, sand and starry skies. But if the audience was wowed just by the mural-esque background, they were in for an even greater surprise ahead. The night began with a video documenting the lengths that SASA went through to put on the show: hours of dance rehearsals, discussions, organizing and painting the colossal, ornate backdrop, to name just a few of the tasks in the preparation process. It was clear that SASA invested a great deal of work into putting on the performances for this special night, and it fostered a greater appreciation for what was to come later in the evening. Emcees Khushee Nanavati ’19, Maurice Windley ’19 and Taminder Singh ’20 ushered in a delightfully entertaining atmosphere by starting off with banter. Their interactions served as mini respites between the various performances during the evening. Each class year had their own separate dance routines, all choreographed carefully and expertly. Additionally, dancing was also performed by Kaos Kids,
photos courtesy amanda huang
Bharatanatyam Ensemble, Chak De!, Brandeis Bhangra and even visiting Boston University’s Khatarnak. Each dance group brought their own unique choreography and music selections to give each performance its own distinct ambience. Although the dancers’ costumes ranged from elegant gowns to leggings and T-shirts, each performer wore a beaming smile on their face, an obvious indication that they were enjoying themselves immensely. Aside from dancing, there were other spectacles that graced the
stage of Levin Ballroom during MELA 2016. Dean of Students Jamele Adams presented a powerful slam poem near the beginning of the night that energized the crowd. Radhika Jangi ’18 and Tanaz Abid ’18 serenaded the audience with a truly enchanting song from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), a classic Bollywood romantic drama film. But of course, what’s a charity event without a fashion show? Droves of students styled in the finest Indian threads strutted across the stage with bright smiles and confident strides to
Bollywood’s greatest hits. Even the Brandeis Traditional Music Club took to the stage and fused together both traditional and western instruments to take their own creative spin on two Chinese songs: “Xi Yang Yang” and “Sai Ma.” Although the grandeur of the spectacles were as entertaining as they were fully-captivating, SASA did not let the audience forget what the night was truly for. Tanvi Devimane, a board member of the New England-based charity Saheli, which means “friend” in Hindi, explained that Saheli
was created as an organization to serve South Asian communities in New England. Specifically, though, Saheli’s mission focuses on empowering South Asian women and creating abuse-free environments for their families. Devimane reminded the audience that abuse comes in forms beyond verbal and physical, adding that South Asian women sometimes also face financial and emotional abuse, issues that one cannot exactly solve with a 911 call. Anyone listening could tell that this cause was close to Devimane’s heart, and her passion for the work that she performs at Saheli drove a similar desire in the audience to spread awareness of Saheli’s invaluable resources. Altogether, MELA was a beautiful blend of both the celebration of a culture and giving back to that culture. I do not think I have ever witnessed an audience display so much exhilaration and appreciation for all of the speakers and performers, though the mass cheering, whistling and clapping were certainly well-deserved. There was an electricity coursing through the performers that seemed to descend upon the substantial, boisterous crowd in front of them. It is safe to say that everyone who attended MELA 2016, whether student, faculty, friend or family, was thoroughly entertained and enchanted by the event. MELA was a reminder that no matter where we travel, even if we are uprooted or displaced, our cultures and heritages inherently exist alongside us. Wherever we end up, we can always find a home within ourselves and the people around us, and find pleasure in who we are.
10 ARTS
The Brandeis Hoot
December 2, 2016
Night for Africa showcases vibrant culture
By Karen Caldwell editor
Featuring amazing performances from Brandeis students, as well as performances from dance teams from surrounding schools such as Boston University, the sixth annual Night for Africa displayed Africa’s great diversity and recognized the cultures in the African diaspora, Saturday, Nov. 12. Brandeis African Student Organization (BASO) hosted the event for the sixth year. This year’s theme was Akwaaba, meaning welcome in the Akan languages of Ghana. The show was greatly anticipated among students, teachers and people from all over the city of Boston. The greatly anticipated show began with an energetic performance by the yellow-and-blueclad Fafali. The pounding of the drums along with the feet of the jumping dancers drove the crowd wild by the end of the performance and excited them to see what else Night for Africa had to offer. Brandeis-famous Toxic took the stage to perform a dance to a compilation of “Fade” by Kanye West and “Caroline” by Aminé.
photo by mitchell steinberg/the hoot
With their quick yet eye-catching movements, they stunned the crowd with their sass and confidence. Representing African-American culture within the African diaspora, they truly blew the audience away. Sankofa energized the crowd with vibrant West African dance that kept the audience cheering. They captured the audience’s attention as they danced across the stage with red, blue and purple lights shining on them throughout. Toxic then joined Sankofa in a dance-off of sorts where
each dance team showed off their moves to the other. They ended by dancing the same choreography to “Run the World” by Beyonce. LatinXtreme duo Abdiel Cabral ’18 and Vanessa Alamo ’17 represented the African diaspora in Latin America by stunning the audience with a flashy performance containing bachata and merengue, dances originating in the Dominican Republic. The colorful lights shone on the shiny sequins of their outfits as they spun and shimmied across the stage. Boston University’s Afrithms
made a presence on stage with a vibrant and enjoyable performance. Mixing both smooth and quick movements along with the afrobeats playing in the background, the talented dance team made sure not to lose the audience’s attention. Hip-hop group Stop Motion then took the stage to show off their dance skills. They filled the stage with their breakdancing, jumps, turns and flips. They never failed to wow the audience with their creative and intense moves while keeping a smile on their faces, making it look easy. After a quick intermission, Platinum Step Team got the audience excited again right away with their powerful performance. Platinum mixed spoken word with stepping and left the audience in awe. Their all-black outfits focused attention to their complex and intricate choreography that complimented their powerful spoken word. With their performance representing Ethiopian dance, Abyssinia added a splash of color to the night. Their colorful outfits along with their bright smiles gave Levin Ballroom a whole different energy. Their bopping shoulders and quick feet left the crowd cheering by the end of their
performance. The eventful night ended with a fashion show that showcased various African flags and apparel. Models strutted across the stage, each carrying a flag from different African countries such as Nigeria, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ghana. After the flag showcase, the models brightened the black stage as they strode across it in their bright and colorful casual apparel. Models wore shirts, dresses and skirts representing the apparel of different African countries. The casual outfits were then replaced with dazzling and elegant formalwear. The models looked classy and fierce as they captured the audience’s attention from the stage. Outfits included sparkly purple dresses, bright orange blouses and gold-embellished skirts. Night for Africa is a powerful show that displays the black talent on campus. Whether we are delicately but powerfully playing a violin, charming everyone with our voice, dancing with as much energy as Rebelle Dance Team, or stepping like Platinum Step Team, we have a presence on this campus, and Night for Africa accurately displays that.
Basement Records recognizes and fosters student talent By Sanina Dosa staff
While some people dream of becoming the next big name in the music industry, Avi Hirshbein ’19 is more interested in the behind the scenes work. Last year he created Basement Records, a music platform at Brandeis in which students work together to have their talent recognized and allow it to grow. So far this year’s efforts have been put into producing new music. Earlier this month “Marz,” a song by Maegann Stafford ’19, produced by Bethel Adekogbe ’20, was released on Soundcloud. “Upwrite” is a song in the works that features Michael Harlow ’19 on the grand piano and Marcelo Brociner ’18, also known as Celo, as the lyricist. Usually a computer is the only instrument used to make a song. But for this track a microphone was taken to Slosberg to record the crisp rich sound that only a real piano can produce, said Hirshbein. A new film crew has been put together to work on music videos, said Hirshbein. A sessions video, featuring Brian Rauch ’19, Acia Gankin ’19 and Harlow playing a mash up of “Closer” by The Chainsmokers and “i hate you, i love you” by gnash, can be found on Basement Record’s Facebook
photo by sam zarov/the hoot
page, along with all of its other projects. Early this November, Basement Records became a chartered club, which means it will receive more funding from the university. The extra funding, Hirshbein said, will be used for recording equipment, marketing and music events. Basement Records is usually described as a record label, according to Hirshbein. However, no one is signed to nor works for Basement Records, he asserted. It is just a resource available to any student on campus who wants to collaborate or produce music. “We provide a pedestal for aspiring students,” noted Hirshbein.
More students have been getting involved with Basement Records this year, according to Hirshbein. “I love how every artist has their unique style,” he said. This past summer Hirshbein interned with a small record label in Los Angeles. From that experience he has enhanced his knowledge on legal processes, music marketing and how to attract listeners, all of which helped him redefine the club this year. However, according to Hirshbein, running Basement Records has been the greatest learning experience. He has been learning about the music business by managing the organization. However, Brandeis
photo from brandeisbasement.com
does not offer a major in music business. “I would have to major in music and business,” he said. Avi Hirshbein founded Basement Records last year due to the lack of a modern music scene and network between student musicians at Brandeis. He expressed, “I saw a vacancy and decided to fill it.” A couple of major accomplishments from last year include Basement Records’ debut song, “No Games,” and a concert at Chums with WBRS showcasing student musicians. “No Games” is a rap song by Makalani Mack ’16 featuring Celo, which can be found on Spotify, Apple Music and Facebook.
Hirshbein strives to help others with their music creatively. “What I’m trying to get out of it is not only experience, but also the satisfaction of helping others in the medium of music,” which Hirshbein described as his top priority. His mission, he said, is to take the music students are making from their dorms to the public and to the next level. When “No Games” was released, Hirshbein exclaimed that he had friends and listeners all over the country complimenting him on his work. “We brought Brandeis to the world. People in other schools are listening to us. That’s pretty dope,” Hirshbein boasted.
New AAAS professor merges art and African studies By Brianna Cummings staff
Brandeis is an institution known for its top-notch academics. This is because Brandeis does a great job collecting the brightest minds and the most gifted professors. In the spring semester, Brandeis plans on adding another renown academic to its faculty: Dr. Salah Hassan. Hassan will be a professor in the African and Afro-American Studies (AAAS) department with a focus on African art and culture. Hassan is originally from Su-
dan. He received his master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and is an art historian, art critic and curator. Hassan works as an editor for many publications. He edited and served as founder of NKA: Journal for Contemporary Art and has worked as an editor for Atlantica and Journals of Curatorial Studies. Hassan has also edited and written books such as “Darfur and the Crisis of Governance: A Critical Reader,” “Diaspora, Memory, Place,” “Unpacking Europe,” “Authentic/ Ex-Centric, Gendered Visions: The Art of Contemporary Africana Women Artists” and “Art
and Islamic Literacy among the Hausa of Northern Nigeria.” Many students who have already met Hassan admire him and his work, and are excited that he will be teaching at Brandeis. Sarah Nzisabira ’20, a first-year and prospective AAAS major, had the pleasure of meeting Hassan when he spoke to her Introduction to AAAS class on Monday, Nov. 28. “I thoroughly enjoyed reading his article on African modernism and contemporary African art,” Nzisabira said, elaborating that Hassan “ventured to answer complex questions such as what
makes a piece of art authentically African and the historic erasure of African artists from the global contributions to modernism.” The two classes on his roster for the spring semester are African Cinema and Introduction to African Art. These classes will add a fun, artistic element to the AAAS course catalog. Nzisabira believes that Hassan’s classes will be very enlightening for his students. “He encourages us to explore the history of the African continent and its diaspora in a new way and sheds light on the often overlooked pre-colonial art forms, their effect on modernist
African artworks and the role that African art and artists assume on a contemporary global stage.” Because art is a powerful instrument for self-expression, especially when one is being oppressed, it is crucial to examine African American art. Prospective AAAS major Victoria Richardson ’20 explained that, “Adding art classes into the AAAS major will benefit our understanding of how Africans and people of African descent have impacted and influenced art culture.” Evidently, Salah Hassan’s knowledge and expertise will help the Brandeis community do just that.
December 2, 2016
ARTS 11
The Brandeis Hoot
Adagio enchants with diverse dance performances By Sabrina Pond editor
The meme “Keep Calm and Dance On” was plastered on a piercing red backdrop adjacent to the ticket stand, a most fitting first sight at Adagio Dance Company’s semester show. This wall decoration set a precedent before even entering Levin Ballroom on Nov. 17 that hinted at a flaming zeal for this art form, which could not be ignored. The beauty of the occasion was laid in the striking stage lights, radiant costumes reflecting a rainbow of color and the overwhelming delight of the dancers who were given the opportunity to finally showcase their enthusiasm on stage. This year sported various interesting concepts for dance routines, which proved rather unique as compared to previous years. Though lyrical dance was present throughout, as per usual, this year’s show also incorporated sign language, a dance routine without music, and countless heart stopping stunts. In that way, Adagio
By Adam Lamper
Dance Company seemed to fuse the art of dance with cheerleading, and thus make every attempt to catch the audience’s attention with unconventional acrobats. They certainly thrilled each and every time. This semester show, boasting 27 routines including astonishing performances by Hooked On Tap, Brandeis Ballet Company, Stop Motion and Bentley’s CRAZE, showcased the outstanding talents of Brandeis’ student body. The largest student-run dance group at Brandeis presented completely original choreography, stemming from the passions of a plethora of dedicated dancers, including Lindsay Weiner ’18, Hannah Suib ’19 and Amanda Ehrmann ’18, among others. The event started off on a high note with Dance Ensemble’s “Head vs. Heart,” choreographed by Melina Gross ’19. Performed to Two Steps from Hell’s “Heart of Courage,” the routine intended to show the internal conflict between head and heart. The choreography for this dance was amazingly symbolic, and the piece incorporated a degree of precision and
photos by sasha ruiz/the hoot
synchrony that was noteworthy. The performers appeared to not just know the steps, which anyone could do, but feel the music, and act as a vessel to convey a larger narrative. UMass Lowell’s dance team ProtoHype ignited the audience members’ hearts as intense cheering and clapping endured throughout their performance. An instant audience favorite, the dance crew included more than 20 dancers and an urban dance style that was irresistibly charming. A very recently formed group, ProtoHype showed no sign of unprofessionalism and was particularly impressive because of the length, scope and complexity of the dance routine. UMass Lowell set a new standard with incredible dance formations and downright creative dance moves. Another delightful number, “Still Breathing,” was choreographed by Liv Molho ’20 and was primarily composed of firstyear talent. The song “Youth” by Daughter set the tone for this
Brandeis-Wellesley Orchestra performs timeless pieces
staff
Saturday, Nov. 19, marked the beginning of the unofficial end-of-semester concert series at Slosberg, with the always well-anticipated performance of the Brandeis-Wellesley Orchestra. Composed, as the name suggests, by students from both Brandeis University and Wellesley College, the group has had a large impression on the campus music scene since its inception nearly 14 years ago, under the continuous direction of conductor Neal Hampton (MUS). The night featured works by composers lesser known to general audiences yet in no way was mediocre nor esoteric for those who regularly enjoy or are familiar with classical music. The performance opened with George Bizet’s “Farandole from L’arlesienne Suite No. 2.” Originally from the play “L’Arlésienne,” which performed rather unsuccessfully in comparison to its prominence after being reworked as an orchestral suite, this piece was actually taken from the fourth movement of a second suite arranged by Bizet’s friend, Ernest Guirard. Just over three minutes long, this piece was the perfect show opener, displaying the orchestra’s wide range in both tone and volume. Author of the performance’s program notes, Katherine Horgan writes, “The two themes, the march-like open-
dance performance, as the choreography meant to convey the “turmoil and peace each person experiences throughout their lives,” according to the program. The group as a whole had magnificent chemistry and comfort in their own skin, which only added to the elegance of the performance. Though it is nearly impossible to mention all of the out-of-thisworld acts here, there were a few memorable performances that deserve mentioning. B’Yachad, Brandeis’ Israeli dance troupe, performed a routine that was very enlightening in its use of traditional Israeli music, coupled with more modern steps. Brooke Granovsky ’18 and Hannah Schuster ’18, news editor for The Brandeis Hoot, choreographed the very sophisticated “Waltz of the Snowflakes,” which is sneak preview of Brandeis Ballet Club’s upcoming show “The Nutcracker.” Brianna Silverman’s ’19 choreography for “Britney Mashup” was incredibly nostalgic of any 90s kid’s childhood. Last but not least, and a
photo by adam lamper/the hoot
photo by yarisa diaz/the hoot
ing theme, and the second light, dancing theme of the woodwinds combine to create a rollicking folk dance that increases in intensity until it arrives at a bombastic finish,” a concise and befitting description of the truly joyful nature of the piece.
Next was Felix Mendelssohn’s “Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E minor op. 64,” featuring guest violinist Andrea Segar. The newest member of Brandeis’ wellknown Lydian String Quartet, Segar has an extensive repertoire as a soloist across the country, work-
ing with many different groups from the Oklahoma City Philharmonic to the Grammy-nominated ensemble, A Far Cry. Segar demonstrated these years of experience with her masterful performance as the soloist of this piece. Chock-full of more than tricky dynamics and techniques, the piece was simply no match for Segar’s prowess. Besides its difficulty, the piece also features a healthy mixture of both traditional and new stylings from the era in which it was composed, even so far as to have the distinction of being the first named concerto to have all of its three movements connected. “Though a deeply learned composer, attracted to complex counterpoint and classical structure,” Horgan again writes, “Mendelssohn here takes his learning lightly, creating one of the most endearing classics of the concerto genre,” referencing Mendelssohn’s key to fame through his inventive stylistics and lack of consideration for the stagnancy of traditional forms. The closing piece of the night was César Franck’s “Symphony in D Minor,” a fitting choice as its three movements combined lasted approximately 45 minutes, and was the sole focus of the show’s second half. This was Franck’s only symphony and one of his final compositions ever written. The piece not only demonstrates the fusion of traditional French and German forms of music,
highlight of Adagio’s show, the booming beat in Sia’s “Cheap Thrills” showcased fun, party-like dance moves that were positively captivating. The night could not have been composed of more diverse music, from Leona Lewis’ “Whatever It Takes,” to some of Britney Spears’ most popular tunes, to Major Lazer and MOTi’s “Boom.” Though the music could not have been any more diverse, I could not say the same about the dancers in Adagio. As a whole, Adagio’s semester show “Keep Calm and Dance On” was a tribute to Brandeis students’ love and passion for the art of dance. As one of the most dynamic art forms, it is marvelous how dancing unifies us toward a common goal and outwardly displays the internal feelings of the dancer in such a public way. Adagio’s semester show always manages to entice with its raw combination of cult classics, the grace of lyrical and its occasional hip-hop performances.
but also serves as an outstanding example of the cyclic thematic style, with its most notable “faith” theme greatly prevalent in the piece’s first and third movements. Though described by music critic, Camille Bellaigue, as “arid and drab music, without ... grace or charm,” which the song was more or less at times given its length, the piece had joyful moments just like the opening Bizet piece that made the rest of the composition exponentially more enjoyable. Given what some would call a “meager” experience of the student performers in comparison to the majority of professional musicians, this performance surely showed no deviation from what one would expect from a standard $50 orchestra showing. Every subsequent performance by this group leaves few unamazed by the sheer amount of talent in these students and the amount of effort put into pulling off such a flawless performance. However, what is more interesting is the timelessness of the music, being performed by young students over 100 years after its original composition. As noted in the orchestra’s program, “Uniting the high standards of excellence associated with Brandeis and Wellesley, the orchestra is dedicated to bringing inspiring performances of the great orchestral literature, both past and present, to a new generation of musicians and audiences.”
12 ARTS
The Brandeis Hoot
December 2, 2016
Sarah Sze uncovers her artistic process to packed crowd By Emma Kahn editor
Renowned artist Sarah Sze has been present on campus since this past summer, working meticulously to create art made distinctly for spaces in the Rose Art Museum. Her two works currently on display, “Timekeeper” and “Blue Wall Moulting” have dazzled all visitors since the Rose opening on Sept. 10. On Thursday, Nov. 17, Sze gave a talk that brought a deeper understanding and further admiration for her works. The talk drew a large turnout, exceeding the capacity of the presentation room and bringing some audience members to fill any standing room. Students and faculty members were joined by members of the outside community passionate for Sze’s artwork. Curator of the Rose Art Museum, Kim Conaty, introduced Sarah Sze and provided background for those unfamiliar with her work. “Sarah has often conceived of the basic structures and core of her work in her studio, but the real magic happens when she is on site, responding to the idiosyncrasies of a given space and very much anchoring her work to that place,” Conaty said.
Her sculptures are “dizzyingly complex and elegant” and “at once material and immaterial, systematized and organic,” she continued. Former Rose Director Chris Bedford described her work as “never strictly painting, sculpture, video, drawing or installation, and frequently all of the above.” Challenging to describe and impossible to do justice to when put into words, Sarah Sze’s art became more magical and fascinating when chronicled by the artist herself. Whisperings in the audience before the talk indicated that Sze might have been ill. In fact, when she began to speak, you could hear that her voice was hoarse and she struggled to speak audibly. Despite the setback, Sze pushed along and humbly began by thanking all those in the audience who made her exhibitions at the Rose possible. Then, after another setback of technical issues using the projector, Sze finally began her talk by retracing her career path and reflecting on works she produced during her time in graduate school. Sze had emerged from her undergraduate career with a background in architecture and painting. In graduate school, she began
photo from sarahszevenice2013.com
to think about how objects accrue value and went on to create a piece of art using materials that, to her, had very little aesthetic value but were of practical use. She built sculptures out of toilet paper. Each mini-sculpture was comprised of one square of toilet paper. When asked to display the work, she chose a small area that is typically used to cover a museum’s windows so as to create a windowless exhibition space. Lamps, wood beams and shelving units confused what Sze created and what already existed. She
FEATURES
Sherman worker brightens students days By Zach Cihlar editor
Beloved Sherman worker Yen Yu is a greeter for Brandeis Dining Services. From breakfast through lunch on weekdays, she can found at the front desk in Sherman Dining Hall swiping students in and welcoming them to the Sodexo experience. Yen began working for Brandeis Dining Services nearly 24 years ago. Originally from Taiwan, Yen and her husband immigrated to America with no knowledge of the English language. Her husband, Charlie, was asked to help his brother with a restaurant he owned in America, and her husband worked for some time in the restaurant. He asked Yen and their kids to move there with him. Now both she and Charlie work in Brandeis Dining Services. When not working, Yen said she enjoys numerous hobbies. A few activities she mentioned include fishing, sewing, cooking and crafting. One specific hobby she mentioned in greater detail is flower arranging. Frequently she will bring many of her arrangements to the dining hall to decorate the desk at the entrance. On special occasions, Yen puts her crafting skills to work by making origami and displaying her intricate creations at the welcome desk. At the end of her workday, she likes to give her craftwork out to students as gifts. “I make it to share with everyone,” she said of her origami creations. “When they’re happy, I’m happy.” On students’ birthdays, Yen used to give origami hearts made out of crisp, new one dollar bills she picked up from the bank specifically for the occasion. Since then, her bank no longer grants requests for new one dollar bills, so she makes the origami hearts out of patterned paper.
purposefully integrated her art into a space that blurred the line between installation and space, between art and the “practical.” As her career progressed, she continued to play with the dichotomy between what is art and what isn’t art, consistently “taking sculpture off of a pedestal” and disrupting the authority of a space. Another central component of her work is a blur between the monumental and the miniscule. She creates works that take a dramatic change of form as the viewer moves through the space.
Yen’s interest in origami began at Brandeis when a student gifted her with an origami lotus flower. Yen recalled hearing that the paper lotus required one hour of the student’s time to make, and she was deeply touched by the student’s generosity. “I was so touched by her gift, I asked her how to do it so that I could get to share that with other students,” she said of learning the Japanese art form. The student who gave her the lotus flower taught her how to make different creations “oneby-one, and eventually I learned.” Since then, Yen has learned how to manufacture many different formations out of paper. Yen’s favorite part about working at Brandeis, she noted, is seeing the students every day. “I love to interact with students; I love to welcome them every day into the dining hall.” Yen added that she cares deeply for the students she sees everyday, and makes sure that everyone has smiling faces as they walk into the dining hall. She is very interactive with the students, and she loves having conversations with them. “Whenever a student comes in, and they smile to me, I feel it. It’s a very happy moment for me,” she said. “I love them. I look after all of them as if they were my kids. I wish everyone to be happy and healthy,” Yen added. Students have responded well to Yen’s cheerfulness and rapport. This year, Sodexo, Inc. recognized Yen’s amiability and affinity with the students, and awarded her the 2016 Sodexo Experience Regional Winner for her positive influence on students’ experience with Sodexo. In April, Brandeis posted a #HumansofBrandeis feature on Yen. Students and parents both filled the Facebook post with comments expressing gratitude and
Making Deroy Hall Home By Charlotte Aaron editor
photo courtesy the hoot
affection for Yen and the warmth she brings to the position. One commenter, Heather Spector ’17 wrote, “Whenever I give campus tours, I’m always really excited when she’s at the Sherman desk, so the prospective students can see one of the best examples of Brandeis kindness.” Many students commend her generosity and geniality. “I like her because she is very giving and she doesn’t expect anything back from anyone, and I think that’s a really good quality that’s not very common anymore,” said Olivia Hoy ’20. Remi Miller ’19 agreed with Hoy’s sentiment, noting Yen’s genuine greetings. “She genuinely wants to know about your day and how you are. Her smile is warm and welcoming and enhances my overall Brandeis experience,” said Miller. Others comment on her accepting spirit and hospitable welcoming she grants to students every day. Lauren Chin ’19 recalled how every time she sees Yen, Chin practices her Mandarin with Yen, who receives Chin patiently and remains helpful throughout the conversation. “She’s very inclusive and always smiling,” Chin said of Yen.
At the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Sze created a massive sculpture made from sliced sections of a Jeep Cherokee, titled “Things Fall Apart.” Viewed from the entrance of the museum, the work is art on a grand scale, its details mostly inaccessible to viewers from down below. Then, upon reaching the exhibit up close, viewers could breach its large form and view its more intimate details. The sculpture forces dramatic change of form as viewers move around the work, a trait that paintings or drawings cannot as easily accomplish. “Things Fall Apart” demonstrates how Sze’s ingenious sculptures play with gravity, with movement, with the disruption of a space and with an intimacy for its viewers. Sze’s talk put into words many of the sublime emotions that are not easily conceptualized when viewing her exceptional and complex artistic works, and all those who were able to attend were incredibly fortunate to have such an experience. Sarah Sze’s “Timekeeper” and “Blue Wall Moulting” will be on view until Dec. 11. Additionally, her talk is available for viewing online at the Rose’s website.
“If you have the opportunity to introduce yourself to her one day, then I recommend you take it!” said Ari Keigan ’18 about Olga Yanes. From 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Yanes works as a custodian in Deory and is always a warm presence in the residence hall. Originally from Guatemala, Yanes moved to the United States with her husband in 1990 in hopes of finding a job. At the time, the economy in Guatemala was not doing well, few jobs were available, and everything was expensive, Yanes said. When she arrived in the United States, Yanes began working in the kitchen at Kentucky Fried Chicken. After a year of working, her supervisor approached her about learning English. Taking his advice, Yanes began taking classes for three hours every afternoon at the Waltham Public Library. “They had an old teacher who [retired] and who wanted to spend the time. They [didn’t] want to stay home so [they taught] the public who needed to learn English,” Yanes said. Just as Yanes has enjoyed working with the students, residents of Deroy equally enjoy running into her. “It is always a pleasure to see Olga around campus,” Keigan said. “I met her on move-in day my freshman year, and I am fortunate enough to still run into her three years later. I truly appreciate her continued interest to stay in contact and ask how my family is.” Another student, Sophia He ’19 is similarly fond of running into Yanes. “I could always count on Olga to brighten my mornings when I had 9 a.m. [classes]. it was a great way to start the day,” said He. “She would always say hello and ask how everyone was doing,” said David Reinharz ’19, another past resident of Deroy.
Outside of work, Yanes enjoys hobbies such as keeping up with the news, cooking and spending time with her family. “I watch TV, the news. I like to watch the news—the Fox 25 in English,” Yanes said. “I want to know what happens. I watch a half an hour on the Spanish show—Channel 27, Univision.” In addition to watching the news, Yanes enjoys cooking traditional Guatemalan food for her family. Her children’s favorite dishes include “rice and mashed potatoes and traditional in Guatemala black beans. They like too much the black beans,” she said. Some people add vegetables and meat to their beans, explained Yanes, but they are best seasoned with salt, onions and garlic. While she has taken to cooking American food like turkey for holidays such as Thanksgiving, on Christmas, Yanes cooks the traditional tamales, corn, meat and vegetables that she would eat back in Guatemala. To drink, she makes fruit punch, although it is nothing like the Kool-Aid Fruit Punch most American children grow up with. Rather, to make the punch, Yanes soaks cut up fruit in boiling water. After a while, the water because a delicious, warm, sweet drink. Since coming to the United States, Yanes has not only maintained cultural Guatemalan connections, but she has returned to Guatemala to visit family every two years. The oldest of nine siblings, Yanes is very fond of her family. “It was so very funny because they are all different age, and it’s a big family,” she said laughing. “All the family is happy. All the family comes to the house to eat [and] talk.” Students who have been lucky enough to meet her are thrilled she is here. “Olga has been friendly and willing to help since the day we moved in,” said Jake Lane ’19.
December 2, 2016
The Brandeis Hoot
The Brandeis Hoot 13
A Brandeisian Thanksgiving Emma Russell By Polina Potochevska staff
While many students fly, drive or take the train to visit their families for Thanksgiving break, there is a group of students who chose to stay at Brandeis during the long weekend. Emma Russell ’19, originally from San Antonio, TX, stayed on campus for Thanksgiving and made the most of the experience. Russell invited two friends from her hometown who also go to colleges nearby in the Northeast to visit her at Brandeis, as it is much closer and less expensive than flying to Texas. She and a group of 15 people—both Brandeis students and their friends who were visiting—“took over all of the kitchens in Polaris and Gordon” in North Quad and spent Thursday cooking a Thanksgiving meal for the group. In addition to the traditional Thanksgiving foods such as turkey, mashed potatoes and
plenty of roasted vegetables, the students also cooked some “untraditional” Thanksgiving foods such as Asian-inspired noodle dishes and pupusas, a Salvadoran dish. “I think it’s representative of Brandeis,” Russell said when describing her eclectic meal, alluding to the mix of cultures that are prevalent at the university and in their dinner. Normally, Russell is home with her family for Thanksgiving. To bring a piece of her home into the holiday spent at Brandeis this year, she was determined to make the apple pie that her mom makes, to carry on a family tradition with “my Brandeis family.” According to her friends, her efforts paid off. In addition to continuing a family tradition, the group of students introduced Thanksgiving dinners to students from Israel who were experiencing their first Thanksgiving, in true Brandeisian style. After a successful Thanksgiving
photo courtesy emma russell
Yuki Zheng dinner, Russell spent the rest of her break with her friends from her hometown. She took them to Newbury Street on the afternoon of Black Friday to experience the bustle of Boston on one of America’s most commercialized days. Russell then took them to Georgetown Cupcakes, one of her favorite spots on Newbury, to have a special treat. On Saturday, Russell showed her friends around Main Street and Moody Street in Waltham and had brunch. To reach their destinations, they had to either get an Uber or walk, because there were no shuttles or BranVans running on campus. “Brandeis was like a ghost town,” Russell said. Although she had spent time at Brandeis last year during spring break when many students went home, she mentioned that for Thanksgiving the campus felt “especially empty,” possibly due to the gloomy weather. However, Russell actually “really liked it,” because there was less bustle and it felt more relaxing. She also said that the campus “felt a lot bigger without its students.” Russell finally mentioned some minor downfalls about celebrating a major holiday while being at college, such as the lack of transportation and the closed dining halls, which meant there was “no convenient way to get food.” In spite of this, Russell and her friends “made it work” and had a wonderful Thanksgiving at Brandeis this year. And the best part? “Our fridge is still full of leftovers!” Russell exclaimed.
editor
Thanksgiving is a holiday about being appreciative for what we have received during our lifetime. For Xiaowei Luo ’18 from Hefei, China, this Thanksgiving was particularly unique. Unlike past years, she chose to stay on campus for the entirety of the Thanksgiving holiday. However, her holiday experience this year was just as memorable as the ones in previous years. Luo noted that for her Thanksgiving break she “went out just for two times. One was to have hot pot with my friends and the other was to go to the Nutcracker ballet. However the rest of the time, I just stayed at home.” Xiaowei certainly did not have a lot of activities planned for the break, but that didn’t stop her from enjoying the break. Thanksgiving is also known for being a prime time for shopping deals. Holidays such as Black Friday have proven to be especially popular for those looking to get a great value on popular items, and while on campus, Luo made the most of online shopping. One of the reasons that Luo decided to stay on campus for this break in particular is because during previous breaks she had already traveled a lot. “I traveled last time, and I went to New York. Just this year I just wished to stay here because I wanted to relax. I
had a lot of tests this semester so I needed to use this holiday to relax.” With all of the stresses that come to Brandeis students from taking exams, Thanksgiving break was great for Luo to decompress and enjoy herself without worrying too much about academic commitments. In regards to the proper Thanksgiving dinner, Luo cooked from home with her friends. “Actually on Tuesday with my roommates we cooked a lot. We made a chicken but we didn’t make a turkey because we like chicken better.” Some Chinese students in particular may not have a liking for the taste of turkey because in China, turkey meat is not very popular, so people there are not as exposed to the taste of it. Although turkey was not a dish on the table, Luo did share some things she is thankful for. “First my parents because they support me a lot. They send me abroad to get a better education here. This changes me into a very different person.” Luo also noted that she is very thankful “for myself because I am kind of a very motivated person. I know that my parents support me a lot, and I don’t want to fail them. I am also very thankful for my professors. They are very nice and they help me with my schoolwork and my life.”
editor
As Brandeisians, many of us live close enough to campus to allow us to go home during the Thanksgiving holidays. However, some students, especially international students, are unable to do so because of the long distance from campus to their home. Fortunately, students like Yuki Zheng ’19 can still have the Thanksgiving-break spirit in them despite staying on campus and not being able to see their families. Zheng is from Shanghai. Therefore, going back home theoretically for a Thanksgiving break is nearly impossible to do because of time constraints. However, in spite of these limitations, Zheng was still able to have an excellent time during her break. During part of the break, Zheng said that she “stayed on campus and went to a couple of restaurants with her friends.” So while she didn’t physically get to see family during the Thanksgiving break, Zheng was still able to socialize and have an excellent time with her peers. For all the stress that Brandeis students have, sometimes the ability to stay on campus and relax is the best type of break that a college student can ask for. International students like Zheng may also see benefits that are unique to staying on campus during Thanksgiving over heading home. Zheng commented, “Actually I am happy that I am on campus because some friends
from other cities will look for me and we will gather together.” It is important to note that many international students have classmates who are also studying in the United States. Some students like Zheng who opt to stay on campus want their friends from other colleges to have the opportunity to come and visit them. Many of Zheng’s classmates have never visited Boston and welcomed the trip. While in her native China, Zheng had learned a couple of details about the holiday of Thanksgiving in school from her American teachers. This came in the form of being told about the family reunion aspect and the main dinner course of turkey. According to Zheng though, “Many international students are not on campus. They are going to New York or other places to have fun. I think that they are happy.” Zheng contends that there are certain drawbacks to staying on campus over breaks such as Thanksgiving, especially when it comes to the dining halls. To celebrate Thanksgiving, Zheng went to a Thanksgiving dinner. Specifically, she remarked how she “ate turkey, isn’t that special.” While it was not in a home, Zheng went to the restaurant Boston Chops and had a festive meal with one of her closest friends. Of course, as Thanksgiving is a bit of a self-reflective holiday, Zheng mentioned that she is most thankful for her “healthy family and her healthy and good life.”
Alessia Stewart
Xiaowei Luo By Albert Reiss
By Albert Reiss
By Polina Potochevska staff
Many Brandeis students choose to travel back home for Thanksgiving break and spend quality time with their families before the beginning of finals. However, some students choose to remain at Brandeis until the end of the semester. Alessia Stewart ’20 spent her break on campus with her best friend from her hometown. Stewart is originally from Dallas, TX. She mentioned that flights around Thanksgiving are very expensive and that she would prefer to visit her family around Rosh Hashanah or the middle of the semester, since there are only about 3 weeks left at Brandeis after Thanksgiving and before the long winter break, and traveling is sometimes very “tiring.” Stewart’s best friend Alaina came to visit her from her college in Chicago for the Thanksgiving break. On the holiday, the two girls had movie marathons in Polaris Lounge for the day, and visited the Stein for their Thanksgiving dinner. With turkey, potatoes and other Thanksgiving staples, Stewart and her friend “loved to have what felt like a homemade meal” at school despite being away for the long weekend. This is Stewart’s first holiday away from her family and her home in Texas. “It didn’t really feel like Thanksgiving without them,” she said. Despite this, the
friends still made the best of their break. Following the dinner on Thanksgiving, the two went to a movie theater in West Newton and spent all of Friday in Boston, shopping in Downtown Crossing. Stewart showed her friend more of her favorite places in Boston, such as Quincy Market to see the lit up Christmas tree, and they also walked along the Charles River. Transportation was scarce on campus, since neither the BranVans to Waltham nor the shuttles to Boston and Cambridge were running during the break: “I didn’t realize how much I rely on the Boston shuttle … I Ubered more in those four days than I ever have before,” Stewart said. As all of the students went to their respective homes, Stewart explained that Brandeis was “super empty,” and that the poor weather made the campus feel “dark and empty” in comparison to the normal atmosphere of the
school. She said that it “felt like a new world when people started coming back on Sunday.” Although the campus did feel different without its vibrant student body, Stewart mentioned that her friend really enjoyed Brandeis and the campus, “especially being around trees” since her school is in the downtown Chicago area. Next year, Stewart said that she would probably stay at school for Thanksgiving again, maybe starting a new holiday tradition right on campus, and visit her family earlier in the year. Overall, Stewart “had a good time” on campus for Thanksgiving and said that it was very relaxing, even though she missed her family. Thankfully when she flew home for one weekend in October, her family cooked her a Thanksgiving dinner so she wouldn’t miss out on the full experience of the holiday.
photo courtesy alessia stewart
EDITORIALS
14 The Brandeis Hoot
“To acquire wisdom, one must observe.” Editors-in-Chief Mia Edelstein Julie Landy
Managing Editor Allison Plotnik Senior Copy Editor Sarah Terrazano News Editor Hannah Schuster Deputy News Editors Abigail Gardener Elianna Spitzer Arts Editor Sabrina Pond Deputy Arts Editors Katie Decker-Jacoby Emma Kahn Opinions Editor Zach Phil Schwartz Deputy Opinions Editor Katarina Weessies Features Editor Charlotte Aaron Deputy Features Editor Albert Reiss Sports Editor Sarah Jousset Deputy Sports Editor Zach Cihlar Photo Editor Karen Caldwell Layout Editor Lisa Petrie Editors-at-Large Matt Kowalyk Emily Sorkin Smith
Volume 13 • Issue 24 the brandeis hoot • brandeis university 415 south street • waltham, ma
I
Univ. potential as sanctuary campus to combat Trump anti-immigration policies
n the wake of the recent presidential election, many university student organizations have pushed for their campuses to become “sanctuary campuses.” Last month, Brandeis students joined this effort, issuing a petition urging administration to “investigate the possibility of our campus serving as a sanctuary for students, staff and their family members who face imminent deportation.” So far, the petition has received 988 signatures. Shortly after the petition was proliferated throughout the Brandeis community, University President Ronald D. Liebowitz sent an email to students and staff detailing the university’s plans regarding the petition. The email showed support for undocumented students, and promised to uphold many of the expectations applied to sanctuary campuses, but did not explicitly make a statement on whether Brandeis would officially become a sanctuary campus. The term “sanctuary campus” has several important implications in terms of a school’s behavior regarding undocumented students. Sanctuary campuses must uphold all Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA) deportation decisions, whether or not DACA is repealed during the upcoming presidential term. DACA is a program that prevents people who migrated to America as children from being deported. The Brandeis petition reports that over 700,000 young people are dependent on DACA to remain in the United States. Sanctuary campuses must also refuse to cooperate with immigration authorities, meaning that they cannot al-
STAFF
Faria Afreen, Emily Altkorn, Sharon Cai, José Castellanos, Elizabeth Cayouette-Gluckman, Anindita Chanda, Shea Decker-Jacoby, Gabriel del Carmen, Jacob Edelman, Andrew Elmers, Daniel Freedman, Ally Gelber, Ari Givner, Max Gould, Emma Gutman, Sophia He, Alana Hodson, Daniel Kang, Naomi Klickstein, Adam Lamper, Samantha Lauring, Monique J Menezes, Santiago Montoya, Candace Ng, Polina Potochevska, Faiyaz Rahman, Caroline Rourke, Ryan Spencer, Lily Wageman, Michael Wang MISSION As the weekly community student newspaper of Brandeis University, The Brandeis Hoot aims to provide our readers with a reliable, accurate and unbiased source of news and information. Produced entirely by students, The Hoot serves a readership of 6,000 with in-depth news, relevant commentary, sports and coverage of cultural events. Recognizing that better journalism leads to better policy, The Brandeis Hoot is dedicated to the principles of investigative reporting and news analysis. Our mission is to give every community member a voice.
SUBMISSION POLICIES
The Brandeis Hoot welcomes letters to the editor on subjects that are of interest to the community. Preference is given to current or former community members and The Hoot reserves the right to edit or reject submissions. The deadline for submitting letters is Wednesday at noon. Please submit letters to letters@thebrandeishoot.com along with your contact information. Letters should not exceed 500 words. The opinions, columns, cartoons and advertisements printed in The Hoot do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial board.
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December 2, 2016
Last week’s solution
low immigration officers onto campus or release the immigration status of students, faculty or staff. Some sanctuary campuses have even pledged to provide additional financial aid to undocumented students if DACA is repealed. The Brandeis petition also specifically calls for “mental health professionals who have cultural competency in working with politically marginalized communities and trauma-related issues of familial separation and the chronic threat of deportation.” While the idea of a sanctuary campus is relatively unprecedented, sanctuary cities, which operate by the same rules as sanctuary campuses, have existed for years. Near the United States’ border with Mexico, several rural cities and towns serve as sanctuary zones for undocumented people, refusing to allow immigration authorities to enter. Many of these cities and towns have lost funding due to their decision to act as a sanctuary. Universities that declare themselves sanctuary campuses fear that they will also lose funding due to their sanctuary status, either from federal sources of funding or from donors. Despite these fears, many university administrations have officially deemed their universities sanctuary campuses. According to Remezcla.com, these universities include Reed College, Oregon State University, Portland State University, Wesleyan University, Columbia University and all 23 Cal State University campuses. While it is too early to see the concrete effects that sanctuary campuses might have on their undocumented students, faculty and staff, sanctuary campus
petitions are certainly a step in the right direction. The rising tide of post-election hate in America has left many undocumented Americans disappointed in their country and deeply afraid of deportation. The trauma that undocumented people experience, coupled with the increasing threat of deportation, requires educational institutions to take some extra steps to support their undocumented students, faculty and staff. Sanctuary campuses provide a safe environment, where undocumented people can go about their lives without the constant fear of deportation or discrimination. Upholding DACA will protect undocumented students from being forced to return to countries that they might not even remember. Additionally, culturally competent mental health resources can help undocumented Brandeisians cope with any fear and trauma that they might be experiencing. It is important that all types of people feel comfortable studying and working at Brandeis, and declaring Brandeis to be a sanctuary campus would help diversify the types of people that can be safely included in our university culture. It would also contribute to the mental health of undocumented and otherwise marginalized students, who could benefit from a safe environment and culturally competent resources. Overall, the demands of the Brandeis University as a Sanctuary Campus Letter are consistent with Brandeis’ mission of social justice, diversity and inclusion.
SPORTS
December 2, 2016
The Brandeis Hoot 15
Basketball teams triumph over week By Jordan Brodie staff
On Tuesday, Nov. 29, the Brandeis men’s basketball team defeated the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth at home 65-60, and the Brandeis women’s basketball team beat Salem State University 59-34 in an away game. The men’s basketball team was dominant throughout the game. After tying the game at 2-2, the Judges never lost their lead. The Judges controlled the first half, hitting five three-pointers and outscoring UMass 12-0 on turnovers in the first 20 minutes. The Judges went into halftime boasting a 37-22 lead. The Corsairs played a much more competitive second half, but did not do quite enough to win the game. After Robinson Vilmont ’17 shot three at 16:30, the Judges extended their lead to 44-26, their greatest lead of the game. With 18 minutes left in the game, the Judges still led by 19, but the Corsairs proceeded to go on a 12-4 run over the next seven minutes. The Corsairs’ cut the lead to eight, but two free throws from Jordan Cooper ’18 extended
By Kevin Costa
the lead back to 10 points with 5:24 remaining. After another UMass bucket, both the Judges and Corsairs failed to score on their next several possessions. Then, a fast break layup and an “and-one” tip-in by UMD’s Nick Portelance shortened the lead to just 57-54 with 1:41 remaining. UMD had an opportunity to tie the game, but a jump-ball by Latye Workman ’18 gave the Judges possession. Jordan Cooper ’18 then found Workman for an open dunk to extend the lead to five with :57 left. Brandeis finished the game at the free throw line to solidify the victory. Tim Reale ’17 and Cooper led the game for the Judges. Both had 12 points, with ten of Reale’s points coming in the first half, and eight of Cooper’s coming in the second. Workman had a career night, posting career highs in points, rebounds and steals with six, eight and three, respectively. Vilmont also had an all-around solid game, finishing with nine points, seven rebounds, and a season high six assists. Ultimately, the Judges won the
game at the free-throw line, where they outscored the Corsairs 18-8 despite taking just two more free throws. Brandeis shot 90 percent from the line while UMass shot just 44 percent.
After the win, Brandeis moves to 2-1, while the Corsairs fall to 2-2. The Judges will play next Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. against Tufts in the first round of the Big Four tournament.
men’s and women’s basketball win
photo courtesy brandeisjudges.com Latye Workman ‘18 (above) and Maria Jackson ‘17 (below) play in tough games over break.
The Brandeis women’s basketball team had a much easier time securing their victory on Tuesday. Brandeis dominated the entire game, notably outscoring Salem 33-10 in the middle two periods. In the first half, the Judges held the Vikings to just 13 percent shooting. Early in the fourth quarter, the Judges were leading by as many as 37 points. The Judges were led by Sarah Jaromin ’19, who hit her first four threes and finished with 12 points off the bench. Hannah Nicholson ’20 also came off the bench to add 11 points. The Judges were out-rebounding the Vikings all night, 58-37. Center Maria Jackson ’17 led the team in boards with 13. Kyla Gabriel ’17 and Sydney Sodine ’17 each pulled in an additional eight rebounds a piece. Gabriel also led the team with three assists, just two fewer than the entire Vikings roster. Noel Hodges ’18 and Eva Hart ’18 each also had three steals. With the win, Brandeis moves to 4-2, while SSU falls to 3-3. The Judges play their next game on Saturday, Dec. 3 at home against Johnson & Wales University.
Golden State Warriors off to a rocky start
staff
At the start of the season, the Golden State Warriors did not look like the dominant star-studded team everyone had predicted they would be. They came off a record-breaking 24-0 start last season and signed Durant to a two year $54.3 million deal in the off-season, according to Sports Illustrated. However, the Warriors lost their season opener to the Spurs, suffering a convincing 129-
By Shea Decker-Jacoby staff
The Brandeis equestrian club team is a competitive club that trains out of the August Farm in Holliston, MA. The farm consist of 26 acres of land with access to miles of trails and both indoor and outdoor riding rings. The farm is the home of the August Farm team, which competes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association. The team is made up of middle school, high school and Brandeis students who compete in Zone 1, Region 4 of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. Their season starts in October and runs through December. The team has 21 members and the club’s E-board consists of the president Talia Flamos ’17, vice president Emilia Feldman ’19 and secretary Michelle Oberman ’17. Katie Bobola, a full-time coach at the August Farm, coaches the team. Avery Finkel ’17 spoke to the importance of the club to her, saying, “It means a lot to be able to continue to ride at any level in college, and to be able to compete in a national league is really exciting. Riding in a team format is really different from most competitions growing up and it is pretty unique to the collegiate level of the sport so it’s really fun to experience.” Emily Altkorn ’17 explained her
100 defeat. Though Durant and Curry scored 27 and 26 points respectively, the duo looked out of sync. They did not receive much help; Klay Thompson managed a sub-par 11 points on 5 of 13 shooting. In all, the team committed 16 turnovers and was out-rebounded 55-35, according to nj.com. On the other hand, the Spurs looked like a team that had hit midseason stride. San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard put up a career-high 35 points and LaMarcus Aldridge contributed 26 points
and 14 rebounds. The Spurs even received help from the bench; Jonathon Simmons, a second year free agent, posted a career-high 20 points, according to mercurynews.com. The blowout took everyone by surprise, including Warrior’s coach Steve Kerr who, according to nj.com, stated “I didn’t see losing by 29 points … I think our guys were embarrassed tonight. I know I was.” Still, the team was poised to sharpen its play. Durant mentioned that the loss “was a
slap in the face. [It] woke us up a bit,” according to mercurynews. com. However, when the Warriors lost again, this time to the Lakers, fans and analysts started to question whether a team filled with so much talent would be able to achieve success. Fortunately, since a shaky 4-2 start, the Warriors have pulled off 12 consecutive wins and have dispelled any doubt about their dominance. With the season approaching the quarter mark, the Warriors are on pace to tie their record 73 wins
from last season, according to Fox Sports. The team statistically has the best offense in the league, averaging 117 points for every 100 possessions. The only other team close to that mark is the 1987-88 Lakers that averaged 115.6 points per 100 possessions (Fox Sports). Lastly, the team’s lineup of sharpshooters is hitting 52 percent of shots from the floor and 43 percent from behind the arc, according to SB Nation. It is now only a question of whether the Warriors can deliver a championship.
Equestrian club hoofs it to Nationals rationale in joining the equestrian club: “I joined equestrian club in my junior year because, as a prevet student, I wanted to get more experience with horses. It feels really great to spend time off campus each week with the animals in the fresh air, and overall it’s been a very fun and rewarding experience.” The team’s first competition this season was the Brandeis Home Show on Saturday, Oct. 15. The team had four riders earn top six in their events. Flamos placed second in intermediate fences and fourth in intermediate flat. Oberman took third in novice fences and flat. Feldman placed fifth beg walk trot canter. The Judges did not stop there: The following day the riders hit the course again. On Sunday, Flamos placed third in intermediate fences, and sixth in intermediate flat. Danielle Schwartz ’20 placed fifth in novice flat, her first award as judge. Feldman took fourth in walk trot canter. It was almost a month later when the Judges hit the course again at the Boston College IHSA Show on Saturday, Nov. 5. At this competition Flamos took first in the intermediate fences and sixth in intermediate flat. Schwartz took her second award when she earned fourth in novice fences. Maya Dornbrand-Lo ’18 earned fifth in the novice flat. The team then followed up at
the Tufts/Wheaton IHSA Show where Flamos was back at it again placing third in the intermediate fences and sixth in the intermediate flat, and Schwartz earned her third and fourth award when she placed fifth in novice fences and novice flat. Oberman also took second in novice fences and fifth in novice flat. The Judges competed in their most recent competition on the Saturday, Nov. 12 in the Mount Ida IHSA Show. Flamos came back strong earning sixth in the intermediate fences and first in intermediate flat. Schwartz took home fifth in both novice fences and flat. Feldman earned fifth in beginners walk trot canter. The team had five competitions this season, and they hope to go to the 2017 IHSA National Championships held on May 4-7 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.
photo courtesy emily altkon
photos courtesy emily altkorn
The Brandeis Hoot
16 SPORTS
December 2, 2016
Men’s and women’s soccer head to Final Four By Sarah Jousset editor
Men’s soccer makes it to Final Four For the fourth time in program history, and the first time since 1984, the men’s soccer team is going to the Final Four in the NCAA tournament. The men’s team started off the NCAA tournament at Babson, playing Western New England on Saturday, Nov. 12, in an intense 2-1 win in overtime. The Judges went on to play Saint Joseph’s in the second round of the tournament, winning 3-0, to advance the Judges to the sweet sixteen. Saturday, Nov. 19 the Judges squeaked by Amherst, tying 1-1 in regulation and two overtime periods before clinching the victory in penalty kicks. The Judges moved on to the elite eight, playing Sunday, Nov. 20 against Rutgers-Newark at Amherst College. The Judges opened the scoring at 22:41 when Mike Lynch ’17 scored off a rebound by Evan Jastremski ’17. Lynch wasn’t done though, converting a pass from Josh Ocel ’17 into the Judges’ second goal of the game. Rutgers-Newark answered the 2-0 deficit with a goal, with less than five minutes left in the first half to bump the score to 2-1. The Judges matched their scoring in the first half, with another two quick goals. At 66:10, Ocel took a free kick just inside Rutgers’ half of the field and found Josh Handler ’19 who scored the team’s third goal of the game. The goal was Handler’s first of the season and second of his career. Two minutes later Ocel scored off a pass from Brandon Miskin ’18. The goal was Ocel’s sixth of the season, in addition to 15 assists this season. Rutgers managed a
penalty kick with just 10 minutes left in the game, but it was not enough to secure the win, and the Judges won 4-2. The men’s soccer team takes on Calvin College in Michigan in Salem, Virginia this Friday at 1:30 p.m. If the Judges win, they move on to the championship, on Sat-
urday, Dec. 3.
Women’s soccer secures Final Four spot The women’s soccer team will be heading to the Final Four for the first time in program history
this Friday, Dec. 2. The women’s team has passed four rounds of the NCAA tournament to make it to the semi-final round of the tournament. The Judges played Virginia Wesleyan at the College of New Jersey on Saturday, Nov. 12, winning in a 3-0 victory. The second
photo from brandeisjudges.com
round game wasn’t as easy for the Judges, as they squeaked by with the win against the College of New Jersey in Trenton on Sunday, Nov. 13. The Judges won in penalty kicks after a no decision in two overtimes. The women’s soccer team continued on to the sweet sixteen, playing McDaniel College in a 1-0 victory. The women’s soccer team earned their spot in the Final Four with their battle against William Smith in the Elite Eight on Sunday, Nov. 20. The Judges went into the half losing 1-0. They came back out with a sense of urgency, but still couldn’t seem to score. At 73:38 William Smith scored again, now boosting their lead to 2-0. However, the Judges answered 32 seconds later with their first goal of the game, when Lea McDaniel ’17 buried a goal below the cross bar. With 8:44 remaining in regulation Samantha Schwartz ’18 tied the game for the Judges at 2-2. The Judges then capitalized on a yellow card resulting in Brandeis’ ball, and Julia McDermott ’17 scored off a rebound for her first collegiate goal, making the score 3-2. The Judges thought they had secured another victory when with just a few seconds left in regulation William Smith tied the game at 3-3, sending the game into overtime The Judges were not about to end their season though; just 103 seconds into the overtime period Jessica Morana ’17 scored to give the Judges a 4-3 victory over William Smith. The win will send them to the Final Four. The women’s soccer team will play in the semi-final game of the NCAA tournament this Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Salem, VA against Washington University. The Championship game will be played Saturday, Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m.
Ski and snowboard team accomodates involvement By Zach Cihlar editor
Brandeis’s Ski and Snowboard Club team hits the slopes for the first time this school year on Saturday, Dec. 3 for a freeskiing expedition. Normally, the club’s trips are limited to the spring semester, but this year members will ski as a community before finals begins. In the past, the fall semester has been dedicated to team bonding and dry-land training, according to Zach Phil Schwartz ’18, one of the club’s three captains and Opinions editor of The Brandeis Hoot. Dry-land training includes team workouts and stretches. Schwartz is joined by co-cap-
tains Sophie Grutzner ’18 and Dena Goldblatt ’17. In the spring, the club will travel for competition-based races, with different events in skiing and snowboarding. Skiers will compete in both the slalom and the giant slalom events, while recent rule changes in the United States Collegiate Skiing Association (USCSA) restrict snowboarders to the giant slalom, Schwartz noted. Brandeis’ team competes in the McBrine Division of the Eastern Conference of the USCSA. The organization provides member collegiate skiing teams with venues for races and events, according to the organization’s website. Brandeis is a member school of
the organization, along with over 180 other colleges and universities. For a while, the club sport has hosted a large number of students at training sessions and weekend competitions at various times throughout the second semester of each academic year. This year, the club boasts 30 members who will attend a weeklong training with the entire team, according to Schwartz. In recent years, the club has averaged 20 active members. Each year, the club coordinates an eight-day training expedition to Maine where skiers and snowboarders can improve their skills on the mountain for the upcoming season. The club sets up lessons for the group and lodges
members for that eight-day period. “The training trips actually do help,” Schwartz said. As a club sport, the ski and snowboard team is inclusive of all skill levels, but Schwartz recommends some prior experience of the sport before attending the eight-day training period in January. “We are not going to advertise that we’re a rigid racing community … What we’re striving for is a community-based skiing experience,” Schwartz said of the club’s inclusive style. He accentuates that although there is a racing component, the club’s goal is to create a skiing community for “anyone who wants to get more skiing in at Brandeis.” The club, Schwartz said, caters
to all levels of competition. “We do have some people who are very competitive and some people aren’t,” he said. Members can dedicate as much time as they want to the club. The schedule culminates to around five trips in the spring semester, and students can choose to attend or not attend each expedition, Schwartz noted. The club requires a lot of travel in order to go on these expeditions, which limits the club’s frequency to attend races. The team’s ski trips tend to be constrained to the Northeast region, most of the time in Vermont, according to Schwartz.
photo courtesy ian roy