Volume 13 Issue 16
“To acquire wisdom, one must observe” www.brandeishoot.com
September 16, 2016
Brandeis University’s Community Newspaper Waltham, Mass.
Administrators discuss upcoming changes at faculty meeting By Ryan Spencer staff
rose after dark
photo by katie decker-jacoby/the hoot
Guests at the opening of the Rose could make their own art.
Marušić awarded Sanders Book Prize By Max Gould staff
In early August of 2016, Professor Berislav Marušić (PHIL) was awarded the 2016 Sanders Book Prize for his book “Evidence and Agency: Norms of Belief for Promising and Resolving.” The prize is awarded to the best book focusing on philosophy of mind, metaphysics or epistemology published within the last five years. Along with the honor of the award comes a $7,000 reward. Each year the prize is given to recipients by the American Philosophical Association, but the money is provided by the Marc Sanders Foundation. The goal of the foundation, a non-profit organization, is to encourage more interest in traditional philosophy by identifying and rewarding recent and outstanding works in all areas of philosophy. Marušić’s prize-winning book was the fourth to be recognized by the Marc Sanders Foundation, following publications written by professors at Florida State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, Harvard University and the University of Toronto. Marušić’s main interests in philosophy rest at the intercross section of ethics, epistemology and philosophy of mind. In an interview with the American Philosophical Association, Marušić explained his excitement with
Inside This Issue:
philosophy, saying, “Philosophy excites me when it identifies the seemingly incomprehensible and addresses it in a clear and principled fashion.” His book runs along this same vein. “The book is about promising and resolving to do difficult things. It formulates a problem and then offers a solution,” noted Marušić about “Evidence and Agency.” The book draws on previous articles that Marušić has written in the past, the first having been written his first year at Brandeis in 2008. “Evidence and Agency” tackles a problem about belief and evidence and what one should believe when one promises to do something that evidence suggests is extremely unlikely. One of the questions posed is: Can one responsibly promise against the evidence? “If you think that something maybe won’t happen, you can’t sincerely say that it will happen,” Marušić answered. He added that it would also be irrational to promise against strong evidence, yet people do it all the time in daily life. “I think it’s a problem that we all face in one way or another. I think it’s a problem that has a connection to lived experience,” he explained. In the book, Marušić defends these seemingly irrational decisions by saying that those making the promises are See MARUSIC, page 3
News: Crown Center addresses foreign policy Opinions: Find a club and stick with it Arts: The Rose Art Museum opens its doors Features: Greek assault prevention initiative Editorial: Reaching out to achieve diversity
President Ron Liebowitz vowed to tackle issues of divestment and diversity at a faculty meeting on Friday, Sept. 9. The meeting included a remembrance of Brandeis Professor of Economics Rachel McCulloch, a statement by University President Ron Liebowitz, the introduction of new staff and faculty, updates on unfilled positions at Brandeis and a brief presentation by the Class of 2016 Commencement Speaker and founder of HistoryMakers, Julieanna L. Richardson. Rachel McCulloch, professor of economics, passed away on June
18. McCulloch taught at Brandeis for 29 years and in her time as an economist, she published over 100 papers. A tribute at the start of the meeting remembered McCulloch as an “enormously curious” person who “fell in love with economics.” President Ron Liebowitz listed climate change, fossil fuel divestment, diversity and inclusion, financial stability and financial sustainability as issues which will be of importance in September and throughout the rest of the academic year. President Liebowitz described the complexities of working both See FACULTY, page 2
Student Union Profile: Hannah Brown
photo from facebook.com
By Abigail Gardener editor
In response to the low voter turnout in the Student Union Fall Elections last week, The Hoot talked to recently elected Village Quad Senator Charlotte Lang ‘19, and Executive Senator and Class of 2019 Senator Hannah Brown ‘19 to see how the Student Union actually works and why students should care. Hannah Brown ‘19 holds the positions of Executive Senator and Senator for the Class of 2019 Senator this year. Brown is continuing her involvement in the Student Union after serving as Senator for North Quad last year. Brown wants students to under-
Brandeis in Siena
Page 3 Page 10 Student art displayed at Page 16 Goldman-Schwartz Page 4 Page 7 ARTS: PAGE 13
stand that voting for your Senators is important. “I think that a lot of people underestimate how important the Union is, and I think part of that is our fault because we don’t really advertise what we do, but Union representatives are the people that are the liaisons to the administration,” she said. “We lobby for change and...the people you choose are the people who are going to do that for you, so it’s very important.” Members of the Student Union must serve on two committees. Last year, she served on the Services and Outreach Committee, which organizes different events, and Cow-G, (Campus Operations Working Group), which all Quad members are required to be on and works with facilities. “You’re supposed to do two, but I did another,” Brown said. She also served on the Dining Committee for the Spring 2016 semester. This year, Brown is serving on the Dining Committee, as well as chairing Services and Outreach. As Executive Senator, she is supposed to provide help for all the other communities as well. Because Union members must participate in committees, Brown said it is important to strike a balance between representing the general student body and the specific constituency any one Union member represents. “The reason the Senate exists is to be those links to those different people, so what you’re supposed to do is...
Real Magic Series inspires charitable action at Brandeis FEATURES: PAGE 5
talk to people all the time in your quad,” she said. Brown learned from her North Quad Senate experience last year, and returned this year ready to improve and make campaign promises she could actually follow through on. “I came in as a freshman who didn’t really know what the Union was about, so I kind of campaigned for things that were more for the Quad Council,” she said. “So I did end up making some general changes but they were more on the larger university-scale level, which is more what the Union should be for. More small, quad-centric things are for your Hall Council and larger are for your Senators.” So what is the Student Union actually able to do? “So when it comes to administration...it’s like a working relationship. We have conversations, we have meetings. We say, ‘We see this. This is a problem,’ and we provide solutions that we think would be a good idea,” she said. “So then the university takes that into account, and they get back to us if that’s feasible or not. So it’s just kind of like a conversation.” Although the administration is not always incredibly responsive, Brown is looking forward to making productive change this year. “It’s really rewarding once it does finally happen and you get to see how happy everybody is when things improve.”
NEWS
2 The Brandeis Hoot
September 16, 2016
‘Evidence and Agency’ explores rationality of belief ELECTION, from page 1
in a unique position to change the outcome. “When considering matters that are up to us, we should look to our practical reasons, not to our evidence alone, to determine what we will do,” Marušić explained. David Poplar, a graduate student in the philosophy department, has taken many classes with Marušić, his advisor in the program. “From my experience, he is an excellent teacher, both in terms of his teaching in the classroom and in how he works with students one on one,” Poplar said. His philosophical interests lie in ethics and epistemology, which are among Marušić’s specialties. “Admittedly, I’m a little biased, but I think the Sanders book award was very well deserved,” Poplar
said. Assistant Professor Jennifer Marušić (PHIL), wife of Berislav Marušić, assisted him in reading and editing the book before it was published. “We’ve always read each other’s work and talked about it, and his book was no exception,” said Jennifer Marušić. She often talked through the themes of his book with him while running. “We went on a lot of long, slow runs through various parks and forests around Berlin and often talked about the book and how the arguments in it should go,” she said. “Evidence and Agency” was Marušić’s first book, but it will not be his last. “Having a book and having the space to address the different lines of thought, at some length, was actually really great.” Marušić has already began work on his next book, which he said
will be a long project. “The new topic is on the emotions, and on the temporal structure of emotions,” he noted. The example he used in a different interview to explain this concept is the passing of a loved one and how the sadness is immediately very strong, but over time it subsides even though the reason for sadness has never changed. Until his next sabbatical leave, when he can make more progress on his next project, Marušić will continue teaching ethics, epistemology and philosophy of mind at Brandeis. “Look, I’m a philosopher. I really like philosophy, I really like doing my work, I really like teaching, and I really like writing the stuff that I write,” he remarked.
Alum. presents non-profit at faculty meeting FACULTY, from page 1
with the Board of Trustees and with those that call for divestment from fossil fuels. “[People] on campus [who] advocate for divestment and the trustees who feel their fiduciary responsibility is to protect the interests, financial and otherwise, of the institution are at odds,” Liebowitz explained in his address to the faculty. “Communication is the best antidote to this stalemate.” Liebowitz navigated discussions about divestment during his previous term as president at Middlebury College. He worked alongside an investment committee comprised of both students and board members. On Aug. 23, 2013, Liebowitz announced that the college would not divest its shares. However, the investment committee would work to create a set of ESG, (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles to affect future investments. Liebowitz also addressed the importance of free speech on college campuses. He stated that the principle is “not only an issue of student autonomy, it’s an issue of student responsibility.” Provost Lisa Lynch also mentioned a plan to create a task force for free speech, inquiry and expres-
sion in the coming weeks. Lynch reminded the faculty that interviews with the finalists for the Chief Diversity Officer are ongoing and expressed her hope that the university can “fill the position as soon as possible with the right person for Brandeis.” Lynch has also been involved with helping the search committee at the Rose Art Museum as they complete work on the job description for the Director of the Rose Art Museum. Chris Bedford, the Henry and Louis Foster Director of the Rose Art Museum, left his position on July 31. Bedford began his role as Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director at the Baltimore Museum of Art on August 15. Lynch expects the job description to be completed by the end of September. Julieanna L. Richardson ’76, the commencement speaker for the Brandeis Class of 2016, gave a brief presentation to the faculty on her educational non-profit organization The HistoryMakers. Richardson is the founder and executive director of The HistoryMakers, an archive of interviews of 2,700 African-American individuals containing over 9,000 video hours. She has spent the last 16 years on the project, which is avail-
able to faculty at 16 universities including Brandeis. Richardson hopes to “engage student and faculty with our content.” She said that “the strength of the collection is really in the stories.” During Richardson’s presentation to the staff she showed several clips from the archives. The presentation included a demonstration of the accessibility of searching within The HistoryMakers online archive. “What we’re hoping is revolutionize teaching by providing this huge repository,” Richardson concluded. The faculty meeting also dedicated time to introduce new members of the faculty as well as to announce faculty who have assumed new positions at Brandeis. Departments receiving new faculty members include: African and Afro-American Studies, Biology, Classical Studies, Economics, English/Comparative Literature and Culture, English/Creative Writing, Mathematics, Music, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Psychology and Sociology. Additional faculty have also been added to the International Business School. See more results online.
The Brandeis Hoot is looking for writers, copy editors and photographers! No experience necessary! Email eic@thebrandeishoot.com for more information.
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Student Union Profile: Charlotte Lang
photo from instagram.com
By Abigail Gardener editor
Charlotte Lang ’19 is the newly elected Village Quad senator. She has no prior experience in the Student Union, although she was Massell Quad’s secretary last year. Lang put her name in to run for Village senator, although she said she did not actively campaign. Lang said she wanted to be on the Student Union this year because, “I feel like it’s a step up … like you can actually have more of an impact.” She was not on any committees last year because Massell Quad secretary is a subset of the Department of Community Living rather than a part of the Student Union. This year, she is already a part of the Cow-G (Campus Op-
erations Working Group) committee, and she plans on joining the Bylaws and Dining Services committees as well so she can represent the Village as well as the student body as a whole. “I try to do a good mixture because I feel like even though I’m Village Quad senator I’m still a senator in the Student Union. So I think that’s where the committees come into play too, because with the Dining Committee, Bylaws, Cow-G, I try to focus more on the constituents as a whole in addition to the Village constituents,” she said. Some of her specific goals to improve the Village include providing more outdoor lights on the unpaved steps and on the patio, providing a straightforward guide for navigating the Village and improving the gym and gym equipment. Lang wants students to vote because “There’s a lot of people who say, ‘Oh I hate this or that about Brandeis,’ but the only way you can actually effect change is if you want to elect people who are going to do it for you or if you wanna do it yourself,” she said. “I know that was one of my motivators. I know I actually wanted to be behind the scenes and be able to change it myself and not just be complaining about it.”
September 16, 2016
IN THE SENATE: SEPT. 11, 2016 By Zach Phil Schwartz and Hannah Schuster editors
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NEWS 3
The Brandeis Hoot
Senate opened with discussion on possible chartering of Club Cantonese @ Brandeis, which was recognized last semester. Senate voted unanimously to charter Club Cantonese @ Brandeis. Discussion on Global Brigades constitution again postponed due to no representative present at meeting. Sindberg announced his nominations for committee chairs: Class of 2019 Senator Kate Kesselman will head Dining; Executive Senator Hannah Brown ’19 will head Services and Outreach; Class of 2017 Senator Ryan Tracy will head Club Support; Senator-at-Large Shaquan McDowell ’18 will head COW-G; Ziv Quad Senator Michelle Jimenez ’18 will head Social Justice and Diversity; East Quad Senator Elijah Sinclair ’19 will head Sustainability. Executive Reports from Sindberg and Brown: The Executive Board is beginning to have its first meetings with administrators, including with Dean of Students Jamele Adams and Director of Student Activities Stephanie Grimes. New senators were sworn in before the next set of confirmation votes: Niranjana Warrier ’17 to UCC, Brown to office of executive senator and the nominated committee chairs. All were confirmed. Senate then moved to discussion on a possible new committee. Brown discussed any issues regarding health and safety, drinking safety, drug awareness, sexual health and mental health in connection to off-campus activity. Such a committee will need to be created via bylaw amendment. Foster Mods Senator Ari Matz ’17 is looking forward to working with constituents to build ideas to bridge gap between student needs and expectations of administrative bodies like DCL. Class of 2018 Senator Christian Nunez said that DCL and the Department of Public Safety are stepping over the line. McDowell advised that the Senate must keep in mind that this is a very hot topic. Matz also said that it was a delicate situation, and the Senate must approach it carefully especially when dealing with the police. Rosenthal Quad Senator Julien Tremblay said that police came to one of the Rosenthal buildings where a couple of students were playing Mario Kart and were told they needed an event registration. During Senator reports, all of the senators introduced themselves and discussed aims for this year. Returning senators also reported on meaningful conversations they had with constituents in the past week.
Crown Center panelists put crises in context
By Elianna Spitzer staff
In a panel titled “Beyond ISIS: What Should the Next U.S. President Know about the Middle East?” on Thursday, Sept. 15, five scholars from the Crown Center for Middle East Studies agreed that governmental corruption and post-revolution uncertainty are common problems in countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Turkey. Eva Bellin, panel moderator and Robert Kraft Professor of Arab Politics, asked each panelist to provide an explanation of how cultural and governmental shifts should influence the U.S. perspective. They stressed that in order to even think about intervention, military or otherwise, U.S. officials needed a deep understanding of the complex relations between countries in the Middle East. Shai Feldman, Judith and Sidney Swartz, director of the Crown Center for Middle East Studies and a politics professor, felt that the talk would shed some light on the cultural significance of these countries. “I think that if there is an answer that comes across in all of this … to avoid making mistakes … you have to acquire the texture of a region. It’s not a military target. It’s a region with people, multiple ethnicities, multiple religions, backgrounds and histories,” Feldman said. Panelists spoke about the impact that revolutions have had on their countries of study. Ahmad Shokr, Crown Center Junior Research Fellow, addressed the power struggles in Egypt in recent years. In 2011, an uprising removed Hosni Mubarak from power after serving as president for three decades. A democratic election that year resulted in naming Mohamed Morsi president. He was subsequently removed in a coup in 2013 and replaced by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
BRIEF: Student leaders promote inclusion through Posse training
By Hannah Schuster editor
Students will attend a diversity training session with the Posse Foundation on September 16 to learn about the role of campus organizations and student leaders in promoting inclusion, according to a campus-wide email from Kim Godsoe, the associate provost for Academic Affairs. The three-hour long training will be discussion-oriented as students will consider how student leaders create a respectful and inclusive campus community. Godsoe posed three sample questions when introducing the training: 1. How can campus organizations exist both independently and as part of a connected and collaborative community? 2. How can student leaders contribute to a culture of respect and responsiveness when addressing issues related to diversity and inclusion? 3. What role and responsibility do student leaders play in creating a more inclusive campus community? Since there were 100 seats avail-
able, students were asked to register before the training. As of September 15, there were 80 signed up to participate. Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to participate. The Posse Foundation is also sponsoring a training for faculty this fall called “Building an Inclusive Classroom” and a training for staff called “Access and Inclusion on a College Campus,” according to Godsoe’s email. The Posse Foundation is active at Brandeis through the Posse Scholars program. Students accepted to this program gain a “posse” of their peers as they complete their undergraduate degrees. The scholarship selection process “identifies public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential who may be overlooked by traditional college selection processes,” according to the Posse website. There are 57 branches of the Posse program at undergraduate schools across the country. Brandeis is the alma mater of Posse’s founder Deborah Bial ’87 and has approximately 80 Posse scholars. The Provost’s office also an-
nounced this week a list of 11 events focused on diversity and inclusion that had received funding from the office. A total of $23,995 was distributed to more than 10 departments and schools within the university that submitted proposals over the summer, according to an email from Provost Lisa Lynch. One such event was a talk with Dr. Ruha Benjamin, a member of the faculty at Princeton University, focused on the relationship between race and the study of genetics and genomics. The event, which took place this past Tuesday, was cosponsored by the Afro and African American Studies Department and the Health: Science, Society and Policy Department. Next Thursday, the Division of Science at Brandeis will host an event called “Hacking your Potential: Why Your Views on Intelligence and Talent Matter for Academic Success.” Other departments and schools hosting events include the English, Sociology and Peace, Conflict and Coexistence Departments, the Heller School, the Women’s Studies Research Center and more.
Shokr was in Egypt when the 2013 uprising began. He indicated that since then, things have not improved in the country, citing a “combination of police repression and draconian laws” as means of silencing political dissenters. “The possibility of political pluralism in Egypt has not looked bleaker over the past five years than it does today,” Shokr noted. He warned against looking at revolutions as distinct events “within a vacuum.” “The events of 2011 awakened a sense of political possibility. Revolutions do not happen in a single day,” said Shokr. A military coup in Turkey that began on July 15 attempted to remove President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from power. The coup was ultimately unsuccessful, leading panelist Serra Hakyemez, Crown Center Neubauer Junior Research Fellow, to explain why. She partially attributed the failed coup to a lack of full support on the part of the military. Hakyemez stated that 1.5 percent of the military actually participated in the coup. Hakyemez also remarked on the nationalist and religious response to the coup. Erdogan gained the support of monks who in turn influenced their followers. Turkish people flocked to the streets in defense of the president. “Erdogan, nation and homeland, they became one [in] the same,” Hakyemez said. A shift of leadership occurred in Saudi Arabia in July of 2015 when King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud took the throne. According to Pascal Menoret, Renée and Lester Crown Professor of Modern Middle East Studies, King Salman has begun modernizing the country and working on a set of economic reforms. However, he has completely tabled discussion on political reforms. “A king is saying, ‘We are revolutionizing Saudi Arabia,’ without ever talking about politics,” Menoret said. Scholars used the common
theme of corruption to link Iraq and Iran. David Patel, Crown Center Senior Research Fellow, characterized corruption in Iraq as “more than rampant.” Between 60 and 80 percent of employees are public servants who are paid by the government. The Iraqi government operates on a patronage system, previously fueled by high oil prices. According to Patel, 95 percent of Iraq’s budget is made up of oil revenue, and prices have crashed in the past two to three years, sending Iraq into an economic crisis. He explained that the problem of corruption goes deeper than just getting rid of corrupt officials. “You can remove a few bad apples, but if it’s the barrel that’s bad, you’re just going to have to do it again the following year,” Patel said. Iran is also experiencing an economic downturn. Naghmeh Sohrabi, Charles “Corky” Goodman Professor of Modern Middle East History, spoke about the nuclear deal between the U.S. and Iran, explaining that it has simultaneously changed everything and nothing at all. “From the perspective of many people, it doesn’t feel like anything has gotten better in the past 15 or 16 months,” Sohrabi said. President Hassan Rouhani blames the nuclear deal between the U.S. and Iran for a large amount of problems in Iran. “The nuclear issue became a very convenient way of not talking about problems that require a long term solution,” Sohrabi said. Students, alumni and researchers asked questions after each member of the panel responded to Bellin’s questions. Overall, the panelists said that simply asking for intervention on the part of the U.S. is an oversimplification of the issues facing Middle Eastern countries. Structural changes are slow and intervention needs “textural” relevance.
4 The Brandeis Hoot
FEATURES
September 16, 2016
A look into Greek life at Brandeis By Ally Gelber staff
Brandeis has a world-class reputation as an academic institute, and one might not consider the Greek system to have a recognizable presence on campus, especially since it is not recognized by the university. However, Greek life is a great attribute to Brandeis’ nightlife, philanthropy and social scene. While Greek life is not a prominent aspect of college for everyone, it can be a beneficial and quick way to make a close, cemented group of friends. “I think it would bring a new type of person to Brandeis which could be really good for the student body. People would come knowing about Greek life, instead of coming and being surprised there’s a party scene. It could make campus culture a little less divided,” Sigma Delta Tau sister Rachel Silton ’17 said.
Greek life is unaffiliated with Brandeis, meaning sororities and fraternities are running the show themselves, finding ways to spread the word about house events, announcements and recruitments without the assistance of the school. “I’m happy that the houses can operate autonomously. Though it would be nice to have the guidance and funding that Brandeis could provide, it’s cool to be a part of an organization that is largely self sufficient, and being on the E-board can help teach real-world management skills,” Maddox Kay ’19 of Alpha Epsilon Pi said. Silton says that freedom of self-governing aside, it can be very challenging for members of Greek life to operate. During one Sigma Delta Tau recruitment event, the sorority held a Meet and Greek in Ridgewood Commons and was asked to leave the room by the campus police. The administration isn’t always supportive of
representation or events taking place on campus, Silton said. As far as how Greek life has evolved over the years at Brandeis, the addition of a new sorority, Alpha Pi Phi has highlighted how students can have the freedom to create new chapters in order to invite more newcomers to have a “home” on campus. “Joining Sigma Delta Tau really helped me find my place and my friends because I was a mid-year transfer student, which was intimidating,” Silton said. “GAC [Greek Awareness Council] has a bigger presence on campus and for the most part, Brandeis accepts the fact that Greek life is here to stay,” Kay noted. “I think for it to grow, we need to have more of a presence on campus. There’s not much else we can do without getting in trouble to expand SDT,” Silton said. At large state schools, sororities and fraternities have opportunities to
alpha delta phi frat house
No sorority houses exist.
work with the administration to expand or improve Greek life. But at Brandeis, “We’re at a stunted growth point right now and don’t know how to move forward with it,” she said. Going forward, many members hope to see positive engagement
photo by karen caldwell/the hoot
with the activities component of campus life, as well as an increased variety of Greek houses. “With only six fraternities and four sororities, not everyone will find a group that’s ideal for them,” Kay said, “and I hope we have more options in the future.”
Greek organizations make efforts against sexual assault By Zach Cihlar editor
Rushes become pledges this week. Soon, they will begin the process of their incorporation into Greek brotherhoods and sisterhoods, as well as the training process to becoming an active bystander. Bystander intervention training is a bystander-focused way of assault prevention and assuring safety in dangerous situations. It teaches potential witnesses to act in a way that de-escalates situations with growing risk factors in order to ensure all parties involved are safe. Sexual assault has been brought to the forefront of university dis-
cussions across the United States as more students share their experiences and magnify the issue. Many Brandeis fraternities and sororities have taken initiative in helping find a solution to such issues by providing bystander training to their members as well as drug and alcohol prevention programs, according to Nathan Greess ’19, an active brother of the Mass Beta chapter of Phi Kappa Psi. Phi Kappa Psi, one of six fraternities open to Brandeis students, requires all of its new members to undergo bystander training as part of the pledge process. The program is not unique to Phi Kappa Psi, though. Other Greek organizations have begun the ini-
tiative. Julia Robinson-Rosendorff ’19, a member of Sigma Delta Tau, confirmed that her sorority also requires every member to complete bystander training. Sigma Alpha Mu, another fraternity at Brandeis, recently reinstated its policies of bystander intervention training for new members, according to a brother within the fraternity. Though the fraternities and sororities do not rely on each other or work together concerning this issue, there is significant overlap between them when it comes to bystander intervention. Greess happened to be trained as an active bystander trainer by another member of the Brandeis Greek
community. Greess explained that bystander training is made more accessible when the trainer is somebody who is known to the group participating in the session. In this way, not only does Greek life make bystander intervention training more accessible, but it also extends the accessibility of becoming a trainer, a person who guides the informational sessions and facilitates discussions concerning the topic. Greess has taken advantage of these connections provided by his fraternity to become a bystander trainer himself. The overarching organization that represents Greek life on campus, the Greek Awareness Council, does not contribute to this
part of Greek life. According to Greess, the fraternities and sororities individually facilitate the training to their members. Greess highlighted that the training involved falls under the initiative of individuals within each fraternity and sorority. “I hope in the future that the university recognizes the benefits of partnering with Greek life on assault prevention issues,” Greess said. He thinks that the fraternities are ready to coordinate with the administration on issues of sexual assault, and hopes that soon the two entities can work on greater prevention efforts together.
Student thoughts on status of “To aquire wisdom, Greek recognition one must observe.” Talia Bornstein ‘19 KBG
Greek life is … inherently exclusive and heteronormative and divisive and … I don’t think donors, the founders and people who support Brandeis would want that. It would be effective for the Brandeis administration to have more of a dialogue and Mitchell Redfield ‘20
be more involved because then you could come to a common understanding and ground because it’s very polarized, and I think that just creates tensions. I don’t have any positions in my sorority, so I don’t deal with this stuff, but I think people are willing to talk about it and have conversation and then feel shut down by the administration, and that’s just only aggravating. Coco Xiang ‘18
no greek afiliation
no greek afiliation
I think that it would be a good idea for different Greek sororities and fraternities to be recognized by the administration, because then they could be more regulated. Because as of now everything happens off campus and it is kind of out of reach at Brandeis.
Greek life is definitely a legitimate club or an organization that is supposed to be recognized. … Their culture is supposed to be appreciated, and they can contribute to campus as well. They can benefit the students here. People can socialize via this platform.
Emma Spector ‘20 no greek afiliation
In terms of the administration, I think it’s good that they’re not involved with it, because if it is exclusive then that would be Brandeis promoting exclusivity … I love inclusivity. There’s so many different people here, there’s a lot of international students. I like that we’re able to all come together and be a community even if we’re so different.
Curious about something on campus? Want to research, write, work on a team and meet new people? Features is for you. Give a hoot, join The Hoot. No experience necessary. Email cj18@brandeis.edu for more information.
Michelle Yan ‘19
no greek afiliation
I came to Brandeis knowing that it was a very inclusive community. I definitely understand where the university is coming from in not agreeing to recognize [Greek organizations].
Nathan Schneider ‘18 no greek afiliation
I do think that Greek life should be recognized on campus, because I think that
it is important that Greek organizations should be held accountable for what happens and students should be held accountable.
September 16, 2016
The Brandeis Hoot
FEATURES 5
Which presidential candidate makes you feel safer, and why? Leading up to the 2016 presidential election, conservative and democratic Brandeis students will be prompted with a weekly question. Below are their responses. By Brandeis Pro-Choice Club The upcoming presidential election will determine the safety of important issues such as access to contraceptives, abortion and other reproductive health services. Recent history demonstrates that it is difficult for the President of the United States to impact the foundation of reproductive rights without help from the Supreme Court. Not only will this election determine who will occupy the Oval Office for four years, but it will also determine who will occupy the vacant ninth seat on the Supreme Court (and possibly more seats) for decades to come. The safety of our reproductive rights depends on who is elected President and whom the new President appoints to the bench. It is essential that we elect a can-
photo from motherjones.com
didate who will make us feel safe and who will strive to protect our reproductive rights. This candidate is Hillary Clinton. We know where Hillary Clinton stands. She has consistently and forcefully supported Roe v. Wade and fought for funding and access to reproductive health care. As college students, it is important to us that we elect a candidate who will be active and vocal about campus sexual assault issues. Clinton is a strong proponent for providing more support to sexual assault survivors as
photo from theodysseyonline.com
well as increasing sexual assault prevention programs on college campuses. We firmly believe that Clinton understands the importance of protecting reproductive rights, and we know she is capable of nominating a Supreme Court candidate who will be a champion of reproductive health care. With Hillary Clinton as President of the United States, knowing our judicial nominations would be in good hands makes us feel safe regarding the future of reproductive health.
By Ari Givner
a brandeis moderate-conservative republican
Neither makes me feel particularly safe. Hillary Clinton’s mishandling of classified information in her emails is an astounding display of negligence. FBI Director Comey told Congress, “I don’t think that our investigation [into Clinton’s emails] established she was actually particularly sophisticated with respect to classified information and the levels and treatment.” He also said that she may not have been able to identify which markings on documents indicated that they were classified. That is absurd. Under normal circumstances, a scandal of this scale could end a presidential campaign. But these aren’t normal circumstances. Hillary Clinton is very fortunate to be running against one Donald J. Trump, a presidential candidate with a profound lack of foreign policy and national security know-how. On “Meet the Press,” he said he watches televi-
sion shows for military advice. In a radio interview with Hugh Hewitt, Trump acknowledged that he didn’t know the leaders of any foreign terrorist organizations. And while speaking with George Stephanopoulos, he said that, if he becomes president, Vladimir Putin will never go into Ukraine, even though Putin is already there. His ignorance shines through his foreign policy proposals which are vague, incoherent and self-contradictory. His temperament hasn’t inspired much confidence in him either. A knowledge deficit mixed with self-restraint issues makes for a lethal presidential combination. This has inspired more than 50 Republican foreign policy and national security experts to, in an unprecedented move, sign a letter declaring Trump unfit to be commander-in-chief. So although neither candidate makes me feel particularly safe, Trump makes me feel much, much less safe than Clinton.
Prof. Paula Musegades is listening By Albet Reiss editor
For people like Prof. Paula Musegades (MUS), music is more or less a part of her daily life. As a postdoctoral fellow in the music department, Musegades studies the intersection of music and film. In fact, this semester Musegades is teaching Music in Film, a course that explores how music plays a pivotal role in filmmaking. Musegades became a Brandeisian during her graduate studies. She obtained her M.A. as well as her Ph.D. in musicology from Brandeis. After finishing her Ph.D., she taught at Emerson College and then returned to Brandeis as a Kade Fellow. The Kade Fellowship is a special two-year fellowship offered jointly by the Brandeis Music and American Studies departments. The program allocates a salary as well as a research stipend for each
participant. Musegades wrote her dissertation on the role of composer Aaron Copland in Hollywood film. “I look[ed] at his film scores and his impact on the Hollywood sound,” Musegades described. The dissertation was turned into a book this year. In the book, she looked at other topics such as “the way Copland has shifted sound from the Hollywood golden age to a more experimental one,” said Musegades. In discussing more recent film scores, Musegades noted the growing trend in films to have less composed music and instead more sound effects. “Now that we have so much more sound technology, we have so much more to deal with. There are so many layers of sounds effect and music that get mixed together,” Musegades said. This “mixing” can make it difficult to “hear the music,” she explained. In other words, with
more recently made films, it is increasingly important for the viewers to be attuned to the music in addition to other elements of the movie. “Even though there might be very good music being composed for films, it may be very hard to hear it,” she said about the difficulty in understanding more modern film music. In regard to her academic experience at Brandeis, Musegades has had a positive experience with students. “I think that the student engagement here is very fantastic. All of the students are so enthusiastic about the classes,” she explained. Musegades is also fond of the flexibility that Brandeis affords her in teaching classes. For example, while she is teaching Music in Film this semester, in the spring she will teach a class on the history of rock and roll. Last semester, she taught a class on protest music. “I am getting to teach a lot of courses that I am really enthusias-
photo from brandeis.edu
tic about,” she noted. Musegades’ work also focuses on the underrepresentation of minority groups in music. In her class on protest music, this issue was often discussed and Musegades sought to facilitate a conversation by including these underrepresented artists in her class
discussions. When asked if she has any advice for students, Musegades suggested that students consider studying music. “I think in a depressed economy, music is a critical part of our culture. You can learn a lot about history and society by looking at music.”
Harry Potter Alliance: a spell of social justice
photo courtesy harry potter alliance club
By Polina Potochevska staff
When you think about Harry Potter, wands, spells and horcruxes may come to mind—but what about social justice? Brandeis University’s chapter of the Harry Potter Alliance uses pop culture such as books, movies and TV
shows to make social justice and activism more accessible to students. The Harry Potter Alliance (HPA) was founded in 2005 by Brandeis alumnus Andrew Slack ’02 and became an official chapter at Brandeis in 2012. Since its creation, the HPA has spread internationally across college campuses
to create change in its unique way. One popular campaign is the international HPA book drive, Accio Books, which donates books to those in need and promotes literacy. The Brandeis group participates in Accio Books every April, explained Talia Franks ’18, who has been a member of the HPA since her first year and is now
co-president. Harry Potter is not the only book series that is used in activist efforts. ”Odds Are Never In Our Favor,” a campaign the HPA runs that promotes economic diversity, was based on the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. In terms of local charities, Brandeis’ HPA donated 161 books to the More Than Words bookstore in Waltham last semester and plans to partner with the store again this year. The HPA is a “diverse group of people and charities,” Franks said. In previous semesters, the HPA chapter worked with the Brandeis library to host a book drive and raised money for the Boston Children’s Hospital. Last semester the club also sent a small group of students to the Granger Leadership Academy in Warwick, RI, to learn leadership skills that could strengthen the Alliance. Also in the spring of 2016 during ‘DEIS Impact, HPA fo-
cused on using social media for social justice and had the communications director of the international HPA, Jackson Bird, speak to the Brandeis chapter about the power of fan activism. This semester, HPA is participating in author John Green’s program, Project for Awesome, to promote “We Need Diverse Books,” a campaign focused on promoting diversity in literature. The chapter is also in the process of planning this year’s project with ’DEIS Impact. While social justice and Harry Potter might not be the most common pair, the usage of popular media to promote positive change in the community is a creative way to make books come to life and spread awareness. According to Franks, the 17 members of the club are a “Harry Potter Alliance family” who “care about Brandeis, social justice, Harry Potter, each other and making the world a better place.”
SPORTS
6 SPORTS
September 16, 2016
Men’s soccer record drops to 3-1-1 By Sarah Jousset editor
photo courtesy norman cohen
After the men’s soccer team started the season with three wins, this past week has challenged the Judges as they suffered a loss Saturday against Babson and a tie Wednesday against Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The Judges fought back in their games, which both ended after double overtime. In the Babson game, neither team had any lack of chances to score. However, Babson had the advantage in shots, 19-15 (6-5 on goal) and corner kicks 12-5. The closest the Judges came to scoring during regulation was in the 62nd minute when Andrew Allen ’19 just missed a shot off
a breakaway. On the defensive end, Brandeis goalkeeper Ben Woodhouse ’18 turned away six shots on goal in an outstanding performance. The loss came in the second overtime period when a Babson player kicked the ball off the arm of a Brandeis defender, resulting in a penalty kick in Babson’s favor. Babson’s Noah Parker was the one to take the shot and buried the ball in the net with 2:18 left in the second overtime. This sole goal of the game was enough for Babson to secure the win over Brandeis, 1-0. This is the first time since 2011 that the Judges have lost to Babson and their first time losing to a New England team since 2013. The Judges were back in action again on Wednesday against
WPI. The two teams played 110 minutes without a goal for either team. Allen again came the closest to scoring for the Judges in the 19th minute. He had three shots in the game and two on goal. Dylan Hennessy ’20 threatened as well in the 82nd minute, but WPI’s goalkeeper had an incredible deflection. Hennessy was close behind Allen with two shots on goal, while Patrick Flahive ’18 had one shot in the game for the Judges. On the defensive end, goalkeeper Woodhouse had three saves in the game. The Judges are now 3-1-1 for the season. The men’s soccer team will enjoy a short break from games before hosting Tufts on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.
Women’s volleyball at the MIT Invitational By Zach Cihlar editor
Brandeis women’s volleyball had an eventful weekend, playing four games in two days as part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Invitational. Competition commenced on Friday, Sept. 9 and finalized the following day on Saturday, Sept. 10. The Brandeis women exited the tournament with one win to their three losses. The first two games were played at home, with the Judges taking a win in their first game against Regis College in three sets. Brandeis has not seen Regis on the court since the MIT Invitational in the 2013 season, when the Judges pulled away with a three sets to zero win. Brandeis led in kills against Regis on Friday, hitting 26 to Regis’s 18. Emma Bartlett ’20, Shea Decker-Jacoby ’19 and Zara Platt ’19 shared the lead with six kills, but Platt came out ahead in accuracy, only committing one error. On defense, Yvette Cho ’19 and Grace Krumpack ’19 each made 13 digs off the opposing team’s
serve. The win would advance the team’s winning record to 3-1 for the season before they would come up short in their next game against Bowdoin College, who came in from Maine. Brandeis has also not faced off against Bowdoin since the last MIT Invitational the Judges attended in 2013. Brandeis fell only shortly behind Bowdoin in kills for this game, committing 32 to the away team’s 36. Bartlett appeared more aggressive than in the first game of the day, boasting 22 total attacks and nine kills for the match. The women returned to the volleyball court the next day at 1 p.m. at MIT against Tufts University, whose team collected an undefeated record of 3-0 before entering the court against Brandeis. The Judges fell to Tufts after taking the first set against the opposing team, bringing the team to a total of four sets. Brandeis faced issues with accuracy and execution during this game. Though the women achieved 21 kills during the game, they committed 31 total errors, assigning the
team a negative attacking percentage for the game. Tufts outhit Brandeis with 35 total kills, which were combatted by only 19 errors. Despite the loss, the captain of the team, Cho, believes the team’s “first set against Tufts was single-handedly one of the best games we’ve played.” After Tufts, the team played Endicott College, which resulted in another four-set loss for the Judges, who again took the first set off the team from Beverly, MA. Brandeis lagged behind in kills for the game, completing 28 compared to Endicott’s 38 kills. Decker-Jacoby led the girls in that game with seven total kills to only one error. After going one for three over the weekend, Cho sees only opportunity in the outcome. “Even though the end result wasn’t what we wanted, we’re all proud of the way we performed and we’re going to build off of that,” she said. The women played a regular season game again on Wednesday, Sept. 14, which resulted in a straight sets loss for the Judges. The team ends the week with a
photo courtesy lewis glass
total record of three wins to five losses. Brandeis women’s volleyball is scheduled to play their next game against Bates College on Friday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. The game will
be played at home and will feature a rematch between the two teams who last faced each other in a tournament in the 2013 season, when Bates won the meeting in a tough five-set game.
Women’s soccer continues to dominate
photo from brandeisjudges.com
By Lily Wageman staff
With the start of the Brandeis’ women’s soccer season well underway, the team’s momentum continues with a winning streak
of 6-0. The team is lead by head coach Denise Dallamora, assistant coach Jenna Fischer, goalkeeper coach John Conlon and volunteer assistant coach Bob Winch. The team is currently ranked #13 nationally by the NSCAA and #12
by D3soccer.com. This past Saturday the Judges shutout UMass Boston in a 3-0 victory, their fifth shutout in a row this season. At the time the Judges were ranked #13 in the Division III by the NSCAA and #15 by D3soccer.com. Cidney Moscovitch ’17 opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when she got her head on the ball as it made its way through the box and sent it off the far left post, earning her first goal of the season. In the 25th minute, the second goal came from sophomore Hannah Maatallah ’19. From the top of the 18-yard box, she rifled a high shot at the left corner and found the right side of the netting over a leaping Beacon netminder. In the 57th minute, Samantha Schwartz ’18 closed out the scoring when she picked up a loose ball about 30 yards from the net and with the opposing goalie well off her line, fired the ball into the open net. The Judges
had a 28-0 shot advantage on the Beacons and this marked the second-straight game the Judges held them shotless. The Judges’ next match came on Tuesday against another top four team in the New England Division III women’s soccer, with Eastern Connecticut State University ranked #4 and Brandeis ranked #3. The Judges improved to their current standings, 6-0, after finding another hard earned victory, while ECSU suffered their first defeat and fell to 3-1. The Judges dominated against ECSU on the field, winning the game 5-0. All three of Brandeis’ first-half goals came on rebounds. The first goal came in the 31st minute when ECSU keeper made a diving save on Brandeis’ Haliana Burhans ’18, but then Lea McDaniel ’17 was there to send the loose ball to the net for the goal and fourth game-winner of the season.
Samantha Schwartz ’18 scored the second goal of the game and her second of the season in the 38th minute, when a shot blocked by a defender on another attempt by McDaniel presented an open net. Then just 80 seconds later, leaving the net clear, ECSU reserve Kayla Lebreque came off her line to prevent Burhans from getting off a quality shot, allowing Maatallah to score the third goal. Following the exciting first half the Judges scored twice more. In the 63rd minute Schwartz made a nifty move on a defender after receiving Moscovitch’s through ball. Then Sasha Sunday ’19 closed the scoring with her first goal of the season on a cross from Maatallah in the 65th minute. The Judges outshot the Warriors 33-6, including 20-1 in the first-half. The Judges will be at home on Gordon Field this Thursday night at 7 p.m. when they host Wentworth Institute.
EDITORIALS
September 16, 2016
How we are trying to truly be the community newspaper
“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 Opinions Editor Zach Phil Schwartz Deputy Opinions Editor Katarina Weesies
T
he editorial staff at The Brandeis Hoot is committed to increasing the diversity of our paper and representing the Brandeis community as a whole. In April of 2016, we sent out a campus journalism survey to get more information on our readership, our role on campus, what students expect of us and how we can improve. The results were valuable in alerting us to how we need to change and in spurring preliminary plans for this academic year. These plans included implementing training for new writers, updating the style guide and ethics policy and providing more comprehensive reporting by consulting multiple sources of informa-
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 16 the brandeis hoot • brandeis university 415 south street • waltham, ma
Founded By Leslie Pazan, Igor Pedan and Daniel Silverman
STAFF
Rachel Bossuk, Sharon Cai, José Castellanos, Shea Decker-Jacoby, Amanda Ehrmann, Andrew Elmers, Ally Gelber, Zachary Gordon, Max Gould, Emma Gutman, Sophia He, Alana Hodson, Daniel Kang, Emma Kahn, Naomi Klickstein, Adam Lamper, Samantha Lauring, Monique J Menezes, Santiago Montoya, Ryan Spencer, Hannah Stewart, 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.
CONNECT phone • (781) 330-0051 e-mail • eic@thebrandeishoot.com online • brandeishoot.com twitter • twitter.com/thebrandeishoot facebook • facebook.com/thebrandeishoot
ADVERTISE Advertising in The Brandeis Hoot helps spread your message to our readers across the Brandeis campus, in the Waltham community and beyond through our website. All campus organizations receive a 25 percent discount off our regular prices. We also design basic ads for campus organizations free of charge. To reserve your space in the paper, contact us by phone at (781) 330-0051 or by e-mail at ads@thebrandeishoot.com.
GIVE A HOOT, JOIN THE HOOT!
Writers, editors, photographers and graphic artists wanted to join The Brandeis Hoot, your weekly community newspaper. To learn more, send us an e-mail at join@thebrandeishoot.com, or visit our website http://brandeishoot.com/join.
UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONS
We welcome unsolicited submissions from members of the community sent by e-mail to eic@thebrandeishoot.com. Please limit submissions to 800 words. All submissions are subject to editing.
tion. One plan for change we have been particularly conscious of since the summer is to expand the diversity of The Hoot’s writers and editors. In order to best represent the community, we need to draw on the perspectives of all students, especially those in minority groups whose voices are often overlooked on campus. In line with these efforts, we are in the midst of reaching out to cultural clubs, departments and programs that work closely with or are made up of students whose voices have been historically marginalized on Brandeis’ campus and beyond. We are seeking writers, editors,
photographers and layout staff—students who can contribute their perspectives and skills to a paper endeavoring to reduce bias and widen representation. We recognize where we have fallen short in our recruitment efforts year after year. As an almost exclusively white editorial board, we acknowledge this problem and want the community newspaper to actually represent the entire community. If you are part of an ICC club or any minority group on campus and are interested in collaborating with us, please reach out at eic@thebrandeishoot.com. We would love to talk about how to get involved or any suggestions for the paper as we move in a new direction this year.
Fantastic words and where to find them
Features Editor Charlotte Aaron Deputy Features Editor Albert Reiss
The Brandeis Hoot 7
By Emily Altkorn and Caroline Rourke special to the hoot
Across 1. Nicholas I, e.g. 5. Homes in Mérida 10. Actress Blanchett 14. New Los Angeles team 15. Feeling of boredom 16. More than a little 17. His middle names include Percival, Wulfric and Brian 20. Greek letter 21. Study abroad program 22. Tax dodgers? 23. Life ______ 25. Ear piercing sites 26. He said, “Don’t count the days, make the days count” 27. Bay area weather 28. New England in the Fall 32. Spider product 34. Justice’s former identity 36. “We ______ Young” (song by Fun.) 37. Response to “are you dating?” 38. Hand in Jerusalem 39. Pigwidgeon’s owner 41. Resident of Museum Mile (abbr.) 42. Hole ______ wall 43. ______ the season 44. Get this vaccine this year at the Brandeis Health Center! 45. Act in accordance with 47. Smoke signals 50. “______ Stranger” (song by Pavement) 53. Nintendo console 54. Barnyard sound 55. What we wish the T were 58. Length x width 59. Feeling on Halloween 60. Applies 61. Many a college dorm 62. Used a towel 63. Craft e-superstore Down 1. Catches
Last week’s solution
2. Chips’ pair 3. Indecisive 4. Stock type (abbr.) 5. Gives up 6. UR follower? 7. “I’ve heard enough” in text speak 8. Eggplants in Paris 9. Author Daniel 10. Carried clubs 11. My favorite vera 12. Unit of pressure 13. Summers in Nice 18. Pocket friend? 19. Eyrie nestling 24. Common deer 25. Fox TV series, in 31-down speak? 27. Newbie to romance 29. In your prime 30. Cappuccino head 31. Luke’s mentor
32. New Delhi attire 33. Heme co-factor 34. Actress Michele 35. Poodle type 37. Small snake in Scotland? 40. “______ the point?” Comment after a bad lecture 41. Common cit. format 44. Step in pancake making 46. In debt 47. Repaired 48. Makes less difficult 49. Many a teenager 50. ______ Wow 51. Hole in the skin 52. Type of antibody (pl.) 53. Danish painter Edvard 56. ______ Lanka 57. Street in Rennes
L C R O S S WO R D S ? V E Become a hoot crossword creator. email eic@thebrandeishoot.com if interested.
8 The Brandeis Hoot
WEEK IN PHOTOS
photo by sarah ernst/the hoot
September 16, 2016
photo by mia edelstein/the hoot
resource guide in library
photo by sarah ernst/the hoot
night at the rose The Rose Art Museum hosts nightime party for opening.
photo by sarah ernst/the hoot
photo courtesy archon yearbook
photo by sarah ernst/the hoot
September 16, 2016
WEEK IN PHOTOS 9
The Brandeis Hoot
photo by jacob edelman/the hoot
dinner line at sherman
Usdan closed
voter registration cake
photo courtesy archon yearbook
Lines at Sherman go out the door on Sunday night, especially with
The library ordered a cake for its voter registration drive.
photo by mia edelstein/the hoot
photo by nathan taber/the hoot
new work from home and abroad
New exhibition at Goldman-Schwartz Art Studio
photo by sarah ernst/the hoot
OPINIONS
10 The Brandeis Hoot
The school-wide benefit of Hispanic/Latinx organizations By Katarina Weessies editor
Latinx and Hispanic activism is relatively rare in New England. Compared to states like Florida and California, where Hispanic/ Latinx people make up the largest ethnic group, the Latinx presence in Massachusetts is tiny. Colleges and universities in the Boston area reflect this smaller Hispanic and Latinx presence. For example, Brandeis’s undergraduate population is only 7.1 percent “Hispanic/Latino.” But the Brandeis Latinx Student Organization (BLSO, formerly Ahora), an ICC club on campus, provides Brandeis’ relatively small Latinx population with a means to connect, organize and share their culture. Latinx campus organizations like BLSO are incredibly important in schools with smaller Latinx populations, because they spread much-needed awareness of Latinx issues and provide a cohesive community for Latinx and Hispanic people. Before I discuss BLSO in more detail, I should explain some of the basics of Latinx organizing. “Latinx” is a gender neutral term for Latino/a that is preferred by many people of Latin-American descent. “Hispanic” refers to anyone of Spanish-speaking descent, including both Spanish and Lat-
in-American people. The phrase “Latinx issues” includes all issues that affect Spanish-speaking countries and the people who migrate elsewhere from those countries. Miranda Hurtado-Ramos ’19, an active member of BLSO, describes the club as “a place for Latinx students on campus to organize socially and politically, learn about their culture and celebrate their culture together.” It is important for Latinx Brandeis students to organize because knowledge of Latinx issues at Brandeis isn’t necessarily universal or widespread. Jose Castellanos ’18, another member of BLSO, said, “I don’t believe that non-Latinx Brandeis students know a lot about Latinx issues. Many non-Latinx people have a one-sided view of Latin America.” Hurtado-Ramos thinks that “knowledge of some Latinx issues is widespread, but students here don’t know as much about the struggles of undocumented people. I’m from Houston, where the treatment of undocumented people is a huge issue, so it’s interesting to see how people here don’t know as much about it.” BLSO is essential not only to raise awareness amongst non-Latinx students, but also to help connect Latinx students to each other. Castellanos explained that when he first came to Brandeis,
“I felt like an outsider due to my Latino status. There was no clear sense of oneness in the Latino community here.” When he found out about BLSO, he knew that he could use the club as a space to share his pride in his heritage with other Latinx students. “I feel that I had a part in uniting the Hispanic community here. I decided to put every Hispanic student at Brandeis into a Facebook group. Now we can communicate and make BLSO better. We can encourage a sense of community and take more pride in our shared Hispanic experience.” Fortunately, BLSO is growing. Once a small, dispersed community, BLSO has started to plan cultural events and be more expressive politically. One of BLSO’s key goals is to spread awareness of the variety and diversity of different Latinx cultures. Many non-Latinx people see Hispanic and Latinx people as monolithic, but BLSO’s cultural events seek to work against this narrow-minded perception. Hurtado-Ramos mentioned that BLSO is “planning a lot more events and a big culture show. We’re expanding outreach and increasing our membership. We are even planning an event in conjunction with the Caribbean See BLSO, page 12
September 16, 2016
‘Resting bitch face’ perpetuates sexist idea of women as no more than smiles By Sabrina Pond editor
Women undoubtedly face certain obstacles that men do not. These forms of inequality may not be as blatant as in past decades, like when women couldn’t vote, but the way we talk about women in everyday conversation is indicative of how we view women in our society. These more subtle transgressions are a huge problem that echo a time when women had few rights, were their husband’s property and were forced to take care of the home. One such transgression involves the so-called “resting bitch face.” We use this phrase to describe “a person, usually a girl, who naturally looks mean when her face is expressionless, without meaning to,” according to Urban Dictionary. AltThough Brandeis is a liberal institution that boasts safe spaces, an open community and a very politically correct climate, this phenomenon is not unknown to the communitycampus. Quite frankly, the rampant use of “resting bitch face” at this university has done nothing but shock me over and over again. How is it possible that a student body so concerned with inclusive speech and forward thinking could endorse such a hateful and downright sexist term?
In multiple interviews with female-identifying individuals around campus, the range of opinions on the issue was far more varied than I originally anticipated. “I have heard from a few people that I have ‘resting bitch face,’”Jeongmi Seo ’18 said. “I personally used it to describe myself a few times but I have never used it to describe others,” Seo mentioned regarding her opinion of the term. “That is because I know its offensiveness, and once I realized that, I stopped using it overall.” If it was up to her, she would rather see the phrase die out. “As a person who is trying to enlighten myself and the people around me as much as possible, I would prefer if the word disappears—since it makes [some] if not many people uncomfortable.” Another student, Julia Wolinsky ’18, had a wildly different perspective. “It’s fine. I think it’s kind of efficient. People won’t talk to you on the street. You don’t look very friendly, so they won’t stop you on the street.” “People on the street have asked me if I’m okay. I assumed that it was because I wasn’t too happy, which can be interpreted as ‘resting bitch face.’” Wolinsky went on to further say, “It’s annoying when See RBF, page 12
A toast to the Brandeis Ski and Snowboard Team By Zach Phil Schwartz editor
As an incoming first-year in 2014, there was not much I was certain about. Like my friends and peers, I attended the activities fair on a scorching late-August day and signed up for countless activities on a whim. I’ve devoted much of my time after that day to two clubs, one of which was included in that “joined-on-a-whim” category. I’m now entering my second year as the Opinions Editor for that club. The second club, on the other hand, is the only one that I was determined to find and join on that hot summer day. My time with the Brandeis Ski and Snowboard Team has been nothing short of a wild ride, but I wouldn’t have had it any other
the brandeis ski and snowboard team
way. Never before had I known such passion, devotion and most of all, camaraderie. I met one of my closest friends because of the team. Joining was hands down the best decision I have ever made as a Brandeis student. Fall 2014 was an eventful if not tumultuous time for me when it came to being an active member of any club. Not knowing anybody at The Brandeis Hoot or on the Ski Team, I pondered stepping back from both in favor of schoolwork. In fact, following what turned out to be a minor heart scare I had quit another club and was prepared to jump off the Ski Team train; after all, how could I have been of any use to the team with heart issues? The team was completely understanding and accommodating of my recent issues, and against
Here’s to McBrine.
the wishes of the side of my brain that was telling me to step back, I soldiered on. I participated in the team’s dryland trainings. I went on my first training trip, learned how to race and participated in competitive ski races. I made lifelong friends. Then, I did it again the next year. Now I am one of three captains for the Ski and Snowboard Team, and I’m leading dryland trainings. I’m working with my co-captains to plan my third training trip and third racing season before I go abroad to The Hague. In a tribute piece to the Brandeis University Swim and Dive Team published in The Brandeis Hoot’s March 4, 2016 issue, former-Editor-in-Chief Theresa Gaffney ’16 wrote, “I urge any young underclassmen who haven’t already
to join a club that you think you could stick with for four years.” Although I’m just a junior and have four more semesters here (three on campus), I wholeheartedly agree with Gaffney’s sentiment. My two-plus years with the Brandeis Ski and Snowboard Team have been extremely formative, and my experiences have no doubt shaped my development as a student, a skier and a person overall. I’ve made several close friends and further developed a passion that, admittedly, I was not very good at before my first training trip. This is the kind of experience I think that every Brandeis undergraduate student should have access to. Such formative experiences you want to be a part of don’t exist ex-
clusively in club or varsity sports; they exist in every club. My time at The Hoot has had similar effects, albeit for different reasons. I believe that everyone can find a niche to thrive in within one or more of Brandeis’ many clubs, club sports and varsity teams; you just need to find your passion and run with it without hesitation. I’m grateful that I second-guessed my hesitation and I’m grateful that the Ski Team was understanding and accommodating. I would not be where I am today if it were not. The good thing is that all clubs on campus are friendly, understanding and accommodating, and are eager to have you—so go follow your passion, have amazing experiences and build lifelong friendships. To my fellow teammates—here’s to you, and here’s to McBrine.
photo from facebook.com
September 16, 2016
By Angela Mendez columnist
On Sept. 1, I posted the following status on my facebook wall. This has been on my mind for a while, but I have now made up my mind.Starting from this moment on, I am reclaiming the Spanish pronunciation of my name. No longer do I want to be addressed as An-juh-la. My parents named me Angela (pronounced AhnHEY-La) after my beautiful and lovely grandmother. By reclaiming the Spanish pronunciation, I am showing pride and respect to that. I was born and raised here in the United States. This meant I
The Brandeis Hoot
OPINIONS 11
Reclaiming my name had to attend school at a young age within the American education system. I was taught to read, write and speak in English. I did not realize it then, but I was also taught to change the pronunciation of my name. I was taught to say it in English. Growing up, people pronouncing my name in English was not a problem. I was simply accustomed to responding when people called me An-juh-la. I didn’t think it was that important. That is until this past summer when I met one of my coworkers from Harlem RBI, a baseball camp that strives to end summer reading loss in addition to teaching team values to children.
My friend’s name is Noemi (pronounced No-eh-me). Her name is also pronounced in Spanish. During our training for Harlem RBI, we had a workshop about race and the amount of diversity we would encounter when working with the children. This was an amazing workshop to have because aside from highlighting different perspectives and views, many of my coworkers and I established what was important to us and what we expected from one another. At some point in the discussion, Noemi spoke up and said, “My name is No-eh-me. My name is not Naomi. Issues of race are sometimes so deeply embedded
into our society that names are often not even said correctly.” When she said this, everyone was stunned. This seemingly small fact that tends to be overlooked shows how problematic issues of race are. This was monumental for me because what she said resonated with me deeply. Saying my name in Spanish is so incredibly important because if someone mispronounces it or refuses to say it correctly, they strip not only the significance, but also the meaning behind my name. I cannot let my history, my story, my background be erased like that and essentially become Americanized. That is not okay. I was named after my beautiful
and lovely grandmother because she was a natural-born leader with many admirable qualities. My grandmother was a strong, kind-hearted soul who was able to overcome many obstacles in her life. She was admirable for being who she was inside and out. My parents recognized that and they wished for me to be the same. They wanted me to be an exemplary woman just like her. I hold pride in that. For this particular reason, I make it a point to reclaim the Spanish pronunciation of my name. My name is Angela, pronounced Ahn-HEY-La. I deeply appreciate when people make the effort to pronounce it correctly.
Does a flipped physics classroom work? By Anindita Chanda special to the hoot
As is typical with many other courses, changes have been made to the Physics 10A curriculum. Conventional physics courses are based on students coming to lectures and the professor monotonously droning on and on while writing a bunch of equations on the board. Usually most students do not bother to read the textbook under such a curriculum, and often show up to the lectures lost but in high hopes of gaining something from that day’s lesson. One of the problems with such a curriculum is that it impedes the students from actively learning the material. What ends up happening is that the students come two days before the exam and flip through their notebooks looking for which equations to memorize and apply to a specific type of problem. The
issue with this is that it does not allow the students to understand why they are doing what they are doing. In the end it all comes back down to memorization. Physics (even if it is an introductory course) is not beginning biology; memorization will not take a student far. For those reasons, Nate Tompkins restructured the Physics 10A course to be in the form of a flipped classroom. The idea behind it is that students will come to class having thoroughly studied the chapters in the online book (on which students must also comment by reflecting on something or by asking questions) and then attend seminar-sized classes during which they will work on problems either independently or with their peers. The whole point of the flipped classroom is to build communication and get students thinking on their own without the professors feeding them
equations. Students are supposed to learn to apply in a flipped classroom. That being said, there has been an influx of complaints by students about the changed course. Students talk about how they are paying a lot of money to basically read a book themselves and not be taught anything. Other students are fine with the independent and group learning but are upset that there is no way for students (other than by doing the online homework problems) to know if they are right or wrong about the problems they complete in class. As a more independent learner myself, that latter point is something I highly agree with. Yes, it is true that as we go through the problems in class, we can ask the graduate and undergraduate TAs if what we are doing is correct, but that is not possible to do for every single problem every single
time. Furthermore, not having the ability to check our answers or rather how we are applying or approaching problems decreases confidence for the most part— especially with the first midterm coming up. On one hand, it is true that the flipped classroom is allowing us to utilize our resources to the fullest, but the problem is, every student has an array of other classes that they need to also go to office hours, recitations and study for. With a purely flipped classroom, spending 9 hours per week (as described in the course syllabus) is a legitimate amount of time to be able to read through the chapters, comment and work through the homework problems and understand the concepts. But for the students who cannot consistently find 9 hours to work on physics per week, or may have trouble independently learning without any form of lecture, it becomes a bit
of a problem for them. They will fall behind and a vicious cycle will begin as stress perpetuates in the student’s life. After speaking with multiple students (some of whom are strongly opposed to this course’s curriculum at the moment, and also those who do not mind a flipped classroom but would like some adjustments made to it), a possible solution to accommodate everyone is to emphasize the foundations of a flipped classroom. The emphasis is on reading the textbook, trying to understand the material on our own before we come to lecture, doing lots of practice in the form of homework problems and class problems, but then also having the opportunity to check our work after and get structured lectures on particular concepts (instead of whole chapters themselves) that are important or tricky once in class.
To the next President of the United States By Monique J Menezes columnist
Dear Mr(s). President, I have not been able to escape this year’s presidential election. Media sources from Twitter to Channel 5 have been overwhelming me about whether you stumbled or went mute on an interview with Larry King. I have heard opinionated rants about you from everyone, including my barely bilingual grandmother and even strangers while abroad, who could not help sharing their two cents upon learning I was American. I am writing to you because whether my loyalties are red, blue or lie with Yeezy, I am one of the countless voters in this country with a decision to make this November. I know it is important to be a participant in our democratic system. Don’t worry, I was listening to all the motivational speeches urging me to have a voice. Well, at least I was the first couple of times. Either way, I am a little worried because you have a direct and a lot of indirect impact on my future. What you do will affect whatever post-graduation plans I should make. I don’t even want to think about the stability of my finances after May. I’m not sure if they told you this part, but this president job is
a four-year gig. From seniors like me to even the first-years walking around, who are still figuring out which Shapiro building is which, we are trusting you with our foreseeable futures. So, I am what Brandeis likes to call a Health: Science, Society & Policy major. Think public health in all of its interdisciplinary glory. It’s a great major and for the many out there who are doubling it with pre-med or bio or busi-
clinton and trump
ness or psychology or whatever, I am inclined to believe you agree. There’s only one snag. This major of ours is incredibly American-centric. After all, one of our required courses is called American Health Care, and a majority of it is focused on the hefty and often infamous legislation that is endearingly called Obamacare. I know you’ve talked about repealing this, which makes me feel like part of my education
will become a little less relevant. I guess a lot of things are said during an election, though. There’s also that promise to change schools, and I think you used the word “transform” in regard to the profession of teaching. I don’t know. Maybe teachers will love the changes. After all, our public school system is far from perfect and not without its flaws. Nevertheless, it is something for an education minor or someone
photos from wikimedia commons
in a teaching certification program to keep in mind at the preliminary stages of what is probably expected to be a long career in education. Speaking of education, you and every politician I can think of has made some claim about education. You care. It is important. It’s an “investment” in our youth. Well, let me wave my arms and kick my legs on behalf of my fellow college students and pray for a life preserver to be thrown while we slowly drown in debt. That $60,000 per year price tag on a degree feels like an anchor, and I personally prefer to be able to breathe. Some of us will panic and take a job that pays the bills rather than one that aligns with our interests or a fit that would make us the most productive citizens we could be. Others will delay loan payments with more education in graduate school. Either way, Mr(s). President, I’m pretty nervous about the future. I need to know how important an educated workforce is to you, or a happy workforce. You have the power to cripple the brains who keep society going. Please don’t. Help us have a future. If that’s too much to ask, then just let us have our future. Don’t make it harder than it already is. Sincerely, The Not-Yet-Graduated-ButThinking-Ahead-Voter
12 OPINIONS
The Brandeis Hoot
September 16, 2016
BLSO and Brandeis BLSO, from page 10
Culture Club about the Afro-Latinx experience.” She hopes that BLSO’s events will “exemplify the differences in our countries of origin and show who we are as a community and as a people.” In the future, BLSO hopes to grow even more than it already has. Castellanos expressed that he wants “better representation of Latinx/Hispanic culture at Brandeis, and a greater sense of pride in who we are as a community.” He hopes that BLSO can help increase campus awareness of Latinx issues. “I want BLSO to start becoming
more active in Brandeis and in the Waltham community. There is a strong immigrant community in Waltham, and I want to see what we can do as students to get involved with community,” Hurtado-Ramos noted. BLSO has Spanish, Mexican, Central American and indigenous members, and this diversity adds a variety of perspectives on what it means to be Hispanic or Latinx. Both Castellanos and Hurtado-Ramos say that BLSO has helped them appreciate diversity amongst Latinx people. “I feel that now we can appreciate each other’s differences.
Though we do have a shared culture as Latinx-Americans, there are differences between cultures and countries. By organizing as BLSO, we can celebrate those cultural differences,” Castellanos said. Unfortunately, 2016 is an extremely urgent year for Latinx issues. Bigotry against Hispanic and Latinx people is being expressed openly by many politicians and political groups. Immigration is a hot-button issue and several political and economic crises have erupted in Latin America. This buildup of Hispanic and Latinx issues has been very stressful for
many Latinx-Americans. “As a Latinx student, and as someone of Mexican descent, I feel very passionately about this election. I think it’s important to note that despite one of our candidates being more forthright about border policies, Obama has deported more immigrants than any past president. Latinx people need to see a cultural change and a political change,” Hurtado-Ramos said. However, solidarity within Latinx organizations has helped many Latinx people heal from this year’s traumas. When asked about the struggles of this election year, Castellanos
replied that, “If anything, I feel that my values are more solidified in who I am as a Latino, and for many we now can better appreciate who we are because in this adversity we have faced, we are still unified.” Latinx organizations like BLSO are important to society because they fight stigma against Latinx people. BLSO helps Latinx students heal from and unite against oppression. It provides a base from which the Latinx and Hispanic communities and Brandeis as a whole can flourish into cohesive, supportive and politically and socially active groups.
‘RBF’ way of denying someone their personhood RBF, from page 10
-ing bitch face.’” Wolinsky went on to further say, “It’s annoying when people ask, when they stop me on the street because I am okay. I just had places to be.” In a final interview with Talie Massachi ’18, it became apparent that the “resting bitch face” debate couldn’t be any more varied. “I
don’t think too much of it I guess. But at the same time, there’s clearly a level of ingrained sexism there. Because women don’t even think before putting down another woman for not looking friendly and inviting all the time.” As a person who finds the word “bitch” empowering, it might come as a shock that I find the phrase “resting bitch face” offen-
sive and derogatory. No one has ever used that to describe me, but I have had enough experience with other people using it that I would much prefer the death of the term. In many ways it harps upon stereotypes and reinforces the concept that women should be judged solely by their looks. I’ve even seen women referring to other women as having a “rest-
ing bitch face,” so it appears that oftentimes women are the ones perpetuating the ill-conceived notion. It solidifies the idea that women are always supposed to be happy, perky and sincere, and that it is a women’s duty rather than a man’s to evoke these emotions through positive facial expressions such as smiling. Furthermore, women are not allowed
to express the emotions they feel without judgement—and in case you feel strongly that “resting bitch face” is real, that means that women should never be sad, unhappy, depressed or angry. With that said, “resting bitch face” is a way of denying someone their personhood. So, keep in mind exactly what you’re saying, and what the implications of that are.
Real men do cry By José Castellanos columnist
It’s an idiom constantly heard both in media and in social settings: Real men don’t cry. It’s drilled into the minds of young men: Real men don’t cry. It’s repeated by the patriarchy until young men feel no sense of emotion and disconnect from it: Real men don’t cry. The belief that real men are above feeling emotion is frankly horrible and only reinforces toxic ideas of what a “real man” should be. Namely, this man is a cisgender, heterosexual, tall, athletic white male who works with his hands, rarely shows emotion, doesn’t parent, doesn’t care for his appearance and is in no way sympathetic towards women. This idea calls for young men to become stoic figures, disconnected from emotions and all other things that the patriarchy considers to be “too feminine” for a masculine man. This is perhaps most evident in
the “bro” culture seen on campuses. Young men often encourage toxic ideas of masculinity when in packs like this. They hold a blatant disregard for women by treating them as sources of competition or only seeing them as trophies to be collected, and Brandeis is no different. The disconnect stems from a deeply flawed culture, one where people of all genders are told to fit in a mold set by society, and that any degree of nonconformity is a sign of weakness or unredeemable abnormality. Though we are all too often reminded of the impact that this has on women and other genders, we often forget that the patriarchy harms young men by forcing them into the archetype of the “real man,” with seemingly no other options. To embrace anything seen as “feminine” is to instantly be labelled as gay. Jaden Smith, for example, was ridiculed for breaking the gender binary in fashion when he began modelling skirts in a Louis Vuitton campaign. This is often taken
to extremes, with men becoming paranoid about having to hold the purse of a significant other, or even being disgusted when they hear any mention of menstruation. Eventually, this leads to a sense that conformity to traditional masculine ideals is the only correct path for many men to undertake. In short, they feel that if they do not fulfill the archetype of the “manly” man, they are somehow less than their peers who may fit the mold. Eventually, this can escalate to a blatant sense of sexism. Cultures viewing things as “too feminine” can lead men to believe
that femininity is somehow lesser, and therefore hold a disregard for women and people of other genders. To prevent this, we need to destroy our toxic ideas of what it means to be masculine. There is no wrong way to be a man. No societal pressure should make you feel that you are lesser simply because you’re not like the “real man” figure that our society often holds as the only possibility. Additionally, combatting toxic masculinity can combat sexism in society by normalizing what is seen as “feminine” and allowing men to realize that it’s perfectly okay to
‘bro culture’ Not pictured: vibrantly colored shorts.
be nonconforming. The effects of toxic masculinity are undoubtable: It can lead to senses of desperation or even depression. Some people may feel that they do not belong simply because they do cry, don’t look like bodybuilders or because they are not afraid to show emotions rather than suppress them. Destroying toxic masculinity would normalize the feelings and sentiments of supposed “outsiders” and bring down the patriarchy and sexism in our society. This process can begin by teaching our young men that men do cry, because there is no single right way to be a man.
photo from odyssey.com
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September 16, 2016
ARTS, ETC.
The Brandeis Hoot 13
Brandeis students showcase art from home and abroad in new exhibition By Santiago Montoya staff
Right in Goldman-Schwartz Art Studios, you will find an amalgamation of talent, inspiration and style in an exhibition of the new artwork from home and abroad students. The one thing they have in common: They are all talented artists. Abstract, fruit, landscape views, sculptures and paper cut outs are all in one room, in an explosion of artistic dexterity. Much of the work was inspired by the Brandeis in Siena summer program, which many of the artists attended. “Nativity at Night,” a painting by Eli Levy ’18, who received a Remis Grant, features triangular figures that seem to be influenced by Picasso’s cubism. The Nativity at Night scene is a cultural iconography that is linked to the Catholic church and Italy itself. Orli Swergold ’18 created a scene of distinct debris scattered in a haphazard way, sort of describing the daily hectic lives we all live in. Perhaps because she was part of the Siena program, the painting, with the wine glass bottles in it, says Italy all over it. And it is a magnificent way to portray the country, since Italy is both a great producer of wine as well as a major consumer of it. Sarah Chung ’18 created a picturesque structure of an old building that may belong somewhere in Europe, with four animals, all equally placed over the painting. The four animals represent air, land and water—since two of them are birds, one is an elephant and the other is a dolphin. But the reason why these animals are part of the painting can only be answered by Chung; it may have also been the artist’s idea to leave the interpretation up to the spectator. One thing is clear—the painting is captivating, intriguing
photos by katie decker-jacoby/the hoot
and stands on its own. Another painting by Alexis Gilbert ’18 features a set of buildings, including Siena’s Torre del
Mangia, coming out of one colorful and detailed logo. The sky is also divided into four part. Two parts represent the night and two
represent the day. It is another way of looking or portraying the supposedly round world in which we live in. In fact, Torre del Man-
gia was a big source of inspiration to Gilbert because she created another masterful painting with the tower being the center of the artwork. There was also a set of paintings all showing a view from a window facing the roofs of other houses. Again, it could be anywhere in the world, but all of them are creations by students from the Siena program; they are very similar to the view of Piazza del Campo. One that stood out was painted by Zolia Coc-Chang ’18, a Remis Grant recipient, in which the cream colors and specific point of view capture the essence of Italy. One of the most impressive paintings by far was created by Tova Weinberger ’18. Weinberger made the painting of a woman who is also in the process of finishing a painting on her own, sort of like a painter within a painting. It seems the woman is trying to capture the beautiful, peaceful and natural landscape she has in front of her—just outside her window. We do not know much about the painter, only that she is enigmatic. Her back is facing the audience; therefore, any emotion she is feeling, as she is submerged in her work, is only hers, just as much as her painting may be. The other highlights of Weinberger’s work are more abstract but still breathtaking and three dimensional, including another work with the Torre del Mangia. It is made of newspapers and colorful cardboard, synthesized all in a nuanced oval shape. Furthermore, it appears that seeing the Torre del Mangia in virtually all the artwork of the students became the proof that the Tuscany region of Siena, Italy, is simply influential. It offers a great deal of cultural fascination for the place in which the artists found themselves when they grasped a paintbrush, giving students another reason to study abroad.
comic made by l.a. bonte
14 ARTS
The Brandeis Hoot
September 16, 2016
Brandeis remembers former Rose director
By Sabrina Pond editor
Carl Belz, who served the Brandeis community for nearly 40 years in a variety of roles and who left an impression on many of the Brandeis students he encountered along the way, recently died at 78 years of age. He suffered a heart attack in his home of Arlington, MA, on Sunday, Aug. 28. An outstanding professor and ingenious director of the Rose Art Museum, Belz helped establish the Rose as a hotspot for modern and contemporary art. With his undying efforts and creativity, the Rose became well-known for its both diverse and unusual artwork, most of which was against the norm at the time. He served as the Rose’s director for 25 years. “He moved against current paradigms to bring exhibitions to the Rose that exposed the campus to
new ideas in the arts,” admitted Belz’s colleague and fine arts professor Nancy Scott. “He tended to think outside the box.” Belz was a revolutionary thinker and curated artwork that female artists had made during a period of time when male artists were the norm. Museums rarely showed artwork that women had made, and female artists were belittled in the eyes of the public. Some of Belz’s notable curations include the compilation of abstract expressionist painter Helen Frankenthaler’s early work, as well as an exhibition featuring realist artist Herbert W. Plimpton’s paintings. He even managed to curate painter and printmaker Frank Stella’s work, who was a well-known and important artist from that era. “Carl had limited resources, but he built a great collection of modern and contemporary art and put on fantastic exhibitions,” said Kimerly Rorschach ’78, who
now serves as the director of the Seattle Art Museum. “Contemporary art was not what Boston was known for at the time, and he took advantage of that opportunity to build the leading center for contemporary art in the area.” The former Rose director faithfully continued what the previous Rose director (1960-1965), Sam Hunter, had started. Hunter managed to bring in legendary pieces by Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and other notable artists. Belz also strove to incorporate artwork made by local Boston artists, and as a result saved a section of the Rose especially for this purpose. Belz wasn’t just a Rose director, however. He was also a Brandeis professor who taught courses on both contemporary art and a seminar class on museum studies. His former students remember his teaching style and personality fondly. “He had an enormous,
photo from www.bostonglobe.com
photo from alumni.brandeis.edu
life-changing influence on me. He was a great teacher in every way. He opened up the art world to me and many others,” said Rorschach. Betsy Pfau ’74, a former student who later became Belz’s close friend, said, “No one I ever met spoke like Carl or wrote like Carl.” Now a member of the Rose’s Board of Advisors, she reminisces, “His lectures were like poetry, and he wrote in a polished yet conversational way that really made you think. He got me so excited about art and taught me how to look at art.” Even more interesting was his perspective on the arts and how to interpret artwork as a whole. “He was engaged not just with the art, but with the artists,” mentions Rorschach, who took Belz’s museum studies course her sophomore year. While studying a painting by Marie Laurencin, she said, “He wanted to under-
stand what they were doing and thinking. He taught us to look for what the artists were trying to do in their work.” At his roots, Belz’s home state is New Jersey and he received higher education at Princeton. His life took a drastic turn when he took a painting course and his career completely changed; instead of attending medical school at Columbia University, he went on to earn his master’s and Ph.D. in art history at Princeton. Before joining Brandeis’ faculty, he led an extensive career at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and at Mills College in Oakland. Since his passing, he leaves behind his wife, Barbara, four children, Portia, Melissa, Gretchen and Emily, three siblings and five grandchildren. A gathering to celebrate Belz’s accomplishments and life will be held on Oct. 2 at the Cambridge Art Association.
Gaga releases first taste of upcoming electro-pop-rock fusion album By Adam Lamper staff
Known worldwide for her “glamorously gaudy” stage persona, singer-turned-actress Lady Gaga has under her belt an extensive repertoire of groundbreaking feats in the world of performance, from electropop to jazz to acting and just about everything in between. Following her gradual stylistic change that began with her 2014 jazz collaboration, “Cheek to Cheek,” with Tony Bennett, Gaga has only expanded on her publically perceived talent and her own personal, artistic horizons, earning herself an Oscar nomination, her sixth Grammy, a Golden Globe and ultimately the title of “Woman of the Year 2015.” No stranger to the mu-
sic scene, Gaga sets foot in the spotlight once again, this time ditching her foot-high heels for white-laced combat boots and cutoff shorts in her latest single “Perfect Illusion,” released this past Friday. A harbinger of her feature-length album to be released this coming fall, “Perfect Illusion” gives listeners a taste of what is to come in Gaga’s next production, a hearty spoonful of pop-rock and electroclash. Having many songs prior to this that featured rock influences (even starting her career as rocker girl, Stefani Germanotta), and performing alongside numerous classic rock artists like The Rolling Stones, Sting and even U2, it comes as no surprise that Gaga would want to return to her roots. Co-produced by Mark Ronson (of Bruno Mars’ “Uptown
photo from idolator.com
photo from gagadaily.com
Funk,” Adele’s “19” and Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black”), it can be expected that the album may feature a few soul influences, though invariably among Gaga’s signature electro-rock sound. The most striking aspect of this song is how stripped down it sounds in comparison to her previous productions, Gaga herself even calling it “raw” and “unfiltered.” Almost void of autotune in the main melodies of the chorus and verses, “Perfect Illusion” provides a sharp contrast to the heavily altered vocals of her early career. Along with its unprocessed quality comes a strong, emotional valence supported by her gutteral tones and belting notes, which supports the disdain and contempt within the song. Likely a reference to her recent relationship, fame, social media, drugs or all of the above, “Perfect Illusion’s” lyrics represent the disillusionment of an idea or concept that one felt so passionately about that it was impossible to see it as anything but perfect. In an interview with Andy Co-
hen, Gaga said, “The record is about being so intoxicated with love, so high [and] dilated, falling free in a modern ecstasy that you wake up one day and you can’t believe that it was not real. How did that happen? How did I do that? The song is sort of raging against that experience. I think also it’s really hard for people to date today, you know, online and with the way that the world is, you just never really know who you’re meeting, and everybody’s got this perfect illusion of themselves that they’re trying to live up to.” As with any artist, deviation from typical stylings is almost always accompanied by criticisms from the fan-base, many describing the song as repetitive and accusing its chorus of sounding a little too similar to Madonna’s 1986 song, “Papa Don’t Preach.” Seemingly always compared to the ’80s and ’90s megastar (for obvious reasons), as well as the large majority of contemporary pop singers, it’s no mystery as to the reasoning behind Ga-
ga’s upcoming collaboration on the upcoming album (still to be named) with Florence Welch of Florence + The Machines. It features the lyrics, “Hey girl don’t you leave me,/ Hey girl we can make it easy if we lift each other,/ We don’t need to on oneing-up another,” likely referring to the way in which performers (especially women) are pressured to produce content that tops charts, rather than reflects upon the inner thoughts and emotion of the singer themself. In today’s world of pop, it is refreshingly rare to find such a performer that not only spans such a range of genres, but also openly expresses artistic freedom and encourages others to find their freedom in the music. Despite its awkward key change in the last third of the song, “Perfect Illusion” is the perfect fusion of ’80s style synths, driving rock riffs and raw, unaltered, powerful vocals that show Gaga’s latest album will undoubtedly have the same indelible amount of artistry if not chart success as her previous ones.
September 16, 2016
ARTS 15
The Brandeis Hoot
Sprinkles, frosting and everything nice collide at Cupcake Obsession club By Brianna Cummings staff
While some people might like to party or go into Boston on a Friday night, most logical people can agree that the perfect way to spend an evening is by making delicious cupcakes. This is what Cupcake Obsession does. It is a club where people can come together and share their love of cupcakes, which makes it a group that almost anyone can enjoy. Cupcake Obsession’s president Justin Tinianow ’17 found out about the club through a friend. “One of my close friends that I met my first year at Brandeis was the president of Brandeis Cupcake Obsession. I didn’t really get involved until spring semester of that year. After that, I went to almost every meeting and really got to know how things worked in the club,” Tinianow said. Katie Decker-Jacoby ’19 discovered baking long before she came to Brandeis. “I took a baking class at my high school the summer before I started high school,” Decker-Jacoby said. “I thought it was incredible how my class could make all of these delicious creations in just a couple of hours. After the baking class ended, I tried to bake on my own. I loved bringing homemade treats to my friends throughout high school and baking for my family’s annual holiday party, Stop by for Pie.” When Decker-Jacoby arrived at
photos courtesy of cupcake obsession
Brandeis, she took notice of Cupcake Obsession. “As a [first-year] I didn’t really know where I could bake, nor did I have easy access to ingredients and equipment, so
I thought the cupcake club would be the perfect way to continue my passion. I went to some of their meetings and everyone was very friendly, welcoming, easygoing
and patient,” she explained. If potential members are afraid that they will not measure up to more experienced bakers, they are mistaken. According to Tini-
anow, the club is very laid-back. “The club definitely has a relaxed atmosphere. As the E-board tells everyone who asks, we bake cupcakes, we decorate them and then we eat them. Since we have a large group at each meeting, the work is done very quickly, and we all chat while the cupcakes are baking.” The only competitive thing about Cupcake Obsession is signing up for meetings. “Anyone looking to get involved in the club can add themselves to the listserv or message our Facebook page,” Tinianow said. “Because we have to meet in a kitchen, we have to put a limit on how many people can come to each meeting, so we send out an email saying what we’ll be making next and include a sign-up for 12 or so people.” Even though the the meetings are hard to get into, they are still rewarding. “My favorite memory would have to be when we made ice cream cone cupcakes, which is baking them in sugar cones instead of regular cupcake liners,” Tinianow explained. “It was a very unique experience, and we could frost them so that they actually looked like ice cream. We use ice cream scoops to help get batter into the liners, but for this some people used the scoops to frost them too. One had such a big scoop of frosting on it that it tipped over and splattered all over the floor. Cleaning it up might not be the happiest memory, but it was still a lot of fun.”
BLSO celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Frida Kahlo By Sanin Dosa
special to the hoot
“Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?” BLSO, a Brandeis association for Latinos, will be kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month with Latina feminism. This Friday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. BLSO will be hosting “Art Night: Spotlight on Frida Kahlo.” Frida Kahlo was a Mexican artist, however, she is now a cultural icon to Hispanic communities worldwide. In addition to being Mexican, she was of German descent. Her most famous art was her self portraits, which often centered around her conflicting German and Mexican identities and loneliness, both of which were issues she dealt with throughout her life. The art work Frida Kahlo left behind has left a legacy that every person should behold. Her
photo from youtube.com
life story and self portraits depict a strong independent Latina woman. She was an advocate for equalizing the gap between women and men. Her non-conformist lifestyle, which included bisexual affairs and not assimilating to American culture when she was living in the U.S., political views and conflicts with identity make her the growing body for feminist studies she is today across all cultures. Considering there is now a class in the Fine Arts department focused on Frida Kahlo, the BLSO E-board brought up the idea and decided it would be a perfect time to have an event centered around Frida Kahlo. Naturally, Art Night seemed appropriate. One does not need to know about Frida Kahlo or have an artistic hand to enjoy this event. This is an opportunity to “get out of your comfort zone and learn about Frida Kahlo and enjoy making art,” says club president
photos from fridakahlo.org
Alex Perez ’19. He encourages and welcomes all backgrounds to attend Art Night. He also invites those who just want to make a painting they have in mind. If the painting isn’t anything related to Frida Kahlo, out of respect, Perez asks that participants make something related to Frida Kahlo first.
There are no limits to how many paintings a person is allowed to make. Perez says he is excited to see what people are inspired to paint after learning about Frida Kahlo and being exposed to her art work. He hopes to see wonderful self
portraits. After everyone is done painting, the BLSO E-board members want to hang some of the pieces in the Intercultural Center lounge. Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of Hispanic and Latino American culture, while also recognizing their contributions here in the United States. Hispanic Heritage Month starts on Sept. 15 and its final day is Oct. 15. Within the first four days of Hispanic Heritage Month, seven Central and South American countries celebrate their independence days. Happy Independence day to Costa Rica (Sept. 15), El Salvador (Sept. 15), Guatemala (Sept. 15), Honduras (Sept. 15), Nicaragua (Sept. 15), Mexico (Sept. 16) and Chile (Sept. 18). From the beginning to end of Hispanic Heritage Month, BLSO will be hosting many other events open to the general public here at Brandeis University.
16 The Brandeis Hoot
ARTS, ETC.
September 16, 2016
Rose After Dark lights the way to another semester of art exhibits By Ben Benson staff
On Saturday evening, Brandeis’ Rose Art Museum opened its fall show, featuring art by David Reed, David Shrigley, Sarah Sze, Sean Lynch, Sarah Charlesworth, JJ Peet, Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol. The museum opened with an outdoor reception featuring a beer and wine garden and small appetizers. Students, art patrons and members of the community all came to enjoy the museum’s fall offerings together. Many were dressed in colorful, creative outfits to reflect the art they came to view. At the entrance to the museum in the Gerald S. and Sandra Fineberg Gallery, David Reed’s
brushstroke paintings are exhibited together for the first time since they premiered in New York City in 1975. Reed sought to create art that reduced painting down to its barest element, the brush stroke. The paintings combine process and image in a reaction to abstract expressionism. One museum goer told The Brandeis Hoot she felt the paintings were simple to the point of disinterest, while another said she liked the laid back yet careful brushwork. Downstairs, David Shrigley’s “Life Model II” centers around a tall mannequin of a nude woman posed with her arm in the air. Placed around the mannequin are chairs where patrons can sit and sketch the model on paper provided by an attendant, as if in a life drawing class. On the walls are drawings of the model made
by Shrigley alongside drawings by Rose Art Museum patrons. The results display a wide variety of skills, ranging from simple line drawings to beautiful, colorful portraits. This was one of the most popular exhibits in the museum, with many members of the community seeming to enjoy the opportunity to show off their artistic chops in the museum. Interestingly, the Rose’s large main gallery has been left largely empty and dark save for Sarah Sze’s mixed media sculpture, “Timekeeper,” which is placed in the center, projecting light and abstract images onto the walls around it. “Timekeeper” is site specific, designed for the space it sits in. The sculpture is comprised of what look like found objects, but has an almost organic feel to it. Museumgoers seemed capti-
vated by the moving elements of the sculpture as well as the way their shadows were projected on the wall by the lights the piece emitted. In the stairway outside the main gallery, Sze used the wall to create a mural called “Blue Wall Moulting,” which traces the structural elements of the inner wall in blue and seems to emulate a construction blueprint. In the video gallery is the North American debut of Irish artist Sean Lynch’s “Adventure: Capital,” a multimedia piece involving sculpture and video which incorporates both mythology and minimalism. The piece utilizes the physical realm and the virtual, and the video features both live parts and animated scenes, with a narration telling a mythical story. Lynch’s soothing narration kept
many museum patrons engaged for the duration of the video. The multimedia piece was commissioned for the Irish pavilion at the 2015 Venice Biennale and has come to the Rose Art Museum with the support of Culture Ireland. Just outside the video gallery, an exhibit called “Still Life” featuring several artists highlights the elements of images that tell stories. JJ Peet’s work showcases the grotesque elements of news photography displayed beside a sculpture of a camera. Also featured are works by Andy Warhol, Sarah Charlesworth and Robert Rauschenberg. The Rose Art Museum’s fall exhibition runs until Dec. 11, and is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Wednesday to Sunday.
photo courtesy archon yearbook