VOL 6, NO. 11
NOVEMBER 6, 2009
B R A N D E I S U N I V E R S I T Y ' S C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R
THEHOOT.NET
Jaffe approves JBS programs BY DESTINY D. AQUINO Editor
Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe yesterday afternoon approved Eight of nine Justice Brandeis Semester (JBS) proposals sent to him on Oct. 22 after being approved by Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC) A proposal focused on Chemistry was not approved by the UCC. The proposal was submitted to the JBS committee by Christine Thomas (CHEM) and Jeffery Agar (CHEM). Conflict Resolution and Ethics in the Real World submitted by Richard Gaskins (AMST) and Student Union President Andy Hogan ‘11was not approved by Jaffe. “Conflict Resolution will most likely be considered again as a possibility for the Fall of 2010. Chemistry is still under review to determine if we can figure out how to mount it successfully at some future date, as yet undetermined,” Jaffe wrote. Hogan felt Jaffe’s decision was better for the program overall. “It’s definitely going to be proposed for the fall of 2010. The faculty support it’s in need of
will be able to support it completely and therefore it will run properly. I’m really fine with it, I think it can be offered better in the fall then it could have been in the summer,” Hogan said. All eight programs will begin on June 1 and most will run through Aug. 1. The JBS “Web Services, Mobile Apps, and Cloud Computing” submitted by Professor Tim Hickey (COSI) will continue to run through the fall semester. Professor Laura Goldin (AMST) who submitted “Environmental Health and Justice” a program focusing on immersion with in the community shared her excitement for the program, “I am absolutely thrilled [and] I’m really looking forward to working with the students and all the community partners to make a really rewarding experience for all,” said Goldin. One of two student representatives on the JBS committee Sofya Bronshvayg ’11 expressed her views about the long-awaited approvals, ”I’m just excited it’s finally happening. I think conflict resolution will work out fine and be great in the fall,” Bronshvayg said.
BEN FOLDS ROCKS BOSTON SUBURBS
PHOTO BY Max Shay/The Hoot
THE GOLDSTONE REPORT: Head of the United Nations fact-finding mission about the 2008-2009 Gaza War Justice Richard Goldstone spoke to community members about the report yesterday evening in Levin Ball Room.
Goldstone defends UN Gaza report BY JON OSTROWSKY Staff
A dozen Pro-Palestinian protesters briefly disrupted a campus forum yesterday featuring Justice Richard Goldstone of South Africa, head of the U.N. Fact Finding Mission for the Gaza Conflict, and former Israeli Ambassador
Dore Gold. The event, held in Levin Ball Room of the Usdan Student Center, addressed Goldstone’s report accusing both Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Palestinian Militants committing war crimes during the 22-day Gaza War last winter, and angered some because it did not feature a Palestinian
representative. As Gold began to defend the IDF’s use of military force during the Gaza War and criticize the Goldstone report, protesters silently stood up with signs taped to their back, claiming that the Goldstone report was accurate to See GOLDSTONE, p. 4
FY11 budget could be as much as $14.5 million BY NATHAN KOSKELLA Staff
The possible deficit for Fiscal Year 2010 is projected to be around $3 million, while the figures for FY11 could be as much as $14.5 million, Sue Lanser (ENG), Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees, and University President Jehuda Reinharz said at yesterday’s faculty meeting. Lanser attributed the discrepancy between the FY10 and FY11 budget gaps to the decision made this June to cut university con-
tributions to faculty retirement funds for one year. “The differences between these comes from the fact that FY10 was only covered by the cutting to retirement, which is not on the budget as an offset for FY11,” Lanser said. The projections are only predicted numbers, and are not final, but a number of factors will contribute to high deficits in the coming years. Chief among these is the forecast for a decline in rate of giving, and though Brandeis donations
are tax-deductible, “projections are for lower giving for an extended period,” Lanser said. Giving to all universities nationwide is down 16 percent from last year, she said, with Brandeis’ rate down 13 percent and expected to decline. Additionally, the rate of giving to Jewish-affiliated institutions is as steep as a 25 to 50 percent decline. Reinharz debunked many false stories circulating the campus about plans to offset Brandeis’ recent financial trouble. See BUDGET, p. 3
Presidential Search Committee members chosen despite a disgruntled faculty BY ARIEL WITTENBERG AND NATHAN KOSKELLA Editor & Staff
PHOTO BY Max Shay/The Hoot
ROCKIN’ THE SUBURBS: Ben Folds performs in Gossman last night. See page 10 for details.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Brandeis University’s Board of Trustees Friday announced the members of the Presidential Search Committee, which consists of 13 members, eight of which are also members of the Board, two alumni and three members of the faculty.
Responding to Maine’s Question 1 Impressions, page 6
The Committee will be charged with replacing the university’s current president Jehuda Reinharz, who surprised the university by announcing his intent to resign from his position as President on Sept. 24. The Presidential Search Committee will be chaired by Trustee Meyer Koplow, a 1972 graduate of Brandeis and a managing partner at Wachtell Lipton Rosen &
Making a difference in Conferences and Events Features, page 13
Katz in New York. Other Trustee members of the committee include Allen Alter, a 1971 graduate of Brandeis and the senior producer at CBS news; Jack Connors, the former chairman of Hill, Holliday, Connors Cosmopulos, Inc.; D. Ronald Daniel, the director of McKinsey & Company; Stephen B. Kay, the former chair of See PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH, p. 3
AUDIO @ THEHOOT.NET Third Wavelength: Parsing out the impact of sexist and misogynist language.
2 The Hoot
November 6, 2009
N E W S
Study Abroad application Brandeis mock trial team hosts tournament deadlines consolidated BY DESTINY D. AQUINO Editor
PHOTO BY Aaron Reichlin-Melnick/The Hoot
LAW AND ORDER: All of Brandeis mock trial team gathers after this year’s fourth annual Justice Louis Brandeis invitational on the Brandeis campus.
BY SEAN FABERY Staff
The Brandeis University Mock Trial Association (BUMTA) hosted its fourth annual Justice Louis Brandeis Invitational Tournament on campus last weekend, attracting 21 teams from 12 universities. Brandeis Mock Trial staged the tournament in the North Academic Quad on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Teams from Boston College, Brown University, Cornell University, Harvard College, University of Southern California, Yale University and other schools competed, with most sending two teams each. Of the four Brandeis teams, two participated. Members of the other two teams were involved in tournament operations. Harvard came in first place overall. Of the two Brandeis teams, one came in eighth place with a record of five wins and three losses in four rounds, each of which were scored by two judges. The other team had a record of two wins, five losses and one tie. Michelle Faits ’10 and Nathan Robinson ’11 received individual awards for their performance as witnesses, while Hannah Perlman ’11 received an individual award as an attorney. Each team consists of at least six people—three attorneys and three witnesses. Mock trial tournaments revolve around a case written by the American Mock Trial Association. This year’s case revolves around the murder of an entertainment mogul, with one of his partners suspected of the crime and another partner serving as a witness in the trial. Though all teams get the same information, each pursues the case differently. “What’s notable…is that none of our teams are stacked—we have an even balance of new and experienced people,” said BUMTA President Hannelore Sklar ’10, noting that this allows new members to learn and gain experience early in competition. “Strategies will differ because [teams] call different witnesses or have different theories about the case. So, while we rely on the same materials, things do get changed,” said Sklar. “That’s another good thing about having an invitational tournament. It’s a good opportunity to see if teams are pulling particularly strange line-ups or have different views of the case.”
“[Hosting a tournament] ups your standing among teams in the rest of the country,” Sklar said. “It’s also a way to make money for the club, as we charge [other teams] a fee,” she said. In addition to providing rooms for tournament rounds, BUMTA also supplied judges for each round. Between 25 and 30 judges were required per round, as at least two judges must be present to score each competition. The club recruited recent alumni, lawyers, faculty and staff affiliated with Brandeis. For some judges, the club arranged transportation to campus. “We also ran our own tabulation room. Usually people will bring in outside coaches or someone who’s familiar with how it works to do it for them. Two of our members from our executive board—Ryan [Fanning ’10] and Danielle [Gewurz ’10]— learned how to do tabulation and ran it,” said Sklar. One coach was so impressed with their tabulation that he suggested that the two tabulate scores at the Harvard invitational, though the offer had to be declined as Brandeis teams will be competing there. For teams competing from outside of the Boston area, the club also negotiated a discount fee at the Waltham Doubletree Suites. This weekend, the two Brandeis teams that did not compete in the tournament will be competing at Harvard. All four Brandeis teams will then compete the next weekend, with two at the University of Pennsylvania and the other two at Tufts. The teams will then be stacked with the most experienced participants joining the top two teams, which will then go to the Yale Invitational at the beginning of December. After another invitational in January, Brandeis Mock Trial will participate in the regional tournament with hopes of advancing to the national championship. Reflecting on last weekend’s tournament, Sklar had only positive things to say about it.“ Every year we’ve been learning more and more and building on it. Thus far, this has been the smoothest and best-run tournament,” she said,
Danielle Gewurz is an editor for The Brandeis Hoot.
The Office of Study Abroad has recently created a Feb. 12 application date for all students wishing to go abroad, regardless of whether they plan to travel in the spring or fall. In addition, the office hopes to have the application process become completely electronic and Internet-based by the end of this semester. The Feb. 12 date is a change for sophomores wishing to go abroad in the spring, as they will have to apply at the same time their peers traveling in the fall. The new deadline does not affect students wishing to go abroad in the summer. Due to an overall university-funding problem after the Great Recession, the Office of Study Abroad felt that it needed to create one deadline that would allow them to know the number of students planning to be abroad, in order to plan their budget proactively. The previous October deadline had made it difficult to have a clear overall picture to present to the university Board of Trustees in March, at which time the university’s budget is finalized, said J. Scott Van Der Meid, assistant dean of Academic Services and Director of Study Abroad. According to the office’s Frequently Asked Questions page, “to allow for a better planning process, a single study abroad deadline has been instituted. This single deadline will allow students to more fully incorporate their study abroad plans into their overall academic career at Brandeis. This deadline will also encourage students to make plans early and thus have more opportunity to apply for external funding for study abroad.” Contrary to campus rumors regarding need-based financial aid and study abroad, no recent changes have been made. “Absolutely nothing has changed from last year to this year in the manner in which we treat financial aid for students doing study
abroad,” Peter Giumette, Director of Financial Services wrote in an e-mail. Applications to study abroad are still need-blind. In addition to having a new application date, students will also be submitting their applications online. “In order to be more green and more efficient such as being able to turn around decisions in a more timely matter we are hoping to [make the application completely internet based] by the end of the semester,” Van Der Meid said. Comparable universities and colleges such as Vassar College, Williams College, Smith College and Middlebury College have a singular deadline for study abroad. Van Der Meid felt that the new deadline and change in application format will not be a difficult transition for students and will not have any adverse effects, “I don’t necessarily feel that applications will go down because study abroad is a very popular experimental learning option, and it fits so nicely into many students’ plans. I do think that students will engage our office far more and sooner because they will be needing assistance figuring everything out at an earlier stage.” “Students should come to a general information session and also meet with one of the study abroad staff members at least once before winter break. They should also connect with the study abroad faculty liaison, which can be found online, for the department they are considering to discuss transfer credit options and the completion of the major or minor before deciding on a program,” Van Der Meid said. The study abroad office will be forwarding updated information to the sophomore community advisers, emailing out information to the list-serve and visiting a variety of classrooms in the spring to make sure all sophomores are not caught off guard by an earlier deadline.
CEER members chosen, meet to discuss goals BY DESTINY D. AQUINO Editor
The Committee on Endowment Ethics and Responsibility (CEER) had their first meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss their main goals for the year. The committee also discussed information they currently have on the endowment and what crucial issues they would approach Exevutive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jeffery C. Apfel. Several members on CEER are economics or business majors, which led them to be interested personally in where the endowment was invested and therefore to applying for their positions, said Co-Chair of CEER Beau Bonness ’11. The main issue facing CEER is that most of the university’s endowment is invested in mutual funds and the university contractually is not allowed to disclose what companies are involved in those funds, explained Bonness. This could prove an obstacle to the committee, whose mission is to increase transparency surrounding the university endowment. “For an institution based on social justice, with a motto ‘truth even unto its innermost parts,’ that should be evident
in what and how our endowment is run. Knowledge about these things is extremely important,” said Bonness. “[CEER] understands why we can’t be allowed access to all the information regarding the endowment, and we don’t want to question what companies are being invested with or why because [the mutual funds] have been successful.” The main reason for creating CEER was due to an “F” grade on greenreportcard. org, said Bonness. “Major universities such as Rutgers, where Apfel previously worked ,and Amherst College allow large amounts of endowment transparency to their community and we would like the same.” “It is important for our community to know what’s going on; alumni who donate want to be assured that their money is invested ethically and in a morally responsible way,” said Bonness. The committee has yet to define what ethically and morally responsible is in their eyes, but hope to accomplish this in the coming weeks. Bonness said the Committee seems to agree with Apfel on its goals. “We seem to be on the same page about not only discussing change, but seeing it,” said Bonness. CEER plans to meet once a week, but could potentially increase depending on “to what degree stuff starts getting done,” said Bonness.
NEWS
November 6, 2009
The Hoot 3
SEA camps out to pass MA energy law Presidential Search Committee chosen PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH (from p. 1)
BY NATHAN KOSKELLA Staff
Students for Environmental Action members spent the past two Sunday nights sleeping on Boston Common, directly in front of the State House in 40 degree temperatures as part of a Massachusetts-wide push for Governor Deval Patrick and the Legislature to enact a bill for the state to run on 100 perercent environmentallyfriendly electricity within 10 years. SEA will also sleep on the commons this weekend, directly in front of the State House as part of a Leadership Campaign, which has been spearheaded by the group Massachusetts Power Shift. The movement “calls upon Massachusetts to lead the clean-energy revolution,” according to the group’s Web site. The campaign is an attempt to further progress already made in Massachusetts, a state with one of the most ambitious environmental legislative resolutions. This past Sunday night, Boston police approached the 70 to 80 participants and recorded the names of the Leadership Campaign at around 3 a.m. because the Common closes to the public every evening. No legal action has been taken thus far, and SEA representatives said regardless of inconveniences SEA will be heading back this Sunday. SEA also plans to make a stand at Brandeis itself. “We’re going to sleep out on some kind of central location, possibly by the Brandeis statue,” said Galen Pardee ’11, SEA’s Leadership Campaign coordinator who supervises the Boston trips. “We’re shooting for
about 25 to 30 people, and that’s a good spot for foot traffic; we want to be seen.” “I think it’s worth our time to get the message out, that there is at least one state that is seriously considering going toward 100 percent clean energy,” Pardee said. “Everyone has said 80 percent by 2050,” he said, “but the science has changed. We can update it, and change the amount in the plan.” He said that the Legislature has already admitted that it was possible, and SEA and other state environmental advocates just want a realization of promises. SEA’s Campus Outreach Coordinator Nera Lerner ’12, who oversees all offBrandeis initiatives, said the most interesting part of the Leadership Campaign was the way it could unite people of all persuasions: the Massachusetts Council of Churches is participating in the movement with the college students of the campaign. “Essentially the agenda puts a creative spin on energy movements,” Lerner said. “The perspective is that, when you’re thinking about what faith is, the individual being part of something larger, like God, it’s the same thing in environmentalism.” Lerner added that this intersection between faith and green activism could be good for the movement as a whole. “If everything went downhill in the environment, it’s the same thing in losing faith. They’re both spheres in which the concept is bigger than the single person,” she said. “This is why the Leadership Campaign is amazingly successful beyond a grassroots movement, because when you’re thinking about activism, it makes sense if the organization is run by the people who will have to change the way things are now.”
the Brandeis Board of Trustees and senior director at Goldman Sachs & Company; Myra Kraft, a 1964 graduate of Brandeis and a philanthropist; and Barbara Mandel, philanthropist. The Board has yet to chose the last member of the committee. Alumni members of the committee include Michael Sandel, a 1975 graduate of Brandeis and a professor of Government at Harvard University and Thomas Friedman, a 1975 graduate of Brandeis and foreign affairs columnist for The New York Times. Faculty members of the committee are Biochemistry professor Gregory Petsko, Leonard Saxe, director of Brandeis’ Center for Modern Jewish Studies, and Biology professor Gina Turrigiano. At yesterday’s faculty meeting, some members of the faculty expressed anger that two out of three of the faculty representatives to the Committee are from the sciences, saying that the choices were not representative when distribution of Schools and expertise of the chosen professors were taken into account. “The Board [of Trustees] picked a lot of scientists,” Sabine von Mering (GRALL), the chair of the Faculty Senate, said, “and you can read my opinion of that, to some extent, between the lines.” She clarified that the Senate had advocated for a more broad, intellectually diverse delegation. “We had come up with a ranked list of faculty members that would have allowed the trustees to be representative,” von Mering said. “It included people from all schools, which the Trustees did not use; the group is good, but is not as representative as it could have been.” Von Mering also made it clear that the faculty had concerns about how much weight their voice would be given by the committee, which will largely be composed of Trustees. “There are members on the Presidential Search Committee, but the ratio is two for every 10 [faculty members]; research has shown that optimal policy would be four for every 10,” she said. While von Mering said she approved of Koplow’s appointment as chairman, she
said “clearly, relations between the faculty and the Trustees are in urgent need of improvement,” and proposed methods include regular faculty lunches with Trustees, inviting Trustees to sit in on classes, and other attempts to improve the relationship between Trustees and members of the faculty. The Faculty Senate met with Reinharz this week and discussed what qualifications he would look for in a successor. He joked that the new president would need a sense of humor, and to not take himself too seriously. On a more serious note, he was quoted by von Mering as saying, “‘the new president will need to be a scholar,’” able to lead Brandeis through the future. Saxe, who is on the Search Committee, said he hopes to find “a great leader for a great university,” but refused to comment further on what that would entail because the Search Committee has not yet met to discuss their charge. The committee will be participating in a conference telephone call on Monday at 2 p.m. to discuss a set of criteria for choosing the next university president. When he resigned, President Reinharz vowed to stay on as president until the end of the 2009-2010 academic year, and wrote that he would stay in office up until June of 2011 in order to afford the Board of Trustees adequate time to find a replacement. Chair of Brandeis’ Board of Trustees Malcolm Sherman said he did not have a timeline for when the search committee should find a president, but that “we are on schedule for the process.” “How long this takes is going to depend on the committee’s ability to find the right candidate and the ability of the committee to make that candidate want to come to Brandeis,” Sherman said. There are no students on the Presidential Search Committee; however, there will be two advisory committees to the search committee—one comprised of students, the other of faculty—that will both help formulate the committee’s views of what qualities are important in a university president, and interview the final candidates once the Search Committee has narrowed down the applications.
Model UN competes at UPenn BY LEAH FINKELMAN Staff
The Brandeis University International Relations Council (BIRC), the Model United Nations team, will be attending the 43rd annual University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) Model United Nations Conference next week. One of the largest MUN conferences in the world, UPenn is expecting 1,400 delegates from more than 75 universities around the world. The convention will last from Thurs. Nov. 12 to Sun. Nov. 15. The Brandeis team was assigned to send mock delegations from two countries, Niger and Switzerland. Each delegate will be representing his or her country on committees such as Disarmament, International Security and the World Health Organization. Their goal is to help create resolutions relating to their committees while keeping in mind the needs and wants of their country. While in Philadelphia, the delegates will spend most of their time in committee sessions—crafting resolutions, However, they will also get a chance to explore the city and meet delegates from other colleges and universities. The conference’s website lists several must-see attractions, as well as planned events for visiting delegates. Erica Shaps ’13, who participated in MUN in high school, is heading to UPenn with no expectations except a hope for
“high caliber debate” and “interesting and insightful conversations” about the topics at hand. Shaps plans to major in International and Global Studies and Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, and is interested in pursuing a career in diplomacy and international relations. “MUN really opens your eyes to culture and politics that you might not have seen,” Shaps said. “It shows you that not everything is black and white.” Almost 20 Brandeis students have been preparing for this event for several weeks. Throughout the semester they meet once a week for two hours, they increase that to four hours in the two weeks before conferences. In order to prepare for the conference, the team has been researching information regarding their assigned committees and countries as well as holding practice debates in MUN-competition style. At the culmination of the conference, awards are given to delegates based on their participation. These awards are given both to delegations and individual delegates. The amount of conferences which Brandeis delegates participate in varies every semester; this semester BIRC president Alexandra Pizzi ’10 chose to only attend one conference in order to be sure that delegates knew their information as well as possible.
4 The Hoot
November 6, 2009
Goldstone and Dore debate Israel’s actions in Gaza GOLDSTONE (from p. 1)
fault Israel and that it was not a fair debate without a Palestinian representative present. When asked about this protest, Goldstone responded, “I would have liked to see a representative of the Palestinian people.” “Ambassador Gold was brought here specifically to contest it and present a side favorable to Israel which is fine,” said Hyder Kazmi ’12 “But because Justice Goldstone is not espousing a pro-Palestinian view…we feel that the debate or forum immediately became biased; there is a purportedly neutral side, there is a pro-Israeli side and there is no one to contest it,” he said. In an event Goldstone called a debate, the audience loudly applauded Gold’s comments, with a smaller, quieter group applauding Goldstone. Goldstone’s report continued to draw an international spotlight this week. The House of Representatives voted 334 to 36 to condemn the Goldstone report in a resolution passed this week. Goldstone strongly criticized such action, saying it was “ill conceived, and that the resolution was based on a number of incorrect facts, [and] misconceptions.” “I would love to know how many of these members who voted for it read the report,” Goldstone said in an interview with The Hoot. Goldstone’s report has been endorsed by the U.N. Human Rights Council and is up for discussion in the General Assembly this week. Yet Goldstone addressed that further legal action is very unlikely. “I think it’s unlikely that there’s going to be any compulsion on Israel. It seems to me highly unlikely that this will get to the Security Council, even if it did, it’s not going to get to the International Criminal Court,” Goldstone said. Goldstone opened his remarks by ad-
dressing the agreement between himself and Gold about the “desire for peace and justice for all of the people of the Middle East.” Explaining the mission of the 575-page report, which includes many specific incidences of unjust and disproportionate military force that “call and scream out for investigation,” Goldstone stated that he rejected the original mandate of the factfinding mission to only investigate Israeli transgression during the Gaza conflict because it was biased, and believes that the current report addresses necessary issues that demand investigation. Gold strictly opposed Goldstone’s remarks, claiming that “this [Gaza] war would never have happened if rockets weren’t fired at the state of Israel.” Gold explained that Israel acted in defense after eight years of rocket attacks. “It’s no secret that the U.N. Human Rights Council…mistreats the state of Israel systematically,” Gold said. “It [the Human Rights Council] will be judged on how it treats minorities and the Jewish state is a minority in the international system.” In a speech and Power Point presentation, Gold explained that the IDF takes several precautions in an attempt to minimize civilian casualties. Gold said that Hamas hides weapons and ammunition in military bases in residential neighborhoods, thus endangering civilians. According to Gold, the Israeli army dropped leaflets and placed phone calls to Palestinians warning them to evacuate their homes. “What would you do if your population was facing repeated rocket attacks for eight years?” he asked. Gold explained that the IDF was faced with three options regarding the attacks: unrestricted bombing, surrendering, or attempting to separate civilians from Hamas and attack. Israel chose the latter option,
BNC asks for student help in fundraisng BY NATHAN KOSKELLA Staff
The Brandeis National Committee (BNC), the most prominent fundraising arm of the university, will hold a letter-writing event Thursday aimed at reaching out to local chapters and increasing awareness of the Committee’s goals. Students may participate in the event by writing a letter to their local chapter highlighting their personal interests and experiences at Brandeis at the BNC office in Goldfarb-Farber Library starting at 5 p.m. “Our Adopt-a-Chapter event is a student ambassador program so that local chapters of the organization can find out about what students are doing on campus,” Marti Dembowitz ’10, the student representative to the BNC’s executive board, said. “We’re going to ask students to basically write a letter about themselves, and incoming first-years would be able to continue the chapter relationships,” Dembowitz said. Students will also be able to get information about visiting or participating in an event for their local chapters, or others. Dembowitz advised that students could visit when home or vacationing during breaks from school. “We’ll ask where they will be, and when they’ll be home,” she said. Even new students to Brandeis can help further develop the BNC, and the event will feature information on the Committee and its process as a whole. “I believe that there are no better people than Brandeis students, and they think the same thing,” Dembowitz said. The BNC is the largest organization of its kind in the world, with 25,000 members nationwide, supporting the university and its libraries, according to Janice Fineman,
the executive director, in a joint Committee member e-mail to The Hoot. Beth Bernstein M.A.’90, the Committee’s director of programming and publications, emphasized the importance of Thursday’s event in an e-mail to The Hoot. “This new letter-writing campaign hopefully will bring a new connection between our members throughout the country and Brandeis students,” Bernstein wrote. The BNC also sends professors to local chapter events, and through this connects with alumni and outside actors to promote the goals of the university, namely by “[reflecting] the values on which the university was founded: academic excellence, social justice, non-sectarianism and service to the community,” according to the Committee’s mission statement. “Our…student ambassador program helps connect BNC members to Brandeis students. The students often visit BNC chapters and also participate in the letter writing campaign. This helps strengthen our fundraising efforts to support the library and scholarship funds,” Fineman wrote. Dembowitz expressed enthusiasm about the event. “This brings what we appreciate about the Brandeis academic world to the chapters, and all [the Committee members] want to know is what we do on campus,” she said. “You’re in a room with so many people who care so much about a place you care about, and to watch that, it’s an honor for me to sit in a room with these people…they’re fantastic,” she said. “I’m honored to be a part, and I really like the idea of connecting to people who care about the university from multiple vantage points,” she added.
according to Gold. “The IDF is not what appears in this report. The report simply distorts the very essence of what Israel stands for,” Gold said. Goldstone insisted that the amount and intensity of the Israeli force during the Gaza war was disproportionate. The Gaza War completely destroyed over 5,000 homes and damaged over 200 industrial factories, according to Goldstone. He also stated that in Gaza, 90% of the people live on one dollar a day. Goldstone, the chair of the International Advisory Board of the Ethics Center at Brandeis, also served as a prosecutor for war crimes in Rwanda. Goldstone has been the target of recent individual criticism as a Jew opposing Israel. “I’ve had many sleepless nights and I continue to go over this issue, and one of the questions my wife and I debate is had I known what was going to happen, would I do it. If I was to be absolutely honest, I don’t know,” Goldstone said. “I don’t think it [the report] was biased. I think most objective reviewers of the report who have actually read the report, have indicated that its exceptionally balanced on all the issues, and I think the criticisms are more political than substantive,” said Howard Lenow, a supporter of the organization
PHOTO BY Robbie Hammer/The Hoot
American Jews for a Just Peace. Others also passed out fliers explaining the factual inaccuracies of the report. “This is what the university is about. It’s terrific that we have a real discussion, an opportunity to ask people questions directly. To the best of my knowledge, it’s the first time that this has been happening on a college campus,” President Reinharz said. Following their speeches, both Goldstone and Gold answered questions from the audience before delivering brief concluding remarks and shaking hands at the end of the forum. “Brandeis really has lived up to its reputation of seeking the truth,” Goldstone said.
FY11 budget deficit worse than FY10 predictions BUDGET (from p. 1)
“There are lots of rumors flying around here: we are not cutting salaries, that would be news to me; we are not firing people, that would be news to me,” Reinharz said. The president also ameliorated what he saw as exaggerated controversy about the university’s structural deficit. “It’s also news to me [that this is a cause about which to worry] because this university was born with a structural deficit,” Reinharz said, adding that it was not a problem to be concerned with or solved at any point in the near future. The legitimate concerns that faculty and other members of the Brandeis community had concern the operating budget, or cash on hand of the university for expenditures. “The numbers on the operating budget will change, but I fully expect to resolve every issue,” Reinharz said. To combat the budget deficits, the Board of Trustees “wants a menu of options from the university,” Lanser said, saying that list would probably include the Committee on
Academic Restructuring Steering (CARS) goal of retiring 10 percent of the faculty, though more comprehensive solutions will have to be found. The administration wanted to ensure that this was not to be construed against more faculty members, but merely that the Board would seek additional help to close to budget holes. “These are two separate issues, a longrun issue and a short-run issue. CARS is a long-run plan for equilibrium in the university’s revenue and exp enditures,” Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe said. The bright side of the budget report for Brandeis’ finances is that the Trustees continue to show economic generosity to the university they are meant to supervise. “One-third of all income [from donations] has come from the Trustees,” Lanser said. The Trustees typically donate a great deal to Brandeis, and it appears the same was true despite the recent recession. “Onethird is consistent with the past...we are very grateful,” Reinharz said.
We are not cutting salaries, that would be news to me; we are not firing people, that would be news to me. - Jehuda Reinharz
The Hoot 5
November 6, 2009
E D I TO R I A L Established 2005 "To acquire wisdom, one must observe." Ariel Wittenberg Editor in Chief Alex Schneider Managing Editor Destiny D. Aquino News Editor Bret Matthew Impressions Editor Chrissy Callahan Features Editor Hannah Vickers Sports Editor Jodi Elkin Layout Editor Max Shay Photography Editor Leon Markovitz Advertising Editor Vanessa Kerr Business Editor Danielle Gewurz Copy Editor Leah Lefkowitz Backpage Editor Samantha Shokin Diverse City Editor
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SUBMISSION POLICIES The Hoot welcomes letters to the editor on subjects that are of interest to the general community. Preference is given to current or former community members. The Hoot reserves the right to edit any submissions for libel, grammar, punctuation, spelling and clarity. The Hoot is under no obligation to print any of the pieces submitted. Letters in print will also appear on-line at www.thehoot.net. The deadline for submitting letters is Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. All letters must be submitted electronically at www. thehoot.net. All letters must be from a valid e-mail address and include contact information for the author. Letters of length greater than 500 words may not be accepted. The opinions, columns, cartoons and advertisements printed in The Hoot do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial board. The Hoot is a community student newspaper of Brandeis University. Produced entirely by students, The Hoot serves a readership of 6,000 with in-depth news, relevant commentary, sports and coverage of cultural events. Our mission is to give every community member a voice.
What is a debate when no one listens?
W
hen speaking to Hoot reporters last night, Justice Richard Goldstone was clear: while he found yesterday’s forum with former Israeli Ambassador Dore Gold about the United Nation’s fact-finding report on the 2008-2009 Gaza War to be a “healthy debate,” “no learning occurred.” In other words, Justice Goldstone and Ambassador Gold went into the debate knowing what the other would say, and neither budged from their beliefs. What, then, was the purpose of the debate? Before answering this question, it is relevant to discuss the silent demonstrators who chose to stand up in the middle of Gold’s remarks and display posters of protest, causing him to stop speaking and address them. These students entered the event with preconceived notions and chose to disrupt the event rather than allow Gold the dignity of speaking with the same attention afforded to Goldstone. While The Hoot certainly supports freedom of expression, this action was not the most productive means of achieving the students’ goals.
Like the speakers, these students did not seem to want to learn from those with opposing viewpoints, and instead only wanted to input their own perspectives. What, then, was the purpose of the debate? Again, before responding to this question, another thought: those in attendance last night chose to voice their support of either Goldstone or Gold by clapping loudly when the ‘right’ ideas were said or giving a standing ovation to their preferred speaker. There seemed no crossover between the two sides. What, then, was the purpose of the debate? Answering this question proves difficult, as sound bytes and emotions seemed to outweigh the search for ‘truth, even unto its innermost parts,’ which President Jehuda Reinharz urged at the beginning of the event. The debate failed to produce truth, instead amounting to a match between two skilled politicians, each with a command of talking points and history. Neither man stated how to find common ground, and neither of-
fered to continue the debate in the future. How could such an environment promote truthful outcomes? Justice Goldstone and Ambassador Gold would do well to listen and learn from each other. Likewise, the protesters who chose to disrupt last night’s proceedings would do well to learn from the audience members who told them to sit down, and vice versa. We can have an open debate about these issues, or we can stifle debate through adherence to partisanship. While we realize it is improbable, we hope Justice Goldstone and Ambassador Gold will return to Brandeis to continue this debate and find common ground, rather than allow the last words stated on the stage last night to be the last chance the Brandeis community has to study the Gaza offensive of last January. The purpose for a debate should be one of learning and open discussion, not a standoff between opposing viewpoints. If this forum was a war of words, one thing is certain— no one was listening.
CORRECTIONS In “Rose reopens with permanent collection,” the article incorrectly stated that the Board of Trustees voted to close the Rose Art Museum. In fact, the Board only voted to authorize the museum’s closing.
? A I D E M L A I . C K O O S O B E C LIKE A F N O S U T E F O ME N A F A E M O C BE
6 The Hoot
IMPRESSIONS
November 6, 2009
IMPRESSIONS Book of Matthew
The Self Shelf
A response to Maine’s Question 1 Journey to a future under Obamacare BY ALEX SELF Columnist
With all of the confusion concerning the possible outcome of the health care bill, I decided to go 20 years into the future in order to discover what would happen. (Disclaimer–This article pertains to a purely fictional premise and any resemblances to actual people or events are quite intentional and highly ironic). Upon going to the future (via a Delorean, of course), the first thing I noticed was that everything was almost exactly the same as the present, save for the style of cars and clothing. While this was slightly disappointing (I was really looking forward to flying cars), I quickly remembered my purpose and set to interviewing the local populace (after, of course, informing them that I knew nothing of American history beyond 2009). I asked the first man I talked to, Mr. Read, about the outcome of the health care struggle 20 years prior. “Where have you been? Obamacare was passed by Congress in 2010, shortly after the dissenting senators mysteriously disappeared at a conference with the American Medical Association,” Mr. Read said. I asked him what the plan included. “Well, the main facet of the plan was a government-run public option. There were other smaller things, but this definitely overshadowed the others,” Mr. Read explained. I was about to press him on the importance of the public option when a loudspeaker started playing a song that sounded suspiciously close to the Soviet National Anthem. Mr. Read stated that this was the call to something called the “Patriots’ Summit.” “Shortly after the health care plan passed, the government has set up “Patriot Summits,” halfhour long propaganda sessions. They’re purely optional of course, but attending them really helps your chance of passing the L.I.E.,” purported Mr. Read. Seeing the puzzled look on my face, Mr. Read quickly explained himself. “Leisure Integrity Evaluations are the name given to end of life counseling. Their stated purpose was to evaluate the elderly to determine their need for psychological counseling. However, it quickly became apparent not only that the L.I.E. was for everyone, but that a poor result with L.I.E. meant certain death.” “But how could this happen?” I exclaimed.
“Well, when the healthcare reform was passed, end of life counseling for the elderly was a part of the bill. No one suspected that this meant the government would counsel the elderly to end their lives. It later expanded to everyone,” responded Mr. Read. As the gravity of what the man had said resonated within me, I noticed the music steadily increasing in volume. When I asked what the song was, he referred to it as “Born in the USA.” Apparently, the government had chosen the same title as the popular Bruce Springsteen song in order to elicit support for itself. “Now when Czar Obama designated-" Mr. Read began before I quickly cut him off. “Czar Obama? When did he become Czar Obama? In 2009, he was closer to a state mascot than a state monarch–he couldn’t get anything done,” I interjected. “Well, once the health care bill was passed, it was a matter of months before Obama seized absolute power. Congress became merely a stamping ground for the president’s policies and the U.S. Supreme Court was replaced by the president’s newly formed Average Citizens Organizational Representative Network. Oh yes, and Obama also declared war on and invaded Poland. He rationalized it by saying something about living up to people’s expectations, but I didn’t know what he meant,” replied Mr. Read. Shocked by this strange news, I was caught in thought before Mr. Read started walking away. “Where are you going?” I asked. “Well, I have to be at the summit within 20 minutes. Come with me, we can take a government Freedom Taxi there in a couple of minutes,” Mr. Read said. After a 20-minute drive in the taxi, which was filled with Obama “Hope” posters, we arrived at an arena-like building. Upon entering the building, our names were asked. I replied with my real name, which apparently satisfied the registrar. At least I was still alive 20 years into the future. We took our seats and looked out upon the center of the arena. Suddenly, the lights dimmed and “Are You Ready For This” started playing over the loudspeakers. A light flashed, and a cloud of smoke covered the stage. Then, as the music dimmed, and the lights went up, there was President Obama (looking no different than he did in 2009). When I inquired as to how or why President Obama was here, Mr. Read said that “This is not Obama. This is merely a standin who will make a speech here
today. No one knows where the president truly is at any time, but there are always a number of doubles across the country performing 'Patriot Summits.'" After this, the Obama double began his speech. I would relay the exact contents of the speech, but the ludicrous nature of the speech itself belies any attempt to convey it exactly. The doppelganger began by talking about how much America had progressed in the past 20 years due to the government takeover of what seemed to me like every industry in the country. After about 15 minutes of propaganda, Obama's twin started talking about how the “population quota” would need to be further reduced, resulting in more L.I.E. testing as well as more premature departures (evidently how the government referred to those who failed L.I.E. testing). He then proceeded to lambast his critics for being “un-American” and for trying to undermine the “spirit of America.” When he finished his speech, another flash of light erupted and he was gone. When I left the arena with Mr. Read, I felt sick to my stomach. Feeling faint, I passed out in the middle of the sidewalk. I woke up in a hospital bed with two nurses tending to me. Asking how I had gotten here, one of them responded that even though I didn’t have insurance, I was covered under the government plan. Looking around me, I saw a ragged-looking old man in a sickbed. When I inquired about him, the nurse told me that, before the health care reform, he had suffered from schizophrenia and lived on the street. He couldn’t possibly pay for insurance and he couldn’t qualify for Medicaid because the government stated that he had no disability. Apparently, when the health care reform passed, it was too late to do anything for the man, but at least it allowed him to live in dignity. Upon being given a clean bill of health, I took my leave of the hospital. I met Mr. Read in the waiting room and told him that I had to go back to my home. When he asked about my home and why I hadn’t mentioned it before, I told him I lived in Rhode Island. There were no further questions on his part. I found my Delorean, punched in 2009, and went back to the present. As I drove back to my house, I passed a group of protestors holding signs denouncing President Obama for his “socialist anti-Americanism.” “If only they knew,” I thought, “if only they knew."
BY BRET MATTHEW Editor
I originally planned to write a fun column this week—a cute little satirical piece featuring Barack Obama, Joe Lieberman and questionable Halloween costumes. It might have even been funny. Occasionally, my obscure political jokes do hit their mark. But I don’t feel like trying to be funny right now. There are two numbers obstructing my vision; two numbers that are pushing all other creative thoughts from my mind. 53-47. That was the final “score,” you could say, of the vote on Question 1 in Maine. Fifty-three percent of voters chose to repeal the state’s sixmonth-old same-sex marriage law on Tuesday, while only 47 percent chose to uphold it. So close. Only six percentage points. But that was all it took for thousands of Maine residents to have their hopes of equal rights dashed upon the rocks. Very little has been made of this referendum. The news media, it seems, prefers to focus all of its analytical power on the other elections that were held that day—like the governors' races in Virginia and New Jersey, or the special Congressional election in New York’s 23rd district. I suppose they are more interesting stories to cover. They deal with colorful political personalities and the possibility of a Republican/ Democratic civil war (depending on who you ask). Where is the in-depth coverage of this important civil rights issue? Am I missing something? Some might ask me why I care; why I, unaffected as I am by this vote, should feel so distraught about its result. After all, no one is trying to take away my rights. No one is trying to stop me from getting married. I’m a straight white male, the most privileged class in the US of A! I care nonetheless. I reject the notion that we must only concern ourselves with issues that affect us personally. And the truth is, we all have a stake in the push for same-sex marriage whether we acknowledge it or not. Any time we allow the majority to single out and subjugate a minority group, we are, in effect, subjecting our society to tyranny by the majority. Could I have done more to stop this injustice? Yes. Should I have done more? Absolutely. I can’t stop thinking about all the citizens who were not called out to vote, and all the voters who were not persuaded to choose equality. I could have helped to shrink the six-point margin of defeat, maybe even erase it all together. I’m sorry for the 47 percent of Maine voters who wanted this so badly—the gays and lesbians who wanted the freedom to marry, and their straight allies who wanted to give it to them. As for the 53 percent who stopped them… Let me just say that for as long as I live I will never fully understand what motivated you people to vote the way you did. You didn’t just participate in the democratic process. You voted against your fellow citizens; people who are just like you in every way except their sexual orientation. Why did you do it? What gave you the right to dictate how they should be allowed to live their lives? Was it because the Church told you to? Was it the kind old priest, who, despite his own personal transgressions, insisted that the kindness mandated by the teachings of Christ only apply to those who were “moral” enough to receive it? Was it because you thought you were defending “the family?” Did you buy into the ridiculous notion that two men or two women cannot possibly raise children as well as heterosexual couples can? Or was it simply because of some immature revulsion to the idea of two men spending their lives together? (Two women are OK, of course, because otherwise that would mean the downfall of the porn industry that you hypocrites so vigorously support). Grow up. Seriously. The rest of us are tired of you. Did it ever occur to you, as you stepped into the voting booth with pen and ballot in hand, to accept your fellow men and women for who they are and get on with your lives? Apparently not. I will say this. Amid all the bad news there is one small consolation to be found. There will be more elections. There will be more chances for states to reclaim equal rights for all of their citizens. This is not over. But you would think that in a nation supposedly founded upon the principle of equality for all, such a long struggle would be unnecessary. You would think that freedom loving Americans would be only too willing to extend their freedoms to their neighbors. Wouldn’t you? Unfortunately, with every passing election the phrase, “all men are created equal,” sounds less like a moral truth and more like a bad joke.
IMPRESSIONS
November 6, 2009
The Legacy of Carl Sagan: We are a way for the cosmos to know itself
BY ANDREW HUSICK Special to The Hoot
This Monday will mark the 75th anniversary of the birth of Carl Sagan, the astronomer and astrochemist, famous for his plainEnglish explanations of the workings of the cosmos. At the hight of the Cold War, Sagan produced a 13-part television show, entitled “Cosmos,” which portrayed the Earth as a cohesive unit and put into perspective just how minor our differences are, while simultaneously elevating the whole of humanity to its rightful position as the descendants of a long heritage of matter within the universe. My journey to explore the work of Sagan began when I read his book,"The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark," for a class last semester. I was further inspired by an online video entitled “We are all Connected” (http://www.symphonyofscience.com), which autotuned Sagan, Richard Feynman, Neil Degrasse Tyson and Bill Nye into an original song about the connections between humans and the universe. Each of the scientists represented in “We are all Connected” share a common link–a commitment to explaining the wonders of science to the general public. Sagan excelled in his ability to take detailed and complex issues and explain them not only in a manner accessible to non-scientists, but also with an infectious sense
PHOTO FROM Internet Source
of wonder, grandeur, and motivation. Readers, viewers and students alike are all mesmerized by his explanation of the phenomenon within the cosmos, from the interactions of the smallest atoms to the movements of entire galaxies. How small the issues in the world seem when put into perspective. The conflict between communism and capitalism was minute when compared to the distance from the Earth to Jupiter. The differences between an American citizen and a Soviet citizen were only as large as we pretended, when all humans are bound by a common heritage as the product of millions of years of evolution and thousands of years of scientific inquiry. Sagan had an important message for the world at a time when we came very close to destroying all known life forms in the universe: what unites us is more powerful than what divides us, and that we are all connected to each other and to the cosmos. Sagan’s underlying message perfectly frames his stance: the atoms that make up our bodies are traceable to ancient stars which exploded, and sent particles flying through space. In short, “we are made of star stuff.” The differences between a Democrat and a Republican, or an Irishman and a Frenchman, are so minute when viewed at the scale of the universe that it makes little sense to emphasize them over the similarities.
Sagan envisioned a world united by a common cause–the explorations and study of our universe. It is important to recognize therefore that humanity has been charged with a sacred task-–to learn and know our surroundings. I wonder what he would say today as the world, far from learning the lessons of the Cold War, continues to tear itself apart. Unlike in Sagan’s time, the major international conflicts of today are more about religion than politics. A strong proponent of humanism and a self-proclaimed agnostic, I imagine he would have little patience for the petty quarrels that are threatening our world. His substantial misgivings about the role of religion in decision making, even before it became the fuel for major world conflicts, suggests that he may have had a stern message for the modern world. Additionally, Sagan was a vocal advocate for science education, and spurned the intrusion of pseudoscience and non-science into our society. It is reasonable to think that he would not have preferred the alternative sciences in vogue at the moment. I am intrigued to imagine what he would say as the first decade of the new millennium comes to a close, as humanity moves closer to realizing his dream of our journey beyond the solar system, while poised once again upon the precipice of our destruction. In honor of Sagan and his legacy, I suggest that we all take a little time on Monday to reflect on our connection to the rest of humanity, and to the cosmos. It surely would be a shame for the citizens of the Pale Blue Dot to destroy each other over minor disagreements and silly divisions when we are connected by so much more, at a level so basic and simple that it is easy to forget. Once we put aside our petty differences, we can realize the promise of humanity. As Sagan put it “The sky calls to us. If we do not destroy ourselves, we will one day journey to the stars.” Let us honor his memory not only by embracing our common heritage, but also by practicing skepticism in our daily lives.
The Hoot 7
Maestro of Dissent
Campus media should cover competitive academic clubs BY DANIEL ORTNER Columnist
This past weekend at the Tufts Invitational Debate Tournament, Jack Bouchard ’10 and the Hoot Columnist Andrew Husick’ 11 broke to the octofinals round and ended up placing fifth out of 66 teams in attendance. Jack and Andrew have also placed fifth at the Smith College invitational and 11th at Harvard, one of the largest tournaments of the year. As part of Brandeis Academic Debate and Speech Society (BADASS), they are also currently ranked as the 9th best team of the year. Even though it is only the start of November, and nationals does not take place until the weekend of April 16, they have already qualified and earned a spot. So, imagine my disappointment when, despite repeated press releases and e-mails sent to the news staff of both the Justice and The Hoot, all of these incredible victories go unreported. Next week BADASS is sending two teams (four people) to debate in Oxford, England. In December they are sending a team to debate at the world competition in Turkey. Last year BADASS had a team make the octofinals round at 'worlds', which was an incredible honor and success. Indeed, this has been a long term problem I have noticed throughout my time at Brandeis. Last year BADASS had the 13th best team in the league, who earned eighth place at nationals (Dan Blynn '09 and Rebecca Sivitz ’09) as well as the 4th placed speaker of the year (Joel Todoroff ’09). We also annually host a tournament and several public debates and demo rounds across campus and yet these often do not receive mention in the campus papers. Despite success at tournaments almost every single weekend of the semester, individuals on campus would be excused for thinking we didn’t exist This problem does not just face the Brandeis Academic Debate and Speech Society but all of the competitive academic clubs at Brandeis. The Brandeis Mock Trial team held their invitational on campus this past weekend and one of their teams won eighth place, yet the Justice on Tuesday did not mention it. I hope that today’s Hoot carries their story or
ours, but somehow I am not getting my hopes up. BADASS does not compete for acclaim or attention from members of the Brandeis community, but it would be nice if the group's successes were given even as much attention as a loss by any of Brandeis’ sports teams on any given day. This semester for instance, the golf team has gotten coverage for tournaments where it placed 10th out of 12th and 16th, not exactly spectacular showings. Although debate is not exactly the same as a sport, it would be nice to have the campus excited as BADASS sends off teams to these prestigious events and brings back trophies. Moreover, some more coverage would help to motivate more people to try out debate and improve their public speaking skills. Coverage would also help to attract prospective students interested in debate to Brandeis improving the group's renown and prestige. When students come to visit campus and open up a campus paper, they are regularly able to read about the triumphs of our athletics as well as the myriad of fantastic theatrical productions on campus, but they do not hear about academic clubs’ success. This means that those interested in these activities will often choose another school rather than Brandeis. BADASS desires to give back to the Brandeis community as well, but cannot do so without better publicity. For the past several years, we have offered to help clubs set up and facilitate debates on campus. In particular, a health care debate this semester between the Democrats and Republicans would have been an incredible spectacle. Such events often get bogged down in logistics and poor formats, which is where we are more than willing to step in. Yet, all too often clubs considering these events shy away because they do not realize that there’s a club on campus willing to help coordinate such events. The annual Latka/Hamentashen debate has become a beloved Brandeis tradition in part because we have taken such a role. Our campus could be bettered by increased discourse and high quality debate. The writer is the public relations director for the Brandeis Academic Debate and Speech Society.
Would you like to take a Delorean back to America’s future? Or would you rather gaze into the cosmos? Write about it! E-mail impressions@thehoot.net
12 The Hoot
November 6, 2009
FEATURES American Studies administrator discusses department’s evolution
PHOTO BY Robin Lichtenstein/The Hoot
BY ROBIN LICHTENSTEIN Staff
Angelina Simeone, known as Angie, has been at Brandeis since 1972, but she’s not a student, and she’s not a professor. As academic administrator for the Department of American Studies, Simeone ensures classes are in order, that the budget is balanced, and serves as the first line of support for students and professors alike. Before starting in American Studies in 1987, Simeone spent time in the Department of Biology, career guidance, now the Hiatt career center, and the bookstore. Since joining American studies, Simeone has seen a lot around her change. The Hoot sat down with Simeone to talk about the evolution of her department over the past 22 years. The Brandeis Hoot: What was the American studies department like 22 years ago? Angie Simeone: We [had] just got[ten] a computer. Basically, the woman I replaced didn’t like the idea of computers and we were just getting them at that point. I had worked in the Department of Biology [before American studies] and I had to sign up to use the computer because there wasn’t enough for everyone! BH: So there were no computer clusters like we have now? AS: No, and even with e-mail, I would
go to the library to communicate with a [biology] professor who was on sabbatical in China. So I would have to go, write him whatever I needed to tell him and go back the next day to get an answer. BH: So the department has come a long way since then. AS: Right, and doing that kind of thing would always waste a lot of time, so there’s more time to get your work done [now] because technology has helped, it’s helped a lot. At that time we didn’t have a fax machine, we didn’t have a good computer and I had to Xerox in the basement. I would just get up the stairs and someone else would need more Xeroxing and I would [have] to run back down the stairs! BH: So how has your job as a whole changed or stayed the same? AS: Well basically, [my job] is to support the faculty, help with the students, see the students—that’s another thing that has changed; we didn’t even have an answering machine on the phone so I would get phone calls from the students and sometimes they would drop by because there was no e-mail, or they would drop by to see a professor or ask me questions. Now it’s all by e-mail, so I don’t put a face to the student [anymore]. BH: Do you miss having that personal connection with students? AS: I really miss that. I love the one to one
or face-to-face. BH: Looking back, are there certain students that are particularly memorable to you even now? AS: There were a lot of students that I really got very fond of as we got to know each other. Throughout the year they would drop by and say hi, and it was great and it was a nice feeling. But also, it was bittersweet when they went to graduate because I [didn’t] know when I [would] see these people again. BH: Do you keep in touch with students who have graduated? AS: I have on and off…there’s always a few that have a lot of personality and they make themselves known. BH: How many students do you think you have seen come and go over the years? AS: There have to be hundreds. After 22 years, there really have to be hundreds, because at one point we were graduating a good 70 [majors each year]. BH: How many students graduate now in your department? AS: It’s cut back quite a bit. It changes as the interests of students change. BH: Changing focus a little bit, your office has a lot of home touches. When did all that start? AS: After the students left and things happened in their lives they would write
to us; in those days you got a letter. Then they would send photographs of their children which I started putting up and posting them on [a bulletin board]. Well it’s actually a supply cabinet, but now we have a bulletin board and when students travel to different areas they send us postcards. I also keep the postcards of the faculty; they always send us a postcard telling us about their travels. And then of course I have to put my grandchildren’s photos up. BH: The pictures are part of a very comfortable environment in this department. Where do you think that comes from? AS: The [faculty] mailboxes are in [the office] and a couple of professors might wander in at the same time and they start up a conversation which I love to listen to because it’s on an academic level. It’s current events, very interesting; I just keep quiet and listen. I think that’s what makes it more down to earth [and] interesting. I’ve brought my grandchildren on occasion [and they] love coming here because everyone is so very nice to them. [Also], the faculty always works together and they work for the [good] of the students; that’s how I perceive it. They’re good citizens of Brandeis, they’re on committees and they are always out there doing their part, and I admire that.
Hear Angelina Simione in her own words! Watch the audio slideshow at www.thehoot.net
F E AT U R E S
November 6, 2009
The Hoot 13
Making a difference from behind the scenes BY CHRISSY CALLAHAN Editor
When Jenn Eddy walks into a room, you pay attention. There’s something about Eddy that commands your respect, and it’s not her stature. At a mere 4 feet 11 inches tall, Eddy is petite even in high heels; yet, she exudes a presence that shows you she means business. This commanding presence, and Eddy’s talent for multitasking–skilled at dotting every last I and crossing every last T –comes in handy while organizing largescale events and teams of workers; something Eddy does at Brandeis as Senior Events Manager for the’ Office of Conference and Events Services. Eddy is what you’d call a go-getter; spunky and energetic to the core. She’s somebody who stumbled upon her current career after much exploration, but now that she’s found it, she thrives in her work environment. Sometimes responsible for running two or three major events on campus at once, Eddy juggles many tasks. But as a mother to a 6-year-old son, she’s used to a hectic schedule. Even though she seems to have it all down to a system, Eddy’s current line of work wasn’t always number one on her organized to-do list. When asked what she always envisioned herself doing, Eddy laughs, and describes her former career aspirations. “I wanted to be in the FBI and [do] white collar crime and go into banks and kind of do undercover work,” she says. “And then I wanted to be a health educator, and then I thought ‘Oh I’ll be a finance person. And I just didn’t like that. And then I got into catering and operations and event planning, and that’s when I knew that’s where I wanted to settle into.” And settle in she has. Over her past 10 years at Brandeis, Eddy has interacted with all areas of the Brandeis campus, from student organizations to various university departments and outside clients. All the while, she’s made a difference from behind the scenes, ensuring that everyone’s event or special day runs perfectly. In her current position as Senior Events Manager for Conference and Events Services, Eddy ensures the flawless execution of major events on campus such as Alumni weekend, Orientation, Fall and Spring Open House and Commencement. She also helps various departments on campus plan internal conferences that are larger than your average departmental meeting. Eddy’s organizational skill is not limited to just the academic year. During the summer she coordinates programs such as conferences, sports camps, and helps coordinate housing for various departments on campus. Eddy, a New Jersey native, started out at Brandeis in 1999 as Social Events Manager and helped to coordinate various events on campus such as Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, bridal showers and baby showers. She then moved on to conferencing, where she helped plan events for external clients and the over 200 Brandeis clubs and student organizations. During this time, Eddy interacted a lot with students, something she misses now. “I love working with the students,” she says. “So I do miss that part somewhat, but I do like working with the internal campus as well because it kind of gives me more exposure to the internal workings of the campus and different departments.” Before developing her passion for event planning, Eddy attended Bryant University
and received a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration with a concentration in finance. She then earned her master’s degree in public administration from Framingham State College. After graduating, she started work at Newbury College in Brookline, Mass. as a health educator, teaching sex education to college students. From Newbury College, Eddy moved back to Framingham State College, where she worked as a campus operations coordinator, coordinating room reservations and set up through a food service. It was here where she first developed her passion for event planning. For Eddy, it’s the process of event planning and the outcome that’s most exciting. “I like seeing it from beginning to end, and the end result is the most important to me,” she says. “I like to see that the clients are happy and [the event is] how they envisioned it would turn out.” Talking to Eddy, you can tell she genuinely loves helping others. She takes pleasure in making sure that other people’s events run smoothly, and is hesitant to pat herself on the back for any hard work she performs. For someone who does most of her work behind the scenes, Eddy does not think she makes an enormous impact, which is why hearing positive feedback from students she’s worked with in the past is so rewarding for her. “Just to feel acknowledged and recognized is nice because I don’t feel like I…make a difference in that respect,” she says. “It’s just my job and that’s what I’m here to do. So that’s kind of nice to hear.” Although she doesn’t work as much with students on a daily baPHOTO BY Max Shay/The Hoot sis in her current position, Eddy enjoys any chance she does get to A MODEST PLANNER: In her job as senior events manager for Brandeis’ Office of Conference and Events Services, Jenn Eddy helps large events on campus, like commencement, run smoothly. interact with them. One opportunity is commencement, when Eddy enjoyed working with her. Kaplan says Eddy was always there for her manages a team of students ushers. “I knew she was really sweet and really when she needed her: “I always knew that Eddy teaches commencement ushers a if I needed to talk to her, she would make thing or two about organization, treating great,” she says. Eddy soon became much more for Ka- time in that day for me to talk to her.” them with the same respect and holding “She’s good at being both committed to them to the same standards as actual em- plan, though. Later that year, in May of ‘07, Eddy would become a source of strength for her job and getting everything done, but ployees. Talking in her office in Kutz, Eddy sits Kaplan when one of Kaplan’s best friends also understanding that sometimes you do with her arms set in a business-like man- ended his life. Eddy’s friendship was invalu- need to talk to someone,” Kaplan says. Eddy’s professional efficiency also alner. She sometimes speaks in a tone of bit- able for Kaplan while she grieved the loss of lowed her to make time to talk. After all, ing sarcasm and has a cool demeanor that’s her close friend. “She was my rock and my confidante,” she’s used to multitasking, and must condown to earth, yet shows she means busisider many things when organizing large ness. But if you ask students she’s worked Kaplan says. That same month, Kaplan was signed events, utilizing Brandeis’ resources and with before, beyond this tough exterior lies a caring, up to be an usher at commencement and employees to their fullest potential. “You have to be able to multitask and h u m b l e showed up late to a meeting Eddy was hosti n d i - ing one day. She was nervous because she cross your T’s and…dot your I’s,” Eddy says. v i d u a l knew Eddy held her employees to high “Sometimes I can be working on two or who has standards and appreciated punctuality. Af- three major events at one time.” Eddy seems at home in this high pressure made a ter the meeting, Eddy called Kaplan over to d i f f e r - talk, but it wasn’t to question her about her work environment, but not without having ence in tardiness. Rather, Eddy gave Kaplan a hug had a lot of practice, and not without havpeople’s and said, “It’s going to be ok and everything ing a great team behind her. you’re feeling is ok.” “It all seems to come together because we lives. This comment – both comforting and re- all really work well together,” she says. Ta k e Although she’s led a life filled with new C i n d y alistic – was exactly what Kaplan needed to ventures, Eddy still insists she’s not that inK a p l a n hear. “In that moment I knew that I could talk teresting. ’08. Ka“I’m pretty much a Plain Jane,” she says. plan says to her because she really understood where In many ways, it all comes back to this Eddy’s no-nonsense attitude and efficient I was coming from and what I was feeling,” work ethic make her a great listener. And Kaplan says. “[With] Jenn, because you modesty with Eddy. Whether it’s talking Eddy’s advice made all the difference to Ka- know that she’s completely no nonsense, about herself or her work, Eddy maintains a she’s just so easy to talk to because every- humble stance and encourages everyone to plan during her time at Brandeis. utilize her department to its fullest. As director of social affairs for the Stu- thing was so honest.” From that moment on, Eddy helped Ka“We’re here to help anybody that wants to dent Union, Kaplan first met Eddy at the weekly One-Stop meetings they both at- plan through a very difficult time, and Ka- plan an event on campus,” she says. “That’s tended. At the time, she only knew Eddy plan still appreciates just how “open [Ed- our job, that’s what we’re here to do; utilize our services. We enjoy doing it.” from these brief weekly interactions, but dy’s] door really is.”
Making a difference
[With] Jenn, because you know that she’s completely no nonsense, she’s just so easy to talk to because everything was so honest. -Cindy Kaplan ‘08
14 The Hoot
November 6, 2009
SPORTS
Men’s soccer ties one, loses one in UAA play on Sunday, but, thanks to a career-high 11 saves by Lynch, they were able to draw a tie. Both keepAn early penalty kick was the ers made some incredible saves to only score by either side when keep the shutout going including Brandeis faced off against the a diving save in the 84th minute Washington University Bears last by Lynch that sent the ball just Friday night on Gordon Field. wide of the net. The Judges fell 1-0 to their first In overtime the Judges were put UAA guests of the weekend, but at a disadvantage when midfielder went on to tie the second game Kyle Gross ’11 received his second 0-0 on Sunday yellow card of against the Unithe game in the need to get 95th minute and versity of Chicago Maroons. more out of had to leave the “Fifty percent ourselves. We’re so close field. The team of refs would call played one man that a penalty,” to being a good team. down through head Coach Mi- Coach Coven the remaining chael Coven told 15 minutes. The Hoot. “They Lynch came were tight calling officials.” out strong for the Judges as the The penalty kick, which came Maroons laid heavy pressure on just over 12 minutes into the him to give them a chance to game, was the result of a handball take the lead. Midfielder Corey by a Brandeis defender in the box. Bradley ’10 gave Brandeis their Forward John Hengel ’10 took the best shot at a lead in the last shot and sent the ball past keeper minute of play when he sent a Matt Lynch ’11 for the eventual shot just above the crossbar. game-winner. Brandeis will close out their “We played the best soccer we season on Saturday at 11 a.m. have all year and we just couldn’t when they face New York Universcore,” Coven said. sity on Gordon Field. While the Judges outshot Wash. Coven hopes this will be an opU 14-12, only two of the Brandeis portunity for the boys to come shots were on target compared to out on top. “NYU is not as good six for the Bears. as they have been, but they are “This season has been so frus- still good, all UAA teams are trating,” Coven admitted. “We’ve good,” Coven said. “We have to got a poor record but we’re a good score goals. We have so many 2-1, team.” 1-0 losses. We need to get more The Judges were still unable to out of ourselves. We’re so close to get on the board against Chicago being a good team.” BY HANNAH VICKERS Editor
We
Women’s soccer splits UAA play, Rosenzweig sets career records BY HANNAH VICKERS Editor
After dropping their first game of the weekend against the Washington University Bears on Friday 2-0, the Brandeis women’s soccer team struck back by taking down the Chicago University Maroons Sunday afternoon by the same score. With the split they improved to 8-6-3 on the season and 2-3-1 in University Athletic Association (UAA) play. The Bears, who are currently ranked eighth in the nation amongst Division III schools by the NCAA, got the game winning goal in the 34th minute of play. Natalie Callaghan ’12 sent a blast from 40 yards out that just made it above the reaching fingers of Brandeis keeper Hillary Rosenzweig ’10. Wash. U added their second goal in the 72nd minute when midfielder Julie Tembunkiart ’11 sent a cross to Becca Heymann ’11 who then sent the ball beneath the diving Rosenzweig. Rosenzweig made five saves in the loss while the Bears had a combined five saves, four from rookie Clara Jacques and one from Kay Southworth ’11. While the Judges outshot the Bears 15-
13, they were unable to get the ball to the back of the net. The loss did not faze the Judges. When they faced the Maroons two days later, then ranked 16th in Division III, Brandeis shut them down. The two teams had 14 shots attempted, but the Judges had 10 on target compared to Chicago’s eight. Forward Sofia Vallone ’11 had her second game-winner of the season in the 33rd minute off a cross from forward Melissa Gorenkoff ’10. Vallone then shot the ball past the Maroons keeper Emma Gormley ’12. Just over six and a half minutes later, Brandeis added an insurance goal. Forward Tiffany Pacheco ’11 knocked the ball into the upper right corner off a miscue by Gormley, tallying her sevent goal of the season. With the shutout win, Rosenzweig took the top spots in both career shutouts and career victories with 20 and 35 respectively. She also gave Chicago their first regular-season shutout loss since Oct. 18, 2008 when she shut them out 1-0 at their home field. Brandeis has one game remaining in the regular season. They will face off against UAA rival New York University at 1:30 p.m., Saturday on Gordon Field.
PHOTO BY Max Shay/The Hoot
CONTACT SPORT: Matt Peabody ‘13 fights for the ball in a game against Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Sept. 18. The Judges lost their first game of the season 3-2.
Yankees win World Series against Phillies BY SARAH BLOOM Staff
The World Series ended last night with the New York Yankees winning their 27th championship by beating the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3. This was a championship that had been eluding the team for nine years and it was the perfect way to cap off the inaugural season of the team’s new stadium. Series Most Valuable Player Hideki Matsui drove in six Runs Batted In to get the Yankees the lead, and starter Andy Pettitte pitched on only three days rest and walked away with a win for the game. The team was able to get past early season frustrations and figure out a way to win when it really mattered. On the other hand, the Phillies had a bitter end to their attempts at a repeat. Their pitching was not able to contain Matsui and the Yankees; Phillies starter Pedro Martinez just could not keep Matsui from hitting balls in the right places. Matsui started the scoring in the second-inning with a two-run homer. He then singled in the third to drive in two more runs, and finally doubled in the fifth to drive in his fifth and sixth RBIs for the night. Also in
the fifth, Mark Teixiera singled to drive in Derek Jeter for the Yankees’ only non-Matsui RBI. For the Phillies, all of their runs came off of Pettitte. Jimmy Rollins hit a sacrifice fly in the third to score one run, and Ryan Hughes hit a two run homer in the sixth. After those runs, the Phillies were not able to rally. The Yankees relief pitching was as solid as every other part of the team, and Mariano Rivera pitched the final innings to end the game. The last batter, Shane Victorino, had a full pitch count before he hit a ground ball for an easy last out. Before Mark Teixeria even had the ball in his glove, the rest of the team had already run from the dugout and were ready to celebrate. For all the players, this was a championship that they had been waiting for, but for four players it had come special importance. Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettite, and Mariano Rivera all came up through the minors together and were all part of the Yankees dynasty that won three straight championships from 1998-2000. This was a championship a long time in waiting for these four who have been with the team through all the years of coming close but never winning
it all. Jeter, now captain of the team, said, “It feels better than I can remember, man. It’s been a long time.” But now the long wait is over, and the Bronx has reason to celebrate again. For some, this celebration might be the end to a long Yankees career. Matsui and Pettite both are at the end of their contracts, and are not sure if they will be returning next year. Also, there have been rumors of Rivera’s last season for the past few years, but those rumors might continue for a few more years as Rivera is pitching like someone who is in his prime and not someone turning 40 at the end of the month. Another man who was not present, but played a huge role in getting the team to this place is owner George M. Steinbrenner. Steinbrenner, “the Boss” to most of the players, was not able to be join in the celebration due to health reasons, but the players were as conscious of his presence as if he had been there. The center field video screen flashed “Boss, this is for you” as Steinbrenner’s son accepted the Championship trophy, and everyone was thanking him during all post-game interviews.
SPORTS
November 6, 2009
The Hoot 15
Fisher explors Nazi effect on homosexuality in tennis BY NATHAN KOSKELLA Staff
Brandies alum and recent sports novelist Marshall Jon Fisher ’85 presented his new novel “A Terrible Splendor” Tuesday in Usdan Student Center’s International Lounge. The book focuses on tennis players and what is historically of the one of the greatest matches of all time. Hosted by the Center for German and European Studies, the event entitled “Homophobia, Anti-Semitism and Tennis” presented a narrative of historical athletic fiction—the story of the interaction of these three disparate ideas during one exciting sports championship. The presentation was a unique venture on the part of the German-European center and other groups, including Triskelion and the Brandeis tennis team. The event was “the first time the center teamed up with Women and Gender Studies and the Tennis Club,” Professor Sabine von Mering (GRALL), the center’s director, said. “A Terrible Splendor,” details the Davis Cup match between American Don Budge
and German Baron Gottfried von Cramm in 1937. In addition, it portrays the conflicts of the American tennis champion and the then coach of the Nazi German international team, Bill Tilden. Fisher’s presentation described the lives both as gay men and athletes n their respective contries at the beginning of World War II. The Baron von Cramm’s tennis partner, moreover, was removed from the German Davis Cup team because of his Jewish ancestry. Fisher made clear his goals in writing his new book, seeking to differentiate it from any sports piece. “There are a lot of great matches, but I always wanted the meaning of the book to be more than that, with political background and high personal stakes of the players,” Fisher said. The author presented his work as enlightening to the sports community and revealing of Western society as a whole. “Many people knew about the Nuremberg laws against the Jews [and homosexuals], but many people looked the other way,” Fisher said.
The presentation made clear that Tilden, who dominated tennis in the 1920s, and von Cramm escaped ridicule and ostracizing because they were excellent tennis players. However, they were only great while they were winning. “A month after his [and Budge’s] famous match, von Cramm was arrested by the Nazis on ‘morals charges,’ believed to be homosexuality,” Fisher said. Tilden was also arrested twice throughout his life in the United States, though in his case both times were for relations with young boys. The suprising moment of “Splendor,” is that von Cramm survived a low-security Nazi prison, served reluctantly in the German army, and was one of the few members of his brigade to survive the bloody Eastern front. After the war, he continued to gain wins for Germany in international tennis and rose above persecution for his lifestyle. The intersection of sports and discrimination was not lost on the writer. “Tilden [and von Cramm] were homosexuals when that wasn’t even something you could talk about,” Fisher said.
Fisher also spoke to the presentation’s audience about his joy of writing and the need for a topic in which the author can be involved. “This is my first solo book for adults, and it’s a subject I love. I’ve written things that have felt like work, but this was near to my heart—the pre-war era in Germany—and I had a great time researching and writing,” he said. In introducing the event, von Mering highlighted the importance of works such as Fisher’s to the Brandeis community. “I’ve read the book, and it’s like a very exciting tennis match in itself,” she said, adding, “It’s about resilience in the face of adversity, so it is a really a logical book for a Brandeis alum to write.” Students were surprised but pleased at the seemingly different groups’ joint presentation. Even the Center for German and European Studies director had much to learn from the diverse presentation. “I’ve read so many books on that period,” von Mering said, “but to look at it from the angles of tennis and homosexuality was very powerful.”
“Of course your life is so enriched by your teammates and friends, and they’re always there to pick you up when you’re down,” Morehouse said. Morehouse explained Brandeis was the only school that recruited him, and seized the opportunity to improve immeasurably in his four years at Brandeis. Looking back, Morehouse was grateful for what Brandeis offered him, and honored by their recognition. “You obviously don’t train to go into hall of fames, but to have your work acknowledged means a lot, and its really acknowledgement of all the people that put hard work into me as well,” Morehouse said in an interview with The Hoot. Speaking about all of the inductees, Athletic Director Sheryl Sousa said that “their careers are a real tribute to out athletic history.” “You have truly shown us how to strive for excellence,” Sousa said. Novaria, a four time all New England and all UAA forward, holds several school records including third place in Brandeis history with 123 points and 50 goals. Novaria praised both his friends and coaches for helping him achieve so much. “The dearest friends that I have in the world are from this University,” Novaria said. “They made sure that we were never left out of any opportunity that was out there,” he said. Novaria explained that Brandeis Soccer Coach Michael Coven initially influenced him to come to Brandeis through his handwritten recruiting notes and cards, letters that stood out from other coaches who were also recruiting the talented young player. Soffer was an offensive guard and defensive lineman for one of Brandeis’ first football teams. He received the Morris Sepinuck Sportsmanship Award as a junior and served as defensive captain his junior and senior years. “The people that I’ve met here at Brandeis are very special, unique, and talented” Soffer said. “It was a great time with great memories that lasted a long time.” After Brandeis, Soffer went on to have a very successful career as a real estate developer in Pennsylvania and Florida and contributed the largest single donation to the
university by an alumnus in 2007. Eisenstock played on the baseball and basketball teams at Brandeis all four years. “I’ve been rewarded with a great many friends from those college days, “ Eisenstock said. A guard in basketball, Eisenstock played all positions in baseball and was also a captain of the baseball team as a senior. “I’ve been given so much more than any person should expect from a life,” he said. “This is a dream come true. Curtin was a member of the track and cross-country teams from 1980-84 and won four New England Division III championships at distances from 800 to 1,500 meters. His school record for the 3,000-meter and meet record for the 1,000-meter at the New England Division III Indoor Track Championships still stands to this day. In 1983 while serving as captain, the Brandeis track team won the NCAA championship, becoming just the second team in school history to earn a national championship title. “Being captain of the championship team is one of my proudest moments,” he said. “Coach Norm deserved the championship more than anyone.” Ceriello was the youngest of the group and also the first volleyball player to be inducted into the Hall. She earned All-University Athletic Association honors for her four years on the team and, in her senior year, because the first Brandeis player to earn American Volleyball Coaches Association first-team AllNew England honors. Ceriello still holds the career records in assists, service aces, and matches played. “This is an amazing dream come true,” Ceriello said. Ceriello extended her gratitude not only to friends and family, but also to Title 9 for the benefits it provided as a female athlete. “I’m sorry I’m so emotional,” she added as she choked back tears. “It’s because of my love for this place.” Richburg, who earned Department of Athletics’ Max I. Silber Award for being an outstanding female athlete as a freshman, also set new standards of excellence in her sport. She was a member of the track and cross-country teams for all four years at Brandeis, specializing in the heptath-
lon, and in her final year became the first woman in school history to qualify for the NCAA championships in track and field. “There is so much to be thankful for,” Richburg said. Richburg is currently the track and field and cross-country coach in Randolph, Vermont where she also teaches high school math. The day before the induction ceremony her girls took home the Vermont state championship. Collins, who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994, was full of stories almost as colorful as his Hawaiian print pants. In his first season as head coach for the Brandeis men’s tennis team, he received only $200 and “all the jock straps I could make away with.” That season the team went 7-0. “We were the boys from Brandeis and we were pretty good,” Collins told the crowd. When asked if he had any favorite memories from his time with Brandeis, Collins went back to that first season with the team. “Beating NYU and going undefeated in that first year was pretty great,” he told The Hoot. “We didn’t know what we were doing.” “Whenever I think of these guys I smile and the way they made their way in the world says something about Brandeis,” he said. The most notable player Collins worked with was Abbie Hoffman ’59. According to Collins (and to no one’s surprise), Hoffman wasn’t fond of listening to authority figures. “I’d say ‘Abbie, go to the net!’ and no, no it was the coach saying it s he wouldn’t do it,” Collins said. “When he started the YIPPIE party, I was all for him back then when he was for the environment.” Collins’ career as Brandeis coach was cut short when he began covering tennis matches on the amateur and professional scene. He has worked for nearly 40 years since then, mostly with NBC before recently moving to ESPN, adding his colorful commentary and even more colorful bowties and outfits to the Grand Slam tournaments. “I was very lucky and had no idea I would be on TV,” he told The Hoot. “I thought I’d be back at Brandeis. I was just at the right place at the right time.”
Bud Collins and Tim Morehouse Headline 2009 Athletic Hall of Fame Class with six others BY HANNAH VICKERS AND JON OSTROWSKY Editor & Staff
Arthur ‘Bud’ Collins, the first coach of the men’s tennis team and former sports writer as well as a world-renowned tennis commentator, along with Olympic silver medalist Tim Morehouse ‘00 were among eight new members inducted into the Brandeis Joseph M. Linsey Athletic Hall of Fame. In speeches ranging from an Olympic gold medalist to a regional and school record-holder, teamwork, friendship and gratefulness were common themes last Sunday inside the ballroom at the Westin Hotel as members of the Brandies Athletics community welcomed the newest Hall of Fame class. “These are eight distinct and equally impressive individuals,” Director of Athletics Sheryl Sousa said. The other inductees included volleyball player Theresa Ceriello ’03, soccer player Michael Novaria ’91, runner Kevin Curtin ’84, runner Virginia Lypscon Richburg ’81, baseball and basketball player Mark Eisenstock ’72, and football player Donald Soffer ’54. “There’s no closer bond than [what] you have with your teammates because you really learn a lot about each other when you’re teammates with each other, and you’re with each other when you’re winning and losing and crying and celebrating,” Morehouse said. The All-American Morehouse, a four time all UAA award winner and a three time NCAA championship qualifier was named the NCAA Saber Fencer of the Year his senior year. “If you’re really really lucky, you get surrounded by amazing people and amazing places. And that’s really why we’re all here, and I’m here today because I was surrounded by amazing family, coaches and teammates,” Morehouse said. It is Morehouse’ accomplishments after Brandeis however, that he is most famous for. After being an alternate for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Fencing team, Morehouse, Brandeis’ first Olympian, earned a silver medal with his team in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
16
The Hoot
October 30 16
WW EE EE KK EE NN DD What's going on at Brandeis?
Spotlight on Boston
The Christmas Festival Friday, Nov. 6. 12:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m./ Saturday Nov. 7, 10:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m./ Sunday Nov. 8, 10 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Seaport Hotel, Boston For some fun and efficient Christmas Shopping, go to the Seaport Hotel and find 300 Artists selling their work. While shopping, you can see a Gingerbread House Competition, and find whatever you will need to decorate the presents you buye.
Massachusetts Dance Festival Friday Nov. Saturday, Nov. 7, 8:00 p.m. Dance Theater at Bostun University College of Fine Arts For $20-25 come see nine professional dance companies compete, including BoSoma Dance Company, Rainbow Tribe, Sokolow Now!, Triveni Dance Company, Snake Dance Theater and Flamenco Dance Project. There will also be a silent auction.
The Secrets of Tomb 10A: Egypt 2000 BC Open until May 16 Museum of Fine Arts
Saturday, November 07, 10:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. Levin Ballroom As the biggest party of the semester, be sure not to miss Pachanga this Saturday. Its always an exciting, fun time organized by the International Club. This year Pachanga will be featuring the Battle of the DJs.
A Chorus Line
Friday, Nov. 6, 8:00 p.m.- 10:30 p.m./ Saturday, Nov. 7, 2:00 p.m.- 4:40 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.- 10:30 p.m./ Sunday, Nov. 8, 2:00 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. SCC Theater Tymphanium Euphorium is showing “A Chorus Line,� the story of an audition for a musical. The story won the Pulitzer Prize for Best Drama. Tickets are $5.
BOO~ZBT Decathlon Bring three dollars to donate to Kids Kicking Cancer, while you compete in a decatholon with fun events. For more information, contact Rachel Karpoff at rachelk@brandeis.edu.
Hoot Comic Strips
laughingwarlock
Pachanga
Sunday, Nov. 8, 4:30 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. Gosman Gym outdoor track
For all you history and archeology buffs, the MFA is showing a temporary exhibit showing the loot from Tomb 10A. The tomb, discovered in 1915, is the largest finding of Middle Kingdom objects ever found. Come introduce yourself to the fascinating world of Ancient Egypt!
Sleazy
Editor's Pick:
By Matt Kupfer
By Ian Price
Pictureplane, with Emperor X
Friday, Nov. 6, 9:00 p.m.- 11:30 p.m. Chums
Punk Rock and Roll Club is bringing two great bands to campus this weekend. Both bands will provide lots of fun and good dance music, so come with some friends to rock out!
Can you draw and write comics? Want to see your work in print? Or do you know of any exciting Brandeis or Boston events?
E-mail lelefko@brandeis.edu
The