VOL 5, NO. 11
NOVEMBER 14, 2008
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
Union Senate to vote on bicycle sharing money resolution Sunday BY ARIEL WITTENBERG Editor
The Special Task Force on Bicycle Sharing (STFBS) will present a money request to the Student Union Senate on Sunday for a sum between $1,000 and $1,500 to fund the long anticipated ‘Deis Bikes rental program, which would provide bike rentals to Brandeis students free of charge. The request will be presented to the Senate this Sunday and voted on at next week’s Senate meeting. All eight members of STFBS and Student Union Vice President Adam Hughes expect the request to pass. The money, which, if approved, will be taken out of the Senate discretionary fund, will be used to buy at least 10 used bikes from
the Main Street bike shop, Spoken Wheel. The money will also be used to buy repair tools, tire pumps, decals, locks and one helmet per bike. STFBS member Caroline Cappello ’11 said that the Task Force is especially excited for the program to be implemented because it provides students with a “fuel free form of transportation.” Indeed, Task Force members agree that it is the program’s environmental sustainability that will, hopefully, help the money request pass. ‘Deis Bikes will be kept in bike racks (funded by the university’s Facilities Department) outside of the library, and bikes will be rented from inside the library. If students wants to rent a bike,
they will have to go inside the library to the Loans and Returns desk, where their student ID card will be swiped. The student will then be handed a key to unlock one of the bikes, along with a helmet. STFBS originally wanted to do bike rentals out of the Shapiro Campus Center, but changed their plan because they wanted to use Library and Technology Services technology. Still, they say students will not be inconvenienced because the library is a central point on campus. Students will be asked to sign an either physical or electronic liability form rendering them responsible for all damage to the bike
coordinator for the community center, explained in an e-mail message, “we are going to enter a re-planning and re-building phase for the children’s programming specifically.” Programming at Prospect Hill Community Center is part of the university’s Community Engaged Learning program. Tutoring programs at the community center
began last year with students in Prof. Ellen Schattschneider’s (ANTH) Anthropology of Gender course, Auslander said. President of the Prospect Hill Tenants Association Manuela Solorzano confirmed that elementary school students will be the group primarily affected by the program suspension. She could not speak
See BIKES p. 12
Prospect Hill tutoring program suspended BY ALISON CHANNON Editor
Brandeis University has suspended its tutoring programs for elementary school children at the Prospect Hill Community Center partly due to budget constraints, Academic Director of Community-Engaged Learning Prof. Mark Auslander (ANTH) said. Jocelyn Dorfman ’10, a student
See PROSPECT HILL p. 12
PHOTO BY Max Shay/The Hoot
BIKE SHARING: Toly Rinberg ‘11, pictured here, is one of many Brandeis Students who choose to ride their bicycles across campus and, often, into the surrounding Waltham area. “It’s just more convenient” than a car, said Rinberg. He also has his car on campus but he “hate[s] driving it.” If the resolution passes the benefits of biking will become available to the entire campus.
Doctor without borders describes experience in Chad FY2010 budget “I’m very passionate gap projected about underserved health BY JASON WONG Staff
What would it feel like to serve as the only doctor for 30,000 refugees? To be confined within one city block for months? To live in total disconnect from the rest of the world? Dr. Marc Levin ’94 recounted his humanitarian work with Doctors Without Borders or Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) through a select presentation of photographs depicting his experiences in Chad. Dr. Levin attended medical school at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY, and graduated in 1998. He currently holds faculty positions in the Department of Family and Social Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and in the Beth Israel Residency in Urban Family Practice in New York City. Before getting into current issues in global health and discussing his journey with MSF, Levin started his presentation by offering some career and life advice to the audience of undergraduates. “Success comes by doing what you love,” said Levin. He demonstrated throughout his speech that he loved to help the underserved. Levin addressed the current issues in global health including the politics of food, the politics of health, gender-based violence, mental health, and maternal mortality, among others. He gave a brief illustration of his life at Brandeis accompanied by photographs, and explained why he wanted to work with MSF.
INSIDE:
care” he started. “I’m really interested in crosscultural medicine and I also really wanted to focus on patients. Doctors have to worry about costs and lawsuits…I just wanted to help the patients.” Levin then showed the audience photos of his experiences in working in Chad, Dogdore. He opened the audience’s eyes, picture by picture, to the severe diseases and conditions of the underserved communities in Chad. He spoke of his experiences with increasingly graphic pictures of malnourished children to babies with malaria. One audience member asked if Levin felt guilty about having better living conditions than almost everyone else in Chad. “Of course,” replied PHOTO BY Max Shay/The Hoot Levin. “However, one of NO BORDERS: Dr. Marc Levin ’94, speaks to students about the most stressful things treating patients in Africa. Dr. Levin graduated cum laude with a was living within a one city B.A. in history and has worked with the Beth Israel Residency in block due to safety reasons.” Urban Family Practice, in New York City, and in Darfur with the Levin explained that he ac- Doctors Without Borders. tually felt most guilty when Chad’s governAnother member from the audience inment forced the MSF team to leave when so quired whether Levin became desensitized many people still needed treatment. See DOCTORS p. 13 SEA CHANGE SHOPPING FOR TRUTH
PG 4
KING LEAR
PG 4
BBALL PREVIEW
BY ALISON CHANNON Editor
Senior university administrators are considering ways to close a projected $5.8 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2010, President Jehuda Reinharz and Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Peter French announced at a Nov. 6 faculty meeting. The projected shortfall is based on current gift, endowment, and tuition trends. The university faces a $10 million shortfall for the 2009 fiscal year, which will be resolved through one-time funds and emergency expenditure reductions, including reductions in department budgets and the suspension of position searches. “It’s an ongoing deficit,” Vice President for Budget and Planning Frances Drolette told The Hoot. The process to address the projected budget shortfall for FY2010 includes the consideration of recommendations from the faculty advisory committee that Provost Marty Krauss convened last month. Senior administrators will submit proposals and recommendations to close the budget gap by mid-December, Reinharz said. A budget will then be presented to the Board of Trustees for approval in March. “We cannot present a deficit budget to the Board,” Reinharz emphasized. “We need to know in March what in-
PG 8 PG 14
See FY2010 p. 13
THIS WEEKEND
PG 16
COMICS
PG 16
2
The Hoot
November 14, 2008
ED ITORIAL Book of Matthew Established 2005 "To acquire wisdom, one must observe." Sri Kuehnlenz Editor in Chief Kathleen Fischman Editor in Chief
Alison Channon News Editor Bret Matthew Impressions Editor Ben Sacks Features Editor Chrissy Callahan Features Editor Kayla Dos Santos Backpage Editor Alex Schneider Layout Editor Danielle Gewurz Copy Editor
Jamie Fleishman Advertising Editor Ariel Wittenberg Design Editor Max Shay Technology Officer Napoleon Lherisson Photography Editor Leon Markovitz Business Editor Vanessa Kerr Business Editor
Senior Editors Jordan Rothman, Zachary Aronow
FOUNDED By Leslie Pazan, Igor Pedan and Daniel Silverman
Late to psych, ride a bike
T
he quintessential college campus always seems to be scattered with bicycles, and for good reason. As a cheap, convenient and eco-friendly means of transportation, they appeal to students in a way that no car or campus shuttle can. Yet, between the Massachusetts winter weather, the stress of bike upkeep and protection, and the fact that some students comes from places too far to transport their own bike to school, there are obstacles that prevent many students from taking the stereotypical bike ride through the Brandeis campus. A new Student Union initiative, however, might make bike riding more convenient for students. The Union announced a new initiative Thursday that will be expected to implement a bike sharing program on campus as early as March. This will certainly be welcome news for students who miss the fun and relief of riding a bike, but are unwilling or unable to deal with the hassle of having a bike on campus. Students who have considered bringing a bike to campus must determine where to store it, as well as worry about theft, upkeep and repair. The number of bikes that remained in bike racks at the end of last semester and were tagged for removal is a testament to the frustration students experience in transporting their bikes to and from home. With the program in place, any student can have stress-free access to a bike. When it comes to transportation, many Brandeis students appreciate sustainability as much as affordability. The bike program combines both, offering a cheaper, greener alternative to cars, whether the student brought one to campus or rents via Zipcar. While students looking to pick up groceries may still have to rely on the Branvan or a car, bikes are the perfect way for students to quickly get to class, visit their friends living off-campus or just go for a relaxing ride around Waltham. This initiative follows in the steps of many other universities across the nation that have recognized the benefits of having a bicycle sharing program on campus. The major problems consistently faced by similar programs at other institutions, such as Middlebury College, were disrepair, vandalization and theft. However, hopefully tentative provisions of the program will help it avoid these same problems. For instance, the Waltham bike shop Spoke ‘n’ Wheel will train students to be bike mechanics. Compensated by the Union, this group of students will perform routine maintenance on the bikes. The program will let more Brandeis students enjoy the beauty of a bike ride without the burden of stress.
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 to editor@ thehoot.net. All letters must be from a
valid email 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. E-mail: editor@thehoot.net
Where have you gone, Joe Lieberman? BY BRET MATTHEW Editor
What do we do about Joe Lieberman? It’s a question that has been hovering over the heads of the Democratic Party leadership for months. They’ve successfully avoided it for a while, instead focusing on more important campaign issues. But the campaign season is over, and the Lieberman question must be answered. You see, Senator Lieberman is currently the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, a position he first attained back in 2001, when he was still a Democrat. But he isn’t a Democrat anymore. After losing the 2006 Connecticut Democratic primary, thanks to his unpopular proIraq War stance, Lieberman ran as an independent in the general election and beat Democrat Ned Lamont. He then spent the next two years attacking any and all Democrats who opposed the Iraq War. He even endorsed John McCain for President in the recent election. For this disloyalty, the Democratic Party leadership has considered stripping Lieberman of his Chairmanship. But the decision hasn’t been easy to make. Some Democrats hope Lieberman can be persuaded to side with them in the event of a Republican filibuster, therefore making it easier to achieve a 60-Senator cloture vote. Personally, I don’t buy it. My short answer? Toss him. It’s not that I have anything personal against the man. I used to like him, I really did. As an eleven-year-old watching the election of 2000–the first presidential election that paid I any attention to–I
was all for the Gore/Lieberman ticket. After all, I was raised in a liberal, environmentalist, halfJewish household. It was the perfect fit. Don’t deny it, Democrats. You supported Lieberman as well. He and Al Gore were the intelligent, liberal alternatives to the Bush/ Cheney machine (I want to say Bush/Cheney fiasco, but in 2000, we didn’t think things could get this bad). Unfortunately, only one member of that Democratic ticket would go on to be an internationally acclaimed environmental activist. I’m not talking about Joe. Many, even Democrats who oppose Lieberman, have said publicly that the Senator has a strong, progressive domestic policy record that helps to offset his right-wing foreign policy ideals. This is their one rationale for allowing him to keep any sort of power in the Senate. For a while, I believed this little nugget of conventional wisdom, but like most conventional wisdom, it just isn’t true. With just a little bit of digging through Lieberman’s recent speeches and voting record, I’ve come to the conclusion that he’s fallen off the deep end… and landed in Red America. Here are a few examples: As you should already know, Senator Lieberman is what we call a “war hawk.” He has publicly attempted to link Iraq to the terrorist attacks on 9/11, and still believes the US was right to invade Iraq. He is openly critical of his Senate colleagues (mostly Democrats) who call for an end to the war, and instead feels that we would be better off expanding the war into Iran and Syria. But what you may not know is that Lieberman has also thrown
his support behind many Republican economic ideas. He endorsed Senator McCain’s plan to give massive tax cuts to the wealthy, while simultaneously calling Senator Obama’s tax plan “socialist” or “Marxist.” He also called increased offshore oil drilling a “sensible” way to reduce gas prices, despite massive amounts of evidence to the contrary. Even when it comes to privatizing Social Security–an idea so unpopular that it’s hard to find more than a short paragraph about it on Senator McCain’s own campaign website–Lieberman took the conservative route. As far back as May of 1998, he was telling reporters, “I think in the end that individual control of part of the retirement/Social Security funds has to happen.” And yes, he did defend Senator McCain’s privatization plan during this campaign. Most interesting is Lieberman’s record as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs. Despite the growing list of wrongs committed by the Bush administration, Lieberman did not hold a single oversight hearing on the administration in 2007. This includes a refusal to investigate Bush’s slow response to Hurricane Katrina, or the Blackwater incident in Iraq. In fact, in Lieberman’s own words, “We don’t like investigating … just to see who is at fault.” I have news for you, Senator Reid. It is not a good bargain if you give a Republican-leaning, independent Senator a powerful chairmanship and hope that he will join your cause. All you will do is hand over power to the GOP that should be yours. So toss Joe Lieberman. As far as you can throw him.
Creative Destruction: The Republican Party's future BY SCOTT ROTHSTEIN Columnist
After an unpopular presidential and congressional legacy has damaged the reputation of the Republican Party, the GOP now stands at a vital crossroads in determining its future. The Republicans must now decide how they will carry forward the Republican Party in the short run and in the long run. First they must determine how they will proceed in the short run in how they will deal with the next president and the overwhelmingly Democratic congress. Should the GOP go on a permanent attack mode and criticize the Democrats and the President at every chance so as to better energize conservatives for 2010 or should they work hand in hand with the Democrats and the President to create an atmosphere of bi-partisanship to improve the image of the GOP? They then have to decide how they will handle the long term image of the GOP and what issues they should continue to emphasize and what issues they should
relax from. Should the Republicans still lean hard on energizing, yet divisive, social issues, or have those issues run their course and should the GOP try to emphasize issues in other areas? How the Republicans answer these questions will shape the future of the GOP for years to come? Over the next few years, Republicans are going to have to strike a proper balance between criticism and cooperation when it comes to the Democrats. Senator McCain’s concession speech set the stage for cooperation between Democrats and Republicans for the next few years; however, this does not mean the Republicans should shy away from attacking President-Elect Obama and the Democrats when the Republicans believe that they are in the wrong. The GOP should be careful about overly criticizing the Democrats lest they should worsen their negative image from this past election. President-Elect Obama set himself up for some well deserved criticism for his decision not to attend the Global Economic summit where the leaders
of several nations are meeting to discuss how to proceed with the handling of the Economic crisis. Currently it looks like the summit will yield little because the leaders of the other nations will be resistant to working out a deal with an outgoing administration. Who they really want to talk to is President-Elect Obama, if he were to attend the summit there would be a greater chance that progress would be made to an international consensus. President Obama has just spent the last two years running for this office, convincing us that he has the experience to govern, and then all of a sudden when a summit addressing what will be the single most important issue of his first year as president arrives, he refuses to show, and his only excuse is that he does not want to appear presumptuous fearing that he might look like he is taking control of the executive branch before his inauguration. So he had his presidential seal ready many months before the election and now he decides to See REPUBLICANS p. 15
November 14, 2008
The Hoot
3
IMPRES S IONS
Pushing for gay rights BY DANIEL ORTNER Staff
ILLUSTRATION BY Alex Doucette/The Hoot
Considering ballot initiatives BY MATTHEW KIPNIS Columnist
Last week, amid the euphoria of Barack Obama’s electoral victory and the reflection that America remains the land of unbridled opportunity, the voters of California added a provision to their constitution limiting the freedoms of one particular group. The passage of Proposition 8, an appalling piece of law which “Eliminates [the] Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry,” certainly represents the nadir of direct democracy in America, and demonstrates once again the utterly execrable nature of the scarecrow of American elections, the ballot initiative. Now available in 24 states and the District of Columbia, ballot initiatives are quite simply American democracy at its worst. They place before the public issues about which the public is manifestly unqualified to judge. Advocates embrace the simplest, most polarizing tactics, in order to frame issues in such a way as to produce a majority, Proposition 8 being a sterling example. Some $75 million was spent on advertising both for and against the measure. Proponents used such inflammatory tactics as suggesting that same-sex marriage would be taught to elementary school children, appealing to the most naked forms of prejudice. Yet, while Proposition 8 is a particularly egregious case, it by no means exhausts the list of foolish, contradictory, and outright ignorant choices made by voters with the help of the ballot initiative. Let us consider California’s famous, or infamous, Proposition 13, which capped the state’s Property Tax rates a 1%. Property taxes are generally used by localities to provide for basic services, such as schools, electricity, police, and firefighters, as well as other
social services. The passage of Proposition 13 forced cuts in all these areas. In order to make up the revenue shortfall, municipalities were forced to drastically raise sales taxes. Unlike property taxes, which are naturally progressive (the nicer the house, the more you pay), sales taxes are flat (everyone has basic needs, such as food and clothing), and thus sales taxes fall disproportionately on the poor and those least able to pay. Next up: Proposition 98, which mandates certain levels of school funding. Sounds like a good thing, right? Except that Proposition 98 locks a portion of the state budget in to automatic education spending, depriving the legislature of considerable budgetary flexibility. And because states are required by law to balance their budgets, paying for one program requires cutting another. But wait, I didn’t mention where the bulk of the funding was coming from, did I? Proposition 98 forced the state of California to rob its municipalities of their remaining 1% property tax revenue and place that money in a statewide fund for education. Lastly, Proposition 187, the final example in this parade of horrors, denied basic social services and health care to illegal immigrants in a hair-brained effort to keep them out of California. (Surely they flocked to America because they had superb social services at home.) Passed in 1994, Proposition 187 required background checks on anyone applying for state benefits if the authorities suspected the applicants were illegal immigrants. This included children being sent to elementary and secondary school. The tragedy of these ballot initiatives is that, in each case, the voters made the short-term logical choice. Who likes paying high
taxes? So let’s lower them. Isn’t education important? So let’s fund it. Why should we give services to those who don’t pay for them? Let’s not. And in each case, the voters, usurping the role of their elected representatives, approved measures deleterious to the state of California. So we come to the crowning act in the ballot initiative saga, when the voters choose, by a 52%-48% margin, to restrict the rights of their gay and lesbian compatriots. Having made their opinions known on issues of tax policy, school funding, and social services, Californians now see fit to pass judgment on the civil rights of other citizens. As certain conservative commentators have pointed out from time to time, we are not a democracy - holding plebiscites on our policy toward Russia or how to reform social security - but a republic, where we elect representatives to (we hope) study the issues and come to a reasonable compromise. I simply cannot conceive of any reasonable person arguing that the average citizen of California has studied enough constitutional law to grasp the ramifications of his or her vote on Proposition 8. To be clear, I’m not asserting that I have such expertise either; such questions should be left to the courts, to individuals who have spent their lives studying these questions. Having made my case, I can add but one sad, ironic note: this measure likely would not have passed except for the increase in Black and Latino turnout prompted by President-Elect Obama’s presence on the ballot. People, who, 50 years ago, could not even cast a vote in a number of states, last week voted in overwhelming numbers to restrict the rights of a fellow minority. So the wheel turns.
The Hoot accepts submissions to the Impressions section on any topic of consequence to any member of the campus community. Our mission is to give every community member a voice. The views expressed in the Impressions section do not necessarily reflect the views of The Hoot's editorial board.
While election night was a sweeping victory for Democrats and liberals on the whole, it was an utterly abysmal one for advocates of gay rights. Ballot measures passed in California, Arizona and Florida banning gay marriage (Florida and Arizona banned equivalent partnerships as well) and Arkansas passed a measure that will have the effect of preventing homosexuals from adopting children. The culture war, it seems, has shifted away from abortion and towards a crushing defeat of LGBTQ advocates. Yet, even in this moment, there are some gleaming bright spots and opportunities for growth and progress. In pursuit of these bans on gay marriage, supporters have bended over backwards to give the impression that they are not “anti-gay,” but “profamily.” In doing so, any of the staunchest a dvo c ate s of gay marriage bans rhetorically moderated their position on civil unions or the granting of domestic partnership rights such as hospital visitations and tax benefits to LGBTQ couples. Thus, we had Former Vice Presidential Nominee and Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin--who in the past had, according to New York Times profile (“An Outside Who Charms” Aug 29, 2008), “raised the possibility of amending the state constitution” so that a ban on health benefits to same-sex partners could be passed—stating in the Vice Presidential debate that “no one would ever propose, not in a McCain-Palin administration, to do anything to prohibit, say, visitations in a hospital or contracts being signed, negotiated between parties.” With Sarah Palin hailed by many as the savior of the Republican Party for 2012, it is important to acknowledge the dramatic shift of rhetoric over granting equal benefits. Even the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, one of the biggest advocates for Proposition 8 has made painstaking efforts to clarify their stance on Civil Unions. Immediately after the passing of Proposition 8, the Church issued a statement that emphasized that it does not object to domestic partnership or civil union legislation and moreover and throughout the campaign stated that “The Church does not object to rights (already established in California) regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these so not infringe on the in-
tegrity of the family or the constitutional rights of churches." Thus, even as the electorate overwhelmingly opposed gay marriage, those bastions of conservatism, both in the Republican Party and without, have laid the groundwork for rights advancing partnerships. Of course, one could take a cynical view of this and say that these statements were merely issued for political benefits. However, in recent weeks, at least some equal rights organizations have taken these words at face value. EqualityUtah, a LGBTQ rights advocacy organization, has taken to petitioning the LDS church asking it to support five pieces of legislation currently being proposed in Utah all narrowly tailored to fit in line with what the Church has stated it could tolerate. According to the New York Times, “The proposed laws would also expand protections for same-sex couples in health care and hospitalization d e c i s i ons , housing and employment, and in inheritance issues in probate court (“Gay Leaders in Utah Plan 5-Bill Attack in Legislature,” Nov. 10, 2008). The Church has yet to issue a response to this petition, but regardless, this is an interesting and potentially fruitful avenue of social change. On a broader basis, advocates should begin calling out those who have issued tacit support of Civil Unions in order to build coalition support for positive change on a state-by-state basis. Though LGBTQ advocates may want to continue to push for full out marriage rights, it seems that this avenue of reaching a consensus around civil unions may be more fruitful. A much more potent appeal to an individual sense of justice can be made when the religious casing around the term marriage is stripped away and a basic liberties appeal is extended. After all, if taken at their word, then the position of the Mormon Church or arch-conservatives such as Sarah Palin truly do not disagree with Barack Obama or Joe Biden. If these conservative leaders and organizations step up and live up to their words, then the cause of equality will be advanced, and if they fail to do so, then they will be revealed as hypocrites and frauds who truly are “anti-gay.” If the defeat of gay marriage can be used as a bridge to build broader support for domestic partnership rights and equal legal rights, then even from its ashes the cause of equality will advance further than previously imaginable.
While election night was a sweeping victory for Democrats and liberals on the whole, it was an utterly abysmal one for advocates of gay rights.
4
IMPRESSIONS
The Hoot
SEA Change
Will President Obama make the right choices? BY JOSH WAIZER Special to The Hoot
I was in Chum's last Tuesday with a bunch of other members of SEA cheering wildly as soon as they called the election for Barack Obama, celebrating the end of eight terrible years and the beginning of an era of “hope” and “change.” I actually celebrated a whole lot, which is the reason this article didn’t come out last week. The majority of environmentalists reacted with similar joy on Nov. 4. Obama had the support of scientists and environmental groups throughout the country because they tend to be more liberal, and none of them really wanted a President who was one of the strongest opponents of clean energy in Congress and a Vice President who doesn’t believe global warming is man-made. But will Obama really bring the change we need? Obama has a great record of supporting the environment, and climate change specifically. He co-sponsored the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act, which would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 through a cap and trade system, and his other proposals are spelled out in the article published two weeks ago. Yet despite these promises, Obama has shown evidence that the environment is not his top priority. He is readily willing to compromise his beliefs in favor of other ideas he views as higher priority. Here are some examples: Corn Ethanol: Obama supports ethanol produced from corn as an alternative fuel, despite the fact that is has been proven to be both more expensive and seven times less effective than ethanol produced from sugar cane. Some scientists have even found the process to result in higher levels of C02 emissions than the use of oil. Obama has explicitly stated that his support for corn ethanol subsidies is due to Illinois’ status as a corn producing state, and when the polls showed him losing in Iowa during the primaries, he gave a speech on corn to pander
to the farmers. When push came industry, while at the same time to shove, he chose domestic farm- requiring them to “go greener.” Obama has shown himself to be ers over the environment. Liquified Coal: Obama reintro- a friend to environmental causes, duced the Coal-to-Liquid Fuel but at a time when he has a major Promotion Act of 2007 to the financial crisis to deal with, wars Senate, which would provide in- in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the centives to convert coal into diesel threat of global terrorism, it is fuel. He seemed to not realize that easy to predict which issues he even though it’s liquid, it’s still will prioritize. We must ensure that this prioricoal, which emits just as high levels of greenhouse gases as gasoline. tization does not happen, and that President Obama Liquified coal would Obama has shown himself to does not choose alternative enerreduce be a friend to environmental gies that emit just our dep e n d e n c e causes, but at a time when he as much C02 as on foreign has a major financial crisis to gasoline simply to oil, and deal with... it is easy to predict pander to farmers, or bail out it would which issues he will prioritize the auto industry certainly without stricter help out Ilregulations on linois, the emissions. We Presidentelect’s home state, which has large need to make it clear to our future amounts of untapped coal, but at President that the threats of clithe extremely high price of cook- mate change and ecosystem loss are at least as dangerous to our naing the planet. Offshore Drilling: Obama op- tion as those other, more obvious posed Bush’s executive order to threats. One internet blogger, Marlift the moratorium on offshore guerite Manteau-Rao, proposed on drilling, and repeatedly slammed The Huffington Post that we take the McCain campaign’s energy the skills learned in the Obama proposals for including drilling campaign, the networks and fundpolicies, but when gas prices and raising, the phone calls and doorthe economy started becoming to-door canvassing, and the incredkey issues in the election, he was ible internet operation that reached quick to switch sides. The major- millions of new voters, and harness ity of environmental groups op- those towards addressing the threat pose drilling on the basis that it of climate change. We should heed destroys critical ecosystems, and her advice. Brandeis, and the nation as a increases risks of oil spills, yet the majority of the public supports whole, has a responsibility not to it. Another example of Barack allow environmental issues to take Obama choosing politics over the the back burner while the government deals with the financial crisis environment. This is not to say that Obama and national security. The amount will ignore the environment. He of energy and enthusiasm in the is likely to combine his economic political process was higher than and national security policies with I’ve ever seen it in the weeks leadenvironmentally friendly propos- ing up to the presidential election, als. He plans to provide economic and attendance at political clubs, stimulus through the creation and canvassing, and the sheer of green jobs, which can help to numbers of people just “getting combat global warming. Attempts involved” skyrocketed. We need to make sure that enerat reducing oil dependence in order to provide greater security in gy does not just fizzle out and die, the Middle East go hand in hand and instead channel it towards with investment in alternative en- addressing an issue far more imergy. He has already pushed Pres- portant to our future than a single ident Bush to bail out the auto election.
The Hiatt Corner
Don't hibernate over winter break BY RUSMIR MUSIC Special to The Hoot
This winter break, start making summer and post-graduation plans by thinking about your future, preparing for your job search, networking with professionals, and attending career fairs. If you are undecided about your plans, you can use the break to reflect on your values, skills and interests, and start or update your resume. Network with alumni, family and friends to find contacts who can illuminate diverse areas of the world of work. Attend career fairs to learn about a variety of career fields and apply for internships and jobs. Even if you are not ready to apply to specific positions, you can still gather valuable information and make contacts for the future. Winter break is the perfect time to start considering plans for May,
whether you know what you want to do or are still exploring your options. Hiatt’s career counselors can help you brainstorm an action plan, including engaging in reflection (i.e. attending Senior Sunday this weekend, or taking TypeFocus to help you crystallize your understanding and articulation of what is important to you, what your abilities are and what engages you) and preparing application materials. A smart approach and a great resume can help you beat the competition. If you already know your interests and have prepared your application materials, use the break to make connections that get you closer to your goal of landing a job or an internship. One Brandeis student reflected that networking “has been a very helpful way of exploring a field in which I'm interested; my contact
was knowledgeable and interested in explaining his work. In fact, due partially to great timing, an internship for the summer unexpectedly opened up the same time I met him, and I was offered a job. My contact has also made an effort to introduce me to other members of the department so I could have a better handle of what his work entailed. This has given me a much better idea of how the field operates.” Learn how to network at Hiatt; begin by reviewing the networking guidelines at http://www.brandeis.edu/hiatt/ students/careertoolbox/networking and meeting with a counselor or Hiatt Advisor to be eligible to network via the Brandeis Alumni & Student Professional Networking Group on LinkedIn. We will guide you through networking best practices and etiquette to
See HIATT p. 15
Shopping for Truth
November 14, 2008
Mudslinging BY CHRISSY CALLAHAN Editor
It dates back to our earliest years. We did it when we were in kindergarten. We moved on to bigger and meaner techniques once we reached high school. But bring in the big bad adults and all bets are off. What in the world am I talking about? Mudslinging, to put it simply. It’s human nature to pit one person against another in competition and to boost yourself up by knocking someone else down, right? Surely we all saw it in high school politics and if not in real life, in the movie Mean Girls, for those of you who’ve seen it. I remember when I was little that I LOVED the Backstreet Boys. But of course, my older sister just had to intervene and inform me that *NSYNC was the better boy band. And so ensued an ongoing rivalry between the two of us, involving juvenile insults—after all, we were only kids— about the other’s musical preferences. The point behind this is that none of us, no matter how old or young, is immune to competition and the negativity which often accompanies it. A little competition is healthy and makes us strive to do better, but do we ever really stop to think about what happens when we surpass the healthy phase and go into just plain mean? We see mudslinging in many aspects of life: in schools, in business, in culture, and most recently in the presidential election. And was it ever present there! So now the election is over. Whatever comes from this moment on, putting our personal political preferences aside, we can all at least be thankful for a break from all the mudslinging, right? Personally, I was getting just a bit sick of listening to each candidate tell why his opponent was going to ruin the free world, and I was a bit disgusted by all the ‘dirt’ each was uncovering about the other. In fact, perusing both presidential candidate’s websites the other day, I couldn’t help but be discouraged by the amount of negativity the sites included. Of course, to win or to be more popular is the point of an election or a competition of any sort, so a bit of negativity is expected. But the level to which we take it is where the line must be drawn. It’s used in team sports, too. Everyone who lives in or has the remotest knowledge of Boston sports knows that the New York Yankees are our enemies and the Red Sox our hometown heroes. The simplification and sheer competition is all in fun really. Or is it? Surely there are good intentions, but some take even the simplest of competitions way too
far. Insulting or digging dirt up on an opponent or rival doesn’t make you look better; it just makes you look petty and insecure. A new ad campaign by Boston’s reining coffee king Dunkin Donuts aims to ensure its place as better than the oh-so-evil Starbucks and in so doing, joins the ranks of several other companies using negative ad techniques to bolster their popularity. Through statistics from a nationwide blind taste test, Dunkin Donuts now can claim that it is in fact the preferred brand. The campaign’s website itself plays into this idea of knocking down your opponent to prop up yourself. Deemed www.dunkinbeatstarbucks.com, the site is dedicated to just why Dunkin’s is better than their enemy. Now as a Boston native myself, surely I’ve grown up with a sense of hometown pride and preference for Dunkin Donuts, but come on, isn’t this title a bit immature? Doesn’t it make you think of little kids screaming “I’m better than you are, na na na na na na”? Advertisers call this technique “comparative advertising,” using the euphemism to downplay the underlying negative slant of the ads. According to a New York Times article the other day, even though this euphemism seeks to downplay the underlying negative slant of the ads, “the intent is the same as in politics: build yourself up by tearing your rival down.” Of course, these types of ads do run the risk of alienating the buyers, as political ads may turn off voters. So the real question is: Do negative ads do more harm than good? Obviously retail companies need to present their image as better than the competition or else how would they stay afloat and how would consumers decide what brand of brand of toothpaste or soup to buy? Oh the horror! Seriously though, nobody is denying that there’s a need to make known your product is worth of purchase. But stooping to the level of insulting your opponent doesn’t speak positively to your product; it only makes you look desperate. Maybe we could all take a page out of the Burn book of negative advertising—literally— and learn how not to act. Who among us can honestly say that we’ve never said “well I’m smarter, prettier, [fill in the blank] than them”? Does saying so really make you better than them though? What if you really are prettier or smarter? So what! Because like Cady in “Mean Girls” says “Calling somebody else fat won't make you any skinnier. Calling someone stupid doesn't make you any smarter.”
We see mudslinging in many aspects of life.
November 14, 2008
IMPRESSIONS
Naomi Narrative
Don't make me choose: Drinking games and Nazis
ILLUSTRATION BY Alex Doucette/The Hoot
BY NAOMI BARTH Columnist
You, your friends, and a bottle of vodka are playing the popular drinking game “would you rather?” Would you rather be 4'1 or 7'9? Make out with a McDreamy or a McSteamy? Live in Antarctica or Death Valley? As the Smirnoff disappears along with your ability to walk in a straight line, the questions grow more preposterous. Would you rather eat nothing but jello for the rest of your life, or have webbed feet? Never grow out of the pimple phase or never grow out of a training bra? But one question that always seems to come up has more gravity, more implications than the rest. Would you rather be deaf or blind? A popular answer I always heard was blind. Having impaired vision separates you from physical things, but having impaired hearing separates you from people. According to this train of thought, you’re weighing barriers between you and the rest of the world. So much of communication relies on the auditory. Sign language can help, but it is by no means spoken by the mainstream. Your family might speak it, but the clerk at the corner store won’t, the taxi driver won’t, that hottie at your favorite coffeeshop won’t. Requiring patience of the public, of people who live in an instant gratification, on-demand kind of world, will not always work in your favor. But being barred from the physical? Never seeing a velvety red rose, or the lush greens of a forest. Never seeing the toothy smile of
a baby, or a bride’s exuberance on her wedding day. Without sight, you would never experience the transcendental, the sublime. How can I choose? Which sense is more important to me? My brain starts to stutter, spasming out mundanities. I really like people watching. But I also like listening to my iPod. I like appreciating sunrises. But I also like heart to heart conversations with friends. AHHHH. My mind starts reeling. Of course I don’t have to make a decision. No cruel surgeon is looming over me, threatening to take a butcher knife to my cochlea or cornea. No judge is legislating a biblical era ruling, enacting the punishment “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” It’s just me on my bed on a lazy Sunday morning, drumming up excitement and anxiety for a hypothetical. Waxing philosophical for my three readers out there, who will use this article to line their trashcans when they're done reading it. But indulge me for a minute. God willing, you’ll never have to make the decision. You’ll live to the ripe old age of 103, with your senses all intact. But humor the “what if?” question. When I was too young for it, I discovered the novel Sophie’s Choice in our dusty bookshelves at home. When my friends were reading Sweet Valley High and other such chick lit, I was immersed in this disturbing book. With themes of abuse, universal suffering and the Holocaust, it was a grave and somber read for any 13 year old. The title of William Styron’s book refers to the cataclysmic choice Sophie, a non-Jewish woman, is forced to make on her
first night in Auschwitz. A cruel doctor forces her to play God, to decide which of her two children would be gassed that night. One would die within the hour and the other would have a chance of survival in the camp. She pleas with the sadistic Nazi not to make her choose. Her pleas falling upon deaf ears, he threatens to murder them both. At that point she makes the choice. She sacrifices her baby girl, her 7-yearold Eva. Sophie never overcomes the guilt, and is lead down a selfdestructive path of depression and eventual suicide. Consider the notion of a “Sophie’s Choice.” A tragic decision between two unbearable options. Masquerading as a choice, it’s really an ultimatum. I have trouble enough navigating a menu and choosing my entrée, picking out classes for the semester, deciding which movie to attend on a Saturday night. I can reach a 10 on the “frazzled scale” pretty quickly, just on a regular Wednesday afternoon. I can’t choose between blind and deaf, vision and hearing. I can’t take on the mask of Mengele, affectionately known by camp inmates as the “Angel of Death.” But I also can’t suffer from analysis paralysis in making plans for my post-Brandeis life. The decision of what to do on December 16, 17, 18 and every day after that looms large in my life. Having been in the warm cocoon of Brandeis for 3 and a half years, I’m scared out what’s out there. I developed my trainer wings while abroad in Budapest, but am far from ready to fly solo. In no way am I equating my life decisions with those on the grander scale. I know I’m small potatoes, my decisions are trivial, and that if I make mistakes they can easily be reversed. But knowing these questions of grander proportions are out there makes me feel a little safer. My fuckup potential is lower because my stakes are lower. So I’m far from independent. Allow me my crutches and I’ll get there soon enough. And if I fall along the way, I’ll just reroute down a different path. Requisite sentimental and melodramatic point made; I’ll see you next week for another dose of self-important wisdom.
The Hoot
5 Novemb
One Tall Voice
Everything will be okay! BY JORDAN ROTHMAN Editor
While many spent the recent election night in the Shapiro Atrium, or at other victory parties around campus, I enjoyed a unique experience last Tuesday. For I participated in the Brandeis Republican’s election party, and it was one of the most enjoyable evenings of my semester. We drank, we sang. We shouted, and we bonded. The party also got me composing my thoughts about what I thought of our next four years. I know that many people on campus see me as a conspicuous conservative and I wanted to have pre-made remarks for the inevitable inquiries that lay ahead. Many have rubbed it in my face that Obama has won, but some are genuinely interested in my opinions. I write it here, dear reader, so that you may glean my thoughts for yourself and perhaps stop bugging me as I see you around campus or partying on Saturday nights! My typical response to the questions “What do you think about the election?” is to relate that I stand to benefit from Obama’s victory much more than others. This stems from two main reasons. One is that I am poor. Yep, you got it, all of those talked about entitlement programs and other means of “spreading the wealth” will probably take money away from many a rich college kid’s parents’ pockets and place it into my undeserving hands. I receive a full Pell grant and members of my family are either on, or have been enrolled, in entitlement programs. Without going any further into my own personal circumstances, just trust me when I say that I will unfairly gain financial benefits from Obama’s policy although I don’t deserve any of it. No one has yet explained to me how being poor entitles me to money, I have done nothing of merit to earn it. Furthermore, if Obama’s policies come into effect, we should be out of Iraq sooner than with a McCain administration. This is well and good for me. I have a passionate desire to join our nation’s military. Perhaps it is because of my patriotism, or perhaps it is my love of living a regimented lifestyle. Regardless, I know that I will at least attempt to join our nation’s armed forces within the next few years. I do not, however,
want to go to Iraq. Although I can see much good happening over there, I am a coward, and would rather serve my country in other locations besides the Middle East. I therefore have a better chance of realizing this goal with an Obama administration and thus have benefits to gain from him being elected. I also wanted to mention that John McCain really inspired me in the last week of his campaign. His tireless resolve and dedication to the end is truly heart-warming. His passionate message and great remarks at each campaign rally that I watched truly moved my spirit. These attributes might be lost whence compared to the superstar status of Barack Obama, but McCain is nevertheless an inspiration and a role model for all patriotic American citizens. I even sent him an email through a form on the McCain website to relate my sentiments and say that I really appreciated all the effort he put into the campaign and the model he set for all Americans to follow. Furthermore, I thought his concession speech was humble, well-delivered, and exceptional. It helped bond our country, and showed this patriot’s loyal dedication to America. I hate how people have called him names and conveyed negative sentiments toward this man during the campaign. He is truly a wonderful public servant who deserves the utmost thanks and gratitude from every American. After the Democrats won the Congress in 2006, I wrote an article saying that I was an American first, a conservative second and a Republican third. Many liberals have called Bush “your President” and have added to the bifurcated nature of our country. I shall not succumb to this foolishness. I shall always honor the majority of my countrymen and their selection through a timehonored democratic practice. I accept Obama as President and know that he will do a fine job in that office. I know that our country will move forward and meet all the challenges we have ahead. I am not defeated by this election, but know I will benefit, recognize the sacrifice of a noble patriot, and hope that we can move beyond petty differences to face any future obstacles set in the path of America’s success.
Don't Let Joe Lieberman Censor Your Thoughts... ...Write for The Hoot Impressions! E-Mail Bret Matthew at bmatthew@brandeis.edu
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Novermber 14, 2008
The Hoot
FEATURES
Slow life in the fast lane BY GINA GOTTHILF Staff
Whereas Narnia is only accessible to fortuitous small children and Platform 9 3/4 is restricted to Muggles, what lies behind Professor Andreas Teuber’s office door at Brandeis is off-limits to everyone, including himself. Perpetually closed, the door directs students to a nearby office where further directions may be provided, or an e-mail address that forwards to a different account. Though philosophers are imagined by many to be like Rodin’s Thinker - petrified contemplators cemented to a chair - Teuber is unable to sit still in his own room. Besides teaching at Brandeis for 23 years, Teuber has spent time on stage, in films and television series, planning art exhibitions in New York, and crafting newspaper articles for The New York Times, Newsday, and the Boston Globe. All that in addition to studying under two of the most influential philosophers of our time, teaching, and collecting fellowships and awards. “It’s hard to think stuck in a chair,” he said. It’s hard to think while snoozing as well, which might help explain why this professor sleeps an average of four hours every night. Despite Teuber’s active lifestyle and eclectic resumé, his actions and unusual persona do nothing but inspire and promote a life best lived in slow motion. Though many classes at Brandeis are designed to help students consume large amounts of material, Teuber encourages his students to think by closely examining one or two ideas “Or three or four,” he added. For uninitiated students, it may feel as if time in class is not quite moving in slow motion but frozen. “Didn’t we cover this yesterday?” is a common refrain beneath the Bob Dylan soundtrack that engulfs the room before and after Teuber’s lectures. “Didn’t we see that painting at the beginning of the semester?” Yet so too do we look at the same campus on our way to class, think similar thoughts and worry similar worries. We voted last election, too. We think we have it all down, but living in a world of perceptions, with eyes that can scan only the surface of things, Teuber reminds us that there is more to what we see than meets the eye. “Philosophy is thought in slow motion,” he said. “Most people think philosophers only focus on big stuff, big ideas, like truth or justice or knowledge.” Instead, his classes not only encourage students to ask questions about the big ideas, such as what is knowledge, and whether or not we have any, but questions about the everyday – to look at the world as a talented filmmaker shifts a camera. “We live in a society that places a premium on time, and there’s a lot of rushing about. Rushing is not conducive to philosophy,” he said. To Teuber, the failure to take our time results in missing much that would otherwise make us stop and wonder: like “a moose standing in between a club of trees on the edge of E lot.” For Teuber, repetition is not merely redundant, but a way of obtaining fresh perspectives. Whether it is re-visiting ideas
or photographic slides, watching films multiple times or having seemingly similar conversations with him, students are constantly encouraged to adopt multiple points of view. Theater audiences, filmgoers, museum perusers and actors are also well acquainted with Teuber’s tacit request for thought. Drama and art, like philosophy, are also opportunities to arrest time. The professor’s parallel career in theater dates back to his childhood. “When I was young, I wanted to see what dying was like. So then I’d go ‘ugh’ and die,” he said. Teuber wanted to experience that which he as a child had yet to experience, and already knew the extent to which one must walk through an idea to understand it fully. Teuber’s first instance of fame came when he was still a student at Oxford, in the major motion picture of Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus as Mephistopheles, a devil disguised as a friar. Reviewed by The New York Times, The London Times, The New Yorker, and other major publications internationally, Teuber was the only one to earn praise in a cast featuring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. The New York Times review described the production as “of an awfulness that bends the mind,” but distinguishes Teuber’s performance as the only one worthwhile. The London Times wrote: “the best performance comes from Andreas Teuber as Mephistopheles, bald, grave and monkish.” He also had roles in the original series of “I Spy,” with Bill Cosby, “ The Big Valley,” along with Barbara Stanwyck, and other television series as a child. His most recent appearance on screen was in the movie “The Imported Bridegroom.” Additionally, Teuber is the founder of the new Poets’ Theater, a venue that featured the original productions of influential writers such as Samuel Beckett, as well as the founder of The Cambridge Theater Company, at The Hasty Pudding. He has directed more than 30 productions and worked with actors such as Claire Bloom, Julie Harris and Christopher Reeve, among others. When asked what it was like to direct people like Claire Bloom, Julie Harris, or Christopher Reeve, Teuber said, “I’m not a director.” He continued, “I’m not sure if he’s very good,” referring to himself in the third person. Teuber has also directed performances in art galleries. Bringing together philosophy, theater and art, the professor and director teamed with Tino Sehgal last year, a visual artist who creates interactive performance pieces designed to be staged in museums. The exhibition, “This Situation,” performed at the Marian Goodman Gallery in New York, featured six philosophers whose memorized lines and improvisation elicited thought as well as audience participation. These semi-scripted discussions touched on a wide range of topics, and centuries of Western thought. He is working again with Tino Sehgal on a piece to be performed at the Gugghenheim in 2019, and the “co-conspirator” on a project with abstract artist Steve Miller, whose work was featured at the Rose Art Museum in 2007. In philosophy, theater, class, as well as in
PHOTO COURTESY OF Andreas Teuber
CENTER STAGE: Then 8-year-old Andreas Teuber (PHIL) strikes a pose. Teuber, who has been teaching philosphy at Brandeis for 23 years, has had a passion for theatre from a young age.
art, Teuber believes in the importance of involving the viewer in the viewed. A magnified image forces the viewer to try to figure out what he is seeing. So does idiosyncrasy, or trying to understand what takes place in the mind of this unpredictable professor. Born to an unusual family of doers and thinkers, Teuber’s multi-faceted personality is not happenstance. His mother, Marianne Liepe, Jewish but brought up as a Quaker, was the high-jump champion of all the Swiss universities, as well as a ski instructor and art historian. His father, HansLukas Teuber, founded the Department of Psychology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and played a major role in establishing the field of human neuropsychology. If this were not enough, his brother Christopher designed the first staging of “The Wall” for Pink Floyd, and staged “The Wall in Berlin” for Roger Waters just after the Berlin Wall came down. Yet an impressive list of accomplishments, successful family members, and a lengthy resume are meaningless to the tenured Brandeis professor. “Life is not collecting. Where are you gonna put it all?” he said. “It’s about making things happen.”
He continued, “[that’s] probably why it’s hard for me to write an email in any kind of perfunctory way. It’s just gonna sit there dumbly on the page. I hate emails.” Switching back to the third person, he continued, “that’s another thing he detests.” As for third-person self-referrals, Teuber explains that it is often easier to understand oneself, or admit feelings, by stepping back and viewing oneself from a distance. This habit of constantly moving toward and away from his object of study – whether it is himself, an image or existentialism – prevents him from settling somewhere and failing to see the world “as it is, in its place, and not some other thing.” Just as his perception of things refuses to fix and label, he himself resists having his photograph taken. “The camera is only concerned with the surface of things,” he explained. And though his name produces 113,000 hits on Google, nearly every link leads to a blank profile picture. Except for this profile – we found one. “I’m not all that fascinating, I’m dull,” he insists. “I’m not a moose. Perhaps you may want to bring this out in your article.”
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Novermber 14, 2008
F E AT U R E S
The Hoot
7
Hadaya Jewelry: The centerpiece of Israeli tourist shopping BY LEEYAT SLYPER Staff
It’s not every 5:30 in the morning that you are able to witness the sun rise, brightening the pale white hues of the Jerusalem stone walls, or hear the gentle bustle of the Old City of Jerusalem as it just starts to arise from the night. The ritual in which I was involved on an early April morning is one that many visitors to Israel experience; the tourist’s version of lining up on Boxing Day to catch the postChristmas sales. I was sitting in front of a small, picturesque jewelry store in one of the narrow alleyways of the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem, ensuring my spot as the shop’s first customer of the day. As six o’clock rolled around, more sleepy-eyed tourists joined me, waiting to purchase their own Hadaya souvenirs to take back from their Israel experience. You have probably seen them around campus: necklaces shaped like hearts, diamonds or donuts, thin silver bracelets engraved with Jerusalem’s skyline, and the popular pounded silver rings. “I’ve noticed a lot of students on campus sporting Hadaya jewelry, especially the necklaces,” said Shani Rosenbaum ’12. It might take a second look, however, to notice Hadaya’s most unique feature—the engraved, Lord-of-the-Rings-like (at least according to Jacob Chatinover ’12) writing on each piece of jewelry. Visitors to the store can choose to engrave their piece with a name, passage from the Bible or Psalms or any other type of personal message either in Hebrew or English, and then customize the piece even further by adding miniature drawings or designs. With all of the options for personalization that Hadaya presents, the Hadaya website claims that “No two pieces made by Hadaya are similar.” With its tagline of “one-of-a-kind jewelry,” the Hadaya store has been selling custom-designed gold and silver
jewelry pieces, each handmade by designer Baruch Hadaya, since 1983. Why has Hadaya jewelry become such a prevalent trend on the Brandeis campus? According to Chatinover, “Hadaya jewelry has become a staple—you go to Israel with your camp or whatever else and you get a Hadaya ring.” Other Brandeisians echo this view, claiming that the jewelry has taken the place of other contenders to become the most established souvenir bought by American tourists in Israel. “It’s not just bringing back the wooden camels with the little saddles on them or Ahava foot cream. It’s something that you can personalize for someone else, that is a little more meaningful,” Rachie Lewis ’12 said. When Rachie Lewis chose her engraving, a verse from a Judaic text she and her friends at Hebrew University had been studying, she “loved that it was something that related to Judaism and the text but it also showed us how those kinds of things can materialize into the way you live your life.” As Lewis commented, it is fairly common for groups of friends to employ Hadaya jewelry, using matching or interconnected verses, as “a more sophisticated version of the puzzle piece [friendship] necklaces.” Hadaya has capitalized on its status by sending representatives to hotels in Israel where members of organized programs stay, allowing customers to order en masse. Their efforts so far have been highly successful. According to Rachel Weinstein’s ’12 estimation, about 70 percent of girls at Brandeis who have spent time in Israel on a program or vacation own jewelry made by Hadaya. Adina Weissman ’12 is a prime example of the trend. She owns and often simultaneously wears three pieces of Hadaya jewelry. “The ring I always wear, the bracelet I usually wear and the necklace, sometimes,” she explained. Each
piece that Weissman sports carries its own personal story. Weissman bought her donut-shaped necklace, which includes a quote from Psalm 123, with two friends, as a momento from their summer together and a testimony to the group’s favorite Shabbat song. Weissman’s ring, which she engraved with the names of her grandparents and the words “You will always be in my heart,” reminds her to capitalize on time spent with family. For his ring, Chatinover chose two verses from Psalms. “I had heard them both from songs, and they really spoke to me,” he said. On the outer face is a passage from Psalm 121: “Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. God watches over you; God is your shade at your right hand,” and on the ring’s inside is a separate verse from Psalm 23. Behind Chatinover’s choice of verses, as he explains it, is something that many Hadaya wearers can identify with—it serves as a persistent, almost mantra-like reminder. For Chatinover, that message is to “remind me of the constant presence of God.” For Chatinover, the Hadaya ring that is a constant presence on his hand was the product of much contemplation: “Of course, there are personal reasons why I chose the verses that I did. But in general, I had always wanted to wear a ring because I think man rings are really cool. Judge me if you want.” But if you do, keep in mind, “Kings wore rings. The Pope has rings. Mafia bosses wear rings. These are very manly people,” he said. The reasons to buy vary from person to person and range from wanting to remember a significant experience or group of friends for some, to handpicking the perfect gift for a family member or friend, to helping support the Israeli economy. “It’s a really meaningful gift, while still being able to give mon-
PHOTO BY Max Shay /The Hoot
HADAYA: Adina Weissman ‘12 displays the three pieces of Hadaya jewelry that she purchased during her 9 months in Israel last year. Hadaya jewelry is traditionally made from either gold or silver, and usually has a personal message engraved on it. Adina has messages engraved on each of her pieces. Her ring reads “you’ll always be in my heart,” in reference to her four grandparents. Her bracelet reads “there’s no friend like a sister and no sister like my sister,” dedicated to her sister Temma. Her necklace reads “God will protect you from all evil, He will guard your soul.”
ey to help support Israel. It’s a selfish good deed,” summarized Alison Uliss ’12. The popularity of Hadaya has led some Brandeis students to wonder whether Hadaya’s can truly tout its product as completely personalized and “100 percent unique.” “It’s true that everyone’s is different. But, because it has become so popular, in my opinion it loses some of that uniqueness,” Lora Slutsky ’12 said.
Rosenbaum concurred, adding “the fact that everyone has one cheapens it in some way.” Reservations aside, the trend at Brandeis is fairly clearly in favor of Hadaya. So for those of you who already own Hadaya paraphernalia, follow Lewis’s tip to maintain your necklace, bracelet or ring’s luster: “If you don’t have polish you can scrub toothpaste on it and it will shine brightly. It’s really quite amazing.”
Juggling Society balances more than schedules BY BEN SACKS Editor
When Dan Weisz ’09 joined Juggling Society during his first semester at Brandeis, he already knew how to juggle. But now he’s better. Rather than three balls at a time, he can do seven. He can also ride a unicycle and he’s hoping to soon be able to walk on stilts. Perhaps Juggling Society should be more aptly named “Carnival Club,” given the range of activities on the club’s weekly agenda. In addition to the above, members of Juggling Society can learn how to swing devil sticks, poi (balls on a chain that make a cool design in the air when you swing them around in certain patterns), diablo (Chinese yo-yo) and if they are really daring, do all of these things while on stilts. Juggling Club was founded in 1999 by four then-sophomores who resided in the Castle and came to know each other through their love of juggling. The four would juggle for fun in the Castle common room, and then figured, as Weisz put it, “why not form an official club?” Coincidentally, one of the four was Scott
Seltzer ’07, in no way related to the famous Scott Seltzer who performs juggling acts all over the world as a profession. He can be seen juggling garden shears at http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=lGYERT2wIBY. Another of the four, Brad Guttkin ’07, had a personal friend who happened to be a professional juggling instructor and treated the club to “tutoring” sessions during some of its weekly meetings. Since then, the club has used its meager funding each semester to slowly stock up equipment so that various members can do activities at the same time. Juggling Society has had some interesting experiences with the Brandeis Student Union. Rejected were requests for such items as a “Zombie Ball,” a ball that can be manipulated to give the illusion that it is floating in midair, and extra juggling balls, but accepted was a request for “Juggling Knives,” phrased as “We think learning to juggle knives would be fun and exciting in performances.” Juggling society used to throw firesticks - sticks that are caught and thrown on one end as fire burns at the other - but when a new Waltham Fire Chief took of-
fice in 2006, he decided that it was too dangerous. Juggling society has grown from four regular members to approximately 15, and has since performed at the bi-annual Festival of the Arts and at coffeehouses at Chums. During the “Brandeis Cares” campaign, a capella singers were taught how to juggle and Juggling Society members were taught how to sing. Neither acquired the other’s skills very well. Why go? “It’s a real stress reliever,” explained Weisz. “I love it.” Jokingly, he added “I’m always trying to get my hands on some balls.” Students interested in attending a meeting should head on over to the Alumni Lounge in Usdan, over Levin ballroom, from 8-10 p.m. on Thursday nights.
PHOTO BY Ben Sacks/The Hoot
JUGGLING: Juggling society meetsin Alumni Lounge in Usdan from 8-10 Thurs. nights.
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November 14, 2008
The Hoot
N E W S Committees host dining services reform forum BY CHRISSY CALLAHAN Editor
Several weeks after its official creation, the Brandeis Coalition for Food Service Reform hosted an open forum Monday night to address student concerns about Brandeis’ Dining Services. The forum was co-sponsored by the Student Union’s Dining Services Committee and moderated by Union Director of Communications Jamie Ansorge ’09. Members of both the Coalition and the Dining Services Committee were present to address concerns regarding Brandeis’ Dining Services the nearly 50 students present expressed. The forum addressed four main issues: availability of food on campus, the sustainability of food, meal plan pricing, and hours of operation of campus dining locations. Various issues students raised at the forum included the availability of vegetarian options on the kosher side of Sherman, the separation and handling of food in Usdan and Quiznos and health concerns regarding temperature of food served in dining halls. Students also expressed interest in increasing sustainable food options and dairy options in Sherman and improving the hours of operation in dining halls to better meet students’ needs. Many students have also recently expressed concerns over a lack of outlets to provide feedback to Dining Services, Dining Service Committee Jenna Brofsky ’10 explained. As a result, the Committee talked to managers at the P.O.D. Market and have placed a suggestions box inside. Coalition Steering Committee Chair Danielle Hollenbeck-Pringle ’10 said the Coalition, a onetime initiative, wants to work with the administration to “make our Dining Services the most sustainable both environmentally and socially possible so that not only do we have better quality food that meets the needs of students, but [also have a Dining Services] that we are proud so that it draws prospective students in and it makes students want to eat on campus.” In a letter to the editor in the Nov. 7 issue of The Hoot, Hollenbeck-Pringle wrote that the Coalition and the Dining Services
PROSPECT HILL (from p. 1)
PHOTO BY Max Shay/The Hoot
WHINING AND DINING: Heller student James Miller ’10 (left) and Paraska Tolan ’11 (right) study with a snack at Einstein’s in the Shapiro Campus Center.
Committee differ in their ultimate goals: “The Coalition wishes to reform Dining Services’ general policies (such as purchasing guidelines) while the Dining Services Committee will continually address student requests on the everyday function of Dining Services (such as hours of operation).” So far, the Coalition has been misrepresented as working against Dining Services, Hollenbeck-Pringle said. Rather than ignoring improvements Dining Services has made in recent years, though, Hollenbeck-Pringle said the Coalition strongly recognizes them, adding “it’s only with [this recognition] that we know we can create further change.” Though they hosted the forum together, Brofsky explained that the Dining Services Committee and the Coalition are still “two very distinct entities” and as such they don’t necessarily agree on all issues the Coalition is hoping to address. Hosting the forum was a way to get this message out, she said. Because of the differences between the two groups, separating which issues the coalition and the committee would each address continues to be an important issue, Ansorge said, so as to make sure that “peo-
ple aren’t stepping on each other’s toes and that we’re allocating resources properly.” For instance, the Coalition has focused on labor among other concerns whereas food availability is a focus of the Committee. However, both groups are working closely together to ensure students’ Dining Services concerns are heard and Hollenbeck-Pringle said a partnership between the newly-formed Coalition and the seasoned Dining Services Committee is mutually beneficial: “We’re both approaching different aspects of dining services reform and so in hosting [the forum] with them, all students could voice their concerns and all their concerns would go to someone who could address them.” How Dining Service provider Aramark will respond to the Coalition’s suggestions and how the recent budget cuts might affect these requests is yet to be seen as members of the Coalition wait to meet with Director of Dining Services Mike Newmark. In an e-mail to The Hoot, Newmark said it’s too early to say what impact, if any, recent university budget cuts will have on Dining Services. Newmark said he will be meeting with Vice President of Campus Operations Mark Collins to discuss this matter soon.
Plans for Deis Bikes program set in motion BIKES (from p. 1)
while it is in their care upon renting a bike. If the bike or helmet is damaged while in a student’s possession, he or she would be charged the amount of the repairs. By signing the form, students will also be agreeing to lock up the bike when they are not using it and to wear a helmet when on the bike. Students will also be charged late fees of a yet to be determined amount if they do not return the bikes on time. STFBS member Lisa Frank ’09 said that ‘Deis Bikes will, for the most part, be operated on an “honor system.” Fellow member Caroline Cappello ’11 added that the fees are not meant to “hound” students, and that the regulations about bike use will be “mainly common sense.” As of print time, STFBS had not decided how long each rental would be, however, they hope it would be in hourly increments that would last either up to 24 hours or as long as the library is open. STFBS member and Senator at Large Andrew Brooks ’09 said that the hope is that there will always be bikes available to students who want to rent them. If the request is passed by the Senate, ‘Deis Bikes will become available to students in March. Though Committee head and Senator for the Class of 2010 Paul Balik ensures students that, once approved, ‘Deis
Prospect Hill programming in transition
Bikes won’t be going anywhere, he did say that the program will only exist from March to May in the spring semester, and August to November during the fall, in an effort to avoid problems surrounding bike loans during bad weather. The program will be entirely sustained by students, with bike repairs being done by student mechanics, which would be trained by Spoken Wheel and compensated by the Student Union. While students renting bikes would be fined for any major damage to the bike while it is in their care, student mechanics would be responsible for performing weekly routine tire and gear checks on the bikes to ensure that they were safe to ride. If the request is approved, STFBS plans to assess how “bike friendly” the Brandeis campus is and then present their results and recommendations for ways to improve the campus to the Student Life Committee on Nov. 19. Possible plans to increase the campus’ bike friendly status would be to increase the number of bike racks on campus and to create bike paths or lanes along campus roads. The idea for ‘Deis Bikes was originally presented last spring by then Village Senator Michael Kerns ’09. When Kerns resigned from his position in the fall, Balik and Charles River Senator Chen Lu ’09 de-
cided to pick it up. The two senators then teamed up with five students from Prof. Laura Goldin’s (ENVI) Greening the Campus Community class who had expressed interest in working on the project. STFBS looked at bike sharing programs at other universities such as neighboring Wellesley College when setting up plans for the program.Once the group decided that the best way to rent the bikes was through LTS, Senate LTS committee chair Andrew Brooks ’09 joined the cause. While the bikes will be available for use on and off campus, Lu said he hopes the program will encourage students to get to know the Waltham community. Cappello hopes that ‘Deis Bikes will be successful, and added that if the program gains popularity, the Task Force would have no problem requesting additional funds for more bikes in the future. “The hope is that it’s going to provide students with a convenient way to get around,” she said. “If you want to get a book from the Waltham Library, or go to the farmers market or even just get a hair cut, instead of getting a friend to give you a ride or waiting for the shuttle, you can just hop on a bike. It will be faster and cheaper.” Balik agreed, adding that the program would also be “healthier, for students and the environment.”
to particulars citing an emergency meeting between the Tenants Association and Auslander in next week. “The Tenants Association has decided that it would like to keep the Community Center open, and hopes to sponsor programming there. A meeting of the tenants has been planned to discuss these matters,” Senior Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences for Undergraduate Education Elaine Wong explained via e-mail. Community Engaged Learning has no official budget, Auslander explained. In the past, money for art supplies, snacks, and internet connections “has come from here and there,” he added. At times, the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences has been able to supply money. Now, because of university expenditure reductions, offices and departments that might have been able to donate discretionary funding to the community center are no longer able to do so. Last month, the Student Union passed a Senate Money Resolution of $500 for the community center. That money was spent on a community barbeque and art supplies for students, Auslander said. However, that money was not enough to sustain programming going forward. Because “the university has to pull back” Auslander said, those involved with Prospect Hill have been forced to consider “what’s the best use of resources.” “We’re in an evolutionary process with the Tenants Association” and community parents to “come up with the best way forward,” he said. “Given very limited financial resources,” Auslander continued, university members are considering how to “make the best impact.” In turn, he said, they have decided to end their involvement as “direct service providers.” “The goal of all these programs is always the empowerment of [Prospect Hill Tenants],” Auslander explained. “As Brandeis moves away from directly providing services, the tenants themselves are exploring ways to assume more responsibilities,” Auslander stated. In addition to financial constraints, Auslander cited time constraints as a challenge facing the community center. “When things get tighter,” he said, faculty “have to do other things. [We’re] still committed to doing work but can’t put in as much time.” Furthermore, “the groups felt that suspending the program was in the best interest of the [Prospect Hill] children and volunteers, chiefly because of the need for a better organizational structure, more coordination, and training and orientation for volunteers,” Senior Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences for Undergraduate Education Elaine Wong explained via e-mail. Auslander agreed, saying that students, particularly teenagers at Prospect Hill tend to prefer outings to Boston or experiences on the Brandeis campus, such as last year’s talent show and recent visits to the archeology lab, to “structured activities” in the community center. “We’re exploring a new model to enrich the lives of young people at Prospect Hill,” he said. Despite financial constraints, Auslander believed the programming with Prospect Hill could be maintained. “Some of these things don’t cost money,” he said.
November 14, 2008
NEWS
The Hoot 13
Israeli photojournalist $5.8 million shortfall projected for FY2010 discusses rockets in Sderot FY2010 (from p. 1)
BY SARAH GILSON Staff
ity,” as Bedein calls it, raise the question: why don’t the citizens of Noam Bedein, a young resi- Sderot just leave? Despite the fact that between dent of Sderot, Israel and creator of Sderot Media Center, traveled 4,000 and 7,000 people have left to Brandeis’ Rapaporte Treasure Sderot in the past three years, BeHall this past Tuesday to discuss dein explained that there are two the violence occurring in his little reasons why many of the victims remain firmly planted in their town near the Gaza Strip. The event was sponsored by small city. First, a majority of the people BZA – the Brandeis Zionist Alliance, an organization that aims to living in Sderot cannot afford to educate students about Israel and leave. Second, many believe that increase awareness of Israeli cul- if the rockets are not being fired at Sderot, they will be fired at anture and news. In the three years that Bedein, other target. They believe a photojournalist, has lived in The violence in Sderot has that if they Sderot, he has become such a constant leave, the vioexperienced the part of daily life that...there lence will follow. For them, falling of over 7,000 Kassam are shelters right next to day leaving would be giving in to rocket in his care centers. terrorism. town. In another efBedein’s ultifort to inform mate goal is to make people aware of the crisis people of the situation and help and present the Israeli perspective those who are forced to endure the that is not often portrayed accu- violence, the Sderot Media Center (SMC) has created the Sderot rately in the media, he said. Bedein spoke for about an hour Community Treatment Theater. SderotMedia.com says that the and a half about Sderot, showing several video clips, most of which theater “provides therapeutic showed the final moments – 15 community theater treatment for seconds from the time the “color young people who have been dired” alert goes off – before a rocket agnosed with symptoms of post hits: scenes of chaos, adults run- traumatic stress syndrome, while ning for shelter, children hiding working with these people to presin rooms, singing loudly to avoid ent their reality to the people of Ishearing the blast of missiles. And rael through the creative means of the theater.” then, silence. Dec. 19 is the end of the ceaseOne of the clips Bedein showed emphasized a biased media spin; fire. Bedein’s hope is that into an uninformed person, it would creased awareness of the issue will appear that the fault was that of lead people to start talking about the Sderot situation, and help prothe Israelis. The violence in Sderot has be- voke a change in the area. His idea come such a constant part of daily is that in going outside of Sderot, life that, as Bedein pointed out, he can bring help to areas inside there are shelters right next to day the city. In a town where, as Bedein care centers. The citizens have come to inte- pointed out, “every street, every grate the rocket fire – at least three road, every family has experienced per day – into their lives, he ex- a rocket going off,” SMC believes that something must be done. plained. The violence and “rocket real-
crease there will be for tuition and salaries” in order to present a budget to the Board of Trustees, French explained. “There’s an incredible amount of uncertainty” due to the current financial crisis, and he added, “we have to make some educated judgments.” When creating a budget projection, French considered tuition costs, enrollment, financial aid, PHOTO BY Danielle Wolfson/The Hoot endowment gifts, endowment returns, the BUDGET PROJECTION: Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Peter endowment draw rate, French projected a budget shortfall of $5.8 million for fiscal year 2010. He explained his operations gifts, and projections to the faculty at a meeting Nov. 6. salary increases. French projected a 4% increase the negative mid teens,” Reinharz delayed for a year times 5%,” French said. However, “in order to in tuition and room and board explained. French told the faculty he pro- take that money out, you have to costs for the upcoming academic year, which, while on par with jected a 0% endowment return for have gains,” he added. “Historically, over decades,” inflation, is below the national FY2010. In turn, French projected increase last year and “below our a $40.4 million, or 6%, draw on French explained, “endowments average for the past few years,” the endowment for FY2010. The tend to earn 8%.” Despite “gains French explained at the faculty university usually aims for a 5% above 8%” in the past, the univerdraw. sity’s endowment return for fiscal meeting. The projected $5.8 million defi- year 2008 was 2.4%. Moreover, beFurthermore, French projected the FY2010 tuition discount at cit, however, cannot be fixed by cause of present negative endow35%. The tuition discount refers increasing the draw on the endow- ment returns, much of the gains to the percentage of tuition not ment, which comprises 12% of the accrued in better years are gone, paid because of financial aid; if all projected FY2010 budget, French French said. “We’re bumping up against that students paid full tuition, the dis- explained in an interview. “There count would be 0%. “We’re under are state rules about how much book value,” French commented. enormous pressure to keep that you can take out of an endowment “Even if we wanted to [increase the endowment draw],” he contintuition discount number at that in a given year,” he said. Furthermore, endowments, ued, “the law says you can’t. You level,” French stated. This year, he explained, the tuition discount French explained, consists of the can only take the gains.” book value, or gifts given to the Because increasing the draw on rose to 36.4%. A 1% salary increase has also university which are meant to be the endowment is not possible, been projected for faculty and invested and cannot be spent, and other avenues must be explored. gains, which are the returns on “The magnitude of the fiscal staff. 2010 gap requires that planning The university, French said, those investments. “The donor intention is that [to reduce it] be strategic,” Reinis also expecting to miss its $15 million endowment gifts target. [their gift] remains in perpetuity,” harz said. When considering ex“We’re looking at $13 million at Drolette said. Only the gains made penditure reductions, “nothing is best,” he said. The same is true for on the book value are available for off the table,” he warned, adding university use. that staff layoffs may become necgifts for operations. Traditionally, endowment draws essary. A lull in donations is compound“I don’t want to kid you about ed by current poor endowment in a given year are determined by returns. “Today our total endow- taking the “three year average the results of this,” Reinharz told market value [of an endowment] the faculty. “There will be pain – I ment return is in
Alum discusses Doctors Without Borders DOCTORS (from p. 1)
to the traumatic circumstances, after witnessing them every day. “I guess so,” said Levin. He realized he had become much more efficient in treating cases of malnourishment and had adjusted to the shock value of some diseases. He admitted, though, that he “never got used to dying children.” The most devastating moment for the audience came when he demonstrated with an MSF bracelet just how tiny a severely malnourished child’s wrist is—less than 110mm.
Although Levin’s presentation contained many disheartening recollections, he also highlighted what went right in his campaign in Chad. During their time, he and the MSF team helped to noticeably reduce the amount of cases of malnourishment with a product called “Plumpy Nut”. He also advertised that MSF maintained its status as an independent organization capable of responding to crises as an autonomous humanitarian group by only accepting funding from private sources, not governments. Levin ended the presen-
tation with an anecdote of his journey to Paris en route to Niger, where he stuck in Paris because the government of Niger would not accept their help, and denied them visas. Dr. Levin has been interviewed by ABC News about his experience in Niger and has been offered a job by Physicians for Human Rights, to document healthrelated human rights abuses in Africa in order to promote international policy change. He hopes to keep working with MSF and to keep serving underserved communities.
PHOTO BY Max Shay/The Hoot
ALUM IN AFRICA: Dr. Marc Levin ‘94 offered practical advise to students about their future careers in a presentation about his experiences with Doctors Without Borders.
VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.THEHOOT.NET
14
November 14, 2008
The Hoot
SPO RTS
Women’s soccer dominates St. Joseph’s University 4-0 By ZACHARY ARONOW Editor
Brandeis women’s soccer was awarded the number two seed in the Eastern Conference Athletic Championships and they made certain that their placement was well earned after thoroughly dominating seventh seeded St. Joseph’s 4-0 in front of 75 souls who braved the cold weather. Brandeis outshot St. Joseph’s 38-6 in the game, but it was St. Josephs that had the early momentum, taking three of the first four shots of the game, one requiring Hillary Rosenzweig ’10 to knock aside. The Blue Jays would not get another shot in the half. It was not until 40 minutes into the game that rookie Francesca Shin ’12 directed her shot across the goal mouth into the far post for her first career collegiate goal. Melissa Gorenkoff ’s ’10 was credited with the assist on the play. Gorenkoff would find the back of the net herself four minutes later, delivering a 25 yarder that proved too much for opposing keeper Cait Witham to stop giving the Judges a 2-0 halftime lead. Brandeis’s rookies closed out the
scoring as Kaitlin Oldfield ’12 scored off her own rebound in the 59th minute and in the 80th minute found fellow rookie Ali Theodore ’12 to finish the game 4-0. St. Joseph’s never mounted a serious comeback, perpetually forced to defend their turf as the Judges had 20 shots in the second half alone. Hillary Rosenzweig had 4 saves on the day and help from Allison Maresca ’12 who cleared a rebound from the line at the 5th minute, preserving the shut out. Cait Witham gave a valiant effort for the Blue Jays, making 15 saves including several acrobatic ones that kept the margin from being completely humiliating. Brandeis also had eight corner kicks on the night. The Judges road for their second straight ECAC banner continues Saturday, November 15 as they host sixth seeded Emmanuel College. Emmanuel upset third seeded Fitchburg State thanks to three unanswered goals in the second half to earn the 3-2 victory. A marvelous performance that reflects the continued maturation of the rookies and young talent which is an encouraging sign that perhaps next year, this team will be a team to watch not only in the UAA but in Division III women’s soccer.
Life after Capra: 2008-2009 Women’s Basketball Preview BY ZACHARY ARONOW Editor
For the third straight year, the Brandeis women’s basketball squad advanced into the second round of the NCAA and they were bounced out at the hands of a more athletic squad – this time it was Kean College. This time around, Coach Carol Simon’s squad faces a trickier path to the NCAA’s as the UAA is an unforgiving division and the team will be without graduated seniors, starting point guard Kiersten Holgash ’08 and the number two all-scoring leader, Jaime Capra ’08. With two big holes to fill, Coach Simon is looking at taking advantage of depth. “You know, you don’t replace you know a Jamie or a Kiersten,” Coach Simon stated. “That’s just the other players realizing what they have to do and getting better by, you know it’s almost by committee. You know replacing Jamie’s whatever, 15 points (15.2) is a lot of points for someone to step in so again if you have, you know three or four kids who can help that loss of 15 points, you’re okay. Our goals are still the NCAA’s you know, not just to be in it but to win it and I think that’s a realistic goal for us.” Key returns start at shooting guard where Jessica Chapin ’10 enjoyed marked all-around improvement in her second year of action – averaging 10.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. These totals helped her earn second team All-UAA Honors. Assisting Chapin in the back court and likely taking over point guard duties is the lightning quick classmate, Lauren Rashford ’10. Rashford missed the first semester of the season due to illness but returned to average 4.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals per game – her 23 steals were third highest on the team. This year Chapin will be sharing the captainship with forward Cassidy Dadaos ’09. The six foot Californian finished fourth on the team in rebounding, pulling down 4.0 boards per game. Looking to provide key depth behind Rashford and Chapin will be three point sharp-shooter Carmela Breslin ’10 and second years Diana Cincotta ’11 and Mia DePaolo ’11. The strength of Coach Simon’s squad, however, comes in her forwards. The tall trio of Amanda Wells ’09, Lauren Orlando ’09 and Dadaos has provided Simon with a variety of options and potential mismatches to exploit. Orlando finished last season behind only Capra in points per game with 11.1 and led the squad with 26 blocked shots. Strong accomplishments considering that Orlando was stepping into the sizeable gap left by Brandeis’s all-time scorer Caitlin Malcolm ’07. Amanda Wells is the most athletic of the trio but, has been hobbled by injuries, but healthy now, will look to improve upon her 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. All three will be counted on provide a presence out
there for the team to hopefully succeed. “There’s high expectations for both of them (Orlando, Dadaos) and Amanda Wells,” Simon explained, “you know you’ve got three post players with a lot of experience and where they have to lead the team. People know about them so it’s a matter of them not maintaining their talent but continuing to get better.” Kasey Gieschen ’10 established herself as a defensive presence while second year Amber Strodthoff ’11 showed great promise, tying for second on the team in rebounds with 4.3 per game and her career high 13 points against Southern Maine in the NCAA tournament helped lead the Judges to the massive come from behind 74-71 win. After watching the Judges get routed by the more athletic Kean Cougars, Coach Simon has turned to a more athletic recruiting class while adding even more height to the bench with four of the five rookies at six feet or higher. One player to keep an eye is Granite State native Shannon Hassan ’12 who was second person in her high school to score 1,000 points and was named first-team All-State by three different organizations. “I think our program is in a good state.” Simon said, “Coming up against a Kean University who is an extremely athletic team, I think that’s something where we had to see where our deficiencies were so by doing that, we tried to get more athletic. We’ve always been a big, banging, physical team which I still think we are but I think with the freshman coming in, we’ve added some athleticism as well.” Assisting Coach Simon on the bench is second year assistant Scott Foulis. The Judges open the season at home on November 17 as they play host to WPI, a match that Simon expects to be anything but a cake walk especially after the last time the teams faced each other – a narrow 53-47 escape on December 4th of last year. “It’ll be a tough game, WPI is a good team. They’re well coached, they return a lot of players, they’re very scrappy, they’re very good defensively, they’re well disciplined, they don’t beat themselves. It’s a team that doesn’t beat themselves. You know last year was a close game so I expect this year will probably be another close game.” Losing a player like Jamie Capra is tough for any program to recover from – prognosticators have Brandeis ranked fifth in the UAA but after last season, Coach Simon is optimistic about the state of the program for as she observed, it’s not just about one player and Brandeis has the benefit of having slashers at the guard and bangers down low. A fourth straight trip back to the NCAA’s however will involve finding that balance and if the equilibrium between outside and inside is achieved, the Judges are a squad that could well surprise. Ultimately the NCAA’s may be out of reach next year but this is a team that is not going to go down without a fight.
The Deis Board TEAM MSoccer
Swimming
LATEST SCORES NEXT GAME November 8 at NYU L 0-2 Final Record: 8-9-2, 0-5-2 – 8th in UAA November 8 at NYU W 2-1 November 15 v. Emmanuel College ECAC Semi-Final 12:00 pm November 12 v. St. Joseph (Conn.) ECAC Quarter Final W 4-0 November 13 at Babson November 18 at Bentley 6:30 pm
Sailing
November 8 at Noringer Invite @ MIT 19th of 23 teams
WSoccer
Volleyball
Cross Country
November 15 at Atlantic Coast Dinghies @ Hobart 9:30 a.m. at Atlantic Coast Tournament @ Harvard 9:30 a.m.
November 9 at Crews Regatta @ MIT 20th out of 20 teams November 7 v. Emory at UAA Championships @ Washington University L 0-3 v. Chicago W 3-2 November 8 v. Rochester W 3-0 v. Carnegie Mellon L 0-3 Final Record: 19-13, 5-6 – 4th in UAA
WBasketball
November 15 v. New England Division III Championships @ Williamstown, Mass. November 17 v. WPI 7:00 pm
MBasketball
November 18 at Lasell 7:00 pm
November 14, 2008
SPORTS/OPINIONS
The Hoot 15
Men’s basketball aims even higher: 2008-2009 Season Preview By ZACHARY ARONOW Editor
Having spent so many years playing the hunter, Coach Brian Meehan’s squad find themselves playing the role of the hunted for a second straight year as they look to justify their preseason top 10 ranking from d3hoops.com and will look to surpass last year as they saw their second straight 20-win season reach it’s conclusion in the Elite 8 at the hands of eventual Division III runners up Amherst. “You know, rankings are useless,” Coach Meehan said, not allowing any premature inflation on preseason praise. “They were useless last year when they ranked us high and they’re useless this year too. It’s based on what we did last year and this is a whole different team. You know, it gives people something to be excited about but the reality is we’re not anywhere near the team that we were last year. So you know I just don’t know how this is going to play out.” The road will not be easy as last year’s with the graduations of last season’s leading scorer, emotional leader and all-around clutch shooter Joe Coppens ’08 (15.1 points, 5.2 rebounds per game). Joining Coppens into the real world is the career assists leader in Kwame Graves-Fulgham ’08 and a proven inside presence in Stephen Hill ’08 not to mention a proven bench spark plug in Florian Rexhepi ’08. For Coach Meehan, the impact of the graduations will be felt especially on the defensive end of the court. “We don’t defend nearly as well as we did last year, not even close. We lost our best interior defender in Stephen Hill, we lost our best perimeter defender in Coppens and losing Kwame took away the best guy we had to pressure the ball coming up the floor so you know those are three big hits on the defensive end. As of now, we haven’t found anybody close to replacing those three guys in that part of the game.” Assisting in the transition in a big way is co-captain Steve DeLuca ’08, the preseason All-American was granted an extra year of eligibility after sustaining a season-ending injury last year. The six-foot six dynamo however will have his work cut out adjusting to the new cast of characters that will surround him. Andre Roberson ’10 will serve as the new floor general for Coach Meehan, Roberson will look to continue his success from last season, averaging 9.7 points and 2.7
rebounds per game and his heroic 20 point effort against out the main forward rotation is Christian Yemga ’11. The Plattsburgh helped the Judges advance past the Sweet 16. Cameroon native averaged 2.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per He’ll get to test his leadership chops, being named co- game and showed great promise with his athleticism and captain this year. Another returning starter is co-captain intense presence. Kevin Olson ’09 who averaged 10.8 points per game and Among the rookies, one player to keep an eye is Vytas will find his long range touch greatly appreciated though Kriskus. The six foot six Lithuanian was a McDonald’s with Coppens gone, he’ll have to be ready to fight through All-American nominee as a senior and is seen as a deadly more double teams aimed his way. His 53 three pointers outside shooter. He could really be a complete all-around .398 shooting percentage from beyond the arc, both were forward assuming he fills out his frame. ninth in the UAA. It will be interesting to Ultimately, the keys to success will see how the new three point line will imcome down to how well the young playRankings are useless.... ers adjust to pace of the college game pact Olson and the rest of the team. “Actually I think it helps us a lot because You know, it gives people and who can step their games up to reour shooters have range,” co-captain and something to be excited place players like Coppens and Gravesforward Terrell Hollins ’10 said about the about but the reality is we’re Fulgham. Having DeLuca back helps new three point line. “what it does is opens but ultimately, the success of the seaup lanes for penetration and opens up the not anywhere near the team son and the program will likely come post a little more so there’s more space for that we were last year. down to the continued maturation of us to make things happen for us offensive--Coach Brian Meehan Roberson and Hollins as well as seeing ly. Hopefully we can get our spacing down who among the rookies – whether it is and get our timing right and everything Kriskus or Tyrone Hughes ’12 – whom else will fall into order in regards to the Hollins is high on, can rise up to the three point line.” Coach Meehan took a more restrained level of competition that is expected in the UAA, home of view, citing the adjustment period that usually occurs until the DIII champions and number one ranked Washington the shooters grow used to the new distance. University. Any chance of surpassing last season however will be “It’s just a matter of them learning and gaining experidetermined by how other players respond with more time ence and understanding the different roles.” Meehan exand experience under their belts. Kenny Small ’10 took a plained. “Although we want to continue doing the things step back last year, averaging 2.4 points in 14 games thanks we’ve done in the past because they’ve been successful, we mostly due to being held out the first semester. The high also understand that we have to try different things and flying Small is a more than capable scorer but defensive find things that we do well and try to incorporate that.” improvement will be vital for him if he wants to secure the “Our key thing is not get caught up in the hype and just number two guard spot along side Roberson. Looking to kind of play basketball, we’ve got work to do.” Terrell Holprovide depth will be Beau Bonness ’11 – the Omaha na- lins explained, “We’re not as good as everyone thinks we tive lost his rookie year due to injury. are yet but potentially we are. It’s not going to be easy; guys At the forward positions, Coach Meehan has quite a few are just going to have to put in the effort as our six seniors options at his disposal. Terrell Hollins had a big year for the did over our last year.” Judges, exploding for 13.6 points and a team leading 5.9 The men open the season on the road at Lasell. The last rebounds per game. Hollins will start off the season as the time the two sides faced off, Brandeis bounced the Lasers first man off the bench as the team will look to keep him out of the NCAA opening round 80-59. Assisting Coach and out of foul trouble. Classmate Rich Magee ’10 declined Meehan is Eric McKoy, former Wentworth Institute of statistically from his rookie year but solidified his role as a Technology head coach Harry McShane, Jay Johnson and defensive presence off the bench. Whether Magee can take Shawn Bloom. his game to a higher level remains to be seen. Rounding
What will the Republicans do now? REPUBLICANS (from p. 2)
show some modesty? The real reason he is not showing is because the summit will unlikely produce strong results and he does not want his reputation to be damaged by this summit. Republicans should use this opportunity to remind President Obama of his responsibilities. He should be attending this summit to expedite the recovery of the world markets. They could put pressure on him to attend this summit not for their benefit, but for the benefit of the American people. However, there will also be opportunities to work with Democrats to get important legislation passed. Republicans should take advantage of these opportunities. One perfect chance for bipartisan cooperation will be with the Healthy Americans Act. The Healthy Americans Act is a Healthcare bill written by Democratic Senator Ron Wyden that will provide universal coverage while still maintaining mostly privatized healthcare. It gives the left mandated universal coverage and a progressive payment plan while it gives the right individual based coverage and cost neutrality. While Republicans are not going to approve of all of the aspects of the bill, they should still get behind it because it achieves universal coverage of healthcare without overstepping the line into socialism. Getting behind this bill would be a good sign of cooperation by the GOP. The GOP should not be afraid to keep the Democrats in check, but they should also cooperate with them when it is appropriate.After this election, the GOP needs to rework their message and decide which issues they should focus on. While they should not completely put the social conservative issues on the back-
burner, the GOP should put less emphasis on them. Instead, the Republicans should be putting more emphasis on their economic ideas and they should also go back to their ideals of small government. Economics has always been a weakness of the GOP and in this latest election cycle they handled the economic crisis very poorly when instead of addressing the crisis head on, they simply tried to turn the issues to character. When Obama needed to improve his weakness in foreign policy he went after McCain on foreign policy, he did not try to divert attention to other issues, and by the end of the summer he was gaining significant ground in polls when it came to foreign policy. Obama also dug in on some issues that are usually evangelical rallying points. Obama showed himself as a man of faith and refused to get behind gay marriage during the campaign. His moderation on these issues forced McCain to have to fight for support from evangelicals, a fight that Republicans in the past did not even have to consider. Republicans should likewise focus on their weakness in order to gain ground on independents and moderates. Republicans need to better explain their economic positions because many of them defy conventional wisdom. Conventional wisdom states that outsourcing jobs leaves people in the United States with fewer jobs and that lowering taxes for the rich puts more of a burden on the poor, however the exact opposite is true in both these cases. This was the case this past election cycle when most Americans blamed the financial crisis on deregulation and the Republicans. In truth, much of the blame for the crisis lay in the Government’s intervention into
the mortgage market with its support of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In fact it was the Democrats who fought against regulating these mortgage monsters, not the Republicans. Republicans need to get out and explain these issues thoroughly and simply so that the American people understand that Republicans are not fighting for just big business and the rich, they are fighting for true progress. Republicans need to put more faith on the American people and fight to make them understand their economic positions more clearly. Doing this would put the Democrats on the defense just as the Republicans were for the past two years. This would not only allow conservatives to regain ground in Washington, but it would also lend less credence to the culture wars, which have proven to be truly dividing. The GOP has much work to do before they can expect to regain the ground they lost in these past two elections. They need to keep the Democrats in check by any means necessary, but they should also cooperate with them when it is appropriate. The GOP also needs to refocus its message from the divisive social issues to more sensible economic issues such as free trade and small government. If the GOP keeps its head it should be able to recover from this political sweep within the next four years, hopefully.
Take advantage of your time off HIATT (from p. 4)
help you maximize your connections. You can also engage in multiple career activities through the Career & Internship Connection (CIC) fairs: get advice from a group of alumni in New York or D.C. during a networking event, speak with 200+ employers, and even secure one or more inter-views at the fairs themselves, in Boston, New York, D.C., Chicago and Los Angeles during the week of January 5-9, 2009. For example, if you are interested in government or international policy, you might consider traveling to Washington, DC where you can network, attend the CIC fair, and possibly interview in just two days. For additional networking event and CIC information, login to Hiatt NACElink at https://brandeisu-csm.symplicity.com/ students. Whether you are taking inventory of who you are or networking with friends, family and alumni, whether you are participating in the CIC Fairs or approaching organizations independently, winter break is truly a time to act. Leave hibernation to the bears! Rusmir Music M.S. Assistant Director of Experiential Programs
16
November 14, 2008
The Hoot
W E E K end F U N Spotlight on Boston
Smashing Pumpkins:
Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14-15 270 Tremont St.
For a short time, this platinum Grammy nominated group will rock out at the Wang Theatre. Sing along to hits like "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" and "Tonight, Tonight." Tickets start at $25. www.citicenter.org/shows
Drama. Rock music. What's not to love? Carey Perloff directs this play about Russia during a chaotic time in its history. The play features music from the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd. Photos courtesy of Google Images.
What's going on at Brandeis?
Gypsy:
Friday to Sunday, Nov. 14-16, 8 p.m. Shapiro Campus Theatre Don't miss out on this show stopper! Tympanium Euphorium's musical production is based on the life and times of burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee and her overbearing mother. Go see the show and tap your foot to tunes like "Let me Entertain You" and "Small World." Photo courtesy of Andrew Rauner
Casino Night: Saturday, Nov. 15, 9 p.m. Usdan Student Center
Think you're good at cards? Test your skill at the poker and classic war tournaments, and blackjack tables. No experience necessary. Semi-formal.
to Sunday, Nov. 14-16 Rock 'n' Roll: Friday 264 Huntington Ave.
ILLUSTRATION: By Alex Doucette/The Hoot
www.huntingtontheatre.com
Big Band Dance:
Saturday, Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sherman Function Hall Lace up your dancing shoes and join the Brandeis Swingers in their fall dance. The White Heat Swing Orchestra will provide the '50s music and the club will provide the food. Don't know how to swing dance? No worries. Lessons for Photo courtesy of Alex Dainis beginners will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Levin Ballroom Party for a good cause! Postive Foundations and the people who brought you Pachanga are throwing an International dance party. Help them raise money to pay for a library in Nepal! $4 at the door, no tickets in advance.
Club 20K:
Photo courtesy of Watje11
COMICStrips Sleazy
Insert Comic Here
By Matt Kupfer
By Anthony Scibelli
Floppsie
By Grace Alloy-Relihan