The Brandeis Hoot 09-26-08

VOL 5, NO. 5

SEPTEMBER 26, 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

Attorney explains harassment laws

QUIZNOS

BY ALEX SCHNEIDER Staff

Attorney Daryl J. Lapp taught Brandeis faculty members about issues of anti-discrimination law at a faculty meeting in Golding yesterday.

The talk, which was organized

by Provost Marty Krauss comes almost one year after Prof. Donald Hindley (POL) was charged with violating the non-discrimination and harassment policy after having made allegedly racist remarks in his class and consequentially had to have his class monitored.

While Krauss neglected to answer questions of whether the fac-

ulty meeting was in response to the Hindley controversy, she said that she organized the speaker when “many faculty told me that they wanted more information about the legal definition of discriminatory speech and how they law has been applied in various cases.”

Hindley, however, believes that the meeting is directly related to last year’s controversy, writing in an e-mail sent to the “concerned” listserv Tuesday; “The Brandeis Administration has unilaterally hired a lawyer to enlighten us on ‘the legal definition and boundaries of racially harassing speech and the implications

of case law on this subject.’ This appears to be part of the Administration’s attempt to justify the unjustifiable: its outrageously unjust, cruel and faculty-scorning behavior in ‘the Hindley case’ - and its discriminatory behavior in other situations.”

Krauss, however, called the talk “a great learning experience for all of us.”

Lapp, whose work includes the defense of universities against personal injury, civil rights and employment discrimination claims, agreed and said “I thought it was See LEGAL p. 20

State of university budget uncertain

BY GINA GOTHILF Staff

PHOTO BY Max Shay/The Hoot

QUIZNOS: Josh Waizer ‘11 chows down on a black angus steak sandwich in Upper Usdan yesterday to celebrate the opening of Quiznos sub shop.

The university budget is projected to be in deficit for the current fiscal year, according to a Sept. 19 e-mail sent out by Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe. In his e-mail to department chairs, Jaffe suggested that faculty members “husband [their] resources now” in case cuts are made.

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Peter B. French explained that the current national financial crisis has inevitably affected the university. “It is

UJ petition rejected as final elections results come in

BY ALISON CHANNON Editor

Wednesday night, Rosenthal Quad Senator candidate Stephen Robinson ’11 filed a case with the Union Judiciary (UJ) citing unfair advantages in his senate race. At a meeting Thursday night, the UJ decided not to grant cert to the petition, however the filing of the case is just one of many odd occurrences that characterize Tuesday’s election.

UJ Justice Jordan Rothman ’09 explained that the UJ decided not to grant cert because Robinson failed to cite any violations of specific bylaws or elections rules.

Robinson, who garnered 21 votes in the primary round, lost to Philips Loh ’11 who received 26. Because he received over 51% of the vote, Loh won the election.

Robinson explained that when he officially declared his candidacy near the deadline he was told that would be running unopposed.

Union Secretary Tia Chatterjee ’09 then told him that an elections commissioner would meet with him “to go over rules and sign the contract.”

Chatterjee declined to comment on the case.

Robinson said that “no elections commissioner took it upon themselves to contact me.” After he did not hear from a commissioner, Robinson explained, he sought out a commissioner living near him.

When Robinson brought his materials to Chatterjee the Sunday before the Tuesday See ELECTIONS p. 8

INSIDE:

fair to say that many not-for-profits, of which the university is one, are experiencing those economic pressures. They are coming at us in terms of lower endowment investment returns compared to prior years,” he said.

Recent national and global financial stress also affects the university indirectly, as prices increase and potential donors protect their own assets.

“There’s a lot of concern about philanthropists being able to continue the level of gifts that they’ve been making over the last few

years,” French said.

While it is yet premature to determine the magnitude of the effect of the national financial crisis on Brandeis, “it is likely that operating budgets will be cut,” Jaffe said.

The Integrated Planning Group, composed of university senior administrators, is currently assessing several different possibilities to minimize the potential damage and its effects on students and academic programs, but no decisions have been made so far. “You can increase revenues or you can deSee BUDGET p. 8

Princeton professor wins first Joseph B. Gittler Prize

BY ALISON CHANNON Editor

ELECTION RESULTS Off Campus:

Nate Goldstein

MODS:

Jon Freed

Charles River: Chen Lu

Ziv Quad: Andrew Brooks

Rosenthal Quad: Philips Loh

Castle Quad: Nathan Robinson

East Quad:

Sara Enan

North Quad: Andy Hogan

Massell Quad:

Nipun Marwaha

Class of 2012: Supreetha Gubbala and Akash J. Vafalia

TYP: Terrance Johnson

In a campus-wide e-mail sent Thursday, President Reinharz announced the first recipient of the Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Prize, Princeton professor Kwame Anthony Appiah. The prize is supported by the Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Endowed Fund.

Appiah will receive his award Oct. 27.

The $25,000 prize, according to Reinharz’s message, is awarded to individuals who have made “lasting scholarly contributions to racial, ethnic, and/or religious relations.”

Joseph B. Gittler, a sociologist who taught at Duke, Iowa State University, the University of Rochester, Hiroshima University of Japan, and Ben-Gurion University in Israel, among others, focused his studies on the experience of minority groups as well as relations between different racial and religious groups. Gittler died at the age of 93 in 2005.

A number of awards are given in Gittler’s name, including one from the Society for the Study of Social Problems and another from the American Philosophical Association.

The Brandeis award also honors Gittler’s mother Toby Gittler, the university’s website explained.

In the late 1990s, before his death, Gittler met with Reinharz to discuss the prize. Executive Assistant to the President and Assistant Secretary of the Corporation John Hose explained, “Prof. Gittler reached out to the

PHOTO COURTESY OF Office of Communications, Princeton University

president. [He] had indicated the nature of the fund, the prize, and its purpose.” Hose added that the prize’s “provisions were written into Prof. Gittler’s estate plans.”

The nomination process began last fall and the decision was finalized over the summer, Hose said.

“Nominations for this year’s Gittler Prize See GITTLER PRIZE p. 9

PG 10

ONE TALL VOICE

PG 5

NAS

SEA CHANGE

PG 4

LERMAN-NEUBAUER FELLOWSHIP PG 6

THIS WEEKEND

PG 20

COMICS

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2

The Hoot

September 26, 2008

ED ITORIAL 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

Danielle Gewurz Copy Editor Jamie Fleishman Advertising Editor Ariel Wittenberg Design Editor Max Shay Technology Officer Napoleon Lherisson Photography Editor

Senior Editors Jordan Rothman, Zachary Aronow

FOUNDED By Leslie Pazan, Igor Pedan and Daniel Silverman

You say you want a revolution

A

s “Brandeis University’s Community Newspaper,” The Hoot prides itself on serving not only as a source of on-campus news and features, but also as a forum where students can freely express their thoughts and views on everything from hooking up to the current political race to arguments against diversity. Our Impressions section has greatly expanded in the last few semesters, and is constantly growing more diverse to represent an ever-widening array of opinions. Some of these articles draw praise, some drop jaws, and this week one even elicited a three-page long response from a farmer in California discussing teenage pregnancy. No matter what the reaction, the important point is that these columns spark dialogue and debate.

They make us think. They support or challenge some of our most cherished views on topics that matter to us. Israel and Palestine. The 2008 Election. Environmental sustainability.

Oral sex. If it’s relevant to Brandeis students, it’s likely to be represented in this paper. And if it isn’t, anyone is more than welcome to submit an article and share his or her voice.

With that in mind, we present you with a special section in this week’s issue compiled by Pissed Off Youth of America (P.O.Y.A.), a new non-partisan movement promoting social change through free speech. P.O.Y.A. holds that “[t]he revolution begins when each individual realizes that he or she has a voice and the power to bring about transformation in this country.” This concept hearkens back to the very basis of The Hoot’s creation: to create a space where everyone’s voice could be heard, even if those voices are controversial, profane, or incendiary. If you grab a magnifying glass and read The Hoot’s masthead located directly above this article, you’ll find quote that reads, “To acquire wisdom, one must observe.” P.O.Y.A. asks young people to observe, but also takes it one step further, encouraging them to channel their anger into written words or art pieces that will pierce fellow students and catalyze social and political transformation.

Four pages of this newspaper are devoted entirely to a manifesto project that P.O.Y.A. proposed to students. The instructions were simple: Create a manifesto about anything that makes you angry and the change you want to see in the country, using the medium of your choice. The results were astounding, producing provocative pieces born from raw passion ranging from an eloquent rant about sexual objectification to a poem on the white, liberal bias of social activism to an ink drawing which is accessible online. In publishing these manifestos, we ask that you read and react. Write your own manifesto and have it published here in The Hoot. Write us a Letter to the Editor about how this idea is completely bogus.

Burn this newspaper and return it to our office. Run for political office. Do something.

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

Letters to the editor: Dear Editor, As Founding Director of the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism I’d like to thank The Hoot for its excellent coverage of our At the Death House Door documentary screening and discussion on Thursday, September 18, 2008 (“Documentary addresses wrongful conviction,” 9/19/08). We appreciate The Hoot’s role in bringing attention to a grave ethical crisis which subverts the integrity of the United States criminal justice system: the incarceration of thousands of innocent people.

I would, however, like to point out one inaccuracy in coverage: as mentioned at the event, the Schuster Institute’s Justice Brandeis Innocence Project does not, in fact, only tackle cases in which the convicted faces state execution.

Rather, we are currently investi-

gating the case of Massachusetts man who is serving a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. We believe he is innocent—and he certainly did not benefit from a fair trial. Massachusetts does not have capital punishment, but it does punish perpetrators of the most severe crimes with life in prison without the possibility of parole. While death penalty cases create a certain kind of urgency for innocence project investigations, a life sentence is a different kind of punishment; it is a living death sentence, especially for those who were wrongly convicted. Our event speakers spoke to the importance of approaching wrongful convictions and life sentences with the same scrutiny as is given to capital punishment.

In fact, experts have estimated Massachusetts’ probable wrongful convictions as ranging from

0.5 to 4 percent of its convictions each year (“Convictions of Innocent Persons in Massachusetts: An Overview,” Boston University Public Interest Law Journal, Boston University School of Law Prof. Stanley Z. Fisher, 2002).

Furthermore, over the past fifteen years, more than 28,500 nondeath row inmates would have been exonerated “if we reviewed prison sentences with the same level of care we devote to death sentences” (“Exonerations In The United States 1989 Through 2003,” University of Michigan Prof. Samuel Gross, 2004).

Again, thank you for your coverage of this important social justice issue and for your attention to this correction.

All the best,

- Florence Graves

Book of Matthew

Hold on to your votes!

Will your vote in the upcoming election count?

BY BRET MATTHEW Editor

I’ll be honest; this week, I had planed to join the ranks of, oh, just about every other columnist in the nation, and write about the US financial crisis. But when I was doing my research for the column, I realized a couple of things. First, I had to admit to myself that there was nothing I could write that hadn’t already been written by someone else, and second, I managed to (accidentally) find a better topic.

So, I won’t be talking money today. I’ll be talking about voter theft.

Please pardon my rambling.

If you are reading this and are eligible to vote, then I sincerely hope you will do so in this coming election. I also hope that your vote is counted. I think you know why I say that.

You probably remember what happened in Florida during the election of 2000: the ballot problems, the recount, all of the irregularities that eventually led to George W. Bush being declared the winner by the Supreme Court.

What you may not know is that after the election, Democrats and Republicans came up with an idea that eventually became the Help America Vote Act, which was passed by the Republican Congress and signed by President Bush.

Of, course, it completely failed to change anything, and in 2004, it was suspected that voting problems, most notably in Ohio, denied Senator John Kerry an election that should have been his.

In 2004, millions of Americans

living abroad never received their Kennedy continues by saying ballots. In New Mexico, malfunc- that, because of this requirement, tioning counting machines failed to about 300,000 voters in the state count over 20,000 ballots, and this of New Jersey alone have received is a state that Bush only won by notices saying that they are ineliabout 6,000 votes. In Ohio, many gible to vote. registration cards mysteriously And yet, they are lucky compared failed to be processed, and thou- to residents of other states, besands of voters were denied the cause most of the time no warning right to vote is given at for little or Come Knowing what we do about the all. not reason.

Election The point last two presidential elections, Day, their of this little is there any reason for votes votes of history lest h o s e son is for us to have faith in the system this d e e m e d to arrive at a time around? “inelisimple quesgible” are tion. Knowsimply ing what we thrown do about out. the last two Howpresidential elections, is there any ever, it is the last piece of inforreason for voters to have faith in mation Kennedy shares that is the the system this time around? most important for us college stuAccording to Robert F. Kennedy dents. He talks about newly regisJr., the answer is no. Recently, on tered voters, and a law that requires his Air America radio show, Ring these voters to show their license of Fire, Kennedy claims that the or state I.D. when they vote.

Help America Vote Act has made This isn’t particularly difficult for this upcoming election just as vul- those who actually go to the polls, nerable as the last two. but for college students who fill He cites a little-known require- out absentee ballots, it is easy to ment known as the “perfect forget to include a color copy of match”, which requires the infor- your license. mation from all government reUnfortunately, the law could cords of each individual voter to care less, and these ballots will be match. The government checks thrown out without any notificathis by using a computer program tion. that searches these records for So in short, fellow voters, be even the slightest discrepancies careful with your votes. This year (things as small as a missing middle is not the time for us to allow our initial or a hyphen), and if one is voices to go unheard due to legal found, that voter is removed from technicalities. voter roles.

CORRECTION: In the September 19, 2008 issue of Diverse City, the article “Soon to be a breaking Hoot story,” was miscredited to Maxwell Price. The article was actually written by Nathan J. Robinson.

PHOTO CORRECTION: The photo featured alongside the September 19, 2008 article, “New George Washington Club teaches students about America,” was miscredited and was actually taken by Jodi Elkin.

September 26, 2008

The Hoot

3

IMP RES S IONS

Card politics: Playing your hand

BY Scott rothstein Columnist

Nobody can deny how truly groundbreaking this presidential election cycle has bee. In January of 2009 either the first AfricanAmerican or the first woman will get sworn into the executive office for the first time in history. Unfortunately, for all the new walls that are crumbling down, some still want to hold those walls erect.

Throughout the campaign several reporters in the media, some politicians, and several campaign surrogates have been making references to certain candidate’s race, age, and sex irresponsibly and sometimes in an outright bigoted manner. The worst offenders of playing these cards are the Democrats as well as, I am sad to say, Senator Obama.

Recently the Democrats as well as Senator Obama have been attacking the Republican ticket not on the issues, but on how old Senator McCain is. They have also been making derogatory remarks about Governor Palin over the past two weeks in response to her rising popularity among voters and in the media.

Senator Obama has even laid claim that the reason people do not want to vote for him has nothing to do with his liberal record in the senate or his paper thin resume, but that it is because of the color of his skin. The Democrats and Senator Obama have stated over and over again that Americans of sick of “politics as usual,” however many modern day politicians would not sink to the levels that these bigoted politicians in Obama’s campaign have sunk to.

Senator McCain is 72 years old and if elected would be the oldest first term president in the history of the country, although older people have been elected before. Early on in his campaign many feared that his age would pose a threat to his possible candidacy, however he quickly dispelled many of the fears people had about his age. He more than often used his humor to counter fears, making a notable appearance on Saturday Night Live where he proclaimed that America needed a leader who is, “very, very,

very old.” Secondly McCain’s vigorous campaigning, plus the fact that his 96 year old mother sometimes accompanies him on the campaign trail, has helped to calm voters about the age issue. However, Democrats have consistently tried to subliminally and sometimes overtly disqualify McCain in the eyes of voters based on his age. Over the summer, Democrats grew fond of calling McCain “confused” when it came to certain issues. Whenever Senator McCain would make a mistake, something that happens often when you are campaigning vigorously for over a year, Democrats would pounce on the moment to call McCain confused and claim that he was having a senior moment. These key words subliminally messaged to voters that they should be wary of electing a man of McCain’s age into the presidency, however they never blatantly referred to his age as a reason to not vote for him, until recently.

For all of Senator Obama’s calls for a clean political race, it is ironic that he would make a televised ad that focuses on attacking McCain on his age. It first mentions that in 1982, McCain first came to Washington and then it flashes several images of old technology and toys from 1982 to remind voters just how old McCain is. This blatant attempt to play the age card was only heightened by the second part of the ad where it claims that McCain cannot use a computer or send an e-mail. Not only is this a stupid attack, it is also a complete lie. Senator McCain has said that he can use a computer to obtain the information he needs and that when he needs to, he knows how to send an e-mail just fine. So not only did Senator Obama attack Senator McCain in this ad for the simple fact that he is old, but he also lied in the ad to try and exaggerate his point.

What is even worse on the part of Senator Obama is that the only problem Senator McCain has with computers is that he has difficulty using the keyboard as a result of his war wounds. So to sum up this ad, Senator Obama attacks Senator McCain because he came to con-

gress in 1982, which means he has actual experience, he attacks McCain based on a lie that was created to exaggerate further McCain’s age, and then finally Senator Obama essentially mocks Senator McCain’s heroic wartime struggle as a prisoner of war. Unfortunately this is not the lowest that the Obama campaign sank in its terrible attacks, in truth these attacks seem benign when compared to the horrible comments made about Governor Palin.

When Governor Palin was first besieged by the media with blatantly sexist remarks and attacks, Senator Obama was the first to say that family was off limits. The Obama Campaign and many prominent Democrats responsibly decided, for the most part, not to join in on the terrible hostilities while Campbell Brown and MSNBC were questioning whether Palin could be a vicepresident and a mother of five.

However, as the blatant sexist coverage of Governor Palin seemed to cool down, Senator Obama and several other prominent Democrats continued the sexist assaults on Governor Palin. Possibly the worst remark made recently was one touted by the South Carolina Democratic Party chairwoman, Carol Fowler. She remarked that the two term Governor of Alaska’s only qualification for president was that, “She hasn’t had an abortion.”

Fowler decided to dismiss all of Governor Palin’s accomplishments and simply make a derogatory remark directed at her.

This was not an attack from an extremist liberal blog website or a remark made by Keith Olbermann; she is the chairwoman of the South Carolina Democratic Party a prominent position in the Democratic Party. What is worse is that the Obama campaign did not even make an attempt to condemn the horrible remark made by this woman. Then there was also the recent remark made by Senator Obama about “lipstick on a pig.”

Now many were in uproar because some were convinced it was an attack on Governor Palin, apparently even those in the audience at the rally, and some believed it was simply a twisting of Senator Obama’s words by Republicans for their own ends. The truth is Senator Obama made the remark, for the first time, only two weeks after another lipstick reference was popularized

by Governor Palin about herself. Also, when reading the jibe on paper, it seems innocent, however, when one observes the video it is obvious that the audience understands the cheap shot before he even finishes the line and reacts to it. Even ILLUSTRATION BY Alex Doucette/The Hootif Senator Obama did not consciously mean to insult

Palin, he should have apologized for the misunderstanding. He could have said that he did not mean it as an insult, but understood why people took it that way. Instead he simply tried the blame the Republicans for the controversy even though he was the one that said the line. After hearing of how many people were legitimately offended by the sexist remark, he simply brushed them off as attention getters. It should also be noted that Senator Obama himself has not used the phrase since, which leads one to the obvious conclusion that he himself understood just what a mistake the comment was and still refused to acknowledge it. Though, this was still not the worst Senator Obama has done to play to bigoted ideals; he actually played to racism itself, making a horribly unfounded and ridiculous accusation. During the Republican National Convention, former Governor Mike Huckabee paid tribute to Senator Obama’s nomination by commenting, “I say with sincerity that I have great respect for Senator Obama's historic achievement to become his party's nominee -- not because of his color, but with indifference to it.” Early in this election many in the Democratic Party worried that Senator Obama’s campaign could be hindered by those with outdated racist views.

As the election proceeded, Obama exceeded expectations and proved that his race would not hinder his election. However, instead of continuing to prove that he could win the election with indifference to race, he decided that he would inject the race issue back into the campaign and accuse the McCain campaign of attacking Obama based on the color of Obama’s skin. Obama commented over the summer that the McCain campaign and his Republican allies would try to scare voters away from voting for Senator Obama because, “he (Senator Obama) doesn’t look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills.” Senator McCain quickly called out Senator Obama for the irresponsible use of the race card and Obama tried to excuse the comment, he said that his comment was misinterpreted by the McCain camp. However Obama’s chief strategist admitted

ILLUSTRATION BY Alex Doucette/The Hoot

that Senator Obama was in fact referring to race during the speech.

Senator Obama’s dismissal of the legitimate concerns of millions of McCain supporters and independents as just racism is insulting, irresponsible, immoral, and quite frankly ridiculous. Additionally, the accusation that Senator McCain, a man who sacrificed five years of freedom to torture in a prisoner of war camp, is racist is a low blow that would make even Karl Rove blush. Senator Obama is happy to break down walls that have plagued this country for decades, however it seems that he is all to happy to hoist those walls right back up for his own political gain.

Senator Obama claims to represent a new kind of politics; however, one look at his rhetoric and it is clear that he is willing to sink to lows that not even Richard Nixon would have sunk to in order to win his campaign. Obama’s constant attacks that McCain is simply to old to be president irresponsibly uses false claims to exaggerate McCain’s age and scare people to vote for Obama. Obama also simultaneously uses McCain’s disability due to his war wounds as political leverage to score cheap points in a political ad.

Senator Obama refused to apologize when a comment he made legitimately insulted supporters of Governor Palin, he even blamed their anger for the comment on a conspiracy to attack Obama’s campaign. Finally Senator Obama felt it necessary to inject race into this election by calling Senator McCain and his supporter’s racists for simply not supporting him. Many in the media have been blasting the McCain campaign for going too negative; however, there is nothing wrong with going negative as long as it is based in truth and facts.

When Senator Obama goes and pulls the age, race, and sex cards out, he is going negative based on nothing more than stereotypes and lies. If Senator Obama wants to try and link McCain to Bush in order to win this campaign that is fine; however, his use of racism, sexism, and other forms of bigotry as political leverage is even worse than the “politics as usual” that Obama works so hard to criticize.

4

IMPRESSIONS

The Hoot

Don't get mad, get more sanctions

By Rebecca Wilkof Special to The Hoot

News of Iran’s advancing nuclear development has been in the forefront of current events for several months. Many questions have been asked as to why so many object to Iran’s nuclear program: Why is the world so worried about Iran becoming a nuclear power? Isn’t the Iranian government capable of possessing such a strong weapon without aggressive intentions? After all, didn’t the Soviet Union, a former enemy of the United States, acquire nuclear weapons without using them during the Cold War? Why doesn’t the world engage Iran in a diplomatic negotiation process? A closer look at Iran’s intentions and actions may begin to answer these questions.

Iran is ruled by a fractured and extremist government, lead by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini- two radical fundamentalists. The Iranian Government acts based on Twelver Shi’a Islam, which follows an apocalyptic vision of messianic times. This view includes the destruction of Israel and the United States. Furthermore, the Iranian government poses a formidable threat as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.

It funds, trains, and arms Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad- fundamentalist organizations with mandates to destroy Israel. The country is called The Islamic Republic of Iran and it

is a country of cause. Though it may want to advance its national image, it more wants to remake the world in its image and therefore presents the gravest of ideological threats.

These radical beliefs make it more likely that the technology will be used for destructive purposes and it is very difficult for the world to prevent Iran from using its weapons in a destructive way. The nature of this Islamic extremism is that it does not translate into Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) as a means of deterrence.

During the Cold War, MAD inspired a fear that allowed the world to maintain a precarious balance of peace because both sides chose to avoid the worst possible outcome- nuclear annihilation. The Soviet Union chose the practical solution of survival over the risk of launching a nuclear attack on the United States. The danger we face today is that it is unclear whether the Iranian government is guided by such reason. Instead, this fractured and fundamentalist government may turn to idealistic beliefs to direct their actions without thought to the practical and deadly ramifications.

Iran is moving closer to attaining nuclear technology. Talks in Geneva in late July between Iran and the six world powers of the United States, China, Britain, France, Germany, and Russia have ended in a deadlock with Iran refusing to heed international demands to stop enriching uranium.

To date, Iran has defied three U.N. Security Counsel Resolutions and

began to conduct war games and test missiles in early July. Although the United States has offered to halt international sanctions in exchange for a freeze of Iran’s nuclear program, Iran did not accept the offer. It is clear that Iran is not serious about talks over ceasing their nuclear enrichment program and that the Iranian government is choosing to push on with nuclear development despite sanctions and international pressure.

Furthermore, in recent months, several countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey, have applied to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with plans of nuclear energy development. The Iranian Regime, if allowed to progress with their nuclear program, may instigate a cascade of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East that has the potential to upset the already politically volatile region.

Ahmadinejad and Iran’s leadership have spoken loudly of the destruction of Israel and, though they claim their nuclear program will only be used peacefully, it seems too high a risk to take. Former methods of deterrence will not suffice and Iran has proven itself resistant to negotiation attempts. The world must decided between the choice of increasing to the economic pressure placed on Iran and continuing to isolate the Iranian government, or endangering the Middle East and the international community with its nuclear program.

SEA Change

Support MAPS, fight climate change BY deliah polafsky Special to The Hoot

With the upcoming 2008 presidential election being less than two months away, Brandeis students are seeking ways to make sure that the next president and other politicians address the issues that matter most to them. With our climate facing increasing challenges and crises, the environment has become a forefront concern that students want addressed by the next wave of American politicians. But, some students at Brandeis may not know how to have their views heard. Several student-based campaigns in Massachusetts are currently active to help the voices of the American youth be heard.

Massachusetts Power Shift (MAPS) is a youth-run organization of students from Massachusetts schools committed to raising awareness of climate change and creating a new generation of environmentalists.

MAPS meets monthly and as many as 13 schools, including Brandeis, are present at each meeting. Last spring, hundreds of students, community members, and politicians collected in Boston to push legislation on the Global Warming Solutions Act, and raised awareness of the current growing climate justice movement. At this past Saturday’s MAPS meeting, members got together for their first meeting to discuss ways in which college students can help

spread environmental awareness, and empower them to be active combatants of our worlds’ growing environmental crises. Some topics discussed included the energy crisis, climate change, and how students can promote environmentalism on their campuses. Brandeis students can become involved with MAPS at www.masspowershift.org.

This year, MAPS major goals are to promote the PowerVote and WE campaigns. PowerVote is an online campaign in which Massachusetts youth sign a pledge to vote for candidates in the upcoming elections who put the environment at the front of their agendas. The six platforms of PowerVote are to create green jobs now, invest in a green energy economy, cut global warming pollution, end our dependence on dirty energy, re-engage America as an international leaders, and take dirty money out of politics. PowerVote’s goal is to have one million signatures by the time of the election, which creates a mass of voters that no politician can ignore. This age group of voters (18-31) comprises 25% of the American electorate, which gives a solid base for the campaign. For more information on PowerVote and to sign your pledge, visit www. powervote.org.

MAPS other platform is to promote the WE campaign. Founded by former Vice President Al Gore,

WE also involves an online commitment signature. To this date, the WE campaign comprises approximately 1,570,000 Americans determined to solve the climate crisis and repower America with 100% clean electricity within 10 years. America can run on 100% clean energy through creating a clean energy economy, by making personal choices that help the environment, adapting renewable resources and fuels, enhancing energy efficiency, and through innovative leadership by politicians. In order for Earth to face to least harmful impact of climate change, America must reduce its carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. WE believes that because this goal is on such a longterm scale, our next president will not work hard enough to accomplish this. By creating a goal on a 10-year scale, our president will have to make this a priority of his agenda in order to achieve this task. To become part of the WE campaign, visit www.wecansolveit.org.

While combating climate change may be out of reach for people on an individual level, joining the Massachusetts Power Shift and their campaigns is a simple way for students to help push for environmental action.

If every student at Brandeis signed these campaigns, we could help convince Massachusetts politicians to act now and put our environment at the forefront of their campaigns.

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.

September 26, 2008

Shame on you!

PHOTO BY Ariel Wittenberg/The Hoot

By Ariel Wittenberg Editor

Dear Reader, Shame on you. Yes, you.

Why? Let’s put it this way, can you tell me what was happening on the great lawn on Wednesday between noon and four? No? That’s why.

It was student event’s “Rock the Vote” event, as part of Citizenship Week. You know, the event where you were supposed to show up, learn about the Presidential candidate’s stances on the issues, register to vote, and maybe get some free pizza and ride the mechanical bull while you were there? Ring a bell?

It should only ring a bell for about 330 of the 3,216 of you, tops.

Why 330? Because that’s how many of you actually attended.

How do I know how many of you attended? Because student events ordered 40 pizzas. There are eight slices per pizza. They tried to hand out one piece of pizza per student—320 students.

They ran out of pizza at 2:30 p.m., the same time that I arrived at the event to table for Positive Foundations. Between 2:30 and the end of the event, I saw no more than ten students attend.

That is abysmal.

To those 330 students, I commend you on your actions, and I apologize for the remainder of this piece.

But to the rest of you, shame on you.

Shame on you for neglecting to show up and register to vote. If you are over 18, and a U.S. citizen, there is no reason to not register.

Voting is a right in this country, but it is a right that we are privileged is recognized in this country.

We are fortunate to be born in a country that allows for universal suffrage, and we are fortunate to be born in the 21st century where there is universal suffrage. To not vote, to not register, is an insult to the legacy and memory of those around the world who fought— and are still fighting—for their right to vote to be recognized.

They fought for you.

Shame on you for not showing

up: even if you are already registered to vote. Shame on you for not taking it upon yourself to attend and get informed about the candidates and the issues. Shame on you for neglecting your duty, as a registered voter, to make an educated choice in this election.

Shame on you even if you already are informed on the issues, even if you already have decided whom you are voting for. Shame on you for understanding the importance of voting, but not showing your support for an event that promotes it. If you believe in it’s importance, you should be willing to teach others about it. Attending “Rock the Vote” was the easiest way to do that.

Shame on you for being a hypocrite. For being proud to call yourself a student at what you say is a university centered on social justice and student activism while failing to support an event which promotes voting. Voting is, after all, the first step toward becoming an activist.

Shame on you, who have constantly complained that the Brandeis campus isn’t activist enough for not coming out to show your support for an event which, not only is activist in nature, but is active toward a goal we can all agree upon—voting, whichever way you choose.

And shame on you for, in not showing up, shaking my belief in the idea that this is a university whose student body is made up of activists. Shame on you for making me—who reads the Declaration of Independence out loud every July 4th to remind myself of our nations history, to remind myself that living in this nation where to have voting as a right is a privilege—feel like an idiot for not only believing, but defending the idea that the so called activists on this campus were reading that Declaration of Independence right along with me. Shame on you for giving me the false belief that I was on a campus with activists just like myself.

Most of all, shame on me for believing you.

Sincerely, Ariel Wittenberg

September 26, 2008

IMPRESSIONS

One Tall Voice

The Naomi Narrative

Courting tyranny

The Hoot

Ramblings on a train

BY Naomi Barth Columnist

BY Jordan Rothman Editor

I was going to write my article this week on the economic and rational reasons against gay marriage. After some thoughtful conversations with David Azer ’11, I found this position to be logically indefensible. But there is something that has ticked me off for quite a while, something in the political arena that I would like to open for debate. Some of the most controversial issues of our time have been decided not by the legislative branch of our government, but by unelected judges. Most of this activity has favored Liberals and so the whining howl of that class of people has remained silent. Still, these acts of judicial lawmaking are not only unfair, but also unconstitutional. The Roe v. Wade decision has done much harm to our valued liberties by taking away power from the rightfully elected representatives of the people. In addition, the actions of certain state judges in regard to gay marriage has violated the liberties of many. Whether or not you agree with the political sentiment advanced by these happenings is irrelevant. I still hope that you may recognize that the means by which they were enacted were wrong.

Lets start off with abortion. I tend to think of myself as antiabortion (I hate the terms “prolife” and “pro-choice”) but I’d like to divorce this from the discussion. I only want to convey my beliefs on how our government’s stance on abortion was executed.

First, the standing legal precedent was not decided by the Congress, but was rather determined by six unelected officials who sit on the Supreme Court. I have no right to petition these individuals, to seek redress or even vote on them. Like six “popes” these individuals have taken the decision out of the hands of legislators and decided it among themselves. Furthermore, Roe v. Wade is poorly argued. It depends on the notion of a “right to privacy” that is not even remotely stated in the Constitution. It is a poor band-aid that has violated people’s right to choose legislators to determine legal policy. Taking

the issue out of the hands of the people and wrongfully violating the Constitution, this decision was unjust. The Supreme Court has no right to legislate from the bench and to do so only undermines our American notion of democracy.

Gay marriage is another issue where the courts have taken away the democratic rights of ordinary Americans. Judges in certain states have decided, independent of legislative action, that gay marriage should be legal. This, in essence, screws all the other 49 states in the union.

Due to the Full Faith and Confidence clause of the Constitution, all states must honor the licenses and contracts of each state. Alabama, therefore, must recognize a marriage license made in Massachusetts even though none of their Congressmen ever voted on the issue. Why must the democratic process be bypassed? Why must liberals celebrate the craven path of judicial activism rather than extolling the virtue of democracy? Due to the national ramifications involved with gay marriage, this must be played out in the Congress. Since this issue clearly affects all states, the nation legislature is the correct avenue to decide upon this issue.

Due to the actions of “popes” on a Massachusetts bench, however, the democratic process has been hijacked.

It doesn’t matter if you agree that gay marriage should be legal or that abortion should be allowed. I think that everyone can agree that it is good and fair to let the democratically elected officials decide matters that mean the most to us. Judicially active judges have taken away our ability to decide the issue of abortion with a poorly argued and activist case. In addition, a few judges at the state level have violated the rights of the majority to elect and petition their government.

I don’t trust activist judges; I hate how they are corrupting the democratic system. And seriously, what’s with the garb that these judges wear anyways? Who knows what they’re doing underneath those robes!

5

I’m on a train from Budapest to Vienna, en route to the land of wiener schnitzel, apple strudel and cafés. I can escape my life as a student in Budapest but I can’t seem to escape my overactive brain. I wonder about trains.

Are they a metaphor for life?

The nomadic twenty-something traveler going through Europe to escape responsibility or family or his future.

Looking for love, and the existential angst that Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy share in Before Sunrise.

Meet a beautiful, foreign woman on the train, spend one flirtatious day discussing life, art, literature. You know you can’t be together, its finite nature frees you to be vulnerable, to merge soul and body into one, if only for a short time. The ultimate one night stand, with the backdrop being a romantic European city instead of a grimy bar.

Adventures can be had in the nomadic style-just you, a few euros, a backpack and the road. On The Road, capital letters, Kerouac style. A casual glance out the window rewards you with a view of the Alps hugging the sky. Lakes the color of sapphires. Sunsets so stunning they make you ache.

When the glory of nature leaves

you speechless, you avert your eyes. Turn your attention to the Proust or Sartre sitting open on your lap. Take a sip of your black coffee. Adjust your black beret.

Wax philosophical with a stranger over a cigarette. You don’t mean to be a cliché but you can’t help it.

Yet the romance of the train can go bitterly wrong, and extend to the deadly. Anna Karenina and Vronsky meet at the train station, in the d i m light of a worker’s accidental death under the rails.

T h e novel comes f u l l circle when Anna throws herself to the tracks, in a desperate act of suicide. Perhaps she killed herself to escape her misogynistic reality, or perhaps the flaw was her own inability to commit to happiness. Wherever the blame lies, the very train that brought Anna to Moscow and her new social circle violently stole her away from it, crushing her fragile body.

We continue to be fascinated by trains. Europe. Trains. The same railroad tracks that take me on my weekend excursions in my junior year abroad took my ancestors to less inviting locales. I was met in Vienna by world-class art, grand castles, a hostel that sponsored a

I was met in Vienna by world-class art, grand castles, a hostel that sponsored a pub crawl.

pub crawl. My great-grandparents were met by Joseph Mengele, tattoo artists and showers raining Zyklon B. Europe is a death factory, tracks snaking through the hard earth to reach the silent graveyard. I took the sleeper car while they took the cattle car. I travel Europe with my non-Jewish friends and am haunted by ghosts they can’t see.

But I wanted Europe. More than that I wanted Eastern Europe, raw and gritty Eastern Europe. Could have had Israel.

Could have accepted my birthright. A semester at Hebrew University. Shabbat dinners with my relatives, improving my Hebrew, learning more of my history. Find a nice- or not so nice- Jewish boy to keep me occupied. I said no.

Chose Budapest. Cosmopolitan city scarred by Communism. An afterthought of a capital, subordinate to Prague and Vienna. A city with a towering castle, lit up every night like a fairytale. And I was the princess for whom the magical city was created.

Or maybe we all just want Europe. Quintessential post-college gift from parents is a trip through Europe. My father did it thirty years ago, I did it last year. It’s transitional. Before law school, before medical school, indulge your travel bug, satiate your travel lust. It’s a rite of passage, go in a child come out a man. It educates, it humanizes, it cultures. Hit up the top cities, see the Mona Lisa, climb the Eiffel Tower, eat pot brownies. Live the stereotype, be the stereotype. The train will bring you there- you won’t be derailed.

Do you want your vote to be counted?

Are you afraid of judges taking away your rights ?

Or are you just a generally angry person?

Write for The Hoot Impressions by emailing

bmatthew@brandeis.edu

6

September 26, 2008

The Hoot

FEATURES

Brandeis introduces LermanNeubauer Fellowship for class of 2012

STRANGE BUT TRUE

BY BEN SACKS Editor

BY BEN SACKS Editor

Beginning with this year’s Freshman class, Brandeis will offer a Lerman-Neubauer Fellowship each summer to 12 accepted prospective students who have demonstrated academic excellence during high school.

Funded by a generous donation by Jeanette Lerman, Neubauer ‘69- President of J.P. Lerman & Co., former Vice President of Communications for Time Warner, and the provider for the Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer '69 Prize for Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring- the fellowship provides selected students with special access to research facilities, special University Seminars (USEM) options and a paid summer internship opportunity following Sophomore or Junior year. The Fellowship was inaugurated this year to “recognize students with exceptional scholastic records who can add to their potential fields,” according to program director Sarah Hoenig.

Accepted students will have access to stipends for independent research or research with a faculty advisor. In addition, Hoenig will ensure that there are numerous group activities for the Lerman-Neubauer Fellowship recipients, including lectures, workshops, guest speakers and special fun events such as outings to basketball games. “I’m hoping to get them to attend academic events, such as lectures by featured faculty or alumni,” Hoenig stated. “I also want to take them to fun events, such as a Celtics or Bruins game."

This year’s recipients will be the “guinea pigs” of the Fellowship, as programming and activities are still being planned. “The group meets as a group every two weeks or so and with me individually so I can check up on them and see how they're doing,” said Hoenig. “I ask them for their input so we can make the program better...at the end of the year we’ll have a focus group.”

Though what is expected of the students is still unclear, Hoenig has confidence that recipients “are going to be able to build on their own experiences.” For now, students are expected to participate in group activities, come to the weekly meetings, take an internship after Sophomore or Junior year and perhaps culminate their Brandeis experience with a capstone project, the nature of which is yet to be determined.

“It’s kind of being planned in the short term,” noted Shayna Medley ‘12, one of the first recipients of the award. “They’re still trying to figure out the different things that we are going to be offered. Right now, the paid internships that we are going to be offered is probably the best thing about it. Getting paid internships is not always an easy thing.”

Rome to Hold Beauty Pageant for Nuns An Italian priest has stated that he will start a website for "Miss Sister 2008," a pageant for nuns competing throughout the world to gain status as the most beautiful nun. The priest stated that nuns are often stereotyped as plain and old, and hopes to dispell such claims with photos and biographies of nuns entered in the competition on his site. Though the nuns will not be scantily dressed, they will have the choice to wear or not to wear a veil over their heads for their profile pictures.

PHOTO BY Napoleon Lherisson/The Hoot

FELLOWSHIP: Alex Schneider '12 and Nicholas Petrocchi are two of the first recipients of the Lermen-Neubauer Fellowship.

Of the aspects of the program that she has experienced so far, Medley is quite impressed. Her Lerman-Neubauer -scholarsonly USEM, “From Colonies to Independent States: Decolonization in Comparative Perspective” “is really cool...a little more challenging and a lot of reading every week.”

Medley took an active role in helping to make the group cohesive. After attempting to Facebook e a c h of the other participants, she created a special Faceb o o k group f o r members of the fellowship and sent E-mails to them to determine who was taking the special USEM and to get to know them more personally.

Perhaps her can-do attitude is what got her accepted into the program in the first place.

“In high school, I started a community service project where once a month a bunch of us from high school went to a homeless shelter and cooked for the homeless people there, Medley explained.

In addition, Medley tutored a student through her honor society. Although she took challenging classes in high school, did well on her ACT, and she’ll tell you that

“I was definitely not the top person in my school."

She made sure to note her activism in her college application essay, which is one of the elements taken into consideration when deciding who to invite to the program.

“There are no specific guidelines for getting into the program yet, though obviously we expect excellence in high school,” explained Hoenig.

For now, standardized test scores are taken into account, as are the application essays, high school grades and demonstrated interests. In particular, “we looked for people -Shayna Medly, '12 who might be interested in social studies, such as Politics, History, Econ[omics] and [International and Global Studies,” she explained. “We also looked for people who had experiences that made them stand out, such as being a member of the National Honor Society, their high school debate team, done an internship...people who already had demonstrated interests.”

According to Medley, students thus far have had positive reactions to the program.

Hoenig is excited for the opportunities presented to these students. “They’re so diverse, so busy all the time. “It’s really inspiring for me to watch all of them...and how motivated they are.”

Right now, the paid internships...is probably the best thing about it. Getting paid internships is not always an easy thing.”

Liked reading about Brooke Rosenbauer's experiences with Grassroot Soccer in The Hoot? See her in action! Check out the BrandeisNOW video on The Hoot's website today! For more information about Grassroot Soccer and Lose the Shoes, visit http:// www.grassrootsoccer.org/ or www.kickaids.org

Couple Buys Four Winning Tickets for same drawing A Madison, WI couple bought four winning lottery tickets at four separate locations for the state's SuperCash lottery drawing earlier last week, each one good for $350,000 for a total of $1.4 million before taxes. The husband, a fan of math games, claims to have figured out an equation for picking winning lottery tickets. A professor at a local college scoffed at the idea, noting that it's impossible to develop an equation for numbers that are randomly generated.

Man catches 21 pound fish on 6-pound line An Elkin, N.C. man was holding his granddaughter's Barbie fishing rod while she ran to the bathroom when suddenly the tip of the rod bent hard toward the pond in which he was fishing. Using 6-pound test, line designed for catching much smaller fish, the man managed to reel in a 21 pound, one ounce catfish, a new state record for the breed. The man noted that the fish was longer than the rod.

High School gets perfect scores on SATs and ACTs A Mason, OH student recieved perfect scores on both the SAT and the ACT after studying regularly since the sixth grade.

Last year, less than 300 of the 1.5 million -.2 million or so ACT test takers recieved a 36, the equivalent.

September 26, 2008

F E AT U R E S

The Hoot

7

First-Years begin Brandeis with open minds

BY SHAYNA MEDLEY Special to The Hoot

All high school students have pre-conceived notions about what university life will be like; the fears, the expectations, the stereotypes. But how is life at Brandeis really shaping up for the class of 2012 first-year?

Having been at school for almost a month, first-years are now truly starting to get a sense of what it is like to be a part of the Brandeis community. Freshmen are dealing with the typical college worries, as well as thoughts and expectations particular to Brandeis. Most students share the excitement of living on their own for the first time and are getting answers to questions such as, will I like my roommate? Will I have enough space for all my stuff ?

Roommates are required to fill out a contract to set some ground rules on issues such as guests, music, studying, and sleep habits. Students also have a private meeting with their Community Advisor (CA) to discuss any problems they are having. This shows students that people at Brandeis care about their dorm experience and are here to make it the best it can be. “I think that having meetings with our CAs and being made to meet with advisors is a really good idea for the freshmen,” said Hickey ’12. “It lets us know that we actually have resources we can use.”

Laura Hickey ‘12, a first-year living in Cable Hall, shared her thoughts and previous concerns about living with roommates. “I was very apprehensive about living in a lofted triple, but now that I’m here I couldn’t be happier,” she said.“The people here at Brandeis are all so friendly and fun to be around.

I love living in North because the quad is up being true,” he said. “They’ve turned out a really nice area and I usually pass by the well so far, but one big difference between castle, which is a really unique thing to see.” college courses and high school courses is Another challenge first- years must face is that we’re assessed much less frequently, so I adjusting to academics in college. Most stu- don’t really know how I’m doing yet since I dents have some idea about the academics haven’t been graded yet.” at a particular school before enrolling there, Let’s face it, having a social life at college and it is often a large part in their decision is another big priority for most entering first to attend. Referencing her expectations of years. Some were concerned that Brandeis Brandeis’ academics Laura Hickey ’12 said, wouldn’t provide many opportunities in this “I expected that it would be challenging be- department. Brendan Fradkin ‘12, admitted, cause this is such a good school, but I was “I didn’t think there was going to be one.” looking forward to the classes because they However, first-years have quickly learned sounded really interthat Brandeis stuesting.” do like to The stereotypes of no social life dents Getting the opporhave a good time tunity to pick from a didn’t bother me. I knew they in addition to bewide range of cours- couldn’t be true and my visits ing serious about es is one of the many their studies. aspects of college showed me they weren’t.

Nora Mitnick that differs greatly ’12 had also heard from high school. the rumors about a For Hickey, the aca--Sam Datlof '12 lack of social life. demics at Brandeis “I heard that there were one of the main was no social life at reasons she chose to attend. “Brandeis was Brandeis before I came here, but that didn’t really good academically and it was ranked really faze me,” she said. “When I got here it very high,” she said. was just confirmed that we are still all teenThe classes are proving to be a challenge agers, even if we are more studious or acaas she expected, but she enjoys being able to demically driven than a stereotypical party take the classes she wants. “For me person- school, we still go out and do things.” ally there is a lot of reading,” she said. “But Hickey agreed that there is plenty to do I am enjoying it, which I thought I would. at Brandeis. “I thought it would take a little It’s been probably a little more work than I while to establish a close group of friends thought, but I also feel I procrastinate too and I had heard that there was not much to much.” do,” she said. “However, I have made a reSam Datlof ’12 had a similar view. “I ex- ally close group of friends already and we pected the classes to be pretty difficult and are never bored. We always find something have a lot of reading, both of which ended to do.”

Leap of faith:

BY ARIEL WITTENBERG Editor

As a sophomore in high school, Emily Dunning assumed that she would convert to Judaism once she went to college. Since arriving at Brandeis University last year, however, Dunning, who is now a sophomore, has decided to postpone her plans for conversion.

Dunning acknowledges that her delay may puzzle some because Brandeis has a large Jewish community, but said she was deterred because in college, she simply doesn’t have the time.

“It was an opportunity costbased decision,” she said.

As the daughter of a “staunchly Christian” mother growing up in Plano, TX, Dunning went to Sunday school and church weekly, despite the fact that her father was an atheist.

“My mom was very gung ho about being a Christian,” she said, “and we live in Texas, so you kind of have to be an Evangelical.”

Despite her upbringing, once Dunning reached high school she lost her “suspense of disbelief in the Christ myth.”

“It was just like, this is Texas, so you’re going to be evangelical, no

Brandeis provides a variety of activities, both on campus and off. You can usually find a show, dance, or barbeque to attend, but if nothing on campus seems to suffice, Brandeis provides a free shuttle to both Waltham and Boston on weekends. The campus’s proximity to the city is a big attraction for first-years.

“I kind of expected a pretty laid back social life, which is what I got,” said Datlof . “The stereotypes of no social life didn’t bother me. I knew they couldn’t be true and my visits showed me they weren’t.”

Another stereotype that worried some is the myth that everyone at Brandeis is Jewish.

“Before I came here people had made me believe that it was a school full of only Jewish people and I didn’t know what to expect,” said Hickey. “But there’s a lot more diversity than I thought there would be. I like how there are different levels of religion here, but it’s not forced on us. Everyone is so welcoming.”

For Nora Mitnick ’12, the Jewish community was a positive aspect at Brandeis that influenced her decision to attend.

“I like the Jewish community; the people, more than the traditional aspect,” said Mitnick. She doesn’t think the religion at Brandeis it all overpowering. “It is entirely take it or leave it,” she said. “If you want to avoid it, it’s more than possible.”

As previous concerns about Brandeis are melting away, first-years are now finding out how much Brandeis has to offer.

Brandeis sophomore holds off conversian to judaism upon arrival on campus

questions asked,” she said. “You were Christian because everyone else was, not because you believed in it.”

Dunning didn’t want to leave the faith without substantiating her decision with research, so Dunning went to the library to study Christianity and it’s origins.

Because Christianity’s origins are closely tied to Judaism, once Dunning ruled out Christianity, Judaism was next on her list.

Dunning was inspired by Judaism because it encourages intellectual thought and individual interpretation.

She also found that while the conservative Christians in her town had often used their faith to justify political platforms with which she disagreed, Judaism used the Holocaust to advocate Social Justice— something she believed in.

Afraid of what her parents would say, Dunning hid her conversion plans from them for almost two years.

“I would have my dad drive me to the library so that I could study,” she said. “But half of the time I was actually looking at their Judaica exhibit and trying to learn as much as I could.”

When Dunning decided that she

was serious enough about converting that she should inform her parents, they responded in disbelief. “[My mom] just shrugged it off and said that I would eventually find Jesus and be a Christian anyway,” she said.

Dunning continued her self-education, attending services at the local synagogue in order to learn the prayers.

When it came time to apply to college, Brandeis’ Jewish background didn’t even cross Dunning’s mind until after she had decided to come.

“It just happened to be a very nice coincidence,” she said.

But upon her arrival at Brandeis, Dunning found the Jewish community to be intimidating. In Plano, she had assumed that she knew more about Judaism than many of the Jews that she knew. In college, Jewish students she has met are exceedingly well informed, leading her to question exactly how much observance is required by converts.

“ I u s e d to think I could pick and choose which laws to believe, but I’m choosi n g to be Jewish,” she said, “So then doesn’t that mean that I am choosing to follow all 613 command-

ments? ” Dunning says that while she still has questions about exactly how much observance conversion entails, she’s not in any hurry to answer them. “I don’t want to rush it,” she said.

“But that doesn’t mean I won’t pick up my copy of the Talmud at the end of the day and read it.

The Talmud’s fun to read.”

Know someone interesting? Write about it for Hoot Features!

E-mail Chriscal@brandeis.edu or bensachs@brandeis.edu

8

September 26, 2008

The Hoot

N E W S New club aims to ease Brandeis Waltham tensions

BY MATT KIPNIS Special to The Hoot

The first meeting of the Advocates for Event Education and Police Instruction took place Monday in the Shapiro Multipurpose room.

The club’s founder, Seth Shapiro ’09, opened the meeting by explaining the need for such an organization on campus.

Commenting on the students arrested at Pachanga two weeks ago, Shapiro noted that relations between the student body on the one hand and residents and police on the other were not what they should be. Relations between students living in Waltham and their neighbors were also an issue of concern for the Waltham City Council when university representatives appeared before that body to request a lodging license for Ridgewood three weeks ago.

“I want everyone to be aware of their rights: students, landlords, and neighbors,” Shapiro explained, describing the need for more productive engagement on Dartmouth Street where many off campus students live.

Shapiro envisioned the club organizing events to promote awareness of student rights, as well as better community relations. Annual events would include a guest lecturer and a party thrown to “simulate how a party could be legal and safe.”

The inaugural lecture will be given by C.L. Lindsey, the founder of CO-STAR, the Coalition for Students & Academic Rights, and the author of The College Student’s Guide to the Law. Lindsey’s lecture, entitled “Alcohol, Parties, and the Law” is set for Nov. 25.

Shapiro also proposed throwing block parties to improve community relations in areas where large

numbers of off campus students live, and creating an annual club newsletter.

As a university chartered club, funds could be appropriated for this, though Shapiro suggested the possibility of getting local landlords to advertise available rental units to defer costs. In addition, the newsletter would contain local law enforcement and school administration contact information. Shapiro also proposed that the newsletter contain student ratings of local eating establishments and landlords.

In addition to the newsletter, the club would create a website with links to Massachusetts laws that students frequently encounter.

After his presentation, Shapiro explained some of his reasons for founding Advocates for Event Education and Police Instruction.

“The social scene here has always been very disappointing,” Shapiro commented, blaming the cause on a perception that the police overstepped their rights in dealing with students.

“Students have been wrongfully arrested,” said Shapiro, citing Pachanga and other incidents. The club, as Shapiro explained, was meant to show that “there’s nothing wrong with parties or social life if it’s done safely and legally. I want to build bridges between students and the community.”

When asked if the club’s effort to educate students about their rights was in any way related to the Student Bill or Rights drawn up last semester, Student Union President Jason Gray ’10 explained that the Student Bill or Rights was separate, but added, “I welcome the opportunity to find ways for this new club to collaborate with those who are working on the Student Bill of Rights.”

Kopp says education gap solvable

BY ALISON CHANNON Editor

“Where you’re born in this country does affect your educational prospects,” Teach for America founder Wendy Kopp told a crowded room of students Monday night. Kopp, throughout her keynote address for Brandeis Citizenship Week, insisted that despite the dire reality of educational inequity in the United States, it is a problem that can be solved.

Kopp, who hails from a privileged Dallas community, explained that when she was an undergraduate in the 1980s, the only recruiters she saw on campus were investment bankers. “Why aren’t we being recruited to teach?” she thought.

Teaching, Kopp thought as an undergraduate, “would change the consciousness of the country.”

Shortly thereafter, Kopp founded Teach for America in 1990.

Eighteen years ago, TFA boasted 500 teachers. That number has grown to 20,000. “Everything we do today,” Kopp said, “is grounded in what we’ve learned from [teachers] who’ve attained significant success.”

Kopp told the story of a young woman teaching fourth grade in the South Bronx. The students in the class were only reading at a first grade level. In one year, Kopp explained, the TFA corps member was able to advance her students a full two grade levels in reading. After convincing the school principal to allow her to keep the same class a second year, “she worked to help the kids apply to the best magnet schools” in the city.

Kopp shared the story of another New York teacher. This young man taught tenth grade in Brooklyn. He was faced with preparing 58 students, a fifth of whom read on a fifth grade level, for the New

PHOTO BY Ariel Wittenberg/The Hoot

TEACH FOR AMERICA : Wendy Kopp insists that the education gap between rich and poor in the United States is fixable.

York State Regency Exam in Global Studies. While the curriculum is usually taught over two years, this teacher had but one. “He went to great lengths to fire these kids up,” Kopp said, “and at the end of the year, 55 of the 58 students passed the exam.”

From the example of Teach for America teachers, Kopp drew three fundamental lessons. First, educational inequity “is a massive but solvable problem,” second, teaching is leadership, and third, TFA “is not sufficient.”

“We have to step back as a society” to find a solution to the problem of educational inequity, she commented. “You can’t believe any one thing will solve the problem.”

Nonetheless, Kopp said, “I have such optimism that the leadership force coming out of Teach for America can effect these changes”

Fall elections marked by few competitive races ELECTIONS (from p. 1)

election, he was informed that he was ineligible because he had turned in his materials too late. He was also informed that another candidate, Loh, had entered the race.

Chatterjee then suggested he run as a write-in candidate. Shortly before the election voting began, Chatterjee decided to allow Robinson to run as a ballot candidate, Robinson said.

“I lost by five votes,” he said, “I feel at some level I was at a disadvantage and it had nothing to do with any action I did.”

“The disadvantages I faced were a direct result of actions made by student Union officials,” he continued. “The fairest way to ameliorate the situation would be to hold another election. I just want a fair election.”

He added, “if the results are the same, I’m ok with that. I don’t want to be a sore loser.”

The Robinson case is just one of many anomalies that studded Student Union Senate elections this fall.

In the Class of 2012 Senate race, three candidates, Supreetha Gubbala, Akash Vadalia, and Joseph Sloman, were on the primary round ballot. Gubbala and Vadalia won 35% and 29% of the vote respectively while Sloman received 25%.

After the primary round, all three candi-

dates received an e-mail from Chatterjee saying they would continue to a final round.

However, elections rules stipulate that if a final round would feature the same ballot as the primary round, the primary round results are final. The mistake was fixed shortly, Sloman explained, when he received an e-mail from Chatterjee stating that he would not continue into the final round.

In the primary round, no official ballot candidates ran for TYP, Village, or Charles River Senator.

Chenchao Lu ’09 ran as a write-in candidate for Charles River senator. Lu, a Community Advisor, explained, “I was surprised when I saw that no one was running. I thought it was a great idea because I’m a CA anyway…it’s an opportunity to represent the residents and serve the community.” In the final round, Lu received 22 votes.

Terrence Johnson (TYP) ran a successful write-in campaign for TYP Senator and won the final round with three votes.

No write-in candidates emerged in the race for Village Quad Senator. The position will remain open until winter elections next semester.

Other races including Mods and East Quad featured only one candidate.

Jonathan Freed ’09 won the position of Mods Senator.

Sara Enan ’11 ran a write-in campaign

against sole ballot candidate Edward Tanenbaum ’11 in the contest for East Quad Senator. Enan received 51 write-in votes to Tanabaum’s 50 ballot votes to earn a spot on the final round ballot. Enan won in the final round with 78 votes. Tanenbaum received 59.

Andy Hogan ’11 won the race for North Quad Senator in the first round with a 56% mandate. Hogan, a sophomore, beat his nearest opponent by 40 votes, the largest margin in the primary round.

Andrew Brooks ’09, who filed a UJ case last year after losing the election for Senator-atlarge, and who recently lost the special VicePresident election last week, was elected Ziv Quad Senator. “I’m so happy that I won… it’s a final opportunity to serve.” He added, “I still want to make an impact.”

The races for Massell Quad Senator and Castle Quad Senator were the most competitive in the primary round. Nipun Marwaha ’12 and Narayan Wong ’12 moved onto the final round with 29% and 20% of the vote respectively. Marwaha won in the final round by a seven vote margin.

In the race for Castle Quad Senator, Sahar Massachi ’11 and Nathan Robinson ’11 finished the primary round in a dead heat with 16 votes each. Robinson beat Massachi in the final round by three votes.

in the classroom, the school system, and in politics.

To close her speech, Kopp shared a story of a TFA teacher in Houston who has since opened his own public school catering to disadvantaged students. In order to help his students with math and science, he started a robotics program in the school. Recently, he called Kopp to tell her that his students won the state robotics competition. The mostly minority students from his Houston school had beaten Kopp’s majority white privileged Dallas high school.

“It takes a school leader who is on an absolute mission” to help children achieve success, Kopp said referring to the Houston school leader. “That’s the good new.

There’s nothing illusive about how to do this.”

Economic crisis hurts budget BUDGET (from p. 1)

crease expenditures. We’re looking at both,” French said.

Though it is unusual, this is not the first time the university has been severely affected by external economic turmoil. Following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the university faced a similar situation of economic uncertainty.

According to French, Brandeis suffered from negative endowment returns, as well as expenditure reductions, for over two years after the event.

But the progress the university made in spite of these economic obstacles during this previous experience may offer students and faculty hope. “We were pretty successful during that period,” said French, “and we’re much stronger financially than we were five years ago. Hopefully we’re going to be able to get through this without too much effect on students and academic programs.”

Presently, plans to deal with a potential budget cut are yet to be determined. “As soon as the plan is complete there will be notification to the community. President Reinharz and I are scheduled to talk about the budget at next week’s faculty meeting,” French said.

September 26, 2008

NEWS

Deans discuss economic crisis

BY KAYLA DOS SANTOS Editor

In the midst of a national financial crisis, Heller School Dean Lisa Lynch and International Business School Dean Bruce Magid discussed the domestic and international effects and made predictions about the type of economy the new president might face.

Two hours before President Bush was to make a speech from Capitol Hill addressing the status of the economy on Wednesday, a large crowd of students, professors, faculty, and members of the public attended a forum at Brandeis on the “Financial Crisis at Home and Abroad—Imagining the Next President’s Agenda.”

Lisa Lynch, former Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Labor, outlined the origins of the problems that the economy has to cope with today. She described how in recent years there has been an increase in home purchasers using more than one mortgage and buying homes with only a little money down. Also, in 2004 to 2006 there was a swell of subprime mortgages.

Subprime mortgages are offered to buyers with low credit ratings and who are riskier investments.

They are presented at an initial rate, which is increased after two to three years. In order to increase capital, some companies securitized the subprime mortgages by bundling the loan with others and then selling off the interest to various investors.

Lynch explained that borrowers were able to afford payments on their loans because house prices were increasing. However, after house prices reached their peak in 2005, they plummeted and people struggled to make the payments.

Lynch said, “it was easier to give the keys of the house to the bank,” but since the loans were securitized there was confusion about who would actually receive the money.

Foreclosure rates grew, builders stopped constructing houses, and construction workers were unemployed. By summer 2007, mortgage defaults grew by 79% over the previous year and American Home Investment Corp. filed for bankruptcy. Lynch stated that, at the time, people still thought that it was a “limited problem.”

During the last two weeks, the government has assumed control of the American International group, the investment bank giant Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, and the Bank of America acquired Merrill Lynch.

Lynch detailed the effects of the turmoil on Wall Street on the economy, which include a higher unemployment rates, an increase in inflation, and lower consumer spending.

Then, Lynch commented on the government’s proposed $700 billion dollar bailout plan. The proposed plan would allow the government to buy distressed mortgages with money from taxpayers.

She said that if the bailout plan simply addressed the “illiquidity triggered by sheer panic” then the

The Hoot 9

Hackett Fischer discusses book Champlain’s Dream

BY ARIEL WITTENBERG Edtior

Samuel De Champlain may have been the illegitimate son of King Henry IV, Prof. David Hackett Fischer (HIST) announced yesterday at a reception for the release of his new book, Champlain’s Dream.

Many historians have always thought that Champlain, the French explorer who founded Quebec, was not the son of the parents who raised him, and it has always been assumed that Champlain was the illegitimate son of an unknown French noblemen.

Fischer, however, said that both Champlain’s close relationship with the King and the King’s travel history in the nine months prior to Champlain’s birth lead him to believe that Henry IV was in fact the

father.

“He was at the right place at the right time, so to speak,” he said. “It could have happened. Granted that there is exactly zero hard evidence to support that theory, but [if Henry IV were his father] it would explain many anomalies in their relationship. It’s only a possibility, but it’s very clear that the two of them had a very special relationship.”

As far as Fischer knows, he is the first historian to publish the theory.

His book, which details Champlain’s life and focuses on his quest to explore America and establish a French colony in Canada, will be released on Oct. 14. Fischer’s other works include Washington’s Crossing, for which he won a Pulitzer Prize, and Paul Revere’s Ride.

PHOTO BY Max Shay/The Hoot

ECONOMIC CRISIS: Lisa Lynch talks financial downturn and the future.

government would probably not need to spend the full $700 billion.

If the plan confronted the “insolvency of financial institutions,” however, the outcome would be more uncertain.

Lynch said that the real challenge facing the presidential candidates is that by the time they are in office “the amount of money is going to be in short supply.”

Bruce Magid, former managing director and senior vice president of Bank of America, discussed the impact of the troubled economy on the country’s role in the global market.

He stated that in the best-case scenario, the current bailout plan could keep the world out of a steep recession. However, the U.S. would most likely spend the next one to two years experiencing flat growth and then two to five years underperforming. Magid suggested that during this time the U.S. should concentrate on structural reform of the financial markets.

Magid claimed that the U.S. would no longer be a world leader, but instead would be among peers. “[It will] be hard to lead by stick alone…Diplomacy might make a comeback.” He expressed concern about the country’s weak relationship with Venezuela and Brazil and whether the U.S. can compete in a climate of geopolitical tension.

Magid proposed that a way out would be through innovations and investments in the future.

He listed steps that the U.S. could take for a brighter economic future, which include investing in higher education, rebuilding an aging infrastructure, increasing investments in clean energy and life sciences, and regaining a moral compass.

Magid said that in the coming years Americans could become “less affluent, but more spiritual.”

Afterwards, David Warsh, economic journalist and former writer for the Boston Globe, moderated a series of questions directed to the deans. Warsh asked what the future of the economy in Massachusetts and New England would look like.

While Lynch, who is a mem-

ber of the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, acknowledged that the state has seen a decrease in home prices and increase in unemployment, she stated that it does not look as bad in Massachusetts as elsewhere. The reason, Lynch said, is because the “state is very interested in the future and has invested in higher education and in life sciences.”

Nevertheless, Lynch indicated that there is still great inequality, which the state has to do more to correct, and has to cope with an aging workforce. In regards to the nation as a whole, Lynch warned that if the government “can’t unstick the panic problem [the nation] will go into a deep and profound recession.”

Magid presented a slightly optimistic view of the future of Massachusetts’ economy. He stated that if the state pursues local global strategies, Massachusetts’ might be in the position to “outperform.”

Then, members of the audience were allowed to direct questions to the panel. An international student explained how students who came overseas to study at Brandeis may have to return home after they get their degree because of the lack of working opportunities.

Lynch reassured the student that the “best thing you can do is get an education” and that she should prepare to work in a global market.

“We are not the only land of opportunity,” Lynch said.

In response to the last question posed to the panel regarding longterm goals the government should try to achieve, Magid stressed the need to “figure out a way to prioritize and invest in the future” and to have a national dialogue where “everything is on the table.”

Later that evening on national television, President Bush emphasized the need to pass the $700 billion dollar bailout plan to bring the economy out of a crisis and invited the presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama to “help speed discussions toward a bipartisan bill.”

PHOTO BY Ariel Wittenberg/The Hoot

FISCHER: In his new book, history professor David Hackett Fischer reveals new theory about Champlain’s birth.

Noted Princeton scholar wins Brandeis award GITTLER PRIZE (from p. 1)

were reviewed by a committee I chaired whose members included Professor David Cunningham, Professor Laurence Simon, Dr. Daniel Terris, Senior Vice President Lorna Miles and Dr. John Hose,” Reinharz wrote in an e-mail message to The Hoot.

Appiah, who was born in England and grew up in Ghana, received his PhD from Cambridge in 1982.

Currently, Appiah serves as the Laurance S. Rockefeller University Professor of Philosophy and University Center for Human Values at Princeton. He has received numerous academic honors including the Herskovitz Prize for African Studies in English in 1993 and the Arthur Ross Book Award of the Council on Foreign Relations in

Visit us online at www.thehoot.net

2007.

Appiah has also been awarded several honorary degrees and is a member of the American Philosophical Society as well as the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

While Appiah has received many honors, he insisted in a phone interview that he was “very honored and surprised” to have received the Gittler Prize.

“I had no idea at all [that I had been nominated],” Appiah remarked. “In fact, if I had known,” he added, “I wouldn’t have expected to get it.”

When asked how he will make use of the prize money, Appiah said that as of yet, he has not plans.

However, he joked, “it’s about my fair share of the federal bailout.”

18

September 26, 2008

The Hoot

SPO RTS

Women’s soccer loses to Clark, then goes on to defeat Smith

BY ADAM HUGHES Staff

It was a week of very mixed results for the Brandeis women’s soccer team.

On Saturday, Clark University took the Judges to overtime and sent them home with a loss with the only goal of the game. Brandeis bounced back on Wednesday, however, defeating Smith College 5-1 in a powerful performance.

Saturday’s game was marked by strong defense and goaltending from both teams. The two teams combined for 11 shots in the first half, but neither Brandeis netminder Hillary Rosenzweig ‘10 nor Clark goalie Joanna Clark ‘10 let their guard down. The second half was much more physical; Clark committed 5 fouls and Brandeis committed 11, including one from Kaitlyn Oldfield ‘12 in the 89th minute that drew a yellow card.

The game ended soon after overtime began, however. Just 1 minute and 28 seconds into the final period, Clark sophomore Allison Kennelly scored an unassisted goal to give the Cougars the 1-0 victory. Alanna Torre was the offensive star for Brandeis, putting three shots on net; Joanna Clark was spectacular for Clark, making 5 saves.

Wednesday’s offensive explosion made up for Saturday’s lack of punch, however. By the 16th minute of the game, Brandeis was already enjoying a 2-0 lead, courtesy of freshman Mimi

Theodore’s unassisted goal and sophomore Ellie Einhorn’s strike assisted by Francesca Shin ‘12.

Brandeis’s constant pressure kept Smith from getting any good opportunities on the offensive end; the Pioneers failed to register a single shot on goal in the first half.

The second period was even more productive for the Judges.

Just one minute after the opening whistle, sophomore defender Taryn Martiniello’s corner kick was converted by classmate Tiffany Pacheco. Brandeis struck again ten minutes later one a strong solo effort from Melissa Gorenkoff ‘10, and rookie Kelly Doolittle finished the scoring in the 72nd minute. Hailey Bird tallied a goal for Smith in garbage time, but Brandeis walked off the field with their heads held high and a 5-1 victory.

Brandeis is now 5-2-1 on the season, and the team has outscored their oppe-

Three Brandeis athletes were named University Athletic Association (UAA) Athletes of the Week as cross country’s Marie Lemay ’11 and Paul Norton ’11 and soccer forward Ben Premo were rewarded for their performances.

Lemay’s 11th place finish with a time of 18:43 helped secure third place for the Judges back at the UMassDartmouth Shriners Invitational back on September 20th. Norton’s third place finish with a time of 25:08 assisted the 30th ranked Judges men’s cross-country squad to a seventh place finish at UMass-Dartmouth.

Premo earned his fifth career Athlete of the Week award, scoring the game-winning overtime tally against WPI to secure the first road win of the season and had the final goal in a 4-0 rout of Colby-Sawyer. Premo is currently the sixth highest goal scored in Brandeis men’s soccer history with 35 goals and seventh in points with 91.

This was the first Athlete of the Week honors for Lemay and Norton.

PHOTO BY Max Shay/The Hoot

nents by a 17-6 margin. Their defense has been particularly impressive; opponents have registered only 27 shots on goal and collected 2 assists. The rare defensive mistakes have been handled ably by Hillary Rosenzweig, who sports an impressive .769 save percentage.

The Judges’ next game is away against Wellesley College on October 1st; they do not return home until October 7th against Tufts.

Women’s volleyball ends winning streak

Paige Blasco ’11 led the Judges offense with 12 kills and provided help on defense with 15 digs while Lorraine All good things must come to an Wingenbach ’09 and Bridget McAllister end. After all, the Roman Empire fell, ’10 each had 9 kills. Abby Blasco ’11 the Beatles broke up, Clarence Thomas secured the defense with 24 digs to go replaced Thurgood Marshall and the along with 32 assists while libero VioBrandeis volleyball team saw their five lette Ruggiero ’09 had 16 digs for the game winning streak come to its conclu- match. sion, bowing to undefeated Tufts 1-3.

The Jumbos attack was spearheaded “I think we had a lot of energy in the by Dawson Joyce-Mendive who had a beginning and I think it kind of taperd match high 17 kills. Caitlin Updike had off towards the end which harmed us eight kills while playing only two sets in the long run,” tri-captain Piera Carf- and Dana Feiger had 42 assists. Feiger agno ‘10 explained. along with Natalie Goldstein had a “But I think that we have a better idea match high 23 digs. of what we need to work on for this Errors proved to be the tipping stat weekend against Amherst.” between the two squads; the Judges had The Judges climbed to a one point 26 errors to the Jumbos 23 and quadrudeficit in the first set and two points in pled Tufts on service errors the second 12-4. but the Jum- I think we had a lot of energy The loss comes five days afbos over- in the beginning and I think it ter the Judges picked up their took them kind of tapered off towards fifth straight victory, sweepin both, 22the end which harmed us in ing aside visiting Endicott 3-0 25, 21-25. back on September 18 at Red B r a n d e i s the long run Auerbach Arena. Wingenbach came out and Paige Blasco each had strong in --Piera Carfagno ‘10 double-doubles in the winning the third set effort – Wingenbach picking building up up 10 kills and 13 digs while a 20-12 but Blasco had 14 kills and 10 digs. eight errors in the third set saw that The Judges face a tough challenge lead evaporate and require extra time starting today and tomorrow as they before the Judges finally came out the head off to Amherst for the Amherst better 29-27. The final set entered into Invitational. Out of action will be Abby a 23-23 deadlock but Tufts scored the Blasco who has been dealing with injulast two points to take the set and the ries throughout the season and the team match 25-23. will look to preserve her for the UAA’s.

Brandeis players named UAA Athletes of the Week

BY ZACHARY ARONOW Editor

PHOTO BY Max Shay/The Hoot

With Blasco likely out, Ruggiero will shift to setter – a position she held until sophomore year and Lauren Polinsky ’10 will fulfill libero duties.

“It’ll be a tough game,” Carfagno stated about Amherst, “we did well against them last year and it’ll definitely be a challenge, especially with Vi (Ruggiero) setting just because it’s such a short time between now and then to make the adjustment.”

A tough loss against a tough opponent and things don’t get any easier for this squad, how they come out of Amherst could be key in determining how they will fare in the first UAA round robins come October 4-5.

A D V E RTI SE M E N T

AD V ERT IS EM ENT

20

September 26, 2008

The Hoot

WEEK END FUN Lawyer discusses antiSpotlight on Boston discrimination law Beantown Jazz Festival: Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008, 12 to 6 p.m.

Columbus Ave., Boston

LEGAL (from p. 1)

Rain or shine, come to this free outdoor musical festival. Artists like Danny Mo's Jam, Hey Rim Jeon and Friends, Gold Sounds, and Berklee City Music Stars.

There will be over 50 vendor booths with arts, crafts, and food.

www.beantownjazz.com

What's going on at Brandeis?

Sept. 26, 2008, 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Dan Deacon: Friday, Cholmondeley's, Usen Castle

Old Shit Show:

Electronic musician Dan Deacon doesn't perform on a stage, but in the middle of the audience. Dancepop group Horny Vampyre will also perform. Punk Rock and Roll Club hosts. Don't miss out on this unique concert!

great conversation. People were engaged.”

Prof. Jacob Cohen (AMST), who listened to the talk, said, “insofar as one could extrapolate from the specific cases…the particular case that seems to interest us seems to have been mishandled,” referencing the Hindley case.

Faculty senate chair William Flesch (ENG) agreed that the issue had to be addressed: “The faculty isn’t quite sure what to think.

It’s certainly the case that there is a great deal of concern about what’s impermissible and why.”

Accordingly, faculty members were able to ask questions of Lapp to clarify any uncertainties they had about discrimination in the classroom. The majority of faculty was appreciative of this opportunity. “The comments were, ‘thank you, this has really been helpful,”’ Krauss said.

Lapp covered the basics of antidiscrimination laws. As outlined in a packet he distributed to faculty, which was obtained by The Hoot, “The university is required to comply with federal anti-discrim-

ination laws as a condition of federal funding.” This includes funding for financial aid programs.

In addition, he explained that the “First Amendment applies only to public institutions…The limits of employee speech in a private institution are essentially a matter of contract law.” This means that “private institutions may choose to regulate employee speech that might be protected at a public institution.”

Still, as Lapp detailed, although academic freedom is not “a legally protected right,” it remains “an interest that courts have recognized and weighed.”

Faculty senate member Prof.

Sabine Von Mering (GER), after listening to Lapp, acknowledged that she learned much from Lapp’s discussion of the differences between laws for private and public schools. Still, she remained unsure as to the extent to which his examples compared to actual situations: “The examples he brought up all seemed rather crass. My suspicion is that in most cases, the harassment is more subtle.”

Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, 8 to 9p.m.

Alumni Lounge, Usdan

In the mood for something funny? You should go see Boris' Kitchen sketch comedy "Old Shit Show." They'll show off their new members with selected material from

21 years of hilarity.

Sept. 27, 2008, 4 to 8 p.m.

Lose the Shoes: Saturday, Chapel's Field Like walking around barefoot? Enjoy soccer?

Then you should participate in this 3v3 soccer tournament for a charitable cause! All of the raised

Picture courtesy of Brooke Rosenbauer

laughingwarlock

Insert Comic Here

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funds will go to Grassroot Soccer's HIV/ AIDS prevention program in Africa. Registration fee is $10. www.grassrootsoccer.org

By Ian Price

By Anthony Scibelli

Floppsie

By Grace Alloy-Relihan