Intramural softball ends in two one-sided games
(09/26/14 6:26pm)
An exciting intramural softball season came to an end earlier this month with two one-sided championship games in the men’s and women’s playoffs.
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Women fall to top seed in ECAC Tournament
(09/26/14 6:19pm)
The second-seeded softball squad ended its season on May 10, losing 7-4 to the first-seeded Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the elimination round of the Eastern College Athletic Conference tournament. The Judges had just come off a 3-0 loss to the number three seed Smith College earlier in the day. With the losses, the Judges finish their season sporting a 21-18 overall record.
EDITORIAL: Farewell to the Justice alumni
(09/25/14 12:49am)
With the 2014 commencement ceremony now behind us, this board would like to express sincere gratitude to the newest alumni of the Justice, who have each contributed to the paper immensely over the past few years. We wish you all tremendous success in the future and look forward to covering your future accomplishments.
Teams race to top-five finishes at local meet
(09/23/14 4:42am)
The men’s and women’s cross country teams took on regional competition from all three NCAA divisions at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Invitational and capped a solid weekend with a pair of top-five finishes overall and strong individual races.
Police Log
(09/22/14 1:56am)
Medical Emergency
Canada speaks on the sacrifices for change
(09/22/14 1:28am)
Family, friends, fellow students, faculty and administrators gathered in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center on Sunday morning in anticipation of the 63rd annual commencement ceremony, where 832 students were awarded bachelor’s degrees, 741 were awarded master’s degrees and 97 were awarded doctoral degrees, University Registrar Mark Hewitt confirmed in an email to the Justice.
Views on the News: Media scandals
(04/29/14 4:00am)
With another academic year coming to a close, Brandeis again finds itself in the national spotlight with continued scrutiny over its rescinding of an honorary degree to controversial women's rights activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali. This scandal follows the media focus on Brandeis' executive compensation earlier this year, as well as the suspension of a longtime relationship of with East Jerusalem's Al-Quds University. Several of these stories proved to be the causes for major University policy changes. Which story will prove to be most significant for Brandeis, and why?
Brown guides Judges in final year on the court
(04/29/14 4:00am)
Adam Brown '14 has been playing tennis since his parents signed him up for lessons at their racket club when he was 10 years old. Unlike many of his tennis friends, neither of Brown's parents was familiar with the sport, so he had to figure out much of the culture himself. "I had to figure out how to play tournaments and stuff on my own and my dad never wanted to drive very far for tournaments," Brown said. "But it was good that way because I think I enjoy it more than some people. I've had to discover it for myself." As captain of the men's tennis team, Brown has the responsibility of uniting the team both on and off the court. He struggled in the beginning to unify the five new first-years and the existing team. "Once everyone became closer off the court, it became a lot easier to fight for each other in matches," Brown said. "Tennis is kind of unique because you grew up playing it individually," he continued. One of the team's biggest disappointments was the match against New York University, as they played them earlier in the season on indoor courts, which affects the pace of the ball and the environment because of a lack of wind or sun. "Indoors, you have to play offensive or you're not going to win. Outdoors, you can play however you want and just be really good at the way you play," Brown said. The match against NYU affected the team's seeding, and placed them in the eighth seed for the University Athletic Association Championships, although the team ranks 30th in the country, and placed seventh in the tournament. Brown brought his team closer with a hiking trip in New Hampshire as well as captain's practices in the offseason. One of their best matches took place against Trinity College. Head coach Ben Lamanna had not been able to win against them since he started coaching at Brandeis nine years ago. A couple weeks ago, however, the team was able to win the match 5-4. In order to establish a rhythm between his style of play and his opponents', Brown takes advantage of the warm-up before matches. During the first few games, after getting a feel for their style, "each player make more errors than they do the rest of the match because they're trying to feel out their opponent," Brown said. "But then after that, you get used to the player and how they play, [Because] everyone does play a little differently." Brown said that the sport has become much more than a game for him. He remembered last year's Senior Day, when the players were emotional speaking about the seniors. "It really just made me realize how much of a family Brandeis tennis was and how much it means to everyone," he said. It will be a family he will miss next year, as he will be working in an information technology company in Hartford, Conn. "I interned there last summer, so it should be good, I'm excited for it, but not excited to stop playing college tennis," he said. Brown has high hopes for next year's team and faith in the way the first-year players will carry the team for the rest of their time at Brandeis on the team. According to Brown, "They have all the tools to really take this team-we're losing no starters this year, so [they] just [need] to take the team to the next level."
Police Log
(04/29/14 4:00am)
Medical Emergency April 13-University Police received a report that an elderly male at Bethlehem Chapel felt weak and ill. BEMCo responded and he was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further treatment. April 14-University Police received a report that a female suffered a head injury at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management from a fallen umbrella in dangerous weather conditions. BEMCo arrived and transported her to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further treatment. April 27-University Police noticed a female student on camera who lay inert in front of the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. BEMCo arrived but the student refused further care and was eventually transported to her apartment without incident. Disturbance April 13-University Police received a report of loud chanting noises on Chapels Field. Officers arrived at the scene, determined the noise originated from speakers at the Holi event and advised those responsible to turn down the music as they lacked a noise permit. April 14-University Police received a report that a suspicious group of people were dumping large objects at Epstein Building. Officers arrived at the scene and determined it was a theater group disposing of used stage products. Larceny April 9-University Police received a report that several green signs were stolen around campus in the past week. Officers compiled a report of the thefts. Harassment April 16-University Police received a report that an employee at Bernstein-Marcus Administration Center received harassing mail. Officers compiled a report of the incident. April 18-A faculty member at Epstein Building notified University Police that he received a consistent stream of harassing emails. Officers compiled a report of the incident. Sex Crimes April 8-A resident in North Quad reported a past incident of sexual assault to University Police. Officers compiled a report to prepare for an ensuing investigation of the incident. April 23-A student reported to the Department of Community Living and University Police that she was raped the night after Pachanga. Officers compiled a report of the incident and will prepare to conduct an investigation. Vandalism April 24-University Police received a report of vandalism to a parked vehicle in the East Quad lot. Officers compiled a report of the incident. Miscellaneous April 14-University Police officers on patrol reported two unknown, suspicious parties taking photos of the Usen Castle. Upon further determination, a mother and son were taking photos of the historic landmark. No further action was taken. April 20-A student called University Police to report that her Brandeis email account-and credit card information-was hacked. Officers compiled a report of the incident and submitted the suspicious email to security@brandeis.edu. April 21-University Police noticed several students were wading in the Massell Pond. Officers dispersed the students without incident. April 21-University Police observed several students on the roof of Bassine Science Building. Officers advised the students to depart without incident. April 26-University Police received a report that a resident in Gordon Hall was playing with a lighter in his room, burning the desk. Officers and the CDC on call were notified, arriving at the scene to handle the matter and compile a report of the incident. University judicial charges will be filed against the student. -compiled by Adam Rabinowitz
Kagame speaks on Rwanda
(04/29/14 4:00am)
President of Rwanda Paul Kagame joined Brandeis University for a talk and roundtable discussion among faculty, students and policy officials on April 23 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the end of the genocide in Rwanda. "This is a time of remembrance as well as serious reflection," Kagame said in a video recording of the event posted online. Kagame, who became Rwanda's president in 2000, "shared the lessons learned during and following the Rwandan genocide" and "spoke about the challenge of rebuilding Rwanda," according to an April 25 BrandeisNOW article. "There is no template for putting a country back together after such a major tragedy," Kagame said. "Everything was a priority. Almost everything of value had been destroyed in Rwanda. We had to make decisions without any comfort of adequate time or resources." The Gosman Sports and Convocation Center was shut down for the day of Kagame's visit, according to an email sent to the club sports leaders. Several protesters stood across South Street with signs that read "Shame on you Brandeis." Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan wrote in an email to the Justice that the group was "allowed to protest away from the Gosman Center." He said he did not believe the protesters were members of the Brandeis community. Kagame has spoken at other universities including Tufts University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University in the past few weeks. According to accounts in the Tufts Daily, Kagame's appearance at their school was a ticketed event open to the community, and he spoke before a packed auditorium. Editorial pages at each of these universities' campus newspapers were critical of the Rwandan president's visit. An op-ed by Stanford's STAND, a student-led movement against genocide and mass atrocity, called for the organizers of the talk to "actively address the Rwandan president's unambiguous record of human rights violations, his consistent oppression of political opposition and his prominent role in the violence and political instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo." The event at Brandeis was invitation-only with no publicity within the general Brandeis community. The event also had tight security restrictions. "I have been told that there were a number of security restrictions around his visit and that everyone in attendance had to be submitted to the security detail several days in advance," wrote Senior Vice President for Communications Ellen De Graffenreid in an email to the Justice. The Heller School for Social Policy and Management Sustainable International Development program and Coexistence and Conflict program sponsored Kagame's visit. Prof. Alain Lempereur (Heller) moderated the roundtable discussion that followed Kagame's opening remarks. -Marissa Ditkowsky contributed reporting.
Walia sworn in at State of the Union
(04/29/14 4:00am)
Last night, Student Union President Ricky Rosen '14 recapped the University's and Union's major changes and accomplishments during his term as president during the biannual State of the Union address. Speaking to a crowd of students in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium, Rosen looked back on what he called the "most transformative" year for the University he has seen during his Brandeis career. Many of the major changes seen by the Brandeis community include changes to dining, transportation and budget transparency. Specifically, the University saw the arrival of Sodexo as the new dining services provider and the addition of several new dining locations. The University also saw the arrival of Joseph's Transportation as the new shuttle service provider, as well as both recent and anticipated changes to the mailroom, health center and bookstore. Changes in University administration and staff also marked this past year. Senior Vice President for Administration Mark Collins, Dean of Admissions Mark Spencer and Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer all left the University, while it welcomed Sheila McMahon as its first sexual assault services and prevention specialist and James W. Gray as the vice president for operations, as announced yesterday in an email to the Brandeis community from Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Manos. Regarding the numerous changes made to dining services over the past year, Rosen thanked those who were involved in those processes and relayed the feedback he has received from "satisfied" students. As for future changes, Rosen stated that plans to renovate the Stein into a sports bar will be fully implemented by the 2015 to 2016 academic year. Rosen also reflected on the upcoming meal plan changes, including plans to make them mandatory for all students living on campus starting the 2016 to 2017 academic year. Rosen stated that the Union and the Senate Dining Committee is advocating for an "affordable alternative" to the new options for students heavily supported by financial aid, which they hope to have ready by the time mandatory meal plans come into effect. Other changes include those made to transportation, including the expansion of Boston and Cambridge shuttle hours, the addition of weekend shuttle service to the Riverside Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority station, and the creation of an online BranVan reservation system and those made to the Student Union's constitution approved by 74 percent of the student body who voted, which were proposed by a Constitutional Review Task Force formed last semester. Throughout his speech, Rosen repeatedly affirmed the Student Union's commitment to voicing the concerns of the student body to the administration. One such concern was budget transparency, which Rosen said the Union made a "fundamental priority." Rosen recapped ways the Union provided opportunities for students to discuss these issues with senior administrators, such as last month's town hall meeting and roundtable discussion. While Rosen addressed many issues he had planned to take on at the beginning of his term, he also stated that he found himself working on an unexpected issue: parking. In collaboration with the Graduate Student Association and University administrators, the Union worked to look into student dissatisfaction with the amount of parking available and possible solutions. A task force formed came up with a "comprehensive proposal," which was submitted to the administration last week. The proposal calls for a long-term investigation into the construction of a parking lot, optimization of current spaces and the creation of a system with "rationed" and "premium" parking, that would charge students at different rates based on their proximity to certain lots. Rosen reported that the administration was "very receptive" to these recommendations and the Union will work to have some of these changes implemented within the next two years. Rosen also announced plans to form a gender and sexuality center and coordinator position, spearheaded by Junior Representative to the Board of Trustees Alex Thomson '15. Rosen thanked Thompson and members of the administration for their work bringing this project to reality. During the latter portion of his speech, Rosen reflected on annual Student Union initiatives, such as the Thanksgiving shuttles, the course evaluation guide, the "Take Your Professor Out to Lunch" vouchers, 'Deis Day and 'Deis Impact and thanked those involved. Before closing his portion, Rosen extended gratitude to current members of the senate and honored those graduating this year. After Rosen's speech, current Union Secretary and President-elect Sneha Walia '15 took a few moments to address the audience. During Walia's address, she expressed gratitude and excitement for her upcoming term and listed her major goals and initiatives. Among them, she announced plans to revise the petition process and create a documentation system for student concerns and feedback, working with student groups on diversity-related issues, and informing the student body about major initiatives at the beginning of the year. -Joshua Linton contributed reporting.
Corrections and Clarifications
(04/08/14 4:00am)
An article in Features should have identified Twaweza as a civil society organization, not a human rights organization, as was previously stated. (April 1, p. 8) An article in Features claimed that Twaweza provided access to basic resources, but it actually provides social services. (April 1, p. 8) An article in Features stated that HakiElimu was the first organization Rakesh Rajani '89 founded. In fact, it was the second. (April 1, p. 8) A photo caption in Sports incorrectly identified the subject as Karina Patil. Her name is Karina Patino. (April 1, p. 15) The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@thejustice.org.
Secured clubs oppose proposed constitution amendments
(04/08/14 4:00am)
Clubs including WBRS, Student Events, Archon, Brandeis Television, Brandeis' men's ultimate frisbee team Tron and the Brandeis Boxing Club are opposing the Student Union Constitutional Review Task Force proposal to amend the constitution due to concerns about the language in the amendment that would institute a cap on secured club funding. Currently, the constitution states that the Finance Board is responsible for allocating funds to secured clubs whose funding would be based loosely around certain benchmark allocations. F-Board, however, is allowed to exceed these benchmark allocations should a club require additional funding. In the proposed amendment, the benchmark funding would constitute a cap for a range of allocations that would be different for each club. Furthermore, sports clubs, whose funding has been handled separately from secured clubs, would now have a set allocation range. In an official joint statement between the clubs that oppose the amendment, which WBRS released to the Justice, the clubs note that having such a cap would be "short-sighted in terms of incentives for clubs to better themselves." According to WBRS business manager Carl Lieberman '16, the statement is to be released to the Brandeis student body when the student vote takes place. In an interview with the Justice, Lieberman stated that the main issue with the amendment is how the changes would "undermine the nature" of the way in which secured clubs are funded. The clubs state that the amendment would also remove any flexibility in funding. By "locking the clubs" into a set range of funding, the secured clubs will not be able to adjust to any increases in the Student Union budget as the University increases student tuition. Lieberman also said that the range does not "reflect particular technical expenses" that clubs such as WBRS may encounter. In this past year, he said, WBRS received more funding than its usual allotment to repair the sound board, which he said was expensive but "vital" to the function of the club. When asked whether the Constitutional Review Task Force or the Student Union consulted WBRS about the range of funding, Lieberman said that they did not. Lieberman also noted that the range of funding seems to be based on "incomplete information." He said that the constitutional amendment dictated funding for WBRS that was comparable to this past year's allotment rather than examining club funding over the past couple of years. This year's allotment was significantly higher than usual because of the repairs, he said. "As a Brandeis student," Lieberman said, he would want each club to be funded with an "appropriate amount of money." Members of the CRTF who proposed these amendments and allocations did not respond to requests for comment by press time. Lieberman went on to recommend that the constitution increase club feedback "between the F-Board and the secured clubs ... rather than simply capping the secured clubs." The vote that was supposed to go to the student body on whether or not to implement these amendments yesterday has been postponed to an unannounced later date because of a "need to look at additional facets," according to an email that Student Union Secretary Sneha Walia '15 sent out to the student body on April 7. -Marissa Ditkowsky contributed reporting
Brenner makes impact in lineup and on mound
(04/07/14 4:00am)
Starting pitcher Kyle Brenner '15, picked up his third win of the season Sunday with a dominating pitching performance in the first game of a doubleheader against Framingham State University. He then transitioned smoothly to his second role as batter in the second game, scoring a run that would eventually allow Brandeis to come away with another victory. Brenner is not an average college baseball player. Just take a look at his overall season statistics: they fill up the stat sheet in just about every category possible. When Brenner is not collecting strikeouts and wins as the ace of the baseball squad, he is compiling runs batted in and hits as a middle-of-the-order hitter. Brenner has been an athlete since he was young, playing a variety of sports ranging from baseball at six years old to basketball and football later on. After graduating high school and receiving recruiting interest from a number of Division I programs, he considered pursuing a collegiate athletic career centered on football. Brenner's decision to play baseball at Brandeis instead of Division I football ultimately came down to three key advantages: its baseball program, its academic rigor and the proximity of Brandeis to his hometown in Brookfield, Mass. "[Brandeis] was potentially one of the best schools that I could get into and it was close to home and [had] a rich baseball tradition," Brenner said. Although Brenner's pitching statistics are impressive-he has pitched 48.2 innings this season with 35 strikeouts and an ERA just above 3.00-he actually came into Brandeis as a catcher. "I pitched a little bit in prep school, but I was a catcher when I came in freshman year," he explained. "So coach said 'no more catching because it's too much on your body' so I originally was in the outfield, then I hurt my leg and moved to the infield. Now it's first [base] and pitcher." Still, Brenner managed to secure a spot in the pitching rotation as a first-year. Then, as a sophomore, he was voted as a captain of the squad by his teammates. Brenner said he still knew his place as an underclassman but embraced his position of captain to help the team succeed. "It was such an honor...that people older than me voted for me to be the captain," he said. "Being on the mound and having that much trust from your teammates makes you feel just that much more comfortable out there." Perhaps the only thing more impressive than Brenner's pitching performance is his ability to produce with a bat. This season, he has a .298 batting average to go along with a .365 on-base percentage. Brenner said that hitting has not inhibited his pitching or vice versa. In fact, Brenner thinks that being a two-way player has helped him succeed in both areas. "Because I hit, I see people's approach to the plate, so I think, 'where would I be the weakest?' [which is] where I like to throw," he explained. Brenner looks to compete in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament this season and move on to the NCAA tournament next season. He will do his best to help the team achieve that goal one pitch-and hit-at a time.
Police Log
(04/01/14 4:00am)
Medical Emergency Mar. 23-University Police received two separate reports of athletes who suffered injuries at the Athletic Fields. BEMCo responded and transported the persons to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further treatment. The community development coordinator on call was promptly notified. Mar. 23-University Police received notice of a student in Usdan Student Center who reported a lower leg injury. BEMCo responded. While the student struggled to walk, he refused further care. Mar. 25-University Police received notice of a female student at the Charles River Apartments who claimed to have experienced a panic attack. BEMCo responded and treated the student, who refused further care. Mar. 25-A student at Usdan Student Center called University Police to request a psychological evaluation. BEMCo responded and assisted in transport of the student to Newton-Wellesley Hospital. The CDC on call was promptly notified. Mar. 25-University Police received a call from a nurse who reported that a student in Farber Library experienced great trouble breathing. Officers and BEMCo units responded, and after treatment, the student refused further care. Mar. 29-University Police received a report of an intoxicated female in front of the Charles River Apartments. BEMCo responded and facilitated the transport of the student to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for alcohol intoxication. The CDC on call was promptly notified. Larceny Mar. 27-A staff member at the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center reported theft of cash from the administrative office. University Police compiled a report of the incident. Mar. 29-A student in the Foster Mods reported a stolen iPhone. He tracked the phone off-campus and University Police advised the student to file a report with the Waltham Police Department. Officers at Brandeis also compiled a report of the incident. Traffic Mar. 29-University Police received a report that a bicyclist near Mailman House lost control of her bicycle and struck a parked car. The owner of the car was contacted and BEMCo arrived to treat the cyclist who later refused further care. Officers also compiled a report of the incident. Fire Mar. 25-University Police received a report of a fire alarm in Deroy Hall. The cause of the alarm was a burning microwave. Waltham Fire Department, a Brandeis electrician and the CDC on call were all promptly notified. No persons suffered injuries and officers compiled a report of the incident. Mar. 26-A student reported the appearance of smoke in front of the Shapiro Campus Center. University Police arrived on the scene and reported a possible fire from the trash disposal. Officers extinguished the fire and discovered no damage to University property. Miscellaneous Mar. 26-University Police were notified of a suspicious male wearing a white jacket and acid-washed jeans in a Village common room. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the male was a guest of a resident. No further action was taken. Mar. 27-University Police received a report from a student in Deroy Hall who expressed concern about an email requesting assistance with money laundering. Officers discovered it was spam and advised the student to delete future emails like this. -compiled by Adam Rabinowitz
Corrections and Clarifications
(04/01/14 4:00am)
An article in News should have identified Margaret Hoffman '15 as a residential Eco-Rep. In addition, the Eco-Reps did not negotiate the 45-cent discount for using reusable mugs on campus, but rather educated the community on these initiatives. (March 18, p. 5) An article in Sports incorrectly identified a type of bow used as a compound bow. It is, in fact, a composite bow. (March 25, p. 13) The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@thejustice.org.
Speaker confronts traditional biases
(04/01/14 4:00am)
This past Wednesday, the First- Year Leadership in Health and Medicine Leader Scholar Community hosted an event called "Eliminating Stereotypes: Native American Culture and Medicine Through a New Lens." It examined Native American history, contributions and myths through a presentation by Claudia A. Fox Tree, a speaker and workshop presenter for the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness. The event was co-sponsored by the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life, the Brandeis Pluralism Alliance and Brandeis AHORA! Fox Tree began the event with a song, inviting the 30 or so audience members in attendance to participate in a traditional song and giving everyone rattles to use along with her drum. "We are an oral tradition culture," she said, explaining why singing is so important to Native American culture. "We pass on things by talking about it, pass along the stories." She then began by clarifying exactly who Native Americans are as "indigenous people of the Western hemisphere before 1492." She said that providing this definition was important because defining who the people are makes them more than simply stereotypes in people's minds. After she made this distinction clear, Fox Tree began to speak about the contributions that Native Americans have made to modern life. When speaking of a group of people for which oppression is a big part of their story, she said that "it's really important to know what wonderful things that group did." She explained that an estimated 60 percent of food eaten in the world today is of Native American origin, such as potatoes, corn and much more. She also told of many medical advancements made by the native people, including treatments for malaria and optic surgeries, among others. Following the positive contributions, Fox Tree described many of the issues surrounding Native American culture today. On reservations, where only about 22 percent of Native Americans live today, the mortality rate from alcohol abuse is 627 percent greater than that of all other races combined. As well, one in six teens attempt suicide and only about half even graduate from high school. Though she said that these statistics were about 10 years old, she said they had not changed much over the years. Fox Tree spent the rest of the event talking about different stereotypes and myths about Native Americans and how they are still extremely prevalent and harmful. Fox Tree had participants engage in a discussion of common stereotypes, beginning by speaking of several of the most common ones. She mentioned that some of the most common are that all Native Americans look the same, that they all wear the same clothing, that they are all violent warriors and that they live in teepees. She then had people engage in a free-association exercise, naming several words-including Winnebago, Pontiac and Redskins-and discussing what we associate with them and how that can be problematic. Winnebago and Pontiac are both Native American words that are more often associated with vehicles than with their original meanings, and Redskins refers to the tradition of scalping Native Americans, yet is now used to name a football team. She then discussed the negative representation of Native Americans in popular culture as well, citing a statistic that 91 Massachusetts schools had "Indian" mascots or logos for their sports teams as of 2011. Fox Tree also told the group how they are rarely portrayed in film or on the news. From 1990 to 2000, there were 5,868 blockbuster films made, and only 12 of them included Native Americans at all, and they were often extremely stereotyped as savage or alcoholics. From 1990 to 1999, there were 175,889 news reports, and only 98 of them were about Native American. Of those 98, the majority of them were negative, speaking of problems with Native American culture rather than anything positive about it. Fox Tree ended by presenting ways to help rectify these problems, primarily by becoming an ally and standing up against pejorative representations of Native Americans. Organizer Irene Wong '17, a member of the Leadership in Health and Medicine Leader Scholar Community, said that the community chose to bring Fox Tree to campus because she said that there is such a low representation of Native Americans among the student body. "We want people to be more aware of the culture and... many stereotypes that we don't normally think of," Wong said in an interview with the Justice. *
Equestrian Team sends seven to regional event
(03/31/14 4:00am)
In many ways, the Equestrian Team stands apart from all other club sports. Few allow their members to compete as individuals at an intercollegiate meet, square off against a host of riders from different divisions or are expected to host an all-day meet. The Equestrian Team, however, has the chance to do all three. The club, which competes against other equestrian teams from the Boston area as part of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association meets twice a week at August Farm in Holliston, Mass. to build skills and prepare for the year's seven shows. Club president Maddy Brown '14 explained the reasoning behind the trip. "Each member is required to take one lesson a week ... and we try to group [lessons] based on riding experience," she said. "Our coach, Katie [Bobola], teaches all the lessons and it's great to have such a knowledgeable person help us." The Equestrian Team took part in five shows last semester and four during the spring semester, all of which led toward a spot in last weekend's Regional Championships. Seven members of the team attended the competition and Hannah Wulkan '16 walked away with a top-two finish in the Walk-Trot-Canter division. With her finish, she secured a spot in next weekend's Zone Championships, a hopeful stepping stone to the national competition. In an equestrian show, riders compete at five levels: Walk-Trot, Walk-Trot-Canter, Novice, Intermediate or Open. Each successive level increases in difficulty. Walk-Trot requires a rider to only ride a walking or trotting horse while Open is divided between flat class, similar to Walk-Trot, and jumping class, which challenges a rider to traverse a predetermined course involving anywhere from six to 10 jumps. "Based off how much experience [a rider] has coming into college, they get placed into one [level,]" said Brown. "[Riders] accumulate points at each horse show and once they get 36 points [total across all events] they get to move up to the next division." As part of the IHSA, the club is expected to host a yearly meet-the Brandeis Horse Show-which took place last October at the August Farm. Brown took fourth in the flat class of the open division, riding in a course against the top level of riders defined by its lack of jumping requirement. "Most of the day for us is just keeping the horses ready and making sure [the horses] are in the right classes" said Brown. "We have to both run the show and get on and ride." "It's super fun, but it's a really long day because warm ups start at 7:30 in the morning and we get to the barn at 6 a.m. and we're there until 4 p.m." Although the majority of the team has completed their events for the year, Brown has gained much more from the Equestrian Team than just a chance to compete. "Our relationship with other teams in the region is really cool ... I've become really good friends with people on the other teams," she said. "That sense of camaraderie not only between the team but between everyone competing is something I'd like to see continue." Even as her time with the club comes to an end, Brown has confidence in the clubs ability to grow. "It's not so much that we have people in a higher division, it's that the people we have are more dedicated," she said. -Editor's Note: Hannah Wulkan '16 is an editorial assistant for the News section of the Justice. *
Squads run well in rainy weather
(03/31/14 4:00am)
Given that the majority of the snow has finally melted from the ground, Saturday's Snowflake Classic at Tufts University proved to be somewhat of a misnomer. However, with the persistent rain, adverse weather conditions still threatened to pose a challenge to Brandeis' track and field squads. The Judges overcame the obstacles, though, to turn in fast times at their first outdoor track and field meet of the season. "It was the first outdoor meet this year, so it was good for the team to get back into the routine of competing after indoor season finished," said Matthew Becker '16, who competed in the men's 800-meter run. "The rain and cold weather made it difficult to compete at our highest level, but everyone did a great job supporting one another and cheering though the tough weather conditions," he continued On the men's side, the 800-meter run featured a trio of competitors sporting Brandeis blue-and-white. Becker led the charge for the Judges, taking 15th in the event in two minutes, 3.97 seconds. Mohamed Sidique '15 was 17th, just .09 seconds behind, in 2:04.06. Trevor Tuplin '16 also competed in the event for the Judges, placing 30th and running 2:09.49 for the distance. In the men's 1500-meter run, two Brandeis competitors turned in nearly identical finishes. Grady Ward '16 completed the distance, dubbed the "metric mile," in 4:11.09, which put him in 20th place. Matt Doran '17 was right behind in 21st, going 4:11.20. Mark Franklin '17 tied for 11th place in the men's high jump with a leap of 1.73 meters. Meanwhile, Jonathan Gilman '15 took ninth in the javelin, throwing 46.34 meters. The men's 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes featured a host of competitors, many of whom also competed in other events. In the 100, Chi Tai '17 took 53rd, running the length of the straightaway in 12.18 seconds. Adam Berger '15 was 75th, completing the distance in 12.90 seconds. There was a role reversal, though, in the 200. Berger led the way for Brandeis, finishing in 24.12 seconds for 27th place. Meanwhile, Tai took 60th in 25.55. Franklin also competed, placing 73rd in 26.95. Nick Wactor '17 was Brandeis' top runner in the 400, completing the one-lap race in 52.73 seconds for a 12th place finish. Jeremy Wilson '17 managed 28th, timing in at 54.35. Berger completed his personal trio of events here, completing the distance in 55.71. Brandon Odze '16 also took part, rounding out the field with a time of 1:00.37. While the women didn't have a full team like their male counterparts-as only four members competed in two events-they managed to put forth some good performances. Maggie Hensel '16 just missed cracking the five-minute barrier in the 1500, running 5:01.50 for 25th place. Teammate Molly Paris '16 was 50th in the event, completing the distance in 5:28.19. Alyssa Fenenbock '15 and Selena Livas '16 put forth efforts of 29.60 meters and 19.03 meters in the javelin, which put them in 21st and 40th places, respectively. Though outdoor track features many of the same events as its indoor counterpart, Becker made it clear that there are a lot more variables in outdoor that can alter pre-competition preparation. "With outdoor track the weather is random which really can affect you as an athlete whether it's hot or cold," he said. "With indoor track, the conditions are always the same wherever you go, so you know exactly how to prepare for your race and what to prepare in. "Also, outdoor tracks are twice as long as indoor tracks, which means you have more time on the straights to build up your speed, turns that are not as sharp which allow you to keep your speed." Following an indoor season in which the Judges hosted the University Athletic Association Indoor Track and Field Championships, Becker believes that the team's experience and desire to improve will result in consistent progress throughout the outdoor season. "Our team is growing both in size and talent," he said. "With three new and young coaches, we set high expectations for ourselves each and every day. "The team improves every week and with a lot of new runners being recruited to the team we certainly have a bright future ahead of us." The Judges will be back at it this Saturday, competing at the American International College Yellow Jacket Invitational, which will be held at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. *
Archery club hosts unique home event
(03/25/14 4:00am)
Rather than hosting a basketball game or a track meet, Gosman Sports and Convocation Center was used for a far different purpose this past Saturday. The Archery Club hosted its second-annual Shamrock Shoot, a distinct event in the Northeast in part due to the attendees and also the competitions that took place at the event. Dustin Aaron '14, president of the Archery Club, stated his overall satisfaction with his club's event this past weekend. "All things considered, it was small but highly successful," commented Aaron. "This is our second year running it, so we had a lot of experience last year and we learned how to make this a decent competition, so everything ran really well. "It was not as highly attended as we had hoped-about the same as last year-but in terms of quality we got really lucky." The Shamrock Shoot featured some of the top archers in the country, aside from Brandeis students. "We had a No. 1 ranked in the world men's compound shooter, a recent gold-medal winner in the Indoor World Cup a month ago, a team silver medal winner, and another former top archer in the world which was really great," Aaron said. The Shamrock Shoot has been in development for quite a while, and finally, it is starting to take off in just its second year. "This had been something that had been in the works even before I was here," Aaron explained. "Even to just host a tournament at Brandeis is an amazing fundraiser for the team and it's great exposure and unique, and what ended up happening was we had an opportunity to bring even bigger names but constraints on the tournament didn't allow it." The competition is the only 70-meter indoor competition in the United Sates thus far but is styled like an outdoor competition, making it an attraction for all types of archers. Aaron mentioned that a smiliar venue is currently being built on the West Coast, and would host a much larger competition than the Shamrock Shoot. "Archery competitions come in two forms, indoors and outdoors," explained Aaron. "The beauty of our competition is that it's an outdoor style competition held indoors. Being in New England lets people shoot a little bit earlier than they would [have] otherwise. "That's the main draw," Aaron said. "It is the only indoor 70-meter competition so far in the United States. For now it's a great appeal to New England." Aaron explained that shooting indoors allowed archers to begin shooting while the weather was still cold and the outdoor ranges unavailable for use. The tournament gave each competitor four minutes to fire six arrows at a standard bull's-eye. Each of the bull's-eye's concentric rings is given a specific point value with the center standing as the most valuable target. The competitor, meanwhile, stands at a distance depending on their bow to attempt their six shots. Aaron explained that competitors at the Shamrock Shoot used two types of bows; recurve bows and compound bows. Recurve bows, made of wood or carbon fiber, have a single string on which the arrow is mounted and are more closely associated with the classic bow and arrow. Conversely, compound bows are larger bows with multiple strings and wheels at the top and bottom allowing for quicker and more accurate shooting, making them the preferred bow for hunting. Aaron explained that most of the Archery club uses recurve bows. The Archery Club, much like the distinctive event it hosts, stands out as well. "As a collegiate archery team we straddle two different halves of the world," Aaron said. "There's the collegiate competition and the national competition, so we technically belong to two governing bodies, collegiate archery and national archery." Aaron explained that the Shamrock Shoot attracted archers who were competing on their own merit, completely unattached to a college or professional team. "When we run something like this, we do it as a national archery body so we have people coming who are completely disassociated with a college and everyone who shot there shot as an individual, including the few people who shot from [the] Brandeis [team]." Since the competition was an individual event, only the top Brandeis competitors actually took part on Saturday. However this did not detract from the overall experience of the day for Aaron. "If this was a collegiate tournament we'd all be shooting, but since this is an individual tournament, we put our top shooters in the competition," Aaron continued. Aaron explained that the team had an intra-team competiton on Friday to determine who would shoot on Saturday, but stressed that overall he was proud of the direction of the Archery Club. "[As a senior] I really feel like there's a strong base left behind with the team and I honestly expect great things because we're still on the up. Every year we get a little bit closer, we win a little bit more. "Hopefully in years to come this will grow, that's the goal," he said. "We got off the ground last year, we did it right this year, and hopefully in the future we'll do even better." The Archery Club would like to thank club sports coordinator Matt Callahan, without whom the event would not have been possible.