(02/11/13 5:00am)
* The women's fencing squad is going through a transition this year and features only five upperclassmen. In light of the squad's youth, the team is fortunate to have saberist and captain Zoe Messinger '13 on board. * "We're definitely going through a big transition period," said Messinger, who was named University Athletic Association Fencer of the Week for the week of Jan. 27. "My freshman and sophomore year we had a lot of upperclassmen and they graduated and we had a loss of people. This year we have a full team, which is really exciting." * The sport of fencing is broken down into categories of weapon-saber, ?(c)p?(c)e and foil-and each weapon has different techniques for fighting. Despite being a saberist, Messinger sees herself as a mentor for the team, running practices and doling out key nuggets of wisdom to guide younger fencers to success. * "I don't call time-outs for other weapons, but as a captain it's my job to keep moral up," she said. "If you see someone cheering, you can fence 1000 times better." * In addition to leading her team to an impressive 15-9 record this season, Messinger notched a personal best fifth-place finish at The Big One tournament, hosted by Smith College, this past November, earning nine wins to only one loss. In her three previous seasons at the Big One, Messinger had never placed higher than ninth. * In Messinger's eyes, nothing has changed in her game, but rather, she is more focused this year as compared to years past. "I'm really driven because I was really close to making NCAA's last year and it would be such an honor to compete against the top 25 fencers in the country," she said. * Messinger notes that her teammates possess that same intense motivation for success. "What I really see is this drive that I've never seen in the four years I've been here," she said. * As captain, Messinger hopes to impart lessons of camaraderie and team bonding for the underclassmen, and hopes they learn to "just be there for each other." She explained that most fencers at Brandeis did not compete on high school teams, and in her eyes, the best part of the team is the bond it creates between fencers. She also hopes that she can foster good technical skills for young fencers to harness throughout their careers. * This year, Messinger has continued on the road to success, recording no more than three losses in any match this season, and she hopes to conclude on a high note. * After narrowly missing a qualifying berth in the NCAA tournament last season, she hopes to end her collegiate career with what she calls a once in a lifetime opportunity. Regardless of personal successes, Messinger is glad to serve as a mentor for a new crop of fencers and is thankful for the opportunity to teach the next generation of Judges.
(02/11/13 5:00am)
The track and field results in Sports incorrectly identified a notable finisher in the Tufts Stampede. Ed Colvin ran a 4:24.99 in the one-mile run, not Greg Bray. (Sports, p. 15) The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@thejustice.org. *
(02/11/13 5:00am)
Medical Emergency Feb. 5-A party in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center sprained his or her ankle. University Police and BEMCo responded, and an ambulance was requested to transport the party to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. Feb. 9-A caller in Cable reported a female party hurt her ankle while sledding. University Police and BEMCo responded, and she was treated on-scene with a signed refusal for further care. Feb. 9-A mother of a student in the Shapiro Residence Hall called University Police to report that her son reached out to her via text message to tell her of an unknown illness. BEMCo was called out to his dorm room, and the party was not located there. BEMCo was cleared. Roommates in the area of the missing party's room said they saw him 15 minutes prior and he seemed fine. Feb. 9-A staff member at the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center reported a student with a split lip from playing basketball. BEMCo staff treated the student, and they were transported via police cruiser to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. Feb. 9-University Police received a report of a student in Rosenthal East feeling ill. BEMCo and University Police responded, and the party was treated on-scene with a signed refusal for further care. Feb. 9-A student in the Charles River Apartments reported feeling ill. BEMCo was notified, and the student was transported via ambulance to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Drugs Feb. 3-A student in Gordon reported smelling marijuana in the common area in front of the building. A community adviser reported that the source was an unused electrical room in the basement. The party requested that fans be set up to clear the area of the marijuana smoke. Upon the officer's arrival, the area was vacant. Larceny Feb. 4-A community adviser reported the past larceny of furniture from the second floor common lounge in Pomerantz. University Police compiled a report on the theft. Traffic Feb. 5-A party reported that there was a vehicle parked on his bumper. University Police officers on-scene reported that the two vehicles were only touching bumpers with no damage. The reporting party was satisfied. There was no further action taken by the police. Disturbance Feb. 7-University Police investigated a complaint of loud music coming from a Charles River Apartment. Upon their arrival, there was no response from the occupants of the room. The party inside was asleep with the music on; the student was advised to lower the volume. Feb. 8-There was a report of loud music in the area of Cholmondeley's, which should have been closed at the time. University Police closed down the activities and cleared the crowd. The staff was left in the area to clean and secure. Harassment Feb. 7-A student in the Foster Mods reported being harassed via email by a former club member. University Police compiled a report; an investigation will follow. Miscellaneous Feb. 5-A suspicious person interacted with a student. University Police took the student around campus in a police cruiser in an attempt to locate the person with no results. University Police compiled a report on the incident. -compiled by Marielle Temkin
(02/11/13 5:00am)
A refugee is someone who has been mistreated in some way, forcing them to move from their home. As part of 'Deis Impact, Students for Environmental Action and Students for a Just and Stable Future, an offshoot of SEA, set up a "refugee camp" behind the Shaprio Campus Center, hoping to convey to students the need to care about climate change and how it affects human beings across the globe, their "home." The demonstration comes at the same time as the SJSF divestment campaign, which, according to SJSF member Dorian Williams '13, "has become a national movement of students to get their colleges and universities to pull their endowments and investments out of companies that are holding fossil fuels." Divestment was especially relevant during 'Deis Impact, as the effects of fossil fuels impact less developed areas. Environmental disasters affect everyone differently, and the poorer populations have a harder time recovering. Not everyone has the resources to start over after such disasters like the one happening in the Maldives today, said SJSF member Jacklyn Gil '14. "Right now we are seeing massive devastation in countries that are more vulnerable to climate impact and climate crisis," said Gil. It is estimated that there will be around 50 million climate refugees by 2020, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. The refugee camp was inspired by the shantytowns that college students set up to protest apartheid South Africa in the 1980s. The SEA refugee camp represents the lives of the countless people already displaced by natural disasters, and those who will be in the future. "The modern-day equivalent of a shantytown would be a refugee camp," said SEA President Lisa Purdy '14. The camp was built without any funding, making it more authentic. "A shantytown looks the way it does because the people who are constructing it use whatever material they can find," Purdy said. SJSF members built the camp with items they borrowed or found in the trash and from the free section on Craigslist, creating the feel of a makeshift refugee camp. They used wooden pallets and a tarp to create the main tent structure, with a smaller tent suspended on string and signs sporting messages about divestment and climate change. Students were able to enter the main tent and take educational materials about the campaign.The refugee camp attracted the attention of students and faculty alike as they walked by. "I was intrigued by the creativity of the display, even though I wasn't sure what it was about at first," Naomi DePina '16 said. Some stopped to take a closer look or snap a picture and learn more about climate change by reading the signs. SJSF members took turns standing in front of the camp with their divestment petition, hoping to get signatures and explain the purpose of the demonstration. On Wednesday, the Brandeis Divestment Campaign hosted a "Hot Planet, Hot Chocolate" event at the campsite. Students, braving the cold, sat in a circle with hot chocolate, in mugs that they brought from their dorms, and talked with members of SEA and SJSF about divestment and climate change. A variety of environment-related songs and poetry were also performed, adding to the camp atmosphere. The camp was set up on Feb. 1 and was scheduled to remain set up through the rest of 'Deis Impact, but was taken down on Friday due to the blizzard. Turns out, even an environmental demonstration can be affected by the weather. SEA wants students to take the messages that the camp represents beyond 'Deis Impact. As Purdy explained, "we need to keep moving forward because we have a lot to do in the next four years." The club hopes students can take steps in their personal lives to reduce their footprints on the environment. Such activities include recycling, biking or walking instead of using a car, or more inventive ways of that might not immediaditely come to mind, such as not eating soy products or using homemade laundry detergent, according to Purdy. Joining with other students who care about the same issues can help spread the message on campus and beyond. "I hope to continue my work with groups like this," said Rohan Bhatia '14, treasurer of SEA. Bhatia is representing Brandeis at Swarthmore College on Feb. 24, to talk to members of different divestment campaigns at other universities. The aim of the camp was to convey the severity of climate change and how it will affect people, and help students realize they can make a difference. "We hope that people begin to appreciate the severity of climate change more, and really hope that it encourages people to push for more change, call for our university to divest, and speak out on this issue," said Williams.
(02/05/13 5:00am)
* The good times continue to roll for the Judges. * The men's and women's fencing squads made a statement against their Division I foes at the Eric Sollee Invitational on Sunday, securing four and three victories respectively. The impressive result followed a collective eight-win performance at the second Northeast Fencing conference Meet at Brown University on Jan. 26. * Men's ?(c)p?(c)eist Michael Zook '13 noted that the squads fought well and displayed great persistence, especially against top squads such as No. 8 Duke University and No. 9 University of Pennsylvania. * "We definitely won all the matches we should have and even dominated some of them," he said. "It was a hard-fought effort against Penn and Duke, and of course, I don't think anyone feels bad about that. Overall, the day was a good success." * The Judges looked to channel their momentum into a heated first-round bout against the Stevens Institute of Technology. * The men's saberists started on the right foot with an 8-1 victory. ?ap?(c)eists Zook and Ari Feingiersch '16 then earned another two wins to continue the successful campaign. It appeared that the Judges were well on their way to a seismic victory that would set the tone for the rest of the day's bouts. * However, the rest of the journey proved to be quite formidable. While the ?(c)p?(c)eists and foilists struggled in defeats to Stevens, the men prevailed by a 16-11 margin. * Foilist Caroline Mattos '16 reeled off four successful bouts in a 6-3 victory over Stevens, but from here, the women lost the momentum in a 16-11 loss to the Ducks. * Brandeis proceeded to encounter a much more imposing challenge, then squaring off against top-ranked Duke. While the men and women ultimately failed to procure a win, losing by 15-12 and 20-17 margins, respectively, several individual fencers turned in strong performances. Saberist Jess Ochs-Willard '15, foilist Julian Cardillo '14 and ?(c)p?(c)eist Zoe Messinger '13 each earned two crucial victories against the Blue Devils, which proved a good measuring stick which the Judges were able to measure their progress. * The Judges sought revenge on New York University. And they were able to extract the justice that they sought, defeating their University Athletic Association rival by 17-10 and 15-12 margins. * Messinger and foilist Noah Berman '15 defended their UAA honors from the previous week with match-clinching bouts. Mattos earned another three victories while the men's saber squad cruised to an 8-1 victory, earning seven straight individual wins. The men continued to gain steam, defeating Haverford College by an 11-point margin. * ?ap?(c)eists Harry Kaufer '13 and Justin Kwon '16 recorded three wins en route to an 8-1 victory. Saberists Adam Mandel '15 and Ochs-Willard also paved the way for an imposing 7-2 win. These two scores contributed to an impressive 19-8 victory. * Mattos and Messinger each contributed three victories en route to a 17-10 defeat of Haverford. * Meanwhile, the Judges breezed past Yeshiva University with an imposing 51 victories, conceding a mere four points in the process. * Brandeis looked to make the finishing blow in a duel against the premier UPenn squad. However, the Judges still had work to do. While the women's foilists and ?(c)p?(c)eists contributed a total of three victories, the saberists gave the Quakers a run for their money. * Messinger and Emmily Smith '13 displayed their experience, closing to within one point of UPenn. Ultimately, though, Brandeis could not complete the comeback, losing by a tight 5-4 margin in the closing hours of the tournament. * Berman, Cardillo and foilist Ethan Levy '15 each earned two victories against the Quakers, but from there, the Judges' weapons could not pierce UPenn's seemingly impenetrable armor. * Zook noted that this experience against Division I opponents would prove to be crucial in future meets, especially against key opponents in the Beanpot Tournament such as Boston College and Harvard University. * "We have shown we can definitely pull weight against our Division I opponents," he said. * "It's a smaller sport, and with a lot of experience, you learn from quite a variation of skill levels." * The women will next travel to the New Jersey Institute of Technology this Saturday to square off against the hosts, Stevens, Temple University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. * Both squads will join together to compete in the Beanpot Tournament on Feb. 12, hosted at Boston College. * Zook concluded with a belief that the Judges have the requisite skill to succeed against their regional foes. * "It would be great to have a strong performance at the Beanpot," he said. "If we can take out BC and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and give Harvard a good fight, that'd be wonderful. We've certainly got the talent."
(02/05/13 5:00am)
* The men's and women's swimming and diving squads could not have envisioned a better end to the 2012-13 campaign, racing out to a season-high 27 individual victories in a non-scoring meet against Regis College on Saturday. * Yet, the meet on Saturday also marked the end of an era. Holly Spicer '13, Antonio Cancio '13, Esther Tandetnik '13, Niko Karkantis '13 and Jared Goldman '13 all competed in 2009-10, a season in which the Judges were forced to compete at other local colleges. * At the end of their first year, following the indefinite suspension of the program, these five swimmers suddenly did not have a team to call their own. * Fast-forward to April 2011. * The University announced that the swimming and diving program would be reinstated for the spring 2012 semester, and following the hiring of coach Michael Kotch in July 2011, the road to recovery was initiated by the athletes. * Cancio noted that the seniors worked tirelessly to re-create and revive a once-vibrant program, especially for future Brandeis swimmers and divers. * "From the moment Coach [Jim] Zotz told us that the team was being suspended at the end of our season in 2010, we've been working hard to bring BUSDT [Brandeis swimming and diving] back," he said. "It was surreal to actually be able to swim again for Brandeis." * After the development of a talented core of underclassmen and a resounding statement against Regis, the Judges are nearing the end of the road. * In a ceremony preceding the meet, Kotch noted that the guidance and support of his senior class were instrumental in the swimming and diving squads' success. * "These individuals really bought into everything that I brought onto the pool deck," he stated. "Overall, these five were just tremendous at helping us get this program restarted and getting us heading in a great direction for the future." * The five seniors proceeded to make the most of the occasion, securing individual victories in several events. Tandetnik won the 200-yard freestyle in two minutes, 15.93 seconds, almost 20 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. * Cancio was the next to make a statement, earning victories in two key races. He won the 50-yard backstroke and 500-yard freestyle, finishing in 32.20 seconds and six minutes, 20.51 seconds, respectively. * Spicer then earned two victories, winning not only in her standard breaststroke event, but also in the 100-yard butterfly, finishing in one minute, 11.21 seconds. * Goldman won the men's 100-yard fly in 1:00.84 while Karkantis rounded out the seniors' success in the 50-yard freestyle event. Spicer stated that this meet led to the conclusion of a storied career for these five seniors, especially following an opportunity to instruct and guide future Brandeis swimmers and divers. * "It has been great to share all of my experiences from my freshman year with my team and carry on the traditions of Brandeis swimming and diving," she said. * Cancio further noted that the Regis meet marked the culmination of a rewarding and memorable rebounding season. * "This year I was able to share with BUSDT 2.0 the history and traditions that make the team great," he said. "The season has been long and both mentally and physically exhausting, but I wouldn't have wanted it to unfold any other way." * The next generation of Judges also made its mark, featuring two triple-winners and five other individual first-place finishes. Padraig Murphy '14 not only won the 200-yard backstroke in 2:09.15, but then raced to another victory in the 50-yard butterfly in 25.43 seconds. He ended the day's action with another formidable victory in the 100-yard individual medley, finishing in 58.95 seconds. * Lauren Cruz '16 ended her rookie campaign at the pool in Linsey Sports Center on a high note, securing yet another three victories for the Judges. After finishing in 1:06.63 and 2:21.48, respectively, in the 100-yard and 200-yard backstrokes, Cruz also won in the arduous 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:47.04. * Eliza Kopelman '15 continued to shine as the Judges' foremost diver, winning the diving portion of the meet with a total score of 322.50. * The seniors will race their last laps for the Judges on Feb. 13 at the University Athletic Association Championships hosted by the University of Chicago. * Max Fabian '15 noted that the squads will look to channel their team chemistry and persistence into a successful showing at UAA's. * "The team has done a very good job of supporting one another and working hard this season," he said. "I think these are both attributes that we can build on and use in the weeks leading up to UAAs and at the meet itself to benefit both our individual performances and the performance of the team as a whole. * Cancio reflected that even after the seniors graduate, the Judges will have the numbers and strength to win in dual meets for years to come. * "Either way, I think the seniors and the coaches have definitely built a great foundation this year for many years to come," he said. "As our current freshmen get even stronger and more experienced, and we get a couple of strong recruiting classes, winning dual meets will not be a problem." * The Judges are already well on their way.
(02/05/13 5:00am)
The continuation of an article in Sports referred to the incorrect page. The articles on p. 13 were continued from p. 16, not p. 13. (Jan. 29, p. 13) An article in Sports did not end. The story should have finished, "face Rochester Sunday at noon." (Jan. 29, p. 13) A byline in Sports misspelled the name of an editor. The author of the article is Henry Loughlin, not Henry Loughiln. (Jan. 29, p. 16) In a Features article, it was stated that the Brandeis National, Committee has over 26,000 members, when in fact it has over 25,000 members. The BNC has donated $126 million to Brandeis, not $115 million. The sixth paragraph should have ended with "raising over $400,000 from both sales." (Jan. 29, p. 8) * The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@thejustice.org. *
(01/22/13 5:00am)
On Jan. 17, the City of Waltham Public Works crew officially began repairs on one of the South Street water mains after a leak travelled down the hill between Gosman Sports and Recreation Center and Linsey Sports Center and entered the basement of Linsey, which contains brand new electrical equipment.
(01/21/13 5:00am)
Between running to class, balancing extracurricular activities and maintaining some sort of social life, college students barely have spare time-let alone time to watch hours of television. In honor of the new year, with so many television series back from hiatus and even some new shows celebrating their winter premiers, four Justice editors have compiled their favorite TV shows (or at least those that are worth watching). Consider this your four-step guide to televised bliss. What do you think? Check it out and tune in! 'Girls' displays real life HBO's new series Girls certainly made waves at the Golden Globes, but not all viewers are convinced of its merit. The show, which follows a group of twenty-something post-college white elite living in a stereotypical hipster neighborhood in Brooklyn, can sometimes hit a bit too close to home. The graphic, rather awkward sex scenes and the fallible, irrational characters are both easy to criticize. Yet it is the rawness of the show that, if you can bear to watch it, makes it so relatable. After all, real life includes making poor decisions and learning from them. The girls struggle in their romantic relationships, but the true beauty of their characters is found in their interactions with each other. Each female character represents a different personality that resonates with the audience: Shoshana represents a certain na??vet?(c); Marnie comes to terms with her own loneliness, dealing with rejection for the first time in her life; Jessa is that free spirit we are all somewhat envious and skeptical of; and Hannah demonstrates what it means to struggle with reaching adulthood, being cut off from her parents and losing her jobs. Writer-director Lena Dunham, who also plays Hannah, describes a double-standard in society's expectations for girls. They pursue men who treat them badly, balance their personal finances poorly and act unprofessionally at work. The behaviors are bad, but the characters are not. The writing encapsulates what has traditionally defined Jewish humor-a low self-worth and high self-confidence. Despite their flaws, Dunham hopes that ultimately the audience is rooting for them. With the new winter premier, and ratings as high as ever, it seems we all have the faith in Dunham's characters that she hoped for. -Robyn Spector 'Mindy' sasses up doctor drama Since last fall, Mindy Kaling's show The Mindy Project has fully captured my attention with its subject matter, witty writing and superb acting. On the show, Mindy plays an Ob/Gyn working with two other male doctors, creating a great dynamic for each episode because Mindy is the complete opposite of the two male doctors. The supporting cast surrounding Mindy is dynamic, adding a lot of depth to the show that some TV shows lack. The two receptionists are complete opposites, and the male nurse Morgan (Ike Barinholtz) could probably have an entire show based solely off of him-he is completely nuts and 100 percent amusing. What I find most appealing about The Mindy Project is that it seems very honest. While some aspects of the show (Mindy crashing her ex's wedding and giving a drunken toast to the couple) are probably somewhat embellished for comedy's sake, I find myself believing that these incidents are based off of ones that Mindy experienced in her own life. In the same vein as HBO's Girls, the more realistic (a.k.a. not perfect) characters add to the honesty and allure of the show. As much as I love HBO's huge hit Sex and the City, the lives of those four women were often too neatly packaged. In The Mindy Project, the characters have dilemmas that us "normal" people have. While some critics of the show complain that the problems Mindy faces are too relationship-focused for such a strong female character, I find it's the opposite: Mindy is a strong female character and she isn't afraid to go out and find exactly what she wants from a relationship. Luckily for us, her journey in her personal and professional life makes for great television. -Marielle Temkin Perry resurrects himself in 'Go On' As a Friends lover, I started watching Go On hoping Matthew Perry would continue his role as a witty and hysterical character. In his new role as Ryan King, a big time sports reporter, he attempts to cope with the loss of his wife, Janey. In doing so, he joins a therapy group containing anything but ordinary characters, all of whom are dealing with some sort of a loss, ranging from the death of a cat to the death of a child. The group, which is lead by Lauren (Laura Benanti), who has no formal training, somehow manages to encourage the members to lean on each other, creating a family-like bond and support system. They help one another move on through weekly get-togethers and supporting each another in and out of their meetings, including birthday celebrations and family events. While he has struggled to transition to new roles after finding success with Friends, Matthew Perry makes the leap brilliantly into this comedic, yet realistic series in which he once again immerses himself in a television pseudo-family. In Perry's past role, he was one of the six gifted actors who equally contributed, but in Go On he establishes himself as the clear star. Initially skeptical of joining this group of misfits, Ryan soon finds he's more like them than he thought and ends up establishing himself as their new leader. They seem to idolize him, not only because he is a famous sportscaster but also for his phenomenal sense of humor. With his "too good" attitude Ryan ridicules the group members for their strange characteristics, yet also pokes plenty of fun at himself along the way, and joins in their antics. Although Perry excels at his role, the show's plot, while often humorous, can seem uncreative at times. All of the plot's most basic elements have been seen before, such as a lonely, successful man searching to find love, and a seemingly strange group of people who happen to get along. Overall, Go On is a simple yet immensely satisfying show. With the seemingly depressing theme for a show, the writers do a great job of deciding what about the subject of loss is funny and what is just sad. It may not have won any Golden Globes, and I'm not sure it should, but I still find the time to keep up with the episodes. -Rachel Burkhoff First family isn't all it's cracked up to be NBC's new comedy this season has been compared to The West Wing and Modern Family, two masterful shows in their respective genres. But 1600 Penn, a sitcom based on a fictional first family and their life in the White House, doesn't live up to the promotional hype. The show has funny moments but it largely disappoints due to predictable and caricatured characters. 1600 Penn follows President Dale Gilchrist (Bill Pullman), his second wife Emily (Jenna Elfman) and his five children from his first marriage. Josh Gad, the Book of Mormon star, plays Gilchrist's young adult son, Skip, who has moved back in with his parents after seven unsuccessful years of college. He is a sweet-hearted idiotic buffoon who acts like a kid in a candy shop while running around the White House. Becca (Martha MacIsaac) is a goodie two-shoes, and an impressive and intelligent daughter. However, in a moment of weakness, she makes one of the first poor decisions in her life and doesn't use a condom, leading to an embarrassing pregnancy plastered all over the media. The show has moments of true humor, like when son Josh Gad mouths off at a racist old senator at a public reception--or when he inadvertently lets slip details of his sister's pregnancy to the media. But as much as Gad brings the humor, his character's flaw is that he is too lucky to believe (he secures an international trade treaty by giving a pep talk to a room full of Latin American ambassadors). Aside from Gad, wit is hard to find in the first three episodes of the simplistic comedy that defines 1600 Penn. In all, it's a decent new show for NBC, which is facing some significant losses in its sitcom repertoire. The good news is that the characters have the potential to grow and improve. -Andrew Wingens
(01/21/13 5:00am)
JustArts sat down with Ahmed Abdel Kouddous '13 to talk about his most recent acting endeavor and his future in theater. JustArts: This Winter, you'll be in In The Heart of America by Naomi Wallace. What can you tell us about the play and Janet Morrison's production? Ahmed Abdel Kouddous: Well, In The Heart of America is a play about identity, a play about guilt. It is a play in which the past and the present and the future are all entangled. There's absolutely no props at all. You're wearing costumes and you have your guns but you don't have tables or chairs or all that. Janet is a wonderful professor. I've known her for a long, long time. She's amazing. She's always there for her students outside of class. She will make the Earth rotate the opposite direction to make it work for you. JA: Aside from what we just discussed, to what can we look forward in In The Heart of America? What enticed you to act in this particular play? AAK: I guess an audience could look forward to seeing a side of war that you wouldn't otherwise see in the news. The beauty of this production is that the audience will find themselves in a completely different world. One that is psychological and one that I hope will allow the audience to feel the burden of guilt and other stuff that each character carries. JA: Seeing that your major is politics, and theater is only your minor, how did you become so interested in constantly acting? AAK: I've been doing acting and theater since I was a kid, but I've only really pursued it [since] my senior year of high school. My grandmother was a pretty big actress in the Middle East. My grandfather was a playwright, a screenwriter and a novelist, so I've always been surrounded by it. It's something I really enjoy doing. It's not necessarily something that I want to pursue as a career, but I'll definitely grab any opportunities that arise, acting-wise. JA: Who is your role model in the theater industry? AAK: Let's see. [Pause] John Malkovich. JA: Why? AAK: Because he's crazy. [Laughs and pauses] I don't really have a role model but I'd say my grandmother. She was an actress in Egypt. She was the one who always pushed me to pursue it, even if it was just for a small part of my life. I guess she wants me to taste a little bit of what she tasted in her life. So John Malkovich and my grandmother. JA: Recently you starred in a stripped-down, small cast production of The Glass Menagerie. How was working with director Paula Plum in such an intimate performance different from your other experiences in the field? How does this play differ from other plays in which you've been involved? AAK: Paula Plum identifies herself as an actress. So we got heavy, heavy technical acting notes, and I loved that. She really focuses on your body and the way you speak and what you're thinking and the history of your character and what they were like in the twenties [which is when The Glass Menagerie takes place]. She was full of energy, energy, energy. Every single rehearsal was an explosion. She's a very bright human being: she's full of energy and she's absolutely incredible. The Glass Menagerie is a classical American play, while In The Heart of America isn't classical at all. It's surreal, it's confusing. Acting in it is a bit confusing because you're not working with a physical environment. Everything is mental, emotional and spiritual. Janet Morrison is really, really good at allowing you to understand the spirit, the emotion of the play. And it's very, very sad. Both The Glass Menagerie and In The Heart of America are extremely depressing plays. JA: But I feel that in depressing plays, there's more ability to relate to and feel for the character if heavy things are happening to them. AAK: Yeah, exactly. I guess most artists are all depressing. Tennessee Williams [who wrote Glass Menagerie] is...he's my role model. Tennessee Williams, John Malkovich and my Grandmother. JA: When you graduate this spring do you see yourself working in the theater industry in the future? AAK: Well, I'm going to be prospectively attending the National Theater Institute in Connecticut. It's an acting conservatory. It's 7 days of week of just acting, 12 hours a day. It's intense. And then I hope to work, throughout my life, with film or theater production. Maybe acting, maybe producing. But I do like making money, so I'll have to give and take when it comes to acting. You have to know how to make connections. Business is business. JA: And on the toes of the last question, as a second semester senior, do you have any reflections about the past four years about Brandeis both academically and artistically? AAK: I'm very happy to have pursued both politics and theater. Ideally I'd just be doing theater. But, I do have an interest in politics that I can't just ignore. And unfortunately, you can't devote 100% of your brain to both of them. You have to give priority to one of them over the other. I really do enjoy politics and I wish I could devote hours and hours a day reading whatever readings they assign me but at the same time I also would rather be, you know, playing around with theater, with acting. I also wish I had done more student productions. Maybe I could find a way in the future to mix both politics and theater. Coming from Egypt, it's very easy to do that. JA: I mean, you have to be a good actor if you're going to be a good politician. AAK: I don't want to be a politician. I'd work for an analyst company. It's a very fun industry. You study the politics of a country and you come up with basically diaries and journals of what's going on in a given country or society and you give that to your clients. Whether it's an investment company or, I don't know, a construction company wants to know what's up. You're not hurting anyone. I mean, you have to pick and choose who you work for. But I definitely do see myself working with production, probably film. Unfortunately, film is a new media. The masses, the physical mass, likes to go to sports and concerts. You'll never get thousands and thousands and thousands of people going to a theater. You get millions of people seeing one film in a weekend. But the masses, where do hundreds of thousands of people gather at once? A football game. And there's a certain beauty to that as well. I hope that maybe one day, theater can be like that. Actors and producers and directors tend to forget about their audience. The audience is the most important thing. You're trying to tell a story. *
(01/21/13 5:00am)
Medical Emergency Jan. 14-University Police received a call that a student injured her ankle in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. She was treated by BEMCo and transported via ambulance to the hospital for further care. Jan. 16-University Police received a report of a 21-year-old female in the Charles River Apartments feeling ill after a workout. She was treated by BEMCo staff and then transported via ambulance to the hospital for further care. Jan. 19-A BEMCo secondary asked University Police dispatch to page their crew regarding an intoxicated female in a room in Rosenthal East. An ambulance was notified to transport the party to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. Jan. 19-A caller reported a female party vomiting in a bathroom in Rosenthal North. BEMCo was notified, and an ambulance transported the party to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Jan. 20-A 20-year-old was passed out on the sidewalk near the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center. The incident was called in by an on-duty Weston Police officer. An ambulance and the Waltham Fire Department were on-scene, and the party was transported by ambulance to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Jan. 20-A male, who was a non-student, in the Power Plant Parking Lot was reported to be intoxicated. He was transported via ambulance to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Larceny Jan. 14-A student reported that his headphones were stolen from the lounge on the third floor of Gordon. University Police proceeded to compile a report on the theft. Jan. 15-University Police compiled a report on a student who stated that her cash was removed from her wallet after it was recovered from the Community Living lost and found. Disturbance Jan. 20-A reporting party stated that numerous people outside the lower Foster Mods were yelling and screaming. The individuals in the area were dispersed by University Police without incident. Jan. 20-A party called University Police stating that her friend was intoxicated and being violent toward other individuals. The individual was calm upon the arrival of the police, and she was left in the care of her friend. No further police action was needed. Miscellaneous Jan. 17-Waltham Police notified University Police that a Brandeis student called 911 reporting a suspicious person in Village A. The reporting party described the person as a black male in his mid-20s wearing dark clothing. University Police received a second call from a separate student stating that an unknown black male entered Village A. The person was located by University Police on the fourth floor of the building and was placed under arrest for trespassing. He was transported to the Waltham Police Department for booking procedures. Jan. 20-An intoxicated male was seen on security camera stumbling down the sidewalk near the Rose Art Museum. University Police went to check on the male, who was a non-student, and was placed into protective custody and transported to the Waltham Police Department for booking procedures. -compiled by Marielle Temkin
(01/14/13 5:00am)
Hello again, pop culture-ites! The year 2012 was welcomed with anticipation (the Olympic Games, anyone?) and the prospect of "change" (get it?), but who could have predicted the pop culture medley that would make up these past 12 months? It's true that some things were expected before the 2012 ball even dropped: Taylor Swift's high-profile summer romance with Conor Kennedy ended in a break-up, but her ability to somehow find a new (British!) boy toy to kiss on the eve of 2013 didn't surprise anyone. Their subsequent breakup was hardly a shocker as well. And it was only right that after starring in four films throughout the year, Channing Tatum ended 2012 by announcing that he and his wife, Jenna Dewan-Tatum are expecting their first child. I guess we all knew that Blue Ivy, the daughter of power-couple Beyonce and Jay-Z, would be Hollywood's youngest diva, and I could have predicted that Lindsay Lohan would remain the definition of a train wreck as back in 2010. But I don't care how much you try to convince yourself, you never saw the secret September wedding of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds coming. Even now, details of the hush-hush ceremony are kept on the down low. The couple is making sure to keep their personal photos personal, denying the inevitable monetary incentives linked to selling such coveted photos. The only picture of themselves released from the Green Lantern stars' ceremony? A shot of the pair holding hands, with a glimpse of her dress and a focus on his new wedding band. Not everyone in Hollywood was keeping the bling on their ring fingers in 2012. Katie Holmes blindsided everyone (most notably ex-hubby Tom Cruise) by filing for divorce in June. The actor, often portrayed as an overbearing husband and intense Scientologist by media, created some shock of his own by quietly and quickly agreeing to allow Holmes to take primary physical custody of their six-year-old daughter, Suri. And in what is becoming the ugliest (and seemingly most ignored breakup of 2012), supermodel Heidi Klum divorced her husband of seven years, singer Seal. It didn't take long for Klum to bounce back, and she has publicly admitted to currently dating her bodyguard-to which her ex-husband commented that she should "at least wait until we separated first before deciding to fornicate with the help," in an impromptu interview with TMZ. Seal, buddy, be glad she waited until you weren't together-Robert Pattison wasn't so lucky. In July, "earth-shattering" news (with photos!) broke portraying Kristen Stewart, Pattison's girlfriend of four years and Twilight costar, cheating with married director, Rupert Sanders. Aside from causing an uproar among Twi-hards, the scandal led to an awkwardly-public apology by Stewart to her man ... and his decision to take her back. Go on, tell me you saw any of that coming. While the pop music world embraced international artists (hello British boy bands and Psy!), it also endured the unexpected loss of Whitney Houston. The 48-year-old songstress, best known for "I Will Always Love You," was found unconscious submerged in a bathtub at her hotel in Beverly Hills in early February. While the L.A. County coroner's office found evidence that the singer had used cocaine shortly before her death, ultimately, the tragedy was deemed an "accidental drowning." Thinking about a 2012 highlight that wasn't so accidental? Try the United States Anti-Doping Agency banning cyclist Lance Armstrong from the sport for life. Over the summer reality hit the fan when the ASADA officially charged the 41-year-old of doping, using illegal drugs to enhance sport performance. The result was nothing short of extreme: the once-champ was stripped of his seven Tour de France wins and all other competitive results dating back to August 1998. Armstrong's world continued to crumble when he stepped down as chairman of Livestrong, his cancer charity, and was dropped from huge endorsement deals with companies like Nike. He even admitted to the accusation to Oprah Winfrey live on her television program in hopes that he will be eligible to race again. As we enter 2013, let's remember that while we can't always predict the scandals of Hollywood, they'll never fail to entertain. *
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While students were finishing up their winter breaks and heading back to school, the men's and women's track and field teams competed at the prestigious Dartmouth Relays on Sunday. In the meet, held at the Leverone Field House at Dartmouth College, the distance crew gained valuable experience by competing against NCAA Division I squads such as Dartmouth, Northeastern University and Boston College. It was the first time that the teams had competed since they hosted the Reggie Poyau Memorial Invitational on Dec. 7, 2012. "I think it was a good start to the season overall," said Amelia Lundkvist '14, who placed 13th in the one-mile race. "It was a good start considering we just came back from vacation." The one-mile run featured a host of runners on both the men's and women's side. In the men's race, Alex Kramer '13 scored the Judges' sole point of the meet with his sixth-place finish. He completed the distance in four minutes, 17.74 seconds. Mik Kern '13 finished 15th in 4:25.31. Greg Bray '15 took 25th, clocking in at 4:39.93. Grady Ward '16 ran 4:42.43, good for 29th. Liban Aden '16 placed 34th, sneaking under the five-minute mark with a 4:59.49 finish. * The women's mile saw tight pack running from Kelsey Whitaker '16, Victoria Sanford '14 and Lundkvist result in consecutive finishes of 11th, 12th and 13th places-the trio timed in at 5:22.38, 5:23.02 and 5:24.12, respectively. Maggie Hensel '16 took 18th in 5:39.30, Molly Paris '16 finished 20th with a time of 5:50.52 and Rachel Keller '16 timed in at 5:54.60, good for 22nd. And though the majority of Judges participated in the aforementioned eight-lap race, there were a few other performances in other distance events. Jarret Harrigan '15 took 18th in the men's 3,000-meter run, covering the distance in 9:02.26 seconds. On the women's side, Nora Owens '16 and Gabriella Guillette '15 finished 19th and 20th in the women's 800-meter run, respectively. While the competing contingent didn't represent the entirety of the Judges' track and field squad, the multitude of races that were represented this past weekend show the vast array of events that the Judges have in their arsenal. This is incredibly important in terms of scoring points, and will be even more so as the season goes on, especially when they face off against schools with bigger squads. And, given the early stages of the season-the bigger meets, particularly the University Athletic Association and NCAA Division III Championships are slated for the end of February and the beginning of March-fitness will only improve as the athletes adjust to their training regimens. "We still have a whole season of racing and training ahead of us, so we expect that our fitness and legspeed will continue to improve as our mileage and intensity increases," said Lundkvist. "We're not quite at the maximum volume or intensity yet as far as training goes, but we're getting there," she added, "so when we get to those levels, hopefully our times will start to drop." Given the prestigious nature of this particular meet, the experience gained through the atmosphere and intensity of the competition will prove helpful for the Judges down the road. Unlike the majority of other winter sports, in which teams only compete against other Division III teams, the track and field team finds itself competing against Division I and II squads. While points may become harder to earn with the increased intensity, the level of competition will certainly give the athletes the opportunity to enter new realms of performance. Certainly, competing against high-caliber opposition has both its benefits and drawbacks. However, in the long-term focus, it will only benefit these athletes. The Judges will be called upon to do so again in next week's Greater Boston Track Club Invitational, which will be held at Boston University on Sunday, Jan. 20.
(01/14/13 5:00am)
The Brandeis men's and women's swimming and diving teams did not skip a beat in their return to the races in 2013. Following a rigorous training regimen in Puerto Rico, the squads recorded impressive performances in their first meet of the new year at Boston College.
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Fans everywhere of the National Hockey League got a late holiday present on Jan. 6, when the NHL and the NHL Players Association agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement. The new CBA-pending ratification by the NHL Players' Assocation and NHL owners-effectively ends the lockout that has cancelled more than 50 percent of the NHL season. The NHL season was scheduled to begin Oct. 11 with training camps beginning in early September. What occurred instead was a 116-day lockout that cancelled 625 regular season games, the Winter Classic, and sent many of the game's top players to Europe. Federal mediators, closed door meetings, and 16-hour sessions appeared to be for naught as the season seemed to be doomed to not take place. The NHL and the NHLPA had known since mid-July that the two sides were headed for a lockout, when an offer by the NHL was rejected by the NHLPA. The lockout, whose focal point was a dispute over revenues and a salary cap, marks the fifth time the NHL has had a labor dispute in the past 20 years. In the July offer, the NHL outlined its biggest issues-allocation of revenues and salary caps. The NHL wanted to cut the players' revenue from 57 to 46 percent and limit the salaries to cap at $60 million, while the NHLPA countered with a $67 million cap. Over the course of negotiations, contract length also took center stage as a hot-button issue and helped kill nearly an entire NHL season. The two sides finally agreed to a $64.3 million salary cap-the same cap as the 2011-2012 season-and a $44 million dollar salary floor. The NHLPA agreed to give in on revenue and to split revenue allocations equally with the NHL. However, the NHLPA came out as clear winner in terms of contract length. Under new CBA rules, a free agent can sign a contract for a maximum of seven years, and a player can renegotiate with their current team to a maximum of eight years. The NHL had wanted a blanket four years across the board, regardless of free agency status. While there were other issues discussed, including player discipline appeals and salary arbitration, these two issues formed the greatest barrier between the two sides and caused months of heartache for fans everywhere. The NHL Board of Governors ratified the new CBA Jan. 9, and the NHLPA began its ratification process the next day. Should it receive the votes of more than 50 percent of the players, as is expected, its members will be allowed to return to training camps and prepare for a shortened season. However, the damage done to the NHL's image may be too much to bear. The NHL's revenue only fully recovered last year to where it stood before the 2004-2005 lockout, and was projected to lose well over $300 million from this lockout. Indeed, the externalities from the lockout may prove crippling. With so many other sporting options available, fringe fans may not return to the NHL when it restarts. The new CBA will take effect for the next 10 years, however both sides have the option to opt-out after eight if they so choose. Things got so bad that the ultimatum dates set by analysts and the NHL passed without anyone noticing, and most fans had written off this season entirely. However, one last 16-hour negotiation session saved the season and a new deal was announced at 4:45 a.m. on Jan. 6, bringing celebration to hockey fans around the country. The NHL season, which will consist of only 48 games, is scheduled to begin Jan. 19, with team schedules to be released upon ratification.
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Medical Emergency Dec. 17-A party in the Usdan Student Center was reported to be suffering from a possible cardiac arrest. The Waltham Fire Department and an ambulance responded, and the party was transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Dec. 17-A caller in the Goldfarb Library reported a student possibly having a panic attack. BEMCo requested that the Waltham Fire Department and an ambulance respond, and the student was transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Dec. 18-University Police received a call from a person with flu-like symptoms who wanted to see BEMCo. BEMCo was dispatched and treated the party with a signed refusal for further care. Dec. 18-The Waltham Police Department received a 911 call for a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle on Loop Road near the Usdan Student Center. University Police and BEMCo responded, along with an ambulance and the Waltham Fire Department. The party was treated and transported to the hospital for further care. Dec. 19-A reporting party called University Police stating that his friend smoked a class D substance and was having a bad reaction. BEMCo treated the party on-scene with a signed refusal for further care. Jan. 9-The Waltham Police Department called University Police, stating they received a 911 medical call for an irregular heartbeat from a party in the Mandel Center for the Humanities and that the Waltham Fire Department and an ambulance were responding. The party was treated and transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. Jan. 9-A student in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center reported an injured party in the Shapiro Gym. University Police on-scene reported a 19-year-old student bleeding from a deep cut to the chin. An ambulance was requested, and the party was treated on-scene and transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. Larceny Dec. 21-A student in Village A reported that a bag of rice was stolen from a common kitchen area. University Police compiled a report on the theft. Jan. 8-University Police received a report of an exhaust system catalytic converter larceny from a parked university vehicle. University Police compiled a report and took photographs. There was a large window of opportunity for the theft, so University Police will review the applicable CCTV footage for possible suspect information. Traffic Dec. 19-A professor called University Police reporting that he drove through the gate at the Mandel Center for the Humanities, but he was not able to get in his car fast enough, and the gate got stuck on his car and damaged the gate and his car. Dec. 19-A student in the Foster Mods reported that one of the light poles in the area of Mods 30 to 35 had fallen down and was blocking the road. University Police notified an electrician and officers on-scene reported that the pole appeared to have been struck. University Police compiled a report and reviewed CCTV footage, and the electrician made the area safe. Miscellaneous Dec. 19-University Police received a report of a fire in the woods on Brandeis property behind the Charles River Apartments. There were two parties found in the woods, both of whom were Brandeis students. The fire was extinguished by the Waltham Fire Department, the community development coordinator was advised and a report was compiled. -compiled by Marielle Temkin
(01/14/13 5:00am)
Early on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at around 2 a.m., at least two students reported having been bitten by a coyote on lower campus, near Ziv and Ridgewood Quads. One student's skin was punctured and she underwent treatment for several weeks after. The other was not hurt. Marcie Lieberman '13 said she was bit behind Ziv, and realized later that the bite had gone through her skin. "I was walking behind Ziv, when it came up behind me and bit my leg," said Lieberman in an interview with the Justice. She said it followed her when she tried to get away, biting the bottom of her long coat, until she managed to get inside the lobby of Ziv 129, where her friend called campus police and reported the incident. "I turned around and walked away, but I didn't run, because I know not to do that. And I yelled at it; I tried that," she said. When she realized her skin had been punctured, she went to the Health Center at the urging of her friend. The Health Center referred her to the emergency room to get rabies and tetanus shots. She received eight shots, and had to go back to get more every three days. The other student bitten, Justice News Editor Tate Herbert '15, was unharmed as her thick boots prevented the coyote from reaching her skin. Students' descriptions of the coyote matched that of an animal in stage two of dying from rabies, wrote Prof. Eric Olson (Heller) in an email to the Justice. According to the Humane Society's website, rabid animals might "bite or snap at imaginary and real objects, and drool excessively," resulting in the most recognizable symptom of foaming at the mouth. Or, wild animals may "appear tame and seem to have no fear of humans." Other signs include walking in circles or in a wobbly manner and acting disoriented or paralyzed. According to Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan, Brandeis Police received a call at around 2 a.m., and responded to a student between Ziv Quad and the Shapiro Campus Center whose leg had been bitten and scratched by an animal that was believed to be a coyote. The animal had torn the student's coat, as well. An off-duty member of the Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps happened to be nearby and helped the student, said Callahan. While it seems to have lost its fear of humans, Callahan advised that the worst thing for students to do is to act scared of the coyote. Instead, if anyone encounters the coyote, they should "move assuredly to their destination" and make loud noises to scare it away. Callahan said that since a public safety advisory regarding the attack was sent out last month, he has received multiple emails from students who heard or saw coyotes on campus in the recent past. Sightings were reported behind Gosman Sports and Convocation Center and in the woods near the International Business School. The City of Waltham posted an update regarding the situation on their animal control website. Massachusetts "Wildlife and the Environmental Police are aware of the situation. It is believed someone is feeding the animal," read the update. "This has led to it approaching people and grabbing at legs and feet in an attempt to get people to feed it, causing minor abrasions to one Brandeis student. Had the intent been to attack, any injuries would have been quite severe, so people should not fear that a coyote is going around attacking people, however this is still not acceptable behavior and the public safety is our utmost concern." Brandeis Police are working with the City of Waltham Animal Control department to monitor the situation. -Tate Herbert contributed reporting.
(12/10/12 5:00am)
On the night of Dec. 5, the Brandeis University Intramural volleyball world came to a head as the three divisions, men's, women's and coed, squared off in their respective championship games to end an exciting intramural sports season. In the men's division final, which contained two sets, Of Mike and Men beat Don't Tell Dan Gad two games to zero games by scores of 25-21 and 25-16, respectively. The Mecca of Intramurals, the championship, was filled with high competition and some fireworks as both teams vied for that elusive championship T-shirt. Hard-hitting yet quietly eloquent, Mike Swerdloff '13 of Of Mike and Men just outmatched and outplayed Don't Tell Dan Gad, leading his team to victory. The coed final was one for the ages as CTMB rose like a phoenix and came back to win the match after dropping the first set to Bump Set Mike, which displayed killer instinct in dominating the first set. CTMB won the match 2-1, by scores of 25-27, 25-11 and 15-9. Though CTMB featured a cohesive team performance in executing the victory, the performance of volleyball players Bella Hu '13 and Lauren Berens '13 was just too much for Bump Set Mike to handle. In an equally exciting match in the women's division, Airborne defeated Practice Safe Sets 2-1 by scores of 19-25, 25-21 and 15-9 to earn themselves the title of Intramural Champions. Jolie Whitebook '13 and Stephanie Anciro '16 led the way for Airborne with a series of sets and spikes, and ultimately sealed the match for their team. Although there was quite a bit of passion evident out on the court given the stage of competition, it appeared that overall, the season was successful in terms of balancing competition with enjoyment of the game. Intramural veteran and six-time champion Pat Seaward '13 shared his thoughts on the season quoting Sun Su; "'The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.' I think this quote perfectly sums up what I saw out there on the volleyball courts in 2012." With the Intramural volleyball season concluded, the next competitions are table tennis and then badminton and basketball after the break. The Intramural Sports would like to thank all participants for a fun and exciting tournament.
(12/10/12 5:00am)
On the night of Dec. 5, the Brandeis University Intramural volleyball world came to a head as the three divisions, men's, women's and coed, squared off in their respective championship games to end an exciting intramural sports season. In the men's division final, which contained two sets, Of Mike and Men beat Don't Tell Dan Gad two games to zero games by scores of 25-21 and 25-16, respectively. The Mecca of Intramurals, the championship, was filled with high competition and some fireworks as both teams vied for that elusive championship T-shirt. Hard-hitting yet quietly eloquent, Mike Swerdloff '13 of Of Mike and Men just outmatched and outplayed Don't Tell Dan Gad, leading his team to victory. The coed final was one for the ages as CTMB rose like a phoenix and came back to win the match after dropping the first set to Bump Set Mike, which displayed killer instinct in dominating the first set. CTMB won the match 2-1, by scores of 25-27, 25-11 and 15-9. Though CTMB featured a cohesive team performance in executing the victory, the performance of volleyball players Bella Hu '13 and Lauren Berens '13 was just too much for Bump Set Mike to handle. In an equally exciting match in the women's division, Airborne defeated Practice Safe Sets 2-1 by scores of 19-25, 25-21 and 15-9 to earn themselves the title of Intramural Champions. Jolie Whitebook '13 and Stephanie Anciro '16 led the way for Airborne with a series of sets and spikes, and ultimately sealed the match for their team. Although there was quite a bit of passion evident out on the court given the stage of competition, it appeared that overall, the season was successful in terms of balancing competition with enjoyment of the game. Intramural veteran and six-time champion Pat Seaward '13 shared his thoughts on the season quoting Sun Su; "'The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.' I think this quote perfectly sums up what I saw out there on the volleyball courts in 2012." With the Intramural volleyball season concluded, the next competitions are table tennis and then badminton and basketball after the break. The Intramural Sports would like to thank all participants for a fun and exciting tournament.
(12/10/12 5:00am)
The Boston Red Sox-only months after trading away nearly one quarter of a billion dollars in salary money-are in the full swing of rebuilding mode. General manager Ben Cherington, just in time for the holiday season, has put together a noteworthy off-season to date-even if some question marks still exist for the Red Sox. The Red Sox knew that coming into this month's Winter Meetings, the team had plenty of holes to fill. High profile free agents, general managers and other staff people converge at a Nashville hotel for three days in December. General managers and other major league baseball personnel attend the Winter Meetings to sign top-tier free agents to contracts and, every once in a while, help bring about a blockbuster move. Cherington and the Red Sox had two goals this off-season: improve both the offense and the starting pitching. The Red Sox offense was only slightly above the league average in runs scored, scoring just 13 more runs than the league average while also posting a team batting average of .260, just five points above the league norm. In stark contrast, the starting rotation recorded a sub-par season. The Red Sox team 4.70 ERA was the fourth-worst team ERA across baseball, and they gave up an astounding 806 runs, far above the MLB average of 701. Cherington has made great strides this off-season in improving the offense. He has addressed some of the Red Sox' biggest holes in the offense, signing free agent catcher Mike Napoli and outfielder Shane Victorino during the winter meetings. He had already signed outfielder Jonny Gomes and catcher David Ross, both welcome additions in their respective positions. The story, however, lies with Napoli and Victorino. Napoli, who two years ago set a career high with 30 home runs and a .320 batting average, still managed 24 home runs last year, and finished the season with an on-base percentage of .812, earning himself a spot on the American League all-star team. Napoli, who split his time last year between catcher and first base, will be primarily used as a first baseman for the Red Sox. With a .947 fielding percentage at first base, he will help shore up offensive production that was lacking after the departure of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Victorino, praised for his speed and contributions at the top of the lineup, split his time between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, where he had an on-base percentage of .321. In fact, he is only two years removed from a gold glove in center field. Signing Victorino allows new manager John Farrell flexibility in setting up the dynamics of his outfield. Farrell will pair Victorino with Jacoby Ellsbury, givingthe Red Sox a formidable combination of Victorino, Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia at the top of the lineup. Cherington did not overlook the pitching, though, in the course of his spending spree this winter. He also signed free agent relief pitcher Koji Uehara to a one-year deal. Uehara allowed only seven runs in the 36 innings he pitched all season, and struck out almost 11 batters per nine innings. Uehara will help solidify a weak Red Sox bullpen that only saved 61 percent of all games last year. Coming into the off-season, Cherington had a clear goal for the Red Sox, and so far he has converted that goal into reality. While he has yet to address the starting rotation, he has vastly improved the offense in signing Napoli and Victorino and helped shore up the bullpen by adding Uehara. Moving forward, the offense only needs a few minor tweaks. Cherington will spend the rest of the winter, then, with a focus on improving whatever remnants of a starting rotation the Red Sox used last season.
