(09/24/12 4:00am)
Amid blue foam balls, handmade posters and proud students, stood a camera crew getting it all on tape. Last Thursday, the TODAY Show crew was on the Great Lawn recording a clip of what viewers could expect if Brandeis won the competition to get Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford to broadcast their morning show from campus. Although Brandeis lost to the University of Tennessee, Rachel Nelson '13 and Reed Zukerman '13 headlined the effort that brought the TODAY Show to campus and made the University one of six finalists in the competition. They began by creating a video and tweeting it to the cohosts to enter the contest. In the video, Nelson and Zukerman interviewed students all over campus, as well as University President Fredrick Lawrence, Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel and Provost Steve Goldstein, about why Kotb and Gifford should choose the University. Common responses in the video included the enthusiastic people, the sense of community and having a castle on campus. Lawrence's enthusiasm to be featured in the video was evident to Nelson and Zukerman, who realized that he only needed one take. "He knew exactly what he was going to say," said Nelson. "[The administration] also did so much to make [Thursday] happen, which you wouldn't be able to tell if you weren't behind the scenes. ... We had to figure out logistics with the food, with the balloons, with everything. And they really helped us out with that," she said. On the Great Lawn on Thursday, students held signs with messages including "This is our ParaDeis" and "Small in Size, Big in Spirit;" a disc jockey played music and students wore Brandeis attire and blue war paint. Shelby Magid '15, a transfer student from the George Washington University who attended the event on Thursday and showed her Brandeis pride by holding up a poster, said, "I think this is a good opportunity to show that even though we're smaller and don't have the same sports, that we still have a caring and close community. It's an awesome opportunity to show the school off." Amanda Dryer '13 wanted the cohosts to choose Brandeis so that more people would know about the University: "I know that if Brandeis is on NBC, more people will hear about Brandeis and how great Brandeis is." She hopes the spirit will last throughout the year, especially during sporting events. "We definitely need to bring more of this kind of spirit to basketball games and athletic events as well. I think [this event] is a really good kick-off to start the spirit at Brandeis," she said. Nelson was also happy with the way the filming turned out. "It was so nice seeing everybody in blue, everybody with the signs. First it started off where we really just wanted to meet Kathy Lee and Hoda, let's be honest, but then it turned into so much more; Brandeis is actually an awesome place and people don't know about it, so why don't they know about it?" she said. The contest consisted of several steps. Students from all over the country could submit tweets using the hashtag #KLGandHodaU until Sept. 16 to catch the eye of the cohosts. The hosts then chose six schools as finalists based on the criteria of 30 percent creativity, 30 percent originality and 40 percent school spirit, according to Zukerman. Tweets urging the hosts to choose Brandeis included remarks about extracurricular activities, as well as key features of the campus. One tweet from @jasonmdick claimed, "Brandeis is going to need to see your resumes. We don't let just anybody film the 4th hour here." The five other schools in the contest were Syracuse University, the Ohio State University, University of Tennessee, University of South Florida and Creighton University. While Nelson and Zukerman originally considered simply taking a few pictures of the campus to tweet to the show, they decided to make a video, as most schools had not used this method to get the show's attention. The students were determined to make the top six. "We love the TODAY Show, we love Kathy Lee and Hoda. We just hadn't been watching because we had class, but we watch it like every day when we don't have class. All the time," Nelson said. "We just said, 'If we're going to do it, we're going to do it big,'" Zukerman said. He wants more people outside the community to know about Brandeis and what the University gives its students. "This is the opportunity for Brandeis to be seen on a national stage. I think it's been decades since Jimmy Carter; we learned, that when he came to Brandeis [was the last time] that Brandeis has been seen on national television, so this is an opportunity for Brandeis to have free publicity, to get their name out there, to show what type of university we are: that we are spirited individuals and we're so excited to rally behind a cause," he said. After the finalists were chosen, camera crews filmed at the six schools throughout last week as online voting continued from Sept. 17 through Sept. 21. The winner, the University of Tennessee, will have Kotb and Gifford broadcast live from its campus during the week of Oct. 1. Of course, the size of the University may have posed a problem in terms of voting. "We have 45,000 living alumni. That's less than the entire population of Ohio State," according to Nelson. "In one sense, it's nice that we can communicate with everyone on our level because we're on a small scale, so we can kind of pinpoint who we want to talk to, [whereas for bigger schools] it might be hard to send out that information to the entire population," Zukerman added. Regardless of the winning school, Zukerman agreed that the filming on the Great Lawn was already a great result of being involved in the contest. "It was amazing. I just felt this great Brandeis pride, which sometime is lacking. This spirit where we just come together. We're never all together wearing Brandeis gear and just cheering. It was just amazing to see everyone come together and just be happy with each other and for Brandeis."
(09/24/12 4:00am)
Brandeis has long been a school of active, lively individuals, but rarely has that energy manifested itself as school spirit.
(09/11/12 4:00am)
As a kid, I always feared heights, my interest in sports and other athletic activities was negligible, my desire for personal fitness was far from practical and my ability to keep composure in front of a large group was lacking. That is, until I stumbled upon aerial circus arts, which, as cheesy as it sounds, truly did change my life. When I was 12, my parents showed me a DVD of Cirque du Soleil's production Dralion. I always had been familiar with traditional circuses as a kid. Sure, they were cool, but I never really thought too much more of them. Cirque's production, however, left me completely captivated. Not only did it portray an incredible degree of skill level, but the production itself managed to use circus skill as a basis for a cohesive theatrical production. The deep and emotional music, the pedantically detailed costumes and the distinct "Cirque style" all struck me as bearing an unanticipated level of intention. My next exposure to Cirque du Soleil was through the live production of Alegr?a, which absolutely blew me away. Everything I loved about Dralion was there on stage, remastered and remodeled to fit a new story, new characters and a whole new set of artistic skills. Aerial acts-which feature one or more performers creating artistic poses or dynamic movements on some sort of apparatus (such as a trapeze, hoop or rope) suspended from the ceiling-in these shows were particularly captivating for me for both their skill level and artistic grandeur. What particularly attracted me to practice aerial arts was that they offered a personal challenge. In a somewhat counterintuitive manner, my fear of heights, lack of pristine athleticism and debilitating stage fright were what motivated me to pursue aerial arts even further. Not only that, but through practice, I found it to be incredibly fun. In the end when all is said and done, no matter how many layers of technique, artistry and theater you introduce into your routine, every aerial performer is really, at heart, just a child on a playground. Through my six years of serious aerial training, what I can tell you is this: aerial work is painful, exhausting, disorienting, strenuous, physically taxing and, in all seriousness, a downright insane activity for a human body to be doing. Nonetheless, I have never found any other activity that has granted me a greater sense of mental and physical strength. This is most simply why aerial arts have changed my life, and I leave with no sense of doubt in that statement. I leave now with a better sense of self, higher confidence and something to be truly passionate about. For these reasons, I hold great thanks to this art that somewhat haphazardly entered my life, and it is my hope that the students whom I teach will find similar changes in their inner selves as well. Practitioners of aerial acrobatics really do span a wide set of demographics. I have seen and worked with both plenty of men and women of all sorts of body types, spanning ages from kids in their pre-teens as well as those who are middle-aged. There are many I know who pursue or intend to pursue aerial professionally, as well as plenty of others who do so recreationally. The discipline bears such an eclectic mix of offerings that enables each practitioner to have their own personal reasons to be involved. In a performance context, the most apparent reason for being involved would be that the activity serves as an incredibly diverse creative outlet. Similar to dance, it enables one to express him or herself physically through movement, which can bear any degree of abstraction or emotional intensity. In terms of recreational practice, the activity serves both as a great personal activity as well as a social activity. As I have found, it not only offers personal challenge and a great workout regime, but it also allows groups of people to collaborate, share, and build upon each other's ideas, technique, and invented movements. A lot of the time, the somewhat silly nature of the activity sparks laughter and enjoyment. For instance, this could be just by means of being upside down or spinning, stumbling upon a particularly aesthetic or awkward pose, finding oneself lost in an apparatus or being unexpectedly struck by a skill's disorientating nature. To share a process that is both creative as well as challenging often brings together people of even the most vastly varying of backgrounds. I never really was the biggest fan of the term "run away and join the circus." Some people have jokingly attached that term to me at some time or another, though I never saw it fitting. I think the underlying theme in my decisions I have made so far surrounding aerial arts is how I have been able to integrate my circus practice, performance and teaching into the life of a college student. That is definitely what I judge at this point to be my most proud accomplishment thus far, and I am excited to see where this path leads. *
(09/11/12 4:00am)
Last Thursday, Newbury Street hosted Fashion's Night Out in Boston for the second year in a row-and with a friend by my side, I set out to experience this night dedicated to fashion in Boston for my first time. Originally started in 2009 in New York City, Fashion's Night Out (also known as FNO) is an outdoor party marking the kickoff to Fashion Week- a biannual, week-long event during which both established and emerging fashion designers showcase their latest collections for the upcoming season. During FNO, stores keep their doors open for longer hours, often hiring DJ's to spin party music or offering special promotions on merchandise to shoppers. The energy of the evening was something not often experienced on the streets of Boston. Newbury Street was closed to traffic as style-conscious Bostonians and tourists strolled the streets, stopping in at participating retailers to indulge in free food and drinks and partake in some after-hours shopping. Outside, people were able to enjoy live musicians, such as the Harry Fix Jazz Trio outside of Brooks Brothers and the Tokyo Tramps (also jazz) outside of Itadaki Boston. In the middle of Newbury Street outside of the fashion boutique, Intermix, a live concert entertained a deep crowd spanning the entire width of the street that sang along as the singers covered popular tracks by well-known artists like P!nk. A recent addition to the neighborhood, Georgetown Cupcakes handed out free cupcakes, including a special Fashion's Night Out edition of their signature flavor, the red velvet cupcake-which was absolutely delicious. Perhaps the highlight of my night occurred at Marc Jacobs while I waited with my friend for the photobooth. As the recently viral Korean pop number by PSY "Gangnam Style" sounded through the speakers, two Marc Jacobs employees started to dance the famous moves, from the lasso-like circular hand gestures to the leg movements that imitate riding an "invisible horse." While waiting, I also noticed a young woman's outfit- or rather, I noticed her shoes first. On her feet were the oh-so-pretty black Jeffrey Campbell "Spike" Litas. Her white chiffon tank had a skull pattern reminiscent of that of the late Alexander McQueen's, often seen on silk scarves. Her leather shorts completed the outfit and the arm parties she sported on both wrists were the "icing" to the cake. However, FNO is not just about consuming free booze and macarons, or waiting in long lines for free samples of amazing products. As a celebration of fashion, FNO is a rich opportunity to observe local street style and in turn, collect sources of inspiration to continue to challenge and evolve your own style. Street style this night ranged from urban and edgy to casual yet chic. One woman in particular wowed me with her attention to detail. She accessorized her simple black dress with an orange and lime-green beaded necklace, a cognac-colored waist belt strategically placed with the buckle at the back, patent-leather Mary Janes with chunky heels and a Louis Vuitton Speedy. Her cropped black hair highlighted her face beautifully, and allowed her gold starfish studs to shine through. Fabulous and a tad unconventional.
(09/11/12 4:00am)
Upon entering Brandeis, I quickly was made aware of one of the most popular classes in the Theater department called, "THA 132A; The Collaborative Process." As it is an upper-level theater class, however, I never imagined that I'd actually have the opportunity to enroll in the course. Luckily, I was incorrect, and I had the privilege to take the course last semester. Having the chance to work with the incredible Prof. Adrianne Krstansky (THA), as well as an unbelievably talented group of fellow students, is an experience I will never forget. Offered every year, "The Collaborative Process" is both a credit-bearing theater course and a unique and highly personal experience for students at Brandeis. It is rooted in students working together to produce mini-performances that require exploration of the students' lives as well as issues in the world. The preparation time allotted to these shows varies between projects, but will typically range from a week to just a few days. They are then presented in front of the class. Some examples of the work we did last semester involved discovering and delving into our inner circus freak, illustrating our favorite artist with objects that call upon all five senses and showing a journey someone might go through, especially during college. At the beginning of the semester, the class is made aware that these projects will take a tremendous amount of dedication: emotionally, mentally and physically. There is also a mutual understanding established, that each member of each group will devote as much time as it takes to craft a worthwhile theatrical product. Each assignment has very specific guidelines which must be addressed. All of these are utilized in order to create characters of great depth who come together to craft poignant scenes of varying lengths. Fortunately, Krstansky reassures each student that even if a project is not completely finished or perfected by the day it is due, it is the time and effort put into the work by each member of the group which matters the most. Her guidance and gentle encouragement are also a core reason why "The Collaborative Process" is such a unique and special course at Brandeis. This class is very different from many others at Brandeis because not only is it truly about using your imagination, but it is also about working with other students to make very special pieces of art. Although Krstansky teaches the class, she predominately acts as an observer who will provide insight on the way the class should progress only when necessary. Otherwise, she puts a lot of faith in her students to solve problems which arise in the course on their own. Having that kind of trust put into your hands is a nerve-wracking, yet exhilarating, experience which can't be found in many other courses at Brandeis. My own personal experiences in the course were extremely positive because we were given so much freedom within each piece. We were able to interpret the guidelines for each assignment however we wanted, even if that meant directing towards our own interests. For example, one project asked us to set our piece in a "classic movie," however, each group could decide what a "classic movie" meant to them. (My group chose Mary Poppins for ours!) We also were not restricted in the spaces in which we performed pieces, as each project allowed for us to scout out buildings on campus for an ideal location. In fact, the last project of the semester, technically the "final" for the course, led my group all the way to the pool in the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center. As we had conceived a piece with a Greek mythology undertone, we felt that the pool best captured the essence of an "underworld." With the permission of the Athletics department, my fellow group members and I brought our class all the way to the pool, where I and several other girls proceeded to jump into the water, fully clothed in long, flowing dresses. The pool was a more realistic environment for the project to take place in then we could have ever found within a classroom or on a stage. Having the liberty to make that choice is a unique privilege of this class. Even though this course does require the consent of the professor to enroll, anyone, regardless of their major or minor, can attempt to take the class. The course is also evolving with time. This semester, the class is composed of both graduate and undergraduate students. This change gives the class the potential to form a new and thrilling dynamic, as the students will have a wider variety of theatrical and personal experiences. They can bring these new experiences to their projects, thus allowing for new interpretations of the projects than those from years past. This is a course where every individual must give even more than 100 percent to make the experience worthwhile. If you are prepared to invest a lot of yourself, this will be a class that resonates with you, long after it ends. *
(09/10/12 4:00am)
The Boston Red Sox were predicted by Sports Illustrated in March to finish the 2012 Major League Baseball season with a 91-71 record and a playoff berth. Fast-forward six months. The Red Sox are 63-76 and sit 14.5 games back of the second wild card slot. What happened? This road to infamy can be traced back to Sept. 28 of last year. Boston lost the decisive final game of the year to the Baltimore Orioles, surrendering the season on an errant throw from left field by now-departed outfielder Carl Crawford. The loss concluded an astounding month for the Red Sox, who had held a double-digit lead on the Rays for the wild card. And it led to widespread changes that would completely reshape the franchise. General Manager Theo Epstein escaped from the bedlam that soon descended upon Yawkey Way. He fled to rejuvenate a sagging Chicago Cubs franchise. Red Sox manager Terry Francona was thrown into the circus as well. He was fired from his position in November, and many baseball analysts questioned the decision. The logic was this: Francona lost control of his clubhouse. Reports soon surfaced that Francona allowed players to drink beer and eat chicken wings in the clubhouse, causing quite a controversy both among journalists and fans of the team. The Red Sox looked to bring a new, fresh face into the manager's seat. Enter Bobby Valentine. All was then quiet until spring training began. The fallout from a fractured clubhouse was still apparent. Players complained of overly rigorous workouts, and as the training season progressed, the more the team and Valentine continued to clash. Valentine then arguably committed his first managerial blunder on April 15, which was just nine games into the season. He questioned the devotion of Red Sox third baseman and fan favorite Kevin Youkilis. The tension between the two continued, and after an untenable situation arose, Youkilis was traded to the Chicago White Sox on June 25. Third baseman Will Middlebrooks manned the hot corner, only strengthening the rift between Valentine and his team. The Red Sox continued to have problems both on and off the field, struggling to gain any consistency. It seemed as if Boston could not escape the cellar. Injuries to star players such as Crawford and pitcher Josh Beckett exacerbated the situation, but overall, the Red Sox ship was sinking. Things came to a low point on Aug. 25. The Red Sox, in the largest salary dump in MLB history, shipped off Crawford, Beckett, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and utility infielder Nick Punto to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In total, $261.5 million dollars in contracts were traded. In return, the Red Sox acquired first baseman James Loney and a handful of AA prospects, including pitchers Rubby De La Rosa and Allan Webster. The Red Sox have struggled and have given up all hope for 2012. It is a sad sight to witness. Boston still can't shake the demons of 2011 off its shoulders. Boston is now tied for last place in the division. Where do they go from here? The Red Sox are going to need to make wiser investments. Boston General Manager Ben Cherington could perhaps find some talent in a free agent class headlined by outfielder Josh Hamilton and pitcher Zack Greinke, but for this season, all hope is lost. The mindset is no longer 2012 or bust. Boston has been transformed from a contender to a rebuilding project in just one short year. *
(09/10/12 4:00am)
With days filled with sports, drama, arts and crafts and rock-climbing, a day at Camp Aranu'tiq doesn't feel all that different from most other summer camps. But founded in 2010 by Nick Teich, a third year Ph.D. candidate in the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Camp Aranu'tiq is the first camp in the world for transgender youth, according to Teich. A weeklong summer camp for kids ages eight to 15, Camp Aranu'tiq seeks to provide transgender and gender-variant youth with a fun camp experience and to foster leadership skills in a place where campers are able to express themselves comfortably, according to the camp's website. Located in Southern New England and Southern California (the exact locations are not disclosed by Teich for the youths' safety), the idea for the weeklong camp was conceived when Teich realized the need for a camp environment for transgender kids. Teich himself spent 13 summers at a camp before he began identifying as transgender. It wasn't until he was older that he began to think about other kids who do, as well. Recognizing that camps are gendered for reasons including the separation of cabins, Teich, a 29-year-old social worker from Newton, Mass., realized that transgender youth had no comfortable place to go to enjoy the summer camp experience. Around the time he realized this, Teich received a call from another camp where he knew the directors and had volunteered as a girl before he identified as male. "Once I announced that I was going to transition, they basically told me not to come back. They outright told me not to come back," Teich said. Knowledgeable enough about the workings of a camp from his own experience, Teich decided to begin a camp of his own where transgender youth could find a weeklong oasis. "I knew that there'd be enough kids because I had started learning about trans kids and meeting them and working with them in different capacities, so I knew that wouldn't be a problem," he said. After gathering some friends and putting together a board of directors, Teich began his research on how to start a nonprofit organization. Reaching out to donors and fundraising for the camp, Teich gathered 41 campers and 20 staff members for the first camp of its kind. Though there are a handful of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer camps geared toward gay and lesbian teens and some organizations that arrange retreats for transgender youth and their families, Camp Aranu'tiq is the first camp solely for transgender youth, according to Teich. "There's nothing that distinguishes it, except for the campers, which is very intentional," said Teich, who noted that no one spending a day at his camp would know that it is different. "What we want to give these kids is a normal experience," Teich said. "A lot of times at home they're constantly having to defend their gender or talk about it, go to therapy, or all this stuff that we just want to give them a break from." Evenings are spent playing capture the flag, sitting around a camp fire or running around on scavenger hunts. "We have parents and kids who have said that we've saved their kids' lives. These kids now know that there are other kids like them, and even though the camp is only a week, they keep in touch," Teich said. According to surveys the camp sends out to its campers, about 80 percent of campers keep in touch with one another on a regular basis during the year, and, of those, 96 percent speak on a daily basis. "They are keeping in touch year-round, and that's a big part of what we encourage because we want when they leave camp for them to be able to go back to their schools and their home being empowered and not feeling stuck for the next 51 weeks," Teich said. The camp has continued its success, enrolling 65 campers at the New England location this year and opening a new campsite on the west coast. Starting with 36 campers in California, Teich is confident the number will be up by at least 20 for next summer. Equally strong is the volunteer list that has grown so long that many are being turned away for positions to work at the camp. While about half the staff members identify as transgender or gender-variant, the other half do not. "We definitely like the mix because we feel the kids should have role models of all different types," Teich explained. While Teich is wrapping up the third summer of Camp Aranu'tiq, he is also beginning his third year as a Ph.D. candidate at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, where he is working on a dissertation related to the bullying of transgender youth. While his work is not focused specifically on camps, much of Teich's inspiration has come from Camp Aranu'tiq. In addition to his dissertation work, Teich wrote a book that came out last spring titled Transgender 101: A Simple Guide to a Complex Issue. "A lot of my thinking of that has come out of seeing the kids at camp and knowing that when they go home to their schools at home they're harassed and bullied," Teich said. "And to think that such wonderful kids have to endure this, what does that mean for their lives ahead of them?" The word Aranu'tiq is a word from the Chugach Alaskan tribe that means somebody who embodies both the male and female spirit and is revered for it. "In that culture, people who were in between genders were thought to have natural powers and were people who were looked up to," Teich said. "I thought it was cool to have the kids know that there are other cultures that don't see this as a bad thing."
(09/03/12 4:00am)
Brandeis Athletics is finally receiving ESPN-like treatment. The Judges are officially partnering with the Jewish Life Television Network for this upcoming year to promote coverage of the University's sports. In a desire to launch a more diverse sports programming lineup, JLTV is offering live statistics, highlights and video footage of Brandeis sporting events. The Judges boast 19 intercollegiate teams, and as a member of the University Athletic Association, JLTV has an opportunity to reach out to a larger base. Brandeis, however, also stands to benefit. JLTV is featured on several leading cable providers in the New England region, including Comcast, DirecTV and Time Warner Cable. Director of Athletics Sheryl Sousa was pleased with this newfound public relations opportunity "It's an opportunity to showcase the quality of our program and the student athletes experience at Brandeis," she said. The Brandeis community has reason to be pleased as well.
(08/27/12 4:00am)
The men's and women's cross country teams have undergone a significant transformation from last year. Marc Boutin '12 and Chris Brown '12, as well as Kate Warwick '12, have all graduated from their Judges careers.
(08/27/12 4:00am)
While school was out for the summer, the Brandeis Athletics Department remained busy by giving an array of awards to its athletes for their accomplishments last season.
(08/27/12 4:00am)
Medical Emergency Aug. 21-A party in Usen Castle reported that a female party fell while skateboarding and scraped her knee. University Police rendered first aid. Aug. 26-University Police reported a student with an eye injury at the Sherman sundial. The student was treated and transported to the Health Center by BEMCo for further care. Larceny Aug. 23-A party in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center reported that his unattended cell phone was stolen from the bathroom. The party called University Police back and stated that he used an app on his computer to locate the phone, which was "somewhere in humanities." University Police located the phone in a recycling bin, and it was returned to the party. Disturbance Aug. 26-A reporting party stated that his room window was hit with two rocks but did not break; he did not see anyone who might have thrown them. Officers checked the area and did not find anyone. All appeared in order. -compiled by Marielle Temkin
(05/22/12 4:00am)
I had never been to a drag show before I walked into the Levin Ballroom on May 1. I knew little of what to expect other than what I'd gathered from movies and about one and a half episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race. So when I sat down to watch Triskelion's Annual Drag Show, I wasn't exactly sure what I was about to see.
(05/21/12 4:00am)
Former Student Union President Herbie Rosen '12 delivered his final State of the Union address as president on Thursday, May 3 in the International Lounge of the Usdan Student Center. During his thirty-minute speech, Rosen highlighted the Union's successes and the areas in which it can improve. The one new piece of information in Rosen's speech was that Einstein Bros. Bagels would open five hours earlier, at noon, on Sundays next semester. Rosen highlighted three key areas he worked on during his presidency: transportation, dining and facilities. In an effort by the Union to make transportation to Boston more convenient, the administration conducted trials of a weekend shuttle to the Riverside Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority stop. Rosen stated that the Union now believes that the best means of getting students to Riverside would be to include it as a stop on the Waltham Crystal Shuttle. Rosen and other Union members also lobbied against planned MBTA cuts to commuter rail service. Rosen stated that improvements have been made to campus dining and that there is potential for more change. He lauded the new and longer service hours at Einstein's on Sundays and at the Provisions on Demand Market on Saturdays. He called for more "real food" on campus and encouraged students to get involved in the upcoming Dining Services review, during which the University may decide to replace Aramark as its food services provider. Rosen cited an array of improvements to facilities that began to take place this year. He applauded the opening of study spaces in academic buildings before and during finals but said that more space could be made available. Rosen said he hoped the planned renovations to East Quad bathrooms would happen this summer and highlighted the creation of the Union Senate's Campus Operations Work Group, which will petition the administration for improvements to various campus facilities. Additional successes over the past year cited by Rosen included the feedback given by over 500 students during the strategic planning process, the creation of a committee of students to advise on the University budget and tuition process and the restoration of the Pachanga dance next semester. Rosen also trumpeted the Union's co-sponsoring of some thirty events this academic year, including Hiatt Career Center events, barbeques and mixers, lectures by Christie Hefner '74 and other businesspeople and academics, Earth Day and Food Day events, Midnight Buffets, a town hall meeting on hate crime and discrimination, a celebration of service, Health and Fitness week, the inaugural 'Deis Impact Festival of Social Justice and the reopening of the pool in the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center. Taking a critical lens to his work, Rosen brought up three areas in which the Union could improve: finance, accountability and operations. In terms of finance, Rosen said that the marathon process for allocating funding to student clubs has to become more transparent and easier for students to engage in. He added that recently passed amendments to the Union Constitution will begin to alleviate this problem. Rosen went on to say that Union officers have to fulfill the duties of their positions as outlined by the Union Constitution. The Union Judiciary also must improve in monitoring and reacting to constitutional issues, he said. Rosen added that the Student Representatives to the Board of Trustees need to be more responsible in keeping the student body informed of the Board's activities. Lastly, the Union needs to train its members better, Rosen stated, citing the lack of training he received when he was elected. To address this issue, he said he is writing a Union manual. Critiquing himself, Rosen said that he often acted unilaterally and did not delegate responsibilities sufficiently. Commenting on the tenure of University President Frederick Lawrence, Rosen said that he should remain "continuously engage[d] with the student body," even once his "honeymoon" period is over. He added that Lawrence's decision to live in Waltham instead of Newton next year was a positive step, and humorously encouraged students to trick-or-treat at his home. Speaking about how he came to the position of Union President, Rosen told the audience of how he was waitlisted when applying to Brandeis and had to write a letter stating what he could accomplish if accepted to the University. "I had no idea that this would be that," he exclaimed. "The state of the Union is stronger than it was last year," Rosen concluded. "And it will be stronger again next year. We are leaving the Student Union again in a better place than where we found it." Rosen finished his speech by welcoming incoming Student Union President Todd Kirkland '13, who added that he too had been waitlisted when he applied. Rosen ceremonially swore in Kirkland, who then swore in newly-elected Union senators. Rosen will participate in Teach for America in New York City next year.
(05/21/12 4:00am)
Meditating on her fond memories of the time she spent at the University 25 years ago, Deborah Bial '87, founder of the Posse Foundation, advised members of the Class of 2012 about their capacity to affect social change. The 61st commencement was held this past Sunday, May 20 in the crowded Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. Among the family and friends of the 831 graduates attending the ceremony was the President of Honduras, Porfirio Pepe Lobo.
(05/20/12 4:00am)
Johnny Depp has long fostered the identity of the bizarre outsider. Often, it seems as though he purposefully picks the most caricature-like, cartoonish roles he can find, looking to escape anything with a traditional leading man. Tim Burton tends to be the director providing these unorthodox characters. Dark Shadows is the eighth film Depp and Burton have worked on together. Their first, and best, was 1990's Edward Scissorhands. They also made Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (their worst effort), Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and Alice in Wonderland. It's funny: Outside of his films, Depp is considered one of the best-looking men in Hollywood. He's got a rakish, devil-may-care attitude, and he always sports a deep tan, long flowing hair and several tattoos. Tim Burton, on the other hand, looks like he would fit right in with the characters in one of his surreal films. He has dark, wild hair and a pale complexion. Interestingly, in each of Depp and Burton's collaborations, Depp comes to look more and more like Burton himself and less and less like Johnny Depp. In Dark Shadows (based on the 1960s and '70s television show), Depp plays Barnabas Collins, a (pale, dark haired) vampire who was locked in a coffin in the 1760s and is accidentally dug up 200 years later, in 1972. Everything about the swinging '70s, from cars to televisions to women's lib, is new and foreign to him. Much of the film's humor comes from placing Barnabas in situations where a man born two centuries ago would have no idea how to react. Barnabas' backstory is a bit complicated: He comes from a wealthy family who founded the seafaring village of Collinsport, Maine shortly after arriving in the New World from England. He has an affair with one of the family's maids, Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green) but never loves her. Instead, he becomes engaged to his true love, Josette DuPres (newcomer Bella Heathcote). Unfortunately for them both, Angelique is a witch who hypnotizes Josette to jump to her death. Barnabas witnesses her demise and jumps into the ocean after her, hoping to die as well. Angelique curses him with vampirism, however, so he cannot die. In addition, Angelique sets the town against him and locks him in his coffin, where he is forced to lie in time-out for two centuries. When Barnabas is awakened by a crew of unsuspecting construction workers (whom he promptly devours), he sets off to find what remains of his family and their estate. He discovers that only four members of the Collins family are left and that their fortune has dwindled significantly. Elizabeth (Michelle Pfeiffer, in her second collaboration with Burton) is the family's long-suffering matriarch. Her daughter Carolyn (Chlo? Grace Moretz) is a terribly bored, disaffected teenager. Roger (Johnny Lee Miller), Elizabeth's brother, also resides in the collapsing Collins mansion, along with his young son David (Gulliver McGrath), who tells everyone he meets that he can communicate with the ghost of his dead mother. David's au pair Vicky (also played by Heathcote) joins the family just before Barnabas resurfaces. Like many Depp/Burton collaborations, much of the fun of Dark Shadows is in the visuals. Cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel (Ameli?(c), Across the Universe, A Very Long Engagement) creates beautiful imagery of the stormy Maine countryside, and production designer Rick Heinrichs (Sleepy Hollow, The Big Lebowski) overfills Collinsport with so much awful '70s decor that it appears at times as though the audience is on an acid trip along with one of the film's aging hippie characters. Then there are Depp and Pfeiffer, the latter of whom stole every scene in which she appears. These two have much experience creating eccentric, campy characters who don't as much chew the scenery as they rip it to shreds and come back for seconds. Pfeiffer appears haughtily disdainful (and later, haughtily helpful), preening about the set like a queen forced to bunk with the stable hands. Depp, for his part, can't quite match Pfeiffer's sneering, but his misunderstanding of 20th-century customs (women doctors? what?) is humorous. In Dark Shadows, this overacting is appropriate. The entire production is over the top. This approach works wonderfully for the first 30 minutes of the film. Eventually, though, the movie runs out of steam. There are simply too many characters, too many side plots and too much backstory to fit into 113 minutes. Burton tries to speed things along by including several montages, but they're a cheap substitute for real storytelling. The main plotline, I suppose, concerns Barnabas' rekindled love for Vicky/Josette (the film never explains how Heathcote plays both characters, even though Vicky also interacts with Josette's ghost). Honestly, Depp has little chemistry with either Heathcote or Green (as a witch, Angelique has also been around for 200 years, and she and Barnabas can't seem to keep their hands off each other when they meet again, his undying love for Vicky/Josette aside). To me, Barnabas appears rather nonsexual, though the plot revolves around his crazed love life. If I were writing Dark Shadows-which was actually written by Seth Grahame-Smith, who also wrote the novels and screenplays Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies-I would cut out all the extra junk and just concentrate on Depp, Pfeiffer and Green-another master of antipathy. Few of the other characters are necessary. Just let these three masters of creepy-kooky camp play around. Dark Shadows doesn't need everything else.
(05/19/12 4:00am)
Who said soccer couldn't be exciting? One would be wise to give the sport a second look after the action in England on Sunday, May 13. The Premier League final marked one of the biggest days in the history of soccer. Manchester City roared back from a 2-1 deficit against Queens Park Rangers to win 3-2 and deny Manchester United its third title in four years. "I swear you'll never see anything like this ever again," said Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler. "This is the greatest Premier League season ever," said ESPN commentator Ian Darke. Since both teams finished with identical totals of 89 points, this season was significant for a variety of reasons. United started the season in unassailable fashion, winning its first five games with a score of 18-5. City, though, stormed back to take a five-point advantage at the end of November, picking up a 6-1 romp at United's Old Trafford Stadium in the process. Undeterred, United took an eight-point lead with six games to go. United has a history for finishing the season strong, so City had been all but written off. Yet, there were more twists to come. On April 11, United lost 1-0 to Wigan Athletic. After winning 4-0 against Aston Villa, the Red Devils drew against Everton, losing a two-goal advantage with seven minutes left. City, meanwhile, won its games against Norwich and West Bromwich Albion, bringing the difference down to three points. Then, on April 30, City and United played in a rematch. This time, City did not disappoint, winning 1-0. Breaking even in points, City's eight-goal edge put them in prime position. Having won their games against Newcastle United and Swansea City the previous weekend, City and United kicked off home against QPR and at Sunderland, respectively, at 3 G.M.T. last Sunday. With QPR languishing in 17th place and having the worst away record in the Premier League, City - who won 17 out of 18 games at home this season - looked to have an easy task. If United didn't win at Sunderland by nine goals, a City win would seal the title. And when City took the lead through left-back Pablo Zabaleta's goal, it looked as if they had it won. However, QPR equalized with a goal from striker Djibril Cisse, having earlier taken a lead on striker Jamie Mackie's header in the 65th minute. In just under 20 minutes, City had seemingly lost the title. A two-goal comeback looked impossible. Meanwhile, 140 miles away at the Stadium of Light, United fans, whose 1-0 victory against Sunderland had just concluded, were celebrating that City was down 2-1 in stoppage time. They also figured a rally was not in the cards for Man City. They were wrong. City forward Edin Dzeko headed in the equalizer with 91:05 gone in the game. Having run the ball back to the center circle to kick off again, City regained possession and stormed into the penalty area. Sergio Aguero played a clever one-two with Mario Balotelli before smashing a near-post strike past QPR goalkeeper Paddy Kenny. The strike sent the Ethiad Stadium into absolute bedlam. Television cameras broadcasting the game shook. Fans had been sobbing moments before, thinking their team had fallen at the final hurdle. At the final whistle though, they were crying tears of joy. Meanwhile, United fans, who thought they had won the title, endured the opposite fate. Upon hearing the news, the fans - as well as the United camp - went silent, stunned at what happened. A blue moon rose over Manchester on Sunday night. Yet, the Red Devils will seek revenge next season. For now, though, City fans will celebrate. Either way, even a neutral party would argue that this season-and Sunday-were perhaps the most incredible day and year in Premier League history. *
(05/19/12 4:00am)
After a month-long season filled with both success and heartbreak, four teams remained in contention for the Brandeis Intramural Sports Softball Championships. These squads not only fought for bragging rights but also the opportunity to take home the much-coveted Intramural Championship T-shirts. The No. 6 Grout Bullies beat the No. 8 Psychos 19-17 in a 9-inning thriller in a men's tournament that was cluttered with upsets. The Grout Bullies put up five runs in the top of the first inning to jump out to an early lead, highlighted by a home run from Alex Stoyle '14. However, the Psychos battled back, and after five innings, the score was deadlocked at 12-12. The Grout Bullies scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning to pull away and escape with the narrow victory. The game featured spectacular defense behind two of the best control pitchers in the league: the Psychos' Jeff Boucher (GRAD) and the Grout Bullies' Shami Bery '13. Offensively, Derek Retos '14 paced the Grout Bullies by going 5-6 on the day with three extra base hits, four runs scored and two RBIs. Anthony Trapasso '13 also had a big night for the Bullies, going 5-6 with three runs scored and six RBIs, including a big home run in the decisive sixth inning. Jeremy Kronick, a Ph.D. candidate in international economics and finance, led the Psychos by going 5-6 with three runs scored, three RBIs and a solo home run in the first inning. Josh McGrath '12 and Chris Vecsey, a Brandeis staff member, also hit home runs in the loss. The top-seeded Ballah Bustahs and second-seeded BWB squared off for the women's championship earlier in the afternoon. Despite losing two players to injury, BWB lit up the scoreboard early by jumping out to an 11-0 lead after two innings. The Ballah Bustahs defense then tightened up, sending BWB down in each of the next two innings. However, its offense couldn't capitalize, leaving the bases loaded in two different innings. The Ballah Bustahs finally broke through with one run in the fifth inning and four runs in the sixth inning, but the early deficit proved to be too much to overcome. BWB tacked on some late insurance runs to win by a final score of 21-5. Hannah Cain '15 and Dominique Chen '15 each reached base six times for BWB. Chen, Nicolina Vitale '14, and Mikaela Garvin '15 scored four runs apiece. Zahava Horowitz '14 and Ariel Barnehama '13 led the offense for Ballah Bustas, both reaching base three times. - Courtesy of IM Sports staff
(05/19/12 4:00am)
She danced her way through her senior year, adding up to six hours of rehearsal a week to her rigorous academic studies. She continued through four years of medical school, finding time in her busy schedule to dance before she found time to sleep. And thirteen years later, now working as a doctor, Lauren Elson '00 still makes time for some tap and hip-hop as part of her continued work for Rainbow Tribe, a group that unites dancers of different abilities. A physician specializing in sports medicine at Newton-Wellesley Hospital and at Spaulding Rehabilitation in Wellesley, Mass., Elson first began dancing for Rainbow Tribe, which works to "bridge cultural differences and foster a universal appreciation of dance in all its forms," according to its mission statement online during her senior year of college. A Boston-based organization, the purpose of Rainbow Tribe is to "bring communities together using dance," Elson said in an interview with the Justice. The group consists of over 20 dancers from unique racial backgrounds with varying levels of dance experience who "serve as good role models for children and young adults interested in pursuing a professional, or even a casual interest in dance," according to its website. The organization aims to positively influence and motivate at-risk, under-served children and adults with different skill levels through its performances, which range from jazz to tap to hip-hop. It was founded in 1992 by Carleton Jones, a dancer who appeared on Broadway in A Chorus Line in addition to his work with Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul. Elson decided to audition for the organization after a trip to West Africa where she had been studying African dance. After spending the summer after her junior year of college in Gambia as part of her Coexistence Fellowship from Brandeis, Elson heard about Rainbow Tribe from another student in her dance class in Boston. She decided to dance for the organization after realizing the similarity of Rainbow Tribe's mission to what she was doing in Gambia: bringing people together with storytelling and communication through dance. As co-president of Adagio, one of the dance groups on campus, the California native already had experience dancing and choreographing when she auditioned for Rainbow Tribe. In addition to starting the Brandeis Dance Ensemble, she also spent time studying dance from an academic angle as a double major in Neuroscience and an Independent Interdisciplinary Major in Dance and Human Movement Studies. "I was looking at motor control and dance so it was a combination of the sciences and dance," she explained. After being accepted to Rainbow Tribe during her senior year, Elson began rehearsing and performing with the group and decided to continue during her time in medical school at Tufts University. "At the time, we were rehearsing a lot more. Back then we were probably doing closer to six hours a week and it was kind of one of those things I had to do to stay sane. So I would have rather danced then sleep," she said of balancing dance with medical school. For Elson, the motivation to dance comes from "the opportunity to perform, the people that you meet [and] the audiences that [the group] reach[es]," she explained. "The biggest compliment that we often get is that we make people want to dance or motivate people to go dance." Rainbow Tribe has performed in order to get participants excited and motivated at events such as the Walk for Hunger. "We'll also get hired by companies to do flash mobs to get people excited, to bring people together," she said. In addition to performing, Rainbow Tribe dancers offer classes all over the Boston area and workshops on topics ranging from Zumba and tap to dance wellness and injury prevention and nutrition. And the amount of dancing experience of Rainbow Tribe's performers varies too, according to Elson, who says the group practices for two hours twice a week together. "All the women have had some training, to various degrees, but some of the women in the group are teachers or professional dancers," Elson said, noting that others have less professional backgrounds. "There are people that are more street dancers or hip-dancers or more ballet. [Rainbow Tribe] basically looks to see what each person can bring. They're looking for high-energy performers," said Elson, whose personal favorite style of dance is tap. Now finished with medical school and working as a physician, Elson still finds time in her busy schedule to dance with the group, thirteen years after first joining Rainbow Tribe. The group recently performed in celebration of its 20th anniversary. "[The group] really is dedicated to providing a motivational presence in Boston," Elson explained of the organization that she says tries to get kids involved in dance with high energy. "[Dance is] something I enjoy doing so much that I want people to enjoy it also."
(05/01/12 4:00am)
As far as mobs go, this one was pretty sweet. Whether it was the collective swaying of a united college campus or the soothing smells of the seven-sometimes nine-leaf clover, SpringFest 2012 was a prime example of a mob done right. The crowd starts chanting, you chant too. Childish Gambino conducts the chorus of Adele's hit song and you join in. When everybody rushes to the front of the stage, you push and shove your way through too. With so little instruction, this mass of people had started to move, talk and breathe in unison. While SpringFest embodied this feeling of togetherness-a student body in sync-cynically, I could only think of how easily this way of thinking could be corrupted and how mob mentality has no place at a college campus. Mob mentality is the behavioral pattern that emerges as individuals start to react as a collective group, rather than on their own. Riots, demonstrations and even concert audiences all have the potential to demonstrate the characteristics of mob mentality, even when they don't turn violent. When individuals react differently in a crowd than they would have if they were on their own, they are also buying into this mentality. Although many people innately react differently when they are in a crowd of people with similar thoughts, beliefs or emotional states, this mentality is inherently at odds with the function and purpose of college. College is one of the very few places where you're constantly encouraged to redefine yourself and steer away from the crowd. The reason we need to be encouraged and given the go-ahead to be different is because it's so incredibly difficult. It's easier to follow along than it is to pave your own path. It's more convenient to let someone else think for you than to have the courage to be different. It's even more challenging to reevaluate your thinking in a crowd when you can't discern that anything's wrong. That's what Professor Daniel R. Kittle of Wartburg College investigated when he discreetly experimented with mob mentality in his "Leadership and Cultural Competencies" class and recorded his findings for the Chronicle of Higher Education. Dr. Kittle hired an actor to impersonate an expert on leadership. After the actor earned the students' respect and established his credibility as an "expert," he then subtly started weaving bigoted remarks into his lecture. While a few students exchanged glances and others mechanically took down notes, no one challenged the lecturer. The class didn't realize something was wrong until the actor had to excuse himself because he couldn't keep up the ruse. Students believed that the actor was a legitimate expert and therefore they were less likely to question what he was saying. The speaker was able to manipulate the students because some weren't actively thinking and others felt that they couldn't challenge the professor who brought in this speaker. In the end, the exercise was meant to teach students how to handle discrimination in the real world. Do you go along with the crowd or do you stand up for what we're all morally responsible for? Mobs present a situation where people value solidarity and consensus over reason and logic. But at Brandeis, where professors teach you to think critically and constantly ask questions, mob mentality thematically clashes with our education and learning. There's nothing wrong with enjoying yourself while you're at a concert or a sports game. Sure, you probably wouldn't chant cheers if you were by yourself, but it's harmless, right? Singing along to fun. and participating together as a community demonstrates the positive effects of engaging in mob mentality. Barring any violence, there is no significant downside to following the lead of the crowd if it makes the experience more poignant and enjoyable. However, be aware that your mindset and your behavior instinctively changes when you interact with a group of people. There's a fine line between being an individual in an audience and subtly altering your thoughts and feelings to align with those around you. If you're jumping on the bandwagon, make sure it's for something you really believe in. When you start to change your beliefs to coincide with the crowd, you may feel like you've blended in, but ultimately you're doing a disservice to yourself. Without critically evaluating our surroundings and thinking before going along with the crowd, we essentially dispense with the value professors try to instill in their students-individuality.
(05/01/12 4:00am)
Medical Emergency April 24-University Police received a call that a female party had passed out in the Hassenfeld Conference Center; BEMCo treated her on the scene with a signed refusal for further care. April 28-University Police received a call from the Waltham Police Department regarding a 21-year-old female party intoxicated and semi-conscious. The Waltham Fire Department and an ambulance were already on the way to her location, and University Police officers were sent to the area. The party was transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. April 28-A custodian reported a man sitting in one of the vestibules of the Usdan Student Center. BEMCo and University Police were sent to check on the man who was treated on-scene by BEMCo with a signed refusal for further care. April 29-A party in the Foster Mods reported an intoxicated 20-year-old male. University Police and BEMCo were dispatched; the police requested an ambulance. The ambulance transported the intoxicated party to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital while University Police dispersed the party. April 29-University Police received a report of a 21-year-old intoxicated male in Rosenthal South with a possible chipped tooth. BEMCo responded and requested an ambulance to transport the party to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Larceny April 24-There was a report of property stolen from the men's locker room in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. The incident occurred the night of April 23. University Police compiled a report. April 25-University Police received a report of a past larceny of animals from the Foster Biomedical Labs. A report was compiled on the theft. April 27-A laptop and wallet were stolen from an unlocked room in East Quad. University Police compiled a report on the theft. April 28-A party in the Shapiro Campus Center reported that items were stolen from an unattended coat while attending an event. University Police compiled a report on the theft. Harassment April 28-University Police compiled a report on an email sent to the staff of the Rosbash lab. The sender of the email was unknown. Disturbance April 26-University Police received several calls regarding parties in Massell Quad screaming threats and obscenities outside. The area was checked, and nothing was found. April 29-A party in the Charles River Apartments reported that someone banged on his or her window and was talking loudly outside. The caller did not wish to speak to the police but asked University Police to check the area. There was no one in the area upon the police's arrival. Miscellaneous April 23-A party in the Lown Center for Judaic Studies reported smelling smoke. University Police officers were sent to check the area. They reported seeing no smoke, but facilities was advised to check the area for a possible problem with a light. April 28-BEMCo reported that a male party was sleeping in a running vehicle in Hassenfeld Lot. Upon University Police's arrival at the scene, the party would not open the window or door. The party finally responded and was placed in protective custody for alcohol intoxication and transported to the Waltham Police Department. -Compiled by Marielle Temkin
