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Drilling on campus isn't absurd

The current economic climate has taken its toll on businesses and families alike, and many among us have become all too familiar with the general atmosphere of saving rather than spending. It seems that everywhere we look, companies are cutting salaries and laying off workers. At home, many are choosing to forgo luxuries and buy generics rather than name brands to protect their savings. With such an air of austerity, it is not surprising that universities have also fallen on hard times and considered taking active measures to balance their budgets.Here at Brandeis, as most of you know, we have already experienced this. Controversially, a few years ago, the University attempted to sell donated artwork to deal with budget issues. Last year, some academic programs were forced to consolidate for the same reason. As a result, I am not particularly surprised to see that other schools are adopting measures to help keep their finances afloat, but the methods that have been proposed have been quite unique, to say the least.Among the multitude of universities with budgetary issues are the Pennsylvania state colleges. At a meeting of the Pennsylvania Association of Councils of Trustees, freshman Governor Tom Corbett advised that the state colleges should drill for oil on their campuses. He argues that since the six of the state college campuses lie on a shale formation that is currently being used for natural gas, they may as well utilize it. At first, like many of you, I thought that this idea was nothing short of preposterous-imagine having a drilling facility on the Great Lawn or an oil rig in Massell Pond! Even disregarding the environmentalist groups on campus, it is obvious that the majority of the student body and faculty would balk at such a prospect.After some real consideration, however, I have since changed my mind. Such seemingly extreme measures can offer some rare opportunities for students and valuable lessons for society as a whole. Imagine being a mechanical engineering major at a campus that is actively drilling for oil. You would be able to work with and learn about heavy machinery on campus, all the while keeping tuition costs from rising for your peers. There would also be a constant need to minimize the ecological effects of such an operation, as the prospect of having grassy quads replaced with oil fields is quite the motivator to keep campus oil drilling environmentally conscious with plenty of fail-safe mechanisms.The real beauty of this idea is not the fact that people will be drilling for oil on campuses. That is in no way beautiful in an age in which we are pursuing alternative energy sources. Rather, it represents a new kind of campus sustainability. The idea that college campuses could have the ability to generate their own income outside of sporting events is a much-needed levee to combat ever-rising tuition prices.Obviously, colleges cannot turn into giant lumber yards, factories or mines of some sort, and the proposition in Pennsylvania is undoubtedly an extreme case. While most campuses do not sit over oil, many do have a plethora of untapped resources. Universities in Florida and southern California could set up citrus groves on their campuses. They would be aesthetically pleasing and would reduce the amount of money spent on fresh fruit for dining services. Any surplus oranges or grapefruits could be sold locally. The overhead cost of such an effort could be easily mitigated with the help of student volunteers or even a lab requirement for agricultural science students. Campuses with an abundance of maple trees might consider making syrup. The creative solutions are vast. Even if financially challenged universities are not actively creating a product and selling it, they should be taking new measures to cut costs. Fortunately, Brandeis is moving in this direction. Solar panels, like those on the roof of The Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, are a common and easy way to cut energy bills and ought to be used more widely. Schools near the shore or other windy regions should construct wind farms to harness the energy that flows through their campuses constantly.While all of these things would represent some very costly investments, they have the potential to keep the price of running a college campus manageable. As America's higher education system evolves into a state in which admission rates shrink while tuition rises, it becomes increasingly obvious that a new approach is necessary. As lamentable as it may be, it seems that colleges will have to start acting even more like businesses to alleviate these strains. Before we scream in protest, though, we would be wise to remember how much we value having a higher education. Some sacrifices will be necessary to preserve it.

Students push boundaries with bodies, art

One of the reasons why the annual Liquid Latex show is one of the most popular events in the Levin Ballroom is that students get to see their friends covered in extravagant body art and dancing around in nothing but thongs. Another reason is that it's simply one of the most creative things to happen on the Brandeis campus. Where else but college can people get naked and get painted as Hansel, the American flag or cybernetic androids?This year's coordinators Alex Hulse '12 and Shayna Medley '12 have continued the 11-year tradition of blending art, dance and modeling in an outstanding show titled "Art is Only Skin Deep." I suppose art doesn't need to go any deeper than the skin if the painters and choreographers can create imaginative worlds like Charlotte Oswald's '12 recreation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Students painted as fairies, donkeys and royalty acted out the disorienting plot of "Magic at Midsummer." Nati Peleg '13 garnered cheers when he brandished two glowing Poi orbs and spun colors in the dark, showing that skill and creativity were the main tests of the show. I've only seen this once-in-a-lifetime experience from the audience, but something tells me that the true appeal of Liquid Latex lies in the creative process of recreating the model's exterior. All of the dancers and painters of Liquid Latex assembled at noon to begin the bodily transformations necessary for the show. Students spent the day in these new skins dancing, sweating, posing for photographs and socializing. Each of the 10 dances and the fashion show featured a distinctive interpretation of the Liquid Latex performance. In April Kolb's '12 "Decadent Despair," the painted dancers splashed red paint while on stage. I could whiff the raw, plastic smell of it from the floor onto a girl's dress, representing her blood and sin. Ariel Bernstein '11 threw Snickers and 3 Musketeers bars into the crowd during designers Diana Flatto '12 and Allie Joseph '12 and choreographer Rachel Klein's '12 Hansel-and-Gretel-themed "Sweet Tooth." Designer George Falk '11 and choreographer Mei-Ling Caldera's '12 "Techno Genesis" included students dressed as gigantic fast food items with womanly legs who were later violently attacked by robots wielding Usdan Café utensils. Don't ask. If the performances were to be judged on dance alone, then Alejandra Castellanos '12, Nicole Cordero '11 and Carly Greenberg's '11 "Global Exposure" certainly stole the show. Marc Eder '12 and Daniel Lee '12 struck confident poses as the United States of America and South Korea, respectively, while Hulse captivated the stage with Parkour-style athletics, jumping on and off the runway and into the audience. Claire Cooper '11, Elizabeth Watson '12 and Greenberg also stunned the crowd as they celebrated the piece's exuberant world music. If Liquid Latex was purely a visual art show, then the stage design team behind "A Place Like No Place on Earth" would take the prize for its dazzling Alice in Wonderland-inspired creations. Jordan Warsoff's '11 Mad Hatter costume displayed devious blacks and purples that contrasted with the light blue and white of Shayna Medley's '12 Alice costume, while every other character sported effective patterns as well. I must give kudos to the painters for using such bright, noticeable colors. The props-two large playing cards and the iconic rose bush-completed the Wonderland picture. Finally, I must comment on Rachel Gillette '11, Emily Nhaissi '11, Julia Korn '11 and Amy Stricoff's '11 "Lady Marmalade" dance. When the announcer first introduced Liquid Latex as a show "meant for mature audiences only," she meant it. The four girls' provocative energy struck the audience instantly as they twisted their bodies on top of chairs, couches and tables. Like the Wonderland piece, the props used here were elaborately designed-they even included a dresser complete with a mirror-and I'm impressed at how quickly the stage crew moved the set pieces between the acts. Within 10 minutes of the show's end-around 9:40 p.m.-everyone had disposed of their sticky exoskeletons. "It feels like pulling duct tape from your body," remarked Travis Chui '12. "It's especially painful behind your arms and on the inside of your thighs." The students were no longer Harley Quinn, or a pirate, or Lady Gaga, or Gretel or a biomechanical hybrid wishing to eat food. They were now students again, normal people just like you and me, wearing merely human skin until the next year's Liquid Latex.

Hiatt hosts health care event

The University hosted its inaugural Public Health Forum event that was co-sponsored by the Hiatt Career Center and the Office of Career Services at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center Thursday evening.The event included a combination of speeches and networking opportunities that allowed undergraduate and graduate students to evaluate potential future employers and job options.Daniel Pellegrom, president of Pathfinder International, addressed some of the key issues concerning health care today.Pellegrom noted how to effectively manage a corporation or organization by "making management an opportunity [and] making the organization for which you work an instrument itself that does a better job at delivering the services that you care about and believe in." Pellegrom also spoke about how to empower employees and what it means to be a competent leader. "If you do gravitate to leading an organization, do lots of listening, and examine yourself if you see that management is not doing what it should. ... Examine yourself, and figure out ways in which to direct the energy to the organization to make it more productive," he said."A leader knows where he or she is going, means what they say, remains optimistic, and is inclined to take action," added Pellegrom. After his speech, Pellegrom opened the floor to questions. Students and attendees raised questions regarding how organizations can create better health care integration on a global level related to tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS, and what, if any, are the setbacks that his own organization is experiencing at this point in time. Employers from various health care institutions stationed themselves at tables where potential employees, undergraduate and graduate students alike, engaged in 20-minute round-table discussion sessions that enabled them to ask the questions necessary to determine whether or not they were suited for that particular employer. Employers at the event included the Bowdoin Street Health Center, McLean Hospital, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Tufts Medical Center and Meditech, among others. In an interview with the Justice, Danielle Gurr '11, who attended the event, said, "I thought the event was really interesting."She continued, "The keynote speech was really relevant, and the people who were there to network with the students were really interested in the students; some of them were alums, so that made it kind of more comfortable to talk to them because they knew where we were coming from.

The sports features page

WORLDVIEW: Milan 101

This article is part of the Worldview series, which will feature articles from Brandeis students studying abroad in various countries around the world.If you are looking for picturesque Italian villas with ivy growing on the sides, sweeping balconies, old women making pasta sauce and sprawling European landscapes, then Milan is not the place for you. Milan is an urban center with definite American traits, including an abundance of American stores, English speaking and urban landscapes. Yet it still maintains its "Italianness" with its passionate people, sham of a bureaucratic system, love of pasta, wine and fierce and unique fashions. It embodies a fusion of modern international Milan and old-world Italy. While America has had its international influence on Milan, sparking a love of the Gap and American Apparel in the local Italians, and European capitals such as Paris and London have exerted their own modern influence, these cities have not affected Milan's most Italian trait-pasta. Ah, pasta, the perfect pregame to every meal and event in Italy. That's right-we're doing it all wrong in America. Pasta is the appetizer after the appetizer in Italy and the precursor to every meal, not a stand-alone dish as it is served in the States. Anything you can imagine comes with a side of pasta here. Sushi, Mexican, Chinese, even a pasta-based main course comes with a supplemental dish of more pasta, because everyone wants a side of carbs with their carbs. And to compliment the copious amounts of pasta are the copious amounts of wine. Wine is the only product I have found to be sold by the five-gallon plastic container. It is also one of the few things that is fine for 12-year-olds to pick up for the family on their way home from school. My love of pasta (which is now quickly fading) was one of the reasons why I chose Italy to study abroad. Fashion is why I chose Milan specifically, and the city has yet to disappoint. The Milanese call their tacit fashion code la bella figura, or the beautiful appearance, and they really mean it. Sweatpants in Milan are not an option, let alone a passing thought. My roommate wore her college sweatpants on the metro and was stared down by a 65-year-old woman wearing a fur coat and 4-inch heels who looked as though my roommate was wearing a Gaga-esque steak dress on her way to class. I'm not even sure the Milanese know what true sweats are, because all their gym apparel comes from the same chic boutique, called Freddy, or from Abercrombie and Fitch. I've even seen people wearing bedazzled Armani unitards to the gym. The Milanese don't look sloppy at any point during the day. Even the bambini (children) here are fierce, and the small dogs they drag everywhere sport designer labels. The Italian zeal is also displayed in their love of soccer that is unparalleled in the States. I first encountered this at a game I attended where a fellow spectator chain smoked seven cigarettes, yelled a string of indeterminable Italian curses at the field complete with accompanying hand gestures, stripped his shirt off and used it to light a flare, drank a cup of what I'm presuming was wine and sat down again in time for the next play. This was all after goal one. There were five scored during that particular game, and he was not alone by any means. With their passion invested in pasta and soccer, the Italian bureaucracy lacks the same chic demeanor as their attire. Italian bureaucracy is a system built on disorganization, misery, strikes and lines. During my stay here, I've visited the police station three separate times for my student visa, and each experience has been worse than the one before it. The police officers play bingo and call out numbers in no discernible order, and if you're lucky they will randomly call your number within 3 hours of your arrival. I have never been lucky. And the crown jewel in Italian bureaucracy is the art of striking. In Italy, scioperi (strikes) are actually built into the monthly schedule of city programming. And strikes are not just onetime occurrences. They happen every single month without fail and they never fail to make everyone miserable and late. I have toured Europe and visited Florence and Venice. Though at first the slight American influence in Milan made me feel somewhat shortchanged in my study abroad experience, I now realize I wouldn't trade Milan for the world. I would miss the city streets, the disorganized bureaucracy, the women wearing fur coats no matter what the weather is and the people screaming the Duck Sauce club song "Barbra Streisand" outside my window at 5 a.m. on their way back from the discoteccas. Milan is the perfect city. Despite the fact that Milan has a heavier American influence than many other cities throughout Europe, it still remains uniquely Italian in its pasta, its inability for the Italians to form lines coherently or the complete joke that is Italian bureaucracy. It has been the pasta, lack of governmental organization, metro stares and overly fashionable gym attire that has made my time here in Milan unique, especially with the abundance of cannoli. And for better or worse, all these strange things have contributed to my Italian adventures.

Reform the current athletic scholarship system

Four-time presidential candidate Ralph Nader earned widespread media attention last week when he called for the termination of athletic scholarships given to college student athletes. Nader's comments coincided with the end of March Madness, the popular name for the NCAA Basketball Championships. Nader explained his promotion of need-based scholarships to replace those that are explicitly athletic, stating, "It's time we step back and finally address the myth of amateurism surrounding big-time college football and basketball in this country."Nader's reasoning revolves around his concern that the hyper-competitive nature surrounding the institution of college athletics manipulates American families. "An entire industry has developed in the youth sports arena-club teams, personal trainers, etc.-to prey on families' dreams of an athletic scholarship," he said. His concern for the negative impact athletic scholarships have on American society as a whole is certainly commendable, though I think these scholarships may do even greater damage to the structure and legacy of the American university.The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, an organization that works to promote academic integrity and priority within university sports, found that 10 of the 68 men's basketball teams that participated March Madness this year were ineligible for play under the academic benchmark recommended by the Commission and backed by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The benchmark requires that teams graduate at least 50 percent of their players.More statistics show the dismal relationship between academics and upper-tier athletics. According to the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, 66 percent of Division I male basketball players graduated in 2010. What kind of standard is this? We should not have such low expectations for student athletes. To think of them as professional players with full course loads in addition to their all-consuming jobs explains this low figure for graduation. But technically, Division I athletes are supposed to be college students who participate in a normal-albeit intense-extracurricular activity while studying at their university. We should stop pretending academics are the priority for these athletes and admit that, to them and the industry created around them, their sport comes first. Of course, failure to maintain a high-enough grade point average is not the only reason Division I athletes frequently fail to graduate. Many transfer and some drop out early to join professional teams. Either way, the low graduation rate is a testament to the low priority of academics. The university shouldn't be a pool where athletes wait it out until they can join the big leagues. Viewing the university as a mere stepping stone to a professional athletic career devalues the entire academic system, and students who see college in this way take the spaces of potential students who truly want to study and learn.Besides concern for the academic standing of student athletes who prioritize their sport, Nader's proposal calls for a re-evaluation of university athletics. The nature of amateur athletics is undoubtedly integral to the American university life and experience. College sports were first introduced and promoted over a century ago as a way to develop student life. It was supposed to enrich the overall experience of attending a university; it wasn't intended to be a mimicry of professional sports adapted to the university level. It grew out of the university, not into it. Nader and other critics of the current system have suggested removing the false label of amateurism from Division I sports by revamping the system and allowing it to become a fully professional organization. I think there is a lot of merit to this idea. The number of games, the abilities of the players and the culture surrounding the league could remain the same. The changes associated with the shift toward professionalism would remain unseen by fans, though the impact on players would be significant. Logistically, student athletes would receive need-based aid and then join their university's athletic teams as paid players. This would require an alternative source of funding to athletics, most likely sponsored by alumni and fans. These athletes would essentially play for their teams as any student works a part-time job while living on campus. Need-based scholarships would allow athletes to do what athletic scholarships in theory should be allowing them to do. Athletes could train harder for their sport without having to worry about living up to the parameters of their scholarship, and they could juggle activities and priorities to maintain their grades just as normal college students do. As the athletic scholarships stand now, athletes are required to maintain a minimum GPA in addition to being forced to achieve a certain standard of play in their sport. As Nader points out in his criticism, athletic scholarships take advantage of student athletes in this way by requiring them to do too much. A need-based scholarship would support their education without putting pressure on the students to pass their classes just so they can play. By separating schoolwork from sports, athletes may be able to give each the attention it deserves without fear of losing their scholarship.Separating college athletics from academia is, of course, a far-fetched and probably unrealistic move. But it would mean that students, administrators, athletes and fans could stop lying to themselves about who these athletes really are to their schools. Fans would no longer have to look at the low graduation rates of Division I basketball players, sigh and shake their heads in shame, as such statistics would become irrelevant. Forging a clean split between athletics and academics might be the most honest solution to restoring academic integrity to college sports and preserving two crucial aspects of university life.

EDITORIAL: Hoops for Haiti still a success

Yesterday, the second annual Hoops for Haiti, sponsored by the Brandeis Haiti Initiative, took place in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. This board commends the efforts of the BHI for continuing to advocate its mission and bring its important goals to the forefront of the student body's consciousness.While last year's event was a direct response to the earthquake that devastated Haiti, this year the BHI is donating the funds raised to the Empowering Through Education Camp, Partners in Health and Hope for Haiti; a portion of the proceeds will also be donated to earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in Japan. The BHI is setting an excellent example for disaster relief efforts on campus by continuing to support Haiti even after the cause has largely moved beyond the public's attention. Instead of disbanding after the immediate danger from the earthquake passed, the BHI has demonstrated its ability to adapt its mission to work toward improving conditions in Haiti through education. Other relief efforts would do well to follow suit by remaining conscious of the fact that, even after the initial shock of a tragedy passes, relief work is still necessary. Additionally, this board congratulates the students, staff and faculty who came together to support this important cause. There are few events on campus that create a fun, relaxed atmosphere in which students, staff and faculty can interact so freely. In that same vein, it is unfortunate that the event did not receive the same level of attendance that it did last year-with a higher level of participation and attendees, it could serve to bring the community together and demonstrate our continued commitment to social justice.The BHI's decision to donate its funds in part to ETE Camp, which was founded by Brandeis alumna Shaina Gilbert '10, also proves Brandeis' continued support for our community members. By demonstrating our dedication both to important causes and to each other, students stay true to our university's core values and are able to effect lasting change.

Profile: Sitting down with the president

It's been a busy week for University President Frederick Lawrence?-attending academic panels and receptions, participating in board meetings and, of course, the inauguration and ball. While his hands support the back of his head from exhaustion during our Friday afternoon interview, the new president's eyes swell with tears. "This was one of the greatest weeks of my life," he said last Friday in the interview.That was 3 months to the day since he took over for President Emeritus Jehuda Reinharz. Lawrence describes his time at Brandeis so far as "enriching." He estimates that he's met over 2,000 alumni, parents, students and other community members. He said there was something "extremely transformative about [Thursday's] ceremony." At the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center last Thursday, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Malcolm Sherman and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees Jonathan S. Jacobson placed a silver ceremonial chain around Lawrence's neck, the official invocation of Lawrence as president. When asked after the ceremony if the chain was heavy, Lawrence said, "I know this sounds cliché, but it's not today." It's traditional at academic proceedings for faculty and administrators to wear gowns that reflect their highest educational degrees, but university presidents get to design their own robes. Rather than wearing one from Yale University Law School, from which he graduated in 1980, Lawrence designed a royal-blue gown trimmed with black and topped by a purple hood that signified his Juris doctorate degree. "It's what a Brandeis gown might look like if the University offered an equivalent degree," Lawrence said. Lawrence's gown also had four black stripes along the sleeve, a trademark reserved only for university presidents. Lawrence, 55, highlighted one particular moment walking into Gosman. "Coming in down the steps, I guess there was a whole group of students who got themselves on the wrong side of the procession, so they had to wait before they could come into the grandstands. . I knew I was supposed to stay in line, but I figured [the people in the procession] weren't going to go without me, so that's why I wanted to just go over and touch base [with the students], and I did get very choked up just seeing [the student] reaction and knowing how many students wanted to be there."In his inaugural address, Lawrence spoke about how his mother, a high school English teacher in his hometown of Port Washington, N.Y., often reminded him, "Every student is somebody's child." This sentiment, he admitted in our interview, will help shape the relationship he hopes to have with the student body. Students have multiple names for the new president such as "Fred," which he says is "fine," and "Prez Fred," which he calls "cute." Lawrence laughed and admitted that there are still the occasional few who call him President Lawrence. Lawrence understands that every student will want to have a different relationship with him. "I just try to make myself accessible to the community," he said. "I'm still a member of the New York Bar," Lawrence said with a laugh. "If I didn't like being with students, there's a better way to make a living. But being with students is one of the great pluses of this job."From Washington to WalthamThe decision to move to Brandeis was not initially obvious for Lawrence. "I really wasn't looking to leave [Washington, D.C.]," he said. Since 2005, Lawrence had served as dean and Robert Kramer Research Professor of Law at George Washington University Law School. His wife, Kathy Lawrence, also taught courses at GWU, specializing in 19th-century American literature. They had a "comfortable setup" in the nation's capital, he said. When Brandeis' Presidential Search Committee first asked Lawrence in March 2010 if he was interested in Reinharz's position, he was flattered but declined. Search Committee Chair and Member of the Board of Trustees Stephen Kay followed up with Lawrence a few times after the Committee first contacted him. They met in Logan International Airport for an interview during one of Lawrence's business trips to Boston. Lawrence explained that his interest in the job was "more of a continuum. Interested after the first meeting and more interested after the second." He recalled one moment, washing dishes with his wife-"How prosaic a setting is that?"-to the change in his decision. Lawrence described Kathy saying to him, "I still don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but I'm pretty sure [the position] is your destiny."The family moved to Boston in 1988 when Lawrence became a faculty member and associate dean of academic affairs at Boston University's School of Law. Now the family lives in Cambridge, anticipating this summer's move into Brandeis' presidential house in Newton, Mass. A family man's prioritiesFamily is a team, as Lawrence sees it. "Spending time with each other is important," he said about his relationship with his wife Kathy, 25-year-old daughter Miriam and 23-year-old son Noah. In childhood, Noah noted, in a separate interview after Thursday's inauguration, that his father would play "legal hypotheticals" as a game with his children. "He would put cases to us of different scenarios and ask us who was right and who was wrong; and this to me gets at the core of what it means to be both a parent and a teacher. That education is fun."Additionally, Noah recalled that though his mother left academia to raise him and his sister when he was around 11, she went back to receive her Ph.D. in American Studies from Boston University. "My dad actually drove carpool during those years. So when he says, 'The family is a team,' he means it and he lives by it."Miriam, a Williams College graduate like her father, received a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan and is now on a fellowship from the University that is supporting her while she completes her fiction novel. Noah, who finished his undergraduate degree at Yale two years ago, now lives in Israel, writing and editing speeches and other English materials for Israeli Leader of the Opposition Tzipi Livni. "They are my sounding board," Lawrence said of his family. Judaism, President Lawrence explained, "is the faith structure that gives rise to how I think about many things in my own life and in my family." He predicted that there will continue to be a "close relationship" between the American-Jewish community and the University, "at least in my presence here going forward," he added. "The roots of this University, just like I think of my own Jewish roots, are not roots that are narrow and parochial, but they are roots that are broad and universal. ... It's hard to come up with a more universal impulse than the obligation to repair the world." According to Lawrence, his wife is working to improve the University, most notably serving on Student Life Committee that planned last January's Battle of the Brandeis DJs event. He credits his wife for roping him into emceeing the evening but stresses that he still owns the bragging rights to his genuine freestyle rap. Off the cuff is Lawrence's specialty, and even in his inaugural address he admits that he strayed from the written script; "Maybe that's where the rapping comes from," Lawrence joked. Building an ideal BrandeisThe President's involvement on campus goes unquestioned. Lawrence has circulated among academic departments, campus faith groups and other organizations, and he greeted first-years and midyears at move-in. He has appeared at athletic events to support the Judges, even when Brandeis plays his alma mater. During the interview, Lawrence wore a Hoops for Haiti T-shirt, which he had on over his long-sleeve blue button-down from filming a promotional video for the charity event earlier that day.Film and Visual Media Studies is one of the categories Lawrence mentioned as a "potential growth area" for the University. He also spoke of looking into an engineering program. "I think they're real potential growth areas, as long as we do them very carefully and really with an eye toward making sure what we're doing is embedded in the liberal arts."The new president acknowledged that reports of grade inflation and a low intellectual climate on campus in the recent Wabash Study are a faculty concern and admitted that these are issues he will have to think more about. The connection between faculty and students is also on his mind. Whenever he asks alumni to tell him a favorite professor story, he measures how long it takes them to come up with one and how much "flash" is in their eyes when they tell it. "I have to tell you, overwhelmingly, the story comes up fast and the flash is real." Lawrence will have his own chance to connect with students as a faculty member next fall. He will teach a senior-priority seminar titled "Punishment and Crime" that, according to its registrar course description, "examines theories justifying criminal punishment, and the practice of law enforcement, as a means of understanding our society and its values.""If you ask my dad, 'Why are you teaching a class?'" Noah said, "he will say, 'I believe it's the core mission of the University, and I've got to support it and show that I'm part of it.' My dad wants to hear everybody's voice, . which doesn't mean always saying, 'That's correct,' but it means the fundamental affirmation that 'you're here, and I appreciate that, and we're going to make some progress.'"Lawrence's legal background- working as a clerk for Judge Amalya L. Kearse of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and later, as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he was appointed chief of the Civil Rights Unit-mirrors the University's central emphasis on social justice. Lawrence's ideal Brandeis would be a place "where people take their work seriously without taking themselves so seriously. Where people find that they have lots of different ways of connecting to the institution, formal and informal. Where people are engaged with repairing the world, not every second of every day but part of every week. And where people have a sense of what it means to belong and what it means to give back."Is he nervous about the job ahead? "Not at all.

Dancing the night away at the Inaugural Ball

Last Saturday night, alumni, faculty and students gathered in the Shapiro Gymnasium in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center for the Inaugural Ball, which was held in celebration of the inauguration of University President Frederick Lawrence. Doors opened at 8:30 p.m., and guests dressed in their finest clothes were greeted by the lively music of Boston's White Heat Swing Orchestra. In true Brandeis spirit, the theme of the evening was "Celebrating the Diversity of Brandeis." Many guests wore the traditional garments of their respective cultures, which displayed the diversity of the Brandeis community. The performances that followed-including a song played by the Brandeis Wind Ensemble, a slam poetry performance and a song performed by several Brandeis a cappella groups- each showcased the University's talented and unique community.The gym was transformed for the event, complete with a dance floor, sheer white and blue fabric that was artfully draped from the ceiling, blue globe lights on all of the tables around the room and even intricate ice sculptures. Guests were treated to lemonade that was poured through these ice sculptures and chilled before it hit their glasses. The extravagant evening also boasted a dessert table filled with small pastries and petits fours.At the start of the evening, the dance floor was sparse with only a few people dancing, but more guests arrived throughout the night, and the dance floor soon became crowded with people showing off their best swing moves. The orchestra added class and fun to the evening with its energetic and catchy performances.Around 10 p.m., Student Union President Daniel Acheampong '11 stepped up to the microphone to introduce the guests of honor for the evening, Lawrence and his wife Kathy. The president was dressed in a sleek tuxedo and Kathy wore a beautiful deep blue gown. Lawrence spoke to the attendees for a few minutes, expressing his thanks. He jokingly compared the evening to President Barack Obama's own inaugural ball and then injected some characteristic humor and wit by saying, "My date's prettier," while smiling at Kathy.After Lawrence spoke, the Brandeis Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Thomas Souza, performed "Officer Krupke" from West Side Story. People gathered all around the dance floor to hear the performance, which showed off another side of the Brandeis student body's creativity. For the second performance of the night, Usman Hameedi '12 gave a short slam poetry performance, depicting more of Brandeis' talent. The entire evening was truly a representation of what makes Brandeis so unique. Appropriately, for the next act, the University's many a cappella groups came together to perform a rendition of Michael Jackson's "We Are the World." Following these poignant performances, Lawrence and his wife had their official first dance to the music of the White Heat Swing Orchestra. Onlookers gathered around the perimeter of the dance floor to witness this touching moment. After the first dance, members of the Brandeis Swingers gathered on the dance floor to demonstrate various swing steps. The orchestra received a request to play the Cha Cha and the dance floor was once again filled with people dancing energetically to the rousing rendition.After the orchestra played for a while, Student Union Secretary Herbie Rosen '12 announced Brandeis' own DJ Sensation, who provided the music for the rest of the evening. DJ Sensation first played "The Way You Look Tonight" as a dance for the president and his wife, and then proceeded to play some of today's popular dance hits. For the latter part of the evening, students dominated the dance floor and the atmosphere became even livelier.The Inaugural Ball culminated the week of events held to usher in this new presidential era at Brandeis. The evening paid homage to everything that makes the University unique and to all of the creativity that characterizes the Brandeis community. Many of those who attended the Inaugural Ball shared the sentiments of pride and optimism-pride for a community that is so diverse and talented, and optimism for a bright future under Brandeis' new president.

The sports features page

Hoops for Haiti, a slam dunk for charity

After suffering a 37-31 defeat to the faculty/staff team in the first annual Hoops for Haiti basketball fundraiser last year, the student team got its revenge this year by going on a 13-6 run in the final 8 minutes of yesterday's game to win 49-42."This year, we made sure we were going to win," Student Union President Daniel Acheampong '11 said. "We had a great team. We always have a good team, so we wanted to step it up a little bit and show the staff we are not playing [around]. We come ready and we are ready to win."Despite losing to the student team, which had members from both the men's and women's basketball teams, Director of Class-Based Academic Advising and Coordinator of First Year Academic Programming PJ Dickson believes that the game was rigged this year after the faculty/staff team won last year's game. "There [was] a conspiracy, I think, this year to make sure the staff and faculty team could not win," Dickson said. "We faced an exceedingly large number of large and talented players. But I think all in all, we handled ourselves very well and played with an appropriate amount of good sportsmanship and hard work."Although there was a winner and a loser in the game, everyone involved thought the event was a tremendous success."It was an amazing event," Brandeis Haiti Initiative Co-President Napoleon Lherisson '11, who played for the student team, said. "It was a great turnout. . Overall, it was a great experience to see faculty members, students and staff all come together to play a great game of basketball.""We raised a lot of good money for Haiti, and last year, they raised a lot of money also," starting center for the student team Rachel Nelson '13 said. "Hopefully, this is something we can continue to do every year.""It was an incredible event," Associate Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams said. "I'm glad it's become an annual event. . Any event that the students put together that is [for] a good cause and in the name of social justice, civility and treating people like humans is always a great thing. We do that well here at Brandeis."After Brandeis VoiceMale sang the national anthem and Senior Postal Clerk Bill Bowen gave his rendition of "God Bless America," the faculty/staff team jumped out to a 14-7 lead with 10 minutes, 8 seconds remaining in the first half. A few moments later, Adams, sporting No. 125 with "Human Torch" on the back of his jersey, stepped onto the court for the first time. After he dribbled the ball up the court, Adams suffered what at first seemed to be a devastating knee injury. In the process, women's basketball coach Carol Simon, who was watching the game from the stands with the rest of the crowd, replaced Adams, who was helped off the court by faculty/staff coach and Senior Vice President for Communications and External Affairs Andrew Gully. Adams did his best impression of Paul Pierce in the 2008 NBA Finals, and just minutes after being carried off the court he was back in the action. Still, he believes that the injury will need to be looked at by doctors."The knee is going to take a whole lot of [physical therapy]," he said. "I'll be in PT, the doctors say, for about 2 months. It'll go smooth because we have some of the best doctors in the world. Remember, our doctors made ButterSmart [sic], so we'll easily fix my knee."Whenever the student team shot free throws, Adams went behind the basket to distract them. His antics, which included throwing his hands and legs in the air, worked satisfactorily, according to Adams."It worked two-thirds of the time," Adams said, "That one-third, by that point, they got used to me. I need to develop a strategy. Next year, what I may do is try and get some indoor fireworks that are non-fire but still are still fireworks."Despite trailing for much of the first half, the student team cut the faculty/staff lead to 3 points at halftime. Men's basketball forward Vytas Kriskus '12 scored the first 5 points for the students to give them the lead, which they held until the faculty/staff team tied the game at 36 with just under 8 minutes left in the game. From there, the student team pulled ahead despite aggressive play from their opponents in the final minutes of the game.Hoops for Haiti was created last year by the Brandeis Haiti Initiative to raise money for Haiti, which was devastated by an earthquake on January 12, 2010. The proceeds from the event this year, which came from selling tickets for $5 apiece, will go to the Education Through Education Camp, a free summer day camp for children in Haiti founded by Shaina Gilbert '10; Partners in Health; Hope for Haiti; and the Japan Relief Effort. According to Lherisson, BHI will also hold A Night for Haiti on May 9, where a silent auction will be held to raise money for Haiti.

Brandeis welcomes Lawrence

Last Thursday, about 1,500 students, professors, alumni, and members of the University gathered in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center to commemorate the official inauguration of University President Frederick Lawrence. In his address, Lawrence stated that he would "devote every fiber of [his] being" to "nurture" the University. "This is not a pledge that I can fulfill alone," continued Lawrence. "Brandeis has always been about community-the Brandeis family-and now more than ever, we draw together as a family to chart our course in the years ahead.""The challenge we face is literally the challenge to justify the liberal arts tradition on which we are founded," said Lawrence. Lawrence delivered a "challenge" to members of the University: "Find a mentor who inspires you," Lawrence said to students. "Be a mentor for others and inspire them."Lawrence told students to take classes outside of their "comfort zone," to "study hard," to "have fun," to "care for each other," to enjoy their time at school and to keep their connections with the University after graduation.To alumni, he said, "You have rights as a member of this family, but you have responsibilities as well," said Lawrence. "Remember who you were when you were here and connect with that person and with us."To the trustees, Lawrence said, "Dream with me and work with me as we build a greater university and inspire a new generation." "Hold fast to that intellectual curiosity that first brought you to the academy," Lawrence said to faculty members. "Take risks. Inspire each other to take risks.""I promise you," said Lawrence to the audience, "We will listen. We will be open to new ideas. We will encourage open debate. We will lead by example. We will be unafraid to confront the challenges ahead."The inauguration ceremony began with the presentation of the procession, announced by Associate Vice President John Hose, followed by an invocation delivered by Rabbi William G. Hamilton of Kehillath Israel of Brookline, Mass., of which Lawrence is a member. Chair of the Board of Trustees Malcolm Sherman delivered a welcome message, saying that during the search process for the University's president, Lawrence demonstrated himself as the candidate who "best embodied the personal [and] professional" qualities to serve the University.Professor and Chair of the Faculty Senate Timothy Hickey (COSI) delivered greetings from the faculty and spoke of the faculty's anticipation of Lawrence's term as president. "For the past several months," said Hickey, "we've enjoyed getting to know you as a respected colleague and an admired leader." Hickey said that Lawrence's arrival brought a "renewed sense of well-justified optimism" about the University's future. "You have demonstrated an ability to lead by uniting the community behind a common mission," said Hickey.Hickey was followed by Student Union President Daniel Acheampong '11, who said that from his and Lawrence's first meeting, he knew that Lawrence was the "right man for the job." "He wanted to know about student concerns," said Acheampong. "He was passionate about the student body, and he wanted to get involved immediately." Acheampong also noted Larwence's decision to include students on the search committee for a new provost and his participation in the Battle of the Brandeis DJs event."I believe in your dream to make Brandeis a global example," said Acheampong to Lawrence. "I believe in your dream to push Brandeis to unexplored territories and heights."President of the Graduate Student Union Jane Harries also welcomed Lawrence and said that she was enthusiastic about Lawrence's decision to include students in processes such as searching for provosts and other administrative positions. President of the Alumni Association Allen Alter '71 also welcomed Lawrence, calling him the "right fit" for the University and said that the alumni would work with the president to build an "even better Brandeis."President of the Brandeis National Committee Leslie Pearlstein said that all of the committee's chapters agreed that Lawrence was "down to earth" and "easy to talk to" and that the BNC would look forward to providing financial support to the University.President of Northwestern University Morton Schapiro said Brandeis is a "special place" because of its establishment as the only non-sectarian and Jewish-sponsored university and that its progress since its founding has been "nothing short of astounding." Schapiro noted that Brandeis is a member of the American Association of Universities and its position as a research university with a liberal arts focus. Schapiro told of "witty" comments made by former university presidents and joked that he was glad the Lawrence was not "scared away" by them.The ceremony was followed by a reception for attendees of the ceremony."Overall, ... I thought this was an amazing ceremony," said Senior Representative to the Alumni Association Sam Fuchs '11 in an interview with the Justice. "I enjoyed all the speakers. I really liked President Lawrence's address; it just reaffirms what I already knew was true about him: that he's the perfect guy for the job.""It feels like the University has now been handed to a great leader who is going to do fantastically well, and I look forward to hearing about his great achievements and I will do whatever I can to help him," said President Emeritus Jehuda Reinharz in an interview with the Justice."I thought it was amazing, it was well put-together, and all the speakers offered encouraging words that really spoke to me and I know really spoke to President Lawrence," said Stephanie Johnson '13 in an interview with the Justice."I think this is a fabulous day for the whole campus community and even beyond. I think the energy and excitement and happiness in the room is palpable," said Provost Marty Krauss in an interview with the Justice. "I think everyone is just very optimistic and happy for him and his family and happy for us."Lawrence was appointed as President-elect in May 2010, succeeding Reinharz. Lawrence is the eighth person to serve as University President since the University's establishment in 1948.-Brian Fromm, Emily Kraus, Fiona Lockyer and Andrew Wingens contributed reporting

An all-night fight against cancer

Every step taken in the Gosman Sports Center last Saturday night possessed a different meaning. To some, it represented a hope for a better world. To others, it was the memory of a loved one. No matter one's history with cancer, the Relay For Life event was a place for the Brandeis community to come together for a cause. Relay For Life, which is run by the American Cancer Society, is a national charity event that raises money for cancer research and prevention. Each year, the Brandeis community hosts the event as part of a nationwide campus effort. Teams are formed in advance so they can fundraise, and participants make their way around the track all night to show their support. At this year's event, there were more than 800 students, faculty, campus personnel and other Brandeis community members present, making up over 80 teams. People poured into the gym to remember, honor and celebrate cancer patients, survivors and those who have lost the battle to the disease.The goal of the event was presented as a way to Remember, Celebrate and Fight Back, and the night was filled with both somber and festive activities and events. The night opened at 7 p.m. with a ceremony that featured 14 survivors who walked an honorary first lap, which was followed by a private dinner provided for them. Nathan Feldman '14, who attended the event, described the night as "humbling" and explained that he came to the event "because it's nice to see others are with you in hard times. People should feel that they are not alone," he said. Feldman felt that "the community should be [here] for support." The initial ceremony kicked off the "celebration" leg of the event. As many walked, jogged and even leap-frogged around the track from 7 p.m. on Saturday until 5:30 Sunday morning, there were countless other activities taking place all over the gym. Each team set up a station around the track with activities including face painting, softball pitching, and a silent auction to raise additional money. In addition, there was a moon bounce in the middle of the track, a student favorite. The Brandeis community, known for its tight-knit and caring environment, lived up to its stereotype in a very moving display of character. Students, many of whom didn't know each other, played catch with footballs and frisbees and kicked around soccer balls throughout the night. Students walked laps with campus staff, and each team station was frequented by many. The talent of the student body was also highlighted, as students in a cappella groups, stomp teams and assorted bands performed throughout the night.Sarah Cohen '11, the chair of the event, said that this year's relay saw more people than ever before at Brandeis. Hannah Katcoff '12, co-chair of the event, emphasized that the unity of the community is what makes the event possible each year. As she has been involved with organizing the event for 3 years, she explained that the community is not simply comprised of the student body. "[This year] there was more involvement from outside the student body than ever before. We had an enormous amount of support from the administration, and the dining service auctioned off meals," Katcoff said. She feels that "[The event] brings the best out of everyone. There's so much debate on campus, but this is something that affects everyone and everyone can agree on."Although the celebration of life was a key aspect of the night, remembering those who have passed from the disease was a major feature of the event as well. The Luminaria ceremony, which was held at 10:30 p.m., was one of the most memorable portions of the event and was the relay's approach to "remember." Hundreds of glow sticks were thrown into a giant bag to honor those affected by cancer.Afterward, the participants walked in silence as the room was lit solely by 200 glow sticks that lined the track. The glow sticks, combined with a heartfelt "Amazing Grace" sung by Robert Orzalli '11 and Abigail Clarke '12 in the background, provided an atmosphere of open emotions as many people hugged, held hands and cried. At the conclusion of the lap, there was an opportunity to write a note on the Luminaria bag titled "Dedicated to." Many of the notes were motivational messages to loved ones who are currently fighting the disease, while most of the others were in memory of those relatives and friends that were lost. For Cohen, who has been a part of the charity event for 4 years, the event carries with it an even deeper, personal meaning, as she lost her father to cancer when she was in high school. She said that one of her goals for the event was to have "members of the community come to support the cause and each other." She felt that "people must stand together in order to create an awareness and understanding of the disease and ways to fight it."Immediately following the Luminaria ceremony, Ben Rabb, a singer and acoustic guitarist from Connecticut, took to the main performance stage positioned in the center of the gym. As the mood was still somber from the ceremony, he played a set of songs that mostly contained messages of hope. In his cover of Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry," he sang the repetitive bridge of "everything is gonna be alright." When asked what it meant to him to play at an event such as this, especially after the Luminaria Ceremony, he replied that, "It's a great opportunity, and very moving." Rabb added that his cover of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was the most meaningful to him. He relayed a story that after playing the song at another gig, a girl approached him crying. She explained that the night that he performed was the 1-year anniversary of the end her mother's losing battle with cancer, and on her gravestone read the words "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."As the celebration continued on throughout the night, participants understood not only the importance of partaking in the relay itself but also in raising funds for the American Cancer Society. "Fight Back" was one of the slogans of the event, and each year, the community does its best to combat the disease. Teams began signing up and fundraising months prior to the event, and the fundraising continues until August. Most of the money raised from the event will be donated to scientific research attempting to understand cancer's causes, determine how best to prevent it and find new cures. Other programs that the money is allocated to are ones that help patients physically and emotionally with whatever needs that may arise. Last year's total amounted to $85,000, and this year's total is projected to be in the same vicinity. As Cohen put it, "the goal is to not let the disease take any more people."The Brandeis community once again stepped up in putting their own lives on hold in order to be there for others, as they helped turn a regular Saturday night into something extraordinary.

EDITORIAL: Dining Services deserves praise

As a result of the opening of the new Village Provisions on Demand Market, Aramark decided to donate 10 percent of its profits from the first day of business to Japanese tsunami relief. This charitable contribution surely raised awareness for an incredibly significant issue, and this board commends University Dining Services for its involvement in this important cause. Aramark has contributed to other important causes this academic year, aside from yesterday's initiative. The annual Relay For Life event, which took place last Saturday night in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, was the result of team participation from a wide array of campus groups, including Brandeis Dining services. Additionally, the recent program known as "Brandeis Be Our Guest," started by the Hunger and Homelessness program of the Waltham Group in conjunction with Aramark, has experienced tremendous success. As Andrew Mandel '11, one of the Waltham Group's three hunger and homelessness coordinators, said in an interview with the Justice, "People think that Aramark is this evil corporation, but they've been so helpful and we would have never been able to go along with this program without their support." While this board commends Aramark for contributing to causes important to the Brandeis community, we recognize that students are concerned with the quality of dining services provided. A recent Student Union survey found that dining services rank among the top concerns of students on campus. This board hopes that moving forward, Aramark will be as responsive in addressing students' complaints as it has been to requests to participate in social justice initiatives.

The sports features page

Fencing: Julian Cardillo '14 and Alex Powell '12 lead fencers at Nationals

Foil Julian Cardillo '14 finished 17th out of 24 foil fencers, while épée Alex Powell '12 placed 23rd in épée at the NCAA Fencing Championships at The Ohio State University last Thursday and Friday. Overall, Brandeis finished 15th out of 24 schools in the men's standings."We're proud of both of them," coach Bill Shipman said. "It was a good effort and a good result to just get in the tournament. It was a good accomplishment."In the tournament, both Cardillo and Powell fenced against every competitor in their respective weapon classes, including fencers from schools such as Notre Dame University, The Pennsylvania State University and Duke University. On the first day of the competition, Cardillo, who qualified for the NCAA Championships after finishing seventh in foil at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships on March 13, went 8-6. Three of his wins on the first day came against eventual top-10 finishers, which placed him 10th overall after the first day. "[Cardillo] started out and fenced a little nervous, but by the middle of the day, he was fencing very well, probably the best he ever has," Shipman said.Despite Cardillo's success on the first day, he managed only one win in nine matches on the second day. He noted the mental fatigue that settled in on the second day of action. "The second day was harder," Cardillo said. "A lot of things got in the way. I thought I fenced well, but maybe not as well as I could have. I was nervous because I had the whole 'making All-American' in my head." Even though Cardillo lost eight of his nine matches, Shipman was pleased with how the first-year maintained his composure. "[Cardillo] certainly never got down on himself," Shipman said. "He never quit. He stayed mentally tough, and we're proud with that result."Overall, Cardillo stressed the intensity of the NCAA Championships, which he said he could have handled more appropriately. "It's just a tough event," he said. "It's hard to adjust because day one, you fence 14 matches, and to wrap your head around fencing nine matches is tough because there is no room for error. It's make or break. Mentally, I don't think I made that adjustment and paid for it in day two."In épée, Powell, who received an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships after placing 12th at the regional championships, finished 3-11 on day one and 3-6 on day two. Although Powell had only six wins over the 2 days, many of his losses were close matches that came down to the wire. "I had six wins, but over 2 days, I had six or seven losses that came in overtime; by sudden-death pretty much. ... That was disappointing, I guess, but it was also something to take away from the experience, knowing that I was able to compete with everybody and wasn't destroyed or blown out by anybody.Shipman praised Powell's ability not to lose his focus when he lost matches. "[Powell] stayed very stable mentally," Shipman said. "He never gave up. He never got down on himself. He never got angry or distracted. He fought hard till the end."Overall, Powell said that nationals was the most draining meet he has ever competed in, mostly because of the level of competition he faced. "I had a great experience at Nationals," he said. "It was definitely the most mentally grueling competition I've ever done. It was definitely the highest level of competition in terms of the other individuals that were participating in the tournament."With the fencing season now over, both Cardillo and Powell have their eyes set out on qualifying for Nationals next year. According to Cardillo, maintaining his consistency will help him toward fencing at the NCAA Championships for a second straight year. "I was very consistent this year, but I need to keep that up," he said. "I have to keep working. I plan on training over the summer. Fencing is going to be a pretty big part of the offseason."Powell said that he believes he needs to work hard and stay motivated in his final year at Brandeis. "I just have to put as much effort as I did this year, be just as motivated and work hard during school practices, as well as outside practices and outside coaching," he said.Editor's note: Julian Cardillo '14 is a Sports staff writer for the Justice.

Police Log

Medical EmergencyMar. 21-University Police received a report of a female who felt dizzy in Reitman Hall. BEMCo treated the party on-scene with a signed refusal for further care.Mar. 22-A reporting party informed University Police that a female at the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center had possibly broken her foot. BEMCo treated the party on-scene with a signed refusal for further care.Mar. 23-BEMCo treated a party in Ziv Quad who had reported feeling stomach pains with a signed refusal for further care. Mar. 23-The Psychological Counseling Center requested an ambulance for a party to be transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital for a psychological evaluation.Mar. 24-University Police received a report from Ziv Quad of a student who was experiencing flu-like symptoms. The student was treated on-scene by BEMCo and then transported to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital.Mar. 25-A reporting party informed University Police that her roommate was feeling dizzy and nauseous. BEMCo treated the party on-scene with a signed refusal for further care.DisturbanceMar. 25-University Police asked the attendees at a party in the Charles River Apartments to disperse after receiving noise complaints.Mar. 26-University Police confiscated a keg of beer and plan to file judicial charges against the residents of the offending apartment after receiving complaints of a large, loud party in the Charles River Apartments.MiscellaneousMar. 25-University Police received a report of the smell of smoke from Hassenfeld Residence Hall. A student was found burning incense. A representative from the Department of Community Living was informed and plans to file judicial charges.-compiled by Fiona Lockyer

Extreme Beer Festival provides original flavors and ideas

On March 11 and 12, BeerAdvocate.com welcomed brewers from across the country to its Extreme Beer Fest in Boston. As defined by the website, an extreme beer is "a beer that pushes the boundaries of brewing through creativity and innovation." Beers for this festival offer different ingredients and techniques than the typical ones.Because of the goals of this event, it is no surprise that the Dogfish Head Brewery sponsors this annual event. According to its website, Dogfish Head is known for its "off-centered ales [made] for off-centered people." They make beers infused with fruit and spices and use ancient brewing techniques. The event was divided into 2 days with two different lineups of beers. Friday night was the exclusive Night of the Barrels featuring rare barrel-aged beer. Saturday brought two regular sessions featuring experimental one-off beers that challenged notions of what typical beer tastes like.Night of the Barrels offered barrel-aged beer. A new American staple, many brewers will age beer in different types of barrels to get different flavors. I have talked about this style before. Many of the top-rated beers in the country are aged in some form of wooden barrel, and often the barrels have previously been used to age other alcohol. This imparts woody flavors and allows for other alcohol notes to come through.One highlight of Night of the Barrels was a keg of Samuel Adams Utopias. This highly experimental, extremely rare and very expensive beer delivered a delicious blend of port wine, honey and a bit of bourbon. Utopias is 29-percent alcohol by volume and one of the highest alcohol beers in the world. Sam Adams also brought to the festival the aptly named WTF-the company wouldn't even give a description of what it was or its alcohol content. The beer was disgusting; it tasted of a mix of pine needles and cough syrup.Also at Night of the Barrels was the Bruery's Black Tuesday. This is an insanely rare imperial stout that sports 15-percent alcohol. Despite the hype, the beer was overwhelming with a lot of bourbon and a lot of booze; a decent beer but worse than expected.The real winner for me was California's Lost Abbey and its Double Framboise de Amarosa. This beer had a sour raspberry flavor with a very sweet taste that finished tart. The balance of the two was sublime. Lost Abbey Double Red Poppy, a Flemish red ale, was also a nice sour brew.The Saturday session delivered an interesting challenge to brewers. BeerAdvocate owners, brothers Todd and Jason Alstrom, asked that all brewers make an "extreme session beer" for the festival. When most aficionados think of the term "extreme" in the field of beer, they instantly assume that this must be an alcohol bomb that knocks one out in flavor and amount of booze. BeerAdvocate wanted to challenge that notion and asked that brewers reinvent their brews with beers that were less than 5 percent in alcohol. To accomplish this, the brothers got together with the brewers from Dogfish Head and made Fungus Tea'Mungus, a 4.1-percent beer brewed with both yeast and Kombucha, a fermentable tea. The beer offered a light flavoring of tea, citrus and a bit of a sour pucker from the bacterial Kombucha cultures.Haverhill Brewery brought sour wheat-smoked ale at 3.2 percent. The wheat crop was smoked over an open fire in a technique similar to the German Rauchbier. It was then fermented with wild yeast and bacteria. It offered an intense bacon flavor with a bit of sour pucker at the end. The flavors were very over-the-top, and it was not my favorite beer. However, it was definitely extreme.One of the most interesting beers was Sierra Nevada's Saison de Haricot. This was a lighter beer fermented with cherry Jelly Belly jelly beans. The idea was fascinating to me, as cherry jelly beans are one of my favorite candies. Unfortunately, the idea didn't translate well. The cherry was hardly noticeable, and something simply tasted off about the brew.The real winner of EBF was Stone, which brought all session beers. Their Self Conscious ale was a Black Indian Pale Ale, which offered the hop profile of a double Indian Pale Ale but had a 4-percent alcohol content. The beer was earthy, citrusy and herbal in the finish and tasted delicious. Stone proved that beers with little alcohol could still have big flavor.EBF is one of the most important events of the American beer calendar. Some have called it the Super Bowl of beer fests and, in my opinion, the offerings lived up to that designation. This was a fantastic event at which to try experimental beers, and I highly recommend attending next year.

Corrections and clarifications

An article in News, "Committee forms to find new dean" misspelled the writer's surname. She is Erica Cooperberg, not Erica Cooperburg. (March 15, pg. 1)An article in News, "Group holds meal plan vote," misspelled a student's surname and misstated the student's year. The student is Shea Riester '12 not Shea Reister '11. (March 15, pg. 4)An article in News, "Study abroad students are safe in Japan," misstated an individual's title. Matthew Parillo is the International Business School Director of Marketing and Communications, not the Senior Associate Director of Communications. (March 15, pg. 3) The University Athletic Association standings in Sports for baseball and softball were incorrect. The baseball standings reflected the basketball standings from the previous week, and the softball standings contained incorrect numbers. (March 15, pg. 15)The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. E-mail editor@thejustice.org.