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The University admissions acceptance rate for the Class of 2015 was 38.58 percent, an increase of 3.16 percent from the Class of 2014, according to Vice President for Students and Enrollment Keenyn McFarlane in an interview with the Justice. For the Class of 2015, 8917 students applied to the University, out of which 3440 students were accepted, resulting in a 38.58 percent acceptance rate. Between the Class of 2013 and the Class of 2014, however, the acceptance rate dropped 5.02 percent, according to McFarlane. For the Class of 2014, there were 7,753 applicants with 2,746 acceptances, resulting in an acceptance rate of 35.42 percent. For the Class of 2013, there were 6,815 applicants and 2,756 acceptances, resulting in an acceptance rate of 40.44 percent, according to McFarlane. In 2009, the Curricular and Academic Restructuring Steering Committee recommended that the University increase its enrollment by 400 over 5 years. The goal is to have the Class of 2015 be between 800 and 900 students, said McFarlane. In an interview with the Justice, Associate Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams said that the increase in students will "affect everything . from class size in the classrooms to the availability of human resources, to the line at the Stein, the line at Sherman, Usdan, it will affect availability during the housing lottery, it will affect parking."McFarlane said, "There are certainly concerns about ensuring the quality of life for our students. We don't anticipate there being any radical changes in housing, particularly because we had the lower incoming class last year but certainly the additional students would add to the fabric of Brandeis.""Application numbers increased this past year and it's a positive sign for Brandeis but one in which we know is tempered by the fact that online applications and common applications makes it easier for students to apply to multiple schools," said McFarlane. McFarlane attributed the 3.16 percent increase in the acceptance rate between the classes of 2014 and 2015 to "a conscious decision to accept more students this year in order to yield a class size that we are hoping to yield, which is slightly more than we enrolled last year.""An increase in the acceptance rate from this year to next year is not out of line with the historic acceptance rate at Brandeis," he added. McFarlane noted that the acceptance rate is typically in the high 30-percent or 40-percent range. According to recommendations from the Curricular and Academic Restructuring Steering in 2009, the University planned to increase the class size of each class, starting with the Class of 2013, by 100 students. The University followed these guidelines for the Class of 2013, when it enrolled 781 students. The number of matriculated students for the Class of 2014, however, did not meet the CARS standards. According to McFarlane, 735 students matriculated in the Class of 2014. In 2014, "we did not get the number of students to matriculate that we hoped for," said McFarlane. Reasons for the low matriculation rate included a "competitive environment" as well as economic issues, described McFarlane. In fact, for the Class of 2014, McFarlane said, a larger number of students were admitted off the waitlist than had been in previous years. "Our competitiveness as [it] relates to other institutions relative to financial aid is a factor as well," said McFarlane. The University adopted a new financial aid policy in September 2010. Based on the recommendation of the Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid Committee, the new policy would continue to admit students on a need-blind basis and fully meet that need until all available funds are exhausted and then continue to admit students, if necessary, on a need-sensitive basis. "We hope that the new financial aid policy has a positive effect on the matriculation rate. Certainly if you are saying to a student 'We will meet your full need' we think that that's a way to let them know that we want them here," said McFarlane. McFarlane added that the new financial aid policy did impact admissions decisions. "We certainly factored in an increase in the yield on the students we accepted but we will have to wait and see whether those assumptions hold true," he said. According to McFarlane, admissions standards were not affected by this change. Adams added, "I believe that the University will do its best to make sure that we are as prepared as possible to meet the needs and necessities required to successfully and warmly extend our Brandeis family."Dean of Admissions Mark Spencer referred all questions to McFarlane.
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Sophomore resident students will no longer be able to obtain parking permits from the Department of Public Safety to park on campus starting fall 2011, according to an April 29 campuswide e-mail from Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan. Callahan announced in the e-mail that "First year and sophomore students are not allowed to have cars on campus unless they are a commuter."The decision to eliminate sophomore parking permits will first be applied for the 2011-2012 school year and was decided "a couple of years ago," according to Senior Vice President for Administration Mark Collins in an interview with the Justice. The decision to eliminate sophomore parking for 2011-2012 was first announced in April 2010, according to a Justice article published that month.Collins said, "There was a finite number of parking spaces on the campus." He attributed the change in policy to an increased number of students on campus and the fact there is not enough space for the University to build a new parking lot without destroying green spaces.Parking prices for 2011-2012 are expected to remain the same as 2010-2011, according to the e-mail. "The permit fees for the upcoming academic year 2011-2012 are: Charles River $60.00, Commuter $120.00 and Residence $250.00." These rates, however, increased from 2009-2010 to 2010-2011, according to the April 2010 Justice article. Collins said that this year, there are 2,299 parking spaces on campus. Collins added that 260 sophomores currently have parking permits. When asked if there is a problem with overcrowding parking lots, Collins replied, "Sometimes there is; we have lots that sometimes are full."Collins believes that the only long-term solution to the parking problem on campus would be a parking garage. Sophomore parking, however, is not likely to return in the short term because although it is a goal of the University, it must be assessed relative to other University goals, said Collins. When asked about plans to increase University transportation to compensate for the elimination of parking spaces, Collins said, "We are looking at options to see what we can do. ... We're flexible in terms of looking at [transportation] options, but we need to assess what its gonna cost to do, what's the wish list. I can't make a lot of commitments on that end until I get a sense of the need."He added,"I understand why everyone would want a car here, [and] I'm stuck with the reality of the number of spots to be able to provide juniors and seniors with parking."Senator for the Class of 2014 Mitchell Schwartz said in an interview with the Justice that, although he was not planning to bring a car to campus next semester, he knows that "a lot of sophomores will be upset about this." He noted that this might cause "a huge issue next year with sophomore parking" because sophomores "are still going to find a way to bring a car up to campus because it was something they were expecting to have." This will cause traditional off-campus parking spots such as Old South Street and Nipper Maher Park to fill up, said Schwartz. These spaces are unaffiliated with the University. Collins noted that students parking on the streets of Waltham "could turn into a very ugly and very expensive proposition." "I am personally worried to see what will happen in terms of sophomores who are going to bring their cars regardless of the fact that they cannot have a permit to keep it on campus," he said. Schwartz added, however, that he understands the reasoning behind the decision. "The issue is that when I am going to be a junior and senior, I would like to know that there will be a parking spot on campus that I wouldn't be competing with sophomores [for] as well. I feel like it is just a fairness of seniority." --Robyn Spector contributed reporting.
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UPDATEDCorrection appendedDavid Brooks, an op-ed columnist for The New York Times, will be the keynote speaker at Brandeis' 60th commencement Sunday, May 22, according to a campuswide e-mail from University President Frederick Lawrence. In an interview with the Justice, Senior Vice President for Communications and External Affairs Andrew Gully said that Grammy Award-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma will perform at the ceremony. Honorary degrees will also be awarded to Thomas Buergenthal, former member of the International Court of Justice; federal judge Judge Nancy Gertner; Academy Award-winning filmmaker Errol Morris and University President Emeritus Jehuda Reinharz, in addition to Brooks and Ma.Brooks began as a columnist at The New York Times in 2003 and has been a senior editor at The Weekly Standard and a contributing editor at Newsweek and the Atlantic Monthly, according to The New York Times. In an interview with the Justice, Lawrence said, "I think [Brooks] is an extraordinary, thoughtful public intellectual. Sometimes I agree with him, sometimes I don't, but I always find him interesting and thought-provoking."Gully wrote in an e-mail to the Justice, "Any members of the university community can nominate a candidate for honorary degrees. A committee of faculty, trustees and staff review all nominations and submits a narrowed list to the Board of Trustees for review and approval." According to Gully, the president selects the commencement speaker from that narrowed list.Brooks is also currently a commentator on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, NPR's All Things Considered and The Diane Rehm Show. Brooks authored several books, of which the most recent, The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement, was published in March. Ma is "strongly committed to educational programs that bring young audiences into contact with music and go beyond that by allowing them to participate in its creation," according to BrandeisNOW.According to The New York Times, Ma is "one of the preeminent classical musicians in the world" and has made more than 75 albums and won 15 Grammy Awards.Following the announcement regarding the commencement honorees, Andy Hogan '11 created a Facebook event titled "Let's Ask Yo-Yo Ma to Play at Graduation"; last year, musician and honorary degree recipient Paul Simon played at commencement after a similar student-led effort. In an April 15 interview with the Justice, Gully said that Ma would play at the commencement ceremony. According to Gully, University officials had already discussed the possibility of a performance with Ma before the Facebook group was formed; however, Gully said that Ma "would be glad" that students were looking forward to his performance.Buergenthal "is considered one of the world's leading international human rights experts," according to BrandeisNOW. He survived the Holocaust, and authored or co-authored over a dozen books, according to the George Washington University Law School website.He served on the International Court of Justice in The Hague from 2000 to 2010. Buergenthal served as dean of Washington College of Law at American University and had endowed professorships at the University of Texas and Emory University, where he was also the director of the Human Rights Program of the Carter Center, according to the GWU website. Gertner, a federal judge since 1994, will retire from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in September and will then become a professor at Harvard Law School, according to BrandeisNOW.She has also taught at Yale Law School, Harvard Law School, Boston College Law School and the Boston University Law School.Morris "is widely recognized as one of the world's best and most innovative filmmakers," according to BrandeisNOW. He won the 2003 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for The Fog of War, a profile of former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara.Morris has screened his films at the University in years past; last semester, he spoke and held a preview screening for his documentary Tabloid.Reinharz was the seventh president of the University and is a scholar in the field of Jewish history. He received his Ph.D. in modern Jewish history from Brandeis in 1972 and established the program in Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan. Reinharz served on the Brandeis faculty from 1982 until he became the provost in 1991. He was named president of the University in 1994 and served in that capacity until Lawrence succeeded him on Jan. 1, 2011. According to BrandeisNOW, "Reinharz has awarded more honorary Brandeis degrees to other people than anyone in university history save founding President Abram L. Sachar." Sara Dejene and Emily Kraus contributed reporting.This is an updated version of the article originally published April 13th.Correction: This article formerly misstated a quotation. University President Frederick Lawrence said "Sometimes I agree with [Brooks], sometimes I don't," not "Sometimes I agree with [Brooks]. I don't."
(04/12/11 4:00am)
A photo caption in the inauguration edition misspelled the photographer's surname. The photographer is Hilary Heyison, not Hilary Heisyon. (April 5, pg. A6)An article in the inauguration edition incorrectly stated who narrowed down submissions for the poster symposium. The article stated a panel of faculty narrowed down the submissions. In fact, graduate student senators narrowed down the submissions. A Brandeis Talks Back quote misspelled a student's surname. The student is Raviv Legmann, not Raviv Lengmann. (April 5, pg. 10)An photo caption in Arts misspelled the photographer's given name. The photographer is Asher Krell, not Ahser Krell. The photo is also a Justice file photo. (April 5, pg. 18)An article and photograph in Arts included Dave Benger, who is a Justice features staff writer. (April 5, pg. 23)The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. E-mail editor@thejustice.org.
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The University will lower its standard of proof for internal proceedings on sexual assault from a "clear and convincing standard" to a "preponderance of evidence standard," Senior Vice President for Communications and External Affairs Andrew Gully said in an interview with the Justice. According to the preponderance of evidence standard, the University would need to determine that "it is more likely than not that sexual harassment or violence occurred," according to an April 4 letter issued by the Office of Civil Rights at the United States Department of Education. The previous clear and convincing standard required that it be "highly probable or reasonably certain that the sexual harassment or violence occurred," according to the letter. Gully said that the change will go into effect immediately and will be recorded in the Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook over the summer. The change of the standard of proof from "clear and convincing" to "a preponderance of the evidence" was made in order to comply with new guidelines under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 issued by the OCR in the April 4 letter.According to statistics published online by the Department of Public Safety, there were two "forcible sex offenses" in 2008 and one in 2009 on the Brandeis campus.Title IX prohibits "discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities operated by recipients of Federal financial assistance," according to the letter. Title IX also defines sexual harassment as a form of sex discrimination. According to the letter, "The requirements of Title IX pertaining to sexual harassment also cover sexual violence." Sexual violence, as defined by the letter, "refers to physical sexual acts perpetrated against a person's will or where a person is incapable of giving consent."According to the letter, the new Title IX guidelines also require schools to take "immediate and appropriate action" if it "knows or reasonably should know of possible sexual violence." Parties involved in the dispute would also have equal opportunity to present witnesses and equal appeal rights. Schools would be required to "take prompt and effective steps to end the sexual violence, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects" regardless of any police investigations. Universities must also "issue a policy against sex discrimination, adopt and publicize grievance procedures and have a Title IX coordinator in order to comply with Title IX," according to the letter. The Title IX coordinator would be responsible for "overseeing all Title IX complaints," according to the letter. In an interview with the Justice, Gully said that students currently have three options when they report a case of sexual assault to Public Safety. One option is to go to the Waltham district court and file a criminal complaint. A second is to go to the student judicial system and file a judicial complaint and the third option is to have the file noted but kept within Public Safety, said Gully. -Fiona Lockyer contributed reporting.
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The Jewish establishment, "as an organized community [has] failed" to create a "type of liberal Zionism" among a younger generation of American Jews, said Peter Beinart, a journalist and author, in a lecture Sunday night in the Hassenfeld Conference Center. The lecture and subsequent question-and-answer session was sponsored by J Street U and J Street Boston and co-sponsored by the Journalism program, the Brandeis Zionist Alliance, the Brandeis Democrats and the Peace, Conflict and Coexistence Studies program. Beinart received notice in the American Jewish community for his essay published in the New York Review of Books last year titled "The Failure of the Jewish Establishment." According to the event's Facebook page, the Sunday talk followed in the wake of the success of that article.According to Beinart, "There has been this enormous effort to desensitize, to distract, young American Jews from the realities of what an occupation actually is, what it means in people's lived experience to have a state over which they have virtually no power, controlling most of the important decisions in their lives." This attempted desensitization of American Jews toward the issue of the occupation in the West Bank, Beinart argued, marks a profound failure in producing a "liberal Zionist." "A liberal Zionist [is] someone who feels a deep attachment and devotion to the words in Israel's Declaration of Independence: that she will be a nation in pursuit of freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the Hebrew prophets," said Beinart. "I want my son to love that vision of Israel and to defend those principles in Israel's founding documents against anyone who threatens them; not only President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Secretary General of Lebanon Hassan Nasrallah but also, indeed, Israel's own government if it violates them," he added. Beinart said that the American Jewish establishment includes organizations such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the Anti-Defamation League. Characteristically, the establishment organizations are composed of individuals who formed their ideas about Zionism between the years of 1967 and 1982. During these years, the occupation was very new, the Ultra- Orthodox Haredi population and the Russian immigrant population in Israel were smaller than they are now, and Israel was "in some ways, a more innocent place," said Beinart.The establishment is comprised of "relatively secular" individuals who support Israel because the country is said to share America's liberal democratic values. Beinart said, however, that there is very little confrontation or public reckoning with Israel's actual policies that are "imperiling Israel's future as a Jewish democracy."According to Beinart, "Israel within its 1967 borders is a democracy," but "Israel beyond its 1967 borders is not a democracy; it is an ethnocracy, a state in which your right to vote and have citizenship ... is dependent on your religion and your ethnicity." Beinart added that the current establishment is not "reproducing itself" in the next generation of American Jews. Zionism, he said, is only very "vibrant" in the Orthodox community, which is growing as a percentage of the United States Jewish population. This Zionism, however, is based on an attachment to land rather than a liberal democracy, he said. In the non-Orthodox community, however, Zionism is in "collapse," according to Beinart. This is due in part to assimilation as well as high levels of alienation and disaffection that American Jews feel from Israel. Additionally, the narrative of Jewish history that is taught to Jewish children is one that does not acknowledge that Jews currently have power in the form of the state of Israel, according to Beinart. The traditional Jewish narrative includes the Maccabees and Mordechai, who triumphed over villains in the Hannukah and Purim stories, respectively. These narratives, however, do not mention the massacres that the Jews conducted after they were saved in the stories, according to Beinart. Beinart concluded his speech with a message of action for young American Jews. "It is your generation's responsibility to preserve [Israel]. Not simply to preserve Israel as a place on the map but to preserve a certain conception of Israel that Theodore Herzl had, and that Israel's founders had and that is today in peril. . You should be in Israel and the West Bank today struggling for Israeli democracy in its hour of peril."During the question-and-answer session that followed his speech, Liza Behrendt '11, co-founder of the Brandeis chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, asked how the decision by Hillel to not include Jewish Voice for Peace under the Hillel umbrella last month would affect the broader Brandeis community. Beinart responded by saying that he does not believe a person has to be a Zionist to live a meaningful Jewish life. Zionism should not be a litmus test for entrance to Jewish organizations, he added. Additionally, shutting out anti-Zionist groups, he said, is not an effective response."You have to engage [anti-Zionist groups], you have to argue about it, you have to try to show ... that there are things in the Zionist tradition that are radically different from what you see in this Israeli government."In an interview with the Justice, Gideon Klionsky '11, who attended the event said, "I agree with him on a lot of counts, [such as] the need to create a Palestinian state, ... but the branding of that as sort of a new Jewish voice and claiming that necessity on the part of J Street is a little bit misleading, a little bit false."Mateo Aceves '11 said after the event, "I think he spoke very well, and he spoke about profound issues and I think he spoke about them in a really meaningful way, and that's not a tenor that I have generally heard discussions on this campus about Israel.
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Symposia featuring four discussion panels were held last Monday and Tuesday on various topics as part of University President Frederick Lawrence's inauguration week.The goal of the symposia, according to Provost Marty Krauss, was to "identify issues facing liberal arts universities that have a global presence and to analyze how those issues are dealt with at Brandeis."Day 1: MondayThe first panel, titled "The Business of the University and the University as a Business: Issues of Work, Money, and Power and the Liberal Arts University," included panelists Profs. Benjamin Gomes-Casseres (IBS) and Jane Kamensky (HIST), as well as Daniel Terris, vice president for Global Affairs. Profs. Gregory Petsko (BCHM), Robin Feuer Miller (GRALL) and Joseph Wardwell (FA) made up a second panel titled "Sciences, the Creative Instinct, and the Liberal Arts." In addition to participating in the discussion, each panelist also wrote a short essay summarizing his or her opinions and thoughts on the topics that they discussed. Essays were posted on the Brandeis website and are available for anyone to view.In his opening statement, Terris talked about his extensive experience with Lockheed Martin, the world's largest defense contractor. Terris explained that at every location he visited around the country, the corporation had put into place an extensive series of conversations at every level and that all 150,000 of its employees were involved in the conversation of ethics, values and decisionmaking. It is interactions such as these that Terris believes would be useful in a university as well as a business setting. "The sense of engagement was really quite dramatic. . You had that sense of constant engagement in 'what is it we are all about,'" said Terris, whose essay was titled "Putting Business to Work." Kamensky praised Brandeis for the atmosphere that it creates for students and the significance of the close, personal interactions that occur between students and faculty members."As the sector of higher education shakes out, the value of the face-to-face ... is something that needs to be articulated again and again," said Kamensky.In the second panel, which focused on the importance of both the arts and humanities in addition to the sciences, Petsko emphasized the inseparability of the schools and the importance of including both schools in one's knowledge base. Day 2: TuesdaySocial justice is defined as helping the "underdog" or the "oppressed," explained Michael Sandel '75, the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass professor of government at Harvard University and member of the Board of Trustees, as the moderator of Tuesday's symposium.The first panel, titled "Diverse Communities and Liberal Arts," consisted of Profs. Ulka Anjaria (ENG), Bernadette Brooten (NEJS) and Fernando Rosenberg (ROMS). The second panel, called "Human Values, Global Challenges and the Liberal Arts," was comprised of Profs. David Cunningham (SOC), Theodore Johnson (Heller) and Kathleen Moran (PHIL). Sandel moderated both panels.Anjaria noted a dual threat to liberal arts institutions in today's economy. Liberal arts academies are threatened "from outside the academy, where we are constantly being asked to justify ourselves-how practical are we, how much are we going to ensure our students economic success in a climate of uncertainty," said Anjaria. Additionally, Anjaria said that liberal arts institutions are squeezed "from inside the academy as we use financial language to justify professionalizing ourselves, making ourselves more marketable." Brooten said that the University should reutilize existing resources to better teach languages to prepare students for "global leadership." This includes the use of language tables, guest lecturers in foreign languages, open office hours with faculty in foreign languages, use of multiple languages in research papers, support of language faculty and a central-language website. Rosenberg addressed the role that diversity should play at Brandeis. "It is by making sure that our community of students, faculty, administrators and trustees is increasingly more diverse in every possible way that we can envision a future in which Brandeis will continue to thrive and be an exciting place that contributes something unique to the world," said Rosenberg. However, Rosenberg said that diversity is not based solely on ethnic backgrounds and that it includes socioeconomic, linguistic and cultural diversities. The second panel focused on the role of social justice at a global liberal arts university. Moran said that as humans, we must "think of the conditions other people live in and understand the options and choices people have and are faced with." Johnson suggested that a process of "deliberative dialogue" could lead to the "discovery of social justice" and the "elusive concept of coexistence." One of the final speakers, Cunningham, noted the connection between scholarship, social and political activism and the debate about the "appropriateness of the connection between scholarship and activism, scholarship and politics, [and] facts and values.
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There are no immediate plans to expand housing options at the University because the University would need a new parking structure in order to construct a new building, reported Senior Representative to the Board of Trustees Heddy Ben-Atar '11 and Junior Representative to the Board of Trustees Adam Hughes '12. Hughes also reported that there would be about 100 total lofted triples in first-year dorms for the Class of 2015. Ben-Atar and Hughes said that they met with Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer and Senior Vice President for Administration Mark Collins prior to the Board of Trustees meeting Thursday.Hughes said that the Board of Trustees took out a $10 million loan in order to finance the Linsey Pool renovations and the network upgrades. Hughes also reported that the Board of Trustees approved a new Master of Biological Sciences/Master of Business Administration program to be conducted with Tufts University Medical School. The Senate unanimously chartered Project Nur. According to its constitution, "Project Nur is a student-led initiative of the American Islamic Congress. . The AIC provides a platform for moderate Muslim human rights and civil rights activists and empowers them to raise their voices in the hopes of creating a better understanding of the Muslim world." The Senate also unanimously chartered the Piano Club. The club will aim to "inspire creation for piano music, and to provide an outlet for appreciation of piano music," according to the club's constitution. Senator for East Quad Andrew Hayes '13 presented Senate Money Resolution S11-07, which requested $50 for a water event in East Quad. The event would emphasize the "deliciousness of tap water and lack of need for bottled water," according to the SMR. The SMR passed unanimously.Senator for North Quad Shekelya Caldwell '14 presented SMR S11-08, which requested $1,399.28 for a North Quad barbeque. The Senate unanimously approved the SMR. Executive Senator Abraham Berin '11 reported that the Senate currently has approximately $8,000 in unused funds. Caldwell said she would run for the position of vice president of the Student Union. Senator for the Class of 2014 Mitchell Schwartz said that he would pursue a write-in campaign for Student Union President. Berin, Student Union Vice President Shirel Guez '12 and Director of Executive Affairs Ryan Fanning '11 will be election commissioners, according to Berin. -Andrew Wingens
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The Board of Trustees approved a new dual degree program on Thursday, according to Prof. Jon Chilingerian (Heller), the director of the new program, in an interview with the Justice. Chilingerian said the program will allow students to receive a Master of Biomedical Sciences from Tufts University Medical School and a Master of Business Administration from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management in six semesters. Students first must be accepted into the MBS track at Tufts Medical School, and then students can apply to receive an MBA from the Heller School. Students can apply for the Heller School MBA program any time after acceptance to Tufts. According to Chilingerian, the dual MBS/MBA program will admit six to 10 students annually, and it will begin in fall 2011. Students accepted into the dual program must complete a total of six semesters of courses. The first two semesters are devoted to the MBS program, the third semester consists of classes for both the MBS and the MBA, and the final three semesters are entirely devoted to the MBA. This allows for the normal four semesters required to receive an MBA from the Heller School. The curriculum for an MBS student is similar to that of an MD student, explained Chilingerian. For example, MBS students take courses in molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, clinical medicine, genetics and other science subjects, according to the proposed curriculum. According to Chilingerian, students in the MBS/MBA program often go on to medical school and become doctors. Chilingerian said that the program is significant because physicians "need to know health policy, they need to understand what fair process leadership is, they need strategic thinking, [and they need an] understanding [of] the physics of the hospital. . They need to think about what is the theory of medical decision making [and] how do we define best practices.""This is an ideal program if, for example, you will be attending medical school and starting your own practice, or if you will not attend medical school but will assume a health management position in a healthcare or biotech organization," according to a Tufts memorandum about the program provided to the Justice by Joe Jabre, the Tufts director of MD/MBA and MBS/MBA programs. Brandeis and Tufts also run a joint, 4-year dual MD/MBA program that began in 1995.Chilingerian said the MD/MBA was the first "of its kind" to offer both an MD and an MBA in the same four calendar years. According to the Tufts Medical School website, the management and health policy courses for the MD/MBA are "limited during the medical school year. Two-thirds of the MBA coursework is done in the summers before the student's first and second years in medical school.""Our partnership with the Tufts Medical School goes back to 1995 when we first began offering courses in their dual MD/MBA program, and this new MBS/MBA is a natural extension of this successful collaboration," explained Dean of the Heller School Lisa Lynch in an e-mail to the Justice.
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The Board of Trustees unanimously approved a plan to renovate the Linsey Pool for $3 million on Thursday, said Senior Vice President for Administration Mark Collins in an April 1 interview with the Justice. Collins said the renovation project includes repairs to the mechanical and electrical systems, repairs to the pool and the pool deck, new lighting in the facility, new team locker rooms, a new lobby and a refurbished entryway. The renovations will begin later this spring with an expected completion date of early 2012, according to a BrandeisNOW press release. The Linsey Pool opened in 1966 and was closed in fall 2008 due to infrastructure problems such as the broken pool heating systems, which the University decided not to immediately repair primarily because of financial constraints, according to Collins. In 2008, then-Senior Vice President for Communications Lorna Miles estimated in an interview with the Justice that repairing of the broken aspects of the pool would cost about $2 million and a complete renovation of the pool facility would cost $10 to $12 million, Collins said while the Linsey Pool is one of several campus facilities that have experienced "deferred maintenance," such as the residence halls in East Quad, the Usen Castle and the Foster Mods, the pool is the only building that is closed. The pool renovations will be funded through a $10-million capital lease finance agreement, wrote Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer Frances Drolette in an e-mail to the Justice. The term for the lease will be 7 years with an annual interest expense of about $150,000 per year. The annual principle payments on the lease will be $1.3 million and will be funded through the capital budget, according to Drolette. There are no plans to reduce other parts of the budget as a result of the lease, and "the University is in a comfortable position to adequately cover the costs of the capital lease," wrote Drolette in an e-mail to the Justice. Student Union President Daniel Acheampong '11 said in an interview with the Justice that "the pool has been an important concern for students since it closed and in a lot of the meetings I had with President Lawrence . [the Student Union] made sure the pool was an important concern, we kept on pushing for it." Acheampong explained that the Student Union presented a video to the Board of Trustees that voiced students concerns about the pool. "I went around asking students what were their concerns about the pool . and we recorded what students were saying and we gave a presentation to the Board of Trustees," he said. According to Senior Representative to the Board of Trustees Heddy Ben-Atar '11, in an interview with the Justice, "We started being more aggressive about [the Linsey Pool] as a concern in October, where we presented the Board of Trustees a video of students talking about how they want a pool . then we worked really closely with the administration and the administration worked on our side." Acheampong noted that student reaction to the news has been positive and that the pool would be an important factor for admissions and retention. "Having those kind[s] of facilities to support our programs on campus, it really helps with the development and the growth of an institution. students are really happy about [the pool], they are really excited about the decision . I think [the Board of Trustees and president Lawrence] made a great step really moving Brandeis forward," said Acheampong. -Brian Fromm and Robyn Spector contributed reporting.
(03/29/11 4:00am)
The Board of Trustees unanimously approved a plan yesterday to renovate the Linsey Pool for $3 million, Senior Vice President for Administration Mark Collins said today in an interview with the Justice. Collins said the renovation project includes repairs to the mechanical and electrical systems, repairs to the pool and the pool deck, new lighting in the facility, new team locker rooms, a new lobby and a refurbished entryway.The renovations will begin later this spring with an expected completion date of early 2012, according to a BrandeisNOW press release.The Linsey Pool opened in 1966 and was closed in fall 2008 due to infrastructure problems such as the broken pool heating systems, which the University decided not to immediately repair primarily because of financial constraints, according to Collins. In 2008, then-Senior Vice President for Communications Lorna Miles estimated that replacement of the broken aspects of the pool would cost about $2 million and a complete renovation of the pool facility would cost about $10 to $12 million, according to a Nov. 18, 2008 Justice article. Collins said while the Linsey Pool is one of several campus facilities that have experienced "deferred maintenance," such as the Usen Castle, Foster Mods and East Quad residence halls, the pool is the only building that is closed on campus.The pool renovations will be funded through a capital lease finance agreement, wrote Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer Frances Drolette in an e-mail to the Justice. Drolette did not respond to further requests for comment by press time.After the closure of the pool in 2008, the Brandeis swimming and diving team continued to compete and practice using facilities at Regis College, Bentley College, Babson College and Wellesley College, according to a May 19, 2009 Justice article. The swim team, however, was officially suspended at the end of the 2009-2010 season, according to a Sept. 14, 2010 Justice article.The Athletics Department plans to appoint a swim coach by this summer and will begin the process of recruiting new students for swimming next year, Director of Athletics Sheryl Sousa '90 said in an interview with the Justice this morning.Sousa added that the varsity swim team would likely be reinstated by 2013. Assistant Athletics Director James Zotz served as the swimming coach prior to the team's suspension in 2008, but Sousa said she is unsure if Zotz will return to the swim team. Student Union President Daniel Acheampong '11 said in an interview with the Justice that "the pool has been an important concern for students since it closed and in a lot of the meetings I had with President Lawrence, ... [the Student Union] made sure the pool was an important concern; we kept on pushing for it." Acheampong explained that the Student Union presented a video to the Board of Trustees that voiced students concerns about the pool. "I went around asking students what were their concerns about the pool, ... and we recorded what students were saying and we gave a presentation to the Board of Trustees," he said.Senior Representative to the Board of Trustees Heddy Ben-Atar '11 said in an interview with the Justice, "We started being more aggressive about [the Linsey Pool] as a concern in October, where we presented the Board of Trustees a video of students talking about how they want a pool. ... Then we worked really closely with the administration, and the administration worked on our side." Acheampong noted that student reaction to the news has been positive and that the pool would be an important factor for admissions and retention. "Having those kind of facilities to support our programs on campus, it really helps with the development and the growth of an institution. ... Students are really happy about [the pool]; they are really excited about the decision. ... I think [the Board of Trustees and president Lawrence] made a great step really moving Brandeis forward," said Acheampong.-Ian Cutler, Brian Fromm and Robyn Spector contributed reporting.Editor's note: The Justice will publish an expanded version of this article with more in-depth coverage in our April 5 issue.
(03/29/11 4:00am)
The Brandeis chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science held its second-annual diversity summit on Saturday, at which professors, Ph.D. students, graduate students and undergraduates gathered to discuss the role of minority students in the sciences. The symposium aimed "to bring together professionals and faculty alike from all different scientific fields and branches in order to provide undergraduates and graduate students alike, as well as local high school students, with the opportunity to network and interact with scientists within the New England area," according to the event page on myBrandeis. About 50 people registered for the event on Saturday from institutions such as Boston University, Harvard University and Brandeis, according to Brandeis SACNAS Co-president Kerwin Vega '11. The Brandeis chapter of SACNAS is a chartered club that was founded in fall 2009, according to Vega. As a chartered club, Brandeis SACNAS used funds from the Finance Board to pay for the symposium. "Currently Brandeis SACNAS has about 13 active members who attend meetings once every 2 weeks where we have speakers in the sciences come speak about job opportunities and about what they do in their career and how they got to where they are today," wrote Vega in an e-mail to the Justice. The mission of SACNAS is "to provide our members with every opportunity possible to gain the experience and knowledge necessary to become a great candidate for summer internships, jobs and, in the long run, candidates for the best Ph.D. and/or M.D. programs in the country," added Vega. Professor of Cell Biology Daniel Colón-Ramos from Yale University was the keynote speaker at the symposium. Colón-Ramos, who was born in Puerto Rico, spoke about how he became a scientist and explained that he did not experience a "linear path to becoming a scientist." In fact, Colón-Ramos became interested in science at an early age, and his trajectory was a "process of exploration," he said. Colón-Ramos stressed the importance of finding "the right mentor at the right time." For example, he worked in the lab of a fellow Puerto Rican scientist, Prof. Mariano Garcia-Blanco from Duke University. Prior to that lab experience, Colón-Ramos said that he had not always had positive experiences in lab environments. A negative experience in a lab should not deter anyone from pursuing a field in the sciences, and it is important to find the right lab and the appropriate adviser for one's own working style and fields of interest, he said. Colón-Ramos added that students need to be proactive when seeking advisers, especially at elite institutions such as Brandeis. In order to be a successful scientist, "you have to be comfortable not knowing," said Colón-Ramos. He continued, "Science is about not knowing and [about] finding the answer." Colón-Ramos also tailored his message toward SACNAS and said that minorities in science, such as Chicanos and Native Americans, should be empowered by their education to advocate for their communities.Prof. James Morris (BIOL) also spoke at the symposium and told the audience about his winding path to becoming an M.D. and Ph.D. Morris agreed with Colón-Ramos that it is important to find a good mentor at the appropriate time. For example, Morris' first mentor was his high school biology teacher because she inspired him to spend time thinking and observing the world. Additionally, Morris said that it is important to try new things and pursue one's passions in order to be successful in the field of science. The symposium also featured a career panel discussion and a networking lunch."The intimacy and connections achieved through the networking lunch, and the [genuine] enthusiasm of those in attendance were also aspects that are not always seen in science conferences, and any questions and concerns anyone had about their individualpath in science [were met] with seasoned answers," said SACNAS Co-president Omoefe Ogbeide '12 in an interview with the Justice.
(03/22/11 4:00am)
Students voiced concerns about the University housing system last Tuesday in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium, where Student Union members stationed themselves to record student opinions via video and e-mail, according to a March 18 e-mail sent by Student Union President Daniel Acheampong '11 to the undergraduate student body. Acheampong explained in an interview with the Justice that the videos and e-mails will be presented to Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer, Senior Vice President for Administration Mark Collins and the Department of Community Living. The goal of the housing assessment was to receive student feedback and relay information about how to improve the housing process to the DCL, said Student Union Secretary Herbie Rosen '12 in an interview with the Justice. Rosen explained that the responses received from students were not just about student anger but that they "[showed] a lot of honest words" and that students took "a well-thought-out approach" to voicing their concerns. According to Rosen, eight or nine students recorded their concerns on video while about 50 students have expressed concerns via e-mail to the Student Union."I don't think that we are looking for a complete revolution [about the lottery system] because, quite honestly, I feel that the housing lottery is one of the better things [of the housing system, and] it works for the student body. . We just want to sit down and figure out how to better the system," Rosen said. Rosen added that improving the system would include finding a better way to explain the housing process to students.Acheampong said in an interview with the Justice that students are concerned about housing conditions and believe that renovations are necessary in residence halls such as East Quad, The Castle and the Foster Mods. Senator-at-Large Beneva Davies '13 worked the Student Union housing assessment table and said that the process can be particularly difficult for first-year students. "This is their first time around; . the emotional baggage was the biggest [issue] for them," she said in an interview with the Justice. She explained that the emotional aspect includes tensions between friends because of the stress of the housing process. Student Union Vice President Shirel Guez '12 also worked the Student Union table in the SCC. In an interview with the Justice, she said, "[The assessment project] was a good way to gauge the feelings about housing on campus." "The general sense is that people are unhappy with the system the way it is. People didn't like the lottery system, people didn't like the fact that housing runs out pretty early and if you get like number 2,000 then you feel like there is no hope," added Guez. Guez said that the Student Union will speak with the DCL and will hopefully discuss renovations of dormitories."We are hoping in the future, maybe a future Student Union will get another [residence hall], because as the years progress and as we have larger class sizes, . there [will be] less available housing," she added. Acheampong's March 18 e-mail also listed dining, the pool and transportation as top concerns among students. These data were collected from a survey that was included in a February 15 e-mail from Acheampong to the undergraduate student body. The survey asked: "Which services would you like to see improve?", "What would you like [Fred Lawrence's] administration to focus on?" and "How can the Student Union better represent and advocate for you?" According to Acheampong, about 285 students responded to the survey as of the March 20 interview, but he was unsure of the final number. He wrote in the March 18 e-mail that the Student Union has "heard your concerns about dining, and are working with the administration and dining services to increase food options and variety." Student Union representatives are working to make improvements to the dining experience on campus, and new initiatives regarding dining will be announced in the State of the Union address, according to Acheampong. According to Acheampong, members of the Student Union expressed student concerns about the pool to a Board of Trustees meeting last semester, and the administration has acknowledged the pool as a significant issue for students. "We need a pool to support our athletics program and to provide a convenient and safe space for members of the community who need this important facility," noted Acheampong in his March 18 e-mail to the undergraduate student body.
(03/15/11 4:00am)
On Friday, five Brandeis Sustainability Fund projects that were initiated last semester to promote environmental sustainability moved forward as 1,000 worms arrived on campus and were placed on the second floors of Village Residence Hall A and Deroy Residence Hall.The BSF is an approved Student Union project which adds $15 per year to the Student Activities Fee and funds student projects that improve sustainability at Brandeis, according to a Dec. 7, 2010 Justice article.As part of an initiative approved and funded by the BSF, worm composting bins-otherwise known as vermiculture bins-are now located in Village 2A and Deroy 2 kitchens, according to Brandeis Sustainability Coordinator Janna Cohen-Rosenthal '03. The vermiculture bins project is one of five proposals that the BSF board accepted last November, according to the December article.Cecelia Watkins '11 proposed the vermiculture bins for a projected $271, according to the December article. The final cost of the project, however, only totaled $222, said Watkins in an e-mail to the Justice. The extra funds will be held in the BSF account and can be applied to future BSF projects, explained Cohen-Rosenthal in an interview with the Justice. According to Watkins, the worms will begin "munching away at the food scraps and turning our waste into nutrient rich compost," and in just over 2 months, the compost can be used in the organic garden located near Deroy. Cohen-Rosenthal also indicated that the remaining four BSF initiatives are making progress."SmartMeters" was a $26,000 proposal submitted by Samuel Porter '14 that would implement a system called the Building Dashboard Network in order to monitor energy consumption and water usage in five residence halls. Four meters will be installed in Massell Quad dorms and one in the Village, according to the December articleAccording to Cohen-Rosenthal, the University signed a contract with Lucid Design Group, which is working to program the "SmartMeters" system by the end of this semester and have them fully operational by next semester. When the system is functional, students will be able to access energy and water consumption information online as well as on a kiosk in the Shapiro Campus Center, said Cohen-Rosenthal. The BSF board also approved an $8,000 proposal from Dorian Williams '13 to install a microturbine on campus to generate wind energy. The microturbine will be placed on top of a light pole, and although Cohen-Rosenthal said that the specific location has not yet been chosen, the turbine will likely replace a broken light pole. The University will provide funding for the cost of a light pole, while the BSF will provide additional funding to attach the microturbine. Deerpath Energy will provide the microturbine, said Cohen-Rosenthal. The "'DeisBikes 2.0: Semester-Long Bike Rentals for Brandeis Students" proposal for $12,175 planned to offer semester-long bike rentals for a fee of $50, in addition to creating a student-run bike shop, according to the December article. Jesse Stettin '13, who proposed the project, said in an e-mail to the Justice that the program ordered 40 Trek 700 bicycles, 35 of which will be used for the semester-long rental program while five will be added to 'DeisBikes daily rentals. The money granted to 'DeisBikes by the BSF will also be used toward the purchase of a bike rack and tools for the student-run bike shop, which will be staffed by student volunteers and located in the basement of Gordon Residence Hall, said Stettin. The BSF also approved a $550 initiative by Linda Li '13 called "Oh the Things We'll Grow!" Because it is the inaugural year that the BSF has implemented student projects, Cohen-Rosenthal has noticed ways to make the process more efficient moving forward, she said in an interview with the Justice.-Eitan Cooper and Emily Kraus contributed reporting.
(03/15/11 4:00am)
Leaders of Greek organizations met twice with Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer and Assistant Dean of Student Life Maggie Balch to open lines of communication between the Greek organizations and the Brandeis community, President of Zeta Beta Tau Daniel Gutman '12 said in a group interview of Greek leaders with the Justice.Assistant Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams also attended the first meeting with the Greek leaders but not the second, said Adams in an interview with the Justice. Sawyer wrote in an e-mail to the Justice, "Twice this year [the dean and associate deans of Student Life] have been invited to meetings by leaders of fraternities and sororities.""Their agenda items have included conversations about their desire to be more involved in campus activities including both philanthropic and social," he wrote. According to the 2010-2011 Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook Appendix B, "Exclusive or secret societies are inconsistent with the principles of openness to which the University is committed. Therefore, social fraternities and sororities, in particular, are neither recognized nor permitted to hold activities on campus or use University facilities."The leaders of fraternities and sororities stressed that they are not seeking official recognition from the University."Our primary goal as unified Greek leaders is to open discussion about Greek organizations making a positive contribution on campus through social events, philanthropic initiatives and a general sense of school pride," wrote Gutman in an e-mail to the Justice.Due to the fact that the University does not recognize fraternities and sororities, Greek organizations cannot attach their names or their letters to events that are held on campus. For example, President of Phi Kappa Psi Marc Eder '12 explained in the group interview, "Last year, Phi Kappa Psi tried to host a 5-kilometer in conjunction with the Student Union, and [as a result Phi Kappa Psi] received a warning from the dean of Student Life, as did the Student Union."President of Sigma Delta Tau Jaclyn Lewis '12 noted that there is "a lot of bad stigma surrounding Greek life" and that the Greek community is trying to "break down those barriers." Sawyer wrote in a separate e-mail to the Justice that "the ideas and suggestions are earnest and well developed."Sawyer added that although he has had interaction with the Greek community over the past 25 years, "meetings with Greek organization leaders all in one room, and hearing concise and focused goals with a rational vision is new over the last couple of years."Greek organizations have grown substantially at Brandeis over the past few years, according to Eder and Gutman. For example, there are currently 373 Brandeis students involved in a Greek organization, which is about 11 percent of the undergraduate population, said Gutman.Co-President of the Greek Awareness Council Brett Byron '13 added that Greek organizations have gained about 100 new members in the past 2 years.President of Delta Phi Epsilon Marisa Tashman '12 noted in the group interview that the recent meetings between the Greek organizations have served to unite the different fraternities and sororities, allowing them to work together. "One of the best things that has come out of this is all the Greek organizations working together, especially the leaders, which is something that I don't think has really happened before," said Gutman. Currently, the Division of Student Life is working "to explore appropriate ways for [the Greek organizations] to develop more visibility and more involvement with the campus community within the current limitations regarding chartering and recognition," according to Sawyer's e-mail President of Alpha Delta Phi Nick Petrocchi '12, however, wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that he was unsure about the effectiveness of the recent meetings. "Greek life reached out to the deans; the administration did not reach out to us, [thus not] indicating some newfound respect or desire to incorporate Greek into Brandeis," Petrocchi wrote.
(03/08/11 5:00am)
Prof. Eva Bellin (POL) and University of Utah Prof. Ibrahim Karawan agreed that there is reason to be optimistic that the Egyptian military will not remain the governing force in Egypt during a Feb. 15 panel discussion titled "Furor in the Arab Street: Tunisia, Egypt and Beyond."Prof. Shai Feldman (POL), the Judith and Sidney Swartz director's chair of the Crown Center for Middle East Studies moderated the event, which was hosted in Rapaporte Treasure Hall by the Crown Center for Middle East Studies. Bellin began the discussion by speaking about the January uprising in Tunisia, known as the Jasmine Revolution, and she argued that, in addition to corruption, repression and economic difficulties of the North African and Middle Eastern nations, outrage and impunity were two major factors that combined to cause the uprising in Tunisia. "Outrage was the trigger, the spark that set alight the underlying tinder of long-term grievances about unemployment, corruption and oppression," she said."Once people believed that the military would not shoot, the risk of [their] protesting declined precipitously, . and this sense of impunity decreased the sense of threat and fueled massive participation in the protests," she said. Bellin warned, however, that "just because you have successfully demolished an authoritarian regime doesn't mean that a democratic regime will necessarily take its place," and that the more common historical scenario "is for one authoritarian regime to be replaced by another authoritarian regime." She said, "I am not optimistic overall that the Jasmine Revolution will spark democratic contagion throughout the region. . I hope, I really hope my analysis and the conclusions I draw from this are absolutely wrong."Karawan spoke about the Egyptian case and agreed with Bellin on the importance of the military's role in a successful uprising. "It's a conscription army, and from the beginning it was clear that they would not shoot at their own people," Karawan said.He noted that the military would likely hand over power as long as the privileges of the army, such as officer insulation against hardships, were to remain in place. He added that the Muslim Brotherhood is a "relevant force, but not decisive" and that he, like Bellin, is also not optimistic that other repressive regimes will fall to protests in the region. David Makovsky, the director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy Project on the Middle East Peace Process, also participated in the panel discussion and spoke about United States President Barack Obama's response to the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa. Makovsky said that Obama "did not seek out this crisis" and that he sees himself both as a pragmatist and a bridge to the Arab and Muslim world. Makovsky said that it is still uncertain how hard the United States will push the Egyptian military to transition and that the uprising in Egypt might give the administration more leverage in pushing reform in other countries, such as Iran.
(02/15/11 5:00am)
The selection committee for Brandeis' Jay Pepose '75 Award in Vision Sciences awarded Dorothy W. Poitras Professor in Medical Engineering and Medical Physics of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Peter Schiller, said Prof. John Lisman (BIOL) in an interview with the Justice. The Pepose Award, which recognizes contributions to the understanding of vision, was established in 2009 by a $1 million gift made to the University from alumnus Jay Pepose '75 and his wife, Susan K. Feigenbaum '74, according to a BrandeisNOW press release. Lisman and a committee that consisted of Prof. Robert Sekuler (PSYC), Prof. Daniel Oprian (BCHM), Prof. Sacha Nelson (BIOL) and Dr. Joseph Rizzo, a neuro-opthalmologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, selected Schiller about a year ago to win the award, said Lisman. Lisman also said that the Pepose Award was granted to Schiller based on his research achievements throughout his career.For example, Schiller was one of the first people who designed an experiment to help "bridge the gap between understanding neurons and neurotransmitters, which are relatively simple structures, [and] . understand how their interaction actually functions to promote human behaviors like recognition or perception," said Lisman. Lisman described Schiller's research as "a dramatic breakthrough in terms of being able to span the gap between simple cellular and neurotransmitter properties and actual behavior of the organism."Additionally, Lisman credited Schiller with training "an incredible number of scientists" who have become leaders in the field of neuroscience. "He was really a father figure for a very large component of neuroscience," said Lisman. "It is a tremendous honor; I am very pleased, and I am excited to be able to give a presentation about the research I have been doing," he said in an interview with the Justice.Schiller also recognized that the award could have an impact on his future research. "There is little doubt that awards are something that improve your recognition worldwide, . and that certainly also helps, which is very important nowadays, in trying to secure funds to carry out your basic research," he said. Schiller is scheduled to receive the award and speak about his research on March 14 at 4 p.m. in Gerstenzang 121. Schiller will deliver a lecture titled "Parallel Information Processing Channels Created in the Retina."According to Schiller, in his lecture he will speak about research that "examines the organization of the retina and how there are several very traumatically different kinds of retinal ganglion cells that analyze different aspects of the visual scene." Schiller will also speak as a guest lecturer in Lisman's "Systems Neuroscience" class on March 15, discussing "the neural mechanisms of eye movement control and the various pathways that are involved in various aspects of eye movement control," he said. Schiller is also involved in several other lines of vision research, such as depth perception and how humans can see a third dimension to determine distance. Lisman noted that Pepose, who donated the money to establish the award, worked in Lisman's laboratory as an undergraduate at Brandeis in the field of vision research. After Brandeis, Pepose founded and became the medical director of the Pepose Vision Institute in St. Louis, according to BrandeisNOW.Pepose is also a professor of clinical ophthalmology at Washington University in St. Louis.This is the second year the Pepose Award has been granted. Last year, the committee granted the Pepose Award to Jay and Maureen Neitz who, according to BrandeisNOW, are researchers at the University of Washington. according to BrandeisNOW.
(02/08/11 5:00am)
The Department of Public Safety, in conjunction with the Office of Students Rights and Advocacy, a function of the Student Union, held an Eat and Greet last Thursday. The event aimed to provide a forum for dialogue between the student body and the University Police, explained Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan in an interview with the Justice."The purpose of the event is to help ameliorate the relations with the student body as well as with the Police and the Public Safety Department," explained OSRA member and coordinator of the event Ariel Glickman '13 in an interview with the Justice.In attendance from the Department of Public Safety were Callahan and Associate Director Bette Reilly. Director of Student Rights and Community Standards Dean Gendron also attended.Approximately two dozen students attended the event. Representatives of the Student Union, Brandeis Escort Service and Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps were also present. This event was the first in a series of several events that will be held jointly with the Student Union and the Department of Public Safety. This series of events comes at a time when Public Safety believes that it has received negative attention from the student body, particularly following the interaction between police and students on the night of Pachanga last fall, explained Callahan in an interview with the Justice. Callahan said in an interview with the Justice that "it would be good to establish or re-establish communications with students, . especially since there were situations that occurred during the fall semester."Callahan added that the events of last semester were "the impetus to conduct several other events" that would be planned by the Student Union and Public Safety."We had some situations as a result of Pachanga, not specifically Pachanga itself, . and then some students formed some stereotypical attitudes of the police without sharing or knowing information that [the Brandeis Police] have about the situation," said Callahan in an interview with the Justice.Throughout the event with students, Callahan stressed that he believes that the Brandeis Police are "amicable," and that they are not primarily a disciplinary force. "We are here more to educate than we are to enforce. . One of our main jobs is to mentor people," said Callahan. He further assured students that "arrest is not the norm on campus." He added, "The balance of security and safety and individual freedom is very much a concern. The University wants you to have an exorbitant amount of personal freedom but on the other hand we rely on you to lock doors and not let people into residence halls behind you."Callahan added that University Police often contact representatives from the Division of Student Affairs in order to discuss the best methods of handling incidents involving students and the police. This Thursday, Public Safety and the Student Union will cosponsor a game night, and police officers will be in attendance playing video games, pool and ping-pong with students in the game room. The police force currently consists of 15 patrol officers and five sergeants.Reilly said in an interview with the Justice that her department is looking to cosponsor a Thirsty Thursday at The Stein. Similarly, events-although not yet planned-may be titled "Coffee, Cops and Donuts"and "Party with the Police." These would potentially take place at the end of March. According to Reilly, previous efforts to engage students with the police have failed. For example, she mentioned ice cream socials and officer liaison programs held several years ago that "flopped."This time, however, Reilly is optimistic that the events will succeed because Public Safety is now working with the Student Union. Senator for North Quad Shekeyla Caldwell '14 attended the event and wrote in an e-mail to the Justice, "I found the event with public safety to be a beneficial experience for Brandeis students because I can now put a face [to] the department and begin knowing the people within the department on a personal level."She added, "Building a relationship with those in charge of your protection is much more important and useful than most students would initially believe."Head Coordinator of the Brandeis Escort Service and Executive Senator Abraham Berin '11 said in an interview with the Justice, "The event was a positive step forward in the relationship between the police and the student community."Editor's note: Ariel Glickman '13 is a member of the Justice Copy staff.
(02/01/11 5:00am)
Nicholas Warren was appointed the new chief investment officer of the University, and began his duties on Jan. 3, wrote Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer Frances Drolette in an e-mail to the Justice.The responsibilities of the chief investment officer include assessing and recommending different investment strategies, monitoring investment managers and consultants and communicating to the Investment Committee and senior administrators the performance and positioning of the endowment.Prior to Warren's appointment, Alison Svizzero served as interim chief investment officer.Svizzero was appointed after the post was vacated in February 2009 when former Chief Investment Officer Deborah Kuenstner left Brandeis to become CIO of Wellesley College. Svizzero has left Brandeis to become a director of investments for Children's Hospital Boston, Drolette wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.Spencer Stuart, a professional search firm, coordinated the recruitment and interview process that ultimately chose Warren, explained Drolette.Additionally, the co-chairs of the Trustee Investment Committee, Daniel Jick, CCEO of High Vista Strategies, and Perry Traquina, CEO of Wellington Management, led the selection process while Drolette and several trustees and senior staff members were also involved in the interview process. In an e-mail to the Justice, Drollete wrote that according to Jick, "Nick Warren was chosen as CIO because of his qualifications for the job, which includes roles as consultant to other endowments and foundations, an investment specialist in the alternatives investment area, and his prior experience in a university investment office."Warren wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that he is "proud to have the opportunity to work for a prestigious university with a strong academic reputation, a commitment to social justice, and a talented and committed group of Trustees."It is exciting to participate and help support a community of scholars and students united by their commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and its transmission from generation to generation," Warren added. Warren wrote that he believes that the Brandeis endowment is in "excellent shape." According to an Oct. 19, 2010 Justice article, the endowment was valued at $620 million at the end of fiscal 2010, which meant the endowment showed a 13.8-percent return. This was a significant turnaround from fiscal 2009, when the endowment experienced a 17-percent decline in returns. He wrote that, "The challenge is to continue the excellent stewardship of the Endowment" and that "discovering, retaining, and monitoring a group of world class investment managers is the focus of our office."Warren also has experience with university endowments, since prior to studying at the University of Chicago business school, he was an analyst in the Office of Investment Management at Northwestern University. The staff of the Investment Management Office currently includes two professionals, two students and one intern.
(01/25/11 5:00am)
A new Provisions on Demand Market is scheduled to open by the end of February on the ground level of the Village Residence Hall across from the exercise room, according to Director of Dining Services Aaron Bennos in an e-mail to the Justice. However, Bennos wrote that certain equipment necessary for the store is back-ordered and may not be delivered in time for the store to begin operating on schedule in February as previously expected. Bennos indicated that the inventory of the new P.O.D. will be similar to that of the P.O.D. Market in the Usdan Student Center. The Village P.O.D., however, will be smaller than the Usdan space and will therefore carry fewer items. Bennos wrote that the Village P.O.D. would carry many of the most popular items that are sold in the Usdan P.O.D., although he did not specify which of the products were the most popular.The proposed hours of operation are 7 to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and 4 p.m. to midnight on Sunday. Robert Jensen, the current store manager of the Usdan P.O.D., will also be the manager of the Village P.O.D., Bennos wrote in an e-mail. The P.O.D. Market was an idea implemented by Aramark.The market first opened on the campuses of Brandeis University, the University of Tennessee and the University of Toledo in fall 2008, according to the Aramark website. According to the Aramark website, the "Provisions on Demand (P.O.D.) Market combines the corner store with the style of a modern market, featuring grab 'n go dining options for breakfast, lunch or any time of day, including: freshly-prepared breakfast sandwiches, burritos, wraps, sushi and salads, as well as fresh produce, bakery and coffee selections and traditional essentials found in a convenience store." When the P.O.D Market first opened in Usdan in 2008, the Justice published an editorial lauding the new convenience store. "The expanded aisles shimmer with a wide array of new products ... the store resembles a professional place of business that offers more diverse options to students, not just a campus novelty," explained the editorial. Additionally, in 2006, the Justice ran an editorial titled, "Use the Village space to fill a space in our bellies." The editorial called for a student-run diner independent of Aramark to be placed in the Village. According to a Jan. 22 2008 Justice article, Ollie's eatery was initially proposed to be located in the Village. However, "plans for the Village late-night diner were not approved by the city of Waltham's fire department due to the ventilation system in the space." Students reacted positively upon hearing of the new convenience store being built in the Village.Lev Hirschhorn '11 remarked that a new store in the Village has been a subject of discussion since his first year, and he is glad that it is finally coming to fruition. Student Union President Daniel Acheampong '11 said in an interview with the Justice, "Students are really excited for [the new P.O.D]. I am really excited that we are working on this project and we are working towards the completion."He added that the Student Union has "been involved in [obtaining a Village P.O.D.] for a very long time. It is something that was discussed when [former Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment] Jean Eddy was here, when [University President Emeritus] Jehuda [Reinharz] was here and [with Senior Vice President for Administration] Mark Collins, so this is something that has been really important to students.""Dining is an important issue to students and we want to try our best to make sure that we improve the quality and get more options," said Acheampong. Senator-at-Large Beneva Davies '13, who lives in Rosenthal, added, "I am really excited to hear about the new store, and its going to be really convenient for a lot of different students." She added that she would probably use the Village P.O.D instead of the one in Usdan.
