(11/12/13 5:00am)
There is no question that the health services on campus need to be reformed. I've personally experienced confusion about hours, how to set up an appointment or how I was supposed to pay for services at the various centers on campus. It's a very positive first step that the University has taken the initiative to investigate the flaws in health services and suggest solutions. However, despite the promised improvements, I remain wary about the mental health and psychological counseling resources. Perhaps my view on the mental health services is biased, as I have not had great experiences with the Psychological Counseling Center. During first year orientation, I went to the PCC to make an appointment with a therapist. The receptionist was friendly but was unable to answer basic questions, like how insurance would cover sessions or when was the earliest a therapist could meet with me on a regular basis. Although I did eventually meet with a counselor, I ultimately decided to see a therapist in Newton, Mass., even though it requires taking a cab both ways and having to squeeze visits in between classes. It simply was less stressful to go to Newton than to use services on campus. My experience at the PCC may have been a one-time lapse on behalf of the center, but according to the report on health services released by the University last week, other students, both graduate and undergraduate, have struggled to get the mental health services they need for a variety of reasons, ranging from waiting times to lack of clarity about payments. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than one in four Americans over the age of 18 has some sort of mental disorder, and of those affected, nearly 45 percent have multiple disorders. Mental disorders are just as common as other disorders like asthma, but they are often misunderstood or ignored. There still remains a stigma around mental disorders, be it dyslexia, anxiety and depression issues or more serious illnesses like schizophrenia or post-traumatic stress disorder. The NIMH also states that on average, many mental disorders, like anxiety, depression and panic disorders, first start to show symptoms when an individual is in their late teens or early 20's. Because of this fact, it is even more important that colleges and universities like Brandeis make sure students have adequate resources. Hopefully, in the wake of this revealing University report, mental health services will be more accessible and students will have all the information they need without confusion or having to go to multiple sources. From experience, it is incredibly stressful to be a new student, away from home for the first time, and not be able to figure out how to see a counselor. But the problems with the PCC go beyond organizational challenges. While there are currently a number of people who work at the PCC, including 20 psychologists and social workers, three psychiatrists and six unpaid interns, a majority of these positions are part time, according to the University's report. The PCC is open between 9 AM and 6 PM according to the website and runs an answering service for non-emergency cases, but there is no sort of round-the-clock therapist for students. Life-threatening emergencies are referred to the Brandeis Police, according to the website. Here's the thing. If you need counseling or have a mental disorder, you don't always operate on a schedule. You can't decide to wait until the next day, when a therapist is in the office, to have suicidal thoughts or a panic attack. If someone is not in a good mental state, they need help, and fast. An answering service is great if you need to set up an appointment, but a pre-recorded message can't help you if you need psychological help at that moment for whatever reason. Parents, friends and community advisors are always resources, but there are situations where they simply aren't enough and a student would need something more. Although it would be more expensive, some sort of round the clock resource, either professional or student-run, would be preferable. While Students Talking About Relationships and the Brandeis Counseling and Rape Hotline, both of which are student-run, both exist as resources for students, they aren't available 24/7 and aren't staffed by professionals. If someone needs serious help, it isn't that helpful if the number they call is an answering machine. While having peer resources are important, sometimes a person in the midst of an episode needs professional help or might not feel comfortable talking to a fellow student. Perhaps the PCC can keep their answering service, but also have a way of directing students to practices or hospitals that do have therapists on call at all hours. Or they could partner more closely with groups like STAR and he counseling hotline so that they always have a trained, adult professional on hand. I'm sure I sound pessimistic about the state of mental health services at Brandeis, and partially, it is because I've been frustrated in the past. However, I am hopeful that things can and will change, and the PCC will be a more accessible resource for students in the future.
(11/12/13 5:00am)
There is no question that the health services on campus need to be reformed. I've personally experienced confusion about hours, how to set up an appointment or how I was supposed to pay for services at the various centers on campus. It's a very positive first step that the University has taken the initiative to investigate the flaws in health services and suggest solutions. However, despite the promised improvements, I remain wary about the mental health and psychological counseling resources. Perhaps my view on the mental health services is biased, as I have not had great experiences with the Psychological Counseling Center. During first year orientation, I went to the PCC to make an appointment with a therapist. The receptionist was friendly but was unable to answer basic questions, like how insurance would cover sessions or when was the earliest a therapist could meet with me on a regular basis. Although I did eventually meet with a counselor, I ultimately decided to see a therapist in Newton, Mass., even though it requires taking a cab both ways and having to squeeze visits in between classes. It simply was less stressful to go to Newton than to use services on campus. My experience at the PCC may have been a one-time lapse on behalf of the center, but according to the report on health services released by the University last week, other students, both graduate and undergraduate, have struggled to get the mental health services they need for a variety of reasons, ranging from waiting times to lack of clarity about payments. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than one in four Americans over the age of 18 has some sort of mental disorder, and of those affected, nearly 45 percent have multiple disorders. Mental disorders are just as common as other disorders like asthma, but they are often misunderstood or ignored. There still remains a stigma around mental disorders, be it dyslexia, anxiety and depression issues or more serious illnesses like schizophrenia or post-traumatic stress disorder. The NIMH also states that on average, many mental disorders, like anxiety, depression and panic disorders, first start to show symptoms when an individual is in their late teens or early 20's. Because of this fact, it is even more important that colleges and universities like Brandeis make sure students have adequate resources. Hopefully, in the wake of this revealing University report, mental health services will be more accessible and students will have all the information they need without confusion or having to go to multiple sources. From experience, it is incredibly stressful to be a new student, away from home for the first time, and not be able to figure out how to see a counselor. But the problems with the PCC go beyond organizational challenges. While there are currently a number of people who work at the PCC, including 20 psychologists and social workers, three psychiatrists and six unpaid interns, a majority of these positions are part time, according to the University's report. The PCC is open between 9 AM and 6 PM according to the website and runs an answering service for non-emergency cases, but there is no sort of round-the-clock therapist for students. Life-threatening emergencies are referred to the Brandeis Police, according to the website. Here's the thing. If you need counseling or have a mental disorder, you don't always operate on a schedule. You can't decide to wait until the next day, when a therapist is in the office, to have suicidal thoughts or a panic attack. If someone is not in a good mental state, they need help, and fast. An answering service is great if you need to set up an appointment, but a pre-recorded message can't help you if you need psychological help at that moment for whatever reason. Parents, friends and community advisors are always resources, but there are situations where they simply aren't enough and a student would need something more. Although it would be more expensive, some sort of round the clock resource, either professional or student-run, would be preferable. While Students Talking About Relationships and the Brandeis Counseling and Rape Hotline, both of which are student-run, both exist as resources for students, they aren't available 24/7 and aren't staffed by professionals. If someone needs serious help, it isn't that helpful if the number they call is an answering machine. While having peer resources are important, sometimes a person in the midst of an episode needs professional help or might not feel comfortable talking to a fellow student. Perhaps the PCC can keep their answering service, but also have a way of directing students to practices or hospitals that do have therapists on call at all hours. Or they could partner more closely with groups like STAR and he counseling hotline so that they always have a trained, adult professional on hand. I'm sure I sound pessimistic about the state of mental health services at Brandeis, and partially, it is because I've been frustrated in the past. However, I am hopeful that things can and will change, and the PCC will be a more accessible resource for students in the future.
(11/12/13 5:00am)
The men's and women's swimming and diving teams both traveled to Worcester Polytechnic Institute this Saturday-the men taking on both WPI and Babson and the women taking on WPI, Babson, and Smith College. Even though both squads were defeated by significant margins, Brian Luk '16 had a positive outlook on the day; the closest margin of defeat for either team was 83 points. "We learned that it is a process toward success when it comes to [University Athletic Association]," he said. "We look back and think about how we can improve in our races in hindsight, which can be extremely important to us individually or as a team later as the season goes on." For the men, both Luk and Max Fabian '15 continue to be bright spots for a team that has had trouble finding early season success. Luk managed to pick up wins in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle, while breaking his previous best time in the 200-yard freestyle. Luk swam the race in 1:46.45, a full 1.63 seconds faster than his previous best time. He also managed to score second in the 50-yard freestyle, getting out-touched by WPI freshman Erick Burgwardt by .02 seconds. This marks the second time on the season that Luk has finished second in the 50-yard freestyle. Luk was quick to share his optimism of the first-years on the team. "I am impressed by the first-years," he said. "They are all very talented. They work hard every day, and I am sure they will do very well when it comes to UAA [Championships] by February," Fabian added a win of his own for the men in the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:12.12. He also secured two second place finishes in the 500-yard freestyle and the 400-yard Individual Medley. Fabian was bested in the 500-yard freestyle by just .15 seconds by Babson senior Isaac Breen-Franklin who pulled off an impressive display in the final 50-yard stretch of the race when he managed to overtake Fabian. The 500-yard freestyle was emblematic of both the men's and women's struggles on the day. Joanna Murphy '17 was the lone bright spot for the women on Saturday as she managed to pick up a win in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:02.57, just barely beating out WPI senior Sonja Kent, who had led for the first 100 yards of the race. Murphy also managed to place third in the 200-yard butterfly while setting a personal best on the season with a time of 2:23.45. She also finished in fifth place in the 100-yard butterfly. Other top-five finishes by the women included Theresa Gaffney '16 in the 1000-yard freestyle, Fallon Bushee '16 in the 100-yard freestyle, and Gabby Drillich '15 in the 200-yard backstroke and 400-yard individual medley . Murphy and Luk are the young future that the swimming program has been looking for. The program has had trouble trying to grow in numbers over the past few years and in attracting talent to the small yet dedicated group. The process has been difficult after the closing of the pool in the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center forced the aquatics teams to be put on hiatus after the 2009 to 2010 season. Head coach Mike Kotch was hired in 2011 and tasked with rebuilding the program. While the performance in the pool is what the team focuses on week in and week out, it can be difficult when recruitment continues to be a major issue going forward for both of the teams. Luk thought that the team did well when it came to the aspects that the team could control. "I don't see any major problem that the team has in general," he explained. "We are all training very hard and this meet, along with any other meets going forward, are opportunities for everyone to practice racing and preparing for the UAA championship meet." Both the men's and women's teams will try to get their first wins of the season when they host Wesleyan University on November 16th in the Linsey Pool.
(11/12/13 5:00am)
The men's and women's swimming and diving teams both traveled to Worcester Polytechnic Institute this Saturday-the men taking on both WPI and Babson and the women taking on WPI, Babson, and Smith College. Even though both squads were defeated by significant margins, Brian Luk '16 had a positive outlook on the day; the closest margin of defeat for either team was 83 points. "We learned that it is a process toward success when it comes to [University Athletic Association]," he said. "We look back and think about how we can improve in our races in hindsight, which can be extremely important to us individually or as a team later as the season goes on." For the men, both Luk and Max Fabian '15 continue to be bright spots for a team that has had trouble finding early season success. Luk managed to pick up wins in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle, while breaking his previous best time in the 200-yard freestyle. Luk swam the race in 1:46.45, a full 1.63 seconds faster than his previous best time. He also managed to score second in the 50-yard freestyle, getting out-touched by WPI freshman Erick Burgwardt by .02 seconds. This marks the second time on the season that Luk has finished second in the 50-yard freestyle. Luk was quick to share his optimism of the first-years on the team. "I am impressed by the first-years," he said. "They are all very talented. They work hard every day, and I am sure they will do very well when it comes to UAA [Championships] by February," Fabian added a win of his own for the men in the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:12.12. He also secured two second place finishes in the 500-yard freestyle and the 400-yard Individual Medley. Fabian was bested in the 500-yard freestyle by just .15 seconds by Babson senior Isaac Breen-Franklin who pulled off an impressive display in the final 50-yard stretch of the race when he managed to overtake Fabian. The 500-yard freestyle was emblematic of both the men's and women's struggles on the day. Joanna Murphy '17 was the lone bright spot for the women on Saturday as she managed to pick up a win in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:02.57, just barely beating out WPI senior Sonja Kent, who had led for the first 100 yards of the race. Murphy also managed to place third in the 200-yard butterfly while setting a personal best on the season with a time of 2:23.45. She also finished in fifth place in the 100-yard butterfly. Other top-five finishes by the women included Theresa Gaffney '16 in the 1000-yard freestyle, Fallon Bushee '16 in the 100-yard freestyle, and Gabby Drillich '15 in the 200-yard backstroke and 400-yard individual medley . Murphy and Luk are the young future that the swimming program has been looking for. The program has had trouble trying to grow in numbers over the past few years and in attracting talent to the small yet dedicated group. The process has been difficult after the closing of the pool in the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center forced the aquatics teams to be put on hiatus after the 2009 to 2010 season. Head coach Mike Kotch was hired in 2011 and tasked with rebuilding the program. While the performance in the pool is what the team focuses on week in and week out, it can be difficult when recruitment continues to be a major issue going forward for both of the teams. Luk thought that the team did well when it came to the aspects that the team could control. "I don't see any major problem that the team has in general," he explained. "We are all training very hard and this meet, along with any other meets going forward, are opportunities for everyone to practice racing and preparing for the UAA championship meet." Both the men's and women's teams will try to get their first wins of the season when they host Wesleyan University on November 16th in the Linsey Pool.
(11/05/13 5:00am)
JustArts sat down with Samantha Gordon '14 and Nicole Carlson '14 to talk about their senior project, a production of the play Matt and Ben, which will be showing this weekend. JustArts: Would you tell us a bit about how you chose Matt and Ben to be your senior project? Nicole Carlson: I looked through two-woman shows, and all of the sudden I found this one, and I was like, "Oh my god, Mindy Kaling wrote this! Oh my god, it's about Matt Damon and Ben Affleck! Oh my god, it's girls playing Matt Damon and Ben Affleck!" So I sent that information to Sam. Samantha Gordon: And I was abroad when this was happening. I read the scripts and I really liked Matt and Ben the most. JA: For those who are unfamiliar, would you give us a brief synopsis of the play? SG: It's basically Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, pre-fame, in the late 1990's, in Somerville, Mass. And the script of Good Will Hunting just falls into their laps. It's this sort of fantasy take on them writing this script, and instead of them actually writing it, they just get handed it, and [the rest is] what happens and how their friendship is affected by it. NC: And then they go through a re-hashing of their friendship in high school, up to this point, and what they want to do with the script. JA: So how long have you guys been working on this project and what has that process been like for you? SG: We've been working on it since like April. We had to apply to the [Theater] department ... and we wanted it to count for a class, so we had to go through that whole process. NC: We were memorizing, looking at the script over the summer. ... Our first read-throughs and table reads were over Skype. ... We've really had it on its feet since the beginning of October, and the rest of that has really just been building our relationship. We're playing these two people who really are best friends and know everything about each other and have had years of experience together ... Before this process, we weren't incredibly close, but now she's one of my best friends. JA: Are there any other challenges in bringing the production to the stage that you've faced? SG: Finding pants for me as Matt Damon was very trying. I usually cry when I have to put on pants. NC: What's going to stress me out right now ... is fitting people in our room. We really can't do it on a stage. SG: We perform so much better in front of people, we interact with the audience a lot, too. NC: We wanted it to be really intimate, like you're hanging out with us in our apartment, because that's what it is. This is my post-college apartment. SG: Memorizing was really difficult. For the two of us to memorize each half the show, and then a lot of her lines are just little words, and a lot of my lines are big monologues. JA: Are you hoping to continue to stay active in theater after graduation? SG: That's a difficult question, because you're talking to two people who are going into different fields than theater, but two people who love theater. I do improv also, so I know I'll definitely be involved. NC: I am probably going to graduate and be an elementary school teacher, and I would really like to either be the elementary school teacher who runs the drama program, or if a school has an elementary school drama teacher, I would love to be that person. JA: What do you hope your audiences will take away from the play? SG: I hope they'll be grateful for their friends and have had a fun time laughing for an hour. - Rachel Hughes
(11/05/13 5:00am)
A recent study published by Lancet Global Health found that out of the 850 new drugs and vaccines approved in the last 12 years, only four percent were for one of the 49 "neglected" diseases. Neglected diseases are those such as tuberculosis and malaria, as well as other obscure ailments that specifically impact poor, developing regions of the world. Why do you believe minimal attention is paid to these neglected diseases and how should the medical community address this statistic? Prof. Donald S. Shepard (Heller) The recent paper in Lancet Global Health pointed out that only four percent of registered clinical trials were related to neglected tropical diseasees. This limited share largely reflects the fact that clinical development of drugs and vaccines, including expensive field testing, is largely funded by the pharmaceutical industry. With some exceptions, that industry seeks profit, which generally means developing products that promise high sales in high-income countries. To interpret the findings, it is worth recalling that clinical trials are but one component of a cycle that includes basic research, clinical trials, operations research and financing and support for implementaiton. Donor agencies, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation or the World Bank, fund technical support and incentives. This support contributed to the fact that the share for neglected tropical diseases, while small, has quadrupled since a comparable study a decade ago. Donald S. Shepard is a Professor at the Schneider Institutes for Health Policy at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management. Flora Wang '15 The neglected or orphan diseases of society are often overlooked for more profitable research industries such as makeup or accessory medication like Viagra. Although diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria have greater implications for human mortality, they often affect more third-world countries because of the poor living conditions that are conducive to these diseases. In order to correct this social injustice, large research companies must be incentivized to focus on these diseases with financial incentives such as subsidies from the government or other interested parties. In addition, there should be more public awareness campaigns to have more individuals become incentivized to care about these diseases to raise money for further research. With increased incentives for better venture capital investments, legislation and collaboration between different industries with a better culture of sharing information, these diseases will surely have the medical breakthrough we have hoped for. Flora Wang '15 is a double major in Biochemistry and Health: Science, Society and Policy. Bharvi Marsha Patel '14 In the modern society efficiency dictates many of our actions. In the health care field for example, diseases that can be cured, contained and even eradicated with minimal efforts are the ones to get attention and funds. The reason that such minimal attention is given to neglected diseases is because these diseases are most prevalent in communities that have low resources, political turmoil and little access to health care. Investing money in finding vaccines for these diseases will not be efficient even if such vaccinations are created because the implementation of the medication proves to be a bigger struggle. On the other hand, developed countries have already controlled these diseases and can afford to invest in rare conditions because they have the resources and the means to provide access to the vaccinations. The medical community needs to work better to collaborate with different sectors within these developing countries to ensure that political, transportation and cultural barriers do not hinder combatting neglected diseases. Bharvi Patel '14 is the chair of the Brandeis Global Brigades. Michael Kahnowitz '14 I am not surprised by this statistic at all. Massachusetts has experienced a resurgence of these "neglected" diseases like Tuberculosis and Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus. In fact last year there was a reported TB case on the Brandeis campus! Last sumer I visited the Massachusetts State House to educate lawmakers about these increased occurrences and to inform them of the potentially significant harm they could cause to a community. Most legislators were unaware of these public health hazards because until recently, the infections were relatively non-existent. While that is a testament to how successful we have been in combating various infections, we are not immune and should not relent on fighting these diseases. Contacting lawmakers about these issues is an incredibly good way to support the institutions that combat these ailments, such as the Hinton State Laboratory Institute, which is responsible for monitoring the frequency of various infectious diseases like TB, EEE, rabies and HIV. Michael Kahnowitz is currently enrolled in the dual HSSP-MPP graduate program at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management.
(11/05/13 5:00am)
Last Wednesday, almost 90 students attended "The Tradition of Innovation in Orthodox Judaism" to hear Rabbi Asher Lopatin speak about the integration of openness into Modern Orthodoxy. The president of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School, a Modern and Open Orthodox rabbinical school in New York, Lopatin is a prominent figure in the Jewish Orthodox community who advocates in favor of a forward-thinking form of Modern Orthodoxy called Open Orthodoxy. In explaining the foundation for such beliefs, Lopatin first described the struggle that Modern Orthodox Jews (and Jews of many other sects) face as they grapple with the question of how to understand the Torah, the words of which can be taken literally or understood figuratively. Lopatin said that "everything is open to interpretation." "The core of Modern Open Orthodoxy is that you're always open to people asking questions and changing the status quo," said Lopatin. The balance Lopatin described is between having "a sense of reverence for the Torah and the sense of humility that we are only human beings and we're ... never going to get it right, but we're trying to get as close as we can." To illustrate the foundation on which Modern Open Orthodoxy is built, Lopatin organizes the core ideas into the "Five Pillars of Orthodox Judaism or Open Charedism." These five pillars are as follows: "Torah Mi'Sinai," "Chidush Mi'Sinai," "Halakhic Rigor and Discipline," "Klal Yisrael" and "Menchlichkeit and Kiddush Hashem: Always Asking Yourself, Am I acting Like a Mensch?" "Torah Mi'Sinai" (Torah from Sinai) is the "awe of the Torah and Talmud coming from God, being infinite and deserving infinite reverence," Lopatin said. In essence, this is a sense of humbleness that venerates the Torah as something divine and worthy of worship. "Chidush Mi'Sinai" (innovation from Sinai) are the varying interpretations that can arise once the first pillar of reverence is adopted. According to Lopatin, "New understandings and innovative interpretations come if you really believe Torah is divine and infinite and, thus, can be interpreted in an infinite amount of ways." "Halakhic Rigor and Discipline" is the will to first preserve the Torah and its practices, before anything else. Lopatin said that this secure commitment to the Torah's practices ensures a "safe space for God's infinite word." "Klal Yisrael," or inclusivity, is respect for Israel, the Torah and God. It is the connection to every other Jewish person. "Menchlichkeit and Kiddush Hashem" is the basic belief that one should have respect, not only for the Jewish people, but for all of God's creatures. This belief functions on the concept that we are all created in God's image, and therefore we must respect others since we too contain God within us. Furthermore, Lopatin said that all humans are extensions of God, and therefore, must be treated kindly. Lopatin made a few final points about the meaning of the word "open" in "Open Modern Orthodoxy," saying that, "if we want to understand Torah, we have to open up." In congruence with this view, new people and new ideas are always welcome, and encouraged, said Lopatin. He continued to say that it is imperative for members of the Modern Orthodox community to go out into the world with the values in the Torah and make a difference, especially in places where people are in need of help. President of Brandeis Orthodox Organization Ethan Stein '15 said in an interview with the Justice that he chose Lopatin as this year's speaker because of the partnering views of Lopatin and the ideals at Brandeis. "All of the points [Lopatin] made are not specific to Orthodoxy. In order to create a strong, thriving community, we all have to be dignified and role models," said Stein. "We should not turn away others whose views do not always align with our ideals ... turning people away because of their differences defeats the whole purpose of Judaism ... of being welcoming." Abbie Denemark '16, who attended the event, said in an interview with the Justice that she enjoyed hearing Lopatin speak and that a lot of what he said were things that she had formerly thought but struggled to articulate. She said she thought Lopatin represented Orthodoxy well, especially for those who might not have a background in it.
(10/29/13 4:00am)
Why do we go to college? If I were to ask someone that nowadays, they would probably look at me as if I were unlearned and respond, "Why wouldn't we go to college?" The benefits of college have become such deep seated truths for many of us that we've stopped questioning them. We're told college is an investment. We borrow large sums of money now to make larger sums of money later. We're told college is formative. We leave more intellectual and responsible; we are the saving generation. But are these assertions really true? And what are the implications if they are not? The whole investment argument is founded in receiving a degree. I think most of us agree that what's actually important is what you learn in school, not a piece of paper saying you learned. But the degree unfortunately holds a lot of weight. With today's online resources, you could teach yourself any subject just as well as any undergraduate might learn in school, but still be at a competitive disadvantage to them in the job market because you don't have a degree-a piece of paper. Consequently, the whole desire for a degree has become more driven by our survival instincts than anything else. We are told we will not be successful in this world or have economic security (stable food, shelter, attractive partner, etc.) without a degree and so we convince ourselves that we need one. Now, that argument isn't without its merits. According to a recent Huffington Post article, people with a college degree have half the unemployment rate of people with only a high school degree-though the article also points out that half of recent grads are working jobs that don't actually require a degree. Even with this distinction, the competitive advantage in gettin g jobs with a degree makes it economically worth it. The degree is not the only thing we go to college for though; college is also supposed to prepare us for the real world both in intellect and responsibility. In my two months of living here so far, I am feeling prepared intellectually. All of my classes are engaging and challenging, and I've even been given the resources to start my own club about creating Android Apps, which is what I want to do professionally. In terms of responsibility, however, I could not feel farther from prepared. I feel more disconnected from the world than ever. People cook my food, wash my dishes, clean my bathroom-the only responsibility I can try to claim is doing my own laundry. My family also cooked my food, washed my dishes and cleaned my bathroom for most of my life, but I still had to communicate with them and acknowledge them on a human level. I have yet to see anyone talk to, let alone thank, the guy who cleans my bathroom. Granted, I've only lived here two months, but I'm skeptical whether this actually changes later on in college. This one-sided service breeds a scary amount of selfishness and entitlement. I talk with my friends about how atrocious those gated communities in, say, Florida-bubbles of homogenous wealth and culture-are. But is a college campus all that different? We're separated from the rest of society; we're fairly politically homogenous; we're all around the same age; and we've convinced ourselves that we're the most in-tune with society that we'll ever be. We're choosing to exist in-and pay for-this bubble because we love it. We love being distant from the responsibilities of the real world. We love only having to focus on ourselves. We love being around other people who love those same things. The college degree alone might be worth the economic expenditure, but maybe the loans aren't the most crippling debt we accrue. We leave college entitled and expecting life to be served to us on a silver platter. The scariest part is that with our "top-tier" degrees, it probably will be. *
(10/29/13 4:00am)
Healthy and civil discussion needed In response to your article "Concept of social justice actually perpetuates societal injustice" (Oct. 22): In his 2010 commencement address at the University of Michigan, President [Barack] Obama noted the need for, "a basic level of civility in our public debate." He went on to say, "We can't expect to solve our problems if all we do is tear each other down. ... You can disagree with a certain policy without demonizing the person who espouses it. You can question somebody's views and their judgment without questioning their motives." At Brandeis, we take particular pride in fostering an atmosphere that supports discourse and debate. There will always be topics, how- ever, that we find particularly sensitive, especially when the views espoused challenge our community values or practices. These challenges are, perhaps, even more difficult to con- front with civility in an online environment. Both student newspapers recently published opinion columns that highlight such challenges. It's important to bear in mind that these sections of the paper are not considered areas of "reporting," they are meant to foster discussion. Editorial boards often select pieces for publication precisely because they raise questions, and give weight to opinions that may be in the extreme minority. This is one of the strengths of freedom of the press-that minority views can be reviewed and debated, even when they are not accepted, or possibly even acceptable, to large portions of a community. There is, of course, a careful balance that must be struck between protecting the expression of minority opinion and establishing guidelines for communication that is unacceptable to a community in any forum. I will leave the debate of the drawing of such lines to another day and focus instead on the response to columns that, while challenging our values, are clearly not crossing these boundaries. In reviewing responses, online and else- where, to the recent columns, I was dismayed to see our community seeming to stray from what most would consider civil discourse. Comments became unfortunately personal regarding the authors. I was saddened to read comments on both sides of discussions on each topic about not feeling safe and felt I needed to share how much those concerns trouble me. Brandeis first and foremost is a community of scholars. Please be respectful of one another, and remember that whatever our disagreements, we should strive to maintain civility in our discourse. I am proud to be part of this amazing family, and hope that we will all continue to work together to ensure that no one at Brandeis, student, faculty or staff member, should ever feel unsafe. -Andrew Flagel Andrew Flagel is the senior vice president for students and enrollment. Evaluate what should be published In response to your article "Concept of social justice actually perpetuates societal injustice" (Oct. 22): Twice this semester articles were written challenging the idea of diversity and the concept of social justice in attempts to advocate for the false rhetoric of "reverse racism" in which white people feel as though they are being discriminated against as people of color slowly begin to obtain basic human rights. Not only am I highly offended, but these articles had no facts to support their absurd claims and seemed more like students who are threatened by the implications made by "diversity" and "social justice," uplifting disadvantaged communities and making sure all humans have basic rights. I am appalled and disappointed that the Justice would allow these things to be published, and as an African-American female at Brandeis, I feel very uncomfortable existing here. I can't help but to think I am somehow a threat to privileged, cisgendered white males here. I have also felt very ashamed to be here and I cannot understand why. I am beginning to question the credibility of the Justice as a whole and wondering if the publishing of such absurdities is an attempt to fire up the student body and create drama. Either way, it is rather disgusting, and the Justice should review and refuse to publish such poorly crafted material, and also re-evaluate the content before distributing it. This newspaper represents all of us, and some are feeling left out. This is highly problematic and certainly tarnishes Brandeis' reputation. There is obviously a lack of diversity on the Justice editorial team, because, if there wasn't, such ludicrous and offensive material would not be printed. It's disgusting. -Khadijah Lynch '16
(10/29/13 4:00am)
This week, JustArts sat down with Travis Roy '16 who wrote a suite that was performed at Saturday's Compsers' Collective, put on by New Music Brandeis. JustArts: How did you get interested in composition and when did you start writing? Travis Roy: That's pretty hard to say actually. I guess I got started because I started off as a performer as you might expect. I started playing flute when I was 10 in fourth grade. And back then I really didn't think anything of it because that's just something everyone does when they're younger, but then people kind of dropped off and I stayed with it and I started to realize that music was my passion and my interest. So then I started to think more about the expressional mode of music so from learning theory ... I guess the next logical step was composition. It sort of helped me understand music and as I went along it sort of helped me understand myself. JA: On average, how long does it take you to write a piece? TR: I guess it depends on what you're going for and sort of what emotions are in that piece ... Because I think that there's sort of a spectrum. There's mechanical writing to a certain extent that's based on pure theory, and then there's this more emotional type of writing that's kind of intuitive. So it depends on that. This [piece that was played on Saturday], obviously there was a deadline and there were some formal expectations for what we were all doing because it was a class of us and we all had to have relatively the same assignment. So this one was like two or three weeks. JA: Can you tell us a little about your inspiration for the piece that was performed on Saturday night? TR: So basically the assignment was to take these four diverse forms; one was an ostinato, another was a chorale. There was a miniature and there was a re-harmonization of an existing melody. So I wanted to take those four forms that I had to work within and create a consistent thematic environment. I think it was tough to inject more of that intuitive type of composition into it but I probably did so subconsciously anyway. So I'm not sure about what emotions are in it and what the inspiration was as much. That one just kind of came out. It was really weird. I've never had that before. JA: Can you describe the experience of listening to your piece being played? TR: It wasn't the first time I had heard it played but it was still pretty emotional actually, surprisingly. Because seeing a performer putting so much of himself into it is pretty interesting. And then to hear what came out of you, [hearing] something I just had vaguely abstractly in my mind coming to life [was] a strange reality. JA: Did you work with Nate Schaffer '16 when he was practicing the piece? TR: Yes, we had a couple meetings. He helped me with some of the notational things because I'm not a pianist myself. I'm sort of just getting into that. So some of the challenges with the notations that I had, I fixed that. It was optimized for what he felt made sense. And then from there I helped him with interpretational things. JA: Can you tell us about your writing process? TR: I think the process is always different probably with every piece to a certain extent. And since I'm just starting out I haven't found a consistent process and I don't know if I will. But one thing that I've always done is that I think of a few adjectives that I wasn't to get across effectively and maybe a few forms or a vague outline of some harmonic structure that I think I want to work with. And then going from there it usually develops a mind of its own. JA: Do you plan to do a composition master's program or compose music professionally? TR: I'm not necessarily sure that I want to study composition any further because that's always been sort of an educational thing for me. I certainly am most passionate about music though so I might pursue composition or I might pursue education. -Emily Wishingrad
(10/29/13 4:00am)
On Monday, Oct. 21, New Jersey joined the other 14 states and the District of Columbia in recognizing legal, economic and social equality for same-sex couples by legalizing same-sex marriage. However, 14 states are not enough. Currently, 38 states legally define marriage as the union between a man and a woman, discriminating against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community. Although the United States government does formally recognize marriage as the union of two consenting citizens, states are not required to recognize same-sex unions from other jurisdictions, which is a potential violation of Article IV of the United States Constitution. However, I am optimistic about the future of marriage equality in the United States. A poll conducted by The Washington Post and ABC News in March found that 58 percent of respondents support marriage equality. The same poll found that nearly a third of those who currently support marriage equality used to oppose it but had since changed their minds. Sixty five percent of younger voters, defined as those under the age of 30, support marriage equality-and that number is only growing. There are several states that are seemingly on the cusp of guaranteeing marriage equality to all their citizens. Legislation is currently making its way through the state house in Illinois, where Governor Pat Quinn has stated he will sign the bill. In Pennsylvania, groups of same-sex couples have sued for marriage equality and Attorney General Kathleen Kane has openly stated she will not defend the state's ban. But by far the most promising state, and the most interesting state, for marriage equality is New Mexico. New Mexico is the only state in the country to not have a specific statute regarding the legality of same-sex marriage. As a result of the lack of clarity, clerks on the county can determine if they give marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Currently, eight counties, representing nearly 60 percent of the New Mexico population, give out marriage licenses to same-sex couples. In addition, two cases, on opposing sides of the issue, are working through the state's court systems. One case, brought forth by Republican officials, would block clerks from giving same-sex couples marriage licenses. The other, more traditional case has been brought by a group of same-sex couples in the wake of the Supreme Court's Defense of Marraige Act ruling. Governor Susana Martinez, a Republican up for a tough re-election bid in 2014, has not stated her position on the issue. But, like the other states to recognize marriage equality, New Mexico is a more liberal state. These more progressive states will surely legalize same-sex marriage on their own volition. Other more conservative states will not. There are those who say same-sex marriage should be a state issue, and I vehemently disagree. All one has to do is look back to the American South before the Brown v. Board of Education decision or the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to see how some states choose to handle civil rights issues. While I'm not saying that the issue of marriage equality and civil rights are the same, there are certainly parallels. I do think it is troubling at best to assume that every single state, especially ones with a history of discriminating against certain minority groups, will willingly allow same-sex couples the same rights as straight couples. Not to name names or point fingers, but much of the South has not had a good record on civil rights issues, be it for racial or sexual minorities. Simply put, marriage is a civil rights issue, and history has shown that states cannot always be trusted to give civil rights to minority citizens. It is all well and good to say you support same-sex marriage being a state issue, as opposed to a federal mandate, but unless you support it at the national level, you are still advocating that states should have the opportunity to discriminate against those who are LGBTQ. This is where the problem lies. There's nothing wrong with states like California, New York, Vermont or Minnesota legalizing same-sex marriage; in fact, it is what's right. But what about couples who do not live in these states, who have jobs and homes and families in states that clearly are not going to legalize same-sex marriage? Or members of the armed forces, who may be in long-term relationships but cannot marry because of where they are stationed. Obviously, marriage equality is not the only issue facing the LGBTQ community, nor is it the most pressing issue. Look no further than violence and bullying, the high rates of homeless LGBTQ youth and legal discrimination against the trans communities in many states such as Texas, Illinois and Florida. However, marriage is an institution in the United States. Some say it is religious, others say it is historical or cultural-but I personally believe it goes beyond that. At its core, marriage is a declaration of love, of not imagining being with anyone else. Nobody should get different tax benefits, visitation or adoption and custody laws just because of who they love. It is not enough to watch liberal states legalize same-sex marriage while conservative states only make it harder for certain citizens. If we as a country truly value equality, and 58 percent of the country does, we should legalize same-sex marriage on a national level and give same-sex couples the same protections that any straight couple deeply in love enough to get married receive.
(10/29/13 4:00am)
Prof. Eve Marder '69 (BIOL), the Victor and Gwendolyn Beinfield Professor of Neuroscience and the head of the Division of Science, has been elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, according to an Oct. 21 BrandeisNOW press release. Marder was elected to the IOM on Oct. 1 as part of a cohort of 70 new members and 10 new foreign associates. She is the third Brandeis faculty to be elected to the Institute. Prof. Stuart Altman (Heller) was elected in 1996, and Prof. Emeritus Gregory Petsko (BCHM) was elected in 2001. Election to the institute is conducted by current members. Marder conducts research on the modulation of neural networks, using the nervous system of crustaceans such as lobsters and crabs as models. Her research has been recognized with her past elections to the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and she served as the president of the Society for Neuroscience in 2008. Earlier this year, Marder won the 2013 Gruber Neuroscience Prize and was appointed to the scientific advisory board of the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative, a project launched by the Obama administration to enhance neuroscience research. In an email to the Justice, Marder commented on her election to the IOM. "It is a great honor," she wrote, "and I am appreciative of the respect of my peers that it signals." Marder also wrote that she does not expect her election to the IOM to impact her work on the advisory committee of the BRAIN Initiative. The IOM defines itself on its website as "an independent, nonprofit organization that works outside of government to provide unbiased and authoritative advice to decision makers and the public." The website further explains that "many of the studies that the IOM undertakes begin as specific mandates from Congress; still other are requested by federal agencies and independent organizations." -Phil Gallagher
(10/28/13 4:00am)
According to an Oct. 21 Washington Monthly article, Brandeis is the fourth-ranked university out of the top 50 from the U.S. News and World Report for percentage of undergraduate students entering public service over the last 10 years. According to the report, 28.2 percent of Brandeis alumni work for organizations such as government agencies, nonprofit organizations or public education after graduation. The study used data from career networking website LinkedIn. The article listed several factors considered important for inspiring students to enter public service, including creating a culture or tradition of service, providing co-curricular opportunities for service and helping students pay for internships or fellowships. "Our namesake, Louis Dembitz Brandeis, the distinguished associate justice of the United States Supreme Court, embodied in action the ideals of academic excellence and social justice," wrote Hiatt Career Center Director Andrea Dine in an email to the Justice. "Brandeis ... continues to strive for these ideals and therefore attracts students who are self-motivated, compassionate, and curious, and are open to exploring new experiences and embracing new challenges," she continued. Other New England schools are also high in the ranking, including Brown University at fifth and Yale University, ranked seventh. Dine also stated her belief that members of the Brandeis community feel strongly about bettering their surroundings. "It is their collective influence in the classroom, on campus, and in the community that helps students launch careers in public service," she wrote. Dine wrote that she believes the commitment of Brandeis students is not limited to public service careers. "I am confident that all of our graduates are committed to improving the world in which we live, no matter their professional path." -Sam Mintz
(10/22/13 4:00am)
As of late, the hard-line relations between America and Iran seem to be easing. For the first time since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the American president had a phone conversation with the president of Iran. On the surface this seems like steps by Iran to enter real negotiations about their nuclear program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has called President Hassan Rouhani's efforts a "smiley campaign" with "conciliatory words." What do you foresee as the trajectory of our talks with Iran, and do you see them being productive? Eric Lob President Hassan Rouhani and his team are serious about subjecting Iran's nuclear program to heightened restrictions, safeguards and inspections in exchange for sanctions relief and the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. Based on preliminary discussions and official statements in New York and Geneva, the trajectory of talks between Iran and the P5+1 is heading in a constructive and positive direction. In response to these talks, Israel has taken a hard-line stance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that Iranian enrichment at any level represents an existential threat to his country. Other Israeli officials are concerned about Iranian-American rapprochement and about Israel losing its geostrategic advantage as the Middle East's sole nuclear power. Ironically, Israeli resistance toward diplomacy raises the prospects of a nuclear-armed Iran and a regional, nuclear arms race-the very outcomes Israel seeks to avoid. Eric Lob is a postdoctoral research fellow at Brandeis University's Crown Center for Middle East Studies. Sarah Kent (GRAD) If the history of these two nations is deeply examined, it becomes clear that the tensions between the U.S. and Iran have existed well before the 1979 hostage crisis; rather it was simply the breaking point. For example, the United States and Great Britain were instrumental in the overthrow of former Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, who wanted to nationalize oil, in 1953. The talks between President Obama and President Hassan Rouhani are encouraging, but I believe it will take a long time for mutual trust to be regained because of the past and the potential backlash within the two nations. These early talks do not specifically symbolize much in the way of moving forward. They do, however, represent an opening of minds in each country to the idea of reigniting relations. For these reasons, I believe that these talks are hopeful but not enough to assume that the relationship between the United States and Iran will improve. Sarah Kent is pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in History. Arielle Gordon '16 Really, we're asking the wrong questions. Likely, talks between President Obama and President Rouhani will not come to any sort of definitively diplomatic fruition. Idealists can be as hopeful as they would like, but anti-U.S. sentiment is deeply embedded within the very ideological foundations of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and while Iran's nuclear program is hardly the existential threat that many portray it to be, it is certainly a symbol of sovereignty that the ideological factions in Iran, with the most jurisdiction over Iranian policies, will be hard pressed to relinquish. Yet, the concrete outcome of talks is hardly a reason to dissuade the U.S. from engaging in conversation. With two "reformist" political leaders at the helm, it is imperative that we seize the opportunity to create a space for dialogue with the IRI that has been closed off for more than three decades. The goal of dialogue would not be to achieve a concrete outcome, but to set a precedent for conversation that only a year ago would have seemed impossible. While this is hardly a moment for blind optimism, we cannot afford to allow uncompromising cynicism prevent the possibility of a badly needed shift in U.S.-Iranian relations. Arielle Gordon '16 is majoring in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, serves as the editor of the Middle East section for the Brandeis International Journal, and is a staff writer for the Justice. Alex Thomson '15 From the latest news reports, it appears that the clandestine talks between the Iranian and American governments are making significant progress. All indications point to an imminent deal that could be announced shortly that would require greater international oversight and regulation of Iran's nuclear stockpile, unannounced visits to Iranian nuclear facilities by UN inspectors and limits on the quantity and grade of uranium. I find Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States to be both refreshing and hopeful after the past eight years of hostile relations with former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Despite the productivity of the talks, I am still cautious of their final outcome and the ultimate deal. While I do believe that Rouhani is intent on bettering relations with the West to ease sanctions on the Iranian economy, he must also match deeds with words and demonstrate that Iran is serious about ceding its nuclear program. Alex Thomson '15 is the former president of the Brandeis Israel Public Affairs Committee.
(10/22/13 4:00am)
Last Wednesday evening, Shiffman room 219 was packed with students coming from classes in all different directons, from all different departments. What could be attracting such a diverse group of students, you ask? The answer is simple: pornography. More specifically, a panel lecture presented by the Feminist Sexual Ethics Project-a program started by Prof. Bernadette Brooten (NEJS) and Prof. Anita Hill (Heller). The lecture was given not only as part of the Project's programming, but also as a special learning opportunity for students in Brooten's course, "NEJS 29a: Feminist Sexual Ethics in Judaism, Christianity and Islam."
(10/22/13 4:00am)
What was I doing in 2004? YouTube would not be created until 2005. MySpace had been created in 2003, but I would not make my own page until sometime around 2007. Facebook was created in 2004 but was only open to select college students until sometime in 2006-I did not end up creating my own account until 2009, anyway. So what was I doing? It's strange to imagine not opening my laptop every time I step into my room, not pulling out my smartphone every time I'm waiting in a line, and not feeling the short-lived excitement of receiving a Facebook notification, and then realizing that its just someone posting in the Brandeis class page. I was 10 or 11 years old, so I was probably biking around with my good friends from the time. Jason, Jonathan, Devante, Asa-I could count them all on one hand. As of writing this article I have 1052 friends on Facebook, but it only feels equally, if not less, reassuring than my four close childhood friends. I was initially surprised by this observation, because more is better, right? But the connections I have made and maintained over Facebook and the persona I've created for myself feel artificial in comparison with real life. I cannot even imagine how content I'd feel if I had 1052 friends in real life and four Facebook friends. It is always gratifying to see the red number on the corner of our screens-John liked my status, maybe my opinions are valid; Mark accepted my friend request, maybe I am popular; Max liked my profile picture, maybe I am attractive. But those feelings and gratifications are shallow and defined extrinsically. We get them through other people and consequently depend on those other people to feel that same way. It is true that I felt similarly gratified through my close childhood friends, but it was not overburdening and overstimulating. It was always nice to see my friends, and I appreciated the sense of belonging that came along with them, but I did not feel that presence literally every second of my life. I was not reminded that those feelings were or weren't there, the way I am now as I check my phone in a line at the Hoot Market. It's very much like we've been conditioned. We see a red number and feel like we're being noticed before we even check what that notification is about. We are conditioned to feel accepted by these notifications and consequently at a loss without them. As I anxiously wait for the page to load-will I be accepted? If not, I feel restless, compelled to go and like someone else's stuff, hoping they'll reciprocate the "love" and fill the newfound void. But imagine how sad it would be if they're liking my stuff for the same reason. Aside from seemingly defining our self-worth, Facebook creates new personas for us. Individuals who I've known in person to be quiet and generally held back are often the most vocal on Facebook. It's similar to the power that people find in anonymous online Internet forums, but that key difference is that Facebook associates a name with your words. Usually the will to make bold statements comes from not having your name associated with your words, but on Facebook, there's actually a matter of pride with claiming those words. Some people will chirp into huge debates with a safe (not new or interesting, but favorable) opinion to reap the benefits of social acceptance without the associated risks. Some people will disagree with just about anything to boast their intelligence and non-conformity. And some people actually provide thought-provoking, interesting and unique opinions-though this last group has always seemed the minority in my experience. The large majority of users I've observed fall into the first two groups, and this is problematic because they don't develop the necessary social skills. We live in a society where our natural human impulses are artificially stimulated and are consequently improperly developed. We feel conditioned belonging through our notifications. We feel contrived bravery through the constant presence of our peers. We belong online and are alone in person. I do not know how to solve this problem, but I can safely say that Googling it won't help. *
(10/21/13 4:00am)
The Brandeis men's and women's swimming and diving teams began their season this past Saturday in a dual meet at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass. The men placed first in five total events while the women took first in three. In their first meet of the season, the men lost by a score of 183-86 while the women followed suit with a 187-53 defeat. Even though the teams lost, Brian Luk '16 thought both squads performed well. * "Considering the depth and size the Wheaton team has over us, we were able to pick up some wins," Luk said. "Regardless of victory or not, everyone on the team swam some pretty good times. Overall I am really proud of what [our teams] did on Saturday." * Max Fabian '15 led the men's squad with three first-place finishes in the 1000-yard freestyle, 200-yard butterfly and the 500-yard freestyle, placing first in every solo event he raced in. * In the 1000-yard freestyle, Fabian finished with a time of 10 minutes, 14.87 seconds, which gave him a 39.23 second margin of victory over second place. The margin was slimmer in the 200-yard butterfly; Fabian won by exactly two seconds. * The closest Fabian came to losing was in the 500-yard freestyle. After a slow start, he was able to overcome Wheaton senior Frederick Garneau at the 250-yard mark. From there, Fabian managed to hold onto the slim lead and win by .56 seconds. * Luk notched the only other solo victory that the Brandeis men had on the day, placing first in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 48.92 seconds. In addition to his individual victory, Luk also set a personal record in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:48.08, but narrowly lost the lead in the final 50 yards of the race and eventually finished in second by a margin of .08 seconds. * The fifth victory came during the last event of the day, with Wheaton unofficially swimming the 200-yard freestyle relay, handing a victory, and the points, to the Judges. The Judges proceeded to win the event by default. * The Brandeis women, competing after their male counterparts, opened with early success from Joanna Murphy '17 in the 1000-yard freestyle. Murphy placed first and finished with a time of 11:03.71, which was a massive 43 seconds faster than the second-place finisher. * Such a finish was pretty impressive for her collegiate debut. However, Murphy wasn't done yet. After winning the opening event, she continued to dominate the competition in the distance events, taking another first-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:34.35. * Gabby Drillich '15 secured the Judges' other individual victory in the 200-yard butterfly, finishing with a time of 2:36.03. * Furthermore, Fallon Bushee '16 took second in two events, placing runner-up in the 50 free (26.26 seconds) and 100 free (58.14 seconds). The Judges will return to action on Friday, when both teams compete at the University Athletic Association Invitational hosted by the University of Rochester. *
(10/15/13 4:00am)
On Thursday, Aruna D'Souza, an art historian, writer and critic, delivered this fall's Soli Sorabjee Lecture in South Asian Studies. D'Souza has taught art history at schools such as the University of California, Berkley and the State University of New York Binghamton and is currently a visiting professor at the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program in the visual arts. In her lecture, entitled Ingesting Culture: Cooking, Colonialism, and the Question of Indian-ness, D'Souza spoke on the topic of food as a means of cultural production. The lecture was well attended, and the audience enjoyed her fascinating account of her own complicated past full of imperialism, colonization, and racism. D'Souza is a Canadian woman whose parents immigrated from India to Canada, where she and her sister were born. She described her and her family's personal experiences from when their area of origin, Mangalore, was originally colonized by the Portuguese, to their experiences returning to India. D'Souza combined personal anecdotes and historical sources to create an educational yet intimate lecture. She is interested in food as trauma, violence and struggle-what she describes as "anti-eat, pray, love". Growing up in Canada, D'Souza and her family were minorities in a predominately white Alberta town. Her parents had met in medical school in India, moved to England, and then finally, to Canada. They had repeated their medical residencies four times in order to prove that they were, in fact, capable physicians and not barbaric cannibals, as a racist drawing left at the hospital suggested. Soon, however, Canada had become part of their multicultural identity, as D'Souza's father developed a love for country music and his two daughters grew up as Canadians. However, food remained an important part of their culture, and D'Souza grew up enjoying the spicy flavors of Indian cuisine. Later, she comically described her father serving his daughters' Caucasian boyfriends delicious, "hallucinatingly hot" Indian food. Audience members giggled at D'Souza's description of the pink-faced men sweating as they tried to consume the food, and thus, prove their manliness. D'Souza's ancestors were originally from Mangalore, where Portuguese missionaries converted them into Catholicism and destroyed much of their Hindu culture. The surname had been given to her family by the Portuguese missionaries. They mandated that salt be served on rice, that they be baptized into Christianity and they even required the Hindus to eat beef and pork, literally forcing it down their throats. Indian food, however, was not lost, but came to influence many other cultures, such as English and Portuguese cuisines. D'Souza shifted from personal anecdote to the history of India and its culture. As Indian culture influenced the food of its imperialists, Western culture altered the Indian way of living. D'Souza focused on Chandigarh, which was supposed to put India on the world stage as a modern city, and was designed by Western architects The city included 13 groups of housing, which would provide basic amenities to everyone, a blow to class prejudice. Some criticize this city as Western architecture, and therefore, lifestyle, on an Indian landscape. However, D'Souza does not view the situation as merely Western imperialism but a combination of cultures that leave the past behind and create a hodgepodge of different lifestyles. D'Souza used the metaphor of soup to symbolize something that had been combined and now could not be separated, as she cannot separate the colonial influences from her identity. Although some in Mangalore are reclaiming their original name in protest to their colonial past, the influence of Western imperialism is still visible in their actions, such as their ingestion of pork. D'Souza is not condoning imperialism. She is merely suggesting that identity is fluid and can have many influences and aspects. "I am a pork eater, among so many other things. You can't unstir a pot."
(10/15/13 4:00am)
The California Republican Party Convention rarely makes the news in California, let alone on The Huffington Post. But this year was different because of an unusual action the party took. The California Republican Party released buttons which read "KFC Hillary Special. 2 fat thighs. 2 small breasts. Left wing." After images of the buttons hit Twitter and mainstream media outlets, the buttons were removed from the conference. I am not outraged about an attack on a female politician based solely on her appearance, as disgusting as it may be. Nor am I going to lump every single Republican together and say that around half the country stands behind the pins. In fact, Republicans in the California Assembly and Senate have criticized the creators of the pins. Rather, I am outraged that the political dialogue in this country has fallen so far that it is acceptable to mock an accomplished politician for her body, compare a speech to the Bataan Death March, as Ted Cruz did after his 21-hour sort-of filibuster or accuse an opposition party of being authoritarian dictators or committing war crimes. Certain representatives of both the Democratic Party, like John Burton, and Republican Party, like Ted Cruz, have said these things, and more. The things said by the fringe elements do not represent the mainstream of any party. But, unfortunately, it is the vitriol of the fringe that makes the best viewing on nightly news, and it is this vitriol that is only further polarizing American politics. For example, John Burton, the chairman of the California Democratic Party, compared Paul Ryan to Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's minister of propaganda, during an interview in September. Ken Cuccinelli, the current Attorney General in Virginia and republican gubernatorial candidate, said that opposition to Obamacare was parallel to opposition to fugitive slave laws in the North during the antebellum. Robert Benmosche, the American International Group's CEO made the claim that the current outrage against Wall Street bonuses is similar to lynch mobs of the Jim Crow South. There is never a reason or excuse to compare your political opposition to the Nazi Party or those responsible for genocide. Not supporting a health care law is not the same as opposing slavery. And I don't think any business executive has any right to compare his experiences to the racial violence African-Americans faced for periods of our history. Even as a proud progressive and Democrat registered in California, I felt sickened at what John Burton said in regard to Paul Ryan. Although I cannot speak for Republicans, Virginians or CEOs on Wall Street, I do think it is safe to say that they do not agree with statements that certain members of their group say either. Like many of the issues in Washington, there is no simple solution to get out of this mess. While politicians and political figures face outcry after making inflammatory statements, it almost seems as if they do not learn from their actions. Our best hope is to lead by example. Even though we are just citizens, we should make an effort not to use this sort of inflated and hyperbolic language. I know that in the past, I have made inaccurate and offensive statements about politicians I don't agree with. Now, I've been making an effort, to use reasonable language to express my dislike, although I may not agree or even like a politician, idea or party. After all, according to a 2011 Harris Poll on political discourse, nearly 90 percent of Americans believe that political discourse is more bad-tempered than it used to be. And 70 percent of the American public believes that the political climate overall is nastier than in the past. Maybe, if the American people make it clear that we are tired of the war crime analogies in completely inappropriate settings, and if we ourselves stop using them, our elected officials will get the message. The current political climate doesn't have to be this way. I hope I'm speaking for the majority here at Brandeis when I say I'd like for our elected officials to speak in a civilized manner, without hyperbole and insane accusations. If we make this a priority, it can be done. *
(10/15/13 4:00am)
Brandeis Visions for Israel in an Evolving World launched its second year last Wednesday with the event "Actualizing Visions" in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium. The event featured Rabbi Ron Kronish '68, director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel, and Iyad Zahalka, a judge in Jerusalem's Sharia Court. University President Frederick Lawrence also attended to give some opening remarks regarding bVIEW's upcoming year. The event was cosponsored by the Coexistence and Conflict Program at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, the Crown Center for Middle East Studies, Hillel, the Interfaith Chaplaincy, the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life, the Peace, Conflict and Coexistence Studies department and the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies. Each speaker highlighted bVIEW's goal of creating better dialogue about Israel, in which people can feel more comfortable about expressing their opinions. Kronish and Zahalka work together in Israel to create dialogues between different groups of people about issues facing Israel, and spoke on how to best create these dialogues. During his speech, Kronish highlighted steps his organization uses to create safe and positive discussions, including sharing personal identities among participants; interreligious learning, in which each side reads the other's religious texts, and, as Kronish noted, often learn that their religions are not that different; open discussion about issues of conflict; and acting on ideas discussed, which could be something as simple as posting to Facebook, according to Kronish. "We go a long way to breaking down stereotypes when we take these first two steps. We create a lot of trust, and fear and barriers go way down," Kronish said. Zakalka echoed Kronish's sentiment of wanting to build understanding in order to create dialogue, repeating the idea that all sides must "join forces" in order to solve their problems. "If we start talking people to people, human being to human being, religion to religion, we can start to understand a way the conflict can be solved," Zakalka said. Like Kronish, Zakalka said that it is important to see others as people, and that "religion is not part of the problem, religion is part of the solution." After the speakers, bVIEW members acting as student facilitators broke the audience up into small discussion sections, which were led by the student facilitators. These facilitators emphasized that the groups were safe spaces for discussion. Following the break-out session, there was a question-and-answer session during a small reception, during which bVIEW came together again, officially opening their year with a few words from Lawrence. Lawrence applauded bVIEW for creating a safe space and dialogues about Israel that he said he feels happen nowhere else in the world. "I am delighted to be part of the launch ... of bVIEW. It did start as an idea about a better kind of discussion. ... Often dialogues are really parallel monologues," he said. Lawrence also noted that he looks forward to bVIEW's second annual conference with other universities this upcoming winter, and to the creation of a new chapter of Visions for Israel in an Evolving World at Harvard University. Gil Zamir '15, a cofounder and current programming director for bVIEW, said in an interview with the Justice that bVIEW's goal for this year is about making their goals a reality, hence the event title "Actualizing Visions." He said Kronish and Zahalka were chosen to speak because they are "actualizers." "They're not waiting for the politicians, for anyone. On the ground, this is how you make things happen," Zamir said. Zamir said he sees Brandeis as a place full of future world leaders like Kronish and Zahalka, and that "while we are all together, we can breed the best ideas for Israel. Things on the ground are not progressing, so the way we are trying to use this is as an opportunity for the next big breakthrough to happen here." He said he hopes that events like this will open up a different kind of dialogue about Israel that will allow students to have these big ideas. "Israel is not toxic and messy, it's the way it's been talked about that is," he said.
