(09/09/13 4:00am)
Student Union President Ricky Rosen '14 sent an email to the student body yesterday to announce Treasurer Sunny Aidasani's '14 formal resignation. According to the email, Aidasani resigned due to "personal health problems" that would interfere with his duties as treasurer. The resignation came just a week after Executive Board members called for an emergency Senate meeting to consider impeaching Aidasani. Executive officers cited a general lack of communication over the summer as the reason for impeachment. However, the impeachment process was halted following a meeting between Aidasani and Rosen, and Aidasani was given a deadline of last Tuesday to complete a list of tasks for the treasury, according to a Sept. 3 Justice article. In his statement of resignation, forwarded to the student body by Rosen, Aidasani wrote that he felt these personal health issues were "inhibiting [him] from performing [his] duties to the best of [his] abilities, along with conflicting with [his] personal commitments." He added that he "may need to take time off this year" and wrote "it would only be fair if I resign now so that there is no disorder within Treasury if that happens later," he wrote. "The Student Union and the Executive Board is confident that this decision is what is best for the Brandeis student body, and for Sunny himself," Rosen wrote. "The Student Union is grateful to Sunny for making this difficult decision with the interests of students in mind." The controversy began over the summer, when, according to Rosen, Student Union, club leaders and students in general had difficulty getting in touch with Aidasani . "Having not heard from him in months his status was very much in the air when the school year began," said Rosen in an interview with the Justice. "Since we had not heard from him in so long we decided that the best course of action for the student body would be to approach the Senate about removing him from office." According to Rosen, the same day that he and other Executive Board members had decided to schedule a meeting to discuss Aidasani's status as treasurer, Rosen finally heard from Aidasani. "After speaking with him, I decided that it was in the best interest of students to give Sunny an opportunity to perform all of the duties that he had promised to when he was sworn in as the treasurer over the next few days," Rosen said. "This is because the student body elected sunny to be their treasurer, and I have faith in our student body, and since Sunny was our fellow Student Union member, we decided to give him another opportunity." Rosen said that although Aidasani was able to resolve many of the issues that the Finance Board and the treasury were facing, including questions regarding procurement cards, clubs' allocations and other duties within the Student Union such as buying supplies for the Union office, he "did not believe that Sunny could continue to maintain this level of commitment to this position for the duration of the year." "I feel like as Sunny stated in his email, his personal circumstances were preventing him from being able to fully commit to being treasurer...and being treasurer of the Student Union is the most difficult position on campus," Rosen said. "I think that Sunny felt if his personal circumstances could not be resolved, he would not be able to carry out the position to the best of his ability." Rosen said that the completion of these tasks prior to Tuesday was not the only factor in Aidasani's decision, but that his "wellbeing as a student and a human being" were also taken into account. According to Rosen, Aidasani made the decision to resign despite the fact that he was able to complete most of his duties prior to this past Tuesday. "We certainly made Sunny aware of the fact that given his inactivity over the summer we would be considering asking him to resign if he failed to complete the duties over the few days, but in the end it was Sunny's decision to make the decision ... and I think he made the correct call and it was in the best interest of the student body," Rosen said. In his statement, Aidasani wrote that in his absence, "[p]roper measures are being taken to make sure there is a smooth transition into a new treasury." According to Rosen, until a new treasurer can be elected, Mohamed Ali '14, the Finance Board chair, will serve as the interim treasurer. An election for a new treasurer will be included in the general Senate elections, according to the email. "The next week or two is no doubt going to be a challenge for the Student Union and the student body, but I am confident that interim treasurer [Mohamed] Ali will do a fine job with the support of the team of assistant treasurers that Sunny assembled until a new treasurer is elected next week," said Rosen. *
(09/03/13 4:00am)
My favorite week of the year isn't Christmas break or spring break; it's Shark Week. Yes, like countless other Americans, I tune into Discovery Channel in early August to watch shows about sharks, shark attacks and ocean science for an entire week. In the words of Tracy Jordan from NBC's 30 Rock, I live every week like it is Shark Week. Most years, Shark Week is a bit of a joke for my father, my sister and I. We spend the whole week glued to the TV, listening to Andy Samberg talk about sharks, watching the Mythbusters team disprove the way they killed the shark in Jaws and generally not getting anything educational or intellectual out of it. In the back of my mind, I realize that Shark Week, like all other Discovery Channel shows, in theory is supposed to be somewhat educational, but if I have learned anything, I didn't really appreciate it. It never occurred to me that a program I enjoy watching could be a serious teaching tool. This year though, Shark Week was different for me. I spent the previous week on scuba diving in Mexico, where I had seen sharks a couple times while diving on the reefs. While I was on the sofa, watching scientists, survivors, experts and enthusiasts talk about sharks as well as environmentalism, overfishing and the dangers of urban legend, it really hit home for me. While I am not a marine biologist or an especially passionate environmental activist, I do love the ocean and respect the animals that make it their home, including sharks. Sharks are often considered among the most deadly creatures on the planet. While they can be very dangerous and have been known to attack humans, sharks kill less people per year than vending machines, mosquitoes, deer and dogs. On average, only five deaths around the world per year are from shark attacks. It is estimated for every person killed per year by a shark, 20 million sharks will be killed by humans, be it for delicacies such as shark fin soup, fishing by bottom trawling or from environmental impacts and pollution. Shark Week is not just a week devoted to ridiculous and horrifying shark videos and attack testimonies; it is a week dedicated to promoting awareness about sharks and the environment while busting certain stereotypes, like that sharks are crazed killers. Even the shows about shark attacks only further drive this point home. Watch any interview that is included on Shark Week with certain shark attack survivors and scientists, and they will say they do not hate the shark for what happened, that the ocean is the shark's home, not ours. Many people see Shark Week as humorous, something to make fun of and enjoy and not take seriously. I used to be one of them, and still do find Shark Week entertaining. However, I now also appreciate how Shark Week can actually be used as an educational tool for the general public, which often is ignorant or misinformed on the lifestyle of sharks. There are stereotypes that sharks are fierce, violent killers who are perfectly willing to snack on unsuspecting humans. After all, according to the Discovery Channel's website about Shark Week, the program is designed to inform people about sharks and provide information on how to save sharks from overfishing and other issues they face. Shark Week is an educational tool that is accessible to many people and makes people interested in a very serious issue. Perhaps if other TV networks and TV programs can emulate this model, issues like famine, sexual slavery, child soldiers and others can get the attention they need. It is easy to ignore major problems in our world by watching an enjoyable television channel instead of the news or something informative. However, if the channels people love to watch, be it TLC or Sy-Fy, have yearly shows in the style of Shark Week, I do believe the American people can have better awareness of some very serious issues. After all, who is going to say no to a week of television that teaches you while still being fun to watch? *
(09/03/13 4:00am)
This past week, the Student Union considered the possibility of impeaching current Treasurer Sunny Aidasani '14 based on an alleged failure to communicate with other members of the Union and complete basic aspects of his position. Ultimately, the Union decided to delay action until the situation can be further evaluated. Executive Senator Annie Chen '14 sent an email to the current senators on Friday explaining the situation and calling for an emergency meeting that was set to take place on Sunday. "I am emailing regarding ... the question of whether there is sufficient grounds and necessary need for the impeachment of our current Treasurer, Sunny Aidasani," Chen wrote in the email. Aidasani and other executive board members were to give their own accounts of the situation prior to making any decisions. "Impeachment is a weighty action, and as such, I urge you to thoroughly evaluate whether it is imperative as you consider your vote," Chen wrote. Although Chen explained in an interview with the Justice that she was not directly involved or aware of the issue based upon her experiences with Aidasani, she was approached by other members of the Executive Board who asked to go forward with impeachment proceedings. "To be honest, I don't know that much about it. I was actually going to hear a lot about it at the meeting too and that's where I would have decided whether or not I would vote to impeach Sunny, but I wasn't part of any sort of movement to get Sunny impeached," said Chen in an interview with the Justice. The meeting was then canceled after Aidasani spoke with President Ricky Rosen '14 and other Executive Board members to settle existing issues, according to Student Union Vice President Charlotte Franco '15. Rosen declined to comment on the Union's initial reasoning for proposing impeachment, stating that he hopes the solution will prove effective, and that Aidasani will be able to continue as treasurer. "[T]he student body elected Sunny to be the Treasurer of the Student Union this year, and I am hopeful that Sunny will be able to carry out his responsibilities as Treasurer," wrote Rosen in an email to the Justice. Aidasani answered similarly. "The circumstances have been resolved and after talking it over with a few members of the Executive Board, we have mutually decided that it is in the best interest of the student body for me to remain as the Student Union Treasurer," wrote Aidasani in an email to the Justice. "To my understanding, the Student Union Executive Board and Senate are in my support and believe I will rightfully execute my duties," he added. "I am trying my best to rectify it now. Most, if not all, treasury tasks are on track and to be completed in a timely manner now." According to Franco, there was a general lack of communication between Aidasani and other members of the Executive Board over the summer. In addition, the lack of communication between Aidasani and clubs left room for confusion. Franco explained that, over the summer, clubs email the treasurer to receive updates regarding their allocated funds. Franco explained that one duty of the treasurer is to assist with the rough budget that is created and divided for different Union purposes. "[I]t was just [tasks like] setting up those different accounts and making sure that [Secretary] Sneha [Walia '15] had funding to start purchasing office supplies once the new year started and things like that," she said. Franco said that after Rosen and Aidasani met to discuss the situation, Rosen decided that there was no longer a need for impeachment. "Basically it came to a decision that [Adasani] was able to do the job and that we were able to move forward and that Sunny showed that he could continue and knew what was needed of him to fix the summer and continue going forward," said Franco in an interview with the Justice. However, Franco said that there is a list of tasks relating to Aidasani's duties as treasurer that he must complete by today, as determined by Rosen. Should Aidasani fail to complete these tasks, the initial decision regarding how to handle the situation would go to the Executive Board once again. "We'll have to consider our options," Franco said. "I mean obviously, everyone knows impeachment isn't something anybody wants to do and ... we really have to think about it. If there is a problem, again, we will be talking about it as a group and coming to a decision as to what the best course of action is, not only for the Union but for our students, for our clubs." According to former Treasurer David Clements '14, over the summer, the Union treasurer is expected to organize purchasing card procurement, allocate early marathon, set policies, train the club leaders and assistant treasurers and respond to club questions. "I believe that student life, at least in part, is reliant upon a productive and responsible Treasurer," Clements wrote in an email to the Justice. "Being the Treasurer is one of the most time consuming and necessary jobs in the Union, as the 270 clubs on campus cannot function properly without a well run Treasury and their finances in place." Clements wrote that Aidasani was prepared and trained for the position prior to taking over as treasurer. "I spent more time training him than I received. He was well trained," Clements wrote. Aidasani wrote in an email to the Justice that his communication may have been lacking. "I realize I might have been unresponsive over the summer, because I was dealing with personal circumstances that have been discussed with [Rosen]," Aidasani wrote. "I would like to apologize to anyone who was caused any inconveniences, and I would like the student body to rest assured that they may contact me with any questions or needs they have regarding club finances or treasury." In his email to the Justice, Aidasani accounted for each summer responsibility named by Clements. In regard to P-Card procurement, Aidasani wrote that the University is in the process of switching from JP Morgan to Wells Fargo, making the process take longer than expected. "I recommend club leaders get in touch with me for alternative payment. I will update club leaders as more information is available," he wrote. Franco confirmed that Aidasani had no control over the delays in P-Card procurement. "[T]he way that P-cards work with Wells Fargo is different from what we're used to and there's small technical things that Budget Analyst Steve Costa is working out with the bank before P-cards can get issued," said Franco in an interview with the Justice. "Giving out P-cards, that's something that Steve Costa does. Then Sunny follows through." According to Aidasani, early marathon allocations were already determined and posted on the Student Union Management System by the Finance Board over the summer. In addition, he wrote that the club treasurer's training generally takes place between one to two weeks after the Club Connections Conference. "This way, club leaders have more time to establish their E-Board positions and are not overwhelmed with too much information from Treasury and the Finance Board in one session," he wrote. The treasurer's training, which will inform club leaders of all new policies, will tentatively take place on Sept. 10, 11 and 12, according to Aidasani. "Dates will be finalized and announced on the club leaders' listserv within the next few days. Assistant treasurers will receive their complete training the same week as well, if not earlier," he wrote. -Tate Herbert, Adam Rabinowitz and Sam Mintz contributed reporting
(08/27/13 4:00am)
After 32 years at Brandeis, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer resigned this summer. His last day at Brandeis was July 31. Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel announced to his division two days later that Jamele Adams, formerly an associate dean of student life, would assume the role of dean of students. Plans to replace the vice president position that Sawyer occupied, or the associate dean position that Adams previously occupied, have not been announced. Only July 31, Sawyer personally announced his departure in an email to a small group of selected colleagues and associates from his time at Brandeis. "I am resigning because I no longer see myself aligned with the University's decisions regarding my present and future roles," wrote Sawyer. "I respect the right of the University to make decisions about what is in their best interest, ... and I must do the same for myself." Sawyer went on to write that he had hoped to finish his career at Brandeis, but no longer felt that he would be "able to participate in ways that [he] would find professionally satisfying." He added that "I do not resign easily or happily," and apologized for the potentially unexpected departure. "We often talk with students about defining moments in our lives, and in this particular personal moment I have elected to leave on my own terms," wrote Sawyer. In an interview with the Justice, Sawyer confirmed that he has been in conversation with colleagues in the higher education regarding opportunities that will be available. University President Frederick Lawrence also sent an email on July 31 to announce Sawyer's departure, although did not acknowledge it as a resignation. In the email, sent to the broader Brandeis community, Lawrence described Sawyer's achievements at Brandeis since his arrival in 1981. Sawyer mentored students and staff throughout the terms of six out of eight Brandeis presidents (although the email erroneously cited the statistic as four out of eight). He also oversaw the evolving missions of multiple departments within the Division of Students and Enrollment. "It is no exaggeration to say that Rick Sawyer has had a transformative impact on student life at Brandeis," wrote Lawrence in the email. "On behalf of a grateful university, please join me in wishing Rick and his family the best of luck in the future." Sawyer was promoted to associate vice president for student affairs, in addition to his role as dean of student life, in July 2004, according to an Aug. 31 Justice article from that year. As dean of student life, Sawyer directed Orientation, a program which he pioneered, as well as Residence Life, Student Development and Conduct, Student Activities, Student Centers, Community Service, Graduate Student Services and the Intercultural Center. As associate vice president for student affairs, other responsibilities included overseeing four additional departments: the Health Center, the Counseling Center, the Athletic Department and the Chaplaincy. Sawyer wrote in an email to the Justice that, as the "number '2'" to the senior vice president for students and enrollment, he also attended meetings of the president's cabinet and the Board of Trustees. Responding to questions about whether anyone would assume Sawyer's duties as Vice President, Flagel wrote in an email to the Justice, "Rick has not attended Board meetings since I arrived. Athletics reports directly to me and has for some time, as does orientation. All of the other departments remain as before." However, he added, "reporting lines are never set in stone and I look forward to working with Dean Adams and the senior leadership in the Students and Enrollment division to continually assess our models and structures." Adams officially assumed the role of Dean of Student Life as of August 5. "Times of transition are bittersweet, but I enter into this new role with humility, respect, and fire," wrote Adams in an email to the Justice. "I will continue to support, advocate and challenge our students for the better; bridging that with the experience and talent of our Student Affairs Professionals, and complementing the outstanding teaching our faculty do in and out of the classroom. In all of this, [I will] remain committed to our core values, and never forget the reasons we are here-you, the Students and the importance of the Brandeis family," Adams continued. When asked whether or not his former position would be filled, Adams wrote, "I will be thinking about the role as we are assessing all our divisional needs." In Flagel's announcement to the division of students and enrollment, he stressed that "there is no plan in the division to cut positions to save money," but that there was a plan to "continue to explore all of our structures and processes." Adams' appointment to the role of Dean was described in the email as "one of the next steps in this process." "I have every confidence that [Adams] is the right leader for this critical role at Brandeis, and that he will continue to share his love for Brandeis both on and off campus, whether it be at a speaking engagement, motivating our peers or delivering poetry," wrote Flagel. According to Flagel's email, Adams came to Brandeis in 2005 as assistant dean of student life and was promoted to associate dean of student life in 2006. Adams is also a noted slam poet, and has performed on campus for various events and causes. *
(08/27/13 4:00am)
26 years but if you ask him, Mangok Bol M.S. '13 could tell you more than he had ever imagined possible about living, working and receiving an education in a foreign country. Bol is the administrator for the International and Global Studies program and the Mandel Center for the Humanities, and recently graduated from the International Business School with a master's degree in Finance in May. He is also a "Lost Boy" of Sudan, one of over 20,000 young boys and girls who fled Sudan in the '80s and '90s to escape the danger and violence of civil war between the Sudan People's Liberation Party and the Sudanese government. Bol was young boy when he left what was then the Republic of South Sudan, though he isn't sure how old he was when he walked on foot for over two months in 1987 toward refuge in Ethiopia. "I consider myself around 36 [years old], but for me it doesn't matter. I could be 40 and that would be fine with me, " he said in a interview with the Justice. It is not surprising that Bol ended up with a position at a University: From the time he was very young he was immersed in a community that valued higher education as the most powerful tool to future success. He explained that he was constantly reading books to try and learn more about the world. "It was more up to me to think it is the right time to study or do my homework," said Bol. "It became a group thing to sit around and read. The sense of getting an education was a big deal among us," he said. In 2001, Bol came to Massachusetts with a group of 186 refugees. They qualified to enter the United States after a rigorous selection process, one that Bol described as being even more complicated than gaining his American citizenship. Bol's arrival to the United States did not go unnoticed by the media. Their story reached private interest groups because of the positive media coverage and they therefore received a lot of support. These organizations began to search for potential universities the newly arrived lost boys could attend. Bol decided to go to the University of New Hampshire in 2003 because of the good financial package he received, for a subject he originally thought he wanted to study but in which he did not receive his degree. "Ironically, of the five of us accepted to go to the school, four of us ended up going for business and only one did the animal husbandry," said Bol. Most of Bol's classmates came from the Diinka tribe. The people helping Bol select a college knew of the Diinka people's love for cows and figured the Sudanese men would be interested in the animal husbandry major the university offered. Bol enjoyed the education and friends he made at the University of New Hampshire, but living in a radically new environment was not without its problems. "UNH was very different, it was not diverse. The population was predominantly white middle class. At first we felt we needed to connect with other Africans on campus," he said. But there were not only adjustments to American university life; Bol was still getting acclimated to an entirely different environment in terms of geographic location. "The number-one shocking thing was seeing the snow start to fall," said Bol. In addition to the contrast between New England winter and the hot climate of South Sudan, Bol found casual conversations between men and women to be "unusual." He came from a community where there was a "big divide between male and female," he said. After Bol graduated with a bachelor's degree in business and administration in 2006, he was encouraged to apply for the administrator of the International And Global Studies program by Prof. Mark Auslander (ANTH), an Anthropology professor at Brandeis who has conducted research on the Sudanese conflict and is board member of the Sudanese Education Fund, a nonprofit that aids Sudanese refugees resettling the Boston area. "I like working here. Professionally, Brandeis is my niche," said Bol. In 2010, Bol also became an administrator for the Mandel Center for the Humanities. Although Bol said he has no regrets about coming to the United States and starting his new life of opportunity, he admitted that in leaving South Sudan "something was lost that I can never get back." Bol plans to return to Sudan in December to see his family and friends for a long-overdue reunion. Commenting with nervous excitement about what it will be like the day he reconnects with his mother, he said "A good friend of mine went to see her in the village in May. She asked him 'What kind of person is he?' Other people know me better than her. It has been too long." Although Bol has no official plans, he thinks eventually he will use his master's degree to work to rebuild South Sudan. "I think I can help with financial planning later on but right now, no plan. I am just working at Brandeis and I love it here."
(08/27/13 4:00am)
Jamele Adam's promotion to dean of students brings exciting prospects for a community that has embraced him as the associate dean of student life and the Assistant dean of student life for the past nine years. The Justice sat down with Dean Adams to discuss what he values about the Brandeis community and what he hopes to achieve in the coming years. What does the dean of students do? The dean of students listens to the students, listens to the folks that are on the team. I have the honor of listening and making sure that the University is meeting the expectations of the students and vice versa. How is that different from your previous position? Now I'll listen to even more people. What are you excited about with this new position? I'm filled with all kinds of humility and fire for all the possibilities that exist. I thoroughly appreciate all that has been laid out before me. The foundation of Student Affairs and the folks that are in all the functional areas of the family that is Student Affairs is fantastic. It's the relationship between the students and all of the folks at the University that makes what I do such a joy, such a pleasure. We are all in it together. We have the honor of remembering that you all, the students, are the reason why we are here. We have the pleasure of being part of the journey of the students, to the effect that we can make their journey as magical and wonderful as possible is awesome, even in times of challenge, as well as times of triumph. Do you have any goals for this upcoming semester or in the future? I really want to make sure that we fly and that we have an incredible experience together, and I just want to continue to build on the foundation that is already in place. What's here is great, so I don't want to injure that greatness, I want to nurture it. How do your poetry and your role as an administrator work together? It's interesting that the students, you all, made it possible for those pieces of who I am to coexist. To the effect that they can assist the experience that the students have, can contribute to the educational journey that students take, I will continue to allow them to coexist. If it ever becomes intrusive, or not something that is helpful in the journey and experience of Brandeis students, then I won't. Students are usually the reason I use poetry; it's because a student made a suggestion or they thought it might be a complement to what they already put together. What do you think is the big draw to the Brandeis community? It is as unique as each individual here is. Every individual in this campus is unique. I think that makes for such an experience where, again, the hope is that everyone here can feel like this is their home. I want it to be a place where we have no second class citizens. I want it to be a place where everyone feels the love of the University. Not that many places have that significant piece, the cornerstone of the University is social justice and we recognize the imperfect and recognize our imperfections, and being willing to work through those imperfections is more of a draw. How do you plan to make sure that incoming students who haven't experienced the community yet know what it's all about? I will continue to advocate and promote involvement with everything that begins at orientation and continues through the work of the Community Advisors and Roosevelt Fellows and Excel fellows and all of the student organizations on campus. The folks that complement what happens in the classroom and the Student Affairs function areas, those folks will continue to do so into the wee hours of the morning, throughout programming and any moments that demand such. I think that the continual recognition and promoting of using all the resources that are here is how folks will continue to find that we are all together. There shouldn't be anyone who feels that they don't have anyone they can turn to, they don't have any resources that aren't there for them, because we are all there for each other. In the truest sense of the word, having a Brandeis family. Many people consider you to be one of the most inspiring members of the Brandeis community. From where do you derive your inspiration? The people around me. You all. When I have conversations with students, it moves me. I listen, I genuinely listen. I don't take my role on campus for granted. I don't take people's attention spans for granted. I don't take the fact that the students here believe in us for granted. We all value that, I value that. To the point that I can remind folks it matters, I will continue to do that. My motivation is the folks around us: my family, the students, the experiences that happen on campus. The knowledge that someone is allowing me to play a part in their journey for life. What do you think is the most moving or inspiring experience that you've had so far at Brandeis? There isn't just one. Every day, daily, I'm moved by the students, I really am moved. Sometimes the smallest statement or event is moving. I constantly stay aware of all that's going on around me, and it does move me. It influences me. It motivates me. I genuinely am moved every day by the students, I really am. We owe it to just be reciprocal in that energy and the sharing of that love. - Marissa Ditkowsky
(08/26/13 4:00am)
In our first issue of the year, JustArts talked with Brandeis alumna Lynda Bachman '10, who worked at an arts camp on campus over the summer. Bachman graduated with a B.A. in Sociology and Theater Arts and was involved with the Undergraduate Theater Collective and Rather Be Giraffes. JustArts: How did your time here at Brandeis affect your future career or artistic inspirations? Lynda Bachman: I didn't really explore theater seriously until college. The UTC was this incredible playground where I got to experiment, make mistakes and figure out what I really care about as an artist. It was also my first real artistic community. The Theater department gave me a strong foundation in technique and an opportunity to develop my craft with really excellent teachers and mentors. JA: Do you have a particular theater or other artistic project that has been a favorite to work on? LB: That is a really tough question. I don't think I could name a favorite. Partly because since Brandeis I have a made a concerted effort to expose myself to as many different types of theater as possible and I have loved so many projects for very different reasons. I have worked on Sondheim, Shakespeare, devised work, musicals with kids, new plays and a wide range of other projects. I've been very lucky and I have learned a lot about myself as a theater artist. I work as both a director and a teaching artist. One thing I do know for sure is that teaching theater is the most fulfilling thing I do as an artist. JA: This summer, you spent four weeks at Brandeis teaching art in a Jewish setting to high school student as part of BIMA, a program hosted here. What encouraged you to get involved with this summer program? I was recommended to BIMA by my friend and mentor, Jon Adam Ross, and so glad that he helped me make that connection. BIMA is an exceptional program for high school students. Truly exceptional-there is no other program like it. I jumped at the chance to return to Brandeis to teach and devise theater with smart, engaged, creative high school students in a pluralistic Jewish setting. As a director I am not always able to marry my Jewish background with my work. It is a major part of my identity and of course informs everything I do, but at BIMA I not only get to teach as a Jewish artist, but also explore what being a Jewish artist means to me. Also, devising theater with teenagers is my favorite thing to do as a director and teacher. It combines all of the things I love most about theater: collaborative creation and education. BIMA is a perfect fit for my goals and interests and it was an incredibly fulfilling summer. JA: Could you give a brief summary of what exactly you did with the BIMA students? What do you think is the most important lesson or skill the students got out of the program? LB: There were multiple components to the theater major at BIMA: technique and skill development classes, a special workshop with a professional playwright, seeing professional productions in Boston and devising an original play. The summer started with an intensive focus on skill development and honing the craft. As the summer progressed our focused shifted to applying the techniques and skills to our devised process and working toward completion of our collaboratively created play... if I could only teach them one thing it would be that theater is the art of empathy. JA: Among your many roles, you were the head of the theater arts program at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. How did you combine Jewish traditions and themes with theater while working at the camp? LB: Easily. One of the things I love about theater, and art in a general, is that it a conduit for expression. You can use the theater to explore just about anything. At camp, this manifested in a wide variety of ways. We create Jewish theatre-exploring Jewish texts, themes, rituals, etc. through theatrical representations. We put on big musicals in Hebrew ... We teach Storahtelling, which is a method of studying Jewish source texts through theater and performing theatrical translations of Torah readings. Part of the goal of theater at Camp Ramah is also to teach high level skills and actor training, so that campers can develop as artists and still go to Jewish summer camp. JA: What makes your unique artistic style different than other directors and educators? LB: I am still figuring that out. I know that collaboration is at the heart of my work as a director and educator. I believe strongly in empowering my fellow artists to bring their creativity to whatever work we are doing. As a director and teacher I see my role as a facilitator and a guide-I challenge, I support and I both contain and channel the ensemble's vision to its final realization. I gravitate toward theater that is challenging and rich, both in text and subject matter. And I enjoy a good dose of theater magic. -Jessie Miller
(08/26/13 4:00am)
As most Brandeisians are eagerly moving back into their dorms and leisurely reacquainting themselves with campus, those students who are active in our theater community are already getting back to work, preparing for this fall's theater season. The Undergraduate Theater Collective has a very impressive lineup this fall for both students to take part in and for audiences to enjoy. With a total of eight shows already planned to grace the stages of campus theaters this semester, the Justice asked for a backstage look at the UTC's upcoming plans. For those who are unfamiliar with the group, the UTC encompasses five theater clubs: Brandeis Ensemble Theater, Boris' Kitchen, Brandeis Players, Hillel Theater Group and Tympanium Euphorium. Each of these clubs has at least one show in the works for this semester, in addition to the collaborative 24-Hour Musical, which will be sponsored by both Tympanium Euphorium and Hillel Theater Group. UTC Coordinator Alyssa Bickoff '15 was eager to share with JustArts her excitement for "such a full and diverse season this semester. Our current lineup of shows is: the 24-Hour Musical, 1959 Pink Thunderbird: Laundry and Bourbon / Lone Star, Boeing-Boeing, Almost, Maine, Edges, Children's Hour, BK's Big Show, and [BET's] Quickies." Bickoff also divulged that some of Brandeis' other performance groups outside of the UTC umbrella have dynamic shows in the works, echoing the cooperative attitude that is so affectionately engrained into our theater community. "We are also excited that Hold Thy Peace is producing Hamlet and Free Play is producing two shows, including Kennedy's Children and Stuff Happens," she said. Each of Brandeis' theater groups absolutely shines individually, and this semester is no exception to the way that the unique energy of each club translates to very distinct, very passionate performances. Take Brandeis Players, a group dedicated to representing the non-musical aspect of theater. Like any member of the theater community, Players' President Dave Benger '14 wrote fondly of his club in an email to the Justice. "Players was my first Brandeis theater home," he says, going on to express his excitement for their upcoming production of Boeing-Boeing: "I think Boeing-Boeing really speaks to our core mission, which is just producing solid quality straight plays that entertain and/or challenge the audience in some way." Boeing, Boeing is an uproarious, scandalous production about a bachelor who is simultaneously engaged to three stewardesses, and when he can't keep his lies straight, the play picks up hilarious momentum. "It is one of the few comedies gracing the Brandeis stages this season," Benger adds. A club that is more focused on experimental and student-created performances, Brandeis Ensemble Theater, also has big plans in the works. BET co-coordinator Erica Haas '14 echoed the enthusiastic sentiments of Bickoff and Benger, saying: "I am really excited for the fall season. I am so thrilled to be working as co-coordinator along with Melanie Pollock '14 this year ... BET is bringing three productions to the student body this semester. Our first production of the season will be a side project, 1959 Pink Thunderbird: Laundry and Bourbon / Lone Star, directed by Phil Skokos '15, which will run [in] October. BET's mainstage production, Almost, Maine, which will be directed by Bethany Greenbaum '16, will occur two weeks later. Finally, BET will end the fall season with Quickies, BET's Annual One-Act Festival in December." The club will be hard at work, it seems, throughout the semester to continue their high-energy performing legacy. First up this season will be the 24-Hour Musical, which is a dependable and beloved favorite, especially since it is the first opportunity for first-years to dive into the college theater scene. Tymp and HTG band together for this performance, conveniently named for its ludicrous preparation time-only 24 hours, and 24 hours straight, mind you. The musical is always a joyful way to kick off the season, so keep your eye out for ticket sales in mid-September. With such a jam-packed lineup of incredible shows, you won't want to miss a single one.
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After the University Board of Trustees held a meeting on Friday, May 17, University students can expect to see changes in course offerings and the campus' appearance, as well as initiatives by new Board Chair Perry M. Traquina '78. The meeting, which was also Malcolm Sherman's final meeting as Board Chair, included several votes. According to Provost Steve Goldstein's '78 statement on the strategic plan page of the University website, two weeks prior to the Board meeting, the University Advisory Council, which represents all the schools and academic divisions within the University, unanimously approved the final draft of the plan. The Advisory Council proceeded to recommend its presentation to the Board. "This summer we are beginning our discussions on implementation. This will be a community-wide effort, and once the school year begins anew in the fall, we will engage all members of the community on various implementation projects and really turn the powerful ideas encompassed in the plan into concrete actions," wrote Goldstein in an email to the Justice. "At this time, it would be premature to give specifics," Goldstein continued. In regard to improvement in the sciences, Goldstein explained that "the new Science Curriculum committee has been working to re-think many different aspects of the science curriculum." According to Goldstein, changes have already been made for the Biology major requirements. "The committee has done an excellent job and I am very excited about these changes, that will keep Brandeis student out in front of their peers." In regard to additional science classes for non-science majors, Goldstein explained that changes would also be made. "Teaching science to non-science majors is critically important as part of a liberal arts education and we expect to have on-going discussions about changes that will increase opportunities in this area," Goldstein wrote. According to Senior Vice President of Communications Ellen de Graffenreid, the capital budget that was passed included items regarding deferred maintenance. These projects include updates to East Quad, and new locations for the Crown Center for Middle East Studies and the Lemberg Children's Center. The operational budget, however, was passed in March. "Some of the investments will be very noticeable-like improvements in the dining halls and the grounds," wrote Traquina, who officially assumed his role following the commencement ceremony on May 19, as stated in the by-laws. "Other changes, like HVAC and infrastructure, are not as visible but are critically important aspects of maintaining the campus." According to Traquina, the Board also voted to approve tenure, promotion and appointments for several faculty members. In addition, members voted to approve the award of degrees for graduating students and a new degree program-an Master of Science in Strategic Analytics-at the May 17 meeting. According to Traquina, he is looking forward to his new role as chair. "Over the coming weeks and months I'll be working closely with President [Frederick] Lawrence and his team. I'll also be reaching out to members of the Brandeis community-professors, students, staff and [alumni]," he wrote in an email to the Justice. "I want to learn about their experiences so I will have a full picture of our Brandeis from all perspectives." Traquina explained that he would like to see more initiatives passed regarding affordability and financial aid. "My wife and I have created two endowed scholarship funds to help students afford a Brandeis education. We have been fortunate enough to meet many of those scholars, and it is very rewarding to see what they are able to do with the opportunities that Brandeis gives them," Traquina wrote. Traquina is also interested in incorporating technology into the curriculum and the expansion of faculty diversity. "At the end of the day, we need to create an academic experience that provides Brandeis students with an outstanding education," he wrote. The next Board meeting will be held in October.
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On July 19, the University launched a test-flexible admissions program, which will give Fall 2014 applicants more options for what they can submit to the University and will allow students to apply without submitting SAT I or ACT scores. The change places Brandeis in a group of several other colleges that do not require all applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores, including Smith College, Clark University and Wheaton College. After two years, the pilot program will be evaluated, at which point a formal proposal to maintain, expand, narrow or discontinue the program will be reviewed by the Faculty Senate. "The implementation of the test flexible pilot is more an evolution in the Brandeis admissions process than a revolution," Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel wrote in an email to the Justice. Flagel wrote that the goal of the pilot program is to provide a more accurate evaluation of all applicants. With the new program in place, prospective students will still be allowed to submit traditional applications, including SAT I or ACT scores. Under the added options, students may also submit either a combination of SAT II subject tests, International Baccalaureate or Advanced Placement tests, or submit an enhanced portfolio. The enhanced academic portfolio includes a graded writing sample and an additional academic letter of recommendation. According to Flagel, the writing sample must be academic in nature, reference primary sources and be completed for a recent class the student took in an academic subject. "Graded papers and academic recommendations can provide admission committees with more insight than any set of tests," Flagel wrote. "In all cases this assumes academic records consistent with Brandeis' exceedingly high standards." The other test-flexible option requires that test scores for the SAT II, IB and AP exams be submitted from the following categories: Science or Math; English, History, Languages, Arts or Social Sciences; and a test from a discipline different than the applicant's choice from the first two options. According to Flagel, students are required to submit three test scores to provide data in enough areas to be useful in the admission evaluation process. The number of required test scores will be up for review upon examination of the pilot. Flagel said that there is no specific score that the University is looking for on any one SAT II, IB or AP exam. "Each of the tests have different score ranges, and the competitiveness of our process and intensiveness of our review is such that a specific number is meaningless outside the context of the full application," he wrote. "That being said, given the level of competition for admission to Brandeis the scores that will support admission are likely at the highest end of the score range, as is true for the ACT or SAT." SAT II subject, IB or AP test scores will be looked at individually in the admissions process and will not be aggregated. "This is consistent with our current practice, as aggregated SAT and ACT scores, while efficient to use and popular in the media, are less effective in a highly competitive, holistic review process in gaining understanding of student potential," Flagel wrote in an email to the Justice. Flagel explained that in the current model, standardized tests are used as supplemental information, and are "far less important" in the evaluation process than a student's academic record. Studies were and continue to be conducted to determine correlation between standardized test scores and college preparedness, questioning the validity of SAT and ACT scores in determining aptitude. The findings of researchers at Stanford University and the University of Chicago, highlighted by USA Today in June 2011, showed evidence that two of the four major sections of the ACT-science and reading-had "little or no" utility in helping colleges predict whether applicants would succeed. Despite the introduction of the test-flexible option, according to Flagel, no more than 10 percent of the incoming class will come from the pool of applicants who took the test-flexible option. "That being said, it is not possible to perfectly predict how many students will accept our offer of admission," he wrote. Flagel said in a statement released by the University that last year's application pool increase of over 13 percent makes now an ideal time to launch the pilot program. Flagel said he believes the existence of the pilot program might contribute to an increase in the application pool. According to Flagel, applications to Brandeis surged last year, and heexpects that trend to continue. "While the test-flexible pilot may contribute, it is the strength of our academic programs and distinctive campus community that are the driving force in our popularity," he wrote. Despite the potential increase in applicants, the selective nature of the University admissions process will remain. "In general most of the students admitted to Brandeis are already above the top 10 [percent] and I expect the test flexible admission program to be at least equally, and quite possibly even more, competitive," Flagel wrote. Flagel said in the statement that he hopes the University will take a national leadership role in modeling best practices in the use of standardized tests. "With competition for admission to Brandeis at an all time high, we must do all we can to be sure we are admitting the most qualified possible class. I am confident that this new model will continue our tradition of admitting academically gifted and motivated students with a passion for changing the world," he said. *
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This week, JustArts sat down with Steph Cohen '13, a Fine Arts student who has recently received a Fulbright award for her artistic accomplishments. JustArts: Congratulations on receiving a Fulbright award! How did you become introduced to and involved in the Fulbright program? Steph Cohen: I had heard about it my freshman year, I want to say. I went to one of those teacher-student talkbacks in the Rose Art Museum-I'm part of the Fine Arts department-and so I just heard from a bunch of professors, and they spoke, and one of the programs mentioned was the Fulbright. I kind of kept it in the back of my head for the past few years and I never really looked into it or pursued it until the start of the past summer. JA: Would you tell us a bit about your plans for the next year involving your Fulbright grant? SC: I am moving to Spain in September, and I just found out last week that I'll be going to Madrid and I'll be working at a secondary school, and I haven't found out yet exactly what I'm doing. It's an English teaching assistantship, so it's geared towards Spanish-speaking students who are interested in learning English. But it's taught through a series of different courses, so each student gets placed in a different subject, depending on their background. So I haven't found out where I'll be yet, but I hope it will be in the arts. JA: So is this an extension of what you've been doing at Brandeis, or will it be something new for you? SC: At Brandeis, I'm an Art History major and a Theater major, and my focus has been on scenic design specifically. When I was in high school, I taught an after-school class, then when I came to Brandeis I started TA-ing, so I have been teaching or assistant teaching. It's something that interests me, and that, combined with my interest in the arts, I wanted to do something where I can pursue both of them. JA: Do you hope that your coming work in Spain will provide a transition into a similar career? SC: I guess I feel like it's an opportunity to figure out what I want to do. I've done a lot of work in Theater and this is something that's a little bit different for me. Because, each summer, I've worked at various summer stocks, painting usually and designing, so this is something that's art-related, but in a different way, so I'm curious to see how it plays out and if it's something that I want to pursue. I'm really excited. JA: How would you say your programs of study at Brandeis have influenced your career objectives at this point? SC: Well, when I came to Brandeis, I had never done theater before, and I've always been interested in painting, and art in general, so I knew that I wanted to be an Art History student or an Art History major. So I got involved in my first week here, with the 24-Hour Musical, and I helped paint for that, and fell in love with it, and kept getting more involved, until somehow it turned into my major. I was specifically interested in scenic design and scenic painting. They used to have track programs in the Theater department, where you could be a Theater major, but then be a scenic design student. But they dropped that, and I was interested in scenic design specifically, so I worked with some of the professors in the departments to create a specific curriculum. Through that, I got a lot more exposure to the design process and the design side of theater and became really interested in it. JA: What was your favorite production you designed for? SC: The last show I did was my senior thesis In The Heart of America, and that was up in the Brandeis Theater Company, and that was an incredible experience because it was an opportunity to have the most professional design experience for me at Brandeis. It was a really interesting way to see how the process works in the professional world, and how you have to go through all the steps of drafting, and the continuous meetings, and working for months on this design, and to see it come together was really exciting. And just the support of the department was really great. I feel like I had the opportunity there to create a piece of work that I was really proud of. JA: What do you think you will miss the most about Brandeis after commencement? SC: I guess just the environment that is created on campus. I feel like it's very inclusive and relaxed and welcoming, and it's created a really positive experience for me, where I feel like I've been able to succeed because of the people who I've been surrounded by-both professors and friends. JA: What advice would you give to current Brandeisians who are hoping to make careers in the arts? SC: If you're interested in something, you have to go after it. You can't just wait for it to come to you. There is a lot of skepticism about going into the arts. But if you're willing to really stand by it and do everything you can to become as educated on your interests as possible, it's possible to succeed. -Rachel Hughes
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Disclaimer: Before this week, I had never actually seen a Star Trek movie or television episode and can't call myself a true fan. But after watching Star Trek Into Darkness on its opening weekend, I am a newly-converted Trekkie. Though die-hard fans may have their qualms with the most recent installment, I thought director J.J. Abrams created a true science fiction action film that also captures the emotional themes of the story. Clearly other moviegoers agree, because Star Trek currently holds the number one spot at the box office, beating out Iron Man 3 and The Great Gatsby. The movie opens with Captain James Kirk (Chris Pine) and Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy (Karl Urban) frantically running through the jungle of Nibiru, chased by a brigade of the planet's primitive inhabitants. Though probably overlooked by some, I thought the costume of the natives was absolutely stunning-they were painted in thick white paint, with piercing black eyes that so adeptly convinced me of their innocent nature. But, of course, Kirk goes a bit rogue and is summoned to the Starfleet Command, where his ship Enterprise is taken away. However, with a dramatic turn of events, the central command is attacked by Commander John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Kirk vows to avenge Admiral Pike (Bruce Greenwood), his father figure and mentor. Kirk reunites with Spock (Zachary Quinto), and they set off on the Enterprise to find Harrison. Their search takes them into the enemy territory of the Klingons, but Harrison quickly surrenders-reason unknown-and reveals himself as Kahn, a genetically enhanced superhuman. Kahn may be deadly, but the crew ultimately turns to him for help when under attack. The scenes that took place in outer space, as well as the space stations and ships, were well done, giving me hope that Abrams will do Star Wars justice when he directs it over the next two years. With a run-time of over two hours, visually capturing the audience is incredibly important. In terms of dialogue, there were opportunities to develop more background and plot. Cumberbatch, as Kahn, could have embraced his role as the villain more, and until the last few scenes, his raw anger remained hidden. His utter coldness and dark stare are effective, yet his scenes with Kirk could have been more powerful and failed to illicit more of a reaction from me. In one particular scene, Hikaru Sulu (John Cho) powerfully addresses Kahn with much at stake-he delivers one line incredibly well, but the moment could have been much stronger. Spock and Kirk's relationship in the movie verges on dysfunctional most of the time because the two are so different. As a Vulcan, Spock is deeply logical, which sometimes comes across as cold-hearted. However, the film shows that he truly does care and I really appreciated the evolution of his character over the course of the movie. In addition, Spock's relationship with Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana) could have been more pronounced, but its subtlety allowed their relationship not to dominate the plot. Quinto is flawless as Spock, from his facial expressions to tone of voice, and his emotional realizations make for some of the most touching moments in the entire movie. Kirk struggles with issues of morality when faced with challenging events and Pine proves he is more than just a pretty face in this role. His character may be reckless at times, but Pine depicts Kirk's personal growth well. In the end of the film, Kirk is truly selfless and he gives a touching performance, especially in his emotional moment with Spock. Not to be overlooked, Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott (Simon Pegg) completely captured my attention with his slightly nervous, hesitant demeanor. Pegg deserves recognition for his supporting role and his interactions with Pine. As well, Noel Clarke, who plays a father desperate to save his ailing daughter, commands the screen in the short time he is in the movie. Star Trek Into Darkness, though not life-changing or revolutionary, upholds the legacy of its predecessors. There could have been more plot development and meaningful dialogue, but it fully met my expectations of a science fiction film. But on that note, the movie was easily accessible to an audience-like myself-who had no previous knowledge of Star Trek's world of space exploration.
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Last Thursday evening, the Boston Museum of Science held an exclusive preview of its newest exhibit, The Dead Sea Scrolls: Life in Ancient Times, where visitors had the chance to see the New England premiere of the scrolls and accompanying artifacts through a guided exhibit tour. The exhibit, which is the product of a partnership between the museum and the Israel Antiquities Authority, opened to the public on Sunday, and will remain open through October 20. Brandeis has a special connection to the exhibit, as the University is the educational partner of Life in Ancient Times. Upon arrival, visitors gathered in the museum's beautiful Pierce Atrium for a dinner reception, accompanied by a continuous stream of jazz music. The largely adult crowd happily chatted as the sun began to set through the atrium's floor-to-ceiling window, and they shortly gathered around a podium at the back of the room for a welcome address. Exhibit curator Dr. Risa Levitt Kohn, a professor of Hebrew Bible and Judaism at San Diego State University who has curated countless Dead Sea Scrolls exhibits around the country, elegantly gave the visitors an idea of what they were to see. The scrolls are the oldest known copy of writings that are today found in the Hebrew Bible. The scrolls, she said, are almost a thousand years older than the next biblical source found, and are largely not just concerned with biblical content, but instead hold writings that are liturgical, psalmic, legal and commentaries, and that together, they "provide a spiritual map of ancient Israel." Visitors were led into the exhibit by a guide in staggered, scheduled groups, so that everyone had enough time to see all of the artifacts and read the carefully placed placards that prefaced each section of the exhibit. Walking up the staircase to the upper level of the atrium, where the exhibit is staged, I was very excited and hardly had an idea what to expect to see. I was able to join the first group of visitors, and we were ushered down a hallway and into a large room, walls and ceiling painted black, the floor around the perimeter of the room covered with sand. At the entrance to the room, projected onto the black walls in bright, white-lighted script was Genesis 12:1, in English, Greek and Hebrew, reading: "Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.'" Six large projection screens were hung on the walls, surrounding us with calming footage of the Dead Sea shore at sunrise, as the guide launched into a pristine monologue about the story of the modern rediscovery of the scrolls. In 1947, the year before Israel declared its independence, a Bedouin goat herder tossed a rock into a cave along the shore, and when he heard the rock break a pottery jar from within the cave, he investigated- what he found was a priceless cache, countless pottery jars holding the miraculously-preserved scrolls. The scrolls were hidden near the site of the ancient community of Qumran, whose ruins have since been excavated extensively. As we moved into the next room of the exhibit, we were presented with various artifacts found in the ruins of Qumran. The exhibit teaches visitors about this ancient people who were responsible for the scrolls by way of examining their belongings, constructing a careful historical picture of the time in which the scrolls were written. After winding around a dividing wall and seeing countless artifacts of ancient life, the exhibit opened up into a much larger space, centered around a massive, gingerly lit glass table. Fragments of the scrolls were preserved in the light and temperature-controlled glass, and visitors flocked eagerly to see what they could. The scrolls themselves were preserved in shreds, torn or worn pieces, recorded in beautifully written ancient Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Nabataean. I was shocked at how fractal the fragments of the scrolls that we have now actually are-seeing the sacred writings in real life, for me, carried a much greater weight than I have felt from seeing pictures of them in textbooks. The Life in Ancient Times exhibit is a point of academic and cultural pride for Brandeis, and I am sure that I echo the sentiments of many of our faculty and students when I say that I am very happy that our institution had the chance to partner in such an endeavor. *
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Bermuda: Far off the coast of North Carolina is a group of 180 islands that make up Bermuda, whose beaches are filled with pink sand. Sized at only about 20 square miles, Bermuda has three distinct areas: St. George in the east, the Royal Naval Dockyard in the west and Hamilton, Bermuda's capital. St. George consists of rural expanses and the Tavern by the Sea restaurant whose patio displays a beautiful view of the sunset. In Dockyard, I went parasailing at 500 feet while watching turtles surface and flip in the water below. Each morning, I walked to Hamilton's town center for coffee. Rows of pastel-colored houses outline the coast and no neighboring houses are the same color. The people on the island are the friendliest I've met; they never pass by without some kind of acknowledgment. I'm definitely planning on visiting soon for their Bermuda Day, which happens on May 24 and coincides with my birthday. -Celine Hacobian Bed: My favorite vacation spot is my mattress. My parents bought it years ago when I transitioned to a "big girl" bed. It is the most comfortable mattress on which I have ever slept. What makes it better is the imprint my body has formed in the center of the bed from years of my back and butt pushing into the springs. This luscious concave cradle is not only conducive to sleep when supine, but also makes an excellent lounge chair. Last spring break, I spent hours propped up against a plethora of pillows, reading philosophy, writing in my journal and watching TV shows (mostly just watching TV). There is something stupefying about waking up to bright morning sun and staying in your bed. Your body heat is trapped between blanket and mattress, bringing a pleasant, almost-too-hot flush to your cheeks. This is the moment I long for during the hard academic months. -Olivia Pobiel Disney World: Anyone who knows me knows that my vacation spot of choice is Disney World. Why not a relaxing beach, tropical getaway or exotic country? As much as I would love to travel the world, no place in the world quite compares to the feeling I get when I take a glimpse at Cinderella's castle in the Magic Kingdom or Spaceship: Earth (reminiscent of a large golf ball) at Epcot. Each individual park in the resort has its own charming characteristics, but the parks all invoke the feeling that I am a child again. My innovation and inquisitiveness are once again sparked by the technologies and themes of Disney World. The memories of going to Disney World and being amused as a young girl remain consistent-I am still amused each time I visit. Every time I go, I remember that it is a small world after all, and that we are all so similar across the world despite our differences. Smiles at Disney World are a universal language. -Marissa Ditkowsky Hawaii: Among the many vacations I've been on, my favorite place to go is Hawaii. With beautiful oceans to swim in and amazing hiking trails, as a vacation spot, Hawaii cannot be beat. Glass bottom boat trips take you out on the amazing blue ocean where you can go swimming with the wildlife. On occasion, you might even find yourself among dolphins! Among the many places to go hiking, Volcanoes National Park and the Olomana Trail are just a few. Hiking through the mountains gives you spectacular views of the mountain ranges and the oceans that surround the islands. There are tons of amazing hotels on the many islands of Hawaii, many of which have beaches right outside. Nothing is better than waking up, grabbing some breakfast, or perhaps lunch depending on when you wake up, and heading to the beach for some swimming and tanning. As a vacation destination, I highly recommend heading to Hawaii. -Josh Horowitz
(05/20/13 4:00am)
Now that school is over and finals are a distant memory, we have time to relax, enjoy summer and catch a movie or two! These five movies look especially entertaining among the dozens of films that are slated for release. From adorable minions to a shady drug deal, there is something for everyone. So sit back, relax, grab an Icee and get ready for some laughs! 'The Hangover 3': May 24 At this point, The Hangover is a Hollywood icon-if you've seen the previous two films, this one is an obligatory finale to the drunken trilogy. My guess is that The Hangover 3 will continue in the same vein as the Las Vegas and Bangkok adventures, but director Todd Phillips has stated that the movie will be more of a finale. Not many details have been released, but rumors have circulated that the quartet will get into their usual antics in Tijuana, Mexico, possibly rescuing Alan from a mental hospital. The infamous Mr. Chow will also join the bunch. Though I don't have high expectations, The Hangover 3 makes the summer movie list-giving closure to a prominent film series. 'We're the Millers': Aug 9 Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber (Dodgeball), We're The Millers is lesser-known than other must-see movies of the summer, but the original comedy looks equally deserving. Jason Sudeikis stars as a small-time pot dealer who hires a fake family to help him transport marijuana from Mexico to Colorado undercover. Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts and Will Poulter form the perfect fake family, as their sketchy road trip becomes a comedic bonding experience. In addition to the great cast, We're The Millers appears promising and I'm looking forward to catching more of Aniston on the big screen after a hilarious performance in Horrible Bosses (also alongside Sudeikis). 'Despicable Me': July 3 My slight obsession with the adorable, pint-sized yellow minions automatically puts Despicable Me 2 at the top of my "To-See list" and I cannot wait to catch the latest installment of the animated film series. Villain-turned-hero Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) returns to save the world with his three adopted daughters in tow. Miranda Cosgrove voices the youngest girl, Agnes, and she gives the minions a run for their money in the cuteness contest, while the two elder girls Margo and Edith each have their own quirky personalities. Animated movies are perfect for beating the summer heat, and if the overwhelming Facebook presence of Despicable Me is any indicator, the minions will take the summer by storm. 'This Is the End': June 12 Let's face it: anything with Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Jason Segel, Michael Cera, James Franco and Paul Rudd is bound to be hilariously epic. They are the Hollywood comedic dream team and their upcoming apocalyptic crisis movie This Is The End looks to be no exception. In the movie, the group of friends struggle to adapt after a global apocalypse leaves them struggling in Los Angeles. Adding to the excitement, sitcom super star Mindy Kaling will make an appearance, along with stand-up comedian Aziz Ansari, pop singer Rihanna and Emma Watson. Though the post-apocalyptic theme has already been heavily played out, the previous comedic genius of these actors surely indicates that This Is The End will be a great summer hit. 'After Earth': May 31 Remember that adorable little boy who joined Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness seven years ago? Jaden Smith once again joins his father, but this time in a very different movie. After the human race abandoned the planet and moved light years away, After Earth chronicles the perilous father-son journey across the dangerous terrain. In a struggle for survival, the pair rebuild a failing relationship-a classic action-meets-heartfelt theme. Ever since his first movie role, I've anticipated Jaden following in his father's footsteps and this movie is clearly a step in that direction. Will Smith, as seen in hits such as I Am Legend, perfectly puts out emotionally charged action movies and, therefore, After Earth should be a great start to the summer movie season.
(05/20/13 4:00am)
I've always been a five-year-plan kind of girl. In high school, I had my path to college all planned out by the end of my freshman year. I knew exactly which colleges I was going to apply to and what extracurricular activities I was going to do to get myself accepted into them. When I got to Brandeis, I felt less sure of what the end goal would be. Yet my sophomore year when I decided what my major would be, I still sat down with a friend of mine who was a Roosevelt Fellow and planned out the rest of my time at Brandeis, down to which classes I would take my second semester of senior year. By the end of my sophomore year, I already knew what my thesis topic was going to be and how, when, and where I was going to carry out the fieldwork for it. For all of my obsessive planning however, I never was able to figure out just what it was I wanted to do once I graduated from Brandeis. I also never thought that I would ever get to the day of my commencement without a job already secured, a place to live and a little cushion in my bank account. Yet, on Sunday I graduated from Brandeis without any plan at all. All I know is that I will pack up my room and go back to New York with my parents. I will spend the next four weeks relaxing and visiting friends before I head off to Israel for the summer. My return from Israel, however, is blank-a question mark. I am terrified. And also angry with myself for not having planned better, thought harder and worked more to secure something, anything for myself to do next year. I am worried about tight funds, especially because I do not know when I will be able to secure any employment again, even if just a job at a caf?(c). Most of all I am worried about having to move back in with my parents after a gap year and four years of college living totally independently of them. Despite all these worries, which do not cease to grow and multiply, when I laid down to sleep on Sunday night after officially joining the ranks of Brandeis alumni, I had a strangely uncharacteristic thought. It occurred to me that without any particular obligations for the coming year of where I have to be or when, I can literally do anything that I want. Normally when I make my five-year plan, I do so by placing myself in "the box." I choose paths that correspond to my strengths, and I never choose an end goal that I do not think I can achieve, or that I am not entirely sure about. Ultimately, all of my plans have fed into the notion I have that I should go to college, do exceptionally well, graduate and start my career, and later get married and start a family. As I am standing on the edge of the cliff that is the "real world," I am realizing that now is perhaps the best time I will ever have to throw all my plans to the wind and simply follow my whims. Perhaps by placing myself in "the box" all these years, I have sold myself short of the full range of my capabilities. This is not to say that I haven't done exceptionally well at Brandeis, because I have, and I am extremely proud of my accomplishments. I have, however, only made accomplishments in a very limited field. I have excelled in anthropology, but I have neglected to pursue other interests and to nourish my creative mind. I have always believed that I "can't" do art, music, dance or martial arts because I am simply not talented enough for these things. Yet in my time at Brandeis, I did not branch out beyond the obligatory distribution requirements to give myself the opportunity to even try these things. On Sunday night when it occurred to me that I can do anything I want, it also occurred to me that I am afraid of the coming year precisely because I have been placing myself in "the box" all this time. Since I don't have a fantastic job that will launch me into a steady and fulfilling career, I am suddenly sitting on the outside of this perfect little "box" with no real way to get back in, nor with any idea how I might get back in. It's unnerving to be locked out of this ideal, but it's also the greatest blessing I could possibly have. With no obligations for the coming year, I can literally choose any interest, any activity that occurs to me on a whim and do it, even if it means that I have to support myself doing a job I didn't need to go to college to do. It's time to break out of "the box" and explore everything else that I am capable of. *
(05/20/13 4:00am)
I've always been a five-year-plan kind of girl. In high school, I had my path to college all planned out by the end of my freshman year. I knew exactly which colleges I was going to apply to and what extracurricular activities I was going to do to get myself accepted into them. When I got to Brandeis, I felt less sure of what the end goal would be. Yet my sophomore year when I decided what my major would be, I still sat down with a friend of mine who was a Roosevelt Fellow and planned out the rest of my time at Brandeis, down to which classes I would take my second semester of senior year. By the end of my sophomore year, I already knew what my thesis topic was going to be and how, when, and where I was going to carry out the fieldwork for it. For all of my obsessive planning however, I never was able to figure out just what it was I wanted to do once I graduated from Brandeis. I also never thought that I would ever get to the day of my commencement without a job already secured, a place to live and a little cushion in my bank account. Yet, on Sunday I graduated from Brandeis without any plan at all. All I know is that I will pack up my room and go back to New York with my parents. I will spend the next four weeks relaxing and visiting friends before I head off to Israel for the summer. My return from Israel, however, is blank-a question mark. I am terrified. And also angry with myself for not having planned better, thought harder and worked more to secure something, anything for myself to do next year. I am worried about tight funds, especially because I do not know when I will be able to secure any employment again, even if just a job at a caf?(c). Most of all I am worried about having to move back in with my parents after a gap year and four years of college living totally independently of them. Despite all these worries, which do not cease to grow and multiply, when I laid down to sleep on Sunday night after officially joining the ranks of Brandeis alumni, I had a strangely uncharacteristic thought. It occurred to me that without any particular obligations for the coming year of where I have to be or when, I can literally do anything that I want. Normally when I make my five-year plan, I do so by placing myself in "the box." I choose paths that correspond to my strengths, and I never choose an end goal that I do not think I can achieve, or that I am not entirely sure about. Ultimately, all of my plans have fed into the notion I have that I should go to college, do exceptionally well, graduate and start my career, and later get married and start a family. As I am standing on the edge of the cliff that is the "real world," I am realizing that now is perhaps the best time I will ever have to throw all my plans to the wind and simply follow my whims. Perhaps by placing myself in "the box" all these years, I have sold myself short of the full range of my capabilities. This is not to say that I haven't done exceptionally well at Brandeis, because I have, and I am extremely proud of my accomplishments. I have, however, only made accomplishments in a very limited field. I have excelled in anthropology, but I have neglected to pursue other interests and to nourish my creative mind. I have always believed that I "can't" do art, music, dance or martial arts because I am simply not talented enough for these things. Yet in my time at Brandeis, I did not branch out beyond the obligatory distribution requirements to give myself the opportunity to even try these things. On Sunday night when it occurred to me that I can do anything I want, it also occurred to me that I am afraid of the coming year precisely because I have been placing myself in "the box" all this time. Since I don't have a fantastic job that will launch me into a steady and fulfilling career, I am suddenly sitting on the outside of this perfect little "box" with no real way to get back in, nor with any idea how I might get back in. It's unnerving to be locked out of this ideal, but it's also the greatest blessing I could possibly have. With no obligations for the coming year, I can literally choose any interest, any activity that occurs to me on a whim and do it, even if it means that I have to support myself doing a job I didn't need to go to college to do. It's time to break out of "the box" and explore everything else that I am capable of. *
(05/20/13 4:00am)
At a department lunch at the Faculty Club the other day, my professor leaned across the round table and asked me, over the muffled conversations of students and teachers, why I had chosen Brandeis. I answered him honestly. "Process of elimination," I said. He chortled while I told the story of my Early Decision I rejection from my first choice college, and my panic that no other school of equal caliber would accept me. I decided to apply Early Decision II to strengthen my chances, and the only schools on my list that offered the option of an EDII application were Brandeis and New York University. I chose Brandeis for its Boston location and its more traditional suburban campus. When I got my acceptance letter from Brandeis in early 2010, I cried tears of relief, happy I wouldn't have to repeat the process once more. It's funny to me that my Brandeis beginnings were characterized by such a pragmatic decision-making process. I like the irony of it. Maybe if I had dreamed of Brandeis my whole life, had been stunned by the beautiful campus architecture and the pristine weather and the vibrant social life, things would have turned out differently. Instead, I was disappointed by these things. The prison-like design of Scheffres Hall felt like a bad omen hovering over the start of my college life. Maybe, if I had had lofty expectations instead of none at all, I wouldn't have been so struck by the true gems of Brandeis. To me, they are twofold: the kindness, passion and eccentricity of Brandeis students, and the absolutely brilliant professors we have the privilege to learn from every day. I have to be honest. It took me a long time to understand this about Brandeis. There may have been a few too many Friday nights when rallying friends to leave the library and go to a party with me was like pulling teeth. But it was worth it, just to spend time with people like these. I'd never met anyone in my hometown who played women's rugby and gladly stood on stage in a performance of The Vagina Monologues, shouting passionately about reclaiming the word "cunt." I'd never met so many kids my age who would graduate with every genuine intention of making it big with their bands. I didn't know people really followed their dreams anymore. I'd never met a young man who gave up a pre-med track after a sophomore year existential crisis, only to throw himself into his dream of being a stand-up comedian. On to the second treasure of Brandeis. I wasn't sure about my standing with some of the professors I'd had here until I reunited with one of them on the Saturday of graduation weekend. For a bit of context, I started dyeing my naturally brown hair blond about two years ago. Many times, I've waved hello to a former professor in the hallway, only to receive a blank stare and formulaic smile in return. Not their faults-I really look completely different than I did my first year, or in my column picture above. So, I was a bit stunned when I received a hug on Saturday from a Near Eastern Judaic Studies professor I hadn't seen since I took her class in the spring of my first year. She told me how much she loved the graduation procession and seeing the accomplishments of her students after four years of hard work. At the ceremonies on Sunday, I saw her beaming throughout every speech and diploma acceptance. She truly loves her students, as do all of the teachers I've been lucky to have at Brandeis. The caliber of the professors here is truly unbelievable. One of the harshest this-isn't-happening moments I felt this week was the realization that I won't be constantly surrounded by brilliant people again for a long time. People talk about the intellectual atmosphere here at Brandeis. I literally envision professors like specters drifting around us at Rabb Steps, walking and working and projecting wisdom at every corner. I'll always be grateful for the opportunities I've had here at Brandeis, one of which is most definitely this column. It's been a pleasure to work with the Justice editors, who've consistently published my rants and digressions for more than three years. If I were to give any piece of advice to new Brandeisians, or to even rising seniors, it would tie together all the things I've just mentioned. Take advantage of everything here, be it free food or an open office hour with an interesting professor or a sunny day at the reservoir. Seek out friends who inspire and push you like mine do. Get involved in something on campus that truly interests you-or, something off campus, thousands of miles away, for a semester or two. And remember that there are so, so many people here who love you and wish you well, who will be beaming at you on your graduation day (it's coming a lot faster than you think, beware!). That's not something every college can boast about. But you'll just have to trust my great wisdom and experience on that, and take my word for it. These are the things I've been thinking about through graduation weekend. The things we've done here at Brandeis, and who we are now that we've done them. If I ever write a novel some day, I'll have Brandeisians to thank as my inspiration. Thank you for making me less afraid of who I am. Thank you for letting me be brave, for letting me admit to myself what I really want out of life. Congratulations to the class of 2013! Good luck! I love you guys. *
(05/20/13 4:00am)
I've always been a five-year-plan kind of girl. In high school, I had my path to college all planned out by the end of my freshman year. I knew exactly which colleges I was going to apply to and what extracurricular activities I was going to do to get myself accepted into them. When I got to Brandeis, I felt less sure of what the end goal would be. Yet my sophomore year when I decided what my major would be, I still sat down with a friend of mine who was a Roosevelt Fellow and planned out the rest of my time at Brandeis, down to which classes I would take my second semester of senior year. By the end of my sophomore year, I already knew what my thesis topic was going to be and how, when, and where I was going to carry out the fieldwork for it. For all of my obsessive planning however, I never was able to figure out just what it was I wanted to do once I graduated from Brandeis. I also never thought that I would ever get to the day of my commencement without a job already secured, a place to live and a little cushion in my bank account. Yet, on Sunday I graduated from Brandeis without any plan at all. All I know is that I will pack up my room and go back to New York with my parents. I will spend the next four weeks relaxing and visiting friends before I head off to Israel for the summer. My return from Israel, however, is blank-a question mark. I am terrified. And also angry with myself for not having planned better, thought harder and worked more to secure something, anything for myself to do next year. I am worried about tight funds, especially because I do not know when I will be able to secure any employment again, even if just a job at a caf?(c). Most of all I am worried about having to move back in with my parents after a gap year and four years of college living totally independently of them. Despite all these worries, which do not cease to grow and multiply, when I laid down to sleep on Sunday night after officially joining the ranks of Brandeis alumni, I had a strangely uncharacteristic thought. It occurred to me that without any particular obligations for the coming year of where I have to be or when, I can literally do anything that I want. Normally when I make my five-year plan, I do so by placing myself in "the box." I choose paths that correspond to my strengths, and I never choose an end goal that I do not think I can achieve, or that I am not entirely sure about. Ultimately, all of my plans have fed into the notion I have that I should go to college, do exceptionally well, graduate and start my career, and later get married and start a family. As I am standing on the edge of the cliff that is the "real world," I am realizing that now is perhaps the best time I will ever have to throw all my plans to the wind and simply follow my whims. Perhaps by placing myself in "the box" all these years, I have sold myself short of the full range of my capabilities. This is not to say that I haven't done exceptionally well at Brandeis, because I have, and I am extremely proud of my accomplishments. I have, however, only made accomplishments in a very limited field. I have excelled in anthropology, but I have neglected to pursue other interests and to nourish my creative mind. I have always believed that I "can't" do art, music, dance or martial arts because I am simply not talented enough for these things. Yet in my time at Brandeis, I did not branch out beyond the obligatory distribution requirements to give myself the opportunity to even try these things. On Sunday night when it occurred to me that I can do anything I want, it also occurred to me that I am afraid of the coming year precisely because I have been placing myself in "the box" all this time. Since I don't have a fantastic job that will launch me into a steady and fulfilling career, I am suddenly sitting on the outside of this perfect little "box" with no real way to get back in, nor with any idea how I might get back in. It's unnerving to be locked out of this ideal, but it's also the greatest blessing I could possibly have. With no obligations for the coming year, I can literally choose any interest, any activity that occurs to me on a whim and do it, even if it means that I have to support myself doing a job I didn't need to go to college to do. It's time to break out of "the box" and explore everything else that I am capable of. *
(05/20/13 4:00am)
As of Saturday, almost 60 faculty members had signed a letter intended to be mailed to the University's Pension Committee, advocating for more options in socially responsible investments for retirement funds. The signers argued for a minimum of one socially responsible mutual fund option and one socially responsible bond option. Other options, besides the currently offered College Retirement Equities Fund, should be offered to Brandeis employees, they said. "Many of us at Brandeis are committed to socially responsible investing (SRI)," the letter read, "which we see as in line with Brandeis's teaching, research, and public programming on human rights, climate change, women's rights, promotion of peace, and so forth." As mentioned in the letter, the CREF fund screens broadly, but imperfectly. Another fund, the Neuberger Berman Socially Responsive Fund, does not screen for issues such as clean technology, pollution and toxins, community development, board issues and executive pay, according to The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. It also does not screen for human rights or community investment, according to SocialFunds.com. In an email interview with the Justice, Prof. Bernadette Brooten (NEJS) wrote that she and other faculty members were working to resolve the issue internally. "I am confident we will find a solution that accords with Brandeis' commitment to social justice," wrote Brooten. Brooten and others spoke about the issue at the April 11 faculty meeting, during which Chief Operations Officer Steven Manos fielded questions and concerns about changes in retirement fund options. "I would like to ask that we have an additional fund be added that is more stringent on screens," Brooten said at the meeting. "We have 40 options. I think that at least two of them should be socially responsible." As Manos and University President Frederick Lawrence explained, the investment options had been reduced to 40, down from 190, due to legal changes that obligated such a restriction. "None of this involves any change in contributions that are being made to retirement plans," said Lawrence. "This is not about reallocation of costs away from retirement plans. ... The entire effort ... was to focus and restrict to a certain extent our options so our fiduciary obligations can be fulfilled in an appropriate way." However, Lawrence admitted, communication with employees about the issue has been lacking. "It is clear to me that the best efforts of communicating this aside, that we did not do a great job of getting information out in a way that was useful to everybody in the community," he said. "We will continue to try to do better." *
