The Brandeis Hoot 03/11/2016

Volume 13 Issue 7

“To acquire wisdom, one must observe.” www.brandeishoot.com

Brandeis University’s Community Newspaper • Waltham, Mass.

March 11, 2016

Herbstritt ’17 and Nuñez ’18 run for Student Union president

By Hannah Schuster and Jacob Edelman editors

Student Union elections for the 2016-17 school year will be Thursday, March 17. Students will elect the president, vice president, secretary and treasurer of the Union, as well as representatives to the Board of Trustees, Undergraduate Curriculum Committee and the Brandeis Sustainability Fund.

Student Union Vice President David Herbstritt ’17 and Ford Hall activist Christian Nuñez ’19 are running for Student Union President.

The role of president requires around 20 hours of work per week, and other activities may have to take a back seat, said Macklin at the candidates meeting. The president’s responsibilities include organizing the way the Union runs, maintaining contact with the administration, advocating for stu-

dent needs and spurring the development of change on campus.

Herbstritt has served on the Union as Castle Quad Senator and Chair of the Club Support Committee last year. This year, he was Class of 2017 Senator and Executive Senator until he took over as Vice President this semester.

This year, in response to student frustrations, Herbstritt has worked to reform the Allocations Board by increasing the size of the board and simplifying the Marathon (funding request) process by decreasing the number of different request periods.

Herbstritt has also worked on the initiative to require all club leaders to participate in bystander intervention training.

With a new university president taking over in July, Herbstritt said in a Facebook post that it is important for the Union present to develop a “strong cooperative relationship with a new administraSee CANDIDATES, page 3

kerry washington “Scandal” actress

Washington and Professor Anita Hill talk about upcoming HBO film “Confirmation.” See NEWS page 3.

photo courtesy rachel goldstien

WSRC researcher writes book on Brandeis and Waltham partner to address motherhood and human rights police flasher incidents

By Samantha Lauring staff

Marguerite Guzman Bouvard, a researcher of the Scholar’s Program at the Women’s Studies Research Center, spoke at her event, “Memoir of a Rebel: A Woman Before the Women’s Movement,” in the Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall this past Tuesday.

The mission of the Scholar’s Program at the Women’s Studies Research Center is “to be an innovative and mutually supportive community of scholars engaged

in research and artistic activity,” according to the Brandeis University website. These scholars research topics in the humanities, arts, sciences and social sciences in relation to women’s lives and gender.

Bouvard began her lecture discussing her childhood and her rebellion against the Catholic Church. She began by talking about the instance when one of the nuns at her church asked Bouvard her name. At the young age of five, Bouvard replied, “Gita,” a nickname for her full name, Marguerite. The nun told Marguerite

that “Gita” is not a Catholic name and therefore could not use the nickname. Bouvard stated that she did not care and was going to continue using the nickname, despite the nun’s comments.

When she was attending Catholic school, the girls were told to have their hair braided. However, Bouvard stated that she was not going to braid it and instead curled her hair because she wanted to. Bouvard indicated that it was events like these that made her a strong, independent woman See MEMIOR, page 2

photo by nathan taber/the hoot

Inside this issue:

News: Econ alums give advice to students Opinion: Brandeis should build a new castle Arts: Students celebrate Russian Culture Week Features: Prof. Mirsky teaches Israeli history Editorial: Consider SU candidates and vote

Brandeis Players Page 3 Theater group puts on dark Page 7 comedy ‘Dog Sees God’ Page 13 ARTS: Page 16 Page 10 Page 12

By Jess Linde editor

Members of both the Brandeis University and Waltham police departments are working together in close proximity to address the recent series of incidents on South Street, Brandeis Head of Public Safety Ed Callahan confirmed in an email to The Brandeis Hoot this Thursday. “It is our protocol for Brandeis and Waltham police to work very closely together, and we are doing so now on this troubling series of off-campus incidents,” wrote Callahan. He also added that the departments have initiated “several proactive law enforcement measures,” but stated these would “not be prudent to discuss.”

Callahan was able to inform The Hoot of several technical measures being taken. “[Brandeis Police] are also adding lighting on the exterior of the power plant and East Quad parking lot areas,” he said. “We are installing a new emergency blue light phone near the power plant.” The date of this installation has not been confirmed as of press time.

There have been six reported incidents apparently targeting

Safety

Pedestrian safety on campus should be paramount.

OPINIONS: Page 5

Brandeis students since November of 2015, with five reports of indecent exposure and one report of attempted robbery and assault.

The most recent incident, one of indecent exposure, was reported to Public Safety on March 1 of this year. As The Hoot has recently reported, the exposures and attempted assault have made students, particularly female students, feel uncomfortable and unsafe even slightly off campus.

In an email sent to the Brandeis community on Feb. 24, Callahan wrote that the exposure occurred while the student was walking away from Brandeis’ campus towards Highland Street when they were accosted. The attempted robbery and assault was reported soon after it happened near campus on February 19, when the victim was grabbed from behind by an unknown party wearing a ski mask.

This description differs from Waltham Police’s description of the suspect involved with the indecent exposure incidents: a recent Waltham Police Department report listed the suspect as being around five feet, eight inches in height, with a stocky build, See FLASHER, page 3

2 The Brandeis Hoot

Bouvard articulates women’s rights struggle MEMOIR, from page 1

before the women’s movement.

Bouvard completed graduate school at Harvard University, where she faced difficulties because of her gender. Bouvard attended Harvard when female students were treated with much disrespect compared to their male counterparts. Bouvard discussed one instance when one of her male professors offered her wine and then sexually harassed her. Bouvard stated that although her thesis was published, many of her female classmates had trouble getting their theses published.

For the duration of the lecture, Bouvard read excerpts from her book, “Revolutionizing Motherhood: The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo,” which focused on her time with the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo in Argentina. The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo is an organization of mothers whose children “disappeared” during and after the coup d’état of the Argentinian government in 1976. After the coup, the junta, a military group, ruled Argentina and many “dis-

appearances” began occurring.

The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo were rebelling against the junta because their sons and other citizens were “disappearing” and being tortured.

During her time in Argentina, Bouvard spent time with the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo and witnessed several of the Mothers’ sons being taken from their homes. In her book, Bouvard states that, “the ultimate victim of the policy of disappearance was the family, whose stability, structure and privacy were deeply affected.” Bouvard stated that although these mothers were heart-broken over the losses of their sons, they kept protesting, rebelling and taking action against the junta, even if it endangered their own lives.

Bouvard has published 12 non-fiction books about women and human rights as well as eight books of poetry, two of which have received awards. Bouvard is currently researching and interviewing people for a book she is working on called “Moral Heroes and Heroines.”

photo by nathan taber/the hoot

NEWS

March 11, 2016

DCL committee reviews party policies, adds new position

By Ryan Spencer staff

A new party policy requires that registered parties have someone to fill the new role of Alcohol Beverage Server (ABS) in addition to the previously required role of Primary Host, or the “sober host.”

The sober host must live in the space where the party is being held, while the ABS must only be of legal drinking age. Both of these students must meet with a member of the Department of Community Living before their registered party.

The ABS has similar responsibilities to the Primary Host.

“The ABS is not responsible for pouring or measuring drinks, but should the ABS see that someone is having their third or fourth drink in an hour, it is the hope the ABS would intervene,” said Dayshawn J. Simmons, area coordinator for Charles River and the Foster Mods in an email to The Brandeis Hoot.

Simmons expressed hope that in the event of a medical emergency “the primary host and/or Alcohol Beverage Server (ABS) will contact emergency services for assistance.” Simmons added “we also hope that between the primary host and ABS, underage students are not consuming alcohol at registered events.”

The new policy seems unreasonable to a senior, who requested to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the issue. The senior, who served as the ABS at a party

she hosted last weekend, had to call Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps (BEMCo) for a guest.

The student was nervous about “harsh consequences” due to her role as ABS, but said she was “never reluctant” to call BEMCo to help the student because she “knew it needed to be done.” The student added, though, that in her role as ABS she felt she was expected “to monitor everyone to an unrealistic expectation.”

According to the email with Simmons, no decline in party registration has occurred and “the level of responsibility for those responsible for hosting a registered event have not changed” since the implementation of the ABS policy.

Following a medical emergency involving the consumption of alcohol by an underage student, “the host and ABS would be required to meet with someone from DCL” but “would not face legal consequences nor be disciplined under the university’s Rights and Responsibilities,” explained Dr. Timothy Touchette, director of the Department of Community Living, in an email to The Hoot. Touchette added that “If the same host or ABS continue to show up regarding registered events where underage students need medical attention, their event registration privileges may be revoked or suspended.”

Touchette maintains that this “is the policy that has been in place, and continues to be in place.”

The event registration process was reviewed in September due

to “various issues stemming from unregistered events on campus and concerns about student safety at these events,” according to Simmons. DCL formed a student committee which created the ABS policy.

This committee was comprised of students from the Foster Mods, an area of particular concern. The student committee implemented the new ABS policy “to oversee alcohol at registered events to more evenly spread out hosting responsibilities with the primary host.”

At the beginning of this academic year, the last weekend in August, there were nine alcohol related transports to Newton Wellesley hospital, which led the university to suspend registered parties at the Mods for two weeks, according an email from Andrew Flagel, vice president for students and enrollment.

In November, members of the freshman hall councils began discussions regarding alcohol awareness programs for freshmen. Students in the North Quad Council discussed distributing cards that correlate factors such as body weight and gender with a number of drinks to help students determine how impaired they are, as well as host an event informing students about what happens when the BEMCo is called and what happens when a student has to be transported to the hospital.

Student Union elections to be held on March 17 tion.” It is necessary to work with administrators to promote initiatives, said Herbstritt. “The unfortunate reality is that the deck is stacked against us—we simply don’t have the financial resources or level of professional authority that the university administration does,” he wrote. “Experience and institutional knowledge, along with diplomacy, flexibility and negotiating skill are absolutely essential in order to get the most out of our relationship with the administration.”

As Vice President and Executive Senator, Herbstritt has worked with Assistant Dean of Students Stephanie Grimes on club funding issues and promises to take a “hard line” with administrators

administration building to protest for racial justice at Brandeis. The sit-in culminated in a Diversity Action Plan to increase diversity among students and faculty, hire new counselors at the Psychological Counseling Center and appoint a Vice President for Diversity, among other points.

“Brandeis has entered a time of change and deliberation between the students and the administration. This is a result of many Brandeis students coming together in order to target institutional racial bias and discrimination on the campus,” said Nuñez in a statement to The Brandeis Hoot.

“From chanting the name of justice to actually sitting down with those who make the decisions on behalf of the university; I along with many others have risen and

when necessary but remain open to “beneficial compromise.”

Nuñez was involved with the Ford Hall movement last semester, participating in the 13-day occupation of the Bernstein-Marcus

have proven to many that although we are young our narratives are not.”

Nuñez has remained involved with Ford Hall activism, including the fundraising recyclable

CANDIDATES, from page 1

drive for the water sanitation crisis in Flint, MI and protesting the dean of Harvard Law School who received the Gittler Prize for her work on racial justice while her students are holding a sit-in to demand change at Harvard Law. Nuñez has not served on the Union before, but he responded to questions posted in the Facebook event page for his campaign addressing the issue.

“Ever since high school all I have ever wanted to do is help those like me,” wrote Nuñez, citing his experience with Ford Hall, the Brandeis Asian American Task Force that has fought for the creation of an Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies minor and organizing events for International Day of the Girl Child.

“I have stood side by side with President Nyah Macklin while chanting the word ‘Justice.’ No I have not held the official label of ‘leader’ but actions speak more than any office position and no one can deny the action they have seen and have heard,” wrote Nuñez.

Student Union President Nyah Macklin ’16, who was also involved with the Ford Hall movement as a student negotiator, ran unopposed in last year’s presidential election. Out of about 3,600 undergraduate students, 890 cast votes in the presidential race last year, with 619 (70 percent) going to Macklin and the remaining 271 going to “other” or “abstain,” according to election results.

Class of 2018 Senator Paul Sindberg ’18 is running unopposed for

Vice President. Sindberg is the chair of the Services and Outreach Committee and took over as Executive Senator this semester when Herbstritt became vice president. He oversaw the Turkey Shuttles over Thanksgiving break, “which transported 250+ students over 1,000 collective miles for a net cost of less than $200,” said Sindberg in a statement to The Hoot. Also as chair of the outreach committee, he organized the Midnight Buffet for more than $1,000 less than the semester before and used the buffet to fundraise for the Charles River Watershed Association by selling “shoutouts” students could have shared at the event.

“I’ve realized that the Executive Board of our Union is a space with the power to create tangible change for marginalized members of our student body,” Sindberg wrote. “I believe that our current Union’s legacy of bridging gaps and raising voices is a legacy that must be continued and even pushed further.”

The vice presidency is an organizational role that involves coordinating the activity of the Senate, working on special projects and making sure that the Union follows its rules, said Herbstritt at the candidates meeting.

Gabriela Gonzalez Anavisca ’19 and Isaac Altman ’19 are running for Union Secretary. The secretary’s job includes crafting a weekly email to the student body, managing card access to the Romper Room for club leaders and administering the Union office, said Secretary Shuying Lui

’16. Altman promised to make the weekly emails “funny and interesting.” Both candidates noted that the secretary is a link between the Union and student body.

Anavisca is the Myra Kraft Transitional Year (MKTYP) Senator this year and wants to continue to help make student voices heard as secretary. As a senator, she learned to communicate with others and find ways to address students’ concerns, she said in a statement to The Hoot.

Ziyang Chen ’18 is running unopposed for Treasurer. At the candidates meeting, Treasurer Nicole Lechner ’16 spoke about the intricacies involved with her position at the candidates meeting, including teaching clubs how to fill out forms, online ordering and working with the Allocations Board.

Wil Jones ’18 is running unopposed for Junior Representative to the Board of Trustees. He has served as Rosie Senator and Chief of Staff to Macklin. The board representatives attend trustee meetings and submit proposals such as the report on financial aid concerns this year’s representatives Grady Ward ’16 and Emily Conrad ’17 presented to the board last semester.

Cassie Cain ’18 is running to be a representative to the Brandeis Sustainability Fund, which gives students money for sustainability projects on campus. Cain became the Class of 2018 senator this semester, running on a platform focused on sustainability.

The list of candidates is not finalized, as some students may still be submitting their candidacy.

March 11, 2016

The Brandeis Hoot

NEWS 3

Kerry Washington and Anita Hill discuss film and feminism

By Abigail Gardener editor

Actress Kerry Washington came to Brandeis on Sunday, March 6 to have a conversation with Prof. Anita Hill (AAAS/ LGLS/HS/WMGS) about her role in the upcoming HBO movie “Confirmation.”

Washington both produced the movie and portrayed Hill herself.

The film chronicles Hill’s struggles after she came forward in 1991 to testify that Supreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her.

Held in the Wasserman Cinematheque, the event was sponsored by the Film, Television and Interactive Media Program and was organized by Alice Kelikian of the history department and chair of the Program in Film, Television and Interactive Media.

According to attendee Rachel Goldstein ’18, the crowd of about 120 students was mostly film students and those taking Kelikian or Hill’s classes, as well as faculty and alumni.

Goldstein said that at first the purpose of the conversation was for film students to see the process behind making the film and how Washington got into character.

“There are a lot of acting and film students who would love to know about how … someone gets

into character, and how someone develops that,” she said. “I think it’s also for students who are more into politics and the social justice side of things, but are also interested in this process and how it would do justice to [Hill’s] real story.”

Indeed, much of the conversation revolved around the social issues of the day, including gender equality, sexual assault and harassment and race.

Hill talked about how Hollywood can truly shape the public’s conversations, and how important it is to continue talking about these issues.

“The art that we are seeing portrayed—and that’s why this movement in Hollywood is so important—it can shape our conversations in different ways. Wherever you are, whether you’re still on the college campus or whether you’re interested in doing litigation, whether you’re … an artist or not, everybody has a role and can address many important social issues of the day,” she said.

“For me, mine was harassment, and now sexual assault and gender equality as well as racial equality. The movements are about inclusion. Art is so much about representation. Everybody has a critical role, and we can all play it.”

Washington commented on how inspired she is by Hill, and that she wanted Hill’s story to be-

come more well-known through film. However, Washington did also express that she does not cherry-pick her roles solely to send a message.

“I do know that my responsibility as an artist is to find the humanity in the characters I play, and I know that I live in a world where my humanity as a woman is something that people want to ignore, and my humanity as a person of color is something that people want to ignore,” she said.

“I’m aware that by choosing the roles and choosing the stories that I choose, the very act of being a fully committed artist is an activist act. It is every time a woman tells a story about a three-dimensional character, every time a person of color tells a story about a three-dimensional character … these are the people we want to ignore in culture, so when you force people to pay attention to somebody that the world is trying to disenfranchise, it’s an activist act, so I’m grateful that just doing what I love to do has an impact in that way.”

Hill ended the conversation with a strong message of empowerment, saying, “I just encourage you to take wherever you are, and whatever you’re doing, and realize that you have an important role to play in moving these issues far beyond where we are today, and maybe even far beyond what we have imagined.”

College Notebook: BPS students stage walkout

By Abigail Gardener editor

Hundreds of students in the Boston Public School system (BPS) walked out of their classes at 11:30 am on Monday in a student-organized protest of proposed district-wide budget cuts.

The Boston Public School system is facing an up to $50 million deficit this fiscal year. According to a boston.com article, this is due to rising expenses and a decline in federal and state aid. As a result, BPS is looking to make cutbacks across the school system.

For many students, this would mean facing the the possibility of losing extracurricular activities, gym classes, librarians, language classes and music and arts classes next year. Teachers could lose their jobs as well.

Jailyn Lopez, a sophomore at Snowden International High School, helped organize the walkout. A letter she posted on Twitter addressed to “all BPS students” informed students of the walkout and encouraged them to stand up and leave whatever class they are in at the appointed time, even if teachers tried to stop them.

The letter stated that students should care about and join the walkout because “The education you are going to be provided with would be an education which would make it difficult and maybe even impossible, to get into the college of your dreams.” The letter ended with the statement “Let’s stand up for our future, if we don’t then no one will,” with the hashtag #bpswalkout.

After leaving school, students walked through downtown Boston toward Boston Common, eventually making their way toward the State House to ral-

ly against the budget cuts. City Councilor Tito Jackson supported the students and walked with them.

He said to boston.com, “I’m so encouraged by the massive turnout and voices of our young people…They should demand that they have enough teachers who will encourage them to stay in their classrooms. They shouldn’t lose their JV programs, which keep some kids involved and are a lifeline for them. And they shouldn’t lose funding to charter schools.”

Many students are also upset because as part of closing the deficit, school officials are proposing $12 million in cuts to the district’s per-pupil funding formula. This formula works by allocating a set amount of money to schools based on each student that they serve, but the amount varies depending on the type of student, according to a Learning Lab article.

For example, high school students receive one amount and younger students get another.

Schools also receive additional money for students living in poverty or students with disabilities.

However, this year the district changed this system to help balance the projected $50 million

deficit. According to the Learning Lab article, “The new calculations give less weight—and therefore less money—to some groups, including high school students, students with autism and students with emotional impairments.”

Mayor Marty Walsh said in the Learning Lab article that the city will continue to work to try and close the budget deficit. The committee has yet to vote on the final budget, so the $50 million deficit is not definite, but according to boston.com, “The mayor’s office has said that the deficit will be lower when the school committee votes on the final budget on March 23.”

Still, a slight lowering of the deficit would not make much of a difference to the students, who will work to ensure that they are able to continue “learning at full capacity,” as it said in the letter posted on Twitter.

Brandeis Students of Color Demands 2015 (Ford Hall) drew attention to the BPS Walkout when they posted about it on Monday in their Facebook group.

Nathan Metz-Lerman, a junior at Boston Latin Academy, said in the boston.com article, “We have to continue fighting. We’re not just going to let our education be destroyed.”

photo from universalhub.com

photo courtesy rachel goldstein

photo from hollywoodreporter.com

Safety lighting added near power plant FLASHER, from page 1

wearing dark pants and a white hoodie. The suspect has also been described as both “possibly Hispanic,” as well as light skinned and of Hispanic descent.

According to Callahan, the attacker ran away from the scene after the student began shouting. In his February 24 email, Callahan reminded community members of the availability of escort by Public Safety officers, and cautioned students to “please be

south street

mindful of your surroundings,” especially while walking alone and/or at night. Callahan wrote at the time that “students and staff are encouraged to travel in groups when possible,” and encouraged people not to wear headphones or other objects that might distract one from their surroundings. Students are encouraged to report all indecent or suspicious activity to Brandeis Police through the Department of Public Safety.

photo by karen caldwell/the hoot

4 NEWS

The Brandeis Hoot

March 11, 2016

Econ. alums give post-grad advice

By Elianna Spitzer editor

The economics department sponsored an event called “Life After Brandeis” on Wednesday, March 9. The event was held at the International Business School (IBS) and was led by Professor Mike Coiner and Professor George Hall. The panel featured alumni who spoke about the usefulness of their economics degrees after graduating Brandeis.

After a brief overview of their career paths, students were encouraged to ask questions.

The panel consisted of relatively recent graduates: Elizabeth Sefren ’10, Eric Haavind-Berman ’15, Spencer Ackerman ’09, Anna Kaufman ’10 and Sam Stemper ’13. The discussion topics ranged from senior thesis experiences to interview advice. The panel shared their stories about finding economics-based job opportunities after what they termed ‘The Great Recession.’ “We should feel lucky that we are in a period of growth and that employers are excited to grow and hire more people,” said Ackerman.

In responding to student questions, the panelists focused on several key areas of advice. They began by emphasizing the importance of diversifying classes.

According to panelists, employers aren’t only looking at applicable classes. They take a breadth of courses into account. Kaufman is a program manager for customer experience at Sun Life Financial.

“Taking classes outside of your

major is just as important as taking classes inside your major. You might discover something that you truly love,” said Kaufman.

Fellow panelists agreed, stating that college was the time to expand one’s understanding of various topics.

Economics majors often have trouble deciding between graduate school or going straight into the job market. Panelist advice on this issue leaned towards the idea of having work experience prior to attending graduate school.

Sefren is in her fourth year of a Labor and Public Economics PhD program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She spoke about spending four to five years trying to convince herself not to go to graduate school.

For Sefren, this indecision proved beneficial. “For anyone who is on the fence about going to grad school, I would recommend… working in an environment with people who have the job you think you want after grad school.” In the past when her program has felt difficult or too expensive, Sefren has looked back to her experience in that working environment to remind herself that graduate school is worth it.

Ackerman chose not to go to graduate school and now works as an actuary at Delaware Life Insurance. “For me it was important to try out the private sector and see what that is like. I think I’ve really benefitted from that,” said Ackerman.

If a student decides to enter the

photo courtesy leslie yanich

working world after graduation, the panelists stressed the importance of networking and using all available resources. “If you’re thinking about applying, go on LinkedIn and find people in your network that are working there.

They’ll be really excited to talk to you about what they do,” said Ackerman. He added that he enjoys sharing his work experiences with job seekers that reach out to him.

Kaufman advised students to be prepared for rejection. According to Kaufman, the best way to counteract rejection is to limit it by taking advantage of all available options. “Apply everywhere early and often. If you apply to fifty jobs, you’re not going to get fifty interviews. Definitely use B.Hired and the resources that Hiatt has,”

BRIEF: Univ. establishes ombuds office to help students address conflicts The university announced the creation of an ombuds services yesterday, in accordance with the diversity action plan produced during the Ford Hall movement last semester. An ombuds office provides students with a place to confidentially discuss issues at Brandeis.

Officers will work with undergraduate and graduate students to discuss the situation and the conflict resolution options available to them.

Three employees will serve as in the office this semester, until Brandeis hires a Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion. A permanent ombuds office will operate through this person’s office, according to the Draft Implementation Plan for Diversity and Inclusion. “[A]n ombudsperson functions as a conflict-resolution resource who is independent, confidential, informal and neutral,” according to an email from the three employees who make up Brandeis’

new ombuds office. The office functions separate from university processes. Speaking with an ombudsperson does not translate to reporting a complaint to the university. There is a code of ethics for ombudsman which includes these points and is outlined on the Brandeis Ombuds website.

The ombuds employees will “provide feedback to university officials on trends in an effort to promote an inclusive community where students from all backgrounds and life experiences are heard and valued in our community,” according to their new website.

Erika Smith, Elana Lewis and Brian Koslowski were trained through the International Ombudsman Association, according to their email. They are available in Heller 267 Monday-Thursday and Rabb 236 on Fridays (though the Friday location may vary), according to the Ombuds website.

Office hours for each are available on this site.

Smith has served in many positions during her 15 years at Brandeis, including Director of the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program, a position she has held since 2004.

Lewis is also the assistant director of the Student Support Services Program and has taught a program on Civil Rights and Educational Equity as part of the Justice Brandeis Semester program.

Koslowski is the associate director of academic advising at Academic Services and coordinates the Brandeis Undergraduate Study Group, or BUGS, which employs student tutors for classes including many language and intro-level courses.

There will be an information session where the three employees will discuss and answer questions about the service on Tuesday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m. in Gerstenzang 122.

-Hannah Schuster

BRIEF: Brandeis warns students of mumps outbreak at Boston area colleges

Brandeis students received a cautionary email regarding several cases of mumps reported in the Boston area. There have been 12 cases reported in Massachusetts this year, according to a Boston Globe article, including nine at Harvard University, two at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and one nearby in Waltham at Bentley University.

There have been no cases reported at Brandeis, said Michael LaFarr, executive director of

health and wellness in an email to the Brandeis community.

“All students entering Brandeis are required to show proof of two MMR (Measles, MUMPS, Rubella) vaccines or blood immunity to the diseases upon entry to the university,” said LaFarr in his email. However, it is possible to contract the disease even if one has been vaccinated.

Anyone who contracts mumps must remain separated from others, as the disease in contagious,

according to LaFarr. The student at Bentley has recovered from the disease, according to The Globe, with no additional cases reported since this case in February.

Mumps causes inflammation of salivary glands and, as a result, swelling in the cheeks and jaw.

“Fever, headache, stiff neck and loss of appetite” are additional symptoms, said LaFarr.

- Hannah Schuster

said Kaufman.

Networking may benefit job seekers in the way of referrals.

“Referrals are the best shot you have. It doesn’t need to be a great connection, just find connections,” said Elizabeth.

The panelists gave tips to future interviewees who may feel unsure about how to handle a professional interview. “Know how to articulate your experiences. Know how to talk about your classes, your extra-curriculars, your leadership skills, in a way that fits the job you are applying for,” said Kaufman. Stemper, an analyst at Cornerstone Research, agreed with the importance of articulation. He feels that, “Experience that you can speak to coherently and narratively is really helpful in an interview. Think about them

ahead of time.”

Haavind Berman is a research assistant at the Boston Fed. He spoke about what he looks for in an interview. “I’ve been interviewing for the Fed. One of the that things we value is saying I don’t know the answer to that problem… but the way I would go about it is ‘x’,” said Haavind-Berman. For him, trying to work through a problem in a creative way is an important trait to demonstrate in an interview.

The panel reflected on their educational experience at Brandeis as beneficial. The diversity of their education as well as the specificity of their courses has helped them feel comfortable in the positions they now hold. “I feel like at Brandeis I’ve learned how to learn,” said Kaufman.

In The Senate: Mar. 6

-The UNICEF club came before the Senate for recognition

-The club intends on raising awareness among the student body of the UNICEF organization, and work for UNICEF-related causes.

-Village Senator Abhishek Kulkarni ’18 inquired how the club was different from other charitable groups on campus, such as Nourish international

-Class of 2019 Senator Nathan Greess ’19 argued that there was a duality of purpose in the UNICEF club and other charitable clubs on campus, and raised a concern that recognizing this club would cause membership issues, and might not be allowed because of that fact.

-Senator-at-Large Lorenzo Finamore ’18 commented that UNICEF is different from other clubs because, “they’re associated with the UN. They’re a specific organization which having on campus would make a difference.” Charles River Quad Senator

-Valarie Timms ’16 remarked, “It’s wrong to say that the groups would be fighting over members, it’s not a valid consideration.”

-The Brandeis UNICEF club was recognized.

-Student Union Secretary Shuying Liu ’16 reminded senators that there would be a mandatory elections meeting.

-Vice President David Herbstritt ’17 gave his executive officer report.

-He discussed the proposed marathon changes.

-Class of 2017 Senator Matt Smetana ’17 commented, “As a club leader I was very opposed to it at first and I could see issues with it,” continuing, “but this amendment would strengthen the overall process of marathon, and it’s something that’s necessary to be done eventually. Now’s the time to implement it and let people know with lots of advance notice.”

-He reported that an email would get sent to the student body regarding the Department of Community Living’s housing survey results.

-After a short discussion, a proposed bylaw change to reform the club marathon process was passed unanimously.

-The Campus Operations Committee reported that East Quad would be getting a new roof this summer, and that Pomerantz would be getting new windows.

-Greess floated the idea of holding a Student Union led information campaign to spread awareness of “underused or under-accessed” university resources, such as the Peer Counseling Center, the Rape Crisis Center, and others.

- Jacob Edelman

OPINIONS

March 11, 2016

The benefits of taking languages past the level-30 requirement

By Sarah Terrazano editor

With a slew of university requirements to fulfill before graduation, many Brandeis students grudgingly sit through 30-level language classes in order to satisfy the language requirement.

Whether it’s dozing through the language you took in high school or starting fresh with Spanish 10, gaining the foreign language credit is often seen as a chore that distracts from a more important area of study. However, taking a language class is a unique opportunity that should be appreciated past its graduation requirements.

In fact, there are many benefits to taking a language past the level-30 requirement.

First, through the general requirements, Brandeis offers the unique experience to explore a variety of academic areas with no strings attached. You can take foreign language classes simply to learn something new and take advantage of the opportunities in a liberal arts university, and pass/fail is always an option. It is possible to learn a language by listening to Rosetta Stone in your living room, but this can never be the same as studying a language in a classroom setting. Exposure to the insights and mistakes of professors and classmates is an invaluable part of the learning

process.

Language classes get into their most interesting content past level 30. The early stages are focused on grammar and vocabulary: essential building blocks of a course.

But languages become far more enriching when paired with their history and culture. If the syllabus is focused on verb tenses and indirect pronouns, there will be less time to study a country’s poetry or traditional music and dance.

Higher-level language courses are more enriching because they teach both a new dialect and the culture of its speakers. In lower-level courses, it is easy to become frustrated with the material and give up on the idea of ever speaking the language. But when you become engaged in interesting culture and history, fluency is much more attainable.

Greater knowledge of a language brings access to a wider world. It creates understanding of cultural nuance, allowing you to establish connections rather than get lost in translation. According to Laura Katz ’19, “When you learn a language, you can value the culture more fully. It forces you to have a different perspective that isn’t so whitewashed or Americanized.”

Furthermore, foreign language experience is not only interesting, but increasingly attractive to employers. Many students may find their schedules too packed

for a class that does not relate to their major or intended career, but the pass/fail route exists—and bilingualism is impressive on any resume. It is worth it to take on a foreign language class because it provides you an edge with potential employers, a skill that applicants who just strictly stuck to the major degree requirements would not have. This pertains to careers both in the U.S. and abroad, as the ability to communicate with various groups of people is globally advantageous.

And if these reasons are not convincing enough, studies have shown that speaking multiple languages has cognitive benefits. Being multilingual increases attention span and focus, short-term memory and the ability to multitask. Bilinguals are also less prone to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later on in life. So challenging your mind to navigate another lexicon in higher-level language courses will actually help with your other studies.

Brandeis offers 14 different language programs, from Arabic to German to Japanese. When you finish the level-30 requirement, continue on to 104. Take it pass/ fail if you’re nervous about the time commitment. But to formally learn a foreign language is a privilege Brandeis grants us that we should definitely take advantage of.

The Brandeis Hoot 5

More campus-wide events needed to improve school spirit

By José Castellanos columnist

Thursday, March 10 marked the beginning of Bronstein Weekend, an annual celebration held in the spring dedicated to former Professor Leo Bronstein. It was initially started in 1967 as Bronstein was about to retire. According to BrandeisNow, Bronstein Weekend, formerly a week-long event, is meant to convey Bronstein’s belief of satisfaction in life through celebration and “total humility bordering almost on the ridiculous.” It promises a variety of events, such as a Let it Go Stressbuster, a Club 33 Dance Party and the obligatory Wake n Shake that are sure to bring an air of celebration to a campus that often finds itself in dire need of such events.

This is not to say that Bronstein Weekend is the only source of campus-wide celebration. Events such as Louis-Louis Week, Liquid Latex and Spring Fest also promise to bring a change of pace to the Brandeis campus. It should be noted, however, that there was once a wider variety of events, some of which should be brought back or otherwise replaced in order to improve the lack of school spirit on campus.

In the past, the Brandeis social scene was infinitely more vibrant than it is now. Every semester, there were large school-sponsored and student-run parties to

look forward to, with students having the luxury of picking and choosing which they would be able to attend, rather than being limited to two on-campus events per semester, at the most. Most of the current Brandeis student body has probably never heard of previous events such as Disco Tent, Pachanga and ModFest.

Disco Tent in particular was one of the most unique and interesting events held at Brandeis. In the fall, students would make their way to the Sachar Woods, where an independent group of students would set up the eponymous tent, which used to be considered one of the safest parties on campus. An anonymous opinion piece in The Brandeis Hoot from 2006 claimed that the organizers “picked a location in Sachar Woods that [they] felt would minimize the possibility of injury and spent countless hours removing trash from the area, cleaning up paths going into the woods, and removing rocks and other objects from the tent area that could cause a student to fall and injury [sic] him or herself.

[They] maintained a volunteer base of 30 people to help the event run smoothly and assure that students did not get lost in the woods and even escorted disoriented people out to the main campus to assure no one would be injured or lost in the woods.”

See EVENTS, page 6

Reserve campus walkways for pedestrian use

By Zach Phil Schwartz editor

Brandeis University’s campus is far more pedestrian friendly than it is motorist and cyclist friendly.

That in mind, the presence of cars on campus locations other than Loop Road is quite the awkward sight. It is also unsafe. The university has not had many problems with pedestrian safety in the context of motorists and cyclists traversing campus, but other universities have. We cannot ignore that the threat they can pose is very real.

The grounds are complex and hard to navigate. Footpaths trunk all around. Vehicle operators are tasked with maneuvering on windy paths not designed for vehicles, navigating those paths and avoiding the many community members that walk them every day. If an operator is not careful, the danger of an accident increases exponentially.

Cyclists are no exception to this problem. The dangers of bicycles and other similar technologies should not be underestimated.

Erratic cyclists, especially those that are speeding down our rather steep paths, have the capacity to cause injuries in accidents.

Vehicles on campus have the capacity to not just threaten safety, but also obstruct essential traffic. Public safety and facilities vehicles cannot function correctly if there is a motorist trying to traverse the campus. When there is an emergency, there cannot be anything that obstructs the pathways that ambulances, fire trucks

and public safety vehicles need to use. The same applies for any emergency that would require the swift arrival of facilities employees; if there are motorists obstructing the pathways, emergency personnel cannot get to the scene as quickly as possible.

In order to make sure that campus walkways are safe and unobstructed when the need arises, motorists and cyclists should not be allowed to traverse campus walkways. Campus walkways need to be pedestrian only, save essential vehicles. It only takes one erratic driver or cyclist to cause injury and irreparable harm. Loop Road has access to all parts of Brandeis’ main campus; there is no pressing need for any type of vehicle that is not essential to be roaming around normal

loop road at mandel

pedestrian paths. It presents too much of a safety concern to allow.

Unfortunately, there are some parts of campus where the lack of proper walkways induces students to traverse major roadways, namely South Street.

South Street divides main campus and the Gosman/Mods area, with no crosswalks west of Squire Bridge. Those students who need to get to the Gosman area, especially those coming from parts of campus south of the science complex, have the choice to climb Loop Road to get to the bridge or bite the bullet and jaywalk. Many choose the latter.

Back on Loop Road, jaywalking runs rampant. At Mandel, although there are crosswalks, they are awkwardly placed and not very well-lit at night. Students

typically will walk down the narrow sidewalk between Mandel and the Rabb Steps, emerge out of the parked cars there and jaywalk across the road. This is an incredibly unsafe trend that becomes all the more dangerous should a careless vehicle operator speed through. Why do students do it, then? It is the easiest way to get to the Usdan area.

This is not a difficult problem to solve. If there are more strategically and logically placed crosswalks around campus, jaywalking will decrease. At Mandel, having a crosswalk away from the sidewalk parking area heading towards Usdan could go a long way to stopping students from emerging from areas of parked cars. Perhaps some of these spaces must be eliminated and the narrowing

photo by adam lamper/the hoot

sidewalk expanded to increase visibility of pedestrians on that road.

Over on South Street, another aperture to the Squire Bridge on the street level or a crosswalk flanking the bridge to its west could substantially reduce jaywalking across a road where motorists tend to speed.

I have before advocated for improvements to the safety of Loop Road in The Brandeis Hoot. In its Jan. 23, 2015 issue, I argued that unsafe lighting conditions on Loop Road warranted the tightening of safety regulations. I also cited an email from Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan dated Jan. 16, 2015 that explained how the department “receives complaints almost daily about speeding vehicles and near accidents with pedestrians and bicyclists” on campus roadways. Here I reaffirm that the safety of community members be paramount on campus roadways and walkways, and that correlated safety regulations must be enforced.

In the name of pedestrian safety and quick access to parts of campus only accessible by walkway, motorists and cyclists should be banned from entering those areas. It is unsafe to have them there, especially when Loop Road provides easy access to most parts of campus. It is equally unsafe for the university to ignore the lack of proper crosswalks that perpetuates the jaywalking epidemic that we see at Brandeis. Safety of community members should be paramount in theory—let’s make sure that it is in reality.

6 OPINIONS

The Brandeis Hoot

March 11, 2016

Univ. should consider reinstating larger student-run events EVENTS, from page 5

However, with the parties came concerns and backlash from Brandeis administration. Disco Tent was cancelled after two students required the services of BEMCo. Pachanga faced the axe after two university police officers were assaulted and nine students were hospitalized. A similar turn of events caused ModFest to become an unofficial event slated for senior week, rather than its previous status as a semesterly celebration.

The actions of administration are completely understandable, as obviously it is within the university’s best interests to ensure that students are safe and that any risk of injury is minimized. However, the actions of administration were a blatant overreaction. There are ways to ensure the safety of students without eliminating anything even remotely resembling a

party. In the words of Matt Kowalyk ’18, “I think that the campus spirit could be encouraged by larger, student-run events. But at the same time, other events and policies need to be put in place to make students feel as if they have a certain amount of agency when it comes to campus events.” And his words ring true.

Much like the parties that are happening over Bronstein Weekend, it is completely possible to have large events that are accessible to the student body as a whole while still minimizing the risk of students becoming belligerently intoxicated. For example, with events such as Disco Tent or Pachanga, there could be a closely-monitored reserved area for students who are of legal drinking age, accessible with two forms of valid ID, as is so often done already at various university-sponsored events.

Additionally, some of these

events could be modified to better suit the kind of scene that administration would prefer.

“

school, and school spirit is often celebrated in unique manners.

However, it is undoubtedly in

tion, but outright banning campus-wide events like ModFest and Disco Tent was not the appropri-

There are ways to ensure the safety of students without eliminating anything even remotely resembling a party.

For example, ModFest could have a separate beer garden while maintaining the live-music aspect and carnival-esque areas accessible to the general student body.

Brandeis is undoubtedly a unique

need of improvement. There are very few events present that set Brandeis apart, let alone events that match up with those of other schools. There are ways to address the concerns of the administra-

”

ate approach. Rather, these events should be modified and updated so that the sense of celebration and school spirit that was brought by these events may be restored to our campus.

Create an atmosphere of support for students struggling with stress

By Katarina Weessies columnist

Brandeis students are stressed.

We have been stressed since before we started university. For our most privileged students, this stress has been cultivated by the external pressures of the “overachiever” culture present in many higher income communities. Our least privileged students often cope with imposter syndrome and the difficulties of navigating a world of higher education for which society has failed to prepare them. Students of varying economic, racial and social backgrounds all face unique challenges during their experience at Brandeis, and if they do not have the tools and resources to healthfully cope with these challenges, they can have disastrous effects on their mental health.

Part of the college experience is learning how to face challenges. Without some difficulties, students would never grow into independent adults. However, the characteristic perfectionism and ambition of Brandeis students, when combined with the high-achieving academic environments in which many Brande-

isians grew up, can lead to an unreasonable and seemingly insurmountable amount of stress.

Brandeisians, for the most part, are not coping well with this stress. Most of us are familiar with the intense panic that Brandeis students experience before midterms and finals or the frenzied second-semester scramble to apply for summer internships. The question “what do you want to do after college?” can cause so much dread in the question’s recipient that asking about a student’s post-graduation goals has become taboo.

While it’s necessary that students experience some stress to stay motivated, too much stress has terrible effects on mental and physical health. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (a part of the National Institutes of Health), stress can cause “high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety disorder and other illnesses.” Brandeisians, like all other U.S. university students, are coping with the threat of unemployment, student loans and the general struggle to succeed in a competitive environment. Many of the financial and academic woes of current college students

are unique to millennials.

According to the Labor Department, college tuition increased by 80 percent from 2003 to 2013. Students and their families are struggling to keep up with this insane rise in costs, sometimes by taking out sizable loans and working unreasonable hours. Shouldering the financial burden of a university education can cause enormous damage to the mental health of students. This threat to mental health is intensified for students from lower income backgrounds.

Although there are certainly many threats to the mental health of Brandeis students, resources such as mindfulness classes, counseling and yoga are available to help students cope. Unfortunately, these resources are limited.

Brandeis has too many students and not enough psychological counselors. Yoga and mindfulness classes, when they are available, are not nearly as popular as they should be, since academic stress can lead students to abandon psychological self-care opportunities in order to study or work.

The lack of self-care often practiced by stressed out Brandeis students can be remedied in part with enthusiasm for a change in

Brandeis culture. Brandeisians, regardless of their history with mental illness, can band together to create an environment of support and campaign for more abundant and well publicized resources for struggling students. A campus-wide culture that encourages the preservation of psychological health would make it far less difficult for students to cope with mental illnesses.

A culture of self-care would be extremely helpful to psychological health of Brandeis students, but it cannot singlehandedly fix mental illness on campus. For mental health issues that go beyond general stress, professional

the pcc

psychological counseling might be necessary. The Psychological Counseling Center provides counseling for students struggling with mental health issues, and can be reached at 781-736-3730. The PCC also has a 24-hour answering service at 617-431-4814.

In order to truly beat the persistent problem of mental illness on college campuses, the financial, academic and cultural issues that this generation of students face will need to be solved. These problems will likely not be solved any time soon. However, by creating a culture of self-care and openness about mental health, Brandeis students can mitigate

photo by marian siljeholm/the hoot

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March 11, 2016

OPINIONS7

The Brandeis Hoot

Build a bigger castle

By José Castellanos columnist

On Jan. 25, Interim President Lisa M. Lynch announced the inevitable: Due to the fact that Usen Castle was not built to optimal standards when it was constructed during the Great Depression, Towers C, D and E, as well as Schwartz hall, will be torn down to accommodate a new residence hall, projected to be completed by August 2018. This article is not a defense of Usen Castle. It is undoubtedly a massive safety hazard, containing chipped, possibly lead-based paint, faulty plumbing and exposed insulation in certain rooms. Rather, this is a call to build a bigger, better castle from the ashes of Usen Castle.

After Lynch’s announcement, an online petition aptly named “Build a Bigger Damn Castle” was launched, asking “the university to maintain the Castle quad’s whimsical, medieval character in any new construction, consistent with its 1979 placement on the National Register of Historic Places.” Impressively, the petition had 732 supporters at the time of writing, showing that the Brandeis student body is largely supportive of such an action.

To tear down such a large portion of the Castle without providing an aesthetically similar replacement would be criminal.

It would rob the campus of what is undoubtedly one of its most iconic buildings, and therefore remove the whimsical charm that

it provides to our campus. Additionally, it would prevent future students from having the unique experience of having a literal castle as their residence hall, as the future of Towers A and B is uncertain, given that “these sections will be unoccupied while the university further analyzes options and possible fundraising opportunities for their future,” according to Lynch.

So what is the alternative? The alternative would more than likely be a building aesthetically similar to Ridgewood and the Village, the most recently constructed residence halls on campus. However, for a school like Brandeis, this is not a viable alternative. Brandeis prides itself on being unique, with many students able to embrace their quirks and differences, whatever they may be. By removing a residence hall as unique as Usen Castle, Brandeis runs the risk of becoming an increasingly generic campus, something that is largely unappealing to many.

“One of the reasons I decided to come to Brandeis was because of the campus,” says Jack Fox ’18. “I fell in love with it, and the Castle definitely helps add to the charm of the campus.”

One of the principle reasons for tearing down such a large portion of the Castle is the fact that it would be much more costly to perform a full restoration than to build a new residence hall entirely. However, the cost of expanding the Castle cannot be much different than the cost of a generic,

modern-looking residence hall.

The principle difference would be in the exterior facade of the building, which can easily be made to mimic that of a medieval-style Castle while maintaining an adequate modern interior that seems to be at the core interests of the parties involved in the decision-making process.

Obviously, this is not an easy decision to make. It may prove challenging to find a qualified

architect who is both willing to and capable of undertaking such a task. Additionally, one can imagine that there are not many contractors with experience in constructing a medieval-style building. However, the University undoubtedly has the capability to find qualified individuals who can perform this task adequately.

It is also evident that it is within the interests of the Brandeis community that, if it is really

necessary to remove such a large portion of the Castle, the only reasonable alternative is to build a bigger, better castle that is actually fit for human inhabitants, rather than lose one of the largest sources of charm and aesthetic whimsy on this campus. If not, Brandeis runs the risk of becoming an increasingly generic Massachusetts school, with very few aesthetic distinctions upon which it can call itself unique.

photo by sharon cai/the hoot

Univ. norms limit intellectual discourse and beneficial life experience

By Matt Kowalyk editor

Many of the adults I’ve met in my life have discussed the rather unruly things they’ve done in college in frats, sororities and what have you that they jokingly refer to and never really reveal the details. Of course, there is a probably a decent amount of exaggeration in how controversial or daring our elders’ escapades in college were in reality, but when I think about those stories in comparison to what takes place on campus today, I wonder if we’ll ever have those stories for our children. The fact that adults were allowed to experiment and make mistakes without those mistakes following them throughout their adult life is much different than our experience today. Now with social media and cellphones, it is much harder for us to screw up and have our reputations remain intact. Some companies do deep background checks of prospective employees while others do not, but regardless, this notion of having every mistake discoverable for the rest of our lives is something that haunts every aspect of campus life.

Yes, we are forced to make more responsible decisions, but at the same time, we never learn how to be wrong. As a side effect to the adoption of other social technology, it’s possible to idolize other people’s lives in poisonous ways, from Ryan Gosling to the socialite down the hall. This isn’t new, but what this produces during a time in our lives where we are

supposed to be free to define ourselves and work out our personal kinks is an attitude with which we don’t allow ourselves to make mistakes, or be genuine. People have been feeling this since colleges have existed, but in this age it has a greater effect with the ability to obtain loads of information rapidly.

This is accompanied by watching movies and videos online about experiences at college, creating a dual effect on a group of young people that has a mostly inertial character. These elements can create a dangerous, false sense of reality; it can make some students feel disappointed about the excitement they believe they have a right to at college, while striking

walls, like people, are an enigma

others in a way that makes them believe that they are living a manufactured reality. We are taught to contain ourselves rather and express ourselves in ways dictated by established groups and rules of communication that stifle creativity and growth. This could be due in part to the preconditioning of parents and a growing preference to make college safer, but in part due to our institution giving in. When you look at articles in the campus papers over the past few years, there were times when students hosted bigger events, we had more opinions on campus, and it seemed that there was more freedom in discourse and in spirit.

Furthermore, there are prob-

lems with mass insecurity, evidenced, for example, when people watch Disney movies over and over again in groups. Nostalgia is not bad, and we all feel it, especially in an age that fosters insecurity among our whole generation for real reasons. However, when it is all people talk about, and all that we are interested in, it becomes regressive. Look well upon the past, but time proceeds. We may be developing in a fast-paced, technology-enhanced environment that makes our identities more easily compromised, but there seems to be very little pushback. Our school isn’t doing anything to counter our tendencies in many real ways, but maybe our preconditioning

photo by matt kowalyk/the hoot

wouldn’t allow for it. Restricting us only makes those things that are restricted forbidden fruits.

We need encouragement and a dose of reality, while consistency in leadership to provide us with an example. Responses to problems in the community seem to always be either too invasive or not involved enough, as we’ve seen over the past few years. This could be the constantly dissatisfied student body warping the story of the administration, but the administration should know how to effectively placate their students’ concerns and deal with their problems.

In the end, we have a school that cushions its students, not opening their minds but keeping them closed, because that’s easier to deal with. Speakers shouldn’t be censored, student events should be regulated, not banned, and the administration should deal with problems in a way that is more consistent. Otherwise, we are only working to not build up the tolerance of students mental fortitudes, but allowing them to buy into the commercialized idea that life should be this way. When tragedy occurs outside of the university, when there are opinions and people you cannot deal with yourself present themselves, there will be no university to protect you or censor those around you.

Our justice system in this country still has yet to catch up with the pace of social change, and until it does, the fortitude to put up with life has to come from the individual. A larger, overarching force cannot always solve life’s problems.

8 The Brandeis Hoot

WEEK IN PHOTOS

photo by nathan taber/the hoot

all these photos are kind of the same

But it’s spring and that makes us happy and we really like being happy. Also we like not wearing jackets. And eating ice cream outside.

March 11, 2016

March 11, 2016

sun’s out, phone’s out

The Brandeis Hoot

Now that it’s finally spring, campus is looking Instagram ready! Thank goodness!

WEEK IN PHOTOS 9

photos by marian siljeholm/the hoot

photo by nathan taber/the hoot

FEATURES

10 The Brandeis Hoot

March 11, 2016

Prof. Mirsky combines academia and religion

By Albert Reiss staff

If you ever want to take a Near Eastern and Judaic Studies (NEJS) class, you may want to consider one of Professor’s Yehudah Mirsky’s courses. Prof. Mirsky (NEJS) specializes in classical Jewish studies as well as contemporary Israeli politics. This week, The Brandeis Hoot got a chance to talk to Prof. Mirsky about his experience with both Brandeis University and Jewish Studies.

Prof. Mirsky first came to Brandeis in the fall of 2012, confessing not to know much about “present-day Brandeis.” However, as Prof. Mirsky detailed, many Brandeisian faculty members and leading figures had been a great influence on him. Among others, Mirsky saw influence from “the intellectual historians Alexander Altmann and Nahum Glatzer, and the Bible scholar Nahum Sarna (father of our own Jonathan Sarna) and their students, like Arthur Green and Michael Fishbane.” In spite of a seeming disconnect between what Brandeis was and what Brandeis now is, Prof. Mirsky has learned to embrace the Brandeis University of the present.

Among the things that Prof.

Mirsky most enjoys about Brandeis is the “spirit, the heart and the sheer friendliness I’ve encountered … and the number of people [whose] lives were touched and changed by this university in one way or another.” Given its small environment, it is no surprise that Brandeis helps to foster such a congenial environment.

Most of the classes that Prof.

Mirsky teaches mainly fall into “classically oriented Jewish stud-

prof. yehudah mirsky

ies (law & ethics, mysticism, Hasidism) or the history of Zionism and the State of Israel, in particular their struggles over the meanings of religion, statehood, nationhood and identity,” says Mirsky. Of particular interest to students would be Prof. Mirsky’s political classes (such as Human Rights: Law, Politics, Theology) given the fact that Mirsky has worked in the U.S. State Department and is immersed in religious academia.

Mirky’s first foray into “academic Jewish studies” began in college, where he majored in English. Prof. Mirsky says coming

photo from thedailybeast.com

up from, “a family of rabbi-professors, my own path to the field was a little different from theirs, less literary and legal, more historical.” What really drew Mirsky into the field was the ability to pointedly study Judaism from religious, historical and academic perspectives. Mirsky commented how authors such as Jacob Katz as well as Gershon Scholem would play a pivotal role in influencing his decision. He described “academic Jewish studies as a way of synthesizing my different identities, as both a committed Jew and a committed humanist in the Western tradition.”

prof. mirsky’s book, rav kook

From college, Prof. Mirsky went on to attend law school, which was followed by political work in Washington, D.C. After this political stint, Mirsky went back to school earn a Ph.D in religion.

As a doctoral candidate, Mirsky’s scholarship focused on Rav Kook, whom he describes as “a colossal figure in Jewish and Zionist history [for trying] to unite in his life and work conflicting strands of modernity.”

Presently, Prof. Mirsky has completed a book on Rav Kook titled “Rav Kook: Mystic in a Time of Revolution” (Yale University Press). The book was recently

photo from amazon.com

“named a finalist by the Jewish Book Council as one of the five best Jewish nonfiction works of the last two years,” says Mirsky.

Soon, Mirsky plans to work on a publication that will go back to his “interests in politics, trying to understand, and hopefully deepen, the foundations of ideas of democracy, human rights and freedom as we move deeper into what already is a very challenging 21st century, scary, yet full of possibilities.” Wherever this project takes him, Prof. Mirsky is sure to make a rigorous academic investigation and “approach it as best we can with scholarly patience and care.”

Prof. Campbell brings unique perspective to English dept.

By Katarina Weessies staff

English majors have a unique worldview. They see the universe through the lens of the habitual reader. The worldview of the English major is often greatly affected by the teachings of the English professor. Through lectures and assignments, English professors like Mary Baine Campbell cannot help but impress some of their individual perspectives on the minds of students, thus enriching the intellectual experience of their students.

Campbell has taught literature at both Brandeis and Harvard.

Her classes taught at Brandeis include “The Tale,” “Modern Utopian Texts” and “Chaucer I.” When asked how she thought that her studies affected her worldview, she responded that it was difficult to track her studies’ effects, since they began “in a way, when I first learned to read.”

She remarked that when she grew up, young people “read above their heads. Young adult novels were not available, so we read literature meant for adults.”

This behavior caused Campbell to wonder about the world that adults experienced. “There were

questions I had about novels I enjoyed that caused me to realize that adults think a lot, for reasons I didn’t totally understand.” Literature made her inquisitive, and the simpler questions about literature she asked as a child evolved into the formal study of literature as an adult.

Literature naturally broadens the perspective and the empathy of the reader. This can have an enormous effect on their political and social consciousness. Campbell believes that reading led her to realize that she was “living as part of a community, in a particular moment in history,” and that this contributed to her early involvement in activism. With literature, Campbell looked beyond the horizons of her small Ohio town and took part in political advocacy at a very young age.

According to Campbell, “people who like literature and music, and people who learn to write, can tend to have an earlier social and political consciousness. So, in that way, literature made me an early citizen.”

This early consciousness of politics has led Campbell to look to literature in order to solve problems. Literature is deeply embedded in history and reflects elements of the social and political

prof. mary baine campbell

cultures in which it was written.

Thus, it can often be an effective tool when solving political and social problems. Campbell remarked that she is “interested in pre-capitalist societies” because “capitalism won’t last forever because of the model of growth,” continuing, “People are thinking a lot about the limits to the absorptive power of the planet.”

Campbell observed that her generation did not anticipate the

photo from brandeis.edu

way that solutions to a swelling population, such as genetically modified organisms, would be “such big moneymakers for corporations.” Studying the written word can lead thinkers and researchers to permanently solve problems related to overpopulation.

“There’s a lot we didn’t foresee” relative to the environmental and social future, explained Campbell.

Campbell’s study of pre-capitalist

societies could reveal solutions to the seemingly insurmountable problems presented by environmental and social changes.

She stated that she was drawn to research about pre-capitalist societies because she “was drawn to a world in which there was no advertising and no profits. It was a sustainable kind of world, and gradually there got to be surplus.”

Campbell takes interest in how literature and society were shaped as surplus and traditional capitalist economies began to emerge. One of the challenges of her work, she said, is that “with surplus, there comes leisure time, and with leisure time, there come literature,” so there is “a smaller corpus of literature” in pre-capitalist societies.

We do not know whether we will be able to solve all of the problems created by the quickly changing world, but the study of literature may help students get closer to solutions. Literature broadens the reader’s perspective and leads them to participate in society in new and innovative ways. Prof. Campbell is no stranger to the way that literature can enrich one’s worldview. In her studies of literature, she seeks possible solutions to the world’s emergent issues.

SPORTS

March 11, 2016

The Brandeis Hoot 11

Baseball goes to UAA tournament in Florida Shea Decker-Jacoby staff

This week the Judges baseball team traveled to the 2016 University Athletic Association tournament in Sanford, FL. The Judges came into the tournament with a 3-0 winning streak beating St. Joseph’s three times: 4-3, 4-3 and 8-2. On March 6, the Judges took on the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) Spartans. CWRU scored three runs in the first inning, but the Judges responded with back-to-back strikeouts with CWRU runners on second and third, holding the Spartans at three.

Connor Doyle ’16 brought in the first runner with an RBI to put the Judges on the board. Anthony Nomakeo ’17 also delivered an RBI groundout to add another run before the end of inning. Five Judges had two hits on the day with Graduate Student Rob Trenk having two runs with an RBI and a run scored. He went 2-5 and leads the Judges with a .529 batting average. Short stop Jay Schaff ’16, center field Liam O’Connor ’16 and second baseman Benjamin Bavly ’19 all finished the game with two hits. Elio Fernandez ’17 struck out six batters when Bradley Bousquet ’18 came into the game, only giving up two

baseball blues

Ryan Healy ‘16 scored two runs in the Judges only win so far in the UAA tournament against New York University on Monday.

runs. Liam Coughlin ’17 finished the game only allowing three hits and one unearned run.

The Judges took on the New York University Violets on March 7 and dominated with an 8-1 win. Pitcher Sean O’Neill ’18 only allowed three-hit balls in eight innings. O’Neill recorded a career-high of nine strikeouts.

O’Neill has pitched at least seven innings in eight of his nine career starts. He also allowed the first hit for the Violets in the fifth inning,

The Judges scored runs in six of their nine at-bats, put two runs in the second and ninth inning, while also scoring one run in the first, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Greg Heineman ’16 led with two RBIs and a run scored with his first homerun of the season. Ryan Healy ’16 scored two runs and hit a double at the plate. The Judges took advantage of seven walks, four stolen bases and five errors from the Violets, leading to their victory.

Track goes to ECACs

By Lily Wageman staff

This past weekend, the Brandeis men’s and women’s track & field teams saw some incredible performances while competing at Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) at Staten Island, NY. ECACs is the final meet before the 2016 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships. Here the Judges had several personal records, two NCAA qualifiers and one All-ECAC performance.

In only the fifth meet of his career, Evan Scott ’16 had a career best in the high jump with a leap of 1.98 meters—6 feet, 6 inches.

At the meet he tied for fourthbest and based on number of attempts earned sixth-place.

Brandeis had women running in three events at the championships. With the highest finish for the runners, Kelsey Whitaker ’16 placed ninth in the mile with a season-best time of 5:11.19, while classmate Maggie Hensel placed 11th in the mile with the time of 5:13.51. Kyra Shreeve ’18 shaved about four seconds off her season-best with a time of 5:17.92, earning her 17th place. Then Haliana Burhans ’18 placed 14th in the 400-meter run with a time of 59.34 seconds, while Tove Freeman was just behind in 15th place with a time of 59.49 seconds.

In addition to these personal records, two of the Judges qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships. After his University Athletic Association championship in the 3,000-meter run, Ryan

In their third game the Judges took on the Emory Eagles. The team dropped a 7-4 score to Emory University leading to at 4-2 overall, while the Eagles, ranked third in Division III, improved to a 12-3 record. The Judges came back from a 3-0 score in the top of the fourth inning when Trenk was hit by a pitch and Healy hit a double. Doyle brought in Trenk and shortly after Bavly brought in Healy with a single, making it a 3-2 game. The Eagles scored three

editor

Ryan Stender ‘18 (left) and Kyra Shreeve ’18 (right) competed in the ECAC tournament this past weekend.

Stender ’18 led the way with a run that qualified him to compete at Grinnell College in Iowa next weekend for the NCAA Championships. With a time of 8.21.36, Stender surpassed his UAA championship time by more than 12 seconds, earning him fourth place. This season his time is ranked 13th in Division III. Due to injury, Stender had missed the end of cross country season and the early part of indoor track. This will be his first appearance at an NCAA championship. Of 3,000 competitors, he will be one of five representing the New England area, the only UAA runner and one of three sophomores in the field. Brandeis has not seen a runner at NCAAs since 2013, making this an important moment for Stender and the Brandeis athletic community.

For the women, Emily Bryson ’19 will also be representing the Judges at Grinnell College this weekend. Having previously qualified in the fall for the cross

photos from brandeisjudges.com

country championships, this will be her second straight appearance at an NCAA championship event. Finishing in 31st place at in that event, she was honored with an All-American title. For track, Bryson will compete as the 16th seed in the mile. On Feb. 19 at the New England Division III Championships at Middlebury College, she ran her second-best time of 5:02.34. In Division III, her time ranks 33rd, but she was able to get a spot at NCAAs due to several competitors choosing to focus on other events. Bryson will be one of seven New England competitors and the only UAA competitor for the mile this year. Her qualification makes it three straight years of a Brandeis woman competing in the mile run at the championships. She is also only one of two rookies in the event. At 2:45 p.m.

(Eastern), this Friday, Bryson will run in a preliminary race. She will compete the next day, Saturday, March 12 at 2:40 p.m. if she makes it to the finals.

more runs in the fifth inning. The Judges got their run back in the top of the seventh by a sacrificed pop-fly by Schaff. The Judges finished the game with a run in the ninth from an RBI by Nomakeo.

The Judges take on Washington University in St. Louis on March 9 and the University of Rochester on March 10. The Judges will then have a rematch with Case Western on March 11, New York University on March 12 and finally face Emory University on March 13.

Softball Competes in week long UAAs

By Sarah Jousset

starting it off right

photo from brandeisjudges.com

The Brandeis softball team has spent the last week in Altamonte Springs, FL competing in the UAA tournament championship.

The team left Friday, March 4 for Florida and were thrown into the NCT tournament in Orlando the next day. The two games played in the tournament were just warmups for the team before they jump into some of the most important games they will play all season.

The NCT tournament consisted of two games, the first against Austin College and the second against Penn State-Brandywine.

In the first game the Judges lost in a close game against Austin, losing 8-9. However, the Judges came back to finish the day strong with a huge win of 9-0 against Penn State Brandywine. The game ended in five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.

The women’s softball team then enjoyed a two day break before jumping into UAAs. On Tuesday, the softball team faced a double header against Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Rochester. The Judges suffered a tough loss against Washington University in St. Louis losing by the mercy rule, 2-10, after six innings. Madison Sullivan ’16 and Danielle Novotny ’16 contributed for the Judges offensively, with Sullivan hitting a key two-run double in the third with two outs and Novotny with

two hits and a stolen base. However, the Judges dug deep to pull out a 10-1 win in the second game of the day against the University of Rochester, mercy ruling their opponent after five innings of play. Rochester opened the scoring in the top of the second, but the Judges answered with eight runs in the bottom of the second inning, sending 13 batters to the plate. Sadie-Rose Apfel ’18 earned the win against Rochester, while Melissa Soleimani ’17 finished out the game for the Judges.

The Judges faced New York University and Case Western Reserve University Wednesday, earning wins in both games. Soleimani took the mound in the first game against NYU, earning the win 7-3. The Judges took a close game from Case Western Reserve with a score of 7-6. Apfel started the game for the Judges but left in the sixth inning when Case tied the game. Sarah Petrides ’19 relieved Apfel, getting the last out of the inning. Soleimani secured the win for the Judges, coming in to close out the game.

The Judges dropped their game against Emory University on Thursday, losing 2-11 in their only game of the day. The Judges play again Friday against Washington University in St. Louis at 10 a.m. and the University of Rochester at 1 p.m. On Saturday the Judges face NYU at 10 a.m. and Case Western Reserve University at 1 p.m. The Brandeis softball team will finish the UAA tournament Sunday against Emory University

12 The Brandeis Hoot

“To acquire wisdom, one must observe.”

Editors-in-Chief Theresa Gaffney Julie Landy Senior Managing Editor Jess Linde Senior Copy Editor Allison Plotnik News Editors Hannah Schuster Emily Sorkin Smith Deputy News Editors Abigail Gardener Elianna Spitzer Arts Editor Sabrina Pond Opinions Editor Zach Phil Schwartz

EDITORIALS

Don’t read this, go vote.

In the upcoming round of Student Union elections, Brandeis undergraduates will be presented with choices to make up and down the ballot. The offices up for election include President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Junior Representative to the Board of Trustees, Representative to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee and Representative to the Sustainability fund.

As students, we need to realize that, despite its flaws, the Student Union is our elected voice and can take on initiatives that will benefit the student body.

It is, therefore, imperative that students take in interest in this election and thoughtfully consider each candidate’s merits. In particular, the position of president warrants a thoughtful analysis.

Vice President David Herbstritt ’17 and Christian Nuñez ’18 are the two candidates running to succeed Nyah Macklin ’16 as

Features Editor Jacob Edelman Sports Editor Sarah Jousset Copy Editor Sarah Terrazano

In an article titled “Louis Brandeis: once influential part of American Zionism,” printed in The Brandeis Hoot on March 3, 2016, David

Photo Editor Karen Caldwell Deputy Video Editor Matt Kowalyk Editors-at-Large Charlotte Aaron Mia Edelstein Lisa Petrie

Volume 13 • Issue 7 the brandeis hoot • brandeis university 415 south street • waltham, ma

Founded By Leslie Pazan, Igor Pedan and Daniel Silverman

STAFF

Rachel Bossuk, Sharon Cai, José Castellanos, Zach Cihlar, Amanda Ehrmann, Talia Franks, Zachary Gordon, Emma Gutman, Curtis Zunyu He, Sophia He, Alana Hodson, Daniel Kang, Emma Kahn, Naomi Klickstein, Adam Lamper, Nabi Menai, Monique J Menezes, Santiago Montoya, Joon Park, Nicole Porter, Albert Reiss, Emily Scharf, Marian Siljeholm, Eliana Sinoff, Ryan Spencer, Hannah Stewart, Michael Wang, Katarina Weessies MISSION As the weekly community student newspaper of Brandeis University, The Brandeis Hoot aims to provide our readers with a reliable, accurate and unbiased source of news and information.

Produced entirely by students, The Hoot serves a readership of 6,000 with in-depth news, relevant commentary, sports and coverage of cultural events. Recognizing that better journalism leads to better policy, The Brandeis Hoot is dedicated to the principles of investigative reporting and news analysis. Our mission is to give every community member a voice.

SUBMISSION POLICIES

The Brandeis Hoot welcomes letters to the editor on subjects that are of interest to the community. Preference is given to current or former community members and The Hoot reserves the right to edit or reject submissions. The deadline for submitting letters is Wednesday at noon. Please submit letters to letters@thebrandeishoot.com along with your contact information. Letters should not exceed 500 words.

The opinions, columns, cartoons and advertisements printed in The Hoot do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial board.

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UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONS

We welcome unsolicited submissions from members of the community sent by e-mail to eic@thebrandeishoot.com. Please limit submissions to 800 words. All submissions are subject to editing.

March 11, 2016

By Naomi Klickstein

Student Union President. Both candidates seem well-suited for the position of president. The Brandeis Hoot will not endorse any candidate at this time, but we will present to you each of their merits. We urge everyone to take this information and come to an informed decision about which candidate you think is best suited for the job.

Herbstritt has a strong record working with the Union for nearly two years in a number of roles. He is intimately familiar with the workings of the Senate, and his executive board experience would be invaluable to any presidential candidate. The initiatives that Herbstritt has spearheaded with the Union have been beneficial to student life and the campus as a whole.

Nuñez was an unexpected addition to the race for Union President, and while he had not previously held an elected position within the organization, he has quickly become a

Correction

Ellenson was incorrectly named acting director, when he is in fact director of the Schusterman Center. In the same article, Frances Malino,

credible candidate. The leadership Nuñez has demonstrated through various activist causes is impressive, and he possesses the qualities of a credible outsider who could potentially breathe new energy into an often insular student government.

Time and time again, we write an editorial after each instance of chronically low student voter turnouts. This week, we are trying to be proactive. We urge students not to neglect our duty within the university structure. Attend the debate and engage with the process. Open your computer and take the one fulfilling minute to vote.

The only way that the opinions of thousands of students are heard is when thousands of students actively express themselves. It is only through the active engagement of the student body can we push the Student Union to improve itself and have those effects ripple to the rest of our university.

the Sophia Moses Robison Professor of Jewish Studies and History at Wellesley College, was incorrectly referred to as Fran Melino.

High Seas

staff

Across 1. Sweet cylinder 5. Applaud 9. May be yellow or black 14. Dry 15. Received in France 16. Unreactive 17. Require 18. Rapper Sweatshirt 19. Part of an act 20. A pirate’s grave 22. A long time 23. Sports channel 27. Aussie runner 29. Office note 32. Phlegmatic 33. Things between words 35. Pirate’s coins 38. Did the Dougie 39. Devout 41. Ending for kitchen 42. Paul Kirchner comic (with “The”) 44. Org. studying presidential history 45. Pirate of the Caribbean (abr.)

46. Einstein’s famous variables 55. Food easy on the teeth 56. Harvest 57. Place of first caucus annually 58. Highest point in the Alps (with “Mont”) 59. Inventor of the telephone 60. Range 61. Small picture within another 62. Like an angry squid 63. The Volunteer State (abr.)

Down 1. Things found on 1-across

2. Locale 3. Ukrainian capitol 4. Whirlpool 5. Louisiana cuisine 6. Svelte 7. Farm measure 8. Heartbeat 9. Beefalo’s mother 10. End of many co. names 11. Runny vegetable?

12. Sea eagle 13. Radios 21. On the lam 24. Mar. 17 honoree 25. Finger 26. Sibling’s child 28. Title of some married women 29. Sorcery 30. Mimics 32. Got together (with) 35. Dot on a die 36. Bodily swelling 37. Common disease 38. Darkest mo.

40. Cell forming a myelin sheath 43. Equip 46. Discharge 47. Obsolete unit of measure 48. Fugees founding member 49. Hawaiian goose 50. Astute 51. Inventor of the polio vaccine 52. Mob 53. Wander 54. Actor Wilson

ARTS, ETC.

March 11, 2016

The Brandeis Hoot 13

Russian Student Talent Show celebrates International Women’s Day

By Santiago Montoya staff

A sheer joy of Brandeis University’s student body is realizing that it is an eclectic group of people from all over the world, whose distinct backgrounds are enriching and compelling—culturally speaking. Brandeis is celebrating “Russian Culture Week,” and the Brandeisians who possess Russian background or are interested in and/or studying the culture, decided to put on a show on March 9 at Rapaporte Treasure Hall.

The variety show was put together by the Russian Studies Program and the Russian Club. It was not just a show, as the “Student Talent Show” was dedicated

to the International Women’s Day. Even though the event occurred a day after the holiday, according to the show’s presenters Eve Litvak ’16 and Ben Vizlakh ’16, it is never too late to be thankful for the women in our lives. The presenters also mentioned information about the progress of women’s roles in Russia. Despite still living in a conservative and patriarchal society, Russian men and women have equal economic rights. Dimitry Paranyushkin from “Way to Russia,” a Russian online publication, claimed that women make up 46.9 percent of the employed population. Most of the working women are found in the public health service (85 percent), education (81 percent) and credit and finance (78 per-

photo by irina dubinina/the hoot

photo from www.brandeis.edu

cent), with the lowest turnout in the construction industry (22 percent).

The presenters also assured that the society is progressing well and that the evening was utterly dedicated to women—who all received red, vivid roses at the entrance.

The show began with Mark Litvak ’17 playing the piano for “A Waltz in F minor” and “Waltz in C flat major.” Subsequently, Seth E. Evans-Diffenderfer ’18 played his guitar and sang two songs about love, girls and robots. One of them, titled “Punk Rock Girl,” a song about a “girl who does what she wants; she is a rebel.” David Libang Huang ’16 sang “Moscow Nights,” first in eloquent Chinese and later in his acquired Russian. The song was sung with a few vocal flaws here and there; nevertheless, the

enthusiasm that Libang Huang brought to the piece was refreshing and gleeful.

Then there was a comic sketch performed in Russian by the students in the class of RUS 40, titled “Dreaming about the Oscar,” which mocked Leonardo DiCaprio’s recent, long-time coming Oscar win. It seemed frisky and playful, but the language barrier deprived a few from sharing the laughs, although the comic body language from the performers was fun.

The same occurred with a poem, titled “Mothers,” by the first Russian Nobel Prize for Literature winner, Ivan Bunin, which was recited all in Russian by Ivan Andrienko ’18. The selection of this particular poem joined the appreciative celebration of International Women’s Day. Even though half of the audience were

Russian-speakers, some of the people in the crowd, including myself, were not capable of understanding the poem because of the language obstacle.

The rest of the show focused mostly on musical pieces. Jonah Garcia ’18 performed an improvisation on the piano. Natsuko Yamagata ’17 masterfully played a piece by Hungarian Franz Liszt, titled “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6.”

She was electrifying, playing a piece that demanded nimbleness and practice—she had both.

As one of the final performances, the students from the RUS 20 and RUS 29 classes sang a children’s song about time, “The Blue Wagon” by V. Shainskiy.

All the students wore mouse ears over their heads and formed a melodious sound either in the name of their Russian pride or cultural interest.

For the sake of being succinct, the show was lively and everyone involved seemed to have put a major effort to make it a success.

It was a concoction of Russian students possessing varied talents and skills, which included performing not-so-Russian pieces, as well as students performing pieces that do pertain to the Russian culture.

I wish the show could have been more of an eclectic showcase of the distinct and complex Russian art forms.

The show tended to focus primarily on musical pieces, not that there was anything wrong with this. However, to make “Russian Culture Week” a real commemoration, the show needed variety.

Beyonce’s new song slays in every possible way

By Sabrina Pond editor

Although a month has passed since Beyonce released her latest single, “Formation,” the ripple effect still appears to be at work.

Her music video, which is unlisted on Youtube, has garnered over 32 million views, which further solidifies the truth behind the lyric “You know you that bitch when you cause all this conversation.”

Beyonce keeps unexpectedly dropping hits left and right, proving that she remains more than relevant and can lead the current pop culture conversation—all those who oppose her sentiments be damned.

An instantly catchy song with wonderful guitar plucking beats in the background, “Formation” has a downright Southern tang with powerful pop elements. The cinematography of the video is flawless, and perfectly combines choreography with a glimpse into everyday life in New Orleans, the

beyonce doesn’t care

majority of the footage of which was taken directly from director Abteen Bagheri and producer Chris Black’s short documentary “That B.E.A.T.” No Beyonce video would be complete without authentic dance moves, and this is even more emphasized in a hit song that calls African American women to come together and stand side by side, in formation.

As had been noticed on certain tracks in her most recent album, “Beyonce,” she has also inserted sound bites of people speaking in her song, such as Messy Mya, a Youtube personality who was murdered in 2010. In one of the sound bites he is the middle of saying “What happened at the New Orleans? Bitch, I’m back by popular demand.” In a 4 minute and 52 second song Beyonce managed to hit on so many important points: the Black Lives Matter movement, police brutality, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and pride in natural black hair. As is evidenced by the profoundness of her new song, nothing is off the

table and everything is more than necessary to talk about.

Despite all the excellent qualities Beyonce’s song retains, no musical creation is without retractions. For one, her new hit is repetitive, though this is not a new phenomenon; unnecessary repetition has plagued the pop music industry for a long time, which is most likely because repetition increases a song’s catchiness. Even so, the repetition is exacerbated because of the shortness of the hook, when she literally says “Cause I slay (slay), I slay (hey), I slay,” over and over again. Then again, in the same way that “flawless” became embedded in pop culture and took off as its own motto, “slaying” has become a similar self-esteem boosting mantra. There have also been allegations that Beyonce unjustly stole footage from “That B.E.A.T.” though her spokesperson has combatted these claims.

Beyond the lyrics, choreography and ever so interesting visuals that Beyonce has laid out in the

A still of Beyonce’s new music video “Formation” shows her giving the finger.

photo from www.dailydot.com

photo from iwww.highsnobiety.com

newest addition to her repertoire of work, “Formation” is a political statement in a much-needed conversation about racial inequality and police brutality. Other artists may have come out with public statements about the deaths of Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin, among many others, but none have made as strong of a statement as Queen Bey’s new video. One still shows writing on a wall, which reads “Stop shooting us.” Other powerful imagery shows a young black kid dancing in front of a formidable line of white police officers. Beyonce is also featured on the top of a New Orleans police car surrounded by water, and at the end of the music video the car sinks and she becomes fully submerged. This submersion seems to denote several things at once. On one hand, it serves to recognize the unreal number of cases of police brutality against black individuals. It also calls for a rebirthing of the

modern times—and hopes for a better future for those communities who are adversely affected on a daily basis.

Released during Black History Month, right before her appearance in the SuperBowl Halftime show, “Formation” is both truly inspiring and uplifting, especially with the lyrics “I just might be a black Bill Gates in the making” and “You mix that negro with that Creole make a Texas bama.”

A song that shows black women in all their natural glory, “Formation” is an unapologetic anthem that celebrates “embracing … one’s blackness and the power one can harness when making a name, livelihood and legacy,” as was profoundly stated by Pitchfork’s Britt Julious.

Beyonce continues to retain a seat on the ornate throne she has established for herself, begging the question—what will she do next?

14 ARTS

March 11, 2016

The Brandeis Hoot

One man show ‘In Between’ reflects on the Jewish and Arabic experience

By Conor Amrien staff

On a sparse stage, with nothing but a stunted wooden chair, a kaleidoscopic patterned hand-drum and a suitcase with airport luggage tags, a single actor gives life to the empty space.

On Wednesday, March 9, actor Ibrahim Miari brought his award-winning one-man show “In Between” to Brandeis. The show centers heavily on the theme of identity, focusing on Miari’s life as both an Arab and Jewish man growing up in Israel. Miari takes on a wide array of characters, including both of his parents, his wife’s Jewish mother and an airport security member, as well as going back and forth through time in order to tell the story of his life.

The play begins with the sound of an airport’s chatter as Miari enters and begins performing a form of Sufi dance, whirling in circles. This continues as an unknown speaker tries to pronounce his name over an intercom until it becomes more recognizable, and Miari stops. Miari described this dancing in the show as a way of showing his character at peace within his own mind. This dance serves as both an elegant transition and a sublime spectacle for the audience, and Miari utilizes it multiple times over the course of the play.

A core strength of his piece was Miari’s intelligent use of the limited elements at his disposal—his own body and sound effects—to create a surreal atmosphere.

Miari frames much of his nar-

photo by nathan taber/the hoot

rative around a member of airport security raiding his luggage and the subsequent interrogation.

When Miari first enters as this security member, the music becomes ominous and robotic, and he slips a blue glove onto one of his hands. The gloved hand becomes at war with the rest of his body, moving in a surgical manner and assimilating a character of its own. Miari manages to create this effect without uttering a word.

One of the most interesting and well-utilized props was a lifesized puppet used to play both a Rabbi and a Buddhist (the Rabbi wore a different hat). Though the character itself was more of a caricature, the use of a puppet made this over-the-top caricature a success, and helped to better convey the difficulty of Miari’s marriage plans through his use of comic elements.

The show features a multitude

of characters that Miari alone plays. One of the funniest and most impressive characters was that of his wife Sarah Goldberg’s Jewish mother. The monologue was hilarious and felt entirely real, despite being comedic in nature. Miari did not overplay typical stereotypes and managed to craft an extremely real mother character. He does this relatively successfully with his performance of his own mother and father as well.

I was particularly interested in his portrayal of his mother designing Miari’s Purim costume.

Miari revealed real depth in her character when she shares with her son, looking back to see if her husband is watching, that Purim is her favorite holiday as well.

Miari gives real insight into the household in his portrayal of his parents.

Sometimes, however, Miari drifted into characters that felt

photo from www.broadwayworld.com

flat.

The airport security member, while threatening at points, fell into the stereotype of the monologuing, pure evil villain. The way the lines were delivered were a little over-the-top, losing some of the character’s potential for raw power, especially considering he was one of the characters with the most screen time.

Miari said he prefers to “focus on telling a story and connecting with the audience.” At many points during the show, he would switch from Hebrew, to Arabic and back to English. While not being able to understand some of these lines, it was fascinating to see how other members of the audience would react with laughter. Miari claims “there is no fourth wall” in his performance.

Whenever someone opened a can of Coca-Cola, or sneezed, he would take the time to say things like “Bless you” or “Another Co-

ca-Cola?” While shocking and funny at first, it became superfluous when he took the time to hurriedly motion latecomers into the theater every time. It was awesome to see an actor care so much about audience interaction, increasing the personal feel of the performance, despite sometimes disrupting my immersion in the actual story.

“We are not just one thing,” Miari says, and this applies to all people. “In Between” manages to illuminate much of Miari’s personal conflict being both Jewish and Arabic, utilizing powerful vignettes from his life story, without the need for a massive set.

Miari tells the story of his life, putting it out there for the sheer purpose of connecting with the audience. “In Between” alludes to a conflict that is global in scale, but sized down to a personal level so that anyone can connect with Miari’s struggle.

‘Viola+Electronics’ shockingly lacks the latter in concert performance

By Adam Lamper staff

In the height of the popularity of electronic music, few genres truly remain devoid of its ubiquitous influence. This past Saturday, violist and member of the Lydian String Quartet, Mark Berger, demonstrated how the two seemingly polar worlds of classical instrumentation and pre-programmed electronic sound can merge together to create something new and exciting.

Though undeniably the main attraction of the concert, aptly named “Viola + Electronics,” the electronic portion of the show did not occur until after intermission.

Instead, the night opened with Bach’s “Sonata No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1003,” a piece that perfectly displayed Berger’s superior musicianship and alluded to his extensive musical career. Having worked with many well-known groups such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops and the Worcester Chamber Music Society, as well as being an instructor at at Boston College and here at Brandeis, Berger harbors a skillset of experience as diverse as the pieces he performed that night.

From an excerpt about the piece he first performed, Berger describes the sonatas of Bach as the “technical zenith of the entire solo string repertoire.” Originally composed for violin, Berger was impressively able to overcome the inherent shortcomings of the viola as an instrument, which oftentimes succeeds poorly when soloing in the awkward register between the clarion notes of the violin and the resonant tones of

photo by adam lamper/the hoot

photo from www.theberkshireedge.com

the cello.

The second song of the evening, though more abstract, was definitely one of the more, if not the most, exciting piece of the night. “Khse Buon,” by Cambodian composer Chinary Ung, is a significant piece in his repertoire, as it was his only composition

from 1974 to 1985 and was written shortly after the cessation of the Cambodian genocide in 1980. “‘Khse Buon’ appears as a hopeful sentiment regarding the value of personal expression during a time when Cambodians had suffered tremendous losses,” says Adam Green, a composer and

close associate to Ung. “Its voice is plaintive, full longing and unabashedly emotional.” Meaning “Four Strings” in Khmer, “Khse Buon” is a play on the onestringed Cambodian lute, khse diev, for which the sound of the piece definitely mimicked.

Featuring many aspects of string instrumentation not traditional to western music, such as slide pizzicato and natural harmonics, “Khse Buon” serves as a metaphor for the developing syncretism between the music of the west and the east, not unlike Fritz Kreisler’s “Tambourin Chinois” in the earlier half of the century. Originally written for the cello, Berger’s performance unavoidably lacked the depth of the original composition due to instrumentation alone. However, it also brought to the piece new shades of emotion not traditionally present in the lower registers.

The first two pieces that featured electronic sounds seemingly served as foils of each other, each utilizing the sounds in different and complex ways. Kaija Saariaho’s “Vent Nocturne” took a darker route tonally, as expressed by the translation of the title, “Night Wind.”

Featuring a combination of real-time resonant effects of the viola and an overlaid track of many airy tones in conjunction with actual human breathing, “Vent Nocturne” was able to create ominously vivid imagery reminiscent of many horror scores. “To me the sound of the viola has always suggested that of breathing,” says Saariaho, “which, along with the wind, became a major element of the electronic part.” On the other hand, Eric Chaslow’s “The Fundamental Object” features

an electronic track that more so accompanies the soloist, rather than simply providing atmosphere. More atonal than “Vent Nocturne,” what Chaslow’s piece lacks in traditional musical emotion, it makes up for with its dynamic complexity and seamless incorporation of the sporadic background music into the Berger’s own melody.

The last piece of the night, and by far the most unique was Gérard Grisey’s “Prologue for viola and live electronics.” The music of Grisey, who is often considered one of the founding composers of spectral music, is indirectly atonal, as the majority of his compositional decisions were based on the mathematical and graphical representation of sound spectra as opposed to audition. Though a spectacular performance to witness, Grisey’s sound would not withstand had the listeners not been aware of the significance of his works, which is not to say that the piece is poorly composed, but rather meant for the refined ear.

Though an interesting combination to say the least, the reason as to why “+ Electronics” was listed only as the sub-heading to “Viola” on the concert program was ever-present, as there seemed to be a considerable deficit of electronic sound for pieces that have “electronics” in their titles. Likewise, even though the viola, with its register akin to the pubescent teenager of the string family, is not the most suitable instrument for solo works, Mark Berger was able to overcome these barriers in order to perform music that he truly enjoys with a precision and tact that would make any professional jealous, or at the minimum thoroughly impressed.

March 11, 2016

Brandeis archives shows off electronic music collection from 1960s

By Sabrina Pond editor

It is surely an understatement to say that music has changed a lot in the last 50 years, especially since the advent of electronic music in the 1960s, but inevitably the statement still rings true. It is hard to consider just how much the process of making electronic music has changed, and how the process of consuming that medium has changed—but that becomes slightly easier to contemplate when confronted with the archives.

Luckily enough, in an event titled “Close Looking: Electronic Music Collection” which happened on Wednesday, March 9 at 3:30 p.m. in Rapaporte Treasure Hall, students and faculty alike were given a glance into the lush history of electronic music at Brandeis.

Sponsored by the Rose Art Museum, the Robert D. Farber University Archives and Special Collections Department, the event was intended to spread awareness about the tapes in Brandeis’ collection, many of which had slowly degraded over time due to less than ideal conditions. Led

by Eric Chasalow, the Irving Fine Professor of Music and Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the presentation took the form of a PowerPoint and question and answer section. A composer even up to the present, Chaslow continues to celebrate the wondrous complexity that is electronic music, especially

ARTS 15

The Brandeis Hoot

with his more recent composition “Quintonna,” which has a more video game like quality. This archival collection is particularly relevant to Brandeis since the first performance with electronic music happened at the Festival of the Arts on campus in 1952, which took place shortly after the school’s 1948 founding.

Brandeis University archives has a selection of reel-to-reel tapes with electronic music on them, some of which were produced at Brandeis in the 60s and others which were produced in studios from all around the world.

Some of these tapes are duplicates, as one individual would make copies of his or her work and send it to a plethora of institutions, but others are one-of-akind tapes that cannot be found anywhere else. Before the Internet and mass forms of communication were present, you had to receive or send your own work to other composers in order to keep track of what was happening in the world of electronic music.

This literal transference of material explains why so many of the tapes in the archives were not composed by Brandeis-affiliated persons.

The Brandeis Electronic Music Studio, first founded by Gus Ciamaga in 1961, is now known as Brandeis Electro-Acoustic Music Studio (BEAMS). At that time, composing electronic music was a very difficult and meticulous process that required cutting up reels and splicing them together. Depending on the amount of musical complexity the compos-

er intended, this could mean cutting up a reel into microscopic subsections. Amazing enough, this required cutting in a specific fashion to avoid a “pop” or “click” sound in the recording, and the composer also had to be extra careful so as not to rub the reel too hard—the results could be disastrous. Nowadays anyone with a laptop can make electronic music, wherever; these are luxuries unimagined to the people of the time.

Called musique concrete, in the early days of electronic music, pitch and rhythm were inextricably tied. The most pitches that Chaslow remembers manipulating at once were 10, which according to him required a lot of commitment and a decent amount of hard work.

Brandeis’ archival collection includes pieces by various composers, including but not limited to Harold Shapero, Luciano Berio, Ernst Krenek and Lyle Davidson.

Depending on the composer’s musical tastes, some incorporate real world sounds with funky electronic overtones, though others rely completely on foreign, electronically derived sounds that are hard to describe. According to Chaslow, the intermingling of these electronic sounds generates “textures.”

In order to preserve the tapes, which naturally degrade over time, all of the tapes were transferred to a digital format mainly because of a Grammy Foundation grant. Now they can be consumed by anyone who ventures as far as their Internet site.

Comic: Becoming a Star

By Tova Weinberger

‘House of Cards’ season four surprises with renewed greatness

By Jacob Edelman and Zach Phil Schwartz editors

Spoiler disclaimer: If you haven’t watched the fourth season of Netflix’s series “House of Cards” and are planning to, you probably shouldn’t read further. This review contains spoilers.

This review comes from the perspective of two fans of the show who binge-watched all 13 episodes of the season in a row on the same day of release. Food and drink were prepared beforehand so there would be no interruption, and once the binge started, there was no stopping until completion.

The third season of the Netflix Original “House of Cards” disappointed many fans of the show that had waited in intense anticipation for a year. In our review last season, we said that we would wait on the next season of the show before we reach our final verdict on the “once-masterpiece of a show.” Season four trumped its predecessor with the full force of the cast’s masterful acting, connection to modern issues and nail-biting cliffhangers and kept us on the edge of our seats until the final moments.

Grayed and aged to the extent of a weary president, Kevin Spacey owned the role of President Francis J. Underwood in a way unseen since season two. While spending less time on camera in this season than in those previous, Spacey filled the screen with a dark and brooding presidential presence not easily attained by actors seeking to portray the individual in the Oval Office.

A classic element of the show is Underwood’s recurrent breaking of the fourth wall to talk directly with the audience. In the first half of the season, however, Spacey curiously meandered from the role of a defining feature. But, in the second half, his character’s breaking of the fourth wall made a startling and pronounced return, bringing the audience roaring back to the inner machinations of President Underwood’s mind.

Robin Wright filled a large role of executive producer, and maintained a cool and commanding posture in her role as the First Lady of the United States, Claire Underwood. The character has always epitomized independence and strength, but Wright took it to a whole new level in the fourth season. From the moment she entered a scene, Claire was the focus: rightfully owning the gaze and excitement of viewers. Story-

wise it became amazingly apparent that Claire was far more than just the woman at her husband’s side; she was a puppetmaster capable of even more than her husband.

Season four picks up just where season three left off: at the Iowa Caucuses. The competition between Underwood and his adversary for the Democratic nomination, Heather Dunbar, continues to intensify as the two candidates spar with each other.

At times it seems as if Dunbar almost has the president beat, until he and Claire defiantly rise up and, through masterful politics and their awesome combined political power, force her from the race.

The season picks up steam following this turn, driving into the main presidential competition against Frank’s Republican opponent—Joel Kinnaman’s char-

photo from www.hypebeast.com

acter—William Conway. Despite the fact that he looks 25 years old rather than the minimum 35 to run for president, Conway succeeds at representing modern and realistic conservative ideology thrown into the context of global threats similar to those faced by the nation today. Much of the debate between Frank and Conway ended up being about those international dilemmas, and a battle similar to that for the Democratic nomination between the titans ensued.

An interesting detail is that much of the controversy that presents itself in the season, from an old Ku Klux Klan connection bubbling up to the forefront of the issues, to undue election influence by private corporations, to the occurrence of a brokered convention. Season four is more relevant today than it was a month ago and than it probably will be a month from now.

The middle of the season brings the series to a crescendo when the flow of the tense election season is interrupted by a significant event for the Underwoods.

Frank enters a state of purgatory during which he is forced to confront the demons of his past.

This battle, spanning a number of episodes, allowed Spacey’s character to communicate what was happening between his mind and soul without the traditional fourth wall-breaking narration. At times though, it seemed like the continued insight into his mind undermined the story that was continuing around him.

Francis emerges from this event troubled, and true to his character, unchanged. Hardcore political junkies would enjoy how much

the show then hunkered down on surprise electoral tactics at the Democratic National Convention, which ended up posing a threat to the Underwood presidency. This was a part of a series of smaller story arcs that continued to keep us on the edges of our seats.

The end of the season was unexpected to say the least. We can say for certain that the show has concluded each season with some ounce of positivity or hope, but this ending was different. The show became both literally and atmospherically dark as it came down from the events of the middle of the season. In typical “House of Cards” style, the writers did not hold back; however the season ended on an unexpectedly dark note, sure to surprise some viewers, and leave some wanting more.

“House of Cards” is becoming a different kind of series. As it goes on, it becomes more difficult for viewers to simply pick a random episode of the series and watch it on its own. There are few smaller plots, and the show has become so focused on the long arc that the episodes have become mutually dependant on one another. They cannot be viewed as singular units.

When held up in comparison to the rest of the series, the fourth season of “House of Cards” was impressive and finishes in a strong second place behind season one in terms of twists, quality and watchability. With the end of season three, Netflix producers were left inundated with mixed feedback. By the end of season four, it’s clear that they listened and adapted to the opinions of their critics and fans.

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ARTS, ETC.

March 11, 2016

‘Dog Sees God’ contemplates dark, but relevant themes

By Alana Hodson Staff

The Brandeis Players delivered an astounding performance Thursday, March 10 with their premiere of the renowned play, “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead.” Produced by Dahlia Kushinsky ’17 and directed by Carly Chernomorets ’16, this production was comprised of a widely talented cast and crew, bringing to life the story of troubled high school boy as he copes with the loss of his beloved dog.

“Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead ” is a play written by Bert V. Royal, and is unofficially recognized as the “unauthorized parody” of the comic strip “Peanuts” created by Charles M. Schulz. Each of the characters of the play corresponds to a character of the comic, such as the main character, CB (Charlie Brown), or his friends Van (Li-

nus), Matt (Pig-Pen), Beethoven (Schroeder), Tricia (Peppermint Patty) and Marcy (Marcie). CB’s sister is understood to be Sally, and Van’s sister represents Lucy.

However, these people are no longer the innocent childhood characters featured in the Peanuts strip; instead they have been taken from their simple roles and made into symbols for the societal vices that create hatred, pain and isolation in adolescents of this generation. This play touched upon almost every sensitive topic one could possibly incorporate into a two-hour performance, such as physical violence, selfharm, eating disorders, sexual assault, incest, bullying and suicide, as well as other themes such as sexual identity and substance abuse.

All of these matters are intricately wound around the life of CB, played by Dylan Hoffman ’19, who also doubled as a sort of narrator for the play, allowing

the audience insight into the mind of CB as he makes commentaries on his relationships with the other characters. After the loss of his dog, which we presume to be Snoopy, CB inquires after all of his friends as to whether there exists an afterlife, particularly for pets.

From the beginning, this play takes on a very philosophical nature, though the crude language at times may seem to mar the depth of meaning behind the character interactions, but which also serves to place the events in a startlingly modern and realistic light. CB’s friend, Van, played

by Otis Fuqua ’19, is portrayed as a “stoner,” yet he still retains the sharp insight reminiscent of his corresponding character, Linus, offering level-headed advice to both CB and Matt, while also providing a bit of comic relief for the audience.

However, I believe that there was one actress in particular

whose performance truly excelled in this play, and it was Lilia Shrayfer ’18 in the role of Van’s sister (Lucy). In this twisted parody of “Peanuts,” Lucy is in a mental hospital after she lights a “little red head girl’s” hair on fire. She is labelled a pyromaniac and psychopath, and with the skillfulness of Shrayfer’s acting, one can truly believe in those identifications.

Even confined to the small space behind the cage prop, Shrayfer is able to express the broad range of personality in her character, from flirtatious, fierce, caring, relaxed and even to wild, with the manipulation of her strong voice, vivid facial expressions and perfectly matched motions as she speaks and interacts with CB. Shrayfer’s performance was certainly memorable in the already eye-opening production.

As the Brandeis community has so recently lost one of its members from one of the tragic themes presented in “Dog Sees

God,” there was discussion of postponing, and even cancelling, the show entirely.

However, in the Director’s note, Chernomorets and Stage Manager Ben Astrachan ’19 decided that this play may do more service to the community by providing a start for dialogue that may help prevent occurrences of grief and loss to this magnitude in the future. In the closing of the note, they write, “It is our duty to confront the issues that are very clearly plaguing our campus and our world, and we hope that this production will open a door for conversation around these tumultuous topics.”

Though this play may be sensitive for many at this time, or anytime, “Dog Sees God” is a remarkable production, and its cast and crew have succeeded in creating a memorable and meaningful addition to Brandeis theater.

This show will continue through March 13 in the SCC theater.

photos by nathan taber/the hoot

Revival: Open mic poetry night encourages informal creativity

By Emma Kahn Staff

On Thursday night Chum’s Coffee House marked the first open mic night of the semester, co-hosted, sponsored and run by two organizations, Revival and the Brandeis Pluralism Alliance. The event left every trace of rainy, cold weather outside, as performers and audience alike filled the venue with warmth.

Per Chums usual style, students slowly filtered into the room until couches were claimed and backpacks were dropped to the floor.

The event began with a few announcements by Revival organizers Alona Weimer ’18 and Clayre Benzadon ’17, cluing in those new to open mic nights at Brandeis with its strong legacy of empowering student leaders.

Setting the tone for a casual night of low-pressure performances, but attending to the formalities of the event, the two led promptly began the open mic night. Benzadon then began with a poetry recitation, leading the student performances for the remainder of the evening.

Students opted for varying performance styles including poetry recitations, music performances and a blend of styles. During and between performers, the room remained silent, the audience intrigued by fellow students’ material. Variety was also reflected in seriousness and content of the material and in the level of practice of performers. Some

appeared relatively new to the stage while others appeared to be well-seasoned performers. Each individual on stage referenced earlier performers’ work in some way, or altered their collection of

dents in varying modes of artistic production. This student-led, student-run event evoked sentiments of plurality in myriad ways.

Throughout the evening, Revival exhibited artists masterful and

collaborate with Brandeis Pluralism Alliance, an organization that supports and provides funding for projects that create opportunities and alliances between and among different campus groups and indi-

photo by elese chen/the hoot

pieces to reflect the audience’s preferences or a common theme of the night. In this way, the works were truly collaborative and intertwined.

As advertised to students on social media, their goal is to “bring students together through the power of spoken word, poetry, song and any other form of expression you’d like to watch or participate in.” Revival brings together a group of artistic and mindful students, striving to put students on stage and encourage a variety of performance styles. The event attracts many talented stu-

polished in their talents, kind and courteous in their demeanor, and innovative, reading lines off their iPhones or tablets in a truly 21st century fashion; such an experience is only provided when a young generation masters talents, and guides a community towards diversity and plurality.

Revival was founded by a former Brandeis student, Rohan Narayanan ’15, who sought to establish poetry nights and other performances styles as a regular practice. Later, Revival has evolved from these efforts to create performance nights and

viduals.

Behind the scenes, Revival works hard to create a space for pluralism, communication and unification at Brandeis. The event is entirely dependent on student efforts to work with the Brandeis Pluralism Alliance in funding and organizing, collaborating to establish a performance space in Chum’s, and advertizing and organizing the recruitment of both performers and audience. Despite the large efforts involved, Revival finds its reward in the large turnout of students to watch the performance, and generally the

inflow of support and excitement for future performances. Amid the technical aspects of arranging such an event, Revival members write poetry and prepare for their own performances, hoping to keep up their inspiration and their own artistic efforts.

In order to perform, students sign up on a first-come, firstserve basis. At the end of the performance, audience members are encouraged to perform. Clayre Benzadon sees this time as “a low pressure time for people who were too scared to sign up and who becomes inspired later on in the performance.”

Benzadon has been an integral collaborator to Revival and has carried along the legacy of open mic nights through to this semester. In addition to her work with Revival, she is a leader in various literary publications on campus, and a Creative Writing major. “[My] goals for future performances would be to get more collaboration of music and poetry, and maybe more music and dance performances. We hope to impact the Brandeis community by creating a safe space for expressions of all types,” says Benzadon.

Through an eclectic array of student performances, Brandeis’ diverse community shines on the Chum’s stage. Despite the cold and rain, the event gathered together many Brandeis peers to celebrate each other’s talents in a gracious and warm environment.

Last night marked only the first of several open mic nights set to occur throughout the semester.