The Brandeis Hoot 10/03/2014

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Volume 11 Number 18

www.thebrandeishoot.com

Brandeis University’s Community Newspaper • Waltham, Mass.

BIEI’s silhouettes vandalized across campus By Victoria Aronson Editor

In honor of Immigration Awareness Week, silhouettes were placed across campus to signify the struggles undocumented immigrants face trying to secure a chance at higher education. However, after the weekend,

only two of the silhouettes were left standing in one piece. The rest were vandalized, some destroyed beyond the point of recognition, by unknown members of the Brandeis community. Yasmin Yousof ’15, co-leader of the Brandeis Immigration Education Initiative (BIEI) along with Margaret Much-Hichos ’15, stated, “The sud-

photo by marian sileholm/the hoot

biei Brandeis Immigration Education Initiative club put up shadow silloutes in order to raise

awareness this week on campus.

den backlash and the destruction of the silhouettes was unanticipated. We don’t believe this is the true candor of Brandeisians, and we believe in Brandeis’ mantra of social justice.” At the sight of the vandalized silhouettes, Much-Hichos revealed, “When the shadow people were destroyed a part of me felt really hurt.” The silhouettes were part of a larger initiative designed to raise awareness and stimulate dialogue concerning immigration and higher education. In the past, BIEI has worked with administration to ensure Brandeis is, as Yousof phrases it, “undocumented-friendly,” meaning admissions would not reject prospective students solely on the basis of their citizenship status. However, this year, the club sought to focus more of its attention on fostering student dialogue. Designed to engage the Brandeis community, the silhouettes featured quotes regarding issues of identity, race and immigration from conversations with students. “While we are aware that some of the quotes were, to say the least, conspicuous and maybe even provoking to some, the end goal was to post all over campus real conversations from real students about real issues,” Yousof explained. See BIEI, page 8

October 3, 2014

PCC offers new services and counselors By Dana Trismen Editor

The Psychological Counseling Center at Brandeis (also referred to as the PCC or Mailman) has recently undergone a series of progressive changes, including hiring multiple new staff members and creating new group programs. Mailman is the physical building that houses the PCC. “[These group programs have] been created through a collaboration of all the PCC staff to better address the needs of the Brandeis students. Groups are often the most effective method to treat the types of concerns that university students face and have been found to be more enriching for some people than individual therapy,” stated Joy von Steiger, senior associate director and clinical director of the PCC. To better address the needs of the student body, six psychologists and social workers have come on to work as clinical staff at the center, while enrollment begins for six new group and meditation classes. The new offerings include a “DBT Group: Gaining Control over Out-of-Control Emotions,” a “Living in Eating Disorder Recovery Group” and a “Drop-in Meditation in the Peace Room.” “Groups offer the opportunity to learn about yourself from listening to

others, help you think about things in a new way, learn about yourself as you notice things you have in common, and as you relate more honestly and directly with others, you learn to be more accepting of yourself. Groups can also provide an opportunity for interpersonal experimentation,” said von Steiger. Some groups require meeting with a counselor beforehand, while others are simply drop-in. Either way, one fact remains the same: The services are free. For individual sessions at the PCC, the first 12 visits for each student are not charged. These new group sessions do not use the 12 allotted sessions, and no cost is billed to student insurance. “I appreciate the services [the PCC] provides the student body, especially the sessions free of charge, since I believe economic barriers are a huge issue in health care access,” said Victoria Aronson ’15, managing editor of The Brandeis Hoot. In addition to the new group sessions, the PCC has grown in other ways. One great change was the hiring of the new clinical director (von Steiger), according to Michael LaFarr, the executive director of health and See PCC, page 2

Brandeis fills gaps in health and wellness policies By Ethan Berceli Staff

Brandeis’ newly implemented health and wellness initiatives were created to improve deficiencies in specifically lacking areas and have been welcomed by students and faculty as a positive step in increasing emotional and physical support to the Brandeis community. Andrew Flagel, senior vice president for students and enrollment, announced the changes in an email to the student body on Aug. 21. The new initiatives will provide six main areas of improved service: expanded graduate student services, improved appointment scheduling, new insurance services, billing and electronic records management, increased personnel expertise in targeted areas and a new Rape Crisis Center in addition to expanding sexual assault services and prevention. While these changes are a progressive improvement to the old system, the vast majority of students will not notice many differences in their health care services. Diana Denning, the nurse manager and administrative director at the Brandeis Health Center, outlined the minimal changes students will

Inside this issue:

undergo. “The only change students may see is that they should bring their health insurance information with them as you would do at any doctor’s office,” Denning said, and went on to highlight the efficiency of the new system. “More of the appointments will be done on a rolling schedule.” The changes were inspired by the Hodgkins Beckley report, a critical review conducted by an external consulting agency, which was finished on Oct. 14 of last year. These changes are aligned with the university’s goals set forth in the Brandeis Strategic Plan for “facilitating health living through a community health approach that integrates health and recreation services and organizations across campus.” The university selected Hodgkins Beckley Consulting, which specializes in higher education health care management, to review its administrative systems for the Brandeis Health Center (HC) and Psychological Counseling Center (PCC). Recommendations for improvements from the report were mainly structural and organizational, and specific praise was given to the “dediSee HEALTH CENTER, page 3

News: Students stage protest against Sodexo Arts, Etc.: “The Equalizer” breaks action mold Opinion: Finding comfort through religion Sports: Men’s soccer tops Wheaton and Tufts Editorial: Admin can be willing to improve

Page 8 Page 5 Page 14 Page 11 Page 10

photo by marian sileholm/the hoot

president The President of The Republic of Ghana spoke at Brandeis on Monday.

Community gathers to listen to Ghanaian President By Emily Belowich Editor

On Monday afternoon, the Carl J. Shapiro Theater was fully packed as the Brandeis community gathered to listen to John D. Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, deliver a speech titled “The Promise of Africa.” In his speech, Mahama not only spoke about past and current growth for the country, but also about the development of Africa as

a continent and the increasing need for international support to help sustain these new development achievements. Mahama has been involved in Ghanaian politics for more than 15 years, serving as President of Ghana since July 2012. He made history when he became the first Ghanaian leader to have been born after his nation gained its independence from the British in 1957. He is widely acclaimed on both a national and an international level for not only his “natural charisma” but

also for serving in all levels of Ghanaian political office. University President Fred Lawrence offered opening remarks about Mahama’s important presence in Ghana and on the global stage. “We are honored to have with us here today the President of Ghana but someone beyond that,” Lawrence said. “President Mahama is someone who See PRESIDENT, page 2

Posner unpopular

Letter to Sodexo

Arts, etc.: Page 5

Editorial: Page 10

Singer Mike Posner plays to a raucous and rocking crowd as part of Fall Concert Series.

Brandeis Labor Coalition urges food service provider to treat employees with more sympathy.


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