4 The Hoot
September 25, 2009
E D I TO R I A L Established 2005 "To acquire wisdom, one must observe." Alison Channon Editor in Chief Ariel Wittenberg News Editor Bret Matthew Impressions Editor Chrissy Callahan Features Editor Hannah Vickers Sports Editor Alex Schneider Layout Editor Jodi Elkin Layout Editor Max Shay Photography Editor Leon Markovitz Advertising Editor Vanessa Kerr Business Editor Danielle Gewurz Copy Editor Leah Lefkowitz Backpage Editor Samantha Shokin Diverse City Editor Senior Editors Sri Kuehnlenz, Kathleen Fischmann
FOUNDED BY
Leslie Pazan, Igor Pedan and Daniel Silverman
A
t 4:30 p.m. Thursday, the news editor of The Brandeis Hoot and the editor-in-chief of the Justice, were called into a meeting with a university official who informed them of University President Jehuda Reinharz’s decision to resign. They were informed that Reinharz would make his resignation official at midnight and that any information shared with the news organizations was contingent upon our confidentiality. News of his resignation was not to be shared until he officially announced his resignation at midnight. Following the news editor’s meeting with the university official, the editorial board was informed of this information and of its sensitive nature. The board was told that no mention of Reinharz’s resignation was to be made to anyone outside of the editorial board. Unfortunately, a member of the editorial board violated this code of confidentiality by
SUBMISSION POLICIES The Hoot welcomes letters to the editor on subjects that are of interest to the general community. Preference is given to current or former community members. The Hoot reserves the right to edit any submissions for libel, grammar, punctuation, spelling and clarity. The Hoot is under no obligation to print any of the pieces submitted. Letters in print will also appear on-line at www.thehoot.net. The deadline for submitting letters is Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. All letters must be submitted electronically at www. thehoot.net. All letters must be from a valid e-mail address and include contact information for the author. Letters of length greater than 500 words may not be accepted. The opinions, columns, cartoons and advertisements printed in The Hoot do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial board. The Hoot is a community student newspaper of Brandeis University. Produced entirely by students, The Hoot serves a readership of 6,000 with in-depth news, relevant commentary, sports and coverage of cultural events. Our mission is to give every community member a voice.
CORRECTION An article published on Sept. 18 stated that “When JBS is officially implemented in summer 2012, students will be required to take one semester away from the Brandeis campus.” In reality, in 2012 students will be encouraged, not required, to take one semester away from campus.
An apology from the editor
E
informing a Brandeis student not on campus of the news via text message. This student then informed members of the blog innermostparts.org ,who posted that “rumors” were swirling about Reinharz’s possible resignation at approximately 9 p.m. Thursday night. Upon learning of the leak, the implicated editor was questioned. He admitted his indiscretion and was asked to resign. The Hoot is deeply sorry for this lapse of integrity. As a news organization, we are dedicated to truth, not rumors. We pride ourselves on being an organization whom readers can trust for accuracy and whom sources, the administration included, can trust for our professionalism and discretion. This week, a member of our board failed to meet our standards. And while he has been disciplined, ultimately, as a leader, I recognize that responsibility for our content and our behavior is mine and mine
alone. Our integrity is all we have at the end of the day and when we fail, we must acknowledge it, apologize for it, and do our utmost to prevent its reoccurrence. As such, the entire editorial board deeply apologizes to the administration for our lack of discretion and to the student body who was prematurely handed rumor instead of fact. I know that our apology cannot undo the damage that rumor has wrought but I hope that our community, and those who act as sources in particular, will recognize our sincere desire to earn back their trust through our continuing dedication to insightful, meaningful news coverage and commentary. With deep apologies, Alison Channon Editor-in-chief
Lessons from a presidency
mbattled university president Jehuda Reinharz issued his resignation yesterday at midnight, agreeing to stay on until June 2011 or until a replacement is found. Reinharz’s resignation comes as yet another unforeseen suprise in a what has been a long, tumultuous year for Brandeis. Through academic restructuring and financial woes, President Reinharz remained a central figure, the recognizable representative of a mostly faceless administration. For undergraduates, the image of Reinharz speaking to the new freshman class on Opening Sunday is a memorable one. We have to recognize Reinharz’s years of service to this university. There’s no denying that under Reinharz, the university raised a substantial amount of money that has been absolutely essential for modern-
izing this campus, offering scholarships, and increasing both the profile of this university as well as quality of life for students. Reinharz has also helped oversee the university’s move towards sustainability. The growth and change in this university during Reinharz’s tenure is remarkable. However, as the Rose Art Museum ordeal has dragged on and Reinharz has faced calls for resignation, the opportunity for Reinharz to move on is one that is perhaps the best for both him and the campus. In the wake of major restructuring, donor lawsuits, and student protests, new leadership has the opportunity to make a substantial change in students’ lives. In searching for a replacement, we hope that the university looks for a leader responsive to the concerns of the student body, willing to be transparent about exec-
utive decisions, and eager to move Brandeis forward without compromising the university’s central mission. Most importantly, we hope that the next president takes the opportunity to learn from the mistakes made in past years. Unlike “Voices of Palestine,” we hope that a new president is more cautious about removing exhibits from campus. We hope that the Rose Art Museum’s future is finally settled. We hope the university responds to donor concerns, and not just in court. We hope that the campus continues to host a wide variety of speakers with diverse viewpoints. Finally, we thank President Reinharz for all he has done for the university. There’s no doubt that the next president has a great deal to do, and a substantial body of work to live up to.
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