VOL 5, NO. 21

MARCH 13, 2009 BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY'S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER THEHOOT.NET Alterman wins Non-violent crime up, public safety says in UJ case BY ALEX SCHNEIDER Editor

In a unanimous decision, the Union Ju- diciary found a senate money resolution (SMR) granting funds to bring William “Bill” Ayers and Robert H. King to campus to be “null-and-void.” The majority opinion, written by Chief Justice Rachel Graham Kagan ’09, found that the SMR was allocated to a project that was “not a Union project,” and, as a re- sult, did not meet the standards for SMRs as defined in the Union Constitution. “I think this sets a clear and excellent precedent for future use of the Senate Discretionary Fund,” Class of 2009 Eric Alterman, who brought the case, said. “A “Union Government Project” must be more than just Senate approval or the ef- forts [of] club leaders doubling as Sena- tors. Senators should be initiating projects, PHOTO BY Max Shay /The Hoot individually and though committees, for BY JAKE YARMUS years, this is the highest I have ever seen it.” The second is fire safety violations. This the benefit of their constituents.” Special to The Hoot Campus crime incidents largely fall un- increase comes mostly from a fire drill last Lev Hirschhorn ’11, one of the respon- der one of two categories: crimes that vio- semester where over 15 violations, mostly dents, disagreed. “I do not think the jus- The number of non-violent crimes on late school policy, and crimes that violate covered smoke detectors, were discovered tices made the right decision. I think that campus has skyrocketed this year, accord- property. in one night. a more careful analysis would clearly have ing to Brandeis Director of Public Safety Ed The increases in crimes that violate This incident has raised awareness for shown that this was a union project.” Callahan. school policy have had two main contribu- fire safety concerns and sparked sponta- The issue before the court was whether “Crime spiked seriously from last year tors. The first is a 150 percent increase in neous room checks by the department of to this one,” Callahan said. “In the past 35 drug and alcohol abuses in the past year. See UJ, p. 4 See CRIME, p. 2 Kosher food not responsible for G.I. bug Funding for BY ARIEL WITTENBERG Editor Ayers visit still

The Health Center confirmed that there up in the air was no food poisoning in Sherman Dining Hall after 29 students came to the center BY ALEX SCHNEIDER complaining of vomiting and diarrhea. Editor The complaints came from students fall- ing ill after eating at the dining hall, spe- With the proposed March 30 William cifically, in the Kosher section; however, “Bill” Ayers event approaching, sponsoring Nursing Director Kathleen Maloney said clubs Democracy for America (DFA) and that these students were suffering from a Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) do norovirus, or “tummy bug,” and not food not have sufficient funding to compensate poisoning. the speaker and to pay security costs, which “Whenever people get a tummy bug, they in total would add up to around $7,000. always think it’s food poisoning,” she said, After the Union Judiciary’s (UJ) decision to “but the circumstances of this virus do not overturn a senate money resolution to help indicate food poisoning.” fund the event, the likelihood of finding According to Maloney, when food poi- additional funding sources has decreased soning occurs, it is because one food has significantly. been contaminated with a virus either be- “We are trying to make it happen, and we cause of poor packaging or because it has are not giving up yet, because we have not been handled by people carrying a virus. exhausted all of our options,” DFA member That virus can infect students eating and event planner Lev Hirschhorn ’11 said. According to Vice President for Campus the food; however, Maloney said that the PHOTO BY Max Shay /The Hoot symptoms would most likely become ap- Operations, Mark Collins, organizers have GI BUG: Students eat dinner on the kosher side of Sherman dining hall last night. Though many students promised $4,500 to the university to fund parent in a few hours, and that because the had speculated that they suffered from food posioning after eating kosher food at the dining hall this virus would infect many students at the week, both the health center and Aramark say that Sherman food is completely safe to eat. security, which would cover an increased same time, those sick would report to the police presence, the possible use of metal health center all at once, in a large group. the laws of Kashrut, food served at Sher- the health center is required to call the de- detectors, and other basic logistics. Collins Instead, those infected by the stomach man on milk days cannot be cross contami- partment of public health and the dining also explained that an agreement of $4,500 bug reported to the health center in groups nated with food served on meat days, mak- halls on campus. was reached only on condition that the of staggering sizes over a period of days. ing food poisoning occurring on both days The fact that no one working in the din- event be capped at around 200 students and Food poisoning is even less likely because extremely unlikely. ing halls had been to reporting to work be held in a location with easily controlled those infected reported to the health center Maloney said that whenever the health sick, Maloney said further indicated that access, such as the Shapiro Campus Center after eating Kosher Sherman food on both center suspects that there is a gastroenteri- Theatre. With these conditions, he said, “I “milk” and “meat” days. As according to tis (GI) virus being passed around campus, See GI BUG, p. 3 See AYERS, p. 4 Brandeis grads Pakistan’s AUDIO @ THEHOOT.NET IN THIS take to the mic government in Comedians: Funny alumni talk life behind the mic. trouble Brandeis Watch: Implications of UJ trial. The Hoot Report: Stem cell research and DC ISSUE: Diverse City, page 8 Opinions, page 13 voting rights 2 The Hoot March 13, 2009 NEWS CARS redesigning website to market university Campus

BY ARIEL WITTENBERG Editor crime rate

Part IV of V in a series on Academic Re- structuring increases CRIME (from p. 1) In an effort to better market the universi- Residence Life. The result has been a more ty, the Curriculum and Academic Restruc- than 250 percent increase in fire safety vio- turing and Steering committee’s admis- lations. Though these are separate issues, sions subcommittee has begun work on a Callahan sees them as related. redesign of the university’s website. “I think that these are highly connected,” “The website is the first stop for many Callahan said. “Most of these drug offenses prospective students when they begin to are in [students’] rooms, and covering a fire look at colleges,” subcommittee member alarm makes smoking a lot easier.” Prof. Margie Lachman (PSYCH) said. “In He added that many of the drug related the 21st century, the web is certainly more offenses were committed by underclass- important than print literature in terms men who were first-time offenders. of making sure prospective students have Callahan speculated that the increase in a complete understanding about what drug use on campus could be due to addi- Brandeis is and what we are all about.” tional stress on campus from the financial The redesign of the website is just the lat- crisis. est in a string of changes the university has PHOTO BY Max Shay /The Hoot “Students at this university work very been making, including adding a business UP CLOSE: Jamie Fleishman ‘11 gives a tour to prospective students and their families. Because of the hard. You have to focus on a lot of things at major, in an effort to raise revenue by in- nation’s economic recession, fewer families can afford making the trip to visit campus before applying to once. You get a lot of pressures, and, espe- creasing the number of students enrolled the university, making a well designed comprehensive website crucial for attracting young minds. cially when you are young, it can be hard to each year. resist,” he said. That the admissions subcommittee is to Brandeis can help you when you leave, Brandeis will always have a large amount Representatives at Brandeis’ Psychologi- concentrating on advertising the university even though we are a liberal arts univer- of students from these regions, she said cal Counseling Center, however, said they through the internet, as opposed to printed sity.” that in order to accept more students while have not seen an increase in students look- literature, is no coincidence. As Senior Vice The website will also emphasize Brandeis’ maintaining the same quality of Brandeis ing for help dealing with stress related is- President of Communications Lorna Miles core values of “social justice, community student, the Admissions Department will sues, saying that the center has been “busy told The Hoot, “in a time of financial limi- and opportunity”—which have been de- have to look outside of New England. as usual.” tations, using the internet is a cost effective cided on by the subcommittee. In addition to a new organization, the Additionally, local universities, such as way to reach out to potential applicants.” “We want to show outsiders what we website will also have a revamped “micro Tufts and Harvard have experienced drops The internet is also the method of choice know about how great Brandeis is,” Lach- site” that features profiles of students, fac- in crime over the past couple of years de- for prospective students researching the man said. “It’s not that we want to be ulty and alumnae. spite facing similar hardships themselves. university. unique, but we want to capture the essence “Students leave here with a great educa- The number of thefts at Brandeis, on the The new site will of Brandeis.” tion, but I think what makes Brandeis grad- other hand, has tripled, jumping from 8 to be different from Lachman said uates unique is that they also have a sense 24. the current web- want to show that this new slo- of social justice which they carry with them “Theft has increased tremendously,” site in that it will gan is not, by any to wherever they go next,” Miles explained. claims Callahan, “from small crimes like a be organized by that Brandeis We means, an effort “We want to show that Brandeis produces student losing their wallet at the gym, to a broad categories. produces conscientious to replace the uni- conscientious students, but also students student whose $5,000 lap top was stolen.” Instead of having a versity’s motto who have a conscience.” Director of Student Development and separate webpage students, but also students of “Truth, even Lachman also said the website will ad- Conduct Erika Lamarre attributes this in- for each major, unto its innermost vertise Brandeis as a “green,” or environ- crease in crime in part to an increased staff the site will orga- who have a conscience. parts,” but rather it mentally friendly university, citing univer- awareness. Additionally, Lamarre believes nize majors into - Lorna Miles is an effort to show sity President Reinharz’s decision to reduce that current staff members understand how clusters, such as Senior Vice President of Communications prospective stu- bottled water on campus last year. to interpret student behavior better than in “Health and Soci- dents “that they can Miles said that using the website as a past years, and therefore can catch students ety,” each of which fit in here and to method to advertise for Brandeis is logical in the act. will have a homep- excite them about given the nation’s current economic crisis, “Much of the theft in the last year has age. that through the a time when many families may not be able come from the new P.O.D. store,” Lamarre From the clusters’ “micro sites,” one can web.” to afford traveling to the campus. said, “The store is new and has more food then navigate to individual majors. The de- Lachman sees the website as a way for “Which college we are going to go to is to offer. This may lead more students to sign of each “micro site” is being worked on the Admissions Department to expand re- one of the most expensive decisions we steal. Staff has become more aware of this by at least one student, one faculty mem- cruitment to areas of the country and the make in our lives, and it’s a decision that we trend.” ber, and one member of Miles’ communi- globe that have growing populations that all need good information to make,” Miles Another tool helping P.O.D. store staff cations staff. the university has not yet tapped, such as said. catch students stealing is the new security While this new organization seems to the Southeast and Southwest of the United “With the committee, we’re trying to cre- system, which enable managers to video echo the idea of “meta-majors,” Lachman States. ate admissions materials that give prospec- record the store, review tape and catch stu- said that the clustering of majors “is just “The baby boomlet has passed its peak, tive students a sense of the Brandeis expe- dents stealing after it happens. marketing” and will not change the struc- so we are trying to recruit more students rience using the website to help them make There has not been any increase in vio- ture of the university in any way. in a time where there are less high school their decisions, even if they can’t come visit lent activities, which have remained steady “It’s important for future students to see graduates than there used to be,” Lachman campus,” she continued. for the past couple of years. what they are going to do when they get out said. “So we’re trying to find where in the A pilot of the website should be available Still, Callahan does not believe that the of here,” she said. “It’s not going to change country and the globe the population is to the Brandeis community by April, at non-violent crime wave will end anytime what they can or will do here, but with the growing.” which point in time, students, faculty and soon. economic times, people are questioning Currently, the majority of Brandeis stu- staff will be able to critique the website and “The trend will probably continue,” he why they need a liberal arts education, so dents are from the Northeast of the United request changes before the pilot becomes said. “However, we are working hard to try we want to make it more clear how coming States, and while Lachman believes that official. and assist students in any way we can.” Senate Election Results

East Quad North Quad Jenna Rubin ‘11 Alex Norris ‘11

Ran against Edward Tanenbaum Ran unopposed

INFOGRAPHIC BY Ariel Wittenberg/The Hoot March 13, 2009 NEWS The Hoot 3 Future of Cultural productions grad program uncertain

BY ALEX SCHNEIDER of Brandeis Univer- Editor sity.” Student Chris- In light of recent events surrounding the tine Del Castillo possible closing of the Rose Art Museum, (GRAD), on the the future of the Interdisciplinary Masters other hand, said Program in Cultural Production remains she would not have unclear. come to Brandeis While Provost Marty Krauss confirmed had the controversy that the committee looking into the mu- surfaced a year ear- seum’s future will “investigate and advise” lier. on how decisions made about the future of “I would not the museum would affect the graduate pro- study museums at gram, no decisions have yet been released. a university that The program, now in its third year,- at thought so little of tracts students interested in museums and its own museum,” cultural heritage studies. she said. “I would According to program director Prof. not have applied to Mark Auslander (ANTH), “many of our the Cultural Pro- classes frequently visit the museum to con- duction program.” verse with the staff, look closely at the ex- Del Castillo, who hibitions, and consult works in the vault.” worked as an em- One student, Brian Friedberg (GRAD), ployee at the Rose, who has led an effort to sell shirts and pins described the in- reading, “Save the Rose,” explained that his stitution as “an es- studies make use of the Rose by looking at sential part of my “the details of how the museum works. The education, the kind PHOTO BY Max Shay/The Hoot architecture of the museum, the organiza- that could not be tional structure, [and] the presentation and learned in a class- CULTURAL PRODUCTION: Brian Freidberg (GRAD) protests the Board of Trustees’ authorization for the university to close the Rose Art Museum at the Rose promotion of exhibitions are all of great in- room.” terest for someone like myself.” She also ex- News of the closing of the museum an- plained that in the context of cultural pro- tive to many students interested in muse- Still, in his blog, Auslander makes clear gered some in the graduate program. When duction, some of the risks the museum ums.” that closing the Rose Art Museum would asked whether he would have applied to the took – such as exhibiting shows curated for He cited the strength of the faculty in be a mistake. program had he known about the contro- commercial galleries – exemplified a level the program, as well as the “good relations “The Rose has been central to the real versy that played out in the initial decision of freedom not seen in other institutions. with many world class museums in New mission of this educational institution, to to close the museum, Friedberg said he Although Auslander described the pos- England” as reasons the program would generate new ways of seeing the world and would, “but I would certainly have thought sibility of the Rose closing as “tragic,” he remain attractive without a museum on to disrupt conventional habits of thought,” twice considering the [current] instability maintains the program will “still be attrac- campus. he wrote. Sherman not involved in spread of G.I. bug Health Center warns students to wash hands

GI (from p. 1) center. Maloney said that she wants to quell stu- the illness was not food poisoning. dents’ fears of eating in Sherman. Director of Dining Services Mike New- “I absolutely would eat there, even on the mark said in an e-mail to The Hoot, “Din- kosher side,” she said. “No one should be ing Services has been in contact with the afraid of eating there.” Health center and were assured that the As for where the virus actually did origi- reported student illness was not related to nate from, Maloney said it’s anyone’s guess, any food in Sherman…the rumors were but did caution students to make sure they not accurate.” wash their hands In addition, Ma- properly. loney said that only absolutely would eat “It’s very important three of the 29 stu- [in sherman], even if you are sick or have dents who went to I been sick to wash your the health center on the kosher side...No one hands after you cough with the virus re- should be afraid of eating and wipe them with a ported on their paper towel after,” she health records that there. said. they followed a Ko- Maloney also sug- sher diet, despite - Kathleen Maloney gested that students the fact that rumors Nursing Director use paper towels to had speculated that turn off the water Kosher food was to faucets and open the blame. bathroom doors in or- Jenna Rubin ’11, who chairs the Student der to stop the spread Union’s Dining Services Committee, said of germs. that she heard the rumors of food poison- College campuses are especially vulner- ing from multiple students who, after be- able to illness, Maloney said, because they coming sick, refused to eat food that came involve high stress situations, which can from the Kosher Dining hall. weaken one’s immune system, and close “They wouldn’t eat kosher food, so they living conditions, which can aid the spread couldn’t eat any food on campus,” she said. of disease. “They were eating chips and fruit for two “It’s just really important that students days because they were so afraid of it.” take care of themselves and get enough Rubin, who said she heard about up to 40 sleep and eat their fruits and vegetables,” students who fell ill with the virus, said that she said. “But above all, wash your hands not all of those students went to the health wash your hands, wash your hands. 4 The Hoot NEWS March 13, 2009 Vagina Week empowers women Lack of funding might stop Ayers visit

BY ROBIN LICHTENSTEIN AYERS (from p. 1) $2,500 needed to cover the entire event. Staff Another issue has been a question of am confident that we could come within When Tiffany Roberts ‘11 where and when to hold the event. The the proximity to the $4,500 cost.” was asked what her vagina originally scheduled March 30 talk was to “[The students planning the event] un- would wear, she answered be held in Levin Ballroom; as Collins ex- derstand and know that we are trying to “Spurs.” That makes sense, plained, though, when the costs of hold- facilitate this with the budget they have,” he ing the event in Levin – which is a difficult coming from the girl who added. helped kick off Brandeis’ eighth building to secure – were compared to the Collins is unwilling for his department to annual Vagina Week by teach- $4,500 collected by organizers for security, cover any of the security costs involved in ing a self-defense class on “at the end of the day, there was still a mate- bringing Ayers to campus in part because Monday night. rial difference.” Campus Operations have already suffered In fact, the questoin of “if In comparison, Collins said, “a smaller budget cuts and layoffs. your vagina wore clothes, what venue would seem appropriate to me.” “I cannot contribute financially to any would it wear?” That question, While organizers agreed to move the speaker coming,” he said. “If I had money, and its variants, has been posed event, it is unclear how they will do so, as these people wouldn’t be laid off.” countless times this week. Fol- other locations have already been booked. Regardless of promises to Collins, or- lowing this past weekend’s per- Collins and organizers have discussed ganizers have not yet obtained the $2,500 formances of Eve Ensler’s Va- changing the date of the Ayers talk. honorarium requested by Ayers, which gina Monologues, the week has “We don’t know what we are paying, would need to be paid on top of the $4,500. been filled with various vagina- where the even will be, or on what day,” In the spring funding marathon, F-board themed programming. Hirschhorn admitted. allocated $1,500 to SDS for the Ayers event The Vagina Monologues are Brandeis is not the first university put and $1,500 to DFA for all semester activi- about raising awareness of, and into this bind. ties. Prior to the UJ trial, DFA said it would working to stop, gender based Georgia Southern University cancelled a allocate $400 to the Ayers event; it now has violence. planned Ayers event scheduled this month proposed to Collins that it will allocate Roberts’s class was the per- due to financial constraints. Consider- $1,400, although the number could rise ing the event at Georgia Southern would fect complement to this mes- PHOTO BY Yuan Yao / The Hoot to as much as the entire $1,500 of F-board sage, teaching the 15 women have cost $13,000 in security costs alone, EMPOWERMENT: Tiffany Roberts ‘11 teaches ju jit su to a self funding. who came to the class the Japa- according to the school’s newspaper, The defense workship as part of the Brandeis Vagina Club’s “Vagina Outside sources of funding include $100 George-Anne Daily, and in light of Georgia nese martial art of danzan ryu Week.” from the History Department , $100 from ju jit su. Southern’s own financial problems in this the Peace, Conflict, and Coexistence Stud- This type of ju jit su is par- economy, the school chose to cancel the ways. Classes geared toward the female ies Department, $400 from the Program ticularly suited to women, Roberts ex- event. sexual system tend to focus on the “inter- in Social Justice and Social Policy, and a plained because “the whole idea is that you Other schools, such as the University nal” workings, whereas sexual education possible $500 from Brandeis Students for use your attackers energy against them… of Nebraska-Lincoln, have also cancelled for males tends to focus on the “outside.” Justice in Palestine, according to proposals its not strength against strength, but how planned visits by Ayers. Andelloux is working to fix that discrep- submitted to Collins. to use [an attacker’s strength] against him- As to another proposal to bring Robert ancy and shed light on the mysteries of the Another proposal has been to charge no self.” H. King to campus, money for which was vagina, and help vagina owners make the more than $3 for admission to the event, Roberts recently started a ju jit su club included in the senate money resolution best theirs. which could raise almost $600, provided on campus, where she is one of only two that was overturned, it is unclear what or- “I though it was really interesting the the event be capped at 200 students. female participants. For Roberts, the art is ganizers intend to do in light of the finan- way that Megan got everyone to loosen up The sum total of these potential num- all about “teaching confidence.” cial situation. Collins was clear the $4,500 about the subject,” said Hannah Levinger, bers is just over the $4,500 that organizers Roberts was not the only one teaching in security was only for an event with Ay- who is personally acquainted with the have promised they would pay for security, the vagina week crowds about themselves. ers, however. “I am only dealing now with monologues and the week. but the clubs would need to finance Ayers’ Mr. Ayers,” he said. Wednesday’s Orgasm Workshop was a dif- Levinger’s mother had been in a pro- ferent type of female empowerment, teach- duction of the Vagina Monologues, but ing women how to take charge of their va- Levinger was about 8 at the time, and her ginas. mother did not want her to see the play. Megan Andelloux spoke to a captivated Seeing the Monologues at Brandeis, and UJ rules in Alterman’s favor and tightly packed crowd in Golding au- the activities of vagina week, was a positive ditorium. The crowd alternated between experience for Levinger. UJ (from p. 1) “What I think is important to note is this fits of laughter and stunned silence as An- “[Andelloux] did not use euphemisms is not an either/or scenerio,” Melman said delloux gave her presentation, with the and was not beating around the bush (pun an SMR, which allocated $900 to bring at trial. “It was both a union project and a help of a power point and a vagina puppet intended). She was very straight forward Ayers and King to campus, should have club project.” named Victoria. in a way that adults usually aren’t when been passed. The SMR was brought by The justices disagreed. Andelloux, a professional sexologist, talking about this subject, especially with Class of 2011 Senators Alex Melman and “It is this Court’s determination that in broached the topics that few others ever younger people,” she said Hirschhorn, who are also members of De- order to qualify as a union project, the proj- would and where traditional sexual health If Brandeis had a vagina, what would it mocracy for America (DFA), one of the ect must, at the very least, represent a true education has failed. She noted that tra- say? The answer to that question lies in a groups sponsoring the Ayers event. collaborative effort between the Union and ditionally, in sexual education classes, the comment that Levinger, as well as every- DFA received $1,500 out of the requested another individual or group. It is not nec- respective male and female reproductive one in attendance of the orgasm workshop, funds of $2348.18 from the F-board, not essary for the Union to initiate every idea systems are taught in distinctly different won’t soon forget: “Is lube kosher?” enough to fund both the speakers and oth- or project its members work on, but they er club activities. As a result, DFA chose to must be substantially and actively involved. apportion less than one third of its fund- In this case, it is impossible to parse exactly ing, $400, towards the Ayers event. When where Mr. Melman and Mr. Hirschhorn’s combined with $1,500 from Students for a roles as senators left off and their roles as Democratic Society and $600 from univer- club leaders began, but this court believes sity departments, the money added up to that though senators were involved, this Be sure to check out $2,600. was not a Union project.” At the time, organizers of the Ayers/King Another issue that came up at trial was event focused solely on raising the hono- the final Senate vote on the SMR, which The Brandeis Watch rariums of $2,500 and $1,000 for the two was 10-8, with Hirschhorn and Melman speakers, respectively. While $3,500 falls refusing to recuse themselves. Had they short of the actual costs of bringing the done so, the SMR would not have passed. speakers when considering costs of secu- Associate Justice Judah Marans ’11 ad- at rity (see “Funding for Ayers visit still up dressed this issue in his opinion: “The issue in the air on page 1), organizers believed is not whether the senators should neces- at the time $3,500 would be sufficient. The sarily have recused themselves as much as it www.thehoot.net SMR, then, seeks to make up the shortfall is whether the Student Union involvement of $900. was disingenuous. Had this truly been a When, as senators, Hirschhorn and Mel- Student Union event, it may not necessarily for news analysis man came to the Senate for funding, Alter- have been unconstitutional for the senators man argued they were acting as club lead- to advance something that they, and a club ers who needed money F-board would not of which they are a part, are interested in, provide. At trial, Alterman condemned an interest that happens to be manifest in the action, saying, “every club has to make leadership of that particular club.” tradeoffs. It should not be a privilege for club leaders who are also Senators to use what is essentially that loophole.” Ariel Wittenberg contributed to this report. March 13, 2009 The Hoot 5 EDITORIAL

Established 2005 Getting the most bang for our buck "To acquire wisdom, one must observe." fter the Union Judiciary esting one as well. There is no doubt that community to continue to thrive. Alison Channon Editor in Chief overturned a Senate Money a visit by Ayers would be beneficial for the But the spending of slim budgets on the Ariel Wittenberg News Editor Resolution that would help fi- entire community. Ayers event should be critically evaluated Bret Matthew Impressions Editor nance a visit by Weatherman For this reason, it is heartening that other in light of Vice President for Campus Op- Chrissy Callahan Features Editor Kayla Dos Santos Backpage Editor BillA Ayers, sponsoring groups Democracy university stakeholders have come to the erations Mark Collins’ comment that the Alex Schneider Layout Editor for America and Students for a Democratic table to help DFA and SDS finance the $4,500 DFA and SDS have promised for Jodi Elkin Layout Editor Max Shay Photography Editor Society once again find themselves with- event. Brandeis Students for Justice in Pal- security was sufficient for an audience of Leon Markovitz Business Editor out sufficient funding for the event. With estine are considering contributing $500. 200 only. Vanessa Kerr Business Editor Danielle Gewurz Copy Editor the cost of security and the fee for Ayers, The History department and the Peace, Simply put, any money raised for an Ay- Max Price Diverse City Editor the event would total $7,000, a sum neither Conflict, and Coexistence Studies Depart- ers visit wouldn’t stretch very far. Times Senior Editors DFA nor SDS can produce on their own. ment are chipping in $100 each while the are tough and the university must learn to Jordan Rothman, Zachary Aronow A visit by Bill Ayers would be wonder- Program in Social Justice and Social Policy make a dollar out of fifteen cents. While an ful. His involvement with the Weathermen is prepared to donate $400. When every de- Ayers event would be immensely valuable, FOUNDED BY Leslie Pazan, Igor Pedan and Daniel Silverman and his reluctant role in the most recent partment and club’s belts have been tight- it seems the arrangement proposed will fail presidential campaign makes him not just ened to the last notch, it is precisely this to get enough bang for the buck. a controversial figure, but a deeply inter- form of collaboration that will enable the

SUBMISSION POLICIES

The Hoot welcomes letters to the editor on subjects that are of interest to the general community. Preference Resolving a conflict of interest is given to current or former community members. The a case by case basis. The first option fails Hoot reserves the right to edit any submissions for libel, n student government, it is impor- proper. grammar, punctuation, spelling and clarity. The Hoot is tant to avoid conflicts of interest. Though this particular case has been de- to acknowledge that Brandeis students are under no obligation to print any of the pieces submitted. But on a small campus such as ours, cided, the real question at hand remains multi-faceted and the second is simply in- Letters in print will also appear on-line at www.thehoot.net. The deadline for submitting letters is Tuesday at 8:00 parsing out what is appropriate can unanswered. How do we define a conflict efficient. There is no easy answer. p.m. All letters must be submitted electronically at www. get sticky. Last week, this paper condemned of interest on this campus? Where does ad- But the absence of a quick-fix solution thehoot.net. All letters must be from a valid e-mail I address and include contact information for the author. the attempts by Class of 2011 Senators Alex vocacy on the part of a Union member end should not allow us to bury the question. Letters of length greater than 500 words may not be Melman and Lev Hirschhorn to use a Sen- and bias and conflict of interest begin? Fairness and integrity are at stake. In the accepted. absence of an across the board policy for The opinions, columns, cartoons and advertisements ate Money Resolution to help finance an One option is to draw up strict bound- printed in The Hoot do not necessarily represent the event for Democracy for America, a club to aries, a zero-tolerance policy of sorts. We student government and other campus or- opinions of the editorial board. which they belong. More than flying in the could decide that no F-board member or ganizations, we must not test how much we The Hoot is a community student newspaper of Brandeis University. Produced entirely by students, The face of constitutional bylaws, the act pre- senator may serve on the executive board of can game the system. Rather, we must ask Hoot serves a readership of 6,000 with in-depth news, rel- sented a clear conflict of interest and was another club. We could also opt for a more ourselves how we can uphold the values of evant commentary, sports and coverage of cultural events. Our mission is to give every community member a voice. simply unfair. For this reason, the Union nuanced approach in which we evaluate ev- personal integrity and community obliga- Judiciary’s decision to nullify the SMR was ery Union member’s other involvement on tion.

The Brandeis Watch Brandeis Comedians Implications of the UJ decision Alums talk about life on stage 6 The Hoot March 13, 2009 SPORTS Women’s Basketball Team Advances to Sweet 16

BY HANNAH VICKERS the Judges scoring was Amber Strodthoff Chapin and Cincotta, played Staff ’11, who had eight rebounds, four of which the most minutes of anyone on were offensive. the court with just under 40 and This past weekend the Brandeis women’s The first round game against the Western 36 minutes respectively. When basketball team accomplished a feat they Connecticut State University Colonials was looking at who contributed the have fallen short of for the past three years: much different than the sweeping victory most to the win, a lot of atten- advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. the Judges had Saturday over Mount Saint tion needs to be paid to Orlan- With their 62-49 victory over Western Mary’s. For starters, Brandeis won this do who scored 15 points in the Connecticut State University Colonials match up by thirteen points rather than second half, 12 of which came on Friday night and the nearly 30-point the nearly thirty-point win they had Satur- during the decisive run at the win over Mount Saint Mary’s College day. Also, they had to come from behind end. She was also responsible Blue Knights, with a final score of 79-52, in the second half to get the win. This was for snagging eight rebounds Brandeis has earned the right to head to only the second time this season Brandeis overall and five in the second. Amherst this weekend for the third round was able to turn the game around and Cincotta was also very impres- of play. When asked how she felt, Amanda come back from a halftime deficit. In the sive during the game, scoring 12 Wells ’09 said getting into the Sweet Six- first half, there were five ties and four lead of her career-high 14 points in teen was, “surreal.” changes. While Brandeis started off with a the second half by going 3-for- In the game against Mount Saint Mary’s, 12-5 lead six minutes into the game, some- 3 from the line and 4-for-4 from there was never really a question of who thing changed with 7:48 remaining. From the field. Chapin, who was no- the dominant force was. Brandeis started that point forward in the first the Judges ticeably tired after playing nearly BBALL: Brandeis’ Jessica Chapin ‘10 (No. 23, left) drives past Mount Saint Mary Center Chrissy Zrowka ‘10 (No. 20, right) off the game strong and quickly jumped missed their last nine shots and allowed six the entire match up (and who can during Brandeis’ NCAA tournament win last Saturday. out to a 16-2 lead, hitting each of their first turnovers. The Colonial’s last eight points blame her?), kept Brandeis alive six shots in the first five and a half minutes of the half came from the free throw line af- in the first half, leading all play- of the game while forcing Mount Saint ter the Judges got themselves into foul trou- ers with eight points and seven Mary’s to miss their first seven-of-eight. ble. At halftime the visitors held a 22-21 rebounds. Overall, she had Both Jessica Chapin ’10 and Diana Cin- lead, with 12 of those points coming from three steals, three blocked shots, cotta ’11 were responsible for five points the free throw line despite shooting only 12 points, and nine rebounds, during the Judges’ opening run. From that 4-for-20 from the field. “Some of [allow- only one short of her third- point forward, the closest the Blue Knights ing them so many free throws] was us just straight double-double. Kend- would be able to get to tying the game was being a little overaggressive,” said Brandeis rew and Strodthoff led the game twelve points away. coach Carol Simon after the game. “We with three assists each. The domination by Brandeis was im- were just too amped.” Brandeis outshot Western pressive and also a bit surprising. Mount Brandeis scored the first two shots of Connecticut 40.4% to 28.3% Saint Mary’s entered as the top-ranked de- the second half with an Orlando lay-up overall in the game and 24-8 in fensive team in the country, holding their and a three-pointer by Cincotta to give the points in the paint, which again opponents to shoot 28.7% from the floor; Judges a 26-22 lead just a minute into the points back to how much those Brandeis shot 55.3% on the night. Another half. They couldn’t keep that momentum foul shots played into the game contributing factor to the Judges victory going, however, and Western Connecticut in the first half. The Judges was their 37-29 rebounding advantage. In answered back by scoring 13 of the next also had their second-largest addition, the Judges put up 79 points when 14 points of the game. Despite another rebounding advantage of the the Blue Knights only allowed an average trifecta by Cincotta with 13:09 left in the season with 38-24. This come- of 48.9 points per game. In an interview game, the Colonials held their largest lead from-behind victory certainly after the game Mount Saint Mary’s coach of 40-30. It was here that the Judges turned helped to build the Judges con- BBALL: Brandeis guard Diana Cincotta ‘11 (No. 15, right) Randall Ognibene said he thought his girls things around. fidence. Once they settled in and defends against Mount Saint Mary’s Meredith Paggi ‘10 (No. 21, did a good job trying to close the gap in Defensively, they finally got their game took it one possession at a time, left). the second half but “the board didn’t show back together, allowing only three field they got down to business and that.” When asked about the effective col- goals for the rest of the game, as they got did what they had to do to win lapse of his team’s defense he responded over their concern about getting into the the game. A special guest to the with, “What defense?... [Brandeis] was big- same foul trouble they did in the first half. press table was Chapin’s “Gram,” ger, stronger, quicker… They performed They also turned up the offensive pressure, who shouted out encouragement the best of any team we saw this year.” hitting eight of their last 13. Cincotta tied to the girls throughout both The Judges were paced by Chapin, who the game at 41-41 with a lay-up with only games this past weekend. After scored 13 of her 18 points in the first 9:05 remaining on the clock. Western Con- the victory she told The Hoot, half. She also had a game-high seven as- necticut took their last gasp at regaining “It’s over and thank God we won” sists. Two other Brandeis players reached the lead off a three-pointer by Stacey Rob- and went on to say how proud double digits in points on Saturday, and, erts ’09, but jumpers by Orlando and Cin- she was of Jessica, but also the even more impressively, they were both cotta over the next minute claimed the lead team as a whole. In a post-game rookies. Kelly Ethier ’12 had a career-high for good. They held the Colonials off from interview Chapin told the press 13 points, going 4-of-7 from the field in- scoring for over three minutes while Or- how much having that support cluding two 3-pointers and nailing 3-of-4 lando tacked on another four points from meant to her and told us, “She’s from the line. Morgan Kendrew ’12 start- foul shots. With 5:04 remaining, the Judg- been there for every game of my ed the game and contributed 12 points, es held a 49-45 lead and kept going from life.” hitting 3 out of her 4 attempted trifectas. there, adding another nine points from the Brandeis will face off against Co-Captain Cassidy Dadaos ’09 expressed line as well as a lay-up by Orlando. In the Muhlenberg College, who beat in a press conference after the game how last minute of play Western Connecticut Bowdoin 58-57 last weekend to proud she was of the freshmen stepping made two lay-ups, but by that point the qualify, at Amherst College on up the way they have. “[Their] confidence game was over, the final score standing at Friday night at 5 PM. The win- level is up… They’ve adjusted to the level 62-49. In the second half Brandeis outshot ner will continue on to the Elite we’re at.” Cincotta and Lauren Orlando ’09 Western Connecticut 41-27. Eight Saturday night at 6 PM and both scored nine points during the game Every eligible player got off the bench for play either Amherst or NYU. BBALL: Brandeis players after the clock hits zero on their 79-52 as well. One of the major contributors to the Judges in the game and two of them, NCAA tournament win last Saturday. PHOTOS BY Max Shay/The Hoot Track sends two to Indy

BY ZACHARY ARONOW January 17 against Bowdoin with a leap Nun said about making Nationals. qualifying leap of 11.67 meters (36 feet, Editor of 11.66 meters (38 feet, 3.25 inches). Ben “I was really surprised because it hap- 11.5 inches) against Tufts on Feb. 7. Four Nun entered the NCAA qualifier on Febru- pened the first time I competed this year. days later, Sax finished runner up at the ary ranked fourth in the nation at the triple I didn’t expect to do as well, and I was just NCAA qualifier’s, covering 11.26 meters jump and left with a leap of 11.67 meters happy that all of the hard work of the rehab (36 feet, 11.5 inches), which was good for After an entire year spent recovering (38 feet, 3.5 inches). paid off and excited for another opportu- runner up. from knee surgery, Anat Ben Nun ’09 “It feels great. If you’d ask me maybe a nity,” he continued. Ben Nun said about having a team mate finds herself making her third trip to the year ago if I had a chance to make it maybe Making her first ever trip is classmate joining her to Indy, “It’s so nice to have a NCAA’s at Indianapolis. Ben Nun quali- I would have said no because I really didn’t and fellow triple jumper Alessandra “Ali” team mate come with you, and seeing her fied for the NCAA’s in the triple jump think I would heal from my injury,Ben Sax ’09. Sax qualified with her first ever improve over the years is really incredible.” back on March 13, 2009 SPORTS The Hoot 7 Wide right: Season ends 63-64 to F&M BY ZACHARY ARONOW Franklin & Marshall went on a 13-3 run way off of him because he was turning the more than that.” Editor over the next five minutes. With 9:23 left in corner quite a bit and it would give him the Kenny Small ’10, who would be referred the game, Brandeis found themselves down jump shot or if he turned the corner and to as “the X-factor” by Scranton coach Carl LANCASTER, PA – The ball came to 57-37 on hostile territory and with a greatly they came off trying to stop the penetra- Danzig, finished with 19 points, going 3-4 Steve DeLuca’s (GRAD) hand with 1.4 sec- reduced bench. What wouldn’t be known tion, we might be able to hit somebody for from the three point line, while Steve De- onds left in the game. After nine minutes until later was that it would be the start of a three out on the perimeter.” Luca finished one rebound shy of a double- spent cutting a 20 point deficit down to dramatic turnaround. The final possession was not a thing of double with 16 points, 9 rebounds. Terrell one, this was the last chance to extend his “I think you all have to understand that beauty for the Judges. With nobody open, Hollins ’10 had one of his best performanc- last season in college hoops. All that was I saw a couple of people leaving early,” no lanes to exploit, and the clock bleed- es in a long while, coming off the bench for running through his mind was catching Franklin & Marshall Head Coach Greg ing fast, Roberson ended up firing the shot 14 points. Scranton was led by Paul Biagoli, the ball and getting the shot off before time Robinson joked, “And we have a signal with about five seconds left. who led all scorers with 22 points. Eli Lon- expired. that we flash which is ‘miss free throws, let “I thought I had a good look at it,” Rob- do and Ryan FitzPatrick each had 10, while “I didn’t really know how much time the other team back in it fast to pull in the erson said, “I could have set my feet a little their leading scorer coming into the game, there was,” DeLuca told the reporters gath- crowd.’ And every guy got the signal and so more but I knew I didn’t have that much Zach Ashworth, was held to seven points. ered, “because the rebound came kind of we held the crowd and certainly made it an time because the defender was only going Londo also had five blocks in the losing ef- far and I was turned away from the clock, exciting finish.” to be gone so long so I kind of rushed it but fort. so I just tried to set my feet and shoot it - Coach Meehan summed up the situation the look I got, it was pretty decent.” In a lot of ways, the loss to F&M was rem- turned out to be a really tough fade away.” facing his squad. “Going into the pressure Coach Robinson of the Diplomats gave iniscent of the Judges entire season – a very Unfortunately, he knew as soon as the we knew that we were probably only going credit to the play of his guards. “With all poor start, opening with three straight loss- shot was off that it was heading right. It to be able to go with six guys the rest of way, that we went through at the end of that es and dropping five games overall in non- was, and the furious charge to keep the sea- so we felt that if we were in trouble when game, when we really needed it, they came conference play; seemingly little chance son alive ended in a heart-breaking conclu- it got to 10, that’s the point that we might up with two huge defensive stops against a to climb back after losing player and then sion. have enough in the tank to go 10 minutes team that just made three threes and were launching a vigorous rally down the stretch “To talk about the comeback, we have all out and we almost had enough.” shooting the ball well and had some really that proved the naysayers wrong. The only to talk about how we dug the hole,” Coach Switching to a full court press following quick guards who could penetrate. In the difference was that this time, this come- Brian Meehan stated after the game. a time out, Brandeis emerged a completely end, our guards basically won the game for back was not enough. The game had all the makings of a rout different unit; forcing turnovers and missed us against this very strong Brandeis team.” “We had a good run at the end and we for Franklin & Marshall as little seemed to shots. The Diplomats could not crack that Steve DeLuca finished his career with really came together and started playing a go right for the Brandeis Judges. Led by the aggressive D, being held to 31 percent a game high 21 points on 7-22 shooting lot better but your whole season matters interior duo of James McNally, who had shooting in the second half. With turnovers and secured his place in school history as and that’s the point you try to make to the 13 points in the first half, and Mike Baker, and missed F&M free throws aiding the the fifth highest leading scorer with 1,595, guys,” Meehan said about the season. “We the Diplomats converted 16-26 shots from cause, the Judges came back from the edge knocking Jim Houston ’56 down to sixth. were very fortunate to get into the tourna- the field. Their success also included going with a 13-1 run. The Diplomats managed to Kevin Olson finished with 13 points and ment though we believed we belonged in three of five in their three point attempts in push the lead back to 12 when Rich Magee’s the undisputed number one three point the tournament but our schedule certainly the first half. Brandeis, on the other hand, ’10 lay up sparked another 13-1 run in the shooter. His 58.3 percent success rate was helped us. But in order to stay closer to missed their first four shots and wound up final three minutes. Following threes from sixth best in DIII history, and his 84 three home and host, you have to win games converting only 9-22 in the starting half. Olson and Andre Roberson ’08, Steve De- pointers are the second most in school his- through out the season.” Franklin & Marshall outscored Brandeis Luca’s three pointer with 90 seconds left to tory. Rich Magee fought valiantly, his ag- Brandeis finishes the season with an 18-9 30-18 in points in the paint including an go cut the lead to one and sent the Brandeis gressive play the center of the comeback as record and looks to next year with a num- 18-8 margin at the end of the first half. supporters (including former members he finished with 7 points and a team high ber of questions. Most importantly, how McNally would finish with 19 points while of Amherst’s squad) into euphoria. For 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Playing on an in- this team will respond without their offen- Baker had a double-double of 16 points, the first time all game, it looked like the jured leg, Andre Roberson finished the sea- sive dynamos, DeLuca and Olson. Coach and 13 rebounds. Brandeis Judges were in it to win it. son with 9 points and 8 rebounds. Overall, Meehan had this to say about the departing “We got away from what we do,” Mee- However, Franklin & Marshall weren’t the team shot just 38.9 percent from the players. han said, “and I thought we lost a little bit ready to wave the white flag. A missed field. “They work hard everyday, they came, of trust in doing the things – we were get- jumper from DeLuca saw the Diplomats Poor shooting had also troubled the they improved themselves, they took ting the shots, we had a lot of shots in the come down with the critical rebound, forc- Judges in their opening round match advantage of all the opportunities that first half go half way down and out and we ing Brandeis to commit the foul. After against Scranton as the Royals jumped to Brandeis offers academically and athleti- uncharacteristically turned the ball over in making the first shot, Brandeis could cor- an early seven point lead. However, the cally.” Meehan continued, “that’s what you the first half.” ral the rebound following the miss on the Judges took control of the game, as Scran- hope for in players: guys that really appre- “But again,” Coach Meehan continued, second shot. With Magee in the middle of ton committed 15 turnovers and no com- ciate the opportunity to be at a school like “that was when we broke off plays and just a scrum, barely having possession of the petition in the paint, leaving with the 74-60 Brandeis and they take full advantage of it tried to do things on our own.” ball, Brandeis was forced to burn their last win. Brandeis outscored the Royals 22-8 in and they love to play the game and they get Things only got worse in the second timeout and gathered for one last run to the points in the paint and held a 19-7 edge in better and better because they work hard at half as it started with a turnover and more basket. second chance points, making the most of improving themselves. We appreciate the struggles to get the basket. The challenges “We were just trying to set that high their 17 offensive rebounds. fact that the two of them came off of ma- only mounted after Terrell Hollins ’10 and screen that became successful late in the “We were aggressive going to the glass” jor surgeries after last season and still had a Christian Yemga ‘10 fouled out with 30 sec- game for us.” Coach Meehan explained the Coach Meehan said after the Scranton vic- great senior year.” onds of each other and little over half the strategy, “Give Dre [Andre Roberson] the tory. “They were guarding us a little tighter It is a very disappointing loss but if there game left. After a three pointer from Kevin opportunity to turn the corner and get to on the perimeter and that allowed us – we is something to take solace in,it’s that they Olson ’09 brought the Judges to within 8, the rim or we felt that they probably drop still took 16 threes, we don’t take many went down fighting. The Deis Board TEAM LATEST SCORES NEXT GAME

Men’s Basketball Fri. Mar. 6 - v. Scranton @ Lancaster, Pa. (Franklin & Marshall) W 74-60 18-9, 10-4 Sat. Mar. 7 - at Franklin & Marshall L 65-63

Women’s Basketball Fri. Mar. 6 - v. Western Conn. St. (NCAA Division III First Round) W 62-49 Fri. Mar. 13 - v. Muhlenberg @ Amherst 5:00 PM 19-7, 7-7 Sat. Mar. 7 - v. Mt. St. Mary (N.Y.) W 79-52 Sat. Mar. 14 - v. Amherst/NYU (if necessary)

Track and Field Mar. 7 - v. UAA Championships @ NYU - MTrack 7th place - WTrack 4th place

Baseball Mar. 10 - vs. Washington (Mo.) @ Sanford, FL * W, 3-1 Mar. 13 - vs. Washington (Mo.) @ Sanford, FL * 11:00 AM 4-4, 2-1 Mar. 11 - vs. Rochester (N.Y.) @ Sanford, FL * L, 7-2 Mar. 14 - vs. Rochester (N.Y.) @ Sanford, FL * 11:00 AM - vs. Emory Mar. 12 - vs. Case Western Reserve @ Sanford, FL * W, 6-5 @ Sanford, FL * 2:30 PM Mar. 18 - at Bridgewater St. 3:00 PM

Softball Mar. 8 - vs. Ithaca @ Clermont, Fla. L, 6-3 - vs. Penn St.-Behrend @ Clermont, Mar. 13 - vs. Case Western Reserve @ Altamonte Springs, Fla. * 2-5, 2-3 Fla. L, 13-0 10:00 AM Mar. 10 - vs. Emory @ Altamonte Springs, Fla. * L, 3-2 - vs. Case Western vs. Washington (Mo.) @ Altamonte Springs, Fla. * 12:30 PM Reserve @ Altamonte Springs, Fla. * W, 8-2 Mar. 14 - vs. Rochester (N.Y.) @ Altamonte Springs, Fla. * 12:30 PM Mar. 11 - vs. Washington (Mo.) @ Altamonte Springs, Fla. * L, 11-3 - 5 innings Mar. 18 - at Wellesley 3:30 PM Mar. 12 - vs. Rochester (N.Y.) @ Altamonte Springs, Fla. * W, 3-2 - vs. Emory at Wellesley 5:30 PM @ Altamonte Springs, Fla. * L, 6-2 - 9 innings

Men’s Tennis Mar. 14 - vs. New York U. @ Middlebury, Vt. * 11:30 AM 5-2 at Middlebury 2:30 PM Mar. 15 - vs. Connecticut Col. @ Middlebury, Vt. 9:30 AM

Women’s Tennis Mar. 14 - at Middlebury 9:00 AM - vs. New York U. @ Middlebury, 6-2 Vt. * 2:30 PM 12 The Hoot March 13, 2009 FEATURES They’ve got game Brandeis club teams prove you don't have to be varsity to be talented

BY ROBIN LICHTENSTEIN Staff before the Club Sports Council. The club’s designation as a “club sport” lies in the Few people would honestly say they came hands of this seven student advisory board. to Brandeis for the athletics. But while the The men’s crew team did the club sport ti- school may not be the powerhouse varsity tle proud when they raced a four man boat teams of some bigger and older schools, in the 44th Annual Head of the Charles Brandeis is far from devoid of athletic Regatta in Cambridge back in the fall. The prowess. One look at the club sports pro- team also placed 25th out of 31 boats in the gram and it becomes evident that perhaps collegiate Men’s Fours division, their first Brandeis’ athleticism, or lack thereof, has time in the division that included the likes been criticized a bit too harshly. of first place teams from the University of With over 20 club sports and teams, Michigan and the University of Chicago. Brandeis is actually home to quite a num- There are even benefits to existing with- ber of talented teams that compete on the out the varsity title, and the regulations that same level as the varsity, institutionally- come with it, including limiting practices funded teams of other schools. Whereas and interactions with coaches. As Crew club sports rely on Student Union funding Team alumni coordinator Ashley Zibura and their own fundraising efforts, varsity ’11 noted, “ a lot of non-NCAA crew teams teams have a budget reserved specifically are more competitive because they can for their operation. Transportation, uni- practice more.” forms and food are all covered. In fact, there is no men’s NCAA rowing With this kind of investment, schools because of that very reason. Teams want to seek out the players who will make the be as competitive as they can, and that al- most of this pricey investment. Thus, var- lows a club sport like Brandeis crew to gain sity teams are more highly regulated by some ground on other, more established, PHOTO COURTESY OF Beth Bowan organizations like the National Collegiate teams. JUMPING THE FENCE: Equestrian club member Ashley Zibura ‘11 competes at Tufts last November. Athletic Association and the University Zibura continued, “The only difference The Brandeis Equestrian Club co-hosted a competition last weekend at the Rising Star Equestrian Center. Athletic Association, and control of a team between Brandeis Crew and a team like Beth Bowan ‘10 was named high point rider at the event. is left to the professionals. Harvard is that we start from square one. The Brandeis Crew Team is one of the We get people who find out about the team older club sports teams, and is an example over the summer and have never done it of how the word “varsity” is no indication before. Many people go to Harvard having of the caliber of a team. Founded in 1985, rowed all their life, so their team starts from the team spent its early years building its square ten.” fleet of boats, which now numbers seven, The Brandeis Equestrian Club, of which the newest of which, added in the fall, is Zibura is the secretary, also competes at the named the Swift Justice. varsity level despite the team’s club sport The team paid for all its boats through status. their own fund raising efforts, as any Stu- The team triumphantly returned from the dent Union funding is used to pay c-oaches’ Rising Star Equestrian Center in Medway, salaries and the entrance fees for regattas, Mass. where they co-hosted a competition or crew competitions. The team organizes this past weekend practices anywhere from five to six times a The team’s treasurer, Beth Bowman ’10, week, and has risen in prominence, despite was named high point rider for the event, the club sport title. the Equestrian way of saying she took first. The success of the club teams can be at- Another team member tied for second, and tributed to the students themselves, ex- the team overall is shooting up the ranks. plained Ben White, the Club Sports Coor- Each show has six divisions, each divided dinator. White, who helps teams manage into three or four classes, and one rider is their budgets, hire coaches, and keep a chosen for a division to be the point rider, record of practice and game schedules, ex- the rider whose points will count toward plained that club teams are, “entirely self the team standing. PHOTO COURTESY OF Haley Baron run. They have their own [student] leader- For such a small team, ten members GAME ON: Brandeis' men's crew team sculls at the fall '08 New Hampshire Champs Regatta. They took ship structure, whereas varsity is all run by plus two riders currently studying abroad, 25th place out of 31 teams in their first showing in the men’s fours division at the Head of the Charles the coaches and administrators.” Brandeis’ performance this past weekend Regatta in the fall. The Club Sports division within the De- is no small feat as filling all those divisions partment of Athletics is relatively new. with can be hard. But in the end, Brandeis came don’t have people in, you just can’t get the ing in number, and they are becoming White was hired just under two years ago through despite not having a rider in each points,” explained Zibura. more recognizable on campus. Eventually, in June of 2007. division. The Equestrian team, as well as most club we may be getting e-mails to go out and Before the distinction, club sports were “You need to have at least one person in sport teams, remains competitive in spite support these teams, much the way we are chartered through the Student Union and every division because it’s all on a points of certain factors that could complicate a being encouraged to go support Brandeis’ had no administrator. To be considered a system. You can get first in all the divisions team’s existence. Women’s Basketball team as it advances to club sport, the chartered club must present you’re in, but if there are divisions that you Teams in club sports are certainly grow- the NCAA sectional semifinals tomorrow

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Check us out online at www.thehoot.net for archives, audio, and photo galleries. March 13, 2009 The Hoot 13 IMPRESSIONS Borde-nough The Pakistan Disaster Students need a seat and a vote BY CHRIS BORDELON Columnist

Imagine a university. Now, step out of the shoes of one of the top university administrators, put on your administrator pajamas, and drift off to sleep. Dream admin- istrator dreams. Dream that the university is bureaucrat paradise. What are you dreaming about? Origami palm trees made of dis- carded manila folders? Long, soft beaches of pencil sharpenings next to placid seas of black ink? Are you dreaming of new build- ings everywhere, covering every square foot of grass and every PHOTO from Internet Source parking space on and off campus, BY NADIR DAUDI ticle because I want to share with and even a satellite campus on Special to The Hoot you that we, as Pakistanis, do not the moon, each of them a brick- PHOTO BY Judy Kaufman/The Hoot I wake up every morning ask- want to see this violence continue. and-mortar testament to your ing myself the same question: I would plead with my govern- fundraising job-well-done? How sion-making power is a good idea. However, the questions on how far can the bottom go in rock ment to put aside its power trips about campus peace, even world “Transparency” in administra- many GSAS students’ minds bottom? No, I am not referring to and work with our neighbors to peace, brought about by calling tive decision-making and the fate – whether and how Brandeis the current economic crisis that sustain peace and cooperation in a giant “town hall” meeting in- of the Rose Art Museum has been would try to compel students to has plagued the United States and the region. Yeah, sounds rather volving all six-and-three quarters at the center of student discussion remain in Waltham and work as markets around the world in the dreamy and idealistic right? billion people together? Do you of the administration’s decisions. unpaid teaching fellows for lon- last few months. I am referring That is where our problem lies. envision inviting them to discuss It shouldn't be. ger than they initially agreed to, to the growing crisis in my home We all seem to be resigned to the any issue that’s on their minds, on Students enjoy, at best, only and whether their programs were country, Pakistan, which seems to fact that we do not have any pow- the understanding that you and weak input into university deci- among those slated for elimina- be crumbling towards an irrevers- er to influence a change in our a few close associates have made sion-making, and only on some tion – were not clearly answered. ible and inevitable calamity. Ev- government’s policies. We should or will make every decision your- issues. They can participate in The administrators assured those ery morning I wake up to a new have no room for people like Asif selves anyway, notwithstanding so-called “town hall meetings” – assembled that graduate students benchmark of rock bottom, pour- Zardari or Nawaz Sharif, both of their input? Do you assume that, a misnomer for these stale ques- would have a representative on ing through articles and news whom have almost bought their in this administrative heaven, the tion-and-answer sessions, given two committees. But the student updates about a new disaster in way to domestic success, charged meeting participants will never the name’s evocation of the direct representatives would be unable Pakistan. with corruption and fraud. We conclude that the meetings serve democracy characteristic of some to vote, and administrators, rather The recent terrorist strikes on need someone who, first off, is only to boost their self-esteem New England towns. Students than the committees, would keep the Sri Lankan cricket team hit educated and has completed at by letting them pretend that they with opinions have had to vie for all decision-making power. The me harder than any other recent the very least a Bachelor’s degree, matter? the podium with the uninformed writer recalls with some bitter- disaster – it punctured an irrepa- someone who can say no to any Where are the people in your and with groups pressing for ness that an administrator at the rable hole into the one thing our form of religious intolerance and dream? Do they take human changes relating more to policy first meeting laughed as he dis- nation still prided itself upon, the promote a secular and liberal form, or do they exist only as than to people, such as science missed the prospect that graduate world of Cricket. For the first time Pakistan, and finally, someone numbers on a balance sheet? professors calling for an inte- students would be allowed a say in my entire life, I have found my who can put history aside and Other than alumni with money grated science-business program. in “decisions” affecting them – as eternal optimism turning into a make much needed peace with to give, can you shake hands with Speaking at these meetings, though the question that another hopeless and pathetic wish for India. any of those people, or can they moreover, has seemed to achieve student asked him raising this improvement in my country. It is easy for someone like me, only be added or subtracted – or little. Hearing an administra- possibility could only have been Quaid-e-Azam (Muhammad sitting thousands of miles away in erased? tor or committee representative meant as a joke. Ali Jinnah), better known as the the comfort of a relatively stable Where are the undergraduates? respond with similar banalities So many committees now ex- founder of Pakistan, said the fol- country, to criticize the events un- Are they customers, or are they to everybody gives participants ist that even the most earnestly lowing in a famous address to folding back at home. This is be- cows that you can confidently as- the impression, whether well- concerned students cannot fol- the nation just two months after yond criticism – this is the accep- sume will stay here giving milk founded or not, that the meetings low all their activities. Students it gained independence from In- tance of an unfolding crisis which until they finish their degrees? distract and disempower par- can’t provide the kind of feedback dia in August 1947: “My message needs effective and immediate Where are the arts and scienc- ticipants, rather than give them a to student representatives that to all of you is of hope, courage treatment. The “it will get better” es graduate students? Do they meaningful say. would allow them to function in a and confidence. Let us mobilize attitude that almost all educated appear to you to be young and Another form of student input truly representative capacity. all our resources in a systematic and liberal Pakistanis seemed to financially fragile workers and involves student representatives In this situation, transparency and organized way and tackle the have clung to for years is finally students, who received promises sitting on some of the university’s won’t prevent the administration grave issues that confront us with dying. regarding their employment and proliferating committees. Many from making decisions against grim determination and disci- It will NOT get better – if any- study that the university should of these bodies have only an ad- students’ interests. Transparency pline worthy of a great nation.” thing, it will get so much worse try hard not to upset? Or, are they visory or consultative role. And is nice, but what’s really missing is Sixty odd years down the road, that we may not even be worthy totally expendable and exploit- many student representatives power for students (and, for that every note of optimism in that of being called a nation in the not able, a group that has not orga- have no vote on their commit- matter, for those staff and faculty message has been forgotten, or so distant future. I present it so nized to protect its own interests tees. Moreover, in no commit- members who may be concerned blatantly disregarded by narrow- brutally because honestly, sugar and, consequently, deserves no tee, including the most important about recent changes). Behind the minded and inept politicians coating the issue, like we have respect? ones such as the UCC, do stu- curtain of secrecy that some have who seem to be doing anything been doing for years, is nothing Where are the staff and faculty? dents have control or the power complained about is a bureaucrat- but tackling the grave issues in but an excuse for not standing up Are they people who bleed red to choose, veto, or even propose ic paradise, a place where people a systematic and organized way. as a nation to an increasingly dev- blood, or liabilities that make the policies. are inconveniences who exist only The result: a nation left in turmoil astating and disgusting force. university bleed red ink? Arts and Sciences graduate stu- in quantified form. They amount where the average citizen cannot The tide is shifting, and unless Difficult economic times place dents are a case in point. At two to nothing if they have nothing even turn to his or her govern- we as a people do not start to voice real constraints on institutions meetings with administration to give. To change that, students ment during times of greatest our concerns and get rid of reli- like Brandeis, and dealing with representatives held earlier this and others need decision-making need. gious intolerance in our society, those constraints is not exactly a semester, administrators spoke at power, not mere transparency. As a liberal Pakistani, I echo the we may end up being ostracized bureaucratic paradise. Even the length about aspects of the gradu- The museum, for its part, was of same sentiment that the ordinary from all forms of modern civiliza- best administrator, tasked with al- ate programs that wouldn’t be concern to only a few people on citizen back at home would share. tion. A place we once called home locating insufficient funds, is go- changed, leaving students to raise campus before announcement of The so called name of “Islam,” will be left as nothing but a distant ing to leave someone disappoint- issues they were actually con- its closure dramatically raised its which has been manipulated be- memory full of unfulfilled hope, ed, and should not be blamed cerned about in the limited time profile. For many, the Rose had yond our wildest imaginations by and the Quaid’s dream of being a simply because there’s not enough allotted for questions and an- been a rarely visited building that the network of terrorists operat- “great nation” will be laughed at money to go around. But admin- swers. Administrators from IBS entered one’s consciousness only ing in the Pak-Afghan border re- by generations to come when the istrators have kept too many im- and the Heller School also took on the infrequent occasions when gions, has resulted in far reaching history books of tomorrow are portant decisions to themselves, precious time to discuss how, save a visitor to campus asked how to consequences around the world, written. The time to act is now – I and the financial downturn has for funding a few scholarships, get to it. The Rose’s closing has those schools did not face serious and more significantly, in Paki- “hope” the citizens of our country muted questions as to whether See TRANSPARENCY, p. 15 stan itself. I am writing this ar- can at least realize that. this concentrated form of deci- financial problems. 14 The Hoot IMPRESSIONS March 13, 2009 Book of Matthew Finally, some science: Funding stem cell research

PHOTO BY Max Shay/The Hoot ARTS AND SCIENCES: This bust of JFK sits in the Gerstenzang Science Library. Save my job, please don't close PHOTO from Internet Source BY BRET MATTHEW Editor promise that this research holds the Science Library (and despite the fact that Bush BY EMILY MASKAS condensed into a semi-private rates, because who needs to take On Monday, an important is spending a quiet retirement in Staff and thoroughly quiet location out a book and risk a fine when Bush-era restriction came to a Texas), there is still a great deal like the Science Library, with- you can read all you want here timely end at the hands of Presi- of opposition from the Repub- In a turn of events surprising out the broad interference of an at a nice desk tucked away in a dent Obama. lican Party and its overactive no one but herself, my friend unfocused collection. Yet some corner. Having spent countless Obama signed an executive or- (and oversized) religious right Sara got into law school. She is strange and ominous harbingers hours wiping down the stacks der ending the restrictions on fed- wing. Just after Obama signed going all the way to New York, so of change are evident. First, the with a damp cloth, I feel quali- eral funding for embryonic stem the order, House Minority Leader I am sad because I am codepen- reference librarians were moved fied to say that the books and cell research, which had originally John Boehner (R-OH) signaled dent. On the bright side though, up to the main library, and I people at the Science library are been put into place by President his opposition by stating, “The she is going to be a lawyer, so I did not say anything. Then stu- happy there and do not want to Bush on Aug. 9, 2001. president has rolled back impor- can stop worrying about some- dent workers were forced to take be moved. This is a huge win for Ameri- tant protections for innocent life, one finding the bodies. All joking hourly statistics to try to prove to One thing I would just like to cans who have been hoping to see further dividing our nation at a aside (we hope), it seems rather some authority that people ac- take issue with while on the topic their country take the forefront in time when we need greater unity mind blowing that she gets to tually come is the matter of the art that is lo- medical research once again, not to tackle the challenges before start such a here, and cated in Gerstenzang. There are to mention those who have been us.” Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) was big new ad- am hoping that LTS I did not some very interesting, vaguely sick to death of the radical Bible- more blunt, calling Obama the v e n t u r e , speak. But science-related paintings that are thumpers who ran the show for “abortion president.” while I am or the administra- now, there just rotting here, tucked behind the past eight years. I must admit, their line of think- here, count- I are boxes bookshelves in broken frames, Embryonic stem cell research ing doesn’t exactly make sense to ing down tion, or someone, is everywhere, presented in a less than optimal has the potential to literally revo- me. But then again, my liberal, the days not planning on closing b o o k s manner. As I said, Kennedy is lutionize modern medicine in non-believing self doesn’t see until Ire- are being gathering dust under the stairs. several ways. For one thing, sci- embryonic stem cell research as land. Maybe down Gerstenzang. packed and Maybe instead of fiddling with entists believe that these cells— destroying “innocent life.” There I shouldn’t shifted and the books, someone could take a which are found within early- is a world of difference between a be so jeal- sent back to look at what is on the walls and stage embryos and eventually small cluster of cells and a human ous since she the Farber/ see if something could not be develop into the many different being, and I don’t believe that the worked very Goldfarb, and I feel I must speak. done to increase the aesthetic ap- types of adult cells—may be used former is developed enough to hard, but I can’t help feel that In spite of evidence to the con- peal of the space. Although just in “cell therapy” to replace dam- be considered a sentient being. some unhappy things may be go- trary obtained through my ob- to be safe if the library ends up aged cells in the human body. To me, the phrase “innocent life” ing down in the future. servational research, I am hoping closing, I call dibs on the JFK This could mean cures for a whole brings to mind images of ordinary I am a little bit worried about that LTS or the administration, bust. host of conditions, including people suffering from presently my job. I worked in the Ger- or someone, is not planning on I know I am sort of preemp- blindness, diabetes, cardiovascu- incurable afflictions. You know, stenzang Science Library all closing down Gerstenzang. We tively striking based upon ru- lar disease, and neurological dis- the people we could be helping by summer and have continued just got that fancy pointy new mor and speculation, but it really ease. putting serious money into em- since then; obviously I kind of science building; surely there can’t hurt to remind people of But that’s not all. Embryonic bryonic stem cell research. like this place. Not being a sci- can be no excuse about needing the value of Gerstenzang Science stem cell research may also help But what I find even more infu- ence person, I have no real use work space, like with another Library, especially since so many scientists better their understand- riating is that fact that right-wing for any of the materials at my recent debacle. Also, the space people who might be interested ing of certain types of cancers that critics are attacking a research disposal, but it is fun promis- would be rather odd to put a lab in using it do not know that it ex- are thought to be caused by “de- process that they don’t seem to ing myself that I will someday or a classroom in, since there is ists. There are many complaints fective” stem cells. This in turn fully understand. Yes, the embry- read all about the principles of a giant hole in the center of the about lack of quiet work space could lead to more effective can- os are destroyed in the process; quantum mechanics. Under the structure; supplies natural light, on campus, yet here is a quiet cer treatments for thousands of that is undeniable. But they are staircase is a large bronze bust of yes, conducive to teaching, no. work space, with many available patients. not “aborted,” as Rep. Smith sug- John F. Kennedy, which is possi- If the issue is about usage, with computers, that could be lost Sounds great, right? gests. Most are leftover embryos bly my absolute favorite thing on the thought being that no one soon. Obviously it is necessary Unfortunately, thanks to Bush’s obtained from fertility clinics and the Brandeis campus, and really comes here and uses the collec- to cut back on amenities during draconian restrictions, we have would have been destroyed re- puts the drippy “Louis Brandeis tion, I must vehemently disagree. difficult economic times, but a li- not yet realized the potential ben- gardless. This is simply a chance as Albus Dumbledore” statue to You cannot judge usage by the brary is definitely a necessity. Re- efits of this research. Throughout for them to serve a purpose before shame. number of books checked out or moving a unique element in the his presidency, federal funding they go, and it would be a terrible A friend once needed help how many people are recorded realm of the sciences would also was only allowed to go to stem waste not to study them. on a project involving genetics in a head count. For the people hurt our reputation as a research cell lines created before Aug. 9, If the right-wing radicals want and intelligence, and I was able who use the library, the appeal institution. So in short, I am say- 2001, and out of those lines, only to lecture us about fire and brim- to find a wealth of materials in is in its status as a hidden, semi- ing to those who have power and about 20 or so were actually vi- stone (or whatever it is that sup- close proximity. If you are doing secret location, where one can may be thinking of such things, able. Which meant that for years, posedly awaits liberal sinners), let research and writing long, de- honestly sit all day without being please don’t close the Science Li- little progress was made. them waste their breath. Hope- tailed, scientific papers, it makes interrupted. This comfort also brary. I like my job; I don’t want Now that Obama has issued his fully, in the near future millions sense to have pertinent works lends itself to lower check-out to look for another one. own order, however, the number of Americans—both liberal and of lines eligible for money should conservative—will benefit from The Hoot accepts submissions to the Impressions section on any topic of consequence to any member of the rise into the hundreds, provid- this research. And so, all I have campus community. Our mission is to give every community member a voice. The views expressed in the Im- ing scientists with more data at a to say is, well done, Mr. President. pressions section do not necessarily reflect the views of The Hoot's editorial board. much faster rate. Continue to stand up for science Of course, despite all the and the people who depend on it. March 13, 2009 IMPRESSIONS The Hoot 15 Shopping for Truth One Tall Voice A problem with realists Religion not so bad after all BY JORDAN ROTHMAN Editor took on the character of a social Don't discourage people club, a means to bond primarily I would like to warn my read- on that level rather than through BY CHRISSY CALLAHAN ernment currently faces. In this ers right at the onset, that this a mutual exaltation of god. Editor case, shying away from or sugar- article is a little different from the However, more recently I have coating the truth doesn’t serve previous pieces I have published taken a new position about such I’ve always had a problem with any of us in the end because that in The Hoot. Oftentimes, I relate aforementioned gatherings and realists. It’s not exactly that I live would only create denial. In other my somewhat controversial opin- about religion in general. Social in a bubble of denial; it’s just that words, we know there’s a disaster ions in this column, and stand by interactions are a vital component I prefer to see the bright side of out there and you can’t lie to us them adamantly. Here, however, of Judaism, as they are with other most situations. about it. I am going to convey the senti- religions as well. The Jews are all It’s not that realism is a bad But that doesn’t mean we ments that I once had, and re- one people, connected despite thing. There are, after all, many shouldn’t consider that people are late how I have been convinced massive divides of language, time, times when you really need people and as such, they are vul- against these prior beliefs. I have and space. Religion is the bond someone to just give you a reality nerable to bad news. Framing the never, in any of my previous ar- that unites all members of the check. Case in point: somebody news in a way that gets the point ticles, relayed my opinions con- group, and keeps us together as you know clearly got dressed in across while still being consider- cerning religion. I used to have one people. Not to be bleak here, the dark and is about to go out- ate to the viewer’s feelings is al- sentiments against the institution, but one of the reasons why I took side wearing some hideous getup. ways the best option. and believed it to be disingenuous on this position is due to what one On another note, let’s consider This is when you might want to and wrong. In addition, I once ILLUSTRATION BY Ariel Wittenberg/The Hoot of my good friends from home tell them they forgot to turn the realism as related to the world of believed that many religions had said to me. He asked me what re- light on while getting dressed. But academia. If a student makes a descended into mere social clubs, masses. There is an underlying ligion I was, and I responded with in a nice way. mistake, should the professor au- and thought that this was delete- annoyance with this characteris- something like “well…that de- The issue is essentially like the tomatically blurt out “wrong!” or rious to the real purpose of the tic and it turns me off from many pends.” He said, so long as there is classic “angel/devil” over the should they say something to the institution. Now, however, I have religious institutions. If a religion someone out there who wants to shoulder debate. Should you be effect of “well, that’s an interesting different sentiments about reli- was guilty of both faults (like Sci- kill you for your religious identity, the nice one and sugarcoat the point of view, but…”? gion. I would like to share these entology) then I considered it to you ought to protect and promote truth to be a people pleaser, or In my own experience, I’ve al- previous beliefs, and chart the be bad. If it was guilty of one fault your religious affiliation. should you be blunt and say what ways responded kinder to lighter journey I took to my new phi- (like Christianity or Judaism) I Now the reason why I now sup- you want to say? words of criticism and it’s the losophy. considered it to be less bad. If it port Judaism and other similar re- So many people seem to think teachers who’ve made the effort I deem myself somewhat of an did not violate any fault (like some ligions is not exclusively because it’s all or nothing. But there’s a to encourage their students who, agnostic, a person open to the forms of Buddhism and other I don’t want our institutions to happy medium that people could I feel, will stick out in all of our concept of God, but not entirely Eastern religions), I considered die out, but rather because I see and should find. There’s a differ- minds 20 years from now. convinced by it. One thing that I them to be good. I guess I some- the worth and value of a mutual, ence between being realistic and I had a teacher in high school used to be convinced of, however, what still hold these beliefs, but it and somewhat social, religious being nasty, and instead of taking who called all of her students was that most religions were truly matters less due to the revelation I connection. I now go meta on the blunt, realist route and po- “great one.” She was kind and harmful institutions. In order to had that I shall discuss later. the issue of social interactions vs. tentially being nasty, perhaps the patient and didn’t sugarcoat any- choose which ones were worse I also did not like how religion genuine exaltation of god because next time we face such a situation thing. She was honest and told us than others, I constructed a two has become a social club, an as- it really doesn’t matter. What is we should all consider adding a if we were being irrational, but question “religion test.” The first sociation more concerned with important is that people from little bit of sugar to our sour at- she also understood that we were question was whether or not a fostering social connections than similar backgrounds are bonding, titudes. a group of 17 year olds and that religion cost money. I hated re- with the genuine exaltation of individuals are forging valuable We all need to learn to take we weren’t going to respond kind- ligions that sold tickets to their god. I used to see people going social connections, and our com- criticism; it’s one of life’s many ly to a dose of reality. services as one does to a concert. to Hillel or Chabad, and believed mon identity is being promoted. important learning experiences. By treating us kindly and en- I also hated religions that pressure that they went not because they I praise those who are promoting But criticism doesn’t necessarily couraging our academic thoughts individuals to pay fees in order to wanted to pray, but because they our values through social events have to be a bad thing; the mes- rather than tell us we were support the institution. If religion desired to be with their friends. I and activities. I respect those who sage is all in the delivery. You “wrong,” she fostered an envi- is genuinely concerned the sin- saw individuals more concerned have committed themselves to en- could deliver the most insight- ronment in which we felt free to cere exaltation of god, than this with schmoozing at temple than suring that Jews are made aware ful, important piece of advice to express ourselves without fear of shouldn’t matter, and I despised with praying. And at many other of their heritage, whether it be someone, but if you deliver it in a judgment. (and still somewhat despise) re- religious social events, I saw peo- through religious services or so- nasty way that you pass off as real- Though it might not be the ligions that cost money. The sec- ple more concerned with baking cial events. I may still be agnostic, ism, people are likely not going to professor’s intention, in calling a ond question asks whether or not cookies and wearing costumes but my revelation has, neverthe- listen to you. student out on their mistakes in a given religion is proselytizing. I than understanding the religious less, allowed me to see the value Let’s face it, people like sweet they essentially embarrass them, very much dislike religions that, implications at hand. This sick- and righteousness of social activi- things. They like to add it to their if only the tiniest bit. like viruses, seek to convert the ened me, as it seemed religion ties in religious institutions. coffee, they like a little piece of The same thing goes for friend- chocolate; it just perks us all up. ship and family as well. It even And when there’s not even a sugar applies to people you randomly Transparency meaningless without a vote substitute around, people don’t meet. TRANSPARENCY(from p. 13) function as well. The same thing People say that it’s necessary to And it has toyed with ways of mind, and people at some of the goes with attitudes. be a realist and that it prepares been understood as a mishan- making undergraduate students meetings that I’ve attended who We run into this issue every day you for life in the “real world.” But dling of public relations, but the pay more money, including the implied otherwise were wrong to but often don’t think twice about that doesn’t mean you need to go administration found a pretty idea of extracting a summer se- do so. But while administrators how we interact with others. Take about it in a way that discourages pearl in that ugly oyster. The mester’s tuition from them and have opened avenues for par- the economy, for instance. Is tell- people. museum’s plight distracted many by increasing enrollment through ticipation, their decision-making ing the American public the ex- After all, who can really define from other decisions that directly a new undergraduate business structure has remained largely tent of the damage that’s plaguing what is “real”? Is brutal honesty affected people. program (which appeared to sup- closed to everyone else. our economy the utmost goal, or always the best policy? Perhaps in It’s hard to know whether ply academic cover to an effort to Administrators, although well- is telling the public how they can the end, realism is just evidence life imitates art or art imitates bring in more warm, tuition-pay- intentioned, have trouble escap- deal with and potentially improve of a negative attitude. Maybe it’s life. But it’s certain that money- ing bodies). ing their own roles. They run a the situation more important? the realists who need the reality motivated changes at Brandeis Administrators have made big institution in the real world; Such is the dilemma our gov- check. will have an impact on our lives. decisions under financial pres- unquestionably, their work would Lives – undergrads’ lives, GSAS sure, but they have made deci- be easier in a bureaucratic para- students’ lives, the lives of facul- sions nonetheless. They were dise, where the university’s people ty and staff – should concern us not forced to make the choices could be treated as numbers that Got an opinion? more than art. they made. Rather, they allo- could be reduced or erased at Lives should also be of primary cated scarce resources that could will. But running Brandeis as if concern to a university that treats have been allocated differently, it existed in a bureaucratic para- social justice as its mission. and might have been, if others at dise would probably not always The administration has forged Brandeis had some power to de- produce the best results for the ahead with building projects and cide as well as to discuss. More university or for its mission of Then write for fundraising for them. At the same might have been invested in the promoting social justice. time, it has fired staff and faculty. university’s people and less in It is the administration’s diffi- The Hoot Impressions! It has begun compelling faculty bricks and mortar. Building proj- cult challenge to renounce para- members to tell graduate students ects can await the next economic dise. They should give others a that the terms to which the stu- upturn. People cannot. role in real decision making, not dents agreed to when they came The administration has made just in ineffectual talking. E-mail [email protected] to Brandeis don’t mean anything. its choices with good motives in 16 The Hoot March 13, 2009 WEEKEND Spotlight on Boston Dropkick Murphys: The Pain and the Itch: Friday to Sunday, Mar. 13-15 Friday to Sunday, Mar. 13-15 15 Lansdowne St., Boston 527 Tremont St., South End Are you a fan of the Irish punk scene? You haven't had a Thanksgiving this Then, you should definitely go see terrible. Check out this controver- this band in concert at the House sial dark comedy about a family din- of Blues. Known for their rowdy ner gone sour. Bruce Norris' play concerts, this is a performance you is a biting satire on class and race. don't want to miss. $15/ticket. www.hob.com Photo courtesy of event website. www.bcaonline.org What's going on at Brandeis? Murder Mystery: Pachanga: Friday, Mar. 13, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 14, 10 p.m to 2 a.m. Levin Ballroom Levin Ballroom Think you're the next Sherlock Holmes? The biggest dance of the year. On Friday the 13th, the perfect time to Sure to be exciting, sure to get solve a crime, watch a murder mystery you on your feet. Make sure you improv show and try to catch the killer. get your tickets in advance before Drink vanilla chai tea while you ponder Photo courtesy of Marija Rajkovic. they're sold out! the clues. Photo courtesy of Mario Trejo.. 48 Hour Film Contest: Bad Grammer Show: Friday to Sunday, Mar. 13-15 Saturday, Mar. 14, 9 p.m. SCC Multipurpose Room Cholmondely's To kick off SunDeis, get a group of your Appreciate the comedic stylings friends and produce a short film in two of these Brandeis alums. Get a days. Don't have equipment? No problem, cup of hot chocolate, sit down, some will be available in the Getz Media and enjoy an evening of laughter. Lab. Are you up for the challenge? Photo courtesy of G&A Scholers. Unless otherwise noted, photos are from Google images. Floppsie By Grace Alloy-Relihan Comic Strips

Sleazy By Matt Kupfer

Author's Note: So long, and thanks for all the fish! -G laughingwarlock By Ian Price Your comic could be HERE! e-mail [email protected]