Herbie is talking about the difficulties that are involved in serving on the Student Union.

-"The Student Union is a group of volunteers….Just the fact that we are volunteering, that is what really counts." -H

-Many students don't care about the S.U. or feel it's not doing enough. That's OK. Student life shouldn't revolve around S.U.

-More Hoops for Haiti jokes, reflecting on his Emma Watson e-mail, April Fools Day e-mail, "free beer" in e-mail subject lines, penchant for sending out e-mails (and youtube links)

S.U. Achievements

-Hiatt Career center fashion show

-Student Union senate BBQs, mixers, etc

-Influential People series

-Talks, presentations, forums

-SEA Earth/Food Dau

-2 Midnight Buffets (fed over 1000 students at each)

-Pool Opening

-DeisImpact

-Student Advisory Committee got input from over 500 students at start of semester (online @ http://www.brandeis.edu/strategicplanning/)

Kate's Social Justice Center proposal- getting snaps. Herbie urges student to check it out/get involved.

Dan Lee (Treasurer) is one of the "most hard-working SU members"

F-Board and Treasurer should be more transparent, create student-friendly guide

New Amendements Passed Yesterday

• New constitutional amendement (passed yesterday) will have a Student Activities non-voting rep on F-Board.
• Elected Alumni position no longer elected- FAB will decide
• Judiciary responsible for changes to constitution, easier to amend
• Campus Operation Work Group passed- student group to deal with facilities

-Tuition- need more accountability, students talking with administrators

-Improve SU institutional memory

• Herbie and other graduating seniors creating student union manual to be passed on through generations

Changes for Next Year

• Commuter rail service will remain accessible for students (prices may go up)

• Dining Services Review

• Imani Williams and Todd Kirkland (both on Student Advisory Committee) will be serving on Strategic Planning Committee in Herbie's stead

-Flagel approved committee to have input on budget (put together by SU and SDS)

-Pachanga will hopefully be brought back

-Lawrences moving into Watch Factory

-Ricky new executive senator

Closing Remarks

-Herbie is wrapping up, thanking administrators, SU Executive Board, Senate, other SU members, friends who put up with him, list of SU seniors (most not present).

-"Don't say we didn't do anything this year, at least we tried."- H

-Hopes SU will respond to students

-Hopes students will voice concerns, work with SU more collaboratively

-"I'm not going to cry." -H (and he didn't)

-Shoutout to his dad, who is in audience

-Touching personal story

-"Thanks for letting me be me, and viva la Brandeis!"- H

(Standing ovation)

Swearing in of Todd Lee Kirkland

-Herbie made him state his middle name

(Hug)

-Both Herbie and Todd were waitlisted here, both were secretary before becoming president

-Todd speaking off the cuff, thanking Herbie for training him

(Drops cell phone)

-Todd's going to be here this summer, will be prepping

-New officers sworn in (standing, raising right hands, ominous)

Round 2 of elections will be held Thursday.

Hello everyone! I know it has been a while… I am currently part of the Brandeis in the Hague program! It has been so much fun

(You should apply for the summer or the spring program!) 

If you have been following the election, you may have heard about Rick Santorum's statement about euthanasia: Check out the video here.

He claims that 

1. Euthanasia is 10 percent of all deaths in the Netherlands. 

2. Half of those people are euthanized involuntarily in hospitals, because they are older and sick.

3. Elderly people in the Netherlands don’t go to the hospital. They go to another country because "they’re afraid because of budget purposes they will not come out of that hospital if they go in with sickness.”

4. The Dutch wear bracelets saying, “Don’t euthanize me".

I have asked several of my Dutch professors at the University of Leiden, and they have all told me the same thing. Only about 1-2% of the population are euthanized. Euthanasia is only administered upon request (so the individual must be conscious, family can not make the decision) and have to be approved by TWO doctors. The patient must be in control of all his or her mental faculties and repeat the request several times before it is considered. Both doctors have to diagnose that the patient is experiencing physical "unbearable agony", and that the patient is beyond medical care to recover. A commission of a jurist, doctor, and ethical expert must draw up a report. The majority of patients who ask for euthanasia have been diagnosed with terminal cancer. They may only live a few weeks or months if they continued receiving medical attention. 

Elderly people DO go to Dutch hospitals, and they do not wear bracelets saying “Don’t euthanize me". Suicidal individuals are not allowed to request euthanasia. I have also learned that doctors who do not consider euthanasia morally acceptable to not have to take part in the process. 

Although some Dutch do not personally approve of euthanasia, they understand it can be a kindness for those living with terminal illness. Brandeis, what do you think? Should euthanasia be legal if there are many precautions and procedures? Should Santorum have to apologize to the Netherlands? Let me know in the comments! 

315 Students voted for the amendment

52 students voted against the amendment

10 students abstained

(We needed 2/3 of the votes in favor of the amendment in order for it to pass)



Thus, we now set our sights on a future election.

We have two seats open in the Student Union:

1. Midyear Senator Seat (only current 2015 Midyears are eligible to run)

2. Charles River Senator Seat (only current residents of Charles River are eligible to run)



If you are interested in running for either position, please email me at tki...@brandeis.edu



The election will be: Monday, February 13

Will we get (or at least vote on) a midyear senator this year?

Way back in the fall of 2009 (my first semester) there was a whole big controversy over the Student Union Secretary at the time, Diana Aronin, not submitting a constitutional amendment to the student body for a vote. 

Aronin was ultimately impeached and removed from her position, only to run a write-in campaign in the next election and won her title back!

What was the amendement, you ask? 

It proposed the creation of a midyear senator.

Yesterday we received and e-mail from Secretary Kirkland stating that President Rosen has re-introduced this amendement, and it will be voted on by the student body on February 1st.

Here's to learning from history!

Kirkland's full e-mail, including the text of the proposal, provided below:

The Student Union president, Herbie Rosen, has proposed a midyear senator position.  The Student Union senate approved the proposition.  As a result, there will be a student vote on February 1st.  Below is the proposal.

If there is any student that has an argument against this proposal, they can submit it to me. 

Amendment Proposal:

The establishment of a Mid-Year Senator

Sponsor: Herbie Rosen ‘12, Student Union President

Proposal Concerning: Article II: Union Senate, Section 2

Current text of Section 2

The Union Senate shall be composed of the Union Vice-President, two Union Senators at-large, each elected by the membership of the entire Union, two Union Senators from each graduating class each elected by the members of his/her class, one Union Senator from each residential quadrangle elected by Union residents of his/her residential quadrangle, one Union Senator from an off-campus residence elected by Union members living off campus, one Union Senator for Racial Minority Students, and one Union Senator for Transitional Year Program students elected by members of the Transitional Year Program.

The term of each position shall be one year, as defined in Article IX.

The Senate shall be the sole judge of what constitutes a residential quadrangle for the purposes of Union representation, and who qualifies as a resident thereof.

The Union Senator for Racial Minority Students shall be elected by a majority vote of all Union members who have declared themselves to the University as being racial minority students.

Proposed change:

The Union Senate shall be composed of the Union Vice-President, two Union Senators at-large, each elected by the membership of the entire Union, two Union Senators from each graduating class each elected by the members of his/her class, one Union Senator from each residential quadrangle elected by Union residents of his/her residential quadrangle, one Union Senator from an off-campus residence elected by Union members living off campus, one Union Senator for Racial Minority Students, and one Union Senator for Transitional Year Program students elected by members of the Transitional Year Program. There will also be one Union Senator elected by members of the most recent Mid-Year class to enter Brandeis as of January that academic year.

The term of each position shall be one year, as defined in Article IX, with the exception of the Mid-Year Senator position. At the beginning of the spring semester, the newest Mid-Year class will elect their representative to serve for the rest of the academic year.

The Senate shall be the sole judge of what constitutes a residential quadrangle for the purposes of Union representation, and who qualifies as a resident thereof.

 

The Union Senator for Racial Minority Students shall be elected by a majority vote of all Union members who have declared themselves to the University as being racial minority students.

The BSF was started in the spring of 2010 after being put to a student vote. It funded 5 projects in its inaugural year (2010-11), to the tune of $48,738.62. This year it chose 3 projects to fund (of the 5 that applied), granting a total of $19,681.58. 

One attribute the BSF has adhered to very well since its inception is transparency. If you follow this links included at the bottom of the post (or through the BSF's website), you can see PDF's of all of the student proposals, an update on last year's projects, and keep track of the finances the BSF posesses. This kind of transparency is useful for students who are interested in proposing projects, and allows students to hold it accountable for the money they are paying to fund these programs.

Below are the descriptions of the projects the BSF has decided to fund for Fall 2011, courtesy of Janna Cohen-Rosenthal, Brandeis' Sustainability Coordinator.

 Congratulations to those who came up with the projects!

 

 

greenbean recycling machine!: $15,968

Project Leader: Taylor Early '15

Greenbean recycling machine aims to increase recycling rates and promote how easy and accessible recycling can be by installing a reverse vending machine in Usdan Student Center. The machine collects plastic and glass bottles as well as aluminum cans and offers a 5 cent deposit on those that fall under the Bottle Bill Law in Massachusetts, and the refund can be either sent to a PayPal account, a charity, or a WhoCash account (tbd).

It's A Breeze: Drying Racks $2,226.58 

Project Leaders: Philip Lu '11,  Katharine Glanbock '14

To cut energy used on laundry, drying racks of various shapes and sizes will be available for free through a rental program on a per semester basis. Public drying racks will also be placed in laundry rooms throughout campus for residents' use

Windowfarms: $1,487.00 

Project Leader: Eve Markvardt '13

Windowfarm is a vertical, hydroponic growing system that allows for year-round growing in almost any window. Three windowfarms will be installed in the Village Quad and provide students with fresh herbs and vegetables for the use in shared kitchens.

The following project applications were invited to reapply in the next round of funding:

• Solar Hot Water: Have engineering and feasibility studies done with a more specific price range
• Pedal Power: Reduce cost of project, finalize logistical details, and clarify environmental and educational benefit

In addition students may start the 2012 application process by submitting an Expression of Interest/ Ideas Form.  A BSF board member will work with you to develop your project to be successful. We hope by starting early in 2012 we can get many projects off to a great start. Project funding maybe available in Spring 2012 for projects invited to reapply and new ideas in a rolling process (depending on how much is allocated of the remaining yearly funds) and a more formal process will begin again in Fall 2012 with the newly collected funds. 

Information: 

• Copies of the original applications online. 
• Copies of the original Expression of Ideas List

That our country has a secret prison where we 'detain' people for indefinite amounts of time without trials.

It's called Guanatanamo Bay, and it's been open for 10 years.

According to the New York Times, in January of 2009, Obama issued an executive order instructing the CIA to close down Guanatanamo within the year, calling the secret prison camp "a damaging symbol to the world."

Three years later, the New York Times reports that 171 prisoners remain there now. You can read a docket listing the prisoners' full names. Many of them have been held since 2002, when the prison opened.

Help put an end to this unfair treatment by signing Amnesty's petition to Obama, participating in Amnesty's National Day of Action Against Guantanamo on January 11th in D.C., or simply becoming better education on the situation, for instance by reading Poems from Guantanamo Bay, poems written directly by the prisoners and edited by Marc Falkoff.

The full text of Amnesty's e-mail is included below:

January 11, 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of "war on terror" detainees at Guantanamo. We're not going to let this day pass quietly.

Sign Amnesty's global petition urging President Obama to finally follow through on his promise to close Guantanamo. Help us meet our goal of 100,000 signatures worldwide — signatures we plan to deliver straight to the White House door. 

We haven't forgotten President Obama's pledge to close Guantanamo, one of his first acts as president. Nearly three years later, the President has failed to keep his end of the bargain.

Even worse, President Obama has yet again relented to extremists in Congress. On New Year's Eve, he signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law, along with its appalling detention provisions.


We lost that fight, but there's reason for hope. The battle over the NDAA united activists across the ideological divide, who put differences aside and came together to oppose the NDAA. 

January 11th isn't just any anniversary. This year, it's acritical moment to rise up against a shameful decade of human rights abuses perpetrated in our name. We can't let the recent outrage against the NDAA simply ebb away — help us channel this passion into a movement rededicated to closing Guantanamo! 


Guantanamo is a costly human rights catastrophe. Military and intelligence experts have repeatedly asserted that Guantanamo and the violations it stands for are immoral, illegal and counterproductive to US national security. 


There is a simple solution to closing Guantanamo — either charge detainees and give them a fair trial in US federal court, or release them. 


Sign our petition to tell President Obama that we are tired of his excuses. Guantanamo must be closed. 

For many, the New Year holiday embodies humanity's hopes for the future. Here's to 2012 — and with your help, this could be Guantanamo's final year.

Sincerely, 
Zeke Johnson
Director, Security with Human Rights Campaign
Amnesty International USA

P.S. It's not too late to join us in Washington, DC on January 11th for a National Day of Action Against Guantanamo. Lend a hand to our human chain! 

This video is a really nice example of an "average American" sharing his voice in government.

I think he does a good job.

Zach Wahls Speaks About Family

Description on Youtube.

"Zach Wahls, a 19-year-old University of Iowa student spoke about the strength of his family during a public forum on House Joint Resolution 6 in the Iowa House of Representatives. Wahls has two mothers, and came to oppose House Joint Resolution 6 which would end civil unions in Iowa.



The fight to to keep marriage equality in Iowa continues, help us support Iowans like Zach. 



http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/12424"

The resolution passed in the House but did not make it to a vote in the Senate.

To the Brandeis Community:



I am delighted to announce that John Unsworth, dean of the Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will be the new Vice Provost for Library and Technology Services and Chief Information Officer at Brandeis. John will start his position in mid-February.



Our library is a treasured resource and our use of technology and the innovation we bring to it are critically important factors in the university's future. I am confident that John will help lead us in the right direction in both these arenas. John impressed the search committee and the Brandeis community with his intelligence, deep expertise, collaborative approach and easy manner.



I want to thank those of you who served on the search committee. I know how much time and effort went into this search and its successful outcome. In addition, I want to thank students, staff and faculty from across the Brandeis community who met with the candidates, attended their presentations and offered feedback.



I am delighted that the process has led us to today's announcement. A story on the appointment has been posted on BrandeisNow.

 

Steve

–
Steve A. N. Goldstein '78, M.A., M.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.P.
Provost and Professor of Biochemistry

Brandeis University
Office of the Provost
415 South Street, M/S 134
Waltham, MA 02453

Below is a summary of the highlights of the latest Student Union e-mail, along with my commentary underneath each point.

I am in Chicago and so could not go to the State of the Union. Did anyone attend? Thoughts/reactions?

Attached to this post is "most of what was said at the State of the Union," e-mailed by the Student Union. I like the town hall forum initiative. Rosen covered a lot of  issues and changes Brandeis has been making, and for the most part they sound like steps in a positive, more student-friendly and involved path.

• The Usdan C-Store (P.O.D.) will be open from Midnight – 2am on Saturdays for all of next Semester! Thank you to everyone for supporting the Senate's Ad-Hoc Dining Committee, Senator Ricky Rosen and the Student Union in this initiative. Make good use of those hours!
  • ?YES! Responding to students' needs! Now if only we could negotiate with Aramark…

• In response to PULSE Feedback, we've been trying to secure more study space for the student body. In the future, we are trying to get the Mandel Center & Science Complex, but we need to see how this new option goes. Please understand that you need to keep your study space clean and neat. If this first extension of study spaces goes well, then we will be able to get the nicer areas like the Science Center!
  • ?GREAT! Listening to feedback! Yay!

• Student Union, Student Events, Student Activities and WBRS are proud to bring you… MAKING WAVES! - The Brandeis Pool Party! Saturday, January 21. Keep your eyes open for more information, but get your swim-suits ready!
  • ?Does this mean the pool will be opening Jan. 21st?????!

• Attached is most of what was said at the State of the Union. Please feel free to read it over, and let me know if you have any questions, comments, concerns, etc.
  • Highlight: From now on, Rosen hopes S.o.t.U.'s will be Town Hall Forum-style
  • State of the Union

Two awesome opportunities for any undergraduates to make decisions about our school.

No application necessary- simply e-mail Herbie about your interest in either of these groups by Nov. 25th!

Read below for more information:

Currently there are two initiatives taking off this week, but neither can be successful without the input and cooperation of the student body.

The first is the Strategic Planning Process. As Provost Goldstein mentioned in his email last week, a committee has been formed to assess the trajectory of Brandeis, and recommend strategies that will shape the framework, goals and priorities of the University for the future. This is a big deal.



Until May, I will be your undergraduate representative on the Committee, but I cannot possibly be your only spokesman. A Student Advisory Committee is needed to engage the student body, gather student input and make sure that the undergraduate community has a say in this major-decision-making process. This committee will be responsible for gathering and organizing the input and opinions of all students. 



I need your help! If you are interested in being a member of the Student Advisory Committee, then please email me with your name, class year and resume at hro...@brandeis.edu by midnight, Friday, November 25. The Committee will be meeting at least once a week for two hours. An additional two to four hours of work will be required per month. This Committee is open to all students, except for those going abroad next semester. It will be a diverse group of students from all years and all aspects of the undergraduate community. Interested and want to learn more? EMAIL ME!



We cannot let a major planning exercise lack student voice. We cannot let the Strategic Planning Process just become another shelved University Proposal. Join me in making sure that the Strategic Planning Process has a profound positive impact upon future Brandeis students. This is a special moment in Brandeis history – make sure you have a say.



The second initiative is the Student Union Constitutional Review. Every four years, the Student Union is mandated to review its Constitution. While the last review was in 2009 – 2010, I believe we can benefit from changing some of the Constitution's rhetoric. 



This process requires the participation of a great deal many students, all of whom are expected to reach out to the greater student body. Attached is the Constitution Article on Constitutional Review. Please read through it, and if you are interested in serving on the Review Task Force, please email me at hro...@brandeis.edu by midnight, Friday, November 25, and mention which constituency you want to represent.


While not a University initiative, this Constitutional Review will hopefully benefit the undergraduate student body in the future, and I welcome any student input on the matter. Our Constitution can be found at brandeisstudentunion.org by clicking on the About Section.



This is a chance for us to impact Brandeis and the way of life for our undergraduates. If you are interested, please don't let this run by you.



Thanks so much, and have a terrific break!

As Provost Steve Goldstein sent out in an e-mail earlier today, President Lawrence is soliciting input from the faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students in order to devise a 5-year plan to put Brandeis on the right track.

For faculty and staff, this will take the form of planning sessions group meetings.

Undergraduate students, on the other hand, will "convene a Student Advisory Committee to engage the student body through a series of town hall meetings, forums and online surveys," and the Graduate Student Association will likewise organize events for graduate students to contribute their input.

In addition, Goldstein announced the members of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee. It is comprised of: Gannit Ankori, Ben Gomes-Casseres, Karen Hansen, Tim Hickey, Anita Hill, Fernando Rosenberg, Susan Birren, Lisa M. Lynch, Bruce Magid, Michaele Whelan, Malcolm Watson, Herbie Rosen, Michael Singer, Jonathan Davis, Barbara Mandel, Bart Winokur, David Bunis, Andrew Flagel, Elaine Kuttner and Dan Feldman.

Soliciting input as to the future of our University is a good initiative, and would be even better if the news was accompanied by concrete plans for how this will play out, as it was for the faculty and staff, who were sent Doodle polls to fill out to organize their meeting. We will see how this process plays out, but until then, students can still follow up on the initiative by e-mailing Student Union President Herbie Rosen or others involved to suggest how it should be conducted.

The most promise opportunity was Goldstein's mention of a website that will go up in December to document all of the ideas these groups come up with. This is a good way for the whole Brandeis community to be involved in the decision-making process if they choose.

I'm also confused as to why graduate students' input will be gathered in a different way than undergraduates:

With Andrew Flagel, Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment, undergraduates will convene a Student Advisory Committee to engage the student body through a series of town hall meetings, forums and online surveys. Similarly, the Graduate Student Association will solicit input via a series of events and online opportunities. 

Is there a significance to this distinction? I'd like to know how graduate students feel about the text of the e-mail and their role in the process.

Read the full text of the e-mail below, and share your views on this news.

Dear Faculty, Students and Staff,

As you know, President Lawrence has initiated a strategic planning process for Brandeis University. As a community, we will envision our desired future in the decades ahead and create a 5-year plan to start us on that journey.  I write to share two important steps that mark the beginning of the process.

First, strategic planning discussions are being scheduled and we ask you to register:

Faculty

·      Please sign up for a planning session using the following link:

https://sys2.unet.brandeis.edu/bwebforms/view/Faculty_Sessions/

Staff

·      Please sign up for a planning session using the following link:

https://sys2.unet.brandeis.edu/bwebforms/view/Staff_Sessions/

You will receive confirmation of date and time shortly after registering.

Students

·      Students have selected a different process.  With Andrew Flagel, Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment, undergraduates will convene a Student Advisory Committee to engage the student body through a series of town hall meetings, forums and online surveys. Similarly, the Graduate Student Association will solicit input via a series of events and online opportunities. As these events are scheduled, you will hear more.

All ideas and feedback will be carefully documented, synthesized and posted on a strategic planning website to go live early in December. These materials will serve as the basis for development of the strategic plan.

Second, I am pleased to announce the membership of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee. The talented and diverse committee is comprised of faculty (one each from Heller, IBS and the four divisions in Arts and Sciences); the academic deans; undergraduate and graduate student leaders; trustees; and members of the senior administration (the attachment lists members by name).  I will chair the committee.

President Lawrence and I are deeply grateful to committee members for their willingness to assume this demanding service, and we thank the Faculty Senate Council for its guidance during the committee selection process. We also thank you, in advance, for your participation. We need your input to produce a vibrant and successful plan that will propel us into a future as bold and discerning as the act of our formation.

 

Sincerely,

Steve A.N. Goldstein ’78, M.A., M.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.P.

Provost and Professor of Biochemistry

A delegation of Occupiers submitted a petition with 13,409 signatures supporting "the rights of Occupy Chicago to peaceable assemble," [sic] today.

Nancy Wade, of the delagation, reported that they "had a productive conversation" with the First Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of the Mayor, and are currently in negotiations with the city as to what "a possible stable outdoor location for Occupy Chicago might look like."

I think that negotiations is a good place to be, and I'm happy the city is listening to the Occupiers.

More updates to come. In addition, check out Occupy Wall Street or its affiliates' Wikipedia pages. It's a rare opportunity to watch Wikipedia articles be constantly updated with new information!

For the full text of Wade's e-mail regarding the petition, the meeting, and how you can help, read below:

I am delighted to report to you that today, November 16, our delegation met with Felicia Davis, First Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Mayor in City Hall. We delivered the petition with 13,409 signatures of Chicago citizens and others in support of the rights of Occupy Chicago to peaceable assemble  We had a productive conversation with Ms. Davis regarding what a possible stable outdoor location for Occupy Chicago might look like. We will follow up on negotiations that may ensue with the city and Occupy Chi.

We feel that the "speak softly and carry a big stick" strategy may prove to be productive. You made a difference in showing the Mayor that many, many regular folks stand in solidarity with the right of Occupy Chicago to peaceably assemble in an outdoor location, preferably Grant Park.

Andy and Sara,  members of our delegation with close ties to Occupy Chicago, have agreed to relate the discussion in today's meeting to the appropriate committees in Occupy Chicago. 

Today's meeting could be a breakthrough for Occupy Chicago in relations with the city. We are very hopeful that this is the case. We will keep you updated.

It is extremely important that we keep this petition going! We need as many signers, especially those living in Chicago, as we can have. This petition is a powerful way for Chicagoans to have their voices heard by Mayor Emanuel! Please Tweet it, Facebook it, email your friends, encourage anyone you can to sign it. Together we can make a difference! http://signon.org/sign/let-the-occupychicago?source=s.em.cr&r_by=883213&mailing_id=1120

Many thanks,
Nancy Wade
Co-sponsor of  Let the #occupychicago movement stay in Grant Park without arrests