A black man's only use is to dispense candy to white women, and when he fails to do so, he must be kicked until he works again.

This Skittles commercial blatantly promotes reliance on racist stereotypes and behaviors.

It reminds me of BlackJerry, except without the astute political commentary.

Really, Skittles?!

"Brandeis has been offered the opportunity to have our students (YOU!) participate in a pre- and post-experience assessment survey in a study on the effects of study abroad. 

This study is funded by the Teagle Foundation and is directed by the Great Lakes Colleges Association (GLCA) and the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM)."

Most of the survey asks to what extent you mixed with the natives of the country you visited, so I've been interpreting "native residents" to mean Chicagoans and "native tongue" to mean English.

Part of me regrets that my "study abroad" program (as Brandeis considers it) took place in Chicago because it means I missed out on a lot of uniquely international experiences. However, I think to say that you only experience "cultural immersion" while truly abroad is ignorant: I still interacted with people of different cultures and had to adapt to living on my own in a new city, adjust to new fields of study, and more.

So maybe this survey wasn't quite intended for me, but I just like filling things out too much to resist.

The exciting part of the survey comes close to the end, with a series of role-playing examples! Some of the answers seem very obviously biased (I can hear them being said in an arrogant "American" voice) and I think I can tell which answer the survey thinks I should select if I am a culturally-enlightened human being, while others are more ambiguous. 

Because there are 24 of these role playing situations, and each is pretty long, I've included the one I like the most directly below, and you can click the "see more" tab if you want to read the rest.

92. During the last 30 years the Chinese government has implemented a strict one child per family rule in order to keep the population under control. The latest figures have shown the male to female ratio is becoming unbalanced with a ratio nearing 1.2:1. This has been caused by increased abortions of female fetuses. The largely patriarchal history of China, which valued males for helping the family’s economic prospects, has contributed to this trend. What should China do at this point?

76. Two executives, one from Japan the other from the United States, both working in a foreign office, were discussing how to host an important dignitary visiting from the local country. The Japanese man insisted the group must go out to a luxury restaurant for dinner. The American thought it would be best to give the visitor some privacy after work and give him some unscheduled time. Both men were insistent upon their plan and neither would agree with the other. Whose plan would be best in this situation?

77. Bjutu, an exchange student from Zimbabwe, was living with the Campbell family in central Ohio in the United States. One Saturday Bjutu and the Campbells went to the local mall to shop and hang out. Eventually they all went their separate ways but had decided to meet back at the entrance by 5 p.m. to go to dinner and then a movie. At 5 p.m., everyone was back except for Bjutu. It was not until 5:35 that Bjutu finally arrived back at the meeting place. The Campbells were terse. How might you expect Bjutu to react to the Campbell family?

78. You are enrolled in a campus class on criminology. One day the professor lectures on capital punishment (CP) and its effects as a deterrent to crime in a number of countries including the U.S. The professor cites several recent studies showing that the use of CP lowers violent crime rates. In one example the professor cited the low use of illegal drugs in Singapore where the punishment for drug use is death by hanging. Several students object to this information and, though they cannot cite a specific study, are certain that cultural differences and not CP impact the overall crime rates. What do you think about this topic? 

	The professor has cited specific studies and holds a PhD in criminology; he is likely right.
	The professor is likely just manipulating the data to prove his point, because it is too difficult to compare crime rates across different cultures.
	I prefer to do further research myself and decide based on my findings.
	Since culture impacts crime, it is difficult to separate these two issues.
	It is possible that the professor and students are both right, but hard to know.
	Regardless of ones cultural beliefs, capital punishment is wrong.

 

79. In the country of Nepal, poor families often sell their daughters into indentured servitude for monthly payments to the family. The girls are taken from their families and they often work for years. The girls get no payment and usually work long hours in conditions that many say amounts to slavery. During their servitude, they forgo any education and work continuously until the contract has been terminated by the parent or the proprietor who purchased their services. Which of the following best describes your position on this issue?

	If the parents and proprietor agree to the arrangement then it is completely acceptable.
	This is a violation of child labor practices and have long been condemned by civilized society.
	Since the culture of Nepal has condoned this practice for centuries, I see little reason to interfere.
	If the girls are not being physically abused, and payment is being made for their services, there is little harm in this arrangement.
	I would need to know more about the culture to condemn or condone this practice.
	Although this may be a cultural issue, the girls should be protected based upon common human rights.

 

80. You are in a market in rural China and you see a man and his wife bartering with a farmer for a chicken. The farmer says something to the wife, the man yells at his wife, and the wife drops her head, turns, and walks away. What cultural dynamics do you see occurring in this scenario.

	The woman may have shamed the man as he was bartering with the farmer.
	The farmer did not want to barter with the wife and the husband told her to leave.
	The woman was embarrassed by her husband’s yelling.
	‘a’ ‘b’ and ‘c’ are equally possible, but it is hard to know.
	The Chinese society is a patriarchal society so ‘a’ or ‘b’ are most likely.
	Need more information about the culture to answer.

 

81. Imagine you are invited by a friend, the oldest son of a local business owner, to dinner with his family. You arrive at the same time as another local guest. As the two of you enter, the local guest greets the grandfather, greets the father, and then greets the host. It is now your turn. How would you proceed? 

	I would greet my friend and allow him to make introductions.
	I would greet the grandfather, the father, and then my friend.
	I would wait and take my cue from my friend the host.
	I would wait for the family members to each introduce themselves.
	I would greet the family the same way the guest before me did.
	I would greet all of the family at once and not individually.

 

82. Imagine you have been hired by an employer who has offices worldwide. You are initially assigned to work in the domestic division of the corporation. You work with several college friends and enjoy the comfortable environment of the office. After having spent six months training and working in the domestic division, you are notified you will be transferred to the international division on the other side of town. In your new position, you will work with a multicultural group composed of colleagues from various nations around the world. Which statement do you think would best describe your reaction?

	I would be excited for the opportunity to work with a group of culturally diverse people.
	I would agree to go but might find it difficult to work with a culturally different group of people.
	I would likely try to find a job working with people more like myself.
	I would approach my employer and ask that I not be transferred, that I am happy where I am.
	I would be both excited for the new opportunity and sad to leave my friends and family.
	I would give the new position a chance, but if I was too uncomfortable I would find another job.

 

83. There are many global issues requiring attention in the near and distant future. These include global warming, terrorism, world economic policies, poverty, immigration, human rights abuses, renewable energy production, etc. Which statement below best characterizes your current actions to become involved in the resolution of one of these issues?

	I am actively involved in several groups whose purpose is addressing similar issues.
	I would like to become involved in addressing global concerns, but I am not yet sure how.
	There is really nothing any one person can do at this point.
	I am involved with a group that sometimes works to address these issues.
	I may become involved at some point in the future, but not at this time.
	I have been investigating or exploring ways in which I can help, individually or through a group, to address certain global issues, but have not decided to take any action.

 

84. You are looking for a restaurant in a major city in a Middle Eastern country. You pass a woman and ask her for directions. The woman turns and walks away without saying anything. Which of the following is most likely?

	The woman may have been unable to understand you.
	The woman does not like Americans.
	The woman was afraid.
	It is inappropriate for a woman to talk with a stranger.
	Do not know.
	Need more information about the culture to answer.

 

85. Beth, a medical doctor, was visiting an international colleague, Lourdes, in Philippines and was asked to attend dinner at Lourdes’s home. After arriving and being seated, a servant brought out dinner and began serving. Beth, interested in the unfamiliar culture began to ask the servant some questions. The servant simply smiled and nodded, avoiding eye contact. Lourdes answered the questions for the servant. At one point, the servant accidentally dripped a small amount of food on the table while serving. When asked a question Lourdes could not answer, the servant responded with a brief answer. Lourdes quickly spoke to the servant in a harsh tone. The rest of the dinner proceeded, but in a tense atmosphere. What dynamics caused the tension?

	Need more information to know.
	The servant offended Lourdes by dripping on the table.
	Lourdes might have been upset that the servant had spoken.
	I do not understand the culture well enough to say.
	The servant might have been embarrassed by the questions, especially in English.
	It is possible that servants are not supposed to speak to guests in Philippines.

 

86. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified child/youth immunization as one of the critical areas of health needing to be addressed with urgency. Millions of children each year die from preventable diseases. The mortality rate in Africa and many Asian countries is deplorable. Which statement best characterizes your feelings about this issue?

	I agree with WHO and intend to find some way to help.
	WHO should be going after large foundations like the Gates Foundation to help with this issue, though if there are ways I can make a difference, I certainly will.
	I have contributed to similar organizations working on this problem.
	The world population is so large that this is nature’s way of preventing overcrowding on our planet.
	I have actually volunteered my time to an organization that helps address health challenges around the world.
	The health problems of most of these countries is a result of corrupt government and could be addressed if the governments chose to do so.

 

87. Frank is an executive temporarily living in Turkey. He is responsible for doing employee evaluations for an office in Istanbul. He is assigned to work with a female colleague, Akshita, who is Muslim. As they work together, Frank develops a great respect for Akshita and her good work ethic. However, Frank begins to find it difficult to perform his job due to certain customs Akshita follows. One includes never being alone with him, even when they are discussing confidential employee evaluations. 

	Frank should ask another employee to be assigned to replace Akshita.
	Frank should request to be replaced by a female counterpart.
	Frank should explain the importance of confidentiality to Akshita and ask her to make an exception.
	Frank should work with Akshita to create a reasonably confidential environment where Akshita can still abide by her customs even if it requires others to be present.
	Akshita should understand the nature of confidentiality and remove herself from the evaluation task.
	Frank should fire Akshita since she cannot carry out her responsibilities.

 

88. One of the greatest crises the world will have to address is the depletion of oil reserves and the development of sustainable energy. For the United States, oil depletion could hurt our economy, but since we have huge reserves of coal we can maintain our current economy until new energy sources can be developed. Of course, this will mean contributing even more green house gases to global warming. Many other countries, which are just now developing their manufacturing resources, are beginning to contribute to green house gases. The situation is likely to get much worse as these countries continue to develop their manufacturing economies. What should average citizens do, given the dilemma we face?

	We should demand that our government immediately begin cutting our green house gas emissions and put greater resources into developing new, clean energies.
	We should support all those groups that are educating everyone about the negative effects of industrialization.
	We should take the lead in setting an example by reducing our emissions while also educating the world.
	There is little that the average American citizen can do.
	Science and technology will find the answers sometime in the future; we need not do anything at this time.
	Average American citizens are already doing a great deal; we should just continue to make it an issue for politicians to do our part in reducing emissions.

 

89. An article discussing the history of India made a case for its prominence in the world. The article contrasted many of India’s practices over its long history to those of the Western world. In comparison to the United States, the article concluded that India could be considered one of the great nations of the world. What do you think about the articles comparison? 

	India and the United States are both great nations, but cannot be compared fairly.
	India and the United States with their distinct cultures provide an intriguing comparison.
	It is not a good comparison to examine the United States and India; they are too dissimilar.
	The similarities and differences between India and the United States may be difficult to compare, but the analysis could provide interesting insights into both countries.
	The cultures of these countries can be compared, but in modern comparisons, the U.S. will likely be seen as superior.
	The U.S. is a developed nation and India a developing nation; this makes a bad analysis.

 

90. In many societies around the world women take on different roles. In some societies, a woman’s main role is to be subservient to the man. Some societies expect women primarily to take care of the home (raise children, cook, clean, etc). In other cultures, women work side-by-side with men in egalitarian roles. In still others, women are given elite status and men must serve the needs of women. What do you think the role of women should be?

	Women’s roles should be equal to men’s roles in every way, because the western world has shown that works best.
	It depends on the situation and the individual; the dominant role would change depending on the skills, knowledge, and physical capabilities of the people involved.
	The roles of men and women should be universal across cultures because men and women are the same across all cultures.
	Men, being physically stronger, should typically be in the superior role, because they can work harder and protect the family.
	Men have dominated most cultures throughout history since strength was necessary for survival; in modern times, women should be given the lead since strength is no longer an issue.
	Since women and men have different strengths and weaknesses, their roles should depend on those attributes that the culture values most.

 

91. Jack, a student from England whose father is a wealthy entrepreneur, attends a college in Qatar. This college has single sex dorms and prohibits members of the opposite sex from spending the night. The policy is very strict and violators will be expelled. Jack was lucky enough his sophomore year to get a single room in one of the dorms. On Valentines Day, he and his American girlfriend decide to spend the night together in his dorm. Very early the next morning, as Jack was escorting his girlfriend out, the RA, a Qatar student, caught him and realized he was breaking the visitation rule. As Jack’s friend, he asks you how he should discuss the situation with the RA. What would you tell Jack to do?

	Acknowledge that the RA should report the incident even if it might mean Jack will be expelled.
	Ask that the RA give Jack a warning but not report him because expulsion is an extreme punishment.
	Advise Jack to tell the RA to look the other way and not deal with it.
	Have Jack request that the RA privately record the incident but keep it ‘under wraps’ unless Jack has another violation.
	Tell Jack that he should work within the system and challenge the policy if he believes it is wrong.
	Advise Jack to tell the RA to look the other way and he will owe him one.

 

93. A documentary produced by a Russian filmmaker described the history and politics of Mongolia, one of Russia’s largest neighbors. The documentary described the greatness and size of the early Mongolian empire under Genghis Khan, but was quick to criticize the early society because of the atrocities that occurred under their barbaric leader. As the documentary moved to modern times, it described the Mongolian people as peasants, still very nomadic and barbaric in their ways. The narrator referred to the civilization as one that would do well to adopt more modern ways.

 

94. Many cultures have a history of arranged marriages where the parents of children decide early in the child’s life who they will wed when they reach a specific age. The dominant western culture, however, does not adhere to this cultural practice. As the world becomes more and more integrated, there are many immigrants to western societies, who still practice arranged marriages. What is your thinking about this practice?

	Although my views are influenced by western culture, I think arranged marriages are wrong.
	People who immigrate into a new culture should adopt the customs of that culture, because it makes life easier for them.
	It does not matter what I think, this should be decided by the individuals.
	Arranged marriages are fine because they are historically rooted in certain cultures.
	I need more information about this practice to make a decision.
	The point is immaterial, because no one can be forced to marry someone they do not wish to marry.

 

95. You are in a small village in the southern part of Africa and you see a father and child sitting at a table with a bowl of fruit. You watch as the father strikes the child who has just taken a grape out of a bowl. Which of the following is most likely?

	The father is excessively abusive.
	The child deserved being struck.
	This might be the appropriate cultural response.
	Need more information about the culture to answer.
	Do not know.
	‘a’ ‘b’ and ‘c’ are equally possible.

 

96. Throughout history, people have developed legal systems and followed laws that often vary drastically from one culture to another. Most legal systems are rooted, at least partially, in the religious beliefs of the culture. While some cultures have outlawed certain acts that are deemed cruel and unusual, many cultures still use various practices that some call torture in order to gain compliance within a legal investigation. How would you best describe your position on this issue?

	The Western world is always trying to push its values onto other cultures and perhaps it should just stay out of this issue.
	The cultures that include acts of torture in order to gain compliance are within their sovereign rights.
	Societies should be allowed to use any practices they deem necessary on criminals and uncooperative citizens.
	Every individual should have certain rights of protection from cruel and unusual practices regardless of their culture.
	Perhaps the United Nations should create certain legal rights that countries must adhere to in order to be members.
	I am not sure where I stand on this issue.

 

97. For thousands of years the dominant form of government was some form of monarchy. In the last several centuries, an increasing number of governments have been popularly elected. Even popularly elected governments can vary widely, ranging from republics to near dictatorships. Some countries still believe in the power of divine control. With which of the following do you most agree?

	Monarchies are best because they typically have a history of success within the country.
	Any popularly elected form of government is best for the people, because they most resemble the system in the U.S.
	Any form of government with strong central authority is best because there is less conflict in policy decisions.
	Republics are best because they may spread the power, and allow better representation of the people.
	It really depends on the culture and the people being served, because every culture has different needs.
	There is no one best form of government; it depends on the history and tradition of a nation.

 

98. An economist on World News Today was being interviewed about the differences and similarities between the United States (US) and the European Union (EU). The economist said the structure of the EU, with its constitution and goal of allowing freedom of worker movement across borders, was very much like the US and would likely create strong competition to the US economy. On the down side, however, she was quick to point out the difficulties of overcoming the various nationalistic attitudes, which the US did not have. Overall, she thought it would be interesting to see how the two economies would compete.

	The European Union likely has a better economic system than the United States.
	Two more-dissimilar economic systems may have been a more valuable comparison.
	The United States has a better economic system that the European Union.
	The contrast and comparison of these two economies, while difficult, could be useful.
	It is difficult to compare economic systems with much accuracy or value.
	This comparison is a valuable exercise in understanding how similarities and differences can be analyzed across cultures.

 

99. A large multinational corporation was seeking to open an office in the capital of Nigeria. The formal process called for the company to submit an application to the ministry of commerce. One of the executives for international operations completed the application and submitted it. Several months went by with no response. The executive decided to meet with the administrator, but had a difficult time getting an appointment. After trying several times, the receptionist implied that a “gratuity” (money) would help get an appointment. The executive was outraged at the thought of a bribe and left. What should he do next?

	The executive should immediately report the receptionist to a government minister.
	The executive should let some time pass and see what happens next.
	The executive should learn whether paying the gratuity is a cultural custom.
	The executive should advise the corporation that it should immediately abandon its plan for the new office since this country is corrupt.
	The executive should explain to the receptionist that bribes are not permitted by his company.
	The executive should hire a local person to deal with the cultural complexities of doing business in the capital city.

 

I love getting these kinds of e-mails from the Innocence Project.

They tell me about their clients, prisoners serving time, who they have helped exonerate through the use of DNA evidence.

Oh, our criminal justice system….

Read the full text of the Innocence Project's e-mail below:

What a wonderful way to start the New Year. Today in Dallas, Texas, Rickey Dale Wyatt was cleared after spending 31 years in prison for a crime that he didn’t commit. A Dallas County judge released Wyatt and recommended that his 1981 rape conviction be overturned based on DNA and other evidence.

Tragically, attorneys who prosecuted Wyatt 31 years ago contributed to this miscarriage of justice by concealing evidence of his innocence. The case was built on faulty eyewitness testimony, yet the victim originally described a perpetrator much taller and heavier than Wyatt. The prosecution dismissed these inconsistencies, arguing that the defendant’s appearance could have changed in the interval between the crime and his arrest.  But there were documents in the prosecutor’s file proving that his appearance had not changed.  Had this been shared with the defense as required by law, Wyatt may never have been found guilty.

The efforts of the Dallas District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit to seek the truth in this case are exemplary. The Unit helped secure DNA testing of biological evidence, which supported Wyatt’s innocence although it was somewhat degraded. This evidence, as well as the discovery of prosecutorial misconduct at trial, compelled authorities to further investigate the case and ultimately to call for Wyatt’s release.

Ten Dallas exonerees also attended today’s hearing to show support for Wyatt and to celebrate his freedom. Mr. Wyatt plans to live with his nephew Robert Smith, who testified at his trial and who now ministers to people returning from prison. Wyatt and his family will greet supporters and speak to the media at a press conference outside the Dallas County Courthouse. The Innocence Project is assisting with Wyatt’s adjustment to the outside world after three decades of wrongful imprisonment. We anticipate his full exoneration later this year.

Mr. Wyatt’s defense team includes the Innocence Project, Gary Udashen, of Sorrels, Udashen & Anton and the Innocence Project of Texas.

Thank you for your commitment to justice,

 

Maddy deLone
Executive Director
The Innocence Project

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.

My point is, a liberal arts education involves lots of different subject areas all kind of mixing together. And that's the way it should be. Especially at Brandeis, students are encouraged to study in multiple disciplines. So why not combine disciplines within a course, exposing students to multiple perspectives on the same issue?

The latest BrandeisNow features an article concerning two of my favorite teachers, Jane Kamensky and Sue Lanser, for winning the the Innovative Course Design award from the American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies. 

Kamesky, a History and Women's and Gender Studies professor, and Lanser, who teaches English, Women’s and Gender Studies and Comparative Literature, and is currently on sabatical, teamed up in the fall of 2010 to teach Brandeis' first course in English and History.

As BrandeisNow reports, the course focused on London's history, geography (with special attention paid to maps), and culture, delving into its art, music, architecture, theater and more. 

By combining these disciplines, the course offered a more complete look at London than analysis through one specific, more in-depth lens, could offer. What is the worth of being an expert on London's literature from the 1800's if you have no sense of who wrote it or what they were responding to?

I think this course (which will be offered again during the 2013-14 school year) is a great initiative, and would like to take an English-History course in the future. 

In fact, the class I took with Kamesky, SYS 1c, was a sophomore seminar for my Lerman-Neubauer Fellowship, which asked the question "How Do We Know What We Know?" from a variety of perspectives. In class, we analyzed the concept of the self, and how it pertains to different disciplines and methodologies, from the lenses of: Economics (former Dean Jaffe), Art History (Prof. Kalb), History (Prof. Kamensky) and Neuroscience (Prof. Katz). 

Each sections lasted about 8 weeks (half a semester), and consisted of in-depth analyses and class discussions. I had never taken college classes in any of these areas before, and they truly opened my mind. This opportunity is not available to all students, but I think more interdisciplinary seminar courses should be offered.

First up, the ACLU.

The ACLU, comprised of the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation, has been working since 1920 to protect the rights of American citizens.

• "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" finally came to an end.
• The extreme Mississippi Personhood Amendment was defeated.
• Congressional attempts to defund Planned Parenthood failed.
• An outrageous provision that would have granted this and all future presidents a blank check to involve the U.S. in a worldwide war without end was halted.
• Free speech rights of Occupy Wall Street protestors have been defended.
• New York state passed a landmark marriage equality law.
• Illinois banned the death penalty.
• ACLU lawsuits stalled enactment of every "show me your papers" racial profiling law passed across the country.
• We blocked enactment of South Dakota's draconian anti-abortion law.
• The Obama administration decided to stop defending the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act against an ACLU legal challenge.

Thank you, ACLU.

What groups are you guys thankful for?

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

This is a particularly anti-feminist clip from "The Five," a show on FoxNews. It was aired November 1st, 2011.

The Five- Feminism or Firearms: What Empowers Women More?

I found the clip, aired November 1st, this week while looking for material for my  modern conservative feminist character for a comedic, satirical newscast we had to create for my Comedic Writing class here at Second City- Comedy Studies.

I do think there is a way to be a conservative and a feminist, but I do not think that most people who claim to be both truly are, according to my own definition of feminism, which is equality of the genders.

Enjoy.

AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps whose primary focus is "the Jewish community's fight against the causes and effects of poverty in the United States," is coming under fire for sponsoring a trip to Israel. 

"We do this by engaging participants in service and community building that inspire them to become lifelong agents for social change whose work for justice is rooted in and nourished by Jewish values."

AVODAH, which has a close relationship with Brandeis, and currently has 6 Brandeis alumni participating in work across the nation, had stayed out of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict until now, keeping its focus on problems in the U.S.

However, the organization's recent decision to sponsor a service-learning trip to Israel, run by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, is provoking a response from many involved who view the trip as a pro-Israel, anti-Palestine statement.

People against the trip have created an open letter and petition to AVODAH asking it to alter the trip's focus to include Palestinian points of view, reject grants which would necessitate a similarly one-sided trip again, and open a public discussion on what AVODAH's stance on the issue should be.

One excerpt from the letter:

"It is grossly irresponsible for AVODAH to whitewash Israeli policies while still claiming to stand for social justice."

Although I do not have a great understanding of the Palestinian-Israeli politics at the moment, and know this is contentious ground, I agree with many of the points expressed in the letter, especially that of a call for a community discussion concerning AVODAH's stance on the topic, and mandating that trips be as objective and inclusive as possible to all interested participants.

To form your own opinion, read the full text of the letter below and sign the petition if you so choose.

An Open Letter to AVODAH from Alumni, Participants and other Community Members

Sign the letter now!

 

We, AVODAH participants, alumni, donors, and community members oppose AVODAH's recent decision to sponsor a trip to Israel through its alumni program, Pursue. In yielding to partisan pressure from wealthy funders Charles and Lynn Schusterman, AVODAH has strayed from its stated mission of focusing on domestic poverty, while also neglecting its core commitments to Jewish pluralism and social justice. 

As a domestic-focused service corps, AVODAH has thus far refrained from addressing the potentially contentious issue of the conflict in Israel-Palestine. Yet AVODAH has chosen sides by accepting a grant that requires sponsorship of an Israel trip, bringing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the forefront of our community's discourse. As a social justice organization, AVODAH is committed to addressing the root causes of poverty and inequality. This service-learning trip, run by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, lacks any engagement with the military occupation of Palestine, one of the primary causes of poverty in Israeli-controlled territory. The trip does not include visits to the occupied West Bank, Gaza Strip, or East Jerusalem, where ongoing human rights violations have economically and politically disenfranchised over four million Palestinian people. It is grossly irresponsible for AVODAH to whitewash Israeli policies while still claiming to stand for social justice. 

This recent decision – made without any community input – is part of a systematic marginalization of alternative voices within the institutional Jewish community. While AVODAH was previously a space where all political viewpoints on Israel-Palestine were welcome, the organization may now alienate a growing generation of Jews who see Israeli policy as inconsistent with Jewish social justice values. In sponsoring this trip, AVODAH has taken a political stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, violating its own commitment to pluralism. Many in the AVODAH community oppose Israel's occupation of Palestine, and some even support the economic and cultural boycott of the State of Israel. These participants, alumni and prospective applicants feel abandoned by the organization, which has chosen to engage in one-sided, uncritical programming. 

This decision will set a precedent by which AVODAH leadership prioritizes funders over the values of their own community. This is why we demand that AVODAH publicly commit to: 

1. Modify the trip itinerary to incorporate significant critical engagement with Israeli policy in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. This must include visits to occupied Palestine and interactions with Palestinians who live there. 

2. Never sponsor another Israel trip in this way again. 

3. Never accept money from the Schustermans, or any other group, if it necessitates AVODAH or Pursue's engagement in one-sided programming on Israel-Palestine. 

4. Begin a community-wide discussion on how AVODAH and Pursue should handle the question of Israel-Palestine as a Jewish organization committed to social justice. 

We are awaiting your reply.

 

Sign the letter now!

Here is an e-mail from Adam Ossip regarding the newest incarnation of this movement and how you can get involved!

Hello, everyone! 

I would like to announce the formation of a new Brandeis club, the Brandeis Chapter of the Harry Potter Alliance.

The Harry Potter Alliance is a national organization formed by Andrew Slack, a Brandeis alum. It's a social justice group that seeks to improve the world inspired by the lessons of love and friendship learned from the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. Just last February, they raised $125,000 to help those hurt by the earthquake in Haiti.

We hope to soon add our efforts to the good done by this group. And we would love to have your help as well. If you would like to join our listserv, please email aos...@brandeis.edu.

Thank you.

Adam

Sometimes cool opportunities arise and I don't want to mar their awesomeness by adding commentary.

This is one of those times:

Looking for Interest in ICC Performance Troupe!

Attention creative students!  The Intercultural Center, in collaboration with the Department of Student Activities and the Department of Community Living, is seeking out students to create a performance troupe.  The goal of the troupe is to provide educational artistic expressions to the campus community around the topics of multiculturalism and awareness.  This is a brand new group and we are looking for students who are interested in taking action, have a passion for making social change, and are creative!

Interested in this unique opportunity? Go here to let us know and we will be in touch:

https://docs.google.com/a/brandeis.edu/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dHNIdjVORTYxYmU2eTFkNTJKcFF6bmc6MQ#gid=0

Create, Perform, Advocate!

GET INVOLVED!

I visited OccupyChicago for the first time this week, on Friday, October 7th when the movement had been active for exactly 2 weeks. I was lucky enough to meet up with esteemed former contributor Lev Hirschhorn ’11.

What stuck out to me the most:

The diversity of people: From what I’ve heard in the media and how I think of protests in general, I expected it to be mostly white, liberal college kids complaining about the government. Maybe that’s even how the movement started out, but that’s not how it is anymore. There were white, black, Hispanic, and people of all skin colors there. There were men, women and people who don’t subscribe to the binary. There were people who resembled stay at home mothers, businessmen, students, unemployed people and more. Young and old. Dressed nicely and not so nicely. All together.

The lack of police interaction: This is again a misconception that has been spreading in part due to the media. Nationwide, the OccupyWallSt movement gained popularity and notoriety after the NYPD arrested about 700 protesters on the Brooklyn Bridge. We’ve all seen the mace videos. So it came as quite a surprise to see the police watching the protest from across the street, walking through the crowd of protesters at times, but not interacting in any way.

As you will see in some of my pictures, there are barricades up along the streets. However, I learned that these are NOT related to the protest, but in fact were put there for the Bank of America Marathon, which ran through that intersection on Sunday. I have not heard of any arrests or conflicts so far related to the Chicago protest, aside from the police directing protesters not to sleep on the streets and requiring them to continue moving their stores of food (which I don’t fully understand why they must do.)

My Experience:

On Friday, it was business as usual: a crowd of people standing in front of the Federal Reserve Bank building, at Jackson and LaSalle (231 N LaSalle Street). Although the protesters don’t have much space on these chosen blocks, unlike OccupyWallSt, in Liberty Plaza, their protest is situated at the intersection of the Bank of America Building, the Federal Reserve Bank Building.

How do the bankers feel about this bombardment? Well, story has it that, in response to the protesters’ oft-repeated refrain “We…are…the 99%!,” someone hung a sign in one of the Federal Reserve Building’s windows which read “We are the 1%”

To add some levity to the mood (at least I hope that’s why), one protester came adorned in a yacht club outfit with a similar sign.

But the mood was pretty enthusiastic anyway, what with the drumming, the chanting, and the sign-holding. People even ordered pizza and handed it out to protesters and passers-by.

These people are taking shifts, staking out the area 24/7. I was only there for an hour, but already was caught up in the enthusiasm and unity. Chanting can be really fun. It’s going to take me some more time to decide what I think about the protesters’ requests and how effective these demonstrations are, but I know I’ll be going back to find out more.

I think this is an especially good choice of topics since I have many, MANY complaints regarding mental health services at Brandeis, both from personal experience and from stories my friends have told me.

Read the description below and then take the survey!

Have you used the psychological counseling center or health center? What are your thoughts on the services provided? We want to hear from you!

Students are invited to take an anonymous survey on health and psychological health services provided at Brandeis, as part of a Hoot project to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the services. We need your help – please fill out the survey at http://my.brandeis.edu//survsimp/one?survey_id=6109

For more information, contact Alex Schneider at e...@thebrandeishoot.com

I have great respect for Playboy Enterprises. Please go to this event, all of you, since I am abroad and will not be able to attend. And bring a copy of the magazine for her to sign. Please.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE by the Student Union:

The Student Union invites you to have a conversation with Ms. Christie Hefner ’74 on Friday, October 21st from 3:30-5:30 PM in the Rapaporte Treasure Hall as part of the “Influential People Embodying the Brandeis Spirit” series. As former CEO and chairman of Playboy Enterprises from 1988-2009, Ms. Hefner will speak about entrepreneurship and how her successful career relates to the Brandeis spirit. This event follows upon the success of last year’s event with Chief Justice (ret.) Margaret Marshall and Professor Anita Hill.

The goal of the event is to create a conversational environment where Brandeis students can learn from accomplished professionals in the Brandeis community. This opportunity allows Brandeis students, undergraduates and graduates, and faculty to understand how community leaders have used their Brandeis connection to propel themselves into their successful and impactful lives. Students will be able to engage in a question and answer period with our guests and gain an in-depth understanding of their career choices as well as learn from their experience on present day issues. Refreshments will be served. Please contact Sarah Geller (sgel...@brandeis.edu) and/or Herbie Rosen (hro...@brandeis.edu) if you have any questions/concerns.

Co-sponsors include the Student Union, Business Department, Department of Student Life, and the Hiatt Career Center.