[C]ells that are showing the very earliest signs of cancer start to have errors in the DNA replication process. To fix this, the cells use a number of methods to repair the damage, one of which is known as gene conversion.

Gene conversion repairs the break in the DNA strand by using an almost identical sequence from elsewhere in the cell’s DNA, providing a template from which the original strand can be reconstructed. Although this was once thought to be a mostly error-free process, the new study actually suggests it leads to a far greater number – about 1,400 times the usual amount – of DNA mutations than would otherwise be expected. Once these mutations affect the various genes that provide the cell’s ability to control its own growth, the cell quickly becomes cancerous.

Thus, tumors form where there was once healthy tissue.  Understanding this process is the first step in determining how to correct it and slow the rate at which healthy cells become cancerous.  Congratulations to Dr. Haber and to Wade and Minlee for publishing this important study and for working to ease the pain and suffering of so many people.  As an undergraduate, I find it easy to forget that Brandeis is a research institution as well as a school.  It’s gratifying to remember that so much positive work is being done at our university.

As you might see, I’m new around here. My name is Jesse Vasquez and I am a new member of the Innermost Parts community.

So why would an inner-city New York kid, a self-described mutt of Peurto Rican, British, Dutch and Indonesian decent, want to join the Brandeis activist community and become a part of InnermostParts.org? To be honest, I don’t entirely know. But then again, I have no idea what major I want to choose or what my favorite cheese is either. Ok, well, regardless of that fact, I know that I want to see more change in the Brandeis community and that Innermost Parts is the best way to get my voice out and be a voice for the rest of the community.

As a Racial Minority and Posse Scholar at Brandeis, I identify with a different type of people then the average Brandeis student. I hope to bring a few good things to the table of Innermost Parts, such as a new view and voice and I also look forward to doing something that has been quite lacking in recent years. That is, bringing the activist community to the Student Union. I am fortunate enough to know some great people on the Student Union, and I am also fortunate enough to know some great activists on campus and members of the Innermost Parts community. I know both the Student Union and the activist network are a determined, dedicated and generally passionate group of people and when they come together I do not doubt that great things can happen at Brandeis for the people here and everywhere around the world.

As a new member, I anticipate bringing people together, causing a little controversy and generally trying to help out Innermost Parts as much as I can. Oh, also, I plan on writing quite a bit about racial and religious issues at Brandeis.

Commenting - We at Innermost Parts want to foster a community, not give assholes a platform to attack others. We believe that if you have something meaningful to say, you should be proud to say it openly.

Commenters  are heavily encouraged to use their Brandeis email addresses (which will not be publicly displayed) and real names when posting. We reserve the right to moderate comments, especially anonymous ones.

At the very least, commenters must provide valid email addresses and post under a name that is not something silly or hurtful.

We realize that sometimes there is a real need for anonymity. Remember, we’re a small community here. If you choose to comment anonymously know that  you will be held to a stricter standard of common decency.

We further encourage you to register an account with us to make sure your comment doesn’t accidentally get caught in the spam filters.

In short, use a real name and use a real email address. If you don’t, you better behave yourself.

If you do post anonymously (and you should only do so if you’ll play nice) we renew our pledge to keep your identity secret.

Innermost Parts will not become the means for an individual to bully another. Remember, we are all students here and we should all treat each other with respect. Identifying yourself in your comments reflects the choices you’ve made to be a decent and honorable person. This trust is essential to our community, please do not abuse it or pervert it.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/mostpopular/23337764/detail.html

I don’t think this is a big deal, but you never know. I think that is what it is, but you know, I am not a water expert.  Just chill out and boil water.

We could have put so many things in there that are worth while. Now there is nothing, a costly demolition that wastes time. Let’s put in a zine library, and a gender center, and a music venue. STOP THE DEMOLITION NOW. Do you see, all caps.

These stories are not unique. I will bet you that almost every woman you know could tell you countless anecdotes like these, most likely dismissing them as “not a big deal,” “I was stupid,” or “that was just one time.” Here in post-feminist America, women can expect to see one sixth of our numbers experience an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime and millions more be invaded, violated, scarred, and humiliated by a culture that treats the systematic abuse of women as no more serious than a locker room prank.

But the danger, authorities tell us, is not from the men we know and trust (even though 38% of rape victims know their attacker) and it is not for those who take appropriate precautions. Rape happens to women who go out alone, at night, in bad neighborhoods; to women who get drunk while wearing the revealing and immodest clothing that is marketed to them from every magazine cover; to women who talk to strangers and get in their cars without first checking the back seat for a lurking attacker. If you do not engage in risky behavior, if you stay home with people you know and trust (even though over half of teenage rapes happen in the victim’s own house or the house of a friend), then these things will not happen to you.

America, don’t believe the hype. What these rules really do is take the responsibility for rape away from society and place it on women themselves. Now, if you “get yourself raped” it’s not because our culture objectifies women and over-values men’s sexual conquest–it’s because you “engaged in risky behavior.” That’s why the image of the strange man in the parking lot haunts our collective dreams and shows up in movies like “The Lovely Bones” even though such cases are relatively rare. He, the psychopath, the deviant, is the only rapist we hate because his victims don’t break the rules and therefore can’t be explained away. As for all those other women being raped by their friends, lovers, and acquaintances–well, they shouldn’t have been out at night.

This week we at Brandeis are speaking out, both against sexual assault as a systematic oppression of women and against the fear-mongering and victim-blaming that allows us to ignore it. This Thursday at 7:00 pm we will march from Rabb Steps through campus, stopping in each quad to hold vigils and hear from students and administrators who are poets, survivors, and warriors. I invite you all to join us in our fight to Take Back the Night as a safe place for all people. I’ll see you there.

After the show was over I really wanted him to sign this poster for my friend, so I sort of left. Then all the student events people were like, you should leave now. So I did. But I could see him. Michael Ian Black was in the alumni lounge (or whatever that room on top of Levin is called). Well this was great news to me. He was there in the window posing with all the Student Events kids. My friend and I sang “In Your Eyes”, the come to a window song, but to no avail. He did not come to that window.

Disheartened we began to think about how to meet him. But then everything worked out. He walked out the door of the part of Usdan that is new to selling sandwiches. We mobbed him and said something to the effect of “hey Michael Ian Black how are you.” He replied that he was pretty good. I asked him to sing something, he was like sure. I told him he was not a dick. He told me he was. Then he continued along the way toward the library from the Usdan Courtyard. That was the last time I ever saw Michael Ian Black.  He faded into the distance.  I did not want to follow him because that would not have been nice.

I sort of felt weird about wanting to have his autograph but I did get my friend Sara a good present.  And I mean that is how it goes if you are a celebrity.

Relatedly, I recorded a good thirty minutes of it on analog tape and if the powers don’t be don’t hurt me I will capture it and then post it on here.

The oligarchy will be composed of first citizens Richard Gaskins, Andy Hogan, and Jamele Adams – one consul each for faculty, staff, and students.

This is wrong. Clearly the leadership of this school should be decided through divining Louis Brandesi’ will through Ouija board. Until that happens, let’s occupy Shapiro Campus Center – and rename ourselves Malcolm Sherman University. For great justice!