Organizing at Brandeis University
Give+Go Open May 5th
Students can give items in good condition when moving out at spots located in each quad. More information at go.brandeis.edu/giveandgo
Last year we saved over 6 tons of trash!
Give + Go
Volunteers Apply Now! Donations Needed!
go.brandeis.edu/giveandgo
In case you are looking for more news on Bin Laden’s death, here is the CNN story. The post includes several videos of where he died, a clip of Obama’s speech, and New Yorkers celebrating at Ground Zero.
Here is the transcript of President Obama’s speech.
The CBS story may answer Luke’s question:
Security at “strategic places in Pakistan has been beefed up as a precaution against any retaliation to news of Osama bin Laden’s death”, a senior Pakistani security official told CBS News early on Monday. “If he (bin Laden) is really dead, there will be attempts to seek revenge,” said the official who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity.
Former State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said on Twitter: “#BinLaden’s death does not eliminate the threat from #alQaeda, but it is hard to see anyone playing the same organizational role he did.”
Even though Bin Laden has been killed, the military could justify staying in Afganistan to defeat the remaining alQaeda members.
In the BBC article Obituary: Osama Bin Ladin, the author finishes with an important point: “To his supporters, Bin Laden was a fighter for freedom against the US and Israel, not, as he was to many in the West, a terrorist with the blood of thousands of people on his hands.”
It is official! Tunisia is now ruling that men and women must feature in equal numbers as candidates in the July 24 constituent assembly poll!
According to Al Jazeera, the riots and demonstrations in Tunisia has caused Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to step down after 23 years in office. The switch in power will allow many unprecedented freedoms and equality, including women’s right to vote.
Sana Ben Assour, president of the Tunisian Association of Women Democrats, commented that “It is only right in a country where men and women fought side by side for democracy.”
More coverage of the historic event can be found here.
As an inspiration to all, students at College of William and Mary have advocated for the Living Wage Campaign, a push to have United States Federal Minimun Wage increased to afford the cost of housing. You can check out the camapgin website here. There are over 100 Living Wage Campaigns across states, cities, and college campuses.
Very early this morning, 5 William and Mary students were arrested for peacefully protesting to advocate the increase of wages for university workers. The group arranged for a 16 hour sit-in in President Taylor Reveley’s office for an increase of $15 per hour. The students, who had been in the office since Wednesday, were arrested at 12:50am. Other students will resume protesting around the president’s office at noon later today.
The story can be found here.
USAS is holding an email campaign to address Reveley’s actions. Click here to send your letter!
Or you can call President Taylor Reveley at (757) 221-1693 with this message:
Hi, my name is [name] and I’m from [college/university/affiliate]. I am calling to voice my concern that instead of finally agreeing to pay living wages to William & Mary workers, the University has instead chosen to bully and arrest students peacefully sitting in. This behavior is unacceptable, as are the poverty wages that William & Mary pays its workers. I urge you to include living wages for your workers in next year’s budget and to drop charges against students immediately.
Dear members of the Brandeis community,
I want to share my thanks and deep appreciation with you — 50,000 strong around the world — for all the support and encouragement I received throughout Inauguration Week. It was fantastic and truly inspiring. Some 1,500 students, faculty, staff, trustees, friends, supporters and dignitaries attended the ceremony on campus and hundreds more watched live over the internet. We ended the week at the Inaugural Ball, where another 1,500 people filled the Shapiro Gym for a night of great fun.
I invite you to view coverage of the event on BrandeisNOW. It includes a wonderful slideshow of photos taken at the many events during Inauguration Week as well as a video of my remarks. Stay tuned later in the week, when we will have some additional video highlights. It was a great week for Brandeis — please share it with your friends, fellow alums and prospective students.
Best wishes,
Fred Lawrence
Here at Brandeis, we have many activists 🙂
Community organizing a a great skill to have in the real world and on campus. Jewish Organizing Initiative is hosting a great opportunity for students to learn a unique skill: story telling.
I know the emphasis is Jewish, but the application is universal, and sounds interesting!
Jewish Organizing Initiative (JOI) Information Session & Community Organizing Training
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 6:00 – 7:30pm
Hiatt Career Center, Usdan Student Center
Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
* Reserved: Conference room
Storytelling: An Organizing Skill
Join current Jewish Organizing Initiative (JOI) fellows, recruiters, and Brandeis alumni during their visit to campus. You will practice storytelling, an important organizing skill, and understand how organizing is an important tool for implementing social change. Participants in the session will also learn more about the year-long fellowship, which places participants in Social Justice- oriented organizing jobs. JOI recruits young Jewish adults from all over the world for a year of leadership training that includes: working for social and economic justice, Jewish learning, training in grassroots community organizing skills, and Jewish community building.
The fellowship year involves work in social justice community or labor organizations, generally in low-income community organizations, (sometimes in the Jewish community) and bi-weekly learning and reflection about organizing for justice, Judaism and community building. Learn more about JOI at www.jewishorganizing.org.
Hello!
Every year, MLK and Friends organize a week full of events to commemorate the assassination of the great Martin Luther King. Next Monday is the kick off event with a Peace Vigil! I strongly encourage everyone to attend one or more of the events to celebrate the memory of MLK.
MONDAY, APRIL 4th: Peace Vigil
A moment of silence in memory of the anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Peace Circle near the Usdan Student Center
NOON- 1:00pm
TUESDAY, APRIL 5th: Eternally Yours…
Art Exhibit
A tribute to Coretta Scott, the Queen of late MLK Jr. & the other courageous women who fought alongside him
Shapiro Campus Center, Art Gallery, NOON to 5:00pm
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6th: The King & I
Panel & Discussion
The fight for justice told from the perspective of women who have made King’s dream, their reality
Gosman Athletic Center, Napoli Trophy Room, 6:00PM to 7:30PM
**Panelists include Ms. Monique Gnanaratnam & Ms. Erika Smith
THURSDAY, APRIL 7th: The Peacemakers
Interfaith Celebration
Personal testimonies of women whose first step toward tolerance, built the staircase for an interfaith community
Ridgewood A Commons, 7:00PM to 8:00PM
**Words from Kaamila Mohamed, Amanda Dryer, Neda Eid, & Susy Rosenfield
Dear Brandeis,
I feel privileged and honored to have joined so many of you at President Lawrence’s inauguration this afternoon. I know I took away a great sense of pride in Brandeis University and in my fellow students.
To add to the joyous celebration today, I was thrilled to open my e-mail and see the message from Daniel about reinstating the swimming pool on campus! The plan is to begin work on the pool this spring, to be ready for 2012. If you want to join the Brandeis swimming team, you better start practicing!
Check out the full e-mail below:
To the Student Body,
I am happy to announce that the Board of Trustees approved a renovation plan for the Linsey Pool facility on today (March 31). The project includes new mechanical and electrical infrastructure, repairs to the pool and pool deck, a new entry, updates to the lobby, and new locker rooms.
The Student Union heard your concerns about the pool, and we, in addition to other members of the community, pushed for a change.
Renovation on the pool will begin later this spring, with expected target completion in early 2012. Varsity swimming and diving will be reinstated for the 2012-2013 academic year.
For more details: http://www.brandeis.edu/now/2011/march/pool.html
Yours in service,
Student Union
Where’s the Shuttle? Live tracking now offered on Brandeis Shuttle Routes
Do you take the Brandeis Crystal Shuttles? Do you want to see where the shuttle is? Have a cell phone or a computer handy? Then Blirp-It!
Go to shuttle.brandeis.edu!
Brandeis is unveiling a new tracking service, called Blirp-It, that displays the location of Brandeis Crystal Shuttles. In real time, riders can find out where the Brandeis Crystal Shuttles are located on a route and how long it will be before arrival at a stop. Brandeis Crystal Shuttles include the Daytime Crystal Campus Shuttle, the Daytime Crystal Waltham Shuttle, and the weekend Boston/Cambridge Crystal Shuttle.
Blirp-It stands for Bus Line Information Program, and is a company based in Burlington, Vermont. The company currently serves other Universities, including the University of Vermont, Wesleyan University, and Bentley University.
There are many ways for Brandeis Community members to utilize Blirp-It. To access live tracking online- visit shuttle.brandeis.edu. When the shuttles are in operation, the online service provides a map of the route, a list of the stops, and a tracking system with exact location of the shuttles.
Simple text messaging can also provide shuttle information. Users can text DOTCOM (368266) with the words “Blirpit Brandeis” to see which shuttles are active. Replying to the text message with the name of the shuttle and the system will text back the list of major stops on the route, and the approximate time of arrival based on the history of the route.
“Tracking software is beneficial to the community,” said Director of Public Safety Edward Callahan, “It provides greater safety efficiency and convenience.” The bus tracking project was a collaboration between Public Safety, the Campus Sustainability Initiative, and the Department of University Services, with input from the Undergraduate Student Union.
Under the direction of the Director of Public Safety, the Escort Safety Service operates van services and contract bus services to provide safe and efficient transportation to the greater campus community. Live tracking is an important way to “increase customer service to students” remarked Dianne Qualter, Director of University Services.
Making public transportation more convenient and decreasing campus automobile use helps reduce the campus environmental impact, and is an important component of the Brandeis University Climate Action Plan. Sustainability Coordinator, Janna Cohen-Rosenthal ’03 explained the connection, “Sustainability is not just about giving things up. It’s also about making daily life, such as commuting, better and easier,” she said.Â
Head Coordinator of Operations for the Department of Public Safety’s Escort Safety Service and Executive Senator for the Student Union, Abraham Berin ’11, has been working on the tracking software. “The tracking software is only as successful as the amount of people that use it.” said Berin. “With easy to use features, we are looking forward to many students benefiting from the program.”
Hold Thy Peace and the Brandeis Pluralism Alliance invite you to attend the tragedy of Othello! Brandeis University’s student-led Shakespeare group has re-imagined the classic play, making Othello the only human in a community of cyborgs. This new setting is inspired by steampunk, a science fiction genre based on Victorian visions of utopia.
The first show is in the Shapiro Campus Center Theater on Friday, March 31 at 7:00pm, followed by a talk-back with the actors and directors. We will discuss issues that surface when race, theatre, and science fiction collide.
Additional performances are on Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2 at 8:00 PM, followed by a Sunday, April 3 matinee at 2:00 PM.
“Crips and Bloods: Made in America” Documentary Screening
When: Tuesday, March 29 at 7:30
Where: Golding Auditorium
How much do you know about the violence happening every day in our own country? And more importantly, what can be done about it? On Tuesday, March 29 at 7:30 Student Peace Alliance (SPA) will be screening “Crips and Bloods: Made in America” directed by Stacy Peralta. Combining unprecedented access into the worlds of active gangs, this 2008 documentary offers a compelling narrative which chronicles the decades-long cycle of destruction and despair that defines modern gang culture. Refreshments will be served and members of SPA and SOAR (Students Organized Against Racism) will facilitate discussion after the screening.
Hello Innermost Parts!
As some of you may know, JVP is putting a campaign together to become accepted into Hillel’s umbrella group. Innermost Parts is not taking a stance on this debate. Please become informed before signing JVP’s petition.
Hillel’s national guidelines supports Israel, as is in their mission statement. Hillel recognizes JVP as a Jewish organization, welcomes their commentary to discussion, and respects them as a fellow organization at Brandeis. Hillel board member Erica said in an earlier post on Innermost Parts that she is “happy that Brandeis students have diverse venues to explore perspectives, ask questions, and develop thoughtful stances on the Middle East. Hillel’s decision does not change this important reality.”
She reflects that:
Hillel Board’s decision does not reflect our personal politics- it was procedural. Our vote, in line with national Hillel, simply means that Jewish Voice for Peace, as an organization, does not have a place in the organization Hillel at Brandeis. By turning down JVP we are not turning our back on JVP members. We are not attempting to exclude voices or stifle individual opinions and identities. It is my hope that those who are a part of JVP, or advocate its views, will continue to attend Hillel events and participate actively in our community. You are always welcome here. I look forward to continuing conversations at your events, and at our events.
Personally, as an activist, I have to wonder why JVP even wants to become associated with Hillel when their mission statements are so inherently different and they wish to accomplish different goals.
I have tried to arrange a meeting with a member of JVP who has not gotten back to me. I asked her, with no response, what JVP’s goals were and the reaction they were looking for from Hillel. What is JVP trying to accomplish with this campaign? In my personal opinion, this petition will not further JVP’s goals as an organization. For a group trying to bring “peace” they are certainly dividing the Jewish community at Brandeis.
The lovely Cathy Messier wrote up a review of the Community Arts Forum! Enjoy!
On Thursday, March 3, members of the three schools of creative arts met for the Community Arts Forum in the Laurie Theater – the first event of its kind at Brandeis. The purpose of this forum was to establish shared goals and needs of the arts at Brandeis with each other and share them with the the administration, including our new president, Fred Lawrence. This is community of people who often only heard of needs of their own department and the forum provided a chance for the three schools to unite and establish a sense of solidarity with each other, in light of the recent budget cuts and other financial difficulties we all have had to face.
The event started with statements from the three chairs of the departments and the head of the Rose Arts Museum. All four statements were eloquently presented, displaying a love for their department while not hiding the sadness and disappointment surrounding the recent struggles faced. Scott Edmiston then asked the audience to voice any thoughts they were having, to which both students and faculty responded. Attendees were then divided into discussion groups, led by UDR’s, to establish the strengths, goals, and needs of the arts departments. Many of these discussions expressed a need for greater cohesion between both arts and non-arts communities, and within the different arts departments themselves. Another need expressed by several groups was regarding the lack of space for classes, and the lack of diversity when it came to course options.
After these discussions took place, Lawrence arrived and was interviewed by Julie Judson ’11. The interview questions varied immensely – some were asked to get to know him as an appreciator of arts, while others were on touchier issues, such as the Rose Arts Museum controversy. After the interview, members of the community were allowed to ask the president – or each other – questions, which also varied. Students and faculty presented ideas for how to build bridges between the arts/arts and arts/non-arts communities, such as holding arts events in Science and Math buildings. A student also expressed how valuable classes were when they brought people from different departments in and found a way to integrate seemingly different non-arts material into an arts class.
I would say the Arts Forum was a success, but that it is important to acknowledge it as a first step, rather than a culmination. Many people who attended this forum said they enjoyed connecting with people they normally do not interact with, and that the conversations that took place should have been happening already outside of our own departments. These discussions should continue happening afterwords, perhaps in a more structured way (since the needs and goals were so varied and numerous that they naturally almost seemed scattered).
Good Morning Brandeis,
As many of you heard, Japan was hit by a 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami.
This is the most devastating earthquake that has ever hit Japan and one of the largest in the past 100 years.
I have spoken to many of my friends in Japan via facebook, and while there is a lot of damage in the northern part of the country, Tokyo is relatively unharmed. Most of my friends have lost electricity and have no heat or utilities, but they are all alive. Many are still feeling aftershocks which are shaking their homes and buildings, but have experienced little damage.
There is a relief fund sponsored by Global Giving for emergency relief. Please give to help those in need!
Brandeis Hillel Excludes Jewish Peace Group
The Latest Failure of the American Jewish Establishment
WALTHAM, MA — The Brandeis University Hillel has formally voted to exclude a Jewish peace group on campus.
On March 8, 2011, Brandeis University Hillel rejected the campus chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) from becoming a Hillel member group. In line with controversial guidelines recently issued by National Hillel, the decision was based on JVP’s support for targetted boycotts of goods produced in Israeli settlements.
In response to the decision, Brandeis senior and JVP activist Jon Sussman stated “Brandeis students have lost an opportunity to learn from one another. Jewish students must demand the national Hillel organization change its condescending guidelines which marginalize progressive Jewish opinion on campus.”
Hillel is the center of Jewish life on-campus , and its constitution affirms “the necessity of a pluralistic Jewish community on campus, with partisanship to none.” Regardless of this affirmation, Hillel’s new guidelines exclude Jewish groups on the basis of political opinions.
These guidelines are representative of a trend in the Jewish community to prevent open dialogue on Israel. The Israeli Knesset, for example, is currently hearing legislation to criminalize support of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. “Jewish Voice for Peace opposes any ideological litmus test to participate in organized Jewish life,” Sussman said.
Brandeis sophomore and JVP activist Morgan Conley added that Hillel’s ban confuses the settlements with the state of Israel. Israel’s settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law. “We were rejected on the grounds that boycotting settlement goods is the same thing as boycotting Israel. The reality, however, is that the settlements are not in Israel – they are in the Occupied Palestinian territories. By blurring the line between the state of Israel and the occupied territories, Hillel is unfortunately appearing to support a Jewish state at the expense of a democratic one.” Conley remarked.
Support for targeted boycott is an increasingly mainstream position within the Jewish community, shared by national organizations such as Meretz USA. Leading Jewish artists including Stephen Sondheim, Tony Kushner, Frank Gehry and Amos Oz have defended several of Israel’s best-known actors who are boycotting performances in the settlement of Ariel.
“Hillel needs to give groups like Jewish Voice for Peace a place at the Jewish communal table,” Sussman insisted. “If not, Hillel will alienate a generation of young Jews committed to our values of peace, justice and self-determination.”
ABOUT JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE
Jewish Voice for Peace is the only national Jewish organization that provides a voice for Jews and allies who believe that peace in the Middle East will be achieved through justice and full equality for both Palestinians and Israelis. With 27 chapters, a Rabbinical Council, 100,000 online supporters and an advisory board composed of many of the leading Jewish thinkers and artists of our time, Jewish Voice for Peace is the country’s fastest growing grassroots group dedicated to promoting a US foreign policy that respects the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians to peace and self-determination. www.jvp.org
Here is a fantastic job offer from Sarah Bayer!
Many of you have no doubt been following coverage of the crisis in
Wisconsin. As Paul Adler wrote here recently, the labor movement is at
a critical point in its history. With workers under attack in
statehouses and corporate boardrooms across the country, the United
Auto Workers union is getting ready to launch new organizing
campaigns, and is looking for researchers to support these efforts.
We’ll be recruiting at Brandeis this Thursday, March 10, at the job
fair in Hassenfeld.
I became a researcher at the UAW last fall and can personally speak to
what a great opportunity this is. I work on a team with other
researchers as well as staff from other departments to gain a better
understanding of particular companies and the auto industry as a
whole. The work fits a number of backgrounds, whether you majored in
English (like me) or econ.
The official job description is below. Feel free to email me with any
questions: sarahbayer314@gmail.com.
I look forward to seeing you on campus on Thursday!
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union is seeking a full-time researcher
to work on national organizing campaigns within the Strategic Research
department in Detroit, Michigan.
Campaign researchers are part of a team that includes organizers,
communications specialists and political advocates. A researcher
contributes to the team by understanding companies and industries in
which they operate; helping to develop a public message that
encourages broad support for workers’ fight to organize a union; and
using legal, regulatory and legislative strategies to help build power
for working people.
Ideal applicants will have:
• Strong commitment to social and economic justice, especially
in labor issues
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills
• Strong attention to detail and prior research experience in
academic, community, journalistic or political settings
• Good computer skills, including experience with databases and
spreadsheets
• Proficiency in another language (a plus, but not required)
• Willingness to travel and work long and irregular hours
Competitive pay and benefits. Women and people of color are strongly
encouraged to apply.
Who: Melody Barnes, Domestic Policy Adviser to the President
What: Speaking at Brandeis
When: March 23rd
Where: Levin Ballroom
Time: 7pm
Please join us for the Eli J. Segal Citizen Leadership Lecture at Brandeis University on Wednesday, March 23 at 7 p.m. in Levin Ballroom, where Melody Barnes, Domestic Policy Adviser to President Obama, will speak about civic leadership and public service before answering questions from the audience. Ms. Barnes has spent her career in public service, from her time as Chief Counsel to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy to her work in the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Seating is limited, so please RSVP by March 16 to Segal.Brandeis.edu.
This lecture is part of the Eli J. Segal Citizen Leadership Program, a foundation created in honor of the late Eli J. Segal. Segal, a graduate of Brandeis in 1964, served as a top aide to President Clinton during his campaign and in his administration, where he dedicated his life to programs like AmeriCorps and the Welfare to Work Partnership.
Hey Brandeis! Do you want to protect heros? Defend brave men who saved the lives of hundreds of Libyans?
The cruel Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi ordered two air force pilots to drop bombs on their own countrymen protesting Gaddafi’s reign! It is a case of kill or be killed!
The pilots rose to the challenge and crashed their planes into Malta, a nearby island. They saved the lives of an unknown number of protestors!
However, Malta’s Refugee Commissioner Mario Guido Friggieri and President George Abela may not grant the heros asylum. Chang.org is hosting a petition.
Here is an excerpt from the press release from Change.org:
If the pilots are sent back to Libya, they will likely be executed. That outcome would also prevent military pilots and ship captains who receive similar orders from trying to save their own lives and the lives of their fellow Libyans.
A grassroots Libyan group called ENOUGH! has started a petition on Change.org to pressure the Maltese government to grant asylum to these two pilots, which will mean saving their lives and possibly preventing future attacks on civilians.
We believe we can win this campaign and save the lives of these two pilots –– and perhaps many other Libyans if this helps to encourage more pilots and ship captains to refuse to attack civilians. If we succeed, we’ll work to spread the word in Libya that no one needs to die when soldiers are ordered to kill civilians.
Malta’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism, so public international opinion will mean more to its government than it does to most countries. But winning will take a massive outcry — and with Gaddafi’s violent attacks increasing in a desperate attempt to maintain power, every hour matters.
Please sign the petition now
Thank you for taking action,– Weldon and the Change.org team
Hello Brandeis! I hope you all had a fabulous break, with time to rest and recuperate.
I encourage everyone to come to a great event this Thursday!
Smoking Typewriters 
March 3, 2011
Pearlman Lounge
6-7pm
Meet historian John McMillian on Thursday, March 3, at 6p.m. in Pearlman Lounge. McMillian will give a reading from “Smoking Typewriters,” followed by Q&A. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
How did the New Left uprising of the 1960s happen? What caused millions of young people–many of them affluent and college educated–to suddenly decide that American society needed to be completely overhauled? (And what exactly was the Great Banana Hoax?)
In Smoking Typewriters, historian John McMillian shows that one answer to these questions can be found in the emergence of a dynamic underground press in the 1960s. Many of those who produced these often subversive pamphlets, booklets, and newspapers became targets of harassment from local and federal authorities.
Underground newspapers captured the zeitgeist of the ’60s, speaking directly to their readers. They reflected and magnified the spirit of cultural and political protest. And without the underground press, would we have today’s zines, blogs, and citizen journalists?
“Much of what we associate with the late 1960s youthquake — its size, intensity, and contrapuntal expression of furious anger and joyful bliss — might not have been possible without the advent of new printing technologies that put the cost of newspaper production within reach of most activists.” – John McMillian, “Smoking Typewriters”
“Seen with fresh eyes by a talented young scholar, Smoking Typewriters tells an important–and entertaining–story about modern American culture and its endless upheavals.” –Richard Parker, Paul W. Williams Professor of Criminal Justice, Harvard University.
John McMillian is an assistant professor of history at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he specializes in studying 20th century social movements and the Vietnam War Era.
From Alex Kern, Protestant Chaplain, for the Interfaith Chaplaincy:
Dear Brandeis family: Blessings and peace be with each of you.
Chaplaincy is deeply saddened by the death last night of a dear member of our Brandeis community, Kat Sommers.
We are holding Kat, her family, her friends, and the entire Brandeis community in our prayers today, and in the days to come, as we gather to heal, remember, and pledge ourselves to one another and to the precious gift that is our life together.
Thank you all for the many ways you are caring for one another and for this community. Your love and support is powerful indeed, and is, I believe, one of the chief reasons we are are here on earth.
At times such this, faith and spirituality can be a real source of comfort, meaning, and community.
For those who wish to gather together this week, here are some opportunities:
1) Tomorrow, 11:00 the Student Union has planned an ALL CAMPUS VIGIL, beginning at the Usdan Peace Circle, and walking hand in hand to Sherman. There will be messages, silence, and a time for sharing. Thanks to student union President Daniel Acheampong for his leadership and email earlier today. Let him know if you’d like to help:
dpong@brandeis.edu
2) Tomorrow, 7:00. Brandeis Christian Fellowship meeting, Christian Lounge, Usdan.
3) Friday, Interfaith Peace Vigil at Usdan Peace Circle, will provide further opportunity for silence, reflection, prayer, and song. Imam Talal Eid, and staff members Eileen Kell and David Weinstein will help facilitate.
4) Friday Muslim Jummah Prayer, 12:45, International Lounge, Usdan.
5) Friday Shabbat Services, time and place to be announced tomorrow through Hillel listserve by rockster@brandeis.edu.
Please take care of yourselves, and each other, and reach out to Chaplaincy among the many other campus resources available to you in this time, and yearround.
Imam Talal, Rabbi Elyse, and I are here at various times throughout the remainder of this week. Father Walter leaves for Rome this evening, and was on campus last night and today. Our emails are akern@brandeis.edu, rabbiw@brandeis.edu, and iteid@brandeis.edu. My cellphone is 617-455-5323.
Be well, take care, be in touch,
Alex
Dear Brandeis,
I hope you will all join me tomorrow at the all campus vigil the Student Union has planned. Meet at 11:00 am at the Usdan Peace Circle, and the entire group will walk hand-in-hand to Sherman. This is a great opportunity to share, reflect, and be in solidarity with the Brandeis community.
I would like to thank Daniel Acheampong and the rest of the Student Union for this opportunity.
Until tomorrow,
Esther
Dear Brandeis,
I am sure you, like myself, were deeply saddened to receive the news of Kat Sommers’ death tonight. I send my sincerest condolences to her friends and family.
As someone with a family history of suicide and self-injury, I believe suicide should be discussed. Depression is a serious condition, and I urge everyone to reach out towards one another when school and life becomes overwhelming.
If you would prefer a confidential conversation, call x6TALK between 10 pm and 2 am seven days a week to speak with a trained counselor for support, information, crisis relief or resources.
I know it is clichĂ©, but simple things like a smile or texting a friend can help brighten someone’s day. I have always been proud of the support and kindness of the Brandeis community. I know we will continue to encourage and care through this difficult time.
Below is Rick Sawyer’s letter to Brandeis:
To the Brandeis community,
I am saddened to report that an undergraduate student, Katherine M. “Kat” Sommers ’14, of Queens, N.Y., apparently took her life on campus tonight. I spoke with her family tonight and expressed profound sympathy on behalf of the entire Brandeis community.
Staff from Community Living, the Psychological Counseling Center and the Chaplaincy are reaching out tonight to Kat’s friends and members of her residence community and will continue to do so tomorrow.
Fr. Walter Cuenin will be available to meet with students at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Shapiro Campus Center art gallery on the third floor. In addition, the Counseling Center will hold a group session tomorrow at 8:45 p.m. at Mailman House. If you would like to talk about this tragic event, or if you are feeling stressed, please call my office at 781-736-3600. If there is an urgent need, please call Public Safety at 781-736-5000. We will make arrangements for a community memorial service to be held after break.
Please take care of yourselves, and each other.
Rick Sawyer
Dean of Student Life
Hello! Today I received a great e-mail sent out to the Brandeis community regarding the Associate Provost for the Assessment of Student Learning. Professor Dan Perlman has been appointed the position!
Check it out:
I am pleased to announce that Professor Dan L. Perlman will be appointed Associate Provost for the Assessment of Student Learning, effective March 1, 2011. Prof. Perlman is a faculty member in the Biology Department and in the Environmental Studies Program, and he has been a member of the Provost’s Committee for the Assessment of Student Learning since its inception in 2006.
As Associate Provost, Prof. Perlman will be responsible for university assessment efforts by working with academic and non-academic departments on developing assessment plans and coordinating the assessment of learning goals inside and outside the classroom. I am delighted that he will assume this role, on a half-time basis.
Professors of Bluegrass + Big Chimney
Brandeis University
Saturday, Feb. 12, 8 pm
Student tickets only $5!
Academia meets bluegrass in this band fronted by the provost of Yale
University, Peter Salovey (bass and vocals). Sten Havumaki,
guitar/vocals; Matt Smith, professor of philosophy, fiddle; Katie
Scharf, Yale ’99 and Yale Law ’06, fiddle/vocals; Craig Harwood, dean
of Yale’s Davenport College, mandolin; Oscar Hills, professor of
psychiatry, banjo. Big Chimney, from Washington, D.C., plays
“reinvented rock, pop, and really old American tunes through a
bluegrass and old-time filter.”
Tickets: go.brandeis.edu/tickets
On February 10th at 10am, Prof. Julio Cammarota from the University of Arizona will be holding a workshop on poetry, activism and social justice. As there is limited space, only the first 25 respondents will be able ato attend the workshop. Please respond to Shannon Hunt, Program Administrator of Brandeis Women’s and Gender Studies Program: shunt@brandeis.edu
Check out the flyer here.
Change.org has just released a petition to aid the Egyptian Activists fighting for the “January 25 Movement”.
Targeting: Ambassador Sameh Shoukry, President Hosni Mubarak, General Habib Ibrahim El Adly, and Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq
Started by: The January 25 Movement
On January 25, we the people of Egypt took to the streets to demand our rights!
We are not unified by one party, class or religion: we are not Muslim and we are not Christian, we are not rich and we are not poor – we are the multifaceted people of Egypt – Muslims and Christians and Egyptians of all classes.
We demand our civil, political and human rights.
We demand the immediate resignation of the president and parliament.
We demand a new constitution.
We demand free and fair elections.
We demand the complete and total release of all political prisoners and detainees.
We demand the return of open access to all communication networks.
We demand that the police stop shooting at us, stop their brutality and stop their attacks on journalists.
We are the January 25 movement, and we are not going to stop until our demands are met!
We call on Egyptians and our international supporters to sign this petition of support, which will be sent to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, officials in the interior and foreign ministries, and Egyptian embassies all over the world.
abUSed: The Postville Raid
February 14, 2011
Sachar International Center
7:00 pm
The film tells the story of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s massive raid on the Agriprocessors kosher meatpacking plant in the sleepy town of Postville, Iowa in 2008. The raid made national and international headlines for the following reasons:
* At the time, it was the largest immigration raid in U.S. history. Nearly 400 immigrant workers, mostly Guatemalans, were rounded up by ICE and charged with identity theft; the majority were jailed and deported.
* The charges against the workers were so excessive, and the miscarriages of justice so great, that the court-appointed translator at their trial broke his professional silence to denounce the proceedings. Many of the workers were native Maya speakers, and could not understand the aggravated charges to which they were pressured to plead guilty. The Supreme Court subsequently ruled that federal prosecutors inappropriately aggravated identity theft laws to prosecute undocumented workers. Lawmakers and labour leaders criticized the Bush administration for going after workers rather than prosecuting employers who knowingly recruit and profit from the use of undocumented workers.
* The raid forever changed not only the tiny community of Postville, but also the rural Guatemalan communities from which many of the workers hailed. With Postville only having some 2,200 total inhabitants, the raid removed more than 20% of the town’s population. The film takes us from rural Iowa to rural Guatemala, with stops in Washington DC courtrooms along the way.
* The raid stimulated much debate among members of the Jewish community about whether or not the requirements for kosher certification should include a provision on the ethical treatment of workers in the production process. For more info, see the New York Times article.
If you’re a Brandeisian interested in social justice, immigrants’ rights, the ethics of kosher production, and labour rights, PLEASE JOIN US FOR THIS SPECIAL SCREENING AND TALK WITH DIRECTOR LUIS ARGUETA! What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than getting together with like-minded folks to watch an awesome movie and discuss the very issues that are dearest to our hearts?
Hi Brandeis,
I am sure you have all heard of the tragedy that occurred in Arizona. I would like to send my condolences to the families and victims of the shooting, especially to the Zimmerman family. Please join me in sending thoughts and best wishes.
Here is a copy of the e-mail President Lawrence sent today:
To the Brandeis Community:
We are all deeply saddened by the horrific events over the weekend in
Tucson, Arizona. Any act of violence is abhorrent, but the shooting of an
elected public servant strikes at the core of our democratic society. The
tragedy of the attack hit this community in a very personal way.
International Business School student Ben Zimmerman is the brother of Gabe
Zimmerman, an aide to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who was among the six
people who died Saturday. I know everyone at Brandeis joins me in extending
our heartfelt sympathy to Ben and his family during this very dark time. We
also offer our prayers to the families of all the others who lost their
lives, and to those victims who were wounded and their families.
Sincerely,
Fred Lawrence
Happy New Year Brandeis!
I hope you have all had a wonderful and joyous start to your new year!
President Lawrence gave a warm greeting to the Brandeis community and a call to alumni to revisit the campus.
He also will be keeping a blog here starting next semester. I wanted to share his first post:
The Work We Will Do Together
Today marks the beginning of a new year, a new decade and a new era for Brandeis. For my family and me, it is the beginning of a new life. We embrace it to the fullest with commitment, dedication, gratitude and joy.
Since being named president five months ago, I have been privileged to spend time with many in the Brandeis community — students, faculty, staff, alumni and valued friends of this great university. Walking the campus and meeting diverse constituencies, I am inspired by your energy, creativity and faith in this institution.
I am also humbled when I reflect on those who preceded me in this office. Abram Sachar was a visionary and it is an honor to follow him and the six other presidents who achieved so much in the last 62 years to bring us to this place in time. I especially want to thank Jehuda Reinharz for his contributions to Brandeis, and for the assistance he gave me during the transition.
In the days, months and years ahead, I will look to all of you I have met and the many I look forward to meeting for what you personally can bring to our school. I have learned that the essence of Brandeis is the people who embody the spirit of this unique institution in so many ways.
There is much to be done and I am more excited than ever to begin my formal duties. Searches will soon be under way for a new provost, senior vice president for students and enrollment, and dean of arts and sciences. I will immerse myself in the finances of the university, strengthen my relationship with the many generous supporters of Brandeis, deepen my understanding of the academy and all of its rich offerings, and forge connections with undergraduate and graduate students across the university. I also want to promote communication across this community; this blog is one of my early contributions to that effort. I plan to post regularly.
As I said in July, this is an awe-inspiring institution of learning and social commitment, an open and nonsectarian university with a unique position in the world. As we move forward to expand and strengthen our community — the humanities, the arts, the sciences and athletics — may the ideals of our founders find fulfillment through the work we will do together.
Happy New Year from me and my family to you and your family.
President Fred Lawrence
Last night, Sunday December 7th, I had the immense pleasure of attending the Brandeis Jazz Ensemble semester concert. Directed by the talented Bob Nieske, the Jazz Ensemble concentrated on music made popular in the 1960’s, focused on Thelonious Monk Big Band, arranged by Oliver Nelson.
The concert was structured in two parts: small groups and full band. Both sections were phenomenal, and highlighted the individual talents and incredible orchestration of the entire group. I am personally a HUGE Duke Ellington fan, and I was so excited to hear an excellent rendition of Johnny Come Lately. Another personal favorite was the Miles Davis tune Dear Old Stockholm.
There were three small groups preforming:
1.
Nick Gordon- Trumpet
James McGregor- Alto Sax
Elliot Lustig- Tenor Sax
Jessie Fields- Trombone
Nick Monath- Guitar
Jake Weiner- Bass
Dan Schreiber- Drums
Eran Alpern- Drums
Work Song by Nat Adderly
Stratusphunk by George Russell Nick
2.
Gabe Bronk- Alto Sax
Doug Nevins- Tenor Sax
Ben Gartenstein- Trumpet
Anneke Reich- Voice
Erica Rabner- Voice
Nick Monath- Guitar
Jake Weiner- Bass
Dan Schreiber- Drums
The Peacocks by Jimmy Rowles
Johnny Come Lately by Duke Ellington
3.
Craig Ellman- Alto Sax
Jeremy Goldenberg- Tenor Sax
Guan Ho Nam- Trumpet
Nick Monath- Guitar
Jake Weiner- Bass
Eran Alpern- Drums
Dear Old Stockholm by traditional/Davis
Straight No Chaser by Thelonius Monk
All together, the full band played songs by Thelonius Monk and arranged by Oliver Nelson
1. Let’s Cool One
2. Monk’s Point
3. Little Rootie Tootie
4. Trinkle Tinkle
5. Reflections
6. Brilliant Corners
All together a wonderful and enjoyable concert!
I was a little saddened at the lack of student turn out to enjoy such a great effort from fellow Brandeis students. I understand it is finals time, but taking a break to enjoy the arts can be productive as well.
Many student performance groups are hosting their final shows, and I strongly encourage the Brandeis community to go and support them!
A huge THANK YOU to go out to the Center for German and European Studies in cooperation with the Campus Sustainability Initiative, the Environmental Studies Program, the Sustainable International Development Program, and Students for Environmental Action. The Green Unity Gala was a HUGE success yesterday!
This event was funded by the German Embassy to the USA, devoted to raising awareness about Climate Change in celebration of 20 years of German Unity, an initiative of the German Embassy in Washington, D.C. and the Transatlantic Climatebridge.
President-elect Fred Lawrence spoke, as well as several members of the Brandeis faculty.
Janna Cohen-Rosenthal, the Sustainability Coordinator at Brandeis spoke of several successes, such as the Brandeis Sustainability Fund. The BSF granted 5 student proposals funding to be achieved next semester.
Yifan Wang, a member of the Greening the Ivory Tower course, created a video documenting the community service and individual projects students from the class achieved over the semester.
Cece Watkins and other members of the STARS committee explained how Brandeis is currently being evaluated for sustainability in several fields. Be sure to check out their full report in January 2011!
The Brandeis debate team presented a fabulous debate for and against nuclear energy and what the choice means for the future of Germany. The arguments on both sides were compelling, interesting, and left me wanting to learn more!
Dinner was a delicious locally grown vegetarian feast with German desserts!
The Gala was serenaded by the fantastic voices of Voice Male and Up the Octave!
At the end of evening was an exciting raffel with many prizes, including a new bike won by Rebecca Ludwig!
I know I had an amazing time at the Gala, and I was impressed by all the hard work Brandeis students have done to better the campus. I am excited for our future, and for the Brandeis community to continue to grow in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way!
As part of Celebrate Brandeis, our response to the Westboro Baptist Church, the Justice League would like to cordially invite everyone to a meditation session.
Emily Peterson and I will be leading a meditation group at 9am on the Great Lawn, SCC. Many wonderful and creative events will be happening on Friday, and will showcase the talents of the Brandeis community. As part of Friday morning’s activities, we believe it is equally important to celebrate inner peace.
Open meditation is available for everyone, and I would love for you to attend!
To the lovely Brandeis community,
As part of the wonderful celebrations on Friday Dec. 3 Hillel is welcoming everyone to join Shabbat dinner at 6:30 pm in Upper Sherman. The theme is Harry Potter and sounds like a lot of fun!
In order to ensure there is enough food, PLEASE sign up to reserve your spot using this link. We ask for you to sign up by Thursday Dec. 2 at noon.
Shabbat dinner is traditionally a time to meet with family, friends, and the community. I feel attending dinner is a very appropriate end to a day celebrating students and love.
I hope to see everyone there!
Yesterday, at lunch with Ingrid Schorr, we learned of an amazing opportunity for Brandeis students- to see beautiful works of art! JustArts is an exhibition showcasing artwork by Brandeis faculty and staff, will be on display in the Dreitzer Gallery, Spingold Theater Center, from November 16 to 22. This means MONDAY is the last day!! It is an amazing exhibit, and I encourage everyone to go!
More than 100 works will be on display, by individuals from across campus, including the departments of psychology, theater, fine arts, and politics; the mail room; LTS, and the department of athletics.
Last year’s exhibition, the first in Brandeis history, was “a joyous occasion, with so many people truly paying attention to the art and talking about it,” Professor Mick Watson of the Department of Psychology wrote in an email to the organizers. “And the art work was good — well worth looking at. Best of all, the works came from so many diverse members of the Brandeis community — people who may have been doing art as a hobby, but who took it seriously and had created aesthetic and often moving pieces.”
JustArts is sponsored by the Office of the Arts.
Hey Brandeis! I know I am a little late, but here are my thoughts on last week’s speaker Diana Buttu “who has negotiated for the Palestine Liberation Organization and will address the legal aspects of the occupation ” .
She arrived early last Wednesday, November 10th, in Pearlman lounge to greet students and enjoy some Palestinian sweets!
Diana Buttu was born and raised in Canada, in what she called a “depoliticized” household. She wasn’t heavily involved in the Israeli Palestinian Conflict until she was a student at Stanford in the year 2000 during the Camp David negotiations. She recalled how Israel would undo Israeli control over Palestine and undo colonization… which still hasn’t occurred ten years later.
Buttu moved to the Middle East and lived in Palestine under Israeli laws. While she lived in Palestine, she observed two goals of Israel and made them a focus of her speech: Israel wants to “take away Palestinian land and confine Palestinians into a small space”.
Buttu described the West Band and Gaza Strip from the Oslo Accords to present day. She gave emphasis on the illegal Israeli settlements and outposts, military zones, and nature reserves. She suggests all three types of structures are strategically placed in between Palestinian neighborhoods to keep Palestinians separated. The roads which connect Israeli settlements create further barriers around Palestinians and the Wall (and other fences) segregates communities entirely. Buttu emphasized the increase of Israeli settlements and reduced supplies to Palestinians. She recalled cheese, yogurt, bread, and even shampoo shortages.
To end her presentation, Buttu called on the international community to hold Israel accountable. Ever since the international law ruling which declared the wall illegal, she hopes the US and other countries will make a stand. She believes the following actions will help:
1. Boycott Israeli goods
2. Divest from holdings
3. Sanctions
She also believes a large part of the problem is that Israeli’s do not accept Palestinians as equals. However, she offered no solution to help bridge equality between the two communities.
When questioned as to the violent reactions of Palestinians, she said “lack of freedom equals lack of security”.
I personally highly enjoyed her presentation. She gave a legal and detailed account spotted with personal reflection. Her arguments were easy to follow and clearly demonstrates where the law falls in this particular circumstance. I do wish she was able to offer better solutions for the reconciliation for the two communities. However, she did approach the question and answer potion as an open conversation and listened intently to everyone’s point of view.
I hope this recap was helpful to anyone who missed her talk, and feel free to ask any questions! I took notes!
Good Afternoon Brandeis!
When I opened my e-mail, on the top of the list was Marty W. Krauss’s e-mail about the new block scheduling program.
From the report here is a quick list of the changes (full outline at bottom).
– Less MWT classes
– More TF, MW classes
– Classes start on the hour! No more waking up late!
– No more classes after 2pm on Fridays.
– Using this block system will make it easier to schedule longer classes and labs.
I am personally in favor of the new changes. Next semester I have classes until 4pm on Fridays… such a drag! Under the new system, exceptions will have to be made for teachers to schedule a class — giving us more time to party study.
I am already a fan of less MWT classes, but moving the classes to start at 00 or 30 is a little sad… No more waking up at 10:00 and getting to class by 10:10 for me! However, it will be motivation to get out of bed and probably help with “Brandeis time”.
What do you think? Love it? Hate it? Think the administration is crazy? Comment and let me know!
A few months ago, I received several e-mails and Facebook messages regarding Marty Peretz. The long time New Republic editor, also a alma mater of Brandeis, posted a very racist and bigoted comment about Muslims: “But, frankly, Muslim life is cheap, most notably to Muslims. . . I wonder whether I need honor these people and pretend that they are worthy of the privileges of the First Amendment which I have in my gut the sense that they will abuse.’’
My friends and I quickly joined over 500 Brandeis students signing a petition calling on Marty to take back his statement. A week later, Marty did!
I know I personally felt pride and honor to be part of a campus and a community that reacted so quickly, and so well, to an injustice. This motion of compassion, and solidarity for the Muslim community, was the reason why I chose Brandeis as my university.
I am still very proud of our actions, and I wanted to share this article with the rest of the Brandeis community.
Boston.com recognized Brandeis’ outcry and our dedication for social justice. I know this Halloween weekend I will sit back, relax, and raise my glass to all the hard work and inspiring acts done everyday at Brandeis.
Hello Brandeis!
I hope many of you have read this article in the Hoot by Bret Matthew. He discusses the very scary and imminent decision for admissions to begin using a “need sensitive” policy when admitting new freshman next fall. This decision is against the integrity and values of Brandeis. I applied here early decision because I felt this school had a powerful dedication to justice and to its students.
There only reason I am attending Brandeis now is because of the “need blind” policy. Without the tremendous scholarships I have received, I would be at a state school without any of the amazing opportunities I have received here at Brandeis. For many of my friends, this has also been their experience.
As responsible students of Brandeis, we can not allow such detrimental changes to be made! We must stand up proud of the Brandeis tradition, accepting all students who match criteria, no matter their financial status. In order to maintain our educated and caring student body, in order to maintain our diversity, in order to bring about new ideas and actions for future generations, we must accept the best possible students who apply. The brightest minds don’t always come from the deepest pockets, and we need to continue to celebrate freedom of education.
