Category: Uncategorized

The Hill reports that congressional Republicans have conceded the FISA fight to the Democrats. Looks like the good guys won this time:

House Republicans are poised to shift their focus from national security to the economy, hoping to rally opposition to what they claim are Democratic plans to raise taxes amid the economic downturn.

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) is expected to announce Thursday that the House GOP floor emphasis will transition away from passing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and earmark reform to “stop the tax hike.”

House Republican leaders will make their case to pass a tax bill introduced by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.).
Republicans will use procedural floor tactics to force votes on Walberg’s bill, which would make the 2001 tax cuts permanent.
The measure has 125 co-sponsors, none of whom are Democrats.

So, the Republicans folded, and it looks like this section of the Constitution will live another day. The Fourth Amendment lives!

Or does it?

Turns out the Justice Department has been working under the rules set by a UC Berkeley professor, John Yoo, which contains this startling passage:

Our office recently concluded that the Fourth Amendment had no application to domestic military operations.

And, with us being in “the war on terror”, as far as the “Justice Department” is concerned, the constitutional need for a warrant is an example of a “pre-9/11 mindset”. After all, 9/11 CHANGED EVERYTHING. The Justice Department still cannot deny that it’s operating under these rules.

Continue reading “A blow for freedom, a blow to freedom”

Ben takes issue at the list of grievances at today’s demonstration:

I’m not sure I get it. It seems like they’re linking too many unrelated things together. There’s just no coherence to this set of grievances, as far as I can tell (not that some of the things mentioned are not legitimate concerns in and of themselves).

For reference, the event opposed the circumstances surrounding the events of the ‘incidents’ regarding:

the removal of Palestinian Art, Nadia Kim, Gravity Magazine, Jimmy Carter, Donald Hindley and Mamoon Darwish

I don’t know enough about the Gravity or Nadia Kim cases to make a judgement. So, putting those aside, we’re left with the removal of Palestinian Art, Jimmy Carter, Donald Hindley, and Mamoon Darwish.

These cases are absolutely connected. They are connected by their relationship with the Israel-Arab conflict, and the tension it creates on campus.

As I’ve written previously,

Brandeis is funded by rich right-wing Jews and rich left-wing Jews. The administration doesn’t want to offend the right-wingers, so it tends to do these outrageous things. Or at least, that’s the theory that I’m operating on.

Carter was invited by lefty professor. Brandeis first tried to un-invite him, realized that they couldn’t do that, then they invited Dershowitz to Brandeis as well and tried to set up a debate between Carter and Dershowitz, which Carter refused. The injustice? Administration trying to humiliate Carter, and trying to change the rules of the game after he accepted an invitation.

Palestinian Art Removal – Speaks for itself, really, though I will point out that no one owned up to the responsibility of decreeing that it must be moved. (Or else Jehuda did, I’m a bit unclear on the details)

Hindley is famous for being outspokenly opposed to these sorts of decisions (but also the Reinhartzs personally, I’m told). Many interpreted the “Hindley case” as Brandeis’ revenge.

Mamoon is a self-identified Palestinian.

Universities shouldn’t have a foreign policy, but it seems that Brandeis does, which creates tension.

I think one must concede that it is plausible that many, if not most, of these ‘outrages’ here on campus can be viewed through that lens by students. Regardless of my personal affiliations or beliefs, I think that these students are rational when they view these incidents as both injustices and emblematic/connected to a larger problem.
_______
Of course, I have a much more brief rejoinder to Ben: All these incidents feature the university not living up to its own rules. *

*Except for maybe Gravity and Nadia Kim. Again, I’m not too familiar with these issues so I don’t want to make any sweeping statements.

Furthermore, it would be wise of me to point out that the demonstration is geared towards influencing student attitudes and actions at least as much as it has the administration as an audience.

_________

I expect some people to disagree with me on this analysis. Cool. I fully expect that I might be wrong sometimes. Who is the bigger fool, the man who stays silent, fearing to be wrong, or the man who opens his mouth, makes mistakes, and comes out the wiser for the lesson? More on this in the letter from the editor.

A note:

You may disagree with our analysis of the happenings here on campus. That’s fine. We often disagree between ourselves.

The contributors to Innermost Parts and I write this, and everything else, in the spirit of trying to figure out what is going on, and appreciate your feedback, rebuttals, and responses. Please understand that our writings are grounded in that spirit of academic inquiry and conversation, and behave accordingly.

Exciting event today. Everyone must go:

This is not a protest.
This is not a protest.
This is NOT a protest.
This is a demonstration,
a demonstration expressing general concern in the campus community.
The reason for concern has become commonplace, routine, boring, and just straight old news.
Despite our community’s collective wisdom and diverse acumen, our method of handling emotionally stressful episodes on campus–often evoking sentiments surrounding sensitive identity categories– has been generally conflated with our way of doing homework: start thinking about it; procrastinate; look at it again because you got stressed out and nervous; have a grieving pow wow with some friends about it; procrastinate; repeat…

This cycle ends as the wounded graduate off or when another episode starts the cycle starting over.

Enough concerned people–disciplined, empathetic, and determined–can strike a chord of dissent that will reverberate across campus community lines, raising this conversation urgency to level orange. And hopefully, these new vibes will begin opening a space for the conversations that will prevent future art exhibits, Walaa part I’s, Gravity sanctions, Nadia Kim’s, Don Hindley’s, Mod 22: Walaa the sequel’s, and Mamoon’s to exist.

Here will be links to things youll want to know about…

THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
come at 5:45 to Shapiro Campus Center, bring paper plates (to make face masks) with you and be silent… THIS IS NOT A PROTEST, this is demonstration.
-=-=-=–=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Knowledge Advancing Social Justice. For many students, these words are part of what
brought us to this school in the first place. However, as in all human institutions,
Brandeis itself suffers from imperfection, even in practicing the very ideals upon which
it was founded.

The demonstration today is in regards an ongoing situation at Brandeis University. We are
asking the student body to carefully consider these things?the removal of Palestinian
Art, Nadia Kim, Gravity Magazine, Jimmy Carter, Donald Hindley and Mamoon Darwish?and
consider the implications of the way the Administration and the student body has
responded. If one student?s rights can be so openly violated, if Professor?s rights are
so blatantly disregarded at an institution devoted to justice and human rights, then how
safe are your own rights?

In the past, the response of the Brandeis community has been to divide these issues and
argue over who is right and who is wrong. We are here today to show that these things are all pieces of the same puzzle. We demand that the university unite on all levels in dialogue about these issues. We demand that the administration foster the construction of a community based truth and justice rather than the destruction of the community through fear and dishonesty. We demand that the community hold the university responsible for due process and public justice. We demand that people do not stand aside, but instead stand together.

Great Lawn
5 pm-discourse and preparation
6 pm-Silent demonstration of solidarity and presentation of demands
11 pm-Reconvene in the SCC for an open discussion
All members of the Brandeis community are asked to attend

(emphasis mine)

It’s a very powerful insight to realize that all the controversy, outrages, etc are all linked. More on that later. This event has the potential for greatness. I know I’ll be there. Will you?

I was pleased to read the headline of the latest Justice Editorial, “Transparency is essential for our Union to function”

Too bad, then, that the editorial focuses wholly on the process of releasing election results. The Justice could have gone much farther than this weak issue.

We need to know about how the F-Board allocates money. We need to know how they come up with their decisions, certainly, but also be able to see how they handle conflicts of interest. Campus rumors have it that only Jordan Rothman ever recused himself from F-Board rulings. True or not, they breed distrust on campus. This F-Board secrecy has, at the very least, brought about the appearance of impropriety, which is prohibited by any serious ethics rules.

But issues relating to transparency goes way beyond F-Board. The Student Union Senate and E-Board proper are in no way in the clear. The Senate has a discretionary fund of $2,462.23. Rumors have it that the discretionary funding is used as a slush fund for the Senate. We can’t check how our money is being spent, so the Senate labors under the impression of improprietary conduct. Tut-tutting over an apathetic student body is merely blaming the victim.

This was a first step by The Justice, but the need for transparency on campus, or even in the Student Union, is way more sweeping.

Spring elections are coming soon – next Tuesday, April 15.

Lev Hirschhorn and I are running on an activist platform for Class of 2011 Senators. I strongly encourage everyone here at Innermost Parts to vote for us, if you can. Please check out our website at either my or Lev’s UNET space for more information. Also, join our facebook group and invite all our friends! We need all the help we can get, as this is going to be a close race.

To learn more about our campaign, check the blurb (snatched right from what I wrote for the facebook group) below the fold…
Continue reading “Brandeis Senate Elections coming soon!”

So apparently yesterday there was a both a “State of Student Finance Address” and “Has the sun set on your rights” discussion.

I wouldn’t have known about the former except that my roommate was specially invited, and I didn’t hear about the latter until I was invited to it on facebook, about an hour before it started.

For ‘serious’, Student-Union run events, I’d expect there to be more advance warning / publicity. Or have I been living under a hole for the past few days?

You may now refer to me as Sahar Massachi, friend of Mike Gravel.

More news at 11. And by 11 I mean after I get a good night’s sleep.

edit– Granted, it didn’t go quite as I’d hoped. I really wanted to hear his critique of the American Empire and Military/Industrial complex. Instead I ended up as the vehicle through which he vented his frustration with the Democratic Party. Well, I didn’t wilt under all that; I’m still alive, I got to ask one of my many questions, and we bonded after the official lecture. All in all, a success.

If you aren’t subscribed to the Global Brandeis mailing list, you should be.

One email a week, talking about speakers on campus, events, deadlines, everything. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Brandeis is about to experience a festival bonanza.

Right now we’ve just started EarthFest 2008, which IP has previously covered.

That runs from Sunday April 6 to Wednesday April 16th.

Sunday, April 6th

Film Screening

Sunday, April 6th

Charles River Clean-Up

Wednesday, April 9th

Focus Brandeis

Thursday, April 10th

Green Jobs Forum

Friday, April 11th

Eco Shabbat

Sunday, April 13th

Congressman Edward Markey on Environmental Entrepreneurship

Tuesday, April 15th

Waste-Free Picnic

Wednesday, April 16th

Ross Gelbspan on Journalism, Activism and Climate Change

Starting this Wednesday April 9, and running ’till Sunday April 13, we also have the pleasure of experiencing the Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts.

It’s going to be epic – so much stuff going on I can’t even summarize.

Full schedule here

Forty years ago yesterday, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King was shot and killed while he was in Memphis Tennessee supporting unionized sanitation workers.

I wanted to say something special yesterday. Something poignant and insightful about the man. No flash of brilliance came to me, so I said nothing.

Yet what worse way is there to honor a man than saying nothing? Dr. King was a radical, a peace marcher before it was popular. He was a man that fought for the end of America’s caste system, be it through class, race, or other stratifications. Dr. King faced an unyieldingly and illegally hostile FBI, an establishment that divorced him after he spoke out against Vietnam, an America that refused to listen when he argued that Northern institutional racism was seperate, but equal to Southern racism.

In his day, the establishment considered King a dangerous troublemaker. He was harassed by the FBI and vilified in the media. He began his activism in Montgomery, Alabama, as a crusader against the nation’s racial caste system, but the struggle for civil rights radicalized him into a fighter for broader economic and social justice. He recognized the limits of breaking down legal segregation. What good was winning the right to eat at a dime-store lunch counter if you couldn’t afford a hamburger and a Coke? (link)

I don’t have much interesting to say, but others do, and did.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gigsZH5HlJA[/youtube]
RFK, for one.

My favorite two articles yesterday – Dr. King, forgotten radical & The Other Side of the Mountaintop

Dr. King said this:

“The Southern aristocracy took the world and gave the poor white man Jim Crow,” King lectured from the Alabama Capitol steps, following the 1965 march on Selma. “And when his wrinkled stomach cried out for the food that his empty pockets could not provide, he ate Jim Crow, a psychological bird that told him that no matter how bad off he was, at least he was a white man, better than a black man.”

40 years later, compare to this:

Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze – a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many. And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns – this too widens the racial divide, and blocks the path to understanding.

He just donated money to the Republican party. He’s not a hero, ok?

Eagle Cam!

Update – Go to Springfest tomorrow:

Student Events and WBRS 100.1 FM proudly present Springfest 2008, featuring live music by…

The Pietasters
Minus the Bear
Jedi Mind Tricks
and special guests, STATE RADIO!

Join us for an afternoon of  *FREE* food, beer (for 21+ with ID,) activities, sunshine and live music.
When: Sunday, April 6th from 1-6pm
Where: The Great Lawn
*rain location: Levin Ballroom

Filed in the Department of Things that I am proud of:

Primary Election Results:

Reported on Innermost Parts – March 31
Reported in The Justice – April 1
Reported in The Hoot – April 4

Final Election Results:

Reported on Innermost Parts – April 2
Reported in The Justice – Not Yet April 2?
Reported in The Hoot – April 4

You better be there. It will be epic.
Tuesday April 7, 9pm to midnight

The Vice President’s race was closer than people realize. The official tally had Mike Kerns up by about 75 votes. What the official tally doesn’t tell you, however, is how much more of a tight race it would have been if Mike did not deploy his secret weapons:

 

Democracy for America, having previously endorsed Mike, worked throughout the night to get out the vote. DFA estimates that it persuaded upwards of 34 students who were either planning to sit the election out or were undecided to vote for Mike. That’s 34 confirmed new votes for Mike, and 34 is a conservative estimate.

Democracy for America was a significant factor in Mike’s success. DFA: We Get Shit Done.

Update- Mike responds: 

There is no question in my mind that DFA-as an organization and as the members who comprise it-determined the outcome of my election.

Full letter under the fold…

Continue reading “Kerns’ secret weapon”

That is the point, isn’t it? We — the activists, the bloggers, the ones who spent hours upon hours at caucuses, who donated money we couldn’t afford — we’ve become so personally invested in the outcome of this race. And it is personal. I’m a woman who, for the first time, could actually see a woman in the White House. You’re damn right it’s personal.

But I also know that when I went to my caucus in February, and I watched two very old black men sitting together, smiling, beaming, I choked up because I imagined — and could appreciate — they probably felt the way I did.

linky linky

Like Phil, I was contacted by the Brandeis Hoot, who asked me some questions on Mike Gravel. Here’s what I wrote back (rather in a hurry, I might add):

1. What do you think of Mike Gravel coming to Brandeis? Should students go to hear him speak?

Mike Gravel is an important historical figure and took principled and brave stands in the Nixon years. I applaud his patriotism and his fight against the imperial presidency in those years. I hope every
Brandeis student will take the time to see him.
Continue reading “More thoughts about Mike Gravel”

Victory for progressives tonight, folks. Mike Kerns wins the race for VP! And fellow InVEST sponsored candidate Jason Gray wins as well. Here are the full results:
PRESIDENT
Jason Gray

VICE PRESIDENT
Michael Kerns

MEMBER OF THE FINANCE BOARD
Yuki Hasegawa
Emily E. Moignard
Julian Olidort
Jahfree Lemuel Bandele Duncan

Recently I wrote a comment here at Innermost Parts about Mike Gravel’s upcoming visit to Brandeis, saying that I am excited for him to come but that I’m disappointed he left the Democratic Party for the Libertarians.

A writer from the Brandeis Hoot contacted me about the comment and had two questions:

1. What do you think of Mike Gravel coming to Brandeis? Are you going
to hear him speak? If yes, why?

2. Also, you mentioned in your post that you were disappointed in
Gravel‘s switch to the Libertarian party, could you elaborate further
on this?

I thought I’d share my responses with you, and ask for your opinions on the former Senator. The following was my reply Continue reading “Thoughts on Mike Gravel”

Vote.
In such a small campus, every vote really does count. We here at InnermostParts.org strongly suggest voting Mike Kerns for Vice-President. A strong advocate of endowment transparency here at Brandeis University, Mike is the chair of the Social Justice committee on the Student Union, the guy bringing us bikes for cheap rental next semester, gender-neutral housing, and other goodies. Mike is a genuinely good guy, a former Democracy for America organizer, and a big proponent of Social Justice.

Mike’s opponent, Jordan Rothman, is also a genuinely nice guy. Jordan is also a strong proponent of transparency at the Brandeis student union. However, Mike has a clear history of active, positive, progressive change both Brandeis and New York City.

I, Sahar Massachi, am also running for office; if you elect me to F-Board, Continue reading “Voting today…”

Besides voting, things you should do today:

1.Locally Grown Food Banquet: 6:30-8:30pm, Sherman. More info on facebook.

2. In Mixed Company, hosted by the Mixed Herie Club.

“In Mixed Company” is a collection of performing arts pieces centered on the mixed herie experience. The event features poetry, monologues, and a short play.

10:00pm-11:00pm, Shapiro Campus Center Atrium.

More info on facebook. Don’t miss it!

It’s coming down to:

Executive Board 

President: Jason Gray vs Justin Kang
Vice President:Mike Kerns vs Jordan Rothman
Treasurer: Max Wallach wins.
Secretary: Tia Chatterjee wins.

Finance Board:

Yuki Hasegawa vs  Emily E. Moignard vs Julian Olidort vs Jahfree Lemuel Bandele Duncan vs  Nicole Cordero vs   Sara I. Enan vs  Devora Rotter vs Sahar Massachi

On a personal note, thanks to everyone who voted for me. We’ll continue to press this campaign until the final round of elections: Tuesday April 1

Other results: 

JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Jonathan A. Kane

JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE TO THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Sarah A. Bernes

JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Michelle S. Barras

SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
Julia S. Simon-Mishel

Brandeis Students Against War are hosting a planning meeting to discuss the upcoming “picnic for peace”, action against Raytheon, and other ideas.

Where:  Upper Usdan
When: Sunday, March 30, 11:00am

And soon. April 6th.

edit: He is being brought by Students for a Democratic Society, I believe. -Loki

Event tomorrow (Saturday). Watch The Corporation. What is this film about?

The film charts the development of the corporation as a legal entity from its origins as an institution chartered by governments to carry out specific public functions, to the rise of the vast modern institutions entitled to some of the legal rights of a person. One central theme of the documentary is an attempt to assess the “personality” of the corporate “person” by using diagnostic criteria from the DSM-IV; Robert Hare, a University of British Columbia Psychology Professor and FBI consultant, compares the modern, profit-driven corporation to that of a clinically diagnosed psychopath. The film focuses mostly on the corporation in North America, especially in the United States.

facebook event here.

Where: The Airplane Lounge in East
When: Saturday, 6-10pm.

Rumor has it that there will be pizza.

If this is succesful, hopefully the idea of community movie screenings will catch on.

I get email:

Professional Activism Workshop:

This Friday the 28th at 7pm in the ICC the Muslim Students association
will be holding a professional activism workshop covering the topic:
“Pursuing social justice in the work environment”

Here’s a question: Student Union races have the first round of voting this weekend, March 30. What races are you most interested in? Who are you rooting for?

Personally, I’m very torn between Jason Gray and Justin Kang. And of course I’m excited about my own candidacy. Sahar Massachi for F-Board!

SEA is sponsoring something they call EarthFest (like an Earth Week, only slightly longer).

Check this out:

Sunday, April 13th – Panel of Speakers, Congressman Markey, 4-6:30 P.M.
A panel preceded by Congressman Edward Markey, chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, will speak and then be followed after refreshments by a panel discussing the profitability of the green revolution. This panel will feature Mr. Steven Strong, President and Founder of Solar Design Associates, who will discuss his projects at the UN and the White House and Dr. Mark Rentschler, Director of Institutional Greening Programs for the NGO Green Seal.

Sunday, April 13th – Senator John Kerry, Noon-2 P.M.
Senator John Kerry will discuss his experiences with environmental and sustainability
legislation in the United States Senate.

Full EarthFest schedule under the fold…

(hat tip to ARCblog)

Continue reading “The Congressmen are coming!”

In one of the three copies I was handed today, I noticed that the Iraq War event made the cover of one of my three favorite campus newspapers, the Blowfish. In the spirit of crappy reporting, I don’t have the headline with me. However, it pointed out that, despite our best efforts, we did not stop the war in Iraq.

I do not mean to sound bitter, and I do think it was a funny and useful article the Blowfish wrote. Useful in that it forces us (or, forced me, anyway) to continue thinking about the meaning of protests and demonstrative activism. What, exactly, were we trying to accomplish last week?

I don’t think we intended to stop the war, and I don’t think the Blowfish seriously believes this. But we must take their joking point seriously: what, then, was the point of the signs, the chants, the speeches and the march?

I heard talk of consciousness, of reminding people there is still a war going on. I find it unlikely that we surprised many people with our opinion, per se, (College Students in Northeast Oppose War! could have been another Blowfish headline), but maybe we surprised people by the energy we were able to muster around the issue, half a decade (one quarter of my life!!) later. Again though, I think it’s quite clear that this alone would be grossly insufficient. If we’re going to provoke people and accuse them of sitting on “the apathy couch,” we must be quite considerate of not winding up on an analogous soapbox of self-righteous complacency.

And, I should add, I do not think we are. The letters we send to influential swing senators, and the money we raise for VoteVets and the goodwill offerings for U.S. soldiers, are the actions that I hope speak louder than the (rhyming) words of chants. But from even before the event, many people realized the most important use of the demonstration was for momentum: a protest and a march are fun and note-worthy, but they are not enough, and we must live up to our own ideals.

Take a look at this:

WASHINGTON – The Navy is cutting funding for a long-range weapon designed by Waltham-based Raytheon that has repeatedly failed to perform in field tests despite $600 million worth of research over the past decade.

Raytheon is headquartered right in Waltham?

Raytheon, the fifth largest defense contractor in the world?

Hopefully we haven’t heard the last of this…

Last Wednesday, Daniel Cohn-Bendit – a.k.a. Danny the Red – came and spoke in the Rapaporte Treasure Hall. The topic of his lecture was “Forget ’68,” in reference to his activities as a leader in the student uprisings in Paris during the spring of 1968. Ever since the turmoil of the Sixties, Cohn-Bendit has been an important figure on the Left in both France and Germany, and he has done everything from resisting arrest to serving as a member of the Green Party in the European Parliament. For more information, click here.

I came to this talk wanting to learn not just about Cohn-Bendit’s experiences, but what, given those experiences, the Left can learn about political and social change today. I wanted to know why we should “forget 1968.” But, even more so, a central question that always lingers in my mind: what is it that separates activism today from the 1960’s, and is there any way to bring back some of the spirit that led literally an entire generation to challenge and reject so much of the society that had been handed to them? Why is our generation so reluctant to do so? Are we better, or worse off, today? Continue reading “Reflections on Danny the Red”

Alright, so we had a successful peace rally and vigil last week, as noted on this blog and in various publications. But we need to keep that enthusiasm and unity alive. Within the last few days, the number of confirmed American deaths in Iraq has reached the 4,000 mark. Vigils have been held all over the country to mark this, and currently the Protestant chaplain here, Alex Kern, is organizing an event.

The time is on Thursday, from 12:10 to 12:30, and the location is at the Peace Circle by the Library.

Everyone should try to be there, or at the very least spread the word. We need to follow through on our conscious commitment to ending this war, and building a movement of people who will see to it that we do not senselessly enter similar conflicts in the future. (Also, bring signs if you’ve got ’em).

Louis Brandeis said

There is no such thing to my mind as an innocent stockholder. He may be innocent in fact, but socially he cannot be held innocent. He accepts the benefits of the system. It is his business and his obligation to see that those who represent him carry out a policy which is consistent with public welfare.

Debby Kuenstner, Brandeis’ administrator in charge of investment management, said

We have to decide which issues are important to Brandeis. Do we cut off so much investment opportunity that the endowment cannot fulfill its primary goal? You can’t keep the endowment at equal value for this generation and the next, and say “don’t invest in tobacco companies, do invest in environmental companies,
only socially responsible cases.”

When she told me this, I was troubled. I understand the need to make money with our investments. Yet unfortunately Brandeis seems to have been consumed by that hunger at the expense of any consideration of those investments’ social, environmental, or political impact. Our University has strayed from its founder’s dedication to responsible public citizenship.

Independent Voices for Endowment Sustainability and Transparency (InVEST), is trying to bring his dedication back to the forefront. Since we coalesced about one month previous from members of several campus activist clubs, we have been making promising progress. We have drafted a petition calling for greater investment transparency and responsibilty, and have obtained 500 written student and faculty signatures in support. Two days ago, the Student Union, often fractured when it comes to political positions, unanimously voted its enthusiastic support for a working proposal for the formation of an advisory committee to the Board dealing with these issues. Community opinion is behind us, and the administration and board must start to listen.

This is an issue I first addressed here on Innermost Parts months ago, after I found out Brandeis failed all the endowment-related clauses of its 2007 College Sustainability Report Card. Since then, the 2008 Report Card has been released, and Brandeis has again failed those clauses. By 2009, I want to reform our policies so that we do not fail three years in a row; I want our policies to be brought to the forefront among private Universities instead of lagging behind. If you’d like to get involved in this growing campaign, we’d love any help we can get. Email me at loki@innermostparts.org, or check out InVEST’s website.

InVest , the coalition to promote a transparent and sustainable Brandeis Endowment,  is trying to introduce its resolution to the Student Union right now.

Update: 10:18
The InVest resolution passed unanimously. I must say I was very impressed with the professionalism, preparedness, and general good presentation by the InVest crew. Kudos!

Brandeis Students Against the War (BSAW), the umbrella organization of Democracy for America, Students for a Democratic Society, Brandeis Democrats, and Amnesty International, the people who organized last wednesday’s protest event, has done something smart.

BSAW has leveraged its contacts with people who showed up to its event to create a sizeable facebook group. This shows sophistication: rather than start a new group and wait for people to join, they used their existing contacts to jumpstart their membership. We’ll keep on eye on their future activities.

The power to tax is the power to destroy.

The power of the purse is the power to create.

I am committed to creating and cultivating a stronger activist culture, a stronger progressive culture on campus. I want Brandeis University to conform to the ideals of the great Justice Louis Brandeis: values of activism, empowerment, true democracy, honest government. Brandeis valued the public good, the freedom of speech, and the rights and dignity of the individual. Justice Louis Brandeis was famous for his staunch opposition to concentrated power, his strong defense of individual liberty, and his dedication as a public advocate.

We are straying off that path.

The power of the purse is the power to create and to cultivate, to energize and engage.

Whenever I talk to leaders of activist groups on campus, the complaint is the same: “f-board fucked with us.” “f-board won’t fund our projects”. “f-boad really shortchanges activist groups”

Over at the Student Union, funding for “social justice” is 40% of the funding for E-board “outreach”, and less than 15% of the funding for the nebulous category of “services”.

We are straying away from our ideals.

At a time of low confidence in the Student Union, at a time following the Mike Goldman disgrace, at a time when the Student Union feels the need to spend seven times as much money on public relations than on social justice, we need more transparency in government, not less. The Student Body deserves to know what its elected officials are up to.

And yet, the Finance Board refuses to disclose its recusals. Essentially, the F-Board assures us: “Don’t worry, we’ll handle all conflict-of-interest cases ethically. Trust us. And also we refuse to let you check up on us as well”. I’m sorry, but after Mike Goldman, blind trust (which is never good enough) must clearly become a thing of the past. As they say in the industry, “Trust, but Verify”. Without the latter, we cannot have the former.

The power of the purse is the power to create. That great power cannot operate in the dark.

“Sunlight is the best disenfectant” –Justice Louis Brandeis

For all these reasons, it is time to announce that I, Sahar Massachi, am running to become a member of the Finance Board of the Student Union of Brandeis University for the 2008-2009 term. I run on the principles of openness, integrity, and transparency. I run to re-nurture the activist spirit on campus. I run because I am a patriotic Brandesian: I may not agree with current policy and trends, but I love the founding principles of this University and will fight deeply to defend them.

I have no great wish to work long hours throughout the year. The idea of cutting my vacation early due to F-Board responsibilities is not a pleasant one. I have no love of finances or long meetings. Yet I am no armchair general, asking others to run for office while I do not. I am not very good at getting elected for things; I believe in my cause, so I will try regardless. If you also believe in the cause of F-board transparency and a more perfect Union, won’t you please lend me a hand?

Innermost Parts will have a big announcement later today. Get excited.

Here is an article on the peace march and rally that was released today.

I love this picture showing a long line of people. I find it greatly encouraging.

(click on the picture for a full-size version)

It’s a big internet out there.

Yet, as we all know, the internet is not a dump truck. It is a series of tubes. And now, in true Monty Hal style, you can choose which tube to use and understand what Atrios calls “The Big Shitpile”

Tube A contains an imaginary conversation between an economist who understands the subprime mess and another who doesn’t. Pretty detailed but still understandable.

Tube B contains the recent New York Times explanation of the mess. Short, easy to understand, concise.

Tube C, the best tube of all, uses cartoons and profanity to make it all very clear.

Hope that helps.

My personal interests in architecture and planning have led me to do some research on the history of Brandeis’ grounds and buildings, and I have found many interesting things through both the university archives and my own exploring. This will be the first in a series of posts about poor decisions and unfortunate changes that have been made to our campus.

Did you know that Brandeis used to have an amphitheater? We did–it was called the Ullman Amphitheater and hosted commencement ceremonies from 1952 until 1992 (except for 1971–they were at the Chapels that year) when they were moved to Gosman Sports and Convocation Center.

Brandeis: Host at Last by Abram L. Sachar speaks of this former landmark, “Constructed on three acres of ground with seating for two thousand, but with space on the grassy slopes for seven or eight thousand more, it was equipped with a huge se and an orchestra put for forty musicians. Beneath the sing area were facilities for dressing, storage, and utility, as well as a number of classrooms.” It was designed by architects Harrison and Abramovitz, the same men who designed the beloved Three Chapels.

In a very unfortunate event, the Ullman Amphitheater suffered heavy damage due to fire, disabling its electrical equipment so that it was made virtually useless. The university did not repair the amphitheater but instead tore it down. It was located near Bernstein-Marcus and the location of the new Carl J. Shapiro Science Center. Here are some photos to give you a better idea of its location:

I know that Brandeis wasn’t doing as well financially in the ’90s, but I wish that the university had chosen to repair the amphitheater rather than demolish it. In just about 15 years it has faded away into memory. It could have continued to be an integral part of our campus today.

I hope you enjoyed learning this little tidbit of Brandeis campus history. There’s much more where that came from–you can be sure I’ll be back soon with another Blunder of Brandeis.