Is BDS a defensible position?

There’s this guy on the Huffington Post, named Rabbi David Wolpe. He basically argued that there are two strains of thinking regarding Israel (among Jews) that are beyond the pale: Boycot/Divestment/Sanctions (BDS) on Israel, and “throw the Arabs out of Israel”.

His argument leaves me really leery of the standard journalistic trope of false equivalency: One faction (let’s call them the Right) is proposing horrible idea X, and I can only point that out if I find another opposing faction (let’s call them the Left) proposing an equally horrible idea Y. If I can’t find such an opposing faction, I’ll just pretend that the Left’s ideas are just as horrible as idea X, for the sake of “balance”

The main thrust of his anti-BDS argument is this:

These same people who anathematize Israel do not march against China for its rape of Tibet, against North Korea for its threatened obliteration of the South, against the Arab nations that have barred other religions from practice and discriminated in vicious and consistent ways against women, homosexuals and dissidents. No, they reserve their protest for a thriving, imperfect democracy that has a parliament with Arabs as well as Jews, a justice system where the chief judge in the trial condemning a former President of Israel is an Arab Israeli, where a completely unfettered press criticizes the government with vigor. Disagreeing with Israel is a time-honored tradition. Seeking to boycott it is to function as an anti-Semite. Anti-Semitism is making human faults (real and imagined) the special preserve of the Jews.

Now, that’s just ridiculous, isn’t it? The organized Jewish establishment is obsessed with creating connections between young Jews and the country of Israel. One of the Jewish community’s self-defined biggest challenges has been to give young American Jews a feeling like they have a stake in Israel. Congrats – it’s working. And now that they have a sense of identity with this country, these young women and men feel a stake in making sure that they approve of what’s being done there.

So the “why not march against China” argument is bogus for two reasons.
1. We don’t feel as much of an emotional stake with the Chinese as with our own kin/co-religionists
2. American Jews qua American Jews have much more leverage over the government and society of Israel than they do over the society of, say, Darfur.

Anti-semitism argument is wrong on it’s face, too. He sounds like someone playing dictionary games to argue that affirmative action is racist.

I still believe in the sub-argument of the article: that BDS are not only counterproductive but morally wrong. Is anyone out there making an actual, well-reasoned argument for that position? Not this guy.

What do you think of the article?

Why do Unions matter?

I’ll be asking some distinguished members of the Brandeis community to weigh in on this. For now, please read this article. It’s a magnificent look at the past, present, and future of organized labor in America. The article is four pages long, written by Kevin Drum of Mother Jones, and it’s a great primer on what’s been going on.

I can’t even excerpt it – read it now.
Continue reading “Why do Unions matter?”

Solidarity Pizza

Great story:

Solidarity, as Middle Eastern potentates are quickly discovering, is a powerful thing. And it can take some rather unusual forms.

One night last week, Ian’s Pizza in Madison, Wisconsin, received an order from some hungry protesters at the state capitol – where the Republican government is attempting to pass a bill that, among a range of harsh budget cuts, proposes to remove the collective bargaining rights of about 300,000 workers – asking if they had any leftovers. They did, and, even though it was 3.30am, obliged.

The next day they took a couple of calls from people who had heard about their gesture and wanted to order more pizzas for the protesters, who number in the tens of thousands, and have been demonstrating for nearly a week. A trickle, to coin a cliche, became a flood: by 5pm on Saturday, when they gave away 1,057 free slices at their restaurant and delivered more than 300 pizzas to the capitol, Ian’s had to suspend normal business.

On Sunday it all began again.Calls were coming in not just from the States (38 of the 50, at last count), but from all over the globe: Ian’s Facebook page (of course) carries a picture of the chalkboard on which they are keeping track – Canada, Denmark, Finland, Australia, Germany, China, the UK, the Netherlands, Korea, Turkey – and Egypt. Take on Mubarak and win, apparently, and you can take on the world.

Want to buy them a pizza yourself?
Instructions here or on their facebook page:

Oh hey! While I was typing this I got an email from the New York Working Families’ Party:

Dear Sahar,

“It’s like Cairo has moved to Madison.”

That’s the quote of the week, courtesy of a Republican Congressman in Wisconsin, observing the protests in his state capital [1].

For the past week, tens of thousands of working people and students have taken days off to protest the new Wisconsin Tea Party governor’s vicious assault on public employees and their families.

The governor and his Right-Wing allies actually manufactured a budget crisis in order to advance their pro-corporate, anti-middle class agenda. He’s a “trickle-down” governor who pushed through irresponsible tax cuts that turned a budget surplus into a deficit. And now he wants working families to pay [2].

Thankfully, the workers and their allies have said enough is enough. Democratic legislators have fled the state in order to prevent the Republican legislature from pushing through Walker’s anti-worker proposals. And the protests have continued for seven days – dubbed by some as the “Week of Rage.” [3]

Will you join us in supporting these protesters with a $15 contribution? We’re in touch with the leaders of the Wisconsin protest, and we’ll send them a contribution or a care package to keep their efforts going – whatever they need. It takes a lot of food to keep 80,000 people on the ground.

Help us send some New York pastrami sandwiches with love to the Cheese State:

http://bit.ly/WisconsinSolidarity

So if you want to send pastrami instead of Pizza here’s the way to do it: http://bit.ly/WisconsinSolidarity

Wisconsin Wisconsin Wisconsin

So Wisconsin.

Can’t keep my mind off it. Can’t stop thinking about it. The story goes something like this: New Republican Governor in office calls a special session of the R-dominated legislature to pass huge tax cuts to corporations like Wal-Mart. Then he raises a scare about the lack of tax revenue in the state, so he decides to cut pay for state workers and outlaw their unions entirely. When the minority part in the legislature decides to flee the state in a filibuster-like move to deny him a quorum, he calls in the State Police to arrest them and force them to be physically present at the state capital.

Queue the massive protests. Now he’s threatening to call in the National Guard to clear out the protests.

It’s like we’re back in the 19th century. Plutocrat Governor wants to crush unions and benefit his fellow plutocrats. Threatens to use the military to sweep away the opposition.

Here’s a video I’ve been watching over and over again. Can’t stop crying.

Innermost Parts Alum Rivka Maizlish is on the scene: She’s pursuing a PhD in the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I’m going to try and get a hold of her and see what’s up.

I hate Massachusetts Nazis.

I know that it’s break, but I strongly urge everyone who can to take a minute to oppose racism in Massachusetts.

The gist of the story is: This Wednesday, the Worcester Public Library is offering a room to the racist organization North East White Pride (NEWP). In essence, this means that there is implicit public approval for racists to openly organize and recruit in Massachusetts. Wherever racists are allowed this level of recognition, they spread hatred and express it through violence against minorities. It is imperative for us to prevent them from doing this.

Please send a short message to Worcester Head Librarian Mark Contois. His email is mcontois [AT] worcpublib.org. Below is what I wrote him.

Dear Mr. Contois,

I am incredibly disturbed to have heard that the Worcester Public Library will be hosting a meeting of North East White Pride, and I strongly urge you to cancel their reservation. As a white supremacist organization, NEWP is dedicated to harassing and excluding all those who do not fit into their lily-white version of America. Their promotion of hatred and intolerance disrespects the members of our community and does a disservice to us all, and consequently they should not be allowed the privileges of a community platform.

Some will certainly argue that cancelling the NEWP’s reservation amounts to a restriction on free speech, but this is a bogus argument. It is not incumbent upon the community to provide a free platform for those who seek to tear apart the pillars of the community. NEWP is more than capable of meeting in private spaces; providing them space at the public library gives them the imprimatur of legitimacy as well as free advertising. Finally, consider the consequences of allowing NEWP space to organize. Wherever racists are allowed to openly recruit with implicit public approval, the result is entrenched racist organizations, community division and violence against minorities.

In closing, I strongly urge you to stand against racism by cancelling NEWP’s reservation.

Yours,
Jon Sussman

Breaking News: House Votes to ban Planned Parenthood from Federal Funding.

BREAKING NEWS from Planned Parenthood!

Did you hear? The House voted to bar Planned Parenthood from federal funding. They cut funding for HIV tests, cancer screenings, birth control, and more, putting millions of women and families at risk. We can’t let it go unanswered. It’s time for you and me to stand with Planned Parenthood. Sign the open letter to the reps who voted for this bill — and to the senators who still have a chance to stop it.

http://www.ppaction.org/IStandWithPP

Gay couples on Facebook!

Dear all,

After watching The Social Network, my Facebook experience has changed completely. The Social Network makes Facebook seem so much more intense and way more fun to be a part of. If you haven’t seen the movie yet I would recommend a family or friends movie night during this upcoming so-soon recess.

I just read an article on The Huffington Post that makes me even more proud of Facebook and its initiative to recognize so many faces around the world. Facebook, in an attempt to represent and include people of all walks of life, just included the options “in a domestic partnership” and “in a civil union” as relationship statuses to an already long list. A network of activist groups including the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the Human Rights Campaign, the Trevor Project, GLSEN and PFLAG came together as the Network of Support and pressed Facebook to make these necessary changes.

Facebook is Gay friendly.

This is wonderful because people of the LGBTQ community can now openly express their relationships on Facebook the way heterosexual couples had been allowed since Facebook began recognizing relationships. With this initiative, Facebook has come out as an ally of the Queer community. LGBTQ youth have used Facebook as a medium to come out, to be Gay rights activists, and to feel included in a larger network. Now, the adults in the community can find validation and honest portrayal of their relationships also.

Starting today, the U.S., Canada, France, the U.K. and Australia will incorporate these new statuses on Facebook. I hope that this will soon become a global reality as Facebook is meant to be.

Love always,
Afzal

PS: Have a safe and sweet break!

From Alex Kern, Protestant Chaplain, for the Interfaith Chaplaincy

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

All Campus Vigil

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

Kat Sommers

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 cliché, 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

Let’s show FML that students want change: kickoff organizing meeting

FML meeting in 20 minutes! Castle Commons! 8-10 pm! Open forum! Brainstorming! Food?

This meeting is for anyone interested in the planning process of the Fred Lawrence Campaign.

Here’s the situation: Fred Lawrence is new, and he’s going to make changes. He’s shown an interest in students and has shown that he respects us and our opinions. It’s time to meet that trust by acting as good citizens and pulling the student bod together to find common solutions to thing we are worried about.

The Plan: We get as much of the student community as we can in one room. Together, we create a list of action items we want Pres. Fred to take. Then, we talk to our friends and get tons of signatures to back these proposals.

This Meeting: people interested in executing this campaign meet up and figure out how we are going to pull this off and organize to get it done.

For more information check out the fb event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=193847217310816

Hawaii to pass Civil Unions!

The Hawaii house has just approved its civil unions bill by a vote of 31-19.

The next step is to get it approved by the Senate. The Illinois’ Senate approved legislation of a very similar bill recently. Furthermore, two civil union bills have been introduced this month in Rhode Island and Maryland. Gay marriage activism is running full swing in America right now. The chances of me celebrating this Valentine’s Day are more slim than the possibility of Senate vetoing this bill. Once the Senate approves the bill, it will go to Governor of Hawaii Neil Abercrombie, a supporter of civil unions.
Colors for Queers

The changes to this bill will include “jurisdiction in matters of annulment, divorce and separation in civil unions, as the court does over marriages,” said Joe.

This is a great way to start the year for Gay Rights Activism. I am very proud of Hawaii and hope to see changes in Maryland and Rhode Island soon-ish. My roommate, Skyler Kasko, who is from Maryland said, “O Rlly? SWEET!!” upon hearing about the civil union bill in Maryland.

Yay for Queers!

Peace, Love, & Smiles!
-Afzal

Victory: Brenda Will Remain in England and Get a Second Shot at Asylum

On January 29th I put up a post about Brenda Namigadde, a woman from Uganda who was living in England, and at risk of being deported back to her home country despite the persecution and death threats she would face there because of her sexual orientation. All Out, an LGBTQA global organization was fighting for her rights, and set up a petition to keep her from being deported.

Well now, thanks to global pressure and in part to everyone who signed the petition, Brenda has received help from the government and has a shot at survival.

Two weeks ago we reached out to you and shared the story of Brenda, a Ugandan lesbian fighting a deportation order in the UK, which would send her back to the homophobic violence she fled eight years before.(1) Now, thanks in large part to a massive international display of people power, Brenda has been released from the immigration removal center and is working with her legal team on a fresh asylum claim.(2) Together, we made a huge difference!

In less than a week, over 60,000 people from around the world signed a letter to the UK Home Secretary, we created an international news story, and scores marched in London. Next, hundreds of All Out members in the UK pressured their representatives in Parliament to sign on to a motion sponsored by Brenda’s MP, Andy Slaughter, asking the Immigration Minister to intervene in Brenda’s case. Over fifty MPs followed suit.(3)

After being literally pulled off the plane to Uganda only days ago after a last minute injunction that halted her deportation(4), a judge in the UK has just ruled that the evidence merits a new judicial review of Brenda’s asylum claim. She now has a new shot at freedom from persecution, a huge community of supporters, members of parliament, and legal advocates who are standing by her side. Brenda’s asylum case is finally getting the fair review it deserves.

We will continue to stand with Brenda, recognizing that her harrowing story is just one of many in a broader push for freedom, dignity and equality. We came together – straight, gay, lesbian, transgender and all that’s between and beyond – and it made a real difference. But we have a lot more work to do if we want to realize our vision of a world where everyone can live freely and be accepted for who they are.

Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for supporting people of all genders and sexual orientations’ right to express themselves safely in the world.

Let’s show Fred Lawrence that students want change

Info from our latest campaign:

Here’s the situation: Fred Lawrence is new, and he’s going to make changes. The thing is, students don’t have much input on those changes. If he’s not going to ask for what we want, we’ll have to tell him. If enough of us unite behind a shared platform, he’s going to take notice.

The Plan: We get as much of the student community as we can in one room. Together, we create a list of action items we want Pres. Fred to take. Then, we talk to our friends and get tons of signatures to back these proposals.

What do you think of that?

Meeting. Castle Commons. Saturday. 4-6pm.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brandeis-Justice-League/166018390112807?v=app_2344061033&ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=193847217310816&index=1

Can you be there? This meeting is for everyone who wants to make the plan happen. We need about 20 committed students to pull this off.

Fred Lawrence is a great guy who clearly cares about students. I’m excited because I know he’ll take us seriously and show us the same respect we show him.

We hope to see you there!

SPace is the Future

Special elections are open!
Here you can vote for the Senators for East Quad, the Village, and the class of 2012.

While I encourage you to vote no matter who you’re voting for, I would like to present the case for Sarah Pace (aka “SPace”), who is running for the Village senator.

Sarah has demonstrated her ability to be a leader many times over, even though she is only a sophomore. She is extremely devoted to her a cappella group, Company B, and is responsible for all of their amazing, pun-tastic facebook events. She is an active member of theatre on campus, performing in many shows ranging from Hillel Theatre Group to seniors’ theses.

As anyone who has met her can testify, Sarah is outgoing and enthusiastic. She enjoys volunteering, bringing people together, and voicing her opinion on things when she feels something is not right.

Her goals according to her facebook campaign page are:

“As an energetic, involved, and organized Village resident I feel that there are many things I could bring to the position of Village Quad Senator. I am a sophomore who has resided in the Village for over a semester now, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who loves it more than I do.
The conglomerate of students that live in the Village- Sophomores, Mid-Years, and Transfers- are a special group and deserve a representative who will voice their needs at Senate meetings. I will be that person.”

Sarah and I are in Criminal Law together. This past week our class acted out the trial from the “Bonfire of the Vanities,” a book we had recently read. Sarah was a member of the jury. Although someone else was appointed jury foreman, when Sarah noticed that fer fellow jurors were having trouble starting their deliberation, she jumped in, helping to structure the debate by taking a preliminary vote on each of the charges, and making sure to include an “abstain” option. These little details, which may seem irrelevant, ensured that the process was conducted in a fair and comfortable manner for all involved. Throughout the conversation she urged people to express their opinions and alleviated the tension. By the end, the former jury foreman volunteered to hand over the position to her, and she in turn, accepted.

This is just one small anecdote which illustrates Sarah’s capabilities and skill. For more, look at all of her endorsements. (She was also the only candidate to secure any endorsements).

These include:
* Kaos Kids
* Change Agency
* Innermost Parts
* Tympanium Euphorium
* Hillel Theatre Group
* Company B

So, if you want a good leader to represent you in the Student Union, vote Sarah Pace for Village senator. And if you don’t live in the Village, tell your friends who do to vote for her. And if you don’t have friends, then come write for Innermost Parts!

Waltham and Brandeis — The Super Friends of Proper Parking

Today, Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan sent out an all-campus e-mail from the Waltham Police Department sharing the city’s parking regulations. The full text of the e-mail is below the fold.

I don’t have a car on campus, but many of my friends do, and I drive with them into Waltham fairly frequently. Clearly, it’s a driver’s responsibility to learn the local regulations, but if you’re only at Brandeis for parts of a few years and you rarely go into the city, it can be hard to keep track of the legal minutiae. So credit should go to Mr. Callahan and the Department of Public Safety for doing their best to help students. This e-mail is a small act, but it’s one less thing people will have to worry about, and it could save a Brandeis student a hefty fine.

Also, thanks to Captain Donald M. Feeney and the Waltham Police Department for reaching out to the Brandeis community. It would be only too easy for the city to leave students to their own devices and simply collect ticket money from Waltham’s most transient residents. Instead, they took the initiative to inform us, and the whole community will hopefully run that much more smoothly because of it.

Waltham drivers, do your part by taking a glance at the restrictions and keeping them in mind as you drive around the city. No one wants a ticket, but more generally, it’s a sign of good citizenship towards a city that always welcomes Brandeis students with open arms.

Continue reading “Waltham and Brandeis — The Super Friends of Proper Parking”

Munchies from Moody

Hey,

I’m in the sophomore C3 (common cause community…sappy I know). Basically what that entails is choosing a place to volunteer for February break and spending the rest of the year fundraising so you can get there.

We chose the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, which, despite its name, helps a wide variety of people who have HIV or AIDS, and also does outreach work to educate people about the risks of unsafe sex and this growing epidemic. The group is located in New York, my hometown.

SO, since the trip is just two weeks away, we are having our biggest fundraiser YET tonight, Munchies from Moody. A lot of really generous restaurants on Moody and Main Streets donated food to us (who knew places DID that?) and we will be selling it all to you for $3 a plate. We have food from Tango Mango, Margarita’s, Little India, Tuscan Grill, Waltham Pizza, Cappy’s, Baan Thai, Erawan of Siam, and the Ninety Nine.

So, if you want to eat good food, get a sense of the restaurants in the Waltham area, or even just, oh I don’t know…donate to charity, come on out to the ICC tonight at 6 pm and bring at least $3….come on time or the food might run out before you get a chance.

Note: Vegetarian options available. You know who I’m talking about.

Associate Provost for the Assessment of Student Learning

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.

Brandeis Pluralism Alliance Grant Applications Due This Sunday!

Many people on campus do not know what the Brandeis Pluralism Alliance is. I probably wouldn’t either if I weren’t on the steering committee, which reviews the grant applications and helps the groups who are selected.

That being said, I am, and so I would like to advertise a unique opportunity to you. (I promise I won’t use the word “resource” throughout this post.)

“The Brandeis Pluralism Alliance (BPA) grants funding and assistance to student and faculty initiated projects that address issues of identity, pluralism and unity.” Basically, it exists to help Brandeis stay true to its social justice roots, and to provide the means for people on campus to realize their pluralistic dreams. What does pluralism mean, you ask?

Well I looked it up on Urbandictionary and it said it had not been defined yet. So I tried dictionary.com but got a lot of philosophical definitions, like “a theory that there is more than one basic substance or principle.” Finally I looked up cultural pluralism, and it redirected me to multiculturalism. That makes more sense, since we hear it preached every day by our professors and peers here on campus. Multiculturalism, unity, bringing people from different paths of life together; that’s what pluralism is all about. And the BPA seeks to foster that.

Last year we granted funds for the What If? Speak In, A Night for Pakistan, Worker Appreciation Cafe, Diwali, Wong Fu Productions Fall College Tour Event, Mela, Famni Ki Li Ansamn/Families Reading Together, and the Justice League’s very own Campus Camp Wellstone activist training. For a complete list with descriptions visit the BPA’s hompage.

SO, the important thing to note is that if YOU have an idea for a project for this spring which could promote pluralism on campus, you should apply. Even if it’s just an idea, there’s no harm in trying, and if selected, the Steering Committee appoints a liason to help you put on your event/program. However, the deadline is FEBRUARY 6, this coming Sunday. So, if you’re at all interested, go to the grant application site and play around with it, see what you can come up with and submit.

Good luck!

Bluegrass

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

Food

Since joining the Justice League I’ve been thinking about what it is I’d like changed at Brandeis. This process has been good and bad. For one thing, I’ve realized there are a lot of things I’d like to see different at Brandeis, but more importantly I’ve realized that I have consistently broken in my Brandeis University experience. I love the scenery, the proximity to Boston, the attitude of professors to students and vice versa, and a lot of other things. But there’s one thing I always come back to as a let down at Brandeis: the food. I’ve never seen such low quality food cost so much. It actually makes me happy to eat off campus because everything costs 2-4 dollars less and its better quality food.

When I was a freshman I lived in Massell quad. My dining options were A) schlep up the hill to Usdan for every meal or, B) walk 50 feet to Sherman. You can probably guess where I ate at least 20 meals a week. Turns out, I was as lazy as every other student in Massell, so Sherman became somewhat of a hang out spot. My friends and I would sit in Sherman for hours just talking about, well, anything really, but the conversation would eventually turn to the quality of the food.

One of the terms I heard used around this time was “Sherman shits.” The idea was that the amount of time you spent eating Sherman food was directly proportional to the amount of time you would spend on the toilet that day. I don’t know who coined the term, nor did I take it too seriously at first. Then my boss at the Stein (also the manager of Sherman building) heard me say it in passing and gave me a stern talking to. Not sure whether he was trying to hide something or if he was just fed up with people insulting the quality of his food. I’ll let that speak for itself.

Anyway, a few days later, my friends and I were eating in Sherman once again. Ben, a friend I now live with, announced he would be eating a Sherman burger. We all warned him of the danger, but he would have none of it. How do I say this . . . Ben has a terrible constitution. He has asthma, uses an inhaler, trips often, is mildly lactose intolerant, and is just generally known for having a weak immune system. It was the perfect storm. As we all watched Ben eat he just smiled and said he would be fine, and that he had burgers at Usdan all the time. Ok we said, Ok. A few minutes later Ben left, still smiling, to go the bathroom, said he’d be right back. 45 minutes later a much paler looking Ben sat down at our table and kept to himself. All we could get out of him was, “I don’t wanna talk about it you guys.”

TRISK this week!

Triskelion (LGBTQA Alliance Group) is alive and back this semester with many exciting plans for Brandeisians. Last week, on Thursday, Trisk hosted Fruits for Fruits (and allies!) that allowed all in our community to reunite and give out countless warm totally trisk-type hugs. It was exciting to see so many midyears show up and get to know our LGBTQA community.

This week we are having Claire Naughton, a Bay State Stonewall Democrat come speak to us about Gay Rights Activism and how to be effective leaders with voices. Bay State Stonewall Democrats (BSSD) advocates within the Democratic Party on behalf of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered (GLBT) community. They promote the ideals and programs of the Democratic Party to the GLBT communities throughout Massachusetts. The meeting will be held in the ICC Lounge at 8 pm tomorrow (February 3rd). I hope to see many of you there!

Sex and Sexuality Symposium (SASS) is also having a meeting tomorrow about “Wearing Gender”. They will be talking about how our clothes define gender and make us behave differently. The meeting will be held at 3 pm in the ICC back lounge.

The QRC is also open now and I encourage you all to take advantage of this opportunity. The QRC is an amazing resource for our students and the counselors are all uniquely sweet and welcoming. QRC office is in the Trisk Lounge. Their hours are Monday, Thursday, Friday, 1-5 and Tuessday and Wednesday 1-8. Please, find them if you need to talk with someone about any issues you are having.

Harvard Kennedy School is hosting LGBTQ Human Rights in Palestine: A forum and discussion on Tuesday, February 8th at 6:30 pm. Abeer Monsour, a feminist, Palestinian, queer activist who is dedicated to promoting the inclusion of Palestinian queer women in Palestinian society, and Haneen Maikey, a 32-year-old Palestinian queer activist, lives and works in Jerusalem will be there to speak about Queer issues in Palestine. The forum will be in the Starr Auditorium on the 4th floor, in Belfing Building.

Lastly, MIT is hosting a LGBT[Q] Intercollegiate Dance Party Friday, February 11th 10 pm – 2 am. It will take place in MIT Student Center (Lobdell 2nd floor, room W20-208). It is open and free to all LGBT[Q] college students and allies. Let’s party with queer folks in Cambridge for Valentines! ?

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126843997373231

If you have any questions about any of these events please email Lenny Schnier at lschnier@brandeis.edu

Have a very colorful weekend but be safe!

Love,

Afzal 😀

BREAKING NEWS!

…It’s still a Snow Day

In fact, the Massachusetts Dept of Public Safety reports that

In order to protect public safety and facilitate clean-up from the February 1-2, 2011 winter storms, Governor Deval Patrick has directed that non-emergency employees who work in the Executive Branch of state government do not have to report to their workplaces on Wednesday, February 2, 2011.

Here are some tips on what to do in February storms, in terms of driving, roof collapse, loss of power and more.

Bonus: Does anyone know what the Reach-Throw-Go method refers to?

Poetry Workshop

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.

Petition for Egypt

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.

Add your name!

abUSed: The Postville Raid

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?

All Out Campaign- Help Brenda

All Out, an organization created to help LGBTQ members of communities across the globe, has recently taken on the plight of Brenda Namigadde, a Ugandan woman who escaped to England eight years ago for fear of her life, because of her sexual orientation. At the moment, Brenda is facing deportation back to Uganda, even in the wake of the brutal killing of David Kato, one of Uganda’s most prominent gay activists, on the 26th.

All out provides information of the abuses to which members of the LGBTQ are subjected to on a daily basis, even protected under the law. “In 76 countries around the world being LGBT is a criminal offense. In 10, it is legal grounds for execution or life imprisonment. Even in countries where LGBT people have secured basic rights, many LGBT people are denied the opportunity to live full and equal lives and endure daily homophobia.”

All Out has started an online petition which they say has been signed by 50,000 people from over 160 countries, requesting Brenda be granted asylum so she can remain in England. Perhaps as a result of the political efforts to keep Brenda safe, a UK High Court judge granted a temporary injunction in Brenda’s case yesterday, meaning the decision of whether to grant her asylum or to deport her will be postponed.

Please halt the impending deportation of Brenda Namigadde (Case Ref # 1166867), a Ugandan lesbian scheduled for removal. Brenda fled Uganda eight years ago because of persecution for her sexuality, but if forced to return Brenda fears that she’ll be, “tortured, or killed … they’ve put people like me to death there.” The fact that a virulently anti-gay, high ranking member of the Ugandan government has taken note of her case means that Brenda faces clear and present danger if she is returned to Uganda.

Last July you told the press, “We have already promised to stop the removal of asylum seekers who have had to leave particular countries because their sexual orientation or gender identification puts them at proven risk of imprisonment, torture or execution.” Please use all of the powers at your disposal to act now to halt Brenda’s deportation.

I urge you all to read and sign this petition, since it is truly a cause that spans the political spectrum. No matter where a person lives s/h/ze should not be punished for his/her/zer sexual practices if they are not hurting anyone. If we become aware of countries which practice this kind of discrimination it is our duty to protect those who have risked persecution by admitting their identities and have asked us for help.

Note: Thanks to Brandeis’ TRISK for sending out information about this human rights abuse and providing the links upon which the majority of this post is based.

Activist Movie of the Month is…Erin Brockovich!

So last month’s activist movie was the King’s Speech.
This month’s is an oldie but a goodie…Erin Brockovich.
It’s been playing on TV a lot lately, so I had the chance to rewatch it.

Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts) is a woman who has three children but not much else going for her. She finds work at her lawyer’s law firm and grows intrigued when she stumbles across a file about a real case involving the Pacific Gas& Electric Company. She does some investigative work and, lo and behold, the company has been polluting the ground around its factory with toxic chemicals for years, and has even lied to the residents’ faces about the danger these chemicals present.

Erin exposes their lies, reveals to the community that the pollution is the cause of many of their health problems, and convinces them to sue PG&E. Ultimately, PG&E settles, those who have suffered are compensated, and everyone goes home happy, more or less.

Brockovich is a great movie which straddles many different genres: drama, legal thriller, biography and even romance. It is funny, clever, and inspirational. It’s the classic little-guy versus the big-bad-corporation flick. But most importantly, it’s based on a true story.

In 1996, PG&E settled for $333 million, which remains the largest settlement ever awarded in a direct-action lawsuit in the history of the United States to this day. And Erin is now the president of her own consulting firm, Brockovich Research and Consulting. You can look her up here.

Much like A Civil Action and other stories of lawyers helping innocent victims of negligent, or worse, chemical companies, Erin Brockovich shows that lawyers CAN do good and that pollution is bad. Real bad. Two good lessons to keep in mind!

New ‘Quiet Cars’ Aboard Fitchburg and Franklin Commuter Rails

Hate when people next to you are talking on their phones or conversing loudly with their fellow passengers? If so, and you live in Massachusetts, you’re in luck.

The MBTA, Massachusett’s public transport system, started a new pilot program in which there will be a designated ‘Quiet Car’ on the Franklin and Fitchburg commuter rail lines during peak times. This program, launched in response to results of a recent survey of customers, began on January 3rd and will run until April 3rd, just 90 days. Afterwards, the MBTA will decide whether to continue the initiative or not on a regular basis.

On the MBTA’s homepage information about the Quiet Car is provided, such as the fact that the Quiet Car will be the car located closest to the locomotive. Tips as to what is appropriate and what is not on the designated Quiet Cars are offered as well. “[On the Quiet Car] Customers are asked to: refrain from cell phone use; keep pagers, cell phones, laptop and PDA sounds off; and speak quietly. Conductors will, of course, lift the quiet car restriction in times of disruption or severe overcrowding.”

I feel like this is a good experiment for the MBTA to try, and I’m happy they’re responding to their clients’ concerns. Although I don’t think I would prefer to sit in a Quiet Car, everyone has had the experience of someone close to them talking obnoxiously loud, and so this is a nice alternative for those who are especially sensitive about volume. In addition, it can make those long, awkward train rides with semi-acquaintances less so, since now you have a REASON not to talk.

Don’t worry though, if you need to talk while on the Quiet Car you can; whispering is aloud as long as it’s brief.

State of the Union

So, I didn’t watch the State of the Union. Lame, I know. My mom told me it was good but nothing amazing, if that helps excuse me. Hopefully someone who did watch it will post reactions, but for now, I wanted to post an e-mail I received from my good friend Barack.

This e-mail is a rousing summary of what I can only believe was his SOTU address, and it is actually pretty moving. He talks about all the progress we’ve made in the past year, about his decisive and tangible plans for the future (80% clean electricity by 2035, creating new jobs by renovating roadways and technology). Most of all, he emphasizes the part we all have to play in helping out nation grow and ‘rise up’; that these goals are not attainable unless we all work together. It is quite an obvious plea to the Republicans and Democrats in Congress to work together. And I like that he sounds like he’s asking rather than telling.

So whether or not you support Obama or think he’s on the right track, doing what’s best for the nation, read the letter below and tell me, dawgone it, doesn’t this letter make you feel hopeful on the inside?

Tonight I addressed the American people on the future we face together.

Though at times it may seem uncertain, it is a future that is ours to decide, ours to define, and ours to win.

I know we will.

Because, after the worst recession in decades, we see an economy growing again.

Because, after two years of job losses, we’ve added private-sector jobs for 12 straight months — more than 1 million in all.

Because, time after time, when our resolve has been tested, we, as a nation, have always prevailed.

Overcoming the challenges we face today requires a new vision for tomorrow. We will move forward together, or not at all — for the challenges we face are bigger than party, and bigger than politics.

Yet the story of America is this: We do big things.

Just as the progress of the past two years would not have been possible without your hard work, we will not realize the agenda I described tonight without you.

So as we continue this great mission together, and we set out the plans for how far we can go, I need to know that you are ready to work side by side with me once more.

Will you stand with me as we strive to win the future?

The last two years have been marked by unprecedented reforms and historic progress.

But there is much more work to do.

Moving forward, America’s economic growth at home is inextricably connected to our competitiveness in the global community. The more products American companies can export, the more jobs we can create at home.

This vision for the future starts with innovation, tapping into the creativity and imagination of our people to create the jobs and industries of the future. Instead of subsidizing yesterday’s energy, let’s invest in tomorrow’s. It’s why I challenged Congress to join me in setting a new goal: By 2035, 80 percent of America’s electricity will come from clean energy sources.

It means leading the world in educating our kids, giving each of our children the best opportunity to succeed and preparing them for the jobs of tomorrow.

We must build a 21st century infrastructure for our country, putting millions of Americans to work rebuilding roads and bridges and expanding high-speed Internet and high-speed rail.

We must reform government, making it leaner, smarter, and more transparent.

And we must take responsibility for our shared debt, reining in our long-term deficit so we can afford the investments we need to move our country forward.

That is the vision I laid out tonight. That is how we win the future.

It is going to take a lot of work — but I have no doubt we are up to the task.

Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik, we had no idea how we’d beat them to the moon. The science wasn’t there yet. NASA didn’t even exist.

But after investing in better research and education, we didn’t just surpass the Soviets. We unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs.

This is our generation’s Sputnik moment.

Please stand together with me:

http://my.barackobama.com/WintheFuture

It is because of each of you, who define the will of a people, that the state of our union is strong in the face of tough challenges. You are the reason our future is still bright in the face of deep uncertainty.

And you are the reason I believe that future is ours to win.

Thank you,

Barack

New Chief of Staff is a Brandeis Grad

I get email:

Dear members of the Brandeis community,

I am pleased to announce that David A. Bunis, ’83 will be joining the university on Feb. 1, 2011 as Chief of Staff. I first met David about 20 years ago when we worked together on the Civil Rights Committee of the Anti-Defamation League and I was impressed with his judgment, integrity and dedication. Since then, we have had occasion to work together on a number of projects and my esteem has grown.

A 1987 graduate of the Boston University School of Law, David has been a partner at Dwyer & Collora, LLP, in Boston for two decades, serving as counsel to a variety of clients including high tech companies, financial institutions and non-profits. In his law practice, David represented individuals and institutions in trials before state and federal courts, mediation and arbitration panels and government agencies.

For many years, he represented Tufts University and became intimately familiar with the myriad issues affecting colleges and universities. That experience, his time as a Brandeis undergraduate, and some of the decades-long relationships he has maintained with alumni, faculty and staff will serve him well as he immerses himself in the university.

During my discussions with David about returning to his alma mater to manage and coordinate the activities of my office, it was clear that the spirit of Brandeis inspired his professional life and work. In fact, his page on his law firm’s website contains a quote from an opinion Justice Brandeis wrote in 1927 advocating free speech and underscoring the importance of courage and leadership in a thriving democracy. In addition to his work for the ADL, where he served as chair of the Civil Rights Committee and a member of both the New England Regional Executive Board and as an ADL National Commissioner, David currently serves on a pro bono basis as a judge for administrative appeals for the Massachusetts Office of Minority and Women’s Business Affairs. David has also worked as an attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services, New England’s largest legal services organization, where he represented low-income families facing eviction.

On a personal note, David is married to Jacqueline Hallo, ’82. The couple, who met when they were undergraduates, celebrated the bar and bat mitzvahs of their three children at Brandeis. The family lives in Newton, where David is vice president and a member of the board of directors of Temple Emanuel of Newton.

In an email after accepting the position, he wrote: “I am thrilled to be returning to Brandeis. Although years have passed and much has changed at Brandeis since my graduation, my pulse still quickens as I turn off South Street onto campus. The university has always been a very special place for me, and our large circle of friends is full of Brandeis alums. I am excited about working with trustees, faculty, students, alumni and staff who are the heart and soul of this great institution.”

I know you will join me in welcoming back to campus a life-long member of the Brandeis community and I know he will make a significant contribution in his new role at the university. His email address is dbunis@brandeis.edu.

Fred Lawrence

President

The New York Times profiles obnoxious Brandeis grad Martin Peretz

The New York Times has an in-depth feature on Brandeis alumnus Martin Peretz, the former editor-in-chief of The New Republic magazine. It can be found here. The article is entitled “Martin Peretz is Not Sorry About Anything,” which is basically polite code for “Martin Peretz is a Tremendous Asshole,” which he most assuredly is. But it’s a good article, with plenty of Peretzian racism, sexism, and overall pompousness scattered throughout. And Brandeis does, perhaps embarrassingly, receive a brief mention.

An idea: We need a Groupon for volunteering

Check this out.

What if there were a Groupon for volunteering? Jim Gilliam, one of the most insightful and interesting people I’ve met in the progressive world, has this great idea.

As the organizer, you find a local charity and work with them to develop a “deal,” which is a project that could be completed in a weekend if they just had enough volunteers to help out. Like renovating a community center, or making a newly disabled person’s house handicap accessible. Be really creative, the more interesting and compelling the story and project, the better the “deal.”

An email goes out on Tuesday laying out the deal, and if enough people sign up, the project is on for Saturday (or Sunday). The email could include a link for folks to donate to cover food or other incidental costs associated with the event in case they can’t actually come themselves.

A second email goes out on Thursday with more specific details on logistics, tells everyone about all the people coming (we’re on!), and encourages more people to signup (don’t miss out!), tell their friends, and/or donate to defray expenses. You can even be a little fun with it and gently poke at people that helping someone else might be a great thing to do before they cash in their latest 50% off spa treatment deal from Groupon.

The project happens on Saturday. People are taking pictures, tweeting about it, meeting new people, having fun, and doing something awesome and amazing too. All the people seeing that activity will want to get in on the action next week. You send out an email on Monday with pictures and highlights from Saturday. Then when the next deal hits on Tuesday, people will be less afraid to go. So three emails a week. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday.

Once you get some traction, people will start bringing their ideas for deals directly to you. They wouldn’t even necessarily have to be based around local charities, it might end up just being a family who needs help.

Cool, right? Could something like this happen at Brandeis?

Maybe Waltham group could organize something like this. I know I would totally go to “GroupOn’d” events, but I’m too intimidated to join Waltham Group directly. Or maybe a more activist groups could work with nonprofits in Waltham.

The idea is there, the Brandeis community is so tightly-linked through facebook that implementation would be a snap. We just need someone to organize something like this. Any takers? (I could help you set this up, but I’m too busy (and too old) to do this myself)

A “Diplomatic Earthquake” is happening RIGHT NOW

Al-Jazeera has been leaked internal memos, meeting minutes, and other documents from negotiations between the PA and Israel over the last 10 years. The Guardian has also been given early access to the files.

Here are the links:
http://english.aljazeera.net/palestinepapers/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/palestine-papers

Now, I don’t trust Al-Jazeera’s analysis and biases to match my own. I do trust the Guardian to hold my values, more or less. They’re releasing the documents as a big data dump, though, so you can look through the primary documents and make your own conclusions.

People’s immediate takeaway is that these documents show a PLO that makes more and more concessions, and an Israel that never responds to these “generous” offers.

I don’t know if that’s true – I’m looking through the primary documents right now. Assuming that’s true, however, what does this mean for us? I bet the conventional wisdom is despair – “OMG the government won’t take any deal peace is dooomed!”.

I dunno, though. I actually feel like this is a positive thing. Turns out that the PA isn’t as stubborn at negotiation as might be expected, that they’re a responsible partner for peace. Maybe it’s because I just read an article called “Think Israel’s a lost cause? Ten reasons to think again”, but I could see this as a shock to the Israeli public causing them to put pressure on the gov’t to pursue a peace deal on the revealed terms.

I’m hopeful. Iran’s bomb was neutralized by Stuxnet. The Labor party can resume being a progressive party, and Tzipi Livni made a great impression on me when she came to Brandeis. Things could turn out ok.

What does it mean to be Brandeis University

This will be my last semester as an undergrad at Brandeis University.

This semester, I’m taking a course on Louis Brandeis with Professor Gaskins. (10-11am, MWTh. It’s not too late to sign up!). What a fitting way to go out with a bang.

We’re named after this amazing guy, Louis Dembitz Brandeis. We really don’t even know much about him.

Who was this man, Louis Brandeis? What did he stand for? How did he operate? What should a University named after this man look like?

As I take this course, I’ll try to write about things I learn that might serve as the beginnings of answers to these questions.

Here goes:

So Louis Brandeis was really fucking cool. He joined Harvard Law School at age 18, totally skipping an undergraduate education. He graduated a year early, such that the Harvard Board of Trustees had to vote to waive their law that you had to be at least 21 years old to graduate. He has the highest grades at the Harvard Law Review, ever.

Brandeis was no campus activist. He spent his time in school pursuing academic excellence, and his free time on tutoring others to pay his way through. If you want to model your time in school after Brandeis you’d have to skip college, but also you’d focus on grades on not pursue campus activism.

In a sense, Harvard is Brandeis University. He loved that place. He helped create the Law Review, the alumni association, and spent a ton of time and money building up the Law School. We have to grapple with that.

School in Brandeis’ experience also meant salons with professors, formal intellectual debates, and intense networking.

In a sense, Brandeis University reflects his ideals pretty well: we can agree that our greatest asset is our top-notch academics. The professors here are impressive, friendly, and helpful. At University, like we said, Brandeis focused and excelled at academics above all else.

One more thing: Brandeis “considered it immoral for lawyers to function as guys for hire, particularly, when their employers were corporations attempting to affect the political process.” That’s something for all of us, from students to Trustees, to remember.

Future of Comp-Sci Technology Poses Threat to Society As We Know It

There are currently robots being made by professors from MIT and the like, which will resemble humans and will be programmed to respond to humans in normal, societally-appropriate ways. Some people are excited. Others are scared.

It’s all discussed in an article from The Chronicle. The author interviewed Professor Sherry Turkle, who is involved with cutting-edge computer science technology, but who devoted much of the the last decade to writing books about the possible threats they pose to humans forming and maintaining relationships, and warnings of what may come from our overdependence on technology.

David Levy on the other hand, another expert in the field and author of Love and Sex with Robots argues the merits of having robot-humanoid companions, such as providing socially inept people with relationships they may never have otherwise. He proposes that by the year 2050 many people will be hiring skilled, trained robots to babysit their kids, and some might even choose to marry robots.

I’m baffled by the progress scientists have made in this field, since I had no idea that humanoid robots were in the works, let alone might be commonplace 40 years from now. This article (courtesy of Eunju Namkung) provides both the pros and the cons that come with this technology, though it leans towards Turkle’s point of view, emphasizing the dangers over the benefits. I find myself agreeing with Turkle that in a world in which people rely on technology for emotional support or companionship, society will slowly break down. Already human connections are being severed due to the availability and accessibility of electronic devices (although they present numerous socializing opportunities too of course), and so with the opportunity to interact with a pre-programmed machine which will answer the way you want it to and to which you owe nothing, this degenerative state can only worsen.

I’m not a Luddite, but I don’t think electronics should replace the potential for human interaction, which it would do were scientists to program machines to resemble and simulate humans.

Oh, and here’s a Whitest Kids U Know video which demonstrates the dangers robots present.

I feel sick to my stomach

Read this. Hendrik Hertzberg has an article out about the reaction to the Gifford’s shooting which is elegant and composed and thoughtful. But look at this opening paragraph:

On October 5, 1995, as the Knesset was meeting to ratify the second Oslo agreement, thirty thousand Greater Israel zealots, Likud Party supporters, militant West Bank settlers, and right-wing nationalists rallied in Jerusalem’s Zion Square. For months, certain ultra-Orthodox rabbis and scholars had been suggesting that, because Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was willing to consider territorial concessions in negotiations with the Palestinians, it would be permissible, even obligatory, to kill him. In Zion Square, protesters carried pictures of Rabin, doctored to show him in Nazi uniform or with crosshairs over his face. The crowd chanted “Rabin boged!”—“Rabin is a traitor!”—and, again and again, “Death to Rabin!” From a balcony, prominent opposition politicians, including Benjamin Netanyahu, looked on benevolently and uttered no rebukes. A month later, at another, larger rally, this one for peace, Rabin was assassinated.

There are certain historical events that make me so freaking angry and upset every time someone mentions them. One is the murder of Fred Hampton. Another is this the murder of Yitzhak Rabin.

I hope you’re enjoying the first day of school, everyone.

Gun sales up in wake of Giffords Shooting

Sales of handguns have risen in the wake of the shooting of Congresswoman Giffords and nineteen other innocent bystanders.

In a brief entitled “Pistol Sales Surge After Shooting,” Bloomberg News reported that the increase in sales is a result of the incident, and that gun dealers attribute it to people’s fear that Congress might tighten gun restrictions.

An Arizona gun shop owner is quoted as saying in the brief, “When something like this happens people get worried that the government is going to ban stuff.” I’ve heard the argument that people need to own guns in order to stop crimes like this from happening, and I understand it although I don’t put much stock in it. Having more guns in circulation only makes the world more dangerous. An overly simplistic proof of this is that deaths by shooting have increased exponentially in relation to the number of firearms in circulation. We don’t allow handguns on college campuses, or any weapons for that matter, because we believe that the fewer guns around, the better.

However, the point is that people are specifically buying more handguns! What makes someone go out and buy something they think the government will soon make illegal? If our elected officials think that handguns are among the most dangerous and unnecessary weapons (unless you’re using them for nefarious purposes, in which case they’re very effective) then why not try to convince them otherwise, or at least look into their reasoning? When there’s a devastating fire, do people buy more matches?

Looking for a job in politics or organizing?

Let me know. I’ve got leads for you.
Just email me at sahar at innermostparts

Are you a non-senior that wants an amazing summer fellowship? Talk to me ASAP. Deadlines are coming soon for the sort of places that pay you to do awesome organizing, think-tanking, strategizing, etc.