Actors bringing hairy back

What makes a bad-ass movie character? Sometimes it is courage. Sometimes it is killer ninja skills. Sometimes it is the ability to stay cool when a million things around you are simultaneously exploding. Sometimes it is the result of amazing facial hair.

Facial hair and movies go back quite a ways. Of course in classic cinema, being mustachioed usually means you are a bad guy (or Clark Gable). But now, killer facial hair means only one thing: awesome.

Can Ya Dig it?

I dig. Big time. Twenty-three year old native of Chester, Pennsylvania, Kevin Michael has finally released his much-anticipated self-titled album on October 30.

The first time I encountered this artists music, I couldnt even hear it. It was at the gym and Michaels music video was playing on mtvU. The video intrigued me though, and when I looked it up online later, I feel immediately in love with the man with the ten-inch fro.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show rocks Schwartz

At midnight this past Friday, a mere two days after Halloween, The Rocky Horror Picture Show floor show descended upon Schwartz auditorium, thanks to the Deviant Culture Club.

Westernization through the generations

With a steady, but solemn voice, Angie Maloney, a Navajo Native American, recalled how she and her sister clung to each other after being abruptly uprooted from the Navajo reservation in the southwestern United States and forced to enroll in a Tolani, Arizona Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school in the mid-1950s.

Brandeis digitizes materials with BLC

Brandeis, as a member of the Boston Library Consortium (BLC), has agreed to partner with Open Content Alliance to digitize public domain materials and make them available on the Internet.

Knowledge should be open and free, stated Assistant Director for Resource Sharing Evan Simpson, who acts as project leader in Library and Technology Services effort to digitize public domain materials.

ResLife asks Ziv residents to remove American flag hanging outside building

Residents of Ziv 130 have recently been asked by Residence Life to remove a large American flag they have hung outside of their window with a sign beneath reading these colors dont run.

Ari Tessler 08 and Abe Male 08 decided to hang an American flag from the windows of their neighboring Ziv suites last week.

Brandeis to host Innocence week

Brandeis Universitys Innocence Club will host Innocence Week from November 12-16, a student-run series of events seeking to educate the community about the unjust convictions of innocent men and women in the American justice system.

The weeks events will feature a display of the 208 exonerees Monday through Friday. Students involved in the planning of the week will also be tabling in Usdan throughout the week with a petition to be sent to Massachusetts officials to expunge the records of exonerees.

The Brandeis Roosevelt Fellows:

Roosevelt Fellows are peer academic advisors who assist first year students with areas such as class selection and any other general academic questions pertaining to first years. They get paid a stipend of 500 dollars annually for their services.

Power Shift ’07 conference

News Flash: Were freaks! announced Ben Goldfarb, my workshop leader, last Sunday morning. He was right.

As he pointed out, how many college students wake up by 9 a.m. on a Sunday to attend a workshop on using the media to the advantage of climate change activism at a different university than their own, six states away?

Pollack to be removed June 2008

In response to the rapidly rising construction prices in the Boston area, Brandeis University has attempted to accomplish as much of its prioritized scheduled construction as quickly as possible, most recently announcing the future removal of Pollack Fine Arts Teaching Center in June 2008 to make way for the new Edmond J. Safra Center for the Arts.

Construction work costs may multiply to as much as 300 percent of current levels within a couple of years, explained Dan Feldman, Vice President of Capital Projects. Feldman attributes the rising costs to national and global demand for similar construction supplies and to the high cost of living in Boston. The implication of this is that costs for new building [and for renovations] areincreasing significantly faster than the consumer price index, stated Feldman.

Legality of racial minority senator position questioned

In light of concerns regarding the legality of the senator for Racial Minority students, the Student Union is discussing possible changes to the position. It has been brought to the Unions attention that the position may be a violation of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights act, which stipulates that organizations receiving federal funding cannot discriminate based on race.

As it stands, only students registered as racial minorities or other with the registrar can run for or vote for the position of Senator for Racial Minority Students. It is this stipulation that has raised the questions of legality.

‘Deis Equestrian Team starts season off right

The Brandeis Equestrian Team is off to a strong start this season. Having competed in three shows hosted by Tufts, UMass Dartmouth, and Bridgewater State College, the team has brought home a total of 18 ribbons, including a first place by Sarah Kalafut '09 in her intermediate jump class last weekend.

Despite fielding one of the smallest teams in the region, and one of the only equestrian teams that does not have Varsity Athletics affiliation, Brandeis powered its way to an impressive 9th place team overall finish at the UMass Dartmouth show on October 21st, with an energetic and strong performance from two first-time competitors, Ashley Zibura '11 and Liz Wilsker '11.

Insider’s guide: Varsity athletics at Brandeis

I do a lot of things at Brandeis. I am involved with nearly twenty organizations, and I cherish my participation in all of them. Still, my favorite activity is being a Varsity Athlete on the Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field teams. This experience has been wonderful for me, as the support provided by the Athletics Department has ensured that I can enjoy every aspect of my involvement. In addition, the social incentives of being in the group, and the camaraderie of my teammates, have sustained me through the mid-season slumps and the other ups and downs that come with being an athlete. Finally, being a Varsity athlete has opened up an entire world of new experiences, has kept me in shape, and provides other benefits as well. Id like to record one persons experiences of Varsity participation at Brandeis, as one of so many students who can claim this title.

Hang ten with the ‘Deis surfing club

To continue our look at the less conventional yet interesting sport clubs, we turn our attention this week to the Surfing Club. According to the club description, the group is committed to the exploration and enjoyment of the sport of surfing. Now come on, who hasnt imagined surfing the beautiful waters of Hawaii? Who hasnt wondered, at least once, what it would be like to simply ride a wave, to connect with the water without having to intentionally dive in? The Surfing Club, while perhaps unable to make a dream trip to Honolulu come true, does offer a unique experience in learning the art of surfing – an experience full of information, fun, and an ocean full of memories.

UCC passes changes to history major

The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee approved changes to the history major proposed by the department in a meeting on Oct. 30. The new requirements will go into effect with the Class of 2012.

Currently, a history major consists of eight courses in any area or time period. The new major would require an additional course and a substantial research paper, UCC representative Zach Pyle 09 said in an email.

Faculty to discuss plagiarism software

The Faculty Senate is due to begin discussions on the Universitys possible use of a plagiarism-detection service, Turnitin.com. This discussion is a follow-up to the pilot test for the service, which took place during the Spring 2007 semester. The Faculty Senates findings will not necessarily decide whether or not it will be used, but rather will help to determine how the University should proceed.

Due to expressed concerns about the difficulty of assessing suspicious papers, Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe set up a committee last year made up of faculty and LTS representatives to look into possible detection services. Turnitin.com, a Web service that compares submitted papers to texts from a series of databases, agreed to provide the University with free services for a full semester in order to run a pilot test.

Student reveals nature of Hindley complaint

After last weeks coverage of the allegations of racism brought against Professor Donald Hindley (POL) for statements in his Latin American Politics classes, a student explained the nature of the complaints they had brought to the Administration.

I reported him because of all the completely inappropriate comments he made, mostly in September, which trickled down to October, and we get occasional comments [now].

Student Events wants direct access to SE Fee

Student Events has requested to be able to directly access the Student Events Fee taken from each students tuition costs, sources say. The current system involves Student Events requesting funds on a semesterly basis through the Finance Board.

What [the proposal is] requesting is that the Student Events fee be given to Student Events. Right now on your bill there are two bills: the Student Activities Fee and the Student Events Fee, said Student Events President Lauren Barish 08. Even though theres two bills, they both go to the same place. The proposal is making it so we do get the equivalent of the Student Events Fee is given to us directly rather than given to the F-Board.

What's going on at Brandeis? Diwali 2007 – The Festival of Lights

Come join Namaskar as they commemorate this auspicious time of the year with a Diwali celebration – first ever on the Brandeis University Campus! Diwali is the Hindu, Jain, and Sikh Festival of Lights. It is a joyous occasion that all can enjoy! There are lots of activities, vendors, performances and free food. And it's free!

What's going on at Brandeis? Rocky Horror

The Brandeis Rocky Horror performance group, occasionally known as Orgy In A Sock, will be playing this Friday! For all you who have never been to Rocky Horror, this is a truly fantastic show and an awesome experience you must have. “Come dressed or undressed as you would.” The show is only $1, and it costs another $1 for a shit bag (props you throw at cues).