TRII advocates and their stories: Jonathan Goldman

The Right to Immigration Institute (TRII) founded at Brandeis is a unique organization that trains undergraduates to become accredited representatives in immigration courts and to gain legal experience firsthand. It allows for immigrants to receive assistance with many types of legal processes, making sure they have the support and the knowledge they need. Jonathan Goldman […]

TRII advocates and their stories: Sarah Abdulghani

The Right to Immigration Institute (TRII) founded at Brandeis is a unique organization that trains undergraduates to become accredited representatives in immigration courts and to gain legal experience firsthand. It allows for immigrants to receive assistance with many types of legal processes, making sure they have the support and the knowledge they need. Sarah Abdulghani […]

GirlUp raises awareness for human rights

In 2010, GirlUp was founded by the United Nations Foundation as a global movement of young leaders. As their website explains, the empowered young women go through leadership development training to transform themselves, their communities and the world around them. Along with a community of global partners, GirlUp works to achieve gender equality worldwide. About […]

Skunkworks assists students with software projects

For innovative students at Brandeis, ideas run freely and have great potential. The problem? Sometimes, the technical details are too difficult for students to figure out on their own, especially if their major lies outside of the computer science realm. Luckily, Skunkworks is a group at Brandeis that can help students with their projects. A […]

Brandeis professor wins 2018 National Jewish Book Award

Brandeis professors, like their students, are hard at work during the school year. If they are not teaching classes or giving talks on campus, they can often be found working on their own independent projects and research. Jonathan Decter, the Edmond J. Safra Professor of Sephardic Studies, of the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies (NEJS) […]

Rebelle brings Afro-Caribbean dance to campus

Brandeis is home to many different types of dance groups of various genres and cultures. One such group is Rebelle, an Afro-Caribbean dance team that uses the universal languages of music and dance to share the flavors of the many cultures that make up the diaspora. A crowd favorite, Rebelle dances vibrantly and with exuberant […]

Platinum Step Team brings rhythm to campus

Ever wanted to try out dancing, but feel you have no rhythm or coordination? One club on campus can help you with that: the Platinum Step Team. Platinum is a relatively new dance group on campus specializing in the style of step dance. Stepping is a unique dance style that focuses on the rhythm of […]

Annual hackathon engages college students from the Boston area

Since 2014, Brandeis Initiative for Technology, Machines, Apps and Programming (BITMAP) has hosted Codestellation, Brandeis’ beginner-friendly 24-hour hardware and software hackathon. This year, it is taking place Nov. 10-11 in the Shapiro Science Center. Briana Li ’20, a double major in computer science and linguistics, is one of the co-presidents of BITMAP and also one […]

German grammar and baking combine in new course

When learning a new language, some of the hardest skills to master are that of pronunciation and perfecting grammar. Professor Sabine von Mering (GER) has created a new course for the Spring 2019 semester titled “GER 102B: Küche, kochen, Kuchen–gucken; Advanced Grammar, Pronunciation, and Baking in Cultural Context,” combining difficult language concepts with baking! Von […]

LimeBikes provide new way to get around campus

Every year, students request that Brandeis offer some sort of bike-sharing program. In March 2009, DeisBikes was created as an initiative between students in the Student Union and Environmental Studies Professor Laura Goldin’s “Greening the Ivory Tower” class. After three separate attempts at student-run initiatives that were mostly ineffective, Mary Fischer, manager of sustainability programs, […]

Gender and Sexuality Center engages community

Located on the first floor of the Usdan Student Center, the Gender and Sexuality Center (GSC) is a space on campus for all members of the LGBTQ community and their allies. Ryan Mishler, the Program Administrator of the GSC, sat down with The Hoot to discuss the various events being held at the GSC this […]

Rumors debunked about Brandeis Confessions

Founded on Jan. 6, the popular Facebook page Brandeis Confessions has become a place for members of the Brandeis community (and people outside of the community as well) to anonymously comment on the university, their classes and each other. Since its humble beginnings last semester, it has gathered a following of over 1,400 people. On […]

Elegy class explores modern views on death

Many English classes focus on the human experience and what it means to be alive. They focus on the various literary forms such as prose, poetry and essays that discuss the experiences that we all share: love, joy, adventure and much more. Until this semester, there were no classes about the other inevitability of the […]

Improv comedy student becomes the teacher

Mina Bond ’19, a women’s, gender and sexuality studies major at Brandeis, has loved performing since middle school. Now, she will be teaching an improv course with ImprovBoston, a not-for-profit theater that offers classes in stand-up, sketch, improv and musical improv while also offering shows Wednesday through Sunday nights. Bond, one of the co-presidents of […]

Community therapists offer campus-wide services

While many students know about the Brandeis Counseling Center (BCC), they may not know about the new community therapists initiative. As part of the mission to bridge the gap that students may experience trying to seek services at the BCC, community therapists are accessible all around campus for informal drop-in sessions. Joy von Steiger, Ph.D., […]

Brandeis Community Farm brings sustainable agriculture to students

On the roof of the Gerstenzang Science Library, you will see rows and rows of fresh produce growing from rich organic soil. The Brandeis Community Farm, formerly known as the Farmer’s Club, is run by students at Brandeis. Benée Hershon ’20, president of the Brandeis Community Farm, is a junior majoring in environmental studies and […]

Spilling the beans on Cafe Undergrounds

Brandeis is a campus that runs on coffee. From Einstein’s, to Dunkin’ Donuts, to Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee, many students depend on the rush of caffeine to get them through their intense days filled with heavy course loads and extracurricular responsibilities. One student hopes to break through the pre-existing cafes at Brandeis with his own […]

Meet the CORE Committee

Each year as a wide-eyed group of new first-year and transfer students descend upon campus in late August, they are greeted by energetic Brandeis students. Known to them as their Orientation Leaders (OLs), sporting anything from bucket hats to their matching bright blue shirts, their friendly faces and positive attitudes help the new students assimilate […]

An in-depth look at Brandeis’ religious identity—Part 1: The History

This year, The Hoot’s Features section began an examination of religion at Brandeis University. As Brandeis students, we have often heard that Brandeis is a nonsectarian institution with its roots in the Jewish community. What was does this really mean? How big of a role does religion play in Brandeis history, social life and identity? […]

Senate Sustainability Committee hosts Meatless Monday

Waiting to swipe into Lower Usdan Dining Hall, students saw a colorful sign introducing “Now Serving: Meatless Monday with Red Lentil.” Upon entering the dining hall, students stood in line to be served butternut squash bisque, seitan marsala with mashed rutabaga and tropical quinoa salad from Chef Pankaj Pradhan on Monday, April 16. Chef Pradhan […]