This Week at Brandeis
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Seinfeld DVD success proves show still on top
With natural disasters, murder trials, and election analysis taking center stage in the news during the last two months, at least one very important and historic event has gone almost entirely unreported. The first three seasons of Seinfeld is available on DVD for the time.
Brandeis students in different world than young pro athletes
This past winter break, two people who play important roles in my life celebrated their twentieth birthdays. The individuals could not be more different, one a student, the other an athlete. One is female;
the other is male. One is my girlfriend;
the other is Cleveland Cavaliers guard/forward LeBron James. The player weve heard about being the second coming of Michael Jordan, the savior of the National Basketball Association, celebrated just his twentieth birthday this past December. LeBron James is merely the most extraordinary example of a college-aged professional athlete;
there are a plethora of cases similar to his, leaving people such as my girlfriend, and the rest of the Brandeis student body, wondering how weve fallen so far behind.
Letters to the Editor
To The Editors: In recognition of the launch edition of The Hoot, I extend best wishes from the staff and leaders in the student life group. Over the years, Brandeis has enjoyed similar start ups in the world of campus journalism. These publications have found varied success and longevity, and all have been a benchmark […]
Students have options to voice curriculum concerns
On Dec. 9 students had an opportunity to voice their opinions regarding the proposed curriculum changes. The forum was designed to give students the opportunity to learn more about the arts and sciences planning process and to express their concerns about it. Hundreds of people were in attendance. Other than that and an appearance by Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe in front of the Union Senate, there have been no official opportunities for student to have their voices heard regarding the proposed curriculum changes.
New Hiatt director appointed
Martin Ford was hired last October as new director of the Hiatt Career Center. Previously, he was Dean of Cooperative Education and Career Services at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Former Hiatt director of fifteen years Meryl Glatt-Rader left abruptly last year under unclear circumstances.
Integrated planning works towards 7 year plan
University President Jehuda Reinharz officially revealed, on Dec. 13, to the entire Brandeis community the existence of an administrative planning group formed in fall 2003 to undertake a complete review of University operations and propose changes for the next seven years. This integrated planning committee, composed of senior University administrators, was charged to “undertake a rigorous, realistic, comprehensive, and informed planning effort to integrate all areas and aspects of the University's operations,” according to Reinharz's letter to the community.
Second ever mid-year class moves into North
The second ever mid-year class moved into North Quad on Sunday making this the first mid-year class to be housed entirely in one Quad. Schefferes, which was closed for renovation during the spring semester, is housing solely mid-years and contains more than half of the mid-year class.
Conservative pundit Ann Coulter may speak on campus
Ann Coulter, a controversial conservative political pundit, may be visiting Brandeis to speak to students in early April. The event, scheduled to take place on April 7, is being organized by the Brandeis Republican Club. So far they have received $5,000 of the $28,000 necessary to pay Coulters speaking fee and compensate her for personal expenses in coming to Brandeis.
Heller Dean to leave post
Dean Jack Shonkoff (Heller) will be stepping down on Aug. 31 from his post as Dean of Heller School after eleven years of service, University President Jehuda Reinharz announced in an e-mail to the entire faculty yesterday. This announcement is unexpected because Shonkoff had just accepted a five year extension to his term as Dean of Heller School less than a year ago.
A&S restructure juggles conflicting goals
Dean of Arts & Sciences Adam Jaffe's recently articulated vision for the future of the Academy at Brandeis sparked a furor when introduced on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2004 at a special Faculty Meeting. A follow-up meeting on Dec. 16 included the release of Jaffe's complete 61 page proposal, created as part of the Integrated Planning process (see related story, page 1). This report was finally opened to student review on Dec. 29.
Operation Student Shield misdirected
The tragic and disheartening events following this falls improbable, seemingly impossible, Red Sox championship have left many in our community searching for an appropriate scapegoat. Some quickly blamed the bedlam, injuries, and unfortunate fatality on the anxious policemen in the street that night, while others turned to those who peddled alcohol to unruly fans late into the evening. The most rational amongst these pundits, though, turned their attention straight to those fans that poured into the street, pulled down lampposts, and set fires throughout the city.
Musings on a 'quirky' family
After nearly four months of fall semesters academic grind, most of us plowed through finals in mid-December and slid into winter break with just enough energy to make it home, up the stairs, and into bed, where we most likely stayed for some inordinate length of time. Vacation is the opportunity to do all of those normal things that we forget about while were at school. We eat at that one local burrito place that all towns inevitably have, the one where the food is incredibly cheap and good.
Editorial: Coulter visit may be a good thing if executed correctly
NRA president Charlton Hestons 1999 visit to Brandeis was, despite the best efforts of event organizer Bryan Rudnick, a high point in Brandeis political life. While the potential for controversy was high (and heightened by constant liberal-baiting and Brandeis-bashing by Rudnick and other organizers), the speech and opposing rally both remained dignified and calm, and the visit by the star of such movies as Planet of the Apes and The Ten Commandments resulted in much thoughtful discussion and sharing of views.
Allow us to introduce the Hoot
Many people have commented over the past few semesters about various problems they perceive within the Justice. Some of their criticisms may just be normal bickering, some having to do with accuracy, misquoting, timliness and coverage may have some basis in reality. We would be lying if we said that the grumbling did not help us in our decision to found the Hoot, but it was not our primary reason.
Weekend phone outages allowed for free phone calls
The Brandeis campus lost off-campus telephone service from early morning on Saturday, December 18 until noon the next day. The outage was a result of a failed system upgrade by Paetec Communications, Brandeis off-campus telephone services provider.
Two power outages in Village due to traffic accidents involving power lines
In the weeks before winter break, two brief power outages temporarily plunged the Village residence hall into darkness. No other campus buildings were affected by the outages, which occurred on Tues., Nov. 30 and Sat., Dec. 11.
New one-stop center opens in Usdan
This spring brings the first major upgrade of student services space in two and a half years with the opening of the Phase 1 Renovation of the Usdan Student Center. The $2 million project is one of several phases of an $18 million overall plan to upgrade facilities in Usdan and Kutz Hall.
