Despite valiant efforts, ‘Bat Boy’ flounders in absurdity

Built off of a tabloid story, “Bat Boy” could not have been more ambitious. The musical tells the story of a young bat humanoid found living in a cave and chronicles his struggle to learn the truth of love as he settles into human society, despite its overwhelming hate toward him. In concept, “Bat Boy” […]

Gov. Patrick stumps for Obama, Warren in Waltham

Governor Deval Patrick stumped for Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren and President Barack Obama at Sebastian’s Ice Cream shop Saturday afternoon, framing Tuesday’s election as a chance to protect the American Dream and meeting with volunteers next door to the Waltham campaign headquarters on Main Street. Patrick, a top surrogate for the president and national co-chair […]

Town hall presents proposed folk festival to student body

Fifty years ago, Bob Dylan performed at Brandeis, just two weeks before his second album was released, and as Jesse Manning ’13 says, it was “when he became Bob Dylan as we know him.” A recording of the 1963 Brandeis concert was discovered and released only two years ago, which inspired Manning and Alex Pilger […]

JBS program expands and diversifies

Two years after Brandeis began the Justice Brandeis Semester, the programs are growing in popularity and engaging new groups of students. Fourteen students are enrolled in the Environmental Field Semester with Professor Brian Donahue (AMST), the largest number since the program’s inception, according to Professor Laura Goldin (ENVS). Over the summer, 12 students were enrolled […]

Students react to hard-fought presidential election

Tuesday night marked the reelection of President Obama and the victory of Democrat Elizabeth Warren over incumbent Republican Senator Scott Brown, as well as the passage of landmark ballot measures across the nation. The results were met with both celebration and dismay around the Brandeis campus. Obama won the presidential election with 303 electoral votes […]

Strategic Plan reaches final discussions

In an email to the student body, Provost Steve Goldstein announced the next steps in the already long-running Strategic Plan. The university released a “preliminary framework” four weeks ago, which went through multiple rounds of committee discussions involving the entire campus. The next steps for the plan involve taking it to the trustees, whose meeting […]

Kendrick Lamar enters the scene with a historic debut

Since hip hop rose from the streets of Brooklyn in the 1970s, artists’ careers have largely been measured by their debut albums. Such classics as Nas’ “Illmatic,” Jay-Z’s “Reasonable Doubt” and Kanye West’s “The College Dropout” resulted in career-defining albums that have had a lasting impact on hip hop as an art form. Kendrick Lamar’s […]

Professor and journalist reflect on complicated black-Jewish relations

Professor Ibrahim Sundiata’s new Class, “The History of Black-Jewish Relations in America,” examines two groups that have helped to define the American experience. On Monday, the topic was explored in a new light at the joint Brandeis Black Student Organization and Hillel organized “Common Ground: Exploring Black and Jewish Relations.” Jonathan Kaufman, Pulitzer Prize-winner and […]

‘Halo’ embarks on a new trilogy with a triumphant return

It’s been five long years since a new game starring the Master Chief, the traditional protagonist of the Halo franchise, has been released. In the interim, Bungie Studios released two games and handed over the franchise to Microsoft’s 343 Industries in order to launch a new game in what had previously been assumed to be […]

Vancea pursues passion for film

Originally from Romania, Paul Vancea ’14 is representative of the diverse multitude of students at Brandeis University, having arrived in the United States six years ago. His family had the ability to come to the United States because they won the visa lottery. In Romania, different families can apply every year to become an American […]

March Of Dimes chapter to hold first lecture series

Damiana Andonova ’15 became interested in the complicated topic of premature birth when she was just a junior in high school. “I was always fascinated with obstetrics and perinatology. In 11th grade I realized that causes of prematurity are still speculative,” she said. “Way back in the 1500s, DaVinci was thinking about causes of prematurity […]

Linsey pool center implements gender neutral locker rooms

Rather than provide changing facilities strictly divided between males and females without consideration given to differing sexual orientations, the university athletics department recently implemented gender-inclusive locker rooms at the Linsey Pool Center. Deemed a proactive measure by Athletic Director Sheryl Sousa, the changing rooms are currently available for use. According to Sousa, prior to the […]

Men and women’s fencing medals in first action of season

The fencing team pulled off multiple victories at the season-opening competition at Smith College last weekend. At the New England Fall Collegiate Invitational, colloquially called The Big One, four men and two women from Brandeis’ fencing team medaled. The wins included Caroline Matos ’16, who pulled a win for women’s foil, Adam Mandel ’15 with […]

Men’s soccer defeats NYU; returns to NCAA tournament

The 17th-ranked Brandeis men’s soccer team defeated NYU 1-0 in the regular season finale Nov. 3. With the win, the Judges finish the season with a record of 16-2-1 (4-2-1 UAA) and a four-way share of the UAA title for the first time ever. A bizarre series of events led Brandeis, Washington University St. Louis, […]

IBS’ Mann nominated for EIU business professor of the year

Professor Catherine Mann (IBS) was nominated last month as Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Business Professor of the Year. Mann began teaching at Brandeis in 2006 and spent 25 years prior to that working in Washington, D.C. Mann has taught at least one course every year since she completed her Ph.D. at MIT in 1984. Before […]

Swimming and diving continues to improve

Brandeis swimming team had a pair of losses to Roger Williams University last Saturday but managed to win 10 events. The men’s team lost 144-110 and the women’s team fell by 152-116. Distance swimmer Theresa Gaffney ’16 finished first in the 1,000-yard freestyle at 11:49.30, while Holly Spicer ’13 won both breaststroke events and set […]

Volleyball drops both games at UAAs; earn top seed in ECAC tournament

The Brandeis volleyball team lost both of its matches at the University Athletic Association tournament at Emory University Nov. 2, finishing in seventh place. In the quarter-finals, the Judges lost 3-0 in straight sets, 25-18, 25-13 and 25-21, to 16th-ranked and second-seeded University of Chicago. In the semifinals of the consolation bracket, the Judges fell […]

Creative writing program sponsors Judeo-Russian author

Gary Shteyngar’s book reading at Brandeis Nov. 5 was not only an important literary experience for students but also an accomplishment for the creative writing department. Associate Director of Creative Writing Steven McCauley assures, “We’ve been trying to bring Gary Shteyngar to Brandeis for several years.” A prolific writer, Shteyngar’s arrival was made possible by […]

Women’s soccer rides defense to NCAA tournament berth

Earlier this week, the women’s soccer team defeated NYU 3-0 in the final match of the regular season behind a pair of first-half goals from Dara Spital ’15 and a stalwart effort from keeper Francine Kofinas ’13 as she made a season-high five saves in the first half. With the win, the Judges finish the […]

With a medieval flourish, Heather Dale refreshes campus music scene

Heather Dale performed a concert titled “An Ancient Yule” in Levin Ballroom Monday night. Although relatively few people attended the concert, the band kept the atmosphere light-hearted and fun and made for a good way to relax and listen to some enjoyably atypical music. Hailing from Canada, the band consisted of Heather Dale as the […]