Stressed? Get help
From the pandemic to the election, people everywhere have a good reason to be stressed out in 2020. At Brandeis, students can feel stressed even at the best of times and taking midterms in the middle of a pandemic can feel comically terrible. With everything going on in the world, some people choose to prioritize […]
Student art showcase: 10/9
New spring schedule means Feb. 1 start, substantially shorter spring breaks
Provost Lisa Lynch announced changes to the spring 2021 semester schedule in a memo to students, staff and faculty on Thursday Oct. 8. The university’s plan revolves around delaying the start of classes until Feb. 1, a substantial reduction of spring break and ending the semester at the usual date, May 14, as well as […]
The common virtue of Herbert Hoover and Jimmy Carter
On Oct. 1, Jimmy Carter turned 96 years of age. Carter, already the oldest-living former President on the occasion of his 95th birthday last year, continues to be in good health with his wife Rosalynn following his surgery last year. He recently enjoyed a quiet birthday celebration at home in Georgia, where he has long […]
The good, the bad and the unique of the 2020 NHL playoff format
The year 2020 has certainly been an unprecedented one. Back at the beginning of March, the world as we knew it came to a relatively sudden halt. Over a period of a few short weeks, country borders shut down, schools and universities emptied out and a lot of work places moved to be online. This […]
Results of the designated hitter rule change in the MLB
After many years of discussing the possibility of adding the designated hitter (DH) to the National League for the 60-game 2020 season, Major League Baseball (MLB) added the DH to reduce the possibility of injury to pitchers and increase offensive production. At first, it appeared to have many mixed reactions. Many people were happy because […]
SSIS Advice Column
Welcome back to the SSIS column, where we answer any and all of Brandeis students’ questions about sex, sexuality, identity and relationships. If you have a question you’d like answered in our next column, email ssis@brandeis.edu or leave a question in the Google Form link on the Student Sexuality Information Service Facebook page. Any and […]
The Grande disappointment
I’m going to be honest, when I heard about a Grande Homewrecker burrito from Moe’s that was only slightly more expensive than their regular alternative, I knew I had to try it before the promotion ended. Especially when I saw those persuasive advertisements: a gargantuan juicy monster of a burrito next to a wimpy pathetic […]
Apple picking during COVID-19
You know that writing opinion pieces has become a lifestyle when the first thing that comes to mind when you do something new is, “We should write an op about it!” So please enjoy our experience at Honey Pot Hill, and we hope that this will inspire you to go apple picking this very weird […]
Student cartoon showcase: 10/9
Presidential debate or real life SNL?
Last week’s presidential debate could have been a foreign comedic skit of the downfall of America. It was not professional, it was not substantive, it was not informative, and it certainly was not a good look. While there were many things to focus on and criticize—like the fact that Trump’s incessant interruption is a clear […]
Mass. students now required to get flu shot
Many Brandeis students are now required to get an influenza vaccine, according to a press release by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). Brandeis students can sign up for a flu shot and request an exemption on the portal on their Passport Portal, the platform used to sign up for COVID-19 testing. In total, […]
Bright Horizons waives copayments for Back-Up care child, adult and elder care during Oct.
Bright Horizons is waiving copayments for Back-Up child, adult and elder care for dependents of benefits-eligible faculty, staff and full-time PhD students during the month of October, according to the Sept. 17 edition of the Finance and Administration InBrief. The university began offering back-up child care, adult and elder care as a part of the […]
Plan calls for reduction in excessive policing of students of color by public safety
The Black Action Plan—a community-formulated list of demands from students of color on campus—is seeking to change the university’s policing strategy to stop excessive policing of students of color. The student-run group has called for reform and defunding of Brandeis Public Safety as well as structural changes to how the department patrols campus, according to […]
The sweetest way to be charitable
Giving back to the Brandeis community just got a whole lot sweeter! Lydia Begag ’22 has created an easy and delicious way to help out fellow Brandeisians with her new baking business that delivers. Found at @thatbitchbaking on Instagram, Begag is raising money for the Brandeis Mutual Aid Fund by donating 50 percent of proceeds […]
ShareOn: A platform with tools to create a community
A Brandeis student created a new online platform called ShareOn, where individuals can engage with each other through posts. The platform was created by Alex Blattner ’22, who wanted to build a platform that connected inspirations from several other social media sites into one place. In an interview with The Hoot, Blattner explained that when […]
‘Scare Me’ is a self-indulgent love letter to horror
With a drought of theatrical releases this Halloween season, I’ve sought the products of various streaming services to fulfill my horror movie quota. On Oct. 1 the streaming service Shudder released Josh Ruben’s directorial debut feature “Scare Me.” At an hour and 44 minutes, this meta-horror comedy has about 40 minutes of entertainment hidden within […]
“Recommended For You” is a staff pick
Fall has come and that means that it is officially Jewish holiday season! To put myself in the spirit, I decided to read “Recommended For You” by Laura Silverman, a short young adult contemporary about two co-workers in a bookshop. As expected, it was an easy read full of proud Jewish overachievers. What I was […]
Emily in Paris: the cliche of all cliches
Every now and then, people need a series to take their minds off the unpleasantries of the world. “Emily in Paris,” released on Netflix on Oct. 2, certainly delivers on that brand. With a colorful wardrobe, a highly saturated color scheme and a quirky, excitable protagonist, “Emily in Paris” doesn’t ask its audience to think […]
Sufjan Steven’s ‘The Ascension’ merges the electronic with the lyrical
When Sufjan Stevens released the single “America” back in July, I was not impressed. At 12 minutes, it was asking a lot. The song was certainly not helped by the chorus, which is repetitive and obvious, and I could not shake the sense that I had heard it before. When it comes to fourth of […]
