This review for humans only: Classified report of “District 9”
Can someone explain to me why a flick about extraterrestrials invading South Africa has more humanity in it than most recent homo sapien-centric Hollywood heartstring pullers? “District 9” is this summer’s unlikely science fiction hit by writer/director Neill Blomkamp and producer Peter Jackson (The Lord of The Rings trilogy). And what’s drawn most people’s attention […]
Pigs didn’t fly, but swine flu (or How I spent my summer vacation)
Salvation! Or so I wanted to proclaim as I dashed out of my final-final last semester and into the crisp pre-summer air. I was experiencing that remarkable lightness only students feel at the end of a term, when all things fact-related are purged from our book bags, binders and brains, and we can enjoy blissful […]
Tennis
Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams had their first practice Thursday afternoon. Coach Ben Lamanna is in charge of both squads and has been at Brandeis for the past five seasons. Alexis Accomando will serve as assistant coach for the men’s and women’s team this year. The teams are, “already hard at work” according […]
Counseling for career and life: Departing seniors share their thanks to the people who’ve guided them
There are exactly 16 days until commencement. For many seniors, it couldn’t have come soon enough. For others, it may seem like time–and their future–is closing in on them, and fast. Maybe some of you have a job lined up. Maybe some of you would like to hide in a hole and avoid the obvious […]
Just call him ‘Joh’
Anyone who has seen Brandeis’ African Dance Club perform is aware that there is a very present force onstage besides the dancers. Although this person often sits upstage, behind the colorful and rhythmic array of performers, his presence is never diminished nor understated by this. The phenomenal drummer whom many of you have often been […]
Musical Evolutions
You never really appreciate what you have until it’s taken away from you. This may be something of a cliche, but it still rings true for me, and it describes my relationship with the Brandeis Music Department very well. I never attended any performances at Slosberg while I was attending Brandeis; for some reason, I […]
The “Adventure” of adolesence
I’ve seen numerous of films with my parents. Some of these movies I’ve viewed within the confines of my own home and others I have ventured out to the movie theaters to watch with them. This does not make me special (unfortunately I will have to unearth another way in which I’m unique). What I’ve […]
Culture X forum for intercultural artistic expressions
Let’s be honest. The past month hasn’t been good for intercultural relations at Brandeis. The challenge to the Racial Minority Union Senate position went to the Union Judiciary, and it’s put the questions, “What consitutes discrimination?” and “Does racism exist at Brandeis?” on everyone’s mind. The proposed elimination of the African and African-American Studies Department […]
Chilling with Mochila on the eve of its album release
During the course of the past year, no musical ensemble has managed to capture the imagination and spirit of Brandeis’s mission to promote harmony among different cultures quite like Mochila. The group, which includes such instrumentation as the oud, tabla, flute, sitar, viola, cello, fuses Arabic music, jazz, reggae, reggaeton, and Indian classical music to […]
Mochila reveals extraordinary talent in debut album
Named after the Spanish word for backpack, featuring instruments from a wide variety of musical traditions, and combining influences from traditional Arabic music as well as jazz, Mochila is a student music ensemble that truly boasts diversity. The group, founded in 2008 and having swelled to twelve members, is perfoming at Springfest, which starts at […]
Ancient tale of woe stirs modern souls: “Hecuba” retranslated and revived
]“Let’s not make a Greek tragedy out of this.” We’ve all heard that weary plea so many times that when an opportunity arises to actually experience a classic dramatic work from that heralded genre, most of us tend to flinch involuntarily. Why would we force ourselves to sit through agonizing hours of pathetic heroes lamenting […]
Delightful, Delicious, De-Lovely: HTG presents a top production of Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes”
Once upon a time, musical theater used to be about three things. The first was the elusive quality alternately called glamour, stardom, or just pure fame in an era when actors, directors, writers, and producers were stars. The next major focus of musical theater of the day was spectacle – sets were lush, costumes were […]
Above par fundraising skills save golf team for now
The Brandeis golf team managed to pull off the unexpected; they have pulled their program out from the brink of demise. Back in January, Brandeis golf captain Aaron Hattenbach ’09 explained the stakes prior to the successful fundraising operation. “If we survive one year, we can continue on. If we can’t get through this one […]
April softball recap: Judges go 14-4
The Brandeis women’s softball team has had a great month, going 14-4 to bring them to 22-12 over the season. Of the nine double headers they’ve played in April, the softball team has swept six, split two, and lost only one. They are currently ranked fifth in the New England Region with the undefeated Tufts […]
From students to professors; Profiling the winners of 2009 teaching awards
Peter Kalb4, Assistant Professor of Contemporary Art on the Cynthia L. and Theodore S. Berenson chair, is the 27th recipient of the Michael L. Walzer ’56 Award for Teaching. This award is handed out to a tenure track faculty member who “combines superlative scholarship with inspired teaching.” Kalb received his bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College […]
Cello recital showcases many styles of Alterman
“Student recital” is a term that carries an air of sloppiness and unprofessionalism. My immediate mental image of the word “recital” is a bunch of elementary school children dressed in matching outfits, leaping and falling all over a stage in a vain attempt at ballet. The audience is full of parents, each individual proud of […]
My reflections on animation
I grew up with cartoons. As a kid, I was so fond of moving pictures on my TV screen that I would snub any entertainment with real people in it. My current ethical foundation is based on whatever morals TV networks could pack into individual half-hour episodes throughout my childhood, save a few commercials in […]
A dream for peace within Pakistan
The first time I met Benazir Bhutto is a wonderful memory that I can never forget. She was the first ever woman prime minister of a Muslim country. And what a lovely New England autumn day it was. I fondly remember how she looked at the blue sky and the red-orange leaves and said “this […]
“You’re Just a Bloody Woman!”
Pinter, by definition, is a man’s playwright. His works offer many creative, well-rounded opportunities for male actors to work in his world—to develop worthwhile characters, so to speak. However, as Olivia Mell ’09 stated in the program, “the female is diminished, not evolved, and she fights a constant battle against submission within her domestic universe.” […]
Baseball drops third straight 9-7
All the world’s a stage and we are merely players in it. Thursday afternoon presented a stage for a grand comeback. With no outs in the bottom of the ninth, the Judges dented Fitchburg State reliever Jake Barbarotta with Nick Gallagher ’09, leading off the inning with a walk and Jeff Dennis ’11 moving him […]