Student Union Elections

The Brandeis University student union elections have always created a lot of buzz around campus because there are a number of union positions that are up for grabs. It has always been common to see the candidates rigorously campaigning across campus, attempting to make their names known. However, this years candidates took their campaigning techniques to the next level, perhaps setting a new precedent for future student union candidates.
Christopher McDonough


As has been the case in past elections, posters were plastered across campus, signs were inserted on the university lawns and flyers were posted and handed out at just about every university location. Jordan Rothman, a Vice-President student union nominee discussed his campaigning techniques. “I’ve done a lot of flyering, I actually began making posters, banners and flyers the hour after we were allowed to begin campaigning. I had my flyers up five days before any of my opponents and that was really key in my campaigning strategies. But beyond that, I’ve been going door to door, I’ve been trying to hit up the library and Shapiro campus center today to try and get people to vote for me.”

While Jordan’s campaigning techniques represent the style that has always been prevalent at Brandeis, other candidates decided to up the anti, using facebook and email as assets to help get their names out there. Nelson Rutrick, a candidate for Vice-President discussed how he and other candidates utilized these tools. “Everyone makes a facebook group when they are running for a campaign…I actually went on facebook, I clicked, I invited everyone I knew and then whenever I had down time, I’d click on online now in facebook and I’d send messages to everyone that I saw on online now saying dude, hey it’s Nelson, a little personal line, remember to vote!”



While using online campaigning techniques were used by candidates who were intending to benefit their campaigns, many Brandeis students disliked receiving numerous messages on their facebook and email accounts, reminding them to vote. “When I wake up every morning and I have, you know, five to ten emails about this person, that person, running for whatever positions,” said Brandeis senior Daniel Rios, “It’s not always the greatest feeling.”

Other students simply were confused about who to vote for because they received so many email and facebook messages from so many different candidates. Christina Sergi, a Brandeis sophomore had this to say about the email fiasco. “I got so confused and frustrated with all of the emails that I had no idea what was going on and I didn’t know who to vote for.” Senior Ashkan Hamzelou also shared these feelings. “On one hand, I want to vote for a guy who is going to put in a lot of new rights and cool stuff for students and meanwhile on the other hand, there is a great girl running who’s going to do a lot of great things for the school as well, so I’m kind of in a dichotomous situation right now.”



In the end, Jason Gray won the President nomination, Mike Kerns won the Vice-President nomination, Tia Chatterjee won the secretary position, Maxwell Wallach won the treasurer position, and Yuki Hasegawa, Emily Moignard, Julian Olidart, and Jahfree Lemuel Bendele Duncan will be added to the financial board.

Brandeis Open House

Brandeis kicked off its annual spring open house on Thursday, April 10th. It was the largest open house in school history. Over 1200 admitted students and their families attended the event.
Eric Seidan

The weather was perfect with sunny skies and temperatures reaching nearly 70 degrees. This was in stark contrast to last year’s event when it snowed and had temperatures in the mid 20’s.

The event began with a welcome address from University President Jehuda Reinharz. Dean Adam Jaffe and Dean of Admissions Gil Villenueva were also among the featured speakers. After the opening address students had the opportunity to take campus tours, attend classes or attend a panel discussion with student leaders. After these sessions students had lunch with the faculty and interacted with representatives from student organizations.

The event would not have been successful without the help of Brandeis students. Over 100 current students volunteered their time to help out. Student coordinators also worked countless hours to ensure the success of the event. According to one student coordinator, she worked over 100 hours in the last two weeks preparing for the event.

The reactions from the admitted students were overwhelmingly positive. Many students expressed their interest to attend Brandeis in the fall. Other students were impressed with the classes they attended and the overall friendliness of the Brandeis community.

The admissions staff was grateful for the effort that went into planning the event. They were also pleased with the outcome of the event, with many referring to it as a “great success.” The event continued throughout the evening with over 300 admitted students spending the night on campus. Numerous activities were planned in order to give the students a feel for the social scene here at Brandeis. After months of planning and a busy application season the university can now look forward to welcoming the class of 2012 on campus in the fall.

Improv-A-Thon

It was a night and day full of laughs at the fourth annual, 24-hour improvathon at Chum’s last weekend.

Julie Scherr

The event kicked off at 8PM Friday night. Each of Brandeis’ four improvisational comedy groups took turns performing through the night and subsequent day until 8PM Saturday evening.
Although some were forced into a comedy coma, the laughs kept coming from most of the crowd for 24 straight hours. The successful improvathon raised close to 500 dollars, which the groups plan to donate to Oxfam International.

Boris' Kitchen

Click below for some YouTube clips of Boris' Kitchen at their best!

Here is a sampling of Improv and sketch comedy groups on campus:

Bad Grammer is the Brandeis' premier zany improv group (pictured at top), and the only one with a mascot (the mystical catapus)! They play shortform games and perform longform scenes. All practices are open... which means ANYONE can come and improv with them!

Boris' Kitchen is the only UTC group dedicated to all new, all original sketch comedy. We write, direct, and perform sketches to the delight of audiences everywhere, even those not at our show.

TBA is Brandeis' only Improv and Improv Inspired Sketch Comedy Troupe.

CROWD CONTROL
The purpose of Crowd Control is to fulfill the growing demand of improvisational theater on campus. They have performances as well as open rehearsals available to anyone who shows up.

FALSE ADVERTISING
False Advertising is Brandeis University's oldest English Language improv comedy troupe.

THE FLOOR IS LAVA
Long form sketch comedy and a popular children's game.

Hair Donation

It’s served as a club, a theater and a dining room before, but this morning Sherman Function Hall was transformed into a hair salon for the very first time.
Jen Abidor
Great Cuts haircuttery filled the ordinarily drab room with spray bottles, scissors, blow driers and hair products. However, the cuts were not about glamour; they were a part of the Hair Donation Event run by Brandeis Orthodox Organization. All week long, event coordinator Tamar Rock (’10) and other volunteers have been urging students to donate their locks to women who have lost their hair to cancer.

Just in time for summer, fifty-three charitable young men and women took the risk and donated at least eight inches of their hair. Yuli Almozlino (’11) explained that, “I think that other people need it more than I do”, and Claire Cooper (’11) shared a similar sentiment, “I feel like I can always grow it back, and maybe they can’t.” Both Almozlino and Cooper donated eight inches to the cause.

The donated hair will be sent to Pantene Pro-V’s “Beautiful Length’s Campaign”. The campaign, which is headed by actress Hilary Swank, inspires women to make a difference and donate their hair. Their ultimate goal is to receive one million inches of hair, over 400 of which came from Brandeis students today.

The Hair Donation Event was also a part of Colleges Against Cancer’s “paint the campus purple” week. The week’s goal is to raise awareness about the disease, and to gain support for the “Relay for Life” which is coming up in December. Advocacy Chair Mariah Rich (’10) elaborated on the events of the week, and discussed recent progress made in Massachusetts concerning taxation on cigarettes.

Since this years event was wildly successful, BOO and CAC intend to recreate it for many years to come.



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after



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From the Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths Website:

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Donating your hair is a heartfelt and life-changing act of women's cancer
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Brandeis Baseball

Halfway through an up and down season, the Brandeis baseball team looked forward to their second home game Friday afternoon. The judges, boosted by their faithful fan support, matched up against a hot Bridgewater state team.
Eli Harrington


Through a frustrating first half of the season, the Judges entered Friday’s contest with a record of ten wins and eight losses, with six of those losses by only two runs or less. Due to a manic schedule, the judges enjoy only eight total home games, with five scheduled during the spring vacation week.

This makes baseball a tough sport for fans, especially those in the Brandeis community. And with temperatures in the low forties and wind chills into the high twenties, only the heartiest of baseball fans were present for this game. Despite the cold weather and wind gusts, thick-skinned fans elaborated on a deeper bond that draws them to the baseball diamond.

Said one fan, “I don’t really like baseball, but I like the people on the team, and some of them come to watch our games, so I feel like I should support them…we’re all a little family”. In large part because of the efforts of the student advisory athletic committee, many Brandeis athletes feel a familial connection, a bond that has only increased over time.

Said another student, “When I was a freshman I can’t honestly say that I came to all the different sporting events, but in the past two years I’ve really gotten out to soccer games, basketball games, baseball games as many things as I could.” The student-athlete bond is certainly noticed and appreciated by the baseball team.

Baseball team members Artie and Nick agree that “I know our baseball team and most of the soccer guys went to watch all of the basketball games this past winter, and it’s good seeing that turn-around, vice-versa for baseball—where some of the basketball guys work doing the announcing, some of the soccer guys come and watch—and it’s just nice to see that. I think the biggest reason fan support has increased is not only the success of the team, but the baseball team, traditionally over the past twenty, thirty years here at Brandeis has been very successful. It also has a lot to do with the comraderie of the student athletes at Brandeis. I know that the baseball team is one of the biggest supporters of all other athletics. No matter the sport, no matter whether it’s a men’s or women’s sport, whatever non-baseball athletic activity you go to at Brandeis you’re more than likely to see a number of Brandeis baseball player, and I think other student-athletes see that and respect that, and that’s why they come out to support it, almost to return the favor. That’s why they come to our games. Because there is a big comraderie here at Brandeis between the athletes, and we all want to support one another and see one another do really well.”

For all fans, whether fellow athlete, friend, or just baseball fan, the Brandeis Judges will return to Stein Diamond on Sunday, April 20th, playing a double header against Bowdoin starting at 1PM.

Check the middle sidebar on the right for exclusive, web only footage of the team playing down in Florida!

Spring Fest 2008

Crowds of students braved the elements to attend Student Events and WBRS’s SpringFest Music Festival on Sunday, April sixth.
Ben Gellman-Chomsky

Despite the rain, turnout was strong on the great lawn for indie acts “Minus the Bear” and “State Radio,” as well as hip hop musicians “Pietasters” and “Jedi Mind Tricks”. These bands opted against utilizing the alternate venue of Levin Ballroom. The event was criticized for repetitiveness by the student newspaper, “The Hoot,” as “State Radio” had already performed at SpringFest in 2006. Overall, the event drew a decent crowd.

Check out the description of one of the featured bands, Minus The Bear!

Minus the Bear
*Dave Knudson - Guitar
*Jake Snider - Vocals, guitar
*Erin Tate - Drums
*Cory Murchy - Bass
*Matt Bayles - 'Keyboards/Drum Machine'

With catchy song titles like "Hey, Wanna Throw Up? Get Me Naked," "Monkey!!! Knife!!! Fight!!!," and "Lemurs, Man, Lemurs," it's hard not to be at least a little bit curious about this Seattle-based quintet. Featuring members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving, Minus the Bear emerged on Seattle's music scene in 2001 with the release of their six-song EP This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic. The band comprised guitarist Dave Knudson, vocalist/ guitarist Jake Snider, drummer Erin Tate, and bassist Cory Murchy. Though the band entered the studio before they ever played a show, they toured aggressively in support of the EP, then returned to the studio to record 2002's Highly Refined Pirates, their first full-length album. Both the EP and LP were released by Seattle-based Suicide Squeeze Records.

Though the song titles may lead one to believe that they're a novelty act, Minus the Bear provides polished, shrewdly arranged songs. Finger-tapped guitar riffs mixed with catchy melodies and unexpected time changes keep listeners interested and entertained. Minus the Bear issued two EPs in 2004: Bands Like It When You Yell "Yar!" at Them on Suicide Squeeze and They Make Beer Commericals Like This on Arena Rock. Their next full-length, the self-produced Menos el Oso (Spanish for Minus the Bear), appeared in August 2005; the remix album Interpretaciones del Oso followed in early 2007. The band released the full-length Planet of Ice later that year.

Laurel Greenidge, All Music Guide

Click below to hear "Pachuca Sunrise," a track from Minus the Bear's studio album, Menos El Oso.