Working for Brandeis admissions fun, increases social skills

Have you ever wondered why students work for the admissions department?

Lets start off with a word from the very people who might have shaped our decision to come to Brandeis-the admissions tour guides. Eric Seiden, 08, has worked with Admissions since his sophomore year, when he started out as a tour guide. Seiden now oversees the tour guide program. He is responsible for making it all work, performing tasks such as making schedules, coordinating tours, and interviewing and training prospective tour guides.

Speaking me to death

Try to imagine this scenario- Im sitting down, surrounded by people in a room, with a speaker whos supposed to be captivating my attention, but Im sorry to admit I havent heard a word hes said. Where am I, you ask? No, Im not sitting in a lecture hall, and Im not watching a presidential address, Im at church. I dont know about you, but I feel like sermon time has now become more like nap time for me, personally. What is it with everyone, not just priests in general, and speechmaking?

Working with Americorps. proves to be both challenging and enlightening

This summer, Brandeis students went all across the world to do a number of amazing activities. Some used their Ethics fellowships to experience new cultures and make a change in the lives of different peoples. Others had fantastic internships that will prepare these students for their careers in the future. This summer, as well as the past summer break, I enlisted in AmeriCorps. in order to make a difference with my time off from school. The experience has changed my life and has given me a totally different perspective on the world and our society. As school marches on and the memories of summer fade, I thought Id relate some of things I have learned and experienced during my two terms with AmeriCorps.

Iraq too unstable to withdraw troops

Being a person who believes in fairness, I have reserved a few comments for my own party, the Democratic Party. For those of you who watch or read anything about politics, you have probably noticed that Democrats, in particular Democratic presidential candidates, are currently engaged in a game of Who Can Bash The Iraq War The Most.

Iranian leader and Ground Zero?

One of the most recognized personalities in modern day politics is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The only known fact about the Shiite leader of Iran is just that, his presidency. However, there is much speculation among a vast majority of the world community as to other components of Ahmadinejad's resume. Most notable is his massive expansion of uranium enrichment in Iran. Currently, Iran has over 300 centrifuges operating to enrich uranium. Ahmadinejad claims that this is all for the supply of nuclear energy to Iranian citizens to lower the current costs of energy.

Tehran on the Hudson

Im not afraid of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad;

Columbia President Lee Bollinger, on the other hand, makes me a little nervous. Ahmadinejad was in New York this week to address the UN General Assembly. His presence on US soil caused a bewildering amount of controversy. He was not allowed to pay his respects to the victims of 9/11 at Ground Zero even though international law and diplomatic protocols give Ahmadinejad the right to travel freely within a 25 mile radius of UN Headquarters.

More guns do not equal more safety

Of our school, it can be said that we have bred quite a few radical thinkers. From Abbie Hoffman to Angela Davis, Brandeis is no stranger to political activism. Unfortunately, though, our bubble of free thought does not extend throughout the nation. Andrew Meyer, senior at the University of Florida in Gainesville, was the subject of oppressive sanctions leading to him being dragged to the floor by no less than six police officers and ultimately being tased.

We should not let our fear cloud our reason

At the start of the 21st century it is impossible not to be somewhat afraid. Fear has become its own film genre, its own reality television show, its own style of warfare. And after the Virginia Tech massacre which followed the Columbine massacre, which followed the Jonesboro massacreweve become afraid in our own schools. Its only natural to wonder, What if it happens here? What if were unprepared? But as Brandeis quite literally takes up arms against these fears, these what ifs? it is striking that there has been little outcry against enacting a strategy which offers no proven protection.

Better lighting and stakeouts more effective than pistols and bullets

Obsessing over safety is by no means cool, but having to live in fear is quite unpleasant. I am forced to ask, then, why Brandeis Public Safety dedicates itself wholeheartedly to the wrong things, while leaving gaps which affect the student body.

Editorial: Union wrong to hide discussions

For multiple semesters now, the Student Union has been trying to portray an image of transparency, approachability, and openness with the student body. Every year, Union members campaign with promises of reaching out to the campus, doing everything in the open, of finally being held accountable. President Shreeya Sinha, upon her election in March of 2007, said that her main goal was making sure the Union is more transparent. (The Hoot, March 23, 2007, First round of elections done as Shreeya Sinha takes presidency)