Brandeis Parents

This past weekend, the Brandeis community gathered to celebrate the Bernstein Festival of the Arts. Open to the public, the event highlights achievements in all disciplines of art.  Former Parents Program intern Julie Judson ’11 choreographed this amazing number.  Check out the links below to view a performance by the Allegro Dance Company!

http://vimeo.com/41373413
http://vimeo.com/41373414

Ken Langone, a co-founder of Home Depot who is also well known for his philanthropy, delivered the second annual Saul G. Cohen Memorial Lecture titled “Not Business as Usual: When Doing Well Means Doing Good” yesterday in the Rapaporte Treasure Hall.

University President Fredrick Lawrence began the series of introductions preceding the lecture.

Senior Advisor to the Provost for Research Irving Epstein (CHEM) was next to speak and summarized Cohen’s life and accomplishments. Cohen was a graduate of Harvard University, worked for Polaroid helping to develop instant photography and later became a Brandeis professor and the first chairman of Brandeis’ chemistry department. Subsequently, Elisabeth Cohen, Cohen’s daughter, introduced Ken Langone.

Langone began his lecture by commending Brandeis for exploring a multitude of viewpoints on different issues. More broadly, he praised the United States, saying “I think there’s no nation on Earth that reflects more on what philanthropy is than the good old United States of America.” Langone went on to say that he would not have been able to achieve what he has today if his grandfather had not moved to America.

Langone asserted that donations of any kind are only charity if the giver “goes without for someone else.” To provide a concrete example, he said that his philanthropy, or “doing good,” is not in writing checks, but rather in donating time because money can be replaced while time cannot.

He continued to say that individuals who provide true charity deserve to be appreciated. Through his scholarship program at Bucknell University, he recognizes such charitable students, specifically those who have overcome great difficulties or that show great potential for giving back to society.
Langone said that those who make it big are generally good and should not be vilified, because class warfare can be extremely destructive to American society. He further stated that doing good increases one’s sense of self-worth and sense that “the world was better because they were here.” He later said this self-confidence is helpful in achieving one’s goals.

He went on to comment that Americans have shown the ability to do anything, and said that “[the United States is] the greatest nation on Earth, and there will never be an America again like this America. And my advice to anybody who doesn’t like it, get the hell out of here.”

He then stated that success creates self-respect, but that American society does a lot to take away from its citizens’ feelings of self-worth. He elaborated on this point stating, “I don’t know how anybody can have a sense of worth or self-respect if they’re living on a check from the government that they didn’t earn, that they didn’t pay into.” He added that he does not mean that Americans should “go to bed hungry,” but that this kind of system takes away the drive that caused so many people’s ancestors to build themselves up from nothing.
Langone added that he feels much of what he has accomplished was only possible due to his self-confidence, which he gathered from philanthropy. Accordingly, he stated that it is impossible not to gain for oneself from doing good.

Langone’s speech was followed by a question-and-answer session. Langone previously articulated his disdain for the current healthcare bill, later elaborating that it is not incremental enough and, thus, will increase costs. In the question-and-answer session, he added that one of his goals for the future is to provide free tuition for all New York University medical students, in order to attract higher quality students to the medical field by helping reduce the debt that medical students face. After Langone answered questions, Lawrence presented him with the Saul G. Cohen Memorial Lecture Award.
Sarah Zoloth ’14 said that she thought Langone’s ideas on philanthropy were interesting and that “it is nice to see a that … a ‘fat cat,’ as [Langone] called himself, does [philanthropic work] because sometimes you don’t think of them as doing so.”

Daniel Graulich ’12 agreed, saying “I thought [Langone] had a good perspective on charity, [especially] the idea of giving your time and not just writing off a check. … He’s basically the American dream, it’s very inspiring.”

Written by Suzanne Schatz, Staff Writer for The Justice

Commencement 2012 is right around the corner. While it will be sad to see our seniors go, we are excited to watch them start this new chapter in their lives. With Deborah Bial ’87 announced as this year’s commencement speaker, the class of 2012 will be sent off with the well wishes and wise words of a visionary leader. For parents of graduating seniors, congratulations! We are looking forward to seeing you at Commencement 2012.

To read more about Deborah Bial and the other honorary degree recipients, please click here. 

Hi Parents,

My name is Jackie Zais’13 and I am the Director of the Social Committee for Student Events and responsible for this years Bronstein Week!

Bronstein is our annual themed Spring Spirit week at Brandeis. This week began in 1967 when beloved Professor Leo Bronstein planned to retire and students wanted to commemorate the deep impact he had on the community. This year’s program is American Road Trip: Next Exit Bronstein and we will have events all through out the week based off of different parts of the country.  Students can look forward to comedians, sports, sit down dinners, a dance, and a variety of outdoor events. Join us on our American Road trip from Wednesday March 28th to Sunday April 1st. Five days, nine jam-packed events!

Starting Wednesday, students can fuel up with a Wake and Shake; enjoy coffee, donuts and GIVEAWAYS!

Then we will travel to New York City for a comedy night dinner and a show! Enjoy an Italian dinner from Sabations while Brandeis’ own Bad Grammar opens for one of Boston’s top comedians Paul Nardizzi. Nardizzi has been on Conan O’Brien and Comedy Central and is bringing his talents right here to Brandeis!

Pull in for the night at Joe Sent Me for a Brandeis Night and get ready for a long drive tomorrow.

On Thursday, the road trip heads down to Florida! Join us for a barbeque as you cheer on the Brandeis Judges baseball team while they play Western New England University. Make sure to get a few rounds of golf in while you’re in Florida too! Come and stop by Usdan for some mini-golf that will be sure to test your skills.

Summer starts early on Friday at California’s famous Santa Monica Pier. Relax and enjoy performers, vendors, airbrush tattoos, a bounce house and free food! While in Hollywood, spend the night like the stars and walk the red carpet and see the latest installment of the Mission Impossible series, Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol. Enjoy candy and raffle prizes while watching the action!

Saturday: the road trip heads to the deep south to Louisiana for the Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball. Dance to the beats of Brandeis with DJ Marcos and don’t forget to bring a mask!

Take in one last stop is Sunday at the Texas for the State Fair. Jump on a bungee trampoline and a moon bounce, check out the petting zoo, and compete for awesome prizes! As always, there will be great food and giveaways!

Make sure to tell your student to look out for more information regarding specific details about events!

Happy Bronstein Week,
Jackie Zais ’13

Congratulations to Professor Michael Rosbash and Professor Jeffrey Hall for winning the Canada Gairdner Award. The Brandeis Community is honored to have such outstanding professors on campus. Fun fact: many who win the Canada Gairdner Award subsequently go on to win the Nobel Prize!

To read the full article, visit: http://www.brandeis.edu/now/2012/march/rosbashaward.html

While I was abroad, a friend of mine asked me about the quintessential Brandeis experience. I don’t think he expected me to say, or for that matter knew how to respond when I immediately said Purim.
Wednesday marks the Jewish holiday of Purim, and at approximately 9pm, as is the case every year, Brandeis students, regardless of their religion, will descend onto the Chabad house to celebrate the holiday. It’s events like these that remind me why Brandeis is great. No matter what the occasion is, the Brandeis community is open and supportive enough so that every student can join in on festivities, regardless of whether the celebrations directly applies to them specifically.
So while I stress trying to figure out what my last minute costume is going to be, and believe me, I really am stressing about it, I remind myself that it’s all worth it. Whatever I go as, (and I will go as something great) I’m simply looking forward to spending a fun evening with all my Brandeis friends.

Ever wonder about what President Lawrence’s opinion is? In his blog, Brandeis First, President Lawrence reflects about all different aspects of campus life, and keeps you up to date about the day to day happenings of the Office of the President. From his recent trip to India to fall and winter Orientation, Brandeis First provides a behind the scenes look of the Brandeis community as viewed by him. Check back soon for new posts and updates!

To view Brandeis First visit: http://blogs.brandeis.edu/president/

Students from Brandeis and other regional universities were provided the opportunity to network with corporate leaders and international agencies at the second annual Communications Forum, sponsored by Hiatt Career Center. Joey Reiman, CEO and founder of BrightHouse, commenced the evening with his keynote address, emphasizing purpose as the crucial attribute of a successful business.

According to Caroline O’Shea, assistant director of employer relations at Hiatt, the event is designed to “give students the chance to network, learn about diverse career paths and develop connections with recruiters.” As in the previous year, the forum is not dominated by students pursuing a specific field, but rather by a blend of majors ranging from biology to fine arts to business. Representatives from marketing, PR and communications divisions of major corporations were present, including those from Liberty Mutual, Puma, Staples and Tufts Medical Center, to name a few. Commenting on the diverse industries present at the forum, O’Shea acknowledged Club Passim, a non-profit arts organization based in Harvard Square.

Commencing the evening was keynote speaker Reiman, a Brandeis graduate of the class of ’75, who has delivered speeches to more than a million individuals across the globe. Professor Grace Zimmerman of the International Business School spoke of Reiman’s numerous accolades, referring to his title as “one of the top 100 people named by Fast Company who will change the way the world thinks.”

As coiner of the term “ideation,” Reiman defines the story of purpose as “a combination of intention and contribution, where intention without contribution is impediment and contribution without intention is blind.” Recalling a devastating car accident that resulted in permanent damage to his right arm, he acknowledges the invaluable notions shared with him by a South African minister who visited the hospital. It was from this individual that he realized “ideas can cause action which can change one’s character and, subsequently, one’s destiny.” At the mere age of 29, Reiman headed toward a future of fame and fortune, a path that lead him to become founder of the global consultancy company BrightHouse and professor at the Goizeta School of Business at Emory University. BrightHouse has garnered renowned clients such as McDonalds, Coca-Cola, and Proctor and Gamble, among others.

Asserting “the most amazing aspect of business is that it is part of every human endeavor,” Reiman further states “as humans, we are meaning seeking creatures” and thus “business must be created for purpose, not solely focused on profit.” Tracing the history of industrialization, he addresses the “four dark horses running rampage across the globe,” symbolizing prominent global issues, with “the fourth dark horse as the meanest, standing for the crisis in meaning.” Within this new era, Reiman depicts business as possessing “a saving role in an Olympian sense, of society itself.”

Furthering his message of purposeful business motivations, Reiman traced the roots of successful companies, such as Paper Mate, Pepperidge Farm and Apple, the last of which he claimed distinguished itself from competitors in the technology industry through the message of “creativity as intelligence having fun.” Reiman said, “There is nothing more important in business, nothing more important in the world, than going to work and knowing going to work will make the world so much better.”

Following the conclusion of the keynote speech, students were encouraged to network in a speed dating fashion, speaking with company representatives for 15 minute intervals. Due to the style of networking forums, O’Shea recommends that students research employers beforehand in order to develop intelligent, insightful questions. Although the forum might appear most pertinent to juniors and seniors seeking internships or employment after graduation, she encourages first-years and sophomores to “attend as early as possible in order to engage in career exploration.”

When questioned as to the success of similar events in the past, O’Shea revealed that Hiatt often receives next day follow-ups regarding Brandeis students, some of which lead to valuable internships and employment opportunities. For instance, Karen Hu ’12 was recently hired as a communications intern for the Adidas Group.

Regarding last week’s fashion show, held in collaboration with Lord & Taylor, O’Shea remarked it is always better to “err on the side of being professional” and was impressed with the clarifications of minute distinctions between appropriate business casual and professional wear. The Hiatt Career Center will also be engaging in ’Deis Impact, co-sponsoring Social Justice in American Health Care: Opportunities to Serve the Underserved as well as a film screening and panel discussion of “Waiting for Superman.”

Submitted by Victoria Aronson ’15.

Victoria writes for The Hoot, a student-run newspaper, and can be contacted at varonson@brandeis.edu

This past weekend, I attended my first college admissions tour since coming to college myself. Being the nice sister I am, I took a bus down from Boston to New York to meet my sister for her first college tour. While walking around the campus, one of the other prospective applicants asked the tour guide about the defining features of that specific university. The tour guide provided a generic answer, but pointed out that since the school is so big, there isn’t one specific event or experience that encompasses every student.
I immediately started thinking about Brandeis. Were there any specific experiences that were relevant to every Brandeis student? Granted we were quite a bit smaller than the school I was visiting, but it still seemed almost impossible.
It wasn’t until this morning that I was lugging up Rabb Steps late for class that it dawned on me; Brandeis students might take a variety of different classes, in a million different subjects, at all different hours of the day, but we all share a few experiences that define us as Brandeis students. Whether it is the first few awkward moments spent with our freshman orientation groups, the mad rush for a spot on the bran van, or even the daily trek up Rabb Steps, Brandeis students are united in a multitude of unexpected ways. I may not know every student on campus, but I am comforted by the fact that if I happened to bump a fellow Brandeis student on the street, we could bond over a few shared experience.
Brandeis is a true community, and its one that I am immensely proud to be a part of.

I love Brandeis. Even with all its quirky traits and the sometimes questionable amount of homework it gives, Brandeis has been good to me. So it was odd then, that despite my love of all things Brandeis, that when faced with the decision to go abroad my junior year, it was a no brainer. Why yes, I would love spend my fall semester in Paris.

Let me give you a bit of a back-story. I am a first generation American. Both my parents are South African, and my entire family still lives there. So in a sense, from a very young age, I have been instilled with the value of exploring the world, seeing new places, and meeting all different types of people.

It was natural then that I chose Brandeis, as I wanted to get out of Texas and see what else was out there. Yet, in a way, when I first came to Brandeis, it was like I was already enrolled in a study abroad program. Gone was the Southern sunshine and hospitality, and in its place I found snow and the hustle and bustle of East Coast life. I was nervous; after all, I had attended the same school in Dallas since the 2nd grade, and had the same friends all my life. Yet I soon found my niche, and have never looked back.

So when the time came to decide whether I wanted to study abroad, I was curious as to why I was so eager to get out of Brandeis. After much thought and consideration, I realized that it wasn’t because I was unhappy or because I was bored, but instead it was because of the values that Brandeis promotes. Above and beyond the first rate education we receive as Brandeis students, Brandeis is a global community, that supports, promotes, and encourages students to learn everything there is to know about our fellow students’ culture. Through different cultural events around campus, clubs, food, and more, Brandeis builds global connections that drive our knowledge of the world around us. From the moment we step foot on campus, we become immersed in a global community, filled with people from countries all around the world. Along with their suitcases and backpacks, new students bring stories, lessons, and new ideas I might never have learned without them. It is Brandeis’ value and emphasis on a global community that made my decision to go abroad such a simple one to make. It was the culture here at Brandeis that encouraged me to go and explore a new place.

So thanks Brandeis. Thanks for introducing me to new people, and new cultures. Thanks for giving me the desire to go abroad, and thanks for one of the best experiences an undergrad could ask for.

For more information about study abroad, please visit http://www.brandeis.edu/acserv/abroad/