Gradute Student Resource Guidebook, 2004
ON CAMPUS:
Introduction to Brandeis University
Graduate Student Association
Graduate Student Services
Arriving On Campus
Dean of Student Life
International Students and Scholars Office
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Heller School for Social Policy and Management
International Business School
Rabb School for Continuing Education
Student Financial Services
Registrar
Services and Facilities on Campus
Athletics
Bookstore
Childcare Information
Copy Cards
Dining Services
Disability Services
Diversity Services
English as a Second Language
Hiatt Career Center
Insurance and Health Services
Intercultural Center
International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life
Libraries
Office of the Arts
Parking Permits and Ticket Information
Post Office
Psychological Counseling Office
Public Safety
Quiet Places on Campus
Religion
Rose Arts Museum
Spingold Theater Arts Center
Transportation
Writing Center
OFF CAMPUS:
Bookstores
Housing
Landmarks
Movies
Restaurants
Shopping
Transportation
ON CAMPUS
INTRODUCTION TO BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
Brandeis University, founded in 1948, was named for United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Louis Dembitz Brandeis, whose career and philosophy blended the American democratic tradition and Jewish prophetic heritage. Brandeis University is a nonsectarian University sponsored by the American Jewish community. The University has remained faithful to the highest standards of academic excellence, objectivity in teaching and research, and nondiscrimination in the choice of students, faculty and staff.
Brandeis now includes 23 undergraduate departments, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Heller Graduate School for Social Policy and Management, the International School of Business, the Lown School of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, the Rosensteil Basic Medical Sciences Research Center, the Gordon Public Policy Center, and the Volen National Center for Complex Systems. The University has about 2,900 undergraduates, 1,400 graduate students, 330 full-time faculty, and 130 part-time faculty.
The purpose of this Resource Guide is to provide you with information about graduate student life on the Brandeis campus, as well as to give general information about some places off-campus that we think it may be helpful for you to know. For information about academic related resources, please refer to the student handbooks provided by your own graduate school: the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, or the International Business School (IBS). The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) also provides a handbook for international students.
GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION and GRADUATE STUDENT SERVICES
Graduate Student Association
Graduate Student Center, Usdan Building, Mail Stop 207
www.brandeis.edu/gsa
The GSA is the representational governing body for graduate students from all three graduate schools. Its purpose is to voice the interests of graduate students to the administration and to provide a space for graduate students from disparate departments and programs to meet and exchange ideas of mutual interest. The GSA has a budget for social, recreational and academic activities, and funding requests for groups and programs can be submitted to the GSA at their regular meetings. The GSA Lounge is open to all graduate students, and is located in the Usdan Student Center. Equipped with TV, music system, fridge and comfortable couches, the Lounge is a cozy place in which to relax, meet with other graduate students or just do some quiet reading.
Office of the Coordinators of Graduate Student Services
Graduate Student Center, Usdan Building Mail Stop 207
(781) 736-3601 and (781) 736-3606
www.brandeis.edu/studentlife/grad
The office of the Coordinators of Graduate Student Services, within the Division of Student Life, is charged with supporting and encouraging life on campus for graduate students outside of the classroom. The co-Coordinators serve as a liaison between graduate students and University Administration and work to coordinate events and programming between the three graduate schools on campus. We advise and assist the GSA, and coordinate services for graduate students provided by the Division of Student Life and other related departments. We are located in the Graduate Student Center, Usdan 127, where there is lounge space and a resource room for graduate students.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
Office of the Dean of Student Life
Shapiro Student Center, Mail Stop 208
(781) 736-3600
www.brandeis.edu/studentlife
This office oversees the Coordinators of Graduate Student Services, who report to one of the Assistant Deans of Student Life.
International Students and Scholars Office
Kutz Hall, Mail Stop 040
(781) 736-3480
www.brandeis.edu/isso
Also known as the ISSO, the International Students and Scholars Office provides assistance with immigration procedures necessary for international students to maintain legal student status. The ISSO also serves as an advising center for employment, cross-cultural adaptation, academics, health insurance, and how each of these relates to visa status. The ISSO sponsors special activities for international students throughout the year and also distributes a bi-monthly email newsletter. More information can be found on the web site, including the International Students and Scholars Handbook (housing, banking, social security numbers, transportation, local events, etc).
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Education
Kutz 217, Mailstop 031
(781) 736-3410
and
Office for Graduate Financial Aid
Kutz 217, Mailstoop 031
(781) 736-3409
www.brandeis.edu/gsas
Heller Graduate School for Social Policy and Management
Office of the Dean
Heller 220, Mailstop 035
(781) 736-3800
www.brandeis.edu/heller
International Business School
Office of the Dean
Sachar 121, Mailstop 032
(781) 736-2250
www.brandeis.edu/ibs
Rabb School of Continuing and Professional Studies
Office of the Director
Mailstop 084
(781) 736-8787
www.brandeis.edu/continuing
Offers evening classes in business, computer programming, bioinformatics, and project management. Tuition is paid by the student on a per course basis.
Student Financial Services
Kutz, Mailstop 110
(781) 736-4444
www.brandeis.edu/offices/sfs/
All questions about billing and accounts should be directed to this office.
Office of the University Registrar
Kutz 124, Mailstop 068
(781) 736-2010
www.brandeis.edu/registrar
Registration, transcripts, change of address, and loan deferments are handled through this office for all departments and schools. The Registrar maintains all current student records and processes grades. Call (781) 736-8630 for computerized information including registration and grades.
Kutz Hall, Lower Level
(781) 736-4230
www.brandeis.edu/departments/campuscard
During the Brandeis New Student Orientation held at the end of August, you should have your photo taken for your Campus ID card. This ID card can be used at campus libraries, dining services locations, marked vending machines, and the University Copy Center, as well as for door access to the athletic center and labs.
COMPUTERS:
Feldberg Computing Center
Feldberg, Mailstop 017
(781) 736-2083
www.brandeis.edu/its
New students, once they have matriculated, can open their own UNet account by going on-line to: www.unet.brandeis.edu. Opening this account will provide you with a Brandeis e-mail address, file service, personal web page publishing, and authorization for various network services. If you already have an email account, you may have Brandeis email forwarded to your existing account. It is extremely important that you do this to avoid missing important information, announcements and deadlines sent out by your school, department, and the GSA. The Center also houses the Help Desk, where you can get almost any computing question answered. Personal computers, termals and Macintoshes are available for student use.COMPUTER CLUSTERS ON CAMPUS:
Graduate Student Center, Usdan (Mac/PC)
Goldfarb Library, 1st floor(PC)
Goldfarb Library, Messanine (PC)
Gerstenzang Library, Lower level (Mac/PC)
Feldberg, 1st floor (Mac/PC)
Intercultural Center (PC)
Shapiro Campus Center (Mac/PC)SUPPORTED SOFTWARE LIST
Information Technology Services (ITS)provides support for the following software:
Operating Systems Macintosh OS 8.x, 9.x, X Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP Word Processing Microsoft Word Spreadsheet Microsoft Excel Presentatio Microsoft Powerpoint Netscape Messenger, Pine, Outlook Express, IMP HTML editor Adobe GoLive Image Handling Adobe Photoshop Database Filemaker Pro Internet Applications Internet Explorer, Netscape Communicator, SSH Secure Shell Anti-Virus Norton Anti-Virus Throughout the year workshops are offered on a variety of subjects that can improve your current computer skills, teach you to use programs that you will find useful in your research, and help you to explore ways in which computers can make you a more effective and efficient scholar and teacher.
If you are thinking of buying a new computer before coming to school this fall, you should know that Brandeis has arranged with Dell and Apple Computer for students to purchase new computers at extremely competitive prices. If you are considering the purchase of a new desktop or laptop computer, you will find that the prices Brandeis has been able to negotiate are lower than most other name-brand manufacturers for models with the same features. Although you are taking advantage of Brandeis discounts, you are buying the computer directly from the manufacturer. Computers bought through Brandeis will be delivered to campus and available for pickup at the beginning of the semester.
PHONES:
Information Technology Services (ITS)
Feldberg, Mailstop 017
(781) 736-4613
www.brandeis.edu/telecomBrandeis provides resident graduate students with a telephone number and a voicemail account. If you are teaching, it is very convenient to have your students contact you through your Brandeis voicemail so you can protect the privacy of your home phone number. Charge line accounts are also available for long distance calls. Long distance calls are paid for by the student on a monthly basis. ITS has information about these offerings. Interested students should stop by Feldberg 22 (lower level) to fill out a Telecommunications Service Agreement. A Brandeis Phone Directory will be distributed to you via your departmental/school academic administrator.
If you have computer or campus phone problems, call the ITS Service Center at (781) 736-7782 or email itservice@brandies.edu.
SERVICES AND FACILITIES ON CAMPUS
ATHLETICS
(781) 736-3630
my.brandeis.edu/athletics
The Gosman Sports and Convocation Center offers basketball, volleyball and squash courts, a running track, two weight rooms, two multipurpose rooms, and a full range of intramural and competitive team sport activities. The Shapiro Center has three intramural/recreation courts, locker rooms, saunas, equipment and training rooms. The Linsey Sports Center houses a 25-yard, six-lane swimming pool and racquetball courts. Brandeis also has an outdoor running track, tennis courts, and a baseball and softball field.
BOOKSTORE
Shapiro Student Campus Center
(781) 736-427
The Barnes and Noble Company operates the school's bookstore. In addition to selling books for classes, they also stock magazines, popular books, art supplies, toiletries, snacks and Brandeis para–phernalia. The bookstore accepts most major credit cards and personal checks (with your Brandeis ID).
The hours are:
Mon. & Thurs. 8:30 am - 7:00 pm
Tues. & Wed. 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Friday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
During the beginning of the semester, the bookstore has special hours posted on the doors of the store.
Lemberg Children's Center, Inc.
Brandeis University
(781) 736-2000
The Lemberg Children's Center, an excellent daycare facility, is located in the Lemberg building on the Brandeis campus. If you are interested, please call Dr. Howard Baker, Executive Director (x62200) to make an appointment. The Center takes children from 2 to 7 years of age (36 children total) and there is often a waiting list.Child Care Resource Center
(617) 547-9861
This Resource Center is not part of Brandeis University services, but will give you information on daycare centers and family care providers. There is a nominal fee for this service. Unfortunately, all childcare facilities in the United States are expensive. There are several daycare centers in the Waltham area. The Boston Parent's Paper (www.family.go.com/utilities/global/tool/archives (617) 522-1515) is a good resource for information relating to childcare.
Copying cards are purchased from vending machines located in the main libraries. It is recommended that one card be purchased and refilled as needed. It is important that all students be aware of and follow copyright laws in place when reproducing any printed material.
Where to Get Food:
Usdan Building:
Usdan Dining Room - Entrees, salads, sandwiches, Mexican, vegetarian, and more. M/P/$
The Boulevard - Good Food Fast! Pizza, Deli, Pasta, delivery and more! M/P/$
Convenience Store - Very convenient P/$
Java City - coffee, bagels and more. P/$Sherman Hall:
Sherman Dining Room - All-you-can-eat meals, both kosher and non-kosher. M/P/$
The Stein - Pub serving light meals, appetizers and more at lunch and dinner. P/$Shapiro Campus Center:
Java City - coffee, bagels and more. P/$International Business School:
Café - "Authentic Italian Fare." $
- Meal contracts (M) are for a specific number of meals per week.
- Points (P) that are purchased through Dining Services are used like cash. Your account balance is stored on the magnetic strip on your ID Card and adjusted for each purchase. If you purchase $100 or more, you will receive a 5% credit. Also, as a student, you are exempt from the 5% Massachusetts State meal tax.
DISABILITY SERVICES
Golding Health Center, Mailstop 034
(781) 736-3730
www.brandeis.edu/disability
Brandeis University is committed to providing an environment that is equitable and accessible to all qualified students with documented physical, learning, or psychological disabilities. Once accepted, a student must document his/her disability at Brandeis to receive reasonable accommodations. To do this, a student must have documentation of a physical disability submitted to the Golding Health Center. Documentation of a learning disability, ADD, ADHD, or psychological disability must be submitted to the Psychological Counseling Center. Documentation must be current and make a specific diagnosis. The documentation must provide evidence to establish a rationale to support the need for reasonable accommodation/s.
DIVERSITY SERVICES
Brandeis has an intense and vibrant commitment to celebrating the many forms of diversity that are present on campus. Administrators, students, faculty, and staff have a strong commitment to highlight the many diversity resources and services at Brandeis. At Brandeis, you will find wonderful opportunities, resources, and services that lend themselves to making our campus a diversity-friendly place. Our hope is that members of the Brandeis community, as well as those individuals who are contemplating becoming a part of our campus community, will take advantage of the opportunities that we offer to educate ourselves about each other and the world. The Coordinator of Diversity Services works with representatives from departments and offices throughout the campus to make certain that all of our resources and services are accessible by members of our campus. A web-page highlighting the many diversity services at Brandeis is currently under construction.
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE
Office of the Director
Rabb, Mailstop 032
(781) 736-3991
The English as a Second Language (ESL) Program offers weekly tutorials and classes in written and oral skills to graduate students whose native language is not English. Students who join this program work closely with graduate student tutors or ESL instructors to improve their abilities to write, read, speak, or listen in English. The ESL program devotes its resources to helping students meet the high standards for English proficiency essential to their academic success.
The program centers around the positive relationships that tutors and their students develop with each other. The grad student and tutor determine the scope and content of tutorials. A completely voluntary program, we do not require anyone to take part if they do not wish to do so, although some departments may require participation. At the same time, we strongly encourage incoming graduate students to take advantage of the tremendous support offered by the tutor-student relationship. The ESL program offers this service free of charge.
In addition to the academic value of these tutorials, students in the program find many other benefits. Tutors are not only trained to help improve your English reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, but also attuned to graduate student concerns and are very willing to be a source of encouragement and support in other areas of your Brandeis experience. All of the tutors are graduate students in various fields at Brandeis, and they have a wealth of different experiences. Among our group are native speakers of languages other than English, including Bulgarian, Serbo-Croatian, Estonian, and Czech. Please send any inquiries to the director of ESL Programs, Nancy Nies, at nies@brandeis.edu.
HIATT CAREER CENTER
Office of the Director
Usdan Student Building, Mailstop 204
(781) 736-3610
www.brandeis.edu/hiatt
The Hiatt Career Center has a number of services available for graduate students. Feel free to set up an appointment or to stop by during drop-in hours. The Center's services include resume review, alumni contacts, and career interest assessment. Joint workshops with Graduate Student Services and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences are scheduled throughout the year.
INSURANCE AND HEALTH SERVICES
Brandeis Health Center
Stoneman, Mailstop 034
(781) 736-3677
Basic information about graduate student health insurance options is available online: www.brandeis.edu/health/grad
Insurance Questions: Contact the Health Insurance Coordinator at (781) 736-3681
Health Records Questions: Contact the Health Records Coordinator at (781) 736-3677 or visit the Health Center.
INTERCULTURAL CENTER
Office of the Director
Swig 104, Mailstop 039
(781) 736-8580
The Intercultural Center is a great resource for graduate students. It houses an extensive resource room, a conference room and a kitchen. The latter two can be reserved through the Center's main office. A variety of clubs open to graduate students base out of the ICC. To find out more, drop by the Center or give them a call.
INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR ETHICS, JUSTICE AND PUBLIC LIFE
Usdan Student Center
(781) 736-5001
The Center's mission is to develop effective responses to conflict and injustice by offering innovative approaches to coexistence, strengthening the work of international courts, and encouraging ethical practice in civic and professional life. The Center includes the Slifka Program in Intercommunal Coexistence, whose purpose is to generate and disseminate knowledge useful to practitioners of coexistence and related fields, and to engage students and other members of the larger Brandeis community in the theory and practice of coexistence.
The Center offers a number of opportunities for graduate students.
- The Slifka Program includes a new Master's Program in Coexistence and Conflict; to see the course offerings, please go to http://www.brandeis.edu/programs/Slifka/curriculum.html
- Through the Ethics Center Event Advisory Committee, the Center cosponsors campus events related to our mission. Typical cosponsorship amounts are in the range of $250, although we can also help with publicity if no financial assistance is needed. If you're interested in Ethics Center cosponsorship of an event you have in mind, see http://www.brandeis.edu/ethics/news_and_events/
- We often are looking for graduate student voices on various Ethics Center committees. If you are interested in serving, please contact us.
- The Ethics Center and the Slifka Program have a number of publications related to the fields of ethics in public life, international justice, coexistence, and conflict resolution; for more information, please see our web site.
- The Center and the Slifka Program also occasionally hire graduate research assistants; check your departmental job listing board for possible openings.
LIBRARIES
Goldfarb and Farber Libraries
(781) 736-4670
Gerstenzang Science Library
(781) 736-4728
The Brandeis University Libraries offer a combined collection of over 1 million print volumes, 5000 serials in paper format, 13,000 serials available in electronic format, 20,000 music scores, 25,000 sound recordings, over 200 electronic databases and access to numerous other electronic resources, and nearly 1 million government documents. Your Brandeis ID card will serve as your library card. Brandeis students also have access to the research resources of 16 other libraries in New England through the auspices of the Boston Library Consortium. Graduate students can obtain a BLC card, which provides borrowing privileges at these libraries, by asking at the Circulation Desk at the Main or Science Library. Librarians can provide you with personalized, in-depth research assistance, or answer other questions you may have. Just click on the Ask A Librarian icon on library web pages to contact a librarian by phone, email, or live chat. http://library.brandeis.edu/reference/ask.html
Goldfarb Library holds the social sciences, humanities, creative arts and Judaica collections, including relevant journals, reference books, and government documents. There are lots of quiet areas in the building where you can study undisturbed. You can also reserve a student carrel on a first-come-first-served basis; ask about this at the circulation desk.
Gerstenzang Library, located in the Science Quad, houses books, reference works, and journals for all the sciences. Though smaller than Goldfarb, it is a great place for quiet work.
For current hours for both libraries, see library.brandeis.edu/about/hours.html
OFFICE OF THE ARTS
Mailstop 051
(781) 736-2027
www.brandeis.edu/arts
At Brandeis, we put the art in liberal arts. Each year more than 200 dynamic and diverse arts events occur on our campus. During the past 50 years, Brandeis has been visited by many of the greatest artists of their time, including faculty member Leonard Bernstein, painter Marc Chagall, poet Langston Hughes, choreographer Martha Graham, playwright Edward Albee, composer Philip Glass, actress Barbra Streisand, opera singer Beverly Sills, jazz vocalist Bobby McFerrin, and film director Steven Spielberg. Whatever your interest in the arts - as creative self-expression or as a source of inspiration and entertainment - the arts at Brandeis will allow you to broaden your personal horizons, your graduate education, and experience meaningful social interaction. Most of Brandeis arts events are free, or discounts for students mean you attend professional arts events for far less than you would pay in downtown Boston! Here's how to become actively involved in the community:
Get out on the edge.
The innovative Rose Art Museum brings daring and provocative art from around the globe to campus. Home to one of New England's largest collections of modern and contemporary art, the Rose offers free gallery talks and social events ideal for graduate students.Get on with the show.
The Spingold Theater Center produces an exciting five-play season featuring graduate students and professional actors. This season's blockbuster productions will be the rock musical Tommy and Shakespeare's epic masterpiece King Lear.Get the score.
The internationally acclaimed Lydian String Quartet gives free noon concerts in the library, in addition to concerts in Slosberg Recital Hall. This season introduces a new professional World Music Series. Six student music ensembles also perform in Slosberg including the Brandeis/Wellesley Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble. Our graduate composers give free concerts of their latest works each semester.Get the fine points.
Brandeis fine art students present exhibitions of painting, sculpture, and printmaking four times each year in the Dreitzer and Shapiro Galleries. Guest scholars and our faculty of renowned art historians regularly offer intriguing talks on cultural movements in art.Get the picture.
At the Wasserman Cinematheque, the Film Studies program presents free screenings of notable cinematic works while the National Center for Jewish Film presents international independent films. Each spring, the sensational SunDeis Film Festival rolls out the red carpet for student filmmakers from across New England.Get on the same page.
The Creative Writing School of Night Series offers monthly poetry and fiction readings by acclaimed authors. The English Department offers lectures on great works of literature and authors ranging from Charles Dickens to Philip Roth.Get real.
In the great Brandeis tradition of social justice, the International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life sponsors arts programs pursuing human rights and peaceful coexistence, while Music Unites Us teaches racial and cultural respect to area public schools students. The Women's Studies Research Center explores the creative and sociological achievements of women artists.Get out of town.
The arts in Greater Boston are world famous. Brandeis students get free admission to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and are just minutes from Broadway in Boston, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, the Boston Lyric Opera, and the Boston Ballet - all with discount student ticket policies.Get festive.
Each spring, the Brandeis Festival of the Arts, founded by Leonard Bernstein, showcases the best and brightest Brandeis talents in the performing and visual arts. This year's Festival is scheduled for April 13-17, 2005.Get with the program.
To find out more about any of these arts programs, visit the Arts at Brandeis website at wbsite. To receive monthly email announcements about arts events and discount tickets, join the Office of the Arts announcement list on that site.
PARKING PERMITS AND PARKING TICKET RESOLUTION
Parking Permit Office Manager
Stoneman, Mailstop 066
(781) 736-4250
An 'Application for Motor Vehicle Permit' must be filled out and presented to the Office of Public Safety along with your vehicle registration and Campus ID card. Graduate students have a choice of two lots: one located behind the Spingold Theatre or one located next to the Gosman gymnasium. Parking stickers are issued during the first week of classes at the Public Safety Offices at Stoneham Building. There is a small annual fee for parking that can be charged directly to your student account.
POST OFFICE
Usdan, Mailstop 047
(781) 736-4235
The campus post office is located in the Usdan Student Center on the bottom floor. Hours of operation are normally Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. All U.S. postal services are provided, including the sale of stamps and money orders, registry of mail, handling of parcel post packages, and express mail delivery.
PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING CENTER
Mailman House 214, Mailstop 061
(781) 736-3730
Students who have paid the Health Services fee may receive professional assistance for personal or emotional problems. Those who wish such help may refer themselves directly to the Center. Students who have not paid the Health Services fee may receive information about off-campus resources or referrals for assistance.
University Police are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Emergency calls should be made to (781) 736-3333. All other calls to Public Safety should go to (781) 736-5000. University Police monitor alarms that are located throughout campus; on walkways and in parking lots. These alarms are located on poles topped with blue lights. Look for them as you familiarize yourself with the campus. The alarms are for emergency use and feature two-way communication with the police dispatcher. They are also activated whenever someone screams near one. A map showing the locations of all the alarms is available from the University Police Office, located in Stoneman.
Escort Services provides foot escorts and van escorts to students, between the hours of 5 pm and 1:30 am. Any student can call for a foot escort to accompany him/her about campus. Van escorts are available on campus during the same hours. The Campus Van drives around the perimeter road and to other sections of campus
The Waltham Van runs during the same hours as the van escorts from campus to downtown, with as many intermediate stops as necessary. Escort Services can be reached at (781) 736-4999 during the hours between 5 pm and 1:30 am. If you require an escort at another time, call Public Safety at (781) 736-5000.
Medical Emergencies on campus are handled by the Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps (BEMCo) in conjunction with University Police, the Health Center and local ambulances. BEMCo is staffed by student volunteers who are certified Emergency Medical Technicians. In the event of a medical emergency, call the University Police at (781) 736-3333.
Fire Safety is an important component of safety on campus. As always, if there is an emergency, call (781) 736-3333. There are also manual fire alarms and fire extinguishers in all buildings. While getting to know the areas on campus that you frequent, be sure to note the location of alarms, extinguishers and exits.
Rape Crisis Hotline is open seven days a week from 8 pm to 3 am. The hotline number is (781) 736-4774; the information number is (781) 736-4773. All hotline counselors are students trained in crisis intervention, and are aware of the legal rights of rape survivors. They know the standard legal and medical proce–dures to follow the report of a rape, advising the survivor of her/his rights, options, and can explain the procedures he/she will be going through. The counselors are also trained in the crises that may arise months or years after a rape has occurred.
Students should always follow common sense safety procedures. Lock your doors, do not brace safety doors open and avoid walking alone at night.
When it is time to study or read, there are several places you can go:
Graduate Student Center, Usdan Student BuildingGoldfarb Library
Gerstenzany Library
Intercultural Center
Feldberg Computer Center
RELIGION
The University's three chapels, Berlin Chapel (Jewish), Bethlehem Chapel (Catholic) and Harlan Chapel (Christian Protestant) serve the Brandeis community under the operation of the Hillel Foundation, the Bethlehem Chapel Community and the Harlan Chapel Christian Community. Traditional and innova–tive services are held regularly. The chapels are also available for other religious ceremonies. There are many religious clubs and organizations on campus for those seeking information and fellowship. Students can contact the appropriate religious mentor for more information: Jewish Chaplain Allan Lehmann, Berlin Chapel, (781) 736-3570; Catholic Chaplain David Michael, Bethlehem Chapel, (781) 736-3574; Protestant Chaplain Alice Brown-Collins, Harlan Chapel, (781) 736-3573; Muslim Advisor Dr. Qamar-Ul Huda, (781) 736-3802.
ROSE ART MUSEUM
(781) 736-3434
www.brandeis.edu/rose
The Brandeis Rose Art Museum, founded in 1961, is an educational and cultural institution that seeks to lead the cultural community of Greater Boston in the field of modern and contemporary art. Throughout the academic year, the Rose organizes a series of temporary exhibitions and interpretive programs that present a range of modern art, emerging artists, Boston area artists, and displays of the Brandeis University art collections. The Brandeis collection focuses on post-WWII American art including de Kooning, Johns, Rauschenberg, Warhol, Mangold, and Taaffe. You can view portions of the Rose Art Museum's collection on their website.
SPINGOLD THEATER ARTS CENTER
(781) 736-3400
The Spingold Theater Arts Center at Brandeis is a modern facility that contains three theatres as well as classrooms, shops, and offices. The Theatre Program presents six major productions, as well as a large number of studio productions each year. Productions are directed by distinguished visiting professionals, as well as by members of the faculty.
Weekend Bus to Cambridge and Boston: This bus runs Thursday through Sunday. The pick-up and drop-off location is in front of the Usdan Student Building.
Campus Van and Morning Shuttle: Runs regularly throughout campus to and from vaious locations in Waltham.
For schedule information go to: www.brandeis.edu/departments/public_safety
Mezzanine, Goldfarb Library Room 235
www.brandeis.edu/departments/english/writingcenter
The Writing Center offers free tutorial services on writing assignments across the disciplines. We can help you with a wide variety of writing assignments:
- seminar and research papers;
- dissertation chapters;
- scholarly articles;
- fellowship applications and cover letters.
OFF CAMPUS
An alternative to the campus bookstore is to seek out used books in the many stores around Boston. Harvard Square, in particular, boasts several stores that have a wide selection of used academic books. If you want to try this, it is imperative that you start early. By the second week of classes, the used bookstores will have very little left. If purchasing a used textbook, be very certain that you are purchasing the correct edition as required for your current class. Some bookstores of note:
- New England Mobile Book Fair, Highland Avenue, Newton
- McIntyre & Moore, Davis Square, Somerville
- Harvard Book Store (especially the basement) Harvard Square, Cambridge
For housing information, go to the gsa website (www.brandeis.edu/gsa/) and follow the link to housing info.
You will find information on:
- Graduate on-campus housing
- Off-campus housing resources (online classifieds, tenants rights, etc.)
- Transportation links
- Tips for International Students
Boston, Cambridge, Concord, Quincy, to name but a few of the surrounding areas, are easily reached by commuter rail, bus, subway, and/or car and are the homes of many interesting museums, galleries, concerts, and points of local beauty and interest. Please be sure to take advantage of as much culture and history as you can while at Brandeis. Specific information about locations in the greater Boston area is available on line at : www.boston.com
Waltham hosts the Embassy Theater on Main Street. There are major cinema theaters located near the Chestnut Hill, Burlington, and Natick Malls as well as in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville.
WALKING DISTANCE:
Waltham offers a great variety of restaruants. Most are located on Main street near the Commons or along Moody street. Offerings include Indian, Thai, Cambodian, South and Central American (Mexican included), Italian, Spanish, Organic Macrobiotic, as well as fast food fare.
BOSTON AND CAMBRIDGE:
There are too many to mention, but needless to say the range is great. Boston is best reached by the commuter rail, which takes you right to North Station with connections to all subway train lines. To reach Cambridge or Somerville, take the bus from Waltham Center, or the commuter rail to Porter Square (Somerville), then connect with the subway train to get to Harvard Square (Cambridge).
Most graduate students like to do as much shopping as possible near their homes. In Waltham, Main and Moody Streets offer almost everything one could want.
Victory Grocery Market, Walgreen's Drug and Pharmacy and CVS Drug and Pharmacy stores are all located on Main Street within walking distance or by bus from Brandeis. The 70 and 70A buses both travel into Central Square in Cambridge, and along the way pass by a couple of shopping malls that host a number of department and convenience stores.
For the more adventurous, there are many good places to shop in Boston and Cambridge. Look for the Cambridge Galleria Mall, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Newbury Street, and Copley Place. Each is a unique shopping experience and accessible by public transportation.
If you have a car, you can make your way to one of the suburban malls. The closest two are the Chestnut Hill Mall on Route 9 East in Newton and the Burlington Mall on Route 128/95 North in Burlington. Both are about a 20-minute drive from Brandeis. The Natick Mall is located on Route 9 West in Natick. You can take either the Massachusetts Turnpike (Toll Road) to the Natick exit or follow Route 30 West to Natick.
Commuter Rail: The commuter rail train is a fast and convenient way to get to Boston and Cambridge (as well as some west-lying towns). Schedules vary for the commuter rail on weekends and holidays, so be sure to have a current schedule with you. The train stops at the Brandeis-Roberts station at the south edge of campus, along South Street across from the Epstein Service Center. Allow for a 10 minute walk from the center of main campus. The train goes east to Waltham, Belmont, Cambridge and North Station in Boston.
In Cambridge, the train stops at the Porter Square station, where connections can be made to the Red Line of Boston's 'T' subway system.
In Boston, the train stops at North Station, where you can get on both the Green and Orange Lines of the 'T.' These have connections to all other lines of the subway system.
Buses: Buses provide service to virtually all points in the metropolitan Boston area. The number 553/554 bus runs by Brandeis, goes through the center of Waltham and into Newton. It is a great alternative to driving through Waltham. From Main Street, at the end of South Street near the Walgreens, or at Cederwood, located at the back end of campus, one can catch the numbers 70 and 70A buses that go to Central Square in Cambridge by way of Watertown. This bus passes the Watertown Mall and the Arsenal Mall.
For more information on public transportation options go to: www.mbta.com