The Department of Facilities Services will perform its annual electrical shutdown on Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7. Power will be off from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. Please note that the exact restoration time will depend on how quickly the work is completed — in past years, power has been restored as early as 4 p.m.

This work allows the Department of Facilities to exercise and test equipment vital to the electrical infrastructure supporting Brandeis University.

Only the following buildings will be affected:

• Sat, June 6: Administration Building; Gryzmish Center, Irving Presidential Enclave, and Bernstein Marcus, ASAC, Goldfarb Library, Mandel Center, Olin-Sang, Golding Judaica Center, Lown, Shiffman , Rabb, and Heller-Schneider
• Sun, June 7: Faculty Club (including Lodge), Shapiro Residence Hall A/B, Sherman Dining, Hassenfeld Conference Center, Shapiro Campus Center, and Volen Center

Please contact Facilities Services at 781-736-8500 for more information.

Brandeis is rich with religious diversity. Upcoming holidays celebrated by the Brandeis community include:

• Rama Navami (March 26) celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Lord Rama, who became king of Ayodhya, was known for his exemplary qualities. He was popular, brave, kind, just, intelligent, patient, loving, obedient, and dutiful. Rama Navami celebrations include reading the great epic Ramayana and staging plays of the Ram Lila, or the pastimes of the life of Lord Rama.
• Palm Sunday (March 29) The Christian observance of Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday recalls the story in Christian Scripture of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, greeted by people waving palm branches. It is a reminder for Christians to welcome Jesus into their hearts and to be willing to follow him.
• Mahavir Jayanti (March 31) a significant festival in Jainism, honors the birth of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara and esteemed spiritual leader. This occasion serves as a time for reflection on Lord Mahavir's profound teachings of compassion, non-violence, and self-discipline, inspiring followers to embrace his ethical principles and contribute positively to society.

For more information on these and other holidays, visit the Center for Spiritual Life's Guide to Religious Observances. Did we miss a spiritual observance that is important to you? Please reach out to slife@brandeis.edu.

Get ready to make a splash and support a powerful cause. On Saturday, March 28 friends, students, staff, and community members are invited to join us for the 2026 LETR Brandeis University Polar Plunge benefiting Special Olympics Massachusetts, held in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Boston Police Department.

This spirited fundraiser gives participants the chance to raise money, build awareness, and dive into a cold-water plunge at Carson Beach in Boston, Massachusetts, as part of the larger UMass Boston Polar Plunge event. By partnering with UMass Boston this year, the Brandeis community will join fellow law enforcement agencies, universities, and supporters from across the region to champion inclusion and support Special Olympics athletes throughout the Commonwealth.

Participants who raise $100 or more will receive the official Polar Plunge shirt and help support more than 20,000 Special Olympics athletes across Massachusetts. Funds raised support year-round sports training, competition opportunities, leadership programs, and initiatives that promote confidence, inclusion, and community for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The Polar Plunge is part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics Massachusetts, where law enforcement agencies and community partners across the state unite to support athletes and build a more inclusive Commonwealth.

Ready to take the plunge? Register or donate today. Join the Brandeis team and help us make a splash for inclusion.

Next month (April) begins the shoulder months for heating/cooling. This is the time when temperatures range between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooler mornings followed by warmer afternoons make maintaining temperature comfort in our facilities a challenge.

Most of the campus operates on a dual HVAC system. This means our system has to either be in heating mode or cooling mode and it can't not easily change between the two. It takes Facilities Services about 5 weeks to transfer from heating to cooling mode. Currently, we are in “heating” season but we will be switching to cooling mode starting April 1.

During April and the beginning of May, there will be days when your office/room temperature is not as warm, or cool, as you want it to be. We ask that everyone dress in layers to accommodate this. We also suggest using operable windows when the weather outside is more suitable to your liking.

We understand that at times this may be uncomfortable but we ask for your patience during these New England shoulder months and this switch-over. On April 1, facilities will start to switch over to cooling first in the Science Buildings (~3 weeks), then will move to the Residence Halls and Academic Buildings. The complete switchover should be done the first week in May.

Please review the building temperature policy located at on the Campus Planning and Operations Policy Website.