Spring Break
Activist alum Brandzel talks social change
by Anya Bergman
News | 4/17/07
Posted online at 10:28 PM EST on 4/16/07
/ Last updated at 8:35 PM EST on 4/16/07
[CORRECTION APPENDED: SEE BELOW]
Ben Brandzel '03 started making waves as soon he graduated and, in the four years since he left Brandeis, has dedicated himself to a number of social causes. His most notable achievements include his part in the creation of a national fund-raising initiative, the Oxfam Collegiate Click Drive, that garnered thousands of dollars nationwide, and his service as a senior staff member in a leading presidential candidate's campaign.
On Sunday, the former Student Union president returned to his alma mater to address students in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium as part of an event hosted by the campus political group Democracy for America. He spoke about his experiences working in politics and other social causes since he left Brandies.
DFA member Phil Lacombe '10 introduced Brandzel with words from his 2003 State of the Union address, in which he urged students to follow through with a walkout scheduled if war broke out in the Middle East.
"I think this measure of commitment on behalf of Brandeis students and community members displays a remarkable level of social conscience and cognizance of our connection to the outside world and our responsibilities as moral actors within it," Brandzel said.
As an undergraduate, Brandzel worked to create the Oxfam America Collegiate Click Drive, which raises money by encouraging people to visit the group's Web site, PovertyFighters.com.
Since graduating, he has worked for Oxfam on its Make Trade Fair campaign and for the progressive political Web site MoveOn.org as its advocacy director. He is also the founder of Student Action, which works to make students more involved in the political process.
Brandzel currently works as John Edwards' director of online communications, organizing and advertising.
Brandzel also spoke to students about the importance of their own activist activities while at Brandeis and said that what they do here does matter.
He said that two questions people often ask when wondering why they should be involved in activism are "Does what we do here last?" and "Does it really matter in the grand scheme of things?" He answered both questions affirmatively, and said that we need to "dream big, work together and never give up."
Brandzel explained that asking whether activities that occur on a campus can be big enough to make a difference is irrelevant, and these events are real and are worth pursuing.
"It starts with dropping a stone in a well-positioned pond," Brandzel said.
CORRECTION: Because of an editing error, it was incorrectly stated that Ben Brandzel founded MoveOn.org. Brandzel did not create MoveOn.org: he created the Oxfam Collegiate Click Drive.
Ben Brandzel '03 started making waves as soon he graduated and, in the four years since he left Brandeis, has dedicated himself to a number of social causes. His most notable achievements include his part in the creation of a national fund-raising initiative, the Oxfam Collegiate Click Drive, that garnered thousands of dollars nationwide, and his service as a senior staff member in a leading presidential candidate's campaign.
On Sunday, the former Student Union president returned to his alma mater to address students in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium as part of an event hosted by the campus political group Democracy for America. He spoke about his experiences working in politics and other social causes since he left Brandies.
DFA member Phil Lacombe '10 introduced Brandzel with words from his 2003 State of the Union address, in which he urged students to follow through with a walkout scheduled if war broke out in the Middle East.
"I think this measure of commitment on behalf of Brandeis students and community members displays a remarkable level of social conscience and cognizance of our connection to the outside world and our responsibilities as moral actors within it," Brandzel said.
As an undergraduate, Brandzel worked to create the Oxfam America Collegiate Click Drive, which raises money by encouraging people to visit the group's Web site, PovertyFighters.com.
Since graduating, he has worked for Oxfam on its Make Trade Fair campaign and for the progressive political Web site MoveOn.org as its advocacy director. He is also the founder of Student Action, which works to make students more involved in the political process.
Brandzel currently works as John Edwards' director of online communications, organizing and advertising.
Brandzel also spoke to students about the importance of their own activist activities while at Brandeis and said that what they do here does matter.
He said that two questions people often ask when wondering why they should be involved in activism are "Does what we do here last?" and "Does it really matter in the grand scheme of things?" He answered both questions affirmatively, and said that we need to "dream big, work together and never give up."
Brandzel explained that asking whether activities that occur on a campus can be big enough to make a difference is irrelevant, and these events are real and are worth pursuing.
"It starts with dropping a stone in a well-positioned pond," Brandzel said.
CORRECTION: Because of an editing error, it was incorrectly stated that Ben Brandzel founded MoveOn.org. Brandzel did not create MoveOn.org: he created the Oxfam Collegiate Click Drive.
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