The Justice

Most guest speakers are hardly as influential as the first black female senator and former candidate for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States in 2004, Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun. Yet, During her visit, hosted by the Women and Gender Studies Program, to the University, Ambassador Braun spoke to a sparse audience comprised of mostly journalism students attending her lecture for class. This seems to reflect poor publicizing of a very important event.

For a campus that has advertised its immense investment in changing the current diversity condition at the university, several key factors were missing from this event. First, this particular event was co-sponsored by the African and Afro-American Studies Department, American History Graduate Program, American Studies Department, Brandeis Black Student Organization, History Department, Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences and the Politics Department. Yet no department or organization in the above list did much more to publicize the event than a news post on the Brandeis Web site.

Many other events are advertised with campus wide e-mails. On Oct. 9, Charles Radin sent such an e-mail for an event hosted by the Crown Center for Middle East Studies. Students were made aware of this event 11 days prior. Here, only a single post on the Brandeis Web site informed students on the day of the event.

A running theme has appeared on this campus: Events focusing on the Middle East are advertised, and more often than not, are-well attended. The University should spread its education outside the classroom to issues that are not affiliated with the Middle East. The success of programs outside the realm of the Middle East is vital because the advancement of the University as an educational force depends on a complete education. Every student could have benefited from Braun's motivational speech, which focused on the idea that small actions can create change.

Last week Jamele Adams, associate dean of student life in support of diversity, addressed the campus to highlight the conflict surrounding challenges regarding diversity. Adams, however, did not attend the event. Braun is a ground-breaking black woman. Her speech was exactly what a campus trying to diversify should hear.

Another person missing from this event was the president of the University. President Jehuda Reinharz was not affiliated with this event despite its importance. The University should be putting its full support behind influential speakers as it did when Al-Quds President Sari Nusseibeh spoke the next day. Reinharz's presence at the event ensured it would be a success. Yet, his support should not be contingent on the event focusing on the Middle East. If we hope to attract talented and influential speakers in other fields, then all of our campus resources must be utilized to ensure that students are aware and in attendance.

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