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EDITORIAL: Expanded academics a plus
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Editorial | 11/11/08
Posted online at 4:06 AM EST on 11/11/08
As the University faces a $10 million budget deficit this year, students, faculty and staff will have to keep our campus interesting and innovative without running out of money. The University must continue to improve, regardless of its financial situation. Thus, we applaud the Film Studies department and the Office of Global Affairs for increasing their programming in this time of thin budgets.
Just last week, the Film Studies department upgraded their minor to a major in the midst of a department initiative to increase visibility and provide interesting programming to students. Between department chair Prof. Alice Kelikian and alumnus Scott Feinberg, Film Studies' tradition of bringing major film figures to Brandeis to screen their films and answer questions has been injected with some serious star power this fall. Mr. Feinberg, a blogger for the Los Angeles Times, has used his connections to schedule interviews with such stars as Mark Ruffalo and Richard Jenkins here at Brandeis. That Prof. Kelikian and Mr. Feinberg are offering these resources for free speaks strongly of the commitment both staff and alumni hold toward academic quality.
Brandeis doesn't have to shell out too much cash in order to have these screenings either. While these events are largely funded by the Edie and Lew Wasserman Fund, which also paid for the Wasserman Cinematheque, where these events are taking place, Mr. Feinberg and Prof. Kelikian organized the events so that the screenings benefit the studios and the school.
Not only do such events offer some exciting opportunities for students to occupy their free time, but they also raise the profile of a formerly obscure department that didn't even offer a major to a department that boasts one of the best film programs in the Northeast. The three buzzworthy, Oscar-contender events that have occurred and are scheduled for this weekend are only the beginning of a series featuring high-profile Hollywood players that will draw the attention of the film community.
Just last week, the Film Studies department upgraded their minor to a major in the midst of a department initiative to increase visibility and provide interesting programming to students. Between department chair Prof. Alice Kelikian and alumnus Scott Feinberg, Film Studies' tradition of bringing major film figures to Brandeis to screen their films and answer questions has been injected with some serious star power this fall. Mr. Feinberg, a blogger for the Los Angeles Times, has used his connections to schedule interviews with such stars as Mark Ruffalo and Richard Jenkins here at Brandeis. That Prof. Kelikian and Mr. Feinberg are offering these resources for free speaks strongly of the commitment both staff and alumni hold toward academic quality.
Brandeis doesn't have to shell out too much cash in order to have these screenings either. While these events are largely funded by the Edie and Lew Wasserman Fund, which also paid for the Wasserman Cinematheque, where these events are taking place, Mr. Feinberg and Prof. Kelikian organized the events so that the screenings benefit the studios and the school.
Not only do such events offer some exciting opportunities for students to occupy their free time, but they also raise the profile of a formerly obscure department that didn't even offer a major to a department that boasts one of the best film programs in the Northeast. The three buzzworthy, Oscar-contender events that have occurred and are scheduled for this weekend are only the beginning of a series featuring high-profile Hollywood players that will draw the attention of the film community.
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