@merc81 why thank you!
@2019Parent forgive me for not being immediately aware of how my presence and my identity would radically change a campus’s culture. But besides that, I don’t think anything about it is obvious. The things that NavalTradition mentioned were all somewhat nuanced. And if it’s so obvious, then how come you still haven’t named a single way campus life would be affected yourself?
@lalalemma There is no need to be specific as it is an obvious point. Again, and not in a negative way.
@2019Parent well clearly your point isn’t obvious and you literally being unable to name an example doesn’t make you seem very credible. Just saying.
I’m just saying too, no reason to write a paragraph on the obvious, especially when the crux of this whole thread was comparative. I think my point comparing Bates, Holy Cross and Brandeis in terms of on campus religious culture was sufficient.
Here’s one obvious difference.
Holy Cross has a Theology major, clearly focussed on Christianity. (“At Holy Cross College, Theology majors strive to become competent leaders who are prepared to live out their Baptismal promises guided by Gospel values.”)
Brandeis has a Department of Near East and Judaic Studies, which offers 3 major tracks-Judaic Studies, Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, and Hebrew Language and Literature. According to the school’s website, “The Hebrew program is the largest in the United States, averaging 600 students per year and offering a range of 40 courses.”
Bates offers a Religious Studies major, but it’s more generalized, offering courses in Judaism and Christianity, but also Buddhism, Shinto, Greek and Roman myths, African religions, etc.
The Holy Cross College you reference is not the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. It is a lesser ranked college that until fairly recently was called Holy Cross Junior College and is located near Notre Dame in Indiana.
^You’re right! I did a quick HC search and ended up with the wrong one. Oops. Although the one in Worcester does have a more (small C) catholic approach to the study of religion, they’re still open about the fact that they’re heavily (large C) Catholic.
I am Jewish and I visited Brandeis on my tour of colleges (didn’t consider Bates so I can’t compare). One of the things I did like about it was it felt like a safe environment to be a supporter of Israel and a Zionist. This is an increasingly fraught stance at many schools today, where student groups are calling for their schools to divest from Israeli companies and there has been an uptick in anti-Semitism. I disagree with many Israeli policies, think Netanyahu is a terrible leader, and feel AWFUL about the treatment of Palestinians, but still support Israel and its right to exist and defend itself. Not sure how I feel about being at a school where most students are anti-Israel.
For me, Brandeis felt “jewey.” And I mean that in a positive way. Yes, many Jews have assimilated into our society and most are indistinguishable from Gentiles, but I felt a familiar Jewish vibe there I didn’t feel at any other school. I’m not sure if non-Jews would feel this vibe or not, but I can say I’m certain NO student would feel left out or discriminated for not being Jewish at Brandeis
Yeah, it’s a funny thing to try to pinpoint the effect a large proportion of any culturally distinct population has on a campus, particularly without looking something-ist (racist, sexist, etc.), yet it does impact campus culture in many, many small ways, from the kinds of protests that get traction, to the food served in the cafeteria, the course offerings, the theme housing offered, the geographic diversity, the holidays on which the campus tends to have more or fewer students, the speakers invited to campus, to name a few.
Not true.
Not even close.
@soze you have to be kidding. Brandeis sponsors a program called Genesis for high school students (good recruiting tool) that is overtly marketed as a program to nurture a Jewish educational community.
“Connect with motivated students from around the globe and learn with professionals in their fields for a month of intensive instruction, experiential learning and vibrant Jewish community…and discover how Judaism informs the way you see and approach every part of your world”
No reason to hide from that. Catholic schools have similar programs. Its all good.
@2019Parent : So what?
If you actually knew anything about Brandeis (which apparently you don’t). You would know that there is an absolutely secular curriculum.
Brandeis is not “Jewish” in the same way that Catholic universities are “Catholic.”
Brandeis’ mission is not to educate the Jewish community or to provide a Jewish curriculum. It’s “Jewish Connection” is purely around the funding/sponsorship surrounding the founding of the university – that’s it.
Invoking some summer program is nonsense, it has nothing to do with what actually goes on at the school or what a student would experience.
Your statement that it identifies as a "Jewish community school’ is patently false.
Don’t believe me?
Here’s their mission statement:
See anything about the “Jewish Community” in there?
By way of contrast, here’s what Georgetown says:
See the difference?
@soze You are very naive on this point.
I have already noted that Brandeis is somewhere between sectarian and nonsectarian, at least the way it is defined these days.
I think the point about the Genesis program confirms the core of the school. And again, its all good.
Brandeis could have made a concession to the Oxford comma in this one case. Disregarding that – as most would – it would be hard not to respect their mission statement.
Regarding Georgetown, their statement refers to Jesuit education, not Jesuit theology, so I’m really not sure if I see a departure from conventional academic or social aspirations in their stated mission either.
@soze The Brandeis Mission statement is a completely generic statement totally silent on the subject of religion. There is nothing there stating Brandeis is nonsecular.
The same words could be those of a Catholic college and not conflict with Catholic thought, principle or tradition.
Except that’s factually incorrect. Brandeis is completely nonsectarian. Don’t believe me, here’s how THEY describe themselves:
The reason their mission statement is totally silent on the subject of religion is that the school itself has no religious agenda or mission. None, zip, nada.
Your attempts to characterize it differently are feeble at best and betoken a profound ignorance on the subject.
I spent four years there as a student and have been an extremely active and involved alumnus for over thirty. I think I know a bit more about Brandeis than you do.
Oh and based on your standards, NYU is also a “Jewish Community School”
check out this:
http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/humsocsci/jewish
http://clip.bronfmancenter.org/
http://www.gpg.org/grants/north-america/nyu-clip-internship-program.html
This article is nearly 20 years old, but it’s an interesting commentary on the “Jewishness” of Brandeis and what, if anything, that means.
A preview:
My comment on the above-
Brandeis can be both Jewish and non-sectarian. The two do not have to be in conflict.
And another article on Brandeis’s identity struggles from 2006:
http://forward.com/news/1313/column-stirs-campus-is-brandeis-e2-80-98too-jewish-e2-80-99/