Editing Brandeis University (section)

== Student life ==
{| class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"
|+ style="font-size:90%" |Student body composition as of May 2, 2022
|-
! Race and ethnicity<ref>{{cite web|title=College Scorecard: Brandeis University|url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?165015-Brandeis-University|publisher=[[United States Department of Education]]|access-date=May 8, 2022|archive-date=June 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630214746/https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?165015-Brandeis-University|url-status=live}}</ref>
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic whites|White]]
|align=right| {{bartable|44|%|2||background:gray}}
|-
| [[Foreign national]]
|align=right| {{bartable|20|%|2||background:orange}}
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]]
|align=right| {{bartable|15|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]
|align=right| {{bartable|8|%|2||background:green}}
|-
| Other{{efn|Other consists of [[Multiracial Americans]] & those who prefer to not say.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|7|%|2||background:brown}}
|-
| [[African Americans|Black]]
|align=right| {{bartable|6|%|2||background:mediumblue}}
|-
! colspan="4" data-sort-type=number |[[Economic diversity]]
|-
| [[American lower class|Low-income]]{{efn|The percentage of students who received an income-based federal [[Pell Grant]] intended for low-income students.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|16|%|2||background:red}}
|-
| [[Affluence in the United States|Affluent]]{{efn|The percentage of students who are a part of the [[American middle class]] at the bare minimum.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|84|%|2||background:black}}
|}

The university has an active student government, the Brandeis Student Union,<ref>{{cite web|url = http://union.brandeis.edu/|title = Brandeis University Student Union|website = union.brandeis.edu|access-date = 2014-04-16|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140417004657/http://union.brandeis.edu/|archive-date = 2014-04-17|url-status = dead}}</ref> as well as more than 270 student organizations.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://my.brandeis.edu/clubs/| title=Club Center| publisher=My Brandeis| access-date=26 April 2009| archive-date=4 May 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504235357/http://my.brandeis.edu/clubs/| url-status=live}}</ref> [[Fraternities and sororities]] are not officially recognized by Brandeis University, as they are contrary to a central tenet of the university, namely, that student organizations be open to all students, with membership determined by competency or interest. According to an official handbook, "exclusive or secret societies are inconsistent with the principles of openness to which the University is committed."<ref>{{cite web |title=2007–2008 Rights & Responsibilities Handbook, Appendix B: University Policy on Fraternities and Sororities |publisher=Brandeis University |access-date=2008-03-17 |url=http://www.brandeis.edu/studentlife/sdc/rr/html/rr_appendix.html |archive-date=2008-07-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706034103/http://www.brandeis.edu/studentlife/sdc/rr/html/rr_appendix.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Brandeis became the first university to ban [[Students for Justice in Palestine]] from campus, occurring shortly after a  vigil hosted by SJP relating to Palestinian lives lost in the [[Gaza war]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thejustice.org/article/2023/11/im-an-israeli-american-who-attended-brandeis-the-censorship-of-palestinian-students-betrays-everything-i-was-taught | title=I'm an Israeli-American who attended Brandeis: The censorship of Palestinian students betrays everything I was taught }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/brandeis-university-bans-pro-palestinian-student-group/3183990/ | title=Brandeis University bans pro-Palestinian student group | date=November 7, 2023 }}</ref> 

Brandeis has 11 [[collegiate a cappella|a cappella]] groups, six undergraduate-run theater companies, one sketch comedy troupe (Boris' Kitchen, founded in 1987),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://borissketchcomedy.com|title=Boris' Kitchen|website=Boris' Kitchen|access-date=2022-01-02|archive-date=2015-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209224823/http://borissketchcomedy.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> four [[Improvisational theatre|improv-comedy]] groups, and many other cultural and arts clubs, as well as student activism groups that advocate for causes including environmentalism, immigration reform, LGBTQ rights, feminism, and anti-racism. Brandeis is also home to what has been cited as one of the country's few undergraduate-run law publications.<ref>{{cite web |title=Q&A with ALDF Staff Attorney about Pursuing a Career in Animal Law |publisher=Animal Legal Defense Fund |access-date=2011-01-07 |url=http://www.aldf.org/article.php?id=1441 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119133337/http://aldf.org/article.php?id=1441 |archive-date=2010-11-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Of particular note is the Brandeis Academic Debate and Speech Society (B.A.D.A.S.S.), which consistently ranks as one of the top 10 debate teams in the United States, and participates across the globe in the [[World Universities Debating Championships]] each year. During the 2012–2013 school year, B.A.D.A.S.S. was the second most successful team overall on the [[American Parliamentary Debate Association]] Circuit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.apdaweb.org/standings |title=Standings (2013–2014) |publisher=Apdaweb |access-date=2013-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103024238/http://apdaweb.org/standings |archive-date=2014-01-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Cholmondeley's coffeehouse, commonly referred to as "Chums", is located in Brandeis' [[Usen Castle]]. Chums is a popular site for student performances and concerts, including [[Tracy Chapman]], [[Bob Dylan]], [[Joan Baez]], [[Matt Pond PA]], and [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] (notable as their first American performance). Early footage of Chums appears in the short documentary film, ''Coffee House Rendezvous''.<ref>{{cite video |last=Steeg |first=Ted |title=Coffee House Rendezvous |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2NoKCg702g |url-status=dead |publisher=Coffee Information Service |year=1969 |time=5:10 |access-date=2014-01-13 |archive-date=2014-06-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625004144/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2NoKCg702g }}</ref> Cholmondley's is named after a notoriously ill-tempered Basset hound that was the on-campus pet for Ralph Norman, the campus photographer during the first years of Brandeis. The dog roamed the campus after dark, growling at students, often nipping at their cuffs and making a general nuisance of himself. After his death, the coffee house was named for him, not so much in remembrance but in celebration.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2007/10/18/threes_a_charm/| title=Oppenheimer at Brandeis| date=18 October 2007| publisher=Globe Newspaper Company| access-date=26 April 2009| first1=Catherine| last1=Elcik| archive-date=4 June 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604135358/http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2007/10/18/threes_a_charm/| url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, in an email to student workers of the coffee house, Brandeis administration announced the immediate closure of Chums Coffeehouse, leaving said student workers unemployed. After significant pushback from the student body and alumni alike, the administration determined to make the closure temporary while the space underwent renovations.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://brandeishoot.com/2015/03/20/student-coffeehouse-undergoes-sudden-reorganization/ |title=Student coffeehouse undergoes sudden reorganization |website=brandeishoot.com |author=Charlotte Aaron |date=March 20, 2015 |access-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-date=May 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521064826/http://brandeishoot.com/2015/03/20/student-coffeehouse-undergoes-sudden-reorganization/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Brandeis University's Campus Sustainability Initiative seeks to reduce the university's environmental and climate change impact. The university's accomplishments in the arena of sustainability include the creation of a student-organized on-campus Farmers' Market, the implementation of a [[single-stream recycling]] program, and the transition to GreenE certified wind power for 15% of the school's electricity needs.<ref name="Sustainability Accomplishments">{{cite web
 |title        = Sustainability Accomplishments
 |publisher    = Brandeis University
 |url          = http://www.brandeis.edu/campussustainability/newsevents/accomplishments.html
 |access-date  = 2009-06-08
 |url-status   = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110615130320/http://www.brandeis.edu/campussustainability/newsevents/accomplishments.html
 |archive-date = 2011-06-15
}}</ref> Brandeis also offers an environmental studies academic program, which includes courses such as Greening the Ivory Tower: Improving Sustainability of Brandeis and Community, which serves as an incubator for student led sustainability projects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brandeis.edu/programs/environmental/undergrad/greeningcourse/index.html|title=Greening Class {{!}} Environmental Studies Program {{!}} Brandeis University|website=www.brandeis.edu|access-date=2019-05-02|archive-date=2019-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502181009/https://www.brandeis.edu/programs/environmental/undergrad/greeningcourse/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Student projects have included greening campus offices, running after-school environmental education programs for children in the Waltham schools, and cleaning up local streams and ponds.<ref name="Greening Class Projects 2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.brandeis.edu/campussustainability/greeningclass/fall2008.html|title=Greening Class Projects 2008|publisher=Brandeis University|access-date=2009-06-08}}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In addition, a student-led project in 2014 established a rooftop farm atop the Gerstenzang science building consisting of 1,500 potted milk crates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/08/11/barren-brandeis-rooftop-transformed-into-feast-for-senses/zEv2ig7sV4BBhjQxVzyTiJ/story.html|title=Barren Brandeis rooftop transformed into feast for senses|first=Jon|last=Mael|date=12 August 2015|work=The Boston Globe|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-02|archive-date=2019-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502181013/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/08/11/barren-brandeis-rooftop-transformed-into-feast-for-senses/zEv2ig7sV4BBhjQxVzyTiJ/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Students also have the option of taking courses with a "Community Engaged Learning" (CEL) aspect. Community-engaged learning is an aspect of the university's broad-based commitment to experiential learning.

Emergency medical services are provided by the Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps, nicknamed BEMCO, a Massachusetts-certified [[Emergency medical technician-basic|EMT-Basic]] volunteer student organization<ref name="Gala">{{cite book |title=BEMCo 25th Anniversary Gala: Order of Ceremonies |last= Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps|author-link= Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps |year=2008 |publisher= Brandeis University |location= Waltham, MA |page=2 }}</ref> which does not charge a fee for any of its emergency services.<ref>{{cite web|title=Article VIII: Union Accredited Organizations |publisher=Brandeis University Student Union |access-date=2008-09-08 |url=http://union.brandeis.edu/bylaws.php#8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703224010/http://union.brandeis.edu/bylaws.php |archive-date=July 3, 2008 }}</ref>

Security escort services are provided around the campus and into Waltham by the student-run "Branvan," which runs on a daily schedule from 4:00 pm to 2:30 am on weekdays and from noon to 2:30 am on weekends.

The university is {{convert|9|mi|km}} west of Boston and is accessible through [[Brandeis/Roberts (MBTA station)|Brandeis/Roberts station]] on the [[Fitchburg Line|Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line]], a free shuttle that services Boston and Cambridge ([[Harvard Square]]) Thursday through Sunday,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brandeis.edu/publicsafety/safety/escort/schedule.html |title=Van and Shuttle Service |access-date=6 December 2008 |department=Department of Public Safety |publisher=Brandeis University |archive-date=15 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215014251/http://www.brandeis.edu/publicsafety/safety/escort/schedule.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the nearby [[Riverside (MBTA station)|Riverside subway station]] (above ground) on the [[Green Line (MBTA)|Green Line]], and the 553 [[MBTA bus]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/bus/routes/?route=553 |title=553 – Roberts – Downtown Boston via Newton Corner & Central Sq., Waltham |access-date=6 December 2008 |publisher=MBTA |archive-date=13 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713070519/http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/bus/routes/?route=553 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Brandeis University Admissions Bldg.jpg|Undergraduate Admissions Center
File:Brandeis University Shapiro Campus Center.jpg|Shapiro Campus Center
</gallery>