Friday, September 20, 2013
Brandeis University constructs new "Shapiro Center of Linguistics" atop towering 436-foot-tall precipice. 
by Abe Clark

The new Shapiro Linguistics Center,
visible here from the Shiffman
Humanities building, continues the
Castle theme of Brandeis' campus.

Brandeis students will now have another place in which students can study and explore; the new linguistics center will be at the forefront of the University's recent expansion. With construction set to complete in mid-October, the Shapiro Linguistics center will be the largest and most advanced of its kind in New England. 

"With the new linguistics center, made possible by the generosity of Carl and Ruth Shapiro of course, we hope to offer Brandeis students the most advanced linguistics experience possible, just a short rock climb away from their dorms," announced Brandeis University president Fred Lawrence. Accessibility to the Linguistics center from other buildings on campus was a key component of the building's design, said Lawrence. "Students can easily reach the building using alpine style mountaineering or a belay technique." In the winter, the University plans to lend out ice axes to aid students in reaching class on time. Plans to hook the Linguistics Center up to the Rabb/Shiffman helicopter shuttle route have yet to be discussed. 

Accessibility to the Linguistics center was questioned early on, however, particularly regarding its accessibility for disabled students and the elderly. "We realize that rock climbing might not be for everybody," said chief architect of the project David Silverstein. "For this reason, we're installing a rope ladder to give access to disabled or wheelchair-bound students." Further accessibility will be added with the implementation of a grappling hook next year. 

Aspiring linguistics majors see the new center as a welcome addition to the Brandeis University campus. "I think it's great," said Brandeis sophomore and potential linguistics major Rachel Goldman. "It's...oh, I gotta run." Goldman then told reporters she could not give further comment, as she had class in thirty five minutes.