The Justice, September 17, 2024

FACULTY MEETING

Faculty

vote

on the future of the university

■ On Sept. 13, faculty gathered to discuss the proposed vote of no confidence in President

On Sept. 13 at 2 p.m., faculty gathered in Rapaporte Treasure Hall to continue the tabled discussion regarding the potential vote of no confidence in Brandeis University President Ronald Liebowitz. Friday’s meeting marks the first faculty meeting of the semester, change in membership. Prof. Jody Gittell (HELLER) stepped down from the position of Chair of the Faculty Senate, with Prof. Jeffrey Lenowitz (POL) stepping into the role. Small changes to voting processes have occurred with the aim of preventing voting confusion and inaccuracies.

Following the introduction, University Provost Carol Fierke spoke to the faculty on behalf of President Liebowitz as he was not present at the meeting. The speech welcomed new and returning faculty back to campus, encouraging them to get involved by joining faculty governance and speaking at events. Faculty members were also encouraged to join fundraising efforts, as the public phase of the capital campaign is set to begin in about a year.

Fierke proceed to provide some updates to the faculty, explaining the statistics for the current incoming class. Class of 2028 consists of 741 new undergraduates and 84 transfer students. She also provided demographic information, stating “The first year class is very diverse.” According to Fierke, 39% of the students are students of color, 18% are first generation, 18% are international, and Pell eligible students are 24% of the incoming firstyear class.” Fierke also gave an update on the Graduate Student Union who are in the process of contract negotiation with the University, stating that there was a “productive meeting” with union representatives and explained that negotiations are in the final stages.

Early in the meeting , it was proposed that normal activities, typically conducted during the first meeting of the semester, should e tabled in favor of continuing the conversation regarding the potential for a vote of no confidence, that took place at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

The first speaker regarding this issue was Prof. Sarah Mayorga (ANTH), who compared Brandeis to six peer

institutions, in an effort to specify the responsibility of a university president. She reviewed the college ranking system, which is important to prospective students and pointed out that while many private institutions dropped last year due to the changes in the ranking system, Brandeis had been dropping prior to these changes. Mayorga stated “in eight years we’ve dropped 26 spots.” She also pointed out that the endowment of Northeastern University, once smaller than that of Brandeis, has surpassed the institution in size due to their “aggressive fundraising strategy, including two capital campaigns since 2013.” Mayorga also reviewed increasing graduate student enrollment at other institutions, countering claims made by President Liebowitz stating that all graduate enrollment is down. She called for a strategic plan from Liebowitz, closing with the statement “by year nine of this presidency, Brandeis needs and deserves more than these concepts of a plan.”

The first speaker against the motion for a vote of no confidence was Prof. Sacha Nelson (BIOL), who began his statement by talking about his first faculty meeting 30 years ago, where the president at the time announced that Brandeis was in a “dire financial crisis.” Nelson explained that he was told to ignore it and continue to work on teaching and research. “Since then, our institution has lurched from crisis to crisis,” he said in the meeting,explaining that Brandeis has never been financially stable and “our vision has always outstripped our resources.” Nelson expressed his belief that most problems with the University are structural, mostly due to the small size and young age of the institution which he says would not be altered by a change in administration. Instead Nelson shared that it would be productive to opt out of rankings and instead “celebrate the strength of our performance despite our small size.” He concluded by stating that the proposed motion is “incoherent and unhelpful.”

Following Nelson, an undisclosed faculty member showed support of the motion. She questions the potential concerns that people have regarding this vote and the effect that it will have on the University. The speaker believed that the vote would not make Brandeis look weak, nor prevent future students from applying. She stated “morale of our current students reached a low last year and was only enhanced by their perception that we faculty are not doing anything to support them. Staff morale is also precipitously low due [to] cuts and restructuring.” She also went

living

 Seniors speak on moving off campus for their final year of college.

By LEA ZAHARONI

on to discuss claims that these financial problems were inherited by the current administration and questioned why nothing had been done in eight years to reverse them. “I’m sure each of you has sat in your department meetings this week hearing deeply troubling news about the drastic administrative cuts that occurred over the summer and about where we are heading next. More cuts, more service courses, the shutting of graduate programs, loss of R1 status, a hiring freeze, the sunsetting of majors and minors, and so on.” She acknowledged that a change in leadership will not immediately result in resolution of these problems, but if the University makes no changes neither will the course that it is on.

During the meeting, a member of the the Brandeis International Business School spoke against the motion. He acknowledged concerns held by many, and stated “I think we’re all here also, because we share the same objective, which I think is that we all want a better Brandeis,” and went on to list some things that could be improved such as infrastructure, enrollment, rankings and more. He acknowledges that many are frustrated because they do not feel as if their colleagues are listening to their feelings and concerns, and there are other things to be talking about that could better Brandeis. “I think the option that you are proposing is nuclear,” the member of the business school said. It “is just going to make things worse.It’s going to take us far away from where we want to be.” The speaker expressed that this vote would lead to more chaos and uncertainty for donors as well as all community members, and explained that he did not feel like the upside of this motion has been explained.

Prof. John Plotz (ENG) spoke in support of the motion. He expressed concerns regarding the rally that took place on Nov. 10 of last year, where University administration called police on students, ultimately leading to forceful arrests on campus. Plotz explained that Brandeis was founded as a non sectarian institution, on the principles of acceptance of all due to discrimination faced by many.he actions seen from the administration last fall counter that narrative says Plotz. He also shared worries of information being withheld from the faculty by administration and expressed that ties between the Board of Trustees and faculty have been weakened due to Brandeis’s administration. The board has the power to exercise the nuclear option if necessary, says Plotz, but the faculty does not. Therefore, he

Concert critique

■ The City of Waltham has officially released polling infomation from its Sept. 3 election.

By ZOE ZACHARY JUSTICE EDITOR

The results of the 2024 Waltham Massachusetts State primary elections on Sept. 3 have been certified and posted on Waltham’s official city website. The state primary for offices other than president took place on Tuesday, Sept. 3 2024, and included votes for a range of local and national positions. According to the results spreadsheet, a total of 36,947 registered voters participated in Waltham’s primary elections.

The first recorded result was for a Senator in Congress. Incumbent Senator Elizabeth Warren ran unopposed, earning a victory in Waltham with 5,506 votes. Additionally, according to election data, there were also 74 writeins for Senators in Congress, as well as 586 blank votes. Warren, a Democrat, has served as a Massachusetts senator since 2012. According to her website, Warren has put forward plans to end lobbying, impose an ultra-millionaire tax on fortunes worth over $50 million, build more than three million new homes and require every public company to disclose climate-related risks among other democratic policies. Warren advanced from the Democratic Primary and will be on the ballot on Nov. 5.

Ten-year Democrat Incumbent Katherine Clark won Representative in Congress for Massachusetts fifth congressional district, which Waltham falls under. Like Warren, she ran unopposed, earning a total of 5,481 votes in favor and winning Waltham. There were also 48 write-ins and 637 blank votes. Overall, she won her primary, and will be appearing on the Nov. 5 ballot. Clark has served on the Massachusetts senate since 2013 and was elected by Congress Democrats to serve as Democratic Whip in 2022. According to her website, Clark is “a leading proponent for ending wage discrimination; safeguarding access to abortion; ending gun violence; improving access to affordable, quality child care; and guaranteeing paid leave.” Clark advanced from the Democratic Primary and will be on the ballot on Nov. 5.

Democrats Marilyn M. Petitto Devaney and Mara Dolan contested for the Third District’s seat on the Governor’s Council. Devaney, the incumbent since 1999, won Waltham with 3,083 votes. The election was close — Dolan had received 2,559 votes, with 11 writeins and 513 blank votes. Devaney did, however, lose the overall vote to Dolan and will be stepping down from the council in January 2025. According to Devaney’s website, much of her campaign relied on the fact that Devaney is not a lawyer, meaning that she would have a greater capacity to be impartial in the face of the many judiciary tasks put in front of the governor’s council. Dolan, who won the overall vote across the Third District, advertised her position as a Public Defender on her website. There, she also emphasized her goals of forwarding science-based addiction recovery and raising the age of Juvenile Court jurisdiction, as well as pointing out that she is pro-choice unlike Devaney.

Michael J. Barrett ran unopposed for the Third District’s Senator in General Court. He won Waltham with 5130 votes, with 31 write-ins and 1,005 blank ballots. Barrett has been a Massachusetts State Senator since 1990 and is the Assistant Majority Leader. According to his website, Barret has advocated for longer school days, equal rights

on the basis of sexual orientation, pro-choice advocacy, health care for underserved communities, and green policies such as the Toxic Use Reduction Act.

Democrat Thomas M. Stanley ran against Democrat Heather A. May for Representative in General Court for the Ninth Middlesex District (Waltham includes both the Ninth and Tenth Middlesex Districts for Massachusetts Court representatives). Stanley, the incumbent and long-time Waltham resident, won Waltham with 2,248 votes to May’s 2,038 votes. There were four write-ins and 91 blank ballots. May’s website highlights her primary issues as having an accountable and transparent government, affordable housing and climate justice. Stanley’s website features answered questionnaires from several Waltham residents and organizations. In a questionnaire from Resident Dan Berlin, Stanely articulates the importance of securing state and local funding to support projects such as Waltham’s new high school and preventing private housing development in Waltham. He is also a member of several committees within the Massachusetts House of Representatives, including the Elder Nutrition Commision and the LGBTQ+ Aging Commission.

For the Tenth Middlesex District Representative, Democrat John Lawn Jr. ran unopposed and won Waltham with 1,093 votes. There were 11 writeins and 181 blank ballots. The race for Tenth Middlesex District Representative is ongoing and Lawn will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot. Should he lose, his term will end in January 2025. Lawn is a part of several committees, including the Health Care Financing Joint Committee and the Election Laws Joint Committee.

For Middlesex County’s Clerk of Courts, Michael Sullivan — Democrat — ran unopposed and won Waltham with 5,041 votes. There were 22 writeins and 1,103 blank ballots. Sullivan has served as the Clerk of Courts since 2007.

Maria C. Curtatone — Democrat — ran unopposed for Register of Deeds Middlesex South, winning Waltham 5,032 votes with 26 write-ins and 1,108 blank ballots. An incumbent, she has served as the Register of Deeds since 2013. Her website elevates her achievements, such as “digitization and online availability of ALL recorded land books and registered land case plans,” “homestead informational sessions to educate constituents,” and “consumer alerts to protect constituents from potentially costly solicitations and unauthorized recordings.”

Three Republican candidates ran for Massachusetts Senator: Robert J. Antonellis, Ian Cain and John Deaton. They received 448 votes, 96 votes and 821 votes, respectively, with Deaton winning Waltham. There were two write-ins and 18 blank ballots. Deaton is also the candidate to advance from the Republican Primary and will be appearing on the Nov. 5 ballot. Deaton, U.S. Marine veteran and cancer survivor, presents himself as a champion for “underdogs.” He also takes a special interest in cryptocurrencies.

Carly Marie Downs, a Republican, ran unopposed for Representative in General Court for Ninth Middlesex District. She won Waltham with 685 votes, with 17 write-ins and 374 blank ballots. She champions herself as a representative for small business, her website stating that she ran because she is “sick and tired of our elected officials doing nothing to change the status quo.”

Comparing this primary with Waltham’s 2020 state primary reveals that somewhat fewer voters showed up to the polls this year, despite a relatively constant population size.

See ELECTION, 7 ☛

department shut down

SOPHIA DE LISI

MEETING : A faculty member speaks at their Sept. 13 meeting.

GRACE DOH/The Justice See

By ANNA MARTIN JUSTICE EDITOR IN CHEIF

ELIZA BIER/The Justice

POLICE LOG

MEDICAL EMERGENCY

Sept. 07—A party had an allergic reaction. They were treated by BEMCo and transported to a nearby hospital.

Sept. 07—A party reported having chest pains. They were evaluated and refused treatment.

Sept. 07—A party twisted their ankle. They were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Sept. 10—A party was examined after they didn’t feel well. They were treated by BEMCo and refused further medical care.

Sept. 11—A party dislocated their shoulder. Patient refused medical treatment.

Sept. 11—A party had a seizure. Patient was transported to a nearby hospital for further care.

Sept. 12—A party was treated by BEMCo for insomnia. Patient refused further care.

OTHER

Sept. 07—A party was yelled at by a group of 8-12 males near the Science complex who walked away laughing. The office in charge was notified.

Sept. 08—A caller from South Street reported a loud party in the Foster Mods. Community Living was notified.

Sept. 09—A party reported that something had been sprayed on her car. Investigation to follow.

Sept. 09—A report of a past altercation between two students was requested and rendered by Department Community Living.

Sept. 10—The president’s office called, concerned about a party climbing the tree outside the Trustee’s office. The situation was cleared.

Sept. 11—A phishing scam was reported. The situation was cleared.

Sept. 11—Vandalism was reported. The situation was cleared.

Sept. 12—Vandalism was reported inside Olin Sang. Investigation to follow. Sept. 12—A reporting party stated the possibility of a retired professor’s email being hacked. The professor was contacted to determine how to proceed.

Sept. 12—Grafitti was reported in a women’s locker room. Investigation to follow.

Sept. 12—A party reported that their identity was possibly stolen.

— Compiled by Zoe Zachary

Brandeis University quietly eliminates the Office of Sustainability

■ In light of budgetary concerns, the University has decided to halt its year-long search to replace the former Director of Sustainability.

By SOPHIA DE LISI AND HEDY YANG JUSTICE ASSOCIATE EDITOR AND JUSTICE SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Over the summer, Brandeis University quietly terminated the Office of Sustainability, calling into question both current and future sustainability initiatives at the University.

In an Aug. 20 message posted to the Campus Planning and Operations website, Vice President of Campus Planning and Operations Lois Stanley wrote, “Our Sustainability Office has been eliminated unfortunately,” but promised that “sustainability standards and practices will continue through the ongoing efforts of all division departments.” Stanley did not provide an explanation for why the office was eliminated and how the decision was made, nor was the decision communicated to the larger Brandeis community via email.

This decision follows the departure of the University’s former Director of Sustainability, Mary Fischer. Fischer left the role in September 2023, and what followed was an arduous and fruitless search for her replacement. Fischer’s departure also resulted in the elimination of the Brandeis Sustainability Ambassadors Program, which involved a group of students who assisted Fischer with various sustainability initiatives.

In an Oct. 23, 2023 email correspondence with The Justice about Fischer’s departure, Stanley wrote, “We are looking to replace [Fischer] and I expect that the recruitment will take another few months. My hope is to have a new lead for sustainability in the spring semester.”

The administration made good progress on the hiring process for a period of time. Vivienne Scott ’26, who serves as the Director of Sustainability on Student Union, was a student representative involved in the search process. In an interview with The Justice on Sept. 16, Scott shared that she had been recommended to sit in on candidate interviews as a student representative by former Student Union President Noah Risley ’24. According to Scott, she was part of the interviewing process for three candidates that began in the beginning of February 2024.

In March 2024, however, the administration paused the search. The Justice obtained an email from Vice President of Finance & Administration Stew Uretsky from Apr. 4 confirming that the University was “temporarily pausing on the hiring of this position while we address the University’s financial challenges.”

This decision came at the time that President Ronald Liebowitz sent a message to the community titled “Planning for Brandeis’ Long-Term Sustainability.” The email details Brandeis’ financial challenges, which have resulted in a projected $2 million budget deficit and over 60 layoffs. Relevantly, the email called for a hiring freeze, which meant that the search process for the new Director of Sustainability was put on hold.

In response, students from Prof. Sabine von Mering’s (GEC) ecofeminism course created a petition to pressure administration to “prioritize the hiring process as an urgent matter.” As of the time of publication, the petition, which was started on April 4, has 58 signatures, 42 short of its 100 signature goal.

The elimination of the Office of Sustainability leaves many sustainability initiatives in unclear terms and poses a significant issue to the University both in the long and short term. With no staff member to oversee sustainability efforts, many longer-term projects that would have greatly contributed to decarbonizing Brandeis’ infrastructure have been left unfinished. Students interested in decreasing Brandeis’ carbon footprint or taking on other sustainability initiatives no longer have the support of a dedicated staff member

either.

For instance, Vision 2030, a climate action plan from 2020 created by President Liebowitz’s Campus Sustainability Task Force, is at a standstill. Formed in 2019, this task force was co-chaired by Mary Fischer and von Mering. According to Liebowitz’s announcement of the task force, it was responsible for updating the University’s 2016 Climate Action Plan, creating a new set of best practices for new buildings and renovations and recommending further actions to implement on campus.

The COVID-19 pandemic ultimately delayed the time frame for reviewing the task force’s recommendations. In an address from May 21, 2021, President Liebowitz assured the community that despite the delays, “the Office of Sustainability has already begun to move forward with several of the task force’s recommendations.” He highlighted the formation of a new Sustainability Committee in Dec. 2021, the reduction in the carbon footprint of food purchases, the implementation of the task force’s new green building standards, as well as the creation of a carbon mitigation plan.

The 2022-23 academic year was also the last year that the Office of Sustainability was active before Fischer’s departure. The office was involved in organizing intensive programming for the Year of Climate Action, which aimed to “deepen [the community’s] understanding of climate change as a social justice issue.” For the Year of Climate Action, the University sponsored a number of lectures related to climate, introduced new course offerings incorporating various climate-related topics and organized numerous co-curricular activities. These activities included a Caterpillar Lab, as well as a puppet-making and clothing swap event hosted by the Department of Theater Arts.

Besides leaving the status of many sustainability projects in uncertain terms, the elimination of the Office of Sustainability also raises questions about how the University plans to commit to advancing sustainability in the future.

The carbon footprint of the planned new residence hall is one such example. Stanley wrote in her announcement of the elimination of the Office of Sustainability that “the new residence hall is being designed to Passive House energy standards.” Passive House is a building certification awarded to construction projects that prioritize proper insulation, natural light and efficient Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems that reduce energy usage.

In an interview with The Justice on Sept. 12, Prof. Sally Warner (ENVS) voiced her concerns about these statements. “They [the administration] say, ‘oh, we’re going to try to achieve these standards,’” she said, “but without someone in a dedicated role who understands sustainability … to push for that, it will be so easy for the administration to make decisions around the bottom line of construction, instead of life cycle operating costs.”

Even before its elimination, the Office of Sustainability struggled to find ways to uphold long-term sustainability initiatives. For the entirety of her eight years at the University, Fischer was the only official staff member in the office, in addition to the eight student Sustainability Ambassadors who worked with her part-time.

In a Sept. 12 interview, Dina Millerman ’25, a former Sustainability Ambassador, said, “I think that because it was just [Fischer], it was hard to focus on a big institutional change and much easier to target students.” Millerman explained that her work as a Sustainability Ambassador mostly consisted of tabling to educate community members on sustainable habits like proper composting and recycling methods, how to conserve energy when doing laundry and eating less meat. “With just [Fischer] and a few students, we could only do so much.”

Without a formal office in place, the responsibility to advance sustainability at Brandeis falls back on students. Student Union is hoping to lead the charge on this through their oversight of the Campus Sustainability Fund, a $55,000 fund that provides financial support for student-led projects that seek to improve sustainability

at Brandeis. Last spring, through the Sustainability Fund, students and Prof. Colleen Hitchcock (BIOL) built a 35 square meter microforest between South Street and the Slosberg Music Center, using plants sourced from local nurseries.

Previously known as the Brandeis Sustainability Fund, the fund was once managed by the Brandeis Sustainability Committee, which Fischer was a part of. The CSF was moved under Student Union’s jurisdiction in 2023 as a result of controversy over the degree of student involvement in previous years’ administration of the fund.

Student Union President Rani Balakrishna ’25 told The Justice in a Sept. 16 interview that under Fischer’s jurisdiction, there were “unnecessary vetoes” of project proposals submitted to the fund’s board. Former Student Union Senator Eamonn Golden ’24 also stated in an April 25, 2023 article published in The Justice that allowing the Brandeis Sustainability Committee to review proposals and giving staff members like Fischer voting power on the Committee caused funds to be used for purchases that only benefitted facilities, rather than the student body.

For the upcoming year, current Student Union Director of Sustainability, Scott, emphasized that Student Union will be working closely with Students for Environmental Action to support member projects that advance sustainability at Brandeis.

However, not everyone is convinced that reduced faculty oversight of the Campus Sustainability Fund is a good idea. Warner shared with The Justice, “It was the student government’s decision two years ago to pull [Fischer] out of [administering the fund] … But I don’t think that fund got spent last year. And if I were a student, I’d be really pissed that I’m paying the student fee that’s supposed to go to campus sustainability, and it’s not being used in that way.” The Justice could not independently corroborate Warner’s claims. Scott emphasized that she believes everyone who is elected to oversee the Campus Sustainability Fund is “capable,” and that it makes “more sense that [the fund] is student-run.”

Sustainability-focused clubs and organizations entirely run by students also have had limited success advancing sustainability in recent years. Currently, Students for Environmental Action and the Brandeis Veg Club are the only clubs dedicated to environmental and climate initiatives, along with Waltham Groups Symbiosis. Organizations and initiatives that have ceased to exist in recent years include Brandeis Climate Justice, Re:wild Brandeis, as well as a rooftop garden led by the now defunct Farmers Club.

Student opinion on the necessity and scope of the Director of Sustainability role varies.

Scott believes an ideal administrative member would play more of a supportive role to student endeavors. Balakrishna also pointed to the necessity of someone like Fischer to advance sustainability efforts, while centering student desires: “With the vacancy of this role, there is a lot more that falls on students, and while I do love that the work is student-centered, I don’t think that 100% of the burden should fall on students.”

Leo Zhang ’25, co-president of Students for Environmental Action, emphasized that having someone like Fischer and an Office of Sustainability is crucial to accomplishing larger-scale infrastructurebased projects through facilitating communication to higher levels of administration.

“This is a time now where we do need admin for us to have better communication with people like Ron [Liebowitz] and Stew Uretsky,” he told The Justice in a Sept. 13 interview. “I think we’ve been talking about the [Campus Sustainability Fund] as our main connection to admin, but there’s so much more than the CSF that we can talk about with admin.”

Warner underscored the power of student voice in reinstating the Office of Sustainability, and why she believes the role is crucial. “The environment can’t advocate for itself. I feel like sustainability needs a person who is dedicated to that role to make sure that it makes its way onto the table.”

■ A feature article incorrectly called an indigenous heritage center an indigenous burial site. It was corrected to “Caguana Ceremonial Indigenous Heritage Center” (September 10, Page 8).

■ A photo in the news section was incorrectly missing a credit. It was corrected to “ELIZA BIER/The Justice.” (September 10, Page 3)

■ A photo in the news section was incorrectly credited as “Photo Courtesy of CREAIVE COMMONS”. It was corrected to “Photo Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS” (September 10, Page 5).

■ A forum article was missing an ending. It was corrected to “we wish you all the best as you seek out new opportunities elsewhere” (September 10, Page 10).

■ A forum article incorrectly stated “The authors of Devil’s Advocate endorses”. It was corrected to “The authors of Devil’s Avocate endorse” (September 10, Page 11).

■ A photo in the sports section was incorrectly credited “OWEN CHEN/The Justice”. It was corrected to “OWEN CHAN/The Justice” (September 10, Page 15).

■ A news article incorrectly speelled a source’s name as “Kat Roch.” It was corrected to “Cat Rosch” (September 10, Page 6).

■ A news article incorrectly stated that “60 faculty positions were eliminated.” It was corrected to “60 staff positions were impacted.” (September 10, Page 3).

The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Send an email to editor@thejustice.org.

Left : Small yellow bird perches on a tree branch. Right: A yellow warbler seen sitting on a flowering plant basking in the sun

JONAS KAPLIN/The Justice

Crown Center hosts panel on the Middle East and U.S. Election

■ The panel examined complex regional dynamics and the limits of U.S. involvement in the region.

By DALYA KOLLER JUSTICE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Middle East remains a focal point of global politics as ongoing Israeli-Hamas warfare, Iran’s economic and political turmoil, the hardships faced by Syrian refugees in Turkey and the erosion of democracy in Israel have further destabilized the region’s already delicate balance. On Thursday, Sept. 12, the Crown Center for Middle East Studies hosted a panel of experts to discuss the region’s challenges and how these may intersect with the upcoming United States elections. Moderated by Prof. Eva Bellin (POL), the panel featured Ghaith al-Omari, Michal Ben-Josef Hirsch, Hadi Kahalzadeh, and Nihal Kayali.

Ghaith al-Omari is a Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, former executive director of the American Task Force on Palestine, and former advisor to the negotiating team during the 1999–2001 Oslo Accords. He also held various positions within the Palestinian Authority and served as an advisor to former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. Michal Ben-Josef Hirsch, an associate professor at Suffolk University and former senior fellow at the Crown Center that specializes in international relations, transitional justice and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hadi Kahalzadeh, a junior research fellow at the Crown Center and scholar in Global Development and Sustainability at the University, examines Iran’s political economy and social welfare, focusing on the impact of economic sanctions. Nihal Kayali, also a junior research fellow at the Crown Center, investigates the role of nonstate service providers for Syrian refugees in Turkey, exploring how these configurations adapt to state policies and geopolitical challenges.

Ghaith al-Omari described the Israel-Hamas conflict as having a “huge human toll” and provided a critical perspective by highlighting the widespread nature of suffering. He pointed out the human instinct to claim that one’s own community has a “monopoly on suffering,” but stressed that pain and hardship are widespread and not confined to any single group. He emphasized the importance of acknowledging all aspects of the conflict, including the Hamas terror attacks on Oct. 7, the suffering of the hostages and their families, and the devastating loss of life in Gaza. He argued that we must acknowledge this devastation both from a moral perspective as well as a political perspective and that “policy needs to be rooted in a human perspective.”

While al-Omari acknowledged the right of any nation to defend itself following a terror attack like Oct. 7, drawing comparisons with the U.S.’ military action in the post-9/11 era, he noted that even if a war is deemed just, the means of conducting it may not be. He said that there have been “clear violations of the rules of war” (a widespread and hotly

BRIEF

debated notion still being investigated by bodies like the International Criminal Court, though affirmed by the United Nations) by Israel in its current war in Gaza and stressed the importance of planning a future exit strategy.

“Starting a war is much easier than ending a war,” AlOmari noted, adding that ultimately, “the war is going to be over…and we have to find a path out of that.” Both Palestinians and Israelis will remain in the region long after the war ends, he emphasized, and therefore it is necessary to work towards a sustainable solution for lasting peace.

Al-Omari also observed that despite widespread discourse on preventing a broader regional war, he has never seen so many simultaneous open fronts in the Middle East. He points to ongoing conflicts in the Red Sea, Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza, remarking, “For heaven’s sake, the Jordanians are bombing Syria, and the Iranians are trying to invade Jordan,” referring to May 2023 Jordanian airstrikes in Syria and a June 2024 report on Iran doing “everything they can to destabilize Jordan” during the Israel-Hamas war. He called for U.S. involvement in developing exit strategies, potentially in collaboration with Saudi Arabia, and emphasized the importance of rebuilding the Palestinian Authority, addressing intra-Arab tensions, and considering Iran’s critical role in the region, including concerns related to sanctions on Iran and its nuclear capabilities.

Michal Ben-Josef Hirsch discussed the erosion of democracy in Israel, explaining that although the 2023 proposed judicial reforms garnered worldwide attention, the democratic “backsliding” in Israeli politics started roughly a decade ago. Hirsch categorized this democratic backsliding into three areas: leadership, institutional changes, and shifts in citizens’ values.

Hirsch highlighted significant institutional changes, noting the impact of laws like the Nakba Law and the 2018 Nation-State Law. The Nakba Law restricts state funding to institutions that commemorate Israel’s establishment as a day of mourning or that question Israel’s identity as a Jewish state, and thus has raised concerns about freedom of speech. Amidst other controversial details, the Nation-State Law enshrines, in Israeli law, the state of Israel as “the nation-state of the Jewish people” and limits the “right of national selfdetermination in the State of Israel” as “unique to the Jewish people.” The new law has been criticized for undermining Israel’s self-defined status as a “Jewish and democratic state.” The law’s lack of an equality clause for Palestinian and Arab-Israelis and its provisions favoring land allocation for Jewish citizens have sparked both domestic and international backlash, with critics arguing that it exacerbates tensions and undermines democratic principles.

In discussing the current war’s impact on this erosion, Hirsch noted that while the conflict might have temporarily halted internal democratic erosion by ushering in a unity government, it has also intensified populist and nationalist rhetoric, leading to long-term societal shifts, pointing to the temporary shutting down of local operations of the Qatari

Student Union encounters ballot issue during fall elections

On Sept. 16, the Brandeis Student Union announced it had to re-run elections for the Myra Kraft Achievers Program seat. Student government conducted its Fall SU election on Sept. 13 and says that no other contests appear to have been impacted. Results for the SU election were scheduled to be released Monday Sept. 16 but have since been delayed.

In her email to students on Monday morning, Student Union Secretary Rachel Gao ’25 shared that there was an “issue with the MKAP Senator position ballot” and that new ballots would be sent out to all MKAP students to cast

their vote for the MKAP Senate seat. New ballots were sent out Monday afternoon and students were given 24 hours to cast their ballots.

In a Sept. 16 email to The Justice, Student Union President Rani Balakrishna ’25 explained that the occurrence was a “genuine mistake.” She shared that the issue was that Qualtrix survey — the software used to cast votes — restricted voting for the Myra Kraft Achievers Program seat to only freshmen. Balakrishna emphasized that all students of the Myra Kraft Achievers Program are eligible to vote and “that is what will happen with this makeup vote.”

news network Al Jazeera this past May as an example. This move, widely criticized as anti-democratic, reflects a troubling trend towards increased radicalization and a strengthening of police forces in Israel.

Hadi Kahalzadeh provided a comprehensive overview of Iran’s multifaceted crises. First, the country faces severe economic issues, with high inflation, mounting debt to the Central Bank, and a poverty rate of 21.90% as of 2022. Second, there is widespread public dissatisfaction, with 92% of Iranians unhappy with their situation and a drastic decline in election turnout. Third, according to Kahalzadeh, leadership under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who is 85, has been widely criticized for its ineffectiveness in addressing the country’s problems, leading to a lack of optimism for future changes. Finally, Kahalzadeh discussed the impact of international sanctions, noting that while recent U.S. sanctions target Iran’s military ties with Russia and its nuclear program, they have not significantly altered Iran’s regional influence or nuclear ambitions. Kahalzadeh argues that Iran must engage with the West for long-term solutions, as reliance on Russia and China provides only short-term relief.

Nihal Kayali discussed the complex situation of Syrian refugees in Turkey, highlighting that the country hosts one of the largest refugee populations globally, with around 3 million registered Syrian refugees and many more unregistered. The refugee crisis, which began in 2011, gained international attention in 2015/2016 when many Syrians sought refuge in Europe. In response, the European Union struck a deal with Turkey, financially supporting the country to manage the influx of refugees.

Kayali noted two main strands of difficulty: the immediate humanitarian crisis exacerbated by a catastrophic earthquake near the border with Northern Syria in Feb. 2023, which devastated areas where many refugees live and the broader economic and social challenges facing Turkey. The country’s economic downturn has led to rising costs of living and increasing xenophobia, with Syrians often becoming scapegoats for societal problems. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who initially adopted an open-door policy for refugees as part of his vision to position Turkey as a humanitarian leader and a Sunni-Muslim arbiter, used this stance to secure EU funds to help the refugees and bolster his political position. However, Kayali pointed out that soon after securing these agreements, Erdogan began restricting refugee protections, tightening border controls, and shifting his focus back to his political agendas.

All four speakers expressed limited optimism about the impact of U.S. elections on their respective fields, suggesting that while political changes in the U.S. might affect smaller details or nuances, they are unlikely to significantly alter the broader dynamics of their areas of expertise. While acknowledging the gravity and difficult aspects of the issues and conflicts discussed, the atmosphere remained warm, with an engaging Q&A session and a shared Middle Eastern dinner contributing to a sense of camaraderie.

According to Balakrishna, the issue was not new to the election cycle. It had been “overlooked in past years” and was only caught this week.

Balakrishna wants to reassure students that the Qualtrix survey is “secure” explaining that only students from Brandeis can vote and vote only once.

As a result of the issue, release of all election results will be postponed until Tuesday Sept. 17.

— Lin Lin Hutchinson Graphics

Waltham City Council declares National Hispanic Heritage Month

■ Council member Carlos Vidal advocates for unity and highlights contributions of Hispanic Americans to the Waltham community.

By LIN LIN HUTCHINSON JUSTICE EDITOR

On Sept. 9, the Waltham City Council unanimously decided to observe & celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15.

In the United States, the month-long celebration of the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America began in 1968 with the observation of Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson. Twenty years later, under President Ronald Reagan, the week-long celebration expanded to cover a 30-day period, beginning on Sept. 15 and ending on Oct. 15.

During the Sept. 9 City Council meeting, the resolution was presented by the Councillor at Large, Carlos Vidal, who was elected as the first Hispanic Waltham council member in 2015. His first run for public office was in 2013, where he lost with 2,238 votes. In a 2015 interview with Patch, Vidal shared that in the 1980s, he, his brother and his mother had fled violence and terrorism that Peru was experiencing. They settled in Braintree, Massachusetts where Vidal attended Braintree Public Schools. Prior to his 2015 win, he was a real estate agent living in Waltham.

“Hispanic American or Latinos have played and will continue to play a key role in our country’s proud heritage,” Vidal said in an address to the rest of the council. “Our nation’s diversity has always been one of our strongest assets in a valuable component to our multicultural society.”

In his presentation, Vidal shared how Waltham is a “welcoming city to everyone who has decided to make the Watch City their home.” He notes that close to 16% of Waltham’s population is Hispanic and more than 45% of students in Waltham Public Schools are Hispanic.

Reflecting on his personal experiences and the broader immigrant experience, Vidal expressed a desire to focus on commonalities rather than differences.

“We all know that being an immigrant,

and in my case a Latino immigrant in this country, comes with shares of struggles. The challenges we face are real, but so is our determination to overcome them,” said Vidal. “But tonight, I don’t want to dwell on how we are different. Instead I want to focus on how we are the same.”

Vidal went on to elaborate that immigrant or not, everyone shares the same desire for a “better future” that benefits everyone.

“We work hard not just for ourselves, but for our family, neighbors, and our community,” the Councilor at Large said. “We are not just Latinos. We are Waltham residents, Massachusetts residents, and proud Americans.”

Vidal concludes his presentation emphasizing the importance to unite around the common goals of making the communities stronger, more inclusive, and more prosperous for everyone.

“So as we celebrate our heritage,” he says, “let us celebrate our unity, our shared values and the strength we gain from working as a community.”

Vidal presented the resolution in 2016, but it is unclear what had happened to the proposal. On Sept. 9, all 15 city council members approved the resolution, fulfilling Vidal’s eight year endeavor.

On Sept. 16, the Brandeis community received a joint email from Director of the Intercultural Center, Peter Rojas and the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lee Bitsóí recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month.

“We are excited to announce our recognition and celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month at Brandeis!” the email began. Bitsóí and Rojas go on to share two events and online resources that celebrate the occasion.

The first of two events will take place on Sept. 20. The Brandeis International Business School is scheduled to host Veronica Robles, founder of the first all female Mariachi group in Boston. Students are encouraged to attend between 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. for music, dance and food. The second event highlighted will be hosted by the Brandeis Latinx Student Organization. The student led club will be hosting its annual culture show, Incendio, on Oct. 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Levin Ballroom.

As of press time there does not appear to be any organized events scheduled in the City of Waltham during the 30 day long observance.

Gravity magazine on hiatus

■ Club president Amelia Minchin shares the value of satirical literature on college campuses.

By LIN LIN HUTCHINSON JUSTICE EDITOR

As Brandeis students return to campus for the new semester, many students learned of disappointing news: Gravity Magazine, the comedic lifeline of the university, is on hiatus. Yes, the one magazine that’s been a go-to source for everything from out-ofcontext professor quotes to a satirical spin on President Ronald Liebowitz’s emails, is set to take a break this semester.

On the evening of Sept. 4, members of Gravity Magazine received an email from its president, Amelia Minchin ’26, sharing “devastating news.”

“GRAVITY WILL BE TAKING A HIATUS IN FALL 2024,” wrote Minchin.

In her email, Minchin explained that she, the self-proclaimed “fearful President,” will be studying abroad in the United Kingdom while Logan Miller ’26, the “fearless Vice President,” will be abroad in the spring, but is currently juggling responsibilities with two other clubs, making it “not feasible” to produce a publication this fall.

Gravity was founded in 1990 by Noel Rappin ’93, Matthew Cohen ’93, and Jason Schneiter ’93. According to the club’s Campus Groups page, this student-run satirical magazine takes pride in defying the norms of traditional media that obsess over “ quality” and speling.” Yes, that’s how they spelled it. The club publishes a magazine at the end of each semester, and during the school year, as writers craft their jokes and make sure every punchline lands, Brandeis students turn to Gravity’s Instagram to find humor in shared frustrations, turning everyday annoyances into comic relief.

Discussions about the magazine’s status began toward the end of the 2024 spring semester when the leadership learned about their study abroad approvals. Minchin explained that several options were considered to keep the club active this semester, including holding meetings without pub -

lishing, running Zoom meetings from the UK, and finding replacements to take over. Ultimately, it was deemed too “time-consuming” and involved considerable effort, including securing funding and training a new leader.

“I left it open for members who might want to step up,” Minchin said in a Sept. 9 phone call with The Justice, “but it’s a lot of work,” which is why no existing club members could take on the responsibility.

Minchin described how the club typically holds weekly meetings where members write, workshop and submit their stories, as well as participate in group editing sessions. She added that the club tries to “keep it pretty open” by accepting content from students who can’t attend weekly meetings but are interested in comedy, writing, photoshop, drawing, and humor-related content.

Minchin also pointed out the value satirical media has on college campuses as a means for students to express their feelings through a “creative exercise.”

For many students, college can quickly become a source of frustration and dissatisfaction. At Brandeis, issues such as student financial insecurity, dining frustrations, recent layoffs, racism and misconduct, and the administration’s handling of world events have all contributed to a growing sense of discontent. In response, students find ways to express their frustrations by organizing, protesting, unionizing, starting petitions, and meeting with the university administration.

“Gravity really gives students freedom to express their thoughts, opinions, [and] grievances about what’s going on in their lives, what’s going on at the university,” Minchin said. “We’re pretty open about what we let people publish as long as something’s not blatantly offensive.”

In her email with disappointing news, the president assured club members to not worry.

“I can hear all of you weeping at this great loss,” Minchin wrote, but “Fear not as...

GRAVITY WILL RETURN IN SPRING 2025.”

In the meantime, members are encouraged to write articles, brainstorm ideas, and reflect on their passion for the magazine.

SUNSET: A setting sun paints the sky various hues of yellow and orange.

JONAS KAPLIN/The Justice

GRAVITY: A collection of previous issues are scattered on a table. Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY

Graphics courtesy of CANVA and ELIZABETH LIU/The Justice

ELECTION: Official results of Waltham's Sept. 3 primary election

Maria C. Curtatone — Democrat — ran unopposed for Register of Deeds Middlesex South, winning Waltham 5,032 votes with 26 write-ins and 1,108 blank ballots. An incumbent, she has served as the Register of Deeds since 2013. Her website elevates her achievements, such as “digitization and online availability of ALL recorded land books and registered land case plans,” “Homestead informational sessions to educate constituents,” and “consumer alerts to protect constituents from potentially costly solicitations and unauthorized recordings.”

Three Republican candidates ran for Massachusetts Senator: Robert J. Antonellis, Ian Cain and John Deaton. They received 448 votes, 96 votes and 821 votes respectively with Deaton winning Waltham. There were two write-ins and 18 blank ballots. Deaton is also the candidate to advance from the Republican Primary and will be appear-

ing on the Nov. 5 ballot. Deaton, U.S. Marine veteran and cancer survivor, presents himself as a champion for “underdogs.” He also takes a special interest in cryptocurrencies.

Carly Marie Downs, a Republican, ran unopposed for Representative in General Court for Ninth Middlesex District. She won Waltham with 685 votes, with 17 write-ins and 374 blank ballots. She champions herself as a representative for small business, her website stating that she ran because she is “sick and tired of our elected officials doing nothing to change the status quo.”

Comparing this primary with Waltham’s 2020 state primary reveals that somewhat fewer voters showed up to the polls this year, despite a relatively constant population size.

MEETING: Faculty discuss vote of no confidence in President Liebowitz

CONTINUED FROM 1

believes that it is the responsibility of the faculty to provide the board with information and publicly express their dissatisfaction with Liebowitz. Plotz stated “we have a rare chance to speak our piece today, it shouldn’t be rare but in this University right now it is” as his final call to action. In an email exchange with The Justice on Sept. 14, Plotz elaborated on his concerns around the events of Nov. 10. He expressed that while he among other faculty members have had concerns regarding the leadership of the University for a while, “November 10 however was a precipitating factor for many people to speak out, when they saw how far the university had come from its tradition of defending free expression and free speech and never responding to words with violence — in that case, as I saw first-hand, police violence against protestors who were already dispersing peacefully.” When asked what qualities he would like to see if a leadership change were to take place, Plotz responded “Brandeis is a diverse university with many strengths: its leader does not need to champion one thing about it, but to value all its facets and work tirelessly to promote its 75 year tradition of research excellence, devotion to teaching, and social justice orientation. They should stand for who we are, and make everyone feel welcome, while explaining our strengths to the world so people want to learn and work here, and donors want to support what we do. That is a tall order — but every Presidential search always is!”

In this same email, Plotz expressed that he is not as concerned with the potential results of this vote, but rather is focused on the risks of inaction as a more harmful option. He stated “Where we are now is not where we should be … The Board has already expressed its dissatisfaction publicly with the present administration in many ways. It will be their decision what action to take to stop our current downward slide — our job is simply to pass on faculty judgment, so that they can process that information.” The Justice also asked if he believed that the Board of Trustees would take the faculty opinion into consideration when thinking about the future of leadership at Brandeis. In response, Plotz said “I hope so. Studies show that slightly more than half of Presidents who have gone through a faculty No Confidence vote are on their way out within a year. Our Board in past crises has shown itself capable of hearing from the faculty. It should never have come to this vote, because they should have heard our reasonable criticisms of the President’s way of running the university long before this, It is very unfortunate that in the past few years the President has changed policy to make it harder for the Board to hear directly from the faculty in ordinary course of things — perhaps this crisis will encourage him, and future Presidents, to keep those line of communication wider open as they were in the past.”

The next speaker against the motion was a professor from the biology department, who spoke about the true importance of the vote, and called for people to “look at the data objectively.” The speaker seconded the statement made by Nelson, that when comparing Brandeis to other institutions, it is important to choose ones that align with the size and history of Brandeis. He expressed concerns regarding the bias of the University and expressed that the statistics shared by those who proposed the motion, are not enough to go through this vote. He called for transparency if this vote is related to the political position of the University, rather than the financial one, as this is something that has been discussed in previous meetings.

The seventh speaker in this meeting was Prof. Marya Levenson (EDU), who is also a Brandeis alumna, celebrating her 60th reunion this year. She started by saying “I love Brandeis and am incredibly concerned that leadership is taking Brandeis in the wrong direction.” Levenson spoke of student commitment to social justice, and explained that the University is a place where students can come and learn with and from professors who are passionate about both their own research and teaching. Levenson then expressed that she feels what has happened over the past year has harmed the Brandeis community, and cited the events of Nov. 10 as a main reason. She then went on to focus her statement on the layoffs of 60 administrative staff that took place following graduation last spring, explaining that “some of them have worked at Brandeis for 25 or 36 years.” Levenson explained that these employees were mostly women who were not well paid and ultimately not offered any type of early retirement, but “they loved working here. They were the stalwarts who knew the history of their departments and could answer student’s questions. They provided a sense of belonging in our community. Now even the much smaller cohort of administrators that remains have been assigned double responsibilities and will not be easy to access when one has questions.” She went on to explain that what happened to administrators is now happening to janitorial staff and many are afraid that contract faculty will be the next affected. Levenson continued, explaining that many faculty are unhappy with the current state of the University and only attend now to teach and research, not to be involved. She expressed dissatisfaction with the potential elimination of three hour long classes, and emphasized the need to consult with faculty and staff regarding decisions such as this one. She concluded her statement with a call to action for everyone to consider the future direction of the University.

In an email correspondence with The Justice on Sept. 13, Levenson explained that she “was quite impressed that whether faculty members spoke in favor or against the motion, all of us care so deeply about our university.” She also advised that alum-

ni continue to donate to the University moving forward, just as she does herself. Following Levenson, Prof. Eve Marder (BIOL) spoke against the motion. Marder is also a Brandeis alumna, who graduated in 1969 and has experienced every University president during her time as a student and as a faculty member. She expressed that she has heard complaints about every president. Marder then went on to emphasize that this motion was proposed before the recent changes to the upcoming United States presidential elections. Marder stated “I for one don’t think it makes sense to do anything until we know who the next president of the United States is because if the wrong things happen in the election I think we’re gonna be in a bunch of trouble.” She went on to say “If we have a president who wants to destroy the [National Institute of Health], destroy the [National Science Foundation], destroy the Department of Education, et cetera, then we’re gonna be facing a lot more difficult problems than we’re gonna be facing otherwise.” Marder then closed her statement by stating that she has seen many presidents make many mistakes, but she has never seen the levels of diversity that Brandeis currently has.

In an email correspondence with The Justice on Sept. 13, Marder shared more of her story as a member of the Brandeis community. She detailed the dismal state she has seen the campus in, including lack of landscaping and leaks left unfixed in Gerstenzang 122. Marder stated “My favorite President was Evelyn Handler (whom most of the faculty hated) because she landscaped the campus, planted flowers, fixed the leaks and built the new field house (which is not new any longer). She was outspoken and tough and you always knew what she was thinking.” She also shared the difficulties of the Covid-19 pandemic, and what it took to come back from that challenge: “The hardest challenge in recent years was COVID recovery, rebuilding a sense of community. In the sciences our communities have largely recovered because most people have to come to campus for their work, although in the beginning it was hard to get people off Zoom and back in person. They are now back. My undergraduates join a community of scientists in the lab and benefit enormously.” When asked if she had any advice to share with current students or new Brandeis alumni, Marder shared “My advice to you all is to speak your minds, and somehow try to figure out whose realities can be trusted. As the world is more and more fractionated, it is harder and harder to find real communities. And it is more and more important to find in-person contacts with other interesting people.”

The next professor to take the stand in favor of the motion expressed that he has been at Brandeis for 40 years, and this specific financial crisis is more concerning to him than those he has seen in the past. He addressed the concerns that Brandeis’ fragile position could be worsened by passing this motion, explaining that “someone has put us in this fragile position,” calling the faculty to find a way to think around that concern. He also discussed the erosion of the faculty governance during his time at the University, explaining that “faculty don’t feel like they are really a part of the solution here,” as opposed to other financial crises in the past. The speaker addressed that he has expressed love for "the poverty" of the University, as it has “meant that we faculty were always encouraged to improvise, to find interesting ways of doing interesting things.” He explained that this allowed faculty to be energized by “the poverty” instead of demoralized by it. However, “now we are being demoralized. What has happened with the firing of so much staff and the collapse of departments and majors, with the shrinking of our aspirations, is intensely demoralizing and that is really bad for leadership.”

Prof. Avital Rodal (BIOL) was the next to speak against the motion, expressing that mismanagement of finances does not just fall under the responsibility of Liebowitz. Rodal then emphasized that the staffing cuts were done by the entire leadership team, not just the president. In saying that, she also acknowledged that they “could have been done with much more grace.” Rodal continued on, asking her colleagues to be realistic when it comes to their vote, citing the relationship that Liebowitz has with the Board of Trustees, and explaining that it is unlikely for the vote to culminate in anything other than “bad press and loss of support.” She then goes on to express concern regarding the loss of relationships built by Liebowitz and potential years of interim leadership and reshuffling of the current leadership team. Rodal cited Harvard University as “keeping their interim president until 2027,” explaining that this is not a position that the Brandeis faculty want to be in. She expressed how hard it may be for people on either side to speak up regarding the feelings surrounding the motion, stating “I don’t think the voices that you are hearing actually represent the breadth of worry about this motion across this University,” and concluded her statement by encouraging everyone to vote as they see fit even if they do not feel comfortable speaking out in faculty meetings.

In a Sept. 13 email correspondence with The Justice, Rodal spoke positively about the decision to take the summer and continue thinking about the vote of no confidence, in agreement with the petition that circulated following graduation. In regards to the meeting that took place following the summer, she stated “I'm glad that we had a collegial discussion today and that so many faculty were in attendance to hear each other's voices. I hope that waiting over the summer gave people a chance to think it through and may have contributed to our ability to have a productive conversation.” When

asked about her faith in the leadership of President Liebowitz moving forward, Rodal shared “I believe that President Liebowitz can lead us through the changes necessary to remain competitive, sustainable, and true to our values — provided our board and alumni follow through with their support and philanthropy. At the same time there is obviously room for improvement in listening to and taking account of the opinions of our diverse community in his decision-making process, to better serve our interests. With our supporters' backing and a commitment to more open dialogue, I'm confident the faculty can work together with the President to address our long-standing structural challenges and set a course for a promising future.”

The next speaker was Prof. Nina Kammerer (ANTH), who told a personal story about childhood, explaining how her father, an artist, shared with her how Brandeis is a place where all are respected no matter their field of study, and how anyone could come here to receive a liberal arts education. Kammerer went on to discuss infrastructure issues causing studios to be unusable, and stating “the creative arts do not have the value that they had before in terms of the way that they are supported. The same is true for the humanities.” She expressed her love for the sciences, but called for much more evenness in support than is seen now. Kammerer also expressed dissatisfaction in the removal of seminar slots, stating that “seminars are really important in education,” explaining that they provide much needed opportunities for students to practice skills such as critical thinking. She concluded her statement by saying that she felt as though the community has previously been more welcoming, and citing a potential reason for that in President Liebowitz.

The next speaker to speak against this motion was Prof. Bernard Yack (POL), who emphasized that the motion is “not a survey of how well we think the president is doing his job,” instead explaining that it is the faculty expressing that he is doing the job so badly that he should not be able to continue at all. He reviewed what a vote of no confidence could potentially accomplish, and concluded the list by explaining how each of the outcomes could potentially be unhelpful. The only thing that he felt was handled incorrectly were the events of Nov. 10, but expressed understanding that all university presidents had to handle these situations in their own ways. Yack then stated “if you think that the Brandeis Board of Trustees is going to be the only major university board that removes a president because they were too soft on the Palestinian protestors, you’re living in dreamland.” He then expressed his intention to vote against the motion.

Following Yack, Prof. Naghmeh Sohrabi (HIST) provided a short statement regarding her favor of the motion. “If the condition for taking action is certainty that things will get better, then so many things that would be considered progress in the world would not happen. Science is entirely based on not knowing what’s going to happen, but conducting the experiment is taking action to find out.” She then continued on to explain that social movements are based “not on uncertainty for the future but certainty of the morality of the present and hope that something better will come.” Sohrabi emphasized that if nothing is done, nothing can be expected to change, instead expressing that if nothing is done then agency is given to others — the Brandeis administration — to take action or not. She closed her statement by saying “if we act, it might not get better but at least we acted on the moral certainty that things are not ok right now,” and expressed her gratitude for the faculty members on the other side of the issue for what they have taught her through these discussions, but called for them to provide evidence for the claims that they are making regarding what could result in this vote, such as loss of the capital campaign.

In an email correspondence with The Justice on Sept. 13, Sohrabi was asked to further elaborate on comments made regarding the need to take action. In response, Sohrabi stated “I am grateful to the faculty Senate for giving everyone an opportunity to present their case for and against the motion. Personally, I am taking it all in and thinking about the various arguments made and weighing them against each other. The specific comments I made were in response to colleagues who argue that the faculty should vote against the no confidence motion because we do not know what will happen and that uncertainty in these uncertain times will make things only worse. What I said is that if the condition for taking action was certainty about the outcome, we would have no progress — not in the sciences nor in society. From scientific discoveries to social movements against injustice, change happens when people take a leap into the future. That leap is made from a sense of purpose and moral judgment of the present and a hope for a better future.”

The next speaker to express their concerns with the motion was Prof. Anna Scherbina (FIN), who discussed University finances in response to the statement made by Sohrabi. She focuses her research on corporate finance and mutual funds, and explained the potential determinants of loss of leadership, detailing the potential need for mutual funds to shut down. She also detailed the negative consequences of loss of leadership in corporate settings, including uncertainty and the abandonment of projects. Scherbina explained that “In a period of uncertainty investments dry up, new projects dry up because everybody waits for the uncertainty to be resolved.” She also seconded the statements made by Rodal, when referring to the difficulty of finding a new university president, and the potential period between leaders. Scherbina explained that alumni she has had interactions with have

been very supportive of the president and voiced concerns regarding the loss of their support if this motion were to pass. In email correspondence with The Justice on Sept. 16, Scherbina stated “The older a university is, the easier it is to do fundraising. Additionally, because we are small, we do not have as many professional schools as the peers that were chosen in the meeting,” in response to the schools that Brandeis was being compared to in terms of finances, endowment and enrollment. Following Scherbina, Prof. ChaeRan Freeze (HIST) spoke, citing Liebowitz’s term at Middlebury College as a cautionary tale. She explained that “President Liebowitz formed a non-profit joint venture between Middlebury and K-12 to create Middlebury Interactive Languages using the college’s endowment fund.” Freeze explained that the Middlebury faculty strongly opposed this venture, and held concerns regarding the academic standards of K-12. The faculty voted in favor of cutting ties with K-12, and this vote was ignored, as Liebowitz cited “a silver lining about the positive impact of a virtual language program.” This program continued to decline following this statement. A vote of no confidence in Liebowitz took place, and he departed the university. Following the departure, the new president “had to take legal measures in 2016, to sell off 40% stake in the company and regain its trademark name.” After all of this was ultimately settled, “Middlebury shifted to a new direction under a new president.” Freeze ended her statement by reemphasizing that a vote of no confidence did not spell the end for Middlebury and doesn’t have to for Brandeis either. The final new speaker of the meeting was Prof. Jonathan Sarna (NEJS), who spoke about the number of transfers previously mentioned by Fierke. Sarna stated “people need to know that many of these transfers came because they were at Universities where Jewish students suffer and they saw our president speaking out for the rights of Jewish students and acting on their behalf, saying he had their back and acting accordingly and they came here in large numbers.” He also detailed that new money has been seen from Jewish donors across the country, explaining that this acceptance reminded them of the reasoning behind the creation of Brandeis, and explaining how Brandeis is moving back in the direction of becoming a safe haven for Jewish students. Sarna explained that the Jewish community is watching this vote, stating “the question really is whether we will support the president in this endeavor, to bring back Jewish donors, to [support] Jewish students, who in many cases are now homeless, or whether we want to subvert that effort, deny our history … which is so much a part of the battle against hate.” Sarna went on to emphasize the importance of the way this affects the community outside of Brandeis, and connects it to support for Israel, explaining that the decision to not support will have negative consequences for the name Brandeis.

In an email correspondence on Sept. 13, Sarna clarified to The Justice that the phrase “homeless” was referring to his experience “[speaking] to several transfers who told stories about how they were made unwelcome at their (previous) home universities — they were socially ostracized for supporting Israel and in some cases physically threatened.” He also elaborated on the potential outcome for the University as it continues to increase the percentage of Jewish students, explaining “The percentage of Jewish students at Brandeis was about 75% when I was a student. It went down to about 30% and has risen now to about a third. Given Brandeis' history, it seems to me that now, when (according to studies by Len Saxe and Eitan Hersh), students who are Jewish and/or support Israel pay a huge social penalty for doing so, we should offer those students a haven at Brandeis. That may well mean that the percentage of Jewish students on campus would rise.” Sarna also was able to clarify the importance of Israel in this situation, telling The Justice “Pres. Liebowitz has won praise among Jews everywhere for his staunch support of Jewish students and of Israel. A negative vote will be regarded as a no-confidence vote in those policies, and would bode ill for Brandeis' bid to attract Jewish students and to win Jewish communal support.” This email exchange ended with Sarna explaining the true need for a safe haven for Jewish students, explaining “Brandeis is the only non-sectarian Historically Jewish University in America. Just as I believe there should be Historically Black Colleges so I think our one and only Brandeis should be cherished and nurtured.” Following all of these speakers, Rodal requested her second chance to speak. She responded to questions about alumni losing faith in the University, explaining that alumni she has spoken with throughout her fundraising efforts for the University have expressed their support for President Liebowitz and his actions. Mayorga then utilized her second chance to speak to clarify the list of peer institutions that had been previously presented, citing G14 boston area schools as Brandeis equivalents while mentioning that the last two on the list, Rice and Dartmouth, were chosen because “Ron, President Liebowitz mentions them as peer institutions, he did that at the community listening session in June.” This meeting then concluded as no one held any objections regarding ending debate and sending the motion to a full faculty vote. This vote will take place through an email sent to the full faculty and the results will be concluded before the next faculty meeting on Oct. 18.

Reality is something you rise above.

ON THIS DAY…

The Constitution of the United States was completed and signed in 1787.

FUN FACT

September was the seventh month of the year on the Roman calendar until the advent of the Gregorian calendar.

Seniors flee off campus for their final college housing

Amidst high campus boarding costs and low chances at the housing lottery, many seniors have placed more trust in Waltham landlords than the Department of Community Living.

For many undergraduates, the last few years at Brandeis have been anything but stable – over admittance has created a seemingly perpetual housing crisis, with student anxieties only exacerbated by massive budget cuts and continued silence from administration. With each passing year, it feels less and less desirable to participate in the Brandeis spiritual ecosystem.

This is especially true for seniors, for whom living off campus was already well within bounds – leaving felt nothing short of necessary. “If you live on campus,” said Gonny Nir ’25 in a Sept. 14 interview with The Justice, “there will be no sanity. There will be insanity.”

Living in Waltham has presented a completely different way of life for many Brandeis upperclassmen, some of whom are fed up with the insular nature of the campus and its social atmosphere. Nir’s housemate Molly Brown ’25 told The Justice on Sept. 14, “All of the dorms have very specific memories attached to them.

And it’s nice to be in a space that’s new. It’s such a small campus that it all has a lot associated with it, and it’s good to be able to get out of that.” With a total 3,687 enrolled undergraduate students this year, Brandeis is half the size of the average American college — 6,354 students — according to US News. After three years, one has to throw up their hands.

Not only does the Brandeis campus prove emotionally exhausting for certain seniors, but the cost of living ceases to make sense after a certain time. Edgar

Garcia ’25 lives on campus in suite-style housing with friends, and though he appreciates access to the dining hall, being required to pay for it strips the buffet of some of its luster. Nir, on the other hand, prefers her autonomous kitchen, instead of the ‘panopticon-esque’ campus dining system that “controls what I eat and when.”

Garcia is returning to living on campus after subletting in Waltham during the summer, and continued in a Sept. 13 interview with The Justice, “when you’re living on campus, it’s a big bubble – Brandeis is not representative of the rest of Waltham almost at all… [Living in Waltham] really prepares you for the world in different ways and gets you ingrained in the outer society.”

Some seniors ask, in their quest to escape Brandeis, why stop at Waltham? Kiah Holmstrom ’25 took the liberty of moving all the way to Jamaica Plain for her senior year, rooming with a recent Brandeis alumnus. “Was I forced to live in the city? Absolutely not,” she told The Justice on Sept. 14. “But if I’m paying the amount that I pay in rent, I’d rather be in Boston.” Because so many Waltham landlords have relationships with students, and houses are passed from friends to friends, South Street and Prospect Street still present a fairly saturated Brandeisian environment. But Holmstrom lives a different life. “I have a much clearer work-life balance. The commute is a con, but all things considered, it’s really not that bad.”

Additionally, besides students,

By LEA ZAHARONI JUSTICE SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Waltham has a specific demographic. “Like, if I was an adult that had a family and needed a suburb to live in, Waltham would be a great place to live. But, as a college student, it’s kind of an insular community that takes you to Moody Street and back,” Holmstrom said. If Brandeis won‘t prioritize housing, she reasons, it should at least create more opportunities for students to traverse the areas surrounding campus.

“If you’re bragging about how clo-

se we are to the city, I feel like you should at least be utilizing more services to bring kids to said city. But yeah, I’m not making those decisions,” Holmstrom said. “The massive con is that we over admit students and can’t figure out that housing is a priority, and instead choose to finance an engineering school.”

And yet, for some seniors, campus works just fine. Garcia’s roommates called convenience the biggest draw, as well as the

daily buffet, in their group interview with The Justice. “You’re a lot closer to everything, easier to get to classes. You’re on campus and stuff that’s going on, you can be more a part of the community,” said Nathan Donner ’25. Interestingly, being a part of the community is the exact thing pushing other seniors away from campus.

The small size of the campus does present a double-edged sword – extreme convenience in exchange for extreme exposure. Nir commented on the allure of the former. “Those are valid calculations to make – that living on campus, it’s convenient. And I think that’s the biggest draw to it. And I think that if you’re okay with compromising on convenience, then living off campus makes way more sense.” And on the similarly double-edged community aspect, Nir offered a larger conclusion on life at small colleges.

“I think we all have this idea in our heads that college is a liberating time in our lives. And I think that being in college shows you that it’s not liberating at all because the University is like a parent. And so being off campus gives me the kind of liberation that I think I’ve been seeking for a while out of university life.”

APARTMENT: Molly Brown ’25 sits at her kitchen table in her off-campus apartment.

LEA ZAHARONI/The Justice

WINDOWSILL: For some seniors, living off-campus has helped improve work-life balance.

GRACE DOH/The Justice ISLAND: Living off campus provides some students a sense of liberation.

GRACE DOH/The Justice

Upward BoUnd gives waltham yoUths academic commUnity: a conversation with program director naomi Brown-Jones

After a successful second summer of giving rising freshmen at Waltham High School academic support and opportunities to form community ties, Upward Bound director Naomi Brown-Jones discusses the program’s mission, current operations, and more.

Naomi Brown-Jones, director of the Upward Bound program at Brandeis, joined the University in October of 2022 after serving as an academic and transfer counselor at Massachusetts Bay Community College. Having spent her entire career in higher education, Jones has dedicated years to helping underserved populations — from students of color to first generation students — see the purpose of higher education and find a passion for the educational environment.

Jones attributes her purpose in higher education to her own background as a first generation college graduate and Upward Bound alumna. With the support and safe spaces that the Upward Bound community provided her, Jones went on to study sociology at university. Jones values the development that can happen on a college campus, and wishes it for all of her students.

Upward Bound is part of the federally funded TRIO educational programs. The Brandeis chapter started with only Jones and the grant application. Without any kind of prior infrastructure, she built the program, formed relationships and recruited students. Currently, Upward Bound offers an immersive summer program for rising Waltham high schoolers on the Brandeis campus, tutoring during the academic year, and college preparatory programs among other initiatives. Jones spoke with The Justice on Sept. 12 about these endeavors.

What are the objectives of the program?

“Upward Bound is one of the original TRIO programs. And we’ve been around since the 60s. Institutions of higher education and community based organizations have the opportunity every five years to apply for Upward Bound funding from the Department of Education. So, in 2021, Brandeis made the decision to apply for that funding and we were awarded.

The overall goal of Upward Bound is to help ensure that students who identify as first-gen and/or low income are able to successfully complete a college education. We will track our students; so we have had 17 students graduate from the program in the last two years and they’ve all gone on to either a four-year or a twoyear college or university and we’ll track them up until they graduate.

One of our deliverables is what percentage of your students are actually completing a degree, so the idea is that through Upward Bound programming — which looks like after-school tutoring during the academic year, college visits, different interactive field trips — we do a lot of rewarding academic excellence in our program. I just took a bunch of students who got honor roll at the end of last academic year to a football game at Boston College last Saturday. We do a lot of that during the academic year.

And then the cornerstone of Upward Bound programming is our summer program. So every Upward Bound project is expected to provide six weeks of summer programming to our students. So we provide a six-week day program here at Brandeis and it’s really supposed to function as a mini college experience because these are students that don’t necessarily have a point of reference when it comes to college that comes from within their own families. [This is true] particularly here in Waltham because a lot of our students

that we’re serving come from recently arrived families. A lot of families that have just come in from Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico — they have really no point of reference when it comes to the American education system. Joining Upward Bound really gives them people to talk to, mentors, and a support system to really say, ‘Hey, if you want college, we can help you make this happen.’

What’s really awesome about the summer program is that they’re spending time in our classrooms here on campus at Brandeis. They’re eating in the dining hall, you know, they’re walking around this hilly campus and really getting to, in a scaffolded way, experience what college could be like in their future.

And it helps them become a more informed consumer. They know what it’s like to study in a library. They know what it’s like to sit in a classroom and really navigate these spaces so that by the time it comes time for their own opportunity to apply and select a college, they know a little bit more about the process after spending summer with us.”

You said that you track and stay in touch with students until graduation. That sounds like a great opportunity to form lasting connections.

“Oh, a hundred percent. Stylistically, something I really value is this notion of community and something I’ve tried to integrate a lot into how we’ve built this program is — not feeling alone.

I think as a first-gen student, very often you don’t want anyone to know you’re the first, you want to hide it, and it’s really hard to ask for help. But I encourage my students to see themselves in one another. To realize you’re not alone. You’re not the only person feeling this way. And if we can all feel this together and talk about it, maybe we can lessen the stress for one another.

So it’s been very beautiful to see the way the kids have connected because it’s not like I’m necessarily just recruiting students from the same friend group or same social group. We have Waltham High School students that have only ever interacted with one another as part of Upward Bound activities. They’re meeting one another, they’re engaging, and they’re building a community that’s very unique and separate from what they’re doing at the high school. It’s been very nice to see the relationships that have developed amongst our students, and I’m just very proud of the community that we’ve created.”

Can you describe the kinds of programming Upward Bound offers during the academic year?

“So we run two 10-week semesters, one in the fall and one in the spring. This semester we have an orientation on the 25th of September, and then the plan is to start tutoring that following Monday. We’re after school in the library at Waltham High School four days a week and we provide about an hour to two hours of after school homework help drop-in services. The goal behind that is just to create a culture of academic excellence with the students. We also have a lot of engagement around prepping for the SAT. We ran an SAT prep course last spring. Another really cool conversation that’s happened around course selection. I had a lot of first

year college students; they just graduated from high school, just finished taking APs. So when it came time for course selection at the high school, they were able to share firsthand knowledge like, ‘no, this AP is easier than that one.’

We’ll also host events at the high school during the academic year. Last fall, we celebrated National First-Gen Day at the high school and had a student panel with Brandeis undergrads that identify as first-gen sharing their experiences. And, we’ll take other fun field trips. Last February, we went to our regional TRIO conference which is held every February for the students that participate in the programs. And then [we do] a lot of supporting our college bound seniors at the end of the year. We do a senior cruise, we give awards, and we really try to celebrate the fact that our students are college bound.

So this past senior class, we had 14 students graduate, 11 are all at four-year institutions currently, and then three are at two-year institutions. So we have a hundred percent college going rate thus far.”

How was the most recent run of the summer program?

“We start the last week of June and we go until the first week of August. The students are on campus from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s a full time job. We come in, we have breakfast, and they do three academic classes. And we try to vary the kinds of academic courses that they’re exposed to. The great thing about our academic courses is they’re not graded, so students can come in and they can take hands-on science classes. They can take college-based writing courses. We try to give them as many creative hands-on academic options in the summertime that are different from what they’re seeing at the high school.

And then the afternoon is when we’re doing most of our leadership and mentorship work. So, our [undergraduates] that worked for us as tutor-mentors in the summer ran workshops for the students. We did a lot of drop-in activities. They did candle-making one day, tie-dye another — activities that are meant to mirror kind of extracurricular activities on a college campus. Giving them an element of choice so that they can move around to different areas of the campus.

And then every Friday we end with a field trip. We’d do different activities as a whole group. The first Friday we were at Hale Reservation doing ropes courses. Then the second week we ended on Wednesday because of the 4th of July holiday. We went out to Spectacle Island in Boston Harbor and got to spend the day on the island doing different activities. Our third week we went to downtown Boston, got to explore the State House and the Wayne Theater. So different field trips that kind of keep the kids engaged and excited to keep coming to us. And then we end every summer going to Six Flags because they’re still kids.

The night before we go to Six Flags we have our project showcase. All of our courses are project-based and they all end in a culminating project. So students are able to show their work off to their parents and different community members to see what they’ve been working on for the past six weeks.

So it’s a full-fledged semester almost in terms of work and what the kids are producing but it really is just a labor of love.

I really enjoy the summertime. The students are here with us. We’re supporting them all day. And it is exhausting, but it’s really fun to see their growth over such a short period of time.”

What future plans are in store for Upward Bound?

“Upward Bound funding is five years at a time and we will be rewriting our grant application next year. And I definitely think it’s worth it to write to serve more students. Upping our numbers anywhere to 72 or 80 students that we’re serving — that’ll increase the dollar amount that we’re funded at. I think that’s definitely a move for the next iteration of the grant. And then the other thing is thinking about, you know, spreading out to other communities. I don’t know that that’s something I’m necessarily comfortable with right now. We’re unique in the fact that we only serve one high school. A lot of other programs will spread out and serve multiple high schools.

We’re not there yet because I think there’s definitely a value to being based in Waltham in one high school. We have a very strong relationship with staff at the high school so I think that’s my only hesitation in terms of spreading out the impact of the program. So yeah, definitely being able to increase the amount of students that we can impact just in number and not necessarily in community or different high schools.”

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

“I think if you’re passionate about education and you want an opportunity to start a career in education, Upward Bound is a great model because you can teach for us, you can mentor for us. There’s a lot of different ways to get involved with our students.

My career personally started as an Upward Bound student. This was the starting point for me and I see it as very valuable because it made me look at my work in higher education not solely as a career but also as meaningful community-based work. I change lives and that matters more than the dollar amount I’m getting paid every week.”

In her role as director, Jones is dedicated to supporting first generation and low-income students in their academics and in their educational experiences as a whole. Upward Bound plants the roots of long-term connections among peers as well as between mentors and students.

Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY.

Justicethe

Brandeis University

Anna Martin, Editor in Chief Eliza Bier, Managing Editor Isabel Roseth, Senior Editor

Leah Breakstone, Tibria Brown, Lauryn Williams, Deputy Editors

Owen Chan, Sophia De Lisi, Julia Hardy, Dalya Koller, Mina Rowland, Madison Sirois, Associate Editors

Lil Lin Hutchinson, Zoe Zachary, News Editors Grace Doh, Features Editor

Nemma Kalra, Arts & Culture Editor

Jonas Kaplin, Bryan Wolfe, Photography Editors

Lily Chafe, Sara Samuel, Copy Editors

Marina Rosenthal, Layout Editor

Elizabeth Liu, Advertising Editor

Amanda Chen, Niámh Mullen, Social Media Editors

EDITORIAL

Brandeis, we are so embarrassed

Back in March, the University sent an email outlining its financial struggles and the steps that would be taken to reduce the projected $2 million in debt. Among these are staffing cuts, drawing more money from the endowment and pausing progress on Science 2A — the plan to build the new science building.

These announcements gave Brandeis some unwanted media attention with a summary of its budget problems featured in a Forbes article that spotlighted a university that abruptly closed and one that is just barely keeping its head above water due to financial concerns — certainly not the type of press that evokes a real sense of school pride.

As tuition continues to increase yearly — from $64,348 for undergraduates for the 2023-24 school year to $67,082 for the 2024-25 school year — Brandeis students are often left to question the budgeting abilities of our University’s administration. While we continue to pay more money to the school each year, no outward improvements are being made; rather, we see the University scrambling in a desperate attempt to maintain our quickly crumbling campus.

The students on this board have noticed that our inboxes have received a multitude of emails over the years regarding emergencies on campus that cause closures of some of our most used utilities. The email sent on Sept. 11 from the Vice President of Campus Operations Lois Stanley informed students that due to a need for emergency repairs all hot water would be shut off on campus from the hours of 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. This is not the first emergency repair that has negatively impacted student wellbeing, and we as a board urge the University to work on solving issues before it has to be classified as an emergency. We understand that some of our campus infrastructure is old, but issues such as these interrupt students’ productivity and negatively impact our living conditions. These updates should be made in advance of student movein days, and we urge the University to further consider things such as the summer break schedule when working on construction projects in general. This board would also like to point out potential issues in regards to allocation of improvement funding. While this board appreciates the landscaping efforts of the University as well as upgrades such as the new game room in the Shapiro Campus Center, we see much more urgent modifications that are required to be made. While we understand that these inconsequential projects likely have a small price tag and allow the University to show they are actively working on improving the campus, perhaps it would be better to hold off and save that funding for larger, more impactful projects.

For example, the Intercultural Center is still not accessible to many

with physical disabilities, preventing community members from participating in certain culture based events and utilizing the resources of this campus facility. We would also like to point out the lack of railing on the ramp outside of the Brandeis Counseling Center. Improvements to make University resources more accessible should come before those improving the exterior and interior aesthetics of campus.

We would also like to address the increased usage of our endowment fund, which had a value of $1.22 billion as of June 2023. As stated in a document supporting the vote of no confidence in President Liebowitz that was created on June 3, “Brandeis is facing lower enrollments, heavy debt to finance failing infrastructure, and an increased draw from the endowment (7%) for FY ‘25.” This increase sparks concern on our board, as it is unclear what the increased withdrawal is leading to as changes to the infrastructure have not been made and faculty members have been dismissed, which should in theory lead to an increase in finances as these salaries no longer have to be paid. This board calls for further transparency regarding the allocation of this money, especially as concerns regarding student resources, employee pay and campus infrastructure continue to arise on campus.

Despite rises in tuition, this editorial board has seen student resources be taken away over the years, rather than added. This year, student organizations and clubs are working with far less funds than initially requested, as are Undergraduate Departmental Representatives whose resources have been limited to $100 for the academic year according to a Sept. 6 email to UDRs from Undergraduate Academic Affairs administrator Brynn Sibley.

Individual students have also had difficulty obtaining resources from the University. Though software like Adobe Creative Suite is required for some undergraduate courses, students have faced trouble gaining access to the software this year because the University says that it is too expensive, according to some students that have faced difficulty gaining access. This is an issue given that many students already struggle to pay for course materials due to not receiving enough financial aid from the University.

Although the Office of Student Financial Services website claims that “Brandeis meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all domestic undergraduates and all international undergraduates,” the University’s definition of “financial need” often does not align with students’. While financial aid has always been an issue for Brandeis students, this editorial board has heard increased complaints about financial aid packages not being up to par for the current academic year.

Though some discrepancies may be explained by recent changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which the University uses alongside the College Scholarship Services Profile to calculate financial need, others are the fault of the University’s financial aid policies. For example, according to current Brandeis students, they are unable to use outside scholarships to supplement their financial aid packages. Instead, the University withdraws financial aid funds when an outside scholarship is reported, leaving the student with as much money as they had before the outside scholarship was recieved.

This means that the only way students can really make additional money to pay for school supplies and tuition is to find additional employment. Unfortunately, due to the University’s financial troubles, on-campus student jobs are limited in both number and hours this year. Some positions — like game room attendants, whose responsibilities have been absorbed by SCC student staff — have been consolidated or cut, while others strictly limit the amount of hours that students can work. This overall leaves undergraduate students without the resources and security they need to thrive at the University.

Crumbling infrastructure and dwindling student resources are not the only problems on campus. Over the past few years, there have also been consistent concerns about Brandeis employee wages not meeting the cost of living in the Boston area. Just last week, both dining workers and graduate students continued their call for fair contracts — thus demonstrating that nothing has changed.

Brandeis staff make up the backbone of our community, yet many are not paid enough to live comfortably in the Boston area. Graduate students especially have faced both housing and food insecurity. While the Brandeis Food Pantry used to help them make ends meet, the new rationing system has created barriers to this resource by requiring students to register and identify themselves before accessing the pantry. New undergraduate meal plans, which include far less “points” than previous years, have also placed limits on undergrads’ ability to contribute to the food pantry, as students can no longer use their leftover points to donate to the Waltham Group’s Hunger and Houselessness Hoot Market food drives. Swipe Out Hunger drives have also called on students to donate guest meal swipes, prompting dismay at the administration for not alleviating food insecurity themselves but instead asking students to compensate for the lack of access to food.

In addition to being underpaid, Brandeis staff are also overworked — an issue which will only be exacerbated by this summer’s layoffs. Remaining Brandeis employees have been left in an uncomfortable position where they are almost forced to be grateful for being overworked — after all, the alternative is being unemployed.

This editorial board believes that Brandeis staff should not have to choose between paying rent or going hungry, or between being overworked or unemployed. The University has a responsibility to ensure that all of its community members are healthy — and giving them fair wages is the bare minimum. We have already lost over 60 community members to budget cuts, and we cannot afford to lose any more.

A focus on aesthetic improvements instead of substantive ones is concerning given that the minimum standard for quality infrastructure is not being met. Even though mold has been found in Ziv, The Charles River Apartments and Massell Quad, the administration repeatedly spends money attempting to clean it instead of implementing longterm solutions, like ventilation systems, that could solve the problem for good. Not only does mold pose a major health concern for students, the appearance of mold calls into question the integrity of Brandeis architecture. Ventilation is an essential feature of buildings, and the fact that it was not originally built into these dorms is alarming, especially with the announcement of construction of a new dorm in an April 18 email from

Liebowitz. This board urges that future housing be built to a quality that will last for many generations to come. Moreover, the responsibility of enhancing campus has fallen to students. Only through the work of Student Union did Village dorms finally have shower heads in their bathrooms. While the board recognizes the hard work of students advocating for structural changes, students should not be required to bear the burden alone. The administration must take more initiative in assessing dorm buildings and fixing deficiencies in them.

For years, students have advocated for better facilities in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, but the University cited a lack of financial resources for why there have been no renovations. Collective student action and funding from the Community Emergency Enhancement Fund resulted in major improvements to the Gosman weight room, another initiative spearheaded by student activism instead of the administration. As mentioned in a previous editorial, deficient athletic spaces prevent the University from hosting sports meets, further inciting embarrassment from students and disdain from other colleges.

Students at Brandeis are facing growing embarrassment as the University’s infrastructure continues to crumble, and its administration disregards student well-being. Current students feel disheartened by the reputation the school is developing, as basic resources and physical facilities deteriorate around us. This concern is shared by alumni, who worry about what the Brandeis name will represent in the future.

Members of this editorial board have discussed our anxieties about Brandeis’ future image. It seems that as soon as you step on campus, the façade drops, revealing broken facilities, leaking pipes and mounting debt. We fear that poor administrative decisions will tarnish the value of our degrees, harming prospects of future employment.

Brandeis must recognize that its current students and alumni are its future. We are the ones who shape the reputation of this University, both in our successes and in how we are perceived by the world. The very donors Brandeis relies on support the institution because of the achievements of its students and graduates. If the University truly cares about its trajectory, it must make more meaningful efforts to ensure that our futures are bright and successful. Not only because it is fair to do so, but because we determine the direction of this institution and its faculty. Without us, there is no Brandeis.

— Editor’s Note: The Justice Associate Editor Madison Sirois ’24 is a Creativity, the Arts and Social Transformation Undergraduate Departmental Representative and did edit and contribute to this story.

— Editor’s Note: The Justice Deputy Editor Tibria Brown ’25 is an Independent Interdisciplinary Major Undergraduate Departmental Representative and did edit and contribute to this story.

— Editor’s Note: The Justice Associate Editor Mina Rowland ’25 is an Independent Interdisciplinary Major Undergraduate Departmental Representative and did edit and contribute to this story.

— Editor’s Note: The Justice Social Media Editor Niamh Mullen ’26 is an English Major Undergraduate Departmental Representative and did edit and contribute to this story.

— Editor’s Note: The Justice Editor in Chief Anna Martin ’26 is a coordinator of Waltham Group’s Hunger and Houselessness and did edit and contribute to this story.

— Editor’s Note: The Justice Managing Editor Eliza Bier ’26 is a coordinator of Waltham Group’s Hunger and Houselessness and did edit and contribute to this story.

— Editor’s Note: The Justice Editorial Assistant Ariana Rich ’25 is a coordinator of Waltham Group’s Hunger and Houselessness and did edit and contribute to this story.

Redefining success: Why happiness, not accomplishments, should be students’ ultimate goal

By ARIANA RICH JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

On my tour of Brandeis in April of 2021, one of the most notable points my tour guide shared was that double majors - even triple - are not uncommon amongst Brandeis students. This quickly proved to be true, as many of my friends and peers picked up two majors and multiple minors, seemingly raising the major:student ratio far beyond 1:1. After my first summer, updates of successful internship endeavors flooded my LinkedIn feed and many of my peers would — and still do — share their academic accolades on social media. In our goal-centric world as students, we commonly thrive on the pursuit and accomplishment of success, yet how often does one acknowledge that these traditional markers of academic and professional victory only amount to so much success?

I’ve seen so many of my peers’ stuffed resumes; they’re Teaching Assistants, Undergraduate Departmental Representatives, Research Assistants, interns, presidents of clubs and volunteers all at once. I’ll admit, it’s cast a shadow of doubt over my own future; have I been adequately preparing as much as I should have? But when I reflect holistically upon my life, I have come to realize two things: first, the moments that have brought me the most sustained happiness and contentment have not been professional or success-based. Secondly, the happiest people in my life are not the ones who have resumes packed with academic accolades and career milestones; they are the ones who chose to prioritize connection, love and joy.

These are the most enduring sources of fulfillment; after a lot of deliberation, I’ve come to believe that our goal on Earth is not to accumulate an ever-expanding list of accomplishments, but to simply be happy. That’s always my answer when anyone raises the question, “What is the purpose of life?” To enjoy it, of course.

There are certainly two polarized sides to this concept, however. My mother speaks to one; as a former high school valedictorian educated at both Harvard University and Stanford University, I shudder to think of what her resume at the time of her undergraduate education would look in comparison to mine. On paper, she is the epitome of success, yet when I ask her what brings her the most joy and pride, her answer is never her career or her academics. Instead, she speaks of the friendships she has nurtured

over the years, the love she shares with her family, trips to the beach, and quiet moments in the backyard she has carefully cultivated over the last 15 years.

This isn’t to say that professional or academic accomplishments aren’t valuable. They provide us with structure, meaning, and, to many, joy. But when we measure our worth solely by these eternal standards, we lose sight of the fact that these accomplishments are fleeting. Titles, awards and paychecks can come, go and evolve, but the relationships we build and the love we have to give are far more enduring.

In college, especially, the pressure to succeed can be overwhelming to many; we’re taught to believe that if we work hard enough, we’ll eventually achieve happiness — once we get the perfect job, earn a certain income, or receive validation from our peers. I’d like to argue that this mindset is flawed; happiness isn’t something that appears after a certain level of success is achieved; it’s something to cultivate every day through the pursuit of meaning beyond the material.

What’s striking is that, despite all her accomplishments, my mother’s deepest pride doesn’t stem from what she’s done, but from who she’s connected with. She often reminds me to regard my academics with less seriousness — ironic, I know, coming from a Harvard graduate — but every time I bring my academic and professional woes to her, my mother reminds me how those things never brought her happiness. They certainly gave her a sense of fulfillment and purpose, but every conversation I have with her on this topic ends with a reminder to have as much fun as I possibly can while I still can. Success, in its purest form, is about living a life that makes us happy - one filled with connection, love, and purpose. While all other accomplishments are certainly valuable in their own right, I thoroughly believe that they pale greatly in comparison.

What makes you happy? I would suggest we all look at our lives and pinpoint the pieces of it that bring us joy, whether it’s beauty in nature, the creation of art or being present with and for the ones we love. Moments of happiness are rooted in love, wonder and human connection, and in a world of resume accolade-chasing, it’s easy to neglect this. I try everyday to find something that brings me joy, and to appreciate it — often, it’s my friends.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

We strongly oppose the decision to end Brandeis email address for alumni:

1. Brandeis Pride: When we use @ brandeis.edu for email or collaboration, we are spreading the Brandeis brand. We use our Brandeis email because we are proud to be Brandeis alumni. This is a worthy investment in communications and advertising for the university.

2. Utility: Many of us have used our Brandeis Google Workspace continually for decades. We use our Brandeis email to access academic and research tools, allowing us to pursue new projects with the help of Brandeis institutions. Moreover, ending Brandeis emails will result in lost contacts, lost emails, and lost documents. Our parents and grandparents who paid our Brandeis tuition (and who donate to Brandeis) know to reach us at @ brandeis.edu and will be frustrated too.

3. Brandeis Memories: Using our Brandeis Google Workspace services to access old essays, emails, and pictures reminds us of great times at Brandeis. When we remember Brandeis fondly, we are more likely to support Brandeis in the future.

4. Status Quo: Competing universities allow students to keep their email address (Cornell, Columbia, NYU, Boston University, University of Michigan) or an affiliated address (Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Brown, Babson, California Institute of Technology).

5.

Alumni were

not surveyed, and communications with the Alumni Association and the student union indicate neither were consulted, showing a lack of concern for alumni and student needs. Additionally, according to IT Advisory Committee minutes, the decision was made by “leadership” without involvement of Brandeis ITS.

6. “Truth Even Unto Its Innermost Parts”: In 1998, when Brandeis switched to U-Net and a simplified email format, Brandeis began charging a $160 technology fee. At the time and until last year (2023), the university explicitly promised that alumni email addresses would be available for life. The university is now breaking that promise.

Our recommendation is that Brandeis reinstate Google Workspace services for alumni for life.

If Brandeis wants to eliminate inactive accounts: we propose Administrators systematically purge inactive accounts. All brandeis.edu accounts are already required to change their passwords every year; failure to update passwords could be criterion for removal. This proposal should also save at least 75% on costs.

We hope that the university leadership will reconsider this decision, which will be a blow to Brandeis’s reputation and relationship with its alumni.

Sincerely, Alumni of Brandeis University and Future Alumni of Brandeis University

Alumni Blindsided:

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

Graphics courtesy of CANVA and ELIZABETH

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor,

I am a tenth grade student at Waltham High School and a participant in the Brandeis Upward Bound Program. Upward Bound is a program that is a great opportunity for first generation students who want to go to college. As a part of the larger Brandeis and Waltham community, I am writing about an issue that impacts all of us: segregation in the Waltham public schools based on income, which has resulted in huge disparities in race and funding between schools. This means that students of color in Waltham attend schools with lower funding than their white counterparts. Our students are being discriminated against because of their financial status, which also affects their education.

Comparing both Kennedy and McDevitt Middle Schools, there is an exterior difference as well as an interior difference.

Firstly, our schools are so noticeably different because household incomes drastically segregate kids by ethnicity in Waltham. In Waltham, the neighborhoods with the highest incomes are Pigeon Hill, Piety Corner, Jericho Hill, and others. According to bestneighborhood.org and Waltham’s District Profile, the households with the most income are almost all located near Kennedy Middle. These neighborhoods are also where there is a higher white population. Kennedy Middle School’s ethnic population is mostly white which is 47.3% of the student body, while the other largest group is Hispanic, at 34.1% of the school population. McDevitt Middle School, on the other hand, has an average low income as shown in the school as well as the community around the school. The average income that is around the school is mostly low with some average-income neighborhoods as seen in bestneigborhood.org. On the Waltham’s District Profile, McDevitt has a greater Hispanic population, making up 61.9% of the school. Kennedy has almost twice the white population that Mcdevitt does, and about half the amount of Hispanic students. This large white population follows income statistics in the area. These statistics as well as income households show why and how these schools are segregated because of income.

Children in Waltham are segregated based on race before they even start school. This results in a gap in opportunities for students. Considering the options between the Kennedy Middle Schools Page of extracurricular activities, we see that KMS has 20 activities which include six sports. Considering the financial status of the school the amount of afterschool activities is logical on the amount of opportunities for the students.On the Mcdevitt Middle Schools

Page, there are 16 activities including four sports. Knowing that this school is of lower income, the amount of afterschool activities, especially sports, gives a clear understanding of how both buildings are treated and how they affect our students. Both of these sources show how different both schools are compared to each other, which affects the school’s community, but most importantly, the students.

MMS and KMS aren’t the only schools affected by this segregation. In Springfield, MA in 2010-2011, public schools enrollment had decreased at the same time that Hispanic enrollment increased. These students were low income as well as minorities in, “intensely segregated schools, indicating that Springfield’s students are segregated by race and class; the share of low-income students in intensely segregated schools increased from 75.2% in 1999-2000 to 89.9% in 2010-2011” from The Civil Rights Project. Students of color have been in segregated schools for over two decades. As the numbers of students of color increased in enrollment, white students had started to decrease in public school enrollment. Continuing, not only did parents and the community around the school stop enrolling in the schools, but buses in Boston started segregating students by color in 1974. There had been many protests and Massachusetts passed a Racial Imbalance Act “To address longstanding segregation”. The Act required districts to bus white students to predominantly Black schools and Black students to predominantly white schools. This program was met with widespread outrage, and has not done enough to address the problem of racial segregation in Massachusetts schools. Waltham is part of the rule, not the exception.

In conclusion, Kennedy Middle School and Mcdevitt Middle School are segregated by income but also as statistics show, by race as well. Our students are affected by this since they are not getting the proper resources they need. Students’ education is most important, and seeing that future generations of incoming students aren’t being treated the same should be changed. Brandeis students should intend to research public school segregation since most of the students have lived in Waltham. Public school segregation has been a problem since before 1974. Families, community members as well as student bodies should bring light to the situation that has been concealed and reserved for a while.

Respectfully, Allison Herrera Padilla

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor,

I am a 9th grade student at Waltham High School participating in the Upward Bound Program at Brandeis. As a member of the larger Waltham and Brandeis community, I have concerned myself with social justice issues that I feel are in line with the university’s values. In my summer course this year, we learned about the United Farm Workers Union. Their work attempts to close large inequalities and give respect and dignity to the people responsible for our food.

Farm workers work all day in the hot sun without any breaks. They earn very little money which means in most cases it is barely enough for the family to buy food, pay rent, and buy other needs. These families are some of the most in need of financial assistance because it is hard for them to pay their day-to-day expenses. They work long days and do not work in good conditions: they often work without breaks and in terrible weather. Farm workers should have more rights including being paid more than the federal minimum wage, which is $7.25/hour. They should be provided with all of these things so that they can live a healthy life and not become very ill or sick as the years go by.

The Farm Workers Union was started by Cesar Chavez, and Dolores Huerta, among others. Dolores was as important as Cesar Chavez but was not as well recognized. Dolores and Cesar wanted to help the farm workers get better working conditions and better wages. Dolores as a teacher saw the struggles that families who worked on farms faced, such as not having enough money for food and shoes because of their low pay. Dolores led many protests trying to get farm workers a better pay and more rights, such as health clinics and other basic needs for the workers. Dolores wanted everyone to be treated fairly. In 2002, she created the Dolores Huerta Foundation. One quote Dolores is very known for is “Si se puede” which in English means “it is possible”. Her quote was used by farm workers when protesting. Many people would want that phrase to become “Si se pudo” which translates to, “it was possible”. Manypeople are still fighting for rights that should be given without them

having to protest or strike. Seasonal migrant farm work began most prominently during the Bracero program in 1942. It allowed Mexicans to come to the United States and get a temporary work permit. They were promised a lot of benefits that were almost never given, and whoever was in the program would get paid very little compared to Americans. Since Mexican-Americans and AfricanAmericans had to be paid a minimum that was more than they paid the braceros, they started firing the Mexican-Americans and African-Americans. This led to most of the farm work being done by people in the Bracero program until it ended in 1963. Even though the United Farm Workers Union has improved working conditions for farm workers in many respects, we still have a very long way to go. In Massachusetts, the minimum wage for any workplace except agriculture is $15. For agriculture the minimum wage is a mere $8. If someone who works at a store works 40 hours per week, they get paid $600, while someone who works in agriculture would make $320 in that time. That means that someone who works on a farm gets paid a little more than half of what a store worker could get paid. Also, there are many cases where farm workers are not allowed breaks or leave, even in temperatures above 100 degrees.

Continued poor working conditions mean that workers have to keep fighting for basic rights. Farm workers should not be worried that if they take a break, they might lose their job. Employers should not treat farm workers this way. These violations of personal dignity could negatively affect farm workers’ health because they cannot afford food or shelter without this work. I encourage the Brandeis community to research MA agricultural regulations. As a university dedicated to making the world more equal for everyone, we should pay attention to the people who help put food on the table for all of us.

Sincerely,

Daniela Reyes

Reflecting on the first two weekends of the National Football

■ A recap of the first two weekends of the NFL season, including storylines involving players, teams and more.

By EZEIKIEL BLOOM JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The National Football League Season is here and the action is in full swing. After 32 games played over the course of the last two weekends, many teams are appearing very promising while others are already beginning to falter. This recap will provide a brief overview of some of the most vital storylines to keep track of during the course of the season.

First, the Kansas City Chiefs are 2-0 to begin their season. However, they have lacked their usual dominance in the league which viewers have come to expect from the reigning Super Bowl champions. The Chiefs kickstarted the NFL season on Thursday, Sept. 5 with their nail biting victory against the Baltimore Ravens, in which the shoes of Ravens tight end, Isaiah Likely, just grazed the out of bounds line on a potential game winning touchdown catch. Furthermore, in the second week of the season their vulnerability was further apparent. The Cincinnati Bengals, notorious for their sluggish starts at the beginning of seasons, took them to the brink, even though the Sept. 5 game was played at the Chiefs home venue, Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs eked out a 2625 win, but the play from superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes was quite less than stellar. The usually unflappable Mahomes showed uncharacteristic weaknesses, throwing for a mere 151 yards and suffering miscues on two interceptions. Additionally, tight end Travis Kelce, an integral piece of the Chiefs’ high powered offense, has essentially been a no show through two weeks, catching only four passes for 39 yards. While their record still portrays their season as flawless, the Chiefs have to drastically change their mentality if they want to further cement themselves as one of the NFL’s greatest dynasties.

Unfortunately for fantasy football owners, star running back Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers has been placed on injured reserve. This means that he will not be available until week five of the NFL season, having already missed the first two weeks of action. McCaffrey, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year who finished 3rd in Most Valuable Player voting, was

the league’s leading rusher last season, and his absence will be sorely felt by his Niners teammates. Last season’s Super Bowl runners-up will have to find a way to replace his production over the next few weeks in order to remain afloat. While McCaffrey’s backup Jordan Mason proved up to the task during a Sept. 9 thrashing of the New York Jets in the first week, an embarrassing loss to the Minnesota Vikings in week two put the Niners’ offensive struggles sans McCaffrey on center stage.

While the 49ers and Chiefs are encountering some difficulties in the early portion of the season, they are nevertheless expected by experts to bounce back and contend for the Super Bowl. On the other hand, certain teams wish that this season would end as quickly as possible. Even though the beginning of the new NFL season is supposed to be a time filled with optimism and hope for the future, not every team is experiencing confidence. No team would prefer a premature end to the season more than the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers have taken two drubbings by the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers to begin their season on Sept. 8 and 5 respectively. The Saints loss was particularly humiliating: it was a 47-10 week one annihilation that saw Panthers quarterback Bryce Young look even less NFL ready than he did last season, if that was even possible. While he still is retaining his starting job for the immediate future, do not be surprised if the Panthers pull the plug on the 2023 first pick. Conversely, the 2024 first pick, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, has impressively held his own over the course of their 1-1 start. While his numbers are not eye-popping, he has shown great resourcefulness in the face of constant pressure due to a weak offensive line.

Not surprisingly, I was not able to comment on the prospects for all 32 teams after these two weeks. However, the NFL regular season extends for 18 total weeks, even into the next calendar year, so there will be a great deal more time to evaluate how the premier teams will fare during the looming playoff period this winter. Only time will tell if teams with hot starts are on their way to glory, or if their early success will ultimately be short-lived. The same goes for teams faltering in these early days – anything can happen in a league filled with so many contenders. So, as fans, let’s enjoy spending our Sundays (as well as late Thursdays and Mondays) in front of the television to see where the season progresses! Be sure to check out the matchup featuring the Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys next Sunday, as well as the clash between the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings!

Professional Women's Hockey League prepares for second season

■ The PWHL reintroduced its six teams with “new names, new logos, and new looks,” christening the Boston Team: “The Fleet.”

By DIANE MEYER JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

The National Hockey League will celebrate its hundredth year of including American teams in 2024. The Boston Bruins were first introduced into the league in 1924, a point of pride for Massachusetts. However, until last year, the American hockey scene lacked adequate opportunities and representation for female players.

In August 2023, the Professional Women’s Hockey League began its mission to rectify this lack of space for women’s professional hockey when it was announced that foundations were being put in place to launch an inaugural season. The board of directors notably includes female sports icons, such as tennis legend Billie Jean King, the Los Angeles Dodgers President, Stan Kasten and Dodgers Senior Vice President of Business Strategy, Royce Cohen. Thanks in large part to philanthropists Mark and Kimbra Walter, financial backing was noticeable. To honor the Walters and thank them for their instrumental support, the PWHL named the Walter Cup as the championship trophy.

It would have six markets across the United States in Canada — Minneapolis, Boston, New York City, Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto. A free agency period commenced on Sept. 1 2023, and a roster began to form with the majority of players being signed during the PWHL draft on Sept. 18. Each of the league’s six teams signed three players during the free agency period, including Olympian Kendall Coyne Schonfield of United States Hockey. Schonfield was instrumental in delivering the players’ collective bargaining agreement as salaries were being discussed. Schonfield remarked that the PWHL in its singularity “is something that everyone in hockey has wanted to see for a very long time,” as it becomes a true standard for professional women's hockey.

The 2023 PWHL draft was streamed live on YouTube, and included 15 rounds of 90 picks. Minnesota, now the Minnesota Frost, won the lottery and was able to select their homegrown first round pick, Taylor Heise, fittingly from Lake City, Minnesota.

Heise went on to win the Illana Kloss Playoff Most Valuable Player award after her performance in the inaugural PWHL Finals. A collegiate star of the University of Minnesota, she was the 2022 women’s college player of the year. Upon being drafted she stated that she was “honored … to be able to play and to show little girls that anything is possible if you keep working hard.” Other draftees, of which 28 were Americans, echoed her sentiments. Many felt proud in being part of the inaugural season of the PWHL after tumultuous years participating in the now defunct leagues organized by the Premier Hockey Federation and Canadian Women’s Hockey

League.

Boston picked tenth in the first round, selecting Hannah Brandt of Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. Boston went on to select four more midwesterners in the first round: Emily Brown and Taylor Girad of Minnesota, Shiann Darkangelo of Michigan and Tatum Skaggs of Wisconsin. Filling out the Boston team are six Canadians and players from Sweden, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Finland.

The PWHL was founded with the long-term goal of establishing a lasting version of professional women’s hockey in North America. They were also successful in pulling in the best women’s players from around the world. Besides the 28 Americans, 47 Candians, five members of the Czech Republic National Team and a handful of players from Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, France, and Germany were also signed.

During the 2024 draft, more recent collegiate players were nabbed by the six established PWHL teams. New York, who finished last in league standings last year, secured Sarah Filler, a Canadian hailing from Princeton University. Boston got the fourth pick and selected Hannah Bilika from Ohio State University.

After a successful first season, which saw Minnesota and Boston battle for the first ever Walter Cup on May 29, 2024 at a sold-out Tsongas Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, the PWHL decided to ramp up its branding and give its teams the real official mark of a professional sports team — names and logos.

Boston is now dubbed The Fleet and other teams are now known as the Montreal Victoire, the New York Sirens, the Ottawa Charge and the Toronto Sceptres. According to the Fleet’s new website, their name and logo “pays homage to the unified spirit of our people, players, and dans, who move together with speed, strength, and a relentless might to add new legacy to Boston’s storied history of resilience.”

The Boston Fleet looks forward to redemption this season after a thrilling five game finals in which they were beaten by the Minnesota Frost 3-0 in game five. Along with a solidified name and logo, the team added Boston native Courtney Kennedy, an Olympian and collegiate All-American, to their staff as a skills coach. Kennedy was previously the Associate Head Coach at Boston College for 17 years, during which the Eagles received seven Hockey East Best Defenseman awards and also coached the U.S. Olympic team to silver at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Another Massachusetts native Lenny Mosca joined the team as a goalie coach.

Amy Scheer, the PWHL Senior Vice President of Business Operations gave a rousing call to Boston to embrace the Fleet. She said, “a fleet stands for strength in numbers … [and] that’s what Boston sports fans represent. They turn out, show up, and support their teams.” As the hockey community celebrates the success of its female athletes, the potential for the PWHL is promising. Now, with names and logos, the teams and their athletes are set for what hopes to be another history making season.

JUDGES IN ACTION

Lara Verstovsek '25

■ In a new column featuring Brandeis Athletics seniors, Captain of the Judges' volleyball team Lara Verstovsek '25 celebrates reaching the 1000 kill mark.

“You can’t control what you can’t control,” Lara Verstovsek says. What this senior captain and outside hitter for the Brandeis volleyball team can control is her performance on the court — and this season has been another stellar one for Verstovsek so far.

A native of Houston, Texas, where she attended Episcopal High School, Verstovsek has played volleyball for 11 years and enters her senior season with the Judges as an established leader. She has already made history on the Brandeis volleyball team: during the 2023-24 season, she broke the Brandeis record for kills made in a three-set match with 22 kills last Sept. 29. However, Verstovsek highlights her most recent record as her proudest accomplishment: she recently met the 1000 kill mark and will add her name to the Brandeis sports history book as the 10th Judges volleyball player to achieve this. Having faith in her teammates, who she calls “her sisters,” is big for Verstovsek. She says that to her, being a team means “being there for [eachother] during [their] highest highs and [their] lowest lows, no matter the circumstance.” She affirms that the Brandeis volleyball team is like a family to her, adopting an “everything happens for a reason” perspective as she trusts that “even before they were teammates, they were always sisters first.”

Verstovsek strikes a balance between faith and control in her game. She knows that she cannot control how the other team attacks or defends, but that “not being on the same side as [your] opponent really allows you to lean on and depend on [your team], whether that’s for confidence, discipline, energy or even some laughs.” She says that “it’s really nice to be able to always focus on what’s happening on our side of the court first.”

As Verstovsek stormed past the 1000 kill mark early on in the season, there can only be much more in store for her and the Brandeis volleyball team. Verstovsek also leads the Judges in service aces, 21, and contributes important blocks and digs for the team as well. She is ultimately motivated by her dream of becoming an All-American, which “is a goal [she] has always had for herself,” and also aspires to lead the Judges to a bid to the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament. Cheer on Verstovsek and the Judges as they fight to improve their 7-4 winning record this weekend versus Endicott

Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS ATHLETICS

By DIANE MEYER JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Brandeis men’s soccer beats

Eastern Connecticut State at home

With their best starting record since 2019, the Judges scored three goals in the second of the game half to secure the win after giving up only one goal.

Photos:Elle Yung/The

JUDGES BY THE NUMBERS

No. 23 ranked Brandeis

Women's Soccer falls to No. 4

By DIANE MEYER

Freshly ranked by the United Soccer Coaches as one of the top 25 women’s soccer teams in Division III athletics, the Brandeis Judges headed to Boston this past weekend to meet a fellow top 25 team for the first time this season. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Engineers were awarded a fourth place ranking going into the second week of the regular season. Previously this season, the Judges beat unranked Fitchburg State University 7-0, Babson College 4-0, Rhode Island College 4-0, and Clark University 4-2. So far this season, the Judges have been led by sophomore forward Tanvi Raju ’27, who leads the Judges with six goals, and freshman forward Peterly Leroy ’28, who has four. The Judges have been a high-scoring team so far — their opening game on Aug. 30 was decisively won with seven goals starting at the 15:12 minute mark, as

Leroy nailed the net in her first collegiate start. The Judges’ offense was unrelenting: their seventh goal came at the 88:03 minute mark, when fellow freshman Laurene Creteau ’28 scored. Graduate student goalie Rachel Ross MSBA’25 did not let a shot in until the Judges met Clark on the road this past Wednesday.

Meeting MIT was going to be the first real test of Brandeis’ strength as a relatively young squad; 15 of their 21 roster members are underclassmen. The fighting spirit of the Engineers was felt immediately by the Judges, as they outshot them 7-1. However, neither team was able to score in the first half. Coming into the second half, both teams were hungry for points on the board.

No time was wasted — Ross was forced to make her first save of the game just 45 seconds into the second half, but the Judges fought back. Just 10 minutes later, Raju dribbled her way around to beat the Engineers’ defense and found the back of the net at 54:36. Battling through the second half as MIT pulled off eight shots, including three on goal which Ross saved, the Judges held the score.

However, the Judges failed to secure the victory, as the Engineers gained steam and at 79:46, MIT's Emiko Pope

got past Ross to tie the game. In true heartbreaking fashion, less than three minutes later, Natalie Barnouw scored again for MIT, making the final score 2-1. The Judges could not come up with a response, leaving the final score 2-1, and much to be desired. Despite a late game botch, the Judges contended impressively. They got a taste of success against another ranked team and it was only MIT's late game scramble that saved the game for the Engineers.

Taking a look at the statistics, although they were woefully out shot 243, the Judges defense proudly held the frustrated Engineers to just two conversions. Corner kicks were dominated by the Engineers, earning 8 to the Judges’ 0, but no goals were converted from either of these.

As early in the season as it is, having an undefeated-streak broken still stings. The Judges will look ahead to their upcoming match against Bridgewater State University on Wednesday, Sept. 17, to rally, regroup, and restart their winning streak.

The Judges currently have the third best record in the University Athletics Association. Their first test against a fellow UAA team will come on Oct. 5 when the Brandeis women will travel Carnegie Mellon University.

SOCCER: Alex Morgan Retires

found her momentum, quickly earning herself a starting position for the team. Contributing impressively to the USWNT’s gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, Morgan scored 10 goals, tying with established players Megan Rapinoe and Abby Wambach, and leading the team with four assists. Overall in 2012, she led the American team with 28 goals scored, nine multigoal matches, 21 assists and was honored by the U.S. Soccer Federation as the 2012 Female Athlete of the Year. Over the next few years Morgan led the USWNT to two more successive FIFA Women’s World Cup victories in 2015 and 2019. While the national team dominated international competition and earned more viewership in their World Cup final (20.3 million) than the World Series, Stanley Cup Final and National Basketball Association Finals, behind the scenes its players were left undeservingly underpaid and unappreciated. In 2016, Morgan was one of six players from the USWNT to file an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint “over inequality in pay and treatment in U.S. women’s soccer.” Women’s soccer was turning into a symbol of inspiration and cultural pride in the United States, bringing soccer to the forefront of youth sports and becoming especially influential for young girls as 2016 saw record numbers that went beyond athletic success and stars of the sport argued that they

deserved support that matched their caliber of play.

The fight for equality took Morgan and her teammates six years of speaking truth to power and often to deaf ears. Statistically, the women’s national team has been far superior to the men’s national team in the last thirty years. However, as cited in the EEOC filing, the bonus female players received for making the ultimately victorious 2015 World Cup team was a meager $30,000 compared to their male counterparts’ $68,750 each for their 2014 World Cup in which they did not make it out of the round of 16. As the women’s team — helmed by Morgan — started to generate welcome revenue for the U.S. Soccer Federation after its back-to-back world cup titles in 2011, 2015 and 2019; its Olympic Gold in 2012 and bronze in 2020; SheBelieves Cup titles in 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2022; and CONCACAF championships in 2014, 2018 and 2022; the USWNT’s status as an American cultural zeitgeist in the 2000s was in obvious disparity with the lack of appreciation from the U.S. Soccer Federation for what was becoming a great asset.

Morgan was an outspoken critic during this legal battle happening off the field, and said that it was “like a second job” working to manage legal negotiations and advocating for the support and resources she and her teammates should have already been receiving. In 2022, Morgan and the USWNT became the first female athletes in the U.S. to successfully sue their employers. The results of the filing required that men and women playing for the U.S. national teams be paid an equal rate for all international competitions and tournaments. This was a massive victory for women's soccer players in the United States and Morgan summed it up best, saying, “our goal was to have acknowledgment of discrimination from U.S. Soccer, and we received that through back pay in the settlement. We set out to have fair and equal treatment in working conditions, and we got that through the working conditions settlement.”

Her work to achieve these settlements on behalf of herself and the USWNT was a testament to her dedication to the sport, in addition to the legacy of outspoken and fierce activism that became synonymous with the team.

The USWNT’s very public legal battle arguably led to a worldwide domino effect as other national teams began to follow suit and reform the wage disparities between their men’s and women’s teams. It was a “huge win” for Morgan and her team and as she said, “it set up the next generation [of soccer players] for something [they] could’ve only dreamed of.”

Because of her actions, Morgan became a celebrated figure in American

pop culture. Even as the legal fight to receive equal pay trudged on despite unwavering pressure from herself and her teammates, Morgan kept climbing higher: she racked up multiple Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards nominations and wins, notably Best Female Athlete in 2019; U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year awards in 2012 and 2018; Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football Player of the Year Awards in 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2018; SheBelieves Cup Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards in 2016; the FIFA Women’s World Cup Silver Ball award in 2019; and the NWSL Golden Boot in 2022, to name a small portion of her staggering achievements. Over the course of her career, she has played for a total of eight professional teams across the United States and in Europe and has contributed to six various league titles for these clubs. Morgan's career off the field has already begun to flourish as her titular Alex Morgan Foundation has taken off. In 2023, the foundation distributed $188,500 in grants supporting charities and grassroots organizations focusing on local community outreach programs for moms, such as the Casa Familiar-Promotoras program, which "consists of a dedicated group of women, mostly moms, who serve as community advocates across the border community of San Ysidro." She continues to inspire the next generation of women's soccer players, hosting youth clinics and funding the first ever Soccer Empowerment Camp in South Bay, aiming to combine soccer training with mental health outreach. Despite this long list of accomplishments, it is Morgan’s words that best capture her career: “[soccer] was one of the first things I ever loved and I gave everything to this sport and what I got in return was more than I ever dreamed of.” Morgan was unable to find the back of the net for the past 14 regular season games, despite scoring the wave’s first goal this season. However, she will be remembered for ending her prolifically successful career on a positive note, leaving the pitch to applause from her teammates and a 200,000 plus crowd who assembled to see her one last time in the 101 degree California heat. Walking back on the field to address the crowd at the end of the game, accompanied by her daughter Charlie, Morgan tearfully thanked her teammates and fans: “this last moment on the field with you, I will cherish forever.”

A household name and a hometown hero. A beloved star and beholden to nobody. Alex Morgan charted her own career and was revolutionary in her ability to combine and collectivize her own success and stardom while generating inspiration, growth and

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

Sports just PROFESSIONAL

FOOTBALL

The Justice Staff Writer Ezekiel Bloom '27 discusses the first two weeks of National Football League action plus predictions for the upcoming week, p. 13.

PROFESSIONAL SOCCER

Alex Morgan announces retirement

■ After being shockingly left off of the 2024 Olympic National team roster this past summer, women’s sports revolutionary Alex Morgan decides to retire from professional soccer.

By DIANE MEYER JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

On Sept. 5, Alex Morgan announced that she would be retiring from women’s soccer. In a video posted on X, titled “Thank You,” Morgan said that her decision “ha[d] been a long time coming and [it] wasn’t easy.” She would play one last game for the San Diego Wave Fútbol Club, which took place last Sunday, Sept. 8. Morgan recounted that at the beginning of 2024, she “felt in her heart and soul that this was the last season” of her professional career. For Morgan, “success … is defined by never giving up and [she] did just that” throughout her 30 years of playing soccer. She aims to keep this mentality as she begins a new phase of her life. Family is motivation for Morgan and she thanked her family for “uplifting, motivating, and encouraging” her for “the last 15 years as a professional athlete.” She also said that her four-year-old daughter, Charlie, told her recently that she wants to be a soccer player when she grows up. Smiling, Morgan said that she feels proud of this, not because her daughter wants to follow in her footsteps, but because “the pathway [to be a successful women’s soccer player] exists … [and] even a four year old can see [that] now.” The immense development that women's soccer has seen in the United States during the past two decades has “changed lives,” and is due in large part to her trailblazing career.

As one of the most popular and recognizable female athletes of the last 20 years, Morgan’s retirement signals the end of an era in women’s soccer. Other U.S. Women’s National team legends of her generation — Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz — have also retired in the last five years, as a younger wave of women’s soccer stars have started to take over. The most recent national team was the youngest American team sent to the Olympics since 2008.

Morgan’s retirement announcement was abrupt, but it was not a surprise. Ending her career during the middle of the National Women's Soccer League season, Morgan said in her video that she had “so much clarity about this decision, and [that she was] so happy to be able to finally tell [her fans].” During her final game, Morgan ended her time at the San Diego Wave with a nod to her iconic jersey number, making an exit not long after the 13-minute mark of the game. As a member and captain of the Wave since their inaugural season as an expansion club for the NWSL in 2022, Morgan led the team to the playoffs during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Morgan also won the NWSL Golden Boot Award after scoring 15 goals in 17 games during the 2022 season. The Wave lost in the semifinals during the playoffs in both 2022 and 2023.

Morgan said that at the beginning of 2024, she had higher aspirations for her NWSL season and was not planning on cutting things short. “Unfortunately plans don’t always go the way you draft them up,” she explained during an emotional press conference hosted by the San Diego Wave. For women’s soccer fans, the end of Morgan’s career was foreshadowed by her absence from the United States Women's National team during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She stated that although her decision to retire was not made out of the blue, “letting [her] teammates know [and] letting the world know ... is an emotional rollercoaster.” In response to a question

about her hope for the legacy she has created, Morgan said that she wants people to know that she “pushed the game forward, that [she] gained respect for the women’s game … and that [she] helped players and [herself] not only be respected but have better resources … and be protected.” Moving on from her athletic career, Morgan has found her calling in “investing in women’s sports … and giving a platform [to female athletes].”

Morgan has already cast a wide net in her efforts to bolster women's sports: she co-founded the media company Together along with Chloe Kim, Simone Manuel and Sue Bird, which focuses on covering exclusively women’s athletics; she launched the Alex Morgan Foundation last year to invest in equitable opportunities for girls’ sports specifically in San Diego; and through personal investments such as her support for Unrivaled, the new 3v3 women's basketball league, she has contributed to not only the development of women's soccer in the United States but to development of women's sports as a unique industry.

Morgan said that she felt fortunate to end her career in San Diego as she pivots to focusing on her second pregnancy and raising her family. Morgan herself grew up in Southern Los Angeles before going on to play soccer at the University of California at Berkeley, while also competing for the USWNT U20 National team. After graduating in 2010 with her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Economy, Morgan was selected as the number one draft pick by the New York Flash, a former competitor of the Women's Professional Soccer League, which folded in 2012 and was succeeded by the NWSL.

Playing women’s soccer at a professional level in the early 2000s centered more on being called up to play for the national team than focusing on league play. Morgan had an objectively strong professional start as she led the Flash to win the league championship during the 2011 season. However, the real test of success and stardom for her and all women's soccer players was on the world stage. Today, the NWSL garners significantly more attention in terms of viewership, investment and media coverage, now including 14 teams. At the same time, the Women’s Premier Soccer League struggled to maintain its mere seven teams and the average annual base salary for players was $27,000. U.S. Women's National players easily made double that at the time and were also incentivized by bonuses awarded for strong international competitiveness. Playing for the USWNT was not only the ultimate goal because it meant representing one’s country, but it was arguably financially necessary to justify a career in soccer for women.

After already demonstrating star potential for the United States during the 2008 International Federation of Association Football U-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile, she scored four goals including one that won the U.S. the tournament. Consequently, Morgan was capped by the senior national team in 2010 after graduating early from U.C. Berkeley. She appeared in her first few games for the USWNT as a substitute, but decisively made her mark in the game that qualified the United States for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Coming off the bench, Morgan scored in the 86th minute to beat Italy 1-0. Thus, her flair for pulling off gritty game-winning moments under pressure was cemented as a staple of the American roster.

In the 2011 Women’s World Cup, Morgan was the youngest American player. She achieved the distinction of being the first player ever to score a goal and record an assist in a World Cup final. Despite ultimately losing the match, Morgan had

COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR ATHLETES

New club raises awareness about studentathletes’ mental health

■ This student-athlete founded mental health support club, The Hidden Opponent, has high aspirations for its impact at Brandeis.

By MILES GOLDSTEIN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The night before a meet, Brandeis swim team’s Audrey Teo ’26 meditates before she goes to sleep. That morning, she’ll be sure to eat a banana, a superstition she’s held since high school, and then turn on her workout playlist to get in the zone. But Teo will be the first to tell you, none of this matters if her mental preparation isn’t there. “It doesn’t matter if I’ve been sick or healthy, if I’m not feeling good about myself, I’ve never swam well,” she explained.

For this reason, Teo takes her work with The Hidden Opponent seriously. The Hidden Opponent is an advocacy nonprofit focused on destigmatizing mental health in athletics. They have a presence on over 750 college campuses, and a Brandeis chapter was founded last fall by Dominique Paglia ’25 and Lexi Kaufman ’24. According to Teo, the 2024-25 season is their first full year of operation — one where they hope to leave their mark.

“We’ve been planning fun events to help destress,” Teo told The Justice. “Last year we did pumpkin painting, for instance.” Past programming has also included bracelet making and a game of knockout during halftime of a Brandeis Women’s Basketball game, with proceeds going to charity. “Sometimes, it’s just about being able to get together in a room and hang out,” Teo explained. That kind of cross-sport camaraderie is part of what The Hidden Opponent is trying to build in their goal to address

the mental health needs of athletes at Brandeis.

In the immediate future, Teo says they’re targeting Brandeis Homecoming on Sept. 28, especially given its proximity to World Mental Health Day, which is Oct. 10. The Hidden Opponent will have its own booth during Homecoming Weekend to raise awareness about the club hosting a bake sale to raise funds for future programming.

“Our main goals are mostly to help athletes de-stress and raise awareness about mental health,” Teo said. In the long term, The Hidden Opponent hopes to host panel discussions, particularly highlighting the subjects of injury and recovery. There’s also the potential to work with sports psychologist graduate students at the University. This year, they’re also making a point to reach out beyond University Athletics to club sport athletes and just students interested in the link between mental and physical health.

Mental health can be a taboo topic among athletes, and when it is talked about, a lack of resources or vocabulary can cause athletes to struggle with coming forward.

Terms like “the yips” in baseball can be applied as a blanket term at the expense of real attention and mental care. “Friends and teammates are great,” Teo explained, “but sometimes you need something more.” As a network, The Hidden Opponent hopes to provide that, with contacts at the Brandeis Counseling Center and other mental-health focused groups across campus and beyond. At the same time, The Hidden Opponent endeavors to show that mental health is important for athletes even if they don’t think they struggle with a mental health condition. Teo relates a story from her own time as a swimmer in high school. She found herself plateauing despite taking everything about her physical performance se-

riously. “I remember, I said to my coach, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing wrong,’” she recalled. The missing link was a focus on managing her own day-to-day mental health, which was causing distractions that got in the way of the preparation she needed to perform at the highest level. “Sometimes, it’s about the little things,” she said. Access to mental health resources for college athletes is increasing, according to 2023 data from the National Collegiate Athletics Association’s Student-Athlete Health and Wellness Study. With nearly 70% of survey respondents identifying resources on their campuses that they could turn to for support, groups like The Hidden Opponent are helping to address the mental health needs of student athletes. At the end of the day, Brandeis athletes are competitors, and there is immense personal pride in performing at the highest level and being the best. While this kind of pressure can historically lead athletes to neglect mental health, Teo emphasizes the opposite: “It’s [about] always wanting to get better, it’s about being the best version of yourself.”

So long as The Hidden Opponent continues to appeal to that desire that Brandeis athletes have to do their best, they’re likely to succeed in their mission to raise awareness and provide resources for student athlete mental health. That desire to be the best person one can be is one you’ll hear Teo mention if you listen to her talk about the club for any length of time — it’s a guiding value that shapes the work she does alongside Paglia, the club’s president. It’s a competitiveness that extends even to their status as a club on campus. “After all,” Teo smiled, “we want people to think we’re the best.” This pride in her club and its intended mission reflects a greater goal and hope to help athletes make their mental health a priority.

TOGETHER: The Hidden Opponent spreads awareness about student-athletes' mental health and creates community.

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

justArts & Culture

Waltham, Mass.

Waltham, Mass.

Artwork courtesy of Cindy Liu.

Photos: Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS and Jonas Kaplin/The Justice Design: Bryan Wolfe/The Justice.

‘I t E nds W I th U s :’

I ng lov E and dom E st I c v

By CAROL LU JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

As the film adaption of the 2016 Colleen Hoover novel “It Ends With Us” rolled into theaters, social media became flooded with rumors of cast drama, product marketing, and clips of actress Blake Lively telling audiences to “grab your friends, wear your florals” and flock to the theaters. Given this marketing, I was not sure what to expect when I walked into the cinema. Nevertheless, as the movie ended, I stared straight into the screen displaying the end credits. I could not believe how fast my heart was pounding, how many tears were streaming down my face. This movie was too personal and too real for too many of us.

Given the heavy topics of the piece, the movie was advertised somewhat carelessly, causing audiences to misconstrue the true focus of the film. I, however, want to bring the attention back to the film’s focus on domestic violence. After watching the film, I believe “It Ends With Us” did a great job of depicting a brutally honest picture of why people, especially women, stay in abusive relationships.

The movie opens with us seeing Lily Bloom, the main character, going to her father’s funeral in the small town where she grew up. We catch glimpses of Lily’s dad abusing her mom and how Lily was always too afraid to stand up to him. It is during this time that Lily meets Ryle, a neurosurgeon who lives in Boston, the same city Lily plans on moving to.

From the first moment Ryle walks

into Lily’s life, there are signs of him having violent tendencies. The first sign of his violence appears when he walks onto a balcony and kicks a chair in front of him out of anger. A few months after that initial encounter, Ryle and Lily meet again when Ryle’s sister, Allysa, starts working for Lily’s floral shop in Boston. From that point forward, Ryle and Lily, slowly but surely, build a romantic relationship.

The first incident of abuse in Lily and Ryle’s relationship occurs when they are dating. Ryle is making a breakfast casserole for Lily when the oven starts smoking. As Ryle goes to the kitchen to check on the dish, Lily playfully teases him, saying she knew he’d burn the casserole. We see Ryle opening the oven, accidentally burning his hand and dropping the casserole. In the process, he accidently hits Lily’s face, who is standing beside him. Ryle then frantically starts to apologize, telling Lily that it was an accident and asking her if she is okay. However, during a later flashback of this very scene, the audience is shown the reality of the situation instead of how Lily perceived it. The audience sees Ryle hit Lily out of anger; it was not an accident.

The second incident of domestic abuse occurs after Lily and Ryle get married. Ryle finds the phone number of Atlas, Lily’s childhood friend, in Lily’s phone case. Atlas had originally given her his phone number after seeing Lily’s bruised

eye and Ryle’s bandaged hand from the kitchen incident. Ryle gets angry at the sight of the number and asks Lily why she has his phone number. He furiously runs out of the house with Lily following him. As they are arguing, Ryle pushes her down the stairs. Similar to before, the movie shows this incident from two points of view. From Lily’s perspective, Ryle once again apologizes and takes care of Lily right after the incident, telling her that it was an accident that she fell down the stairs and Lily, once again, believes him. During the first presentation of this incident, the viewers are a little confused as to whether Ryle pushed her down the stairs on purpose or not. However, after the flashback, which shows the reality of the situation it is very clear that Ryle pushed her, and that he did so out of anger.

The third main incident of domestic abuse in the movie is when Ryle finds out that the tattoo on Lily’s collarbone is about Atlas. He accuses her of having an affair with Atlas, attempts to rape her, leaving bite marks around her tattoo. It is after this incident that Lily finally starts to see Ryle’s abusive tendencies and runs away from him.

A question that is always asked when talking about those experiencing domestic violence is “Why don’t you just leave him?” or “Just break up with him, it’s that easy.” But it is just not that simple. There are so many different reasons behind a domestic

violence survivor staying in an abusive relationship. In Lily’s case, we can see that the majority of her relationship with Ryle is portrayed as loving, romantic and healthy. Ryle is attractive and has a good career. He would get Lily flowers and cook her dinner. Without provocation, he is the perfect boyfriend and husband to Lily. As a result, when he gets angry and these incidents occur, Lily tries to convince herself that he did not mean to hurt her, and that it was just an accident. She believes Ryle when he tells her he was just angry or it was just an accident. Alongside this, Lily grew up seeing the abusive relationship between her parents. When Lily asks her mom why she stayed, she says it would be even harder to leave.

When Lily finally decides to end her relationship with Ryle, she is in the delivery room, giving birth to their daughter. She asks Ryle what he would say to their daughter if she came to him asking him what to do if her boyfriend hit her, if her husband pushed her down the stairs but he said it was an accident, if he held her down and she begged him to stop, but he swore he would never do that again, if the person she loved was hurting her. Ryle said, “I would beg her to leave him. I would beg her to never go back.” At this point, the audience has seen Ryle apologize for his actions so many times.

When Lily runs off following the instance of sexual abuse and finds

BEABADOOBEE

PLAYS MGM MUSIC HALL

By SOPHIA DE LISI JUSTICE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

tion.

Following the release of her third album, “This Is How Tomorrow Moves,” alternative/indie artist Beabadoobee embarked on her 12-stop North American album tour. Beabadoobe kicked off the tour Sept. 8 in Philadelphia, and after two stops in Washington D.C. and New York City respectively, found herself at Boston’s Metro Goldwyn Mayer Music Hall at Fenway on Sept. 13. Accompanying Bea on this tour were alternative/indie singer Keni Titus and indie-pop duo Hovvdy. Keni Titus opened the show with a single off of her 2024 extended play “juliet,” “think i got a bad idea.” Her angsty soft-pop sound and reminiscing lyrics immediately reminded me of a more-subdued Olivia Rodrigo. Keni also played “Sid and Nancy,” “american spirit” and “just keep driving” from her discography. One of the most captivating elements from Keni’s set was the building drum rhythms in contrast to Keni’s quieter voice.

As more of the audience filed in, Hovvdy — pronounced “howdy” — took the stage, opening with their song “Junior Day League” off of their 2021 album “True Love.” Hovvdy’s members, Charlie Martin and Will Taylor, formed the group in

Austin, Texas. These southern roots shined in their voices, nostalgic lyrics and in their soft guitar. Hovvdy sang of lost love, a common theme in country music, pairing it with overlapping harmonies and adlibs that reminded me of an early-to-mid 2000s indie/alternative music. Other songs Hovvdy played from their repertoire included “Forever,” “Cathedral” and “Jean.” Both Martin and Taylor sang with such fervor that I didn’t doubt their passion for their music for a moment.

Hovvdy and Keni Titus created an intimate and heartfelt atmosphere that was more than suited to support Beabadoobee’s honest and heartfelt music. Starting from the moment Keni Titus took the stage, the intimacy between the artists and the audience was palpable for the entirety of the night.

Beabadoobee opened her set with “California,” the second song on “This Is How Tomorrow Moves.” This selection, followed by “10:36” and “Talk” from her 2022 album “Beatopia” was a decisive and dynamic way to greet the audience. In return, the audience sang Bea’s lyrics back to her, their energy electric. Opening the show with three sharp, gutsy pieces made for a chilling introduc-

“She’s real?” Someone tearfully questioned next to me.

I was immediately taken with how closely the details put into the show resembled Bea as an artist and a personality. In the first half, there was a white backdrop concealing the full stage, highlighting the band equipment and the hanging lights that flashed in time with the music. During this part of the show, the flashing lights revealed shadows of thicker greenery from behind the backdrop. However, during the second half of the performance, the white backdrop fell to reveal the greenery that the shadows hinted at under the flashing lights, taking my breath away.

I found the set to be incredibly unique, suiting both the whimsy and angst in Bea’s music, but keeping the ambiance elegant through the greenery’s shadows and the lighting.

“I love when you sing along,” Bea said. “We watch the TikToks and it’s funny as shit. In the best way. So make sure you sing along with this one,” she requested, playing her 2023 song “the way things go.” The audience fulfilled her request without question, filling the music hall with Bea’s lyrics. In this moment, the

artist and audience worked hand-inhand to depict an individual reminiscing over a past lover.

One of my favorite moments from the concert was when the music fell to a slower, more intimate pace, toning down to more personal topics Bea has written about, including her boyfriend’s eyes in “Ever Seen” and her own body image in “Girl Song.”

“This one’s for you guys!” Bea announced. Seconds after she played the first chords of “Glue Song,” it felt as if the music hall collectively swooned, an array of phone flashlights from the balcony seats flickering on resembled stars from the floor. The crowd around me sang the lyrics back to her, to which she acknowledged with a touched smile.

“Glue Song” is a love song where Beabadoobee sings of falling in unique and unexpected love, ultimately feeling “stuck like glue.” While she sang, the lighting’s angle shifted to cast Bea’s swaying silhouette over the white backdrop alongside the greenery’s shadows.

As Bea transitioned to the final few songs of her setlist, she addressed the audience again. “Thanks for sticking around. I get so nervous for these shows, but you guys make me feel comfy. So thank you,” Be-

out she is pregnant, Ryle comes over to Lily’s place and helps her set up the crib, tells her he is sorry again and again and begs her to come home. We have also seen Ryle’s sister Allysa, talk about how Ryle accidentally shot his brother to death when he was only six years old. The audience sees so many other sides of Ryle, sides that seem redeemable, sides that make us understand why he is unable to control his temper or gets violent at times.

“It Ends With Us” inundates the audiences with the positive aspects of Ryle and Lily’s relationship, especially at the beginning of the movie. However, I believe this emphasis on the “good” was necessary to show what domestic violence is truly like for survivors, and provides an answer to the question of why they stay. Ryle was an amazing boyfriend, until he was not; he was an amazing husband, until he was not. We saw so much good in him, and the love he had for Lily was undeniable. Because of all the love and confusion, we, as the audience, were able to see how hard it was for Lily to leave him.

“It Ends with Us” powerfully depicts how violent behavior and a healthy relationship cannot coexist. It does not matter if there is provocation or if it only happens when one is angry. Any acts of violence should not be tolerated, and if they are, they then spiral into cycles of domestic violence.

abadoobee said, playing “Coming Home” from her new album. In this song, Bea sings of missing her lover while being “far away” in an “American state.” In an interview with Elle Fashion Magazine, Beabadoobee discussed that she “used to dread [touring], as it used to take a toll on her mental and physical health.” However, she revealed to the magazine that she has learned to instill “healthy boundaries” to protect herself.

“Thank you so much for having us,” Beabadoobee concluded.

“You’re all so special to me and I’ll see you soon,” she smiled ironically, having referenced the title of her last song for the night: “see you soon.”

At this show, I experienced a rising artist who has a clear idea of her sound as a musician and an unbreak-

Photo courtesy of JORDAN CURTIS HUGHES. Design: NEMMA KALRA/The Justice.

Brandeis Chinese Culture Connection

Photos: GIANNA MORALES/The Justice. Design: MARINA ROSENTHAL/The Justice.

Top 10 game day songs

These are the current songs I listen to before and after tennis matches!

1. “Let Me Know (I Wonder Why)” by Juice Wrld

2. “Rockstar In His Prime” by Juice Wrld

3. “CIRCUS MAXIMUS” by Travis Scott

4. “Running” by NF

5. “Pride is the Devil” by J. Cole and Lil Baby

6. “I Know” by Travis Scott

7. “Element” by Kendrick Lamar

8. “Saving Up” by Dom Dolla

9. “Nice for What” by Drake

10. “16” by Baby Keem

STUDENT ART SPOTLIGHT

BRANDEIS IN SIENA

BRYAN WOLFE/The Justice

Diane Meyer is a junior double majoring in english and studio art. She is also on the track and field team as well as being an editor for The Justice. Her favorite part about participating in Brandeis in Siena was exploring Italy and eating the

Justice Editorial Assistant Diane Meyer ’26 participated in the reporting of this story.

Design: NEMMA KALRA/The Justice.

By REBECCA SUAREZ JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

By DAHLIA RAMIREZ JUSTICE STAFF ARTIST

DIANE MEYER/The Justice

DIANE MEYER/The Justice