The Justice, September 19, 2023

UNIVERSITY COMPROMISE

Student Union president and vice president outline their goals for the year

■ The Union is planning initiatives to improve its reputation, connect with students more, and improve school spirit.

By AMANDA CHEN JUSTICE SENIOR STAFF WRITER

On Sept. 10 and Sept. 11, the Justice held interviews with Vice President Erica Hwang ’25 and President Noah Risley ’24, respectively, to outline the Student Union’s goals for this year.

Graduate research assistants publicize unionization decision

By LIN LIN HUTCHINSON

After years of organizing efforts to garner support, assess interest, and increase union card signing, on Sept. 11, Brandeis University Research Assistants announced they have filed a petition with the Nation Labor Relations Board for a formal union election, according to a press release from the the Service Employees International Union Local 509.

In July 2018, Brandeis University and Service Employee International Union Local 509 agreed on a collective bargaining agreement for PhD students who work as teaching assistants or teaching fellows during their academic time at Brandeis. Benefits of the current agreement include the following: a raise in graduate assistants’ pay, set limits to their work hours, supplies and textbooks provided for TAs and TFs, and opportunities to attend professional development workshops, free of charge.

Despite what were seen as wins

in the collective bargaining agreement between TAs and the University, members of the union continue to find themselves with financial concerns. Last May, the Justice investigated the food, housing, and transportation insecurity faced by many graduate TAs and TFs. The article highlights the inadequate financial compensation that graduate TAs and TFs face in proportion to the cost of living in the greater Boston area. Students are struggling with staggering debt and are often choosing between rent, food for the month, medical treatments and bills, expenses for an unforeseen circumstance, and the quality of their teaching.

Olivia Leland, a physics Ph.D. student and Graduate Department Representative, recounted a time of “complete nervous breakdown” in an April 27 email to the Justice, when an emergency with her cat left her having to decide whether the $150 left in her bank was going to feed herself or her cat.

The harsh physical, emotional, and mental realities that TAs and TFs face, as a result of inadequate support from the University, are not isolated. Like graduate TAs, graduate research assistants are University employees who play an integral role in conducting and furthering research.

Currently, research assistants are not represented by the union

and do not receive the aforementioned benefits and conditions that graduate TAs and TFs are entitled to. If the outcome of a formal union election with the National Labor Relations Board is in favor of the graduate research assistants, “approximately 250 PhD graduate research assistants would join nearly 200 TAs who are already unionized with SEIU Local 509, expanding the union’s presence and creating a pathway toward bargaining with the University over key issues,” according to the Sept. 11 press release from SEIU Local 509. The initiative to include research assistants in the union started in 2020. Since the unionizing efforts in 2018 only included TAs and TFs, there was a lack of support, organization, and representation for student research workers. Lauren Crosser, a PhD candidate in sociology and union organizer, explained that she, along with other graduate workers in the social sciences and humanities, initiated the process, as they suspected RAs shared the same need to have a union as TAs.

“We began talking to some STEM graduate workers about their working conditions at Brandeis,” Crosser wrote in a Sept. 15 email to the Justice. “I met with graduate workers for coffee or called them on the phone, and tried to engage them as much as I could.”

Before becoming Student Union president, Risley held several other roles in the Union. As a first-year, they were a Class of 2024 senator and the chair of the Social Justice and Diversity committee. In their sophomore and junior years, they were the director of communications and a chief justice, respectively. As the president, they will appoint and oversee the Executive Board, represent the Student Union when interacting with the administration, and set policy. Risley is proud of the Student Union’s diversity this year. “To my knowledge, I am the first nonbinary trans person to be [Union] president,” Risley said. “In a national moment of antitrans attitudes, it’s really humbling to be in charge of a large organization as a trans person.”

Hwang also previously held roles in the Union as the Class of 2025 Senator and chair of the Health and Safety committee last year. As the vice president, she is the president of the Senate and serves on the Executive Board.

Every three years, the Student Union conducts a review of its constitution and bylaws. After the review, the student body votes on and either approves or rejects new changes in the spring. Risley understands that students may be fatigued with so many Student Union elections and wants to reduce it to three elections per year, one in the fall and two in the spring. The Constitution states that if there is a vacancy, an election must be held within 10 days, and Risley intends to change this rule.

Moreover, Risley referenced growing domestic movements around caste discrimination — they want to include caste as a category in anti-discrimination clauses. They are also working on revising the constitution for the Brandeis Sustainability Fund so money is more easily distributed to students. While current students may not feel an immediate impact from the amendments, the Student Union hopes that future classes will feel its effects.

An overarching goal for the Student Union is to offer more support to clubs. The Union created a new

position on the Executive Board called the director of Club Support that will assist the Club Support senate committee and the Committee’s Chair. The new position allows the Student Union to collaborate more with clubs and answer their needs. Moreover, the Events Senate Committee — previously called the Services and Outreach Senate Committee — can help clubs promote their events more by creating a calendar to avoid double booking and increase event turnout. Risley highlighted the importance of devoting more time to listening to clubs’ concerns. They attended the Student Leaders Round Table at the Gender and Sexuality Center and talked about what the Student Union does and collaboration opportunities with women-led and LGBTQ+ clubs. They discovered that clubs were confused about the club funding process, so they want to set up a town hall in the GSC where the Allocations Board co-chairs will answer funding questions. Julián Cancino, the director of the GSC, told Risley that this was the first time a Student Union president came to talk to students at the GSC in his tenure. Risley also wants to respond to the Intercultural Center’s concerns, as well as meet with LeManuel “Lee” Bitsóí, the vice president of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Another main goal for the Student Union is to strengthen school spirit. Some potential ideas included creating more student spaces, funding more Campus Activities Board events, and organizing spirit weeks.

Additionally, the Student Union wishes to improve mental health resources, particularly the Brandeis Counseling Center. They are working to expand the BCC’s online presence by revamping their website, creating an Instagram account, and providing an option for students to book an appointment online as opposed to calling the BCC. Hwang acknowledged that seeking mental health care can be daunting and adding an online option can mitigate those fears.

Risley stated that they want to “bake accessibility into decision making,” and Student Union’s Director of Accessibility David Cahn ’26 has been developing some proposals. For example, future projects include buttons that open doors outside of the Sherman dining hall, more ramps, high visibility stairs, captions for videos, and photos that have the ability to be read by a screen reader. Cahn has also been collaborating with the Disabled Students’ Network to incorporate students’ concerns.

The Student Union formed another new position, the assistant director of Sexual Health, which supports the director of Sexual Violence Prevention. These two positions along with the director of See GOALS, 5 ☛

Waltham preliminary election results

By MESHULAM UNGAR

We need to create school spirit

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

By ISABEL ROSETH AND LAURYN WILLIAMS

By LEA ZAHARONI

JACKSON WU

SMILEY HUYNH/the Justice

NEW ALUM : graduate student walks during the 2023 Commencement Ceremony, celebrating their academic achievement. See

JOSH KASTORF/the Justice

■ Due to limited support from the University, graduate student advocates are taking matters into their own hands.

SENATE LOG

The Justice did not recieve a Senate Log as of press time.

POLICE LOG

MEDICAL EMERGENCY

Sept. 10—A community member requested BEMCo’s assistance with an intoxicated individual. The patient was transported to a local hospital.

Sept. 10—A wellbeing check was requested. The patient was transported to a local hospital.

Sept. 10—A caller reported a patient with low blood sugar. The patient was treated by BEMCo and refused further treatment.

Sept. 13—There was a medical call for panic attack. Community member was treated by BEMCo and refused further treatment.

Sept. 13—A party reported feeling dizzy. The patient was transported to a local hospital.

Sept. 13—An individual reported falling and injuring themself. The patient was treated and refused further treatment.

Sept. 14—There was a medical emergency for intoxicated party. The patient was transported to a local hospital.

Sept. 15—Patient treated for allergic reaction. The patient refused further treatment.

Sept. 16—An intoxicated party was transported to a local hospital.

Sept. 16—A patient complained of discomfort. BEMCo staff treated the individual, who refused further treatment.

MISCELLANEOUS

Sept. 11—Brandeis Police checked on a running motor vehicle that was parked in a lot for several hours. All appeared to be in order.

Sept. 12—A community member discovered damage to a van in a parking lot, which might have taken place over the summer.

Sept. 13—An individual reported an electrical fire in their room; electricians and custodians were dispatched. Investigation to follow.

Sept. 14—A caller reported an individual exhibiting symptoms of a mental health condition. Investigation to follow.

Sept. 14—A caller reported a potential case of stalking. Investigation to follow.

Sept. 15—An individual claims they were scammed. Investigation to follow.

Sept. 16—Possible theft through scam. Investigation to follow.

Student Union releases fall election results and voter statistics

position of Class of 2027 Senator. Kumar said in her bio that she hopes to introduce programs to address the stress that students face on a daily basis. Escamilla-Gil said in their bio that they will make it easier for students to reach out to the Student Union with their concerns.

harbor a sense of community for off-campus students.”

By MAX FEIGELSON JUSTICE SENIOR STAFF WRITER

In the most recent round of elections on Sept. 14, students voted on candidates running for positions on the senate, Allocations Board, and Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. Student Union Secretary Carol Kornworcel ’26 announced the results the morning of Sept. 18.

Samuel Calel ’27 and Yoni Kahn ’24 ran for the position of Senator-at-Large, effectively unopposed, as two seats were open. The Senator-at-Large has the entire campus as their constituency, and all students are able to run and vote for the position. Calel said in his candidate bio that he wants to “better voice the opinions … of students across campus.” Kahn said he would prioritize improving “university infrastructure,” including housing for undergraduates.

Allison Weiner ’25 and Rachel Zhang ’25 both secured the position of Class of 2025 Senator. Weiner said in their bio that they are “always thinking about ways to make campus more accessible for everyone.” Zhang said in her bio that she would use on- and off-campus resources to improve students’ experiences.

Ria Escamilla-Gil ’27 and Sanjana Kumar ’27 secured the

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

■ An Arts & Culture teaser incorrectly attributed a graphics credit to Creative Commons instead of Samuel Diaz (September 12, pg. 1).

■ A News article mispelled Dean of Arts and Sciences Jeffrey Spencer Shoulson’s name (September 12, pg. 5).

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

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Daniel Shin ’27 secured the position of North Quad Senator. Shin said that he wants to “raise funds” for the improvement of bathrooms in North Quad.

Aima Nadeem ’27 secured the position of East Quad Senator. Nadeem said she hopes to “advocate for water fountains to be installed at more accessible locations” within East.

Antis Wang ’27 secured the position of Massell Quad Senator unopposed. Wang promised to “make your will become what you see when waking up in the next morning.”

Penelope Llibre ’26 secured the Ziv and Ridgewood senate seat unopposed. Llibre said in their bio that they want to “bring and keep … positive, active energy.”

Sydney Feld ’26 ran unopposed for the Village and 567 South Street senate position. Feld said in her bio that she plans on “enhancing” the bathrooms and “ensuring that the laundry machines are operating.”

Kat Xikes ’26 ran unopposed for the Charles River senate seat. Xikes said she believes that Brandeis should provide more information on all of its housing options and that she wants to improve the Charles River common area.

Jolie Newman ’24 ran unopposed for the Foster Mods senate position. Newman said in her bio that she wants to “keep Mods … a great place.”

Cameron Sherman ’26 ran unopposed for the Off-Campus senate position. Sherman said he wants to “create events to

Cesar Tarton ’27 ran unopposed for the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program senate seat. Tartan said in his bio that he wants to open an investigation into the MKTYP program’s promise to students regarding flight costs. According to Tarton, the MKTYP was going to waive the cost of flights to Waltham for its students but then told the students to purchase their own tickets less than a month before the flight dates.

Angelina Truong ’27 won the position of Racial Minority Representative to Allocations Board. Truong said that she feels “passionate about providing a voice for students whose cultures are similar to [hers]” and wants to do so at Brandeis.

Bhoomika Chopra ’27 won the position of Undergraduate Curriculum Committee representative unopposed. Chopra said she believes it “important … to pass on undergraduate perspectives concerning any facility, so we can make positive differences.”

In addition to election results, the Student Union also released voter statistics, revealing the majority of participants came from the first-year class of 2027 and the least number of voters from the senior class of 2024. The disparity between the number of votes for first-year representative positions and upperclassmen representative positions are consistent with previous elections, in which first-year students vote in greater numbers than upperclassmen.

The vote for Massell Quad Senator and North Quad Senator each surpassed 50 votes, while the Foster Mods and Charles River Senator seats hardly surpassed 20 votes. Only the students living in these respective residents were eligible to vote for their own senators.

Compiled by Sophia De Lisi

On Thursday, Sept. 14, Goldfarb Library hosted “LibraryFest: Fall Open House” to publicize the services that the library offers. They also provided free snacks and held a raffle

■ Many candidates shared their priorities of improving communication, accessibility, and resources for Brandeis students.

ELECTION SEASON

Heat wave and Hurricane Lee create extreme weather conditions in Massachusetts

Sept. 9 for students needing to cool down.

By ANIKA JAIN JUSTICE EDITOR

In the past two weeks, extreme weather conditions have had adverse impacts on the Brandeis community and led local government officials to declare a “state of emergency.”

From Sept. 3 to Sept. 9, the greater Boston area faced a heat wave with heat index values approaching 100 degrees. Meteorologists from the National Weather Service warned Boston residents about the risk of heat exhaustion and heat illnesses.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu declared a “heat emergency” on Sept. 7. “The impacts of climate change are more palpable than ever, with extreme heat posing risk to our communities,” she said in a public statement. To mitigate the impact of the heat, Boston set up 15 cooling centers at Boston Centers for Youth & Families, 64 splash pads located at parks and playgrounds across the city, and open access to Boston Public Library locations for residents who need relief from the heat.

On Sept. 5, Andrea Dine, vice president of student affairs, sent an email to Brandeis students “to share some reminders about staying safe and comfortable until the temperature cools down.” The reminders included staying hydrated, avoiding strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day, limiting sun exposure, closing curtains to reduce the temperature of indoor spaces, and not leaving people or pets in closed vehicles. Dine’s email also announced that both the Shapiro Campus Center and Usdan Student Center would be available 24/7 through

ELECTION SECTION

Many students without air conditioned housing opted to stay in the SCC or Usdan Student Center overnight. On Sept. 7, an Instagram account called @ac_for_brandeis posted a graphic of the Brandeis University sign engulfed in flames. The caption states, “Let’s talk numbers: Brandeis had a revenue of $359M in 2019. Cost of AC for all undergrads? A measly $1.6M a year. That’s less than 0.5% of their total revenue.” The account also pointed out that Brandeis policy does not allow students to keep their own AC units either.

The heat wave was immediately followed by rain and wind due to the aftereffects of Hurricane Lee moving up the coast. According to CBS News, “Lee is no longer a hurricane, but it brought tropical storm-force wind gusts to Cape Cod, the islands, and other coastal locations in Massachusetts early Saturday morning.”

On Sept. 15, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency and requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency issue a Pre-Disaster Emergency Declaration as Hurricane Lee approached. Healey also activated 50 National Guard members to aid with storm preparations and emergency response.

Many coastal cities reported incidents of fallen trees on power lines and roads, causing thousands of power outages.

The highest wind speeds were recorded in Dennis, Massachusetts at 63 mph. Other coastal provinces significantly impacted by Lee include Nantucket, Gloucester, and Martha’s Vineyard.

On average, Massachusetts receives 48 inches of rain per year, with average monthly rainfall between three and four inches for all regions of the state. At the time of publication, a total of 1.9 inches of rain were recorded in Massachusetts during the month of September, and 42.8 inches of rain were recorded in Massachusetts in 2023 thus far.

A LOOK INTO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES'

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump — the same candidates who secured the Democratic Party and Republican Party nominations in 2020, are polling higher than the rest for the 2024 presidency. Including Biden and Trump, there are currently 17 candidates vying for the presidency — 13 Republicans, three democrats, and one third-party candidate.

“Despite awaiting trial on 91 felony counts, Trump is a coin flip away from the presidency,” wrote Dan Pfeiffer, former adviser to President Obama, in his newsletter “The Message Box.”

An Aug. 23 poll by the Wall Street Journal favors Donald Trump at 40% and Joe Biden at 39% of the popular vote. Meanwhile, a CBS poll from Sept. 12 finds Trump leading Biden by 1% — Biden at 49% and Trump at 50%. Voters who are “leaning towards/definitely voting” for Biden are more likely to participate in the 2024 election to “oppose Donald Trump” than “support Joe Biden” at a respective 51% and 49%. On the other hand, 61% of people who lean towards Trump are voting to support him, whereas only 39% are voting to oppose Joe Biden.

According to FiveThirtyEight, here’s how the 13 Republican candidates are currently polling as of Sept. 15. 95% of polls are projected to fall in this range:

G.O.P. Candidates

Donald Trump (former president and businessman) – 55.5%

Ron DeSantis (governor of Florida) –14.2%

Vivek Ramaswamy (entrepreneur and author) – 7.6%

Nikki Haley (former governor of South Carolina and current U.N. ambassador)

– 6.1%

Mike Pence (former vice president and former governor of Indiana ) – 4.7%

Chris Christie (former governor of New Jersey) – 3.1%

Tim Scott (senator from South Carolina) – 2.6%

Asa Hutchinson, Doug Burgam, Will Hurd, Perry Johnson, Larry Elder, and Ryan Binkley are all polling at less than 1%.

Incumbent McCarthy bests challenger Paz by 9% in the Waltham preliminary elections

■ Mayor McCarthy holds a solid lead over Councilor Paz, but nowhere near her 30% lead in the 2019 Waltham preliminary election. Their rematch is set for November.

By MESHULAM UNGAR JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On Tuesday, Sept. 12, Waltham held its preliminary elections to narrow the number of candidates running in the Nov. 7 general election. Waltham Mayor Jeanette A. McCarthy, a 19-year-incumbent seeking a record sixth-term, is being challenged by first-term Ward 9 City Councilor Jonathan Paz. They will both be advancing to the general election. Duane David Champagne Sr. appeared on the ballot, but he withdrew from the race in August after the deadline to be removed from the ballot. Both candidates are Democrats. If elected, Paz would be the first Latino person to be elected as mayor of Waltham.

McCarthy received approximately 59% of the 3096 votes, while Paz gained about 41% of the 1901 votes, with total voter turnout at 15% of registered Waltham voters. This is in line with turnout from 2019’s preliminary election, when 19% of registered voters participated and McCarthy went on to win with 62% of the vote.

Despite McCarthy holding a nearly twodigit lead over Paz, these results are significantly closer than her previous reelection bid, in which she beat then-city councilor Diane P. LeBlanc with nearly a 30% margin. In the September 2019 preliminary race, McCarthy received 62% of the vote with about 900 more votes than she did in this round of preliminary elections.

McCarthy and Paz remain close in campaign fundraising and spending. Since June 1, the Paz campaign has spent $15,408, compared to Mayor McCarthy’s $13,988.54, per Massachusetts state records. However, McCarthy’s records indicate that she had an empty campaign account until the June 1 filing deadline, which means she raised and spent nearly $14,000 in three months. Paz began about three months earlier than McCarthy, fundraising and spending major campaign expenditures beginning in March, and he still holds a small advantage in “cash on-hand.”

Paz recently picked the endorsement of Service Employees International Union 509. They declined to comment as to their reasoning for supporting his candidacy.

As the race enters the six-week stretch, the contest appears to be heating up, at least in Waltham terms. Paz is hosting a campaign kickoff fundraiser on Sept. 28, candidate signs line the lawns of Waltham residents, while a mayoral debate tentatively scheduled on Oct. 26.

POLLING PERFORMACES

Democratic Candidates

Since Joe Biden, the incumbent, has not agreed to a primary debate, below are brief highlights from the Democratic candidates’ careers as well as their campaign goals, as outlined in their official websites.

Biden is running for re-election after winning the presidency in 2020. During his current term, Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law, offering families that fall under a lower to middle income range $1,400 to help cover necessities, such as rent and groceries. Biden also signed the Respect For Marriage Act into law, making it the “biggest legislative win in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality in over a decade,” according to the Human Rights Campaign.

Robert Kennedy Jr. began his career as an environmental lawyer for the nonprofit organization RiverKeeper, advocating for clean water and maintaining compliance with the Clean Water Act. He has also won cases against large corporations, such as ExxonMobil, demanding the company clean spilled oil in Brooklyn. In December 2022, Kennedy won $289 million in damages for his client from Monsanto, a pesticide company, finding it liable for its herbicide causing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He is the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and a vocal anti-vaccine activist.

Marianne Williamson is a self-help author who has written 15 books — four of them reached the #1 New York Times bestsellers. She is also the founder of Project Angel Food, a nonprofit organization that prepares and delivers meals to those in need. This organization stems back to the AIDS crisis, aiding anyone with life-threatening illness. Williamson was the former spiritual advisor to Oprah Winfrey. This is her second time running for president.

Independent Candidates

Cornel West is a philosophy professor and progressive activist seeking nomination from the Green Party.

Anika Jain and Sophia De Lisi

■ Since the school year began, Brandeis students have been fluctuating between being drenched in sweat to being soaked from rainfall.

UNIONIZATION: Grad students publicize financial obstacles and more

CONTINUED FROM 1

After some discussions, the initial organizers found some research workers interested in taking the lead. The SEIU eventually agreed to help with the organizing committee, and the graduate research assistants took over, spearheading the campaign.

“This really is graduate students trying to advocate for what is good for them and getting the benefits and the secure work conditions that we deserve as workers at this university,” said Zach Curtis, a fourth-year physics Ph.D. candidate and effort organizer, during a Sept. 11 phone interview with the Justice.

“This is our real push that will make us happier, more secure, and more productive workers.”

In the process of garnering more support for forming a union, organizers saw that graduate students had a shared understanding and feeling about their working conditions but did not necessarily see the potential impact that a union can have.

“We are not just creating another vague organization that is making decisions without us," said Jamie Stonemetz, a thirdyear PhD candidate in the neuroscience program and graduate workers union steward, during an in-person interview with the Justice on Sept. 8. “We are the union.”

As more workers become aware of the purpose, collaborativeness, and potential that the union has, the more people become receptive to the effort.

“I couldn't be happier with the move to include research assistants as part of our current union,” a third year Ph.D. candidate in psychology, who wishes to remain anonymous, wrote in an email to the Justice on Sept. 14. “...[A]s a Ph.D. student, my stipend is so low that I cannot save anything, and when I was faced with an emergency situation during COVID, I couldn't afford to pay my rent that month.” The student goes into detail, explaining that during their time as a full-time Master's student at Brandeis, working as a part-time research assistant and TA, while holding off-campus jobs, they still had $10,000 in debt and were not adequately nourished. “So much that an old professor of mine asked if I was sick,” they explained.

Members of the organizing committee conveyed that their goals of joining SEIU Local 509 were to include increasing stipends to meet the living wages required of the Boston area, fully funded dental insurance, subsidized transportation cost, and additional support for international students.

Unionization efforts happen for a number of reasons, but often, workers initiate the process to fight for a better working environment and increase wages.

“Getting stipend increases and some pay parity [...] is really, really important,” said Stonemetz. “Not just for us graduate students, but for the health of the field. You can’t do good research if you worry about coupon cutting.”

Even if stipends were to be increased, a graduate researcher's total income may not be sufficient to live in the Boston metropolitan area. Based on department websites, graduate student stipends may range from $21,000 for the Heller School of Social Policy and Management to $38,496 for departments like the Molecular and Cell Biology program and the Neuroscience program, as of July 1.

As found in the research conducted by the Justice last May, to live in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, while meeting basic needs, it is required to have an income of at least $48,776 a year, before taxes. Based on the Living Wage Calculator, developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, of the required $48,776, $4,559 is estimated to be required for food and $20,920 for housing yearly. The rent and grocery for an employee in the Social Policy department is going to be the same for a neuroscience student, so organizers are pushing to eliminate the pay

gap and increase stipends to ensure graduate researchers can afford the bare minimum. Even at the higher end of the stipend range, Brandeis graduate research assistants make well below the estimated annual income for the greater Boston area.

The lack of dental and vision insurance creates another barrier to graduate researcher’s quality of life.

“Our health insurance is being covered by our program, which is awesome,” Stonemetz said. “Unfortunately, we also have teeth, and we have to go to the dentist.”

Currently, Brandeis graduates receive health insurance with their stipend package when they are accepted into their programs; however, additional health care packages like dental and vision are not included. Graduate research assistants may choose to opt into the University Health Plan’s dental and vision insurance, which can start at $281.00 and $183.00, respectively. This additional expense coming directly from the student workers’ pockets is often a deterring factor to opt in, as they are required to pay upfront, but receive their stipends in increments.

“If there is some sort of emergency, have fun with your new credit card debt,” Stonemetz said sarcastically. Union stewards have heard workers running into problems of needing to get dental work, but without the insurance. This kind of financial dilemma, along with other barriers like transportation and parking finances, often leads to undue stress.

Similarly, limited support from institutions exacerbate the challenges that international students face. Organizers clarified that “housing and fee reimbursements are some concerns for international students.” This was similar to what the Justice found in the investigation last May, when international graduate student TAs were falling victim to housing scams and additional financial burden from having higher tax withholdings then domestic students.

The goals and demands of the graduate research workers goes beyond addressing their financial concerns. As part of a union, research assistants would have the legal leverage to seek accountability and transparency, and representation during and after the contract negotiations process.

In the years leading up the unionization efforts, Brandeis Graduate Department Representatives, the Brandeis Graduate Student Association, and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences have collected data and surveys to better understand the needs and concerns of the graduate student population. The results of the surveys were formerly unreleased to the public, but the Justice was able to obtain a copy. For example, the GSA collected data from 363 graduate students in the fall of 2022. Of those surveyed, 80% shared their total income, with the median yearly income being $24,500. Additionally, 290 graduate students expressed that they were somewhat or extremely dissatisfied by the cost of housing, pointing at the financial struggles of student workers. An open response survey was also sent to the GSA faculty in 2021, and the top areas most written about were the following: funding graduate student stipends to a liveable wage; finding more fellowship money for the graduate students at all levels; increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion among the faculty, staff, and student body; and the need for material support, such as scholarships and fellowships.

Unionization allows the graduate research assistants to be at the discussion table and be taken seriously. Should they be dismissed by the administration, there is a legal responsibility of the University to be transparent with their decisions.

Meanwhile, past advocates for unionization were dismissed and told to address their concerns to their individual depart-

ment heads. When they did this, the department heads told them to address their concerns with the administration, creating a never ending cycle of rerouting and an extreme lack of University accountability, according to Curtis and Stonemetz .

“When it's individual actions, there is no legal pressure or requirement for anyone to be transparent, or anybody to fully disclose finances and what is going on with how they run the various departments,” Curtis explained. “Through unionization and the legal processes that go to contract negotiation, there is a level of accountability there, that [the University] have to prove what they are saying.”

Additionally, being a union creates other options of settling workplace complaints. Currently, student workers can file complaints directly to their supervisors, their respective department chairs, the Office of Equal Opportunity, Ombuds, and the Prevention, Advocacy and Resource Center. Some have found these resources unsuitable due to conflict of interest, while others notice that there is no guarantee anything will come of the complaint.

“Having a union opens the grievance process,” said Stonemetz. “If there is a breach in contract [...], the workers then are able to file a grievance through the union. Brandeis has to take that seriously, because that is a legal thing.”

If research assistants are approved to join the collective bargaining agreement process, next year when the TAs’ current collective bargaining agreements are up, it would give research assistants additional resources to solve problems with their working conditions.

The Justice reached out to the Brandeis Communications Department requesting for an in-person interview, but was informed in a Sept. 13 email from Senior Content and Marketing Specialist, Jarret Benck, that “An in-person interview is unlikely on this topic.” The Justice reached back out via email with questions regarding the matter, but has not heard back as of publishing time.

In a Sept. 14 email to the Justice, Interim Senior Vice President of Communications Julie Jette provided the University’s comment on the unionization effort. The University acknowledged that the current Graduate Student Union only represents TAs and TFs, and that on Sept. 11, it received a representation petition from the SEIU Local 509 for the union bargaining unit to also include graduate research positions.

“We believe employees have the right to decide for themselves whether they wish to be represented by a union, and we look forward to working through the process as set forth by the National Labor Relations Board,” the University statement included. “We are hopeful for a strong election turnout and that our PhD candidates who are eligible to vote gather as much information as possible in order to determine if union representation is right for them.”

Now that the organizers have formally filed a petition with the NLRB, graduate researchers are waiting to hear back from the University. Deliberation on who exactly will be covered will occur, and a formal election will take place with the NLRB to determine if graduate research positions should be part of the bargaining unit. Currently, the timeline of the process is unclear, but if the election is ruled in favor of research assistants, organizers hope it's in time to join TAs in the collective bargaining agreement process. Their agreement with the University is up in 2024.

GOALS: New Student Union leaders share their plans for their first semesters in office

CONTINUED FROM 1

Health and Wellness will be engaged in conversations with the Prevention, Advocacy & Resource Center, the Office of Equal Opportunity, and the Student Sexuality Information Service about students’ health and wellness concerns.

In terms of dining, Risley is ready to dive into conversations with the administration about the new meal plans, problems with meal exchanges, and moving kosher dining on Shabbat to Sherman instead of the International Lounge. If students want to discuss providing more meal options, such as halal food, Risley encourages them to send a message to the Student Union.

Risley and Hwang are aware that housing is a vital issue and point out that the inability to force the administration to build more dorms, as well as waiting to see what the situation is like next semester limits their capacity to address the problem. However, the Student Union will continue to act as a liaison between students and relevant administrative departments like the Department of Community Living and the Division of Student Affairs. Moreover, they want to create a survey for off-campus students that would ask students if they plan to live off-campus, what their rent is, if they like their landlord, and more. These statistics do not exist, and the data could provide valuable insights that can influence future housing decisions.

Similarly, the Student Union explains that the new transportation vendor needs to be active for longer to see if recurring problems emerge. Since student drivers were replaced with professional ones, the Student Union also has less say over transportation. However, Risley knows that some people living in the Charles River Apartments do not like that the combined route is slower, and they are open to hearing feedback.

Parking reforms are also a priority for the Student Union. They are working with the Office of Parking and Traffic to institute new policies, such as allowing community advisors to park near their dorms.

The University denied funding for the Period Activists at Deis’ Pilot Program, and the Student Union will not fund it either because it is not their job to finance capital investments. They still want to demonstrate that the initiative is effective in the hopes of convincing the administration next year to fund it.

The Student Union also wants to organize a Student Union library or repository with textbooks or implement a textbook dropbox system where students can leave and take a textbook. Textbooks can be expensive, and forming a collection of them

can help students save money.

Risley and Hwang are forming more connections with Brandeis Athletics and discussing funding for a refurbishing of Gosman Sports and Convocation Center and additional sports equipment. “We also want student athletes to feel empowered to come to us,” Risley said, whether it be concerns about coaches’ behavior or Title IX violations. According to Risley and Hwang, earning the student body’s trust and respect is essential for maintaining a credible reputation, gaining student feedback and achieving policy objectives. The Student Union intends to improve its public image and address some common critiques this year. One of Risley and Hwang’s solutions is to more effectively market the Student Union and inform the community of the work they do. Their new Communications Committee and Director of Outreach focuses on communicating Student Union news, crafting impactful emails and producing engaging social media posts.

When the Justice asked Hwang why some students mistrust the Student Union, she said, “Government is associated with politics, and politics is messy.” Instead, the Student Union should be viewed as “a community that represents students,” she said. Moreover, “Government just sounds like authority or controlling, and that’s not at all what we are … [Student Union is] a group of lots of passionate students who want to make a difference at this school.”

A common criticism is that the Student Union is ineffective, and Risley recommends that people get involved, attend senate meetings, and contact them if they have ideas for change.

The Student Union wishes to make it easier for students to reach representatives, so they are in the process of revamping the Student Union website. Additionally, the Union wants to better promote office hours with Student Union representatives.

Risley and Hwang anticipate that a lack of student engagement or receptiveness can be an obstacle to achieving their goals. Risley is optimistic but also understands that some people enter Student Union unaware of how large the commitment is, which makes it difficult to retain representatives, as well as ensure they are actively working on projects.

They suggest that the best ways to help Student Union achieve their goals would be to come to Senate committee meetings; give feedback so they can communicate that with the administration; trust them and express concerns; and go to club events to support the campus community.

In the interview, Risley hinted that the Student Union has something exciting planned for Oct. 15, and that students

MAX FEIGELSON/the Justice STUDENT UNION: Former President Peyton Gillespie '25 (center) swears in Vice President Erica Hwang '25 (left) and President Noah Risley '24 (right) into office.

The shutdown of Channel 781 and what it means for political literacy in Waltham

Since 2021, the volunteer-run Channel 781 posted YouTube breakdowns of Waltham political issues for community education purposes. Two months before the municipal election, the channel was reported by the Waltham Community Access Corporation for copyright infringement, raising questions about the liabilities of civic engagement in the city.

By LEA ZAHARONI JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

--- Editor’s note: Justice editors Cayenn Landau and Leah Breakstone were interviewed by Channel 781 in 2021. Neither contributed to the reporting of this article.

On a typical Monday night, as the Waltham City Council meets in the chambers of City Hall, the volunteer newscasters of Channel 781 can be found taking notes to add to their substantial cache of social media political content, which was recently decimated by a copyright claim from the Waltham Community Access Corporation Channel.

Josh Kastorf, James Krikeles, and Chris Gamble, who had been casual attendees of city government meetings and had connected over their shared perspectives, observed the COVID-induced switch in 2020 to captioned Zoom livestreams. However, when the meetings returned to an in-person format in June 2021, the livestreams were replaced by recordings managed by the WCAC.

“Meetings that were deemed less important by the WCAC, like licenses and franchises for stores and shops, just wouldn’t get recorded [by WCAC]. Basically, I just showed up with a cell phone camera on a tripod and live streamed them on our YouTube page, and that developed into us adding commentary,” Krikeles told the Justice during a Zoom interview on Sep. 13.

With Kastorf managing an associated public Instagram account, @grouchesofwaltham, Channel 781 on YouTube became a consistently updated roundup of Waltham politics. The channel frequently posted annotated clips from city council meetings, interviews with local figures and candidates, and special reports on upcoming events like elections or public forums.

“I’m an engineer,” said Krikeles, who has called Waltham home for over 10 years. “If I see a problem, I try to find a concrete way to address it, and most of these meetings are weaponized boredom. You need context. You need to know how the Roberts Rules [rules for parliamentary order] work; you need to know what to tune out in order to understand what’s actually happening.”

Throughout the course of a typical three-hour city council meeting, it’s likely that civilians will lose their place,

or their interest, in the proceedings. Channel 781 works to reignite engagement in representative government. “I don’t view democracy as stopping when you show up to vote,” Krikeles said. But because these clips were taken from recordings made by the WCAC, the private company was able to report copyright infringement through YouTube, which resulted in Channel 781 being taken down. “The work we do is take that footage [of City Council meetings], find the things that we think would be interesting to people, clip them, and maybe add commentary of our own. Which, as far as we’re concerned, is a fair use of copyrighted material. But we still don’t have any clear indication of what specific material was reported — our whole channel was just shut down.”

Incorporated as a nonprofit in 1985, WCAC broadcasts from two channels: WCAC-TV, which provides programming geared towards the interests of local residents, businesses, and organizations, and MAC-TV, which provides coverage of municipal meetings and government related programming.

Executive Director of WCAC Maria Sheehan’s online background states her position as responsible for “encouraging townspeople, civic groups, and non-profits to use the facilities to educate the public.” But Krikeles says that his team received direct communication from Sheehan stating that the only path forward for Channel 781 to use WCAC captured footage, even following the fair use doctrine, would be to get approval on each clip and piece of commentary, essentially giving up editorial control. WCAC did not respond to a request for comment.

WCAC’s ties to the Waltham City Council raised questions for Kastorf, Krikeles, and Gamble, who often use WCAC clips to provide context for their concerns towards the City Council. One example Krikeles cited as concerning was that the Chair of Community Preservation on the Waltham City Council is also the President of the board of WCAC. Additionally, he is President of the board of Middlesex Human Service Agency, Inc.(MHSA). Channel 781 had criticized MHSA in past videos for managing homeless shelters in Waltham that operate in disregard of

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations.

Krikeles also pointed out the insularity of Waltham politics in a very relevant sphere for the University’s students: housing. In 2021, Massachusetts passed the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Communities Law to address suburban housing shortages, which requires that 177 cities and towns along the MBTA stops must change zoning regulations to allow for multi-family homes byright, or without discretionary approval. Waltham’s plan to develop the community surrounding the Carter Street stop in accordance with the new law was approved, but frequently citing zones that were already in compliance, and claiming that Waltham was “ahead of the concept” of multi-family housing. This does not account for approximately half of residentially-zoned land in Waltham being single-family exclusive. The new plan leaves a great deal of impetus, responsibility, and control of housing development with the City Council ---“zoning is the purview of the City Council, and anything will have to be agreed to by them…” --- which, until recently, was closely monitored by Channel 781. Comprehensive catalogs, debriefs, and analyses of council meetings were lost when the YouTube channel was shut down, meaning that citizens wishing to revisit them have to navigate tomes of PDFs on Waltham’s website.

One of the most relevant issues for Brandeis students is access to affordable housing and subsequent safe transportation to campus. Krikeles found that the seeds for reforms on pedestrianization and bike safety have been planted in City Council meetings, with “overwhelming support” expressed by nonstudents in Waltham. Without the momentum generated by widely accessible and comprehensible political content made by Channel 781 and Grouches of Waltham, this enthusiasm for change could die out. With the Municipal Election coming up on Nov. 7, on which a new mayor, six councilors-at-large, nine ward councilors, and three school committee members will be elected, engagement from the University’s students could be extremely consequential.

To students, Krikeles said, “You should view yourselves as residents of the city. People make it about us versus them, residents versus students, but ordinances get brought in that affect all of us.” He pointed to leverage that the city has over Brandeis to enforce better housing conditions, implement better bike lanes and public transit, and set up social welfare systems that benefit everyone, student or otherwise.

On the topic of these reforms and how to make them a reality, Channel 781 is back up and running on YouTube. However, the channel only supplies the fuel for change. Krikeles, Kastorf, and Gamble rely on regular community members like themselves to truly make a difference. “You need to be paying attention to city government because that is what dictates how housing is set up. If you’re organized, you have a much better chance of getting listened to.”

INTERVIEWS: Channel 781 frequently interviewed Waltham residents.

Photo courtesy of JOSH KASTORF

CHANNEL LOGO: 781 is Waltham’s area code.

Photo courtesy of JOSH KASTORF

From parking lot to market spot

The Justice quested to the Waltham Farmers Market, where community blooms in a typically vacant space.

By AIKO NJUGANA AND RIA ESCAMILLA-GIL JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

The parking lot behind 234 Moody Street may, at first glance, appear completely ordinary. But on Saturdays, the empty lot takes on a life of its own, filled with a variety of hard-to-resist, homemade products representing cultures from all around the world — and all around Waltham. The event is known as the Waltham Farmers Market — a weekly, highly anticipated affair that has occurred every week from June to October since its founding in 1991.

On Sep. 17, we had the honor of visiting this farmers’ market. It was impossible to leave empty-handed. With a plethora of options, varying from fresh produce and Ethiopian coffee to pork ribs and Peruvian baked goods, there is something there for everyone. Aside from running into three other Brandeis students, one of whom was “happy to see the community come together,” we were also able to speak with a number of vendors about their experiences at the market.

One such vendor, Spring Brook Farms, has been selling at the market for 29 years. They offer fresh produce, flower bouquets, homemade honey, and more. When talking to the vendor in charge, Cam, he outlined the simple thing that keeps him and the farm coming back: the [Waltham] “community responds to farmers.”

This idea was further reiterated when talking to the vendor of Happy Beans Roaster, who did not provide his name. Though Happy Beans Roaster also sells at Copley Square, Seaport, Newton, and other farmers markets around Massachusetts, the vendor felt that the Waltham

Farmers Market has the best atmosphere, the best people, and the best support. He found that “the intent for everyone that comes here is to support and walk away with the best product.”

A few stalls down, the Valicenti tent was selling fresh pasta and sauces. When talking to the woman in charge, who also did not provide her name, she expressed that she loved coming to the market because the “people are happy.” She recounted one of her most memorable memories of the farmers market are the days when the parking lot is filled with live music and people dancing: the site references upcoming performances Oct. 7th and 21st from Dwayne Haggins and the Moody Street Dixieland Band, respectively. We also spoke with Leo Keightley, the head manager of operations for the farmer’s market. Onboarding in 2011, Keightley said he thought he’d only stay in his position for a year – but two days after leaving the position, he realized how much he missed it and came back for more. It’s an incredible treat to come here and just be a part of this,” he said. The vendors here are amazingly capable, regarding their products, the things they make — they make it possible”.

When asking about the prices of the items in the market, we were reminded that while it may be cheaper in some cases to purchase from places like Market Basket, one here is paying for quality and variety in addition to supporting local businesses in the surrounding areas of Waltham. However, that does not mean that this

place is inaccessible to those with food stamps or other forms of government assistance. Martha, a member of the Waltham Farmers Market committee, was excited to tell us about the initiative she’d brought to the space: an electronic benefits transfer (EBT)/snap match program where up to $10 is matched in the form of tokens. She referenced the Healthy Incentive Program, which she says is a “model for the whole country.” This initiative refunds SNAP/EBT users up to $40-80 a month — depending on household size — when buying fresh vegetables and fruits from local farmers.

As those we spoke to emphasized, the Waltham Farmers Market places a strong importance on building a sense of community, providing a helping hand to those who need it, and serving as a vibrant hub for bringing the community together. It is more than just a shopping experience and destination; it is a place where friendships are made and smiles are shared. Though the market ends on the last Saturday of October, it will be back when the summer picks up again: the first Saturday of next June.

“Everybody … wants this — the city wants it, the farmers want it, and the people in the community want it,” Leo had said. Ultimately, the environment and community that the Waltham Farmers Market evokes can be summed up in one simple interaction we witnessed: two vendors across the parking lot, pausing amidst their day to exchange waves, each with a big smile on their faces.

Isabel Roseth, Editor in Chief

Smiley Huynh, Managing Editor

Leah Breakstone, Dalya Koller, Lauryn Williams, Deputy Editors

Sophia De Lisi, Anika Jain, News Editors

Cayenn Landau, Features Editor

Tibria Brown, Forum Editor

Mina Rowland, Arts & Culture Editor

Owen Chan, Ceci Xilei Chen, Photography Editors

Julia Hardy, Jenna Lewis, Madison Sirois, Copy Editors

Anna Martin, Layout Editor

Elizabeth Liu, Ads Editor

Zachary Goldstein, Eden Osiason, Online Editors

EDITORIALS

This editorial board acknowledges that there are many challenges and problems that we, as the Brandeis community, face at our university.

However, this board feels it is important to acknowledge and highlight some of the positive parts of this university as well. Many of the challenges that we face are largely due to structural, administrative problems, so it can feel impossible for any one individual to incite change. With that being said, this board wants to emphasize the importance of coming together as a student body in order to make Brandeis University a place that we can all be proud of. This starts with students.

At times we tend to adopt selfdeprecating ideas about the school we attend. This has created a domino effect of negativity on campus that almost everyone, including members of the Justice editorial board, are guilty of contributing to. With our peers and upperclassmen pointing out the flaws of this institution, sometimes remarking that this wasn’t their first choice, it can be hard to see the University in a positive light.

However, students have the power to make this a more comfortable campus for all. Perhaps the first step in doing this is to embrace the community that already exists here. The University already has the reputation of having very kind and respectful students. In many regards, we live up to this reputation. For example, have you noticed that many students at Brandeis feel comfortable leaving their expensive belongings behind because they know their peers are respectful enough to not steal or tamper with their personal items?

Students can capitalize on this reputation by interacting with their fellow students and professors. While it can be challenging to find ways to put yourself out there, the student body has worked to create a welcoming environment.

One way that students have created a welcoming environment to everyone is by explicitly calling out discrimination and unfair treatment carried out by the administration. There are student run clubs that specifically do this work. This shows that the students truly care about fostering a safe, inclusive environment.

This board understands that the administration is far from perfect, but there have been efforts from the administration to cultivate community. Taking advantage of this structure can help create more school spirit and begin to create a sunnier outlook on life as a “Brandeisian.”

The University has subscribed to an app, called We The Jury Rewards App, which is solely dedicated to encouraging students to attend athletic events. Students can earn points by attending games that can be traded in for free merchandise. Attending an athletic event is an easy way to come together as a community and support one another, thus improving school spirit.

There are also countless ways that students have already attempted to create a fun environment. For instance, individual students have created Instagram accounts, such as @brandeis_overheard, that can help create a shared experience among students. Additionally, there are many clubs that host events that are open to all students, even if they are not members.

Many put on culture shows every year with free food. This is a great opportunity for students to take pride in the Brandeis community. There are countless clubs here on campus, and it’s worthwhile to continue to look for new clubs. A good way to discover new clubs is through CampusGroups, which is a centralized location for all clubs.

The 75th anniversary of Brandeis and Homecoming will provide opportunities for students to express school pride and spirit. Many alumni who loved their experiences at the University can help students see Brandeis in a new light. This is an amazing community and having past students express this can create a new, more positive narrative of life at Brandeis. With hundreds of clubs, incredible faculty, and a welcoming community, Brandeis students have a lot to be proud of.

The student body has leaned into a cycle of negative thoughts regarding the University, but this board wants to help remind students that there is much to take advantage of here on campus. This opens up a world of possibilities that can help make the time spent at Brandeis an enjoyable experience.

Where did money for the

Since Brandeis is a private R1 university — a selective ranking for the most research-intensive institutions — with high tuitions and a large, supportive alumni and donor base, Brandeis students should not have to ask “Where is the money?”

After the severe cuts in club funding for this current semester, we have been forced to take a step back and look around as we are getting ready to pay our next tuition bill in December.

There are clear, significant differences between the facilities for those students who are studying STEM and those who are not. These differences keep increasing as the science complex continues to undergo an expansion that is quoted to total around $145 million, a result of the new engineering and architecture programs, and is not the first step in the multi-decade expansion and renovation of all STEM facilities. The University is betting on the students of the future, rather than focusing on the ones who are already here.

The recommendation of the cut of the Musicology and Composition Ph.D. programs — though Brandeis is in the top 10% of the country for music, ranked #2 in Massachusetts — there is a clear bias to where the University is spending its money. As stated in a recent interview with the Justice, the new Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Jeffrey Shoulson, stated, “We can’t continue to add programs without also subtracting somewhere else. We just don’t have the capacity to do that.”

While Shoulson was advocating for a more balanced funding allocation, this board urges other administrators to stand behind the students looking to take advantage of all aspects of the so-called equal “liberal

go?

arts education.” This board would also like to point out that this isn’t new for the University as on Dec. 20, 2018, the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism was closed due to the same issue of funding. A former Justice writer pointed out that this foreclosure of this department “leaves a blind spot in the school’s commitment to social justice.” The fact that “funding,” or lack thereof, caused the closure of this department is hypocritical and contradicts the University’s mission statement.

Members of our board can attest to the differences in the classroom as well as the difference in research opportunities. The University holds a large amount of pride for the Humanities Fellowship Program, one that is marketed as a community for students looking for both connections and opportunities. However, the participating members of this board have expressed a lack of both research opportunities and student participation.

The STEM students on this board have had much better luck finding research positions, which not only offer class credit, but can provide summer housing and valuable connections.

We as an editorial board urge admin to reevaluate the research positions offered and make them more accessible to students across all disciplines.

We encourage administration to take a step back and look around. All students are paying the same tuition bill and are entitled to the same levels of facilities and opportunities. The clear bias towards STEM decreases the desirability of the University and makes others feel unwelcome and unwanted on what is advertised as an inclusive campus for all.

Asking for a friend

If you are interested in submitting advice for the upcoming column, follow our Instagram: @thejusticenewspaper.

Q:

What’s something you’d recommend to incoming first — years class and continuing students who want to be sucessful this semester? A:

“My best advice for other students that might be introverted like me would be to make friends! Connect with a group of outgoing people that you get along with and try new things. I know it can be hard to do new things on your own, so getting with fun and kind people will push you to have fun.”

— Valeria Ayala Marketing Executive Board Member,

Campus

Activities Board

“Just connect with like minded people with similar interests. Use your energy to find good people and stick with them. Maybe you can just hop on the commuter rail or Boston shuttle and spend the day exploring together. ”

— Mark Ramirez Advisory Board Member, Gen One

Network

Maybe it’s not so bad to have some “Brandesian” pride

arts

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

By ELEANOR JONES JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

While it is true that the Black community is not a monolith, there is value in highlighting our shared Black experiences, as they unite us as a people.

Yet, even within our similarities, there are differences that make us unique from one another, with hair care being a prime example. As a Black student on campus with locs, hair care is very important to me. Being from Atlanta, I’m used to beauty supply stores being no more than 10-15 minutes away, and my local stores carrying any hair products or even viable substitutes that I would need. Once I arrived on campus, I quickly realized that I don’t have the same access to the products I need as I did before.

The Hoot Market sells a limited amount of hair products, most of which aren’t suitable for Black hair textures. The closest beauty supply store to campus is 14 minutes away and largely caters to non-textured hair, as seen in an ad I found for a Sally Beauty store in Waltham. More inclusive beauty supply stores can be found 30 minutes from Brandeis, yet it is expensive to make trips across town for regular hair maintenance about every four weeks.

A semester is about 15 weeks long, so divide that by four and you get 3.75 trips across town for adequate hair care products. At roughly $60 for a round trip, the cost comes out to about $225 just in transportation to get the supplies you would need if you’re not stockpiling. Additionally, some stores will lock up natural hair care products, leaving other products on the shelf unlocked. The idea that only these hair products — ones that are specifically for curlier hair — are the only ones that need to be locked up is extremely off putting.

Let’s get into it: Hair care on campus

For many college students, this is unrealistic timewise and money wise, especially for those who come from lowincome families or don’t have jobs on campus. This is why it is extremely important that universities do what they can to make sure all students have the access they need to amenities for all hair care types. This is a widespread issue, but not one without a solution.

According to a 2022 Business Insider article, two students at the University of Michigan noticed the same issue among their Black peers; it was very hard to find hair products on or near campus. Together, they hatched a business plan to create a vending machine that distributed haircare products specifically for Black students so they wouldn’t have to leave campus in order to find the tools to do their hair.

This is an example of what inclusivity looks like, and a great step that can be taken to help Black students at a predominantly white institution feel considered. When you’re moving far from home, there’s so much to pack that it is easy to forget little necessities, which is why the convenience store is there to supply those things. Just like no one wants to drive 30 minutes just to get some toothpaste, no one wants to drive 30 minutes to grab shampoo and conditioner that won’t be damaging to their hair. It would make all the difference if we were to incorporate this innovative vending machine idea on campus or at least see hair products and tools that are specifically for Black hair types in the Hoot Market.

Hair care is extremely important, no matter who you are. It factors into how people perceive you, the opinions they form on you, and how they treat you going forward. Ask Brandeis’ own Mirabell Rowland ’25 about her hair journey to

understand just how essential hair is. It is important to remember that people of color have been subject to discrimination in schools and in the workplace simply because of how their hair looks. This is where the line is crossed from hair simply being something to enhance your appearance to being something that determines your lifestyle. When Black hair is politicized, we see Black women getting fired from their jobs and enduring slick comments in the workspace. We see Black girls straightening their hair multiple times a week and even getting expelled from school on the basis of their hair.

Having access to affordable hair care tools is important, especially when you’re learning to live on your own during college. Aside from the huge natural haircare brands like Mielle and Shea Moisture that just might not be affordable for college students, there are a couple of affordable and safe options that are viable alternatives: African Pride, Hair Food, Hask, Redken, Pureology, and Moroccan Oil. All of these brands have products that are safe, affordable, and healthy for curlier hair. While we might not have access to these products in or around campus as of right now, all of these products are available on Amazon.

On campus, the Multicultural Hair, Art, and Empowerment Club is a great resource to learn more about Black hair care, product affordability, and to connect with other people with natural hair at Brandeis. The club aims to “fight against hair discrimination and embrace hair diversity. We plan to have movie nights, discussions, other bonding activities, and events to learn about protective styles for your hair, the best products to use etc,” according to club treasurer Mirabell Rowland.

Brandeis was founded on ideals of social

justice and inclusivity, created as a place of higher education for ethnic and racial minorities who faced discrimination elsewhere. Making natural hair products available on campus will be a first step toward encouraging students on campus to embrace their identities. It is only right that we as a school continue to uphold these ideals by constantly improving to make sure students of all backgrounds — and hair types — feel embraced and at home on

The news climate around us: Is social media bettering our news consumption?

By CINDY NIE JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Upon completing the first weeks of school, we are diving headfirst into the rhythm of college life. The relaxation of summer days is long gone, even though we are still suffering from the heat wave.

As college students, our days are occupied by reading after reading, whether it is a novel for a literature class or a chunk of an economics textbook. It seems as if our attention is completely occupied by these academic texts.

We prepare ourselves for class by analyzing and annotating these texts. Ultimately, most of the “deep thinking” or “insightful thoughts” we have are for the purpose of a good grade. Social media seems to be the solution — a relief from an intense academic environment.

However, nowadays we are constantly bombarded by news on social media too. Most of us follow some major news outlet, whether it is The New York Times, the Washington Post, or The Economist. This morning, my top story was one from The Economist. I clicked through each story without remembering even the headlines of the news article and went on to my morning routine.

I convinced myself that with a few taps on my phone, I was getting myself acquainted with the news around me. I was staying relevant. In reality, I retained none of the information I had just viewed.

This is exactly the problem that major news organizations struggle with. News platforms nowadays struggle to reach and find engagement in the younger population.

As students who depend on electronic material, we barely engage with physical copies of newspapers, much less have daily newspaper subscriptions delivered to our dorms.

In today’s world, we have a limited amount of time and a seemingly endless number of social media platforms vying for our attention. Whether it is TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, our attention is divided. While it may appear that we are actively engaged with news online, it can quickly become overwhelming and lead to fatigue and less engagement over time. Retaining information becomes difficult, as it is impossible to give our full attention to each platform.

So how do we move forward from this? Is there still value to the news?

We live in an era that celebrates the grind and thrives on fast-paced lifestyles and instant gratification over taking the time to focus on what truly matters.

If we are not scrolling through Instagram posts for the latest buzz, then we are scrolling endlessly on TikTok for the next recommended video. We feel as if we are fed the information around us and lose the ability to choose. However, we have the agency to control the information we receive and choose the material to engage with.

There is always the notion that more is better, but with news, it is often the opposite. Engaging with less is much more beneficial than grappling with too much.

Pick one or two news outlets to engage with or, it can be a single identity for instance a journalist you identify with. By doing so, we become more intentional with our time and actions, and it will ultimately

lead to a more fulfilling news experience.

As a student during the COVID-19 pandemic, I was tired of reading news that seemed like a repetitive cycle of a past I wanted to leave behind. I wanted something that seemed more bite-sized with more positive and uplifting messages.

I discovered the Modern Love column in The New York Times. Modern Love is a weekly updated segment that features reader-submitted love stories of 100 words, called “Tiny Love Stories”. These tiny love stories became a highlight of mine each week after I subscribed to the newsletter.

Modern Love is definitely not a traditional news source, but it is something I got in the habit of reading. It is important that the news we choose to read is interesting to us and not just what is in the mainstream discourse. Even if you have a niche interest, there is something in the news that could be valuable to you. Here are some of my tips for starting points:

Major news platforms now have highlight sections on their Instagram accounts that offer news on specific topic-oriented material. If you are not sure what to read, perhaps go to the Instagram main page of a news source and find something of interest to you.

After you’ve found something interesting, you may consider subscribing to the newsletter. Subscribing to a newsletter can help you build a routine and long-term sustainable habit to read news.

Regardless of what you choose to read, the focus of news consumption should not be only conforming to mainstream material. Healthy media consumption starts from following your own interests.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL VS BABSON

The Brandeis Women’s Volleyball team was beaten by Babson University on Sept. 12 with the final score of 0-3.

DOUBLE BLOCKED: Tatiana Wainer ’25 and Lara Verstovsek ’25 block a spike from Babson’s Isabella Allen.

SAVED: Libero Olivia Nirode ’27 rushes forward to save the ball.

FORMATION: Rita Lai ’24, Anna Ertischek ’26, and Olivia Nirode ’27 prepare for Brandeis to serve.

BLOCK: Rita Lai ’24 blocks an attack from Babson’s Nora Whitehurst.

RALLY: Head Coach Alesia Bennett attempts to inspire the team.

KILL: Tatiana Wainer ’25 goes in for another attack adding to her 41 kills.

By SMILEY HUYNH JUSTICE MANAGING EDITOR

JUDGES BY THE NUMBERS

MEN’S SOCCER

WOMEN’S SOCCER VOLLEYBALL

FIBA: US returns home without medals again

up his fellow Lithuanian shooters. The Americans, nevertheless, made their way to the semi-finals, where they were stunned by the Germans. German player Andreas Obst stepped up big-time with 24 points, including a speed-stop, ankle-breaking three-point dagger that sent USA guard Tyrese Haliburton to the ground, and helped the Germans run away with the massive win.

CROSS COUNTRY

TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)

TOP

(Women’s)

Germany moved on to the final and greeted Serbia in Manila. The championship game went neck to neck for the first 20 minutes, with Serbian historical leading scorer “Bogi” Bogdan Bogdanovic pushing the pace and dropping buckets against the German defense. A 22-10 run in the third quarter gave Germany some buffer, but the Serbians found their way back and inched close to a two-point deficit. Dennis Schroder, who was also clutch in the win against the USA, was just too fast for any defense to contain as he went to the rim again and again and brought Germany their firstever FIBA gold medal. Germany proved to the world that they are a powerhouse in international basketball, and Schroder left Manila with his gold medal, the tournament’s allstar five award, and the Tissot Most Valuable Player award. In hope of securing a medal out of the tournament, Team USA faced off against Canada in the Bronze game. The Americans demonstrated their scoring talent in the regulation; however, it was the NBA “villain” Dillon Brooks who fired efficiently from a distance and led the way for the Canadians. This certifies his embrace of his villain status after the inception of his nickname when he spoke negatively of another NBA star Lebron James and continued to make boastful statements, despite his abysmal performance in the previous NBA playoffs. The USA trailed by four as they approached the final seconds of the fourth quarter, when Brooklyn Nets star Mikal Bridges stepped onto the free throw line. He made the first shot, missed the second free throw on purpose, tracked down the offensive board, and made the game-tying three-point shot to bring the game into overtime. Nevertheless, Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took over in the extra minutes. He put up a personal

7-1 run against the USA and helped secure the bronze, the first FIBA medal collected by Canadian Men’s Basketball since 1936.

On the contrary, this is the second straight FIBA World Cup in which the USA left without a medal. This year’s result has received additional attention due to multi-title world champion and Olympic Bronze medalist Noah Lyles’ comment claiming that NBA champions should not call themselves “World Champions.” Lyles even used the U.S. flop in the FIBA World Cup to support his statement in a deleted Twitter (“X”) post. This is a question with no definitive answer at the end of the day. Some could argue that the NBA gathers the best players on the planet, making them the best team in this league and therefore “World Champions.” However, former NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo argues the contrary and provided the example of the Union of European Football Associations Champions League, which also hosts the best soccer talents in the world, but never called themselves the best in the world.

FIBA basketball goes by a different set of rules and, as official international contests instead of NBA’s commercial entertainment, is officiated differently. Declaring a team as the best of global basketball by winning a U.S. professional championship could very much be merely another instance of Americans buying into their U.S. exceptionalism. In my opinion, NBA and FIBA games are two categories of basketball that should not be compared in the same equation. Is the USA basketball team “World Champions,” though? Well, team USA definitely did not win the most recent FIBA World Cup. However, with the American squad ending up at the fourth and team Spain eliminated early, the USA men’s basketball team is back on top of the FIBA world ranking after the tournament. They will have another chance to prove themselves as the ultimate “World Champions” next year in Paris. With future hall-of-famers LeBron James and Stephen Curry expressing interests playing for the country, this could arguably be the best USA roster we have seen in a while.

June. In the finals, he posted an average line of 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.4 steals, soundly winning the Finals MVP award.

After winning the championship, most viewers would have believed Jokic was on top of the world. Jokic himself held a different perspective, which shocked viewers on live international television.

Post-game interviews after NBA championships have some iconic moments of their own. In 2008, Kevin Garnett’s overwhelming “Anything is possible!” rang around Boston and onto the basketball world, a line still used to this day.

In 2016, LeBron James emotionally belted: “Cleveland! This is for you!” after their long-awaited title. This is usually the chance for players to set all their hard work free, and display their emotions. Not for Nikola.

“It’s good, it’s good. The job is done, we can go home now,” was Jokic’s first reaction to winning the ultimate prize in basketball, and the highest possible achievement in his profession. In his press conference later that night, he was asked if he was looking forward to a parade. Jokic put his hands to his face in frustration, perhaps in a satirical manner. “No, I need to go home … It’s [an] amazing feeling but, like I said before, it’s not everything in the world … Nobody likes [their] job, or maybe they do – they’re lying.”

The crowd chuckled.

It would be one thing if he is the type of person to remain composed, or even nonchalant, in successful moments, but some believe Jokic reacted with more enthusiasm to winning a horse-race back in Serbia this summer than he did

to winning that championship. Nikola is seen dancing gleefully while holding up his trophy.

This caused mixed reactions. Some people acknowledge that it’s his choice to react how he wants to, and there isn’t one way a player needs to act. It’s more important that a player is genuine, and does what he wants; no one can tell a player how he should react to an achievement, and he doesn’t have to celebrate the simple act of doing his job. Others are discouraged by this, stressing that playing in the NBA is not a typical job, and he should be more grateful. So many people would give everything to be in his position, and to them, he is taking it for granted.

Excluding endorsements, Jokic will make more than $276 million dollars over the next five years — an average salary of more than $55 million annually. On top of that, he is now in a club of just four Serbian title winners, and the only one to win an NBA Finals MVP award. He had the 12th highest selling jersey in basketball, and isn’t higher on the list only because he doesn’t have a gigantic personality off the court. Ironic for a player nicknamed the Joker, isn’t it?

To him, however, basketball is just another nine-to-five job: you clock in, work hard, clock out, get paid, and go home.

Nikola Jokic is an enigma on the court—for his dominant fundamentals, and the ease at which he tears teams apart; and off the court, for his enthusiasm — or lack thereof — about his role as an NBA superstar, champion, and mega-millionaire.

TIP OFF: Japan's Watanabe Yuta gets to the ball before Germany's Dennis Schroder.

Sports just

Wrapping up the 2023 Basketball World Cup

■ Germany stunned the United States and defeated Serbia in the championship.

By JACKSON WU JUSTICE SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The International Basketball Federation, or FIBA, held their 2023 World Cup, a two week global basketball thriller, from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10. This year’s World Cup was hosted by three Asian countries — Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines — and featured a total of 32 teams from all over the world. Cape Verde, Georgia, Latvia, and South Sudan all made their debut to the biggest international basketball stage and amazed the world with their talent.

The 2023 FIBA World Cup was full of upsets and inspirations. It also determined seven teams qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics — two spots each for the Americas and Europe and one each for Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Cape Verde and South Sudan scored historical wins for the continent of Africa, with South Sudan moving on to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Japan completed their comeback win, from once trailing by 18 points in the third period to winning 98-88, against Finland with a 17-point effort from Keisei Tominaga, who also plays for the University of Nebraska. They then fended off Cape Verde, getting their tickets to Paris next summer and recreating a Slam-Dunk (manga) moment in Okinawa, in which Japa-

NBA

nese players hugged each other in tears and celebrated their victory to the song. While young stars such as Josh Giddey from Australia and South Sudanese player Khaman Maluach made their FIBA debut, veterans such as Italian legend Luigi Datome and Iranian great Hamed Haddadi gave everything in one last dance with their national teams.

Latvia lit things up in their first FIBA World Cup run, knocking off many European powerhouses including Spain and France in the preliminary round but falling just short against Germany in the quarter-finals. They finished their world debut with a blowout win over their Baltic brothers from Lithuania, backed by record-breaking 17 assists and zero turnovers from Arturs Zagars, clinching fifth place in the tournament. It is worth noting that a FIBA assist, unlike the National Basketball Association’s definition, only counts when the receiving player does not take any dribble before scoring a basket. Zagars’ talent to facilitate the offense and find open players has attracted attention from NBA scouts.

The United States did not bring back any medals from Asia, as they ended up in fourth place. They lost their first game 104-110 to Lithuania, who pulled off an early lead with their six-for-six firepower from downtown. Although NBA veteran Jonas Valanciunas only captured 12 points and 10 rebounds in the contest, his presence gravitated the USA defense and freed

See FIBA, 11 ☛

Nikola Jokic unenthusiastic NBA MVP

■ For Nikola Jokic, playing pro basketball is just your average 9-5 job.

By JOSH GANS JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

To many, the idea of playing professional sports is a dream come true. It is the ultimate aspiration of billions of people around the world. A pro athlete, especially at the highest level, often reaps all the benefits of what people strive for in life.

Athletes are admired and often even idolized by millions of children who are inspired to fill their shoes one day. They get to do a job they love by playing the game they adored since they were young. Now, top athletes in the world make more money in pro sports in one year than a doctor, lawyer, or politician will make in their entire lives. For instance, the average NBA salary in 2023 was $9.5 million. In the eyes of many, the top athletes in the world are living the ultimate dream. Most athletes will agree with that sentiment, too, with one interesting exception: Nikola Jokic.

BRANDEIS VOLLEYBALL PHOTO RECAP

The Brandeis Volleyball team lost to Babson, 0-3, in their sixth game of the year, pg. 10.

Aaron Rodgers’ Jets debut turned nightmare

■ The Jets will be without Aaron Rodgers for the remainder of the season after a devastating injury in the opening game.

By ZACHARY GOLDSTEIN JUSTICE EDITOR

The National Football League kicked off its season last week, concluding their opening matchups Sept. 11 with a Monday night showdown between the perennial powerhouse Buffalo Bills and the revamped New York Jets.

In recent years, the Jets have been nothing more than a disappointment to their fans. Currently, the team holds the longest active playoff drought, not only in the NFL, but in the entirety of North American sports, spanning 12 years of not reaching the postseason. Throughout these 12 years, the team only had a winning record once in 2015, when they went 10-6, demonstrating their recent history of being a losing team. The acquisition of Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers in May brought along something the Jets have been missing all these years: an elite-level quarterback. Players and coaches within the league then considered the Jets as a championship contender now that Rodgers was at the helm.

Jokic is a Serbian basketball player who plays for the Denver Nuggets.

Picked 41st overall in the second round of the 2014 NBA draft, Jokic was deemed too out of shape to be successful in such a competitive environment. He was yet another story of proving the doubters wrong, quickly becoming one of the most dominant players in the league. At just 28, he is already a two-time MVP, five-time all-star, and has been named to five all-NBA teams. This past season, he fell just short of averaging a triple double — meaning obtaining doubledigits in points, rebounds, and assists per game for an entire season — a feat only achieved by Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook. As a center, Jokic’s job would traditionally be to grab rebounds and score in the paint, with very little passing or facilitating. So the idea of averaging nearly 10 assists per game on top of his 25 points and 12 rebounds this season is unfathomable. Now widely regarded as the best player in the world, he led the Denver Nuggets to its first NBA championship this past

See NBA, 11 ☛

With Rodgers set to be in New York, the NFL chose the team to feature on its annual pre-season show “Hard Knocks,” which is an in-depth view of how a team prepares to start the season. The show features an insider look into practices, meetings with players, and funny locker room moments. A tradition for NFL fans to watch, Rodgers and the Jets became a household favorite as fans were able to take a closer look into the antics of Rodgers’ day-to-day routine. This included how Rodgers practices and prepares for games, as well as his notorious rants about football and life in general. The show was just an addition to the ongoing fanfare surrounding this Jets team.

It was a magical scene as the opening ceremonies for the game began, a cumulation of all of the anticipation during a long and grueling offseason. Alone in the tunnel, Rodgers charged out onto the field at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, waving a large American flag in remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Anticipation in New York was now at its peak, with this

entrance as the cherry on top. Football was officially back, with the Jets in prime position to have a great season with their all-time great quarterback.

The hype wouldn’t last long, as on the 4th play of the game, MetLife stadium went silent. After getting tackled by a rusher, Rodgers stood back up but immediately sat down, signaling something was seriously wrong with his foot. Shortly after, Rodgers was escorted off the field on a cart and subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the game. Backup quarterback Zach Wilson, the previous starter before Rodgers, was set to take the field. The Jets intended to let him learn under Rodgers for the foreseeable future but now threw him back into the fire. This was now Wilson’s moment to defeat one of the top teams in the league on primetime television while every Jets fan's excitement for the season flushed down the drain.

The initial fear was that Rodgers’ tore his Achilles tendon, which typically requires a long recovery process. Recommended rehab takes upwards of 8-12 months, which for a 39-year-old Rodgers could prove to be challenging to bounce back from athletically. These fears were confirmed the next day on Tuesday, when Rodgers was officially diagnosed with a torn Achilles tendon, ending his 2023-24 season.

Wilson entered the game in relief of Rodgers, hoping to secure a win for the Jets despite the tragedy that occurred in 75 seconds. Wilson didn’t play well by any means, completing 14/21 of his passes, throwing for 140 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. His opposing quarterback, allstar Josh Allen, also had a horrific performance, completing 29/41 of his passes for 236 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions. These three turnovers proved costly, keeping the Jets in the game and ultimately allowing them to score enough points to force overtime.

There was magic in the air that night as the Jets pulled off the win in spectacular fashion. The Bills won the coin toss in overtime but couldn’t pull together a successful drive and were ultimately forced to punt the ball back to the Jets. Returning the punt was Xavier Gipson, an undrafted rookie free agent whose decision to be kept on the team during roster cuts was featured on “Hard Knocks.” With the score being 16-16 and the Jets receiving second possession in overtime, any scoring play wins the game for the Jets. After receiving the punt, Gipson displayed an in-

credible burst and sprinted between blocks into the endzone for a touchdown, sending the Jets faithful into a frenzy. Despite not having Aaron Rodgers, the Jets defeated a highly talented Buffalo Bills lineup, cementing themselves as a team not to doubt this season.

Rodgers’ injury is yet another talking point in a long-standing debate among the NFL Players Association and league officials on whether to use grass or artificial turf for the field surface. To the players, turf creates a dangerous wobble due to its soft texture and doesn’t allow for the cleat to establish itself in the ground. Two days following his injury, the NFLPA released a statement on Twitter/X calling on the NFL to switch all fields to grass surfaces. The players argue that this switch in the material will lead to fewer noncontact injuries and keep the players more healthy overall. One of the spearheaders of this movement is Rodgers himself, who notably called on the NFL to provide grass surfaces dating back to November of last season.

The quarterback room will also need another face, as the only two active quarterbacks on the Jets roster are Wilson and journeyman Tim Boyle. Acquiring another backup to reinforce this position could prove to be helpful for the Jets, as they are now slim at the most important position in football. Immediately following the injury, names of veteran arms who could step up and provide instant impact for the team were rumored to potentially be targeted by the Jets, including Carson Wentz, Cam Newton, Colin Kaepernick, Matt Ryan, Phillip Rivers, Joe Flacco, and Tom Brady. Although this scenario is unlikely, Jets head coach Robert Saleh has kept the door open for adding another quarterback, stating that “we’re gonna look at everything.”

While the injury to Rodgers is significant, the Jets will lean on the strengths of various players to compete in a difficult AFC East division. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner, who are the rookies of the year, respectively, will look to lead both the offensive and defensive attack for the Jets. Additionally, the two-headed monster in the backfield, consisting of star running backs Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook, will look to run the ball effectively to open up the passing attack for Zach Wilson. Defensively, veterans Quinnen Williams, Quincy Williams, and CJ Mosely will look to keep the Jets competitive in games.

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

READY TO GO: Latvia's Anzejs Pasecniks and Lithuenia's Jonas Valanciunas pose before the tip off.

Photos: Eliza Bier/the Justice. Design: Ceci Xilei Chen/the Justice.

Waltham, Mass.

“The Summer I Turned Pretty”: It’s time to choose whose best

BY ISABEL ROSETH AND LAURYN WILLIAMS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND DEPUTY EDITOR

Now that “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” — a show based off the book series by Jenny Han — is on hiatus, it’s time to debate: which brother is best? The show centers around Isabel “Belly” Conklin and two brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher, between whom she has to choose. It’s great, it’s messy, and it’s endlessly entertaining, but it also garners very, very strong opinions, mostly concerning which brother is the best for Belly.

Team Conrad — Isabel

There’s a lot of nonsense when you sift through the mound of “Team Conrad” takes online. Many of the “hot takes” populated over TikTok, Twitter/X, Instagram, and Tumblr are one-dimensional and uncritical. Even as a die-hard member of Team Conrad myself, I want to add the disclaimer right away that Conrad Fischer is not perfect and can very much so do wrong. But while actions and words do matter, intentions do as well. As stupid as these teenagers can be — and they can be so, so stupid — Conrad’s heart has always been in the right place.

First and foremost, it’s important to state that this boy has made many mistakes over the course of the series. He tends to disappear when things get hard rather than face his problems head-on in the hope that removing himself is in fact the solution, when it never really is. In doing so, he’s not only harming Belly, Steven, and Jeremiah, but himself as well, and he is absolutely still learning his lesson.

His handling of his relationship with Belly was also riddled with errors and, his communication was practically nonexistent. I completely understand that he would be struggling as his mother was on her deathbed, but that isn’t the issue; he should have communicated this Belly. I agree with that take, but what I do not agree with is the idea that this makes him a bad person, or that it means he does not care for Belly. Nothing, in my view, could be more false.

Belly is it for Conrad. The concept of “if he wanted to, he would” is solid in theory, but in execution, life is often much more complicated than that, and Conrad is a prime example of this. His failings are never due to a lack of caring. His jealousy does manifest in unfortunate ways, but in my view ,you cannot get into “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and not expect some messy behavior. He supports Belly, respects her decisions, and ultimately wants her to be happy — even if it’s not with him. Him basically breaking up with her at prom — and, yes, maybe she said it was over, but it’s painfully clear that he was going to do the same — was awful, and I won’t defend it, but I will say that he took himself out of the equation with the belief that she would be better off without him.

Stupid? Absolutely. But, as stated before, it’s not because he didn’t care about her or because he only liked the thrill of the chase. Bad decisions do not equal bad motives, and just because I am Team Conrad does not mean I believe that the first go of their relationship should have been “it.” They have many problems to work out and maturing to do before it’s time, but it will be time in the future, and you do not have to have read the books to figure as much. He loves her so much that he still gets that pain in his chest — and that deep, undying love doesn’t go away that quickly.

Despite all the problems between Belly and Conrad, there

are still so many lovely moments between the two of them that remain significant throughout the entire show. No matter how many times Belly and Jeremiah share a moment, there’s always one with Conrad that follows.

It’s also important to note how Conrad compares to his brother, and the other end of the love triangle, Jeremiah. Jeremiah is absolutely more vocal than Conrad, but words are not everything, and there comes a point where they’re just that — words. He says things like, “You don’t have to hurt yourself to get my attention” or that if he started kissing Belly, he wouldn’t be able to stop — both of which are infinitely more “Wattpad cringey” than “Wattpad hot.” He talks a lot, but he’s telling rather than showing, breaking one of the most fundamental rules. Conrad shows his love for Belly through his actions, while Jeremiah expects his words to do all the heavy lifting. He also constantly yells at Belly, often for things that don’t seem very fair. Sorry, Jere, but it wasn’t her fault you couldn’t change a tire, and Belly didn’t abandon you. You were the one that ignored her calls and cut her out of your life, and it’s ridiculous to assert that that was all on her. Belly did hurt him, and I understand that, but that does not mean I have to support or excusehis behavior. Jeremiah’s inferiority complex when it comes to Conrad also ends up hurting Belly. He uses her as a way to get to Conrad, something which Belly tells him not to do. He cares more about “winning,” something heavily implied in a conversation he had with Conrad at a party in season one. He’s also constantly cruel and unfair to Conrad, despite Conrad trying to do the right thing by getting Jere’s blessing and stepping back when he saw that Belly and Jeremiah were falling for one another. Jeremiah, again, talks a lot about doing so, but when it really matters, he stirs things up rather than leaving them be. Jeremiah argues that Conrad doesn’t deserve Belly because he didn’t like her until that summer and didn’t do anything about it until the end of the summer. But what did Jeremah do? The narrative is also pointing in one clear direction, and that’s Conrad. And this isn’t a simple “well, almost every time they play a Taylor Swift song, it’s for Belly and Conrad” argument. There is a lot of symbolism, particularly at the end of the season, that is hinting strongly towards Conrad being the one for Belly. Not only was Belly wearing Conrad’s sweatshirt as she kissed Jeremiah on Conrad’s car, but when the three of them stayed in the motel, the warm light fell on her and Conrad, while a colder, blue light was on Jeremiah. Belly’s tossing and turning that night represented her confusion and struggle to decide, but she woke up facing Conrad. She’s also still hanging onto the necklace Conrad got her — small things that suggest that there is a right answer, despite the way season two ended. Jeremiah and Belly may be together for the time being, but Belly’s heart belongs to Conrad. This has been true since the beginning and will not change. End of story.

Team Jeremiah — Lauryn

In the first episode of “The Summer I turned Pretty,” we are introduced to Jeremiah as Belly’s best friend. He waits all day for her to arrive to their summer home so that they can go to the beach. They end up racing down the shore and playfully tackling each other in the water. When I first watched this scene I immediately got butterflies. The familiarity and warmth between them felt like a perfect start to a teen summer romance. Throughout season one, Jeremiah helps Belly navigate new and anxiety — inducing situ-

ations — this being most evident in the debutante ball scenes. As Jeremiah watches Belly uncoordinatedly fumble and step on a fellow dancer’s shoes, he swoops in with ease and confidence. He cuts in and takes Belly’s hand in his and begins dancing with her. He then changes the music to an upbeat tempo, causing everyone to break out of their waltz and freestyle. He injects liveliness into every moment he has with Belly, whether it’s teaching her to drive, dancing with the debutantes, or even watching their high moms eat the snacks from the pantry. While Belly is in love with Conrad, it feels as though she is completely missing someone who is boyfriend material right in front of her. However, I felt the tides shift for her in season one, episode five. During this episode she confronts Conrad about the drunken kiss they almost shared on the Fourth of July hoping that he would admit how badly he wants to be with her. However, he claims that he doesn’t remember it — which he clearly does — and states that even though he does like her he simply can’t be with her. The song “Lost Cause” by Beck dramatically plays as Belly says, “I’m not waiting for you anymore.” Later in that episode, when Belly and Jeremiah are swimming in the pool, Jeremiah musters up the courage and tells Belly how he has felt about her all along. While Belly is initially surprised, she wholeheartedly embraces his feelings and kisses him. I was screaming at the top of my lungs while watching this! I rejoiced that Belly was finally getting the reciprocated feelings and love she deserves. We then are thrusted into their budding summer romance, complete with sneaking around and make-out sessions in the car. But everything comes to an abrupt, explosive halt in episode eight. As the kids get devastating news about Susanah, the veil of a perfect summer comes crashing down and the characters, especially Belly, are forced to do serious reflection. It’s my belief that while Belly was interested in Jeremiah, she was still holding out hope that Conrad would love her. This is highlighted in the final episode of season one, as Belly and Conrad sit on the beach. She tells him that “I don’t want you to need me. I want you to want me,” and he says, “I do want you.” They then share a passionate kiss and she ends by exclaiming, “If this can happen maybe anything can.” At this point, I am BOOING, y’all, tomato, tomato BOOO. Team Conrad will ask: “But why? Belly finally got to be with the man of her dreams! Conrad finally admitted how he felt and he was going through an incredibly turbulent time so it was hard for him.” I hear you, but I could understand more if Conrad wasn’t dating other girls that summer. I could even understand if Conrad explained that he just needed time to process but told Belly how he felt. Conrad had plenty of opportunities to communicate with Belly, but he chose not to until she walked away. No one should have to grovel or plead for someone to tell them how they feel. Love is not something that you have to coax out of anyone. It is upfront, it is stable and it’s honest. This theme of a lack of communication plagues Belly and Conrad in season two and ultimately tanks their relationship. Belly and Conrad start out picture perfect; he visits her from college, they talk about anything and everything, and the fireplace scene takes place — if you know you know. I was willing to put season one in the past and root for them! That feeling dissipated as soon as I saw the prom scene. During Belly’s prom, Conrad is clearly distraught and out of it due to the fact that his mothers condition has worsened.

This leads Belly to ask if she’s done something wrong. Conrad explains that he feels as though he is disappointing her and that she deserves better. They then break up in the most heartbreaking way: Belly stands in the rain with tears streaming down her face while Conrad solemnly flees to his car. For me, this scene pointed out a glaring issue with these two. Belly is insecurely attached to Conrad, anytime he builds his emotional walls, she takes it as a sign of rejection and immediately shuts herself off to avoid getting hurt; and her self esteem plummets. While Conrad is avoidantly attached to Belly, he doesn’t want to fully open up in fear that she will see him as a burden and eventually fall out of love with him. It is clear that these two, while in love, need partners that are able to make them feel secure. Belly and Conrad are amazing when they work but an absolute trainwreck when they don’t.

Throughout season two as the events of the summer unfold, we see Belly and Jeremiah’s relationship dynamic change. Initially, Jeremiah was upset and cold to Belly, claiming that she forgot about him even though he was hurting. While I believe that he played a part in the lack of communication between them, I see why he might’ve felt that way. To him, Belly was his first real love and the moment he thought they would finally be together, the rug was pulled from underneath him as she laced her fingers in Conrad’s hand. For him, this was a complete and utter betrayal of trust. For months he endured seeing them together and each time it was as though they were stabbing him in the back. So, of course, he ignored every text and phone call, because to him there was no point. Belly would never show up for him in the way he wanted. However, Belly works tirelessly to build the trust between them again, and slowly but surely she does. We see them grow closer together again and Belly quickly re-

alizes that Jeremiah is truly who she wantswhen Belly asks for Jeremiah to forgive her and asks for a second chance. This is when they share a steamy, jaw-dropping, highly anticipated kiss. Later, when Jeremiah demands Conrad to tell Belly how he feels so that she can make a final decision, he doesn’t. In true Conrad fashion, he meekly hides his feelings, which only cements Jeremiah as the only contender for Belly. Even when life is messy and complicated, even when they drift apart, Jeremiah and Belly find their way to each other because their relationship is built around friendship and stability. #TeamJere.

Team Belly

While the two of us disagree over who the best guy for Belly is, we ultimately agree on one thing: Team Belly, first and foremost. So much of the discourse surrounding “The Summer I Turned Pretty” bashes Belly Conklin relentlessly. We’ve seen people claiming she’s narcissistic, cruel, and uncaring. People act as though she hurts the boys on purpose, or as though she doesn’t care about them. These opinions are, however, decidedly false. Belly is a 16-year-old girl. She has barely any life experience, and she has no road map to follow here. Feelings are confusing, and it’s disheartening to see so little sympathy shown towards her. Love is not always straightforward, and you can’t always figure out how you feel right away. She’s made mistakes, absolutely, but who hasn’t? And it’s important to note that the boys have hurt her, too. It was never a one-way street. It’s irrational and ridiculous to expect Belly to have the maturity and worldly knowledge of Laurel or maybe Susannah. She, like Conrad and Jeremiah, is still reeling from Susannah’s death, and that grief, in addition to her broken heart, is bound to affect her. But she is caring and sensitive and, above all else, she tries.

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

TRILOGY: Jenny Han is the author of the bestselling book series, nowturned-Netflix series, of the same name.

ROSE FALL CELEBRATION

By ANNA MARTIN JUSTICE EDITOR

The Rose Art Museum hosted the Rose Fall Celebration event on Sept. 6 to welcome Arghavan Khosravi, who is an Iranian visual artist. This celebration was focused on the new Rose special exhibition “Arghavan Khosravi: Black Rain,” and was attended by many members of the Brandeis community. This exhibit traces a path through this Brandeis alumna’s journey through art, beginning with the drawings that she created when first arriving in the United States in 2015 featuring her recent sculptures.

Photos: ELIZA BIER/the Justice. Design: ANNA MARTIN/the Justice.

STAFF’S Top Ten

By ANNA MARTIN JUSTICE EDITOR

Top 10 Massachusetts venues

I love to spend my weekends listening to live music and exploring the concert venues of Massachusetts! Here are some of my favorites.

STUDENT ART SPOTLIGHT

SUDOKU

Samuel Diaz is a digital illustrator from Venezuela. He spends a lot of his time drawing his own characters and writing stories about them. He is also a premed student, so he can also be found freaking out about science classes. He enjoys indie video games, anime, and rock music.

SMILEY HUYNH/the Justice