the
Justice www.thejustice.org
The Independent Student Newspaper Volume LXXI, Number 9
of
B r a n d e is U n i v e r sit y S i n c e 1 9 4 9
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Waltham, Mass.
DANGERS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
JUSTICE INVESTIGATION
Former Catholic chaplain was removed after alcohol-related ‘incident’ with University student The administration originally attributed Father Walter Cuenin’s abrupt departure in early 2015 to unspecified health problems. By NATALIA WIATER JUSTICE EDITOR
Father Walter Cuenin, the University’s Catholic chaplain from 2006 to 2015, was removed from ministry and his position at Brandeis due to alcohol addiction and a “related incident” involving an adult male student, the Archdiocese of Boston’s Secretary for Communications and Public Affairs Terrence Donilon confirmed in an Oct. 3 email to the Justice. The University had originally attributed Cuenin’s departure to unspecified “health reasons”in a Jan. 13, 2015 email from Dean of Students Jamele Adams. University Director of Media Relations Julie Jette told the Jusitce in an Oct. 23 statement that in late December 2014, Brandeis received a complaint from a student that Father Cuenin “behaved unacceptably on an off-campus trip in the fall of 2014.” The University informed the student of the “availability of university support services, and the option of initiating a Brandeis investigation,” according to Jette. The University notified Cuenin that he would not be allowed to return to campus and that he should have no further contact with any student or member of the Brandeis community. Brandeis informed the Archdiocese of Boston of the complaint, and the archdiocese told the University that it would conduct an investigation into Cuenin’s behavior, Jette wrote. The archdiocese informed the University that regardless of the outcome of its investigation, Cuenin would no longer practice as a priest or serve on any college campus.
In an Oct. 24 follow-up email to the Justice, Donilon confirmed to the Justice that the archdiocese investigated the complaint, the details of which he did not specify. “Out of concern and at the request of the adult male student and Brandeis University, it was determined that Fr. Cuenin’s assignment would end and the privacy of the adult male student would be respected,” Donilon wrote. He said he is not aware of any further contact between Cuenin and the University community. The Justice asked University President Ron Liebowitz why the University had not disclosed the specific reasons for Cuenin’s departure in 2015 and whether the University had sought to determine if Cuenin had behaved “unacceptably” toward other students. Jette replied on Liebowitz’s behalf, saying that because Liebowitz was not at Brandeis at the time, it “isn’t appropriate” for him to comment. She referred the Justice to her earlier statement. The Code of Ministerial Behavior for the Archdiocese of Boston states that clergy should refrain from “the use of alcohol when working with youth.” Pastoral counselors and spiritual directors “assume the full burden of responsibility for establishing and maintaining clear, appropriate boundaries in all counseling and counseling-related relationships.” Cuenin is currently a senior priest with restricted status, Donilon wrote. “Priests who reach a certain age and who have completed parish assignments can move to senior priest status,” he added. Such priests can gener-
ally serve in parishes to help with mass or confessions, but Cuenin’s restricted status bars him from exercising public ministry. A priest’s status can be restricted for a variety of reasons, according to Donilon. He did not specify why Cuenin was banned from performing priestly duties. Cardinal Sean O’Malley appointed Cuenin as the University’s Catholic chaplain in February 2006, according to a Feb. 7, 2006 Justice article. Catholic priests are appointed to the chaplaincy by the archdiocese, while the University hires them and pays their salaries. The archdiocese had forced Cuenin to resign from his previous post at Our Lady Help of Christians in Newton, Massachusetts, the year before, saying that Cuenin’s $500 monthly stipend, which had been approved by the parish, exceeded the archdiocese’s limit of five dollars per mass. Cuenin agreed to pay the archdiocese $75,000 but said an internal audit found that his stipend was within church policy, according to the same Justice article. "Some people have suggested [my removal] was because I was an outspoken kind of priest," Cuenin told the Newton TAB at the time, per the Justice article. In 2002, Cuenin and 57 other priests signed a letter calling on Cardinal Bernard Law to resign, saying he was no longer an “effective spiritual leader,” according to a Dec. 10, 2002 Boston Globe article. The letter’s publication was sparked by widespread anger over Law’s failure to “remove from ministry priests accused of sex
See CUENIN, 7 ☛
SOPHIA WANG/the Justice
REFUGEE CRISIS: Dr. Jim Anderson analyzed the way that climate change has led to food shortages and crop failures, contributing to the global refugee crisis.
Harvard prof. examines climate change impact ■ Dr. Jim Anderson argued for
changing how science classes are taught in order to inspire future problem solvers. By NAKUL SRINIVAS JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Dr. Jim Anderson, a Weld professor of Atmospheric Chemistry at Harvard, blamed climate change for the rise in storms, droughts, wildfires, food shortages and skin cancer in an Oct. 29 lecture. He also explained how improvements in science education can help future generations better understand and deal with climate change in the future. Anderson started by describing the global warming effect of climate change. Rising levels of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere, caused by human activity, have changed the energy flow of our climate system, according to Anderson. In addition to the energy from the sun that enters our atmosphere
every year, 170 million kilowatthours of energy is already cycling through our climate system. This heat energy, enough to power 28 million light bulbs, has led to a rise in the temperature of our climate system, Anderson said. This has three major consequences: reducing Arctic floating ice, diminishing mountain snowpacks and warming ocean surface temperatures. “Can the Earth lose 70 to 80 percent of its permanent Arctic ice volume in 35 years and return to its stable condition? The answer is absolutely no,” said Anderson, explaining that scientists currently expect this to happen. He then moved on to talk specifically about Greenland, which is covered by glaciers. In 2012, nearly all of Greenland’s glaciers experienced melting due to climate shifts. Melting water moves through fissures in the ice down to the bedrock that lies beneath the ice, breaking the bond between them and destabilizing the glaciers.
See CLIMATE, 7 ☛
COMMUNITY
J Street U petitions to add Palestinian voices to Birthright ■ The Brandeis chapter of J
Street U will meet with Hillel to discuss its proposals for Birthright trips. By AVRAHAM PENSO JUSTICE EDITOR
The Brandeis chapter of J Street U is circulating a petition calling on Brandeis Hillel to include Palestinian speakers in future Hillel-led Birthright Israel trips. Written by board member Sivan Ben-Hayun ’19, the petition explains, “Our com-
munity values complexity, nuance, and the inclusion of multiple experiences and narratives,” and asks that Birthright participants “learn about the Israeli occupation from Palestinians who are living under it.” J Street announced the petition at the conclusion of their Oct. 15 Breaking the Silence event, in which IDF veteran Merphie Bubis discussed her experience with violence and policing practices in the West Bank. Birthright Israel is an organization that sponsors one- to two-weeklong trips to Israel for Jewish young
adults worldwide in order to “ensure the future of the Jewish people by strengthening Jewish identity, Jewish communities, and [participants’] connection with Israel,” according to the organization’s website. Through visits to sites with historical significance to Judaism and Zionism in addition to modern Israeli organizations and businesses, participants learn about their Jewish heritage and contemporary Israel — including its “geopolitics, society, and statehood.” But J Street believes that Birthright trips do not provide a complete picture of the ongoing Israe-
li-Palestinian conflict, frequently leaving their participants with “a connection to Israel that is fragile at best,” per the petition. In an Oct. 28 Justice interview with Ben-Hayun and current chapter chair Talya Guenzburger ’20, Ben-Hayun cited her experience on a Brandeis Hillel-led winter 2015 Birthright trip. After the group listened to two invited speakers — a Jewish Israeli and a Palestinian citizen of Israel — share their experiences living in Israel, the group’s tour guide “proceeded to say how everything that this Palestinian just told us about his personal ex-
perience was a lie, or untrue, or unjustified,” Ben-Hayun said. “I was really angry.” All Birthright trips are led by Israeli tour guides who have been licensed by Israel’s Ministry of Tourism and receive further training from Birthright, according to a July 27, 2018 Jewish Telegraphic Agency article. These tour guides work with staff from other organizations (such as Hillel) that facilitate specific Birthright trips, such as college Hillel trips. This past summer, a number of Birthright participants affiliated
See J STREET, 7 ☛
Life Hack
Noises Off!
Author reimagines Anne Frank’s story
Brandeis student wins HackHarvard.
The UTC puts on a play within a play.
By CHRISTINE KIM
By MENDEL WEINTRAUB
Reader Commentary: In defense of PragerU
By LEIGH SALOMON
By YOUNG AMERICANS FOR LIBERTY
NEWS 5 FORUM 12
Women’s soccer places fifth in UAA standings Photo Courtesy of BEN SEGAL
FEATURES 9 For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org
THU LEE/the Justice
Make your voice heard! Submit letters to the editor to letters@thejustice.org
ARTS 18
By MEGAN GELLER
COPYRIGHT 2018 FREE AT BRANDEIS.
SPORTS 16
2
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018
●
NEWS
●
THE JUSTICE
NEWS BLOOD DRIVE
SENATE LOG Piano resolution continues to divide Senate at Sunday meeting Representatives from the Brandeis chapter of Active Minds presented to the Senate on Sunday to request club status. Active Minds is a national organization designed to raise awareness for mental health and wellness, the presenters explained. The representatives, including Events Chair Rachel Karp ’18 and Vice President Cat Gibson ’21, argued that their organization has been shown to have a positive impact on the communities it is implemented within. The Brandeis chapter of the organization was founded in 2015, and since then has collaborated with many campus groups, including Triskelion, the Neuroscience Club, the Brandeis Counseling Center and Students Talking About Relationships. The chapter, which meets every week, holds events and campaigns to raise awareness of mental health. The representatives emphasized that they want to promote mental health and wellness, but that they are not an organization for mental health support. Without club status, they argued, they are unable to receive funding from the Student Union, which significantly hampers the reach of their organization. Senator Alex Chang ’22 expressed his support for the organization. “I can firmly attest to their value on campus, and I can strongly voice my support for them,” he said. Senator Aaron Finkel ’20 advanced a motion to vote on the chapter’s status by acclamation. The vote would grant the chapter probationary status, giving them $1,000 and 12 weeks to prove their ability to use the funds responsibly and their dedication to their cause. The vote passed unanimously. Senators Linfei Yang ’20 and Alex Chang ’22 reported that they met with Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Tim Touchette, who had sent them an email saying the Department of Community Living would be wholly supportive of their Senate Money Resolution to purchase pianos. Touchette also said DCL would pay for any security items for the pianos. This marked a reversal in the department’s stance on the project: Just two weeks ago, area coordinators for Massell Quad and North Quad said DCL would not support the initiative because it was inaccessible to students in wheelchairs. Chang explained that while the original plan was to use upright pianos, they have decided instead to purchase electric keyboards, citing the high maintenance costs of acoustic pianos. The senators urged the Senate to schedule a vote on the SMR for the pianos in that same senate meeting session because the keyboard models they had in mind were on sale. Senator Kendal Chapman ’22 objected to their motion to suspend the rules and approve the resolution, on the basis that the pianos were not an urgent matter. Chapman said she wanted to make sure the Senate would still have enough funding for the upcoming Midnight Buffet before approving the measure, in reference to ongoing discussions between the Senate and Allocations Board about the Senate’s budget. Senator Kent Dinlenc ’19 made a second objection on the same grounds, arguing that there are “dozens” of other pianos on campus that are available to the student body. “Your SMR is a luxury,” he told them. Linfei expressed concern that after weeks of delays, there was no guarantee that the piano SMR wouldn’t be delayed for a vote at next week’s meeting as well. The SMR vote was tentatively rescheduled for next week. Finally, Senate Bylaws Committee Chair Jake Rong ’21 proposed suspending the rules to vote on an amendment to the Bylaws that would remove irrelevant language from the description of one of the Senate committees. Yang objected to Rong’s motion, saying the motion was not “urgent.” The vote was postponed until next week. —Sam Stockbridge
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS n A News article was corrected to clarify that the artist’s name is Steven Varble, not Steven Marble. The article was also corrected to indicate that Smillie discussed the photographs and Getsy discussed Varble’s work (this was switched previously). The paragraph about the photography was corrected to use she/her pronouns for Smillie. Finally, the article incorrectly stated that some of Varble’s artwork is on display at the Rose, which it is not. (Oct. 30, Page 5) n A Features article incorrectly stated that Ben Korman is a member of the class of 2021. It was corrected to say he is a member of the class of 2019. (Nov. 5, Page 8) The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Send an email to editor@thejustice.org.
Justice
the
www.thejustice.org
The Justice is the independent student newspaper of Brandeis University. The Justice is published every Tuesday of the academic year with the exception of examination and vacation periods. Editor News Forum Features Sports Arts Ads Photos Managing Copy Layout
editor@thejustice.org news@thejustice.org forum@thejustice.org features@thejustice.org sports@thejustice.org arts@thejustice.org ads@thejustice.org photos@thejustice.org managing@thejustice.org copy@thejustice.org layout@thejustice.org
BRIEF
New Waltham restaurant opens, features work from contemporary artist
YVETTE SEI/the Justice
Members of the Brandeis community donated blood during the Halloween-themed blood drive, a collaboration with the Red Cross, from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1.
A new American fusion restaurant named Balani has opened on Moody Street. It takes the place of Raffaele’s Ristorante, which closed in spring 2018, according to an Oct. 29 Waltham Patch article. The restaurant’s Instagram page describes the restaurant as “making really tasty yums in a fun space.” According to an Oct. 26 Eater Boston article, Balani’s owner, Chef Dave Becker, runs two other restaurants in the Greater Boston area: Middle Eastern restaurant Juniper in Wellesley and Italian cuisine Sweet Basil in Newton. Becker purchased the space in July. Becker explained that during renovations he changed the paint colors “from almost goth colors to ’80s fabulous.” Balani also supports artists. An Oct. 28 Instagram post contains a picture of a painting created by Karen Moss, whose artwork has been featured at Brandeis’ own Women’s Studies Research Center. The post reads, “This almost sci-fi painting called ‘Robot Dog’ deftly aces the feeling here at Balani in Waltham.” Balani’s lounge is decorated with multiple Karen Moss paintings, according to an Oct. 27 Instagram post. For Balani, Becker brought together staff members who compose what he called his “hall of fame.” He told Eater Boston, “I’d rather work with a bunch of people where their heart’s in the right place — nice to each other, nice to guests, nice to me.” Balani’s menu was developed with its staff in mind. In the same article, Becker described the menu as “what we like to cook, what we like to eat.” If menu items aren’t popular, Becker added, “We’ll just kind of make them go away.” The restaurant also has a full liquor license, and managers are looking for opportunities to support local beer and wine sources, per Eater Boston. Balani can be found at 469 Moody Street and is open for dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. —Liat Shapiro
POLICE LOG MEDICAL EMERGENCY October 30—BEMCo staff treated a party outside Sherman Dining Hall who fell and sustained facial injuries. University Police also responded, and Cataldo Ambulance transported the party to NewtonWellesley Hospital for further care. October 30—Cataldo Ambulance, assisted by University Police, transported a party from the Mailman House to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for a Section #12 psychological evaluation at the request of Brandeis Counseling Center staff. November 1—Brandeis Counseling Center staff requested that Cataldo Ambulance transport a party from the Mailman House to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for a Section #12 psychological evaluation. University Police assisted. November 1—BEMCo staff treated a party with a leg injury in Massell Quad, who signed a refusal for further care. November 1—A party in
Rosenthal South called BEMCo reporting an earache. After BEMCo treated the party, they signed a refusal for further care. November 2—BEMCo staff treated a party who fell down the stairs in Reitman Hall. Cataldo Ambulance transported the party to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. November 2—A party in the Village reported that they were not feeling well. BEMCo staff treated the party, who signed a refusal for further care. November 2—BEMCo staff treated a party with a knee injury outside the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. Cataldo Ambulance transported the party to NewtonWellesley Hospital for further care. November 3—University Police and BEMCo staff responded to a report of an intoxicated party in Massell Residence Quad who was then transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital by Cataldo Ambulance for further care. The Area Coordinator on call was notified.
November 3—A party in Skyline Residence Hall requested treatment from BEMCo staff because they thought they may have a concussion from a previous incident. BEMCo staff treated the party, who signed a refusal for further care. November 3—BEMCo staff treated a party who was feeling unwell in the Foster Mods. The party signed a refusal for further care. November 4—University Police and BEMCo staff responded to a report of an intoxicated and unresponsive party in Gordon Hall. Cataldo Ambulance transported the party to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care, and the area coordinator on call was notified.
mit a CSR on the incident. November 4—An Area Coordinator requested University Police assistance with Foster Mods residents who were not complying with instructions. University Police assisted without incident.
DISTURBANCE November 3—A Community Advisor requested assistance from University Police in dispersing an unregistered party in Ziv 130 after receiving a noise complaint. The party was broken up without incident and Department of Community Living staff will sub-
OTHER October 31—University Police canceled a “BOLO” (be on the lookout) alert after the party was found and returned home.
LARCENY November 1—University Police are compiling a report of a phone scam. MISCELLANEOUS SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES October 30—University Police received a report of an unattended backpack near the Shiffman Humanities Center, but they did not find any object upon arrival.
—Compiled by Jocelyn Gould
Want to advertise in
The Justice?
The Justice Brandeis University Mailstop 214 P.O. Box 549110 Waltham, MA 02454-9110 Phone: (781) 736-3750 The Managing Editor holds office hours on Mondays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Contact Liat Fischer and Devo Meyers at ads@justice.org for more information.
THE JUSTICE
ITS implements new data security measures Services is taking steps to protect personal information and Brandeis accounts. By JOCELYN GOULD JUSTICE EDITOR
On the evening of Oct. 14, Information Technology Services began remotely deleting personally identifiable information in temporary and hidden folders from University-owned Windows computers. These now-weekly deletions are one of four security initiatives that ITS is in the process of implementing — or will roll out soon — that are aimed at protecting the University’s technology and data. Under Massachusetts General Law 93H, PII is any data record that contains a person’s first name or first initial, their last name and personal information such as “social security, driver’s license or account numbers,” according to the ITS website. “Many [University] departments deal with PII on an ongoing basis,” David Albrecht, the ITS director for networks, systems and security, explained in an interview with the Justice. For example, Human Resources gets new hires’ information and the International Students and Scholars Office works with passport numbers and visas, he said. These departments’ employees will have forms containing PII saved to their University-owned computers because of the nature of their work. But, Albrecht explained, an employee might also open a form that contains PII without actively saving it to their machine. “Many times, the computer still keeps a copy of that in a temporary folder,” Albrecht said. These “temporary or hidden directories,” he explained, are “meant for temporary storage that people don’t normally go in [and] don’t know how to get to” — resulting in a “significant volume” of PII building up in these folders. Beginning Oct. 14, ITS started a weekly routine of remotely deleting files containing PII from these folders. Spirion, the data security software used by the University, searches University-owned computers for PII, specifically credit card and Social Security numbers. Spirion then reports the amount of PII on these computers, and ITS encourages staff and faculty to remove “as much possible” without interfering with their work. Albrecht said that the new policy goes “one step further: In areas where they can’t remove it, we’re removing it for them.” Limiting the amount of PII on these computers is important, Albrecht explained, because it ensures that less PII is at risk in the event that a computer is compromised, lost or stolen. “Because we encrypt all of our laptops, the likelihood of data being exfiltrated from them is minimal,” he added. According to the Microsoft Trust Center, “Encrypting your information renders it unreadable to unauthorized persons, even if they break through your firewalls, infiltrate your network, get physical access to your devices, or bypass the permissions on your local machine.” Each month, ITS learns that “dozens of accounts” are compromised, Albrecht said, explaining that most of these are student accounts. The University is currently in the process of implementing Duo Security’s two-factor authentication system for Brandeis login services, such as LATTE and Gmail, to help counter this problem. Under this system, users will first log in with their passwords and then verify their identity by responding to a prompt sent to their mobile device.
This second verification can be a text, a phone call or a notification from the Duo Security app, per the ITS website. ITS is first rolling out this program to staff and faculty, especially administrative staff whose work deals with PII frequently. Currently, about 80 percent of staff, 23 percent of faculty and two percent of students are using two-factor authentication, according to Albrecht. Members of the University can enroll themselves in Duo Security at the Brandeis account tools page, under “Manage Account.” Two-factor authentication will be a required part of Workday, the new human resources, finance and payroll service that will be implemented next semester. All faculty, staff and student employees will be required to use Duo by April 1, 2019, when Workday is implemented, Albrecht explained. The rest of the student body will switch over to Duo at a later date. ITS also plans to enroll all Brandeis email accounts in an application called Proofpoint Cyber Security, which will provide “enhanced email security” by blocking phishing attempts, malware and viruses in emails. Proofpoint will also “quarantine” spam and bulk messages and provide users with a daily report of any emails that have been blocked, so that users can mark emails they do not want blocked in the future. In an interview with the Justice, University Chief Information Officer Jim La Creta shared that he recently began using Proofpoint as part of ITS’ testing the program, describing the application as a “game-changer” that makes users “feel more secure.” ITS will further test the program before rolling it out to the community, according to Albrecht. Brandeis is also in the process of changing its anti-virus platform, which is currently a combination of Symantec and Malwarebytes. The new anti-virus program, enSilo, is “more sophisticated” than the University’s current anti-virus providers, Albrecht said, and can handle the “complex malware that comes in.” Albrecht stressed that security threats are “always changing.” “You go two steps ahead, and then take one step back, because the complexity of everything changes,” he said, adding that ITS is “trying to stay one step ahead of everybody else.” How can members of the Brandeis community protect their personal computers and their PII? Albrecht urged members of the Brandeis community to “be aware of the information that you have and … [that] you’re sharing” and to “know where your information is being stored.” He explained that people should avoid having copies of forms that contain PII on their laptops when those forms are already saved on servers, such as servers for tax filing software. “Don’t keep it around if you don’t need it,” he said. When filling out forms that ask for PII such as Social Security numbers, people should not be afraid to ask whether that information is actually required, and how that information will be stored to ensure its security. They should also encrypt their computers, an option that can now be enabled on most machines. Both La Creta and Albrecht highlighted the upcoming information security workshop on Nov. 14 as an opportunity for the Brandeis community to learn more about securing their personal computers and data. La Creta said he hopes the workshop will give people the necessary information, so that “when they go back to their respective homes and dorms, they can go and protect their machines as well.”
NEWS
●
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018
3
‘A COLLEGE IN DISTRESS’
COMMUNITY
■ Information Technology
●
YVETTE SEI/the Justice
A CAMPUS REACTS: Members of the Feminist Faculty Alliance of Berklee College of Music shared their experiences in the aftermath of a Boston Globe article reporting that faculty accused of sexual harassment were allowed to “quietly leave” the school.
Berklee professors united after Globe’s revelations ■ The Feminist Faculty Alliance
offered support and called for action in the wake of the Globe’s exposé. By GILDA GEIST JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Panelists discussed Berklee staff, student and administrator reactions to a Boston Globe article published last year which revealed that 11 Berklee professors had been terminated after sexual harassment and abuse allegations. The event, titled “Sexual Harassment: Case Study of a College in Distress,” featured members of the Feminist Faculty Alliance of Berklee College of Music, as well as Jessica Teperow, an expert on domestic violence, speaking at the Women’s Studies Research Center last Thursday. Alicia Bower, an assistant professor of psychology at Berklee and an FFA member, began by providing context for the event. On Nov. 8, 2017, the Boston Globe published an article titled “Berklee let teachers quietly leave after alleged sex abuse, and pushed students for silence.” Bower explained that the release of this article caused an outcry in the Berklee community; students created a petition called “Don’t let Berklee College of Music Keep Sexual Assault a Secret” that gained nearly 5,000 signatures. Bower also said the students organized a peaceful protest in which they planned to hold signs at Berklee’s “State of the College” address demanding that the administration take more immediate action to prevent sexual misconduct. According to Bower, Berklee Faculty Union President Jackson Shultz sent an email condemning sexual misconduct that garnered over 100 responses from faculty members. “Unfortunately, some replies … highlight the reality that not all faculty understand power dynamics in the studentmentor relationship,” Bower said. At the time, Bower said, female faculty began emailing each other for support. They decided to meet up
the Sunday after the article was published; this became the first meeting of the FFA. “The FFA just kind of naturally emerged as a group that could field student questions, consult our own knowledge and experience as a group, respond to student concerns and then serve as this kind of supportive role between students and administration.” At that Nov. 11 meeting, the FFA sent a statement to their colleagues and to the administration that contained a number of demands, including that both Berklee’s student body and faculty be 50 percent female by 2025. Last year, according to Sally Blazar, an English professor at Berklee, the student body was 42 percent female, the highest proportion of female students enrolled in Berklee’s history. Blazar estimated that 20 years ago, the student body was only around 20 or 25 percent female. The next day, instead of holding the “State of the College” address that was planned for that day, the Berklee administration decided to host a forum. Bower said that the forum lasted more than three hours and students asked questions, shared experiences and presented demands. The FFA also read aloud their statement. The following week, Bower said, Berklee College of Music’s president, Roger H. Brown, sent out an email to students about changes the college would be making. Although the email promised increased transparency and a more visible equity policy and process, Bower said that the statement put a disproportionate amount of responsibility on students to make changes, rather than on the administration. “There’s still a good amount of healthy skepticism, but there is also a sense that the administration’s promises for change are sincere,” Bower said. Brown was in the audience at the panel, and spoke about his experience in the Q&A session afterwards. He said that when he became president, he quickly learned about faculty members who had partaken in sexual misconduct and then termi-
nated them. Brown admitted to initially having a negative reaction to the Boston Globe article. According to him, the story said there was “a culture of blatant sexual harassment at Berklee” and that the faculty members who had engaged in misconduct had been “allowed to quietly leave.” Brown, on the other hand, had thought the administration was not the problem, given that they had been the ones to terminate the faculty members. “When the Globe article happened, my first reaction, I’ll be honest, was very defensive,” Brown said. “But I had to get over that defensiveness because the truth is, these people did horrible things.” He described the situation as one of the “biggest challenges I’ve faced as a leader in my life.” Brown said that he met with as many of the survivors as he could, and he shared what he learned from meeting with the victims. “Survivors feel like the institution hates them and has turned on them, and there’s a real tendency to feel all this shame,” he said. “Not only do we not dislike you for what you did, you did us a huge service because this person who got terminated would have done the same thing to half a dozen other people,” Brown told the survivors. Teperow, director of Prevention Programs at Reach Beyond Domestic Violence, spoke about the effects that sexual misconduct has on victims. “When you experience a trauma, you experience a profound and meaningful loss of control. … That’s incredibly important for the administration to consider when thinking about how they are then going to respond to these experiences.” Blazar discussed Berklee’s administrative response and the changes they began making in spring 2018. Some of these changes included doing training courses, creating a working group and diversifying leadership. “One of the things that really struck me was how much work is being done that I had no clue about, and that was really nice to know,” Blazar said.
Image Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
Have Strong Opinions? Write an op-ed for the
Justice!
Contact Judah Weinerman at forum@thejustice.org for more information.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY.
TEACH
DASTER OF ARTS IN dEACHING
/E&KZD d/KE ^ ^^/KE %HFRPH D FHUWLILHG WHDFKHU ZLWK D 0DVWHU V GHJUHH LQ RQH \HDU )XOO \HDU LQWHUQVKLS LQ (OHPHQWDU\ RU 6HFRQGDU\ LQ 3XEOLF RU -HZLVK GD\ VFKRROV $GGLWLRQDO &HUWLILFDWLRQ LQ (6/ RU 6SHFLDO (G
tĞĚŜĞĆ?ĚĂLJ͕ EŽǀĞžÄ?ÄžĆŒ ĎĎ°Í• ĎąÍ—ĎŻĎŹÍ˛ĎłĆ‰Í˜ĹľÍ˜ ^ ĎŽĎŹĎ° Z͘^͘s͘W͘ ƚŽ žĂƚΛÄ?ĆŒÄ‚ĹśÄšÄžĹ?Ć?Í˜ÄžÄšĆľ
RI JUDGXDWHV VHHNLQJ WHDFKLQJ SRVLWLRQV ZHUH KLUHG LQ DQG
NATALIA WIATER/ the Justice
Images Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
Catching grammar mistakes redhanded since 1949. _ , . ; ( ? ) “� / : !
Join Copy. Contact Eliana Padwa and Lily Swartz at copy@thejustice.org
Want to write crosswords for the Justice? Contact Contact Kressel at MayaHannah Zanger-Nadis arts@thejustice.org at arts@thejustice.org
THE JUSTICE
‘SOCIAL BY DEFAULT’
●
NEWS
By LEIGH SALOMON JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
ANDREW BAXTER/the Justice
EXAMINING MEMORY: Dr. Meghan Meyer explained her pioneering research into “social working memory” on Thursday afternoon. She discovered that the brain is processing social information even when it is idle.
Scholar explains research on social working memory her work with social working memory, which helps the brain organize social information. By SAM STOCKBRIDGE JUSTICE EDIOR
At any given moment, Meghan Meyer explained, roughly 18 million Americans are socializing, and about two-thirds of those interactions involve the exchange of information about people. We are constantly juggling information about ourselves and those around us. But, Meyer asked, “How do our brains keep track of all this social information that’s chronically buzzing around us?” That’s the question Meyer has been studying for the last six years, she said in her Thursday lecture, “Social by default: Outlining the social psychological functions of the default network.” Meyer is a social neuroscientist and an assistant professor at Dartmouth College, and pioneered the concept of social working memory in her 2012 paper, “Social Working Memory: Neurocognitive networks and directions for future research.” Meyer began by explaining the significance of her research. She first defined cognitive working memory, which is the ability to think through a problem without external resources like a pen and paper. “A classic example of cognitive working memory,” Meyer said, “is if you’ve ever imagined the alternative moves while playing a game of chess. Then you’ve engaged [cogni-
tive] working memory.” She contrasted this with social working memory, saying, “Instead of imagining the consequences of a chess move, you might imagine the consequences of befriending your best friend’s ex-partner, and how that might make your friend feel.” Meyer then explored the way these types of memories affect the brain. “It turns out that the regions that social neuroscientists see engaged in tasks that require social reflection are also part of a larger network in the brain, typically referred to as the default network, and these regions tend to be engaged … almost reflexively, when the brain is at rest.” Meyer said that before her study, if researchers were to conduct a study in which participants were asked to solve a math problem for 20 seconds and then were given a 20-second rest period, the scientists expected to see total inactivity in the part of the brain responsible for social memory. Instead, she explained, she found that those social parts of the brain are dormant while solving the math problems, but they light up with activity in the breaks between problem-solving. When researchers first observed this puzzling behavior, they hypothesized that it was because participants let their minds wander and just happened to think about social situations during those 20-second breaks. To investigate whether that was the case, Meyer, along with other researchers, recently conducted another study in which participants were asked to do essentially the same task but with two-second breaks instead of 20-second breaks.
5
HBI project launch event features reimagined Anne Frank life story “Anne: An Imagining of the Life of Anne Frank,” Prof. Dalia Wassner (NEJS) explained her new project.
■ Dr. Meghan Meyer explained
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018
OFF-CAMPUS EVENT
■ Alongside a reading of
●
“When you think about it, two seconds is really not enough time to start explicitly thinking about why your roommate drank the milk, or whatever,” she said. But the participants still showed significant activity in the social memory part of the brain during the breaks, even when those breaks were too short for them to consciously think about social situations. After publishing their new paradigm, Meyer and her team of researchers had to understand its limitations. Their method, which asked participants questions about their real-life friends, was only applicable to participants with at least 10 friends, which would limit researchers working with subjects with autism spectrum disorder. To help solve this problem, she said, her team devised another study where participants were shown a trailer for the TV show “Orange is the New Black,” in which numerous characters have complex, often competing relationships with one another. The proctors then asked participants questions that were similar to ones they asked other participants about real-world relationships. Meyer concluded by discussing the implications of her studies and described further areas of research that she’d like to pursue, especially understanding how social working memory relates to cognitive working memory. For instance, studies have indicated that people with generalized anxiety disorder tend to have reduced cognitive working memory compared to the general population. Meyer expressed an interest in exploring whether those with GAD have similarly reduced social working memory.
Image Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
Do you have a nose for news?
Want the scoop? Contact Jocelyn Gould and Sam Stockbridge at news@thejustice.org for more information.
The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute Project in Latin American Jewish & Gender Studies held its launch event last Thursday in the RiemerGoldstein Theater at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Boston. Titled “A Latin American Pen, A Global Memory: Imagining Anne Frank Today,” the event highlighted the ongoing relevance of Anne Frank in Latin America. Co-sponsored by JCC Greater Boston, Facing History & Ourselves, Hadassah Boston, Jewish Women’s Archive, Gann Academy and Temple Beth Zion, the event featured a dramatic reading from “Anne: An Imagining of the Life of Anne Frank.” The book is written by Dr. Marjorie Agosín, an award-winning poet, human rights activist and Professor of Latin American Literature at Wellesley College, and illustrated by Francisca Yáñez, a Chilean illustrator, graphic designer and visual artist who focuses on culture, childhood and human rights. Fiona Epstein, vice president of Special Projects at the JCC Greater Boston, opened the event by explaining that this LAJGS event “completely aligns” with the JCC “Jonathan Samen Hot Buttons, Cool Conversations” discussion series, which produces programs that “not only entertain, but also offer an opportunity to consider issues of Jewish identity, culture, spirituality and meaning.” She described the launch of LAJGS on stage as a “Shehechiyanu” moment, a Jewish blessing to commemorate special occasions. Dr. Lisa Fishbayn Joffe (PHIL, WGS), the Shulamit Reinharz director of HBI, spoke next, explaining how LAJGS began as the brainchild of Prof. Dalia Wassner and was designed to support the HBI’s mission by creating a home for scholarship about Jewish and gender issues in Latin America. She then reflected on the unfortunate timing of the event’s topic of discussion, referencing the Oct. 27 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. She said that she believes the book reveals the struggle parents and teachers feel when trying to explain such tragedies to their children, and she expressed hope that Agosín’s novel can offer guidance and insight into the dilemma. Wassner spoke next, describing how she created and came to lead LAJGS. She also “writes on feminist cultural connections between Jews and other minorities involved in Latin American processes of national democratization,” and teaches courses on this subject. She said, “My vision for LAJGS is that it serve as a platform for innovative scholarship, that it creates complex and timely cultural events and importantly, I aim for Latin American Jewish & Gender Studies to function as a dynamic bridge between the academy and the community. And here we are.” Wassner then turned to discuss what she sees as the ongoing relevance of Anne Frank in Latin America in light of the region’s struggles with authoritarian regimes and human rights abuses. Referencing the Argentinian dictatorship of 1976– 1983, she asked, “How has the collective history of post-Holocaust Jews informed Latin American countries’ struggles with democracy –– with inclusivity?” She answered by looking to Agosín and Yáñez’s book, which she described as “a poignant work of art and literature that …
re-imagines Anne’s diary as an illustrated testament to society’s willingness to strip human rights from human beings.” She explained that in Latin America, “Anne has become a symbol of testimony against authoritarianism” whose name “invokes the power of the individual to resist systemic violence.” The event then turned to the dramatic reading of the novel, which, as Wassner put it, re-imagines the life of Anne Frank “in Marjorie’s pen and Francisca’s brush.” Jan Zimmerman, a performer, teacher and music director, filled the auditorium with a soft piano score. Starting — and ending — with a traditional Latin music piece called Ausencias (Spanish for “absence”) by Astor Piazzolla, she weaved in Yiddish folk tunes sung in the Jewish ghettos and concentration camps and classical works from German Jewish composers such as Felix Mendelssohn and Franz Liszt. While her music played, Dr. Nisha Sajnani, director of the Drama Therapy Program at New York University, read passages from the novel. A set designed by Wassner and Sajnani, as well as projected artwork by Yáñez and Sandra Mayo, an Argentine printmaker and mixed media artist with a focus on social trauma and human rights violations, added new dimensions to Agosín’s novel. “I was born in Frankfurt in 1929. My family had lived in Germany for more than 200 years but suddenly we became strangers,” Sajnani read from the novel, speaking in first person as Anne. She described the cruel treatment imposed on her family and friends, how “they didn’t allow us to eat ice cream in the streets,” and “we could no longer go outside after eight o’clock, not even in the garden,” so they were forced to view everything “from behind a closed window.” “Papa told me how they forced the neighbors to go down on their knees and clean the streets,” she continued. “The Nazis discussed what to do with the [she faltered] ‘Jewish problem.’ We’re not a problem, we’re just people, like them.” The story went on, as Sajnani read aloud Anne’s thoughts, experiences, hopes and dreams. She loved going to school, learning everything from poetry and music to history and the sciences. But when asked about her life in Germany, she would only tell them “beautiful things, like the walks through the woods,” wishing to forget much of what she experienced. Sajnani also read from passages that described how the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands affected those around Anne. For example, Anne felt that her mother was slipping into silence with each passing day. “The truth is I never know what she’s thinking. Or perhaps she doesn’t think, and allows herself to be carried away by the melody of the days,” Sajnani recited, adding, “her silence is like a thread tied to her lips.” A panel discussion with Agosín, Yáñez, Sajnani, Mayo and Zimmerman followed the reading. Wassner moderated the conversation, delving into the panelists’ motivations and opinions on the relevance of Anne Frank story today. Agosín reflected how, “like every young girl,” she identified with Anne when she read the diary. In many ways, she sees Anne as a universal figure that “represents all of us,” lamenting how “like so many vulnerable minorities,” Anne “was a young girl that had to conceal who she was,” while admiring how she continued to express hope and passion in spite of her suffering. A reception and book signing concluded the evening, giving audience members a chance to mingle with the panelists.
Images Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
Have an opinion to share? Join forum!
Send an email to Judah Weinerman
forum@thejustice.org
Have an eye for design?
Images Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
Join layout!
Send an email to Shinji Rho at layout@thejustice.org
SPORTS PHOTOS COPY FEATURES
JOIN THE JUSTICE! FORUM NEWS ARTS ADS LAYOUT For more information, contact Avraham Penso at editor@thejustice.org.
THE JUSTICE
J STREET: Group calls for changes to Birthright trip itineraries CONTINUED FROM 1 with the progressive anti-occupation group IfNotNow walked off their trips to join a Breaking the Silence tour in Hebron, a city in the West Bank, according to a June 28, 2018 Times of Israel article. The participants claimed that Birthright was “hiding the realities of the occupation” and that they did not receive satisfactory answers to their questions about the IsraeliPalestinian conflict during the trip. In a Facebook post two days after J Street released their petition, Rabbi Seth Winberg and Stephanie Sanger-Miller, Brandeis Hillel’s executive and assistant directors, respectively, wrote that they were “puzzled” by J Street’s choice to circulate a petition. “We want to understand your concerns and are more than willing to dialog with you. In our experience, dialog is a more effective and efficient way to collaborate and make change,” they wrote. In an email to the Justice, Winberg said he was “disappointed” that J Street had begun circulating their petition without first sharing their concerns with him. “Every Birthright trip I've led has included exposure to Hebrew as a dynamic language, [and] personally meeting Israelis, including Palestinian citizens of Israel,” he explained. “Through dialogue, we can explore students' concerns and connect them with valuable resources at Brandeis.” One example he gave is the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies — the “leading evaluator of Birthright’s impact on young adults,” Winberg noted. Winberg added that while Brandeis Hillel can and does make recommendations about what activities to include on trips, Birthright ultimately determines the itineraries. “There are other trips that focus more on geopolitical issues for those who wish to explore them,” he wrote. In the interview with the Justice, Guenzburger explained that J Street chose not to meet with Hillel prior to announcing the petition because they felt there was “no realistic way” that doing so would result in large-scale changes to Birthright trips. “We really need this critical mass of students who also want this and have a stake in Birthright to really make this happen, so it didn’t seem politically effective for us to go to ask Hillel beforehand,” she said. Ben-Hayun added that “Hillel needs standing — it needs to be able to say, ‘This is what my stu-
dents want.’ We’re giving Hillel that opportunity.” Working with J Street U National, Guenzburger and Ben-Hayun are finalizing a list of Palestinian speakers and organizations they hope Birthright will consider including in future trips. The list includes B’Tselem, a group dedicated to “documenting Israeli violations of Palestinians’ human rights” that “unequivocally demands an end to the occupation,” and Gisha, an organization that seeks to “protect the freedom of movement of Palestinians, especially Gaza residents,” according to their respective websites. Guenzburger and Ben-Hayun plan to present this finalized list to Brandeis Hillel along with the petition. “The goal is to have as many Hillel directors [as possible] calling Birthright International to make this ask,” she said. Guenzburger told the Justice that Winberg had emailed her on Oct. 16 — the day after J Street began their petition, and a day before Winberg’s Facebook post — to set up a meeting to discuss J Street’s concerns. She said she had been “fully intending, before he posted on Facebook, to get back to him — it was a busy time.” J Street arranged a meeting and Hillel two weeks later, on Oct. 31, during which J Street planned to deliver their petition. J Street did not deliver the petition during that meeting, though they plan to in the future. “We decided to use the time … to talk mainly about our relationship with Hillel moving forward,” Guenzburger told the Justice in an email on Sunday. “We will be working in collaboration with the Hillel Student Board and staff towards its goals,” she added. J Street plans to meet with Winberg again this week, this time to discuss Birthright trips specifically. In an email to the Justice on Thursday, Winberg reaffirmed his desire to hold a conversation about Birthright and to “hear their questions and understand their concerns.” Reflecting on the changes they hope to effect, Guenzburger contrasted J Street’s petition to the IfNotNow walkouts and Jewish Voice for Peace’s April protest of a Birthright gala in New York City. She describes those actions as “turning away from the Jewish community and promoting their politics away from the community.” Instead, she said, “What we’re trying to do is stay within the Jewish community and make it … something that reflects our values.”
●
NEWS
●
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018
7
CAMPUS VIGIL
ANDREW BAXTER/the Justice
The Brandeis community gathered together on Tuesday night to mourn the victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh and to heal collectively. Rabbi Elisabeth Stern and Rev. Matt Carriker led the community in solemn song and prayer. Students took turns lighting 11 yahrzeit candles in memory of the 11 victims of the shooting.
CLIMATE: Prof. suggests new approach to teaching science CONTINUED FROM 1 beneath the ice, breaking the bond between them and destabilizing the glaciers. The effect of this loss of ice is a decrease in the temperature difference between the tropics and the polar regions as the polar regions warm, according to Anderson. But the Arctic isn’t the only region affected by climate change. According to Anderson, Tibetan glaciers supply 90 percent of India’s fresh water. Climate change has reduced mountains’ snowpacks around the world, resulting in less runoff during the summer months. This has decreased the water supply, sending many areas that rely on snowpack melt for water into permanent drought. Drought increases wildfire frequency and intensity and depletes aquifers used for irrigation, which leads to crop failures and food shortages. These food shortages have contributed to the global “refugee problem,” according to Anderson. “It’s estimated that 20 million people in four North African and Middle Eastern countries — Somalia, South Sudan, Nigeria and Yemen — are facing extreme drought, and
many of these individuals are becoming refugees, forced from their homelands in search of stable food sources,” Anderson said. Climate change has also contributed to the warming of ocean surfaces, increasing the frequency and intensity of hurricanes, tornadoes and other storms, according to Anderson. The rising surface temperatures of the Gulf of Mexico, for example, have moved warm moist air into the Great Plains. This “moisture is essentially the gasoline that fuels the intensity of these storms,” Anderson explained. Anderson then described the economic, political and military effects of climate change. Areas that suffer from rising sea levels can experience a loss of capital, either from property damage due to storms or from the rising sea levels themselves. In 2017, three hurricanes, Irma, Maria and Harvey — along with severe storms in the Midwest and wildfires in California — caused $350 billion of damage in the United States. Anderson then spoke about the importance of improving our STEM education system to connect introductory college-level physics and
chemistry courses to real-world problems like climate change. He explained that introductory physics and chemistry classes are currently taught in isolation, without being put into their more “compelling context.” This discourages students from pursuing science later on, he believes. Anderson prefers to initially teach the global context of the material and then move on to discuss the fundamentals of the subject. He said that his Harvard class, “Frontiers and Foundations of Modern Chemistry: A Molecular and Global Perspective,” is “significantly more difficult than the lower level” chemistry class, but draws three times as many students. The global perspectives introduced in the class make it more interesting and accessible to students interested in how science relates to the real world. Anderson said that his class makes connections to climate change, human health, international arms control negotiations and technology leadership. Anderson ended by stressing the importance of encouraging students to pursue science education and careers to prepare our next generation to solve world problems.
CUENIN: Univ. obscured reason for chaplain’s departure CONTINUED FROM 1 with minors,” per the same article. Law stepped down from his post four days after the letter was sent. While an Oct. 2, 2005 Boston Globe article reported that a majority of the priests who signed the letter appeared to have “suffered no negative career impact,” some priests said that the archdiocese was creating a “climate of fear.” “I do think there are people being targeted: those who haven't capitulated to the desires of the diocese … starting with gay marriage and reconfiguration,” Reverend Thomas Mahoney told the Globe. Cuenin said he was known for
being an “outspoken advocate for the rights of gay people” within the Church, per the 2006 Justice article. In his farewell service at Our Lady Help of Christians, Cuenin told roughly 1,500 attendees, "We welcome all people single or married, divorced or remarried, gay or straight," according to an Oct. 3, 2005 Boston Globe article. Following the service, over 1,000 people marched to the Boston Archdiocese headquarters to protest Cuenin’s departure. Cuenin had established a gay and lesbian outreach program at his parish and performed baptisms on children adopted by gay couples, saying that "gays should know that they're blessed in the
Church,” according to the 2006, Justice article. Cuenin also wanted women to be eligible for positions of leadership in the church. "I don't think future Catholics will be satisfied with only hearing the scripture interpreted through men's visions,” he told the Justice in 2006. Currently, only men are allowed to become priests in the Church. Cuenin continued to express support for the LGBTQ community during his time at Brandeis. In October 2014, he displayed a gay pride flag on the Bethlehem Chapel to recognize LGBTQ+ History Month, per an Oct. 14, 2014 Justice article. Elena Insley ’15, a Catholic Stu-
dent Organization member at the time, described his role as extending “beyond a weekly mass and into the daily lives of students as he would offer spiritual guidance, traditional Catholic services, and also mentorship to all student,” according to a Feb. 10, 2015 Justice article. Cuenin had taken a leave of absence from his post in October 2012 to receive treatment for cancer at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, according to an Oct. 8, 2012 Justice article. In an email to the Brandeis community at the time, Cuenin said he hoped to address not just his cancer but “other psychological and spiritual issues” as well. Protestant Chaplain Reverend
Matt Carriker, who joined the University in 2012, said in a Sept. 27 interview with the Justice that he was not aware that Cuenin suffered from alcoholism and that he had no knowledge of an incident between Cuenin and a male student. Dean of Students Jamele Adams and then-University President Frederick Lawrence did not respond to requests for comment, and then-Senior Vice President of Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel directed inquiries to the University’s current administration. —Jen Geller, Jocelyn Gould, Avraham Penso, and Sam Stockbridge contributed reporting.
8
features
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018 ● FEATURES ● THE JUSTICE
just
VERBATIM | W. E. B. DU BOIS To stimulate wildly weak and untrained minds is to play with mighty fires.
ON THIS DAY…
FUN FACT
In 2012, Elizabeth Warren became the first woman senator from Massachusetts.
Q is the only letter that doesn’t appear in the name of any U.S. state.
Photo Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
LONG ROAD AHEAD: Ibrahim Shkhess was one of one million refugees that entered Germany under Angela Merkel’s open-door policy.
Stories of a Syrian Migrant Ibrahim Shkhess fled war and chaos to seek asylum in Germany By KIRBY KOCHANOWSKI JUSTICE PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
A lot can change in two years. The last time the Brandeis community spoke to Ibrahim Shkhess, he had just begun his life in Germany after leaving Syria. Shkhess was one of over 1 million refugees that entered Germany under Angela Merkel’s open-door policy. At the time, he was living in a refugee home and knew almost no German. On Thursday Nov. 1, two years later, he proudly told a filled room at the Faculty Club over video chat that much had changed. Shkhess is now in the last year of his educational internship, is learning German and lives in an apartment alone in the city of Augsburg, Germany. The event on Thursday, cosponsored by the Center for German and European Studies, was part of the German Embassy Campus weeks Program, “Shaping Germany.” Not only did the event feature Shkhess, but also Hassan Almohammed, a Syrian
and a Madeleine Haas Russell Visiting Professor in the Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Program at Brandeis. Sabine von Mering (GER) led the event and started the conversation before opening up the floor to audience questions. Many of the students in attendance were enrolled in classes in the Brandeis German Studies Program, and some even asked their questions in German. Shkhess stressed that parts of his transition have been made easier as a result of his German language skills. He said that while Augsburg hosts many events, it is a lot easier to partake in the fun if you know the local language. The same can be said of making friends. Though most of Shkhess’ friends are other refugees, he said he has made German friends both at school and at work. In July, Shkhess’ three-year permit to live in Germany will officially expire, but he is hopeful that he will be able to stay. He expects that during his permit renewal interview he will be asked about his integration into German culture and the
current climate back in Syria. When asked if he was worried about Chancellor Merkel’s announcement that she will step down from power and how that might affect refugees’ status in Germany, Shkhess simply said, “Getting worried won’t change anything.” As for the next two years, if he remains in Germany? Shkhess dreams that he will one day work for a larger company located outside of Augsburg. In his current internship, Shkhess works as a programmer. He said his educational training from Syria is a little out of date, but the skills he learned on his own have served him well. “Programming is international,” Shkhess said. “It does not depend on your country.” Shkhess said he speaks with his parents over the phone every day. Even though Bashar alAssad is still in power in Syria, Shkhess’ parents say that things are getting quieter at home, which leads him to wonder if he will ever be able to return. Shkhess said he would go back to Syria if he could be sure that he would be safe there. For now,
that is not something that can be guaranteed. Shkhess does not see any peaceful future for Syria as long as Assad remains president. “No one would be okay with him still being in power,” he said. Almohammed agreed that peace would be difficult if Assad were to remain. He wondered if anything could change as long as Russia continued to support al-Assad. However, he remains hopeful that change will come one day, although he is not sure when that may be. Almohammed left Syria in 2012 after he chose to defect from the army when he was conscripted. Up until that point, he had taught French at Aleppo University. He fled to Turkey for four months, where the severity of the crisis at times forced 40 to 50 Syrians to live together at some points. Almohammed described his stay in Turkey as very “hard times.” He applied for asylum in many countries across Europe, but ended up moving to France. Almohammed does not consider himself to have been a refugee at this time because he had previously spent time studying
in France. “I know the country, I know the language, I have friends there,” he said. From France, he moved to the United States, where he continued to work as a professor at Wesleyan University and the University of California, Santa Barbara before coming to Brandeis. Almohammed overall was critical of how politicized the refugee crisis has become. “It is not a human way of dealing with it,” he said. Similarly, when asked what people do not understand about the crisis, Shkhess said that many people seem to forget that refugees left an entire life behind. While everyone seems to have differing views on the political status of refugees in their country and in the world, many forget the human element. Shkhess reminded the audience that he had left everyone he knew behind, and that even his Syrian friends in Germany he has only known for two years. Assimilation is something that gets easier over time, Shkhess admitted. But “missing friends and family never gets easier,” he continued. “That gets harder.”
THE JUSTICE ● FEATURES ● TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018
9
A hack for progress A Brandeis student and his team win HackHarvard
Photo Courtesy of BEN SEGAL
PROOF OF CONCEPT: Ben Segal ’20 and his team utilized various software, hardware and prototyping hacks to create EcoSort, a smart waste-disposal container.
By CHRISTINE KIM JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Surrounded by technology and students sprawled over an endless awwrray of tables, Benjamin Segal ’20 worked alongside his brother Geva Segal from Clark University to build a technological solution for recycling. After working with newly found partners Evan Hoffman, (also from Clark University) and Olivia Banks from Brown University, for 36 hours over three days in late October, the team presented its final product, EcoSort, and won the Microsoft Azure Champ Challenge at HackHarvard 2018. Their winning pitch was fueled by copious amounts of coffee and less than an hour’s sleep the night before. Addressing the threat to the planet caused by the accumulation of man-made waste, Segal and his team utilized various software, hardware and prototyping hacks to create EcoSort, a smart wastedisposal container. With a single entrance point for waste and the ability to scan the acquired item, EcoSort ensures the correct organization of waste. In an interview with the Justice, Segal explained explained how the project came about. “My brother came three hours before [HackHarvard] and we didn’t have any ideas so we walked around campus and saw the trash cans in Usdan. We saw that even though we had three different trash cans, people still put the incorrect things in the incorrect bins. And we thought if people at Brandeis — who are smart people — don’t know how to distinguish between the trash cans, then what happens in places where people have no knowledge about sustainability? So we said, ‘Why not solve it technologically?’ And that’s what fired us up.” Armed only with one idea and his brother, Segal arrived at the Hackathon, where he pitched their idea and gained the support of Hoffman and Banks. Segal explained that Hackathons present the unique opportunity for brilliant minds from all over the world to interact and innovate. This wasn’t his first
rodeo, as Segal had previously participated in hackathons such as Codestellation at Brandeis, as well as others around the country — including in his home country of Israel. As an international student and a Malkin Israeli scholar, Segal recalled his passion for innovation and computer science, which start-
that building the hardware with limited materials proved the most difficult part of the process. Their final conveyer belt consisted of A4 paper, duct tape and painting rollers.The team endured multiple trials and failures before their design prevailed. Despite the competitive environment, many teams also
you’re going to Google, find a formulation, eventually you will find the right path. That’s how we studied, we would sit with YouTube, workshops, … and you can study alone for 36 hours but if you split the work between people, you’re able to do much more,” he said. But the best part for Segal was
Photo Courtesy of BEN SEGAL
THE BIG IDEA: Ben Segal ’20 conceived of the idea for EcoSort by observing how often Brandeis students incorrectly dispose of waste. ed at a very young age. “[My] First hackathon [was] in Israel, HackGenY. We were working very hard, with my brother and three friends on a solution for traffic control with image processing. We were very competitive and I felt the connection between us got stronger because of that,” he said. “It’s like going to a hard class. If you go to an easy class, nobody works together because everyone works on their own. But if it’s a tough class everyone sits together and works together to make a solution and it builds a stronger bond.” During HackHarvard, Segal said
shared materials and supported each other. In the 36 hours, teams would design and build models, often needing to learn and utilize tools for the first time during the Hackathon. Segal described the workshops that companies provided to teach new skills and provide information, and how the team divided specific components of their design. “The fact that you sit for 36 hours and don’t give up even when things don’t work, [and] eventually it’ll work somehow, maybe not the best, but it’ll work,” said Segal. “Eventually you’re going to get it right,
the opportunity to spend time with his brother, Geva. The two bonded through a shared love of innovation, computer science and the desire to change the world with computers. Segal recalled experimenting with robotics starting at the age of 14 as well as attempting to fix a broken TV at the age of six. He described a much larger plan using his technological skills, including a project he already wrote a business plan for. “I really believe in education …I don’t want my kids to be in the same education system I am and I think we can change it to be
more versatile and specific for the student, and motivate people to achieve more in the world,” said Segal. “Eventually I want to build a school. But in the path to building a school, I need to make money, so I think I will make a technological startup and use that to enhance education.” Segal made sure to acknowledge all the help he has received from various mentors at Brandeis. As a teaching assistant for COSI 11, Segal mentioned how Prof. Antonella DiLillo (COSI) had been a mentor for him from the very beginning, and encouraged him to push the boundaries of computer science. He also expressed gratitude toward Ian Roy, Hazal Uzunkaya and Tim Hebert of the Brandeis MakerLab for providing the hardware for the competition. Segal detailed the extent to which professors have supported him through all his other projects and studies. “Professor Jordan Pollack helped initiate Brenda [another group project in progress at Brandeis]. He was there to support us as a team from the beginning … When nobody was there to help, he was there to help. He didn’t say no to our ideas,” said Segal. “I’m also taking a class with Professor Eve Marder now and the fact that someone so highly distinguished… [who] doesn’t have time and flies all day long to conferences, has time to meet with you as a student is something you cannot see at other universities. The fact that [I] can go to [her] office and talk with her about where I want to go and my passion about neuroscience and computer science is something you cannot see [elsewhere]… every great achiever is inspired by a great mentor.” Segal advised all students to knock on the doors of their professors. He believes that kind of initiative is the key to a great academic experience. He also recommended collaborating with other students and taking on challenging side projects, saying it was through these projects that he gained most of his computer science knowledge. Segal urged other students at Brandeis to challenge themselves during their undergraduate years. Images Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
10 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018 ● FORUM ● THE JUSTICE
Justice
the
Established 1949
Brandeis University
Avraham Penso, Editor in Chief Natalia Wiater, Managing Editor Amber Miles, Senior Editor Jen Geller, Deputy Editor Nia Lyn and Morgan Mayback, Associate Editors Jocelyn Gould and Sam Stockbridge, News Editors Victor Feldman, Features Editor Judah Weinerman, Forum Editor, Zach Kaufman, Sports Editor Maya Zanger-Nadis, Arts Editor Yvette Sei and Andrew Baxter, Photography Editors Shinji Rho, Layout Editor Liat Fischer and Devo Meyers, Ads Editors Eliana Padwa and Lily Swartz, Copy Editors
EDITORIALS
Community life due for a major facelift In an open forum on Monday, Oct. 29, University President Ron Liebowitz shared his proposal for a “framework for Brandeis’ future.” These goals, reiterated in an email to the community sent out on Friday, Nov. 2, include a plan to revamp the housing system in order to promote a more positive social environment among members of the University community. This board agrees that much can be done to improve residence life on campus and urges the president to consider the following options. The first strategic initiative of the president’s proposed framework is “to redefine the student experience” by evaluating the on-campus housing situation for undergraduate students. In response to alumni concerns and his own findings, Liebowitz hopes to elevate the quality of social and residential life to that of the University’s academics at the undergraduate level. Liebowitz writes that the University will consider “a residential model with a number of small communities.” To this end, this board proposes two new configurations of campus residence life to promote social and residential life for undergraduate students at Brandeis. The first would model Brandeis residential life after other schools such as Rochester Univesity with a grouped or centralized quad system. Residence halls could be re-allocated among undergraduate classes and grouped to promote a sense of unity among classmates. With the current housing system, each class is separated geographically, with the first-year students split between North and Massell Quads — and this year East as well — and the sophomore class spread out even further between the Charles River Apartments, 567, Rosenthal Quad, East Quad and Skyline. We propose a shift that would consolidate each class geographically. East and North quads would be apportioned to the first-year class, while Massell and Rosenthal would be set as housing for the sophomore class. We believe that the close proximity between members of the same class will help achieve Liebowitz’s desired outcome of reforming the undergraduate residential experience. The centralization of class living will promote class unity and a more social campus environment. The current living configuration fractures the underclassmen, placing them on opposite ends of campus and making social interaction between students of the same year more difficult than necessary. We also urge the University to consider an alternative model of residential life, should the former option be too difficult, one based on the successful systems of colleges such as Union College’s “Minerva Houses” or Middlebury College’s “Commons System,” which integrate students from different classes and academic backgrounds into a communal living environment. The University could implement a “living community” system that brings students as firstyears into predetermined quads with students from all years. This would promote a sense of school unity
Focus on food and belonging that might be lost by segregating the classes across campus, and could introduce what Liebowitz calls “vertical connectivity,” or relationships across the different age groups on campus. In addition to the reorganization of campus spaces, Brandeis should seek to create more involvement in community events within the residence halls themselves to build community. Food as a springboard for social interaction is a great way to bring people together and encourage bonding, and when people come together to cook and eat, they come together as a community. We propose that the University offer a meal plan option that would provide students with a BlueApron-like service. Providing pre-assembled meal kits complete with recipes to students and allowing them to cook themselves would be an excellent way to both create flexibility within Brandeis’ rigid meal plan system and offer a community-building activity. These kits could include kosher, gluten-free and vegan options so that all students could participate. Though kitchen spaces on campus are often used in suite-style residence halls, they are not regularly employed in common spaces with the same frequency. Residence halls like the Village, which has three kitchens on every floor, or quads like Massell that have “community kitchens scattered throughout the buildings,” have ample room to allow students to cook once or twice a week, if a kitchen reservation system is implemented. Enabling students to cook for themselves a few times a week as underclassmen, and more regularly once they have more direct access to kitchen facilities, would have a multitude of benefits. Not only would it foster bonds between residents through the increased use of communal spaces, but it would also give students more freedom to choose their own meals and would easily accommodate students with dietary restrictions. Though the use of these services would be restricted for underclassmen due to the availability of kitchen spaces, it could be more regularly used by upperclassmen who wish to cook for themselves, saving them much time and energy they might have otherwise spent meal planning and grocery shopping off campus. If the meal kits could be picked up on campus, in an easily accessible location, the meal kit system could be an effective tool for fostering bonds between students and promoting a healthier eating culture on campus. This board acknowledges the obstacles that these systems may pose when the University does decide to alter the current housing system, including large costs and an extended implementation timeline. Despite these challenges, however, we urge President Liebowitz to consider these systems of campus organization and feel that they would be a step in the right direction to reform and revamp the undergraduate experience and residential life.
MARA KHAYTER/the Justice
Views the News on
The current healthcare system could see a major shakeup after Nov. 6. Several Democrats running for governor in states that rejected the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, like Stacey Abrams (D-Ga.) and Andrew Gillum (D-Fla.), have made healthcare access a major issue in their campaigns. Additionally, five states have Medicaid expansion as a direct ballot issue. How you feel about expanding Medicaid, and how could proposed expansions affect the upcoming elections?
Prof. Emeritus F. Trenery Dolbear (ECON) Clearly many Democrats see both protecting coverage of preexisting conditions and expanding coverage, especially Medicaid, as their best election issues. Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, and Utah have ballot questions on Medicaid expansion. A half-dozen other states that rejected Medicaid expansion have election contests that could install governors and others more sympathetic to Medicaid. To most people, healthcare is very important; many have become more receptive to Obamacare as they better understand what’s at stake, especially the prospect of losing coverage for preexisting condition. But our current system — Obamacare, Medicare, Medicaid and private, largely employer-based, insurance — leaves a lot to be desired. However, dialing back coverage is not a promising route to improvements. Expansion will create budget problems, creating serious pressures for a redesign of our health system. It won’t be easy, given the political divisions in Washington. Prof. Emeritus Trenery Dolbear Jr. specializes in macroeconomics, the public sector, and choice under uncertainty.
Prof. Sarah Curi (HSSP) Medical expansion is a matter of social justice. The primary factor in Americans accessing health care is having health insurance. Those without health insurance have worse health status and worse access to care than other Americans. Medicaid expansion seeks to redress these disparities through expanded health insurance coverage. Medicaid is a federal/state health insurance program: eligibility is based on income, household size, disability, family status, and other factors. Eligibility rules differ between states. In 33 states plus the District of Columbia, Medicaid expansion has improved access to care, utilization of services and the affordability of care. If the five currently considering adopting Medicaid expansion as a direct ballot issue, then such expansion will save the lives and improve the health status of some of the most vulnerable Americans, among the low-income broadly and within specific vulnerable populations in those states. Prof. Sarah Curi is a lecturer in Health: Science, Society and Policy and Legal Studies.
Prof. Alice Noble (HELLER) The 2010 Affordable Care Act expanded Medicaid to provide universal health coverage for all below 138% of the poverty line, but the historic SCOTUS opinion, NFIB v. Sebelius, demoted the mandate to an “option” for the states. Staunchly resisted in red states, Medicaid expansion was ultimately adopted in 34 states, where its merits have become apparent. Expansion states are enjoying generous federal subsidies to insure the expansion population, and a better-funded health care sector is improving those states’ economies. Midterm elections may see another wave of states joining the expansion if Democrats make gains in governorships and statehouses. In Republican strongholds, Idaho, Nebraska, Utah, and Montana, a surprising grass roots effort has added Medicaid expansion referenda to the ballot. Thus, the midterm elections will indicate whether Medicaid expansion is finally reaching its intended goal as an important, new “normal” in our national quest for a just health care system. Prof. Alice Noble (HELLER) is a Senior Lecturer in Health: Science, Society and Policy and Legal Studies, specializing in health care reform and medical ethics law.
Carrie Sheng ’21 Medicaid expansion is a key issue in political races, and it has dominated many midterm campaigns this year. Healthcare is an individual necessity as it plays a big part of almost everyone’s life. The left is usually benefited politically from expanding Medicaid eligibility and benefits. It will still be a major issue for Democratic candidates during the Massachusetts gubernatorial run on Nov. 6.The original intention to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act is to serve as a more affordable health insurance plan for the income. In fact, Medicaid lowers payments to providers and reduces patients’ access to care as their problems may be left untreated. Meanwhile, the federal rules prohibit Medicaideligible patients from getting treated at charity clinics, yet the fixed demand will leave them waiting in a longer line. Carrie Sheng ’20 is majoring in Philosophy, International and Global Studies and Studio Art and minoring in Legal Studies and Art History. Photos: F. Trenery Dolbear; Alice Noble; Carrie Sheng; the Justice
THE JUSTICE ● FORUM ● TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6 , 2018
11
Party like it’s 1994, because protectionism is alive and well By WILLIAM LU SPECIAL TO THE JUSTICE
In 2012, the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago polled its panel of economics experts, made up of professors from some of the most prestigious universities in the United States, on two questions. The first asked if the productive efficiency and greater choice afforded by free trade outweighed any effects on employment in the long run. The second asked if United States citizens are better off with the North American Free Trade Agreement than they would have been under the prior trade rules with Mexico and Canada. In both cases, the results were undisputed. All but two of the 40 experts agreed that free trade and NAFTA were the better option, and the remaining two answered “unclear.” Not a single one of the experts disagreed. Hearing such sentiments from leading economists is hardly a surprise, given the importance placed on free trade in orthodox neoclassical economics. Among economists, ideas such as the Ricardian notion of comparative advantage carry great sway. The Ricardian notion holds that as resources invested in one activity cannot be used in another, it makes more sense for countries to focus on products it can produce most efficiently. If free trade dominates, the principle of comparative advantage should lead to greater efficiency and enhance global economic welfare. These principles, however, have recently come under fire as the world has seen a rise in protectionism. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi championed the Make in India initiative with the goal of “transforming India into a global design and manufacturing hub,” per the initiative’s website. In Europe, Euroskeptic parties hostile to the European Union’s free trade and freedom of movement have made great strides in recent elections. Here in the U.S., the election of Donald Trump has led to a resurgence in protectionist policy as trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and NAFTA are torn up or renegotiated. Countries around the world now face the specter of tariffs. It is no secret that economic theory and the current realities of trade practice differ greatly, as commerce takes place in imperfect markets shaped by political factors. In this context, Trump’s determination in shattering decade-old conventions finds its greatest expression in his opposition to China and his hard stance on the imbalances within the U.S.-China relationship. Some policies have been more widely praised than others, such as his instructions to the U.S. Postal Service to levy higher fees on packages from international destinations, a move welcomed
by many in e-commerce, from Amazon to small business sellers. In an October 2017 interview with the Atlantic, former Amazon executive Chris McCabe said that after this change, “U.S. Amazon sellers will no longer need to compete so narrowly on price due to the level playing field.” Others have aroused widespread ire from corporate America and many economists, such as his heavy tariffs on many Chinese products. Nevertheless, while there is ample reason to show concern over such a large shift in policy, as with any major change, fully condemning it and its basic principles is folly. With the rise of globalization and the proliferation of free trade, we have seen immense growth but at the same time immense interdependence. World markets are more than ever joined at the hip, and as companies, supply chains and nations become further integrated, they become more and more fragile. A market decline in America sends Japanese, European and Chinese markets tumbling in reaction. Financial contagion is easily spread, as seen in events such as the 2008 American housing bubble spiraling into a global crisis. The interwoven nature of global supply chains lends itself to a variety of issues. A May 2012 report from the Senate Armed Services Committee warned of the proliferation of primarily Chinese counterfeit parts in electronics, finding that such vulnerabilities in the supply chain had the risk of threatening the security of key systems. In addition, this issue of security with China extends beyond simple market correlations and interconnectedness. While Bloomberg’s recent Oct. 4 story concerning large scale compromise of American servers manufactured in China has drawn skepticism and denials over its claims from Beijing, China is no stranger to repeated accusations of clandestine activities and espionage from American companies doing business in China. Perhaps the greatest contention free trade has roused, however, has been in the domain of unemployment. The cost of free trade and globalization has been disproportionately placed on workers in manufacturing industries. The very name “Rust Belt” indicates a sad fate for what was once America’s industrial heartland. When we are increasingly relying on outsourced labor for manufactured goods, there is a reduced demand for American workers, and as such a downward pressure on wages. With labor laws in the U.S. being far more stringent than those of other industrial nations such as China and Bangladesh, wage stagnation and the risk of unemployment grow as it becomes economically preferable to utilize cheaper offshore labor. Certainly, there are arguments for the trade-offs that outweigh this concern. We all
JULIANNA SCIONTI/the Justice
enjoy cheap consumer goods and the shift out of an industrial economy has been met with the rise of new occupations out of our current information-dominated world. This new international environment, however, imposes the demand that one suddenly shift occupations on a dime. For all our attempts at retraining and ameliorating the issue, the fact remains that we cannot ensure any frictionless transition. The difficulty in retraining, say, a 50-year-old factory worker is a hard task in and of itself; to find new employment is even more difficult. The resulting instability creates its own issues in both the economic inefficiency and its social consequences. Of course, this is not to say that one must always support ailing industries. Forces such as automation will eventually force the matter, regardless of trade policy. Beyond merely addressing the issues of rapidly displaced workers, protectionist policy and the preservation of manufacturing connects deeply with innovation and the technology sector, which has since displaced industry. A July 2009 Harvard Business Review article notes that with the outsourcing of development and manufacturing work, it was not simply low-level tasks shipped overseas. More sophisticated
engineering underlying innovation gradually followed, with a similar trend in software as outsourcing of low-level codework to India has led to their own development of more advanced software engineering, and consequently the ability to conduct more complex work. In many industries the processes of production and innovation are intertwined, which means a decline in manufacturing makes higher expertise harder to maintain as it depends on close interaction with manufacturing. Without this, it becomes increasingly difficult to continue to develop new processes and technologies. The comparative advantage the U.S. holds in this area is not something that can be held without effort, nor unchallenged by other countries building up their own industries. As it stands, the current tariffs and resulting trade conflict has only started, and it is too premature to outright declare any results. The issue remains, however, that the current order is untenable, as evidenced by the strong reactionary movements in the U.S. and around the world. Addressing the myriad of issues in our current globalized and interconnected world cannot merely come from relying on old economic paradigms.
Synagogues faced with impossible choices after Tree of Life Ben
FESHBACH EXTENDED DEADLINES
In the aftermath of the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, safety is at the forefront of the American Jewish psyche. In the name of preventing attacks such as this from happening ever again, a number of proposals have been raised. Many of these proposals are practical and reasonable, others, not so much. The political responses to the Pittsburgh shooting are, for example, eminently reasonable. It is quite obviously a good idea for American Jews to double down on participation in campaigns for gun control legislation. One of the guns used by the Pittsburgh shooter was an AR-15, a rifle which would be illegal, and harder to access, under an assault weapons ban. Fighting gun violence is worth our time and political capital, regardless of what happens with the midterms. In a similar vein, it is quite important that the American Jewish community continue to call out the Trump administration for its insultingly apathetic approach toward
combating domestic terrorism. The Trump Administration cancelled the grant that funded Homeland Security’s Countering Violent Extremism program, and has overall “provided neither funding nor a comprehensive strategy to prevent violent extremist attacks in the United States.” It is imperative that the American Jewish community continues raising alarm over both issues. What is less clear-cut is how synagogues should respond to individual security needs. It is quite understandable that police officers were present at synagogues around the country in the immediate aftermath of the Tree of Life shooting. What remains uncertain is what law enforcement presence will look like at synagogues in the months and years to come. The Atlantic’s Franklin Foer predicts in an Oct. 27 article that “in response to [the Tree of Life shooting], every synagogue will protect itself with great security, with more cameras and more guards.” Individual synagogues will likely determine for themselves whether increased security presence is truly necessary long-term, but this general prospect raises a number of issues. One of these issues, as Foer points out, is that the presence of security officers changes the social tenor of the synagogue itself. Increased security, he writes, will “invariably inhibit the sense of escaping from the secular world,” which undermines in turn the spiritual capacity of a collective
Jewish prayer space. A second issue is the message this sends to communities of color, including Jews of color: police presence may contribute to a sense of security for some, but certainly not for all. Synagogues ought to be maximally inclusive spaces; concerns such as these deserve careful consideration.
“
Good guys with guns aren’t actually able to stop bad guys with guns. There are some who have suggested, though, that police or guard presence is not going far enough, that it’s time for American Jews to begin taking up arms and “pack heat in synagogue.” The psychology behind this idea is quite understandable — people want to be able to protect themselves from violence — but the reality it belies is quite frightening. There are a number of reasons for this. First, lots of people will feel deeply uncomfortable knowing that someone around them might be concealing a weapon; this will make synagogues feel less sacred to many
people, of whom a good number may even decide to stop going to synagogue altogether. Second, increased presence of weapons is in and of itself a safety hazard; accidents with guns are quite common and are impossible to fully prevent. Third, good guys with guns aren’t actually able to stop bad guys with guns — what’s most likely to happen instead is that more people get caught in a crossfire. Fourth and finally, feeding into a culture of violence is simply a bad idea. Perhaps it is true that the idea of arming yourself is appealing on an individual level. As the Cherev Gidon Israeli Tactical Training Academy, a firearms boot camp in Pennsylvania, tells us on its website, “Police and security personnel can’t be everywhere at all times … today’s reality demands that the average citizen take responsibility for the security of himself, his family and his community.” But promoting this message creates a feedback loop: Individuals are told that it is in their rational interest to go out and get a gun, but as a result, we as a society end up with even more guns, leading to a higher risk of gun violence on the whole. This approach lends itself to a massive collective action problem —- and it explains why in the decade following the passage of the Stand Your Ground law in Florida, homicides in that state rose by 22 percent. Surrendering to this feedback loop is the wrong move for American Jewry. We cannot respond to fire with fire.
The opinions expressed on this page are those of each article’s respective author and do not reflect the viewpoint of the Justice.
Write to us
The Justice welcomes reader commentary responding to published material and letters to the editor pertaining to a topic relevant to the University and the campus community. Anonymous submissions will not be accepted. Letters should not exceed 300 words and may be edited for space, style, grammar, spelling, libel and clarity. Submissions from offcampus sources should include location. Op-ed submissions of general interest to the University community are also welcome and should be limited to 1300 words. The Justice does not print letters to the editor and op-ed submissions that have been submitted to other publications. All submissions are due Friday at noon.
Fine Print
The opinions stated in the editorial(s) under the masthead on the opposing page represent the opinion of a majority of the voting members of the editorial board; all other articles, columns, comics and advertisements do not necessarily. For the Brandeis Talks feature on the last page of the newspaper, staff interview four randomly selected students each week and print only those four answers. The Justice is the independent student newspaper of Brandeis University. Operated, produced and published entirely by students, the Justice includes news, features, arts, opinion and sports articles of interest to approximately 3,500 undergraduates, 900 graduate students, 500 faculty and 1,000 administrative staff. The Justice is published every Tuesday of the academic year with the exception of examination and vacation periods. Advertising deadlines: All insertion orders and advertising copy must be received by the Justice no later than 5 p.m. on the Thursday preceding the date of publication. All advertising copy is subject to approval of the editor in chief and the managing and advertising editors.
The Staff
For information on joining the Justice, write to editor@ thejustice.org.
Editorial Assistants
Forum: Roland Blanding, Kent Dinlenc, Ben Feshbach*,
Sports: Megan Geller
Trevor Filseth, Tafara Gava, Andrew Jacobson*, Maddox
Forum: Gabriel Frank
Kay*, Ravi Simon* Sports: Brian Inker
Production Assistant
Arts: Leah Samantha Chanen, Brianna Cummings, Kent
Features: Kirby Kochanowski
Dinlenc*, Luke Liu, Ella Russell, Mendel Weintraub Photography: Charlie Catino, Ydalia Colon, Thu Le, , Yuran
Staff
Shi
News: Jinyin Chen, Will Hodgkinson, Chaiel Schaffel, Liat
Copy: Sarah Fine, Klarissa Hollander, River Hayes, Rachel
Shapiro, Ece Esikara, Gilda Geist,
Moore, Peri Meyers*, Mia Rubinstein, Emily Shen
Mack Schoenfeld, Maurice Windley, Nakul Srinivas
Layout: Yael Hanadari-Levi, Leah Samantha Chanen
Features: Christine Kim, Eitan Mager-Garfield, Sammy
Illustrations: Mara Khayter, Aaron Marks, Harrison Paek
Park, Leigh Salomon*,
Julianna Scionti * denotes a senior staff member.
12
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018 ● FORUM ● THE JUSTICE
FORUM
In the wake of tragic violence, look to its underground sources By GABRIEL FRANK JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
In the grand scheme of the vast American media landscape, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, while an undeniably vicious hate crime that claimed the lives of 11 congregants and injured several others, has already become old news. Naturally, nearly every individual of some prominence in the United States has spoken about not only the genuinely evil violence associated with this crime, but also the underlying bigotry and anti-Semitism expressed by the perpetrator. The victims will likely be mourned for a long time by their friends and families, but for the average American, all that needed to be done to address this issue was to add a frame to one’s Facebook profile picture saying “Together Against Anti-Semitism.” A week later, nearly all Americans are focused on the upcoming midterm elections, the results of which will tangibly affect the lives of millions for years to come. This situation puts many politically active individuals between an ideological rock and a hard place: How does one who possesses the will to act and make a change with regard to a given issue do so in an effective manner, when others are busy and more focused on more “current” events? To best understand why terrible tragedies akin to the Pittsburgh hate crime described above often become the subject of casual conversation or social media posts going nowhere, as opposed to serious policy changes, we must gain a nuanced understanding of why the crimes or tragedies happened in the first place. All too often, we simply call for guns to be banned and the perpetrators punished. In the case of the Pittsburgh attack, the shooter was identified as 46-year-old Pennsylvania native Robert Bowers, who was described by neighbors to have harbored numerous extremist far-right political views. Bowers was an active personality on Gab. com, a self-described “free-speech friendly” alternative to Twitter, which has become a breeding ground for white supremacists and conspiracy theorists banned from more mainstream platforms. Bowers’ posts on Gab reveal an underlying and highly disconcerting degree of paranoia and cynicism, fueled by the belief that immigrants coming into the country from south of the border are inclined to destroy American civilization. These resettlement efforts are frequently sponsored by Jews, regardless of national origins, degrees of observance and affiliations. Their main means of doing so is the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a non-profit that provides humanitarian services to refugees. Such sentiments are conclusively what fueled Bowers’ killing spree last Saturday, when he
HARRISON PAEK /the Justice
opened fire on the Tree of Life synagogue, which happened to be hosting a National Refugee Shabbat in support of immigration reform.
“
This fear increases paranoia, which, more often than not, breeds violence and terror. Bowers took this vocal support of immigrants as a direct assault on Americans and on white people in particular, writing in a Gab post, “HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in.” Here, Bowers is being quite clear about how he wants to express these feelings of anger and anti-Semitic paranoia. In his mind, if someone is Jewish, they are directly threatening his safety. This irrational fear and indiscriminate hatred is what fueled his desire to massacre a group of innocent Jewish people.
Instead of simply condemning these heinous crimes and speaking about them as they happen, one should use the above reasoning and understand not how these atrocities occur, but why they do. Once the question of “why?” is answered, one can more effectively prevent and even rehabilitate those wishing to harm others or harboring bigoted beliefs. As much of a breeding ground for hatred as Gab may be, many of its users use it in fear that what they say would be censored or suppressed by social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Even if someone has morally reprehensible beliefs or practices, they still have an opinion and right to voice them in a peaceful manner. When one seeks to suppress all opposition as the predominantly liberal Google, Twitter and Facebook have done for fear of offending and distressing the majority of their user base, they are providing more fuel for the fire of the angry few who feel like they are being oppressed. Now, not only do white supremacists feel that they are under attack from minorities or other non-white groups of people, but also that their very ability to express themselves is at risk. This fear increases paranoia, which, more often than not, breeds violence and terror. Instead of silencing those whose views
are completely contrary to ours, we should engage in civil debate with them and attempt to understand why exactly they harbor these beliefs. Again, once the “why” is figured out, we can move on to how they can at least get the individual with the problematic opinions to view and understand that their anger, paranoia, and hatred are all misplaced and misinformed. When a civilization or institution creates an ideological echo chamber, whether it be Gab hosting the majority of white supremacists with an internet presence or Google censoring anything that is even remotely politically incorrect, it contributes to the problem of deep-seated hostilities on both sides of the political spectrum. Down the road, this can lead to violence. Instead of silencing those we disagree with, we should take a moment to engage with them and at least get the other side to understand, not necessarily agree with, what we believe is right. Even if this process does not put an end hatred or misunderstanding, it contributes to alleviating the paranoia and hatred, which allows previously isolated individuals to step down from their ivory tower and understand the experiences of others.
READER COMMENTARY A different perspective on Prager University By YOUNG AMERICANS FOR LIBERTY AT BRANDEIS SPECIAL TO THE JUSTICE
In an op-ed last week, editor Judah Weinerman excoriated the YouTube series Prager University, abbreviated as PragerU, which features conservative and libertarian speakers providing alternative viewpoints on controversial topics such as immigration, race relations and the proper role of the government within society. At the beginning of his article, Weinerman bluntly states that, “In the interest of brevity, all pretense of civility is going out the window in this op-ed.” The article is nearly as devoid of facts as it is of civility; the criticisms presented are largely substancefree and based almost entirely on personal attacks. Criticisms include calling PragerU’s founder Dennis Prager, an Orthodox Jew, “essentially an evangelical Christian.” Dr. Jordan Peterson, a University of Toronto professor who has pointed out that most historical societies tend to be dominated by men, must therefore have a “seething hatred of women.” Dinesh D’Souza is a “spook” and a “convicted felon,” Christina Hoff Sommers an “exclusionary feminist,” Ben Shapiro a “catcalling yeshiva boy … who’s basically the Bizarro version of every single Brandeis student ever.” Because Brandeis Young Americans for Liberty’s predecessor organization, Brandeis Conservatives, has hosted the last three of these speakers on campus, and in part because many of our members watch and gain insight from PragerU’s videos, we feel that a response in their defense is appropriate. Let us begin by emphasizing that PragerU’s videos are not meant to be the ultimate source
of knowledge about any topic, nor to replace a college education. Mr. Prager will freely admit that modern conservative thought cannot be fit into five-minute videos. Instead, his purpose is to expose viewers to ideas that they would not get elsewhere on a college campus. We can debate the merits of liberal and conservative views, but no one can deny that colleges are structurally slanted toward the left, both in population and in public discourse. Few here would dare to publicly suggest that there are certain intrinsic differences between men and women that might, on average, qualify them better for different areas. While this should obviously never be used as an excuse for sex-based discrimination, such differences do have scientific support. Similarly, few would openly criticize the concept of “cultural appropriation,” question the extent of “white/ male privilege,” or tempt fate by pointing out that the right to not be offended by “hate speech” or “microaggressions” can be found nowhere within Brandeis’ code of conduct. For those of us who already hold conservative beliefs, PragerU videos therefore provide a certain degree of escapism, a refreshing breath of fresh air and common sense in an environment overwhelmingly devoid of it. It is for this reason that the videos are incredibly, if furtively, popular. Despite YouTube placing many of the more controversial videos in Restricted Mode, they have amassed billions of views, far more than one would expect if they were truly the racist, sexist, conspiracy-laden alt-right political screeds that they are accused of being. For those who do not already agree with
Mr. Prager, the videos are thought-provoking to say the least. They offer a different view on nearly every topic that anyone hears about at Brandeis, sometimes educational, or even shockingly contrarian. What if banning assault rifles wouldn’t stop mass shootings? What if the police aren’t systemically biased towards African-Americans? What if free-market capitalism, for all the skepticism it receives today, is actually responsible for the largest escape from poverty in human history? Again, you might not agree with any of these ideas, but they are certainly worth discussing, and deserve to be carefully researched and debated, not shunned from the internet.
“
For those who do not already agree with Mr. Prager, the videos are thought-provoking to say the least. Above all, Mr. Prager wants an audience. By design, the speakers he hires are attention-grabbing; hence, most of the videos are provocative in some way. Many are based on broad assertions rather than concrete evidence; some are seemingly fact-free. However, overt racism, sexism and homophobia are conspicuously absent. Even a controversial title like “Build the Wall” is,
The opinions expressed on this page are those of each article’s respective author and do not reflect the viewpoint of the Justice.
in fact, a sober take by the late Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer on why a physical barrier on the U.S.-Mexico border would be an effective deterrent to undocumented immigration. This is generally agreed to be a problem regardless of one’s political affiliation, and it is a problem that, as it is framed, has nothing to do with race. Finally, there are legitimate problems with the views espoused in PragerU videos, and effective rebuttals to many of them. For instance, one might be inclined to ask why, if Candace Owens is correct that Democrats are the “real racists,” 89 percent of AfricanAmericans voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, or why bona fide white supremacists like David Duke and Richard Spencer are registered Republicans and/ or Trump supporters. This is a clever counterargument; complaining that Kanye West tweeted about Ms. Owens is not. Weinerman, in regard to PragerU, says that “you shouldn’t watch anything they’ve ever made if you can avoid it.” We would instead offer this advice: At some point or another, you may find yourself waiting for a PragerU YouTube ad to end. Rather than skipping it after five seconds, if you have time, watch it with an open mind. If you reach the end and disagree, ask yourself why. Instead of instinctively brushing the speaker off, attempt to refute his or her ideas. If you can, applaud yourself. If you cannot, acknowledge it. At the end of the day, no matter the outcome, you will have become better educated about an important issue, and the next time troublemakers like us challenge your views and beliefs, you will be better equipped to defend them.
THE JUSTICE ● SPORTS ● TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018
MSOCCER: Judges lose the last game of the season CONTINUED FROM 16 including six straight years with a berth in the NCAA tournament for Division III. This will be a long offseason, but expect the Judges to return as a much stronger team in 2019. The Brandeis men's soccer class of 2019 includes six members of the team and some of the team's top performers. There are two forwards, two midfielders, and two defenders. Forwards Andrew Allen '19 and Devan Casey '19 have been consistently ranked among the top goalscorers on the team. Allen's six goals led the team this year, while Casey followed
13
BRILLIANT BALANCE
closely behind with three of his own. The team also benefited from the play of midfielders Branon Miskin ’19 and Josh Handler ’19, whose transitionary work helped the Judges maintain more control over the flow of the game. Finally, the team had two rock-solid senior defenses, Julien Tremblay '19 and Stephen DiPietto ’19. They protected the Brandeis goalkeepers all season long and were a primary reason for the team's defensive success. The class of 2019 is one of the most impactful classes to the team. Their leadership, wisdom and of course athletic skill will be missed going forward.
XC: Squad looks forward to the last WSOCCER: Team ranks two meets of the fifth in UAA standings cross country season
THU LE/Justice File Photo
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM: Brandeis forward Sam Volpe '19 kicks past an Emory defender in their game on Oct. 14.
CONTINUED FROM 16
CONTINUED FROM 16 Bryson in 28th place. Danielle Bertaux ’20 had her best finish of her college career, coming in third on the team and 39th overall. UAA Championships The men’s team was led by Lombardo who finished in 44th place, followed by Driben placing 65th. Both Lombardo and Driben have continued to hold their first and second place finishes on the team consistently for four games in a row.
The Judges finished with 25 points and an eighth place finish. On the women’s side, Emily Bryson once again led the team, placing second behind a Washington University runner by 14 seconds. Emily is the first woman in Brandeis athletic history with four first team All-American results. Julia Bryson earned a 10th place finish and a second All-Association honor. Bertaux was this year’s third finisher on the squad; however, she missed All-Association honor by less than two seconds.
Case Western Reserve University in September. They were a perfect 8-0 October consisted of games against Lesley College, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Rochester, Emory University, Westfield State, Washington University at St. Louis and the University of Chicago. The Judges went 4-3 in the month. In November, the season ended with the previously described game against New York University. The season's longest winning streak consisted of eight games at the beginning of the season when
they were undefeated. The Judges' winning percentage this season overall was 75 percent. In the conference, the Judges winning percentage was 57.1 percent. The women’s soccer team averaged 1.94 goals per game this season, and their shot conversion percentage was 10.1 percent. In total this season, the Judges took 306 shots and 96 corner kicks. Finally, this season the Judges have scored 31 goals, have received three yellow cards overall and no red cards. The attendance of fans at the games averaged 223 people per game. This season, the Judges' top scorers were Katie Hayes ’20 with
six goals, Daria Bakhtiari ’21 with five goals, Sunday with four goals and Volpe with three goals. This seasons assists came from Lauren Mastandrea ’22 with four assists and Emma Spector ’22 with three ,assists. As this strong season comes to an end, we are excited to see how this team plays in future years. This year’s graduating seniors include Becca Buchman, Julia Jaffe, Minjee Lee, Hannah Maatallah, Julia Matson, Sasha Sunday, Emily Thiem and Sam Volpe. They, and their contributions to the Brandeis women's soccer program will surely be missed.
Want to be more than just a spectator? Write for Sports! Contact Zach Kaufman at sports@thejustice.org
Everyone has a story. Help us find it.
Write for the features section of
the
Justice
Contact Victor Feldman at features@thejustice.org for more information.
Interested in music, theater, film, comedy or museums?
Write for Arts! Contact Maya Zanger-Nadis at arts@thejustice.org
ANDREW BAXTER/ the Justice Images: CHELSEA MADERA/the Justice, HEATHER SCHILLER/the Justice, LUCY FRENKEL/the Justice, MORGAN BRILL/the Justice, NATALIA WIATER/the Justice, YDALIA COLON/the Justice
THE JUSTICE
JUDGES BY THE NUMBERS
● SPORTS ●
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6 , 2018
15
VOLLEYBALL
MEN’S SOCCER UAA STANDINGS Chicago Case Rochester WashU NYU Carnegie JUDGES Emory
TEAM STATS Goals
UAA Conf. W L D 6 1 0 4 2 1 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 3 1 3 4 0 2 4 1 0 6 1
Andrew Allen ’19 leads the team with six goals. Overall W L D Pct. Player Goals 15 2 1 .861 Andrew Allen 6 14 3 1 .806 Bryant Nardizzi 6 12 2 2 .813 Jake Warren 4 7 7 2 .500 Devan Casey 3 12 4 1 .735 11 4 2 .706 Assists 7 9 2 .444 Max Breiter ’20 is tied for the 9 7 2 .556 team lead with three assists. Player Assists Max Breiter 3 Bryant Nardizzi 3 Jared Panson 3 AJ Mercer 2
EDITOR’S NOTE: Season has concluded.
WOMEN’S SOCCER UAA STANDINGS
TEAM STATS Goals
UAA Conf. W L D WashU 6 0 0 NYU 5 1 1 Emory 4 2 1 Chicago 4 3 0 JUDGES 4 3 0 Rochester 2 5 0 Carnegie 1 6 0 Case 0 7 0
Overall W L D Pct. 17 0 0 1.000 10 5 3 .639 13 4 1 .750 13 4 1 .750 12 4 0 .750 9 7 1 .559 8 8 1 .500 7 10 0 .412
EDITOR’S NOTE: Season has concluded.
Katie Hayes ’20 leads the team with six goals. Player Goals Katie Hayes 6 Daria Bakhtiari 5 Sasha Sunday 4 Sam Volpe 3
Assists Lauren Mastandrea ’22 leads the team with three assists. Player Assists Laura Mastandrea 4 Emma Spector 3 Becca Buchman 2 Juliette Carreiro 2
VOLLEYBALL UAA STANDINGS
TEAM STATS Kills
UAA Conf. W L Emory 6 1 Chicago 6 1 WashU 5 2 Carnegie 5 2 JUDGES 0 7 NYU 2 5 Case 3 4 Rochester 1 6
Overall W L 26 3 21 6 22 6 21 8 17 12 17 14 23 9 11 16
Pct. .897 .778 .786 .724 .586 .548 .719 .407
EDITOR’S NOTE: Season has concluded.
Emma Bartlet ’20 leads the team with 288 kills. Player Kills Emma Bartlett 288 Shea Decker-Jacoby 255 Marissa Borgert 158 Belle Scott 146
Digs Kaitlyn Oh ’22 leads the team with 430 digs. Player Digs Kaitlyn Oh 430 Yvette Cho 320 Grace Krumpack 241 Marlee Nork 142
CROSS COUNTRY Results from the UAA Championships on Oct. 28.
TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)
TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)
8-Kilometer Run RUNNER TIME Josh Lombardo 27:01.0 Matthew Driben 28:06.1 Dan Curley 28:24.3
6-Kilometer Run RUNNER TIME Emily Bryson 21:29.8 Julia Bryson 22:32.7 Danielle Bertaux 22:47.2
EDITOR’S NOTE: Nov. 10 at New England DIII Championships
THU LEE/Justice File Photo
INTENSE FOCUS: Stephanie Borr ’22 prepares to spike the ball in a game against Maine at Presque Isle University on Sept. 7.
Team concludes season after final three games ■ The Judges’ performance at the UAA tournament was their best finish in the past ten years. By JEN GELLER JUSTICE EDITOR
This weekend, the Judges played their last three games of the 2018 season. The women have had a pretty strong year, ending with an overall record of 13–17. The Judges have had their best season in the UAA in nearly a decade. Judges 3, NYU 2: A final victory concluded the Judges’ season with a fifth-place finish at the UAA championships, making this the best performance for the team in a decade. Set scores were 17–25, 18–25, 25–22, 25–21 and 15–7. According to the Brandeis Athletics website, Head Coach Alesia Vaccari said, “I’m so proud of the way we finished this match. NYU started the match strong, but we did a great job finishing. It’s something we’ve been talking about all season. Everyone on the team contributed.” After struggling in the first two sets, the team came back in the third. In the third set tie at three points, Shea Decker-Jacoby ’19 made two kills in a 7–0 run. With these kills
and a block by Emma Bartlett ’20 and Emerson White ’22, the team took the set in this hard-fought battle. In the fourth set, the Judges pulled ahead quickly and jumped on to lead. In the fifth set, the Judges began with a 8–5 lead and, although the Violets got within one point at 8–7, the Judges scored the next seven out of the eight remaining points of the match. The winning kill was by Marissa Borgert ’21. Case Western 1, Judges 3: Friday, the Judges defeated Case Western making this the best finish that they have had in the UAA in almost a decade. They upset the fifth-seeded team in the consolation semifinals of the UAA tournament. After this win, the Judges earned a spot in the fifth-place match and the Spartans went on to play the seventh place match. The set scores were 12–25, 25–13, 25–20 and 25–20. The Judges got off to a slow start as the Spartans opened up with a victory; however, after this, the Judges took the next three sets and the match. In the second set, the Judges had 19 kills, two errors and 39 attempts. They went on 4–0 runs twice during the set. Two kills by Decker-Jacoby helped solidify the set. In the third and fourth sets, the sets were closer competition. In these sets, the Judges had 14 kills and seven errors. There
were 42 attempts made that helped the Judges take the match. In the third set, Emerson White ’22 was a key to the victory, with two kills and two blocks in a deciding run. In the final set, the teams tied at 17, but the Judges stayed strong and the team was victorious. Emory 3, Judges 0: In their match against Emory on Friday, the Judges were dealt their final loss of the season to the Eagles. They lost all three sets with scores of 25–23, 25–24 and 25–23, so the match was tight within each set. After scoring the first three points of the match, the Judges remained close to the Eagles in the first set. When the Eagles created a three-point lead of 15–12, the Judges went on a 5–0 run that included two kills from DeckerJacoby. After a timeout by the Eagles, they tied the score at 17, but a service error by the Eagles and a block by Bartlett and Kirsten Frauens ’19 gave the Judges a 19–17 lead. This lead was maintained until a 22–21 score, but the Eagles broke ahead to win the set. In the second set, the teams were neck-and-neck until a tied score of 10 when the Eagles pulled ahead and conquered the Judges. In the final set, the Judges pulled ahead after a tie at five points, and remained close to the Eagles until Emory took the match 25–22.
PRO SPORTS BRIEF Once again, Kansas, Kentucky and Duke are among the top contenders for an NCAA basketball title Tonight’s games mark the beginning of another season of college basketball. Even on the first day of the season, there are already some matchups with potential championship implications. At 7 p.m., the preseason top-ranked University of Kansas will take on Michigan State, who are ranked 10. Later, at 9:30 p.m., second-ranked University of Kentucky will take on No. 4 Duke University. Within just two hours of opening day, there will be two games featuring two hall of fame coaches going against each other. In that spirit, let’s take a look at some of the teams that are most likely to come out on top when the season concludes in early April. University of Kansas Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks have been among the
frontrunners in the NCAA for quite some time now, and at 56 years old, one begins to wonder how many years this legendary coach has at the helm. There is speculation that after this season, Self could potentially leave for the NBA after a near 15-year dynasty of excellence as the head coach of the Jayhawks. This squad could be one of his best. Udoka Azubuike will be joined by Memphis transfer Dedric Lawson to make up one of the best 1-2 big man combos in the nation. Combined with the play of senior Lagerald Vick and likely one-and-done guard Quentin Grimes, this Jayhawk team is already looking better than the team last year, which made the final four. University of Kentucky Kentucky has one of the strongest
veteran squads in the nation, so it is no surprise that they were voted as the preseason no. 1. Sophomores Quade Green, P.J. Washington and Nick Richards all return and look to make an impact on the team’s success. Pair them with Stanford transfer Reid Travis, whose 19.5 points a game last year ranked him third in the Pac-12, and you have a dangerous core. Kentucky also looks to be more dangerous from behind the arc, giving them an extra advantage to keep defenses on edge. Duke University While Kentucky is notable because of their veterans, Duke might be the exact opposite. They have three of the top five freshmen in this class, all of whom will start on day one. While no team that has
started four freshmen has won the championship game, Duke hopes to have better luck than their predecessors. Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett will be dueling all year for who will end up as the number one overall pick, but both won’t make it out of the lottery. Cam Reddish will join them as well. He slotted right behind Williamson in last year’s ESPN Hot 100. Gonzaga University Gonzaga looks to be one of the most complete teams in college basketball this season. They have the potential to finish in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, which usually puts the team in the title conversation. The one dagger in their side might be their lack of a true big man, but talented forwards should make up
for that. University of Nevada There is no team in the nation that can rival Nevada in terms of stockpiling talent. They currently have eight seniors and five juniors on the roster, many of them redshirt transfers who had to sit out for a year. Following a 29-win season last year, the team is hopeful that they are trending in the right direction. The team’s experience, combined with the talents of the first fivestar recruit in school history, Jordan Brown, places them as the final school in the conversation for teams that could potentially win it all. Nevada is clearly the dark horse among the top contenders, but don’t count them out. – Zach Kaufman
just Sports Page 16
NCAA BASKETBALL STARTS TODAY Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, and Gonzaga all look to hoist the championship trophy come April, p. 15.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
FANCY FOOTWORK
Judges end the season with a loss ■ The women’s soccer
team falls in their standings following the final game of the season. By MEGAN GELLER JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
With the season coming to a close, we look back on all the successes the Judges have had this past season. The women ended the season with an overall record of 12–4. The last game of the season was last Saturday Nov. 3 at New York University. This past Saturday's game resulted in a defeat for the Judges. The team ended with a final record of 4–3 in the University Athletic Association rankings, which meant a tie for fourth place. Neither team had scored till the 61st minute of play when Sasha Sunday ’19 broke through the defensive players and scored a goal in the far corner of the goal. According to the Brandeis athletics website, the Judges had attempted six shots in the game before NYU scored their first goal in the far corner of the net i n the 80th minute of play. In the last 90 seconds of regulation the Judges'
Waltham, Mass.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Lauren Mastandrea ’22 attempted a shot that the Violets of NYU saved. With less than 30 seconds in regulation, the Violets punched one last goal into the net, securing the victory for NYU. Although this past game resulted in a defeat for the Judges, during the game the Judges outshot their opponents 8–3, and 4–0 in the first half. All three of NYU’s shots came in the second half of the game. This was the second of four Judges losses that occurred within the last minute of regulation. The Judges had zero saves in this game, compared to NYU's four— these saves were a big reason for their victory. In addition, the Judges conceded nine fouls in the game compared to their opponents' eight. NYU and the Judges won two and six corner kicks respectively this game. Looking back on the season, the Judges had a good run. The team started out with a home game against Massachusetts Institute of Technology, followed by Lasell College, Johnson and Wales University, Eastern Connecticut State, Babson College, Tufts University, Wellesley College and
See WSOCCER, 13
☛
CROSS COUNTRY
Team runs in UAA championship meet
■ The Brandeis cross country
team looks forward to the rest of a sucessful season following their strong start. By MEGAN GELLER JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Wellesley Invitational So far this season, the men’s cross country team have been successful in their meets. The season started on Friday, Aug. 31, when the men’s team participated in the Wellesley Invitational. The top scorers included Mathew Driben ’22 and Josh Lombardo ’21. According to the Brandeis athletic's website, Driben’s average mile is 5:20.2 and he ran the 5k in 16:35.0. Lombardo’s average mile is 5:20.8, and he ran the 5k in 16:36.6. The rest of the Brandeis team followed, with Simon Powley ’22 placing fifth, Eric Rosenheim ’21 placing 13th and Ben Watson ’20 placing 17th. Brandeis’ team average was 17:40 in the 5k. At the same meet, the Brandeis women’s cross country team took first place with an average run time of 19:02 for the 5k. Placing first in the meet was Emily Bryson ’19 with a total run time of 18:11.7, followed by Julia Bryson ’19 with a total run time of 18:38.1. Jac Guerra ’22 placed third, with a run time of 18:49.1. The rest of the Brandeis team followed, with Erin Magill ’22 placing sixth, Andrea Bolduc ’21 placing seventh, Doyin Ogundiran ’19 placing 11th and Christine Minor ’19 placing 19th and rounding out the top seven Brandeis runners. UMass Dartmouth Invitational This meet resulted in a 13th place finish for the Judges' men’s team. The men had a total time of 2:16:13, placing them just behind Fitchburg State. The Judges ended with an average time of 27:14 in the
8k and with a total of 411 points. The first finishers from Brandeis were Lombardo and Driben respectively placing 44th and 45th, respectively. In addition, the women took another first place victory at this invitational for women's 5k run. The women ended with a total time of 1:33:30 in the 5k and an average time of 18:42. Brandeis senior Emily Bryson placed first with a total time of 17:54.6. The second Brandeis finisher was Guerra at fourth place. Bowdoin Invitational The following weekend, both teams set out to the Bowdoin Invitational. The men ranked sixth in this meet. The first finisher for Brandeis was Lombardo, followed by Driben, placing 19th and 20th respectively. In total the Judges ended with 176 points, placing them between Southern Maine University and the University of New England. The women continued to be undefeated in this meet and Brandeis’ Emily Bryson also remained undefeated this season. Three Judges finished in the top six at this meet. In third was Julia Bryson, followed by Guerra . Connecticut College Invitation The men’s team placed 24th in this meet, ending with a total time of 2:16:29 and an average of 27:17 for the 8k. For the second meet in a row Lombardo was the team’s top scorer, finishing in 93rd place in the meet. In addition, Driben was the team's second-place finisher for the second match in a row, placing 114th overall. The women placed third overall out of 16 teams at this meet. The Judges ended with 213 points, behind Washington University at St. Louis and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Emily Bryson finished fourth overall, 15 seconds off the winning time followed by Julia
See XC, 13 ☛
THU LE/Justice File Photo
DRIBBLE AWAY: Midfielder Brandon Miskin ’19 dribbles the ball past a Rochester defender during their game on Oct. 12.
Double overtime and a loss for the men’s team ■ The men’s soccer team
ranked seventh of eight in UAA men’s standings for the 2018 season. By ZACH KAUFMAN JUSTICE EDITOR
In their final game of the season, the Brandeis men’s soccer team played in a marathon in New York City. Taking on New York University, the Judges were deadlocked with the Violets for almost the entire game, with the Violets scoring the game winning goal with less than a minute left.The flow of this game was similar to the Judges season overall. For most of the game, the Judges were fighting to keep the score even but, at the last second, they came up short. For most of the Judges' season, the team hovered around .500, but a four-game losing streak doomed them in the end. Here is how the ultimate game of the season went for the Brandeis Judges. Judges 0, NYU 1 Although the score remained tied at 0–0 until the end of the second
overtime, the Judges had more control over the pace of the game than NYU. By the end of regulation, the Judges had more than doubled the shot total of NYU, building up a commanding lead of 17–8. According to the Brandeis athletics website, they also nearly tripled the number of corner kicks of the violets, 11–3. But none of these shots, for either team, found the back of the net. The first overtime period was a defensive stalemate, with the Judges attempting the lone shot of the period. Every time one of the teams had the ball in a good attacking position, the opposing team’s defense would clear the ball to the other half of the field. In the second overtime period, each team picked up the pace, eager to avoid a complicated tie in their last game of the regular season. Each team took two shots in the second overtime period, but it was NYU’s last shot that counted in the end. With just 15 seconds left in the second overtime, NYU rookie Isaiah Boyd sent a long, arcing pass into the Brandeis box. During the confusion that ensued, NYU’s leading goalscorer, Oliver Kleban, was able to send the ball to the back of the net. For the Judges, this situation
felt all too familiar. Earlier in the season, during a game against Emory University, the game was tied 0–0 with just 15 seconds left to play. In this game, the Judges were able to score the winning goal, giving them the 1–0 win. Unfortunately, this game ended with the Judges on the losing end. The Judges are no strangers to playing in overtime. This season, they have had six games ending in a tie after regulation and requiring extra time to determine the winner. In those games, the Judges held a record of 1–3–2, including a 1–2–1 record in their four conference overtime games. Before letting in the final goal, Greg Irwin ’20 had five key saves to keep the Judges close. However, this did not top the total of Grant Engel of NYU, who saved eight to earn the win. Even with the loss, Brandeis finished with a 20–10 advantage in shots and a 12–4 advantage in corner kicks. With the loss, the Judges unfortunately missed the playoffs, a huge departure from their NCAA Division III final four appearance just last year. This year marks the first time in eight years that the Judges have missed the postseason,
See MSOCCER, 13
☛
Vol. LXXI #9
November 6, 2018
Vol. LXX #2
September 12, 2017
Noises Off
>>Pg.18
just
just
A R T S Waltham, Mass.
Images: Thu Le/the Justice. Design: Andrew Baxter/the Justice.
18
TUESDAY, THE JUSTICE NOVEMBER | ARTS 6, 2018 | TUESDAY, I ARTSJANUARY I THE JUSTICE 31, 2017
COFFEEHOUSE REVIEW
Coffeehouse spreads kindness ZACH KATZ/the Justice
TUNEFUL IMPROV: False Advertising, Brandeis’ oldest improv group, entertained the SCC with their comedic stylings.
By LUKE LIU
JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
For those battling with midterm exams and papers, nothing can be more comforting than a night full of performances from student groups and snacks to celebrate the kindness in our community. Hosted by the Brandeis Kindness Day initiative in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium last Friday night, the coffeehouse featured performances by Up the Octave, Too Cheap For Instruments, Proscenium, musical duo Jake Sibley ’19 and Tom Murdy ’21, and False Advertising. The show started with strong performances from the all-female a ca-
pella group Up The Octave, starting with a great cover of “Geronimo” by Sheppard, during which the singers quickly grabbed the audience’s attention. After that, UTO presented their family song, “Lights” by Journey. While the vocals of both songs are strong, what stood out was the amazing beatboxing by Ruxuan Zhao ’19. After Up The Octave, another a cappella group, Too Cheap For Instruments, performed three groovy songs, including “Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell — one of my favorite songs of the night — and were also well-received. Following a short break, Proscenium, Brandeis’ musical theater a cappella group, offered a lively selection
of show tunes. During Proscenium’s performance, however, it became much harder to enjoy the show because the audience almost doubled in size. While it was great that more people were able to make it to the coffeehouse, the noise from the audience also increased significantly and was further amplified by the acoustics in the SCC atrium. As a result, it was extremely difficult to hear the performers. The group’s vivid body language made it slightly better, but it was still frustrating not to be able to hear the words. Almost all the groups more or less suffered from the same problems, but it was particularly bad during the second half of the event. Switching gears from strictly
musical performances, the coffeehouse ended with Brandeis’ improv comedy group, False Advertising. I had a blast watching their hilarious skits — as did the crowd, based on their positive reaction at the end. Overall, the Kindness Day Coffeehouse was very successful. The event started with a small crowd and grew to take over almost the whole atrium. However, while being in the center of traffic is great when it comes to attracting an audience, holding the event in a different space would surely have improved the quality of the show. At the same time, I still thoroughly enjoyed the performances, and cannot wait for more events like it.
ZACH KATZ/the Justice
KIND NOTES: Musician Jake Sibley ’19 contributed his talent to the coffeehouse along with cellist Tom Murdy ’19 (not pictured).
THEATER REVIEW
Hats off to ‘Noises Off!’ By MENDEL WEINTRAUB JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Something special made its way onto the stage of the Shapiro Campus Center Theater over the weekend: The Undergraduate Theater Collective’s production of Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off.” Directed by Elana Kellner ’19, the play within a play earns its distinction by virtue of its deliberate chaos. And while chaos is seldom a play’s best friend, Kellner embraces it, and appropriates it to the production’s advantage. Kellner is a certifiable genius; she had the foresight to integrate the foibles of a rushed production process — common for the tight-budgeted UTC — into her show. “Noises Off,” a behind-thescenes look at a troubled production called “Nothing’s On,” exposes the makings of a trainwreck. With that in mind, Kellner knew that she could take risks because if something went wrong during a performance, the audience would not necessarily know it. The gamble paid off royally — “Noises Off” is the most technically com-
plex UTC show in recent memory. The innovative ambition of this production appears in many forms. When the curtain rises, the first outstanding aspect of the show is revealed: jaw-dropping set design by Molly Rocca ’20. The structure is as full of character as it is immense. It is two stories high, uncommon in a student-run production. Beyond that, it is fully disassembled and reassembled twice during the show. Essentially, Rocca and their carpentry team built the front of a house. The set is nearly 20 feet tall, and occupies the width of the stage. Then, there are the doors: That is where the second huge success of the production, Kellner’s direction, really shines. She had to coordinate blocking for the nine-person cast, utilizing the show’s many unconventionally placed entrances, exits and moving parts. To call it blocking is a bit of an understatement — it is more like choreography. The constant movement and flow in the play is more of an intricate dance. What is more, “Noises Off” is already dialogue-heavy,
making it a challenge to perform. Yet the entire cast, another one of the show’s strengths, was up to the task, flawlessly taking on the intricate blocking while delivering their lines with bravura. The results are simultaneously stunning and hilarious. “Noises Off” is a true ensemble piece, and the actors bolster each other’s performances while also imbuing the characters with their individual comedic stylings. Ben Greene ’21 is great as Lloyd, the disgruntled director of “Nothing’s On,” expertly conveying the frustrations of a troubled artist. Batsheva Moskowitz ’22 demonstrates strong restraint without sacrificing the comedy of her character — Kim, the stage manager. Much of her performance is simply reacting to the rest of the cast, which she does effectively. Leanna Ugent ’22 as Poppy is deliciously overdramatic, a wonderful foil to Moskowitz’s Kim. Rounding out the cast are the actors playing actors: Eli Esrig ’19, Jason Frank ’22, Adina Jacobson ’20, Blake Rosen ’21, Sophie Lee ’21 and Evan Shapiro ’22. Esrig
brings a whimsical flare as Garry, while Shapiro is charming as the timid Freddy. Lee plays the dumbas-a-doorbell Brooke to hilarious effect, while Jacobson and Rosen shine as Belinda and Dotty, respectively. Finally, there is the show’s breakout star, Frank, whose over-the-top, uproarious performance as the alcoholic Selsdon steals the show. The moment he makes his entrance — breaking through a window, slurring his lines with a captivating self awareness — he has you hoping he will never leave the stage. And when he does exit, his performance provokes prayers for his return. The exceptional aspect of “Noises Off” is its light-heartedness. The cast and crew just wanted to give the audience a good time and make them laugh. When they go into a second intermission, guised as a technical difficulty, they pull up audience members for an impromptu karaoke dance party. This is the impression of somebody who attended opening night, which was performed with the ease of a show several performances into its run. Kudos, indeed.
THU LE/the Justice
DON’T TOUCH ME: Jason Frank ’22 as Selsdon/ Burgler brings Leanna Ugent ’22 as Poppy in for an uncomfortable side hug.
tice
THU LE/the Jus
phie Lee ’22 DIC TENSION: So DRAMATIC COME ses with two po strike dramatic and Eli Esrig ’19 t. se e s on th of the many door
THE JUSTICE I ARTS I TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018
19
IMPROV REVIEW
Crowd Control tackles its ‘Halloween Hangover’ By ELLA RUSSELL JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Crowd Control came out to Cholmondeley’s coffee house last Thursday to celebrate the end of Halloween. The title of their show was “Halloween Hangover,” and they made a point of blinking at the bright lights of the stage and moaning about how tired they were. One performer was even dressed in a Winnie-thePooh costume. Although this event was not well publicized, there was a decent turnout and a warm reception. The group started out with line games, in which performers stand
in a line and pop out with little jokes based on audience suggestions. For example, their first premise was “I love my partner like I love my ‘blank.’” The host fished various nouns from the audience such as “pizza,” and the performers would then step out of the line, one-by-one, and deliver a one-liner about what made their love for their partner similar to their love for pizza. Next, the group moved into a movie game, coming up with fake movie titles based on an audience member’s initials — HD, for example — and performed scenes from the fictional movie. The highlight of this game was “Hydrogen Dodgeball,” a movie about a dodgeball
game with hydrogen instead of balls. Two performers, playing stereotypical nerd characters, quickly scooped up the easy humor — they couldn’t see the hydrogen, but if they mixed it with oxygen, they could create water balloons! The last segment of the show began similarly to the line game. First, the group asked for a suggestion from the audience and got “pumpkin spice latte.” One performer then stepped forward with an anecdote about pumpkin spice lattes, and then subsequent performers came forward with anecdotes related to a detail from the previous one. After this, Crowd Control performed a series of sketches based off the anecdotes.
One downside to the show was the group’s awkwardness in getting suggestions from the audience. For various sketches, they would ask for “nouns” or “verbs.” The broadness of this request often led to long pauses and a slew of suggestions that did not quite work. In addition, the timing of the sketches was occasionally off, with performers inserting themselves into scenes at awkward moments and derailing intriguing plotlines in favor of their own ideas. However, these flaws were minor. Overall, the variety of amusing characters and plots in this “Halloween Hangover” made for an entertaining show.
ROSE ART MUSEUM
Gender is greater than genitals By LEAH SAMANTHA CHANEN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
This semester, the Rose Art Museum is hosting a new exhibit in the Gerald S. and Sandra Fineberg Gallery called “To build another world” by Tuesday Smillie, a Brooklyn-based artist. This installation looks at trans-feminism through the lens of protest banners. This medium of protest banners is absolutely perfect for Smillie’s message and subject matter, as is the timing of this piece. As protests become ubiquitous in the current social and political climate, these banners strike closer to home for more people. Unlike
the paper signs that are customary at protests such as March for Our Lives or the Women’s March, these are made of large pieces of cloth. The banners are very reminiscent of the banners seen in early LGBTQ+ rights marches — most famously Stonewall. This connection was confirmed with a piece called “Street Transvestites,” which included a photograph of trans-rights activists Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, famous for their work starting the Stonewall riots, holding the banner that inspired the piece. “Street Transvestites” is almost an exact replica of Rivera and Johnson’s banner, with added layers of black lace placed strategically over it, almost obscuring the words. This gave
ANDREW BAXTER/the Justice
TOGETHER IN PROTEST: Smillie is the recipient of the 20182019 Ruth Ann and Nathan Perlmutter Artist-in-Residence Award. ‘To build another world’ is her first solo exhibition.
the appearance that the banner was loosely dangling by adding shadows of varying depth to trick the viewer’s eye into thinking that the full banner was crumpled and hanging low, instead of proud and taut. While the antique picture left a triumphant and joyful feeling, the piece itself felt sad and hopeless. To me it seemed to say, “No one has been able to pick up where these two inspirational women left off,” implying that they have been forgotten, and therefore unthanked, by the gay community due to being transgender women of color. This powerful piece made me take second and third laps around the small gallery. All of these banners could not be held by one person alone but rather were held
together by pairs or groups, a clear contrast from the most common protest signs today — individual cardboard signs. Directly preceding “Street Transvestites” is a banner called “Together,” which boldly states “Strength in Differences. Safety in Numbers.” I couldn’t help but think of the people that would hold this banner together and the bond they form in the act of holding a protest sign together. I left the gallery immediately searching the internet for ways to help my trans sisters with the midterm elections so close. “To build another world” highlights the importance of protesting together for a common cause, and the ugliness and hopelessness in being alone.
20
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2018 | ARTS | THE JUSTICE
INTERVIEW
Brandeis TALKS Which celebrity chef should work for Sodexo?
Elana Kellner ’19 YVETTE SEI/the Justice
Keefa Grant ’21 “Ramsay! He would tell the truth and we definitely need that in this environment, because the food is not the best and someone needs to tell them that.”
This week, justArts spoke with Elana Kellner ’19, director of the Undergraduate Theater Collective’s recent production of “Noises Off!”
JustArts: Tell me about your past experience directing!
MORGAN MAYBACK/the Justice
Josh Cohen ’20 “Gordon Ramsay. He’s just my favorite chef, he’s got a ton of flair and I love his energy.”
Cesar Guerra ’21 “Guy Fieri, he needs to add some spice to this food, cause this food is looking a little too bland if you ask me.”
Shoshanah Weinreich ’20 “Gordon Ramsay, cause he gets sh*t done!” —Compiled and photographed by Yvette Sei/the Justice.
NATALIA WIATER/Justice File Photo
STAFF’S Top Ten
Top 10 Products for Curly Hair By Nia Lyn
JUSTICE EDITOR
I have a problem and spend way too much of my money on styling products/leave-in conditioners. Someone please stop me. 1. Jane Carter Solution: Coiling all Curls Elongating Gel 2. Shea Moisture: Curl Enhancing Smoothie 3. As I Am: Curl Enhancing Smoothie 4. Cantu Shea Butter: Curl Activating Cream 5. Curls- Blurberry Bliss Leave In Conditioner 6. Kinky-Curly: Knot Today 7. ORS: Butter Crème Styling Smoothie 8. True: Nourishing Leave In Conditioner 9. Mielle Organics: White Peony Leave In Conditioner 10. BB Curl: Anti Humidity Gel Oil
CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Get the kinks out of, as a hose 7 Bond girl player Adams 11 Units equivalent to mLs 14 _____ Field, locale for the Seattle Mariners 15 Woodworker’s tool 16 Snitch 17 One who leaves, then returns, or pedantically, one who is wasteful 19 Ailing 20 Part of GPS 21 “_____ Kleine Nachtmusik” 22 T-shirt sizes 23 Classic movie monster, or pedantically, his creator 28 Insurance company offering, briefly 30 Wakes up, as from being knocked out 31 Keeps talking and talking and talking 33 “Battlestar Galactica” commander 35 Crow sound 36 Bored, or pedantically, unbiased 39 Coffee container 40 “Ain’t that a shame?” 41 Tennis’s Mandlikova 42 Floral decoration 44 Daisy Ridley’s “Star Wars” character 45 Lavish party, or pedantically, a grand show or musical 50 Anger 51 Baseball family name 52 Home of the Big Ten’s Spartans 55 Fruity drink 56 Huge jump, or pedantically, the smallest possible jump 60 ____ culpa 61 Word on a flag extending from a fake gun 62 Pizza chain at many an airport 63 Ideology 64 Complete collections 65 Enter gradually DOWN 1 Mail letters? 2 _____ a one 3 Corp. money managers 4 Massive language ref. 5 Not as warm 6 Sayings of Jesus 7 Rami of “Bohemian Rhapsody” 8 Spots 9 ____ Aduba of “Orange is the New Black” 10 Lair for a bear 11 Words on yellow tape 12 Head to bed, perhaps 13 Score Cards? 18 Cape ____, Massachussetts 22 ___-Foy, Que.
Elana Kellner: This is my first time directing a full-length play. Before this I directed a Quickie ... and I assistant-directed “She Kills Monsters” a couple years ago. JA: This was a very ambitious first show to direct. How did you come to that decision? EK: The play was proposed and I applied to direct it. So I wasn’t the one who chose the play, but I thought it looked very interesting. I read it and it was hilarious, and I thought it would be very cool, so I applied to direct. JA: How did you manage the controlled chaos? EK: The cast is amazing, so they were really great at working through all the controlled chaos. They just had so much fun with it, and so did I.
Crossword Courtesy of EVAN MAHNKEN
24 Lazy birthday gift, perhaps 25 Alaskan gold rush city 26 Certain fighting video game, to fans 27 “This instant!” 28 Ions present at high pH levels 29 Part of the norm 32 “Nature of a ____” (Queen Latifah album) 33 Totally lost 34 Org. in Netflix’s “Narcos” 37 Punishment for a child, perhaps 38 “Gone With the Wind” locale 39 “Sons and Lovers” Oscar nominee Mary 43 Before, poetically 46 Organizations in Netflix’s “Narcos” 47 PC key below X 48 Fruitless 49 Relative of Jazzercise 52 Descriptor for a mortal 53 Colorful wrap 54 Atop 55 French friend 56 Sack targets 57 OPEC nation 58 Small worker 59 “I don’t remember the words” syllables
JA: Can you tell me about the set design? EK: Molly Rocca designed the set and they’re amazing. The front [of each set piece] is … as it would be in the play within the play. It flips … a couple times and then it looks like the backstage. It’s really cool and very interesting. Molly did an amazing job. JA: What’s your favorite moment in the play?
Solution Courtesy of EVAN MAHNKEN
EK: I really like the [scenes] where there is someone on the upper level [talking to] someone on the lower level. I think it looks really cool and is really funny. JA: What were some highs and lows of the process of getting this show together?
SUDOKU INSTRUCTIONS: Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.
EK: A high point is watching the whole show come together. After each rehearsal, running the scenes that we would do is so fun because we really go to see them come to life, and [see] the actors bring their characters to life. I would say a low point is when things were stressful. Sometimes there were a lot of logistics to figure out … but it always worked out and it was for the best. JA: Is there anything else you’d like to add? EK: Thank you to [my assistant director] Alex Harrington, she’s great. And the whole cast and crew is awesome.
Solution to last issue’s sudoku
Puzzle courtesy of www.sudokuoftheday.com
—Maya Zanger-Nadis