The Justice, September 10, 2019 by The Justice

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The Independent Student Newspaper Volume LXXII, Number 2

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, September 10, 2019

MEET THE CANDIDATES

ACCESSIBILITY

Beth Rodgers-Kay to retire by end of month ■ Director of Student

Accessibility Services Beth Rodgers-Kay's retirement is sudden, student says. By GILDA GEIST JUSTICE EDITOR

Director of Student Accessibility Support Beth Rodgers-Kay is retiring after 14 years at Brandeis, Dean of Academic Services Erika Smith wrote in a Sept. 6 email to the Justice. Rodgers-Kay’s last day “will be around the middle of this month,” per the email. The news has not been announced publicly to the student body. Rodgers-Kay’s role as director of SAS was to meet with students with disabilities to determine the accommodations and services that would help them succeed at Brandeis. Elijah Harrison ’21 told the Justice he had been meeting with Rodgers-Kay since last semester as he reintegrated into the school after a two-year medical leave for depres-

sion and post-traumatic stress disorder. Harrison said that when he came back to the University again this fall, he tried to make an appointment with Rodgers-Kay to discuss his accommodations but was told she was out of office for the week. He scheduled the appointment for Sept. 2, but when he arrived at the SAS office that day, he was told by the receptionist that Rodgers-Kay was out for the day. Harrison said he was not told beforehand that his appointment had been cancelled. Accessibility Specialist for Graduate Students Scott Lapinski took Harrison’s meeting shortly after and told him that he would be taking over Harrison's case and that Rodgers-Kay had retired. “It seemed very sudden,” Harrison said, explaining that he got that impression from his difficulty scheduling an appointment with SAS and from Lapinski’s account. Harrison said that Lapinski told him that the SAS office was surprised by and unprepared for Rodgers-Kay’s retirement.

See RETIREMENT, 7 ☛

BRIEF Anti-Semitic discussion thread taken down An anti-Semitic discussion thread that included the names and photographs of Brandeis community members has been taken down from Vanguard News Network, a white supremacist website, as of last Tuesday, The Daily Beast reported in a Sept. 4 article. The Justice found photos and names of nearly a dozen current and former Brandeis students, faculty and staff in the thread. The Commentator, the student newspaper for Yeshiva University, a Modern Orthodox Jewish university, found photos of hundreds of their current and former students and faculty members in the same thread. Public Safety officials at both schools reported that the discussion thread posed “no direct threat” to the individuals. After Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan alerted the Brandeis community to the situation, a second discussion thread began on the forum which mocked and disparaged Brandeis for investigating the original posts. This second thread contained the text of news coverage on the incident,

photos of more Brandeis community members — including Callahan himself — and anti-Semitic and racist attacks and slurs. As of Thursday, this thread had also been removed from the forum. Callahan did not comment on whether Public Safety was aware of this other thread. In the same Sept. 4 article, The Daily Beast reported that Yeshiva University had filed a complaint with the FBI regarding the original thread, which has been passed on to the St. Louis field office. That office would have jurisdiction over an investigation into Alex Linder, a Missouri resident and prominent white nationalist figure who runs Vanguard News Network. An FBI spokeswoman, however, “would not confirm or deny if it is investigating Linder or VNN,” the article explained. Public Safety is “continuing to cooperate with law enforcement, including the FBI, to monitor this situation,” Callahan wrote in an email to the Justice on Friday. —Jocelyn Gould

Waltham, Mass.

THU LE/the Justice

STUDENT POLITICIANS: (From left to right) Jason Walter ’23, Emma Fiesinger ’23, Helen Lin ’23 and Hannah Taylor ’23 attended the Student Union's Meet the Candidates event to share their platforms with the Brandeis community.

Thirty candidates compete for Student Union positions ■ The 30 candidates are vying for 17 seats in the Student Union's fall election on Sept. 11.

maintain communication between the Student Union and the greater student body.”

Senator for Massell Quad (1 seat)

Lucian Dobroszycki’s ’23 campaign slogan is “Get LIT, vote Lucian,” in which LIT stands for love, inclusion and trust, all things he hopes to engender among Massell Quad community members, he said in his candidate biography. Dobroszycki sent the Justice a detailed outline of his proposed initiatives, which include a quad-wide tshirt designing competition, laundry detergent vending machines, movie nights, additional hooks in the showers, arts and crafts activities during finals week and a bake sale to raise money for quad activities. Dariel Jimenez ’23 is “passionate about making Massell Quad feel more like a home,” according to his candidate biography. His goals if elected are to add more shelving in the showers and make the communal kitchens “more sanitary to encourage people to use [them] more,” he said in an interview with the Justice. He also wants to propose a clean up of Massell Pond. His main goal, he said, is “making it easier to communicate with everyone.” Helen Lin ’23 wants to be Massell Quad senator to help make the living experience of her fellow first-years “as comfortable as possible,” as she wrote in her candidate biography. If elected, her main goals are to help fel-

By EMILY BLUMENTHAL, MAYA RUBIN-WISH, ELLA RUSSELL AND JACKIE TOKAYER JUSTICE EDITOR, STAFF WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Senator for Class of 2023 (2 seats)

In to her candidate biography, Janice Huang cited her upbringing in a diverse environment as preparation for interacting with the Brandeis community. If elected, she will work to improve facilities in Massell and North quads and to encourage collaboration and friendship among her peers. Huang did not respond to the Justice’s request for comment. Skye Liu feels the first-year class is “underrepresented,” according to her candidate biography. Liu told the Justice in an email that if elected, she will focus on improving campus dining and printing. She also said she wants to send out a survey that will enable all members of the class of 2023 to voice their concerns to the Union. Hannah Taylor told the Justice in an email that she “want[s] to have a positive impact on Brandeis and help make it the best place it can be.” If elected, Taylor said she promises to “work hard to represent our class and

Senator for North Quad (1 seat)

Tyler Carruth ’23 has been “strolling around the North Quad and talking to [his] peers about what they find important,” he wrote in his candidate biography. Carruth wishes to install communal laundry baskets for the clean laundry that otherwise gets moved around the laundry room by students looking for an open machine. He also said in an interview with the Justice that he wants to hold a communal movie night for people to relax after a stressful week. Krupa Sourirajan ’23 is excited to try new things and implement fun activities as potential North Quad

See UNION, 7 ☛

Vote Gen Z

24 hours of fun

Univ. to consider new dining services after contract ends

 The Justice spoke with Angel Henriquez ’22 about his hopes for the younger generation.

 In 24 hours, a whole musical was put together and performed on stage.

Campus landscaping needs an upgrade

By NOAH ZEITLIN

By ELIANA PADWA Photo Courtesy of ANGEL HENRIQUEZ

low residents understand the resources available to them and to strengthen the Massell community through social gatherings and more engaging common areas. If elected, Jason Walter ’23 wants to focus on “making life in the dorms easier,” he told the Justice via email. Some of his initiatives include improving the kitchens, adding fans to the common rooms, providing fast wired internet access via ethernet cables and supplying communal laundry baskets “so if someone’s laundry is done it won’t just get thrown on the floor,” he said. He also expressed that the Student Union should be publicized more to first-years. “Many still don’t know what the Union can do and how it can help them,” he said.

NEWS 3

By EMILY BLUMENTHAL

FORUM 12

By VANDITA WILSON

Red Sox remember stellar 2018 season

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ARTS 19

By NOAH GANS

SPORTS 16

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

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NEWS

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THE JUSTICE

NEWS POLICE LOG MEDICAL EMERGENCY Sept. 1—A party in Hassenfeld Residence Hall called to report a man unconscious in the 4th floor men’s bathroom. The subject was then reported as conscious and breathing. University Police and BEMCo staff reported to the scene. The Waltham Fire Department and Cataldo Ambulance company were dispatched. The party was transferred to the care of Cataldo, and refused further medical treatment with a signed refusal for care. Sept. 1—A party in Hassenfeld Residence Hall reported feeling light-headed. BEMCo arrived on-scene. The patient was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance for further care. Sept. 1—In Usen Hall, a party was reported as being lightheaded and confused by a University nurse. BEMCo treated the patient, and the party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance for further care. The Area Coordinator on call was notified. Sept. 1—A caller reported a party in Shapiro Residence Hall was experiencing pain in their ankle, which was possibly caused by a sprain. BEMCo staff treated the party, and the party was transported to NewtonWellesley Hospital for further care. Sept. 1—There was a party who walked into Public Safety with a deep laceration to the finger. The patient was treated on site by BEMCo staff, and units were all cleared. No further action was taken. Sept. 2—A party in Scheffres Hall ingested a food she thought she may be allergic to. She took epinephrine and had no difficulty breathing. BEMCo staff treated the patient, and the party was transported to NewtonWellesley Hospital for further care. The Area Coordinator on call was notified. Sept. 2—In Shapiro Residence Hall, there was a report of a party with a sprained ankle. BEMCo staff treated the party with a signed refusal for further care. Sept. 2—There was a call from an intoxicated party in the Charles River Apartments. BEMCo, University Police, the Waltham Fire Department, and Cataldo Ambulance company responded to the scene. The patient was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance for further care. The Area Coordinator on call was notified and a Community Standards Report was filed by University Police. Sept. 4—University Police responded to the Brandeis Counseling Center for a party that needed to be evaluated. The party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance for further care. Sept. 4—Both the University Police and BEMCo responded to the front of Slosberg to investigate a report of a party with a possible leg injury. BEMCo was on site evaluating the party. The patient refused further medical care or transport and signed a refusal. Sept. 5—A party in Golding reported a finger laceration. BEMCo responded to the scene to treat the party, and University Police transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. Sept. 5—In Village B, a party requested BEMCo for another party bleeding from a cut hand. BEMCo was notified and treated the party. University Police transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance for further care. Sept. 5—A librarian in Farber Library called to say

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Contact Emily Blumenthal and Gilda Geist at news@thejustice.org CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS n A News article was based on the wrong court complaint. The Justice originally used the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination Complaint, and changed it to the civil court complaint. The corrections were made online. (Sept. 3, Page 3.) The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Send an email to editor@thejustice.org.

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that a party was in the restroom with a nosebleed. BEMCo was called and treated the party with a signed refusal for further care. Sept. 6—University Police and BEMCo staff responded to assist an intoxicated party in need of medical attention. transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance for further care. The Area Coordinator on call was notified and a CSR was filed by University Police. Sept. 7—University Police and BEMCo staff responded to assist an intoxicated party in need of medical attention. BEMCo staff treated the party. Patient was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance for further care. The Area Coordinator on call was notified, and a CSR was filed by University Police. Sept. 7—There was a request for BEMCo in Hassenfeld Residence Hall for an allergic reaction. BEMCo was notified, and Cataldo Ambulance and the Waltham Fire Department responded. The party was treated with a signed refusal for further care. Sept. 7—A party requested BEMCo in the Charles River Apartments. The party was complaining of pain in their high right side. The patient was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance for further care. VANDALISM Sept. 4—A staff member in the Gosman Sports Complex reported a damaged locker and lock mechanism. There was no property missing. University Police compiled a report on the incident.

WHAT HAPPENS AT BRANDEIS...

HAVEN DAI/the Justice

...stays at Brandeis. Sherman Function Hall was transformed into a Las Vegas-style casino on Saturday night. Students played card and dice games at five different tables, and earned prizes with their winnings. The event was sponsored by Student Activities and the Campus Activities Board.

DISTURBANCE Sept. 2—There was a party in the Foster Mods that was reported as loud to the University Police. The police dispersed the party without incident. Sept. 7—University Police investigated a report of loud music coming from the Charles River Apartments. They checked the area and all was quiet upon arrival. Sept. 7—A resident of Gordon Hall called with regards to a loud banging coming from the area. University Police conducted a check of the immediate area and found nothing out of the ordinary and all was quiet. Sept. 7—A caller at the Rose Art Museum stated that there were two white males and one white female appearing to be smoking a substance. The parties were identified as community members and they complied when asked to stop smoking tobacco and to vacate the area of the museum. No further action was needed. Sept. 8—The Area Coordinator on call in the Foster Mods heard loud shouting from the area behind the Mods. University Police checked the area and reported the noise coming from Chumondoley’s Coffee House. The event was over and people were dispersing and making noises. No further action was taken. MISCELLANEOUS Sept. 1—A party reported that there was a white SUV operating erratically on loop road. University Police checked the area, but were unable to locate the vehicle. —Compiled by Jen Geller

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BRIEF District Attorney spars with judge over Straight Pride Parade prosecutions District Attorney Rachael Rollins, who took office in January, is alleging Boston Municipal Court Judge Richard J. Sinnott overreached his power in a case regarding the potential prosecution of counterprotesters of Boston’s “Straight Pride Parade,” according to a Boston Globe article. At least seven of Rollins’ 36 requests not to prosecute the nonviolent counterprotesters were denied by Sinnott. Rollins argued this was a clear breach of the separation of powers, as it is the District Attorney’s role as a member of the executive branch to decide to drop charges or not. Rollins was quoted by WBUR as saying, “‘The judge ignored the clear and unambiguous constraints placed on the

judiciary.’” Rollins filed an emergency petition Wednesday asking the State’s Judicial Court to intervene in one of the cases. Sinnot had defense attorney Susan Church jailed for three hours when she attempted to cite laws that stood in opposition to Sinnot’s decision regarding the dropping of charges. Church was released after three hours in custody, but said, “‘This [behavior] was not legal and it should not be let to stand,’” according to the Boston Globe. The choice to not prosecute the Straight Pride counterprotestors is in line with Rollins’ history as DA. She has chosen to decline prosecution on a variety of lowlevel crimes, according to her website, in-

cluding drug possession, drug possession with intent to distribute, threats (excluding domestic violence) and shoplifting (including offenses that are essentially shoplifting but charged as larceny). Some, including former Suffolk County prosecutor Tim Bradl, have argued that this policy leaves few options for victims, because the only option is to sue for damages, according to the Boston Herald. According to MassLive, Rollins argued instead that, “Why I’m standing here as your Suffolk County DA is because of the communities that have been forgotten or ignored … We’re going to make sure the policies actually work for them.” —Jason Frank

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THE JUSTICE

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NEWS

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

COMMUNITY

DINING

Administration calls for Request Univ. community for Proposals for dining program remembers student

■ Executive VP for Finance

and Administration Stewart Uretsky announced that the Univ. would be reviewing its dining contract. By EMILY BLUMENTHAL JUSTICE EDITOR

The University will develop a Request for Proposals program for its dining services as Sodexo’s contract with the University expires in June 2020, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Stewart Uretsky announced in an email on Aug. 26. The process of developing the RFP is in its beginning stages and will take place over the next several months in conjunction with community conversations about the dining program. These town hall-style forums will be held in September and October to get community feedback and will be the main basis for the content of the RFP. “What we’ll do is we’ll design an RFP after we’ve solicited that kind of input from a broad swath of the community, and then [present] an RFP to the vendor community to be in response to what are our values and then we can … hopefully choose a vendor that we all like,” Uretsky told the Justice in a Sept. 4 interview. During the RFP process, the University will determine the desired changes to the program and their costs. Once the RFP has been completed, likely during early winter,

potential vendors will submit proposals. Sodexo has been “fully cooperative” throughout the process and has taken an active role in the planning process for the RFP, which came as a result of “both their desire and [the University’s] desire to look for ways to restructure the contract in ways that are mutually beneficial,” Uretsky said. However, the University does not have a “vested interest” in any particular vendor, he added. “Whether it’s Sodexo, or a new vendor, one of the things that we’re all looking forward to [is] being able to meet some of the needs of the entire community. … What those changes look like ... are the sort of choices that we’ll have to make as a community [regarding] what we want in a dining program,” Uretsky said, noting that the changes made will need to be within the University’s budget. Once the University has narrowed its search to a few vendors, administrators will make unannounced trips to sites where the vendors operate, where they will try the food and speak with people who work with the vendors to hear about their experiences. While the University will be using the RFP to review its food service program, it will also be looking at institutional changes in dining operations, such as meal plan options and the hours and locations of the dining halls. A significant number of students have expressed dissatisfaction with the meal plan requirement for residents of dormitories with kitchens,

Uretsky said, adding that this will be one area that the University will be looking into. The University will also be looking at the layout of the dining halls as “social spaces,” Uretsky said. Right now, the dining halls are used only for eating, and are not social spaces by design, he said. The option of new dining hall locations will be explored, with the addition of smaller satellite locations similar to the Starbucks in Farber Library being a possibility. These locations are more conducive to socializing, but incur high labor costs, he said. The University will work closely with groups that have special relationships with Sodexo and the dining program throughout the process, such as Conference and Events Services and the Senate Dining Committee. “This is a great opportunity for us to look at the food program and to be an active participant in helping to decide what it will look like in the future, and we’re looking forward to an inclusive and transparent process to get us to that point,” he said. While Uretsky was not at Brandeis during the last RFP process, he told the Justice that student culinary interests and concerns have likely since shifted, making this process different. Students have expressed a greater interest in healthy eating and farm-to-table food, Uretsky said, and have been more concerned about allergies. —Editor’s Note: Editor Jocelyn Gould works for Conference and Events Services.

for love of music

■ The University community mourned Jake Sibley’s ’19 death at a memorial service on Sunday. By GILDA GEIST JUSTICE EDITOR

Members of the Brandeis community gathered in the Slosberg Music Center on Sunday to remember Jake Sibley ’19, who died on Aug. 12. Rabbi Seth Winberg led the service, which heavily focused on music. Sibley was very involved in music during his time at Brandeis, choosing the University for its music program and playing violin in the Brandeis-Wellesley Orchestra and the Brandeis Jazz Ensemble. Jake Sibley’s mother, Brenda Sibley, spoke at the service. “Jake is here with us as we celebrate his life,” she said. Brenda Sibley thanked the Brandeis community, assuring those in the room that there was nothing more they could have done to prevent his death. An email from Provost Lisa Lynch to the Brandeis community on Aug. 14 said that Jake Sibley had died of suicide. Brenda Sibley described her son, the oldest of four children, as intelligent, caring and a lover of people and music. She recalled when Jake

Sibley, at age 15, started a band, made his first album and played at the famous Hollywood club “Whiskey a Go Go.” Brenda Sibley explained that music had helped her son through his struggles with mental health. “If it wasn’t for music, we feel like we would have lost him years ago,” she said. Jake Sibley took piano, guitar and voice lessons, according to his mother. He also picked up the violin shortly before coming to Brandeis. During the service, his violin teachers, Andrea Segar and Robyn Bollinger, performed a string duo by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in his memory. Director of the Jazz Ensemble Bob Nieske and Sam Francis ’21, who Jake Sibley knew from his time in the Jazz Ensemble, performed a piece by Thelonius Monk, and his friend Leah Chanen ’20 performed a guitar and voice piece by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. Two of Jake Sibley’s music professors, Yu-Hui Chang and Erin Gee, spoke highly of his ability to create music as well as play it. Alex Kougasian ’21 also spoke about Jake Sibley. He recalled meeting Jake Sibley, then a transfer student, during his freshman orientation. Kougasian said they instantly formed a “brotherly bond” around their mutual interest in music.

STUDENT LIFE

Univ. launches new website for campus clubs, events ■ The new website,

Presence, is meant to consolidate information about clubs, organizations and events into one place. By IVY TROCCO JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Presence, a new website for Brandeis organizations, clubs, and events, launched on Aug. 31. Using their normal Brandeis login credentials, students can now log into their Presence account. Students can search for clubs they are interested in joining and events that organizations are hosting. The website is broken down into four sections: organizations, events, forms and accounts. As of press time, there are 83 organizations on Presence that give general information on the club, including where and when they meet, the club’s mission and a link to their website if they have one. To search for a campus organization, a student can type

the name of what they are looking for into the search bar, or they can browse by categories such as Academic, Arts and Culture, Competition, Media and Publication, Performance, Political and Activism, Service, Special Interest, Spiritual and Religious, Sports and Fitness and University Offices. Students can also limit the search by only searching by organizations they are members of, new organizations, upcoming events or any combination of the three. “Presence seems like a relatively good system of cataloging and recognizing clubs. At the moment it is a little odd as it has not been fully updated or completed by most clubs. However, when it is fully up and running it seems to have the potential to make finding clubs easy and updating club information simple,” said Lissa Sangree-Calabrese, the captain of the Cheerleading Team. Students have the ability to contact and join the club through the website. When clicking the “Events” category, it brings the student to upcoming campus events in chronological order. The website

gives the time and location for each event, a way to contact the people hosting the event, an option to RSVP and further details about the event. Students can also add any of these events to their Google Calendar through Presence. Under “Forms,” students can find the Event Registration and the Food Waiver forms. Students can have their events approved and added to the events portal and can fill out a form for any organization that requires food for their meetings. Under the “Account” tab, students can view their profiles or log out. Under the “Profile” section, students can find what organizations and events they have signed up for and any responses that they have submitted to the website thus far. Emma Ghalil, one of the Co-Presidents of Partners in Health Engage Brandeis, said, “I like that we are getting a new system to look up clubs but it is hard for some people to figure it out because it is new and not all the information is updated. As soon as everything is up and running I am sure it is going to be great.”

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A DIFFERENT MIDDLE EAST

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

BRIEF

Two Brandeis alumni win education excellence award

HAVEN DAI/the Justice

BREAKING THE STEREOTYPES: University and guest professors discussed more obscure issues affecting the Middle East, such as undocumented immigration, renewable energy and the impact of patriotism on human behavior and culture.

Panelists discuss environmental and political issues in the Middle East ■ The panelists addressed

undocumented immigration, renewable energy and more in the Middle East. By SAMANTHA GOLDMAN JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Crown Center for Middle East Studies, an organization focused on bringing light to the Middle East through research, brought panelists to Brandeis to discuss current events in the Middle East for its annual kickoff event on Wednesday. The discussion was moderated by the Director for Research at the Crown Center Naghmeh Sohrabi and the Associate Director for Research David Siddhartha Patel, and its opening remarks were made by the Crown Family Director and Professor of the Practice of Politics Gary Samore (POL). Samore prefaced the discussion by saying that since the Sept. 11 attacks, the Middle East has had “so much drama, mostly of the tragic kind, that we lose sight of positive developments.” Gökçe Günel, an assistant professor of Anthropology at Rice University, discussed ecological city projects, which use green urbanplanning techniques to mitigate the effects of climate change. She shared an anecdote about her visit to Masdar City, the world’s first zero-carbon city and the basis of her latest book, “Spaceship in the Desert.” She emphasized the issues posed by sand-clogging of the solar panels the city used for power. When Günel asked a man showing her around the city how they had

solved the problem, he said that an immigrant from South Asia had spent the day brushing the sand off all the solar panels. Patel suggested that while “these projects look like they’re transformative,” they are actually “meant to preserve the status quo in many ways.” These projects don’t achieve their original goals because the projects often end up unfinished, he said. Renée and Lester Crown Professor of Modern Middle East Studies Pascal Menoret (ANTH), spoke next, describing his research on pickup truck drivers in Saudi Arabia. He focused on those who parked outside of IKEA to pick up people’s purchases, drive them to their homes and assemble them there. When Menoret tried to take a picture of one of the men, the man got agitated and explained to Menoret that the police had come the week before, which made the man nervous, he said. The man was an undocumented migrant running an illegal business, and the situation escalated to the point that the man called the police on Menoret. Both Menoret and the man ended up in a jail cell, and Menoret questioned why someone “who was extremely vulnerable decided to call the police in that IKEA parking lot.” Sohrabi asked Menoret his thoughts on why the man whose very existence was threatened by the authorities called the police, suggesting that patriotism allowed citizens to support the state. Sohrabi also brought up that patriotism and nationalism gave citizens a sense of belonging, but asked if this was a simplification of the situa-

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tion. Günel added on to this notion of patriotism, suggesting that people will give up their freedom by choice if it seems that their decision will contribute to the greater good. Prof. Amy Singer (HIST) explained a theory in political science that there is usually aggressive manipulation of grassroots groups by those in power. While members of royal families are seen being thrown in prison, she said, activists, though unseen, are also being put in prison. The people with power make this distinction to keep the country functioning. While this may protect the greater good, Singer said, this also keeps those in positions of power safe. Singer also explained the recent elections in both Turkey and Israel, highlighting the ways in which the two elections were similar and different. The elections were rescheduled in both Turkish and Israeli cities, and in the Turkish cities where the election was rescheduled, the people increased the margin by which their chosen official won significantly. In Israel, however, Singer said that she didn’t think there would be as great of a change in the way people voted. Maryam Alemzadeh, a Harold Grinspoon Junior Research Fellow, spoke last and discussed an interview she conducted with an Iranian man about the travel ban that barred nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. She said that the man was joyful about the travel ban as he saw it as a “triumph for [the] more radical part of Iran” and that this turn of events justified their anti-Western beliefs.

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Brandeis alumni Caroline Cadel ’09 and Lea Winkler ’09 received the Harry S. Levitan Award for Excellence and Leadership in Education on June 6. Friends since preschool, Cadel and Winkler are now both elementary school teachers in Massachusetts. The Harry S. Levitan award was established in 2000 by Dr. Joseph J. Levitan in memory of his brother, teacher Harry S. Levitan. Dr. Levitan, who died in 2009, donated nearly $6.7 million to Brandeis University. The Ellis and Ethel Levitan Scholarship Endowment Fund, which provides financial aid to students, bears his parents’ names. Cadel graduated with a major in Sociology and minors in Teacher Education and Education Studies. A member of the prestigious honor society, Phi Beta Kappa, and a former Undergraduate Departmental Representative for the Education minor, Cadel advocated for the creation of the Education studies major. According to a Sept. 3 BrandeisNOW article, Cadel’s interest in education began in her early childhood, but it was at Brandeis where she decided to seriously pursue teaching.

Winkler said that volunteering at her Hebrew school and elementary school and her involvement in Brandeis’ Teacher Leadership Program set her on the path to teaching. Winkler graduated with a major in History and minors in Education Studies and Elementary Teacher Education. She also participated in the Delet/Master of Arts in Teaching Program at Brandeis, a one-year intensive graduate program for aspiring Jewish day school educators. Cadel now works at Whitcomb Middle School in Marlborough, MA, where she teaches social studies and facilitates the Brandeis Teacher Induction Program. According to Marlborough’s Main Street Journal, she works to incorporate technology into her classroom in order to promote students’ digital literacy and responsibility. Winkler teaches general studies at Epstein Hillel School, a Jewish day school in Marblehead, MA, and recently won the Pomegranate Prize from the Covenant Foundation, which recognizes emerging leaders in Jewish education. —Ari Albertson

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BRIEF Brandeis drops five spots in US News & World Report rankings Brandeis dropped five places in this year’s U.S. News & World Report ranking of the 2020 Best National Universities, moving down to 40th place from number 35 in 2019, per the report published on Monday. The University tied with five other schools — Boston University, Case Western Reserve University, College of William and Mary, Northeastern University and Tulane University. Last year, Brandeis tied with Georgia Institute of Technology and University of Florida at 35. This year, Georgia Institute of Technology ranked 29, and University of Florida ranked 34 in the nation. U.S. News & World Report published an explanation of how the colleges were evaluated for the 2020 rankings, saying that there were several changes in the ranking process from previous years. The metrics have changed to put “a greater focus on outcome measures like graduation rates, retention rates and social mobility indicators,” but US News & World Report emphasized that its primary goal is still to help students pick the best school for them. For example, two new ranks used this year in determining a school’s overall score are social mobility rank and student outcomes. In the new ranking and breakdown system, 35 percent of a school’s score is “Outcomes.” This is specifically describing how successful a school is in retaining its students and the six-year graduation rate. Twenty-two percent of the 35 percent is specifically

dedicated to graduation and retention, eight percent is graduation rate performance and five percent is how well a school helps in promoting social mobility through getting students awarded Pell Grants to enroll and graduate. 20 percent of a school’s score is dedicated to faculty resources encompassing “class size, faculty salary, faculty with the highest degree in their fields, student-faculty ratio and proportion of faculty who are full time.” An additional 20 percent is based on “Expert Opinion.” This can include many factors, including innovative teaching practices. 10 percent of a school’s rank is dedicated to financial resources and what programs and services are funded. Another 10 percent is based on student excellence — including the mathematics and evidence-based reading and writing sections of the SAT, the entire composite score on the ACT and the students’ high school class standing. The final 5 percent is how much alumni give back to their universities. Brandeis’ overall score was a 67 out of 100. In addition to the overall national ranking, the US News & World Report ranked Brandeis in a number of different fields. The University is ranked 76 in Best Undergraduate Teaching, 33 for Best Value School and 138 for Top Performers in Social Mobility.

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THE JUSTICE

UPCOMING ELECTION

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NEWS

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

MEET AND GREET

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FIRST-YEAR INVOLVEMENT: Helen Lin '23 (left) is running for Massell Quad senator to make dorm life more comfortable and Hannah Taylor '23 (right) is running for senator of Class of 2023 to increase communication between students and Union.

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A VISION FOR MASSELL QUAD: Jason Walter '23 is running for Massell Quad Senator with a focus on "making life in the dorms easier."

UNION: Thirty student candidates run as fall election approaches

RETIREMENT: Student Accessibility Services to look for new director

Senator, according to her candidate biography. Sourirajan’s main focus if elected would be to facilitate a monthly “Fun in the Quad,” gathering her fellow residents together for barbeques in the warmer months and hot cocoa or movie nights in the winter, per her candidate biography. She also remarked in her candidate biography that she would work to improve the water pressure and add shelving and command hooks for shower items.

CONTINUED FROM 1

Senator for East Quad (1 seat)

According to Smith’s email, SAS will begin looking for a replacement for Rodgers-Kay next week. “She is working closely with us to transition her projects, and more importantly, support for students with whom she has worked,” Smith wrote.

While SAS conducts a search for Rodgers-Kay’s successor, Smith added, “our excellent staff will continue to work hard to serve students’ needs.” This is a developing story. More information will be published in coming issues.

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Priyata Bhatta ’22 is running uncontested for senator of East Quad. According to her candidate biography, her goals if elected are to improve access to water fountains and to improve infrastructural problems such as the bug infestation and the unpleasant odor found on various floors.

Senator for Rosenthal and Skyline Quads (1 seat)

Leah Fernandez ’22 is running unopposed for senator of Skyline and Rosenthal Quads. In her candidate biography, Fernandez cites the experience she gained last year from her work for the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, the alumni office, the International Students and Scholars Office as a global fellow and the Department of Orientation as an international Orientation Leader.

Senator for Village and 567 (1 seat)

Cindy Yao ’22 is running uncontested to be senator for Village and 567. As she states in her campaign biography, her main focus is on improving the basic living facilities and creating a comfortable environment for her fellow residents.

Senator for Ziv and Ridgewood (1 seat)

The only candidate for senator for Ziv and Ridgewood quads, Sagar Punjabi ’21, is running on a campaign of political accountability and strength of community, as he wrote in his candidate biography.

Senator for Charles River Apartments (1 seat)

Oliver Price ’20 is running uncontested to be senator for Charles River Apartments. Price previously served as the Charles River Senator during his sophomore year, where he helped pilot the Brandeis Sustainability Ambassadors program and worked on the Meatless Monday and menstrual product initiatives.

Senator for Foster Mods Quad (1 seat)

Contact Victor Feldman and Eliana Padwa at features@thejustice.org

Trevor Filseth ’20 is running unopposed for Foster Mods senator. If elected, he wants to increase student engagement and facilitate greater discussion of Union initiatives, as he wrote in his candidate biography. Filseth served last year as a Class of 2020 senator, where he was part of the Sustainability and Facilities and Housing Committees.

Senator for Off-Campus Students (1 seat)

Though Clara Alexander ’21 values her experience living in a residence hall on campus, she is now enjoying her life off-campus. Alexander wrote in an email to the Justice on Sunday that she promises to increase Bran Van accessibility by creating routes

based on students’ housing locations. Yoko Hsieh ’22 is running for senator for Off-Campus Students on a platform of increasing Bran Van accessibility. If elected, Hsieh will work to ease the process of making reservations on the Branda app, and to improve its accuracy in tracking the vans in the app, she wrote in her candidate biography. Coming in as a transfer student and living off-campus, Alison Leibowitz ’20 found it difficult to “meet other students and to feel like part of the Brandeis community,” she wrote in her candidate biography. Zhengmao Sheng ’22 is also running for senator for Off-Campus Students. If elected, Sheng plans to compile a list of safety resources available to students living off-campus, he wrote in an email to the Justice on Saturday. Additionally, he would like to create a “mentor program under which the more experienced off-campus students can provide useful advice and tips to the others who had just moved into a neighborhood.” Lena Xie ’22 is running for Senator for Off-Campus Students because she understands the frustrations of living off campus, according to her candidate biography. Some of her goals, if elected, would be to advocate for better transportation, new meal plan packages, and more inclusion for offcampus students in campus activities. Xie did not respond to a request for comment from the Justice.

Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program Senator (1 seat)

If elected senator of the MKTYP, Erik Lambrecht ’23 said he would focus on fostering engagement and giving a greater voice to students in the program, per his candidate biography. He also said he intends to increase awareness of the program among non-MKTYP students and to communicate its members’ contributions to the greater Brandeis community. Lambrecht did not respond to the Justice’s request for comment. Zayquan Lewis ’23 is running for senator of the MKTYP because he wants to be “a part of a team that creates change for the student body,” he wrote in an email to the Justice. If elected, Lewis plans to focus on funding University projects, clubs and scholarships, as well as “issues that concern students directly, such as housing and transportation,” he said in an email to the Justice.

Racial Minority Senator (1 seat)

Joyce Huang ’22 is running uncontested for the position of Racial Minority senator. As a Chinese American raised in a predominantly white community, she said she “understand[s] how race affects people and how it affects other people’s image of you,” she told the Justice in an interview. An initiative she plans to push forward is the creation of an anonymous confession page through which students can report race-related incidents and submit their concerns about race dynamics on campus. The submissions “are not to be published,” she said. “They’re just for me to take in and create initiatives out of.”

Two-Semester Representative Allocations Board (2 seats)

Bob Corpening ’21 said in his cam-

paign biography that he will “ensure clubs that dream bigger and push their limits get the funding and support they need.” Emma Fiesinger ’23 is running for Allocations Board to increase ease of access to funding and “to guarantee that clubs receive the funding they need in order to function properly and allow [their] members to have fun in their chosen environment,” she wrote in her candidate biography. “I want students to be well-informed of how club funding works on campus, so I plan to make the process as transparent as possible,” she wrote in an email to the Justice on Saturday. Vicky Liu ’23 is running for ABoard to help ensure that “every club and organization on campus has an equal chance to receive funding,” according to her campaign biography. She told the Justice that as her high school Head of Ambassadors, she coordinated events and trained other ambassadors, which gave her valuable lessons on cooperation and leadership. Steven Luo ’21 said in his campaign biography that his main goal as A-Board representative would be to improve the efficiency of money distribution, thus reducing the work needed to obtain funding for clubs. Luo emphasized communication in his campaign biography, calling for the student body to “not hesitate to reach out to me for any questions or concerns.” Jordy Piñero ’23 expressed his love for the “inclusive and supportive community atmosphere” of Brandeis in his candidate biography. If elected, Piñero said he hopes to understand both the student and departmental perspectives in regards to allocations and to suggest club links and mergers to remove overlap, per his candidate biography.

Two-Semester Racial Minority Representative to Allocations Board (1 seat)

Marshall Smith ’21 is running for his second term as minority representative to A-Board. He says that his motto in life is “work yields rewards,” and that he has followed this motto throughout his time at Brandeis, according to his candidate biography. Smith said he is looking forward to returning to the A-Board and to helping create a “positive campus life environment,” per his candidate biography.

Three-Semester Representative to Allocations Board (1 seat)

Rebecca Shaar ’21 is running unopposed for senator for Three Semester Representative to A-Board. She previously served on A-Board for three semesters and was co-chair for the Spring 2019 semester. She also served as a club chairman and wrote in her candidate biography that this has given her the ability to “sympathize with and understand the perspective of club leaders.” Shaar wrote in her candidate biography, “I believe my experience would ensure a seamless transition going into the Fall semester.” —Editor’s Note: Trevor Filseth is a senior staff writer for the Justice’s Forum section.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019 ● FEATURES ● THE JUSTICE

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VERBATIM | MARIANNE WILLIAMSON “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”

ON THIS DAY…

FUN FACT

In 1993, The X-Files premiered on Fox.

Hot and cold water sound different when poured.

Not-so-hidden Figures For Ghanim, computers aren’t enough. She wants to code community. By VICTOR FELDMAN JUSTICE EDITOR

Women majoring in computer science are a rare sight on university campuses across the U.S. While computer science research jobs are growing exponentially, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that women only earn 18 percent of all bachelor’s degrees in computer science awarded by American universities. In the workplace, this has translated to a decline in female computer science professionals since the 1990s, and there is little to indicate a shift in this trend. The Justice spoke to one Brandeis student who is on a mission to change that. Lina Ghanim is a Brandeis senior from Jerusalem working on her master’s degree in International Finance and Economics at the Brandeis International Business School. When she’s not in business and computer science classes, she’s probably writing computer code in Java. “What can I say — I just love coding,” Ghanim admitted, laughing. Coming to Brandeis marked a major turning point in Ghanim’s life. Growing up, she never considered the idea that she could turn her love of coding into a business. She said, “Brandeis and the people here have helped me want to become a businesswoman, something that seemed unachievable back in Jerusalem.” Over the past three years, Ghanim has embarked on a mission to, as she puts it, “get girls into coding and computer science.” Dismayed by the relatively low number of women computer science majors at Brandeis, Ghanim tries to encourage everyone she meets with who are interested in computers to enroll in an entry-level class. But she acknowledges that there are real hurdles for women to overcome in the field. The world of computer science and coding wasn’t always dominated by men. Back in the 1960s, before Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology offered computer science majors, women were at the forefront of developing the first personal computers and computer languages to go along with them. Among these pioneers was Mary Allen Wilkes, a researcher at MIT who dreamed of being a litigator but pivoted to computer science because the field was more equitable toward women. Wilkes ended up working on the first personal computer called LINC after MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory. In the ’60s, writing code wasn’t considered a high-minded task, but rather a secondary job. As such, many of the first technological giants, like IBM, often filled their computer programming departments

Graphic Courtesy of Creative Commons. Design: Sara Fulton/the Justice.

with women employees. In 1984, the number of women receiving bachelor’s degrees in computer science peaked at 37 percent. Ghanim thinks a major reason for the gender disparity in computer science has to do with the pervasive view that women cannot handle the rigor of computer science classes. She said, “I’ve met a lot of girls on campus who would like to code, but are scared to enroll in any CS classes for fear they might fail. Many of these people I’ve spoken to have been told that coding is difficult and that the hours are too long for women, but that’s completely untrue.” Ghanim said that she encourages women to take a chance on coding and to “not be afraid of failure.” When talking about coding with new students on campus, Ghanim often refers to her own story of how she found coding. When she first started coding, she recalls feeling stranded and alone. “I didn’t realize how many resources there are for women coders,” she explained. Searching for a way to meet other women coders, Ghanim began attending software engineering conferences across the country. At the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, an annual conference named after the inventor of one of the first programming languages used by the U.S. Navy, Ghanim met and interviewed with a recruiter. That meeting soon led to an internship at PayPal this past summer, where Ghanim worked in the company’s San Jose office on machine learning. When she talks about that experience, her eyes light up. For Ghanim, coding is an almost sacred act, and perfecting her code is akin to a painter refining their brushstrokes or a composer putting the final touches on an orchestration. “There is something special about writing code, she

Photo Courtesy of LINA GHANIM

GRACE HOPPER CELEBRATION: Sponsored by AnitaB.org, this celebration of women in technology helped Ghanim get her foot in the door of the programming world.

said. “It’s a language, but also an art. Coding allows you to create something all on your own and you don’t even have to be that good at it.” In keeping with her mission to bring more women students in computer science, Ghanim recently founded the Women in Computer Science club where she hopes to create a community on campus for women who are interested in coding to find the support needed to get started. In addition, Ghanim is the president for the Brandeis chapter of Girls Who Code, a national organization whose mission statement is to “close the gender gap in technology and to change the image of what a programmer looks like and does.” While Ghanim is still trying to get WICS off the ground, she is optimistic about the future. “We’re making progress every day. Coding helped me find my voice, and I can help you too.”

THE JUSTICE ● FEATURES ● TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

Step 1: Graduate. Step 2: Get Elected. For Angel Henriquez ’22, D.C. isn’t just the capital: It’s home. By ELIANA PADWA JUSTICE EDITOR

Angel Henriquez ’22 is a devoted fan of the Washington, D.C. football team, but won’t say the team’s name aloud because “it’s disrespectful, and the name should be changed.” Since the 2016 presidential election, Henriquez has stopped wearing team gear and decided the only way to challenge the inequity around him is to become the first Latino member of the D.C. city council — but not the last. Henriquez plans to run after graduating Brandeis and to work his way into mayoral office eventually. In the meantime, the Brandeis sophomore spends his breaks working in local Washington politics, is working remotely with a nonprofit, and has “made a name for [him]self” at home, he told the Justice in an interview. Henriquez’s political awakening came about after the 2016 election, when he was 16. He had felt there was “no way” Trump could win, and felt afterward that “this country [had] stepped backwards instead of forwards.” In reaction, he began organizing through a group called Critical Exposure. CE taught him organizing and photography skills, helping him showcase injustices he saw. Then, Henriquez helped organize fellow young people in D.C. to voice concerns to the mayor in a forum through the nonprofit Mikva Challenge D.C. “I told [the mayor] I was going to take her job,” he said, adding, “She didn’t like it. She was so in shock.” Henriquez’s main focus is civic engagement and outreach within the Washington Latinx community. He feels they “need to understand that [the D.C. government] is here for them, … is here to serve them.” He first learned about local politics through Mikva Challenge D.C., which secured him an internship with Charles Allen, a D.C. city councilor. Allen “showed [Henriquez] the ins and outs of the D.C. Council.” Henriquez presented Allen with a plan to help engage the Latinx community, and hopes Allen will take action. Henriquez also cares deeply about immigration, saying that though Washington is a sanctuary city, Murial Bowser, the mayor, does not enforce those protections. Henriquez’s other major talking points in-

Photo Courtesy of ANGEL HENRIQUEZ

“I WILL TAKE YOUR JOB”: Henriquez feels that if politicians aren’t serving their people well, a new generation of young politicians will rightfully take their places. clude issues which affect “people of color in general”: Affordable housing and fighting gentrification, stopping police and gun violence, and providing resources. Specific policies he wants to enact include building “actual” affordable housing — the city is barely affordable despite the mayor’s efforts, according to Henriquez — and offering District residents priority in hiring processes, as opposed to spending the District’s $14 minimum wage on Maryland and Virginia residents. He also helped lobby to lower the voting age to 16 in Washington, and is passionate about providing opportunities for young people. D.C. statehood is another important issue for Henriquez; he’s proud of demonstrating why he feels it is important, and displaying why D.C. residents deserve their own representation. Henriquez credits his high school with helping set him on his current path. School precollege programs helped him intern at

the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, which taught him to about “being civically active, not be[ing] silent when injustice is occurring, not being a bystander.” A precollege counselor also connected him with Critical Exposure, telling him, “You have the passion. … You could do this, you’re a rebel without a cause.” He had wanted to become politically active, but without the community organizing skills he learned, “you automatically fail” in politics. Henriquez loves his home city and, even once elected, he plans to remain “humble.” He hopes to stay among his constituents, saying if he represents his community, he must “live with the people, go to work with the people, eat with the people.” Asked about loving Washington from a distance and remaining politically engaged while at Brandeis, Henriquez said it is tough but “at the end of the day, [he is] here to reach [his] end goal, which is the D.C. Council.”

He misses the city — the food, the music. Discussing gentrification changing neighborhoods, Henriquez said, “If you’re coming to live in OUR city, you don’t tell us what we can do.” Talking about a favorite drink at home, Rock Creek Soda, Henriquez noted that it used to cost 99 cents, but now sells for $1.99, an example of how gentrification is “really hitting D.C.” He makes an effort to stay in touch with the city while away, noting that he has many opportunities to “stay active.” Currently, he is working on an unnamed candidate’s political campaign and partnering with a nonprofit. The distance from Washington during the school year is “a curse … and a great time,” because he is able to step back a bit. Henriquez also has strong ties to El Salvador, where his parents were born. They both immigrated to the U.S. in the 1980s, meeting here as they fled civil war. Henriquez follows politics in El Salvador, noting that the current administration have incorporated a progressive punitive system: “They have zero tolerance [for gang violence] but they are arresting them and making them build houses, … making them do hard labor for money.” He hopes to visit one day, saying, “That’s the dream.” At Brandeis, Henriquez has found a lot of support from fellow members of the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program, friends, and others: “They really like the work, they really like the passion.” Henriquez is on the executive board for the Brandeis Latinx Club and is a member of the Men of Color Alliance. He’s proud of spreading an image of the District that extends beyond the monuments, he said.

Photo Courtesy of ANGEL HENRIQUEZ

CHARLES ALLEN: Henriquez spent two summers interning with councilor Charles Allen, who has been a mentor figure for him.

Design: Grace Sun/the Justice, Noah Zeitlin/the Justice

10 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019 ● FORUM ● THE JUSTICE

Justice

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Brandeis University

Jocelyn Gould, Editor in Chief Jen Geller, Managing Editor Avraham Penso and Natalia Wiater, Senior Editors Andrew Baxter, Victor Feldman, Hannah Kressel, Yvette Sei, Judah Weinerman and Maya Zanger-Nadis, Associate Editors Emily Blumenthal and Gilda Geist, Acting News Editors Eliana Padwa, Interm Features Editor Gabriel Frank, Forum Editor, Megan Geller, Sports Editor Luke Liu, Acting Arts & Culture Editor, Noah Zeitlin, Photography Editor Yael Hanadari-Levy, Layout Editor River Hayes, Copy Editor, Lily Schmidt-Swartz, Interim Copy Editor

EDITORIALS

Workday improves campus, yet has issues Over the summer, the University transitioned to Workday, a portal that functions as a one-stop shop for students and other campus employees to log work hours, maintain a record of their financial transactions, view paychecks and have a seamless space for working multiple jobs. It can also be useful when requesting an absence, accessing work benefits and finding a job on campus. This board commends the University for its use of Workday and its attempt to provide employees and community members with a safe, reliable and easy-to-use interface for all things concerning on-campus jobs. However, Workday is plagued with numerous quality-of-life issues that make its use difficult and cumbersome to adjust to, especially for students who do not necessarily have time to devote to learning the nuances of the program. Previously, a student employee had to fill out a physical timesheet, have it signed and dropped off at a different location, sometimes far away from the student’s workplace, creating problems for those with tight schedules. With Workday, employees can submit their time and have it approved online. If the employer is comfortable with it, one can also log the week’s work hours of the week after Friday and log future hours, which is a convenient feature to ensure a well-documented and compensated work week. Additionally, Workday has a responsive help email — workdayhelp@brandeis.edu — which can be a resource for students. The University Information and Technology Services office is helpful in answering questions

about the software. In this regard, Workday effectively simplifies the way work on campus is recognized and compensated. However, students have found problems with searching through the massive number of things Workday claims to manage. For instance, one has to search for very specific phrases to find certain tasks, such as searching “payment elections” to set up or make changes to direct deposit. This is inconvenient to anyone wishing to simply deposit and save their hardearned money. On the one hand, Workday is an efficient piece of software in that it standardizes how employees log hours for their payroll. Conversely, it does not prominently display one’s hourly wage for a given job, only on the payslips for each week. In addition, payslips and tax documents from the pre-Workday era are not available — or at least, none of the editors have found them after extensively searching and browsing the Workday help site. This is ironic, considering it is an application centered around finding the most important documents surrounding one’s job. On an application that consolidates nearly every aspect of one’s employment on campus, exclusions such as those described above are problematic. Ways to confront the lack of access to vital information concerning one’s wages and taxes include hosting more training sessions for employees required to use the software and in-app tutorials for navigating access to important documents and logging hours.

HARRISON PAEK/ the Justice

Views the News on

On May 1, the activist group #StillConcernedStudents voiced its concerns about persistent diversity, equity and inclusion issues at Brandeis despite Ford Hall 2015’s demands. Last week, University Provost Lisa Lynch sent out an email discussing numerous administrative efforts and reforms, such as to provide a holistic review of students’ mental health needs, improve the scheduling of room inspections, increase equitable access to transportation services, reform DCL and Public Safety policies and modify the regulation of protest banners on campus. What are your thoughts on these changes? Do you think that the administration is doing enough to address the demands of the #StillConcernedStudents? If you think more work needs to be done, what additional changes should be made?

Zosia Busé ’20 I, like many others, am frustrated that it took students having to demonstrate and put their physical and emotional labor on the line to get change underway, but I truly believe the University listened and hope that they continue to. As the Senior Representative to the Board of Trustees, I have a heightened understanding of administrative processes and the length of time it takes for changes to be implemented. I was shocked that the University was able to create an action plan and present tangible changes in three short months. I believe their efforts represent a dedication to the larger goals of the demonstration. From an internal perspective, I am confident that the changes do not stop here, but I do think that significant reform will take time. Raymond Lu-Ming Ou, our new VPSA, is acutely aware of the #StillConcernedStudents movement and is dedicated to continuing to support necessary changes to improve the physical and emotional well-being of students of color. Moreover, the President’s task forces are also engaged in producing proposals to take action with respect to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. I encourage the University to continue to engage in dialogue with the #StillConcernedStudents and to remain dedicated to honoring our founding values of social justice and embracing diversity. Zosia Busé is a Senior Representative to the Board of Trustees,a Head Advisor to the Department of Community Living, and an Undergraduate Departmental Representative for the Peace, Conflict and Coexistence Studies major.

Sodexo contract expiration leaves room for growth

In June 2020, the University’s contract with Sodexo is set to expire. In the meantime, the University will be developing a Request for Proposals, during which the University will compile a list of requests for the next contract that they make with any food vendor. Community input will be taken into account through town-hall-style forums in September and October. This board commends the University for seeking the Brandeis community’s opinions when choosing its next steps — whether it is improving our contract with Sodexo or choosing a new vendor — and has some suggestions for the University’s next contract. Currently, any student who lives on campus is required to have a meal plan of some type, whether it be a weekly or block plan. This includes students who live in suites with their own kitchens. For example, this means that students who live in the Charles River Apartments are required to make a ten-minute walk or wait for the Bran Van just to make sure they are using the meal plan they were required to purchase. This board suggests that in the University’s next food vendor contract, a student should not be required to have a meal plan if their suite has a kitchen. In a Sept. 4 interview with the Justice, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Stew Uretsky said that the University is looking into this option, and we urge them to prioritize this in their contract negotiations. On a similar note, this board encourages the University to consider a points-only meal plan open to all students, not just

those who live off-campus. This additional option would allow students to use their money and the dining options on campus as they please. Additionally, making the commuter meal plans available to all students would increase flexibility so students can purchase only what they want to use. Another way to grant students more dining options would be for the University to reconsider what counts as a meal swipe when students are not in Sherman or Lower Usdan. Implementing a meal swipe option at Currito and including protein in meal-swipe salads from Sub Connection would give students more options for using their meal swipes. For Brandeis in particular, kosher dining is and will continue to be a large part of student life on campus. For students who maintain kosher diets — a sizable portion of the school’s population — a number of additional restrictions must be taken into account to provide students with an acceptable quality and variety of meals. Increasing the vegetarian options on meat days is one easy way to improve Kosher dining. This board encourages the University to keep this in mind during the selection process; choosing a vendor with experience serving a range of Kosher food will ensure high-quality dining for a significant portion of the student population. As the University researches vendors and explores options for how they might improve their partnership with Sodexo, this board encourages the University to continue to be transparent in the process and actively reach out to the community for suggestions.

Noah Zeitlin ’22 The #StillConcernedStudents concerns have not been fully met by the University’s administrators. While those involved in the protests believe that they are making reasonable demands, the emails that were sent out to the Brandeis community do not show that an immediate change will happen in the near future. Some of the demands include a more sensitive transportation option than a police cruiser for non-emergent situations and clear announcements by DCL prior to room inspections. I believe that the University should have spent more attention and resources to these issues than marginally altering its already great logo. However, I do believe that the transportation that the University is offering during breaks will be beneficial to students who do not have the resources to go home. Noah Zeitlin is a Photography Editor for the Justice and a prospective American Studies Major.

Judah Weinerman ’20 On the one hand, the changes made by the University are worthwhile improvements: in particular, the reforms made to room inspection scheduling and conduct are an important step towards making campus a welcoming environment for students of all backgrounds. However, I feel that these are not so much changes as they are concessions, and the core complaint of #StillConcernedStudents — that Brandeis fails to fully live up to the social justice precepts upon which it stands — has yet to be fully addressed. In particular, I believe that the university continues to undermine the right of campus activist groups to protest, particularly those involved with issues of racial inequality and divestment at the University. More should be done before Brandeis can claim that all of its students, regardless of background, are having their needs met. Judah Weinerman is an associate editor for the Justice majoring in History and Sociology. Photos: Zosia Buse; Sarah Katz/the Justice; Justice File Photo

THE JUSTICE ● FORUM ● TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

Global politics shouldn’t serve one particular interest By JOSHUA ALDWINCKLE-POVEY JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

President Thomas Jefferson once stated that one of the original aims of the United States was to be peaceful with other nations, “entangling alliances with none.” Those who know U.S. history will know that the U.S. avoided foreign entanglements for a long time. But from the 1930s onward, this way of life was to be no more. From the Great Depression and the Dawes and Young Plans, to modern day administrations, the U.S. has fully embraced its position as good old ‘Uncle Sam’ for the world, attempting to force its ideas and beliefs on the world — sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. Yet, no administration has adopted this approach quite as literally and directly as the administration currently in the White House, and nobody quite as personally as the current Commander in Chief. The New York Times put it best when they described the interaction between the U.S. and Denmark over the summer as starting like “something out of The Onion,” and indeed, it did actually start as a joke. Trump began to express serious interest in the territory in part because of its abundance of natural resources like coal and uranium, alongside its potential for national security—its proximity to the United States puts it in a prime position for such a use. In particular Trumpian fashion, he asked if the United States could purchase the territory, and Denmark promptly replied, “No.” So Trump responded by branding the Danish Prime Minister “nasty,” a favourite insult of his. The whole ordeal created a spat between the U.S. and a close ally and fellow member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Speaking of political spats between longtime allies and the Trump administration, my own home country of the United Kingdom has found itself subject to U.S. brute force a la Trump. I’ve heard plenty of hot takes from home and abroad about London’s own precarious political situation, but the current

one involves open doors for new opportunities. It’s worth remembering that the U.S. does not currently have a trade deal with the European Union, so of course Trump sees an opportunity for a new Special Trade Relationship — under which he told the British press that the National Health Service (NHS), Britain’s state run health service, would be on the table in negotiations—that is to say, NHS services could be up for privatization under U.S. firms. He quickly backtracked in a television interview with Piers Morgan, seemingly in response to failing to realize the importance of the NHS to the British people and how little we wanted it privatized. Plus, who can forget Trump’s “diplomacy by Tweet” tear-down of Theresa May and subsequent support of Boris Johnson. I wonder why. Perhaps because of Boris’ “do or die” commitment to Brexit by the end of October, and the opportunities that creates for Trump and his diplomatic conquest. It’s on this last point that I take serious issue with the current administration. America has been attempting to push its ideals onto the world for decades, from pushing to buy Greenland to pushing for the independent red, white and blue land. Trump takes such an issue with the EU because it acts as a block through which several nations can make their position known to the rest of the world — after all, there is strength in numbers. Greenland would present a substantial resource for the U.S, hence Trump’s obsession with purchasing it. The ongoing trade spat with China, in my view, has nothing to do with protecting U.S. work, but protecting U.S. interests — to concede is to demote America’s place in the world. And frankly, it has got to stop. The world has moved considerably away from the days of nation unto nation, domination on domination. In the world of modern day problems, Trump would do well to stop isolating the U.S. from the rest of the world and trying to exert U.S. diplomatic muscle over other nations, but to instead

MEGAN GELLER /the Justice

come to terms with the diverse world that exists today. Instead of dismissing the EU, work with it to create an alliance to tackle the challenges facing the planet: climate change (although we have a whole other issue on that front), the impending threat posed by nuclear war and, yes, even trade. It’s time to end this reckless kind of diplomacy that will only harm the U.S. in the long run. There is no place in the world today for the return of Uncle Sam and his upperhand approach to other nations, pushing them the way of the United States. And let’s be clear — the U.S. has political might. Since the days of dollar imperialism through to the world as we know it today, where domination can come in lots of different flavors, from technology to simple foreign policy. Nobody is saying the U.S.

doesn’t have political might, but the question is whether they should be using it. I say categorically that the time has come to start using it responsibly, to start using it in a way to create real change in the world, rather than amassing more power. Quite frankly, the U.S. already has plenty of it. Think of the potential that could be harnessed if used properly. Instead, the U.S. continues to pursue what can only be called expansionism, both in terms of land and in terms of soft power. The time has come for a total shift of ideas and policy; though something tells me we could be waiting a while. And you should trust me. I know a thing or two about countries believing they have more power than they do. I’m British.

Artificial intelligence’s influence raises many ethical problems By TAHIR ABBAS SPECIAL TO THE JUSTICE

In 1942, Isaac Asimov formulated the Three Laws of Robotics. First, a robot must not harm a humanbeing. Second, a robot must obey the orders that a human gives it. Third, a robot may protect its own existence, so long as this protection does not conflict with the first and second laws. Let us analyze how these laws apply to the current situation, when big data and artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly prevalent and their misuse is gaining momentum. AI’s history dates back to the 1950s. It began with the hypothesis that a machine is capable of thinking like a human brain. Progress started in the 1970s when game theory and experimental psychology, two fields driving the innovation of intelligent machines, enormously influenced the field of AI. In the 1990s, it flourished tremendously when IBM’s Deep Blue supercomputer won a game of chess against the world champion, Garry Kasparov. A big shift in AI’s development occurred in 2010 with the influx of huge amounts of data, commonly known as big data. AI runs on vast amount of data. With the advent of social media, data in the form of text, photos and videos has become widely available. This paradigm gave rise to new technologies such as social media networks, streaming applications and numerous other data-related services. Data science has become an emerging field of research and development. Consequently, the usage of big data is increasing exponentially. This situation has created some unexpected scenarios where AI experts have to face non-technical issues, which I discuss below. AI-based systems have opened tremendous opportunities for business innovation and profit in nearly every aspect of the global economy. From self-driving cars, finding locations via GPS, diagnosing diseases, education, healthcare, law enforcement and mass employment, the proliferation of AI systems in the social domain is growing at an astonishing rate. AI systems use big data from prison management systems and decide which prisoners can be released on bail. Similarily, AI systems are being employed to expand surveillance services by private and

government agencies. While AI-based systems are reshaping and impacting the lives of millions of people every day, these services remain unchecked due to a lack of proper processes and accountability. There is significant evidence suggesting that AI systems harm the environment, exacerbate the climate crisis and encode biases. For instance, Amazon, Microsoft and Google have made multi-million dollar deals with oil and gas extraction companies to provide automation and AI-related services. Along with its promises, AI systems have given rise to a whole range of technical, social, ethical and legal challenges. Take, for example, self-driving cars. The idea of self-driving cars seems very promising and convenient, yet can result in tragic and preventable casualties. Many big companies such as Google and Agro1 are investing in ridesharing services and are planning to launch patented driverless cars. However, the industry’s confidence wavered when a self-driving car owned by Uber killed an Arizona woman in 2018. Another case involved the deaths of three Tesla drivers who were killed when the auto-pilot system failed to avoid a crash. The industry aims to keep the features mainly unregulated and unproven on the real-world roads. The AI-based systems built in driverless cars were not good enough to interpret the stop signs, make sharp turns and ability to recognize traffic signals. In 2015, Google image recognition system powered by AI notoriously classified photos of several Black people as photos of gorillas. In 2017, Apple introduced the iPhone X, which has facial recognition technology. Customers reported that the phone could not distinguish Chinese faces from one another. Microsoft created a Twitterbot called Tay that took only 12 hours to become a disturbingly misogynistic and hate-spewing dumpster fire. These issues arose because of biased data sampling and racism, both of which affect the programming of AI systems. AI also poses an issue of spreading disinformation. In 2017, there was a widespread campaign against the White Helmets humanitarian volunteers to name the organization as a Western proxy working in Syria to incite rebellion. According to the New

York Times’ investigative reporting in Brazil, YouTube’s recommendation engine, powered by AI, had been recommending far-right, radical content, influencing peoples’ political ideologies in favor of the Brazilian government. AI-powered systems were involved in election rigging allegations by Cambridge Analytica in the 2016 U.S. elections. Instances of the corrupted and harmful effects of AI make the problem of regulating it bigger and more difficult to resolve. In 2017, teachers in Houston sued the school administration for requiring the use of a computer program which compared students’ standardized test scores with the state average. Some teachers felt that the system unfairly penalized teachers for student test performance. The company which builds the algorithm did not disclose its secret. Furthermore, the complex mathematical formulas and neural networks built in the form of algorithms are incomprehensible and teachers cannot challenge the results. The designers of AI use very complex neural networks, and they may not explain how the decisions are made. The judge ruled that use of the Education Value-Added Assessment System violated the teachers’ civil rights, and the teachers prevailed. Similarly, in 2018, Amazon Warehouse workers in Minneapolis staged protests against Amazon’s automated management system and Uber drivers launched a nation-wide protest in the U.S. The laws such as the European General Data Protection Regulation, adopted in April 2016, and brought into effect in May 2018 and in the U.S., the California Consumer Privacy Act, passed in 2018 will come into effect in 2020 are important and deal with AI: one addresses data privacy; the second is regulation that affects automated decisions. In the military, the use of AI poses many challenges, which oftentimes cross ethical and moral boundaries. For instance, the most concerning issue regarding AI in the military is the use of Lethal Autonomous Weapons, which are AI-driven machines that can autonomously, and without human input, attack people. Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Amazon have faced criticism for their involvements in military influenced projects. Google had to terminate its

project Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure because of public outcry. The JEDI contract, issued by the U.S. Department of Defense, was worth $10 billion and was meant to transform the military’s computing systems. The project faced criticism because of the way it captures and exploits data to fight. Activists, journalists and researchers have raised concerns about the potential hazards of AI in both the technological and social domains. Data is gathered from social media, dating websites, restaurant cameras and college campuses. AI systems have brought changes in nearly every aspect of our society that are difficult, if not impossible, to measure. New legislation is required to ensure public safety and the reliability of safe and controllable AI systems. These systems are being controlled by a handful of tech giants whose corporate interests are not aligned with those of the public. It is necessary for lawmakers to enact such laws that hold AI systems accountable. Bribed with large salaries, the programmers often perform as their employers want them to and hardly discuss the potential downsides of their products. In addition, AI has become an interdisciplinary field and has influenced other social domains. The field should not solely be in the hands of computer science and engineering. Faculty and students in the computer and engineering science departments at universities are not often trained in AI’s use in social contexts. Deeper understanding from the field of social sciences and humanities is needed in spaces where AI systems are applied to human populations. Political representatives must investigate the intentions of the tech companies and enact legislation to establish the boundaries of influence for the tech giants and provide better awareness for the public. After Cambridge Analytica’s role in the 2016 elections, AI companies must be checked for their interference in the public’s ability to make decisions whose consequences will be widespread and last for decades. Autonomous weapons may be beneficial in the short term, but if AI becomes advanced enough to make its own decisions, then it is very dangerous for the existence of humankind.

The opinions expressed on this page are those of each article’s respective author and do not reflect the viewpoint of the Justice.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019● FORUM ● THE JUSTICE

FORUM

Hong Kong protests should teach democracies a lesson By ABIGAIL CUMBERPATCH JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The democratic liberties experienced in the United States are easy to take for granted. Many Americans are not afraid to voice their opinions regarding the state of the government, the actions of the president, or new legislation that is expected to pass. After all, our current society was formed through the fiery personalities that resulted in long lasting change. These days, the idea of physical protests have transformed into popular Twitter rants. Nevertheless, we aren’t afraid of being threatened or arrested if we criticize the actions of the government. It’s in both our blood and our constitution; but for those currently living in mainland China and Hong Kong, speaking up is equivalent to risking your life. Over the summer, the political unrest in Hong Kong seemed to resemble the state of America in the late 20th century. The civil rights and feminist movements that embodied much of that time were conceived from minority groups. Although the causes of the Hong Kong riots vastly differ from those of the 1960s civil rights protests, a common theme links the two together: fear that if you speak out against mistreatment, you will be punished. But how much discomfort can individuals handle before they are driven to the brink of insanity? Is it worth risking your life for what’s right as opposed to suffering in silence? While the reasons behind protests can be complex, they all send the same message: “We are people, we want to be seen, we want to be heard and this is the only way.” Oftentimes, protests beget violence, and that is precisely what is occurring on the streets of Hong Kong. It’s no secret that the relationship between Hong Kong and mainland China is tumultuous. The communist influences of China’s government threaten to undermine Hong Kong’s democracy. Currently, the political upheaval in Hong Kong is largely due to Chief Executive’s Carrie Lam’s proposal of the Extradition Bill, which would allow the Hong Kong government to approve of requests from other countries for the extradition of criminal suspects, including countries that do not have an extradition treaty such as mainland China. Those speaking out against the bill worry that individuals will be unjustly subjected to unfair trials and torture under China’s judicial system. Furthermore, it puts Hong Kong residents who work on the mainland at risk, especially those who document social and political issues such as human rights lawyers, activists and journalists, among others. Within Lam’s proposal of the Extradition Bill, we continue to see China’s growing influence into the affairs of Hong Kong. The two governments run on differing political ideologies; China remains a communist, totalitarian state, while Hong Kong practices a limited form of democracy. With this in mind, the concerns of Hong Kongers are not dramatized. If they differ in political

HARRISON PAEK/ the Justice

ideologies, common sense leads anyone to believe that their judicial treatment will differ as well. As Hong Kongers took to the streets to display their outrage against the extradition bill, the reason for these protests has morphed into something larger. Not only are Hong Kongers furious about the bill, but they want attention brought to police brutality and the state of Hong Kong’s democracy. Protestors want the police to be held accountable for their treatment of civilians as well as an increase in democratic freedoms. Does this sound familiar? This is the same story told in different forms throughout the history of America. Oppressed individuals are tired of the mistreatment they receive from police. The government seems to do very little to resolve the issue, as protesters are being subdued by tear gas, rubber bullets and bean bag rounds like animals, and getting arrested for expressing nothing but their opinions. Do the 1992 LA riots ring a bell? What about the 1963 Children’s Crusade in Birmingham? Or more recently, protests over the tragic deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown at the hands of police officers? While advancements in society should be praised, we also need to question whether or not we have come far enough. One look

at the news shows that recurring issues in history are being brought to the surface and people are tempted to speak out about it. We can use the issues occuring in Hong Kong as an example, but we need not look far because turmoil is brewing right here in America. Images are important for relations between countries. So, how are other countries reacting to the turmoil brewing in China’s unruly child? China itself has painted the protests as a symbol of terrorism. Chinese citizens are ill-informed of the protests occurring in Hong Kong against their own government. Coverage of the situation has dubbed protesters “violent” or “criminal” when in reality most of the protests held are intended to be peaceful. A spokesman for the city’s affairs is quoted as saying, “They have already constituted serious violent crimes and have begun to show signs of terriorism.” The Chinese media has negatively portrayed every aspect of the situation in Hong Kong to ensure that there is no chance for support on the mainland to develop. China is used to being in control of all situations and how they are perceived by its people. However, this time the government won’t get its way because protestors are serious about invoking change. The American and British governments

have also issued their own statements regarding the political unrest in Hong Kong. President Trump claims that the Chinese government is going to physically intervene soon. He also says that “everyone should be calm and safe!” and hopes “nobody gets killed.” As for Britain, Twitter has been famously used to convey concern. A member of parliament, Tom Tugendhat tweeted, “This [offering Hong Kongers full citizenship rights] should have been done in 1997 and is a wrong that needs correcting.” As the Hong Kongers took a page out of our book, should we take a page out of theirs and continue to protest until we get the treatment and respect we deserve from the establishment? Protestors have requested that Carrie Lam withdraw proposal of the Extradition Bill and resign from her position. On Sept. 4, part of that dream became a reality when Lam announced an end to the Extradition Bill. She claims to have done this largely to calm the anger of the masses. Many protesters have labeled this action as “too little, too late,” which begs the question, will the Hong Kong government ever satisfy the desires of the protesters, or will the riots continue until they do?

Campus landscaping is in desperate need of improvement By VANDITA WILSON JUSTICE CONTRIBUTUNG WRITER

I walk a lot. For the past few years, my average step count has hovered near 20,000 per day. When I started my MBA program at the Brandeis International Business School (IBS) last fall, I vowed that I would not change this good habit, and I prioritized it over many other things. Walking helps me with so many things, so I decided that taking walks would be the best way to familiarize myself with the campus as well. Mind you, I’m from California. When I used to walk there, I trudged across flat, long stretches of roads and sidewalks, with nary a pedestrian in sight. I was the queen of my domain. By contrast, the sidewalks of Brandeis, especially those that criss-cross the interior of the campus, were virtually impassable between classes. So I decided to walk only while classes were in session, avoiding the sidewalk traffic delays, and to stick to the campus loop. To get to this loop from the International Business School, I had to take the path up the hill, past the art buildings and the Spingold Theater Center. Each time I took this one and only path, I had to dodge the service trucks, golf carts, acorns, twigs, leaves and every other piece of yard rubbish, but at least this road was wide. Crossing the grass in front of the theater building, the sidewalk got so narrow, I wound up taking to walking on the grass to pass others, which then led me to getting my shoes stuck in the mud on more than one occasion. I also had to cross the street. This proved more treacherous than the leaves that nearly

caused me to fall due to a sudden rain storm (is there any other kind?) because they became so slippery once wet — just like stepping on a banana peel in a comic strip. Many drivers seemed oblivious to my pedestrian plight. The bold white hash marks were largely missing or were just ignored outright by the vehicles. Eventually, I made it across without being hit.

“

I do love the rustic look of the IBS landscape as much as the next hiker, but I much prefer it when I’m actually hiking in the woods, not on a suburban campus. I took each step gingerly because most sidewalks were uneven. and began to wonder why something had not been done to smooth the walkways or make the stone retaining walls more pedestrian friendly. Nowhere did I see any inviting Adirondack chairs, bench seating arrangements (other than at the shuttle stops) or even a water fountain. Where was the handy-dandy directional signage? I wondered what those with mobility challenges did when faced with these

unfriendly landscaping choices. At some points, I had to duck under lowhanging tree limbs not to get mauled. Despite my struggles, I did finally make it back to the business school not too banged up, but I wondered a lot about the landscaping. Who was in charge of it, and why was care not taken to at least clear paths for pedestrians? I do love the rustic look of the IBS landscape as much as the next hiker, but I much prefer it when I’m actually hiking in the woods, not on a suburban campus. Some of the sets of steps I encountered (near the Castle and at the theater building) were almost like rotting teeth that crumbled as I stepped on them. In my head, I compiled a laundry list of things that could be improved with just a little investment in better landscape architecture. I don’t mean to compare this to the other campus in Waltham, or to campuses in the greater Boston area, but the differences are too many to ignore. I read the facilities guide of Brandeis in comparison to other schools that shall remain unnamed, and, well, they even had better web sites talking about their superior landscaping! To wit, until the summer, one took one’s life into one’s own hands just to visit the statue of Justice Louis D. Brandeis. Most of the space around the chapels isn’t even pedestrian friendly; instead, it is more like a waterlogged wasteland. Walk around the moat and try not tripping over a carpenter ant. Better yet, walk along the backside of a building without proper illumination and see if that feels safe. And where is there any reasonable place to sit along even the most common of

The opinions expressed on this page are those of each article’s respective author and do not reflect the viewpoint of the Justice.

paths cutting a wide swath down the middle of campus? Where is the serenity promised by the many statues and works of art punctuating the landscape with their plaques? I’m not saying I’m an expert, but I have had to do some landscape maintenance for my parents back in California. From what I can see walking around, the trees have rarely been pruned, the hedges left unclipped and even the sod strips I saw hastily thrown down were not watered properly to have them take root. Edward Scissorhands would be horrified. Again, no need to turn things into a topiary garden, but if I can’t get to a reflection area to do proper reflecting (due to over-hedge or a sticks and stones styled pathway), then what’s the point of a reflection area. Nevermind that there’s no place to sit to even begin the reflection process. Don’t even get me started on the mulchification of the campus. Without properly preparing the soil, mulch usually just gets washed downhill, and I don’t need to tell anyone here about the “uphill in both directions” campus layout. I’m still confused as to why no one took a backhoe or excavator to the campus to even it out a bit. If the lovely wooded areas are inaccessible, it tends to limit my ability to enjoy them. I understand the constraints of working within a budget, and I’m certain Brandeis has highly trained arborists and landscape architects on retainer promoting the rustic ,back-to-nature aesthetic, but I would be glad to help with some sweeping and tree pruning here and there to simply …well… spruce up the place! I just need to borrow a few tools.

THE JUSTICE ● SPORTS ● TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

WSOCCER: Judges look eagerly on their success CONTINUED FROM 16 JWU’s five. In an interview with the Justice, senior Victoria Richardson explained, “I'm really excited to be back playing with my teammates again. We have such a close-knit team and love spending time together on and off the field. I think our unity is one of the reasons we excel.” Richardson added, “As always, our team looks to excel in the regular season and

WALLY THE GREEN MONSTER

postseason. One of our goals is to win the UAA. We have a lot of smaller specific goals this season to help us achieve our bigger goals and make sure we are on the right track.” The Judges return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m., where they will face the Clark University Cougars in Worcester, MA. Then, on Saturday, Sept. 14, they will be back at home on Gordon Field to face the Babson College Beavers at 1 p.m.

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FANCY FOOTWORK: Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster cheers on the team during a night game in 2018.

PRO: Boston Red Sox celebrate 2018 success CONTINUED FROM 16 excellence. Though nobody could have conceivably expected anything like the 119 wins the 2018 team provided, expectations were still sky high. However, questions began to surface even before the season started. The front office was unable to come to an agreement on a contract extension with American League MVP Mookie Betts for the second consecutive winter. The club decided not to resign future Hall of Famer and AllStar closer Craig Kimbrel balking at his asking price, and did not replace him with another backend reliever. Sale had struggled in the playoffs and had lingering injury issues with his pitching shoulder. Despite these question marks, most still expected great things out of what was almost the same team in

2019 as it was in 2018. The team started out 2–8 in its first 10 games, and panic started to set in among Red Sox Nation. While the team was able to bounce back and get over .500, the whole season has felt like two steps forward and one step back. Every time it seems the squad has turned a corner, crossed a bridge or gotten over the hump, they then take a step or two backwards. Last year’s sustained momentum and mentality of taking each series one at a time, winning the series and moving onto the next one, has been nowhere to be found. Now, with 22 games left in the season, it’s going to take a miracle for the Red Sox to find their way into the 2019 playoffs. 6.5 games out of the second wildcard, Sale out for the rest of the season and David Price struggling with injuries, the odds of earning a playoff berth are slim, and the odds of repeating as

world champions is even slimmer. Oct. 28, 2018 feels like it was forever ago. The image of John Henry and Tom Werner united with the team in celebration and joy is in the distant past in the minds of Red Sox Nation. Now, instead of asking who they’ll play in the American League Division Series as fans expect to ask at the start of September, the concerns of the fans relate to Mookie Betts’ potential availability on the trading block, Chris Sale’s elbow and President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski’s job security. There’s been a drastic shift in morale among Red Sox Nation in the past 11 months. It’s yet another example of how past successes won’t ever quench the thirst of such a passionate fanbase. And that, at the end of the day, is the reality of professional sports in Boston.

MSOCCER: Men’s soccer comes back strong with two wins after season’s first loss CONTINUED FROM 16 end up being the winning goal. Throughout the rest of the second period, the two teams traded scoring opportunities, but neither prevailed. Brandeis outshot Babson

18–9 with 9–6 shots on goal. Goalie Greg Irwin ’20 for the Judges had five saves in the game. In an interview with the Justice, sophomore Noah Gans explained, “We all have a bad taste in our mouths after last season, and this

offseason has felt like an eternity. So what I’m most excited for is just to get back on the field with the guys and compete against somebody other than ourselves. It's an opportunity to right the ship, and I’m pumped for it."

The Judges are now 5–2 in the last seven games against the Beavers, and this is the second straight 2–1 victory at home in the series. In addition, nine of the last 11 games between these two teams has been decided by a single goal.

The Judges return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 11 where they will be at home on Gordon Field to face the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Goats at 7 p.m.. Then, on Saturday, Sept. 14, the Judges will travel to Medford, MA to face the

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Contact Eliana Padwa at features@thejustice.org for more information. Illustration by MORGAN MAYBACK/the JUSTICE; Photos by ANDREW BAXTER/the Justice, ADAM PANN/the Justice, CLEMENTS PARK/the Justice, MORGAN BRILL/the Justice; NADIA ALAWA, IRA BORNSTEIN, CREATIVE COMMONS.

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Interested in music, theater, film, comedy or museums? Contact Luke Liu at arts@thejustice.org! Illustration by MORGAN MAYBACK/the Justice; Photos by YVETTE SEI/the Justice, CHELSEA MADERA/the Justice, NATALIA WIATER/the Justice, ANDREW BAXTER/the Justice, HEATHER SCHILLER/the Justice, SARAH KATZ/the Justice.

THE JUSTICE

JUDGES BY THE NUMBERS

● SPORTS ●

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 , 2019

VOLLEYBALL

MEN’S SOCCER UAA STANDINGS

TEAM STATS Goals

Will DeNight ’23 leads the team with two goals. UAA Conf. Overall Player Goals W L D W L D Pct. 2 JUDGES 0 0 0 3 1 0 .750 Will DeNight 1 Chicago 0 0 0 1 0 2 .667 Max Breiter 1 Case 0 0 0 2 1 1 .625 Noah Gans 1 Carnegie 0 0 0 2 2 0 .500 Jake Warren WashU 0 0 0 1 1 1 .500 Assists Emory 0 0 0 1 2 1 .375 Dylan Hennesy ’20 is tied for Rochester 0 0 0 1 2 0 .333 the team lead with 2 assist. NYU 0 0 0 0 4 0 .000 Player Assists Dylan Hennesy 2 UPCOMING GAMES: Adam Kulick 1 Colin Panarra 1 Wednesday vs. Worcester Polytechnic Institute Saturday at Tufts Univeristy

WOMEN’S SOCCER UAA STANDINGS

TEAM STATS Goals

UAA Conf. W L D Case 0 0 0 NYU 0 0 0 Rochester 0 0 0 WashU 0 0 0 JUDGES 0 0 0 Chicago 0 0 0 Carnegie 0 0 0 Emory 0 0 0

Overall W L D 4 0 0 3 1 0 3 1 0 3 1 1 2 1 0 2 1 0 2 1 1 1 1 0

Pct. 1.000 .750 .750 .700 .667 .667 .625 .500

UPCOMING GAMES: Tuesday at Clark University Saturday vs Tufts University

Juliette Carreiro ’22 leads the team with 4 goals. Player Goals Juliette Carreiro 4 Makenna Hunt 2 Morgan Clark 1 Lauren Mastandrea 1

Assists Jessica Herman ’23 leads the team with two assists. Player Assists Jessica Herman 2 Daria Bakhtiarti 1 Juliette Carreiro 1 Makenna Hunt 1

VOLLEYBALL UAA STANDINGS

TEAM STATS Kills

UAA Conf. W L Chicago 0 0 Rochester 0 0 NYU 0 0 JUDGES 0 0 Emory 0 0 Case 0 0 Carnegie 0 0 JUDGES 0 0

Overall W L Pct. 1 5 .167 6 0 1.000 7 0 1.000 6 1 .857 6 3 .667 6 2 .750 3 3 .500 7 1 .875

UPCOMING GAMES: Friday vs Bates University Saturday vs Worchester State University

Belle Scott ’21 leads the team with 65 kills. Player Kills Belle Scott 65 Emma Bartlet 57 Kaisa Newberg 48 Amelia Oppenheimer 39

THU LE/the Justice File Photo

DOUBLE DEFENSE: Marlee Nork ’19 and Kaisa Newberg ’22 provide towering defense against Bowdoin College on Sept. 8 2018.

Judges drop three at Coast Guard Invitational ■ After starting off strong, the Judges have lost all of their last three games to tough opponents. By MEGAN GELLER JUSTICE EDITOR

Digs Belle Scott ’21 leads the team with 58 digs. Player Digs Belle Scott 63 Emma Bartlet 61 Melissa Borgert 60

CROSS COUNTRY Results from the Wellesley College Inivitational on Aug. 30.

TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)

TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)

5-Kilometer Run RUNNER TIME Mark Murdy 16:42.6 Casey Brackett 16:56.9 Alec Rodgers 17:00.9

5-Kilometer Run RUNNER TIME Andrea Bolduc 18:59.2 Erin Magill 19:26.2 Danielle Bertaux 19:41.4

UPCOMING MEETS:

Sept. 21 at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Invitational

This past weekend, the Brandeis volleyball team suffered three lossess at the Connecticut College/U.S. Coast Guard Invitational held in New London, CT. Though the Judges fought hard and did not give way any easy points to their opponents, they just were not able to ultimately pull off a win. The Judges’ opening match on Sept. 6 was against the DeSales University Bulldogs. After losing the first two sets to the Bulldogs by identical scores of 25–18, the Judges bounced back and won the third 25–22. During this win, the Judges had a hitting percentage of .308 which included 15 kills, three errors and 39 total attempts. They looked like they were on fire, but unfortunately could not hold to this hot streak, and they lost the fourth set to the Bulldogs by a score of 25–21. Overall, Belle Scott ’21, a middle hitter for the Judges, led the attack with 12 kills and six errors in 44 attempts and had a .136

hitting percentage. Middle hitter/ right side hitter Kaisa Newberg ’22 had nine kills, two away from a career best, and tied her career best with a match-high six block assists. On the defense, outside hitter Amelia Oppenheimer ’23 was a standout and led the way with 16 digs. As a first year, Oppenheimer will be a player to watch in the future. In addition, Maddie LaMont ’22, Hannah Saadon ’21 and Marissa Borgot ’21 all had career highs. On Sept. 7, the Judges pushed the number six nationally-ranked Johson and Wales University Wildcats, but were ultimately defeated in four sets. However, the score does not actually represent how challenged the Wildcats were during the last two sets. The Judges lost the first two sets by scores of 25–11 and 25–18. However, since the moment play started in the third set we saw a different Judges’ team on the court and they won the third set, with a score of 25–20. During the fourth set the Judges continued to crush the Bulldogs, but unfortunately after holding a 19–15 lead, the Bulldogs went on a 10–2 run and ultimately won the last set 25–21. Scott led the offense with 14 kills and 12 digs, both representing doubledouble career highs. In addition, right hitter/setter Bogart had doubledouble career highs with 14 digs and 35 assists. Again, Oppenheimer had

a great game with six kills, nine digs and a match-high six service aces. For the second match on Sept. 7, the Judges faced the Connecticut College Camels. Following a great performance against the Wildcats, the Judges got off to a hot start against the Camels and took the series opener with a score of 25–13. However, the Judges then lost all three of the next sets by scores of 25–23, 26–24 and 26–24. In the third set, the Judges did rally to take a 24–23 lead, but the Camels, after a perfectly timed timeout, stopped the Judges’ momentum and then came back, taking the last three points to give the Judges the loss. The Judges had three attackers in double digits in kills with outside hitter, Emma Bartlet ’20 leading the group with 14 kills and 13 digs for her second double-double of the season. Bartlet was also on fire, contributing to four service aces and four blocks three of which were solos. Scott contributed with 13 kills and a match and career high 20 digs and Bogart had 39 assists which was a season high. The Judges’ overall season record fell to 1–5 after losses to the Bulldogs, Wildcats and the Camels. The Judges return to action on Friday, Sept. 13 where they will be back at home in the Gosman Athletic Complex for their home opener against the Bates College Bobcats at 7 p.m.

PRO SPORTS BRIEF Even after a poor 2018 season, here are ten must-see pro football games for the 2019 season With each new National Football League season, optimism is the rule for fans of all teams. Even for the fans of the teams that had poor seasons in 2018, there is the belief and hope that a star player acquired in the draft — or through trade or free agency — will be the final addition that is needed for a championship team. Here are my top must-see games for 2019. Los Angeles Rams at Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Sept. 22 The Rams, last year’s National Football Conference Champions, are a powerhouse team. Star quarterback Jarod Goff and running back Todd Gurley lead an explosive offense. Their defense is led by the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year for 2018, lineman Aaron Donald. After many years of poor play, the Cleveland Browns finally turned the corner last year with a 7–8–1 season and returned to respectability. Star quarterback Baker Mayfield now has the benefit of the addition of superstar receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to team up with Jarvis Landry for a formidable passing game.

Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Sept. 29 The Cowboys are on the verge of becoming an elite team this season. All-time great tight end Jason Witten is returning after taking a year during which he broadcast NFL games. The offense will be led by the great running back Ezekiel Elliott and wide receiver Amarie Cooper. The Saints are a perennial contender, and future Hall of Fame star quarterback Drew Brees will lead an explosive offense. This game should not disappoint. Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 20 The Eagles, champions of the NFL in 2017 and 2018, are a proud team who will look to bounce back from a relatively disappointing season last year in which they earned a 9–7 record. Carson Wentz has the potential to be a top quarterback. The Cowboys will be the Eagles’ biggest obstacle in the division as both teams seek supremacy in the NFC East. That, plus the long tradition of a great rivalry between the two teams, will ensure a great game.

Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Oct. 27 This game matches two great quarterbacks, the Packers’ Aaron Rogers and the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes. Rodgers is the great veteran quarterback and Mahomes is the young phenom. The Packers are trying to regain their past glory, and the Chiefs are one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl this year. New York Giants at New York Jets, Sunday, Nov. 10 Neither team is expected to contend for a championship this year. The drama of this game is linked to the rivalry between the New York teams and individual players. The Giants drafted quarterback Daniel Jones in the first round this year to eventually replace the legendary Eli Manning at some point. The Jets picked Sam Darnold last year in the first round of the draft. The game will match the aging star, Manning, with either the up-andcoming star, Darnold, or two young potential stars, depending on when and if Jones replaces Manning during this

season. New England Patriots at Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 17 This rematch of the 2018 Super Bowl, won by the Eagles, will match two excellent teams. How long the Patriots will be able to continue their twentyyear run as a dominant team in the NFL remains to be seen. Rob Gronkowski, the great tight end, has retired. However, they Patriots still have Tom Brady and the legendary coach Bill Belichick, and so are expected to remain great. Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots, Sunday, Nov. 24 For the second week in a row, the Patriots will battle an outstanding NFC East team. Again, the playoffs will likely be affected by this game. The Cowboys can help solidify their claim to be an elite team if they manage to beat last year’s champions at an evening game in late November, in New England where it promises to be cold. Green Bay Packers at Minnesota

Vikings, Monday, Dec. 23 Both of these rivals from the famed “black and blue” division had disappointing 2018 seasons. Both teams have high hopes for great seasons, led by their respective quarterbacks, the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers and the Vikings’ Kirk Cousins, as they try to overcome last season’s NFC North champions, the Chicago Bears. There will likely be playoff implications from this late-season game. Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 29 This is a matchup of two traditionally hard-nosed AFC North rivals on the final weekend of the season. Veteran quarterback Steelers’ Ben Rothlisberger winner of two Super Bowls, will match up against his young counterpart, Lamar Jackson of the Ravens. This game will likely impact the playoffs, as the division is becoming more competitive with the anticipated improvement by the Cleveland Browns.

---Megan Geller

just Sports Page 16

TOP MUST-SEE FOOTBALL Even for the fans of the teams that had poor seasons in 2018, there is hope in the upcoming season, p. 15. Waltham, Mass.

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

PRO SPORTS BRIEF

RAPID RUNNING

Previous Red Sox season rocked ■ The Red Sox closed

out their final game of a fantastic season at the 2018 World Series. By NOAH GANS JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Oct. 28 2018— John Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox, stands triumphantly with his fists pumped in the air, Chairman of the Red Sox Tom Werner at his side, as dejected Los Angeleans groan and stare in disbelief. The image, shown on Fox’s broadcast of the game, epitomized Red Sox Nation in that moment. Chris Sale, the most dominant starting pitcher Boston has been able to claim as one of their own since the days of Pedro Martinez, had just closed out the final game of the 2018 World Series, putting the metaphorical cap on what was — at 119 wins — the most dominant Red Sox team in the franchise’s illustrious history, and the season that many fans and insiders were placing in the conversation of the greatest single season of all time. Not only had they just won the World Series, but as if the script wasn’t already complete it was fitting for the team that had played with a chip on their collective shoulder throughout the entire season that Sale had struck out

Manny Machado for the final out. Machado is infamous in Boston for countless spats with the Red Sox organization in the media and more notably for a controversial slide in 2017 that ended the season of the Sox’s second baseman, Dustin Pedroia and wound up putting Machado's entire career in jeopardy. Consequently, Machado has become a true sports villain in Boston, just as Alex Rodriguez was over a decade ago with the Yankees. All was right in Boston. The Red Sox had won their fourth championship in 14 years. They had a dominant pitching staff led by Chris Sale, arguably the best pitcher in baseball, and David Price, who had finally overcome his inability to pitch in the playoffs with numerous clutch performances including in the clinching game. The Red Sox also had some of the best young talent in baseball: Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and Andrew Benintendi. And they had ownership in Henry and Werner, who were clearly passionate about the club. The Red Sox had done it again, and all signs suggested that they would continue to be formidable contenders for years to come. Unfortunately, what has transpired this year has been anything but inspiring for a fanbase that consistently expects

See Pro, 13

☛

MEN’S SOCCER

Judges improve to 3–1 record after defeat in season opener ■ The Brandeis mens soccer

team won their games against Clark University and Babson College. By MEGAN GELLER JUSTICE EDITOR

The Brandeis men’s soccer team won two exciting and close games this past week. On Sept. 4, Brandeis played the Clark University Cougars at Granger Field in Worcester, MA and won by a score of 2–1. This brought the Judges to a season score of 2–1. The game started with a scoreless first half with the two teams continually trading scoring opportunities. The Judges had nine shots on goal to the Cougar’s two, though neither team could convert those shots into scores. Finally, in the second period at 54:46, Noah Gans ’21, with an assist by Dylan Hennessy ’20, scored the game’s first goal. This was Gans’ first goal of the season and his fifth collegiate goal. Just as the game looked like it was over and the Judges would have earned the shutout, some chippy play occurred in the Judges defensive zone and three yellow cards were handed out. The Judges’ players, Max Breiter ’20 and Gans each received a yellow card, and the Cougars’ Evan Jurkowski

’20 received the other. Then, as play resumed with a free kick by Trevor Sheridan ’20, Sheridan connected with Jurkowski to score and tie the game. The game then continued into overtime with a scoreless first overtime period. However, 59 seconds into the second overtime, at 100:59, Breiter, with an assist from Colin Panarra ’20, scored for the Judges, ending the game. Brandeis outshot Clark 18–6; this includes a 3–0 advantage in overtime and 9–3 shots on goal. On Sept. 7, Brandeis played the Babson College Beavers at home on Gordon Field and won by a score of 2–1, bringing the Judges to overall season record of 3–1. This was the 67th time these two rivals have played, dating back to 1955, and the Judges are 27–30–10 against the Beavers. The first score of the game came at 25:02 from Liam Hanlon ’22 and was assisted by Youcef Zaid ’20 for the Beavers. This was Hanlon’s first goal of the season. However, it wasn't much later that Will DeNight ’23 for the Judges scored with an assist from Dylan Hennesssy ’20 at 36:06, tying the game. Very early in the second period, the Judges were able to end the tie when Jake Warren ’20, with an assist from Adam Kulick ’23 at 48:47, scored what would

See MSOCCER, 13 ☛

YURAN SHI/the Justice File Photo

KICKIN' IT: Sasha Sunday ’20 runs past the opposing defense in a game against Johnson and Wales on Sept. 8, 2018.

Team ups their game, earns two victories ■ After the loss of the first

game, women’s soccer came back with two straight wins against Bridgewater State and Johnson and Wales Universities. By MEGAN GELLER JUSTICE EDITOR

The Brandeis women’s soccer team won two games this week, coming back from their loss to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. On Sept. 4, in their home opener, Brandeis shutout Bridgewater State University by a score of 3–0. This brought the Judges’ season record to 1–1. They have yet to play any games against their University Athletic Association rivals. The start of the game was delayed by 45 minutes due to lightning, but that didn’t rattle the confidence of the Judges. They came out strong, led by Juliette Carreiro ’22, who scored in both the first and second

periods. Carreiro’s first goal came at 12:07 after she stole the ball and drove it down the field for the score. Morgan Clark ’23 also scored in the first period. At 33:30, she scored off of a pass from Jessica Herman ’23. This was a combined first collegiate point for both players. Then, in the second period at 49:27, Carreiro scored again after she received a served ball from the right sideline from Daria Bakhtiari ’21. This was Carreiro’s first multiple-goal game. The Judges outshot BSU 35–7 with 17 shots on goal to BSU’s four. Brandeis goalie Victoria Richardson ’20 saw 80-plus minutes of action and made three saves, while Rebecca Gold ’22 played 9-plus minutes, making a diving stop to save a goal. The Judges now have an all-time record against BSU of 10–2–1 and have won their last five home openers. On Sept. 7, Brandeis earned their second shutout of the season against Johnson and Wales University by a score of 7–0. This game was played away in Providence, RI and brought the Judges to an overall

season record of 2–1. From the very start of this game it was obvious that the Judges were on a roll. The offense never let up for the entire 90 minutes of play, and the defense handled everything that came their way. Scoring began at 5:03 when Makuna Hunt ’22 scored with an assist from Carreiro. Then, at 24:20 Carreiro had an unassisted goal followed by another goal at 33:33 assisted by Katie Romanovich ’21. Lauren Mastandrea ’22 finished out the first period with an assisted goal from Herman at 43:17. During the second period, Emma Spector ’20 and Hunt both scored unassisted goals at 53:15 and 83:46 respectively. Finally, at the very end of the game, Willa Molho ’21, assisted by Hunt, scored at 86:58 to finish out the Judges scoring of seven goals. Richardson was goalie for the first period and made three saves while Gold replaced her in the second period, recording two saves. The Judges outshot JWU 15–12 and had nine shots on goal to

See WSOCCER, 13

☛

September 10, 2019

Vol. LXXII #2 Vol. LXX #2

September 12, 2017

>> pg. 19

just just

Arts & Culture

Waltham, Mass.

Images: Thea Rose/the Justice, Creative Commons. Design: Noah Zeitlin/the Justice

TUESDAY, THE JUSTICE SEPTEMBER | ARTS10,| TUESDAY, 2019 I ARTS JANUARY & CULTURE 31, 2017 I THE JUSTICE

FILM

Spider-Man hits the home run for the Spider By MEGAN GELLER JUSTICE EDITOR

With a 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.9 out of ten on IMDB, “Spider-Man: Far From Home” swung into theaters on July 2. This is the fifth movie starring Tom Holland as SpiderMan since Disney struck up a deal to allow the Sony-owned character to become part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In this deal, Marvel Studios gained the rights to put Spider-Man in the “Avengers” franchise, if “Marvel won’t receive a cut of the box office for any of Sony’s films that feature Spider-Man. Sony won’t receive a percentage of the revenue Disney makes from Marvel’s films that have Spider-Man, either,” explained a 2015 Variety article. Holland debuted the role in the 2016 film, “Captain America: Civil War.” Since then, Holland has played our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man in two solo movies, the first being “Spider-Man: Homecoming” in 2017, and the most recent,

“Spider-Man: Far From Home.” In this film, Holland’s character Peter Parker only wants a relaxing summer

figure, Tony Stark. Parker is set to leave for Europe and wants to leave his hero suit home. When Parker arrives in Europe, new

Photo Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

BELOVED PARTNERSHIP: This is the second Spider-Man film directed by Jon Watts and starred by Tom Holland, both beloved by fans of the character. vacation, including no heroic tasks and telling his crush about his feeling for her. In addition to this desire to get away, Spiderman is tired of answering the question “Who will be the next Iron Man?” This is a hard question for Parker after the death of his role model and father

threats called the Elementals start to wreak havoc on cities all over the continent. Parker must decide whether he wants to help save the world or just enjoy a normal summer vacation. This movie was thrilling and engaging from beginning to end, and allowed returning MCU fans

as well as new MCU moviegoers to understand the concept. The cast, including Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jacob Batalon and Samuel L. Jackson, delivered strong performances. Creators of the film attempted something new in the MCU, and the humor felt natural. Additionally, after “Avengers: Endgame,” this was a highly anticipated movie and did not seem to cave into the hype that was built around it. The sets in the film were actual cities throughout Europe. This helped add to the realistic aspect of the film. On the other hand, one might say that the film did not live up to the hype that was established at the conclusion of the previous film, “Avengers: Endgame.” A critic might also say that the whole conflict in the movie may have been avoided if Parker took better care of his gadgets and wasn’t so quick to trust. Ultimately, I enjoyed the film and would be happy to see a new installment. After five years in the MCU,

the Sony-Disney agreement has expired and the two companies failed to renegotiate the deal allowing Spider-Man into the MCU. When asked about the split, Tom Holland explained to Entertainment Weekly, “Basically, we’ve made five great movies. It’s been five amazing years. I’ve had the time of my life. Who knows what the future holds? But all I know is that I’m going to continue playing Spider-Man and having the time of my life.” Holland, as well as MCU fans, look forward to the future of Spider-Man, even if it unfortunately does not include the MCU.

FILM

A love letter to Hollywood, and more By LUKE LIU JUSTICE EDITOR

A Quentin Tarantino movie without five hundred gallons of fake blood and eight flashbacks in a row? Now you have it. “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is Tarantino’s ninth movie, written and directed by himself. Set in 1960s Los Angeles, the film tells the story of washed-up actor Rick Dalton and his stunt double Cliff Booth, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt respectively, who struggle to survive in a changing world. At the same time, the rising star Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) just moved into the area with her husband and is familiarizing herself with the town. Without a doubt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is one of the most wellcrafted films of the year. The production team redecorated several blocks of street to accurately present Los Angeles in the 60s, down to every poster and every store along the street. However, what makes it more believable is the amount of different environments it presents. From the glamorous Playboy Mansion to filthy abandoned trailer parks, the film catches a variety of parts of the city, which is rarely seen in movies portraying that time period. The soundtrack of the movie used many radio advertisements from the period to further enhance the experience, based on the director’s memory of growing up in the area. One problem writers face when trying to create a script based on a wellknown true story is that unavoidably, the ending of the story is fixed from the beginning. It’s very difficult to create dramatic tension when the audience walks into the theater knowing what’s going to happen. However, this plays in Tarantino’s most unique filmmaking

Design: Yael Hanadari-Levy/the Justice

technique, which is called “playing with the audience.” Knowing that audiences are likely to know the history of Sharon Tate, the director turned the situation around by using it as a ticking clock. Viewers are on edge the whole movie, waiting for what they assume is going to happen. At the same time, Robbie as Sharon Tate does a fantastic job on delivering the grace and energy this individual represents, an innocence that is not seen in any other character. Without spoiling too much, I can say that it is the most unconventionally thrilling script I have encountered in the last few years. The all-star cast delivered two hours and forty minutes of charming performances, and what makes it work so well is the casting choices. Anyone who follows the world of movies know Leonardo DiCaprio and his enormously successful career throughout the last two decades. Seeing him playing a struggling action star in the 60s, the audience cannot help seeing two opposite lives projected on one person. Through this peculiar space where reality interacts with the movie, the director pays respect to not just the actors that are remembered by the public, but also the ones who did not earn the same amount of fame, yet still offered the best of themselves to audiences. One of those people includes Pitt’s character. Following his carefree attitude, the audiences are introduced to a different side of the same city, where violence is not only everywhere, but also the only way to protect one’s self, whether that is on set or off set. If DiCaprio’s role is meant to remind us the forgotten grace of Hollywood, the job of Pitt’s role is to break the unspoken norms and expose the darker parts of the world to the audiences. While all of the previous points made “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” an

excellent film, what truly made this movie stand out for me was Tarentino’s unique view of the cultural conflicts in the 60s. Instead of solely criticizing or glorifying any sides in that era, the film presents the characters as different images of the mysterious world of Hollywood. In one scene, we see DiCaprio’s character being inspired by a little girl on set about life and career, then going on to deliver an excellent performance and winning the applause of the crew. While our

perspectives, Hollywood can be a town of fairy tales or the source of all evil, and they might very well exist at the same time. Tarantino has always been one of the more divisive filmmakers in recent decades. People who enjoy his style consider him the genius of our time, and people who hate it think he prioritizes style over substance and has an obsession with violence. What surprised me about “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is how reserved Photo Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

ALMOST THE END: If Quentin Tarantino sticks with the rule he made for himself, this will be the second to last film we will see from him.

heart was still warmed by the dreamlike sequence, we see Pitt’s character encounter a group of beast-like tennagers who stabbed his car tiers as a threat. Even though seeing Pitt beat up the hooligans afterward provides a sense of satisfaction, of justice being done, it also makes one wonder how two seemingly opposite worlds can exist at the same time. In my view, this is exactly what Tarentino’s Hollywood is like. Following those different

Tarantino was throughout the film. Instead of being overwhelmed by multiple storylines and fake blood, I was led through an original story with a unique point of view and a surprisingly heartwarming ending. There were several times where the director let himself loose with some of the funniest scenes of graphic violence I have ever seen, but in the end, I see a director who surpassed himself and matured into a real master of cinema.

THE JUSTICE I ARTS & CULTURE I TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

d Photos by THEA ROSE/the Justice

The Delta Nu ensemble sings frantically about how Elle Woods has not picked out an engagement outfit in the song “Ohmygod You Guys.”

Brooke Wyndham, played by Hannah Novack, performs her workout song “Whipped into Shape” while in prison for the murder of her husband.

Paulette the hairdresser, played by Kat Potts, sings about how she loves the land of Ireland, while surrounded by the Potato Ensemble in the song “Ireland.”

24 hours of FUN! By NOAH ZEITLIN JUSTICE EDITOR

Brandeis University students put on a full scale production of Legally Blonde in 24 hours. This involved the creation of sets, learning all of the music, choreography and lines. Elle’s parents, played by Adam Fleishaker and Sarah Eckstein Indik, take a photo of the entire cast during the graduation sceme. ceremony

Emmet Forrest, played by Ben Helzer, sings about her hopes for Elle’s success in the song “Chip on my Shoulder.”

BAASA ingites important conversations By RACHEL STERLING JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

To celebrate the new semester, the Brandeis Asian American Student Association (BAASA) hosted their annual “Welcoming Night” to discuss upcoming events and introduce newly-elected e-board members. What followed was an experience that I felt was truly special and important for the community at Brandeis. In an environment dominated by academics, it’s almost impossible to not be constantly reminded of the deadline of your paper, the test coming up next week or just the general state of being a college student. In a sense, it’s easy to forget the part of your identity which is rooted in your cultural heritage. Cultural clubs offer the chance to connect with peers who share something beyond the confinements of a classroom. It’s not that I need to be reminded that I am an AsianAmerican in order to appreciate my cultural background. Rather I

would like to feel as if I am a part of something greater than just how I identify myself. During the discussion portion of the event, the club leaders posed questions to the audience which allowed us to interact with one another in a way that united us as a whole. Questions such as, “How did you feel about representation of Asian culture in the film, literature, and music industries throughout our childhood?” and “Did this representation ever affect your daily lives growing up?” pushed us to think about how our views of ourselves were shaped on a global scale. Through these conversations, we were able to express personal life experiences and their relation to our shared culture. In an interview with the Justice, Alison Kan ’20, president of BAASA, explained that her goal for the club is to “build more of a structured community [at Brandeis] in order to help others find their place in college.” As the night went on, members of the

Brandeis Asian American Task Force (BAATF) were called up to deliver their speech about what they are trying to accomplish for our school’s community. Olivia Nichols ’20 and Eliana Kleiman ’21 advocated for the needs of Brandeis’ Asian American Pacific Islander community, such as a more accessible community, with outreach to the larger student population. Their speech was met with cheers and clapping from the audience, which made all the more apparent and the importance for Brandeis to include more AAPI studies in our academic curriculum. While it may be the case that our view of these cultural club events on campus is generally geared towards the promotion of free food, which is completely valid because the food was really good, it is important to remind ourselves about the value of clubs like BAASA and BAATF, which help make students feel a sense of belonging and empowerment.

LAUREN BENC/the Justice

MORE THAN JUST FOOD: Besides providing delicious food, BAASA events also provide a platform for important discussions. There is never a requirement for any of these cultural club events that attendees come from a particular culture; the goal is rather to learn and understand from students with different backgrounds in order to ignite conversations which

help strengthen our Brandeis community. BAASA will continue to host events throughout the school year. I highly recommend looking out for future meetings through their Facebook page, as well as their posters around campus.

Design: Shinji Rho/the Justice

THE JUSTICE I ARTS & CULTURE I TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

INTERVIEW

JUSTARTS SPOTLIGHT ON THE ROSE

By JACQUELINE WANG JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITTER

Anni Albers created the series “Line Involvement” in 1964 to explore the potential of lines of thread and the textiles they represent. Threads in Albers’ series share similar thickness but vary in the ways they are folded. The first piece resembles a big ‘y’ formed by a chain of tangled threads. In the second piece, threads come from two opposite sides of the paper, interacting and creating a loose node in the center. When nodes are connected, we get the third piece. And in the very last piece, threads no longer have any connection with the fringe of the paper. A giant node floats in the air with both ends connecting to each other. Not only the pattern but also the four pieces differ in their background textiles. Albers boldly navigates different gradients of greyness to form the delicate patterns in the background. I stared at the series as I walked by and began to wonder about the relationship between each design. Are they arranged in a specific sequence on purpose? What would be Albers’ mindset when she created the series and how did it change throughout the process? How are the threads interacting with the background? And even the most basic question — how many threads actually appear in each piece? One or more? And what are the meanings behind the number of threads appear in the lithography? There are six total pieces in the series “Line Involvement,” and four of them are currently on exhibition in the Rose Museum. If you look at the six pieces in the order they were created (check out https:// www.metmuseum.org/art/ collection/search/711637), you will find the threads evolving from the simplicity of softly bending threads to the transition of tangled threads and the final stage of nodes. In the process, the strings gradually lose the connection with the edge of papers — the outside world — and gain complexity in their own shape, becoming completely independent in the graph. The theme of the exhibition in the Rose Museum is “tension between organic and geometric abstractions.” When threads gradually melt into the fluid greyness in the background, I see the boundary blurring.

STAFF’S Top Ten

Rachel Greene ’20 Zach Garrity ’20 NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice

This week, justArts&Culture spoke with Rachel Greene ’20 and Zach Garrity ’20, who were two of the three directors of the annual 24 Hour Musical. Installation View, “Into Form: Selections from the Rose Collection, 1957-2018,” 2019, Courtesy of the Rose Art Museum JACQUELINE WANG/the Justice

Rachel Greene: I am Rachel. I was one of the directors of the 24-hour Musical. There were three of us. Zach Garrity: I am Zach. I was a director too. And there’s a third director, Rose. The three of us did it together. JAC: How was “Legally Blonde” picked as the show for this year? RG: I don’t wanna give away too much because a lot of the 24 Hours is about the mystery. But yep, everyone who’s on the main production staff can propose shows. And then we all get in a room and weigh the pros and cons. And then we fight over them, pick one and apply for the rights. JAC: What was it like to direct a large group of people who don’t necessarily have backgrounds in theater?

VICENTE CAYUELA/the Justice

SUDOKU

JAC: If you can give one advice to next year’s directors, what would it be? RG: Something I would pass on to whoever directs it next year would be focus on the process and not the product. And it’s not just the scene rehearsal, but also the time between it. Making sure that’s all the first years are drinking water and going to the bathroom, having a good time and getting the sleep that they need. JAC: Is there anything you want to add?

Top 10 Squirrel Species JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

RG: It’s all about like just making it fun. I have been in lots of shows and worked on lots of show that’s all about making the best products. While we’ve all worked so hard for 24- hours to make it the best product that can possibly be, we went into it with the mindset of like this is supposed to be fun and showing people, especially first years, but everyone who chooses to be involved, that theater can be really fun. On top of that we have amazing people who come in and are incredible and do like so well and only elevates it. There’s no bad in 24 -hours. ZG: Going off of what you said, there are different levels of how you want to do theater. Because of the nature of putting on a performance, a lot of performances can put a lot of stress on “you have to do it well.” For 24hours, there is none of that stress. It’s all just the playing around. I can be like someone else. I can do whatever character I want to be.

NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice

By Yona Splaver

JustArts&Culture: Tell me a bit about your role in the play.

Courtesy of OPENSKY SUDOKU GENERATOR

“When squirrels gather nuts for the winter, a couple of my friends go missing.”

RG: I would say come do theater! There’s a ton of theater that happens at Brandeis and we always want more people to do it. So come do a show! ZG: Even if you haven’t done the 24hour, I think it’s a great experience, even if you just come to audition. Because I know for my fact, I started doing theatre when I was a junior in high school because I was afraid of being in front of people. Having that positive reinforcement to keep being in front of people is a good growing experience. Come to the math department. Come to evening helps. We do calculus and it’s fun. Shout out to Haia. Haia works so hard all the time. If we can clone Haia, and have six of her, we can rule the world in six nights.

1. Japanese dwarf flying Squirrel 2. Indian Giant Squirrel 3. Red Giant Flying Squirrel 4. Arctic Ground Squirrel 5. African Pygmy Squirrel 6. White-tailed antelope Squirrel 7. Thirteen-lined ground Squirrel 8. Douglas Squirrel 9. American red Squirrel 10. Fox Squirrel Courtesy of OPENSKY SUDOKU GENERATOR

— Luke Liu