The Justice, April 12, 2022

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The Independent Student Newspaper Volume LXXIV, Number 23

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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, April 12, 2022

Waltham, Mass.

PETITION

ELECTIONS

Community Advisors demand Univ. cover meal plans in new petition ■ A petition created by Brandeis’ CAs demands that the University covers full room and board costs.

By NATALIE KAHN JUSTICE EDITOR

On Wednesday, April 6, posts containing a link to a document titled “Letter to Administration Addressing CA Meal Plan Compensation” began circulating throughout the Brandeis community on social media. The document was initially posted by Community Advisors, who asked fellow students to sign and share the petition. As of Monday afternoon, less than a week later, the petition had accumulated 555 non-CA student signatures. In addition, the document contained signatures from 80 current and incoming CAs; over 50 faculty, staff, and alumni; and over three dozen parents.

The petition was made in response to the renegotiation of the Universi-

ty's dining contract that is currently ongoing. The demands of the petition — which are directed at University President Ron Liebowitz and seven named members of the administration — include full compensation of meal plans for CAs, adequate food on campus during academic breaks, and an additional stipend for CAs to compensate for them “having risked their health over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in maintaining the safety of residents in Brandeis residential buildings.” The final demand in the petition is for a meeting between CA representatives, Liebowitz, and other administration members “to discuss further issues relevant to the CA position.”

CAs are responsible for providing assistance and support, enforcing rules, and planning events for the students of the residence halls to which they are assigned to live.

At Brandeis, CAs are compensated in the form of a single-bedroom residence space and a $625 stipend for meal plan expenses. CAs are re-

See CA, 7 ☛

BRIEF

University alters COVID-19 quarantine policy

The University announced that its COVID-19 protocols will be updated again in an April 11 email to the Brandeis community. The University’s new policies have been revised to “more closely align with the CDC guidance for quarantine for community members who are asymptomatic and fully vaccinated, or recently COVID-recovered with a testing exemption, who are identified as close contacts,” the email said.

These new policies were officially implemented on April 12. Protocols are the same for individuals who are not fully vaccinated.

The email said that fully-vaccinated individuals identified as close contacts will need to “soft quarantine” for 10 days. Those placed in a soft quarantine will have orange passports for the duration of the quarantine, which will allow them to access campus facilities, events, and activities, as long as they are fully masked at all times.

The individuals must stay masked for a full 10 days when not in their individual residence. The new soft quarantine guidelines still require using takeout for all on-campus meals and continue to prohibit those in quarantine to eat in any dining room. Individuals in soft quarantine can order through the Bite app or take food from Lower Usdan or Sherman Dining Hall to-go by using the Reusable Container Program.

Individuals identified as close

contacts must still monitor symptoms and complete the Daily Health Assessment every day prior to leaving their residences and accessing campus. Close contacts will receive their testing schedule via email from the Brandeis Case Tracing Program or Occupation Health and are expected to test according to their instructions.

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Carol A. Fierke, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Stew Uretsky, and Vice President of Student Affairs Raymond Lu-Ming Ou wrote in their email to the community that the changes are a result of the recent reduction in positive test cases on campus. According to the Brandeis COVID-19 Dashboard, the current positivity rate at Brandeis is just under 1%.

The email emphasized the importance of masking, describing it as a “well-documented, simple way to protect yourself from the risk of contracting COVID.” The University also emphasized that students should continue to use common sense in making good individual decisions and to “use what we’ve learned in the past two years to keep ourselves and our community safe.”

—Dalya Koller

Photo Courtesy of MARCUS SUTTON

STUDENT UNION: Gillespie and Bergen gather in front of Massell Pond where they first decided to run together.

Peyton Gillespie and Lia Bergen elected to lead Student Union ■ The first-years discussed their goals for the upcoming year and what they bring to the table as president and vice president.

By LEAH BREAKSTONE JUSTICE EDITOR

Peyton Gillespie ’25 did not initially intend on running for Student Union president. But, when he found it difficult to find someone to run on a ticket with him running for vice president, he decided to step up and take on the challenge. He asked the Executive Board to help find a vice president, and someone suggested Lia Bergen ’25, who Gillespie knew from his time serving on the senate last semester. He immediately reached out to Bergen, and within ten minutes they were at Massell Pond deciding to run on a ticket together.

The two first-years are not new to student government. Both participated in high school and have been involved since they arrived on campus in the fall. Gillespie has chaired the Senate Sustainability Committee and has been a member of the Facilities Housing Transportation Committee for both semesters. This past year he has served as the Massell Quad Senator, and he is also the co-chair of the Greater Brandeis Sustainability Committee, which has close ties to the Student Union. Bergen is the Senator for the class of 2025 and was a member of the Dining Committee

Take Back the Night

By NOAH ZEITLIN

For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org

NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice

see has empathy towards their situation,” Bergen said.

Their agenda is highly influenced by student feedback. For instance, in talking to students from the Disabled Students Network, “we were appalled at how inaccessible so much of our campus is in terms of physical disability or not,” Bergen said. This realization has prompted interest in making campus more accessible to all. Further, in talking with organizations such as the Brandeis Latinx Student Organization, they realized that many students feel that the Intercultural Center is not supported enough, which influenced another priority: “We want to make sure that we're supporting the ICC and making sure that they're getting everything, because that is a safe haven for a ton of students on campus,” Bergen said.

Gillespie, who is also a member of Period Activists at Deis, is very passionate about making menstrual products free and accessible to all menstruators throughout campus, not just in high traffic areas. Additionally, he sees the benefits in joining the Boston Intercollegiate Government, which “is an organization that facilitates collaboration across different student governments in Boston,” he explained. They would be able to work with the student leaders of schools such as Harvard, Tufts, and Boston University “to share ideas or share methods for working with administrators, or effective communi-

See UNION, 7 ☛

Sen. Eric Lesser (D-MA) comes to Brandeis

 The Brandeis UTC's spring musical "Something Rotten" was staged over the weekend.

By CAYENN LANDAU

FEATURES 8

and the Services and Outreach Committee last semester. This semester, she has been the chair of the Dining Committee.

The first item on their agenda is establishing an Executive Board. Having a diverse and qualified board that represents different backgrounds, values, and perspectives is “particularly integral to having an administration that raises the voices of [people] across campus and represents everyone [so that] everyone feels like they have a voice,” Gillespie said in an April 8 interview with the Justice.

They also intend on changing the structure of the Executive Board, replacing current positions with new ones. Two new positions include one who will be “raising awareness about sexual violence on campus, and the other is raising awareness and working with the Disabled Students Network and Student Accessibility Services to improve accessibility on campus,” Gillespie said.

Additional goals include improving transportation on campus, specifically fixing the roads on the route that the Branvan takes, according to Bergen, a Branvan driver herself.

Improving the Brandeis Counseling Center and Brandeis Health Center are also of the utmost importance to the pair, specifically in increasing the diversity of counselors to more people who are LGBTQIA+ and more people of color. “People like to talk to people they relate to, and I think that people would feel more comfortable talking to someone that they can

‘Something Rotten’

 Students participated in the annual protest against sexual violence.

NOAH ZEITLIN/Justice file photo

Waltham, Mass.

By ISABEL ROSETH

NEWS 3

Navigating the housing selection process

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD

FORUM 10

Leclerc wins Australian Grand Prix ARTS AND CULTURE 18 By LIZ PAL SPORTS 16

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TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2022

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NEWS

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THE JUSTICE

NEWS SENATE LOG Student Union Senate announces changes to the annual Midnight Buffet tradition, agrees to charter two new clubs The Student Union Senate announced a major change to this semester’s State of the Union address and Midnight Buffet. The Senate also chartered two clubs, Brandeis Impact Club and Salvation International Prayer Youth Ministry.

Ashna Kelkar ’24, currently the acting vice president, said that due to a variety of issues with last semester’s Midnight Buffet, including insufficient food, shirts, long waits, and music quality issues, the State of the Union address will be combined with a larger event. This event, Kelkar said, is not a midnight buffet, but will fulfill a similar purpose of helping students de-stress around finals.

Kelkar has been the acting vice president since Courtney Th-

run ’22’s resignation on April 5.

Leo Chen ’23 presented to the Senate on behalf of the Brandeis Impact Club, which he said would “build bridges between students and the not-for-profit world” by connecting students with non-profit industry leaders.

This club is not the same as Deis Impact, or the University’s diversity, equity, and inclusion festival, which took place March 30 and April 1 respectively.

The Senate chartered Brandeis Impact by acclamation.

Ohemaa Pipim ’24 and Agnes Nkansah M.B.A. ’22 requested that the Senate charter their club, the Salvation International Prayer Youth Ministry. Pipim said that the organization is a

“bible believing youth group” which started as a high school organization but has since moved into college life on multiple campuses, including the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Lowell, as well as Dartmouth College.

Nkansah, a student at the Heller School, said that the club is rebuilding after COVID-19, but that they used to draw crowds of about 20 to 30 people.

The Senate chartered the SIPYM by acclamation.

Street. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and refused further care.

Apr. 6—There was a medical emergency in the Science Complex. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Apr. 6—There was a medical emergency at the Charles River Apartments. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and refused further care.

Apr. 8—There was a medical emergency in the Goldfarb Library. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Apr. 8—There was a medical emergency in North Quad.

The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Apr. 9—There was a medical emergency in East Quad.

The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Apr. 9—There was a medical emergency in Swig Hall.

The party was treated by BEMCo staff and refused further care.

Apr. 9—There was a medical emergency in East Quad.

The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Apr. 9—There was a medical emergency at the Charles River Apartments. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

— Max Feigelson

POLICE LOG MEDICAL EMERGENCY Apr. 3—There was a medical emergency in Schwartz Hall. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and refused further care.

Apr. 4—There was a medical emergency in Ridgewood Quad. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and refused further care.

Apr. 4—There was a medical emergency in the Stoneman Building. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Apr. 4—There was a medical emergency in Massell Quad. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and refused further care.

Apr. 4—There was a medical emergency in Massell Quad. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and refused further care.

Apr. 5—There was a medical emergency in North Quad.

The party was treated by BEMCo staff and refused further care.

Apr. 5—There was a medical emergency at 567 South Street. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and refused further care.

Apr. 5—There was a medical emergency at 567 South

LARCENY Apr. 5—A community member reported that their credit card was missing in the Faculty Center with no unusual charges.

MISCELLANEOUS Apr. 6—There was a noise complaint in Rosenthal Quad.

University Police spoke to the residents without issue.

Apr. 6—There was a noise complaint in East Quad. University Police spoke to the residents, a resolution was reached, and the Department of Community Living was advised.

Apr. 8—A student reported a hit-and-run accident to their parked motor vehicle in the Hassenfeld Lot. A report was composed.

— Compiled by Noah Zeitlin

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

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NEWS

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TUESDAY. APRIL 12, 2022

SPIRITUALITY X PERIODS PANEL

BRANDEIS DEMOCRATS

PAD hosts interfaith panel on periods

Sen. Eric Lesser (D-MA) comes to Brandeis

The panel discussed how today, some traditional texts and practices have been a part of feminist reclamations of the varying religions.

Lawrence mentioned that over the last 50 years, the one story regarding menstruation in the New Testament has been resurfaced by modern thinkers and feminists after being overlooked for almost all of the history of Christianity. While this has been controversial in the Christian community, Lawrence joked, “it’s not a good sermon unless at least one person walks out.”

Dasgupta mentioned that for some sects of Hinduism, menstruation is greeted with a coming-of-age ceremony; although, this is often linked with child marriages. However, in other places, menstruating women are viewed as holy, and there are groups of Hindus that have temples dedicated to menstruating goddesses.

Dasgupta also discussed a modern-day controversy regarding menstruating women entering a temple. India’s Supreme Court reviewed a case regarding a potential ban on menstruating women entering the Sabarimala temple in the Indian state of Kerala. The Supreme Court struck down the ban, and menstruating women are now allowed to enter the temple.

Sanger-Miller mentioned that the topic of menstruation is very much an active one in the modern Jewish community, and many people have begun to reclaim the “mikvah,” the ritual purification bath, into a more feminist notion, shifting it to be thought of as something sacred and special, as opposed to something “different” or “other.”

The panelists were also questioned about “menstrual justice,” what the moderators referred to as any stigmas, inequalities, or injustices regarding period education or access to products, amongst other things, and how we can work towards menstrual justice today.

Brother Lawrence answered that Christians who stigmatize periods should be pushed to have difficult conversations on the issue. He noted that while the Bible doesn’t have much to say explicitly regarding periods, a person can get the Bible to say anything they’d like if they try hard enough, and many individuals have done so regarding menstruation. He acknowledged the stigma regarding menstruation within the Christian community and encouraged the audience to bring up the topic, no matter how uncomfortable it might be, because these are important conversations that need to be had.

El-Tobgui explained that Islam works hard to strike a balance regarding modesty. While both physical and internal modesty are core elements of the religion, there is also an emphasis on having discussions about sensitive topics within the religious framework. He noted that in Islam, topics like menstruation should without a doubt be discussed but within the right context and circumstance.

Sanger-Miller stated that a religion cannot get away with “spilling this much ink about something without having conversations about it,” stressing that these are conversations that need to be held in Judaism. She also mentioned that in Judaism, there are many religious leaders who specifically train in the topic of menstruation and other kinds of family-related issues who work to guide individuals in that realm.

Dasgupta spoke to a broader issue within Hinduism, that of the caste system. She stated that many of the former untouchables were the ones given sanitation work, and focusing on caste justice and caste oppression, in general, is an important, though broader, way to achieve menstrual justice. She also stated that impolite questioning for menstrual justice is necessary: “No justice or change ever came from people being polite or from not fighting for it.”

The event was co-sponsored by Period Activists at ‘Deis, Brandeis Hillel, and the Brandeis Center for Spiritual Life.

■ Four representatives came together

to speak on how their various religions approach menstruation.

By DALYA KOLLER JUSTICE EDITOR

Period Activists at ‘Deis hosted a panel titled “Spirituality x Periods” on Thursday, April 7.

The panel consisted of four Brandeis-affiliated individuals who came to represent their respective religions, comparing and contrasting the different traditional approaches to menstruation. The panel also discussed modernday ideas and approaches, such as feminist reclamations of traditional practices.

Sanchita Dasgupta, an international student from India, is a sociology Ph.D. student at Brandeis who came to the panel to discuss Hinduism. Dr. Carl El-Tobgui (NEJS) is an associate professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies and the director of the Arabic Language Program at Brandeis, who came to speak about Islam. Rabbi Stephanie Sanger-Miller is the associate director of Brandeis Hillel and represented Judaism on the panel. There to discuss Christianity was Brother Lawrence Whitney, who is currently the Interim Protestant Chaplain at Brandeis.

The discussion highlighted both similarities as well as differences between all four religions. The panelists were first asked whether or not menstruation is even approached in the traditional texts or customs of each religion and whether menstruation imposes any restrictions on the individual in terms of practice, learning, teaching, and prayer.

El-Tobgui answered first, mentioning that of the 6,236 verses of the Quran, only one verse mentions menstruation at all. It is in the context of the ritual impurity that occurs when an individual begins menstruating. Sanger-Miller contrasted this fact with Jewish customs, noting that across the many different traditional books and texts of the religion, Judaism has a lot to say on menstruation. However, both the religions deem menstruating individuals as ritually impure, and the two religions share many practices, such as refraining from any physical contact during menstruation and entering a ritual bath to become “pure” at the end of the menstruation period.

While Islam and Judaism had a lot in common, Christianity and Hinduism approached the topic very differently. Lawrence stated that Christianity has virtually nothing to say about menstruation. There is a singular passage in the New Testament about Jesus healing a perpetually bleeding woman. There is no real concept of ritual impurity regarding menstruation within Christianity, mostly because it is simply not mentioned. However, there are certain sects of Christianity who live in Africa and have inherited notions of ritual impurity from the surrounding Middle Eastern religions. Lawrence noted that Christianity has a lot to say on sex and sexuality in general, but it essentially refrains from discussing menstruation at all.

Dasgupta highlighted how Hinduism differentiates from the other three religions represented on the panel in that Hinduism is not an Abrahamic religion. No set text is the official text of Hinduism, nor is there even one set type of Hinduism. Dasgupta emphasized that she was hesitant to answer this specific question because there are many different books and texts referred to in Hinduism and many different types of practice, so there is no clear answer to the question.

Dasgupta did not want to solely speak on the dominant version of Hinduism because, she stressed, this is a bias held by Western thinking. Dasgupta did, however, share that there are many traditional myths and stories regarding the origins of menstruations within Hinduism, and told one of the stories to the audience.

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■ The Massachusetts state senator

came to speak at an event hosted by the Brandeis Democrats.

By ISABEL ROSETH JUSTICE EDITOR

Sen. Eric Lesser (D-MA) visited Brandeis on Thursday, April 7, at an event hosted by Brandeis Democrats to talk about his work as a state senator and his campaign for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts.

Lesser began his talk by explaining how he first became involved in politics. When he was a junior in high school, his principal called an assembly, brought up a group of teachers to the front of the room, and announced that those teachers would not be returning the following year due to budget cuts. Lesser described feeling like he and his fellow students were “being asked to pay for others’ mistakes.” A group of students, including Lesser, began to put together a campaign in support of the teachers that were set to be fired, knocking on doors and handing out leaflets in an attempt to “close the gap of funding.”

The moment that changed it all for Lesser was in the town hall meeting the night the ballots were being counted. A woman was sitting next to him and holding her firing notice, and when the vote had passed, she ripped it up in victory because she was going to be able to keep her job. It was an early lesson to Lesser that, despite the difficulties in politics, being involved is one of the “most powerful means of making a difference.”

One of Lesser’s first jobs in politics was working for former president Barack Obama during his 2008 campaign. Lesser explained that his role was essentially to carry around Obama’s suitcases and pick him up at the airport. Lesser said he would pre-drive their routes the night before to avoid getting lost because even though Obama was a “chill guy,” he did not like to get lost. Lesser traveled to 47 states and six countries with the Obama campaign, and he described his role as the equipment manager for the campaign as similar to being the “mom on the family vacation from hell.”

During the campaign, because there was no way to get back home for Passover, Lesser and the other Jewish staffers decided to hold a Passover seder to celebrate. They invited Obama, who agreed to come, although Lesser recalled believing that the then-senator was simply being polite. However, to his surprise, Obama joined and stayed for the entire seder in the windowless basement where it was being held. When everyone said “next year in Jerusalem,” as customary in many seders, Obama lifted his glass and said, “next year in the White House.” As it turned out, Lesser explained, that ended up being the case.

After the campaign ended, Lesser worked for David Axelrod, President Obama’s Senior Advisor. He was there for the passage of the Affordable Care Act, and the passing of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010.

However, Lesser was eager to get home and get involved in local politics, particularly after Obama himself advised Lesser that that was where he could get the most change done. He said to “grab a clipboard and run,”

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which is what Lesser decided to do. He ran for the position of state senator in Massachusetts and won by 192 votes. Because it was such a close election, it highlighted to Lesser the importance of campaigning and of voting. “You remember every baby you kiss and every door you’ve knocked on,” he said.

One project that Lesser has been pursuing is the installation of a high-speed rail through Massachusetts. He described it as the “single biggest climate change project” in the state. Since 40% of greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts are from cars, and because it would get many cars off the road, Lesser said that a high-speed railway would significantly reduce those emissions.

The project would also, he explained, create thousands of high-paying jobs, which is particularly important after the drop in employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When asked about his favorite memories from working at the White House, Lesser talked about the seders held at the White House during Obama’s presidency. Malia and Sasha Obama, he said, would read the four questions and find the afikoman — the hidden piece of matzah — which are both seder traditions. They could not open the door for Elijah — another Passover tradition — Lesser remembered fondly due to concerns from the Secret Service. There was one unique aspect of these seders that was added at Obama’s request. After reading the Haggadah, or the meal and telling of the Passover story, they would do a shared reading of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Lesser said it was important to Obama that his daughters understand this part of American history which is “still ongoing” and its parallels to the story of Exodus.

One memory Lesser shared from working in the state senate was the night the legislature passed an economic development bill in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was at the height of the pandemic and was “very intense.” They had until midnight to negotiate and finalize the deal, but it was proving difficult, and the negotiations went past the time limit. Any legislator could have challenged the fact that the deal had continued past its allotted time, and that would have been it. Fortunately, Lesser explained, no one did, and they were able to get it passed at about 2:30 a.m..

Lesser was also asked about what he would do if elected as lieutenant governor. As lieutenant governor, he said, he would have a role on the governor’s council that confirms all judicial nominations made by the governor, a power that he believes has been long underutilized. In addition, Lesser said that he would advocate for police reform and the abolition of mandatory minimum, and close the waitlist at vocational schools.

Another student asked Lesser what students can do to make a difference. Lesser, who was involved in Harvard College Democrats when he attended the university, advised the students in the room not to bite off more than they can chew. “Do what’s in front of you,” he said. “If you work on a local level, it will mushroom from there.” He emphasized that it is unproductive to try to solve all issues at once, and it is much more manageable and effective to do smaller things each day in an attempt to make a difference, such as taking initiatives in one’s hometown. “You’re not going to solve climate change in an afternoon,” he said.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2022

5

COMPUTER SCIENCE SOFTWARE

Students build computer science software for use in Univ. courses ■ A software called DALPy was created by two undergraduate students, and will assist teaching, testing, and grading at the University.

By LYNN HAN

JUSTICE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

This semester, Prof. Antonella Di Lillo (COSI) deployed a new academic tool in the core computer science class, “Data Structures and the Fundamentals of Computing,” COSI 21A. The tool, known as DALPy, formerly Cormen-Lib, was built and published as open-source software by two students, Eitan Joseph ’22 and Chami Lamelas ’22.

DALPy, short for “a Python package for learning data structures and algorithms,” was made for administering and grading assignments in data structures and algorithms courses. In a March 26 interview with the Justice, Lamelas stated, “data structures and algorithms are two of the most important topics in computer science, both academically and professionally.”

DALPy was initially created to replace pseudocode as the tool used by COSI 21A students to complete problem sets.

Algorithms expressed in pseudocode look more like plain English rather than real programming languages. Because pseudocode does not have a strict syntax to express common programming constructs, it cannot be run on a computer. Using the DALPy software, students can write their solutions in a programming language that a computer can understand and execute. Additionally, DALPy offers testing utilities that faculty can write test cases with and check if a student’s code is working properly.

Students benefit from the DALPy test cases because they can track their progress on assignments as they complete them. Students now have a better idea of what score to expect on each assignment, which greatly reduces the anxiety around receiving their grades. Consequently, “students can focus more on

learning the material,” Joseph said. “The DALPy test cases allow students to verify their understanding of course material, which is something that is difficult to do by hand with more complicated topics.”

“When designing DALPy, we took industry standard candidate evaluation tools, like HackerRank, and rebuilt them into a new product geared towards academic usage,” said Joseph. He stated that candidates generally write code that passes a series of automated tests during technical coding interviews, much like how the DALPy software evaluates students’ assignments.

With the University adopting this software, computer science students can now get accustomed to this type of evaluation process before their interviews.

When asked about how DALPy was specifically made for academic usage, Joseph stated that, “performance evaluation in industry and in academics are fundamentally different. In an industry setting, a strong applicant is able to solve problems quickly using any means necessary.” However, Joseph explained that in school, most assignments set restrictions on how students can solve homework problems in order to facilitate familiarity with a range of data structures. DALPy uniquely meets this demand by allowing course administrators to specify which library data structures are allowed to be used on a particular assignment. This forms a cohesive assignment release and submission pattern that eliminates any questions students may have regarding restrictions.

In addition to enhancing the student experience, DALPy also benefits the course staff, as problem sets completed using DALPy are graded more efficiently and fairly. In the past, students’ pseudocode submissions were graded by teaching assistants who traced students’ work by hand. They would have to execute students’ pseudocode line-by-line like a computer and see if the students’ code worked properly. This is a very slow and tedious process that typically results in grading errors, but problem sets done with DALPy can be checked for correctness by a computer. This eliminates grading mistakes and significantly reduces grading time.

DALPy is being used for the first time this semester. Three problem sets have already been successfully administered and graded using this tool, and after this semester, the developers will gather feedback from students and course staff on their experience using DALPy. The developers hope that this open source project will remain in use at Brandeis and will be adopted by other universities.

The DALPy library offers a set of fundamental data structures and algorithms as defined in “Introduction to Algorithms,” one of the most widely used data structures and algorithms textbooks. A total of 13 data structures defined in “Introduction to Algorithms’’ are offered by DALPy at this time.

DALPy is built on top of Python, one of the most dominant programming languages in the world. Python formed a perfect base for the DALPy software as its English-like syntax was very similar to the pseudocode used in “Introduction to Algorithms.”

Despite this similarity, Python’s standard library does not offer data structures that match the textbook, so enforcing restrictions on homework assignments in “vanilla Python,” or the basic, unmodified version, is an administrative nightmare. With the entirety of Python’s base installation library available, it is nearly impossible to predict which tools could make a homework problem trivial. DALPy takes the best parts of Python and uses them to form a new academically oriented product.

The authors of DALPy began planning this software in the spring of 2021. The goal was to provide the Computer Science department with a scalable tool that could be used in any future data structures and algorithms course. Although DALPy is fully equipped to handle the current iteration of COSI 21A, it is also easy to modify. Because all of the code backing this project is fully available online accompanied by extremely detailed documentation, future course administrators can easily change the software as needed. After verification by a member of the DALPy team, a new version of the software can be released to the public. This way, the product can be flexible enough to meet the future demands of computer science departments around the country as needed.

NOAH ZEITLIN/Justice File Photo Community Advisors hold many responsibilities, some of which have become more complicated due to COVID-19, such as the move-in day process. As the semester comes to an end, CAs will also be participating in the closing of residence halls and helping students transition from spring to summer housing.

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THE JUSTICE

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NEWS

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TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2022

PETITION: Over 500 students UNION: Gillespie and Bergen speak on sign in support of CAs CONTINUED FROM 1

quired to purchase a meal plan.

“For many years,” states the letter included in the document, “Community Advisors have advocated for full room and board compensation, on par with similar institutions, including full meal plan compensation and a stipend. These demands have not been met, despite consistent acknowledgment from administration.”

The letter goes on to mention Clark University and the University of Massachusetts Boston as two examples of schools that include a meal plan as part of the compensation for students employed in positions comparable to the CA role at Brandeis. Boston University, Boston College, and Wellesley College are also among the schools in the Boston area that compensate students in these positions with a meal plan or a stipend of equal or greater value.

The letter to administration members states that during the COVID-19 pandemic, CAs have been forced to take the responsibility of “upholding critical functions of the University” and have experienced a lack of forewarning of changes to COVID-19 policies, inadequate personal protective equipment, and little support from the University. “The last two years have seen an undue burden placed on CA workload with no additional compensation — for this reason, it has become even more imperative that CAs at Brandeis be fairly compensated,” the document states.

The letter quotes Brandeis’ Mission and Diversity Statements and points out that the CA staff at Brandeis is largely made up of students who are BIPOC, low-income, or the first in their families to attend college. “In order to recognize ‘the ways in which social, cultural and economic inequalities affect power and privilege in the larger society and at Brandeis itself,’” the petition letter states, quoting the Mission and Diversity Statements, “the administration must recognize the hardships that CAs face as a part of their position … this continued lack of recognition fails to meet the commitments made by the University to support its marginalized students.”

Alaysia Penso ’23, who is in her second year as a CA, agrees with this statement. “Many CAs are marginalized students or simply cannot afford to live on campus, so they enter these positions in order to finance their education despite the fact that it is exploitative of the University to use these students to fill these roles

without adequate compensation,” Penso said in an April 10 email to the Justice.

Raymond Lu-Ming Ou, vice president of student affairs, could not be reached for comment regarding the petition’s demands. Dan Kim, the University’s senior vice president of communications, marketing, and external relations, responded to the Justice’s request for comment in Ou’s place in an April 9 email. “If we were to increase the contribution to CA meal plans, as with all financial decisions at the University, we would need to consider the cost of a larger benefit vs. spending on other priorities in student services, academics and other areas,” Kim wrote.

He explained that the decision to cover more or all of the cost of meal plans for CAs is not dependent on the dining vendor selection or contract. He went on to say that because of the “complexity” of the Request for Proposals process through which Brandeis will select a dining vendor and sign a new contract with the selected company, “Brandeis does not plan any major changes to the dining plan structure for the fall semester, so a free or reduced-cost plan specifically for CAs is something Brandeis would have to consider in future years.”

Penso said that she feels this response from the administration is inadequate and criticized the University’s lack of action towards increasing financial compensation for CAs as a part of a wider pattern of taking advantage of students and a failure to act to address issues that impact students. “The University should be committed to not exploiting its students,” Penso said, adding, “this University prides itself on standing for social justice and activism, but on too many occasions falls short and the activism remains performative.”

Last April, a letter signed by CAs was sent to Liebowitz and other members of the University administration in which these studentworkers voiced frustrations about the increased responsibilities and risks placed on CAs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, examples of which were listed in the letter. These included enforcing COVID-19 policies and being required to facilitate a significantly longer and more challenging student move-in process.

“We have been challenged to walk a fine line between community builders and policy enforcers – more so this year than ever before,” stated the spring 2021 letter. “We are required to enter student spaces when we see violations, support students in distress, engage with large groups of students

that are out of compliance etc., all of which places an added COVID-19 risk onto us.”

The main demand of this letter, like that of the recent petition, was for Brandeis to compensate its CAs with full room and board coverage, which would include a meal plan.

Molly Cady ’21, who at the time was one of the Head CAs for the Massell and Rosenthal quads, sent the Justice the document containing the letter to the various administration members to which it was addressed.

In an April 11 email interview a year after she sent this email on behalf of the CA staff, Cady told the Justice, “The response [from the administration] was honestly disappointing.”

Although she and other CAs did meet with administration regarding the demands during the summer, she is not aware of any final agreements having been made.

While she said that her not hearing back from the administration at all after a certain point in the summer may have been due to her having graduated that spring, the creation of the new petition suggests to her that no significant changes were made to CA compensation: “I feel like the fact that CAs are yet AGAIN having to reach out to administration in this way means nothing truly happened.”

Cady voiced her support for the petition but expressed disappointment that the changes demanded in it have not already been made. “The CAs are SUCH an asset to life on campus and truly a great deal of what goes on behind the scenes is a result of the work put in by CAs and Head CAs … It shouldn’t have to take letter after letter to administration to see action.”

She encouraged Brandeis students to support the new petition, explaining, “At this point, [student support] is what it’s going to take for administration to be held accountable,” and implored the University to give its CAs “fair” and “full” compensation.

As a current CA, Penso believes that Brandeis needs to do more to support its CAs. “We are students tasked with the well-being of many of the other students and have to give up many of our weekends and weeknights to be available to residents. We mediate conflict and, according to the training in the fall, are often first ‘responder’ on scene if something goes wrong,” she said, asserting that, “the least the University can do is absorb the meal plans for us.”

—Editors note, Editor Cameron Cushing '23 is a Community Advisor. He did not contribute to or edit this article.

SPEAKERS

plans for next year

CONTINUED FROM 1 cation between student government and the student body,” Gillespie said.

Bergen and Gillespie have also been talking about hosting a monthly town hall meeting, which would help facilitate conversations between students and the Student Union. They hope to increase communication and transparency about the initiatives they are pursuing. “We want our work to be really accessible to the student body and we want everyone to feel like their voice is heard and that they can have a chance to connect with us and say what they want to say,” Gillespie said.

These are only some of their goals and issues that Gillespie and Bergen hope to address, which poses some difficulty when it comes to prioritizing.

“There is a never-ending list of things that we want to change to make it better for students on campus … realistically, we won't even be able to get to half of it, but we want to do all that we can,” Bergen said.

While their goals may be seen as somewhat ambitious, Gillespie emphasized his and Bergen’s drive and passion to fulfill these goals and how they plan on executing them. “I'm not afraid to be in ‘the room where it happens’ with administrators or with the Board of Trustees, or have these difficult conversations, or have these negotiations to ensure that student voices are heard and that we get done what we set out to get done,” he said.

Another strategy to having a successful term is communication, one of Gillespie’s “most important personal values.” He used the analogy of how it is crucial to have good communication skills with one’s roommate to stress the importance of being able to communicate with the rest of the Union, administrators, and the University as a whole. “It's all about com-

■ Former Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA) will speak to the Class of 2022 and TV producer Marta Kauffman will speak to the Classes of 2020 and 2021.

JUSTICE EDITOR

COMMENCEMENT: Deval Patrick and Marta Kauffman are set to come to Waltham in May to speak to the classes of 2020-2022.

munication. It's about setting expectations, and it's about following up, and I think I see that in Lia and in myself, and I'm confident that we are going to do the best of our ability and do a great job as student leaders for this campus,” he said.

They both also urged students to reach out and communicate their needs and ideas with them. “We want to know what students want so that we can focus on seeing the important things,” Bergen said. This is what fueled the idea for the monthly town hall — creating a setting where students and organizations have the opportunity to communicate with the Union and “making people feel confident that they can have those conversations with us and they can trust us with those conversations and with their needs or their wants,” Gillespie said.

The relationship between the Student Union and the administration is strong, and they are mostly receptive to feedback, according to Bergen and Gillespie. However, to bridge the gap between students and the administration, Gillespie hopes to create “spaces on campus where students and administrators can have empathic conversations surrounding issues across the board and empower students to have agency and student voice in these conversations.” In fact, one of the reasons why Gillespie wanted to run for president was to be able to be in a position where he could have access to and hold the administration accountable, he said.

As Gillespie and Bergen settle into their new positions as President and Vice President, they hope that students remember that “ultimately, at the end of the day, Lia and I, we're students. I mean we’re the same as everyone else. We're all in the same playing field. It's like a community. It's our family,” Gillespie said.

Commencement speakers announced

By ISABEL ROSETH

Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY

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On Friday, April 1, Brandeis announced the speakers and honorary degree recipients for the 2022 commencement ceremony. The ceremony will take place on May 22 and will be held at the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA) H’17 will address the Class of 2022 at the University’s 71st commencement exercises. Aerospace engineer and mathematician Christine Mann Darden and David Harris, the CEO of the American Jewish Committee, will both be awarded honorary degrees.

Patrick was the first Black governor of Massachusetts and served from 2007 to 2015. He also served as the United States Assistant Attorney General from 1994 to 1997 and is known for investigating a series of arsons at predominantly Black churches in the South, according to the University website. He currently serves as the co-director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School. A graduate of Harvard University, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Brandeis in 2017.

A "[re]commencement" will also be

held for the classes of 2020 and 2021, both of which had virtual graduations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Marta Kauffman ’78 H’20, who received an honorary Doctor of Creative Arts degree from the University in 2020, will speak to the classes of 2020 and 2021. Kauffman will be honored along with her fellow 2020 honorary degree recipients Alan Hassenfeld, Ruth Calderon, and Howardena Pindell. The 2021 honorary degree recipients were already recognized in fall 2021 at an on-campus ceremony, according to BrandeisNow. Kauffman is known for her work as one of the creators of the television series “Friends,” along with David Crane ’78. “Friends,” which is critically acclaimed and considered to be one of the most popular television shows of all time, received 62 Emmy nominations during the course of its run and won Outstanding Comedy Series in 2002.

Kauffman also created the television show “Grace and Frankie,” which stars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda. In 2020, Kauffman was awarded the Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television from the Producers Guild of America.

“I’m grateful for the resilience, flexibility, and resolve you demonstrated during your final year at Brandeis and in the time since,” University President Ron Liebowitz said to 2020 and 2021 graduates in a video announcement in reference to the "[re]commencement" ceremony. “I hope you and your families will join us on the afternoon of Sunday, May 22 for an exciting graduation party with all the pomp and circumstance that you deserve.”

8 TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2022 ● FEATURES ● THE JUSTICE

features

just

VERBATIM | CARL SAGAN

For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love.

ON THIS DAY…

FUN FACT

In 1981, NASA launched Columbia, the first space shuttle to ever fly in space. The first of 28 missions for the shuttle, Columbia was operated for 22 years following its first launch.

On Mercury, a day lasts longer than a year. The planet moves around the sun in only 88 Earth days, while the time between each sunrise on the planet is 176 Earth days.

A march for safety, intersectionality, and empowerment

By CAYENN LANDAU JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

HEATHER SCHILLER/Justice File Photo

SUPPORT: Students held candles as a demonstration of support for survivors of sexual violence at the 2015 Take Back the Night March.

On Thursday, April 7, Brandeis’ Take Back the Night returned as an in-person event for the first time since 2019. A global movement with a long history, Take Back the Night is an annual stand against sexual violence which has taken place all over the world for decades, and has been held on campus for over 15 years.

Hosted as a collaborative event by the Prevention, Advocacy and Resource Center, the Intersectional Feminist Coalition, the Black Action Plan, the Gender and Sexuality Center, the Disabled Students’ Network, and students from other organizations, the event began as an evening march from the Light of Reason to the Rabb steps.

Prior to the start of the march, representatives from the groups spoke to the crowd of attendees about Take Back The Night’s history and significance.

From Rabb, attendees marched to Skyline to gather in two discussion spaces; one dedicated to self-preservation and reflection and the other to action.

“The shift from Zoom to in person really opened up our choices during planning,” Priya Sashti ’24, one of the Take Back The Night co-organizers representing PARC, wrote in an April 8 email correspondence with the Justice. “We ended up choosing an all in-person format to honor the original purpose of Take Back the Night, as a march through campus.”

Sashti explained that the event existed on campus long before PARC was established in 2015. Although documentation of when the first Take Back the Night event was held at Brandeis is not available online, according to a Justice article from 2004, it appears that the protest occurred on campus as early as 2000. “In doing research on Take Back the Night’s history at Brandeis, I was in awe [of] the innovation and perseverance of this event,” Sashti said.

Take Back the Night has international origins but first emerged in its current form on college campuses in the 1970s, following nightly marches by students calling for a women’s center at the University of Southern Florida. From there, students and communities across the country took a stand against sexual assult and sexual violence through rallies and protests.

Take Back the Night as a movement calls for exactly what its name proclaims: a world where vulnerable groups are able to walk alone at night without the fear of sexual assault or violence of any kind.

According to the 2019 Campus Climate Survey, 10% of men, 21% of women, and 36% of gender nonconforming students have experienced sexual assault since becoming a student at Brandeis. “We recognize that Brandeis University’s own perception and data on campus violence doesn’t encompass the true scope of this disproportionate violence,” Lauren Formanski ’22, a

Design: Yuan Jiang/the Justice Design: Natalie Kahn/the Justice

co-organizer representing PARC, said. “Until recently, the Office of Equal Opportunity was housed near East, effectively in a ditch that was incredibly inaccessible to physically disabled students.”

As of 2019, students are now able to submit digital reports to the OEO, now housed in Bernstein-Marcus, a more accessible location.

PARC co-organizers also sought to highlight the importance of intersectionality within modern Take Back The Night events. “We’d like to acknowledge that Take Back the Night originated during what some would call ‘Second Wave Feminism,’ a period of the feminist movement that was dominated by white women and neglected both women of color and the violence experienced by other individuals, including trans folks,” PARC peer advocate and Take Back the Night coorganizer Vidushi Poddar ’24 said during a statement given prior to the march at the Light of Reason. “In this way, Take Back the Night has historically perpetrated violence in its pursuit to raise awareness and action against violence.”

Sashti emphasized the role that student-based clubs and organizations outside of PARC had in activism crucial to advancing inclusion in Take Back The Night.

“We want to acknowledge the Black Action Plan, a group of students who have tirelessly joined together to fight for institutional changes within Brandeis,” she said, adding, “Their demands include critically reimagining the policing, [Department of] Community Living, [Brandeis] Counseling Center, and various other Brandeis affiliated centers in the efforts to transform Brandeis into an anti-racist community on all levels of power.”

She also spoke about DSN, a new club that focuses on disability justice in the form of advocacy and community-building. “We want to amplify the work of The Disabled Students Network, both with Take Back the Night and generally at Brandeis,” Sashti said. “The DSN provides a community for disabled students at Brandeis while also emphasizing social justice and activism in their efforts to push back against ableism.”

DSN set up a table with free items for attendees to aid the march’s accessibility. The table contained earplugs, flashlights, and fidgets, as well as Take Back the Night t-shirts.

“Brandeis’ campus is pretty inaccessible,” DSN treasurer Jonathan Kelly ’23 said. “We did everything in our power to make the march as accessible as possible for anyone who wanted to come.”

DSN led the action room. There, members of the group hosted multiple stations that used fully accessible videos and text to spotlight a first-person account from a disabled individual on their process of navigat-

ing ableism, violence, and healing. The action room also contained an interactive bulletin board where students could post reflections, reactions, and thoughts about the content of the different stations and the event as a whole.

The self-preservation and reflection room, which was co-facilitated by all of the event organizers, included a writing-prompt reflection station, a meditation station, an art station, and a phone cleansing station where attendees could “clean up some of the digital mess that we all have stored in our phones,” Kelly explained in an April 11 email correspondence with the Justice. The two rooms were not open to members of the press.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, these rooms have become a crucial part of Brandeis’s Take Back the Night. “Before the pandemic, Take Back the Night only included an in-person march and a reflection space, where individuals impacted by sexual violence could reflect on their experiences and share with the community,” Alison Hagani ’22, a Take Back the Night coorganizer representing PARC, said in an April 9 email interview with the Justice. “We realized, however, that there are many people who do not resonate with this kind of community healing for myriad reasons, including disinterest and a lack of trust.”

She explained that providing a space that focuses specifically on action, as well as one for reflection and sharing, is something that Brandeis’ Take Back the Night organizers have focused on in recent years, “Many individuals, especially those impacted by sexual violence, project their experiences into action; their survivorship is often inextricably linked to a desire to use their own insights as a call to action.”

Hagani explained that last year’s event marked the first time an action room was incorporated into Brandeis’ rendition of Take Back the Night. “Last year, we were fortunate to have the Black Action Plan lead the action room, [and] the Disabled Students Network [is facilitating] the action space this year,” Hagani said.

“These two organizations so beautifully exemplify the role action plays as a form of community healing.”

Finally returning to its traditional in-person format after two years, while simultaneously incorporating important new elements, this year’s Take Back the Night served as a space for Brandeis community members to express solidarity and resilience in the face of violence. The event highlighted the work being done by student activists to push for intersectionality within Take Back The Night and beyond the protest.

Looking towards the future of the yearly event, Sashti said, “We hope to continue to expand our ideas of what forms of healing and empowerment Take Back the Night can embody.”

THE JUSTICE ● FEATURES ● TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2022

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Artists of Our Time The Justice spoke to three BIPOC artists about their art and their experiences as artists at Brandeis.

Photos Courtesy of DELAINE GNECO DE LA CRUZ

DELAINE: In Nov. 2021, Delaine Gneco De La Cruz ’24 (top) created a short documentary titled “Be You” (bottom) that examines the tradition of quinceañeras.

Photo Courtesy of JONATHAN JOASIL

JONATHAN: Jonathan Joasil ’22 created both of these pieces as part of the “Senior Studio” course he took during the fall 2021 semester.

By MIRABELL ROWLAND

JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“Aside from art being just an expression of your ideas and expression of who you are and what you think the world is about, I think it’s just also a connection tool,” Jonathan Joasil ’22 said when asked how he defines art during our April 7th Zoom interview. Jonathan is a Black painter and visual artist whose work has been featured in the senior exhibition at the Dreitzer Art Gallery in Spingold Theater.

Jonathan will graduate in May as both a Biology and a Health, Science, Society, and Policy major, with a minor in Studio Art. While his main fields of study are based in STEM, art has been an important part of his life since he was young; he started drawing when he was about four years old. Jonathan said that when he was younger, he would always find something interesting to draw during school.

In eighth grade, he created a mural of Charlie Brown and Snoopy.

“Reflecting back on this,” Jonathan said, “I realized I’ve kind of been doing these largerscale things, and I did not even realize that then. It was more like pure enjoyment back then, and now I am really thinking about [the art I do].”

When Jonathan started high school, the heavy workload he had at the technical high school he attended in New York City meant he no longer had time to explore his passion for art. But, as he explained, “When I got to Brandeis, I realized an art class was required, and I was like ‘Wow, I can take more of these classes.’ And in my sophomore year, I thought, ‘Let me do the minor.’”

Like Jonathan, Delaine De La Cruz ’24, a

Photo Courtesy of BINTOU BAYOU

BINTU: Bintu Bayou ’25 is pictured with her pieces “Blood Thinning” (left) and “Emotional Addict” (right), which were were displayed in early March.

Dominican Afro-Latina Film and Interactive Media major, also found her passion when she arrived at Brandeis. Delaine practices various types of art, from dance to musical theater to photography, and, most recently, filmmaking.

“My first semester [at Brandeis] I fell in love with the film major,” she said during our April 7 Zoom interview. Delaine grew up dancing and did so for almost 15 years and was planning on majoring in dance. But after discovering her love for filmmaking as a firstyear, she decided to pursue film instead.

“For me, art is an expression; I think ‘How can I tell the story I want to tell?’” said Delaine. She explained how each form of art is powerful and unique for different reasons.

“With dance,” she said, “there is no language you need to speak to understand because there are no words. In theater, there is power in the way it tells a story in a very performative way.

With photography, you have the ability to capture one second, one moment, and in the only frame you can still say a lot.”

When it comes to art, Delaine practically does it all but says if she had to choose a favorite, it would be filmmaking. “Because film is so interdisciplinary, I [am] able to combine all of my creativity into this one medium,” she explained.

Delaine admitted that she did not always love producing and directing. In high school, she was tasked with what seemed to her an impossible assignment: to write, direct, and film a 10-minute short film. “It was funny because at that time I wasn’t interested in film at all. I went to the movies, but I was like, ‘I don’t want to be behind the camera,’” she said.

During the making of the short film assignment, Delaine remembers thinking, “If this is so hard, I can’t imagine how people do, like, two hours.” It was not until she saw the final product of this project that she could see herself directing and producing films in the future.

Unlike Jonathan and Delaine, Bintou Bayou ’25, a Black visual artist who creates drawings, paintings, and digital works, was already set on pursuing art as a career when she entered Brandeis. She explained during our Zoom interview on April 7, “I grew up in art since I was young. I don’t really like to say natural talent because you always have to work and challenge yourself to become better.”

While art has always been there for her throughout her life, she says it was not until her junior year of high school that she became very serious about it.

Bintou is planning on double majoring in Studio Art and Computer Science and hopes to pursue art and animation.

Art and identity

For the BIPOC artists I spoke to, identity and culture play into their work in a variety of important ways and can also create unique pressures and expectations.

Jonathan said that being a BIPOC artist makes his art more interesting, explaining that he has been able to add elements of what it means to be a part of the Black community and an artist of color into his work. “It is not a matter of ‘I have this identity, and I need the world to see this identity.’ But rather I think of the fact that this is who I am, and why shouldn’t the world get to see that?” he explained.

During our conversation, we discussed his art pieces and the important messages that reside within them. Jonathan explained that he is passionate about social justice and decided to combine this passion with his other passion, art.

He spoke about how he is currently exploring the idea of Black women being pressured to have straight hair within the workplace through his art. In one of his pieces, a Black woman with straight hair is shown on top of a clean-cut striped background that represents the professional world and what is seen as presentable. Juxtaposed with the second painting that he is currently working on — a painting of a Black woman, this time with curly hair and a background representing disorder and distraction — the two pieces tell a story about the important and complicated relationship of Black women to their hair and the ways that perceptions, prejudices, and stereotypes impact this relationship.

Jonathan described another one of his pieces that examines the way that the oppression of Black people is deeply ingrained within our systems. For this piece, he carved a skeleton out of wood and created shackles which he placed on the figure to represent the transatlantic slave trade: just as the shackles are ingrained in the wood, he explained, so is this bondage ingrained within America.

He said that this semester, he is focusing his art on what it is like to be light-skinned in the Black community and also shed light on the issue of colorism. He spoke about the need to shed a light on this issue, which continues to be prevalent in society today: “There is an opportunity for me, as someone that’s very light-skinned, to build up or lift up the voices of those that have darker skin than I.” Delaine said that as an Afro-Latina artist, she feels a level of pressure to focus her work on issues that affect her community. “I think [that], when you are a person of color, people really expect you to talk about topics related to people of color, which of course are important. When someone mentions the word racism or discrimination, everyone looks at you like, ‘Oh, you have to do something about it,’” Delaine said, explaining that because of this expectation, “Sometimes, yes, I have felt that pressure, that it’s like my only way to express myself as an artist.”

She said that at times she feels as if she has to focus her work on issues that affect the Black and Afro-Latinx communities of which she is a member. While she finds these issues to be very important, she explained that she doesn’t want to be limited to only certain possibilities, as so many BIPOC artists are, since they become restricted to one way of express-

ing their art.

Delaine’s art encompasses a variety of subjects, from documentaries about her friend’s quinceañera to events on campus. Delaine is currently working on a short film titled “Dilema Existencial” for a final project in “Film Production I” that examines the AfroLatinidad identity.

She explained that she decided to focus on the Afro-Latinx experience not only because she felt it was necessary but also because it was a fun and unique topic. Expanding on why it was important to her to use this project to talk about what it means to be Black and Latina, Delaine spoke about the importance of representation within art and media, and explained, “I think sometimes people don’t see being Black and also Latina as possible.

Most see them as identities that really exclude each other. And, so the title of my film, which is in Spanish, means ‘existential dilemma,’ so it’s just exploring the struggle of finding identity.”

Like Delaine, Bintou feels that there is pressure on her as a Black artist to create art that highlights and comments on the injustices happening to BIPOC across the globe. “Every time that I hear something on the news that’s happening to people of color I feel like I’m kind of forced to say something or draw something about it,” she said, explaining that this is largely a result of all of the artists she sees on her social media feed posting art that relates to the latest injustice or social issue.

“I’m just like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m an artist, so I need to put something out there.’”

While Jonathan’s art often includes social justice themes, he asserts that not all art needs to have a message. “Sometimes art can just be really cool,” he said. He is currently exploring new ways in which his art can “just be fun” and impact people in other ways outside of social justice commentary. “I think it’s beautiful that art allows you to stop for a second,” he said, adding, “I think having that pause can give someone a smile on their face or make their day a little brighter and then, for a small minority of people, they might think ‘Ooh, I want to do that.’”

He explains that sometimes, when people become too serious, the work might not be as enjoyable. “I have always been able to keep bright colors in my paintings and part of that is just fun. Having those pops of joy in doing this hard work, I think, is something that would really be part of what people take away,” he said Delaine spoke about how she hopes to spark introspection, discussion, and positive change through her films. “I want my audiences to be active contributors [to] the process. I don’t want it to be like, ‘Oh, it’s a good film.

I enjoyed it.’ I want to [start] those conversations after my film ends,” she said, adding, “If they’re able to do that, my work is complete.”

Delaine and Bintou both emphasized how art can mean very different things to different people. “With art, everyone can interpret a single piece in different ways,” Bintou said and encouraged those who view her art to find their own messages within it.

When reflecting on the ways that he hopes his art is able to affect people, Jonathan said, “I hope that people take away that there is an opportunity to make this world truly a better place and, in doing so, [have] some joy and laughter.”

Design: Yuan Jiang/the Justice

10 TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2022 ● FORUM

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THE JUSTICE

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the

Established 1949

Dalya Koller , Leah Breakstone, Acting News Editors Natalie Kahn, Features Editor Lauryn Williams, Forum Editor Taku Hagiwara, Sports Editor Megan liao, Arts & Culture Editor Jack Yuanwei Cheng, Photography Editor Thea Rose, Acting Photography Editor Ariella Weiss, Isabel roseth, Copy Editors Samantha Goldman, Online Editor Devon Sandler, Acting Online Editor

Brandeis University

Sofia Gonzalez Rodriguez, Editor in Chief Jane Flautt, Managing Editor Gilda Geist, Cameron Cushing, Senior Editors River Hayes, Jen Crystal, Deputy Editors Leeza Barstein, Gabriel Frank, Megan Geller, Juliana Giacone, Hannah O’Koon, Hannah Taylor, Noah Zeitlin, and Lynn Han, Associate Editors

EDITORIALS Navigating housing for the upcoming school year As many students are trying to secure on-campus housing for the next academic year, this board would like to offer some suggestions for the Department of Community Living regarding the current student housing system to streamline the user experience and make it less stressful for students.

University housing currently operates under a lottery system where students with lower housing numbers get to pick a room first. This is consistent with many other schools in the area. However, the housing number release was delayed this semester. This caused a tremendous amount of stress for many students. This board calls for the University to initiate the housing selection process sooner next year so students will not have to be forced to find housing groups while dealing with end-of--year projects and exams.

On-campus housing is currently not guaranteed for upperclassmen. While this board is aware of the limited oncampus housing space, other universities in the area and around the country are providing subsidized, university-maintained, off-campus housing for students who have failed to secure on-campus housing. This board calls for the University to explore a similar model in the future. This solution will help students secure safe and reliable off-campus housing. It will also help students to avoid the high realtor fee associated with renting many off-campus apartments.

This board also calls on the University to improve its policies surrounding housing accommodations. Students whose accommodations require a kitchen, for example, should have access to an en-suite kitchen. We also encourage the University to keep an open mind about what disabilities and accommodations can look like, and be sensitive to the fact that stu-

dents with disabilities often take on the burden of advocating for themselves.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Student Union maintained a list of sublets and roommate requests posted by Brandeis community members.

Many students benefited from this platform as it was a convenient way to find housing listings rather than hunting for housing on social media platforms. This board would like to call for the Student Union to resurrect the list this semester, as it will help many students secure summer and fall housing before the semester ends.

This board would also like to offer students who are interested in forming housing groups, on or off campus, some tips to make the process easier for all parties involved. First of all, be respectful to other students while negotiating to form a housing group. Communicate your living habits such as bedtime, noise tolerance, and tidiness to your potential roommates as early as possible. This will help get everyone on the same page when making a decision on whether to group together for housing.

Second, should you decide to change your mind about housing with someone, make sure to communicate with them as soon as possible. For those who decide to live off campus, make sure that everyone is on the same page about the legal and financial obligations behind signing a lease.

This board would like to wish everyone the best of luck during housing selection.

We look forward to seeing some of our suggestions being implemented as policy changes by the University in the future.

—Editor’s note: Editor Cameron Cushing ’23 is a Community Advisor. He did not contribute to or edit this article.

University should compensate Community Advisors In light of a recent petition circulating with the hope that the University would begin compensating meal plans for Community Advisors, this board would like to bring attention to the importance of supporting said petition. While the University has already rejected the previous proposal, we would like to bring light to why it should be reconsidered.

CAs work tirelessly to keep their peers safe, healthy, and comfortable, but they do not get paid. Their “payment” is free housing; however, a meal plan, which all students living on campus are required to have, is not included. Especially during these trying times, in which CAs have risked their health to continue to support the community, we must take a step back and realize how much more they deserve.

Thus, this board urges the University to find a way to subsidize meal plans for CAs. We understand that this may put a financial burden on the University. One way to solve this could be through meal swipe allocation. Many students on campus purchase a meal plan and end up having many swipes left over at the end of each week, so a system could potentially be created in which students can donate their meal swipes to a fund that would help cover CA dining. We already have a similar system for Kindness Day every year, when students have the option to donate a meal swipe to a dining service worker. Recycling meal plans could be accomplished using a similar system.

According to an April 9 email to the Justice from Senior Vice President of Communications, Marketing, and External Relations Dan Kim on behalf of Vice President of Student Affairs Raymond Ou and Vice President for Campus Operations Lois Stanley, “currently, CAs are compensated by having the cost of their housing waived. Because of federal formulas for calculating financial aid, this housing cost waiver does factor into financial aid; the same would be true of a complimentary meal plan.” This board

recognizes that this is a valid concern. However, we highly encourage the University to try to work around this in any way possible and at least be transparent with CAs and CA applicants about how these federal formulas work.

On a related note, it has come to our attention that the dining options over academic breaks are limited. As stated in the CA contract, each CA must cover at least one shift over an academic break each year. Many international students also cannot go home over breaks, especially in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic, so it is imperative that proper nourishment be provided for those living on campus during each break. CAs are already going out of their way to stay on campus and do unpaid work rather than relaxing at home; they should be able to feel comfortable knowing that they can at least get quality food from the dining halls while on campus.

We appreciate the addition of a meal stipend to the CA compensation plan, as outlined in the 2022-23 Community Advisor Job Description; however, there is still more to be done. A stipend of $625 per semester is better than nothing, but it is hardly enough to cover the entire semester. It also does not take into account the meals and snacks CAs will need when they are covering shifts over breaks.

This board urges the University to reconsider covering the costs of meal plans for CAs and improving the dining options on campus over breaks. CAs already work very hard to make sure the Brandeis community feels safe and connected, so they should receive proper meals in exchange for their efforts.

—Editor’s note: Editor Cameron Cushing ’23 is a Community Advisor. He did not contribute to or edit this article.

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THE JUSTICE ● FORUM ● TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2022 11

A ‘thank you’ is no longer enough for Community Advisors

By LEAH NARAINE

JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Messages of gratitude were plentiful during Community Advisor training at the start of the Fall 2021 semester from administrators, including Vice President Raymond Ou and Assistant Vice President Shelby Harris. For those unaware, Community Advisor, sometimes known as Residential Advisors at other institutions, are a resource for students in residential halls. The gratitude we received for supporting the Brandeis student population was meant to applaud all of our past, current, and continued hard work within residence halls throughout the pandemic.

As a Head Community Advisor in Village Residence Hall, I was overjoyed to hear that administrators saw my and peers’ hard work and dedication. However, this feeling was short-lived when we entered into another school year where the positions of my fellow CAs and I were and are not fully and fairly compensated.

Comparable institutions in the Boston area, such as Boston College and Bentley University, have compensated their RAs and CAs with full room and board and in some cases, a stipend to compensate their labor for on-call hours. Brandeis University is one of the few institutions where this is not the case. This lack of compensation has been particularly concerning over the past two semesters, where our job requirements placed all of us at increased risk for contracting COVID-19.

These requirements even caused some of us to contract COVID-19 while completing our jobs. COVID-19 exacerbated this injustice, but this problem has existed and will continue to exist without necessary interventions.

Prior to the spring of 2019 and continuing throughout this academic year, CAs have been interacting with crises on cam-

pus regardless of their nature.

This places us in a unique position where we see trends of issues on campus and have consistently communicated this upwards to supervisors and administrators. Providing this information to administrators for the creation and implementation of solutions has remained a challenge. This upwards communication can feel counterproductive and confusing.

This is in part because of a system that does not include effective communication, leading some of the conversations that I have had to feel like a means of appeasement, where a solution is either unfound or found as close to what already exists.

Through the years of vocalizing the need for CA compensation, other CAs and I have been met with vast amounts of information, making it unclear who we should be communicating with to best advocate for full and fair compensation.

Increased communication with tangible next steps and updates from administrators that CAs meet with is a need for CAs to be able to effectively serve students and ourselves.

Community Advisors no longer want change and increased compensation.

We now need it. We must work through pandemics, over breaks, effectively communicate with supervisors and administrators, and support the Brandeis community at large, among other job responsibilities.

Additionally, taking on the CA job comes with an adjusted financial aid package which, for many CAs like myself, restricts our job prospects on campus and the hours we may work. It is as though, according to the financial aid structures in place, being a CA is viewed as having more compensation than CAs like myself experience.

For me, the adjustments to my finan-

cial aid package left me wondering how I would continue to pay for my education at Brandeis. When I sought out a job, there were conflicts because my work-study had been revoked.

Additionally, as we complete these job responsibilities over breaks during the semester, we are subjected to food that poorly contributes to our overall health while we are already giving up precious time to relax during stressful semesters.

With Brandeis University’s new contract with their new vendor, will Brandeis demonstrate the value of the work that we do as CAs through full compensation of meal plans for CAs? CAs and students have signed a letter outlining demands that CAs need in order to continue to serve the Brandeis Community to the best of our ability.

I, along with other students and CAs now await a response and follow-up actions from administrators regarding our important community impacting concerns.

Will Brandeis demonstrate its social justice principles?

Finally, are we as students and CAs valued by the administration of Brandeis University or will our concerns, like that of many other students on campus, be pushed aside once again?

—Editor’s note: Editor Cameron Cushing ’23 is a Community Advisor. He did not contribute to or edit this article.

NOAH ZEITLIN/Justice file photo

The importance of rest during spring break

By TASHA EPSTEIN

JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Spring is finally beginning to hit campus, and it’s just in time. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that the student body has been needing a lift, and warmer weather with blooming surroundings certainly doesn’t hurt matters.

I was born and raised in California, but I didn’t find my first New England winter to be too bad, just long. When I went back home for winter break, there were daffodils in the yard; when I got back to campus in January, there was a blizzard.

Many students have been battling seasonal depression; even those hailing from climates closer to Massachusetts may find the combination of weather and school stressors draining. People have reported feeling overly fatigued, as if they’re just going through the motions, or — my personal favorite descriptor — simply “gray.” Some shrugged the question off when asked about what they’ve been doing to cope, while others said they’d like to do more self-care but don’t have the time.

On a campus of standout kids and overachievers, there seems to be almost a culture of burnout. Students tend to wear baggy eyes and crumpled papers as badges of honor. It can create a horrific spiral, in which students feel like they can’t take a break for fear of being swept under the current, yet those within the current need a break most desperately.

Though, on the subject of breaks, our spring break — which could provide a much needed respite for students — is surprisingly late in the semester. I understand it’s over Passover, which is

great that students can return home for the holiday, but it’s also two weeks away from finals. Most of my peers at other schools had breaks placed somewhere in March, which seems more appropriately timed burnout-wise. Students have gone from late-February to mid-April with no breaks.

Personally, and from what I’ve seen of peers, we’re tired. We’ve had midterms and projects, and we’ve been grinding on courses and extracurriculars without a solid break. Rest and recuperation time is important just to avoid getting stuck in a rut of more repetitive tasks.

Nobody seems as enthused about things as they were at the start of the semester, and most are likely homesick as we’ve been on campus for an extended period.

Essentially, we’re all very ready for spring break, and spring in general. Yet the two weeks between break and finals may be awkward for folks, including myself. It seems fairly impractical for students from further away to go home for break only to come back and move their things out so soon, but staying on campus alone while your friends go home obviously may not be so appealing either.

Additionally, the closeness to finals means some of us might have some heavier workloads over the break. If you want to get a head start on studying or stressing, it’s difficult to fully relax and unwind during the week off.

Finals feel like some looming entity you can’t do much about, but also can’t stop thinking about and dwelling on.

For students who’ve been stressed for the better part of the semester, it can feel like things are going to get worse long before they get better. I’ve yet to find anyone who feels they are prepared or ready for the matter, myself included.

However, the timing of the break over Passover and Easter seems kind and practical.

Students of various faiths can celebrate with their families, wherever their families might be located.

It’s incredibly important for students to take this break, for lack of better wording, to take a break.

If you’re one of the many folks who feels like they’ve just been holding it together, or if you’re actually doing pretty well, either way, get some rest. We all need it.

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the Volume LXXI,

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ADMINISTRATION

Report details c am shortcomings on d pus iversity

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By NATALIA WIAT ation and deter of retali“anti-discrimi ER mined there nation, inclusiveness, JUSTICE EDITO was ply a perception R acad that it was occu simpendence, and emic freedom, indeTo rring comb University Pres . the highest at this perce standards ident Ron Lieb of academic qual ption, Lieb itz explained released the ■ owitz ity” in an era in an interview owCampus Clim chief of staff gation, discr of segrethe Justice and ate Report with last Thursday ,” he said, imination and The Brandeis adding, “I , which detai quotas, the don’t bear any investigators Monday that Hoot on led the “exceedingly high wrote. ill will towa the administr rd them. standards” and They’re both How ation needs to build the ever, some er shortcomings very passiona broadcommunity’s community very smart. te and bers brought memtrust in the system, whic … I’m really well as the steps of the University, as up controver h will take excited to see where thing the administr sies surrounding the time. Previous policies taking to addr ation is s go.”

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Liebowitz said ted target on by independent inve One FFEL he facul belie stiga his ty member and I don’t think ves the Univ explained that back, tors the Univ JUSTICE STAFF sity must ensu hired last sprin WRITER ersity any student identity-based re that the comm erg, follows up feel that way, should face additiona schools is aware of unity on the initial findings especially as l pressure to resources that The Student regarding the man,” he said. a freshmain their tain are repu able Unio complaints availtations, whic to them — such lodged again n announce that Vice Pres h discourages st former men’ d as the Reporting individuals Reynolds said ident Benedikt at Brandeis s basketball coach Bria from raising olds ’19 and web page — n Meehan. issues with successor deve he would help his the institutio Treasurer Jerry Reynand alternate chan n. Others ment For the secon lop contacts ’18 will resig nels for reporting create Miller the administ d half of the ioned confusion about with n at the end with educating , along investigaration, as well tion, the Boar whether or not of the semester. Thei them d as catch on why reporting them up on of Trustees taske Brandeis markets itself r seats will be is important projects relev investigators as d the filled in a . special elect ant to the — Walter Prin vice presidenc and noted that a Jewish institution, ion to be held In addition, colm Graham ce, Maly. He will also conversations on Dec. 10. investigators Vice President and Daniel his successor rael have beco about Isshow that instead learned Tarlow — Bene with examining how to help me “charged of reporting ,” which in Reynolds anno dikt Reynolds ’19 groups. student the systems, turn put “fun issues, many in the Brandeis and culture climate draisers on the community choo of University’s to resign durin unced his intent defensive with Jewish Looking back speak about proc se to for g the Nov. 20 dono edur hand on rs,” his e them among ling complaint according to time in the Senate meet Union Union, Reyn report. themselves s related to bias the — an exam ing. olds said he or discrimin ple of thou ation interview with He said in a Dec. 3 what they call work with envi ght and to recom Many stude “small town corrective actio the Justice a ronmental grou his mend nts spoke well mentality.” that his personal heath n accordingly. the Universit University’s ps at Administrators admitted was the reaso y stood out academic rigor of the Throughout to investigat n for his resignation. the most. the He latio also and repo nshi expr rt, reors they An incident the investips they essed concern that are “too quiet gators stressed in abou ber in whic the Senate their role as and faculty prais formed with faculty, ress in improvin ” about their progh two senators Novemweighs its cons t how “lawyers and investigat g the campus publicly criticized Reyn ors,” not expe tituents’ opinions. ture” that exist ed the “niceness culwhich further cultu rts in the olds for his educational re, s within the adds to the field, writing, involvement in a resol Others raise “Senators, and school. climate of poor communic “We will ution that woul not substitute d conc ation. purchased pian d have our judgement tions, are expe any elected posimembers’ cultu erns about faculty administration os for the firstDiversity, equi for cted to be ral sensitivity residence quad ’s].” They poin [the and communic liaisons ty and inclusion year Diversity, Equi . One s affected his the steps the ators for the ted to Brandeis has ty and Inclu admi decision to step down body,” he said. student historically pert said profe sion exbut taking, and decli nistration is already sues of race and faced is“Right now, ssors and staff factor, Reynolds was not the driving it seems as if we’re decis segregation, ned to give their equipped to respe are “illthe speci said in the inter tigators noted invesion makers own fic recommend ct cultural diffe , citing both Reynolds acce student body view. for the es,” according ations, sayin rencthe original . These [cam doing so woul 1969 Ford Hall pted the apolo g that to the report. pus] newsClass of 2022 d be “presump gies of protest, its 2015 papers probably This issue of culturally Senator Alex tuous.” part and Meeh coun To understan talk to our cons insensitive Chang and International an’s firing. From terencies [more] d the campus “bullying” was prominen tituStudent Sena investigators than we do.” climate, interviews with t in Meehan’s their tor Linfei Yang ’20 and inter beha toward his playe Reynolds stres the community vior said of faculty, staff, viewed a number investigators , the sed that bein rs. that they apolo he was “thankful” foun member of the admi d g The that a nistr investigators while ators, students and alum was “deep and gized. “The Union is a stren also described been open to y have ni to examine undertaking wide acceptance there “widespread uous communication concerns about the way for full-time importance anxiety abou of the of diversity, me as well as the Universit students and suggested with t lodging complaints” equit with the presi y comp inclu hand amon that y, laint and sion” amon les the Union shou g the Brandeis s. They then dent and munity due ld complaced their findings in a trators and dean g students, administo concerns large abou See UNION, 6 ☛ s, there was ation, confu Brandeis cultu r context of how the less consensu “notably sion surroundi t retalis” among the re has contr ng procedures and a faculty. ibuted to lack of belie Administrator f that things s tended to will change. focus on the “business For example, case” for incre student asing di-

.

Brandeis’ clim ate The Universit and culture

The Union's vice and treasurer will president step down and be replaced at the end of this semester.

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THE JUSTICE ● SPORTS ● TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2022 15

JUDGES BY THE NUMBERS BASEBALL

IMPACT OF COVID-19

TEAM STATS

UAA STANDINGS

Runs Batted In

UAA Conference W L Case 6 2 Emory 8 4 NYU 6 6 JUDGES 3 5 WashU 1 7

W 14 21 16 12 9

Overall L Pct. 11 .750 12 .667 6 .500 7 .375 15 .125

Dan Frey M.S. leads the team with 29 runs batted in.

Player RBI Dan Frey 29 Mike Khoury 22 Luke Hall 16 Brian King 15

Innings Pitched Mason Newman M.S. leads all pitchers with 31.2 innings pitched.

Player IP Mason Newman 31.2 Asher Kaplan 27.0 Marc Maestri 26.2 Jakob Newman 16.0

UPCOMING GAMES: April 13 vs Lassel April 15 vs WashU April 16 vs WashU

SOFTBALL UAA STANDINGS

TEAM STATS Runs Batted In

UAA Conference W L W Case 9 2 17 WashU 8 4 20 Carnegie 5 6 14 JUDGES 5 7 17 Emory 4 8 15 NYU 3 7 9

Overall L Pct. 8 .818 8 .667 12 .455 11 .417 15 .333 16 .300

UPCOMING GAMES: April 13 vs Wellesley April 13 vs Wellesley April 15 vs Case

Haley Nash ’24 has a team-high 21 runs batted in.

Player RBI Haley Nash 21 Melissa Rothenberg 18 Alex Cohen 16 Jolie Fujita 14

Innings Pitched Alex Cohen ’24 has a team-high 60.1 innings pitched.

Player IP Alex Cohen 60.1 Sydney Goldman 36.2 Rebecca Guerci 36.0

Results from the Amherst Spring Fling on April 9

200-meter dash

RUNNER Dean Campbell

TIME 23.81

Varsity athletics before and during the pandemic ■ Three Brandeis athletes share their perspectives on playing before and during a global pandemic.

TRACK AND FIELD TOP FINISHERS (MEN’S)

Photo Courtesy of BRANDEIS ATHLETICS

PANDEMIC WOES: Almost all student athletes’ careers have been impacted by the pandemic.

TOP FINISHERS (WOMEN’S)

By MEGAN GELLER JUSTICE EDITOR

200-meter dash

RUNNER Alya Campbel

TIME 27.00

UPCOMING MEETS: April 15 Conn. College April 16 Conn. College

TENNIS TOP PERFORMERS (MEN’S)

TOP PERFORMERS (WOMEN’S)

MEN’S SINGLES Chen Liang

RECORD 6-4, 6-2

WOMEN’S SINGLES RECORD Anastasia Sia 7-5, 6-4

MEN’S DOUBLES Anderson / Yazdi

RECORD 8-6

WOMEN’S DOUBLES RECORDSia /Salkar 8-2

UPCOMING MEETS:

Men: April 15 at Wesleyan Women: April 15 at Wesleyan

A March 11, 2020 email from University President Ron Liebowitz stated that the last day of in-person instruction would be March 20 as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak worldwide. Over the past two years, sports have changed drastically, and this week, the Justice spoke with some junior and senior athletes who experienced Brandeis sports before and during the ongoing global pandemic.

Evan Glass ’22 joined the Brandeis men’s soccer team in the fall of his first year. Glass took the 2021-2022 school year off for COVID19-related reasons, making him the graduating class of 2022 and return to play for the team his senior year.

In a March 25 interview with the Justice, he explained that “team personnel has changed drastically, which leads to inevitable culture changes. The biggest difference between pre-COVID and this past season was the ability to bond and enjoy college life together outside of soccer. I think that directly translates to team chemistry on the field, and it’s something that will hopefully improve this coming fall

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with less need for COVID-related precautions.” Unfortunately for Glass, he is injury-prone and has had to sit out of every offseason. That being said, Glass has described fond memories of playing with the team. He reports that his favorite part is “Fighting to work towards the same goal as 30+ other guys. There’s nothing better than putting in all you can and seeing it reciprocated by your teammates, coaches, trainers, and the department as a whole.”

Bailey Gold ’23 joined the Brandeis swim and dive team in the fall of her first year after being recruited out of high school. In a March 27 interview with the Justice, when asked about the team dynamic before and during the pandemic, Gold explained that “Our team definitely developed a greater sense of protection for one another, both in terms of our health and our season.” She continued, “Our team was incredibly careful regarding COVID because we looked out for one another and knew that the choices of one person could affect us all. In a sense, I think this made us closer because we went through something tough together and made it so we could continue to do the sport we love safely.” Gold has fond memories of her time on the team and describes the determination of the team “both in and out of the pool” and she has been surrounded by many individuals who come together and celebrate each other’s successes.

Aneesh Avancha ’22 joined the

Brandeis baseball team in the fall of his first year after being recruited out of high school. In a March 28 interview with the Justice, Avancha explained that the team dynamic has not changed since before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He recalled that they are “still an extremely close knit group after the height of the pandemic and come to the field every day with a sense of excitement to be able to spend time with one another. The one thing that the pandemic has shed light on is a newfound appreciation for the game of baseball.” Unfortunately for Avancha and the rest of the team, they lost two whole seasons, which has caused them to appreciate “every practice or game and to treat it as if it could be our last,” he said. Avancha explained the importance of living in the moment at every game and practice.

He explains that it is common for an athlete to look forward to another game or even the upcoming season, but it is important to appreciate the present. In terms of being a student athlete, Avancha reported that “being a college athlete is extremely challenging having to balance athletics, academics, and other extracurricular activities. Having a team that you truly love makes that experience worth the sacrifices that are made throughout the process.

The relationships that I have built on our team go well beyond the game of baseball and I am extremely thankful and fortunate for the experience that I have had the past four years.”

Image Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

just Sports Page 16

ATHLETES AND COVID-19 Brandeis athletes recount how their experiences as studentatheletes were impacted by the pandemic, p. 15.

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Waltham, Mass.

Leclerc secures second win at Australian Grand Prix ■ Leclerc extended his lead by 34 points in the race for world champion, while rival Verstappen retired.

By LIZ PAL

JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Photo Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

GRANDE LAVORO: Charles Leclerc wins for the fourth time in his career.

Do you want your voice heard?

On April 10, the third race of the Formula One season was underway in Melbourne, Australia. As the lights went out and the race began, Carlos Sainz experienced issues within the first lap. Starting ninth, Sainz had a lot of work to do if he was going to catch up to his teammate who was sitting in pole position. As Sainz was reaching the end of his second lap, his tires lost grip and he ended up in the gravel forcing him to retire. Due to Sainz spinning out, a safety car was released. By lap 7, the cars were racing full speed again.

Verstappen, the Red Bull favorite, tried to make a quick move on race leader Charles Leclerc, but was unsuccessful. By lap 10, Leclerc was able to build the gap up to 1.5 seconds making sure to keep the defending world champion at bay. On lap 12, Max Verstappen complained about the poor state of his tires, causing the team to consider pitting him earlier rather than later. Considering the Australian Grand Prix is 58 laps long, the well being of the tires is of highest concern for the engineers.

As Leclerc continued to lead the pack, the gap between him and his Red Bull rival grew to just over six seconds.

This weekend proved very rewarding for Mercedes fans.

Previously underperforming,

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell brought their A game to the track on Sunday. Finishing on the podium by chance in the first race of the season, Lewis Hamilton had a point to prove.

By lap 17, the English driver was sitting comfortably in fourth followed closely by teammate Russell. Behind the two Mercedes, Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo followed in sixth and seventh. McLaren fans rejoice as the team were not performing in the first two races of the season.

On Lap 19, Verstappen pit before rival Ferrari driver Leclerc. Finally getting rid of the medium tires, settling instead for hard compound tires for longevity purposes.

Unfortunately, he rejoined the race in seventh place. Although others in front of him had yet to pit, traffic of any kind would just grow the gap between him and Leclerc. Sergio Perez pitted on lap 21 due to intense slipping and sliding experienced during lap 20. Other teams began to pit which caused Ferrari to call in their race leader Leclerc. Somehow, the team was able to pull off a quick 2.7 second pit stop, and Charles Leclerc came out of the pit lane in first place. During this time, Lewis Hamilton had leap frogged Sergio Perez during pit stops and found himself in front of the Mexican driver. Due to simple superiority of the car, Perez’s Red Bull quickly overtook the Mercedes driver on turn nine.

The safety car was once again deployed on lap 24 because Sebastian Vettel had crashed his Aston Martin coming out of turn four. The sizable lead that Leclerc had grown between him and his rival Verstappen was now reduced to under a second.

The track was quickly cleared and the cars were racing once again by lap 27. Verstappen made a bold move on Leclerc, but the speedy Ferrari retained the lead. The dance began again, Leclerc leading and

Verstappen chasing. Perez began his move on Fernando Alonso in the pink Alpine and was able to pass him on the straight due to the Drag Reduction System.

Perez then encountered Russell, who put up a good fight against the Mexican driver. Russells engineers then proceed to advise him to allow Perez to pass in order to preserve the tires to which he responded “I don’t want to hear that,” and rightfully so.

A huge upset rippled through the crowd, as Verstappen was out of the race on lap 39. Hydraulic issues coupled with engine overheating had caused the driver to pull off the track and retire his vehicle. He had smelled a weird fluid leaking from his car before his engineers were able to determine the issue. Another safety car, the third of this race, was deployed as the Dutchmans car was rolled off the track.

By lap 56, all attention was on Alex Albon, who had yet to pit his Williams. It is against the rules to go pitless during an entire race and there would be major repercussions if he finished without stopping. He ended up pitting at the beginning of the final lap taking him out of seventh place and into 10th. His efforts should be commended because he was able to keep up with the pack on old tires while everyone else had tires that were 20-30 laps younger than his.

Leclerc passed the checkered flag and secured the win at the Australian Grand Prix. This is his fourth career win and second in the 2022 season.

This race win was a grand slam for the Monégasque driver because he started on pole position, retained the lead for all 58 laps of the race, and set the fastest lap. Ferrari has proven to be a real contender for the world championship, with Leclerc expanding his lead by 34 points.

The next race will be on April 24 in Italy at the Autoduormo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.

Join ! m u for Send an email to forum@thejustice.org

Photo Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

DOWN UNDER: The Austrailian Grand Prix held at Albert Park came back to the calendar for the first time since 2019.

Vol. LXXIV #23

Waltham, Mass.

April 12, 2022

Design: Jack Yuanwei Cheng/the Justice. Image: Noah Zeitlin/the Justice.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 12,| ARTS 2022 I|ARTS & CULTURE I THE 31, JUSTICE THE JUSTICE TUESDAY, JANUARY 2017

THEATER

Something Rotten

By NOAH ZEITLIN JUSTICE EDITOR

A MUSICAL: When Nick Bottom was at a loss of inspiration for his next work, he went to Nostradamus, a soothsayer, played by Leanna Ugent ’22, who had an idea about the next big thing in theater — the musical — which was followed by an energetic musical number filled to the brim with references to other shows.

Photos by NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice

IT’S EGGS!: Nostrodamus predicted that Shakespeare’s next play would be Omlette, not Hamlet, and the cast began tap dancing — while wearing egg costumes.

RIGHT HAND MAN: Bea, played by Rebecca Perlmutter ’24, explains to Nick Bottom, played

by Ethan Kerstine ’24, and Nigel Bottom, played by Zach Katz ’22, how she can take on roles that were predominantly dominated by men, while singing the song “Right Hand Man.”

THIS BOTTOM’S GONNA BE ON TOP: William Shakespeare, played by Izzie Hon-Anderson ’25, got into an argument with Nick Bottom about the plays that he was writing, which were revealed to him by Nostradamus.

Design: Megan Liao/the Justice

WELCOME TO THE RENAISSANCE: The minstrel, played by Asa Weinstein ’25, welcomed the audience to the show by setting the scene and singing the song “Welcome to the Renaissance.”

TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2022 I ARTS & CULTURE I THE JUSTICE

THE JUSTICE | ARTS | TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

FILM REVIEW

‘Everything, Everywhere, All at Once’

By JASON FRANK JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

“Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” is the most movie I’ve seen in years, and that’s a compliment.

On one level, “most movie” is literal. The film contains a multitude of genres — it’s a family drama and a comedy, science-fiction with kung fu action, plus added romance. All that in two hours and 20 minutes.

Pretty good deal for the price of a movie ticket, if you ask me.

On another level, “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” is the most movie because it made me feel the most emotions. I saw the film in theaters on the opening night of its wide release, April 8, and along with everybody else in the theater, I laughed, cried, screamed, clapped, and delighted at the increasingly rising stakes, in terms of both plot and tone.

A note of caution: I cannot recommend finishing this review until you’ve seen the film. Go! (I’ll still be here when you get back).

The increasingly rising stakes in the plot are obvious. Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh), a Chinese im-

migrant and co-owner of a laundromat with her husband, needs to save the multiverse from another universe’s version of her daughter, Joy (Stephanie Hsu), who, in all universes, has never been understood by her mother and is now a nihilistic destroyer of universes called Jobu Tupaki.

Plus, Evelyn needs to do this while saving her marriage to her always optimistic husband, Waymond (Ke Huy Quan), who she has alienated over years of resentment due to her unfulfilled potential. We all got that, right?

But what’s more thrilling are the stakes in terms of tone. This film is a gambit of ever-increasing boldness on the part of the directors, two men named Daniel (Kwan and Scheinert, respectively) and known collectively as “Daniels.” This is a movie that aims to make you cry not during a mother-daughter fight but during a mother-daughter fight that spans multiple, simultaneous universes, including one where both are sentient rocks. That this movie was made and is in theaters is a shock. That it’s good is a miracle.

In fact, there are many miracles in this film. One is Yeoh’s

performance. Yeoh has been a presence in American cinema for decades now, known historically for martial arts films like “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” and more recently for dignified performances in “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”

Here, the 59-year-old actress is finally allowed to show everything she can do. Is there any movie in American cinema that has allowed a 59-year-old actress to show this level of emotional depth, while also showing off her martial arts ability? I’ll answer for you. There is not.

Another miracle is Quan, who plays Evelyn’s husband in the film. Quan, originally a child star in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “The Goonies,” left acting behind for years after not receiving any opportunities due to being an Asian man. He has said that he only came back to acting after seeing “Crazy Rich Asians” and getting “FOMO.” Thank goodness he has, because his performances as both the ever-positive Waymond and as the action hero, boss-as-hell Waymond from the Alpha universe are pitch-perfect.

It’s thrilling that film has gotten to the point where both Yeoh and Quan can gain recognition for their long-held talents, and it’s even more thrilling that the film that did so is as adventurous as this one.

I should technically, as a reviewer, offer critiques of “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once” especially for its overstuffedness. The “Ratatouille” parody universe with a raccoon, for example, is probably unnecessary as a running gag.

Yet, at the same time, I’m loath to ask a movie this inventive to edit out the image of Yeoh on Harry Shum Jr.’s shoulders, clutching at his hair, and steering him toward getting his raccoon back.

It’s stupid, yes. It’s unnecessary thematically, yes. But, the thing is, I don’t care. The Daniels seem to have approached editing this film by asking what would be the most fun and simultaneously the most emotionally effective, as opposed to what would be the cleanest. The constant returns to the raccoon universe were not necessary, but they were fun.

For some, the elephant in the room in a discussion of “Everything, Everywhere, All at

Once” is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU represents, more than any other type of movie at the moment, what a “popular movie” should be. Part of the value of those movies is that they are accessible to all who see them, yet their constant reliance on formula often leaves me cold. I cannot imagine someone finding nothing to enjoy about “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once,” and was happy to see a movie aim to be popular, while still throwing away any formula.

Alternatively, “good movies” are often testaments to restraint.

Last year’s most acclaimed films like “The Power of the Dog,” “Drive My Car,” or “The Worst Person in the World” were all beautifully quiet, albeit sometimes with moments of glorious expressionism. Their minimalism was appreciated, but here is a movie that is never quiet, but is emotionally affecting all the same. Somehow, “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” manages to exemplify its own title by doing everything, going everywhere, and doing it all in one film. It’s a testament to the value of being more movie.

HOROSCOPES

Weekly horoscopes

By MADDY DULONG JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

ARIES: This is a big week in astrology, Aries! For the first time in over 150 years, this Tuesday, Jupiter is joining Neptune in Pisces. Now with Jupiter (the planet of intellectual ideas and luck) and Neptune (the planet of dreams and illusions) meeting in dreamy Pisces in your 12th house (which rules spirituality and the subconscious), you are in for a dreamy week guaranteed! If you’ve been waiting for a spiritual awakening, this might be it. Keep an eye out for any spiritual messages or “coincidences” this week. With Venus and Mars joining the party in Pisces later this week, you may find yourself much more introspective than usual. Take this energy and roll with it! Maybe you’ll even learn some new things about yourself along the way.

TAURUS: Your social life will be in the spotlight this week, Taurus! With a rare Jupiter/Neptune partnership in Pisces this Tuesday, illuminating your 11th house — which rules social awareness and friends — you will find yourself with more opportunities to enhance your friend group this week! Pisces is a dreamy sign, so you may find yourself bonding with others over hopes and wishes as well. Jupiter and Neptune aren’t the only ones in your eleventh house this week; both Venus and Mars will find themselves in Pisces by Thursday, meaning you are in for one fun, social week!

Use this extra social energy to join a new group on campus or attend a networking event!

GEMINI: Your career is getting a major boost this week, Gemini!

With Jupiter and Neptune meeting in Pisces (something which hasn’t happened in over 150 years) in your 10th house, which rules career and long-term goals, you are in for a treat. Because Jupiter is a lucky planet, you may Design: Megan Liao/the Justice

find yourself with a bit of extra luck regarding your long-term goals this week. If you’ve been waiting on news of an internship, or holding out for a response from a connection, you may receive some news you are looking for this week. With Mars also entering Pisces this Thursday, the Pisces party is just starting for you.

Mars being a chief motivator, you may feel an extra boost in confidence and energy regarding your career.

CANCER: There is a rare cosmic event this week, Cancer, are you ready? Jupiter joins Neptune and Venus in Pisces this Tuesday, boosting your ninth house, which rules travel, wisdom, and philosophy. Don’t be shocked if you feel unable to stay at home this week; with this much energy in the ninth house, it might be good for you to let off some steam, even if it’s just taking a walk around campus. With April vacation just around the corner, you will have a whole week to adventure, whether it is here in Waltham or wherever your heart desires! This Thursday, Mars enters the Pisces party and adds a little extra motivation.

Use this boost to get your final assignments done before break so you can enjoy yourself and this rare cosmic energy while you can!

LEO: Lookout this week, Leo! You are in for some serious life changes due to the combination of Venus, Jupiter, and Neptune all meeting in your eighth house of transformations and intimacy.

With all this energy focused in one spot, you may find yourself almost overwhelmed with emotions.

Be extra kind to yourself this week Leo, and remember not everything needs to happen so quickly. Mars entering Pisces this Thursday will only add fuel to the fire of these transformations, but remember, this can be just the beginning. All this cosmic energy can set major life changes

in motion, but these changes can take weeks, months, or years to complete. Think about what you want to change in your life, and perhaps with this energy, it will happen.

VIRGO: Pay close attention to your relationships this week, Virgo! With Jupiter joining Neptune and Venus in Pisces in a rare cosmic clash this Tuesday, your seventh house of relationships will see some major energy. This combination can help you see the highest potential in situations, use this to your advantage and figure out which relationships are serving you best or should be left behind.

Passionate Mars joins the other three planets in Pisces this Thursday for an extra boost of motivation to align your inner hopes and dreams to the outer world of reality. Keep in mind what is possible and what is not.

Jupiter and Neptune together can be helpful for confidence, but don’t let this blind you to your capabilities and reality.

LIBRA: If there was ever a perfect time for a self-care break for you, Libra, it is this week!

Cosmic energy aligns in Pisces this week with an extra special rare partnership between Jupiter and Neptune this Tuesday. With Neptune, Venus, and Jupiter all in Pisces — and Mars joining them this Thursday — the sheer level of energy in your sixth house is astonishing. The sixth house rules health, wellness, and organization, so you may find yourself cleaning much more than you normally would! If you find yourself starting new routines for selfcare, starting to go to the gym regularly, or putting in the effort to eat healthier foods, remember that self-care works best when used regularly in the long-term.

Use this extra energy to set up a routine that works best for you and keep at it!

SCORPIO: Feeling creative,

Scorpio? This week’s rare cosmic partnership between Jupiter and Neptune in Pisces will give your fifth house — ruling passion and creative expression — a major boost! If there was ever a time to begin a creative project, it would be now. Jupiter will join Neptune and Venus in Pisces this Tuesday, followed by Mars entering Pisces this Thursday. All this energy will empower you to be at your most creative and in touch with your most passionate feelings and desires. You might need to reign yourself in; however, don’t take on more than you can handle. Remember what you want and are looking for in your personal relationships and settle for no less.

SAGITTARIUS: A lot is changing for you this week, Sagittarius!

With the rare cosmic event of Jupiter and Neptune coming together in Pisces this week, your fourth house will be filled with energy, more energy than you may know what to do with. The fourth house rules the home, emotions, and foundations. With this extra energy, you may find yourself questioning certain emotional responses or thinking back on previous regrets. Don’t let this bring you down, use previous emotional failures to learn for the future, and lean on those you trust if you need extra support. With Mars also entering Pisces this Thursday, you may feel motivated to clean up around your home, finally get that DIY project you’ve been thinking about done, or start a brand new project!

CAPRICORN: Go all out this week, Capricorn! With a special cosmic alignment on Tuesday between Jupiter and Neptune in Pisces in your third house, you may find yourself itching to be around people more than usual. The third house rules communication and social activities, so use this energy to fill your calendar with fun experiences with friends. Mars

enters this sign on Thursday as well, adding extra energy and motivation to your social life.

You may find yourself a smoother talker than you once thought with all this extra emphasis on communication. You may be inspired to reach out to old friends at this time, which is not always a bad idea. Just remind yourself why you may no longer be in touch and if it is worth reaching out now.

AQUARIUS: Your financial situation may be improving this week, Aquarius! With lucky planet Jupiter joining Neptune and Venus in Pisces this week, you may see an extra boost of luck when it comes to all things financial. This party takes place in your second house, which rules finances, daily routines, and work ethic. Just in time for April vacation, you may find yourself with a major boost of motivation to get all your assignments done so you can enjoy yourself on break! You may also get a boost of creativity or new ideas on how to make more money. Take these with a grain of salt, as Neptune and Jupiter together create a “rose-colored glasses” energy, so don’t put all your eggs into one basket this week.

PISCES: This is your week, Pisces! Jupiter meets up with Neptune and Venus this Tuesday in your sign, and Mars will join them on Thursday as well! All this extra energy focused on you can improve your overall attitude, you may see a boost in selfconfidence as well as a potential for really great first impressions this week. Put your own wants and needs first this week, Pisces, you can’t be your best self if you aren’t giving yourself the love and attention you deserve. Don’t let all this energy stress you out either, allow yourself time to relax and unwind if you need to, and remember that April break is just around the corner!

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TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2022 I ARTS & CULTURE I THE JUSTICE

STAFF’S Top Ten

JACK YUANWEI CHENG/the Justice

Top 10 guesses for Ron D. Liebowitz’s middle name

By GILDA GEIST SENIOR EDITOR

The University President’s middle name is nowhere to be found online, but we know it starts with a D. 1. Dean of Arts and Sciences Dorothy Hodgson 2. Drake (no relation) 3. Ding dong :) 4. Dancing queen, young and sweet, only 64 (looking good Ron) 5. Dynamite!

6. Djessica (in honor of his wonderful wife) 7. Donald 8. Dembitz (same as Louis D. Brandeis, of course) 9. Draco 10. Daphne

MEGAN LIAO/the Justice

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. oldest Justice to have ever served on the Supreme Court 2. the first British Christian Martyr 3. spill the tea 4. potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs 5. Kanye’s sixth studio album 6. dubbed “the People’s lawyer” and “a Robin Hood of the law” 7. a proprietary archive file format that supports data compression, error recovery, and file spanning 8. the fundamentals of grammar, abr.

9. the Oxford version of a Ph.D. 10. somewhat disreputable, or filled with embryos 11. what a mother might be doing to her son right now 12. they made “Mr. Blue Sky,” abr.

13. president of Syria 14. hiding places for wild animals 15. end of Ripley’s claim 16. that is 17. you might’ve watched Euphoria on it 18. postal abbreviation for the Cornhusker State 19. first name of a German war criminal who was an overseer at Nazi

DOWN

Crossword Courtesy of NOAH RISLEY

1. fast yeast risers 11. an advocate or supporter of freemarket capitalism, deregulation, and reduction in government spending 13. AstraZeneca on the NASDAQ 16. a British explosives and security consultancy and advisory 17. Sis, spill the 23. the notorious dissenter 34. a dreaded class for many nerds 35. the grades of someone between an overachiever and a slacker 36. the problem of many swimmers and babies 37. a city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 38. needed to board a plane 39. In, fr.

40. out of nowhere 41. a former U.S. agency folded into DHS 42. yes?

43. a round of baseball 44. second best-selling video game

concentration camps Buchenwald and Majdanek 20. substances in a redox chemical reaction that gains an electron from a reducing agent 21. not Mrs. or Mx. but 22. Mercury 23. abbreviation for a chant done by fans of a public university out of Lawrence 24. the only state where a majority of the population belongs to a single church 25. a honeyed wine that is brewed and consumed in Ethiopia and Eritrea 26. it was just a joke 27. what Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are 28. opposite of NE 29. nominated as Chief Justice by Nixon, and something you can order from McDonald’s 30. interest group for those over 50 31. preserve meat or fish 32. thousands of meters 59. ordering from a McDonald’s opponent 60. the pseudonym of Norma McCorvey

45. an ornamental hanging of rich fabric hung behind the altar of a church or at the sides of a chancel 46. shaking my head…

47. Will Smith was in a 2015 movie about this prominent type of brain injury among football players 48. the title of a popular Big Sean song, abr.

49. laughing in Spanish 50. Japan Airlines 51. that’s a ____ - Lil Uzi Vert 52. initials of the 31st President 53. a drug used as a sedative or muscle relaxer 54. smudge, smear 55. the start to Hamlet’s famous speech, abr.

56. makes a mistake 57. Babe Ruth, Derek Jeter, and Lou Gehrig 58. a way of measuring physical activity intensity level