The Justice, March 14, 2017

ARTS Page 19

SPORTS Softball team searching for win 16

K-NITE

FORUM Evaluate feminism in mainstream media 11 The Independent Student Newspaper

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Justice

Volume LXIX, Number 20

www.thejustice.org

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

STUDENT UNION

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Three face off for the Student Union presidency ■ Candidates running

for Student Union seats shared their campaigns for Thursday's election.

By Abby patkin JUSTICE editor

NATALIA WIATER/the Justice

FREE EXPRESSION: Attendees blocked Sonia Kikeri from the press photographer during the Task Force on Free Expression.

Task force engages talk on campus free speech ■ The Presidential Task Force

on Free Expression opened a forum for debate between community members.

By Peri Meyers JUSTICE Senior Writer

Wednesday’s discussion forum on free speech and free expression proved heated and confrontational, with community members of different ideologies going head to head.

Last Monday, University President Ronald Liebowitz sent out an email to the community urging students to attend the open forum, held as part of the Presidential Task Force on Free Expression’s efforts.

Citing the recent Charles Murray incident at Middlebury College — during which a speaker event turned violent over opposing beliefs — Liebowitz expressed concern that, “absent a shared understanding of what free expression means and how it relates to one’s education, what happened at Middlebury could happen at any American college or university.”

Reflecting on Liebowitz’s words, one student at Wednesday’s event criticized Liebowitz for not addressing the content of Murray’s ideology in the letter and for not being “willing to say that this is something that we shouldn’t approve of.”

“My problem is that we aren’t willing to prioritize the feelings of our students of color, of our trans students, of our not-straight folk, but we are willing to prioritize the free expression of someone who is willing to hurt those students,” said the student.

Chief Diversity Officer Mark Brimhall-Vargas, a member of the Task Force, moderated the event.

Also present was Prof. George Hall (ECON), chair of the task force, who explained that the team of faculty members and students plans to compile a statement of principles and set of recommendations. Still, Hall emphasized that those documents will not be set in stone.

“If you look at Brandeis’ history, we’ve had a number of episodes where free speech and free expression have come to the fore,” said Brimhall-Vargas. “How we handle that — the response from the admin-

istration — has often been left wanting.”

Beginning with small-group discussions, the expanded room-wide debate drew together with a central discussion point: when and where does the University community draw the line?

“Whose voices are we trying to protect? Who are the marginalized?” asked another student who was critical of Liebowitz’s email.

“It’s not fair to a marginalized group of any sort that they always have to explain themselves, and explain history, explain what is going on in this country to these people, and I’m sorry, they’re very ignorant,” said Aicha Tavares ’19. “It’s torturous. It’s hard on the soul. As if people don’t go through enough.”

Added another student: “I don’t expect any Black person to have the time to talk to racists. … I don’t expect any gay person to have the time and energy to talk to homophobic [people]. I don’t expect any Jewish person to have the time or the energy to talk to a neo-Nazi.”

David Piegaro ’20 said that if people are to be “intellectually honest,”

As the first round of spring Student Union voting heats up, 12 candidates have kicked off their campaigns, ready to face off in Thursday’s election.

The candidates will compete for seven open seats: president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, junior representative to the Board of Trustees, representative to the Brandeis Sustainability Fund and representative to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.

Jacob Edelman ’18

Edelman, the Student Union’s director of communications and academic involvement, is running for the Union presidency. His platform includes initiatives to make campus resources more accessible to community members, to better represent marginalized communities and to promote Union transparency.

In particular, Edelman wants to make the Union’s finances more transparent to the student body, especially regarding funds used toward student clubs.

All students pay a student activities fee, annually, which accounts for approximately one percent of all tuition, Edelman said in an interview with the Justice. Transparency is crucial regarding the

See SU, 7 ☛

The Justice will not be publishing the article “Homophobic slurs and graffiti target election candidates”online due to the article’s sensitive nature.

See TF, 7 ☛

Serving Up Squash

For the Win

Rally for Rights

 The Brandeis Squash Club reflected on its journey to nationals.

 The baseball team displayed immense talent after beating UMass Boston on Monday.

 Women's rights and labor activists gathered at the library on Wednesday.

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INDEX

SPORTS 16 ARTS SPORTS

17 13

EDITORIAL FEATURES

10 OPINION 8 POLICE LOG

10 2

News 3 COPYRIGHT 2017 FREE AT BRANDEIS.

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TUESDAY, March 14, 2017

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the justice

NEWS SENATE LOG

POLICE LOG

Senate charters right to immigration club and prepares for Student Union election debate The Student Association for The Right to Immigration Institute came before the Senate for chartering during Sunday’s meeting. Recognized as a club since November, TRII serves to train community members to represent a portion of the 700,000 national pending and backlogged immigration cases in U.S. courts. Student representatives at the meeting told senators that they intend to use funding for their members’ professional training, as well as to sponsor an annual Brandeis Citizenship Day, an event that offers a perspective on immigration to get people involved in the issue, in addition to providing services in the Waltham community.

After the club’s presentation, senators opined that the club has a very well-prepared funding plan and has done impressive work. The Senate voted to charter TRII in a unanimous vote.

Student Union Vice President Paul Sindberg ’18 reminded the Senate that the Student Union’s spring election debate is occurring today, March 14, from 7 to 9 p.m. to be co-facilitated by the Justice and the Brandeis Hoot. The debate will potentially be hosted in the Student Union offices or the Shapiro Campus Center Multipurpose Room.

Additionally, Sindberg announced that the number of clubs still on probation for failing to complete bystander training has stagnated at approximately 20 to 30 clubs. These clubs may still sign up for training on the Office of Prevention services website.

Class of 2019 Senator Kate Kesselman, the Dining Committee chair, said that the committee is hoping to put the Vegan Club in greater communication with dining services. The student group and additional constituents are looking for more vegan and vegetarian options in the dining halls.

Club Support Committee member and Racial Minority Group Senator Lian Chen ’19 reminded the Senate of the public relations workshop open to all club leaders occurring on March 21. She said the workshop is a great tool for club leaders to become educated on how to reach out to the community, as well as how to publish and promote their materials. The committee is also working on travel record plans for the University to better monitor and keep track of club travel plans and safety protocols.

Massell Quad Senator Aaron Finkel ’20, Campus Operations Working Group chair, said that the committee has partnered with Student Sexuality Information Services to execute the menstrual product provision test program. The committee expects to get a working order finalized soon. Additionally, the committee is fulfilling constituents’ request for hand sanitizer dispensers to be placed in more convenient locations around student centers.

To address recent Senate attendance issues, Senator-at-Large Nathan Grees ’19 announced a bylaw amendment plan to clarify attendance policies and penalties. This includes defining late, excused and absent, as well as creating a publicly accessible record of attendance for constituents to hold their representatives accountable.

Executive Senator Hannah Brown ’19 announced that the Services and Outreach committee had reviewed Joseph’s Transportation quotas and decided not to order an April-break New York City shuttle.

The Student Union, however, will be providing shuttles to and from Logan Airport and South Station. Official times will be reserved and posted in coming weeks.

Medical Emergency

March 8—A party at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management slipped and could not stand up. University Police transported the party to NewtonWellesley Hospital .

March 8—A party in the Intercultural Center reported that they were experiencing stomach pain. BEMCo staff treated the party.

March 8—A party in East Quad reported that they fell down the stairs. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

March 10—A party reported that they had a twisted ankle. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to an urgent care facility.

March 11—University Police received a report of an intoxicated party who was vomiting in the hallway of Cable Hall. BEMCo staff treated the party with a signed refusal for furture care.

March 12—University Police received a report of an intoxicated party vomiting in Usen Hall. The party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance.

March 12—University Police received a report of an intoxicated party in Ridgewood Quad.

BEMCo staff treated the party.

March 9—A party in Usen Hall reported that they were experiencing severe abdominal pain.

BEMCo staff treated the party, who was then transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

Larceny

March 8—A party reported that a banner for a Korean student event was stolen from Rabb steps. University Police compiled a report on the incident.

Drugs

March 6—The Department of Community Living staff reported confiscating drug paraphernalia.

University Police took possession of the contraband.

March 10—DCL staff doing room checks found a Class D substance. University Police confiscated the contraband.

Disturbance

March 7—University Police received calls from Shapiro Campus Center from several students, complaining about an unidentified male who had followed them from the area and made them feel threatened. University Police stopped and identified the male as a graduate student, removing him from campus when he be-

came uncooperative. University Police will forward his actions to his departmental supervisors.

Assault

March 8—University Police, the Dean’s office and Title IX staff have begun a sexual assault investigation regarding an incident in Village Quad.

Other

March 6—University Police received a report of a party sleeping inside a T Ride vehicle. University Police checked the area and found the vehicle gone.

March 6—University Police compiled a report of past vandalism to the laundry system in Reitman Hall.

March 6—DCL staff in Village Quad located contraband during room inspections. University Police took possession of the item.

March 7—University Police received a report of an attempted breaking and entering into Student Financial Services. University Police compiled a report on the incident.

March 9—Facilities staff in Village Quad reported a damaged smoke detector. University Police compiled a report on the incident.

March 9—A staff member in

Mass. Governor Baker signs first braille proclamation

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

n An Arts article incorrectly referred to Abram Foster ’19 as Abraham. (March 7, pg. 18).

The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@ thejustice.org.

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—Compiled by Abby Patkin

BRIEF

RALLY FOR RIGHTS

—Michelle Dang

n The image “Reporting Barriers” was incorrectly attributed to staff photographer Aaron Birnbaum ’17. It was taken by photographer Adam Pann ’20. (March 7, pg. 3).

the Abraham Shapiro Academic Complex reported that they received a suspicious email. The party also reported a phone call from the sender regarding a speaker coming to the University. University Police contacted the sender and took no action.

March 10—University Police received a report of graffiti within Mailman House. University Police compiled a report on the incident.

March 11—University Police received a report of loud music in the Foster Mods. Upon arrival, University Police found an unregistered party and dispersed the crowd.

March 11—University Police received a report of loud music in Rosenthal Quad. The party was broken up, and the Area Coordinator on duty will speak to the suite’s residents.

March 12—University police received a report of loud music in the Foster Mods. University Police spoke with the residents.

March 12—University Police received a noise complaint from the Foster Mods. Upon arrival, University Police found 30 people in the mod and a DJ playing. The area was cleared with no issues.

ADAM PANN/the Justice

Rally organizer Madeline Bisgyer ’20 speaks to a crowd about International Women’s Day outside the library on Wednesday.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker issued the first-ever braille proclamation on March 6 to establish the week of March 6 to March 11 as annual BlindNewWorld Week in Massachusetts.

The proclamation serves to promote solidarity in “overcom[ing] barriers to inclusion for the 125,000 Massachusetts residents with vision loss,” reported the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind.

BlindNewWorld Week is a campaign initiated and co-sponsored by the Perkins School for the Blind as “six days dedicated to breaking down barriers to inclusion for people with visual impairment,” according to a press release from Perkins.

The campaign was crafted by Perkins last April, with the purpose of “demystifying blindness,” said the press release.

Its mission is to enlighten the public to the full social, professional and academic capabilities of the blind, as well as break down barriers in employment, education, transportation and innovation.

The school, founded in 1829 in Watertown, Massachusetts, was the first school of its kind for people with visual impairment.

The event itself “encourages a sighted public to connect with members of the blindness community — whether by introducing themselves or sharing a meal or activity,” states Perkins School for the Blind on their website.

The week-long festivities concluded on March 11 with “Blind Date” day, a partnership with Massachusetts restaurants, museums and theaters to execute special promotional deals for engagement between sighted and visually impaired communities. This included Waltham’s branch of the restaurant chain Not Your Average Joe’s, reported the Waltham Patch.

—Michelle Dang

ANNOUNCEMENTS Japan Week: Snack Night

The Reinharz Revolution

room 303, Mandel Center for the Humanities

As a part of Japan week, Snack Night aims to serve traditional Japanese snacks to the the community, such as Manju, Senbei and Choco Banana. The event also gives a chance for guests to interact more with Japanese Students Associaton executive board.

Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Swig Lounge, Intercultural Center

Years after Shulamit Reinharz published Feminist Methods in Social Research, speakers Kristin Waters and Andrea L. Dottolo will reflect upon the ways in which this revolutionary text changed how we think, shaped what and how we teach, and transformed our research.

Thursday from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall, Epstein

Brandeis African Students Organization will be hosting Rice Wars. It is a time to share cultural rice dishes and there will be people who can taste and judge the best. Join the fun.

Thursday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in the Swig Lounge, Intercultural Center

Justice Jam

A conversation with Holocaust survivors

Relay for Life

This year’s Justice Jam will feature award-winning poet and educator Clint Smith, along with other activists in the field of education. Come join students from the Critical Perspectives in Urban Education course as they host an evening of critical reflection on the purpose of justice in urban education.

Wedneesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Atrium, Mandel Center for the Humanities

Michael Gruenbaum and Michael Kraus both survived the Holocaust as children and both published their accounts of that experience in English and in German.

Come to listen to a memoir reading and have a conversation with them on their experience. The event is sponsored by the Center for German and European Studies.

RSVP online at the CGES website.

Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m.in Reading

Rice Wars

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost and fight back against the disease.

Register online at www.relayforlife.org/ brandeisuniversityma.

Saturday from 5 to 2 a.m. in Field House, Gosman Sports and Convocation Center

the justice

student activism

gathered outside the library calling for better women’s and labor rights on campus.

By Abby patkin JUSTICE editor

Addressing a crowd of students — many of whom wore red for the occasion — Madeline Bisgyer ’20 spoke on Wednesday about the significance of International Women’s Day to the University community, especially regarding labor standards for women employees on campus.

Between testimonials from community members and chants led by fellow Brandeis Labor Coalition organizer Phoebe Dolan ’20, Bisgyer emphasized the important role women play in on-campus labor.

“Though Brandeis creates its social justice image and we want to recruit new students and donors, that ideal isn’t always practiced with the workers who come here day in and day out to make Brandeis run how it runs every day,” Bisgyer said.

Anna Henkin, a Biochemistry graduate student who works in a lab on campus, spoke about the difficulties she has faced as both a student and a University employee. Often, Henkin said, she and her colleagues must deal with low wages, poor treatment and harassment from colleagues.

“What it really boils down to is that our work is not valued by the school,” she said. “They show that in how little they invest in how much our workplace is welcoming to us, in how much we get compensated, in how much we get respected when there’s a problem and we need to take it somewhere.”

Henkin recalled one instance where she asked a professor for feedback in the middle of the semester,

“and he told me we were not in nursery school anymore. Man, I want to be an active part of shaping the education that will build up my professional development. I am not asking for a goddamn juicebox,” she said.

Similarly, faculty roles on campus can provide little support and stability, Prof. Michelle Mann (ENG), an adjunct faculty member, told the crowd. Across gender lines, the number of open positions does not meet the number of candidates looking for employment.

Mann, who recently graduated after eight years of study, explained that she has been unable to find a full-time, stable job in academics, calling for labor action. “There quite simply aren’t enough jobs for us,” she said. “I’m a 31-year-old woman. I want to have a family, and I am so far away from being able to buy a house, or even think about providing for children, that this all seems like an impossible dream.

Many adjunct and contingent faculty are living on the poverty line, with almost no job security [and] no opportunities to advance their scholarship or their careers.”

Reflecting on the difference unionization has made in their working conditions, dining services employees Michelle Lynn and Lucia Hsiung — both members of UNITE HERE Local 26, which represents food service employees at the University — addressed the crowd.

“We are very lucky,, because we have a union,” said Hsiung, who has worked at the University for 16 years.

“We are so lucky.”

Lynn, who has been with the University for 19 years, spoke about how being in a union helped her fellow Einstein Bros. Bagels employees raise their hours back to 40 a week after they were cut to 37.5 in the fall.

However, the most important thing that the union has done, Hsiung said, “is support us.”

RALLY: Students listen to speeches at the women’s day rally.

ADAM PANN/the Justice

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TUESDAY, march 14, 2017

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SUPREME DISCUSSION

Rally for labor assembles on Women’s Day ■ Students and faculty

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AARON BIRNBAUM/the Justice

POLITICS: Prof. Michael Willrich (left), Prof. Jeffrey Lenowitz (center) and Prof. Anita Hill (right) discuss concerns over Neil Gorsuch.

Faculty discuss democracy in light of Gorsuch nomination ■ Faculty shared their

thoughts following the Supreme Court nomination.

By PERI MEYERS JUSTICE SENIOR WRITER

The nomination of Neil Gorsuch for the open Supreme Court seat raises many questions about how we understand the U.S. Constitution, the judiciary and the press, a panel of professors said on Thursday.

Panel moderator Prof. Jill Greenlee (POL) emphasized that while the Supreme Court appears a separate, independent and apolitical branch, “appointments to the Court have long been a way for presidents to put allies on the bench.” Confirmation hearings have also been the subject of partisan dispute. Senate Republicans’ refusal to hold a vote on Merrick Garland for the remainder of Obama’s presidency makes Gorsuch’s confirmation process especially contentious.

With Republican-dominated executive and legislative branches, chances are high that President Donald Trump will replace the late Antonin Scalia with another originalist — that is, someone who interprets the Constitution based on how it would have been understood when ratified in 1788.

“Originalism, as a mode of conservative jurisprudence, is of remarkably new vintage,” said Prof. Michael Willrich (HIST), pointing to Reagan’s nomination of Scalia and Robert Bork in 1986 and 1987, respectively.

Prof. Jeffrey Lenowitz (POL) explored originalism further. Upon the death of Scalia, he said he “celebrated the fact that with his passing, one of the most incoherent and disingenuous theories of legal interpretation would stop having an advocate on our country’s highest courts. … As it turned out, my comments were a bit premature.”

“There are good reasons for origi-

nalism,” Lenowitz continued, pointing out that framing documents like the U.S. Constitution add stability and predictability. However, he said, the parties involved in framing the Constitution were not of one mind, nor of one interpretation of the same words. “There’s no stable, obvious interpretation that comes from pondering original meaning,” he said.

Prof. Anita Hill (HS) focused on the application of originalism to civil rights issues. Combined with the confirmation of Jeff Sessions as head of the Department of Justice, she said, Gorsuch as a Justice presents a “legal-social-political impact moment,” especially with regards to rights issues. She listed five areas of concern: disability rights, voting rights, immigration, inquiries into police abuse and Title IX protections.

“We can talk about originalism,” said Hill. “We can talk about ideology. But one of the things that I want to say about this moment is that we are talking about real people and real lives.” People must remember those realities during Gorsuch’s confirmation hearing, she said.

Prof. Eileen McNamara (JOUR) shifted the topic to what she described as “political theater” during the confirmation hearings. Those issues have been hard to cover, she said, because the press is understaffed and “putting out a fire every other day.”

Before covering Gorsuch’s hearings, she argued, journalists must delve into his writings beyond court decisions, including his articles and book, so that they may ask the right questions. She doubted, however, that reporters will “ask a serious question” to which “they actually expect an answer.”

“The Democrats can take the position that this is a stolen seat and so this is not a legitimate process,” McNamara said, suggesting that they may take the following approach: “We’re not going to treat it as a legitimate process because it’s unprece-

dented. So, because of that, we understand that Judge Gorsuch is certainly a qualified candidate … but it’s not about him. It’s about the fact that the Republicans stole our seat.”

Even if Senate Democrats attempt to filibuster a confirmation hearing, she noted, the so-called “nuclear option” could come into play: instead of waiting for a full 60 votes to break the filibuster, Senate Republicans can bring it down to 51.

When that happens, McNamara said, Democrats know well what response they will get: “‘What goes around, comes around,’ because which party eliminated the filibuster on presidential appointees and lowercourt justices? That would be the Democrats.”

When asked about the chance of the judiciary reversing the tide of pessimism toward democracy, panelists Willrich and Lenowitz both expressed their skepticism.

“I’m not counting on the Supreme Court to restore public faith in democracy,” said Willrich, adding, “I’d love to be proven wrong.”

“Yeah, I also would say no,” said Lenowitz. “Only because I find it odd that an anti-democratic institution would restore our faith in democracy.

I think the Court has always been a bunch of elites imposing their personal morality on the country, and we should expect them to continue to do so, for better or for worse.”

Hill and McNamara were more optimistic. Though Hill agreed that democracy is vulnerable and under attack “at the state and local level,” she showed faith in the courts’ ability to “redeem themselves.”

McNamara concurred: “It was a court, after all, in San Francisco, that pushed back on President Trump’s travel ban,” she said, also expressing faith in the press in these trying times. “The permanent government … is leaking like a sieve. And the Times and the Post are there with buckets, collecting it all.”

panel

Community leaders convene for International Women’s Day ■ Students and faculty

discussed feminist activism and inclusive spaces.

By michelle dang JUSTICE editor

To commemorate International Women’s Day, a panel of leaders from across the University community convened on Wednesday for an event — themed “Be Bold for Change” — to share and discuss their experiences witnessing boldness in feminism.

Women’s Studies Research Center scholar Margaret Morganroth Gullette spoke about her experiences founding Free High School, a school in Nicaragua that provides education to underprivileged adolescents and adults. She

spoke of the women who attend her school and juggle the double shift of working and raising children on top of education, claiming, “They are bold for change, and they are bringing their change back into the community.”

Taylor Rippy, a master’s Candidate at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, founded the website Honey, a space for individuals who have experienced sexual violence and allies to write about their experiences and how it impacted their lives and their loved ones’ lives. Rippy highlighted that the statistics in the U.S. for sexual abuse are one in two women and one in four men — “but those are gross underestimates, and that doesn’t even account for individuals who don’t identify as either male or female.”

Rippy said Honey’s participants

exemplified boldness to her in “coming forward and sharing their stories anonymously or publicly, … because the more we use our voices, … the more we are able to be bold and to change society and change the way we talk about sexual violence, which can lead to preventing it in the first place.”

“Being bold is something that women and nonbinary people have been doing our entire lives,” added Ariella Assouline ’17, current president of the University’s chapter of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance. Assouline spoke about her experiences with student activism on campus and the vast changes accomplished at the University over just a few years through the effort of her peers.

When she entered the University in the fall of 2013, there was no Rape

Crisis Center at Brandeis, no rape advocates or live rape crisis hotline.

However, through hours of work of her own and through her peers’ efforts, they were able to procure the establishment of the University’s Rape Crisis Center in 2015. “Activism is a product of wanting to make your community safer, wanting to leave it better than you found it,” Assouline said. “Change happens because a lot of people really stick their necks out.”

Roxie Freeman, a master’s candidate in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, spoke about the role nonbinary individuals play in building inclusive spaces. “I’m here to talk about my own discomfort in womenexclusive spaces. … Knowing that my insights might help foster inclusivity going forward is very powerful,” said

Freeman. “The International Women’s Day website includes nonbinary folks on its main page, asserting that not only women should be involved but that men and nonbinary folk should participate and be involved with this.”

Freeman spoke of the importance of language and representation, as well as the significance of expecting constant criticism in pursuing change.

Director of the Intercultural Center Madeleine Lopez added that women must acknowledge that there is space to embrace all their identities at once.

Not only is she a woman, but “I’m a woman of color, I am Latina, I am the first generation, … I am a mother. I am someone who speaks for the undocumented, the immigrant. … That’s where I see myself rooted first,” said Lopez.

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THE JUSTICE

Campus SPEAKER

about difficulties during her research to set the Civil War’s records right.

By Spencer taft JUSTICE staff writer

In a collaborative effort as part of a series known as the Lemon Cake Lectures, the Office of the Dean of Arts and Science, the Humanities Fellows and European Cultural Studies programs sponsored “‘But the little I can recognize’: Challenges of Writing the Civil War” yesterday.

Elizabeth D. Samet, professor of English at the U.S. Military academy, expressed the challenges of writing about the Civil War, with a focus on the long and much-studied history of the war’s most famous generalturned-president, Ulysses S. Grant.

Samet discussed Grant’s life, from his peak in popularity in the late 19th century to his low-popularity point in the 1930s. Samet detailed the impact that Grant’s memoirs had on her early academic career, noting that it was “ironic, where [others] are sentimental” in its descriptions of the war.

With this shift in perspective, Samet explained that the memoirs taught her a new way of looking at historical battles. She outlined 13 distinct ways in which battles can be viewed, including “Official, Unofficial [and] Academic,” among others.

Samet focused on one specific battle, the Battle of Shiloh, which she described as the “most controversial battle of the war.” According to Samet, the battle has no more than 220 “official” records, and countless more unofficial ones, leading to a great volume of misinformation on matters such as casualties, size of enemy armies and decisive actions taken in that battle.

This, Samet posits, creates a sense that a seemingly objective, numerical view of the battle’s history is not as infallible as it may appear, as records are wrought with hyperbole and rumor. Samet cited an instance in which a general stated that one of his comrades reported that seven hundred of his eight hundred soldiers

had died, but academic investigation revealed that all seven hundred had sheltered themselves in a riverbed and survived.

Moving from military accounts to journalistic ones, Samet recited a grisly account from famous writer Ambrose Bierce, noting that while detailed accounts written in a flowery, verbose style served a great purpose in giving readers a visceral sense of what a battle was like, it also allowed the writer to depict whatever they personally remembered as fact. According to Samet, this is how writers on the Confederate side were able to use depictions of battle to downplay their loss, claiming that “[t]he loser’s account of battle is always one of ‘ifs.’”

The death of Confederate general Albert Johnston during Shiloh has different accounts claiming that he was the reason the battle was lost or that he had no effect at all on the outcome, Samet said. Samet used this point as an example of how the narrative of war shifts based on who is telling it, bringing up the famous “Great Man” theory of history, which suggests that the course of history is determined by the actions of a few notable figures.

After providing more perspectives in the battle from people on different sides, Samet noted that each general’s account conveniently overstates the role their army played on the battle, perhaps a morbid desire to become famous as the general who lost many men, or who slew many.

Samet closed by discussing the misunderstanding surrounding the infallibility of personal experience, stating that not even firsthand witnesses can truly convey the full story, as perspectives differ between every person present. However, firsthand accounts continue to be lauded as the only true accounts.

When asked by a student about the similarities between different accounts, Samet stated, “The commonality is this idea of setting the record straight, and the North and South had different motivations for setting that record straight.” Samet elaborated on her reference to the “Great Man” theory: “We are still smitten with heroes — we’re still compelled to find the truth among differing accounts.”

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Contact Michelle Dang at news@thejustice.org

News

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TUESDAY, march 14, 2017

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RUSSIAN CULTURE WEEK

Scholar examines disparities within Civil War accounts

■ Elizabeth D. Samet spoke

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HEATHER SCHILLER/the Justice

Students perform during the annual talent show sponsored by the Russian Studies Program and the Brandeis Russian Club.

Campus SPEAKER

Professor draws political parallels throughout history ■ Professor Daniel Breen

discussed comparisons between President Trump’s claims and McCarthyism.

By Junsheng He JUSTICE STAFF writer

“Trump accused the Obama administration of tapping his calls in Trump Tower in Manhattan. As soon as that happened, I changed everything I was going to say,” said Prof. Daniel Breen (AMST) at the beginning of his discussion on Tuesday.

The media was shocked again by President Trump on March 4 when he tweeted, “Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my ‘wires tapped’ in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!” Breen had one statement in common –– “It is McCarthyism!”

–– but the object of Breen’s criticism is President Trump.

Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy had great influence on American politics in the 1950s when the Cold War began. What made his name known to every household was his Wheeling Speech on Lincoln’s Day in 1950. “McCarthy waved a piece of paper that claim there were 205 known communists in the State Depart-

ment,” described Breen, “but how many names were there? None! He made it up.” Later on, throughout his political career, he made the charge with no credible evidence at all but successfully gained the political advantage he desired.

What reminded Breen of this historical event more than 65 years ago is the fact that President Trump, following in McCarthy’s footsteps, did not provide any solid ground in his claim on Twitter. Breen inferred that this accusation was intended to distract the public’s attention from Russia’s influence on the presidential election, a similar motivation as Joseph McCarthy’s.

Even if the opposition party and the press persevered in trying to uncover the truth behind the story, firm supporters would in turn fire back by accusing them of lying, reporting fake news, or being bought, said Breen.

“We are in the mess –– one lie leads to another lie, and leads to another, … with nobody knowing what is the way out of this.”

In the history of the United States, there were cases of “making something up, with no evidence at all,” but there were always figures standing with the truth, said Breen As examples, Breen told the stories of politicians who challenged the status quo. Louis D. Brandeis had the cour-

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age to catch President Taft’s little lie of having read a critical document in 1912, which became one of the reasons Taft lost the second presidential campaign. Bill William Benton had the courage to condemn McCarthy for cheating the public even when McCarthyism was at its peak. Margaret Chase Smith, as the only female in the Senate at the time, had the courage to deliver a Declaration of Conscience to criticize McCarthyism’s irrationality four months after the Wheeling Speech.

Their courage has been admired for long, with our University named after Justice Brandeis and living by the motto “Truth, even unto its innermost parts,” said Breen. Senator Benton was welcomed and congratulated — even if he lost his position in the Senate — and Senator Smith was later placed in nomination for the presidency by Republican Party.

Breen stated that instead of remaining silent, there are ways for civilians to defend social justice. Donating to the American Civil Liberties Union, for instance, is a meaningful approach, and supporting the press who dare speak the truth by purchasing a copy of the newspaper every week will also make a difference, said Breen. “We need somebody to stand up … to the side of the values and fundamental principle of our States.”

The Brandeis Community Stands In Support of Our Adjunct & Part-Time Contract Faculty Brandeis students take courses taught by nearly 300 adjunct and parttime contract faculty — and may not even know it. Like their tenured faculty colleagues, these faculty are accomplished scholars, creative artists, and practitioners who teach, mentor, and advise Brandeis students, but they do so for a fraction of the pay, with little or no job security, and limited or no benefits. In December 2015, part-time faculty outside the tenure structure voted overwhelmingly to form their union. Negotiations with the administration began in mid-2016 and are ongoing.

We, the undersigned members of the Brandeis Community, call upon the University to uphold its commitment to social justice and academic excellence by negotiating a fair and just union contract with our adjunct and part-time contract faculty.

Sincerely, Beu A. (2019) Bethel Adekogbe (2020) Josh Advocate (2020) Debbie Advocate (Parent) Moshammat Faria Afreen (2020) Andrew Agress (2017) Sunny Akobirshoeva (2020) Vanessa Alamo (2017) Ben Albert (2019) Danielle Albert-Rozenberg (2019) Yannick Alege (2017) Thomas Alsar (2020) Christina Alva (2019) Shai Amkraut (2020) Amanda Anderson (2017) Michael Appell Chris Armstrong (2020) Sam Aroasor (2021) Becca Aschema (2020) Adrian Ashley (2020) Jacob Bacon (2020) Jacqueline Baikoritz (2017) Andrew Baker (2018) Hannah Baker-Lerner (2020) Gino Barillas (2017) Maya Barton-Zuckerman (2020) Isabel Battista (2020) Avi Baynash (2020) Amy Baynash (Parent) Naomi Beal (Parent) Evelyn Beard (2017) Amelia Berg (2017) Paul Berkson (2020) Lillian Bickerstaff-Richard (2020) Aaron Birnbaum (2017) Madeline Bisgyer (2020) Savannah Bishop (2017) Madeline Black (2017) Rachel Blau (2020) Emily Blumenthal (2020) Geraldine Bogard (2020) Mina Bond (2017) Roopa Boodhun (2019) Emily Botto (2019) Ryan Bowen (2019) Mathias Boyar (2020) Alejandro Bracamontes (2020) David Bressh (2020) Zoe Brown (2017) Genevieve Brown (2020) Tania Burkett (2020) Zosia Buser (2020) Guillermo Caballero (2020) Daryl Cabrol (2020) Andrew Cahoon (2020) Ned Cahoon (Parent) Betsy Cahoon (Parent) Gilberto Calderin (2017) Shale Carey (2020) Jackson Carman (2020) Jennifer Chang (2018) Regan Charie (2019) Jorge Chavez (2020) Leah Chawen (2020) Sarthak Chawla (2020) Rebecca Chen (2018) Danbing Chen (2019) Jiyin Chen (2020) Jiong Chen (2020) Zeping Chen (2020) J. Chen (2020) Hannah Chidekel (2018) Andrew Child (2019) Lauren Chin (2019) Maryam Chishti (2020) Eunice Choe (2017) Anastasia Christilles (2018) Josh Cohen (2020) Hannah Cook (2020) Ryan Cullinane (2020) Emma Cyr Thomas D’Angelo (2019) Ny’il Damis-Salaam (2020) Even Dankowicz (2019) Heriyre Das (2018) Claudia Davis (2019) Katherine Debettencourt (2019) Peter Diamond (2020) Eric Diamond (Parent)

Jacob Diaz (2019) Kevin Dikdan (2020) Nate Dimock (2020) Angelo Ditillio Phoebe Dolan (2020) Polina Dolgopolskaia (2017) Mia Dorns (2020) Rachel Dover (2020) Jacob Edelman (2018) Savannah Edmondson (2020) Matthew Ekins (2020) Lily Eligator (2019) Tyffany English (2019) Tyreese Fable (2020) Deborah Fataki (2019) Victor Feffer (2020) Nina Feinberg (2018) Iona Feldman (2017) Aaron Michael Fernbach Kingson (2019) Jonah Ficler (2018) Cheryl Figliolini (Parent) Isidora Filipovic (2018) Victoria Fils-Aime (2019) Anthony Fimmano (2018) Jacob Fine (2020) Emily Fishman (2020) Gabriel Sol Fontes (2019) Emily Dell Foreman (2020) Domingo Fortuna (2020) Isaiah Freedmon (2020) Andrew Freund (2019) Adi Fried-Sax (Alum ‘13) Rachel Gabrilowitz (2017) Chenxi Gao (2020) Brian Gao (2020) A Garcia (2018) Daniel Garcia (2020) Bronson Gardner (2019) Rayelle Gardner (2020) Nicholas Gassoway (2020) Skyler Gelina (2020) Talia Gerard (2020) Shira Gersh (2019) Jessica Gets (2020) Elizabeth Geutiu (2020) Sagnik Ghosh (2022) Meghan Gibbons (2017) Meghan Gibbons (2020) Rachel Gifeisman (2019) Mark Gimbel Maria Girgorova Aaron Gold (2018) Jessica Goldstein (2017) Rachel Goldstein (2018) Sarah Grace Gomez (2018) Sofia Grandsard (2020) Jake Greenberg (2018) Audrey Grotheer (2020) Talya Guenzburger (2020) Ruoyu Han (2020) Lydia Harris (2020) Tamar Harrison (2020) Hamdi Hassan (2018) Julia Haynes (2020) Sohpia He (2019) Lilly Hecht (2018) Joshua Heller (2020) Carolin Helmholz (2020) Anna Henkin Joel Herman (2020) Zoe Hertz (2020) Ron Hia (2018) Paige Hildebrand (2020) Lauren Hill (2020) Sasha Himeno-Price (2020) Jenny Ho (2020) Alana Hodsom (2019) Dylan Hoffman (2018) Matt Hoisch (2019) Jackson Holbert (2017) A. Hollinger (2018) Emily Hong (2019) Sarah Humphries (2018) Abigail Huntsman (2020) Miranda Hurtado Ramos (2019) Christina Hutson (2017) Demi Ingraham (2020) Caren Irr Sahra Jaamac (2020)

Valene Janovic (2019) Benjamin Jarrett (2018) Annie JB (2020) Annie JB (2021) Lorraine Jemal (2020) Siyun Ji (2020) Brandon Jiang (2020) Jacob Judd (2020) Ani K. (2017) Cleophas Kalekem Alyssa Kann (2019) Saul Kaplan (2017) Emily Kaplan (2019) Dorita Kardonsla (2019) Paul Kelly (2020) Eleanor Kelman (2020) Devon Kennedy (2017) Ryan Kim (2018) Carly Kleinstern (2019) Rachel Klingenstein (2018) Sonaima Knilji (2020) Maura Koehler (2019) Jonah Koglofsky (2020) Jeremy Koob (2017) Renee Korgood (2020) Benjamin Korman (2019) Nicole Kovalevslay (2017) Sara Kramer (2017) Ben Kreider (2018) Miriam Krugman (2020) Victor Kubatin (2020) Alyssa Kubiak (2019) Aseem Kumar (2020) Paulina Kuzmin (2020) Ben La Coscio (2020) Gabby Lamm (2017) Julie Landon (2017) Michelle Landstrom Miranda Lassar (2020) Samantha Launny (2019) Danielle Lebowitz (2019) Raceh Lederer (2019) T. Lee (2019) Yoon Lee (2020) Kristian Lemmik (Family Member) Madeline Lenchner (2017) Jason Lerner (2020) Leah Levine (2017) Tristan Levinson-Hayes (2018) Yini Liang (2020) Yinan Liang (2020) Piera Licht (2018) Curt Lieber (2019) Andrew Lipnick (2018) Jeff Liu (2020) Xuantong Liu (2020) Hannah Lloyd (2020) Ashley Loc (2020) N Lockley (2018) Jeremy Longfellow (2018) Roman Loper (2020) Chelsea Lowe (2020) Rina Lubit (2020) Rellie Luo (Family Member) Jake M. (2020) Alex M. (2017) Alex M. (2018) Rox M. (2019) Lorenzo Maddox (2020) Eitan Mager Garfield (2020) J. Mall (2017) Mariah Manter (2020) Frankie Marchan (2019) Allison Marill (2017) Arlett Marquez (2021) Jared Martin (2019) Valentina Martinez (2019) Bryan McNamara (2019) Max Meier (2020) Merrick Mendenhall (2020) Andrew Mercer (2020) Benjamin Merker (2019) Matthew Michaud (2018) David Miller (Alum ‘14) So Min Lee (2020) Abby Miranker (2020) Judiana Moise (2020) Kaitlyn Mok (2020) Maria Moncaleano (Alum ‘16)

Thursday Montrym (2020) Elizabeth Morphin (2020) Jordan Mudd (2020) Agape N. (2020) Ella N’Diaye-Muller (2018) Leah Nadelman (2018) Yuri Naguchi (2020) Amine Naitlho (2020) Denise Nalibotsky (2020) Zoe Neal (2020) Graham Neal (Parent) Kalianni Neal-Desatnik (2020) Gabriela Nechemia (2020) Shalom Nechemia (Parent) Candace Ng (2020) Olivia Nichols (2020) Agape Niyobuhungiro (2020) Shea Nugent (2020) Christian Nunez (2019) Lina Nurhuessein (2017) Chinobi Nwan Kwo (2017) Sarah Nzisabira (2020) Nuiney O (2018) Jun Taek Oh (2019) Jasmine Olins (2018) Jasmine Olins (2019) Josh Olins (Parent) Victor C Oppenheimer (2020) Richard Ortecho (2020) Rie Ota (2019) Rebecca P. (2018) Matthew Paps (2019) Rhoeun Park (2020) Clements Park (2020) Brad Payne (2017) Marissa Pepose (2017) Leah Peretsky (2020) Emma Petes (2020) Elaina Pevide (2020) David Piegaro (2020) Lucas Plaut (2020) Lucas Plaut (2020) Vanerich Polanco (2020) Ben Pomeratz (2017) Tyler Poritzkey (2020) Polina Potochevska (2020) Kerzie Provenaner (2020) Faiyaz Rahman (2020)

Zenith Rai (2020) Nadau-Moshe Raichman (2020) Josh Rakowsky (2020) Andrew Rakowsky (Parent) Matthew Raqsdale (2018) Hannah Reites (2017) Makayla Richards (2020) Victoria Richardson (2020) Victoria Richardson (2020) Gail Robins (Parent & Alum ‘82) Molly Rocca (2020) Alec Rodgers (2020) Lois Rosen (Parent) Shira Rosenberg (2020) Isabelle Rosenblatt (2017) Elias Rosenfeld (2020) Sage Rosenthal (2020) Prue Ross Sasha Ruiz (2017) Hangil Ryu (2020) Susan S. Andrew S. Madhar S. (2017) Jayce S. (2019) Lawrence Sabir (2020) Prakhar Sahay (2017) Gaby Sandor (2019) Elizabeth Sangiorgi (2020) Giselle Santillana (2020) Halley Saul (2017) Zachary Sax (Alum ‘12) Rita Scheer (2020) Jonathan Schein (2020) Leah Scher (2020) Zach Schillaei (2022) Danya Schlussel (2017) Jeremy Schwartz (2018) Becky Schwartz (2020) Julianne Sciouti (2020) Sarah Scott (2018) Seneca Scott (2020) Seneca Scott (2020) Omar Scruggs (2020) Sam Scudere-Weiss (2018) Yvette Sei (2020)

Jamie Semel (2017) Jengwi Seo (2018) Brandon Shapin (2017) Sarah Sharpe (2020) Bec Sheinkopf (2018) Ianne Sherry (2019) Rebecca Shi (2018) David Shpilman (2020) Max Silverodore (2019) Shannon Simpson (2018) Elijah Sinclair (2019) Robert Singer (2019) Rachel Slayton (2020) Devanna Smith (2020) Rachel snyderman (2020) Mark Snyderman (Parent) Evan Solomon (2020) Sivan Spector (2018) Sydney Sperber (2017) Victoria St Jean (2019) Maegann Stafford (2019) Lauren Stark (2020) Anna Stern (2018) Jonathan Stern (2020) Sam Stern (2020) Alessia Stewart (2020) Raphael Stigliano (2018) Aaron Stone (2021) Rachel Stutman (2020) Jared Sullivan (2018) Gabriel Sultan (2020) Elliner Tai (2018) Scott Talpe (2020) Danni Tang (2019) Alison Tassone (2018) Debora Tenenbaum Allison Tien (2020) Leon Tilmanns (2018) Jonas Tjahjad (2019) Elmer Torres (2019) Christina Torrijos (2018) Matt Tracy (2020) natalicia Tracy (Parent) Isabelle Truong (2020) Sapie Tvizer (2019)

Sabira Ullan (2020) Kylie Underwood (2017) Laura V. (2019) Claudia Vacira (2020) Frank Valentin (2020) Cassidy Van Cooten (2020) Aryela Vanetsky (2020) Dhawan Vidit (2019) Daniel Vilinsky (2018) Sophia Wahe (Parent) Connor Wahrman (2017) Peter Walker (Parent) Shanxiao Wan (2020) Xiyue Wang (2020) Eli Wasserman (2020) Blair Webber (2020) Angus Webber (Parent) Shoshanah Weinreich (2020) Sheshi Weisbin (2020) Zach Weiss (2018) Rebecca Weiss (2018) Samuel Weiss (2020) Nick Wigglesworth (2020) Libby Williams (2020) Lucy Wingard (2020) Rebecca Wiser (2020) Samuel Wiser (Parent) Helen Wong (2019) Alice Wu (2018) Zheng Xuan Wu (2018) Amanda Xia (2020) Lingyan Xie (2020) Zilin Yang (2018) Michael Yehuda (2019) Marco Yeung (Family Member) Jiayue Yu (2020) Ivan Zembrusky (2017) Stephen Zembrusky (Parent) Margaret Zembrusky (Parent & Alum ‘84) Zitian Zhang (2020) Kevin Zhao (2020) Amber Zheng (Alum ‘16) Steven Zheng (2020) Jialin Zhou (2019) Julia Zhu (2019) Julie Zieff (Parent) Tiffany Zou (2019) Amy Zou (2019) Samuel Zuckerman (2020)

Learn more at: www.BrandeisFacultyForward.org

THE JUSTICE

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NEWS

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TUESDAY, March 14, 2017

TF: Students SU: Election for Thursday share opinions on free speech CONTINUED FROM 1

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conservatives are also marginalized on campus.

“I think that the idea that conservative students are marginalized is damaging, dangerous and blatantly false,” said Student Union Vice President Paul Sindberg ’18, who is running for Student Union President.

“Conservatism is not an identity.

It is not something that people have experienced housing discrimination [for]; it is not something that has got people experiencing hiring discrimination, … it is not an inherent character quality. It is not something that someone can wear on their skin.”

Piegaro responded that conservatism can be deeply tied to one’s faith and values, which are part of their identity.

“Where is the line; everyone asks, where is the line?” said Evan Mahnken ’19, returning to the topic of free speech and hate speech. “What if there isn’t a line? What if we invite these people, and if you don’t want to hear their ideas, you don’t go to the thing. That’s the nature of free speech.” He added, “There’s this idea that Charles Murray is committing violence by his speech. The people who committed violence as a result of him coming to their campus were the ones who committed violence.”

Already-present tensions continued to rise significantly.

“If Brandeis University were to have Charles Murray speak on its campus with its president approving, the members of the Board of Trustees approving his presence on campus, that is very different from saying you have the right to have the freedom of speech,” said a student. “That is Brandeis University condoning his ideas or saying that it’s fine for him to say that Black people are genetically inferior to white people. That is his entire argument.”

“There’s a difference between someone saying something that is hurtful, and that is devaluing, and that is dehumanizing — which is exactly what Charles Murray’s work is — than saying something that is just another school of thought that

is out there,” said another student.

“When it’s devaluing someone’s life and their livelihood and limiting their ability to live and breathe and be? It is harmful. It is hurtful. You wouldn’t want it happening to you.

It doesn’t, because the world isn’t set up that way.”

After a brief discussion about student journalism and statistics on student perceptions of free expression on campus, the conversation regained its vigor, with graduate students like Sonia Kikeri at the forefront.

“Do not take pictures of me,” Kikeri began. “I would just like everyone to take a moment to look around this room. See who is here.

See what voices are being continually uplifted. And see what voices are continually having to fight and defend themselves.”

A Justice press camera snapped.

“And see what rights are being violated,” she added.

Kikeri put her hand up. Other students stood in front of her, blocking her from the camera’s view as she went on.

“I’m just so appalled that our president chose to term the actions of the students as vulgar,” said Kikeri. “That is anti-Blackness. That is silencing of the students.”

The scene grew more confrontational. After one student shushed another, the latter walked close in front of him “so you can shush me to my face.”

“This is why we’re having this conference,” said Piegaro, holding up his phone to film. “This is exactly why.”

“Schools literally are where truth is determined to be truth, where power is determined to be power,” said a student. “And if we’re not recognizing the power of our University to literally decide what is truth, whose lives matter, whose do not — then why are we here? And who are we to allow for centuries-old bigotry, racism, white supremacy, hate, murder, violence, to be perpetuated in a place that’s supposed to be the birthplace of something new? You can’t create in a barren land.”

—Editor’s note: Evan Mahnken ’19 produces crossword puzzles for the Justice.

allocation of these funds, he said, “when it is on all of the student body to give it in.”

He explained that he would make this data accessible not through data dumps but through visual explanations that rely on charts and images to make the information more easily understandable.

Edelman also explained that, once in office, he plans to tackle these goals immediately. If elected on Thursday, he said, “I’m working Friday afternoon.”

Shaquan McDowell ’18

Like Edelman, McDowell is running for the Union presidency. Before traveling abroad to London, McDowell served on the Student Union Senate as Senator-at-Large and Campus Operations Working Group chair last semester.

In a phone interview with the Justice, McDowell explained that he is running for president because the position would allow him to bring the concerns of his constituents to light in a way that pulls in all of the Union’s branches.

One of his favorite activities on campus, he said, is walking around idly and interacting with others. “I love Brandeis; I love the people,” he said. One of his platform goals is to make the Union the first step in organizing University task forces, thereby ensuring that community members with a stake in an issue are always represented and involved in discussions.

McDowell also said that his three primary initiatives involve making menstrual products readily accessible across campus, creating and organizing spaces to have the Union Executive Board interact with students and fostering dialogue to hear what students are thinking.

He would also like to strengthen the ties between the community and the Union through a series of regular, informative email updates.

Paul Sindberg ’18

Sindberg, the third candidate for the Union presidency, is the Student Union vice president. In his platform, Sindberg stressed the importance of thinking critically about marginalized voices on campus. He campaigned for making club funding more equitable, making sure the Union carves out space for underrepresented groups on campus and making the Union an inclusive and accessible space.

Sindberg’s platform also included goals to make the Union more transparent.

In an interview with the Justice, he said that he might accomplish this through publishing public Eboard agendas to which community

members can add suggestions.

Reflecting upon his time on the Senate, Sindberg spoke about the role he played in organizing past Thanksgiving Turkey Shuttles and Midnight Buffets, which he said the University has come to expect but which rely on students to organize.

“It is work; it is labor. … This University is quick to ask for student labor,” he said. “It illustrated to me the fact that I need to be mindful of the labor I ask of the people around me,” he said, citing examples of marginalized students asked to explain contemporary issues to their majority peers.

Hannah Brown ’19

Brown, the Senate’s executive senator, is running for the Union vice presidency.

In an interview with the Justice, Brown explained that she wants to be more of a manager, taking on structural weaknesses and inefficiencies within the Senate.

In her platform, she stressed Union accessibility and advocacy, also noting that she wants to make the campus more sustainable and the Union more transparent. These are “things I care deeply about,” she said.

Brown, who chairs the Senate Services and Outreach Committee and has organized past Turkey shuttles — “I’ve become shuttle lady,” she joked — also spoke about reinstituting the Office of Student Rights and Advocacy, for which there is a provision in the constitution. This agency would advocate for students’ rights, especially on behalf of marginalized and underrepresented communities.

Lian Chen ’19

Chen, the Senate’s Racial Minority senator, is running for Union secretary, a position she hopes to attain because of its important interactions with students.

“I like a job with the impact of secretary,” she said in an interview with the Justice. “I want to make that connection.”

If elected, Chen said she would like to make the weekly email from the Student Union more organized, as she says these emails are the most regular and easily accessible communication between students and the Union.

Her time as Racial Minority senator has informed her campaign, she added.

“I feel that by talking with people [through this role], I know what people want and what I can do,” she said.

Emily Levine ’18

Levine, who served as deputy treasurer last semester and assistant treasurer the year before, is running for treasurer unopposed.

7

In an emailed statement to the Justice, Levine emphasized her platform goals regarding easier and more transparent funding and payment processes for club leaders.

She also stressed the important relationship between the Union and clubs. “I enjoy meeting different members of the Brandeis community and learning about what they are involved in on campus,” she wrote.

“Additionally, I have been the treasurer for two clubs at Brandeis, so I understand the needs and responsibilities of clubs. But, I also understand the importance of the relationship between the Student Union and clubs.”

Kate Kesselman ’19

Kesselman, the Senate’s Class of 2019 senator, is running for junior representative to the Board of Trustees.

As a student representative, she said in an interview with the Justice, “the job is not to have my voice be heard,” but to help marginalized voices find a place in the community. “It’s the idea that everyone is heard,” she said.

From her time spent on the Senate and as chair of the Senate’s Dining Committee, “I know a lot about students’ needs and wants,” Kesselman said. She added that she looks forward to representing the underrepresented on the Board of Trustees.

Alex Feldman ’19

Feldman, an Allocations Board representative and the former ABoard chair, is also running for junior representative to the Board of Trustees.

Though he noted that it is not the role of the representative to drive platforms regarding smaller oncampus initiatives, Feldman said in an interview with the Justice that he would like to keep diversity and inclusion an ongoing priority if elected.

Feldman has worked with trustees before during an open forum with trustees, during which he got a sense of what issues the Board is interested in and “the speed at which they’re operating and the scope they’re looking at, which is much slower and way, way broader than students ever really look at,” especially when it comes to reactions to campus social movements, he said.

Also running in this round of elections are Nakeita Henry ’19 for the vice presidency, Amy-Claire Dauphin ’19 for secretary, Christian Nunez ’18 for junior representative to the Board of Trustees, and Tiana Murrieta ’18 for representative to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. Henry, Dauphin, Nunez and Murrieta did not return requests for comment by press time.

The Justice will not be publishing the article “Homophobic slurs and graffiti target election candidates”online due to the article’s sensitive nature.

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features

TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2017 ● Features ● The Justice

just

VERBATIM | CONFUCIUS Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

ON THIS DAY…

FUN FACT

In 1743, the first American town meeting took place at Faneuil Hall.

People were initially reluctant to eat oats, because they were considered livestock food.

YDALIA COLON/the Justice

BOLD HUMOR: Marga Gomez did not avoid uncomfortable topics in her stand-up comedy show.

Looking for a laugh Marga Gomez presented her stand-up comedy routine By sarah scott JUSTICE contributing writer

Midterm season is officially here. There are tests to be taken and papers to be written. There’s less pep in our steps, and the library is a bit more crowded than usual. However, last Tuesday, March 7, Marga Gomez provided students a chance to laugh at her stand-up comedy show, “Punching Up — Comedy for the Resistance.” Gomez’s recent credits include her Off-Broadway show “Latin Standards” and a gueststarring role on the Netflix series, “Sense 8.” Gomez is an accomplished solo performer and a prominent LGBTQ voice and activist “known for being one of the first openly lesbian performers in the business,” said Prof. Greg Childs (HIST).

Gomez’s first order of business during her show regarded the use of cellular devices: “[T]urn them off and put them down,” she instructed an audience of enthusiastic Brandeisians. “I’ve played everywhere, but not Waltham. … I’ve made it!” Gomez then cheered. Throughout her performance, Gomez spoke about Waltham, from referencing the Waltham Commons to noting that the city “has flavor.”

However, by mid-show, Gomez asked her audience whether she could “pretend” that the Massachusetts suburb was Boston, where her request was approved by numerous laughs.

Gomez identified herself as “half Puerto Rican, ... half Cuban and ... half lesbian.” She spent much of her routine sharing her experiences and struggles with identity through comedy. She told Brandeis students about her cultural experience, from her encounters with American mojitos (pro tip: do not put vodka in mojitos) to her Spanish language abilities growing up in the Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights.

Gomez also spoke on the current political climate, notably on President Donald Trump. She mentioned the current news circulating Trump, such as his wiretapping accusations against Barack Obama: “Obama did so much but managed to wiretap Donald Trump. What a multitasker!” But she also criticized the current president for his treatment of the press and the journalism industry. As a Justice photographer left the show, Gomez told the audience that in the future, “we’re not gonna have a paper after all,” and that “[Trump] is fake news; … I’m gonna start doing fake comedy.”

Gomez herself was a journalism major in college and

YDALIA COLON/the Justice

WHO IS SHE: Gomez used humor to explore her many identities.

professed that “when all the newspapers are shut down …

I’m going to be the town crier.” Gomez elaborated on her role as the town crier, describing her medieval-inspired outfit and her role as the “gay marriage town crier” to children.

While Gomez iterated that she voted for Hillary Clinton, she did criticize the campaign of the 2016 presidential candidate for “hispandering.” She addressed the controversial Clinton campaign.“[Clinton] is like your abuelita. That didn’t work out … I don’t want my abuelita to be in office … she was mean.”

The day after Gomez’s show was International Women’s Day, and Gomez spoke about a number of women’s issues.

In particular, Gomez explained her qualms with the women’s fashion industry, specifically the lack of pockets in women’s clothing. “Men’s clothes have so many pockets,” she said. “Once we win, and women take public office, and birth control is available and Planned Parenthood is protected, and abortion is legal and protected, and once that all happens, I would like us to move on to pockets.”

Gomez discussed her experiences as a lesbian woman and offered some advice and perspectives to her primarily young audience. “The only advice I can give you is to buy property.”

Regarding the differences in the lesbian and LGBTQ community today, she claimed “there’s nuance” and not as much division into distinctive sexual identity categories.

Gomez discussed her recent dating ventures. In her personal experience, Gomez sees dates as “mini-relationships,” and “after a string of them, you have to stop.” And while Gomez admitted to dating the same type of person, she listed other qualifications her future date must have, like not being a vegan and being over forty. She also hopes “to find a sugar Granny.”

Finishing her routine, Gomez recalled her experiences and struggles breaking into Hollywood film. She recounted her limitations to certain roles, particularly the lack of diverse roles for Latina women. “I was able to audition for the Latina maid, the Latina hooker, the Latina midwife and, every once in awhile, if I were really lucky, I would get a complex, nuanced Latina character — she’s a hooker and a midwife.” Gomez landed a supporting role in a 90s film, “Sphere,” in which she shared scenes with Queen Latifah. Gomez and Latifah’s characters were dead about thirty minutes into the film. To the audience’s approval, Gomez ended her routine by reenacting Queen Latifah’s death scene. It was a memorable impression.

the justice ● Features ● TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2017

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROHAN LAL

PREPARING TO PLAY: The Brandeis Squash Club was first founded in 2012.

There’s something about squash The Brandeis Squash Club traveled to nationals for the first time

By LEIGH SALOMON JUSTICE Contributing Writer

It’s 5:30 p.m. on a Monday or Thursday, and most students are predictably heading to Sherman or Usdan, hoping to beat the rush. They’re probably not thinking about squash — the kind served with a racket and ball rather than a plate and utensil, that is.

Yet only a short walk away, on the international courts in Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, 10 or so kids huddle up, ready to “hit around” and just have fun. “It doesn’t matter if you win or lose,” their club president Rohan Lal ’17 reminds them. “We’re just here to have a good time. … Let’s just enjoy the experience for what it is.” The next hour and a half flies by, full of banter, competitive rallying and a “very exhilarating” sense of challenge and improvement.

“Squash is a racket sport played indoors,” Lal explained in an interview with the Justice. “It’s a very fast sport. You hit the ball against the wall and rally back and forth, trying to get the other person to run around.” As in tennis and volleyball, players earn points when they serve the ball and their opponent fails to ricochet it – 11 points per game and five games to a match.

Lal believes this mix of playfulness and competitiveness — “It’s a club and a team” — defines the Brandeis Squash club. “What I always enjoy is [that] we go to practice and everybody’s just laughing and joking around while

still playing very serious squash. We’re still getting worked up [and] we’re still challenging each other, but ultimately we are all just having a good time and that’s what I want to maintain as the club keeps getting more serious.”

The more serious aspects of the club didn’t come so easily. Started in 2012, it has struggled to gain popularity. “The biggest challenge we’ve faced these past few years was always just getting enough people interested and being consistent to practice,” Lal admits. “If you want a club to grow, each year have goals in mind to expand the club, … reasonable goals that are possible to achieve but will still push your club a little bit.”

Thanks to the efforts of their e-Board, the club grew from a purely recreational club of a few players in the 2012 to 2013 school year to upwards of twenty players this past year.

They played their first exhibition matches in the 2013 to 2014 school year, eventually meeting their coach Joe McManus, who took them on in addition to Tufts. They joined the College Squash Association the following year (the national league that varsity and club teams play under), gaining exposure to outof-state matches and setting them on the path toward the National College Championship.

As an emerging team, the Brandeis Squash club needed to play eight matches against at least five other teams before Nationals if they wanted to participate. The new challenges excited Lal and his teammates, but they faced a few hurdles along the way. “In the past, we’ve struggled, because we didn’t have enough con-

tacts with other schools. … And we had a hard time getting enough players ready for each match, because we need at least seven players, and sometimes it wouldn’t be enough people.”

So they reached out to other colleges, worked on setting up times to play and accomplished their goal this year by playing eight matches against six other colleges. They beat Babson (6-3) twice, lost honorably in their six other matches and then headed to Nationals in February. “It lasts about two or three days, and you have schools from all around the country coming. This time, it was in Boston, which was very convenient,” said Lal. They won their first match against Sewanee (5-4) but lost their other two (3-6 and 2-7) against Minnesota and Notre Dame, respectively. “Next year, once I’m gone, when the next e-Board takes over, the goal for them will be the competitive side — becoming a better team, more drills, more training and improving our performance.”

Reflecting on what teamwork means to him after all these years, Lal has realized that “[y]ou find this sort of balance, you know, where each person has to want to become a better squash player or whatever they’re working on. So you do need to challenge each other [and] have a certain kind of desire to be competitive, but you can get carried away with that. … So you want to take it seriously, but not too seriously.”

The Brandeis Squash club officially meets every Monday and Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the Gosman international courts and is open to people of all skill and commitment levels.

AIMING FOR VICTORY: Rohan Lal ’17 believes that a mix of playfulness and seriousness makes being a part of the club such an enjoyable experience.

TERRIFIC TEAM: The club has grown to have over 20 members.

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10 TUESDAY, march 14, 2017 ● forum ● THE JUSTICE

the

Justice Established 1949

Brandeis University

Carmi Rothberg, Editor in Chief Mihir Khanna, Managing Editor Morgan Brill and Abby Patkin, Deputy Editors Michelle Banayan, Jessica Goldstein, Noah Hessdorf, Jerry Miller and Sabrina Sung, Associate Editors Michelle Dang, Acting News Editor, Kirby Kochanowski, Features Editor Amber Miles, Forum Editor, Ben Katcher, Acting Sports Editor Hannah Kressel, Arts Editor Natalia Wiater, Photography Editor Mira Mellman, Layout Editor, Pamela Klahr and Robbie Lurie, Ads Editors Rachel Sharer, Online Editor, Jen Geller and Avraham Penso, Copy Editors

EDITORIALS Support Jacob Edelman ’18 for Student Union President The 2017 election for president of the Student Union has yielded three well-qualified candidates, all of whom share worthy goals and an admirable passion for the University. While Jacob Edelman ’18, Shaquan McDowell ’18 and Paul Sindberg ’18 have communicated similar objectives — such as increased accessibility to menstrual products — this board has decided to endorse Edelman as the next Union president.

His clearer plans of implementation demonstrate bold visions, as well as an awareness of the necessary actions to bring those visions to fruition.

For example, all three candidates expressed a desire to increase transparency within the Union, but only Edelman outlined specific ways in which he would do so as president: By posting charts online that detail the Union structure, gathering hard data on diversity within clubs and the money allocated to them, and releasing the Union’s budget, Edelman hopes to increase student understanding of how, and with what means, the Union functions in the University community. The Union should be more proactive about communicating with its constituents about the availability of resources — especially regarding to groups for marginalized communities — as well as making club funding more easily accessible, according to Edelman.

Of the three candidates, Edelman inspires the most confidence in his ability to carry out these future plans for open communication, as he has historically demonstrated a tendency toward transparency. This is most apparent in his actions as Director of Communications after he filled a vacancy in the position earlier this calendar year. Taking on the role of the Union press contact, Edelman has been providing the campus publications and media — The Brandeis Hoot, the Justice and WBRS — with memos detailing recent Union activity on a weekly basis since Feb. 6. In doing so, he has provided timely insights into the noteworthy actions of each of the Union’s branches.

Another one of Edelman’s goals is to reduce the practice of free student labor on campus, particularly in the case of research labs and admissions. Forcing students to choose between either earning money or working beneficial but unpaid jobs only promotes further inequality and a “layer of exclusivity,” according to Edelman. By ensuring that jobs of this sort are appropriately compensated, Edelman hopes to ensure that all students, regardless of financial status, can take advantage of the valuable experiences that, at present, are only available to individuals who can afford to spend time on unpaid work. Though he acknowledges that these changes will be neither simple nor easy, Edelman recognizes the need to have the conversation.

In addition, Edelman plans to place a high priority on mental and physical health, aiming to open the Brandeis Counseling Center and the Brandeis Health Center on weekends and evenings to accommodate Brandeis community members whose schedules limit their ability to seek clinical assistance during regular weekday hours. Sindberg has also recognized

Participate in elections the extension of Health Center hours as a campaign objective, but Edelman has already set up meetings at the BCC and the Health Center to evaluate the feasibility of this goal, as he recognizes it is a complicated issue considering budgetary restraints. This board commends Edelman’s initiative.

Edelman has also expressed interest in exploring the feasibility of subsidizing laundry and printing expenses for students who require assistance with financing these necessary services; in conversation with this board, he pointed out that these expenses are treated as luxuries, but are truly necessities.

Further, Edelman would pursue plans to expand dining availability during breaks. This is important, Edelman said, because some students who stay on campus over breaks during the semester may not be able to afford groceries or takeout, and this change is essential for combating food insecurity.

Beyond that, Edelman has proposed extensive sustainability initiatives, such as implementing automatic light sensors in more areas around campus, turning off lawn sprinklers more often, petitioning the University to use renewable energy sources for the majority of its electricity and offering A-Board grants to clubs in exchange for not using paper products for flyers and other club materials, according to Edelman’s campaign Facebook page.

This board supports these elements of Edelman’s platform and, above all, appreciates his efforts to be a proactive listener and advocate for the Brandeis student body. In light of this, in addition to pursuing his other objectives, Edelman must work hard to ensure he is responsive to the concerns of underrepresented communities on campus, and this board urges him, if elected, to promote inclusion and listen attentively to all of his constituents.

Edelman has a plan for this, as well. He hopes to be proactive in communication with the University’s Chief Diversity Officer Mark Brimhall-Vargas, and he expressed interest in creating a position for a Chief Diversity Officer within the Student Union. This board believes that, if elected, Edelman must make these goals a priority.

Throughout the campaign process, Edelman has engaged in active outreach with the community, and this board recognizes these measures as a good indication of his future receptiveness to student voices, should he be elected.

Such efforts are laudable, and this board encourages Brandeis students to consider candidates’ responsiveness to their constituents when deciding how to vote.

Regardless of whom you choose, this board urges all Brandeis students to participate actively in this election and vote for the candidate whose merits and values best align with their own.

The phrase “every vote counts” has been particularly valid in recent years’ elections, notably when incumbent Union President David Herbstritt ’17 won his race by a mere margin of two votes. The result of this election process will set the tone for the upcoming year and impact the entire student body.

BEN JARRETT/the Justice

Views the News on

On Feb. 20, the United Nations officially declared a famine state for two counties in South Sudan, the first since 2012. This is a result of the country’s over three-year civil war and government orders to block food aid in certain areas, according to a Feb. 21 Al Jazeera article. To prevent the effects of famine, including the starvation of 5 million, the UN would need to raise 4.4 billion dollars by the end of March. How do you think the UN should approach this issue, and how can it most effectively get involved?

Ryan McCarthy ’18 Unfortunately, the UN is not good at persuasion, especially when it involves money. With the UN Security Council unwilling to do anything more than condemn the atrocities in South Sudan, the UN is reliant on the generosity of its member nations, which is dwindling with each passing day, with Japan now ending its five-year peacekeeping mission in the famished nation. If humanitarian aid is being blocked by the South Sudanese government, then it is not enough to send foreign aid; what is needed is a major peacekeeping presence, and unsurprisingly, no UN member nation appears willing to take the lead on that. If there is one country that has the potential to take leadership in the crisis, it is China, whose companies have a 40% stake in South Sudan’s largest oil fields. So while the Trump administration may want to cut back on foreign aid, it risks its other sacred mission of losing ground to China.

Ryan McCarthy ’18 is a History Undergraduate Departmental Representative. He is also minoring in Economics.

Alex Friedman ’19 While I believe in the power of global governance as an idea, the United Nations has continued to disappoint and trouble me with its stunning ability to do very little, loudly. This crisis is almost entirely man-made.

South Sudan is suffering because it is undergoing a civil war. For some time now, the South Sudanese Army, rather than being paid, has turned to taking whatever they can, which often means cattle, the Sudanese people’s source of food and wealth. Aid workers, who are flush with cash and good intentions, have been blocked by the government. The country is dangerous and unnavigable. What can be done? The UN needs to use its influence, and any necessary force (perhaps African Union troops, if not UN ones), to get its aid workers into the country and protect them.

This civil war is not going anywhere soon, so the UN needs to begin showing strength to save lives.

Alex Friedman ’19 is a double major in Politics and Business.

Bidushi Adhikari ’17 The UN should definitely work toward mobilizing donors, including institutions and countries, about the issue and raising funds to ameliorate the conditions in South Sudan. Once the rest of the world starts paying attention to the natural disaster, emergency humanitarian aid will begin flowing into such a high-need area of the world. However, without national political stability and countries’ ability to execute aid projects without the corruption of funds, the UN can do little to help the situation. In countries like Haiti and Nepal, where severe natural disasters killed and uprooted thousands of people, institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF poured millions of dollars in disaster relief but have very little to show for it. Research indicates that the reasons include poor governance, corruption and weak social and economic institutions. Therefore, the UN should ensure that local organizations are not only the first respondents to disaster relief but also are better aware of political, social and economic hurdles for aid and are promptly supported by the international community.

Bidushi Adhikari ’17 is double majoring in Economics and Sociology.

Jessica Goldstein ’17 The conflict in South Sudan was caused by its government and so was the famine. South Sudan’s war has been characterized by disproportionate attacks on civilians by both government forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition. Once again, civilians are caught in the middle of a bloody conflict. In fact, this is the first time since 2011 that the United Nations has declared a famine. In order for the UN to alleviate the effects of the famine, it must raise awareness about it. This means it must appeal to those in the international community based off of the ideals of democracy. All the while, the UN must remain cognizant of the government it is working with — a government rife with kleptocrats who never will put the interests of their own people first. In order to break the vicious cycle, leaders must be held accountable for atrocities they commit, and they can no longer profit off of stolen state resources.

Jessica Goldstein ’17 is the president of STAND on campus and a Politics major. She is also an associate editor for the Justice.

THE JUSTICE ● fORUM ● TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2017

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Encourage improvement of media’s approach to feminism

By Tafara Gava justice contributing writer

In light of International Women’s Day on March 8, it is important to reflect on how the portrayal of women in mainstream media has dramatically changed over time. For example, detergent commercials of the 1950s — which usually showed women in domestic settings like kitchens and laundry rooms — have now been replaced by those that feature men as homemakers. One can argue that the mainstream media, particularly with its marketing strategies, has embraced the feminist movement by daring to depict women being successful in fields usually dominated by men, such as business or sports. However, as much as they should be praised for beginning to teach young girls that their sex should not define their path, they should also be critiqued. The New Yorker’s Jia Tolentino wrote a scathing indictment of how mainstream media and major corporations engage with the feminist movement. In her Feb. 8 piece titled “The Case Against Contemporary Feminism,” Tolentino argues that “feminism has become a self-serving brand popularized by CEOs and beauty companies.” What Tolentino means is that in their advocacy for the equality of the sexes, the mainstream media is not sincere.

As Richard T. Craig’s “African Americans and Mass Media: A Case for Diversity in Media Ownership” points out, their end may not necessarily be the social, political and economic equality of the sexes. Their end may be profit.

This argument is more conceivable in the context of commercials for beauty products, an idea which Time’s Jessica Roy touches on in a Dec. 10, 2013 article. Roy argues that beauty companies like Dove and Pantene use feminism as a marketing tool to make their products stand out. Her claim is not at all unfounded, considering that a “Labels Against Women” Pantene campaign started in the Philippines achieved considerable commercial success, with 8.6 million views as of 2013 and an advertising slot on ABC, according to a Dec. 20, 2013 Washington Post article. The advertisement had a feminist message in that it explored gender-based stereotyping, giving several examples of qualities or traits that would be celebrated in men but shunned in women. In a Jan. 12, 2015 article for the Telegraph, Lauren Davidson explains why big corporations like Dove and Pantene are using feminism in their commercials. She says that women are increasingly becoming the decision makers when it comes to household spending. A

July 22, 2016 Bloomberg report revealed that women make up 85 percent of all U.S. consumer purchases, according to a Dec. 23, 2013 article in the Telegraph. Hence, it is understandable that feminism is being used to make otherwise generic products stand out. With famous brands using feminism to increase their sales, popular culture has become saturated with it. Still, one may ask what the problem with this dynamic is.

Isn’t this actually the goal that feminists want to achieve? Isn’t it wonderful that feminism is now trendy, that it’s being widely disseminated in commercials like the Dove Real Beauty Campaign or in music videos?

In a March 3, 2016 interview with the Huffington Post, author and co-founder of Bitch Media, Andi Zeisler, illuminates how mainstream media is a capitalist industry.

“Corporations are not in the social justice business — they’re in the money business, and ultimately capitalism is not something that is compatible with social movements,” Zeisler said. Mass appeal is an idea that is very important to commercial brands. It is how they fashion their product in such a way that makes it appealing to a broad audience.

The product has to be one that crosses a number of demographic and psychographic boundaries. This means that when a brand uses feminism to make itself unique, it has to deal with feminism in very broad and simple terms, without, as Zeisler says, “any complexity or nuance.” In the end, the feminist movement and mainstream culture are engaging with one another at the expense of the former. By dealing with feminism without complexity or nuance, mainstream media is hindering the feminist movement; it is making it vacuous and ineffectual. Meghan Trainor’s single “NO,” for instance, was hailed as being feminist by critics like Fuse TV’s Eimele Linder, but not everyone agreed.

Though the song discusses the importance of consent, its lyrics reduce the matter to just how women should not allow men to talk to them at parties and come dangerously close to victim blaming. Trainor’s lyrics evade the more critical issue tied to consent: men not asking women, sober or inebriated, for permission to have sex.

By not discussing such a contentious issue, Trainor’s “feminism” is undermined. There are indeed mainstream pop songs that have successfully explored the complexities and nuances of contemporary feminism. A great example is Beyonce’s “Formation,” which grapples with the idea of gender equality from the perspective of America’s Black women, a demographic that is not being represented enough in the media. The idea with Beyonce’s

JULIANNA SCIONTI/the Justice

“Formation” is that, unlike Trainor’s “NO,” it sincerely embraces feminism, as it is unconcerned with pleasing a wide audience.

Some of its lyrics and messages did clearly make some demographics unhappy, as seen in the outrage after she performed at 2016’s Superbowl. Hence, “Formation” is the essence of what feminism is in that it is subversion.

Feminism is subversion, and subversion is not concerned with mass appeal. Subversion is aware that, inevitably, some groups will be offended by its cause.

Mainstream media is also furthering conflicts within contemporary feminism.

This is seen in how a growing number of women of color are unhappy with how primarily white, cis-gendered, and privileged women do not acknowledge their privilege and ignore the additional struggles that women of color must endure. Mainstream media further problematizes this issue, as it has long idealized white, cis-gendered privileged women, giving them precedence over queer women or women of color in terms of representation. By representing white, cis-gendered women more, the media has also enabled them to make their perception of feminism the universal or definitive perception of feminism. This may be an issue of these women not acknowledging their privilege. However, it may also be an issue of mainstream media not representing women of color or queer women enough. In a speech at the 2015 Emmy awards, Oscarwinning actress Viola Davis famously said, “The only thing that separates women of

color from anyone else is opportunity.” The problem with representation of women from different demographics in mainstream media also goes back to the idea of mass appeal.

Regarding commercial beauty products like foundation, brighter shades are advertised more frequently as corporations believe the market for lighter skin is larger than that of dark skin, according to a March 19, 2014 New York Times article. This disincentivizes major corporations from making or advertising products that cater to the needs of women of color. To this end, an incomplete narrative of what it means to be a woman in America is developed by mainstream media in everything from commercials to television shows.

Mainstream media and giant corporations’ embrace of feminism should be recognized and appreciated. Gone are the days in which both worked against the progress of women, showing them in only domestic, servile settings or power positions lower than those of men. However, this embrace should also be critiqued, as it may not come from a place of sincerity, but rather from an economic perspective. Audiences and markets can exercise a certain amount of vigilance by discerning if their campaigns or songs are sincere enough in their calls to action. If mainstream media and mega corporations are sincere, audiences can tell by how they treat feminism and women in other areas.

This means that their products would be less concerned with mass appeal than they would be with fighting for the equality of the sexes.

Support Democratic Party’s efforts in upcoming special elections

By Elias rosenfeld justice staff writer

While 2016 proved to be a devastating year for the Democratic Party, the special elections of 2017 will serve as a crucial indicator as to which party will dominate Congress and state legislation in 2018. For the Republican Party, these elections will demonstrate whether the midterm elections of 2018 will serve as a referendum on the Trump administration.

However, for the Democratic Party, these elections will provide the first opportunity where members of the party can gain the favor of the states that previously voted for Trump.

Additionally, these elections will further serve as evidence to see whether the 2018 elections will see a dramatic turnout by minorities and immigrants.

Since the inauguration of President Trump, there have been nine state congressional races, five of which the Democratic Party won. While this may not seem like a dramatic victory, it is a strong indication that the midterms will be poised to have record turnout, just as the state races saw. In both the 2008 and 2016 elections, the whispers of Hillary Clinton running prevented many newer legislators from running for president. Sarah Kovner, a Democratic donor and fund-raiser, stated, “There is no one else — she’s the whole plan” in a March 11, 2015 New York Times article. However, because the party suffered such a deep identity crisis in the wake of Donald Trump’s unprecedented win, the vast enthusiasm, momentum and energy the party is witnessing will enable many new

faces to enter the political arena and run for offices previously controlled by established parts of the party.

“

This is crucial as the Republican Party fully controls 32 states.

This possible progressive wave of voters in the 2018 midterms is further likely after February’s Delaware state Senate election.

The voter base of the Democratic Party is characteristically known for not participating in off-year elections; however, in the Delaware state Senate race, the voter participation actually increased. One state senator may not seem like a significant gain, but this was a remarkable achievement, as it enabled the Democrats to keep full control of the state government; one party controls the house, Senate and Governor’s Office. This is crucial, as the Republican Party fully controls 32 states.

If the Republican Party manages to win two upcoming elections and garner two more states with full legislative control, they will have the ability to demand a Constitutional Convention, allowing them to permanently amend the

Constitution. States can call for an Article V Convention if two-thirds, or 34, of the states call upon the federal government to amend the Constitution. In order for an Amendments Convention to be drawn, a political party must control both the state House and the Senate.

Since 2010, Republican mega donors such as Charles and David Koch have been eager to call for a convention to include permanent conservative amendments such as a balanced budget, according to an Aug. 22, 2016 New York Times article. The last nearly-successful attempt at amending the Constitution was in the 1980s, when the federal deficit became so massive that a total of 32 states petitioned Congress for an Article V Convention to submit a balanced budget proposal. Much like our status quo, it was only two states from the required minimum of 34.

However, it is not only Delaware that is showing positive signs for 2018 Democrats, but also Iowa. In December 2016, Jim Lykam won his state Senate race by a whopping 31 points more than 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, according to the New York Times. Additionally, Monica Kurth — the representative running to replace Lykam’s old seat — won the race by 34 points in Iowa, a battleground state that Clinton lost and Trump unexpectedly won. In Connecticut, according to a Feb. 28 Connecticut Mirror article, Democrats were hopeful on Feb. 28 when they claimed victory over a state House and Senate race, similar to that of Delaware.

Similarly, even Democratic losses are showing signs of progress, as seen in Connecticut when

candidate Senator Eric Berthel (R-Conn.) won the election for state representative over Democratic candidate Greg Cava by only 10 points, compared to the 22-point margin only three months prior. In Minnesota, the state House got severely more competitive, with the margin of victory being only 6 points, compared to when President Trump carried the state by an astonishing 23 points in November.

What is also significant about all these races is that they are occurring at a state level, motivating party strategists and funders to focus on crucial state races that were often forgotten under the national Barack Obama victories of 2008 and 2012. Since 2008, Democrats have prioritized only national elections and forgotten about the importance of controlling state legislatures, those that directly impact constituents. The success of state races also brings about positive media coverage on local television, the primary news source for many Americans. This is important because it significantly influences the way individuals perceive the status of this nation; while national news coverage has focused on the chaos of the White House administration, local coverage has depicted the crime, job loss and infrastructure decay that plagues American cities. If the new Democratic candidates are able to win state elections, they can begin to shape local news and better showcase the new policy plans meant to change the nation.

All these efforts will encourage a natural grassroots movement that can prove to be a reckoning force for the Republican majorities in the House and Senate in 2018.

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

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TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2017 ● forum ● THE JUSTICE

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Recognize importance of federal funding for the arts

By Shubhan Nagendra JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

From one executive order to the next, Donald Trump’s presidency has shaken the world. Now, it has shaken the art world.

In mid-February, the White House announced the plan to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). In addition, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Legal Services Corporation and AmeriCorps, among other programs, may also be cut. Unlike the trillions of dollars spent on war, most of these programs cost under $500 million annually, according to a Feb. 17 New York Times article.

Eliminating the NEA and the NEH is a blow to museums such as the Museum of Fine Arts, the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art that rely on federal funding to plan exhibitions. Directors of museums expressed this concern in an open letter on Feb. 24. In this letter, the directors describe themselves as the “stewards of public trust.” These museums utilize NEA and NEH funding for not only their exhibits but also for programs of public access, teaching and scholarship opportunities.

In light of the discussion that these directors have started, the conversation on the importance of arts and humanities must be carried on.

Therefore, addressing the importance of the humanities and the arts is vital. In the directors’ letter, they state that the NEA and NEH funding has been critical in supporting the digitization and cataloging of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum’s singular collection; thus, the NEA and NEH make the museum’s art more accessible and allow the public to interact with art that they otherwise may not have had the opportunity to appreciate.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, has received “acquisition funds for works of art by American artists of color in The Heritage Fund for a Diverse Collection,” as well as for the “forthcoming exhibition Animal-Shaped Vessels from the Ancient World: Feasting with Gods, Heroes, and Kings at the Harvard Art Museums,” according to the open letter.

These exhibitions serve as a way to educate the public about different cultures and perspectives.

Not only that, but the unique nature of each exhibit attracts more visitors to the museum, where the public can engage with new forms of art. Without the government’s funding, these events are not possible. Museums, in this case, would have to seek more donations, but that would not be enough.

Further, donations often come with strings

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attached, which makes museums dependent on their donor’s wishes, according to a Feb. 4, 2013 New York Times article. This means that if museums wish to sell, buy or loan art, they must first adhere to the donor’s wishes.

Government funding has also provided “transformative art education programs for Boston Public Schools middle and high school students at the ICA,” according to the same open letter.

Each of these federally funded programs is crucial in promoting the arts and the humanities.

They not only inspire future generations to pursue these fields but also support learning of different cultures through exhibitions from around the world. Studying other cultures is the point of the arts and the humanities, and it provides new knowledge and a better awareness of the world.

Additionally, students learn to think critically and express their talents with art. Art in museums stimulates thought when viewed. This makes museums a base to both find and discover new ways of expression and ideas.

At a time when Kentucky governor Matt Bevin suggested that French literature majors should not receive any state funding, according to a Feb. 21 New York Times article, it is more important than ever to support the humanities and arts.The governor suggested this as a means to support the economy through the production of skilled workers in science and technology. Nevertheless, if one is concerned with the humanities’ lack of impact on science and technology, then refer

to the following statement by Apple’s founder Steve Jobs: “It is in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough. It’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields the results that make our hearts sing,” Jobs said, according to a March 16, 2015 article in the Conversation.

The humanities and the arts are an exercise in thought. There were days when scientists were considered natural philosophers, according to a Sept. 8, 2012 article in the Guardian. Why? Science is as much a field of thought as it is of experimentation — quality that the humanities and the arts promote. Without one or the other, there will be no progress.

The discussion of science, technology, engineering and math when discussing the cut in federal funding and the letter from the directors is important. These topics are intertwined. Cutting NEA and NEH funding signals Trump’s intent on focusing directly on the economy by focusing on STEM as well other avenues of spending.

Despite Trump’s belief, there is significant value in the humanities and the arts. Humanities are a combination of disciplines to study human culture. The arts are similar but with a focus on studying the expression of culture. According to a Nov. 13, 2014 Times Higher Education article, in the words of world-renowned scientist E.O. Wilson, humanities are “the natural history of culture and our most private and precious heritage.”

Depriving people of studying the humanities and the arts prevents the learning of human

culture. The humanities and the arts are a way to reflect on human achievements and failures and learn from them. They encourage questioning, resistance — through art — and advancement.

Now, returning to the issue at hand, cutting NEA and NEH funding would deprive museums of the chance to showcase these advancements.

The NEA was founded to promote the arts, allocate funding and minimize costs of insuring art, according to a Feb. 22 New York Times opinion piece. The same is true for the NEH in promoting the humanities, according to the NEH website.

The point about insuring art is particularly important. The director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art says that the NEA makes exhibitions happen because it covers a “whopping $2.4 billion” insurance valuation, according to a Feb. 2 New York Times article. Without federal funding, museums would not be able to insure art, preventing the public from engaging with arts from around the world because the liability may be deemed too great without insurance.

Without federal funding, it is difficult for museums to curate exhibitions. This thereby deprives people of an opportunity to learn, study and appreciate art. In a world that is increasingly divided over immigration and nationalism, the inclusive nature of art is important.

As the museum directors wrote, “Art is, at its best, a dialogue. We hope that you’ll participate in the conversation about the importance of federal funding for the arts and join us as stewards of the public good.”

Denounce stifling of conservative speech on college campuses Andrew

jacobson reality check

On March 2 at Middlebury College in Vermont, author and academic Charles Murray planned to speak on his recent book, “Coming Apart: The State of White America 1960-2010.” He was invited by a local chapter of the American Enterprise Institute, but at the podium, Murray was met with protesters that chanted lines such as, “racist, sexist, anti-gay, Charles Murray, go away,” according to a March 3 Inside Higher Ed article.

Murray and his interviewer, Professor Allison Stanger of the Political Science department, were then escorted to a private room from where he delivered his speech and answered questions via digital video. After the abbreviated lecture, Murray and Stanger were escorted to their car by two security guards, according to a March 5 Boston Globe article.

Stanger, a self-avowed Democrat, explained in a Facebook post what came next: “what transpired … felt like a scene from Homeland … We confronted an angry mob … Most of the hatred was focused on Dr. Murray, but when I took his right arm both to shield him from attack and to make sure we stayed together so I could reach the car too, that’s when the hatred turned on me. One thug grabbed me by the hair and another shoved me in a different direction.

I noticed signs with expletives and my name on them … I feared for my life.” Stanger was then taken to the emergency room.

Although the protest made national headlines, students attempting to censor speakers with whom they disagree is not something absent from our recent memory. I want to make clear: The protest itself, insofar as it is an expression of speech, is not problematic. Speaking out in such a way should be encouraged. But violence

is unacceptable, and the violence of this protest signifies a notable regression in the way many students today relate to free expression.

President Liebowitz, addressing the campus community in a March 6 email, nobly expressed his concern for this alarming phenomenon of attempted censorship, stating that “what happened at Middlebury could happen at any American college or university.” In the email, he urged the student body to attend an open session of the Presidential Task Force on Free Expression, which was held last Wednesday, March 8. As a right-leaning individual at a majority-liberal school, I was excited by the prospect of a space in which I could freely voice my opinion, and I applaud President Liebowitz for convening such a group.

Brandeis Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Mark Brimhall-Vargas facilitated the discussion.

He successfully conducted the forum without bias until he stated that Charles Murray himself is “an avowed racist” and that there is “no disagreement” on the matter. This is problematic for a variety of reasons.

First, what Brimhall-Vargas said is false.

There are relatively few public figures in America who are avowed racists, the David Dukes and neo-Nazis among them. Charles Murray, a scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, is not. His position taken in his book “The Bell Curve” is based on empirical studies and is a defensible claim. While one of its modest conclusions, namely that intelligence may be linked to genetics, may be objectionable, it is neither overtly racist nor from ill-will.

In fact, social scientists make clear that they unequivocally reject eugenics.

And there is disagreement on the matter.

While some organizations, such as the Southern Poverty Law Center, claim he uses “racist pseudoscience,” other groups, such as AEI, say that he is a respected “political scientist, author, and libertarian.”

Second, what Brimhall-Vargas said is part of a broader, more prevalent issue: using labels as a means to delegitimize and invalidate the other side. It’s an alarming phenomenon whereby

people, especially those who would describe themselves as liberal, use labels such as “racist,” “sexist” and “misogynist” to describe those who they would rather ignore and dismiss entirely.

Because if someone is racist, he or she does not deserve a platform from which to speak. The issue at hand is one of erroneous conflation — conflating those who espouse hate speech and those who espouse speech with which some — or even most — disagree; this is what BrimhallVargas did. What we must do is draw a firm line between them.

In the hate-speech camp, I place provocateurs such as Milo Yiannopoulos and neo-Nazis, or others who vehemently and explicitly attack certain groups. In the second camp, I place serious academics, authors, journalists and activists who genuinely seek the truth and are open to engage in debate with sound and defensible evidence.

Among the latter group is Charles Murray, who holds defensible positions and has appeared in numerous public debates to justify said opinions.

Those in this group — who espouse speech with whome we disagree — should be given a platform to speak for the sake of the free and open exchange of ideas, despite the fact that their views may upset some people. This is especially important on a campus whose motto is about the pursuit of “Truth even unto its innermost parts,” Fortunately, Brimhall-Vargas is not the sole member of the Task Force on Free Expression.

Nonetheless, representing the Brandeis administration, he endorsed a particular, disturbing view about how our community should treat those with which we disagree — that we should label and ostracize them.

By erroneously saying that there is “no disagreement” on the matter, he also claimed a certain authority on Charles Murray — implying that any contrasting opinion simply does not exist, or if it does, it is so extreme as to bar admittance into our discussion. This is problematic because it alienates the views of those who disagree with Brimhall-Vargas.

Most alarming, it contributes to the growing marginalization of conservatives on campus — whereby conservative viewpoints are erroneously deemed “racist” and illegitimate,

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

and thus, these individuals cannot speak freely.

Similar labeling exists on the other side of the aisle.

Current candidate for Student Union President Paul Sindberg ’18 made a comment to this end, also during the open session, saying that “the idea that conservative students are marginalized is blatantly false.” To me this remark says, “Your struggle isn’t real,” a hypocritical statement that only further demonstrates the degree to which conservative students are alienated on campus.

The “tyranny of the majority” with regard to opinion is real. A Hoot study published last year confirms this point. In fact, the study noted that while 76 percent of liberal students on campus feel comfortable expressing their political opinions, the same holds true for only 25 percent of students who identify as conservative.

Conservatism for many students is a fundamental aspect of their identity. Like liberalism, for many, it is a deeply held philosophy, a system of ideas about how the world is and how the world should be. To delegitimize conservatives’ opinion is to imply that their views are so outrageous as to be considered hate speech. Again, we must not conflate the two and must draw a firm line between them.

Regardless of which side of the political spectrum you ascribe to, the fact that the very facilitator on our forum for free expression picked a side at all is deeply troubling.

The propensity to use labels as a means of invalidating opinions with which we disagree must end if we hope to maintain the free expression of ideas that is so crucial to the Brandeis campus.

In such times, it would be wise to heed former U.S. President Barack Obama, who stated in a 2015 educational town hall that “anybody who comes to speak to you and you disagree with, you should have an argument with them … you shouldn’t silence them … That’s not the way we learn,” according to a Sept. 15, 2015 Washington Post article.

Or, as two Middlebury professors put it in a statement of principles following the Murray incident: “Only through the contest of clashing viewpoints do we have any hope of replacing mere opinion with knowledge.”

2017

10 THE JUSTICE ● Sports ● Tuesday, MARCH 14, 2017

BASEBALL: Players want to keep up recent success CONTINUED FROM 16 year, the team was 4-9-1 at away locations. While unable to pick up a win in Florida over February break, the Judges’ first win of the season came on the road, which is a sign of good things to come despite losing key, graduated contributors from the roster.

The team is already showing an immense amount of potential and seems to have a plan in place to keep up production with its new lineup and rotation. Furthermore, O’Leary and Oppenheimer are only first-years.

They have already made a noticeable impact for the

CONTINUED FROM 16

LASER FOCUS

Judges, and it appears the team will be in good hands for years to come as these young players gain more experience throughout their promising collegiate careers.

The season has just begun, and there is a lot of time left for players, new and old, to prove themselves out on the field. It will be interesting to see how the team dyanmics unfold as the season progresses and who will step up when it matters the most.

Brandeis will look to keep up its newfound momentum on the road and pick up its second win of the season at Bridgewater State University on Tuesday.

SOFTBALL: Team looks to even out record with fourth win next time out 55. The loss of Sullivan is huge for this Judges squad. As the team’s biggest power bat and most significant run producer, her bat will be sorely missed in the lineup.

With a shutout loss this past week, it is clear that the team is still looking to replace Sullivan’s big bat. Moss and Lehtonen will be key factors in developing this new offensive attack for Brandeis as they look to put runs up on the board in bunches.

13

The Judges were 18-19 overall, and 6-4 in the UAA last season. Even with Sullivan last year, the team still left room for improvement.

With a fresh new lineup for this spring, Brandeis will look to push itself toward a winning record and assert themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the conference.

Taking on Clark University on the road on March 18, the Judges will be hungry for a victory away from home, and it should make for an exciting game for fans to watch.

TALYA GUENZBURGER/the Justice

DROPPING IT IN: Sabrina Ross Neergaard ’20 prepares her serve in a match against St. Lawrence University on Saturday.

TENNIS: Men aim to bounce

back from upset loss CONTINUED FROM 16 near-double-bagel with a 6-1, 6-0 impressive victory.

With their win against NYU, the Judges improved to 8-1 on the season, cementing their position atop the standings. The team will continue its quest for a top-10 rank against Middlebury College on March 18.

Judges 3, NYU 6 The Number 32 men’s team matched up against a solid NYU team, but were heavily favored going into the day. Last season, the Judges cruised past NYU with a 7-2 win, but the tides changed this year with NYU

taking six of the nine matches.

The team struggled in doubles, coming away with only one tight win. Michael Arguello ’17 and Brian Granoff ’17 pulled away with a close 9-8 win on the number one court to propel the Judges to just a 1-2 overall doubles record.

The two losses proved costly, with the Judges losing another four matches in the singles bracket, unable to make any comeback.

Arguello lost in surprising fashion, 6-1, 6-2 on the number one singles court. Meanwhile, Granoff swept the number two court with a cool 6-0, 6-3 victory. Tyler Ng ’19 followed suit in the number three spot, capturing

a 6-1, 6-3 win. The Judges could not hold on, though, ceding the last three courts to NYU. Jackson Kogan ’19 managed to push his match to a third set, only to fall 6-3 in the final set.

The Judges fell to 4-3 on the season, after opening their season with three straight wins. Having dropped three of their last four after the strong start, the squad is looking for answers to get back to their winning ways. All of the potential is clearly there, and they will hope to bring back their recipe for success from the beginning of the year. With the season of tennis still young, the team will continue its push for gold against Middlebury College on March 18.

BASEBALL SOFTBALL TRACK TENNIS

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● Sports ●

Tuesday, MARCH 14, 2017

15

TRACK AND FIELD

jUDGES BY THE NUMBERS BASEBALL TEAM STATS

UAA STANDINGS

Runs Batted In

UAA Conference

W L NYU

0 0 Emory 0 0 WashU 0 0 Chicago 0 0 JUDGES 0 0 Case 0 0

W 4 14 5 2 1 1

Overall L Pct. 0 1.000 2 .875 3 .625 2 .500 4 .200 7 .125

Kyle Lussier ’19 leads the team with 3 runs batted in.

Player RBI Kyle Lussier 3 Ryan Tettemer 3 Dan O’Leary 2 Marvic Gomez 1

Strikeouts

Sean O’Neill ’18 leads all pitchers with 13 strikeouts.

Player Ks UPCOMING GAMES: Sean O’Neill 13 Tuesday at Bridgewater State University Brandon Musto 5 Wednesday vs. WPI Liam Coughlin 3 Saturday at Clark University double-header Tim Lopez 3

SOFTBALL UAA STANDINGS

TEAM STATS Runs Batted In

UAA Conference

W L W Emory

0 0 10 NYU 0 0 1 WashU 0 0 2 JUDGES 0 0 3 Case 0 0 1 Chicago 0 0 0

Marissa DeLaurentis ’19 has a team-high five runs batted in.

Player RBI Marissa DeLaurentis 5 Allison Hecht 3 Madison Hunter 3 Marysa Massoia 2

Overall L Pct. 6 .625 1 .500 2 .500 4 .429 3 .250 0 .000

Strikeouts

UPCOMING GAMES: Saturday at Clark University double-header March 24 at Smith College double-header March 28 at Suffolk double-header

Scottie Todd ’20 has a teamhigh 19 strikeouts on the hill.

Player Ks Scottie Todd 19 Callie MacDonald 4 Sadie-Rose Apfel 3 Melissa Soleimani 1

TRACK AND FIELD Results from the Tufts Last Chance Meet on March 4.

TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)

TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)

200-meter dash

RUNNER Irie Gourde

TIME 22.80

800-meter run

RUNNER TIME Doyin Ogundiran 2:16.03

NATALIA WIATER/Justice File Photo

GOING FOR GOLD: Sprinter Anna Dlouha ’20 flies down the track in a race during the Reggie Poyau Invitational on Jan. 14.

Bryson continues to dominate at nationals ■ Emily Bryson ’19 dazzled with two top-15 place finishes this past weekend at the national championships

By NOAH HESSDORF JUSTICE EDITOR

UPCOMING MEETS: March 25 at BSU Bears Invitational April 1 at Tufts Snowflake Classic

TENNIS Updated season results.

TOP PERFORMERS (Men’s)

TOP PERFORMERS (Women’s)

MEN’S SINGLES Michael Arguello

RECORD 11-7

WOMEN’S SINGLES RECORD Sabrina Neergaard 11-5

MEN’S DOUBLES Aizenberg/Ng

RECORD 9-7

WOMEN’S DOUBLES RECORD Khromchenko/Lehat 7-7

UPCOMING MEETS:

Men, Saturday at Middlebury College Men, March 25 vs. Amherst College (in Cambridge, Mass.)

Women, Saturday at Middlebury College

Emily Bryson ’19 continued her outstanding season representing the Judges, placing this past weekend at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships.

At the championships, hosted

by North Central College, Bryson earned a ninth-place finish in the mile run and a 14th-place one in the 3000-meter run. This was the second year in a row that Bryson went to the Indoor championships, improving upon last year’s performance.

In the 2016 championships, Bryson participated in the mile run, placing 12th with a time of 5:04.62. In this year’s edition, Bryson cut her time by more than seven seconds to run a mile of 4:57.02. Unfortunately, the sophomore missed out on claiming All-American honors by a mere fourtenths of a second.

The mile race was a battle throughout, as Bryson struggled to gain the upper hand. For most of the

race she was in good position, staying in the fourth and fifth place spots.

With a quarter of a mile to go, Bryson moved to the outside to make a final push, but was ultimately unable to pull ahead. She lagged behind from her position for most of the run, and fell behind to finish in ninth.

Bryson’s time in the mile was actually more than three seconds faster than her run in the preliminary round. The top spot in the mile run was claimed by Ohio Northern University junior Emily Richards, who finished the race with a time of 4:51.51. Bryson was the top finisher from the University Athletic Association conference, and was the second highest performing New England runner after Massachusetts Institute of Technology senior Maryann Gong, who earned a sixthplace finish.

Bryson had a second opportunity to earn All-American honors, this time in the 3000-meter run. She was given an advantageous position for the run, seeded seventh after the preliminary rounds. However, Bryson ended up falling to 14th overall. She finished the race with a time of 10:10.35, almost a full thirty seconds behind the champion, Ithaca College junior Taryn Cordani.

Bryson went into the event with hopes of improving upon

her performance from past NCAA Championships. In addition to the 2016 Indoor Championships, in which Bryson fell short of an All-American finish in the mile run, the sophomore also competed in two previous NCAA Cross Country Championships.

In the 2015 Cross Country Championships, Bryson captured her first All-American honors with a 31st-place finish. She posted her collegiate best, at that juncture of her career, running the course with a time of 21:44.50. Bryson became the first first-year to become an AllAmerican in women’s cross country history at Brandeis.

Bryson improved upon her performance with an outstanding finish in the 2016 NCAA Cross Country Championships.

This time, she ran the race in a time of 21:09.09 for an overall finish of 24th.

Bryson is the fifth woman in the program’s history to earn multiple All-American honors.

While the indoor track and field season has now come to a close, the team is quickly gearing up for the outdoor portion of the schedule.

The squad will kick off action at Bridgewater State University on March 25 at the BSU Bears Invitational, followed by the Tufts University Snowflake Classic on April 1.

PRO SPORTS BRIEF With the NBA season coming to an end, an epic race for the last seed in the West has developed One of the most interesting subplots of this excellent National Basketball Association season has been the race for the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

The Denver Nuggets currently hold the eighth seed in the West.

Their season, and perhaps future, has been defined by the ascendance of center Nikola Jokic. The 22-year old Serbian standout has put up 16 points per game, 9.3 rebounds per game and 4.6 assists per game, while only averaging 27.1 minutes per contest. A visionary passer, Jokic has established himself as one of the best young players in the league. A fellow 22-year-old, guard Gary Harris, has also very quietly had an excellent season.

In fewer than 30 minutes a night, the third year shooting guard has

chipped in 14 points a game on an incredibly efficient 49.6 field goal percentage (third among qualified guards) and 42.9 percent from three (sixth in the NBA). The Nuggets can score with the best of them, but only when they stop hemorrhaging points and improve on their 30th ranked defensive rating will they once again become one of the better teams in the West.

The Trail Blazers find themselves only a game and a half back of the Nuggets for the 8th seed. Trade deadline acquisition Jusuf Nurkic has added a low post presence that has the team rolling through March. Nurkic’s run of solid play was highlighted by his eyepopping stat line of 28 points, 20 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 blocks against the Philadelphia 76ers

on March 9. Combined with the consistent excellence of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, the Blazers might have tapped into a three-headed offensive machine.

Nurkic is on his rookie contract for two more seasons, so if his success can be sustained, their recent four-game winning streak could just be a sign of things to come.

Two games out of the eighth seed are the Dallas Mavericks.

New additions Harrison Barnes, Seth Curry, Yogi Ferrell and Nerlens Noel have added youth and a considerable amount of talent to this franchise. This is finally turning into wins. Since Feb. 1, the Mavs are the proud owners of a solid 10-7 record. Seth Curry in particular has emerged as a face of this franchise with his

Curry-like shooting touch. He is currently fifth in effective field goal percentage among guards who play over twenty five minutes a game.

This is due in large part to his efficient three-point shooting, as he ranks fourth in the NBA at a 43.8 percent clip. On the other side of the ball, the Mavericks are quietly a top-ten defense, and the addition of Noel figures to add an extra boost on this end. After years of veterans on one-year contracts, the Mavs finally have the beginnings of a young core for the post-Dirk era.

The Minnesota Timberwolves round out the competition for the eighth seed. Even with Zach LaVine’s season-ending injury, the T-Wolves have made the push for the playoffs that many expected them to make from the

start of the year. Karl-Anthony Towns has undeniably taken the leap and is now putting up MVPcaliber numbers. Andrew Wiggins’ progression hasn’t been as overtly meteoric, but in only his third year he’s established himself as an upper-echelon scorer and fringe all-star. Critically, coach Tom Thibodeau’s signature defense has finally started to take form. Since the All-Star break, the T-Wolves have arguably the league’s best defense, sporting the second best defensive rating and holding their opponents to a league-best 43.4 percent shooting. Add into the mix a rejuvenated Ricky Rubio, and the Timberwolves are looking to make a playoff push.

—Evan Robins

just

Sports

Page 16

SPEED RACER Emily Bryson ’19 amazed fans with her performances at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships, p. 15.

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

TENNIS

POUNDING THE ZONE

Judges come away with key victories ■ While the men struggled,

the women’s tennis team dominated this past weekend with two huge wins.

By JERRY MILLER JUSTICE EDITOR

The men’s and women’s tennis teams played three matches over the weekend, going 2-1 overall. The women came away with two blowout wins, while the men struggled in their lone match against New York University, falling 6-3.

Judges 5, NYU 4 The women ended their weekend on Sunday with yet another win, extending their win streak to six games dating back to Feb. 23. The team avenged their 4-5 loss against the same NYU team last year during a tough early-season stretch.

The number-21-ranked Judges came close to a clean sweep of the doubles bracket, taking two of the three matches on the day. Sabrina Ross Neergaard ’20 paired with Olivia Leavitt ’19 to stave off their opponents 8-4. Michele Lehat ’19 and Keren Khromchenko ’19 took the

Waltham, Mass.

third court in a 9-8 (7-4) nailbiter.

The Judges split the singles bracket, closing out wins in three of the six matches. Neergaard took the number one court in style, knocking out her opponent in a 6-3, 6-3 victory.

Khromchenko bageled her opponent in two straight sets, sweeping the third court for the Judges. Leavitt followed in sync, tacking on another Judges victory in a 6-4, 6-4 match.

Judges 9, St. Lawrence 0 The Judges rolled through their first matchup of the weekend, dismantling St. Lawrence University in a 9-0 rout. The squad outperformed their previous 5-1 victory over the team in last year’s Nor’Easter Bowl.

The team swept the doubles courts, with the Leavitt-Neergaard duo paving the way on the number one court. Haley Cohen ’18 and Ariana Ishaq ’19 hit their way through to a 8-5 win on the number two court, while Lehat and Khromchenko beat out their opponents in the final spot.

On the singles courts, Ishaq stole the day with a double-bagel in the sixth spot. Leavitt was right behind with a 6-1, 6-1 branding of her opponent, while Cohen managed a

See TENNIS, 13 ☛

SOFTBALL

Squad comes up short in shutout loss ■ The softball team was

unable to push past a .500 record with their fourth loss of the season on Wednesday.

By LEV BROWN JUSTICE staff writer

In the softball regular season opener, the Judges took a trip to Framingham, Massachusetts to play the Framingham State University Rams, losing in a rather slow game for the squad.

Judges 0, Framingham State 2 The Rams started off strong in the bottom of the first inning against Brandeis pitcher Scottie Todd ’20. Sophomore right fielder Dayna Merchant had the Rams’ first single, followed by a Brandeis error which allowed her to reach second base. This was followed by a strikeout and walk. With two Rams on base, senior first baseman Kylie Boyle smashed a grounder down the middle into the outfield, allowing Merchant to score. Luckily for the Judges, Todd shut down the next two batters to end the inning.

On offense, the Judges struggled most of the game. In the first inning infielder Marysa Masolia ’19 was able to hit a single, but after that, FSU freshman pitcher Kelsi Gunarathn went on a rampage, retiring 12 of the next 13 batters.

In the top of the fifth the Judges showed signs of life, as right fielder Taylor Simala ’20 punched a hit to deep center field for a single followed by infielder Brianna Urena’s ’20 double. It was just too late, though, as the Judges had two outs, and the Rams managed to close out the inning before letting a Judge score.

FSU's junior outfielder Anna Dziok smashed a homer late in the

bottom of the sixth to solidify the win. They finished on top 2-0.

Despite the unfortunate game against FSU, the Judges nonetheless managed a very successful preseason. In Florida, they finished with a 3-3 record.

With a team full of first-years, several of the new Judges were able to get a sense of what it is like playing at the collegiate level.

Todd, who just pitched against FSU, managed to secure a University Athletic Association pitcher of the week award in her first few games of play, which were tremendously impressive. In her first game versus Middle Georgia State College, she pitched a onerun, eight-hit and no-walk game to help the Judges win the first game of the season. In her second game, she had an even more dominating performance against York College, allowing just two hits and three walks, and collecting six strikeouts. She finished off with an impressive 0.67 ERA along with the pitcher of the week award to cap it all off.

Last season’s trip to Florida was somewhat similar, as they had a 2-3 record when they left, but the main difference is that they are now led largely by rookies. This means the potential for overall improvement is significant.

New players will have to step up and fill the roles of other stars from last season that have already, or will soon, graduate.

Last year, infielder Maddison Sullivan ’16 was a huge presence offensively, as she led the team in runs scored with 31, runs batted in with 35 and home runs with seven.

Infielder Liana Moss ’17 led the team in batting average last year at .470, and catcher Keri Lehtonen ’19, who is now a sophomore, led the team last season in hits with

See SOFTBALL, 13 ☛

MICHELLE BANAYAN/Justice File Photo

LIGHTS OUT: Pitcher and team captain Anthony Nomakeo ’17 rears back and delivers his pitch in a game on March 31, 2016.

Team earns impressive first win of season ■ Third baseman Kyle

Lussier ’19 launched his first home run of the season in a win on Monday.

By BEN KATCHER JUSTICE EDITOR

The baseball team got on track with its first win of the season this week to put its record at 1-4 overall.

Judges 3, UMass Boston 1 The Judges impressed on Monday as they defeated the University of Massachusetts Boston on the road in a close game, 3-1. The team boasted dominant performances on the hill and excellent supporting work in the field, as they held their opponents to an abysmal .107 team batting average on the day with a mere three hits.

Brandeis appeared to be in danger of surrendering its fifth straight loss to open the season after going down 1-0 in the first and upholding that deficit through the third inning. However, right fielder Dan O’Leary ’20 scored on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth to

even up the game 1-1 — a score that would remain all the way through the sixth inning.

In the top of the seventh, third baseman Kyle Lussier ’19 broke the game open with a solo shot to put the Judges up 2-1. The squad tacked on another run off a sacrifice fly from center fielder Ryan Tettemer ’17 and did not let that lead go; pitchers Tim Lopez ’20 and Liam Coughlin ’17 combined for two scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth innings as the team picked up the hard-fought victory.

Starting pitcher Sean O’Neill ’18 showed impressive leadership on the mound through seven innings of work. Laboring through 106 pitches, the right-hander only allowed one run off three hits and three walks, and recorded five punch-outs as well.

After only appearing in two games last season, the veteran is starting to show signs of his first season of dominance.

(As a first-year, the pitcher posted a 5-2 record, including four complete games, for an outstanding 2.18 ERA and 34 strikeouts.) With a 0.77 ERA and 13 strikeouts through his first two games of the 2017 season, it will be exciting to watch if he can

surpass his outstanding results from two years ago.

At the plate, in addition to Lussier’s game-changing home run, O’Leary and second baseman Victor Oppenheimer ’20 helped lead the Judges to victory. O’Leary went 2-2 with a double and two walks and the game tying run in the fourth. Oppenheimer displayed his pop with a pair of doubles, a walk and a run. The team had valuable, much-needed contributions from all across the lineup en route to the pivotal win.

The Judges posted a 19-17-1 record last season and lost important graduating members going into this campaign. Recent graduates Liam O’Connor ’16 and Ryan Healy ’16 led the team with .426 and .390 batting averages for the year, leading to the squad’s admirable .308 team average, and combined for nearly a quarter of the team’s RBIs. Brandeis also lost its leading innings-eater on the mound, Sam Miller ’16, who started 13 games last season and racked up a teamhigh 75 innings of work.

However, while earning an impressive 10-2 record at home last

See BASEBALL, 13 ☛

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Waltham, Mass.

Images: Joyce Yu Design: Natalia Wiater/the Justice.

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THE TUESDAY, JUSTICE march | Arts 14,| TUESDAY, 2017 | Arts January i THE JUSTICE 31, 2017

THEATER REVIEW

CONFLICTING COUPLES: Astrachan ’19, Nail ’18 and Child ’19 play friends struggling with careers, relationships and the boundaries of reality.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIKE LOVETT

Acting in ‘Leveling Up’ is a level above

By PERRY LETOURNEAU justice CONTRIBUTING writer

This past Thursday, the Brandeis Department of Theater Arts debuted its production of Deborah Zoe Laufer’s “Leveling Up,” directed by Prof. Robert Walsh (THA). Ushers welcomed theatergoers into the Laurie Theater, seating them on three sides of the in-ground stage.

The in-the-round seating style of the relatively small venue provides a closeness and intimacy between the audience and the performers, ideal for a very human, relatable piece such as this story of college-age friends at the edge of adolescent gamer culture and the real world.

Before the show even started, the set and props made clear the naturalistic tone of the piece. With no curtain blocking the audience’s view in the moments before the start of the show, the set appeared simple and authentically lived-in.

A dingy, earth-tone couch, some gaming consoles, a lava lamp and a few posters decorated a realistic recreation of a post-graduate basement apartment. Novelty neon signs cast a mechanical light over the homey scene.

The first scene of “Leveling Up” presents the major themes of the show to come. Characters Jeannie (Gabi Nail ’18) and Chuck (Ben Astrachan ’19) sit on a couch together, both wrapped in two very different sides of one conversation. Jeannie tries to explain her aspirations and confusions about oncoming post-graduate life, while Chuck passively “yesses” her as he engages in a video game.

Jeannie’s touchingly earnest

nature clashes against Chuck’s lifeless stare into the cold glow of the TV screen. This scene yielded big laughs from the audience, but also hinted at the heart of the play: a deeper discussion of friendship, of growing up, of reality versus escapism.

From there, the play quickly establishes its tight cast of just four characters. Jeannie and Chuck are joined by Zander (Dan Souza ’19), Jeannie’s charming, albeit slacker, boyfriend, and Ian (Andrew Child ’19), a video-game and computer prodigy dogged by job offers to be an armed drone pilot for the NSA. Ian’s career development juxtaposed with his friends’ passive, video gamecentric lifestyle becomes the main plot point driving the show. His work life brings political relevance and real emotional turmoil to the otherwise mostly lighthearted production. Laufer strings the narrative together with lots of mid-aught-specific references and gamer slang (mentions of Dick Cheney, “epic win/fail,” “pwned,” etc.) For me, this lingo felt jarring and dated, especially early on.

However, as the play progresses, the underlying message shines through. Regardless of the time, setting or lifestyle of the characters, the relationships between Ian, Zander, Jeannie and Chuck resonate as authentic, relatable college-age friendships.

Small moments of attention to detail by the cast and crew of the show alike help to cement the realism of “Leveling Up.” The cords of the set’s electronic devices are not tucked away for aesthetic perfection; instead, they dangle and knot together, giving the characters’ home a flawed, human

quality. In one scene, Chuck digs through couch cushions to find a remote to turn on the TV. In another, he spontaneously decides to sit on his chair backwards. Details like these were not necessary, but they made the characters and their world feel more real, more fully fleshed out and more idiosyncratic. With such a small cast, an emphasis on character development was clear.

One scene, revolving around Zander accidentally selling an ingame item that Ian worked with, showcases the actors’ characters and relationship choices. Zander’s endearing cluelessness grates against Ian’s driven nature, while Jeannie and Chuck unify as a stable middle ground between the two, pointing to the potential for a deeper connection between them. Souza, Child, Nail and Astrachan embodied these roles within the fictional friend group effectively, giving diversity to the personalities of their characters.

Technically, “Leveling Up” ran cleanly and effectively.

Between scenes punk rock blasts, reflecting both the music tastes of the mid-2000s and the tension underlying the characters’ relationships. The stage lights mimic the cold, robotic glow of a TV screen. One scene featured some less-than-convincing stage combat, but otherwise the show was very technically strong.

Intermittently funny, touching and heart-breaking, “Leveling Up” presents college-age friendship with sensitivity and naturalism.

Well-fleshed out performances and overall technical precision made the show a relatable, entertaining experience for the Department of Theater Arts’ audience.

TENSE GAMERS: Nail ’18 and Astrachan ’19 play video games together intensely.

FIGHTING FRIENDS: Nail ’18, Souza ’19 and Child ’18 question their friendships and relationships with one another.

MOVIE REVIEW

Summer movies come early; ‘Kong’ disappoints

By KENT DINLENC justice Staff writer

The film releases in the first half of March have been very diverse.

We have the comedy “Table 19,” the superhero flick “Logan” and the monster movie “Kong: Skull Island.” While the cinematic climate of mid-January to mid-April is usually laden with mediocre or subpar entries following the impressive dramas for Oscar contention around December, there are usually one or two movies that stand out and rise above the others. I am referring to last year’s “Deadpool” and “Zootopia” or 2015’s “Kingsman: The Secret Service” and “Ex Machina.”

This winter it’s “Logan,” the final installment of Hugh Jackman playing the title character (aka Wolverine). After 17 years of wearing claws on his knuckles, he has retired his portrayal of the famous comic book anti-hero.

Referred to as the character’s swan song in many reviews, the film packs

an emotional punch not only for the dedicated comic book fans but also the casual viewers like myself, who have watched all of the previous X-Men film installments. However, to my surprise, the film relied very little on the audience’s knowledge about the preceding eight movies.

Its standalone nature gave the story more gravitas.

That can be attributed to director James Mangold’s insistence on refraining from incorporating any connections to past films.

Rather than over-the-top special effects, Mangold focused on a Western-themed road-trip movie.

It garnered amazing set pieces, adrenaline-pumping action that satisfied its R-rating in the first five minutes, poignant moments for all moviegoers and fantastic performances from the supporting cast. Dafne Keen horrified the audience as an intense 10-year-old girl, Patrick Stewart made us smile in between the plot’s turmoil, Boyd Holbrook built unease and tension as the main villain and Stephen

Merchant gave a surprisingly tender, dramatic performance that veered from his usually comedic styling alongside Ricky Gervais. But none can compare to the genuinely Oscar-worthy performance by Hugh Jackman that kept the tone of the film balanced and engaging. While I don’t believe “Logan” is Marvel’s ‘The Dark Knight,’” as many critics have insisted, I do hope that you don’t let the hype distract you as you watch this nostalgic and respectful send-off for the character.

As the best film to come out so far in 2017; I give the film an A-.

Coincidentally, Stephen Merchant also stars in the comedy “Table 19.” The film centers around an ex-maid of honor marooned with strangers at her best friend’s wedding after breaking up with the bride’s brother. While rom-coms usually are not films I venture out to go see, I will say that I had an enjoyable time amidst the clichés and overdone tropes. Once again Merchant is very good, this time on the comedic side of his acting

spectrum, stealing every scene.

Other than his performance, there were very few draws or memorable scenes in the movie.

It doesn’t break new ground, but it does its job well. While I give “Table 19” a C- as a movie, it’s still a fun time that did not annoy me as much as “Kong: Skull Island.”

I’ve surprisingly heard mixed to somewhat positive reviews for “Kong: Skull Island,” and it baffles me. These hollow characters that somehow maintain perfect hair and makeup on a three day wilderness expedition anchored the film in every negative way the characters could. The dialogue between each of them was clunky, their uninspired performances were obviously filmed in front of a green screen, and their storylines were boring and predictable. The only two compelling characters were Samuel L. Jackson’s and John C. Reilly’s, but that can be attributed to both actors’ famed natural charisma on and off screen.

King Kong himself was done

very well. Preparatory fight scenes against Godzilla in 2019 showed promise with what the studio and visual effects department could do with the monster. The cinematography was incredible, but just like in “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” a film cannot rely on visual effects alone. I concede that the movie is a visual marvel, but there is little else to enjoy about it among its jarring editing and terrible script. Its most memorable line uttered by John C. Reilly was “those aren’t birds, they’re f**king ants.” It was meant to be a joke that broke the tension with bird sounds heard in the distance, but the line was so laughably awful that I smirked out of sheer ironic pleasure.

This film was made for the people who disliked 2014’s “Godzilla” after being teased too much until its final battle. Before you decide to see this D/D+ film, keep in mind that Kong’s fight scenes take your breath away.

But then again, so will the humans’ interactions with their appalling dialogue in this weak script.

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THE JUSTICE i TUESDAY, January 31, 2017 THE JUSTICE i artsi arts i TUESDAY, March 14, 2017

culture

‘Welcome Home’ impresses with dance

Photos by Joyce Yu/the Justice

WAVING WOMEN: Wellesley College’s Korean Fan Dance team performs a dance evoking nature.

By ISABELLE TRUONG justice Staff writer

A night that celebrated Korean culture with food, games, dancing and pop music galore, “Welcome Home,” this year’s Brandeis Korean Student Association culture event, proved to be quite a hit. The packed Levin Ballroom was filled with students and fun activities throughout the whole night.

The Executive board introduced themselves with a humorous video parodying a Korean Drama and then opened the event with musician Jae Jin, a Korean-American singer/songwriter, who performed about five songs, both covers and originals. His voice and acoustic guitar combo wooed the audience, he also told the audience his story about how he ended up in the music industry after dropping out of an Ivy League program and surviving cancer twice. Songs like James Bay’s “Let it Go,” “Hallelujah” and an original “Ain’t About Love” showcased his smooth vocals and really set the stage for the rest of the talent to follow.

BKSA invited Wellesley College’s Korean

Fan Dance team to perform a short dance that incorporated elements of nature such as “wind, waves and flowers,” according to the event’s program. The dancers wore beautiful traditional Korean dresses, a modern take on a Korean tradition since the 1950s, and choreographed the moves to show ornately designed colorful fans creating different shapes and imitating wave-like motions.

The second vocal act of the night, Brandeis’ own all-female a cappella group Up the Octave, performed three of their signature songs: Toploader’s “Dancing in the Moonlight,” Journey’s “Lights” and Zedd’s “Clarity” with Jenongmi Seo ’18 and Ruxuan Zhao ’19 soloing. Act one, ran smoothly and the interactive intermission followed. Called “K-nite Karnival,” during the short interim between the two acts, the audience could play Korean games and win prizes such as yummy snacks, as well as take snapchats with the BKSA “Welcome Home” geotag, specially created for the night.

Act Two consisted of a series of dance numbers, the most popular performances of the night. Different groups performed

routines to K-pop songs and featured several dancers. These energetic, pop-style and upbeat dances got the most applause and drew the most excitement from the audience. The rotating dance troupes all seemed like professionals, using hip-hop elements and wowing the audience with their intense movements and wearing hip clothing such as ripped denim and leather jackets — Woojin Choi ’18 , Leo Kim ’17 and Vivian Li ’18 headed some of the dances and definitely charmed the audience.

To end the night, BKSA hosted an interactive “game show” with hosts DongMin Sung ’19 and Yoon-Jae Lee ’17 where they chose volunteers from the audience to play fun, short games — one involved slamming items intensely onto the ground.

The winners of these games were rewarded with prizes such as “Choco pie” — a popular Korean kid’s dessert consisting of a marshmallow chocolate snack cake — and a pack of ramen. The first game, called “How High Can You Go?” tested players to sing a scale back and forth, incrementally singing higher and higher until the

UP THE OCTAVE: Brandeis’ all-women a cappella group performs onstage during BKSA’s culture event.

one opponent could not go any higher.

Next, a game similar to “telephone,” requiring a large group of players to act out movements in response to a word — “soccer,” for example, and in another round, “Katniss Everdeen.” Watching the players boisterously make unintelligible body movements made the audience laugh hysterically.

The E-board dance was the final act: another pop group routine with E-board wearing coordinating outfits and then pairing off to little partner dances. After the performances ended, BKSA served a complimentary dinner which included delicious scallion pancakes, kimchi, rice and fried chicken for audience members — definitely one of the many highlights of the show.

With the constant vocal support from the audience throughout the night and the diverse performances, this year’s BKSA successfully put together a culture event which takes months of planning and coordinating. Everyone seemed to have a great time — the interactive games especially made the event unique and fun, all the while highlighting rich Korean culture.

DYNAMIC DANCERS: Various dances were performed at “Welcome Home.” Each dance was energetic and well-executed.

art review

A profound day in the Seattle Art Museum

By Jessica goldstein justice editor

One day, Composer and Fluxus artist John Cage sat in front of Minimalist artist Robert Morris’ “Box with the Sound of Its Own Making” (1961), enamored by its pure genius.

The unadorned box features a three-and-a-half-hour loop of the sounds of the box’s construction.

When I visited the Seattle Art Museum over February break, I took a page from Cage’s playbook, and the museum guards took notice. Today, the cassette tape has been replaced by a digital copy of the tapes.

However, the message still stands: ― Why do we only realize

the image as the central focus of a piece? Why not consider the process by which we make it?

This borrows from the Dada Movement that prioritizes the process by which we create art over the finished piece.

However, this piece alone was far from the shock I’d experience walking through SAM’s doors.

It featured everything from Abstract Expressionist Mark Rothko to several Ghanaian artists. The scope of the museum spanned the world over.

A separate room housed a rare sculpture from Pop artist James Rosenquist, a departure from his well-known, room-spanning canvases. “Tumbleweed” (1963)

is constructed from wood, barbed wire and and neon lights. The structure features an array of tangled barbed wire and patches of neon lights. In a way, the wires indicate a nonsensical spinning out of control.

A walk into another room left me awestruck. Whenever you walk into a room with a Mark Rothko, including his “#10” (1952), your eye is drawn into the canvas and an indescribable feeling envelops you. Rothko isn’t best explained by his color choice or the way he laid paint upon a canvas but rather by some sort of magic with which he perfectly conveys the human experience.

However, that still doesn’t

fully explain it. When he truly honed in on his craft, Rothko stopped giving statements to the press. Rather, he said, “silence is so accurate.” I suppose that is the only way to explain the magnitude of Rothko’s works.

The museum did not fail to reel me in. It seemed as if everything fit into place and nothing was left out. Ghanaian artist El Anatsui’s “Takpekpe (Conference)” (2006) is a found art sculpture made from things in everyday life including metal tops of cans, bottles and copper wire. The piece comments on the African Diaspora and its “fragments.”

The way it was placed on the wall made it seem like it was

not a part of everyday products; rather, it rippled in a beautiful and perfectly-crafted way.

Another Ghanaian artist, Kane Quaye, began as a carpenter.

Then, one day, he realized that a coffin could be more than a coffin. Coffins are, in and of themselves, devoid of the celebration of life. Therefore, he began sculpting customized coffins, celebrating the lives of those who had lived by creating a coffin as a representation of their profession. “Coffin” (1991) was a sculpture of a car.

This museum reinforced the idea that art is for everyone and everyone can be an artist. Let’s never try to put art into a box.

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TUESDAY, March 14, 2017 | Arts | THE JUSTIce

Brandeis TALKS

INTERVIEW

wf

What is the best costume that you saw on Purim?

Gabi Nail ’18

Eric Lin ’17 “It was Alex Landau ’17. He was a to-go box, him and Megan Rose ’18, who was a Sriracha bottle. They were really cute.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF GABI NAIL

This week, justArts spoke with Gabi Nail ’18, who played Jeannie in The Brandeis Theater Department’s production of “Leveling Up.” justArts: Can you give me some background on your character, Jeannie, as you view her?

The view today MIHIR KHANNA/the Justice

Inna Cohen ’19 “There were two girls that were Brandeis. One was bran and one was the dice.”

Paul Berkson ’20

“I saw someone dressed as a cowboy. It was very authentic with the pants, and the hat, and the shirt and everything they had.”

Sigal Sax ’18 “There were some construction workers with beer cans in their fanny packs, and I thought that was pretty cool.”

—Compiled by Jen Geller/the Justice and photographed by Natalia Wiater/the Justice.

STAFF’S Top Ten

Top Ten Flavors of Goldfish®

By Abby Patkin justice editor

So this snow day happened and I was caught off guard. I didn’t have time to stock up on food — and I’m not about to go outside — so I will be subsisting on the industrial-sized tub of Goldfish® in my room for the next 48 hours.

Here’s my flavor ranking: 1. Flavor Blasted Cheddar 2. Cheddar Puffs 3. Regular Cheddar 4. Flavor Blasted Pizza 5. Pretzel 6. Plain 7. Parmesan 8. Cupcake 9. White Cheddar 10. Nachos

CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Tow, perhaps 5 Consternation 9 Ike defeated him 14 Gusto 15 Extreme anger 16 Do cocaine, say 17 Like some fonts 19 Coca-Cola drinker, in advertising 20 Airport datum 21 Showed affection for, as an animal 23 Villainous wrestler 24 Pace of a piece 26 Zimbabwe’s capital 28 Todd’s brother on “The Simpsons” 30 Chew out, perhaps 34 Lackluster attempt 40 String quartet member 41 Troll’s question 42 “The Little Mermaid” mermaid 44 Like many a college dorm 45 Basis for many a college scholarship 47 Writes in the margins of, perhaps 49 Junior year exam 51 Raised-eyebrow remarks 52 Steal a cookie from a cookie jar, say 56 Montage before a TV show 60 Big dummy 63 Loose shirt 65 Exist 66 Like some celebrities 68 What the shaded squares are, both phonetically and literally?

70 Noted Coyote 71 Word used unnecessarily by stereotypical teens 72 Gait slower than a gallop 73 Gym featured in “Pumping Iron” 74 After “or”, it’s a menacing word 75 Grinder

13 Letters with a slant, for short 18 Many a MAD article 22 Actress Doris 25 Inclined (toward) 27 Gun a vehicle 29 Stephen T. Colbert, _____ 31 Pillager’s prize 32 Nautical direction 33 Little tidbits 34 What ghosts do in the night 35 Part of N.A. 36 Have the audacity 37 “Are you a man _____ mouse?”

38 _____-Tin-Tin 39 Pearl Jam’s debut album 43 Place to go in London?

46 Mai _____ 48 Deliberately lost 50 “Love at First Kiss” netwk.

53 “The Tortoise and the Hare”, e.g.

DOWN 1 Button many wouldn’t mind 54 Business card info 55 “Everybody Comes to _______” pressing 57 John le ______ (“A Perfect Spy” 2 Put on cloud nine, say author) 3 Now-defunct airline 58 Great difficulty 4 Add-____ 5 Unlike lunch, per an adage 59 Green sauce 60 University of Washington fan 6 The Good _____ (Pearl S. 61 Miscellany Buck novel) 62 Herb used in some potato chip 7 Gut feelings? flavors 8 Look (to) 64 _____-ball 9 Burro 10 Enzyme used in replication 67 Video game series cont.

11 The _____ Star State (Texas Skyrim, Oblivion and Morrowind 69 Alternative to M or F on a nickname) modern-day questionnaire 12 Comedia Dell’_____

CROSSWORD COURTESY OF EVAN MAHNKEN

Gabi Nail: Going into the show, there were a lot of strong feelings about Jeannie, myself included. I definitely read her a kind of passive, powerless female character, and I thought, “that sucks.” I read a response about her after the show, and a lot of what was brought up was what I initially thought of Jeannie.

Then I did some more thinking and I was like, “you know, I don’t really want to play her that way. I don’t like thinking of her that way. And I have to believe that the playwright, who is a woman, would not choose to make the only female character in her show powerless.” I started finding a lot of connections between [Jeannie] and myself; she reminded me a lot of myself in high school. I don’t like the idea of thinking of myself in high school as weak, either. So, I decided I was going to find things in her. I started getting very interested in her love for helping people. She is a very observant person and she is the only person in the show who is able to think beyond herself and to survey what is around her. I struggled with why she forgives Ian at the end and I came to think that she is so aware of his humanity because he is the only person she has really connected with throughout the whole show. She is able to identify that that violence she displayed was not him but the outside forces of the NSA and videogames and the pressures of this culture that made him act in this way. She still believes that there is hope for him, and I thought that was really beautiful.

JA: What was it like being the only female character in the show and what was it like being in such a small cast, generally?

GN: It was fun. In the rehearsal the assistant stage manager and the manager and the assistant director were all female, so it wasn’t like I was the only girl in the room. I’m similar to Jeannie in that I like observing people. I think the people I was cast with were very interesting people and their characters were interesting; I didn’t at any point feel left out.

SOLUTION COURTESY OF EVAN MAHNKEN

SUDOKU INSTRUCTIONS: Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

Solution to last issue’s sudoku

Puzzle courtesy of www.sudokuoftheday.com

JA: What was the most fulfilling part of playing her?

GN: One, I’m just happy I survived all those quick changes! It was also fun for me to grapple with what I see as a very complex character who, throughout the show, does not always necessarily say what she is thinking, because she is not always listened to. However, that doesn’t mean there is nothing there. She turned out to be just as meaty, if not more deep, than other characters I’ve played, because there are so many women like Jeannie out there.

I don’t think many women who label themselves as feminists, which I do, would necessarily label these women as strong or empowered, and I kind of think that is doing them a disservice.

I think Jeannie is a perfect case where you find power and strength in a form that doesn’t necessarily seem to have that, except at the end of the show she wins. She gets these guys out of the basement and to do something with their lives.

—Hannah Kressel