Brandeis celebrates diverse spiritual, religious holidays
■ From the time of Brandeis University's founding, spiritual life has been supported on Brandeis' campus and continues to support the Brandeis community.
By ELIZA BIER
Since its founding in 1948, spiritual life has always been an important part of Brandeis University. The Center for Spiritual Life evolved from Brandeis’ core values and mission, to foster an inclusive environment for diverse beliefs.
This past week, parts of campus were filled with excitement and celebration as students came together to observe meaningful cultural and religious traditions. Most recently, Spiritual Life has supported student groups in celebrating Purim and Holi. Purim, a Jewish holiday, celebrates the triumph of the Jewish people against their Persian rulers as described in the Book of Esther. The holiday is often celebrated by dressing up in costumes, listening to the story of Purim, eating Hamantaschen — cookies shaped like the antagonist Prime Minister Haman’s hat — and giving to charity.
Additionally, this past weekend was filled with vibrant colors as Brandeis Namaskar and the Center for Spiritual Life collaborated and celebrated Holi with the Brandeis community. Holi is a “major Hindu festival celebrating the onset of spring, along with the good harvest and the fertility of the land” and “commemorating the intimate loving relationship between the Divine
BRIEF
Couple, Radha and Krishna.” It is most commonly associated with “throwing brightly colored powder and water” at others “to celebrate the beginning of spring.”
Brandeis is home to many places of worship, including the three chapels located adjacent to Massel Quadrangle and Chapels Field. Building places of worship on campus “was part of first president Abram L. Sachar’s original vision…for the university,” with the chapels being some of the first places conceived in the early 1950s.
The chapels were first commissioned in 1952 to the New York firm of Harrison and Abramovitz. The firm was also commissioned to design several other campus buildings. Through much planning and debating, a consensus was made to build three chapels — “one for Jews, one for Catholics, and one for Protestants.” The chapels were first dedicated in 1955, then again in 1965 and in 2010 following their renovation. In 1956 the chapels were awarded the American Institute of Architects Award of Merit.
At the time of its opening, Brandeis was “heralded” as a school “representative of a multi-faith America” and “unity in the midst of diversity.” As such, the three chapels were all built to be the same size and built in specific locations “so as never to cast shadows on one another” representing the mutual respect of others and upholding Brandeis founding values of inclusion, truth and justice. Additionally, the chapels are situated around a heartshaped reservoir which is the center of a long-established Brandeis student valentine tradition, in which Brandeis
See SPIRITUALITY, 5 ☛
Faculty vote to reorganize university, new town halls announced
On March 17, Interim President Arthur Levine ’70 sent an email to the Brandeis community to announce that the faculty has voted to implement reorganization plans for the University. The plans were presented to the student body at Levine’s Feb. 25 town hall and were debated by the faculty during their Mar. 7 meeting. The email stated the goal of these reforms are to “[create] new exciting and innovative academic programs for the rapidly changing environment of the global, digital, knowledgeable economy we live in.”
Levine stated that faculty and staff will “iron out” the reorganization plan over the next weeks, and will change their handbook accordingly.
The plan still awaits final approval by the Board of Trustees in late April, and Levine plans on implementing the redesign once its approval has gone though.
The reorganization plan has many different focuses, and will involve the creation of four new academic deans
who report to the provost. Levine stated that this specific change will be implemented by July 1, 2025.
Additionally, Levine stated that he plans on continuing to accept feedback about the reorganization plan.
As such, he has arranged three town halls with himself and Joel Christensen, Senior Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs. The town hall for undergraduate students will take place on Mar. 31 from 12 to 1 p.m. in Rapaporte Treasure Hall. For faculty, it will be on Apr. 2 from 2 to 3 p.m. in the same location and for graduate students, the meeting will be on Apr. 10 from 3 to 4 p.m. in Schwartz 112.
To conclude his message, Levine added that the administration will continue to be in conversation with the Brandeis University Staff Advisory Committee, the Graduate Student Association and the Faculty Senate as they move ahead with their plans.
— Zoe Zachary
MENTAL HEALTH-CENTERED LAW ENFORCEMENT
Waltham Police Department's progressive mental health practices in law enforcement
■ Involving Jail Diversion Clinicians in de-escalation is breaking boundaries in the law enforcement space.
By ANNA MARTIN JUSTICE EDITOR IN CHIEF
The Waltham Police Department is at the forefront of innovative mental health-centered law enforcement practices, setting a precedent for community policing in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. With the integration of certified mental health specialists — officially titled Jail Diversion Clinicians — into its ranks, the department has taken significant strides in the implementation of de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques.
Serving a population of over 64,000 residents, Waltham's officers are called upon to handle a diverse range of situations. In a March 14 interview with The Justice, Chief of Police Kevin O’Connell revealed that nearly half of all calls received by the department involve mental health components, underscoring the necessity of specialized intervention strategies.
The department’s focus on mental health intervention began in 2004 when it secured grant funding for a part-time mental health clinician. The introduction of the Clinical Incident Management System, which meticulously tracks calls and their associated needs, provided empirical evidence of the program’s efficacy. Over time, officers consistently logged incidents that highlighted the critical role of mental health professionals in law enforcement responses.
Recognizing the program’s tangible benefits, the department approached the Waltham City Council to advocate for additional funding to expand its mental health services. With support from Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy, the city approved funding for a full-time Jail Diver -
sion Clinician while retaining the originally grant-funded clinician. As the initiative demonstrated continued success, the program further expanded to include three full-time clinicians, ensuring broader coverage and enhanced community support.
The presence of Jail Diversion Clinicians has transformed the way the Waltham Police Department handles crisis situations. According to a March 5 report by NBC 10 Boston, these professionals proactively address the root causes of mental health crises and work collaboratively to find sustainable solutions.
Chief O’Connell emphasized the indispensable role these clinicians play, noting, “They make our jobs easier.” Jail Diversion Clinician for Waltham PD Emily Marini shared with NBC10, “I think we’re in a major mental health crisis. There is a lack of resources and a lack of support.”
This program offers more than just on-scene crisis intervention. It also contributes to a broader culture of de-escalation. O’Connell explained that simply having a civilian approach a residence alongside an officer can immediately alter the dynamics of an interaction. The presence of a mental health professional often facilitates a calmer environment, which in turn increases the likelihood of a positive resolution.
Clinician Emily Marini elaborated to NBC10 regarding the breadth of situations they encounter, stating, “It could be a bad day, it could be someone who is having a panic attack because of something stressful that happened, it could be someone that’s using substances.” Each case presents unique challenges, requiring tailored approaches to crisis management and support.
The Jail Diversion Clinicians currently operate during daytime and evening shifts, ensuring coverage during peak hours of activity. However, O’Connell indicated that at this juncture, overnight clinicians may not be as effective or necessary given the current structure of emer -
By BRIANNA EARLE
JUSTIN RUBENSTEIN
IYLA LICHTENFELD
Waltham, Mass.
How Waltham's population was built by mill workers.
REUBEN GARTENBACH/The Justice
LAW: The Waltham Police Department headquarters on Lexington Street.
ELIZA BIER/The
SENATE LOG
Student Union hears from A-board and discusses future club chartering
The Brandeis University Student Union Senate reconvened on March 16 at 7:05 p.m. for its weekly meeting.
The meeting started with a presentation from Student Union Allocations Board Co-Chair Marley Wilson ’26. In his presentation he emphasized that chartering clubs is the responsibility of the Student Senate, but also made clear that in order for A-board to fund all of Brandeis’ clubs’ needs, they need to be more restrictive on the amount of clubs being chartered. This year 128 clubs requested a total of $1.85 million, a fund which usually remains fixed. He stated that there are more clubs being chartered than unchartered. This leads to more clubs being given less funding. He also said that there are multiple instances of clubs having overlapping purposes, which goes against Student Union bylaws. This sentiment was supported by Executive Senator Daniel Shin ’27 who said that the Senate should focus more on clubs being unique when considering the club’s status. He added that the rules for this process should be stricter. A senator asked if they had access to club-specific data and Shin responded that the Department of Student Engagement had not released that to any specific club. A question came up about the previous meeting and debate during which probationary status was granted to Jewish on Campus. After a brief discussion, it was concluded that the Student Union will need to think more carefully before granting clubs probationary/chartered status. Another senator asked about the de-chartering process and Wilson claimed that that it is not something the Allocations Board was looking to do and is more about evaluating future clubs for chartering. Shin then said that there are many clubs within different general categories that have overlap with events of equal interest. However Shin said he
POLICE LOG
Medical Emergency
Mar. 7 – There was a medical emergency for a party who cut their finger. The patient was treated and refused further medical care.
Mar. 7 – There was a medical emergency for a party who hit their head and was actively bleeding. The party was treated and transported to a nearby hospital.
Mar. 8 – There was a medical emergency for a student having chest pain and difficulty swallowing. The patient was treated and refused further medical care.
Mar. 10 – A party reported flu-like symptoms. The party was treated and transported to a nearby hospital for further care. Mar. 11 – A party reported flu-like symptoms.The patient was treated and refused further medical care.
Mar. 11 – There was a medical emergency for a party complaining of a blister in their mouth. The patient was treated and
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
■ A news article incorrectly spelled a word as “Uuniversity.” It was corrected to “University” (March 11, pg. 1).
■ A news article incorrectly spelled a word as “employee’s’.” It was corrected to “employees’” (March 11, pg. 1).
■ A news article misidentified a last name as “Hedstrom.” It was corrected to Brooks Hedstrom” (March 11, pg. 5)
■ A news article misidentified a professor’s department as “(NEJS). It was corrected to “(CEMS/NEJS)” (March 11, pg. 5).
The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Send an email to editor@thejustice.org
The Justice is the independent student newspaper of Brandeis University. The Justice is published every Tuesday of the academic year with the exception of examination and
could not specify what those clubs were. Head of Health and Wellness committe Sarah Jafary ’28 then asked if they could be uncharted if they have a duality of purpose. Shin answered that only clubs that violate rules can be de-chartered. Senator at-Large Luke Farberman ’27 asked about potential club mergers. Shin said that he would get back to him after his meeting with the Department of Student Engagement. Jafary then asked when marathon decisions would come out and Wilson gave a timeline of mid-April.
Student Union Vice President Escamilla-Gil ’27 then asked for questions and comments regarding the executive board report and then moved on to discuss that the Student Union has a negative budget meaning they are in a deficit. Lucas Gordon ’26 asked if this would lead to a shutdown. Shin followed up with this later in the meeting and asked to reallocate the Student Senate’s money to the Student Union executive board due to a negative budget. He emphasized that they have collaborations with other student groups and the Hiatt Career Center. The vote passed unanimously by affirmation.
Shin then discussed the de-chartering of Impact Club after he had tried contacting the board multiple times with a lack of response and their CampusGroups page had not been updated since Spring 2024. This passed with a unanimous vote of affirmation.
The Student Union then said they would be scheduling their State of the Union on April 1 in the Mandel Center for the Humanities Atrium.
Committee reports followed the A-board’s presentation. Jafary said after the April break the Wellness Committee would work on a wellness event. Jake Rosen ’27 said they set up a
refused further medical care.
Mar. 11 – There was a medical emergency for a party complaining of severe allergies. The patient was treated and refused further medical care.
Mar. 12 – There was a medical emergency for a party complaining of an injured knee. The party was treated and transported to a nearby hospital.
Motor Vehicles Mar. 10 – There was a motor vehicle accident which left property damage. There will be an investigation to follow.
Mar. 10 – An officer observed a running vehicle with no one inside in a parking lot. A review of the cameras showed the owner returning to the vehicle. The situation was cleared.
Mar. 11 – A party filed a ticket complaint. There will be an investigation to follow.
meeting with Harvest Table this week. The Club Advocacy Committee shared they are collaborating on an event with the Disabled Students Network and are developing a resolution to support transgender athletes. Then, Gordon talked about the Undergraduate Transportation Fund and whether it should be in the bylaws. He then asked if Deepa Khatri, Associate Director for Budget and Operations in the Department of Student Engagement had concerns with this. He talked about a potential collaboration with the Hiatt Career Center for splitting the costs. A Senator said it was outside of their purview.
Class of 2028 Senator Himanshu Sahore ’28 discussed the Boston Intercollegiate Government. He requested a $52 membership fee to be a part of the consortium. Sahore said he joined a Zoom meeting every two weeks and they support Boston area schools on issues such as getting involved in the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s Semester Pass program. Farberman Student Union has historically paid dues to the Boston Intercollegiate Government. International Senator Gianna Crisha Saludo ’28 then asked if there were more representatives to the Boston Intercollegiate Government and Sahore answered by saying that there could be two voting representatives from Brandeis and unlimited delegates. Escamilla-Gil then asked the Student Senate to expedite the process which was passed unanimously by affirmation.
The meeting concluded with Shin sharing that there’s a club resource room cleanup on Wednesday and asked if senators could join. The meeting was then adjourned.
— Justin Rubenstein
Miscellaneous
Mar. 7 – A party reported harassment. The situation was cleared.
Mar. 9 – A party reported harassment. There will be an investigation to follow.
Mar. 10 – A party found the glass windows of a bus stop smashed. There will be an investigation to follow.
Mar. 10 – A party wished to report a sexual assault. There will be an investigation to follow.
Mar. 11 – A party reported a possible fraud situation. There will be an investigation to follow.
Mar. 11 – A party reported a lost wallet. It was returned.
Mar. 12 – There was an investigation into a disturbance.
— Compiled by Iyla
Lichtenfeld
TURKEY : A turkey trots by the Science Quadrangle.
JAMES LI/The Justice
The use and misuse of history: Prof. Ivan Kurilla on politics
■ The Center for German and European Studies hosted Prof. Ivan Kurilla who discussed historical narratives surrounding politics and memory in Russia and elsewhere.
By JUSTIN RUBENSTEIN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
On Monday, March 10, The Center for German and European Studies hosted Wellesley College Professor Ivan Kurilla to discuss “The Use and Misuse of History in Russia and Everywhere Else.” After departing from European University At St. Petersburg, Kurilla is serving as an International Scholar in Residence at Wellesley College for the Spring 2025 semester. While he was still in Russia, he had been outspoken against Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. According to Bowdoin College, where he was the Visiting Tallman Scholar in Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies, just before his departure, university authorities in St. Petersburg informed him that they would not approve his academic leave. Kurilla decided to leave and was fired from European University for absenteeism.
Kurilla’s research primarily focuses on the history of Russian relations and the uses of history by politicians to support their rhetoric. He started his lecture by showing a picture of a Feb. 8, 2024 meeting between Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and right-wing media personality and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in Moscow. Kurilla discussed how Putin used claims of a shared history between Russia and Ukraine to justify his invasion of Ukraine. Putin published two articles focusing on this topic: one on the unity of Russia and Ukraine during World War II and one on the unity of Russians and Ukrainians as part of the Russian Nation in 2021.
Kurilla then spoke about the intersection of history and politics
and how it leads to an evolution of political views. He used the example of historical monuments, which present a specific version of the past. Shortly after the Declaration of Independence was written and signed, there was an onslaught of instances where monuments of King George III were taken down by revolutionaries. Kurilla also pointed out that toppling monuments is a common practice during coups, as it publicly symbolizes a new government’s rule. Additionally, sentiment around monuments is often used as a reference to public beliefs about the past. For example, southern states defended Confederate monuments under the belief that they represented their states’ rights while others believed they represented slavery and racism.
Kurilla added to this point by explaining that the variation between schools’ history curricula in different states plays a role in political views that vary by region. He referenced an example in West Virginia where, after the Civil Rights movement, concepts of injustice and racism started appearing in textbooks. This new material caused some parents to keep their children home from attending school. States give different historical narratives depending on where they are located in the country due to the United States’ highly regional democratic system. Kurilla then mentioned former President Joe Biden’s criticism of states banning books due to containing critical race theory and President Donald Trump’s accusing Democrats of limiting free speech in his inaugural address. These differences in accessing ideology and history highlight the modern debates that are being seen today.
Kurilla also spoke about how history museums can provide differing perspectives. For example, the Canadian conservative party prioritizes heroes and historical figures such as soldiers and politicians while other historians focus on immigrants and Indigenous peoples such as the many different museums of the Smithsonian Institutions.
Kurilla referenced how artifacts collected from colonial holdings, especially in Africa and South Asia, create conflicting claims. Since several countries feel that the artifacts rightfully belong to them, debates have ensued about how to handle such artifacts. For example, Former French President Emmanuel Macron said he would return artifacts to the nation they belonged to before colonization. Other nations, such as India, are still in the process of campaigning for na-
tional artifacts to be returned from Britain. These kinds of debates highlight how the politics of the past still impact the present. Kurilla then highlighted the idea of memory laws, which are created for the purpose of changing the public view of a country’s history. For example, in Germany, Holocaust denial is illegal, while Putin changed the Russian constitution to defend Russian and Soviet History. These states wanted to ensure that only mainstream versions of their histories were present rather than ideologically extreme ones.
Kurilla argued that history is a dialogue between contemporary and past societies. Scholars create this discourse by asking questions and using primary sources. In addition, he explained that history was used to build nation-states and that minorities based on class, race and region have their own versions of history. Conservative groups and nation-states often push back on these opposing histories to maintain control of the narrative. Kurilla finished his lecture by stating that multiple versions of history are always debated. Kurilla then opened the floor for a question and answer section. The first question concerned the comparison of Germany’s version of Nazis to Russia’s claims that Ukraine is a fascist regime. Kurilla answered by saying Russia fighting Ukrainian Nazis is propaganda that takes advantage of collective memory from World War II. He said that Russians have family in Ukraine and know this difference. Kurilla was then asked why history museums in Russia primarily have multimedia content instead of “historical objects” or “primary sources.” He answered that children or other people who visit the museum don’t know the difference between multimedia and artifacts. The next question asked whether different actors should address different narratives of history. Kurilla said that people have different political agendas, and that dialogue between opposing views is very important. Another participant asked if historical trauma was active discourse or collective memory. Kurilla answered that memory is a new field of history, since historians have traditionally failed to recognize the traumatic past and its specific effects on the present. The last question asked was about Russian literature being weaponized. Kurilla said that this weaponization has created a division in Russian history and allowed Russia to intimidate citizens into supporting Putin’s narratives despite there being quiet resistance.
Write an op-ed for
City of Waltham plans to adopt a web-based reporting system
■ March 10 Waltham City Council meeting makes plans to implement a web-based reporting system which would allow residents to report non-emergency neighborhood issues.
By LIN LIN HUTCHINSON JUSTICE EDITOR
During the March 10 Waltham City Council meeting, council members, including Ward 9 Councilor Robert G. Logan, Ward 8 Councilor Cathyann Harris, Councilor-at-Large Carlos A. Vidal, Ward 3 Councilor William Hanley, Ward 7 Councilor Paul S. Katz, Ward 1 Councilor Anthony LaFauci, Ward 6 Councilor Sean Durkee, Councilor-at-Large Colleen Bradley-MacArthur and Ward 2 Councilor Caren Dunn introduced a resolution urging the city of Waltham to adopt a web-based reporting system. This system, which would be accessible via a mobile app, would allow residents
BRIEF
to report non-emergency neighborhood issues such as potholes, rat sightings and streetlight outages.
Logan spoke in support of the resolution, acknowledging the city’s slow adoption of technology in its functioning. He pointed out that he introduced a similar resolution in 2017, but the resolution was not accepted.
“When it comes to technology, I think we can all admit that Waltham isn’t exactly an early adopter,” Logan stated. “I didn’t have to look any further for the language than the resolution I submitted in 2017… trying to do the same thing.”
Logan acknowledged that the city currently has a “rudimentary” system in place on its website where residents can fill out and submit a complaint. However, he noted that he recently used it for an issue but never received a response. While he chose not to disclose the specific issue to avoid singling out a department at the meeting, he used his experience to draw attention to inefficiencies within the current system that he feels need to be addressed.
The resolution states that implementing a mobile app for reporting would be free for the public and serve as a form of community activism by encouraging greater citizen engagement. It also highlights that many communities in Massachusetts have already ad-
Waltham Traffic Commission approves Moody Street outdoor dining
During their Feb. 20 meeting, Waltham’s Traffic Commission voted to approve Ward 8 Councilor Cathyann Harris and Ward 9 Councilor Robert Logan’s 2025 Moody Street Outside Dining Plan. Approval of this dining plan allows restaurants on Moody Street to apply to occupy the parking spaces in front of and adjacent to their frontages, as well as use of the sidewalk, for outdoor dining purposes.
Some restaurants and shops that were approved for outdoor dining for the 2024 season include but are not limited to: Amuleto, Bistro 781, Common Good Co., Da Vinci Ristorante, Deep Ellum, In A Pickle Restaurant and India Market.
If a restaurant wishes to occupy parking spaces adjacent to their property, they will need written authorization from the appropriate business owners. Furthermore, if a business owner wishes to occupy the sidewalk, their permits must be approved by Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy, the City Council and other relevant city departments. Completed sidewalk permit applications can be sent to Waltham’s City Clerk, Joe Vizard. Once
a business owner receives their sidewalk permit, they can apply for a permit to use the parking spaces, or parking lane area if applicable. In order to receive a parking spot and/or lane permit, a business owner must receive approval to occupy the sidewalk space. Completed parking spot and lane applications can be sent to Waltham’s Traffic Engineer, Mike Garvin.
Business owners who wish to use the sidewalk and parking spaces also must fill out a building permit application that includes a set of outdoor seating plans that are drawn to scale. According to Waltham’s city government website, they must include their proposed seating area’s dimensions, table sizes, number of seats, aisle width, egress path and accessibility plans. Waltham’s Building Department’s outdoor dining permit checklist says that plans must comply with the 521 Code of Massachusetts Regulations, which is the “specialized building code regarding access for persons with disabilities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” Once the Building Department approves a business’ plan, the owner can set up their space and schedule an onsite inspec-
opted similar systems, which Logan and the other supporting councilors are advocating for. In the surrounding areas of Waltham, several cities and towns have implemented similar apps to help residents improve their neighborhoods. Boston uses the Bos:311 app, Lexington offers the BeReady Lexington app, Newton has Newton 311, Belmont provides MyBelmont 311, and Watertown utilizes Watertown App.
According to the Councilor from Ward 9, the proposed app, which wasn’t named, would address shortcomings by streamlining the complaint process. Residents could report issues directly through the app, which would assign the complaint to the appropriate department, generate a complaint number and provide updates on its status. Additionally, the system would track and compile statistical data, allowing both councilors and residents to generate reports on various concerns — such as the number of complaints filed or the average time taken to resolve a complaint.
“What this does is it introduces not only convenience to the residents of Waltham,” Logan said, “but also introduces accountability and transparency in the operation of our local government.”
The resolution was referred to the Economic and Community Development Committee for further review.
tion with the department. If approved, they will receive a Temporary Occupancy Permit for the entire outdoor dining season. Business owners who wish to be approved for outdoor dining must also complete a License Commission permit application in order to serve food and alcohol outdoors. Completed applications can be sent to the Licensing Department’s Administrative Assistant, Darlene Wansiewicz.
The outdoor dining season will take place from May 23 to Sept 1. During this period, two-way traffic will be allowed on Moody Street at all times and there will not be any changes to traffic patterns.
— Sophia De Lisi
SPIRITUALITY: Campus religious enagagement evolution over time
CONTINUED FROM 1
students walk backwards around the reservoir with their significant others three times holding hands.
Today the Center for Spiritual Life offers a wide range of services to the Brandeis community from many different faiths. The center offers regular “worship opportunities as well as holiday celebrations and social and educational programs” for “Catholic, Hindu and Dharmic, Jewish, Muslim and Protestant faiths.”
The Catholic community at Brandeis is primarily supported by the Chaplain and Coordinator of Christian Life at Brandeis, Karl LaClair. The chaplain works to coordinate weekly Mass, held at 10 a.m. on Sundays, as well as holiday services. Spiritual life also offers Confession available by appointment with Brandeis’ Affiliate priests or immediately following Sunday Mass.
Beyond services, Catholic students also have the opportunity to join the Catholic Student Organization, which offers students a place to discuss faith and particpate in CSO-run social events.
Similarly, Protestant life at Brandeis is supported by LaClair who offers services and programs mainly in the Harlan Chapel. As reported by Spiritual Life, Protestant student groups on campus include Asian Baptist Student Koinonia, Asian Baptist Student Koinonia Graduate Division, Brandeis Graduate Christian Fellowship, Cru Brandeis Christian Fellowship, John Bible Study and Salvation.
Encompassed under the center’s Hindu and Dharmic community banner is “Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism.” The center notes that for students of Dharmic faiths, while they have attended Brandeis for decades, “their religious community has grown substantially in recent years.”
The Dharmic Prayer and Meditation Space can be found on the third floor of the Shapiro Campus Center.
Jewish life at Brandeis is represented by many different groups across campus, the largest being Hillel. Hillel is the “umbrella” for a large portion of Jewish life on campus, with a “dedicated staff, an active student board and many engaged club group leaders and members.”
Many members of the Brandeis community attend Hillel’s weekly Shabbat dinner occurring every Friday night of the academic year in the Sherman Function Hall.
Hillel holds weekly services for Conservative, Orthodox and Reform denominations as well as High Holiday services. These services are held “collaboratively by rabbis and students” and attended by “students, faculty, staff, and local community members.”
Aside from Hillel, “a diverse range of Jewish denominations are represented on campus” that come together for both prayer and holiday celebrations. These groups also offer many social events and provide a space to connect with wJewish life in different ways. Some of these groups include Brandeis Orthodox Organization, Masorti, Brandeis Reform Chavurah, Brandeis Reconstructionist Organization and Shira Chadasha.
Muslim Life at Brandeis “unites students from all different ethnicities and backgrounds around their Muslim faith.” The Brandeis Muslim Student Association at Brandeis is the primary prayer and social organization for Muslim students. The association hosts several social events including “meet and greets, potluck dinners, cultural cooking events, interfaith dialogues with other organizations, and academic lectures.” The MSA also helps Muslim students with on and off-campus prayer and finding Halal food. In addition, the MSA helps to “organize prayer for Ramadan, Eid and other Muslim holidays.”
A Muslim Prayer Space is “located on the lower level of Usdan Student Center” and has “a prayer area, gathering space, small kitchen, wudu washing station and an office.”
—Editor’s note: The Justice Associate Editor Bryan Wolfe '27 is employed by Brandeis Hillel, and did not contribute to or edit this article.
—Editor’s note: The Justice Associate Editor Xilei Ceci Chen '26 is employed by Brandeis Hillel, and did not contribute to or edit this article.
HEALTH: Police implement holistic approach to contact with the community
CONTINUED FROM 1
gency response resources.
Additionally, while the Brandeis and Bentley University police departments function as independent entities, the Waltham Police Department remains available in a supportive capacity should either campus law enforcement agency require assistance according to O’Connell. This collaborative approach underscores the department’s commitment to holistic community safety.
Waltham’s proactive steps toward integrating mental health services into law enforcement exemplify a broader shift in modern policing strategies. By prioritizing de-escalation and mental health awareness, the city is improving public safety outcomes and setting a precedent for other municipalities seeking to implement similar reforms. As the program continues to evolve, Waltham PD’s model may serve as an inspiration for departments nationwide, demonstrating the profound impact of a mental health-centered approach to policing.
HOLI : Students enjoy the festival of colors on the Great Lawn.
PURIM : Students pose in their costumes at the Berlin Chapel. AVITAL ARON/The Justice
JAMES LI/The Justice
features
VERBATIM
Life is hard but so very beautiful.
ON THIS DAY…
Germany held its first and only free parliamentary elections in 1990.
FUN FACT
The human circulatory system is more than 60,000 miles long.
Is the Breezers Ball the best party in town?
Waltham Natives and Transplants come together to celebrate the city.
By LUCIA THOMAS JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Among watch parts and antique bikes are light-emitting diode lights beating down on older white haired women banging their heads to Chappell Roan. Colorful sequined dresses shake and shimmy alongside plaid tuxedos and the occasional cowboy hat. The room smells of red wine and the signature drink, a lavender cocktail. “Pink Pony Club” fades into Journey. The dance floor erupts into “Don’t Stop Believing.”
This scene is the ninth annual Breezers Ball in Waltham, Massachusetts. Just under 200 Waltham residents gather in the Charles River Museum of Industry to give thanks to the city. This tradition began when Mike Bundy, owner of Long Life Auto Repair, called together a group of Waltham business owners and residents to figure out a way to show gratitude for their home. The Breezers Ball formed just a few minutes walk from where the event would take place, over coffee at Cafe on the Common. Among this task force was Luke Stanton, a Waltham city attorney and longtime youth hockey coach. Stanton explained in a March 1 interview with The Justice that the idea for the Breezers Ball sprouted from appreciation for Waltham. He said it is a way for “people who are not
from Waltham to thank the city.”
The term “breezer” is used to identify a person who is not from town but has moved to the area. Stanton and the rest of the eight person posse who came up with the idea are all “breezers”
who have since put down roots in Waltham.
Over a quarter of Waltham’s population are foreign born and since 2010 the city has grown in population by almost 5,000 residents. There are a lot of breezers inhabiting the community and the ball is meant to be a place to find solidarity in their newfound home.
The group initially planned to sell 140 tickets in order to break even on expenses that first year
Kitchen and Bar, Panela de Barro and more. There was also a homemade vanilla and chocolate cream cheese frosted cake. Two high school students of The Culinary Institute, an initiative within Waltham public schools, manned the food tables. The girls danced to Shakira as they spooned macand-cheese and fried rice onto partygoers plates. The Disc Jockey, Greg Shaw, is a local Waltham resident who performs in venues throughout the Greater Boston
sized how surprised she was that Waltham hosted such a bustling party.
in 2014. They were shocked with the interest and ease of selling those tickets. They have since been making the ball “a little bigger and a little better” each year since, says Stanton. All proceeds are donated to the Waltham High Scholarship Fund. This year there were two full service bar tables and 20 different local restaurants offering tast-
ings, such as Sweet Basil, Gustazo
area. He performs at the Breezers Ball for a reduced cost.
The Cupid Shuffle ended and bachata hip hop filled the room.
Waltham native Jonathan Paz, former city councilor and candidate for mayor, takes to the dance floor. His dance partners change but his smile and vigor does not fade. He says he loves the ball and wonders, “Why does it take Breezers to throw the best party in town?”
A couple of young women in sparkling blue dresses sip wine before strutting in tall silver boots to the center of the dancing. Their names are Jessica Weaver and Rachel Sampson. Sampson is an engineer new to the area and this is her first ball. “I’m having a great time,” she said as she giggled with Weaver. She empha-
The variation of guests is extensive. There is a group of men in multi-colored suits and patterned button-ups sitting at a table. They sip beers and shake hands with various party guests. An older woman in a silver sequined flapper dress elegantly strolls the ballroom with a plastic cup of wine in hand. A group of ex-Boston University hockey players giggle on a couch by a large window. They wear high heels and dance in black dresses. A man with a beard down to his sternum munches on hors d’oeuvres on the outskirts of the dance floor. He chats with another bearded man wearing a white cowboy hat with a silver longhorn pinned to the front. Each of these groups strikes up a conversation with one another at some point in the night.
It is no surprise that Stanton stated to The Justice that, “they use social media to make [the ball] as broadly appealing as possible so that new residents want to come.” They look to attract folks “of all walks of life.” The goal is to get new residents to attend and meet like-minded people. Stanton stated his love for Waltham and how the gala is a way to share that with breezers and longtime residents alike. Stanton called the event a “civic ball, with no poli-
tics and no ulterior motive.” Fun is the priority. With the 10th anniversary approaching, Stanton and the rest of the ball enthusiasts are already looking forward to next year. “It’s going to be big and special,” says Stanton. “We are always looking to improve and are open to the public for suggestions.” He emphasized, “Come prepared to dance.” Stanton himself took to the floor for one song and one song only, “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan.
CULINARY STUDENTS: Elizabeth (Left) Lavynnia (Right)
HAVING A BALL: Johnathan Paz (center) with guests
DRESSED UP: Guests adorned in formal attire for the ball
SUITS: Tuxedos fit the occassion
■
How the Industrial Revolution Cultivated Culture in Waltham
By BRIANNA EARLE JUSTICE EDITOR
Waltham is a vibrant city, and it can be characterized by its rich multicultural history. Once the home of the very first fully-integrated factory in the entire United States, Waltham attracted migrants from all over the world.
The Boston Manufacturing Company, founded in 1813, and fully functional by 1814, was the brainchild of Francis Cabot Lowell and other investors of The Boston Associates. The first of its kind, the factory drew in people globally looking for work and hoping to make a life for themselves in U.S. The term full integration refers to the process of manufacturing, meaning that this was the first factory to be able to produce textiles and cotton cloth in a singular location, entirely under one roof. Using the power provided by the Charles River, Lowell and his associates were able to plant the seeds for the New England manufacturing revolution. As Massachusetts natives may be familiar with, the mill town Lowell was founded and named in honor of the manufacturing pioneer following his death in 1817.
Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation Historian Amy Green suggests that Lowell’s successes relied heavily on his impressive memory and inspiration from the industrialization of the United Kingdom. In her research she wrote, “[Lowell’s] visits to England’s factories were no secret, he had to be stealthy to conduct what amounted to industrial espionage. Sometimes disguised as a farmer or peasant, he went into the factories and committed to memory every single detail of the power loom and other textile manufacturing machines.” With the skills he learned during his time at Harvard University, throughout his career as a businessman and on various trips to England, Lowell’s legacy in New England is truly unique.
The BMC was one of the sole manufacturing projects operating in Waltham for much of the 1800s. However, competition arrived in town during the latter half of the 19th century as the Waltham Watch Company planted its roots in 1854. With the ability to mass-produce watches in one central location, and in the same manufacturing fashion as the BMC, the Watch Company was able to expand their audiences at home and abroad, thus, fully catapulting their success and drawing in even more workers.
In order to build a workforce properly equipped to meet the demands of the manufacturers’ growing popularities, the executives of each company began recruiting single women in the surrounding towns to become mill workers; these women became known as mill girls. This system that later became known as the Waltham-Lowell system, began expanding its recruitment process to young female laborers at home and overseas as the demand for workers increased alongside the expansion of each company. These girls, sometimes as young as 15, would be paid a fraction of the wages of male factory workers but were offered other benefits such as housing, food and access to religious activities and education. As part of Harvard Business School’s archival history,
historians recovered records that included payrolls of female workers at both companies from 1817 to 1881, verifying the vital role these women played in the success of industry during the 19th century.
According to the history department at Boston College, as the influx of migrants into Waltham continued throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, small diasporas began forming all over the city. “Irish immigrants flocked there beginning in the 1850s. They settled within walking distance of the factories on Charles, Felton and School Streets. St. Mary’s Church on School Street, built in the late 1850s, flourished as a spiritual and community center for Irish Catholics. French Canadians followed the Irish beginning in the 1880s. Working primarily at the Waltham Watch Factory, they too settled along Charles and Felton Streets. To preserve their Catholic traditions and hold Mass in their native tongue, the French Canadian settlers founded St. Joseph’s Parish, Waltham’s second Catholic church.” wrote undergraduate researcher Brieanna Allen ’25.
The Irish and the French Canadians were not the only groups of immigrants to settle in Waltham as a result of the rise in industrialization and manufacturing here in the Bay State. Into the 20th century, the Watch City began to see an influx of Italians, Swedish, and Jewish immigrants as well.
As the entire population of Massachusetts began growing into the 20th century, Waltham was no different. The trending influx of immigration into Waltham has only continued to increase over time. Irish immigrants were among the largest groups of migrants in the Greater Boston Area for nearly a century, and that did not change, but more immigrant groups began making up large populations here. At the turn of the century, immigrant groups from nearly every continent in the world made up the waves of people fleeing overpopulation, persecution and heavy taxation. With the evolution of manufacturing systems, the railroad industry and other similar technologies — Greater Boston became a hub for immigration.
In recent years, the largest immigrant population in the
Watch City has been Guatemalans. Director of the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development & Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Boston Lorna Rivera, has characterized her research by following trends of Latino immigration into the Bay State. Tracking immigrants by subgroups in Greater Boston, she deduced that Guatemalans made up the largest subgroup in Waltham and local businesses are reflective of that. She said in her research, “Waltham itself has remained relatively affordable, with a downtown known for its wide variety of ethnic restaurants and retail establishments. Among these are Latino markets, bakeries and restaurants that cater to an emerging population of Central American origin, the majority of whom are Guatemalan.”
Although Guatemalans may be the most populous in the city, they’re not the only large groups of migrants who make up the population of Waltham. According to an article that appeared in the Boston Globe in 2019, Mark Melnik, director of economic and public policy research at The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute, warned that the significant impact immigrants have has been grossly underrated. The article said, “foreign-born workers comprise nearly 80 percent of the increase in the labor force in Massachusetts since 1990.”
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has seen a large influx of migrants in the past couple of years, some even going as far as to call the pattern a migrant crisis. In March of 2024, Massachusetts House Lawmakers were demanding more federal funding in order to provide housing for unhoused migrants. At the time, the biggest issues the Bay State faced were that these shelters were all at capacity.
Massachusetts has also been a safe haven for migrants and asylum seekers, because it is the only Right-To-Shelter state in the country. This means that Massachusetts guarantees housing for families, but does not protect unhoused individuals.
Despite the changes in immigration policy under various presidential administrations since the 1980s, Waltham still maintained a large wave of immigrants from Guatemala, China, Uganda, India and Haiti in those 45 years.
The return of the Trump administration poses a major threat to these thriving immigrant communities in Waltham. According to a Feb. 2 article in The Waltham Times, there were citizen reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement officers in the city a couple of weeks ago; those claims could not be confirmed nor denied by local and federal authorities. This poses a major issue for the 18.1% of MA’s population that is foreign-born, which is nearly 1.3 million immigrants living and working in the state. Of the various executive orders Trump has signed since resuming office on Jan. 20, some of the attacks on immigration include ending humanitarian parole for asylum seekers from Haiti, Cuba and Venezuela, as well as making efforts to restrict birthright citizenship.
Massachusetts lawmakers have continued to push to protect migrant populations in the Commonwealth from these attacks. During a congressional hearing in Washington on March 5, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu assured other congresspeople, the people of Boston and President Donald Trump that Boston would continue to protect its immigrant population. She said, “I’m the mayor of Boston. I don’t get to decide who comes into our country and where they go after that. Our job is to keep people fed and healthy and safe when they arrive in our city, and we do that in order to make sure that everyone across our community is safe.” Despite threats that the Trump administration poses to the sanctuary state, state officials are working to protect migrant citizens in Waltham and beyond.
WALTHAM: The Waltham City Hall.
FACTORY: The Boston Manufacturing Company’s former building.
The influx of laborers required to operate mills during the early 1800s is responsible for shaping the culturally diverse population of the city.
Justicethe
Established 1949
Anna Martin, Editor in Chief Eliza Bier, Managing Editor
Isabel Roseth, Senior Editor
Leah Breakstone, Tibria Brown, Sophia De Lisi, Julia Hardy, Lauryn Williams, Deputy Editors
Reuben Gartenbach, Jonas Kaplin, Photography Editors
Lily Chafe, Sara Samuel, Copy Editors
Marina Rosenthal, Layout Editor
Elizabeth Liu, Advertising Editor
Amanda Chen, Niámh Mullen, Social Media Editors
EDITORIAL
AI in academia and its overlooked toll on the environment
In just a few years of artificial intelligence being introduced for public use, machine learning has grown exponentially in its accuracy, reasoning and generative capabilities. These developments have posed an unforeseen challenge for higher education institutions to keep up with these developments. Because AI has become an undeniable part of our future, educators are forced to rethink what accountability will mean as we approach that future. Now, the question has evolved from how educators should resist and prohibit the use of AI into the question of how AI should be incorporated in academia.
According to the Brandeis Center for Teaching and Learning, “instructors are required by the University to include a policy in all their syllabi regarding the use (and misuse) of generative [Artificial Intelligence].” The center encourages instructors that “rather than outright prohibiting the use of generative AI,” they should create AI policies that allow students to “learn how to use generative AI tools ethically and effectively in their discipline.”
But Brandeis is taking measures to incorporate AI that go beyond encouraging individual faculty members to tweak their syllabi. Among the University’s provisions to support teaching is their Teaching Improvement, Experimentation and Research Grants, previously known as Teaching Innovation Grants. These grants are funded by the Provost’s Office and are intended to promote excelling in teaching by means of innovative and evidenced-based practices. TIER grants support two different types of projects, one of which is dedicated to exploring AI in the classroom.
Traditional “TIER” grants work to “enhance student learning using approaches they have learned from pedagogical literature or colleagues,” “develop and try out new pedagogical methods or approaches” and “conduct classroom-based research.” On the other hand, “Generative AI-TIER” grants work to “enhance student learning through the use of generative AI tools,” “enhance student learning by developing new, innovative,
authentic assignments and assessments that deter the use of AI tools” and “develop and try out new pedagogical practices that involve intentional use of generative AI tools.”
There are ten GenAI TIER grant recipients across various schools and disciplines for 2024-25, the first academic year of this category of TIER grant.
We are facing a future in which most areas of scholarship and processes of intellectual expansion have been fundamentally changed. This editorial board acknowledges that understanding AI is imperative and ignoring its presence can be a dangerous threat to academic institutions. However, there is just as much danger in haphazardly embracing its overwhelming possibilities, especially given its implications on the environment from increased electricity demand to water consumption needed to cool the hardware that AI runs on.
While exploration of generative AI’s role in the future of college learning is a priority, providing multiple instructors across departments funding to assign their students projects that require them to use chatbots and other forms of AI will certainly have a negative impact on the environment. Implementing these grants is a hasty jump towards integrating AI, especially in light of the fact that the University has eliminated its Office of Sustainability. Without an organized operation dedicated to promoting sustainability and keeping all parts of the university accountable for its environmental impact, it will be all the more difficult to regulate AI use on campus — let alone in classrooms where it’s required for a grade. No one really knows what the future of education and AI will look like, but we have to think responsibly about its very real environmental consequences. While it’s true that AI has become deeply pervasive, this board would like to warn against responding to its environmental effects with passivity. It’s easy to think that because the spread of AI is out of our hands and will be causing immense damage to the environment anyway, that it makes no difference whether or not those tools are used in class contexts.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Insulin Crisis: Skyrocketing Costs, Inequitable Access, and Pharma Manipulation in Massachusetts Universities
The soaring cost of insulin continues to impose an overwhelming financial strain on millions of Americans, including those covered by university healthcare across Massachusetts. Although the state has made strides by capping insulin copays at $25, several individuals remain unprotected, especially since this policy only applies to those with state-regulated insurance plans. Students, faculty, and staff with self-funded university insurance are notably left exposed to unjust pharmaceutical pricing.
A 2022 study by Yale University found that one in four people with diabetes had to ration their medication due to its prohibitive cost. Other research also revealed that 14% of insulin patients spend more than 40% of their income on this essential drug—an unsustainable financial burden that seriously impacts the most vulnerable. For many in the university setting, this translates to harrowing choices between life-saving insulin and other necessities.
This crisis is particularly evident in Massachusetts, where about half a million residents have diabetes, and 1.8 million are considered pre-diabetic. Many of them depend on insulin for their survival but face exorbitant monthly costs because of artificially inflated list prices. Such a dire situation has prompted the state to lodge a lawsuit under the insulin multidistrict litigation (MDL) against pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) for engaging in anticompetitive practices that drive up insulin prices. This ongoing legal battle sheds light on how these entities control the
pricing system for profit. Universities— many of which serve as plaintiffs—have a vested interest in this issue as this has affected their healthcare systems and their constituents in general.
Even though Massachusetts has earned recognition for its healthcare reform efforts, university healthcare statewide continues to face challenges due to a system prioritizing profit over patient well-being. Despite insulin’s low manufacturing cost—just $2 to $4 per vial— consumers are often charged hundreds of dollars. This price disparity prompts universities to reallocate intended funds to cope with the increasing healthcare costs. As a result, premiums rise while budgets for critical resources are cut. Those struggling with these costs are also forced to ration their medication. Yet such a practice poses serious health risks—ultimately affecting student academic performance and faculty productivity.
Massachusetts universities play a critical role in advocating for systemic change. They should use their influence to help the government push for greater price transparency and direct negotiations with pharmaceutical companies. In addition, they should support legislative reforms expanding insulin price caps to include self-funded healthcare plans. If institutions genuinely stand for equity and progress, they should demonstrate their commitment where it matters most—ensuring that no one in their community is priced out of the care they need.
About the Author Yahn Olson is an attorney at the Environmental Litigation Group P.C., a Birmingham, AL firm dedicated to assisting victims pursue toxic exposure lawsuits.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Replace Schumer and Jeffries By Jon
Hochschartner
I began President Donald Trump’s second term deeply skeptical of the willingness and ability of Democratic minority leaders in the Senate and House to stand up to the fascist Republican. Since that time, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries have shown I wasn’t worried nearly enough. Democrats must replace them with leaders willing to fight.
As Trump rapidly destroys what’s left of American democracy, Schumer and Jeffries are telling the press they’re picking their battles and waiting for the president to make a mistake. While the Republican provokes one constitutional crisis after another, without consequence, the Democratic leaders are sending out generic press releases about inflation.
Trump and his gang of fascist criminals are playing for all the marbles right now. It’s clear from their actions, which are constantly and brazenly in violation of the law, this group doesn’t believe they will ever face any kind of accountability. Their confidence suggests to me Republicans don’t plan on allowing completely free-and-fair elections going forward.
I hope I’m wrong, but recent history has shown the most alarmist view of Trump and his cohort to be the most predictive. Schumer and Jeffries need to be acting with a fierce urgency, like the window of electoral resistance to fascism is closing. The pair’s defenders frequently blame the media for not giving proper weight to Trump’s threat.
This is a justifiable criticism. On the other hand, it’s hard to condemn the press too harshly when leaders of the nominal opposition party are acting, in many ways, as if we are in the midst of politics as usual. Schumer and Jeffries need to be screaming from the rooftops. They should be throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks.
Confronted about their quietism, the Democratic leaders throw up their hands
and ask what voters expect of them, given Republican control of all three branches of the federal government. Notably, when former Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell faced these circumstances in 2009, he didn’t whine and give up.
Instead, McConnell launched a wildly successful strategy of obstruction. Schumer and Jeffries should be doing the same on a far greater scale. They wouldn’t be able to stop all of Trump’s power grabs. But if they showed up, and behaved like they were in the midst of a five-alarm fire, the pair might at least stop some of them.
Schumer and Jeffries need to gum up the works of government in every manner possible. Stalling the fascist agenda is a kind of victory. The more Democrats can run out the clock until the midterms — when they have a chance to regain the Senate and House, and exercise more control over this renegade White House — the better.
The anti-fascist coalition has a wide variety of goals. For instance, I want to see a massive infusion of public funding into cultivated-meat research, which I view as the most promising means of advancing animal welfare. However, none of our aims can be achieved under a rightwing authoritarian state. We must defeat Trump.
The Democratic Party needs leaders who are willing to fight. Schumer and Jeffries have made very clear they are not up to the task. We don’t have time to wait and see if they can turn things around. Too much is at stake. The pair should stand aside or be removed by their colleagues in favor of leadership better suited for this perilous moment.
Jon Hochschartner lives in Connecticut. He is the author of a number of books, including The Animals’ Freedom Fighter: A Biography of Ronnie
Front.
Lee, Founder of the Animal Liberation
Out with irony and in with authenticity
By GONNY NIR JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
There’s been a lot of discourse surrounding the state of irony in popular media. I think this surge in interest about irony — in contradistinction with an interest in being ironic — is related to the perceived death of authenticity in popular media.
I think it is safe to say that, for some time now, it’s been “in” to be ironic. All of our memes are now ironic — i.e., “she ate,” “it’s giving,” etcetera. Our fashion is deeply ironic, as seen in the fact that it is now apparently cool for privileged, wealthy kids to cosplay the unhoused. Darling, have you seen the Balenciagas? Oh, the horror. Even our politics are ironic. The self-proclaimed antigovernment, ultra-capitalist libertarian now administers a bulldozing operation WITHIN the government itself whose very legality is ambiguous. Isn’t it all so ironic?
For some time, though, it did seem as though we reveled in our irony. Generation Z especially is regarded — both by itself and by the generations encompassing it — as the ironic generation; irony is our currency. Except, it would appear that we’re becoming increasingly tired of it. To my mind, this is probably because irony is always undergirded by something more sinister: nihilism. Nihilism is a state of utter apathy, a belief in nothing. A state of mind in which one detaches oneself from the worldly, interconnected and deeply complex realm of human affairs.
Nihilists pull away from the world in an effort to emancipate themselves from the supposed inauthentic meaning of it. The world has no inherent meaning, they argue — we impose an artificial significance upon it and trick ourselves into believing that this synthetic significance was there all along. The nihilist sees no sense in imposing meaning onto something that has no meaning to begin with. This trick of the mind, argues the nihilist, is a vain attempt to lull us into discarding the very real fact that we’re merely stardust, nothing truly matters and there is no divine route to our salvation. God is dead on account of our own rationalist inclinations.
Yet, as Martin Heidegger taught us, nothing is in fact something. Namely the absence of all that is. The world may not actually have meaning, but in our attempt to reconcile with that fact, we create something that looks and feels a whole lot like meaning. To detach oneself from either real or inorganic meaning for the sake of seeing the world for what it really is — being void of meaning — is a taller order than most nihilists are willing to accept. And this is because human beings have an elementary desire for creation and, by extension, for purpose. Detachment in a nihilistic sense is an unsustainable approach to life because it suppresses these desires.
As anyone with poor self-control (or experience with children) can attest, suppressing desires merely intensifies them. In an effort to suppress them into oblivion, our desires torment us, affecting their revenge of going unfulfilled upon us. For the nihilist, this is not welcome news. It does not surprise me that the fall of nihilism in the zeitgeist is being succeeded by a desperate cry for authenticity. In our detachment from the world of human affairs, we’ve denied ourselves the seriousness with which that world takes us and all that surrounds us.
To take something seriously is to treat it with dignity and care. Nihilism denies the serious treatment of everything. The nihilist cannot take anything they do or confront seriously. Consequently, they can’t regard culture with genuine interest, earnestly interact with art or engage with politics in a way that creates meaning — which is what politics is, after all. These things — culture, art and politics — are all external to us in the sense that they retain an independence and separateness from us that grants them a kind of self-possession.
The self is quite a different story. The self is immediate, and in denying themselves the capacity to take anything seriously, the nihilist denies the ability to care for themselves. It is a desire that is deeply animalistic in the sense that it caters to our most fundamental needs. I believe that this is the nihilist’s downfall. Our willingness to stop taking ourselves seriously for the sake of grasping the world in its true, meaningless form has made being nihilistic
unsustainable for this generation. Hence, our flock towards authenticity.
An authentic sense of humor, personality, sense of style; a politics of authenticity. We can see this in popular culture. It is no surprise that the biggest stars in popular music today — Chappell Roan, SZA, Doechii — write deeply personal music, and their audiences embrace it because they’ve been denied this sincerity for so long. When Lola Young sings, “[you] don’t say hello ‘cause I got high again / And forgot to fold my clothes,” we all sing along because we’re all, “too messy,” too high, too forgetful on account of being too high. Young is a genuine reflection of us, and she takes herself — and her desire to “be me” — seriously. When she cries out whether being that real self is “not allowed,” we shout it in unison because we, too, desperately want to express the authenticity of our character.
The backlash against the insidious microtrend takeover of fashion history is, in part, motivated by its disastrous effects on our planet. But lest you think care for the Earth is the only motivation for our hostility, we’re also sick of microtrends because they have destroyed our capacity for developing for ourselves and expressing to others a personal style. Clothes express what is most private — one’s personality — to members of the public. They bring into the light of day what is hidden behind layers of flesh and blood. Microtrends have disguised the true content of our unique characters by dressing us in exactly the same garments. We no longer appear different from one another; our personalities appear homogenous. And there’s nothing an overgrown teenager despises more than being robbed of what individuality they’d like to think they have.
On both the left and the right of the political spectrum, those dominating the stage are politicking authenticity. Say what you will about President Donald Trump, but one thing you cannot deny is that the man is unapologetically himself — and that is exactly what his supporters admire about him. After being presented with politician after politician who spoke of change but delivered little to none of it, the masses grew weary. And so, when presented with someone who was so obviously uninterested in performing a cookie-cutter persona, they flocked to him. Likewise, it’s no surprise that on the left, a rising superstar wears a black Carhartt windbreaker for his official Congressional portrait. That is who John Fetterman is — a rugged, no-nonsense kind of man. In publicly expressing who they are, these figures grant the public the chutzpah to express their real selves too.
These shifts in our culture, more generally, are manifestations of the pendulum swinging.
Toward what exactly that pendulum is swinging is unclear. The last instance of mass nihilism — if we can call it that — immediately preceded the Second World War. The Dadaists presented the public with art that mocked them. Marcel Duchamp offered the public a urinal … Was this art according to the masses? The Dadaists deliberately prompted the public to question the superficiality of the world of human affairs. Yet, much to their chagrin, a culture of authenticity is not exactly what followed. Indeed, fascism and the dropping of atomic bombs are what followed — not to mention the witch-hunt of the Red Scare in America. Eternal return … Perhaps Friedrich Nietzsche was right all along.
But for our sake, I hope not. Hannah Arendt presents us with an alternative. That of Amor Mundi — to love the world. It may be truly meaningless, random and utterly devoid of significance. But it is ours.
We should care for this world because it gives us the opportunity to create something. We ought to regard culture with real interest because it concerns us. We should earnestly interact with art because it is beautiful, and we should be so lucky to recognize the good in the world. And we should engage seriously with politics because politics is how we create a meaning for the space that is shared between us. To irony, I say, “It was nice performing you, we have learned much from you — but all things must pass.” To a future that we all take fervent interest in, I say, “l’chaim.”
The Opinion: Issue one
By NOA RUBINSTEIN JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Welcome Brandeisians far and wide, to the first edition of this splendid column that I will call The Opinion. Now, in a day and age when many opinions are being thrown into the public, some may find my column tactless. I mean, with so much happening in the world, how does one Jewish, non-binary history major think that their opinions about the world/ school/life/everything matter to the extent that they want to write a piece in the University newspaper? I mean, come on! There are people more deserving of a platform who haven’t had the voice to speak.
Well that’s the thing, you tongue-tied people, this won’t just be about me. My dream, my hope, my aspiration is that you will email me your opinions — any opinions you want — and I will share them anonymously and discuss or examine them. Now, I may or may not agree with you, and I definitely do not have all of the answers (nor am I trying to say that I am always correct), but I will keep an open mind. That is doing more than most people in this day and age.
Now, I grew up in a world of modern media telling female-bodied people, like myself, not to be opinionated. To be amply quiet and smile politely while the world burns around them. So, I have grown afraid to be “troublesome,” to be outwardly vindictive when I feel wronged. In a way, this column will be like … therapy. A weird form of exposure therapy where I can vent my opinions to a bunch of peers that I may see in class. Fun.
But nonetheless, I feel like sometimes I walk around Brandeis like I’m in a force field where I’m the only one who can see the small problems that emerge. So, I want to be the first to break the ice in a peaceful, nonconfrontational manner.
Here is my first opinion: people take clubs too seriously.
Now, I am nervous to discuss this because I have numerous friends who have fallen under this offense. However I feel like it must be discussed. I understand that there is a need, a want, to make something perfect. To achieve that pinnacle of success. To win the election and get the executive board position you wanted. To be acknowledged and thanked for your hard work. I get that want. I have that want. But I also know that when I first started college, I didn’t join clubs to be reminded of what is happening in the real world. I didn’t join clubs to have the carnage of a Hunger Games-esque social situation — one that, by the way, I am still trying to understand.
I know the people of the club I am talking about know who they are, though, to be honest, I am sure that many clubs fall under the aforementioned descriptions. All I am saying is that a lot of the clubs I am associated with in some way — be it through personal
participation or acquainted dabbles — have turned into a wreckage of sorts. It seems like, be it for better or for worse, clubs have turned into … well … politics.
For instance, some club elections turn into a place where candidates can bargain for alliances instead of just running normally — or, even better, not telling people which position you are running for so the elections can actually be fair. Remember when fairness used to be people’s utmost concern? Yeah? Neither can I. To be honest, I think the world has just deteriorated so severely that winning is the only thing that matters.
Some risk friendships because of how elections turned out. Others take elections so damn seriously that people can’t see the fun in participating in them anymore. Look, I am not one to squander competitive spirit or say, “Hey! Perfectionistic tendencies can ruin a person and make everybody hate them!” Because, who am I kidding? I make the same mistakes. But I also know that if I was a first-year student seeing how some campus clubs operate, I would run away at the quickest opportunity. I found my best friends in clubs, and from what I hear, some clubs are doing phenomenally. However, I can’t be the only one who notices, if silently, that there are clubs that have taken things too far, dabbling too much in reality and breaking the playful attitude that clubs should have. Selfishly, I attend clubs to get away from the real world, not to watch it unfold. I shouldn’t have to feel dread walking into a club, and I don’t want anyone else to feel that way either.
So, from one Brandeisian to the other Brandesians who are reading this, I think we all need to focus on brightening up a little bit and remembering that fun only happens when people are enjoying themselves. Be playful! Even if the world is going to shit, there is still good that can come out of positivity. If you have an opinion you want to be made public but are afraid of being judged, email me at: theopinion2027@gmail.com.
I swear with my hand on the Bible, that anyone who submits their opinion will be left anonymous. It can be as short or as long as you’d like and it can be about anything you would want to share. My aim is to give a platform to voice students’ opinions who may not be open to sharing them out loud. Or, if you’d like to disagree with my opinion, feel free to email me and maybe I’ll find myself corrected. I will be publishing (hopefully) every other week, with either an opinion of mine or yours, so stay tuned!
May everyone continue to be able to express themselves with their First Amendment right to free speech. And with this ends what will hopefully be a biweekly column. Have a good day.
JUDGES BY THE NUMBERS
WOMAN'S TOP FINISHERS
400 Meters
Peterly Leroy '28 came in 14th with a time of 56.80. Triple Jump
Sarai Sealy '28 came in fifth place with a distance of 12.29 meters.
■ The Justice Editor Remi Young '27 explains the changing reality around Division 1 athlete compensation. Is it enough?
By REMI YOUNG JUSTICE SPORTS EDITOR
For years, there has been an ongoing debate regarding whether full-ride scholarships are considered enough compensation for National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletes. While full scholarships cover tuition, room, board and additional fees, they often do not contribute to any further needs of these athletes. Now, legal and public pressures have led to the adaptation of the NCAA policy. D1 athletes now have multiple avenues for earning income, including Name, Image and Likeness deals, cost of attendance stipends and additional benefits from universities and third-party entities.
NIL
In July 2021, the NCAA lifted restrictions on athletes profiting from their Name, Image and Likeness. Lifting these restrictions allows studentathletes to sign sponsorship deals, partner with brands and monetize their brands on social media. NIL deals vary widely in value. Some wellknown athletes from notable programs have signed valuable agreements with major brands such as Nike, Gatorade and Boost Mobile, earning millions in endorsements. On a more local scale, lesser-known athletes can capitalize on local sponsorships, social media promotions and more. With platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, athletes can monetize content in previously underutilized ways.
Stipends
A new financial benefit for D1 athletes is a Cost of Attendance stipend. While most full-ride schol -
arships traditionally covered direct education expenses, they did not account for other costs such as travel, personal expenses and supplies. In 2015, the NCAA began allowing schools to provide additional stipends to cover these expenses.
The Cost of Attendance stipend varies by school and location but typically ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 annually. While this amount may sound small, the additional financial support helps student-athletes with everyday costs that otherwise would have been their responsibility to cover. This financial relief allows them to focus more on academics and their college athletic careers rather than trying to find a job to afford day-to-day expenses.
NCAA v. Alston
In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled in NCAA v. Alston that the NCAA could not prohibit schools from providing additional educational benefits to student-athletes. Due to this ruling, universities can offer financial incentives based on academic performance, such as scholarships for postgraduate studies, laptops, internships and even direct cash payments for academic achievements. These "Alston payments" are a different form of compensation, allowing schools to offer student-athletes more money for meeting specific academic benchmarks.
The future of D1 athlete compensation
The ongoing discussion surrounding athlete compensation suggests that the current model is evolving. Some argue that the billions of dollars generated by college athletics should be redistributed directly to athletes, as they believe this would be the only way to compensate student-athletes fairly. To counter this argument, some critics argue that revenue-sharing would change the culture of college athletes, similar to professional sports, leading to more commercial and economic interests over the educational interests of these college athletes, leading to heightened tensions. While significant changes have already occurred, this issue will only continue to evolve with the introduction of new policies and more athlete experiences.
Brandeis Fencing Features
Brandeis Fencing competed at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Northeast Regionals, sending three Judges to the finals.
Photos
Sports just
FOOTBALL
National Football League Scouting Combine offensive position draft prospects
■ The Justice reviews the standout scores from offensive position players during the combine events and how these performances impact player’s’ overall draft scores.
By SOPHIA DE LISI JUSTICE DEPUTY EDITOR
The National Football League’s 2025 Scouting Combine, known to some as the National Invitational Camp, took place between Feb. 27 and March 2 in the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The NFL invited 329 top draft-eligible college players to be evaluated by scouts, coaches and general managers through physical, medical and mental examinations.
“For the NFL, it’s about more than just building the next generation of great football players; it’s about building the next generation of great leaders — on and off the field,” the NFL Operations website explains. Beyond expressing their talent on the field, players showcase how they can transition between positions and oftentimes, that they can rebound from injuries. The Combine events include a 40-yard dash, a 10-yard split, a vertical jump, a broad jump, a three-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle and a bench press.
The NFL Combine intelligence quotient names Cam Ward, Jalen Milroy, Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart and Dillon Gabriel the quarterbacks with the highest Next Gen Stats Draft Score. The draft score combines the players’ grades for all of the Combine events; their height, weight and arm length; as well as their athleticism and production scores. A player’s athleticism score measures if they meet specific thresholds specific to their positions and their production score measures how productive their prospects were in college.
However, since not all of these players participated in the Combine’s workout events, NFL writer Nick Shook reported on March 3 that the rest of the quarterbacks “struggled to turn out a clear leader.” Out of the rest of the players, Brady Cook performed the most consistently. Cook was a top performer among the quarterbacks in the 40-yard dash at 4.59 seconds. His overall prospect grade is a 5.80 and his total score is a 69, predicting that he will be an “average backup or special teamer.” Cook’s best team fits are the Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Giants. The top running backs overall are Ashton Jeanty, Cam Skattebo, TreVeyon Henderson, Omarion Hampton and Quinshon Judkins. Out of the running backs who participated in the Combine, Shook identified Judkins, Trevor Etienne and Bhayshul Tuten as the standouts. He wrote that Judkins is a “rebellious artist” with his running routes and a “natural as a pass catcher.” Judkins’ best team fits are the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers. His prospect grade is 6.33, estimating that he will “eventually be a plus starter.” Shook also said that Etienne is a natural runner who moves “fluidly” and stressed his “elite” athleticism score of 90. Meanwhile, Tuten is nimble during drills and has the fastest 40-yard dash of the running backs at 4.32 seconds. Etienne’s prospect score is 6.15, meaning that he is likely to be a “good back up with the potential to develop into a starter,” while Tuten could be an average starter with a grade of 6.26. Without the wide receivers with the
top draft scores participating — Tetairoa McMillan, Emeka Egbuka and Travis Hunter — there was another lack of clear front runners. However, Luther Burden III, Isaac TeSlaa and Chimere Dike had noteworthy performances — Burden’s prospect grade, 6.47, indicates that he will “become a good starter within two years,” TeSlaa has potential to develop into a starter with 6.13 and Dike scored a 6.00, giving him potential to be an “above average backup.” Shook stressed Dike and TeSlaa’s high scores throughout the events and Burden’s “clean” drill performances. Some of their suggested teams are the Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders and the Houston Texans. Aside from top tight ends who did not participate in the Combine such as Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland, Mason Taylor and Elijah Taylor, Terrance Ferguson and Joshua Simon both had strong showings. Their overall prospect scores are 6.14 and 6.11. Ferguson accomplished a “testing trifecta,” receiving the highest score in the 40-yard dash out of the tight ends at 4.63 and was among the top performers in the broad and vertical jumps. He also excelled in the pass-catching drills. Shook estimates that Ferguson’s best teams would be the Cincinnati Bengals, the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers. Simon’s jumps were also among the highest, and he showed “impressive burst, ball-tracking skills and the ability to catch the ball without breaking stride.”
Armand Membou, the tackle with the third-highest draft score, 85, performed well, completing the 40-yard dash in 4.91 seconds. Shook emphasized Membou's speed as he managed to get the highest speed in the 40-yard dash and the broad jump. Josh Conerly Jr., the fifth-ranked tackle with a score of 81, had a stellar showing in terms of his “fluid movement and light feet” giving him the best score in the 10-yard split. Membou’s prospect score, 6.49, predicts that he will become a good starter in two years, and Conerly’s prospect score of 6.39 estimates that he will “eventually be a plus starter.” Grey Zabel and Will Campbell lead the tackles with draft scores of 87 and 85, but they did not participate in all of the events. Out of the guards, Tate Ratledge had a considerable showing at the Combine. He has the highest draft score out of the players at 84, with a near-perfect athleticism score of 98. Shook reported that Ratledge “flew through every drill intended to test his agility and change-of-direction capability” and that his first two steps were so fast that they “appeared like a blurred shuffle.” He has the potential to become a lead blocker due to his speed, making him appealing to teams in need of guards who can move quickly, such as the Cleveland Browns, the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. Ratledge’s prospect score is 6.28, suggesting that he will eventually be an average starter.
Jared Wilson had the best scores in the 10-yard split and the 40-yard dash out of the centers. He also has the highest draft score of 83, followed by Seth McLaughlin’s score of 73, Drew Kendall’s 72, Jonah Monheim’s 71 and Eli Cox’s 66. Wilson earned the highest score of athleticism possible, 99, because of his remarkable speed and high jumps. Wilson’s prospect score is 5.83, which estimates that he will be an average backup or a specialteamer.
The NFL Combine is a vital step for amateur players before the draft because it allows both fans and NFL officials to watch how they perform amongst their peers. After a successful performance, a player may find favorable prospects during the NFL Draft starting on April 24.
JUDGES IN ACTION
The Justice Editor, Remi Young '27, explains the changing reality around Division 1 athlete compensation p. 10.
FORMULA 1
A guide to Formula 1: Get to know the 2025 Grid
■ After an incredible offseason, how will the 2025 Formula 1 season shape up?
By MAX KLEIN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
It’s lights out and away we go for a new season of Formula 1. For those of you who have never watched Formula 1 and always ask your friends who do watch, “What’s the difference between Formula 1 and the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing?” Here’s a brief rundown.
Formula 1 is a racing series where all the teams create their own cars and race on circuits designed with many turns. In NASCAR, everyone gets the same basic car to start with; it’s what’s called a stock car series, and they all race on an oval shaped track. Formula 1 has ten teams with two drivers who race throughout the world. To determine where everyone starts for each race, Formula 1 has a qualifying period where each driver tries to set their fastest possible lap. The line-up is set corresponding to how fast the racer goes in qualifying, with first being the fastest at qualifying. This is why for a team to truly excel, they must be capable of speed over one lap, and they must have consistency over longer distances such as a 70-lap race. All ten teams race for the driver's championship, which is awarded to the best driver, and the team championship, which is given to the best team.
Last season, Max Verstappen took his fourth consecutive drivers' championship win. The McLaren squad, with drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, won the team championship. Shocking driver changes happened in almost every team, and a whopping 30% of all drivers will be rookies this season.
This past off-season has been one to remember. Heading into the break, most drivers were out of a contract, leading to a mess of driver moves and rookie debuts. The most exciting transfer was the greatest driver of all time going to the greatest team. Lewis
Hamilton uniting with Ferrari should usher in a new wave of dominance, and while the pairing of the greats should be able to fight for wins and the championship, the team to beat is still McLaren.
Having won the team championship last year, McLaren has kept both of their drivers. They were the stars of pre-season testing in Bahrain, where all the teams can run their cars in a low-stakes environment before the season starts. Pre-season testing gives all the teams a chance to prove themselves or figure out where they went wrong when they built their cars. While the McLaren squad wasn’t the fastest over one lap, they dominated in the long tests that mimicked a full race. Testing showed many changes, with some teams copying their more competitive rivals and others arriving with genius developments sure to skyrocket their team in rankings from the previous year.
The Williams squad seems to be the team with the best improvements following their recent signing of the ex-Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz. With Lewis Hamilton taking his place at Ferrari, Sainz left for the rapidly improving team and set the fastest lap of the pre-season. While Williams is struggling to match the consistency of the top teams over long distances, they seem poised to make a fight for a top-five spot in the constructors championship this year. It would be a big step up from their ninth place win in 2024.
The biggest disappointment of testing seems to be Sauber. For the third year in a row, they will likely end up in the bottom two of ten teams. With the rookie Gabriel Bortoleto joining veteran Nico Hulkenberg, it seems that at the season's end, they will have to go back to the drawing board once more.
Having covered the biggest winners, losers and surprises, it's time for the oddest pre-season testing results. This designation goes to Red Bull, who, as in previous years, have said there is a lot of work to be done on the car following a below par performance in testing. Nearly every year in which they have claimed to be disappointed in the car,
they have fought for or won the championship, leading many to believe that this year, they are again lying about the true abilities of their car. Team Red Bull will be taking Max Verstappen and rookie Liam Lawson this year in their quest for a fifth straight championship either in the drivers or team championship.
Another rookie looking to make a splash is the wonderkid Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes rookie has been touted since his karting days as the next big thing, and this year is his chance to prove it. He has the weighty task of replacing Lewis Hamilton, but many think he can succeed. He will be supported by a greatly improved car and an incredibly fast teammate in George Russel after last year's mediocrity.
The Aston Martin team has also stayed with the same driver lineup. This is not shocking to anyone considering they have one of the greatest drivers of all time, Fernando Alonso — and the owner's son, Lance Stroll. They should have a middle-of-the-pack season, fighting for the top ten in most races.
The three teams probably slotting into seventh, eighth and ninth places at the end of the season are Haas, the Red Bull’s junior team Racing Bulls and the French squad Alpine. Haas seems to be rebuilding with a rookie driver and team boss. The Racing Bulls are, as always, the little siblings trying to claim a seat at the adult table and could make a fight this year with their new driver pairing. Thankfully for Alpine, the only way is up in terms of driver pairings. Last year, they had two drivers who had hated each other's guts for years in Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly. The rookie Jack Doohan, who they’ve brought in to partner with Gasly, isn’t going to singlehandedly salvage this burning wreck of a team, so it seems they will also be in for a rough season. In short, it would seem that these three teams are again consigned to mediocrity. While these predictions may seem set in stone, it should be an incredibly exhilarating season with twists and turns (no pun intended) to really shake things up.
ZOOM: Lando Norris drives for McLaren Formula 1 Team during the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix.
Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
Arts & Culture
Photos courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS and JAMES LI/The Justice. Design: JONAS KAPLIN & SKYE ENTWOOD/The Justice. Waltham, Mass.
A weekend of l A ughter with B oris ’ k itchen
By IYLA LICHTENFELD JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
This weekend, sketch comedy group Boris’ Kitchen performed their spring semester, or rather “New Shit Show,” in the Merrick Theater. The room was full and buzzing as BK President Josh Kiel ’25 and Vice President Trisha Roy ’26 welcomed Brandeis’ very own improv group False Advertising to open the show. At the Friday viewing, they presented the audience with a short Broadway musical “Ghosts of Radio” where two storylines connected into a beautifully sung ballad “Ghost Foursome.” The absurdity continued as Kiel and Roy returned to the stage to introduce the headlining actors. Kiel whipped open a bottle of Pepsi and began to gulp down the soda. Encouraging the stunt, the audience began to chant “chug, chug, chug!” as Kiel did his best to down the beverage. The ridiculous, though energizing, moment prepared the audience for more oddities to come.
The first sketches of the evening were incredibly performed, but it was “Maple Syrup Girl,” written by Greg Roitbourd ’26 and Lyn Stanley ’26, that captivated the audience. In a short and sweet scene the audience was introduced to the titular character who was revealed to be Canadian through a cute song and dance with the nation’s flag. Though soon after we heard this innocuous fact, we discovered Maple Syrup Girl was a ruthless libertarian as she readied her Nerf Gun to take aim at spectators. And just like that, the sketch ended.
Another performance that enthralled the audience was “No Gum Allowed” written by Teddy Peters ’28 in which he played a naive schoolboy who mistakenly swallowed his gum. The character was convinced a “gum tree” would grow from his stomach, destroying his body. Peters’ full effort into expressions, movement and emotions had the audience believing it just might happen.
“Good Cop, Bad Cop, Freaky Cop” was exactly as it sounds. The sketch’s physical humor counterparts Jae Fioribello ’28, as Freaky Cop, and Sophie Scribner ’28, as the criminal, saw the two mount a tabletop, eliciting a confession of murder from Scribner. The “baddest” cop in the station had done it again.
Following the raunchy display, the audience entered a new sketch at a Western saloon. We heard the tale of a dangerous man leaving sexually transmitted diseases in his wake. “Where does he come from, where does he go,” the man goes by only one name, Cotton Eyed Joe. Written by Lauren Goodman ’27, “Cotton Eyed Joever,” is the response of a sheepish barmaid, played by Peters, using her breasts (the actor’s hands) to express shock and sadness. The particular one-up-one-down physicality of the phrase “clinker-clanker” put the audience into fits of laughter.
BK ended the show with “We’re Trying,” a sketch written by Roy that presented three
couples discussing wanting to get pregnant. One of the couples was on a strict schedule to procreate, so when their alarm went off mid-party they discretely excused themselves. However, through the backstage doors all was audible. The classic sketch rounded out the evening with a twist illuminating the audience about the concept of “mpreg” or male pregnancy as it is commonly referred to in fan fiction.
The deranged absurdity of a BK show once again proved their hilarity to be well desired on campus. There’s no telling what material or “new shit” we will get to see next semester.
enchan T ing performance
■ The ballet as we know it was changed in 1890, and it has since become an integral part of the western performance history. “La Belle au Bois Dormant” shows us the intricacies of choreography, set design and composition together in a single piece that has stood the test of time.
By MIKEY TERRENZI JUSTICE OVERSEAS STAFF WRITER
Withstanding rain, hail and wind, spectators stood before the National Opera of Paris, excitedly anticipating this season’s “La Belle au Bois Dormant” choreographed and directed by Rudolph Noureev. I had the fortunate opportunity to attend this spectacle with a group of other students on March 11. Among the neoclassical mise en scene, costume design and spectacular engaging lighting, dancers spun, twisted and leaped in petit pas pattering across the stage. A symphony to honor Tchaikovsky, led by the brilliant composer Vello Pähn, masterfully presented the Russian ballet that the audience awarded a standing ovation.
This ballet was an incredible performance, led by Bleuenn Battistoni as Aurore and Guillaume Diop as Le Prince Désiré, who notably was awarded an Etoile from the National Opera of Paris in 2023, the highest title a dancer can achieve under this organization. Throughout Battistoni and Diop’s stunning performances, the variations were also incredibly stunning. Unifying in their costume, movement and spirit the dancers incarnated such illusions of regency, royalty, drama and a narrative of love.
For the readers that are not familiar with the piece, “La Belle au Bois Dormant” is a Russian ballet originally shown in 1890 with choreography by Marius Petipa and composition by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The two artists created an exciting dynamic artwork that expressed a neoclassical sensibility that confronted and appreciated the French Ancien Regime, notably through the inspiration of Charles Perrault, writer of the interpreted story of Sleeping Beauty. If you have the opportunity to see this dance in its original philosophy of Petipa, I encourage you to spend the four hours experiencing a stupefying conception of ballet.
The dancers performed immaculate choreography throughout the three acts that highlighted the geometry and verticality of the scene. With each jump, spin and lift the columns flanking the stage grew and grew. Squares, circles, spirals of silhouettes dressed in tutus and coats were given an air of architectural grandeur. The audience sat anxiously grasping and clinging onto every second of every dancer in each act, yet the fast-paced assemblage of shifting bodies contrasted with the slow soft steps of the pas de deux left the audience amazed and astounded. Helped in part by the costume design and the lighting, shimmering dancers became blue birds, curious cats and scintillating stones.
One performance that stands out is the pas de deux between Prince Désiré and the Vision of Aurore in Act II Scene I. Surrounded by misty forest woods, the Prince loses himself among dryads and the Lilac Fairy. As he contemplates his surroundings, exploring the stage in graceful leaps, a vision comes to him of the sleeping princess. The two embrace, coupled in mist and majesty as their bodies turn, fold, extend and consider each other. As arms and hands grasp in tender longing, we see the two unified ephemerally. Understanding the temporary nature of this dance is integral to the intense feeling of longing and yearning that the prince possessed. Suddenly a man bewitched by beauty, Désiré desires that touch, that dance, once again. This scene contrasts extremely well with the third act, titled “The Marriage of Aurore.” Among the pas de cinq of precious stones and the bubbling blue birds, or the chaleureux cats with their playful paws, we find Aurore and Désiré once again together. No longer are they cast amongst trees in a fleeting moment, but rather their union is a sacred, eternal and enchanting encounter. The audience witnesses bounding leaps and grands jetés on the part of Désiré, a man joyous and exuberant facing his bride, while Aurore, performs precise turns, liberated from the curse placed on her. Her steps built in intensity until finally the two joined together, a royal marriage between true love eternal.
While this ballet was performed in Paris and most Justice readers are not hitching flights to sold out shows, I would be remiss if I did not mention the opportunities to witness a dance performance that is closer to home. I would encourage readers to go to the ballet performances in Boston, especially if you qualify for discounted tickets. Flood the opera and marvel at the hard work of these performers, it is truly a beautiful sight to behold.
Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS.
REUBEN GARTENBACH/The Justice
BRANDEIS’ POST-BACCALAUREATE EXHBITION OPENS
By DAHLIA RAMIREZ JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
On March 12, I attended the opening of the post-baccalaureate art exhibition in Dreitzer Gallery. This exhibition features four incredible artists. I was lucky enough to chat with them about their work to gain some inspiration and insight on their process and to ask them each about my favorite piece of theirs.
The first artist I spoke to was Ally Sukay ’25. Sukay is a painter whose large-scale oil paintings explore themes of friendship, community and the joys of daily life in vivid color. Sukay often paints subjects from life and aims to express her world as she experiences it, through the use of hyper-saturated colors and thick layers of painterly, expressive strokes. Sukay attended Brandeis for her undergraduate degree, and originally aimed to become a doctor before finding an “obsession” for painting. Her fifth year and the work that has come out of it is a reflection of her time spent at the University and the chosen family that formed over the years. My favorite piece of Sukay’s from this exhibition is “Mishpacha,” a large-scale oil on paper painting of three friends enjoying a meal together. This work has a great sense of comfort and calm, the figures look peaceful as they sit in a teal kitchen at a table scattered with cups, salad bowls and a tea set. The detail and color in this piece is exquisite. The beautifully rendered tablecloth is decorated with flowers and birds. Black hair is expressed with strokes of blue and red, skin is at once green and pink. “Mishpacha” is a Hebrew word that means family, a fitting description for a piece that highlights the closeness that is felt when friendships become familial. The moment captured here feels natural and welcoming, as the viewer takes on the spot of the fourth attendant of the meal, becoming a part of the “Mishpacha.”
The next artist I spoke to was Atticus Kangas. Kangas is a multimedia artist who works in both acrylic painting and wooden sculpture, often mixing the two crafts. Kangas grew up in a household of art historians, surrounded by the Ancient Greek architecture of columns and temples. This grew into a fascination with the “built world” leading to an exploration of structure and order as a means of escape from the clutter and chaos of daily life. Kangas aims to create an emotional release for his viewers through his colorful, organized structures that blur the lines between sculpture and painting. My favorite piece at the exhibition by Kangas was a painting on canvas titled “Kouros.” This piece combines the color block language of modernism with a black silhouette reminiscent of Ancient Greek paintings, as a metaphor for how the artist’s work fits in the worlds of painting and sculpture. Kangas’ work combines the new and the old of art to create a unique experience for the viewer, a bright and peaceful experience that can be felt whether or not you have a background in art history. To me, this painting also represents the monotony of daily life. The silhouette appears to be alone in the window of a large structure, perhaps she is working late in the office or taking a night train home. The bright blue, orange, red and pink suggest that this experience is not a lonely one, but perhaps a normal and even positive part of life within schedule and structure. The figure is simply taking in and appreciating a moment of order among the chaos of everyday life.
Next, I spoke with Zichun Zhao. Zhao is a multimedia painter whose work is often painted on self constructed fabric structures. Like Kangas, Zhao experiments with breaking out of the rectangular canvas boundaries of traditional painting. Zhao’s work takes inspiration from daily life, but unlike Sukay, her work is expressed through the absence of figures and bright colors. Negative space, empty chairs and an unmade bed are all elements of Zhao’s work that express her internal contemplation through the tasks of everyday life. The suggestion of a human presence also allows the audience to put themselves into the setting Zhao creates. Zhao also mentioned the pressure that comes when portraying an Asian female figure, a discourse she is not scared but tired of. My favorite piece of hers was “On The Floor Beneath The Stairs,” an acrylic on fabric painting of
PASSIONATE PERFORMANCE
the view Zhao experienced while lying on the floor during dance class. Exhausted and needing a break, Zhao laid down and stared upwards, hearing – and more so feeling – the dancers around her. This experience combined themes of community and alienation all at once, and is a place Zhao wanted to bring to an audience. The industrial materials and transparent fabric are integral to this piece. It is designed to be able to be put over a window, allowing it to transform a space and be enhanced through the changing light and weather. Zhou’s pieces are also windows into private moments of her daily life. As a viewer, I could relate to these moments of contemplation, transformation and relaxation during my day to day routine. Zhou’s work recreates these private moments for her audience, turning them into comforting spaces for people to gather and be alone together.
The last artist I spoke to was Nellie Congdon ’24. Congdon is an acrylic painter whose larger-than-life paintings of the feminine figure deliberately contort the body into unique positions that convey as much emotion as her subjects’ facial expressions. Congdon has been painting since she was a kid and has always had an interest in color and figure painting. Congdon’s figures are often alone, stretched to fit into the space of the canvas. They are also often dressed in swimsuits, a metaphor for what we choose to conceal versus what we choose to express about our bodies, connecting one’s sense of self to their self awareness. My favorite of Congdon’s pieces is titled “Sitting With People.” This work features four feminine figures sitting together in a circular arrangement, rendered in shades of yellow, purple, pink and orange. The figures take up the entire page, and while their bodies are contorted like much of Congdon’s other work, they are also at ease. They are together and clearly in community; however, each person also seems to be thinking to themselves rather than in conversation with each other. To me, this piece is about silence and contemplation within a group setting, the beauty of simply existing with your loved ones, unconcerned with how you look or are being perceived.
The post-baccalaureate exhibition is on display until Apr. 6 and I encourage everyone to go see the pieces I have mentioned and the others currently on display in the Dreitzer Gallery in the Spingold Theatre!
The Russian Club TalenT show: a CelebRaTion of CulTuRe and heRiTage
By MAEVE COAKLEY JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
On March 12 the Brandeis Russian Club and Russian Studies program performed their annual Student Talent Show as part of Brandeis’ Russian Language & Culture Week of 2025. The Student Talent Show is a tradition dating back to 2008 and all students are encouraged to participate, not just students in the Russian Club or Russian Studies Program. Before the celebrations began there was an acknowledgment of those affected by war and an explanation of the significance of International Women’s Day in post-soviet countries. International Women’s Day takes place on March 8 and after Russian women gained suffrage in 1917 the country adopted it as a national holiday. Later the date was also adopted by the United Nations in 1975.
The show consisted of fifteen acts, each one introduced by the Masters of Ceremony Annetta Venford ’25, Aeryn Rowe ’25, and Esther Balaban ’26. The acts were a mix of songs, musical performances, and dances. Russian Club kicked off the show with a karaoke rendition of the popular song “A Boy Dreams of Tambov” by Murat Nasyrov which energized the crowd. The first of three Russian studies classes to participate was Russian 20, who performed the famous song “Blue Train” by Gena the Crocodile. The performance of “Blue Train” is a rite of passage for Russian 20 students who donned large colorful mouse ears and even did a bit of choreography much to the crowd’s delight. Russian 40’s performance was also a song, “My Heart” by Spleen, and the crowd clapped along with their performance. The final Russian Studies class that performed was Russian 153, whose performance of “Dance of the Little Swans” was dedicated to the loving memory of Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Students Thomas Musser ’26, Aeryn Rowe ’25, and Solomon Zhukovskiy ’27 each put on long white tutus and joined hands to dance along to Zoe Potolsky ’26 and Lev Sewald ’26’s performance of the piece as a violin duet. Overall the night was one of community formed amongst the students and the crowd. The Masters of Ceremony conducted the night and introduced each act balancing humor, and even getting other students to participate in their bits as well. Mark Gaysinskiy ’28 encouraged the crowd to sing along to his accordion performance of “Birthday Song” by Gena the Crocodile and he was joined by a large group of volunteers. A loud reception was given to Abby Froyshteter ’26’s powerful rendition of “My Kyiv,” the official hymn of Ukraine’s capital city. This year marks the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of the song’s composer Igor Shamo. Nina Loshkin ’26 dedicated her performance of Sara
Bareilles’ “She
to Be
that
Used
Mine”
she sang as a duet with Isabel Hon Anderson ’25 who accompanied her on the piano to Noa Brundy ’25 the President of Russian Club who organized the show. The talent show was a wonderful and loving celebration of Russian culture and Brandeis’ Russian community.
— Editor’s Note: The Justice Editorial Assistant Esther Balaban ’26 is a member of the Brandeis Russian Club and did not contribute to or edit this article.
Photos courtesy of XILEI CECI CHEN/The Brandeis Department of Student Engagement.
