ARTS Page 19
FORUM Criticize play cancellation 11 SPORTS Track team races to the finish 16
‘SPRINGFEST’ andrew baxter/the Justice
T h e I n d e p e n d e n t S t u d e n t N e w s p a p e r o f B r a n d e is U n i v e r sit y S i n c e 1 9 4 9
the
Justice
Volume LXX, Number 23
www.thejustice.org
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
‘Enough is enough’
Commencement
Hrabowski to address grads ■ The 2018 commencement
speaker and honorary degree recipients were announced Monday afternoon. By Natalia wiater Justice editor
Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the graduating class at the upcoming commencement ceremony, according to a Monday press release. The great-great-grandson of a Polish-American slave owner and the son of two teachers, Hrabowski became a freedom fighter at the age of 12 in May of 1963. He participated in the Birmingham Children’s
Crusade march for civil rights, during which thousands of children and young adults took to the streets in a call to end segregation in their hometown and the South. As a result, Hrabowski was sent to a juvenile detention facility, where he and the other children were "treated like animals." While in the facility, he was visited by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who told him and the other children, “What you do this day will have an impact on children not yet born.” Dr. King’s words had a great effect on the young Hrabowski, and he has dedicated his career to fighting for equality through education. He graduated summa cum laude from Hampton College and received a bachelor’s degree in
See GRADUATION, 7 ☛
Student union
Students compete in last round of Student Union elections ■ Seats on the Student Union
and the Judiciary were up for grabs as students shared their platforms with the Justice. By emily blumenthal and liat shapiro Justice production assistant and staff writer
During this round of Student Union elections, 19 candidates faced off for 14 open seats in the Senate and Judiciary. This week, some of the candidates spoke to the Justice about their aspirations and the issues they consider most important. Geraldine Bogard ’20 Bogard, who is running for the Racial Minority Senator seat, served as the Myra Kraft Transitional Program senator during the 2016-17 academic year. She also ac-
tively participates as a member of the Service and Outreach Committee, as well as a non-senate chair for the Club Support Committee. In her biography shared by the Student Union, Bogard explains that her time spent on both committees has motivated her to “consistently advocate for the student body’s needs.” If elected, Bogard resolves to make the Student Union more accessible to students and to advocate for student voices when crafting laws. One of Bogard’s specific goals is to provide “sensitivity and prejudice training” for all members of the Student Union in order to help them better serve their fellow students. Linfei Yang ’21 Having already served one term as the international student senator, Yang is once again vying for the position. He shared in his
ANDREW BAXTER/the Justice
"We are just like you": Victoria Richardson '20 spoke about her personal experience with gun violence growing up in the Bronx.
Students organize rally to condemn gun violence ■ Speakers gathered at the
Light of Reason to highlight different aspects of issues surrounding gun violence. By liat shapiro Justice staff writer
Student coordinators of the Brandeis #NeverAgain movement held a rally for gun control legislation at the Light of Reason on Friday. “The date of this walkout coincides with a national school walkout to commemorate the anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School in 1999,” co-coordinator Renee Korgood ’20 told the crowd. “We wanted to hold an event that supported the walkouts while simultaneously energizing students here.” In an email to the Brandeis student population, Student Union President Jacob Edelman ’18 encouraged students to attend the event, writing, “Whatever your political preferences, I encourage you to engage with a political climate that is particularly receptive to hearing students’ voices.” In an interview with the Justice, Korgood explained that the event
coordinators wanted to “use this moment right before students go back to their homes to build momentum going into the summer.” Another important aspect of the event, according to Korgood, was to represent “all different perspectives of gun violence.” Speakers at the event hailed from both inside and outside the Brandeis community. Brandeis alum Kristine Mackin Ph.D ’14, the Brandeis Slam Team Poetic Justice and several current Brandeis students and organizers of Brandeis #NeverAgain took to the podium to speak on matters relating to gun violence. Mackin encouraged students to vote. During her time at Brandeis she participated in activism relating to gun violence, and she currently serves on the Waltham City Council. She said, “The most important thing I want all of you to take away from today … [is] that your actions only turn into policy when you make yourselves heard at the ballot box.” Mackin observed, “We thought [Columbine] was an anomaly; surely, nothing like this could happen again, not to us — not here. We were wrong and nothing changed.” Mackin continued to list national shootings since Columbine, repeat-
ing, “And nothing changed.” In a statement to the Justice, Mackin added that the reason she participated in Brandeis’ rally was because she hoped to “amplify the message of the students and other speakers.” “I’m committed to the social justice mission Brandeis students exemplify,” she continued. “My public position carries with it a responsibility to help lift up the voices of people who would otherwise not be heard.” Several Brandeis students — both those previously engaged with Brandeis #NeverAgain and those with no previous direct ties to the student coalition — also spoke at the rally. Each student speaker brought anecdotes, official statistics and personal messages to highlight various aspects and effects of gun violence. Korgood emphasized in her interview with the Justice that it was “really important that this event focus[ed] on young people and their perspectives and their energy into making change.” Victoria Richardson’s ’20 motivation to participate in the rally stemmed from her experiences as a woman of color. In an statement to the Justice, Richardson shared that
See rally, 7 ☛
Packing Punches
Victory at Last
TEDx Brandeis
Brandeis Boxing Club is growing and evolving to better serve its members.
Baseball breaks their 14-game losing streak with a win against NYU on Saturday.
University community members explored global issues through personal stories.
liat shapiro/the Justice
For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org
See Election, 6 ☛
Waltham, Mass.
Let your voice be heard! Submit letters to the editor online at www.thejustice.org
FEATURES 9
INDEX
SPORTS 16
andrew baxter/the Justice
ARTS SPORTS
17 13
EDITORIAL FEATURES
10 OPINION 8 POLICE LOG
10 2
News 3
COPYRIGHT 2018 FREE AT BRANDEIS.
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TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 ● news ● the justice
NEWS SENATE LOG
POLICE LOG
Senate returns to debate of duality of purpose and intersectionality
Medical Emergency
The final Senate meeting of the academic year continued a semester-long debate over duality of purpose and club intersectionality as the senators heard proposals from club leaders and discussed amendments. The Fencing Club, which was recognized last year under the previous club recognition rules, approached the Senate with a petition to be dissolved and re-recognized it as a probationary club. Probationary status would afford club leaders more resources and assistance as they build membership back up, Club Support Committee Chair Tal Richtman ’20 explained. The Senate voted to award Fencing Club probationary status. The Senate next heard a petition for probationary status from the Minority Association of Pre-medical Students. The group, part of a larger national movement, provides mentorship and pipeline outreach to minority premed students. The petition ignited a debate among senators, some of whom argued that the club overlaps with similar organizations which provide assistance and support to pre-med students. Rosenthal Quad Senator Lizy Dabanka ’20 reminded her fellow senators of the Senate’s previous discussions about intersectionality, asking them to think critically about the proposal and recognize how their own personal backgrounds may affect their approach. “We really need to look at ourselves with a little more humility,” she said. “We’re students; we’re not God.” The Senate ultimately voted to grant probationary status to MAPS. Evan Moloney ’20 next presented to the Senate on behalf of TBA Improv and Sketch Comedy Group, which wanted to change its constitution. The previous draft separated group members into two categories: stageperforming members and general audience members. While the latter group could sit in on practices, TBA wanted to change its constitution to make them general members, also affording them easier access to voting rights. After a brief discussion, the Senate voted to support the change. The Senate then discussed amendments in the evening’s unfinished business agenda. One amendment, which focused on the duality of purpose clause and club intersectionality, tapped into a semester-long debate that has been waged in the Senate. Under the amendment, the duality of purpose clause would be altered to allow for clubs that target intersectionality on campus, or the crossroads between two identity groups. International Student Senator Linfei Yang ’20 expressed concern that the new amendment would open up floodgates to give unqualified clubs access to Union resources without scrutiny. Finkel added that the duality of purpose rules allow the Senate to be a safeguard for the student body’s best interests, rather than a security guard with a checklist of criteria. Class of 2018 Senator Abhishek Kulkarni replied that the Senate reserves the right to deny a club recognition if it believes the club will not be beneficial to the campus community, adding that the amendment does not force the Senate to recognize overlapping clubs, but rather gives it the option to do so. The Senate voted to reject the amendment. The last item under new business concerned bystander training, which had previously been a requirement for all club leaders in order for recognized clubs to remain active. Hannah Brown ’19, president-elect of the Union, explained that she and Union Diversity and Inclusion Officer Amber Abernathy ’18 have met with Director of Sexual Assault Services and Prevention Sarah Berg and Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Education, Training and Development Allyson Livingstone to discuss reinstating the requirement. However, Berg and Livingstone expressed concern that the previous system required sexual assault survivors to “out” themselves to fellow club members, or else sit through a potentially harmful and triggering training session. Instead, this requirement could be modified such that club leaders could individually choose to participate in bystander training or diversity, equity and inclusion training. The Senate voted to begin work on this new training system. After the individual senator reports, the Senate adjourned for the semester. —Abby Patkin
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS n An Arts article incorrectly spelled the acronym POSI. It was corrected to POSSE. (April 17, Page 20). n A Forum article incorrectly spelled Scott Halper’s name. (April 17, Page 11). n A News article’s headline has been updated online to better reflect its content. (April 17, Page 3). The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@thejustice.org.
Justice
the
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April 16—A party in the Sachar International Center reported that they were not feeling well. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. April 17—University Police received a report of a party who tripped on the stairs in the Shapiro Science Center. University Police on the scene reported that the party had suffered head, nose and hand injuries. Cataldo Ambulance staff transported the party to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. April 18—BEMCo staff treated a party in Rosenthal Quad who was having a panic attack. April 19—University Police received a report of a party in the Goldfarb Library who was
having an allergic reaction. An ambulance was requested and the party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. April 19—BEMCo responded to a call at the Science Roadway regarding a report that a party had fallen and injured their head. Cataldo Ambulance staff transported the party to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. April 19—BEMCo responded to a call regarding a party who had lost consciousness and suffered an ankle injury at the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. The party was evaluated and refused medical treatment. April 20—A party in the Shapiro Campus Center reported that they had injured their back while moving heavy
stairs. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to an urgent care facility for further care. April 21—University Police received a report of an intoxicated party in Reitman Hall. Cataldo Ambulance staff transported the party to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. April 21—A party in Village Quad reported that they were experiencing shortness of breath and chest pain after participating in a sporting event earlier in the day. Cataldo Ambulance staff transported the party for further medical care. April 21—BEMCo staff treated a party who had hit their head. April 21—A party in Goldfarb Library reported that
Raku firing
they had broken off a piece of an earbud inside their ear. BEMCo staff removed the earbud with a signed refusal for further care.
Disturbance
April 19—University Police received a complaint of loud music in the Charles River Apartments. Officers on scene found the area quiet.
Other
April 18—A party reported that they had safety concerns for a fellow community member. University Police compiled a report, and an investigation with the Department of Community Living will follow. —Compiled by Abby Patkin
BRIEF Waltham attempts to find a new city clerk The city of Waltham is looking for a new city clerk, according to a WickedLocal article published on Thursday. The position has been vacant since the retirement of former Clerk Rosario Malone last fall, and Assistant Clerk Joseph Vizard has been unofficially filling both the main and assistant roles, according to the article. WickedLocal reported that the Waltham City Council approved the advertisement of the position, which was published Thursday on the city’s website. The duties of the city clerk, a threeyear appointed position include “keeping birth, death and marriage records, issuing permits and licenses, collecting fees, and conducting elections and the city census,” as well as preparing the “agenda and all materials for City Council meetings and run[ning] the meetings.” For Brandeis students who wish to register to vote or acquire a driver’s license, the vacancy proves to be a hindrance. This not the first time the clerk’s office has dealt with staff shortages, the article stated. During the year-long medical leave of former Clerk Tom Curtain, the office was “plagued by staff shortages,” and often “failed to properly post notices, and was unable to provide clerk services for certain committee meetings.” However, according to the article, Vizard stated that although it is “challenging to do two jobs,” the office has been running relatively smoothly and has not had “any big procedural problems.” Responding to questions from the News Tribune, City Council President Diane LeBlanc “praised Vizard and the office staff for their work on council business” in an email, but added, “No question, we need to fill the position ASAP.” —Emily Blumenthal
yuran shi/the Justice
Ceramic pieces created by Brandeis students were raku fired, a traditional Japanese technique which creates a crackled exterior, on Sunday as part of the Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts.
The Justice will resume printing on May 15.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Blood Drive
Students, faculty, and staff are invited to donate blood through the American Red Cross at the Waltham Group’s April Blood Drive. Did you know that each pint can save up to three adult lives? Email the program coordinators for more information on where to sign up at wgblooddrive@gmail.com. Today and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Sherman Function Hall, Hassenfeld Conference Center.
seling prior to your arrival. If you will not be on campus during the above dates to pick up your tickets, please notify Conference and Events Services. Conference and Events Services will arrange an alternative day for you to pick up your tickets. Tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday from noon to 7 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the International Lounge, Usdan Student Center.
GenderTime project in order to evaluate the impact of ongoing equality plans. Eight dimensions of the European index of Gender Equality will be discussed: work, money, knowledge, time, power, health, intersection inequalities, and violence. Talk concludes with a “toolbox” of methodological outcomes. Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Miller-Liberman Lecture Hall, Epstein Building.
Brandeis Senior Sign-Out
Food Truck Festival
Come take a study break before Finals and enjoy free food and T-shirts. Thursday from 11:55 p.m. to Friday 1:25 a.m. in Levin Ballroom.
Senior Sign Out is a program provided for seniors to connect with departments across campus before Commencement. Seniors can pick up Commencement tickets, purchase Senior Week tickets, verify an address for your free yearbook, take Hiatt’s destination survey and visit with representatives from the Alumni Association. Please bring your student identification card and complete all student loan exit coun-
Stop by and grab your food truck favorites! Featuring free food from Chik Chok, The Cookie Monstah, Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, and Maui Wowi! Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. in Fellows Garden.
Measuring Gender Equality in the EU
Dr. Anne-Sophie Godfroy of U. Paris will present methodologies developed during the
Midnight Buffet
State of the Union
Come hear about all that the Union has done this past year and see new leadership sworn in for next year. Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Rapaporte Treasure Hall.
the justice ● news ● TUESDAY, April 24, 2018
Faculty
‘Illuminations Within’
Faculty meet to close school year ■ Discussion topics
included Brian Meehan’s firing and the upcoming Board of Trustees meeting. By Michelle Dang Justice Staff Writer
At the second-to-last faculty meeting of the semester, faculty members received an update from University President Ron Liebowitz on the University’s recent town hall and ongoing investigation; a report from the Brandeis Counseling Center; and an announcement on annual teaching awards on Friday afternoon. During the meeting, the faculty also voted to approve the new Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics to begin in fall 2018. Liebowitz informed faculty of the community climate regarding former men’s basketball coach Brian Meehan. Liebowitz said of the April 9 community town hall meeting, “I thought it was a very worthwhile meeting and a very important meeting to set us in the right direction.” Liebowitz said the administration is actively discussing further actions and that the Board of Trustees is also involved and taking the issue very seriously. Prof. Sabine von Mering (CGES) commented to colleagues that departments who signed support for Ford Hall 2015 should reevaluate whether they’ve followed through. To Liebowitz, she said, “What I’ve heard students say loud and clear to you and [Provost Lisa Lynch] is ‘stop investigating and talking, start doing something about it.’” Liebowitz also announced that the April Board of Trustees meeting will take place this week, focusing on the 2019 fiscal budget, nomination of new trustees and the two task forces on fossil fuel divestment and faculty retirement benefits. Brandeis Counseling Services Director Joy von Steiger gave a presentation comparing the University’s undergraduate wellness and mental health statistics to the American College Health Association’s national average, accumulated from 51 participating universities. The latest survey, in which 35 percent of the University’s student body
participated, shows that health, nutrition and endorsement of exercise are “all very good” compared to the cohort, said von Steiger. However, von Steiger noted concerns that marijuana usage is higher than the national average and that 25.5 percent of students endorsed binge drinking. Furthermore, University students experience psychiatric symptoms, anxiety, stress, sleep disorders and discrimination at higher levels than the rest of the cohort, reported von Steiger. Particularly concerning, she said, are reports of exhaustion, of how overwhelmed students are with all their involvements, and loneliness and thoughts of suicide. Von Steiger plans to distribute a mental health action plan to faculty and provide workshops to promote healthy classroom environments and a sense of belonging. Faculty and staff awards for 2018 were also announced at the meeting. The Faculty Service Award was presented to Prof. Robin Feuer Miller (COMH), “an incredible articulate spokesperson for the liberal arts and for the humanities,” said Dean of Arts and Sciences Susan Birren, and “the heart of scholarship and service at its best.” The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Mentoring Award was presented to Prof. Laura Miller (SOC). The three annual Committee for the Support of Teaching award recipients were Prof. Anita Hannig (ANTH) for the Walzer ’56 Award for Teaching, Prof. Aparna Baskaran (PHYS) for the Lerman-Neubauer ’69 Prize for Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring and Prof. Kristen Mascall (CHEM) for the Brandeis Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Birren also announced that the inaugural recipient of the University’s Nahum Glatzer H’73 Teaching Scholar was Prof. Gabriella Sciolla (PHYS), who was recognized for her “humility, kindness, integrity and good humor that characterizes relationships between students and faculty at Brandeis.” Graduate school teaching award recipients included Meredith Bazzell (Rabb), Jessica Santos, Ph.D. ’15 (Heller), Tatjana Meschede (Heller), Prof. Carol Osler (IBS) and Prof. Christopher Alt (IBS).
BRIEF Avraham Penso becomes the Justice’s next editor in chief In a unanimous vote last Thursday, Justice staff and editors elected Avraham Penso ’20 as the editor in chief for the 2018-2019 academic year. Penso got his start at the paper copy editing articles for grammar and style, quickly working his way up to co-Copy editor in the fall semester of his first year. He served in that position until January 2018 and worked directly under then-Editor in Chief Abby Patkin ’18 as a deputy editor as he trained to become the next editor in chief. “I’ve had a lot of experience with editing articles from all different sections and improving writing at all stages of the process,” Penso said of his time as Copy editor. “I really love it, and I’m willing to spend many, many hours a week doing it.” As a student of the sciences, Penso hopes to increase the newspaper’s coverage of the University’s science, technology, engineering and math community. Expanding the Justice’s coverage of science news will “attract new writers and … build on our readership to students involved in STEM,” Penso said in an interview with
the Justice. The editors also elected Natalia Wiater ’20 as managing editor, the newspaper’s second-incommand. In an interview with the Justice, Wiater said that she will be working with Penso to improve office efficiency and the quality of coverage. “I look forward to continue working with all editors to ensure the best quality paper possible, to benefit both our readers as well as the hard-working editors and staff members, without whom there would be no paper,” she said. Moreover, Penso said that he looks forward to continuing his working relationship with the Justice editors and staff. “We have really talented and really hard-working editors, and it’s an honor to work with them every week and to see how much effort they put in throughout the week to get their events covered and articles in on time and to make them as amazing as possible,” Penso said. “So I think we’re going to put out some great issues next year.” —Abby Patkin
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michelle banayan/the Justice
LIGHT OF UNDERSTANDING: Joel Burt-Miller ’16 discussed the importance of sharing our stories with others in his talk.
TEDx Brandeis explores ongoing social issues ■ Members of the Brandeis
community shared personal experiences with and reflections on global issues. By Maurice Windley Justice staff writer
TEDx Brandeis hosted its second annual conference on Saturday, titled “Illuminations Within.” Facilitated by master of ceremonies Karthik Rangan ’18, this year’s talks centered around the importance of self and historical reflection as a means of solving current global issues, especially those pertaining to navigating discussions of community, social interactions and mental health. TEDx Brandeis seeks to spark new conversations and meaningful discussions and serves as a platform for students, faculty and alumni to express their ideas and experiences. This year, the event consisted of six speakers, including alumni, graduate students and undergraduates, each with their own story to tell. Naya Stevens ’17 initiated the event with an examination of the importance of code-switching through her piece titled “Say Less: A Lesson in Code-Switching.” Codeswitching is the act of adopting different language or even personality traits in separate social circles to safely navigate through social spaces. She explained that she learned to code-switch out of necessity during the summer of 2003 while attending the Fresh Air Fund camp, a summer enrichment program that busses inner city children of color to rural and suburban areas along the east coast and Canada to stay with a host family. Stevens explained that although she was nervous at first, she wanted to to “spread her wings” and live in another family’s house. Even though she enjoyed her stay with her host family, and continued seeing them for “three more summers,” there was a critical culture shock and cultural disconnect that she had to learn to navigate. Through this experience, Stevens explained, she came to the realization that she “could not walk in the world and be herself.” She used code-switching as a response to feeling misunderstood, and has since used this skill for interviews, classes and fellowships. Concluding her presentation, she explained that code-switching helps us navigate our social spaces and asked the audience to examine how we tell marginalized stories, since
code-switching helps many people of color express themselves in different social circles. Stevens was followed by Dr. Ryan Collins Ph.D. ’16, who discussed what we can learn about mediating social difference today from the ancient Mayan city of Yaxuna, located in Yucatán. He began by explaining that the “social differences” we observe when different societies communicate with one another “is not only based on shared cultural beliefs, but also on how social spaces establish social distinctions on a societal base level,” highlighting the evolution of social spaces and communities. As an anthropologist, he focused on what causes people to congregate through social interactions, specifically on the influence that historical and contemporary plazas have on social solidarity. His research analyzes the social plazas of Yaxuna as a case study for the evolution of social spaces. Dr. Collins explained that “while we do not think about the effect that spaces like malls and plazas have on us,” social spaces such as these “bring communities together on an abstract notion that exists outside of themselves” such as a march for a cause or a space for discussion. “Rituals of social solidarity include protest events and marches, and it is important that we retain these as points for our own experience with one another,” he said, “before the importance of these spaces fades from our memory.” In his talk, “The Silent Epidemic,” Ethan Saal ’19 explained the importance of acknowledging the dangers of depression and shared his own struggle with the mental illness. After taking time away from Brandeis, he used his support system to reestablish himself. He told the audience that in his support system, he visualized a tree — one of nature’s strongest foundations — with roots, each having an important group, including his parents and his tennis team, that supported him. Explaining the symbolism, he said that “a tree can withstand a storm only if its roots are firmly grounded,” and said that these supporters gave him the love he needed to survive. Saal’s talk highlighted the negative stigma surrounding mental health, depression and anxiety. He explained that while initially struggling with depression he “did not know what was going on,” and did not seek help because he had a “fear of vulnerability” and was struggling to reclaim himself at the time. “Change must come from within,” Saal explained, and prompted the audience to ask themselves, “What resources do I have?” and “What are
my next steps?” He believes these are questions that can help others understand and combat mental illness. Saal closed by explaining that although he is “still making adjustments, he is perfectly imperfect, and has not come up short in his lifetime.” Joel Burt-Miller ’16 concluded the event with “The Healing Power of Our Stories.” In it, he argued that each of us carries our own distinct story, and only by acknowledging and expressing our story to others can we come together as one community. He began by requesting for the lights to be dimmed down to see what the audience would imagine with “the removal of light.” As members of the audience explained that they felt uneasy and worried, Burt-Miller used this experiment to demonstrate that just as light is necessary for providing us safety and security, so too we must help illuminate the path of understanding by showing others what makes us vulnerable through our stories and histories. One example he provided was a reflection on his study abroad experience in South Africa. He explained that when communicating with the people in the community, he found that “there was a disconnection between this community, and their perceptions of themselves, and how the greater community viewed them.” This was a crucial point of understanding for him, Burt-Miller explained, as he was able to use his experiences from his conversations while abroad to understand his father’s story. His father had been diagnosed with a mental condition before Burt-Miller was born, and he had felt “deceived” upon realizing his father had withheld the information from him. Burt-Miller understood that his father was unwilling to share his story due to the “paralyzing stigma of mental illness,” resulting in a social disconnect between Burt-Miller and his father. “In this instance, a narrative was removed from the equation, resulting in a disconnection,” Burt-Miller explained. Referring to his earlier metaphor about light, Burt-Miller explained that “without light, we are blinded and isolated. It is the same with our stories.” He concluded by saying that “the moment we stop sharing our stories and stop listening is the moment we cut ourselves off from those connections. Regardless of who we are, our stories are the threads that connect us together.” —Editors note: Andrew Baxter ’21, a Justice editor, performed at TEDx Brandeis.
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TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 ● news ● the justice
Brandeis searches for the next dean of arts and sciences Jeffrey Shoulson
By Jen Geller JUSTICE editor
■ Over the last two weeks, the University community has met
to speak with three potential candidates about the position.
Lynn Andrea Stein One candidate for the position for dean of arts and sciences of Brandeis is Lynn Andrea Stein. Currently, Stein is a professor of computer and cognitive science at the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering. Stein received her Bachelor of Arts in computer science from Harvard University in 1986 and her Masters of Science and doctorate, both in computer science, from Brown University. According to an April 3, 2017 Newswise article, Stein was named an American Council on Education Fellow. According to this article, this award “is designed to identify and prepare promising senior faculty and administrators for responsible positions in college and university administration.” In this same article, Stein dis-
cussed how she uses her skills to help the course of higher education. She said, “I see myself allying with an institution of higher education that is committed to change and may want help formulating its direction or translating that vision into practice.” Finally, according to a May 26, 2017 article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Stein was named “special adviser to the provost and a professor of computer and cognitive science at Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering,” an award that speaks to Stein’s leadership capacities, according to the article. Stein has an extensive curriculum vitae that shows her various leadership experiences. From 2004-2005, she served on the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences Capstone Planning Group
at Olin College. In addition, in 2001, 2004 and 2009, Stein served on the Faculty Search Committee for the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. From 2001 to 2004 and 2015 to the present, she was a part of the Olin College Admissions Committee, and she was an admissions team leader from 2002 to 2004. In addition, Stein served on the Academic Recommendation Board from 2004 to 2007 and was a part of the Facilities Committee from 2004 to 2005 at Olin College. In 2007 and from 2009 to 2017, Stein served on the Reappointment and Promotion Committee, also at Olin. The full version of Stein’s CV was sent out in a April 11, 2018 email sent from the Chair of the Dean of Arts and Sciences Search Committee, Jane Kondev.
Editor’s note: Mihir Khanna ’18 is on the dean of arts and sciences search committee and is an editor of the Justice. He did not participate in reporting, writing or editing this article.
Clements park/the Justice
COMMUNITY VOICES: Members of the Brandeis community posed questions at Jeffrey Shoulson’s meeting on Thursday.
Jeffrey Shoulson, a candidate for dean of arts and sciences, is currently professor and interim vice provost for interdisciplinary initiatives at the University of Connecticut. Shoulson introduced himself to the audience at the Thursday discussion, saying, “It has been really extraordinary to learn about this institution.” He observed that people at Brandeis believe in the institution and the values it stands for and feel a sense of intimacy with each other. Shoulson is a literary scholar with a doctorate in English. Working in the fields of conventional literary studies and Jewish studies, he has sought to understand the modern literary Jewish tradition, focusing particularly on underrepresented voices. He highlighted his experience with encounters between cultures. “What does it mean for Brandeis to have the sort of history that it has and what does that history signify for the next 70 years of its history?” he asked, confessing that he does not have the answer to that question. He does, however, want to hear the opinions of the Brandeis community, and feels that the University should embrace its history of inclusiveness and accessibility. Coming from a humanities background, Shoulson admitted that others, whether faculty or administration, will know more than he does in the fields of science and scientific research, saying he plans to rely on the advice of those with more knowledge of these fields in his service. He noted, however, that his experience in the office of the provost at the University of Connecticut familiarized him with scientific research and the challenges that the sciences face, such as funding difficulties. One audience member asked Shoulson how he would nurture the balance between the humanities and science, technology, engineering and math in a world where many undergraduates are leaning toward the sciences. Shoulson replied by explaining the concept of “STEAM — science, technology, engineering, arts and math.” He made it clear that he understands that the problem is more complex than that and discussed the idea of inquiry-based research, a practice he observed at the University of Connecticut that brought together several disciplines. Inquiry-based research reasons that with people with diverse perspectives working on a task, new ideas can be explored. Additionally, Shoulson acknowledged that students are
leaving the humanities to study subjects such as business, economics and the sciences. According to Shoulson, the arts do not promote their value enough. For instance, Shoulson believes that the ability to communicate and to think critically — one benefit of a humanities education — is more important for future employment than a student’s choice of major. Shoulson also explained his plan for making new faculty feel included in Brandeis community, emphasizing its importance to his goal of incorporating more racially diverse faculty. After hiring, he said, the University must look at who was hired, who was in the pool of applicants, why the pool was not as broad and expansive as it could have been and why the particular candidate was hired in order to improve the hiring process moving forward and specifically to help create a racially diverse faculty. Shoulson also emphasized the need for retention efforts to maintain a racially diverse faculty. He wants to engage in a systematic examination of the hiring process, adding that newly hired faculty need to be protected and not overburdened with additional tasks, such as having to serve on many committees, in addition to their teaching responsibilities. Shoulson also believes in bias training for search committees to understand structural biases such as gender bias. When discussing increasing student diversity, Shoulson said he will look at the admissions and financial aid processes and work with faculty and the admissions center as a liaison to try to include identities not currently represented on campus. Although Shoulson believes he will add a new perspective to Brandeis because he has never worked at the University, he admitted, “If I become dean, I would have a lot of learning to do.” Speaking about interdisciplinary learning, Shoulson noted that while it is important for faculty to have department homes, interdisciplinary centers allow for meaningful intellectual discussion. However, Shoulson emphasized that supporting each department independently is important before departments can work together. Shoulson believes in faculty governance, as the faculty plays a significant role in the University and needs to have a say in its functions. He also stressed the importance of transparency, arguing that faculty deserve to know why a decision was made even if they disagree with that decision.
Dorothy L. Hodgson Dorothy L. Hodgson visited Brandeis last Tuesday to discuss her candidacy for the dean of arts and sciences. Hodgsons is currently a professor of anthropology and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the School of Graduate Studies at Rutgers University. Hodgson began by highlighting what attracted her to Brandeis, noting the University’s “unique arrangement of both emphasizing excellence in faculty scholarship to research, but also the focus on distinguished undergraduate education.” Having previously worked in large schools such as Rutgers, the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia, Hodgson also appreciates the smaller size and intimate nature of Brandeis. As an anthropologist, Hodgson values knowing people on a personal level and said she wants to get to know the faculty and students beyond their titles and positions.
Hodgson emphasized her “commitment to social justice,” adding, “I have spent my career at a large public [university] with a large public mission of providing education, access and affordability.” Hodgson proudly noted that over 50 percent of Rutgers’ students are of color and many are first-generation students. Expressing her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusiveness, Hodgson addressed the importance of retaining faculty of color and battling racism at Brandeis. Hodgson said that while recruitment is essential, retention is even more important. Retention is achieved when a sense of community is built to avoid the feeling of isolation. Discussing the modern concerns of free speech, Hodgson said debate and diverse perspectives are a good thing, but that there is also a fine line between opinion and hate speech. “We don’t all have to agree
at all; in fact, we shouldn’t. The last thing I ever want is a kind of series of clones who all think the way I do,” she said. Hodgson referenced the town hall meeting prompted by the termination of men’s basketball coach Brian Meehan, saying that some comments made were troubling to many. Hodgson said that if made dean, she will prioritize implementing the new general education curriculum of the University. She acknowledges the challenges of transitioning to a new general education system — especially at the beginning, when some students will still be following the old system. Additionally, Hodgson aims to enhance the social experience of students at Brandeis. She said that alumni have “fierce pride in the academic experience at Brandeis, not so much the social experience and student experience.” Specifically, she emphasized the need to
amend the Leader-Scholar Communities, which are heavily focused on academics and do not provide a holistic experience. Hodgson wants to see more social and co-curricular activities incorporated into these programs. Overall, Hodgson wants to focus on inclusion, recruitment of faculty and students to the University and retention through building a sense of student and faculty belonging. She also hopes to improve the University’s financial state and garner faculty support. When asked about the advantages and disadvantages of coming into this role from outside the Brandeis community, she replied, “A challenge is also an opportunity.” Hodgson mentioned that although she does not know all of the history of the University right now, she will bring a fresh set of eyes. Hodgson expressed her support for interdisciplinary programs and
education, highlighting interdisciplinary master’s programs that extend beyond a single subject or department. Master’s programs should not just be money-makers for the University, according to Hodgson. She wants these programs, especially four-plus-oneyear programs, to be designed and implemented with thought and care in an effort to attract and retain high-caliber Brandeis students. Hodgson also emphasized that a strong liberal arts college cannot exist without strong humanities and social sciences in addition to science, technology, engineering and math. Although she acknowledges that the national trend in the economy leads parents and students to want “practical majors,” she argues that diversity of majors benefits everyone. For Hodgson, this goal should be realized through interdisciplinary programs that connect sciences and humanities.
the justice ● news ● TUESDAY, April 24, 2018
Campus Speaker
Tony Lewis recounts his evolution as an artist and his exploration of creating drawings ■ The artist examined the
role of language and everyday materials in his development as a creator. By Jocelyn Gould Justice editor
In discussing the evolution of his career as an artist in a talk on Thursday night, Tony Lewis, the 2017-18 Ruth Ann and Nathan Perlmutter artist-in-residence, brought audiences with him on a journey of finding his artistic style, culminating in “Plunder,” a work that he created at and for the Rose Art Museum at Brandeis. In October, with the help of Brandeis students, Lewis created “Plunder,” a large art installation on the outward-facing wall of the Rose Art Museum’s Lois Foster Wing. The artwork is made of graphite powder-dipped rubber bands stretched between nails in the wall, layered in a web to create a solid black mass in the shape of the Gregg shorthand notation for the word “plunder.” “Three things—drawing, language, and graphite—ends up being this thing that I constantly am thinking about,” Lewis told the audience. He guided his audience through his development as an artist, starting with his days as an art student when he first experimented with graphite powder. “I basically took the graphite powder … and I dumped it out on the floor. At first by accident,” Lewis admitted, adding, “The second time I did it was on purpose.” Lewis recounted how he changed the way he saw the spilled graphite powder, initially fearing that it would smudge the “pristine” drawings he had created. When the drawings inevitably got smudged, Lewis started to panic. “And then after a while, I kind of let go, and I said, ‘Screw it, I don’t care if these things get dirty.’ And then they got really dirty,” Lewis said, explaining that he “let go of a
bunch of anxiety” and “succumbed to the issue of powder.” Lewis showed the audience photos of his old studio, with piles of graphite dust on the floor and graphite powder smudging the walls. He also shared photos of some of his first experiments with rubber bands and pushpins, explaining that he started using these objects because they were lying around the studio (he used pushpins to hang drawings, and the paper he drew on came bound in rubber bands). “It is possible that I bought a rubber band ball because it was next to the pushpins in Staples,” Lewis acknowledged, highlighting the somewhat accidental, natural progression of combining these simple objects in his artwork. He presented an image of a splatter of graphite powder on the wall, describing how he had picked up rubber bands that were coated in graphite powder from falling on the floor and flicked them at the wall. “I was going nuts because it was … a chance to make the fastest drawing possible,” Lewis said. Ironically, despite his joy at these fast drawings, Lewis would go on to make time-consuming and laborintensive works out of these same basic materials. Lewis oriented much of his talk around a small book called Life’s Little Instruction Book, a collection of short pieces of advice that he found in his mother’s bathroom. He displayed a collection of works similar to “Plunder” made with graphite-dipped rubber bands stretched between nails and spelling out quotes from the book in a large font across museum walls. “Usually something that is pretty infuriating or pretty funny is enough for me to want to make it,” Lewis said, reflecting on why he was drawn to using the quotes in his artwork. Some quotes that Lewis recreated include “9. Say ‘please’ a lot,” “362. Know when to keep silent,” “26. If in a fight, hit first and hit hard,” “366. Don’t flush urinals with your hand—use your elbow” and “112. Never argue with police officers, and address them as ‘officer.’”
When he started creating the quote installations, Lewis only outlined the letters with the rubber bands, but as he continued to work with the subject matter, he started filling the letters in completely with graphite-covered rubber bands. He likened this technique to “very intense crosshatching,” emphasizing the fact that despite the scale and labor intensity of his works, he still sees them as drawings. After making a series of these drawings, Lewis realized that recreating quotes was only giving him “one relationship to language,” and that he wanted “a different relationship to language, one a little more free … one that was less based in somebody else’s words.” Finding a dictionary of shorthand notation in a thrift store offered Lewis the opportunity to form a new relationship with language. He began to make colored pencil and graphite drawings of large blocks of color obscuring the abstract shapes of Gregg shorthand. Shorthand allowed Lewis “to keep the foundation of language as a principle for making a drawing” and to “keep that sort of diagrammatic, systematic way of approaching making a drawing,” he explained, but also allowed him “to not care at all … about what it looked like.” Having developed his technique of rubber band crosshatching, experimented with large-scale text installations and discovered Gregg shorthand as a new way to work language into his artwork, Lewis finally had the tools necessary for creating “Plunder.” Describing the relationship between his techniques and “more traditional ways we think about drawing,” Lewis said his work is “still rooted in … the most colloquial way we think about drawing, which is pencil and paper, but basically understanding pencil and paper as something that can … exist in a way that … blows up those ideas.” —Editor’s note: Jocelyn Gould is a member of the Student Committee for the Rose Art Museum.
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‘drawing, language and graphite’
andrew baxter/the Justice
INSPIRATION: Tony Lewis recounted how he repurposed quotes from Life’s Little Instruction Book as massive pieces of art.
BRIEF Deadline for community project funding requests extended In an effort to give students the maximum time possible to plan and implement their campus improvement projects, the Community Emergency and Enhancement Fund board has set the application period for funding requests from April 18 to Sept. 15, the longest application period to date. CEEF provides emergency funding to solve problems arising with student life on campus, but it also sets aside about $100,000 each year for student-led initiatives that are aimed to improve the Brandeis experience, according to Tal Richtman ’20. Richtman, Class of 2020 Senator and Student Union Senate representative on the CEEF board, spoke about the CEEF application process in an interview with the Justice. In the last two years, the CEEF board focused on increasing student awareness and involvement with the fund and created the application process, Richtman explained in the same interview. The application period has been gradually extended last year from the length of winter break to closer to a month, but according to Richtman, the board felt students still did not have enough time to create comprehensive proposals. The hope is that students will use summer break to work with relevant staff and faculty
at Brandeis to develop strong proposals. Students will also have more time than in previous years to implement their projects, as the CEEF board plans to approve their projects in first semester, giving students the end of the first and all of the second semesters to work. The structure of the CEEF board will also change with the Student Union elections in the fall, according to Richtman. There will be two new positions up for election in the fall for students who will exclusively serve as CEEF board members. This will replace the current system, in which CEEF board members also fulfill other Union roles. Richtman explained that these members will have more time to devote to CEEF projects. Additionally, the Senate, Allocations Board and Executive Board of the Union will each have a representative on the board. “CEEF is such an amazing resource for students to stop complaining, but actually do what they want to see,” Richtman said, regarding improving the Brandeis community. Past projects include the Chum’s renovation and new sound equipment for performances at the Stein. Students can learn more about CEEF at http://union.brandeis. edu/ceef/. —Jocelyn Gould
community
Community forum held to discuss cancelled play ■ Students and UTC
members examined the controversial history of “And Then There Were None.” By Maurice Windley Justice Staff Writer
The Brandeis community came together two weeks ago to discuss the Undergraduate Theatre Collective’s production of “And Then There Were None” and the implications of potentially showcasing it. The play is based on a novel of the same name written by Agatha Christie, and the title of the book has undergone a number of changes since its original publication in 1939. These title changes obscure the history of the title, a major reason for the controversy surrounding the play. Originally, the book was titled “Ten Little N-----s,” and the plot focused on ten individuals
who are killed off methodically, according to the narrative set forth by the “Ten Little Injuns” nursery rhyme from which the play takes its name. In an email to the Justice, Prof. Carina Ray (AAAS), the associate professor of African and AfroAmerican Studies, explained that her primary concern with the production was the implications behind the historical presence of the play. Dr. Ray explained that for the AAAS department, “The novel’s appearance at the outset of a World War in which extermination was on the horizon is significant.” Ray elaborated, “The popularity of Christie’s novel when it appeared suggests a fascination with, if not an appetite for, two of white supremacy’s most important pillars: violence and extermination.” She continued by expressing “that “the novel could draw its odious title from a popular nursery rhyme
about the murder of Black children suggests the prevailing British comfort at the time with symbolic or actual violence against this community.” The forum came about after backlash from several University faculty about the play who advised that the show not be premiered opening night. A community-wide forum was scheduled instead to garner community responses and ideas about how to move forward, with or without the production. The discussion featured members of the Brandeis Undergraduate Theater Collective and was facilitated by Dr. Mark Brimhall-Vargas, the chief diversity officer and the vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion of the University. The meeting was established to discuss whether or not the remaining plays should also be shown. At the start of the gathering, Alina Sipp-Alpers ’21 explained that there
were “many steps taken to ensure that not only go back on the erasure of the book’s racist history, but also to bring it forward as one of the talking points.” At the meeting, a member of the production staff explained that in the first rehearsals of the production, the group took hours during each rehearsal to learn about the history and the difficulty in producing the show, and the production staff and the actors involved sought to discuss the problematic history of the play and make it their prime concern when showcasing it. The UTC intended to have a director’s note describing the history of the show in conjunction with the production process which would be read at the beginning of each performance. Additionally, each actor would read a description of how these issues persist in our society. These statements were written individually, but actors worked
with the director of the play, Merrick Mendenhall ’20, and Stephanie Grimes, the assistant dean of student activities, to have their pieces edited so they would prompt conversation about the issues of race within the play. Despite this, a member of the UTC explained that members of the community “did not feel safe because the play itself was happening on the campus.” At the end of the discussions, Brimhall-Vargas issued a crowd poll, and despite the majority of students approving for the show to continue, the main votes to cancel the show came from UTC members. The UTC ultimately decided to showcase only one performance of the play to the community. The play was performed in the Shapiro Campus Center Theater on Saturday night. —Chaiel Schaffel contributed reporting.
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TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 ● news ● the justice
Election: Candidates share plans for University CONTINUED FROM 1 biography that “with your support, we will make history once again.” As the international student senator, Yang promises to work more closely with the Club Support Committee and the Intercultural Center. Yang also hopes to bring together various clubs and departments across campus to “make a positive difference for the international student community.” Richard Kisack Jr. ’18 This past year, Kisack has served as the Village Quad senator, and is now a candidate for senator-at-large. In his biography, Kisack said he hopes to make the methods of communication between the school’s administration and students more accessible. He is also looking forward to “discussions with students and helping to find concrete solutions.” Matt Stenerson ’19 Stenerson has served as the offcampus senator and is now running for senator-at-large. In the past, Stenerson has spoken with the administration regarding changes to how the University Writing Seminar program is run as well as acting as the liaison for the Student Health Advisory Committee. In his biography, Stenerson shares that some of his goals include “establishing designated smoking areas on campus, organizing free STD testing days and installing vending machines for various health products such as contraception and first aid.” Noah Nguyen ’21 Nguyen, an international student from Vietnam majoring in International and Global Studies and Business, shared in her biography that her experience as senator to the Class of 2021 and three senate committees — Club Support, Sustainability, and Dining — makes her a strong candidate for the senator-atlarge position. Nguyen also leads a probationary term project with the goal of clarifying the funding process for clubs on campus. Vidit Dhawan ’19 Dhawan currently serves as the Class of 2019 senator, senate representative to the Allocations Board and the undergraduate representative to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee on the Student Union. This year, Dhawan would like to reprise his role as Class of 2019 senator. In a statement to the Justice, Dhawan explained that in addition to these many Student Union roles, his participation in different clubs on campus allows him
to “have a strong presence on campus, where different students can reach out to [him] with any concerns they have.” If elected, Dhawan plans on making the Student Union a more transparent body, promoting diversity and inclusion and encouraging “the Student Union to have more open meetings, build relations with administrators and collaborate with them in more efficient ways.” Kent Dinlenc ’19 Dinlenc, looking to join the Student Union for the first time, is running for Class of 2019 senator. Dinlenc is also involved in many clubs, including on-campus media outlets such as the Justice and WBRS. In his biography, Dinlenc states that he hopes to see the Student Union “improve its communication with the student body and limit bureaucracy to streamline effective policy and work efficiently.” In a statement to the Justice, Dinlenc also noted the problem of students not going to “SU-hosted discussions and the Union [not being] vocal about what they’re up to legislatively.” He added, “It’s important we bridge that gap so students have an optimal college experience and ideal representation.” Joshua Hoffman ’21 Hoffman has served as the senator to North Quad this past semester, and is now running to be the Class of 2021 senator. He also works on the Health and Safety Committee and Campus Operations Working Group. In his biography, Hoffman expressed his desire to create an amendment in the club bylaws that allow for clubs with goals similar to the Jewish Feminist Association of Brandeis to be more easily chartered. Katrina Zhang ’21 Zhang is a candidate for senator to Class of 2021. In an email to the Justice, Zhang shared that her motivation to run stems from everyone being kind and helpful to her, despite her status as a midyear. Zhang wrote, “Our school is also tolerant to any culture. … I am cared [for] and loved [at] Brandeis so I want to contribute more in our big community.” Abdul Rehman ’19 Rehman, a candidate for the Judiciary, stated in an email to the Justice that he was inspired by the work of the Student Union to run for the position and desires to “contribute towards its betterment.” He stressed his belief in “leading through commitment and sacrifice,” and said that through his experience he has learned about collaboration. Though he has never served on the
Student Union, he has collaborated with it through various leadership positions in the Brandeis Society for International Affairs and the Brandeis Muslim Students Association. If elected, Rehman said he wants to increase the exposure of the Union, adding that “it needs to grow through creating interest among the students to contribute to it.” Rehman also mentioned improvements to the Club Support Committee’s chartering process, which he sees as dysfunctional due to the “incompetence of the members.” Aaron Finkel ’20 After serving on the Student Union for two years as Massell Quad senator, senator-at-large and executive senator, Finkel is running to be the Class of 2020 senator, as he wants to “continue working for the student body,” he stated in an email to the Justice. His other work in the Union includes chairing two Senate committees, planning “numerous projects and services” and meeting with “many students and administrators.” Finkel stated that he wants to focus on “improving the club chartering process … [and] communication between the Union, administrators and the student body.” In his email, Finkel also discussed transforming the University’s campus culture to make sure “all Brandeis students feel they are getting their money’s worth from this institution,” and ensuring that “every individual in our community feels valued, connected, informed, and included.” Overall, Finkel said, he wants to focus on bringing the student body and administrators together, mentioning that he wants to bring the “student’s perspective” to administrators as well as helping the Union “reach its full potential as a governing body and a resource for the community.” Albert Gutierrez ’20 Gutierrez, another candidate for the Class of 2020 senator, stated in an email to the Justice that he wishes to join the Student Union because of a desire “to see a difference” in the University and to pay his debt to “the place [he calls] home away from home.” Throughout high school, Gutierrez led many service projects, but as senator he would like to “hear from … the students, about what needs to be better.” He also stated that he wants to communicate with the administration by expanding upon the open campus forum project started this year, which, he stressed, highlights “what the students desire.” Another problem Gutierrez discussed was affordable housing for students. He stated that “most of us have strug-
gled with housing at some point in our Brandeis careers,” suggesting a monthly, rather than yearly, expense plan. Morris Nadjar ’19 Nadjar, another candidate for the Judiciary, stated in an email to the Justice that his past work as Massell Quad senator taught him the intricacies of the Union and prepared him for the position of associate justice. His interconnectedness with different student spheres, he mentioned in the same email, gives him a plethora of knowledge about the University, and he stated that he would like to use that knowledge to listen to new ideas and make them work. If elected, Nadjar said that he will consult the Union bylaws and various club constitutions to ensure that there are no injustices. Finally, Nadjar added, he wants to ensure that the legacy of Louis Brandeis is not just remembered as “a statue on a hill,” but as a symbol of justice and truth. Mack Schoenfeld ’21 Schoenfeld, a third candidate for the Judiciary, said in an email to the Justice that he had never considered joining the Student Union, but when searching for a way to make an impact on campus, he discovered the opening for associate justice and seized the opportunity. Though this would be his first position in the Union, he was a Senator for his high school class and so he is no stranger to student government. His internships and work in the University’s Alumni Relations Office, he stated in the same email, have made him able to “stand up for [him]self when an opportunity comes [his] way.” If elected, Schoenfeld wrote his priority would be to “rectify conflict between students, clubs, faculty, etc.,” as well as ensuring that students feel their voices are heard and know their problems will be resolved fairly. Sam Sano ’19 Sano, another candidate for the Judiciary, stated in an email to the Justice that his interest in law and justice made him believe that the Judiciary was “up [his] alley.” As an Undergraduate Departmental Representative for the Legal Studies and the History of Ideas programs, he said he has had experience answering student questions and promoting programs. If elected as associate justice, he would like to build on that experience by bolstering campus awareness of the Judiciary, potentially by hosting events and increasing transparency. Gabriela Gonzalez Anavisca ’19 Anavisca, who is running for the
Judiciary, stated in her bio that her work as senator to the Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program and Student Union secretary has given her insight into the “various forms the Student Union works and its necessary balance.” If elected, Anavisca said, she would like to enforce that balance and safeguard students from discrimination through an impartial and fair judiciary. Anavisca did not respond to the Justice’s request for an interview. Shangyuan (Gloria) Xu ’21 Xu, another candidate for the Judiciary, stated in her bio that her work as midyear senator and high school treasury experience have given her knowledge about conflict resolution. If elected, she declared in the bio, her main priority will be to “help the student body.” Xu did not respond to the Justice’s request for an interview. Xiangyu Mao ’20 Mao, who is running for the Judiciary, did not have a bio and did not respond to the Justice’s request for an interview. —Editor’s note: Kent Dinlenc ’19 is a writer for Arts. Mack Schoenfeld ’21 is a writer for News.
Election Results Senate: Racial Minority Senator Geraldine Bogard ’20
International Student Senator Linfei Yang ’21
Senators-at-Large
Noah Nguyen ’21 Richard Kisack Jr. ’18
Senators to Class of 2019 Vidit Dhawan Kent Dinlenc
Senators to Class of 2020 Aaron Finkel Albert Gutierrez
Senators to Class of 2021 Katrina Zhang George Li
Judiciary: Associate Justices
Xiangyu Mao ’20 Gabriela Gonzalez Anavisca ’19 Shangyuan Xu ’21 Abdul Rehman ’19 Morris Nadjar ’19
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THE JUSTICE ● NEWS ● TUESDAY, April 24, 2018
Rally: Alumni, politicians and students speak about gun violence
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growing up, her school and neighborhood were both over-policed, causing her “fear of the police as a Black woman.” Richardson continued that she has “lost more people than I can count to gun violence, but I’ve lost two people who are very dear to me [by] self-inflicted gun violence.” At 11 years old, Richardson lost a close friend to gun suicide and, most recently, lost “the very person who inspired me to start writing poetry in the first place.” For Julianna Scionti ’20, her love for her autistic younger brother motivated her to speak at the rally. In an email to the Justice, Scionti shared, “I have read and watched many people generate arguments as to why we shouldn’t arm teachers and none of the arguments … talked about my worry of deadly force being used on students of special needs.” Jordan Mudd ’20, an organizer for Brandeis Climate Justice, explained in an email to the Justice that although he is not an active member of Brandeis #NeverAgain, he is “supportive of students taking collective action.” He added that he “believe[s] there are many opportunities for collaboration between those who oppose climate change and those who take a comprehensive stance against our system of gun violence.” In his speech, Mudd called for “coalitions across movements” that can more “effectively fight towards the liberation of all people.” Sagie Tvizer ’19 built on this view of gun violence in his speech, saying, “The solution to gun violence is comprehensive. It involves con-
fronting the carceral state. Ending the war on drugs. Recognizing the structures which deprive people of their humanity, steering them towards crime.” He continued, “I, along with others … [am] meeting and talking about how to bring together an intersectional group of student leaders in the coming weeks and months — to continue to build community, to find ways to use our activism to create lasting change.” In an email to the Justice, speaker Susannah Miller ’19 noted that she wanted to “add to the intersectionality of the event and make sure that people interested in the movement had a chance to consider how issues of gun violence can particularly affect women.” Additional student speakers included Josh Moll ’19, Leah SaganDworsky ’21, Roland Blanding ’21, Victoria Richardson ’20, Kwesi Jones ’21 and Shaquan McDowell ’18. Activists Charlotte Lowell and Ned Notis-McConarty of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence also contributed. Moving forward, the coalition of students who organized the rally expressed their interest in creating or collaborating on another event. In a word of encouragement and support to fellow Brandeis students, Tvizer declared, “Let us not be be guided by privilege. Let us be guided by the light of reason. Let our minds be bold, learning from our namesake Louis D. Brandeis.” —Abby Patkin, Eliana Padwa, Jen Geller and Michelle Dang contributed reporting. —Editor’s note: Julianna Scionti ’20 is a cartoonist for the Justice. Roland Blanding ’21 is a contributing writer for the Justice.
GRADUATION: Univ. selects honorary degree recipients CONTINUED FROM 1 mathematics, followed by a master’s degree in mathematics and a doctoral degree in higher-education administration/statistics from the University of Illinois. Hrabowski’s research focuses on STEM education, with an emphasis on minority participation and performance, according to the press release. He went on to become the vice provost of UMBC in 1987 and was later named as president of the university in 1992, a position he holds to this day. In 2009 Hrabowski was named one of the 10 best college presidents by Time Magazine, and in 2012, he was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. “President Hrabowski showed tremendous courage as a youngster in the civil rights movement and, as an accomplished educational leader, has dedicated his career to ensuring that students of color get equal access to STEM education,” Liebowitz said in the press release. “He has earned enormous respect and admiration for his dynamic leadership on social mobility and other issues in higher education. I look forward to the insight and vision he will deliver in his Commencement address.” Along with Hrabowski, Brandeis
will grant honorary degrees to Chava Alberstein, Jay Ruderman ’88, Shira Ruderman and President of the Association of American Universities Mary Sue Coleman. Alberstein is one of Israel’s most prominent singer-songwriters, and her work has shed light on “parallels between her growth as an artist and Israel’s growth as a nation,” per the press release. A distinguished biochemist, Coleman was the first woman to be the president of the University of Michigan, which she served as from 2002 to 2014, as well as the first female president of the University of Iowa, from 1995 to 2002. Philanthropists Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Foundation, and Shira Ruderman, its executive director, have focused their work on advocating for equal rights for people with disabilities worldwide, as well as bridging the divide between the American Jewish community and Israeli leaders. “All our outstanding honorary degree recipients have broken new ground in their respective fields and have generously shared their remarkable talents and leadership with the wider world,” Liebowitz said. Brandeis’ 67th commencement will take place in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center on May 13.
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Throwing Shaed
ANDREW BAXTER/the Justice
The band SHAED was the third group to perform at Springfest on Sunday afternoon.
Univ. scientists create lifelike matter for army ■ Brandeis researchers
made progress toward a challenge posed by the US governmnent over a decade ago. By liat shapiro Justice staff writer
Researchers at the University’s Fraden Laboratory have made a breakthrough discovery in their efforts to create an entity that follows the rules of living matter while being made out of only artificial materials — a major step toward accomplishing a scientific goal set more than a decade ago. Prof. Seth Fraden PhD ’87 (PHYS) explained in an interview with the Justice that his lab’s discovery is the result of research originally started in 2006. That year, in the middle of the Iraq War, Dr. Irving Epstein (CHEM), the Henry F. Fischbach Professor of Chemistry and former University dean of arts and sciences and provost, received a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency grant. In a separate interview with the Justice, Dr. Epstein confirmed this timeline. DARPA was created in February 1958 in response to the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial Earth satellite. According to DARPA’s website, then-Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson highlighted “the profound shock of realizing that it might be possible for another nation to achieve technological superiority over this great country of ours” sparked by the launching of Sputnik. Fraden explained in the same interview that since 1958, the government has spent billions of dollars per year, created impossible assignments and “ask[ed] for a group of military, aca-
demics and companies to address this task.” Why assign impossible tasks, one might wonder? Fraden explained that “if ever a real advance by another power — like Sputnik — comes, then you have these networks of scientists, military and industr[ies] who are ready. They spend $2-3 billion to create these teams and then give enticing challenges to keep the scientists involved and give them freedom to do whatever they want.” The task assigned to Epstein’s team asked for “a communication device between a soldier in the battlefield and a drone overhead that would preferably look like a discarded cellophane wrapper from a cigarette carton.” This device would not rely on electronics; instead, infrared signals would relay short messages to an unmanned vehicle hovering overhead. In an interview with the Justice, Dr. Epstein explained that the project exploited the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction, a particular type of reaction discovered by Soviet chemist Boris Pavlovich Belousov in the 1950s and developed further by Anatol Zhabotinsky. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Dr. Zhabotinsky relocated to the United States, where he continued to work on the BZ reaction as an adjunct professor of chemistry at Brandeis until his death in 2008. During this time, Zhabotinsky collaborated with Epstein, who became a leading expert on the BZ reaction. Fraden explained that scientists could “conceivably encapsulate this reaction into multiple reactors that communicate with one another.” This realization was a step toward eventually building the communication device the army had requested. However, Brandeis scientists were unable to create the neural network, another necessary component. Thus, the challenge remained unsolved for
a decade. The eureka moment came quite suddenly. “Once having thought of it,” Fraden said, “it seemed so obvious. … Why hadn’t I thought of this ten years ago?” Researchers in Fraden’s lab discovered that by applying mathematical models to advanced materials, it was possible to map neural networks into chemical networks of the autonomous nervous system. The inspiration for this idea was an eel. Fraden explained that the eel’s “beautiful, mesmerizing, periodic undulations are coordinated down the long spine of the animal” and reveal “very, very simple mathematical neural networks — ones that are most [suitable] for implementation using our chemical system.” Fraden’s system acts as a chemical control unit that — when combined with equivalent musculature and neural networking — will result in “purely synthetic materials that have nothing biologic[al] in them, but are built on the same underlying engineering and design principles.” Fraden told the Justice that his lab’s vision is to “make a new category of materials that resemble much more carefully that which we see on a daily basis but heretofore have been restrained to those of the living.” He hopes to accomplish this while “learn[ing] something about both the living and what’s possible in the world by trying to then distill the principles that are underlying in every organism.” To students at Brandeis aspiring to make a change in the scientific community, Fraden urged, “When you’re hired — when you leave here, nobody’s going to hire you to look for the things that are known; that’s what Wikipedia does. Go forward to contribute to the society that you need to create.”
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TUESDAY, april 24, 2018 ● Features ● The Justice
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VERBATIM | J.R.R. TOLKEIN I don’t like allegories.
ON THIS DAY…
FUN FACT
In 1969, Paul McCartney dispels rumors of his death.
Six people named Jesus Christ have been issued driver’s licenses by the state of California.
Investigating Sexual Violence on Campus Faculty and staff held an open student forum on sexual violence
KALIANNI NEAL-DESATNIK/the Justice
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: As stories of campus rape fill newspaper headlines, Brandeis faculty and staff aim to address sexual assault and harassment on campus.
By mICHELLE SAYLOR JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
According to a 2015 study on sexual assault on college campuses by The National Sexual Violence Resource Center, more than 90 percent of sexual assault survivors on college campuses do not report their assault. Given recent reports in national newspapers on college assaults and video series like “The Hunting Ground” airing on primetime television, colleges and universities across the country have found themselves in the spotlight. Under mounting public pressure to act, university administrators have worked to address the issue of campus sexual violence in a variety of ways, and Brandeis is no different. This past Wednesday, April 18, Student Affairs held their fourth open forum of the semester. The topic of this week’s forum was Sexual Misconduct Response, Services & Prevention. Given the sensitivity of the matter, the panel included
the director of the Office of Sexual Assault Services and Prevention and staff from the Office of Title IX and Sexual Misconduct in addition to members of the Student Affairs team, Student Union president Jacob Edelman ’18 and president elect, Hannah Brown ’19. The forum began with a modest audience; however, throughout the course of the meeting, students trickled in and joined the discussion. The first question, sent via a Google form submission prior to the meeting, asked if every Brandeis student will be required to go through bystander intervention training. The answer was given in several parts by several panel members. First, the staff leading the discussion posited that in an ideal world every student would be trained in bystander intervention to make the campus a safer place. However, the panelists were met with some pushback; students who had been through the trainingbefore said the more they go through it, the less they learn.
In order to ensure the whole campus undergoes bystander training, it would have to be incorporated into the orientation program for incoming freshman. Since orientation is a time to help welcome new students into the undergraduate student body, giving them the skills to stand up against sexual harassment and assault could be an important step in the process of entering college. Rumors have a tendency to spread quickly in a relatively small university such as Brandeis, and one student raised concerns regarding the rules surrounding transparency of the Title IX office. The faculty responded by explaining that there is an annual report written at the end of every year. Three years ago, there were less than 50 reports of rape and sexual assault/harassment, but few victims decided to move forward in the investigation process. Two years ago, after a series of campaigns to raise awareness about the resources available to victims of sexual ha-
rassment and assault, reported cases jumped to 66. This past year, that number dropped back down to around 50 reported cases. Out of the 10 people charged with sexual assault or harassment, six were found guilty and four innocent. A student in the audience spoke out, saying, “If they only have 60 percent success rate, how can they expect people to want to move forward with cases and trust the Title IX office?” The head of the The Title IX office, Robin Nelson-Bailey admitted that the biggest issue they face is figuring out ways to gain the trust of the student body. They explained that when dealing with such a delicate issue, they must develop strategies to instill that trust before progress can be made. When choosing to move forward with a case, there are two possible routes from which the plaintiff can choose. Anthony Sciaraffa, the interim official Title IX investigator for the University, described his job as being that of a “neutral fact finder.” Based on what the
student bringing the charges forward wants, Sciaraffa will either conduct a formal or informal investigation. A formal investigation involves the case being adjudicated through the special examiner’s process. Led by Sciaraffa, the informal investigations are contained within the University and are conducted with more student feedback and involvement in the case. There are non-punitive sanctions attached. The first option is for those who students who may be prepared to go to court, and the second option is for those who want to keep their charges within the University. Most cases are settled with a resolution for a nocontact order, the goal of which is to keep the student safe and away from their perpetrator. Brandeis requires all athletes as well as all the heads of all on campus groups to go through active bystander training. By the fall of 2019, bystander training will be incorporated into the general education requirements for all Brandeis students.
the justice ● Features ● TUESDAY, april 24, 2018 LIAT SHAPIRO/the Justice
ON THE MARK: Boxing is often called the “sweet science,” as it requires finding a perfect balance between hitting and not getting hit.
Don’t Pull Any Punches
Brandeis Boxing Club president Sonor Sereeter ’19 talks about the club’s future By liat shapiro JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
“It’s a really nice thing to learn and develop something. It doesn’t have to be boxing; it just turned out that way,” said Brandeis Boxing Club president, Sonor Sereeter ’19, in an interview with the Justice. Sereeter is not the only Brandeis student for whom the boxing club plays an important role. Throughout the years, the club has found a special place in the hearts of many Brandeis students. The Student Union chartered the Brandeis Boxing Club on May 2, 2010. In an interview with the Justice, Nachum Serota ’14 MA ’15, the second-ever president of the club, reported that the Brandeis Boxing Club achieved club-sport status in 2014. Serota explained that the process of requesting funding as a chartered club required “being very reliant on people” and added that “becoming a club sport and receiving money directly from Gosman was a little more stable.” Since its inception, Brandeis Boxing Club has provided two types of practices for its members: oncampus instruction from e-board members and off-campus coaching from professional boxing coaches at the Nonantum Boxing Club, a training facility in Newton, Mass. The club currently holds conditioning practices on Monday, boxing practices with Nonantum coaches on Tuesday and Thursday and bi-weekly sparring for those with prior boxing experience. This schedule gives members of any level the opportunity to both refine and test their skills. Jiahui Zhong ’18 joined Brandeis Boxing Club in fall 2017 and attends Monday practices. She told the Justice that, under Sereeter’s instruction, her boxing skills are “thoroughly developed each oncampus session.” Sophia He ’19, who signed up during tabling at a club fair, added, “If you don’t think about what punches you’re throwing, you get hit. I love trying to figure your opponent out.” Thanks to Serota and his e-board, the club has access to on-campus boxing equipment. Serota remembered that during his senior year, his e-board decided, “We need to have a whole martial arts studiodojo up there.” The club “requested, implemented and constructed heavy bags. That’s partly why they’re
able to have on-campus practices.” Monique Menezes ’17, president of Brandeis Boxing Club during the 2016-17 season, added that although on-campus practices are a good resource, training also requires equipment such as rings or heavy bags, so the club “wouldn’t have become what it has in a few short years without the help of those at Nonantum.” Speaking about Brandeis Boxing Club’s history, Serota shared, “From what I understand af-
ated how Brandeis students are “always learning from what they do. They’re not just showing up to goof around, they’re really learning.” Gargaro added, “It always impressed me. Whenever I come out of the blue and fill in for somebody, … we can tell that they practiced it. They’re good like that, you know.” Explaining how Nonantum benefits Brandeis Boxing Club, Gargaro said, “Nowadays, everybody’s on YouTube and they’re learn-
learned, everything they’re being taught comes to a culmination in sparring. Finally, they see their flaws, what they’re good at, and improve their technique.” Sereeter also explained that boxing is “an individual sport with the capabilities of what you get from a team.” Monica Aronson ’19, cocaptain and communications director for Brandeis Boxing Club, added that as a boxer, “You are dependent on yourself, and in order to succeed
LIAT SHAPIRO/the Justice
A BLOW TO THE EGO: Sonor Sereeter ’19 said, “I’ve seen that nobody has an ego. If you start thinking about yourself, you’ll be punched in the face.”
ter speaking with the founding president, Phil Lu, he basically Googled ‘boxing club in the area’ and landed on Nonantum.” The Justice interviewed Marc Gargaro, a co-founder of Nonantum as well as an AIBA Star 1 amateur boxing coach and a USA Boxing Level 2. Gargaro explained that although now he just “deals with emails when the club will be canceled,” he has always appreci-
ing from people that are learning from people that are learning from people.” He shrugged, before continuing, “It’s always good to learn from an established boxing coach, trainer, gym. You always want to learn from a real gym.” Training at Nonantum primarily focuses on sparring. Sereeter defined sparring as a “developmental thing.” He emphasized that for students, “everything they’ve
you need to stay disciplined.” She said that simply going through the training as a team heeps energize the club members, “Getting through tough workouts together and watching each other improve is rewarding in itself and brings in the team feel to the highly individual sport.” Boxing is often called the “sweet science,” as it requires finding a perfect balance between hitting and not getting hit. Sereeter ex-
plained that the most important thing in boxing is technique. He said, “You’re learning about your own body, your limitations, I would say it’s akin to dancing. It’s less about fighting, more about being aware of where your body is in relation to everything else.” In addition to learning more about one’s own abilities and restrictions, boxing has life lessons to teach. Gargaro declared, “No matter how out of place you would feel in a boxing ring, that’s even more of a reason to do it. Take chances and learn. Learn how to be in the real world. Boxing will show you how to interact with others and face your fears.” Serota added that “every place I’ve been boxing, I’ve seen that nobody has an ego. If you start thinking about yourself, you’ll be punched in the face. Everybody can be better than anybody else on any given day.” “If you’re humble and willing to learn you’ll go far,” said Sereeter. “And, that’s true for everything in life. I’m a firm believer that everything in boxing can be applied to life.” This has proven true for Menezes, who entered the workforce as an analyst at a healthcare consultant company. She said that although not at all related to her current job, boxing “gave [her] good memories, great friends, and a mental toughness” she can “constantly appreciate.” Whether one joins for the workout or the social aspect, Brandeis Boxing Club offers a place where students can come together to build confidence, relieve stress and forge friendships. During his tenure as president, Serota attempted to run a club that “was super welcoming to anybody from anywhere.” Menezes continued this mindset, actively encouraging her friends — including Aronson — to try out boxing. Moving forward with Brandeis Boxing, Sereeter said that he hopes to “ignite some sort of passion for it, just as I was galvanized to attend basically every single practice.” As former boxing presidents have passed their legacy down the line, and Sereeter wants to do the same. With an attitude similar to that of Serota, Seereter wants to “leave behind people who are willing to organize a club and who are committed enough to the sport.” Sending a word of encouragement to Brandeis Boxing Club, Gargaro declared, “I hope they stick with it, I hope they keep at it. I hope they continue, “cause it’s pretty cool.”
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10 TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 ● forum ● THE JUSTICE
the
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Brandeis University
Avraham Penso, Editor in Chief Natalia Wiater, Managing Editor Carmi Rothberg, Abby Patkin and Amber Miles, Senior Editors Kirby Kochanowski and Sabrina Sung, Deputy Editors Michelle Banayan, Abby Grinberg, Lizzie Grossman, Noah Hessdorf, Ben Katcher, Mihir Khanna, Pamela Klahr, Robbie lurie, Nia Lyn and Hannah Kressel Associate Editors Jocelyn Gould, News Editor Victor Feldman, Features Editor Judah Weinerman, Acting Forum Editor, Zach Kaufman, Sports Editor Maya Zanger-Nandis, Acting Arts Editor Yvette Sei and Andrew Baxter, Photography Editors Morgan Mayback, Layout Editor, Liat Fischer and Devo Meyers, Acting Ads Editors Eliana Padwa and Lily Swartz, Copy Editors Jen Geller, Online Editor
EDITORIALS
Criticize entire “And Then There Were None” process
On Thursday, April 12, the Undergraduate Theatre Collective postponed its first performance of “And Then There Were None” only hours before it had been slated to open. The play is based on a 1939 Agatha Christie murder mystery novel adapted from a British nursery rhyme about murdering Africans, the title of which was “Ten Little N-----s.” This Board is disappointed by the lastminute nature of the decision and urges faculty members to voice their concerns more proactively in the future. The Justice conducted interviews with Prof. Carina Ray (AAAS), director Merrick Mendenhall ’20 and another individual with ties to the play who wished to remain anonymous because of the sensitive nature of the situation. This board disagrees with the UTC Proposal board’s original decision to stage the play as simple entertainment rather than engaging with the implications of the play from the beginning; UTC leadership had known about the show’s history before approving it for their spring lineup. But at the vote itself, which the producer and director of the show had been unable to attend, the racist background of the play was relegated to a brief mention and an asterisk. While controversial art can be used to prompt dialogue or open campus conversations, in the future the UTC must consider whether their plays are meant to be provocative or simply entertaining, and guide their decisions accordingly. Instead, when the ATTWN leadership raised concerns about the play’s history, the UTC dismissed their concerns. The ATTWN leadership asked 20 Professors from a variety of departments to participate in a post-performance panel discussion. While the majority did
Clarify production guidelines not respond or claimed not to have time, Ray declined to participate because she believed that would legitimize the UTC’s original mistake of choosing to produce ATTWN, but she suggested the ATTWN leadership speak with Chief Diversity Officer Mark Brimhall-Vargas. On the projected opening day, the African and Afro-American Studies Department reached out to ATTWN leadership and two UTC members via email, questioning whether the show was being performed in a way that upheld the dignity of students marginalized by its racist history. This Board holds that not reaching out earlier was a critical error on the part of the faculty and that failing to advise students when they had requested help with a contentious issue was an oversight. Following the email, ATTWN leadership and the UTC decided to host an open forum in lieu of opening the play that evening, and later chose to cancel all but one performance. This Board objects to the last-minute nature of the decision, given the performers’ hard work and the months of deliberation that preceded the final decision. UTC representatives, the ATTWN cast and Brimhall-Vargas had met a few days before opening night to discuss the play’s history and reaffirm their confidence in the production. Deciding to cancel only four days after affirming the production was unfair to cast members, especially after students had put significant work and resources into the play. In the future, production decisions should be made earlier, with more transparency and with better communication among all concerned parties.
Scrutinize candidates for Dean of Arts and Sciences
The University has narrowed down its search for a new Dean of Arts and Sciences to three candidates: Dorothy Hodgson, Jeffrey Shoulson and Lynn Stein. Each individual brings with them a wealth of experience and while this Board commends that, it is more important that the candidate chosen is one who can best meet the needs of students. One such way to do this is to place an equal emphasis on both the arts and the sciences. The first step would be to reevaluate the University’s approach to the liberal arts curriculum. As it stands, there are several humanities classes with as few as four students enrolled. While small class sizes are appealing, classes this small are not conducive to learning or productive discourse. Additionally, some of the classes offered are very similar to others; by eliminating some similar courses, the University could thus provide a solution to the small class sizes by reducing the number of choices offered. Beyond the issues in class choice, humanities and arts students face a unique set of problems when searching for career opportunities. The Hiatt Career Center is meant to be a resource to help students hone their skills and prepare for interviews, but this is primarily geared toward students entering business-oriented careers. There are no resources available to help students learn how to cultivate a portfolio or prepare for an audition, and this puts arts and humanities students at a disadvantage when applying for jobs in their respective fields. This board urges the new dean
Address academic issues
of Arts and Sciences to encourage the creation of resources for such students. In reference to STEM students, the strict prerequisites in place can pose a hardship for many, specifically midyears. Many science majors offer two-semester courses and while some of these courses can be taken out of order, classes like General Biology Lab require that students take the fall semester course before the spring course. This puts midyear students at a disadvantage: not only do they have to wait another semester to take a requirement, they may also have to take summer courses to ensure that they are on track to graduate on time. On top of the already-expensive tuition, these students have to choose between paying for outside resources or for another year in school. While these prerequisites are understandable in the sense that students are meant to be at the same education level as their peers, the University should consider the effects on all students. Brandeis is marketed as a “liberal arts college and a global research university,” and if the University wants to live up to this reputation, then it needs to make sure that all students have the same resources and are able to make the best of their time here, something the new Dean of Arts and Sciences should also take into consideration. —Editor’s Note: Mihir Khanna ’18 is on the dean of arts and sciences search committee and is an associate editor for the Justice. He did not participate in writing or editing this editorial.
ABBY PATKIN/the Justice
Views the News on
On March 30, tens of thousands of Palestinians began wide-scale protests at the border between Gaza and Israel in what they termed the “Great Return March,” as reported by the New York Times. Protest activity and Israeli military activity has remained constant since, with Palestinian activists planning a climactic mass demonstration on May 15, the 70th anniversary of Israel’s founding. Supporters claim that Palestinians are peacefully protesting Israeli occupation of their land, while detractors claim the protests are unfounded and violent in nature. What should international observers make of this new movement, and how can further violence between Israelis and Palestinians be avoided?
Mollie Goldfarb ’20 First off, it is an undeniable fact that Palestinians in Gaza, under the rule of Hamas, are suffering. Israel has dedicated immense amounts of resources to remedy the Gaza crisis; however, Hamas has used these resources to fund terrorism. These acts of violence by Palestinians are extremely dangerous and counterproductive to attain peace. For instance, Palestinians recently attempted to cut open the border and threw firebombs at Israeli soldiers, forcing Israel to defend itself, which is a right of any nation. While protesting is a valid way to advocate for change, especially for people living in awful conditions, violent protest is unacceptable. Nevertheless, if I knew the solution to prevent Palestinian-Israeli fighting, I would have won a Nobel Peace Prize. While the question is difficult to answer, I hope we can achieve peace in the future but in the meantime search for a more effective way to solve the humanitarian crisis. Mollie Goldfarb ’20 is president of Brandeis Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Lucy Pugh-Sellers ’20 If we want to put an end to violence in the area, Israel has to end its occupation of Gaza as soon as possible. For too long, the Palestinian people have had their self-agency stolen away from them by the Israeli government. Many Palestinians can no longer bear the strain of occupation. The people of Gaza are putting their life on the line to protest because Israel has put their homes and families under siege since 2005, when they “ceded the land” but set it up for failure with a harsh economic and material blockade. During these recent Nakba Day protests, the Israeli military has murdered over 50 Palestinian protesters and gravely wounded over 2000. This is authoritarianism, pure and simple. Israel must disengage from Gaza immediately and set up some form of reparations fund to rebuild the communities they destroyed. Ultimately, we should focus on respecting and listening to Palestinian voices that have been ignored for far too long. Lucy Pugh-Sellers ’20 is a founding member of Brandeis Students for Justice in Palestine.
Hannah Moser ’20 Palestinians have the right to peacefully protest in order vocalize rights to their land. Similarly, the Israeli government has the right to protect its borders. Amidst peaceful protest, a few violent individuals have risen out of the crowd of Gazans trying to breach the border and attack Israeli soldiers. The IDF has responded to violence per their right, but did so with excessive force which resulted in unjustified death and injury to many innocent Palestinians. I believe we must look at the systematic deprivation in Gaza, where most people lack power, clean water, and basic humanitarian resources. Peace cannot be achieved until human rights are recognized for all peoples in the region on an international level. Additionally, the ongoing failure of the United States administration to seriously engage with Palestinian concerns exacerbates the conflict, endangering everyone involved and narrowing the prospects of peace. Hannah Moser is co-chair of J Street U Brandeis.
Linfei Yang ’20 International observers should recognize the imposed blockade, Gaza’s currently dire living conditions, as well as the recent aggressions that have galvanized the current situation. International observers should also realize the importance of this movement being the first of its kind to advocate peaceful, nonviolence in such scales and how this provides us with an opportunity to both support and hold the IDF accountable to these principles. It is with this same method that we condemn the IDF’s indiscriminate killing of over 30 civilians, including both a journalist and minors, as a clear violation of human rights, threat to Israeli democracy, and harm the Jewish values it was founded upon – just as we support Israel’s security. But most importantly, international observers should see that understanding who is the oppressed and who is the oppressor in this situation is the only way we can even begin to avoid future violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Linfei Yang ‘20 is the International Student Senator.
Photos: Mollie Goldfarb; the Justice
THE JUSTICE ● fORUM ● TUESDAY, April 24 , 2018
11
Criticize poor handling of “And Then There Were None” By Evan MEnkhen JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I went to see “And Then There Were None” last weekend. It opened with twenty minutes of apologizing. The play was fine. The real spectacle came afterwards. Now, I think the play was okay to put on, and I do think that it was appropriate to include in the program. But in the wake of the disaster that was “Buyer Beware” — in which Brandeis took the bait hook, line and sinker — I’m astounded that “And Then There Were None” managed to slip through the cracks. Of the 28 professors the director contacted for advice in March, a pitiful few responded. On the day the play was scheduled to debut, seven African and Afro-American Studies professors sent an email urging the cancellation of the play, citing the change in the campus climate precipitated by the firing of basketball coach Brian Meehan. That firing took place a week prior, and yet they waited until the last minute to use their authority to intimidate the students. Let’s call this what it is: bullying. There are many ways to voice concerns, and these professors chose an illiberal one. It was based on intimidation. They opted to shut down dialogue rather than open it — and when a dialogue was opened on Thursday night, none of them chose to attend. Frankly, I expect better from Brandeis professors. At the Thursday night showing-turnedpanel, an overwhelming majority of students in attendance supported putting on the play for its full run. Yet the discussion leaders made a point of stressing that students of color might not have attended because they may have felt unsafe. I don’t mean to discount the way these students feel, but there is a dangerous tendency to conflate emotional and physical violence. “Unsafe” connotes the latter, and to suggest that there was any threat of bodily harm at the panel is simply counterfactual. The conversation was nothing if not polite and respectful. I think the only way to have a productive dialogue is when both sides can come to the table. The AAAS professors who signed the letter have no excuse for not being at the panel. At the talkback, Prof. Carina Ray (AAAS) claimed that she had originally declined to participate on a panel about the play because she did not want to legitimize the production. This strikes me as particularly disingenuous given her presence at the actual performance and subsequent panel. Given that she called for the play’s cancellation,
she should at least be willing to defend that position. Despite the many students who wanted the show to go on and the no-show professors, the Undergraduate Theater Collective caved to pressure and cancelled all but one of the five scheduled shows. After the remaining show, the actors read agonizing commentaries on the ways in which they reinterpreted their flawed characters. The character Emily Brent, due to her hardcore Protestant beliefs, kicks her pregnant-out-of-wedlock servant to the curb to die. Amy Ollove, who played Brent, stated that she changed Brent’s motivation such that Brent was angry that, in getting pregnant, her servant had assumed a traditional female role rather than living up to her full potential. This dilutes Christie’s message about the dangers of religious fundamentalism, and adds what exactly? A message that progressives can be terrible people too? Ollove emphasized that the Bible itself was not flawed, only Brent’s interpretation of it. Oh, the hypocrisy of being outraged at Agatha Christie while defending the Bible! I don’t understand why a villainous character who gets her just deserts can’t be portrayed as such. I have similar concerns about Lombard, a racist and sexist character whose line revealing the depths of his racism was cut from the play. Christie’s commentary is that Lombard’s bigoted attitudes are his undoing, an analysis so cursory that it can be found on SparkNotes. Not to mention that the point of theater, as all good art, is to provoke the audience to feel something. If you truly hate Lombard, it makes his comeuppance so much sweeter. When I raised this objection, white actress Alina Sipp-Alpers ‘21 blindsided me with her response that she and her cast members wanted to make white people uncomfortable, not Black people. How incredibly patronizing! To deem yourself the arbiter of what is and isn’t safe for Black students is to imply that they can’t make that choice for themselves. Judge Wargrave, the murderer who seeks justice for crimes left unpunished in the legal system, was accused of being a white supremacist by actress Blake Rosen ‘20, who portrayed the judge. The only textual evidence for this was from the judge’s use of the originally racist rhyme. The cast seemed to think that Christie’s replacement of the poem’s final line with “he went out and hanged himself, and then there were none” was a veiled reference to lynching, a practice which was far less common in England
JULIANNA SCIONTI/the Justice
than in the American South. Lost on them was the symbolism that Wargrave was a “hanging judge” – implying that the punishment did not fit the crime and that Wargrave, too, was a villain in this story. If Wargrave was a white supremacist, why seek justice for the twenty-one Africans killed by Lombard? Alina Sipp-Alpers, who played Vera Claythorne, suggested that her character gained agency by choosing to shoot herself at the end of the play. In the novel, Vera does kill herself, which is a reason I like the novel better than the adaptations for film and stage. Overall, I think returning to the original ending is a good choice. But that’s not what happened. In the novel, Vera hangs herself with a noose provided by Wargrave. She does so because of her fractured mental state and her obsession with completing the rhyme. In no way can this be called taking agency. The way the play was staged, Vera had the opportunity to kill Wargrave but chose to “take agency” and kill herself instead. The idea that suicide can be a form of taking agency is as harmful as it is insensitive. On top of that, I resent the idea that the cast knew better than one of the greatest writers of all time how the story should end.
As anyone could have guessed, the discussion after the play was nothing short of a trainwreck. The cast’s parents and grandparents, who were rightfully indignant, recieved no good answers. Professor Ray claimed that if the rhyme had been about Jews, “We wouldn’t be sitting here” – and then evaded an attempt to get her to clarify that statement. She also responded to my criticism of the email she sent to the cast on behalf of AAAS with “I have a right to free speech too” – an argument on a par with “it’s a free country!” I left the theater deeply troubled about the future of Brandeis. Students should be able to decide what art is and isn’t suitable for them. They should engage in liberal protest, such as turning away from the stage, holding signs outside or – here’s an idea – not going to a play when they find it to be unsuitable. Twice in quick succession have students and most alarmingly faculty, deemed art unsafe for other students. We have set a dangerous precedent. In so doing, we are playing into the right’s narrative about colleges. Universities have always been the bastion of free speech, as has the left – and we are letting it be snatched from right under our noses.
Question effectiveness of racial bias training LETTER TO THE EDITOR Nia
lyn purpose
On April 12, two Black men — Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson — were arrested in a Starbucks in downtown Philadelphia, according to an April 15 New York Times article. Officials claimed that the two men had asked to use the bathroom without making a purchase and were eventually asked to leave. However, when they did not leave, an employee called the police. The article also states that the men were arrested on the suspicion of trespassing, but Starbucks did not plan on pressing charges. Andrew Yaffe, the man who was supposed to meet Nelson and Robinson, questioned the basis of their arrest, stating “[Was it] because there are two black guys sitting here meeting me?” The video of the arrest went viral and caused public outrage: As of press time, it has been viewed over 8 million times on Twitter. As a result, the company will begin holding racial bias training. On May 29, Starbucks will close more than 8,000 stores and provide training to its 175,000 employees, according to an April 18 New York Times article. This is particularly relevant, as University President Ron Liebowitz announced that he and senior administrative colleagues will begin undergoing “training on issues related to racism, sexism, inclusion and inequality,” per his April 12 email to the University. However, this brings about the real question: Is racial bias training actually feasible? While it would be ideal for individuals to attend a session and learn the errors of their
ways, studies have shown disappointing results. A 2015 study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology actually revealed that individuals who were more aware of their stereotyping expressed those ideas even further. And even if the training was to make any sort of noticeable difference, it is not something that could occur over the course of a day, as people still harbor implicit racial biases which are difficult to shake. According to a Nov. 27, 2016 article in Psychology Today, implicit biases are, “among other things, automatic, intuitive, and (mostly) unconscious.” Implicit cognition is a skill developed from a young age and the biases that develop from it are the result of years of experience and outside influence. The article also states “implicit biases tend to intrude unconsciously in online cognition in ways that can sometimes supersede the influence of years of education.” This is the the greatest problem with offering bias training. In an April 18 NBC News article, Bryant Marks,
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Training is a step in the right direction, but it cannot end the underlying issue of racism within this nation. a psychology professor at Morehouse College in Atlanta, said that the training implemented by Starbucks should be the first step of many. He stated, “It would have to involve ongoing conversations among the corporate leadership in particular.” It takes time to mentally overcome
years of bias and even more time to train oneself to act in a way that reflects these changes. Marks also suggested employee training at the hiring stage — something that would prove useful if offered along with the sexual harassment training that is offered at many workplaces. While these are still not completely effective in thwarting the inappropriate actions which occur in the workplace, they are still beneficial and set some sort of standard for what is expected of employees. This training, too, is something that should be implemented in schools. As previously mentioned, Liebowitz plans on initiating racial bias training for himself and other administrative colleagues. This is something that other schools already have in place, one school being Northwestern University. The website for their Office of the Provost has a link to resources on unconscious bias accessible to the public. These resources include an implicit association test, a virtual workshop on managing bias, and a training video for faculty members to uncover and address, as well as a guide to mitigating bias in job recruitment. While this is not a formallyled course or even material specific to the institution, having these resources accessible is something that Brandeis should strive to duplicate. Too often, people of color are viewed in a negative manner because of implicit biases and individuals’ inability to differentiate their preconceived notions from the reality of a situation. This is a problem that exists at all levels — from a 14-year-old missing the school bus and being mistaken for a robber, to two men waiting for a business associate in a Starbucks; there is no doubt about it. That being said, it is clear that this problem is pervasive across the nation and is not limited to Starbucks or even Brandeis. Training is a step in the right direction but it cannot end the underlying issue of racism within this nation.
As chairman of the Brandeis Board of Trustees I write to commend the important contributions that students have made to the education of our trustees and to describe the impact they have achieved. As just one example, Wil Jones ’18 and Christian Nunez ’19 grabbed the Board’s attention with respect to the deficiencies in the counseling services, particularly as they affect students of color. I believe that this contributed significantly to recent steps taken to begin to improve these services. Moreover, the issue of inadequate financial aid packages that compel students to work too many hours to be able to get all they should from a Brandeis education was forcefully impressed on trustees both by Wil and last year’s representative, Emily Conrad ’17. I hope that this will ultimately lead to financial aid packages that do not leave students with gaps after their first year. Wil and Student Union President Jacob Edelman ’18 have devoted many hours of time helping me to learn and understand University practices that complicate or burden students’ experiences. I am particularly grateful to Wil and Amber Abernathy ’18 who have helped me understand the special challenges that confront our students of color. Even with all the efforts that students of color have made to bring these challenges to the fore and have them successfully addressed, I do not believe that we have fully absorbed the severity of these challenges. I know that real change takes time and effort to achieve, while life as a student is short. So frustration is great. Under the leadership of President Leibowitz we can and will do better. Brandeis student leaders and board representatives have done a remarkable job and we have been extremely fortunate to have their contributions. Meyer Koplow ’72, P’02, P’05 —Meyer Koplow ‘72 is the chairman of the Brandeis Board of Trustees.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2018 ● forum ● THE JUSTICE
FORUM
Analyze effects of automation on Eastern European job market By BRANDON STANaWAY SPECIAL TO THE JUSTICE
Popularized during the 1960s and 1970s, scifi movies, television and literature such as the Star Wars trilogy, Star Trek and the Jetsons inspired visions of a fully automated, sleek and leisurely futuristic utopia. Impossibly advanced technology envisioned in pop culture is becoming possible, necessitating a serious debate surrounding the benefits and consequences of implementing unprecedented technology in everyday life. Globally, technology has supplemented jobs in goods and services sectors, enhancing efficiency and output while driving many jobs to nearobsolescence and making once-prosperous industries close their doors. Effects of this can be seen in rising youth unemployment rates, especially in Southern Europe. Much of Europe’s economic activity is centered around manufacturing and can be used as a case study to examine the effects of automation. The economic debate about automation centers around whether it supplements or replaces labor. In Europe, the automation of goods sector jobs is replacing labor, demonstrated by rising youth unemployment and resistance toward accepting migrant workers. Low labor mobility leaves current laborers at risk of being replaced by machines, reducing opportunities for young people and displaced migrants in Europe. Industries and governments benefit from the reduction in labor costs and increase in production efficiency yet refuse to remedy the residual effects, such as displaced workers and high youth unemployment. Despite having a robust economy, many jobs are left unfilled throughout the Czech Republic due to a shortage of labor. Per a 2017 report from the European Commission, the unemployment rate in the Czech Republic stands at 2.4 percent while the Czech labor force participation rate is 75.4 percent. A shortage of workers limits the ability of Czech businesses to take advantage of their rapidly growing economy. When the economy turns sour in the future, the machines will keep whirring along, while humans will find themselves swiftly out of a job. Unemployed and migrant populations, already suffering from unemployment before a hypothetical downturn, would be less likely to obtain jobs when the economy begins to expand again as automation replaces potential jobs. Before such a reality comes to pass, all stakeholders in the economic performance of Europe must realize labor is increasingly being replaced by machines and that new industries are not utilizing human labor. For most industries in nations with low labor mobility, automation is necessary to remain competitive in the world market. Staunch antiimmigration politicians have assumed power in Central and Eastern Europe, such as Czech
President Miloš Zeman and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Their governments limit the number of work visas provided to permanent low-skilled migrant work, preferring to incentivize high-skilled migrations through use of the EU Blue Card directive. Furthermore, many Central and Eastern European countries are not accepting displaced refugees fleeing conflicts in the Middle East. These countries are omitting a source of labor that would benefit both manufacturers and workers. Thus, the youngest generations struggling to find steady work in the labor market that ensured that their parents would to lead sustainable and prosperous lives during the second half of the 20th century. Low labor mobility has been an impediment to gross domestic product and productivity growth, according to Horst Siebert, a professor of economics at the University of Kiel. In the paper Labor Market Rigidities: At the Root of Unemployment in Europe, published in the Journal of Economic Perspectives, Siebert described measures taken by European countries during that time period. According to Siebert, “Layoff restraints were made more strict and severance pay in the case of closings was increased, both by acts of legislation and by the judicial system.” Europe is automating its labor force because these restrictions on labor mobility implemented 30 years ago have made local industries less competitive relative to the United States. Furthermore, Siebert argues that the labor market in the United States reacts to changes in wages within one year of the change. However in Europe, the average period needed to adjust to adjust wages is two years. This delay makes it less likely for the private sector in Europe to increase employment of workers migrating from other countries or seeking refugee status, since labor costs would be comparatively higher that in the United States. Automating labor fit for foreign or youth workers avoids the cost disadvantage incurred by private firms in Europe. Limited migration is a consequence of the rigid structure of labor regulations in Europe. Low-skilled workers coming from areas outside of Europe, primarily as refugees, are not accepted into the countries that could use their skill set. Since 2016, the Czech Republic has accepted 7224 document refugees, while GDP has grown at an average of almost 4 percent over the same period. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia take in fewer than 1500 refugees per year; the latter two of which are suffering a labor shortage as well, according to a May 16 2017 ERR article. In a European Union report to Lithuania addressing the labor shortage, the country was advised to offer more work permits to foreign workers from third countries and extend the length of temporary residence in the country. Even Scandinavian countries, known for their robust social welfare programs
MARA KHAYTER/the Justice
and economic equality, accept few migrants compared to Germany, which accepts a large numberfare of the foreign migrants entering Europe. Rising youth unemployment demonstrates the replacement of low-skilled labor. The European Union has a youth unemployment rate of around 21 percent as of 2016, according to the World Bank. Southern European countries disproportionately suffer from high total youth unemployment. As a percentage of the total labor force, 15-24 year-old individuals are unemployed at a rate of 39.4 percent, 23 percent, 36.9 percent and 42.8 percent in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece, respectively, according to a Nov. 2017 World Bank report. Germany, on the other hand, has a 6.4 percent youth unemployment rate. A strong technical apprenticeship program in the country facilitates youth employment. Adopting a social program of this color would be difficult in Southern European countries but would allow these unemployed youths to find positions in other countries, such as in Central and Eastern Europe. As the trend toward automated labor increases and its effects become prevalent worldwide, actions must be taken to ensure displaced human labor is reoriented to
participate in the economy. Migratory workers and the European youth, low-skilled labor, are negatively impacted by rigid labor mobility and automation. Relaxing labor regulations to facilitate movement of workers within Europe, accepting migrants displaced from elsewhere in the world and ensuring that they are welcome and remain in Europe will facilitate a more equitable distribution of the benefits of the growing economy in places such as the Czech Republic. In the short run, the regulations currently in place limit the mobility of European labor and should be relaxed to allow workers within Europe to seize opportunities otherwise unavailable. Legislation to protect workers and unions in counties receiving a net increase on foreign workers should ensure that the workers and families are able to live in the country comfortably, without fear of being relieved of their position and forced to reshuffle their lives to return to their former economic situations. That said, completely dismantling Europe’s tradition of protecting its workers is not a viable answer. Ensuring job security for families from every class stratum and allowing them to enjoy their lives without the existential pressure of labor instability, is paramount in the long run.
Express concern over possible college tuition price bubble By JOSEPH DeFErrari JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A bubble occurs when, due to market hysteria or general irrationality, an asset is traded at a price that strongly exceeds the asset’s intrinsic value. A bubble bursts when the market snaps back to reality. The dot-com bubble grew in the late 1990s while investors eagerly bought shares in technology companies; it burst suddenly in March of 2000, as companies like Pets.com and Just For Feet shut down. Home prices rose sharply as the housing bubble grew in the early 2000s before the largest decline in home prices in American history amidst increased foreclosures and banks collapses. Now, some are raising the argument that the next big bubble to burst is in the higher education sphere. The sticker price of American colleges increased nearly 400 percent in the last 30 years, per a July 23, 2017 article in the Wall Street Journal, far outpacing the growth rate of household income; yet college enrollment has only risen. Between 2000 and 2015, the percentage of 18-24 year-olds enrolled in college rose from 36 to 41 percent, per the National Center for Education Statistics, and national student debt is over $1 trillion. The price of college has been rapidly increasing, yet more and more people are going to college. If you’re making a surface level analysis, it sure seems similar to that housing bubble, with prices rising at absurd rates and consumption rising in spite of it. There are some questions to ask here. First of all: why are college costs going up so much in the first place? The standard narrative here is that government spending cuts are the problem. Public funding has fallen, and tuition has risen to make up for that drop, or so the story goes. This is misleading. In inflation adjusted dollars, government funding to higher education increased from $11.1 billion in 1960 to $48.2 billion in 1975,
per an April 4, 2015 article in the New York Times. It was $86.6 billion in 2009. It fell a bit during the Great Recession but has rebounded to $81 billion, not including the $34.3 billion a year Pell Grant program (which has increased from $10.3 billion in 2000). Articles tend to cite particular cuts in funding, like the cut following the Great Recession, but telling the story in that way ignores the reality that both government funding and college costs have been trending upwards for decades. Others point to the increasing percentage of tuition that families pay. This isn’t a disputed fact; government funding has risen more slowly than tuition costs have, and families are picking up the slack. Yet that point shifts the discussion slightly away from the core issue of college costs increasing as rapidly as they have. Prices certainly aren’t going up because of rising salaries for professors. According to a 2016 study from the National Center of Education Statistics, full-time professor salaries have been stagnant since 1970, and about half of faculty are part-time lecturers — up from only 22 percent in 1970. In inflationadjusted dollars, universities are spending less money on academic faculty than they were in 1970. One factor actually contributing to rising costs is the expansion of administration. According to the Department of Education, there were 60 percent more administrative positions at colleges in 2009 than in 1993, 10 times the rate of growth of tenured faculty positions. This isn’t a problem in and of itself. As Sandy Baum, a senior fellow at the nonprofit Urban Institute, wrote in a April 7, 2015 Washington Post article, “You can’t just have people in the classroom, you have to have people providing student support services or students don’t succeed.” It’s not wasted money; academic advisors, diversity staff, wellness counselors, etc., all play a part in improving the college
experience. There is a competitive aspect here as well. When one school creates a new department focusing on, say, helping incoming students transition academically, that puts pressure on other schools to do the same. These schools are competing for students, and every inch counts. The same can be said about facilities; renovations to student centers, for instance, are hardly necessary, but they can help attract incoming students. Keeping up with technology is a cost nightmare. The education sector is essentially immune to the benefits of technological leaps, at least as far as efficiency goes. For every class, you still need a professor working for a certain number of hours a week, maybe a teaching assistant or two and administrative staff. There is more depth to this concept, but it’s more a subject of a dissertation than of a newspaper article. Bottom line: economists are in general agreement that this cost disease not only prevents cost-cutting, but actually contributes to increasing costs. But is it a bubble? Bubbles are historically difficult to predict. There are always signs, always economists shouting to the heavens that something bad will happen, but there’s no way to truly know a bubble exists before it pops. While the costs of education are increasing, college is still worth the cost people pay for it, despite what talk show pundits and drunk uncles might say. In an increasingly tech-dependent workforce, an education is increasingly important. A study from Georgetown’s Center on Education and the Workforce shows that 97 percent of so-called “good jobs” — which pay the median household income of $53,000 or more and offer benefits — go to college graduates. That’s practically like saying a college degree is mandatory to get one of those jobs. Furthermore, the wage difference between college graduates and non-graduates nearly doubled, from 33 to 62
The opinions expressed on this page are those of each article’s respective author and do not reflect the viewpoint of the Justice.
percent from 1980 to 2013, according to an Oct. 22, 2015 Time article. However, college is still a good investment. It is worth what students pay for it. But the housing bubble didn’t collapse simply because the market realized houses weren’t worth what they were being sold for; it collapsed amid a flurry of foreclosures as borrowers failed to pay the mortgages they were given. Student loan debt, already above $1 trillion nationwide, may eventually become crippling to students. And it’s tough to get out of; those declaring bankruptcy are often freed from their piled-up utility bills, personal loans, and even their credit card debt, but student loans fall into the special category of “priority” debt that is almost impossible to get out of. Furthermore, even if college is worth it when you do the math, prospective students could still be deterred. According to data from the Department of Education, total postsecondary enrollment has fallen every year since 2011 — the first decline of that duration in modern peacetime American history. That, though, is due at least in part to decreasing number of college-aged people in general. It is not impossible to imagine a sudden overflow of graduates defaulting on their student loan debt, triggering a massive drop in college enrollment as prospective students stay away in fear of joining their ranks. Yet it seems far more likely that this phenomenon, if it even occurs, takes place over many years. Derek Thompson of the Atlantic aptly wrote in a July 26, 2017 article that the college bubble will end “not with a pop, but a hiss.” Nobody can give a definitive answer where these trends are leading. It’s possible that college prices will drop, as the rate of growth has already started to slow down. We may reach a breaking point where exorbitantly priced schools face so much pressure to change that they have little choice. Or, prices could grow indefinitely, fueled by the increased demand for educated workers.
THE JUSTICE ● Sports ● Tuesday, April 24, 2018
SOFTBALL: Team still looks to compete in UAA conference
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READY TO EXPLODE
CONTINUED FROM 16 home run, walk, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Scottie Todd ’20 was dominant in the circle as she went the distance to improve to 5-8 in the year. Eastern Nazarene 4, Brandeis 3 Brandeis fell to Eastern Nazarene as ENC jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first. The offense was led by Maryssa Massoia ’19 who went 2-4 with an RBI. Macdonald took the loss as she falls to 2-8 this season.
Eastern Nazarene 4, Brandeis 1 The Judges were kept silent as they were only to tally one run against ENC. PJ Ross ’20 drove in the lone run as she doubled in Lehtonen in the fifth to break the shutout. Sadie Rose Apfel ’18 suffered the loss giving up four runs in three innings of work. Scottie Todd ’20 kept them quiet the rest of the game, but the damage was done.
TRACK: Team rides momentum, looks ahead to BASEBALL: Team hopes to be championship meets a spoiler during UAA play ANDREW BAXTER/Justice File Photo
POWER SWING: Donnie Weisse ’16 lifts his leg in preperation to face a Case Western pitch in their game on April 8.
CONTINUED FROM 16
discus and Churchill Perry ’20 in the triple jump. Charie also had a very good personal day, taking home second in the 100m and 3rd in the 200m, while also anchoring a 4x100 team that finished 3rd. The freshman also showed out for the men’s team. Josh Lombardo ’21, Allan, Kevin Truong ‘21, Michael Leung ’21, Corin, Breylen Ammen ’21, and Tanner Richards ’21 were all points scorers for the men. For the women, Fahey placed 2nd in both the 400m hurdles and the long jump. In the 800m, the third, fourth, seventh, eighth, and ninth place finishers were all Brandeis athletes. Kanya Brown placed 6th
in the 100m. Niamh Kenny ’21 made her debut in the 5000m, finishing 5th. In the 100m hurdles, Lydia Harris ’20 placed 5th while Tessa Holleran ’21 followed her closely in 6th place. The Judges will return to action on Saturday as they travel to Carnegie Mellon University for the University Athletic Association outdoor championships. Following that, they will make a short trip to MIT to compete in the New England Division III outdoor championships. The following week will see the Judges compete in the NEICAAA championships hosted by Dartmouth College. After the last chance meet at MIT, the Judges will travel to Wisconsin to run in the NCAA championships.
CONTINUED FROM 16 inning and would eventually win 7-5. Judges 2, NYU 18 On the first game of Saturday, the Judges faced a severe loss against the Violets; the game only lasted seven innings. The Violets busted out of the gates with five runs in the top of the first. They then scored two runs in the top of the second inning and five more in the top of the third. This 12-0 deficit was too much to overcome, and the team would go on to lose 18-2. Judges 7, NYU 12 On Friday, the Judges suffered
another loss against the Violets. Colman Hendershot of NYU played the game of his life, going 4-5 with a double and three home runs, with seven RBIs. In the bottom of the first, the Judges got two runs, with secondbaseman Tommy Sand ’21 scoring on a single made by designated hitter Scott Ziegler ’21 and then Zielger on a sac fly from Frey. The Judges would eventually fall behind 10-2, and a four run rally was not enough to take the game. In an email with the Justice, pitcher Brandon Musto spoke to the goals and hard work the team has been putting into the season. Musto said that the main goal is to win as many games as possible. “We have
a very young team this year, but we believe that we can be better than last year and hopefully win more games,” he said. Although the team has not seen the results that they had wanted this season, Musto adds that players are putting in extra time and work on the side to improve team outcomes. “We just need all of the pieces to come together and we’ll be able to click as a team.” Hopefully, the Judges can make all of the pieces fit and end this season strong. Continued hard work and dedication on the part of the players will help to make this season as strong as possible and improve going into the 2019 season.
TENNIS BASKETBALL SWIMMING TRACK
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TENNIS BASKETBALL SWIMMING TRACK
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THE JUSTICE ● Sports ● Tuesday, APRIL 24, 2018
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TENNIS
jUDGES BY THE NUMBERS BASEBALL TEAM STATS
UAA STANDINGS
Runs Batted In
UAA Conference Overall W L W L Pct. Case 12 4 25 6 .803 Emory 8 4 17 17 .500 WashU 6 6 17 14 .548 NYU 5 7 25 8 .758 JUDGES 1 11 3 21 .125
UPCOMING GAMES: Thursday at WashU Friday at WashU (double-header) Saturday at WashU
Dan Frey ’21 leads the team with 17 runs batted in. Player RBI Dan Frey 17 Issac Fossas 12 Dan O’Leary 12 Victor Oppenheimer 12
Strikeouts Greg Tobin ’20 leads all pitchers with 37 strikeouts. Player Ks Greg Tobin 37 Bradley Bousquet 16 Mason Newman 16 Tim Lopez 12
SOFTBALL UAA STANDINGS
TEAM STATS
UAA Conference Overall W L W L Pct. Emory 11 1 23 9 .719 Case 10 6 24 8 .750 NYU 4 4 17 13 .567 JUDGES 2 10 9 17 .346 WashU 1 7 9 13 .409
Keri Lehtonen ’19 has a teamhigh 10 runs batted in. Player RBI Keri Lehtonen 10 Jolie Fujita 7 Marissa DeLaurentis 5 Melissa Rothenberg 5
Runs Batted In
Strikeouts
UPCOMING GAMES: Tuesday at Babson (double-header) Wednesday at Worscester St. (dh) Friday at Wash U (dh)
ANDREW BAXTER/Justice File Photo
Scottie Todd ’20 has a teamhigh nine strikeouts on the hill. Player Ks Scottie Todd 9 Callie MacDonald 6 Sadie-Rose Apfel 4
TRACK AND FIELD Results from the Silfen Invitational on April 13.
TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)
TOP FINISHERS (Men’s) 100-meter dash
RUNNER Irie Gourde Regan Charie Jacob Ward
TIME 10.96 11.15 11.59
200-meter dash
RUNNER Kanya Brown Jessie Moore Arial Nieberding
TIME 27.36 27.62 29.89
TENNIS THE MENACE: Rajan Vohra ’21 threw the ball up high before serving it to his Colby Sawyer opponent on March 23.
Men’s tennis has won eight of their last nine ■ The no. 17 Brandeis men’s team is on an absolute roll, matching their best record under their current coach By Zach Kaufman JUSTICE EDITOR
UPCOMING MEETS: Saturday at UAA Outdoor Championships May 3 at New England DIII Outdoor Championships May 10 at NEICAAA Championships
TENNIS Updated season results.
TOP PERFORMERS (Men’s)
TOP PERFORMERS (Women’s)
MEN’S SINGLES David Aizenberg
RECORD 13-7
WOMEN’S SINGLES RECORD Olivia Leavitt 10-5
MEN’S DOUBLES RECORD Coramutla/Aizenberg 21-3
WOMEN’S DOUBLES RECORD Lehat/Zubrinsky 5-3
UPCOMING MEETS:
Men: Thursday vs Wash U Women: Friday vs. Carnegie Mellon
Instead of vacationing in the Carribean or spending quality time at home, the Brandeis men’s tennis team spent their break taking on multiple nationally ranked opponents and dispensing all but one wtih absolute ease. The Judges faced all of these challenges head on and had an incredibly successful stretch, winning eight of their last nine matches since the break. Their only loss came at the hands of Bowdoin College, the numbertwo Division III men’s team in the nation. Judges 5, MIT 4 The Judges were able to pull out a win in a close game against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Thursday. In doubles action, the Engineers opened up the scoring as Das and Vohra were defeated by Tyler Barr and Victor Cheng of MIT. Brandeis was quick to respond, winning the next two
doubles contests to go into singles action with an advantage. Jackson Kogan ‘19 and Tyler Ng ‘19 defeated Pablo Ampudia and Michael Zhao of MIT at doubles on court no 2. David Aizenberg ’20 and Anupreeth Coramutla ’21 won their doubles match 9-8, taking the tiebreaker 7-4. Kogan, Aizenberg, and Vohra were not successful in winning their singles matches, but Das, Ng and Cihlar made up for it, bringing the total score to 5-4 and giving the Judges a hard earned victory. Judges 3, Bowdoin 6 The Judges were again successful in doubles action, but could not maintain their early lead. The usually reliable doubles team of Aizenberg and Coramutla fell to Luke Tercek and Grant Urken of Bowdoin College. However, the team of Das and Vohra were victorious, winning their match against Justin Patel and Gil Roddy of Bowdoin. Kogan and Ng rounded out the day’s doubles action, winning 8-6. In singles action, the Judges could not keep up the momentum. Das was the only Brandeis athlete who won their singles match, bringing the total score to 6-3. Judges 7, Bentley 2 The Judges won the annual battle
for Waltham, defeating Bentley University by a score of 7-2. In doubles action, the usual duos were all successful for the Judges. Kogan and Ng defeated Brendan McCarthy and George Samander of Bentley. Nikhil Das and Rajan Vohra were victorious against Michael Fuca and Brett Gilman of Bentley. Coramutla teamed up with Eric Goldberg to face Kendall Au and Dylan Granat of Bentley. They were victorious by a score of 8-6. Coramutla, Saal, Das and Vohra all won in singles bringing the total score to 7-2. Judges 7, NYU 2 The Judges opened up the day with a 2-1 doubles lead yet again. Aizenberg and Coramutla defeated Umberto Setter and Zeb Zheng of NYU by a score of 8-5. Das and Vohra won their match against Vishal Walia and Rahul Das 8-6. Aizenberg, Vohra, Das, Ng and Wolfe all won their respective singles matches. Judges 7, Babson 2 The Judges got off to a hot start in doubles action. The usual teams of Coramutla and Aizenberg, Ng and Kogan, and Das and Vohra continued their dominance. Vohra, Das, Ng and Aizenberg were all victorious in singles action, bringing the combined score to 7-2.
PRO SPORTS BRIEF A historically promising Quarterback class should make this year’s draft one for the history books With the release of the official schedule and summer training camps on the horizon, excitement for the 2018 National Football League season has definitely begun. We have four months and change until the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles take on the Atlanta Falcons in the season-opening battle of the birds. Before then, teams have the summer to put together the finishing touches on their rosters, and the most important event between now and the opening game is just days away. For months, top collegiate athletes have been touring the country to prove their worth and fulfill their dreams of turning pro. On Thursday, the first round of the draft will occur. All 32 teams will have one selection. This is usually the day where all the top prospects
leave the board. Last-minute draft day trades and developments will always happen, but for the most part, scouts have already decided what constitutes first-round talent. Here are some of our predictions for how this years draft should go down on the offensive side of the ball. QB: This class of quarterbacks is among the most talented in recent memory. It is almost guaranteed that one of these talented signal callers will be off the board at number one, giving them the difficult task of turning around a team that was the second in history to finish a season without a win, going 0-16. The general consensus among scouts and sportswriters is that Josh Allen of the University of Wyoming is most likely to come off the board first due to his pro-ready play style. Crosstown
rivals Sam Darnold of University of Southern California and Josh Rosen of University of California-Los Angeles should be the next two. The next two on the list come with some concerns. Baker Mayfield has drawn many comparisons to Johnny Manziel both in his play style and off- field mannerisms. They both carry the same hype coming into draft day and also the same potential shortcomings. Manziel was ousted from the NFL after only two seasons, so Mayfield hopes to avoid his mistakes. Lamar Jackson was once a Heisman hopeful, and will definitely be drafted in the first round, but concerns about his signal calling abilities may hinder his stock on draft day. RB: Not that this class of running backs is particularly weak, but only one stands out as a true first-round
talent. Saquon Barkley has spent the past three years running laps around the rest of the Big 10. The world, and especially fans of Penn State, should be outraged if he stays on the board past number five. If there is the need for another back to be drafted on Thursday, it will most likely be Derrius Guice, but based on team needs at the position, Barkley will be the only back gone at the close of the first round. WR: Wide receiver is an interesting position this year. Calvin Ridley, D.J. Moore and Courtland Sutton all have the skills to go in the first round, but no team has the immediate need to take a receiver that early. Teams such as the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys will consider taking a receiver, but will likely pull the trigger if their
other options have fallen through. TE: Tight ends have a pretty similar situation to wide receivers in this year’s draft. Only the New Orleans Saints have a pressing need for the position and will most likely select Hayden Hurst. If another team has tight end in the cards, Dallas Goedert will be the next off the boards, but there is no guarantee. Offensive Line: Talent-wise, this is not a standout year for the position, but draft stock has two components:talent and demand, and the demand for good offensive linemen will always be high. Quenton Nelson, Mike McGlinchey, Frank Ragnow, James Daniels, Will Hernandez, Isaiah Wynn and Connor Williams could all leave the board on day one. —Zach Kaufman
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MEN’S TENNIS DOMINATES BREAK The men’s tennis team has won eight of their last nine matches, p. 15.
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
SQUARED UP
Baseball
Brandeis loses 3 of 4 against NYU ■ The team’s 14-game
losing streak came to an end, but the Violets overwhelmed the Judges. By Jen Geller Justice Editor
The Brandeis baseball team continues to push forward despite the challenges they face trying to improve upon the season that they have been having thus far. Their efforts prevailed, as the team managed to break their 14 game losing streak with a victory over University Athletic Association rival, the New York University Violets during their second game on Saturday. The Judges record for the season changed to 3-21 and 1-11 in the UAA. Judges 8, NYU 9 In the final game of the weekend, and their senior game, the Judges fell one last time to the Violets. NYU scored five out of their nine runs in the first inning. It took until the second inning for the Judges to pull off two runs from infielder Victor Oppenheimer ’20 and utility player
Waltham, Mass.
Tommy Sand ’21. In the fourth inning, the Violets increased their lead to 8-2, and it was not until the seventh inning that Oppenheimer and outfielder Dan Frey ’21 hit backto-back doubles, third-baseman Mike Khoury ’21 hit a single to bring home Frey and outfielder Dan O’Leary ’20 brought everyone home with a home run. In the rest of the game, the Judges were able to score two more times, but were not able to take over the Violets. Judges 7, NYU 5 Thanks to hard work from the entire team, the Judges were able to break their 14-game losing streak during their second game on Saturday against the Violets. The Violets started strong at the top of the first, making the score 1-0 in the first inning. In the third inning, the Judges pulled ahead when Sand scored his first career home run, following a double by Oppenheimer which would bring Sand home. This was a the turning point for the Judges who were now ahead 3-1, and although the Violets responded to tie the score the Judges created a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth
See BASEBALL, 13 ☛
TRACK AND FIELD
Outdoor season brings more success for team ■ Although the season
is much shorter than the previous two, the Judges have made the most of it. By ZACH KAUFMAN JUSTICE EDITOR
The Brandeis men’s and women’s track teams have had a strong start to their outdoor season. Due to the shorter nature of the outdoor season’s schedule, the Judges are about to begin championship meets. The four non-playoff meets that the Judges have participated in thus far have all resulted in strong individual performances as well as triumphant group wins. Here’s how the season has looked so far for the Judges. Sean Collier Invitational Most recently, the Judges made a short trip downtown to the Sean Collier Invitational meet hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The highlight of the meet was a school record being broken in the men’s 200 meter dash. Graduate student Irie Gourde ’17 has had a wildly successful year as a runner, topping it all off by breaking the school record for the men’s 200m by .47 seconds. Gourde also set a personal record in the 200 and 100 meter dashes, qualifying him for the New England Division III meet in two weeks time. On the women’s side, it was their distance runners that made the headlines for the Judges. In the 800m, Doyin Ogundiran ’19 ran 2:16.80 for third and was followed closely by both Valdez twins with Lisbeth Valdez ’21 running 2:20.47 for seventh and Leinni Valdez ’21 running 2:21.48 for 11th. All three times met the standard for the DIII NE. The 1500m had an even tighter pack of Judges taking first, fourth
and fifth. Julia Bryson ’19 took home the win in a time of 4:47.44. Kyra Shreeve ’18 was fourth, with a time of 4:53.87, while Meaghan Barry ’19 crossed the line with a time of 4:55.34 for fifth. Bryson’s time qualifies her for the Division III New England Championships. Both teams had other runners qualify as well. Silfen Invitational Emily Bryson ’19 made her season debut on Friday night of the meet, pacing the 1500m pool and winning the event in 4:37.57, a full two seconds faster than her closest competitor. Danielle Bertaux ’20 also had a huge event on Friday, setting a PR by over 42 seconds to place third in the 5000 meter. Senior captain Ryan Stender ’18 also recorded an 8 second PR to place 10th in the 5000m. Saturday saw more success for the Judges. Gourde had success both personally, winning the 200m, and as a relay, combining with Regan Charie ’19, first-year Patrick Quinlan ’21 and Churchill Perry ’20 to place third in the 4x400. The women’s 4x400 relay team of Kayla Fahey ’20, Lisbeth Valdez ’21, Maya Sands-Bliss ’19 and Doyin Ogundiran ’19 had similar success, placing third by running the event in a time of 4:06.35. Jack Allan ’20, Scott Grote ’19, Beth Befossez ’18 and Aaron Corin ’20 all placed in the top 10 in their respective events. Amherst Invitational The Judges continued their march toward championship season in the Amherst Invitational. The men’s team had a very successful day, scoring 68 points and placing second overall at the meet. This was mostly fueled by three individual wins from Gourde in the 400m, Scott Grote ’19 in the
See TRACK, 13 ☛
NATALIA WIATER/Justice File Photo
THE SWING OF THINGS: Brandeis catcher Keri Lehtonen ‘19 squares up on an Emory pitch in their game on March 14.
Judges go 3-5 in busy eight-game week ■ The Brandeis softball team had a mixed bag this week, harming their chances down the line. By ALBERT GUTIERREZ JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
The Brandeis Judges continued their busy schedule by falling 7-5 to the NYU Violets on Saturday, finishing their eight-game week with a 3-5 record in those games. After taking game one in a doubleheader against the Violets on Friday, the Judges lost the second one. They did, however, take two games from Wellesley on Wednesday after losing two games to Eastern Nazarene on Tuesday. NYU 7, Brandeis 5 The Judges started off hot plating three runs in the top of the first after Keri Lehtonen ’19 and Melissa Rothenberg ’21 were both hit by pitches and Amanda Shore ’18 singled through the hole to load the bases. Brianna Urena ’20 was then hit by a pitch as well to plate Brandeis’ first run. Two more would follow in the first. After 5, the Judges still
maintained the lead at 5-3. The Violets did not go quietly, and were able to finally get to Macdonald in the sixth to plate four runs, taking the lead 7-5 and finishing the game.
to be it for the Judges. Macdonald ’20 went the distance for the Judges as she scattered six hits over six innings, but those four runs were all the Violets needed to defeat the Judges.
NYU 6, Brandeis 3 The first game was the same story for the Judges, as they jumped out early to take a 1-0 lead after Amanda Shore ’18 singled to right to bring in junior catcher Keri Lehtonen ’19. The Violets scored in the bottom of the second to even things at one. The Judges, however, responded to NYU by scoring two runs in the third after Lehtonen was hit by a pitch and Melissa Rothenberg ’21 singled to get on. Shore then singled in two runs to take the lead 3-1. NYU scored one run in the fourth to cut the lead to 3-2 and erupted for four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead to 6-3; the score would remain that way for the rest of the game.
Brandeis 5, NYU 0 Scottie Todd ’20 dazzled in the NYU opener as she threw her second shutout of the year. She was also crucial to the offense, going 3-5 on the day. Junior catcher Keri Lehtonen was even more dominant at the plate, however, as she went 3-4 and drove in all five of Brandeis’ runs after a grand slam in the fourth. That was her second homer of the year.
NYU 4, Brandeis 3 In the second game of a doubleheader on Friday, NYU struck for four runs in the first two innings. This would continue until the sixth when Brandeis tried to come back and plated three runs, but that was
Brandeis 4, Wellesley 3 Taylor Simala ’20 went 2-3 as Brandeis defeated Wellesley 4-3. Sadie-Rose Apfel looked dominant; scattering three runs through five innings (two earned) before Callie Macdonald ’20 took over and got the win for the Judges as she improved to 3-8 on the year. Brandeis 9, Wellesley 2 The Judges erupted for nine runs to defeat Wellesley 9-2. Amanda Shore ’18 powered the offense, going 3-3 with a
See SOFTBALL, 13 ☛
Vol. LXX #23
April 24, 2018
Vol. LXX #2
September 12, 2017
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Images: Andrew Baxter/the Justice. Design: Yvette Sei/the Justice.
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THE TUESDAY, JUSTICE April | Arts 24, |2018 TUESDAY, i Arts January i THE JUSTICE 31, 2017
Theater Review
Successful Senior Festival
By Maya Zanger-nadis justice editor
To say that “Blood and Water” was a unique experience would be a wild understatement. Written by Lilia Schrayfer ’18 and directed by Joelle Robinson ’18, “Blood and Water” is decidedly challenging to describe. An interactive show, it begins with The Violinist (Aviva Davis ’21), a divine being creating the world and snarkily narrating her process to the audience. The plot was rather difficult to follow, but ultimately centered around a lost soul’s (Brenda Shen ’18) journey to understand itself and understand what it is to be human in today’s troubled world. An audience member remarked after the show that it was “like a seven layer cake of metaphors,” and I am entirely in agreement. The lost soul was at times a rebel, fighting for its free-
By Josh Rubenstein justice Staff writer
In his director’s note, Tres Fimmano ’18 explains: “It was only through conversations with other people that I learned this show would take the shape it did.” Fimmano’s senior thesis, “Queering the Cape: Hidden Themes in American Superhero Comic Book” plays out like an impassioned lecture, an essay brought to life on stage. The characters played by Charlie Atchinson ’21, Ben Greene ’21, Ryan Sands ’19, and YiQian (Alex) Wu ’19 represent a spectrum of the LGBTQ community. As the show progresses, the characters reveal themes of queerness within superhero comics, including historical information and personal in-
dom in an oppressive society; at other times it was a refugee in the afterlife, working as a cleaning lady and combating prejudice. Schrayfer explained that this directly alluded to “our biases about people who come to our country and where those biases come from.” The play also explored feelings of displacement and desire to connect to one’s own family history through storytelling. Themes of religious fanaticism and absurdist humor also contributed significantly to the show as a whole, and I wish I could unpack each aspect more thoroughly. However, to adequately pick apart each layer of Shrayfer’s “sevenlayer cake” would take more time than is available to a single soul on any spiritual or astral plane. Schrayfer’s final remark to the Justice certainly summarizes her work’s more whimsical side: “The play is about kitchen appliances!”
terpretations based on their own identities. A lot of the time the show was like a symposium of audience members watching characters inform each other about history and the comic book superheroes that they connect with. Each one of Fimmano’s characters was a fully-formed person and the actors that played them were charming and fun to watch. Kudos goes to the attention to detail in the set design, which contained identifiable comics, DVDs, and fan memorabilia. They added a lot of understanding to the fandoms and loves of the characters. Overall, “Queering the Cape” was a exploration of representation, storytelling, and how the legends and myths of our society help us to understand ourselves and cultivate an individual identity.
By Josh rubenstein justice Staff writer
Sara Kenney ’18 definitely achieved what she set out to do with her senior thesis, redefining “how we engage with [women] in a performance space beyond [the] traditional definition of womanhood.” “The Most Excellent and Lamentably PC but Incompleat Tragedy of Shakespeare’s Womyn (without a Single Reference to Lady Macbeth): or What You Will” is an expertly crafted compilation of Shakespeare scenes that focus on female characters interacting with each other or defining moments of femininity in all of its forms. I was absolutely floored by the direction and choreography of Andrew Child ’18 and how well it meshed with Kenney’s endearing madcap charm to
By sabrina sung justice editor
“Lucid,” written by Gabi Nail ’18 and directed by Raphael Stigliano ’18, proved a thoughtful and evocative addition to this year’s Senior Festival. Dawn (Lindsay Dawes ’21) and Faith (BT Montrym ’19) were nuanced characters who forced the audience to ponder what it means to protect someone, whichRiver (Eliana Weiss ’21) and Zinnia (Karina Wen ’20) brought the emotional drive to move the
By Brianna cummings justice Staff writer
For her senior thesis, Keturah Walker ’18 wrote “From Pearls to Hoops,” which she co-directed with Shaquan McDowell ’18. Walking into the Laurie Theater on Saturday night, I had no idea what the play was going to be about. I tried to guess while I searched for a seat in the packed room. Music from Beyoncé played and the audience seemed excited about the performance they were about to see. The lights then dimmed, and the show began. The play started with Walker, playing herself, speaking with a student of a different race (Tyffany English ’19) about her plans for spring break. When Walker mentions her father, English’s
create a truly original atmosphere and theatrical experience. Rachel Greene’s ’20 performance as Kenney’s scene partner showed off her range, maturity and vulnerability. Both Kenney and Greene were sublime in the show’s comedic scenes, and their humor and chemistry made them truly a delight to watch. However, because of the show’s compilation style, the dramatic scenes lacked the build up and punch of the greater context of the shows that they belonged to. The production’s use of projections was very effective, in certain moments giving the audience an insight into the rehearsal process and in others aiding the atmosphere of the scenes. At no point during the show did I feel like I was watching something I had seen before. Every scene was explored with a sense of originality and, most exceptionally, a sense of imagination at play.
plot forward. The striking set, designed by Hannah Uher ’18, also deserves high praise: The mounds of recyclable trash added both thematic and auditory layers to the story, while the sleek dining table spanning the stage visually represented the estrangement between characters. Though I felt that the motif of lucid dreaming could have been further integrated into the plot, the performance ended with questions I was happy to ponder. With only time to watch one play this Senior Festival, I am glad that “Lucid” was the one I could watch.
character “I didn’t know you knew your father,” a line with clear racist undertones. This leads to Walker’s inner monologue as she contemplates how to react. Most of the play is presented as a flashback: We see Walker throughout her childhood and high school years, and a large amount of the play focuses on Walker’s experience at Brandeis as the only Black senior who is a theater major. We get to see her deal with microaggressions, studying abroad and eventually learning to love herself. The play was inspiring not just to Black women at Brandeis, but to anyone who has felt weighed down by other people’s assumptions. Overall, the play was amazing and insightful. This performance definitely gave me an improved perspective by teaching me to focus on the positives when facing adversity.
culture
Multicultural empowerment at Culture X
By lizzie grossman justice editor
On Saturday, I had the privilege of seeing one of the most impressive displays of talent I have witnessed in my time at Brandeis: Culture X. This is an annual event co-sponsored by the Brandeis Intercultural Center and the Gender & Sexuality Center, and it highlights a range of artistic talents from a variety of different countries. There were opportunities for both individual performances and for student-led groups to showcase their talents. This year’s show, titled “One Love: Between the Crossroads,” was coordinated by six students: Janis Li ’21, Cassidy Van Cooten ’20, Kwesi Jones ’21 (who also served as the emcee for the show), Anwesha Ghosh ’18, Winnie Zhao ’20 and Siyu Liang ’18. Many of the performances were dances, and it was astonishing to see the number of different dance styles and the many cultures represented. There were 20 performances in the show. Opening was an outside group called AfroDiamonds, a Waltham-based company of young dancers — including some elementary school students — who performed energized dance pieces. The young ensemble performed with impressive coordination and wore beautiful costumes that highlighted the captivating style of African dance. Most of all, it was a joy to see such young dancers taking their artistic style onto a higher stage and truly enjoying every minute. One of the most empowering performances of the night was a poetry reading written and performed by Angela Mendez ’18, who calls herself “The Baddest Angel.” She read two poems, both of which she performed with intense emotion. The first poem described her experience growing up as the daughter of parents who immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico. She spoke Spanish at home, but her public school in New York City only gave her the opportunity to speak English. She gracefully represented the frustrations of
YVETTE SEI/the Justice
COMBINING CULTURES: The wide array of dance performance styles emphasized the diverse cultural backgrounds of Brandeisians.
struggling to exist in two different worlds at once, as an American and as a ‘Chicana.’ She longed to be able to speak Spanish in school, and to comfortably coexist with her Englishspeaking peers. In the second poem, she expressed her frustrations about the Americanization of her culture. The most powerful part of this poem was when she pointed out that her given name is not even pronounced the way that most Americans would expect, but actually with the “g” pronounced as an “h” — AN-he-la. This was the Americaniza-
tion that she seemed the most distressed by, feeling that while her name is the one thing that is inherently hers, even that has been influenced by American culture. One of the most impressive acts of the night was a solo guitar performance by Eli Kengamana ’19. According to the program, Kengamana was inspired by a drawing from a friend, and he wanted a way to transform that visual emotion into something that people could hear. However, Kengamana did not simply play the strings of the guitar,
YVETTE SEI/the Justice
JUST DANCE: Most of the performances were dances, each one distinct from the last in cultural background and rhythmic style.
but also incorporated clapping and drumming movements onto the outer parts of the guitar to add a unique sound to the piece. The second act kicked off with Kaos Kids, a large hip-hop dance ensemble. The intense music and energetic movements of the piece, performed in wonderful synchronicity by all the dancers, was a great start to the second act. Almost every individual member of the group got a chance to be in the spotlight at least once during the performance. Following the Kaos Kids were Bethel Adekogbe ’20 and Marcelo Brociner ’18, also known as Bethlehem and Jerome B. The duo debuted their newest song, “Crossroads,” which they wrote alongside a Brandeis alum referred to as “Mack” in the program. Both the lyrics and the performance itself were so advanced that at points I forgot I was watching two of my fellow students performing, instead thinking that I was at a live rap concert of established, professional artists. Of the many dance acts, my favorite was the Platinum Step Team. In addition to the engaging beats created by their shoes, they used their entire bodies in the dance and truly showed their passion for the dance style. The show concluded with an impressive performance from Brandeis Bhangra, a group that performs folk-style dances from Punjab, a state in Northern India. Not only did it boast beautiful costumes in all colors of the rainbow that highlighted each individual, but it served as another reminder of how many different cultural styles of dance there are to be experienced at Brandeis alone. This was also the third dance group of the night that specialized in dance originating from India, yet its style was still very distinct from the other Indian dance groups, emphasizing the range of dance styles that can exist within a single culture. I was awed by every act in Culture X this year. Not only did it highlight the talent of Brandeis students, but it also served to show the individuality of art styles from several different cultures. Most importantly, it emphasized that every individual can make a difference in the world of performing arts if they have the passion.
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JUSTICE i arts i TUESDAY, January 31, 2017 THETHE JUSTICE i arts i Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Springfest review
A$AP Ferg makes his Brandeis debut By anna stern
Photos by ANDREW BAXTER/the Justice
justice Staff writer
For the first time in my four years at Brandeis, Springfest actually felt like spring! On Sunday, April 22, Brandeis students had more to celebrate than just the end of the school year. Students flooded the Foster Mods and Chapels Field to soak up one of the first warm and sunny day of the semester. This year’s headliner was A$AP Ferg, first known for his song “Plain Jane,” which is frequently played at campus parties. Brandeisians who knew of A$AP Ferg before Springfest and liked his music “rode with the mob” and had a fantastic time in the mosh pit in front of the stage. Those who wanted to be a part of the action by indulging in the food trucks and free pizza or by taking advantage of the other giveaways parked themselves on the other side of Chapel’s Field opposite the stage, where they could get a good view even if they didn’t want to be part of the action.
THE MOB AT DEIS: Dressed in all black, A$AP Ferg pumps up the crowd during his set at Springfest.
For the first time in years there was a student headliner at Springfest, which drew an additional
EZI LISTENING: Artist EZI has a great time onstage performing at Springfest, showing off her multicolored hair as well as her vocal talent.
crowd. The group — Late Night Thoughts, composed of Brian Rauch ’19 and Michael Harlow ’19 — had been chosen by the student body to open the afternoon at 2 p.m. Asking students in the crowd, I found that they had arrived early to the concert to support their friends. Once Late Night Thoughts finished their set, more students arrived and heard music from SHAED and EZI. Many of them had never heard of those groups; however, one senior said that she was “pleasantly surprised” by the quality of their music. During every set, Chapel’s Field was covered with students hanging out with friends and enjoying the experience, and there was a consistent crowd in front of the stage enthusiastically watching the concert. At around 5 p.m., A$AP Ferg came on stage, to the excitement of the crowd. By that point, general attendance was dwindling, but those who remained to enjoy A$AP Ferg’s music had a wonderful time.
Springfest is always a highlight of the year; it is a day where Brandeis turns into a party school because
of the activities students partake in during the daytime, rather than at night. While reminiscing on their past Springfests, various seniors commented that while they love it, every year feels similar. One first-year student added that she felt her first Springfest was a little underwhelming because of the obscure headliner. Other students commented that they wished Springfest had not run out of pizza so quickly or closed the beer garden at 4 p.m., two hours before the show officially ended. Despite student critiques, Campus Activities Board always encourages student feedback and makes sure that the festival is improved each year, including having a more mainstream artist for the fall concert. I was very nostalgic that this year was my final Springfest; however, I am looking forward to coming back if there is an artist that I really like. I know Beyoncé is a long-shot, so maybe a throwback artist? Britney, anybody?
LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS: Brian Rauch ’19 performs as half of the Late Night Thoughts duo, opening for A$AP Ferg.
Theater Review
‘Vagina Monologues’ empowers and entertains By Rebecca nachman justice contributing writer
If your vagina could talk, what would it say? If your vagina got dressed, what would it wear? These are some of the questions posed in Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues,” which Brandeis students performed on Thursday, April 19 and Saturday, April 21. “The Vagina Monologues” is a series of monologues and ensemble pieces based on interviews Ensler conducted with hundreds of women in the 1990s. In recent years, however, it has come under fire for not being inclusive of transgender individuals, though Ensler herself stated, “In the play, I never defined a woman as a person with a vagina.” I was glad to see that Brandeis chose to perform the show despite the controversy, because it is an important piece that sheds light on issues such as rape and domestic violence. I saw the show on Thursday, when it was performed in Pearlman 113. The small, circular room is a cozy space, and the production team capitalized on that. A tapestry hung behind the stage; more tapestries were draped on furniture and pillows were scattered around the floor. The stage was dotted with succulents, fairy lights and electric tealights. The atmosphere made me feel like I was being told stories by a friend, not seeing a theatrical production. Given the intimate nature of the monologues, this worked quite well. Brandeis’ production cut out quite a few of the monologues from the original script. While I am unsure of the legality of this, the cast did such a wonderful job with the pieces they
kept in that I barely noticed the missing ones. The production team crafted a fine balance between funny, heartbreaking and empowering pieces. Especially notable were Alice Wu ’20 in a haunting rendition of “The Little Coochie Snorcher That Could” and Kavita Sundaram’s ’20 chilling presentation of “My Vagina Was a Village,” both of which dealt with sexual violence and rape. By far the funniest piece — and judging by the audience’s reaction, the crowd favorite — was “The Flood,” perfectly performed by Rachel Blau ’20. Though the monologue, in which an old woman tells the audience that her vagina is “closed due to flooding,” was the comedic relief of the night, it was surprisingly poignant. Additionally, Gabi Burkholz ’21 deserves a shoutout for her impressively acted orgasm in response to the question “What would your vagina say?” Also commendable are Maryam Chishti ’20 and Carmen Landaverde ’19, who performed their own personal monologues. I’ve read “The Vagina Monologues” many times, and these two pieces were so well written and performed that it took me a moment to realize they were new additions. Another highlight of this production was the diverse cast, especially given how white Brandeis theater can be. The majority of the production team and cast were women of color, and it was great to see this level of racial representation. Aside from some technical difficulties, Thursday’s performance was flawless. In a semester full of notable theatrical performances, “The Vagina Monologues” especially stands out.
HEATHER SCHILLER/the Justice
MONOLOGUE MENAGERIE: Pearlman 113 was decorated cozily for the performance of ‘Vagina Monologues’ on Thursday.
HEATHER SCHILLER/the Justice
THE FLOOD: Blau’s performance of ‘The Flood’ was pointedly hilarious — a crowd favorite.
20 TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 | Arts | THE JUSTIce INTERVIEW
Brandeis TALKS What was the most beautiful song you’ve ever heard and why?
Sara Kenney ’18 Photo Courtesy of Sara Kenney
JustArts: What goes into a student’s decision to do a senior thesis?
Xujin Wang ’21 “[‘Something Just Like This’] ... I love it because it is talking about some amazing abilities only owned by some superheroes, but it also points out that we are just normal people but we ... are loved.”
MAYA ZANGER-NADIS/the Justice
Goldie Davoudgoleh ’20 “My friend and I did a cover of ‘I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You’ and it was the most beautiful thing ... because she put so much emotion into it.”
Richard Weiner ’21 “I’m a big fan of ‘One Day’ by Matisyahu. It’s a very peaceful ... song about optimism and hope, so it makes me happy.”
Nathan Weber ’19 “My favorite song is definitely ‘Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral’ from the opera Lohengrin. ... I just love ... the full chords.” —Compiled and photographed by Andrew Baxter/the Justice.
STAFF’S Top Ten
ANDREW BAXTER/the Justice
Top Ten Obscure Korean Songs By Shinji Rho
justice EDITORial assistant
Now that KPop is famous, people only know KPop. Here’s some non-KPop idol songs that I like. 1. Sunset Glow by Lee Moon Sae 2. What would have been? By Psy 3. Darling by Lee Seung Chul 4. I believe by Shin Seung Hun 5. Violet Fragrance by Kang Suji 6. Etude of Memories by Kim Dong Ryul 7. I’m not alone by Seo Young Eun 8. Me to you, you to me by Jatanpung 9. All for you by Seo In Guk and Jeong Eun Ji 10.Bom Bom Bom by Roy Kim
CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Enemy of Skeletor 6 Amazement 9 Like crosswords 14 _____ acid 15 Ways of approaching a situation, for short 16 Seeped out slowly 17 Part of Mrs. Doubtfire’s costume 19 Former name for Congo 20 Tupperware parts 21 Made reference (to) 23 Letter opener? 24 “Community” character played by Danny Pudi 25 At some point 29 Besmirches the name of 31 Was into 33 Largest fruit producer in the world 34 They’re for the birds 35 Cola 36 Not minor 37 Summer cooler 38 Texter’s qualifier 39 Will Smith movie, for short 40 “Mightnight in _____” 42 Sn 43 Highschool place with a lot of mice 46 Residents of 3-Down 47 Greek god of the wild 48 Record holder? 49 Horrified 51 Be sore 53 Rather good journalist? 54 _____ Boys 56 Words of confession 57 One who’s unsettled? 60 Othello in “Othello”, e.g. 62 Caribbean vacation destination 63 Record kept by Captain Kirk 64 Less experienced 65 Song that’s an ode to 66-Across 66 See 65-Across 67 Tears asunder DOWN 1 Unlucky 2 Words after exchanging addresses 3 *Home to Bag End, Rivendell and Gondor 4 “No ifs, ____ or buts” 5 San Francisco’s ____ Valley 6 Mosey along 7 *Goal for a supervillain 8 Jacob’s brother, in the Bible 9 Swindle 10 *Aid for one who’s crap at craps? 11 Israeli weapon 12 Always, in poetry 13 Ike’s inits. 18 Touches lightly 22 Follow relentlessly
Sara Kenney: I think people do it because they’re passionate about theater and ... interested in working in theater, going into theater and either exploring new things … or something we’ve been working on for a very long time. ... We’re in a B.A. program and there are lots of different exposures to different types of theater and I think the festival is a great way to concentrate on something in a very large scale professional way. JA: How much support do students get from faculty? SK: We get a lot of support. Each student is assigned one or two faculty members. What’s nice about our faculty is that they’re working artists in the Boston area, so they bring a wealth of experience. They guide us along the way, keeping us in track in terms of what our ideas are. … We have a lot of independence, and they expect that from us, but they’ll swoop in if we ever need any help. They’ll also come in and watch rehearsals and give feedback, which has been really helpful. We have an academic administrator named Alicia Hyland who is excellent. We have a great department and a lot of resources. There’s not a ton of handholding, but a lot of assistance.
CROSSWORD COURTESY OF EVAN MAHNKEN
24 British bums? 26 *Reaffirmed a position... or parsed differently, a hint to each starred answer 27 Everything 28 At some point 30 *Capital of Ethiopia 32 Stratford-_____-Avon 35 Falafel bread 36 Abundant 40 Something disturbing to a princess 41 Director Lee 44 Was of use 45 Bouts of binge-drinking 47 Bake sale org. 48 Children’s author Silverstein 50 Midsize car 52 Chevron competitor 55 WWII battle site 56 “Dies _____” 57 “Uh-uh” 58 Desired find for Pizarro 59 It’s the word when not speaking 61 Make a mistake
SOLUTION COURTESY OF EVAN MAHNKEN
JA: Can you tell me a bit about your thesis? SK: It’s feminist readings of Shakespeare. I do 8 plays … in the span of an hour with my acting partner Rachel Greene [’20]. We go through the histories to the comedies to the tragedies to the romances. I was really focused on how these women achieve power — how they use power when they’re speaking and how they rival themselves or place themselves socially against men. I’m putting them all next to each other because I think it’s interesting to see a new fresh reading of Shakespeare rather than the standard we subscribe to, with Lady Macbeth as the pinnacle of feminine power. … It was interesting for me as a performer … to create the feminist space and figure out how women can take up space in theater. JA: How did you decide on this?
SUDOKU INSTRUCTIONS: Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.
SK: In my senior year [of high school], I really started getting interested in the critical literature around Shakespeare. When I got to Brandeis, I was in “Twelfth Night,” which I loved, and then I studied at the British American Drama Academy in London and got conservatory training. JA: Highs and lows of the process? SK: It’s hard when you want to act but it’s also a scholarly project, figuring out what I wanted to do and crafting something out of nothing. It was exciting but it was also a lot, and I’ve never worked with only one other person before. It was a lot of work but the payoff has been huge.
—Maya Zanger-Nadis
Solution to last issue’s sudoku
Puzzle courtesy of www.sudokuoftheday.com
Vol. LXX #23
April 24, 2018
Vol. LXX #2
September 12, 2017
H A P P Y 0 1 0 T H L E N N Y
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ARTS
Images: Creative Commons. Design: Yvette Sei/the Justice.
22 TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 | Arts | THE JUSTIce
Kotoko Brass gets
Toxic pops and locks it By mendel weintraub justice Staff writer
Last Sunday afternoon, overcome by a mid-April winter storm, eager audience members packed into Ridgewood Commons to see a dance performance from Toxic. The group, Brandeis’ only majorette dance crew, was anything but bogged down by the bog that forced them into the rain location, delivering a characteristically fierce performance set to the track of “Freedom” by Beyoncé. The dancers — poised, crackling and confident — were on fire. Toxic has a way of bringing a unique energy into a room, one that they not only imbue their performances with but also share with
their audiences, creating a collective experience that feels almost spiritual, if not downright heavenly. One audience member appropriately cheered for the group rather vocally throughout their routine, as if speaking for everybody in the room. The evident commitment in the dances that Toxic performs bolsters the energy, leaving you begging for more. When they exited through a back door after their dance for the Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts, there was not a disappointed audience member to be found. Put simply, there are not enough praises to sing about Toxic. These ladies know how to put on a show, and they deliver it flawlessly.
By kent dinlenc justice Staff writer
YVETTE SEI/the Justice
Children dancing. Students dancing. Adults dancing. Grandparents dancing. This was the effect Kotoko Brass had on its audience in the tent on the Great Lawn last Sunday. The group performed blends of West African, Japanese and American styles of music with a saxophone player, a trombone player, a keyboard player, a drummer on a traditional drum set and two men playing various types of African drums. The atmosphere was electric. My fingers were moving to the beat of the drums as I typed away messages dragging people into the tent. The music boomed across the Great Lawn through the drizzle. The musicians went on 5-minute-long solos over steady drumming beats, but the fun really started when the drummers themselves began their solos. There was not a frown in the tent. Everyone enjoyed themselves and had a great time dancing and tapping their feet during what I feel was the best performance of the festival that I attended last week.
DANCING DRUMS: ing to the beat of t
TOXIC MOVES: The dancers’ energy invigorated the weather-weary audience.
Bernstein’s B YURAN SHI/the Justice
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Bernstein fans gathered under the tent on the Great Lawn to enjoy cake and a musical celebration.
Folk Fest i
Images Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS Images Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
THE JUSTICE i arts i TUESDAY, May 2, 2017
s everybody moving
Music and Dance rocks Ridgewood By kent dinlenc
MIHIR KHANNA/the Justice
: Everyone was up and movthe Kotoko Brass music.
justice Staff writer
Ridgewood A was packed with great performances from groups of various branches of the arts. However, my favorite would have to be the Music and Dance Band. Their renditions of pop favorites across decades energized the room. Director Steven Tarr ’19 arranged “Jet,” as played by Maynard Ferguson,
“Baba Yetu” by Christopher Tin, “Temple of Boom” by Lucky Chops, “Africa” by Toto and “The Saints Go Marching In.” Tarr, his co-director Matthew Kowalyk ’18 and their 10 or so players put its audience in a mood that made you forget about the gloomy weather outside. Despite the fact that “Africa” has had a recent resurgence in popularity, you could hear the audience singing along to the primarily brass band performed their
best during “Temple of Boom,” creating an apt atmosphere for the Ridgewood A Commons with strong trombone and tenor sax solos. The hallmark of a great performance is when the performers are having just as much fun as the audience, and you could clearly observe the group’s passion and dedication to their music. Catch them at the Midnight Buffet if you haven’t heard them yet.
Birthday Party By isabelle truong
YURAN SHI/the Justice
justice Staff writer
M.A.D. MUSIC: Despite the gloomy weather, the Music and Dance band remained upbeat.
The Great Lawn hosted a large birthday party on Thursday evening to commemorate Leonard Bernstein’s lasting impact on both the Brandeis community and the arts at large. Various festivities, including a slideshow presentation of photos from past Leonard Bernstein Festivals, took place throughout the night. The slideshow clearly conveyed the importance and excitement of the festival for anyone studying music. Complementing the slideshow were performances from Prof. Eric Chasalow (MUS) and a student-led band. The performances were so passionate and polished — a display well befitting Bernstein’s birthday celebration. Prof. Mark Berger (MUS) also gave a talk about the lasting legacy Bernstein left at Brandeis, demonstrating how truly loved and appreciated Bernstein is by Brandeis students and faculty. Inside the tent, cookies and a birthday cake helped partygoers celebrate Bernstein’s 100th. Arts lovers came together to mingle and collect their Leonard Bernstein bookmarks and literature packets. The party was a great way to begin the end of the festival, and also a great way to be involved with and learn more about the arts, especially music, on campus. Although Bernstein passed many years ago, his influence on the arts at Brandeis is evident.
Vaskrik impresses audience By Lizzie grossman justice editor
On Sunday, April 15, Ridgewood Commons served as a stage for several student groups to showcase their talent for admitted students and their families. One of these groups was Vaskrik, a Korean hip-hop dance group featuring firstyear students Chenxi Dai ’21, Yaxi Huang ’21, Yimeng Huang ’21, Yuning Liu ’21, Yuechen
Ta ’21 and Zhixin Tan ’21. This group performed three pieces and displayed some of the most remarkable coordination I have seen in a dance group. The first piece was a more traditional hip-hop group style, making use of jerking and breaking moves with quickly changing formations. The second piece was solobased, which gave individual members a chance to demonstrate talent in solo pieces that featured slower moves. For the third piece, they invited young
members from the audience to come onstage and dance with them. In addition, the outfits that the troop members wore complemented their moves well. Each member wore a red top and black bottoms, but the types of tops and bottoms they chose were all different, expressing their personal fashion choices and highlighting each of their dance styles. Hopefully, Vaskrik will continue to perform at more events in the future and show us their unique style of dance.
is a great chance for a picnic By hannah kressel justice editor
ABBY GRINBERG/the Justice
SUNNY FOLKS: Students spread blankets in front of the Shapiro Campus Center to eat picnic lunches during Folk Fest.
This past Saturday afternoon, oncampus folk a cappella group Too Cheap For Instruments held their annual Folk Fest on the Great Lawn. With the sun shining brightly, many attendees spread out blankets on the grass and held picnics to enjoy the long-awaited spring weather and the tinkling folk tunes. Too Cheap For Instruments organized five sets to play throughout the afternoon, in addition to a set of their own. These musicians included Molly Pinto Madigan, Lauren Pratt, Crowes Pasture, Walter and the Night Owls and headliner crowd favorite Cold Weather Company. In keeping with the traditional folk ethic of supporting local artists, Folk Fest featured New England-based performers, and local artisans sold their work under nearby tents. The quirky charm of the event coupled with the lovely weather made for a welcome, relaxing break from studying for finals and allowed students to take a second and enjoy the arts at Brandeis.
YVETTE SEI/the Justice
FIERCE FIRST-YEARS: Vaskrik, a Korean hip-hop dance group at Brandeis, features six first-year students.
23
24 TUESDAY, april 24, 2018 | Arts | THE JUSTIce
Boston Lyric Opera does Bernstein Photos by YURAN SHI/the Justice
DEIS OPERA: Boston Lyric Opera performs in the Slosberg Music Center to kick off the Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts.
By Leah Chanen
justice contributing writer
On Sunday, the Boston Lyric Opera kicked off the Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts in Slosberg Music Center, setting a high bar for the student performances to come. The first three pieces in this nine-piece set went perfectly and flowed well into one another. The first solo performance was by Vincent Turregano; his performance of “A Simple Song” from “Mass” was incredible. The title of this song vastly undersells the rich complexity both of the music itself and of this actor’s performance. It was a semi-staged performance with movement direction by Nicola Bowie, but the underwhelming and confusing staging and choreography only detracted from wonderful acting and vocal performance, as it would for the entire performance. I was mesmerized by “Kaddish 2” from “Kaddish,” performed by soprano Mara Bonde with support from mezzo-soprano Heather Gallagher. This piece exceeded my expectations thanks to its simplicity and the singers’ beautiful voices. While the concert was underwhelmingly attended, I felt the hall overflowing with the
voices of the two women, especially with the clear and bright ping of the soprano reaching its peak and then erupting into the “Wrong Note Rag” from “Wonderful Town.” The new, upbeat tempo excited the audience along with costume changes and choreography you would expect to find in a musical theater setting. However, the staging of this concert fell flat once again. The group of four — the three previous solo performers along with tenor Jon Jurgens — had trouble keeping their choreography in line with each other, which was conveyed to the audience by Bonde’s panicked look as she frantically tried to remember choreography. Later, Jurgens took the stage for an incredibly stunning solo performance of “My Twelve Tone Melody.” It was enough to make any Bernstein fan or music theory nerd stand up and cheer, despite the out-of-place glass of prop liquor Jurgens was swirling around. Alongside him, Gallagher carried the group not only with her unbelievable vocal prowess, but also with her stunning acting. These two had impeccable performances that I unfortunately had a hard time focusing on because of the unavoidable racial undertones of the song “What A Movie” from “Trouble in Tahiti.”
The character in the piece is mocking indigenous Tahitians while extolling the handsome (white) American savior of the film she just saw. The number is meant to criticize American suburbia, but out of that context, the racist character went unchallenged by the background trio singing in agreement. I expected the postperformance panel discussion with representatives from Boston Lyric Opera and Northeastern University after the performance to address race and the racist character in some way; however, the panel merely patted themselves on the back for doing Bernstein’s “diverse” works such as “West Side Story.” Panelist Esther Nelson made the important point that artistic representation of cultural and ethnic groups needs to come from members of that community. However, she also extolled Bernstein for his work on “West Side Story” and “Porgy and Bess,” both of which were highly criticized and viewed as racist and reductionist by the Latinx and Black communities, respectively. These are great works, but they are not good examples of cultural representation in the arts. Another panelist, Scott Edmiston, pointed out that four white Jewish men wrote “West Side Story”
and in the same breath claimed it to be the best musical exemplifying America. To top off the performance, an incredibly white cast finished the afternoon with a performance of “Tonight” from “West Side Story” complete with fake accents, continuing the tradition of unfairly whitewashing characters of color in theatre, especially Latinx and Hispanic characters. Whitewashing is not just an issue at Brandeis; this week, it was announced that Sierra Boggess, a white actress best known for her Broadway run as the leads in “Phantom of the Opera” and “The Little Mermaid,” will be playing Maria, a Puerto Rican character, in the upcoming British concert of West Side Story. This short concert version performed at Royal Albert Hall in London will only feature white actors. Whitewashing roles is no small problem — it is actively taking away jobs from talented actors around the world, and this performance by the Boston Lyric Opera on campus was just one example of this issue. While this unsettling performance kicked off the festival, I hope that it will not set the tone for the performances to come as Brandeis students and administration — along with most theatres — struggle with racial tensions.