ARTS Page 19
FORUM Reduce campus food waste 12 SPORTS Baseball team wins two of four 16 The Independent Student Newspaper
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Justice
Volume LXIX, Number 24
www.thejustice.org
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
RALLY FOR FAIR PAY
Waltham, Mass.
BRIEF
Univ. hires Ira Jackson as new VP of communications
YVETTE SEI/the Justice
MARCH: The Brandeis Labor Coalition and its staff and student supporters rallied and marched around campus on April 4.
Community members rally for equitable pay ■ Staff and students of the
Brandeis Labor Coalition marched campus to call for equitable pay on April 4. By LIAT SHAPIRO JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
“Brandeis, Brandeis, you can’t hide. We will find your greedy side!” protesters chanted on April 4, rallying in support of Brandeis adjunct faculty. The rally, hosted by the Brandeis Labor Coalition, began at Hassenfeld Conference Center and headed toward the Shapiro Campus Center and the Bernstein-Marcus Administration Center. The rally served as a platform for both staff and students to voice their opposition against the inequitable pay faced by Brandeis adjunct faculty, according to organizers. The Brandeis Labor Coalition is a group of undergraduate and graduate students dedicated to supporting workers’ rights both within the Brandeis community and on a global scale. The Coalition’s rally was a com-
ponent of the group’s current focus, the Faculty Forward Campaign. According to the Brandeis Faculty Forward’s official website, non-tenure track professors across departments have joined together to not only build a union, but also fight “for the stability, fair pay, and benefits needed to help our families — and our students — succeed.” In an interview with the Justice, Prof. Michelle Mann (ENG), an instructor for the University Writing Program, explained, “There’s the sense that unions are always about starting fights. … Our union is not like that. Our union is about supporting and protecting and enhancing everything that makes Brandeis great.” Prof. Avraham Boula (MATH), an adjunct professor, explained in numbers for the Justice, pointing to unfavorable student-faculty ratios as a stressor for many faculty members. One of the advanced mathematics courses he teaches has roughly 50 students, he said, adding that if he wishes to help a student, he must make an entire row stand up so that he can walk to that student’s desk. When those students — most of them international —
University President Ronald Liebowitz announced on Monday the hiring of a new senior vice president for communications and external relations. Ira A. Jackson will assume the role after leaving his position as a vice provost at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Liebowitz told the Brandeis community in an April 24 email. Jackson has held seniorlevel positions in not only academia but also government and business, and he is a co-author of “Profits With Principles: Seven Strategies for Delivering Value with Values.” In his capacity as senior vice president for communications and external relations, Jackson will act as a Brandeis liaison with government, businesses and the general public on a local, national and global level, according to Liebowitz’s email. “His ability to communi-
—Amber Miles
STUDENT UNION
pay up to $65,000 a year in tuition, this is not an ideal arrangement for either party, Boula said. Boula revealed that he only gets paid $7,000 for the course as an adjunct professor. “For sure, some of the money goes toward necessary things, but shouldn’t the teacher get more?” he asked. The faculty and staff involved with the Faculty Forward Campaign do not only have themselves in mind. Boula declared, “Forget about the faculty and that we’re [getting ripped off]; everybody knows that. What about the students?” Mann added, “Put simply, faculty working conditions are student learning conditions. You guys pay top dollar to come to a university with a reputation for academic excellence. … You guys should get what you pay for.” The rally attendance — with a 50:50 ratio of students to faculty — was a testament to the fact that a handful of students on campus have adopted the Faculty Forward Campaign as their own. The Justice interviewed Madeline Bisgyer ’20 and Phoebe Dolan ’20, both of whom actively work with both
See RALLY, 7 ☛
Student Union elects seek improvements ■ Students elected in the
last spring elections shared their proposals to improve the community. By ABBY PATKIN JUSTICE EDITOR
In the latest round of Student Union elections on April 3, 16 students were elected to fill positions across the Union for the upcoming academic year. The Justice interviewed several of the recently-elected members to hear more about their goals for next year. Aaron Finkel ’20 Finkel was elected one of the two Senators-At-Large, scoring 49.51 percent of the vote. In an email to the Justice, Finkel wrote that he believes that students face three major challenges on campus: a lack of consistent communication and transparency when it comes to student services,
resources and activities; inefficient student services and lack of proper campus maintenance; and a lack of spirit and pride. “Our campus community seems disconnected at times, and we don't do a good enough job of demonstrating appreciation for the school we all love,” he wrote. “In the future, I see the Union being more proactive and innovative in addressing this issue.” He wrote that he would like to continue working on the free menstrual product initiative that he has helped lead as chair of the Campus Operations Working Group. He added that, among various other initiatives, he would like to improve transparency, efficiency and communication throughout the Union. Above all, Finkel stressed that, as Senator-At-Large, he will be there to serve the entire community. “I'm not just a name on a website. If you have a question, ask me! … Let me try to help you,” he wrote. “My end goal is to make sure that I do everything I can
See SU, 7 ☛
Run Like the Wind
Softball Slump
Secret Lives
Saint Cyr Dimanche ’19 ran in the Boston Marathon.
The softball team dropped all four games played against Washington University in St. Louis.
Nancy Jo Sales spoke about the challenging social climates facing American teenagers.
FEATURES 8 For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org
cate and to implement new approaches will be useful as Brandeis embarks upon a period of renewal and transformation,” Liebowitz wrote in Monday’s email. “Brandeis’ commitment to social justice and to research that matters for society totally aligns with my values and life’s work,” the email quotes Jackson as saying. At a time when Louis Brandeis’ active citizenship and Jewish values are needed to combat ignorance and intolerance, Jackson said, “Brandeis feels like the right place at the right time.” Judy Glasser, who has served as interim senior vice president for communications for two years, will remain at the University after Jackson starts. She will work closely with Jackson, according to Liebowitz’s email.
Let your voice be heard! Submit letters to the editor online at www.thejustice.org
INDEX
SPORTS 16 ARTS SPORTS
17 13
EDITORIAL FEATURES
10 OPINION 8 POLICE LOG
10 2
News 3 COPYRIGHT 2017 FREE AT BRANDEIS.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2017
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NEWS SENATE LOG
POLICE LOG
Senate issues updates on project progression and spring midnight buffet organization
Medical Emergency
The Senate convened on Sunday to review progress on various campus initiatives. After delaying the start of the meeting in order to obtain a quorum, Student Union Vice President Paul Sindberg ’18 began the proceedings with executive officer reports. Sindberg mentioned that some graduate students serve as officers in undergraduate clubs, which is unconstitutional. The Union should clarify what is and is not allowed in those regards, Sindberg said. He also mentioned that he was working on strategies to keep people engaged with bystander training. Executive Senator Hannah Brown ’19 encouraged people to be safe at Springfest and announced that the Campus Activities Board is replacing Student Events. Brown also informed the Senate that the State of the Union address next week would occur from 6 to 7 p.m. on the same night of the Midnight Buffet. Because of this, she discussed the possibility of giving a Midnight Buffet “fastpass” to the first 20 attendees at the address, enabling them to jump to the front of the line at the catered event. In Senate Committee chair reports, North Quad Senator Jack Rubinstein ’20 updated the Senate on progress with the initiative to provide free menstrual products on campus. The products have been purchased and are now awaiting distribution in the Union office, Rubinstein said. Speaking for the Dining Committee, Ziv Quad Senator Brandon Stanaway ’19 discussed the effectiveness of the recent “Meatless Thursday.” Although the committee planned for the event to consist of one meal in one dining hall, Sodexo surprised them by doing both lunch and dinner in both dining halls, which resulted in complaints from students, added Senator-at-Large Matt Smetana ’17. Both Stanaway and Smetana suggested implementing a “less-meat” day in which meat is not eliminated, but rather reduced. Class of 2020 Senator Tal Richtman spoke on behalf of the Club Support Committee, which has been working to improve the recognition and chartering processes for University clubs, particularly in regards to efficiency. In an attempt to discover other approaches, the committee has reached out to other universities to gauge how they handle recognition and chartering, Richtman said. The committee hopes to eventually pursue an amendment for the Union constitution. Brown updated the Senate on the performance of the April break “bunny shuttles,” which yielded “modest” sales. Losses were mitigated by Joseph’s Transportation offering smaller vehicles at lower costs for departure times that sold fewer tickets, according to Brown. The Senate unanimously approved a senate money request for the Midnight Buffet, allotting $7,558.33 to the event. Rubinstein spoke of his shared goal with Student Union President-elect Jacob Edelman ’18 to model a sculpture initiative after the community-painted cannon at Tufts University and the graffiti box at Brandeis, in order to give students greater outlets for free expression. East Quad Senator Elijah Sinclair ’19 updated the Senate on concerns within East, including complaints about early-morning construction on Usen Castle, as well as problems opening windows in Pomerantz.
April 3—University Police received a report of a party who had passed out in Usdan Student Center. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. April 3—A party in the Mandel Center for the Humanities reported that they consumed something that may have made them ill. The party was transported to NWH for further care. April 4—University Police received a report of a party who was having an allergic reaction at a bus stop on Charles River Road. The party was transported to NWH for further care. April 4—A party in Ridgewood Quad reported that they were experiencing severe stomach pain. BEMCo staff treated the party with a signed refusal for further care. April 5—University Police received a request for assistance with a psychological transport from the Brandeis Counseling
Center. The party was transported to NWH for further care without incident. April 6—University Police received a report of a party who fell and injured their wrist in Spingold Theater. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to NWH for further care. April 6—A party in Rosenthal Quad reported a finger injury. BEMCo staff treated the party with a signed refusal for further care. April 11—A party in the Foster Biomedical Labs reported that they cut their hand on a glass water bottle. University Police transported the party to an urgent care facility for further care. April 15—A staff member in the Shapiro Admissions Center reported that a member of their tour group sustained a minor ankle injury when they tripped on some stairs. University Police transported the party to an urgent care facility for further care. April 20—University Police
received a report of a party who collapsed and struck their head in Spingold Theater. The party was transported to NWH for further care. April 21—A party in Gordon Residence Hall reported that they were feeling ill. The party was treated by BEMCo staff with a signed refusal for further care. April 22—University Police received a report of an unconscious and unresponsive intoxicated party in Shapiro Residence Hall. The party was transported to NWH for further care. April 22—A party in Gordon Residence Hall reported that they were feeling ill. BEMCo staff treated the party with a signed refusal for further care. April 22—A party in Usen Residence Hall reported that they fell and chipped their tooth. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to NWH for further care. April 23—University Po-
HEATHER SCHILLER/the Justice
Student Events presented an activity-filled carnival in the Shapiro Campus Center atrium as an end of semester stress buster on April 5.
Justice
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Disturbance
April 13—University Police received a report of a party skateboarding on the loading dock by the Rose Art Museum. The party was gone upon University Police arrival. April 20—A staff member reported graffiti on a barrier in the Castle Lot. University Police compiled a report on the incident.
See POLOG, 4 ☛
The Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences awarded three professors with teaching awards at the monthly faculty meeting on Friday, according to a April 21 press release. Prof. Adrianne Krstansky (THA) received the Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer ’69 and Joseph Neubauer Prize for Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring. According to the press release, the Neubauer award recognizes an “exceptional teacher ... with significant impact on students’ lives as a mentor and advisor.” A recipient of numerous theater performance and production awards, Krstansky joined the University’s faculty in 1999. According to the release, a nominator said of Krstansky, “Adrianne is not only an extraordinary teacher — patient, dedicated, knowledgeable — and an extraordinary director — insightful, thrilling, and visionary — but also an extraordinary human being.” Prof. Derron Wallace (EDU/SOC) received the 35th Michael L. Walzer ’56 Award for Teaching, an award honoring a tenure-track faculty member who “combines superlative scholarship with inspired teaching,” according to the release. Wallace joined the University’s faculty in 2014. Alongside a career of global activism, Wallace’s sociology research focuses on cross-national identities in urban schools and neighborhoods. “Professor Wallace’s passion for teaching and ultimately his willingness to learn from us and about us has changed my perspective of teachers and professors,” said a student nominator in the release. Prof. Daniel Breen (LGLS) received the Louis Dembitz Brandeis Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Breen began to teach law at the University in 1998 and has since been an active mentor in Legal and American Studies, both inside and outside of the classroom. A nominator highlighted in the release said of Breen, “His passion for legal studies and social justice is contagious. He is always available for students after class… [and] is very kind and welcoming to students’ ideas and suggestions.” —Michelle Dang
ANNOUNCEMENTS International Video Competition
the
April 21—An area coordinator in Ziv Quad reported that they confiscated a bong-type pipe during a noise complaint investigation. University Police confiscated the item, and the area coordinator will file a community standards report.
Office of the Dean of Arts and Science presents three faculty awards
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@ thejustice.org.
Drugs
BRIEF
SCC CARNIVAL
—Amber Miles
n The Justice has no corrections or clarifications to report for this week.
lice received a report of an intoxicated party in Renfield Residence Hall. The party was transported to NWH for further care.
Watch the finalists for the coveted Brandeis Internation Video Competition Best Picture Award. The films showcased are created by second semester language course students. During the screening, internation desserts will be served. The event is sponsored by the Foreign Language Oversight Committee. Today from 5 to 7 p.m. in Room G03, Mandel Center for the Humanities.
Screening: An African City
Visiting alumnus Nicole Amarteifio ’04 is the creator and executive producer of the hit African television and web series “An African City.” The evening will begin with a welcome reception, followed by a screening and conversation with Amarteifio and Prof. Carina Ray (AAAS). Reservations can be made online. Wednesday from 5 to7:30 p.m. in Wasserman Cinematheque.
Deis Food Fest
Intercultural Center 25th Anniversary
Join Brandeis Student Event’s first ever Food Truck Festival. The festival will include crowd favorites like Baja’s Taco Truck, Trolley Dogs, Ice Cream Social and botique trucks featuring Sully’s Brand and Glee Gifts. There will be vendors from Maui Wowi Smoothies and Shutterbooth. The first 100 guests will receive a $10 voucher to use at any food truck. Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Fellows Garden.
The showcase begins with a welcome reception Friday evening. Saturday will feature a tour of the Gender & Sexuality Center, a keynote adress by Janice Johnson Dias ’94, co-creator of the GrassROOTS Community Foundation and a panel discussion featuring the founders of the ICC. Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. in various locations across campus.
Festival of the Creative Arts
Culture X 2017
The annual Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts showcases nationally acclaimed performers and visual artists together with music, dance, theater, film and artwork by more than 300 Brandeis students and alumni. This year the theme is sustainability. All day Thursday to Sunday in various locations across campus.
Every year Culture X is a space for Brandeis students to showcase the diversity presented on campus. This year the theme is 25k Magic: Cultural Fusion, coinciding with the Intercultural Center’s 25th anniversary. We will showcase how cultures have fused and changed over the years. Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Levin Ballroom, Usdan. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
the justice
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AMERICAN GIRLS
BRIEF
B.SASV sexual violence protest display removed A Brandeis Students Against Sexual Violence protest display in the Shapiro Campus Center was allegedly removed by the University during Admitted Students Day on Sunday. “Brandeis has removed our display. Not only does it actively silence survivors, but they silence activists trying to make this university safer,” B.SASV wrote on its Facebook page on Sunday. The display featured sheets inside the SCC which read, “You are paying $67,925 while Brandeis… […] protects rapists […] silences survivors [and] denies responsibility.” B.SASV also put up blue flags outside the SCC on the Great Lawn. Each flag bore statistics from the University’s 2015 Campus Climate Survey on sexual assault or statements of institutional accountability, according to a statement from B.SASV that was included with the afore-
mentioned Facebook post. The protest coincided with the annual Admitted Students Day, during which hundreds of accepted students visit campus as they decide whether to enroll. “We have chosen this day to speak out about sexual violence on the Brandeis campus because we believe in the importance of transparency. … Our intent is not to deter individuals from attending Brandeis, but rather to underscore and push back against injustices taking place here,” the group’s statement read. “We hope that naming the harm occurring on this campus contributes to a communitywide transformation in institutional support for survivors,” the statement concluded. The Justice reached out to B.SASV and the University for comment. Neither responded as of press time. —Abby Patkin
Student activism
Students march Journalist discusses in annual Take Back the Night the changing lives
TAYLA GUENZBURGER/the Justice
SPEAKER: Author Nancy Jo Sales spoke about her new book and research at the Rappaporte Treasure Hall on April 6.
■ Community members marched across campus for awareness of sexual assault and violence. By Sabrina SUNG JUSTICE EDITOR
In the dimness of the evening, small lights flickered atop the Rabb steps on Thursday, April 6. As members of the Brandeis community trickled into the annual Take Back the Night gathering, organizers handed out electric candles to each individual in preparation for the oncoming march across campus. Representatives from the Rape Crisis Center, Queer Resource Center and the Office of Prevention Services wore bright glow sticks around their necks, working with event organizers and attendees to help Take Back the Night. According to its official website, TBTN is a volunteer organization that has, since the 1960s, endeavored to “end sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual abuse, and all other forms of sexual violence.” The University hosts a TBTN event annually as a part of Sexual Violence Awareness Week, organized in part by the Brandeis Feminist Majority Alliance. The event organizers expressed gratitude toward the attendees and explained the guidelines of the event, stating that no one should ask for elaboration from survivors who choose to share their stories, take identifying photos or quote stories without declared permission from the speaker. Organizers then invited
everyone to walk in solidarity with survivors across campus. The route, which typically runs through individual quads, was altered due to rainy weather, only stopping at the Shapiro Campus Center before advancing to the Shapiro Admissions Center. “2-4-6-8. No more violence. No more rape!” the attendees chanted as the group marched down campus, umbrellas in tow. Despite the noise of rain and thunder, individual voices came together, sounding above it, chanting, “Shatter the silence! Stop the violence!” Upon arriving in the SCC, the group formed a circle and shouted, “Hey, Brandeis! Take back the night!” Afterward, there was time for individuals to speak or share their stories. The organizers kicked off the conversation with gratitude: “Thank you ... for your commitment to dialogue and change on this campus.” Although no individuals chose to share personal stories at this time, several attendees chimed in with statistics, emphasizing the prevalence and damaging consequences of sexual violence. Organizers also read out anonymous stories submitted to the official TBTN website. “It was not my fault,” one story concluded. Another story assured others, “I am truly sorry. Please know that it’s not your fault, and don’t let the scum who did that to you rule your life.” The march progressed to Admissions, where the group held a moment of silence in solidarity with survivors. TBTN concluded with a following, private event for individuals to continue the conversation, which was not open to the press.
of American Teens ■ Nancy Jo Sales wrote a
book about the impact of social media and technology on the lives of teenage girls. By ABBY PATKIN JUSTICE EDITOR
Social media has changed the American teen girl experience, and not necessarily for the better, author Nancy Jo Sales said in a lecture at Brandeis on April 6. Sales, whose 2010 Vanity Fair article “The Suspects Wore Louboutins” was later adapted into the 2013 film “The Bling Ring,” visited the University to discuss her latest work, 2016’s “American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers.” While working as a journalist for New York Magazine in 1996, Sales was assigned a story on affluent Manhattan teenagers who worked together with teens from poorer neighborhoods to sell drugs. The article, titled “Prep School Gangsters,” started Sales on the “teen” beat, which often involved stories with a criminal element. Working on “Bling Ring,” about a group of teens who robbed celebrities’ homes, Sales began to think more about how the internet has influenced teens’ obsession with
fame and culture, she told the audience. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat can strongly affect teen girls’ confidence, appearance and social interactions, she said. In particular, she said, the “porn aesthetic” of social media has influenced how teens dress and act, pushing them to wear more revealing clothing. “This technology is just so unprecedented for what it is has done to our culture and our behavior,” she said. “I mean, everything now is through these devices that we hold in our hands at all times. … How we exist has changed.” With the rise of smartphone-owning teens also came a shift in child culture, she said. While working on her 2016 book, she went to Los Angeles and spoke with teens about social media and culture. As Sales recalled, one girl said, “‘Social media is ruining our lives.’” When Sales asked the girl why she didn’t just get off of social media, another responded, “‘Because then we would have no lives.’” “The problem is, you can’t get off of it,” Sales said, later adding, “The FOMO [fear of missing out] is just too much for their little lives to bear.” Part of this problem, she said, is
that parents model bad social media and tech behavior in front of their kids. “Now you can use your phone to order food and order sex and parent your kid, and that’s what a lot of parents are doing, and they are not getting involved,” Sales said. The rise of the smartphone has also meant that children are introduced to social media at increasingly younger ages. “The sooner you get addicted to something, the harder it will be to not be addicted to it in the future,” Sales said. Smartphone technology and the rise of social media has also correlated with a spike in sexting and online harassment and sexism, she said, explaining that she wanted her readers “to feel what it feels like to be that 14-year-old girl who is going to school in the morning after a nude picture has gone out to the entire school. I want them to feel what it feels like to experience sexism and misogyny, because that is what really I think this is all about.” However, Sales admitted that social media is not all bad, noting that there has been a surge of feminism and activism on social media, giving young girls a platform “to voice their outrage and their resistance.” Social media, she concluded, “is a double-edged sword. It can be used for good; it can be used for ill.”
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POLICE LOG CONTINUED FROM 1 April 21—University Police received a report of a loud party in Ziv 130. University Police checked the area. The residents agreed to quiet down, and no further action was taken. The party had been registered with the Department of Community Living. April 22—University Police received a report of shouting in Ziv Quad. University Police advised the residents to quiet down without incident. April 23—University Police received a noise complaint for the Foster Mods. University Police advised the residents to quiet down without incident.
Harassment
April 5—A party reported that someone had left literature on their desk that they found offensive. University Police compiled a report on the incident. April 12—A staff member in OlinSang American Civilization Center reported that they received a call from
an unknown individual, who made an unsolicited comment and hung up. University Police compiled a report on the incident.
Other
April 3—University Police compiled a report on an attempted check cashing scam in Shapiro Residence Hall. The reporting party never completed the transaction. April 11—University Police received a report that the Brandeis flag was removed from the top of Usen Castle A Tower and had been replaced with a non-affiliated flag. University Police compiled a report on the incident and scheduled extra patrols for the area. April 14—A staff member in the Abraham Shapiro Academic Center reported that they received a strange email. University Police compiled a report on the incident. April 21—University Police compiled a report on negative topics about the University that were posted on social media websites. —Complied by Abby Patkin
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THE JUSTICE
CAMPUS SPEAKER
about novel approaches in the research of two dimensional chemistry. By MAURICE WINDLEY JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
University of California Davis’ Dr. Kristie Koski joined the Brandeis Chemistry Department on Wednesday for a discussion of innovative chemistry approaches in two dimensional materials. The event, held in Gerstenzang Science Library, was part of the department’s colloquia series. A 2015 National Science Foundation Career Award Winner and Professor at UC Davis, Koski focused on the synthesis and properties of 2D materials in everyday life. As a professor of both physics and chemistry, Koski uses her diverse scientific experience to find new and creative ways to solve both common and complex problems in materials chemistry. Koski sought to thoroughly explain the necessity of researching 2D materials from a chemical, physical and economical context, she said. Koski’s lab researches a compound similar to the 2D material bentonite, one of the United States’ largest exports. Koski used bentonite as a prime example of the manufacturing industry’s reliance on 2D materials, highlighting that the compound is present in a diverse group of everyday products. Bentonite, for example, is responsible for the absorption of water in cat litter, the length of time a battery operates and the solid-liquid texture of yogurt, said Koski. Koski expressed the connection between the utility of these materials and their effect on the emerging oil industry. She explained that during the early 1900s, the efficiency of oil rigs was limited by the depth a drill could reach. However, Anthony Lucas, a Croatian oil explorer, overcame this limit by using bentonite as a “solid lubricant” for the oil drill, which enabled the drills to maintain performance
at lower depths, said Koski. With this in mind, the oil industry supported the research of bentonite’s solid-lubricant properties, as it enabled deeper pockets of crude oil to be reached, a technique still used to improve the effectiveness of oil drills today. In physics, Koski explained that these normally layered 2D materials can also be easily separated and organized as a single sheet of material, which she says will help her lab understand how electrical currents interact with the chemicals. This discovery enables 2D molecules to have a positive impact on the electrical industry, providing a potentially cost-effective way to improve the structure of circuits. Koski explained that this application can improve lighting efficiency and can also lead to more optimized functions for mobile phone manufacturing. Koski also analyzed the synthetic utility of bentonite as a drying agent, explaining that the compound’s layers present a “gap” between two adjacent molecules of bentonite that not only enables easy manipulation of the compound but also allows small molecules like water to be captured. Koski believes that, by forming new materials to mimic the properties that bentonite displays, materials chemistry can help form cost effective alternatives to the expensive substance. Currently, the Koski group at UC Davis is at the cutting edge of this research, having developed its own substitute for bentonite known as bismuth selenide. The group has used the compound to monitor its properties. With this in mind, Koski explained that her group continues to ameliorate the larger “gap” present in bismuth selenide and research potential commercial uses for the material. By focusing more on materials research and the promotion of 2D materials, Koski emphasized the effectiveness of these materials in modern society, proposing that 2D materials can be an eco-friendly answer to improving everyday technology.
BRIEF
WBRS opens newly renovated studio after three-month hiatus After approximately three months’ closure for reconstruction, the WBRS studio came back on the air on Saturday at noon. This reconstruction project had been planned since last year and was finally carried out starting in January. The studio was closed during this time, opening again on Saturday. The project mainly focused on the live engineering studio — the room for professional music recording — in which the biggest change is the upgrade to a thirty-two channel audio mixer. “Today was the reopening, but the test day as well,” Isaac Zukin ’19, the WBRS music director said. From noon to 2 p.m., Jordan Mudd ’20, a guitarist, and Ryan Gebhardt ’19, a bass guitarist, both recorded music with the new studio equipment. Meanwhile, Sam Stern ’20, the chief technician of WBRS, ex-
perimented with the new appliances. “All are welcomed to WBRS,” said Zukin. They are now improving the radio transmission facilities, expecting that in the near future FM100.1 could cover the whole of Waltham and neighboring towns. If the station expands, they could attract not only Brandeis students but more professional bands and singers as well. “Probably, our technicians could make some money out of it!” Zukin joked. When asked about the club’s members, Jay Tobin ’20, another technician, suggested that all students who love music or who would like to give personal shows could be great additions to the clubs, especially after this grand reopening.
—Jungsheng He
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TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2017
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TAIWANESE ART CONFERENCE
Chemist talks research in two dimension ■ Dr. Kristie Koski spoke
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ANNA SHERMAN/the Justice
ART: The Taiwanese Art Conference featured a day of panels presenting subjects in Taiwanese art and history on Wednesday.
Fine arts department hosts first Taiwanese art conference ■ The first art conference of its kind featured global scholars expertised in Taiwanese art and history. By EMILY APPLETON JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The University hosted its first Taiwanese art conference on Tuesday, marking one of the few conferences held across the nation in this field. Scholars from 12 different universities and three different continents came to partake in the discussion. Prof. Aida Yuen Wong (FA) opened the event with welcoming remarks, introducing leading scholars from Taiwan, Europe and the United States whom she described as “cutting edge.” Wong then gave a brief summary of Taiwan. A small island off the main coast of China, according to Wong, it has gone through “a number of regime changes since the late 19th
century,” which includes its colonization by Japan post-war, a dictatorial government and the democracy it maintains today. Taiwan has also just elected its first female president. But how did art play a role in this progressive country? “Art has played a central role in shaping the political and cultural discourses on the island — and [the] upheavals have divided but have also given impetus to artists of different strides,” said Wong. The history of Taiwanese art, Wong said, was a somewhat “messy” one, which has not received much scholarly attention outside Taiwan until recently. This conference is meant to expand knowledge of the art history of Taiwan so that it can reach further than the borders of Taiwan, concluded Wong. The conference was divided into three panels, each including three or four speakers who were well versed on the topic, presenting Taiwanese history and associated artworks.
The first panel, which included speakers Yunchiahn C. Sena from Wesleyan University, Ching-hsin Wu from Rutgers University, Su-hsing Lin from Tainan National University of the Arts and Chia-ling Yang from University of Edinburgh focused on the historical aspects of the art, looking more to the past. The second panel focused on more modern aspects of expression, such as film and photography. Speakers included Mia Liu from Bates College, Prof. Peter R. Kalb (FA) and Shelley Drake Hawks from Middlesex Community College. The third and final panel of the day focused not on individual artworks of certain artists but instead on the art movements that have taken place throughout Taiwanese history. Speakers for this panel included An-yi Pan from Cornell University, Hsin-tien Liao from National Taiwan University of the Arts, Kai Sheng from National United University and Andrew Shih-ming Pai from the National Taiwan Normal University.
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RALLY: Labor coalition calls
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TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2017
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for equitable pay CONTINUED FROM 1 the Brandeis Labor Coalition and the Faculty Forward Campaign. Both Bisgyer and Dolan have helped organize various events for the campaign, including the rally. Their motivation stems from interactions with faculty facing inequitable pay, Bisgyer said . Bisgyer explained that the professor who most helped her transition into college life is a current graduate student who was also hired as an adjunct faculty member. “I’ve seen how she has to pay for her own transportation to get here every day. She holds multiple jobs outside Brandeis,” Bisgyer said. “She isn’t even able to get access to the building that she has taught in all year long.” Dolan added, “It seems like it’s a lot to take on other people’s struggles when you feel like you have a lot of your own, but you rest in a privileged place by having access to an education like Brandeis. So really make sure you’re using your customer satisfaction card correctly.” Bisgyer emphasized that “[students are] the ones paying the tuition. We have the power to push for these changes.” Dolan noted that the Brandeis Labor Coalition hosts weekly
meetings.“Everyone makes a difference,” Dolan stressed. “We are a group of specialty — of quality, but also of quantity. Quantity is very important.” Mann also pointed toward other resources available for those wishing to support the cause. The Brandeis Faculty Forward website links viewers to letters and a petition, all open to signing by the public. In addition, students sending a paper letter of support or including parents in the process would make a huge impact, she said. During the interview, Bisgyer mentioned the two hashtags being circulated by the campaign: #EqualPayForEqualWork and #LouisBWouldAgree. Mann declared that this campaign is dedicated to ensuring students are “getting Brandeis at its best and that we’re making Brandeis the best that it can be.” As an undergraduate representative for the campaign, Dolan declared, “We’re a school that’s a social justice based school, and if our professors are being treated unfairly. … What is Brandeis? What are we saying? If we cannot uphold these standards, how are we supposed to create people who can?”
AARON BIRNBAUM/the Justice
FACULTY: Faculty convened for their final meeting of the semester and presented three teaching awards to outstanding faculty.
SU: Spring election concludes CONTINUED FROM 1
BRIEF Community reports on environment Students, faculty and staff involved in environmental initiatives around campus convened and shared their updates on April 4 as part of the annual State of Sustainability meeting, hosted by the Senate Sustainability Committee. Representatives from student activist groups, Sustainable Brandeis and the Environmental Studies Department discussed initiatives in expanding environmental participation at the University and its surrounding community. Manager of Sustainability Programs Mary Fischer reminded the audience that 2016 was the first time that the University reduced its carbon footprint in its history. “On purpose,” Fischer emphasized, attributing a large part of that change to the reduced electricity consumption resulting from the University’s first energy policy implemented last year. Alongside a warmer winter, the policy helped control cooling energy in the summer and led to a 10 percent reduction in electricity usage, translating to an eight percent energy reduction in carbon footprint. Fischer said she expects to see small improvements
this year. Additionally, Fischer reported that the University is active in seeking more solar energy for the campus and is in discussions with a biodiesel company to displace natural gas usage in the University’s central heating plant. In the past year, the Senate Sustainability Committee and student groups like Students for Environmental Action have worked extensively on changing campus culture in waste reduction. Additionally, the committee seeks to expand the Environmental Studies Department, as well as bridge environmental activist groups across campus. “In terms of campus sustainability, what a wonderful way to use it as a model for society,” added Prof. Laura Goldin (ENV). Other presenters at the meeting included SEA, Brandeis Climate Justice, Brandeis Farmers Club, the Food Recovery Network, Brandeis faculty, Net Impact, Staff Action Team on Climate Change and the Waltham Group. —Michelle Dang
to make a difference in our community. I want all members of our Brandeis family to make the most out of their time here, and to graduate knowing they wouldn't have gone anywhere else if they had the chance.” Benedikt Reynolds ’19 Reynolds was elected one of the two Class of 2019 senators, securing 67.05 percent of the votes cast in his race. In an interview with the Justice, Reynolds explained that he also wants to target school spirit when he takes office. “A lot of people don’t enjoy the Brandeis experience, because they come into this school not wanting to enjoy the Brandeis experience, … and I think this is a common thing that many people feel,” he said. “So I’m hopefully going to help turn that around and kind of build up school pride.” Reynolds, a member of the Senate Sustainability Committee, also explained that he wants to see the University become a leading school in campus sustainability. Specifically, he said that he would like to look into installing new indoor lights that would adjust brightness and energy usage depending on ambient lighting. Brooke Granovsky ’18 Granovsky was elected one of five associate justices of the Union Judiciary, earning 61.91 percent of the vote. In an email to the Justice, Granovsky said that one issue she has seen students deal with is “the knowledge gap” between club members, club constitutions and the Student Union constitution. She said that many students find club and Union constitutions either vague or outdated, which can discourage them from trying to update their club constitutions to better avoid conflict. “It creates a cycle where constitutions remain unchanged, and their perceived legiti-
macy wanes, and the Judiciary has to rely on them anyway,” she wrote in an email to the Justice. In the coming year, Granovsky said that she wants to see the Judiciary encourage students to engage in constitutional reviews in order to better facilitate the judicial process. Lilly Hecht ’18 Hecht was also elected one of the five associate justices of the Union Judiciary, with 61.62 percent of the vote. Citing needs for improvement in communication about student resources and opportunities, Hecht wrote in an email to the Justice that students should have access to a centralized source of academic, financial, administrative, professional, medical and extracurricular information. In addition to collaborating with other Union branches to promote efficiency, Hecht wrote that she looks forward to increasing the Judiciary’s caseload. “I'm really looking forward to increasing our caseload so we can help resolve more conflicts and support more students and clubs,” she wrote. Linfei Yang ’20 Yang was elected to fill the newlycreated International Student Senator position, earning 60.19 percent of the vote. In an interview with the Justice, Yang noted that representation and generalization are crucial issues for the international student community. “When [people] view the international community at Brandeis, they tend to generalize,” he said. “For example, sure, there are a lot of Asians in the community, but that does not mean they are all international students. There’s the difference between AsianAmericans and Asian international students, and I think that it’s very important for that distinction to be made.” He added that he wants to make sure the international student community
feels that they have access to resources and information to help integrate them into the broader Brandeis community. Tal Richtman ’20 Richtman was re-elected Class of 2020 senator, earning 68.85 percent of the votes cast in his race. Richtman, like other Union members, spoke about wanting to bolster school pride and spirit, which he said could be lacking because students don’t view their college experiences holistically. “People are very invested in their clubs, and it takes their time and their connection or relation to Brandeis,” he said in an interview with the Justice. “They see their social life here as part of their a capella group, their soccer team, … but they don’t understand that this is all part of Brandeis.” He also noted that he would like to work on the Club Support Committee next year to improve the club recognition and chartering process and to ensure that clubs are getting adequate resources and support. This could potentially involve removing inactive clubs to reduce the total number or restructuring financial resources, he said. “I prefer to have fewer clubs with more money to make bigger events than a lot of clubs with some of them not active,” he said, adding, “Clubs are an important part of our life here on campus.” Also elected were Racial Minority Senator Hangil Ryu ’20; Senator AtLarge Shaquan McDowell ’18; Class of 2018 Senators Matt Kowalyk and Abhishek Kulkarni; Class of 2019 Senate Vidit Dhawan; Class of 2020 Senator Yuxuan Chen; Associate Justices Jessie Kinsley ’20, Xiangyu Mao ’20 and Charlotte Aaron ’18; and Brandeis Sustainability Fund Representative Nicholas April ’18. They did not return requests for comment as of press time. —Editor’s Note: Brooke Granovsky ’18 is an Arts writer for the Justice.
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SUSTAINABILITY: Prof. Eric Olson (Heller) presented on faculty environmental initatives at the State of Sustainability meeting on April 4.
Contact Kirby Kochanowski at features@thejustice.org
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features
TUESDAY, april 25, 2017 ● Features ● The Justice
just
VERBATIM | ALBERT EINSTEIN Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love.
ON THIS DAY…
FUN FACT
In 1901, New York became the first state in the country to require license plates.
If color was not added to it, Coca-Cola would be green.
Running down the clock Saint Cyr Dimanche ’19 ran in Monday’s Boston Marathon
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAINT CYR DIMANCHE
CROSSING THE FINISH: Saint Cyr Dimanche ’19 crosses the finish line with energy left to spare.
By leah leybzon justice Staff writer
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAINT CYR DIMANCHE
TIME TO REST: Saint Cyr Dimanche ’19 poses for his post-marathon photo.
Saint Cyr Dimanche ’19 is an International and Global Studies major and resides in Worcester, Massachusetts with his family. What sets him apart from most other Brandeis students is that he is a runner who has participated in several kilometer runs and on Monday, April 17, he ran the Boston Marathon. He made the decision to run in the marathon over the summer. A friend of his urged him to run with a charity group rather than running individually. Dimanche chose to run for the American Red Cross Association and the association, in turn, accepted him onto their running team. Once he was fully committed to running for this particular charity, his training regimen picked up intensely. “Little by little I started running on my own,” Dimanche said in an interview with the Justice. Before winter break, he met with a coach who provided him with a more concrete plan for his ongoing training. Being both a student and marathon runner is not a simple feat. Dimanche had to go out and train by himself and maintain a time-sensitive schedule. He ran twenty or more miles every weekend during the year, which, according to his training schedule, meant that he needed a minimum of eight hours of sleep before the
runs, as well as ample time to relax afterwards. While this sort of routine is hard to maintain as a student, Dimanche claims that “everyone was very supportive” both throughout his training and preparation process as well as on the marathon day itself. Once that day finally arrived, Dimanche posed questions to himself. He wondered if he would make it to the finish line and whether or not he would get injured throughout the course of those 26.2 miles. As he stood at the starting line, specifically, he could not believe that he was truly about to run the Boston Marathon. Once he started running, he said, some of that anxious feeling ebbed away as he noticed the crowds cheering him on from the sidewalks. “I didn’t expect to see so many people. It was amazing” Dimanche asserted. Once he crossed the finish line, Dimanche said he felt overjoyed and “did not feel tired at all.” He greeted the friends, Brandeis faculty, and the family that came to support him and was thankful for their unwavering encouragement. However, the support is not the only factor that propelled Dimanche. “One of my motivations is to help other people, because people helped me get a good scholarship to go to Brandeis so I see this as a way to give back to the community,” Dimanche said. A lot of people donated to the American Red Cross Association in support
of his run, so he felt as though he needed to “prepare and show that he can do it” and make them all proud. Aside from making everyone around him proud through his philanthropic running, Dimanche has personal running goals that he sets for himself. His goal with every marathon is to shave off ten minutes from his previous marathon’s running time. At that rate, after several more marathons, he could reach an elite running level. His current overarching goal, however, is to qualify this summer within his age group for next year’s Boston Marathon. Going forward, Dimanche is certain that he wants to run the marathon again next year, “especially after seeing all the people from around the globe running,” and because he wants another shot at improving his personal running time. During the school year, he always thinks of himself as “a student first” and has time to run between seven and thirteen miles a week, although he wishes he had time to run more. Over the summer, he hopes to train more intensely seven days a week and change his diet. Dimanche said the day before the race he pictured the marathon’s route, how he was going to do, and imagined that he would soon be able to proclaim that he finished a Boston Marathon. Needless to say, it is no longer in his imagination.
the justice ● Features ● april 25, 2017
Where creativity counts Brandeis hosts its first TEDx Talk By LEV BROWN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
The creative, thoughtful and innovative minds of Brandeis University were on display on Saturday, April 22 at the University’s first ever TEDx event, during which five speakers delivered talks about topics ranging from research and education to psychology and life experience. Christine Zhu ’18 and Mesui Liu ’18 partnered with Brandeis’ Education for Students by Students (ESS) Club to organize the event. The speakers were Prof. Andy Molinsky (BUS), Prof. Chandler Rosenberger (SOC), Editor in Chief Florence Graves, graduate student Hauke Zeissler and Rebecca Groner ’17. Molinsky was the first to speak. His work focuses on tactics for stepping out of one’s theoretical comfort zone in difficult situations, particularly in a business setting. He began his talk by showing a quote which stated a popular belief that “All one needs to step out of their comfort zone is to take a leap.” Molinsky then claimed that these methods are “easier said than done,” and that there needs to be more nuance in a truly satisfying answer. As a professional, he spent much of his time researching what it takes to do what is uncomfortable, and through talking to many people, he identified five “psychological roadblocks” to stepping out of a comfort zone. These include putting in partial effort, procrastinating or making others perform uncomfortable tasks. He offered three solutions to these problems: “conviction, customization and clarity,” and then explained what these methods imply. In Molinsky’s opinion, one must identify the benefit of performing a task, mentally enhance the experience of performing and be honest and rational with oneself about the task’s difficulty. He concluded by saying
these strategies can create a “virtuous positive spiral of trying it [the uncomfortable task] again.” Next to speak was Groner, an undergraduate who is part of the improvisation troupe To Be Announced. Her talk focused on how techniques used in improv comedy can “help you solve problems and shape your world view.” She began by defining improv as “a way to express in an art form how to collaborate and how to create a scene or a moment … while thinking quickly on your feet.” Groner explained the five major techniques used in improv and identified how they can be applied in the world. The first technique was the “yes, and” technique, in which the actor is “agreeing with whatever your scene partner who is creating that moment with you is saying while also adding on and supplementing it.” The next technique she described was “living in the moment … trying to make yourself a full part of what’s going at the moment.” This was followed by “gift giving … giving someone a role, giving someone a relationship to build off of in the scene.” The next aspect she described was “taking risks, making those big choices.” Lastly, she explained that perhaps the most important rule in improv: to “have fun.” These techniques were identified as applicable to many different aspects of life, including relationships, anxiety and stress management, and professional careers and networking. After explaining this nuanced ideology, she told the crowd that “Improv has helped me to not take life too seriously, so please go forth and improvise.” The next speaker was Graves, who founded the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, the nation’s first investigative reporting center based at a university. She began by arguing that the U.S. criminal justice system is flawed in its methods of conviction and its restric-
tions on reopening old cases. She founded Schuster in 2004, with a purpose to create social justice and promote human rights through journalism. Graves explained that when she first founded Schuster, a Brandeis alum contacted her, asking her organization to take cases that his legal firm could not. She was overjoyed to hear this and agreed to start with two of the cases that were offered. Grave “spent a lot of time researching” and after hard work, her efforts “resulted in … exonerations” of innocent convicts. She explained that they were able to free a man named Angel, who was wrongly convicted of murder due to “eyewitness misidentification,” in which the only witness of the crime was incapable of delivering a valid testimony. Eyewitness misidentification is one of what Graves described as “two of the most prevalent causes of wrongful conviction.” The other cause, known as “junk, or unreliable, forensic science,” was the problem with the other case they took. A man named George was convicted of rape based off of a false scientific test known as “hair microscopy.” Graves explained an argument made by the national academy of sciences that most technologically advanced methods of conviction (including hair microscopy) “are not based on the scientific method,” except for “only one, … DNA testing.” She concluded by stating the severity of the problem associated with these false accusations, and by urging everyone to “look into this, because when any American loses their freedom wrongfully, we have undercut the entire basis upon which this country was founded.” The second to last speaker was Ziessler, who discussed his journey towards understanding the concept of identity. Ziessler comes from a German family and has lived in Germany and South
Africa. He studies Peace, Conflict and Coexistence Studies as well as Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. In his talk, he explored the complexity of identity. After defining identity, he divided this definition into two main categories: “the perceived identity, how you see me, and personal identity, how I see myself.” To visualize this, he showed an image of an onion and asked, “What if I took a layer off? What would you expect?” He agreed that most would assume another layer of onion would lie below, but he then proposed the idea that below the onion layer, “there was an apple.” After this, as Ziessler explained, “Your idea of an onion would be changed … You’d become more open to the idea that there might be an apple within.” He then connected his identity to this analogy in that it has many inner and outer layers. He grew up in a German family in South Africa and was often identified by things that were comparable to his “outer onion layers,” like where he was from. He struggled with this perceived perception and sought to find a way to bring forward his inner identity. One way he figured out how to change others’ perception of his identity was “my mere framing of my identity,” or how he portrayed himself to others that allowed him to shape how others perceived him. He then discussed his experience studying around the world and how he was able to embrace the differences of others’ identities. Through his experiences, he has practiced how to best present himself and approach others in a diverse setting. He concluded that it’s most important to “open up … be honest” as well as to “provide space to speak … and challenge those around you.” He concluded cleverly by reminding his listeners, “You’re not the only onion with an intricate and beautiful story. There
are onions walking around all over this world with fascinating stories that you can learn from.” Rosenberger spoke last, discussing the resurgence of nationalism and why people need it in their lives to this very day. He began by proposing that “Maybe we’re all a little bit more nationalist than we think we are.” He pointed out that lately countries have shifted towards a very nationalist mindset, explaining how Donald Trump’s recent election was a notable example of this movement. He went on to discuss why these changes often occur, arguing that it happens because human minds are made to “absorb a massive amount of cultural information.” He stated that if “we think of society as cultural, then it would make sense that society can change so quickly.” He also concluded that humans not only take in culture very quickly but that they also constantly need a source of direction and purpose they can obtain from culture. As perhaps the most significant example, Rosenberger believes that “everything in society was “mediated through the culture of Christianity” and ultimately religion overall. Interestingly, Rosenberger noted that this structure was “undermined by secular ideas.” Because humans need this input of culture, it began to shift from one of religion to one of organized populations: “human beings on the planet are participating in conversation that has the boundaries of a nation.” He highlighted that having this sense of nationality allows for a sense of equality among fellow members of that nation. Because of this, he concluded that this current mindset “probably isn’t going away any time soon.” However,“We should recognize that it probably isn’t going away and even consider how your own national culture has had an effect on you.”
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NATALIA WIATER, MIRA MELLMAN AND HEATHER SCHILLER /the Justice BACKGROUND PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS
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10 TUESDAY, april 25, 2017 ● forum ● THE JUSTICE
the
Justice Established 1949
Brandeis University
Carmi Rothberg, Editor in Chief Amber Miles, Managing Editor Morgan Brill and Abby Patkin, Deputy Editors Michelle Banayan, Jessica Goldstein, Noah Hessdorf, Mihir Khanna, Jerry Miller and Sabrina Sung, Associate Editors Michelle Dang, News Editor, Kirby Kochanowski, Features Editor Nia Lyn, Acting Forum Editor, Ben Katcher, Sports Editor Hannah Kressel, Arts Editor Natalia Wiater, Photography Editor Mira Mellman, Layout Editor, Pamela Klahr and Robbie Lurie, Ads Editors Rachel Sharer, Online Editor, Jen Geller and Avraham Penso, Copy Editors
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Acknowledge and account for oversight in Latex review
Following the Justice’s publication of “Lots of Latex, limbs and laughs,” we received a great deal of feedback from the Brandeis community that drew our attention to one particular line in the otherwise positive review: “However, the moves from the models while on the catwalk more resembled those seen by girls in fraternity basements than the representation of each zodiacs [sic] characteristics.” This statement should have received greater scrutiny during the Justice’s initial editing process, and publishing it was a regrettable oversight. While the Justice stands by the right of its opinion writers to express their subjective views — including those that may be negative or unpopular — this does not include views that put individuals down on the basis of their sex, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or other identity. The aforementioned statement directed a level of sexist and prejudiced language at our fellow students, which the Justice does not condone, and we regret this error. The Justice strives to recognize insensitivities in our work prior to publication, and in unfortunate instances where we fail to do this, we aim to hold ourselves accountable and correct our oversights.
Recognize mistakes made We would like to offer an apology to those inadvertently harmed by this statement. In order to avoid such oversights in the future, the Justice is creating an additional round of edits to our Arts reviews. Each will now be edited twice by the Justice’s Arts editor before being looked over by a higher-ranking editor, a copy editor, and the Justice’s editor in chief. We hope that this additional level of scrutiny on Arts reviews will remove insensitive language while continuing to maintain the core opinions of our reviewers. Justice staff and editors are student journalists, still learning and constantly reviewing and amending our practices. We appreciate our readers’ assistance and diligent feedback throughout this process. “Lots of Latex, limbs and laughs” has been updated on the Justice website to include an editor’s note expressing our regrets about this oversight, but we have not deleted the statement, as it is Justice policy not to remove content that is not factually incorrect. This is part of an endeavor to remain transparent and accountable by not erasing past errors from record. — Carmi Rothberg, Editor in Chief
EDITORIAL
Improve the University’s scope for prospective students On Sunday, the University welcomed admitted students and their families to campus, seeking to attract those students who will hopefully make up the next class of Brandeisians. While we welcome all new members of the Brandeis community, this board urges the University to focus efforts more on diverse admissions to campus. According to an Oct. 17, 2016 Justice article, during an Oct. 7, 2016 faculty meeting, Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel announced that the University accepted 624 students of color in 2016, 137 of whom went on to enroll at the University. This is an increase from 105 first-year students of color who enrolled in 2014. However, even with the positive trend in the number of admissions and enrollments, the relatively slow rise over the past couple years for students of color may indicate a larger problem for the University. According to the same Justice article, the University started working with community-based groups for minority students to increase its outreach. “As a small university, we are very dependent on our Brandeis community to support recruitment and outreach efforts, far more so than many of the much larger schools with which we compete. The most powerful way our community can work towards our mutual goals of attracting more talented and diverse students to Brandeis is to support these efforts,” Flagel and Dean of Admissions Jennifer Walker said in a joint email to the Justice at the time. While outreach efforts are commendable, the Admissions Department and the University as a whole should be more
Increase campus diversity proactive in taking the necessary steps to recruit underrepresented student populations, and one way of doing this would be to increase outreach efforts to underrepresented regions. For example, through establishing rapports with guidance counselors in high schools across the country, more high school students from different regions would learn about and apply to Brandeis, thus improving regional diversity. Although immediate results may not be visible, patience and persistence will pay off. Using this tactic, the University can target recruitment in needed areas, such as middle America. By targeting high schools in particular regions, the University will bring in students that are greatly diverse. This will bring in students of different socioeconomic backgrounds, mindsets and cultures, all from different places. If the goal is to ultimately make the University a microcosm of society as a whole, there needs to be a push to admit and enroll students of many different communities and backgrounds. This, in and of itself, is the ultimate goal of these efforts. The University is on an upward trend regarding the number of students of color that are admitted to Brandeis and end up enrolling here. However, change needs to take place quicker than it has been. Therefore, this board urges the University to reach out to and recruit more students from different backgrounds in order to make this campus a more welcoming and more diverse place in the future.
AARON MARKS/the Justice
Views the News on
On April 13, the United States deployed the Massive Ordinance Air Blast, nicknamed the “Mother of All Bombs,” on an Islamic State-controlled cave in eastern Afghanistan. Despite the bomb’s capabilities, the Islamic State’s local radio outlet remained unaffected by the bombing. Officials in Nangarhar are also questioning why “American forces are not letting anyone visit the site of the bombing” according to an April 18 New York Times article. What is your reaction to the use of the bomb and the U.S.’s secrecy?
Alex Friedman ’19 The right in this country frequently has a rather phallic lust for flashy warfare. Our last Republican’s ‘Shock and Awe’ strategy comes to mind. That’s not to forget ‘Rolling Thunder,’ but history is complex. Regardless, here’s the problem: if you have to use your largest conventional weapon to strike a meaningful blow against an enemy, that is not a good sign about how your fight against them is going. Additionally, when fighting a group like ISIS, the more narrowly tailored your attacks, the better. It has been said before, but if you use a bomb that kills ten enemies, but you anger forty new people into becoming fighters, your attack was a failure. I think strikes like these look masculine and dramatic, while playingright into the hands of the terrorists. As far as secrecy goes, there could be dozens of reasons. Speculation, at this stage, feels like creating conspiracy theories. We should be far more worried that there is an ISIS group in Afghanistan that is entrenched enough that we thought only the MOAB could stop it, when Afghanistan already has an effective terrorist group of its own. Alex Friedman ’19 is a double major in Politics and Business.
Prof. Yehudah Mirsky (NEJS, SCIS) The question we usually ask in military operations and elsewhere is “what is the objective” and “are these the means best suited to it?” Ordinarily, the use of one type of ordnance or another is a tactical decision entrusted to the military commanders on the ground that civilians second-guess at our peril. But this is different, precisely because of the way the administration seems to have hijacked the Pentagon spokesman’s normal procedures, touting this action in distinctly unprofessional ways. This, taken with other ham-handed defense-related messaging indicates that, having worked to discredit and utterly politicize the judiciary, the intelligence community and more, the Trump administration is set on politicizing, and thus undermining the credibility, effectiveness and even legitimacy of the U.S. military. Here as elsewhere, this tough-guy bluster reveals a stunning disdain for, and lack of faith in, American democracy. Prof. Yehudah Mirsky (NEJS, SCIS) is a professor of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies.
David Piegaro ’20 Some reports claim that Afghani military personnel did clear the area after the strike. The same reports claim that nearly 100 ISIL militants were killed by the blast. Others report that Afghani military personnel were barred from entering the area. I don’t know which to believe and I’m not sure why the administration has been reluctant to comment. I hope to see a report detailing the effectiveness of the strike issued soon. We should always advocate more transparency. That being said, it’s safe to assume that at least some ISIL members were killed. This is a very good thing. As ISIL’s strength wanes so does its ability to wreak chaos in the region. Aerial bombardment minimizes the risks faced by our forces or their Afghani allies. The military personnel who chose to utilize the MOAB know far more about such things than I do, and I trust they chose the best device to reach their tactical goals. David Piegaro ’20 is a member of Brandeis Israel Public affairs Committee
Taminder Singh ’20 The use of such a significant bomb on such a small area is completely absurd. The former president of Afghanistan took to Twitter to condemn the act and said that Afghanistan should not be a testing ground for U.S. weapons. The U.S.’s being secretive and not allowing anyone else in is worrying due to the fact that the U.S. might not see what it expected. In all honesty, every time a government does not show its fallout to other countries, it is to be considered that something went wrong. I think such an act by the government is not safe, and does not follow protocol, for due to checks and balances the President should check with Congress and ask for approval for attacking in Afghanistan. The U.S. has never officially declared war on ISIS, so all that is going on right now is unconstitutional. Taminder Singh ’20 is majoring in Economics and Computer Science with a minor in Politics.
THE JUSTICE ● fORUM ● TUESDAY, april 25, 2017
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Acknowledge the social limitations of political correctness By Tafara gava JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Much like immigration and health care, political correctness was a point of contention in America’s 2016 presidential election. In one of his many infamous Twitter rants, President Donald Trump said that former President Barack Obama and his administration “put political correctness above common sense, above your safety and all else,” according to a Dec. 7, 2016 Washington Post article. Though the term’s origins are unclear, it entered mainstream consciousness after it was the subject of a series of articles in the New York Times in the early nineties, such as 1991’s “Political Correctness: The New Bias Test.” The article describes the employment of specific language, policies or measures intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in society. Trump, like many members of the Republican Party and even right-wing politicians in Europe, finds political correctness problematic because he considers it incredibly superfluous and vaguely authoritarian. Trump’s vitriol against it played a role in his becoming president, as a number of Americans identified with his belief that what one should say and do is being dictated by a largely left-leaning society. According to a July 20, 2016 study conducted by the Pew Research Center, 59 percent of Americans think that “too many people are easily offended these days over the language that others use.” Among this percentage, 83 percent of registered Trump supporters shared this sentiment. Also, in a Nov. 18, 2016 New York Times opinion piece, Mark Lilla stated that political correctness has now experienced a reversal in terms of its aim: it is now contributing to the marginalization of particular identities, particularly white, rural, religious Americans. Gina Crosley-Corcoran touched on this subject in her July 14, 2016 Huffington Post article, “Explaining White Privilege to a Broke White Person.” Conversations about privilege are not often conscious of intersectionalities. In terms of impoverished white people, though they can open a magazine and see a face like theirs, there are still those that live in poverty and have little formal education. In such cases, political correctness can become offensive to them, because it is often ignorant of their struggle. Sociologist Ruth Frankenberg, in her essay, “When We Are Capable of Stopping, We Begin to See: Being White, Seeing Whiteness,” describes how she was terrified of speaking in certain gatherings, primarily those with people of color. She feared being “marked down by her whiteness, her privilege,” a result of political correctness’s silencing aspect. On social media platforms, it is easy for individuals to become excluded from discourse as their input could be considered
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not politically correct due to the notion that an individual is unable to offer an opinion on minority issues if they have not lived the experience of a minority. However that is not the case. For instance, if a man speaks out on sexual violence against women, then it is not necessarily that he wants his opinion to be the center of the conversation; he may simply have opinions that he wants articulated. Consequently, groups in society considered privileged have begun to maintain silence whenever issues concerning minority group are involved. Rose Hackman explores this in a Sept. 5, 2016 article for the Guardian. She quoted one of her interview subjects as saying: “We talk about accepting people – that someone didn’t choose to be trans, or gay, so don’t judge me for that either: I didn’t choose to be straight, white and male.” Conversations about differences of race, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation are held with political correctness as the frame of discussion. This is dangerous, as the individuals born with privilege often end up feeling like they should be held accountable for problems that are systemic, problems which they may benefit from but to which they did not actively contribute. Perhaps political correctness’s greatest limitation now is its fear of acknowledging differences. This fear is substantiated by a 2006 psychological experiment conducted by researchers from Harvard Business School, Tufts University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The subjects were white and their task was to describe
given individuals. The experiment’s findings suggested that the subjects were less likely to use race as a descriptor when paired with a Black partner as opposed to a white one, significantly hindering their communication performance. It is also the idea that more and more individuals, particularly those that are white and privileged, are beginning to describe themselves as colorblind in fear of appearing prejudiced if they are to address an individual’s skin tone or hair texture. There is no wrong in acknowledging that human beings are different with regards to race, sexual orientation, gender, nationality or religion. What is wrong, however, is ascribing negative meaning to these differences and using them to divide the world into hierarchies and such. Political correctness has mutated into the left’s political weapon, a means to power as opposed to being an instrument of social justice. In the same Nov. 18, 2016 New York Times article, Mark Lilla also writes that Hillary Clinton, in her campaign trail, was most adept at addressing American interests in world affairs and how they relate to America’s understanding of democracy. However, when it came to her domestic policy, she spoke about identity politics now and again, “calling out explicitly to African-American, Latino, L.G.B.T. and women voters at every stop.” Some Trump supporters recognized that, indeed, America has to acknowledge how it was and still is prejudiced toward marginalized groups, but simultaneously, Hillary Clinton’s promises of a better America for women would not address
their more pressing concerns, such as lack of employment. Consequently, Trump supporters may have voted for Trump as they felt he would achieve more concrete economic feats that would alleviate their poverty. Other Trump supporters voted for Trump as they were exhausted of having their language and actions policed in a culture heavily saturated with political correctness. In a Dec. 24, 1990 issue of Newsweek, parallels are drawn between McCarthyism and political correctness. The persecution and alienation felt by those who do not adhere to political correctness is almost similar to that felt by people accused of being communist during McCarthyism, an era in which individuals thought to be communist sympathisers lost their jobs or were imprisoned. According to a Feb. 8 article in the Atlantic, a small portion of Trump voters were anticipating engaging in hate-speech. The majority, however, looked to Trump as a hard-headed businessman who spoke plainly and truthfully about the problems the country was facing. The premise of political correctness is absolutely necessary; it encourages society at large to acknowledge how language was once used — and is still being used — as a vehicle to denigrate and malign certain peoples. It also aids minority groups by addressing and interacting with them in a way they deem appropriate. Howbeit, political correctness has grown into a policing mechanism that makes its practitioners fear to acknowledge even the most banal of differences.
Reconsider the growing detrimental nature of social media Nia
lyn purpose
In light of recent events such as the livestreamed killing of Robert Goodwin Sr., an important discussion needs to be held on the role of social media in today’s society. While sites like Facebook or Twitter were created with the intention of connecting individuals and creating a platform for sharing ideas, we have collectively strayed from these ideals and turned to more malignant use. With the addition of a feature to broadcast live video, it has become easier for individuals to find an audience for their actions, be it beneficial or not. One of the most beneficial uses of social media is capturing injustices. In 2016, the shooting of Philando Castile made headlines when his girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, broadcast the incident on Facebook. Audio from the video depicts an exchange between Castile and Officer Jeronimo Yanez before the shots were fired. According to a Sept. 23, 2016 article in CNN, since 2005, 77 officers have been charged with manslaughter for on-duty killings, while only 23 were actually convicted. This may be due to inability to
substantiate evidence or falsified reports, however, with new technology and tangible evidence, there exists a chance to improve these conditions. As a result of this evidence, Yanez was arrested and charged with seconddegree manslaughter, according to a Nov. 16, 2016 New York Times article. Similarly, in the case of Steve Stephens, who killed Robert Godwin Sr., social media was used for his own conviction. After posting the gruesome video, his image went viral and police were able to find him two days after the initial attack.
“
Our only option is to monitor our social media intake and take appropriate action when needed. On the other hand, the ability to post videos with a live audience could prove to be detrimental. In Stephens’ case, he addressed his ex-girlfriend during the video, citing her as his cause for wanting to kill. He knew that this would garner attention and hoped to have a captive enough audience that would not only watch his crime, but aid in his shifting
the blame. In a separate incident, a 13-year-old was on Instagram Live playing with a gun in his home when he accidentally shot and killed himself. According to an April 13 article in USA Today, a viewer asked why the gun did not have a clip and instructed him to insert one. Following the advice, he did and fatally shot himself. Granted, these two accounts are completely different circumstances, but the premise is the same. Had they not had the option to behave irrationally online, with a captive audience, they may not have made such rash decisions. Though posting videos of crimes online gives others an idea of what’s going on in the world in real-time, the influx of it has reached a point where we are almost desensitized. According to an April 4 NPR article, a 15 year old was sexually assaulted by two young men on Facebook Live while 40 people watched — no one reported anything to authorities. Why have we become so used to seeing traumatic events on our screens that no one even thinks to help or react when someone is in danger? According to a July 15, 2016 New York Times article, “living in a digitally linked world where broadcasts of violence are instantaneous and almost commonplace means that many of us are becoming desensitized.” The article also claims that this overexposure to violence has created an increased sense of anxiety and paranoia. The responsibility of improvement falls not only on the user but also on the minds behind the social media sites as well.Though the
exposure to violence is nothing, the advent of social media makes it nearly impossible to escape. According to an April 19 Boston Globe article, Facebook’s primary source of censorship comes from users who flag any content they find offensive, but to date, there is nothing in place to more efficiently catch and remove offensive content. Even if such an algorithm existed, it raises the issue of censorship and who can determine what content is offensive or not. While assault or other crimes are obviously unfit to be shown on social media, where is the line drawn? For example, a video or image that one might deem sexually explicit might not be viewed the same way by another person. The goal is not to censor users and stifle their expression, but rather to simply create a safer environment where individuals are not forced to see death on a regular basis. According to a January 13, 2015 article in Daily Mail, Facebook implemented a warning system before videos that have been flagged or deemed inappropriate by other users. It reads, “Videos that contain graphic content can shock, offend and upset. Are you sure you want to see this?” Meanwhile, it blocks the video entirely for users under the age of 18. While these warnings are useful, they do not solve the issue of violent content, one that seems to have no feasible solution. Our only option is to monitor our social media intake and take appropriate action when needed.
The opinions expressed on this page are those of each article’s respective author and do not reflect the viewpoint of the Justice.
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12
TUESDAY, April 25, 2017 ● forum ● THE JUSTICE
FORUM
Educate students on the issue of food waste on campus By Students for environmental action SPECIAL TO THE JUSTICE
You enter Sherman and examine each food station to determine what appears the most edible. Disappointed with the selections, you grab a little of everything. “What’s the harm?” you ask yourself. As you eat your dinner, you quickly lose your appetite. With a pile of half-eaten food on your plate, you shrug your shoulders and slide your plate onto the conveyor belt. Although this is a semi-regular event for most students, how often do you consider the impacts of wasting food? Many people do not think about the food they are wasting after a meal, especially on a college campus. It is easy to not acknowledge or think about where all the wasted food goes when plates just disappear behind the kitchen walls. This disconnect between consumers and the food industry — from production to consumption to disposal — has played a significant role in the tremendous rise in food waste. According to research conducted by Kevin D. Hall of the National Institute of Health, food waste in America has doubled in the past 40 years. Today, around 40 percent of all food made in the U.S. is wasted, translating to approximately $218 billion worth of food thrown in the trash, according to Feeding America. There are so many better ways we could be spending our money than on food that is not even getting eaten. This means that 40 percent of all food made is wasted, and yet most Americans have no idea that this is even a problem! To a college student, the problem of food waste can seem daunting, or pointless to tackle within the confines of a single campus. This mindset among college students can likely be attributed to how students are unaware of where our food comes from and where it is then disposed. As a result of this disconnect with our food, college campuses create a substantial amount of food waste. This is exacerbated by buffet-style serving and fixed meal prices, where students feel the urge to get their money’s worth and take extra food. According to Recycling Works, the average university in the United States produces 22 million pounds of food waste, with an average of 142 pounds of waste per student each year. This means that Brandeis, with almost 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students, wastes around 852,000 pounds of food a year. This number is very large, but the student body has the potential to come together to help
reduce our impact. At Brandeis, small steps have been taken toward the responsible management of food waste. Within the past two years, the composting rate has increased from two percent of the total trash stream to nine percent, as food scraps for Lower Usdan and Sherman are brought to a local farm to be composted. This is a result of a composting program implemented during the 2015 to 2016 academic year by Campus Sustainability Coordinator Mary Fischer. These are small improvements but nonetheless have lasting impacts. However, a composting rate of nine percent is not enough, considering food waste makes up at least 20 percent of all trash generated in the United States, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Thus, a goal to increase this composting rate seems reasonable. Additionally, the dining halls at Brandeis donate the excess food not eaten by students to the local Salvation Army; this preconsumer donation is very important. Donating uneaten food to hungry people helps both a food-waste problem and a hunger problem, both of which are dominating factors in the United States and on a global scale, as well. In order to bring the importance of food waste back to the Brandeis campus, Students for Environmental Action (SEA) has dedicated one of its initiatives for the semester to food waste. Throughout the course of the semester, SEA has taken several steps to raise awareness about food waste within the Brandeis student body. In late March, members of SEA collaborated with an independent project, spearheaded by several students with the goal of starting conversations around food waste in the dining halls. Students collaborated with Sodexo and volunteered for two and a half hours, Monday through Friday, during the lunchtime rush in Lower Usdan. All uneaten food was collected directly from students and scraped into a bin in plain sight to be weighed each day, in order to see if trends would change throughout the week as students became more aware and thoughtful of the food they were taking — and not eating. Additionally, students who had no uneaten food to discard were given stickers reading “Clean Plate Club #eatwhatyoutake” to provoke thought about the implications of uneaten food and encourage mindful choices. Weight results showed a slight decrease in food waste per capita from Monday to Friday, with a peak on Wednesday. The average weight of food waste hovered around 0.2 lbs per person. This may not
JULIANNA SCIONTI/the Justice
seem like much, but with thousands of students typically eating three meals per day on campus, it truly does add up. This weighing project will be followed by an educational art program featured in the annual Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Arts later in April. Titled “Produce Positivity,” this project has the goal of raising awareness about the unnecessary waste of “ugly” fruits and vegetables. This produce is completely edible and delicious, and yet, many grocery stores refuse to sell it simply because it is not aesthetically pleasing. By displaying “ugly” produce as an art form, the Produce Positivity project hopes to raise awareness about these wasteful marketing habits. At a school that takes pride in social justice endeavors, it is vital that students are aware of the broader implications of food waste beyond the Brandeis campus. Minimizing food waste at the source is the best and most efficient way to minimize our own waste as a student body. This can be accomplished by being mindful of the amount of food we take in the dining halls. The buffet-style serving method is efficient and convenient, but it is up to individual students to
be responsible for the food they take. Through events such as Weigh the Waste, we hope to raise awareness within the student body and start conversations about this far-reaching issue. Additionally, promoting sustainable eating habits in college can lay the groundwork for lifelong habits to reduce food waste. As a result of buffet-style serving methods, Sodexo managers estimate how much food students will eat at each meal of the day, often supplying more food than necessary. Thus, by overfilling our plates, this estimation is further skewed, resulting in a tremendous amount of food waste. By taking smaller portions, these estimations will decrease the University’s overall food waste. Outside of the dining halls, students can work to decrease their food waste independently. One way this can be accomplished is by being aware of the foods one buys and stores in personal mini fridges. Unlike the dining halls, food thrown away in residence halls is not composted and as a result also contributes to the generation of food waste. By being mindful of the food you keep in your dorm rooms, this small effort can result in a large collective impact from the student body.
Recognize the ignorant nature of the Trump administration Aaron
Dvorkin The Plight of Reason A Feb. 13 article in Vanity Fair reported that two of President Donald Trump’s top advisers, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and former campaign chair Steve Bannon, were getting along very well. Kushner even went so far as to propose knocking down the wall that separated his office with that of the notorious right-wing agitator. The report was met with widespread surprise as the backgrounds of the two would lead one to assume that they would be diametrically opposed to one another. Bannon built his political clout as one of the de facto leaders of the “alt-right,” a movement best classified as a mainstreamed iteration of more blatant racist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. He is notorious for his days as the executive chair of the Breitbart News Network, a conservative-leaning news network known for stoking fear of minorities and marginalized groups. Breitbart once published a headline referring to a prominent Jewish political analyst as a “renegade Jew.” In addition, Bannon’s ex-wife once testified during a child custody battle that he did not want his daughters going to a school with a large Jewish population, allegedly explaining that “they raise their kids to be whiny brats,” according to an Aug. 26, 2016 article in NBC News. Bannon represents the anti-establishment, antioutsider faction of Trump voters that make up an important part of the president’s base. Kushner, on the other hand, can easily be described as being a member of the “establishment” and an “outsider” in the minds of anti-Semitic Trump voters. He is the son of real estate developer Charles Kushner and is part of a family whose estimated net worth, according to Forbes, is $1.8 billion. In 2004, Charles Kushner was convicted of tax
evasion, illegal campaign contributions and witness tampering, costing him his role as CEO of the family real estate firm. Jared Kushner was raised as an Orthodox Jew and is raising the president’s grandchildren as such.The fact that Kushner wanted to figuratively and literally break down the barriers that naturally separate the two is a microcosm of the inherent contradictions that define resurging nationalist parties across the world. An April 4 literature review published in The Nation provides a history of far-right nationalist parties in France that paved the way for the candidacy of Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front, for the upcoming presidential election in France. Many authors have noted that anti-Semitic rhetoric among French political movements has often been concomitant with efforts aimed at assimilating Jews into French society. For example, a revolutionary priest in 1789 wanted to integrate Jews as a means to further their “physical, moral, and political regeneration.” In his book, “The Burdens of Brotherhood,” Ethan Katz explains that nationalist movements in France have, since the 1930s, often reached out to both Jewish and Muslim voters by pitting them against one another while simultaneously displaying a dislike for both groups to their natural base made up largely of white, French Catholics. This historical anomaly has repeated itself in Le Pen’s current electoral strategy. As detailed by a report in The Guardian on April 9, the candidate denied the role of French authorities in the round-up and deportation of Jews to Auschwitz during World War II in an incident known as “Vel d’Hiv.” She later attempted to vindicate her comments by clarifying that she holds the Nazi regime responsible and that she does not recognize the legitimacy of the Vichy government in France at the time. However, as noted in an April 12 New York Times article and as historians and other French politicians have always acknowledged, French authorities at all levels of government participated willingly in the deportations. Le Pen’s apparent attempt to downplay the atrocities of the Holocaust came only two days before White House press secretary Sean
Spicer offered his own faulty historical account of the tragedy during a press briefing. Spicer, in an attempt to justify a recent U.S. attack on Syria, stated that Hitler did not go to the lengths that Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad has gone in terms of using chemical weapons. In one of multiple attempts at clarification that followed, Spicer dug himself into an even deeper hole when he referred to concentration camps as “Holocaust centers.” At best, Le Pen and Spicer’s comments show an unbelievable degree of ignorance. In light of how nationalist movements have historically carried out electoral strategies, however, their comments fit in with the apparent need to straddle the support of far-right nationalists and minority groups who are historically viewed as outsiders. Both comments did just enough to appease the anti-Semitic portion of their bases but did not go far enough to preclude justifying them on the grounds that they were simply poorly articulated. In democracies, it is often necessary to appeal to disparate groups with opposing ideologies on certain issues. The rise of nationalist movements in places like the United States and France show the lengths that those groups will go to in order to justify their support of movements or politicians who support their interests while simultaneously disparaging them to different groups. In addition to her attempts to downplay France’s role in the Holocaust, Le Pen has made attempts to reach out to Jewish voters by rejecting the more blatant anti-Semitism of the party that used to be led by her father. According to an April 12 article in the Atlantic, in June 2014, she tried to reach out to Jewish voters by identifying Muslims as a common enemy between the two: “I do not stop repeating it to French Jews...Not only is the National Front not your enemy, but it is without a doubt the best shield to protect you. It stands at your side for the defense of our freedoms of thought and of religion against the only real enemy, Islamist fundamentalism.” While her comments regarding Vel d’Hiv may do enough to eradicate virtually any support the National Front would have otherwise received from French Jews, there
The opinions expressed on this page are those of each article’s respective author and do not reflect the viewpoint of the Justice.
is evidence that some have chosen to overlook the historically anti-Semitic nature of the party due to its hard stance against Islamic extremism. According to an April 19 article in The Forward, 13 percent of French Jews supported the French iteration of the alt-right in the 2012 elections. In the wake of Le Pen’s comments regarding Vel d’Hiv, an Israeli-French lawyer with a large following on Twitter named William Golnadel told French Jews that “instead of dwelling on the Shoah we should focus on the jihadists.” Jewish groups in the U.S. have shown a similar willingness to overlook the antiSemitism of the Trump administration if he takes positions that appease other aspects of Jewish nationalism. The Forward recently reported that White House counterterrorism adviser Sebastian Gorka — who the publication previously revealed was a member of a Nazi-allied group in Hungary and supported a Hungarian anti-Semitic militia — was invited to speak at a number of upcoming pro-Israel events, including one hosted by the Jerusalem Post. The aforementioned stories elucidate the fact that common ground can be found among the strangest of allies in politics as long as certain interests of each group are satisfied. Upperclass Jews like Kushner and Republican megadonor Sheldon Adelson, for example, may be willing to overlook the signs of anti-Semitism in Trump’s administration if it means having a president who they feel will take a harder line on Islamic extremism. Whatever the reasoning, nothing can truly justify marginalizing members of one’s own community for personal benefit. Recent revelations that the relationship between Kushner and Bannon has soured and that the latter may be losing influence in the White House does not mitigate the absurdity of the former’s willingness to throw his own people under the bus for the personal pursuit of power. If the Jewish communities in the United States or France really want to take down nationalist movements, then they should start by delegitimizing members of their own community who have been complicit with antiSemitism.
2017
10 THE JUSTICE ● Sports ● Tuesday, april 25, 2017
BASEBALL: Players will aim to keep up winning ways CONTINUED FROM 16 allowed, as did Kyle Shedden ’20 and Daniel Schupper ’19. In the top of the seventh alone, Lopez, Oppenheimer and Stone all scored, as did designated hitter Bradley Bousquet ’18, Nomakeo and shortstop Jay Schaff ’17. Tettemer started the inning with a run and ended it with an inside-the-park home run, adding up to eight runs in total by Brandeis. Although NYU tried to make a comeback with four runs in the last two innings, it was not enough to pull ahead as the Judges finished their four-game series against NYU with
13
HOT CORNER CANNON
a win. Despite the two wins, the Judges now sport a 4-18 overall record for the season. The team is batting .202 with a very low .287 on base percentage. While the squad has been unable to put themseleves in position to score, their pitching has also been problematic. The Brandeis pitchers have combined for an overall ERA of 5.01, and an even higher 5.97 ERA in conference play. As a result, they are 2-12 in the University Athletic Association conference. The team has shown immense potential, though, and should look forward to more wins as the season progresses.
TRACK: Teams look to continue strong SOFTBALL: Squad looks to performances this put a stop to losing streak weekend at Brown
MORGAN BRILL/the Justice
LASER ARM: Third baseman PJ Ross ’20 prepares to rifle the ball across the diamond in a game against NYU on April 16.
CONTINUED FROM 16
CONTINUED FROM 16 in the team relay events, falling to last place in the 4x400 relay race and fifth in the 4x100 relay event. The Judges were led by Kanya Brown ’19 in the 4x100 race and Maya Bliss ’19 in the 4x400 relay. The women finished day one with 10.5 points and a sixth-place showing. The Judges finished with 38.5 points, lowering them to seventh place in the meet. Both teams noticeably struggled in their team relay events. Both the men
and the women alike will have to work on improving in these races to find greater overall success in future meets. The Judges will look forward to the Brown Springtime Invitational this coming Sunday on the road at Brown University. It will be their final meet of the season before they test their abilities and show off what they have been working toward at the Division III New England Championship meet at Williams College.
the bleeding, only allowing two more runs over the rest of the game. However, the Judges’ offensive attack was unable to put up much of a fight against the Bears. Todd added a two-run double in the seventh, the only glimmer of hitting power during the contest from the squad. Todd also took the loss in the game, falling to 8-6 on the year. Judges 0, WashU 4 The squad was shut out in the second game of a doubleheader against Washington on Friday. Macdonald threw the ball well
for the first three innings of the game, holding Washington off the scoreboard until the fourth inning. In the fourth and fifth innings, Macdonald gave up a combined four earned runs as her record dropped to 1-6 on the season. Apfel came in for Macdonald in relief in the fifth inning, only giving up one base hit in two strong innings. The Judges could not get much offense going in the game, only coming up with four hits.
Judges 1, WashU 4 The first game of the series was another tough one for the Judges as they could not get their bats going.
Todd pitched a strong game early, just giving up one run through the first four innings of the contest. The fifth inning was where things got dicey for Todd and the squad. Washington came alive with a total of three runs scored. In the top of seventh, Lehtonen led off with a single. Later on in the inning, shortstop Madison Hunter ’17 doubled home Lehtonen for the club’s only run of the game. The team failed to score after that and handed WashU the victory. The Judges’ record fell to 11-16 overall after the weekend. The squad will be back in action this afternoon with two games at Clark University.
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THE JUSTICE
● Sports ●
Tuesday, APRIL 25, 2017
15
TENNIS
jUDGES BY THE NUMBERS BASEBALL TEAM STATS
UAA STANDINGS
Runs Batted In
UAA Conference W L WashU 8 2 Case 11 5 Emory 9 7 NYU 4 8 JUDGES 2 12 Chicago 0 4
W 20 21 27 16 4 17
Overall L Pct. 8 .714 14 .600 12 .692 12 .571 18 .182 10 .630
UPCOMING GAMES: Wednesday vs. Wentworth Thursday vs. Western New England Friday vs. Trinity College (Connecticut)
Ryan Tettemer ’17 leads the team with 11 runs batted in. Player RBI Ryan Tettemer 11 Dan O’Leary 8 Victor Oppenheimer 6 Kyle Lussier 5
Strikeouts Sean O’Neill ’18 leads all pitchers with 46 strikeouts. Player Ks Sean O’Neill 46 Greg Tobin 17 Liam Coughlin 12 Tim Lopez 12
SOFTBALL UAA STANDINGS
TEAM STATS Runs Batted In
UAA Conference W L W Chicago 7 1 22 WashU 8 4 22 Emory 8 6 25 Case 7 6 17 NYU 4 6 17 JUDGES 4 9 11
Overall L Pct. 11 .667 11 .667 13 .658 16 .515 15 .531 16 .407
Amanda Shore ’18 has a teamhigh 17 runs batted in. Player RBI Amanda Shore 17 Marissa DeLaurentis 14 Madison Hunter 12 Keri Lehtonen 11
Strikeouts
Scottie Todd ’20 has a teamhigh 39 strikeouts on the hill. Player Ks UPCOMING GAMES: Scottie Todd 39 Tuesday at Clark University double-header Callie MacDonald 18 Wednesday vs. Worcester St. double-header Sadie-Rose Apfel 6 Thursday at Suffolk double-header Melissa Soleimani 1
TRACK AND FIELD Results from the UAA Outdoor Champtionships on Sunday.
TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)
TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)
100-meter dash
RUNNER Regan Charie Lorenzo Maddox Michael Kroker
TIME 10.92 11.48 11.88
100-meter dash
RUNNER TIME Kanya Brown 12.87 Courtney Page 13.14 Kayla Kurland-Davis 13.26
JOYCE YU/Justice File Photo
FOCUSED APPROACH: Michele Lehat ’19 rears back for the forehand in a match against Wheaton College on April 2.
Judges boast strong performances at UAAs ■ The women’s tennis team finished its strong regular season with an outstanding overall record of 15-5. By BEN KATCHER JUSTICE EDITOR
UPCOMING MEETS: Sunday at Brown Springtime Invitational at Brown University May 4 at Division III New England Championship at Williams College May 5 at Division III New England Championship at Williams College
TENNIS Updated season results.
TOP PERFORMERS (Men’s)
TOP PERFORMERS (Women’s)
MEN’S SINGLES Michael Arguello
RECORD 16-9
WOMEN’S SINGLES RECORD Sabrina Neergaard 16-8
MEN’S DOUBLES Aizenberg/Ng
RECORD 13-10
WOMEN’S DOUBLES RECORD Leavitt/Neergaard 14-10
UPCOMING MEETS:
Men, Friday vs. Tufts University
The men’s and women’s tennis teams performed at a very high level this past weekend at the University Athletic Association championships, finishing in fifth and sixth place in the conference respectively. Judges 4, Case 5 The women’s team dominated New York University 8-1 on Friday afternoon, but came up just short on Saturday in the fifth-place match against Case Western Reserve University by a score of 5-4. The squad finished the regular season with an impressive 15-5 overall mark. The Judges were ranked 19th in Division III while Case was ranked 18th, and their close rankings translated into an exciting and hardfought battle. On the doubles court, the team dropped two of their three matches to Case. Haley Cohen ’18 and Sophia He ’19 were outplayed on the Number 2 court, losing by a final score of 8-4. Brandeis did not find any
better luck on the Number 1 court either, as Sabrina Ross Neergaard ’20 and Olivia Leavitt ’19 fell to their opponents by a score of 8-5. With the team down by two from the start, Michele Lehat ’19 and Keren Khromchenko ’19 came up clutch on the Number 3 court; they displayed an outstanding amount of resilience with an 8-6 victory to put the Judges on the board. Brandeis found more success on the singles court against Case. Neergaard, while a rookie, proved once again that she is already an established leader on this team. She showed her moxie with a win on the Number 1 court by a score of 7-6 (13-11), 5-7, 6-4. Leavitt matched her doubles partner’s success with a 6-1, 6-2 victory on the Number 4 court. Lehat was a force to be reckoned with on the Number 6 court as well, pulling off the double-bagel 6-0, 6-0 victory against her overmatched opponent. The team showed off its depth and talent throughout the match, but was ultimately unable to come out on top. Judges 5, Case 4 The men’s team also cruised past NYU by a score of 7-2 to advance to the fifth-place match and was able to come home with the win against Case by a final score of 5-4. The
Judges pushed their overall record to 12-7, and with the fifth-place title they recorded their highest conference finish in the last seven years. The team continued its recent trend and was untouchable on the doubles court with a 3-0 sweep. Michael Arguello ’17 and Ryan Bunis ’17 came away from the Number 1 court with a close 8-6 win. On the Number 2 court, young talents Tyler Ng ’19 and David Aizenberg ’20 showed that the team is in good hands moving forward, scoring an 8-3 victory. Brandeis continued its success on the Number 3 court with an 8-5 win by the duo of Brian Granoff ’17 and Jackson Kogan ’19. Granoff and Ng continued their excellent play in singles action to help lead the team to the ultimate victory. Granoff was victorious on the Number 2 court with a score of 6-2, 6-2 and Ng came away with the 6-0, 6-3 win on the Number 4 court. Both the men’s and women’s teams have shown off their remarkable depth all year; the squads have been led by rookies and veterans alike. Both teams will not have anything to fear when they lose graduating seniors, as they have young athletes ready to take on leadership roles. The men’s team will look to notch their 13th win of the year on Wednesday against Tufts University.
PRO SPORTS BRIEF Lack of superstars and depth may ultimately lead to struggles for some teams in NBA playoffs The NBA playoffs have begun, and fans all over the world are glued to their TVs to watch an extremely interesting first round of action. The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers have, as expected, torn apart their opponents as they both have faced little opposition in vanquishing their competitors. However, there are a few series that have taken unexpected turns, such as that between the first seed Boston Celtics and the eighth seed Chicago Bulls, in which Chicago currently holds a two-to-one lead. The sixth seed Milwaukee Bucks are currently tied with the third seed Toronto Raptors at two games apiece. Point guards Russell Westbrook and James Harden, and their respective Oklahoma City
Thunder and Houston Rockets teams, are battling as the Rockets hold a three-to-one series lead. The fourth seed Los Angeles Clippers, who recently lost star forward Blake Griffin to a long term injury, are off to an early two-to-one lead against the Utah Jazz. The Washington Wizards have gotten off to an early two-to-one lead versus the Atlanta Hawks. Lastly, the second seed San Antonio Spurs and seventh seed Memphis Grizzlies are tied at two games apiece. There are many important things to learn so far from this year’s playoffs, like that a team’s seed doesn’t matter. Boston has shown this, earning the top spot in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, but losing their first two games of this round at home to
a mediocre Chicago Bulls group. The Celtics have many skilled players, but only one superstar in guard Isaiah Thomas, who excels in scoring. However, the Bulls, who did struggle quite a bit in the regular season, now have a starstudded group with guard Rajon Rondo, forward Jimmy Butler and guard Dwyane Wade to go along with a very talented frontcourt. In this series, the Celtics’ only consistent scorer has been Thomas. In a one-game matchup, this would not be a problem, as Boston could use a variety of players as options before the Bulls can adjust. In a seven-game series though, a consistent set of scorers is needed for success. The distribution of talent can be the difference between post- and regular season success.
Rondo was injured just before Game 3, which provided an opportunity for the Celtics to take back momentum. Boston was lucky and the team cannot be complacent about their roster. They already clearly demonstrated that they are not a playoff-prepared group, but merely a talented regular season team. The Celtics may be able to win the series because of this injury, but it will not be a truly satisfying victory. What was learned from this? A good set of players is really not enough without at least two stars. That is not to say that a team with a few talented leaders is then immediately capable of winning the finals. In fact, a team that hopes to succeed in the playoffs needs a solid supporting cast, complete
cohesiveness and a good coach, like the Warriors, Spurs, Cavaliers and even the Bucks all have. Though the Indiana Pacers have superstar forward Paul George, they were still swept by Cleveland due to many lacking features of their team. Even though teams like the Rockets and Thunder have Harden and Westbrook, who are currently scoring 38.7 and 35.0 points per game respectively, it is unlikely that they will make it far against those teams with superstars and depth alike. There is still a lot of time remaining in the postseason, but much has already been concluded about the playoff potential of many of the competing teams. —Lev Brown
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PLAYOFF PROBLEMS The Boston Celtics have struggled to replicate their regularseason success against the eighth seed Chicago Bulls, p. 15.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
SOFTBALL
SWING KING
Club drops all four conference games ■ The softball team was
swept by Washington University in St. Louis, falling to 4-9 in conference play. By NOAH HESSDORF JUSTICE EDITOR
The women’s softball team struggled in intense competition on the road against University Athletic Association competitor Washington University in St. Louis. The Judges dropped all four games they played in the three-day weekend series to one of the top teams in the conference. Judges 0, WashU 8 The final game of the series on Sunday featured a sluggish performance from Brandeis. The team was only able to string along two total hits during the game. Center fielder Amanda Shore ’18 collected a hit in her only official atbat of the afternoon. Pitcher Callie Macdonald ’20 got the start for the Judges, going four innings while giving up a total of five runs. Only one of those five were earned, however, as poor defense culminated in a total of seven errors
Waltham, Mass.
on the day. Pitcher Sadie-Rose Apfel ’18 came in for relief of Macdonald, giving up three earned runs in only a third of an inning pitched. Judges 4, WashU 9 On Saturday afternoon, the team put the first runs of the game on the board in the second inning, when catcher Keri Lehtonen ’19 reached base on a walk and stole two bases. With second baseman Brianna Urena ’19 on first, the Judges executed a double steal, ultimately scoring Lehtonen on the rare steal of home. Urena was unable to come home in the inning as the visitors clung to a one-run lead. Washington came back in the bottom of the inning with a vengeance, scoring a flood of seven runs on seven base hits. The Brandeis defense did not help pitcher Scottie Todd ’20, with the squad making two errors to help the Washington offense. Washington batted around in the inning, ending the second with a dominant score of 7-1 over the Judges. Todd was replaced on the mound by pitcher Melissa Soleimani ’17. Soleimani was able to slow down
See SOFTBALL, 13 ☛
TRACK AND FIELD
Athletes come away with top finishes ■ Irie Gourde ’17 came in
second in the 400-meter dash with an impressive time of 47.82 this past weekend. By JERRY MILLER JUSTICE EDITOR
The men’s and women’s track teams had solid showings at the University Athletic Association Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by the University of Chicago this past weekend. Both teams were able to secure a bundle of top-five finishes on the day, with multiple top-three finishes mixed in. Irie Gourde ’17 started it off for the Judges in the second session of Saturday’s meet, posting the first gold for the squad. Gourde marked a time of 49.39 in the 400-meter dash preliminaries to outpace two Case Western Reserve University runners. Regan Charie ’19 quickly followed up Gourde’s performance, securing a secondplace finish in the men’s 100-meter dash preliminaries and clocking in at a speedy time of 10.92. Gourde stole back the spotlight a few events later, matching Charie’s silver in the 200-meter dash preliminaries with a time of 21.68. Charie followed in sixth place, crossing the finish line less than half a second later. Gourde fell to second place in the 400-meter dash finals, pacing a time of 47.82. Charie also fell to third in the 100-meter dash finals, posting a time of 11.14 and gaining six points for the squad. Gourde nabbed second place in the 200-meter dash, stealing eight points for the Judges after crossing the line in 21.81 seconds. Ryan Stender ’18 managed a top-10 spot in the 5000-meter run, running to a time of 15:12.62.
Mark Franklin ’17 nabbed a fifth-place spot in the high jump with a height of 1.87 meters, while Churchill Perry ’20 secured a sixth-place finish in the triple jump with a distance of 13.27. Scott Grote ’19 also finished in the topfive discus throwers with a throw of 42.80 meters. Roger LaCroix ’18 managed to land in 15th place with a time of 4:05.28 in the 1500-meter run, eight places above Brad Payne ’18, who finished in 23rd. The squad had a tough time in the relay events, falling to fourth in the 4x100 relay race and sixth in the 4x400 relay event. The 4x100 squad was led by Lorenzo Maddox ’20, while the 4x400 team was led by Jeremy Wilson ’17. The Judges finished off the first day with six points to put them in seventh place. The squad finished with 55 overall points to land them in seventh place for the event. While the team did not have its strongest combined performance, Charie and Gourde once again showed that they are true leaders out on the track. While Gourde is a senior, Charie is only a sophomore. Therefore, the squad will be able to expect excellent results out of the talented runner for years to come. The women had an equally solid day, showcasing their speed and agility in the championship meet. Jordin Carter ’18 scored a sixthplace finish in the shot put, with a distance of 10.54 meters. Doyin Ogundiran ’19 ran to fourth place in the 800-meter run preliminaries, only to fall to fifth place in the finals with a time of 2:15.15. Julia Bryson ’19 edged her way into the top 10 for 3000-meter steeplechase, marking a time of 11:40.74. Maddie Dollins ’17 finished the 5000-meter run in fourth, breaking the ribbon at 17:55.44. The Judges struggled
See TRACK, 13 ☛
WENLI BAO/Justice File Photo
GETTING ON BASE: Infielder Marvic Gomez ’17 flies out of the box and down to first in a game at home on March 30, 2016.
Team shows off young talent with two wins ■ Middle infielder Victor
Oppenheimer ’20 scored twice in an 8-2 victory over Bridgewater State University. By SAMANTHA PROCTOR JUSTICE contributing writer
Over the past week, the baseball team started out strong with two wins away against New York University and Bridgewater State University. Then, playing against Washington University in St. Louis this past weekend, it failed to come out on top after losing both games. Judges 0, WashU 8 On Sunday, shortly after its first game, Brandeis played WashU again and still failed to come out on top. Washington had a fast start to the game, as it had three runs in the first inning against Brandeis. The Judges, already exhausted from the first game, put up a fight as second baseman Tim Lopez ’20, designated hitter Kyle Lussier ’19 and third baseman Marvic Gomez ’17 got hits off WashU pitchers, but it was not enough. In the final
innings, WashU came back to score four more times. After a long day of baseball, Brandeis was unable to come out on top playing in Boston. Judges 0, WashU 1 Earlier that day, Brandeis lost its winning streak against WashU. The game started and ended slowly. The first few innings did not go anywhere until WashU scored in the top of the third inning. Throughout the game Brandeis could not seem to catch up. Lussier and shortstop Victor Oppenheimer ’20 had potential with their hits, but it was not enough to get the team back on track. As the game came to a close, neither Brandeis nor WashU scored in the final innings, leaving the victory to WashU’s only run of the day. Judges 8, Bridgewater 2 On Wednesday, Brandeis began a winning streak at Bridgewater State. The first few innings started off slow, with both teams failing to score. By the top of the third, the Judges began to pick up the pace with runs scored by first baseman Joshua Rakowsky ’20 and designated hitter Frank Rybicki
’20. After that the game slowed down a bit as the Brandeis pitchers only allowed a total of eleven hits and two runs for the middle of the well-played game. Brandeis held the lead the whole game, and even with a victory clinched the team continued to show great effort in the final two innings. In the top of the eighth, catcher Jacob Stone ’20 and Oppenheimer scored. In the top of the ninth, Oppenheimer scored again, as did right fielder Anthony Nomakeo ’17, to make it a total of four runs attained in the last few innings. Brandeis had begun a twogame winning streak after picking up this win. Judges 12, NYU 6 Last Sunday, Brandeis had a strong start to the first inning at NYU with three runs by Oppenheimer, Lopez and senior center fielder Ryan Tettemer ’17. The team had the confidence it needed to finish strong for the rest of the game. Senior pitcher Liam Coughlin ’17 held off the NYU batters with only two hits and two runs
See BASEBALL, 13 ☛
Vol. LXIX #24
April 25, 2017
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Waltham, Mass.
Images: Creative Commons and Natalia Wiater/the Justice; Design: Natalia Wiater/the Justice.
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THE TUESDAY, JUSTICEApril | Arts 25,| TUESDAY, 2017 | Arts January i THE JUSTICE 31, 2017
Music Festival Preview
Festival of the summer: Boston Calling By Hannah Kressel justice Editor
Boston Calling’s star-studded lineup is sure to draw hordes to its new location, the Harvard Allston Athletic Complex, this Memorial Day weekend. Albeit a newer festival, Boston Calling stands out from Coachella and the like’s overproduced, lately uninspired line-ups and events. The festival, which is to take place May 26-28, will feature a multitude of varied artists from internationally-known headliners like Chance the Rapper and Mumford & Sons to lesser-known northeastern groups like the psychedelic hip-hop band Flatbush Zombies. In a Justice interview, Marketing Director of Boston Calling Lindsey Couture highlighted that this festival is proud of its Bostonian roots and, despite these big names, will be staying true to Boston and the Boston community. She discussed that even though Boston Calling is moving out of City Hall to a slightly farther away, much larger location to accommodate crowds, the festival is determined to tend to its audience: Bostonians and their families. The new location is grassy and will have plenty of seating, making the festival a sure weekend destination for all ages, rather than a quick visit for one beloved artist. Couture said this is at the heart of the festival’s mission: “to function as a community with much to see and explore visually with art installations as well as culinary experiences.” And it is clear that in addition to an enviable line-up, the festival is creating an event sure to please more than just the ear. Specifically, Couture
explained that Russ Bennett will be designing the festival, something the well-qualified designer, who previously worked on Bonnaroo, is sure to complete with finesse and expertise. Couture highlighted the curation of the festival and the great care with which food vendors, art installations and musicians have been picked. In addition to the curated music and food, Boston Calling stands out from other music festivals in its comedy experience. Hosted by Hannibal Buress, this part of the festival will feature sets from 13 standout comedians including Tig Notaro, Pete Holmes and Eugene Mirman. This aspect of the festival was only recently unveiled and will be taking the place of a film experience curated by Natalie Portman, which Boston Calling has assured us will appear in a later edition of the festival. However, this comedy experience is no let down. Buress’ comedic repertoire, which includes Comedy Central and Netflix specials and roles on TV hits “Broad City” and “The Eric Andre Show,” guarantees this new experience will definitely please. Boston Calling is moving up in the ranks this year, sure to stand up against the big names of the music festival world like Coachella, Bonnaroo and Warped Tour. However, what keeps Boston Calling fresh and unique is its proud stance about its humble roots and location. Just as the Boston Terrier icon on Boston Calling’s red posters reminds us, this is a festival for Boston and the people of Boston to enjoy music and art without hopping on a train or plane.
Photos Courtesy of Boston Calling
STAR-STUDDED: Boston Calling includes big-name artists in its line-up like Solange, the 1975, and Bon Iver.
Film
Sundeis Film Festival showcases student work
JOYCE YU/the Justice
AWARD WINNERS: Sundeis gave out awards for best film in various different genres.
By Carmi Rothberg justice editor
Ghosts, father-daughter camping trips, secret passageways between Brandeis and Chuck E. Cheese’s — all these and more were the subjects of the short films showcased at the Sundeis Film Festival on Thursday evening. The festival, hosted by Brandeis Television, featured 19 student pieces divided into four categories — “experimental,” “scifi,” “comedy” and “drama” — with awards distributed in each genre. The star of the night was Jacob Kleinberg’s ’18 short film “Study Break” — awarded “Best Comedy” — which follows Kleinberg on an outrageous adventure as he climbs into the
Goldfarb Library book lift and discovers it to be a portal connecting the library to a nearby Chuck E. Cheese’s. The film’s distinct voice — it’s portrayal of Chuck E. Cheese’s as a magical kingdom in the spirit of Narnia or Wonderland and the seriousness with which it takes its own absurdity — sets it apart from the festival’s other comedies. Rachel Goldstein’s ’18 “11:30,” however, seemed a close runner-up to Kleinberg’s film. “11:30” — which the Sundeis program described as “inspired by a true story” — shows several minutes of comically cringeworthy party flirtation between Brandeis students Elana and Jacob (Elana Kellner ’19 and Kleinberg) as they spill drinks on one another, stutter through compliments, and attempt a kiss, all the while constantly being interrupted by loud music, a
call from Jacob’s mother and a smoke alarm. Five other comedy shorts were shown as well, including Amanda Huang’s ’19 and Marcus Lee’s ’19 “Leave It to the Business Major” — about a business major superhero who swoops into dramatic business crises and uses his undergraduate business skills to come up with disastrously poor solutions — and two separate parodies of the 1984 comedy-drama “Stranger Than Paradise.” The award for best experimental film went to Goldstein for her film “Study Break,” which stars Nadisha Wickramaratne ’18 as herself as she stresses out in preparation for an exam, only to arrive in the classroom to find that the test has been postponed. Other films in the “experimental” category included “Gold,” an exploration of dance
and movement filmed by Julie Joseph ’18, “Tomorrow,” a film by Talia Sabato ’17 about the persistence of social and political problems over time, and an untitled work by Noah Harper ’19 that takes advantage of Adobe After Effects editing software to bring a series of paintings to life. In Sabato’s “Ghost Story,” which received the sci-fi award, a young woman (Anisa Haque ’18) tells of an encounter with a ghost. Sabato combines visual techniques, like curling mist and dramatic changes in camera focus, with clever use of sound — the film is framed and punctuated by resounding drips from the faucet as Haque’s character sits motionless in a bathtub — to disquietingly successful effect. The “Drama” section of the festival was by far the most diverse, featuring five films in three different languages and with a wide array of subject matters. Sae Yong Lee’s ’17 “Ode to Hopowing” used cuts from Leslie Cheung’s “Happy Together,” along with Cantonese narration, to explore “Happy Together’s” protagonist Ho Po-wing. In Rachel Zhu’s ’18 “Everything is Fine,” a father uses his day with custody of his daughter to go on a poorly-planned camping trip. The film was deft and professional, with strong acting, beautiful camera work and poignant dialogue. The award for best drama, however, went to Mica Unger ’17 for “You Should Have Told Me,” a dialogue-rich performance about a college senior who invites her roommate/romantic partner to her parents’ house for a brunch at which she comes out to her mother and father as gay. The film shone with casual but emotionally laden dialogue and uncomfortably real characters, as well as subtle performances by its stars Goldstein and Joanna Murphy ’17. The festival featured works by 18 different student filmmakers and took place in the Wasserman Cinematheque. The event’s judges were Profs. Alice Kelikian (HIST), Mark Dellelo (FILM) and Daniel Mooney (FILM). —Editor’s Note: Ydalia Colon ’19 had a piece shown in the Sundeis Film Festival and is a photographer for the Justice.
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JUSTICE i arts i TUESDAY, January 31, 2017 THETHE JUSTICE i arts i TUESDAY, April 25, 2017
THEATER REVIEW
‘Alice’ is an innovative twist on a classic By EMILY BLUMENTHAL justice CONTRIBUTING writer
Most theater productions take place on a traditional stage in an enclosed theater, but for its production of “Alice in Wonderland,” the Brandeis Ensemble Theater decided to take a different approach. Alice (Talia Bornstein ’19) and the White Rabbit (Lynnea Harding ’19) interactively led the audience through the Shiffman Humanities Center, with each room serving as the backdrop for a different scene. Each scene was directed by a different person, leading to many perspectives being lent to the play. The audience, dressed as the cat Dinah, donned their cat masks and were thrown down the rabbit hole into the magical world of Wonderland. The first scene was “The Caterpillar,” directed by Otis Fuqua ’19. In this scene, Alice met the Caterpillar (Riely Allen ’18) and danced with him to “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” Bornstein and Allen ran around as if in a trance, climbing on top of the stone blocks outside of Shiffman and even inviting audience members to dance with them. The sequence had a psychedelic vibe and made me feel like I was in as much of a trance as Alice. Following this encounter, the audience chased the White Rabbit, as the White Rabbit madly played violin, inside to meet Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (Remony Perlman ’19 and Andrew Hyde ’17). In most other productions of Alice in Wonderland, the two are portrayed as relatively stupid and harmless. In director Dylan Hoffman’s ’18 scene, however, the two were reimagined as swingers based on NATALIA WIATER/the Justice those who CREEPING CATERPILLAR: frequent Riely Allen ’18 lurks behind a s e x tree watching Alice, plotting to clubs in
murder her.
1970s New York City. Wearing latex jumpsuits and carrying whips, the two loomed over the petite Alice menacingly as they told the story of previous visitors who met grisly fates. We then met the Gryphon (Ben Astrachan ’19) and the Mock Turtle (Sivan Spector ’18) in the scene directed by Tres Fimmano ’18. The two argued
Cat” featured three Cheshire cats (Yasmine Haddad ’20, Sophia Massidda ’20 and Nyomi White ’20) pining for an elusive laser paw as the music from the infamous Nyan Cat played in the background. The three prowled around madly, clawing at and stepping on a computer in an act of sheer rage as they unsuccessfully chased the paw.
wrong led Alice to the Red Queen’s Court for a criminal trial, which was directed by Fimmano, Myers and Gabe Walker ’19. The Queen (Oyemen A. Ehikhamhen ’17) deftly bossed around the King (Andrew Agress ’17) and intimidated Alice, proclaiming, “Sentence first, verdict later.” Witnesses were called forward
NATALIA WIATER/the Justice
Alice and Dinah: Alice (Talia Bornstein ’19) leads the audience through Wonderland under the impression that the audience is her cat, Dinah. with Alice and among themselves about the merits of education and a dance they told the audience called “The Lobster Dance.” I enjoyed the witty dialogue, but while the two tried to engage the audience by teaching them the dance, I did not feel very engaged, and the scene felt too disorganized even for Wonderland. Next was “The Duchess,” directed by Raphael Stigliano ’18. The Duchess (Eli Esrig ’19) sat in his chair while Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum chanted about abusing children. The props fit the song; among them was a babydoll submerged in a jar of water, which Alice subsequently rescued and cradled lovingly as she brought it back to life. Dan Souza’s ’19 scene “The Cheshire
We travelled to “The Mad Tea Party,” directed by Rebecca Myers ’18. Much of the scene was composed of the Mad Hatter (Haia Bchiri ’20) and the March Hare (Caitlin Crane-Moscowitz ’20) saying the word “well” back and forth and trying to explain the rules of their tea party to Alice. The Mad Hatter and the March Hare kicked teacups everywhere, the Mad Hatter laughing madly and the March Hare screaming shrilly as the Dormouse (Emma Cyr ’19) amusingly slept through the entire ordeal. The scene was haunting, and each actor convincingly portrayed their character, though the sequence seemed slightly longer than it should have been. Finally, a game of croquet gone
and the two sides engaged in an intense game of chess where the people were the game pieces. The situation soon got even more hostile, with Alice killing many of the characters. I enjoyed this production of “Alice in Wonderland,” especially with the non-traditional setting and interactive approach. All of the actors played their parts very well, and even the scenes that seemed too long or a bit disorganized were interesting. I left the show happily surprised by the innovative twists the directors put on the show, which gave me a fresh perspective on the oft-interpreted tale.
Dance REview
Adagio shows the places you can go with hard work By EMILY SEE justice Staff writer
“I will dance here or there, I will dance everywhere!” Adagio performed the spring semester show in Levin ballroom at 8 p.m. on Saturday night. The room was filled with parents and students, all there to support the dancers and to watch some well-performed numbers. The show consisted of 22 dances, mixed with contemporary and freestyle dancing, with some hilarious commentary introducing each performance according to the theme for the night, Dr. Seuss. The theme tied into each transition from dance to dance and how they titled their performances. As the show was first starting, there were what seemed to be unsettled rumbles from the audience as they were uncertain what they were there to see, but, as the show got going, each member of the audience was on the edge of their seats, either raving about the last performance or anticipating the next one. The show started with a beautiful piece to the song “Sail” by Awolnation, consisting of five synchronized dancers and a sixth dancer telling the story. Featuring some simple face paint designs and similar shirts, the dancers added to the beautiful effect of the song with rhythm and grace. In the dance number named “Dance Party,” everyone worked well as a unit, making the audience feel the music just like I assume the dancers were. This performance had many songs, but the dancers transitioned in a way that connected them into one outstanding performance. Following this performance was a piece named “Devotion,” performed to the song
“Book of Love”. The dancers all wore dark red dresses, and the piece was simply elegant. The formation of dancers on stage changed from the start of the dance to the end as the dancers gracefully moved around the stage. The announcers smoothly transitioned to the next performance titled, “Found,” with witty comments about losing and then finding jokes. A few performances later in a dance titled “715 Creeks,” the audience was pushed back into attention with lots of movement from the dancers and choreography with lots of movement done by David Dropkin ’20. The next number, “Stronger Still,” done to “Diamonds” by Johnnyswim, had amazing flow. With good transitions, the performers of this piece all brought forth beautiful synchronization. One of the most inspirational pieces of the night was “Heathens,” choreographed by Haley Director ’20 and Yvette Sei ’20. It shed light on a story about people who didn’t belong that was eye-opening for the audience. Another outstanding piece during the show was “Unsteady.” The dancers moved in a way that was quite peaceful to watch even though the song was all about being unsettled. Even the attire worn by the dancers was calming, making the lulling dance mesmerizing to watch. “Confident” — the perfect balance to the “Unsteady” song — came up soon after. The dancers’ movement on stage was so confident that it had a powerful impact for the audience. Another, very powerful dance was “Ruminxn,” co-performed by the Brandeis Adagio Club and the Brandeis Ballet Club. Each dancer brought their skills and talents to the number, creating a
beautiful balance onstage. All the dancers worked together to bring harmony and movement to the music in a way that was jaw-dropping for the audience. For instance, the Adagio dancers came out first and ended in a circle around the stage. The Ballet Club dancers came out next and danced in the center of the Adagio dancer circle. With some dancers on the ground, levels were brought into the dance, creating an unusual harmony, which made the audience feel connected to the music. The last two numbers of the night were “Stop This Train,” choreographed by Lisa Petrie ’17 and “Define,” choreographed by Sara Langtry ’20. “Stop This Train” was simple yet elegant, while “Define” was unpredictable and unexpected, yet filled with fun movements, making it equally enjoyable to view. All of the excitement from the show was calmed down by these numbers, as they reminded the audience why we came to watch dance in the first place. While not all the dancers throughout the show were always coordinated or synchronized, Adagio dancers were all beautiful and diverse. In addition, not all the dancers were at the same level with the same skills, but they worked together and seemed to be having lots of fun. The dancers’ enthusiasm and energy made the show so much fun to attend. The Adagio semester show is something that makes audience members want to try dancing if they haven’t, and truly miss it if they have. —Editor’s Note: Brooke Granovsky ’18 is a member of Adagio and is a writer for the Arts section of the Justice. Yvette Sei ’ 20 is also a member of Adagio and is an Editorial Assistant for the Justice.
HEATHER SCHILLER/the Justice
REACHING IN RED: Dancers perform in “Devotion,” an elegant dance that involved group formations by the dancers.
HEATHER SCHILLER/the Justice
COORDINATED STOMPING: Dancers move in a unit adding to the drama of their movements.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2017 | Arts | THE JUSTIce
Brandeis TALKS
INTERVIEW
wf
What would be the ideal activity for Admitted Students Day?
Tres Fimmano ’18 and Gabe Walker ’19 NATALIA WIATER/the Justice
Dustin Lee ’19
This week, justArts spoke with Gabe Walker ’19 and Tres Fimmano ’18 who created the performance of “Alice and Wonderland.”
“A cotton candy machine and a sprinkler, because it is getting warmer outside.”
justArts: Why did you choose “Alice in Wonderland?”
Peri Meyers/the Justice
Lily Bickerstaff-Richard ’20 “I would like a carnival or something like that. That would be really cool.”
Ruya Yasemin Akar ’20 “Therapy dogs are really nice!”
Sankirth Madabhushi ’19 “Free ice cream.”
Compiled by Jen Geller/the Justice and photographed by Yvette Sei/ the Justice.
STAFF’S Top Ten
Top 10 Underrated Pizza Toppings By Sabrina Sung justice EDITOR
This is a misnomer. I just wanted to catch your attention before I ruin your day by introducing some stuff that’s been on pizza in Korea. Some are delicious! Some are, uh... interesting! 1) Corn 2) Sweet potatoes 3) Rice cakes 4) Raisins 5) French-fries & broccoli 6) Honey drizzled with glacé cherries 7) Whipped cream & spicy shrimp 8) New York Cheesecake mousse 9) Cheddar, Gouda, Camembert, Mozzarella (at once) 10) Pineapples (truly underrated)
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Gabe Walker: I started doing theater back in fifth grade, when I played the Mad Hatter in my elementary school’s production of “Alice in Wonderland.” For the past few years, I’ve contemplated the idea of revisiting the show, so when Tres suggested the two of us work on it together I couldn’t have been more excited …“Alice” became a passion project not only for us, but for the many actors, designers and directors who all love the show as much as we do. Tres Fimmano: I’ve spent years trying to think about different ways to do “Alice in Wonderland.” What’s so great about the source material is that it’s inspired so much diverse art and theater over the years and that kind of show allows someone working on it to add to a lot of great history ... I like to think that’s something we highlighted in this production. JA: Explain how you came to the decision to have Alice lead the audience, rather than a traditional presentation of Alice.
CROSSWORD COURTESY OF EVAN MAHNKEN
GW: “Alice in Wonderland” tells the story of a little girl who is transported to a world entirely unfamiliar from her own, which she is forced to unravel and explore. Tres and I asked ourselves: what would happen if we took the idea of exploration and expanded it to the audience? What if the audience not only got to watch Alice explore her new world, but was also allowed to participate in its discovery? TF: Part of the reason was along the lines of what Gabe was saying; this material here almosts asks for the audience to experience Wonderland the way Alice does. Another reason we wanted to do it like this was because it was something new for us and [we] knew that a challenge this big would allow for a lot of surprises and impactful moments. JA: What was it like using Shiffman?
SOLUTION COURTESY OF EVAN MAHNKEN
TF: I don’t think I’m ever going to feel the same in Shiffman again. We originally planned on moving out a lot of the furniture and signs in there, but once we had the lights out and the actors walking around, I love the idea of maintaining the original look of the space. It allowed us to have this “ghost of Shiffman” (as I called it) vibe that added to the theme of Alice being a Brandeis student. JA: What was the most rewarding part of directing the show?
SUDOKU INSTRUCTIONS: Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.
Solution to last issue’s sudoku
Puzzle courtesy of www.sudokuoftheday.com
GW: Actually, one of the most rewarding aspects stemmed from the fact that we did not direct the show. While each of us directed a scene, we had a team of five insanely talented directors ... who each took on a scene of their own. Watching all of our work come together ... with each scene highlighting the different strengths of each director was incredibly fulfilling. JA: How was this experience directing more or less challenging than directing a traditional show? TF: I’ve always been nervous about doing something too radical on stage but this time around I wanted to make sure we were getting audience reactions and creating something memorable ... [and] bigger than that was also the amount of collaboration that went into the scene work. A good amount of the material in [what] I directed was made up of ideas that the actors ... threw in. [They’d] ask if it were OK to throw in new things and I tried to say “yes” as much as possible. —Hannah Kressel