The Justice, October 26, 2021

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Open-access journal will join JSTOR Archive

■ CASTE: A Global Journal on Social Exclusion was developed by University professor at Heller School.

By GEMMA SAMPAS JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

CASTE: A Global Journal on Social Exclusion (J-CASTE), an open-access journal developed by Laurence Simon, Professor of International Development and Director of the Center for Global Development (Heller), will join the JSTOR Archive following the publication of its upcoming fall issue.

JSTOR is a digital library database with over 2,000 journals in its collection. According to its website, the archives house over 12 million books, academic journal articles and primary sources. JSTOR is widely popular in university settings and can aid students, professors and researchers of any age or discipline in researching and building knowledge.

The development process for CASTE, the Brandeis-based peerreviewed academic journal, began in early 2020 through collaborations with the Center for Global Development and Sustainability in the

Heller School for Social Policy and Management and the Brandeis Library. Since then, the journal has published three issues. Volume one included two publications, “The Persistence of Caste” and “Legacy of Gender and Caste Discrimination.” Volume two’s first edition highlighted different perspectives on emancipation.

Simon says he is excited about the collaboration as it will allow a wider audience to connect with CASTE’s content and will further educate a vast public on interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the relationships between social systems and oppression.

“For a young journal, we were delighted to be invited to join JSTOR,” Simon wrote in an email to the Justice, further explaining that CASTE was selected due to the publication’s high value to the field, as well as recommendations from academic librarians and scholars.

Since CASTE’s early days of development, the journal has stayed loyal to its original message, Simon said. The journal mainly examines social policies aimed towards countering exclusion and intolerance in multiple spheres, and authors featured in the journal include

See JOURNAL, 4 ☛

Jewish philanthropist displays sculpture

■ Harold Grinspoon’s sculpture “Twister” was added to the collection of art on campus this year.

By JACKLYN GOLOBORODSKY JUSTICE EDITOR

The newest addition to Brandeis’ campus is a striking and meaningful art piece by Harold Grinspoon. The sculpture is located between the Shapiro Campus Center and the Admissions building. It was installed in mid-July 2021, according to an article on the Brandeis Alumni, Friends, and Families website.

In addition to his work in the sphere of Jewish philanthropy, Grinspoon is a sculptor. He began sculpting around 7 years ago. The focus of his work is nature, specifically trees.

Describing his artistic process, a Tablet Magazine article says “he searches out dead, leafless, trunks of trees from the woods, quarters them, refinishes or paints the boughs, and reconstitutes the large

scale structures in his own way. He then places the sculpture back on its feet in nature for a second life.” This is exactly how his sculpture called “Twister” came to stand near the Admissions building on the University’s campus. “Twister” is a part of his tree series collection and was inspired by a tornado that occurred near Grinspoon’s home in Massachusetts, described the Brandeis article on the art piece. When the tornado caused a tree to fall in his backyard, his “whole perception of life, morality, immortality, beauty and form” was changed.

Grinspoon’s other sculptures are scattered around, one on view at Massachusetts General Hospital, another at Kent State University. On the subject of art, Grinspoon told Brandeis that “art has ultimately been the gift that unlocked more understanding than I could have imagined.”

Grinspoon has spent much of his life in real estate development, but after retiring he entered the sphere of philanthropy, specifically in the Jewish community.

Study Abroad

 The Justice interviewed students currently studying abroad during COVID-19.

By LEAH BREAKSTONE AND JULIANA GIACONE

FEATURES 6

University works to reduce impact on climate change

■ An email sent by Pres. Liebowitz highlights the University’s goals in regards to sustainable investing.

By LEAH BREAKSTONE JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

On Oct. 6, University President Ron Liebowitz sent out an email to the Brandeis community addressing climate change and the University’s commitment to take steps to lessen its impact.

Starting in 2016, Brandeis stopped investing in fossil fuels, and in 2018, a set of policies were adopted in regards to these investments. Liebow-

See ART, 4 ☛

itz said in the email that this year, “1. Brandeis will extend its policy, first adopted in 2018, of not investing in fossil fuel private limited partnerships; 2. We will deepen our efforts to invest in the expanding green sector; and 3. We will develop a measurement and analysis tool set to measure and disclose the Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions associated with our entire endowment holdings as part of our sustainability goals.”

According to Carbon Trust, “Scope 1 covers direct emissions from owned or controlled sources.

Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating and cooling consumed by the reporting company.” The University plans

Nadiya Nacorda

 Nacorda visits Brandeis for ArtiUnst Talk Event.

By ISABEL ROSETH

to develop a tool that analyzes and measures these emissions to ensure that they are on the right track to meeting their goals. “This project will represent the first step toward the University’s longer-term effort to incorporate the endowment into campus-wide carbon mitigation plans,” including getting the University closer to its goal of achieving carbon neutrality, according to the email.

Liebowitz continued, “This measurement and analysis tool set is a distinct aspect of our plan that distinguishes us among other institutions of higher education as a leader when it comes to combating climate change. It reflects a seri-

COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Waltham

By GEMMA SAMPAS

The atrocities of Brandeis quarantine

By SOFIA GONZALEZ RODRIGUEZ

Judges women's soccer wins two games

By AKI YAMAGUCHI

COMPOST: Students set up a table with information on Black Earth composting and how students can play an active role.

Image courtesy of Zuham Moreno

WALTHAM BRIEF

Justice Resource Institute and WATCH CDC host vaccine clinic

The Justice Resource Institute, in partnership with the Waltham Alliance for Teaching, Community Organizing and Housing, held a mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Saturday, Oct. 23 at the WATCH office on Crescent Street. WATCH CDC, Waltham’s Community Development Corporation, facilitates events surrounding affordable housing, adult education and leadership development. The vaccine clinic did not require documents or pre-registration for a vaccine, allowing it to be accessible to a large number of community members. The vaccine provided was Johnson & Johnson, and participants could enter to win an assortment of prizes.

On the morning of Oct. 23, Waltham Recreation facilitated a scenic plant walk through Prospect Hill Park, the city’s wooded natural park featuring trails, picnic areas and scenic views of nature. Lesley Sneddon, regional ecologist and author of “A Walk in the Park: A Guide to Plant Communities at Prospect Hill Park,” led the tour. This fall marks the rollout of several new amenities within the park, such as a playground, basketball courts and a mini-golf course.

Next Saturday, Oct. 30, Waltham Recreation will host Halloween on Moody Street, a free afternoon of kid-friendly festive celebrations. The event will offer a bounce house, bowling, crafts, face painting and a variety of games centered around the autumn holiday.

Student Union senators vote to give clubs probationary status, constitution changes

At the Oct. 24 meeting of the Student Union Senate, senators voted to give probationary status to the Network of Arab Students and the Fireside Theater Company and changed the constitution of the Brandeis Association of Pre-Med Students.

Nai Qashou ’22 and Ali Albalakhi ’22 spoke on behalf of the Network of Arab Students, which was seeking probationary club status. The probation period is a 12 week “trial period” for a new club, after which they will return to the Senate and present a request to become an official club, Sen. Charlotte Li ’24 explained

The NAS purpose is, according to their presentation, to “create an Arab environment for the benefit of Arab students and interested members of the community and to promote an understanding of Arab history, culture and heritage at Brandeis.”

Albalakhi, the NAS president, said that the club plans on bringing in speakers, such as

POLICE LOG

MEDICAL EMERGENCY

Oct. 22—There was a medical emergency in the Village. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and signed a refusal for further care.

Oct. 22—There was a medical emergency in the Usdan Student Center. The party was treated by BEMCo staff, Waltham Fire Department and Armstrong Ambulance, and signed a refusal for further care.

Oct. 23—There was a medical emergency in the Rabb Graduate School. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and signed a refusal for further care.

BOMB THREAT

SENATE LOG Follow theJustice!

Oct. 19—University Police received a report of a suspicious email from Information Technology Services. The email was referred to a detective division for follow-up.

HARASSMENT

Oct. 18—A staff member reported receiving harassment via email. A report of the incident was composed.

Oct. 19—A staff member reported receiving harassment via email. A report of the incident was composed.

MISCELLANEOUS

Oct. 21—There was a report of an aggressive coyote behind the Golding Judaica Center. Waltham Animal Control was notified and searched the area, where they found no coyote.

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CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

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Qashou’s father, a Palestinian author. Additionally, he said there will be country spotlights focusing on the cuisine, clothing styles and cultural elements of specific Arab countries.

After their presentation, Vice President Courtney Thrun ’22 put Albalakhi and the other present NAS members in the Zoom waiting room so that the Senate could discuss and vote on the club.

“It seems like a super meaningful club and organization,” Sen. Peyton Gillespie ’25 said.

The Senate approved the NAS as a probationary club by acclamation.

The Fireside Theater Company also made their case for becoming a probationary club. Alexander Ross ’22 and Jesse Rips ’22, the President and Vice President of the FTC, said that the company is specifically dedicated to producing student and alumni written theater productions.

Ross said that the FTC was

created originally for the production of one play, “Our Time Will Come,” which is about the 1970s period in Ireland known as “The Troubles.” However, for future productions, Brandeis students and alumni will be able to submit original works to the club for production.

All the actors in an FTC production will be students, Ross said, though he wants to hire professionals for the production staff and as creative team members. He said that this would give students interested in theaterrelated work an opportunity to gain experience and connections by working with those already in the industry.

After their presentation, Thrun put the FTC in the waiting room so that the Senate could discuss and vote.

Sen. Joseph Coles ’22 said that because there are already three theater groups at Brandeis, there’s no need to add another. “I don’t really see the added value of adding a fourth one,”

Coles said. “I’m not really sold on them.”

Sen. Ashna Kelkar ’24 said that “having more choice is beneficial,” pointing to the numerous a capella and improv groups on campus, which she said gives students an opportunity to pursue their particular interest among a variety of related clubs.

The Senate approved the FTC as a probationary club by roll call, with only Coles and Sen. Griffin Stotland ’23 in opposition. Sen. Nicholas Kanan ’23 abstained as a “professional courtesy,” as he is in the FTC.

The Brandeis Association of Pre-Med Students requested a change to their constitution. Nobody from the club attended the meeting, so Li presented for them. Their constitution change added responsibilities for their secretary as well as for general members. The Senate approved the changes by acclamation.

—Max Feigelson

DRAG ME TO THE STEIN

University students dress up and attend the “Drag Me to the Stein” event with guest star Binx on Friday, Oct. 21. The event was hosted by Brandeis Dining Services in collaboration with a number of campus organizations, including the Gender and Sexuality Center, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Queer and Trans People of Color Coalition, Student Activities, Student Affairs and the Student Union.

—Gemma Sampas

—Compiled by Noah Zeitlin

HERRY WANG/the Justice

JOURNAL: Academic journal is invited to join JSTOR

CONTINUED FROM 1 scholars of philosophy and ethics, theology and culture, sociology and anthropology, economics, law, health, literature and art among others.

“We welcome critical reviews of our papers, as well as book and film reviews and commentaries,” the journal’s mission reads.

“We have stuck to our original mission. Our “center of gravity” was in South Asia, and we will maintain that emphasis [while we continue to] expand geographically,” Simon wrote. “The issue about to be released has two articles that present an overview of caste-like social formations in other parts of the world.”

The upcoming issue will contain a combination of multi-genre pieces and is set to publish in mid-November as the journal’s fourth issue (Vol. 2 No. 2).

“This is a general issue with a wide variety of research papers plus poetry and book and film reviews. The list includes internationally renowned scholar Christopher Queen,” Simon wrote. Queen’s piece will cover the rise of Dalit Autobiographies, or written accounts of one’s real-life struggles. The issue will also include a 3rd installment of commentary by Brandeis Prof. Rajesh Sampath (Heller) on Ambedkar's Posthumously published ‘Philosophy of Hinduism.’

Along with all of CASTE’s collaborators, Simon is looking forward to the Spring issue, which is set to be released in April 2022, and, according to Simon, will include “selected

papers from a high-level conference being held this month in the U.K. on Anti-Caste Thought: Theory, Politics and Culture.”

A unique component of CASTE is the multigenerational voices published in each issue, from a wide range of disciplines. According to the website, the journal aims to “advance peer-reviewed scholarship across disciplines, provide an opportunity for young scholars to publish along with established senior researchers, and present themed issues with guest editors.”

To Simon, giving opportunities for new scholars to publish their work helps to foster mentor relationships and give space to a diverse collection of voices.

CASTE’s Editorial Advisory Board is composed of 30 leading scholars including economists, philosophers, ethicists, and others from 10 countries in Asia, North America, and Africa. The diversity in ages, disciplines, and backgrounds of those involved with CASTE allows the journal to maintain high academic standards while also showcasing a wide range of perspectives and research.

Younger scholars are encouraged by Simon to tie self-reflections and personal experience to their qualitative research.

“We publish young poets and even those who write in a more autoethnographic manner. Our commitment extends to our matching selected young scholars with seasoned academic mentors. And our journal sponsors an international competition annually (though suspended during the pandemic) for the

CLIMATE: President Liebowitz outlines goals

Bluestone Emerging Scholar Prize,” Simon wrote.

Accessibility remains an integral part of CASTE’s vision, a feature which the collaboration with JSTOR will expand on a global scale.

“Many fine journals are managed by publishing houses with significant staff costs. This results in subscription costs for individuals and institutions that many just cannot afford,” Simon noted, mentioning access and downloading fees, “These financial barriers block access to important scholarship for huge numbers of university students and even established scholars throughout the developing countries as well in the U.S.”

Simon hopes that new readers of CASTE can educate themselves through the articles and gain knowledge on Brandeis’ significant history of incorporating anti-caste precautions into their non-discrimination policies. He specifically noted that Brandeis was the first university in the U.S. to use this language in their policies, as caste realities can affect some students at Brandeis and other universities.

“The journal was founded to advance peer-reviewed scholarship into caste and other inter-generational and hierarchical oppression. Our style is to publish research that is written in an accessible manner so that people across many disciplines, ages, and levels of familiarity with caste will benefit. The South Asian caste system is a largely unknown or misunderstood social phenomenon to those for whom it is not part of their cultural background,” Simon said.

ART: Grinspoon Foundation plays major role in Jewish philanthropy

CONTINUED FROM 1

To understand Grinspoon’s identity as an artist and philanthropist, it is important to explore the journey that brought him to his current status.

Grinspoon was born in Newton, Massachusetts in 1929 to a Jewish family, according to the Harold Grinspoon Foundation website.

In the 1960’s, he began his real estate career by buying a family home, fixing it and renting it out. This one purchase was followed by many more and eventually Grinspoon founded his property management and real estate investment company—Aspen Square Management. According to an article in Tablet magazine, Aspen Square Management is “one of the top 50 privately held property investment and management firms in the U.S.” Grinspoon’s success as a businessman and real estate investor allowed him to thrive as a philanthropist. In an interview with Business West, he explained that while money enabled him to help organizations and movements he is passionate about, his motivation stemmed from personal experience.

As a child, Grinspoon’s encounters with antisemitism were all

too common and extremely harsh, explains his biography on the Grinspoon foundation's website. He was called “Jew boy,” “Christ killer” and many other antisemitic slurs.

Despite his experience with antisemitism, Grinspoon’s Jewish identity has always played an impactful role in his life. He “credits his Jewish heritage and the values of Judaism” for many of his accomplishments, according to his biography.

Some years after he became financially set, Grinspoon met Diane Troderman and together they began their journey of Jewish philanthropy—devoting their “energy and wealth to helping the Jewish people out” as Grinspoon said in a private video from 2014.

In his interview with Tablet magazine, he explained that individuals with wealth should “find a home for their wealth—where they feel good about giving and what’s meaningful to them.” To Grinspoon and his wife, the home for their wealth is the Jewish community.

Grinspoon’s love and connection to the Jewish community is what motivates his identity as a philanthropist, but legacy also plays a role. During Grinspoon’s battle with tongue cancer, he realized

that he wanted a meaningful legacy, Tablet magazine explains. His foundation, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, was established in 1991 with a mission to “enhance Jewish and community life around the world,” per the foundation’s website. The website also outlines multiple initiatives that the foundation began under its umbrella— the North American Grinspoon Awards for Excellence in Jewish Education, the Entrepreneurship Initiative, the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards, Jcamp, PJ Library, Voices and Visions, Life and Legacy and most recently the Local Farmer Awards.

Out of this list of impactful initiatives, PJ Library is the one that stands out to Jewish individuals around the world, says Tablet magazine. “PJ Library sends free Jewish children's books to families across the world every month” in order to introduce and expose Jewish children to the “colorful world of Jewish history, tradition, and values,” the PJ Library website explains.

Grinspoon continues to take an active role in the Harold Grinspoon Foundation and in the realm of Jewish philanthropy, as well as making art.

CONTINUED FROM 1

ous commitment to look beyond the mere question of whether fossil fuels investments are in our portfolio and engage in the meaningful work of reducing the carbon impact of each aspect of our entire endowment.”

Liebowitz stressed that these plans are not “merely symbolic” and that they “align our vision for a more sustainable future with a prudent, risk-averse investment

strategy. It will take time for us to know whether our commitments will make a meaningful impact on our sustainability goals, but we cannot let uncertainty prevent us from taking action now, for the risk of inaction is too great.”

Liebowitz believes that the University’s devotion to addressing climate change reflects Brandeis’ “highest values –– using one’s talents to repair the world –– in word and deed,” he concluded.

SCULPTURE: Grinspoons' "Twister" is standing near the Shapiro Student Center.

CASTE JOURNAL: Prof Simon's academic journal is invited to the JSTOR archive.

Image courtesy of Brandeis University

just features

VERBATIM | NIKE

ON THIS DAY…

In 2014 Dilma Rousseff was re-elected President of Brazil.

FUN FACT Russians are the world’s fourth biggest lovers of alcohol, knocking back 15.1 liters per person a year.

Study abroad: oh, the places you’ll go!

The Justice asked students questions over email regarding their fall study abroad experiences amidst the pandemic.

By LEAH BREAKSTONE and JULIANA GIACONE JUSTICE EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER

South Korea

Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the program you are in?

A: I am a fall 2021 graduate studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea at Yonsei University. It is a Council On International Educational Exchange “Science and Arts program,” so there are a lot of humanities courses available for students. There are a lot of courses for my major, but I finished all my requirements before heading abroad. So, I am just taking courses for fun! Most of the classes do not pertain to my major, but one course does. I am taking a “Medical An-

Jessica Daniel ’22 Dublin, Ireland

Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the program you are in?

A: I’m currently studying at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland through a program called Institute For Study Abroad. It’s an exchange program that allows me to directly enroll at Trinity, so I get to take classes with Irish students, join lots of fun societies and enjoy school events and traditions.

Q: What are your academic interests and pursuits? Describe a favorite course that you’re taking or a course that intrigues you …

A: At Brandeis, I am a Sociology major and have minors in LGLS and NEJS. At Trinity, I’m taking courses in Sociology, History, English and Law. My favorite course is “Irish Private Law” since there are many parallels with American courts, and it’s cool to explore familiar legal concepts with Irish cases

thropology” class that perfectly intersects my majors in Sociology and HSSP. I decided to study abroad just for the experience. I wanted to choose an East Asian country so I can experience living in another country that is not Westernized. Eventually, I came down to Seoul, SK after hearing from other Brandeis students describe how amazing the program, university and location [was].

Q: What has been the most memorable aspect of your time abroad so far?

A: The most memorable aspect of my life here is meeting local people who have visited or are from my hometown in Texas. In my opinion, it is very hard sometimes to meet someone new and not know what to talk about, but I think meeting someone who is from my state gives me a common ground and something to talk about. It also makes me feel at home. It feels crazy to me that I just happen to run into people who are from my exact hometown even when I am halfway across the world.

Q: How has COVID-19 impacted your

as examples!

Q: What has been the most memorable aspect of your time abroad so far?

A: One of my favorite [moments] was hiking in Glendalough, a beautiful national park an hour from Dublin. I met tons of Irish and international students during the hike, and [I] actually went back again a few weeks later because of how gorgeous the views are!

Q: How has COVID-19 impacted your study abroad program?

study abroad program?

A: COVID-19 has severely impacted my study abroad program and location. South Korea is one of the few countries in the world that still has a travel ban, has mask mandates and social distancing restrictions. It has been very difficult for us because COVID-19 is taken very seriously here. Up until last week, only groups of two people were allowed to hang out past 6 p.m. It can be six people if four of them are vaccinated, but some establishments only accept Korean vaccines. That is probably the biggest setback for me, aside from no big events, no in-person classes and no talking while eating (which most people don’t follow anyway, so it’s not as enforced). Seoul has one of the biggest nightlife scenes. People are out until 5 a.m. or 7 a.m. and party all night. It is sad to see that those establishments have a 10 p.m. curfew now.

Q: What have you found to be the biggest difficulty or obstacle you’ve had to overcome so far?

A: I think adjusting as a foreigner is difficult in South Korea. If you don’t speak the language, you are already at a huge disadvantage. Because it is a more conservative country, it is difficult to navigate South Korea for certain identities. My biggest

obstacle is not being allowed into some establishments for being a foreigner. I’ve had some instances where I would try to go into an establishment, and they would outright tell me “No foreigners allowed.”

Q: What have you enjoyed most about the country you are living in? Is there a specific part of the culture that stands out to you?

A: I love how Korean society is a collective. They are mindful of each other and wary of their actions. Especially with COVID-19, they believe in public health efforts to look out for each other, rather than only car[ing] about themselves.

A: COVID-19 has definitely had an impact on my program as IFSA isn’t taking us on trips around the country like it usually does. However, I’ve been able to explore with friends on our own and enjoy cultural events through the program. I’ve still been able to attend most classes in person and enjoy social gatherings.

Ireland has been really good with COVID-19. Everywhere requires a mask and proof of vaccination for entry. Restrictions were recently relaxed this weekend, so lots of indoor spaces are able to host more people going forward.

Q: What has the adjustment been like living in a new country? What have you found to be the biggest difficulty or obstacle you’ve had to overcome so far?

A: The adjustment wasn’t too bad for me, since I’ve been to Ireland before and because English is the main language here. I would say the biggest difficulty I had to overcome here so far was class reg-

istration — it was a mess and I wasn’t fully enrolled in all of my classes due to system errors until two weeks after the semester. Classes are also much more independent here, which took some getting used to.

Q: What have you enjoyed most about the country you are living in?

A: I’ve really enjoyed getting to meet different people and hearing their stories! Everyone is very friendly here and I’ve had really interesting discussions which has greatly enhanced my perspective of the world.

Q: What have you learned so far about the culture you have been immersed in (something that a tourist wouldn’t know, but a local would … )?

A: I’ve learned lots of really cool local phrases (like “what’s the craic” means “what’s happening”) and [I] now know the best pubs and coffee shops.

Design: Yuan Jiang/the Justice

GLENDALOUGH: Daniel takes a scenic photo of Glendalough National Park, about an hour outside of Dublin.

Photo Courtesy of JESSICA DANIEL ’22

Zuham Moreno ’21 Seoul,

FRIENDS: Daniel poses with friends in her study abroad program.

Photo Courtesy of JESSICA DANIEL ’22

HANOK VILLAGE: Moreno poses for a photo in Bukchon Hanok Village.

Photo Courtesy of ZUHAM MORENO ’21

According to the Brandeis Office of Study Abroad, 19 Brandeis students studied abroad this summer, 60 Brandeis students are studying in 19 countries this fall and by this spring, more than 100 Brandeis students are expected to study abroad. Special thanks to Study Abroad Advisor, Ari Massefski and the Office of Study Abroad for their assistance in contacting students currently study-

Ada Wagar ’25 Florence, Italy

Q: What does being a Brandeis midyear entail?

A: Being a midyear means that instead of starting out [your first-year] in the fall you start [during] second [semester]. This means that in the first term you have a few options: you could study abroad with Brandeis, study abroad on your own, go to a local community college for credit, get a job, etc.

Q: Why did you choose the study abroad midyear option for your first semester? What are the advantages and disadvantages to this option?

A: I chose to study abroad because the pandemic made me realize how uncertain the world can be — I was presented with this opportunity, why not take it while I can? I think there are many advantages such as immersing yourself in a new culture, learning a new language, eating amazing food [and] seeing new places — the only true disadvantage is missing my friends and family back home.

Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the program you are in?

A: I am on the CET Brandeis midyear program, so the only Brandeis students here are freshman midyears. There are also other students who are juniors and seniors from other universities across the country who I am in the program with and take classes with, as well as people on a gap year. This program is loosely based around political science, and the electives it offers range from money and banking to food and culture. Right now I am taking a writing class that all Brandeis freshmen have to take, an Italian language class [and some electives]. Besides homework, we have had excursions

RIVER: Wagar takes a scenic picture of a river running through Florence

an attitude that is an easy one to adopt over here.

Q: What have you learned so far about the culture you have been immersed in?

A: I think my biggest takeaway so far about the culture in Italy has been to live every moment to the fullest, spend your time doing things you love and do not stress the small things in life because everything normally works out in the end. Living in Italy so far has relaxed me in a sense because you are forced to accept these ideals, and so you pick up this “go with the flow” attitude.

Q: Do you think it is going to be difficult to adjust to life back in the states when you come back?

throughout the program exploring different facets of Florence and [soon] we [will] have a whole group excursion to Rome. We also only have classes from Monday to Thursday, allowing us to travel more throughout Italy and Europe on the weekends.

Q: What are your academic interests and pursuits?

A: My academic interests currently are in Political Science, and so that is what I am studying [here]. My favorite course that I am taking is “Italian and European Politics” because I have never studied it heavily, so it is interesting to look at politics, current events and history from a Eurocentric perspective.

Q: What has been the most memorable aspect of your time abroad so far?

A: There have been too many memorable aspects of this experience to choose just one, but some highlights have included going out to three hour-long Italian dinners, hiking in the Dolomites, swimming in the Mediterranean Sea in Cinque Terre and having the city of Florence as my classroom.

Q: How has COVID-19 impacted the midyear program and your general study abroad experience?

A: I think the only way it really has impacted [the program] is that we have to wear masks during class, but other than that Italy is super conservative when it comes to COVID-19 rules. I think the program is a lot

smaller than it usually is due to COVID-19.

Q: What have you found to be the biggest difficulty or obstacle you’ve had to overcome so far?

A: I think that the biggest challenge [is] adjusting to the new freedoms I have. Coming from high school to college is already a big jump, but then jumping from high school to college in a different country is even bigger, especially when you do not speak the language of that country. It has all been a learning experience in good and bad ways, but I think that I have started to learn how to manage living alone and being in school well while having fun and exploring the city.

Q: What have you enjoyed the most about the country you are living in? Is there a specific part of the culture that stands out to you?

A: I think the approach to life here is very different from the U.S., and it is what I like the most. There is an attitude that everything will turn out alright and to not stress the small [things], and overall I have felt a lot more chill over here than in the U.S.. Also, everyone is super nice and hospitable so the atmosphere here is just a lot calmer. I also [like] the emphasis on enjoying life over here and spending time with people you love. I mentioned the three-hour dinners, which is just an example of how much people want to enjoy what they are doing in the present and it’s

Nicolas St Cloud ’22 Accra, Ghana

A: I think that it will be less hard to adjust back to normal life, but the transition to college might be a bit hard since everyone has already been there for a term. Although I am taking college courses here, I know that college work [at Brandeis] will be very different. Furthermore, I think I will enjoy having a dining hall because we do not have one here and although I love going out to eat, sometimes I have to cook, and I can never decide what I want.

Q: What are you looking forward to most about coming to Brandeis in the spring?

A: What I am looking forward to most is meeting my other classmates. There are only six of us out here from Brandeis, and our program is also pretty small, and so I am excited to meet new people. I am also excited to finally have [that typical] college experience.

Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the program you are in?

A: I’m a senior at Brandeis majoring in HSSP. I’m currently studying abroad in Accra, Ghana, but I’m specifically in Legon, which is a suburb of Accra, and it is very close to the downtown area. I am studying with the program CIEE and taking classes at the University of Ghana. My program specifically is an Arts and Sciences program, so students from all over the U.S. are coming with all these different majors. It’s a small cohort, so it’s been easy to connect with a lot of them. I’m taking one public health-based course here, (“Medical Sociology”), a language class [and other electives].

Q: What are your academic interests and pursuits? Describe a favorite course that you’re taking or a course that intrigues you.

A: I’ve really enjoyed my “African Myths and Symbols” class, [where] I’ve been able

to see how the [class topics] are so connected to religion here, specifically in West Africa. In the myths and stories, I’ve been able to really dig deep into the fact that there is a difference between myths, legends and folktales. There are also so many beautiful colors here in Ghana, and it’s been really interesting to [learn] how the symbols I see outside on signs, on my campus or on clothing connects with what I’m learning about.

Q: What has been the most memorable aspect of your time abroad so far?

A: I’m on campus, not with a host family, so I don’t just go to class, but I also work at [a local] hospital. I am working with the medical director. In the future [I plan] to get my master’s degree in Public Health and really doing [sic] work in diversity, equity and inclusion. My first day, I actually worked in the clinic [instead of the administration office] — I ended up having to do ultrasounds on like 20 pregnant women, something I never thought I would do! But it was an experience that I cherish because I learned a lot that day.

Q: How has COVID-19 impacted your study abroad program?

A: Before coming here, I knew Ghana was Level 1 on what the CDC [had] established. The country itself was doing well, and people are

following guidelines. My program established that we had to wear masks in public areas. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has limited students from traveling outside of Accra, Ghana and to other countries in West Africa.

Q: What has the adjustment been like living in a new country? What have you found to be the biggest difficulty or obstacle you’ve had to overcome so far?

A: I was able to adjust in just enough time. It was difficult at first because Ghana is a developing country, so access to safe drinking water [was hard to find]. I had to buy bottled water every day since I’ve been here. Wi-Fi connection and access to

computer networks was an obstacle because the electricity wasn’t always amazing.

Q: What have you enjoyed most about the country you are living in?

A: The culture is so rich and unique; the food is amazing. [Coming to Ghana], I knew I would gain such a [significant] cultural, historical and social experience. It’s the heart of West Africa! There are beautiful beaches, historical landmarks like the “slave castles” and colorful fashion. It’s been really beautiful to see throughout my time here. I’ve been able to attend a fashion show where I got to meet models and designers and a seamstress who actually made an outfit for me! It’s also really nice to see that so many of the students here at the university will actually dress up for class, but at Brandeis, most people just throw on sweats (as I do at times).

Photo Courtesy of ADA WAGAR ’25

COCKTAIL PARTY: St Cloud at a cocktail party for the BlackStar International Film Festival.

Photo Courtesy of NICOLAS ST CLOUD ’22

DUOMO: Wagar captures a picture of the Duomo Cathedral of Florence.

Photo Courtesy of ADA WAGAR ’25

POTTERY: St Cloud makes a ceramic pot in an pottery studio.

Photo Courtesy of NICOLAS ST CLOUD ’22

Established

Sofia Gonzalez Rodriguez, Editor in Chief Cameron Cushing, Managing Editor

Gilda Geist, Senior Editor

River Hayes, Deputy Editor

Leeza Barstein, Jen Crystal, Jane Flautt, Gabriel Frank, Megan Geller, Hannah O’Koon, Noah Zeitlin, Associate Editors

Jacklyn Golobordsky, Hannah Taylor, News Editors

Juliana Giacone, Features Editor

Abigail Cumberbatch, Forum Editor

Jack Yuanwei Cheng, Thea Rose, Acting Photography Editors

Ariella Weiss, Acting Copy Editor

Lynn Han, Copy Editor

Aiko Schinasi, Ads Editor

Samantha Goldman, Online Editor

EDITORIALS

The Justice Editorial Board wishes everyone a safe and frightful Halloween

PERSPECTIVE ON QUARANTINE AT BRANDEIS

Upon my arrival to campus this semester, I was prepared for the possibility that I might be required to quarantine or isolate due to COVID-19. What I did not expect, however, was to be one of the students affected by the varicella outbreak that occurred a couple of weeks ago on campus.

On Oct. 1, I received an email from the Brandeis Health Center informing me that I had been exposed to varicella, also known as chickenpox, between Sept. 16 and Sept. 27. The email asked students to report any symptoms that could be caused by the virus including fever, chills, cough and/or a pox-like rash. The email also stated that the varicella vaccine was one of the many vaccinations required by Brandeis and that the likelihood that vaccinated individuals would develop symptoms of the disease was low. That weekend, I experienced all but one of the symptoms in the email. On Sunday, seeing very little improvement in my symptoms, I called the emergency number for the Health Center and reported my situation to the nurse on call. I was asked to isolate myself as much as possible and come in Monday morning for an assessment. That day, I avoided contact with my suitemates, friends and other members of the Brandeis community. On Monday, I felt considerably better. I attended my appointment, convinced that the staff at the Health Center would clear me and allow me to return to my normal activities. However, despite my vaccination status and the improvement of my symptoms, I was immediately told I would need to quarantine. I was given no details regarding the length of the quarantine or where I would be staying. All I was told was to pack a bag and await a phone call from the Brandeis Contact Tracing Program and the Department of Community Living. I did my absolute best to cooperate with all parties involved, understanding that the decision to place me in quarantine was rooted in an attempt to keep those around me safe.

Shortly after I returned to my dorm room, I received a call from the BCTP. I was asked to provide a detailed list of all of my interactions starting four days before my first symptom. After a 40-minute phone call, I still had no information regarding the details of my quarantine. I expressed my concerns about dietary restrictions, class attendance/participation and access to certain resources to the person that contacted me. While they were unable to provide any answers, they assured me that I would receive more information after the University had established a plan with the Massachusetts Health Department. Within two hours of the call from the BCTP, I received a call from DCL letting me know that I would be staying at the Faculty Lodge. The Area Coordinator that called me was, like the rest of the individuals I had already talked to, unable to provide any useful information. At that point, I realized that, understandably, there were a lot of unknowns in regards to the situation. I trusted that the University would promptly communicate any relevant information as it became available. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

the length of my stay. It was bizarre to learn that even within the same department, there were major gaps in communication. After multiple calls with the BCTP, they let me know that I would be free to leave on Oct. 15, 11 days after I had been placed in quarantine. With a date to look forward to, I tried my best to settle into a new routine. Still, the isolation took a larger toll on my mental health than I expected. The only sign of human life came from the daily knock on my door from the dining staff informing me that food had been delivered. Despite the many FaceTime calls from friends and family, the loneliness was unbearable. Just when everything seemed slightly more manageable, I experienced what is perhaps the best example of the issues with communication that plagues the University. On Saturday, Oct. 9, I called the dining hotline at 4 p.m. after waiting over 24 hours for food delivery. At first, I thought they were simply behind on schedule. I waited for that familiar knock on the door and tried eating snacks in the meantime. Eventually, I started to question whether anything would be delivered. When I called to ask about what had happened, I was told that I had been removed from the list of students in quarantine, and therefore, could not receive any food. I quickly checked my campus passport, wondering if there had been a misunderstanding and I was actually released from quarantine. My passport was still gray. Dining had no answers to my questions and did not offer to give me any food. Instead, they recommended that I find out who had removed me from the list. Frustrated and hungry, I felt the urge to leave immediately. I called my family and friends, desperately trying to find the strength to stay put and try to resolve the situation. I had no idea who to call. It was a Saturday afternoon, so most staff members that would be available during the week were at home. I could only think to call the emergency line for the Health Center. The nurse on call was sympathetic to my situation and asked me to email the Dean of Students Office, claiming that they would respond to my email within an hour. She also relayed my situation to the BCTP, who then called me to gain more insight. The person I spoke to could not figure out who had removed me from the list and promised to get me back on it as soon as possible. I received dinner, my only meal of the day, at around 7 p.m. The DSO did not get back to me until Monday. While I understand that all systems are imperfect, this situation was inexcusable. What made it worse was that even though my most basic human needs were not being met by the University, I was still expected to function as a normal student by my professors.

The spooky holiday of Halloween is nearly upon us, and with it comes a series of events, parties, costumes and safety precautions that this board would like to recommend to the Brandeis community.

On Saturday Oct. 30 and Sunday Oct 31., the Campus Activities Board is hosting its annual Halloween Extravaganza, complete with a dance party, costume contest, trick-or-treating and much more. On the same days, the Theater Arts Department is hosting a haunted house exhibition in the Spingold Theater Center, with students dressed as a mix of contemporary and Shakespeare-inspired frights. This is fitting because the performance of “Macbeth,” will be complete with witches, zombies and innocentlooking flowers that are really snakes in disguise. This board commends the Campus Activities Board and the Theater Arts Department for their creativity and dedication to ensuring that members of the University community have a fun and memorable Halloween, while also maintaining responsible safety precautions. This board recognizes that many students view Halloween as a hauntingly fun night for parties.

While we encourage everyone to enjoy themselves to the fullest extent possible, the current circumstances dictate that

we all proceed with caution, and this board would like to recommend some precautions one can take if they go to a party or other event off campus. Parties may be held in smaller, poorlyventilated spaces. This board advises students unsure about what their specific safety situation will be to wear a mask if attending a crowded gathering where physical distancing is not possible.

Aside from pandemic-related concerns, this board recognizes the importance of alcohol safety. This board recommends that if students plan to attend parties that they use the buddy system as one way of ensuring their safety. This board understands that there is a greater threat of violence and date-rape in these environments, particularly for women. As such, this board recommends that anyone going to a party obtain a Sip-Chip, available at Student Sexuality and Information Services, the Prevention, Advocacy and Resource Center and other departments on campus. When submerged in a drink, Sip-Chips are capable of immediately detecting any form of dangerous substance other than alcohol.

Overall, this board anticipates a fun and memorable Halloween, and wishes every member of the University community a safe and spooky holiday.

I spent the first three days trying to explain my situation to professors and working with them to find ways to make up schoolwork. It was extremely difficult to make any arrangements without having a clear timeline. Most of my professors proposed conditional agreements, emphasizing that missing one week of class was not the same as missing two, or even three. This, of course, did not help the feelings of anxiety and desperation that I was already overwhelmed with, which were further amplified by the lack of communication from the departments in charge of my case. On Oct. 7, my fourth day in quarantine, I received an email from the Health Center. It was a check-in email to make sure my symptoms had not gotten any worse. Eager for answers, I emailed them back asking if they had any new information about how long I was supposed to stay isolated. The reply I received further showed me that there was a complete breakdown in communication between the Health Center, DCL and the BCTP. Per the staff member that responded to my email, the BCTP already knew how long I would need to remain in quarantine. I was told to reach out to them for that information. I was confused as to why the Health Center could not simply tell me, considering that they evidently already knew. Regardless, I awaited the call from the BCTP--who called me every other day--but was surprised to learn that they did not have an update for me, despite what I had been told by the Health Center. Apparently, only a select few members of the BCTP had knowledge about

When Oct. 15 finally arrived, I experienced another issue with communication. I was told by the BCTP to call DCL to arrange my departure from the Faculty Lodge. Unsurprisingly, the person I spoke to in DCL had not received notice that my quarantine was over, so they were unable to provide me with any information. After multiple email exchanges with the BCTP, DCL finally became aware of my release even though the date had been set for almost eight days at that point. I did not have any concrete information about the check-out process until around 8 p.m. on Oct.14 when the AC on-call reached out to me.

From start to finish, the situation was dire and appalling. To this day, my case was never confirmed. My symptoms disappeared completely on the fifth day, suggesting that I probably had a common cold. Evidently, the departments in charge of overseeing the quarantine process did not effectively communicate with one another. Instead, they relied on me to mediate conversations and gather basic information about the situation, not realizing that the back and forth between departments made an already stressful situation even more unmanageable. Looking back on it now, a week and a half after being back on campus, I am horrified, as are most people I have shared my story with, by their handling of my case. Brandeis can’t expect students to report any symptoms (of COVID-19 or otherwise) when they are unable to provide students in quarantine with the basic resources they need to function as human beings. I walk out of this situation with nothing but fear of ever finding myself in a similar position and profound disappointment in the University.

—Editor’s note: Editor Cameron Cushing is a DCL community advisor and did not report or edit this story.

Rest and resistance: sleeping as a revolutionary act

By ABIGAIL CUMBERBATCH FORUM EDITOR

“Exhaustion is not okay,” my mentor said to me as I described another brutal week of struggling to balance all of my academic, social and work-related commitments. As midterm season descended upon Brandeis, I accepted that the level of exhaustion and stress I was experiencing prior was child’s play compared to the marathon of essays, exams, emails and books I would have to finish within two weeks. I was prepared to endure the late nights, long days and short break times until I met with my mentor a couple of weeks ago, where she told me, “exhaustion is not okay.” This was not the most remarkable piece of advice I ever received, but it was enough to snap me awake to the realization that the same metric I was using to measure my value—my productivity—only lowered me deeper into a stress-laden, sleep-deprived hole.

In high school, my friends and I would casually throw around the phrase, “We’ll sleep when we’re dead.” We didn’t value our health and sanity, but rather class ranks, grades, resumes and prestigious college acceptances. Looking back, what’s most disturbing about this time in my life was not the cryptic motto my friends and I told each other and ourselves, but that no adult—whether it were a teacher or school counselor—intervened to say that our

physical and mental well-being was more important than fleeting moments of success.

According to a 2010 sleep study published in The Journal of Adolescent Health, “a scant 8% of US high school students get the recommended amount of sleep. Some 23% get six hours of sleep on an average school night, and 10% get only 5 hours.” We sacrifice basic human necessities for the sake of claiming victory in our capitalist productivity-driven society. But, no one shares with the youth that there are no victors in toxic productivity culture—only perpetrators and victims, and often we are both.

Emerging from a year and a half of virtual learning, I found that we have fallen deeper into the pits of toxic productivity culture. We tell our peers they should take care of themselves and that their health is far more important than their academics, clubs and other social engagements. Yet, when an individual is not working at our pace, the façade of altruistic self-care begins to crumble. Self-care and our basic necessities such as eating and sleeping are only acceptable as long as they don’t interfere with our productivity. We are praised for being passionate students, engaged collaborators and hard-working employees when we are sleep-deprived. But when we start to prioritize physical and mental health, suddenly our accolades begin to fall away. In this era of post-pandemic reflection, how is it possible that certain demographics

of individuals—such as high school and college students, employees and especially those of color—are experiencing prolonged injustices?

Rest and sleep deprivation is a justice issue permeating all levels of our society. From classrooms to workplaces, Black individuals are incredibly overworked, underpaid and exhausted. In an interview with NPR’s Sarah McCammon, founder of the Nap Ministry, Tricia Hersey explains that rest and sleep deprivation are not merely a modern-day phenomenon brought on by the advent of technology, remote school and work (although they are certainly part of it). She frames sleep deprivation as a justice issue “because it’s been traced from all the way back during slavery. Slavery was horrific... during those times for black people, we were human machines. And so grind culture continues today to try and attempt to make us all human machines and not to see the divinity of who we really are.” Toxic productivity culture, or as Hersey calls it, grind culture, separates us from our humanity. It cuts us off from the deepest parts of our being, and it slowly chips away at our sanity, physical health and creativity, and it deludes us into believing that our value is truly derived from the products of our productivity—like grades, promotions and praises.

Then, if being “valued” means I will be exhausted, do I want to be “valued” in

the ways traditionally perpetrated by our capitalistic society? The appeals of the praises and grades are no longer enticing.

As Hersey explains in a Atlantic interview with physician and writer James Hamblin and podcasts executive producer Katherine Wells, “White supremacy and capitalism have stolen not only our rest but also our intuition. To think that in this day and age, there’s no time for you to at least take 10 minutes to reclaim rest and daydream and shut your eyes or debrief for a little bit longer before you go to shower, that is not true.” While many of us who juggle various obligations are unable to obtain eight hours of uninterrupted sleep, our rest can be reclaimed through activities. We need to meet ourselves halfway. If rest is not gained through sufficient sleep, it can be captured in the mundaneness of our everyday life. As Hersey explains, rest can be found wherever our bodies are because our bodies are the true site of liberation from our capitalist, productivity driven society. She proclaims, “the time to rest is now.”

We deserve to sleep and rest, not because we work ourselves to exhaustion to meet increasing demands of society, but because we are human beings and not machines. We are filled with unbridled joy, creativity, passion and inspiration. But if we do not allow ourselves the time and space to simply be as we are, we will have mounting accolades and diminished spirits.

MEN’S SOCCER

Max Horowitz ’24 leads the team with two goals.

Max Verstappen wins dramatic US Grand Prix

■ Verstappen fended off championship rival Lewis Hamilton until the very last lap to claim his first USGP win and 18th career win.

By TAKU HAGINWARA JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

WOMEN’S SOCCER

VOLLEYBALL

Pereira ’24 leads the team with 294 digs.

CROSS COUNTRY

Results from the Keene State College Invitational on October 2.

(Women’s)

SOCCER

JUDGES WIN AT HOME AND AWAY

■ Boosting their record, the women’s team secured two non-conference wins.

By AKI YAMAGUCHI JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The Brandeis Women’s soccer team took a break from the University Athletic Association to play two nonconference games. Facing Bridgewater State University at home and Springfield College away, it was an opportunity to improve their record and inch towards qualifying for the NCAA tournament. The women’s team came into the week with a 6-4-2 record and a 1-3 for the UAA conference.

Women’s Soccer Judges 2, Bears 1

Back home at Gordon Field after being on the road, the Judges defeated Bridgwater St. Bears with a quick response. The win brought them to an overall record of 7-3-2, and the Bears fell to 5-6-1. Outshooting the Bears by 24 shots to 5 shots, Brandeis controlled offensively. However, they were struggling to put one on goal in the first half with four shots on target and no goals. The first half ended scoreless and the Judges, frustrated.

However, in the second half, the Judges bounced back right away early. Juliette Carreiro ’22 was taken down from behind in the penalty box. As a result, fellow senior Daria Bakhtiari ’22 was able to put away the resulting penalty kick to make the score 1-0. The goal was her 6th goal of the season, and the play was only 10 minutes into the half.

Later in the half, the Bears equalized after a turnover in the midfield in the

After taking pole position on Saturday, Max Verstappen put on a show Sunday to convert his pole into a win in this year’s United States Grand Prix which was held at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX. After missing the race altogether in 2020 due to the pandemic, Formula 1 returned to the United States in the midst of a championship battle between defending champion Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

This year’s Grand Prix marked the return of many race traditions that were foregone by the pandemic, including the return of various celebrities that showed face at the race. Spotted at the race were the likes of Rory Mcllory, Megan Thee Stallion, Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Bosh. However, other than the celebrities, the race shaped up to be a signature win by Verstappen who initially lost out to Lewis Hamilton but was able to catch up due to clever strategy from Red Bull.

Other than Carlos Sainz and Yuki Tsunoda, all of the drivers decided to start on the medium tire compound making the race a two stop race, unlike the traditional one stop race. After being overtaken at the start, Verstappen was able to maintain a close distance under a second to Hamilton but eventually decided to pit on lap ten for the hard tire compound. Hamilton followed suit, and three laps later on lap 13, pitted for a set of hard tires like Verstappen had. While Hamilton was in the pits, Verstappen overtook him to take the lead.

Verstappen continued to lead

the race until lap 29 when he came into the pits for a second time for another set of hard compound tires. By taking a pitstop earlier than they had to, Red Bull were able to secure track position by having Verstappen in front of Hamilton when Hamilton would eventually pit on lap 37 for hard tire compound. Hamilton, who pitted 8 laps later than Verstappen was trailing behind by 8.5 seconds but with his fresher rubber, was able to close the gap significantly over the remaining 19 laps of the race.

By lap 46, Hamilton was within a second of Verstappen and making inroads on closing the gap. However, Verstappen’s clinical control and composure allowed him to keep the lead in a situation that seemed certain to go his rivals way. Hamilton and Mercedes, who were widely considered as favorites to win Sunday’s race, will surely come out of the race feeling there was more to gain. Hamilton, who came to Austin as a five time winner at the track, was hoping to regain the championship lead but came out of the race at a 12 point deficit to Verstappen. Verstappen, extending his lead not only with five races left to go, but with several circuits that he is favored at coming up, surely has his championship hopes up as he aims to claim his first Drivers World Championship. Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, also secured his second consecutive third place finish as he placed himself as a thorn in the side of Mercedes whose second driver, Valterri Bottas, was unable to play a major role for the team. Perez, who had an opportunity to grab his career first pole position on Saturday, has been in fine form as of late after struggling for much of the season. As the season nears its end and the constructors championship between Red Bull and Mercedes heats up, Perez should be in position to play a significant role in securing a championship for his team. Moreover, as Formula 1 heads to its

home nation of Mexico, his fine form could see him potentially winning his home race given his strong form and Red Bull’s historic success at the venue.

Other than Hamilton and Verstappen, the race saw plenty of action along the field with a duel between Ferrari and McLaren as they fought for third in the constructors championship. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari qualified fifth and sixth in front of Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris of McLaren at seventh and eighth. From the opening laps, the Ferrari and McLaren fought hard with contact being made several times. Coming out of the race, Ferrari were able to close the 7.5 point deficit to McLaren to 3.5 after Leclerc finished fourth and Sainz who finished seventh bagging a total of 18 points to McLarens haul of 14 points.

In an ode to days gone by, 2005 and 2006 driver’s champion Fernando Alonso battled against 2007 champion Kimi Räikkönen for the last remaining points paying positions. Unfortunately, Alonso was forced to retire from the race after he sustained damage on his rear wing, and Räikkönen spun into gravel in the later stages of the race. Sebastian Vettel, who started at the back of the grid due to engine penalties with Alonso, capitalized on his fellow former champions mistakes and snuck into tenth place to secure a point for himself and Aston Martin. As this season enters its closing stages, the championship battle has swung in Verstappen’s favor as he leads the championship by 12 points. Red Bull have also closed their gap to Mercedes to 23 points as they aim to reclaim their first constructors championship title since 2013. The championship battle continues in two weeks as Formula 1 heads to the streets of Mexico City where Red Bull are expected to have an advantage over Mercedes. Who comes out at the top at the final race in Abu Dhabi is anyone’s guess.

WIN FOR RED BULLL RACING

71st minute. One of the Bridgewater forwards hit a ball from about 20 yards out, right under the crossbar and into the goal. Brandeis was quick to stop any momentum when less than a minute later; Carreiro sent in a cross from the left. Morgan Clark ’23 was able to strike it in the goal on the right side for her first goal of the season.

Judges 4, Pride 1 Continuing the momentum, the Judges were able to win their last non-conference game while away at Springfield College. Taking control of the game with 19 shots and 12 on goal, they put away the game and added in some insurance goals as well. With their win, the Judges’ record improves to 8-4-2, while the Pride’s fall to 6-6-2. The Judges took the lead early in the game when forward Makenna Hunt

’22 scored just less than 5 minutes in the first half. Off a cross from Clark, the goal marked Hunt’s fourth of the season and Clark’s first assist. Carreiro was the one to score the gamewinning goal at about the 10-minute mark off Clark making it her 5th goal. The Judges ensured their dominance for the first half with one more goal towards the end when Jess Herman ’23 lofted a ball into the goal in the 34th minute.

Lexi Krobath ’24 scored her first collegiate goal in the 74th minute. Unfortunately, the Judges were unable to keep their shutout when the Pride slipped one in with only two minutes left in the half. Hannah Bassan ’25 and Samantha Scott ’24 helped secure the win with 5 shots on goal blocked between the two of them. Both the wins against Springfield and Bridgewater close out the non-conference season for the Judges.

Upcoming Schedule

After a canceled game that had been planned for Tuesday, Oct. 26th against Johnson & Wales University, the Judges’ women’s team will be playing two UAA games this upcoming weekend. Going into the end of the UAA games, the Judges will battle against #20 Emory University on Friday, Oct. 29 at 5:00 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 31, they will be facing Rochester University for their last home game at 11:00 a.m.

The men’s team makes their return at home with two UAA games also up for grabs. On Friday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m, the Judges will face off against the #14 Emory University. Finally, for their last home game, they will play Rochester University on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 1:30 pm. Looking for another upset, the Judges have the opportunity to secure important wins against conference rivals.

Image Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

SPARKS FLY: Verstappen, in his Red Bull-logo adorned car, tears around a corner during the April 2018 Chinese GP.

arts & culture

Photo: Herry Wang/the Justice. Design: Jack Yuanwei Cheng/the Justice.

University welcomes photographer for “ArtiUnst Talk” event

Nadiya Nacorda discusses her projects and answers questions from students.

By ISABEL ROSETH JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

On Wednesday, Oct. 20, Brandeis welcomed artist Nadiya Imani Nacorda via Zoom to talk about her experience as an artist, namely her work as a photographer. During the event, Nacorda explained and shared photos from a few of her projects and answered questions about her work.

Nacorda, born in Detroit, Michigan, is an artist who “works in photography, video, and performance, to address matters of intimacy, affection, displacement and identity as a child of immigrants,” according to her website. She earned a BFA in Photography and Film from Virginia Commonwealth University, and she is currently finishing an MFA in Art Photography at Syracuse University’s School of Visual and Performing Arts. She was a 2019 finalist at the Magenta Foundation’s Flash Forward competition, the 2020 Lit List and the 2021 Silver List.

Nacorda began the “Arts at Brandeis” event by presenting the first few photographs that she took when she was a teenager. She explained that she started out as a family photographer and a “family documentarian.” The

MUSIC REVIEW

photos serve as a “marker of time.”

She focused mainly on her two youngest siblings, documenting them growing up, saying that it is “particularly important for Black families to have deep archives of documentation of just everyday life.” She went on to say that photos of Black families do not have to be “overly exaggerated,” and that they can be of what she described as “everydayness.” She explained that growing up, she didn’t see images of families that looked like hers that were just about life and what it means to be human. She then talked about her first project, “A Special Kind of Double,” whose title is taken from a Toni Morrison quote. She continued showing images that she’s taken of her two youngest siblings, who she is still photographing to this day, roughly 15 years later. The photographs ranged from joint shots such as her sister holding onto her brother’s arms, or individual portraits of each sibling. Many photos were taken at places like the park or the beach. Nacorda explained that it’s fun for her to see these shifts in time, as the collection of photographs range so many years, and the photos also make her think about what it means to “document

Black kids in America in positions of play.” When her siblings were young, she would often take them to places of recreation, and this theme has continued. She likes taking photos of them in places where they can “just be.” She said, “Black youth — often are deprived of their innate innocence,” so her photos paint a youthful portrait of Black youth youthfulness that is “often not allotted to them.”

Next, Nacorda discussed her latest project, which focuses more on her family and family history and is largely based on her identity as the daughter of immigrants and political refugees. Her father’s side of the family came from the Philippines in the late 1970s, and her mother’s family, who were anti-apartheid activists, came from South Africa in the early-to-mid 1960s. Her parents divorced when she was at a young age, but she grew up close to both sides and became “ingrained in both cultures.” She looked back at family archives and included some photos of her own to create her project, “All the orchids are fine.” The title itself was taken from the caption of an old polaroid of her family’s. The project includes old images of her grandmothers, parents, her as a child and newer photos involving

multiple generations, such as the one she showed of her maternal grandmother and her sister. While the older photos were all a smaller size, the photos conveyed a sense of what Nacorda referred to as “timelessness.”

Nacorda answered some questions from students near the end of the event. She discussed many topics, including ones about her work as an artist and others about her identity as Black and Filipino. One individual asked if there were any negatives to pursuing an art degree. Nacorda explained that there were many negatives for her, including a “stifled sense of excitement” and

stifled “willingness to experiment without fear of the outcome.” She also said that since a lot of her work hinges on her identity, critique rooms were often unhelpful as white individuals would have nothing to say about her work focusing on Black youth. She also shared that she was influenced most, not particularly by famous photographers, but by her friends, and that she wished she’d known not to take herself and her work so seriously when she was starting to take photos. “I think if I had done that, I wouldn’t necessarily be in a different place, but I think I would be maybe here a little bit sooner,” Nacorda said.

Poptimism: an outdated term

By JASON FRANK JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

For modern pop music criticism to actually be modern, poptimism needs to be retired.

Poptimism was a term coined in the early 2000s that went hand in hand with a heel turn made by critics against previous notions that pop music was inherently not worth critique. It instead dictated that pop music was just as worthy of an in-depth analysis as any other genre. Poptimism has been one of the most impactful critical movements of the new century: over the course of the 2000s, publications like indie tastemaker Pitchfork went from reviewing a Kylie Minogue as an April Fool’s joke to putting one of her songs in the top 40 of its “Best Songs of the 2000s” list.

In the years following, poptimism has not been without its de-

tractors. Saul Austerlitz, for example, wrote a piece for the New York Times Magazine in 2014 decrying poptimism, asking “Should gainfully employed adults whose job is to listen to music thoughtfully really agree so regularly with the taste of 13-year-olds?”

The detractors have then inevitably been met with detractors of their own. Maura Johnston, for example, responded to Austerlitz by writing a piece for Vice with the headline “The New York Times Doesn’t Know Shit About ‘Poptimism,’” saying, “[Poptimism is] about throwing out the artificial distinctions that elevate Serious Mass-Appeal Music (usually made by men, and with guitars) over Frothy Bubbly Stuff (which often appeals to women as much as, if not more than, it does men)...

[it’s] about understanding that the underlying musical complexities of Britney Spears’s ‘Toxic’ can be as intricate as, say, those lurking within Jellyfish’s ‘New Mistake.’”

This process, of poptimism being supported, then attacked, then defended, rinse-repeat, has been the way that music criticism has been operating for the entire time I’ve been reading it, and as a Gen-Z reader, I’m bored. This conversation is not only tired from over-discussion, but it’s outdated too. Articles have been published by major publications in the past decade declaring poptimism everything from untruthful (2015) to dead (2017) to feminist (2018) to tribalist (2021). Yet, poptimism doesn’t feel relevant to any world I’ve lived in since I was in elemen-

tary school and Lady Gaga burst into the scene.

As this conversation continues to make the rounds, this year and for what feels like likely every year after that, it ignores the fact that the music industry has changed. When the poptimist debate began, radio was a dominant force in the music listening public. A song could be omnipresent to the point where everybody knew the words, whether they wanted to or not. From Britney’s “Toxic” to Nelly’s “Hot in Here” to Gaga’s “Poker Face,” the songs of the 2000s were the last gasp of musical water cooler talk, something you could discuss with everybody you knew and expect they’d have the opinion.

Streaming has changed that. Instead of relying on the radio or MTV to introduce them to new music, people can listen to music that directly appeals to them and only hear new music when they want to, in genres they already like. Recently, Adele’s first new song in six years, “Easy On Me,” broke the record for the most streams on Spotify of any song in a single day, yet if someone told me they hadn’t heard it, I wouldn’t be surprised. Streaming allows the general public to listen only to what they like, whether that’s pop favorites like Drake and Ariana Grande, or weirdos like The Mountain Goats and FKA Twigs. That type of conversation, about omnipresent artists who no longer seem to exist, is what poptimism was purporting to fix. It was initially created as a response

to “rockism,” the perspective that previous generations’ music was always better than what’s current. But what’s “current” is entirely up for debate. Simultaneously, the genre of “pop” itself is wildly shifting. In terms of what is actually “popular,” pop has ceded its throne largely to hip-hop, with diverse artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Drake and Lil Nas X all regulars in the top spots. Pop itself has gotten weirder in the time since poptimism was coined. Indie pop, a phrase that would have been a strange oxymoron in the ‘90s, has exploded in popularity, with artists like Robyn, SOPHIE and 100 Gecs making music that purported to be “pop music” without any goal of making it onto the charts.

Is poptimism supposed to apply to these artists? Would critics have responded to Megan Thee Stallion’s rap smash “Savage Remix,” one of last year’s best songs, so positively if we weren’t still talking about poptimism?

Would they be able to wrap their heads around SOPHIE’s groundbreaking album “Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides” if poptimism wasn’t part of the conversation? Of course they’d get them, as long as the critics have any value. “Savage Remix” may have been popular, and “Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides” may have been pop music, but neither resembles the Kylie Minogue music that was fighting to be taken seriously when poptimism was coined.

What we’re left with, then, is a mode of criticism that is responding to a culture that no longer exists. What’s keeping poptimism alive isn’t the music, but the continued critical conversation. There is no universal pop music fighting for critical acceptance anymore, so the choice to take poptimism as an idea seriously is irrelevant. The issue is not that poptimism is good or bad or feminist or tribalist, it’s that it doesn’t matter.

Design: Megan Liao/the Justice

Photo Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

Photo Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS New streaming technologies created difficulties in applying the word “poptimism” to artists.

ISABEL ROSETH/the Justice

Nadiya Nacorda explains her first project, “A Special Kind of Double,” on the Zoom event.

VIBRANT WEEKEND: RETURN OF IN-PERSON EVENTS

On Oct. 22nd, the Vietnamese Students Association held their storytelling event “Taste of Vietnam” in the Intercultural Center. The cultural group presented an ancient Vietnamese epic, “The Tale of Kieu,” which recounts the difficult life of Thúy Kieu who sacrificed herself for her family. Participants were invited to collect stamps at three activity booths, each challenging the participants’ knowledge on the epic and Vietnamese culture.

Design: Megan Liao/the Justice

SMILEY HUYNH/the Justice

The Taiwanese Students Association’s Night Market took place in Fellows Garden on Saturday.

The Night Market is a form of open-air street market typically beginning at sunset and running until late at night, featuring a variety of street food and game booths. The night market culture originated in Taiwan and was made popular in other Asian countries as well.

Two TSA members serve students at the fried rice booth.

OWEN CHAN/the Justice

ATHENA LAM/the Justice

The Japanese Students Association’s Haunted House featured a theme of a haunted hospital

The purpose of the game was to find the four hidden bottles in the haunted house Due to

Top 10 Ariana Grande songs:

By TAKU HAGIWARA JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Ariana Grande has so many good songs that it’s nearly impossible to make a top 10 list of her best songs. However, here is the list I made after listening to her music for a few hours.

1.Stuck with U ft. Justin Bieber

2.nasty

3. pov

4. Last Christmas

5. thank u, next

6. Let Me Love You ft. Lil Wayne

7. 34+35

8. Into You

9. Dangerous Woman

10. In My Head

CROSSWORD

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Down

1. endangered bird on the Jersey Shore

2. autumn mo.

3. a line with only one endpoint

4. anti-vax NBA player

5. crude boat

6. mike’s partner

7. 2020 movie re-adaptation of a novel

10. a type of veggie soup sometimes made with ham

13. country bordering Afghanistan

Across

15. a third person pronoun

16. seasonal little helper

17. chases the answer to 25 down

23. declared invalid, as a marriage

26. bombing

28. opposite of SW

30. type of puzzle

33. time period

37. fancy mister

39. UN agency for economic justice

43. iron, for short

45. aunt from the Wizard of Oz

1. what bread dough does

4. whale food

9. after year 0

11. big woolly mammal

12. acapella movie

18. common verb ending in Spanish

19. what you do with a joke

20. preposition relating to location

21. post-WWII treaty

22. ancient Yoruba city in Nigeria

23. capital of Georgia

24. one way to end a texting conversation at the end of the day

25. a type of vermin

27. where you might stay on a road trip

31. an intangible address

32. what you do to an unfinished library book

34. lorde song named for a famous museum

35. pee prefix

36. Indonesia has the greatest population of this religion than any other country

38. string instrument with a smaller relative

40. British zero

41. one of the largest species in the deer family

42. pondering word

44. red’s opposite

46. not sharp

47. music genre acronym

SAMANTHA GOLDMAN/the Justice

GILDA GEIST/the Justice

GILDA GEIST/the Justice

Jack Yuanwei Cheng/the Justice