the
Justice www.thejustice.org
The Independent Student Newspaper Volume LXXII, Number 15
of
B r a n d e is U n i v e r sit y S i n c e 1 9 4 9
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
Waltham, Mass.
ADMINISTRATION
Provost to leave Univ. at end of semester ■ Liebowitz announced in
an email last Tuesday that Provost Lisa Lynch will take a sabbatical before returning as a Heller School professor. By CHAIEL SCHAFFEL JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
JEN GELLER/the Justice
Lisa Lynch will depart from her role as provost and executive vicepresident of Academic Affairs by this summer, according to a Jan. 21 email to the Brandeis community from University President Ron Leibowitz. Lynch first stepped into the role in June 2016. According to the email, Lynch will be taking a yearlong sabbatical and will then return to Brandeis to continue in her position as the Maurice B. Hexter Professor of Social and Economic Policy in the Heller School for Social Policy and Management. Lei-
bowitz wrote in the email that the process for selecting the next Provost will be announced shortly. The email did not specify why Lynch was stepping down. Before her current positions, Lynch served in two administrative positions at the University: the University’s interim president for the 2015-2016 academic year, as well as the Dean of the Heller School for six years between 2008 and 2014. Leibowitz credited Lynch with making “numerous significant and transformative contributions” during her time in administrative roles over the last decade. Among those contributions were bolstering the University’s diversity programs, hiring new deans for the professional schools and the School of Arts and Sciences and finding new directors of various campus institutions — including the Rose Art Museum and the Department of
See PROVOST, 7 ☛
A MOVING FILM: (From left to right) Prof. Tom Doherty (AMST), Prof. Sharon Rivo (NEJS) and Executive Advisor of Graduate Student Affairs Cheyenne Paris, led a brief reflection after the screening of "Shoah," a 9.5 hour documentary composed of interviews from survivors, bystanders and perpetrators of the Holocaust.
University remembers Holocaust through documentary screening ■ On Holocaust
Remembrance Day, the Brandeis community could view all 9.5 hours of "Shoah." By LEEZA BARSTEIN JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
The Center for German and European Studies partnered with Germany’s cultural institute, the Goethe Institut, to take part in a worldwide screening of Claude Lanzmann’s 9.5 hour documentary, Shoah (1985), on Monday. The screening, held on Holocaust Remembrance Day, fell on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the 35th anniversary of the documentary’s debut, according to the Institut. Executive Director of the National Center for Jewish Film and Associate Professor of Jewish Film at Brandeis, Sharon Pucker Rivo, explained in a Jan. 24 email to the Justice that she and director of the CGES department, Prof. Sabine von Mering (GRALL, ENVS), offered to host the screening at Brandeis after they found out that the site of the Boston Goethe Institut was undergoing renovation. “We think that it is very important for Brandeis University to be a part of this important worldwide event,” Rivo said, which is why they provided easy access to the film to members of the community.
NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice
After von Mering approached the English Department, the department happily co-sponsored the event, explained Chair of the English Department Prof. Caren Irr (ENG), in a Jan. 23 interview with the Justice. Irr elaborated on the cultural significance of the documentary, saying, “Shoah is a monumental film of vital importance to cinematic and social history. Any student whose life has been affected by violence or who wants to feel the emotional impact of cinematic art should attend.” Given the history of the University’s founding “in the wake of the Holocaust,” Professor Thomas Doherty (AMST) said in a Jan. 23 email interview with the Justice that it is appropriate for the Brandeis campus to be involved with the screening of "Shoah." He added that "Shoah" is “one of the most important films ever made on the Holocaust, period, full stop.” Doherty said he planned on saying a few words at the screening regarding the rise of a “full-blown motion picture genre: the Holocaust film.” In her email, Rivo described her first time watching the film 35 years ago. She said she had started the film with no intentions of staying for all 9.5 hours, but ended up watching the entire screening. “I became mesmerized with the power of the long, slow penetrating interviews … the day was an experiential happening —‒ not just a long
movie,” she said. "Shoah" has no historical footage; rather, it is a compilation of interviews with survivors, perpetrators and bystanders in an “attempt to understand the horrific deeds … by the Germans,” Rivo explained in her email. Although Doherty said that he was not sure if students would be able to watch the film in its entirety, he stressed the value of staying to watch for at least a few hours. “In the age of Netflix, we forget how powerful a theatrical screening can be — of watching a film like this together, in a community,” he explained. To make the film more accessible for its viewers, coordinators posted a schedule with three breaks throughout the screening to allow participants to get refreshments, stretch their legs and use the restroom. The schedule also suggested that viewers who wished to attend the screening arrive during intermission times to limit distractions. The screening of "Shoah" is an important way of starting a difficult conversation surrounding the Holocaust, especially for students who “turn to film in order to process certain emotions or events,” said Events and Membership Coordinator of Brandeis Television Aviva Davis ’21 in a Jan. 24 interview. Davis added that it would be difficult for students to make time to watch the entire film, but pro-
BRIEF
Last week’s internet outage due to cyber ‘attack,’ Chief Information Officer says An “attack” on the University’s network caused a campus-wide internet outage on Jan. 20, affecting various systems and services beginning about 12 p.m. that day, according to a Jan. 20 email to the Brandeis community from Chief Information Officer Jim La Creta. La Creta said that the attack “flooded the network and prevented data to flow to and from the campus network.” He said this prevented many members of the Brandeis community from accessing internet, LATTE and library services, among other campus systems. In a Friday email to the Justice, Associate Director of Change Management and Strategic Communications of Brandeis Information Technology Services Christine Jacinto shared a statement from ITS clarifying the incident. At approximately 11 a.m. on Jan. 20, Trojan malware created a “denial-of-service attack on a single machine that caused a campus-wide outage of IT resources.” Malware is software that either gains unauthorized access to a computer system or damages and disrupts a computer system, and DoS attacks achieve this by overwhelming the
network with information. The Jan. 20 attack “flooded the targeted machine with superfluous requests in an attempt to overload the machine/network.” The overflow of these “superfluous requests” disrupted the flow of legitimate data requests, which led to the outage of the Brandeis systems, per the statement. ITS was notified of the issue, and the networking and systems team began the triage process and responded to the issue. “Multiple people were deployed onsite and received support from the firewall vendor to identify the source of the issue. Upon identification of the source — a single machine — it was removed from the network,” the statement said. By 9:00 p.m. on Jan. 20, ITS confirmed that service across the Brandeis campus was restored. Community members had access IT resources again, and an investigation into the machine by an internal security team began. The statement said that the investigation’s official findings may not be reported to the community for several weeks. —Jen Geller
See SHOAH, 7 ☛
Stress who?
Oshogatsu
Prof. arrested at anti-fossil fuel train protest
The Justice spoke to the organizers of the Resilience Fair about bouncing back from challenges.
Last week, the Japanese Student Association hosted its annual new year celebration.
Understanding the opioid crisis
By ELIANA PADWA
By ELISABETH FREEMAN
Eli Manning retires
ARTS AND CULTURE 19
By EMMA GHALILI
FEATURES 8 For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org
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By JEN CRYSTAL
By ABIGAIL CUMBERBATCH
COPYRIGHT 2020 FREE AT BRANDEIS.
NEWS 3 FORUM 11 SPORTS 15
2
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
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NEWS
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THE JUSTICE
NEWS HAPPY NEW YEAR!
WALTHAM BRIEF
POLICE LOG
Waltham school district narrows superintendent pool The search for a new superintendent for the Waltham Public Schools District has officially been narrowed down to four candidates, according to a Jan. 23 Patch Waltham article. The same article noted that though the field began with 25 potential candidates, the options have now been narrowed to Frank Hackett, Brad Morgan, Sergio Paez and Brian Reagan. The next phase of the search will be public interviews with each of the candidates. The current interim superintendent is George Frost, who took the role at the end of last school year after former Waltham Superintendent Drew Echelson stepped down after four years, according to a Jan. 3 Patch Waltham article. The search for a new superintendent was originally intended to have been completed earlier, but that path was altered in November when one of the two finalists withdrew their application, according to a Nov. 22 Patch Waltham article. Public interviews for the candidates will be held on Jan. 30 at 6:30 p.m. and Feb. 1 at 2:00 p.m. at Waltham High School, according to the Jan. 23 Patch Waltham article. Hackett is a current superintendent in Braintree, Massachusetts, as reported by a Jan. 23 Patriot Ledger article. The same article noted that though the populations of the two districts are similar, Waltham has a larger budget with $91.5 million, as opposed to Braintree’s budget of $70.5 million. Morgan is the current superintendent of North Middlesex Regional School District, according to his LinkedIn profile. However, he would not be a stranger to Waltham, having previously been the principal of Waltham’s McDevitt Middle School, according to a Jan. 21, 2008 Patch Waltham article. Paez currently works as the director of English Language Learning in the Central Falls School District, according to its staff directory. He has experience as a superintendent, having previously served as superintendent of Holyoke Public Schools, according to the Jan. 23 Patch Waltham article. The same article noted that he was let go from Holyoke, in part due to allegations of student abuse by teachers, though Paez said that investigations did not find anything. Paez has written a book titled “Finding A New Perspective For Urban Education In America.” Reagan is the current Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Staff Development for the Wilmington Public Schools, according to his LinkedIn profile. The district announced Reagan’s position in June 2018, according to a June 8, 2018 Wilmington Apple article. —Jason Frank
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS n The Arts&Culture cover incorrectly stated that the band pictured was Sunflower Bean. It is actually the band Haybaby. (Jan. 21, Page 17). n An Arts&Culture article incorrectly spelled Nick Kivlen’s name. It has been corrected. (Jan. 21, Page 18). n A Features article did not list Emily Blumenthal, a Justice editor, as a UDR in an Editor’s Note. Emily is the French UDR and did not participate in the production or editing of the article. (Jan. 21, Page 9). n A Forum article misspelled the last name of a Views on the News respondent, David Piergaro. It was corrected to the proper spelling. (Jan. 21, Page 10). The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Send an email to editor@thejustice.org.
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The Japanese Student Association hosted a night with traditional Japanese food and games in honor of the new year. Students waited in line for their servings of soba noodles and ozoni, which is a soup typically served on Japanese New Year.
SENATE LOG Senate discusses funding for registered parties The Senate met Sunday for its weekly meeting, where senators discussed a potential reinstatement of funding for registered parties and had a heated discussion about a Senate Money Resolution to buy snacks for Senate meetings.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER REPORTS
Senior Representative to the Board of Trustees Zosia Busé ’20 explained her role on the Board to the Senate, and told senators why they should run for the role in the future. “The student reps, especially starting back from Wil Jones [’18], and now spanning up to myself and [Junior Representative to the Board of Trustees] Zoë [Fort ’21], have created a precedent with the Board of professionality, confidentiality, general networking smarts, knowing how to work it with the bigwigs, and there’s just a certain type of work ... it, live your best life [attitude toward the job],” Busé said. “The Board is long-term, big picture, whereas admin and us are kind of shortterm solutions,” Busé said. The President’s Frameworks have been the focus of conversation at the Board’s last few meetings, along with the “mental health crisis” and the “lack of diversity within the Counseling Center,” Busé said. Student Union Vice President Kendal Chapman ’22 told the Senate about a new “Unsung Heroes” project. Students will have the opportunity to nominate dining workers who have a positive impact on the Brandeis community, and the Union would then create a GoFundMe page to give the worker a raise so they can pursue a project. The Executive Board is considering restarting a program that would allot funding to registered parties. The project, entitled “Make Brandeis More Fun,” would revive an old program by the Department
of Community Living that automatically entered students into a raffle to win $50 to cover party costs if they registered their parties before Thursday night each week. Chapman said the University administration is in favor of the idea, because it would encourage people to register parties more often, which would create a safer environment for students. She and Student Union President Simran Tatuskar ’21 are spearheading the project, which was proposed several years ago and lay dormant in a folder of old E-Board projects. “We also know that Brandeis isn’t always the most thrilling place to be,” Chapman said. Executive Senator Scott Halper ’20 expressed concern that the funds could be a liability issue if students only used the money to buy alcohol, which he said “would be a terrible look.” Rosenthal Quad and Skyline Senator Leah Fernandez ’22 suggested that the stipend go toward food, and to have students bring the receipts for their purchases to the administration to be reimbursed up to $50.
COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORTS
Facilities and Housing Committee Chair Trevor Filseth ’20 said his goals are to address the communal damage charges policy, and to improve the timeliness of the BranVan. The Union is working to add an extra stop to the BranVan campus shuttle route, but efforts have been hamstrung by Public Safety, who said it is unwilling to speak with Union representatives about the issue until next year. Halper suggested creating a special task force this semester to address transportation issues. The Senate Representative to the Allocations Board will be voted on next week after the full Senate convenes.
AMENDMENTS
Halper introduced an amendment to change when Senate committee chairs are chosen, from before elections to after elections. This would allow new senators interested in leading committees to be appointed. In the fall, committee chairs would be elected “following the fall election cycle and take office at the first meeting of the semester,” and in the spring “after the election of the midyear Senator and take office at the first meeting of the semester.” The Senate voted by acclamation to pass the amendment. Halper introduced a second amendment to establish a formal procedure for voting on legislation, which would establish a formal definition of a quorum. Under Halper’s amendment, “for the purposes of the Senate, quorum will be defined as more than 50% of the voting body present.” The amendment comes after a debacle with voting to charter, and then to decharter, IfNotNow. After the Senate initially voted to charter IfNotNow, thenVice President Guillermo Caballero ’20 announced at the Oct. 1, 2019, Senate meeting that the vote had been miscounted, and had not passed the two-thirds threshold required for chartering. After several senators expressed concerns that the voting threshold proposed in Halper’s amendment was not high enough to adequately represent the student body, the Senate decided to table the vote to next week’s meeting. —Emily Blumenthal —Editor’s Note: Justice Editor Gilda Geist is a member of IfNotNow. She did not contribute to or edit this article. —Editor’s Note: Trevor Filseth is a Forum staff writer.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY Jan. 21 — BEMCo staff treated a party in the Usdan Student Center with a laceration to his face. Cataldo Ambulance transported the party to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. Jan. 25 — A party in Reitman Hall requested BEMCo for a party vomiting due to alcohol intoxication. The party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance. The Area Coordinator on call was notified, and a Community Standards Report was filed. Jan. 25 — University Police and BEMCo responded to Skyline Residence Quad to assist a party who was having trouble swallowing. The party was treated with a signed refusal for further care. Jan. 25 — A party in Renfield Hall was intoxicated and in need of medical attention. BEMCo responded to the scene, and the party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance. The Area Coordinator on call was notified, and a Community Standards Report was filed. Jan. 26 — University Police and BEMCo responded to Sherman Dining Hall for two parties in the women’s bathroom who were intoxicated. One party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance. The other signed a refusal for further care. The Area Coordinator on call was notified, and a Community Standards Report was filed. Jan. 26 — BEMCo staff and University Police responded to Usen Hall to assist an intoxicated party. The party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance. The Area Coordinator on call was notified, and a Community Standards Report was filed. HARASSMENT Jan. 22 — A party was harassed by a phone text message. University Police compiled a report on the incident. DRUGS Jan. 25 — University Police responded to Renfield Hall to assist a Community Advisor who discovered drug contraband. The Area Coordinator on call was present, and the police secured the contraband from the Department of Community Living staff. DCL staff submitted a Community Standards Report on the incident, and University Police compiled a report. DISTURBANCE Jan. 26 — At the main entrance, there was an intoxicated man. University Police responded and the Waltham Police provided assistance. The party was placed under arrest by the University Police for disorderly conduct and transported to the Waltham Police station by University Police for the booking process. MISCELLANEOUS Jan. 23 — There was a report of a suspicious person standing between Cable Hall and Reitman Hall. University Police located a person matching the description given by the caller walking by Kutz Hall toward Usdan Student Center. The person was identified as a student on his way to the Hoot Market in Usdan, and University Police cleared the area. The caller was informed of the results. —Compiled by Jen Geller
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BrandeIS un IverSITy SInce 1949 Tuesday, December 4,
Trustees make long-awaited divestment choice
of
2018
‘BABY STEPS’ TOWAR
D DIVESTMENT
Waltham, Mass.
■ The University will change its investment strategies decrease future investmento t in fossil fuel businesses .
principal business is the mining coal for use of in energy generation.” Investments that presently ist in “fossil exfuel private partnership s (i.e., private limited partnership limited funds ments, the focus that make investing profit from of which is derivthe exploration production of fossil fuels such and and natural as oil gas) cordance with … will run off in acthe funds’ typical cycles,” Chief life Investment Nicholas Warren Officer wrote in an email to the Justice. These funds an average have life cycle of 10 years. have been “The overall pressing the administrat portfolio is ture, with ion to divest mamany funds from fossil fuels for reaching the later stages several years and have of their life continued to Therefore we cycle. do so in response expect it to the recent wind down over slowly policy announceme to In a Nov. 28 nt. Warren wrote. the next 5-7 years,” email to the Brandeis community, private limited This is specific to University President Ron Liebowitz that invest with partnership funds outlined the new pola focus on gaining icies that will profit from guide future exploiting and ment. From investing oil, natural producnow on, the University’s gas and other endowment sil fuel. As funds will fosof Oct. 30, 2018, not be invested directly fuel private “fossil in “public or limited partnership companies [market value] or partnership private s[’] [was] $63.3 s whose million,
By JEN GELLER JUSTICE EDITOR
After months of deliberation Board of Trustees , the policies regarding adopted a set of fossil fuel vestments at intheir November ing, updating meetthe 1973 guidelines that previously informed their investment decisions. Brandeis students
See DIVESTMENT,
STUDENT UNION
7☛
Special election call to fill open position ed s
The Brandeis Mountain Club Monday to protest hung a banner in ANDREW the Board of Trustees’ decisionthe Shapiro Campus Center BAXTER/the Justice Atrium on on fossil fuel divestment.
ADMINISTRATION
Report details cam shortcomings on divpus ers
■ The report presented
a
ity
problems such comprehensive as Meehan’s picture of behavior, and what steps athletes may how communit y are fear being forced vent such problems being taken to premembers team or not off the from arising being allowed view the University future. in the to play, according to Liebowitz. However, over Brandeis’ climate diversity, reporting's the course of their policies. The University and culture vestigators found interviews, the inwas founded no evidence of principles of By NATALIA WIATER on ation and determined retali“anti-discrim ination, inthere was simclusiveness, JUSTICE EDITOR ply a perception academic freedom, that it was occurring. pendence, and indeTo combat this University President the perception, Liebowof academic quality”highest standards Ron Liebowitz itz explained released the in an interview Campus Climate chief of staff,” gation, discriminati in an era of segrethe Justice and with last Thursday, Report he said, adding, on and quotas, The Brandeis which detailed don’t bear any investigators “I the Monday that Hoot on ceedingly high the “exwrote. ill will toward the administrati standards” and They’re both them. However, some on needs to build the er shortcoming very passionate broadcommunity’s community s very smart. bers brought and trust in the system, which … I’m really well as the steps of the University, as up controversie memwill take time. excited to see where things the rounding the s surous policies Previtaking to address administration is go.” University’s were unclear, he identity, which “I understand Jewish and made it and final report, them. This second many agreed difficult to report said, given a painted [Chang] has been is important to Brandeis. authored by By CHAIEL SCHAFFEL Liebowitz said issues. pendent investigator indehe and I don’t think target on his back, explained that One faculty member JUSTICE STAFF s the University sity must ensure believes the Univerhired last spring, WRITER any student identity-base that the community feel that way, should d schools follows up on face additional is aware of tial findings the iniespecially as pressure to resources that The Student regarding the man,” he said. a freshmaintain their reputations, are available to them Union announced complaints lodged against which discourages that Vice President — such as the former men’s individuals Reynolds said Reporting at Brandeis Benedikt ball coach Brian from raising baskethe would help olds ’19 and web page — issues with successor develop Meehan. the institution. his Treasurer Jerry Reynand create alternate For Others channels the second ’18 will resign contacts with Miller mentioned confor reporting, the administrati fusion about at the end of with educating along tion, the Board half of the investigawhether or not on, as well as mester. Their the sethem on why them up on of Trustees tasked Brandeis markets itself seats will be reporting is important. projects relevant catch investigators as filled in a special election — Walter Prince, the vice presidency. to the and noted that a Jewish institution, to be held on In addition, colm Graham conversation MalHe will also Dec. 10. investigators Vice President and Daniel his successor s about rael have become show that instead learned Tarlow — Benedikt with examining how to help “charged,” which Isof reporting Reynolds announced Reynolds ’19 groups. student the systems, turn put “fundraisers issues, many in the Brandeis in and culture climate his intent on the defensive community choose of University’s to resign during with Jewish Looking back speak about procedure for handling donors,” according to them among complaints related Senate meeting. the Nov. 20 Union Union, Reynolds on his time in the report. to the themselves — an example or discriminati to bias said he thought of what they interview with He said in a Dec. 3 on work with environmen Many students his “small town call a corrective action and to recommend the Justice spoke well mentality.” tal groups at that his personal heath the University accordingly. University’s Administrators admitted was the reason academic rigor of the Throughout stood out the to investigators resignation. for his the report, the He also expressed lationships they most. and rethey are “too An incident that gators stressed investiconcern about formed with quiet” about in November in which the Senate their role as and faculty praised faculty, how their progress in improving weighs its constituents two “lawyers and investigators the campus culture, criticized Reynoldssenators publicly opinions. ,” not experts ture” that exists the “niceness cul’ which further educational in the within the adds to the field, writing, ment in a resolution for his involveOthers raised “Senators, and school. climate of poor communicat “We will not substitute concerns about any elected ion. purchased pianos that would have our tions, are expected members’ cultural posijudgement for faculty administrati Diversity, equity for the first-year [the to be liaisons sensitivity. on’s].” They residence quads and communicat Diversity, Equity and inclusion One pointed to the steps the affected his decision Brandeis has administrati to step down body,” he said. ors for the student historically pert said professorsand Inclusion exon is already but taking, and declined sues of race and faced is“Right and staff are factor, Reynolds was not the driving as if we’re decision now, it seems segregation, equipped to “illgive to respect cultural their own the specific recommenda said tigators noted, makers for citing both the invesReynolds accepted in the interview. student body. differences,” according the tions, saying doing so would 1969 Ford Hall These [campus] original to the report. the apologies Class of 2022 protest, its 2015 be “presumptuo that papers probably This issue newsof culturally of Senator Alex part and Meehan’s counterus.” To understand talk to our constituinsensitive Chang Internationa encies [more] “bullying” the campus was prominent firing. From l Student Senator and investigators than we climate, interviews with their in Yang ’20 and interviewed Linfei toward his players.Meehan’s behavior Reynolds stressed do.” the community, said he was a number of faculty, staff, investigators the that being “thankful” that they apologized. found that while member of the The investigator dents and alumni administrators, stuwas “deep and Union is a strenuousa “They have s also described been open to undertaking wide acceptance there to examine concerns “widespread communicat about the way for full-time importance anxiety about of the ion of diversity, me as well as the University students and suggested complaints” lodging equity, and with the presidentwith complaints. inclusion” among handles among the Brandeis that the Union They then should and munity due complaced their findings in a trators and deans, students, administo concerns larger about retaliSee UNION, 6 ☛ ation, confusion there was “notably Brandeis culture context of how the less consensus” surrounding among the faculty. dures and a has contributed procelack of belief Administrat to ors tended to that things will change. focus the “business For example, case” for increasing on student di-
■ The Union's vice and treasurer will president step down and be replaced at the end of this semester.
Student Fashion
MELA
A Brandeis student transforms his love of fashion into a business.
By GILDA GEIST
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U.S. curation of Chinese
School starting times
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Scholar reflects on
The South Asian Students Association celebrates “Our Shared Connection .”
By SAMMY PARK Photo Courtesy
Women’s basketball
By JEN GELLER
COPYRIGHT 2018 FREE AT BRANDEIS.
make no sense
plays hard
7☛
art
NEWS 5 FORUM 11 SPORTS 16
Contact Emily Blumenthal and Gilda Geist at news@thejustice.org
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arrested for participated in a train blockade in protest of the use of fossil fuels. The charges were dropped. By JEN CRYSTAL JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
LUKE LIU/the Justice
POLITICAL ART: Professor, columnist and art collector Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi took a few minutes of his presentation about the politics of modern Middle Eastern art to talk about Dia Azzawi’s painting “Sabra and Shatila.” This work visualizes an attack on a refugee camp by the South Lebanon Army.
Expert explores intersection between politics and art in the Middle East explained the politics behind dozens of Middle Eastern modern art pieces. By GILDA GEIST JUSTICE EDITOR
Writer, Boston College professor and art collector Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi spoke about how modern art from the Middle East interacts with politics during a talk on Wednesday hosted by the Crown Center for Middle East Studies. Al Qassemi showed photographs of art that was created in response to the formation of the state of Israel back in 1948. A national identity for Jews began to emerge, Al Qassemi said, and Israelis started “presenting themselves as conquerors.” For example, Israeli artist Marcel Janco painted “Death of the Soldier” in 1949, a painting which depicts a group mourning an Israeli soldier, with Jerusalem looming in the background. The soldier’s face is bathed in light from the sky. This painting, according to Al Qassemi, came before Israelis would have a national art identity and style, approximately 30 years later. At the same time that Israelis were creating art that romanticized Israeli militarism, Palestinian artists were creating art in response to the poverty and displacement they faced as a result of the creation of the state of Israel, Al Qassemi explained. Ismail Shammout was one Palestinian artist doing so. He painted “Where To?” in 1953, which shows a displaced Palestinian family trying to find somewhere to go. Dia Azzawi painted what Al Qassemi called the “Palestinian ‘Guernica’” in 1982 and 1983, called “Sabra and Shatila,” which was also the name of a refugee camp. In 1982, a group of soldiers from the South Lebanon Army, which was closely allied with Israel at the time, invaded this camp and killed approximately 2,000 people. People learned about this attack largely through radio, so Azzawi’s work
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Prof. arrested for blocking coal train in climate protest ■ Prof. Sabine von Mering was
was one of the only visualizations of the incident, Al Qassemi elaborated. Al Qassemi explained that other Middle Eastern artists created works that showed solidarity with Palestinians. Naim Ismail, a Syrian artist, painted “Fedayeen” in 1969, which depicted Palestinian freedom fighters. However, Al Qassemi said, some of the works depicted Jews as the enemy rather than Israelis. “Some of [the paintings] really bordered on the antiSemitic, only because they didn’t know how to differentiate or distinguish between Israel [and] Judaism,” he said. As an example, he presented “A Palestinian Scene” by Samir Rafi, which displays a group of soldiers wearing the Star of David while pointing guns at a group of civilians. At the same time, Al Qassemi explained, some Israeli artists used their work to express solidarity with Palestinians. Naftali Bezem created “In the Courtyard of the Third Temple” in 1957 in response to an Israeli attack in 1956 that killed “about three or four dozen Palestinians,” according to Al Qassemi. “Even Israelis had [objections] to policies that were taking place,” he said. Violence in Algeria also inspired Middle Eastern art. In response to the Algerian War of Independence against France, an Amazigh artist named M’hammed Issiakhem created “Les Martyrs” in 1965. This was another Middle Eastern painting that Al Qassemi said exhibited “Guernica” influence. He added that Moroccan and Iraqi artists created art in solidarity with Algeria as well. Middle Eastern artists were also interacting with politics in other areas of the world, Al Qassemi said. For example, Ibrahim El Salahi painted “Funeral and the Crescent,” which depicted Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically-elected prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. An Iranian artist named Bahman Mohasses painted “Requiem omnibus,” which honored Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
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‘PALESTINIAN GUERNICA’
■ Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi
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painting is based on a photograph of King’s body after he was assassinated, according to Al Qassemi. Al Qassemi talked about Middle Eastern artists who were also activists. Inji Efflatoun, for example, was a wealthy, young, Egyptian woman and talented artist. Through another artist named Kamel El Telmissary, Efflatoun became aware of social and economic issues in Egypt. She left school and became a Marxist. She was eventually arrested for her activism but managed to continue painting in prison. Though many of her works from when she was imprisoned were lost, paintings like “Dreams of a Detainee” and “The Dormitory of the Political Prisoners” survived. “This is the first time that we have a written and visual record of … anyone in jail in the Middle East in the midtwentieth century,” Al Qassemi said. Another artist and activist that Al Qassemi discussed was Kadhim Haydar from Iraq. Al Qassemi said that Haydar invited a group of protesters to tell him what they saw during an uprising in Iraq in 1956. From the descriptions, Haydar created a painting that has hidden depictions of what Al Qassemi called “the darkest nights of Iraq.” “Haydar is also the master of hidden messages,” Al Qassemi said. At first glance, the painting appears to be of a man sitting on the ground, but in the background on the left are small and subtle representations of the violence that happened during the uprising, including people being shot by soldiers and women being raped. Al Qassemi said that it can be difficult to access Middle Eastern art because the artists often do not allow their work to be photographed. As a result, many records of Middle Eastern art are in black in white, are grainy or do not exist at all. To combat this, Al Qassemi founded the Barjeel Art Foundation, an initiative in the United Arab Emirates that aims to make modern and contemporary Arab art more accessible.
Prof. Sabine von Mering (GRALL, ENVS), a longtime climate activist, was arrested on Dec. 8 for blocking a freight train carrying coal to Merrimack Station, the largest remaining coal power plant in New England, according to New Hampshire Public Radio. This train blockade is part of the “No Coal, No Gas” campaign, which is organizing actions to limit and eliminate fossil fuel infrastructure in New England. Judge Margaret Guzman dismissed the charges against von Mering and others at the protest on Dec. 9, according to the Lowell Sun. The largest protest of this campaign took place on Sept. 20 at Merrimack Station in Bow, New Hampshire, where 67 people were arrested for trespassing. Von Mering told the Justice in a Jan. 22 interview that she joined the “No Coal, No Gas” campaign following this protest at the request of the Climate Disobedience Center. Recently, this campaign has targeted freight trains delivering coal to Merrimack Station. The train blockade tactic was used at the Dec. 8 protest von Mering participated in. Protesters erected three blockades in an effort to stop coal delivery to Worcester, Ayer and Hookset, New Hampshire. “We managed to stop five [trains],” von Mering said. “I was involved in all of those blockades, but I only risked arrest [at] what we call the ‘Ayer train.’” Independent System Operator New England manages and monitors Massachusetts’ energy, according to Mass.gov. ISOs are independent, not-for-profit organizations that are charged with maintaining electricity access at all times in the New England region. However, they do not prioritize clean energy, and
activists such as von Mering want that to change. “I was honestly completely blown away [when I learned] that we are still burning coal in New England. I realized, not only are we burning coal, but we’re paying for it,” von Mering said. “We’re actually subsidizing this coal plant.” Von Mering said that the goals of this protest were trifold: build a community, show that actions like this can be done and slow down the coal train. This protest, although directed at Merrimack Station, also made a broader statement against the actions of ISO New England. “It’s so interesting that I have been a climate activist for years, [but when] you block a coal train, everyone pays attention. This is sort of a signal,” von Mering said. “People actually pay attention when you do something radical like that.” Although von Mering admitted nonviolent civil disobedience is not for everyone, she has encouraged that people get involved with climaterelated issues. “Every student should understand that climate change will be the defining aspect of their lives and they need to be ready for this,” von Mering said. “You need to understand what it is, and you need to understand how to prepare for the consequences.” Von Mering said that community is an essential component within fighting climate change. “We need to know each other and be comfortable with each other so that when the extreme weather events start happening, we have [people] to go to,” von Mering said. “We need to talk about this, so building community is a super important aspect of fighting climate change.” She said that conversation and support are critical to maintaining sanity and effectiveness while undergoing this climate crisis, so she is planning a dance to strengthen the Brandeis community and encourage discussion about climate-related issues. “I want people to understand that there are so many things we can do [about climate change], but the one thing we cannot do is pretend it’s not happening. That is not an option,” von Mering said. “Business as usual is not an option.”
‘BUSINESS AS USUAL IS NOT AN OPTION’
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THE FIGHT AGAINST FOSSIL FUELS: In a Jan. 22 interview with the Justice, Prof. Sabine von Mering (GRALL, ENVS) stressed the weight and urgency of climate issues.
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
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NEWS
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THE JUSTICE
STUDENT UNION WINTER ELECTIONS
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NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice
MEETING THE CANDIDATES: Tyler Carruth ’23 (left) and Joshua Feld ’22 (center), candidates for associate justice of the Judiciary and Class of 2022 senator respectively, campaigned at the Union’s “Meet the Candidates” forum Monday night.
Candidates compete for seats in Union winter elections ■ 24 candidates vie for 12
seats in the Senate, A-Board and Judiciary in the Union’s January elections. By EMILY BLUMENTHAL, SAMANTHA GOLDMAN, CHAIEL SCHAFFEL, JACKIE TOKAYER and JEN CRYSTAL JUSTICE EDITORS, STAFF WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTING WRITER
In the Student Union’s winter elections, 24 candidates will be competing for 12 seats on the Union Judiciary, Allocations Board and Senate. The Justice attended the Union’s “Meet the Candidates” forum on Monday and asked candidates about their goals if elected to their desired positions.
Senator-at-Large (1 Seat)
One of two candidates running for Senator-at-Large is Alex Park ’22. “I’ve been following the Senate relatively closely for a semester and a half now,” Park said at the candidate forum. “There were a lot of issues that weren’t being addressed,” he said. Park said that he wants to create a forum where students can voice their complaints to the Student Union. Park continued to say that his personality would help him to be able to advocate for Brandeis students. “I’ve been a headstrong person for most of my life,” he said. The second candidate running for Senator-at-Large is Denezia Fahie ’22. Previously, Fahie served as the 2019 Racial Minority Senator. Fahie wrote in her candidate biography that she is “passionate about intentionality regarding how we create and implement equitable campus policies.” This semester, Fahie said she intends to identify “writ-large campus concerns and strategi[ze] to find not only the most effective solution-but more equitable solution.”
Midyear Senator (1 Seat)
Michelle Kleytman ’23 is one of two candidates running for midyear senator. Kleytman said in her candidate biography that she wants “to give back to the program that gave me my start” and “more importantly be a voice for our class.” During the fall semester, Kleytman worked as a campaign manager for a State Senate race in her district, according to her candidate biography. If elected, Kleytman said she promises to “be a resource to each of you, foster inclusivity and … act as your representative to the greater Student Union.” The second candidate running for Midyear Senator is Danielle Malka ’23. Malka said in her candidate biography that she would like to “give back and show [her] appreciation to the students and institution as a whole.” Malka also said being elected would allow her “to assist [her] fellow midyears and any new students with their transition to college life and settling in.”
Class of 2023 Senator (1 Seat)
Ishaan Khurana ’23 decided to run for Senate after leading the Dharmic Prayer Beautification Project, he wrote in a Monday email to the Justice. Doing so made him “[realize] that [he] could make a real impact at this school,” he wrote. Key parts of his platform include making the residence halls easier to clean by installing shoe racks for snow boots and providing more fresh fruits and vegetables in the dining halls. In his candidate biography, Khurana said his largest proposal would be to create a “speed dating for friends” event for first-years to meet friends outside of their classes and residence halls. Madeline Toombs ’23 said in her candidate biography that she wants to be the Class of 2023 senator because of a lack of first-year representation in clubs and student government. “A lot of people were discouraged [and] didn’t want to try [leadership] because they felt like they wouldn’t be taken seriously as freshmen. I just feel like the class of 2023 can do better than that,” she said in a Monday interview with the Justice. As a senator, she would seek to make the Senator of 2023 a more visible position, host forums so first-years could have their voices heard and raise the profile of the Student Union and help it be taken more seriously. If elected, Oona Wood ’23 would seek to “create a community in which everyone is represented,” and create more interfaith and intercultural events on campus, she said in a Monday interview with the Justice. She said that if elected, she will try to create dialogue between the different cultural organizations and put a spotlight on mental health and academic success. She also placed an emphasis on improving campus safety, like creating Uber and Lyft vouchers for students to get home safely.
Class of 2022 Senator (1 Seat)
A Politics and Sociology major from Queens, New York, Joshua Feld ’22 currently sits on the Senate Dining Committee. He wants to become the 2022 Class Senator so he can “attempt to address student concerns on a wider scale,” he wrote in a Monday email to the Justice. Feld wrote that he wants to continue his work on the dining committee, address “longstanding facilities issues that affect constituent housing” and address transfer credit issues. Feld wants to be a diligent representative of his peers, and not neglect them, he wrote.
MKTYP Senator (1 Seat)
Erick Comas Hernandez ’23 said in a Monday email to the Justice that he wants to learn from the experience of student government and take those lessons back to his constituents. “I definitely want to go in there to learn about it and ask questions while also informing everyone of what exactly is going on and how the student government works,” he said. Hernandez
added in his email that he would try to achieve a direct line of communication with his peers for accountability. Hernandez also wants to make the Student Union more diverse and avoid meetings where he is a passive voice, he wrote. “I want to do more than just show up and leave,” he said. In his candidate biography, Hernandez also expressed interest in switching campus toilet paper companies “because [he has] heard complaints about the paper being uncomfortable and too rough,” he said.
Racial Minority Senator (1 Seat)
Jasmyne Jean-Remy ’22 is running unopposed for the position of Racial Minority Senator. She hopes to serve as “a better liaison between clubs and the Student Union,” and “to focus on getting minority voices heard,” she told the Justice in a Monday interview. As a Computer Science major and Business minor, Jean-Remy said she possesses “a different view of Brandeis than other candidates,” as she is frequently “the only Black woman in the class.” If elected senator, she said, she hopes to provide support for minority students in STEM, describing the experience of being a minority in STEM as “alienating.” “I want to let people know that they’re not alone in that experience and that there’s people to help,” she told the Justice.
Three-Semester Seat to Allocations Board (2 Seats)
Ryan Pyatetsky ’22 is running for three-semester Representative to the A-Board because he “want[s] to be more involved on campus,” he told the Justice in a Monday interview. If elected, he said, he plans to focus on making sure that the budget is allocated fairly and enabling every club to “flourish to their greatest potential,” without having the stress of lack of funding, as he wrote in his candidate biography. He also hopes to improve communication between clubs and the Allocations Board and make the process of requesting money easier, he told the Justice. After serving as Racial Minority Representative for the past two semesters, Sonali Anderson ’22 is running for the three-semester representative to the Allocations Board. If elected, she hopes to “continue helping underrepresented culture clubs” and “reassess the budget for racial minority clubs” so as to better advocate for these clubs’ funding, she wrote in her candidate biography. Her prior experience on A-Board provides her with the “knowledge and experience” needed to tackle budget management, analyzing spending report spreadsheets and meeting with club leaders, she wrote.
One-Year Allocations Board Seat (2 Seats)
As a mid-year student, Esther Daube-Valois ’23 plans to bring a new perspective and fresh ideas to the A-Board, she told the Justice in a Monday interview. “From what
@theJustice I’ve heard, the Allocations Board is already doing a lot of great things, and I just want to continue that legacy,” she said. If elected, DaubeValois hopes to work closely with clubs so as to help them “embrace their full potential,” according to her candidate biography. Another goal if elected is to educate the student body on how to best take advantage of all that A-Board has to offer, she said in an interview. Mariya Teslya ’22 said in her candidate biography that she is running for the two-semester representative for A-Board position “for the opportunity to get more involved with clubs and organizations.” If elected, she wrote, she plans to focus her efforts on increasing transparency between clubs and A-Board. “I want to make it easier for clubs to understand how their funds are being managed,” she told the Justice in a Monday interview. Teslya said she has developed “a strong sense of the community” over her year and a half as a Brandeis student, which she says will help her in being “fair and rational” while making important financial decisions. Maggie Chang ’23 is running for A-Board member. Since this is her first semester on campus, Chang said she is eager to become involved with student affairs and activities. She said that joining the Student Union is one of the best ways that she can accomplish this. “Having a say and someone who is responsible is important,” Chang said. “[I would prioritize] the students, hoping that we could make accommodations [and] compromises.” Parker Thompson ’23 is running to be a member of the Union’s A-Board. Thompson said that he has a variety of academic interests that span multiple disciplines. Thompson said in his candidate bio that he would strive to support many programs in order to promote “fiscal diversity.” “I believe it is our responsibility to invest in creative and innovative opportunities that enrich our student body and renew our commitment to lifelong learning, diversity and social justice,” Thompson said. Yonah Shafner ’22 is running for a seat on the A-Board. Shafner has had previous experience with managing funds, and he said in his candidate bio that he was interested in becoming more involved in student government. “I am very excited for this opportunity to collaborate with other Brandeis students and work to appropriately distribute Brandeis’ resources,” Shafner said.
One-Year Racial Minority Allocations Board Seat (1 Seat)
Aria Pradhan ’21 is running unopposed for A-Board member for racial minority students, which is a oneyear seat. Pradhan did not submit a candidate biography.
Associate Justice (1 Seat)
Sophia Reiss ’23 is running for associate justice of the Union Judicia-
ry. Reiss said in her candidate biography that she has previously served two years as a member of the Disciplinary Council in her high school. Reiss said that she appreciates that the Student Union is a court on campus, since she hopes to enter the law field. “[The Student Union] is who we are on campus, and it’s a way [that] people on campus can have a role,” Reiss said. Shivam Nainwal ’22 was inspired to run for associate justice because of the Judiciary’s values of “justice, equality, and equity,” he wrote in his candidate biography. “I think I have all the qualities required to fill the position of the Associate Justice — rationality, justness, and fairness.” Jasmine Huang Fu ’23 wrote in her candidate biography that she cares about “upholding the fairness of the Brandeis Constitution” and hopes “to be the one to ensure that judicial review is executed without bias.” If elected, she hopes to bring her experience in her high school’s student government, mock trial and Model United Nations to her role as associate justice. Roë Keshet ’22 has a strong interest in legal studies and is “passionate about being an advocate and guard for the community and the values that we cherish,” per her candidate biography. If elected to be an associate justice, Keshet wrote, she would use her “eye for detail and nuance that will enable [her] to have a comprehensive understanding of school policy and individual cases that will be brought before the board.” After witnessing the Judiciary’s resolution process of the racial minority senator election last semester, Tyler Carruth ’23 realized he found the interpretation of the Union’s constitution “fascinating” and decided to run for the branch, he told the Justice at the campaign forum. He said that he has “taken it upon myself to read through every Justice and Hoot article over the last 20 years to get an understanding for all the cases the Judiciary has gone through and what the rulings were.” He said he hopes to increase transparency and student awareness of the Judiciary by making an effort to allow the public at some Judiciary meetings. Following three semesters in the Senate, Jake Rong ’21 chose to run for the Judiciary “to take on a new challenge,” he wrote in a Monday email to the Justice. He made the decision to step down after last semester’s Judiciary case against Student Union President Simran Tatuskar ’21 — which concerned Rong’s role as executive senator — led him to reevaluate his role in the Union. Rong was also previously the chair of the Senate’s Rules Committee, and hopes to bring his knowledge of the Bylaws and Constitution, as well as his perspective as a former senator, to the Judiciary. If elected, he told the Justice, he will “continue this trend that has already been started of the Judiciary taking on a more active role and participating in the other [Union] branches.”
THE JUSTICE
‘A POLITICS OF PUBLIC MOURNING’
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By SAMANTHA GOLDMAN JUSTICE EDITOR
Scholar speaks about Chicana/o plays on political dissent ■ María Durán discussed
depictions of grief in Mexican literature and their political implications. By HANNAH TAYLOR JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
María Durán, a Florence Levy Kay Fellow in U.S. Latinx Cultural Studies, delivered a presentation on Wednesday discussing her research project on MexicanAmerican literature, otherwise known as Chicana/o literature. Durán said that through her research, she aims to explore “alternative narratives to grief,” meaning looking at how grief is perceived through non-Western cultures. Durán’s lecture, titled “Towards a Politics of Public Mourning in Chicana/o Literature,” discussed “treating mourning as something that is relevant to politics, noting that it does have political implications, it has political effects and that it is also a way of linking mourning to political engagement and activity.” Durán described grief as being “one of the most powerful human emotions.” In North America, she said, “grief is often understood as a disease,” emphasizing that she saw this both as a “disease” and a “dis-ease.” By this, Durán meant that the concept of grief has been pathologized here, and prolonged mourning is not viewed in a positive manner. She added that psychology has changed how modern society perceives grief, explaining that pathologizing it and viewing it as an ailment makes grief “a debilitating and emotional response to loss that people have to work through efficiently.” This is “an erasure of how we used to think about grief as a holistic, necessary, human, relational experience,” Durán said. Durán explained her research questions as exploring the “unlimited, emotional potential” of grief. Her questions, as included in her slideshow, are “What do responses to loss look like when not inhibited or pathologized?”; “Which discourses or theoretical frameworks illuminate grief and mourning?”; “Why do expressions of grief in literature matter?”; and “What kind of work can mourning carry out?” She said her manuscript, titled “Living Resistance: the Politics
of Mourning in Chicana and Chicano Literature,” explores these questions as they pertain to Chicana/o literature, specifically as presented by late-20th and 21st century Chicana/o playwrights. Durán furthered that these plays show how “[Chicana/o and Mexican] acts of mourning are political and affective responses to loss that actively move beyond the realm of victimhood,” noting that acts of public mourning allow the dead to remain “alive and politically relevant” and treat grief as “something normal.” Durán then discussed a play titled “Braided Sorrow” by Marisela Treviño Orta, which deals with femicide and other violence against women in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. She explained that studies conducted in 2010 reported more than 500 murders of women and girls and more than 1,000 other disappearances in this region of Mexico since 1993, with these numbers still increasing. She said that many people have written fictional plays and texts about the recurring violence, suggesting that there is a link between fictional portrayals and a lack of action from the Mexican government as the victims can be actively mourned through these narratives. “Braided Sorrow” follows a girl named Alma whose family moves to Ciudad Juárez for work. Alma begins working in a “maquiladora,” or assembly plant, through which the play reveals the exploitation of and violence against the women working there. Later, when Alma is attacked, she is saved by La Llorona –– a figure in Latin American fables –– through whom, Durán explained, this play addresses the topic of grief and public mourning. La Llorona is “a surrogate mother whose haunting presence grieves deaths caused by femicide and whose maternal resistance manifests in the form of public mourning,” Durán said. “She’s defending the grievability of the women of Juárez and simultaneously critiques how Mexican state authorities have excluded these women from the political to justify the state’s criminal impunity,” she added. Durán said that because the fable of La Llorona has “indigenous Mexican roots,” the figure is therefore “grieving the anticipated loss of peoples, cultures
and place.” “I read La Llorona as a figure who employs grief for political ends. She mobilizes her grief as a form of resistance and a critical response to loss in Ciudad Juárez, and raises questions about gender violence, citizenship, criminal impunity, neoliberal practices and globalization,” Durán said. Interpreting “Braided Sorrow” further, Durán explained the aesthetics of the play and, in a close reading of a few of La Llorona’s lines, showed how La Llorona felt grief mentally and physically after losing her daughter. “You would not be having this very visceral reaction, emotional reaction, if someone were not grievable,” Durán stated. Quoting Judith Butler, Durán said that “the social vulnerability of our bodies” is what connects us and makes one grievable. “Loss is a human universal,” she read from a Butler quote. Therefore, “the loss of those whose lives were not recognized through a lens of shared vulnerability –– those whose lives are not deemed grievable –– they can’t be mourned because they are always already lost,” Durán added, further quoting Butler. Durán said that the repeated violence against women in Ciudad Juárez and the criminal impunity implies a “meaninglessness of these womens’ lives.” “I contend that public mourning demonstrated through ‘Braided Sorrow’ can help us do the necessary work of politicizing the disappearances and murders of Mexicanas,” Durán said. She called on the audience to pay attention to authors’ portrayals of public mourning in literature –– “They’re defending the grievability of marginalized communities [and] they’re restoring human dignity so we remember they are human.” According to Prof. Fernando Rosenberg (HISP, COML), Durán received an English doctoral degree from the University of North Carolina and wrote her dissertation on “Chicana Perspectives on the Political Ends of Grief and Public Mourning.” Her field of study, Rosenberg added, includes Latinx theater and performance, literary fiction and “engaging also with political questions around non-hegemonous feminist thought and cultural agency toward social change.”
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
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Play reenvisions women’s suffrage movement and Elizabeth Dabanka ’20 discussed their play “I Want to Go to Jail.”
CAMERON CUSHING/the Justice
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CAMPUS SPEAKER
■ WSRC Scholar Pam Swing
MOURNING AND POLITICS: María Durán discussed the use of public mourning in Marisela Treviño Orta’s play “Braided Sorrow” as a means for political dissent, during the event “Towards a Politics of Public Mourning in Chicana/o Literature” on Wednesday.
NEWS
Brandeis Women’s Studies Research Center scholar Pam Swing and undergraduate Elizabeth Dabanka ’20 discussed their play “I Want to Go to Jail,” which is based on the 1919 picketing of the Massachusetts State House by women’s suffrage advocates during the WSRC-sponsored event “Writing a Suffragist Play in 2019,” on Thusday. Swing said that she was partly inspired to write the play because of her grandmother, Betty Gram Swing, who was a full-time national organizer for the National Women’s Party and fought for women’s rights, both nationally and internationally for several decades. The play is focused on six women who participated in the 1919 picketing of the Massachusetts State House, fighting to secure women’s suffrage. The women “weren’t superheroes, they were doing superhero things but they were ordinary people taking up what was a really big deal for them at the time,” Dabanka said. Dabanka said that it was hard not to make the characters “strong,” especially “when you’re looking at it from a 2020 perspective, or in this case, a 2018 perspective.” When writing this play, she and Swing wanted to make it evident that “not all of these women were secure in what they were doing. They were scared; they were your average people,” Dabanka said. Swing and Dabanka also discussed the struggles of writing a play about women’s suffrage in the 21st century. One of the main issues was finding a balance between being historically accurate and interesting. Swing said that a big question that they struggled with was, “What if historically accurate is boring?” Dabanka said that the play “Hamilton” was an inspiration for this play because it was written using reimagined history. It is also important to acknowledge the exclusion of black women in history, Dabanka said, which was another struggle when envisioning how their play would be written and performed. Dabanka said
that they “thought it was important to have a racially diverse cast because [they] didn’t want to limit the people who could participate in this play.” Swing and Dabanka discussed the first versions of the play, where they had 36 characters and went through many rounds of cutting characters until they ended with the six main women — Alice Paul, Betty Gram Swing, Lucy Daniels, Katharine Morey, Rosa Roewer and Martha Foley. Paul was the head of the National Women’s Party and the strategic mastermind behind the picketing. Gram Swing was Swing’s grandmother and the only one to resist arrest. Daniels was an outspoken Vermont suffragist who advocated for including black women in the suffragist movement. Morey was an officer of the Boston branch of the National Woman’s Party. Mrs. Roewer was a local Boston mother of three whose husband threatened to sue unless she was kept in jail, after an anonymous man paid her fine. Foley was the youngest of the women and had never taken part in a public protest. Foley was not originally the main character of the play, but as the character found her passion in writing about the suffragist movement, Swing and Dabanka found Foley becoming the main character. Throughout the play, Foley transforms from being unsure about herself to being confident in her passions and beliefs. Swing and Dabanka showed three scenes of “I Want to Go to Jail,” which was performed at the Concord Free Public Library in August 2019, then asked attendees their thoughts on the play. One attendee suggested that there may have been a struggle between “being historically accurate and speaking in metaphors or language that’s more resonant with where we are now.” Another attendee said that it is easy to forget that many of the leaders of history were also ordinary people, which the play focused on. On the play’s website, Swing and Dabanka wrote that, “as we approach the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment, ‘I Want to Go to Jail’ celebrates and honors the women who would not give up until American women won the legal right to vote. The centennial also gives all of us an opportunity to think about the issues of voting rights and social justice, both then and now.”
VOTES FOR WOMEN!
NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice
SUFFRAGE REIMAGINED: WSRC Scholar Pam Swing and Elizabeth Dabanka ’20 discussed their play “I Want to Go to Jail,” a reimagining of women’s suffrage advocates’ 1919 picket of the Massachusetts State House.
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‘SHOAH’ SCREENING SPARKS CONVERSATION
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
PROVOST: Lynch to leave position after spring term CONTINUED FROM 1 Athletics, according to Leibowitz’s email. Lynch also led the University’s reaccreditation process and increased the school’s research funding, according to the email. Leibowitz called Lynch a “superb colleague,” saying he would miss her “smarts, her deep commitment to the University, and her sense of humor.” In an email to the Justice on Jan. 27, Lynch said her key contributions were her hirings and fundraising. “I am thrilled with the people that I have been able to recruit to key positions to support our academic mission and student life at Brandeis,” she wrote. These positions include Dean of Arts and Sciences Dorothy Hodgson, Dean of the Heller School David Weil, Vice Provost for Student Affairs Raymond Ou, Athletic Director Lauren Haynie and more. Lynch said in her email that her
fundraising was some of her most impactful leadership as Provost. “More than $1 million in seed funding support to faculty has already resulted in more than $7 million in new sponsored research and significant advances in scholarship,” she wrote. According to her email, Lynch will spend her sabbatical year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Institute for Work and Employment Research, researching the future of labor. She also said she plans to work on two different book projects. In addition to her time at Brandeis, Lynch has served as a policy associate at the Economic Policy Institute and the National Bureau of Economic Research for 27 years, and as a research fellow for the Institute of Labor Economics for 19 years. Between 2004 and 2009, she was the chair, then director, of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
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HISTORY AND HERITAGE: Prof. Tom Doherty (AMST) wrote in an email to the Justice, "Brandeis was founded in 1948 — in the wake of the Holocaust, by a generation of American Jews who knew in their bones the horrors of antisemitism." On Holocaust Remembrance Day, the University screened the documentary "Shoah." A panel followed the screening.
SHOAH: Univ. participates in worldwide screening of Holocaust documentary CONTINUED FROM 1 posed that students watch a portion of it at the screening, and continue later, in their free time. “Shoah is a long film about a heavy topic,” she said. “[It] should be enjoyed at the speed most comfortable to its viewers.” With U.S. locations in Boston, New York, Chicago, Washington, San Francisco and Los Angeles, the Goethe Institut encourages dialogue between Germany and the United States about culture, language and education, their website explains. In addition to screenings held in the United States, Goethe Institutes in Brazil, Chile, Germany, England, Italy, Canada, Nigeria, Rwanda, Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Uruguay also participated in the screening, according to Worldwide Reading. United States branches of the Goethe Institute organized screen-
ings of the documentary in response to the Berlin International Literature Festival’s call to “cinemas, individuals, schools, universities, the media, and cultural institutions” to join the worldwide screening of Shoah, per the Goethe Institut website. Awarded in 2013 with a Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, Lanzmann’s documentary is regarded as “one of the best films made about the Holocaust,” as stated in The Hollywood Reporter. In a 1985 review of the documentary, film critic Roger Ebert described Shoah as a “550-minute howl of pain and anger in the face of genocide. It is one of the noblest films ever made.” Irr explained that the length of the film is part of what makes it so unforgettable. “One does not simply watch Shoah,” Irr said. “One survives it — and in so doing one feels in one's own body what survival entails."
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Lanzmann came to Brandeis in 2012 when he was interviewed by Oscar-winning documentarian Errol Morris about his memoir, "The Patagonian Hare," according to the Blog for the Division of Social Sciences at Brandeis. In an email to Brandeis students on Jan. 21, CGES added that a “generous grant” from the German Academic Exchange Service made the department’s programming possible. The DAAD website says that their organization encourages interaction between German and United States students, researchers and universities through grants and scholarships. As well as being hosted by the CGES department, the screening was co-sponsored by several departments, including History; English; Near-Eastern and Judaic Studies; Theater Arts; and German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature, according to an event flyer.
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020● FEATURES ● THE JUSTICE
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VERBATIM | ZIG ZIGLAR People often say that motivation doesn’t last long. Well, neither does bathing — that’s why we recommend it daily.
ON THIS DAY…
In 2014, Hong Kong placed a three - week ban on the importation of live chickens because of the spread of the H7N1 bird flu.
FUN FACT
The first American lighthouse was placed in the Boston Harbor in 1716.
Image Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE RESILIENCE FAIR
About the organizers: - The Care Team is a group of Brandeis administrators from several departments that work to address student wellness concerns and connect students with appropriate University services. - Prevention Advocacy Resource Center is a group of peer advocates, professional staff members and violence prevention educators that offer confidential and educational services related to sexual harassment, sexual assault and domestic/dating violence. - Health and Wellness Promotion is the group in charge of health and wellness promotion around campus. It heads several smaller groups, like Bridge to Wellness, that direct and conduct wellness and health initiatives.
An inside look at wellness promotion on campus. By ELIANA PADWA JUSTICE EDITOR
Mental health is often on students’ minds at Brandeis, with community therapy initiatives and events such as Spa Night Done Right demonstrating a drive for well-being. The Resilience Fair, which occurs a few times a semester, is a school-sponsored effort to help students celebrate wellness. At the fair, which will take place on Jan. 29, students will learn about bouncing back from challenges and navigating difficult situations. Curious about the process of educating students on their mental processes, the Justice spoke with some of the fair’s organizers, including members of the Care Team, the Prevention, Advocacy and Resource Center, Health and Wellness Promotion and the Dean of Students Office. What is the main purpose behind this event? Wendy Gordon-Hewick, Care Team case manager, Dean of Students Office: The purpose the of Resilience Fair is to have an interactive opportunity to enhance the understanding of what resilience is (skills needed to bounce back from challenges, grow from
failure, and build capacity to navigate and overcome difficult situations), and to raise awareness of campus resources that support resilience in our community. Vilma Uribe, assistant director of PARC: The main purpose is to bring together students, staff and faculty to learn about resources on-campus that can support our entire community in building up our resilience – the skills needed to bounce back, cope with, and endure with difficult situations. Why did you get involved? More broadly, why did you decide to join the group that you work with? Leah Berkenwald, director of Health Promotion and Wellness Initiatives: When Wendy approached me about her idea for the Resilience Fair, I was excited to work with her, the Dean of Students’ Office and our partners in PARC and Graduate Student Affairs. College wellness work is most effective when it’s collaborative, so I feel very excited to be a part of this community-wide effort. WGH: I joined the Care Team at Brandeis in the new position of case manager in July
2018. Much of what Care Team does is reactive; that is, support students to get connected to resources that support success in times of distress. Together with our campus partners, I wanted to create a proactive event so resources feel more accessible even when no overt distress is present. Brandeis has many resources, but many in our campus community don’t know about them, so the idea of the Resilience Fair was to bring resources together in a welcoming environment to increase awareness. VU: I got involved with the Resilience Fair because I think that resiliency is a crucial part in my work with people who have been impacted by violence. Creating a space to explore different ways of accessing resiliency is a crucial tool when supporting someone’s healing journey. The Resilience Fair is also a great place to explore some of the resources that we have on campus who offer different approaches to help us build resilience. For example, community is a great tool to build resiliency. It can help us feel less isolated and can make us feel more comfortable reaching out for support when we need it. If you’re a grad student getting to know the friendly faces at the Graduate Student Center could be a first step in getting more comfortable reaching out to the community there. I joined PARC because of its mission and history. I was really moved when I learned about the student activism that helped create our office. After working a number of years in community organizations such as The Network/La Red, I learned the importance of empowering communities to mobilize against violence and oppression. At PARC, I have the great privilege of working and mentoring an amazing team of peer advocates and violence prevention educators who challenge oppression and violence every day and that is truly amazing. What do you want students to take away from this fair? LB: It’s important for students to have opportunities to get to know campus resources in a low-stakes, friendly environment. Additionally, by participating in the educational activities at each resource table, students can learn quick tips and takeaways for building up their own resilience.
CHRISTINA KIM/the Justice
Design: Megan Liao/the Justice
WGH: My hope is that students and others
in our campus community gain an increased awareness about one, what resilience is and that skill areas and theoretical framework exist, and two, campus resources that support resilience. VU: One, I hope that students learn who the people are behind the offices, two, that there are different ways to build resilience and three, that it is okay to reach out for support.
CHRISTINA KIM/the Justice
What tips would you give students regarding resilience and reaching out for help when in need? LB: Keep a growth mindset and practice self-compassion. Give yourself credit for what you’ve accomplished so far and look for the opportunity and potential for growth in every setback. Ask for help early and often; utilizing campus resources is smart, not shameful! WGH: Life is rarely a straight line to achieve success — bumps along the way are inevitable. The capacity to grow, navigate challenges and “bounce back” can be supported, but only if students are able to recognize they need help and respond to it when offered. Receiving help sometimes makes us feel vulnerable, but it is really a powerful way to embrace strength. VU: It is okay to try things out and later decide that they’re not what we want or need at the moment. When it comes to building resiliency, having the option to choose the tools that work for us rather than what everyone assumes we need is crucial. For example, mindfulness does not work for everyone and that’s okay!
THE JUSTICE ● FEATURES ● TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2019
A GUIDE TO STUDYING ABROAD
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Celebrate Study Abroad Week with some advice from students who have returned from abroad. Photos by THU LE/the Justice
TIME TO EXPLORE: Brandeis allows students to study abroad for a semester or for an entire academic year, depending on their academic and personal goals.
By SOFIA GONZALEZ JUSTICE EDITOR
According to Brandeis’ website, around 40% of each junior class will study abroad during the academic year. With 200 hundred programs offered in over 60 countries, students are given the opportunity to become immersed in a new language, fulfill University requirements and learn in a novel context. This past week, the Office of Study Abroad hosted “Study Abroad Week,” holding informational events throughout campus and featuring student experiences on social media. The Justice emailed several students who have completed a program abroad in order to learn about some of the benefits and challenges that may accompany the decision to study in a different country. -Melissa Rothenberg ’21: Summer 2018 in Copenhagen -Roman Loper ’20: Spring 2019 in Chile -Rolonda Donelson ’20: Spring 2019 in China Why did you decide to study abroad? MR: I decided to study abroad for a couple reasons. First of all, I had never left the country before so I knew that studying abroad was a good opportunity. I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone, so going to a foreign place and living on my own was the perfect chance to do this. In particular, I really liked the Brandeis in Copenhagen program because it was a summer program (which I needed because I am an athlete at school), it fit in well with my major track, and I liked the idea of having a Brandeis teacher come with. RL: I decided to study abroad because, while there are tons of great learning opportunities here at Brandeis, I think it’s also important to supplement learning with experience. Studying abroad in college is a unique opportunity that wouldn’t be as available in any other time in my life, so I felt like it was important to take advantage of the opportunity while I had the chance. I also felt like going abroad would give me a new perspective on everything I’d
learned here at Brandeis. RD: I am currently an International and Global Studies major so as a requirement for my major I had to partake in an international experience. I wanted to be a part of the global classroom and learn about things while actually being there. For example, while abroad I was able to enroll in a Shanghai History course and I was able to explore the sites of the city because I was actually there. What are some things students should consider before selecting a program? MR: Picking a program can be tricky, but there’s one out there for everyone! Personally, I picked a program based on language since I knew I needed a country that spoke English. It is important to keep in mind that many programs have a language requirement. Students should also keep weather in mind, as this can help guide when they want to actually go abroad. Finally, it is important to see how a program fits into your academic plan at Brandeis, which the study abroad office is really good at helping you with. RL: Before selecting a program, I advise students to think about why they want to go abroad and what they hope to get from that experience. Each study abroad program is unique and offers a different experience, so it is important to check in with your own priorities so you know what you’re looking for. That being said, you’re not alone in this process! The Study Abroad advisors really helped me get a sense of my goals for abroad, and helped me narrow down my decision to find the perfect program. RD: Some things students should consider when choosing a program are location and housing preference. There are all types of program in different regions around the world and the climate is completely different. For example, the weather in Boston during February is totally different than the weather in Australia during the same time. Also, choosing a housing style is very important when choosing where to go abroad. Do you want to live with a host family? In a dorm? Do you want to cook your own meals? Or do you want an on-campus meal plan?
INFORMATION FROM STUDENTS: The Study Abroad Office brought ambassadors who had returned from abroad to talk to students considering programs for the next academic years.
What are some of the challenges you faced leaving and/or coming back? MR: I was beyond nervous before I left! There were so many unknowns, but I was ready to face them. Coming back, I immediately realized that I needed to travel more, so I had a hard time being realistic about this. A lot of people have such a great time abroad that they have a hard time leaving. Adjusting once I got back was a challenge at first academically, but once I got into a routine I figured it out. RL: Leaving my friends at Brandeis and my family back home was challenging. However, once I was abroad I met a bunch of wonderful people who made me feel at home in Chile. The distance from friends and family can be hard at first, but I was still able to stay in touch with people. It was a bit unnerving to not really know what to expect once I arrived in Chile (as I usually like to plan every detail). But I soon found that facing and navigating these challenges is the most important part of going abroad because it forces you to step out of your comfort zone and grow. Honestly, the biggest challenge I faced when I got back to the States was missing my time abroad! RD: One challenge I faced when leaving for abroad was going from living in a city like DC with less than 1 million people to Shanghai which is one of the most populous cities in the world. So my first few days were a time of cultural adjustment or me. This cultural adjustment was something I also had to face when coming home. I was no longer drinking soy milk for breakfast everyday or living with a roommate. So I had to readjust back to my life at home. What advice would you give someone thinking of studying abroad? MR: If someone is on the fence about studying abroad, I would definitely encourage them to do it! You rarely will get the chance to temporarily live in another country. Studying abroad was so important for my personal growth, and everyone I speak to who has studied abroad has felt similarly. I know it can seem ridiculously overwhelm-
FIRST, RESEARCH: The Office of Study Abroad sponsored “Study Abroad Extravaganza,” which allowed students to discuss study abroad programs with staff and faculty.
ing, but it’s worth it! RL: First, if you are even slightly considering studying abroad you should schedule an appointment with our Study Abroad Advisors or come to drop-in hours MondayFriday from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.! I also advise students to make a list of what qualities they are looking for in a study abroad experience (everything from the region, language and course material to the general lessons they hope to learn). That’s what I did when I was considering studying abroad, and my list made it very clear to me that studying abroad was
an essential part of my education at Brandeis. It also helped take away a lot of the uncertainty involved in making that decision. RD: Some advice I would give to someone thinking about studying abroad is to do a lot of research. Gather all the information you can about potential programs you may want to attend as well as information about your potential host country. This program and your host country will be your home for however long you decide to study abroad. This information can be helpful in deciding where to go.
SELECTING A PROGRAM: Representatives of the Office of Study Abroad were present throughout the week to discuss budgeting and billing for those considering attending a program. Design: Yael Hanadari-Levy/the Justice
10 TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020 ● FORUM ● THE JUSTICE
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Jocelyn Gould, Editor in Chief Jen Geller, Managing Editor Avraham Penso and Natalia Wiater, Senior Editors Andrew Baxter, Hannah Kressel, Eliana Padwa Yvette Sei, Lily Schmidt-Swartz, Judah Weinerman and Maya Zanger-Nadis, Associate Editors Emily Blumenthal and Gilda Geist, News Editors Sofia Gonzalez, Acting Features Editor Gabriel Frank, Forum Editor, Megan Geller, Sports Editor Luke Liu, Arts & Culture Editor Noah Zeitlin, Photography Editor Yael Hanadari-Levy, Graphic Design Editor River Hayes and Hannah O’Koon, Copy Editors Frances Hoffen and Yona Splaver, Ads Editors Samantha Goldman, Online Editor
EDITORIALS
Recognizing students’ campus concerns
It is 2020, which means elections, Olympics and last but not least, that Brandeis University is now back in session! Hearing student tales of a less than optimal start to the semester, the Justice opted to highlight some of the issues that plague students. Some problems students face — faulty WiFi, for instance — may be unavoidable, while others could easily be mitigated by improved communication between students, faculty and administration.
Wi-Fi Eduroam, the service which provides WiFi to campus, stopped working for several hours last Monday, Jan. 20. The firewall problems, which cut off internet access, also affected LATTE, so students accessing the Internet through other means still could not access that crucial website. This board commends the University for emailing the entire campus to notify us about the Internet outage. However, students worry that the full impact of the outage was not conveyed properly to professors. Without Internet or LATTE access on a day many students had set aside to finish assignments, many students were behind for the week, or at least for Tuesday. This board suggests that in the future, professors should be mandated to offer extensions on assignments due the day after such a lengthy Internet outage. Failing that, professors should at least be encouraged to think about the impact of the outage on students, and to respond empathetically to legitimate requests for extensions. No one wants to begin the semester on a negative note. Reduced Status Students in their final semester who have completed a major and all core requirements have the opportunity to attend school on a reduced status. Reduced status students can take as few as one course, and pay per class instead of semesterly tuition. The reduced status option is designed for seniors who are writing a thesis or taking an internship class, or who could graduate after their seventh semester but could be enticed to stay by cheaper costs. However, because of the complexity of financial aid, reduced status is not the most cost-effective option for all students. Each new course adds several thousands of dollars to the bill, so adding an additional one class can drastically change the economic impact of reduced status. Because students are required to declare reduced status during the October of their seventh semester, as opposed to during course selection, they face a major financial decision months later during shopping period, as they finalize what their semester will look like. Reduced status students are required to finalize their status within the semester’s first week, meaning that they have a much shorter window during which to choose classes and figure out how many credits they want to take. This board calls on the University to amend that process to allow reduced status students the time and trials needed to make the best decision. Gym classes The new Brandeis Core, unveiled in the fall of 2019, separated physical education courses at Brandeis into half-semester Health, Wellness and Life Skills modules, as stated in a Sept. 24 article in the Justice. These courses tend to be offered during popular class times — Wednesday mornings and Monday afternoons, for instance — preventing students from taking both a desired HWL and classes they may need for academic fulfillment. Moreover, the module system is inconvenient for students who
work jobs, as their schedules switch halfway through the semester, leading to convoluted work schedules and confused employers. This board asks that the University reverse the module system and begin offering fullsemester HWL classes, as it had done in past years. Failing that, the University could consider offering these courses at unpopular class times, or at night alongside the Brandeis Athletics sponsored exercise classes. Either solution would allow students a better range of options and be more considerate of busy students’ lives. In addition to longterm changes, this board proposes a quick fix to the off-putting requirement: offering the fitness test to juniors and seniors. This one-time test allows students to earn HWL credits conveniently, but it is only available until the end of sophomore year and is not included as an option in the HWL listing in the University Bulletin. Offering the fitness test regularly to all students would demonstrate concern for student needs and create fewer headaches for all parties. Shopping Period and Textbooks Brandeis University offers a two-week period at the beginning of the semester during which students can try out different classes without committing administratively or financially to taking the course. Most students begin the semester with a schedule fairly set, but still often use the shopping period to finalize their choices or experiment with an empty slot. Students are responsible for all work they miss by adding a class late during this period, which is reasonable. Realistically, professors cannot abstain from assigning work for the first two weeks of class. However, problems arise when the work professors assign during shopping period necessitate purchased resources, such as textbooks or online access codes. Students who are unsure if they are keeping a class, or whose materials have not arrived yet are prevented from completing assignments. This board recognizes that the University Bookstore allows all books purchased to be returned within the shopping period for a full refund. However, some students do not have the financial resources to pay money for many extra textbooks at once, or decide to attend a class only the night before. This board asks for it to be University policy that all materials necessary for the first two weeks of classes are available online for free. Additionally, all physical books needed for class should be held on reserve at the library as well. Professors should be mindful of the ways students use campus resources. For example, placing a book on hold at the library may seem trivial to them — but it can be life changing for their students. Printing Many professors require students to print readings to bring to class. Often, these readings are not actually discussed during the given class, or are given only a cursory acknowledgement. Even when they are fully utilized, students are inconvenienced by spending their own money on printing materials they will potentially use once. Printing costs money, and though a small cost like 30 cents may sound trivial, 30 cents of printing twice a week for four classes quickly adds up. Additionally, some classes require students to purchase online texts and then to also shell out the cost of printing them — an additional financial burden that professors should be cognizant of and strive to avoid. This board asks professors to be mindful of students’ financial restrictions. Yes, using electronics in class can be distracting. But they’re also a useful tool and can make Brandeis more equitable.
AMANDA PYUN/ the Justice
Views the News on
In an editorial published on Jan. 19, the New York Times took an unorthodox approach to their traditional endorsement of a Democratic nominee for president. The editorial board chose to endorse not one, but two candidates: a progressive, Elizabeth Warren, and a moderate, Amy Klobuchar. The Times cited them as the candidates best equipped to handle the myriad of issues that Americans and the world face, as well as the most likely candidates to defeat President Trump on the national stage. Do you agree with the decision to endorse two candidates, and do you think endorsing two candidates changes the significance of the endorsement itself? What are your thoughts on the Times’ choice of candidates?
Prof. Eileen McNamara (JOUR) Democratic primary ballots are not restaurant menus. Voters do not get to choose one from Column A and one from Column B. They are expected to make a single choice. The failure of the editorial board of The New York Times to do so is a failure of leadership. It renders the newspaper’s endorsement meaningless. But it is questionable whether readers in 2020 look to the editorial writers of The New York Times, or any publication, for guidance about their vote. That influence has long been waning. Eileen McNamara is a professor of the Practice of Journalism and the director of the Journalism Program.
Daniel Ruggles In choosing to endorse two candidates, the Times has made perhaps a precedent-breaking journalistic stance but hardly, as I see it, a noteworthy political statement. Choosing two candidates within an unusually crowded Democratic primary is reflective of the chaos and identity crisis the Party is facing: moving towards either progressive or centrist values. Does the endorsement of two candidates change the significance of the Times’ endorsement? Perhaps for some, but for the many who have already aligned with a candidate, such an endorsement is further noise in a crowded field of opinion. As to the choice of candidates I will not comment, except to urge my fellow Brandeisians to vote in the coming months for whom they believe will best represent their values and the American ethos. Daniel Ruggles is a Ph.D. candidate in the Politics Department specializing in American Politics.
Prof. Zachary Albert (POL) The Times’ decision to endorse two candidates was certainly unusual. It probably reflects two considerations: a desire to avoid feeding into the divisions within the Democratic field, and an attempt to appeal to the varied (though mostly liberal) attitudes of their readers. Unfortunately, in the effort to offend no one, it seems like they’ve upset everyone. And, to the degree that the left/moderate divide among Democratic candidates is a meaningful one, the Times’ endorsements don’t offer much guidance for undecided voters. In fact, the twin endorsements likely dilute the influence that the decision might have on voters looking to choose a nominee. This, to me, is a mistake, especially as more and more groups are attempting to influence the nomination through their own endorsements. If the Times wants to have a say, then they should say something meaningful. Otherwise, there are plenty of other actors willing to shout over them. Zachary Albert is an assistant professor in the Politics Department.
Donnie Weisse ’20
It may not win someone the nomination, but in a crowded field— and before such an important election—I think an endorsement from the Times editorial board can help give undecided voters some direction. While endorsing two candidates doesn’t necessarily defeat this purpose, given the divided state of the Democratic party I think that’s exactly what the Times did in choosing both a moderate and a progressive. It’s a cop-out, and it side steps the big question of which direction the Democratic party should go. The main goal is to beat Donald Trump, and I think to do so the Democrats need a candidate that can: 1. Shut him down in a debate; and 2. Excite voters and draw a big turnout. I don’t know if Elizabeth Warren can do that, and Amy Klobuchar, who I’m pretty sure is polling below Mike Bloomberg, definitely won’t get the chance to.
Donnie Weisse ‘20 is the UDR for the Journalism Program and is majoring in American Studies and minoring in Journalism and Legal Studies. Photos: Donnie Weisse, Noah Zeitlin/the Justice/Justice File Photo/Brandeis University File Photo
THE JUSTICE ● FORUM ● TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
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The opioid crisis: more nuanced than you might think By ABIGAIL CUMBERBATCH JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
If you were asked to describe a drug addict, what would you say? Would adjectives such as pale, skinny, desperate, uncontrollable, volatile and unpredictable cross your mind? Would you dare to expand your imagination and envision a drug addict who also has a family, a marriage, an education and a job? The single image of drug addicts that society has perpetuated does not always mirror the reality of addiction. Drug addiction affects individuals of every race, gender and socioeconomic status. Once it is clearly understood that drug addicts range in appearance, gender and wealth, available treatments and methods should also illustrate that point. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2017, more than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses. Additionally, 68% of those deaths involved a prescription or illicit opioid. On average, 130 Americans die every day from opioid overdose. While these numbers are tragic to read, it really does call into question the goal of the CDC and other drug overdose prevention organizations. Is the aim to prevent more deaths, or to further understand the complexity behind opioid addiction (both physically and mentally)? The answer to this question is not so clear. With the statistics previously presented, it seems reasonable to first deal with the amount of opioid related deaths and then address longer term issues. While methods such as Naloxone and safe injection sites have come under scrutiny for being a “motivation” for drug addicts to continue their reckless behavior, I don’t share such a dismissive attitude. In an effort to reduce the amount of opioid related deaths, the Food and Drug Administration first approved the use of Naloxone for opioid overdoses intravenously in 1971. Naloxone has been heralded the “antidote” for opioid overdoses due to its fast acting properties. When injected intravenously, it takes two minutes to take effect. Naloxone works by inhibiting the attachment of opioid molecules to receptors in the central nervous system. In the 1990s, medical professionals began experimenting
with different forms of Naloxone; but more specifically, forms that could be used safely in non-hospital settings. They created the most commonly used form of Naloxone today, which comes in the form of a nasal spray. But is this quick-acting drug our solution to the opioid epidemic? While I do believe in the importance of Naloxone and greatly appreciate the amount of lives that it has brought back from the brink of death, I struggle to understand how it addresses the more serious problem at hand: addiction itself. After Naloxone is administered to the overdosed individual, they are not required to go to the hospital unless their motor and verbal skills are impaired after waking up. So if a hospital visit is not required, what is preventing this individual from using again? Not only does Naloxone block the opioid from attaching to its receptor, it also prevents a high and in some cases, withdrawal symptoms are experienced. This may trigger the individual to want to use again, even if they just experienced an overdose. Evidently, even though Naloxone performs “miracles,” it does not solve the underlying issue. Another method proposed to deal with the opioid crisis are places known as safe injection sites. Safe injection sites are meant to be welcoming environments to drug addicts who are allowed to use drugs under medical supervision, in order to provide immediate help in case an overdose occurs. Safe injection sites have become a highly contested topic in the United States. Many politicians view it as a way to perpetuate drug use and some have gone as far as to label it a moral hazard. While it may not be the ideal solution to combating opioid addiction, it has offered drug addicts safe, clean spaces to recuperate from a high and seek medical attention if a more serious incident takes place. If the plan of attack is to decrease the amount of opioid related deaths first, safe injection sites are just a stepping stone to devising more concrete solutions. While the United States government has not been a strong supporter for the creation of safe injection sites, Europe, Canada and Australia have taken the initiative and have opened up 120 safe injection sites combined.
CHRISTINA KIM/ the Justice
Safe injection sites in these areas have lead to a reduction of overdose deaths and transmission of bloodborne diseases. Additionally, overdose prevention facilities have become associated with fewer discarded needles in public areas and reduced overall litter. While both methods presented in this article do not directly address addiction itself, they do shed light on the stigmatization that many drug addicts and former drug addicts face in society. The depictions of addiction in American society, whether it be through media platforms, television shows, movies, or even out of our own mouths, fail to illustrate the complexity of drug addiction. We can all have opinions about these individuals, but until we have tried to gain a better sense of who these individuals are, we will never be successful in
combating opioid addiction. I never imagined that facilities would be created to allow drug addicts to continue using drugs under supervised conditions. When I first stumbled across this piece of information, I was quick to condemn the very concept. But as I researched more on safe injection sites, I realized that on the surface these facilities may be embracing controversial behavior — but when one delves deeper into the function of these sites, their attempts to provide safety and community among healthcare professionals and drug addicts are admirable. This may not entirely solve issues related to the opioid crisis, but it does give individuals struggling with addiction another opportunity to see value in a life where addiction, treatment and recovery is not so black and white.
What to learn from Hillary Clinton’s primary struggles Judah
WEINERMAN CHATTERBOX
All the way back in the now ancient-year of 2008, a bygone era when Tik Tok was neither social media platform nor Ke$ha single, the Democratic Party’s presidential primary was mired in a nasty state of affairs by its conclusion. Long thought to have the contest in the bag, Senator Hillary Clinton slowly lost ground to political newcomer Barack Obama over the course of a lengthy and bruising primary season. As Obama racked up primary wins and slowly neared the magic delegate number of 2,117, a group of furious Clinton backers formed a group named PUMA. Although they claimed that the acronym stood for “People United Means Action,” that was a fig leaf for its real name of “Party Unity My Ass.” PUMA actively attempted to sabotage Obama’s campaign, encouraging former Clinton supporters to write in her name on the ballot or vote for Republican nominee John McCain, and was an early booster of the Obama birtherism conspiracy theories. Remember “Bernie or Bust,” the very small but very vocal group of Sanders supporters who promised to stay home or vote for Donald Trump if he wasn’t the nominee? PUMA was there first. Something of a political afterthought after her stunning defeat in the 2016 general election, the former First Lady and Secretary of State has reinserted herself back in the national conversation in a big way of late. Ahead of a Hulu documentary airing next month, Clinton attacked Sanders in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, claiming that Sanders “was
in Congress for years. He had one senator support him. Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done. He was a career politician. It’s all just baloney and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it.” Harsh stuff indeed. Additionally, when asked if she would vote for Sanders if he became the Democratic nominee, Clinton refused to answer, flatly stating,“I’m not going to go there yet. We’re still in a very vigorous primary season.” Instead, she doubled down on her criticism of the Vermont Senator, remarking, “I will say, however, that it’s not only him, it’s the culture around him. It’s his leadership team. It’s his prominent supporters. It’s his online Bernie Bros and their relentless attacks on lots of his competitors, particularly the women.” Although she successfully dissociated herself from PUMA 12 years ago, it appears that Clinton is channeling its energy. One might ask why Clinton felt the need to pipe up about Sanders all of a sudden, particularly since the 2020 Democratic candidates have almost entirely avoided mentioning the former Secretary of State, whose standing with Democratic voters remains at an all-time low. The roundabout answer will point to Sanders’ recent spat with Elizabeth Warren over a he saidshe said story about comments he may or may not have made about the viability of a woman presidential candidate, and will charitably interpret Hillary’s outburst as her intervening on Warren’s behalf as a fellow woman politico. This probably isn’t untrue, but it’s missing a rather easy thread to spot. The simple answer is that Hillary Clinton doesn’t want Bernie Sanders to be the Democratic nominee, really doesn’t want him to be President and really, really doesn’t want his strain of social democracy to become standard within the Democratic Party. As the first-in-the nation Iowa caucuses approach, Sanders is surging in state and national polls. A recent New York Times/ Siena poll of registered Iowa voters found Sanders with a 7-point lead over runner-up Pete Buttegieg.
A WBUR/MassINC survey found him with a 12-point lead over the secondplace Buttegieg. Of course, Sanders supporters shouldn’t start writing his nomination speech quite yet: primary voters are a notoriously fickle lot, and even two early victories cannot outright end a primary season this well-funded. Besides, Joe Biden’s nearly 20-point lead in South Carolina will assuredly give him momentum heading into all-important Super Tuesday, where the absurdly well-funded Michael Bloomberg will appear on ballots for the first time. If success in pre-primary polling were all you needed to be nominated, we’d be talking about how these Democrats stack up with President Jeb. The scary part for centrist Democrats like Clinton is that Bernie is being taken seriously at all after they signed the Vermont Senator’s death warrant many times over. In the dog days of September, the Sanders campaign appeared left for dead. With his thunder stolen by the then-ascendant Warren and a heart attack scare convincing many in the media class his age was a liability, the Sanders campaign was on the decline. Clinton and allies like the Center for American Progress’ Neera Tanden and Tom Watson were likely sleeping soundly, content that an acceptable candidate like Kamala Harris or Warren would eventually surpass Biden. After Warren’s clumsy rollout of her healthcare plan alienated many of her supporters on the party’s soft left and liberal darling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined the Sanders campaign as a surrogate, that decline halted. In the months since, Sanders has established a clear lead over every Democrat barring Joe Biden, with Warren’s reputation on the party’s left in permanent tatters and Buttegieg’s support with the African American Democratic base doggedly stuck between 0.5 percent and “humanity has not yet invented a device to observe something this small.” Recent publications from the New York Times would lead you to believe that there is a candidate named “Amy Klobuchar” in the
race, but the available evidence suggests that the coverage of this rarely-seen candidacy is some sort of elaborate prank the D.C. press corps is playing while they anxiously await the Iowa results. Although a good deal of political observers and insiders predicted a Biden/Bernie showdown on the horizon from the very moment Trump took office, that contest always comprised the nightmare scenario for the neoliberal Third Way set that Clinton serves as the avatar for. On one hand, a Biden victory would be a tough pill to swallow for many in the Clinton camp, putting another problematic white man at the head of a moderate wing that has spent the better part of a decade making issues of representation a major party tenet. On the other, a Sanders nomination represents a true doomsday scenario for the Demcratic Party’s right, a complete repudiation of their central political ideal. Sanders is promising to win the primary and the general not by the traditional Democratic approach of appealing to the political center, but by energizing would-be voters who have given up on the process to come out and vote for the first time. If Sanders’ wager on voter engagement bears fruit, it would throw the Democratic playbook used since Jimmy Carter became president straight into the garbage. Whether you agree with Sanders or not, one must recognize that his candidacy is implicitly staked upon the notion that Democrats have needlessly handcuffed themselves, prisoners to a center that never really existed. Existing as Hillary Clinton in a Democratic Party recast in Sanders’ image would render her a living political fossil, like those Rockerfeller Republicans rendered inert in the age of Reagan. According to rumormongering, even Barack Obama has begun to get skittish about the prospect of a Sanders win, albeit not enough to make his fears public. If Sanders keeps up the success, expect other longtime Democrats to pull out the old PUMA card.
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020● FORUM ● THE JUSTICE
FORUM
Striking a balance between morals and career prospects By VANDITA MALVIYA WILSON JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
I used to work in Silicon Valley at some of the most respected and admired companies in both tech and pharma. I never felt good about how they were proselytizing to their employees, how they were considered great places to work and how I seemingly felt differently from all my colleagues. I wanted to love my employers, but I was unable to muster the enthusiasm and zealotry they demanded. I always felt that the employeremployee relationship was an even exchange, more or less, in which one would offer services in exchange for a salary. Despite the amount of work, effort and dedication I put in, I felt that these companies were operating at odds with my values of family, work-life balance and caring for the greater good. Until recently, I thought I was among the few who held this perspective. Starting in 2012, I noticed a different trend in my various places of work. Some of the companies seemed to be starting efforts to host volunteer days. On these days, the entire staff might go to a nonprofit and assemble food kits, walk for a cause or some similar act of service. I thought these days of volunteering, while noble in conception, were a false promise. I did plenty of volunteering on my own time, and I didn’t see why my employer should get credit for the work that I put into my causes. Many of the firms claimed to care about causes, but their public behavior illustrated a different message: one charged too much for their products, another used investor money for expensive dinners and a third claimed employees could work remotely but insisted they show up for pizza on Fridays. In the fall of 2018, I began my MBA studies, and this May I will be graduating with my cohort. Many undergraduates are in the midst of searching for a summer internship, and those in their final semester are looking for that “life defining” job. Many are looking to work at the same companies that have come to be denoted as FAANG: Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google. The pay is sweet, with starting salaries well into six figures, plus stock compensation, as well as all the amenities coupled with the California weather. But I wonder if these students have stopped to consider how the work they do could impact our society in the future. Not only is the current culture of an organization important, so too is the legacy that it will leave behind. Working at Google seems like the perfect job just out of college: they pay relocation, there’s a steady salary, there are many young people there and the perks of free food, commuter benefits and the opportunity to work alongside the best of the best. But there’s also a downside: Google collects your data, and they sell ads based upon that aggregated data. Every time you use Google Maps they know where you are. Cookies link your browser history, and Google even stores passwords if you’re using their Chrome browser. Google owns Nest, which makes your home “smart,” and it recently acquired FitBit, so now it knows where you are outside your home too. Their self-driving cars collect more than just the street view of your home, they also collect passwords and emails. According to Wired, Google isn’t a software company, it’s an ad company, and it knows your location, both online and offline. As they share this data with retailers and credit card companies, the level of ad personalization becomes particularly insidious.
NOAH ZEITLIN /the Justice
Facebook is no better. They too sell your aggregated data to advertisers. The posts are euphemistically called “sponsored,” but they are highly targeted ads based upon what you type into Google, Amazon, Instagram and WhatsApp. Facebook claims that the purpose behind these ads is to continue to offer its customers product(s) for free. But the advertisers can also crossreference that data with data obtained from other outlets and very quickly develop a fairly accurate profile of you, the real product being sold. Besides that, they don’t censor fake news, don’t strictly enforce their software partners’ activities and try to conceal that they own other social media platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp. For most of us, unplugging from Facebook could be difficult: we use it to log into other sites, to buy and sell stuff and to stay in touch with friends and family. In the beginning, there were only a few thousand people on Facebook, and by the end of 2004 there were over one million. By the third quarter of 2019, there were over 2.45 billion monthly active users. So, in the early days, Facebook was not as useful, at least not to the first users, and it also had limited functionality. But, over time, more people joined, and the more people joined, the more content was created. The more content that was created, the more useful Facebook became to everyone on the platform. The more useful Facebook became, the more people wanted to sign up. This is the network effect in a nutshell:
“The network effect is a phenomenon whereby increased numbers of people or participants improve the value of a good or service.” As a result, social media has become such a major part of our lives that it would be difficult to successfully extract ourselves from it and still feel whole. I understand accepting a job offer even if it does not align with your moral values. Once a student graduates, unless your family is reasonably wealthy or you were able to go to school on a scholarship, you, like me, are besieged by student loans, with the first payments due about six months after you receive your diploma. Neglect to pay those, and your credit report along with your FICO score will be down the toilet before you’ve even had a chance to start your young adult life. And that’s just the beginning of the bills we all must pay. Once taxes are taken out (and there are a LOT of deductions from a paycheck before an individual even sees their hard-earned money), and necessary expenses are paid off, we want to enjoy our lives and also save for the future. A fat paycheck from a big tech or big pharma company would help immensely. Not everyone can afford to turn down a job at a well-known company. Working at Google, Facebook or other big names could open a lot of doors for inevitable future job searches. These companies are big enough now that you will make plenty of connections that could last a lifetime. Still, there are ethical issues to be considered.
What, exactly, will the tech or product that you are working on ultimately be used for? Few of us have received a full class in ethics, and, in some cases, the ethics chapter in the book is skipped due to time constraints. As a programmer, it is difficult to know exactly where and how your code might be deployed. If hired into a support department, such as Human Resources, gauging your personal contribution across the myriad projects that may or may not align with your values could be murky. In the past, Google was known for their motto to “do no evil,” which is at odds with what has recently come to light about how it was planning to sell AI technology to the Pentagon, how it paid sexual predators to quietly leave the company and how it has quashed worker protests. Facebook has had scandals involving data and privacy hacks and selling user data without authorization, and most recently they have refused to fact-check political ads posted on their site. These types of events have caused big tech to lose its luster in the eyes of many recent college graduates and those about to graduate. Working in tech isn’t the panacea it once was, when it was the antidote to working in finance if you wanted to earn serious money and make the world a better place. Defined as “the growing public animosity towards large Silicon Valley platform technology companies and their Chinese equivalents,” techlash means that big tech is no longer the place to look for a dream job.
Why don’t we care about the Australian bushfires? By ANGELA SELF JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few weeks, you may have heard that Australia is currently on fire. Australia typically experiences every year what is known as “bushfire season” during the winter and spring for northern Australia and summer and fall for southern Australia. The hot, dry weather that is characteristic of Australia’s climate creates the perfect environment for fires to break out and spread across the continent. The reason that these bushfires are receiving so much media attention is the sheer, almost unparalleled destruction these fires have caused. As of right now, at least 31 people have lost their lives, over 27 million acres of land have burned and around a half of a billion animals have been affected, according to the latest CNN report. There seems to be no end in sight. The bushfires are a natural feature of Australia’s climate. Most of the time these fires are due to natural causes, like a lightning strike. When lightning strikes the dry, water-deprived forests, a fire will break out, spreading rapidly given the abundance of kindling. Unfortunately, 24 people so far have been arrested for starting fires deliberately. This still does not account for the ferocity of
this year’s bushfires. What has changed this past year is the severity of the droughts. This past December, a heatwave rocked Australia, breaking the record for the highest nationwide average temperature. Coupled with the fact that this past spring has been the driest ever recorded, it makes sense that the Australian bushfires have been so deadly this year. There are many reasons why the fires are so bad this year, but all of them lead back to climate change. Ultimately, our earth is warming due in no small part to human pollution, which has affected our environment in catastrophic ways, including an extended and more severe Australian bushfire season. While climate change is scary enough, what is truly terrifying is the fact that people do not seem to care. Now, before people get offended, I am measuring public concern about climate change by looking at the reaction to climate change induced disasters, like the extended Australian bushfires, by the United States government. While I understand that there has been increased awareness over the past few months by people protesting in favor of climate change reform, I would argue that it takes the power of a country’s government to incite real change. If the public puts enough pressure on our government to take measures to fix climate change, eventually it will. The history of the United States has proven time and again
that when the people put enough heat on the government, no matter how reluctant it is, it will bend to the will of the public, like during the Civil Rights Movement. Why is the vast majority of the public not rising up and demanding change? There are four broad reasons why climate change does not invoke the same response as other threats. The first reason is that climate change is not a personal threat. Climate change does not have a face that we can plaster on every news outlet and demonize. For example, look at the public outcry following 9/11. Not only did many Americans feel a loss of security within our country, we had someone that we could blame. The second reason is that climate change is slow. It is easier to identify and solve a problem when you can actually see it with your own two eyes. Although we are seeing some of the consequences of climate change now, none of them have appeared out of nowhere. For example, if you have lived in New England for an extended period of time, you may have noticed that the winters are becoming more erratic. Many may remember that a few years back in Massachusetts it snowed on Halloween. This was major news at the time. Now, as the winters are slowly becoming more and more abnormal, when it is 50 degrees out in the dead
The opinions expressed on this page are those of each article’s respective author and do not reflect the viewpoint of the Justice.
of winter nobody bats an eye. The third reason is that people tend to respond to immoral events. Remember the public outcry when the accusations started coming out against Harvey Weinstein? People pay attention when an event or a threat invokes an emotional response. Climate change just does not inspire those same feelings. People feel sorry for those affected by the Australian bushfires and act upon those feelings by sending aid. Climate change is too abstract to create a visceral reaction from the public. Furthermore, climate change is not an immediate threat. There are too many issues facing Americans in the presently in order for us to worry about the future. So, back to the main question at hand: Why don’t we care about the Australian bushfires? We don’t care because we don’t have to or want to. Climate change is a problem that we can put out of our minds because, quite frankly, many Americans will die before it has any major impact on our daily lives. Unfortunately for the younger generation, older individuals have decided to ignore this inconvenient truth. So, we have to do something before it is too late, whether that be voting out of office those who choose to ignore us or taking up the mantle ourselves. The time to act is now because climate change is a threat that, if left to kindle, will be our destruction.
THE JUSTICE ● SPORTS ● TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
WBBALL: Team’s strong season continues CONTINUED FROM 16
In the second quarter, the Judges came back swinging. Jillian Petrie ’21 tied the score at 22 within 20 seconds. Casanueva also responded less than a minute later with a three-point shot. The quarter tied again at 25, before Brandeis pulled ahead with a jump shot by Courtney Thrun ’21 and led the rest of the half to end with a score of 44–41. The third quarter brought more lead changes and ties before ending with a score of 59–63 with the Bears ahead. With this four-point deficit, the Judges took the last ten minutes of the game and gained the momentum needed to score 27 points. With WashU only scoring 18 points,
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GET AIR
the Judges had pulled ahead just enough to win the game. Looking ahead at the final nine games of the UAA season, St. Amand reflected on her time on the team, saying the culture has changed dramatically since she and the other seniors started out. “There is no longer a hierarchical structure where seniors speak more than freshman or starters matter more than bench players. There is an open relationship on the team where everyone has a voice and is equally valued,” she said. Even within this season alone, she added that the team has been learning and growing from their mistakes. “We trust and respect one another to make the right choices and get the job done,” St. Amand commented.
BASKETBALL LEGEND
JEN GELLER/Justice File Photo
HUSTLE: Brandeis’ Chandler Jones ’21 leaps to the hoop with the ball in a game against Rhode Island College on Nov. 23.
MBBALL: Men sit 4–1 in the conference CONTINUED FROM 16
Image Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
WE WANT A BASKET: Kobe Bryant played ball during his 20-year run with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Rest in Peace, Kobe Bryant ■ Kobe Bryant, picked 13th overall in first round in 1996, has passed away. By EMMA GHALILI AND JONATHAN SOCHACZEVSKI JUSTICE STAFF WRITERS
Kobe Bean Bryant of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania passed away on Sunday, Jan. 26 in Calabasas, California in a helicopter accident along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna MariaOnore Bryant. Kobe Bryant was 41-years-old. He was best known for the 20 years he spent as an American professional basketball player. With the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft, the Charlotte Hornets selected Bryant from Lower Merion High School, and he was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac. He remained with the Lakers for his entire 20-year career, at the time a record. He was an 18-time all-star, a fivetime NBA champion, an 11-time AllNBA team first team member, a twotime member of the all-NBA second and third team, a 12-time member
of the All-Defensive team and the most in NBA history, including nine first-team selections. Additionally, following the 2007-2008 NBA season, Bryant was the NBA MVP. He led the NBA in scoring twice, once in 2006 and again in 2007. Bryant has the record for second-most points in a game when he had 81 points versus the Toronto Raptors in 2006. Kobe’s work ethic was unparalleled, he wasn’t always the biggest or strongest or fastest or quickest, but he always was the hardest worker on the court. In addition to his on-court accomplishments, he was also known for making a difference off the court. Kobe Bryant was an ambassador for After-School All-stars that created after school programs for children. In addition, he started the Kobe Bryant China Fund that raised money earmarked for education and health programs. Bryant was also known as a businessman, building his own empire as CEO of Kobe Inc. He was a beloved son to Joe and Pam Bryant, brother to Sharia and Shaya Bryant, husband to Vanessa Laine Bryant and father to Natalia, Bianka, Capri and Gianna Bryant.
restore a double-digit advantage. It was tightly contested the rest of the way, but WashU managed to see off the Judges’ attempts to come back after pulling back within six at 7:48. Judges 63, UChicago 60 The Judges improved to 12–4 (4–1 in the UAA) on the season with an exciting win over the University of Chicago Maroons on Sunday. Eric D’Aguanno ’20 led the team with 15 points in just 18 minutes off the bench while Jones managed a double-double in the victory. The game was well played, with only 12 turnovers between the teams and neither ever leading by more than nine. The Judges struggled from deep for the second straight game,
going just 6–20. A layup by Matan Zucker ’23 put the Judges up 12–7 early in the game before the underdog hosts went on a 13–4 run, making it 20–16 in their favor. The Judges failed to retake the lead for the remainder of the period, despite tying the game at 28 on a jump shot by D’Aguanno. The Maroons scored the final four points of the half to send Brandeis into halftime in danger of dropping their second straight contest. Sawyer gave the Judges the lead shortly into the second half, only for Chicago to restore a three point advantage at 16:50. Austin Clamage ’21 knocked down a signature clutch three as part of a 9-0 run that gave Brandeis a 44–38 advantage. D’Aguanno made it a nine point game at the midway point of the second half but that
was as big a lead as they would have. Jones made a free throw to make it 60–55 with just over two minutes left. After Chicago brought it within three, the Judges elected to drain the shot clock resulting in a desperation miss by Jones that would have iced the game. Instead, the Maroons’ Brennan McDaniel tied the game with 29 seconds left on the clock. The Judges ran the clock down to under 10 seconds, and after the initial penetration was repelled, Jones found D’Aguanno on the wing for his second gamewinning basket in three games. The Judges, now tied for second in the UAA, return to Auerbach Arena next weekend to take on Case Western Reserve University and Carnegie Mellon University. Tip-off is at 8 p.m. on Friday and noon on Sunday.
SWIM: Swimming and diving succeed at Senior Day CONTINUED FROM 16 yard freestyle with a time of 1:49.93 and the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:17.51. Daniel Wohl ’21 placed first in the 50-yard and the 500-yard freestyle with times of 22.37 seconds and 4:50.07, respectively. Tamir Zitelny ’20 just missed being a triple winner by placing first in both the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 49.17 seconds, the 50-yard butterfly with a time of 23.85 seconds and taking second in the 50-yard backstroke by 0.09
seconds with a time of 25.78 seconds. Individual first-place finishes included Richard Selznick ’22 in the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:22.55, Justin Weissberg ’20 in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:02.69 and Joe Beletti-Naccarato ’21 in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:04.27. In the 200-yard medley relay, Benton Ferebee ’22, Lu, Zitelny and Wohl won with a time of 1:39.82, about three-quarters of a second ahead of the secondplace finishers. In the women’s one-meter diving,
Bridget Cifuni ’21 was on the podium with a third place finish. Jan. 18 was also Senior Day for Brandeis swimmers and divers, as seven four-year members were honored. They were Tom Alger, Adrienne Aponte, Matthew Arcemont, Junhan Lee, Justin Weissberg, Natalya Wozab and Tamir Zitelny. The team thanked these valuable members and wished them good luck in their future. Both teams will compete against the Clark University Cougars in Worcester on Feb. 1.
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THE JUSTICE
JUDGES BY THE NUMBERS
● SPORTS ●
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
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PRO SPORTS
MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM STATS
UAA STANDINGS UAA Conf. W L D WashU 5 0 0 Emory 4 1 0 JUDGES 4 1 0 Rochester 3 2 0 Chicago 2 3 0 Carnegie 1 4 0 CASE 1 4 0 NYU 0 5 0
Points Per Game
Overall W L D Pct. 14 2 0 .857 14 3 0 .786 12 2 0 .857 12 4 0 .714 8 6 0 .571 8 6 0 .571 6 8 0 .429 7 7 0 .500
Collin Sawyer ’20 leads the team with 15.1 points per game. Player PPG Collin Sawyer 15.1 Chandler Jones 14.2 Eric D’Aguanno 11.3
Rebounds Per Game
Noah Hagerty ’22 leads the team with 7.9 rebounds per game. Player REB/G UPCOMING GAMES: Noah Hagerty 7.9 Jan. 31 vs. Case Western Reserve University Chandler Jones 7.2 Feb. 2 vs. Carnegie Mellon University Lawrence Sabir 3.8
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM STATS
UAA STANDINGS UAA Conf. W L D JUDGES 5 0 0 NYU 4 1 0 Chicago 3 2 0 Emory 3 2 0 WashU 2 3 0 Carnegie 1 4 0 Rochester 1 4 0 Case 1 4 0
Points Per Game
Overall W L D Pct. 14 2 0 .875 13 3 0 .813 13 3 0 .813 8 8 0 .500 12 4 0 .750 8 8 0 .500 8 8 0 .500 7 9 0 .438
Camila Casaneuva ’21 leads the team with 13.9 points per game. Player PPG Camila Casaneuva 13.9 Hannah Nicholson 12.0 Jillian Petrie 9.3
Rebounds Per Game
Hannah Nicholson ’20 leads with 9.6 rebounds per game. Player REB/G UPCOMING GAMES: Hannah Nicholson 9.6 6.0 Jan. 31 vs. Case Western Reserve University Camila Casaneuva Courtney Thrun 5.8 Feb. 2 vs. Carnegie Mellon University
SWIMMING AND DIVING Results from Keene State on Jan. 18.
TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)
TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)
100-yard Freestyle
200-yard Freestyle
SWIMMER TIME Tamir Zitelny 49.17 Marcelo Ohno-Machado 49.52 Thomas Alger 51.38
SWIMMER TIME Audrey Kim 2:04.50 Natalya Wozab 2:07.64 Sofia Chevez 2:09.89
UPCOMING MEETS: Feb. 1 at Clark College Feb. 12 at UAA Championships
TRACK AND FIELD Results from the Terrier Classic at Boston University on Jan. 25.
TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)
TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)
RUNNER TIME Reese Farquhar 7.39 Armin Alirezael 7.61 Domenick Raphael 7.97
RUNNER TIME Tessa Holleran 28.88 Somali Anderson 28.92 Gabby Tercatin 31.79
200 Meter Dash
60 Meter Dash
UPCOMING MEETS:
Data Courtesy of THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION and the BRANDEIS ATHLETICS WEBSITE; Images Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS.
Jan. 31 at Branwen Smith-King Invitational
Photo Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND: Eli Manning hustles to throw the football in a game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Eli Manning is a ‘giant among Giants’ ■ Eli Manning announced retirement after a successful career since his first overall draft pick back in 2004. By EMMA GHALILI JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Eli Manning has announced retirement after spending 16 years as a quarterback for the New York Giants. The Louisiana native is the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and the brother of former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning. Manning played college football at the University of Mississippi and was the first overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft. He was originally drafted by the San Diego Chargers and was immediately traded to the New York Giants. Ernie Accorsi was the manager who traded for Manning, and in light of Manning’s retirement, Accorsi said, “that over a period of years he’s always going to be there. Those kinds of quarterback always give you a chance to win, and for 16 years, he did that for this franchise.” After 16 years of playing for the Giants, he leaves setting records for most passing yards, touchdown passes and completed passes, and he was named the most valuable player for the Superbowl in 2007 and in 2011. Manning is only one of five players to have been named MVP more than
once. In addition to making a name for himself in the Giants franchise, he has also made a name for himself in the NFL for having a streak of 210 consecutive starts, and he is seventh in career passing yards and seventh in career touchdown passes. John Mara, the Giants’ president and the chief executive officer, said, “Eli is our only-two time Super Bowl MVP and one of the best players in our franchise’s history. He represented our franchise as a consummate professional with dignity and accountability.” Because of all the contributions Manning has made on and off the field representing the New York Giants, he will be inducted into the Giants Ring of Honor in the near future, according to Mara. Steve Tish, Giants chairman and executive vice president, stated that “Eli leaves a timeless legacy with two Super Bowl titles on the field and his philanthropic work off the field, which has inspired and impacted so many people. We are sincerely thankful for everything Eli has given our team and community. He will always be a Giant among Giants.” Eli will not only be missed by people that worked for the Giants franchise, but his spirit on the field will also be missed by all Giants fans. In honor of his retirement, the Empire State Building displayed blue lights at night in his honor for his contribution to the city of New York. On Jan. 24, Eli Manning gave a final statement addressing his retirement.
At a press conference at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, N.J., he stated, “It’s impossible to example the satisfaction, actually the joy, I have experienced being a Giant. From the very first moment I did it my way I couldn’t be someone then who I am.” Manning explained that he understands that he could have made the media rooms more comfortable if he was a more outgoing guy, but he knew that his teams and the New York fans would appreciate him for who he was. At the same press conference he said that he “has no regrets and will not look back in the rearview mirror... There were times we learned and grew from but I always knew the sacrifices, my team and coaches made. We did all we can do every week.” In addition to now being a former NFL star quarterback, Eli Manning is the father of three children that he is looking forward to spending more time with. He plans, along with his wife, on spending more time volunteering for nonprofit organizations focusing on children’s health. He also stated that he is planning on staying apart of and continually giving back to the New York community. Lastly, at the press conference, he thanked his teammates because “the best thing for playing all these years is the number of teams I can call real friends and of all those friends I am lucky enough to have a few that have been as close as brothers.”
PRO SPORTS
Ball talk with Jon Soc: Kobe Bryant’s passing takes fans by sad surprise Bryant killed in crash On Jan. 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and his daughter Gianna both died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California along with 6 others. Kobe Bryant. Kobe. One of the most iconic players in NBA history. I can sit here and give you accomplishments and stats to try and explain how good Kobe was, but that doesn’t explain it enough. If you go to any country in the world, you can find kids shooting basketballs, yelling “Kobe.” From Canada to Brazil to India to China to Africa to Australia, kids yell “Kobe.” Throwing trash into the garbage? Kids still yell “Kobe.” His influence was unreal and absolutely everywhere. He was larger than life. I used to always want to work like Kobe. I still remember doing summer training at IMG Academy with my little brother and us trying to “work like Kobe”; “If Kobe can do it, why can’t we?” We’d be up at 5 AM to get extra shots up before practice. We’d bring food in our backpacks so we wouldn’t have to go to the dining hall across campus and lose all that time in the gym. That was Kobe’s inspiration to us — two random kids from Canada he never even met. Kobe Bryant, a
five-time champion and the greatest Laker of all time, was more than just a basketball player. He is one of the biggest inspirations to myself and many other young people. Kobe Bryant was famous for his work ethic; with stories of him being at the gym at 5am for an 8am workout, Kobe was the embodiment of “If you work hard enough, you can accomplish anything.” Every NBA player who has worked with him has some story about Kobe’s crazy workout. If you haven’t read it, I’d recommend reading “The Secret I Learned from Kobe Bryant” by Buddy Hield for the Players Tribune for a few amazing Kobe stories. One excerpt that I really loved from that story was Buddy talking about Kobe texting him on draft night. “It doesn’t matter where you go,” Kobe wrote. “It matters more what you do when you get there. Just go there and work.” Talking to my friend today I compared losing Kobe Bryant to when the Library of Alexandria burned down. Endless amounts of genius was lost today. It’s a very sad day. Rest in paradise Kobe. Ball Talk Ball talk with Jon Soc, the written story, is back! This week, I am here
to talk about a wide variety of things in the sports world: First, Zion is back! Zion Williamson, ESPN’s favorite player in the league, played his first NBA game in a loss against the San Antonio Spurs. He played 18 minutes, had 22 points and shot four out of four from the three point range. It was an impressive showing by an impressive player — so impressive that the New Orleans Pelicans have changed their management strategy. Before his return, the Pelicans were taking calls on their players looking for returns and future assets, but after his inspiring performance, rumors are that the Pelicans would rather not give up yet and are trying to make a late season playoff rush. Zion’s return also has a big impact on the Rookie of the Year race. Zion has missed 44 games meaning he can only play in 38 games, assuming he misses no time. For most rookies this would be a death sentence, but with the absolute hype train that ESPN is for Zion, there’s a chance that he could steal the award from current front runner Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies. Second, Joe Montana is the happiest football fan in the world. He played from 1979 to 1992 for the
49ers and finishing his career from 1993 to 1994 in Kansas City. Lucky man! Third, the race for the NBA’s eighth seed in the Western Conference is on. The Spurs currently control it, but the twelfth seeded Pelicans are only four games out. Between these two teams are the young Memphis Grizzlies, the veteran Portland Trail Blazers and the existing Phoenix Suns. There are so many factors at play for this spot. The Spurs are a model of consistency; betting against them is always a bad idea. The Grizzlies are young and could fall completely or could continue their dominant streak. The Trail Blazers will be getting Collins and Nurkic back from injury soon, hopefully bolstering their front court and giving a much needed strength boost. The Pelicans just got back Zion Williamson who could be the energy they need to go on a good run. The Phoenix Suns are hopeless. It’s really still anyone’s spot to get! Except for the Phoenix Suns. Fourth, Rudy Gobert better be an all-star. For three years straight now, Rudy Gobert has been absolutely snubbed from the all-star game again and again. This is the year it needs to stop. The Utah Jazz
are currently sitting in the second seed in the west. He is easily the best player on the team, averaging 15.6 points, 14.5 rebounds and two blocks per game. Gobert is having a career year and it is paying dividends. This is the year he deserves it; it’s no longer a question of who gets in over him, but who doesn’t get in for him. My vote? Paul George. Fifth, “Get chips or die trying” Masai Ujiri 2020 (paraphrased). Masai Ujiri believes that this year’s Toronto Raptors will win a chip “or die trying.” A basic statement at first basically equating to “yes I believe in this team,” but the question then becomes: how much of this roster is he willing to change?Who is available for trade? Who are they targeting? Honestly, I’ve heard nothing, and this is probably a nonstory, but I still find it interesting. The Raptors are currently in the third seed in the East and have managed to stay afloat despite significant injuries to literally every key player. It’s madness. I couldn’t list all the players that are injured and have missed time because it’s a considerably longer list than those that haven’t. Still they get the job done — lets see if they can keep it up. —Jonathan Sochaczevski
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BALL TALK: KOBE’S PASSING Kobe Bryant’s untimely passing takes fans by sad surprise, and more in this weeks Ball Talk, p. 15.
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
MEN'S BASKETBALL
HANDS IN THE AIR
Men’s basketball 12–4 after Midwest Split ■ Brandeis’ men’s basketball soars to 12–4 overall following six wins and a loss in January. By JONAH WHITE JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
After their blowout win against the University of Rochester and thrilling upset of Emory University last week, the Judges looked to continue their momentum in the Midwest. They suffered their fourth loss of the season in St. Louis on Friday night before escaping the University of Chicago in another down-to-the-wire finish. Wash U 70, Judges 60 The Judges suffered their first loss in seven games this Friday night in St. Louis, Missouri at the hands of the now 14-2 Washington University in St. Louis Bears. Colin Sawyer ’20 paced the Judges in scoring with 20 points, adding three rebounds and a team-high four assists. Nolan Hagerty ’22 recorded a double-double, while Chandler Jones ’21 and Dylan Lien
Waltham, Mass.
’23 each pitched in nine points. The visitors outshot their opponents by 2.5% overall, but shot just 5–16 from beyond the arc, while the Bears tallied nine threes of their own. The Judges were also out-rebounded 39–33 and had a turnover margin of -3. As a result, the Judges trailed by six in total field goal attempts and by eight in free throw tries. Brandeis trailed from start to finish in this one, falling behind 6–0 after just over two minutes. For most of the first half, it did not get much better, as the Bears built a 30–14 lead at the 7:25 mark. The 24th- Judges quickly bounced back with Sawyer, Hagerty, and Sam Nassar ’22 combining to score 13 straight points. Wash U finally managed their first field goal in nearly seven and a half minutes just before the break to head in leading 36–30 A triple by Jones, who had been in foul trouble for most of the first half, brought the Judges back within three points early in the second half. The 14th-ranked hosts responded in short order with a 10–2 run of their own to
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SWIMMING AND DIVING
Season looks up as rocky season Women’s basketball opener fades continues a strong season into the past
NOAH ZEITLIN/Justice File Photo
JUDGES GET TOUGH: Brandeis’ Jillian Petrie ’21 looks to pass the ball in a game on Nov. 23 against Tufts University.
■ The Judges were victorious on the men’s and women’s sides against Keene State and Bridgewater State Universities. By MEGAN GELLER JUSTICE EDITOR
The Brandeis University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams capped their Senior Day meet with a pair of wins on Jan. 18 at Wheaton College. The competition was held at Wheaton College because Brandeis’ Linsey Pool is undergoing renovations. The men’s team won 181–109 over the Keene State Owls and 178–96 over the Bridgewater State University Bears. The women were also victorious, with a sweep of 183–88 over Keene State and 195–82 over Bridgewater State. Overall, the Judges won 21 of the 32 events that took place that day. Congratulations goes to both men’s and women’s teams that finished on the podium. For the
women, Bailey Gold ’23 was a triple winner, placing first in three races: the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:14.58, the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:12.17 and the 200yard individual medley with a time of 2:19.66. Uajda Musaku ’21 contributed two wins in the 50yard backstroke with a time of 29.99 seconds and the 100-yard freestyle with a time 56.55 seconds. Abbie Etzweiler ’22 placed first in both the 500-yard and the 1000yard freestyle events with times of 5:45:09 and 11:45:42, respectfully. Individual first-place finishes included Audre Kim ’21 in the 200yard freestyle with a time of 2:04.50, Emily McGovern ’21 in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:33.09 and Ema Rennie ’23 in the 50yard butterfly with a time of 27.75 seconds. In the 200-yard medley relay, Kim, Olivia Stebbins ’22, Gold and Rennie won with a time of 1:55.66, more than two seconds ahead of the second-place finishers. For the men, Brendon Lu ’22 placed first in two races — the 200-
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■ Brandeis’ women’s basketball team continues their strong 2019-2020 season, now 12–4 overall. By JEN GELLER JUSTICE EDITOR
The women’s basketball team has five University Athletic Association matchups under their belt. After splitting this weekend with one victory against the Washington University in St. Louis Bears and one loss against the University of Chicago Maroons, the team has a UAA record of 2–3. Overall, the team has a winning record of 12–4. Team captain Julia St. Amand ’20 told the Justice that the team’s goal is to be the top in the UAA. She wrote, “We push each other to get the job done and frequently say ‘practice should be the hardest part of our week. We should be pushing each other the same if not more than other teams will.’” Amand said the team started out on a “strong note” and continued to keep that momentum, approaching their practices with “new challenges and new goals.” The Judges still have nine UAA games to go this season.
Judges 60, Maroons 68 The Judges suffered an overtime loss against the Maroons on Sunday. In the first quarter, the Judges’ performance was promising as senior Lauren Rubinstein ’20 started the game with a layup at 8:52 to put the team on the scoreboard and the Judges ahead 2–0. At 4:36, free throws by Shannon Smally ’22 put the Judges up 10–7. However, the Maroons closed the gap and pulled ahead, ending the quarter 14–17 in their favor. The second quarter left the Maroons ahead 24–25 headed into the half. However, overall, the Judges outscored Chicago in the second quarter at 10–8. Entering the second half, the Judges could still put out a win, with the teams only one point apart. The Maroons began the scoring action in the second half with a layup by Taylor Lake with 8:55 to go in the quarter, bringing the score to 24–27. It took over a minute for the Judges to respond when Rubinstein made two free throw shots following a foul by the Maroons’ Mallory Brodnik. With the score now 26–31, action continued as Camila Casanueve ’21 blocked a layup by Taylor before making a jump shot just eight seconds later. Ultimately, the Judges persisted and actually ended the quarter ahead 40–38.
The final quarter was full of suspense as the teams remained close in scores. After a quarter during which neither team was ever more than five points ahead of the other, the game was forced to enter overtime with a tied score of 53. In overtime, the Maroons pulled ahead and never looked back. Although the Judges were able to score — Francesca Marchese ’23 made a layup and a three-point shot and Rubinstein made two free throws — these were not enough to crown the Judges victorious. Ultimately, the Maroons claimed the win, 60–68. Bears 81, Judges 86 The Judges claimed their second UAA victory against WashU on Saturday. The teams were evenly matched, and they tied ten times and exchanged leads 12 times. The first quarter ended with the Bears in a 22– 20 lead after the Bears recovered from the Judges’ 9–5 lead to catch up and tie the score at 11 points. They pulled ahead, holding the Judges at a score of 11 from 5:32 when Katherine Puda ’21 made two free throws, until Emma Reavis ’23 made a layup at 3:39. With two seconds left in the quarter left, Casanueva made a jump shot. In the second quarter, the Judges
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Vol. LXXII #15 Vol. LXX #2
Spotlight:
Jan 28, 2020
September 12, 2017
Daniel Bibb’s “Montana” >>Pg. 20
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Arts & Culture
Waltham, Mass.
Images: Noah Zeitlin/the Justice, Creative Commons. Artwork Daniel Bibb. Design: Lauren Berk/the Justice.
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TUESDAY, THE JUSTICE JANUARY | ARTS 28, 2020 | TUESDAY, I ARTSJANUARY & CULTURE 31,I 2017 THE JUSTICE
FILM REVIEW
In defense of ‘Cats’ By MENDEL WEINTRAUB JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Disclaimer: the following article is a defense of the motion picture musical “Cats,” not of the species; I do not — and never have — liked actual cats. Over the Christmas/Hanukkah holiday, like a miniscule fraction of the planet’s population, I found myself sharing in the collective experience of viewing “Cats.” The film first made waves this past July, when Universal Pictures released a teaser for Tom Hooper’s cinematic adaptation of the somehow-beloved Andrew Lloyd Weber musical. The trailer left the internet unsure of whether it should laugh, cry or drop everything it was doing and just run for cover. This is the reaction one might expect for a trailer complete with CGI fur-clad Academy Awardwinning and nominated actors Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen and Jennifer Hudson, accompanied by Hudson’s oversung rendition of the classic tune “Memory.” And it wasn’t just the internet that was abuzz; at the Hollywood studio where I worked this summer, an executive ran through the halls, telling everybody to drop what they were doing to see the anomaly that was the trailer for “Cats.” While “Cats” looked like it would be an absolute atrocity, it is hard to deny that anybody who saw July’s teaser was at the very least intrigued. When the film first screened for critics, the months-long online bashing of “Cats” reached a fever pitch. Reviews calling it “worryingly erotic” and “dredged from the uncanny valley of horror” came pouring in, and I was left with burning questions: Is “Cats” just the internet’s latest punching bag? Is it truly as bad as the critics say? Is it something else entirely? A pursuit for the truth drove me to the theater two weeks into the film’s run, where I was shocked to enter a half-full auditorium for a movie that was making headlines for
CULTURE EVENT
By CAYLIE JERUCHIMOWITZ JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
With Chinese New Year being this past weekend, Saturday Jan. 25, the Brandeis Undergraduate Taiwanese Student Association hosted an event on Wednesday in the Intercultural Center lounge called “Celebrate CNY with DIY Dumplings.” They explained that this is typically a time spent with family, but since we are at school and can’t be at home, the club planned an event to spend time together and celebrate the holiday. At the event, there were some pre-made dumplings and iced tea for attendees to enjoy. The flavors of the dumplings were veggie, pork and cabbage, which were delicious and well worth the walk to the ICC. It was nice to have some nondining hall food for a change. Members of TSA also taught those who attended the event how to make their own dumplings. There were pre-made chicken and veggie fillings that were used to make the dumplings, but participants learned how to fill and fold the dumplings. It was certainly harder than I expected, but it was also really fun to try. I kept putting either too much or too little filling inside of my dumplings and the shapes of mine were a bit
screening to empty houses across the globe. Sure, the guy sitting next to me was drinking whisky out of a Poland Spring bottle; yes, the man in front of me was Face Timing the movie to his family for its entire two-hour duration. That’s all part of the experience of seeing “Cats,” a film that I contend deserves a charitable reading. That is, while “Cats” is by no means a great piece of cinema, one cannot deny that it is a singular vision. I daresay we have never seen a movie like “Cats” before, and we never will again. So, is “Cats” as bad as they say? Well, that all depends on what your criteria for a bad movie are. Generally speaking, one can judge a film’s success in two ways: A. How fully a director realizes their own vision. B. Whether the audience feels satisfied by the director’s realization of their vision, regardless of how full that realization is on the director’s part. Typically, I find myself in the “A” camp, failing to find redeeming qualities in a movie once I become conscious of its flaws. What I find so fascinating about “Cats” is that it is one of the few movies that I enjoy for its fulfillment of both criteria; not only do I think that Tom Hooper’s film is a fully realized vision (which I will explain in a moment), but I think that his vision, however bonkers it may be, is exactly what makes the movie bearable. I think that the most unfair assessment of the film version of “Cats” is the criticism that it lacks a coherent plot. If it is worth extending that critique to anything or anybody beyond the stage version of “Cats,” such lambasting should go to the Universal executives who green-lit the movie to begin with, not the director or any of the actors involved with the film. The film version makes little effort to justify a nearly two-hour runtime dedicated to musical numbers where cats vie to be picked as the “Jellicle Choice,” chosen once a year by
Old Deuteronomy, an elderly cat, to ascend to the “Heavyside Layer” for a chance at a new life. In criticizing this cinematic musical, what matters is how Mr. Hooper brought the material to the screen. And I think that his adaptation — intentionally or not — embodies an aesthetic worthy of the lofty lunacy demonstrated by its source material. Such a result was probably inevitable. This reading of the film handily explains the inclusion of its most ludicrous scenes, such as an early one in which furry Rebel Wilson eats cockroaches with human faces and unzips her fur (only to reveal a second layer underneath it). Oh, and one mustn’t forget the introduction of Judi Dench’s Old Deuteronomy, in which her character is fawned over by a nightmarish orgy of humankitty hybrids, who follow her up the stairs of an abandoned theater in what’s supposed to be London. In their lambasting of the film’s singularity, the legions of online “Cats” haters fail to consider a response beyond hatred, and neglect to embrace the film for being a failure almost infinitely unique. In fact, “Cats” is nearly $100 million worth of unique. No movie this bad in recent memory has had so many good resources at its disposal. Sure, “Jupiter Ascending” had Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis and a great visual effects team, but it didn’t have a laundry list of talent as stacked as “Cats,” which boasted a great effects team, an Oscar-winning director, two Oscarwinning actors, the biggest pop star on Earth, the choreographer of Hamilton, beloved source material (whether I like to admit it or not) and the full backing of one of the largest studios in Hollywood. And that is precisely what propels “Cats” into “so-bad-it’s-good” territory: we have never seen a bad movie of such monumental scale. No film in history has been given so many opportunities to go wrong, and went wrong at every turn. “Cats” is the “What Not to Wear” of filmmaking, but we still enjoy
“What Not to Wear,” do we not? To witness the fruits of the “Cats” creative team’s labor is to watch thousands of people at the height of their powers, giving 150%, and firing blanks from all cylinders despite their best efforts. “Cats” is a monumental train wreck, but it is nevertheless monumental. And judging by its poor box office receipts, we will never see the likes of it again. But, like Dame Judi’s Old Deuteronomy designating the Jellicle Choice, I judge a cat by its
in the same fit of hysterical tears that overcame me the first time I survived
Photo Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
THE VISIONARY: Tom Hooper is the director of “Cats,” which is already being hailed as a modern cult classic. soul. You can count me in for the inevitable midnight screenings of “Cats” coming to your local landfill, where I will most likely be
watching the movie, feeling my life to be forever changed all over again upon hearing Jason Derulo gleefully scream, “MILK!”
Celebrate CNY with DIY Dumplings strange, so I guess I could use more practice. Not knowing what to expect, Altana Schweitzer ’23 went to the event because a friend invited her. “[The event] seemed like a fun way to connect with people and enjoy some delicious food together,” Schweitzer told the Justice. Schweitzer said that she enjoyed having the opportunity to make her own dumplings. This was the first time that she had done something like this. When discussing the “make your own dumpling” station, she said, “I thought it was a really cool way to get people involved with the new year’s celebration by having this traditional way of engaging with the event. Beyond eating the dumplings that [TSA] had made themselves, I thought it was really cool because we got to experience what people actually do on this holiday at home.” I really enjoyed this event because it gave me the opportunity to learn about and experience a culture different from my own. It is wonderful that members of the Brandeis community who come from a variety of cultures can host events for the whole campus to learn more about their traditions. I haven’t participated in many events like this so far during my
Design: Megan Liao/the Justice. Image courtesy of Creative Commons.
THEA ROSE/the Justice
NEW YEAR’S FUN: Attendees had a blast making various types of dumplings to celebrate the new year. time at Brandeis, but I hope to attend more in the future. I had an amazing time simply hanging out with friends in a fun and relaxed setting. Unfortunately, I had to leave the event a little early, but I
still had a lot of fun participating. And I am not the only one who felt this way. This event also inspired Schweitzer to go to more events like this. She said, “I think this was my first event in
the cultural sector of the clubs. I actually really, really enjoyed it and I think I will definitely have to go back for some upcoming cultural events.”
THE JUSTICE I ARTS & CULTURE I TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
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CULTURE EVENT
Ringing in the Japanese New Year
By ELISABETH FREEMAN JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
On Friday night, the Intercultural Center lounge was booming; students were eating traditional Japanese food, drinking green tea or soft drinks, listening to J-pop, playing games and unwinding with friends after the start of the new semester. Why? The Brandeis Japanese Student Association threw its annual Oshogatsu (Japanese New Year) celebration. JSA kicked off the event with a presentation detailing the cultural significance of Oshogatsu. The new year is the most important holiday in Japanese culture. Many celebrate the new year by eating traditional foods, playing games and visiting shrines and temples. In addition, the new year is an opportune time to reconnect with family and friends. After the presentation, the event became less structured; students got to socialize with friends while learning about and appreciating Japanese culture. Students were served ozoni (soup with mochi), soba (buckwheat noodles) and mochi (traditional desserts). In an interview with the Justice, JSA Event Coordinator Diya Liu ’22 showed the effort the club put into the preparation of the food: “Our group did the soup this afternoon, like four-ish, so it was really fresh out of the pot. So we really make sure
because we bought the vegetables and stuff last night — we drove to H-Mart — so everything we made was clean, fresh, and we also make sure every taste that everyone is having is fresh and authentic.” In addition to the food, traditional Oshogatsu activities such as writing nengajo (greeting cards), omikuji (fortune drawing), top spinning and a photo booth were available for students to try out. Students also had the opportunity to take home Fukubukuro: mystery luck bags filled with an assortment of Japanese goodies. These activities exposed the students to Oshogatsu traditions outside of food. Liu said, “I think usually all of the events are emphasized on the food, but I want to do more than that. So the way of creating the slides, to adding the game booth with traditional cultural games and also writing cards to others, also sharing the Japanese cultural side of the event, not just, like, food. Food is definitely important, but it’s only part of this event. Other parts can also play a big role, too.” This holistic emphasis on Japanese culture contributed to the successful turnout for the event. In addition to many members of JSA attending the event, many students who were not Japanese turned out as well, not only celebrating the Japanese New Year but Japanese
culture. I enjoyed taking part in the celebration; the event was meaningful to me because I learned a lot about Japanese customs and Oshogatsu, and I believe it is of utmost importance to celebrate the diverse backgrounds and cultures represented by the students of the
Brandeis community. JSA President Alysa Noda-Hines ’20 said in an interview with the Justice, “ICC’s on the edge of campus and a lot of people find it bothersome to come, but we hope people come here to enjoy the great food that we offer and the games, and have a great
time with their friends.” Attending the Oshogatsu celebration was a wonderful experience. It is definitely worthwhile to go to the ICC and learn more about the cultures of our friends and classmates!
THEA ROSE/the Justice
TASTE FROM HOME: The organizers of the event put in a lot of effort to make sure the dishes they provided were fresh and delicious.
FILM REVIEW
Frozen 2 captures the heart of a Disney fan By MEGAN GELLER
Photo Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
SISTER LOVE: The relationship between the beloved siblings remains an important theme of the popular sequel.
JUSTICE EDITOR
Released on Nov. 22, 2019, the long awaited sequel “Frozen 2” sent a chill down its viewers’ spines. With a score of 76% on RottenTomatoes, this film seemed to nicely wrap up some questions viewers were left wondering six years ago when the original film was released. The film seems to break Disney’s trend of poor sequels due to its overwhelming popularity following its release. This sequel has so far earned a record -breaking $123.7 million on Thanksgiving weekend and won the domestic box office for two weekends in a row. Before you continue to read, keep in mind that there will be spoilers in this review. “Frozen 2” starts out where the original movie left off. Elsa is still the queen of Arendale, and she is living happily in the castle with Anna, Kristoff, Sven and the lovable snowman Olaf. The film flashes back to a time when sisters Elsa and Anna were children and their parents told them about a magical forest, home to a group of people called the Northuldra. These people once lived peacefully alongside Arendale’s people, until one day when everything suddenly changed. The forest spirits got angry and closed off the forest to outsiders and forbade the people in the forest to leave. This was except for the young prince, Elsa and Anna’s father, who was saved by an anonymous person. Back in the present, Elsa starts to hear sounds calling to her, and she awakes the forest spirits who are still angry over the fight that occurred long before Elsa and Anna’s birth and not seen in Frozen
2. Elsa is determined to find out who is calling to her and save her kingdom. Therefore, she, Anna and the gang set out for answers. This film continues the beloved trend that was established in the first film of sisterly love being the strongest force. The two siblings love each other and continue to stand and fight together for what is right. This is displayed in Anna’s song, sung by voice actor Kristen Bell, called “The Next Right Thing.” Another song you should expect to hear children singing is this film’s theme song called “Into the Unknown.” This
song is set before our heros head out on their journey, when Elsa, voiced by the award-winning Idina Menzel, questioned listening to the voices and changing her already good life. Although the adoring fans seemed to love this new film, we can’t forget that there doesn’t seem to be a “Let it Go” in this film. No song that you hear at the waiting room of the dentist, in the mall or just out and about, which may be good for parents who had to listen to Menzel on repeat after the first film. Although we missed the hype song of the first, this film did not disappoint on
other aspects. This film seemed to one up the previous film in terms of animation and special effects. All of the song sequences and magic are much more realistic — well as realistic as icy magic powers can be — and were beautiful to see on a big screen. This realism may be due to the time difference in years and the improved technology over six years. All in all, this film positively wrapped up questions from the first film and left the viewers with some new questions to wonder about. In the end, “Frozen 2” did not disappoint and seemed to be the sequel we were waiting for.
Graphics Courtesy of Creative Commons. Design: Yael Hanadari-Levy/the Justice
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THE JUSTICE I ARTS & CULTURE I TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
INTERVIEW
JUSTARTS SPOTLIGHT ON THE DREITZER GALLERY By LUKE LIU JUSTICE EDITOR
The first season of “True Detective” is my alltime favorite television show. Besides the spinechilling storyline, amazing performances by Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, the cinematography develops its own characteristics. As the main characterS drive from one case scene to another, the audience sees the decay of the human construct eaten away by the wilderness — an unsettling hybrid that fits perfectly with the mood of the show. All of those are captured with lots of wide shots, which is a somewhat unconventional way to create a spine-chilling atmosphere. When I saw “Montana, 1989,” by Daniel Bibb, in the Slosberg Music Center’s Dreitzer Gallery, I was reminded of a similar sense of uneasiness. First looking at the piece, it seems like a very simple black and white photo, constructed by a cloudy sky and an aged circular architecture. At the same time, there is also something unnatural about the combination of the two parts. With a closer look, the “cloudy” sky is either illustrated or entirely done by water paint. Once that realization is made, the sky is no longer cloudy, but covered by the gloom of dark constructs. At the same time, the building itself is almost entirely asymmetrical. The darkness from aging on the sides of the building do not match each other, and there is no way to know if this is formed naturally or added by the artist. The mixture of photography and painting creates an interesting relationship between reality and imagination. The architecture in the piece is by no means a small construct, but it looks so small relative to the space above it. For most people, the sky is one of the most familiar subjects of nature, yet it is a totally unfamiliar space for most people. To me, the darkness over the sky is the unknown part of the world that we unconsciously forget, even though it is looming over our heads everyday.
Caleb Duffy ’22 JEN GELLER/the Justice
This week, justArts&Culture spoke with Caleb Duffy ’22, a member of WBRS: Student Music about the upcoming Stein Night events.
Daniel Bibb “MONTANA 1989” NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice
JAC: How would you introduce Stein Night to someone who has never been to one before? CD: I would treat it as a Jazz Night. … You show up. You get your moz sticks. You enjoy the new menu at the Stein which actually looks wonderful. You sit down and talk to your friends. And you listen to music. You listen to your peers make music. Enjoy the aspect of live music. … Even though it is still very prevalent, [live music is] kind of hard to get to, especially if you’re on a college campus. … It’s an experience. Everyone can put on their headphones and their earbuds, but to see it happening live, you feel it in a very different way. I enjoy live performances so much more. … Putting the faces to people. Supporting them and their arts. There have definitely been groups that came out of this campus and are still playing in New York City and stuff. … For anyone who wants to get involved and sign up, the rehearsal space (sign-up sheet) is on our Facebook. Please sign up for that. When it comes to timing and the actual structure of the event, we changed around a bit. It’s still Friday night. We still have three nights a semester. We are doing 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. MEGAN LIAO/the Justice
EMILY RIORDAN/the Justice
SUDOKU
STAFF’S Top Ten
Top 10 Must-Watch Movies By Jacqueline Wang EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
These are the movies that have challenged my values, shaped my viewpoints and encouraged me to work for maintaining beauty, love and peace in the world — and now I’m passing these spirits to you. With love, Jackie 1. The Shawshank Redemption 2. The Truman Show 3. To Live 4. Saving Private Ryan Sudoku Courtesy of OPENSKY SUDOKU GENERATOR
6. Pride and Prejudice 7. Spirited Away 8. Interstellar 9. Dead Poets Society 10. Our Little Sister
JAC: What’s something performers should know prior to the event? CD: That actually a special part of what our group is responsible for is moving all of our equipment. … So we have a complete drum set for any drummers. We have an electric guitar amp, we have a bass amp, we got a very nice electric keyboard for people to use, we have microphones and we just got a new PA system last semester that works beautifully (that is the stereo). I am currently in the process of getting quarterinch cables to have permanently at Chum’s and at the Stein. So for any performers who are coming up, if you have quarter-inch cables, bring them. … We are working on getting more equipment. I don’t know how much we have in the ways of other instruments ... People bring saxophones and trumpets and tambourines. Yeah, bring whatever you have. We would love to hear it. JAC: What’s something you would recommend on the Stein menu? CD: Let me pull up the new menu. There’s actually a lot going on. I know everyone’s favorite is the moz sticks. You can’t go wrong with moz sticks ever. … What’s actually really great is the chicken tenders just got meal swipe access if I am not mistaken. … What I want to try, which would be very curious, have you heard of the Impossible burger? ... I would love to see more people getting the pizza. I think that’s rather underutilized. I like that they added a bunch more vegetarian options. JAC: Anything else you want to let the readers know? CD: We love to see people just show up. It’s super important that we support each other. This is where people get the experience before they go into the field. I will be going into the music field, and this is great practice for me, and if I have an audience I can entertain, if I have people that I have a service to provide for, it gives me great purpose in life, and also gives entertainment for the campus. The culture on the campus is kind of dry in a lot of aspects, which is kind of sad, so having this kind of events I feel enriched the campus life. I’d love to see more people show up. I want to see more bands start to show up. Whatever genre, whatever kind of music. Just play what you love and what you want to play. It’s important to support each other for this … and even if it isn’t the thing you love or whatever, even if it’s not the genre, even if the performance is a little bit off, just clap, just support each other. Because it takes a lot to get up on that stage. I have been on the stage since I was 12, and I still get nervous. … Know that there are those of us in the club who want to see you there, and will support you no matter what. If you’re coming there to make art, that’s all we want to see.
NOAH ZEITLIN/ the Justice
5. Schindler’s List
JustArts&Culture: Tell me a bit about yourself and your role in the organization. Caleb Duffy: So we are kind of a subset of WBRS. I wouldn’t consider myself a part of the main club, although we do report to the e-board meetings on Wednesday nights. We are officially known as a student music committee, and our job on campus is to provide space, rehearsal space and venues for students to share their music with each other. … I don’t really have an official title but it really is just kind of supporting on campus music.
— Luke Liu Solution Courtesy of OPENSKY SUDOKU GENERATOR