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The Independent Student Newspaper Volume LXXIV, Number 9
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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, November 2, 2021
HEBREW FESTIVAL
Waltham, Mass.
STUDENT UNION
The Justice speaks to Union members about impeachment ■ The Union president,
chief of staff and executive senator responded to comments made by former secretary. By MAX FEIGELSON
JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
In an Oct. 29 interview with the Justice, former Student Union Secretary James Feng ’22 expressed frustrations with the way the Union handled his impeachment. He alleged that several Union members had been waiting to hold the third round of elections for the Allocations Board until after his removal as part of a "political revenge scheme" against him. The Senate impeached and the Judiciary removed Feng because, according to the articles of impeachment, he failed to run elections effectively, did not respond to messages in a timely manner and was repeatedly disrespectful to other Union members. Feng said that he had issues with
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ISRAELI FOOD: Jerusalem native Ilan Barniv-Bonapita presented on his culinary experience and restaurant.
Hebrew Program hosts Language and Arts Festival ■ The Hebrew Language
and Arts Festival featured a variety of Israeli speakers who showcased their work. By GEMMA SAMPAS JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Brandeis hosted a melange of Hebrew-speaking professionals through the Hebrew Language and Arts Festival from Oct. 27 to Nov. 1. The Hebrew program and Near Eastern and Judaic Studies department host the annual festival, which includes events both in Hebrew and English to showcase new projects in film, music, food and writing. This year, events ranged from talks on fixed topics to interactive demon-
Photo Courtesy of JACOB KELLER
strations. The first event, held on Oct. 27 in the Abraham Shapiro Academic Complex, involved a discussion by writer and director Arnon Shorr ’05 on the process of adapting film to books. The event offered open explorations on both film and screenwriting in the context of Shorr’s work, which deals heavily with characterdriven adventures. Shorr graduated from Brandeis with degrees in film studies and philosophy and is now based in Los Angeles. Last summer, he spoke at a virtual Brandeis event on the story behind his short film, “The Pirate Captain Toledano.” Shorr has directed over 100 pieces which have been screened around the world, according to his website. Following Shorr’s engagement, the festival continued with a talk by
Iddo Gefen, an Israeli-born writer. Gefen is both a researcher and author. He studies neurocognitive functions at the Vir tu al and Aug ment ed Real i ty Lab at the Sagol Brain Institute, with a focus on how storytelling and enhanced interactions through augmented reality can help further one's understanding of the human mind. His talk, titled “Why do our Brains Love Stories?”, was centered around the importance of sharing experiences with one another. Gefen recently published “Jerusalem Beach,” a collection of stories on Israeli life, technology and the human condition. According to the synopsis available on the book's website, the snapshots in the book range from an elderly couple in search of a nonexistent beach to a
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the way Chief of Staff Jasmyne JeanRemy ’22 was handling elections. He said that he found it suspicious that the Union waited until after he was impeached to hold a third round of elections to fill A-Board, since he had insisted that they hold elections as soon as possible to fill the empty A-Board seats. Because he wanted to use the third round of elections as a way to prove his capability, Feng said this showed that the chief of staff and president were “going out of their way” to not give him a chance to improve himself. “There was an intentional, malicious aspect to this process,” Feng said. “It was due to my stance during last semester’s presidential race.” Feng said that because of his support and campaign work for Sourirajan’s opponent in last year’s presidential race –– an individual who Feng repeatedly emphasized he did not want named –– Sourirajan, Coles and Jean-Remy all wanted
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Brandeis Women's Network hosts alumna ■ The presentation revolved
around the "Five Pillars of Influence" and how women can use them in the workplace. By LEAH BREAKSTONE JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
On Oct. 28, alumna Ellen Cohen ’82 hosted a conversation with the Brandeis Women’s Network about the difficulties women may face in the workplace and other professional settings, and how to overcome these challenges. Cohen is an executive leadership and mindset coach and a former entertainment attorney. She works with corporate executive attorneys across many industries to elevate their influence and effectiveness. The discussion explored the "Five Pillars of Influence" using case studies to identify real strengths and weaknesses of the pillars. The five pillars can be explained through the acronym C.L.I.M.B –– credibility, leadership presence, professional identity, leadership mindset and building relationships. Credibility is the “most foundational and shows up in all the pillars,” said Cohen. She contin-
ued to explain that credibility is “how others view us and value our expertise.” She shared in her presentation that credible people are competent, innovative and strategic leaders who are experts in a subject matter. In addition to identifying important traits for success, Cohen also helped people take note of their weaknesses and how they can address them. For example, if one is struggling with credibility, they can increase their business and operational knowledge, be thorough and predictable and build trust in others, she explained. The second of the five pillars is leadership which highlights confidence through communication. In this pillar, Cohen explains that it is important to “focus on what people may hear, read or perceive” and “how much emotion is embedded in your communication.” Cohen also emphasized that sometimes it is key to “listen more, speak less.” “Professional identity … is the most critical to the concept of getting a seat at the table,” Cohen said. With professional identity, one needs to know what sets them apart from other executives. “You want to develop a mission statement about your identity, role and responsibilities,” Cohen added. Additionally, collaborating, making an effort to
Former Foreign Services Officer speaks
Study Abroad cont.
Halloween Celebration
Hear stories from more students studying abroad during COVID.
Multiple clubs hosted Halloween-themed events over the weekend.
By LEAH BREAKSTONE AND JULIANA
By JACK YUANWEI CHENG AND
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Judges' soccer sweeps the weekend
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By HANNAH TAYLOR
NEWS 3
The dangers of obsessive innovation By ANASTASIA OWEN
COPYRIGHT 2019 FREE AT BRANDEIS.
FORUM 9 SPORTS 11
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021
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THE JUSTICE
NEWS SENATE LOG
WALTHAM BRIEF Waltham will hold municipal elections on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Waltham municipal elections are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Nov. 2 at polling locations and through mail-in and early voting. Five wards in Waltham have uncontested races, one ward possesses a guaranteed outcome, and three will decide their winners with the results from the polls. Ward 1’s city councilor is Anthony Lafauci. Caren Dunn holds the same uncontested position for Ward 2, George Darcy for Ward 3, John McLaughlin for Ward 4, Sean Durkee for Ward 6 and Cathyann Harris for Ward 8. Contested races whose constituents will vote to decide new councilors include Ward 5, 7 and 9. Voters will also have the chance to vote on the Waltham school district committee members. In order for constituents to get to know both those running and pertinent issues in the community, the City of Waltham hosted a series of online events in October to educate the public. One event, “Green Possibilities City Council Candidate Forums” took place Oct. 13, 19 and 22. According to the City of Waltham website, the League of Women Voters of Waltham and the Waltham Alliance for Teaching, Community Organizing and Housing hosted a forum on Oct. 14, 20 and 21 via Zoom at which contestants for school committee and city councilor could answer any questions. Candidates for school committee positions include Elizabeth AlJammal, John Frassica, Renee Arena and Debra Coleman. All candidates have steadily promoted their races through their online social media presence as well as their websites. In-person voting for the elections will run at polling locations from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2. The deadline for voting registration was Oct. 13. Voters can find their polling locations on the Waltham City website and on Massachusetts secretary William Francis Galvin’s website. —Gemma Sampas
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Student Union discusses Midnight Buffet expenditures, Herbicide Free Brandeis club The Student Union Senate met briefly on Halloween and discussed two Senate Money Resolutions relating to the upcoming “Midnight Buffet.” The Senate also decided on the status of Herbicide Free Brandeis, which was seeking to become a probationary club. The first SMR, presented by Sen. Shannon Smally ’22, was for T-shirts for the “Midnight Buffet.” Smally said that the 500 tees –– more than the Union usually orders for this event –– would cost $2,375. The reason for the increased order size, Smally said, was due to the increased number of students on campus this semester compared to last year. Smally said that because of continuing supply-chain irregularities due to COVID-19, the T-
shirts might take more time to arrive, and so the Union should order them sooner. To do this, the Senate had to expedite the vote to approve the SMR. The Senate voted by acclamation to approve the expedition, and then again by acclamation to approve the purchase. The second SMR was primarily for the catering costs of the “Midnight Buffet.” As with the Tshirts, Smally said, the increased student presence on campus drove up necessary costs over budget. Because of the larger student body, there will also be less food per person. Smally said that students would go through the buffet once and be served by Student Union members. The total cost for the food was
“Their club is a great idea, but it needs guidance or else it won’t go anywhere,” Thrun said. The Senate decided to postpone the vote, and recommended that HFB meet with the club support committee in order to further prepare for their next appearance before the Senate. Sen. Skye Liu ’23, chair of the Senate Health and Safety committee, informed the Senate that the Student Sexuality Information Services, not her committee, was responsible for refilling the Plan B in the Shapiro Campus Center vending machine, and so she was unable to have the machine refilled.
—Max Feigelson
SHABBAT MARKET
POLICE LOG MEDICAL EMERGENCY Oct. 25—There was a medical emergency in The Charles River Apartments. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance. Oct. 25—There was a medical emergency in the Bassine Science building. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and signed a refusal for further care. Oct. 26—There was a medical emergency in Sherman Dining Hall. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance. Oct. 26—There was a medical emergency in Ridgewood. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance. Oct. 27—There was a medical emergency in East Quad. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and signed a refusal for further care. Oct. 27—There was a medical emergency in North Quad. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance. Oct. 28—There was a medical emergency in Ziv Quad. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and signed a refusal for further care. Oct. 29—There was a medical emergency in North Quad. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance. Oct. 29—There was a medical emergency in Goldfarb Library. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and signed a refusal for further care. Oct. 29—There was a medical emergency in North Quad. The party was treated by BEMCo
about $4,500, and with the various costs associated with catering and hosting an event, the total of the SMR was about $6,300. The Senate will vote on this SMR at the next meeting. Emily McKerrow ’24 from Herbicide Free Brandeis came to present the club’s purpose and request to gain probationary status. McKerrow gave a brief presentation which covered the group’s purpose and structure. HFB, McKerrow said, aims to “advocate for organic land care on Brandeis’ campus in order to create a more sustainable living and learning environment.” After the presentation, Union Vice President Courtney Thrun ’22 put McKerrow in the Zoom waiting room so the Senate could deliberate.
staff and signed a refusal for further care. Oct. 30—There was a medical emergency in Ridgewood. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and signed a refusal for further care. Oct. 30—There was a medical emergency in East Quad. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and signed a refusal for further care. Oct. 31—There was a medical emergency in Massell Quad. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance. Oct. 31—There was a medical emergency in Massell Quad. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance. Oct. 31—There was a medical emergency in Ziv Quad. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance. HARASSMENT Oct. 27—A community member reported receiving harassment via email. A report of the incident was composed. TRAFFIC INCIDENT Oct. 29—A staff member reported a minor vehicle crash in the Kutz Hall parking lot. There were no injuries to report and University Police assisted with the exchange of paperwork. VANDALISM Oct. 25—A staff member reported vandalism on the athletic fields.
—Compiled by Noah Zeitlin
HANNAH LUSEIG/the Justice
Students gather around a table of food at the weekly Shabbat Market hosted by Brandeis Hillel. Last week, the market took place on Friday, Oct. 29 in the Usdan Courtyard. The market offers students the chance to celebrate Shabbat by picking up food with which they can prepare their own meals.
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THE JUSTICE
GUEST SPEAKER
By ELLA RUSSELL
JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice
BIPAC CLUB: Dave Harden discussed his time in the Middle East and lessons he learned from his service.
Former Foreign Services senior officer speaks on Israel and Palestine By HANNAH TAYLOR JUSTICE EDITOR
Dave Harden, a former senior officer in the Foreign Services at the U.S. Agency for International Development, spoke about his experiences serving in the Middle East and the lessons he learned through managing a coexistence between Israelis and Palestinans. The event, titled “Lessons Learned from the Frontlines of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” was hosted by the Brandeis Israel Public Affairs Committee. During the Israeli disengagement from Gaza in 2005, Israeli settlements were evacuated from the Gaza Strip as well as the West Bank. At the time, Harden was stationed there working on economic projects to help the people who were evacuated from settlements. He said this work gave him a “unique perspective” as he was working directly with both Israelis and Palestinians. “That allowed us to do some interesting projects to figure out how and what works in terms of economics and security,” he said. From 2005 to 2018, Harden was the USAID deputy mission director for the West Bank in Gaza, and he spoke about a few of his experiences. In 2014, Harden was stationed helping those living in Gaza during the war between Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist organization. His toughest job, Harden said, was deciding how much food to buy for the Gaza residents and how to deliver it. With blocked borders and an ongoing war, Harden was tasked with finding a way to distribute enough food for two million residents for 90 days. Pointing to a map of the region, Harden discussed what his different options for delivering the food had been. The only way to get into Gaza, Harden explained, was along the Israeli side, but he also tried to send food through the Egyptian side, although that attempt failed to
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TUESDAY. NOVEMBER 2, 2021
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Prof. discusses history and future of jihadism in the West Jihadism: A Thirty Year History,” traces the development of the terrorist movement from its origins in the 1990s.
work as Egypt would not allow access through its border. “In complex crises, you want to use everything available,” Harden said. “You don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket because you just don’t know what will happen.” Harden, who had been stationed in Tel Aviv while working on solutions for the West Bank, then had to travel to Lebanon to serve there temporarily, taking a dangerous venture through the Beirut airport which is controlled by the Hezbollah terrorist organization. Once in Lebanon, he experienced the complex and fragile politics of the country. Lebanon, Harden said, has a diverse demographic of religions made up of Druze, Maronite Christians, Shia and Sunni Muslims. He noted that the country, concerned about its “power sharing agreement that keeps it all together,” has not held a census since the 1930s. “That demographic of Sunni, Shia, Druze and Christian is extremely fragile, and there are 600,000 Palestinians living in camps. It can’t work,” Harden said. He also explained that the Palestinians living in Lebanon are unable to leave as they are living in camps without political rights, and Hezbollah does not want Lebanon’s demographic to change. “So what I understood when I served in Lebanon,” he added, “is that the demographics of that country was a break on any resolution between Israelis and Palestinians.” Harden then spoke next about his experience working with Jordan after the Syrian Civil War. The war displaced about 50% of the Syrian population, and many of the refugees fled to Jordan, he explained, adding that displaced persons from Palestine, Iraq, Yemen and other countries throughout the Middle East have sought refuge in Jordan as well. While in Jordan, Harden was tasked with figuring out how to create economic opportunities through trade between Jordanians and Palestinians. “We can’t have another border with chaos on our hands,” he said, having heard from both Israelis who were concerned about Jordan’s stability and Jordanians concerned about Israel’s stability. Harden worked to achieve similar goals while stationed in Saudi Arabia, where he spoke
NEWS
JIHADISM
■ Klausen’s new book, “Western
■ BIPAC guest speaker discussed his experiences serving in the Middle East.
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with Saudis in the cities of Jeddah and Riyadh about creating economic opportunities for Yemen. He explained that his theory was that if a young man from Yemen had the opportunity to grow pomegranates, make them into juice and then sell the juice to Jeddah, he could envision a future for himself and have better chances going forward, including the prospect of being able to raise a family “instead of just engaged in war.” Harden was able to put some of his economic theories to test while working in Jenin, a Palestinian city in the West Bank, in 2005. He said that suicide bombings had been a common occurence in Jenin in 2003, and from 2003 to 2007, the city continued to be “a center for chaos, instability and terror.” His first theory was that “economic pressure yields political change.” Harden said that he used this theory in Gaza to pressure Hamas enough to make the organization fail and moderate. The second theory was that “economic opportunity [yields] political change.” He said that he used this theory in the West Bank to create economic opportunities through trade. “It never happens in foreign policy or international relations that you have a chance to test two competing theories at the same time and in pretty much the same place,” Harden said, expressing how this was an interesting opportunity to actually see what works economically and politically. In Jenin, where the economic opportunity theory was tested, Harden said that unemployment rates dropped from 50% to 20%, there was better governance and education, the militia failed and there were no “lone wolf attackers.” Conversely, in Gaza, where the economic pressure theory was tested, Harden said that Hamas remains dominant and has “dramatically” improved its military capabilities. He added, “The economics of Gaza is one of despair. We’ve lost a generation.” “So I am proud of the fact that we were able to create opportunities,” Harden said, but added, “I’m saddened by the fact that we failed in Gaza. And when we fail in Gaza, it’s not just in Gaza. It’s the Israelis, it’s the Middle East, it’s the Europeans, it’s America, it’s the world.”
Jytte Klausen (POL), Professor of International Cooperation, discussed her newest work: “Western Jihadism: A Thirty Year History.” The book was published in October by Oxford University Press. Klausen described the main insights she gained from her research and responded to questions from Prof. Sabine von Mering (CGES) and the audience. Klausen explained that her book traces the development of Western jihadism from its origins with exiled Islamist revolutionaries in the 1990s. The book describes the circumstances surrounding three prominent terrorist attacks: the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, 9/11 and the Boston Marathon bombings, along with the aftermath and recruitment measures following these attacks. The main goal of her book, Klausen said, is to analyze the popularity of jihadism in the Western world, which she defined as encompassing Western Europe and North America, but also New Zealand and Australia — countries affected to a similar degree by jihadist influence. Klausen obtained her findings through painstaking interviews and other research methods to gain insight to the activity of 6,500 Western jihadist extremists and their networks. However, she noted that there were a significant number of Westerners who were killed or left these groups with little to no trace of their participation. First giving an overview of her subject, Klausen explained that Islamism is a fundamentalist ideology made up of an “extraordinary array of different groups.” Jihadist groups stand at the fringe of Islamist thought. She said that jihadist groups were defined by their interpretation of the Islamic concept of the jihad as a “nonnegotiable obligation” necessitating a violent struggle against nonbelievers. According to Klausen, the overarching goal of all of these groups is to take power in the Muslim world because they see the current regimes as illegitimate for not following Islam to its fullest extent. Per Klausen, her main finding from her research is that the recruitment of Western Al-Qaeda members usually does not come from “disaffected Muslims” with particular local grievances. Instead, the appeal of jihadism is largely due to the concerted recruiting efforts of jihadist
leaders. Klausen said that former Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was particularly interested in recruiting; according to phone data, a majority of his calls went to a recruiting office established in London. Supporting this argument, Klausen noted that when bin Laden began to draw international fame while in Jordan, there was an increase in identified Western jihadists coming to Jordan. Western jihadist communications were a central element of Klausen’s research. Klausen presented the cover of her book, which displays a map of the activity and origins of the 6,500 Western jihadists. She pointed out the noticeable hotspots connecting the U.S. and Europe with the Middle East. Klausen observed that the popularity of jihadism for Westerners may appear strange at first, since its fundamental belief is primarily opposed to the West. Perhaps supporting this seeming paradox, she noted that according to her research, the first inclination of a Western terrorist is to go abroad. According to Klausen, Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev wanted to go to Chechnya, though he was rejected for his tendency to draw too much attention to himself. However, she noted that “people have historically joined all sorts of radical movements.” She argued that the appeal of jihadist groups is not too different from the excitement drawn around communist movements in the 20th century because there is an appeal to groups that challenge systems of authority. A significant section of Western jihadists are women, Klausen said. She explained that their motivations were varied, but there was usually a mixture of idealism and passion to do something to fight for a cause and build a new society, as well as naive, romantic images of getting married. According to Klausen, many Western jihadist women came from strict households and used jihadist sites as dating sites. Discussing terrorist activity today, Klausen noted that her book has missed the fact that it is no longer a question whether Al-Qaeda will move to Afghanistan and now “Al-Qaeda is the strongest it has ever been.” Klausen identified the next steps with her research. She plans to share her data with other groups and begin research exploring other fundamentalist organizations, such as the Incel online community. She observed that the Incels have a peculiar status in that they are “entirely existent online” and are at first glance a hate group targeting women, but their goal is to reestablish a patriarchal society, which falls into the category of a terrorist group.
Newbie Starving Artists perform ■ The a cappella group
introduced its four newest members at its first concert of the semester. By DALYA KOLLER
JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Starving Artists kicked off their season with a “Newbie Debut” concert, to introduce the newest members of the a cappella group. It was the first time the group has performed live since the winter of 2020, and the room was packed with fans and abuzz with excitement. The newest members of the group are Leila Haller ’25, Sarah Kim ’25, Sam Newman ’24 and Rachmiel “Rocky” Klein GSAS ’22. The concert consisted of four songs, and it provided a taste of what the group has to offer. The songs were all arranged by senior members of the group, and each song featured a different soloist. The group performed “Broke” by Samm Henshaw, “Don’t Leave Me Lonely” by Mark Ronson and Yebba, “I Need a Dollar” by Aloe Blacc, and “BHC,”, Starving Artist’s alumni song. “It was my first time performing a cappella live, so I was definitely really uncertain about how it was going to go,” Haller told the Justice in an Oct. 29 interview. “Even though the whole experience felt somewhat out-of-body, I enjoyed every minute of it.” Kim shared a similar sentiment: “After Sunday’s concert, I was so out of breath, but I was glad that the performance went well.” Klein, a student at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, knew he wanted to
join an a cappella group on campus, but was torn by which group to join. After meeting other members of Starving Artists, he knew he wanted in. “I chose the Starving Artists since I loved their sound, the quirkiness, loving energy of the members, and I could tell that there was serious musicianship. When I got in, I received a phone call with all the members yelling congratulations, and I knew I was about to find a family at Brandeis, being new and all.” Haller and Kim knew that they wanted to be a part of Starving Artists as well. Kim says, “Music has always made me super happy, and it’s so nice to be around a group of people who also like to sing.” Haller said her fellow members are “such a dynamic and fun group of people.” She also spoke about the disposition of the group: “Even though rehearsals require a lot of focus and hard work, everyone is super dedicated to our sound. Every time we rehearse, it is evident how much each of us just enjoy the opportunity to sing together, whether it is in front of an audience or not.” Starving Artists was founded in 1995, and for the last 20 years has been performing both on and off campus and has released five studio albums. In 2010, the group reached the Semifinals of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, and won the Best Vocal Percussion Award twice in a row. Starving Artists has two more on-campus events scheduled for this semester. They will be performing at the Kindness Day Coffee House, on Nov. 8, and their Semester Show will be on Dec. 9. They will also be opening for the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall on Dec. 21.
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WOMEN: Alumna gives advice for workplace CONTINUED FROM 1 build relationships and create value and understanding are important parts for a professional identity. It is also crucial that one knows how to serve their clients, she said. The leadership mindset pillar is the “internally focused pillar,” Cohen said. This pillar contains the skills of a balancing, persevering, empathetic and compassionate person. This person also exhibits leadership, calm, confidence and focus and is able to respond to change and volatility, all according to her slideshow. It is important that business leaders can “[manage] through change … learning to be adaptable and accept change as a gifted opportunity,” she said. Having a leadership mindset is all “about developing critical thinking with your team” and “being that role model
and not taking credit for others’ work,” as well as “owning your errors,” Cohen emphasized. The final pillar is building relationships. This entails creating connections to all levels and roles within the organization as well as taking responsibility for any problematic relationships. This pillar emphasizes an individual's need to serve as a trusted mentor. Another crucial aspect of this pillar is “building trust and listening with that curiosity and empathy,” Cohen said. The webinar concluded with an opportunity for participants to ask questions. One participant asked for advice for young female executives. Cohen stressed the importance of confidence and influence, explaining that “if you have that credibility, you can show up with that leadership presence.”
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021
5 PILLARS OF INFLUENCE
LEAH BREAKSTONE/the Justice
PRESENTATION: Ellen Cohen '82 presented her research on the 5 Pillars of Influence to University students.
IMPEACHMENT: Feng expresses FESTIVAL: Speakers thoughts on the Union's actions present range of topics CONTINUED FROM 1
CONTINUED FROM 1 him off of the Executive Board. “It doesn’t seem coincidental that the people who built this case against me [supported Sourirajan],” Feng said. He suggested that Coles used the power of executive senator to have him removed from office. “I think they were upset in some way that I supported the current administration’s opponent,” said Feng. “What I’m seeing is political warfare, petty political revenge.” In response to this statement, Jean-Remy told the Justice that she and President Krupa Sourirajan ’23 discussed giving Feng a third chance, but that one of Feng’s conditions was that he be allowed to run a third round of elections, which they did not trust him to do. Executive Senator Joseph Coles ’22 said that by the time Feng requested to run a third round, “he had already lost the trust of the Senate.” One of Feng’s arguments, which he made to the Senate, the Judiciary and now to the Justice, was that he was not given a written explanation of his shortcomings with remedial steps to improve. Because of this, Feng said, he never really had a chance to fix his mistakes. Coles said that while Feng did not receive such a notice, he was still aware of the problems. Jean-Remy brought up a message chain she exchanged with Feng, which began with her requesting a meeting with him. In the messages, Feng asked if the meeting was about his lack of responsiveness to emails, and then if it was about the way he handled elections. Jean-Remy said that the meeting was not about either of those issues. “To say he didn’t have knowledge of the mistakes, that he didn’t have knowledge that people were displeased with him, that’s not true,” Coles said. Jean-Remy also said that she and Sourirajan had met with Feng before he was impeached to discuss the articles of impeachment, but that Feng was not receptive to them. According to Jean-Remy, Feng tried to minimize the issues and told her and Sourirajan that they were “overreacting.” Feng also took issue with what he saw as problems with the way the current A-Board election is being run. Jean-Remy sent out the email notifying students about the election on Monday and held the info session at 9 p.m. on Tuesday. Feng said later on in the interview that the “organization of this election was worse than mine.” Jean-Remy disputed this assertion. “They actually had two days
[to decide], from Monday to 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, the night of the info session,” she said. “I copied and pasted [the email] from his template,” she said. Feng said that the way the Union is handling the election “is subpar, very disjointed and very messy.” In a later statement to the Justice, Coles disagreed. “Respectfully, his elections were a disaster, and we finally have a competent person running elections.” Feng also brought up the previous secretary, Alex Park ’21. He said that the two of them had made similar mistakes and that only Feng had been punished. Coles’ rationale for filing the charges of impeachment, Feng said, was mistakes related to elections, but that Coles did not apply this standard to Park. Coles said that this was incorrect. “Alex Park didn’t make mistakes of the same magnitude,” he said. According to Coles, Park’s primary offense was leaving out the racial minority senator seat. Coles said it would not have been “feasible” to replace Park even if the Senate wanted to impeach him, since Park’s term was almost over. Additionally, this was the election that would also decide Park’s successor –– Feng. Sourirajan also said that Park’s and Feng’s performances as secretary were not comparable. “Secretaries year to year make mistakes,” she said. “The mistakes being made [this time] were more public, affecting the way people voted and came to info sessions, and in my opinion that’s a difference.” Even over the course of the interview, Feng did not dispute the articles of impeachment or that he was guilty. However, Feng said that he suspected, and that the current elections confirmed, his suspicions regarding what he perceived as inequitable treatment compared to Park. “This really is like a witch hunt,” Feng said, despite pointing out that the articles of impeachment were “true and valid.” Coles again disputed Feng’s claim. “It’s not some conspiracy. [The Senate and Judiciary] –– 23 people –– said he did not do his job,” he said. “It’s not like we did this out of nowhere. [The evidence] was there. Him endorsing the other candidate had nothing to do with us holding him accountable for not doing his responsibility.” Coles and Jean-Remy also said that they were not aware that Feng had endorsed Sourirajan’s opposition. Sourirajan said that Union members’ support for her opponent was not the reason for Feng’s impeach-
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ment. “Regardless of who has endorsed who, that does not affect the way I or anyone else should treat people in the Union,” Sourirajan said. Feng also said during the interview that “officially speaking, you cannot say I was removed.” This, he said, was due to the fact that the Judiciary had not yet released their full written opinion, and he had not received a formal email informing him of his removal. Chief Justice Eamonn Golden ’24, who led the Judiciary trial and released the Judiciary’s brief opinion immediately after the trial, said that this was not exactly true. “We had a 45 minute conversation which ended with me telling him he was no longer in Student Union,” Golden said. “I told him point blank –– you’re no longer the secretary.” Coles confirmed a similar narrative. “He was removed, he’s been removed from Slack and all the systems,” he said. “If [Feng] felt like he wasn’t removed, he would be trying to get into E-Board meetings.” Additionally, Coles said that Feng’s complaints made no sense since he had accepted responsibility before both the Senate and Judiciary. “I’d like to reiterate that his opening statement was a confession,” Coles said, in reference to Feng’s opening argument at the Judiciary trial. “If he thinks the articles of impeachment were valid, he should’ve resigned.” At the end of the interview, Feng emphasized what he believed to be the overall point of his argument. “The main takeaway is that I did make my share of my mistakes. I had this little slight period of time where I slipped up,” Feng said. “I’m sorry for taking too long to recognize that I made those mistakes.” Jean-Remy did not agree with this assessment of events. “It wasn’t a short period of time,” she said. “It was, like, a month.” Ultimately, Feng said that his issue was that the motive behind his impeachment was “invalid.” “It was unjust, and it was an abuse of power,” Feng said. “It’s ironic that at an institution that values social justice, members of the student government can find a way to pull off this despicable act of injustice.” Feng declined to comment on what his next steps are in order to rectify his grievances with the Union. However, his options are limited. There is no appeals process for impeachment, and according to the constitution, impeached Union members may not run for office for a calendar year afterwards. Feng, who is a senior, will not hold Union office again.
boy mourning the loss of his brother and grappling with the fleeting nature of time. Gefen’s talk, as well as the festival’s final event with Prof. Michal Ben-Josef Hirsch (POL), was partially conducted in Hebrew. In her talk “Politics and Conflict Narratives,” Hirsch brought her expertise in international relations and norms,
ideas and historical justice into the context of the Israel and Palestine conflict. For the demonstrative portions of the festival, Brandeis hosted Israeli performing artist Noa Barankin for “The Rhythm Connection,” an interactive drumming and music performance in English and Hebrew. Israeli culinary expert Ilan Barniv also appeared for the festival and facilitated two events on Israeli food and culture in the United States.
ISRAELI WRITER
Photo Courtesy of THE BRANDEIS HEBREW LANGUAGE PROGRAM
BOOK TALK: Gefen discussed his book "Jerusalems Beach" and his research.
IMPEACHMENT
MAX FEIGELSON/the Justice
STUDENT UNION: Former secretary was impeached.
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features
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021 ● FEATURES ● THE JUSTICE
just
VERBATIM | REMY THE RAT If you are what you eat, then I only want to eat the good stuff.
ON THIS DAY…
FUN FACT
In 1983, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was released worldwide.
A fountain in Ortono, Italy dispenses wine instead of water 24/7.
Study abroad: more places you’ll go! The Justice asked students questions over email regarding their fall study abroad experiences amidst the pandemic. According to the Brandeis Office of Study Abroad, 19 Brandeis students studied abroad this summer, 60 Brandeis students are studying in 19 countries this fall and by this spring, more than 100 Brandeis students are expected to study abroad. Special thanks to Study Abroad Advisor, Ari Massefski and the Office of Study Abroad for their assistance in contacting students currently studying abroad for this article and for providing demographic information.
Neelie Kaifer ’22
London, United Kingdom Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the program you are in? A: I am on the Boston University London internship program, on the Psychology and Health Sciences track. During the first five weeks of the program, I completed two courses. For the rest of the weeks I am here, I am doing an internship four days a week as well as a separate extracurricular course that meets once a week — it sounds like a lot but is actually very manageable.
Photo Courtesy of NEELIE KAIFER ’22
EVENING VIEW: Kaifer takes a photo of a street with pastel-colored houses in the evening.
By LEAH BREAKSTONE and JULIANA GIACONE JUSTICE EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER
Q: What are your academic interests and pursuits? Describe a favorite course that you’re taking or a course that intrigues you. A: I am a double major in HSSP and Sociology. A course that I took that interested me was an art history course that looked at how arts and media in post-war Britain were reflective of the greater culture at the time — we frequently discussed what made an artwork “British.” I’ve never really thought about the intersection between art and sociology before [and there’s] actually a big connection between the two subjects. Q: What has been the most memorable aspect of your time abroad so far? A: My favorite thing to do is walk around the city and explore local markets and restaurants with my friends. I was also lucky enough to visit Edinburgh for a weekend, and it was so beautiful, and it had a completely different feel from London. Q: How has COVID-19 impacted your study abroad program? A: Traveling to other countries out-
side of the U.K. is more difficult, which is disappointing because I was hoping to visit other places, but it does allow me to explore other parts of the U.K., which I may not have done without the travel restrictions. England is less restrictive than other parts of the U.K. like Scotland or Wales, so masks are optional pretty much everywhere except public transport. However, a decent amount of people still don’t wear masks despite it being mandatory. Masks feel like the only COVID-19 prevention I have seen, apart from the optional National Health Service QR code scan in at restaurants (which I cannot do because I am not a part of the NHS). Q: What have you found to be the biggest difficulty or obstacle you’ve had to overcome so far? A: I haven’t found it that difficult. There is obviously a bit of a cultural shock at first, but now it doesn’t seem different at all. The hardest thing for me has been trying to stay in touch with friends and family because of the time difference. My younger siblings go to school all day, and I can’t talk to them throughout the day like I do at home. Q: What have you enjoyed most about the country you are living in? Is there a
specific part of the culture that stands out to you? A: What I love most about London is the atmosphere. The city is very busy and people are always going somewhere and doing something. There [are] also so many parks, museums and cafés that allow you to slow down and escape the chaos of the rest of the city. Some streets have beautifully colored old buildings and cobblestones, and I try to turn down those streets whenever I can. There’s always something to do for whatever mood you are in.
Jacob Keller ’22 Mérida, Mexico
of us. My classes, [which] are generally in the social sciences, [are] two hours long and we have them twice a week. There’s a good amount of free time, and a lot of students use it to go to local cafes. There’s one that’s especially popular with our program called NyNy (like New York, New York). Q: What are your academic interests and pursuits? Describe a favorite course that you’re taking, or a course that intrigues you. Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the program you are in?
A: At Brandeis I’m a Sociology and Business double major. I especially enjoy learning about different cultures, hisA: My program is [the] Mérida Univertory and archaeology. One of my favorite sities Program with IFSA (Institute for courses here is “Globalization and EcoStudy Abroad). Shoutout to Tania and Dinomic Challenges in Latin America.” In ana! I am in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico in this course we talk about the role that the the southeast part of the country. I’m takWest,especially the U.S., has played in the ing five classes here [and] the local univerMexican economy, especially beginning sities couldn’t host exchange students this with the 1980s. During this decade, a lot semester, but local professors from UADY of neoliberal policies were instituted by (Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán) come Mexican politicians who were educated in to the office each day to teach us. All of our the US. classes are in Spanish, and I’m just with Another class that’s really interesting the people on our program — there are 21 is my “Racism and DiscrimiPhoto Courtesy of JACOB KELLER ’22 nation” class. One of the CATEDRAL: Keller takes a photo of the Catthings we talked about was edral de San Ildefonso in Mérida. a research project my professor did, where she conducted an experiment in her class of local students about their views of race. Q: What has been the most memorable aspect of your time abroad so far? A: This Saturday (Oct. 23), I met a local guy on a dating app and [we] visited the Grand Museum of the Ma-
Design: Yuan Jiang/the Justice
yan World. After, we went to a mall to get Mayan chocolate from a place called Ki ́Xocolatl and then met up with his friends to get cheeseburgers. [Then] we went to his friend’s house to play cards and chat. I remember pausing while I was there and simply feeling integrated into the country. Q: How has COVID-19 impacted your study abroad program? A: Mérida is a city that’s coming out of COVID-19. When we first arrived, the city had a curfew. A couple of weeks later, the curfew [stopped], and the city reopened. Since then a lot of the nightlife has returned. Bars and restaurants are open. One of the suggestions we’re strongly encouraged to follow is to not take buses in the city center because they’re always packed with people. It’s easy enough to use Uber or an app called DiDi. Q: What have you found to be the biggest difficulty or obstacle you’ve had to overcome so far? A: My adjustment process has been a little funny. When you take all of your classes with Americans, it’s easy to forget that you’re not in the U.S. Also, I don’t think I’ve fully processed that I’m in Mexico [because] a lot of English is spoken here and you’ll find [stores like] McDonald’s, Starbucks, Walmart, Costco, etc. But, I think the more time I spend with locals the more it will sink in that I’m here. I think the biggest difficulty that I’ve run into here is finding the path that suits me best. I started my time here trying to spend as much time as I could with the other students on my program. I soon came to realize that in order to make the most of my time here, I had to branch out of my comfort zone. That’s how I ended up
Photo Courtesy of JACOB KELLER ’22
HAT: Keller takes a selfie in a hand painted hat. at a local’s house to play cards — and lose. Q: What have you enjoyed most about the country you are living in? Is there a specific part of the culture that stands out to you? A: The thing that I’ve enjoyed most about living in Mexico is spending time with Mexicans. It’s a treasure to hear the perspectives of a local. Mérida is a city with a lot of beauty and a lot of inequality. It’s been really interesting to talk with locals about why they think that’s the case and if they think it’s going to change. It’s also fun to learn about the less talked about cultural events, like the drag shows. Q: What have you learned so far about the culture you have been immersed in (something that a tourist wouldn’t know, but a local would)? A: I think that tourists miss out on certain local cultural events or restaurants frequented by locals. Lesser-known places such as El Nuevo Tucho are a lot of fun. They have comedians and singers every night, and it’s a place where young couples, families with young kids and people who I imagine are grandparents go. [When I went], everyone was laughing, and the atmosphere was light.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021 ● FEATURES ● THE JUSTICE
Lucy Mayer ’22
Lainey Solomon ’22
Granada, Spain
Paris, France
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the program you are in? A: I am studying with Academic Programs Abroad in Paris. APA is a French immersion program, so I am living with a host family and taking all of my classes in French. Some of my classes are with the APA cohort, and some of my classes are at University Paris 8. APA is a cultural immersion program as well. Every week they have a cultural event planned for us like a ballet, opera, cheese tasting, etc., and we have gone on weekend trips to Normandy and Dijon. Q: What are your academic interests and pursuits? Describe a favorite course that you’re taking or a course that intrigues you. A: I am a Chemistry and French double major. I really love education, and I plan on becoming a high school teacher in the future. My favorite course I’m taking right now is called “Race, Genre, et Identités Postcoloniales en France” (Race, Gender, and Identities in Post-colonial France). The class is very interactive — we discuss the readings, have debates and also explore areas around Paris that help us learn more about the subject. So far, we have visited Le Musée d’Immigration (Immigration Museum), toured La Mosquée De Paris (a famous mosque in Paris) and had Dorra Mameri (a researcher and sociologist) come to discuss secularism in France. Q: What has been the most memorable aspect of your
or obstacle you’ve had to overcome so far?
time abroad so far? A: The first week here has been the most memorable. It reminded me of Brandeis Orientation because we were busy doing activities every day, and I was able to get really close with the people on my program. The first week we were all in a hotel together because we didn’t move in with our host families yet. We had guided tours around neighborhoods and monuments, meals all together at delicious restaurants and fun teambuilding events — we did a scavenger hunt around the Louvre and an escape room game all in French. Q: How has COVID-19 impacted your study abroad program? A: Luckily France is handling COVID-19 very well because vaccines are mandatory to enter any restaurant, museum, theater [or] bar. It feels very safe here and besides wearing a mask [while] indoors, my experience hasn’t been hindered by COVID-19 at all. Q: What have you found to be the biggest difficulty
Photo Courtesy of LAINEY SOLOMON ’22
EIFFEL TOWER: Solomon stands in front of the Eiffel Tower for a picture with friends.
A: The most difficult thing has been adjusting to speaking French the majority of the day and also adapting to living with a host family. When I first moved in with my host family, it was an adjustment in terms of the rules and habits of the family, which differed somewhat from my family’s. For example, people in France eat dinner very late — around 9/9:30 pm. Q: What have you enjoyed most about the country you are living in? Is there a specific part of the culture that stands out to you? A: It may be basic to say this, but I have to say the food! I joke with my friends that I eat an average of 4 baguettes a day — which is an exaggeration, it’s probably closer to 1.5. I also really love that people take the time and sit to eat. Even in the middle of the day, French schools close for 1-2 hours so children can go home and have a proper meal. I have been enjoying sitting with my host family for meals instead of rushing to eat so that I can get back to work — which I tend to do a lot at Brandeis. Q: What have you learned so far about the culture you have been immersed in (something that a tourist wouldn’t know, but a local would)? A: You do not smile or make eye contact with people you don’t know. As an American, I was so used to smiling at people when I walked down the street and making small talk but I learned that if you smile at people, they will think that you know them or that you are trying to be friends with them — especially on the metro.
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Photo Courtesy of LUCY MAYER ’22
STREET: On her way to school, Mayer snaps a photo of the street Reyes Católicos in Granada. .
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the program you are in? A: I am studying abroad in Spain this fall through the IES (Institute for the International Education of Students) Granada program! My program offers quite a variety of courses. I am taking an “Islamic Art and Architecture” class, hard because I have trouble mind is my adjustment in a flamenco dance class, leaving Granada when I have shopping for groceries and a watercolor class and a limited time here. However, household items. In the U.S., “Mediterranean Ecosystems” I think I’ve been able to things are very easy to find class. Outside of the maintain a balance between because they’re usually all classroom, I’m involved in a traveling to other parts of found in one giant store like cultural [student] exchange Spain and staying in and Target. Instead, here we program that assigns me an exploring Granada. have a store for each thing “intercambio.” It’s really individually you just nice to be connected to Photo Courtesy of LUCY MAYER ’22 add “ía” and it’s a store: someone who attends the SUNSET: Mayer takes a photo of a pastelería (bakery), University of Granada, sunset city view. papelería (paper store), and it’s a great way to churrería (place where practice my Spanish in a they sell churros). It’s casual setting. not good or bad, per se, but it is an adjustment, Q: What are your and [it’s] less convenient. academic interests and pursuits? Describe a Q: What have you favorite course that learned so far about the you’re taking or a course culture you have been that intrigues you. immersed in (something that a tourist wouldn’t A: I am a Biology know, but a local would)? major and a Hispanic studies minor. My dream A: Something I’ve is to become a biology learned about the culture professor or do something is how casual and played involving teaching! One down the language is. [class] in particular that What is considered rude I love in my program is or polite to say in the U.S., the flamenco class. The class Q: How has COVID-19 in a given moment, can be is partially in the studio and impacted your study abroad completely different than partially in the classroom, program? what would be considered so we are simultaneously rude or polite to say in Spain. learning the history of the A: Masks are required I started my time here... dance and the dance itself. indoors here and outside directly translating phrases Our professor is a dancer if you are in a busy area. into Spanish when at a and has performed flamenco The biggest difference I’ve restaurant only to quickly all over the world. Flamenco noticed in handling COVID-19 realize that … there isn’t a is a big part of the culture here, compared to the U.S., need for “I would like or could in Andalusia historically. is the lack of cheap and I have” type [of] language. It’s Practically every night that accessible COVID-19 testing. not that the saying in Spanish I walk home I see Flamenco Getting tested here is much is impolite, it’s just that there performances on the streets. trickier, and [it] requires a are different expectations There is music and dancing, visit to the clinic or hospital, and formalities that exist in and the general public gather [and] it is also much more each country. to clap and cheer the dancers expensive. However, it seems on. that the grand majority of the people here believe in Q: What has been the most the importance of getting memorable aspect of your vaccinated, so there is less time abroad so far? of a risk of encountering unvaccinated people. My A: One of the most program requires masks to memorable times here has be worn indoors in class at all probably been visiting times. Ronda and Setinil de las Bodegas this past weekend, Q: What have you found [which was] organized by to be the biggest difficulty my program. The scenery or obstacle you’ve had to was so beautiful, and it was overcome so far? such a fun time. There is so much to see in Granada A: One thing I have in that it actually makes travel
Emily Bischoff ’22
Bocas del Toro, Panamá Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the program you are in? A: The program I’m doing is the School for Field Studies (SFS) at Panama. The program is called “Tropical Island Biodiversity Studies” and we are located in the archipelago of Bocas del Toro. We take classes about Panamanian culture and history, we study how tourism has affected the local community and [the] environment and we learn about resource management, tropical marine ecology and tropical terrestrial ecology. Q: What are your academic interests and pursuits? Photo Courtesy of EMILY BISCHOFF ’22
PALM TREES: A photo taken on campus overlooking palm trees and the ocean.
A: I am a Biology and Environmental studies double major. I am interested in environmental fieldwork and socioecological work. I was originally supposed to do the SFS Bhutan program in Fall of 2020 but it was canceled. This SFS program was obviously a huge shift from a mountainous environment in Asia to a tropical island program in Central America, but I love it! I wanted to do SFS specifically, so I could do fieldwork in an academic environment and be in a small program. Q: What has been the most memorable aspect of your time abroad so far? A: One of the most memorable experiences was the first time we went snorkeling. It was my first time doing it, and seeing a coral reef is a life changing experience. We have also gotten to visit several Sustainable Indigenous Tourism initiatives, which have been incredible to learn about Ngobe culture. Q: How has COVID-19 impacted your study abroad program? A: COVID-19 completely changed the country I’m studying in but I couldn’t be more thankful. Luckily we have still gotten to go on all of our field trips, visit Bocas town, and have [a] mid-semester break in Boquete, Panama. We still have to wear masks in town or when guests
visit, but on campus we don’t have to. Overall, the COVID-19 numbers here have been really low. The vaccine has not been politicized, so once it was available for distribution everyone got it. Q: What have you found to be the biggest difficulty or obstacle you’ve had to overcome so far? A: Being abroad in Panama is actually my first time leaving the country. There are many cultural differences here such as notions of private property, race relations and gender dynamics.
Q: What have you learned so far about the culture you have been immersed in (something that a tourist wouldn’t know, but a local would)? A: Tourism has had a significant impact on the culture in Bocas, so it has been interesting to learn about the impact this has had on the community and how community members perceive [it]. Talking to community members about their relationship and perceptions on tourism has taught me how complicated tourism’s impact can be.
Q: What have you enjoyed most about the country you are living in? Is there a specific part of the culture that stands out to you? A: I love learning about the Indigenous community here, the Ngobe. They are the largest Indigenous group in Panama, and I feel like I have learned so much about agroforestry, Indigenous relations to the land and self-sustaining communities.
Photo Courtesy of EMILY BISCHOFF ’22
SPIDER: Bischoff holds a golden silk orb-weaver spider during a field trip.
Editor’s note: Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
8 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021 ● FORUM ● THE JUSTICE
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Sofia Gonzalez Rodriguez, Editor in Chief Cameron Cushing, Managing Editor Gilda Geist, Senior Editor River Hayes, Deputy Editor Leeza Barstein, Jen Crystal, Jane Flautt, Gabriel Frank, Megan Geller, Hannah O’Koon, Noah Zeitlin, Associate Editors Jacklyn Golobordsky, Hannah Taylor, News Editors Juliana Giacone, Features Editor Abigail Cumberbatch, Forum Editor Jack Yuanwei Cheng, Thea Rose, Acting Photography Editors Ariella Weiss, Acting Copy Editor Lynn Han, Copy Editor Aiko Schinasi, Ads Editor Samantha Goldman, Online Editor
It is also important to remember the distinction between quarantining and isolating, which are often incorrectly used interchangeably. Those required to quarantine are able to stay in their own spaces, limiting contact with others. Those in isolation are moved to 567 South Street after testing positive and have no contact with other individuals. Collins added that “if a clinical evaluation identifies strep throat or a sinus infection or pneumonia as the source of fever, then treatment for a bacterial infection would be prescribed and the student would not be
asked to isolate or quarantine.” This board believes it is important for students to remember our social responsibility to keep one another safe from all infections — not just COVID-19 — and encourages everyone to remain cautious about socializing and attending class when sick. We appreciate that the University has continued to implement these safety measures and that the campus community has maintained relatively low rates of infection throughout the semester. Finally, we want to remind everyone to continue to exercise caution and sensibility.
EDITORIALS
The University’s transparency is imperative to ensuring students’ health and safety From complaints of mold growing in Ziv Quad dormitories to the mice infestation in Gordon Hall, it is safe to say that Brandeis’ infrastructure is crumbling. While one notices signs of construction across campus, this should not be mistaken for signs of progress when it comes to the lowquality housing present at Brandeis. Students contend with mold, mice infestations and water contamination, notable in Brown Social Science Center. As if this were not enough to add to students’ frustrations, the University has neglected to effectively communicate with students regarding substandard and potentially hazardous living and dining situations, as most recently observed with the temporary closure of Lower Usdan dining hall. On Oct. 14, Brandeis University Services sent out an email to students stating that “Usdan Dining Hall and a section of the Hoot Market are currently closed as repairs are being made to the ceiling above that space.” This email was sent out days after students were informed that Lower Usdan was temporarily closed through communication with Sodexo staff members. Besides the Oct. 14 email and the subsequent reopening of the Usdan dining hall, students remain in the dark about the particulars of what transpired to cause the dining hall to shut down for two weeks. Since the reopening of the dining hall, a member of this editorial board, who eats lunch in Lower Usdan daily, has witnessed water dripping from the ceiling as they try to eat. This editorial board calls on the University to be more transparent
with students about Brandeis’ current state of infrastructure, and, when necessary, explicitly communicate to students when a situation may be hazardous to their health. We understand as some situations develop in real-time, it may be challenging to send out updates. However, comprehensive emails with significant updates are imperative to students’ health and safety. Brandeis is not alone when it comes to its compromised infrastructure and lack of transparency. Across the country, various incidents have been surfacing as students from Howard University, George Washington University, Villanova University and Ohio State University have reported subpar housing situations. In all of these cases, including those at Brandeis, students were not aware of the conditions they would be exposed to before moving into their dorms for the 2021 fall semester. After almost two years of experiencing a global health crisis, one would think universities across the country would be even more vigilant in ensuring that student living spaces are up to health and safety standards. Considering the cost of housing at Brandeis for the 2021-2022 academic year ranges from $1,880 to $13,320, this editorial board and students across campus expect Brandeis to invest and maintain a standard of living that allows all students to thrive in a safe and healthy environment. As both students and customers of this institution, we expect more from the University to maintain our health and safety, and currently, we are not receiving that.
JACK YUANWEI CHENG/the Justice
on Views News the
For college students across the nation, October marks the beginning of midterm season — a period marked by increased workload and a plummet in students’ mental health. During this time, students experience a range of emotions from high stress to anxiety. Is there a culture at Brandeis that promotes overworking and excessive studying? How can students effectively manage midterm stressors, and are there adequate resources at Brandeis to support students during this time?
Vandita Malyvia Wilson, MPP ’22
The culture of overwork and stress at Brandeis is no different than that at most other colleges, and it might actually be less. The culture of overwork is endemic to the college way of life today, brought on by the difficulties of financing an education, obtaining a job post graduation and adapting to a new interpersonal environment fraught with potential pitfalls. I find that while Brandeis has resources, oftentimes they are buried in an email with too many items/events listed. Each unique resource deserves its own email with a compelling subject line and captivating copy. These are briefly mentioned in orientation, lumped together with one another into a presentation that glosses over how valuable it is to access such resources. Meanwhile, Brandeis’ institutional culture promotes activities that exacerbate stress. Professors should include information on how to access resources and make themselves more available to each student. They’re the main face of academia; as such, it is incumbent upon them to offer mitigating remedies.
Vandita Malviya Wilson is an MPP Candidate, Class of 2022 at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management.
Medical director of the Health Center, Dr. Colleen Collins, clarifies some University COVID-19 policies Despite being almost two years into the COVID-19 pandemic and halfway through our fourth semester of COVID-19 restrictions, the Justice Editorial Board had lingering questions about some of the University’s policies. We reached out to the Golding Health Center for clarification on a number of points and would like to share some responses from Dr. Colleen Collins, medical director of the Health Center. One of the first things that students do in the morning is fill out the Daily Health Assessment. Often, students are unsure whether to include certain symptoms that they are experiencing. Collins wrote that students should keep “in mind that we are looking for new symptoms that are suggestive of a new infection. If you chronically have a runny nose due to seasonal allergies,
or you transiently sneezed one afternoon, these would not be symptoms you should feel compelled to fill out in the DHA.” If you do report symptoms and subsequently fail the DHA, the Health Center will evaluate your situation with you, bearing in mind that within a heavily-vaccinated population like Brandeis’, “the likelihood that a febrile flu-like illness is [COVID-19] is increasingly unlikely.” Collins said that the Health Center is rarely isolating symptomatic cases at this point, unless the symptoms developed after “high-risk” close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19. Examples of high-risk close contacts include “roommates, housemates or significant others,” per Collins Those who test positive for COVID-19 are always isolated for 10 days.
Prof. Teressa Mitchell (PSYC) I’ve been in academia almost continuously since 1983. One thing I’ve learned about surviving the academic calendar is to approach it like surfing. We spent the first weeks of the semester paddling out to where the waves form, and now it’s time to stand up on our boards and surf those waves as best we can, knowing that even if we fall off, we’ll make it back to the beach. We can increase the likelihood that we’ll not just survive but will thrive. We underestimate the power of basics like eating, sleeping and exercising, but optimal brain function is inextricable from optimal body function. We learn best by studying in small, steady bursts, not marathon cramming sessions, by relating new knowledge to old knowledge and by working in social groups rather than alone. These approaches are also better for managing stress. What else can students do? Enjoy college life. Focus on learning, not on grades. Take the classes you want, not just those required by your second or third major. Don’t compare your accomplishments to others’. Get to know people on campus who you would never have met had you not come to Brandeis. College years are a golden time in your lives that will happen only once and if you forget to find the joy, you will have lost something precious.
Teressa Mitchell is an assistant professor of psychology specializing in developmental cognitive neuroscience and psychology. Photos: Vandita Malviya Wilson/Prof. Teressa Mitchell
THE JUSTICE ● FORUM ● TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021
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Technological burnout: the dangers of obsessive innovation By ANASTASIA OWEN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
I think that the term “fried brain” might be a real concept, even possibly an understatement, and I’m not so sure my workload is the sole culprit anymore. In the midst of a writer’s block-inspired-workpause yesterday, I grew frustrated at the way my Kindle, laptop and phone screen all surrounded me in some seamless, almost sneering electronic bridge between me and my dream of a non-internet, anti-electronic reprieve. As if in laughter at my online academic bubble, my phone and computer both lit up on cue ten minutes before my next appointment. All I could do was put my head on the table, dreading the inevitable energy zap, my blood pressure rising. I have been sleep-deprived for days, and being relegated to Zoom meetings has yet again hastened my burnout. I am very aware that a significant amount of my stress stems from my habit of saying yes to almost every opportunity that comes my way— a habit I surely need to work on. But that academic bubble has been compressed even more by the constant online connection many of us are pressured to have with ...well, it feels like everyone. Technological exhaustion is real, and its impacts are often understated, yet devastating. When you are not on Zoom, you are bombarded with emails, text and Slack messages, Facebook and LinkedIn
notifications or any other virtual platform at a sickening rate. I’m convinced that the anxiety, isolation and nausea human beings often feel after being on computers or phones all day proves we are not meant to be this connected — at least not in this way. I think, in large part, the answer comes from prioritizing mental health and genuine connection over the social obligation to constantly tune in and keep abreast of absolutely every single event, idea, commemoration and trend. When I was younger I ate up the intrigue and false sense of community the internet brought. Now I want to forcibly deny my impulse to check my DMs every time it rears its head. I want to flip through real pages, to scrape pencil across paper for no other reason than to doodle, to sit outside and breathe away from my laptop for longer than a ten minute break. I often feel conversations I have online or over the phone are not conversations at all anymore, but rather rushed exchanges of words between exhausted minds. These days the overstimulation from over-connection is so bad; I often just want to sit and stare at the wall. Of course, the many benefits of technological and internet development are clear. It has made education, human connection and even certain forms of healthcare more accessible. I constantly think about how fortunate I am to have any internet access at all in this pandemic, given
the vast epidemic of digital isolation and inaccessibility still felt by too many. At the same time, the ultrafast progression of the internet age and our unending obsession with it, as a species, has also contributed to a vast amount of human health problems, including eye strain, worsened posture, carpal tunnel syndrome, heightened anxiety and depression. It has also deeply harmed our ability to maintain honest, genuine and healthy connections with each other. In many ways, the more connected we are, the less connected we become. Innovation is not always a good thing. The problem is, as usual, that we live in a very nuanced world. Irony cannot aptly describe the frustration I feel when older generations call younger ones out for being “stuck” on the screen in a world they created to be uber-connected, hyper alert and overworked — a society fueled by the very machine that continues to tear at its seams in direct and covert ways. Maybe the answer is challenging the way our economy works after all, by creating a system of operation that does not depend on the availability and often mandatability of 24/7 online connection to function. Maybe the key to economic growth is not about setting up firms to chase maximum profit at all hours of the day with the fastest software capabilities. But rather it is about setting up people to succeed by prioritizing community building, mental health and lasting relationships where
people can build together in a healthier, calmer, less overstimulated and long-term way. Maybe “slow” is OK sometimes. To be clear, I’m not predicting, nor asking for, a return to a pre-industrial and less expansive system of communication. And maybe in a longer post, on one of my less tiresome days, in which I am not bombarded with online obligations and stressors, I will address the specificities of the Silicon Valley giants and their complicity in this madness. But I think for now my own situational irony with tech is as compelling an argument to take a large physical step back from at least one screen in your life, and I’ll bet it is relatable. As I take walks these days, I usually leave my phone at home, and I have never felt better, nor more connected to the world around me while doing so. My blood pressure visibly drops. I can feel the wind. I remember what real noises sound like, what real trees, flowers and people look like. I even fantasize about finally throwing the thing out the window ....and would that be such a bad thing? I’m not so sure, but I think the benefits of disconnecting for a while and refusing to give in to toxic workplace demands of constant over-connection would be worth it. For all our sake, the argument must be simple. When it comes to tech overload, development and unending social connection, enough is seriously, and quite nauseatingly, enough.
Photo Illustration by JACK YUANWEI CHENG/the Justice
The opinions expressed on this page are those of each article’s respective author and do not reflect the viewpoint of the Justice.
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The opinions stated in the editorial(s) under the masthead on the opposing page represent the opinion of a majority of the voting members of the editorial board; all other articles, columns, comics and advertisements do not necessarily. The Justice is the independent student newspaper of Brandeis University. Operated, written, produced and published entirely by students, the Justice includes news, features, arts, opinion and sports articles of interest to approximately 3,500 undergraduates, 900 graduate students, 500 faculty and 1,000 administrative staff. The Justice is published every Tuesday of the academic year with the exception of examination and vacation periods. Advertising deadlines: All insertion orders and advertising copy must be received by the Justice no later than 5 p.m. on the Thursday preceding the date of publication. All advertising copy is subject to approval of the editor in chief and the managing and advertising editors.
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Editorial Assistants
Forum: Anastasia Owen,
Features: Natalie Kahn
Samuel White, Vandita Malviya Wilson*,
Forum: Lauryn Williams
Lauryn Williams, Reena Zuckerman
Arts & Culture: Megan Liao
Sports: Emma Ghalili*, Taku Hagiwara,
Sports: Taku Hagiwara
Aki Yamaguchi
Staff News: Max Feigelson, Dalya Koller, Ella Russell, Gemma Sampas Features: Leah Breakstone, Cayenn Landau, Athena Li, Natalie Kahn, Isabel Roseth
Arts & Culture: Vicente Cayuela, Zhongzhi Chen, Jason Frank, Megan Liao Photography: Owen Chan Copy: Leah Breakstone, Dina Gorelik, Rebekah Loeffler, Jennifer Reznik, Isabel Roseth, Ella Russell, Devon Sandler, Danya Tribuna Graphic Design: Emily Braun, Sara Fulton, Yuan Jiang, Megan Liao, Shinji Rho, Grace Sun * denotes a senior staff member.
just Sports Page 10
FORMER MLB STAR VISITS BRANDEIS VIRTUALLY Brandeis baseball learns about teamwork, p. 11.
Waltham, Mass.
Tuesday, November 2, 2021
PRO SPORTS
JUDGES SWEEP WEEKEND
The NBA’s new foul rules and how they are changing the game ■ The NBA introduces new rules to target foul-baiting in an attempt to discourage players from “flopping.” By TAKU HAGIWARA
JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Prior to the start of the 2021-2022 NBA season, the league enacted new rules targeting abnormal movement by the offensive player in an attempt to draw fouls. Before this season, foul rules were generally designed to benefit and protect the offensive player, as excessive contact by a defender with a shooter could result in the player landing on the defender’s feet as they come down from a jump shot, which has resulted in severe ankle and foot injuries. Most notably, in the 2017 Western Conference Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors, Kawhi Leonard landed on Zaza Pachulia’s foot as he was coming down from a shot, which caused him to aggravate an already injured ankle. Kawhi’s injury, among others, prompted the league to take action and provided strong initiative to protect players while implementing various measures to dissuade defenders from having too much contact with a shooter. However, many players soon began to take advantage of these measures. Because being fouled while taking a jump shot always results in at least one free throw and at most three, there is great incentive for players to bait fouls
and get easy points from free throws. While one made free throw only results in one point, when players such as James Harden and Trae Young shoot 10-plus free throws a game and have a conversion rate above 85%, the points start to add up. Although being able to entice contact and draw fouls is a genuine skill that many players start practicing from their youth, when players over-dramatize contact in the hope of scoring free points, drawing fouls becomes frowned upon. Moreover, free throws disrupt the flow of the game and lead to excessive stoppages and breaks in play; the games at points become unbearable to watch. In light of these developments, the NBA has changed their stance on “foulbaiting” by instructing referees to be more lenient towards contact with the offensive player and discourages calling fouls on “abnormal moves” such as jumping into a defender’s body as they leave their shooting motion. With some players in the 20202021 season having almost a third to half of their points come from free throws, these new rules have taken a toll on their scoring numbers. Furthermore, as defenders can afford to be more aggressive guarding these players, scoring in general has seen some reduction especially from beyond the three point line where the most egregious foul-baiting attempts used to take place. These foul-baiting attempts
See PRO B-BALL, 12 ☛
RULE CHANGE
OWEN CHAN/the Justice
HEADS UP: Juliette Carreiro '22 runs for the airborne ball against the Emory University Eagles on October 29.
Judges sweep last weekend's games ■ At home, the men’s and women’s teams stayed undefeated on their way to wrap up the season. By MEGAN GELLER AND AKI YAMAGUCHI JUSTICE EDITOR AND STAFF WRITER
Photo Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
AND-1: The NBA's newest rule change frusturates players on offense.
The Brandeis Judges men’s and women’s Soccer teams both hosted at Gordon Field for their last home games of the season. Sunday’s games marked Senior Day, with it being the last time the seniors will step onto the field. With two University Athletic Association games up for grabs, the weekend marked an instrumental opportunity for the women’s team to secure a place in the tournament. For the men, it was a way to close
out in style. The women’s team entered with a record of 8–4–2, 1–3 UAA and the men with 4–7–2 and 1–2–1 UAA. Women’s Soccer Judges 1, Eagles 0 Continuing their win streak, the Judges hosted the Emory University Eagles at home on Gordon Field Friday night. Controlling the game offensively, the Judges outshot the Eagles 17–10 but struggled to put more into the back of the net. With the win, the Judges advanced to a record of 9–4–2, 2–3 in the UAA. The Eagles fell to 11–4–1, 2–3 UAA. The game-winning goal came in the first half during the 30th minute. Senior Juliette Carreiro dribbled towards the box and lofted the ball into the box for a service. Caroline Swan ’23 was there to put it away as she redirected it into the
goal. The goal was Swan’s second of the season and Carreiro’s eighth assist. There were opportunities in the second half for both teams. Firstyear Hannah Bassan had a clean sheet and made the game her third shutout of the season. The win marked a four-win streak and snapped the 10 game winless streak against Emory dating back to 2009. Judges 2, Yellowjackets 1 In style, the Judges sent off the senior class with another home win and a UAA game to cap it off. With the win, the Judges improve to a 10–4–2 record overall and 3–3 UAA. The University of Rochester Yellowjackets fell to 6–5–4, 0–3–3 UAA.
See SOCCER, 12 ☛
THE JUSTICE
JUDGES BY THE NUMBERS
WashU Chicago NYU Emory JUDGES Rochester Case Carnegie
TEAM STATS
UAA Conf. W L D 4 1 1 4 2 0 4 2 0 3 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 1 1 4 1 0 5 1
Overall W L D Pct. 11 2 1 .821 12 4 1 .735 10 4 1 .700 9 2 4 .733 5 7 3 .433 8 3 4 .667 6 7 2 .467 6 6 3 .500
UPCOMING GAME:
Goals 2 1 1 1
Assists Max Horowitz ’24 and Michael Burch ’22 lead the team with two assists. Player Assists Max Horowitz 2 Michael Burch 2
November 6 vs NYU
WOMEN’S SOCCER
TEAM STATS
UAA STANDINGS WashU Case Carnegie JUDGES Chicago Emory NYU Rochester
Goals Max Horowitz ’24 leads the team with two goals.
Player Max Horowitz Skylah Davis Evan Glass Andres Gonzalez
UAA Conf. W L D 5 0 1 3 1 2 3 2 1 3 0 3 2 2 2 2 3 1 1 4 1 0 3 3
Overall W L D Pct. 13 1 1 .900 13 1 2 .875 11 4 1 .719 10 4 2 .688 12 2 3 .794 11 4 2 .706 8 6 1 .567 6 5 4 .533
UPCOMING GAME: November 6 vs NYU
Goals Daria Bakhtiari ’21 and Juliette Carreiro ’24 lead the team. Player Goals Daria Bakhtiari 7 Juliette Carreiro 6 Yasla Ngoma 5 Makenna Hunt 4
Assists Juliette Carreiro ’21 leads the team with six assists. Player Assists Juliette Carreiro 8 Yasla Ngoma 5 Caroline Swan 4 Sydney Lenhart 3
VOLLEYBALL UAA STANDINGS
TEAM STATS
UAA Conf. W L D NYU 6 1 0 Emory 6 1 0 Chicago 5 2 0 WashU 4 3 0 Carnegie 4 3 0 Case 2 5 0 JUDGES 1 6 0 Rochester 0 7 0
Overall W L D Pct. 23 1 0 .958 21 4 0 .840 15 8 0 .652 16 8 0 .667 13 12 0 .520 12 12 0 .500 8 17 0 .320 6 1 7 0 .261
UPCOMING GAMES: November 5 vs Emory
NOVEMBER 2, 2021 11
PRO SPORTS
MEN’S SOCCER UAA STANDINGS
● SPORTS ●
Kills Lara Verstovsek ’25 leads the team with 243 kills. Player Kills Lara Verstovsek 243 Kaisa Newberg 161 Stephanie Borr 140 Digs Ella Pereira ’24 leads the team with 330 digs. Player Digs Ella Pereira 330 Ines Grom-Mansenecal 225 Lara Verstovsek 204
MLB veteran speaks to Brandeis’ baseball team ■ Willie Randolph, former New York Yankee, spoke about his career and the importance of teamwork. By MEGAN GELLER JUSTICE EDITOR
On Friday, Oct. 22, former New York Yankee Willie Randolph spoke via Zoom to the Brandeis Baseball team. In 1975, the Pittsburgh Pirates traded Randolph to the New York Yankees where he spent 13 of his 18 seasons as a player, according to the MLB Player Profile. Besides the Yankees and the Pirates, Randolph spent some time playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland A’s and the Milwaukee Brewers before ending his distinguished playing career with the New York Mets in 1992. As a player, he was a six-time All-Star and a two-time World Series Champion. In 2004, Randolph was named the manager of the Mets for the upcoming 2005 season, joining the ranks of Gil Hodges, Yogi Berra and Joe Torre, among others who played for and later managed the team. In his conversation with the team, Randolph explained that teamwork and looking out for one another are key to playing together, and that good teammates are critical to making each other
better — a sentiment he shared in a 2020 interview with the Justice. According to the January 2020 article, he stated that “You have to earn trust and try to get to know [your teammates] as people, not just as ballplayers. Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that this is a fun game.” Randolph opened the floor to the team to ask questions. He answered questions about the difference between playing on bigger market teams, like the Yankees, versus playing for smaller market teams, like the Brewers. Randolph spoke fondly of his time in Milwaukee in 1991 where he played alongside Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. On the other hand, playing for a big market team is different primarily due to the amount of media scrutiny. Another question the team asked was about how to establish a good winning culture. In response, Randolph explained the importance of coaches treating players fairly, and of players and coaches consistently respecting each other’s abilities and personalities. He explained that a good team culture allows for support of one another to help each other through the ups and downs of a long season. The team then asked about commonalities between the best teams. The answer? Fundamentals. Bunting, hitting, running and moving the runners over are some crucial fundamentals which
Randolph emphasized when his teams went to spring training. They discussed that some of the most successful teams now are utilizing these fundamentals, along with remaining consistent and maintaining a strong work ethic. Randolph highlighted the importance of routine when asked about how players prepared for a game. He spoke of players having different strategies before gametime, all of which were different but important to those individuals. The importance was not what was done, as long as this routine prepares the player both physically and mentally. When asked about what it was like to play under Billy Martin, Randolph spoke fondly about his time under the famous Yankee manager. Martin was described as tough to play for and old school, but he always got the best out of his players and pushed them to be their best. He was described as a real leader. Finally, Randolph spoke about all of his managers, including Tony La Russa, Tommy Lasorda and Dick Howser, explaining that what he learned from each made him a better player and coach. The conversation consisted of about 30 minutes of questions and answers, which allowed the team to ask various questions. Throughout the conversation, a constant theme was the importance of teamwork to ensure a team’s success.
RANDOLPH QUESTIONS UMPIRE
CROSS COUNTRY Results from the UAA Championships at Rochester on October 30.
TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)
TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)
8-Kilometer Run
6-Kilometer Run
RUNNER TIME Daniel Frost 27:35.0 Willem Goff 28:16.5 Casey Brackett 28:21.4
RUNNER TIME Niamh Kenney 23:11.1 Erin Magill 23:16.6 Natalie Hattan 23:58.1
UPCOMING MEETS: November 13 New England Div III Regional at Franklin Park Data Courtesy of THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION and the BRANDEIS ATHLETICS WEBSITE; Images Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS.
Image Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
CONTENTIOUS MOMENTS: Willie Randolph argues with an umpire during his playing days with the New York Mets.
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021 ● SPORTS ● THE JUSTICE
PRO B-BALL: rule change CONTINUED FROM 10 should also help offensive players play safer, as the whole reason behind calling fouls on shooters is to prevent them from getting injured, but as players are voluntarily throwing themselves onto people for a foul, there are heightened levels of risk. There are instances where players intentionally jump onto the person guarding them in the hopes of drawing a foul only to land on their foot and roll their ankle. These rule changes are also a product of the international basketball played at the Olympics governed by the International Basketball Federation, which is independent of the NBA. FIBA rules are less stringent compared to the NBA and encourage a more physical play style. This difference, along with other factors, resulted in Team USA having a slow start to their
BITTERSWEET SENIOR NIGHT
international campaign although both the Men’s and Women’s teams wound up winning gold at the games. Fans expressed interest in the more physical style of play with less interruptions, which the NBA certainly caught eye of and then implemented into their league. We have yet to see the long term effects of the rule change. So far, however, the game has become much smoother with the reduction of pauses and easier to watch as less players attempt to commit egregious attempts at drawing fouls. While some players may find loopholes in the future and referees may become more tolerant and lenient, for now the game has made another positive evolution. Although some may miss the moments when players went on to score 60 points or so, we are surely going to see some amazing performances even without the aid of free throws.
JUDGES BEAT EMORY 3–2 THOMAS TIANCHENG ZHENG/the Justice
DRIBBLIN': Judges’ Sammy Guttell '22 contemplates a pass during the October 29 game against the Emory Eagles.
SPOOKY SPIRITED SPECTATORS
THOMAS TIANCHENG ZHENG/the Justice
HUSTLE: Sophomore Max Horowitz rushes to keep the ball away from Emory.
SOCCER: victories for senior night CONTINUED FROM 10 In the first half, the Judges took the charge by scoring first. In the 24th minute, Sydney Lenhart ’24 crossed it across the 18-yard box to her waiting teammates. Fellow sophomore Yasla Ngoma set it for senior Daria Bakhtiari ’22 to tap it in an empty net. This marked her 7th goal of the season. However, the Yellowjackets came back early in the second half with a goal a little past the first minute. After an initial save by Bassan, the Yellowjackets were there to put it away off the rebound. The opportunity to score the gamewinner came in the 64th minute. With a cross by Ngoma to Carreiro, she was able to find the back of the net for her 6th of the season. Outhsooting the Yellowjackets, the Judges had 22 shots to 13, but could
not secure another clean sheet. Before the start of their final home game, Brandeis honored its seniors. The graduating seniors include Kari Wismar, Juliette Carreiro, Lauren Mastandrea, Ashley Pettet, Makenna Hunt, Daria Bakhtiari, Sabrina Salov, Ali LaPioli and Beck Gold. Men’s Soccer Judges 3, Eagles 2 The Judges beat the #13 Emory University Eagles for yet another upset win on Friday night. In overtime, the Judges rallied to overtake the Eagles, with three scoring their first career goals, two seniors included. The Judges improved to 5–7–2 overall and 2–2–1 UAA. On the other hand, the Eagles fell to 8–2–4, 2–1–2 UAA. Brandeis took the lead with a goal in the 15th minute thanks to senior
AKI YAMAGUCHI/the Justice
HOT DOG!: The Judges cheering section got into the Halloween spirit for the October 31 match against Rochester. Skylah Dias. With his first start of the season and his first career goal, he found the goal on a one-on-one with the Eagles’ keeper. Fellow senior Jared Panson made the cross and assist for his first of the season. The first half remained scoreless besides the Judges’ goal, as Aiden Guthro ’23 kept his half clean. In the second half, the Eagles were able to score a goal in the 77th minute. An Eagles player shook free of his defenders and blasted a goal past Guthro to tie the game. With a change in strategy and 15 minutes left, the Judges sent the opposing defense into the attacking zone while the Judge’s offense pushed on. This game plan paid off in the 87th minute when Isaac Mukala ’22 dribbled past the Emory defender, scored and tied the game. The tie sent the teams into overtime where both goalies
fought hard to prevent goals by their opponents until finally in the 96th minute, Brandeis’ Eli Mones ’25 scored the game-winning goal. Senior Michael Burch had the assist as he laid off a simple ball for Mones to finish. The Judges managed to win the game despite being outshot, 31–13. Judges 0, Yellowjackets 0 This Sunday, the Judges tied the University of Rochester Yellowjackets for a score of 0–0 after double overtime. This game brought the Judges to 5–7–3 overall and 2–2–2 in the UAA. In the first half of the game, the Judges were outshot by their opponents 6–2. In this half, Guthro made two of his six saves of the day. In the second half, the Judges took off, outshooting the Yellowjackets 20–6. Although they had many
opportunities, they couldn’t put it away and were stopped by the Rochester goalie. Before the start of their final home game, Brandeis honored its seniors. The graduating seniors include Evan Glass, Michael Burch, Jake Davis, Jared Panson, Isaac Mukala, Noah Gans, Skylah Dias, Tim Bombeli and Sammy Guttell. Upcoming Schedule With this past weekend wrapping up the last of the home games, the last game for both the men’s and women’s teams will be away at New York University. On Saturday, Nov. 6, the women’s team will face NYU at 12:00 p.m. Right after, the men’s team will face off against #15 NYU at 1:30 p.m. This will conclude both the overall season and the UAA season.
Vol. LXXIV #9
November 2, 2020
>> Pg. 15
Waltham, Mass.
Image: Jack Yuanwei Cheng/the Justice. Design: Noah Zeitlin/the Justice.
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FEBRUARY 11, 2020 ARTS&&JANUARY CULTUREII31, THE2017 JUSTICE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021 IIARTS CULTURE THE JUSTICE THE JUSTICE | ARTS | TUESDAY,
ARTS EVENT
Historical References and James Ming Johnson By VICENTE CAYUELA JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Art-making is rarely a straightforward path. Life itself is full of twists that leave us unsure of where to put our feet next. However, unexpected situations can be just the push someone needs to go for what they desire. When James Ming Johnson joined the Post-Baccalaureate Program in Studio Art at Brandeis University, he had been trying to narrow down his life to its uttermost essentials. For Johnson, this meant getting rid of the preoccupations of the day-to-day to finally find a space — both physical and mental — to nourish his artistic practice. Moving to Massachusetts suburbia, he says, “was a nice change from New York.” Part of Brandeis School of Graduate Arts and Sciences, the Post-Baccalaureate Program gives students the space to grow as artists and develop a portfolio for graduate school admission. The private studios in the Epstein Building offer 24/7 access and a mock-up gallery space where students engage critically with each other’s artworks. Born in Thailand to Thai and AfricanAmerican parents, Johnson moved to Southern California at the age of six. Once an aspiring filmmaker, the artist received his bachelor’s degree in Film and Media Studies from Stanford before realizing he was a painter. “I was really invested in the idea that cinema was the ultimate form of expression because it combines components of the visual arts with music, photography, acting and all of these other elements.” After graduation, his uncontainable passion for drawing allured him instead to incorporate his interest in film into his painting practice. Finally secure in his career aspirations, Johnson is exploring the intersections of history, cinematography, and the visual arts as a Post-Baccalaureate student. In Johnson’s studio walls, there are six oil stick paintings and a canvas painted black ready to be sketched on.
“I start with a black canvas,” Johnson said, pointing at the sprouting stage of his latest project. “Before coming to Brandeis, I studied at the Art Students League in New York where I was introduced to the technique of painting on a black surface and I loved it.” The artist then applies thick oil stick strokes that create the midtones and highlights. Beginning with gestural marks that can extend across the whole canvas, the painter solidifies his expressionism into more concrete forms. In spite of the abstract components of his creative process, the artist has always been drawn to the formalist aspects of art-making. “In a lot of cases in modern life, people forget about the importance of fundamental skills such as in classical drawing. When I decided I wanted to pursue art seriously, I knew that classical training had to be part of my toolkit.” said Johnson. “Modern art schools are getting away from that, for better or for worse, so I joined the Art Students League.” Juggling an “unsatisfying tech job” and evening art classes in New York, Johnson spent two years studying classical drawing and life figure painting under traditional painters such as Ephreim Rubenstein and Costa Vavagiakis. At Brandeis, he contributed his technical knowledge as a Teaching Assistant for Catherine della Lucia’s 3D Design and Ariel Frieberg’s “Introduction to Drawing class. “I really enjoy teaching.” says the painter vigorously. “It’s really satisfying to see people improve their drawings.” For Johnson, teaching has not only improved his ability to provide better feedback to students. It has also allowed him to think more critically about his own work. Faculty and classmates at Brandeis have provided him enriching feedback that has helped him solidify his practice. Following advice from Joe Wardwell, head of the Fine Arts Department, Johnson switched from oils and acrylics to oil sticks. This transition “added more character to his paintings” and helped him reconnect with his childhood. “When I was a kid, I
used to draw with crayons all the time, which is why I love oil pastel so much as an adult. You can see every stroke was applied. I like that it keeps me away from the brush.” Since then, Johnson’s work has become not only richer in color and texture but also more self-assured. “One of the best pieces of advice I got was to use more paint. It really has helped me to be less tentative,” says the painter. “It allowed me to get out of my comfort zone by showing me that I can still make a beautiful painting even if it’s not defined or precise.” Nevertheless, Johnson’s work has not only grown aesthetically since he joined the Post-Baccalaureate program, but it has also pushed him to make the conceptual framework behind his practice more meaningful and substantial. Dealing with ideas of public memory and American cultural heritage, Johnson’s work is deeply influenced by the aesthetics of Southern California, old Hollywood Western, and historical photography. “Historical photography was perhaps a bigger influence than film,” said Johnson. “I started painting from historical photographic sources. It is fascinating how history can influence artistic production, especially photography.” The artist believes that “even if they are not all the time completely objective, photographs have the power to evidence things that actually happened and people that actually lived.” Through his documentarian lens, Johnson sources images that have cultural relevance to generate discussions around historicy, permanence and racial segregation. Next to the black canvas, two of Johnson’s artworks depict a baseball game from 1947. The players’ faces are smudged to anonymity with visceral strokes of oil stick. The paintings are based off photographs from the Negro Leagues, a conglomerate of African American baseball teams active largely between 1920 and the late 1940s. “Before Jackie Robinson became the first baseball player to break the color barrier, professional baseball
was segregated in the United States since 1880,” says Johnson. “Baseball is such an American sport and sports are a lot about celebration, but we shouldn’t forget that we have this history.” Bringing attention to issues of racial segregation and preserving the legacy of Black American cultural contributions is paramount for the painter. “We should celebrate the genius of those players, too.” Driving aimlessly in the highways of Southern California, Johnson’s passion for historical references met his nostalgia for the desolate landscapes and decaying road signs of his hometown. “When you go into the desert, you can still see a lot of elements from the myth of the Wild West,” says Johnson. “It’s still very much ingrained in the aesthetics of the Southwestern part of the country.” In spite of the easily identifiable character of American symbols such as cowboys, Westerns and retro design, the artist thinks that a great part of culture is glamorized in memory rather than preserved in practice. “As I was driving through the desert I saw all these run-down mid-century road signs that no one takes care of. People idealize symbols of American culture,” says the painter. “But when you go to these places you realize that they are probably forgotten.” Johnson wants his work to generate conversations around history in order to make a social contribution to the preservation of American cultural heritage. “I care about raising awareness about the artistic potential that is in overlooked parts of history, which is why I am trying to find a way to relate these themes with the contemporary moment.” Johnson hopes that his time developing his practice at Brandeis will allow him to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in the upcoming years. Currently exhibited at the Post-Baccalaureate mid-year exhibition, Johnson’s paintings are up in the walls of the Dreitzer Gallery in the Spingold Theater alongside a creative cohort of visual artists.
MOVIE REVIEW
DUNE: Ambitious and Oscar-Worthy By JASON FRANK JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
“Dune” is a good movie; not a great one, but it should be in Oscar contention. “Dune” debuted this month to generally positive reviews that weren’t necessarily ebulent. It was praised for its score, its visuals and its sense of action, but many critics had problems with the pacing, and they’re right. The source material of “Dune” is classic sci-fi, in that it’s dense and takes many detours and lengthy explanations, all of which build up to being important to the plot. That’s particularly hard to adapt into film, and while director Denis Villeneuve does a generally good job, it is true that the
film loses narrative steam in its last third. It’s a good film with great components. So while it only has OK reviews, what “Dune” does have going for it is fantastic box office numbers. That’s important. It’s the first movie that’s even a little exciting in terms of its filmmaking to do well in theaters since the COVID-19 pandemic began. That fact is doubly surprising given that “Dune” was simultaneously released on HBOMax, so the high box office numbers means that people really want to go see the film in theaters. It’s the first step in the right direction if studios still care about theatrical release post-pandemic. With good reviews and great box office returns, Oscar buzz seems inevitable. Photo Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
Quebecois Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve premiered his latest film “Dune” on Sept.3, 2021, at the Venice Film Festival. His other award-winning works include “Blade Runner 2049,”“Prisoners,”“Arival,” and more.
Design: Megan Liao/the Justice
Yet, it’s not really the type of movie that the Oscars are known to reward. Action movies are rarely nominated for Best Picture if they’re not war movies, and sci-fi Best Picture nominees are even rarer. The ones that do get in are usually exceptional. “Mad Max: Fury Road” managed to score a best picture nomination and quite a few wins, but “Fury Road” has an argument for being the best film of the 2010s. It’s an epic feat of storytelling and visually stunning. “Avatar” similarly made it into the best picture category, despite being a maudlin extra-terrestrial retelling of Disney’s version of an already outdated and inaccurate “Pocahontas” narrative. But “Avatar” made big money. Like, mostmoney-of-any-movie-ever type of money. “Dune” is unlikely to be one of the best films of the decade, and it’s not breaking any records. So why nominate Dune? Well, the Oscars didn’t begin as what they are perceived as now: an elitist event for Hollywood insiders. They used to regularly award some of the most popular movies in America. “Gone With the Wind,” despite all its innumerable faults, had an extremely successful box office, and it won Best Picture. The original “Star Wars” was nominated for Best Picture, as was “Jaws”. “The Godfather” was the top grossing movie the year it debuted, and it won Best Picture. They’re elitist now because the most
popular movies in America got bigger and “stupider” once the blockbuster became the dominant form of making money off of movies in America. They’re also elitist because studios started using the Oscars as a marketing tactic for their best, least enjoyable films, beginning with the harrowing war story told in “Deer Hunter”. “Deer Hunter” is absolutely no fun to watch, but it is very well-made, and it’s that type of inaccessibility that the Oscars would later become known for rewarding. “Dune”, meanwhile, is exactly the sort of large-scale production that they should be rewarding. The Oscars got in the habit of not rewarding action movies that made a lot of money partly because they became so rote. That’s the type of thinking that led them to snub “The Dark Knight” out of habit. “Dune” may have faults, but none of its faults are due to lack of ambition. While Marvel movies have been following the same formula, using the same markettested, paint-by-numbers, dirge-like filming style for each film, “Dune” feels like an action movie that was cared for. It’s interesting; it’s obtuse; it’s gorgeously shot. “Dune” forces the audience to actually pay attention, and its audience has been ginormous. Movies like this should be rewarding for their ambition, not just their payoff. “Dune” takes big swings, and they’re worthwhile. If they want their relevance back, the Oscars should reward it.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021 I ARTS & CULTURE I THE JUSTICE
THE JUSTICE | ARTS | TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017
15
CULTURAL EVENTS
HALLOWEEN:
Celebrating across campus By MEGAN LIAO AND JACK YUANWEI CHENG JUSTICE EDITORS
ATHENA LAM/the Justice
CAB held a costume contest during its “Halloween Extravaganza” event.
ATHENA LAM/the Justice
The Campus Activity Board held “Halloween Extravaganza” on Oct. 30 in the Shapiro Campus Center. The event featured activities such as laser tag and trick-or-treating.
JACK YUANWEI CHENG/the Justice
Chinese Student and Scholars Association held a Halloween party in the Sherman Function Hall on Oct. 31. The event featured student performers from various colleges in the Greater Boston area.
JACK YUANWEI CHENG/the Justice
During the CSSA party, students were invited to dress up in their favorite costumes. Students from Bentley University and Northeastern University also attended According to the organizer, COVID-19 protocols were in place for non-Brandeis guests.
JACK YUANWEI CHENG/the Justice
The Theater department turned the Springold Theater into a haunted house for their event called “Spooky Springold.” Students dressed in elaborate costumes and makeup and delivered a chilling experience for visiting guests.
Design: Megan Liao/the Justice
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021 I ARTS & CULTURE I THE JUSTICE
STAFF’S Top Ten
JACK YUANWEI CHENG/the Justice
Top Ten BANKS Songs By LAURYN WILLIAMS JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Jillian Rose Banks, often referred to as BANKS, is an Alternative Pop/ Indie singer and songwriter. Over the past seven years she has released three debut albums and one EP. 1. Change 2. Alibi 3. Under the Table 4. If We Were Made of Water 5. Gemini Feed 6. Sawzall 7. Lovesick 8. Mother Nature 9. Hawaiian Mazes 10. Haunt
MEGAN LIAO/the Justice
CROSSWORD LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
GILDA GEIST/the Justice GILDA GEIST/the Justice
GILDA GEIST/the Justice
Across
27. what you might want to do to a cute animal’s nose, or
1. Abba song title and a man’s name
Betty’s last name
7. what you do with seeds
28. mightier than the sword, some say
9. city known for its stars
29. he’s known for being weird
10. call them when you need a tow
30. meeting baseline expectations
11. Fred Astaire’s main genre of dance
31. Rihanna’s last album
13. onomatopoetic lyric in “Into the thick of it TikTok” sound
33. 1080p
14. strong insect
35. active ingredient in many bug repellants
15. superscript indicating legal rights
36. very, Sp.
16. Azealia Banks’ bra size according to her song “The Big
38. Delta ___ (sorority in “Legally Blonde”)
Big Beat
39. part of a fruit or vegetable that you may or may not eat
17. Queer Harlem Renaissance poet
40. common kind of transponder
20. first initials of author Cummings
41. some say Ariana Grande takes this cosmetic procedure
21. on “H2O,” they turn into mermaids when they get _____
too far
22. thought-sharing text lingo
42. characteristic to describe 27 Down
23. Laura Dern reaches into the dung of this animal in one of
44. Biden’s middle name
her most iconic movies
45. collect $200 when you pass this
Down
2. hated town in “Parks & Rec” 3. bread of West and Central Asia 4. the Avatar 5. nickname for Washington baseball team 6. piece of furniture and fallen empire 7. shorthand for a typo 8. travel through water 12. response to “are too!” 16. “The Green Knight” lead 18. deteriorate 19. plum tuckered out 24. versatile smart device
25. a few songs 26. thin cut 27. a generation (see 42 across) 31. singer who recently released her fifth number 1 hit single 32. require 34. new movie with lots of sediment 37. “Crazy Eyes” actress from “Orange Is the New Black” 38. British grandma 39. kitchen item 41. penultimate note 43. doubled, the name of 4 Down’s pet