ARTS Page 19
SPORTS Men's soccer opens with invitational 16
ILLUSIONIST
FORUM Criticize Amazon's employee treatment 11 The Independent Student Newspaper
the
of
B r a n d e is U n i v e r sit y S i n c e 1 9 4 9
Justice
Volume LXIX, Number 1
www.thejustice.org
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
BRIGHTEN TOMORROW
RESIDENCE LIFE
Univ. revises policy on sexual harrassment ■ The newest version of the
Rights and Responsibilities Handbook includes the addition of Restorative Justice. By Max Moran JUSTICE editor
Changes in the 2016 to 2017 Rights and Responsibilities handbook include a new option for resolving some sexual harassment cases, as well as stronger language on sexual harassment punishments. Students received the handbook via email on Aug. 19. Restorative Justice Brand new to the Special Examiner’s process — the method by which the University investigates sexual harassment or assault cases — is a concept called “Restorative Jus-
tice,” inspired by a similar system at Skidmore College. Restorative Justice, or RJ, can only be used in cases that do not involve physical contact such as forced penetration or non-consensual physical contact. RJ is an alternative to the formal sanctioning panel that would usually discipline a student found guilty of sexual misconduct. If both the complainant and the respondent agree to it, then, under RJ, the two parties will meet together and talk about the case. If RJ is successful, the parties will determine for themselves at the meeting how to proceed and what sanctions to put in place. If no agreement can be reached, the case will proceed to a traditional sanctions board. Additionally, the outcomes administrator — essentially the equivalent of a judge in a Special
See R&R, 7 ☛
RESIDENCE LIFE
DCL announces new community councils ■ The Department of
Community Living created a new representative body for quad-related issues. By MAX MORAN JUSTICE EDITOR
The Department of Community Living announced yesterday that it is rolling out its Community Council system to all on-campus quads this year. Students elected to this “hall government” system will be responsible for advocating for students who live in their same quad on quad-related issues and creating programming for their quads at least once a semester. In a Google Doc attached to the email announcing the new system, DCL explained that “the mission
and purpose of Community Councils is to provide programming and advocacy efforts within our residence halls to improve our residential community.” The doc also explains the functions of the different Community Council positions. In an email to the Justice, Director of the Department of Community Living Tim Touchette explained that the Community Councils have been in development for the past two years and that a final part of the program will be implemented next year. “We piloted this program in Deroy in 2014 with the first Hall Council; the following year we had Hall Councils in both first-year areas. Each year we had great success in the depth of involvement and programming initiatives that came out of each Hall Council,”
See DCL, 7 ☛
MIHIR KHANNA/the Justice
The Orientation Core Committee addressed new students at Convocation last Sunday. The orientation theme was, “Remember yesterday, explore today, brighten tomorrow.”
CAMPUS LIFE
Liebowitz issues diversity and inclusion updates ■ University administrators
unveiled a new diversity website yesterday as part of their long-term initiatives. By Abby Patkin JUSTICE editor
The months-long search for a chief diversity officer is nearly over, University President Ronald Liebowitz announced in an email to students yesterday. The email — which updated students on a number of the University’s diversity and inclusion efforts — also gave some insight into what the coming months will look like. The email, which was cosigned by University Provost Lisa Lynch and Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel, is structured similarly to two emails on diversity and inclusion that Lynch sent to the student body when she was the Interim University President. In an email to the Justice, Lynch noted that the administration will continue to provide these updates periodically throughout the semester. “It is vital that we recognize our
shared progress and, at the same time, acknowledge that we have a lot of work to do to realize the goals articulated in our university mission statement on diversity,” Liebowitz wrote in the email. “This is not easy work, and the journey to a more just and inclusive campus requires the participation of all of us.” Most notably, the email announced that the chief diversity office search committee has narrowed down its candidate pool to a group of finalists after receiving over 50 applications. The finalists will be visiting campus sometime after Labor Day, the email read. Additionally, all of the finalists have prior experience as chief diversity officers at other institutions. While Lynch could not provide specific details about the finalists, as she is not leading the search, she explained in her email to the Justice that the candidates “will be meeting with faculty, students and staff. Finalists will have an opportunity to get a better understanding of Brandeis and our community will be able to ask them about their vision of their role at Brandeis.” She added that the administration “hope[s] to have this position filled
as soon as possible but will take the time necessary to find the best person for this critical position.” According to the University’s Draft Implementation Plan for Diversity and Inclusion — published following the Ford Hall 2015 resolution on Dec. 1 — this position was slated to be filled by July 2016. However, the search, which was conducted in partnership with search firm Witt/Kieffer, took longer than expected during the summer months. Another significant update from Liebowitz’s email is the creation of a new website for the University’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. The website, titled, “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Brandeis,” contains information about the cultural organizations on campus, courses pertaining to minorities and upcoming events pertaining to race, religion and ethnicity. “The Provost's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee wanted to improve the information available to our community,” Lynch wrote of the website’s purpose. “I expect our new CDO will have additional ideas on how to improve this resource for our community.”
See UPDATES, 7 ☛
Traveling to Cuba
Using Your Head
New Administrators
Brandeis alumni traveled to Cuba with Prof. Elizabeth Ferry (ANTH)
The pressure is on for the women's soccer team to surpass their 2015 regular season record.
The University hired or appointed four new administrators this summer, filling positions across campus.
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INDEX
SPORTS 16 ARTS SPORTS
17 13
EDITORIAL FEATURES
10 OPINION 8 POLICE LOG
10 2
News 5
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