ARTS Page 19
FORUM Urge shift to renewable energy 12
KRASINSKI TALK
SPORTS Men's tennis flies by competition 16 The Independent Student Newspaper
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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
Justice
Volume LXIX, Number 6
www.thejustice.org
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Administration
SHOCK AND AWE
Diversity climbs in first-year applicant pool ■ Admissions data presented at Friday's faculty meeting shows moderate growth in ethnic diversity for applicants. By CARMI ROTHBERG and ABBY PATKIN JUSTICE editors
While ethnic and geographic diversity in incoming first-year classes has steadily risen in the past few years, distribution among the University’s majors has swayed largely toward social sciences, Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel announced during Friday’s faculty meeting. Flagel noted that these statistics will remain unofficial for another week and a half, in accordance with the federal standard, but that these preliminary numbers offer a good indication of the University’s current
state of enrollment. Overall, Flagel said, enrollment has been “robust,” trending slightly toward growth while remaining within the University’s capacity for resources and space. The University is slowly becoming more ethnically diverse, with 8 percent of the University now African American and 7 percent now Latino. The number of prospective students of color has also gone up, with the University reaching out to 49,704 prospects in 2016, up from 34,064 prospects in 2014. In return, 8,545 prospective students of color made admission inquiries into the University in 2016, compared to only 4,604 inquiries in 2014, and 1,996 applied, compared to only 1,509 in 2014. Of those, 624 were admitted and 137 enrolled, compared to the 454 students of color admitted in 2014 and the 105 who enrolled the same year.
See ADMISSIONS, 7 ☛
CAMPUS SPEAKER
Dukakis emphasizes lessons from history ■ Former Massachusetts
Governor Michael Dukakis reflected on the lessons he has learned over his career in an event on Wednesday. By ABBY PATKIN JUSTICE editor
“Pathima mathima,” former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis told students last Wednesday. “Things happen and you’re supposed to learn from them,” he added, explaining the Greek adage. In his remarks during a discussion on campus, Dukakis reflected on his lengthy political career — he served as governor from 1975 to 1979 and from 1983 to 1991, and also ran for president in 1988. While
America is a drastically different place than it was when he first became politically active, there are still many lessons to be learned from the nation’s past mistakes, Dukakis asserted. Dukakis told the audience that he finds fault with 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan. “When was that?” he asked, questioning Trump’s ideal of a “great” America of days past. Drawing upon his childhood and youth, Dukakis painted a picture of a more close-minded, less progressive nation. Dukakis was inspired to go into politics because of the racism and corruption he saw around him as he grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts. “Boston was racist. It was an-
See GOV, 7 ☛
ANNA SHERMAN/the Justice
Students watched the second presidential debate between Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Sunday night.
FACULTY
Faculty looks at Board restructuring in meeting
■ At the monthly meeting,
faculty and administrators discussed potential changes to the Board of Trustees By abby patkin JUSTICE editor
The faculty convened last Friday to discuss changes in the University Board of Trustees’ organization and governance and voted to rename Columbus Day to “Indigenous Peoples’ Day.” Faculty representative to the Board Prof. Daniel Bergstresser (IBS) gave the faculty a rundown of the major topics discussed in the Board’s Sept. 13 and 14 meetings. Notably, the Board has begun to discuss and implement changes to governance, committee structure and composition, Bergstresser explained. The overall message is that “the Board is thinking hard about how they can be a more effective board for this University,” he said. The Board is trying to be thoughtful about what their role on campus
is and better get a sense of their relationship with faculty and administrators, Bergstresser asserted, though he noted that he was speaking for himself. Prof. Sabine von Mering (GRALL) asked Bergstresser whether the Board had considered downsizing and increasing its diversity. The Board of Trustees is “creating what’s known as a matrix of various characteristics,” University President Ron Liebowitz responded. “It’s at least now discussing what are the characteristics of the Board. … That’s important in terms of diversity, of course, but also in terms of expertise: how can the Board really be of value to the institution?” The Board has also been working with educational marketing professional Mark Neustadt, who has advised the University on the best way to market itself as an educational institution. Neustadt has advised the University to emphasize its nonsectarian founding, according to Bergstresser. Bergstresser also took the oppor-
tunity to touch on the University’s financial situation, which has been discussed in depth over the last few weeks through a series of open meetings. Financial analyst Kermit Daniel gave a presentation to the Board and to the campus community, asserting that the University’s spending habits are unsustainable. Essentially, the University has been taking more out of its endowment than is sustainable, and its tuition is higher than average for similarly sized institutions, Liebowitz explained to the faculty. While the administration will be scaling up its fundraising efforts, Liebowitz noted that fundraising income will not be able to fully sustain the University’s current spending habits. “The bottom line is that we have great aspirations, and all that we do exceeds the amount of resources that we have,” he said. “The problem is size. We really don’t have enough students or size to spread the total costs to make this a going venture forever in terms of what we can do.”
See FAC, 7 ☛
50th Anniversary
All Tied Up
Wake Up
The Waltham Group had a celebratory gala Saturday night to recognize the 50th anniversary of its founding.
The pressure is mounting for the Judges as the team ties for the third time this regular season.
Israeli journalist Ari Shavit discussed his outlook on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict last Tuesday.
FEATURES 9
For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org
Waltham, Mass.
Let your voice be heard! Submit letters to the editor online at www.thejustice.org
INDEX
SPORTS 16 ARTS SPORTS
17 13
EDITORIAL FEATURES
10 OPINION 8 POLICE LOG
10 2
News 3
COPYRIGHT 2016 FREE AT BRANDEIS.
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2016
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the justice
NEWS SENATE LOG
POLICE LOG
Student Union in process of creating safe space for discourse The Senate convened on Sunday night to discuss numerous topics, including bystander training and club support. However, one common theme was represented throughout the evening: that the University was founded to hear all people’s views, and that all views must be respected. The Senate chartered two clubs during Sunday’s meeting. The first club was Brandeis Peace Action, a club that utilizes students’ voices to promote peace around the world. The club will be a chapter of Peace Action — a national organization developed to encourage peaceful foreign policy. The organization’s goal is to educate people on current events in order to support peace. In addition, the club aims to empower students and youth to take action in their community to make the world safer, as well as to connect students to the larger community of activists who also want to make the world more peaceful through conflict resolution. Participants will meet to organize events, educate their peers and create projects on peace and the costs of war. While the club representatives said that the Peace Action organization is pro-Palestine, they explained the Brandeis chapter will not necessarily remain concurrent with this perspective, according to the student representatives. While the national organization’s support for Palestine caused some senators to express concern about chartering the club, they were reminded, by Student Union Vice President Paul Sindburg ’18, that all students have a voice on this campus and should be free to express those views. The Senate voted to charter the club. The second club chartered was Deis Robotics, a club that invites community members, regardless of level of experience in robotics, to build functional machines, learn computer science fundamentals and participate in competitions, according to student representatives. The students added that they would like to work with the Brandeis Prosthesis Club, Deis3D, the Brandeis Initiative for Tech, Machines, Apps and Programming and the Brandeis Architecture Club. Although the Senate questioned how this club would be different from the aforementioned clubs, the senators concluded that Deis Robotics serves to provide a more hands-on model of machinery, agreeing that science-based clubs serve an important role on campus. Executive Senator Hannah Brown ’19 told the senators that Student Union-wide bystander training has been making progress, with signup sheets for later training sessions available later in the week. In executive officer reports, Brown reiterated that the E-Board is working toward creating a safe space for all clubs and individuals on campus to express their views, emphasizing that such an outlet is crucial. Discussion topics from individual senator reports included extending BranVan hours and increasing heating in residence halls.
Medical Emergency
Oct. 2—A party in Usdan Student Center reported that they experienced difficulty breathing. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to NewtonWellesley Hospital. Oct. 2—A party in Ridgewood Quad reported that they did not feel well. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Oct. 3—A party in Reitman Hall reported that they felt light headed. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Oct. 4—University Police received a report that a party in Renfield Hall had fainted. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to NewtonWellesley Hospital. Oct. 4—A party in East Quad reported that they were not feeling well. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Oct. 5—A party reported that they tripped and fell in the Epstein parking lot. BEMCo staff treated the party with a signed refusal for further care. Oct. 5—University Police re-
ceived a report of a party in the Faculty Center Lodge with back pain. BEMCo staff treated the party, who refused further medical treatment. Oct. 5—A party in Deroy Hall reported that they were not feeling well. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Oct. 6—University Police received a report of an intoxicated party in Usen Hall. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Oct. 6—A party in the Shapiro Campus Center reported that they had twisted their ankle. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to NewtonWellesley Hospital. Oct. 6—University Police were asked to perform a wellbeing check on a party. The party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for psychological evaluation. Oct. 7—A party in Gosman reported that they had an ankle injury. The party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Oct. 8—University Police received a report of an intoxicated
party in Cable Hall. The party was treated by BEMCo. Oct. 8—A party in Renfield Hall reported that they were experiencing muscle spasms. The party was transported to NewtonWellesley Hospital. Oct. 8—A party in Grad reported that they were experiencing stomach pain. The party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Oct. 8—A party in Scheffres Hall reported that they had a minor hand injury. BEMCo staff treated the party at the scene. Oct. 8—A party in East Quad reported that they had an ankle injury. BEMCo staff treated the party at the scene. Oct. 8—A party in Usen Hall reported that they had a bad cough. BEMCo staff treated the party at the scene. Oct. 9—University Police received a report of an intoxicated party in Shapiro Hall. BEMCo staff treated the party at the scene.
Disturbance
Oct. 5—University Police received a report that a party in the Charles River Apartments was
LET’S TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION
—Jen Geller
Due to the upcoming Jewish holidays, the Justice will be publishing articles online only for the weeks of Oct. 18 and Oct. 25.
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
SAMUEL SANO/the Justice
Intercultural Center Director Madeleine Lopez considered how to engage in discourse surrounding immigration issues — especially in the context of the upcoming election — in a panel on Wednesday.
talking loudly. A University Police Officer spoke with the party and resolved the problem. Oct. 7—University Police received a report of loud music playing in the Foster Mods. The issue was resolved without incident. Oct. 7—University Police received a report of a physical altercation in Gosman Sports and Convocation Center. University Police separated both parties and interviewed them before sending them on their way. Oct. 7—University Police received a complaint of loud music in Grad. The music was lowered without incident. Oct. 9—University Police received a report of parties sleeping in Sherman Function Hall. The parties were escorted from the building without incident.
Harassment
Oct. 7—A party in the North Quad parking lot reported that their car had been keyed. University Police compiled a report on the incident. — Compiled by Abby Patkin.
BRIEF Two arrested for drug trafficking and possession The only lines Ruben Acevedo will be staring at in the near future will be the tally marks counting down his sentence on his cell wall, if he is convicted following his arrest for cocaine trafficking on Sunday. Acevedo was arrested along with his accomplice, Monique Miller, according to the Waltham Police Department’s Public Arrests Lists. Acevedo was charged with the unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and failure to stop and yield on an arrest warrant. Police also charged him with cocaine trafficking. Miller was charged with possession of Class B drugs. According to a Waltham Police statement made to Wicked Local Waltham, the arrest was made in the vicinity of Lowell Street and Pine Street at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday when the arresting officer observed Acevedo and Miller walking together. According to the report, Miller’s unsteady walk prompted the arresting officer to stop her in order to determine whether she was intoxicated and required protective custody. As the officer approached the pair, he noted Miller hugging Acevedo and clasping an unidentified object in her hand as they separated. Upon her attempt to hug Acevedo the second time, the officer separated the pair and discovered two bags of cocaine in Miller’s hand, according to the same Oct. 4 Wicked Local Waltham article. Upon a further pat down of Acevedo to locate any drugs Miller may have passed to him, the officer found “corner bags” — bags of crack cocaine — as well as an Altoids tin containing 14 individually wrapped bags of cocaine on him, totaling 19.5 grams of the U.S. Schedule II illegal drug. Cocaine trafficking carries a sentence of 3-15 years in prison, with potential fines of $2,500 to $25,000 for those convicted of trafficking 14 to 28 grams. —Mihir Khanna
n There were no corrections to report this week.
The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@ thejustice.org.
Justice
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ANNOUNCEMENTS Break the Fast
Join the Brandeis community at the campus-wide Break the Fast, following the Yom Kippur holiday. Families and communities around the world will come together on that evening to mark the conclusion of this sacred day on the Jewish calendar and wish each other well for the new year. The entire campus community is invited to gather on the Great Lawn, where the large tent in front of the Shapiro Campus Center will house lots of delicious food, all kosher. Tomorrow from 6 to 9 p.m. on the Shapiro Campus Center Great Lawn.
Employer Spotlight: Wayfair
Do you spend your free time browsing e-commerce sites? Are you constantly thinking of things retailers could improve about their shopping experience? Wayfair is one of the fastest growing online retailers, and representatives are coming to campus to share insights about The Wayfair Site Mer-
chandising. In addition to this event, Wayfair is actively looking to hire Brandeis students who are enthusiastic and data-driven to help execute merchandising initiatives and updates on our site. Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Shapiro Campus Center atrium.
Book Talk
Shadi Hamid, author of “Islamic Exceptionalism: How the Struggle Over Islam is Reshaping the World,” will discuss his book with the Brandeis community. Refreshments will be served. Thursday from 12 to 2 p.m. in the Schneider Altman Amphitheater.
Wildlife Medicine and Conservation in Africa
Join the Brandeis Pre-Vet Society for an evening with L.D. Van Essen, a renowned zoologist, researcher and lecturer from South Africa. This is a rare opportunity to learn about wildlife conservation and medicine
from a true expert. Everyone is welcome, whether they are pre-vet or just interested in animals. Thursday from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. in Pearlman Hall.
In-Tents Trivia
Think you got the smarts for some in-tents trivia? Join the Department of Student Activities under the tent on the Great Lawn for another round of trivia. First place is a $75 restaurant gift card and second place is $25. Thursday from 9:30 to 11 p.m. on the Shapiro Campus Center Great Lawn.
Fall Foliage Trip to Noanet Woodlands
Explore the beauty of the Fall colors in the Northeast. This trip will be an opportunity to hike with fellow students at the Noanet Woodlands. Bus leaves from Spingold Theater, and tickets can be picked up at the SCC ticket office. Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. of campus.
the justice
CAMPUS SPEAKER
discussed key context and potential solutions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By MAX MORAN JUSTICE EDITOR
Ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories is morally crucial to the country’s survival, but some pro-Palestinian activists overlook key issues about the Israeli perspective on the conflict, journalist Ari Shavit argued in a talk last Tuesday. Before beginning his talk, Shavit urged the audience to keep Shimon Peres in their thoughts — the Israeli founding father passed away later in the night. Shavit said that he and Peres planned to write a book together, calling him “probably the last great Jewish Israeli of that amazing generation that went through the impossible and created the impossible.” Shavit, a national correspondent and op-ed columnist for left-leaning Israeli newspaper Haaretz, told the audience that he wrote his 2013 book “My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel” to “decipher the Israeli enigma.” He added that he gained “this deep sense of bewilderment of what an amazing miracle Israel is.” Shavit has opposed the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian settlements his whole life. Zionism’s goal was to create a Jewish democratic state, but oppressing Palestinians is undemocratic, and granting them citizenship would create a non-Jewish majority, he asserted. Therefore, a two-state solution remains the only way to create a Zionist state, according to Shavit. The settlements are “a suicidal process of the Zionist project. If you want the Jewish democratic state, you cannot do it. And if you are doing this, you are endangering the Jewish democratic state,” he said. However, onlookers and activists often miss three crucial pieces of context in the ongoing conflict, Shavit said. Firstly, Israel “really tried to give peace a chance” during the Oslo negotiations in the 1990s. “Yasser Arafat, for us, was 100 times more radioactive than Fidel Castro was to you, but under the leadership of Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres, we took a leap of faith.” The outcome, Shavit said, was “a kind of ongoing 9/11” due to Hamas terrorism. “It did not work because the Palestinian leadership was not really truly willing to end the conflict and accept as
legitimate the existence of a Jewish democratic state in the Middle East,” he said. The Middle East itself is the second layer of context, which Shavit called “the world’s worst neighborhood.” The American media was naïve to describe the Arab Spring as a positive revolution, he said, adding that today, “only in Tunisia there is some hope. … We have four, five failed states that are in terrible condition.” While he said regional instability does not justify Israel’s wrongdoing, “we have 11th-century Europe miles from our border. … If you are not strong in this Middle East, you end up ... being slaughtered.” Finally, Jews in the 21st century are “victims of their own success,” he asserted. Due to Jewish success in Israel and abroad, Jews forget their dwindling minority status around the world. Shavit argued against American campuses that accuse Israel of being “a colonialist entity.” He based this assertion on three points: Zionists were returning to their ancestral homeland, not conquering a new land; Jews had an existential need to form a state after the Holocaust; and the indigenous population was not wiped out. “How is it that there’s no campus where I meet an anti-Australia movement?” he said. “If Australia is legitimate, Israel is definitely legitimate. … Why is it that when the Jews do what other people do, they are treated in such a harsh way?” However, none of the context “justifies one settlement built,” Shavit said. He worries that it will take many years for Jews and Israelis to create a new, more realistic path to two-state peace. Moreover, Israel itself must be “rebuilt” to respect pluralism and minority ethnic and religious groups, and Israel and the Jewish diaspora need to build a new connection. “We are not the same, we are not one, but we are totally interdependent on each other,” he said. The Israeli far right, he said, threatens Israel by generating internal divides with non-Orthodox groups and alienating the nonOrthodox Jewish diaspora. “They are betraying the mission of Israel,” he said. Shavit fears that there is less than a decade to overcome these domestic challenges before the conflict escalates. Moreover, failing to overcome one-state ideology now prevents the state from saving itself later on, he said. Yet he remains an optimist, recognizing how his country has overcome past challenges. “But in order to do it,” he warned, “we must wake up.”
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
news
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2016
YDALIA COLON/the Justice
Prof. George Hall (ECON) used cash to illustrate a point about federal money during “Hamilton, the Panel,” which looked at the power of the purse post-American Revolution.
Panel
Panel examines gender and race in politics post-debate
■ A group of scholars and
public figures analyzed the effects of campaigns and platforms on race and gender. By ABby patkin JUSTICE editor
When it comes to race and gender policies, presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump fall short, a panel of scholars and public figures argued on Tuesday. While Clinton performed well at the first presidential debate on Monday, neither she nor Trump sufficiently addressed race or gender, asserted the panel, which featured Brandeis University African and Afro-American Studies professor Chad Williams, Harvard University public policy professor Leah Wright Rigueur and Massachusetts State Representative Tackey Chan. “Let’s think about whether or not there were real winners or losers in terms not only of the things that were discussed, but the things that were not discussed,” moderator Anita Hill, a Brandeis professor of law and social policy, asked the panelists. “In terms of who won the debate last night, I think we all lost,” Williams answered. Clinton’s failure to address her white privilege — the benefits she sees as a result of being white — was a disappointment, he said. Trump, on the other hand, represents the ideal of white, violent masculinity, he added. Trump’s candidacy may be viewed as a reaction to heightened minority activism and shifting racial culture in America, Williams asserted. “You don’t have Donald
Trump without Barack Obama. … I also think you don’t have the ascendancy of Trump without Black Lives Matter,” he said. “When we talk about making America great again, we’re talking about making sure that certain people stay in their place.” “We’re talking about a moment that is a crisis of democracy,” Rigueur added. “But I’d also like to argue that we’ve been in moments where we’ve had crises of democracy and, in fact, it’s the nation’s most vulnerable citizens … [who] often rise to the challenge of pushing back against these kind of conceptions and ideas about democracy, particularly second-class citizenship.” Both parties have overwhelmingly ignored black female voters — one of the most vulnerable groups — even though they serve as the “backbone” of the Democratic Party, said Rigueur. Although they had one of the highest voter turnouts of racial groups during the 2012 election, black women have not received enough outreach, she argued. “You have to think big and small” when it comes to voter outreach, Chan agreed. “I’ll show up to your home and sit at your coffee table until I figure out what’s wrong.” A large part of representing people is listening to their problems, figuring out how those problems fit into a larger framework and making policies to find solutions, he added. As for Monday night’s debate, “the real question is: was it an issue they brought up that mattered to you, the individual voter? And I think the answer’s got to be ‘no,’” Chan argued. “The moderator … gave them enough wiggle room as candidates to speak to the people about what they think is important
to you, and I’m not sure they get it.” Neither candidate has placed enough focus on outreach and policy making for minorities, Rigueur agreed. “Policy is missing from the conversation that we’ve been having. It is absolutely absent, and you should be shocked, we should be demanding a conversation about policy,” she said, calling for platforms that address minority poverty. Hill asked the panelists how America’s apparent inability to discuss whiteness has affected policy making. “You can’t really teach the dialogue if you don’t acknowledge that there is a problem to address,” Chan said, arguing that America has not yet realized the full extent of its race crisis. “You can’t see the problem in your house from inside your house. You have to go outside first. And I’m sorry to say that we’re not a very self-reflective culture.” Williams, pulling out a copy of W. E. B. Du Bois’ writings, quoted: “‘This assumption that of all the hues of God, whiteness alone is inherently and obviously better than brownness or tan leads to curious acts.’” “I don’t think we’re at a moment yet where we’re going to have a productive conversation … about kind of deconstructing whiteness” and examining race privilege, he concluded. “I think it’s going to take younger voters and other folks who understand this to really come challenge all of our elected officials to hold themselves accountable.” —Editor’s note: this article was originally written for Prof. Eileen McNamara’s (JOUR) class “The Contemporary World in Print.”
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HEATHER SCHILLER/the Justice
Religious studies scholar Seth Sanders discussed links between cuneiform and ancient Hebrew on Thursday.
3
THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENED
Shavit urges end of Israeli occupation ■ Journalist Ari Shavit
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Campus speaker
Author looks at the alienation and current status of the American right ■ Arlie Hochschild spoke
about her research with the ideological bubble in the Louisiana bayou. By Michelle dang JUSTICE staff writer
Arlie Russell Hochschild, renowned sociologist and bestselling author, revealed the journey behind her recently published book “Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right” on Thursday at an event hosted by the University’s Sociology Department. Hochschild spoke about her investigations during the book’s development into Louisiana bayou country, where she sought to explore political thoughts contrastive to her own in a region of strong conservative right. “It occurred to me five years ago, to get me out of the political liberal bubble in which I live, Berkeley, California — teaching sociology — to go to another bubble as far away as I can get. … And where would that be? Well, the right had grown in the South most rapidly, so I would go to the South,” said Hochschild. Hochschild said she wanted to figure out the story behind what she called the liberal-originated idea of the “Red State Paradox.” She explained that it is ironic that the
states with statistically the worst poverty, education, medical systems and life expectancy are the same states that acquire the most federal aid and are also the most suspicious of the federal government in their political mindset. “Louisiana was an exaggeration of this red state paradox,” said Hochschild. The question Hochschild sought to answer was why people who could most benefit from “liberal” government were the ones aggressively against it. Hochschild, however, said she noted an unexpected trend after living in the Louisiana among the community. She said her interviews with extreme right wing individuals revealed a deeper story and a sense of emotional injustice lying between the lines. She saw individuals who are hard workers and laborers but who felt that their own American dreams weren’t progressing. Moreover, she said, these workers seemed to think that progressive government encouraged a culture of “line cutters,” as a result of programs like affirmative action. These individuals also felt that they are a religiously observant minority in a secular culture, with an overwhelming sense of estrangement to national society. “A keyhole issue is actually the environment,” said Hochschild. “I did not go into Louisiana thinking
DAISY CHEN/the Justice
BREAKING THE BUBBLE: Arlie Hochschild analyzed the sense of isolation in the conservative community in her talk. about the environment, but I came out thinking about it.” Highlighting anecdotes from her interviews, Hochschild revealed how the life of communities around the Louisiana bayou have been devastated by the toxic waste of the local gasoline in-
dustry and by a state government that remains negligent toward it. Overall, there is a cumulative sense of loss without gain, and many Southern conservatives begin to feel like strangers in their own land, Hochschild asserted.
“Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right” is a nonfiction finalist of the 2016 National Book Award. —Max Moran contributed reporting.
PANEL
SOCIAL JUSTICE FORUM
Alumni speak about careers in real estate industry ■ A panel of real estate
professionals gave industry insight and advice to undergraduates on Sept. 29. By TZLIL LEVY JUSTICE STAFF WRITER TALYA GUENZBURGER/the Justice
Prof. Ryan LaRochelle (POL) spoke about the current state of public discourse on Sept. 29.
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Contact Abby Patkin at news@thejustice.org
The key to succeeding in real estate is studying, networking and gaining experience, a panel of real estate professionals and alumni told students on Sept. 29. “Real estate shapes where we live, where we work and where we play,” Prof. Linda Stoller (BUS) told the audience, citing the International Business School’s real estate specialty and emphasizing how the real estate industry relates heavily to the other business professions. “I fell into real estate by chance,” said Samantha Gajewski B.A. ’12, M.A. ’13. Gajewski, a project manager at National Development, explained that her interest in the industry came from learning about it in class while studying as an undergrad at the University. Fellow panelist Ali Mehdian M.A. ’07, vice president at AEW Capital Management, told students that it took him two years as an undergraduate before he took a real estate financial course and realized he was captivated by the hard asset business. In 2007, he took a position at AEW but “after two weeks of starting, the market collapsed. I worked on broken deals for two years,” he said. “I was fortunate to actually keep my job and stay employed.” As for breaking into real estate, “even if you think you don’t have an interest in something, it’s good to take courses,” John Hancock Director of Portfolio Management Quazi Sadruzzaman M.S. ’08 advised students. “Network, network,
network,” he added. “[I was] trying to get in there while everyone was running to the door,” Sandruzzaman joked, explaining that he entered the industry in 2008 at the height of the financial crisis. However, he was able to score a meeting with a businessman raising an opportunity fund, which resulted in steady employment for another four years. “Network and go to events,” Walker & Dunlop Assistant Vice President Tasneem Shakir ’10 said. “People love to hear from students, and alumni love to help students,” she added. “Dig into whatever you have that you are working on [and] … make yourself valuable.” Students interested in breaking into the industry should take real estate courses “that provide a strong academic foundation both in quantitative and qualitative analysis … [and] develop outstanding oral and written communication skills,” Stoller told students. Students can also network by leaning on family members in the industry, building relationships with faculty and school clubs and networking through industry organizations, she added, citing national groups that help young professionals get connected. “Brandeis has a number of alumni who are prominent professionals in the real estate industry and they are generous in sharing their time and expertise with current students,” she wrote in a follow-up email to the Justice. Real Estate Club Co-President Adam Elkaim ’18 added that the purpose of the panel was to demonstrate to interested students the link between real estate and other business subcategories. “Real estate encapsulates so many aspects of the business world, like finance, marketing, sales, and operations,” he wrote in an email to the Justice.
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THE JUSTICE
ADMISSIONS: Distribution in majors leans to social sciences CONTINUED FROM 1
Prof. Anita Hill (Heller) asked Flagel about the University’s outreach to Native Americans. She expressed concern that the University’s enrollment numbers for Native Americans and Alaskan Natives were low, with this minority representing only one percent of the first-year class in 2009 — 5 students — and less than one percent in 2016 — 1 student. “There’s certainly a lot of areas where we have to continue to develop and test,” Flagel said. “I will say that I have seen greater success in trajectories at my prior institutions than I have seen here.” He went on to explain that one of the first conversations he had upon coming to Brandeis was about the University’s reputation and public image around the world. “Just in terms of … what high schools we visit and how we do outreach in communities, we were very focused … for several years on suburban and elite private school visits,” Flagel said. “We have made a very concerted effort to diversify the schools that we work with.” He cited the Students Exploring and Embracing Diversity program and expressed hope that the new chief diversity officer will move diversity outreach forward. Geographically, the University’s enrollment has also become more diverse over the past few years, with only 58 percent of students in the class of 2020 from New England and the Mid Atlantic, compared to 70 percent a few years ago. On the other hand, the firstyear class is only 17 percent international students, bringing the percentage of international undergraduate students down from 20 percent in the fall of 2015 to 19 percent now. The majority of the University’s international students are from China. Flagel explained that the gradual rise in the number of students from
China was the unintended result of a dramatically rising yield of Chinese students in recent years. A total of 5,733 students are currently enrolled at the University, compared to the 5,333 in 2007. However, the first-year class of 2016 comprises only 797 students (a 21 percent yield of 3,978 admitted students), compared to 843 in 2009 (a 22.2 percent yield of 2,886). Along with the drop in the undergraduate yield rate, undergraduate admissions have also fallen, with a 2016 acceptance rate of 33.5 percent (from 11,351 applications), compared with a 42.7 percent acceptance rate in 2009 (from 6,766 applications). While Flagel explained that he does not like to use SAT scores to measure a class of first-years, he asserted that the SAT range for incoming firstyears has held steady. Flagel also presented data on which fields students are majoring in, aggregated by University registrar Mark Hewitt. According to Flagel, 2,099 University undergraduates are majoring in the social sciences — including Health: Science, Society and Policy and Business — with 932 majoring in the sciences, 272 majoring in the humanities and 130 majoring in creative arts. He noted that the data double- or triple-counts students with multiple majors. While the number of students majoring in the sciences has trended slightly upward, Flagel explained that the University is working to use fellowships and merit scholarships to change these trend lines by attracting applicants to the sciences and creative arts especially. “In each area, it’s thinking creatively about how we can do things with the limited bandwidth we have here at Brandeis in a way that will help us create the kind of enrollment that we all like to see,” Flagel explained.
FAC: Vote supports resolution for Indigenous Peoples CONTINUED FROM 1
The University’s financial health is not a short term crisis, but rather a long term “urgency,” Bergstresser asserted, which comes down to “being thoughtful about where we’re headed in the medium and long term.” Liebowitz added that the University will be discussing how to address this issue in the long term and will also be composing an executive summary of Daniel’s presentation for faculty members. The University is also continuing negotiations with contract faculty and SEIU Local 509, University Provost Lisa Lynch noted in her remarks. She explained that while the negotiations have been a lengthy process, “I have really appreciated the depth and strength of convictions of our faculty representatives in the bargaining sessions.” Lynch added that the University will be establishing a committee to look at academic freedom and freedom of speech on campus, with committee members being appoint-
ed in the coming months. As the meeting came to a close, the faculty discussed and voted on the faculty senate’s recommendation to rename Columbus Day “Indigenous Peoples’ Day.” The student-led movement began with a Student Union resolution, which was passed in March of 2016. The University Advisory Council — a board within the Office of the Provost that advises the provost and deans — voted on Sept. 22 to send the resolution to a full faculty vote, according to a Sept. 27 Justice article. In addressing the faculty, Faculty Senate Chair Prof. Susan Curnan (Heller) drew upon a quote from Wilma Mankiller, the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation: “The secret of our success is that we never, never give up.” Curnan added that the Senate has received several suggestions on how to structure curricula and dialogue around the name change. As Liebowitz called the vote, the faculty voted unanimously in favor of the renaming.
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PATHIMA MATHIMA
ABBY PATKIN/the Justice
MUCH TO DO: Former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis emphasized the importance of grassroots campaigning.
GOV: Dukakis urges students to engage in political discourse CONTINUED FROM 1 ti-Semitic. Irish kids were beating up Jewish kids on Blue Hill Avenue in the middle of the Holocaust, and people of color could not live on this side of the railroad tracks,” he said, adding that the Massachusetts state government was “one of the three or four most corrupt governments in the United States of America.” While working in Washington, D.C. after graduating college, he noticed blatant segregation in buses, restaurants and schools, even as Americans “were running around the world telling people that we’re the capital of the free world.” Although he acknowledged that “this is an infinitely better country and, I will argue, an infinitely better world” than when he first started in politics, he added that there are several key moments that today’s politicians must learn from to create a better country. He reflected on one of his larger accomplishments from his time as governor. In the early 1980s, the federal government gave Massachusetts funding to build highways to relieve traffic congestion around Boston. However, “it seemed to be obvious that building more high-
ways wasn’t going to solve the traffic problem,” he said. Instead, Dukakis fought to repurpose the money for improvements to public transportation around the city. “If you think the conventional wisdom is wrong, challenge it,” he urged. This advice also applies to the state’s ongoing opioid crisis, Dukakis said. “I’m married to an addict,” he told the audience, recounting his wife Kitty’s addiction to diet pills and subsequent depression. “If you’ve had that experience, one of the things that you learn … is that you can’t target a single drug to be successful, because addicts will try anything. And the point of fact, folks, is that the drug of choice in this country is liquid. It’s called liquor,” he explained. On his walks home from Northeastern University, where he teaches politics, he often finds empty vanilla extract bottles on the sidewalk; with a 35 to 40 percent alcohol content, vanilla extract is a cheap fix for addicts, he explained. The biggest takeaway from this experience is that “just say no” isn’t enough, Dukakis argued. He cited the Governor’s Alliance Against
Drugs or Alcohol, an initiative he started while in office that sought to promote prevention, education and treatment for drug addiction. The original program was terminated under Mitt Romney’s administration, but a similar initiative is needed to address the escalating crisis, Dukakis asserted. Additionally, the power of grassroots organization cannot be underestimated, Dukakis continued, explaining that he now wishes he had done more of it in his 1988 campaign. In the current presidential election, both parties need to do a better job of reaching out to voters — especially people of color and blue-collar workers, he said. “Why would they vote for Trump? For this guy?” he asked, incredulous. “What’s the Trump economic handout? Cut taxes for the rich and deregulate the financial industry … Why would blue-collar Americans — white or otherwise — vote for this guy? Because we haven’t been knocking on their doors.” “So you guys have much to do,” he concluded, urging political engagement and involvement. “And I hope you’ll do it.”
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features
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2016 ● Features ● The Justice
just
VERBATIM | WINSTON CHURCHILL Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
ON THIS DAY…
FUN FACT
In 1975, Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham were married in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Frogs absorb water through their skin, so they don’t need to consume liquid orally.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS
FIRST LAST/the Justice
LANGUAGE BARRIER: The Philadelphia Sphas, a team discussed in ‘The First Basket’, sport Hebrew lettering on their uniforms.
A PERFECT MATCH: Finding a perfect match for marrow donation drastically increases the chances of success.
Marrow Matching
Shana Criscitiello ’18 strives to save lives By ALISSA FAGIN JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Thinking of Brandeis University, “community engagement” is probably one of the first phrases that comes to mind. You might even say that Brandeis is partially defined by its thriving and diverse community engagement opportunities. This being the case, there are few better representatives of the school than Shana Criscitiello ’18, who is majoring in Health: Science, Society and Policy. Criscitiello is a campus ambassador to Gift of Life, a marrow registry that matches potential bone marrow and stem cell donors to patients suffering from blood cancer. Criscitiello explained how the Gift of Life began in an interview with the Justice. The organization was started by Jay Feinberg, an Ashkenazic Jew, around 25 years ago, when he discovered that he had blood cancer. After failed chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Feinberg’s last hope for survival was to receive a bone marrow donation. At the time, however, Ashkenazic Jewish representation within bone marrow registries was only 8 percent, making finding a perfect match highly unlikely. Needless to say, he did not find a perfect match within the existing registries and was given one year to live. Feinberg’s mother refused to give up on her son and ran several drives in hopes of finding his perfect match. As the year went by, they found a half-match for Feinberg. Though there is a very high chance a body will react aversively to bone marrow not identical to its own, he decided to go through with the
surgery anyway. As Feinberg and his donor were getting ready to go to the hospital, one man decided to have one last bone marrow drive in hopes of finding a match for Feinberg. Criscitiello animatedly described how the last man tested at that very last drive was Feinberg’s perfect match. Feinberg went through with the donation and was completely cured of his illness. He then went on to establish the Gift of Life registry, which continues
PHOTO COURTESY OF SHANA CRISCITIELLO
DEDICATED VOLUNTEER: Shana Criscitiello ’18 recruited Brandeisans for the Gift of Life at the club fair. to find donors to treat patients for their illnesses. Thanks to the efforts of those who ran drives to save Jay Feinberg, there is now a much larger Ashkenazic Jewish representation within bone marrow registries. This means that if you are an Ashkenazic Jew with blood cancer, you have a much higher chance of finding a perfect bone marrow match within
existing registries. Criscitiello first heard about the Gift of Life when she went to one of their drives and a representative asked to swab the inside of her cheek to put her in their bone marrow registry. “They asked me if they could take a little cotton swab, and I was like, ‘Before I give this person my cells and DNA or whatever they’re hauling away, I kind of want to know about this organization,’” she said in an interview with the Justice. Criscitiello read up on the organization and was intrigued by it because it is similar to genetic counseling, a profession she is interested in. Both the Gift of Life and genetic counseling include aspects of helping individuals by looking into their biological compatibility with others, which appealed to her. She applied to their Campus Ambassadors Program without expecting much to come out of it. After a follow-up email and a long application process, Criscitiello was notified that she had been accepted into the program. She spent this past summer training in Boca Raton, Florida for a symposium. “We got lectures from doctors, patients, donors; … then we got trained and had mock drives and they sent us back to our schools,” she explained. As a campus ambassador, Criscitiello’s mission is to hold drives to swab people interested in joining the registry and to educate Brandeis students about the importance Gift of Life. Cricitiello also wants Brandeis students to be aware of how minor the donation procedure is and how rewarding it can be. The donation, if one is found
to be a perfect match for a blood cancer patient, is fairly simple. 80 percent of the time, donors are asked to donate stem cells, a process similar to giving blood. 20 percent of the time, perfect matches are asked to donate bone marrow, which is a short surgical process similar in severity to getting one’s wisdom teeth taken out. According to Criscitiello, one marrow donor told her that they were able to attend class on the same day as the surgery. Needless to say, neither of the procedures are harmful to the donor, and all procedures are paid for in full by Gift of Life. The only qualification for being in the registry is a genuine interest in donating. “They really want committed donors,” Criscitiello commented, “I would personally be so happy to get called and potentially be able to help someone’s sister or mother. … It’s really personal for everyone.”
Unfortunately, Brandeis does not always make it simple to allow these
drives to take place. Criscitiello has found that, ironically, “even though our school stands for social justice, it’s pretty inhibitory to allowing me to have these drives.” According to Criscitiello, campus ambassadors in other schools simply need to send out an email to receive funding, advertising and other assistance for their drives. In contrast, said Criscitiello, “Here, it’s pretty hard to get your foot in the door. … I’ve been told no to pretty much every drive I’ve tried to host.” In comparison, Criscitiello has also experienced largely positive feedback from the student body. At a drive she ran at the study abroad fair in collaboration with Hebrew University, many students approached her, already passionate about the cause, to commend her for running the drive. Consequently, Criscitiello said, “their enthusiasm rubbed off on strangers walking by and they were like, ‘Oh what’s this? Let me come hear about it.” The result was an excited and impassioned crowd and a successful drive, Criscitiello’s two goals for Gift of Life on campus. Despite the ups and downs she has experienced, Criscitiello has not let any barriers stifle her success at Brandeis. Since the start of the fall semester, she has already run three drives and swabbed 61 people. She hopes to add more students to the registry by the time she graduates and spark a passion within the Brandeis community for the Gift of Life registry, similar to what she feels. “A lot of community service makes you feel warm and fuzzy; makes you feel really good,” Criscitiello commented. “But this just seems huge.”
the justice ● Features ● TUESDAY, october 11, 2016
PHILANTHROPIC FORMAL: Brian Quigley, the Community Service Specialist for the Waltham Group, spoke to the crowded Levin Ballroom. KIRBY KOCHANOWSKI/the Justice
Half a Century of Service The Waltham Group celebrated its anniversary with a gala By KIRBY KOCHANOWSKI AND SAGIE TVIZER JUSTICE Editor And JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
In 1966, 30 students attended the first-ever Waltham Group meeting. Little did they know that 50 years later, the Brandeis community service organization would boast hundreds of volunteers who each year dedicate 40,000 hours to community service. Students, alumni, faculty and members of the Waltham community gathered in Levin Ballroom this past Saturday to celebrate these achievements. University President Ronald Liebowitz addressed the crowded room and highlighted the group’s accomplishments. “The Waltham Group volunteers have, over the years, served 15,000 granola bars to kids in afterschool programs. They’ve tied at least 6,250 shoelaces. They’ve provided 93,000 cans of food to those in need. They’ve helped solve more than 75,000 math problems, and they’ve connected enough blood to save 37,000 lives,” he said.
Liebowitz, who comes to Brandeis after serving as the President of Middlebury College, spoke in admiration of Brandeis’ commitment to community service. When Middlebury’s Office of Civic Engagement began to grow, they strove to emulate the model used at Brandeis. “Waltham group was in the eyes of many who were trying to do similar things on their campuses,” Liebowitz said. “I’m learning a lot about Brandeis, and the more I learn, the more excited I get about working with all of you and all the groups [within Waltham Group],” Liebowitz said. Though the Waltham Group currently serves an altruistic purpose, its founding was largely political. Some of the group’s founders were in attendance, and they too spoke to the crowded ballroom. Howard Winant ’68 described the influence of the historical circumstances under which the Waltham Group was founded. The Civil Rights movement and the anti-Vietnam war movements were popular among students at the time, creating an
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS
PROUD PARTNERS: The Waltham Group partners with other service organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Cradles to Crayons and the American Red Corss.
impetus to give back to the community. “All of those factors really shaped our desire as students — perhaps somewhat naively, but definitely committed[ly] — to do movement work,” he said. In a way, however, the founding members understand the Waltham Group’s work to still be political in nature. To elucidate this point, Winant posed the question, “What is the fundamental reason that certain activities are pursued [by the Waltham Group]?” There currently are 20 programs within Waltham Group that work to tackle issues ranging from student achievement, homelessness and public health. In addition to student coordinators and volunteers addressing these issues, staff members are intimately engaged in Brandeis community involvement. Brian Quigley, who has served as the Community Service Specialist for Waltham Group for two years, spoke about the impact Waltham Group has had on his own life. “The students, staff and Waltham community members who I have been fortunate enough to work with have inspired me, chal-
lenged me and shifted my perspectives on the world we live in. Let this dinner be a celebration of all that has lead us to this moment.” This sentiment was echoed by the Waltham Group copresidents Mitchell Beers ’17 and Krishna Narayanan ’17. “We are both so thankful to Waltham Group for being such a large part of our lives these past four years. It has given us so many life skills that we will use in the future and also inspired a lifelong love of community service,” Beers said. The Saturday night gala served as a celebration in a weekend of service events. Volunteers worked Saturday and Sunday on service projects in the community. This included serving meals to the homeless at the Community Day Center of Waltham, running a fall carnival at the Prospect Hill Community Center, visiting with the senior residents of Leland Home and working at the Waltham Fields Community Farm. These service projects were not limited to the Waltham area. Brandeis alumni from around
the country were also involved in projects involving marine science in New York City, the Central Kitchen in Washington, D.C. and forest preserves in Chicago. During the gala, students and former volunteers reflected on their experiences with the organization. There was also a silent auction to raise money for the organization, which included items like gift cards to local restaurants, two VIP tickets to “The Late Show,” park passes to Walt Disney World, and dinner with Lucas Malo (Director of Community Service) and his dog, Mr. Maxx. This donation drive has been undertaken with a $50,000 goal to fund future Waltham Group endeavors. In addition to the silent auction, the Waltham Group has made efforts to solicit donations from alumni and sold T-shirts celebrating their 50th anniversary. But most important, perhaps, was the goal of the night as a celebration. As Liebowtiz remarked in his speech, “Tonight we recognize the remarkable success of a brilliant and quintessential Brandeis idea.”
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10 TUESDAY, october 11, 2016 ● forum ● THE JUSTICE
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EDITORIALS
Vote for Hillary Clinton in the presidential election The Case for Clinton
As Nov. 8 approaches, this board would like to endorse Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton for president, due to both her significant merit as a politician and the potential dangers of the other candidates. In part, Clinton is the best for the job because she has experience as Secretary of State, with four years of international decision-making. It is responsible to elect someone who has had a front-row seat to the rise of the Islamic State group and fully understands the mistakes that have been made in the Middle East, as well as America’s international role and responsibility. In addition, Clinton’s role as a senator allowed her to gain valuable experience with domestic and international politics. She holds similar ideological views to Bernie Sanders and, in fact, holds a more liberal voting record than Sanders on gun ownership, according to a Jan. 18 CBS article. They served in the senate together for two years during which Clinton introduced 19 pieces of legislation that Sanders chose to co-sponsor, while Clinton supported seven of Sanders’ bills, according to a Feb. 13 Newsweek article. Clinton also is arguably more effective than Senator Sanders. According to an April 7 Washington Post article, Clinton sponsored 10 bills that passed, while Sanders only managed to sponsor one bill in the nine years he served in the Senate.
The Case Against Third Parties
While Clinton deserves the Brandeisian vote on her own merits, her contenders are also unfit for the presidency. The standard argument against voting third-party — that a protest vote only steals support from an electable candidate — is as relevant as ever this year. Protest voting prioritizes one’s sense of selfimportance over this existential threat. To many millennials considering a third-party vote, this notion sounds like the elite discrediting them. Democracy, they say, should be about choosing whom you believe in, not who is most electable. Assuming that is a legitimate grievance, neither Gov. Gary Johnson nor Dr. Jill Stein deserve the votes. By now, the electorate should be well aware of Johnson’s embarrassing lack of foreign policy knowledge. He could not identify the war-torn Syrian city of Aleppo, and when pressed, could not, at the time, name a foreign leader he respected. Further, Johnson’s domestic vision for America is dangerous. He only balanced New Mexico’s budget by unrealistically rejecting any legislation involving government spending. He privatized state prisons, even feeding reporters false information to portray unionized prison employees as incompetent. He admits climate change exists but argues alleviating it is not worth jeopardizing a free market. In total, Johnson’s policy proposals betray a dangerous disinterest in nuance. As for Stein, she has never held public office, and it shows; her idealistic proposals reject an economic reality. For example. Stein regularly calls for the federal government to completely forgive student debt-holders, the cost of which would be enough to fund welfare for needy families for the next 78 years, according to a July 27 Slate business and economics blog. Stein also impractically promises a completely green-energy economy by 2030, all without investing in nuclear energy.
Exercise civic rights wisely
Stein only endorsed the safety of vaccines after sowing conspiracy fears that the FDA had been bribed by corporate lobbyists, using the trope of corporate money to incite fear of life-saving medical procedures, all for a few votes on the fringe left. Ultimately, Stein prioritizes emotional appeals over facts and pragmatism. Stein flounders outside of the extreme left, while Hillary Clinton’s untiring style and bipartisan record personify pragmatism.
The Case Against Trump
Ultimately, the presidential race has come down to two options, and this board argues that Trump must not win. From policy to personality, Trump is wrong for America. One of the many concerns of this board is Trump’s immigration policy. His proposal to “build a huge wall” that “Mexico is going to pay for” not only poses a threat to the relations between two allied nations but also represents a fundamental misconception of illegal immigration. A July 28 Politifact article confirmed that while “there is no reliable count of illegal immigration” rates, they are at their lowest point in decades. Further, his past proposals to ban Muslims or require them to be on a registry show alarming Islamophobia. Trump is patently unsuited for handling international relations and commanding the most powerful military force in human history, particularly because of his demeanor and temper. He has consistently reacted volatilely to little provocation, and this board is extremely concerned about what might happen if he has something more than a Twitter account with which to strike back. Trump presents a breeding ground for hate. His well-documented sexism, misogyny, xenophobia and racism will only deepen existing divides within America, and his hate speech and incitement of violence will worsen civil unrest. We cannot have Trump running this nation.
The Importance of Voting
Millennials are a deciding factor in elections, so it is important that Brandeis students vote. A November 2012 study by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement concluded that our generation determined as many as 80 electoral votes in the 2012 U.S. Presidential Elections. Had millennials failed to vote, President Obama might not have been re-elected. While the millennial generation accounts for 25 percent of potential voters, according to a May 16 Pew Research Center report, they notoriously fail to vote. In 2008, only 50 percent of millennials voted. The process of registering to vote and acquiring an absentee ballot could not be easier. Many states are coming up on deadlines for registering to vote or getting an absentee ballot, and some have already passed. Regardless of what party you are voting for in the upcoming election, it is important that you cast an educated vote for president and members of Congress alike. A failure to vote is as powerful as voting itself. Either way, when Nov. 8 comes, you have the unique opportunity to decide who’s the next to set up shop on the Hill or to sit in the Oval Office.
PERI MEYERS/the Justice
Views the News on
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton faced off in a debate for the first time last week, and their respective running mates, Gov. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), took the debate stage last Tuesday. As election day approaches, both campaigns are vying for any undecided voters. What did you gather from the debates, and how do you think each candidate’s performance will affect the election?
Anne Lieber ’18 Both debates were quite interesting and showed contrasting sides of American politics. The presidential one showed both our worst nightmares and where this country is going (of course, which candidate is which depends on your views) and the vice presidential one showed what American politics traditionally looks like — two old white guys having arguments about policy. Trump showed new levels of disregard and craziness. I think Kaine and Pence were substantially, as I expected, but behaviorally surprising. Both of them are good matches for their respective candidates and fill in the gaps while reinforcing the strengths of their campaigns. I don’t think the candidates’ performances will affect the voters much — except for maybe a few undecided voters, but it’s totally possible some of them will stay home instead of voting. I think the first debate performances will get a bit overshadowed by the rest of the debates. Anne Lieber ’18 is a Politics undergraduate departmental representative.
Ryan McCarthy ’18 One of the things I found surprising about the first presidential debate was how much the candidates talked about trade and then rattled off acronyms like the “TPP” or “NAFTA.” I’m not sure I buy the idea of an outraged working-class American returning home to curse free trade, or conversely, someone thanking international markets for eliminating tariffs. It really seems like a manufactured issue by the political parties, and I wouldn’t be surprised if its prominence in this election cycle is more in the interest of pandering to blue-collar voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Of course, debate of substance on the issue of free trade was sorely lacking from both Clinton and Trump; the focus of the debate — and of any presidential debate — was on the sound bites, the quips, the witticisms. Political debates are practically sporting events, and trade is just another thing to talk about between the zingers. Ryan McCarthy ’18 is a History undergraduate departmental representative. He is also minoring in Economics.
Casey Cho ’18 The debates so far are a mix of the expected and the extraordinary. The Pence-Kaine debate was the most “normal” event of this election and could have come out of any the last five or six cycles. Indeed, many viewers may have felt a sense of deja vu from 2012, when we also had two white Irish Catholic men on the stage. The Trump-Clinton debates have been something else entirely, as underscored on Sunday when Trump threatened to prosecute and jail his opponent. On the whole, it is Trump who has far more at the stake in debates due to his successes being uniquely dependent on his performance on television and rallies. In this regard, Trump’s first debate performance marked the beginning of his disastrous few weeks culminating in the release of the video on Friday, while his somewhat improved showing on Sunday may yet stench his bleeding. In the final debate, Clinton hopefully will continue her solid statements on policy but may also want to go for the jugular by firing some barbs as Trump has done. Casey Cho ’18 is the vice president of Brandeis Democrats. He is also a double major in History and Politics.
Bryan McNamara ’19 The notion that an “undecided” voter can exist in the 2016 Presidential Election is perplexing. The candidates could not be any more polarized. Hillary Clinton has spent the majority of her adult life in public service while racist tangerine Donald Trump has never held public office. Hillary Clinton believes that climate change is one of the greatest threats of our time, while Donald Trump believes it is a hoax created by the Chinese. Hillary Clinton has a detailed policy proposal for immigration reform, while Donald Trump’s plan is to build a wall across the United States’ southern border and to have Mexico pay for it. These are only a few of the major differences in the political stances of the candidates. Hillary Clinton produces complex solutions to complex problems, while Donald Trump yells incoherent nonsense and waves his hands like a toddler being deprived of his pacifier. The “undecided” voter must be completely uninformed as to the differences between the two candidates, in which case the chaotic debates likely have provided no further clarity. You may not like either, but one is a politician and one is an irate demagogue with small hands. Bryan McNamara ’19 is an intended Politics and History major. He is also a member of Brandeis Academic Debate and Speech Society.
THE JUSTICE ● fORUM ● TUESDAY, october 11, 2016
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Recognize value of smugglers’ actions in the refugee crisis Kat
semerau kattitude
On Friday, Oct. 7, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos for his efforts to end a half-century-long civil war. While recognition of his effort is laudable, it represents a missed opportunity to shed light on one of the worst — if not the worst — humanitarian crises our world faces: the displacement of 65 million people, 21 million of whom are refugees fleeing war-torn countries. A better recipient would have been someone like Cedric Herrou. Herrou is a farmer who has smuggled over 200 African migrants across the French-Italian border free of cost, according to an Oct. 4 New York Times article. Herrou greets the migrants at a local Red Cross camp, heralds them into his pickup and brings them to his homestead atop a hillside in the French Alps — where the journey begins. After planning the great escape, Herrou leads small groups to different train stations, deciding which is safest based on tips received from locals. From there, the migrants board illegally. Some are caught by authorities. The rest make it through. The same Oct. 4 New York Times article featured a telling response by Herrou, who says of his citizen-smuggling mission, “I don’t have a global solution, but the state is not managing this properly. I think it’s my duty. And I don’t think it’s normal that children have to go through this.” Instead of being commended for his efforts, Herrou is being actively pursued by authorities and was arrested in August by French police. To treat him this way is a disgrace; Herrou has more in common with Harriet Tubman than with criminals. It seems that a significant lesson from world history has been forgotten: Smugglers of people fleeing persecution are heroes, not villains. The situation today is reminiscent of many dark moments in international relations. In 1939, the United States infamously spurned the MS St. Louis. Aboard were 937 Jews fleeing Nazi Germany. Of course, due to the 1924 Immigration Act, the U.S. could not knowingly allow smuggled persons into the country. The consequences were disastrous. After being deported back to Europe, one out of every four passengers ended up being killed in a concentration camp, according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. A similar cycle occurs today. Migrants get a first taste of freedom only to be forced back to unstable countries. Many end up losing their lives. Smugglers who try to help are labeled
BEN JARRETT/the Justice
“bad guys,” and governments who supposedly uphold national security are the “good guys.” However, immigration has not been linked to national security threats, as detailed in the Oxford Handbook of Refugee and Forced Migration Studies. According to a July 29 article in The Telegraph, two smugglers from Kent assisting Albanian refugees were detained by British authorities and sentenced to four years in jail for unlawful immigration. The punishment was handed down amid newly surfaced stories detailing how some smugglers exploit their clientele. In fact, smugglers have recently been accused of everything from theft and money laundering to organ harvesting. Heinous crimes, to be sure, yet smugglers’ track record of helping refugees is better than that of governments and international organizations by a long shot. According to the U.S. Department of State, the United States has accepted one-fifth of one percent of Syrian refugees. However, as detailed in a Sept. 15, 2015 Time magazine article, our country could accept hundreds of thousands more, as was done after the Vietnam War, World War II and the rise of Fidel Castro.
Obama’s plan to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees is simply not enough. European countries have not welcomed many migrants either. Over 1,321,560 people applied for asylum in Europe last year, yet only 292,540 were granted asylum status, according to a Eurostat report highlighted in a March 4 BBC special. Perhaps worst of all, Australia sends every undocumented refugee they catch to a detention camp in Papua New Guinea to be “processed,” a horror highlighted in a May 5 Huffington Post article. Aside from the isolationist approach adopted by the international community in the wake of the refugee crisis, Westernized countries have also committed egregious humanitarian violations — bulldozing over occupied refugee camps, deporting Afghan veterans and detaining migrants. The death toll has risen drastically. Over 5,400 migrants died last year in their attempts to reach safety, according to the International Organization for Migration. Smugglers, in contrast to governments, have safely guided hundreds of thousands of refugees in the same year. Many do not deserve the charge of being what the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime calls “profit-
seeking criminals.” If all do, then many top officials should also be tried as “profit-seeking criminals.” President Vladimir Putin, for example, makes 7.6 million rubles a year — more than twelve times what the average smuggler makes — according to an April 15, 2015 Moscow Times article, and he has deported thousands of migrants, even banning them from many work spaces in 2013. Yes, many smugglers are corrupt, and few probably have purely altruistic intentions like Cedric Herrou, but this is true of many politicians and leaders as well. One such figure is Nelson Mandela, who militarized the African National Congress, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of rivals during South African Apartheid. Another is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who abused his wife, according to his autobiography. Even so, these leaders are idolized for what they did accomplish despite their imperfect moral actions. Smugglers should be seen in a similar light, especially considering the failure of the international community in resolving the migration crisis. Too often, governing institutions install roadblocks on the path to freedom and justice where average citizens open doors to them.
Criticize police’s unjust treatment of Bangladesh attack survivor By PREETI HUQ JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The first of July 2016 was a dark night in Bangladesh’s history. In a summer filled with terror attacks, this particular attack acted as a wake up-call for the residents of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Terrorists held an 11-hour siege in a restaurant called Holey Artisan Bakery, during which they held 35 hostages. Twenty-two people — most of whom were foreigners — were killed brutally, while the remaining 13 were rescued later on. On social media, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack. Bangladesh is not a war-torn country. Deadly terrorist attacks had never happened before, and as a result, this attack shook the country even more. According to a July 2 Daily Star article, the hostages who could recite verses from the Quran were spared, while the other hostages were tortured and brutally murdered. The Daily Star’s source of information was Rezaul Karim, father of Hasnat Karim, who was held hostage with his wife and two children. The siege ended when the Bangladesh army used two tanks to knock over the walls. The terrorists were killed when the army entered. While the hostage situation was still going on, the attackers posted pictures and videos on social media, which showed gruesome images of the slaughtered victims lying on the floor in pools of blood. According to a July
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15 article in Dhaka Tribune, a Bangladeshi newspaper, the doctors who carried out the autopsies on the victims said the bodies showed signs of unprecedented brutality, especially the women, including an Italian woman who was seven months pregnant. Tahmid Khan was also present during the hostage attack. On the night in question, according to an Oct. 3 Dhaka Tribune article, Khan had been meeting two friends that night, after he had just arrived in Dhaka. Khan is an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, Canada. He survived the terror attack, but he was then held in police custody for the next three months as a suspect.
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People should realize that Khan’s treatment was unjust, and the police should be held accountable. The terrorists responsible for the July 1 attack were five young men in their late teens and early twenties, about the same age as Khan. Three of them were from affluent backgrounds, also like Khan. These factors contributed to the police suspecting Khan.
Fine Print
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. For the Brandeis Talks Back feature on the last page of the newspaper, staff interview four randomly selected students each week and print only those four answers. 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.
However, the Islamic State group had posted pictures of those five men with guns in the background, but there was no such picture of Khan. Also, the gunmen had been missing for a few months, according to their friends and family, whereas Khan had not disappeared. Hostages who were allowed to leave later told the police and the media that the gunmen had forced Khan to hold an unloaded gun before taking him upstairs to the roof. This could explain the video on Facebook showing Khan on the roof holding a gun. According to the same Oct. 3 Dhaka Tribune article, the purpose of this was to use Khan as a human shield in case police snipers wanted to shoot the attackers, as well as to show the police that they still had hostages alive. According to a July 8 New York Times article, immediately after the army had finished their rescue, 22-year-old Khan was grabbed by Bangladeshi police, beaten brutally and then taken into custody. He was held by law enforcement and was not allowed to be in contact with anyone. Khan was brought before court and taken into police custody for eight days starting Aug. 4, according to an Aug. 21 Dhaka Tribune article. After this, he was placed on six-day remand but was not shown as arrested in police records. According to an Oct. 4 Dhaka Tribune article, the chief of Dhaka Metropolitan Police told reporters that Khan had not been
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found to be involved in the terrorist attack. However, he also said that the investigation was not over and that if Khan were found to be involved later on, he would be arrested. On Oct. 1, Khan was granted bail. However, police have charged him with not giving them information about the attackers. On Sept. 28, a police officer submitted an application to file a prosecution report against Khan under section 176 of the Bangladesh law, alleging uncooperativeness with the investigation despite repeated legal notices. Khan seems to have just been at the wrong place at the wrong time. He survived the horrific attack, but instead of being able to go home, he was held by police, and his parents did not even know where he was after the attack. They should have been notified that police had detained their son, but instead they were left to worry about whether he was alive. They did not hear from him after the attack until they learned he had been detained. During this time, the police were not forthcoming about Khan’s whereabouts. Full of worry about his son’s safety, Khan’s father had to be hospitalized for about a week after a suspected heart attack, according to a July 11 Huffington Post article. After surviving this brutal terrorist attack, Khan was unfairly detained for three months. People should realize that Khan’s treatment was unjust, and the police should be held accountable.
Editorial Assistants
Arts: Kent Dinlenc, Brooke Granovsky
Arts: Audrey Fein, Hannah Kressel
Photography: Aaron Birnbaum, Ydalia Colon,
Photography: Natalia Wiater
Talya Guenzburger, Yashaspriya Rathi, Heather Schiller,
Copy: Jen Geller, Avraham Penso
Yue Shen, Joyce Yu Copy: Angela Li, Nora Perlmutter, Billy Wilson
Staff
Layout: Morgan Mayback
News: Michelle Dang, Tzlil Levy, Spencer Taft,
Illustrations: Ben Jarrett, Peri Meyers, Julianna Scionti
Arianna Unger Features: Rachel Lederer, Mira McMahon, Pichya Nimit Forum: Aaron Dvorkin, Ben Feshbach, Mark Gimelstein, Andrew Jacobson, Maddox Kay, Nia Lyn, Nicole Mazurova, Kat Semerau, Ravi Simon Sports: Gabriel Goldstein, Ben Katcher
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TUESDAY, october 11, 2016 ● forum ● THE JUSTICE
FORUM
Encourage transition to renewable energy sources By maddox kay JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
The Paris Agreement on climate change takes effect next month, and environmentalists hope this treaty will be the one that sticks. Countries responsible for 55 percent of carbon emissions worldwide have signed on to the agreement, and its significance, as a Dec. 14 Guardian article put it, is that “leaders from around the world have agreed that we must do everything we can to slow global warming as much as we can.” The Paris Agreement is a comprehensive emissions-reduction plan designed with the goal of ensuring that the global average temperature does not rise more than two degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels, according to the European Commission’s website on climate action. Yet, even as the agreement promises to make real inroads, politicians are hesitant to get behind the sort of paradigm shift that embodies the spirit of the agreement. The long-term success or failure of the agreement will depend on how quickly and efficiently the signatories can embrace renewable energy. The world is at a climate change crossroads, as evidenced by two contrary dialogues at last month’s G20 summit in Hangzhou, China. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping formally ratified the Paris Agreement, according to a Sept. 3 Guardian article. However, the leaders at G20 did not set a timetable for eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, “a practice estimated to funnel between $160bn and $5.3tn into the fossil fuel industry,” according to a May 9 Climate Change News report. The disconnect here is clear: Governments are pledging to greatly reduce carbon emissions yet are continuing to subsidize nonrenewable, carbon dioxidegenerating energy sources. We know there is a problem, and we say we want to fix it, yet we are failing to take the necessary steps. So far, decreases in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States have stemmed from switching between nonrenewable resources rather than largescale adoptions of renewable energy. According to May 2016 data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2015 energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States showed a 12 percent decrease compared to 2005. The briefing does not reference an increase in renewable energy production, but it does say that “many of the changes in energyrelated CO2 emissions in recent history have occurred in the electric power sector because of the decreased use of coal and the increased use of natural gas for electricity generation.” While replacing the dirtiest fossil fuels with cleaner ones can help countries meet decarbonization goals in the short term, it is just a quick and easy solution and not the paradigm shift that we need to create a
sustainable future. In many cases, politicians are wary of cutting fossil fuels out of the equation completely because of the economic role of traditional energy production. Forcing a change to renewable energy or holding plants to more stringent emissions standards can cause job loss in rural areas. An April 8, 2015 Clean Technica article explains that renewable energy jobs do not exactly replace coal jobs, as “there is very little geographic overlap.” Consequently, efforts to alleviate climate change can also anger local governments. For example, President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which “requires states to adopt plans to cut emissions from power-generating plants,” is being disputed by 27 states as well as some organizations, according to an Oct. 6 Los Angeles Times editorial. Coal giant Murray Energy is among the special-interest groups fighting the bill, according to an April 12 Climate Central article. It is not easy for politicians to tell constituents that jobs will be lost in the short term.
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We know there is a problem, and we say we want to fix it, yet we are failing to take the necessary steps. In addition, ever-shifting political tides mean that legislation passed by one leader can be ignored or destroyed by the next. For example, in 2002, President George W. Bush withdrew U.S. support for the Kyoto Protocol, a climate change deal that President Bill Clinton had endorsed. Similarly, the Paris agreement is nonbinding, and a leader could have a change of heart. The most obvious threat to American participation in the Paris Agreement would be a Trump presidency, but according to the same Oct. 6 Los Angeles Times article, the speedy and widespread adoption “makes it much more difficult for [Trump] to carry out his pledge to re-negotiate a deal that was, in fact, reached by nearly 200 countries.” The time to act is now. Last week, the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere failed to drop below 400 parts per million for the first time on record. During autumn, concentrations of carbon dioxide usually drop below 400 PPM as temperatures decline. According to a Sept. 27 Climate Central article, late September traditionally brings the lowest carbon dioxide readings of the year, so according to trends, it is unlikely that we will ever see levels below 400 PPM
JULIANNA SCIONTI/the Justice
again in our lifetimes. According to NASA data, the average concentration of carbon dioxide in 1950 was roughly 320 PPM. Despite recent emissions reductions in developed countries, our problem is not going away. It is encouraging that the Paris Agreement has been accepted so widely and quickly. The world’s leaders have sent a message that climate change is here and is to be
taken seriously, but the Paris Agreement still has many obstacles to overcome if it is to endure. For it to succeed in the long term, governments across the world will have to make a paradigm shift to renewable energy. Only once we fully commit to a permanent solution instead of aiming for yearly targets will we see the “turning point for our planet” that President Obama promises.
Evaluate replacement options for fee-for-service reimbursement By somar hadid JUSTICE contributing WRITER
Medicare in the United States is a national social insurance program administered by the U.S. Federal Government. The main purpose of Medicare is to provide health insurance care for U.S. Seniors over the age of 65. According to a July 20 Kaiser Family Foundation report, those who have paid into the Medicare trust fund via the mandatory 2.9 percent payroll tax for at least 10 years automatically qualify for Medicare Part A, which provides inpatient care and is the main prerequisite for all of the other parts of Medicare (Parts B, C and D). It should be noted that there are other ways to qualify for Medicare, such as having a permanent disability, but about 83 percent of the 55 million Medicare recipients are U.S. citizens who have paid into this trust fund, according to the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. The trust fund, however, is shrinking rapidly and could run out by 2026, according to a June 22 Washington Post article. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services notes that the ratio of the number of contributing workers under the age of 65 to the number of Medicare beneficiaries — mainly people over the age of 65 — is falling, according to a March 21, 2013 piece by the Heritage Foundation. This ratio was 4.5 in 1965, and it is projected to be about 2.8 by 2020. In other words, the number of people taking money out is growing faster than the number of people putting money in. Take that ratio with the clear rise of healthcare costs around the United States, according to a July 28 Kaiser Family
Foundation report, and this trust fund is expected to become overdrawn within the next decade. A significant portion of reimbursement for Medicare parts A and B is currently under a fee-for-service reimbursement schedule, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Under a fee-for-service system, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reimburses hospitals, doctors, nurses, x-ray technicians and other health care providers for every service the hospital or provider allocates. One of the main problems with this fee-for-service method is that many health experts, such as Princeton economics professor Uwe Reinhardt, believe that this method could possibly lead to unnecessarily expensive and excessive care, thus resulting in growth of healthcare spending, according to a Dec. 13, 2012 Health Affairs Health Policy Brief. In order to fully understand the problem with this fee-for-service spending, picture this scenario: John gets admitted to the hospital because he is complaining of hip problems. Upon admission, the emergency room doctor recommends that John get an x-ray. Unfortunately, it turns out that John needs a hip replacement. After his operation, John undergoes three weeks of post-acute care — that is, short-term care after surgery in order to aid his recovery. By the time John finishes treatment, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid would have to pay for all of the services provided by the x-ray technicians, doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers separately as required by the fee-for-service system. All of these separate services can easily add up to several thousands of dollars. Of the many proposed solutions to these problems of the fee-for-service system, one promising option
that the government is testing is bundled payments. According to the American Medical Association, bundled payments cover services by multiple providers during a single episode of care. In other words, health care providers accept a predetermined lump sum or “bundled payment” for all the costs of a specific medical condition. Going back to the example of John, under bundled payments, the emergency room doctor who first recommended that John take an x-ray, the radiologist who took his x-ray, the operating room doctor who performed the hip surgery on John and the physical therapist who worked with John for three weeks after his surgery would all get paid one “bundle” of payment.
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Of the many proposed solutions ... one promising option the government is testing is bundled payments. Who receives how much of this bundle of payment is determined by numerous factors such as geography, type of treatment and cost of supplies, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The bundled payments method could encourage healthcare providers to work together and coordinate John’s care in one of the most costeffective ways possible. According to the New
England College of Medicine, the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Initiative has been testing four bundled payment plans that cover different combinations of physician, hospital and post-acute care since 2013. It should be noted that as of now, this is a voluntary program for which hospitals apply in order to participate, according to a July 30 Modern Healthcare article. The idea is appealing, as it could be a solution to help Medicare cut costs by moving away from this fee-for-service system. Admittedly, there are a few potential problems that bundled payments could cause. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, bundled payments could “inhibit coordination” across other conditions because this system focuses on covering payments for one condition at a time. Also, this is a potential financial risk to providers, because several complications could arise during treatment that could raise the costs for providers even though they are restrained to work under a fixed fee, according to Hospitals and Health Networks. Despite potential problems of bundled payments, this system should be considered because Medicare spending is rising under the fee-for-service system. A significant part of the overall Medicare reimbursement system is under a fee-forservice system. This, along with the declining contributor-to-beneficiary ratio has, in part, led to the overall shrinking of the Medicare trust fund. The Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Initiative is a relatively new program, and it obviously has its flaws like most other health care reimbursement programs, but its use could reduce the rapid growth of Medicare spending and potentially prolong the life of the trust fund.
THE JUSTICE
WSOCCER: Team gears up for uneasy schedule ahead CONTINUED FROM 16 represented Grossman’s 18th career shutout, as well as her 27th collegiate victory. She is only five shutouts away from drawing even with the school record of 23. At an overall record of 12-0-1, the Judges are off to their best start in school history. The victory against Case Western broke the program’s previous best record of 12 consecutive games without a loss in 2014. The team will next be in action on Friday night on the road against the University of Chicago. The team will then play again at Washington University in St. Louis in the afternoon. The Judges struggled last season against the two powerhouse teams, losing 1-0 to Chicago and pushing out a tough overtime victory against Washington. The loss to Chicago marked the
second loss of the season for the Judges and a rare event during the regular season. The matchup against Chicago will be the ultimate test, as the team stands at 10-1 in the record books and is in second place in the conference. Chicago is 1-1 in conference play, while the Judges are undefeated. Washington is next in line, standing in third place in the conference and 9-2-1 in overall regular season record. If the Judges can stave off Chicago and finish off Washington, the Judgdes will have a serious chance at finishing the season undefeated. The Judges have three more conference games for the season after this week, each of which should be easy wins. As the season drags along, the Judges will need to keep their momentum rolling to snag the conference title and the polish off their record-breaking season.
●
Sports ● OCTOBER 11, 2016
13
FLAGRANT FOUL
JOYCE YU/the Justice
MIDFIELD HARD KNOCKS: Forward Evan Jastremski ’17 sizes up against a Case Western Reserve University defender on Saturday.
MSOCCER: Men plagued TENNIS: First-years by offensive struggles step up to the plate in tough matches CONTINUED FROM 16 as their singles as both teams that competed were knocked out very early on. Jackson Kogan ’19 and Arguello did not make it past the first round, losing closely 9-8 (75) to Wesleyan. Ng and Aizenberg also fell short in their first round
of play to Middlebury. After Arguello’s dominance in singles, it was clear that doubles play would be crucial to work on for the team’s future success going forward. If doubles can really continue to work hard and develop their team play and singles can keep up their dominance, it should be an exciting season for the Judges.
CONTINUED FROM 16
lead in the 6th minute when forward Andrew Allen ’19 set fellow forward Jastremski up with a gorgeous cross that yielded the first goal of the match. The Judges’ lead did not last long, however, as MIT got on the board in the 14th minute when senior forward Kareem Itani netted a lengthy goal off of a Brandeis deflection. Both squads battled back-and-forth until the last minute, when Judges midfielder Patrick Flahive ’18 took advantage of a midfielder Christian Hernandez ’18 set-up, netting a 20-
yard rocket to give the Judges a decisive lead. By the end of the night, each team had registered fifteen shots and five corner kicks, but it was the Judges who were able to turn one more of those attempts into a clinching goal.
Judges 1, Carnegie Mellon 1 To no surprise, the Judges found themselves in yet another double overtime battle, squaring off in a contested match against Carnegie Mellon University. As has been the theme all season, the Judges offensive struggles impeded them from claiming victory over the Tartans. Brandeis jumped out to a quick lead
in the 17th minute when midfielder Josh Ocel ’17 netted a goal off of his own penalty-kick rebound. The goal was Ocel’s fourth of the season. The game remained 1-0 until the 76th minute, when Woodhouse was unable to hang on to his ostensible save of sophomore forward Anthony Gulli’s free kick, with the ball barely slipping through his hands. Neither team found the back of the net in either of the overtime periods. The draw brought the Judges to 3-3-2 on the season. Looking ahead, the Judges face Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Monday and travel to the University of Chicago on Friday.
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THE JUSTICE
jUDGES BY THE NUMBERS
● Sports ●
Tuesday, OCTOBER 11, 2016
15
VOLLEYBALL
Men’s Soccer TEAM STATS
UAA STANDINGS Chicago Carnegie Emory NYU JUDGES WashU Rochester Case
Goals
Overall W L D 12 0 0 9 1 1 7 3 0 4 4 2 4 3 3 7 1 1 7 1 2 4 6 2
UAA Conf. W L D 2 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1
Josh Ocel ’17 led the team with four goals. Pct. Player Goals 1.000 Josh Ocel 4 .900 Patrick Flahive 3 .700 Andrew Allen 2 .500 Evan Jastremski 2 .571 .875 Assists .875 Josh Ocel ’17 led the team with .400 three assists. Player Assists Josh Ocel 3 Andrew Allen 3 Zach Vieira 1 Dylan Hennessey 1
EDITOR’S NOTE: Fri. at Chicago Sun. at WashU Oct. 19 vs. Clark
WOMen’s Soccer UAA STANDINGS
TEAM STATS Goals
JUDGES Chicago WashU Carnegie Emory Rochester NYU Case
Overall W L D Pct. 12 0 1 1.000 10 1 0 .909 9 2 1 .818 7 3 1 .700 7 4 0 .636 2 5 4 .285 7 2 2 .777 5 4 3 .555
UAA Conf. W L D 2 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1
EDITOR’S NOTE: Fri. at Chicago Sun. at WashU Oct. 19 at Westfield St.
Lea McDaniel ’17 led the team with ten goals. Player Goals Lea McDaniel 10 Samantha Schwartz 7 Cidney Moscovitch 5 Hannah Maatallah 3
Assists Haliana Burhans ’18 led the team with five assists. Player Assists Haliana Burhans 5 Cidney Moscovitch 4 Lea McDaniel 3
VOLLEYBALL UAA STANDINGS
TEAM STATS Kills
Emory Chicago Rochester WashU Carnegie Case NYU JUDGES
UAA Conf. W L 3 0 3 0 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 0 3 0 3
Overall W L 16 3 11 7 16 6 12 7 16 4 13 5 13 7 7 10
Pct. .842 .611 .727 .632 .800 .722 .650 .411
EDITOR’S NOTE: Sat. at Case Sat. at Rochester Sun. at Emory
Emma Bartlett ’20 led the team with 134 kills. Player Kills Emma Bartlett 134 Shea Decker-Jacoby 111 Grace Krumpack 81 Jessie Moore 66
Digs Yvette Cho ’19 led the team with 258 digs. Player Digs Yvette Cho 258 Grace Krumpack 159 Marlee Nork 92 Leah Pearlman 82
cross cOuntry Results from the James Early Invitational at Westfield State on Saturday.
TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)
TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)
8-Kilometer Run RUNNER TIME Ryan Stender 25:19.61 Mitchell Hutton 25:43.54 Quntion Hoey 25:59.09
5-Kilometer Run RUNNER TIME Emily Bryson 21:49.07 Julia Bryson 22:29.69 Meaghan Barry 23:44.89
EDITOR’S NOTE: Sat. at Connecticut College Invitational Oct. 29 at UAA Championships
WIELDING THE RACKET
HEATHER SCHILLER/the Justice
BLOCK PARTY: Outside hitter Shea Decker-Jacoby ’19 and middle hitter Jessica Kaufman ’17 defended the net on Saturday.
Women cruise to crucial weekend win ■ Outside hitter Grace Krumpack ’19 netted 11 kills on the day in an easy homecoming victory. By Ben Katcher Justice sTAFF WRITER
The women’s volleyball team struggled this past week, dropping four of their five games to bring their record to 7-10 overall on the season. Judges 1, Salve Regina 3 The Judges ended their week by battling against a tough Salve Regina University team, but lost the match 3-1 by scores of 25-20, 20-25, 25-27 and 20-25. Brandeis came out strong in taking the first set with a fantastic kill percentage of .444. However, although the next three sets were very close, the team was simply outmatched and unable to come out on top. Outside hitter Shea Decker-Jacoby ’19 was the clear offensive leader in the match, with 18 kills and a remarkable .375 kill percentage. Fellow outside hitter Grace Krumpack ’19 had an impressive double-double with 11 kills and a team-leading 20 digs, while libero Yvette Cho ’19 registered 17 digs of her own. Setter Marlee Nork ’19 had
Judges 0, Carnegie Mellon 3 The Judges came back strong against Eastern Connecticut, but they were defeated 3-0 by a forceful Carnegie Mellon University team a few days prior by scores of 13-25, 16-25 and 23-25. The Judges were outmatched in this one, as well, though they drastically improved
Teams swim to gold finishes in mid-week competition ■ Tamir Zitelny ’20 swam to victory in the 100-yard butterfly event at Roger Williams University. JUSTICE EDITOR
SWEET SPOT SHOT: Michael Arguello ’17 swats a clean forehand down the line in a matchup against Bates on Apr. 3.
Judges 3, Eastern Conn. 1 Earlier that day, Brandeis asserted its dominance over a strong Eastern Connecticut State University squad with a 3-1 victory by scores of 25-14, 20-25, 25-20 and 25-17. The Judges struggled somewhat in the middle two sets but pulled it together when they needed to most, with posted solid kill percentages above .300 in the first and last sets of the match to pick up the win. Nork had another standout performance with her first of two 40-assist matches on the day, and furthered her excellent regular season of serving with two service aces. Cho was all over the court defensively and registered 20 solid digs. Both Decker-Jacoby and Krumpack led the way for the Judges with 11 incredible kills each.
with each set and never backed down from a tough fight. Though the squad struggled, Nork had a nice game with five kills, 18 assists, two service aces and seven digs. Cho was tied for the lead on either team with 16 digs and had a service ace of her own. Earlier in the week, the Judges were shut out 3-0 in their two games in Pittsburgh against the tough University of Chicago and Washington University. The Judges have found success at home this year and have a 5-4 record at Gosman. However, the squad is a combined 2-6 on the season at away or neutral stadiums. Talent and heart are there for Brandeis, but this team might want to reconsider their strategies for the road moving forward to match their relatively strong play at home. The team has four straight home games coming up and will look to continue their success at Gosman this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. against the University of Rochester in the University Athletic Association Round Robin. The team has already surpassed its win total from the previous season and will look to even out their record in the coming weeks. With seven wins under their belt, the team’s confidence is steady.
Swimming
By JERRY MILLER
AMANDA NGUYEN/Justice File Photo
a great performance with 44 assists and helped to keep each and every set close for the Judges.
The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams began their season this past Thursday at the Roger Williams University pentathlon. The Judges secured multiple top-10 finishes on both sides in a non-scoring invitational. On the men’s side, the Judges split the top-10 spots evenly with Roger Williams, taking five of the ten finishes. Roger Williams sophomore Hunter Olson finished in first overall for the second year in a row, beating out Tamir Zitelny ’20, who finished third overall for the Judges. Zitelny came in first for the 100-yard butterfly race with a time of 52.80 and narrowly missed another gold in
the 100-yard backstroke race with a time of 56.11. Noah Ayers ’20 slid into the topfive overall with multiple top-five finishes on the day. Next in line for the Judges was Zach Diamond ’18, who fell from a top-five finish last season to seventh place this year. Cam Braz ’17 and Tom Alger ’20 came in ninth and 10th place, respectively, to even out the top-10. The Judges faltered in the 100yard breaststroke, unable to land a top-three finish in the event, but came back in the backstroke to take two of the top three. Overall, the men were able to power past their opponents on the shoulders of crucial first-years. On the women’s side, Kyle Herman ’19 swooped into second-place overall with a first-place time of 56.33 in the 100-yard freestyle. Herman’s total time was edged out by a smidge over one second by junior Mackenzie Webber from Roger Williams. Hwanhee Park’s ’20 finish was even closer, ceding third place
to junior Hannah Nolte by three one-hundredths of a second. The Judges racked up only three top-10 finishes, with Park and Philippa Zheku ’20 placing fourth and sixth, respectively. Park swam into first place for the 100-yard butterfly and third place in the 100yard breaststroke. The women channeled their inner youth, as the first-years once again led the way for the Judges. With no seniors on the squad, the first-years will need to keep up their intensity in order to carry the Judges to victory. The Judges will look ahead to next Saturday when they approach Wheaton College at 1 p.m. The men were outmatched last season, losing 177.5-107.5 in a difficult match to swallow. The women were similarly ousted, imploding in a 206-84 bashing by Wheaton. The Judges look poised for success with their talented and young core, but they must erase their memories of last year to power forward to the finish line.
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MAKING SPLASHES The swimming and diving team took home some hardware this past week at the Roger Williams Invitational, p. 15.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Men’S SOCCER
OFF TO THE RACES
Club ties twice in three games ■ Forward Evan Jastremski ’17 notched an early goal in a much-needed victory against MIT. By Gabriel Goldstein JUSTICE Staff writer
The men’s soccer team continued to struggle offensively this past week, resulting in a series of relatively disappointing finishes. Though the Judges managed to pull out one victory on the week, their inability to score cost them in their three other contests. The squad has slipped significantly in national polls, and it remains to be seen whether or not they can turn things around in time for an National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament berth. Judges 0, Case Western 0 The Judges rounded out last week’s action with a matchup against familiar foe Case Western Reserve University on Saturday. Though the Judges were hoping to get their offense in order against the Spartans, they again failed to muster a goal in yet another double overtime match.
Waltham, Mass.
In a game with little excitement, the only thrilling moments came in the 24th minute of regulation, when the Spartans had two consecutive headers on goal. Fortunately for the Judges, both attempts hit the crossbar and bounced back into play. Goalie Ben Woodhouse ’18 finished the game with four stops. Spartans sophomore keeper Calvin Boyle also finished the contest with four stops, including a crucial save on a double-overtime on-goal attempt from Judges' midfielder Evan Jastremski ’17. By game’s end, Case had attempted 14 goals to Brandeis’ 10, while the Judges had attempted seven corners to Case’s three. The tie brings the Judges to 4-3-3 on the season. The draw brings Case to 4-6-1 on the year. Judges 2, MIT 1 The squad was able to breathe a sigh of relief on Wednesday, as a narrow 2-1 victory over the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ended one of their worst stretches in recent memory. The win ended a streak that featured nine overtimes and zero Brandeis goals. The Judges jumped out to a quick
See MSOCCER, 13 ☛
TENNIS
Men make huge strides in tourney ■ Michael Arguello ’17
finished in second place of the regional finals tournament last week. By LEv brown JUSTICE Contributing Writer
Men’s tennis has displayed their talents over the past two weeks as the team played Sunday at the Wallach Invitational at Bates College and the previous Sunday at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association New England Regional tournament at Williams College. Led by captain Michael Arguello ’17, the team demonstrated their potential to succeed despite the numerous skilled teams they had to face at both tournaments. At the Wallach Invitational, Harshil Dwivedi ’19 demonstrated his skill, winning the D singles final and bringing home the trophy. Overall, the past two weeks have been quite promising for the Judges as both the new faces and long-time veterans of the group are on top of their game. At the Wallach Invitational, Brandeis was able to perform well in several of the competitions. For A doubles, Tyler Ng ’19 and David Aizenberg ’20 played played well, winning three rounds first against Skidmore College (8-6), Bates (8-6) and finally Bowdoin College (9-8) before falling to Colby College in the championship round. In B singles, Ng also performed admirably. He crushed his first round opponent, freshman William Frigerio of Trinity College, in two sets (6-1, 6-0). Ng continued on to beat freshman Nate Neimiec in two games as well (6-2, 6-3) before losing once again in the semifinal round to Skidmore. To highlight the day, Dwivedi
impressively managed to take home hardware in the singles D championship win. It was a great overall performance on Sunday, as Brandeis made a significant contribution to nearly every tournament event. There was some room for improvement, but the players and coaches know what they need to work on, and there is still time before the season begins for the team to develop their hard skills. The previous week at the Williams hosted ITA tournament, Arguello had a dominating performance, beating four seeded players and one unseeded player before he finished second in singles for the competition. He started off the day strong, beating fifth seeded Massachusetts Institute of Technology freshman Alex Cauneac, and he did not look back once. He cruised past Bowdoin junior Gil Roddy and freshman William De Quant of Middlebury College, as well as Amherst freshman Oscar Burney. In the quarterfinals versus Colby, Arguello was tied 5-5 in the first set but Arguello suddenly heated up as he scored 8 in a row to win the first set, 7-5 and the second 6-0. Arguello made it all the way to the final round of the tournament. The talented Middleburry sophomore Lubomir Cuba, who had yet to lose a single set the entire tournament, was waiting for Arguello in the finals. Unfortunately, Cuba continued his success as Arguello lost two quick sets to the champion, 6-2, 6-2. Despite a disappointing final round, both Arguello and head coach Ben Lamanna were pleased by the outcome of the weekend in the singles bracket. Unfortunately, the Judges’ doubles play was not as dominant
See TENNIS, 13 ☛
NATALIA WIATER/the Justice
STORMING THE FIELD: Defender Julia McDermott ’17 battled her opponent in a win against Case Western Reserve University.
Squad shuts out foes in three straight games ■ Forward Cidney
Moscovitch ’17 recorded an assist and a goal in a 4-0 smashing of Case. By NOAH HESSDORF JUSTICE EDITOR
The women’s soccer team kept its undefeated season alive this week, capturing two home victories against Case Western Reserve University and Lesley University. The Judges defeated Case Western with a trouncing 4-0 deficit on Saturday, while earning the win against Lesley 2-0 on Tuesday. Judges 4, Case Western 0 The No. 8 Brandeis squad had four different players score against Case Western, all in the first half alone. Midfielder Haliana Burhans ’18 scored for the team first, with a strike five minutes into the contest. She was assisted on the first score by forward Cidney Moscovitch ’17 and forward Samantha Schwartz ’18. Burhans now has two goals on the season, to go with her team-
high five assists. Moscovitch put home the second goal with a header into the corner of the goal after a beautifully placed cross from defender Jessica Morana ’17. Moscovitch has the third most goals on the squad with a total of five. The Judges continued their efficiency on set pieces with a free kick score from defender Michaela Friedman ’17. The team’s fourth goal came only two minutes later in the 28th minute, when midfielder Sasha Sunday ’19 used a lefty strike from far out that the Case Western goalkeeper was unable to corral. The squad controlled the game from the start, outshooting the Spartans 12-4, including nine total shots on goal. Brandeis goalkeeper Alexis Grossman ’17 was able to stop all three of the visitors’ shots on goal. Judges 2, Lesley 0 On Tuesday, the team once again earned an impressive shutout, this time against regional foe Lesley. Once again, Schwartz was a dominant force on the competition. Schwartz got the home team on the board early in the 20th minute
of the game. Schwartz was able to collect the ball off a slick pass from Burhans about 25 yards out and dribble through the defense to the box, where she buried the shot deep into the back of the net. The squad was kept off of the scoreboard for the rest of the half. Once the second half resumed, the scoring opportunities continued for the Judges. In the 56th minute, forward Lea McDaniel ’17 broke free from her defender. She was able to pass it off to Schwartz, who was sitting at the six-yard box. Schwartz was able to get a clean first touch on the ball and blasted through the screen for second goal of the game. This was the second time this regular season that Schwartz was able to record a brace, a feat of scoring two goals in one contest. Her first goal on the day was also her eighth career game-winning score. For the team as a whole, the squad outshot the visitors by a large total of 14-3, including 10-1 on shots on goal. Grossman was dominant throughout the week, picking up two more shutouts. The two
See WSOCCER, 13 ☛
Vol. LXIX #6
October 11, 2016
S T R A
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Waltham, MA.
Images: Creative Commons. Design: Morgan Brill/the Justice.
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THE JUSTICE | Arts i TUESDAY, october 11, 2016
film screening
In New York City, a single standardized test has the ability to determine a students’ future and it’s not the SAT or the ACT. It is the SHSAT, the Specialized High School Admissions Test, and if passed, the test promises a seat at one of New York City’s nine specialized High Schools. “Tested,” a documentary by
PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS
ELITE SCHOOLS: Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, New York, which is considered to be part of the “Ivy League” of New York public high schools.
Film sheds light on controversial test
By jaime gropper justice Staff writer
In New York City, a single standardized test has the ability to determine a students’ future — and it’s not the SAT or the ACT. It is the SHSAT, the Specialized High School Admissions Test, and, if passed, the test promises a seat at one of New York City’s nine specialized high schools. “Tested,” a documentary by Curtis Chin released in 2015, follows a group of eighth graders from differing ethnicities and backgrounds, as well as middle schools across all boroughs, as they make their way through the testing process. Chin was on campus this past Wednesday, after a screening of the film in Golding, to speak further on the dynamic of
this all-determining and stressful test. The SHSAT has a particular air of frenzy surrounding it because, as depicted in “Tested,” the specialized high schools, particularly Stuyvesant, Bronx Science and Brooklyn Technical, are considered the Ivy League of New York City public high schools. The film focuses on how students feel that getting accepted into one of these schools has the power to positively change their lives by opening doors to opportunities, such as top colleges, that may not have otherwise been possible. The bulk of “Tested” consists of interviews with children, parents, teachers, guidance counselors and other school officials that bring the audience into the homes of eighth graders and put the families and
varying circumstances from which they are coming from on display. Some children are one of many siblings who have already taken the test, while some would be the first sibling to take it; some would be one of several students in their grade to take the test, while some would be the only one. Some attend private preparation classes or receive private tutoring for the test, while some go to school programs, and some do very little concrete preparation. The film stresses how test preparation can become a central part of a middle schooler’s life, starting even years before the time of the test. Chin commented, “It’s not just about how different families approach education but how the education systems approaches
PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS
BUBBLE IN: A student taking a standardized test, similar to the format of the SHSAT.
different families.” A lack of diversity in these schools is a major concern, with the demographics being overwhelmingly white and Asian and with students mostly coming from a limited group of New York City neighborhoods. The SHSAT has come under scrutiny in recent years on whether or not a single two-and-a-half hour test, with an English and a math section, is a sufficient way to grant entry into a specialized high schools. Advocates for the change question whether students of every background have equal chance to do well on the test and whether the test is a sufficient way to measure a student’s potential. As shown in the film, however, the bill to change the one-test system was shot down in 2015. Chin noted that a desire to promote social justice in the education system is in part what drove him to create the film. Prior to becoming a documentary filmmaker, Chin worked as a television writer, but after filming the documentary “Vincent Who?” (2009), Chin decided to take on the SHSAT as his subject, despite protest from the New York City Board of Education. “Tested” moves through the harrowing process of applying to New York City high schools, primarily through the eyes of the eighth graders, and the children serving as the primary storytellers of the SHSAT experience strengthens the film. Although the parents may worry just as much as the kids, ultimately it is not the parents or the guidance counselors or the New York City Board of Education that takes the test; it is these eighth graders. There is also value in having the kids talk about their experiences in real time as they are going through the process rather than speaking about their experiences from memory, after they have had time to reflect. Regardless, the student’s vantage point as the main propulsion of the movie causes their anxiety to truly resonate through the film. When the students take their test,and then when they eventually open their notification letters, the audience feels as if they are being informed of their own results. More than anything, “Tested” displays how overwhelming this test can be, with these children feeling like their entire life is dependent on one test they take when they are twelve.
THE JUSTICE i arts i TUESDAY, October 11, 2016
19
Talk
‘The Office’ actor speaks in Boston
By brooke granovsky
justice Staff writer
PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS
JOHN KRASINSKI: John Krasinski, who portrays Jim Halpert on NBC’s former show “The Office,” spoke to the Boston community on Sept. 27.
. It is very likely that actor John Krasinksi is the nicest man in Boston. By the end of his Sept. 27 talk at the Seaport Green, John Krasinski had completed a push-up challenge at a fan’s request, taken a fan and aspiring filmmaker’s card with a promise to follow up on her job offer, and given inspiring advice about college, acting and the real value of community. The talk, moderated by Krasinski’s older brother Paul, was in honor and promotion of Paul Krasinski’s company Epicenter Experience. The company focuses on branding and community engagement, both of which the younger Krasinski surely raised on his brother’s behalf. The Krasinski brothers began by talking about John Krasinski’s creative process, and John Krasinski quickly cycled through years spent studying English, working at a yoga studio for the free classes and having limited days off in which he could seriously pursue acting. John Krasinski compared playing Jim Halpert on NBC’s “The Office” to going to summer camp — the cast was close knit, the show was exciting and each week came with something new to do. John Krasinski noted that today he finds himself “living a lottery ticket life,” and that after his success on “The
FILM REVIEW
Office,” he tried to focus on doing more than was expected of him. After some jokes about John Krasinski being shy (“Do you guys believe that?” asked Paul Krasinski) and about the proud Bostonian’s favorite city (John Krasinski: “Prague”), the topic turned to John Krasinski’s motivations for acting. John Krasinski explained that he is drawn to acting because of his desire to connect with and be a part of a larger community. Elaborating on his role in Michael Bay’s “13 Hours,” John Krasinski emphasized how the film allowed him to tell a story about and through someone else’s experience. “13 Hours” reimagines the Benghazi attacks, and John Krasinski valued the film, and his role as protagonist Jack Silva, for its emotional and empathetic connection. He noted that “13 Hours” allowed him to connect with the army experience on an emotional level to gain a better sense of the sacrifices that servicemen and women make more frequently than we might realize and to convey these messages to an audience as well. Similarly, John Krasinski saw his role on “The Office” as more universal and relatable than one might expect. He explained that, despite the show’s comedic bent, “The Office” was more than just funny. John Krasinski saw the show as relatable, noting how many people can empathize with the experience of having crazy bosses, office crushes and annoying
coworkers. He remarked that stories like “The Office” — ones that are relatable or feel true-tolife — are his favorites, and their scripts draw him in the most. Following a question about bulking up for roles, Paul Krasinski asked his younger brother how he transitions between and out of different characters. John Krasinski started his answer by noting how big of a change it can be to have a role at all — he went from being a waiter in New York City to playing Jim on “The Office” in Los Angeles and Scranton, Pennsylvania. John Krasinski was also quick to point out that he doesn’t feel any particular need to transition out of that role and move away from Jim’s character. Instead, he underscored how much he valued playing a character that fans connected with and built a community around. He said that in terms of dealing with and choosing new products, his guiding principle is fear: the role has to scare him, and make him nervous, in order for it to challenge him. John Krasinski’s last pieces of advice came in the form of his theater school’s motto, and his personal motto for making acting and directing decisions. He advised to risk, fail and risk again, and if at all possible, to make choices that allow you to help others. Contrast his rhetoric with some of the other rhetoric making headlines these days, and things might not seem so bad in America.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS
EXPLODING BOATS: Platform supply vessels attempt to put out a fire during the real-life Deepwater Horizon explosion on April 20, 2010.
Film impresses with breathtaking visuals By Kent dinlenc justice Staff writer
. What a week for visuals! When it comes to movies that I anticipate to have stunning visuals, I find myself purchasing an IMAX ticket. This week’s entries did not disappoint. “Deepwater Horizon,” directed by Peter Berg, stars Mark Wahlberg, Kate Hudson, John Malkovich and Kurt Russell. Russell is having a renaissance of his own a lá Matthew McConaughey with his recent hits “Bone Tomahawk” and “The Hateful 8,” as well as the upcoming “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.” The film is a dramatization of the titular offshore rig disaster that led to the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010. When British Petroleum supervisors ignored negative test results and prematurely engaged the drilling procedure, a not-so-subtly foreshadowed explosion devastated the rig crew and audience. Like with “Sully,” a film that
depicts the rescue landing of a plane on the Hudson, disaster-centric films such as “Deepwater Horizon” risk having their endings spoiled as we have already experienced the events in the film. Sure, you might say that these films are more for audiences decades in the future to relive the event just as we do with period pieces taking place in the 1970s and 1980s. But to me, it’s to gain perspective and live through the eyes of the protagonists, whether or not the story is accurate. It’s the filmmakers’ responsibility to invoke empathy, just as “Sully” and “Deepwater Horizon” deftly have. Let me start by saying that I had little enthusiasm toward watching the movie. It seemed like a second rate Michael Bay submission (if that is even possible) helmed by Wahlberg, to whom I am generally impartial. But I was wrong, and quite happy to be. Every contributing performance was emotional, compelling and realistic, apart from some noticeably bad and indistinguishable southern
accents that blended together in conversation when laying out crucial elements in the first act. The real star, however, is Berg. From what I experienced, there were no technical faults I could currently identify. Everything from the visual effects to the sound mixing to the cinematography were all necessary. They were edited flawlessly and blended well together. The explosions were horrifying and realistic to the scenario, even if it was somewhat excessive. The bravery of the men who rescued their coworkers and the trauma they endured were as respectfully handled and as empathetic as the visual tribute appeared during the film’s credits. Regardless of the slow yet crucial first act that introduced the close connection the rig workers had as a unit, the film is a fast-paced drama that bluntly states that human safety and nature alike should not be the price for profit and greed. I can only do this film justice by giving it an A-, as it takes the third spot of
my favorite movies so far this year, after “The Nice Guys” in second and “Hell or High Water” in first. Only one director comes to mind when I think of films that are visual masterpieces. He encourages inperson viewership in theaters. Some might say Andrei Tarkovsky or Stanley Kubrick hold this responsibility, but their styles are centered more around the intentional detail in every pixel of the frame. Terrence Malick, on the other hand, is responsible for its overall beauty. He’s shown this in “Tree of Life,” “Badlands” and “The Thin Red Line.” His latest visual tour-de-force is “Voyage of Time,” a documentary that covers all, from the blinding lights of the big bang to those of our modern metropolises. There are two versions: a 44-minute short narrated by Brad Pitt and a 1.5-hour extended feature narrated by Cate Blanchett. Written by Malick himself, the narrators ponder the meaning of age, the necessity of death and mankind’s growth — and
yet, I could not care less. This “documentary” had little substance in both frequency and intrigue; it is just an excuse for Malick to go to the most picturesque, exotic and beautiful places in the world. From underwater shots of the deep ocean to the plains of the safari to the masterfully generated images of the universe, he created a visual marvel unparalleled by any film. I heard complaints in the theater afterward that “it wasn’t about anything” and “it’s just a bunch of nature shots.” Well, so what if it is? These shots take your breath away. Each transition to the next shot angered you because you wanted the former to linger for just a little bit longer. Every close-up and establishing shot justifies watching this in IMAX — as it is also your only choice. I can’t resist giving this masterpiece an A, even though, as a documentary, it is at most a C+. Whether or not there was thematic cohesion is irrelevant to me — I just stared in awe as a moth would to a flame.
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TUESDAY, october 11, 2016 | Arts | THE JUSTIce
Brandeis TALKS
INTERVIEW
If you could add any event to homecoming, what would you add?
Kaelan Lynch ’17
Joelle Anter ’18
MORGAN BRILL/the Jusitce
“Having something for international students.”
This week, justArts spoke with Kaelan Lynch ’17, who is directing the play “Circle Mirror Transformation,” to be put on by Free Play Cooperative this upcoming weekend. justArts: How did you come across the opportunity to direct this show?
SABRINA SUNG/the Justice
Karina Meythaler ’19 “Have some dance, like in Sherman function hall. Something fun, for sure.”
Baron Lee ’19 “More food trucks.”
Rebecca Orbach ’20 “I need to think. I don’t know, like a high school pep rally, something with spirit.” —Compiled and photographed by Natalia Wiater/the Justice.
STAFF’S Top Ten
Guinea Pig Appreciation Instagram Accounts By AUDREY FEIN
justice EDITORial assistant
Guinea pigs are by far one of the cutest domesticated animals of our time. Cute guinea pigs on Instagram have a huge fan base, with over a million followers on some accounts. Check out these adorable guinea pig Instagram accounts to get in on the fuzzy action. 1. @FuzzBerta 2. @Ponyopigletofthesea 3. @Life_of_guineapigs 4. @Owiiwiio 5. @Guinea.winnie.ninny.mini 6. @Ladypigford 7. @Snoopyx_ 8. @Linxuemei9566 9. @Nelsontheguineapig 10. @Miracle.piggies
CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 When repeated, a spicy dance 4 Nuc. bomb, e.g. 7 Dynastic Italian family 13 Sought office 14 Nigerian city 15 Spray can 16 “____ You Experienced” (Jimi Hendrix tribute) 17 Jackie Chan rarely had one 19 A lighter brand of pens? 20 Skillful 21 Long-standing grudge, slangily 22 Certain Energizers 24 Future atty.’s hurdle 25 Character who said “I’m terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought” 27 Certain trains 28 4th group, perhaps 29 Lauer of “The Today Show” 30 ‘Roo locale 31 Squidlike telepathic race in “Doctor Who” 32 It won Best Movie at the 2012 BET Awards 34 Went through 38 The “e.” in i.e. 10 “I just want what _____” 39 Basic cleanser 11 Robert Redford vis-a40 Root vegetable common in vis Dustin Hoffman in “All the Chinese cuisine President’s Men” 41 Pelt 12 “______ My Heart in San 43 Billiard stick Francisco” 44 Most rappers have it 15 One who carries the weight of 45 Businessman and former the world on his shoulders? Quizno’s CEO Dave 18 Bohr with a namesake element 46 Relax at the beach, say 23 Right away 49 Domicile for an Inuit (alt.) 25 Paramedic, for short 50 What you may be after 26 Cry of frustration your team wins the Super 28 Jerk, to a Brit Bowl 30 TAB’s partner in switching 51 ____ week windows 54 Betray ... or something 31 Gender-neutral pronoun found 3 times in this puzzle 33 Suffix with Japan56 Philosophy 34 What a controversial statement 57 Possible response to “I may raise don’t like your new boyfriend” 35 California condor, for example 58 62-Across opposite 36 “Maid of Athens, ____ we part” 59 “Losing My Religion” band (Lord Byron poem) 60 Ben of “The Pacific” et al. 37 Dept. created by Harry Truman 61 Pig’s domain 39 Like some eclipses 62 58-Across opposite 41 “... my hero, watch him as _____” (Foo Fighters lyric) DOWN 42 Almost hypnotized, say 1 An old fuddy-duddy 43 Kaley of “The Big Bang Theory” 2 Indian-American comic 45 “_____ decide what to order?” Kondabolu (waiter’s question) 3 Funny story 46 Takes off, as a coat 4 Chinese martial arts 47 Liability’s opposite 5 “Put it on _____” 48 Like a 1-Down 6 Laugh uproariously, say 52 World War I battle site 7 Ancient Persian people 53 One of 42 for “Saturday Night 8 Prefix with -genous Live” 9 Playground game 55 IP Address allocator
Kaelan Lynch: Originally, I really wanted to direct a show, but I didn’t know what [kind of] show, so I spent a lot of time looking at shows, and I found this on a list of “Most Performed Shows.” So I started trying to get the process underway, [and] I spoke to a few different people on how to move forward with the process. Free Play ended up getting the rights to “Circle Mirror” — [the show] that we wanted to do —- and we were going to collaborate [with] Players, [but] Players weren’t sure if they wanted to do that, so I just kind of jumped ship and moved over to Free Play. JA: Without giving away any spoilers, what is the show about?
CROSSWORD COURTESY OF EVAN MAHNKEN
KL: Basically, it takes place in a made-up town in Vermont called Shirley. It’s from the playwright Annie Baker, and she created this town, which she fills with multiple of her plays and lots of different characters. It’s just kind of about [the characters’] interactions before and after class — the story is kind of told through these different games that the teacher asks the participants in the class [to play]. Annie Baker kind of asks the audience to just trust her and just go with it. The play and the cast, for the characters and for the audience, is a little weird at first, especially if you’re not a theater person, because a lot of it is inside jokes with theater people. But over the course of the play, it really starts to grab hold of the audience and show a lot of heart and a lot of change in the characters. JA: What’s been the most rewarding part of directing the show? KL: That’s hard. I mean, I’d really love to be a director — I’d love to write and direct film, so this was a way to kind of get my feet wet in directing and working with actors and stuff like that. I think probably the working with the actors and warming up and and stuff is a lot of fun, and just trying to get people in the space and collaborate. I think it’s been really cool, and [it’s been] helping to shape how I view art. JA: What’s been the most challenging part of the process?
SOLUTION COURTESY OF EVAN MAHNKEN
SUDOKU INSTRUCTIONS: Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.
KL: The most challenging [part] is probably the preparation that goes into it. When [I wanted] to direct a show, I feel like the last thing that I thought about is really all the preparation, and every day that you show up not prepared is a day where maybe things don’t get done as well as they could have, or you don’t come off as taking it as seriously as you should be. I think it’s just the preparation that goes into it and having a plan for each day and over the course of the whole show, and that’s been challenging for me, because I’ve never done anything like this before. JA: Is there anything else you want to add?
Solution to last issue’s sudoku
Sudoku Copyright 2014 Tribune News Service, Inc.
KL: Come see the show! —Lizzie Grossman