The Justice, January 31, 2017

ARTS Page 19

FORUM Recognize impact of social media 11

SLAM NIGHT

SPORTS Fencers boast winning record at meet 16 The Independent Student Newspaper

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of

B r a n d e is U n i v e r sit y S i n c e 1 9 4 9

Justice

Volume LXIX, Number 16

www.thejustice.org

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Waltham, Mass.

BRING DOWN THE HOUSE

BRIEF

Univ. takes first steps in construction of new dorms The University will soon begin work on its newest residence hall — set to open August 2018 — by fencing off the construction site around Usen Castle, according to an email sent to students on Thursday from the Office of Campus Operations.

The email said that the University installed fencing around the site on Monday, though Castle archways were blocked off with wooden planks earlier in the weekend.

The fencing will not affect access to Cholmondeley’s Coffee House — located in B Tower — according to the email.

The email also referred students to a website for the site plan, which includes a graphic for fence placement.

The plan shows fencing all around the Castle, with the exception of Towers A and B, which will remain standing af-

ter the construction of the new housing.

The new residence hall will also be energy-efficient and accessible, with spaces for study and campus events, according to the email.

Provost Lisa Lynch announced in an email to the University community on Jan. 25, 2016 that the new residence hall will house approximately 160 students. A Jan. 26, 2016 Justice article also quoted Vice President for Campus Operations Jim Gray as stating that the cost of the project will total “in the neighborhood of $37 million.”

A construction timeline and building plans are also forthcoming, Thursday’s email read. No further project plans have been updated to the project website as of press time.

—Abby Patkin

HEATHER SCHILLER/the Justice

Students performed musical acts in front of live audiences in the Stein on Friday night as part of Stein Night. The event was sponsored by WBRS and celebrated student musicians.

CAMPUS EVENT

Student union

Speakers examine implications of mass incarceration at event

■ The first round of spring

■ A panel of speakers drew

upon personal experiences and research to critique mass incarceration in the U.S.

By Michelle dang JUSTICE Editorial assistant

The criminalization of poverty, mental illness and substance addiction is an intersectional issue, agreed a panel of four speakers who discussed social causes of mass incarceration in the United States in a ’DEIS Impact event on Thursday.

Accounting for 22 percent of the global prison population, the U.S. holds the highest incarceration rate in the world, according to the International Centre for Prison Studies.

The panel emphasized the need to pay attention to the social determinants of mass incarceration that could be prevented through means such as housing, education, rehabilitation

and transitional social services.

“We need to think about these different intersectional identities when addressing mass incarceration in our society. Policies affect people differently depending on where they’re coming from,” said Brandy Henry (Ph.D), one of the speakers.

The panel collectively agreed that socioeconomic disparity plays a blanket role in incarceration rates.

“There’s two kind of separate criminal justice systems in our society.

One for people that can afford the best criminal representation and can afford to pay their bail, … and the one for people who can’t necessarily pay their bail and have to rely on the system,” said Henry.

For these individuals, even those who are innocent, getting to trial may take several years. Incarceration is the beginning of the system cutting off an individual’s support networks, said Henry. “You have to pay bail, but you can’t afford it. You sit there

See DI, 7 ☛

15 candidates up for 6 seats in Union election

2017 Student Union elections will begin at midnight on Thursday.

By Abby patkin JUSTICE editor

With the first round of spring 2017 Student Union elections on Thursday, 15 candidates will vie for six open Senate and Allocations Board seats.

Dana Brown ’20 and Josh Cohen ’20 will both compete for the open Midyear Senate seat. In an interview with the Justice, Brown said that she is most interested in helping midyear students integrate with the rest of the first-year class. In order to achieve this, she suggested the creation of a Google app with a calendar of University-sponsored social events that users could subscribe to. The app would differ from the existing Campus Events page because it would be easier to access and utilize, she said.

“Technically, we’re in [the first-

year] class, but we’re still very much in our own bubble, living in the Village. There’s not many opportunities to meet them outside of clubs and such,” she said. “The most important thing is to bring our community together.”

Cohen could not be reached for comment as of press time.

Matt Smetana ’17 is running unopposed for Senator-at-Large. Smetana previously served as a Class of 2017 senator and chaired the Senate Sustainability Committee before going abroad in the fall semester. In an email to the Justice, Smetana wrote that he is running for re-election because of his background working with the Senate and administration on initiatives like the creation and submission of an Environmental Literacy requirement and the President’s Task Force on Campus Sustainability Climate Action Plan.

He added that his first move as Senator-at-Large will be to tackle wasteful energy management practices on campus. “There are certain areas in buildings that are being heated too much or

See SU, 7 ☛

Investing in Our Future

Chemistry Problem

Trump

 As part of ’DEIS Impact, panelists spoke about environmental investment.

 The men’s basketball team continued its struggle over the weekend with multiple losses.

A panel of politics professors spoke about the future of the Trump administration on Wednesday.

FEATURES 9 For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org

not enough, sucking heat from other areas,” he wrote, citing an example of a media lab so hot that an open door and air conditioning were needed to cool it down.

“Brandeis has been consistently more energy-intensive (and wasteful) than all comparable universities with similar infrastructure, size and climate. There is a lot that Brandeis has started doing to reduce its carbon footprint, but there is a lot that still needs to be done,” Smetana wrote. “It is important to have a student advocate meeting with these administrators so they know this is something students demand, and I can be that representative.”

Brandon Stanaway ’19 is up for the Ziv Quad Senate seat, running unopposed. Stanaway did not return requests for comment as of press time.

The Ridgewood Quad, Foster Mods and Charles River/567 Senate seats do not have anyone running for them as of press time.

There are also no candidates for the open three-semester seat on the Allo-

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 2017 FREE AT BRANDEIS.

2

TUESDAY, January 31, 2017

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news

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the justice

NEWS SENATE LOG Flagel talks institutional pride with senators at weekly meeting The Senate met with Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel during their weekly meeting on Sunday, discussing overwhelmingly negative and neutral alumni reviews of the University.

In executive officer reports, Student Union Vice President Paul Sindberg ’18 said that he and Class of 2017 Senator Ryan Tracy have been getting club leaders bystander trained, an initiative that carried over from last semester. According to Sindberg, clubs whose leaders have not been bystander trained will be placed under probationary status — which includes being locked out of the Student Union Management System — and will risk derecognition and dechartering if they are still not bystander trained by the end of the semester.

Executive Senator Hannah Brown ’19 told senators that Student Union Executive Board members have been meeting with members of the Graduate Student Association to discuss issues such as the cancellation of the Riverside shuttle. She noted that the Student Union is working on a framework for a permanent form of communication between the GSA and the Union.

Sindberg then nominated several senators for committee chair positions. The Senate confirmed Tracy as Club Support Committee chair, Class of 2019 Senator Kate Kesselman as Dining Committee chair, Senator At Large Nathan Greess as Bylaws Committee chair, East Quad Senator Elijah Sinclair ’19 as Sustainability Committee chair and Brown as Services and Outreach Committee chair by block motion. Sindberg then nominated Massell Quad Senator Aaron Finkel ’20 for Campus Operations Working Group chair, Class of 2018 Senator Christian Nunez for Social Justice and Diversity Committee chair and Village Quad Senator Charlotte Lang ’19 for Health and Safety Committee chair. All three were confirmed.

In committee chair reports, Kesselman reported that the Dining Committee has met with Sodexo to discuss issues such as cross-contamination and foot traffic to Dunkin’ Donuts and other dining locations on campus.

Greess explained that the Bylaws Committee will seek to clarify and condense the Student Union bylaws in the coming months, noting that a large portion of the Student Union bylaws are not in use, with some pertaining to grants or institutions that no longer exist.

Flagel then addressed the Senate, giving a brief overview of consultant Mark Neustadt’s presentations to the community regarding how Brandeis is marketed.

Flagel told the senators that alumni have given overwhelmingly negative and neutral recommendations of the University, despite looking back on their time on campus fondly.

Brown asked Flagel how the Union could help change that, to which Flagel responded that a culture of pride in the University is necessary. He asserted his belief that students think it is “uncool” to show pride in the University, adding that many students have a hard time aligning social justice values with institutional pride.

Nunez asked Flagel how the University intends to reach out to students who are dissatisfied with their campus experience and who might feel fear and uncertainty in the wake of President Donald Trump’s election. Flagel responded that the University has invested heavily in counseling and chaplain services in an attempt to help students in need, though he said he is uncertain of how to bridge divides between students. To do so, he postulated, there will need to be discussions with students on what step to take next.

In open forum, Rosenthal Quad Senator Julien Tremblay ’19 spoke about the men’s soccer team’s regular meetings with Liebowitz, during which team members felt comfortable sharing their opinions regarding campus culture, he said. Tremblay then suggested the Student Union set up a similar meeting schedule with Liebowitz.

POLICE LOG

Medical Emergency

Jan. 23—A party in Usdan Student Center reported that a staff member had passed out in the kitchen area. University Police and BEMCo responded, and the party was transported to NewtonWellesley Hospital.

Jan. 23—A party in Gosman Sports and Convocation Center reported that they had injured their finger. BEMCo staff treated the party with a signed refusal for further care.

Jan. 24—A party in Reitman Residence Hall reported that they had sprained their ankle. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was then transported to NewtonWellesley Hospital.

Jan. 25—University Police received a report of a party in Shapiro Residence Hall having an allergic reaction. BEMCo staff on scene requested an ambulance, and the party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

Jan. 25—A party in Hassenfeld Conference Center reported that they accidentally got hot water on their leg. BEMCo staff treated the party with a signed refusal for further care.

Jan. 26—A party in Gosman Sports and Convocation Center reported that they had a broken finger. BEMCo staff treated the party, and University Police transported them to NewtonWellesley Hospital.

Jan. 27—Staff at the Brandeis Counseling Center requested an ambulance for a voluntary transport for a psychological evaluation. University Police assisted Cataldo Ambulance staff without incident.

Jan. 27—Brandeis Counseling Center staff requested a psychological evaluation. University Police assisted Cataldo Ambulance staff, and the party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital without incident.

Jan. 27—A party reported that they walked into a pole and obtained a bump on their head. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was then transported to NewtonWellesley Hospital.

Jan. 27—A party in the Epstein Building reported that they had sawdust in their eye. The party was transported to NewtonWellesley Hospital.

Jan. 28—Massachusetts State

Police notified University Police about a party in Reitman Residence Hall who was experiencing difficulty breathing. Cataldo Ambulance staff and the Waltham Fire Department responded, and the party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

Jan. 29—University Police received a complaint of a belligerent intoxicated party in the Stein.

University Police placed the party in protective custody and transported them to the Waltham Police Station.

Jan. 29—University Police received a report of an intoxicated party who was carried out of the Stein by friends. The group was located in Shapiro Residence Hall, and the party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital. The Facilities Department was notified for vomit cleanup.

Jan. 29—University Police received a report of an intoxicated party in Shapiro Residence Hall.

University Police and BEMCo staff responded, and one party was treated for alcohol intoxication and another for a head laceration. Both were transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

YAKI NIGHT

HEATHER SCHILLER/the Justice

n A News article about the Student Conduct Board did not include an editor’s note that Associate Editor for the Justice Sabrina Sung ’18 is on the SCB. (Jan. 24, page 3).

Students from the Japanese Students Association dished out yaki, a traditional Japanese street food, on Friday evening in the Intercultural Center during the group’s first event of the spring semester.

n A Features article incorrectly stated that David Pepose ’08 graduated from Brandeis in 2005. (Jan. 24, page 9).

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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The Justice is the independent student newspaper of Brandeis University. The Justice is published every Tuesday of the academic year with the exception of examination and vacation periods.

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The Justice Brandeis University Mailstop 214 P.O. Box 549110 Waltham, MA 02454-9110 Phone: (781) 736-3750 The Managing Editor holds office hours on Mondays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Disturbance

Jan. 25—A party in the Foster Mods reported that there was loud music. University Police surveyed the area and found nothing unusual.

Other

Jan. 23—University Police received a report that a sign for the Rape Crisis Center in the Gerstenzang Science Library was altered to change the word “unwanted” to “wanted” in regard to a sexual assault situation. The poster was replaced.

Jan. 26—A staff member from the Provost’s office dropped off a strange letter at Public Safety that had been sent to a staff member. University Police compiled a report on the incident.

— Compiled by Abby Patkin.

University responds to Trump’s travel ban

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@ thejustice.org.

Jan. 25—A party in Shapiro Residence Hall reported that their unlocked room was entered and several items were missing.

University Police compiled a report on the incident.

BRIEF

—Abby Patkin

n A News article incorrectly stated that the theme for midyear orientation was “Light of Reason.” It was actually “remember yesterday, explore today and brighten tomorrow.” (Jan. 24, page 1).

Larceny

The World in You and You in the World

In a complex and interconnected world, how can we come to understand the power and strength that arise from our own lived experiences while being respectful of others in their quest to find life fulfillment? How can each of us leverage our individuality, strengths and skills to make the changes we wish to see in the world?

How can we love, honor and reserve space for ourselves while also serving as a force for social change?

In the ’DEIS Impact 2017 keynote address, Third Wave Fund for Social Justice founder Rebecca Walker will address these questions and more.

Today from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Shapiro Campus Center Theater.

Chess Grandmaster Susan Polgar

Chess is one of the world’s oldest games and is played in almost every culture, but it remains incredibly gender exclusive.

Join Grandmaster Susan Polgar, one of the strongest chess players of the past 50 years, for a discussion about defying expectations. Susan will speak about her experience as a woman winning her way to the top of a male-dominated game and about her educational efforts with young girls.

Tomorrow from 4 to 6 p.m. in Sherman Function Hall.

The Times They Are A-Changin’

Paul Grogan, president of the Boston Foundation, will give a lecture and lead a discussion on the world of mission-driven management.

Bob Dylan’s prescient message remains very much alive as we consider what the future holds for the nonprofit community in Boston.

How can individuals and organizations work together in today’s political, social and economic climate? Which issues will

In the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting travel from predominantly Islamic nations, the University is cautioning international students and staff members who might be affected to avoid traveling outside the country for the time being, according to a Sunday email to the community from University President Ronald Liebowitz.

The University will be closely monitoring the legal challenges resulting from the executive order, read the email, which was co-signed by Provost Lisa Lynch, Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel, Chief Diversity Officer Mark Brimhall-Vargas and the deans of all five of the University’s schools.

The University also reiterated several of its policies regarding the sharing of information about immigration status.

According to the email, the University will not permit immigration enforcement on campus with respect to community members without a warrant or clear demonstration of imminent risk to others, nor will University Public Safety officers act on behalf of federal agents in the enforcement of immigration law.

Additionally, the University will not release immigration-status information with respect to community members to the federal government unless mandated by court order or other valid legal instrument, the email noted.

“We wish to reassure our community that every person on our campus, whoever they are and from wherever they come, is a valued member of our community,” the email read. “Brandeis was founded on the principle of openness to all, and with a core belief that the free exchange of ideas is essential to and consistent with our mission. We remain guided by these values.”

—Abby Patkin

become paramount, and which activities are likely to be most productive?

Thursday, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Schneider Zinner Forum.

Brandeis Laugh Factory with Sam Comroe

Get ready to laugh with the first of three comedians that Student Events is bringing to campus for free.

Come to the Stein for free food, free soda and free laughs.

Sam Comroe, a Los Angeles native and New York City transplant, is a stand-up comedian who performs at over 100 clubs and colleges annually. He made his TV debut on TBS’ “Conan” and has appeared on BET’s “Real Husbands of Hollywood” with Kevin Hart. His comedy is made up of the trials and tribulations of living with Tourette Syndrome since being diagnosed at age six and observational material based on his life experiences.

Friday from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Stein.

the justice

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news

AARON BIRNBAUM/the Justice

CRYSTAL BALL: Politics professors discussed the first days of the Trump administration and considered what the future holds.

Profs discuss what to expect from the Trump presidency professors examined Trump’s goals, discussing whether he will meet them.

By PERI MEYERS JUSTICE Senior Writer

The Trump presidency is full of unknowns, agreed a panel of politics professors in a discussion on Wednesday.

“As you can guess, we don’t know exactly what to expect,” said Prof.

Jill Greenlee (POL).

Prof. Lucy Goodhart (POL), who specializes in the international political economy, explored the effects of Trump’s populist coalition on the “volatile style” of his policy-making.

“That has brought Trump into power, but that means that he’s in office without a governing coalition in Congress, or at least the normal one that would go with being an establishment-type candidate from one of the major parties,” she noted.

Trump’s lack of political experience is a problem of time and resources: without “drafts of legislation ready to go,” the Republicans will likely have to hold a “triage” on what should be delegated to the legislative branch, she said. “Where the Trump White House feels that that legislative agenda deviates from the desires and preferences of his populist coalition, then Trump is going to step in and try to move the policy agenda.”

Goodhart cited another variable in this equation: Trump’s Twitter account. In a digital twist on an old tactic, the president will continue using @realDonaldTrump as a bully pulpit

3

Scholar looks at role of evangelicals in 2016 election ■ John Jefferson Davis looked

— a special position from which a politician can promote their agenda.

Today, said Goodhart, President Trump can make appeals and threats online “without having to have a legislative agenda, without having to put in the time to craft and create a congressional coalition.”

“That means, I think, that policy and statements may look unpredictable and volatile,” she said. Even so, “the agenda will still be guided by predictable incentives” like financial regulation and trade policy.

With Profs. Robert Art (POL) and Shai Feldman (POL), the topic shifted squarely into foreign policy.

“There’s nothing startling about a statement that the United States will put its national interests first in its relations with other countries,” said Art, an expert in U.S. foreign policy and national security. “Trump has put it in a way that’s a really in-yourface proposition.”

“I have no idea how Trump’s foreign policy will play out,” Art said.

There are several complicating factors, he added, including disagreements with his advisers on NATO and Russia. “It’s hard to figure out whether positions that he’s taken are bargaining ploys or his actual beliefs.”

Trump does, however, have at least two longstanding claims: that America has been ripped off on trade deals, and that America should stop paying to defend other countries, Art asserted. “I believe that he’s not going to use protectionism simply as a bargaining ploy but that he will try to push it and push it as hard as he can, because he needs to deliver to the white middle class in the heartland of the United States,” he said. “If

TUESDAY, January 31, 2017

CAmpus event

FLASH FORWARD

■ A panel of politics

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he doesn’t satisfy that constituency, he’s going to get clobbered in midterm elections and will not run for another four years.”

Yet there’s more to job loss than bad trade deals, Art argued. If anything, automation has done most of the damage.

“There has been a worldwide decline in manufacturing as a percentage of gross domestic product,” he said, pointing out that the decline has taken place in China as well as the United States. “A lot of those jobs are not coming back because there’s no place for them to come.”

“One thing is certain,” Feldman added. “The next four years — if they last a full four years — are not going to be boring.”

Feldman also discussed Trump’s plan to end the United States’ promotion of human rights and democracy abroad.

“And that’s why you see around the world, people who have been chastised or criticized by the Obama administration are now, I would say, opening champagne bottles,” he said.

Prof. Jeffrey Lenowitz (POL), quoting Martin Luther King, Jr., added that effective civil disobedience must be “impossible to ignore” and “involve personal sacrifice.”

“I think that we’ve sufficiently shown that these are scary times,” said Lenowitz, pointing to issues like climate change and inequalities of income, race and gender.

“Don’t ever underestimate the possibility of this president to organize a counter-resistance and a counter-protest,” Feldman later added.

“And that’s not going to be a single tweet. That’s going to be a barrage of tweets.”

at the path of evangelicalism and the influence evangelicals had on the election.

By ABBY PATKIN JUSTICE editor

Some factions of evangelical Christianity — many of which played an influential role in President Donald Trump’s election — are relying on an outdated version of theological fundamentals, evangelical scholar John Jefferson Davis asserted in a talk on campus on Wednesday.

There are two Protestant narratives in American history, Davis postulated: a liberal, “enlightenment” narrative that places emphasis on scientific achievement and an “Abrahamic” narrative that subscribes largely to traditional biblical law.

While some evangelicals have adapted in the face of modernity and innovation, many still believe that the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation and follow a theistic narrative, said Davis, a professor of Systematic Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston. However, he cautioned attendees, “let’s recognize that Christendom is over.”

Davis then reflected on his own faith, explaining his belief that one individual’s faith should not be forced on others. “My view is that, as an evangelical, it’s not my job to impose my religion or my morality on anybody else, and that my calling is to impose my religious beliefs on myself,” Davis told a group of more than 20 attendees.

He explained that evangelicalism can be broken up into three segments: Evangelicalism 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0. Evangelicalism 2.0, the late 19th- and early 20th-century era of televangelist Billy Graham, was marked by conflict over how to preserve the essential core of the religion in the face of scientific developments — like the Big Bang theory and evolution — that challenged religious fundamentals, he said.

But while evolution is now taught in schools as scientific fact without issue and more progressive forms of evangelicalism have emerged, some remnants of Evangelicalism 2.0 have carried over to the present day, he acknowledged.

Feeling nostalgia for a Christianmajority or perceived “lost America,” some evangelicals “misguidedly” turned out for Trump during the 2016 election, Davis argued.

According to a Nov. 9 Washington Post article, white evangelical voters turned out overwhelmingly for Trump, with around 80 percent voting for the new president.

“I personally think this election is a disaster,” he said, adding that he did not view Trump’s success as a win for evangelicalism. “I view it with apprehension. … We’re in a bad place.”

Moving forward, however, evangelicals must revitalize and reform tradition in the face of modernity to become a better-understood and more inclusive faith, said Davis.

Evangelicalism “has been a series of attempts to reform, renew or revitalize existing traditions, especially in the face of modernity,” he said.

Davis stated that evangelicals were largely “missing in action” during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement and emphasized full inclusion of people of color as the future of modern Evangelicalism 3.0. Additionally, incorporation of female church leaders should be at the top of the agenda, he said, noting that most church leaders have historically been men.

“I think there’s a time for some house cleaning in my tradition in order to get back to what I think is more important,” he concluded.

Davis, who chairs the Division of Christian Thought at GordonConwell, was raised in Christian Science and converted to Evangelicalism while studying at Duke University. Davis has notably argued for Christian egalitarianism, the practice of ordaining women as ministers. His lecture was sponsored by the Kraft-Hiatt Fund, the Program in Religious Studies and the Brandeis Chaplaincy.

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YDALIA COLON/the Justice

John Jefferson Davis, a religious scholar, examined American evangelicalism in a talk on Wednesday.

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SPORTS PHOTOS COPY FEATURES

JOIN THE JUSTICE! FORUM NEWS ARTS ADS LAYOUT For more information, contact Carmi Rothberg at editor@thejustice.org.

THE JUSTICE

ADMINISTRATION

for Finance and Treasurer Marianne Cwalina will retire at the end of June.

By Abby Patkin JUSTICE Editor

Senior Vice President for Finance and Treasurer Marianne Cwalina will retire from her position at the end of June to spend more time with her family, Cwalina wrote in an email to the Justice.

Cwalina’s retirement was first announced in a Dec. 15, 2016 email to the Brandeis community from Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Stew Uretsky, as previously reported in a Jan. 24 Justice article.

“It was a personal decision to retire at the end of June,” Cwalina wrote in her email to the Justice.

“My husband Steve has been retired for several years, and I want to make sure we spend some quality time together while we’re both healthy!”

She added that building and mentoring the University’s finance team was one of her biggest accomplishments from her time at Brandeis, especially “given their creativity and skills and dedication to serving the community.”

“With their help and support, we were able to provide more accurate and transparent financial reports and analyses for senior leadership

and trustees, centralize procurement and install state-of-the-art procurement and payable software, maintain the University’s credit agency ratings and outlook, and move to a self-inCwalina sured health plan to reduce costs,” she wrote.

Cwalina wrote that she is most looking forward to having the summer off from work, joking that she will spend the first few months of retirement at the beach. She added that she also has gardening, cooking, doing Pilates and reading a “roomful” of books on her to-do list.

“My mother also needs assistance in her home and her gardens so I’m looking forward to spending time with her and my family too,” she wrote.

Cwalina began her career in higher education finance with 23 years at neighboring Bentley University and has been with Brandeis for over five years, having been promoted to her current role in 2013.

In her email to the Justice, she looked back on her time at the University fondly: “It’s been a pleasure working with my new friends, colleagues, and staff,” she wrote.

“Brandeis is truly a very special place, and I know I’m leaving it in very goods hands.”

Contact Jerry Miller

at sports@thejustice.org

TUESDAY, January 31 , 2017

5

TALYA GUENZBURGER/the Justice

Speakers look at local housing insecurity ■ A ’DEIS Impact event on Sunday examined the issue of housing insecurity in the Waltham area.

By Peri meyers

Join the Sports section!

●

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOSE ONE: Community organizer Genoveva Tavera addressed students on Sunday.

JUSTICE Senior Writer

Want in on the action?

News

WHAT IS A HOME?

Cwalina reflects on time with the University ■ Senior Vice President

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Housing in Waltham has become increasingly unaffordable, said students and local organizers in a ’DEIS Impact event on Sunday.

At one end of Usdan International Lounge, a sign asked in red marker: “What is a home?” Another read, “Define ‘inner city.’” The event prodded students with further questions over the next hour and a half, including “What does it cost to have a home?” and “What does it mean to lose one?”

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a home is deemed unaffordable if the owner pays 30 percent or more of their monthly income for rent.

However, this is the reality for many Americans, as Sofia Lavrentyeva ’17 and Rachel Lederer ’19 pointed out in a slideshow.

“A family with one full-time worker earning the minimum wage cannot afford the local fair-market rent for a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States,” read one slide, which cited HUD. In Massachusetts, 229,600 low-income

renters spend over 50 percent of their monthly income on housing alone.

Rent prices have skyrocketed since January 2010, according to data students drew from real estate website Redfin. This is especially true in the inner cities, where the price of housing had risen by 52 percent by August 2016, as compared with the surrounding metro areas, where that number was 34 percent.

In Waltham, a one-bedroom apartment can go for upwards of $2,200 per month, presenters noted.

To live comfortably, a household would have to make over $7,300 per month, or $87,600 per year, which is unattainable for most American households.

The focus soon shifted to a presentation by the Waltham Alliance to Create Housing, an organization which focuses on affordable housing development.

“Enough was said about the statistics,” said community organizer Genoveva Tavera. “Enough was said about what is going on in our country, but especially in our city.”

Two WATCH clients, Marina and Michelle, told their own stories about the struggle to make ends meet.

Marina lost her job, and eventually her home, after being diagnosed with cancer.

This, Tavera pointed out, is all

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too common a problem for people who suddenly fall ill. “‘It’s very difficult to [get] a place to rest,’” said Tavera, translating Marina’s words from Spanish. “‘Especially the days of chemo, when they are very difficult. There’s days I don’t want to get up from bed. I’m weak in my legs.’”

Even when coping with homelessness and cancer treatments, Marina is still trying to find work.

Michelle, another client, left an abusive relationship several years ago and now works two jobs to support her two children. Though her income is too high for her to qualify for food stamps, she has had to go to the food pantry to supplement her family’s meals.

“It looks on paper like it can be done,” said Michelle. “It is very difficult. At the end of the month, I have, between all my expenses, probably about fifty dollars to deal with.”

Recently, WATCH has opened its Waltham Rental Voucher Program, which will give low-income applicants a rental subsidy.

The event, “Housing Insecurity in Waltham: Building Understanding,” was sponsored by Habitat for Humanity, Hunger and Homelessness, and the Social Justice and Social Policy Program as part of ’DEIS Impact, a series of events that celebrate and examine social justice issues.

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SU: Elections to be held on Thursday CONTINUED FROM 1 cations Board, though there are seven candidates running for the two open two-semester seats.

In an interview with the Justice, Alanna Levy ’19 said that she is running for A-Board because she enjoys reaching out to the community. “I’m looking forward to bringing events to campus that you wouldn’t think would be on campus, … like an omelet bar in the SCC, or something like that,” she said.

Alex Feldman ’19, who previously served as the A-Board chairperson, told the Justice in an interview that he is running for re-election to the board because A-Board recently began an initiative to fund larger, campus-wide events through the Brandeis Experimental Event Programming Grant, which he wants to see through to the finish. He also said that he wants to review how funding goes to secured clubs, as it represents “a lot of money that goes away with not much scrutiny.”

Winnie Zhao ’20 told the Justice in an interview that she is interested in

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studying business and seeing how the A-Board interacts with clubs on campus. “I just want to help every club get the money they need,” she said.

In an interview with the Justice, Yaoyao Gao ’20 cited her experience working as an intern at Bank of America and accounting firm KPMG as qualifications for her serving on A-Board. Gao also said that, if elected, she wants to “listen to others’ suggestions … [to] improve the school environment” for all.

Angela Li ’19 said in an interview with the Justice that she decided to run because she wants to get involved in campus culture and see the finance side of event planning. Aseem Kumar ’20 and Vidit Dhawan ’19 could not be reached for comment as of press time.

For the open two-semester racial minority seat, four candidates will face off on Thursday. In an interview with the Justice, Alex Xu ’19 said that he is looking forward to working with clubs to allocate funding across the board. La’Dericka Hall ’19, Richard Kisack, Jr. ’19 and Xiangyu Mao did not return requests for comment as of press time.

YVETTE SEI/the Justice

Community members practiced collaborative workshopping during an archive field lab in Goldfarb Library on Thursday. The event was sponsored by the Rose Art Museum.

DI: Speakers draw on personal incarceration stories in event CONTINUED FROM 1 and what happens? You lose your job if you have a job, you lose your kids if you have kids and you can’t go to your medical appointments.”

Speaking from his own experience, David Tavares, Director of Housing at YMCA of Greater Boston and an exconvict, said, “In a impoverished community, when you’re a young man who [doesn’t] have any money in a capitalistic society, your masculinity becomes your most prized possession. ... And when that happens, you endanger yourself to many traps.”

“Addiction and substance abuse, institutionalized racism — it’s also directly related to socioeconomic status,” said Tavares. Society tends to apply criminal justice to extremes rather than compromise, he added. “When it comes to this issue — [it’s] punish-

ment or rehabilitation,” said Tavares.

“From my experience working in the substance abuse field, the majority of clients come in with substance abuse and mental health diagnosis going hand in hand,” said Keith Anderson, a licensed alcohol and drug counselor and an ex-convict. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse reported in 2010 that 85 percent of people incarcerated in the U.S. either suffered from or had a history of substance abuse.

Lisa Newman-Polk, an attorney specializing in criminal defense in Massachusetts state courts and a licensed social worker, said that the money spent on the prison system could be put to better use in the form of treatment and prevention. “Instead of the 98 cents per dollar that we spend in the drug war on the criminalization of addiction and the two cents that we

spend on every dollar towards treatment, we should dramatically transfer our funding to prevention education early on in adolescence, … getting to the roots of why addiction even to begin with?”

The incarceration system as it is ends up being cyclical in many cases, the panelists noted. “The younger you get sucked into the system, the more likely you’re going to stay in it,” said Henry. “Being incarcerated actually makes you more likely to be incarcerated again because of barriers to reentering [society].”

Tavares and Anderson were both incarcerated as young men, and both went through transitional and support programs toward the end of their incarceration terms. They spoke of the importance of such programs in their successful reentry.

“I was convicted when I was 18

CREATING A BRAND(EIS)

years old,” Tavares said. “Not only was I scared to death when I first went to prison, but the stereotype you commonly associate with someone that has a capital case — I didn’t fit that description. When I first went to prison, in order to survive, I had to become the animal that society believed me to be. Remorse and rehabilitation took a back seat.”

Had he been released within the first years of confinement, Tavares said he would have returned to society worse than when he was placed in the system. “If it hadn’t been for that program and support network that I had, I wouldn’t be sitting here today,” he said.

Anderson agreed that transitional programs were the best answer to keeping individuals out of falling back into the prison system. “Give them some education, help them to reenter

in society rather than just getting out of jail with the same circumstances. A lot of guys and women come out with no money, no support, and go right back.”

Of the mental disenfranchisement of the prison system, Newman-Polk said, “We’re creating people who cannot live outside of that environment, and then when they’re living in that environment, they’re feeling like hell. … So many people I work with … if they had been given a nurturing environment and been told a different story early on, their story would have turned out differently.”

The event, titled “Mass Incarceration: A Panel on Causes and Pathways to Change,” was part of ’DEIS Impact’s three-part event series about mass incarceration, sponsored by the Heller School for Social Policy and Management.

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Consultant Mark Neustadt addressed community members in the third open meeting regarding how Brandeis brands itself and is marketed to the public.

Contact Abby Patkin at news@thejustice.org

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features

TUESDAY, January 31, 2017 ● Features ● The Justice

just

VERBATIM | EDWARD ABBEY Love implies anger. The man who is angered by nothing cares about nothing.

ON THIS DAY…

FUN FACT

In 1893, the Coca-Cola trademark was first registered with the United States Patent Office.

By 1926, for every 100 people in America, there was one vending machine.

Forging Paths

Students discussed how they incorporated social justice into their Brandeis careers

KIRBY KOCHANOWSKI/the Justice

SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIORS: Students took turns explaining what social justice means to them.

By KIRBY KOCHANOWSKI JUSTICE EDITOR

For many students, college is a time to explore new subjects while rediscovering old passions. It’s a time to find yourself. The panel “Exploring social justice in the Brandeis classroom and beyond: courses, internships and careers” met on Monday at noon in the Hassenfeld Conference Center and featured 5 student speakers who each detailed their own Brandeis journey. The presentation itself was co-sponsored by the Health: Science, Society and Policy Program and the Social Justice and Social Policy Program and was part of ’DEIS Impact.

The presentation began with comoderator Prof. Sarah Curi (LGLS) asking the students to describe what social justice meant to them. While most of the answers loosely defined the term similarly — an everchanging means for the promotion of human equality and dignity — each student clarified their own focus. Shikha Chandarana ‘17 is interested in providing healthcare access, and Idelle Vaynberg ’17, similarly, wants to look at healthcare equality. Tannya Jajal ’17 wants to focus on women of color in the law, Matt Smetana ’17 wants to advocate for the environment and Khadijah Sawyer ’18 strives to empower women of color.

Despite these different career aspirations, each student utilized the diversity of resources at Brandeis to help them achieve their social justice mission. They also all engaged in a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating classes outside their field and internships into their studies.

Sawyer began by discussing her desire to create a contemporary practice to undo neocolonialism.

As a woman of color, she spoke of her personal experience at the intersection of oppression.

At Brandeis, Sawyer studies both African and Afro-American Studies and Computer Science.

“I’m thinking about all of these things and leveraging them as I’m moving through my field and thinking about ‘How can I address these issues that impact my daily life, my friends, my family, folks that I care about and using all of the tools and materials that I do have access to because I do exist in an academic space? ... ’ So that’s one of the major things that I’m thinking about as I continue to think about intersections in computer science and Blackness,” she said.

Chandarana began her academic journey at medical school in India.

However, she quickly realized that it wasn’t for her. She spent her gap year working at a nonprofit that helped sex workers with children diagnosed with HIV. It was during this experience that she realized there was a gap in doctor-patient communication.

At Brandeis, Chandarana majors in HSSP. She was able to study abroad in Australia and the Netherlands. She also spent her summer working in the slums of Mumbai. All experiences focused on public health, and Chandarana began to notice an upsetting trend.

What she calls “cultural health care,” — the health practices and traditions of communities — were being completely ignored in favor of a more Westernized health care approach. Yet historical violence toward communities and centuries of tradition made many people Chandarana worked with unwilling to adopt these new practices. “It left a very bitter taste in my mouth.

It almost seemed as if we were silencing those who wanted to

speak,” she explained. Chandarana tackles this issue in her thesis.

Jajal is currently studying Economics and Politics and plans on going to law school after graduation. She worked for 6 months in the United Arab Emirates with domestic abuse victims. She plans on using her economics degree as a lens for viewing poverty. Jajal also discussed the double-edged sword that can come with parental support. While she was thankful that her parents let her pursue her passions, they don’t entirely understand her chosen career path. Jajal explained that this greatly forced her to guide her own path. Jajal also advocated for pursuing topics outside of your intended field of study. “Even if you’re not personally going into that field, it doesn’t mean that you can’t dabble in it or it doesn’t mean that you can’t eventually get into the field,” she said. For example, Jajal is passionate about artificial intelligence. She works with the organization Intelligent Optimism which uses data to encourage optimism about the future of technology.

Smetana explained that his passions lie in advocating on behalf of those who can’t speak for themselves, and that includes the environment. He spoke about the social pressures that come with choosing a career path that will pay off financially. However, Smetana summarized that his parents are happy because he is happy.

Smetana interned at the Walden Woods as a conservation assistant.

He was tasked with creating a path in the woods and in approaching this job, Smetana utilized his access to Thoreau’s documents. He would research passages and quotes from Thoreau and try to incorporate them into his creation of the path.

“It’s nice to have these different experiences within a job that teach you what you like to do. … I love creating something from other parts and bringing together this very central thing that feels personal,” he explained. Though Smetana initially started as a Biology major, he found that the more human aspect of environmental policy was a source of passion for him.

In her studies, Vaynberg has combined Health: Science, Society and Policy and Psychology and is on the pre-med track. While she initially entered Brandeis to study medicine, her Health Psychology course marked a turning point in

also stressed the importance of internship experience and pushing past your assigned tasks to find your passions. While interning in New York City at a program meant for students interested in pursuing a PhD in environmental sciences, Vaynberg was struck by the difference in qualities of the different medical centers near her program. “I was interested in pushing beyond just what I was doing in my lab in the medical center to find out more about these differences. … Even if you sign up for an internship that you think might be for one thing only, there are still ways to push beyond that.”

KIRBY KOCHANOWSKI/the Justice

LOOKING FORWARD: The panel dicussed their goals for creating a brighter future. her education. She loved the context provided by the course. Rather than just studying the biology of infant mortality, for example, Vaynberg stressed the importance of looking at cultural and sociological factors as well. She knew taking HSSP classes and Psychology classes was the correct choice, because she felt excitement adding the courses to her schedule each semester. Vaynberg

Here, Curi chimed in. She discussed the importance of trying new things and stressed the youth of college students. In as few as 10 years, the obligations and priorities a student has now will most likely have changed. Though there will be massive successes, “there are going to be rainy days,” she said. But with resilience, grit and flexibility, everyone can find their true path.

the justice ● Features ● TUESDAY, January 31, 2017

ADAM PANN/the Justice

ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE ALUMNAE: Carly Greenberg BA ’11 MA’12 (Right), Elena Reinholtz ’11 (Center) and Hannah Saltman ’12 (Left) discussed how they think about the environment when investing.

Investing for a Cause Panelists spoke about environmentally conscious business ByVICTOR FeLDMAN JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Three alumnae discussed how you can fight for women’s rights and against climate change through investing.

“Take a day or a week and just look at what you buy. ...

Your consumer purchase is a vote,” Elena Reinholtz ’11 said at the Business Investing in Social Justice panel on Saturday.

The panel took place in Hassenfeld Conference Center and was part of ’DEIS Impact, a series of events dedicated to social justice. Reinholtz mused, “Costco is now the biggest supplier of organic produce. Costco didn’t do that on their own; they did it because society became more conscious about the food we buy.”

Over the last few years, a debate has erupted around the country about whether private universities — such as Brandeis — should divest their stocks in companies that do not share their values.

However, Saturday’s conversation focused more on the power of an individual investor to make a difference through investing in companies that are concerned about social justice. The panel featured three Brandeis alumnae, Carly Greenberg BA ’11 MA ’12, Reinholtz and Hannah Saltman ’12, all of whom work with companies that invest in social causes ranging from climate change to women’s reproductive rights.

The term “corporate social responsibility practices,” something discussed throughout the panel, can be applied broadly.

Carly Greenberg explained, “When you hear about socially re-

sponsible companies, you think they must be companies that are really, really great, but my firm has been investing money over the last forty years, and really great (socially responsible) companies didn’t exist back then, so we look for companies that haven’t done anything horribly terrible.”

At Walden Asset Management, an investment firm that promotes shareholder advocacy, Greenberg works to convince companies to fight climate change by setting what she calls “science-based goals.”

She pointed out that last week, Exxon Mobil voted a NOAA climate scientist to its board of directors because of pressure from groups similar to hers.

Saltman interjected that while there is skepticism as to whether the climate scientist had been appointed only to appease investors, the move was still “a huge deal.”

For people looking to invest their money in socially responsible companies, the right choices are not always obvious. For some, investing in fossil fuel companies while aspiring to help fight climate change is hypocritical, but as Saltman clarified, if you want to have a say in how oil companies respond to climate change, you have to buy stock in them.

She noted, “Having a seat at the table can be very helpful.” This is why the company she works for, Ceres, helps its clients invest in socially responsible companies and “stress test” their portfolios to see if they meet their social responsibility goals set by the firm.

She said, “Consumers no longer have to choose between prof-

its or purpose,” adding, “Pepsi actually has a very robust sustainability reporting system.”

Reinhart approaches corporate social responsibility differently.

In 2012, she founded Bird + Stone, a direct-to-consumer company that makes jewelry and aims to employ impoverished women and promote female entrepreneurship in Kenya by providing microloans.

As of last week, Bird + Stone also donates a share of its proceeds to Planned Parenthood, which has seen an uptick in donations since Trump’s win. Social entrepreneurship is something Reinhart is passionate about. “I wanted to be able to use jewelry as a funding vehicle for the causes I believe in,” she said.

The panelists believe that financial investments have the power to make the world a more just place.

Greenberg noted that social movements forced corporations such as Pepsi and McDonalds to reduce the sugar in their products. In the energy industry, Greenberg said, “Coal is dead. Solar and wind energy are now cheaper.” But even in an age of heightened consumer consciousness, she warned that “progress can be slow.”

With Trump as president, Greenberg lamented, “We could see the EPA budget gutted,” but she added, “When it comes to climate change I am actually optimistic. I think we are going to be ok.”

There has been a heightening interest from private investors in groups that advocate for social and climate justice. Ultimately, Satman said, “Civic engagement has to fill the gap between the government and the private sector.”

CONSCIOUS AUDIENCE: Students asked the panelists questions about how to enact change.

ADAM PANN/the Justice

ADAM PANN/the Justice

DIVEST OR ENGAGE: Greenberg talked about different methods for enacting change.

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10 TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017 ● forum ● THE JUSTICE

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Justice Established 1949

Brandeis University

Carmi Rothberg, Editor in Chief Mihir Khanna, Managing Editor Morgan Brill, Deputy Editor Michelle Banayan, Jessica Goldstein, Noah Hessdorf and Sabrina Sung, Associate Editors Abby Patkin, News Editor, Kirby Kochanowski, Features Editor Amber Miles, Forum Editor, Jerry Miller, Sports Editor Hannah Kressel, Acting Arts Editor Natalia Wiater, Photography Editor Mira Mellman, Layout Editor, Pamela Klahr and Robbie Lurie, Ads Editors Rachel Sharer, Online Editor, Jen Geller and Avraham Penso, Acting Copy Editors

EDITORIALS Make informed decisions in Student Union elections In light of Student Union winter elections on Thursday, this board encourages Brandeis students to participate actively and vote for figures who will represent us well in a government of our peers.

Democracies of every size are cyclical in nature. Apathy breeds apathy: When constituencies do not pay attention, those in power are not forced to alter their platforms, adjust their messages or even follow through with their promises. The same applies to our campus during Student Union elections. If the student body does not actively participate, the Student Union risks stagnating, and little progress is guaranteed year to year. Holding the Student Union accountable through active participation helps ensure that it is effective.

830 students voted in the winter 2016 election, while 993 students voted in the fall 2016 election. Total undergraduate enrollment is 3,610, according to the Brandeis website, meaning that less than 28 percent of the undergraduate population voted in our most recent election. While this is indicative of a larger trend toward greater student involvement, it is still a low level of involvement on such a small campus, where everyone’s voice has the potential to make a large difference.

In last year’s Student Union presidential election, 1,053 votes were cast; the election was decided by two votes. This proves that active

Hold leadership accountable participation can make a huge difference.

This board recommends that the Student Union consider initiating a new system in which students are encouraged to consider candidates’ platforms and experience, rather than just their names. Instead of only listing names, ballots should also list short summaries of candidates’ goals and qualifications.

This board recognizes that each student’s level of preparation prior to an election varies and that some individuals may be more informed than others. This board’s proposed change would provide all students with easily accessible baseline information on each candidate and therefore hopefully increase informed voting and decrease the number of abstentions. Further, this would help make sure that people are voting not based solely on name recognition or popularity but rather for the person whose values and initiatives are most in line with their own.

Additionally, this board would like to reaffirm that, as a student newspaper, our first responsibility is to you, our readers, and that it is our job to act as a check to those in power here, including student leaders. Going forward, we plan to cover elections more closely and to ensure that the promises made by those running for student government in the future are adhered to.

Commend support of students affected by Trump plan On Sunday, Jan. 29, the Brandeis community received an email from University President Ron Liebowitz, cosigned by eight other administrators, which directly addressed President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration signed on Friday. This board commends the University for its prompt and attentive response during a time of great emotional duress for many members of the community.

Trump’s executive order bars Syrian refugees from entering the United States, along with citizens of seven other Muslim-majority nations. Since its signing, airports across the world have fallen into confusion and unrest, as citizens from the seven nations were prevented from boarding America-bound airlines, at times regardless of whether they had proper visas or green cards.

Within the U.S., protests have broken out across major airports in solidarity with those who have been detained. This executive order even affects students, and some individuals on student visas who had been studying abroad for the semester fear the chance that they might not be able to return.

Under these circumstances, Brandeis administrators have demonstrated awareness and initiative, outlining measures through which they plan to support the campus community both emotionally and informationally.

In particular, this board applauds the mobilization of the University’s International Students and Scholars Office as outlined within the Jan. 29

Resist executive orders email. In this time of uncertainty, direct outreach to the students, faculty and staff potentially affected by this executive order will be vital to preserving the wellbeing of the campus as a whole. This board also supports the University’s reaffirmation that Brandeis will not cooperate with immigration enforcement without a warrant or other such valid legal mandate, a stance first outlined in an email sent by Liebowitz on Nov. 17, 2016 during the discussions of sanctuary campus status.

However, as the nation struggles to navigate this new political landscape, it will become more and more necessary for the Brandeis community to remain informed about the implications of policy changes such as this executive order on immigration. As such, this board encourages the University to commit to ongoing opportunities for dialogue, such as the panel discussion on this executive order described in a Jan. 30 email from University Provost Lisa Lynch.

The state of the executive order on immigration seemingly changes from hour to hour, and within Massachusetts alone, the Boston Federal Court has put a seven-day hold on the order, though without guarantee that officials will comply. This board acknowledges that it is unfeasible for Brandeis to react to every news update on the topic but hopes that the University will continue to provide the Brandeis community with resources as the presidency progresses.

ROMAN LOPER/the Justice

Views the News on

Fulfilling his long-promised war on illegal immigration, this Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed executive orders to allow the construction of a wall between the United States and Mexico, according to a Jan. 25 New York Times article. Along with the proposed wall, Trump plans on deporting undocumented immigrants, as well as suspending immigration or asylum from nations that “export terrorism.”

What do you think of these actions, and how effective do you think they will be in protecting the United States’ security and economic interests?

Ryan McCarthy ’18 Assuming “The Wall” doesn’t enter the Hall of Fantastical Campaign Promises, I wait with bated breath to find out how the Trump administration intends to pay for what Senator Mitch McConnell has estimated to be a $1215 billion project. I read the text of the executive order in question, and it seems that Mr. Trump wants to repurpose federal aid money given to Mexico, which, from what numbers I can find, is somewhere in the realm of $250 million. That’s a long way off from McConnell’s estimate, and government projects are notorious for going over budget. And perhaps the biggest elephant in the room is the fact that this is only the price tag for building the thing; how much is the Great Wall of America going to cost in maintenance? If economic reality does not pierce the Trump administration, then U.S. consumers and taxpayers best prepare for highway robbery.

Ryan McCarthy ’18 is a History Undergraduate Departmental Representative.

He is also minoring in Economics.

Connor Wahrman ’17 If there’s one thing the Trump administration and ISIL might agree on, it’s the inevitability of confrontation between Islam and the West. Even if suspending immigration and asylum from certain Muslim-majority nations prevented the “export” of terrorism, it would at the same time lead to the radicalization of individuals already within the U.S., potentially resulting in a greater security threat. Any violent act this measure provokes would serve as a convenient justification for Trump to further curtail civil liberties, for example by smearing Muslim American civil society organizations as “Muslim Brotherhood/jihadi sympathizers.”

Additionally, including Iran in the executive order puts strain on the already controversial 2015 nuclear deal, directly threatening U.S. security and interests abroad. As no country on the list is even associated with deadly acts of terror in the U.S., the Trump administration’s motivations remain suspicious.

Connor Wahrman ’17 is the editor-in-chief of the Brandeis International Journal.

Prof. Daniel Bergstresser (IBS) Some of Trump’s stated objectives — for example, working to secure our borders and to keep our country safe — appear reasonable and appropriate to me. His administration’s approach, almost across the board, appears to me to be poorly thought out and contrary to our true security and economic interests. I am detecting from Trump and from his administration an irrational hostility that radiates in a variety of directions: toward Muslims, toward Mexicans, toward the international community and even toward reason and logic itself. I cannot see any way in which having a president who is at war with reason will go well for us.

Prof. Daniel Bergstresser (IBS) is an Associate Professor of Finance in the Brandeis International Business School.

Prof. Brian Fried (POL) Given Brandeis’ history, it’s worth recalling that the University was founded in part to serve those who had been excluded — refugees from Europe were early members of Brandeis’ community — and that the Hebrew Bible repeatedly advocates for protecting a “ger” (foreigner/ stranger) and any who are vulnerable. Similarly, the U.S.’s laws on political asylum created in the aftermath of World War II and the Shoah were an effort to address the country’s failure to serve its historical role as a place of refuge for those fleeing persecution. Contrary to some claims, immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than the nativeborn population, immigration is beneficial to the U.S. economy and the number of unauthorized immigrants has remained unchanged for many years. While there is a limit to what any nation can do, the U.S.’s ability to provide opportunities both for its citizens and those seeking shelter is what truly makes it great. I have become increasingly dismayed by recent events and hope that U.S. policy does not abandon one of our nation’s core values. I am unsure of what steps would be appropriate should that come to pass, but we must prepare to work together as a community to protect those whose lives are placed at risk.

Prof. Brian Fried (POL) is a Florence Levy Kay Fellow in Comparative Politics of the Developing World. He also teaches in Latin American and Latino Studies.

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Analyze social media’s role in Donald Trump’s victory By tafara gava JUSTICE contributing writer

In a Jan. 21 interview with Variety Magazine, comedian and talk show host Chelsea Handler blamed the Kardashians for President Trump’s success. She cited that the media treated Trump’s campaign as a reality show, not reality. The reality show is a phenomenon that the Kardashians have popularized. Though seemingly ludicrous, her claim may actually be valid if we consider just how much people have become engrossed in social media. The Kardashian clan is the logical endpoint of this digital age, the most apt illustration of the people we have become. The sisters are famous for their reality television, which has enjoyed high viewership ratings for all 11 seasons. The show has popularized in some of the public the need for private lives to be documented and altered so as to appear glamorous. Isn’t this what some of us do when we Snapchat outings with friends? We are a culture more engrossed in the representation of our lives than in living our lives. So it is understandable that Trump has become the 45th president of the United States. Indeed, pollsters made errors and Hillary Clinton’s campaign was poor. However, our being out of touch with reality is partly to blame for how much we underestimated a Trump win.

Trump was just another headline in a Facebook newsfeed or “story” on Snapchat, but now that he has walked out of our smartphones and into the Oval Office, what are we to do? Are we to block, unfriend or dislike him? We can start by logging off of our social media more frequently or begin using it in moderation.

Social media has permeated almost every aspect of our lives, and our reliance upon it comes as no shock. To look for love or sex, we use Tinder or Grindr. To look for jobs or to network, we use LinkedIn. In some instances, we even go to Amazon to buy groceries. In making life more convenient for us, social media has made us lose touch with reality. In 1998, Robert Kraut, a researcher at Carnegie Mellon University, explored the alienating nature of the Internet.

He found that the more people used the web, the lonelier and more depressed they felt.

This, he theorized, was caused by the socialpsychological phenomenon of comparison.

Professor Hanna Krasnova of the University of Potsdam has done similar research that suggests that envy increases with Facebook usage. According to Krasnova, though we

initially joined to feel closer to our loved ones, soon we begin to resent each other’s lives and feel that we have some image to maintain. We lose touch with reality because we develop unrealistic concepts of beauty and start seeing people as competitors or commodities.

Following the elections, people felt betrayed as they learned that so many people had actually voted for Donald Trump. Their false sense of security came from the illusory aspect of social media, including inherent liberal bias as well as confirmation bias. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg admitted that Facebook workers “routinely suppressed news stories of interest to conservative readers from the social network’s influential ‘trending’ news section,” according to a June 24, 2016 Opportunity Lives article. Social media tends to favor information that confirms pre-existing beliefs with little consideration of other opinions.

Additionally, people tend to “friend” mostly people who share their views; thus, unpopular opinions are often left unconsidered. As such, social media may have misrepresented preelection America. Mainstream and social media propelled the image of Clinton as the inevitable winner of the two presidential candidates; that the majority of Americans were really with her.

Had we used social media more discerningly, we might have learned just how divided opinion was over whom America thought best for office.

On Nov. 10, 2016, Business Insider published charts showing which demographics voted for which candidate. Considering these, the need for us to turn away from such misleading forums could not be more dire. Judging by the Business Insider data, combined with an Oct. 25, 2016 Pew Research Center article, demographics with very low visibility in the media voted for Trump the most. These demographics include inhabitants of small and rural cities or suburbs and people above 50 years of age. These individuals are important because of their votes; however, they were excluded from the conversation because they did not use social media as much. Consequently, the rest of America underestimated crucial constituencies.

Nonetheless, we can bridge the gaps that social media has created in America by turning away from its illusory reality. We must start acknowledging the real America — the real America in which innocent black men get shot on the streets by the police, the real America in which a number of towns and cities are in a state of persistent decline, the real America

JULIANNA SCIONTI/the Justice

in which many Midwesterners are struggling with unemployment since deindustrialization.

We need to acknowledge that, geographically, America is a vast country. As such, it is easy to become insular, to engage only with the communities we identify with and ignore everyone else. There is so much diversity in this country, but as it stands, it is all for show. We can start with the youth and young adults, those most influenced by social media. Initiatives like school or college trips to different states could broaden understanding between communities.

For religious adults, conventions could be organized where communities with different beliefs come together to further interfaith understanding.

America has grown complacent. Many of its citizens are so subsumed in the privileges that come with living in a “first world country” that they are ignorant. The average American teen struggles to point out where on the world map Zimbabwe is located. Living in a country with so much wealth has left its citizens unquestioning as they take everything for granted. During Trump’s presidential term, Americans must start questioning everything.

This will prove important whenever scrolling down the newsfeeds of various social media, as, often, everything is not as it seems. Questioning everything will also be important in the wake of “alternative facts” and “fake news.” Perhaps many of the policies that will be established under Trump will be heralded as being for the good of the public when they may be inherently short-sighted or serve only the interests of a select population. It is here that we can put critical thinking to use. In this time, we should not only question newspaper articles, political speeches or television specials; we should also read, watch or engage with as much as we can with the hope of attaining a panorama of not only what is going on in America but also what is going on in the rest of the world.

America can consider Trump’s presidency a call to remain vigilant, to turn away from its smartphones and realize that battles like the Civil Rights Movement still are not over.

America can also consider Trump’s presidency a dose of humility, a drastic signal that is alerting it of just how much it has become subsumed in privilege — and how much it has lost touch with reality.

Continue to reduce the stigma surrounding eating disorders Jessica

Goldstein ubuntu

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, around 30 million Americans will be diagnosed with a clinical eating disorder in their lifetimes. However, there is a significant stigma surrounding these illnesses — including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS). Many believe the illness is self-inflicted and an expression of vanity, according to a report by Professor Gina Dimitropoulos from the University of Calgary.

This could not be any further from the truth.

According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), around 50 to 80 percent of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa patients have genetic ties — meaning those with family members who suffered from eating disorders are more likely to develop them.

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, making it more pressing for the public to be educated about these illnesses.

On Dec. 20, 2016, Massachusetts General Hospital released a report that revealed that approximately two-thirds of women with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa will recover. According to the study, previous reports indicated that only half recover

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within their lifetimes. While recovery occurs at a faster rate for those with bulimia, around 63 percent of those diagnosed with anorexia recovered from their eating disorder within 22 years, on average. The report highlights that eating disorders do not have to control a person for their entire life. While this report provides important insights into disordered eating, it should not allow individuals to be too at ease about the mortal risks of eating disorders.

“

Just like alcoholics and drug addicts, people with eating disorders cannot just stop without adequate support.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, the physical side effects of eating disorders include heart failure, osteoporosis, electrolyte imbalance and death — to name just a few. The death toll attributed to this disease is high; somewhere from five to 10 percent of its victims die within 10 years, and 18 to 20 percent die within 20 years, according to ANAD. Eating disorders not only are deadly but also are uniquely difficult to treat and have high relapse rates.

In recent years, individuals in the media have embraced the discussion of eating disorders with more open minds. In an Aug. 12, 2014 Glamour piece, “Girls” actress Zosia Mamet depicts her eating disorder

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as a monster. Her brush with ED began the first time someone called her fat; she was eight. Mamet says of her teenage years: “I used to stand in front of the refrigerator late at night staring into that white fluorescent light, debilitated by the war raging inside me: whether to give in to the pitted hunger in my stomach or close the door and go back to bed.

I would stand there for hours, opening and closing the door, taking out a piece of food then putting it back in; taking it out, putting it in my mouth, and then spitting it into the garbage.”

Finally, her dad drew the line and forced her to seek treatment. He grabbed her by the shoulders and told her, “You’re not allowed to die.” In her misery, she could not clearly see the effects her disease had on those around her. She received the support and treatment necessary to be what she calls “an addict in recovery.” However, there are so many others who never get this opportunity. Among these individuals is singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse.

The media’s obsession with beauty and thinness has graced the covers of every fashion magazine as thin models showcase the latest designer fashions. This creates the idea that to be thin is to be beautiful.

Winehouse’s affliction with bulimia nervosa was largely ignored and misunderstood by the media — and it began well before her problems with alcohol and her drug addiction. An August 6, 2015 Pitchfork article recounts the moment Winehouse told her mother that she found an extraordinary new diet — “eating and then vomiting — that allows her to eat without gaining weight” in Asif Kapadia’s documentary “Amy.” Both of Winehouse’s parents ignored the statement, thinking it would be something she would just grow out of. Winehouse never received treatment for

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her disorder for reasons including lack of early intervention and little support from those around her.

While Winehouse also struggled with both alcohol and drug addiction, the media circus failed to properly understand and depict all of her struggles. When they discussed her bulimia, it came from a very uneducated perspective — depicting finishing a giant plate of food as progress, according to the same Pitchfork article.

While the autopsy report claims that her cause of death was alcohol poisoning, her brother Alex blames her bulimia as a contributing factor. He said in an interview with the Observer Magazine that Amy’s affliction with bulimia “left her weaker and more susceptible. She would have died eventually, the way she was going, but what really killed her was the bulimia,” according to a June 22, 2013 article in the Guardian. Why didn’t the media ever discuss Winehouse’s disordered eating in the same light as her drug addiction or alcoholism?

The stigma against eating disorders in this country must stop. They are not as few and far between as many expect. Worse yet, they kill. While the new Mass General report may provide some interesting insights, we must not lose sight of how destructive these diseases can be to those affected. It is high time rehabilitation for eating disorders is treated with the same importance as rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addiction. Better yet, society should encourage more early intervention efforts. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are not self-inflicted but rather severe psychological illnesses. Just like alcoholics and drug addicts, people with eating disorders cannot just stop without adequate support.

It is time to start understanding 30 million Americans’ personal hell.

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12

TUESDAY, January 31, 2017 ● forum ● THE JUSTICE

FORUM

Evaluate political climate parallels in America and Poland

By Natalia Wiater JUSTICE editor

Protesters fill the streets, demanding reform.

Women call for the right to choose. Government officials criticize the press for its supposedly biased reporting on policies and government proceedings. The fate of the constitutional court is uncertain, with judicial appointments being disputed for months. The country’s government is completely controlled by a single right-wing party that has a majority in both legislative houses and heads the executive branch.

Across the Atlantic, 160,000 people watched the inauguration of the 45th president of the United States. The next day, half a million people participated in the Women’s March on Washington with the message that “women’s rights are human rights.” The new White House Press Secretary accused the press of “false reporting” of the inauguration crowd size. A seat on the Supreme Court has been growing colder since Feb. 13, 2016. The Republicancontrolled Senate and House are having an easy time passing laws, starting with a bill that paves the way for repealing the Affordable Care Act. Back across the Atlantic, Poland is struggling to maintain a transparent government. On Dec. 16, 2016, thousands of Poles gathered in protest in front of Parliament in Warsaw as a result of the ruling party’s restriction on reporters’ access to government operations, criticizing the new rules, according to a Dec. 16, 2016 AP article. News organizations could only have two correspondents and were now banned from the assembly room, forced to watch the proceedings from a balcony one floor up. And even these reporters had to have a “documented history of political reporting,” while others who did not fit this category were left to watch on a television screen in a different room. According to a Dec. 15, 2016 article on Gazeta.pl, an online news portal, reporters were only allowed to talk to politicians in a specifically designated room, which meant politicians who did not want to be interviewed could simply avoid said room if they chose.

As a result, people filled the streets chanting “Free media!” and the Polish Press Club organized its own protest, designating a media blackout on politics coverage, calling it “#dzienbezpolityków,” or “#daywithoutpoliticians” on social media.

Jarosław Włodarczyk, President of the Press Club, described the movement as “white, empty spaces in the newspapers. That will be the world in January, unless the changes [regarding reporters] are retracted,” according to a Dec. 16, 2016 Gazeta.pl article. Party lawmakers wanted “to protect themselves from uncomfortable

questions by journalists,” according to Monika Olejnik from TVN, a Polish news outlet, and the media disapproved of this restriction on the freedom of the press. The restrictions were retracted a few days later, but lawmakers promised to revisit the extent of journalists’ access to Parliament.

The lawmakers in question are members of PiS, or Law and Justice Party. Ever since they were voted into power in October 2015, they have been enjoying full control of the government; even the Opposition, comprised of seven different parties, trail behind PiS in the Sejm, or lower house of the Polish Parliament, by eight seats, according to an Oct. 25, 2015 New York Times article. PiS wants to restrict all abortions, except for those when the mother’s life is in danger, even though 74 percent of voters do not agree with the proposed bill, according to a Sept. 23, 2016 article in the Guardian.

The president of Poland, Andrzej Duda, has also faced criticism: He swore in five judges to the Constitutional Tribunal in the middle of the night, an act that inspired catchy names such as “overnight court” or “midnight judges.” The previous Sejm had also appointed five judges, but the president ignored these appointments, saying they were unconstitutional, so he worked with the new Sejm to appoint new ones. This sparked protests in Warsaw, and the Constitutional Tribunal declared three out of the previous appointees valid and accepted only two of the new appointees. The new Sejm now passed a law that would limit the Tribunal’s power. However, according to a March 12, 2016 BBC article, this law was declared unconstitutional by said Tribunal, a judgment that the Sejm and president refuse to accept, sparking another round of protests.

This is what can happen if one party has complete control of the government: There are no checks and balances because one side completely outweighs the other; decisions are completely one-sided. The Opposition in Poland has no say because, ultimately, it will always be outvoted. The current situation completely undermines democracy in Poland, allowing for laws that benefit a select few, not laws that benefit all.

This is what can happen in America; it is starting to happen already. So what’s to stop the situation from spiraling out of control? It seems as though every month, a state proposes new restrictions on abortion, making it increasingly difficult to get one. The Supreme Court vacancy is also troublesome: Many cases the Court views result in a tie, leaving the verdict to the Appeals Court. This is precisely the reason there are supposed to be nine justices: so that a tiebreaker is possible, so as not to sentence

AARON MARKS/the Justice

every case to a standstill.

For Poland, the answer to its problems is to protest; the people come together in support of a cause, and their cries are answered, at least some of the time. Their combined efforts with the media lifted the restrictions on reporters in Parliament, a successful defense of democracy and transparency. While Americans protest, as well, such large-scale protests are not as common and even those that are, such as the Women’s March, only show American unity but do not result in change. The Trump administration does not seem to be doing anything regarding the protesters’ demands and concerns, as no action has been made regarding the demands; instead, it is focused on how the “dishonest media” and the “failing New York Times” report on the protests. Trump is skilled at undermining the media and has made a large portion of the country believe that the media is reporting false news on purpose in order to take him down. Only 32 percent of Americans have a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in the media, according to a Sept. 14, 2016 Gallop poll, an issue that Trump can easily take advantage of. This makes it hard for the media to defend itself; its accurate coverage of politics is seen as biased. Instead of people protesting the unfair portrayal of the media by Trump and his

administration, they join him.

Americans should take note of Poland: While it is a country that is relatively on the periphery of international politics, it is still full of parallels to the situation Americans face today. While it has not fixed all of its problems, Poland has shown that its citizens are not afraid to push back against unfair policies and laws, particularly regarding the press, something U.S. citizens should pay attention to. While people are constantly outraged at Trump’s actions, there have only been a few major protests against him, which have not yet solved anything. Unless people constantly protest, write to their representatives and try to enact true change — not simply engage in criticism online — democracy will not prevail; instead, one ideology will have full control and not everyone will be fairly represented. Is that what Americans want? Do they want to distrust the media, live under a government that does not listen to all of its citizens and follow laws that did not meet the full standards of judicial review? There is a point at which the populace cannot do anything more except wait for the next elections, but what if waiting were not necessary, and change could be enacted now?

Take a look at Poland, and learn from a country you would not normally pay attention to.

Resist decline in American international and domestic affairs By cHAIEL SCHAFFEL JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Well, this was fun while it lasted. With the election of Donald J. Trump as the 45th president of the United States, among various other current events, things certainly look grim. Once truly towering, the "Great American Experiment” has taken on all the complexity of an eighth-grader’s baking soda volcano in a matter of months. Fundamentals such as a free and vibrant press and the accountability of elected officials have been called into serious question. Things are not much better across the pond, as Brexit, terrorism and a rise in radical nationalism rock Europe. The time has come to wonder whether the United States and the West have entered a decline reminiscent of the Great Depression, or, perhaps more dramatically, the collapse of the Roman Empire.

A theme of polarization in the West is becoming clear as segments of Western society retreat into their comfortable corners. The first evidence of decline is macro, in the way nations relate to one another. International meddling in United States elections, a widening trade deficit with traditionally non-Western countries, Trump’s mostly isolationist stance and China’s global posturing as a superpower all point to a downward turn in Western global power. The second is micro, or how countries relate to themselves internally. Heightened nationalist sentiment both in the U.S. and Europe, a severe income gap and plummeting faith in government hint that the West is beginning to splinter within its own borders.

The diminished ability for a country to properly conduct its own affairs is an obvious indicator of lessening global power. A joint report from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI confirmed evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, according to a Jan. 6 PBS article. It is difficult to overstate the precedent Russia has set. Running a fair, democratic election is one of the elements

that typically differentiates the developing world from established Western powers.

Europe, too, is not immune to Russia’s tampering. Germany, Holland and France have all been hit with Russian-orchestrated fake news campaigns, according to a Jan. 24 Telegraph article. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, for example, was subject to a particularly virulent torrent of fabricated stories that attacked her credibility, refugee policy and proposed sanctions against Russia.

China, an eminent global superpower, appears to have outfoxed the United States at every turn. The U.S. trade deficit with China, or the amount that we buy from China relative to how much we sell to it, is $367 billion, according a Jan. 9 article in The Balance. This means that we import a tremendous amount of Chinese goods and sell back relatively little, making us dependent on China.

“

Though the West itself seems to be on a downward trend, this decline is not inevitable.

Though President Trump took a strongly anti-China posture in his campaign, his withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership places the United States at a distinct disadvantage, according to Edward Alden of the Council on Foreign Relations.

The TPP was a type of leverage against China in order to prevent the country from hogging even more manufacturing employment and economic share. Though the trade agreement could have hurt U.S. manufacturing employment, on the macro scale, the U.S. withdrawal from the TPP gives China unchecked access to employers seeking

a cheap labor market.

Additionally, the military maneuvers that China has taken in the South China Sea and Russia’s hand in propping up Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in Syria are both cause for concern. Both of these moves signal an increasing air of military involvement from both superpowers. The outcome is a significantly more obsolete United States.

Naturally, more non-Western military involvement in regions that have traditionally been under the United States’ watchful eye would indicate that the country is beginning to become more irrelevant in terms of foreign affairs.

Internally, the West is not fairing much better. Far-right nationalist sentiment is bubbling to the forefront on the international stage. France’s Marine Le Pen, Holland’s Geert Wilders and a slew of other far-right populist leaders have risen to national prominence in their respective countries on the back of anti-migrant sentiment. These figures applauded Trump’s victory because he has expressed similar views in his campaign, according to a Jan. 21 Washington Post article.

Much of this language is reminiscent of the white nationalist movement in the United States. The National Policy Institute, a white nationalist think tank emboldened by the rise of Trump, considers immigration and high minority birth rates the main causes of white “dispossession,” or lack of having a totally white homeland, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Though xenophobia has always been a problem in U.S. history, it seems to have re-emerged as a powerful and more open force post-Trump. Consider the rise of Stephen Bannon, a trumpet for the frequently xenophobic alt-right movement, to Chief Strategist to the president.

Another hallmark of democratic cultural decline is the emergence of a tiny, supremely wealthy upper class and an enormous but desperately impoverished lower class.

Healthy cultures usually feature a prominent middle class. In 2013, the top one percent of American earners took home 20.1 percent of all

household income, according to the Economic Progress Institute. The gap in both earnings and culture between the highest-earning one percent and the other 99 percent constitutes yet another division that threatens to send the West into a downward spiral.

Finally, American trust in the federal government continues to crater at historically low levels. This remains true regardless of generation, race, political affiliation or education level, according to a 2015 Pew Research study. Twenty percent of the survey population expressed trust in the government — a figure dramatically smaller than 1964’s 75 percent. A lack of trust in the institutions that Americans once held sacred is indicative of a major cultural shift. This mindset certainly points to a decline in American idealism and spirit, if not a decline in government operations as a whole. The mindset itself, however, is not completely unwarranted, as frequent federal government shutdowns and the general inefficacy of Congress have run rampant in recent years.

These great schisms have permeated the West culturally, manifesting as a sense of tribalism, the idea that one must look out for his or her own — not first but only.

Though the West itself seems to be on a downward trend, this decline is not irreversible. One of the easiest ways to prevent Western decline is through the constant spread of objective, factual information about current events. Many are misled on social media by biased, erroneous, or even blatantly false news stories that run using unverified or unverifiable sources.

It is far too easy to become lost in our own “information bubbles,” in which the ideas that each side accepts as factual are not echoed or even considered by the other side. Before we can correct the current Western slide in culture and world affairs, we must emerge from our fractured culture bubbles and use the language of cold, objective fact over fiery emotional rhetoric. Only in this way will the West begin to patch itself together, instead of drawing further and further apart.

THE JUSTICE

MBBALL: Judges look to bounce back at home CONTINUED FROM 16 Judges fouled out of the game.

Until Friday’s game, the Judges had only committed as many as 22 fouls in any game this season.

The team shot well throughout the game, converting on more than half of their attempts during both halves of the contest. The squad struggled in overtime, shooting 13 percent from the field. Brandeis was dominated on the glass, where they were outrebounded 44-26 by Emory.

The Judges will play against the same competition next weekend, facing off with Emory on Friday

●

Sports ● JANUARY 31, 2017

13

MAKING IT RAIN

and Rochester on Sunday. Both games will be played at home at the Gosman Convocation Center.

With seven games left in the season, the Judges have a slim chance of evening out their record on the season. The team stands at 6-11, not a far cry from their 9-16 record of the 2015 season. Last February, the Judges lost every single game of the month, a feat they must hope not to repeat in order to move up in the standings.

With the team playing against Case Western Reserve University and New York University, the Judges will have a shot at at least two wins before the season ends.

SWIM: Squads look to improve WBBALL: Women working upon previous to get out of recent skid postseason meets

HEATHER SCHILLER/Justice File Photo

DROPPING THREES: Guard Julia St. Amand ’20 lines up her shot against Wentworth Institute of Technology on Nov. 18.

CONTINUED FROM 16

CONTINUED FROM 16 the level of expectations and effort amongst ourselves.” While looking back on the season feels important, he and the team are trying their hardest to focus on the task at hand: "For now, we're all looking forward to racing at our championship meet at UChicago next weekend."

The championship should be an exciting end to a long and actionfilled season for the talented squads. It definitely will not fail

to have a strong impact on the legacy of the Judges’ season. The hardworking swimmers will look to leave their marks as they build on their recent performances. The talent is there for these athletes, and they will look to put their impressive abilities on display.

The team will look to improve upon its previous performance in the champoinships. Last season, the men’s team placed in eighth, with 310 total points, while the women’s team placed in eighth with 331 points on the day.

on both sides of the court for the Judges. She notched 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds en route to a spectacular double-double to help keep the squad in the game. Jackson also defended the post well, adding a block. Forward Sydney Sodine ’17 was a force for the hard-fighting Brandeis team, as well, with nine points, three assists, four rebounds and a steal.

Judges 54, WashU 70 Brandeis started their most recent stretch of games this past Sunday with a hard-fought defeat at the hands

of Washington University in St. Louis 70-54. While both teams committed 14 turnovers, WashU made the most out of their opponents’ mistakes, scoring twice as many points off turnovers than the Judges.

Furthermore, as shot better from the field than Brandeis, 51.0 percent to 38.9 percent, and beat out the squad from behind the arc, 45.5 percent to 28.6 percent.

The Judges also tallied nine fewer assists, as they were unable to come away with the win.

Guard Katie Goncalo ’20 made the most of her seven minutes off the bench as she led the team in scoring with 10 points. She was perfect from behind the arc and shot 80 percent

from the field in an outstanding offensive showing. Jackson was a leader for the squad, dropping six points and five rebounds. She made her presence known on defense, as well, leading the team with a pair of steals. Guard Paris Hodges ’17 also had a nice day for the Judges with eight points and five rebounds in her 34 minutes on the court.

The Judges have almost matched their win total from last season in seven fewer games and have shown huge improvements from last year.

Brandeis’ season continues on Friday, as they will look to earn a much-needed win at home against Emory University.

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● Sports ●

Tuesday, JANUARY 31, 2017

15

Track and Field

jUDGES BY THE NUMBERS Men’s BASKETBALL TEAM STATS

UAA STANDINGS

Points Per Game

UAA Conference

W L WashU 7 0 Rochester 6 1 Emory 5 2 Carnegie 4 3 Chicago 3 4 JUDGES 2 5 NYU 1 6 Case 0 7

W 15 17 14 10 11 6 6 5

Overall L Pct. 3 .833 1 .944 4 .778 8 .556 7 .611 11 .353 11 .353 13 .278

UPCOMING GAMES: Friday vs. Emory University Sunday vs. University of Rochester Feb. 10 at Carnegie Mellon University

Jordan Cooper ’18 leads the squad with 15.4 points per game.

Player PPG

Jordan Cooper 15.4 Tim Reale 11.4 Robinson Vilmont 9.6 Nate Meehan 8.1

Rebounds Per Game Jordan Cooper ’18 leads the team with 5.6 rebounds per game.

Player RPG Jordan Cooper 5.6 Robinson Vilmont 5.6 Tim Reale 3.8 Latye Workman 3.5

WOMen’s basketball UAA STANDINGS

TEAM STATS Points Per Game

UAA Conference

W L W WashU 5 2 16 Rochester 5 2 14 Chicago 5 2 12 Carnegie 4 3 15 Emory 4 3 13 Case 3 4 11 JUDGES 2 5 10 NYU 0 7 10

Overall L Pct. 2 .889 4 .778 6 .667 3 .833 5 .722 7 .611 8 .556 8 .556

UPCOMING GAMES: Friday vs. Emory University Sunday vs. University of Rochester Feb. 10 at Carnegie Mellon University

Maria Jackson ’17 leads the team with 12.4 points per game.

Player PPG Maria Jackson 12.4 Paris Hodges 10.8 Frankie Pinto 7.8 Sydney Sodine 7.4

Rebounds Per Game Maria Jackson ’17 leads with 7.9 rebounds per game.

Player RPG Maria Jackson 7.9 Paris Hodges 6.3 Sydney Sodine 5.7 Hannah Nicholson 4.4

SWIMMING AND DIVING

NATALIA WIATER/Justice File Photo

PASSING THE BATON: Kayla Fahey ’20 outruns her opponent in a second-place relay win for the Judges on Jan. 14.

Teams impress with top-place finishes ■ Jumper Perry Churchill ’20 helped bring home the gold for the Judges with an impressive showing in the triple-jump.

By jerry miller Justice EDITOR

Results from a meet at Clark University on Jan. 28.

TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)

TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)

1000-yard freestyle

SWIMMER Sam Scudere-Weiss Justin Weissberg Andrew Baker

TIME 11:28.52 11:49.05 12:16.69

100-yard butterfly

SWIMMER TIME Hwanhee Park 1:02.47 Abby Damsky 1:08.26 Fallon Katz 1:17.28

UPCOMING MEETS: Feb. 8 at UAA Championship Feb. 17 at NEISDA Championship

TRACK AND FIELD TOP FINISHERS (Women’s) 200 meter dash

200 meter dash RUNNER TIME Regan Charie 23:47.00 Lorenzo Maddox 24:49.00 Adam Beckwith 25:02.00

RUNNER TIME Jessie Moore 27:46.00 Kayla Kurland-Davis 27:88.00 Kanya Brown 28:68.00

UPCOMING MEETS: Saturday at Tufts Cupid Inivitational Feb.10 at Valentine’s Invitational at Boston University

HEADING TO THE HOOP

DAISY CHEN/Justice File Photo

DRIVING IN: Guard Kyla Gabriel ’17 charges down to the post as she leads the way for the Judges against Johnson and Wales University on Dec. 3.

finish in the one-mile run with a time of 4:52.18. Maddie Dollins followed in stride with a time of 5:19.47.

Julia Bryson ’19 competed in the 5000-meter run and came away with a solid showing and a time of 18:03.89 to gain a spot among the top-35 runners.

Irie Gourde ’17 ran in two major events, coming away with a respectable top-25 finish in the 400-meter dash and a top-40 finish in the 200-meter dash.

Stender acknowledged that the Judges still have work to do to show the league they are contenders, explaining, “While we did lose some key scorers with the Class of 2016, that has only made us all want to step up and fill those spots. With how well cross went, we need to prove to the UAA yet again that we are a contender for a top three placement at the Championship.”

With multiple top-10 finishes by first years, the team is within reach of becoming a top-competitor in the coming years.

The team will continue its quest for gold on Feb. 4 at Tufts University.

fencing

Results from the Tufts Stampede Invitational on Jan. 28.

TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)

The Judges had a busy weekend running at the Tufts Stampede Invitational at Tufts University on Saturday and the Terrier Classic at Boston University on Friday.

The men had a solid showing at the Tufts Stampede, winning multiple top-10 spots on the day. In the preliminary 60-meter dash, Regan Charie ’19 reeled in a 10th place finish to start the day.

The Judges secured two top10 spots in the one-mile run, with Roger LaCroix ’18 and Max Whitmore ’18 finishing in eighth and ninth, respectively. The two finished exactly 10 seconds apart, with LaCroix crossing the marker at 4:32.00 and Whitmore following closely from behind.

In the triple-jump, the Judges had a field day, beating out the competition for a first-place medal. Credit goes to Perry Churchill ’20, who managed a 13.86 meter jump in the final round to take home the gold hardware.

The Judges’ lone performer in the heptathlon, Allan Jack ’20, squeezed into fourth place overall with a couple of silver finishes. Jack took second place in the high jump and 60-meter hurdles events.

The women added their own accolades to the stash, with Jessie Moore ’18 securing two top-10 finishes. Moore flew past the competition in a mere 27.46 in the 200-meter dash to land a cool 10thplace finish. Moore showed her athleticism and versatility with another 10th-place finish in the long jump. With a jump of 4.63 meters in the final round, Moore out jumped her competition by a mere .1 meter.

With separate meets occurring on the same weekend, the Judges sent Emily Bryson ’19 — among others — to Boston University. Bryson came out with a commendable 13th-place

Judges shine as both squads come out on top ■ Foil fencer Jessica Gets

’20 led her squad to victory with an impressive showing against Wellesley College.

By EVAN ROBINS JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The Brandeis fencing teams were on the road this week as the women’s team competed at Wellesley College on Wednesday and both women’s and men’s teams made their way to Brown University on Saturday for their second Northeast Fencing Conference meet of the season. Both teams performed at a high level and move forward into the final stretch of the season with well-deserved confidence.

At Wellesley, the women defeated their rival 16-11, led by victories in foil and epee. Foil fencers Jessica Gets ’20, Joanne Carminucci ’19 and Chaya Schapiro ’17 were standout performers, pacing Brandeis foil to a 7-2 victory over their Wellesley opponents. Epee also won their weapon category, doing so by a comfortable 6-3 margin. Despite the final result, the outcome was not always certain. Needing only one bout win to secure the victory and prevent Wellesley from a 3-0 run to take the

match, Brandeis’ Savannah Bishop ’17 stepped up and defeated her opponent, ending the suspense. This was the Brandeis women’s second match win this regular season against Wellesley.

Continuing their winning ways, the Brandeis women once again returned from competition with great success, compiling a 4-1 overall record in the Northeast Fencing Conference meet on Saturday. This included dominant wins against Vassar College (20-7) and Dartmouth College (17-10), accompanied by nail-biters against Tufts University (14-13) and Brown University (15-12), with their sole loss coming against Boston College (11-16).

Women’s foil once again held strong, propelling the team to their victories against Tufts and Brown with consecutive 7-2 bout records, marking an incredible overall 5-0 day for foil. “I think some of the team’s success can be attributed to the momentum from having won last year’s title, as well as the dedication and enthusiasm that both new and old members bring to the team,” said Carminucci.

The men’s fencing team also had great success in Rhode Island, sweeping their way through the

meet with an impressive 5-0 record.

This was their second time this season coming out on top over their conference competition, as they also ran through the first meet of the Northeast Fencing Conference undefeated in November. Like the women’s team, these victories included a combination of landslides, such as their 25-2 and 23-4 routs over Dartmouth and Tufts, respectively, as well as close calls in the form of 15-12 wins over Vassar and Boston College and a 14-13 defeat of Brown.

First, against Brown, men’s sabre broke the 9-9 tie after Brandeis took a 7-2 lead with foil answered by Brown’s own 7-2 win with epee. Led by the bout of victories by Kyle Berney ’18 and Curtis Wilson ’18, men’s sabre was able to come back from a 3-4 deficit to take the 5-4 sabre lead and, in turn, the 14-13 match win.

After taking foil 7-2 and dropping epee by the same margin, men’s saber once again closed out the match, winning their bouts with a record of 6-3 for the 15-12 win. “We were mentally well-prepared for the tough matches,” Wilson said. “I think that the whole team was pumped by the climactic ending to our match with Brown, helping in the final match with BC.”

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LIVING IN PARRY-DISE Both the men’s and women’s fencing squads dominated this past weekend at the Northeast Fencing Conference Meet, p. 15.

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

DROPPING DIMES

Women drop three in tough stretch ■ Center Maria Jackson ’17

dominated with 15 points and 13 rebounds in a close loss against Emory University.

By Ben katcher JUSTICE editorial assistant

The women’s basketball team was unable to get out of their recent slump this past week with three more losses.

The Judges were unable to pick up their 11th win of the season after losing to Washington University in St. Louis, Emory University and the University of Rochester. All three opponents were from the conference, and the squad is still looking to find their way to the top of the pack.

Judges 77, Rochester 58 Brandeis ended their week with their fourth consecutive loss, as they were unable to defeat the University of Rochester 75-58. The loss dropped their record to 10-8. After a tough first quarter, the Judges played competitively, but they were unable to build enough momentum to overcome their opponents.

The University of Rochester team

Waltham, Mass.

displayed better ball movement with seven more assists than the Judges and also outrebounded the squad by a noteworthy 10 boards to take home the win.

Guard Noel Hodges ’18 led the way for the Judges with a team-high 13 points. She also added five rebounds and two assists and was perfect from the line. Forward Maria Jackson ’17 had a stellar game for the squad, as well, picking up 11 points, three rebounds and an assist. She put in work on defense, as she was tied for the team lead with two steals and a clean block.

Judges 50, Emory 61 Just two days before, Brandeis lost in a close contest against conference rival Emory University on Friday 6150. The Judges kept the game close through all four quarters of play but were slightly edged out until the final buzzer. While the squad kept up with Emory on the boards and from the field, Emory displayed an impressive amount of hustle with nine more points on the fast break, ultimately leading to their narrow victory over the Judges.

Jackson was an absolute menace

See WBBALL, 13 ☛

SWIMMING AND DIVING

Swimmers come away with mixed results ■ Cameron Braz ’17 was

outstanding for the Judges as he won two gold medals against Clark University.

By lev brown JUSTICE staff writer

The Brandeis men’s and women's swimming and diving teams participated in their final regular season meet on Saturday, Jan 28 against the Clark University Cougars in Worcester, MA. For the men, there were several first place finishers, leading them to a strong 188-96 win. On the women's side, the Judges didn't seem have enough in them to overtake Clark, as they lost 165-117. The teams now look ahead to their final meet of the season, the University Athletic Association championship at the University of Chicago on Feb 8.

It was a dominant performance in many ways for the men in their last event of the regular season. In an astounding win, they managed to beat the Cougars in 12 of 16 races, with six individual Judges winning at least one race. Cameron Braz ’17 won two freestyle races, including the 50-yard freestyle, which he took by more than a full second, coming in at 22.54 seconds.

He also took the 500-yard with a time of 5:05.57. He continued to contribute to the team's success in other races, helping it win big in the 200-medley and 400-meter freestyle relays.

Teammate Edan Zitelny '17 also managed to win two events. He crushed the 100-yard butterfly, coming in first place in 54.97 seconds, and completed the 200yard backstroke in 2:03.51. This was a great last meet of Zitelny's college career as he displayed his ability with typical but nonetheless

impressively quick swimming.

Tamir Zitelny ’20, also performed at a top level, winning the 100yard freestyle with a time of 50.10 and the 200-yard medley with a standout time of 2:05.89.

Daniel Haid ’20 earned the first two wins of his college career, performing at a tremendously high caliber level and winning first place in the 100-yard backstroke as well as cruising to first place in the 50-yard butterfly.

Additionally, Taku Harada '18 won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:51.72, barely finishing ahead of Tamir Zitelny. Jake Avery '20 won the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:22.84.

Overall for the men, their promising talent is beginning to show, especially when looking ahead toward next week's championship meet.

On the women's side, there was less success, as they lost 165-117.

Nonetheless, they still managed to secure wins in a few categories.

Natalya Wozab '20 won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:12.93.

Kylie Herman ’19 won the 100yard freestyle in 57.01 seconds, and Phillipa Zheku ’20 managed to secure another win, coming first in the 200-yard backstroke in 2:19.67.

After a hard fought season, the Judges look ahead to the championship meet where they will race at the University of Chicago starting Feb. 8. After a strong conclusion to the regular season, they look to challenge the other competitive schools in the UAA for an even stronger finish to the 2017 postseason.

When asked about the entire season, Tamir Zitelny looks back with positivity: "To be able to be a part of the team with these other swimmers has been rewarding as an athlete, as we all push each other, constantly raising

See SWIM, 13 ☛

HEATHER SCHILLER/Justice File Photo

STIFF ARM: Guard Brian Mukasa ’19 hurries the ball down the court against a tough Suffolk University press on Nov. 15.

Squad extends losing streak to four games ■ Forward Latye Workman

’18 was the leader for the squad, scoring a team-high 14 points on the day.

By NOAH HESSDORF JUSTICE EDITOR

The men’s basketball team lost two road conference games this weekend. On Sunday afternoon, the Judges fell to University Athletic Association foes the University of Rochester and Emory University on Friday evening.

Rochester 67, Judges 56 The club was competitive throughout, but they were ultimately edged by the No. 7 team in the nation. Forward Latye Workman ’18 was the leader for the squad on the day, scoring a team-high 14 points. Workman was perfect on the day from the free throw line, going 6 for 6 while also collecting three rebounds. Most impressive for Workman was that he accomplished all that in only 20 minutes of action.

Forward Jordan Cooper ’18 was

all over the stat board, scoring 10 points, grabbing five rebounds down low, dishing out two assists.

With his 10 points, Cooper is now a mere 46 points away from earning a place in Brandeis lore as a 1,000-point scorer. Right now, he ranks as the 35th-highest scorer in University history.

Guard Robinson Vilmont ’17 also collected five rebounds in the losing effort, also contributing nine points and three steals. Classmate and fellow guard Jack Fay ’17 recorded five rebounds to go along with eight points. For the game as a whole, the Judges shot 40 percent overall from the field while only knocking down 20 percent from behind the 3-point arc. The team shot 8-11 from the free-throw line, while their counterparts in the Yellowjackets shot a perfect 11-11 from the charity stripe. The Judges are now 2-5 in UAA play and 6-11 overall.

Emory 94, Judges 85 The Judges also fell to another UAA opponent in the Emory Eagles on Friday night. The visiting Brandeis squad led through most of the game and relinquished a 17-point lead they had generated

halfway through the second half.

Emory went on a 19-2 run to even the game as regulation concluded and then cruised to the victory off by outscoring the Judges by 11.

The club made their mark toward the end of the first half, in which they went on an enormous 24-2 run to go into halftime with a 12-point lead. In the second half, the squad was led by Fay, who scored a total of 19 points, 16 of which he recorded in the second half. Fay played 39 minutes, the most of his career, in which he converted upon all three of his opportunities from behind the arc.

Guard Tim Reale ’17 also contributed 19 points, only missing four minutes of action. A third senior, forward Sam Dowden ’17, also scored double-digit points with 12 points of his own. In addition to the scoring output, Reale and Fay each contributed four assists each.

The Judges were let down by their discipline, committing an egregious 35 fouls. Cooper in particular was plagued by foul trouble, playing only eight total minutes during the contest. For the game as a whole, five different

See MBBALL, 13 ☛

Vol. LXIX #16

Waltham, Mass.

just

January 31, 2017

ARTS

Images: Creative Commons and Yvette Sei/the Justice Design: Natalia Wiater/the Justice.

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THE JUSTICE | Arts | TUESDAY, January 31, 2017

comedy show review

Comedians combat bigotry and racism JOYCE YU/the Justice

HARD-HITTING HUMORISTS: Comedians discuss the uncomfortable political climate on Saturday evening for ‘DEIS Impact.

Muslim Student Association, Brandeis Interfaith Group and Common Ground. A moderate number of students and community members attended the show in Levin Ballroom.

On the event website, organizers described the event as such: “Performed by liberal Jewish comedian Scott Blakeman and Palestinian Muslim-American comedian Dean Obeidallah, “Stand Up for Peace” “breaks new ground by finding common ground.”

Blakeman and Obeidallah used humor to make resonant and unfiltered comments about the Jewish, Arab and American culture.

Given the current political climate — a PEW study from November 2016 noted American voters are more likely now than in 2014 to stick to their party ideologies and have more negative views of opposing parties; President Trump launched a sweeping immigration ban on Saturday; the country feels otherwise locked into a state of tension — many of the night’s jokes felt more pointed.

Who would have thought, for example, that Obeidallah’s question

By brooke granovsky justice Staff writer

According to Merriam Webster online, the definition of “politically correct” is: “conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend political sensibilities (as in matters of sex or race) should be eliminated.” People often level this term against liberal universities, arguing that these places silence dissent and dialogue by trying too hard to be inoffensive. But the ’DEIS Impact festival as a whole — and Saturday’s “Stand Up for Peace: if we can laugh together,” we can live together event in particular — complicate this idea. ’DEIS Impact is a series of workshops, discussions and performances centered around the critical examination of social justice. Open to the public, the series looks at a variety of issues — from reproductive health to immigration to the Arab-Israeli/ Palestinian-Israeli conflict — from different perspectives. Saturday’s “Stand Up for Peace” was the 12th Impact event — the third that day — and was co-sponsored by the Brandeis

about the number of Muslim students in the audience could segue into a joke about how, in the time of Trump, it might not be safe to answer that question in the future?

Yet this joke — honest if maybe offensive in some contexts — also demonstrates the ways the event defied the liberal college stereotype.

In Blakeman’s set, one train of thought followed what college dorms might be like if the dorms’ reputations matched that of their namesakes.

A Bill Clinton residence hall, for example, would be the most fun, and if its students were written up, would never admit to partying (“it depends on what you mean by partying,” responded Blakeman).

A George Bush dorm might have intense rivalries with other dorms for no reason. A Trump residence hall? Whites only. Depending on your sense of humor, this joke either lands or it doesn’t. But beyond that, the joke plays on Trump’s ties to white supremacy in a candid and thus important, way.

Blakeman touched on the intersection of Jewish culture and politics with observations about how Bernie

Sanders looks like any Jewish guy over 40, how rabbis speak too slowly to compete in the fast-paced political arena and how Israeli telethons often fundraise for counterintuitive causes. The telethons, often run by Jewish organizations, raise money for medical research and environmental causes, Blakeman explained. But what if Israel used state funds for these items, and telethons for the Ministry of Defense?

As Blakeman put it, these telethons would leave state funding for important domestic issues and would make telethon pitches far more entertaining: “We have a lot of countries to invade, but we can only do it if those phones are ringing!”

Obeidallah talked about the continued discrimination against Muslim and Arab people in America.

He noted that his wife, an actress, was cast in “Homeland” as something other than a terrorist.

The crowd cheered. The punch line, both of the joke and of the way minorities are treated by the entertainment industry, was that this unusual and tolerant role was that of a terrorist’s wife.

A darker joke drew on similar subjects, adding intersectionality to the theme of Islamophobia. After discussing and humorously acting out former President Barack Obama’s visit to a mosque, Obeidallah joked about the Republican response to the visit.

The political right, claiming that Obama looked too comfortable in the setting, added the visit to the list of irrefutable evidence that Obama was secretly a Muslim. At this, Obeidallah commented that Obama’s detractors could not publicly degrade him with racial slurs, so they called him a Muslim instead.

The night’s pointed and poignant humor spoke to the event’s intention of starting dialogue, as well as to the ’DEIS Impact festival’s overarching goal to raise awareness of social justice issues. Blakeman and Obeidallah’s sets were clever, inventive and perceptive.

Their jokes help complicate the idea that liberal college students are too fragile to hear or make fun of serious political issues. In fact, shows like this might be exactly what 2017 needs.

open mic night

HEATHER SCHILLER/the Justice

HEATHER SCHILLER/the Justice

INFLUX OF INSTRUMENTS: A student band performs a variety of styles of music, with impressive solos.

GUITAR HERO: Eli Kengmana ’19 exhibits exceptional guitar handiwork, exciting and intriguing the audience.

Student musicians shine at open mic Stein Night

By Isabelle truong justice Staff writer

A packed Stein this past Friday night allowed students to not only satisfy late-night cravings but also do so with free live music by fellow students. The laid-back and chill environment was a great way to start off the weekend — it was not until a couple of hours later that the usual post-party rush inundated the restaurant further. Even at the very start, the audience could be described as quite packed and remained so until close to the end.

Cheering and applause, signs of the audience’s enthusiasm, permeated the room throughout the night.

Listeners consisted primarily of close friends of the performers.

Hosted by WBRS: Student Music, each act performed pieces, some original and some covers, that spanned multiple, eclectic genres.

The evening started off with Michael Harlow’s ’19 acoustic cover of Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking out Loud,” a song that many recognized and thoroughly enjoyed: a good beginning for sure. Harlow also MC’d the event.

To follow, Eli Kengmana ’19 showcased his dexterous skills on the acoustic guitar. Performing two songs, his set incorporated intricate hammer-ons, pull-offs, percussive slapping, harmonics and more complex techniques which really stood out as he did not rely on vocals. Kengmana performed with extreme focus yet effortless follow through — his cool guitar movements and sounds intrigued many in the audience.

In Flux, the next band to perform, consisted of electric jazz guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and alto saxophone. They played jazz pieces with a more contemporary spin —

some of the music included Amos Lee and John Coltrane with Jordan Mudd ’20 as both lead guitar and vocals. The next pieces that In Flux performed without vocals featured impressive solos.

Especially notable were the saxophone and drums, which smoothly flowed in and out of the groove pocket, also showing a professional level of unspoken interaction between each of the players.

Arjun and the Vectors, with frontman Arjun Rajan ’20, switched things up with all original music.

What sounded like rock, with perhaps some Nirvana and ’90s garage band influences, proved itself to be innovative, as well. In addition to the traditional guitar, bass and drum-heavy sound, the saxophone really switched things up and made Arjun and the Vectors’ music unique.

In addition to rock and jazz style

music, Josh Cohen ’20, Clements Park ’20, Skyler Gelinas ’20 and Sam Aronson ’20 performed songs which seemed to borrow elements from the folk side of things, with Gelinas on the cajón. Just Aronson and Cohen played next after the previous set finished, with simply the two vocals and acoustic guitars — songs were reminiscent of bluegrass country with intense and animated strumming compared to the lo-fi sounds of that of the rock bands that played.

However, by the increased amount of cheering and applause, Hangil Ryu ’20, one of the last performers, was definitely a favorite. Ryu performed R&B and rap originals, rapping to the beat incredibly smoothly, an interesting change from the rest of the acts that night.

To slow things down slightly, Alina Shirley ’19 played a few songs

on the slower, more mellow side, including a cover of James Arthur’s “Say You Won’t Let Go” featuring beautiful vocals.

After Shirley, sets were mostly acoustic guitar covers and single artists or duos. At this point, the Stein became less crowded. Toward 1 a.m., students began to leave, with a couple of partygoers exchanging places.

The night ended with a jazz, big band-esque finale which brought back to the stage multiple instruments: keys, drums, guitar, bass, etc. Players came together to perform one last enthusiastic, groovy piece, which successfully concluded the event.

From rap to bluegrass to rock, each band contributed unique sound. Seeing Brandeis’ students perform with such passion really showed the wide array of musical talent we have on campus.

THE JUSTICE i arts i TUESDAY, January 31, 2017

poetry slam

Final slam spotlights Brandeis poets

YVETTE SEI/the Justice

YVETTE SEI/the Justice

PUNCH-LINE POET: Rubinstein ’20 uses humor in his poetry to discuss sexism and double standards.

STRIKING SLAM: Olivia Nichols ’20 slams about her experiences as a Japanese American.

By Hannah kressel justice editor

Brandeis freshman Jack Rubinstein ’20 put together a final slam, hosted by Dean of Student Life, Jamele Adams, in Cholmondeley’s Coffee House, this past Saturday evening. An end to a series of slams from last semester, the night was a competition for slam poets on campus, allowing those who scored highest to compete in the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational.

While the competition resulted in a single winner — Victoria Richardson ’20 — the five top scoring poets now make up Brandeis’ newly revived Slam Team. Many of the slams struck the crowd silent with pressing themes and dramatic presentation, contrasting with Jamele Adams’ comedic interlude between performances in the coffee house atmosphere.

Spoken word poetry — performed at events called slams — offers a gateway into the narratives behind poetry. Historically a highly politicized art form, slam poetry allows literary expression to breach the separation of viewer and artist, edging into activism. Although slams are not required to be political commentary or address current events, the majority of the poetry performed Saturday addressed Trump

directly and his actions to limit immigration into America, as well as race relations and police brutality.

Although many in the crowd — a group of 40 people — were poets themselves, the beauty of a slam is that no one really knows what to expect.

Any person can go up and perform whatever they want — assuming they keep to the three minute time limit—which kept the audience engaged, at the ends of their seats, ready for each performer. The only alert the audience had to the beginning of a poem was when the poet would make eye contact with the crowd. This meant a poet had the ability to start walking on stage, to the side of the microphone or standing a few feet away from the microphone. This is a unique feature to slamming — a feature that allows an intimate interaction between viewer and poet.

Starting off the night, two “sacrificial” poets performed their work, priming the audience, five randomly chosen judges and 13 competitors for the events to come. Although these poets were not officially a part of the competition, they still performed with surprising emotional intensity and clarity. Although only seven competitors continued to the second round, each poet finished with grace to thunderous

applause from the audience.

The first round had the most competitors and, also, the widest range of topics. While Alina Shirley ’19 invited the audience to jog their memories regarding novels — and the narrow, almost-expected idea that a novel include a love story — in her slam about asexuality; Michael Solowey’s ’19 poem included an anecdotal story about a boy inspiring us to respond to the current presidency with strength, to fight back rather than sit passively. This first round allowed a wide-range of topics and styles to be explored — a sampler of sorts, showing the wide range of expression spoken word poetry allows the poet to evoke as well as the wide range of topics spoken word poetry is conducive to.

Continuing to the next round, with a much smaller group of competitors, the pressure became more apparent. Watching each performance, it seemed absurd to put a numerical value on each person’s poem. Every poem was evocative and unique, guaranteed to give each judge a difficult time in distinguishing which poets had to be cut from the final round.

One of the most powerful works, written and performed by Nia Duncan ’20, stunned the crowd into silence at its raw delivery. Although she shouted at points in her performance — a

manner not typically associated with poetry — she did so with awareness, allowing her poem to be all the more poignant, reminding the audience of the power of a slam.

Not every poem was this dark, however.

Jack Rubinstein’s poem, for example, was quite a humorous play about the embarrassment associated with hickeys — inviting laughter and lighter emotion into the coffee house, all the while addressing the unfair double standards and sexism in modern hookup culture. Liv Perozo’s ’20 first poem addressed racism she has experienced and unjust generalizations about Latinx and Hispanic people with a much more cynical comedy.

While all the poems throughout the night were greeted with applause, and each was impressive in its own right, at the end of the evening, only five people were given a spot on Brandeis’ Slam Team, the members include: Nia Duncan ’20, Liv Perozo ’20, Jack Rubinstein ’20, Olivia Nichols ’20 and the overall top-scoring poet of the evening, Victoria Richardson ’20. The night was a creative way to highlight the wide-ranging talents of Brandeis students as well as to showcase the power of art in addressing personal experience, bigotry and politics.

pop culture

Posters express conflicting themes of March

By Anna Stern justice Staff writer

On the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration, Jan. 20, 2017, three of the female writers on “Late Night with Seth Myers” performed a segment during which Myers asked them their reasons for attending the Women’s March in Washington, D.C. a day later.

Amber Ruffin (an African American woman), Jenny Hagel (a lesbian woman) and Ally Hord (a straight, white woman) all provided different answers based on their personal identifications.

Hord said that her reason for attending was to “speak out against sexual assault and normalizing locker room talk.” Hagel believes “as a gay woman [that] the key message of the march is that there will be consequences if the Supreme Court tries to overturn [LGBTQ individuals] equal rights.

Ruffin’s reasoning is that, as an African American woman, she will be attending to protest “voting rights suppression and gerrymandering.” Three different women with three different reasons for attending what CNN and other news sites called the biggest protest in American history with over 1 million people from all 50 states and across the world.

Despite the various reasons for attending, each participant expressed themselves by creating eccentric protest signs that displayed their reasoning for attending the march. These signs were unique works of art that added to the communal nature of the march. Many signs expressed the discontentment toward Trump and his close relationship with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

One sign was a bag of Cheetos — a nickname Trump has because of his orange skin tone — that said, “Not my president.”

Lots of signs made jokes about Trump’s appearance, as well as about his close relationship with Putin.

One sign was about Trump’s wife Melania with a slogan that said, “If there was a ban on immigrants where would Trump have gotten his wife.” Many signs depicted Trump’s cabinet picks and future plans to get rid of the Affordable Care Act,

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

PRETTY POSTERS: The many posters from the Women’s March highlighted contrasting messages marchers expressed. also known as ObamaCare.

However, the majority of the signs referred to the Trump Administration’s proposed plan to take away federal funding for Planned Parenthood, as well as to overturn Roe v. Wade in response to the growing Pro-Life movement.

In fact, many women and men were wearing knitted pink hats that resembled cat heads in response to Trump’s demeaning insults about women. It is because of the popularity of these hats and the accompanying signs that the Women’s March became a march for women’s rights.

The Women’s March on Washington’s

website says that this isn’t so. According to the Women’s March website’s list of Unity Principles, they believe in more than just “ending violence, reproductive rights, LGBTQIA rights, and civil rights.” Marchers also protested for immigrant rights, environmental justice, disability rights and worker’s rights, as well.

The overall response to the march is best represented in one sign which read, “I’ll see you nice white ladies at the next #BlackLivesMatter march, right?” The main criticism of the march is that white women showed up because they felt like this was about them.

However, in order to truly create a world with intersectional feminism, all women need to show up for causes, especially those pertaining to marginalized groups.

Hord closed out the “Late Night with Seth Myers” sketch by saying, “At the end of the day, we all agree this is about women from different backgrounds, coming together making sure that this administration protects our rights.”

Hord’s point illustrates how various marches from across the world created a movement, one in which all people — regardless of race, class, sexuality and gender — can stand up for what is right.

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TUESDAY, January 31, 2017 | Arts | THE JUSTIce

Brandeis TALKS

INTERVIEW

wf

What is your choice for Best Motion Picture at the Oscars?

Abby Miranker ’20

Victoria Richardson ’20

“I’m really into documentaries, and this documentary came out in Dec. 2016 about a ballerina called Sergei Polunin from a really poor part of Ukraine, and it’s about his story, because he got into the royal ballet. It’s called ‘Dancer.’ It’s so good; its incredibly well done.”

MORGAN BRILL/the Justice

This week, justArts spoke with Victoria Richardson ’20, the winner of the Slam that took place at Chum’s this past Saturday. justArts: Why do you slam? Is the poetry you slam separate from the poetry you just mean to read?

ROMAN LOPER/the Justice

Jordan Prudhomme ’20 “I still haven’t seen ‘La La Land,’ but I’m gonna vote for it anyway, because it should be the best picture and it’s fantastic.”

Noah Somberg ’20

“I’m not sure I’ve seen a movie in, like, six months.”

Tricia Cordischi ’18 “Mine is ‘La La Land.’ I’ve seen it twice and really want to see it again.”

—Compiled by Jen Geller and photographed by Natalia Wiater/ the Justice.

STAFF’S Top Ten

Top 10 Classrooms Least Conducive for Learning

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Taken _____ 6 Word before Genesis 10 Divulge a secret 14 2017 show featuring Tom Hardy as James Delaney 15 Former flames 16 Word that used to have a circumflex accent 17 Reality TV show about aliens in “District 9”?

19 Knowing about, as a joke 20 Story ______ 21 Alternative to window 22 Encouraged, with “on” 23 9-Down, in another sense 25 Character in “Pearls Before Swine” 26 Catch (a criminal) 27 Military detachment 29 Indignation 33 Oliver who directed “JFK” 36 Win bread, so to speak 38 “_____ You” (song covered by Louis Armstrong) 39 Coke and Pepsi, for two 40 Director Lee 41 ______ Pops 42 Once more 43 Prog-rock band with Carl 11 Pine (for) Palmer as drummer 12 Type of balm 44 “To _____ own self be true” 13 Oregon city 45 Turn off, as an alarm 18 Call girl?

47 Landmark at 11 Wall St. 22 Chow down 49 Still 24 Reality TV show about 50 See 41-Down delinquent matriarchs?

51 Drops some rhymes 26 One with a lot of habits?

55 Garden feature 28 Classic game console, for short 58 Horse owner’s need 29 Words on an ID 60 Sucker, to a scammer 30 Against 61 Prefix before cop or copy 31 Narrow valley 62 Reality TV show about saving 32 Brontë protagonist cows, pigs and sheep?

33 Large number 64 Tiny thing 34 Novelist Morrison 65 Butter substitute 35 Corrida cheers 66 Pernod flavoring 37 Darth Vader’s nickname, once 67 Poor grades 41 They can see last-minute 68 Draft 50-Across 69 Worked at, as a trade 43 Key that helps call Task Manager DOWN 46 Samantha of “Full Frontal” 1 How some stocks are sold 48 WWI battle site 2 Suffix with cine50 A crowd, per an adage 3 Cash crop in the 52 Abbr. in computing Philippines used to make 53 What two vertical lines may paper represent 4 Intimidate 54 Movie Homer Simpson 5 Expensive coffee brand mistakenly called “The Bus That 6 Calms Couldn’t Slow Down” 7 The “Enemy Within” of 55 Former senior “XCOM: Enemy Within” 56 (Of) importance 8 Star of “An Officer and a 57 Black wind Gentleman” 58 Blowout 9 Biblical animal 59 “You _____ what you sow” 10 Reality TV show that takes 62 Denver who played Gilligan place in a nautical prison?

63 Sketchy show?

JA: Do you want to elaborate on why you choose to write and what you write about?

CROSSWORD COURTESY OF EVAN MAHNKEN

VR: The hardest part is having people put a number to what you write. I never think about it in terms of how deep my metaphors may be or how good the performance is. I think of it as raw things that are on my mind, raw experiences. So when people put a number on it — and usually slams don’t tell you what the number is — to hear when people put a number on it, and you feel like you wrote a 10 and they give you a 7 on it, you’re like, Wow. The number is hard — it’s like putting a number on an experience.

JA: What happens now that you’ve won?

SOLUTION COURTESY OF EVAN MAHNKEN

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.

justice editor

I gladly tell all who will listen that I love Brandeis, but there is one thing that has always bothered me: the subpar classrooms I am forced into a continuous basis. I try not to choose my courses based on classrooms, but sometimes I have no choice.

1. Golding 101 2. Pollack Lecture Hall 3. Pearlman Hall 113 4. Anything in Goldsmith 5. Basement of Schiffman 6. Slosberg 212 7. Upstairs floor of Brown 8. Mandel G11 9. GZang 123 10. Rainbow Room

Solution to last issue’s sudoku

Sudoku Copyright 2014 Tribune News Service, Inc. Puzzle courtesy of www.sudokuoftheday.com

VR: A lot of what I write has to do with my own personal experiences or things I witness or things that make me angry.

Like I tell people a lot, I don’t write pretty poetry. I don’t write about the wonderful parts of falling in love — I write about the heartbreak. A lot of my stuff is angry, very political I guess you could say. Because those are thing that affect me the most — like race, gender and sexuality. I feel like a lot of it is what I experience and what I witness and what makes me angry.

JA: What is the hardest part about slamming for you?

SUDOKU

By NOAH HESSDORF

Victoria Richardson: I’m a poet and stepper, so I guess you could say I’m a performer at heart. I started writing poetry and slam as an outlet in, like, fifth grade. I didn’t realize it was poetry because I always had this idea that poetry has to rhyme. Then I really started paying attention to it in eighth grade. I guess it’s just always been an outlet for me to get things off of my chest. My poems are usually free-writes that turn into poetry. I never really write with the intention of, Hey, I’m going to write a masterpiece. It’s more like, This is just on my chest; hey, let me write it. I never think about my writing as performance — I never write it and think, Hey I’m going to write this. It just kind of happens.

VR: So, we are going to a national slam in Chicago. So, there are multiple teams competing. I’m not sure how this one specifically is going, but usually there are multiple teams, and they all slam, and you get judged. It’s like the slam here — the only thing that is different is that you work with a team. With slam teams, it’s different; you come together to write the poem. You perform together and get judged as a group.

JA: Any last things you want to add?

VR: Well, first of all, I wasn’t even going to go to the slam. My friend, Bethel, who was the first sacrificial poet, dragged me out of my room and was, like, You’re going to go out and do this. At first, I thought it was just an open mic and that I’d say something old and carry on with my life. I didn’t know there were judges until Jamele [Adams] said so. I’m happy [Bethel] did drag me out. I haven’t been writing lately, and just going out and getting all the positive feedback makes me want to go back and write again — I don’t want to sit on my talent. I’m inspired to go back.

—Hannah Kressel