The Justice, February 7, 2023

STUDENT UNION

Union releases election results, hosts town hall

■ The Student Union’s varying branches explained each of their responsibilities at the town hall and released election results from their recent elections.

By MAX FEIGELSON JUSTICE UNION CORRESPONDENT

The Student Union held a town hall on Feb. 2 to answer student questions and give updates on various projects they are in the process of working toward. Student Union President Peyton Gillespie ’25 opened the event by welcoming the attendees and explaining the structure of the Union.

Gillespie gave an overview of the five branches of the Union: Executive Board, Senate, Judiciary, Allocations Board, and Treasury. He said that each branch operates in coordination with the others and that the Union has “checks and balances” to prevent any one branch from overpowering the others. He then introduced the various branch heads, who gave more detailed explanations of each branch.

Student Union Vice President Lia Bergen ’25, who is in charge of the Senate, gave an overview of the Senate’s powers and responsibilities.

OPIOID RESEARCH

Bergen explained that the Senators serve on a variety of committees that oversee aspects of campus life, including facilities, dining, health and wellness, and sustainability. All of these committees are open to the public and meet regularly with administrators to alert them to student concerns.

Chief Justice Noah Risley ’24 said that their branch, the Judiciary branch, arbitrates and mediates cases on behalf of students and the Student Union.

Allocations Board Chair Lexi Lazar ’24 said that her branch decides how to distribute University money to the clubs on campus. Lazar said that the money comes from the student activities fund, which is funded by the student activities fee, one percent of every student’s tuition.

Co-head treasurer Emily Adelson ’23 described her branch as the other end of club finance from Allocations Board. The Treasury, Adelson said, mainly deals with reimbursements and other club purchases.

Chief of Staff Tyler Carruth ’23 added that the Community Enhancement and Engagement Fund, or CEEF, is a fund with $250,000. Students can submit ideas relating to improving campus life, which

See SU, 5 ☛

Heller School Opioid Research Collaborative collects drug supply data

■ The goal of the project is to create better informed public health and safety policies.

By AMANDA CHEN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The Heller School for Social Policy and Management’s Opioid Policy Research Collaborative provides a space for researchers to pursue projects that are broadly connected to opioids. One innovation that has come out of the OPRC is Director Traci C. Green and her team’s work on changing methods to collect data on the drug supply to create better informed policies.

The Massachusetts Drug Supply Data Stream falls under the OPRC and was created to study the local illicit drug supply to better inform public health and public safety policies. MADDS provides a free website and app called StreetCheck that is designed “to develop and standardize sample collection and reporting for community drug checking programs.” The StreetCheck app helps programs with their community drug checking activities and can be

tailored to a specific drug checking program and lab partner arrangement. StreetCheck started in Massachusetts, grew to more locations in the Northeast, and is open to collaborating with communities all over the country.

MADDS is a “state-funded collaboration,” according to the StreetCheck website, “between Brandeis University researchers, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, various town police departments and local community partners.” MADDS includes an advisory board that analyzes drug trends, produces actions based on the data, and advises on to whom these communications should be sent to. The Harm Reduction Commission, established in August 2018 by former Gov. Charlie Baker (D-MA), addresses substance use disorder by making recommendations on harm reduction opportunities. MADDS is part of the state’s response to the commission’s suggestions.

MADDS’ first trial run in 2019 started in Boston and New Bedford and has since expanded to Quincy, Lynn, Greenfield, Brockton,

‘DivestDeis’

 Hedy Yang takes a deep dive into Brandeis’ long and complicated history of fossil fuel divestment.

By HEDY YANG

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

WEIGHT ROOM CHANGES

New female-identifying-only weight room hour at Gosman

■ Following the lead of other universities, Brandeis attempts to create a safe and relaxed atmosphere for the female-identifying population.

By SOPHIA DE LISI JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Gosman Weight Room will only be open to female-identifying people every Tuesday from 8 to 9 p.m. Spearheaded by Kyla Ginsberg ’25, this initiative will begin on Feb. 7. In a Feb. 2 interview with the Justice, Ginsberg explained her inspiration for advocating to the Gosman faculty for this hour, saying that she wanted to go to the gym with her friends, but many were hesitant because of concerns “having to do with the fact there are a lot of men there.” She then spoke of her friend who goes to the University of Vermont where they implemented a similar program at their gym, inspiring Ginsberg to try to implement it at Brandeis.

Ginsberg said the Gosman faculty were “quick to accept the idea,” and there were only a few days between her sending her initial email to Tom Rand, the senior associate director of Athletics, and printing out the official fliers advertising the hour.

‘Maybe An Artist’

Above all, Ginsberg clarified that her intention with this new program was to create an inclusive space for people who identify as female to feel more “comfortable in the gym in general so that they’re more comfortable working out whether there [are] men there or not,” referring to the consistent majority of men in gyms — particularly weight rooms — and how being the minority in a workout space is a common source of intimidation for the female-identifying population.

This issue goes beyond Brandeis, and the reason why there is such a difference between gendered populations in part originates from the history of gym culture within American society. Katherine Page, a long time fitness coordinator at the University, recalled how wellness’ identity within society has changed through the generations, growing from the idea of gyms and heavy weight lifting associated with “the ‘Arnold Schwarzenegger’s’ [or] the big gym bros” of her parents’ generation to being “for everyone.” This shift, Page explained, was in part brought about due to advances in scientific studies that revealed the importance of strength training for women. Page said that there has been an increase in female-identifying presence at the University’s workout facilities within her time at Brandeis. From Page’s explanation, it is reason-

 A review of Liz Montagues’ first memoir titled “Maybe An Artist” explores art, selfidentity, and social awareness.

By MINA ROWLAND

able to conclude that this increase comes from gym culture’s shift in mainstream media.

Although a female-identifyingonly gym hour is a new addition to Brandeis, the concept of femaleoriented gyms or designated female-identifying-only hours and programs within all-inclusive facilities have been around for decades. Long-standing women-only gym companies like Curves and Lucille Roberts — though not as popular as their all-gender counterparts — have been in business since 1992 and 1969, respectively. Even in 2008, Harvard University created set hours for female-identifying individuals only, per a religiouslymotivated request from Muslim students.

Even if this is Brandeis’ first attempt at implementing femaleidentifying-only hours, Gosman has hosted faculty-only and beginners-only weight room hours to create more relaxed spaces. In terms of the beginners-only time that the gym provided in the fall, Page said the program came from the idea that “[regardless of your gender identity], if you don’t know what you’re doing, or you’ve never been [to the gym], it can be intimidating” to be in an unfamiliar space without support. Thus, the Gosman faculty implemented a set time to allow beginners to grow accustomed to equipment without the

I Love Study Abroad Week

By AMANDA CHEN

Disussing dining issues on campus

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD

A look at Brandeis Softball and Baseball By AKI YAMAGUCHI

GOSMAN UPDATE : Posters, such as the one pictured above, can be found around campus advertising the new initiative.

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

Union charters new clubs, including ‘Quant’ club and co-ed lacrosse club

Executive Senator Nicholas Kanan ’23 opened the Feb. 5 Senate meeting with an executive session, which allows the senate to meet in total privacy, without members of the public or press present. President Peyton Gillespie ’25 and Chief Justice Noah Risley ’24 were also present for this motion.

Once the executive session concluded, the Senate resumed its normal business. The Senate voted by acclamation to confirm Evelyn Bagley ’26 as the new director of residential life. Bagley said that they have extensive experience working on affordable housing projects and with non-profits relating to housing.

Sen. Zev Carlyle ’23 proposed a Senate Money Resolution to

POLICE LOG

MEDICAL EMERGENCY

Jan. 29—There was a medical emergency in North Quad. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Jan. 31—There was a medical emergency in Ziv Quad. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Feb. 1—There was a medical emergency in the Village. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and signed a refusal for further care.

Feb. 3—There was a Brandeis-related medical emergency off campus. The community member was transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Feb. 3—There was a medical emergency in the Usdan Student Center. The party was treated by BEMCo staff and signed a refusal for further care.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

■ A sports article misattributed the credit for a photo. It was corrected to Brandeis Athletics (Jan. 31, pg. 9).

■ Wording of a news article misrepresented a statement from the Brandeis Leftist Union. An earlier version of the article implied that they compared themselves to the Black Panther Party, but they clarified that they simply learned a lot from the actions of the party (Jan. 31, pg. 1).

The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Send an email to editor@thejustice.org.

Image courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

purchase cookies for a film screening he is hosting relating to climate change. The Senate expedited and approved the SMR by acclamation.

Ephraim Zimmerman ’25 presented on the Quantitative Finance and Modeling club, requesting that the Senate charter the club and approve its name change to just “Quant” club. Zimmerman said that the club’s purpose is primarily to educate its members on financial modeling and “how to think quantitatively.”

The Senate chartered Quant club by acclamation.

Lauren Swartz ’26 presented to the Senate to ask that they give probationary status to the Lacrosse club. Swartz said that the

club would be co-ed, with half of the field for women’s lacrosse and the other half for men’s. She also said that students who do not identify with either of those terms may choose the one they are more comfortable with.

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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NOISE COMPLAINTS

Jan. 31—A community member reported loud music in the Charles River Apartments. The Department of Community Living was notified to respond

Feb. 3—A community member complained of loud music in Ridgewood Quad. The residents were spoken to, and the music was lowered.

Feb. 4—A community member reported loud music in the Charles River Apartments. A community living staff member spoke with the residents of an adjacent apartment.

MISCELLANEOUS

Jan. 29—There was a minor motor vehicle accident, without injuries, involving a University vehicle off campus. A report was composed.

Feb. 1—A community member reported suspicious activity in Sherman Dining Hall. A report was composed.

Feb. 2—A window was broken in Rosenthal Quad. The video footage is under review, and a report was composed.

Feb. 2—A community member in the Charles River Apartments reported they found their room unlocked, but nothing was missing.

Feb. 4—Community members were found smoking in the Intercultural Center. Community living staff was notified to handle the student judicial charges.

— Compiled by Leah Breakstone

Max Feigelson

The Office of Study Abroad hosts I Love Study Abroad Week

■ The week of programming included educational events to learn about the myriad of options around the world.

By AMANDA CHEN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

With 200 study abroad programs available spanning 50 countries and all seven continents, the Office of Study Abroad set out to promote the diversity of its choices during I Love Study Abroad Week from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3.

On Monday, Jan. 30, they held their Celebrating Languages event in the Shiffman Humanities Center, advertising various study abroad programs for students taking Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, German, and Italian language classes. Free pastries, hot beverages, and study abroad mugs were provided. Assistant Director of Study Abroad Ashley Trebisacci and Study Abroad Ambassadors Aileen Cahill ’23, Yahni Lapa ’23, and Rynn Parrack ’23 were there to answer questions.

There are Brandeis eligibility requirements for studying abroad, as well as each individual program’s requirements. One of them is learning a foreign language, and for each semester students are abroad in non-English speaking countries, they must take a course for credit in the country’s language, according to the Office of Study Abroad website. The University requires students to complete levels 10 & 20 or the equivalent proficiency in French, Hebrew, Italian, and Spanish before traveling to countries where that language is spoken. However, programs can require higher levels of language proficiency than Brandeis. Foreign language

TRANSITIONS

requirements do not include Arabic, Chinese, German, Japanese, and Russian, but students are still encouraged to study them. The exceptions are summer study abroad programs, where there are no Brandeis eligibility requirements.

On Tuesday, Jan. 31, there were two events:

I Am Study Abroad and Study Abroad is for Everyone. For I Am Study Abroad, the department set up poster boards in the Sherman Dining Hall detailing students’ experiences in Denmark, Chile, and Ecuador. In a Jan. 31 interview with the Justice, Study Abroad Ambassador Weini Xue ’25 talked about her experience with the Brandeis in Copenhagen program. Xue participated in summer 2022 and learned skills like time management and how to be independent. She acquired a global perspective, made new friends, and got ahead in her classes by fulfilling requirements with study abroad. She described her summer schedule as flexible, and in her free time visited the National Aquarium of Denmark and the Little Mermaid statue. After studying abroad, Xue is more open to living outside of the U.S.

Parrack participated in the Cultural Identity, Social Justice, and Community Development in Valparaiso program in Chile during spring 2022. They completed a sociology internship with the Center for Ethics and Social Reflection and studied the Mapuche people and their portrayal in Chilean media. Some of their favorite memories were visiting Chungará Lake, looking at bohemian artwork, and eating their host mom’s gluten-free empanadas. They wanted to visit Chile “because of its difficult past and rapidly changing social scene,” according to their posterboard. Similar to Xue, Parrack feels en-

thusiastic about the idea of living outside of the U.S. and enjoys learning new languages and being able to converse with natives.

In a Jan. 31 interview with the Justice, Parrack discussed their search for accessibility services due to dietary restrictions and mobility issues. Parrack’s personal experiences are one of the reasons why they are working with Trebisacci and the Office of Study Abroad to improve the website to make it easier for people to contact a person about accessibility issues for study abroad programs, as well as making the website itself more accessible.

The Study Abroad is for Everyone event occurred later that day, again providing general information, refreshments, and mugs.

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, the STEM Majors Can Study Abroad event held in Gerstenzang Science Library aimed to debunk the myth that STEM majors do not have time for study abroad. Study Abroad Ambassador Natalie Chin ’23 majors in Biochemistry and discussed how she was able to fit study abroad into her schedule.

Later that day, the Paint and Scoop event consisted of free gelato and a paint night sponsored by the study abroad program Brandeis in Siena. The event is “designed to also give students a glimpse into something they’ll be doing while on the Brandeis in Siena program-painting and being with other students all interested in studying art in Siena,” according to Director of Study Abroad Alisha Cardwell in an email correspondence with the Justice. Pilar Duvivier ’24, an alum of Brandeis in Siena, led a painting lesson.

Brandeis in Copenhagen Cafe took place on Thursday, Feb. 2, where students could learn

more about the program. In the evening, there was the “Study Abroad Extravaganza” in Skyline Commons that guided students through the application process and featured a variety of program providers, including Brandeis-led programs with Arcadia Abroad, the School for Field Studies, the Institute for Study Abroad, China Educational Tours, DIS, Council On International Educational Exchange, the University of Minnesota, IES, Boston University, and the School for International Training. The event had an airport theme, featuring a food court and different “terminals” with special purposes, such as researching programs by talking to program representatives and returnees, opening a study abroad application, and learning how to finance studying abroad with the Office of Student Financial Services. Students can apply to Brandeis’ study abroad scholarships, national scholarships, and program-specific scholarships.

The Office of Study Abroad held their last event, “Hidden Gem Programs,” on Friday, Feb. 3. The event highlighted study abroad programs apt for Anthropology and International and Global Studies majors. They recommended the University of Minnesota’s programs, IES/ Cape Town, SIT Study Abroad, Victoria University of Wellington, and American University’s program in Cairo for Anthropology students. American University’s program in Cairo was also suggested to IGS students in addition to the Chinese University of Hong Kong, University of Haifa, Maastricht University, and IES/Granada.

The deadline for studying abroad in summer 2023 and the 2023-2024 academic year is March 1, 2023.

■ As midyear students adjust to campus life, they discuss their hardships, successes, and the ways they’ve felt supported.

By MATTHEW NORRIS JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

With the start of the spring semester, more than 100 new midyear students began their college journies. Midyears are accepted into Brandeis during the regular admissions process, but are enrolled starting in the spring semester. The midyears of the class of 2026 moved in on Sunday, Jan. 15, for two full days of orientation before classes began on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

Isabella Chan ’26 said, in a Jan. 30th interview with the Justice, that “it’s easy to get from one place to another and everyone is really accommodating.” She explained that her classes have been manageable so far and even if she struggled, she knows there are resources to help her, like the writing center for University Writing Seminars or her professors’ office hours. Professors have made it clear where students can go for extra assistance, thus making the transition easier. She also makes a recommendation for students to get the strawberry banana smoothie from Einstein Bros in the Shapiro Campus Center, which she is already hooked on after 3 weeks.

Nick D’Ortona ’26 said that he has struggled with how students who came to campus in the fall have already made connections. “Luckily, me and some other midyears have formed a group … so that has made it a lot easier.”

D’Ortona took advantage of Orientation events like the Blanket Bonanza on Jan. 16, a movie night exclusively for midyears, where they were encouraged to wear pajamas and bring blankets to watch “Encanto.” The Department of Orientation and First Year Experience provided stress toys, snacks, and face masks for students to enjoy. This was considered the last event of the midyear orientation, but more events for all students are scheduled later in the semester.

Reflecting on their Orientation Leaders, D’Ortona said that they answered any questions he had. “Honestly, I think they really nailed it,” he said.

The Orientation Leaders worked tirelessly to prepare for the midyears’ arrival, even choreo-

graphing a couple of dances for “Deis, Deis, Baby,” an event on the first night of orientation. Midyears made stuffed animals, enjoyed snacks and hot chocolate, took pictures with their new friends, and more.

Class of 2026 midyears reflect on their transition to Brandeis Follow theJustice!

Aman Qutab ’24, an Orientation Leader who joined the team for this year’s midyear orientation, described the preparation process as covering “every possible resource” on campus. According to Qutab, the Brandeis Counseling Center and the Hiatt Career Center were some of many resources that OLs learned more about to convey their importance to incoming students.

Qutab’s favorite part of the experience was meeting her orientation group. OLs and midyears spoke via WhatsApp and other communication networks before arrival, so they were able to become familiar with one another before the process began. Although the midyear orientation was shorter than the one for the fall semester, students were still able to make friends in their OL groups.

As midyears continue to adjust, Qutab recommends that they continue to get involved in clubs and events and advises to look out specifically for the intercultural clubs and events, which are some of her personal favorites.

Brandeis midyears are not alone in their adjustment. Among the many resources are midyear Ambassadors — midyears from previous years who plan events and answer questions for the incoming class. According to the “New Students” page of the Brandeis website, the “Orientation Team will ‘pass the baton’ to the Ambassadors.” With the conclusion of orientation, midyear Ambassadors are able to speak on their own experiences of adjusting to life on campus for the current midyear class. Information on each of the midyear Ambassadors can be found in every midyear’s email, or in the “New Student Orientation” section of the Brandeis website.

Midyears should look out for more events open to all students, as this is a way for them to connect with their entire class. The involvement fair on Jan. 22 gave midyears the opportunity to see what clubs Brandeis has to offer and possibly start their own if they feel something is missing. Events hosted by clubs can be seen around campus, and on Campus Groups.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to any new students around campus. They could possibly be a midyear or just someone you’ve never seen before. Either way, new friends never hurt.

—Editor’s note: Matthew Norris was recently elected as the Student Union’s midyear senator.

Seven

positions filled in recent election

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Carruth and others on the CEEF board look over and allocate funding to. Carruth described the CEEF fund as “criminally underutilized” by the student body. All students can apply with their ideas.

In addition to the town hall, the Union released the election results from their latest round of elections.

Secretary

Carol Kornworcel ’26 won the position of secretary. Kornworcel, who was serving as director of media and outreach for the Union, said in her candidate bio that she wants to promote “transparent and direct communications” with the student body.

East Quad Senator Sherry Tao ’25, currently a midyear senator, secured the position of East Quad senator unopposed. Tao said in her bio that she wants to continue her work on initiatives such as bringing water bottle fillers to East Quad.

Midyear Senator

Matthew Norris ’26 secured the seat of midyear senator. Norris said that he wants to “help all midyears feel like they can easily acclimate into Brandeis society.”

Class of 2026 Senator

Tyler Johnson ’26 secured the seat of class of 2026 senator. Johnson said in his bio that he wants “to serve as a bridge between students and the student government so that I can make the most positive impact.”

Allocations Board (3-Semester Seat)

Myla Indigaro ’26 won the three-semester Allocations Board seat. Inidgaro said that she hopes to provide clubs with enough funding so that they can “not only function but flourish.”

Allocations Board (Racial Minority Representative)

Sara Motoyama ’24 secured the seat of Racial Minority Representative to Allocations Board unopposed. In her candidate bio, Motoyama said that she will work on making A-Board “an accessible resource” for students.

Allocations Board (1 Year Term)

Cindy Chi ’25 won a one-year seat on the Allocations Board. Chi said in her bio that she wants to help clubs get funding for their events, “no matter how niche or broad.”

Rashail Wasim ’25 won a one-year seat on the Allocations Board. Wasim said in his bio that he will work to make the marathon process more transparent. This would include making the total amount of money A-Board has to distribute public before the marathon so that students can “maintain realistic expectations.”

RESEARCH : Heller provides drug supply research opportunities

CONTINUED FROM 1

Gloucester, Fall River, Northampton, Lawrence, Beverly, Cape Cod, Essex County, and Berkshire County communities. MADDS is funded by grants from the Centers for Disease Control, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services.

Community drug checking programs not only lead to improved public health and safety measures, but they also transform the way people collect information on the chemical substances in communities’ drug supplies. In a Jan. 30 interview with the Justice, Green explained that there is no formal source of data on drug supply, so researchers have to wait until adverse situations, such as hospitalizations, deaths, and arrests occur in order to gain data. Green thinks that this method is “unethical and we need a better and more accurate look that is more on the preventative side and forward thinking.” By compiling drug supply data through collecting samples, researchers can gain access to data earlier and enact preventative measures.

Moreover, because the street drug supply is unregulated, community drug checking can fill in information gaps and inform drug-users what substances are in their drugs. Increasing awareness among drug-users can cause them to change their consumption behaviors and reduce their risks of negative health outcomes.

In the interview, Green discussed three emerging trends in the drug supply. 4-Fluorofentanyl and Despropionyl 4-Fluorofentanyl — a fentanyl analog and an intermediary in fentanyl analog production, respectively — were found in heroin and fentanyl samples. According to the CDC, analogs are “drugs that are similar in chemical structure or pharmacologic effect to another drug, but are not identical.” This pattern appeared during the pandemic, and the addition of these drugs heightens the toxicity of the sample, leading to concerns about overdosing.

Furthermore, the MADDS team discovered a dramatic rise of the veterinary tranquilizer xylazine in fentanyl and heroin drug supplies. Green stated that in 2021, one third of samples of heroin and fentanyl contained xylazine. Xylazine can cause oversedation in humans and prevent them from moving for four to five hours at a time depending on the dosage. If people use drugs with xylazine outside in the cold, there is a risk of frostbite and hypothermia; on the other hand, if it is hot outside, drug-users risk excessive sun exposure. The

GYM : New femaleidentifying hour garners overwhelming support

CONTINUED FROM 1 added pressure of being surrounded by those who frequent the gym.

However, these previous initiatives couldn’t have come with the same urgency as female-identifying-only hours did, considering many female-identifying students have expressed their discomfort with Gosman.

Asanya Wawlagala ’23 described her perspective of Gosman in general, explaining that she finds it “a pretty intimidating space to be in if you’re new to the gym.” She added that there have been several times when she was the only female-identifying individual in the space.

Wawlagala said that having a majority of male-identifying people around her contributes to the gym’s uncomfortable atmosphere, explaining that sometimes “guys at the gym just make sure you know they are there, whether it is through their actions or words.” More specifically, Wawlagala described that “people, and mostly men, are always just staring at [her] when she [works] out and it makes [her] feel uncomfortable regardless of how comfortable [she is] with [herself].”

portion to its success to make the best use of the weight room — since that one area is dedicated to the entire campus.

Even before the new female-identifyingonly hour program officially began, most of those interviewed have expressed this new program’s importance.

Gilani explained that as a Muslim woman, she “can see how this special hour is inclusive of those who cover up for whatever reason” be it for religious purposes or personal comfort in an all-gender setting. Since “sometimes [covering up] can be annoying when working out,” the hour provides a comfortable setting to wear “workout clothes without worrying about the male gaze.” Furthermore, Gilani mentioned that the hour will allow her to focus on her exercises more, since “[female-identifying individuals] usually have to split [their] attention between the task [they] are completing and being [overly] aware about [their] surroundings.”

risk of skin ulcers at the injection site and around other cuts increases when using xylazine, and ulcers can lead to infection or necrosis.

A synthetic cannabinoid called “ADB-BUTINACA,” or “ADB-BINACA,” was detected in dope, heroin, and fentanyl samples. Reported symptoms included seizures, heart attacks, acute kidney injury, pulmonary edema, stroke, delirium, psychosis, rapid loss of consciousness, vomiting, and multiple organ failure. Green stated that synthetic cannabinoids are not typically injected. Knowledge on the presence of synthetic cannabinoids in the drug supply is helpful to law enforcement when responding to situations where people are using, so they use deescalation techniques instead of forceful alternatives.

MADDS’ work influenced efforts to increase access to safer drug use materials, fentanyl test strips, and more comprehensive drug testing.

During the interview with the Justice, Green highlighted the importance of raising awareness among college students and young people in general about drug checking services. Green pointed out that in Massachusetts there are no age restrictions for acquiring harm reduction materials and services, buying syringes and naloxone at a pharmacy, and using drug checking services. One of the concerns for young people is the use of counterfeit pills, and Green emphasizes the importance of using drug checking services to reduce risks. She mentioned some of her colleagues’ work on college campuses, and Brandeis does not have a drug checking program yet. Moreover, Waltham is not a community that MADDS works with directly, but Green wants to change that. MADDS also wishes to expand to Middlesex County, which is where Walthm is located, and Worcester. The more sites that open up, the less difficulty people have in trying to find a community drug checking site near them. “Frankly there is [a] need for drug checking services pretty much in every community across the country,” Green stated.

Drug policies can be a divisive topic and lead to a lack of empathy; however, Green emphasizes the need for compassion and understanding. “All of these programs in the community are always best done in partnership with people who are actively using drugs,” Green highlighted, and paying attention to drug-users’ perspectives is essential. Creating a safe space to talk about drug-related experiences and having “a high degree of tolerance and a big heart” can produce greater insights into the best ways policymakers, public health authorities, and law enforcement can address the opioid epidemic.

Femme of Color Association Co-President Inaara Gilani ’23 agrees. She goes to the gym “pretty much every day other than the weekends” and shares the same discomfort. “Female-identifying folks, as well as queer and trans folks are often at a disadvantage and are often hyper-sexualized for [their] bodies. This happens normally everywhere, but especially at the gym,” she said.

Gilani and Wawlagala’s concerns are not unfounded. A 2021 survey made by Run Repeat’s Fitness Research Director, Nick Rizzo, found that 56.37% of women are harassed while working out, making them 2.68 times more likely to face such conduct than male gym members. Rizzo surveyed 3,774 gym members — the population being 1,107 women and 2,667 men — and ultimately found that 28% of women felt unsafe or uncomfortable at their gyms. Also, 30% changed their gym routine, schedule, or avoided certain areas at the gym in order to decrease the probability of facing harassment.

While these statistics apply to off-campus gym facilities, it is crucial to acknowledge that female-identifying individuals who consistently go to the gym like Wawlagala and Gilani relate to the majority of the women involved in the survey. Workout culture, whether it is a public weight room or one on a university campus, the population disparities remain the same.

As Amelia Shiraz Mahoney ’23 added, “Sometimes women feel like [they] shouldn’t take up space in the weight room,” and this new hour “may encourage more students to try something new and come to the gym,” relieving them of anxieties related to being new to work out equipment or being in a male-dominated environment.

Beyond these students agreeing that Gosman is a generally unsettling place to work out in, they all expressed a desire for a more designated time in the gym, which Page acknowledged. She stated that she and Rand would be “more than happy to discuss doing other days of the week and different time slots so that it can be more available and convenient for other femaleidentifying people to work out” if there is a demonstrated need for it.

After all, Page recognized “women-identifying people who want to lift [are not] lifting one day a week. Like anyone else [they’re] working out probably 3-5 days a week,” so the initiative will grow in pro-

The new hour also gives female students the opportunity to learn how to use gym equipment in a safer setting with the hopes of being able to go to the gym at allgender hours and feel more confident and secure. Harry Ripp ’23 recalled that as “a beginner” he felt “fairly uncomfortable and intimidated by more physically fit people,” but with time and experience he “became much more relaxed and excited to be there.” Ripp is now in the Gosman weight room six days a week and is “happy to give up this hour for those who would use it.”

Nonetheless, not all male-identifying gym users are as willing to give up their time in the gym as Ripp is.

Harrison Sugarman ’24 lifts six days a week and spends “about 15 hours a week in Gosman.” He explained his concerns with the new hour, stating it has “contentious policies in terms of individual freedom” since the gym is “packed” during Tuesday evenings because “[the guys] workout at night because they simply don’t have any other time during the day.”

Although Sugarman acknowledged that “female Brandeis students have a right to workout without fear of harassment or intimidation,” he found that it is unfair to “deny all these men [who go to the gym during that time] the right to workout” for the purpose of providing a more comfortable environment for female-identifying students. Instead, he suggested Brandeis open a whole gym dedicated to women only, as it is a “standard industry practice.”

That being said, Maya Ollagnon ’25, an employee at Gosman, said in a written statement that this female-identifying only hour is not the only period of time when the weight room is unavailable to students. Ollagnon clarified that the weight room is “closed every Monday from 6-7” to accommodate a private conditioning class that goes on there. Interestingly, she said that there “has not been a single complaint about students not being able to use the weight room at this time” from anyone concerned about not having enough time to workout, but there have been complaints like Sugarman’s about the female-identifying-only hour. Ollagnon thought that this contrast between students’ responses “further proves that the complaints do not come from an issue with not being able to use the weight room during that hour, but the real issue is that the hour is reserved only for women-identifying students.”

This new hour is the first step toward creating a more equitable workout space for the female-identifying students at Brandeis, providing this population a comfortable space to focus on their established workout regimes or even gain the confidence to begin one.

features

I want to look otherworldly, like I was made in a factory.

ON THIS DAY…

In 2005, Ellen Mcarthur finished a solo sail around the world in a recordbreaking 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes, and 33 seconds.

FUN FACT

New Hampshire is the only state that does not requir its residents over 18 to wear seatbelts.

‘A never-ending fight’: The long history of Brandeis’ divestment movement

By HEDY YANG JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

As Brandeis celebrates the Year of Climate Action this year, another important climate campaign at Brandeis observes its ten-year anniversary — the fossil fuel divestment campaign.

Although Brandeis Climate Justice, the student group that led the campaign, has not been active since spring 2022, the divestment movement plays an integral role in the history of climate activism at Brandeis. According to an Oct. 22, 2012 article in the Justice, Students for Environmental Action first launched the campaign — then known as “Divest for Our Future” — in the fall of that year. The group’s initial plans called on the University to “freeze any new investments in the top 200 publiclytraded fossil fuel companies,” as well as to “phase out all direct and indirect holdings” during the following five years. The divestment campaign at Brandeis was one of many spearheaded by college students across the country in 2012. Many occurred in response to author Bill McKibben’s article “Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math,” published in Rolling Stone August of that year, in which he suggested that college students could help prevent global warming from reaching catastrophic levels by demanding that the institutions they attend divest from the fossil-fuel industry. 350.org, a climate organization that McKibben co-founded, also launched the Go Fossil Free campaign that called on institutions across the country to divest.

Divestment, or pulling financial investments out of morally questionable or ambiguous sources in the context of a movement, was not a new idea. Paved by the successes of divestment movements around apartheid in South Africa and the tobacco industry, the fossil fuel divestment campaign reportedly grew more quickly than any other divestment campaign. As of Feb. 2, over 1,557 institutions have divested a total of $40.51 billion, with most of these institutions being faith-based and educational institutions, according to the Global Divestment Commitments Database.

At the time of Divest for Our Future’s formation at Brandeis, the University had about 7-10%of its endowment invested in fossil fuel companies, according to a Jan. 29, 2013 article published in the Justice. The campaign had its first major success in April 2013, when the vote for divestment appeared on a Student Union referendum and passed by 79 percent.

The vote to divest led to the formation of an Exploratory Committee in the summer of 2013, which was comprised of students, faculty, staff, trustees, and administrators who intended to study the implications of divestment for the University. In April 2015, the committee released a 170-page report that concluded, “Student consensus and robust faculty concern suggests that continued investment in fossil fuels presents a fundamental tension with Brandeis’ proud tradition of social justice.”

BCJ steps up

Throughout the course of its history at Brandeis, BCJ, which was officially chartered as a club in 2014 and became the figurehead of the divestment campaign, used a

variety of tactics to encourage the University to divest. One of the most frequent tactics BCJ adopted was rallies, which often disrupted Board of Trustees meetings taking place on campus.

In a Jan. 18 interview with the Justice, BCJ alum Jordan Mudd ’20 cited the protests BCJ held during the April 2018 Board of Trustees meetings as being one of the most influential moments of the divestment movement at Brandeis. “Having face-to-face conversations and playing the inside game is important for sure, but at the end of the day, the Board and any sort of institutional organization like this … they will respond more to pressure that you put on them,” he said.

As a result of the rally, board member George D. Krupp and President Ron Liebowitz committed to a 60-day deadline to formally vote on divestment. Mudd emphasized the importance of striking a balance between holding rallies and “[building] inside relationships and [having] conversations with people who are decision-makers.”

In January 2018, BCJ presented at a Trustees meeting for the first time. “Prior to that [the meeting], we talked about the Board of Trustees as an entity,” he said. “But once you get in the room, you realize this is … a couple dozen different people that all have their different opinions and different values.”

On Jun. 22, 2018, just one day shy of the 60-day deadline the Board had established in April to vote on divestment, Liebowitz sent an email to the Brandeis community stating that the Board had been unable to reach a decision. In November of 2018, Leibowitz released a statement about

the University’s policies surrounding fossil fuel investment. In the statement, the Office detailed new policies such as ceasing direct investments in coal, suspending new investments in fossil fuel private limited partnerships for three years, and investing in renewable energy. Liebowitz said the University would review the impacts of these changes and “consider future action” in three years’ time.

In their breakdown of the University’s letter, BCJ suggested that this was by no means true divestment, and that many policies were in fact intended to slow student power rather than support it. “We must continue to build our power over the next three years to ensure that the University continues to stand with the future of their students and the planet,” the breakdown stated.

Communal support

BCJ alum Zoe Pringle ’22 reflected on the club’s frustration with the push-and-pull of divestment momentum and shutdown. “It felt like a never-ending fight … it was kind of known by the end that the Board just wasn’t going to freaking do it,” she said. “He [Liebowitz] is not going to say anything legally binding or meaningful at all. He just feels like he has to say something because he knows these students are so passionate, and in some semblance of a way [he] cares about the way students care about morality and social justice.”

Brandeis’ commitment to sustainability for the Year of Climate Action reignites questions about another climate initiative at the University — students’ long and arduous fight for fossil fuel divestment.

CHRISTINA KIM/the Justice PROFIT: How much did Brandeis earn from its investments in fossil fuels?

Recognizing the emotional investment many BCJ members placed into the campaign’s outcomes and the ongoing frustration they experienced, the club was careful to craft an environment that allowed members to support each other through the campaign’s most challenging moments. Pringle recalled that the club was very intentional about creating a tight community through rituals, traditions, and team-building retreats.

Mudd said the retreats were a space for strategic visioning, planning for the upcoming semester, bringing in new members, and training new leadership, as well as holding space for physical activities like cooking and creating art. “That’s hugely important for any sort of organizing work … to have a sense of community with the people that you’re working with,” Mudd said.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, BCJ pivoted away from divestment to focus on supporting Brandeis Mutual Aid, the Financial Transparency Campaign, and coalition-building with other activist clubs. The Financial Transparency Campaign was a collaboration between clubs to increase transparency about the University’s finances and to center spending around student needs.

“COVID hit us pretty hard because it prevented us from being as intense about divestment as we would have liked to be,” BCJ alum Ellie Ross ’22 said in a Nov. 30, 2022 interview with the Justice. “The idea of taking away a revenue source for the University was more controversial during COVID … We had to work towards financial transparency that would support our divestment campaign by allowing us to back up a lot of our claims with very specific information to show how much the University’s resources [were] going towards sustainability.”

Advancing sustainability

As more students returned to campus in the fall of 2021, Liebowitz released a letter on Oct. 6 titled “Advancing and Deepening Brandeis’ Commitment to Sustainability,” which outlined the University’s updated plans for fossil fuel investment. In the letter, Liebowitz revealed that only 4% of Brandeis’ portfolio was invested in fossil fuels as legacy investments. The letter also detailed further action steps that included continuing to not invest in fossil fuel private limited partnerships, investing in the green sector, as well as developing a system to measure Scope 1 and 2 emissions associated with the University’s holdings. According to the EPA, Scope 1 and 2 emissions are the direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with an institution’s activities and purchases of electricity, steam, heat or cooling.

Following the release of the letter, the BCJ published an open response in the Hoot criticizing the University’s “remarkably vague and conservative response to climate change.” They also outlined new demands for the University, which included divesting all direct holdings immediately, divesting all indirect holdings within two years, and the release of a statement from the board promising to never invest in fossil fuels again.

The timing of the University’s letter also raised questions for BCJ: President Liebowitz had sent the letter weeks after several institutions in the area released their plans to divest their endowments from fossil fuels, President Lawrence Bacow of Harvard University sent a communication to the Harvard community on Sep. 3, 2021, and Boston University followed suit on Sep. 21, 2021.

BU and Harvard are both larger institutions that had, respectively, hefty endowments of $3.4 billion and $53 billion for fiscal year 2021. Meanwhile, Brandeis’ endowment for fiscal year 2022 was around $1.2 billion, which begs the question of whether Brandeis can fully divest without jeopardizing its financial health.

According to the Office of Investment Management’s

website, Brandeis’ endowment funds “scholarships, fellowships, faculty salaries, programs, activities and facilities” designed to support the University’s “operational stability.” It is possible that any risk to Brandeis’ endowment and financial health has the potential to directly impact students.

The Office of Investment Management did not respond to the Justice’s request for comment. Mary Fischer, the associate director of sustainability, advised watching a recording from the November 2022 Finance and Administration Town Hall to understand “where the investment office is on their work,” but did not respond to a further request for an interview.

But Ross argued that rather than putting Brandeis’ financial health at risk, divestment can actually protect it. “Brandeis often likes to play the victim, like, ‘We’re just this small school, we don’t have that many funds to move around,’ but it’s such a short-sighted argument,” she said. “There are so many wins for renewable energy … there’s so much opportunity for profit there if you look into it.”

Mudd also suggested that the moral and ethical implications of divestment are more important to consider than its actual financial impact. “At Brandeis, we’re a small school that prides itself on its social justice values. So if we say that and we use that to recruit students to come here … then we have to ask serious questions about [whether] we are comfortable profiting off industries that have done irreparable damage to the world.”

BCJ’s legacy and new models

As of fall 2022, BCJ is no longer listed as an active club in Campus Groups or on Brandeis’ website. Mudd suggested that BCJ’s lack of presence on campus can be partly attributed to the unique challenges of college activism: “You only have four years while you’re there, and it’s hard to make the changes [you’re] asking for [in that time period]. Oftentimes, the case is that a lot of momentum gets built, a lot of pressure gets built, and

then people graduate.”

In the Finance and Administration Town Hall held last semester on Nov. 29, Interim Chief Investment Officer Tarek Saghir shared that Brandeis was continuing decarbonization efforts outlined in the October 2021 statement and had made “meaningful progress on all three fronts.” He discussed Brandeis’ involvement in the final stages of work with “a European private equity manager that has a focus on decarbonization,” but did not provide specific details. He also spoke about a model Brandeis built to measure its endowment’s carbon footprint, which found that the University’s scope 1 and 2 emissions are twice that of its campus operations. Saghir said he remained hopeful that these emissions will go down with future decarbonization efforts.

With the uncertainty of the University’s divestment status and the pushback the movement has generated in the past, BCJ alumni held varying opinions on whether divestment remained the best method for Brandeis to tackle the climate crisis.

Ross emphasized the role of divestment in tackling the root of the crisis, rather than placing focus on surface-level, individualistic solutions: “I think a lot of times people try to greenwash certain things, and say, ‘Oh, let’s focus on sustainability, let’s focus on campus recycling,’ but those are very minor things and don’t look at the root of the issue, which is greenhouse gas emissions … I think individual actions have merit in the ways they keep people engaged in the movement, but they’re really a distraction from the powerful entities, industries, and universities that are really fueling the climate crisis.”

Mudd agreed, highlighting how divestment also exposes corruption in our political system and holds politicians accountable: “What divestment does is that it shines a spotlight on these companies that have known the science about climate change, that know that their profits are threatened by it, and have used their resources to buy out politicians and influence policies so that they can continue to extract material resources and profit off of it at the expense of the world. They’re the ones that we need to be targeting, they’re the ones we need to be putting pressure on.”

Where do we go from here?

Mudd and Pringle also both encouraged pivoting away from divestment to focus instead on reinvestment, which is the concept of reinvesting funds Brandeis has pulled out of fossil fuels into renewable energy sources, community loan funds like the Boston Ujima Project, or other responsible and ethical revenue streams.

Ultimately, there’s no definitive answer when it comes to the best way for citizens and institutions to help tackle the climate crisis, and the future can feel bleak.

“The climate crisis is past the point of being mitigated … The level of change that’s going to come in the next couple of decades is really unfathomable to us right now,” Mudd said. “And it’s because people were greedy, and people valued profit over people’s lives and over the sacredness of life and the Earth.”

In terms of what BCJ should focus on if students decide to revive the club, Pringle emphasized that though the club has historically been focused on divestment, people should not feel as though they are locked into only working on one specific campaign: “If it’s [the divestment campaign] not going anywhere, if students aren’t getting riled up about it … if the Board, if Ron is giving you nothing, you can take a break from it, and you can always come back.”

NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice file photo

RALLY: Community members rallied on February 18, 2020, as part of a nationwide “Fossil Fuel Divestment Day”.

NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice file photo

BANNERS: In 2019, BCJ dropped banners over the Gosman bridge.

Remember: Dining workers are human, too

Jen Crystal, Editor in Chief

Jane Flautt, Managing Editor

Cameron Cushing and Sofia Gonzalez, Senior Editors

Lauryn Williams, Deputy Editor

Leeza Barstein, Jack Yuanwei Cheng, Juliana Giacone, Samantha Goldman, Natalie Kahn, and Ariella Weiss, Hannah Taylor, Associate Editors

Leah Breakstone, Dalya Koller, News Editors

Cayenn Landau, Features Editor

Tibria Brown, Acting Forum Editor

Aiden Guthro, Sports Editor

Megan liao, Arts & Culture Editor

Smiley Huynh, Owen Chan, Photography Editors

Isabel Roseth, Copy Editor

Julia Hardy, Acting Copy Editor

Anna Martin Acting Layout Editor

Zachary Goldstein, Eden Osiason, Online Editors

Diving into dining dilemmas

Along with some of the improvements being made to the dining experience at Brandeis come some concerns that have been brought to the attention of this editorial board. One editorial board member recounts speaking to a dining hall worker on the issue of inconsistencies between what is offered via the app versus in-person ordering. A dining hall worker at Louis’ Deli complained that every morning she had to manually cross out many of the ingredients listed on the Starship App, simply because Louis’ Deli never received the ingredients to begin with. When asked if it would be better to order in-person or online, the dining worker still suggested that students order via the app, because the a-la-carte in-person ordering option, which was recently introduced this semester, could potentially be even more unreliable. Since the paper menus are printed out every day with a set list of ingredients, they are not updated to always match what is in stock or what has been delivered to each dining location.

This presents a particular conflict for students who appreciated the previous ease and speedier service provided by Upper Usdan’s Dining Hall services. Last semester, although there were fewer options available online, students could more efficiently order through the Starship App. The benefit of ordering from the app only was that students received estimates of the time that it would take to get their food, allowing them to better plan their schedules around mealtimes. Now, students are compelled to order in-person, as the options have become more plentiful this way — the tradeoff, however, is that students no longer have any way to estimate how long their orders will take. Furthermore, this editorial board has heard complaints from students about inaccuracies with the Starship App’s notification system. Students are being notified that their Dunkin’ orders are ready for pickup, when in fact they have not even started being made. This leads to a stressful situation for workers and students when they arrive at Dunkin’ expecting their items to be ready for pickup, end up having to wait as more and more people show up questioning where their orders are as workers scramble to fulfill them.

It is evident to this editorial board that the strain the current system has caused on both dining workers and students, especially during dining rush hours. This board also questions the motivations behind the switch from only ordering via the app last semester, to having fewer options available via the app and more options available in-person this semester. Does this mean that in-person orders are prioritized in terms of timeliness? How do the dining workers prioritize which order requests to fulfill first? It remains to be seen how these changes have resulted in a more

efficient ordering system at Upper.

In the past semester or so, the Hoot Market has greatly diversified its food options, which provides students with more options in addition to the other offerings around campus. Students are also now able to order from the market on the Starship app, increasing its convenience. That being said, the majority of things sold in the Hoot Market can only be purchased with points, and there is not always a large selection of meal swipe options available to students. Students are able to purchase either a drink or a snack with their meal swipe, rather than both, as in previous semesters. This further limits options despite the fact that there are many more choices for both snacks and drinks in the store this year. If students cannot purchase the food with a meal swipe, they have to use their points. The prices at the Hoot Market are already fairly high, and with the limited amount of points students have depending on their meal plan, not all students can actually take advantage of the expansion of Hoot Market products. This board urges Brandeis Hospitality to allow students to use a meal swipe for a full meal and expand the options purchasable with a meal swipe, rather than limit their dining options further. Meal swipes are limited on campus as a whole, and this board questions why some food is not deemed worthy of being considered a meal. We would encourage the University to add meal exchange options to both Dunkin’ and Einstein’s so that students have swipe-equivalent breakfast options outside of the Lower Usdan and Sherman dining halls. This is something that has been offered at Einstein’s over the summer months, so we imagine it would be feasible to continue throughout the year.

An option not provided by the University that would give students far more options concerning campus dining would be customizable meal plans. If students were able to adjust the number of their meal swipes and points to a proportion that better suits their eating habits on campus, the system would work much more smoothly for many. Currently, students typically have to choose between a large number of meal swipes or points; for the available meal plans, the more points one has, the fewer meal swipes, and vice versa. Many students do not use all their meal swipes, and many run out of points. Allowing students to adjust their meal plans to suit their preferences would eliminate that waste and make meal plans more worth their high prices.

Lastly, this board is particularly grieving the random loss of the iconic Einstein’s Bagels hash browns. As Shapiro Campus Center regulars at least three times a week, these warm morsels of potato gave many board members a particularly unique form of joy :( #BringBacktheBrowns

On nearly every weekday — usually in the late morning — the line for the Dunkin’ Donuts in Upper Usdan can be seen extending from its counter to midway through Upper’s booths as dozens of people wait to order coffee or food. Simultaneously, Starship orders placed online chime in one after another after another behind Dunkin’s counter, loud enough to hear from the front of the line. The Dunkin’ staff move incredibly quickly, but the sheer number of customized orders compared to the number of people working behind the counter is overwhelming.

It is incredibly exciting to see so many new faces around: according to BrandeisNow, there are over 1,000 students in the class of 2026, which is the largest in the University’s history. But from a lack of vacation hours given to dining workers over the holidays to an overworked Facilities team, the school does not appear to have altered the infrastructure necessary to support the needs of its staff, who literally keep campus up and running. This demand has also increased as a result of online orders, which come in without regard to the number of existing orders from the in-person orders. In addition, there appears to be a lack of support for the staff working each section as they are consistently understaffed, adding additional stress to churn out as much food out as possible to meet the high demand. Many of us have, do, or will work within the food service industry. For those of us who have done so, we might be familiar with the physical and emotional ups-anddowns played out within a breakfast, lunch or dinner rush: a particularly complex order, a meal sent back, a rude customer, how it feels to be on your feet for hours. And there’s the good parts that go with it: kind people and interactions, and the support of a close-knit staff. It can be frustrating to feel

like you’re waiting a long time to receive an order that appears simple, but the editorial board would like to express that the onus of the long wait times at Dunkin’ — and at the other food providers on campus — should not fall on those working around the clock to make and serve community members. On-the-ground providers are as much a part of the community as the student body and administrative personnel; we all interact with each other on a daily basis. We would like to encourage students to be kind, understanding, and patient to the dining staff. We would also like to suggest to Harvest Table that to help with the periods of increased number of orders at places like Dunkin’ that don’t use paper ordering, the in-app ordering be turned off for that specific period of time so that the staff are not being overwhelmed by orders from both the in-person line and the online orders.

The editorial board would like to acknowledge the efforts of dining workers and staff at Dunkin’, the Hoot Market, Upper and Lower Usdan, Einstein’s, Starbucks, and Sherman Dining Hall to accommodate orders on a daily basis. Thank you so much for all you do to meet the needs of students.

Asking for a friend

If you are interested in submitting advice for the upcoming column, follow our Instagram: @thejusticenewspaper.

How can students support their peers during Black History Month? A: Q:

I’d like to answer as a white professor who teaches Black feminisms (among many other things!).

My words are primarily aimed at non-Black students who want to support and learn from their Black friends and colleagues without (hopefully!) burdening them.

First: Listen respectfully to your peers. And if your immediate friends, fellow students, or teachers are not teaching the things you want to know, there are so many people who are, and a wealth of information is available on the internet. Follow Black creators on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. Read books by Black authors. Watch films by Black directors!

Second: Don’t be defensive. Criticism is an act of love. If someone tells you that you’ve said or done something that hurt them — even if they use that dreaded word, racist — don’t lash out. Telling you that you can do better, and how to do better, is a genuine gift, even if it hurts in the moment. Think about why it hurts, take some deep breaths and self-examine.

Third: Don’t derail. Non-Black experiences do not equate to Black experiences. Racism is not all about social class, nor do patriarchy, homophobia, or transphobia operate outside the structure of racism and white supremacy. You can be a very helpful ally if you shut those comparisons down the moment they occur (also, playing oppression poker doesn’t benefit anyone in the long run)! Here is a great resource: http://www.derailingfordummies.com/

Fourth: Step up and speak out when you can. Sometimes it’s easier to speak up when you see something like racism happening, when it’s not aimed at you — so be the person to speak up and say, “Hey, I’m uncomfortable. That joke didn’t land. Can we not use that word? I respect the BLM movement actually, so no, I don’t agree.” Speaking out is different from speaking over — it’s being the point person in a fraught social situation (for example, a white student in a classroom led by a white professor may feel safer confronting someone about problematic racial language). Speak for yourself, not for your peers.

— Dr. Keridwen Luis | WGS, ANTH

This QR code is a form to fill out concering moble ordering on campus. Feel free to share your experieces!

site.

By MELORA HUTCHESON JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

After excitedly waiting for the new collection, I was disappointed with the reveal of the Spring 2023 Couture collection by Daniel Roseberry, which he allegedly devoted his time to. Seeing videos and photos circulating of Dante’s Inferno-inspired pieces with crudely placed animal heads attached was already a lot to witness.

With a lion’s head randomly popping out of the side of model Irina Shayk’s torso, a snow leopard on Shalom Harlow’s chest area, and a wolf on Naomi Campbell’s shoulder, even their fierce catwalks couldn’t fill the emptiness that these fake taxidermy heads left to the imagination. What’s sad is that these aren’t the worst outfits among the collection.

For this article, I’ll be discussing looks that stood out to me from the Schiaparelli Spring 2023 Couture collection by Daniel Roseberry. Out of the thirty-two looks presented, I’ve decided on four pieces I

I like them, but they’re not as bold as past choices Roseberry’s made. The eyeshaped earrings are impressive given that the jewelry is handmade, but the color of the eyes could’ve been gold, or at least another color, so they would’ve stood out more. And though the addition of a belt would have messed with the completely laced-up backing, I wish there was something on the cinched part of the coat. Maybe a keyhole to match the shoes and the theme of “entering” the gates of Hell.

think saved the collection.

Starting with look 3 of the collection: The moment I saw it, I was instantly hooked. An exaggerated look like this is a staple silhouette for the house. The quilted texturing of the coat makes it look somewhat like an optical illusion; you just want to keep moving with it. The collar is extra , but it works given the coat’s thickness and longer sleeves.

The cream-colored heels with a golden keyhole at the tiptoes of each are definitely a change of pace, considering that there were golden human toes on most of the shoes in the last few Schiaparelli collections.

Here, look 11, though with understated color, gets its point across effortlessly. The broad-shouldered, statuesque silhouette gloriously returns in tuxedo form. The strong-armed sleeves have the beautiful addition of a dark to burnt orange brown ombre. Besides the cinched waist making another flawless appearance, the v-shaped neckline reaches downward to new territory: the belly-button. It’s an instant attention-grabber.

Though I’m a fan of the choice of neckline, I do think that something overall is missing from the piece. Nothing except the chest area of the tuxedo stands out. Even the shoes have neutral coloring. And if you look close enough, the infamous human toes atop the heels can be seen, but they’re not colored in their usual stand-out gold. Since no earrings or other jewelry were included in the look, it becomes obvious that the designer thought that the neckline was enough. However, the addition of dangle earrings would’ve blown the audience away with a lustful addition to this piece.

Speechless. Everything about the creation of this mosaic-like corset is exqui -

Look 22, the top half at least, is a masterpiece. The carefully inlaid genuine emerald and gold top-piece is a clear step forward from the infamous ab-breastplate that debuted in Roseberry’s Spring 2021 Couture collection. The tendrils flying off the top are reminiscent of constellations, making the model’s face seem like a divine being peering through the stars to see the world. I could go on and on about how the gorgeous creation allows an onlooker to view the model materializing into goddess form as they descend from the heavens!

But I’d be ignoring my critique of the trousers. The model, at least in the picture, looks as if they are stepping on pant-legs as they walk. Though the trousers definitely go with the top half, it’s obvious that they’re meant to act as an underline of the important subject above. Another thing: the model is wearing earrings that match the emerald corset-like structure around her torso. The look is dazzling enough without the earrings. It seems like Roseberry became a bit too greedy.

Look 12. What is there to say? There’s no jewelry, which I feel could have added some energy to this exhausted outfit. When looking at it, I wonder what exactly is the model carrying in her arm — leftover fabric?

Whatever it is, it’s not the Schiaparelli I’m used to. The slit in the dress looks like something exploded out of it, and that is made more apparent by the contrast in materials used for the fitted aspects of the dress. The nude shoe with the outfit was also an odd choice. Something gold and black, whether it’s the shoes or earrings, would have done something more for the dress and the model. It looks like an unfinished product — the final outcome of ideas that ran out. It’s damnable.

Since Roseberry became the brand’s creative director in 2019, he has created several interesting collections. Taking inspiration from not only the brand’s founder, Elsa Schiaparelli, but also from the 80s, Roseberry had his ab-breastplates, shoes with golden human toes, extravagant and campy earrings, and piercing blue eyeglasses making appearances all over the red carpet and Instagram feeds for the past three years.

Overall, it was hard to choose just one outfit to encapsulate the disappointments of this recent collection. Many outfits look last-minute and thrown together. It lacked the vibrant and bold colors I’m used to seeing in Schiaparelli collections.

On a rating scale of 1-10, I would give this collection a 5.5. The majority of the collection was either basic, poorly fitted, or had gorgeous accessories that upstaged the outfit they were supposed to be complementing. As I looked at each outfit, they increasingly got worse as I became more disappointed.

If I were Roseberry, I’d be embarrassed that the only reason my show is going viral is because the most interesting outfit of the day was on Doja Cat, an audience member! Roseberry has the talent to make fabulous runway looks, but he let the story of Dante’s “Inferno” outshine his collection. I hope that Roseberry makes it out of the ninth ring of Hell. Before the bad luck he brought with this collection gets the better of him.

My peers’ thoughts about campus res ources

By MARIAH LEWIS JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Do you ever wonder if you’re the only one who feels like on-campus resources at Brandeis deserve more critical attention? Have you and your friends talked about how they feel ineffective, or how you could make them work better for yourself or fellow students?

Throughout my time at Brandeis, my friends and peers have spoken to me countless times about their negative experiences with current resources such as the Brandeis Counceling Center, Department of Community Living, and Public Safety. However, those conversations didn’t frequently lead to brainstorming about how to better them. I was often left feeling sad for my friends feeling as though of these resources being more effective felt bleak. Once I realized I wanted to do a senior thesis, my topic changed multiple times before I settled on the one subject I was truly passionate about: understanding and improving campus resources.

For my senior thesis, I developed focus groups composed of University students to gather our peers’ opinions of current resources. The main resources that Brandeis offers involve mental health services, academic services, housing services, and support for survivors of sexual assault and various types of harassment and discriminaton. I decided to take on this project because as a Brandeis student, I want to ensure the students here feel safe and validated while enrolled.

Here is what I learned: students want to modify and revolutionize the resources currently provided. Students spoke passionately about wanting

resources. Students wanted the timing of their circulation, to be “proactive”. Non-punitive alternatives for keeping students safe and wanted better training for clubs and organizations on campus. The recommendations these students brainstormed deserve recognition and action from the administration.

When prompted, multiple students shared that they forgot campus resources existed, or didn’t have the energy to engage with them. This may be because the University typically uplifts resources only during crises or difficult parts of the semester.

Students echoed this sentiment and pointed out that the University’s choice to extend resources amid these stressful times is not conducive to students reaching out for help because they, themselves, are stressed.

As a potential solution, students proposed dedicating a permanent space to campus resources, such as a QR code or poster on a bulletin board in a central location like the Shapiro Campus Center to remind students of the resources. That way, when people are in need of resources, they don’t have to use their energy to figure out where to go.

While at Brandeis I also felt overwhelmed during midterms or finals when events such as wellness days occurred, because that was the time when I needed to buckle down and focus the most. Although these events are a lovely gesture, I also wish more resources had been disseminated across the semester when I was more receptive to utilizing them.

Another reason these resources should be re-evaluated is because many students have shared the need for non-punitive alternatives to safety. The Black Action Plan is a student initiative which lists needs and demands to ensure the Black and POC students on campus feel safe, included, and

comfortable. Among my talks with friends and with participants in the focus groups, the Department of Community Living’s poor track record with communities of color was brought up numerous times. A specific concern that was shared was that when DCL is called, students can be put in uncomfortable, unsafe, or dangerous situations. One of the recommendations made for helping ensure student safety was to follow the BAP’s suggestion of hiring de-escalation therapists, so trained professionals would be the ones facilitating housing situations in a non-punitive manner.

Students also identified a need for better trainings for clubs and organizations. A participant shared that diversity trainings are mandatory for many clubs on campus, but the same YouTube videos were selected for each club training, and the information was not consistently updated. Questions of how to advocate for others or for oneself remained. One suggestion was to use the Prevention, Advocacy & Resource Center’s model to create a student-run resource for people who have experienced discrimination who might not want to report it via existing mechanisms.

The suggestions students gave are all fantastic. However, there are several contradictions when it comes to what students wanted and needed and how they envisioned change. This tells us that these recommendations are not a one-size-fitsall solution, because people have different needs. These are the proposals that stood out as widely beneficial to students, and they are concrete ways to improve or add to current resources.

You are not alone if you feel like oncampus resources at Brandeis need to

be changed. My research reveals that strategies for improving resources are on people’s minds.

The sample of students for this study is not representative of how all Brandeis students feel, because I only got to center 12 voices. However, it sheds light on the need to center the student perspective when it comes to how campus resources are created and managed. I believe that it is crucial to continue gathering this information so that when Brandeis develops new resources or revises old ones, the administration can access this data to help determine next steps.

In addition to this piece, I wrote a policy brief to the administration where I proposed that centering students’ voices, when it comes to evaluating and maintaining campus resources, will create a positive environment for current and future Brandesians alike.

I proposed utilizing the Brandeis support webpage to organize information about all of the resources Brandeis offers in one virtual space, replicating PARC’s model for addressing sexual violence to implement non-punitive safety alternatives for students, and administering a survey to the student body that gauges when students would like to receive information about resources during the year. Also collects suggestions for strengthening other resources. I believe the most important first step is the creation of an annual survey that would allow many more students to weigh in on these issues so we can decide what deserves immediate attention. Every student deserves to feel heard; we have the unique perspective to know better than most what solutions have the potential to make a true difference for our community.

GAMBLING: Boston legends place big bets

CONTINUED FROM 12

all over the state would tell you 'it’s about time.' With a state that has experienced so much success in the sports arena, the people are clamoring, but it’s important to remember to always gamble responsibly. Never bet what you can’t afford. It’s easy to fall into an

addiction, which can lead to horrible consequences. If you are affected by gambling addiction or know anyone who may be, resources and support are available. Massachusetts residents can call 1-800-327-500, which is a confidential hotline to speak to a trained specialist for help.

SOCCER: Pulisic forges path for U.S. prospects in Europe

CONTINUED FROM 12

also much different than that of many other countries. Americans are used to high intensity, actionoriented, fast-paced games with high scores and no ties.

Economically, a capitalist system has hindered the development of American soccer in the past. In almost any country in the world, anybody at a given age can play on any team. The United States has instituted a payto-play system, however, where parents have to pay thousands of dollars to send their children to the best programs. There has also been less exposure and promotion of American soccer leagues than other major leagues, and the domestic leagues themselves lack a major quality that is shared by every other nation’s leagues — promotion and relegation — a concept that would never work in America.

Despite all this, soccer in America is finally on the rise. In 2004, just two percent of Americans named soccer as their favorite sport. 18 years later, that figure is up to eight percent. In comparison, while baseball was the most popular sport in 1960 at 34 percent, today it is down to just nine. Soccer is also bound to grow much more, considering its popularity among the younger generation. 11 percent of Americans between ages 1829 named soccer their favorite sport, only trailing football and basketball.

Steve Gans, an attorney who ran for U.S. soccer president in 2018, believes there are multiple reasons for this recent change. Gans has worked for decades to bridge the gap between the United States and European soccer, and worked on the first U.S. hosted World Cup in 1994. In his interview with the Justice on Feb. 6, he explained: “Americans want to see everything at the highest level, and in regard to soccer, they are able to do so easily now.” American viewership of the best soccer leagues is at an all-time high because of the ease with which people can watch them and their exposure to the sport on a continuous basis.

Gans also cited the decline in certain sports. Football has the most pressing decline in youth participation, because of its dangerous nature, particularly to children. While it is still America’s most popular sport to watch professionally, its lack of participation at the youth level means many households are transitioning to other contact sports like soccer. The same goes

NBA: Harden, Brunson, and Fox set to miss the All-Star weekend

for hockey, which he describes still being popular but “regional” in terms of participation. Soccer is the opposite — it is popular in every corner of the Earth, and with diversity continuously increasing in the United States, this continues to have a positive effect.

Furthermore, Gans notes the importance of Major League Soccer (MLS) investing in stars from the European leagues. The first big name that transformed the MLS was David Beckham in 2007, who stood as an ambassador for the MLS. Today, there are dozens of European stars who have graced the league. Most recently, we have heard rumors of World Champion Lionel Messi signing for Inter Miami. These signings were used to improve the quality of the league as well as serve as a useful marketing technique which has turned it into a much more respectable competition. The growth of the country’s number one league is vital to the development and popularity of the game.

His final explanation for the rise of soccer in the United States relates to the development of players. He points to MLS Next, formerly known as the United States Development Academy, as the youth league responsible for this development. Young players in this league are encouraged and provided with a realistic pathway to move to Europe and try to make it as youth players instead of attending university. It is a big life gamble, and does not work out for many, but overall has improved the quality of American soccer players drastically. The pioneer of this was Christian Pulisic, who signed for German club Borussia Dortmund as a 16-year old in 2015. Nicknamed Captain America, he has served as a symbol of inspiration for thousands of Americans trying to do the same.

Though the most successful World Cup result for the men was in 2002, it is generally clear to Gans that they are “playing a better brand of soccer” today.

The women go for a record fifth Women’s World Cup title this summer in Oceania and seek more recognition for their outstanding accomplishments in doing so. As soccer continues to grow in the U.S., 2026 will serve as a target to reach major sport status as they join Canada and Mexico as hosts for the Men’s World Cup.

—Editor Note: Justice contributing writer Josh Gans is the son of interviewee Steve Gans.

CONTINUED FROM 12

assists, Haliburton has done a great job leading the Indiana Pacers and surprising the critics amid low pre-season projections. GilgeousAlexander has been bringing the Oklahoma City Thunder some clutchtime wonders, making a strong case for being the most improved player of the year. Compared to his first-year colleagues, Jackson Jr. is arguably a questionable selection. He did not make the list as one of the fans’ favorites and has missed a significant number of games due to injuries.

This leads us to look into some of the biggest snubs of this year’s list, where some of my subjectivity will come into play. Also playing at the position of a power forward, Aaron Gordon from the Denver Nuggets could deserve the frontcourt spot more than Jackson Jr. While Gordon and Jackson have put up similar numbers on the stat sheet, with similar team records, Gordon has done it in a much more efficient fashion and has suited up for more contests. In the Eastern Conference, James Harden is possibly the biggest snub of the year.

Currently ranked 7th on the Kia Most Valuable Player ladder, Harden is averaging 21.4 points while leading the league in assists. Comparing the selected guards to Harden’s significance and his team record, Jrue Holiday has much less of an offensive contribution while Demar Derozan is failing to lead the Chicago Bulls into playoff contention. This controversy demonstrates how competitive it is to play as a guard in the NBA. De'Aaron Fox has worked hand-in-hand with his selected teammate Domantas Sabonis in making the Sacramento Kings one of the winningest teams in the Western Conference but remained unselected despite impactful performance. Lastly, there were also debates around whether Jalen Brunson or Julius Randle is the more deserving New York Knick to be chosen as an All-Star. Brunson has been putting up Curry’s level of offensive efficiency and has stepped up more consistently during clutch times. He has also improved the Knicks game by putting the scoring pressure off of Randle and lifting the

team into the 7th in the East. With the recent leg injury sustained by Curry, followed by the trade of Kyrie Irving to the Western Conference, Brunson has a chance to earn his All-Star honor and play in Utah on Feb. 19. At the end of the day, again, being a guard in the NBA is not easy, but Brunson definitely deserves the credit.

The NBA All-Star weekend will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, from Feb. 17 to 19. In addition to the wonders of the All-Star game, this year’s All-Star weekend will feature a mini-tournament among four teams of rising NBA stars and G League talents. The dunk contest will, reportedly, spotlight the firstever G League player participating in the event — Mac McClung. If injuries stop disrupting our wait for the AllStar game, the fans can expect James soaring in his 19th All-Star contest, Tatum and Brown sinking signature jumpers, and Ja Morant dunking over whoever’s in his way live from the Utah Jazz’s home, Vivint Arena.

PARLAY: As Massachusetts retail sports betting went live on Jan. 31. Hopeful winners have flooded casinos to test their luck.

SNUBBED: With the 2023 NBA All-Star roster set for competition, questions surround the players who have been selected.

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

Photo

JUDGES BY THE NUMBERS

MEN’S BASKETBALL

SPRING SPORTS

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

compete with!” Marc Maestri (P) on the goals for the team and what to improve:

SWIMMING AND DIVING

By AKI YAMAGUCHI JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Brandeis Baseball

The Judges ended the 2022 season with an 18-16 overall record, and a 6-10 University Athletic Association conference record. Although having strong performances at the Stein Diamond, the Judges struggled to get much-needed wins in their opponent’s home territory. Going 2-9 away compared to 15-6 at home, the Judges ended their first full season since 2019 on a high note with a winning record and multiple UAA honors.

Looking ahead at the upcoming season, the captains are excited to see what’s to come after the fall pre-season and the start of spring practices. Both old and new talent is present, as many of the starters from last season are seen through the captains and the upperclassmen. The team will welcome the return of three graduate students: Christian Petrisko M.A. ’23, Marc Maestri M.A. ’23, and Gavin Dauer M.A. ’23. Using up their extra years of eligibility, they will be a useful veteran presence to the pitching unit. With 13 first-years stepping in for the 11 senior/graduate players who left the team, the lineup will feature a lot of newcomers in the upcoming games. Captains Steve Simon ’23, Maestri, and Sam Nugent ’23 share their thoughts on what’s to come and their goals for the team.

Steve Simon (RF) on what he’s looking forward to and the class of ’26: “I’m mostly just looking forward to having one last season with this group before I graduate. Having COVID take out most of my freshman and sophomore season was difficult for a lot of us but having that first full season last year reminded [me] how much fun it is going out and competing for a UAA title.

Our new class is an extremely talented group, and they are going to surprise a lot of people [across] their college careers. Whether it is pitchers or hitters, they all really are great players and are going to be a huge part of our team right away. It’s going to be a really exciting year, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of guys to

“The goals for me are simple. I love to win. I was a part of teams here whose job was to rebuild the program’s culture and competitiveness. We were successful with this by becoming a solid northeast team and competing in the UAA. The goals are to sustain and improve on this. With a winning culture developed, we want to be a dominant northeast team and make a run at the UAA.

…We are always looking to improve as pitchers [by] limit[ing] the walks. We need to attack the strike zone and make our opponents earn their baserunners. Between walks and errors, we could have won a handful of more games last year. With the offensive side of the team taking a more small-ball approach, it is even more important for the defensive side to limit the free bases this year.”

Sam Nugent (LF) on improving the team’s defense and excitement for the season:

“So far this winter, there’s been a lot of excitement and high energy. I’m looking forward to the trips to [New York University] and Wash[ington University] this season a lot as it’ll be my first time going to both of these schools.

Last year, a weakness we had was on defense, so we’ll have to improve our fielding this year in order to win a lot of games. The [first-year] class is a great group of kids. There is a lot of talent, and they will get opportunities to prove themselves right away.”

Brandeis Softball

Ending the 2022 season with a winning record of 22-18 overall and 8-12 in the UAA, the Judges are looking to capitalize on their thirdplace UAA finish this upcoming season. Succeeding both home and away, the Judges finished 9-7 at Marcus Field and 13-11 on the road. However, early losses to the conference leaders Carnegie Mellon and Washington University prevented the team from receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.

Going into the 2023 season, the team will travel to California to start their season against La Verne, Whittier, and PomonaPitzer. Although the Judges will not have any graduate returners, they have a fresh first-year class of seven that will fill the ranks and bring their new perspective to the diamond. With the Judges having five seniors and two grad students graduated last year, the new class will have to step up and fill the shoes as starters. Running 40 games this upcoming season,

the Judges will need to utilize their depth to stay consistent throughout the long season. Captains Alex Cohen ’24, Tara Striggow ’23, and Jamie Pippin ’23 look ahead to the season with their young team and excitement for the outcomes to come.

Alex Cohen (P/OF) on what she’s looking for in the upcoming season: “I’m really looking forward to our California trip. It’s a really fun way to start our season and build our team chemistry. [Our] goals I’d say are to stay focused and be able to adjust or pivot at any point in the game. Something we are always improving on is the mental part of the game and not letting our mistakes affect the next play.

We were a new team in the fall and had a lot of new players so we didn’t know each other as well, but as we are getting to know each other better, the team chemistry has been through the roof which translates on the field.”

Tara Striggow (C) on her goals and the new class of ’26:

“This season I’m really looking forward to seeing how we compete in the UAA. We are traveling to Emory and Case Western and due to COVID, no one on the team has been there before, so it’s a new experience. We finished third last year in the UAA, and we are looking to snag a top two spot this year … I really want to focus on being who we say we are and committing to our values as a team. I think if we do that then the outcome will come with it.

What’s nice about this new class is they are scrappy. They are willing to get in there and fight for a spot which I admire. They also bring a fun energy to the team.

This is the first time I’ve been at Brandeis where I feel like everyone is truly invested in softball and wants to succeed. [That being said], we have a pretty young team this year so we are trying to learn how we all play and how that’s going to come together.”

Jamie Pippin (SS/1B) on positives and team growth:

“I’m looking forward to our growth as a team. We are going through a lot of changes this year which naturally brings new challenges. However this team has a lot of grit, and it will be exciting to see how much we’ll be able to accomplish because of that. It’s going to take a minute for everyone to settle in, but once we do I look forward to seeing what we can do.

The first-years are awesome. Aside from the positive vibes they bring to the team, they compete. Each and every one of them is skilled and willing to give it everything they’ve got. I can’t wait to see what they do.”

■ As the spring season approaches, the captains from Brandeis Baseball and Softball prepare the mindset and reflect on what to improve.

DINGERS: Brandeis Baseball is set to return to action on Feb.

Sports just

The rise of the world’s game in the United States

■ While football and basketball continue to dominate the American sports market, soccer has slowly risen to popularity despite long-standing barriers.

By

Association football, or soccer, has been one of the world’s most popular sports for around a century. As of 2017, it is followed by around 3.5 billion people, or nearly half of the world. Soccer is the most popular for a plethora of reasons, but mostly because it is for anyone. Invented in England in 1863, soccer was an elitist sport for the wealthiest individuals, yet it soon became a game for everyone. No matter the race, religion, gender, socioeconomic status, language, or age, anybody was welcome. In the early 20th century, a child didn’t care about money, technology, or fancy equipment — all they needed was a street, a spherical item, and a couple of other kids to play with.

To most of this world, soccer is more than a sport. It is a large part of certain countries’ national identities, and one game can impact and inspire entire nations. After beating eventual champion Argentina in this year’s World Cup, Saudi King

Salman bin Abdulaziz declared a national holiday for Saudi Arabia. When Iceland shocked England at the 2016 European Championship, 8% of their entire population attended the match, 99.8% of Icelandic television viewers watched that match, and nine months later the nation had its highest ever birthrate. While impacting so many, soccer has the ability to build bridges between cultures. People who don’t speak the same languages can always connect by playing the game.

The United States has always done this sport differently in many ways — including in the name itself. Soccer, football, same thing, right? Ironically, the term “soccer,” which often offends so many, was first coined by the very people who invented the game, the British. But why has popularity lacked in the sport so much in the U.S.? This can be boiled down to cultural, economic, and institutional differences.

Some will argue that the existence of so many sports in America prevents the dominance of soccer culture. Baseball was historically “America’s Pastime,” yet gridiron football and basketball dominate fandom in modern day America. While this has a definite impact, the culture in the United States is

Young stars, snubs, and surprises at 2023 All-Star Game

■ The National Basketball Association announced players selected for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah.

By JACKSON WU JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The National Basketball Association announced its 2023 AllStars on Feb. 2. After a thrilling first half of the season, some of the league's top talent will be spending a weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah, to put on a show in front of the whole world. Both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics were selected as all-stars, with Tatum being selected as a starter. For those who are not familiar with the complexities of the recent NBA all-star format, the voting process features a 50% vote from fans, 25% from players, and another 25% from the media. This gives the two

SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL LOOK AHEAD

The Brandeis Baseball and Softball captains spoke to the Justice about the upcoming season and the new members of the team, pg.

Massachusetts legalizes sports betting ahead of Super Bowl

■ Retail sports

All-Star captains, the most popular players from each conference, a pool of 22 other players — 11 from each conference — to “draft” and play alongside them. This year’s All-Star draft will take place right before the contest on Feb. 19, adding more uncertainty and potential surprises to the already exciting event. As for the game itself, both teams will play through three 12 minute quarters, determining a final “target score” to seal the win. The “target score” will be the leading team’s cumulative score of the first three quarters played adding 24 points — in memory of the legendary Kobe Bryant.

The final list of the 2023 NBA All-Stars features superstars such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and many more. And just as this NBA season has showcased, we can observe some young talents and surprises in the selection. Among the player pool, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Utah’s very own Lauri Markennen entered the All-Star category for the first time in their career. Averaging career-highs in both scoring and

By ZACHARY GOLDSTEIN JUSTICE EDITOR

After a years-long battle to bring sports betting to Massachusetts, the Commonwealth has officially launched the first phase of its legalized gaming plan this week.

A landmark Supreme Court decision in 2018 to strike down a 1992 federal law banning sports betting paved the way for its domestic legalization. Since that decision, former Gov. Charlie Baker, now the president-elect for the National Collegiate Athletic Association, fought for years to introduce legislation to allow gambling in the state. Each proposal he pushed forward was ultimately rejected by Massachusetts lawmakers.

Heading into the final days of the 2022 legislative session, all eyes were fixed on a sports betting

bill. Disagreements between the Massachusetts House and Senate on the specifics of the bill had previously caused a stalemate. However, on the final day of the session, the bill started to gain momentum toward a compromise.

In buzzer-beater fashion, lawmakers in the Massachusetts House and Senate came together and reached a compromise for the bill to institute its legalization in the wee hours of the morning on Aug. 1, 2022. Baker ultimately signed the bill on Aug. 10, officially cementing Massachusetts’ place in the gaming sector.

In the following months, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission had to develop regulations on wagering, resulting in delayed availability for the public. Thus, a two-phase release plan targeting key sports events was set. The first phase was created to establish in-person betting, before the Super Bowl, at three locations that already have existing facilities: Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, and MGM Springfield in Springfield. The second phase was to release six mobile betting operators before March Madness, targeting an early March

release date. These six companies include DraftKings, FanDuel, Betr, Bally Sports, PointsBet, and Betway. Other operators tied to the approved casinos will also have mobile availability.

On Jan. 31, 2023, at 10 a.m., retail betting was officially launched in the Commonwealth. Avid sports fans from throughout the state huddled at each of the select locations to place their wagers. Famous Boston sports legends made their appearances as well, such as retired Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, who placed a mind-boggling $11,000 bet on the Celtics to win the title.

The bill had standard requirements go into effect. The legal betting age was set at 21 years old. A revenue tax of 20% was imposed for online betting and 15% for retail betting. Residents may not bet on an in-state collegiate team unless they are in a major tournament. Additionally, sports with results declared by a judge, such as the Olympics, chess, and Esports, are also prohibited as part of the bill.

The long-awaited release of gambling in a state spoiled by sporting history is exciting. Fans

CAPTAIN AMERICA: Christian Pulisic has carved a path for American soccer prospects hoping to make it big time in Europe.

JOSH GANS JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Photo: Eliza Bier/the Justice. Design: Smiley Huynh/the Justice.

Waltham, Mass.

‘Maybe An Artist’: Liz Montague’s story and discovery through art

By MINA ROWLAND

With a slower start to the semester, I decided to celebrate Black History Month by educating myself on Black artists, creators, and change-makers. I grew up around various mediums of art, but one I never outgrew was graphic novels. I loved all of Raina Telemeger’s novels growing up, and one of my favorites to this day is “Smile.” However, finding media that represents me had been difficult until this past fall when I found a new favorite: “Maybe An Artist” written and illustrated by Liz Montague. Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Monague published her graphic memoir in mid-October 2022. Her memoir reveals much about her upbringing and how she came to find her true passion and voice.

The 160-page piece follows her life from childhood to adulthood and her experience navigating race, dyslexia, and social issues.

Montague is a cartoonist, illustrator, and writer; she made history in 2019 when she became the first Black cartoonist for The New Yorker. The famous story is that the then-22 year old sent an email to The New Yorker explaining that they did not have any inclusive cartoons, and when they replied back asking who she would recommend, she recommended herself. I personally find her such an inspiration, especially as a young Black woman looking to pursue a career in the arts. She leans into her perspective as she puts Black women at the center of her cartoons, and her work focuses on the intersection of political issues and social

awareness. When asked about the importance of diversity and representation, Montague told Yahoo’s In The Know, “I think that there’s a really high human cost to inaccurately portraying something.”

In her brilliant, hilarious graphic memoir, Montague validates every experience I have had, from being a young Black girl to growing into a young Black woman, and particularly one who is passionate about art. She begins her memoir recounting her experience as a five year old who was trying to make sense of the 9/11 attacks. Our first impression of her is that she is a journalist: a curious little girl full of questions. Journalism was her first passion, despite her severe struggle with dyslexia. Later, we see her grow from a shy middle schooler to a confident

young woman. In between, she talks about her experience with race in a predominately white school — she grew up in Marlton, New Jersey — and navigating her own interests rather than fulfilling her parents’ expectations. Her memoir is relatable not just for Black girls and women but for all of us whose parents weighed us down with what they want us to do and all of us who struggled in school or were not the cool kids. Montague has an incredibly soft tone when talking about implicit bias or her encounters with small doses of racism, which alleviates tension and makes it more digestible for readers who might be worried about the book being confrontational. Her memoir may be geared toward young teens and pretweens, but it offers a timely perspective and an important

message to listen to in addition to being incredibly poetic. I would be remiss if I did not mention that I had the extraordinary opportunity to interview Montague on my podcast “Almost There,” and she shared much of the same sentiments as seen through her memoir and in several other interviews. The work she creates has inspired me to build my confidence in my art and pursue what I am passionate about. Montague recently won the NAACP Image Awards for Literature honoring her achievements in the arts and her memoir “Maybe An Artist.” She is working on her second book about Jackie Ormes — a pioneering Black woman cartoonist — which will be released on May 16, 2023. Just by being herself, she inspires so many, especially me as a young Black woman and artist.

FILM REVIEW

‘Knock at the Cabin’

a review of M. Night Shyamalan’s latest film

By ETHAN GERSTMAN JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Shyamalan’s back! Returning from a four-year hiatus, auteur M. Night Shyamalan’s “Knock at the Cabin” is his best work in years. Through the film, based on the bestselling novel “The Cabin at the End of the World” by Paul Tremblay, Shyamalan transforms the source material into a story that is distinctly his. He attacks many of the themes that have defined his career. As Shyamalan’s films unfold, the audience is forced to grapple with belief in the supernatural. Each story, from “Unbreakable” to “Split,” has in some way valorized belief and faith. He consistently requires his characters to go through a renewal of faith to survive their stories. For example, in “Unbreakable,” security guard David Dunn needed to believe in his own powers to figure out his place, and in “Split,” our

antagonist Kevin — who suffers from multiple-split personality disorder experiences — transformation into the Beat was only possible through belief in his own abilities. This recent addition to Shyamalan’s collection of films is no different; it is the natural continuation of his career.

“Knock at the Cabin” is a concise, tight thriller that carefully uses its unique cast to deliver a story that leaves the viewer locked-in for the whole experience.The plot is pretty straightforward. On vacation in an unnamed forest, a gay couple — played by Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge — and their child are trapped in a cabin by a small group led by the hulking leader, Leonard, played by Dave Bautista. Once subdued, Leonard presents the family with a choice, one that risks the fate of the world: they must choose to sacrifice one of their own to prevent the apocalypse. If they do not, they are told that they will doom the world to a

series of cataclysmic plagues. Isolated in this cabin, they need to decide whether to trust Leonard and make the impossible decision or not.

Bautista makes the film. His unique physicality as a former WWE wrestler who is as large as a mountain presents an interesting dichotomy between our expectations of how a character who looks like that would act and his tremendously empathetic performance. It brings to mind the performances of Arnold Schwarzenegger in “The Terminator” or Sylvester Stallone in “Rambo.”

Working against our own instincts as audience members to distrust such a threatening physical form, Bautista forces us to trust Leonard, and by extension, his vision of the apocalypse. Almost just using his face alone, he is able to create an image of empathy in a body that is intuitively dangerous. The other actors in his wrestler-turned-actor group, John Cena and Dwayne Johnson,

have not yet distinguished themselves in the same way Bautista has here, as neither of these actors have done the same type of low-budget indie film. Most, if not all, of their films are straight action movies, offering little artistically, aside from the stunts and choreography. Within the last several years, Bautista has consciously attempted to seek significant dramatic work with the great auteurs like Denis Villenueve and M. Night Shyamalan. He is really trying to become “a good fucking actor,” he said in an interview with GQ.

Aside from Bautista, Groff and Aldridge deliver efficient, grounded performances that drive the film in the last hour, particularly as the plot begins to speed up and grow more intense. This kind of movie is my type of film. “Knock at the Cabin” is a strong example of a “one-room movie.” These films are especially effective in my opinion because they’re uncomfortably

engaging. The internal pressure that often slowly builds over the course of a one-room setting is intense and painful. By creating pressure, one-room movies create an artificial sense of heightened danger that keeps the audience involved. In this film, Bautista was critical in establishing that claustrophobic pressure. His physical size made the cabin feel smaller, thereby intensifying the feeling of being trapped. “Knock at the Cabin” wouldn’t be nearly as good without him.

While “Knock at the Cabin” is not Shyamalan’s all-time best work — I think that title belongs to “Signs” — audiences can still expect that this movie will rank highly in his filmography. People that already are a fan of his work will find this film particularly enjoyable. I went into the theater expecting to like it, and it delivered the experience I was looking for. I thoroughly recommend seeing “Knock at the Cabin,” which is currently showing in theaters.

Design: Mina Rowland and Megan Liao/the Justice

BRANDEIS MAAN CHINESE DRAMA

By MEGAN LIAO AND MINA ROWLAND JUSTICE EDITOR AND EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

By LAURYN WILLIAMS JUSTICE DEPUTY EDITOR

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JACK YUANWEI CHENG/the Justice

JACK YUANWEI CHENG/the Justice