President Levine's updates and plans to improve the University
■ President Levine addresses student questions about curriculum changes, budget cuts and housing updates in a follow-up town hall meeting.
On Monday, March 31, Interim President Arthur Levine ’70 held a second town hall for undergraduates students in Rapaporte Treasure Hall, just over a month after the last meeting, to provide updates on the changes to the curriculum and address student concerns surrounding university ranking, immigration law enforcement, new on-campus housing, the cost of attendance and other updates.
After noticing that all of the students were seated in the back half of the hall, Levine moved closer to the crowd of about 30 to begin the meeting. After a brief introduction, Levine passed the microphone to Prof. Joel Christensen ’01 (CLAS), Senior Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs who has been, in Levine’s words, “honchoing the curriculum.” Christensen spoke about his work, and stated that he hoped to deliver the final amendments for the Board of Trustees to ratify in their April 28 vote. This would include newly proposed microcredentials, as well as four new academic schools, separate from the current academic schools at Brandeis, both of which Levine described in greater detail at the Feb. 25 town hall. Christensen stated that these new schools would largely be managed by the current Dean of Arts and Sciences, Jeffrey Shoulson. He also announced that he wants to create three new majors in the Brandeis curriculum: an engineering major, a communications major and a combination major of philosophy, politics and economics – currently under the working title PPE. Christensen promised these new changes will not affect the classroom experience of Brandeis students, but he hopes they will result in “enhanced career support” for students as they apply for jobs post-graduation.
Following Christensen’s remarks, Levine discussed the new changes, adding that, for him, the biggest surprise was that 88% of the faculty voted in favor of the curricula changes, which is a margin few expected. Additional changes will include alterations to the General Education Core Requirements for all Brandeis students, but which will not apply to anyone already studying at Brandeis, and will only go into effect as new students enroll. Levine explained that there are discussions determining “whether or not it makes more sense to establish the core requirements as skills, knowledge and value, rather than the subject matter you need to study,” he said the goal of revising the core requirements was for general education to equip students for the “global digital knowledge economy.” Another major update to education is an emphasis on careers. “We’re a liberal arts college,” Levine said. “Liberal arts are only effective when they have one foot in the library [and] one on the street.”
To fulfill this aspect of education, Levine said “we want internships for every student who wants it.” Beyond real world experiences, Levine’s updates would include the option for students to receive competency certificates. According to the Interim President, competencies are skills, knowledge and value that employers are seeking. This can be accomplished through a “suite of competency aligned with different professions,” as well as demonstrated outside the class with internships. Those who achieve competencies will receive an additional transcript listing the competencies they accomplished.
Moving away from academic restructuring, Levine spoke on new housing, which Brandeis is planning to break ground on by summer 2025 and to open fall of 2027. Levine also touched on the University’s capital campaign effort, which aims to raise between $750,000,000 and one billion dollars.
During the question and answer portion of the town hall, one student talked about the planned new
housing and new program offerings having the potential of increasing tuition. “Affordability is critical,” Levine, who is a first-generation college student, said in response. He added that he has spoken with an admission consultant, in regard to the impact of lowering tuition in half and eliminating merit aid. According to Levine, the consultant advised against it as it would drive away applicants rather than encourage low-income students to attend. Levine considers this so-called “discount” approach the best way to maintain Brandeis’ status while still offering a way for lowincome students to afford tuition. “We are locked into this price [tuition], but one of the things that we are not locked into is how much we discount it,” Levine said.
Another student raised the question of whether Brandeis had plans to instate a permanent dean of The Heller School for Social Policy and Management and shared their concerns over the possibility of the school downsizing or shutting down. Levine’s response was emphatic — he claimed “I don't think Heller has had a greater champion than me in the president’s office, in well over a decade … I really admire Heller.” He added that “Heller is more important than ever,” noting that the school was created in response to social policy changes in the United States and around the world. “This was a wonderful opportunity to influence policies, with our research. Well, now what is happening is that we need Heller because our policies are changing,” Levine said. He also expressed desires for the social sciences at Brandeis to gain the advantage of seeing public policy and social science in action within the Heller School. Levine’s plans for Heller included appointing interim deans within the next couple of years and to eventually appoint a permanent dean.
The next student question was regarding the drop in Brandeis’ official U.S. News and World Report ranking, going from 44 to 63 in the past few years. Levine’s response touched both on the reason that Brandeis’ ranking fell in the first place, as well as what current plans are to improve it. He noted the considerations that went into these rankings changed significantly, in ways less favorable to Brandeis’ score. Now, small class size, while a benefit of attending Brandeis, is not counted in the criteria. Levine also pointed to the fact that graduation rates are evaluated relative to expectations. Schools with lower retention rate that graduate more of their students than expected would be rated better than a school with a higher retention rate that maintains a higher graduation rate but graduates students lower than what was projected. As Levine put it, a school with a 40% graduation rate that graduated 60% of its class in one year would see a boost in their score. Whereas if Brandeis is expected to graduate 90% of its students and only 89% of students graduate, they would not receive the same evaluations, despite a materially higher rate of graduation. Levine assured students that although there were aspects of the rankings that couldn’t be controlled, he is working to improve the aspects that can be helped. Levine also sought to reassure students about the quality of the education they are receiving, telling them that he considered Brandeis today to be better than it was when he attended the school. Levine described his experience at Brandeis as being colored by the current events of the time, including the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War.
The next student asked for Levine’s perspective on the image of Brandeis he wants to project and how he would characterize the University. The student described a shift in the public perception of Brandeis from the time they originally applied, having seen it as more focused on social justice and policy, to the present day perception “with a large emphasis on our Jewish heritage.” Levine’s response consisted of three parts. He described Brandeis as simultaneously an “elite liberal arts college and a world class research university,” a combination which he believes sets Brandeis apart from other schools. Levine also stated that he believes Brandeis has retained the values of its founders, maintaining its reputation for excellence as well as its “abhorrence of exclusion of any
Springfest performers
The Campus Activites Board announced who will be playing Springfest this year.
By BRIANNA EARLE
DEMONSTRATION
■ Protesters take to Brandeis' front lawn to stand against Israeli and United States policies.
By GRACE DOH JUSTICE ASSOCIATE EDITOR
On Friday, April 4 at 4:00 p.m., the Brandeis Jewish Bund gathered on the Great Lawn for a demonstration and marched through campus in support of Palestine. The gathering aimed to condemn the University’s “complicity in the ongoing genocide of Palestinians,” the Trump administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests/disappearances and the forces of U.S. imperialism, as explained in an April 2 post on the Bund’s Instagram page. The group of demonstrators consisted of at least 100 students, and onlookers ranged from administrative staff and faculty to eventual counter-protesters.
In the past, most of the Bund’s events have fo-
Brandeis
cused on raising consciousness through vigils, history posts, webinars or “events for Jews that have been alienated by the institutional Zionism of chartered Jewish Life groups (like [Brandeis] Shabbat events),” a Bund representative told The Justice in an April 6 email exchange. With their Friday protest, the Bund’s efforts turned outwards with the first major campus protest for Palestine since the Nov. 10, 2023 rally.
On April 3, the day before the protest, Vice President of Student Affairs, Andrea Dine, and Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, LeManuel Bitsoi, sent out an email entitled “Community and Free Expression” that underlined safety as their primary concern in regard to the upcoming protest. The message urged attendees to be aware of the potential consequences of their actions, how they may affect vulnerable community members and the privacy concerns that could arise from posting photos without the subject’s consent. Dine and Bitsoi encouraged everyone to review the Campus Use of Space Policy, Student Rights and Responsibilities' policies on
member joins U.S. lobbying day for tuberculosis awareness
■ Brandeis' chapter of PIH Engage travels to the nation's capital to bring tuberculosis back into the spotlight as it continues to take countless lives worldwide.
By ANNA MARTIN JUSTICE EDITOR IN CHIEF
When many Americans think of tuberculosis, they imagine a disease of the past — a relic of the Victorian Era, long since relegated to history books. But for the students, professors and activists gathering in Washington, D.C. on April 8 and 9, the tuberculosis disease is a present and pressing global crisis.
Among those advocates is a small but passionate delegation from Brandeis, joining what is expected to be the largest tuberculosis-related congressional lobbying event in United States history. The effort, coordinated by the grassroots organization TB Fighters in collaboration with Partners In
Hayden exhibit
Hugh Hayden stopped by the Rose Art Musuem to discuss his current exhibit "Hugh Hayden: Home Work."
By NEMMA KALRA
Health and Partners in Health Engage, involves over 200 meetings with congressional offices.
The mission is clear: secure increased federal funding for tuberculosis programs, protect those programs from budget cuts and change the narrative surrounding a curable disease that continues to kill over one million people each year. “I think one of the things that shocks people is that we’ve had a cure for TB since the 1950s,” explained Hana Miller ’25, co-president of the University’s chapter of PIH Engage in an interview with The Justice on April 4.
According to the World Health Organization, in 2023 alone, 10.8 million people contracted tuberculosis and an estimated 1.25 million died. “TB is a disease of poverty,” Miller emphasized. “It has become really clear that it is a choice to share the drugs and the resources that we have for this disease … It is affecting those who don’t have these resources, and that’s really unfair, and that’s also really dangerous in terms of what we know about biosecurity, about global health.”
The Brandeis delegation includes Miller, professor and Stop TB USA board chair Dr. Cynthia Scharfenberg Shampel (Heller) and Brandeis
Exploring Mizrahi feminism
ARIANA AGARWAL
GONNY NIR
SIGNS : Book inspired artwork is held by protesters facing the Universi ty.
SENATE LOG
Senate charters two clubs and debates resolution on transgender athletes
The Brandeis Student Union meeting was called to order on April 6, at 7:05 p.m. by Vice President Ría Escamilla-Gil ’27
The first order of business was to discuss club charters, with a presentation by Rani Balakrishna ’25 to recharter the Archon Yearbook. The club had been dechartered in October 2023 due to funding issues and a lack of staff, with Assistant Director for Operations, Matt DeCarlo, and a singular student taking on most of the work. The new proposed structure would be to create a short, magazine-style booklet given out during senior week with a QR code to a longer online yearbook.The Student Union voted to charter the new yearbook club unanimously by vote of affirmation.
The next club to ask for chartered status was Brandeis Athlete Ally by Elle Young ’28 and Balakrishna. The purpose of their club is to host safe spaces for queer athletes. Balakrishna stated that she has met with other Athlete Ally chapters and added that there are three queer affinity groups on campus, but none specific to athletes. She then showed a map of transgender athlete bans and said that Massachusetts protects transgender athletes under anti-discrimination laws. The club’s current finances come from a one time donation of $3,500 with $2,400 remaining from Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Lynne Dempsey. The presenters said that they benefit from being part of a national organization by having a monthly call with other campus chapters, allowing them access to additional resources that are not in the form of monetary funding. Executive Senator Daniel Shin ’27 brought up that clubs will potentially
be merged, and will need to be more selective or better at outreach. The Senate then voted unanimously by affirmation to charter Athlete Ally.
Next was the executive board report with $8,234 left and five Senate Money Resolutions. Shin gave a report for the Club Support Committee and said that two clubs were granted chartered status and two were given probationary status. Then, Sarah Jafary ’28 gave a report for the Health and Wellness committee. She discussed the State of the Union planning and a self-care day for finals with collaborations between clubs. The Senate discussed and passed some bylaw amendments. Balakrishna, in her Student Union President role, then discussed club amendment with Michelle Puls, the Director of the Department of Student Engagement and Student Union Advisor. The two talked about the DSE having clubs start the process of amending their constitutions to include anti-discrimination language.
The Senate then moved into executive session to discuss a Senate Resolution asking the University to condemn the Trump administration’s actions against trans athletes. They brought Young, a transgender athlete at Brandeis, to talk about her experience. Ava Ferrigno ’27 asked how her team was supporting her. Elle said she has to compete on the men’s side to comply with National Colleagate Athletic Associationregulations that mandate transgender athletes to compete on the team of their sex assigned at birth. She said the University has not made any promises or public statements but has
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2025 Commencement speakers announced
On April 2, Interim President Arthur Levine sent an email to the Brandeis community announcing that Professor Jonathon D. Sarna ’75 (NEJS), a historian of American Judaism, and the Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson, a theoretical physicist and higher-education leader, will be the keynote speakers for Brandeis’ 74th Commencement ceremonies.
The speakers will additionally receive honorary degrees. Also receiving an honorary degree is LGBTQIA+ rights activist and the lead plaintiff in the 2015 landmark Supreme Court case, that legalized same-sex marriage, Jim Obergefell. Obergefell co-wrote the book “Love Wins: The Lovers and Lawyers Who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage Equality” and serves as the executive producer for The JustMarried Project, which entails a podcast series, book and documentary series.
In his email, Levine elaborated on the keynote speakers’ accreditations, recounting how Sarna retired from teaching in
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December, after serving at Brandeis for 34 years. Sarna has also worked on writing and editing for more than 30 books. These titles include “Lincoln and the Jews: A History, and When General Grant Expelled the Jews.” Levine elaborated that “his book ‘American Judaism: A History’ is considered the definitive history of American Jewry and has won many accolades, including the 2004 Everett Jewish Book of the Year Award from the Jewish Book Council.” He shared Jackson’s accolades as “the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. at [Massachusetts Institute of Technology].” She also served as the 18th president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, between 1999 and 2022. “She has held senior leadership positions in academia, government, industry and research,” Levine’s email to the Brandeis community included. Jackson has won several awards, including the National Medal of Science, awarded in 2016 by the former U.S. President Barack
Senator Booker breaks record, speaks for 25 hours
of veteran benefits.
On the evening of May 31, Senator Cory Booker (D) of New Jersey began a 25-hour marathon speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate. He stated, “I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able. I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis.” He held the floor in protest of the Trump administration’s actions and Elon Musk’s interference in various critical government functions, such as social safety nets, via Department of Goverment Effciency.
In order to hold the floor, he was not allowed to sit down, use the restroom, eat food or stop speaking for more than a moment at a time. He used the time to speak about the harm that the Trump administration’s policies and agenda have caused throughout the country. Particularly, Senator Booker voiced concerns raised by his constituents about myriad topics, ranging from proposed cuts to social security to planned reductions
■ A news article’s editor’s note incorrectly spelled an editor position as “SAssociate.” It was corrected to “Associate.” (April 1, Page 3).
■ A news article incorrectly stated that the Senate heard a presentation about a “Small Room Meeting.” It was corrected to “Senate Money Resolution.”
The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Send an email to editor@thejustice.org
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.
offered her mental health support. Lukas Gordon ’26 asked if chartering Athlete Ally is enough of a public statement. Young said that there is an information war about this issue and a statement from the Student Union would be powerful. She said that “silence is death” and that funding has been pulled for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at other universities. International Senator Gianna Crisha Saludo ’28 asked what she wanted them to demand of the university and how they could best support her. She said that no universities across the country have taken a stance on transgender athletes. Young said she has been an athlete for a long time and it has been good for her mental health. Shin then said they will focus on the International Student Resolution in a future week.
After discussing Young’s presentation, the Senate moved on to discuss the Senate Money Resolutions. Balakrishna said she was presenting on behalf of a collaboration with Student Sexuality Information Services for an event on April 29 from 2 to 5 p.m. in Fellows Garden that will include tabling and instructional materials on how to have safe sex. Gordon stated that the event was reasonably priced, and they voted to expedite and pass unanimously by affirmation.
The last meeting will occur on April 20 on Zoom.
— Justin Rubenstein
Obama, for her contributions to the advancement of science and engineering, and the Vannevar Bush award, in recognition of her achievements in scientific research, education and public policy.
The 2025 undergraduate and graduate commencement will take place on Sunday, May 18.
straight to protest Trump administration’s agenda
As of approximately 7:18 p.m. on April 1, the evening after he began, he officially broke the record for longest marathon speech. According to Senator Booker, it was more than breaking a record, as the previous record holder was the late Senator Strom Thurmond who spoke for 24 hours to filibuster the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Senator Booker stated publicly that reclaiming the record for a noble cause means a lot to him personally, as the filibuster aimed to prevent “people like [him]” from taking office, as he is a senator of color.
Other Senators, including Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D) of New York, periodically provided Senator Booker with opportunities to rest his voice by asking him intentionally prolonged questions, during which he was not obligated to speak.
Senator Booker repeatedly quoted the late John Lewis saying
that we need to engage in “good trouble, necessary trouble.” A few days after the marathon concluded, his office sent an email saying, “[f]or 25 hours … I had the honor of reading the letters, calls, and stories that … Americans from all across the country have shared with me … since Donald Trump took the oath of office.” Booker stated, “I rose because Trump and Musk’s actions have caused undue harm to Americans of all backgrounds.” He concluded, “[t]he only way we will continue to counter the constant barrage of lies, distractions, and attacks is if we choose to stand up and speak out, together.”
— Hannah Shapiro
— Isaac Birkental
JAMES LI/The Justice
Exploring Mizrahi feminism: identity, solidarity and political challenges
■ Prof. Yuval Evri (NEJS) hosted a Columbia University professor and queer feminist activist to discuss Mizrahi identity, feminism and the current political climate.
By ARIANA AGARWAL JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
On April 3, Prof. Yuval Evri (NEJS) hosted guest speakers Shirly Bahar, a political resistance educator at Columbia University and Yali Hashash, a queer feminist activist, to discuss Mizrahi identity, feminism and the political challenges of our time. This discussion was the third session of the Sephardi Modernities Seminar Series 2025 : “Partners, Outsiders, and Others: Sephardi Jews and the Global Left.”
Bahar opened the discussion by defining the term Mizrahi, which refers to Jewish people who have origins in the Middle East, North and Central Africa. She emphasized Mizrahi Jews’ commitment to challenging ideas such as patriarchy, Zionism, racism and white supremacy, and how Mizrahi Jewish communities have strong ties to their origins and retain their distinct cultural traditions. For instance, Mizrahim continue to prepare traditional dishes such as Yemenite kubaneh, a soft braided bread that reflects Mizrahi origins and practice a distinct style of prayer, or nusah — a traditional Hebrew
prayer style which reflects a community’s unique cultural and religious identity. Mizrahim communities have maintained their unique styles of worship for centuries. For instance, Jews of European descent use the “Nusach Ashkenaz” style of prayer, while Jews of Mediterranean descent use “Eidot HaMizrach” style of prayer. Hashash furthered the conversation by discussing contemporary political challenges to unity and global peace. She criticized the reestablishment of fascism, or a far-right ideology that promotes a dictatorship, which is reemerging due to neoliberal ideas, and emphasized the importance of solidarity in these times. Neoliberal ideas promote capitalism and emphasize reducing regulation and state control in the market. Under this ideology, there is a belief in personal responsibility and that individuals should succeed based on their own efforts rather than improving society’s opportunities as a whole. She argued that Western culture promotes selfish and cruel behavior over kindness since it focuses on individual success and competition rather than the community as a whole. In these societies, individuals engage in capitalism, where people gain more opportunities through the amount of material objects they possess rather than expressing empathy for others.
Hashash also emphasized how mainstream media promotes panic to further polarize opposing ideologies and how oversimplifying complex problems such as the Israel-Hamas war fuels hatred among various groups. She highlighted how citizens can humanize issues to reduce hate through empathizing with the opposing ideology and understanding their current struggles. Furthermore, she discussed a crisis in Judaism today, es -
pecially within the Mizrahi community, due to the reemergence of far-right movements that advocate for policies such as bans on abortion. These proposed bans are not only a misrepresentation of Judaism but also an inaccurate portrayal of the religion, since Jewish law traditionally protects the mother’s health, even at the risk of the fetus’s life.
Bahar argued that when part of the Mizrahi community in Israel supported retaliation to the Oct. 7 attack, it highlighted the far-right ideology that has emerged, which undermines empathy and solidarity. She expressed concern for Palestinians suffering and the dangers of living in Gaza in 2025.
Hashash also critiqued the one-sided nature of the story portrayed in the Israeli news, which only discusses the suffering that one side is experiencing. This promotes a biased far-right media perspective, which fails to acknowledge the broader issues at stake and leaves out the context for the war, particularly the hardships that Palestinians are facing. This creates a one-dimensional narrative, which is inaccurate.
In this time of social unrest, she highlighted religion as a way to remain united and return to authenticity amidst the rise of far-right movements. However, Bahar acknowledged how often the media distorts an individual’s ability to fully return to their cultures, as “cultures are used in a sentimental, manipulative way” to exclude marginalized groups and promote more radical religious views. She emphasized that the rights to safety and freedom for all individuals are crucial; however, wars decide who gets to enjoy basic privileges.
Hashash argued that this ongoing war between Israel and Palestine prompted by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel is an ex -
ample of history repeating itself, where Jews and Muslims are fighting each other due to a desire for a sacred piece of land. While this fight does not overtly highlight religious significance as the cause of the conflict, the dispute over this strip of land is rooted in religious significance and national identity. While Hashash contended that there is little hope in resolving this conflict and attaining peace, she nevertheless believes we must persevere. After an hour, the speakers moved into the Question and Answer session. One attendee asked, “What is a utopian vision?” Hashash and Bahar had been discussing the lack of hope individuals are experiencing due to the ongoing political attacks and how individuals can come together and experience a better world. Hashash responded, “The ability to be both local and universal and the ability to adapt to the future in this world.” Currently, the political right is more valuable for Mizrahi mobility due to its broader social acceptance in Middle Eastern society. Therefore, Bahar highlighted that a significant majority — around 95% — tend to align with the political right, while only a small minority aligns with the political left. She argued that today’s world is complex, and a traumatic experience such as surviving the Holocaust does not necessarily lead to compassion since humans all have their own political goals, such as regaining sacred land. She concluded by emphasizing the importance of diversifying and expanding a political group’s worldview to create connections with a larger community and that as right-wing support continues to surge, individuals should prioritize compassion, authenticity, and inclusive values.
Waltham School Committee presented with preliminary Fiscal Year Budget
■ The initial budget is anticipated to increase by 9.94%, with old positions repurposed for new ones aimed to meet student needs.
By LIN LIN HUTCHINSON JUSTICE NEWS EDITOR
On April 4, the Waltham Public School Committee reviewed the preliminary budget for Fiscal Year 2026, marking a significant step forward in planning for the upcoming school year. The meeting included reflections on the budgeting process and the district’s priorities for the coming fiscal year. Chad Mazza, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services, presented the preliminary budget, detailing the development timeline that began in November 2024 and concluded on April 2, where multiple leadership meetings and budget workshops were held. The district’s budget priorities emphasized the need to focus first on the classroom, ensuring that all students receive equitable academic, social and emotional support. It is designed to align with the district’s mission and vision, grounded in data, to ensure compliance while promoting innovation and growth while underscoring the importance of providing each classroom with the necessary staffing and materials to meet these objectives.
Superintendent of Schools, Marisa Mendonsa, shared similar sentiments, thanking principals and directors for sharing insights into the needs, expectations and goals of
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their schools. She emphasized that the focus on student needs aims to “improve the educational outcomes for our students for years to come.”
The proposed FY26 budget is anticipated to increase by 9.94%, rising from $115,242,653 in FY25 to $126,695,969. While there is an anticipated overall increase in the proposed budget, there were some reductions, many of which pertain to Waltham High School. Reductions in staffing includes the Out of School Time Manager position, leading to a budgetary impact of $71,000, and funding for mediation services was also reduced. Additionally, the school would lose three of its five security monitor personnel, retaining only one at the front door and one at the back door, resulting in a savings of $91,500. Other cuts include the removal of the underutilized Coordinator of Tiered Interventions and Supports and the full repurposing of the Academic Support Specialist position, with $65,000 being redirected to fund a new Restorative Practices Coordinator role.
In addition to more funding, relieved costs that resulted from eliminated positions will be repurposed for new positions throughout the district aimed at addressing the needs of the district’s students. The proposed budget seeks the addition of English as a Second Language Teachers, distributed across six schools, at a total cost of $642,804. Other positions include a Special Education Teacher at McDevitt Middle School, at a cost of $90,920, as well as a Learning Through Functional Experiences Teacher at Waltham High School to increase program flexibility. Additionally, Mazza noted during the April 2 presentation that the need for a Reading Teacher within specialized education is growing at the high school. The addition of a second teacher is intended to ensure that all students receive the specialized instruction they require. The district also is aiming to double the number of School Adjustment Counselors, reducing
Period Activists at ‘Deis expand product accessibility
One month ago, Period Activists at ‘Deis installed menstrual product caddies in bathrooms across campus. In particular, they emphasized the installation of tampon and pad holders in Skyline Residence Hall as well as at The Village A, B and C Residence Halls. These caddies differ from the larger Aunt Flow dispensers, which hold 50 tampons and pads each, and can be found within individual stalls. Though smaller, the holders are a continuation of PAD’s larger mission to expand access to menstrual products on campus.
According to the Student Union March Newsletter, they and PAD encourage students to help restock caddies or dispensers and scan QR codes found in bathrooms when dispensers are empty. If these codes are missing or you wish to help restock, a representative from either the Student Union, PAD or the Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation can be contacted. PAD has had a strong relationship with the Student Union after piloting a free product
initiative during the spring 2023 semester. As stated on their website, their mission is to “bring free menstrual products to firstyear residence halls.” Since then, 52 womenidentifying and gender neutral bathrooms in East Quadrangle, North Quadrangle and Massell Quadrangle have gotten Aunt Flow dispensers. Beyond this, PAD has future plans to bring free menstrual products to more of Brandeis’ residence halls and academic buildings. Notably, they want to expand to men-identifying bathrooms, as there are currently zero on campus with either dispensers or caddies. — Iyla Lichtenfeld
the student to counselor ratio, responding to the increased need for social, emotional and academic support services. In the elementary schools, the budget proposes adding additional English Language Art Interventionists in all elementary schools and Math Interventionists for all schools except Whittemore. Mazza says these positions would cost about $318,220 and $272,760, respectively, and are intended to provide additional support to students struggling with literacy and math skills.
Repurposed funding from the eliminated or reduced security monitor and mediation positions will be redistributed to new Dean of Student positions at the Waltham High School. The budget anticipates the positions to cost $363,680. According to Superintendent Mendonsa, the Dean of Students would be a licensed teacher and member of the Waltham Educators Association. They would not serve as administrators, but rather act as “supporters of school culture” and alleviate some of the disciplinary responsibilities from assistant principals. The Dean of Students would focus on addressing low-to medium-level disciplinary issues, which currently result in around 40 to 60 office referrals per day.
Other new non-administrative roles include two Special Education Paraprofessionals, a Reading Interventionist at Waltham High School, a Restorative Practices Coordinator at Waltham High School, aimed at providing support to students who have been involved in in-school suspensions and an Evaluation Team Leader, at a cost of $45,460, who would oversee support for 114 students with learning disabilities and Individualized Education Programs.
At the administrative level, the district is proposing a new Chief Officer for Career and Technical Education, a district-wide role focused on promoting college and career readiness and providing students exposure to CTE programs all throughout their career at the
Waltham public school. The salary for this position is budgeted at $180,000. Additionally, a new Pre-Kindergarten to grade 5 Math and Science Director will be appointed to oversee the implementation of the math and science curriculum across the elementary schools. Currently, there is only one person responsible for Pre-K to grade 12-level math and science curriculum.
Mazza also noted that new additions, such as a Medical Assistant position at Kennedy School, cost $35,147. Additionally, an Athletic Scheduler/Athletic Trainer position will be added at Waltham High School to ensure the district complies with Massachusetts state law requiring an athletic trainer for high-impact sports. Currently, Waltham is out of compliance with the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, and this position will help address that gap.
The budget also includes various operational and programmatic increases. The facilities budget will receive an additional $206,236 for cleaning supplies and facilities and equipment maintenance. Special education will see an increase of $808,711 to support the potential acquisition of new testing equipment and learning devices. The Teaching and Learning budget will grow by $136,191 to fund mentor stipends with transportation expected to increase by 10% to account for rising costs.
After Mazza’s presentation, members of the school committee discussed the potential for lost federal funding, as the national budget and policies are being challenged. Mazza shared that the team formulating the budget is considering and planning around the uncertainty so they are not left “guessing at the last minute” and “rushing to try to figure things out” as they come down from the national level.
Photo courtesy of BRYAN WOLFE/The Justice
CROWN CENTER AT 20
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23
4PM: KEYNOTE: THE MIDDLE EAST’S DANGEROUS NEW NORMAL SUZANNE MALONEY, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION • 5PM: PANEL: IRAN’S REGIONAL & GLOBAL CHALLENGES
THURSDAY, APRIL 24
PANELS: ENVISIONING REGIONAL FUTURES • 9:15AM: EGYPT & NORTH AFRICA 10:45AM: ISRAEL, IRAQ & THE LEVANT • 12PM: LUNCH • 1PM: TURKEY & THE GULF
RALLY: University claims outside agitators in attendence, Bund says otherwise
campus protests and demonstrations and discrimination and harassment. They also noted that nonBrandeis community members are not permitted to participate in on-campus demonstrations.
The Bund stated that in the days leading up to the protest, they were in coordination with the administration about safety concerns and assured both the University and their own members that they would comply with any dispersal orders. “Safety was our first immediate priority,” the Bund stated. The organizers emphasized the “hundreds” of collective hours that were dedicated to preparing security plans that would prevent any arrests from happening that Friday.
Three “Student Support Team” staff members, identified by their neon yellow vests, were present at the demonstration and worked to diffuse any potentially harmful behavior in the vicinity, such as close-up recordings of the protesters. Members of the National Lawyers Guild were also in attendance to provide legal support in the event of an arrest — a decision that the Bund explained was informed by the Nov. 10, 2023 rally for Palestine where seven protesters were arrested, three of whom were students.
The demonstration began with safety announcements that reminded participants not to engage with press, police or agitators. The first speaker shared that at the last vigil the Bund held, they reflected on an image with the name and face of a three year old child, Mariam Telbani. Telbani, who was killed in an air raid in Gaza, reminded the speaker of the Jewish prophet Miriam. “If you grew up in a Jewish environment like me, you'll know who Miriam is,” the speaker said, explaining how the prophet Miriam led the Hebrew women across the Red Sea with a hand-drum and a song. “I remembered the prophet Miriam, and I should hope that every child everywhere, every child in Gaza deserves to be remembered for 2000 years.”
Multiple speakers spoke on how they were brought up in Zionist families and have since come to deny those beliefs. “I have come to reject that identity here at Brandeis, despite it being the home of the cultural reproduction,” one speaker said.
Another speaker asked for participants to stand in solidarity with their immigrant neighbors in the wake of increased ICE raids under the Trump administration. “We are denied due process. We're denying dignity in our own community — a city built by immigrants,” they said.
One speaker called for a moment of silence in commemoration of the lives lost “in Gaza and Lebanon and all the places that Israel has terrorized.” They invited participants to follow in a peaceful march to the front of campus. Demonstrators descended the staircase underneath the Bernstein-Marcus Administration Center and moved towards the University’s main entrance. They then crossed Loop Road and settled on the grass strip sectioned off by South Street and Old South Street, whereon the “Brandeis University” stone entrance sign stands.
This route from the Great Lawn down to the University’s main entrance was planned to “keep students from being corralled by police in the event of a crackdown,” they told The Justice.
Gradually, more onlookers arrived and watched from the sidelines. Some observers stood just off the edge of the demonstration, while others observed from across the street. In a whirlwind of passing cars, monitoring security vehicles and university shuttles, many passersby honked their horns either to show their support or disdain with a thumbs up or down.
At around 4:40 p.m., another set of demonstrators showed up in support of Palestine — a few holding percussive instruments used to accompany their chants — and walked down from the side of South Street facing the Brandeis/Roberts train station to those on the grass by the University entrance.
Not five minutes later, a third group of participants approached from the other side of South Street and rendezvoused with the main crowd of protesters. About a dozen of these students were carrying wooden signs painted as various book covers, such as Hegel’s “Phenomenology of Spirit,” Antonio Gramsci’s “Prison Notebooks,” Hewey P. Newton’s “Revolutionary Suicide” and C.L.R. James’ “The Black Jacobins,” among others. They stationed themselves in a line at the edge of the road verge and kneeled against their signs, which acted as a makeshift barricade between the demonstrators and the spectating security and Brandeis police units.
Over the course of the approximately two-and-ahalf hour-long demonstration, a vocal oppositional group formed on the sidewalk leading up to Slosberg Music Center. They shouted phrases like “I would buy them better megaphones. . . We’ll get them megaphones with Israeli flags on them,” “we can’t really hear you. Enunciate please” and “55 are dead, we need to bring them home.” “Bring them home,”
the counter-protesters chanted repeatedly.
Members of the initial protest eventually began engaging with counter-protesters’ disapproving remarks. Some members of the demonstration began chanting, “All the Zionists are racists,” as well as “long live the Intifada” and “Brandeis, your hands are red. 200,000 children dead.” One counter-protester shouted, “Call me a Zionist, I fucking love it. I’m proud of it.” Amid high tensions, both sides kept to their own space on opposite sides of the road at the entrance’s intersection.
At around 5 p.m., Brandeis Police moved toward the skybridge at the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center to address a crew of approximately six demonstrators who were blocking the road with a banner that read “Bassel al-Araj” — the name of a Palestinian writer killed by Israel’s Yaman police force. The demonstrators left the street and the matter was seemingly resolved. The same “Bassel al-Araj” banner was briefly wrapped around the Brandeis University sign. “Resistance is justified when people are colonized,” the crowd chanted. “Resistance is justified when people face genocide.”
At around 5:40 p.m., the protesters proceeded to march counterclockwise up Loop Road, past East Quadrangle and around the front of Skyline Residence Hall. Followed by counter protesters, Public Safety and several security vehicles, the group continued down to Loop Road passing the Shapiro Science Complex and returned to the grass strip by the Brandeis University entrance sign at approximately 6 p.m.
One member told the demonstrators to sit down and relax as organizers passed out snacks, water and handouts. They announced resources for mutual aid and encouraged listeners to reach out to the Bund if they find themselves in need. “We want students to know that, in the event of ICE presence, doxxing, or other concerns, there is a support network available,” the Bund wrote to The Justice.
As the demonstration began to draw to a close at 6:40 p.m., participants gathered in a compact semicircle at the center of the main entrance’s road intersection, with those holding the wooden signs still bordering the side facing police presence. From an exterior standpoint, what appeared to be a heat haze rose from inside of the cluster of students. Two Brandeis police officers swiftly moved in on members of the crowd who then dispersed immediately, after which there was no more fire. All that was left
were hardly-discernible American and Israeli flags in a pile on the ground.
“We made it clear that any dispersal orders would have been followed. Instead, at the end of the protest, police moved in to make arrest[s] despite not issuing a single dispersal order,” the Bund wrote to The Justice regarding their preparatory safety measures. As of press time, The Justice can not verify if the officers were moving towards the crowd to arrest demonstrators.
All students involved in the demonstration were able to evacuate safely with no arrests made.
On the evening of Monday, April 7, Interim President Arthur Levine sent an email to Brandeis community members expressing disapproval of the Friday demonstration. “Most of the masked protesters on Friday were not members of the Brandeis community,” Levine claimed, echoing an April 6 email sent by Rabbi Seth Winberg to the Hillel mailing list that referenced “outside agitators.” Levine then listed three steps the University will take in response to this: stricter enforcement of its no-trespassing policy, prohibition of non-medical and non-religious face coverings that are “used to avoid responsibility for one’s actions” and disciplinary action for the students who invited the trespassers to protest on campus.
In response to the claim that the majority of the protesters were not Brandeis community members, a representative from the Bund told The Justice on April 7 that the allegation is “completely untrue.” “We have no control or knowledge of off-campus people attending, and maintain that there is nothing wrong with people choosing to stand in solidarity with Palestine in their own communities,” they explained.
They clarified that students were provided with clothes, masks and glasses for privacy purposes and that police did not ask attendees to identify themselves. The Bund reiterated that the route of movement — including the decision to bring groups of Brandeis student protesters in from multiple points of entry — was a precaution taken to avoid a repetition of the police force used against students in the Nov. 10, 2023 rally.
— The Justice Deputy Editor Sophia De Lisi ’26 contributed to the reporting of this article.
Q&A: Levine provides assurance to concerned students at the University
kind,” referencing the quotas placed at other universities at the time of Brandeis’ founding limiting how many students of marginalized groups could be admitted. Levine specified that he considered this inclusive practice to be far-reaching, not just applying to antisemitism, but to inclusion of many groups. Finally, Levine characterized Brandeis as having a duty to improve the world, describing its role since its founding as a pioneering force — a role that he believes continues to this day.
The following student’s question was in regard to the new majors that are in the process of being developed. The student specifically wanted to know when the Politics, Philosophy and Economics major would be available for students to declare, and if it would be possible for current students to study it. Christensen responded that, although it’s still unclear when students will be able to declare majors in the program, he hopes for it to be available soon for students to engage with in other ways, by taking classes that would fall under the major. He shared that the major would fall under the social sciences and public policy school, but would be “deeply rooted” in the humanities at Brandeis. The same student questioned whether it would be possible to be involved in internships through this major as an international student who is limited by the kind of internship they can pursue, to which Christensen and Levine both clarified that all majors at Brandeis, new and old, will be able to interact with the new internship program. Levine stated that “we have no major for which an internship will not apply.”
Levine also described what he sees as the value of a liberal arts education. He referenced the difference between a soft skill and a hard skill, and he claimed that the qualifications that employers look for are often the soft skills: communication, writing, creative thinking and adaptability were all important skills that he brought up as byproducts of a liberal arts education that are highly valued by employers.
The next student questioned the proposed microcredentials and competencies. They were worried that the additional transcript, meant to make students more employable, would result in the commodification and devaluing of the actual skills that the microcredentials seek to quantify. To this, Levine responded that, in his opinion, the microcredentials should be wholly tangential to the Brandeis experience, and that they shouldn’t be the main way that any student gets value out of Brandeis.
Another concern a student raised was if there are any plans in place to reopen the Office of Sustainability, which was shut down in the summer of 2024. Levine responded that he considered its reopening a necessity. Christensen offered details on the changes, stating that in reorganizing the school, the Office of Sustainability is at the top of their list. Christensen also claimed that the goals of sustainability go hand in hand with such budgetary restrictions, as greater sustainability can also decrease university costs.
The next question was from a self-identified international student who, although they said they were excited for what the new program would bring, ex-
pressed worries about the security of international students, referencing recent news across the country about international student visas being revoked. The student asked for reassurance about their security at Brandeis. Levine responded, acknowledging the importance of the question, and discussed how Brandeis has been affected by the recent executive orders, citing a lawsuit Brandeis had recently joined, challenging national budget cuts affecting universities across the country. He added that the University is currently following Massachusetts state law, which supports civil rights laws. He reiterated from the previous town hall meeting that Brandeis would continue to follow the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, regardless of whether it was under that name, again referencing the pioneering values of Brandeis that he believes to be crucial to its existence. He gave his word that Brandeis is committed to protecting its international students, and giving them the support and services they may want or need, referring them to the International Students and Scholars Office at Brandeis to get more detailed information.
The following student asked if the plans to improve housing would be solely to add new housing, or if it would include improvement of current housing options. Christensen fielded this question, revealing that both were in the works. The new housing will be phase one of a program to improve housing at Brandeis, and it will house over 600 students, which will eventually allow the university to close the East Quadrangle. He also revealed that
the school is “looking at a complete rejuvenation of Charles River Apartments,” as another phase in their plans to improve housing at Brandeis. Dine also reinforced that this new dorm is the first part of a 10-15 year plan for housing, referring to it as “the first domino.” Another student asked about concerns surrounding the affordability of the new housing. Dine answered that the school is trying to make housing more affordable. Financial aid calculations are intended to take the average rate of a room, and the school is going to do its best to make the new buildings affordable.
The last question came from a student who was concerned about the availability of funds like the Hiatt Undergraduate Transport Fund, available to support student travel for academic and professional reasons. The student asked about Levine’s confidence in the capital campaign he is planning, and shared their worries about the impact that its potential failure would have on first-generation and lowincome students. Concluding the town hall, Levine emphasized his confidence in the success of the capital campaign and promised students that there would be no cuts to these programs in the coming year, reiterating how much he loves Brandeis, and crediting it with how he found his friends, wife and vocation, just as he did at the February town hall.
ADVOCACY: Bringing recognition to the impacts of tuberculosis in Washington D.C.
alum Noah Risley ’23. Their presence is part of a broader effort to ensure all 50 U.S. states are represented by constituents in the Hill meetings. Shampel “was a global health advocate fighting for an end to TB (starting in 2001) with a great anti-poverty grassroots group called RESULTS,” she told The Justice on April 6. “Then [she] moved to Boston, learned about TB in Massachusetts and was appointed to the Mass. Medical Advisory Committee for the Elimination of TB.” She explained that following all of this experience and the intersection “with health equity and economics and all the issues we study at The Heller School, it made sense to do TB research as well.” The team’s involvement in Hill Day is rooted in the work of PIH Engage, the student and communityled advocacy arm of the Partners In Health organization. Unlike many aid organizations, PIH is known for its model of “accompaniment” — a philosophy of standing in solidarity with communities, rather than parachuting in with temporary solutions.
“PIH doesn’t do what I call ‘helicopter care,’” Miller explained. “We don’t fly in, hand out medicine, take a few pictures, and leave. We stay. We build infrastructure. We train local health workers. We embed ourselves in communities, and we don’t leave until those systems are strong enough to function without us.”
In addition to direct care, PIH Engage members focus on political advocacy, working to influence public health policy and secure legislative support
for global health initiatives. The group’s recent advocacy helped push the End Tuberculosis Now Act — a bill focused on tuberculosis research and treatment — through the Senate, with rare bipartisan backing.
“To have a health bill co-sponsored by both a progressive Democrat and a very conservative Republican? That’s almost unheard of these days,” Miller said. “But it happened. And that gives us hope.”
The Hill Day effort has received a major visibility boost from an unlikely source: bestselling author and YouTube personality John Green. Green, who has a long-standing interest in global health, published a book on March 18 titled “Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection.”
More than just a public figure and author, Green has become a leading public voice in tuberculosis advocacy. His influence helped launch TB Fighters, a volunteer-led movement now partnering with major public health organizations. Green’s fans — often young, politically engaged and internet-savvy — have mobilized to write to their representatives, attend training sessions and join the push for change.
The Hill Day participants, including those from Brandeis, spent weeks preparing for their meetings with congressional staff. That preparation involved policy briefings, message framing and extensive training in how to speak with elected officials and their aides — many of whom, Miller noted, are just a few years out of college themselves.
“We’re not walking in and winging it,” she said.
“We’ve got a team of experts — including Dr. Shampel — who can explain the science. We’ve got talking points tailored to each district. And most importantly, we’ve got stories — personal stories. That’s what moves people.”
That personalization has already paid off. When the Arkansas delegate originally scheduled to attend had to cancel, Miller reached out to Risley, a Brandeis alum from the state, who immediately agreed to step in. “That’s such a Brandeis thing to do,” Miller laughed. Still, the work is not without obstacles. In an increasingly polarized political climate, advocacy around global health — especially funding for international aid — has become more difficult. “We’ve definitely had to shift our messaging,” Miller acknowledged. “There are representatives who used to be strong supporters of this issue, but now feel they can’t publicly back it anymore, because of optics or party pressure.”
To navigate that landscape, the team has reframed their arguments to emphasize national security, economic efficiency and public health preparedness. “If COVID taught us anything, it’s that ignoring infectious diseases only makes things worse,” said Miller. Shampel emphasized that one of the team’s main goals for Hill Day is to lead to “restoration of all USAID programs recently and unilaterally cut off, despite all lives it will cost and all the disadvantages to the United States.”
While the Hill Day represents a high point in the campaign, organizers say the work won’t stop when the meetings are over. One of their long-term goals is to change how the public — and policymakers — talk about tuberculosis.
“People still think of it as ‘consumption,’ this oldtimey illness from the 1800s,” Miller said. “But there are over 10,000 cases in the U.S. every year, and that number is rising. If we don’t act now, it’s only going to get worse.” They also hope to build lasting relationships with congressional offices, ensuring that tuberculosis remains on the policy radar beyond this one-day event.
Above all, the advocates want to drive home one message: every death from tuberculosis is preventable — and therefore unacceptable. “Paul Farmer, the co-founder of PIH, used to call them ‘stupid deaths,’” Miller said. “Deaths that happen not because we didn’t know what to do, but because we chose not to do it. We chose not to care enough.”
“That’s what this fight is about. It’s about justice. It’s about equity. And it’s about making sure that no one dies just because they were born in the wrong place or the wrong zip code.”
As the Brandeis delegation prepares for a full day of back-to-back meetings in the Capitol, they remain grounded in a sense of collective purpose.
“I’m not leading this,” Miller insisted. “I’ve just been lucky to be part of it. This is a team effort — just like the fight against TB has to be. No one can do it alone.”
VERBATIM | LADY BIRD JOHNSON
Where flowers bloom, so does hope.
ON THIS DAY…
The United States Senate passes Civil Rights Bill with measures against voter discrimination in 1960.
FUN FACT
Tug of War was an Olympic event from 1900 to 1920.
Daya and Baby Tate to perform at Springfest
The Campus Activities Board announced earlier this week which artists are set to play at this year’s Springfest.
The Brandeis Campus Activities Board announced in an Instagram post on April 4 that singer Daya would take the stage at this year’s Springfest as the event’s headliner. Daya, known for popular hits such as “Sit Still, Look Pretty” and “Don’t Let Me Down,” is an artist who has already found success before appearing here at Brandeis. Up-and-coming rapper Baby Tate will take the stage as her opener.
Finding success with her single “Hide Away” in 2015, Daya climbed the Billboard Hot 100 chart all the way to the 23rd spot. Only 16 years old at the time, the singer continued to produce hits as she released her debut album just weeks following. Her hit single was the beginning of a steep climb up the fame ladder.
Following the success of her debut album, Daya collaborated with the popular electronic duo the Chainsmokers to create the song “Don’t Let Me Down,” which earned the trio a Grammy for Best Dance Recording in 2017. After receiving word of the nomination, Daya told Billboard Music on Dec. 6, 2016, “I had just woken up, so I was like ‘Is this part of my dream? I can’t tell.’ And I was so ecstatic I texted all my friends and literally did a lap around my hotel room. I was completely alone but had the energy of like 30 people,” she said. “It was a moment, for sure.”
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the singer rose to fame from humble beginnings. Daya told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on Oct. 29, 2015, “I was not expecting this. It’s been my dream since I was a little girl and I knew it would be my career at some point. I didn’t know how fast everything
By BRIANNA EARLE JUSTICE EDITOR
would go. I should be right now a normal 17-yearold sitting in class in high school. Instead, I’m recording and it’s so exciting for me. I can’t imagine anything I’d rather be doing right now.“
The 26-year-old singer is making a pivot in her career. After experiencing fame at such a young age, Daya took an extended hiatus and left the music industry for nearly five years. In that time, the singer took her music back to the basics and focused on finding her sound and her purpose. Upon her return to the music industry, her music became stripped down and acoustic, nearly the opposite sound from when she first built her career. Despite the change, she has returned to her roots a couple of times since the rebrand to produce similar dance pop hits like she had produced during her teen years.
During her career exploration, Daya was able to do some self discovery as well. On Oct. 12, which is National Coming Out Day, Daya shared to her Instagram story that she was proudly in a same-sex relationship. She said, “All I gotta say is follow your gut and don’t feel like you owe any sort of explanation to anyone. Your sexuality is yours only so build with it at a pace that works for you.”
Beyond her singing career, Daya has more recently expanded her talents into acting. Making her acting debut on season two of the Nickelodeon series “School of Rock,” a spin off of the original movie starring Jack Black, the singer played herself on the show.
Daya may be the Springfest headliner, but her opening act is just as exciting. Baby Tate, who was formerly known as Young Baby Tate, is set to be the opening act of the festival. Tate released her first
Extended Play, “ROYGBIV” in November 2015. Since then, she has released various other albums and singles and has been featured on major songs with artists such as Flo Milli.
The daughter of Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Dionne Farris, performing is in Tate’s blood. Farris, who rose to fame in the early 1990s, is known as a solo act as well as a former member of the hip hop group Arrested Development. Additionally, Tate’s father is David Ryan Harris, another well known singer-songwriter.
Like Daya, Tate has also used her platform to be an advocate for young girls and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
In an 2024 interview with Billboard she explained, “I make music with girls and gays […] I really feel like as a person with a platform, especially in the music industry, I try to make it an effort a lot in my music to represent other girls like myself, that it’s OK for you to make music and be truthful about it.”
Despite being a rapper, Tate has explained that she takes influences from an expansive array of artists. For rap influences, Tate gives credit to performers like Missy Elliot and Pharrell Williams, but she has also enjoyed the production elements of artists like The Beatles and Marvin Gaye.
Tate has big plans for the future. Having attended performing arts schools throughout her adolescence, Tate has been involved in music and acting her entire life. In an April 4, 2018 interview with the online af-
robeat magazine, GrungeCake, the rapper explained, “I definitely want to get back into acting very soon, but right now I’m super focused on the music. That’s my main goal, but I definitely do want to get back into acting. I’m trying to snag every award there is. I want an Oscar, I want a Grammy, I want a Tony.”
Tate decided to take on a self-reinvention in early 2022, signing to a new label and changing her name. Making the switch from Issa Rae’s record label, Raedio, the rapper then signed onto a deal with Warner Records and dropped the word “Young” from her stage name. Warner Records, an offshoot of Warner Music Group, is one of the leading record labels in the world, and they’re associated with major artists like Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, Bruno Mars and many more.
Since her fresh start as just Baby Tate, the rapper has most recently been on tour with superstar Charli XCX as the opener for the United States leg of her tour. Although her time on tour with the pop singer has come to a close, her appearance at Brandeis is highly anticipated.
With singing, acting and rapping, it is undeniable that this year’s Springfest lineup of performers is incredibly talented and sure to put on an exciting show for Brandeis students on April 27.
Design: BRIANNA EARLE/The Justice. Photos courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS.
DAYA: Singer Daya will take the stage on April 27.
CHAPELS FIELD: Springfest takes place on Chapels Field each spring.
Local non-profit changes lives of high school students
The Waltham Partnership for Youth places high school students into paid summer internships, including some at Brandeis.
The Waltham Partnership for Youth is changing the lives of local high schoolers as they begin placements for the summer 2025 internship program. Located on Lexington Street, WPY is a nonprofit that “collaborates with youth, families, and partner organizations to address longstanding systemic inequities while building a community of belonging and opportunity for Waltham youth.”
There are many different programs that fall under the umbrella of WPY, falling into the categories of “Youth Risk Behavior Survey”, “Wraparound Waltham” for students and families who speak spanish, and “Career Exploration & Training.”
According to the WPY website, “The Career Exploration & Training program connects students to life-altering opportunities through meaningful paid internship experiences and professional development.” The Career Exploration & Training program “seeks to help Waltham close the economic opportunity gap, while supporting employers with making career paths more accessible and enabling youth to become empowered, connected, and career-ready.”
One of the main aspects of the CET program is the internship program, where Waltham High School students are matched with local employers for paid internship opportunities. The main goal of this program is “for students to engage in experiential learning, explore career options, and build valuable skills.” These internships are offered both during the school year and during the summer, with the applications for the summer 2025 program closing on April 6.
In order to be eligible for the program, students are required to attend a Career Success Institute session where they work on resume updates and cover letters. In addition to the application, students submit their top five areas of interest and are matched with one of the 20 local WPY employer partners.
The 2024 Summer Internship Program Report shares the list of employer partners, including both town departments such as the Waltham Public Library and Waltham Fire Department, local organizations such as the Boston Children’s Hospital, and Brandeis departments such as the Rose Art Museum and the Brandeis Department of Student Engagement.
WPY’s Theory of Change page of the report explained that in 2023, the organization worked with Data + Soul Research in order to develop a strategic approach for the program. “Using a Youth Participatory Action Research approach, two researchers from Data + Soul guided [the] team in creating a new Theory of Change and a Measurement and Learning Plan.” This brainstorming was a group effort, “Members of the WPY staff participated in this process alongside four students who served as
By ANNA MARTIN JUSTICE EDITOR IN CHIEF
demand. For example, with an increase in youth interest in careers in finance, The Village Bank hosted its first intern at a local branch.”
Unfortunately, while the program was able to expand its employment opportunities this past summer, it was also “faced [with] significant budget constraints … limiting [his] ability to build on recent growth.” The report explains that “despite receiving 113 applications, only 81 young people completed the program, which is a 23% decrease from previous years.”
and 17.1% coming from WPY itself. All of these internships are compensated, allowing students to gain experience with budgeting and money management. The findings share that “when [students were] asked what they would do with their earnings, the most common response was to save for college expenses, while other uses of earnings included to have fun with friends or support family.”
The demographics of the intern population varied, with 59.8% of participants identifying
our Youth Advisory Group.” Together, the group identified “the specific skills, experiences, and outcomes with which students should leave [the] program.” This list includes “the development of relationships with trusted adults and a community of aspiring peers,” “cultivation of strong professional networks and reimagined career paths,” and “career readiness skills, with a particular focus on self-efficacy, self care, and resilience.” These changes were applied to the eighth year of the summer internship program, taking place in the summer of 2024. The program has grown significantly since its founding, the report shares. It explains that the organization “created several new summer internship placements, based on student interest and
The report highlights the fact that “this [decrease] was largely due to statewide cuts in government funding, which impacted [their] ability to pay students and offer placements at organizations who identified lack of funding as a barrier to hiring interns.”
The “Summer 2024 Snapshot” highlights some specific statistics regarding the internships that took place, explaining that 46% of the placements were in the mental health and healthcare sectors. The second highest category was education, with 31% of the 81 placements.
The financial opportunity of the report explains that interns are estimated to have made a total of $241,140, with 51.2% of this coming from employers, 31.7% coming from the Metro South/West Workforce Board,
area.
as female. In terms of grade level, the majority of interns were rising seniors, making up 42% of participants. Over 70% of participants live in households that fall below the federal poverty level as determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The report also surveyed the employers themselves. 100% of respondents explained that they would recommend the program to other employers, and 96% of these employers expressed that they would be “likely or somewhat likely to hire their intern(s) after the program ends.” Tracy Rodley from Waltham Public Schools shared in the report that “it was a great thing to be [a] witness to, seeing young people grow into more confident young people right before my eyes in
a very short time together.”
This statement was echoed by Waltham Public Schools employee Sara Hamerla, who stated “students benefit from educators who reflect their own linguistic and cultural backgrounds. WPY interns are excellent role models for the multilingual learners in our summer [English Second Language] programs.”
Waltham parents also see the value of the program, as 100% of guardians rated their satisfaction either a four out of five or a five out of five, and 93% of parents said they would encourage their child to apply for another WPY internship in the future.
One parent shared, “[my child] talked about being able to respond to questions and problemsolving in a fast paced environment. She was bad at it at the beginning, but really caught on and was proud of her progress.”
The Rose Art Museum position was held by 2024 Waltham Public Schools graduate Nina Kemer during the last summer season. This role was Kemer’s first choice, and her third internship with WPY. She explained that during her six weeks at the museum, she “learned a lot about museum programming and creating lesson plans for educational activities. [She] also really enjoyed learning about the Rose’s upcoming exhibits.”
The report shares that Kemer “took the lead on creating an art-based educational activity for children visiting the Rose Art Museum. She chose to teach about Anna Atkins, a scientist who studied plants during the 1800s … [and] is famous for being the first woman to ever take a photograph.” Through the creative process, Kemer developed an activity where “students created their own cyanotype print using natural and found materials.”
Kemer shared that “because of WPY, [she feels] so much more confident… in a working environment than [she] did when [she] started.” She highlighted WPY as one of the best things she did in high school, explaining that “if [she] could give underclassmen one piece of advice to make the best of their time at Waltham High, [she] would say [to] take advantage of any opportunity to get involved in WPY.”
The placements for summer 2025 internships is currently underway, as students have just wrapped up their applications for the season.
Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS. Design: BRIANNA EARLE/The Justice.
WALTHAM: Local high school students connect with internships in the
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EDITORIAL
Notes to newcomers: Everything we learned
As the end of another academic year draws nearer, the members of this editorial board have been reflecting on the rhythms of college life; the exciting new beginnings, the inevitable mistakes and the subtle self-assurance that can only develop with time and patience. For those who are close to embarking on their college journey, it can be nearly impossible to know where to begin or what to expect. To help with this transition, we’ve accumulated advice from various members of this editorial board as they offer candid reflections on the lessons they’ve learned so far. Whether it’s navigating the ups-and-downs of new friendships, figuring out your major or simply finding your people, it is the hope of this board that these words can serve as a guide — and, most importantly, a reminder that no one has it all figured out, but we’re all learning alongside one another.
Senior advice:
It’s probably safe to say that most seniors have undergone dramatic development since they first stepped foot onto Brandeis’ campus four years ago. Over your career at Brandeis, one can experience extensive growth, maturation and success, as long as you embrace those opportunities. Challenge yourself with classes that are out of your comfort zone, in areas that you know little about and that use different parts of your brain. One — very humanities based — member of this editorial board randomly decided to take an economics course to broaden their educational horizons, and is now graduating with a business minor. Brandeis is unique in that students don’t apply for specific majors or colleges within the University. Take advantage of the liberal arts education and become as well-rounded of a student as you can. It isn’t always about becoming an expert in one area, but about gaining exposure to many areas and developing critical thinking skills. Plus, you might end up surprising yourself and finding a new major or even career path that you hadn’t previously considered.
Study abroad if it is at all feasible. Brandeis has an amazing Office of Study Abroad, and they truly do so much to make studying abroad accessible to all students, regardless of major, financial background, prior travel experience and more. Even if spending a semester abroad means that you have to rework your academic plan — taking a class over the summer or having a heavier workload before you leave or after you return — it’s worth it. Going abroad in the summer is also a great option. Studying abroad might just end up being your most meaningful, unique and memorable semester, filled with unparalleled growth and exposure — if not the most meaningful few months of your young adult life.
Finally, remember that nothing is that serious. Many seniors will probably agree that they have spent too much of their short college years overthinking social interactions, decisions, internships and more. In hindsight, those stressed out underclassmen could use a voice whispering to them “it’s really not that serious.” The friend group drama is not that serious, course registration is not that serious, feeling like you are the only one who doesn’t have their life planned out is not that
involved. Although it can feel overwhelming or difficult to join a new club or try a new activity, this is a great time to do it. As a junior, you’ve likely already established your daily routines and your closest friendships, but make yourself uncomfortable and do something you never would have thought to become involved in. Brandeis has a ton of clubs and extracurriculars to become involved in, there is genuinely something for each and every person. The best part about all of these clubs and organizations is that people at Brandeis are incredibly welcoming. It is never too late to find your community, even if it is only for two years. Instead of spending time dwelling on the things you wish you could’ve done in your time in college, make an effort to do those things as soon as you can. Even if you find that the activity you choose is not for you, there’s always time to try again (even if you start something entirely new).
Sophomore advice:
For sophomores almost at the halfway point through their time at Brandeis, there are a lot of lessons already learned and many still to come. One thing you should consider as you start your career at Brandeis is that you need to do what makes sense for you. Take classes that meet at the time of day when you know you’ll be functioning. For some, that is a lecture at 8:30 in the morning and for others, it decidedly is not. It might take some experimenting to find what works for you but once you do, implement it. You need to set yourself up to succeed.
Second, don’t put too much pressure on the individual moments. Rarely will you experience a life-changing conversation or event and realize it in the moment. Yes, the person you talk to on the first day of orientation may become your best friend in the world — that can happen. Just as easily, though, someone you met in orientation could become your friend two years later after meeting again in a shared class or club — this happens too. You don’t know when the moment you’ll look back on where you made best friends or lasting memories will happen, so talk to as many people as you can and open yourself to all the new opportunities and experiences you can.
First-year advice:
serious, the quirky Brandeis traditions that you are hesitant to participate in out of fear of being perceived are not that serious. Just remember, at the end of these short four years, you will wish you spent less time stressing over the small things and more time soaking up everything your college years have to offer. Before you know it, you will be sitting in Gosman Sports and Convocation Center with your whole class waiting for your name to be called at graduation.
As cliche as this may sound, one of the most important things to prioritize when beginning university are your friends. Like it or not, we are social beings, and, when we’re suddenly thrust into a new and unfamiliar environment, we need the kind of community and support that can only be offered by our peers more than ever before. That’s not to say that friendships will come easily; however, it’s nearly impossible to find one person who, by their final year, has retained every single friend made during their first. But that’s an integral part of the experience; people grow and change, and they should — this is the point in your lives when you will grow and change more in four years than you ever have before. That means, however, that people will grow in different directions than you, that they will change more than can be reconciled and that you will inevitably experience “bumps” along the road of friendships. Never let yourself become discouraged; you will have moments of involuntary solitude and you will feel lonely. But remember that this is an institution boasting an undergraduate population of over 3,500; Your people are out there, but you have to be patient when trying to find them.
It’s also worth noting that some of the most important people in your college life may not arrive until your second, third or even final year. Sometimes, it takes time to find the right people: the ones who make you feel safe, challenged, seen and comfortable. You’re not “late” if you don’t click with anyone in the first month, or even in the first semester because — especially at Brandeis — there’s no single “college experience” that you need to live up to. Be open to unlikely friendships, be kind and patient — especially with yourself — and trust that connection often grows when and where you least expect it.
College is often described in regards to the academics, the prestige or the aesthetic of the campus. In the end, however, it’s the people who make the school. Classes will blur together, buildings become familiar and everyone settles into routines, but the friendships formed at Brandeis are what shape the experience most deeply. Some connections will be instant; others will take time. Some will fade, and a few will last well beyond graduation. What matters most is finding those who are there for you through both the quiet and chaotic moments. These relationships, more than any resume point or transcript, become the true legacy of a college education by its end.
Junior advice:
Moving into the latter half of your time at Brandeis as a junior, it is important to remember that it is never too late to get
mixed emotions — excited for a new start, but sad to be leaving something behind. There will definitely be that nervous anticipation that accompanies everything you do in the first few days on campus, or that need to fill every waking moment with something fun or productive, which will sometimes go well but can often be way too much. But throughout all the turmoil that is sure to come as you enter this new environment, the most important thing to remember is that it will all work out. One way or another, anything stressing you out will pass in due time. If you don’t find friends immediately, that’s perfectly natural. Just put yourself out there and they’ll come to you. If an assignment makes you feel like pulling out your hair, know that regardless of what you do, your agonizing will be over as soon as that due date arrives. Can’t sleep on a mattress made purely out of metal wires? I assure you, you won’t be able to say that in two weeks (probably because you’ll have gotten a mattress topper). The point is, time is life’s greatest cure. So always remember that while rough patches are not always avoidable, they are always temporary.
While first-years have the least experience under their belt, they also have the strongest memories of what it was like to first come to Brandeis. You’ll likely have incredibly
As a first-year at Brandeis, there are two things you should do. The first thing is to not write off the people you meet during orientation week. There’s a cliche that the friends you make the first week of college are placeholders until everyone finds their real friends. This may be the case at some schools but not necessarily at Brandeis. This is a tiny school, and the people you meet walking into your dorm on move-in day could very well be the best people you’ll meet on campus the whole time you’re here. Don’t categorize “orientation friends” as just that. If you grow apart from the people you meet when you first get here then so be it, but there’s a chance the people you meet during your first few days will be your best friends — give them that chance. The second thing to do is take advantage of your roommate agreement. Random roommates is a frightening concept. Allow yourself to acknowledge this and allow yourself to take a bit of control over the situation. Try not to be worried about offending your roommate by suggesting filling out a roommate agreement, and chances are they feel the same way. The random roommate survey you filled out won’t always give you the best possible scenario. It’s better to suffer a few moments of uncomfortableness with your new roommate in the beginning than to feel uncomfortable in your dorm for the rest of the year.
Silencing the student press: Tufts in turmoil
In a development as disturbing as it is emblematic of our times, a Tufts University graduate student was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement following writing an op-ed with three other students last spring. This piece was published in The Tufts Daily, the independent student newspaper of the university, and called for the institution to divest from companies tied to the country of Israel, a message echoed by many college students across the United States. The circumstances surrounding the deportation remain shrouded in bureaucratic ambiguity, but the message resounds with startling clarity: For student journalists, the cost of exercising one’s First Amendment rights may now include the threat of state-sanctioned retribution. This episode, though at this point singular in its details, is symptomatic of a broader and deeply troubling phenomenon. College campuses, long heralded as bastions of intellectual inquiry and unflinching discourse, are increasingly vulnerable to the encroachment of political agendas and reactionary policies. The fact that a student could be swept into the machinery of immigration enforcement not for a criminal act, but seemingly for voicing an opinion, evokes a climate more reminiscent of authoritarianism than democracy.
Journalism is a cornerstone of a functioning democracy. It is through fearless reporting and critical analysis that societies interrogate power, hold institutions accountable and ultimately elevate the voices of the marginalized. Student journalism in particular, serves as a training ground for civic engagement and a crucible for ethical inquiry. It is where tomorrow’s investigative reporters and public intellectuals are forged. To silence student voices is to interrupt that democratic continuum — to deprive the public not only of truth, but of the next generation of truth-tellers.
The chilling effect this creates is not hypothetical — it is immediate and palpable. Across the country, student journalists are beginning to think twice, not merely out of deference to institutional norms or editorial rigor, but out of a visceral fear of personal, potentially life-long consequences. The specter of surveillance, of targeted retaliation, now hovers over student newsrooms, stifling the very freedoms
our Constitution was designed to protect. This is more than an isolated miscarriage of justice. It is a calculated act of intimidation, one that weaponizes immigration enforcement as a tool to suppress dissent. In doing so, it undermines not only the principles of a free press but also the integrity of our democratic experiment. The editorial page should be a space for fearless critique and principled conviction, not a battlefield where students must wager their safety against their conscience. This editorial board also wants to speak directly to the students who are watching this unfold with understandable fear. We see you. We stand with you. We know how isolating and frightening it must feel to watch peers face retaliation for speaking out, and we reject any system that forces students to choose between personal safety and freedom of expression. The burden should not be on young people to remain silent in order to remain safe. It is on the rest of us to ensure that their voices are protected. Universities have a moral obligation to safeguard the rights of their students, especially those most vulnerable to the caprices of political power. To equivocate, to retreat into bureaucratic deflection or legalese, is to abdicate that responsibility. When institutions fail to defend free expression, they enable its erosion. It is time for those of us who believe in the sanctity of the student press to speak plainly and act decisively. To stand with those whose voices are being threatened. To demand transparency, accountability and protection — not just for this Tufts student, but for every young journalist who dares to speak truth to power. If we allow fear to dictate who gets to write, who gets to publish and who gets to participate in public discourse, then we have already begun the slow descent into intellectual authoritarianism. In this moment, silence is not neutrality — it is complicity. Let this be a call to action, not just for students, but for faculty, administrators, and citizens alike: We must reaffirm our commitment to the First Amendment, not in theory, but in practice. The freedom of the press, especially the student press, must not become collateral damage in the battles of an increasingly politicized immigration regime. The stakes are too high. The precedent, too dangerous.
Reinventing to what end?
By GONNY NIR JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
First, I heard the words, “we’re reinventing the Liberal Arts.” I was skeptical. Then I heard, “for the new global, digital economy,” and a wave of nausea on account of an unoriginal cliché followed. To make matters worse, “our students should have one foot in the street and the other in the library,” — this must be a sick and twisted joke dressed up in a sports jacket and tall black socks. In Hebrew, we have an old(ish) saying, “Me, I have just one question…” Indeed, I do: what is a credential, certificate, or competency? From my time spent at Interim President Arthur Levine’s ’70 most recent town hall, I gather it’s essentially an institutionally backed stamp of approval that tells whoever is reading your resume or stalking your LinkedIn at two in the morning that you’re qualified to perform X thing, or are skilled in Y area, or know how to do Z according to God-knows-who. From my tone, you’ll surely surmise that I don’t think very highly of credentials, certificates or competencies. “Why?” you may ask. Fantastic question: it’s all “bullshit.” Some readers may find my language a bit abrasive, vulgar even, but I assure you, dearest reader, I’m using “bullshit” in the very technical sense that philosopher, Harry Frankfurt, did in his 1986 essay on the subject. Therein, Frankfurt understood bullshit as, “a deceptive misrepresentation, short of lying, especially by pretentious word or deed, of somebody’s own thoughts, feelings, or attitudes.” Indeed, a “credential” in, for instance, communicative efficacy, is more often than not a misrepresentation which is traveling somewhere in the uncanny valley between lying and not lying, masquerading as selfflattery for the sake of ego. And such a certificate is more often than not, about somebody’s own thoughts or feelings toward someone else’s ability to speak before an audience between one and seven billion (because you must dream big in the new liberal arts). Now, I’m no scientist, but it does seem like there’s some affinity between the concept of “bullshit” and the notion of a certificate in something as nebulous as communicative efficacy. Then again, maybe I’m being uncharitable. Perhaps communicative efficacy is too niche to constitute a credential, and we should therefore not attempt to generalize from a particular. So, let’s try something like “critical thinking.” This concept has been circulating in the lexicon for a while, long enough for most reasonably educated people to have a sense for what it identifies. So, would a credential for “critical thinking” satisfy Frankfurt’s criteria for “bullshit?” I would argue that it does, indeed.
I’ll preface with the fact that since at least Immanuel Kant’s lifetime, philosophers and theorists have squabbled amongst themselves and each other about what a critique even is. That means they haven’t even arrived at the question of what constitutes critical thinking. So, unless some genius settled that debate in lead time, I don’t understand how faculty and staff can be expected to give some kid wearing plaid pajamas to a seminar at 10 minutes past 11:00 a.m. a certificate in critical thinking. Are we really expecting my three-years-shortof-retiring professor to get inside my brain to determine whether I was engaging with Book 4 of Aristotle’s “Politics” critically? Surely, there are better uses of his time. In all seriousness, I want us to please consider thinking about what it is that we’re doing. I recognize the university is fiscally challenged. Moreover, I recognize that I don’t even know the degree to which it is challenged because I don’t have the numbers before me and the unabridged testimony of those who are familiar with them. I think we can all agree that if this university is to endure (which I hope it does for reasons that stretch beyond self-interest), some things should and need to be done differently. Still, I think it is equally important that we have a strong grasp of what those changes should be.
I understand the move to provide students
with a second transcript which lists earned credentials, certificates and competencies is an effort to help us get jobs. Embedded in that effort is an ambition to make this institution appear as a pioneer of liberal arts education in a Brave New World. Still, I’m deeply skeptical of the means we’re pursuing as they have been presented to the student body thus far.
Before moving forward, we need to address an important point. I think there’s an unchallenged assumption in post-Clinton American society that attending college and university is strictly in service of making one a more qualified and competitive candidate for a job. Irrespective of whether that is the case — and I think trends in the labor market reflect that employers are, albeit very slowly, beginning to deemphasize the importance of college and university degrees — higher education is and has always been about much more than increasing one’s chances to land a job. Excuse my frankness, but if you are only going to college or university to increase your chances in the labor market, leave and consider going to trade school. You will save your time and (in an overwhelming amount of cases, your parents’) money.
Among the reasons why colleges and universities have become what I have called an “annual, nine-month-long camps for parents to send their overgrown children,” is reducible to this unchallenged assumption. The rise of “bullshit” — pointless requirements, ridiculously expensive efforts designed to make “student life” more luxurious, administrative bloat, and the like — in higher education is positively correlated with the notion that a university degree merely services job prospects. Because if these four years are merely to be tolerated so that a student can come out with a job on the other end, you can’t expect an 18-year-old kid with an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex that prefers cheap thrills to the vita contemplativa to take their education seriously enough to develop critical thinking skills.
I can hear the criticism: ‘but Gonny, you’re being utopic.’ No, I’m not. I don’t expect colleges and universities to exist outside of market forces. Capitalism is King and its humble subjects are use-value and productivity. Lest you think that I’m not cognizant of the fact that were it not for the hard sciences, my philosophizing about what some dead white European male said 250 years ago about the meaning of life in a 10-person seminar would be impossible. I understand that the future of higher education is uncertain, independent of the present circus in Washington (though these developments have certainly not tamed the flames of the fire). Still, I maintain that we ought to think about what we’re doing and why we’re doing it in that way.
If the goal, for instance, is to make politics majors more employable — which again, can and should be debated — why don’t we consider instituting some sort of program within the department that focuses on training students in specific, field-relevant skills? For instance, policy analysis is a skill that employers within the political field actually look for, and real, assessable training in it is an opportunity that could unveil to students those areas of the political sphere that spark their interest. Importantly, to the degree that they wish to dedicate some of their careers to making their impact in this field. Now that sounds like an opportunity to make Brandeis graduates change-makers in the world. Alternatively, if the goal is to make biology students more effective communicators, consider instituting a practicum where students transmit their knowledge orally by perhaps matching them to schools or other community-support programs that could use supplemental science knowledge. This would also serve Brandeis’ purported commitment to social justice. These examples are bold measures that would surely take time, loads of coordination and will require prolonged thought. But by the same token, such
measures actually force us to think about what we are doing and whether the means we’re deploying are adequate to actualize our ends. If we’re truly committed to this idea of reinventing the liberal arts, then I think we should take seriously the threat of conforming to arbitrary standards. Brandeis will not stand out in a — admittedly shrinking — sea of options by merely copying what places like Northeastern or Tufts are doing.
I understand that those involved in the planning of the new curriculum believe that they’re envisioning something which reaches beyond these competitors. For the sake of the institution, I hope that they’re right. But I must admit that I’m very skeptical of these measures that appear to do little more than reify standards which employers pay lipservice to but do very little to recognize in their applicants. Have any of those involved in “reinventing” the curriculum applied for a job lately? I, and many of those close to me, have. And let me break some tragic news to you all: just because employers say they want to see something in applicants, doesn’t mean they actually evaluate applicants on those metrics. For instance, an employer may say they want to know whether an applicant is a critical thinker, an effective communicator, etc. but little to no jobs (excluding fellowships) that I’ve applied
for even make uploading more than one transcript an option on their application portals. And that’s granting that they asked for a transcript in the first place (which an overwhelming share did not). Yes, this is just my experience and we shouldn’t generalize from one case, but I think my experience does yield an important point: conforming to arbitrary standards comes at a cost. And that cost is the actualization of the university’s mission and student’s access to it. Universities’ ends are to produce and spread knowledge in pursuit of truth. I want this university to thrive because I think it’s unique in a multitude of facets, and it deserves an enduring legacy. I don’t want this legacy to be sacrificed to a regime of “bullshit” measures that don’t contribute to a vibrant intellectual environment where ideas are circulated and developed for the pursuit of truth and advancement. The life of the mind is valuable in itself. I don’t expect every student who walks this campus to agree, but I do expect that of those who have power and influence within the institution. And if these actors do in fact agree, then they should be very careful to institute systems which make it clear to students that it is not the content of their courses that they should take interest in, but whether those courses contribute to a more competitive professional portfolio.
Klein, unrelated: Bloc Cafe
By AARON KLEIN & MAX KLEIN JUSTICE STAFF WRITERS
Klein: Good morning, Klein, and welcome to Klein, unrelated.
Klein: So, on behalf of those who aren’t hip yet, what exactly will we be doing here?
Klein: I’m so glad you asked! Seeing as how we are two guys with the last name Klein who happen to be unrelated to each other, it only makes sense that we start a food review section dedicated to local restaurants.
Klein: That sounds like a good idea. So where are we today?
Klein: This week, we visited Bloc Cafe in Somerville, Massachusetts. It’s a lovely artisanal cafe nestled in an old bank building in Union Square, Bloc Cafe is just over a 20 minute drive from campus.
Klein: A little farther from Brandeis this week for sure, but if you’re in Cambridge or Somerville, Bloc certainly deserves a visit. The patio was bright and welcoming with ample seating and plenty of green space, the staff was warm and friendly and, of course, the highlight of our trip was an encounter with the charming and affable Gabe Colton ’13.
Klein: The first and, as far as we know, only Brandeis alum to sign a professional sports contract without playing a varsity sport.
Klein: Wow, that’s very impressive, but let’s get to the food. What were your thoughts?
Klein: Of course, how could I forget? I have to say, if it wasn’t for the sake of quality journalism, I wouldn’t be paying as much
as I did for a sandwich and coffee. While the breakfast sandwich special on focaccia was tasty, I’m not sure if it was good enough to justify its price.
Klein: Yes. Agreed. A little pricey for sure. Given the hipster vibes, I was also pleasantly surprised to see that the menu wasn’t entirely vegan! I ordered the terrace sandwich: turkey, cheddar, red onions, tomatoes, greens and spicy mayo all on freshly baked sourdough from Bloc’s sister store, Forge Baking Company.
Klein: That’s where they get all their breads and baked goods from, isn’t it?
Klein: Yes! How observant of you!
Klein: So … What did you make of all of it?
Klein: The prices were a little expensive, especially for college students, but I only have good things to say about the food. My sandwich was light, fresh and delicious and the complimentary strawberry-banana smoothie alongside it was sweet and refreshing.
Klein: So to wrap things up … is it fair to give the food an 8.5/10 and the prices a 4/10?
Klein: Yeah, I think that’s accurate, but don’t forget the service! Service was a definitive 10/10!
Klein: Of course! Well, that seems like it for today. Thanks for joining us on our latest edition of Klein, unrelated. Hope to see you all next issue! Until then, all the best!
JUDGES BY THE NUMBERS
March Madness 2025: One shining moment
A ball falls into the basketball net.
■ This past weekend, the University of Houston, the University of Florida, Auburn University and Duke University faced off in a memorable final four contest.
By REMI YOUNG JUSTICE EDITOR
The 2025 National Collegiate Atheletic Association’s Men’s Basketball Final Four was a thrilling culmination of a season marked by close games, upsets and talent. Hosted at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, this year’s Final Four brought together four of the best NCAA basketball programs: University of Florida, University of Houston, Auburn University, and Duke University. All teams are No. 1 seeds, which is rare and hasn't happened since 2008. As the tournament comes to a close, fans have witnessed buzzer-beaters and standout performances and are waiting on the edge of their seats for that final buzzer, marking the end of the tournament.
FIELD
WOMEN'S TOP FINISHERS
400 Meters
Peterly Leroy '28 came in 14th with a time of 56.87.
Semifinal 1: Florida Gators vs. Auburn Tigers
The first final four matchup featured a game between the Florida Gators and the Auburn Tigers. From the opening tip, fans knew this game would be a battle. Auburn came out strong in the first half, with a strong defensive and offensive performance, leading 46-38, a solid lead going into the second.
After halftime however, the Gators fought back with mid-range jumpers and strong drives to the basket, taking full advantage of their opportunities. Walter Clayton Jr. put on a show, dropping 34 points, including 11 for 18 from the field, five for eight from beyond the arc, and seven for seven from the free-throw line. An impressive performance from the three-point line contributed to the Gators outlasting the Tigers 79-73, getting them to their first title game in 18 years. The Auburn Tigers attempted to come back, but their multiple runs were halted by Clayton Jr., responding with a timely bucket or a key assist.
Semifinal 2: Houston Cougars vs. Duke Blue Devils
In the second semifinal of the weekend, the Houston Cougars took on the Duke Blue Devils in what turned out to be one of the most dramatic comebacks in recent NCAA Final Four history. At halftime, Duke led by six points (34-28), and continued growing their lead in the second half. However, with about 10:30 left in the game, the Cougars showcased dedication and perseverance, allowing only one basket until the final buzzer sounded, allowing them to take the lead and the victory. The comeback win sent Houston to its first national championship game since 1984.
The Championship Matchup: Florida vs. Houston
Monday's, April 7 championship game will be yet another nail-biter. Florida brings speed, spacing, and a high-powered offense centered around Walter Clayton Jr., while Houston counters with outstanding defense, rebounding and leadership.
Sports betting
March Madness 2025 hasn’t just been a spectacle on the court but has also marked a significant moment in the sports betting community.
According to the American Gaming Association, an estimated $3.1 billion was wagered on this year’s men’s and women’s tournaments. In recent years, sports betting has been made legal in 38 U.S. states, and this tournament has evolved into one of the most bet-on events in the country. Each year, March Madness delivers unforgettable fan moments. The arenas are packed with alumni, celebrities and students bringing the energy. One notable moment came during Houston’s win over Duke, when Hall of Fame Member Hakeem Olajuwon was temporarily stopped by security as he tried to join the celebration on the court, security unaware of his legendary status with the team, as he led them to their last championship in 1983.
As we look toward the showdown on Monday, we see that there's more than just a trophy on the line. For Houston, it’s a chance to capture the national title that slipped through their fingers during the Olajuwon era when they were upset by North Carolina State University. For Florida, it’s an opportunity to restore its league's dominance and position as the best college basketball team.
The national championship game between Florida and Houston is scheduled for Monday, April 7, at 8:50 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. This is a game that could go down in history as one of the best title games in NCAA Tournament history.
Friday vs. Endicott College Sunday at Wellesley College
Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS BASKETBALL:
Women's team sweeps
On Friday April 4, the Brandeis women's tennis team took home a 7-0 win against Nichols College. This win was the team's fourth complete sweep in a row, they will go for a fifth this Saturday as they play at the Winchester Tennis Club.
Photos: JAMES LI/The Justice. Design ANNA MARTIN/The
Sports just
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Brandeis Coach Jim Zotz retiring
■ Legendary former swimming and diving coach Jim Zotz to retire after 46 years at Brandeis.
By REMI YOUNG JUSTICE EDITOR
On March 31, after nearly half a century of service and mentorship, Jim Zotz, one of the longest-tenured figures in Brandeis University’s athletics history, announced his retirement. Effective May 30, 2025, Zotz will step away from his role following an extraordinary 46-year-long career that left a significant mark on the university, serving as the head coach of the swimming and diving program and, for the last 15 years, in an administrative role.
Coach Zotz began his Brandeis journey in 1978 after graduating from Niagara University ‘76 and earning a master’s degree from Springfield College ‘78. He was tasked with many roles upon his start at Brandeis in the late 70s: swim coach, aquatics director, women’s cross country coach, women’s track coach and physical education instructor. Despite this, his commitment to his athletes and his passion for community remained constant.
Over his 32 years as head coach of the Brandeis Swimming and Diving Team, Zotz compiled an impressive 275 dual meet victories, earned two University Athletic Association Coach of the Year and New England Coach of the Year honors. Under his leadership, Brandeis teams were named College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America AllAcademic 44 times.
Coach Zotz’s impact is not just in wins and accolades. He coached
20 All-Americans, 44 Academic AllAmericans, 71 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III National Championship qualifiers and 118 All-New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association performers.
According to Brandeis Swim alum and swim coach Matt Goldberg ’94 when interviewed by Brandeis Athletics, Zotz was nothing short of a life-changing mentor. In a March 31 Brandeis University Athletics article, Goldberg explained that “Coach Zotz was one of the most influential people in [his] life at Brandeis” and that he “still use[s] some of the same training sets [he] learned in [his] time there. But more importantly, [he] tr[ies] to embody [Zotz’s] empathy."
In 2016, Zotz was inducted into the Brandeis Athletic Hall of Fame and in 2020, the university unveiled the Jim Zotz Wall of Recognition at the Joseph M Linsey Pool at Gosman Sports and Convocation Center to honor his contributions.
“Brandeis University is an amazing place because of people like Jim Zotz,” said Director of Athletics Jessica Chapin ‘10 to Brandeis Athletics, emphasizing that he was a “Hall of Fame coach and a world-class human.” In an interview with Brandeis athletics, Zotz recalled, "There is no doubt that my 46 years at Brandeis University have instilled in me a strong sense of commitment and loyalty to the entire University community.” He also thanked those he worked with, saying, “I want to thank all of the students and student-athletes I have interacted with for their trust and confidence in me as a teacher, coach, and mentor."
Brandeis will celebrate Coach Zotz’s remarkable career during Homecoming Weekend in 2025. Although Zotz will be retiring following the conclusion of the Spring 2025 semester, the impact that he leaves after 46 years of service will continue to ripple through the lives of those he mentored, coached and worked alongside.
March Madness Final Four
The Justice Editor Remi Young '27 recaps this past weekend's March Madness Final Four matchups, p. 10.
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
A goal for the record books: Alex Ovechkin
■ Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky’s goal record of 894 over three decades later.
By REMI YOUNG JUSTICE EDITOR
On April 6, Alex Ovechkin — also known as “The Great eight — officially etched his name in the National Hockey League record books. In a sold-out game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena, Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal, surpassing Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer. What many thought could never be achieved is now a reality.
The Shot
It came, seven minutes and 26 seconds into the second period against the Islanders, when the puck slipped past goalie Ilya Sorokin. Despite the Washington Capitals 4-1 loss, the energy was still noticeable. Teammates swarmed him, the crowd chanted his name, and even the opposing players and fans showed respect for the game’s best. In their last game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Ovechkin passed up on an opportunity to secure this milestone with an empty net goal. He left it to rookie Ryan Leonard, showing his leadership and selflessness on the ice. Gretzky himself made sure to be at the game, and offered his congratulations: “There’s nothing better than the National Hockey League. They say records are meant to be broken, but I’m not sure who will get more goals than that. It’s the greatest game in the world.”
After the goal, Ovechkin raised his stick toward
Gretsky, visibly emotional. This wasn’t just another goal. This was a record shattered and the continuation of a legacy. Ovechkin was drafted first overall by the Capitals in 2004. From the moment he burst onto the scene in 2005 following the NHL lockout, it was clear he was a different kind of goal scorer. He scored 52 goals in his rookie season and never looked back. Over two decades, Ovechkin has defined consistency with nine 50-goal seasons, led the league in goals nine times and become one of the faces of an entire era of hockey. Ovechkin’s career has been nothing short of iconic. Beyond the record, he’s also a Stanley Cup champion, winning in 2018 against the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
Gretzky made sure he went to all of Ovechkin’s recent games in case Ovechkin broke his record earlier, a legend of the past paying tribute to a legend of today. Sidney Crosby, who has been in the league for years, offered his congratulations after the game: "Ovi, it's been an honor to compete against you all these years. Over that time, you've accomplished so many milestones. But this one was probably thought to be impossible, and you found a way to do it. Congratulations on scoring the most goals in NHL history." Even LeBron James and Michael Phelps offered their congratulations on breaking one of the most impressive records in all of sports.
Though the spotlight has been on the chase for 895 goals, Ovechkin’s not finished. At age 39, he remains a scoring threat and a key part of the Capitals' offense. He could set a new record that may stand the test of time, and beyond the numbers, he’s using his leadership to mentor a new generation of players, passing down his skill and love for the game.
When Gretzky became the all-time goals leader in 1994, it felt like the end of an era, a record that would remain untouched forever. Now that Ovechkin broke that record, however, it has opened a new chapter and redefined what’s possible in hockey.
Ovechkin came from Moscow, Russia, with a dream. Now, he stands alone on hockey’s most legendary list.
Waltham, Mass.
Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS ATHLETICS
Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
HOCKEY: Alexander Ovechkin celebrates on the ice as fans cheer.
Athletics: Jim Zotz standing behind a podium giving a speech.
justArts&Culture ALF LAYLA LAYLA WA
Photos: JENNIFER ZHU/The Justice. Design: REUBEN GARTENBACH/The Justice. Waltham, Mass.
D on ’ t look back : a ‘E ury D ic E ’ r E vi E w
By DAHLIA RAMIREZ JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Last Friday, on April 4, I attended the Brandeis Theater Department’s latest show, “Eurydice.” Written by Sarah Ruhl and directed by Dori A. Robinson ’00, this modern retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus is told from Eurydice’s perspective.
After dying on her wedding night, Eurydice lands in the underworld where she meets her late father who encourages her to remember the life and love she had forgotten. When Orpheus arrives in the underworld to retrieve Eurydice, she must choose between returning to Earth with him or staying with her father. This play was a beautiful exploration of grief and of love in all its forms.
One actor’s performance that stood out was that of the lead, Katherine Bulthuis ’27. Bulthuis spoke earnestly, portraying joyous love, innocent curiosity and the frustrating adjustment to her new life in the underworld. She moved across the stage gracefully, yet still with so much power. David Feit Mann ’25 also performed beautifully as Eurydice’s father. He played the role with great sensitivity, allowing the audience to see their own father figures in his performance. His dedication to his daughter had the audience in tears, from comforting her after she forgot her own identity to dancing with her before handing her off to Orpheus, a moment that was absent at Eurydice’s real wedding. While the audience was brought to tears in many moments, they also erupted into laughter in others. Simon Link ’28 transformed within moments from the unsettling, cutesy Child of the Underworld to the demanding, formidable Lord of the Underworld with a blood-curdling laugh.
The set was also exceptionally beautiful. A wooden-framed glass house was constructed on stage, decorated with lights and vines. With many windows and doors, the actors were able to symbolized the changes in settings and existence in between the two worlds. Colorful and creative lighting was used throughout the show to bring comfort and express the characters’ joy or celebration in some moments, as well as to show their fear and loneliness in others. Music and poetry were strewn throughout, framed as a way to express a longing that cannot otherwise be put into words.
My favorite part of this production were the costumes, designed by Kat Lawrence ’22. This show was full of original designs handcrafted in Brandeis’ costume shop, headed by Brooke Stanton. I particularly enjoyed the costumes of the “managers” of the underworld, a group of five Stones that moved like dancers and whispered demands to Eurydice throughout the show. Each Stone was dressed in a unique costume featuring oversized, geometric and gravity-defying stone formations.
Eurydice, Father and Orpheus’ costumes in the underworld all shared blue drips extending from their shoulders, a symbol of the river that newcomers are dipped in to erase their
EXCELLENT EXHIBITIONS
memory before they arrive in the underworld. This similarity built an especially strong visual connection between Eurydice and her father throughout the show, as he tried to help Eurydice remember the many joys of her life and to cope with the inevitable pain of loss that came with recovering her memory. The Lord of the Underworld also had an especially impressive costume. A red, puff-sleeved overcoat with gold detailing and a pointy, popped collar was paired with leather platform boots and dark, spiky eyeliner, transforming the cute — but still creepy — child of the underworld into an evil lord. The many outfit changes throughout the show kept the audience on their toes and added an extra element of attention to detail that was apparent throughout this entire production. Congratulations to the cast and crew of “Eurydice” on a wonderful show!
Reflections on ‘Building Americana: A Conversation with Hugh Hayden’
By NEMMA KALRA JUSTICE ASSOCIATE EDITOR
On April 3, Brandeis University once again welcomed architect, artist and visionary Hugh Hayden to discuss his ongoing collection at The Rose Art Museum, “Hugh Hayden: Home Work.” Joined by Dr. Muna Güvenç (FA) and Dr. Gannit Ankori (FA), the co-curator of the exhibition, Hayden explored the inspiration behind his works and provided an inside look at how he “built Americana.”
Before their conversation, Ankori introduced Hayden, taking extra care to highlight his roots as an architect. Born in Dallas, Texas, Hayden received his Bachelors of Architecture from Cornell University and his Masters in Fine Arts from Columbia University. Ankori noted that with Hayden, “the architect never left the artist,” and for anyone who has seen his exhibition at the Rose, it is clear how deeply his architectural background informs his artwork and presentation. His background permeates his art in fascinating ways, exploring themes of universality, structure and identity.
For those unfamiliar with the exhibition, Hayden presented five distinct aspects of everyday environments throughout the rooms of the Rose: the home, the classroom, the kitchen, the playground and the walk-in closet. As Ankori explained, each space is filled with domestic, familiar items, each transformed by Hayden to embody the Freudian concept “unheimlich,” or the uncanny. In defamiliarizing these conventionally comfortable, mundane spaces, Hayden explores the fascinating tension between longing for safety and recognizing the danger that exists within our homes.
The Home
Among the works in the gallery, one of the most poignant examples of the “uncanny” is Hayden’s sculpture “Oreo.” Made from Texas ebony, a wood Hayden feels connected to because of his Texan roots, the piece evokes a sense of nostalgia and unease, so much so that one member of the audience exclaimed “Jesus,” when the crib was projected on screen. While the exterior of the crib seems normal, the interior is lined with multiple little wooden spikes, making the usual resting spot of a child anything but safe.
The Classroom
In the classroom portion of the exhibit, there were numerous evocative and disconcerting artworks that ask the viewer to reconsider conceptions of education, institutions and authority. For example, in one sculpture, “Finishing School,” Hayden covered a traditional reading desk with boar hair bristles, equating education to something that refines, but also potentially sanitizes and manicures the students’ mind. Another piece, “Higher Education,” features a roughly 12-foot ladder covered from top to bottom with pruners, with the top being the most densely covered. During the discussion, Hayden, Ankori and Güvenç shared various interpretations of the piece. On the one hand, pruners, like education, can help cultivate an individual. On the other hand, the higher you climb, the easier it is to get harmed. Yet, if you make it to the top, you have more tools at your disposal. These various theories highlight the complexities of education and its institutions, suggesting that it can be both empowering and dangerous, while questioning how — for better or worse — it cultivates individual minds.
The Kitchen
In the kitchen, the most striking exhibit is “Soul Food,” in which numerous cast iron pots are hung from a large industrial ring suspended from the ceiling. Embossed in each pot are the faces of West African masks. As Hayden shared, the use of cast iron in this piece symbolizes its foundational role in the industrialization of America. The pots also allude to America’s identity as a “melting pot,” which was built on Black labor. Additionally, as Güvenç pointed
out, the kitchen is a central part of any home, serving as a place where identity is crafted and expressed through food.
The Playground
Stepping “outside” of the uncanny home, Hayden crafted a playground filled with playful whimsy yet, as always, subtly dangerous elements. This section of the gallery features towering basketball nets and balls, each serving as a testament to Hayden’s skill and craftsmanship as an artist. Compared to the other parts of the gallery, these works are more open to interpretation. When asked about the meaning behind the playground pieces, Hayden offered some explanations but emphasized that, as an architect, his work must be universal. While he is the creator of his art, he believes that different people will — and should — have different interpretations.
The Walk-In Closet
Hayden, Ankori and Güvenç concluded their conversation in the closet, a section of the gallery transformed to emulate a literal closet. They constructed a wall and added two large wooden doors sourced from none other than Home Depot, which, as Güvenç pointed out, was the only truly familiar object in the entire exhibition. Inside this crafted closet, there were numerous fascinating artworks, from rib cages hanging on retail racks to Tiffany engagement rings filled with Descovy pills instead of diamonds. Among all the artistic statements in this section of the exhibit, one compelling theme emerges: Hayden’s thesis that fashion acts almost like an invisibility cloak. Explaining this in reference to a Burberry coat he covered in tree bark, Hayden invited the audience to consider fashion as a form of social camouflage; When we follow trends and dress accordingly, we will surely blend in.
As the conversation drew to an end, it was clear that Hayden’s work, rich with allusions and nuanced meanings, challenges viewers to question both the visible and invisible aspects of American culture. He invites us to sit with the discomfort found in the home, the classroom, the kitchen, the playground and our closets. His art work deconstructs the everyday, ultimately forcing us to confront uncomfortable truths about identity, education, race and the contradictions embedded in American society. “Hugh Hayden: Home Work” will be on display at the Rose until June 1, 2025.
Photo courtesy of ELIZA BIER/The Justice.
Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS.
CONNECTIONS LITERARY MAGAZINE
On Friday April 4, the Brandeis Asian American Student Association celebrated the launch of the anual issue of their literary magazine, Connections.
Top Ten STAFF’S
Top 10 Literary Tropes
By ELLIE HARRIS JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
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SUDOKU
SKYE ENTWOOD/The Justice
JUSTICE STAFF ARTIST
By NEMMA KALRA JUSTICE ASSOCIATE EDITOR