The Justice, November 21. 2023

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T h e I n d e p e n d e n t S t u d e n t N e w s p a p e r o f B r a n d e is U n i v e r sit y S i n c e 1 9 4 9 Volume LXXVI, Number 9

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Brandeis community holds diverse range of opinions on the administration’s safety policies Brandeis community members to gauge how the Israel-Hamas war has affected students’ security concerns on campus.

By AMANDA CHEN

JUSTICE SENIOR STAFF WRITER

In the aftermath of many complex developments on campus regarding the Israel-Hamas War, debates centered on students’ safety, the boundaries of First Amendment rights, and increasing tensions permeating discussions on campus.

The rise in discrimination against Muslim, Arab, and Jewish people in the U.S. raises the question of how universities — particularly Brandeis — will ensure their students’ safety. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the U.S.’s largest Muslim civil rights organization, stated that its national

headquarters and chapters received 1,283 requests for help and reports of bias from Oct. 7 to Nov. 4. In comparison, there were 406 complaints sent to the organization in an average 29-day period in 2022.

According to initial data from the Anti-Defamation Leaugue Center on Extremism, “312 incidents of harassment, vandalism, and assault were recorded from Oct. 7 to Oct. 23 — a 388% increase over the same period last year, when the ADL received reports of 64 such incidents, the organization said. More than half of the recent incidents (190) were directly linked to the Israel-Hamas war.”

In a Nov. 14 interview with the Justice, Sivan Adams ’26, the communications coordinator for the Hillel student board, talked about the war’s impact on her academics and mental health. She said that it took up “a lot of brain space,” and that the first week of the conflict was challenging. Adams had a hard time focusing because of incoming news

See SAFETY, 5 ☛

ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES

Sustainability’s future at Brandeis stays uncertain ■ Former Director of

Sustainability Mary Fischer left her role in September, raising questions about what comes next for sustainable initiatives at the University.

By HEDY YANG

JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Last year, catalyzed by the Year of Climate Action, an optimistic wave of climate and sustainabilityrelated action — which included new courses, extracurricular programming, a new Decarbonization Action Plan, and more — took place on campus. This year, many of these initiatives have come to a grinding halt — not only because the Year of Climate Action has drawn to a close, but also as a result of former Director of Sustainability Mary Fischer’s departure from the University. As the only staff member of the Office of Sustainability, Fischer’s legacy is striking and simultaneously leaves many unanswered questions about the future of sustainability at Brandeis now that there is no one in her role.

The history of sustainability at

Waltham, Mass.

MOTIONS STATED

CAMPUS ATMOSPHERE

■ The Justice talked to

FACULTY MEETING : Brandeis faculty members had a meeting to discuss proposed motions

been approved to be sent out for faculty vote.

See SUSTAINABILITY, 7 ☛

By ANNA MARTIN JUSTICE EDITOR

Faculty members held an emergency meeting on Nov. 17 to further discuss the ideas that were brought up during the emergency faculty meeting last Friday, which met to discuss the derecognition of Students for Justice in Palestine.

There was also an informal faculty discussion on the night of Sunday, Nov. 12 that had approximately 150 attendees. The purpose of this meeting was to consider the motions that groups of faculty members developed in response to these meetings and to decide if the motions needed any amendments to put to a faculty-wide vote next week.

The staff members that are eligible to participate in voting include all who are tenured, all non-tenured professors who hold at least halftime appointments for at least two semesters, the president, the provost, the dean of arts and sciences, the deans of professional schools, the University librarian, and the University registrar.

The meeting began with two procedural motions.

The first motion highlighted the idea that all meeting materials, including the agenda and texts relating to proposed

to be considered — as well as all supporting documents — at least five days in advance of the faculty meeting. Faculty moved to waive this requirement, changing the five-day requirement to two days.

The second procedural motion that the faculty voted on was to waive a secondary reading. This motion also passed; however, it does not apply if the legislation has not been reviewed by either the Faculty Senate or a faculty standing committee.

The faculty then began to review the motions that had been submitted, starting with motion one. The preamble to this motion highlighted the Task Force on Free Expression’s five principles of free speech. These principles were constituted by President Liebowitz in 2016-17 and led

by Prof. George Hall (ECON).

Principle one, titled “Maximizing Free Speech in a Diverse Community,” connects free speech with the desire for an inclusive and diverse community. They highlight that free expression includes the arts, talking and listening, and the exchange of ideas. This principle ends with the statement: “We endorse as a principle for action Louis Brandeis’ remark: ‘If there be a time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence.’

The university has a responsibility to encourage the airing of the widest range of political and scholarly

opinions and to prevent attempts to shut down conversations, no matter what their topic.”

Principle two is titled “Developing Skills to Engage in Difficult Conversations” and highlights the pride that Brandeis holds as a place where debates often occur.

They explain that defining realms of prohibited speech causes the administration to have an effect on the general exchange of views across campus. This principle ends with the quote: “Reaching our fullest potential in this regard will entail an ongoing educational process, a curriculum that exposes students and the entire community to various viewpoints, and a long institutional memory about how free expression operates and has operated at Brandeis. All this will require the intellectual courage to risk discomfort for the sake of greater understanding.”

The third principle on this list is called “Sharing Responsibility.” It outlines that Brandeis community members themselves hold responsibility for the impact that their actions have and that potential disagreement can in turn lead to respect. They promoted working towards a campus life that was full of expression of many diverse political, intellectual, social, and cultural outlooks. The principle concluded with the quote: “The university must find ways to engage the whole community about each person’s responsibility to foster a just and inclusive campus culture, so that

See MEETING, 6 ☛

Media bias

Museum tour

Brandeis holds crash anniversary vigil

 Media reception of "Barbie" (2023) exposes the role of political bias in art criticism.

 Mikey Terrenzi gives us a detailed tour and review of two collections at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

By RIVER SIMARD

By LEAH ZAHARONI

By MIKEY TERRENZI Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

ELIZA BIER/the Justice

Faculty take action on free speech regulations at emergency meeting ■ Three proposed motions have faculty legislations and actions, are

Brandeis Brandeis’ commitment to advancing sustainability began in March 2008 with the hiring of its first sustainability manager, alumnus Janna Cohen-Rosenthal ’03, according to an Aug. 26, 2008 article published in the Justice.

During her time as the sustainability manager, Cohen-Rosenthal piloted a number of initiatives to improve sustainability at Brandeis, including implementing a singlestream recycling program, reducing bottled water sales, and creating an Eco-Reps program in which student representatives from each residential quad encouraged their peers to recycle and save energy, according to an Oct. 8, 2008 article from BrandeisNOW. One of the key initiatives CohenRosenthal worked on was the University’s first Climate Action Plan, which was published in September 2009 and has since been updated in 2016 and 2020. In 2007, Brandeis signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, now known as the Carbon Commitment, a pledge that binds the University to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Climate Action Plans are designed to help the University

Waltham, Mass.

FEATURES 6

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

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Submit letters to the editor to forum@thejustice.org

ARTS 14

Professors need support

By THE JUSTICE EDITORIAL BOARD

Judges recieve Honors

By JOSH GANS

COPYRIGHT 2023 FREE AT BRANDEIS.

NEWS 3

FORUM 9 SPORTS 12

2

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 ● NEWS ● THE JUSTICE

NEWS SENATE LOG The Justice did not recieve a Senate Log as of press time.

POLICE LOG MEDICAL EMERGENCY Nov. 10—A party experienced abdominal pain. The patient refused medical treatment.

Nov. 10—A party fell off their scooter and was in need of medical assistance. The patient was transported to a local hospital.

Nov. 11—A reporting party requested BEMCo for an unconscious party. The patient was transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Nov. 12—There was a medical call for a non-community member. The patient was treated by BEMCo and transported to a local hospital for further treatment.

Nov. 13—There was a medical emergency for a party experiencing an allergic reaction. The patient refused medical treatment.

Nov. 14—A reporting party requested an ambulance for someone feeling dizzy. The patient refused medical treatment.

Nov. 14—There was a medical emergency. The patient was transported to a local hospital.

DISTURBANCE Nov. 10—There was a protest on the Great Lawn. Six arrests were made.

TRESPASSING Nov. 10—One person is in custody for trespassing.

HARASSMENT Nov. 14—A party was harassed via a Facebook post.

Services were rendered.

Nov. 14—A staff member received harassing notes on their door. An investigation is to follow.

Nov. 15—A party experienced harassment in the Shapiro Campus Center. An investigation is to follow.

MISCELLANEOUS Nov. 10—A party reported vandalism in one of the bathrooms in Sherman Dining Hall. An investigation is to follow.

Nov. 10—A past assault was reported. The patient refused medical treatment.

Nov. 13—A reporting party called to complain that their neighboring residents were allegedly “bouncing what sounds like a basketball” in their room, keeping them awake. The area coordinator on-call was notified to respond.

Nov. 13—The mail room reported a suspicious letter in the mail. Brandeis Police retrieved the letter. All appears to be in order.

Nov. 13—Brandeis Police assisted Waltham Police with a traffic stop. All appears to be in order.

— Compiled by Anika Jain

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS ■ Photos were incorrectly attributed to both Ceci Xilei Chen and Eliza Bier. It corrected to Ceci Xilei Chen (Nov. 8, p. 6) ■ Page jump was incorrectly stated as page 17. It was corrected to page 18. (Nov. 8, p. 17)

■ A news article used a word when quoting a professor that was incorrect. It was corrected from “students” to “schools.” (Nov. 14, p. 7)

■ A news article said Prof. Bernadette Brooten was in the WGS department. It was corrected to NEJS/WGS. (Nov. 14, p. 7) The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Send an email to editor@thejustice.org.

ELIZABETH LIU/the Justice

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

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

MUSIC: Spingold Theatre is filled with notes during the Brandeis-Wellesley Orchestra’s 20th Anniversary Concert.

CECI XILEI CHEN/The Justice

—Editor’s note: Associate Editor Owen Chan ‘25 is a member of the Brandeis-Wellesley Orchestra and did not contribute to or edit this photo story.

Graphic courtesy of CANVA. Graphics: ELIZABETH LIU/the Justice

THE JUSTICE ● NEWS ● TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023

ACCIDENT ANNIVERSARY

3

CAMPUS RENOVATIONS

Brandeis recognizes shuttle Heller-Brown Building’s crash’s one-year anniversary, renovation nearly complete holds a community gathering ■ The Heller-Brown Building has

■ Community members gathered in Fellows Garden to reflect upon the shuttle accident that injured numerous students and killed one.

By RIVER SIMARD

JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

A small group of approximately 40 students, faculty, and community members gathered in Fellows Garden on Nov. 17 to recognize the one-year anniversary of the tragic Nov. 19 shuttle accident, which resulted in the death of student Vanessa Marks and 27 injured students.

Lara Ericson, the associate director of the Center for Spiritual life, made a speech at the brief five minute event in which she reflected on how the accident caused both mental and physical harm to those involved.

She asked participants to call to mind the students on the bus; the family and friends of Vanessa Marks; the first responders on and off campus the night of the accident; the students, faculty, and staff who have assisted in supporting the community; and everyone else who was impacted by the accident. After the speech, a member of the Center for Spiritual Life lit a candle and the group held a moment of silence.

Ericson clarified the importance of a moment of silence. “In a moment, we’re going to light a candle and just observe a period of silence to feel the strength of community that is being together even when we are not saying anything,” she said. Members of the Center for Spiritual Life and the Brandeis Counseling Center were available after the event for students to speak to.

Among the faculty in attendance was President Ronald Liebowitz, who stood with Student Union President Noah Risley ’24.

“On one hand, it’s hard to believe it’s been one year. In some ways it feels much

longer, in other ways of course it feels like just yesterday.” Liebowitz told the Justice following the event. “But thinking about these students, it was a horrific accident and it’s just a good way to get together and think about where those students are … It’s very meaningful to see folks here honoring them.”

In the past year, the accident and its aftermath has remained the subject of news as the Brandeis community has worked towards healing. In August, Vanessa Marks’ family filed a lawsuit against Joseph’s Transportation; in September, the University shared an accident report; earlier this month, the shuttle driver at the time of the crash was criminally charged with motor vehicle homicide and speeding. While Brandeis Student Union isn’t involved in any legal proceedings, Risley addressed the importance of not losing the focus of those impacted by the accident.

“It’s good to remember that this shuttle crash affected all of us, and it was a real tragedy. And it’s good to keep that emotional center before we start talking about, ‘Oh, how many hours was the driver working? How fast was he going? Stuff like that,” Risley said. “When I look back at my four years at Brandeis, this is one of the, if not the most significant, ... events, and I think that paying our respects is the least that we can do.”

On Nov. 19, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Jeffrey Shoulson sent an email to the community, where he briefly recognized the impact the accident had: “I write to mark the day, to extend my sympathies to those who continue to mourn Vanessa’s passing, and to invite all of you to take a moment to remember,” he wrote. Shoulson included several resources for students who needed to speak with a professional regarding the accident, such as the Brandeis Counseling Center’s therapy services, the Office of Spiritual Life’s staff, and the Office of Health and Wellness Promotion’s Care and Comfort website.

ELIZA BIER/the Justice

CRASH VIGIL: Staff from the University’s Center for Spiritual Life held a gathering for the community to reflect on the accident and those impacted.

undergone comprehensive repairs to meet ADA requirements and fix HVAC

By MOMOCA MAIRAJ JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

For years, the Heller-Brown Building was seen to many students and faculty as a run-down piece of campus infrastructure with many issues, such as lead in the water. Brandeis administration has planned to renovate Brown for many years, and the project is near completion as of this November. The design process began in the middle of 2021 and construction began in 2022. The process was the most comprehensive renovation at Brandeis in many years according to Senior Capital Project Manager Michael Bushey, although the University faced obstacles in their efforts to renovate.

“Brown has long been on the list for building upgrades related to deferred maintenance and was prioritized for a project after a series of floods between 2019 and 2021 resulting from deteriorating [heating, ventilation, and air conditioning] piping,” Bushey said in a Nov. 15 email to the Justice.

Besides the series of issues the building had prior to renovation, there were other goals the administration sought to meet.

“The intent of the project was to bring the building up to the current energy codes and [Americans with Disabilities Act] standards in parallel with Brandeis’s commitment of increasing energy efficiency and reducing the University’s carbon footprint,” Bushey said. To meet these goals, the main focus of the project was to construct high-efficiency HVAC systems, plumbing, lighting, glazing, and a new elevator. City inspectors approved the upgrades in early September and the final testing date for the building’s features is Dec. 4.

There were also several aesthetic improvements made to the building. In particular, contractors installed more exterior windows and new flooring, cleaned and selectively painted the building, and revamped the first-floor lobby.

However, numerous unforeseen circumstances hindered the completion of the project by the start of the school year. As a result of reengineering and reworking, as well as supply-chain issues, the project schedule was significantly impacted. “In or-

der for the occupants of the building to get settled in before the upcoming semester, we had to make the decision to move them back into the building before we had the opportunity to work out all the issues in the new systems,” Bushey explained in a Nov. 10 email.

Several professors expressed their frustration with the incomplete work, with some of the problems being a faculty member’s room being over 100 degrees, mice living on every floor, and lights flickering on and off without warning in offices.

“The biggest issue for me was the bathrooms. I do have some of the same light issues ... these issues aren’t as physically troubling to me as they are to some of my colleagues,” Prof. Maura Farrelly (AMST) said in an Oct. 31 interview with the Justice. She referred to the cramped bathroom stalls: “Just look at it: how did they ever think somebody could sit on it [the toilet]?”

Within the month of October, however, installers made strides in addressing the issues with the building. There have been adjustments to resolve HVAC noise issues and a plan to fix the lighting system has been established with some of the offices being fixed already. To address the small bathrooms, the project team contacted an outside contractor to expand the stall and renovations are projected to be completed by the end of winter break.

Despite challenges, professors are relieved by the changes that were implemented in the building. “I can’t remember if it was two floods and a fire or two fires and a flood, and it all involved the HVAC system,” Prof. Farrelly said. “It was time for it to be renovated.”

Professors also emphasized the importance of having more office space. “Legal studies used to be spread out across four different buildings. We are together now which is important,” Prof. Rosalind Kabrhel (LGLS) said.

As the Brown project comes to a close, the administration plans to continue renovations to other parts of the campus. “Renovation of the Usdan plaza is underway, and the design process will soon begin on some of the older science buildings. The final selection and time frame is being evaluated,” Bushey told the Justice. These projects are part of Brandeis’s effort to continue investing in campus infrastructure to support the community.

JONAS KAPLIN/the Justice

REPAIRS: The Brown Social Science Center has recently repoened after undergoing many renovations.

Graphic courtesy of sketchify. Graphics: ELIZABETH LIU/the Justice

Graphic courtesy of sketchify. Graphics: ELIZABETH LIU/the Justice

Graphic courtesy of SYA’S DESIGN, tiaraknt, and olyahaifisch. Graphics: ELIZABETH LIU/the Justice

THE JUSTICE ● NEWS ● TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 5

SAFETY: Students express opinions regarding campus security CONTINUED FROM 1

coverage and worries over her friends’ and family’s safety. In the following weeks, she has been able to compartmentalize more, but it’s still difficult to focus on schoolwork, an issue exacerbated by the increased workload that comes with midterm season. Adams told the Justice that she is “much more attuned to the news, checking in the morning and evenings … a news update can sort of throw my entire day out of whack.”

The Justice asked Adams if she felt safe on campus, and she said that “I think it would be naive to think that nothing could happen to me on this campus, but I feel very fortunate to be on this campus where in general I feel physically safe.” She stated that nothing had threatened her safety on or off campus, but she has been more careful off campus.

In a Nov. 17 statement emailed to the Justice, Eitan Marks ’24, president of the Hillel student board, expanded on specific situations that made him feel unsafe on campus. “I can only speak for my community, but I think that when people chant hateful slogans calling for the violent murder of Jews and destruction of the only Jewish state in the world, Jewish students feel unsafe,” Marks wrote. He “never imagined that at Brandeis, Jewish students would feel unsafe wearing a [Star] of David or attending a Shabbat prayer service.” Marks clarified that this response is his own personal statement, rather than a statement on behalf of the Hillel student board or Hillel’s broader organization.

The rally on Nov. 10 protesting the derecognition of Students for Justice in Palestine was the first time Marks felt unsafe on campus. Before leaving his dorm for Shabbat dinner, he checked in with Public Safety. “I am reassured that the [University] is taking all necessary measures to protect members of our campus community,” Marks stated.

Rabbi Seth Winberg, the executive director of Hillel and the University’s senior Jewish chaplain, similarly appreciates the security on campus. “I have found Public Safety to be excellent,” he said in a Nov. 8 interview with the Justice. While Winberg recognized that others may have more contentious relationships with law enforcement, he also believed that many Jewish students are worried in general. “I think the combination of the largest attack on Jews since the Holocaust plus the news from other college campuses affecting students and their peers, has been terrifying for some Jewish students,” he explained.

The Oct. 7 attacks were the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. More people died on Oct. 7 than during the Second Intifada, a Palestinian uprising from 2000 to 2005 that resulted in the death of 1,000 Israelis. According to The Economist, “The bloodiest atrocity committed by Arabs during Israel’s war of independence, a massacre at Kfar Etzion, an Israeli settlement, in May 1948, left 127 people dead,” and the Oct. 7 attacks surpassed that.

The University of Connecticut’s campus faces the same dilemma that Brandeis does; both campuses discuss how to protect students of all backgrounds while acknowledging some groups’ negative relationships with law enforcement. According to NBC News, members of UConn’s Hillel are recruiting and training students to provide more security for the building. Students are collaborating with the local police and fire station to train student security guards. The Department of Homeland Security gives universities and K-12 schools security assessments through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency for free. However, members of UConn’s Students for Justice in Palestine stated that given the history of Muslim Americans feeling profiled and targeted by DHS, they wouldn’t trust DHS to protect them.

In a Nov. 16 interview with the Justice, two members of the Revolutionary Student Organization talked about the strained relationship between some students and the police. One RSO member, who was arrested on Nov. 10 at the rally, believed that Brandeis is an unsafe space for students who support Palestine.

Both students claimed that there were people at the Nov. 6 vigil who filmed attendees. There were further claims that people mocked them; the Justice was unable to verify said claims as of press time. When RSO members put up flyers for the rally, they said that Brandeis Police “harassed” them and allegedly

followed one of them off campus without an explanation why.

At the rally, they were one of the first people tackled by police.

“They held my leg in a way so that my knee cap in particular was held out of place,” they said, which resulted in a dislocated knee cap. They asserted that the police put their hands in their pants. The other RSO member agreed with the arrested member and added that the “police do not keep us safe, and police should not be the method of safety that is advocated by the University.”

The Waltham Police Department released a statement on X — formerly Twitter — on Nov. 11 regarding their response to the rally. According to the statement, Brandeis University Police asked the Waltham police for assistance at 3:30 p.m. “after a demonstration on their campus became unruly.” The protest started around 3:30 p.m. Moreover, they claimed that “No major injuries occurred as a result of these arrests.”

Marks also commented on the rally’s outcome. It was “deeply upsetting” to see students arrested, he wrote. Marks was not present at the rally, and Brandeis Police told him to not leave his building around 4:30 p.m. due to safety concerns.

The unarrested RSO member defended the protest, stressing that there was nothing violent or imposing during the demonstration. “There has never been anything that I would constitute as a threat, there has never been hate speech, there [have] never been provocations of violence,” they said. “The University is bringing the idea that these events need to be safer and they should be understanding that these spaces are not unsafe in the first place.” The previously arrested RSO member added that the University is “advancing racism and Islamophobia” on campus instead of working to keep people safe.

Brandeis and other universities have had to find a balance between maintaining students’ First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly while also ensuring students’ safety. According to a Nov. 10 email from Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Stew Uretsky; Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Carol Fierke; and Vice President for Student Affairs Andrea Dine, police dispersed and arrested protestors at the Nov. 10 rally for using phrases that are considered hate speech, such as “From the river to the sea” and “intifada, intifada.” According to students’ responses, there is disagreement over whether certain phrases should be considered hate speech. On the one hand, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” can be interpreted as “the desire for freedom from oppression across the historical land of Palestine,” according to an Al Jazeera article. The term can mean the need for equality and the right to self-determination for Palestinians.

The article also says that some Jewish groups have marched in solidarity with Palestinians who use the phrase, so it cannot be considered antisemitic. On the other hand, it can be seen as proHamas and a call for antisemitic violence. The phrase can also mean that there will be only one entity, Palestine, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea and no Jewish state. Some criticize the slogan for making it harder for left-wing Israelis to promote open dialogue; people would be more unwilling to negotiate with a partner perceived to be supporting the destruction of Israel.

According to the Institute for Middle East Understanding, “intifada” “is an Arabic word derived from a verb meaning ‘to shake off,’ and is the term used to describe the two major uprisings against Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.” Some perceive the word as a call for indiscriminate violence against Israel, however.

In a Nov. 19 email to the Justice, Julie Jette, the interim senior vice president for communications, marketing, and external relations, reiterated points from Chief of Public Safety Matthew Rushton’s Oct. 12 email regarding security on campus. She stated, “We have provided additional security at smaller events when organizers have requested Public Safety’s assistance.”

Vice President of Student Affairs Andrea Dine and Rushton did not respond to the Justice’s request for comment.

There were a range of views on how the derecognition of SJP affects students’ safety. The RSO member who was arrested said that the decision “eroded any confidence I had in the University

to uphold any notion of free expression or free speech. I don’t know if I’d say it made me feel less safe.”

Marks thought that derecognition “showed Brandeis’ commitment to providing a safe learning environment for all students.”

In an Oct. 9 Instagram post, SJP stated that they “rise today in unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian resistance in all of its forms.” They objected to calling Palestinian resistance “terrorism” because they believed that “such a label ignores the ongoing occupation of Palestine, the expansion of illegal settlements, and the denial of basic human rights.” Some thought SJP’s words insinuated support for Hamas, including Marks.

Given this interpretation, he believed that the University’s decision was reasonable. Furthermore, “The campus climate being escalated by a small group of extremists such as SJP and RSO is harmful to the entire community. It makes having nuanced and informative conversations about complex issues all the more difficult.” Marks stated that it was “a shame” that there is no student organization advocating for Palestinians that does not support violence against Jews.

Winberg wrote an op-ed in the Forward defending the University’s derecognition of SJP. He recognized that while derecognition “should only be done as a last resort,” groups who support terrorism should not be included in discussions on the conflict.

SJP criticized Winberg’s Nov. 5 email to Hillel members before SJP’s vigil and called for “all necessary action against” Winberg.

“In the context of serious rising antisemitic incidents on campuses, local law enforcement was concerned enough to assign me personal security for the day of the vigil,” Winberg stated.

Students’ thoughts on the administration’s response varied as well. Adams said she felt “very supported by the administration” and that “the emails make me feel seen and heard.”

However, the previously arrested RSO member took issue with the language used in the administration’s emails. They believed what the University considered hate speech to not be hateful, that Brandeis perpetuates a conception of Palestinians as violent, and that the idea that the Israeli occupation has the right to self-defense is harmful. “Killing over 11,000 civilians is not self defense,” they said.

With rising tensions on campus, it has proved difficult to navigate a nuanced conflict that people may have direct emotional ties to. When the Justice asked both RSO members how people can approach increasing polarization, the previously arrested RSO member claimed that “the tensions on campus are being perpetuated by the University and those who are supporting the genocide in Palestine.” Both emphasized that the war is not a two-sided conflict, but rather the genocide of one people.

Adams and Winberg proposed more conversations between Israelis and Palestinians could help defuse tensions and foster a better understanding of all sides of the conflict. Winberg talked about his trips with Jewish and non-Jewish students to Israel and Palestine and learning from interactions with those living there. “I don’t always feel that Jewish students know what it’s like to be a non-Jewish student at Brandeis, and I think that many non-Jewish students don’t know what it’s like to be Jewish,” said Winberg, highlighting the need to learn from different communities on campus.

Marks stressed that the Brandeis Jewish community is not a monolith: “We value and appreciate all members of the community as fellow Jews, regardless of any identity or opinion they might hold.” He also hopes “that members of the Brandeis community will continue to treat each other with compassion and kindness that everyone deserves.”

In the wake of a tragedy, it is easy for spaces to devolve into emotionally charged forums and one-dimensional conversations. For instance, after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, Muslim Americans suffered a surge in Islamophobia. Similarly, after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, there have been upward trends of hate crimes against Jewish, Israeli, Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim people, showing the aggression that all sides are facing.

The threat of violence spurs concerns from everyone and creating a security policy that addresses them proves to be a complicated process.

Graphic courtesy of sparklestroke and goodstudio. Graphics: ELIZABETH LIU/the Justice

6 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 ● NEWS ● THE JUSTICE

MEETING: Brandeis faculty members discuss free speech CONTINUED FROM 1

all can participate fully in the intellectual and social life of the university.”

The fourth principle titled “Rejecting Physical Violence” highlights the appropriateness of peaceful protesting in an environment of debate and discussion. It calls violence “unacceptable” and states that “once violence is normalized as an ingredient of free expression, it sets the pattern, ending rather than supporting free expression.”

The fifth principle on this list is called “Distinguishing between Invited Speakers and University Honorees.” It explains that the University should be a place for campus organizations of all kinds, however, this does not mean that the University is endorsing such speakers or organizations. This principle concludes, “However, there are certain circumstances, especially the granting of honorary degrees, in which an invitation issued by the university does constitute an endorsement of some major aspect of their life or work. A protest against the University for making a disfavored choice for a prestigious honor is not, in itself, an attack on free speech.”

A sixth principle was added to this set — one that ultimately placed restrictions on speech, even though this notion was originally left out by the original task force. This principle is as follows: "Institutional Restrictions: The freedom to debate and discuss ideas does not mean that individuals may say whatever they wish, wherever they wish, or however they wish. In narrowlydefined circumstances, the university may restrict expression, as for example, that violates the law, that falsely defames a specific individual, that constitutes a genuine threat or harassment, that unjustifiably invades substantial privacy or confidentiality interests, or that is otherwise directly incompatible with the functioning of the university."

This principle was enacted on Nov. 10 to restrict the use of certain expressions, even though it directly contradicts the previous principles created. As of Nov. 20, the Justice has been unable to confirm who this principle was enacted by.

The unedited version of this motion stated: “We move that the Provost and the Senate together establish a new Task Force on Free Expression in order to come up with a set of recommendations for how to revise and reinterpret the Principles of Free Speech and Free Expression. The Task Force shall also issue recommendations for what the appropriate consequences are for a violation of these principles. (For instance, whether they ought to include disciplinary action by the University or the involvement of campus or city police.) Like the original task force, the reconstituted version shall have a broad representation of students, faculty, and staff.”

This motion was introduced to the faculty by Prof. Laura Miller (SOC), who also read the preamble and provided context. She started her three minutes by stating, “Let me begin by saying very explicitly that I myself am not here to defend or oppose any particular language or slogan. For the group of us who worked on this motion, the point is to figure out how to develop a framework for speech on campus that is fair, transparent, and consistent, because right now it is not.”

She highlighted the pivotal issue to be the “inherent conflict” between principle six and the other five. “In addition, the sixth principle contains no process for determining what constitutes a genuine threat to other people, and it leaves unstated what sanctions or consequences may occur for violations of speech restrictions,” she continued.

In correspondence with the Justice on Nov. 18, Miller stated, “I think recent events have shown that there is no consensus at Brandeis on how speech should be regulated. And like others, I am deeply distressed by the use of police force on campus last week, as well as the more general conflict and divisions we are seeing among members of the Brandeis community. I want to see the University develop a better process, one that is broadly recognized as fair, transparent, and consistent, for governing speech, including any consequences that may follow for violations.”

During this correspondence, Miller also explained that there are no specific candidates in mind for the task force. She felt that many on this campus are qualified and highlighted that the motion “specified that the Provost and Faculty Senate work together to establish this task force so as to draw on their collective knowledge to select a broad representation of students, faculty, staff, and potentially, outside experts on the issues to be discussed.”

Discussion then occurred regarding the 2016 task force and the possibility of reinstating it. The faculty ultimately came to the conclusion that since it has been completely disbanded, a completely new one should be created while holding the same commitment to diverse representation.

Prof. James Haber (BIOL) spoke in favor of this motion, explaining that he believes that this is unrelated to the concept of whether or not the Brandeis logo and name should be removed from a student organization or not. He finished out his time by reading a statement made by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology: “The commitment to free expression includes hearing and hosting speakers, including those whose views or opinions may not be shared by many members of the MIT community, and may be harmful to some. This commitment includes the freedom to criticize and peacefully protest. Speakers to whom one may object, but it does not extend to suppressing or restricting such speakers from expressing their views.”

Interim Dean of the Heller School for Social Policy and Management Maria Madison then spoke, stating that subject matter experts need to be included in any task force created. She explained that these experts could be either from inside or outside of the University, but are necessary and should be funded by Brandeis.

Prof. John Plotz (ENG) took the floor, explaining some issues that he found in regard to the principles as previously stated. He highlighted that the administration directly violated principle four by using physical violence; however, under principle six the violence is justifiable. Plotz emphasized the sentiment that these principles directly contradict with one another.

Prof. Lynn Kaye (NEJS) took a moment to share with the faculty both personal experiences and concerns that she has for all students while speaking in favor of the task force. She highlighted that both Palestinian and Jewish students can be considered traumatized populations since both are frequently placed in situations that can worsen trauma. She explained that expressing empathy for all of them is necessary. According to Kaye, there are many experiences that Palestinian and Jewish students have faced that are unknown by faculty. She emphasized that these communities are very important to keep in mind.

Upon further correspondence with the Justice on Nov. 19, Kaye stated, “I suggested that the committee was necessary because of the delicate balance that I, and other faculty recognize, between cultivating an environment at Brandeis where we can exchange views and be free to disagree, even passionately, about important things, and also be mindful of maintaining a learning, living, and working environment for the entire Brandeis community, with all of its diverse sections. A committee can help guide us to ensure

that the University makes opportunities for free expression that we desperately need, in order to learn from one another.”

Prof. Leonard Saxe (NEJS) followed up Kaye’s statements in the meeting by sharing another personal story regarding the dangers of antisemitism and the safety of Jewish community members. He spoke in support of the previously stated principle six, explaining that he felt limits to be necessary when it comes to safety.

These conversations continued with professors speaking in support of the task force, calling on both personal experiences and how they believe the task force should be handled. Ultimately, a faculty member called the meeting back, asking if anyone had objections to the motion because the attendees were deciding if the concept of a task force should be put up for a vote, not becoming the the task force themselves.

The Stuart H. Altman Chair in U.S. Health Policy Karen Donelan then spoke up not against the motion but suggesting an amendment.

She stated: “This motion looks like a task force in perpetuity, and therefore, I'm left to wonder how useful this task force would be in this moment. I have a student that was arrested; I have a student whose uncle died for the Israeli army and that's right now. And so I'm interested in how we can find a way to move forward in these moments.” Donelan stated that a boundary regarding when this would happen would be a positive change.

Prof. Amy Singer (NEJS) then spoke, highlighting the concerns that she felt regarding the lack of information shared. She explained that the faculty didn’t know how SJP came to be dechartered nor did they know who contacted the police. Singer was concerned by the phrasing of “the University” and said it's power to restrict expression. When contacted by the Justice on Nov. 17, Singer stated; “As for 'the university,' number six of the Free Speech principles as listed on the Brandeis website says 'the university may restrict expression' but does not specify who, in such instances, is intended by 'the university.' There is no definition as to whether this means a single person in authority, a standing committee from among the university leadership or an ad-hoc body convened for the purpose.”

She also highlighted the fact that principle six was added without the consultation and deliberation of the carefully crafted task force, and brought up the idea that they did not have the power to stop this from happening again.

Singer explained that before moving forward with the motion, the faculty should focus on more carefully defining these restrictions and the process in which they can be executed.

Upon further correspondence with the Justice on Nov. 17, Singer said, “The role of the faculty is formally defined in different parts of the university handbook. We fulfill different roles connected with teaching, advising, mentoring, and taking on different administrative roles or serving on university committees. How much power we do or don't have depends in part on the formal roles we are playing and our own individual personalities. As you can see, there are many subjective aspects to the role of the faculty in the University.

"We are hired primarily to be scholars and teachers. Overall, I think we take both of those roles seriously. As I indicated above, 'teaching' includes standing up (or sitting) as instructors in classes and labs; advising on undergraduate and graduate research; mentoring students in different ways; informal conversation with students; supporting career & professional development; cheering at sports matches or applauding at performances, if we choose; and being available in times of crisis to answer questions and help students think through the meaning of what is going on around us.

Different people among us are more inclined in one way or another so that we are a very diverse community.”

Prof. Jonathan Sarna (NEJS) then spoke, highlighting the idea that Brandeis as a university is bound by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, one that bans intimidation and harassment. As a federally funded university, federal laws apply no matter the vote of the faculty. He also spoke of a letter sent to faculty detailing the experiences of a Jewish student during the Nov. 10 protest and arrests, one who felt an immense amount of anxiety and fear.

Motion One was amended as follows: “We move that the Provost and the Senate together establish a new Task Force on Free Expression in order to come up with a set of recommendations for how to revise and reinterpret the Principles of Free Speech and Free Expression. The Task Force shall also issue recommendations for what the appropriate consequences are for a violation of these principles (for instance, whether they ought to include disciplinary action by the University or the involvement of campus or city police.) Like the original task force, the reconstituted version shall have broad representation of students, faculty and staff. The task force shall include subject matter experts both internal and external if needed, with the latter being funded by the University.

The task force shall deliver its report by the end of the academic year. Finally, the task force shall focus attention on the tension between principle six and the other principles.”

The faculty voted to send this motion as amended out to be voted on by the faculty in this upcoming week.

The faculty then moved on to Motion Two, officially proposed

by Plotz and Prof. Susan Lasner (ENG), but consulted on by many faculty members. This motion is as follows: “We move that the Administration commission a thorough independent investigation — to be shared with the Brandeis community in written form by March 1, 2024 — of its decision-making, communications, and other consequential acts leading up to and including the events of November 10. The inquiry shall include close examination of the police actions on that day, process around police presence and training, and factors such as public statements and confidential decision-making by the administration that may have contributed to an escalation of tension. The Senate shall participate in defining the scope and charge of the investigation and in choosing outside investigators capable of addressing all relevant issues; the charge will include proposed remedies that may help avoid similar incidents in the future and alleviate harm caused when similar situations occur.”

When contacted by the Justice for further comment on Nov. 18, Lasner stated, “We have both short-term and longer-term goals.

First, we want to see an investigation that is truly independent of the administration, since the administration was responsible for certain decisions made on November 10. To ensure that independence, we asked that the Faculty Senate be involved in determining the terms and scope of the investigation and selecting the investigators. Second, we set a timeline so that the investigation is undertaken expeditiously and completed by March 1, 2024, with a written report to the university community. Third, we asked that the investigators recommend remediations that the university can undertake so that we do not have another situation such as the one that occurred on Nov. 10.”

Minimal debate occurred regarding this motion that was officially presented to the faculty by Lanser. A vote occurred, and the faculty voted in favor of sending the motion to a faculty vote next week.

Motion Three was presented to the faculty once again by Miller.

This motion stated: “We move that, until and unless a university

committee comes up with a process that the faculty approve by vote, Brandeis ends its restrictions on or prohibitions of speech of any kind during public demonstrations or protests organized by members of our community and which occur on our campus.”

She then followed the reading of this motion by stating a preamble: “This motion speaks to the issues of speech that we've been discussing this afternoon, but at its heart is a desire to prevent escalation of conflict and outsize punishment, so that we don't find ourselves engaged in emergency gatherings over and over and over again. There's currently enormous anxiety among many students, faculty, and staff on this campus, because they do not know what repercussions they might face for speaking on various topics, or uttering various words. While this climate of fear and uncertainty extends to numerous spaces at Brandeis, the motion at hand addresses a more narrow set of circumstances. Public demonstrations on campus protests are by definition occasions for dissent, that is their purpose. Participants often yell things, they show defiance.

"I think I can say with confidence that everybody here wants to ensure the physical safety of students, staff, faculty, and visitors at Brandeis. but restrictions on speech acts when those restrictions do not have widespread legitimacy increase, rather than decrease, volatility. They are counterproductive, and can lead to the situation we saw last week, whe[n] students and alumni engaging in peaceful protests, were ordered to disperse on the basis of their speech, and were then subject to arrest and the use of physical force by police, and therefore we are calling on the Brandeis administration. And this is advisory to end. Its prohibitions on speech of any kind at public protests and demonstrations again on campus organized by members of Brandeis University until the time that we, as a faculty, agree that the University has developed a fair and transparent and consistent process for determining what if any limit should be placed on speech.”

This motion immediately faced questioning from multiple professors, both in the room and on Zoom. They stated that it needed additional clarification, potentially pulling from the preamble.

They also raised concerns regarding the potential of empowering those intending to use hate speech to harm others. Additionally, they acknowledged that there is a lot of information regarding the recent situation that is still unknown.

Many faculty members felt uncomfortable with the blanket statements made in this motion and highlighted the idea that it needed much clarification.

This conversation had to come to a pause as the meeting had run out of time. They then took a vote to extend the meeting an additional half an hour for a total of two hours, which needed to be unanimous to pass. This vote was not unanimous. Another vote occurred to suspend the rules and extend the meeting, this vote required a two-thirds majority and did pass. The meeting was extended.

Prof. Bernadette Brooten (NEJS/WGS) was the next to speak regarding an amendment to Motion Three, highlighting the idea that the University is not able to unilaterally declare anything as per regulation.

In further correspondence with the Justice on Nov. 17, she stated: “The Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VI, reads: 'No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.'

"Brandeis receives Federal financial assistance in the form of research grants, etc.

"This year, the federal Department of Education (DOE) interpreted Title VI to include (Dear Colleague Letter sent to President Liebowitz and other school presidents, principals, and the like on 11-7-23): 'those who are or are perceived to be Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, or Palestinian' "In faculty meetings and elsewhere, I keep insisting that Brandeis follow its own policies and proper procedures, which the DOE likewise wants, e.g., “‘The existence of both a policy and grievance procedure applicable to racial harassment (depending upon their scope, accessibility, and clarity, and upon the acts of harassment) is relevant in the determination of agency capacity. A policy or grievance procedure applicable to harassment must be clear in the types of conduct prohibited in order for students to know and understand their rights and responsibilities.’”

The faculty then voted to table Motion Three for the next meeting faculty as they wanted to get to Motion Four during the meeting that had already been extended, and believed that more amendments were needed before it could be put up for a vote.

Before Motion Four was brought to the floor, Prof. Plotz called on university administrators to acknowledge that they are open and receptive to the proposals that faculty members were curating.

President Liebowitz was unable to attend this meeting and Provost Fierke wasn’t feeling well. She sent a chat via Zoom that stated, “I think that the administration (president and cabinet) is willing to work with the faculty in implementing the motions that have been voted on positively.” When contacted for further comment by the Justice on Nov. 19, Provost Fierke stated, “I understand that three proposals have been moved forward for consideration by the full faculty; this continues to be a faculty-led process for now.”

Motion Four was co-created by Prof. Darlene Brooks Hedstrom (NEJS) and Prof. Jody Hoffer Gittell (Heller), the moderator of this meeting. Gittell presented this motion to the faculty, explaining how she had not been informed of decisions made by the administration. The preamble to this motion also highlights that this lack of information does not allow faculty to be as strong of a resource as they could be for students as a result. The motion is stated as follows: “We move that Student Life and other administrative offices share any communications with the faculty when they communicate with students during periods of uncertainty.”

Prof. Lisa Lynch (Heller) made a friendly motion to amend the language to include both faculty and staff in this motion, as they can all be a resource for students. This amendment was immediately seconded and made.

Some concerns were also brought up regarding the broadness of the word “uncertainty.” Much discourse occurred regarding the specific wording of this statement; however, there was not much debate regarding the intentions of the content itself. Multiple amendments were made to this motion. The final motion was as stated: “We move that Student Life and other administrative offices simultaneously share with the faculty and staff any communication with students about decisions that will have significant impact on student life.”

The faculty voted on this amended motion and it passed, meaning it will be sent to faculty for a vote next week.

The meeting was adjourned following the approval of three out of four amendments to be sent to the faculty for an official vote next week.

THE JUSTICE ● NEWS ● TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 7

SUSTAINABILITY: University environmental initiatives on hold CONTINUED FROM 1

achieve these goals by outlining mitigation strategies that reduce its dependence on nonrenewable energy sources.

The Office of Sustainability website indicates that the University is “in the process of writing a new climate action plan” — set to be released later this academic year. It further notes that the updated 2020 plan, named “Vision 2030,” had provided recommendations for Brandeis to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, but because of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the plan was never actually adopted — to this day, it remains in draft form.

In September 2012, Cohen-Rosenthal left her position as the sustainability manager to pursue a MBA at the Heller School, as stated in a Sept. 3, 2012 article published in the Justice. After Cohen-Rosenthal resigned, the position was vacant for almost three years until, under growing calls from students to recommit to advancing sustainability on campus, the University hired Fischer to replace Cohen-Rosenthal in July 2015.

Decarbonizing Brandeis and the “disastrous deferred maintenance problem” The bulk of Fischer’s early work focused on decreasing Brandeis’ carbon footprint, particularly around energy use in campus buildings but with initiatives to address emissions from dining, transportation, and other sectors as well. Brandeis has historically fallen behind its peer universities when it comes to reducing emissions; the Office of Sustainability website discloses that Brandeis’ campus uses 15 to 20% more energy per square foot than its peer universities in similar climate zones.

Almost immediately upon her arrival in July 2015, Fischer piloted the University’s first annual “Turn It Off” days, an initiative that aims to reduce electricity usage on the hottest days of the year. The program asks the Brandeis community to turn off unnecessary lights, shut off computers or other energy-consuming devices, and unplug devices from outlets on peak electricity demand days. Such a response helps the University reduce its carbon emissions and save on its electric bill, according to the Office of Sustainability website.

More recently, as part of the Year of Climate Action, the Office of Sustainability commissioned a study of Brandeis’ energy use and carbon footprint in its efforts to develop a new Decarbonization Action Plan. It also debuted a project tracker in the projectmanagement platform GRITS, which displays Brandeis’ various energy efficiency and infrastructure upgrade projects for public viewing.

Prof. Sally Warner (ENVS) emphasized that improving Brandeis’ infrastructure goes beyond just providing monetary and sustainability benefits but enhancing students’ wellbeing as well. In an interview with the Justice on Oct. 24, she explained that one of the reasons Brandeis may have fallen in the U.S. News & World Report rankings this year is due to the condition of its buildings, particularly its residential halls and their contributions to measures of student satisfaction: “If we improve the heating and cooling in dorms, that could not only help students’ well-being and satisfaction, but it would help reduce our carbon footprint as well and save in the long run on heating and cooling.”

Prof. Sabine von Mering (WGS) agreed, stating in an interview with the Justice on Oct. 26 that “we all know about the disastrous deferred maintenance problem with our infrastructure. And so, of course decarbonization is closely connected to that. Decarbonization of buildings and reducing our carbon footprint is closely connected to taking care of our buildings and our infrastructure on campus.”

Working across all constituencies Fischer’s work also expanded beyond a focus on decarbonization and improving campus infrastructure to encompass campus-wide engagements with various constituencies and stakeholders.

As the co-chair of the Brandeis Sustainability Committee, Fischer worked extensively with students, faculty, and other staff members. The Brandeis Sustainability Committee, which was created in December 2020 per the recommendation of the President’s Task Force on Campus Sustainability, is charged with “holding Brandeis accountable for improving our sustainability performance in both education and operations,” according to the Office of Sustainability website.

In particular, the Brandeis Sustainability Committee had a key role to play in developing much of the Year of Climate Action programming last year. A summary report released in July 2023 reflects on the impacts of the Year of Climate Action’s new courses, teach-ins, extracurricular programming, and more.

Another task of the Brandeis Sustainability Committee was to review proposals submitted for the Brandeis Sustainability Fund, a $55,000 fund that provides financial support for studentled projects that seek to improve sustainability at Brandeis. The fund was created in April 2010 when three members from Students for Environmental Action brought forth a constitutional amendment that eventually passed with a 68% vote, an April 13, 2010 article published in the Justice wrote. The Brandeis Sustainability Fund is sourced from a $7.50 per-semester fee for each student, as outlined in the Student Union Constitution.

In an interview with the Justice on Oct. 18, former Student Union President Peyton Gillespie ’25 and current Senator Eamonn Golden ’25 described various changes to how the Brandeis Sustainability Fund operates. The proposals will now be reviewed by the Campus Sustainability Fund Board, which consists of five voting members — two representatives directly elected by the student body and one representative each from the

Student Union Senate, Allocations Board, and Executive Board — along with the sustainability manager in a non-voting capacity. It is unclear who is filling the role of the sustainability manager, specifically in relation to the CSFB. Gillespie and Golden did not respond to a further request for clarification.

These changes come in light of controversy and frustrations over the degree of student involvement in previous years’ administrations of the fund. In an April 25, 2023 article published in the Justice, Golden stated that allowing the Brandeis Sustainability committee to review proposals and giving faculty members like Fischer voting power on the Committee caused funds to be used for purchases that only benefitted facilities, rather than the student body.

Gillespie emphasized that these new changes ensure that these funds “continue to be in student hands and directed by student hands.”

Prof. von Mering pointed out that Fischer had overseen and taken control of the funds due to an initial lack of student initiative: “When Mary [Fischer] came in, the fund was basically sort of sitting there and people weren't really using the money,” she said. “And so we made sure that there was a committee actually overseeing activity on the fund, and we helped students figure out what they wanted to do.”

Fischer also involved students in sustainability work through her creation of the Sustainability Ambassador Program, a paid position within the Office of Sustainability that allowed students to assist Fischer with various student-facing projects and initiatives.

In an interview with the Justice on Oct. 30, former Brandeis Sustainability Ambassador Dina Millerman ’25 described her experience working on campaigns around composting and proper waste disposal, organizing clothing swaps, and tabling on an assortment of sustainability-related topics. She emphasized her role as a liaison between the Office of Sustainability and the student body, stating that Fischer often relied on the Ambassadors’ support to promote events or start discussions on campus: “It was a collaboration between her and us on how to start these initiatives and run them, because as students, we do know the student body probably better than her.”

Millerman also reflected on her experience working alongside Fischer, stating, “[Fischer] did so much. All of us speak [of] and think very highly of her.”

The Brandeis Sustainability Ambassador Program’s fate remains uncertain while there is no one to fill Fischer’s role, though Millerman confirmed that the program no longer exists for the time being. She said that the ambassadors have discussed taking on initiatives on their own, but these have not come to fruition yet: “As far as I know, none of us are doing anything concrete … And I think that has to do purely with time.”

Reimagining sustainability at Brandeis Prof. von Mering suggested that Fischer’s departure and the search for a new Director of Sustainability is an opportunity to reimagine sustainability as a priority at Brandeis and for students to make their voices heard.

First, the scope of Fischer’s position and where she was situated within administration raises key questions about Brandeis’ commitment to advancing sustainability, Prof. von Mering pointed out. The manager of Sustainability Programs, the role for which Fischer was originally hired, is a staff member of facilities. The job description posted in 2015 indicates that the role faces a dual report to the executive director of facilities and the vice president for campus operations. Fischer was named the director of sustainability in August 2021, though it is unclear whether that was simply a change to the position name or a promotion that changed her power and the scope of her duties.

“This [position] needs to get out of facilities; it's not only an issue of facilities. The position needs to be located at a higher level with more power in the administration,” Prof. von Mering said. “My hope would be … administration make[s] a thoughtful decision as to where the leadership on sustainability should be housed at Brandeis so that it can actually be effective.”

In an email correspondence with the Justice on Nov. 10, Vice President for Campus Planning and Operations Lois Stanley explained that the reason Fischer’s role was housed under facilities and initially focused on improving campus infrastructure is because “sustainability-related upgrades have had a significant impact in reducing the campus carbon footprint.” She also acknowledged that “over the years, while the position continued to play a significant role with respect to infrastructure and facilities, it expanded to nearly every aspect of life on campus. [Fischer] was exceptional at this challenging task.”

Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration Stew Uretsky and Director of Capital Programs Michael McGarry, two facilities staff members, did not respond to the Justice’s request for comment.

Prof. von Mering also expressed a desire to see the Office expand, stating that “it would be great if the [director of sustainability] position could be at a higher level so that someone else could be hired underneath with specific tasks.” She advised examining similar offices at other universities to understand what such restructuring may entail.

In comparison to many of its peer institutions, Brandeis’ Office of Sustainability is rather meager. Middlebury College in Vermont, for instance, has a dedicated sustainability and climate action center — the Franklin Environmental Center — that consists of 13 staff members who work on initiatives such as managing Middlebury’s organic garden The Knoll, developing a Climate Action Program, and conserving the college’s lands.

Similarly, Williams College’s Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives has a team of four professional staff members and 19 student interns that work on initiatives related to energy and emissions, food, buildings and landscaping, waste, transportation, and more.

Stanley stated in her email that “office expansion is unlikely due to financial constraints with the university operating budget,” but suggested that “some restructuring may be possible.”

Prof. von Mering argued that whether or not Brandeis chooses to restructure or expand the Office of Sustainability is indicative of the University’s commitments to sustainability. “I think the question becomes 'How high does the University value sustainability?'" she stated. “Is it really a relatively low staff member in facilities? Shouldn't it be a lot higher? I think it should. I think it is a commitment the University makes to our students’ future — it is high time.”

Yet the person to take on this role is faced with no paltry task; Fischer’s departure and the gaps it leaves also exposes the challenges of implementing long-term sustainability initiatives on college campuses and the ostensible discord that exists between administrative efforts and student organizing around sustainability and climate action.

Prof. Warner reflected that “Mary [Fischer] was in a tough spot because the students saw her as part of the administration, and students feel like the administration is not doing enough with respect to climate and sustainability. But in a lot of ways, Mary [Fischer] kind of straddled the fence between actively working with students on climate initiatives and working with administration.”

Some of these tensions exist due to the challenges of college activism and movement organizing during what is an inherently transient period in students’ lives, Prof. von Mering said, which results in student groups’ inability to maintain longevity and have a broader impact on campus sustainability efforts. “Students take on initiatives and then they graduate,” she remarked.

“And rarely are they good at handing over their initiative to the next year. There's also the huge gap of the summer, and so oftentimes people aren't able to identify someone who carries on after the summer. So there's sort of a nine month span of student activity … but staff and faculty are here usually for a longer period and therefore have to see that things actually happen over time.”

A few examples at Brandeis are indicative of this phenomenon. In a Student Work Spotlight featured on the Journalism Program’s website, Gavi Klein ‘22 detailed the challenges of maintaining the student-run rooftop farm on the Leo Gerstenzang Science Library, which currently sits dead and abandoned. The fossil fuel divestment campaign at Brandeis is yet another example of the ebb and flow of student organizing. After a long and arduous decade-long history, the campaign and its spearheading group Brandeis Climate Justice has largely petered out and the University’s divestment status remains unclear.

For Millerman, such hallmarks of student organizing are what made working as a Sustainability Ambassador particularly appealing. “For me personally, it feels like you can do more if you're working directly with the school rather than just with a club,” she stated. However, she also acknowledged that there are “definitely people who would say the opposite. They would say, ‘I feel like I can get more done if I'm not under the control of a boss that works for the school.’”

Yet Prof. von Mering also cautioned students against interpreting these challenges as being a reason to shy away from taking action. “I think the most important message for students is that you have power,” she said. “In the past, my experience has been that students are the ones that make things happen at Brandeis. You can do a lot by banding together and making demands and pushing us to do the right thing.”

Looking to the future As of November 2023, Fischer’s role has remained unfilled for about two and a half months. Stanley confirmed in her email to the Justice that the University is looking to replace Fischer and that she hopes to have “a new lead for sustainability in [the] spring semester.”

Both faculty and students agree on the urgency of filling this role and many emphasize the importance of hiring someone who has technical experience decarbonizing college campuses, and who can also work effectively with many stakeholders.

Prof. Warner emphasized that she would like to see someone “who is a really good networker, someone who can bring together entities from across campus — including students, faculty, administration, and staff — all together to have conversations about sustainability.”

Millerman agreed, stating that the individual hired “has to be really dynamic and willing to work with a lot of different kinds of people and a lot of different offices.”

Being able to collaborate with students is key, according to Prof. von Mering. “Students have their own ideas about things and they like to sort of march ahead, and they don't really want to be told that they can't do something … so it has to be someone who is able to support students’ efforts and also negotiate well with students so that the outcome is beneficial for all.”

But ultimately, what undergirds it all is the urgency of finding someone who will recommit the University to a more sustainable path as the climate crisis worsens. “This [climate change] is going to be with everyone on campus for the next decades,” reflected Prof. von Mering. “And if we consider ourselves an elite institution, then we cannot ignore the responsibility that comes with [that].”

Graphics: ELIZABETH LIU/the Justice

features

8 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 ● FEATURES ● THE JUSTICE

just

VERBATIM | PEGGY LEE

If that’s all there is then let’s keep dancing.

ON THIS DAY…

FUN FACT

John G. Avildsen’s “Rocky” premieres in New York in 1976.

Wild turkeys can run 25 miles per hour.

Discourse on ‘Barbie’ reflects depth of fragmented American media Punditry dominates political coverage in the United States, but reception of Barbie (2023) demonstrates the strength of political bias in art criticism as well. How did we get here, and how can we recognize bias in action?

By LEA ZAHARONI

JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

From its announcement, “Barbie” was designated as a feminist work, thus relegating it as subject to the 21st century’s intensely sectarian media landscape. Since 2015, its rotating list of writers has included Jenny Bicks, Diablo Cody, Bert V. Royal, Amy Schumer, and finally Greta Gerwig, all of whom have centered women’s issues in their previous works. Gerwig herself described the film as “certainly feminist,” and journalists for Vanity Fair and Glamour UK have agreed. Feminism as a movement is one of the most divisive issues of our time, with publications on either side of the left/right divide shepherding radically different narratives. Over the past 15 years with a noticeable uptick in the last decade, the conservative Fox News has drastically led among other top TV news sources with mentions of feminism. A brief look at headlines containing the phrase indicate its identity as a national lightning rod — rage-bait for conservative audiences more so than a legitimate sociopolitical issue for liberal ones.

Kovach and Rosenstiel’s Elements of Journalism reflects on the concept of “Argument Culture,” first proposed by linguist Deborah Tannen in the 1990s — a period of massive growth for media, especially for cable television and its influence. On its consequences for political news, they write: “For all its pyrotechnic appeal, the Argument Culture did not expand the scope of public discussion. it narrowed it. It tended the limit itself to subjects where there was a good fight to be had. And as the web began to replace cable news as a venue for breaking news, cable talk shows began to narrow their focus even further, dealing increasingly with a single subject: politics” (237).

This legacy of argument-focused news coverage places “Barbie” and its themes in the path of increased scrutiny as it inevitably engages with an intensely fragmented media, in which only 66% of Americans in 2023 trust, largely due to partisan divide. But does this necessarily preclude

“Barbie” from the privilege of thoughtful discourse?

At first glance, reception of “Barbie” appears extremely polarized. Right-wing publications — designated by AllSides’ Media Bias calculator — published incendiary headlines calling the film a failure and propaganda. The Daily Mail, which AllSides deems right-wing, published a review by Sarah Vine which reads, “My main objection is that Barbie is not really a film about Barbie at all. It’s one hour and 54 minutes of extended misandry, dressed up with a few fun dance routines and one or two (granted fairly decent) jokes.” Another opinion piece from the National Review reads, “What isn’t set up is a single coherent vision of where we are as a society or where we ought to go […] paying lip service to feminism and demanding the impossible from supposedly liberated women.” A significant portion of the word count for conservative opinion pieces is spent dismantling the film’s ideology, rather than discussing technical filmmaking aspects like script or acting. An additional piece for the National Review

by Armond White contains much less amiable language, reading: “The multiple Barbies and Kens (multiethnic, overweight, disabled) are airhead protesters, spoofing the Frankie and Annette beach movies. Diversity hires America Ferrera and Issa Rae give abominable speeches about Latino and black feminist sacrifice, and Rhea Perlman appears morphing Barbie inventor Ruth Handler into Ruth Bader Ginsburg…”

Or, as Rich Cromwell of The Federalist puts it, “‘Barbie’ is a two-hour grind through a litany of complaints about how the patriarchy is keeping the ladies down […] we’re treated to a series of angry talking points in which the only fanciful flights of imagination are ones that veer off into a nightmarish world in which women are objectified, vilified, and subjugated in ways that would make a literal caveman blush.”

These conservative articles seem to take aim at “Barbie” as a fully political piece of media, rather than engaging with it as a summer blockbuster or a source of ostensible entertainment, once again reflecting the Argument Culture concept.

Articles from liberal publications come to resoundingly different conclusions. Alissa Wilkinson writes for Vox: “Yet fun and thoughtfulness can go together; a blockbuster (or a doll) need not be brainless to be fun. That [Gerwig] managed to infuse [sentimental, as in her previous work] sensibilities into Barbie is something near a miracle. I can’t wait to go see it again.”

A Vox reader would get a drastically different impression of “Barbie” from this review than they would from, say, Breitbart, which reported that “Unfortunately, it looks as though this picture will be a divisive, culture-war flashpoint rather than a box-office smash that brings Americans together.” On “bringing Americans together,” they hyperlinked a review of Top Gun. Comments on the technical aspects of the film only serve to deepen any alreadycemented political opinion. Richard Brody writes for The New Yorker, “‘Barbie’ contains a potent paradox that is fundamental to its effervescent delights. A single frame of the film packs such profuse and exquisite detail—of costume and settings, gestures and diction—that it’s impossible to enumerate the plethora of inventions and decisions that bring it to life […] Gerwig’s movie puts in bright critical light the trouble with Barbie’s pure, blank perfection. Barbie can be anything in Barbieland—a doctor, a President, an astronaut—but only because Barbieland is a frictionless Brigadoon. There’s no Fox News in Barbieland, no political demagogy, no religion, no culture. Any girl who plays with Barbie and imagines that she can do anything will discover, eventually, that she’s been the victim of a noxious fantasy.”

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

BILLBOARD: Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” (2023) is the highest grossing movie of the year.

Design: ANNA MARTIN/the Justice

THE JUSTICE ● FEATURES ● TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 9

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

BARBIE: The much anticipated film sparked debate among critics.

Meanwhile, some publications engage almost too apolitically, neglecting to acknowledge the film’s objectively subversive topics. The Daily Beast, which AllSides considers liberal, published a review from Coleman Spilde so glowing that it doesn’t feel like a leap to say he was pointed in a certain direction. Spilde writes, “After what feels like an eternity of waiting, ‘Barbie’ has arrived— and in a moving, hilarious, nearly perfect package to boot,” also calling the film “genius” and “awe-inspiring.”

Notably, Spilde states that “For anyone worried that Barbie would be Gerwig’s capitalist sellout, fear not. Even in an inherently plutocratic world, Gerwig maintains her integrity,” directly contradicting the most popularized critique that the film was essentially a two-hour advertisement.

The intensely differing coverage of “Barbie” points to the pervasiveness of agendas at already biased publications. Kovach and Rosenstiel detail the succession of events that led to the existence of those agendas.

“New technology has made the forum more robust and journalism’s role less paternal. But technology’s promise of a larger public forum and a broader set of facts in common was mostly a fantasy. The web has largely been organized in ways that separate us so we can be sold things.… how can [journalism] exist when each person has their own reality, with their own … facts?” (Kovach & Rosenstiel 226).

The vastness of the internet and its ability to host and foster profoundly different communities with entirely

separate canons of information has resulted in the kind of utterly polarized discourse we see with Barbie. Importantly, Barbie itself is not an example of misinformation — each reviewer has access to the same exact film. Rather, it is the reviewer themself and the forum they’ve been given access to that is evidence of the problem. Barbie is a mere litmus test for an already splintered media. Kovach and Rosenstiel continue, “A forum without regard for facts fails to inform, and a debate steeped in prejudice and supposition only inflames,” (Kovach & Rosenstiel 232). What can we do when the facts are there, intact, but prejudice creates from them two distinct realities?

One hopes and actually does find that, among the most reputable of sources that tilt one way or the other, nuance can still be found. Manohla Dargis writes for The New York Times, left-wing according to AllSides, “Gerwig does much within the material’s inherently commercial parameters, though it isn’t until the finale — capped by a sharply funny, philosophically expansive last line — that you see the ‘Barbie’ that could have been.” Or, still for the National Review, Jack Butler writes, “It is, rather, that Barbie is far less straightforward than Oppenheimer, with multiple interpretive and thematic layers. Oppenheimer is not an uncomplicated film, but Barbie is itself a highly sophisticated one — and one that many conservatives are almost certainly getting wrong.”

Film critique is an art form, thus expanding the lengths to which its practitioners can attribute the same source

material to differing viewpoints. However, when those viewpoints become intertwined with political ideology as simplistic as left or right and are spoon fed to a polarized public therefore enabling echo chambers, the true depth of our media problem becomes clear. Perhaps it is apt that the only review I found not mentioning politics was one by Rob Stewart of 411MANIA.com, a wrestling news publication. He writes, “But by the later acts, her emotions are much more developed. She is torn between two worlds and isn’t sure where she belongs anymore. Hell, that’s part of why Superman is one of my favorite characters. It’s a good story to tell! The problem is that little of that story feels earned. The story is SO Barbie-centric–and what isn’t about Barbie is mostly focused on Ryan Gosling goofing about as Ken–that Gloria and Sasha are never wholly developed. Their emotional resolution feels rushed, like it was included just to tick the box.”

Politics are politics, and coverage of them feels as though it has passed the point of no return. But when political publications widen their scope to culture, a new danger arises, as they threaten to limit the ability of the reader to merely consume media critically on their own.

It would do the average follower of Fox or Vox alike to seek cultural criticism from unbiased sources, even if it means venturing outside our usual domain or dodging popup articles about the next UFC fight.

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

RECEPTION: Gerwig’s film reveals how the polarized media interacts with art labelled as “feminist.”

Design: ANNA MARTIN/the Justice

11 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 ● FORUM ● THE JUSTICE

Justice

A plea for support: Professors are people too

the

Brandeis University

Established 1949

Isabel Roseth, Editor in Chief Smiley Huynh, Managing Editor Leah Breakstone, Lauryn Williams, Deputy Editors Owen Chan, Dalya Koller, Cayenn Landau, Associate Editors Sophia De Lisi, Anika Jain, News Editors Grace Doh, Features Editor Tibria Brown, Forum Editor Rani Balakrishna, Sports Editor Mina Rowland, Arts & Culture Editor Eliza Bier, Ceci Xilei Chen, Photography Editors Julia Hardy, Jenna Lewis, Madison Sirois, Copy Editors Anna Martin, Layout Editor Elizabeth Liu, Ads Editor Zachary Goldstein, Eden Osiason, Online Editors

EDITORIALS

Does increased police presence really make us safer?

In light of the heightened state of emotions and stress, the last thing students should feel is unsafe. Historically and presently, the University represents a vulnerable community, and given the amount of media attention Brandeis has received in recent weeks, we urge the community to be thoughtful about what all students are experiencing.

While the University is vulnerable to threats, we also acknowledge that there are individuals on campus who feel less than safe with added police presence. Particularly for students of color, there is an established negative relationship with police due to racial profiling and microaggressions.

One member of this editorial board has experienced incessant questioning as to their role as a student at Brandeis. Other students have also experienced varying degrees of racial profiling in their day-to-day routines. These associations with police incur feelings of fear and anxiety as the administration increases security measures.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, there has been a greater police and security presence on campus. Prior to the weekend of Oct. 13, President Ron Leibowtiz sent out an email to the Brandeis community indicating that there would be increased security on campus for the University’s 75th anniversary celebration. In the email, President Liebowitz stated that the Brandeis Department of Public Safety would be “coordinating with outside law enforcement agencies” to provide both “seen and unseen” protection for the celebration’s attendees.

Throughout the weekend, drones were seen flying overhead and cement blocks lined the walkway beside the Great Lawn to prevent vehicles from interfering with the large tent that was set up there.

Though somewhat performative, these increased security measures did seem to reflect a concern for protecting the Brandeis community from potential outside threats.

Security has also increased with the recent public protests and gatherings. In an email to the Brandeis community entitled “Protest safety and community dialogue,” Vice President for Student Affairs Andrea Dine and Chief of Public Safety Matthew T. Rushton addressed this change: “Public Safety has significantly stepped up security presence on campus and will further increase these measures during public protests and large gatherings. Our heightened security measures are not meant to impede expression and debate; they are designed to protect our campus community, including event participants,” the email read.

However, at the Nov. 10 rally for Palestine, the police and security utilized excessive force on some participants. Three students at the protest were forcefully taken into custody by multiple officers.

The point of having police on campus is to instill a sense of security, so the University must work to ensure that officers serve to protect students rather than intimidate, surveil, or harm them. In addition to being physically safe, students should also be made to feel secure and at ease on campus.

We as a board have dedicated past editorials to expressing the concerns and needs of students during this difficult time. However, it is important to acknowledge that students are not the only members of the Brandeis community who are struggling right now. Faculty and staff are also under an immense amount of pressure — and they, much like students, are not being properly supported by the University.

Last week, the Justice published an article detailing the events of a special Faculty Meeting and Listening Session with President Ron Liebowitz and Provost Carol Fierke, which was held on Nov. 10. While faculty expressed a number of conflicting opinions at this emergency meeting, one message was clear: Faculty are concerned about the state of our community right now, and many are frustrated by the lack of communication and assistance that they have received from administration.

Faculty play an incredibly important role in the Brandeis community. In addition to teaching classes and grading assignments, faculty are also actively engaged in research, writing books, planning academic events, and speaking at public conferences — all of which greatly serve the University. However, the past month has shown that despite all of the work that faculty pour into this institution, the administration still does not properly respect their needs and concerns.

When the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7, the climate on campus changed dramatically.

Our community is one that is uniquely impacted by this conflict, and as such, there became an immediate need for additional resources and support systems for individuals affected. While we as students have struggled to be present in classes and keep up with assignments as we all manage a multitude of emotions, little attention has been paid to the ways in which faculty have been impacted by rising tensions on campus.

While the administration has the ability to hide behind emails without engaging with students on a daily basis, faculty do not have this luxury.

Faculty have had to wake up in the morning and muster up the courage and the strength to stand in front of a class of students who they know are suffering. They have had to continue giving lectures and distributing assignments as if everything is normal, and they have had to offer emotional and academic support to students — all while dealing with their own complex emotions and anxieties about the state of the world.

Many faculty members have gone to great efforts to be there for students during this difficult time.

In addition to being flexible about deadlines and class attendance, many professors have explicitly made themselves available as a resource to those in need of support — Some departments, such as the Politics Department, have been involved in organizing spaces for students to learn about and discuss current events.

Over the past few weeks, professors have also spent hours discussing how they can best support students. For example, on Sunday, Nov. 12, over 150 faculty gathered in an informal meeting, dedicating their personal time to these issues.

As was revealed by Prof. Sarah Lamb (ANTH)’s Nov. 14 letter to the editor, some faculty members have taken it upon themselves to advocate for students by writing to University administration.

Some faculty also attended the student-led walkout to protest on-campus police violence on Nov. 13.

Such efforts to voice their opinions come at a significant risk for faculty members — especially those who are untenured. Due to their unsecured status, untenured professors often feel as though they are under constant surveillance by the University, even during less turbulent times. As such, untenured professors must be doubly careful when it comes to managing current anxieties on campus, especially if their opinions do not align with those of the University.

We as students are incredibly grateful for all that faculty have done for us — especially when all the administration has offered to us are emails and “Talking Circles,” which are also being run by faculty. However, this editorial board would also like to recognize the mental and emotional burden that this work places upon faculty. As many faculty sacrifice their personal time to help students, we are left to wonder: Who is supporting them?

The administration’s dismissive responses to faculty concerns at the Nov. 10 emergency meeting make it clear that the University is doing little to help its faculty members. If anything, the University may be making things worse. In conversations with members of this editorial board, professors have expressed their frustration at the lack of communication from the administration about events occurring on campus. Students are often the ones keeping professors informed about developing tensions on campus. For example, faculty and staff were not made aware that the University had derecognized its chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine until Nov. 8 — two days after the student body found out about the decision via an Instagram post made by SJP. Leaving faculty in the dark about issues that are impacting students on campus makes their jobs even more difficult as professors cannot aid students if they are not aware that they are struggling. In the most recent faculty meeting on Nov. 17, faculty expressed their desire to receive emails from administration about all issues that may impact their students.

Some communications from administration have also been less than helpful. Before the walkout on Nov. 13, faculty received an email from administration telling them not to cancel classes or move classes to Zoom. Urgings such as these place limits on the measures that professors can take to accommodate students, as well as make it difficult for professors to preserve their own personal sense of comfort and safety.

Professors have openly admitted to several members of this editorial board that they are burnt out. On top of their normal responsibilities as University faculty members, professors must now also manage the newfound stress that comes with working in a community that is anxious and grieving.

As individuals who are familiar with the feeling of being unsupported on campus, this editorial board urges the University to do a better job of listening to the needs and concerns of its faculty.

Professors are people too, and they cannot be expected to bear such heavy burdens without any assistance from the institution that they do so much for.

Bridging cultures: Thanksgiving and the Mid-Autumn Festival

By CINDY NIE

JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

EMILY HOU/the Justice

As the anticipation of Thanksgiving sweeps across the United States, thoughts turn to the traditional feast of roasted turkeys, delectable stuffing, and the sweet finish of pumpkin pie.

While these quintessential elements define the American celebration, it is equally important to delve into the rich cultural tapestry that weaves together our global community. In this reflection, my focus turns to the vibrant and centuries-old Chinese cultural traditions encapsulated in the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, considered one of China’s major celebrations, holds a deep cultural significance that resonates with themes of harvest, family togetherness, and a collective spirit much like that of Thanksgiving. Rooted in the ancient practice of moon worship, this festival brings families together on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month to bask in the glow of the full moon, symbolizing harmony and good fortune. Vibrant celebrations, intricate lantern displays, and the delightful exchange of mooncakes contribute to the festival’s unique charm.

My own memories of this festival are infused with the warmth of family gatherings. We would gather in my grandparents’ living room and cut up an array of mooncakes — red bean, mixed nuts, salted egg yolk, and white lotus. Ever since childhood, my favorite was always the salted egg yolk. I was always wrapped in anticipation as the knife sliced through the pastry, revealing the golden egg yolk nestled at the center. As we collectively looked up at the moon, believed to be at its roundest on this special day, the act became a powerful symbol of unity transcending geographical distances. Even when the constraints of life meant not all my family members could be physically present, the shared act of looking up at that same moon became an unbreakable thread, weaving us together across geographical distances.

While the Mid-Autumn Festival may have distinct practices and a different cultural context, its underlying principles echo universally. It serves as a reminder that, despite the geographical

and cultural vastness that separates us, there are shared elements that connect us all. In a world marked by division and challenges, acknowledging these commonalities becomes increasingly vital.

These recent weeks have brought about collective grief and challenges globally, making it imperative to recognize the importance of shared values and interconnectedness. The Mid-Autumn Festival, with its emphasis on togetherness and gratitude, provides a cultural touchstone that resonates across borders.

In urging people to embrace shared values and find areas of connectedness, we not only celebrate our own cultural heritage but also foster a deeper understanding of the richness embedded in diverse traditions. The Mid-Autumn Festival, with its emphasis on family unity and gratitude for the harvest, mirrors the fundamental principles of Thanksgiving.

As we approach the season of Thanksgiving, let us extend our awareness beyond the joyous festivities of our own traditions and delve into the cultural treasures of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Embracing the richness of Chinese cultural celebrations fosters a spirit of unity and understanding. Despite external distinctions, the shared humanity that binds us together is evident in the celebration of life’s blessings.

This call for unity is particularly poignant in the context of the Mid-Autumn Festival, where families across China and the Chinese diaspora unite in the face of the moonlit night. The festival serves as a cultural bridge that spans generations and geographical boundaries, embodying the essence of unity in diversity.

Thanksgiving, rooted in historical narratives of shared gratitude, aligns with the Mid-Autumn Festival in celebrating the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for gratitude. As we gather around our tables, let us carry this awareness with us, acknowledging the unique contributions of Chinese cultural traditions to the global tapestry. By doing so, we not only enrich our own celebrations but contribute to the weaving of a global tapestry that honors the beauty of diverse cultural expressions, with the Mid-Autumn Festival standing as a radiant thread in the intricate fabric of human heritage.

THE JUSTICE ● FORUM ● TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 11

How do we heal our campus? We need safety, not security

By EMILIE CONNOLLY and SARAH MAYORGA UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS

On Friday, Nov. 10, Brandeis and Waltham Police arrested seven people, including three Brandeis students who were participating in a protest. Some doubts persist about the details of what occurred that day, and we support calls from our faculty colleagues for an independent investigation that lays out the sequence of events and institutional decision-making.

There are issues, however, which we believe need to be addressed immediately. From a number of eyewitness accounts, video footage, and the police report, we can conclude that the protest proceeded peacefully and without incident until police intervention, which escalated rapidly into violent arrests. These sources clearly prove that the administration called in a sizable police presence, directed to carry out arrests based on speech alone before the demonstration had even begun.

Video footage captured disturbing images of police shoving protestors and legal observers, throwing students to the ground and kneeling on their backs while protestors standing by screamed in fear and anger. We know that other students ran, fearing for their own safety, upon seeing police grab students from the crowd as they were dispersing.

How could this happen on our campus? And how can we ensure that such incidents of brutality never happen again?

In his Nov. 11 message, President Ron Liebowitz stated that the “administration’s top priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of our community.” But as our students have shared with us, police actions have not ensured their safety. For example, some Jewish students report concerns over wearing religious items that mark them as Jewish on campus and fear being victims of antisemitic violence. Some students of color have shared that they feel, especially after the police violence at the

protests, that the University is out to get them and they are unsafe on their own campus. More still feel betrayed and alienated at an institution whose current actions contradict its stated values.

If policing and silencing certain speech is supposed to make us more safe, why do students report the opposite? As scholars of state violence and policing, we argue that administrative decisions have reinforced a security framework not one of safety.

This distinction is key.

As abolitionist Mariame Kaba defines it, security uses weapons and fear in order to keep threats at bay. But not only do weapons and fear fail to stop violence from occurring — in her words, “horrible things continue to happen all the time” — they in fact reproduce the “violence and horror they are supposed to contain.” This reproduction of violence is what we saw in those videos. Rather than keep us safe, Brandeis and Waltham police officers put our students in danger. And not just those who were arrested, but those who witnessed and feared becoming targets of police violence themselves.

The events of Nov. 10 demonstrated clearly how police intervention escalates rather than defuses conflicts — or, in the case of peaceful protest, creates conflict where none existed before. Rumors continue to circulate that arrested protestors initiated the violence and indeed one individual was charged with assault on an officer. We strongly caution against taking at face value such accusations, which are sometimes issued by police to shield themselves from criticisms of their own brutality. Legal advocates have noted how police elevate charges against protestors in order to discourage further political expression and resistance.

Another vision of campus safety is possible. In fact, Brandeis already has alternatives at hand.

After the global uprising that followed the police murder of George Floyd, the University hired consultants to undertake a comprehensive review of campus policing and safety. A series of public

conversations and surveys brought to light several issues. Students and other respondents referred to the campus security system as “broken,” unable to fulfill students’ needs for services and resources in times of distress and in dire need of reform. The final report, issued in April 2021, identified an “overreliance” on campus police, which constituted a drain of resources, particularly troubling at a moment in which Brandeis faces budgetary strain. Its three major recommendations to Brandeis were: a) to make the mission of Brandeis University Police Department “more transparent and intentional,” b) to “fundamentally change” the BUPD’s “policing approach,” and c) to “invest in alternatives to BUPD response in many situations.” Put otherwise, the report urged Brandeis to rethink its dependency on policing and to redirect resources away from the police and toward a more robust suite of services tailored to specific forms of distress, conflicts, or emergencies that members of campus might experience.

The University’s 2021 report was a response to an upsurge of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Six years prior, the first wave of that movement — prompted by the police murder of Michael Brown in Ferguson — led Black students to occupy an administrative building for 13 days. Since the 2015 occupation, the University has made significant efforts to respond to the Ford Hall students’ demands to feel safe, represented, and welcomed on campus. But by deploying armed officers, including Waltham PD and private security forces, to the most recent protests on our campus, the University has swiftly rolled back any progress made toward honoring its promises.

In this moment of heightened suffering within our communities near and far, ensuring the safety of our campus is more important than ever. But what does safety look like? We believe in a Brandeis that “seeks to safeguard the safety, dignity and well-being of all its members,” as promised in our

diversity statement. More policing does not fulfill that promise. Brandeis must strive for all members of our campus community to be free of fear, harm, and repression. We reject security frameworks that frame campus safety as a zero-sum game, pitting community members against each other. As we have sadly seen on our campus, everyone feels less safe under the security logics and practices that reinforce fear, othering, and disconnection.

The pursuit of security has impeded our ability to create shared spaces for mourning together and learning from one another. It is indeed connection — authentic, messy, empathic connection — that forms the base on which actual safety is built.

To imagine a way forward, we once again turn to Mariame Kaba: The idea that cops equal security is difficult to dislodge. To transform this mindset, where cops equal security, means we have to actually transform our relationships to each other enough so that we can see that we can keep each other safe.

You cannot have safety without strong, empathic relationships with others.

The administration has failed to model these strong, empathic relationships over the past week, but repair is possible and necessary. Repair demands that we turn away from security and toward one another. Community conversations and empathy are essential to building actual safety, as is divesting from security practices and punitive approaches to campus issues. We call on the Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan to drop all the charges against those arrested, and for the administration to join us and directly request from the district attorney that these charges be dropped.

We further urge that the administration decline to cooperate with the prosecution of our students.

These repairs are essential to begin the process of healing that President Liebowitz called for in his Nov. 11 message to campus. The future of the University depends on it.

SMILEY HUYNH/the Justice

The myth of meritocracy: Understanding its meaning and impact

By MIRABELL ROWLAND JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

My eyes strained to focus as I looked at my computer screen. I became so disengaged by the rhetoric of the literature I was reading that I developed an urge to just throw the computer out of the window. Maybe that was a bit overdramatic.

I actually ended up taking a break and then started studying for a different class. One look at LATTE and I was actually excited for the first time in weeks. I was excited because the topic directly critiqued meritocracy. Meritocracy is considered the foundation of the “American Dream,” but what is it exactly? Merriam Webster defines meritocracy as a system where success is based on demonstrated abilities.

In other words, this is the idea that no matter who you are, where you are born, or the color of your skin, you have an equal opportunity to achieve success based solely on your intelligence, hard work, and dedication. While theoretically possible, considering friends, family, and national statistics highlighting disparities between Black and Brown communities, meritocracy seems disconnected from reality. Vox’s Glad You Asked series caught my eye immediately. A video titled “Is Meritocracy a Myth?” answers the question with hosts Fabiola Cineas, Lee Adams, Cleo Abram, and Christophe Haubursin. They specifically talk about education

as it is supposed to be an equalizer but yet is not.

Fabiola shares personal experiences. Despite having a high GPA in middle school, she went to one of the worst high schools in New York City known as Murry Bergtraum. Because the NYC system for getting into high school was somewhat similar to a testing process, once seats were filled, there was nothing anyone could do.

Luckily for her, she was able to take an entire course of Scholastic Assesment Test prep through an outreach program during high school. Then through the POSSE Foundation, she was able to gain a full-ride scholarship to university and continue elevating herself.

Yet this is not a story all can tell — the one of rising through their trials and still succeeding. In fact, she talks about the idea that a meritocracy has worked for her benefit to an extent. Growing up as an inner-city girl from Brooklyn, New York and being in the position she is now is clearly an illustration of that. Yet she explains, “I’m conflicted because I am the exception … like should I be up here talking about this?”

Immediately after an introduction, viewers are introduced to a unique perspective of meritocracy through a board game. The game’s name is Rigged and the goal is to get to Glad You Asked University.

It is similar to the Game of Life, there are pathways set out for you and along the road there can be some bumps. There is a juxtaposition in the game

with one side being Pleasantville and the other being Smallville. All four hosts play this game and we watch as they discover their fate by picking up a card, and then based on their background and income, they can automatically move three or four steps ahead, or they must start at the very beginning of the “race.” Whenever opportunities, serendipity, or challenges arise, each host has to take detours that stall their progress or can skip to the front of the line.

There is a stark difference between Fabiola’s path and Lee’s. While Fabiola has two parents who are lawyers and also randomly gets to inherit 40,000 from a distant uncle, Lee comes from a lowincome family, didn’t go to Pre-K, and then in middle school starts to doubt himself and act out.

They both react to these new and often unexpected moments in their characters’ lives in the game. For me, this was a great interpretation of real life, where events and moments out of your control can impede your plans and dreams.

The video goes on to give a brief synopsis of the history of meritocracy and then features an interview with Professor Daniel Markovits,from Yale University, who also happens to be the author of “The Meritocracy Trap.” He explains, “Unless you are either super talented or super lucky if you are outside the elite, probably hard work is not going to be enough.”Probably might even be an understatement. The false concept of meritocracy

leads to people working as much as they can and doing everything within their ability to be the best, and yet there seems to be no fruit of their labor.

Fabiola transitions into discussing the ways that merit is measured. The top answer is through tests.

What surprised me was learning that the average American kid takes around 112 tests throughout grades K-12.

What did not surprise me was when she talked in more detail about the SAT the statistics showed Black and brown students underperforming.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the highest scores were by White and Asian students and the lowest were by Black, Hispanic, and American Indian students.

Quite clearly one’s race, socioeconomic background, gender, so many other factors affect their ability to become successful or attain the long-sought-after “American Dream”. To have a great career, one needs to have a decent education or apprenticeship to learn.

To gain admission into that program or university, one needs to have the best SAT or American College Testing scores or demonstrate their superiority in some way — they are the best of the best. To gain the best scores, one needs access to tutoring or prep. I think you can tell where I am going. In essence, meritocracy appears elusive not only in America but possibly worldwide. I guess we have to wait and see.

The opinions expressed on this page are those of each article’s respective author and do not reflect the viewpoint of the Justice.

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THE JUSTICE ● SPORTS ● TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 13

Fencing HOSTS Beanpot Tournament, but falls short Men’s and women’s fencing lost to Boston College, Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Photos: SMILEY HUYNH AND GIANNA MORALES/the Justice. Design: ANNA MARTIN/the Justice.

Justice

Graphics: ELIZABETH LIU/the Justice

THE JUSTICE ● SPORTS ● TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023

JUDGES BY THE NUMBERS

BRIEF

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Men's Tennis Players Recognized Nationally by ITA

UAA STANDINGS Case NYU WashU Carnegie Chicago JUDGES Emory Rochester

TEAM STATS

UAA Conf. Overall W L D W L D 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 0

Pct. 1.000 1.000 1.000 1.000 .750 .750 .500 .500

Total Points Toby Harris ’25 leads the team with 28 total points.

Player PTS Toby Harris 28 Ethan Edwards 25 Ryan Power 19 Jake Bender 16

Total Rebounds Aedan Using ’24 leads the team with 13 total rebounds Player Aedan Using Ryan Power Toby Harris Sam Adusei

UPCOMING GAMES:

Wednesday at Babson College Sunday at Rhode Island College Tuesday, Nov. 28 vs. Plymouth State

REB 13 11 10 8

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL UAA STANDINGS UAA Conf.

W L D JUDGES 0 0 0 Carnegie 0 0 0 Case 0 0 0 Chicago 0 0 0 Emory 0 0 0 NYU 0 0 0 Rochester 0 0 0 WashU 0 0 0

15

TEAM STATS

Overall W L D Pct. 1 3 0 .250 3 1 0 .750 2 2 0 .500 4 0 0 1.000 4 1 0 .800 4 0 0 1.000 2 2 0 .500 1 2 0 .333

UPCOMING GAMES:

Today at Babson College Monday vs. Roger Williams University Thursday, Nov. 30 at Rivier University

Brandeis Men’s Tennis received national recognition this week when the Intercollegiate Tennis Association included four of their players in their fall rankings on Nov. 15. The team itself was ranked as #21 in Division III. Dylan Walters ’24 was ranked as #22 in the Men’s Division III National Singles ranking and #6 in the Men’s Division III Regional Singles ranking, which includes players from other Northeast area colleges. Tommy Harrison ’26 was ranked as #14

in the same Regional Singles ranking. Harrison and Walters were listed as #19 nationally and #5 in the region in the Men’s Division III doubles rankings. Alex Merson ’26 was #15 in Men’s Division III Singles in the Northeast.

The ITA’s rankings, which are recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, are decided by the ITA National Ranking Committee. The committee is made up of a National Chair and four total ITA Region Chairs representing the Nort-

heast, which includes Brandeis; the Atlantic South; the Central U.S.; and the West.

The men’s team’s season is far from over, however, continuing through the spring. Their next match is on Feb. 3 at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire.

— Isabel Roseth

BRANDEIS: UAA Honorees CONTINUED FROM 12

Total Points Caitlin Gresko ’25 leads the team with 51 total points.

Player Caitlin Gresko Francesca Marchese Brooke Reed Molly James

PTS 51 26 20 20

Total Rebounds Brooke Reed ’26 leads the team with 32 total rebounds.

Player REB Brooke Reed 32 Molly James 25 Caitlin Gresko 22 Katherine Vaughan 15

with an impressive .777% save percentage.

The women’s soccer team finished the season 6-8-3, with two players earning UAA honorable mentions.

Captain Rachel Watler '25 started all 17 matches, leading a strong backline the whole season. She had a particularly dominant presence in New England, with just seven goals conceded in ten non-conference matchups. Watler was the team’s leader in assists, ending the campaign with a team-high four assists.

45 career starts. Bassan recorded career highs this season in saves (53) and save percentage (.779%). 32 of her saves were in conference, with a season-high eleven versus Rochester University.

reer highs as well in both categories.

She set a single-game career high in kills (25) against Smith College, later matching that total versus Wellesley College. Verstovsek was also recognized separately by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, selected to its All-Region II Team for the second time. This makes her eligible to be selected as an All-American.

SWIM AND DIVE Results from meet against Tufts University on Nov. 19

TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)

TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)

L. 104-138

L. 116-149

200-yard Breastroke SWIMMER Samuel Bundy Isaac Lo

200-yard Breastroke TIME 2:22.12 2:37.75

SWIMMER Audrey Teo D'Arcy J Anselmi

TIME 2:38.99 2:50.42

Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS ATHLETICS

UPCOMING MEETS:

Dec. 1 at WPI Jan. 17 vs. Stonehill Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS ATHLETICS

FENCING Results from Northeast Fencing Conference at Boston College on Nov. 19

TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)

L. 10-17 vs. Boston College L. 11-16 vs. Brown University L. 11-16 vs. Sacred Heart University W. 14-13 vs. Vassar University W. 17-10 vs. Wagner University L. 11-16 vs. MIT

TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)

W. 14-13 vs. Wellesley College L. 6-21 vs. Boston College L. 8-19 vs. Brown University W. 19-8 vs. Sacred Heart W. 18-9 vs. Vassar University L. 11-16 vs. Wagner University L. 9-18 vs. MIT W. 16-11 vs. Tufts University

Goalkeeper Hannah Bassan '25 also earned an honorable mention for her valiant work in goal. A three-year starter, Bassan took the starting position by the scruff of the neck as a first-year and has now accumulated

The volleyball team ended their season 10-18, with one particular stand out.

Lara Verstovsek '25 was given UAA second team honors for her elite play as an outside hitter, dominating her competition and setting many personal records along the way. This is the second time she has been given this honor, having done so as a firstyear as well, and she was also named as an honorable mention a year ago.

Verstovsek led the UAA in kills (3.93) and points (4.47) per set, setting ca-

Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS ATHLETICS

This fall showed just how much potential the Judges have and how much their hard work paid off. As several of these players still have time left in their careers, their future with these well-earned accolades certainly looks bright.

Sports section of the Justice is starting a new column called "Jury Duty" that hopes to JURY Thespotlight different athletes every week. Please email sports@thejustice.org if you would like to nominate someone. My hope and aim is to bridge the gap between student athletes DUTY and non student athletes by highlighting relatable content to make the community feel more approachable. If you see a highlighted athlete around campus, maybe introduce yourself if you have the same taste in music! Or head to Gosman and cheer them on.

UPCOMING MEETS:

Beanpot Tournament on Nov. 15 at Boston College Northeast Fencing Conference on Nov. 19

Caitlin Gresko '25

Data courtesy of THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION and the BRANDEIS ATHLETICS WEBSITE; Graphics courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

By RANI BALAKRISHNA JUSTICE EDITOR

Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS ATHLETICS

Want to nominate someone? Send them this form!

Graphic courtesy of pixelshot. Graphics: ELIZABETH LIU/the Justice

Caitlin Gresko ’25, a forward on Brandeis Women’s Basketball, has consistently been putting up strong numbers for the Judges and is this week’s Jury Duty.

Her performance on the court has earned her a 2023 All-UAA Honorable Mention and the 2023 Athletic Director’s Award. She is also a 2022-2023 UAA Winter AllAcademic Recognition Honoree.

Off the court, she is a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and The Hidden Opponent chapter at Brandeis.

Majoring in Biology and minoring in Psychology, Gresko plans to attend Physician Assistant school after her undergraduate studies. Her passion for medicine has led her to work as a medical assistant whenever sports schedules have allowed her to since high school. Gresko has worked in an otolaryngology practice, as well as an urgent care, and gained immense experience and knowledge in the field. Another strong passion of hers is art; she loves creating, observing, and

appreciating many forms of art in the world around us, whether man-made or natural.

An observant person, Gresko enjoys finding artistic touches in almost everything around her.

She loves to indulge in painting and drawing, as well as writing, analyzing, and appreciating lyrics of different artists and architecture. Some of Gresko’s favorite artists to listen to are Billie Eilish, SZA, Labrinth, Travis Scott, and Renee Rapp, and she enjoys a wide range of music.

Other fun facts about Gresko include her love for vanilla ice cream, her “all-time favorite”, and scented candles. “Growing up, my mom always had different candles for different times of the year … her hobby carried over to me.” You can often find her at Gosman, doing work in the Barry Harsip ‘73 Student Lounge, but Gresko also said she loves hanging out in upper Usdan. “You can often find me throughout the day sitting at some of the tables near The Hive just hanging out with anyone that's around,” she said.

just Sports Page 16

BRANDEIS FENCING PHOTO STORY Men's and women's fencing hosted the Beanpot Tournament at Auerbach Arena on Nov. 15.

Waltham, Mass.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

BRANDEIS

Eight fall Judges have received All-UAA Honors ■ The conference recognized eight Judges for their exceptional 2023 seasons this past fall.

STROUD CONSIDERED FOR MVP AS A ROOKIE QB

in conference, and included an outrageous half volley (a kick where the player hits the ball mid-air) from the semicircle in midfield and multiple other screamers, or long distance goals.

By JOSH GANS

JUSTICE SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The University Athletic Association honored eight Brandeis student athletes across the three eligible fall sports for their outstanding achievements — five from men’s soccer, two from women’s soccer, and one from volleyball.

The men’s soccer team finished the season 3-8-6, with four players named to the UAA second team and one player with an honorable mention.

All three captains were named to the second team.

Andres Gonzalez '25, a center back and captain tasked with leading a new backline with lots of turnover, stood his ground with just 18 goals conceded in 17 matches. A defensive and offensive force to be reckoned with, he played his part on the attacking end, scoring his fourth goal in three years against Eastern Connecticut State.

Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS ATHLETICS

Captain Sancho Maroto Tobias ‘24 joined Maor with five goals, as well as four assists in his senior season.

These included two goals versus highranked Babson and two games with a goal and assist en route to back-toback second team selections. Both he and Maor transferred from Division I schools a year ago, completing highly successful careers in their two years as Judges.

By ZACHARY GOLDSTEIN Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS ATHLETICS

Goalkeeper Quintin Wrabley '25 was also recognized as an honorable mention for his heroic performances in the net. In his first season as a starter, Wrabley did not disappoint. The junior had a UAA-leading 80 saves and 43 in conference saves, which included a career-high 14 in the final game vs. NYU. He finished the season

Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS ATHLETICS

Captain Roee Maor '24 had perhaps the biggest breakout season of any player in the UAA as a senior. He scored five goals, four of which came

CJ Stroud off to historic start in professional career ■ Houston Texans rookie quarterback CJ Stroud merits MVP consideration during the first half of the NFL season.

Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS ATHLETICS

Rainer Osselman-Chai '26, a sophomore, followed his 2022 UAA "Rookie of the Year" honor with a second-team recognition. He held down the middle of the field this season, notching three goals and an assist. His goals included a winning goal in the final minute against Washington University, a belting free-kick at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a bardown equalizer at New York University in their thrilling 3-3 draw.

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

MID CATCH: CJ Stroud reaches for a pass at Ohio State University.

Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS ATHLETICS

See BRANDEIS, 11 ☛

JUSTICE EDITOR

The “rookie” — a term used to describe a professional in their first year — can be accurately applied to many young athletes coming out of college hoping to have a long career. For the Houston Texans rookie quarterback, CJ Stroud, a more appropriate term would be “MVP” with how he has been lighting up the NFL in the early start of his career.

Drafted second overall in the 2023 NFL draft out of Ohio State University, Stroud was selected to ultimately become the cornerstone of the Texans franchise after a stellar collegiate career. With DeMeco Ryans as a new head coach and a very young roster, Stroud and the Texans were viewed as a developmental project with hopes to compete for a championship in the future.

However, a projected uncompetitive season has turned into one with playoff aspirations. After starting the season with a tough 0-2 record, Stroud led the Texans to six wins out of their past eight. Within these games, Stroud rallied his team and had phenomenal comebacks against the Tampa Bay

Buccaneers and the Cincinnati Bengals. Against the Buccaneers specifically, Stroud threw for a rookie-record 470 yards, along with five touchdowns to seal the game. These two games solidified Stroud as a bonafide elite quarterback with the tools to compete with the best the NFL has to offer.

The Texans currently sit in 2nd place in their division with a 6-4 record, only one game shy of their division leader, the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ten games into the season, Stroud has thrown for a remarkable 2962 yards, with a 17:5 touchdown to interception ratio.

In addition to his superb play on the field, Stroud has made headlines by raising awareness for criminal justice reform. After the comeback win against the Buccaneers, Stroud took the opportunity to use his newfound spotlight to address the need for prison reform. For Stroud, this is an issue that affects him personally, as his father, Coleridge Stroud III, was sentenced in 2016 to 38 years to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to carjacking, kidnapping, and robbery for a drug-related incident.

At this press conference, Stroud openly stated, “Our criminal justice system isn’t right, and it’s something that I need to probably be a little more vocal about because what he’s going through is not right,” in reference to his father. He also added in his statement, “it’s not just my dad’s situation, but the whole criminal justice system is corrupt. ” Finally, Stroud referenced prison conditions by say-

ing, “Some of the prisons have rats, roaches and things like that. Don’t get me wrong – criminals, they should do their time, but they’re humans, know what I mean? I just want to shine a light on that really quickly.”

While Stroud’s early success positions him nicely to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, being in consideration for the Most Valuable Player award merits a feat for a rookie that is virtually unheard of. Only one rookie in the history of the NFL has received the MVP: running back Jim Brown in 1957. If Stroud were to continue his successful campaign, he would be only the second rookie ever to do so. Despite his statistical success, Stroud must continue to win and lead the Texans to the playoffs to have a viable shot at winning the award. In recent years, the MVP has mostly been a quarterback award — specifically to one whose team is one of the top seeds in the playoffs. Thus, for Stroud to truly achieve one of the highest honors in the sport of football, winning is necessary.

While being in the running for MVP as a rookie is a significant achievement, Stroud has only seven more games left in the season to turn these talks into reality.

Even if he falls short of making history, there is one thing the NFL world knows for certain — Stroud is the real deal for many more years to come. If not this year, it’s only a matter of time before his name will be placed on the MVP award.

Vol. LXXVI #8

Waltham, Mass.

November 21, 2023

Photos: Junjie Ma/the Justice. Design: Eliza Bier/the Justice.

18

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 I ARTS &JANUARY CULTURE I31, THE2017 JUSTICE THE JUSTICE | ARTS | TUESDAY,

MUSEUM TOUR

Icons of the past: Fabricated and fashioned

By MIKEY TERRENZI

JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The exhibitions “Inventing Isabella” and “Fabiola JeanLouis: Rewriting History” at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum both engage the audience in the many ways that art can change perception. Throughout history, art has been used to glorify, vilify, change, and create historical figures.

Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924) was an important pillar of the history of Boston, especially in the arts scene. Gardener was an art collector and philanthropist operating out of Boston with many international connections.

The first exhibit being discussed highlights how Gardner was able to create a fabricated perception of herself through art and fashion. The second exhibit, a smaller and more difficult to find collection, is a series of self-portraits done by a Haitian artist, Fabiola Jean-Louis (b. 1978), exploring how art can create a sense of royalty and aristocracy. The themes of these exhibitions closely mirror one another, but the two accomplish the themes differently, creating unique atmospheres.

“Inventing Isabella” is in the Hostetter Gallery on the second level of the museum’s main building. At the entrance, there is an advertisement for both the exhibitions and directions to them. Entering the Hostetter Gallery, a video introduction plays, guiding visitors through the themes and highlighted pieces. After watching the video, the main entrance to the gallery is positioned to the left of the screen, and the first piece presented is John Singer Sargent’s “Isabella Stewart Gardner” (Fig. 1). This painting is an exemplar of the gallery, showing how Gardner and Sargent portray her image in this work.

displayed, and in reality, the fabric used (Fig. 2) does not have that luminescent quality. Sargent highlights the gold and circular patterns in the fabric to create the halo. No stranger to religious painting, Sargent has given Gardner a connection to the Madonna — perhaps to Sargent’s own piece “A Spanish Madonna” (Fig. 3) from around 1879. Less obvious is the connection Gardner creates by competing with a dramatic portrait by Sargent titled “Madame X.” After drama surrounding the sensationalization of theportrait “Madame X,” Gardner sought out Sargent. This competition led her design to be simple, a callback to the scandal that was “Madame X.” Throughout the exhibition, this call to controversy and fame is seen.

The portrait of Gardner is placed on a temporary wall that serves to obstruct the viewer from seeing deeper into the gallery. Instead the visitor is forced to focus on a raised circular stage where a singular coat from the House of Worth, a house of fashion in France at the time, is displayed.

In sisterhood with this exhibition is the second special exhibition, “Fabiola Jean-Louis: Rewriting History.” This exhibition is on the first floor of the Gardner house. I found this exhibition more difficult to find as it was not pointed out by visuals like the previous exhibition was. After questioning the aids at the museum, I was led back to “Inventing Isabella” and told it was the only special exhibition at the museum.

Puzzled as to why no one could tell me about the exhibition that was advertised in promotional material, I wandered the museum for an additional twenty five minutes before stumbling on a small gallery that was being used as a waiting room, which held the exhibition.

The gallery, nestled in between the “blue room” and the “yellow room,” felt as though it were an afterthought to the museum. Ten pieces were displayed, but this room was filled with waiting guests eager to enter the other rooms of the museum. With no interaction to the pieces, the gallery felt cramped, yet empty. On the wall, a small excerpt describing the artist, Fabiola Jean-Louis, and her work accompanies three portraits that begin the exhibition. The three portraits are “Madame Leroy,” “Marie Antoinette is Dead,” and “Madame Beauvoir’s Painting” (Fig. 5). For this review, I will focus on the portrait “Madame Beauvoir’s Painting.”

Art courtesy of FABIOLA JEAN-LOUIS. Photo courtesy of MIKEY TERRENZI Art courtesy of JOHN SINGER SARGENT. Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

FIG. 3: “A Spanish Madonna.” C. 1879. Oil on Canvas.

John Singer Sargent.

Art courtesy of JOHN SINGER SARGENT. Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

FIG. 1: “Isabella Stewart Gardner.” 1888 Oil on Canvas

by John Singer Sargent. 190 x 80 cm.

Gardner is portrayed in this portrait as an icon of religious motifs and a contemporary woman of the Gilded Age. Sargent poses her in a simple, deep-cut black dress with three layers of pearls, her hands joined below her waist with a fabric background creating a circle behind her head. Sargent and Gardner were intentional with this piece, framing her as an individual with deep connections to culture and power.

A clear motif is the halo that the fabric positions behind her head. In the portrait, Sargent paints the fabric, which is almost glowing. To the left of the painting, the fabric is

This coat is meant to progress the viewer through the gallery, mirroring the dress that Gardner wears in the Sargent portrait. As the visitor moves around the dress, other parts of the gallery open and become clear. Two chairs with a table are available to sit at and observe prints of Gardner done by Swedish artist Anders Zorn (1860-1920). Zorn depicts Gardner in Renaissance regalia, connecting her to royalty. Gardner thought this connection was too much and she rejected these prints. After this section, the exhibit leads the viewer along the back wall, covered with newsprints and posters that reference Gardner with only selected professional photos. Gardner’s image was meticulously protected and crafted. Sargent paints Gardner again without a face, a watercolor that highlights the particularities she keeps with her image.

Art courtesy of ANDERS ZORN. Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

FIG. 4: “Isabella Stewart Gardner” in Venice 1894. Oil on Canvas. 91 x 66 cm. Anders Zorn.

Art courtesy of JOHN SINGER SARGENT. Photo courtesy of MIKEY TERRENZI

FIG. 2: Furnishing or Garment Fabric. 1475-1525. Silk and velvet with gilt yarn.

Passing by the dress at the center once more, the last section of the exhibition perfectly reflects the first section, a temporary wall with a portrait of Gardner. Zorn paints Gardner in a white dress in this 1894 portrait “Isabella Stewart Gardner in Venice” (Fig. 4). Her white dress against a dark background causes her form to appear almost spiritual and otherworldly. Her expression is lively and animated, much different than the perfectly posed and regal image she crafts for herself. This concludes the exhibition in a narrative that describes Gardner’s attempt to portray herself in a specific serious, elegant, and kind manner.

Graphics courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS. Design: NEMMA KALRA/the Justice

FIG. 5: “Madame Beauvoir’s Painting.” 2017.

Photograph. 83.8 x 66 cm. Fabiola Jean-Louis.

This piece and its interactions with the exhibit highlight the broader narrative Jean-Louis’ work creates. The exhibition is part of a larger project done by Jean-Louis as a narrative on race and gender throughout history. Jean-Louis aims to raise awareness of the lack of women of color in the historical canon despite their presence and their contributions. In addition, her work shows how fashion and status can seemingly elevate the Black body into positions of historied power, asking the audience if the power that historical figures have is a construct of the clothes they wear rather than a reflection of race or sex.

This question reflects the title of the project: “Rewriting History.” This exhibition works to confront the idea that history is written, fabricated, constructed, sculpted, and can be rewritten, refabricated, reconstructed, and resculpted. It is worth noting that Jean-Louis is not only a photographer — her background is also in sculpture. Most of the garments she adorns are sculptural pieces not meant to be worn but rather stiff, almost trapping their wearer. The viewer can see in these portraits, all of which reference aristocracy or intellectuals, Jean-Louis poses herself as stoic and unobstructed but also uncomfortable.

In “Madame Beauvoir’s Painting,” we see the back of a painter, presumably by the title Madame Beauvoir, a reference to the 20th century philosopher Simone de Beauvoir.

Jean-Louis depicts Beauvoir admiring a painting of a slave with a scarred and mutilated back, conjuring ideas and images of photographs of African American slaves’ scars after enduring abuse. Beauvoir is adorned in a gold and purple dress with rose patterns embroidered on the back. Her expression cannot be seen. Only a quarter of her face is in view, but she does not seem distressed. Rather her demeanor and stature show the morbid fascination associated with photographs like this, without a sense of fear. In portraying Beauvoir as a Black woman, Jean-Louis changes the historical narrative, instead discussing the shared struggle of Black people regardless of economic class. Jean-Louis mirrors the scarring on the back of the man in the photo with the inclusion of gold marks along the back of Beauvoir’s dress. This follows the narrative of the exhibition, describing the shared struggles of people of color and the idea that fashion can create the context to view the piece. Her scars are the slave’s scars, and, in that inclusion, history is rewritten to include the history of slaves as the history of the aristocracy.

These exhibitions work together to create a cohesive narrative of the ways fashion can be interpreted throughout history. That being said, there is irony in my experience at the museum. “Fabiola Jean-Louis: Rewriting History” felt like an afterthought, similar to the exhibition’s argument that people of color are an afterthought to history and white aristocracy. Guides, volunteers, and full staff members could not assist me in finding the gallery, some denying its existence.

Meanwhile, “Inventing Isabella,” while more fleshed out and more in line with the museum’s history, was highlighted and easily found with help from many volunteers and guides despite the museum advertising them as equals. Both exhibits work well with one another and create a pleasant experience at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. They are open until Jan. 15, 2024, and are worth checking out.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 I ARTS & CULTURE I THE JUSTICE

THE JUSTICE | ARTS | TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

19

Salman Toor

ROSE ART MUSEUM

‘No Ordinary Love’

By MIKEY TERRENZI STAFF WRITER

On the Nov. 16, 2023, the Rose Art Museum held the grand opening of its new exhibition, “No Ordinary Love,” a curation of works by Salman Toor. This exhibition represents a wave of exhibitions for the Rose as a continuation of an established theme for their exhibitions and collections.

The Rose is seeking to uplift and raise the voices and works of intersectional artists, using both new and prior collections to challenge our perspectives on old concepts and preconceptions. Salman Toor, a queer Pakistani artist, exemplifies this intersectionality in his work by painting beautiful panels of maturing as a queer boy in Pakistani culture. Toor’s work can be seen in this exhibition, a living space curated by Dr. Gannit Ankori, the director and chief curator of the Rose Art Museum. Toor and Dr. Ankori both created a modern exhibition that recognizes the voices of queer people, Pakistanis, and queer Pakistanis. Throughout the exhibit, Toor’s voice is seen on the walls. The writing on the wall emphasizes the difficulties of sexuality, gender identity, gender expression, and cultural establishments.

Those larger themes can be traced throughout his work, the exhibition guides you through each. Toor asks you to consider the feminine and the masculine the mother and the child; society and nature. His work forces the viewer into a voyeuristic perspective; you are an observer to the maturation of a man in conflict with his identities and his environment. Some examples of his art are shown to express these themes.

Art courtesy ofSALMAN TOOR

PAINTING: “Mommy.”

Art courtesy of SALMAN TOOR

PAINTING: “Construction Men.”

Art courtesy of SALMAN TOOR

PAINTING: “Black Lawn.”

Art courtesy of SALMAN TOOR

PAINTING: “Boy with Neck Chain.”

“Back Lawn” and “Construction Men” are two pieces in the exhibition that can explain the place of society and cultural establishments in contrast to the identity that Toor experiences. In these two paintings, Toor highlights a separation between queer identity and society. The first, “Black Lawn,” recalls Mughal Garden paintings, a historical reference to a “lover’s garden,” with two young men in the back lawn of a house separated from the dinner party.

This separation and boundary between nature, the lawn or garden motif and the house, the construct, and the society show the ideas of society and nature that Toor explores. Is the homosexual relationship natural and only separated from society by its constructs? Similarly, the idea of “Construction Men” being builders of society is present in the foreground which is dominated by somewhat sexual male figures drilling a hole into the ground while two masculine figures in the top left of the composition hold hands. While the former painting showcases the idea of construction through a traditionally masculine lens while the gay couple is in the background. “Boy with Neck Chain” and “Mommy,” two works that are coupled together in the exhibition, show the maturity of a young feminine boy. The two play with the concept of gender. “Mommy” shows a woman putting her makeup on in a mirror while her son can be seen watching in the reflection of a compact mirror. This boy is the same as in “Boy with Neck Chain,” who is seen mirroring his mother’s actions nude in his own mirror, reflecting the gender expression he has witnessed. This exhibit’s themes can be seen further in the other artworks and series shown at the Rose currently. Look out for an article fully detailing the nature of the exhibit in our Dec. 4 issue of the Justice.

Photos: NATALIE BRACKEN/the Justice. Design: ANNA MARTIN/the Justice.

20

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 I ARTS & CULTURE I THE JUSTICE

STAFF’S Top Ten

STUDENT ART SPOTLIGHT

CECI XILEI CHEN/the Justice

By NEMMA KALRA

JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Top 10 homes turned into museums As a sucker for aesthetic architecture and art, I am in love with art museums that were formally homes. Please note: None of these choices are me supporting any of the people who owned these homes — they had great taste in architecture, not necessarily ethics.

1. The Frick — New York City, New York.

2. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum — Boston, Massachusetts.

3. The Morgan Library & Museum — New York, New York.

4. The Alice Austen House — Staten Island, New York.

5. The Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum — New York, New York.

6. The Neue Galerie — New York, New York.

7. The Renee and Chaim Gross Foundation — New York, New York.

8. The Tenement Museum — New York, New York.

9. Edward Hopper House Museum and Study Center — Nyack, New York.

10. Farley’s House — East Sussex, United Kingdom.

MELA BHAHLOBASHA: Unified Love

By NEMMA KALRA

JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

The long awaited South Asian Student Association annual culture show, MELA, took place on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2023. The showcase — complete with dynamic dances, poetry, and musical performances — filled the audience’s hearts with self, communal, familial, and cultural love, which is right on par with this year’s theme “Bhalobasha: Unified Love.” The word Bhalobasha is a Bengali word that in essence means expressing love through language and actions. With deep roots in Bengali culture, Bhalobasha has informed people’s fundamental views of how to live, empathize, and love themselves and others. Through their showcase, SASA inspired the audience to embrace the meaning of Bhalobasha.

SASA kicked off their showcase with the unveiling of their beautiful backdrop, designed by design coordinators Uma Kanzaria ’25, Ananya Dalal ’26, and Kyra Bhagat ’26 and painted by various student volunteers. The backdrop depicted a peaceful scene:a lush green field circled by graceful doves. Lining the sides of the backdrop are the flags of various South Asian countries. Across the top of the backdrop was the word “love” written in 19 different languages. The backdrop alone was a touching testament to the theme of the show for it showed love and peace unifying various cultures.

After the audience took in the lovely backdrop, the actual showcase began. The audience watched in awe as various Brandeis students performed classical and modern Bollywood dances, played music, and even walked the runway of Levin, showcasing outfits from all over South Asia.

One of the most touching performances of the night was by Pakistani poet and Brandeis alum, Usman Hameedi ’12. Hameedi’s poem artfully captured the experience of being a child with immigrant parents in the U.S. His piece related to many audience members with common anecdotes like the mispronunciation of ethnic names in school. Ultimately, his powerful piece helped the audience find a love for their culture, and their identity as a child of immigrant parents.

Through all their acts and speeches, SASA perfectly captured the meaning of Bhalobasha. Whether or not one was from South Asia, all audience members were inspired to carry the love, joy, and compassion demonstrated in the showcase home with them.

Graphic courtesy of SAMUEL DIAZ

Samuel Diaz ’25 is a digital illustrator from Venezuela. He spends a lot of his time drawing his own characters and writing stories about them. He is also a pre-med student, so he can also be found freaking out about science classes. He enjoys indie video games, anime, and rock music.

By Dahlia Ramirez JUSTICE STAFF ARTIST

JUNJIE MA/the Justice

CLASSICAL DANCE: Gauri Gajeshwar ’25 and Ashna Kelkar ’24 perform a classical Indian dance in the style of Bharatnatyam.

Graphic courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

Design: NEMMA KALRA/the Justice

Graphic courtesy of Dahlia Ramirez

THE JUSTICE ● SPORTS ● TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023 21

just

Sports: Fall recap Volleyball VOLLEYBALL SEASON RECAP

By SMILEY HUYNH

JUSTICE MANAGING EDITOR

Starting their season strong with a new assistant coach, the women’s volleyball team took four wins against Salve Regina University (3-2), Worcester State University (3-0), University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (3-1), and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (3-1). This effort for the first three matchups was led by outside hitters Anna Ertischek ’26 and Lara Verstovsek ’25 with both individually totaling 55 kills. However, leading up to their first University Athletic Association Round Robin of the season in Cleveland, they had a series of tough losses against Williams College (1-3) and Babson College (0-3), followed by a close win against Clark University (3-2) and trailing with another loss against Simmons University (1-3). At this point the team was still in an okay standing with a win percentage of 0.625.

However, when the team faced New York University (0-3), Washington University (0-3), and Case Western Reserve University (0-3) in their seasons first UAA Round Robin, they had a string of major tough losses with no sets won in any match. Leading up to their next UAA Round Robin, they evened out their win-loss ratio to even with a win against Roger Williams University (3-0), a loss against Colby College (1-3), and another win against The U.S. Coast Guard Academy (3-1). In their win against Roger Williams, Verstovsek earned UAA Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career.

During this game Verstovsek totaled 22 kills for a new school record for kills in a three-set match — her fourth 20-kill match of her career. In the teams

second UAA Round Robin hosted at Brandeis in the Auerbach Area, they faced University of Chicago (0-3) and Carnegie Mellon University (0-3). Leading up to their third and final UAA Round Robin of the season they had another set of losses against Tufts University (1-3) and Emerson College (1-3). In their final UAA Round Robin they had their first conference win against Rochester University (3-0) after a tough loss against Emory University (0-3) with the Judges trailing by at least seven points each set. Following the third UAA Round Robin, they were at a win percentage of 0.400. Leading up to the UAA Tournament, they faced off against Smith College (2-3), Bowdoin College (1-3), Endicott College (3-1), Wellesley College (2-3), and Westfield State University (3-0), which left them with the same win percentage of 0.400. In their last matches of the season in the UAA Tournament they had another tough series of losses against NYU (0-3), WashU (0-3), and Rochester (0-3). They ended their season with 10 wins and 18 losses for a win percentage of .357. Verstovsek earned her career second All-UAA second team honor after leading the UAA in points and kills during the regular season averaging 3.93 kills and 4.47 points per set. She hit her career-best of 25 kills in a match in two different matches and ended the season with 918 career kills.

Verstovsek also received First-Team All-Region honors making her eligible for All-American honors for the second time in her career. In Division III, her 3.93 kill per set average ranks her 30th and her 4.47 points per set ranks her 34th. Looking forward to the next season next year, the Judges will be going into their tenth season with head coach Alesia Bennett with many top players returning including Verstovsek and Ertischek.

SEASON STATISTIC REVIEW Brandeis Opponents

OVERALL (10,18) | UAA (1,6)

Points

Kills

Errors Total Percentage Assists Attempts

Service Assist

Service Error

Reception Digs Error

1506.5 1553.5

1179 1177

579 449

1101 1070

153 211

205 216

211 153

3448 3402

0.174 0.199

Total Blocks

1411 174.5 1371 165.5

Player Number

Player

Sets Played

Matches Played

Points

Kills

Errors

Percentage

Assists Service Assist

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 15 16 21 22

Verstovek, Lara Messinger, Hannah Grom-Mansencal, Ines Ferrigno, Ava Wainer, Tatiana Pereira, Ella Lai, Rita Nowakowski, Alina Margolis, Megan Liang, Julia Lerian, Gracie Jackson, Arianna Pohlmann, Alexis Ertischek, Anna Waldron, Hannah Nirode, Olivia

99 14 81 40 99 79 86 37 34 55 40 96 57 102 32 79

27 8 25 14 28 23 27 13 18 20 18 28 19 28 16 24

442.5 5.5 54.5 9 164 21 131 27 12 25 8 168.5 15 359 45.5 19

389 5 29 3 128 9 92 20 8 8 1 112 0 340 34 1

197 5 7 0 58 8 77 24 4 4 0 61 1 111 21 1

0.172 0.000 0.188 0.375 0.192 0.02 0.044 -0.047 0.103 0.095 1.000 0.152 -0.333 0.282 0.130 0.000

17 0 445 6 2 55 4 3 134 386 2 4 13 5 1 24

30 0 19 6 0 12 10 0 3 14 7 11 15 5 3 18

Service Error 48 0 9 11 1 16 11 0 6 25 9 18 22 7 1 21

Data courtesy of the BRANDEIS ATHLETICS WEBSITE

Photos: DANIEL OREN/the Justice. Design: ANNA MARTIN/the Justice.

22 THE JUSTICE ● SPORTS ● TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023

MEN’S SOCCER SEASON RECAP

By MILES GOLDSTEIN

JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The men’s soccer team saw eight of 11 starters return for head coach Gabe Margolis’ sixth season leading the Judges. The men’s soccer team drew their home opener against Western New England University (0-0) before defeating Eastern Connecticut State University (3-0) on the road, with all captains scoring a point. The Judges then lost at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (0-1) in a defensive effort that saw both teams take five shots on goal. They drew 1-1 against Bridgewater State University after forward Sancho Maroto Tobias ’24 scored an 85th minute equalizer. On a five game homestand to finish the month of September, the Judges went 1-3-1, losing to Wesleyan University (1-3), Wheaton College (0-1), and Vassar College (0-2) before beating Clark University (1-0) with a season-high 25 shots and tying their Conference Opener against Carnegie Mellon University (1-1) in a feisty game with 10 yellow cards, 5 for each team. Against Wheaton College, Goalkeeper Tyler Correnti ’26 made his only start of the season, making six saves in an impressive defensive effort before Wheaton broke through in the 83rd minute. Due to his performance against Clark and CMU, goalkeeper Quintin Wrabley ’25 earned a career first UAA Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week honors, with four saves to shutout Clark

and three stops against CMU for the draw. The Judges lost to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1-2) and won their first conference game at Washington University (2-1) when midfielder Rainer Osselman-Chai ’26 scored his first game winning point of his career, overall his third career point, within a minute left to play. Osselman-Chai’s performance against MIT and WashU earned him his first University Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Week honors. The men’s soccer team notched two ties against rank #8 Babson College (2-2) and #17 University of Chicago (0-0) before losing to #7 Emory University (2-4). In a game where neither team amassed more than four shots on goal, the Judges lost to Rochester University (0-1). In their final two conference games, the men’s soccer team lost to Case Western Reserve University (1-2) before holding off a second-half New York University (3-3) comeback and tying their final game.

Wrabley had 14 saves in what was an offensive shoot out. The Judges finished their season 3-8-6. Forward Roee Maor ’24 and Maroto Tobias led the team in goals with five each, while Maroto Tobias had a team-high four assists. Maor excelled in conference play, scoring four goals on eight shots in six conference games.

Wrabley had 80 saves in the season and four shutouts.

Defender Andres Gonzales ‘25, Maroto Tobias, Maor, and Osselman-Chai all received All-UAA SecondTeam honors while Wrabley received an honorable mention as a goalkeeper.

SOCC

SEASON STATISTIC REVIEW Brandeis Opponents Player Player Number 0 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 22 23 24 27 30 33 99

Goals

Shots

18 24

226 258

OVERALL (3,8,6) | UAA (1,3,3) Shots on Goal

Yellow Card

Red Card

Assists

Saves

Fouls

Corner Kicks

Penalty Kicks

Penalty Goals

93 115

37 32

3 1

13 19

87 73

181 160

80 90

2 3

2 1

Penalty Games Minutes Goals Assists Shots Shots on Yellow Red Penalty Goal Card Card Attempts Goals Played Played

16 Wrabley, Quintin 15 Dunstan-Maiese, Nick Osselmann-Chai, Rainer 17 Godinho, Christian 9 Vera, Juan 16 Carpenter-Shulman, Liam 6 14 Romo, Elan 17 Maroto Tobias, Sancho Wool-Lewis, Ethan 16 Loffredo, Slater 14 17 Chuang, Aidan 12 Dierks, Henning 17 Maor, Roee Etzbach, Reid 9 15 Beninda, Nico 4 Vogelman, Ben Murakawa, Kenshin 15 Karibian, Alex 2 Haithcock, Gabriel 15 17 Yu, Maddox 15 Marwell, Toby Gonzalez, Andres 17 Correnti, Tyler 1

1440 1076 1225 780 869 222 543 1114 1225 671 684 341 855 226 1128 60 560 6 923 932 422 1530 90

0 0 3 0 0 0 2 5 0 0 0 0 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0

0 0 1 1 2 0 2 4 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

0 4 28 1 3 0 21 60 3 8 6 9 16 1 25 1 3 0 6 16 2 13 0

0 2 14 0 1 0 10 22 1 0 3 3 9 0 9 0 1 0 4 9 1 4 0

1 5 4 1 1 0 0 1 2 4 0 4 3 0 0 0 2 0 4 5 0 0 0

0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Data courtesy of the BRANDEIS ATHLETICS WEBSITE

Photos: DANIEL OREN/the Justice. Design: ANNA MARTIN/the Justice.

THE JUSTICE ● SPORTS ● TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2023

23

WOMEN’S SOCCER SEASON RECAP goals on three shots. The Judges’ first loss came in their home conference opener versus Carnegie Mellon University (0-1). After a slow first half, they began to find their rhythm in the second but were ultimately unable to tie the game. The next two games, versus University of Southern Maine (0-1) and at Washington University (0-4) were losses. At Wheaton College, the Judges notched their sixth win of the season with a 1-0 victory due to midfielder Madison Sansone’s ’26 first career goal. However, they stumbled in their remaining conference games, losing five straight to end the season versus the University of Chicago (0-1), at Emory University (0-1), at #12 Rochester University (0-1), versus #7 Case Western Reserve University (0-2), and #16 New York University (1-4), failing to record a goal in four of the five contests. The Judges finished 6-8-3 The team’s leading goal scorer was Lenhart, with five.

Defender Rachel Watler ’25 led the team with four assists. Bassan was named an All-UAA honorable mention, recording 53 saves and 1.29 goals against average in 14 starts. Watler was also named an All-UAA honorable mention as a defender. Despite the 5-0-3 start, the Judges were unable to record a win in conference play going 0-7. Their last win versus a UAA opponent was November 2021 at New York University (2-1). Nine players who started at least ten games will return next year for what will be head coach Mary Shimko’s fifth season at the helm.

By MILES GOLDSTEIN

JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

For the 42nd time in 43 years, the Brandeis Women’s Soccer team kicked off their season against Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Judges led until the final minutes of the game, when #18 ranked Engineers scored on a penalty kick to tie the game, 1-1. They went on to dominate their next game against Fitchburg State University (2-0), amassing 45 shots while holding Fitchburg State to zero. The Judges scored three unanswered in a win at Babson College (3-1) before traveling to Rhode Island and beating Roger Williams University (2-1) with the help of Tanvi Raju ’27 scoring their first career goal. Their home game against Rhode Island University was canceled. In their next two games, the women’s team drew with Clark University (0-0) and at Johnson and Wales University (11). These draws earned goalkeeper Hannah Bassan ’25 their second UAA Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week honors for only allowing one goal and making seven saves for the week. The women’s soccer team recorded 28 shots and held their opponent to six in a win over Bridgewater State University (2-1). They pushed their streak of games without a loss to eight straight with a rout of Lesley College (5-1). Forward Sydney Lenhart ’24 recorded a hat-trick, scoring three

CER

SEASON STATISTIC REVIEW

Brandeis Opponents

OVERALL (6,8,3) | UAA (0,7)

Goals

Shots

Shots on Goal

Yellow Card

Red Card

Assists

Saves

Fouls

Corner Kicks

Penalty Kicks

Penalty Goals

18 21

244 181

98 92

10 10

1 0

11 16

69 76

161 151

93 53

1 3

1 3

Player Player Number

Games Minutes Goals Assists Shots Shots on Yellow Red Goal Card Card Played Played

0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 35

8 17 14 10 6 16 17 15 15 16 17 17 17 8 6 15 17 14 1 17 9 16 2 4

Logan, Amaya Harker, Elspeth Mann, Zareena Collins, Morgan Hackmeyer, Sydney Paglia, Dominique Lenhart, Sydney Sansone, Madison TeKrony, Charlotte Pennella, Ali Raju, Tanvi Watler, Rachel Kenkelen, Abby Barnett, Hannah Santiago, Selena Bassan, Hannah Grady, Briar Kipperman, Sam Weaver, Paris Ngoma, Yasla Alcock, Caroline Mbugua, Lacey Shackleford, Katharine Yamaguchi, Aki

485 1309 531 405 129 731 1159 505 1045 1001 1009 1460 1074 176 109 1044 1439 1161 11 1000 217 815 20 37

0 2 0 0 0 1 5 1 0 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0

0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0

0 4 8 2 1 11 20 13 3 21 50 4 14 5 0 0 9 9 1 39 4 24 0 2

0 2 3 1 1 4 12 7 1 5 24 1 7 1 0 0 2 4 1 10 2 8 0 2

0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0

1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Penalty Penalty Attempts Goals 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Data courtesy of the BRANDEIS ATHLETICS WEBSITE

Photos: DANIEL OREN/the Justice. Design: ANNA MARTIN/the Justice.

24 THE JUSTICE ● SPORTS ● TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2023

Men’s & Women’s Cross Country

MEN’S XC TIMES

XC SEASON RECAP

By SMILEY HUYNH

JUSTICE MANAGING EDITOR

Laced with uncertainty, the men’s and women’s cross country teams headed into the summer preseason with the entire cross country and track and field staff leaving — not knowing if they would get a coach in time for the next season. Luckily, on Aug. 4 it was officially announced that the new head coach for men’s and women’s cross country would be Michael Schmidt.

When their two week on-campus preseason arrived, they quickly worked to adjust to a new coaching style.

At the classic first meet, the Wellesley College XC Invitational, both the men and women’s team ran the 5k and had a very strong showing with a score of 15 and 33 points, respectively. In the season’s first 8k at the Williams Purple Valley XC Invite, the men’s team was led

by Lucas Dia ’25, finishing 32nd with a time of 27:15.1, while the women’s team ran the 6k led by Zada Forde ’25, finishing 25th with a time of 24:27.1. Their season continued at the Keene State College Invitational with the extremely untraditional distance of 4.87 miles for the men and 3.1 miles for the women. Both teams at the Connecticut College Invitational finished with a majority of runners getting a personal record at the meet. Heading into the championship season some of their stronger runners were plagued with injury; however, they did not give up. Heading down to Ohio, they competed at the University Athletic Association Cross Country Championship. The men, led by Dia in the 8k, missing the personal record he ran in Connecticut by 27.9 seconds, finished 8th with an average time of 27:18.

The women, led by Forde in the 6k, also missing the personal record run two weeks prior in Connecticut by 43.9 seconds, finished 8th with an average time of 24:53. The Judges left Case Western frustrated but determined and sent their top seven runners to the NCAA Division III East Region Cross Country Championships, with both teams placing 10th. The men’s team was led by TJ Carleo ’26 finishing 40th, running a personal record time of 26:05.4, with a team average time of 26:42. The women’s team was again led by Forde finishing 41st, running 2.7 seconds off her personal record, with a team average time of 23:48. Both teams concluded their seasons with a sense of unfulfilled potential, but with more certainty and trust in their new coach. Hopefully starting their upcoming indoor track season with an increased desire for improvement and setting their sights for better performances in both the UAA conference and in the regional championship.

Runner

8K

Carleo, TJ Dia, Lucas Goff, Willem Janicki, Dashiell Kim, Sam King, Robert Lee, Spencer Levin, Gabe Licklider, Hugh Lopez, Erik Meilander, Ethan Nguyen, Henry Rieden, Garret Wey, Jon Whalen, Dylan Willis, Daniel Zhao, Dylan

26:05.4* 26:16.5* 26:57.4* 26:54.3* 27:38.1* 26:34.2* 29:08.1* 31:02.4* 27:25.6* 31:25.0 31:53.6 26:40.8* 28:08.2* 30:06.4* 30:14.3 30:14.2* 27:51.3*

WOMEN’S XC TIMES Runner

6K

Anderson, Adah Au, Kyra Bissell, Sara Briggs, Katriona Forde, Zada Golub, Hannah Harrow, Sadie Intrieri, Juliette Morvay, Calli Reynolds, Lizzy Warkentine, Ella Zavell, Shayna

25:55.4* 23:53.9* 25:29.6* 24:13.2 23:12.9* 28:53.6* 24:00.2* 24:06.9 26:16.8* 23:35.2 23:56.5 25:02.9*

* Collegiete personal record Data courtesy of the TRACK & FIELD RESULTS REPORTING SYSTEM website

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE WINTER SEASON AT BRANDEIS Men’s Basketball

Women’s Basketball

Fencing

Nov. 28 Plymouth State University Dec. 1 Bates College Dec. 2 Colby College Dec. 9 Lassell University Dec. 29 Middlebury College Jan. 19 University of Chicago Jan. 21 Washington University Jan. 26 Emory University Jan. 28 Rochester University Feb. 9 Carnegie Mellon University Feb. 11 Case Western Reserve University Feb. 24 New York University

Nov. 27

Dec. 3

Dec. 7 Jan. 2 Jan. 19 Jan. 21 Jan. 26 Jan. 28 Feb. 9.

Feb. 11 Feb. 24

Roger Williams University Bridgewater State University Clark University University of Chicago Washington University Emory University Rochester University Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University New York University

Jan. 27

Brandeis Invitational Eric Sollee Invitational

Indoor Track

Swim and Dive

Jan. 13

Jan. 17 Jan. 20

Reggie Poyau Invitational

Stonehill College Bridgewater State University Keene State University

Photos: SMILEY HUYNH/the Justice. Design: ANNA MARTIN/the Justice.