The Justice, October 31, 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 6

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

OPIOID EPIDEMIC

Waltham, Mass.

UNDERSTANDING CONSERVATORSHIP

Diane Dimond places the practice of guardianship under scrutiny in new book ■ Dimond explores gender

dynamics and predatory practices of guardianship at book launch.

By LIN LIN HUTCHINSON JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

MAX FEIGELSON/the Justice

SIGNS: Protestors from the Doctor Patient Forum held up signs on campus calling on Brandeis University to fire Dr. Kolodny.

The DPF rally at Brandeis calls into question Dr. Kolodny's role in the opioid epidemic ■ An investigation into the

nuances behind the opioid crisis and the DPF's history reveal a complex web of perspectives.

By ANIKA JAIN JUSTICE EDITOR

The Doctor Patient Forum, an organization that raises awareness for chronic pain patients who cannot access pain medication, hosted a protest in front of the University on Oct. 25 to call for the immediate dismissal of Dr. Andrew Kolodny, the co-director of opioid policy research at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management. The protestors presented three major claims: that Kolodny is profiting from his advocacy to limit opioid prescriptions, that chronic pain patients who cannot access painkillers are increasingly taking their own lives, and that opioid overdoses increased because of Kolodny’s advocacy to limit opioid prescriptions.

In an Oct. 25 interview with the Justice, Claudia Merandi, the executive director and president of the DPF, claimed that Dr. Kolodny and the other members of PROP are spreading “misinformation against opioids” that has made accessing pain treatment difficult.

The DPF’s website claims that an estimated 40 million Americans experience severe chronic pain, approximately 5 to 8 million patients

are on daily opioid therapy for pain, and 40% of doctors refuse to accept new chronic pain patients on daily opioid medication.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that “in the United States, annual opioid prescribing rates increased from 72.4 to 81.2 prescriptions per 100 persons from 2006 to 2010, were constant from 2010 to 2012, and then decreased by 13.1% to 70.6 per 100 persons from 2012 to 2015.”

“Except for maybe COVID, the opioid addiction epidemic is the most urgent, worst public health crisis we’ve faced in the past 100 years,” said Kolodny in an Oct. 28 interview with the Justice. “What drug companies did that caused an epidemic of opioid addiction in the United States is they promoted opioids to be used in the highest possible doses for the longest possible duration.” According to the National Institutes of Health, three million U.S. citizens and another 16 million individuals worldwide had or currently suffer from opioid use disorder.

Kolodny claimed that the reason “is that the medical community was responding to a brilliant, multifaceted campaign launched by companies making opioids like Purdue [Pharma].” The campaign disguised the marketing of drugs as education and advocacy that would help patients suffering from chronic pain.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the shift in discourse

from “opiophobia” to “inappropriate prescribing” illuminates the tensions between the important issue of chronic pain, the lesser-known role of the pharmaceutical industry in pain-management training, and the moral conflict that physicians faced between offering their patients relief with opioids and preventing addiction.

Since 2010, Kolodny has been the president of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing, an organization dedicated to promoting cautious opioid prescribing practices in an effort to reduce opioid addiction and overdoses.

“Not treating pain with opioids has been an abject failure in the United States,” Merandi said. “Unfortunately, overdoses will only continue to increase because people are hitting the streets now for pain relief.” She claimed that overdoses have increased by 600% because of Kolodny’s involvement in the opioid crisis.

Merandi herself is a chronic pain patient with Crohn’s Disease. She is dependent on two forms of chemotherapy and receives medication through a port. “When I come out of remission, I have terrible, terrible pain. Opioids help me with that pain. While I don’t need to take them every day, when I need them, I should be able to have them,” she said.

During the DPF demonstration, Merandi and the other protestors

Last year, the Britney Spears conservatorship battle sparked a worldwide dialogue on the complexities of managing those deemed incapacitated. Her publicized struggles underscored the necessity of balancing protection with personal autonomy in guardianship arrangements.

On Oct. 25, the Brandeis University Press, in collaboration with the Women’s Studies Research Center and with support from the Brandeis Journalism and Legal Studies Programs, held a book launch and conversation featuring author and journalist Diane Dimond and her latest book titled "We're Here To Help: When Guardianship Goes Wrong."

In a discussion moderated by Prof. Ann Silvio (JOUR), past pro-

See GUARDIANSHIP, 5 ☛

ELECTION SECTION UPDATES REGARDING 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION — On Oct. 24, one of Donald Trump’s campaign lawyers, Jenna Ellis, pleaded guilty to charges regarding her efforts to overturn Trump’s 2020 loss in Georgia. Prosecutor Daysha Young said that Ellis “intentionally aided and abetted” former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and Georgia-based attorney Ray Smith by incorrectly telling Georgia state senators that thousands of pro-Biden voters were convicted of felonies, under the legal voting age, or dead, The Associated Press reported.

Along with Trump and 18 of his associates, Ellis was charged for violating Georgia's anti-racketeering law, otherwise known as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Currently, there are 13 state felony charges leveled against Trump under the RICO Act. However, the Georgia Election Interference Case is only one of 4 federal cases Trump is convicted in. Altogether, these cases amount to 91 violations in total. Despite the number of charges, Trump can still legally run for president, given that he is older than 35, a “natural born” U.S. citizen, and has lived in the country for over 14 years. There are no federal criminal limitations to run for office.

— An Oct. 26 Gallup report shows President Joe Biden’s approval rating at its lowest, falling from 86% to 75% among Democrats between September and

October. This 11-point difference puts his approval rate among all U.S. adults down to 37% — another personal low. Gallup suggests that this drop stems from some of the public’s reaction to Biden’s clear alignment with Israel. On Oct. 7, President Biden announced his intention to wholeheartedly support Israel: “Israel has the right to defend itself and its people. Full stop.

There’s never a justification for terrorist attacks. And my administration’s support for Israel security is rock solid and unwavering,” he stated. Amid Biden’s claims to support Israel have been criticisms from lawmakers and protests demanding ceasefires and humanitarian aid.

— On Oct. 28, former Vice President Mike Pence announced that he is suspending his presidential campaign. According to The Associated Press, Pence is the first major candidate to leave the race after being unable to garner enough support for his campaign. Axios points to Pence’s notable lack of campaign funding, reporting that he entered October with $1.18 million cash on hand while Donald Trump started the month with $37 million cash on hand, according to their most recent filings with the Federal Election Commission.

— Sophia De Lisi

See OPIOIDS, 5 ☛

DeSantis visits

Basement Records

Chief justice of India

 A surprise appearance by the

By MOMOCA MAIRAJ

Florida governor fueled the fire of a Newton protest.

 Basement Records empowers artists, musicians, and creators on campus.

By LEA ZAHARONI AND CAYENN

By MINA ROWLAND

LANDAU Photo courtesy of E

ducer of “Sixty Minutes,” Dimond highlighted predatory guardianships, the lack of regulations and supervision, and the secrecy surrounding the issue.

“There was a guardian in Nevada who was so evil,'' Dimond said. “I know these words sound hard coming from a journalist who’s talking about some who they’ve never met, but it's pure evil that when your ward dies, you don't tell their family.”

Under both voluntary and involuntary conservatorship, individuals deemed incapacitated, known as "wards," often lose their civil rights, such as the right to make decisions about their finances, healthcare, or living arrangements. The guardian then assumes the responsibility of managing the ward's financial assets and property.

During her eight years of research for the book, Dimond encountered endless stories of a system designed to protect those incapacitated by mental and/or physical disability gone horribly wrong. She illustrates how the sys-

Just keep swimming

By KELSEY STEVENS

NEWS 3 FORUM 9

Miguel Cabrera retires FEATURES 6

Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY

For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org

ARTS AND CULTURE 14

Make your voice heard!

Submit letters to the editor to forum@thejustice.org

By JEFFREY WANG

COPYRIGHT 2023 FREE AT BRANDEIS.

SPORTS 12

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 ● NEWS ● THE JUSTICE

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

POLICE LOG MEDICAL EMERGENCY Oct. 21—There was an intoxicated party. A local ambulance was notified and responded.

Oct. 22—A community member felt shaky and weak. A local ambulance was notified and responded. The patient refused medical treatment.

Oct. 22—An intoxicated party refused medical treatment.

Oct. 22—A community member fell and hit their head. Patient refused further medical treatment.

Oct. 23—An individual was feeling faint. The patient refused medical treatment.

Oct. 24—A caller stated they fell and hit their head. The patient refused medical treatment.

Oct. 24—A caller requested an examination for an existing injury. BEMCo staff responded and the patient refused further treatment.

Oct. 24—A caller reported an injured athlete. The patient was transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES Oct. 20—A party experienced harassment on a social media platform. Investigation to follow.

Oct. 20—A community member wanted to file a report of past harassment. Investigation to follow.

Oct. 24—A caller reported unusual behavior.

Oct. 24—An officer noticed an inappropriate flier on a bulletin and removed it.

Oct. 26—A suspicious person was reported. Investigation to follow.

Oct. 26—An individual reported social media harassment of others. Investigation to follow.

Oct. 26—An individual got off the train and began to yell at people in the streets.

The party was transported.

VANDALISM Oct. 23—A caller reported graffiti on a white board.

Oct. 23—Vandalism was reported on a dorm room door.

Oct. 24—A caller reported graffiti inside a building.

Oct. 24—Vandalism was reported on the guard rail.

MISCELLANEOUS Oct. 20—A caller reported that their jacket was stolen. An investigation is to follow.

Oct. 21—A caller reported a motor vehicle accident involving a University van.

No injuries reported.

Oct. 26—A caller reported residents being loud. The Department of Community Living responded.

Oct. 26—A community member requested an evaluation. BEMCo staff responded and the patient refused further medical treatment.

Oct. 26—Waltham Police Department requested backup. Patient transported.

— Compiled by Sophia De Lisi

BRIEF The University’s plans to observe Native American Heritage Month November is recognized in the U.S. as National Native American History Month, and Brandeis recently announced their plans to commemorate Native communities. In an Oct. 30 email, the University informed its students of initiatives and two events that will take place throughout November. The email stated that while the month is characterized by Thanksgiving, it is also a time for Native American and Alaska Native communities “to honor ancestors and remember the sacrifices they made.”

On Nov. 1, two screenings of the documentary ”More Than a Word,” directed by John and Kenn Little of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, will take place in the Alumni Lounge. The screenings will also be accessible online. The first will be from 10:00 to 11:15 a.m., and Intercultural Center Director Habiba Braimah will moderate an informal discussion following the documentary. It will be shown again from 2:00 to 3:15 p.m.

Following the second screening, Braimah will moderate a Q&A with LeManuel Bitsóí, the vice president of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and a member of the Diné community, and Anik Chartrand, a fourth-year graduate student at Brandeis and a member of the Métis community. According to the documentary’s website, it

“places the successful, indigenous-led effort to change the name of Washington’s NFL football team within the wider context of Native American history and the long, destructive legacy of racial stereotyping, white supremacy, and cultural appropriation.”

The second event, a Native American artist showcase, is to take place on Nov. 21. It will feature painter and musician Geraldine Barney, a member of the Diné community from New Mexico whose work was previously featured in the Smithsonian Music Series, as well as regional and national art fairs. According to the email, “Geraldine’s art and music stems from her love of nature, particularly from the Southwest, and will share her musical and artistic talents.” At 12 p.m., Bitsóí will introduce the showcase, followed by Barney’s presentation and performance at 12:05. A Q&A, moderated by Bitsóí, will take place at 12:45. The event will be at the International Lounge in Usdan.

In addition to the events, the University is also promoting the Brandeis Library’s Native American Collections, and encourages students “to learn more about and support local Indigenous communities and organizations.”

Since 2020, the Intercultural Center has hosted an annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day event, the first two of which were held virtually. This year’s event took place on Oct. 23 and focused on Indigenous language reclamation. The event hosted three speakers, including Eva Blake, a Citizen of the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag

Nation and the managing director of Philanthropic Partnerships for Grassroots International. Dawn Duncan, a Cherokee and Powhatan woman who serves as the president of Grant Connection and a member of the board of the directors of the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness, and Evangelina Macias, who is Amskapi Pikuni Blackfeet and A’aninin GrosVentre and Helaine B. Allen and Cynthia L. Berenson distinguished visiting professor in the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, also spoke at the event.

— Isabel Roseth

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS ■ The Senate log provided inadequate context for Allison Weiner’s ’25 quote. A sentence was added to clarify that they voted against the Student Union’s resolution out of concern for Brandeis’ safety, given the high Jewish population on campus. (Oct. 24, Page 2).

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

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GIANNA MORALES/the Justice

FALL FEST: To welcome the Halloween spirit, University students sang with in their a capella groups in their costumes.

THE JUSTICE ● NEWS ● TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023

GUEST LECTURER

WHAT’S WITH WALTHAM?

Chief justice of India gives a talk, emphasizing various ideas of freedom and equality

Mayoral candidates go headto-head in Thursday debate

■ Dr. Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud addressed themes of oppression, liberty, and caste during a conference in Sherman Function Hall.

By MOMOCA MAIRAJ

JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

From Oct. 19 to Oct. 22, The Center for Global Development and Sustainability of the Heller School held the Sixth International Conference on the Unfinished Legacy of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, one of the architects of the Indian Constitution and an advocate for people from historically disadvantaged castes in India. This conference was part of the Caste Conference series, which GDS holds annually. This year’s theme was “Law, Caste, and The Pursuit of Justice,” with keynote speaker Dr. Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, the chief justice of India.

Chief Justice Chandrachud was appointed to the Supreme Court of India in 2016 and became the 50th chief justice in 2022. His judicial career started as chief justice of Maharashtra, the birthplace of Ambedkar. Chandrachud went on to become the Mumbai high court chief justice until 2013. He received his Master of Law and a Doctorate of Judicial Sciences from Harvard University with a focus on affirmative action and comparative constitutional law.

Chandrachud’s father was also chief justice and had previously met Ambedkar, who earned a total of nine degrees and influenced major socio-political reform in India post-independence in spite of his status as a Dalit — the lowest level in the Hindu caste system.

“Ambedkar’s work inspired me as a human being and as a justice,” Chandrachud said.

One of the ideas that Ambedkar advanced was emancipatory constitutionalism. According to Chandrachud, emancipatory constitutionalism is significant because “remedying historical wrongs ought to be the goal

of any constitution.” As Chief Justice of India, Chandrachud focuses on the protection of laborers and women, as well as religious and linguistic minorities. He emphasized that oppression was not simply the result of an individual’s actions but that the legal system often plays a pivotal role in legitimizing oppression. He gave examples from India such as slavery in Kerala only being abolished in 1855 after it became ingrained in the nation’s fabric, and the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871, which criminalized people based on their caste.

He further explained that the “need to rectify past injustice in the ongoing pursuit of equality” references several forms of historical oppression such as the transatlantic slave trade, Native American displacement, and anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation. According to Chandrachud, since marginalized people are not allowed to rise above their own oppression, oppression is institutionalized.

Chief Justice Chandrachud explored the idea of liberty and “negative conceptions of freedom,” such as someone in prison not being free and someone out of prison being free. However, there is more to freedom, or lack thereof, that is influenced if there is an economic, social or gender-related power structure against an individual. Ambedkar argued that ensuring liberty requires ensuring that people are not dominated by economic, social, or religious power.

Chandrachud also discussed how India’s Constitution seeks to correct the lingering effects of the former caste system. While he “used Article 17 [of India’s Constitution] in the quest against [caste discrimination]” and stopping discrimination against “women of menstruating age from praying in temple,” there are still upper caste dominations that impact the lives of Indian citizens.

— Editor’s Note: Justice Senior Staff Writer and Student Union Correspondent Max Feigelson contributed to the reporting of this article.

MAX FEIGELSON/ the Justice

CAMPUS VISIT: Chief Justice Chandrachud of India gave a speech in the Sherman Function Hall and visited Dr. B.R Ambedkar’s bust statue in Goldfarb Library.

■ Mayoral race seen as a test of McCarthy’s nearly 20 years in office; election set for Nov. 7.

By MESHULAM UNGAR JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

A packed audience of Waltham residents came out to the Clark Government Center in downtown Waltham on Thursday, Oct. 26 to hear Waltham’s mayoral candidates share their visions for the future of Waltham and see their leadership styles clash. Jeannette A. McCarthy, the incumbent who is running for her sixth consecutive term, is facing off against Jonathan Paz, a first-term city councilor from Ward 9; both candidates are Democrats. At issue was the future of the city’s transportation system, the management of the 190 acres of land that previously housed the Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center, and the rise in housing prices.

Several key factors shaped the terms of the debate and the race overall. A bedside style alarm clock served to halt the candidates remarks and rebuttals. Candidates each had a chance to offer opening and closing statements and a moderator presented the questions. No direct argumentative back-and-forth took place, contrary to the style of national politics, but the candidates delivered indirect jabs against each other’s leadership and policy positions. On issues of government transparency, Paz called for an upgrade to the city’s website and council meetings. McCarthy pointed out that the city clerk, which handles the announcement and information regarding city meetings, reports to the city council, not the mayor.

Transportation was another point of debate. Paz said his idea of installing bus shelters at stops in downtown Waltham was approved by the relevant commissions and money was allocated. However the project was pushed off in a way that caused its price to increase from approximately $20,000 to $100,000, in addition to not being completed yet. Both agreed that a goal should be keeping as many cars off the road and trying to get residents to use public transportation. McCarthy is pushing for a multimodal transportation center that would combine rail, bus, car, and other forms of public transport.

On housing, McCarthy cited dozens of units of housing she supported, locating each by their address. Each of these locations are also in her campaign mailers. Paz highlighted what he saw as the McCarthy administration’s lack of forward thinking vision on the housing issue, with no new master plan released. It should be noted that consultations were held last summer on the new plan and it is in preparatory

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stages. Paz took a shot at McCarthy’s record on education, questioning McCarthy’s leadership when the Waltham school system is unable to find a permanent superintendent. Under McCarthy’s leadership, the city is building a new high school which is expected to be ready by August 2024.

With every round of applause, Paz received strong support, but McCarthy received a roaring, often standing ovation from the crowd.

In an Oct. 26 interview with the Justice following the debate, McCarthy discussed her life-long connection to Brandeis. Her mother worked as a cook in the Faculty Lodge and quietly brought teenage McCarthy to work when Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir visited Brandeis in 1973.

The various University presidents have been “good partners” according to McCarthy, who added that she called President Liebowitz after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Sponsoring the debate was the League of Women Voters of Waltham and the Waltham Alliance for Teaching, Community Organizing and Housing, the Community Development Corporation of Waltham, otherwise known as WATCH CDC. McCarthy began her long career of public service for the city of Waltham before Paz was born. In the debate and elsewhere, Paz often mentions his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, which he graduated from in 2016. McCarthy, on the other hand, rarely mentions her bachelor’s of science in biology from Boston College, despite being in the second co-ed undergraduate class ever in the College’s history or her Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University. Soon after graduating from these Boston-area schools, McCarthy began working for the city of Waltham, and since then she has served in all three portions of the city government: school committee, city council, and executive branch/mayor’s office. Other than his single term on the city council, Paz worked for a labor union and immigrant rights’ lobby. He comes from a first generation Bolivian-American family while McCarthy is a native of Waltham, graduating from Waltham High School’s Class of 1971.

Paz’s supporters have argued that he represents a new chance for the city and that he is not caught in the city’s old political orthodoxy. McCarthy’s supporters see a track record of consistent success and an opponent with little experience. In an interview with the Justice, Sean Durkee, a chief warrant officer in the Massachusetts Army National Guard and Ward 6 city councilor who supports McCarthy, echoed that view.

Durkee referenced a common phrase that President Joseph R. Biden’s father used to tell Biden: “Don’t compare me to the Almighty, compare me to the alternative.”

Whether or not Waltham wants the alternative will be decided Nov. 7 at the ballot box.

MESHULAM UNGAR/ the Justice

DEBATE: Waltham mayoral candidates, incumbent Jeanette McCarthy and challenger Jonathan Paz, encouraged city residents to register to vote in order to participate in the upcoming election.

THE JUSTICE ● NEWS ● TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023

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OPIOIDS: Exploring the complicated nuances behind the U.S. opioid epidemic CONTINUED FROM 1 claimed that the government and the CDC contracted and paid Koldony to advocate against opioid prescriptions. One of the signs they held read, “Andrew Koldony is making a fortune off the pain of sick and disabled patients.”

Merandi also stated that Kolodny was paid as a consultant for opioid-related series such as “Dopesick” on Hulu and “Painkillers” on Netflix.

“He’s basically addicted to two things: lying and money,” Merandi said.

When asked to verify the claims about how he makes his money, Kolodny explained that he has worked with several states since 2019 to sue the opioid industry for causing the opioid crisis. “I’m very proud of that work,” he said.

He hopes that his work will cause billions of dollars to come into the States over the next decade to “help clean up the mess that these companies caused through their greed.” Kolodny emphasized that the effort is a work in progress to ensure that states do not misuse the earnings from the lawsuit. He confirmed that he is paid as a medical witness.

In a previous testimony against Johnson & Johnson, Kolodny said that the state paid him $725 an hour to assist Oklahoma attorneys in preparing their case and to appear as an expert witness. According to his estimates, he received $300,000 to $500,000 at the time of his pretrial deposition.

Kolodny also confirmed to the Justice that he was a medical advisor for Dopesick to make sure the scripts were medically and historically accurate. “I don’t have some cut or share in it, but I was involved in producing it. And I am extremely proud of my role. I was not a big fan of the Netflix show ‘Painkiller.’ I think it’s too sensationalized, not historically accurate enough, overly dramatized. But ‘Dopesick’ is something that I think everyone should watch.”

He stated that he was paid “a modest amount of money,” estimating a few hundred dollars for reading each script.

“Dopesick” focuses on the conflicts of interest between Purdue Pharma and various government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Justice as well as the legal case against Purdue Pharma and their development, testing, and marketing of the drug OxyContin.

Purdue Pharma is owned by the Sackler family, who have faced multiple lawsuits regarding the overprescription of addictive pharmaceutical drugs, especially OxyContin. For their role in the opioid epidemic in the United States, the Sacklers have been referred to as “the most evil family in America” and “the worst drug dealers in history.”

On the DPF's X account and TikTok ac-

count, Merandi has posted multiple tweets and TikToks defending the Sackler family as the “scapegoats” for the opioid epidemic and claiming that “the truth will prevail” to clear their name.

Kolodny believes that the danger of opioid prescription lies in patients becoming tolerant to the pain relief effect. The NIH reports that the more regularly a patient takes opioids, the more reduced the response will be, leading doctors to consistently increase doses to achieve the desired effect.

“If you take an opioid every day, you become dependent on it, meaning you’re going to feel sick when you try to come off. And the longer you’re on it, and the higher the dose, the harder it is to ever come off,” Koldony said. “Many doctors don’t appreciate how hard it is for patients to come off [opioids].”

During an Oct. 28 interview with the Justice, Dr. David Juurlink, a hospital-based specialist in internal medicine and toxicology and long-time member of PROP, addressed the DPF’s claim that opioid-related overdoses have increased: “It’s true that overdoses have increased. It’s not true that those increased because of changes in prescribing. It’s a very easy mistake to make and even some doctors have made [it]. The overdoses have risen because the nature of the illicit drug supply has become much more toxic courtesy of the profusion of fentanyl and other compounds in the drug supply.”

“What we would like to see happen nowadays is that opioids be used much more sparingly and mainly for short-term,” Juurlink stated. “In a way, the chronic pain patients have a valid point which is that they shouldn’t have these medicines taken away from them.”

Following the DPF’s protest, Juurlink shared a thread on X in support of Kolodny and his work.

Doctors can turn to alternative and effective pain medications that are not opioids and do not require increased doses, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Over-the-counter NSAIDs include ibuprofen and naproxen. According to Kolodny, studies have shown that even for the most excruciating types of pain, such as kidney stone pain — medically known as renal colic — an injection of an NSAID such as ketorolac can relieve the pain just as effectively as morphine, an opioid, without any of the side effects like nausea and severe constipation.

“NSAIDs would generally be much better.

They relieve severe pain, and they don’t have … the side effect of addiction, which is a game changer. When that happens to somebody, it can really ruin their life or their family’s life,” Kolodny stated. “The tolerance is less of a problem because you’re not going to have to try and take them off the opioid.”

However, with these benefits have notable

risks as well. The British Journal of General Practice cautions that NSAIDs increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, myocardial infarction, and stroke. “All NSAIDs increase both bleeding and cardiovascular disease risk” with a considerable increase in risk in older individuals. The same article estimates that NSAID use in patients above the age of 65 “more than doubles the risk of acute kidney injury in the next 30 days.”

Harvard Health Publishing writes that NSAIDs can be dangerous because they function by blocking proteins called COX enzymes, which results in the reduction of prostaglandins. These prostaglandins also play a key role in pain and inflammation. Furthermore, there are two types of NSAIDs: nonselective and COX-2 selective NSAIDs. The British Journal of General Practice specified that non-selective NSAIDs “increase the risk of a [gastrointestinal] bleed four-fold, whereas COX-2 inhibitors increase this risk 3-fold.”

Although most of these concerns are comorbid with age, it is important to note that many individuals who qualify for long-term opioid use are close to 65, explaining the growing wariness for NSAID side effects in older age groups. The study found that of long term opioid users in 2005, the average ages for women and men were about 56 and 53, respectively.

In an interview with the New York Times in 2016, Kolodny explained that racial stereotypes protect minority populations from being prescribed opioids as pain killers because doctors worry they might sell them or become addicted.

However, many Black and Latinx communities still disproportionately suffer from drug abuse due to the 1970s heroin epidemic and the crack cocaine epidemic in the late ’80s and early ’90s. These communities are “also getting hit very hard by fentanyl,” Kolodny told the Justice.

The final claim of the DPF was that patients are increasingly commiting suicide due to a lack of relief from their chronic pain. In a press release shared with the Justice on Oct. 25, the DPF cited more than 80 suicides associated with the reduction of opioid prescriptions, documented from 2016 to 2022 by the National Pain Council.

“On the one hand, they have a point, and everyone in PROP would agree with that point, which is that [chronic pain patients] should not have their meds summarily taken away because that can be harmful. [Kolodny] knows this. [He] has said this publicly,” Juurlink said. “What they don’t seem to accept … is the notion that they’re going into opioid withdrawal.”

Kolodny stated that increased sensitivity is a common effect of opioid withdrawal that can convince patients that the opioids were help-

ing them instead of harming them.

Juurlink suggested that the DPF may receive financial support from the pharmaceutical industry. He added an addendum to this thread on X that one of the executives of the U.S. Pain Foundation, Cindy Steinberg, appeared at the rally at Brandeis. The U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs released a report that provides evidence that the U.S. Pain Foundation received nearly $3 million from Purdue and other drug companies that produce opioids. The former Founder and CEO of the U.S. Pain Foundation Paul Gileno was also arrested for embezzling $1.5 million from the foundation.

Merandi said that claims that the DPF receive funding by pharmaceutical companies are false and that they exclusively rely on donations. She confirmed in an Oct. 28 email to the Justice that the DPF is a nonprofit organization.

Tax-exempt organizations that have gross receipts of at least $200,000 or assets worth at least $500,000 must file Form 990 on an annual basis. As of press time, the Justice could not find a copy of the DPF's tax returns on ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer to verify claims as to whether or not they receive funding from pharmaceuticals. This is most likely because the DPF makes less than $50,000 in gross receipts and is not included in ProPublica’s data.

However, Merandi claimed that the DPF has a membership of 30,000 and chapters in all 50 states as well as one in Australia, Canada, and the U.K., suggesting that the DPF has a significant support base.

In September 2020, Merandi teamed up with Dr. Arnold Feldman, a retired anesthesiologist, to raise money for a possible class action lawsuit against Kolodny for “us[ing] his position to destroy the lives of millions of Americans all the while profiting personally.”

Feldman has been charged with seven counts of negligence and unprofessional conduct. He allowed an unlicensed and unsupervised employee to insert an IV into a patient, causing the patient to go into cardiac arrest. Feldman was unable to revive him.

Although Feldman fought against the suspension of his medical license in 2016 in Louisiana, the state medical board accused Feldman of a coverup. They stated he gave investigators false records and testimony.

“Dr. Feldman failed to adequately monitor the patient, exercised poor management or care of the patient after complications arose, and all of his resuscitation attempts were contributing factors to the patient’s death,” the board said in its ruling.

The GoFundMe that Feldman and Merandi started has raised over $20,000 to sue Kolodny.

Why the lawsuit has not yet happened and where the donations will be directed is unknown as of press time.

ANIKA JAIN/the Justice

GUARDIANSHIP: Dimond discusses voluntary and involuntary conservatorships CONTINUED FROM 1 tem becomes “predatory,” “causing the early deaths of wards, the isolation of their families, and most importantly, the desolation of their finances.” She reveals that there is a network of guardians, lawyers, and judges that work together to take advantage of the wards and benefit from guardianship.

“It [has] shaken my faith in the justice system, I have to be honest with you” Dimond said in response to a question about the impact of her eight year investigation on her perception of the judiciary system. “I look at judges differently now. I look at lawyers differently now. I'm sorry, I know there are great

lawyers in guardianship, but I'm a cynic by nature,” she continued.

Dimond spoke to a complex intersection of gender roles and the dynamics of guardianship. Throughout her extensive research, Dimond observed that a considerable number of guardians were women. This discovery, she noted, was unsettling considering the societal expectations that women should be inherently nurturing, compassionate, and caring.

Furthermore, the complexities of guardianship extend to encompass the experiences of young female caregivers who are caring for their mothers. These younger female caregivers are often granted power of attorney by their mothers when that mother’s husband dies. However, per Dimond's findings, many

judges, under the disguise of prioritizing the well-being of the incapacitated individual, opt to appoint a professional guardian instead.

This decision sidelines the daughter from the caregiving process and any complaints raised by the daughter can lead to the guardian restricting her access to her mother or implementing stringent limitations on her involvement.

“This is a profound social burden for women,” Dimond said.

While guardianship aims to prioritize the well-being of those who lack capacity, Dimond cautions about the potential influence of individuals with a thirst for power, who exploit the system.

“Once you get into the legal system, it can

grab your throat,” Dimond warns. “It [guardianship] can also work. It can work if you get a compassionate judge. But I've found too many cases where it wasn’t great, in fact it was downright awful.”

Dimond’s critique of guardianship sheds light on the flaws within its framework. Her extensive, award-winning career as a freelance journalist, author, columnist, and former television correspondent deepens her readerships’ understanding of the intricacies of issues related to crime and justice.

— Editor’s Note: Justice Editorial Assistant Grace Doh contributed to the reporting of this article.

features

6 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 ● FEATURES ● THE JUSTICE

just

VERBATIM | DAVID LYNCH

My cow is not pretty, but it is pretty to me.

ON THIS DAY…

FUN FACT

Benito Mussolini was appointed prime minister of Italy in 1922.

1,400 attempted book bans took place in Florida from 2022 to 2023.

What DeSantis’ Newton pit stop — and ensuing protests — tell us about the Massachusetts Family Institute’s growing influence Massachusetts Family Institute and its associated organizations make use of tax-exemption rules to advocate for restricting sex education, limiting LGBTQ+ rights, and promoting antiabortion legislation — all in Boston’s backyard, and with increasing support from powerful conservative politicians.

By LEA ZAHARONI AND CAYENN LANDAU JUSTICE STAFF WRITER AND JUSTICE EDITOR

On the evening of Oct. 13, crowds of protesters gathered outside the Newton Marriott to stand against the Massachusetts Family Institute, a conservative nonprofit holding their annual fundraising banquet inside the hotel. Partway through, they were met with a surprise: Florida Governor and 2024 presidential hopeful for the GOP nomination Ron DeSantis was there on the scene to speak at the event.

Though the protesters heard whispers that DeSantis might be in the area following his campaign stop in New Hampshire earlier that week, they weren’t necessarily expecting him. “We saw the devil himself,” said E wryly in an Oct. 26 interview with the Justice.

E, who declined to give their full name in the interest of protecting their identity for personal safety, is a member and organizer of the Stonewall Liberation Organization, which spearheaded the Oct. 13 protest.

As a Massachusetts organization composed of members fighting for queer and trans self determination, E explained that much of the SLO’s work encompasses showing up en-masse to stand up against discriminatory and anti-queer presences and policies. By E’s count over 100 people — including a marching band — were present at the Oct. 13 protest.

“It [the SLO] started in March, and really grew out of a collection of organizers who had been doing defenses of LGBTQ+ events … we’re not interested in reformism,” E said. “We stand in solidarity with oppressed and exploited people everywhere.”

The Waltham chapter of Food Not Bombs made dinner — a fruit salad, a lentil soup, and a pasta dish — for the Stonewall Liberation Organization and other groups and protestors who showed up at the Newton Marriott. “This was our first event together,” said Jamie Krikeles, a Waltham resident and organizer with Food Not Bombs, in an Oct. 29 interview with the Justice. “It was nice to have this event [the dinner] in our backyard.” By her count, Jamie said over 75 plates of fresh food were served.

As a lead organizer for the protest, E emphasized that this was not their first rodeo. The SLO has been present in the defense of drag story hours, and this past summer, the SLO also ran a campaign against a Boston coffee shop operating as what they called a “missionary front” for Public Church Boston, which offered conversion therapy services. Due to the pressure the shop later shut down.

For participants like E, DeSantis’ unexpected presence only solidified just how high profile the Massachusetts Family Institute had become in the national political playing field. “It’s a wakeup call to people in Massachusetts in general,” E said. “While this is a blue state people shouldn’t get too comfortable. Ron DeSantis was in their backyard, and they didn’t even know.”

search engine on their website, and hosting events like Pro-Family Lobby Day — nonprofits can lose their tax-exempt status if the majority of their programming is attempting to influence legislation. As listed on their website, the rest of their activities encompass legal advocacy, research, and education on the following topics: “Safeguarding the rights of churches and religious organizations to operate free from government interference; Championing the rights of all individuals to practice and live according to their faith; Strengthening, protecting, and preserving a Christian view of marriage as embodying the complementarity of male and female; Affirming the inherent differences between men and women as a reflection of God’s glory to be embraced, not a weakness to be overcome; Recognizing the male and female sexes as a real and enduring part of a person’s created nature, not an imaginary social construct; Protecting life, including the lives of the unborn, the elderly, and the most vulnerable among us; Promoting parents’ rights regarding the education and welfare of their children; Safeguarding the innocence of childhood as central to children’s healthy spiritual and mental development.”

MFI lists five organizations as their “allies,” all of which share the same general mission of theological social reform through advocacy. Family Research Council is a nonprofit research organization, which

was designated as a hate group by Southern Poverty Law Center in 2010. In 2020, FRC applied for and was granted consideration as a “church” by the IRS under the claim that it conducts weddings, baptisms, and funerals. This designation excuses it from public inspection through submission of an annual Form 990 and has become a recent trend among evangelical nonprofits.

In an Oct. 28 interview with the Justice, C, a leftist organizer who is immensely active in Waltham local politics and declined to be identified using their full name for personal safety concerns, said of MFI and their allies: “What I’ve learned from following them is you can do whatever you want in America as long as you call it religion.”

E agreed with this sentiment, explaining that although conversion therapy on minors is illegal for mental health practitioners to perform in Massachusetts under bill H.140 — known in some conservative contexts as the Counseling Ban — loopholes allow pastors to offer it as a service. E said that this loophole is one that MFI supports. On the MFI site under “Transgenderism: Parent Resource Guide,” a statement reads: “This Counseling Ban [H.140] does not (yet) apply to pastors or other unlicensed counselors … If you need help finding the therapy you or your child needs on issues of sexual expression or gender identity, please contact us for a list of pro-family referrals.”

Another ally, Focus on the Family, is a fundamentalist organization which is primarily known for lobbying against LGBTQ+ rights, and have been accused

The MFI: A conservative Massachusetts nonprofit with a consistently-growing revenue Founded in 1991, MFI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization — meaning that because their purposes are religious they are tax-exempt, and importantly, donations are tax deductible. Though much of their focus is legislative — advocating against the ROE Act which safeguards abortions, linking a legislator

Design: HEDY YANG/the Justice

Justice file photo

WEDDING: Six students were married in lower Usdan.

Photo courtesy of E POSTER: Protesters’ signs pushed for more sex ed to stand against MFI.

THE JUSTICE ● FEATURES ● TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 7

by several prominent scientists of misrepresenting data in their advocacy. They also declared church status in 2017.

Alliance Defending Freedom, a free law firm that works to expand Christianity in public schools and spaces, outlaw abortion, and restrict LGBTQ+ rights, is MFI’s most prominent ally. As Amy Littlefield of “The Nation” wrote, “The organization writes model bills and funds and litigates court cases that seek to weaponize a narrow interpretation of religious freedom in service of a whole host of conservative priorities.” One of those model bills was vastly consequential for Dobbs v. Jackson, which overruled Roe v. Wade. They also litigated the infamous Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission case, which ruled that a cake shop owner did not have to serve a gay couple if her religious beliefs precluded it.

ADF is extraordinarily connected in right-wing politics, with their president Mike Farris serving on former Vice President Mike Pence’s advisory board for his nonprofit Advancing American Freedom. Farris attended several White House events during Donald Trump’s presidency, notably to celebrate Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination for the Supreme Court. According to IRS forms, both MFI and ADF’s assets and revenue have grown considerably in the last two years, with the latter’s assets skyrocketing 60% from $48.7 million in 2020. IRS regulations prevent the disclosure of donors’ information on tax documents, but ADF is funded mostly by extremely large donors –- just one donated $31 million over two years. They’ve also been very active in the prevention of donors’ names being published, even winning a Supreme Court case that ended California’s requirement for non-profits to release the names of their major donors, Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta 2021. Along with the hiding of executive salaries, keeping donor information obscured is thought to be the reason behind applying for church status among nonprofits.

“We finally hit the map — we’ve got both the protesters and Governor DeSantis here” The press covering DeSantis’ visit to the MFI and what went on inside the Marriott was minimal. One of the only articles published about the event — which included a transcript of DeSantis’s statements — was put out by the NewBostonPost, a conservative media organization that shares a founder, Robert Bradley, with MFI. In a speech delivered inside the Marriott as reported by the NewBostonPost, DeSantis, to laughter, said that he wasn’t giving a campaign speech because “I know this is a nonprofit.” But, he said, “I appreciate you guys for what you’re doing. As somebody that’s spent some time in a very hostile environment in Cambridge, Massachusetts [during his undergrad at Harvard University] … I know it’s not easy. But you’re doing the right thing, and you have my support.”

In a response to a request for comment about DeSantis’ arrival at the fundraising banquet, Ian Huyett, the MFI president, told the Justice in an Oct. 24 email

Photo courtesy of E

RESISTANCE: Protestors rallied in solidarity with “peoples everywhere.” correspondence that “[the] MFI does not endorse Ron DeSantis or any other candidate. However, we agree with Governor DeSantis’ commitment to free speech, parental rights, and to ensuring that female athletes are not forced to compete against biological males.”

Under IRS federal law, 501(c)(3) organizations like MFI cannot “directly or indirectly participate in, or intervene in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.”

DeSantis has stated that if he becomes president, he hopes to “eliminate the IRS.” If the organization does so, they can lose their tax-exempt status; hence the disclaimers from both DeSantis and MFI on his appearance at the banquet. Still, when introducing DeSantis, MFI founder Robert Bradley stated that “The governor has been a fierce supporter of the values we at MFI have been fighting for. For the family, for religious liberty, for taking the horrible sex ed courses out of the classrooms, I can think we all agree what a great job he’s done as governor of Florida.”

To applause, the speaker continued: “We are absolutely thrilled that he’s here tonight, and that he’s wanting to show his support for Massachusetts Family Institute, especially with all these protesters outside.

It’s great. We finally hit the map, and we got both the protesters and Governor DeSantis here.”

A network across Massachusetts While MFI utilizes a troubling financial network that shares ties with extremely consequential legisla-

tive groups, their main weapon is community. “People who own their own businesses, especially blue collar businesses, have conservative audiences so they want to be associated with right wing things. If these small business owners give money to MFI, they think their customers might be impressed by that,” C told the Justice. The larger scale political web that makes the ADF so influential functions on a smaller level in local communities, creating an imperative to participate. C continued, “There’s a community of conservative Christ -sians that’s very big and very powerful; if you have credibility in that community, people want to help you out, people want to hire you.”

Strengthening this imperative is thoughtful outreach by the MFI, which identifies the most inflammatory issues and sends strong messages to community members using fear and anger. Their “Education” page warns that “our public schools have become a primary battleground in the culture war, with sex-obsessed activists using them to indoctrinate students with shocking and unhealthy agendas,” and links to examples of “Pornographic ‘Comprehensive Sexuality Education’ in Massachusetts Public Schools.”

C says this is all very purposeful. “The guideline [for sex education in public schools] would say teachers should use appropriate scientific names when discussing genitals for all grades. And then they would interpret that as teachers will talk about genitals with kindergartners and that’s what they put out to scare their audience. And they were basically using that as a name to grow their email list. They just want to get everyone’s email and they see this as a good issue to build their membership.”

The growth of that online base, and how MFI chooses to engage with it, can have dangerous consequences. In January of this year, on their since-deactivated Facebook page, current Director of Communications Mary Ellen Siegler posted about an upcoming drag queen story hour at the Taunton Public Library. She published the real name of the drag performer, the library’s main phone number, the youth services phone number, and the director’s email address, and explicitly urged followers to voice concerns. The event, which had not been advertised anywhere except the library’s calendar for safety reasons was then disrupted by NSC 131, one of Massachusetts’ most active neo-Nazi groups.

“They do have a legislative focus, but what got me focused on them was instances where they were calling out individual people and individual events and putting them in danger. And that, to me, was sort of the proof that they’re not just a political group, they’re a hate group,” C said.

DeSantis has been very vocal throughout his political career about his stances on LGBTQ+ rights, sex education in public schools, and religious freedom in public spaces. But his visit to MFI is yet another reminder not only of the staunchness and extremity of those stances, but also of how widely they permeate seemingly liberal areas. Of DeSantis’ visit to the Marriott on Oct. 13, C said, “I think the significance of it was they were saying very clearly that they’re on the same page.”

Pushback, on the 13th and beyond

Photo courtesy of E

PRO-CHOICE: The protestors confronted MFI’s anti-abortion stance.

But as much as MFI has garnered support, its movement into the spotlight has also garnered increased pushback from organizers like E and C. And just as much as the MFI might be networking, so are the groups working against it.

Krikeles added that Food Not Bombs Waltham will always be available to help individuals push back against organizations like the MFI, through providing meals to organizers and protesters. “If you are looking to do a protest in the Waltham area, and you would like Food Not Bombs to cater your event, we do serves. We also do serves on Sundays at 2 pm,” she said.

“We had awesome speakers, and a lot of coalition groups,” E said of the Oct. 13 protest. “It was a lot of work to figure it out, and we organized for, like, six weeks leading up to it. It was good; it was positive. We were able to disrupt the event. The fact that Ron can come here but can’t announce his presence … it says something. It exposes what the Massachusetts Family Institute really is.”

Design: HEDY YANG/The Justice

8 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 ● FORUM ● THE JUSTICE

Justice

Asking for a friend

the

Established 1949

Brandeis University

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

Isabel Roseth, Editor in Chief Smiley Huynh, Managing Editor Leah Breakstone, Dalya Koller, Lauryn Williams, Deputy Editors Owen Chan, Associate Editor Sophia De Lisi, Anika Jain, News Editors Cayenn Landau, 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

Q:

How can we effectively manage our academic commitments while still participating in extracurricular activities and clubs that interest us?

A:

“Using a calendar to manage your schedule each week helps students plan ahead and prioritize their time each week. It’s also important to balance breadth and depth of extracurricular activities. It’s okay to be a member of a few groups; and it’s also okay to be a leader in only one of those. It’s better to do one thing really well rather than not be able to commit fully to multiple activities. How many commitments you take on should be a reflection of your available time, the level of commitment required by an activity, and your ability to manage your time. A student’s ability to take on extracurricular commitments will also depend on how acclimated a student is to the academic culture at Brandeis as well as their academic load in a given semester, and other work, family, and non-academic commitments.”

— Matt Galewski, director of Student Engagement

EDITORIAL

ANNA MARTIN/the Justice

Does the University actually care about Waltham?

As students, we get a number of emails from President Liebowitz about the pertinence of world news to the greater campus community, affirmations that higher-ups at the University know and understand how the events going on in places around the world might affect the student body.

From a hyper-sensitivity to U.S. News Rankings to a declaration of going to the White House to meticulously surveilling the national media coverage on Brandeis’ response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, we are at times perhaps over-aware of what exactly the University thinks of events occurring outside the so-called “Brandeis bubble.”

But strangely, we rarely — if ever — get emails about what’s going on in Waltham.

Many students might not know that there’s currently a mayoral election going on, in which skyrocketing rent prices and other issues that affect students are being discussed by the

candidates. Even fewer might know that if they live on campus or in Waltham, they can register to vote in this election by changing their address. As members of the editorial board, we question why more isn’t done by the school to facilitate and encourage our participation and connection within the greater local community — politically, but also otherwise.

That being said, many students make efforts to connect with Waltham independently or in student-run organizations. The Waltham Group is made up of twenty programs that are split into four different houses: Health and Human Services, Mentoring and Tutoring, Housing, Environment and Advocacy, and After School Programs.

These programs connect with Waltham community members of all ages and demographics with provided transportation, allowing students to not have to rely on the campus shuttles. In addition, students receive

a service transcript after completing volunteer hours, which is helpful for applications to both graduate and medical school.

While Brandeis encourages students to participate in community activities and volunteer work alongside their education, such as within the Waltham Group, it can be difficult to feel supported in doing this.

The Waltham shuttle only runs about once or occasionally twice every hour, is frequently late, and has been reported to leave students living on campus “stranded” on Moody Street when it doesn’t come.

We question why the University hasn’t made accessible transportation into the city more reliable, as it is a key way to connect students with the world directly outside of the Brandeis Bubble.

Finally, we believe that the University’s involvement in supporting student engagement in Waltham — through transportation,

increased access to resources and information, and a prioritization of discussing Waltham issues transparently alongside world issues — must also extend to supporting Waltham organizations themselves.

This is especially important to consider in the context of a lack of on-campus student housing.

In over-enrolling, the University is complicit in the gentrification of the neighborhoods surrounding Brandeis and the struggle to find and keep affordable housing.

We understand — as outlined through yet another email from President Liebowitz early in the summer — that millions were spent on a nationwide ad campaign to draw prospective students to Brandeis. But we question if the University has put any money towards organizations that keep Waltham residents and their families housed as the lack of University housing pushes more and more students to live off campus.

Photos courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

ELIZABETH LIU/the Justice

THE JUSTICE ● FORUM ● TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 9

Just keep swimming: Review of my first-year experience

By KELSEY STEVENS

JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

What can be said about the first year experience?

Perhaps there is little of the topic I can touch upon.

I can’t talk about everyone’s experience — only my own. In my experience, it’s been a wild ride to say the least. The transition from high school, to college is significant, especially since I never went to a boarding school and it’s my first time being away from home. I feel as though I have been at Brandeis for both a couple of months and only a couple of days. Each day is busier than the last, making it feel as though I have been here forever, when in reality it’s only been a handful of weeks.

Being from New England, I was able to visit Brandeis a handful of times before and after sending in my application. Multiple students told me the importance of time management skills, but I only fully understood what they meant after my first week of classes.

I believe them now. The work itself, while challenging, doesn’t feel impossible yet, though there is certainly time for it to become so. However, there is an abundance of work. It’s safe to say I have learned a lot about my study habits and the way I work in the past couple of weeks. I have had to adjust the way I go about work in order to complete

everything on time and it’s been only a month. Like Dory from “Finding Nemo,” I’ve learned to look at the short-term and take one step at a time. Doing, or even looking at everything at once, is wholly overwhelming. But after rewatching the comforting movie recently, I have decided to be more like Dory; in part to be forgetful of my past mistakes, and also to focus more on the immediate future. I have started developing many strategies to hopefully be successful at Brandeis. I live by my planner now and actually have multiple — both digital and physical; Google Calendar is a life saver.

One of Brandeis’ “stereotypes” is the busy, wellrounded student — a student who is involved in multiple clubs, taking equally challenging classes, doing research, community service, and much more. To those who do fit that description: I have no idea how you do it. It’s equally commendable and terrifying that a person can do all these things simultaneously.

One day I hope to learn their secrets. There are just not enough hours in the day to do everything, yet the days are long, and the weeks are short. Just listening to people list off the activities, academics, and projects they are a part of is jaw-dropping. I

sometimes wonder if people even sleep. But somehow, they are able to achieve it all each week.

As every fellow introverted first year does, I struggled to connect with people at first. It really is like starting kindergarten all over again, except we are all adults.

I came from a small town, so I was with the same 160 students from pre-kindergarten to walking across the stage at high school graduation. It reached a point where everyone knew everyone, so it wasn’t difficult to initiate a conversation.

College is a whole new gaming field. However, I quickly learned that the best way to connect with others is through struggle — if that makes sense.

Most of the people I have met were through trying to find different buildings on campus, needing help understanding the syllabus, mishearing the professor, or perhaps a ton of luck. In fact a majority of my friends now are from my orientation group. It’s both surprising and reassuring that others share my troubles.

In only a few weeks, I have met wonderful, intelligent, and driven people. I have found that Brandeisians are overall very friendly and welcoming, and upper-level students have been extremely

helpful to lost first-years. While I was a little unsure the first week, I believe that Brandeis is the place for me now. The campus is beautiful, the academics are challenging, the people are hilarious and intelligent, the clubs are exciting and there is such a diverse selection of them, and the coffee is plentiful, which in my opinion is a crucial thing. Looking forward at the syllabus and schedules is very overwhelming. If I didn’t have strong willpower or self-motivation, I don’t know how I would make it.

But I was told recently that Brandeis seems to “attract a certain type of student.”

If you are here, you belong here and are able to complete the challenges both academically and in your personal life that are thrown at you. It’s reassuring to know that it is possible. Every time I’ve reached a new level of education — middle school to high school, high school to college, etc. — each step feels more difficult than the last one.

Still, every time I believe I am unable to take the next step, I surprise myself in the ability to keep standing. And while Brandeis life is busy and never-ending, I feel as though if I follow a familiar little blue fish’s advice, I’ll be fine; I just have to “keep swimming.”

OWEN CHAN / the Justice

Overturned: Affirmative Action and University policies

By MIRABELL ROWLAND

JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

When thinking about the topic of Affirmative Action, buzzwords such as reverse racism; privilege; and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion often come to mind, and it’s not always so clear what the actual definition is.

So — what exactly is Affirmative Action?

According to Merriam-Webster, it is the “use of policies to improve the educational or employment opportunities of members of certain demographics” namely, marginalized communities such as people of color, women, or the elderly. The most widely seen example of affirmative action is within higher education institutions.

The college admissions process has been long seen as inequitable when the basis of admissions is on tangible results such as GPA or standardized test scores.

The emphasis on grades and test scores ignores the fact that students come from a variety of educational backgrounds and not everyone is entitled to the necessary training, whether in school or by private means, to perform well. With Affirmative Action, there is more opportunity for students to gain admissions with equity-driven race consciousness that grounds affirmative action.

While this might seem quite controversial, affirmative action has been in place for half a century. The word first appeared in Executive Order 10925, which was issued after John

F. Kennedy created a Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity in 1961. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Executive Order 11246. One of the first Supreme Court cases to rule in favor of Affirmative Action was in the summer of 1978.

The case of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke was one of retaliation against Affirmative Action. Allan Bakke, a 30-year-old white man, applied to medical school at the University of California, Davis, and was rejected twice.

Bakke said that he was qualified beyond other applicants and he should have been accepted but because the school set aside 16 seats for minority students out of the class of 100, and claimed that he was discriminated against for being a white man. He sued, and the court decided in favor of Bakke, arguing that he be admitted — although they did allow the use of race in admissions as long as it was a small aspect of the overall evaluation.

A more notable court case is Fisher v.

University of Texas. It all began in 2008 when Abigail Fisher, a young white woman, was denied undergraduate admissions at the University of Texas and sued with the claim that the university’s consideration of race violated the Equal Protection clause. The case made its way through courts, finally reaching the Supreme Court in 2013.

The American Council On Education, a non-profit higher education organization, stated, “The Supreme Court voided the lower appellate court’s ruling in favor of UT and remanded the case for further consideration, via a 7–1 decision, with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissenting.” Fisher then decided to appeal her case, and the Supreme Court made their decision in 2016 to uphold the admission policy at the University of Texas.

These and other court cases over many decades solidified the idea that race can be considered within the admission process, so it was quite a shock when the Supreme Court ended Affirmative Action this past June. In the cases of SFFA v. Harvard and SFFA v. UNC, the Supreme Court ruled that Affirmative Action violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment in favor of the Students For Fair Admissions.

What is the impact of this decision? Did it make sense? This was definitely a decision that, from my perspective, will only cause harm. The choice to demolish Affirmative Action is going to set marginalized students even further back. This completely dishonors the intent behind Brown v. Board of Education, which set in stone the importance of ending segregation.

This idea that Affirmative Action is unlawful dismisses the concept of fair access to

education. These will be a decrease in diversity in higher educational institutions, especially at Ivy League colleges, and restrictions on opportunities for students of color.

It is important to note that according to Chief Justice John Roberts, who is quoted in an NPR article on Affirmative Action, “Nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life.”

The door for affirmative action has been left open in only very specific instances, such as in military schools or police academies. The idea behind this being to recruit minorities in an effort to ease tensions with the police, especially in situations of white officers policing majority-black towns.

For some, the idea of ending Affirmative Action is one that will somehow lead to more equality. And maybe that is true. However, it is essential to recognize when to implement equality and when to implement equity.

To me, Affirmative Action is only the tip of the iceberg to creating a road to equity. And without that as a foundation, equality seems unrealistic.

While the U.S. takes pride in its meritocracy, it ignores the systemic racism that continues to infect our society, tearing apart the fabric of a pluralistic society. Although one battle may have been lost, the war is far from over.

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 is the independent student newspaper of Brandeis University. Operated, written, produced and published entirely by students, the Justice includes news, features, arts, opinion and sports articles of interest to approximately 3,600 undergraduates, 2,000 graduate students, 565 faculty and 1,300 administrative staff.

The Justice is published every Tuesday of the academic year with the exception of examination and vacation periods.

Advertising deadlines: All insertion orders and advertising copy must be received by the Justice no later than 5 p.m. on the Thursday preceding the date of publication. All advertising copy is subject to approval of the editor in chief and the managing and advertising editors.

The Staff For information on joining the Justice, write to editor@ thejustice.org.

Editorial Assistants

Sports: Josh Gans*, Zachary Goldstein, Prateek Kanmadikar,

Features: Grace Doh

Jackson Wu*, Aki Yamaguchi

Arts: Nemma Kalra

Arts and Culture: Elijah Chen, Craig Disken, Ethan Gerstman

Production Assistants

Photography: Natalie Bracken, Owen Chan, Smiley Huynh,

Forum: Xavier Wilson

Daniel Oren

Staff News: Maria Antonio, Amanda Chen*, Grace Doh, Sydney Duncan, Max Feigelson*, Lin Lin Hutchinson, Anna Martin, River Simard, Sophia Stewart, Hedy Yang, Lea Zaharoni Features: Zev Carlyle, Ria Escamilla-Gil, Jessie Gabel, Meshulam Ungar, Lea Zaharoni Forum: Jack Granahan*, Stephen Gaughan*, Mirabell Rowland*, Lauryn Williams

Copy: Wenli Cai, Brynn Domsky, Sydney Duncan, Alyssa Golden, Elizabeth Liu, Ava Privratsky, Sara Samuel, Zoe Zachary, Daniela Zavlun, Nataniela Zavlun Layout: Emily Hou, Hedy Yang Ads: Sophia Stewart Online: Amanda Chen, Sabrina Waddell * denotes a senior staff member.

10 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 ● SPORTS ● THE JUSTICE

Men’s Soccer loses to Case Western THE CWRU Spartans beat the Brandeis Judges 2-1.

2-1.

SAVED: Goalie Quintin Wrabley ’25 blocks a shot on the goal.

LINE UP: The Judges line up for the pledge of allegiance.

REACH: Sancho Maroto Tobias ’24 lunges for the ball.

HUSTLE: Toby Marwell ’25 chases the ball.

CLEARED: Slater Loffredo ’26 defends his home turf.

PASS: Andres Gonzalez ’25 sends the ball to his teammate.

BIG KICK: Maddox Yu ’27 prepares for a shot on goal.

SCORE: Gabe Haithcock ’25 moves the ball forward.

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

11 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 ● SPORTS ● THE JUSTICE

FAREWELL MIGGY

JUDGES BY THE NUMBERS MEN’S SOCCER UAA STANDINGS Emory Chicago NYU Rochester Case WashU JUDGES Carnegie

TEAM STATS

UAA Conf. Overall W L D W L D Pct. 5 1 0 11 2 3 .781 3 1 2 8 2 5 .700 3 2 1 5 6 3 .464 2 2 2 8 2 5 .700 2 2 2 8 3 3 .679 2 4 0 7 7 1 .500 1 3 2 3 8 5 .344 0 3 3 7 5 4 .562

UPCOMING GAMES:

Goals

Sancho Moroto Tobias '24 leads the team with 4 goals.

Player Goals Sancho Moroto Tobias 4 Roee Maor 3 Rainer Osselmann-Chai 2

Assists

Sancho Moroto Tobias '24 leads the team with 3 assists.

Player Assists Sancho Moroto Tobias 3 Aidan Chuang 2 Juan Vera 2

Saturday at New York University

WOMEN’S SOCCER UAA STANDINGS WashU Case Rochester Carnegie NYU Chicago Emory JUDGES

UAA Conf.

W L D 4 1 1 3 1 2 2 0 4 1 0 5 2 2 2 1 1 4 1 3 2 0 6 0

Overall W L D Pct. 14 1 1 .906 11 1 3 .833 11 0 5 .844 10 0 5 .844 11 2 2 .800 9 2 6 .706 8 4 4 .625 6 7 3 .469

UPCOMING GAMES:

Saturday at New York University

TEAM STATS

Goals

Sydney Lenhart '24 leads the team with 5 goals.

Player Goals Sydney Lenhart 5 Tanvi Raju 3 Yasla Ngoma 3

Assists

Rachel Watler '25 leads the team with 4 assists.

Player Assists Rachel Watler 4 Lacey Mbugua 2 Zareena Mann 2

VOLLEYBALL UAA STANDINGS

UAA Conf. Overall W L W L Emory 7 0 18 1 NYU 5 2 23 4 WashU 5 2 19 7 Carnegie 4 3 18 7 Chicago 3 4 9 14 Case 3 4 18 7 JUDGES 1 6 8 14 Rochester 0 7 16 8

TEAM STATS Kills

Pct. .941 .833 .720 .696 .350 .708 .400 .619

UPCOMING GAMES: Today vs. Endicott College Thursday at Wellesley College Saturday vs. Westfield State Friday (11/10) at New York University

Lara Verstovek ’25 leads the team with 320 kills.

Player Kills Lara Verstovek 320 Anna Ertischek 265 Tatiana Wainer 99 Arianna Jackson 73

Digs Ella Pereira ’24 leads the team with 195 digs.

Player Digs Ella Pereira 195 Lara Verstovsek 193 Olivia Nirode 161 Ines Grom-Manseneca 160

CROSS COUNTRY Results from the UAA Championships at CWRU on Oct. 28.

TOP FINISHERS (Men’s) 8-Kilometer Run RUNNER Lucas Dia Dashiell Janicki Henry Nguyen Robert King TJ Carleo

TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)

TIME 26:44.4 27:19.9 27:22.4 27:29.9 27:37.4

6-Kilometer Run RUNNER Zada Forde Kyra Au Katriona Briggs Sadie Harrow Ella Warkentine

TIME 23:56.7 24:50.1 25:08.2 25:14.3 25:19.2

UPCOMING MEETS:

Saturday, Nov. 11 at the NCAA Regional Championships Data courtesy of THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION and the BRANDEIS ATHLETICS WEBSITE; Graphics courtesty of CREATIVE COMMONS

ELIZABETH LIU/the Justice

GOOD FRIENDS: Miguel Cabrera and Manny Machado share a moment on the field.

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

MLB: Tigers lose Cabrera CONTINUED FROM 12

“back, calf, biceps, knee and hamstrings [several times] in the last five seasons” also caught up to Cabrera.

When he signed another contract extension in 2014 for 8 years, and $248 million, it drew critics from analysts and fans alike.

On April 1, 2021 Cabrera hit his 500th home run. Just a year later on Apr. 23, 2022, he became part of the 3000 hit club. In February 2023, Ca-

brera formally announced his retirement.

During his final game, when asked about his baseball career, Cabrera admitted that “I played with love. I played hard. I’m gonna miss it, but it is what it is. This is the end. … At the end of the day, thank God.” While Cabrera never managed to win another World Series with the Tigers, he will go down as one of the

greatest hitters in MLB history. His high involvement in the community is highlighted in The Miggy Foundation, a non-profit organization he created in 2012 that aims to inspire youth to play baseball and softball. The Tigers also announced that Cabrera will be working closely with the organization in the future, where he’ll serve as an assistant to the president of baseball operations Scott Harris.

BRIEF Spotlight on Athletes Without Borders group On Oct. 18, the University Athletes Without Borders group held its first meeting to provide a space for international student athletes to voice their concerns, hold events, and share their cultures. Co-founders Anastasia Sia ’25 and Sancho Maroto Tobias ’24 are looking to organize events about every three weeks to gather students with these shared identities.

Sia noted that although “there are already international student clubs on campus, I believe that a club welcoming specifically international athletes would be a very beneficial addition to the Brandeis Athletics program.” This group provides a safe space for students with these intersecting identities to mentor and support each other.

More goals for the group that Sia mentioned were to reach out to incoming international athletes before their arrival on campus, getting in touch with

them about their move to Brandeis, and then helping them acclimate to campus.

The group is currently trying to get chartered through the Student Union in order to get more funds to support the club.

Sia remembers that “from my own experience, and from that of fellow international athletes I have gotten to know while at Brandeis, the demands of both academics and sports can be overwhelming.

Particularly while being away from home, unable to return for certain breaks because of practices and games, and the general culture shock upon arrival at Brandeis that can feel very isolating at times. Even though Brandeis has done a great job in welcoming and supporting athletes overall, we believe that providing a space for international athletes who share this experience to meet, voice their experiences, and offer support to one anot-

her would enhance not only their experiences but also team dynamics.”

Not only will this group serve as a safe space for international student athletes to come together, but it should also be able to host fundraisers for causes at sporting events and have community potluck dinners.

Working through the culture shock for international student athletes is a difficult task, and Athletes without Borders is attempting to take the next steps to break the ice and help comfort and support these students.

— Rani Balakrishna

ELIZABETH LIU/the Justice

just Sports Page 12

JUSTICE SPORTS EDITOR

On Oct. 8, 2023, Kelvin Kiptum, a 23-year-old from Kenya, became the first person to run a marathon (26.2 miles) in under two hours and one minute. His time of 2:00:35 at the Chicago Marathon earlier this fall makes him the fastest male marathon runner in the world, surpassing Eliud Kipchoge, who ran a 2:01:09 in Berlin last year.

Kiptum, a young newcomer to the marathon scene, actually began the marathon slightly behind Kipchoge.

In the 22nd mile, however, he astounded audiences with the fastest marathon mile ever recorded, taking the lead and making headlines. Kipchoge, widely known as the greatest marathon runner in the world, is 38 years old and approaching the end of his career.

Although both Kiptum and Kipchoge train very intensely, they have different training schedules; Kiptum ran a whopping 180 miles per week while training for the Chicago marathon, whereas Kipchoge ran 140 miles per week when he broke the marathon world record in Berlin 2022. Kiptum’s intense weekly regime, in which his coach commented that he trains “until he feels fatigued,” has caused some concern about burnout.

Despite what Kiptum’s incrediblemile times may lead us to believe, marathons and marathon training is certainly not a sprint. For Kiptum, taking advantage of his potential while he is in his prime is critical. The question of whether or not Kiptum will remain healthy and ahead of Kipchoge is one that can only be answered with the test of time.

Tigist Assefa, a 26-year-old Ethio-

pian runner, also made headlines by breaking the women’s world marathon record at the Berlin Marathon on Sept. 24, 2023. Assefa’s incredible time of 2:11:53 beat Brigid Kosgei’s time of 2:14:04 from the Chicago Marathon in 2019. Assefa represented Ethiopia at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in the 800-meter, and her coach commented that going from the 800-meter run to breaking the world marathon record is a very impressive feat. Assefa also had to work through the struggle of an Achilles tendon injury, which caused her to switch from the track to road racing. Shaving two minutes off of the world record can only be attributed to her brutal training and hard work ethic, as her coaches only had high praise for her determination. She believes that women can certainly make the marathon record in under 2:10:00, and her coach thought it could be achieved before 2030.

Assefa’s record-shattering performance has many people wondering what the future holds for shoe shape, technology, and enhancement. Many media outlets specifically covered Assefa’s shoes — an odd variable to focus on, as for male runners, training regimen is more often mentioned.

Weather, routes, visibility, and shoes are some of the many variables that affect the performance of marathon runners, and given that the other factors can be unpredictable, many runners look to shoes as a controllable variable.

The marathon is one of the most grueling sports in the world, requiring intense stamina, training, and perseverance. Runners must fight through pain, intense training regimens, and difficult course routes. Marathons and marathon runners also hold a special place in Bostonian’s hearts, as the Boston marathon is arguably one of the hardest marathon routes in the world. Heartbreak Hill is a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, and these record-breakers are very impressive for pushing themselves to their physical and mental limits.

Looking to the future, the Boston Marathon is Monday, April 15, 2024, an event that will gather international athletes from all corners of the globe to come together in Boston.

RECORD BREAKER: Tigist Assefa leads the pack.

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

Waltham, Mass.

MIGUEL 'MIGGY' CABRERA RETIRES

International marathon records are shattered

By RANI BALAKRISHNA

The Brandeis men's soccer team had a tough loss to Case Western Reserve University 1-2, p. 10.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

MARATHON

■ This past fall, Kelvin Kiptum and Tigist Assefa cemented their names in the history books as the fastest men and women to ever run a marathon.

BRANDEIS MEN'S SOCCER PHOTO STORY

RUN: Cabrera was both a first baseman and a designated hitter and was known for his hitting.

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

MLB

Miguel Cabrera hangs up his cleats after a sucessful career ■ The legendary former Detroit Tigers player, retired earlier this fall with the Hall of Fame calling his name for his hitting success.

By JEFFREY WANG

JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On Oct. 1, the Detroit Tigers faced off against the Cleveland Guardians in their final regular season game.

But this was no ordinary game — there was a drone show, a stadium card stunt, a tribute video, a special ceremony, and fans holding posters to honor one person in particular: Miguel Cabrera. This was the last game of Cabrera’s farewell season after announcing his retirement earlier in February. Cabrera had spent the last 15 of his 21 years in the MLB with the Tigers.

In the seventh inning, things seemed underwhelming for Cabrera’s finale — he went 0-3, walked, and then was forced out after a ground ball. Then in the eighth inning, Cabrera emerged from the stadium with a glove on his left hand, igniting the crowd. He was positioned at first base, a position that was meant to be symbolic as he hadn’t played first in over two years. What came next was purely magical, as if the baseball gods had granted Cabrera one last wish. The Guardians' first batter, Steve Kwan, hit a grounder right towards first base. Cabrera scooped the ball right up and jogged a few feet back to the plate before Kwan could reach it in time, grinning at the crowd as he did so.

Then, suddenly, the game paused.

For a moment, even Cabrera didn’t know what was going on. Each of Cabrera’s three kids came out to the field to hug him. Time slowed down as the speakers played ceremonious orchestra music in the background. As he returned to the dugout, Cabrera hugged each of his teammates and members of the Tigers coaching staff before looking at the stands one last time with thousands of fans giving him a standing ovation.

Cabrera’s history with baseball can be traced back to when he was raised in Maracay, Venezuela. Cabrera’s mother, Doña Gregoria Torres, was a professional softball player in several states in Venezuela who shared her love for the game with Cabrera. Growing up, Cabrera had always shown an interest in volleyball and baseball, and by the age of 16, had gained the attention of several MLB scouts.

At that age, Cabrera signed a $1.8 million deal with the Florida Marlins as a free agent in 1999. From then on, Cabrera bounced around in the minor leagues before being called up to the majors by the Marlins in 2003.

The signs for greatness were evident in Cabrera's first game versus the Tampa Bay Blue Devils where he hit a walk-off home run — a home-run in the ninth inning that ended the game.

For the remainder of the season, Cabrera’s promising individual performance along with the Marlin’s strong team success enabled them to make the postseason. The Marlins had a lot of success in the playoffs, making it to the World Series where they ultimately defeated the heavily favored New York Yankees 4-2 in a best-out-ofseven game series.

The following season, Cabrera cemented himself as the one of the best hitters in the league with 33 home runs and 112 RBIs. Cabrera’s phenomenal play would earn him his first All-Star game in 2004. However, the Marlins would fail to make the playoffs. This trend would continue for the next three years, where Cabrera would display great statistics and be named to All-Star games, but without a playoff appearance to show for it.

In 2007, the Marlins traded Cabrera as part of a package deal to the Detroit Tigers. There, Cabrera and the Tigers agreed on an eight-year $152.3 million contract extension, the fourth largest contract in baseball history at the time. At first, the Tiger's seasons were disappointing, missing the playoffs in 2009 and 2010. However, Cabrera’s individual performance continued to blossom. In 2011, Cabrera earned his first batting title, leading the American League in batting percentage with .344. In 2012, Cabrera and the Tiger’s season came to a peak. Cabrera made history by winning the Triple Crown — when a player has the highest batting average, home runs, and RBI — and an MVP award by ending the season with a .330 batting average, 44 home runs, and 139 RBIs. His stellar season propelled the Tigers to a World Series appearance, where they ultimately fell short to a sweep by the South Francisco Giants.

Despite Cabrera winning another MVP in 2013, the Tigers never managed to match the level of success they achieved in their 2012 season. According to Bless You Boys, a Detroit sports outlet, previous injuries to his

See MLB, 11☛

Vol. LXXVI #6

Waltham, Mass.

October 31, 2023

Photos: Eliza Bier/the Justice. Design: Ceci Xilei Chen/the Justice.

THE JUSTICE ARTS | TUESDAY, JANUARY 31,JUSTICE 2017 OCTOBER| 31, 2023 I ARTS & CULTURE I THE 14 TUESDAY,

CLUB SPOTLIGHT

Creating a culture of creativity: Basement Records empowers students

By MINA ROWLAND JUSTICE EDITOR

Art evokes many different meanings. No matter the medium, art is thought-provoking and compels us to have a shared experience through our emotions. While Brandeis may be known for its research, it shares a large community of talented artists and creators through the student body. Basement Records,

a campus club, aims to bring together artists of all kinds. They helped to create a directory of students that are creating film, music, photography and other meduims as well ascreate a community. The club was born in 2016, and while there was some loss in membership during the pandemic, it was revived in late 2021. When the president at the time went to study abroad, it was time for a leader to rise. Elizabeth “Liz” Sandoval ’25 serves as the current president of Base-

Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY

LIZ SANDOVAL: Serving as current president of Basement Records, Liz Sandoval poses in the recording studio.

ment Records alongside several other students on the leadership team. Her vision was to create a community that supports and uplifts BIPOC — Black, Indigenous, People of Color — artists and creatives.

Sandoval is nearly celebrating a year in her role as president, in which she has been overseeing projects, delegating roles, and managing outreach to the Brandeis community.

“Basement Records is an inclusive space meant to foster an environment for all multimedia creatives to connect and collaborate,” Sandoval said in an Oct. 6 interview with the Justice. Sandoval is double majoring in Business and Psychology and doing a minor in CAST — Creativity, the Arts and Social Transformation.

While she is not focusing on music in her academics, she is no stranger to it. From drums to piano, she can play a total of six instruments, and said she has felt connected to music since she was young. She recounts a time when her mother described her as “a musical kid from the beginning,” as she was active in the womb whenever her mother listened to music.

She also briefly discussed her interest in connecting Brandeisians with high schoolers in Waltham. She led and created Melody Mentors in collaboration with Basement Records and Africano Waltham. Mentorship of young artists of color is especially important to Sandoval, who is a queer Latina. She discussed the importance of her roots in Latinx music being an inspiration to her as a creator

and artist. There is nothing better than being able to share that experience with others, she says, and Melody Mentors do just that through a variety of events and workshops for students.

In separate interviews, the Justice was able to get to know two other officers for Basement Records, Ariana Camaj ’26 and Simon Fidin ’24. Camaj is another student whose focus and passion for music is outside of academics. Her interests mostly lie in the creative outlet of photography. She works as a marketing specialist, particularly as a photographer. She also works on creating promotional posters as well as outreach and networking. She is currently working on a new program called From the Attic, a club focused on executing events to showcase individual talent. It allows “creatives who are eager to take their creative pursuits to the next level ... to shine and grow” as written in their sign-up form.

Camaj got involved in Basement Records through a friend of a friend, where she met Aaron Kelly ’24, who goes by Ace. She quickly learned the ropes and became an officer. Camaj expressed her passion for making sure there is accessibility to programs for everyone. “When a lot of people think about music or photography, they think you have to be talented. In reality, being bad is normal. There is a learning curve to anything creative,” she shared in an interview on Oct. 26. There are many students who do not know about the video and recording studio on campus, which can be found in SIMS [Sound, Images and

SPEED ROUND Q&A WITH BASEMENT RECORDS

What is your favorite genre?

Liz Sandoval — Latin bachata Ariana Camaj — Rock and oldies hip-hop (1980s – 2000s) Simon Fidlin — Hyperpop

Who is your favorite artist?

Liz Sandoval — Chavela Ariana Camaj — Chris Cornell, when it comes to rock Simon Fidlin — Brakence

Media Studio]. Having accessibility to different equipment is imperative to young creators to find out what works for them and to be able to have a chance in making their dreams come true. Camaj’s advice to artists just starting out is to take it step by step and to realize that “being creative is beautiful.”

Simon Fidlin ’24 couldn’t agree more. He currently serves as Artistic Director of Basement Records, and helps to organizeevents, run workshops and create concert materials.

His favorite part of the job is mentoring people with creative projects, like music videos. Selftaught in Logic Pro, Fidlin is an artist creating and producing his own music. He was classically trained in viola and piano, but he is most interested in the new wave of hyperpop. “I really love music that combines elements of multiple genres,” Fidlin says, smiling. While he is double majoring in Biology and HSSP — Health: Science, Society, and Policy — he is doing a minor in music, and though he is unsure of a career in music, he would welcome it gladly.

“Shyness shouldn’t dissuade you,” Fidlin says. “There are so many resources out there to take advantage of: SIMS ,Basement Records, WBRS’ open mic nights.” He strongly encourages new students, especially firstyears and mid-years, to find their life in the arts. The goal of the Basement Records’ leadership team is to have students create work that brings them joy and fulfillment and leave a lasting legacy after Brandeis.

What does Basement Records mean to you in a few words?

Liz Sandoval — “Belonging” Ariana Camaj — “Artists supporting artists” Simon Fidlin — “Creativity”

THEATRE REVIEW

“Mr. Parent”: A playful review Conversations on race, education and intersectionality this October. The close quarters failure for quitting after five years in the show, a Black gay man Parent is certainly not afraid to of Boston Playwrights’ Theatre of teaching, it is clear that he has teaching in a school district with a play with silence, providing the made for a stunningly intimate touched the lives of his students significant portion of his students audience with moments to propproduction. In all my years of at- in the stories he tells of the kids living below the poverty line here erly process important points that JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS tending live theater, “Mr. Parent” who found their way to his class- in Massachusetts. The same Mas- he makes.

While I do not want to give is the first play in which I have room for lunch and waved to him sachusetts that while consistently ranked #1 in public education in away all of the details in case anyhad the opportunity to witness on the street years later. individual tears make their way Though “Mr. Parent” is now the United States, also ranks #42 one decides to make the trek to A theatre student take — Triona down an actor’s face. With the au- closed in Boston it is currently in equitable schooling according Rochester to see it in November “Mr. Parent,” written by Me- dience surrounding him on three traveling to Rochester, and for to WalletHub — as I also came — which I highly recommend — linda Lopez with Maurice Em- sides, Maurice Parent exposes his those who might be in that area in to learn. This presents a pretty I want to touch upon why I loved manuel Parent, is a semi-auto- soul with a rawness and honesty the next month, I can assure you bleak context for “Mr. Parent’s” this show so much. As the child of biographical one-actor play that that most actors can only ever that this show is more than worth setting, but ultimately my impres- an educator and a freshly minted taking a few hours out of your day sion of the show is of a love letter high school graduate, I find it inexplores the joy and grief of a dream of tapping into. to teaching. While Parent is the teresting and deeply upsetting “Mr. Parent” invites audiences to go see. stage performer who takes on the only actor present in the show, it to see how the issues and emorole of a teacher in Boston public in to bear witness not only to Mauschools. Maurice Parent plays rice Parent’s story, but to the sto- A comedic show steeped in the cannot be said that he is the only tions Parent talks about dealing himself in all his incarnations: by ries of his students. He is a Black tragedy of its continued relevance character. He uses a wide array of with continue to be perpetuated physical mannerisms and vocal today. I mentioned that the show night he is the passionate, queer, man teaching in an underfunded — Anna tones to fluctuate between differ- is a love letter to teaching, and it overwhelmed actor Maurice; by school that primarily serves stuWhen I passed through the en- ent people that he knows, espe- is to all the joyful and frustrating day he is the strict, level-headed, dents of color who live on the edge in-control teacher Mr. Parent. He of, or below, the poverty line. He trance of the Boston Playwrights’ cially his students. The lives and moments that come with the job. I stands alone on the stage and fills shares his deep anger at the un- Theatre in the company of a tor- experiences that Parent touches see these people that I care about just system that keeps them down, rential downpour and pounding upon are realistic in the way they in Parent and it hurts me deeply the space with his story.

“Mr. Parent” was first conceived providing facts and figures on the headache, my primary focus was showcase the comedy in tragedy to see even a fraction of the shit of by Melinda Lopez, Maurice Em- public school system in Massachu- on making sure I’d be able to get and vice versa, grappling with they deal with. With the lingering manuel Parent, and Megan Sand- setts through periodic pop quizzes back to campus later that night. matters including systemic rac- threat of COVID-19 hanging over berg-Zakian for the 2019 Breaking for the audience. He tells of funny, Very little energy was directed ism, classism, homophobia, and us and with the perpetuation of Ground Festival. The play was intelligent, creative kids — with towards the show I was about to the “American Dream.” These hate crimes and unjust legislation initially produced virtually dur- names changed for privacy, but watch, which I knew centered important realizations allow the targeted at education, I believe ing the COVID-19 lockdown and stories kept the same. He speaks around a man’s experience as an audience to reflect on intersec- that the value of a show like “Mr. premiered live at the Lyric Stage with a deep love for the children actor and teacher in the Boston tionality and how it plays a role Parent” is reaffirmed. Hopefully, Company in 2022. It later moved in his care, and his heartbreak area. That was all I knew going in. in society. One moment you may art like this show coupled with What I didn’t know was that be laughing your ass off, then the civil action will help hasten progto Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, is shared across the room when where it ran for several weeks he talks about their struggles. Maurice Emmanuel Parent was, next brings a carefully worded re- ress. In the interim, I cannot recThough he admits he feels like a at the time of the events described mark and everything goes silent. ommend this show enough.

By TRIONA SUITER & ANNA NOONER

Design: MINA ROWLAND/the Justice

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 I ARTS & CULTURE I THE JUSTICE

THE JUSTICE | ARTS | TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

15

CAMPUS EVENT

Night for Africa

By ANNA MARTIN JUSTICE EDITOR

The Brandeis African Students Organization held their annual cultural show Night for Africa on Saturday, Oct. 28.

The theme of this event was “an ode to our ancestors.” This event was complete with a fashion show, many musical and dance performances, spoken word poetry, games, and more.

FAFALI: Students presented a traditional Ghanian dance at the Night for Africa celebration.

STEP: The Platinum Step Team performed a percussive dance through stepping, clapping and body moments in sync.

STAGE: Rebelle showed off their Afro-Carribian dance moves.

VOICE: Melora Hutcheson ’25 shared a part of their culture through song.

POETRY: Herby Saintil recited two original poems “Roots” and “Colorism” in spoken word.

STAND-UP: Thabang Matona ’24 presented his comedy routine.

CELEBRATION: Rebelle Dance Team performed an up-beat dance routine celebrating their culture.

SINGING: Songwriter Iye Gbekosa performed an original song for Brandeis African Student Organizations’ culture show.

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

16 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023 I ARTS & CULTURE I THE JUSTICE

STAFF’S Top Ten

STUDENT ART SPOTLIGHT

ELIZA BIER/the Justice

By CAYENN LANDAU JUSTICE EDITOR

Top 10 pieces of media involving women and cannibalism As “Girl Dinner” compels us to feast, here are some great pieces of media to consume.

1. “Yellowjackets” (2021-) 2. The album “Preacher’s Daughter” by Ethel Cain 3. “Jennifer’s Body” (2009) 4. When Taylor Russel’s character eats Timothee Chalamet’s character in “Bones and All” — the movie ... this was wild 5. Everything that happens in “Bones and All” — the book 6. “A Certain Hunger” — the book 7. “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991) 8. “Raw” (2016) 9. “Fresh” (2022) 10. “Hannibal” — not technically involving women but definitely for the girls

CROSSWORD

Graphic courtesy of DAHLIA RAMIREZ

Dahlia Ramirez is an artist interested in many different creative mediums such as drawing, sculpting, fiber arts, fashion, theater, film, and jewelry making. Her goal is to create art that is colorful, fun, and collaborative.

This is her first published comic.

Fall at Brandeis

By ELLEN RICHARDS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Visit our website: thejustice.org for crossword solutions.

Down

1. Popular flower, The art museum 2. Item sold at Starbucks, Platform where homework gets posted 4. Track on Olivia Rodrigo’s sophomore album “GUTS” 5. The word most commonly associated with the action of dunking for apples 7. Most popular candy in the United States 9. Ursula’s occupation, a popular Halloween costume 10. Theater, home of a spooky event 12. Last name of famous American conductor & music educator, visiting professor at Brandeis from 1951 to 1956 15. The type of weather most associated with the fall 16. The name of Ken’s best friend, discontinued in 1966 18. A sweet syrup commonly tapped from this variety of trees

Across

3. Sound an owl makes, The market 6. LGBTQ+ History Month 8. Member of the gourd family 10. Comic book character’s name, The teenage witch 11. Type of arachnid, Often has eight legs 13. Often credited as the first science fiction novel, authored by Mary Shelley 14. “The Fall of the House of ____,” by Edgar Allan Poe, inspiration for new Netflix series 17. The busiest city in Massachusetts in October 19. The marriage _____