The Justice, December 10, 2019

the

Justice www.thejustice.org

The Independent Student Newspaper Volume LXXII, Number 13

of

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

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

ATTENTION TO ACCESSIBILITY

Waltham, Mass.

STUDENT UNION

Candidates face off for racial minority senator ■ Three candidates are running

in today’s special election for the second Union racial minority senator seat.

By SAMANTHA GOLDMAN JUSTICE EDITOR

LAUREN BERK/the Justice

MEETING THE CANDIDATES: Andrea Vassar, one of the candidates for director of Student Accessibility Support, said at a meet and greet on Wednesday that she will work to make accommodation meetings less intimidating to students.

SAS director finalists address student accessibility concerns ■ The three finalists for the new

director of Student Accessibility Support held forums where they answered questions.

By GILDA GEIST and SAMANTHA GOLDMAN JUSTICE EDITORS

Academic Services held meet and greets for three finalists in the University’s search for a new director of Student Accessibility Support.

The first meeting was with Christopher “Chip” Kennedy on Nov. 26, the second was with Andrea Vassar on Dec. 4 and the third was with Catherine Dugan on Dec. 9.

Kennedy, the first of three potential directors of Student Accessibility Services, answered questions from the Brandeis community on Nov. 26. Kennedy has worked in higher education and disability services for 20 years.

Kennedy said that he would work with all of the different departments “to take on that leadership role to make sure that … a full and thorough process occurs to make sure that a student’s voice is being heard and that all possible options are being explored before decisions are made.”

Kennedy added that he would want to work with an outside company to assess the physical campus to see what changes need to be made to increase the accessibility of the physical campus.

One student brought up the issue that some students are not able to

get the necessary evaluations to get the assistance they need, often for financial reasons. Kennedy said that he would look into creating a fund for students who need evaluations.

Kennedy said he wants to address student needs by emphasizing student reporting and one-on-one discussions with students to discuss their struggles and how to best address the students’ needs. Kennedy said that while this would be a preferred method of determining student accommodations, documentation — such as medical evaluations — in some cases would still be necessary.

Some students questioned how Kennedy would combat any pushback he might receive in trying to achieve those goals. Kennedy emphasized that there is a need for institutional changes in attitude and culture, along with training, if needed, to explain the need for accommodations.

Vassar, the second finalist, is currently the American Disabilities Act/504 Coordinator at Washington College in Chestertown, MD. Shoshi Finkel ’20, an undergraduate fellow of disability policy at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, led the meeting with prepared questions for Vassar.

Finkel asked how Vassar would get to know Brandeis students to understand their individual needs regarding accessibility. Vassar pointed out that it was difficult for her to answer the question without first understanding more about the activism surrounding accessibility on campus that she had heard

about. “No one’s directly come out and talked to me about the student activism. It’s been alluded to,” she said.

Otherwise, Vassar said she would get to know students through hosted open houses and town hall meetings. She also said she wants to go to where students are, rather than making them come to her. “Is there a student center where I can go so that they’re not having to come to my office, which may be intimidating to some people?” she asked.

Elijah Harrison ’21 asked Vassar how she would handle situations similar to one he had personally encountered in which a professor did not comply with accommodations laid out in a letter from the SAS office. “We need to make sure that people that are higher up in the administration … understands that there has to be authority in this,” Vassar said.

Vassar explained that although she is confident she can change the culture within the SAS office quickly, she predicted it will take longer to do so among Brandeis faculty.

“The culture would have to shift so that they understand that … accessibility services is a piece of the institution,” she said. She continued, “When the office grants an accommodation … that is an approved accommodation and people have to comply with that.”

Vassar also discussed other challenges within disability services.

She explained that students are often expected to provide medical documentation to qualify their dis-

Three candidates will be running in the Student Union’s special election for racial minority senator, which will be held today.

This special election is taking place following the October dismissal of former racial minority senator Rajan Vohra ’21 for missing numerous Senate meetings.

The seat has remained open, despite the Student Union Constitution’s mandate that special elections be held within 15 days of a seat being vacated.

Sampada Pokharel ’23 is one of the candidates running for racial minority senator. In an interview

with the Justice on Thursday, Pokharel said that her experience as Secretary of GirlUp has helped prepare her for the position because of her knowledge of hosting events. Pokharel explained that she wants to run for racial minority senator to advocate for minority members of the Brandeis community, which she would do by hosting a culture festival. “I want the minority culture to be recognized, and for that I want to host events,” she said.

Along with the culture festival, Pokharel wants to host a painting event to give students a platform to express their creativity and skills, “as well as promote their culture at the same time.”

If elected, Pokharel said she promises to speak with minority students to hear about the structural changes they want to make because as their representative, she would be in a position to ad-

See ELECTION, 7 ☛

BRIEF Univ. surpasses donor goal on Giving Tuesday Brandeis recently announced it surpassed its goal of 1,948 donors on Giving Tuesday this past Dec. 3, according to the University’s website. Additionally, donations nearly doubled from last year's contribution total reported on the University’s Giving Tuesday page.

Giving Tuesday, celebrated the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is often referred to as the “global generosity movement,” according to the Giving Tuesday Directory. Started in 2012 to encourage people to do good, the directory describes the day as an opportunity for collaboration between individuals and corporations to spread the importance of kindness, generosity and community.

According to last year’s Giving Tuesday Page, Brandeis received a total of $438,449 from 1,597 donors in 2018. The University exceeded its goal of 1,250 donors in 2018. This year the University gained roughly 1000 donors and nearly doubled last year’s contributions.

This Giving Tuesday, the University challenged community members to donate. If the University could surpass its historic goal of 1,948 donors, it would receive a donation of $100,000 from President of the Brandeis National Committee and member of the Board of Trustees Madalyn Friedberg, per Support Brandeis.

In a video posted by Brandeis for Giving Tuesday 2019, the University stressed that “donations of any size” would be welcomed and used at Brandeis to support what mattered most to donors.

The University also said that it

would accept gift matches and gifts online or by phone.

By the end of the day, the University had raised $865,558 from 2,559 donors, reaching its donor goal and unlocking the donation of $100,000, according to the Brandeis Giving Tuesday website, which Friedburg matched in a donation to the University.

According to the website, the Heller School for Social Policy and Management met its Donor Challenge with 120 gifts which resulted in a match of $10,000 from parents and families. Additionally, Alumni Association President Lewis Brooks '80, P’16 and his wife Denise Silber Brooks '84, P’16 matched the undergraduate alumni donations of $5,000.

The University collected data to show the distribution of nonanonymous donors across the country and the world. Within the United States, the data showed donors came from California to Maine. Internationally, donors were from China, Spain, Peru, India, Canada, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Greece, Georgia, Thailand, South Korea, Slovakia and Switzerland.

The University thanked all of its donors on its website, saying it was, “in awe of the continued support from the community.”

The website said that all gifts would go toward “dollars for scholarships for deserving students, excellence in teaching and research, support for the firstrate Brandeis Library and everything we love most about the university.”

—Leeza Barstein

See SAS, 7 ☛

BLC demands worker retention guarantee in RFP

Adulting with Jane

Eurydice

 Take a look at a new "shoppable" series created by a Brandeis alumna.

 Last week, Hold Thy Peace presented its production of Sarah Ruhl’s "Eurydice."

By TALIA ZITNER

By BRIANNA CUMMINGS

By EMILY BLUMENTHAL

NEWS 3

Letter to the Editor: Accessibility One Year Later

By DEISABILITY

FORUM 12

Enes Kanter shoots above and beyond Photo Courtesy of ADULTING WITH JANE

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

NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice

ARTS AND CULTURE 19

Make your voice heard!

Submit letters to the editor to letters@thejustice.org

By EMMA GHALILI

COPYRIGHT 2019 FREE AT BRANDEIS.

SPORTS 15

2

TUESDAY, DECMBER 10, 2019

●

NEWS

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THE JUSTICE

NEWS RELAXING AT SPA NIGHT

WALTHAM BRIEF

POLICE LOG

Newton man charged with impersonating Waltham police officer A 62-year-old man from Newton has been charged with impersonating a Waltham police officer, according to a Nov. 18 Waltham Wicked Local article.

The article reported that the man, Angelo Leporini, was charged with “impersonating a police officer, use without authority (badge), and disturbing the peace.”

The incident occurred on Nov. 11 after a woman slipped while walking around a pile of leaves on the sidewalk. Her partner approached Leporini and asked him to clean up the leaves, according to a Nov. 18 Patch Waltham article.

The Newton man responded angrily, asserting that he did not put the leaves there, going to his truck and retrieving a Waltham Police badge, according the same Patch Waltham article.

The article then reported that when Leporini would not give the couple his name they called the police, at which point the police asked for his badge. Leporini became agitated, and began moving erratically which caused at least one car to swerve to avoid hitting him. Multiple pedestrians crossed the street to avoid him as well, according to the Waltham Wicked Local article.

The same article reported that once Leporini calmed down, he gave the officers his badge, but became angered again as they ran it through the system, at which point he was arrested.

Massachusetts state law says that impersonating a police officer can result in a fine of not more than four hundred dollars or up to a year in prison.

—Jason Frank

SARAH KATZ/the Justice

Campus Activities Board held a spa night in the Shapiro Campus Center on Friday to help students destress before finals. Students could decorate eye masks, make their own sugar scrubs and sit in massage chairs.

SENATE LOG Senate charters five clubs, discusses changes to attendance policy, elects new executive senator The Justice will not be printing for the next five weeks due to the winter recess. The next issue will publish on Jan. 21.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS n A Sports article inaccurately named current student Alex Gavriel as a former student (Nov. 26, Page 16). n A News article’s headline was amended to reflect that a series of art installations were not new (Nov. 26, Page 3).

The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification.

Send an email to editor@thejustice.org.

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

The Senate met for its last meeting of the semester on Sunday, where it elected members to various positions and discussed updating the attendance policy.

The Senate members began the meeting by chartering five clubs: Model United Nations, the Men of Color Alliance, Deis 3D, Students for Fair Housing and Brandeis Board Game Club.

Union Vice President Kendal Chapman ’22 explained that the Executive Board had “reevaluated” and redesigned its attendance policy, which has “been a problem throughout the Union.” The Senate later discussed redesigning its own attendance policy, which will potentially be introduced as a bylaw amendment at the beginning of next semester. Under the old system, senators are allowed two unexcused absences but unlimited excused absences, Chapman said. Under the system Chapman proposed, however, senators would be allowed three excused absences for sickness, family emergencies or travel, one of which could be for academic reasons. Senators would still be allowed two unexcused absences and would be dismissed after the third such absence.

Chapman also reported that the recent trial run of a Lyft subsidy, which was active around the end of October, was “very popular,” and said the Union plans “to create a partnership with them so that can continue.”

Chapman announced that two E-Board members — Ari Hahalis ’22, the di-

rector of Technology and Media, and Nakul Srinivas ’21, the Union Diversity and Inclusion Officer — would be stepping down.

Applications for those appointed positions should be sent out over the winter break.

Later in the meeting, Class of 2020 Senator Scott Halper was elected Spring 2020 Executive Senator, Jake Rong ’21 was elected the Spring 2020 Allocations Board representative and North Quad Senator Krupa Sourirajan ’23 was elected the Spring 2020 Community Emergency and Enhancement Fund representative. The Senate called an executive session during the elections.

COMMITTEE CHAIR REPORTS

Dining Committee Chair Nancy Zhai ’22 announced that The Stein will be open as a study space during finals, as detailed in a Dec. 6 email from the Campus Card Office. The Stein is also set to debut its new menu, which will include more vegetarian and gluten-free options, at the beginning of next semester.

Additionally, Zhai reported that the University’s Request for Proposals for the next dining contractor was finalized and sent to vendors on Dec. 4.

Club Support Committee Chair Joseph Coles ’22 announced that he will be introducing “some pretty major bylaw changes” next semester, including one that would allow auditionexclusive clubs, such as a capella groups, to get funding.

Facilities and Housing Committee Chair Trevor Filseth ’20 reported that the committee is working to

design “a comprehensive change” to the damaged building policy. The committee is looking to create a fund that every Brandeis student would pay a very small amount into as an “insurance fund in case there’s damage to a building that [the University] can’t trace back to any individual student,” Filseth said. The goal of the fund is to prevent the residents of one building from being charged a large amount for damage, an issue that was raised earlier this semester when residents of Hassenfeld Residence Hall were charged for three damaged and stolen exit signs. Senators agreed that more discussions of how this fund would work are necessary.

The committee will also be circulating a petition gauging student support for removing the locks from the bathrooms in the East Quad residence halls, Filseth announced, although other senators raised potential safety concerns involved in such a change.

The Union will hold its State of the Union event today from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Shapiro Campus Center Multipurpose Room.

Chapman said this event is a chance for all branches of the Union to meet and be transparent with each other and with the Brandeis community. Additionally, the semesterly Midnight Buffet will be held tonight at midnight in Levin Ballroom.

—Editor’s Note: Trevor Filseth is a Justice Forum writer.

—Luke Liu contributed reporting.

—Jocelyn Gould

MEDICAL EMERGENCY Nov. 25 — BEMCo responded to a party in Sherman Dining Hall who had fainted. The party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance for further care.

Nov. 26 — A party who received a thumb laceration while working in Schwartz Hall was treated by BEMCo with a signed refusal for further care.

Dec 2. — A party in Hassenfeld Hall reported getting a small shock when plugging in a lamp. BEMCo staff treated the party with a signed refusal for further care.

Dec. 3 — In the Usdan Student Center, a party felt ill. BEMCo treated the party with a signed refusal for further care.

Dec. 3 — BEMCo responded to a party in the Foster Mods with stomach pains. The party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance for further care. The Area Coordinator on call was notified.

Dec. 4 — A party in the Usdan Student Center fell and struck her head and leg.

BEMCO responded, and the party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance for further care.

Dec. 5 — Brandeis Counseling Center staff requested an ambulance for a psychological evaluation. The party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance for further care. Department of Community Living staff were notified.

Dec. 6 — A caller reported a slip and fall injury to their left hand on Loop Road by the Spingold Theater Center. BEMCo administered an ice pack and hand wrap, but the party refused further care.

Dec. 6 — BEMCo responded to a party in the Gerstenzang Science Library feeling ill and about to pass out. The party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance for further care. The Area Coordinator on call’s phone was busy, so no message could be left.

Dec. 7 — A party in the Slosberg Music Center fell and received a head laceration.

BEMCo responded, and the party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance for further care.

Dec. 8 — BEMCo treated a party in Usen Hall experiencing an allergic reaction with a signed refusal for further care.

Dec. 8 — BEMCo treated a party in Skyline Residence Hall with a laceration from scissors with a signed refusal for further care.

HARASSMENT Nov. 26 — University Police received an anonymous phone call from a person claiming they received harassing text messages. The caller refused to provide any further detail and was given the Detective Seargent’s email address. The caller would not provide their name, and no further action has been taken

by University Police at this time.

Dec. 5 — A staff member reported harassment by phone off campus. A report was compiled on the incident.

Dec. 6 — A staff member in the Sachar International Center received harassing phone messages. A report was composed and Internet Technology Services was notified.

This event took place in the morning.

Dec. 6 — A staff member in the Sachar International Center received harassing phone messages. A report was composed and Internet Technology Services was notified.

This event took place in the afternoon.

ASSAULT Dec. 5 — A party stated that his supervisor grabbed his arm. University Police compiled a report on the incident.

—Compiled by Jen Geller

Want the the Volume LXXI,

scoop?

Justice

The Indepen denT

Number 12

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

www.thejustice

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STudenT new Spaper

BrandeIS un IverSITy SInce 1949 Tuesday, December 4,

Trustees make long-awaited divestment choice

of

2018

‘BABY STEPS’ TOWAR

D DIVESTMENT

Waltham, Mass.

■ The University will change its investment strategies to decrease future investment in fossil fuel businesses .

principal business is the mining coal for use of in energy generation.”

Investments that presently ist in “fossil exfuel private partnerships limited (i.e., private partnership limited

By JEN GELLER funds ments, the focus that make investJUSTICE EDITOR ing profit from of which is derivthe exploration After months production of of deliberation, fossil fuels such and Board of Trustees the and natural as oil gas) policies regarding adopted a set of cordance with … will run off in acfossil fuel the funds’ typical vestments at incycles,” Chief their November life Investment ing, updating meetNicholas Warren Officer the 1973 guidelines that previously to the Justice. wrote in an email informed their These funds investment an average have decisions. life cycle of Brandeis students have 10 years.

“The overall been pressing administrati portfolio is the ture, with on to divest mamany funds from fossil fuels for reaching the later stages several years and have of their life continued to Therefore we cycle. do so in response expect it to the recent wind down over slowly policy announceme to In a Nov. 28 nt.

Warren wrote. the next 5-7 years,” email to the Brandeis community, private limited This is specific to University President Ron Liebowitz that invest with partnership funds outlined the new pola focus on gaining icies that will profit from guide future exploiting and ment. From investing oil, natural producnow on, the University’s gas and other endowment sil fuel. As funds will fosof Oct. 30, 2018, not be invested directly fuel private “fossil in “public or limited partnerships companies [market value] or partnerships private [’] [was] $63.3 whose million,

See DIVESTMENT,

STUDENT UNION

7☛

Special election calle to fill open position d s

The Brandeis Mountain Club Monday to protest hung a banner in ANDREW the Board of Trustees’ decisionthe Shapiro Campus Center BAXTER/the Justice Atrium on on fossil fuel divestment.

ADMINISTRATION

Report details cam shortcomings on divpus ers

■ The report presented a comprehe

ity

problems such nsive picture of as Meehan’s behavior, and what steps athletes may how communit y are fear being forced vent such problems being taken to premembers team or not off the from arising being allowed view the University' future. in the to play, according to Liebowitz.

However, over Brandeis’ climate diversity, reporting s the course of their policies.

The University and culture vestigators found interviews, the inwas founded no evidence of principles of

By NATALIA WIATER on ation and determined retali“anti-discrim ination, inthere was simclusiveness, JUSTICE EDITOR ply a perception academic freedom, that it was occurring. pendence, and indeTo combat this University President the perception, Liebowof academic quality”highest standards Ron Liebowitz itz explained released the in an interview Campus Climate chief of staff,” gation, discriminatioin an era of segrethe Justice and with last Thursday, Report he said, adding, n and quotas, The Brandeis which detailed don’t bear any investigators “I the Monday that Hoot on ceedingly high the “exwrote. ill will toward the administratio standards” and They’re both them.

However, some to build the n needs er shortcomings very passionate broadcommunity’s community very smart. bers brought and trust in the system, which … I’m really well as the steps of the University, as up controversiesmemwill take time. excited to see where things the rounding the surous policies Previtaking to address administration is go.”

University’s were unclear, identity, “I understand them.

Jewish and he This second which many said, made it difficult and final report, agreed is imporgiven a painted [Chang] has been to report issues. tant to Brandeis. authored by

By CHAIEL SCHAFFEL Liebowitz said pendent investigators indehe and I don’t think target on his back, explained that One faculty member JUSTICE STAFF the University sity must ensure believes the Univerhired last spring, WRITER any student identity-based that the community feel that way, should follows up on face additional schools is aware of tial findings the iniespecially as pressure to resources that The Student regarding the man,” he said. a freshmaintain their reputations, are available to them Union announced complaints lodged against which discourages that Vice President — such as the former men’s individuals Reynolds said Reporting at Brandeis Benedikt ball coach Brian from raising baskethe would help olds ’19 and web issues successor develop Meehan. the institution. his Treasurer Jerry Reynalternate channelspage — and create For the second Others mentioned with ’18 will resign contacts with Miller for reporting, the administratio half fusion of conat the end of with the about along investigaeducating them tion, the Board whether or not n, as well as mester. Their the seon why reporting them up on of Trustees tasked Brandeis markets itself seats will be is important. projects relevant catch investigators as filled in a special election — Walter Prince, the vice presidency. to the and noted that a Jewish institution, to be held on In addition, colm Graham conversations MalHe will also Dec. 10. investigators Vice President and Daniel his successor rael have become about show that instead learned Tarlow — Benedikt with examining how to help “charged,” which Isof reporting Reynolds announced Reynolds ’19 groups. student the systems, turn put “fundraisers issues, many in the Brandeis in and culture climate his intent on the defensive community choose of University’s to resign during with Jewish Looking back speak about procedure for handling donors,” according to them among complaints related Senate meeting. the Nov. 20 Union Union, Reynolds on his time in the report. to the themselves — an example or discriminatio to bias said he thought of what they interview with He said in a Dec. 3 work with environment n Many students his “small town call a corrective action and to recommend the Justice spoke well mentality.” al groups at that his personal heath the University accordingly.

University’s Administrators admitted was the reason academic rigor of the Throughout stood out the to investigators resignation. for his the report, the He also expressed lationships they most. and rethey are “too An incident that gators stressed investiconcern about formed with quiet” about in November in which the Senate their role as and faculty praised faculty, how their progress in improving weighs its constituents’ two “lawyers and investigators the campus culture, criticized Reynoldssenators publicly opinions. ,” not experts ture” that exists the “niceness culwhich further educational in the within the adds field, writing, ment in a resolution for his involveOthers raised “Senators, and school. poor communicati to the climate of “We will not substitute concerns about any elected on. purchased pianos that would have our judgement tions, are expected members’ cultural posifaculty administratio Diversity, equity for [the for the first-year to be liaisons sensitivity. residence quads n’s].” They and communicato Diversity, Equity and inclusion One pointed the affected his decision Brandeis steps rs for the student to the administratio has historically to step down body,” he said. pert said professorsand Inclusion exn is already but taking, and declined sues of race and faced is“Right factor, Reynolds was not the driving as if we’re decision now, it seems segregation, equipped to respect and staff are “illthe specific recommenda to give their own said tigators noted, makers for cultural differencciting both the invesReynolds accepted in the interview. student body. es,” according the tions, saying doing so would 1969 Ford Hall These [campus] original to the report. that the apologies Class of 2022 protest, be papers This newsof “presumptuo of culturally insensitive issue its 2015 counterprobably talk Senator Alex part and Meehan’s us.”

To understand to our constituChang International encies [more] “bullying” the campus climate, was prominent firing. From Student Senator and investigators than we interviews with their in Yang ’20 and interviewed Linfei toward his players.Meehan’s behavior Reynolds stressed do.” the community, said he was a number of faculty, staff, investigators the that being “thankful” that they apologized. found that while member of the The investigators dents and alumni administrators, stuwas “deep and Union is a strenuousa “They have also described been open to undertaking wide acceptance there to examine concerns “widespread communicati about the way for full-time importance anxiety about of the on of diversity, me as well as the University students and suggested complaints” lodging equity, and with the presidentwith complaints. inclusion” among handles among the Brandeis that the Union They then should and munity due complaced their findings in a trators and deans, students, administo concerns larger about retaliSee UNION, 6 ☛ ation, confusion there was “notably Brandeis culture context of how the less consensus” surrounding among the faculty. dures and a has contributed procelack of belief Administrato to that things rs tended to will change. focus the “business For example, case” for increasing on student di-

■ The Union's vice and treasurer will president step down and be replaced at the end of this semester.

Student Fashion

MELA

 A Brandeis student transforms his love of fashion into a business.

See CLIMATE,

Scholar reflects on

 The South Asian Students Association celebrates Shared Connection. “Our ”

By SAMMY PARK Photo Courtesy

By GILDA GEIST

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ARTS 19

U.S. curation of Chinese

School starting times

By ELLA RUSSELL of IRA BORNSTEIN

Women’s basketball

By JEN GELLER

COPYRIGHT 2018 FREE AT BRANDEIS.

make no sense

plays hard

7☛

art

NEWS 5 FORUM 11 SPORTS 16

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THE JUSTICE

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NEWS

on Campus Sustainability will operate until the end of the academic year.

By GILDA GEIST JUSTICE EDITOR

NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice

Michaela Grimes ’22 (left) and Rachel Greene ’20 act in Eurydice, a production from Hold Thy Peace and by Sarah Ruhl, which retells the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice from the perspective of Eurydice. The play was part of Greene’s and Haia Bchiri’s ’20 independent study.

BLC calls for worker retention guarantee in RFP presented a petition to the University demanding that dining services workers be allowed to keep their jobs.

By EMILY BLUMENTHAL JUSTICE EDITOR

The Brandeis Labor Coalition delivered a petition to the Office of the President on Nov. 22 demanding language that guarantees worker retention in the University’s Request for Proposals for a new dining vendor.

The petition, which the BLC said has accrued over 700 signatures, is the most recent step of an ongoing campaign by the BLC to advocate for worker retention. The campaign has heavily scrutinized the University’s relationship with its dining staff.

“After voicing the need for employee retention at the dining program open forums, we were told that employee retention would not be guaranteed in the RFP. This shows a blatant disrespect for the hardworking people who are vital to the functioning of the Brandeis campus,” the petition says.

BLC member Madeline Bisgyer ’20 said in a Nov. 22 interview with the Justice that the BLC “decided that we would get support from the student body and then deliver a petition with our demand for worker retention with the support of the student body, faculty, administration

Have an eye for design?

such terms as Awarded Bidder and the employees’ bargaining agent agree,” according to Stanley, quoting the RFP. Guaranteeing employment to workers is not standard practice, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Stew Uretsky said during the same Nov. 25 interview. “In the same way that Brandeis does not guarantee employment to anyone here, we wouldn’t impose that same standard on a vendor,” Uretsky said.

The University will discuss plans for worker retention in conversations with the bidders, and community members will have the opportunity to express concerns to the bidders through upcoming open forums, Stanley said.

The University will not be able to hold meetings with dining workers directly, however, because they work for Sodexo, which is one of the bidders for the new dining contract.

This policy is in place to ensure a fair process for all prospective vendors, Uretsky said.

The RFP was issued on Wednesday, Senate Dining Committee Chair Nancy Zhai ’22 announced during Sunday’s Senate meeting.

Stanley wrote in a Nov. 25 email to the Justice that proposals from vendors will be due in January, and finalists will give presentations to the community in March. The vendor will be selected in April, and its contract with the University will begin on July 1.

University President Ron Liebowitz sent an email to the Brandeis community last Monday announcing the creation of the President’s Task Force on Campus Sustainability.

According to the Office of Sustainability’s website, the task force will spend the rest of this academic year “updating Brandeis’ Climate Action Plan, addressing climate resilience, and recommending additional campus sustainability initiatives and best practices.”

The task force will be co-chaired

by Manager for Sustainability Programs Mary Fischer, Prof. Sabine von Mering (ENVS) and Senate Sustainability Committee Chair Oliver Price ’20, per the email. The group will also include four professors, three graduate students, two undergraduate students and five staff members. Their names and affiliations are detailed in the email.

Liebowitz wrote in his email that the University is committed to revising its climate plan every five years. He also wrote that the group will be working on making changes to the 2016 Climate Action Plan, such as setting “new, more aggressive carbon reduction targets and a plan and timeline for achieving them.”

The email said that the task force will incorporate the concept of “climate resilience” into the action plan. Climate resilience “focuses on climate adaptation and community capacity-building to deal with a changing climate and resulting extremes,” Liebowitz explained.

According to the email, including climate resilience would allow Brandeis to participate further in Second Nature’s Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitments.

Second Nature is an organization with the goal of promoting climate action in higher education. The Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitments, the organization’s carbon reduction program, calls on university presidents to sign statements promising to take certain climate actions, such as creating a climate action plan.

According to Liebowitz’s email, Brandeis is currently a signatory of Second Nature’s Carbon Com-

mitment, but changes to the University’s climate plan would allow it to sign the Climate Commitment as well. Liebowitz referred to the Climate Commitment in his email as “a broader-scope commitment than the Carbon Commitment.”

Liebowitz added that the task force will include in the updated plan recommendations regarding if and when the University should use “financial mechanisms such as renewable energy credits and carbon offsets.”

The task force will also be responsible for updating Brandeis’ Energy Conservation and Management Policy to include sustainable standards for construction and renovation of buildings, per the email. The group will also be able to make recommendations about any other sustainability practices and initiatives.

Liebowitz’s email also discussed four working groups that will “make recommendations to the task force.”

The Working Group on Campus Operations will make recommendations about how to reduce energy use through building upgrades, facilities maintenance, updates to standards for construction and other infrastructure-related techniques.

The Working Group on Community Engagement will ensure that a diversity of voices from the Brandeis community are represented in the task force. It is also responsible for encouraging discussions “about the role that fossil fuels and alternative energy investments should play in the university’s investment portfolio” in the future, according to the email.

The Board of Trustees’ 2018 fossil fuels investment policies are currently in place, though the Board said it would review these policies after a three-year period.

The Working Group on Incorporating Climate Change in the Classroom will make recommendations for how the University can expand climate change education.

The Working Group on Climate Resilience will “lead a resilience assessment to help us anticipate, prepare for, and respond to shortterm events and long-term trends resulting from climate change,” the email said.

Liebowitz wrote in his email that he will keep the community updated about the task force’s work.

He wrote, “The task force chairs welcome the insights, questions, and suggestions of anyone in the Brandeis community.” Community members can give feedback at the Office of Sustainability’s website.

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Liebowitz announces new climate task force ■ The President’s Task Force

and also the dining hall workers to show that there is mass support for worker retention on this campus.”

“Should that wording not be included in the RFP or not be guaranteed by administration, there would be a lot of upset Brandeis community [members],” she said.

BLC members relayed the petition — which is addressed to University President Ron Liebowitz, Provost Lisa Lynch and Vice President of Campus Operations Lois Stanley — to Senior Executive Administrator to the President Heidi Popkin. According to Bisgyer, Popkin told the BLC she would deliver the petition to Liebowitz.

“I know that we have some students who are very concerned about our dining staff, and we share those concerns,” Lynch wrote in a Nov. 22 email to the Justice.

Stanley told the Justice in an interview on Nov. 25 that the University added language to the RFP about worker retention after receiving feedback from community members on the subject. This language requires prospective bidders to include a transition plan for current employees in their proposals, but the clause does not guarantee that those employees will be retained under the new contract.

Instead, the eventual finalist “will strive to employ all current Dining Service employees who wish to continue working at Brandeis in accordance with the collective Brandeis University bargaining agreement or

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

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ELECTION WEEK FOR THE U.K.

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NEWS

By JEN GELLER JUSTICE EDITOR

United Kingdom to hold major Parliamentary election this week ■ Brandeis students abroad

interning in Parliament share what it’s like being involved during this high-stakes U.K. election cycle.

By JASON KWAN JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

There are constant reminders of an upcoming election: passing conversations, news headlines and social media posts. Voters discuss a blond, conservative incumbent, an elderly democratic socialist and a fresh face in the Liberal Democrats.

But these conversations are not about the U.S. presidential election next year.

On Dec. 12, the United Kingdom will hold a decisive general election, its third in almost as many years, that will decide the makeup of government ahead of the U.K.’s planned withdrawal from the European Union. Figureheads in this election include Conservative Party leader and incumbent Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and leader of the Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson, among others. This semester, several American students, including some from Brandeis, interned with the British parliament and learned how British politics differs from that of the United States.

In American elections, a president is elected every four years, separate from local representatives. But in the United Kingdom, elections determining the government’s makeup, and therefore the Prime Minister, are far less consistent. Voters elect local Members of Parliament to individual seats, and the leader of the party with the most MPs becomes Prime Minister. The last general election, called in 2017 by then-Prime Minister Theresa May, was held only two years after the previous election. Although the Fixed-term Parliaments Act of 2011 mandated that general elections must be held every five years, the political landscape changed after a 2016 referendum vote in favor of leaving the European Union, which has been dubbed Brexit. This year, Prime Minister Johnson called a “snap” election for Dec. 12 to better his chances of securing his Brexit deal.

The Conservative Party has been in charge since 2010, when voters first elected David Cameron to be Prime Minister. Cameron oversaw the Brexit referendum and resigned after a slim majority voted to leave.

May took the leadership position but also resigned in 2019 after her proposed Brexit plans failed three times in Parliament, paving the way for Johnson to take the pre-

miership. The current Opposition, the Labour Party, is seeking to win the 2019 general election by promising to negotiate a new Brexit deal, and to put that deal to the British public in a referendum. Another major political party, the Liberal Democrats, plans to stop Brexit in its entirety and cancel the results of the 2016 referendum.

Sara Hogenboom ’21 interned with the Liberal Democrats, participating in the University’s study abroad program in conjunction with the London School of Economics. Accepted into the competitive Parliamentary internship program, Hogenboom worked for Baroness Sal Brinton, president of the Liberal Democrats and a member of the House of Lords. This is a key difference between Parliament and Congress, the latter of which is separated between the upper chamber — the Senate — and the lower chamber — the House of Representatives. All members of Congress are directly elected by voters, and so are members of the House of Commons.

Members of the House of Lords, however, are appointed by the House of Lords Appointments Commission or inherit the position. Appointed members are known as life peers and members by inheritance are known as hereditary peers. As a life peer, Brinton is not a democratically-elected politician. Because of this, Hogenboom told the Justice that she did not work on the campaign trail. Her internship ended once Parliament called a general election, allowing her to focus on completing her semester abroad, she said.

Although the Dec. 12 election could have profound effects on the makeup of Parliament, there is more than one Parliament in the United Kingdom. Scotland, a country that is part of the United Kingdom, has its own Parliament with its own elections, the next due to occur in 2021. Scottish voters still elect MPs to the Westminster Parliament.

Jackson Shiell ’21 interns with the Scottish Parliament through the University’s study abroad program, the University of Edinburgh and the Institute for Study Abroad.

Shiell told the Justice that he works for Shona Robison, a member of the Scottish National Party. The SNP is the leading party of the Scottish Parliament and the third-largest party in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Localized to constituencies within Scotland, the SNP supports the idea of an independent Scotland. The party also opposes Brexit, given that a majority of Scottish voters voted to remain in the EU during the 2016 referendum, and a majority continue to support

remaining.

Shiell works in constituency services with his Member of Scottish Parliament, separate from the election campaigns of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. However, he said that the SNP has a decent chance in the upcoming election.

“The SNP is a popular party, and by far the largest in Scotland. Almost every person I have spoken to votes SNP primarily,” Shiell said.

Reflecting on Scottish partisanship, Shiell said that Scotland is “more progressive than the rest of the UK” and that “politics in Scotland is much more civil than in the U.S.” However, he also mentioned that there was some voter skepticism toward the SNP for its calls for Scottish independence.

As for the actual election campaign occuring in the United Kingdom, other American students have gotten involved. Arcadia University student Stephanie GumabonGreaver interns in Parliament through Arcadia’s study abroad program and Goldsmiths, University of London. She told the Justice that the internship application process was “extremely competitive, especially as my internship took place during what would have been Brexit.” Following negotiations to achieve a snap general election, Johnson was forced to ask for an extension to the Brexit date from Oct. 31, 2019 to Jan. 31, 2020.

Before Parliament called the election, Gumabon-Greaver worked in constituency services with Labour MP Karen Buck. Gumabon-Greaver helped Buck deal with issues surrounding housing and immigration, two major concerns in British politics that are referenced in several parties’ policy manifestos.

When elections are called, all MPs must stand for re-election, so Buck became a “candidate for MP.” “The first half of my day was spent doing the same tasks I had done before. However, the second half of the day I spent canvassing, or going door to door asking people who they planned to vote for and advocating on behalf of the candidate.

That was definitely an interesting experience, as obviously people feel very strongly about politics and can have equally as strong responses,” Gumabon-Greaver said.

The election is now just two days away, with polls predicting a Conservative victory, which could help ensure that Prime Minister Johnson’s Brexit plans come to fruition.

However, opinion polls can be misleading and the election may come down to voter enthusiasm and turnout, especially among young voters.

Candidates for MP will rely on their campaign staffs, Americans included, to see if Dec. 12 will end in victory or defeat.

5

Prof. recognized for her contributions to science was elected as a fellow of the AAAS for her work in sensory neuroscience.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

SCIENCE

■ Prof. Piali Sengupta (BIOL)

ELECTIONS ABROAD: While many Brandeis students have their attention focused on the upcoming U.S. presidential election, some are studying abroad in the United Kingdom, which is about to have a high-profile general election of its own.

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Biology Department chair and Prof.

Piali Sengupta (BIOL) was one of 443 recently elected Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2019.

On Nov. 26, the AAAS published a full list of all elected fellows, who come from different universities and study a broad range of subjects. The AAAS is the world’s largest general scientific society and is located in Washington, D.C. The AAAS’s article explains that fellows represent the 24 fields, from social, economic and political sciences to the natural sciences, such as biological and medical sciences.

Past notable fellows include inventor Thomas Edison in 1878, anthropologist Margaret Mead in 1934 and computer scientist Grace Hopper in 1963.

Fellows are elected by their peers on the Council of AAAS, the governing body of the organization. AAAS began selecting fellows in 1874.

According to a Nov. 26 BrandeisNow article, the AAAS sent Sengupta an acceptance letter explaining why she received the honor. The letter said she was chosen for her “distinguished contributions to the field of sensory neuroscience, particularly for defining the molecular genetics of chemical communication and thermosensation in C. elegans.”

Sengupta runs a lab that is broadly grouped into two areas, according to her Brandeis staff biography. The first is looking at the model organism C. elegans to see its response — attraction or aversion — to stimuli, like changes in temperature and changes to the chemicals in its environment. Called

the “Axis of Taxis” subgroup, they investigate the neuronal, molecular and circuit mechanisms by which this organism responds to the stimuli. This is the part of her research she was recognized for.

The second subgroup in the Sengupta lab looks in the cilia, the part of the neuron that has the signalling molecules to allow for chemical signal transduction. Those who work on this project are known as the “Cilia Squad” and investigate the morphological and functional properties of the sensory cilia by looking at their cellular and molecular mechanisms.

The lab overall looks at the animal’s sensory experience through “genetic, molecular and neuronal mechanisms” to see how they respond to complex and changing environments. It is for these contributions that Sengupta was elected as an AAAS Fellow.

Sengupta said that she is honored to be elected as an AAAS fellow because of its mission of inclusivity. She told BrandeisNow, “AAAS has a strong commitment to promoting science research, policy and education as well as to increasing diversity and inclusion in STEM fields. As a Fellow, I look forward to contributing to these missions.”

As Sengupta said, the AAAS has a longstanding tradition of inclusivity.

According to its website, “AAAS is committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to, and benefit from, science and engineering by encouraging the recruitment, development, and retention of scientists.” The organization seeks to provide tools that “expand access to STEM education, strengthen and diversify the science and technology workforce, and amplify underrepresented and marginalized voices within STEM.” The 443 electees will be honored with official certificates and blue and gold rosette pins, which symbolize science and engineering. The ceremony will take place on Feb. 15, 2020 in Seattle, WA.

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GIVING BACK ON GIVING TUESDAY

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

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BRIEF Large midyear class will be housed across campus

JEN GELLER/the Justice

Students pledged money to donate to different aspects of the University to mark "Giving Tuesday," a global movement that encourages people to give back to their communities, on Dec. 3.

Joining the rest of the campus community and beginning their Brandeis journeys, midyear members of the class of 2023 will move onto campus on Jan. 10. But with the number of midyears this year, the question has turned to where incoming students will live this spring.

In an email to the Justice, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Tim Touchette said midyear students will be living in Ziv Quad, East Quad and the Village. He says that this is no different from prior years. “It’s been several years since all midyear students have been assigned to housing in the Village. Some have gone into East and some have gone into Ziv 130,” Touchette told the Justice.

He specified the breakdown this year — 27 midyears will be in Hassenfeld Hall, 21 will be in Pomerantz Hall, 24 will be in Village B, 33 will be in Village C and 29 will be in Ziv 130.

According to a Jan. 15 BrandeisNow article, 101 midyear students and 21 transfer students came to campus in January 2019. Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid Jennifer Walker said the final number of midyear students coming in in 2020 is not finalized.

Walker wrote in a Monday email to the Justice, “It is hard to know exactly how many midyears will arrive until move in day because between now and then a few may decide to pursue other plans (this is normal). We are presently projecting a midyear class of around 130 students. There will be no transfers starting this January.”

Touchette added that the algorithm used to place the midyears into rooms is the same algorithm used to place first-year students who started in August.

“The only preference students can have is if they would like to request a single. I'm happy to say we were able to accommodate all requests for single rooms. The information com-

municated to students about where they will be located in the spring has included the Village, East and Ziv as possible locations,” he added.

The students were informed of their room assignments on Dec. 5, Touchette told the Justice.

Some of the midyears placed in East Quad will be filling in doubles that currently only have a single occupant, meaning there will be midyear students living with sophomores.

Touchette said that sophomores were offered the opportunity to consolidate so that they could live with another sophomore, and many did.

“We tried to avoid using rooms where there was a current student.

However, based on numbers, there are a few spaces where we did not have a choice and used the matching information available to make the best matches,” Touchette said.

He said that all students were notified of the possibility of a new roommate last semester and that the Department of Community Living will be following up with students who ended up receiving a midyear roommate in January.

Walker told the Justice that there is no specific class size that is “normal” for the midyear class. Although Admissions aims to enroll 100 midyear students each year, some classes are smaller and some are larger. This year’s midyear class has a larger yield than in years past.

She said, “We set a target number and do our best to achieve it. The work of Admissions is not exactly a precise science as we are trying to predict the behavior of 17 year olds, including many who have a myriad of wonderful collegiate options.”

—Jen Geller —Emily Blumenthal contributed reporting

ELECTION: Candidates aim to bring SAS: Finalists vow to support accommodations minority voices to the Union CONTINUED FROM 1 vocate for those changes. She said she would also present these students’ concerns to the Student Union.

Pokharel said she believes that the process of special elections “really gave me a platform to advocate for what I wanted to see” as she became more aware of changes she wanted to make throughout the course of the semester. She also said that she has no opinion on the dismissal of the previous racial minority senator.

Ishaan Kurana ’23, another candidate running for racial minority senator, said that he is running because he feels he has “a really good amount of experience working as a racial minority and doing work with racial minorities.”

Kurana said that his experience working in leadership positions with the Indian Student Association in Shanghai has helped him prepare for the racial minority senator position. Kurana also said that he has helped to “spread openmindedness” and was the “first Indian-American to be the chief marshal of the Patriots parade” in Lexington, MA. Kurana is currently working on “improving the Dharmic Prayer Space using CEEF [Community Emergency and Enhancement Fund] funding.”

Kurana said if he were elected,

he would promote “I Am Global Week,” which he only “found out about ... because a friend was involved, otherwise [he] would not [have] even known it was a thing.”

He also said he wants to encourage students of every ethnicity to attend campus events, as he said he does not feel that campus events tend to be diverse.

Kurana said that he wants to work to make sure every ethnicity is represented in every club, which he would do by “working with the clubs themselves because I think they’re really good at bringing out the culture in itself and how we celebrate” and that there are generational differences in how people celebrate their cultures.

To ensure that the Student Union listens to minority students' voices, Kurana stressed that members of the Brandeis community can reach out to him to express their concerns, an idea which he said he will promote by sending emails frequently.

Kurana said that he believes the racial minority senator special election was handled well and that “everyone’s been super professional.”

The third candidate running for the position of racial minority senator is Kurtis Lee ’22, who is running because he has “a deep interest when it comes to the question of social justice and racial justice”

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and because he believes that it is “incredibly important to promote intercultural discourse between people of different backgrounds.”

To achieve his goals, Lee said he would have events that would allow people to “express their ideas” and “where people would learn from each other.” Holding these events would promote social and racial justice and intercultural discourse. Lee suggested talking about issues during these events that would benefit from multiple perspectives, such as climate change and immigration.

Lee said that he would be able to fight for racial justice because he can identify issues as they arise. He also said that he believes speaking to the student body would be beneficial in identifying issues. Lee explained that if he were elected, he would reach out to the different groups on campus, encouraging them to come to him with concerns.

Regarding the special elections, Lee said that he was “disappointed about how it was handled given the fact that the position of racial minority senator has been unfilled for a long time,” and that he believes that the “Student Union should have filled it much longer ago.”

—Emily Blumenthal contributed reporting.

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CONTINUED FROM 1 ability, but sometimes getting that documentation can be costly.

Vassar also talked about the importance of coming up with different ways to accommodate people’s varying abilities and needs. “Accommodations are not prescribed.

It’s a conversation,” she said.

The third finalist, Dugan, the director of the Department of Disability Access and Advising at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, spoke with the community in a forum on Monday.

According to Dugan’s LinkedIn profile, at IUP she coordinates “all aspects of disability access, advising, awareness and support” and directs “department strategic planning, assessment and program management.”

At the forum, Dugan explained the importance of meeting with students one-on-one to help in the transition from high school to college.

She said that these meetings may involve conversations about how disability can be integrated into a

student’s identity.

Dugan also talked about making career development a part of disability services, as well as ensuring that study abroad programs are equally accessible to all students.

Finkel asked how Dugan would balance the needs of students with the constraints of an institution.

She replied, “I work for both. I can’t be here without the university, I can’t be here without the students.”

Another student at the forum asked Dugan what she would do if a professor refused to meet a student’s accommodations for their disability. Dugan said she would first email the professor explaining the procedure, but if needed, she said, “I have been known to go to the chair [of the professor’s department].” She continued, “The goal is … to do the right thing and tell people what the right thing is.”

Dugan also discussed inclusion in relation to disability. She explained that changing the culture to “stop defining what is, in quotes, normal and usual,” while difficult, is an important goal in her work.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019 ● FEATURES ● THE JUSTICE

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VERBATIM | ELLEN DEGENERES When you take risks you learn that there will be times when you succeed and there will be times when you fail, and both are equally important.

ON THIS DAY…

FUN FACT

In 1908, the German Reichstag passed a bill forbidding work for children under 13.

Snakes can sense a coming earthquake up to five days before it happens.

Bouchra’s Life in a Suitcase Meet Bouchra, who moved from Morocco to Boston in 2012.

“Life in a Suitcase” is a series focused on sharing the stories of immigrant students, staff and faculty members at Brandeis, with the author’s hope that it will encourage people to adopt a different perspective on a controversial issue.

This week’s story: Name: Bouchra Samih Current position: Einstein Bros. Bagels staff Year of immigration: 2012 Country of origin: Morocco Languages spoken: Arabic and English

By SOFIA GONZALEZ JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Bouchra Samih’s parents and 17-year old brother moved to the United States from Morocco in 2005. She stayed behind with her other siblings, working as a nurse in a hospital.

Samih first met her current husband soon after her parents’ departure. One of Samih’s friends introduced them, and they spent a year slowly building a close relationship. It was during this period of time that his mother was suddenly hospitalized where Samih worked. Samih remembers taking care of her dearly — like she was used to doing with every patient — until one day her boyfriend’s mother approached him and said: “You can marry her, she’s a good and nice girl.” In 2009, the couple got married.

In 2012, Samih’s husband moved to the United States, and she was faced with the choice of remaining in Morocco or traveling abroad with him. The choice was not easy. In a recent interview with the Justice, Samih recalled: “I had everything in my country …

I was a working nurse, I had a house, I was living good over there … but my husband

was in the United States.” Ultimately, she decided to accompany him, and after receiving their visa, they settled down in Boston.

Samih’s transition was softened by the fact that her family had already been living in Boston for a number of years. Upon her arrival, she was reunited with her parents and younger brother, who by that time had graduated high school and college. “The hardest is when people come and find nobody,” she observed. Indeed, knowing the difficulties many Moroccans faced when immigrating alone, her parents had welcomed and helped multiple individuals find roommates and jobs.

For Samih, the biggest challenge was the language. While she had learned basic English growing up, she stated that it was not easy talking to people, and that she knew she had to work on her skills if she wanted to be employable. Consequently, she attended an English academy in Boston for two years, and ultimately gained the confidence and knowledge needed to succeed in the workforce.

Samih came to Brandeis three years ago.

Even though she had obtained her degree as a Medical Assistant, and found no “obstacles in [her] career,” she decided to join

the Brandeis community. She’s happy here, working as a member of Einstein Bros. Bagels staff. Even though she considers Massachusetts to be one of the most expensive states, Samih has no plans to move elsewhere. Along with her husband, who works at a restaurant, she was able to buy her own house last year, which has greatly increased her comfort and happiness.

When asked about what she misses from home, Samih’s immediate response was her sister, who still resides there. Her other sister lives in Spain, she added, and one of her brothers lives in Paris. Fortunately, she travels to Morocco once a year and reunites with the rest of her family. While sometimes this is not possible, due to the price of the tickets, she works hard to make sure she can at least go every other year. Samih shared with excitement that three months ago, an airline started a direct flight from Boston to Morocco, so that she no longer needs to travel to New York and wait for hours to fly home.

As for what she likes most about the United States, Samih quickly said, “The freedom. …

Here everybody practices their own religion or [doesn’t] practice a religion. … People do whatever they want to do.” She mentioned,

for example, having to wear a scarf back in Morocco, and added that she chooses not to wear one here because no one will criticize her making such a choice. Jokingly, she also explained, “In my country, men can have four wives. … I am happy that here, my husband can only have me.”

In addition, Samih showed appreciation for the food here, saying, “I love the food here. It’s different.” She especially loves macaroni and cheese and fried chicken, explaining that in her country, all the food is accompanied by bread, and that it is interesting to see how dishes here are prepared and presented. Samih believes getting to know the food in a new country is very important and a crucial part of the immigration process.

When asked about the advice she would give those who decide to leave their home country, Samih said: “Remember that it’s not easy. It’s not easy to change culture, to change your language, to change clothes and get used to a new weather. … You need to make a sacrifice. The first two years are hard for everyone. … When I arrived, people didn’t find jobs easily and often struggled with the language … but after that, it is worth it.”

INTERNATIONAL FAMILY: Only one of Samih’s siblings still lives in Morocco. The other ones live in the United States, France and Spain.

Design: Yael Hanadari-Levy/the Justice. Images Courtesy of Creative Commons.

THE JUSTICE ● FEATURES ● TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

9

Learning to Adult ‘Adulting with Jane’ is a shoppable series meant to help young adults learn important life skills.

Photo Courtesy of ADULTING WITH JANE

ADULTING AT ITS FINEST: The episodes produced so far include “How to Change a Tire,” “Creating Space” and “Going to the Theater.”

By TALIA ZITNER JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

It’s no surprise that wherever Brandeis students end up, they make their mark. Enter Brandeis alumna Jenny Paul ’07, the creator and executive producer for the new “shoppable” web series, “Adulting With Jane.” The series, which launched in October, is one of the first of its kind because it allows viewers to click on and purchase the products featured in the video while they watch.

The videos range from “How to Change a Tire” to “How to Manage a Panic Attack,” and utilize influencer-culture to help “Jane” learn these new skills.

AWJ takes a village, and many of those involved went to Brandeis, including the director of the show, Samantha Saltzman ’06. Other Brandeis alum working on the show include Cindy Kaplan ’07, who wrote the “Creating Space” episode; script supervisor Lynn Spector ’06; production assistant Tres Fimman ’18.

They even have support directly on campus. The show’s press assistant is senior Maryam Chishti, who became involved in the show about a year before they began filming. “The founder and the main actress is a Brandeis alumna and she came to Hyatt for a theater talk,” Chishti said, recognizing that there aren’t many theater professionals that come to the campus career center. “After, she was like, ‘If anyone wants to

follow up with me, email me,’ and so I emailed her,” Chishti added.

Chishti joined the project as a social media intern, despite the fact that the production hadn’t yet moved past the writing stage.

“It was challenging to make social media content for a show that hadn’t come out yet and wasn’t filming,” she said. Despite the challenges, her solution was a creative one. “I tried to do little adulting tips every day that I would post on social media,” Chishti shared. She used Instagram, Twitter and Facebook — where

“

“If you have the tenacity and the grit you can make your own art.”

Maryam Chisthi the page currently has 1.4k likes — to promote the show. When the team hired a public relations representative, Chishti was part of the hiring process and became the press assistant. Now, her job includes spreading the word about the series, reaching out to various influencers to be on the show and attend related events,and helping the PR representative with her responsibili-

ties. Chisthi explained that it can sometimes be challenging to balance her role with the series and school work: “I’m not paid and I can only give them so much.”

Nevertheless, she’s learned a significant amount since starting with the show, particularly regarding “all the different ways that you can be involved as an actress and a theater person postcollege.” Perhaps the most important thing Chisthi has learned from this experience, however, is, “If you have the tenacity and the grit you can make your own art.”

Since its launch, the series has been released on various platforms, such as IGTV, Facebook Watch and YouTube. It is also available for streaming on Apple TV, Roku and other streaming providers. The episodes have featured special guests, including Instagram influencer Cindy Huzenman of Cindyology, who teaches Jane how to “create space” in her apartment, and Broadway actress and singer Sophia Anne Caruso, who is currently playing the lead role of Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice the Musical in New York City. Sponsors and partners of the show include, Thrive NYC/ National Mental Health First Aid, Project Repat, WIREWAX Interactive Video, The Williamsburg Hotel, Bushwick Grind and Beetlejuice the Musical. The series also established affiliate partnerships with MasterClass, NerdWallet, Target, Today Tix and other groups aimed at young adults.

Photo Courtesy of ADULTING WITH JANE

A VILLAGE OF JUDGES: The series was created

by Brandeis alumna Jenny Paul. The current press assistant, Maryam Chisthi, will graduate in the spring.

Design: Yael Hanadari-Levy/the Justice. Images Courtesy of ADULTING WITH JANE.

10 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019 ● FORUM ● THE JUSTICE

Justice

the

Established 1949

Brandeis University

Jocelyn Gould, Editor in Chief Jen Geller, Managing Editor Avraham Penso and Natalia Wiater, Senior Editors Andrew Baxter, Hannah Kressel, Yvette Sei, Lily Schmidt-Swartz, Judah Weinerman and Maya Zanger-Nadis, Associate Editors Emily Blumenthal and Gilda Geist, News Editors Eliana Padwa, Interim Features Editor Gabriel Frank, Forum Editor, Megan Geller, Sports Editor Luke Liu, Arts & Culture Editor, Noah Zeitlin and Sarah Katz, Photography Editors Yael Hanadari-Levy, Layout Editor River Hayes and Hannah O’Koon, Copy Editor Frances Hoffen and Yona Splaver, Ads Editors Samantha Goldman, Online Editor

EDITORIALS

University needs improved winter safety policies Winter is coming, and with it, increased danger to the safety of the Brandeis community. In the past several weeks, Brandeis and its surrounding area have seen the signs of the season approaching, from the dropping temperatures to the snowy weather right after Thanksgiving break. This board appreciates the work the University — and especially the Facilities Department — does to keep the community safe, but sees clear areas of improvement regarding snow day procedures and shuttle tracking services.

In an email to the Justice, Vice President of Campus Operations Lois Stanley explained that the criteria in closing the University for a snow day prioritizes “safety for the campus community and visitors,” with the conditions of the roads and pathways on and leading to campus, as well as parking lots, being evaluated to determine if they are passable and clear.

The forecasted timing of when snow will fall is also a consideration. “On Monday, the snow and wintry mix was forecasted and took place mostly overnight, which gave our Facilities crews enough time to clear the campus roads/pathways before people arrived at 8 or 9 a.m.,” Stanley explained regarding last week’s snow storm. However, Tuesday’s snow occurred in the morning and did not allow for clearing the roads in time for a standard opening schedule.

This board is grateful for the “crew of 30 custodians, seven grounds members and 25 contract employees [who] worked 48 hours straight to make campus accessible,” as highlighted in a Dec. 5 Finance and Administration InBrief email. However, the conditions of campus pathways by the time of opening on both days were not sufficient to ensure the safety and ability of students to get to campus and class.

Some paths between Ziv Residence Quad and the Carl & Ruth Shapiro Admissions Center, for instance, were not sufficiently cleared of snow on Monday, and hills and stairs were icy throughout the day. This is not only a danger to all members of the Brandeis campus community, but it is also an accessibility issue; these safety concerns are much more impactful on people with mobility issues. Ice poses one of the most significant threats to public safety, creating a risk of anyone slipping and injuring themselves.

Regarding last week’s snow storm, the University should also have considered that many students were unable to return to campus after leaving for Thanksgiving break because of the storm. In situations like this, the roads on and near campus may be cleared and navigable, but more people’s transportation will be delayed or unsafe when they are coming from farther away. The University’s standards for declaring a snow day should include this type of consideration.

No matter what the decision of the response team is in a particular case of deciding whether or not to have a snow day, delay or regular schedule day, the expectations of what occurs on campus in each situation must be clarified. On the recent snow delay day, there was no clear protocol in regards to how partiallycanceled classes should occur. Some professors required students to come in for the last twenty minutes of 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. classes, but other professors simply canceled class, potentially leaving students

confused. There needs to be a clearer understanding of what exactly should happen for classes, meetings and events in these gray-area situations.

In addition to snow dangers, students being out in sub-zero temperatures for long periods of time is a safety issue, and there are things the University can do to make it safer for students. In cases when people are dependent on Brandeis shuttles to get somewhere, especially returning from Boston or Waltham, it is the University’s responsibility to ensure that students are not stranded in the cold due to missing shuttles or malfunctioning trackers. This board recognizes that sometimes the shuttle may be unavoidably delayed due to traffic or other reasons, but the online tracking system should be consistently functional and accurate. Without working trackers, students waiting on a late shuttle cannot retreat indoors for fear of missing the shuttle. Instead, they must wait in often-freezing temperatures for long or undetermined periods of time — an obvious health risk. Fixing the tracker would allow students who need to wait for Brandeis transportation to wait in a warmer place instead of risking their health by standing in the cold.

Students can call Public Safety to find out the status and location of the shuttle, but sometimes Public Safety has been unable to provide that information. In instances when the tracker does not work as intended, there must be more communication between shuttles and Public Safety. It is essential that the University fix these aspects of tracking, and perhaps offer some sort of affordable alternative in the worst case. The Student Union was able to begin work on a partnership with Lyft; there could be potential for the University to implement some sort of emergency Lyft discount, where students can be given access to a discount code by Public Safety if they have been waiting for an unexpectedly long time in dangerous weather.

Along with the snow and the cold, the season change means it is getting dark outside much earlier which is a potential hazard — especially on the Rabb steps, on which one light is currently broken. It is a real risk to students and everyone who has to go on the steps at night, especially when there is ice and slush, and this board encourages the University to fix the lighting on the Rabb steps to make it easier to see and decrease the danger of falling.

This board also recognizes that having a day off of school for a snow day can improve students’ emotional wellbeing. Other schools close campus occasionally to promote student morale: at Smith College, there is an annual “Mountain Day” held a day in the fall when classes are canceled, per the Smith website. Smith provides a picnic lunch for students and encourages them to enjoy the lovely day. Williams College has a similar tradition. Brandeis has been working hard to promote students’ wellness — from Sleep Week to finals period Stressbuster activities — and giving students a full snow day instead of a delayed opening could help serve this goal.

The spring semester contains a sizable number of the winter months. The board encourages the University to explore all of the facets of what it takes to keep students safe in the cold and snow.

NOAH ZEITLIN/ the Justice

Views the News on

On Nov. 21, billionaire politician Michael Bloomberg announced his candidacy for President of the United States as a moderate alternative to a Democratic swing to the left in an attempt to defeat current U.S. President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Many have been quick to criticize the launch of his campaign, citing the undue influence billionaires have within politics to launch and self-fund campaigns without relying on average citizens’ support, as well as concerns that this wealth makes for politicians that are unaware of the struggles of the common man. How do you view Bloomberg’s campaign in the context of our current political and economic climate? Do you think he presents a new type of candidate that could beat Trump in 2020?

Prof. Michael Strand (SOC) The worry here is that Bloomberg represents but a different wing of the American wealth aristocracy that seeks to retain economic and political control against the reasonable threat posed by a Warren or Sanders presidency. Bloomberg can use all the “I can beat Trump” rhetoric he wants, his position in the political field is obvious. His mayoralty of NYC is not something the country wants replicated on a national scale unless they want to replicate conditions that preceded the French Revolution, with all the same “let them eat cake” condescending hubris. Even the possibility of a Bloomberg candidacy speaks volumes about the completely unmanageable coalition that makes up the Democratic Party and the failings of two-party democracy. If Bloomberg is the candidate, then the Democratic Party should disband and stop referencing its history, just as the Republican Party has effectively disbanded and become the party of Trump.

Michael Strand is an assistant professor of Sociology specializing in social theory, the philosophy of social science and economic sociology.

Trevor Filseth ’20

Setting aside the issue of his personal wealth, Michael Bloomberg could be an excellent candidate. Unlike President Trump, Bloomberg was a highly successful businessman before entering politics.

Also unlike President Trump, Bloomberg has proven executive experience; he spent twelve years as mayor of America’s largest city as a Democrat, a Republican and an independent, and he ended his time there with relatively high approval ratings. I think Bloomberg’s nomination would be fatal to Trump. The president is counting on the 2020 election becoming a three-ring circus, a la 2016; he’s hoping to oppose someone that he can label a socialist to whip up his base and scare center-right voters into supporting him. This isn’t really possible with Bloomberg, whose policies as mayor were resultsoriented rather than ideological. A Bloomberg presidency could be an effective antidote to Trumpism, and it might help bring the country together again in 2021.

Trevor Filseth ’19 is a History major and an opinion columnist for the Justice.

Judah Weinerman ’20 Bloomberg’s campaign is a doomed vanity effort from a man who hasn’t been told “no, this isn’t for you” for nearly three decades. In an era where the Democratic Party is at its most hostile to business interests and its youth core is increasingly left-wing, a billionaire plutocrat and friend to Wall Street is hardly the party’s natural nominee. As for electability, when panicky Democrats talk about the imaginary white man in Iowa who voted for Obama then switched support to Trump, do they really think the nanny-state wielding, soda-taxing, stop-andfrisking, gun-confiscating Bloomberg is really a good sell to small-c conservatives worried about state overreach? I’ll give Bloomberg this: for crossover appeal to Republicans who make a habit of voting for the biggest racist on the ballot, his highly suspect relationship with New York’s Black and Hispanic communities while Mayor has a lot to offer to the Tucker Carlsons and Ann Coulters of the world.

Judah Weinerman is an Associate editor for the Justice majoring in History and Sociology.

Vandita Malviya Wilson The problem with Bloomberg’s campaign is that it reeks of “I’m a GOOD billionaire, while that other guy is a BAD billionaire.” This is a politician who decided to enter “public service” after amassing his fortune, which is fine, but like somebody else who’s more famous for doing the same thing, it sounds suspiciously like he was able to buy his way into office, in the most expensive city in the United States. Plus, Bloomberg thinks he knows how to run my life. Now, there’s no reason that anybody who is super rich should be prevented from spending their money to run for office, but by no means should it be the sole reason they can get elected either. The tragedy of a lost election of a billionaire Democrat is second only to the tragedy of Bloomberg eventually losing to Trump and his blue collar fan base.

Vandita Malviya Wilson is an MBA candidate at IBS and is a Forum staff writer for the Justice.

Photos: Jeremy Cynamon, Noah Zeitlin/the Justice, Noah Zeitlin/Justice file photo

THE JUSTICE ● FORUM ● TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

11

Understanding tactics of Harvard-Yale game protestors

By VANDITA MALVIYA WILSON JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

This year’s annual Harvard-Yale game slipped past my attention, as it does most years — until I saw in the Associated Press’s headline that it made the news: it was one of the rivals’ longest games on record.

And there was a protest! Actually, there were two issues being protested by students from both schools: divesting from fossil fuels and canceling Puerto Rican debt. For about an hour, activists from both schools joined forces at the venerable game (sometimes referred to by the schools’ alumni and students as “THE Game”) that annually draws thousands of alumni in person, and hundreds of thousands more at home, even though it’s not even broadcast by a major television network.

What better place to protest?

I read the article with disbelief. On the one hand, it’s just a game. It’s not the oldest rivalry out there. However, it does pit two elite universities with hundreds of years of history against each other as they fight for the claim to be the best-of-the-best. This particular game brings out all the alumni, and it is the original “THE Game” — with that original nickname.

The issue of supporting the divestment from fossil fuels is important. In fact, many in the stands fully supported that. But once the protestors made their point, why did they have to drag it on for so long? Initially, 70 protesters occupied the field during halftime.

After it became clear that they were not going to leave, fans from the stands streamed down to join them as a sign of solidarity.

Was this the diversion that this year’s Yale team needed to win in their “one for the record books” game? Down by 20 points, they came back to win in double overtime, in near pitch darkness.

The protesters were out there to raise awareness that their schools invest in fossil fuels. Their website reads: “We disrupted The Game because when Harvard and Yale are complicit in the climate crisis, nobody wins.” And they added to the list of things being protested that their schools cancel their holdings in Puerto Rican debt. How exactly was this related?

Some spectators objected to their timing and the choice of a football game as a legitimate venue for protest, even if they agreed in principle. Others just wanted them off the field, and wondered why they were being disrespectful to their fellow students.

Many of them wanted the students arrested (and some were, namely those who were on the field more than 30–45 minutes). The claim was that the fans had paid for their tickets and they expected to see a game.

As we all know, keeping the lights on at a school costs money, and even two schools with some pretty sizeable endowment

Photo Courtesy of SAMMY LANDINO

Students took to the field at the recent Yale-Harvard game to protest for divestment and canceling Puerto Rican debt.

Photo Courtesy of SAMMY LANDINO

coffers have to wonder about the financial prudence of immediate divestment. Yale has been changing its investment strategy for years. Starting in 2016, Yale asked its money managers to avoid investments that are linked to climate change. They claim that their investment decisions are thus economically driven.

Harvard has yet to divest at all. Again, the truth is that it’s never that easy. Stocks are everywhere, even in index funds. And using electricity while demanding divestment seems incongruous. And given that the money is used as a “resource” (per former Harvard President Drew Faust’s comments), which means they think that this transforms the money from sin money to something more noble: education. In the past, at least as a partial result of protests, Harvard University divested some of its endowments from companies doing business in South Africa in 1986, and then from tobacco companies in 1990.

Harvard has a history, however, of refusing to divest its endowment from investments that are an instrument of social change. Recently, current University President Lawrence S. Bacow elaborated on this, adding that not only was endowment divesting improper, but that it was “impractical and ineffective.”

Bacow stated that it was necessary to work with the companies in the fossil fuel industry.

Instead, the endowments should be used as they always have: to further research and scholarship.

Additionally, even if the endowment divested its $39.2 billion fossil fuel endowment, Harvard is still somehow invested, perhaps even through an index fund, which might have some direct connection with the fossil fuel industry. Bacow further elaborated that it might appear disingenuous if Harvard used a firm’s products, and conducted research in partnership with some companies, and then didn’t own their stock.

Some commented that the protestors (and supporters) would then be using fossil fuels when they boarded planes to go home and electricity used for lighting to study at night.

Additionally, is anyone really watching these players? Are the players really hoping to get drafted by the NFL? Maybe a very few?

Then what is the game for — bragging rights?

Supremacy of one school over another on the gridiron? The ability to lord it over your friends who went to the other school — for a year.

On the other hand, there is a time and place for demonstrations. Wasn’t this the best possible time for a demonstration, when people are watching this one singular game?

And were it not for social media, this event might not have been as amplified as it was.

Mostly, the protest was peaceful and only

32 people were arrested, largely due to not leaving the field in a timely manner. What was the point of the protest? To divest from funds and companies supporting fossil fuels.

According to the protestors, football could wait.

I thought protesting during halftime at this game was a brilliant strategy on the part of the protestors. I agree that something has to be done, and protesting has been effective in the past, although it takes time to make an impact.

Part of me wonders how much the protestors really understand about climate change, especially with respect to the involvement of the schools they attend. Another part of me realizes the schools’ administrations also make valid points. But until these two groups start talking to each other instead of at each other, the impasse will remain. Let’s face it: fossil fuels reach deep into our everyday lives in unseen ways and extracting ourselves will be no simple matter.

The mere fact that Harvard is playing Yale in a football game, and that people cared, seemed to me to be a bit elitist, given that neither school is known for its football prowess anymore. The game itself was one for the record books of this long running rivalry because of Yale’s epic come from behind victory over Harvard, in double overtime, in the pitch dark stadium in New Haven, CT, 5043.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: PROTEST RESPONSE I want to thank the Editorial Board of the Justice for raising important issues with respect to the University policy on student protests in the students’ Rights and Responsibilities handbook. But it is important for the community to understand that there has been no change in the advance notice policy in this year’s handbook: instead, three new sentences were introduced this year to underscore the university’s commitment to free speech and freedom of expression, not to restrict it.

The longstanding language in the handbook has always supported the right to protest while also respecting the rights of others. For more than ten years that language has read as follows: The University community is one of inquiry and persuasion. A member of the University community may protest, rally or demonstrate, provided such protests or demonstrations do not disrupt University operations or obstruct physical movement to, from, or within any place on the campus, including University property located off the main campus. Though the campus must be open to the free exchange of ideas, the University may limit the time, place, and manner of demonstrations. All members of the community are expected to conduct dialogues with dignity and courtesy. Students must allow other community members freedom of movement on campus, along with the freedom to engage in the performance of their duties

and the pursuit of their educational activities.

The student Rights and Responsibilities handbook has also included for more than ten years the following: Advance Notice: The [Dean of Students Office] must, with as much notice as possible, be notified in writing in advance of any planned demonstrations, and may instruct organizers regarding the guidelines for such activity.

The new language added this year emphasizes and clarifies the University’s intent around this policy: The University has a responsibility not only to promote a lively and fearless freedom of debate and deliberation, but also to protect that freedom when others attempt to restrict it…In asking groups and individuals to seek prior approval for schedule and location, the University’s goal is not to restrict free speech or peaceable assembly.

Rather, it is to give the University the opportunity to provide space that accommodates the reasonable needs of both the University community and those engaged in acts of speech or protest.”

While there have been no changes in the advance notice policy, the November 26th editorial in The Justice and the recent letter from the African and African American Studies department have raised important concerns about how this long-standing advance notice policy has or has not been implemented.

I and my colleagues in the Office of Student Affairs agree that an information campaign on this policy would be extremely valuable and helpful. I agree that the entire process of how students might notify the DOSO about a protest could be streamlined and improved. And, I also agree that we should examine the current advance notice policy requirement. If we have an advanced notice policy that has not been strictly enforced then it suggests that there should be revisions to that policy that would make registration recommended but not required.

I have therefore asked Vice Provost for Student Affairs Raymond Ou, Dean of Students Jamele Adams, and Assistant Dean for Student Rights and Community Standards Alex Rossett, to engage students, faculty and staff on this and other sections of the Handbook for revision at the beginning of the Spring semester, as part of their annual review of student Rights and Responsibilities.

I agree with The Justice editorial board that “Student protest has been vital in shaping our school’s legacy.”

Many students involved in protests at Brandeis over its 71-year history have helped the University to better manifest its values by continuing to move “in a more equitable direction.”

— Lisa M. Lynch, Provost

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

Write to us

The Justice welcomes letters to the editor responding to published material. Please submit letters through our Web site at www. thejustice.org.

Anonymous submissions cannot be accepted.

Letters should not exceed 300 words, and may be edited for space, style, grammar, spelling, libel and clarity, and must relate to material published in the Justice. Letters from off-campus sources should include location. The Justice does not print letters to the editor and op-ed submissions that have been submitted to other publications. Op-ed submissions of general interest to the University community­— that do not respond explicitly to articles printed in the Justice — are also welcome and should be limited to 800 words. All submissions are due Friday at noon.

Fine Print

The opinions stated in the editorial(s) under the masthead on the opposing page represent the opinion of a majority of the voting members of the editorial board; all other articles, columns, comics and advertisements do not necessarily.

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 3,500 undergraduates, 900 graduate students, 500 faculty and 1,000 administrative staff.

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The Staff

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

Editorial Assistants

Forum: John Chen, Abigail Cumberbatch, Harrison Paek*,

News: Leeza Barstein

Trevor Filseth*, Angela Self, Vandita Malviya Wilson, Mehmet

Features: Sofia Gonzalez

Zorluoglu

Forum: Abigail Cumberbatch

Sports: Jonah White, Jonathan Sochaczevski

Online: Ana Hatfield

Arts:

Copy: Cameron Cushing

Caylie Jeruchimowitz, Huilin Li, Rachel Sterling, Mendel

Production Assistant Features: Victor Feldman Photography: Thu Le Staff News: Ari Albertson, Jason Frank, Chaiel Schaffel, Maya RubinWish, Ella Russell, Hannah Taylor, Jackie Tokayer Features: Haven Dai, Josh Aldwinckle-Povey, Talia Zitner

Vicente Cayuela, Brianna Cummings, Shoshana Finkel,

Weintraub, Jacqueline Wang Photography: Lauren Berk, Zoe Brodsky, Ivy Daal, Haven Dai Vera Shang, Zach Katz Copy: Jane Flautt, Lizzy Freeman, Sara Fulton, Ellie Hulan, Ora Rogovin, Emily Shen Layout: Sara Fulton, Shinji Rho, Grace Sun * denotes a senior staff member.

12

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019● FORUM ● THE JUSTICE

FORUM

Understanding ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ in a more positive light

By RIVER HAYES JUSTICE EDITOR

As December is well on its way, we once again find ourselves within the magical short window of time during which it is socially acceptable to listen to Christmas music. Unfortunately, listening to socially acceptable songs has become increasingly difficult. In a time of heightened awareness about social injustices, many classics are deemed deeply problematic; “Santa Baby” is too materialistic, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” justifies bullying until the victim’s undesirable look proves useful and “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” reinforces gender stereotypes.

Despite the criticisms, it is rarely suggested that these songs are questionable enough to boycott completely — the one exception, of course, being Frank Loesser’s “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”

This infamous duet has always been one of my favorite holiday tunes, regardless of who sings it.

The old-timey feel, the story and the harmonies are irresistible to me, so you can imagine my dismay last year when I came across an article someone shared on Facebook explaining that it was, in no uncertain terms, a “date-rape song.”

Apparently, many others were inclined to agree, as it was banned on radio stations all over the U.S. and Canada. People pointed out that the apparent theme, a man relentlessly trying to convince a woman to stay with him despite her repeated attempts to leave, promotes an offensive message masquerading as a love story.

Certain lyrics are especially controversial: “the answer is no” seems like the clear opposite of consent, and “say, what’s in this drink” is often interpreted as a reference to the man having spiked her beverage.

Since their original refusal to play the song, however, many radio stations have put it back in its rotation after overwhelming amounts of listeners expressed their support for it. The reasons for supporting the song vary, but a lot of people simply assert that it wasn’t considered offensive when it was written and that it’s just an innocent oldie which shouldn’t be held to today’s social standards.

I had a hard time finding that argument strong enough to justify the song’s harmful facets, and I still felt guilty when I listened to it — but I didn’t stop listening to it. My concern about its alleged connotations was not enough to make me turn it off, and I realized that I was having to force myself to hear it in the problematic way I was meant to. But I wasn’t just blinded by the catchiness of the song; in fact, what I liked most about it was the story itself.

It wasn’t until some reflection and re-reading of the lyrics that I realized why: I admired and felt empowered by the female protagonist.

Throughout the song, she experiences a battle not with the man, but with herself; or rather, with her worries about being judged for expressing her sexuality. The real villains of the story are her oft-mentioned friends and family: the sister who will “be suspicious,” the father who will be “pacing the floor,” the maiden aunt

HARRISON PAEK/ the Justice

whose “mind is vicious” and the neighbors who “might think” she’s off doing something improper. To me, the song clearly conveys love and lust between the pair. These lines are not her excuses to leave, but her genuine worries that “there’s bound to be talk tomorrow” about her exercising her own sexual agency. Beyond this, these lines are mechanisms for her to express reservations that she’s been pressured to understand are appropriate for a woman; she has to show hesitation because she knows that that’s what’s expected of her, regardless of what she wants.

In the context of history, this interpretation makes even more sense. Loesser, a Broadway songwriter, wrote “Baby It’s Cold Outside” in 1944 to perform with his wife at celebrity parties.

It became popular in 1949 when it was featured in the film “Neptune’s Daughter” and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. In those years, it was widely considered scandalous for an unmarried woman to stay late at a man’s home.

Through that lens, the man’s responses throughout the song can be understood as playful suggestions for excuses she could use to justify staying to both herself and whoever asks

later — because, as a decent and modest woman of the 1940s, simply wanting to stay is not a good enough reason. In context, other controversial lyrics can be explained as well. When the woman croons “I ought to say no, no, no, sir … at least I’m gonna say that I tried,” she seems to be talking to more to herself than her partner.

She thinks about what she ought to do based on what she has been taught is proper behavior for a young female, and she discusses how she plans to convince people that she did her best to stay aligned with that behavior. The line “say, what’s in this drink” is a reference to a common joke of the time period in which someone blames alcohol for their surprising behavior.

Just like her neighbors, maiden aunt, siblings and parents, the woman looks to her drink for another possible rationalization of her shameful thoughts about staying.

In the end, as the two singers come together for a beautiful harmony, she gives in — not to the man, but to her own desires. The climax of this song is not the victory of a predator, but the victory of a woman against a society that seeks to suppress her sexual freedom and expression. And despite the immense progress that’s been made since it was first

performed, its message is still relevant today.

Slut-shaming is alive and well, and the song exposes a broader problem of rape culture that has always existed: when there is no clear, judgement-free way to accept sexual advances without feigning hesitation, then someone who genuinely wants to reject them risks being misunderstood.

No matter how many times people try to listen to “Baby It’s Cold Outside” differently, some will still hear it only as a song about coercion and a lack of consent. Whether or not someone feels comfortable listening to the tune depends on their own personal interpretation of it, and it is important to realize that no one is wrong in how they feel when listening to music. On a larger scale, it is vital to recognize that what makes one person uncomfortable might empower another, and vice versa. All of it is valid, and none of it should be condemned. In feminism, this logic has been applied to clothing, sex work and more. It is time that, with context, we also apply it to music — and this Christmas, I’ll be listening guilt-free to the Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer version of an amazing holiday classic.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: ACCESSIBILITY: ONE YEAR LATER One year ago, a new movement was beginning to form on this campus, with people from many corners of the Brandeis community coming together. Students with and without disabilities were fed up with the structural ableism and inaccessibility at Brandeis, and after years of frustration, knew that they needed to take action. This action took the form of a letter to President Liebowitz, the Student Union, and both campus newspapers, along with an attached document of anonymous personal testimonies illustrating the discrimination and barriers that students with disabilities face at Brandeis. The planning and drafting of these documents took two months, with much collaboration from a large group of students, and conversations and edits across multiple social media platforms.

But our final product was something we would learn to be powerful —- not just a strongly written document, but a new era for disability activism at Brandeis.

We were excited by how quickly President Liebowitz responded to our letter. Within a few weeks, we had a meeting with him and a few members of the administration, as well as representatives from Student Accessibility Support and the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy. A handful of students were able to attend that day, and the administrators listened as we voiced our concerns for the needs of students with disabilities with respect and open minds. We came to the conclusion that day with the President that an open forum for the whole university community would be held at the beginning of the Spring 2019 semester.

The forum was a well-attended event which got quite a bit of attention around campus. Some students were concerned that its location, Levin Ballroom, was hard to access in the icy conditions of the day. Many felt that there wasn’t enough time allotted for students to speak their minds to the administration during the event. But we all left with a sense of a common mission, and knew that the conversation was just getting started.

Many important changes have been made and many important firsts have come to fruition on our campus since the

forum and its two follow-up meetings. The opening of the new Office of Equal Opportunity and the establishment of an ADA and 504 Compliance officer can be traced back to the efforts of this campaign. Students now have a designated office and person to go to when they experience discrimination on the basis of disability. In addition, students now can go to new Student Accessibility Support Fellows, who serve as student liaisons to the SAS office; the Fellows are all students who have used SAS services during their time at Brandeis.The hours of the accessible transport vans have been extended, a few construction projects directed at physical accessibility on campus undertaken, and there are now more training opportunities for professors and staff seeking to make their material more accessible.

For all of this, we thank President Liebowitz, the Offices of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Equal Opportunity and Student Accessibility Support. We couldn’t move forward with our advocacy without strong support and partnership from the University. But in reflecting back on the last year’s progress, we would like to move forward these efforts forward with some new attitudes and goals.

1) We do not want to see the University co-opt our efforts and leave students out of the conversation. We are concerned that the most recent accessibility forum, which occurred on September 26th in the SCC Multipurpose Room, was not widely advertised to the university community. Very few students were in attendance, and there seems to be no plans for another meeting of this sort. It was announced at this event that Sonia Jurado intends to form a 504 committee, but there has been no further public information about what this committee would oversee. We do not want student concerns and voices left out of this committee or any other disability-related planning in the future. We call on the university to keep all communications around accessibility planning and updates transparent, and all events related to this open to the public and well-advertised.

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

2) We would like to see more structural changes that actually succeed in making the physical campus landscape more accessible. This includes automatic doors with easy-to-locate operating buttons, comprehensive Braille signage and ADA-compliant ramps.

3) Address bias and lack of knowledge of disability across all university departments. There are many contexts in university life in which students can be discriminated against or misunderstood based on their disability.

This means that interactions with police, medical and mental health practitioners, service workers and university department staff frustrating and stressful at times. We want to see more training made available to university employees on disability bias and how to improve the accessibility of the services they provide.

4) Meaningful changes to curriculums, classrooms, and events. We would like the university to make real-time captioning (CART) services, ASL interpretation, captioned and audio-described video more widely available for professors and event hosts to use. We believe that the best way to include people with disabilities in university life is to plan accessibility from the start, instead of retrofitting it. Evidence has shown that when class spaces and materials are universally designed to be accessible, students without disabilities benefit as well, contrary to earlier belief that they would be held behind by accessible class design. We would like to see universal design implemented by making PowerPoint slides, accessible format PDFs, lecture notes and audio recordings of classes available to the whole class.

5) We would finally like to acknowledge that this list is not all inclusive, and that what we have offered above are some of the points that we believe are necessary steps towards a fully accessible Brandeis.

— Shoshi Finkel, Jack Rubinstein, Dan Parker, and Marissa Farkas, on behalf of DeisAbility

THE JUSTICE ● SPORTS ● TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

WBBALL: Judges’ season starts strong CONTINUED FROM 16 outscored Clark 13–7 in the fourth quarter, leading them to a victory that marked their best start to a season since 2014-15.

Judges 83, Wildcats 55 Facing Johnson & Wales University on Dec. 7, the Judges improved to 7–1 overall with a commanding 83–55 win. The team also improved to 3–0 on the road.

Offensively, Nicholson led the team with 20 points, shooting a season-high 80% from the field.

13

WEIGHTLESS

Additionally, Abdelrehim and Lauren Rubinstein ’20 both scored in double digits, as the Judges’ bench outscored JWU 39–13. While the first quarter was close, with Brandeis narrowly in the lead, the Judges opened the second quarter by going on a 10–2 run. The score remained close in the third, with the Judges dominating in the fourth quarter, outscoring JWU 15–6.

The Judges closed out the first semester on Dec. 9, at home against Becker College. This was the first meeting between the two teams.

Meeting: Wednesdays at 6 p.m.

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JEN GELLER/Justice File Photo

TAKE IT TO THE HOOP: Brandeis' Chandler Jones '21 dunks the ball in a game against Rhode Island College on Nov. 23.

MBBALL: Men sit 6–3 headed into winter break CONTINUED FROM 16 route to a career-high 17 points.

First-years Darrett “Daredevil” Justice ’23, Dylan Lien ’23, Mike Gao ’23 and Matan Zucker ’23 have been fantastic to start the year.

Justice and Lien both have been spot starters for the Judges, while Gao and Zucker have brought a lot of energy to the front court looking for a new identity with Workman gone. The members of the sophomore class have all found their way into the rotation in some

ways: Nolan Haggerty ’22 as the full time starter and rebounding extraordinaire, Kyle Downing ’22 as a workhorse spot starter hitting open shots and locking down on defense and Sam Nassar ’22 running the offense like a seasoned veteran. Head Coach Jean Bain has worked hard instilling strong principles of defense and offense into this group of players, and you can see the way that he has helped inspire and lead this team with strong assistants Sean Tabb and Sam Rubinstein helping him build strong relationships with the

team.

Following the Big Four Tournament, Brandeis currently sits at 6–3 on the season going into winter break. The Judges came out with strong victories against teams like Emerson College and University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and quality losses against some strong opponents such as the 15th-ranked Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The Judges sit in a good place where they can still control their destiny as far as making their first trip to the NCAA tournament in years.

SWIM: Swimming and diving outpace opponents at the Gompei Invitational CONTINUED FROM 16 50-yard freestyle. The Judges 200-yard medley relay team of Gold, Rennie, Audre Kim ’21 and Olivia Stebbins ’22 had another top-ten finish for the Judges, as they placing ninth. By the end of the first day, the women’s team found themselves in 10th place overall with 183.5 points.

Day two of the competition produced some individual outstanding performances and some notable group efforts. The Brandeis

combined swimming and diving teams remained in 10th place at the end of the day with 1161 points. The men’s team saw Lu have another top 10 finish placing fifth in the men’s 400yard Individual Medley, Zitelny also placed in the top ten again, finishing fifth in the men's 100-yard backstroke, and Wohl had a top-ten finish, placing fourth in the men’s 200-yard freestyle.

The men’s 200-yard freestyle relay team of Marcelo Ohno-Machado’21, Thomas Alger’20, Wohl and Zitelny placed sixth. Barno, Lu, Zitelny and Wohl placed seventh in the men’s

400-yard medley relay. Through the end of the second day the men’s team found themselves still in eighth place overall with 691.5 points.

The women finished eighth in the women’s 200-yard freestyle relay with a team of Gold, Uajda Musaku ’21, Kim and Rennie. In the women’s 400-yard medley relay, Kim, Stebbins, Gold and Rennie placed 10th. Lastly, Rennie placed eighth in the women’s 50-yard butterfly race. By the end of the second day the Brandeis women’s team found themselves still solidly in 10th place overall with 401.5 points.

The third day of the competition concluded the swim meet, with Brandeis' combined swimming and diving teams placing 10th overall with 1645 points. The Judges had their only podium of the day finish from Gold, who placed third in the women’s 200-yard butterfly.

Individually, on the men’s side, Wohl placed ninth in the men’s 100yard freestyle and Barno placed fifth in the men’s 200-yard backstroke. In the men’s 400-yard freestyle relay, Selznick, Zitelny, Ohno-Machado and Wohl placed eighth. The competition

concluded with the Brandeis men’s team finishing in eighth place overall with 959.5 points.

Individually, on the women’s team, Natalya Wozab ’20 placed ninth in women’s 100-yard individual medley, Stebbins placed 10th in women’s 50-yard breaststroke and Gold placed third in the women’s 200-yard butterfly. Lastly, Kim, Gold, Musaku and Rennie placed eighth in the women’s 400-yard freestyle relay.

The competition concluded with the Brandeis women’s team finishing in 10th place overall with 615.5 points.

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Illustration by MORGAN MAYBACK/the JUSTICE; Photos by ANDREW BAXTER/the Justice, ADAM PANN/the Justice, CLEMENTS PARK/the Justice, MORGAN BRILL/the Justice; NADIA ALAWA, IRA BORNSTEIN, CREATIVE COMMONS.

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THE JUSTICE

● SPORTS ●

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10 , 2019

15

FENCING

JUDGES BY THE NUMBERS MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM STATS

UAA STANDINGS

Emory Rochester WashU Carnegie JUDGES Case NYU Chicago

UAA Conf.

W L D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Points Per Game

Chandler Jones ’21 leads the team with 16.4 points per game.

Pct. Player PPG 1.000 Chandler Jones 16.4 .875 Collin Sawyer 14.6 .875 Eric D’Aguanno 13.0 .714 Lawrence Sabir 8.9 .667 Rebounds Per Game .625 Chandler Jones ’21 leads the .625 team with 7.7 rebounds per game. .375 Player REB/G Chandler Jones 7.7 Noah Hagerty 7.0 Eric D’Aguanno 4.0 Lawrence Sabir 3.4

Overall W L D 9 0 0 7 1 0 7 1 0 5 2 0 6 3 0 5 3 0 5 3 0 3 5 0

UPCOMING GAMES:E Jan. 2 at Bowdoin College Jan. 7 vs. Bates College

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM STATS

UAA STANDINGS UAA Conf.

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

Points Per Game

Overall W L D Pct. 8 1 0 .875 7 1 0 .875 7 2 0 .778 6 2 0 .750 5 2 0 .714 4 3 0 .571 5 4 0 .556 3 6 0 .333

UPCOMING GAMES: Dec. 31 vs. Gordon College Jan. 4 at Regis College

Camila Casaneuva ’21 leads the team with 15.6 points per game.

Player Camila Casaneuva Hannah Nicholson Jillian Petrie Courtney Thrun

PPG 15.6 12.0 9.4 7.9

Rebounds Per Game Hannah Nicholson ’20 leads with 9.3 rebounds per game.

Player REB/G Hannah Nicholson 9.3 Camila Casaneuva 6.1 Courtney Thrun 6.0 Samira Abdelrehim 4.4

SWIMMING AND DIVING Results from the Gompei Invitational on Nov. 24.

TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)

TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)

200-yard Freestyle

200-yard Freestyle

SWIMMER TIME Daniel Wohl 1:47.71 Marcelo Ohno-Machado 1:50.47 James Barno 1:48.68

SWIMMER TIME Uajda Musaku 2:07.42 Christina McPhillips 2:05.16 Sophia Chevez 2:05.35

UPCOMING GAMES:

Brandeis Invitational lunges team into season ■ Brandeis fencing faced stiff competition from Cornell University, Yale University and others.

By JEN GELLER

Jan. 11 at Trinity College Jan. 18 Keene Stale University

JUSTICE EDITOR

TRACK AND FIELD Results from the Emmanuel College Indoor Season Opener on Saturday.

TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)

TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)

60 Meter Dash

200 Meter Dash

RUNNER TIME Lorenzo Maddox 7.36 Reese Farquhar 7.44 Patrick Quinlan 7.58

RUNNER TIME Devin Hiltunen 26.41 Anna Touitou 27.28 Sydney D’Amaddio 27.95

UPCOMING MEETS:

NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice

EN GARDE: Brandeis’ Garrett Tordo ’21 lunges at his opponent at the Brandeis Invitational on Dec. 1.

Data Courtesy of THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION and the BRANDEIS ATHLETICS WEBSITE; Images Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS.

Jan. 11 at Reggie Poyau Invitational Jan. 18 at Bowdoin Invitational 2

Both the men’s and women’s fencing teams faced tough competition at the Brandeis Invitational held on Dec. 1. The men ended the day with a 2–3 record and the women had a 1–4 record for the day.

Despite their losing records, both teams performed well. According to men’s sabre fencer and men’s captain team Charlie Catino ’20, this invitational marked the closest the men’s team had come to beating Harvard University, one of their three losses of the day.

“I thought our whole team did awesome [sic],” Catino told the Justice. “Everyone on both the men’s and women’s gave 110% effort for every bout, all day. I’m very proud of us.”

The other teams that the men’s squad lost to were from Saint

John’s University and Yale University. The men defeated Cornell University and the University of the Incarnate Word.

The women’s only victory was against UIW. They lost at the hands of the Cornell, St. John’s, Yale and Harvard squads.

Catino had a successful day, ending with a 2-1 record against Harvard and 2–0 against Cornell.

Another leader for the men’s squad was sabre fencer Lucas Lin ’22, who went 3–0 against Harvard and 2–0 against Cornell. Sabrist Shawn Pyatetsky ’20 went 3–0 against Cornell, and sabrist Dexin Huang ’23 went 3–0 against UIW. On the women’s side there were also strong team leaders. Sabrist Jessica Morales ’23 contributed the most wins for the Judges, going 7–3 overall. Morales’ most notable performances were in her 3–0 record against St. John’s, 2–0 against Yale and 2–1 against Cornell. Epee fencer Paula Thorton ’23, foilist Jessica Gets ’20, sabrist Jada Harrison ’22 and sabrist Maggie Shealy ’23 each provided two wins against UIW. ğ Next, the Judges will attend the Philadelphia Invitational on

Jan. 19, 2020. Looking ahead to the spring semester, the team will attend the New England Intercollegiate Fencing Conference on Feb. 22, 2020, as well as the NCAA tournaments. Catino added, “I’d love to see us crush the second conference meet, bring home some gold medals at NEIFCs like last year, and hopefully send a few fencers to NCAAs. It’s been a while since we’ve sent fencers to NCAAs, but this year looks promising!”

According to Catino, the last fencer to reach NCAAs was foilist Noah Berman ’15, back in 2014.

Women’s captain Hannah Mui ’20 discussed the progress the team has made so far. She told the Justice, “Although it is early on in our season I think our team has learned very quickly how to work well together. Each year as seniors graduate and we welcome a new class of fencers to the team the dynamic changes, but we were able to quickly create a well working team.” She added the the team had many University Athletic Association Athlete of the Week medals and titles to start the season, namely from the Judges’ Fall Invitational Tournament.

PRO SPORTS BRIEF

Bigger than Basketball: NBA star Enes Kanter’s fight for human rights in Turkey Enes Kanter is a center in the National Basketball Association.

He was the third overall draft pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. Originally drafted by the Utah Jazz, Kanter has since played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Portland Trailblazers and, most recently, the Boston Celtics.

Enes Kanter is not only trying to bring home a championship for the Celtics, but is also speaking up against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his repression of free speech of the Turkish people.

According to a December 2017 Washington Post article, Kanter is being sought out by Turkish prosecutors to serve a lengthy prison sentence for insulting the Turkish President on Twitter in 2016 ın a

series of tweets that spoke about how President Erdogan is suppressing freedom of speech in Turkey. Because of this, Kanter’s passport has been revoked and he was arrested in Romania while on a worldwide tour for the Enes Kanter Foundation, which supplied clothing and meals to people in need worldwide. In addition to that, according to a June 18th 2018 NBA article, the Turkish court is charging Kanter’s father with terrorism just because he supports people that exposed Erodgan’s regime.

Since being indicted, Katner’s father, Dr. Mehmet Kanter, was fired from his job as a genetics professor at a Turkish university, has been arrested and is currently awaiting trial in 2020. In addition to that,

Kanter’s sister, who is a medical student, is also having a hard time finding work. In a statement to The Washington Post, Kanter said, “Right now, even if I try to communicate with my parents, my mom or dad or brother or sister, they will probably listen to their phones and as soon as they are in contact with me, they will put them in a jail — and the jails are not fun.” All of this is still happening to his family even though for their own protection they publicly disowned him in the summer of 2016, according to an August 2016 CBS Sports article. In a handwritten letter to the Turkish media, Kanter’s father posted a statement apologizing to the Turkish President for Kanter’s action: “with a feeling of shame I apologize to our president and the

Turkish people for having such a son.” Kanter responded on social media saying that “Today I lost those who for 24 years I called ... my family … My own father wanted me to change my surname. The mother who gave birth to me rejected me.”

Even though all of this is happening to him and his family, he still pushed on and speaks for the millions of people that are suffering.

According to The Washington Post, Kanter has been making his rounds on Capitol Hill, most recently introducing human rights legislation aimed at Turkey with Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Sen. Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts. In addition to that legislation, he delivered opening remarks at a congressional briefing on legislation to grant

immigrant visas to Syrian Kurds that are displaced by Erdogan’s ground campaign in the region against the Islamic State. In a news conference on Capitol Hill, he stated, “You guys know my story because I play in the NBA, but there are thousands and thousands of stories out there that are worse than mine. That’s why I’m trying to use my platform to be the voice of all of those innocent people that don’t have one.” Enes Kanter is not only one of the faces of the Boston Celtics but he has also “become the face of showing the American people how Erdogan is a terrible, autocratic violator of human rights,” according to Sen. Markey in an interview with The Washington Post.

—Emma Ghalili

just Sports Page 16

BIGGER THAN BASKETBALL Third overall draft pick Enis Kanter has spoken up against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, p. 15.

Waltham, Mass.

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

MEN'S BASKETBALL

RAISE THE ROOF

Brandeis men’s basketball takes care of business ■ Brandeis’ basketball pressed on, fighting for 6–3 overall following two wins and a loss in December.

By JONATHAN SOCHACZEVSKI JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Basketball season has returned and the men of Brandeis’ Judges have picked up right where they left off last season. This year, the Judges lost two all-University Athletic Association players and captains in Corey Sherman ’19 and Latye Workman ’18, ’19 MA. A big question the Judges faced was how they would make up for the lost playmaking from these two.

Everyone has been stepping up in a big way, especially Captain Chandler Jones ’21, who has surpassed or tied his career three times this season; he has had two 25-point games this season and had 26 points against Salem State University in the final game of the Big Four Tournament. Jones has led the team in scoring most nights but has not been without help.

Captains Eric D’Aguanno ’20 and

Colin Sawyer ’20 have also been making sure to pick up the slack with some of the best shooting in New England, and plenty of highlight moments including Sawyer continuing the Brandeis tradition of game winning baskets against Emerson with a sneaky cut to get an open layup with 1.1 on the clock.

Starting guard and reigning defensive player of the year Lawrence Sabir ’21 wasn’t happy with just being the best defender in the UAA last season, and has added a solid three point shot to his game. Never shooting it too often, but knowing how to find his spots and knock it down, has helped open up the court immensely for the Judges. Austin Clamage ’21 and Akim Sani ’21 have been amazing leaders for this younger Brandeis team, both always in the gym and always ready to hear their number called. Sanni Akim ’21 is always ready to step in and take some charges. In their final game before winter break, Clamage showed that he’s always been ready, shooting six of seven from the floor and from three, en

See MBBALL, 13

☛

SWIMMING AND DIVING

Following a rough start to the season, swimming and diving starts to look up ■ The Judges placed 10th at the Gompei Invitational, hosted by Worcester Polytechnic Institute this weekend.

By MEGAN GELLER JUSTICE EDITOR

Day one of the Gompei Invitational, hosted by Worcester Polytechnic Institute, was a tough day for the Judges, as they were up against some stiff competition.

Of the competing teams, some of the real challengers were Bryant College, Merrimack College Women and Bentley University/St. Rose College. Through the first day of events, the Brandeis combined Swimming and Diving team found themselves in 10th place with a total of 555.5 points out of 47 teams.

While podium finishes were hard to come by, the Judges displayed their depth as 25 different swimmers contributed points for the team.

Brandeis men’s team was led by Tamir Zitelny ’20 who was a part of

184 points on the first day. Zitelny's performance was highlighted by a huge first place finish in the men's 100-yard butterfly race, the only podium appearance of the day for the Judges. A newcomer to the Judges, James Barno ’23, continued his amazing rookie season by having the second most points on the team with 138. Barno, along with Brendon Lu ’22, Daniel Wohl ’21 and Zitelny, finished ninth in the men's 200-yard medley relay. Lu had a solo top-ten finish as well, as he finished seventh in the men's 200-yard breaststroke.

Richard Selznick ’22 also had a top 10 result, finishing seventh in the men's 1650-yard freestyle race. By the end of the first day, the men’s team found themselves in eighth place overall with 279 points.

For the women, Bailey Gold ’23 led the Judges with 126 points, including a top-ten performance in 100-yard butterfly, finishing sixth.

Teammate Ema Rennie ’23 finished just behind Gold with 124.5 points of her own, highlighted by her own seventh place finish in the Women's

See SWIM, 13 ☛

NOAH ZEITLIN/Justice File Photo

JUDGES GET TOUGH: Brandeis’ Francesca Marchese ’23 looks to pass the ball in a game on Nov. 23 against Tufts University.

Women’s basketball off to best start in 10 years ■ Brandeis’ women’s basketball team continued to defeat opponents, now 7-1 overall.

By HANNAH O'KOON JUSTICE EDITOR

Judges 89, Vikings 49 On Nov. 26, the Judges defeated Salem State University 89–49. The team scored 18 straight points in the first quarter, dominating SSU from the start. While SSU started the game by hitting a free throw, the Judges responded, scoring the next seventeen points. At half time, the Judges led by a score of 49–24, taking their sizeable lead into the third quarter. Outscoring SSU by 14 points in the fourth quarter, Brandeis improved to 4–1 on the season with their 40-point win. In the Judges' victory over SSU, 12

of the 13 players contributed to scoring, with Hannah Nicholson ’20 leading the team with 14 points.

Nicholson was just shy of a doubledouble, recording nine rebounds with her 14 points. Emma Reavis ’23 and Katherine Puda ’21 also scored in double digits.

Judges 99, Beavers 88 For the first time this season, the Judges were forced into overtime on Dec. 3. At halftime, however, the Judges were trailing 24–22. Late in the third quarter the Judges rebounded, opening up a 10–0 scoring run propelled by Samira Abdelrehim ’21. Leading into the end of the fourth quarter, Brandeis changed leads with Babson College several times. With 12.4 seconds left in regulation in the fourth quarter, the Judges connected on a three-pointer, giving them a 74–72 lead. The game headed into overtime tied at 74, opening

the scoring in overtime with an 8–2 run. The Judges finished in overtime after scoring 25 points, ultimately defeating Babson 99–88.

Judges 74, Cougars 63 After defeating Clark University by a score of 74–63 on Dec. 5, the Judges improved to 6–1 on the season. Camila Casanueva ’21 led the team with her second 20-point game of the season, along with six assists and four rebounds.

Also excelling offensively was Nicholson, putting up a 14-point and 12-rebound double-double.

Also scoring in double digits was Jillian Petrie ’21. Excellent offensive play from the Judges gave them the lead at halftime, though the teams began the second half locked in a tight offensive battle. The Judges entered the fourth quarter with a 6–0 scoring run led by Reavis, as the team

See WBBALL, 13

☛

Vol. LXXII #13

December 10, 2019

Vol. LXX #2

September 12, 2017

just

Waltham, Mass.

Images: Zach Katz/Justice File Photo, Yvette Sei/Justice File Photo, Natalia Wiater/Justice File Photo, Ilana Krill/Justice File Photo, Amanda Nguyen/Justice File Photo, Jeremy Perlman/Justice File Photo, Xiaoyu Yang/Justice File Photo, Asher Krill/Justice File Photo, Julian Agin-Liebes/Justice File Photo, Robyn Spector/Justice File Photo. Design: Noah Zeitlin/the Justice.

18

TUESDAY, THE JUSTICE DECEMBER | ARTS 10, | 2019 TUESDAY, I ARTS JANUARY & CULTURE 31, 2017 I THE JUSTICE

‘Nutcracker’ is ready for Christmas

THE NUTCRACKER: Emma Rivellese ’22 danced as Clara as she gets ready to go to sleep before being interrupted by the mice, along with their leader the Rat Queen, who tries to steal Clara’s Nutcracker.

TAKE A BOW: During the curtain call, the Nutcracker, played by Simon Botbol ’23, lifts Clara, played by Emma Belkin ’21, into a fish pose.

LAND OF THE SWEETS: In the land of the sweets, Clara was greeted by many characters.

Two performed an acrobatic number called “Coffee,” performed by Hannah Borgida ’21 and Alyssa Rittenberg ’21.

Photos by MEGAN GELLER/the Justice

IT’S PARTY TIME: Siena DeBendittis ’21, casted as Clara’s older brother Fritz, danced to music composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky during the party scene of the Nutcracker performance. In this scene, Clara receives her Christmas gift, a nutcracker, at a party in her house.

By MEGAN GELLER JUSTICE EDITOR

The Brandeis Ballet Club performed its fourth annual production of The Nutcracker last Saturday and Sunday in the Carl J. Shapiro Campus Center Theater.

The Nutcracker is a play that follows Clara, a young girl who receives a toy Nutcracker for Christmas from her aunt Drosselmeyer. Throughout the production, the Nutcracker character comes to life and accompanies Clara while exploring an unknown land, where she faces off with the Rat Queen, dances with the snowflakes and is enamored by the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The production of the Nutcracker is put on annually by the Brandeis Ballet Club and has grown and changed over the past four years. As explained by President Emeritus Hannah DeRoche ’19, ‘20 MA, “Our first performance of the Nutcracker was my sophomore year of my undergraduate career at Brandeis in 2016. It was a small, one time performance in Levin Ballroom where we mostly had friends and family in the audience.” She went on to elaborate that “this year, we had 2 packed shows in the SCC theater with a full sound and lighting crew, many brand new pieces, and many families from the Waltham community who we have never met but brought their children to enjoy a performance of The Nutcracker just to get into the holiday spirit!” In addition, unlike in past years, “the show is now completely a ballet showcase because we had, in the past, invited other performance groups to perform. Now the storyline makes more sense and is more true to the original ballet,” explained Emma Rivellese ’22.

SNOWFLAKES: The Snow Queen, portrayed by Marissa Small ’21, dances alongside her angels and snowflakes to guide Clara, played by Hannah DeRoche ’19, ’20 MA, to the Land of the Sweets. In an interview with the Justice, Deroche said, “My favorite piece in the production is our adaptation of “Snow,” as it is very unique in the way we use both modern and classical music and pair this juxtaposition of sound with changing shoes from flat to pointe and changing skirts from classical romantic tutus to modern dip dyed skirts.”

THE BATTLE: After the mice attempt to steal Clara’s nutcracker, the toy comes to life. Played

by Ballet Club President Polina Potochevska ’20, the Nutcracker fights off the mice and Rat Queen with the help of Clara, who ultimately saves the Nutcracker from the Rat Queen with a fatal blow of Clara’s pointe shoe to the Queen’s head.

Undergraduates showcase moving music

By LIZZY FREEMAN JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

When I walked into the Slosberg Music Center for the Fall 2019 “Undergraduate Composers’ Collective” concert on Friday night, I did not know what to expect. I knew that the concert was a collaboration between students in the MUS 106A class and the Undergraduate Composers’ Collective and would be co-directed by Aaron Newitt ’21 and Leah Samantha Chanen ’20. The purpose of the concert was to showcase Brandeis students’ original compositions written over the course of this semester, as well as a composition written by Jake Sibley ’19, former president of the UCC, who died by suicide in August.

I certainly did not expect to be jolted into pure mesmerization

Design: Shinji Rho/the Justice

at the outset of the show by the bang of the kettle drums in Ezzie Stone’s ’21 “Sweet Insanity,” or for the concert to retain and even somehow enhance my attention over the course of six more original compositions, concluding with Sibley’s “Argument.” After watching this concert, I can proudly conclude that Brandeis houses some incredibly talented students, and I am eager to hear what these students create in the future.

The first five compositions in the program were written by MUS 106A students, while the next two were written by UCC members and then the finale was Sibley’s “Argument.” The compositions were all unique and wellperformed. I am proud of these students, both as musicians and as my peers. I admire the effort that they put into creating this

showcase, as well as the result.

The concert mesmerized me, and I found myself bobbing my head and humming along to the themes of some of the compositions.

One piece I want to mention in particular is “The Chelonian Waltz,” written by David Girardin ’22. Girardin explained that the composition was a coming of age story for turtles, inspired by the time he spent volunteering at a turtle sanctuary in Costa Rica.

The inspiration for the piece was unique, and I felt as I listened to the piece that Girardian succeeded in portraying the story through the music. The pitch and volume of the instruments detailed the life of a turtle, creating the feeling of danger especially within a turtle’s life. I was able to attach myself to the story, rooting for the everyman-turtle.

However, the composition I

feel most compelled to discuss is Sibley’s “Argument.” The immediate tone of the performance was the sense of conflict that Sibley likely intended to portray, based on an understanding of the composition’s title. The secondary tone was sorrow.

However, this tone was not a result of the music. Instead, it was due to the tragic circumstance of Sibley’s untimely passing. In an interview with the Justice, Chanen said, “We were going to try to perform by string quartet [Sibley’s original composition].

It was a struggle to perform by his best friends emotionally.

Next semester we will try to get it performed by the Lydian String Quartet.” The Lydian String Quartet is a professional string quartet at Brandeis.

Sibley’s “Argument” was performed by Andrew Chen ’22

on the clarinet, along with Newitt on the piano. Sibley’s inspiration for writing the piece is unknown.

In an interview with the Justice, Newitt pondered that “it must be [about] something significant because it is called ‘Argument,’ so I can tell there is something meaningful there. I just wish I knew it.”

While I did not expect to be startled by drums, or even absolutely enthralled by the concert, what was most unexpected was the realization that the action of simply attending a concert would have the profound effect of preserving someone’s legacy. On that note, I implore you to internalize your importance in this world, not just in your pursuit of changing the world, but in recognizing others who deserve to be remembered for the changes they made.

THE JUSTICE I ARTS & CULTURE I TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

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CULTURE SHOW

Will you have some tea with C2B?

VERA SHANG/the Justice

GAME BREAK: During the intermission, the hosts interacted with the audience by hosting game shows.

By HUILIN LI

JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The Club Cantonese @ Brandeis presented their annual culture show on Friday in Levin Ballroom. The theme of this year’s culture show was “Tsum Zao Seoi Yuet,” which means “looking for Cantonese Culture through time” in Cantonese. C2B chose this title because it represents the many different cultures and traditions that make up Cantonese culture and shows the progression of them through time.

When I first stepped into Levin Ballroom before the show started, I was surprised by the delicate decorations. The room was filled with round tables just like a traditional Chinese party. At the center of each round table, there was a beautiful peach blossom decorated with tiny red lanterns, surrounded by Chinese candies scattered around. If you raised your head, you could also see several clouds with blue lights suspended from the ceiling.

From the beginning of the show, one of the hosts explained the meaning of “Yum Cha” to the audience. “Yum Cha” is a phrase frequently used in the Cantonese

language. “It represents a moment of gathering,” as the program of the show mentioned. The word represents the joy of celebrating with who we’re close with in our lives. C2B hopes that they can use this phrase as the name of every C2B’s annual culture show in the future and emulate the connotations behind it in each show.

The first performance of the evening was presented by The Great Boston Chinese Culture Association’s Music Ensemble. The GBCCA was founded in 1984 with the goal of enhancing the appreciation of classical and folk Chinese music among the ethnic population as well as the general American public and to foster the learning of Chinese musical instruments from members of the association. Consistent with the theme of the culture show, the GBCCA started with this traditional music composition, “Farmer’s Drinking Song.” As the music flooded from their elegant instruments, the audience could feel the spirits of ancient farmers from thousands of years ago. After a long applause, the ensemble introduced their instruments to the audience. They not only told the audience the Mandarin and Cantonese names of each instrument

but also let each player perform a solo with their instruments.

Following the GBCCA was an Executive Board video from the C2B E-Board. This video used a hilarious method to show the audience about famous Hong Kong movies. They reinacted famous plots from KungFu movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” a famous comedy called “The King of Cookery” and crime movie “Infernal Affairs” in their own ways on campus. Following the video, the Dance Revelasian, a premier Chinese dance group from Boston, performed “Mystic Waters” to show the elegance of traditional Chinese dancing. After that, the Wellesley Wushu from our neighboring university presented a “Wushu Traditional Act.” Their performance showcased the use of Chinese fans, swords and wooden clubs.

The Peach Foundation was also invited to give a speech during the show. The Peach Foundation’s mission is to promote education, art and community harvest by improving the social, cultural and economic lives of children from the poorest regions of rural China and Southeast Asia. Part of the goal of the culture show was to raise money for this non-profit organization.

After the intermission gameshow, the second act continued with more strong

programs. The first performance of the second act was presented by Sarah Chan and Michael Chen from Berklee College of Music. Following their beautiful singing was a dance show by XL Girls, a group of dance enthusiasts focused on urban choreography and hip hop. The members of this dance group are famous for their powerful and synchronized dances. Their performance during the show “What’s up Danger & Waiting For You” did not disappoint the audience. Next up was “We the Gang” by three of C2B members. The last performance of the night was an awesome dance show by C2B E-Board members. This “E-Board Dance” was choreographed by Outreach Chair of the C2B E-Board Novia Wu ’22 and Kate Nguyen ’21.

The food this show provided was extraordinary. During the intermission, C2B served egg tarts and steamed buns with condensed milk to each table. After the show, they also served lots of delicious Cantonese dishes.

Every year, C2B’s annual performance is a blast, and this year was no exception. The excitement and hard-work we saw among C2B members during preparations and performances were incredible. Thank you to all performers and C2B members for an amazing night.

VERA SHANG/the Justice

GUESTS FROM BOSTON: The Great Boston Chinese Culture Association’s Music Ensemble was invited to perform with a variety of traditional instruments.

THEATER REVIEW

‘Eurydice’ challenges the role of gender in storytelling

By BRIANNA CUMMINGS JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The damsel in distress, the cold villainess and the femme fatale: these are all popular tropes that female characters tend to fall into. Rarely do we see a nuanced role for women because most stories are not told by women. This made Eurydice a breath of fresh air.

Theater Arts majors Haia R’nana Bchiri ’20 and Rachel Greene ’20 have been working to reclaim the female voices in Western drama. There was a particular intrigue for the dichotomy in Ancient Greek theater, where women in plays and lore were seen as strong and capable while Athenian women were not allowed to perform and could not portray these roles.

The two decided to bring Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl to Brandeis with Bchiri as the director and Greene as the titular character. The original Greek myth focuses on Hades, Lord of the Underworld, kidnapping Eurydice.

Her lover, Orpheus, must journey

to the Underworld and rescue her.

Usually, the story of Orpheus and Eurydice is told from the perspective of Orpheus. While Orpheus still played an important role in the play, most of the spotlight was on Eurydice and her relationship with her father (Zach Garrity ’20). One of the major changes from the original myth in the Ruhl play was the fact that Eurydice possessed a lot of agency. Her decisions drove the plot of the play.

The play started in a rather unusual way. The audience was asked to stand outside the Laurie Theater. Once the play commenced, instead of entering the theater, they were led to the first scene, which happened in front of the Laurie Theater. Here, Orpheus proposed to Eurydice. The scene was heartwarming. The crowd cooed in response to the tender scene. Once it was over, the audience was brought to the Merrick Theater, where they sat cross legged in front of tea candles.

This toying with space was unique and added to the performance’s memorability. “I found that audiences

NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice

AMICABLY SCARY: Garret Tordo ’21 took on a challenging role as the antagonist and delivered an impressive performance.

connected with the material more when they were completely immersed in the world of the show,” said Bchiri.

“I believe that the message of this show is especially vital right now and I wanted to make sure audiences felt that urgency and connection.

Additionally, I think there is something about magical realism that wants to be immersive in order to truly create a sense of a different world into which the audience has stepped.”

All of the actors gave strong performances. Bchiri did a great job at finding the right actors for each role: “I was looking particularly for actors who would give a great deal to their characters while also being supportive collaborators, since this truly is an ensemble piece.” Greene, who has been in countless Brandeis productions, was convincing as Eurydice. She evoked sadness, humor, confusion and joy.

The villain, billed Interesting Man/ Lord of the Underworld and played

by Garret Tordo ’21, gave a unique performance. The character was psychotic, which bred a humor that reminded me of Heath Ledger’s Joker in “The Dark Knight.” There were scenes where he invaded Eurydice’s personal space, hovering over her and touching her without consent.

This made both Eurydice and the audience uncomfortable. He really nailed the idea of being dangerous in an amicable way.

I liked the addition of the Stones (Micaela Grimes ’22, Alaysia Penso ‘23 and Grace Ahlin ’23), a female chorus that appeared during Eurydice’s time in the underworld. When they were not yelling at the leads, they darted around the room on their haunches, moving objects and staring at the audience. Since they were in such close proximity to the audience, there

NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice

CHORUS AND CAST: Throughout the show, a group of nameless stones moved around to interact with the actors and the audiance.

were occasions when they yelled too much. At one point, Eurydice screamed at them to shut up and I couldn’t agree more with her.

The costume design for this show, executed by Kat Lawrence ’21, was breathtaking. Eurydice’s sparkling white wedding dress and the white dresses for the Stones, which were both feminine and punk, stood out in particular. I also liked Opheus’s baby blue suit. It was fitting considering how emotional and delicate nature of the character.

The play explored interesting concepts. Once Eurydice entered the Underworld, she could not speak English or understand human concepts. Her father had to reteach her words. This idea played with the SapirWhorf hypothesis, which explains that people cannot understand concepts if they do not have the language to label the concept. Eurydice did not understand what a father was because the idea of family and love did not exist in the Underworld. This aspect of the

play teaches the audience that change cannot occur without knowledge.

Social justice movements, like the Me Too movement, could not occur if informed people did not use their knowledge to enlighten others of the problems with the status quo.

Water also played an important role in the play. “Water [is] the thing Eurydice keeps requesting of the men around her but none listen or oblige,” Bchiri says. “[It is] symbolic of the toxic masculinity that keeps Eurydice in this cycle even though she strives for more agency in this iteration of her story. Water also is multifaceted: it’s healing and life-sustaining, but also has great power and potential for destruction. Nevertheless, it is often taken for granted.”

A lot of work was put into Eurydice.

It was great to see a story that was female focused and gave its heroine agency. Every asset of the play — from the casting, acting, set design and costumes — were carefully tailored to tell a powerful tale.

Design: Sara Fulton/the Justice

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THE JUSTICE I ARTS & CULTURE I TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019

INTERVIEW

JUSTARTS SPOTLIGHT ON THE ROSE

By CAYLIE JERUCHIMOWITZ JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

The Rose Art Museum certainly has a lot of unique art works. Upon visiting the museum, I saw a lot of designs and objects, such as sponges, that I wouldn’t really expect to be used in art. One piece that I was really drawn to was the “Untitled” (1972) by Joe Overstreet.

While it has all the elements of a painting — it uses a canvas and is very colorful — this piece certainly broke away from traditional mounted paintings.

The work is made of a few colorful canvases sewn together and suspended by strings. This made the painting expand beyond the confines of the wall and became almost sculpturelike, which made the piece feel free from the constraints of typical art. While it may seem simple, it was a really fun and creative way to form art.

Something that really made me notice this piece was the shape formed by the canvas. The way this piece was presented looked like a tent. It brought back fond summer memories like hanging out with my friends on a warm and clear evening or sitting around a campfire singing, laughing and making s’mores. It amazes me how a lot of art, despite just being simple shapes, can bring back memories for viewers or create stories. A sense of imagination is beautiful. This experience reminded me of the reason why people are so intrigued by art.

Each piece can be meaningful for so many people because artistic creations can be interpreted in so many different ways. It is what makes art so sensational.

Joe Overstreet is a painter who was born in Mississippi and moved to New York. He is considered an abstract expressionist; he employs his emotions in the creation of his work. This piece completely fits into this style because, as I previously mentioned, it is both unique in design and evokes feelings in the viewers.

The careful consideration of color in this work was very interesting to me. The piece involved different squares of blue, green, red and brown — all very earthy colors. The colors worked nicely together; none were too vibrant or loud as they all involved darker tones.

This really contributed to that camp-like feeling that this piece reminded me of and made me feel relaxed as I gazed at it.

STAFF’S Top Ten

Anna Bartusis ’20 Ashley Young ’22 Rasheed Peters ’20 NOAH ZEITLIN/the Justice

This week, justArts&Culture spoke with Rasheed Peters ’20, Anna Bartusis ’20 and Ashley Young ’22, members of the FA 17B: Printmaking: Silkscreen class.

Joe Overstreet “Untitled” 1972, Courtesy of the Rose Art Museum NATALIA WIATER/Justice File Photo

Rasheed Peters: I am a Studio Art minor, which is something that happened by accident … My medium of choice when it comes to art is sculpture. It has always been sculpture. But this year I definitely want to try something new, expand my skill set.

So I came upon Silkscreen printing, just something that I wanted to try… It’s been quite an experience.

Anna Bartusis: I have taken another printmaking class with Sonia Almeida, the instructor, and I enjoyed my time. So I wanted to try silkscreen because I have never done that before.

Ashley Young: I took the class as a major requirement … I had never done printmaking before. I strictly only did drawing and painting, so I want to try something new, expand my horizon.

JAC: What’s different between screen printing and the other method of arts?

RP: I think what I like about it is the uncertainty. ... The first print you make, there’s always an element of surprise. You can make a very intricate design but when you do the first print it might not look like what you intend it to look like. So I think the uncertainty is something beautiful. The result [is] probably not something exactly what you want, but still aesthetically pleasing regardless. With other methods like sculpture that I have done or digital illustration, you can clearly direct what the outcome is. With screen printing it’s more of a game.

AB: I like the repetitive nature of it.

Because when you make a screen, it’s the same to make five, 10 or 20 prints that are all basically the same. So it’s great for making repeating prints, like if you want multiple prints, patches or t-shirts.

AY: I really like how experimental it is.

Although there is a lot of planning that goes into it, you can kind of play with what the outcome is going to be. And there’s a lot of room for error because it’s such a physical process to actually printing the screen. You can do a lot of experimentation. You don’t quite know how it’s going to turn out.

JAC: All of participated in the Silkscreen Exhibition in Pollock. Tell me about the project you presented at the exhibition.

VICENTE CAYUELA/the Justice

SUDOKU

NOAH ZEITLIN/ the Justice File Photo

Top 10 video games of the decade

By Gabriel Frank JUSTICE EDITOR

No, I have not played every game released these past ten years. Here are the best from those I have.

1. Dark Souls 2. The Last of Us 3. Hyper Light Drifter 4. Inside 5. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 6. Portal 2 7. Grand Theft Auto V 8. Red Dead Redemption 2 9. Batman: Arkham City 10. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

JAC: How did you get involved with print making?

RP: My piece that was exhibited is called “Two Sides of Every Season.” It essentially tries to capture the season changes and seasonal depression as well. How moods change with season. How appearances change with season as well.

AB: I was inspired by this contemporary artist called Alex Katz. He does a lot of work with silkscreen and painting as well as sculpture. He has this series of silkscreen artworks called “Shoppers.” And they are just black and white contour drawing, really quickly done with people that are shoppers. So I took that concept, the black and white outline, and I made these series of six print figures … I was looking at the concept of people in museums looking at stuff ... So when you are looking at the piece you’re looking at yourself in a way.

AY: The inspiration behind mine was the idea of changing one’s hair, playing with your hair. I just dyed my hair at the time so it was on my mind. It kind of envolved to an idea. There’s a stereotype when people are stressed, they will impulsively change their hair. That got me thinking about birds and how birds will preen themselves under stress. So I put all that together in this patchwork. … There’s a repeat pattern in the background of scrunchies and hair clips. There’s a portrait of a girl going to cut her hair. And there’s a print of a bird and falling feathers.

JAC: Anything else you would like to tell the readers?

AB: I would recommend people to take [the class], especially any class with Sonia.

She’s my favorite art teacher.

AY: [What people] don’t realize about silkscreen [is] that it’s a very time consuming process. Making the print, printing, cleaning the screen. It’s a lot of out of class work, which if people [are] thinking about taking [the class] that is something to consider. As I said before, it’s definitely worth it.

Sudoku Courtesy of OPENSKY SUDOKU GENERATOR

— Luke Liu

Solution Courtesy of OPENSKY SUDOKU GENERATOR