The Justice, January 23, 2024

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T h e I n d e p e n d e n t S t u d e n t N e w s p a p e r o f B r a n d e is U n i v e r sit y S i n c e 1 9 4 9 Volume LXXVI, Number 11

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Athletics department decision met with dismay from dancers on campus a multipurpose room into a cycling room upset multiple dance clubs who rely on the rooms for their floor and acoustics.

By ISABEL ROSETH EDITOR IN CHIEF

This semester, the Athletics Department decided to convert one of its multipurpose rooms in the Joseph M. Linsey Sports Center to a dedicated cycling room. Adjusting this room’s function elicited strong reactions from dance clubs on campus, who are no longer able to practice in the room.

Linsey has three multipurpose rooms, but MPR’s two walls of mirrors, wood floor and sound system make it popular amongst dance clubs.

MPR 3 is known as the “mat room” and is utilized by Brandeis Boxing Club or any student looking to pick a fight with a punching bag. Finally,

MPR 4 contains equipment for both Brandeis Rowing and table tennis, but can serve as a dance studio when necessary.

Irina Znamirowski ’24 is one of the outspoken. As the vice president of the ballet club, the dance ensemble coordinator for Adagio Dance Company, and the dance ensemble coordinator for Hooked on Tap, it would be an understatement to say that dance is a big part of her life. She attempted to book rehearsal spaces for the spring 2024 semester before break ended, but received a notification that MPR 1 was “offline.”

In a Jan. 19 email to The Justice, Senior Associate Director of Athletics Tom Rand said that clubs are able to request space in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center or Linsey at any time through the website. “All Athletic programming needs to be confirmed first, so depending on the space requested, there is sometimes a delay before we can respond to club requests that are submitted too far in advance,” he said. Znamirowski

See CONTROVERSY, 5 ☛

BRIEF Liebowitz's email on free speech task force On Jan. 17, President Ron Liebowitz sent out an email regarding the ongoing debate on free expression on campus. In order to enable “respectful discourse” and learn “from various perspectives,” Liebowitz will be appointing a task force to review the University’s Principles of Free Speech and Free Expression. Previous measures to promote free speech on campus include several faculty panels and a day-long teach-in. “The creation of a task force on free expression has been the subject of a motion passed by the faculty and I have solicited input from the Faculty Senate Council on nominations for task force membership,” Liebowitz wrote.

Liebowitz explained that reviewing freedom of speech and academic freedom in the context of higher education is crucial when initiating the task force. Furthermore, he clarified that Brandeis' mission is the “pursuit of truth and the creation and sharing of knowledge.” The email stated that the mission will be impeded “when ideas are suppressed… due to public and peer pressure or intimidation.” Liebowitz acknowledged that “the result is the narrowing of expressed viewpoints and lost opportunities to learn from others” is “a diminishment of our educational purpose.”

He also acknowledged that over the past three months, he had heard students’ concern and disapproval of the campus climate “on account of the polarized and

contentious nature of campus discussions, [students’] fear of stating their opinions, and the vitriol [students] have been subjected to on social media” and parents’ concerns of their students’ safety. Liebowitz clarified that the University’s highest priority is the safety of the community members “even when it challenges the University’s deep commitment to free expression and support of student activism.”

He said that the freedom of speech is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution and defines the right to “speak, write, and share ideas and opinions without facing punishment from the government.” Private institutions such as Brandeis “are legally able to develop individual policies and principles related to speech based on a framework other than the First Amendment,” Liebowitz explained.

The University president elaborated that freedom of speech and academic freedom can be defined by an institution’s “code of conduct” and federal statutes.

Based on federal statutes Title VI and Title IX, Liebowitz explained, speech includes discrimination and harassment and “creates a hostile learning environment” are unprotected. Liebowitz stated that when speech that creates hostility on campus and threatens a safe learning environment are made, educational institutions should respond to such threats.

— Minjue Kim

Waltham, Mass.

BROKEN EQUIPMENT

CONTROVERSIAL DECISION

■ The decision to convert

JONAS KAPLIN/The Justice

WEIGHT ROOM: The strength-training equipment in Gosman Gym has long been old, broken and in need of replacement.

Gosman weight room to undergo major renovations following petition ■ Following a complete renovation of the

Village B/C gym, a team of undergraduate students have secured over $120,000 to completely redo the weight room.

By SOPHIA DE LISI AND ANIKA JAIN JUSTICE EDITORS

As early as March, the weight room in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center will be unrecognizable, featuring brand new machines and equipment for Brandeis community members to use. The renovation plans were spearheaded by personal trainer Mo Re Kim ’24 — the same student who advocated for the significant changes brought to the Village B/C Gym last summer.

Following the successful renovations, Kim set his sights on updating the widely used Gosman space.

In a Jan. 18 interview with The Justice, Kim recalled that the Village gym did not resemble a fitness space prior to its renovation. “It looked like a half painted garage with some old equipment that may or may not be broken built into it,” he said, explaining that half of the machines were dysfunctional. Kim said that he worked on the project with Joshua Feld ’22 and Fitness Coordinator Katherine Page to properly appeal for the funds required.

For the past few months, Kim has worked closely with Page and a team of ten other students to petition for renovations in the Gosman weight room. Their petition garnered 767 signatures, 745 of which were students, encouraging them to apply for the Community Emergency Enhancement Fund to finance their project. Their appeal resulted in over $120,000 allocated for their cause, reflecting the overwhelming support from the community.

“That’s an immense amount of money, especially for an undergraduate project like this,” Kim said, clarifying that it is enough to replace all of the weight room’s equipment, except for the dumbbells. Kim and Page collaborated to decide which equipment they would need to purchase from Matrix, which machines to trade in, as

Yam graffiti

 A yarn installation sits on a tree by Pearlman and Schwartz. Prof. Ingrid Schorr recalls past fiber art displays on campus.

FEATURES 8

See RENOVATIONS, 5 ☛

Faculty vote on free speech motions

 Read an in-depth review for the award-winning film, "Poor Things"

By ANNA MARTIN

By ANNA MARTIN

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org

well as which machines would be moved to other parts of campus to make room for their replacements in Gosman.

Given that Kim and Page also partnered with Matrix to renovate the Village gym, Kim is confident that the Gosman project will proceed smoothly once the University’s Procurement Services approves the equipment vendor’s finalized quote.

“We are still waiting for them to approve it. As they do that, everything starts rolling,” Kim explained that the project is now a “waiting game” for the division to finalize the sale. He guarantees that the equipment will arrive by the fall 2024 semester, but he hopes to see it come in by March. “For seniors like me, it would be a little sad if I can’t use [the new equipment].”

These alterations to the Gosman gym have been a long time coming — the culmination of the Athletics Department waiting for the necessary funding for years. In a Jan. 18 email to The Justice, Page confirmed that the reason for renovations being pushed back was a lack of monetary resources.

“Within the last 20 years, there hasn’t been a project of this scale,” Kim said. The Gosman faculty estimates that at least 100 individuals use the space every day, using the same dilapidated machines despite them being at the end of their life spans. Kim noted that while not all of the machines were unusable, most were “variable” or in the process of breaking down, if not already.

“The Athletics Department has not had funding to this scale of a project in a very long time, and therefore, they’re very invested in making it sail smoothly,” Kim added.

Due to the amount of students inconvenienced by old or broken equipment, Kim did not face any difficulty in forming a team to advocate for renovations. “I've been to the gym enough to know who's in the gym a lot and who cares about this a lot,” he said. Of the students working on the project, there was a range of expertise — some with knowledge of vendors, others with knowledge of Student Union. “I really had to outsource,” Kim told The Justice.

"Poor Things" review

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Navigating winter on campus

By THE JUSTICE EDITORIAL BOARD

By ANNA MARTIN ELIZA BIER/The Justice

Waltham, Mass.

ARTS 18

NEWS 3

FORUM 10

Chiefs and "swifties" commentary

By BENIE COHEN

COPYRIGHT 2024 FREE AT BRANDEIS.

SPORTS 16

2

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024 ● NEWS ● THE JUSTICE

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

POLICE LOG MEDICAL EMERGENCY Dec. 9—A party reported their partner to be intoxicated, conscious and breathing. Brandeis Police reported that the intoxicated party was unconscious and requested Armstrong Ambulance to that location. The patient was transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Dec. 9—There was a medical emergency for a finger laceration. The patient refused medical treatment.

Dec. 10—A non-community member had a medical emergency. They were treated by Armstrong ALS and transported to a local hospital via ambulance for further care.

Dec. 10—There was a medical emergency for an intoxicated party. They were treated by Armstrong ALS and refused further medical care.

Dec. 10—An intoxicated party was transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Dec. 11—A party complained of chest pains. Waltham Fire and Armstrong Ambulance dispatched. The patient was transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Dec. 12—A party cut their hand while washing dishes. The patient refused medical treatment.

Dec. 13—A party experiencing dizziness asked for a medical evaluation. They refused further treatment.

Dec. 18—A party entered the Brandeis Police Station to report that they were having difficulty breathing. The patient was transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Dec. 20—A party had a seizure. The patient was transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Jan. 9—A patient with an injured eye refused medical treatment.

Jan. 10—A caller reported tripping on the sidewalk and injuring their ankle. The patient was transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Jan. 10—A 911 call by Waltham Dispatch reported that a party fell in front of the Lemberg Academic Center. The patient was transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Jan. 11—Waltham Police Department passed along a 911 call they received from a Brandeis community member. Waltham Fire Department and Armstrong Ambulance were dispatched. The patient was transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Jan. 11—A party fell on their head. The patient was transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Jan. 12—A patient was transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Jan. 14—An intoxicated party was transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Jan. 15—There was a medical call for an intoxicated party.

The patient was treated by BEMCo and refused further care.

Jan. 16—There was a medical emergency for an individual who slipped on ice. The patient was transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

Jan. 16—A party slipped and fell on Stoneman Stairs. The

party refused medical treatment but accepted a courtesy ride to the train station.

Jan. 16—A party with blurry vision requested BEMCo. The patient refused medical treatment.

Jan. 16—A party had a possible dislocated elbow from a past fall. The patient refused medical treatment.

DISTURBANCE/NOISE COMPLAINT Dec. 9—A party reported a noise complaint. The area coordinator on call was notified to handle the situation.

Dec. 9—A party reported that an individual at their door refused to leave. The area coordinator on call was notified.

An investigation is to follow.

Dec. 10—A party reported loud music. The area coordinator on call was notified.

Dec. 11—An area coordinator on call requested an officer to assist them with a noise complaint. Services were rendered.

Dec. 12—A party reported that someone outside their room would not leave.

Dec. 12—Two calls reported an individual screaming for help. Officers checked the area. The individual was gone on arrival.

Jan. 7—An officer assisted an area coordinator on call with a noise complaint.

Jan. 13—A community advisor reported an unknown party banging on their door and waking them up. Officers did not find anyone.

Jan. 13—A party reported they were on a walk and upon their return noticed items on their door had been removed.

An investigation is to follow.

Jan. 13—A party wanted to relocate rooms due to doors being closed too loudly. Services were rendered.

Jan. 14—A patient was transported to a local hospital via ambulance.

VANDALISM Dec. 10—There was vandalism found on Foster Mods. The case was cleared.

Dec. 10—An officer reported tagging on the exterior of a building. Services were rendered.

Dec. 11—Vandalism damage was removed by custodial staff a week ago. No police action was taken.

Dec. 14—There was vandalism on the outside sign. An investigation is to follow.

Jan. 14—Vandalism reported behind Foster Mods. An investigation is to follow.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/MAIL Dec. 13—Staff reported a concerning party. The party was advised to leave campus.

Dec. 15—A party reported speaking to a delivery driver who was lost. Brandeis Police checked the area. All appeared to be in order.

Dec. 17—Suspicious mail was received. An investigation is to follow.

Dec. 21—A party reported a person sleeping in their building.

Jan. 11—A party reported that an unwanted person entered their room. An investigation is to follow.

Jan. 13—There is an ongoing investigation into a suspicious person.

Jan. 18—A caller stated that their friend had contraband against University policy in their room. The party was advised by the area coordinator on call to fill out an I Care form.

HARASSMENT Dec. 28—A party reported being harassed via phone calls and text messages. An investigation is to follow.

Jan. 11—There was a report of harassment between two parties. An investigation is to follow.

Jan. 16—A party wanted to report threats. An investigation is to follow.

Jan. 17—A party reported harassment via phone call. An investigation is to follow.

GROUNDS Dec. 10—A fallen tree in the middle of South Street near Wheelock Road was blocking traffic.

Dec. 22—Icy roads were reported.

Jan. 14—A party reported a tree swaying on the verge of falling. Maintenance was notified to respond.

Jan. 16—There were multiple reports of icy areas on campus. Facilities was contacted and said that they will be salting all areas.

Jan. 17— The Grounds Control Manager was notified about dangerous road conditions. Services were rendered.

ACCIDENT/NO PERSONAL INJURY Jan. 16—A Waltham Shuttle was involved in a multiple vehicle accident on South and Highland Street. Brandeis Police reported the bus is back in service. Waltham Police Department is to handle the investigation and report. The officer in charge was notified.

Jan. 17—There was a multiple vehicle accident with no injuries. An officer helped with information exchange.

MISCELLANEOUS Dec. 26—A caller was concerned for a community member.

An investigation is to follow.

Jan. 9—A party reported personal property was stolen from their room. An investigation is to follow.

Jan. 15—There were reports of a fire in a dumpster.

— Compiled by Anika Jain

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

JONAS KAPLIN/The Justice

Graphic courtesy of GEOIMAGES and THE EVERETT COLLECTION. Graphics: ELIZABETH LIU/The Justice

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From a group of geese in a field to busy students, The Justice captures moments of the recent winter weather on campus.

THE JUSTICE ● NEWS ● TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024

3

The Faculty Senate votes to drop charges against arrested students ■ Brandeis faculty held two meetings to continue to address the University’s derecognition of SJP and the arrests of students at the Nov. 10 protest.

By ANNA MARTIN JUSTICE EDITOR

The Brandeis Faculty Senate held meetings on Dec. 8 and Jan. 19 to continue to discuss proposed motions following the University’s derecognition of Students for Justice in Palestine and the subsequent protester arrests.

The first of these motions moves that the Provost Carol Fierke and the senate work together to establish a Task Force on Free Expression. This task force’s purpose is to revise and reinterpret the University’s current Principles of Free Speech and Free Expression and possibly suggest appropriate consequences for failing to adhere to them. This motion passed an official faculty vote by 84% with 221 votes in favor.

Following the passing of this motion, it was brought to the administration and an email was sent to the Brandeis community by President Liebowitz. In this email Liebowitz stated, “I will be appointing a task force.” The Senate Council met with President Liebowitz and his leadership team on Jan. 18, and they reached a tentative agreement that stated “the senate [is] to meet with the President to review and agree upon a change to the task force, in addition to recommending faculty to join the task force.” The Justice reached out to the University administration regarding this matter and has not received a response as of press time. The only debate regarding this motion was the inclusion of the members of the Board of Trustees.

Motion 2 asked that the “administration commission a thorough independent investigation — to be shared with the Brandeis community in written form by March 1, 2024 — of its decision-making, communications, and other consequen-

tial acts leading up to and including the events of Nov. 10.”

The Senate members stated that they wanted to participate in decisions regarding this investigation including factors like the scope and charge, and choosing the outside investigators.

Their goal was to make sure that this included solutions to prevent similar such events from occurring in the future and eliminate harm if any such thing were to happen. This motion passed with a percentage of 81% with 214 voters in support.

After the senate passed this motion, the University shared the direction that they decided the review of the protests would be taking. In response to the rejection of Motion 2, the Faculty Senate sent an email to Ron Liebowitz, Carol Fierke, Stew Uretsky, Steve Locke and Meredith Ainbinder on Jan. 8. This email, which The Justice obtained through an anonymous faculty member, highlighted three main issues. These include a lack of independence in the review, which results in lack of credibility, too narrow of a scope of the review and disregard for shared governance through the rejection of the faculty mandate.

According to the email, the faculty believe that their will for a comprehensive and independent review of administration actions is being ignored and proceeded to further outline the three main issues that were highlighted. The email calls on the administration to reconsider their response to Motion 2 and “engage with the Faculty Senate” to create a review process that is comprehensive, collaborative, and genuinely independent.”

During the Jan. 18 meeting, the Senate council formed a tentative agreement with President Liebowitz and his leadership team. The agreement included hosting a listening session for the independent review team, faculty, staff and student representatives.

Motion 3 was in regards to eliminating restrictions surrounding free speech until some more clear rules and restrictions were drawn up. This motion was withdrawn. Motion 4 moved to involve faculty and staff in communications sent to students from Student Life and other administrative services that are believed will have a significant impact on student life. This motion passed the faculty vote with a percentage of 88% and 231 votes.

Motion 5 was brought forward for a second reading during the faculty meeting on Jan. 19. This motion moves that the University call on the District Attorney of Middlesex Marian Ryan to drop all charges against the Brandeis students arrested at the Nov. 10 protest. According to the motion, the proposers believe that this action is essential to begin the “process of healing” as stated by President Liebowitz on Nov. 11. There was some debate during the meeting regarding who should be included in this pardon, some faculty members suggesting that the impartial lawyer who was arrested should be included in this statement, as well as the other affiliated individuals. After some discussion, this amendment was denied as the faculty decided to focus on the students. A high enough percentage of faculty voted the last time this was sent out at 73%, but this is not a high enough percentage to wave the second reading. The faculty voted to send this motion to the second round of faculty votes.

Motion 6 was also brought forward for a second reading, again getting enough votes to pass but not to waive the second reading. This motion calls for the University to not take disciplinary action against the students arrested. The Senate feels that not pursuing disciplinary action is a way to repair harm and heal the community, “leading not with punishment but with care.” This motion passed without amendment, going back out for a second faculty vote, to be held in the upcoming week.

Some faculty took the Jan. 19 Q&A with President Liebowitz and Provost Fierke to express some concerns regarding budget cuts to graduate programs. The Anthropology Department explained that they already have a large number of candidates for admission, and are behind in their selection process. Without the budget being finalized, they are unable to offer admission and are concerned about ethically having to return admission fees and garnering bad press. The Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Jeffrey Shoulson promised answers as soon as possible, explaining that they are working through different models.

These two meetings also consisted of three different remembrances for community members, Eli Stuart, Jerry Cohen and Bob Meyer. The Faculty Senate will be reconvening for another meeting in early February.

ELIZA BIERThe Justice

BRIEF Student Union election candidate biographies On Tuesday, the Student Union released the list of candidates running in their winter election, which will take place on Friday, Jan. 26. Student Union Secretary Carol Kornworcel ’26 sent an email to students providing candidate biographies and other announcements concerning the Student Union. Nine positions with a total of 11 seats are up for election.

Allocations Board Racial Minority (1 seat) The candidate running for the racial minority seat on the Allocations Board is Sandy Chen ’27. She hopes to ensure that the Student Union supports all campus organizations.

She hopes to consult students on club funding during her own office hours. Currently, she is the MASMO on the communications committee.

Midyear Senator (1 seat) Luke Farberman ’27 is running for the position of Midyear Senator. He hopes to aid midyear students’ transitions into campus life and “ensuring the university does its part in upholding principles of sustainability for the future.” Farberman said he will implement what he learned from his involvement in a town committee as a Senator.

2-Semester Allocations Board (2 seats) Three candidates are vying for two 2-semester seats on the Allocations Board.

If elected, Anna Weiss ’26 plans to help cultivate the welcoming communities on campus by distributing funds “equitably and impartially.” Weiss is currently the vice president of Brandeis Model United Nations and has served as Head-Delegate, which has enabled her to make “many quick and objective decisions.”

Jake Rosen ’27 is also running for A-Board. Rosen currently serves as the legislative director for Brandeis Israel Public Affairs Committee and first-year representative on the Masorti Student Board. His goal is to “help foster collaboration and cooperation on campus” by acting as a resource for the vast array of student-led organizations.

Rashail Wasim ’25 is the current A-Board co-chair and is running for re-election. He says that during his tenure Marathon funding went smoothly, and he will run club workshops in February to answer any questions. He has “done what [he] could” to ease the frustrations of dealing with funding “on club leaders while maintaining a disciplined Student Activities Fund budget.”

Ziv/Ridgewood Quad Senator (1 seat) Harrison Madnick ’25 is running unopposed for the position of Ziv/Ridgewood Quad Senator. He served as a representative in his high school’s student government. As a Senator, he plans to advocate for all problems in the two quads and “ensure the safety and enjoyment of all this semester.”

Rosenthal/Skyline Quad Senator (1 seat) Allie Lanham ’26 is running unopposed for the seat of Rosenthal/Skyline Quad Senator. Her goals include fostering open communication between students and the Student Union in order to “help all students feel like a meaningful part of the Brandeis community, where all voices are heard and considered.”

Racial Minority Senator (1 seat) Ilana Ocampo ’27 is the sole candidate running for Racial Minority Senator. She was the co-president of Kindness Day and helped start a Latin/Caribbean dance club. She hopes to advocate for the “wonderful minority group” she found on campus, as well as bolster underrepresented voices in school affairs.

3-Semester Allocations Board (2 seat) There are three candidates running for two 3-semester positions on the A-Board.

Joe Sun ’27 is running to ensure that University clubs do not face budget cuts like clubs at his high school did, where new clubs could not afford to form and existing clubs could barely stay afloat. Sun pledged to ensure that no newly chartered club will struggle to receive funding.

Josef Kay ’27 served as the Secretary of Community Service in his high school’s student government for four years.

During his tenure, he “witnessed the importance of accessing sufficient funds to create meaningful events.” As an A-Board member, Kay promises to help allocate funds equitably and to be a reliable contact.

If he wins, Samuel Shmidman ’27 plans to aid and support clubs to “ensure they can continue to organize incredible events throughout the academic year.” He pledged to work “tirelessly” to make student-led events “engaging and memorable for everyone.”

Co-Head Treasurer (1 seat) Two candidates are running for the position of co-head treasurer.

Lucy Zhang ’26 served as a deputy treasurer over the past semester. As co-treasurer, she hopes to assist student organizations “fulfill their needs” and foster communication between clubs and the Department of Student Engagement.

Robert Sun ’26 also served as a deputy treasurer and is running for the position of co-treasurer. He was the director of finance for the TAMID Consulting Group at Brandeis and was a treasurer in high school. He was also “an international finalist in competitive events related to financial operations research and financial management for DECA.” As co-treasurer, he plans to facilitate accessibility to the treasury, maintain communication and transparency with clubs and introduce “town hall” discussions.

Associate Justice (1 seat) No one is listed as a candidate for this position.

Graphics: ELIZABETH LIU/The Justice

THE JUSTICE ● NEWS ● TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024 5

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Brandeis alum founds Nikki Haley asks New Hampshire voters to take affordable insulin project a chance on her candidacy ■ Eric Moyal ’17, M.A. ’18, M.S. ’22

■ In Hollis, New Hampshire, Haley presents herself as a third option for voters disenchanted by Trump and Biden.

By MESHULAM UNGAR JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

On the morning of Thursday, Jan. 18, New Hampshire stood five days out from the Jan. 23 New Hampshire Presidential Primary. In the small town of Hollis, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor, pitched her campaign to a crowd of approximately 250 New Hampshirites and the press. Hollis, which borders Massachusetts, is a 50 minute drive from the University, making it one of the closest events she has held to Brandeis’ campus. Prior to announcing her run for the presidency, Nikki Haley was the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President Trump, a role in which she gained a reputation for her tough style and stalwart support of Israel.

After former President Trump’s dominant victory in Iowa last week — beating all other opponents in the caucus by 30%, — Haley looks to New Hampshire for momentum to beat Trump at the Republican convention this July. Even before Florida governor Ron DeSantis dropped out of the race on Sunday, Haley had declared it a “two-person race,” despite DeSantis’s better showing in Iowa.

Polling released by CNN on Sunday, Jan. 21 has Haley polling at 39%, and Trump at 50%, despite the state’s reputation for moderation and large number of political independents. Haley argues that if she can get past Trump in the primaries and earn the Republican nomination, she would cruise to victory against President Joe Biden in November. A CBS News/YouGov poll from early January indicated that Haley held an eight point lead over President Biden in a theoretical match-up, while former President Trump held only a two-point lead over Biden; the poll had a three-point margin of error.

At the wedding-hall-turned-rally-venue in Hollis, Haley’s newly found energy was on full display. New Hampshire Governor Sununu introduced Haley to an older but

fired-up crowd. He led with a subtle but clear jab at Trump, critiquing his stops to the state on his branded jet to hold a country club fundraiser only to then fly back to his own country club. Haley then walked out to “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor and a roaring applause.

Haley articulated her case in sharp and concise points on the key issues for Republican voters: curbing illegal immigration and maintaining control of the U.S.-Mexico border, lowering government spending and the national debt, supporting Israel, and fighting the rise of gender-inclusive language and restrooms. Haley was as quick to take a jab at Trump as she was at genderfluid pronouns and transgender-accepting restrooms. On Trump, Haley said, “If he’s going to lie about me, we’re going to tell the truth about him ... You’re going to see a lot of things said, but at the end of the day, it’s the drama, and vengeance, and the vindictiveness that we want to get out of the way.” At every opportunity, Haley attempted to frame Trump and Biden in the same light, with quips such as “What are Biden and Trump both focused on? Investigations, past issues, things that aren’t taking us forward.”

In recent weeks, former President Trump has directed a torrent of criticism toward Haley. Trump referred to Haley by her unused first name, Nimarata — Nikki is her middle name — and misspelling it too in a TruthSocial post. Furthermore, Trump described Haley’s campaign as “counting on Democrats and liberals to infiltrate your Republican primary to put her over the top in this state — which is no surprise, since her campaign is funded by Democrats.”

Trump has accused Haley of being ineligible to run for president due to her parents’ Indian ancestry. Haley laughed off these claims at the Hollis event.

Haley must win New Hampshire to have a shot in the upcoming primary states.

Unlike Trump’s campaign, branded as “Make America Great Again,” as seen on podium lectures at his rallies currently, and President Biden’s “Battle for the Soul of the Nation,” prominent in the April 2023 video announcing the launch of his reelection campaign, Haley’s campaign slogan of “Stand for America” did not catch on. What is clear to New Hampshire voters is what Haley is not: older or male. On Jan. 23, New Hampshirites will decide if this is enough to propel her to victory in the nation’s first primary election and likely the most important one of her career.

creates nonprofit Project Insulin with the goal to create long-term endowment to subsidize insulin.

By MOMOCA MAIRAJ JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

In October 2021, Brandeis alum Eric Moyal ’17, M.A. ’18, M.S.’ 22 founded the nonprofit Project Insulin. He first thought of the idea when he learned from his partner, who has Type 1 Diabetes, about the patent of insulin recently expiring after being unchanged for 30 years.

Historically, a 30-day supply of insulin costs around $60 out-of-pocket. Moyal hopes to cut out manufacturers who are looking to make a profit. In the long run, Project Insulin plans to build an endowment to subsidize the price of insulin. “If we can make the insulin ourselves and cut out some of the middle organizations like pharmacy benefit managers, wholesalers, manufacturers who are focused on profit [and] we can create generic insulin and get it to patients at the lowest possible price,” he said in a Dec. 4 interview with The Justice.

Currently, the project is in its fundraising stage to raise the money necessary to begin drug development. “Pending a grant that we’re expecting, by the end of the year, we’ll have raised $100,000,” he said. “We’ve raised a lot of money just from family, friends, people who have followed us along the way. I think that number is closer to 8000, maybe $9,000,” he said. $400k would begin this process and sustain one year of drug development. After that, the insulin would need to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration and an ideal timeline would lapse five years from development to approval.

The University has been a large part of Moyal’s journey to starting Project Insulin.

He got both his business degree and master’s degrees in International Economics and Finance and Strategic Analytics from Brandeis. After graduating, he learned to raise money at Brandeis while working in fundraising for student scholarships. He became passionate about healthcare and has experience raising awareness, especially

because his sister suffers from a rare illness.

Through his journey of launching the project, Moyal has been in touch with other groups attempting to create insulin. He spoke with the former Chief Executive Officer of CivicaRX another group making their own insulin, about having multiple groups developing the same medicine. “You know, it’s a supply shortage that we have to deal with, and one company can’t deal with that shortage,” Moyal said, quoting the CEO. “‘Competition is good, right, it brings prices down.’” He emphasized the importance of partnering with other organizations to make the product cheaper for consumers.

The team is currently all volunteer-based and hinges on funding and volunteers. “We have a Brandeis student who’s helping, [and] Northeastern [University], Johnson and Wales [University] in Rhode Island, students across as well. Now we got one from Carnegie Mellon [University],” he said.

“But our goal would be in the next year, you know, we raised that 400k, we can start the early stages of drug development.”

Moyal has encountered challenges, particularly in getting the idea off the ground as a solo founder. “I have a wonderful group of volunteers and, and mentor them aboard and all these people. ... But it’s really hard to share and discuss just how hard it is to go through the ups and the downs,” he explained. “A lot of people are very passionate about [making generic insulin]. But the, like, nuanced day-to-day living of Product Insulin is different.”

The ultimate goal of the project is to not just make insulin affordable but to also change the way healthcare is approached in America. “The mission is to make insulin affordable for everyone,” Moyal said. “The long-term vision is to prove that we can make generic drugs through a nonprofit model.”

With his experience with the project, Moyal encourages students to pursue their ideas and lean on the people around them from professors to peers. “It’s hard to do this, you know, take a leap and create something yourself, whether it’s a business or advocacy or whatever it might be,” he said.

“Get their support, because once you do, it feels like you’re on top of the world ... that’s just a really special feeling.” With the help that Moyal has received from Brandeis, volunteers and healthcare organizations, Project Insulin is gaining traction.

Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL

NONPROFIT: Eric Moyal ’17, M.A.’18 M.S. ’22 started Project Insulin in order to make insulin more affordable, combating the drug’s increasing cost.

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

ELECTION: Prior to the New Hampshire primary, Republican candidate Nikki Haley hosted a meet and greet in an attempt to connect with more voters.

Graphic courtesy of TRENDIFY. Graphics: ELIIZABTH LIU/The Justice

6

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024 ● NEWS ● THE JUSTICE

LGBTQIA+ LITERATURE

Curtis Chin visits Brandeis to promote new memoir ■ Author Curtis Chin talks

about his memoir “Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant,” based on his experience as an Asian American and queer boy growing up in Detroit, Michigan.

By MOMOCA MAIRAJ JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

On Jan. 18, author Curtis Chin visited the Mandel Humanities Center to give a talk on his first book and memoir “Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant.” The memoir, published in October 2023, details Chin’s experience and challenges growing up as an Asian American, queer man in Detroit. He was a first-generation college student at the University of Michigan as a creative writing major.

Chin started by recounting his experiences leading up to writing his book. Prior to publishing the memoir, he worked on poetry in New York City. He later wrote screenplays in Los Angeles and scripts for Disney Channel through the ABC Disney Fellowship.

When his father passed away in a car accident, Chin returned to Michigan to sell the long-time family business, which sold ten million eggrolls during its reign.

Following ten years of working on social justice documentaries, Chin then chose to write his book as a project dedicated to his family. “You can’t really know the person’s family without the family’s sto-

ry,” Chin said. “Writing this book was a culmination of all these different things.”

Grappling with his identity as a gay man is a central theme in Chin’s book, particularly because of how difficult it was for him to come out in the ’80s. He explained how his generation of gay men expected to have a short life span, lacked LGBTQ+ role models, and were not regarded with respect. “No one in my family ever said anything anti-gay, not even my grandma, who spoke some pretty offensive things about race and gender. But no one said anything positive about being gay either,” Chin said. “That left a big question mark, in my mind: How would they react if it turned out to be true that I was like that?”

During the event, he read out chapters A6 and M7 of his book, which is structured like a Chinese restaurant menu.

Chin centers his book around his family’s restaurant because it was central to his connection with his family and hometown. “I’d like to think about not just any Chinese restaurant, but the Chinese restaurant,” he said. It was his haven that illustrated the concept “for here or to go” that Chin said encapsulated his whole life.

While he had his whole childhood within this restaurant, Detroit was a city falling apart and riddled with gang violence.

Chin is grateful for the success of his book, estimating to have done 70 events for his book since its release and expecting 80 to 90 more. He concluded, “Yes, this is my memoir, but it is also a thank you to my parents for the sacrifices they made for us, and it’s also a hat down to my hometown, Detroit.”

ELECTION SECTION

THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE TIGHTENS On Jan. 21, current Florida governor Ron DeSantis announced on X that he was ending his Republican campaign for the presidential election. The governor referenced his second-place win in the Iowa Caucus, winning 21.1% of the vote, trailing behind former president Donald Trump’s 51%, according to The Associated Press.

DeSantis said that he and his team looked for ways to proceed with the campaign, but to no avail. “If there was anything I could do to produce a favorable outcome — more campaign stops, more interviews — I would do it,” DeSantis told his followers.

In his resignation, DeSantis endorsed the former president, stating that despite his disagreements with Trump regarding COVID-19 and his relationship with Dr. Anthony Fauci, he considers Trump to be superior to incumbent President Joe Biden. DeSantis is leaving the race for the Republican nomination between Trump and Nikki Haley. The two candidates will compete during this week’s New Hampshire Primary taking place on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Reuters reports that Trump is the projected winner at 47% of Republican voters with Haley at nearly 34%. Prior to his announcement, DeSantis was projected to take third place with 3% of the vote.

Despite being in the face of 91 felony counts — any of which could result in his imprisonment — Trump’s presidential bid is reliably the most popular across Republican voters. His major legal battles include the Department of Justice investigation of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago documents, fabricated business records in Manhattan and his election subversion case in Georgia. The former president is also cultivating his campaign while 30 states debate whether or not Section 3 of Amendment 14 can ultimately remove him from the ballot. This section outlines that no person who has “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the U.S. government after having previously “taken an oath … to support the Constitution” can hold any office again. Colorado and Maine have already elected to omit Trump from their ballots.

Amid other Republican candidates dropping out — such as Chris Christie, Vivek Ramaswamy and Mike Pence — there have been numerous third-party and Democratic candidates announcing their decisions to join the presidential race.

Minnesota Congressman Dean Philips is running against President Biden in hopes of receiving the Democratic ticket. His campaign website says that he has been “recognized as the [second] most bipartisan member of Congress,” having held leadership positions wi-

thin numerous committees. He wishes to create an “affordable America” through a number of strategies, such as increasing affordable housing, creating a “Medicare for all” program, providing free college and several other institutional changes across industries.

Jill Stein is running for the Green Party’s nomination.

According to her website, Stein is a “Harvard-educated doctor, a pioneering environmental health advocate, and an organizer for people, planet and peace.” Her intent is to fight environmental racism, injustice and improve communities, amongst numerous other issues. Furthermore, Stein calls on the “U.S. government [to] stop supporting the ongoing Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza,” popularizing the petition on her campaign website. The Associated Press reports that Stein has not won a state or nationwide office.

Cornel West has changed his party affiliation multiple times throughout his presidential run. In June 2023, he announced his run initially as part of the People’s Party.

He then changed his party to the Green Party and is now running as an independent candidate. A prominent activist, West has taught philosophy at several universities, including Harvard and Princeton. According to NBC News, compared to his competition, West has only 10 staffers and one public campaign rally. While his rivals have raised tens of millions of dollars for their campaign, he only has a few hundred thousand dollars. He has also sworn off financial support from a super Political Action Committee that could help make up the difference. “I’m a jazz man. I believe in improvisation,” West said. “I’m trying to just learn, listen, be jazz-like enough to improvise while holding on to my integrity and honesty.”

Claudia de la Cruz is running for President as a Party for Socialism and Liberation party candidate. “For nearly 30 years, Claudia has demonstrated a fierce commitment to building people power,” Cruz’s campaign website states. She points to her experience as co-executive director and co-founder of The People’s Forum in New York City, which is a global and national “political education space and cultural home.” Cruz’s running mate is Karina Garcia, a “popular educator” who has organized campaigns against issues such as police brutality, wage theft, landlord abuses, immigrant rights and reproductive justice, according to the website.

— Sophia De Lisi and Anika Jain

CECI XILEI CHEN/The Justice

On Sunday, Jan. 14, Brandeis students flooded into Levin Ballroom for the Winter Involvement Fair, with over 100 student-run organizations in attendance. Club leaders enthusiastically pitched their organizations to prospective members by holding up signs and handing out complimentary merchandise.

THE JUSTICE ● NEWS ● TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024

7

CONTROVERSY: Dancers explain importance of multipurpose rooms confirmed that a couple weeks after she booked a room she typically received either a confirmation or refusal via email.

After her booking was denied, she emailed Rand on Jan. 9 explaining the situation. “I wanted to inquire about the reason for the closure of this space and if there is any way we could book it at designated times that do not interfere with its other uses,” she wrote. Znamirowski said that Rand did not email her back directly.

On Jan. 12, Rand reached out to the dance clubs via email. Over winter break, the decision was made to convert MPR 1 to a “dedicated cycling studio.” He acknowledged the space’s popularity amongst dance groups and apologized for “the inconvenience and negative impact it may have on club practices.”

“The decision was made after examining actual room usage and attendance numbers for all club reservations during the fall semester,” he explained. “Based on that data and our vision for future programming, we feel this change will positively impact our campus, significantly enhancing our fitness and [Health, Wellness, and Life Skills] programs,” as the University is expanding its recreational fitness and HWL offerings.

The room is no longer suitable for the dance clubs for two main reasons, according to Rand.

Firstly, the bikes take up most of the room, which “itself is not large enough to also accommodate dance groups.” Secondly, the University needs “a secure, dedicated space with controlled access for the bikes and equipment.” Prior to this change, bikes were moved into the Gosman Dance Studio during classes and kept in the hallway otherwise.

On the Gosman website, the cycling room is booked for one hour per day. When a class is not in session, the door is locked.

Livia Adler-Maranhao ’25, the co-president of tap dancing club Hooked on Tap, learned about the room’s conversion from Znamirowski, who texted that she was unable to book the room for another club. She later sent a picture of the room filled with bikes. In a Jan. 20 interview with The Justice, Adler-Maranhao explained that she emailed Rand for clarification, and by the time she received the mass email sent to the dance groups, she was angry, upset and uncertain of what to do.

She reached out to Bridget Summit of the Department of Student Engagement to help advocate for the dance clubs and moving the cycles.

“But to my understanding right now, their decision is final, and they're not willing to change it,” Adler-Maranhao said.

In a Jan. 19 email correspondence with The Justice, Summit said that “Student Engagement is happy to work with impacted groups to explore ways to meet their specific needs and come up with additional solutions as needed.”

Rand provided the dancers with alternative rehearsal locations in the Jan. 12 email and did the same in a Jan. 19 email correspondence with The Justice. Locations include the Gosman Dance Studio, Gosman MPR, Linsey MPR 3, Linsey MPR 4, Squash Court #4 and Squash Court #5. Rand added that clubs are also allowed to book the Rosenthal East Dance Studio, Village MPR, Shapiro Campus Center MPR, Levin Ballroom and Sherman Function Hall.

Znamirowski started to say that there were other places to dance on campus, but cut herself off mid-sentence. No, she said. There are no other adequate places to dance on campus.

Generally, dance club leaders are unhappy with the list of alternative dance spaces. Safety is a primary concern. Znamirowski explained that typically dance requires either wood or marley

flooring, and there are no rooms with marley floors on campus. The Gosman Dance Studio, despite its “lovely wooden floor,” is “incredibly slippery,” making it dangerous to turn in pointe shoes, which are covered in satin. Rubbery floors rip through both the satin and canvas of pointe shoes and because of increased friction, “the shoe could get stuck, while the dancer keeps rotating, increasing risk of ankle and knee injuries.” Furthermore, MPR 3 is the mat room — and therefore, Znamirowski said, not made for dancing — and does not allow shoes.

While flooring restricts all dance groups, Hooked on Tap is particularly impacted. “The metal on the shoes can make it really slippery to dance where the floor isn't made specifically for dance, so we usually only book that room when we practice because we can't really tap anywhere else,” Adler-Maranhao said. “Many of the spaces around campus don't allow us to tap on their floors because they're worried that will damage it.” Tap shoes also scuff floors and can rip up carpets.

Tap also requires dancers to be able to hear the sounds that the tap shoes are making in order to know if their steps are correct, which Adler-Maranhao and Znamirowski both said. Therefore, the rubber floors in Village MPR and Linsey MPR 4 are not conducive to learning. Neither are rooms with echoes, like the studio in Rosenthal East.

According to Adler-Maranhao, one of the recommendations given to her club was to purchase flooring they could use in different spaces. “However, we’re only given $750 a semester,” she said.

“We're also only allowed to spend those funds on the specific things that they approve.” In theory, they could request emergency funding, but she is not sure where they would be able to store the flooring. The group does not always practice at the same time, so if they bought flooring, they would need to keep track of it and coordinate transfers frequently. “If absolutely necessary, we could purchase that flooring, but it would honestly pose … more issues,” she concluded.

In a Jan. 20 interview, Adagio Co-President Athena Lam ’25 told The Justice that dancers are trained on floors meant to support them, but none of the alternative rehearsal locations fulfill those requirements. She is also concerned about practicing in locations other than Gosman or Linsey, as the clubs need access to ice in case of a fall or injury.

MPR 1 has two mirrored walls, and Znamirowski, Adler-Maranhao, and Lam all stressed their importance. “It is imperative to make sure that everyone is dancing safely,” Lam said, and in order to do so, dancers need to be able to see themselves practice. Choreographers also need mirrors to teach others in a safe manner. “When you have the mirror, everyone's facing one direction.

You're also able to interact with each other better,” Lam explained. In comparison, the Gosman Dance Studio has one mirrored wall.

MPR 1’s sound system provided a way to play music and still be able to hear it over the sound of tap shoes, Adler-Maranhao explained. She said that it’s difficult to dance in a room like Village MPR, where you cannot hear any music coming out of a laptop once they start dancing.

In his email to The Justice, Rand wrote, “We plan to make improvements to [MPR 1] by installing a new sound system, lighting, a projector, and video screens to be able to display leaderboards, virtual rides, structured workouts, etc. by incorporating current indoor cycling technology.”

He stressed that while such features are typically only found in expensive, off-campus studios, classes in the enhanced space would be free to students, staff and faculty.

Difficulties in scheduling this semester have increased in comparison to fall 2023, according to the club leaders interviewed by The Justice. Rand suggested Levin Ballroom, which is frequently used as a performance venue, or Sherman Function Hall as alternative rehearsal spaces. According to the Brandeis website, “Due to increased programming and limited space,” groups are allowed “one two-day booking per semester” for Levin Ballroom and a “two-day maximum reservation, per event” for Sherman Function Hall.

Lam said there was already competition to book MPR 1, which has only increased since its conversion. Znamirowski said booking MPR 1 was not difficult in previous semesters, but now, about 15 groups are vying for “n-1 spaces.”

This semester, some dance clubs are struggling to book rehearsals. Typically, clubs rehearse five to six hours a week, and Znamirowski estimated that personally, she is likely in MPR 1 about 20 hours a week.

After learning MPR 1 was unavailable, Znamirowski found that other spaces such as the Gosman Dance Studio were booked at her clubs’ rehearsal times. She “scrambled after getting the

email to reserve just chunks of time” amongst the different spaces. Adler-Maranhao admitted that Hooked on Tap has only reserved one space thus far, which is “not good at all” for their performance in April. “We're just kind of hoping that we can have rehearsal spaces that can get us to the point of being able to perform,” she said. Similarly, Znamirowski told The Justice that her clubs’ shows are booked for the end of the semester; they will be dancing, but the question is how frustrating it will be to get there.

Rand told The Justice, “As stated above, there are other spaces clubs are eligible to reserve.” Of the “potential drawbacks,” he responded, “We have one less multipurpose activity room."

Lam has danced since she was five years old, and Adler-Maranhao since she was four.

Znamirowski comes from a pre professional dance background and has been dancing at Brandeis since she enrolled her sophomore year.

“For me, it's a big stress relief, because it's the only way that I can express myself because I'm not really a person that can express my feelings through words, or through anything besides performance,” Adler-Maranhao said.

Lam told The Justice that the right rehearsal space is really conducive towards forming communities. “If we want to create a more empathetic community, the best way to do it is through supporting … students who want to get together and express how they feel all together.” To Lam, it felt like the University was saying they recognized that although their space is being limited, they were not going to include the dance clubs in this conversation, “which is also like a slap in the face.”

“Athletics has no current plans to add new spaces, but we are always exploring creative ways to utilize our existing spaces to meet the needs of our programs and users,” Rand told The Justice.

He does not currently know if there are plans to add additional spaces elsewhere on campus.

— Editor’s note: Justice editors Anna Martin ’26 and Eliza Bier ’26 are members of Adagio Dance Company and Brandeis Ballet Club, and Elizabeth Liu ’26 is a member of Adagio Dance Company.

They did not contribute to the reporting, writing, or editing of this article.

CYCLING ROOM: The multipurpose room, once used for dance practices, is now occupied by dozens of stationary bicycles.

JONAS KAPLIN/The Justice

RENOVATIONS: Students secure funds to redo weight room CONTINUED FROM 1 Brandeis is not the only university in the Boston area to undergo major gym renovations in recent years. In summer 2022, Harvard University’s Hemenway Gymnasium upgraded their strength training floors as well as created

an open floor plan to maximize the space. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is also fundraising to renovate its DuPont Athletic Building with a steep goal of $5 million, of which $4.5 million will be directed towards capital and $500K will go to equipment. Last May, Northeastern University’s Marino Center reopened

following upgrades to their fitness areas, main locker room, and weight room.

“I’ve been at Brandeis for four years, and nothing at Brandeis, I think, is inherently broken,” Kim said. “It’s just a little bit old.” He emphasized that with a lot of old equipment and systems on campus, anyone could generate a

OLD AND BROKEN: The rusted and unusable weights and powerlifting stations will all be replaced in a matter of months.

number of renovation projects.

Kim added that the process for Brandeis students to fix subpar aspects of campus is more straightforward than it seems. He told The Justice that the process that went into applying for CEEF was a Google Form and a carefully considered plan.

JONAS KAPLIN/The Justice

features

8 TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024 ● FEATURES ● THE JUSTICE

just

VERBATIM | ANDY WARHOL

Why can’t it just be magic all the time?

ON THIS DAY…

FUN FACT

The Roman emperor Caligula was killed in the Palatine Games in 41 ce.

Greenland sharks can live for up to 500 years.

Craftivism at Brandeis: Yarn bombing Creativity can be expressed in many different ways, including making our campus a more soft and cozy place to be.

By ANNA MARTIN JUSTICE EDITOR

The tree between Pearlman Hall and the Usdan Student Center has been yarn bombed! The bright colors contrast with the barren branches of a tree in the winter, while the green moss and the green sections of yarn cause a moment of similarity.

Over the time that the piece has spent on the tree, it has weathered many of the elements, including snow and rain. The yarn has started to become one with the tree, as it felts to the branches and trunk. The piece has been covered in snow and ice crystals, protecting the tree from the natural elements and keeping it warm during the coldest week of the year.

“Yarn bombing” is a practice that was established and gained popularity in the early 2000s, where artists cover natural and manmade objects in the world with yarn.

This can be knitted materials, crochet materials and more! The known origin of this art comes from shop owner Magda Sayeg in Texas, who was tired of the bland commercial landscape that she had to work at every day. She knitted a small cozy for her shop’s door handle, and gained a lot of attention from locals and shop visitors. This led to her work on some bigger projects, including working to establish the yarn bombing crew, a practice that became common for larger projects.

Yarn bombing is a form of social activism. It has been claimed as a feminist movement, as it was a way to get involved with the graffiti scene, which is traditionally seen as a more masculine, male dominated activity. Instead, a very diverse group of primarily feminine identifying people from all corners of the world reclaimed the traditionally feminine arts of knitting and crocheting as a way to give back to and positively impact the community.

In a Jan. 19 email correspondence with The Justice, Prof. Ingrid Schorr explained that in a social post she chose to use the wording of “yarn art” instead of “yarn bombing” “out of respect for those affected by violence.” An opinion piece in The Forward reads, “the word ‘bomb’ obliterates the good will, consciousness-raising and well-meaning mischief-making by those who see the great outdoors as their yarn canvas.”

While yarn bombing, or yarn art, is often used just to bring softness and color to a space, it can also be used to spread awareness politically. Many yarn bombers have made statements through this creative form of peaceful protest. This art has been used as an element of the Black Lives Matter movement, spreading awareness regarding domestic violence, and many more similar causes.

This is not the first time that the Brandeis campus has been yarn bombed. On Jan. 19, The Justice sat down with Prof. Schorr, the director of Arts Engagement and Communication, to discuss this piece of art. She expressed her love for art across campus, explaining that while many students at Brandeis are inherently creative, they often pick a course of study that leads to a higher-paying career. Moments of art such as this throughout the buildings that house many academic disciplines tie the creative community together and inspire others to think outside of the box.

One of the instances of yarn bombing previously as recalled by Schorr was a small section of trees that had been knitted sweaters to keep them warm. This was a community project with many participants and one student leader. Schorr recalled it with fondness.

Schorr distributes grants every year to students through the Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts, and yarn bombing was something that had previously received a grant. The recipient of this grant was interested in the intersection of hard metals and soft wool, ultimately proposing creating some hand made covers for some of the tables and benches outside of Bernstein Marcus. This idea was approved and she set about creating these pieces.

These covers stayed up through much of the spring semester and the following summer, before she decided to take them down due to fading. Yarn bombing can never be a permanent installation, as it is not meant to last forever. Especially those exposed to many natural elements have a relatively short shelf life. That is the beauty of yarn bombing — it is easily removable. Once the artist decides that the art has served its intended purpose, it can be easily taken down without causing any harm to the surrounding environment and surface that it was placed upon.

While not harmful, many knitters and crocheters decide to keep these installations a secret, often sneaking around with handfuls of yarn in the dead of night. The beauty of them is how they appear, often without permission or notice. All of a sudden, something that you walk by every day is just a little bit more beautiful. The tree outside of the Usdan Student Center is one that countless students walk by every day on their way to a psychology lecture or grabbing a coffee from Dunkin. Now that walk is just a little bit more colorful, thanks to the knitted work of art that will one day disappear.

COLOR ON CAMPUS: Prof. Schorr stands next to a tree decorated by an anonymous fiber artist.

Photos: ELIZA BIER/The Justice. Design: ANNA MARTIN/The Justice

THE JUSTICE ● FEATURES ● TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024 9

Breaking barriers and records: Brandeis students in the education field On Jan. 17, The Justice had the chance to interview Zaire Simmonds ’26, the youngest employee of the New York City Department of Education.

By RIA ESCAMILLA-GIL JUSTICE STAFF WRTIER

Zaire Simmonds ’26, a current sophomore at Brandeis, has made many strides to pursuing his passion for teaching. An Education Studies major, Undergraduate Departmental Representative of the Education Studies program and the founder and president of the Brandeis chapter of the educational organization Aspiring Educators, it’s difficult to deny Simmonds’ passion for the education sector.

Simmonds’ passion rose from his own upbringing in the New York City public school system as well as the “natural itch” for teaching that began in his early childhood.

Employed by the New York City Department of Education at the age of 18, Zaire became involved in recruiting the next generation of educators. Years prior to this, the very same institution had failed him as a struggling student in the second grade.

Mr. Simmonds’ first student was actually his mother, her bedroom taking the role of a classroom. Later, there would be imaginary students while Simmonds found ways to teach himself after struggling with his courses in elementary school. Having had a negative experience with a racist teacher, who had a history of holding back other Black students like himself, Simmonds spoke on the importance of a teacher’s impact in a student’s life.

“She didn’t care about my wellbeing, about my education,” Simmonds reflected, explaining how the experience significantly affected him while balancing his home life as the middle child of a single mother household. His second grade teacher’s lack of care would stick with him long after, especially in his work as a recruiter for educators: “I’m not just looking for the love of the subject, but the love for the kids, the love for the students.”

Having to repeat the second grade, Simmonds went through a challenge that he would build a career upon —

a place of growth and inspiration rather than a setback in his academic career. The emotions that came with being a left-back student accompanied Simmonds for the rest of his life, especially in the classroom. With this, he was soon struck with the idea of “taking [his] play-teaching and turning it into a real thing.” When struggling with fractions, Simmonds would ask and answer his own questions. This act would translate into a concentration in secondary education and mathematics, a path that Simmonds is currently pursuing at Brandeis.

Simmonds was recently announced as the Top 50 Finalist for the Global Student Prize, something that became a moment of recognition and realization for him. One of Simmonds’ professors came across the award nomination sheet, and he recalls her saying that she felt he had promise in winning the prize given what he’s done and the age at which he did it. Simmonds confessed that when applying, he was scared — especially after seeing the other candidates for the Global Student Prize. Simmonds felt that he had been a changemaker, but not to the extent to which the other students had, looking at 13-year-old executive officers as competitors.

Despite this, he took his shot anyway — and he scored.

By giving himself a chance, Simmonds realized all the impact he had made in his community and the people around him. “I have taught about all the levels of teaching that there is to do, from elementary to higher ed. I have worked with all of them, at my age [20]. I went to Guatemala, built a school,” he said. Simmonds was ecstatic, saying, “Out of 3,000 people in the globe that applied for this, and to think that I can sit … with the rest of the [finalists] … and think that ‘I’m doing what you’re doing, doing incredible things like you guys.’”

One of Simmonds’ greatest challenges, the mental obstacle of comparison, is something that many students can relate to. “Me getting left back … I’m not over it, and it’s something that will take a long amount of time,” he said. Having gone to a high school with the “bare minimum,” Simmonds felt as if he were playing a constant game of catch-up. This is something that he hopes to change through an education title, working with minority students and encouraging them to reach their full potential in the classroom and beyond.

When asked about positive memories on his path to becoming a teacher, Simmonds responded with, “I have so many … and if I had to sum it all up, it would have to be understanding my impact at my age.” As a high school senior, Simmonds was asked to assist with a sixth grade math class, which he knew was code for “I will be leading the class.” Being a graduating student, his students were devastated at the news of him leaving. After his students thanked him and seeing the student’s reactions, Simmonds shared that “it was the very first time I genuinely felt appreciated.”

“Our profession is the most unappreciated. You never hear people tell the teachers: ‘Thank you.’ Quite literally ever,” Simmonds stated, explaining why being hired as the youngest New York City DOE employee was second in his list of lifelong achievements. Being able to see his own students succeed was Simmonds’ moment of feeling that, “it was all worth it.” To other students pursuing an education degree, Simmonds says, “Remembering why you started is key. The first year of teaching is the worst. You have to, in fact, have a passion for this. You are literally shaping a person who will make an impact on society.”

COSTUME DAY: Simmonds (right) poses next to a student (left) in matching masks.

NEXT GENERATION: Simmonds aims to give back to students in the public education system.

Photos courtesy of ZAIRE SIMMONDS. Design: ANNA MARTIN/The Justice

10 TUESDAY, JANURY 23, 2024 ● FORUM ● THE JUSTICE

Justice

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

the

Established 1949

Brandeis University

A prospective applicant to Brandeis alerted me to one of the two subjects applicants to the class of 2028 can choose to write about:

Isabel Roseth, Editor in Chief Smiley Huynh, Managing Editor

“Brandeis was established 75 years ago to address antisemitism, racism, and gender discrimination in higher education, and today, the university remains dedicated to its founding values of inclusivity and justice. How has your educational experience shaped your perspective on these values? (250 words max.)

Lauryn Williams, Deputy Editor Owen Chan, Zachary Goldstein, Mirabell Rowland, Associate Editors Sophia De Lisi, Anika Jain, News Editors Grace Doh, Features Editor Rani Balakrishna, Sports Editor Nemma Kalra, Arts & Culture Editor Eliza Bier, Ceci Xilei Chen, Photography Editors Julia Hardy, Jenna Lewis, Madison Sirois, Copy Editors Anna Martin, Layout Editor Elizabeth Liu, Ads Editor Amanda Chen, Eden Osiason, Online Editors

Brandeis wants to know how your education thus far has influenced your perspective on inclusivity and justice, so tell them a story about an experience or experiences you have had that relate. Maybe you want to write about the time you confronted your school’s administration over outdated dress codes, your first experience in advocating for girls like yourself in an environment that prioritized the comfort of boys. Perhaps you took a community college course on race, class, and gender over the summer that blew your mind and made you realize you were seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. Did that class inspire you to read more about the legacy of Jim Crow? A strong response will feature some reflection that shows how you process new information and experiences and apply those takeaways to your everyday life. Show admissions that you are prepared to uphold its founding values during your time on campus and beyond.”

The first time I read this I was surprised.

The second time I read this I was appalled.

The third time I read this I was tempted to rip up my Brandeis diploma and deposit what remained of it in a garbage can.

EDITORIAL

A bitter winter: Navigating Brandeis’ campus This year the bitter winter, a staple of Massachusetts weather, somehow still took the Brandeis campus by surprise. This board questions why the campus appeared so unprepared for the low temperatures this past week, despite the fact that a cold front was forecasted.

With all the adequate time to plan ahead, the campus was still covered in ice, with only certain paths salted and seemingly randomly.

Furthermore, on the first night of the freeze last Wednesday, barely anything was salted — on the walk from the Village to the Charles River Apartments, also known as Grad, only the crossing over the train tracks was salted. The rest? Ice. The clearing of the snow appeared delayed, leaving the sidewalks and roads both prone to icing and hard to navigate.

The Charles River Apartments’ parking lot still was not plowed before the snow bgan to melt, and many typically accessible paths are covered in varying layers of ice.

Additionally, black ice formed on many of the sidewalks and stairs around campus.

The consequences of the lack of preparation are not small. Namely, injuries have resulted from the icy paths. Students took to Sidechat to complain, with one student writing, “how do i proceed with legal action against brandeis. fell down stairs today and ruptured my meniscus, pcl, and shattered my tail bone.” The student, who had just gotten out of the ER, also wrote, “i want every penny to come out of ron’s unreasonably girthy paycheck.”

While the campus is sizable, it is important to salt all the walkways, including outdoor stairs, so that such injuries do not happen.

If the paths remain dangerous, this board encourages students to take caution.

Dear President Liebowitz,

The Rabb steps that lead to the Mandel Humanities Quad will be particularly dangerous, as will other outdoor staircases near Village and Ridgewood Quad. This board also implores the University to clear icicles to avoid any other injuries.

Black ice has reformed over spots that have been salted, and if patterns continue, that will not be taken care of in a timely and safe manner. We ask the University to protect their students properly and avoid dangerous walking and driving areas.

There is no reason that Brandeis should resemble an ice rink; that is what the Campus Activities Board’s events are for.

That being said, the work of facilities and other campus staff should not go unnoticed or unappreciated. The lack of preparation is a University issue, not a staff issue, and those who stand out in the cold making sure campus is safer for students deserve recognition.

Even if this is your first year surviving a Massachusetts winter, you are probably already aware of just how cold it can get. Make sure you have a warm coat — potentially something insulated or down — and get snow boots if you haven’t yet.

Gloves, a scarf and a hat or earmuffs are important to have ready as well. Check temperatures and weather and plan ahead; no need for the cold to add to the stress of this semester.

If you have a car, make sure you have brushes, ice scrapers and shovels, so you can get out of spots and drive safely. Be aware of icy roads, and steer into the skid.

Winter is not all bad, and we encourage students to take advantage of the snowy campus before it melts. Don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the season!

By including such a prompt, Brandeis reveals its commitment to an ideological agenda based on claims that are empirically suspect, if not false.“Inclusivity” in practice is a misleading euphemism for the kind of exclusion and reverse racial discrimination that the Supreme Court rightly declared illegal and unconstitutional last June. Also, the prompt mentions dress codes. On what empirical basis can one state that they are — presumably in every instance — “outdated?” The same for environments “prioritizing the comfort of boys.” And in the matter of “Jim Crow,” the prompt assumes that its legacy is still real. If,

by Jim Crow, one means that America is systemically racist, then that i-s a highly questionable proposition, challenged by many scholars, a number of them African-American, such as Thomas Sowell and Wilfred Reilly.

Could a prospective applicant be given credit for challenging the assumptions in the prompt? I doubt it.

The essay prompt is intended to elicit a commitment to political activism on behalf of an ideological agenda. It is reminiscent of, and no less reprehensible than the Soviet Union and other communist dictatorships requiring applicants for party membership to pledge fealty to Marxism-Leninism.

Perhaps the motto of Brandeis should be changed to: “political indoctrination even unto its innermost parts.”

In sum, you have seriously damaged the University I attended and for which I had the most profound affection when I graduated almost 54 years ago. My four years at Brandeis were the most intellectually stimulating of my life. This was because all ideas were open to debate.

Nothing was off-limits. There was no official “party line” on what one should or should not believe, and even opinions that called into question the conventional wisdom on every imaginable social and political issue were given a fair hearing. The vast majority of students, faculty, and administrators to one degree or another opposed America’s involvement in Vietnam. But the University never formally endorsed any particular position on the war, much less required endorsement of it as a condition of admission.

Regrettably, this is no longer the case. The essay prompt, by the way it is phrased, shows unmistakably that to matriculate at Brandeis one has to express support for your particular opinions, which one can safely presume are shared by a majority of faculty. If this did not corrupt the University, it would hardly matter. But it does.

I cannot emphasize enough how dispiriting it is to write this. But you leave me no choice.

Sincerely, Jay Bergman (B.A. Class of 1970) Professor of History Central Connecticut State University

ANNA MARTIN/The Justice

Winter semester checklist As the semester kicks off, this board would like to offer some reminders to help you stay on top of things this semester.

This year is an election year and primaries have begun, so make sure you are registered to vote.

You have a civic duty and your voice matters — so make sure you get heard.

Check your major requirements and make sure that you’re on the right track.

If you’re unsure, schedule a meeting with your academic advisor. If you haven’t already secured a summer internship, it’s time to stop procrastinating.

This time period is your last chance to make sure you are preparing for the future, getting experience and padding out your resume.

Additionally, as seniors graduate, jobs on campus will be hiring to replace the seniors they’re losing, so it’s also a good time to apply to on-campus jobs.

Check your mailbox — you may have some long forgotten mail, like your insurance card.

Meal plans are expensive, so check that your meal plan is on the plan you actually would like to be on. Sometimes, they can change over break, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

If you’re looking for some fun activities to do during your free time, support the Waltham Embassy Theater. They have tickets for $11, and on Tuesdays, tickets are $7! Take advantage of what the city has to offer before the year is over.

ELIZABETH LIU/The Justice

THE JUSTICE ● FORUM ● TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024 11

The devil’s advocate: Debating a Constitutional Disqualification

By JACK GRANAHAN and STEPHEN GAUGHAN JUSTICE STAFF WRITERS

Context: On Dec. 19, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled former President and frontrunner for the Republican nomination Donald Trump ineligible to hold the office of president under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. This section states that no one who

has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution can be eligible to hold various offices, if they have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.” This decision, as well as an application of Section 3 by the Secretary of State of Maine, follow

the attack on the Capitol that occurred on Jan. 6, 2021 in an effort to prevent the certification of the 2020 presidential election. On Feb. 8, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear a challenge to the Colorado ruling that could have national ramifications.

While both Gaughan and Granahan personally support disqualification, Gaughan will argue in their favor here, while Granahan will argue against. Both acknowledge their legal nonexpertise.

For (Gaughan): The tragic scenes of Jan. 6, 2021 have been seared forever in the minds of every patriot and lover of American democracy who witnessed them: images of rioters waving political and Confederate flags climbing the white marble and storming the halls, of crowds chasing and beating Capitol police officers, of an unhinged man with painted face and buffalo horns occupying the vice president’s seat at the head of the US Senate. As newly elected officials and elder statesmen alike were escorted to uncertain fates, insurrectionist traitors chanted for the hanging of the vice president who refused to conduct their illegal scheme to overturn the presidential election, and physically built the gallows to do the deed. To add insult to injury, their insurrection was staged at the very heart of our republic, against the shrine to self-determination completed at the insistence of President Lincoln, amid the last great rebellion against the United States.

But this event was not unprovoked. For months following the 2020 election, President Trump publicly undermined its results, refusing to concede defeat. After exhausting every legal mechanism to challenge its results, he and his team went yet further. On Dec. 14, a carefully constructed, patently illegal scheme was executed across seven states to substitute false Trump electors for the real ones recognized by their states.

On Jan. 6, the day the 538 electoral votes were legally required to be counted and certified by Congress in a session presided over by the vice president, the scheme reached its climax. Despite Vice President Pence’s refusal to ignore the law and the will of the voters in favor of these false electoral votes, President Trump demanded that his supporters “walk down to the Capitol” and “fight like hell” or “you’re not gonna have a country anymore.” He knew that members of the crowd would be armed and dangerous, and of an inflamed mindset. He did it anyway.

It’s true, of course, that many of his statements were fitted with possible liability shields such as his call for his insurrectionists to “stay peaceful,” but against context, little more should be taken from these half-hearted implorations than that. He bombarded his supporters with lies of a stolen election and told them that their only reprieve was to take their battle right to Congress.

In the three subsequent hours, Trump watched on television, refusing to call his supporters off, even as members of Congress — under attack — pleaded with him to do so. He told some that perhaps the insurrectionists simply cared more about his attempted electoral subversion, while they ran and hid for their lives.

America watched in horror as its leader’s acolytes rebelled against its institutions and then sat back to watch his insurrection unfold. He groomed them to fight, called them to the Capitol, and set them loose. Even those who argue that — somehow — he could be anything but the inciter of the Jan. 6 Insurrection must admit that his reluctance to defuse it and words of support constituted engagement therein, and aid and comfort to these self-positioned enemies of our republic. He is thus rendered ineligible to serve as an “officer of the United States.”

On this matter, the Colorado Supreme Court rightfully observed through historical review that the presidency easily and obviously fits within this category. It is therefore imperative that — in the interest of upholding the binding, sanctified nature of our Constitution, and protecting the continuance of American democracy from the menace who tried to undo it — Donald J. Trump is ineligible to run for, or serve as, President of the United States.

Against (Granahan): Donald Trump’s presidency can be described, in many ways, as an anomaly. The lack of faith in elections that Trump has introduced to the American political system is one such example.

As of Jan. 2024, fewer than one-third of Republicans believe that Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 presidential election. Despite the widespread belief among opponents of Trump that his recent criminal indictments would be the nail in the coffin for his political career, these charges have so far only served to inflame his voters. It is not a stretch to say that Trump’s supporters may well view his disqualification in a similar light, which will only propel him to victory in 2024.

Although it is absolutely within reason to infer that Trump’s incitement of insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021 makes him ineligible to hold the office of president under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, the vague wording of this provision raises enough questions to create doubt in the legality of such a disqualification. For one, Section 1 of the aforementioned 14th Amendment states that “no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States [...] without due process of law.” The ability to hold political office could be considered a privilege or immunity, and for all of Trump’s reprehensible conduct during the attack on the Capitol, he has not been found guilty of inciting this attempted insurrection, and thus has arguably not experienced the due process of law for this crime.

Moreover, while Section 3 does not specify which institutions in the U.S. government can or cannot declare a candidate ineligible to hold political office for incitement to insurrection, it does hold that “Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.” If Congress in particular is tasked with removing a candidate’s ineligibility to hold office, one could infer that, by extension, those who drafted the 14th Amendment

intended for Congress to also be responsible for instituting the same ineligibility. This would mean that Congress, not any state government, must declare Trump ineligible to hold office under Section 3.

Although it may seem like the most trivial of legal questions surrounding Trump’s disqualification under the 14th Amendment, the dispute over who constitutes “an officer of the United States” in taking an oath to uphold the Constitution was actually the primary point of contention in the Colorado case. Prior to the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling, a Colorado district court found that Trump had incited an insurrection on Jan. 6, but also held that a president is not an officer of the United States and therefore is not necessarily subject to Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

It is entirely possible that all of these legal questions will be answered in a way that upholds Trump’s disqualification, but removing the former president from the ballot will not remove his ideology from the hearts and minds of his many supporters. Trumpism has already bred a disregard for democratic values, and with so many legal questions up in the air, a disqualification would almost certainly fan these flames.

Regardless of whether or not Trump’s supporters react to his disqualification with violence, as some did to his defeat in the 2020 election, nothing can definitively prevent a Trump-like Republican from taking advantage of the outrage at the electoral process, and contributing to the democratic backsliding that has occurred since 2016.

Instead, Donald Trump should be defeated at the ballot box in 2024. To use one of the former president’s favorite terms, this is perhaps the only way for the former president’s supporters to finally be convinced that Trumpism is the ideology of a loser.

ANNA MARTIN/the Justice

A call for accountability: Graduate students advocate for justice

By GRADUATE STUDENTS FOR PALESTINE AND FREE SPEECH ON CAMPUS JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The fall semester was incredibly challenging for members of the Brandeis community. Many of us are affected by the violence occurring in Palestine and Israel. Closer to home, the Brandeis administration, led by President Ron Leibowitz, has repeatedly mishandled its messaging on the violence the Israeli military is waging in Gaza.

Brandeis administration has also acted tyrannically and breached community trust in its response to student activism. Despite President Leibowitz’s self-proclaimed pride in setting an example for how other universities respond to this crisis, a vast portion of our campus community does not stand with him. To date, many Brandeis faculty and alumni have voiced their disapproval of the administration’s actions. Similarly, we, a diverse and interdisciplinary group of 40+ graduate students, have come together to set straight the record of events that have taken place on our campus and hold the University administration accountable for its part in escalating a crisis of trust at Brandeis.

We believe that this administration has acted in unethical and undemocratic ways by derecognizing a student organization, unilaterally redefining the parameters of academic freedom and student conduct, preemptively increasing police presence in response to student organizing, and most recently, against student organizers. Regardless of the legality of such actions, they reflect blatant misuse of institutional power to ideologically justify and politically aid state violence against Palestinians while silencing

critical voices, particularly those of students directly affected by the violence. They also violate our university’s Principles of Free Speech and Free Expression and in doing so have created a climate of distrust and unease between the Brandeis community and its highest leadership.

On Nov. 6, university administration attempted to block a peaceful vigil to observe the loss of Palestinian lives, under the false premise that the organizing group and event constituted “genuine threat or harassment.” Despite their efforts, students and community members gathered for the vigil, albeit under surveillance by law enforcement. Later in the week, University administration declared new parameters of hate speech that sought “to introduce prior restraint by attempting to define realms of prohibited speech,” a violation of Article 2 of the University’s Principles of Free Speech and Free Expression. These actions taken by the upper administration at Brandeis are directly responsible for creating an antagonistic atmosphere that led to unnecessary violence against students by law enforcement at a student-led protest against the new policies.

On Nov. 10, private security and Brandeis University police had already been called to the site of the rally by the time it started at 3:30pm.

What had been an uneventful gathering for over an hour quickly became chaotic as law enforcement rushed to disperse the protesters at the behest of President Leibowitz. The administration justified this escalation and resulting violence on the grounds that the protestors were using “threatening language explicitly described as hate speech.”

We absolutely reject Brandeis administration’s false equivalency between explicit calls

for bombing Gaza and burning civilians with popular pro-Palestine slogans, particularly those that, as the administration certainly recognized, are commonly chanted at protests for Palestinian liberation. The phrases “from the river to the sea” and “intifada” are broad and capacious and contain multiple meanings, including peaceful calls for an end to all violence against Palestinian people. It is intentionally deceitful to label these phrases as “hate speech,” and this move represents nothing less than the administration’s effort to suppress the expression of pro-Palestine sentiment on campus.

Brandeis administration has rightfully received blowback from many in the community, including faculty, students, as well as alumni.

But rather than acknowledge the harm done or the community’s concerns, the administration continued its momentum to censor dissenting voices by dictating the parameters by which conversations about Palestine and Israel would be permitted. This included several events that claimed to offer “expert” voices on the “IsraeliPalestinian conflict,” which only included professors who have historically expressed political opinions in support of the Israeli occupation, one of whom has called for violence against civilians in Gaza, as well as former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s top aide, Shimrit Meir. These actions reflect purposeful misleading by the administration to advertise these events as representing scholarly expertise on the war without including a single Palestinian voice.

While the Board of Trustees and President Leibowitz may think they are displaying moral clarity, students, instructors and researchers at Brandeis University have had a different expe-

rience. We feel a deepening alienation, distrust, and lack of safety in our shared spaces. To date, the actions and messages of this administration have only served to remind many of us that Brandeis does not belong to all who make the university what it is. We continue to struggle with the lack of recognition of the harm done and the trust broken on our campus.

If the administration genuinely wishes for us to heal as a community, we call on them to: Take public responsibility and issue an apology for the unnecessary escalation of violence on campus that took place on Nov. 10.

Formally ask the District Attorney’s office to have the charges against all arrested participants dropped.

Withdraw disciplinary action against Brandeis students.

Recognize the student-led organization Students for Justice in Palestine.

Retract the parameters of “hate speech” that were set forth on Nov. 6.

We love the Brandeis community, especially its values rooted in the pursuit of justice and lifelong learning. We also respect Brandeis’s history of student protest. These were key reasons in our decision to attend and work for this University.

But the current leadership has not honored these central aspects of what distinguishes this school, and we urge University leadership to change course.

Signed, Graduate Students for Palestine and Free Speech on Campus

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

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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 3,600 undergraduates, 2,000 graduate students, 565 faculty and 1,300 administrative staff.

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

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Editorial Assistants

Arts and Culture: Julia Hardy, Ellen Richards, Triona Suiter,

Forum: Cindy Nie

Mikey Terrenzi

Staff News: Maria Antonio*, Amanda Chen*, Grace Doh, Sydney Duncan*, Max Feigelson*, Lin Lin Hutchinson, Momoca Mairaj, Anna Martin*, Isabel Roseth*, River Simard, Sophia Stewart, Hedy Yang*, Lea Zaharoni Features: Zev Carlyle, Ria Escamilla-Gil, Jessie Gabel, Meshulam Ungar*, Lea Zaharoni Forum: Jack Granahan*, Stephen Gaughan*, Mirabell Rowland*, Lauryn Williams* Sports: Zachary Goldstein*, Prateek Kanmadikar, Jeffrey Wang, Jackson Wu*, Aki Yamaguchi

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12 THE JUSTICE ● SPORTS ● TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024

The NFL divisional round and a look to the future ■ The Super Bowl is around the corner and the National Football League is full of teams eager to take home the coveted Vince Lombardi trophy. Here is our take on these teams in the semifinals.

By BENJAMIN VIDAL CALDERON JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

With the National Football League’s Divisional round officially in the books, the stage is finally set for the conference championship games. That being said, the season is more than just the games you see on the field. Players, coaches and teams undergo rigorous training and personal development to ensure they are in peak condition for the challenges ahead.

Once the season kicks off in early September, the 32 teams embark on a grueling 18-week journey as they compete in a series of games to make it to the Super Bowl. Each week is a new battle, a test of skill, strategy, and resilience. The schedule is relentless, demanding peak performance from players who endure injuries, setbacks and triumphs, each pushing themselves to the limit in pursuit of victory.

The conference championship games are electrifying matchups that determine which team from each conference will ultimately clash in the Super Bowl. The winners of these games not only secure the conference title but also earn the right to compete on the biggest stage in American football. The Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions have proven themselves as the best in their respective con-

ferences. The journey has been long, but for these elite teams, the opportunity to write their names in football history is closer than ever.

For one team, however, this could end in a oneway ticket to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance. The Lions’ standout 12-5 season saw them clinch the National Football Conference — Northern Division title for the first time since 1993. Their playoff journey included a narrow 24-23 triumph over the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round, followed by a resilient fourth-quarter performance against the Buccaneers with a 31-23 win. Starting quarterback Jared Goff and the Rams set out west and took on the number one seed 49ers, and the Rams emerged victorious, edging by with a score of 21-20.

While the Lions are the only team in the NFC to never play in a Superbowl, their opponents are certainly the favorites coming into this matchup, as the 49ers will be taking part in their 19th NFC Championship Game, the most in the entire league. Under coach Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers have consistently been a force in the NFC, earning their fourth appearance in the conference title game within the last five years. While the Lions are charting unfamiliar territory, they look to extend their first playoff run since 1991. The 49ers and Lions make up the NFL's second and third-ranked offenses entering the playoffs, respectively. Detroit has found success by incorporating both the running game and play-action. Quarterback Jared Goff has experienced a career resurgence as the orchestrator of an offensive unit with difference makers Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

On the other side, the Niners showcase the talents of two Most Valuable Player candidates in secondyear quarterback Brock Purdy and powerhouse running back Christian McCaffrey while their defense is led by All-Pro players Fred Warner and Charvarius Ward.

Detroit emerges with a heartwarming narra-

tive, living up to preseason expectations as a resilient contender. The key to their success lies in providing Goff with solid run support and consistently targeting playmaker Amon-Ra St. Brown early in the game. However, it's worth noting that Goff has shown a notable dip in performance when playing on the road compared to home games. Additionally, the 49ers tend to capitalize on defensive opportunities. While quarterback Brock Purdy and Coach Kyle Shanahan may have demonstrated vulnerabilities in decision-making against the Packers, opting for the team with superior talent appears to be the more secure choice.

On the other side of the bracket, the American Football Conference championship game promises a heavyweight showdown as teams stacked with talent are set to share the field for 60 minutes in what some recall is the most anticipated game of the season. Under the coaching of John Harbaugh, brother of Jim Harbaugh who reached National Collegiate Athletic Association glory with Michigan only two weeks ago, the Ravens look to keep their season alive in their 11th playoff appearance in the last 16 years. The quarterback behind all of this, Lamar Jackson, has piled up a dominant performance, ultimately securing the top seed in the AFC. Showing no signs of slowing down, the elite dual-threat quarterback has improved his passing efficiency to an electric and agile rushing game as he looks to ballot his second MVP campaign in four seasons. Baltimore is as complete as they come. On the offensive side of the ball, however, what truly stands out is the robust defensive support, led by first-team all-pro Roquan Smith, as they conceded the fewest points of any team in the 2023 season.

As Baltimore looks to host the AFC title game for the first time in franchise history, Patrick Mahomes, the staple icon of the league, looks unfazed as he has always reached the conference championship in his career as a starter. Having the most

HISTORIC UNDERDOGS: This is the first time that the Detroit Lions have won two playoff games in one season in over 30 years.

clutch quarterback in the game in Mahomes, the Chiefs maintain a formidable presence, supported by the dynamic duo of ball-carrier Isiah Pacheco and reliable Travis Kelce. What is different this year for Kansas City? The team boasts one of the strongest defenses in the Andy Reid era, featuring standout players like Chris Jones, L'Jarius Sneed and Justin Reid who lead a tenacious unit. In the words of the legendary football coach Bear Bryant, “Offense wins games … defense wins championships.''

The Ravens secured a 13-4 record to seize the AFC North title and the No. 1 seed in the AFC, a feat not achieved since 2019. They continued their success by defeating the Texans with a score of 34-10 in the Divisional Round. On the other hand, the Chiefs, finishing the season at 11-6 (their least favorable record in six years), easily handled the Dolphins with a 26-7 victory in the wild-card round. In Mahomes' inaugural road playoff game, they faced a tougher challenge but ultimately prevailed against the Bills in a modern classic with a 27-24 win.

Many supporters are likely rooting for Baltimore simply to witness a team other than the Chiefs contend for the Lombardi Trophy. While the Ravens' defense has the capabilities to keep the game competitive, Baltimore showed some inconsistency with the ball in their initial matchup against Houston. On the defensive front, Kansas City, led by Steve Spagnuolo, has proven to be more formidable. Although Lamar Jackson's playmaking abilities are on par with Mahomes, akin to Tom Brady in his prime, one cannot dismiss the impact that Mahomes, represented by No. 15, can bring to the game.

As the season comes to an end and Las Vegas prepares to host Super Bowl LVIII, we are left wondering: What teams will rise to the occasion, and culminate the dedication and strategy that defines the essence of the NFL?

Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

Graphics courtesy of ICONSY. Graphics: ELIZABETH LIU/The Justice

THE JUSTICE ● SPORTS ● TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024

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Graphic courtesy of PIXELSHOT. Graphics: ELIZABETH LIU/The Justice

Graphics courtesy of SKETCHIFY. Graphics: ELIZABETH LIU/The Justice

14 THE JUSTICE ● SPORTS ● TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024

Brandeis basketball sees collective defeat Men’s and women’s basketball lost to the University of Chicago on Friday by over a ten point margin at Gosman.

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

THE JUSTICE ● SPORTS ● TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024

NCAA: Women's lacrosse

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

CONTINUED FROM 16

TEAM STATS

UAA Conf. Overall W L D W L D Pct. 4 1 0 15 1 0 .938 3 2 0 13 3 0 .812 3 2 0 11 5 0 .688 2 3 0 12 4 0 .750 2 3 0 11 5 0 .688 2 3 0 11 5 0 .688 2 3 0 10 6 0 .625 2 3 0 8 8 0 .500

Total Rebounds

Hiller was able to build the Northwestern program from the ground up into an unstoppable program. The Wildcats won their first national championship in 2005 with an undefeated season only three years later. The program then went on to win six additional national championships in the next seven years, for a total of seven national titles in eight championship game appearances from 2005 to 2012. Just like the Terrapins, Northwestern struggled to make it back to championship weekend, suffering heartbreaking semi-final losses in 2013, 2014 and 2019 to 2022, with the most devastating loss coming in 2022 against the University of North Carolina. Northwestern controlled the game for the first 50 minutes, leading by seven points going into the fourth quarter until UNC responded with eight unanswered goals in the last ten minutes to win the game 14-15.

However, the Wildcats came back for the following 2023 season with vengeance. After losing their opening game against Syracuse University by one point, Northwestern held a 21-game win streak that carried through their conference and national championship tournaments, giving the program their eighth national title — their first one in a decade.

While these two programs might not have the same number of national

Brooke Reed ’26 leads the team with 108 total rebounds.

Player REB Brooke Reed 108 Molly James 89 Katherine Vaughan 88 Lulu Ohm 74

BRANDEIS: Wins secured

Total Points Sam Adusei ’24 leads the team with 191 total points.

Player PTS Sam Adusei 191 Quron Zene 168 Gilbert Otoo 158 Jake Bender 139 Total Rebounds Aedan Using ’24 leads the team with 101 total rebounds Player Aedan Using Gilbert Otoo Quron Zene Ryan Power

UPCOMING GAMES:

Friday vs. Emory University Sunday vs. Rochester Friday, Feb. 2 at Emory University

REB 101 66 66 64

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL UAA STANDINGS UAA Conf.

W L D NYU 5 0 0 Emory 4 1 0 Chicago 3 2 0 Carnegie 2 3 0 WashU 2 3 0 Rochester 3 2 0 Case 1 4 0 JUDGES 0 5 0

TEAM STATS Overall W L D Pct. 16 0 0 1.000 14 2 0 .875 10 6 0 .625 10 6 0 .625 9 7 0 .562 8 8 0 .500 10 6 0 .500 3 4 0 .250

UPCOMING GAMES:

Friday vs. Emory Sunday vs. Rochester Friday, Feb. 2 at Emory University Sunday, Feb. 4 at Rochester University

Total Points

Caitlin Gresko ’25 leads the team with 125 total points.

Player Caitlin Gresko Katherine Vaughan Selenya Gonzalez Lulu Ohm

PTS 125 118 101 100

SWIM AND DIVE Results from meet vs. Keene State and Bridgewater State on Jan. 20.

Brandeis: Women, 3-8. Men, 2-7.

Bridgewater State: Women, 3-4. Men, 3-3.

Keene State: Women, 3-6. Men, 3-6.

TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)

TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)

STANDOUTS Men's 1650-yard freestyle Sam Dienstag '24 with a time of 15:57.96.

Men's 100-yard backstroke Riley A. Pasicaran '27 with a time of 56.42 seconds.

STANDOUTS 500-freestyle Chloe Gonzalez '25 with a time of 1:58.73.

200-yard medley relay Monica Iizuka '24, Audrey Teo '26, Lexi Kaufman '24, Maya Haubrich '24 with a time of 1:55.27.

UPCOMING MEETS:

Jan. 27 at Clark University Feb. 14 - Feb. 17 UAA Championships in Chicago Mar. 20 - Mar. 23 NCAA Championships in North Caro-

FENCING Results from the Brandeis Invitational on Dec. 3.

MEN'S RESULTS

4-3 today, 9-15 overall Brandeis 14, Drew 13 Brandeis 16, Drew 11 St. John's 16, Brandeis 11 Brandeis 26, Yeshiva 1 Yale 16, Brandeis 11 Cornell 16, Brandeis 11 Brandeis 22, LIU 5

15

WOMEN'S RESULTS

4-2 today, 9-17 overall

Brandeis 17, Drew 10 Brandeis 23, Lawrence 4 St. John's 14, Brandeis 13 Brandeis 27, Yeshiva 0 Cornell 18, Brandeis 9 Brandeis 16, LIU 11

UPCOMING MEETS:

Eric Sollee Invitational on Saturday Duke Invitational at Duke on Sunday, Feb. 11

TRACK AND FIELD

championships to show for it, both the North Carolina and Boston College lacrosse teams have also become household names with their successes in regular season, conference and national tournaments. The Tar Heels and Eagles have consistently been impressive with their star players, quality of play and ability to peak at the right times.

Since 2009, UNC has appeared in five championship games, winning three of them, all under head coach Jenny Levy, who also coaches the U.S. National Team. The Tar Heels won their most recent national title in 2022 with an undefeated season, going 22-0. The picture-perfect season also graduated a stacked class of fifth-year and graduate students, four of whom were drafted to go professional with Athletes Unlimited and seven of whom ended up playing professionally — the most out of any school that year. Even though the Tar Heels’s starting lineup the following season relied heavily on freshman stars and upperclassmen who may not have gotten a lot of playing time previously, the young North Carolina team was ranked fourth and was able to finish in the quarterfinals of the national championship tournament.

Unlike the previous three teams, BC only made their first appearance in the NCAA tournament in 2011 and

CONTINUED FROM 16

ing up every day at 6:45 a.m. and just showing how much track and field means to them. I love this sport and this team and this win reaffirmed that sentiment. I am so eager to see what the rest of the season has in store for me and the team, and I'm excited to keep competing, all whilst surrounded by incredibly hard-working people.”

Bohbot-Dridi’s optimism and can-do attitude was shared by Carleo, who noted how the team atmosphere made a world of difference. Additionally, Carleo commented on how much his team’s energy affects him, stating, “the team energy was amazing. We could not have asked for a better start to the season. Both the men’s and women's teams performed really well and the team atmosphere was great.”

The Brandeis Judges Athletes of the Week were Smiley Huynh ’24 and Willem Goff ’24. Huynh dominated the women’s pole vault, with a height of 3.55 meters and the long jump with a distance of 5.05 meters, and Goff succeeded in the 3,000-meter run, earning the win with a time of 9:15:97.

Following the Poyau Memorial Title at the Tufts University Branwen Smith-King Invitational on Jan. 20, the Judges had several successes, with the women placing 4th with 62.5 points, 14.5 points behind Connecticut College.

The men placed 7th with 28 points,

three points behind Suffolk University, according to Brandeis Athletics.

The women’s 4x200, powered by Olivia Zarzycki ’24, Hannah Bohbodt-Dridi ’25, Shaniece Nugent ’26 and anchor Kirsten Man ’25, squeezed a victory against Tufts by one tenth of a second.

Several personal records were broken on Saturday in almost all events, including long jump, triple jump, weight throw, 60-meter and the 3k.

Both the women’s and men’s team showed off their dedication and hard work, and across all grade levels, you could see the hours of practice pay off.

Head coach Miles Ketchum, in his first year at Brandeis, commented on the significance of the win to him, saying, “Winning the first meet of the year was a great way for the team to start the season, and it was especially meaningful to do it with friends, family and alumni watching. The student-athletes carried themselves well, represented our values, and showed they will be a competitive force. It was a good first step in the right direction.”

The Judges will travel next to Riverhawk, Massachusetts and will compete against Boston University on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024.

— Editor’s Note: Justice Managing Editor Smiley Huynh ’24 is a member of the track and field team and did not

STANDOUTS

STANDOUTS

3k Hugh Licklider 0'27 came in 3rd place with a time of 9:01. Willem Goff '24 (9:05) and Henry Nguyen '24 (9:08) both had personal records in the event, coming in 4th and 5th.

4x200 Shaniece Nugent '26, Hannah Bohbot-Dridi '25, Olivia Zarzycki '24, Kirsten Man '25 with a time of 1:48.32.

60-meter dash Shaniece Nugent '26 with a time of 8.45 seconds.

UPCOMING MEETS:

Riverhawk Invitational on Friday at BU Cupid Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 3 at Tufts Gordon Kelly Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 10 at Harvard

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

DANIEL OREN/The Justice

LEAP: Olivia Zarzycki '24 gets up and over the bar in the high jump.

Monica Iizuka ’24

By RANI BALAKRISHNA

TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)

contribute to this story.

Duty" is a weekly column that spotlights different athletes. Please email sports@ JURY "Jury thejustice.org if you would like to nominate a Brandeis athlete. We hope to bridge the between student athletes and non student athletes by highlighting relatable content DUTY gapto make the community feel more approachable. If you see a highlighted athlete around campus, introduce yourself! Or head to Gosman and cheer them on.

JUSTICE EDITOR

Results from the Branwen Smith-King Invitational at Tufts on Jan. 20

TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)

did not make it past the quarterfinals until 2017. However, head coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein has been able to transform the Eagles into a well-known program, consistently associated with championship weekend. They have played in the championship game every single year since 2017. The program had never won a tournament game before she became head coach. The BC team ended up losing three national titles in a row to Maryland in 2017 and 2019 and James Madison University in 2018. With the team’s three best players, also known as the "triplets," graduating in 2019, it seemed unlikely that the inexperienced 2021 team would make it back to compete for a national title.

Only two players who played in that previous championship game were left on the roster after the 2020 season was canceled due to Covid. Going into championship weekend ranked fourth, the Eagles proved everyone wrong and left as the 2021 national champions, their first in program history. The Eagles have returned to every championship game since, but have fallen to the greats of UNC and Northwestern.

While every new season is unique, these four teams seem to have cemented themselves as strong and consistent programs in women’s Division 1 lacrosse that are respected and can be expected to do great things in the future.

Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS ATHLETICS

Want to nominate someone? Send them this form!

Monica Iizuka ’24, a senior powerhouse on the women’s swim and dive team, broke her own school record in the 100 backstroke at the Gompei Invitational at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Dec. 13, with a time of 57.70. She placed first in the 50yard backstroke at the Gompei Invitational with a time of 26.55, and at a meet against Stonehill College on Jan. 17, Iizuka also won the 50-yard backstroke.

A 2022-2023 UAA Winter AllAcademic Recognition Honoree, Iizuka is a Computer Science major from Chatham, New Jersey. As both a backstroke and a freestyle swimmer, Iizuka has demonstrated the ability to dominate the pool in several different heats. On her senior day this past Saturday, Jan. 20, Iizuka led the

women’s team to strong wins over Bridgewater State University and Keene State College, winning 158-128 and 153-137 respectively. Iizuka captured first place in two individual events, the 50yard freestyle (25.62 seconds) and the 100-yard backstroke (60.53 seconds).

You can often find Monica listening to any combination of musical artists such as Alan Walker, BTS, Avicii, AJR, The Chainsmokers, OneRepublic, or Labyrinth. Her favorite place to hang out on campus is the Goldfarb Mezzanine, and when the weather is warmer, she loves caramel ice cream. A fun fact about her is that her favorite show is "Criminal Minds." If you see Monica on campus, congratulate her on her impressive swim performance and come to the Linsey Pool to see her break more records.

just Sports Page 16

BRANDEIS BASKETBALL PHOTO STORY Men's and women's basketball hosted the University of Chicago on Friday and faced tough losses p. 14.

Waltham, Mass.

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

BRANDEIS

Brandeis T&F kicks off 2024 with back-to-back wins ■ Both men’s and women’s track and field had decisive victories during their only indoor home meet of the year and took on opponents at Tufts University this past weekend.

By REBECCA SUAREZ

JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, the Brandeis University Track and Field team showcased their talents in the 2024 Reggie Poyau Memorial Title by seizing a well-earned victory. In their first and only home meet of the season, the women finished with 129.5 points, with 28 more points than second-place, Bates College, causing the Judges to take home the title. The men finished with 80 points, placing third, behind the notable track and field teams from Bates College with 206 points and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with 174 points.

Many successes from each team caused specific Brandeis competitors to stand out on both the men’s and

CHIEFS AND SWIFTIES: THE UNLIKELY DUO

women’s sides. More specifically, Hannah Bohbot-Dridi ’25 and TJ Carleo ’26, both reflected and acknowledged what their personal success means to them, as well as how much the team’s energy affects the overall ambiance.

Although competing at home can be “more nerve-racking” than competing elsewhere, Bohbot-Dridi explains, “the atmosphere at home is honestly the best.”

With this in mind, Bohot-Dridi was able to capture third place in the 600-meter run, with a noteworthy time of 1:43:11. On the men's side, although Carleo noted that there is “always pressure to perform,” when competing at home, the “pressure intensifies.”

However, this did not stop second-year Carleo, as he was delighted with his performance. He won in the 1000-meter run, with a final time of 2:34:03. His main goal was to start his season in a “positive way,” and he felt that he accomplished that.

Bohbot-Dridi commented, “Though it was our season opener, over 40 people PRd and demonstrated the product of all the months of hard work, wak-

See BRANDEIS, 15 ☛

NCAA

Lax with Liz: A brief history of NCAA The effect of Taylor Swift women’s lacrosse and Travis Kelce on football Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS

ALL SMILES: Travis Kelce, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.

■ As women’s sports continue to gain viewership across the world, these superstar programs in women’s lacrosse are worth the attention they will undoubtedly continue to garner.

By ELIZABETH LIU JUSTICE EDITOR

Lacrosse, a sport founded by the Haudenosaunee Native American tribe in 1100, has now become a global sport with a historic 29 countries participating in the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in 2022. The sport has gained popularity both worldwide, with lacrosse returning to the Olympics in 2028, and nationally in the United States, with the Sixes discipline — a faster-paced version with fewer players in a 6 v 6 — and box lacrosse being included in the U.S. national teams. While the senior women’s national team and Athletes Unlimited professional league do garner a dedicated following whenever they play, National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I lacrosse has stayed at the forefront of the sport for those watching.

The first NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship was played in 1982, and there have already been eras established with different teams dominating at different points in time. When looking at the championship history of women’s college lacrosse, there is a pair of teams that stand out purely because of the number of national titles they each have. These two pow-

erhouse programs are the University of Maryland and Northwestern University.

Maryland Lacrosse has been a strong program since the induction of lacrosse into the NCAA. The Terrapins played in seven championship games in the first 13 years of the sport in Division I, winning two of them.

Then, under head coach Cindy Timchal, the program won every national championship game from 1995 to 2001.

This was the first time any team had won back-to-back championships, and they did it seven times in a row.

The program that was once a staple on championship weekend then only made two semifinal appearances in eight years — the same two years during this time where they received an automatic bid from winning their conference championship. However, this Maryland program was not done dominating the field yet. After a change in leadership to current head coach Cathy Reese, Maryland was able to make their way through the brackets and back into the championship weekend. They have appeared in eight championship games since 2010 and have won five of them, raising their national championship game wins to a total of 14, the most of any women’s lacrosse program.

Right after Maryland’s era of dominance, another program cemented itself into women’s collegiate lacrosse history. This team was the Northwestern Wildcats, a relatively new program that was resurrected in 2002 under head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller after being dissolved for nine years.

See NFL, 15 ☛

■ Since mega pop star sensation Taylor Swift began dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, the effect has rippled through the sports world.

By BENIE COHEN

JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Travis Kelce, born in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, began his career in the National Football League after being selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft as the 63rd overall pick. Paying tribute to his brother born in 1987, Kelce adorned the number 87 jersey.

Kelce’s early years saw rapid success as he was named to his first Pro Bowl –– an annual event held by the NFL featuring the league’s star players –– in 2015, marking the beginning of his journey as one of the NFL's standout players. Kelce’s ability to consistently surpass the 1,000 receiving yards mark in seven consecutive seasons created an unprecedented standard for a tight end.

During the 2020 season, Kelce set a league record for tight ends with an impressive 1,416 receiving yards. Despite the Chiefs returning to the Super Bowl, they were defeated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Undeterred, Kelce continued his stellar performance in the following season, catching a career-high 12 touchdowns. The Chiefs

once again advanced to Super Bowl LVII in February 2023, where they faced the Philadelphia Eagles.

Throughout his career, Kelce's achievements have been nothing short of remarkable, earning him recognition as a nine-time Pro Bowler, a four-time first-team All-Pro selection, and a key contributor to the Kansas City Chiefs' two Super Bowl victories in 2020 and 2023. His impact on the sports world, however, is not limited to the football field –– Kelce’s relationship with mega popstar Taylor Swift has yielded unexpected impacts.

Kelce and Swift's romantic relationship, officially announced in Oct. 2023, commenced as early as July. The connection began when Kelce tried to give Swift a friendship bracelet during her tour. In September their public appearances started, highlighted

by Swift surprising Kelce at his Kansas City Chiefs game on Sept. 24 and leaving with him afterward. The mutual support was evident, with Swift regularly attending Kelce's games, and Kelce joining her at the Eras Tour. Their New Year's Eve celebration in Kansas City marked another shared milestone.

The intertwining of their personal and professional lives has seamlessly blended their hearts and expanded their fan bases. This connection has notably influenced sports, evident in the remarkable surge in Kelce's jersey sales since September. His popularity has skyrocketed, with a staggering 400% spike in sales across the Fanatics network of sites.

Despite the positive impact their

relationship has had on the sports world, the Chiefs are facing a performance slump this season. As of Dec. 12, the Chiefs had lost four out of their last six games. Speculations link their struggles to the “celebrity-relationship curse.” which suggests that pro athletes experience setbacks when in relationships with high-profile celebrities. The biggest A-list celebrity that has been a proponent of this supposed ‘curse’ is reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who has left a trail of disgraced NBA and NFL stars in her wake.

While their romance has been positive, recent reports indicate that Swift and Travis Kelce are currently navigating challenges in their relationship. These obstacles stem from the demands of their respective careers, with Swift preparing for her Eras Tour starting in Tokyo on Feb. 7, and Kelce deeply involved in the NFL playoffs with the Chiefs. Despite the strains of a long-distance relationship, Swift and Kelce are reportedly committed to getting through this challenging period together.

As of Sunday night, the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills 27-24, in a riveting game coming down to key plays in the fourth quarter. With both Jason Kelce and Taylor Swift in attendance, as well as the iconic ‘Mama Kelce,’ Travis Kelce had five catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns.

Does this comeback prove that the “celebrity relationship curse” is a myth, or will Kelce lead the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Bowls?

Vol. LXXVI #11

Waltham, Mass.

January 23, 2023

Photo: Natalie Bracken/The Justice. Graphic: Anna Martin/The Justice. Design: Eliza Bier/The Justice.

THE JUSTICE ARTS | TUESDAY, JANUARY 31,JUSTICE 2017 JANUARY |23, 2024 I ARTS & CULTURE I THE 18 TUESDAY,

CINEMA CRITIQUE

POOR THINGS

A cinematic masterpiece or a work of horror?

By ANNA MARTIN JUSTICE EDITOR

Content warning: the film depicts scenes of blood, interior organs, dead corpses, graphic surgery, suicide, sexual assault, prostitution and nudity.

The film “Poor Things” got some of the most mixed reviews that I have ever seen, making it arguably one of the most impactful films of the year. I have to admit, I am amongst the group of confused viewers. I left the theater with my head spinning, questioning everything I have ever known. One thing to note is that I have yet to encounter a person or a review without strong opinions on this movie.

I think that classifying this movie as a comedy really sets the audience up for a shock. A comedy has a specific connotation, allowing the audience to enter with preconceived notions. This genre is often easy to watch and light hearted, with predictable punch lines that are guaranteed to garner a chuckle or two. This movie is simply incomparable.

The casting of this film was one of the most impressive elements. This film won the Golden Globe for the best motion picture — Musical or Comedy Motion Picture — but I think the award that should be highlighted is Emma Stone winning Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy. Playing an infant as a 35 year old is an immense challenge, something that she highlighted in an interview with the New York Daily News: “I think just in general the kind of societal things you grow up with around judgment of your body, judgment of other people, shame and all kinds of aspects of yourself. Restarting from scratch, that was a very inspiring part of Bella and a difficult thing to sort of strip away but also extremely freeing.” I have seen Emma Stone in many films and I believe that this was her best so far. There was never a moment where I saw the unproblematic, media trained, sophisticated person that the public has come to know. Instead, she physically and mentally embodied every aspect of her character, and I believe that her performance was one of the strongest parts of the film. In everything she did, from her walk to her gestures, she resembled a toddler, which is something I found visually shocking. The idea of using this movement style is not associated with grown adults, especially those in high social circles like Bella’s character.

Other cast members also did a spectacular job portraying characters that we do not see in our everyday lives. Willem Defoe plays a character named Godwin, referred to as God

by Bella. This symbolism is fascinating, as he is both her creator and her imprisoner. This juxtaposition mirrors how some feel about God and religion: prisoners to the practice in fear of the consequences of stopping this one sided devotion.

Without her God, Bella would not exist. However, she ends up having to turn her back on him to experience the world and learn, only returning at the very end. The character of God toes the line between a scientist and a butcher, deriving great pleasure from experimenting with and cutting up once living beings, often combining different species in a Frankenstein like manner. This film explores the differences

between doctor and butcher, two careers that are not often compared but hold many similar aspects.

The last actor that I will highlight at this time is Mark Ruffalo, playing Duncan Wedderburn. Again, I feel this is one of the strongest performances that I have seen from him to date. He plays a man who goes from being a sleazy lawyer infatuated with the naïve, childlike behavior of Bella to a man locked in an asylum. This character is used as a vessel to show a grown Bella, as her actions that result from learning about the world and the duality of man are the reason Wedderburn goes crazy. The views and expectations that he has built due to his time in the world often are very closed-minded and contradict Bella’s open-mindedness. Ruffalo sobbing after Bella gives all of his money to starving children is a scene that I still see in my head weeks later. The true vulnerability that is shown over money is somehow relatable, as it is necessary to thrive in our society whether you like it or not. The audience is not supposed to like his character, but cannot help but leave the theater impressed with the work of Ruffalo.

This film is meant to be watched by people looking for something to artistically admire. While the story is captivating, it is not one for all audience members. I have heard and seen that many people did not make it through the entire movie, leaving at various points. “Poor Things” feels like something you shouldn’t be watching, but somehow you can’t look away. While I am a fan of many aspects of this movie, I do agree that the pacing was not a strong point.

With a two and a half hour run time, sex was clearly used for shock value. The sheer amount of sex scenes that were in this film negatively impacted some of the more major plot points.

While sex is used as a form of liberation, the line between liberating moments and porn is blurred. Another line that I believe is blurred is the one between shock value for engagement and shock value as deterrent.

While I may not agree with all of the pacing choices, this movie is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. The steampunk Victorian imagery, combined with the Frankenstein-esque theming, lead to amazing costumes and beautiful coloring. The world shown on screen mirrors ours but clearly isn’t; it feels like both the past and the future at the same time. The clothing and mannerisms are similar to the London of the past that is often portrayed in the media. However, the vehicles suspended on wires in the sky give a futuristic feel. The soundtrack for this film is also unlike any other that I have seen. The piece of music that stood out the most to me was the introduction. The audio is just music for the first few minutes and the sounds are both childlike and hold a creepy, eerie tone. It sets the scene for a beautiful innocence that is simultaneously not right. Just from the first few notes of music, the audience is able to gauge the tone of the film, which I find very impactful. This film is an adaptation from a novel that was published in 1992. One creative aspect of the film was the section titles shown on screen, emulating chapters of a book. It broke up the story in what I believe to be a positive way, allowing the audience a moment to breathe and appreciate the music as well as the visuals.

If approached with an open mind, this film allows audience

members to rethink some things that they have previously accepted and dive into some topics that are often thought of as taboo. Many things are just accepted as social norms without a second thought. Seeing an adult completely ignore these ideas and behave in a black and white way allows the audience to reexamine what they have just accepted as reality, questioning the validity of societal pressures. The audience is supposed to feel uncomfortable, and then eventually wonder why exactly they are feeling this way. Watching the journey of self discovery and exploration of a child that will never have to experience puberty toes the line between thought provoking and disturbing. The child’s mind is sexualized so frequently and intensely, but the question of how inappropriate it is has no answer due to Bella’s physical age.

It was also super interesting to watch an adult discover the horrors of the world and react accordingly. In our society, children are desensitized to horrors like poverty and starvation from a young age, unable to do anything and accepting that it is just a part of life. As a physical adult, Bella has the power to take action, making a grave sacrifice on her part to try and change the systematic issues of the world. This comes at the same time as her discovery of philosophical principles, sparking her curiosity and allowing her to learn about imperfection.

This film explored many things that I have not ever seen on screen. The discovery of masturbation at the dining table was both shocking and destigmatizing. The importance of watching her sexual awakening is highlighted as the movie turns from black and white to color the first time she has sex.

This choice has gained wide responses, as a Daily Star article argued that this choice insinuates “that Bella’s life was bland and boring until she had a penis inside of her.” This article argued that the film was misogynistic due to the relationship between Bella and men. However, I disagree with these statements. I believe that the transition to color was a representation of Bella discovering both herself and the world. I feel that this choice was a statement about freedom and independence, showing the world as brighter when she was finally able to live in it.

This movie also dives into a lot of subjects that are often seen as taboo. Genital mutilation and queer sex are both things not normalized by our society and shown on screen in a way that works to destigmatize them. Additionally, the film normalizes the versatility of sex and sexual desire through her work as a sex worker. Many different types of desires are displayed as Bella uses sex work as a way to discover and study philosophy. This concept illustrates many issues in our economy such as the inaccessibility of higher education.

Bella sees the world of sex work through a black and white lens as what is necessary to get the future that she wants.

To round it out, I think that “Poor Things” was a cinematic masterpiece. The colors, the angles, the music and the costuming were unmatched by any other film that I have watched this year. However, I do think that the length and the use of sex for pure shock value could be improved. I would recommend giving this movie a watch, just not with parents or children and especially not on a first date.

MOCKTAIL MADNESS

Sips from Saltburn

By NEMMA KALRA JUSTICE EDITOR

Nothing is more refreshing than a nice bath after a long day of classes. Get ready to capture that immaculate feeling with this mocktail recipe. You’re going to want to sip up every lost drop!

Ingredients: For the drink: 2 ounces of pinapple juice 1 ounce of cream of coconut (or follow the steps below to learn how to turn coconut cream into cream of coconut!)

1 lime, juiced For the rim: A bit of coconut cream Chili-salt rim (or Tajín)

Steps: To make the cream of coconut (disregard if you already have some at home!): Combine 1 cup of coconut cream, 3/4 cup of sugar, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan over low heat until the sugar fully dissolves.

Put aside to cool.

To prepare the glass: Add a small amount of the cream of coconut to a plate and dip the rim of the glass into it.

Add some Tajín, or a combination of chili powder and salt, to a plate. Dip the rim of the glass into it.

To prepare the drink: Add the pineapple juice, cream of coconut and lime juice to a cocktail shaker.

Add a handful of ice and shake vigorously.

Strain into the prepared glass.

Graphic courtesy of Dreaming Of ALBIAN/Deviant Art. Design: NEMMA KALRA/The Justice.

THE JUSTICE | ARTS | TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

sdf

HOROSCOPE

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024 I ARTS & CULTURE I THE JUSTICE

19

HOROSCOPES

By TRIONA SUITER JUSTICE STAFF WRITER

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Now is a good time to examine your relationships for codependency. If you are finding yourself constantly relying on one individual, it might be time to take a step back for a few days to give you both some space. It is not selfish to request that your needs be met and your boundaries be respected.

As the new semester gets underway, take advantage of the opportunities available to make new friends and meet new people. You will find yourself most fulfilled if you leave your room and engage with the community around you. If you have been thinking about starting a new creative project, now is the time to go for it.

You may be feeling like you are juggling a lot of different things right now; it’s okay to set some of them down and take them one at a time. Trying to do it all at once will take just as long and be twice as stressful.

Slow and steady wins the race. Think this week about the space you take up in conversation, and try to invite new voices.

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Make sure you take lots of notes this semester; proper organization of your ideas will be vital. Try not to let yourself get trapped by the rigidity of facts. Give yourself a chance to think outside the box.

Practicality does not have to be a limitation.

Cherish the next moments of rest that come your way.

If you are in conflict with someone, the fastest path to reconciliation will be through understanding that everyone has aspects of their personalities that are artificial. A visitor arriving could mean good things are to follow. You should accept the next invitation you receive. Always keep track of your investments.

Acting purely in your own interests could have destructive consequences this week. It is important to understand the difference between healthy persistence and draining over-ambition.

You are inevitably going to make mistakes; you will be much happier if you treat those mistakes not as failures but as opportunities to gain a better understanding.

Libra

Scorpio

Progress requires learning. You will soon reap the rewards of your labor; you may be up for a promotion at work or some change in social status. If you are feeling a lot of anxiety right now, reach out to the people around you for support. Never forget that you are your own most valuable asset.

Capricorn If you have been feeling stuck, appreciate this transitional period for what it is and allow the new semester to be a reset point.

Take the time to plan out your schedule so that you can do everything you need to do and everything you want to do. It’s okay to be bored sometimes. Avoid reaching for your phone, embrace the boredom and allow yourself to feel it.

Your strong loyalty is admirable but beware of extending it to the wrong person. Avoid spending time around people who obsess over their own negativity. Always do your own research before forming opinions.

Things might get strange this week, but don’t stress about it; a little weirdness never hurt anybody.

Aquarius Now is a good time to focus on forgiveness.

If you are seeking forgiveness from someone else, go out and put in the work to earn it.

If someone else is seeking forgiveness from you, think long and hard about whether or not to grant it to them. If you are seeking forgiveness from yourself, offer yourself the same compassion you would offer to someone else.

Sagittarius Two heads are better than one when it comes to almost any issue, but you need to be willing to compromise if you want to make progress. If you have a romantic partner, now is a good time to remind them how much they matter to you.

The next time you see an animal out braving the snow, take a moment to watch it and appreciate everything the natural world has to offer.

Pisces Allow yourself to feel joy in nostalgia, but do not become lost in it. Now is a good time to reach out to old friends you have not spoken to in a while. Now is also a good time to try to make new friends. Pour love into building up the network of people around you. The next time someone is kind to you, find a way to pay it forward.

Graphics: ANNA MARTIN/The Justice

WEEKLY COMIC

By DAHLIA RAMIREZ JUSTICE STAFF ARTIST

Design: NEMMA KALRA/The Justice

20 TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024 I ARTS & CULTURE I THE JUSTICE

STAFF’S Top Ten

STUDENT ART SPOTLIGHT

ELIZA BIER/The Justice

By CINDY NIE

JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Top 10 best coffee shops in Boston As a long-time lover of studying at cafes, I will give my recommendations for the best cafes in Downtown Boston.

1. Thinking Cup (Best Drink: Falt White) 2. Ogawa Coffee (Best Drink: Matcha Latte) 3. Blue Bottle (Best Drink: Espresso) 4. Tatte Bakery & Cafe (Best Drink: Latte) 5. Cafe Landwer (Best Drink: Nutella Latte) 6. Pavement Coffee (Best Drink: Pumpkin Spice Latte) 7. Cafe Nero (Best Food: Chocolate Croissants) 8. George Howell Coffee (Best Drink: Drip Coffee) 9. Phin Coffee House (Best Drink: Vietnamese Coffee) 10. Sip Cafe - (Best Location)

Art courtesy of NORAH KHADRAOUI. Photos: BRYAN WOLFE/TheJustice.

Norah Khadraoui is a current senior majoring in Sociology and minoring in Studio Art, Social Justice and Social Policy and Legal Studies. This piece is entitled “An Ocean Apart” and it is an oil painting of her and her grandmother. She created the piece under the theme of the ocean. There is a lot unknown to her about her grandmother beyond the surface level similar to the ocean. They have a language barrier and are also quite literally an ocean apart. Her grandmother lives in Morocco. This is why in the portraits she chose to put her grandma’s portrait underwater whereas hers is on the surface. Growing up Norah was always told she looked most like her grandmother, and this reminded her of how though they look alike, coming from the same lineage or body of water, they have diverged into different rivers, streams, or paths and were given different opportunities. To try and illustrate this, Norah had their portraits looking away from one another but still had this connective tissue that bound them together through the seafoam sculpture she created by manipulating wire and spray insulation foam.

CROSSWORD

WINTER WONDERLAND

By SMILEY HUYNH JUSTICE EDITOR

Down

2. northern lights 3. a jolly happy soul with coal eyes, the snowman 4. stone and broom on ice, sport 6. THE Thing to do on the library hill 8. this recent movie had one of its lead actors as a host for SNL recently 9. heavy snowstorm 10. snuggled in a blanket 11. often 6-pointed ice star 16. wet hail 17. dripping ice 19. winter astrological sign 23. moving using blades on ice

Across

Visit our website: thejustice.org for crossword solutions.

1. ski and shoot 5. cyclone specific to the northeast 12. something that hasn’t been put around enough on campus 13. rush of snow, dangerous 14. a danger of the cold 15. water at 0°C 16. dreaded winter-time activity 18. slipping hazard 20. added to the bed during this time 21. most popular winter sport 22. Dec. 21 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026...

24. short coat 25. let it ____