ARTS Page 19
FORUM Acknowledge faults in protest 12 SPORTS Three games remain for men’s basketball 16
‘BBSO NIGHT’ ANDREW BAXTER/the Justice
The Independent Student Newspaper
the
of
B r a n d e is U n i v e r sit y S i n c e 1 9 4 9
Justice
Volume LXX, Number 17
www.thejustice.org
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
GALENTINE'S DAY
Community
Students call on Hillel for action ■ Students petitioned Brandeis
Hillel to renounce its parent organization’s endorsement of Kenneth Marcus. By ABBY PATKIN JUSTICE EDITOR
A group of students is calling on the Brandeis Hillel chapter to denounce its parent organization’s endorsement of Kenneth Marcus, President Donald Trump’s nominee for assistant secretary for Civil Rights in the Department of Education. In a petition that began circulating among the Brandeis community on Friday, the students are urging Brandeis Hillel to speak out against Marcus’ nomination and Hillel International’s endorsement, citing Marcus’ outspoken views on Title IX, a statute that prevents sex- or gender-based discrimination at educational pro-
grams that receive federal funding. Hillel International, which is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, works to engage students in religious and cultural programming. Marcus, who is pro-Israel, has long been a vocal opponent of the global Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, which seeks to cut off international support for Israel. He is the founder and president of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law. “In our experience, [Marcus] has been a supporter of Hillel’s pluralistic, inclusive values and a leader in fighting discrimination in an analytical and impartial manner,” Hillel International said in a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Yet Marcus has also voiced his criticism of Obama-era Title IX guidelines that discourage colleges from allowing those accused of assault to directly cross-examine
See PETITION, 7 ☛
COMMUNITY
Liebowitz publishes Board meeting report ■ President Ron Liebowitz
released a comprehensive report of the Board of Trustees’ January meeting . By MICHELLE DANG JUSTICE EDITOR
In their January meeting, the Board of Trustees passed General Education Requirements, discussed board transparency and trust and heard a presentation on fossil fuel divestment, according to a report published on Thursday by University President Ron Liebowitz. The Board also had a dinner discussion between trustees and 15 relatively new faculty members, in addition to meeting with students about student-life challenges, Liebowitz wrote in the summary. Much of Jan. 31 was devoted to
a two-hour discussion on the new General Education Requirements, wrote Liebowitz. Dean of Arts and Sciences Susan Birren presented to the Trustees on the 18-month process of working with faculty, staff, students and administrators to craft the requirements. She also discussed how their implementation would unfold. A major concern raised in the discussion was how the new “diversity, equity, and inclusion” requirement will meet its goal, including the approval process and categorization of courses to fulfill the requirement. Despite these concerns, the board voted unanimously to support the new curricular proposal. Birren and Provost Lisa Lynch will share these concerns with the faculty for further discussion and resolution. The Academy Committee also
NATALIA WIATER/the Justice
Brandeis Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance held their annual Galentine’s Day to celebrate platonic love with waffles, chocolate and card writing on Monday evening.
Campus Operations shares details on active shooter drill ■ Campus Operations Director
Jim Gray further discussed the mission of the Active Shooter drill to occur on March 21. By ABBY PATKIN JUSTICE EDITOR
The active shooter drill scheduled for March 21 is not in response to a specific incident, but is instead intended to familiarize the community with crisis protocol and to work out any potential kinks in the University’s emergency operations, according to Vice President for Campus Operations Jim Gray. The drill, which will take place in the library, will include realistic gunshot sounds and simulated injuries. Some students and staff members will play mock victims, Gray explained in an interview with the Justice and the Brandeis Hoot. This type of drill is common practice on college campuses, Gray said, adding that it is standard best practice to familiarize the campus community with emergency procedure. “We can position ourselves to be better able to lessen the tragedy if we plan and think about this as a community and as law enforcement and coordinate with the local
authorities as well,” he said. “It’s not in response to any particular threat, it’s not because we think we are more at risk, … of having a shooter incident on campus. It’s just to do the sorts of things we need to do to keep our community as safe as we can, and to hopefully make sure people are thinking about what they need to do if a real incident plays out.” In a Feb. 5 email announcing the drill, Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan wrote that the exercise will involve Brandeis University Police, BEMCo, Waltham Police, the Waltham Fire Department, Bentley University Police and Cataldo Ambulance staff. The Office of Communications and senior administrators on the Incident Command Team will also play a role, according to Gray. Though University Police will be engaged in the drill, the Public Safety switchboard will still be manned, and Gray emphasized that the officers can be redirected quickly in the event of an actual emergency. In planning the exercise, the University engaged the help of a consultant from security consulting firm Margolis Healy, according to Gray. The University also received input from Waltham Police and the
Waltham Fire Department, both of which have experience in running similar drills. The library will be cordoned off during the drill, which is set to take place between 6 a.m. and noon. The drill itself will take approximately three hours, Gray said. He explained that the library was chosen because it is centrally located on campus and because few classes are held there, thereby minimizing disruption. In the lead-up to the drill, the University will use social media and send out emergency alerts via the Brandeis Emergency Notification System. There will also be an electronic sign at the entryway, as well as notices posted at entrances across campus. Gray added that he has also notified the surrounding neighborhoods. “The word ‘drill’ will be everywhere,” Gray said, adding, “We don’t want anybody hearing the mock gunshots and feeling like there’s a shooter, obviously. We’re very concerned that somebody might nonetheless fall through the cracks, so we’re trying to take every precaution to make sure we over-communicate and carefully communicate to the right audi-
See DRILL, 7 ☛
College Love
The Final Countdown
Ethics of Teaching
Two Brandeis parents spoke about how they found love in college.
The women’s basketball team hopes to make their last games count.
A panel questioned whether Teach for America is really for America or not.
COURTESY OF MARCI BAXTER
For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org
See MEETING, 7 ☛
Waltham, Mass.
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FEATURES 8
INDEX
SPORTS 16
YURAN SHI/the Justice
ARTS SPORTS
17 13
EDITORIAL FEATURES
10 OPINION 8 POLICE LOG
10 2
News 3 COPYRIGHT 2018 FREE AT BRANDEIS.