ARTS Page 19
FORUM Condemn University racism 11 SPORTS Baseball has lost 12 straight games 16
‘timeless charm’ natalia wiater/the Justice
The Independent Student Newspaper
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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 22
www.thejustice.org
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
in-depth report: ‘more than your racist coach’
BRIEF
University receives letter from DOJ The University has received a letter from the Department of Justice’s antitrust division regarding an investigation into early decision practices, Director of Media Relations Julie Jette confirmed in an email to the Justice. The letter was sent out last week to multiple colleges and universities in an effort to determine whether they are violating antitrust laws by exchanging information about early decision applicants. Amherst College, Middlebury College and Tufts University also received this letter, according to an April 11 Boston Globe article. Colleges and universities that received this letter were asked to preserve all communications with officials at other schools relating to early decision applicants, according to that same article. This includes any agreements that were made to share personal information about applicants, as well as any records that indicate actions were taken as a result of receiving that information. In the email to the Justice, Jette wrote that the University will comply with the requests made in the letter. Early decision applicants are required to sign an agreement that stipulates they will only have one early decision application pending at a time, and if admitted, they “definitely will
yvette sei/the Justice
INSTITUTIONAL ISSUE: A protest at the Rabb steps on Tuesday highlighted widespread problems with racial equality on campus.
Univ. fires basketball coach, citing history of racial bias ■ Former Brandeis men’s
University President Ron Liebowitz announced Meehan’s ouster in an email sent to the Brandeis community on April 5, shortly before the Deadspin article was published.
basketball coach Brian Meehan bullied his players for years, students allege.
‘We must and can do better.’
By abby patkin and jen geller JUSTICE EDITORs
Looking for a place to sit during a practice session, former Brandeis men’s basketball coach Brian Meehan saw an empty seat next to one of the team’s rookie players, a first-year from Africa. “Oh, I don’t want to sit next to him because I’ll get Ebola,” Meehan allegedly said, according to an April 5 Deadspin article. This was one of two incidents in the 2018 season in which Meehan targeted the unnamed player — in the other, according to Deadspin, the coach allegedly threatened: “If you ever talk to me like that again, I’ll ship you back to Africa.” Nearly 13 years after joining the men’s basketball program, Meehan was terminated earlier this month due to his mistreatment of players. Citing the coach’s discriminatory behavior,
Allegations brought to the University last May by three current and former players revealed a pattern of racially biased harassment and discrimination which extended far beyond the aforementioned 2018 incidents; those anecdotes are just a fraction of the larger picture. The complaints were investigated, Liebowitz wrote in the April 5 email, and the University took disciplinary action against Meehan. Although he would not reveal what these disciplinary actions were for reasons of confidentiality, Liebowitz said in an interview with the Justice and The Brandeis Hoot that options could include written warnings, dismissal or corrective action, such as courses and programs. The players filed their complaints in May 2017; their case was not resolved until November 2017, after nearly six months of back-and-forth with administrators in the Athletic Department
Community
and Office of Human Resources. Despite the complaints, Meehan continued to coach the team through the 2018 season, even as his team dwindled to 11 players — two of whom are his sons. The University chose to place Meehan on administrative leave only after another complaint was filed on March 23, before eventually electing to terminate the coach. Meehan could not be reached for comment as of press time. Former Title IX Coordinator Linda Shinomoto, the original human resources representative on the case, left the University suddenly in the middle of the investigation to join the Wentworth Institute of Technology. She was replaced by Vice President of Human Resources Robin Nelson-Bailey. Nelson-Bailey declined to comment for this article, referring the Justice to the Office of Communications. Though he noted that fair investigations “can take time,” Liebowitz wrote in a follow-up email on April 6 that “the process did not work the way it should have for the students who filed complaints. This cannot and should not happen again.” To that end, the University has
See FIRED, 15 ☛
enroll,” per the early decision agreement form available on the Common Application website. If a student applies for, and does not receive, a financial aid package which would allow them to attend the school, they can be released from the agreement. The applicant, their high school counselor and a parent or legal guardian are all required to sign this form. By sharing information about early decision applicants among each other, institutions of higher education could cancel applications or rescind offers of admission if they determine an applicant has been playing the system by applying to more than one school through the early decision process, according to an April 10 New York Times article. If an applicant breaches the contract, colleges and universities may retaliate by limiting the number of students they will admit from that student’s high school. Out of the Brandeis class of 2021, 37 percent of enrolled students had been accepted through early decision, though only 6.7 percent of all applicants used this process, per the University’s Common Data Set for the 2017-2018 academic year. The acceptance rate for early decision applicants (40 percent) was also higher than that for regular decision applicants, which was 34 percent. —Natalia Wiater
Students stand with sexual violence victims ■ Brandeis students
marched across campus to call attention to the problem of sexual assault. By amber miles JUSTICE editor
Community members gathered on the Rabb steps at dusk on Thursday for the annual Take Back the Night march to raise awareness of sexual violence and to call for action, the organizers said. “Take Back the Night is a call for administrators to shift away from and transform their current practices which minimize and disappear the prevalence of sexual violence at this school,” TBTN organizer Kavita Sundaram ’20 told participants, as quoted in a script provided to the Justice af-
ter the event. “It is a call for students to exercise our ability to look, to see these patterns of sweeping sexual violence under the rug. Ultimately, Take Back the Night is a call to the entire Brandeis community, to commit collectively and intentionally to ending violence in all its forms.” TBTN is committed to ending other forms of oppression as well, according to the TBTN organizers. “The work of dismantling rape culture and ending sexual violence is fundamentally tied to the dismantling of racism, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, and all systems of oppression,” said TBTN organizer Saren McAllister ’18, who added that sexual violence disproportionately affects international students, students of color and transgender students. According to Brandeis’ spring 2015
See TBTN, 7 ☛
Life of a CA
Tennis in Turmoil
Immigration Policy
Two CAs talk about what the job is actually about.
The Brandeis women's tennis team has lost four of its past five games.
Elizabeth Badger detailed the current state of immigration law in America.
yvette sei/the Justice
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FEATURES 9
INDEX
SPORTS 16
Andrew Baxter/the Justice
ARTS SPORTS
17 13
EDITORIAL FEATURES
10 OPINION 8 POLICE LOG
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News 3 COPYRIGHT 2018 FREE AT BRANDEIS.
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TUESDAY, April 17, 2018
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NEWS SENATE LOG
POLICE LOG
Senate discusses Judiciary decision on Jewish feminist club
Medical Emergency
The Senate met for its weekly meeting on Sunday, hearing an unofficial opinion from the Union Judiciary regarding a recent vote to recognize the Jewish Feminist Association of Brandeis. The Judiciary had investigated a Jan. 21 Senate vote that denied JFAB recognition as a probationary club, voicing its disagreement with that vote in a non-binding decision sent to the Senate. Contrary to what many senators argued when the Senate initially denied the group recognition, there is no duality of purpose in JFAB, Chief Justice Avraham Tsikhanovski ’21 told senators. He explained that the Judiciary found that JFAB is targeting Jewish feminist ideas that do not necessarily fall under Hillel’s umbrella organization or the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance’s goals. The Senate then heard once more from JFAB, whose president, Yael Jaffe ’18, sought to address concerns that senators brought up in the previous vote. Jaffe explained that she wanted to establish that JFAB is “intentionallybuilt and organized” and has had regular attendance and membership for about two years. JFAB has sought to sustain itself without funding from the Allocations Board by applying for grants and other funding opportunities. However, Jaffe said, that method of funding is not sustainable, and the club would like the option to apply for A-Board funding. Addressing the concern that JFAB might be exclusionary toward men, she said the group has had a lot of men at their events because their programming is directed at the Jewish community as a whole. Additionally, some Jewish men may feel more comfortable attending a JFAB event than another feminist events on campus, she said. Jewish feminism is not “feminism for Jews,” Jaffe said, adding that the group’s programming is focused on the experience at the intersection of Judaism and feminism. It would also be unreasonable to ask Hillel to become a steady source of feminist programming, as that is not necessarily the umbrella organization’s primary mission, Jaffe said. The group elected to stay in the room as the Senate discussed probationary status, with Jaffe saying that “there’s been a lot of talk about us without us.” The Senate voted to grant the group probationary status, with 16 voting in favor and one abstention. During executive officer reports, Senator-at-Large Shaquan McDowell ’18 asked why the Romper Room was restricted to club leaders while A-Board made its spring marathon decisions. A-Board Chair Aseem Kumar ’20 responded that the room was only restricted for a couple hours at a time. The Senate next moved into committee chair reports, with highlights including that the Services and Outreach Committee considered ending April Break Bunny Buses, the Bylaws Committee finalized some bylaws amendments, and the Sustainability and Dining Committees organized a meatless Monday for Usdan Dining Hall. The senators passed a Senate Money Resolution to cover expenses for the upcoming Midnight Buffet, moving into a discussion on amendments to the Senate bylaws. Class of 2018 Senator Abhishek Kulkarni explained that he wanted to create a standardized version of the bylaws to make them clearer. After discussing the amendments and passing one of them, the Senate moved to table for further discussion on the amendments until the next meeting. During individual senator reports, McDowell called upon his fellow senators to be more vocal in condemning former Men’s Basketball Coach Brian Meehan’s allegedly preferential and racially-biased treatment of players. He encouraged senators to reach out to their constituents to discuss the issue, adding that knowing about the issue is not the same thing as engaging with it. Rosenthal Quad Senator Lizy Dabanka ’20 agreed, adding, “I think it’s important that none of us are shocked by what happened.” The student body should not applaud the administration for its reaction, she said, “because they knew,” nor should it applaud administrators’ words of affirmation and support, “because what else are they supposed to say?” —Abby Patkin
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS n The Justice has no corrections or clarifications to to report for this week.
The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@ thejustice.org.
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March 26—BEMCo staff treated an ill party in the Charles River Apartments with a signed refusal for further care. March 27—A party in Shapiro Hall reported that they burned their hand with hot water. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to NewtonWellesley Hospital by University Police. March 28—University Police received a report of a party in the Goldman-Schwartz Fine Arts Studio who cut their finger. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to urgent care by University Police. March 28—BEMCo staff treated a party in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center who had
injured their knee playing sports. The party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via ambulance. March 29—A party in Shapiro Hall cut their finger while shaving. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital by University Police. March 31—A party in Cable hall reported that they were having an allergic reaction with difficulty breathing. The party was transported to Newton-Wellesley Hospital via Cataldo Ambulance. April 3—University Police responded to a call regarding a party in Shapiro Hall who needed medical attention. Upon arrival, University Police transported the party, who was ill with a fever, to
Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. April 5—Waltham Fire and Cataldo Ambulance responded to a report of a party having a seizure in the Lown School of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. The party was transported to NewtonWellesley Hospital for further care. April 6—Brandeis Counseling Center staff requested Cataldo Ambulance staff for a voluntary psychiatric transport to NewtonWellesley Hospital. University Police assisted Cataldo staff without incident. April 9—BCC staff reported that a party had asked to be evaluated at Mount Auburn Hospital. Cataldo Ambulance staff transported the party, and University
HOli: festival of colors
Police assisted. April 9—A party in the Foster Mods reported stomach pain. BEMCo staff treated the party, who was transported to NewtonWellesley Hospital for further care. April 9—Cataldo Ambulance staff transported a non-student from the Sports Complex to Newton-Wellesley Hospital. The party was described as conscious but not alert. April 9—A party in East Quad was suffering from extreme stomach cramps. University Police transported the party to Health Services for further care. April 10—A caller reported that a party had fallen on the sidewalk outside the Heller School
See POLICE LOG, 7 ☛
BRIEF University Police encourages security after items stolen during Foster Mods burglary On April 5, the University announced that there had been a break-in at one of the Foster Mod apartments. In an email sent to students from the Department of Community Living, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Tim Touchette and Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety Ed Callahan reported that there had been “an unauthorized room entry… within one of the Foster Mod apartments,” and “several personal items were removed at the time of the entry.” In the email, Touchette and Callahan added that “a dark four door SUV was observed leaving the scene of the incident.” The email also requested that students contact the University Police if they had information concerning the break-in. Touchette and Callahan strongly urged students to “make sure all residence doors and windows are secure and report any suspicious incidents to the University Police.” In a follow-up email to students on April 5, Charles River Apartments and Foster Mods Area Coordinator Amanda Drapcho reminded the Brandeis community of the break-in. Drapcho added that the residents of the affected Foster Mod have been notified and are “aware of the situation.” Drapcho reiterated Touchette’s and Callahan’s instruction for students to contact the University Police with any information and “report any suspicious incidents.” She also emphasized Touchette’s and Callahan’s reminder to students about securing their dormitories, stating, “for security purposes, please remember to lock apartment doors throughout the semester.” To report an incident or information about the break-in, contact the University Police at (781) 736-5000 (non-emergency) or (781) 736-3333 (emergency).
Photo Illustration by Natalia wiater/the Justice
Students threw colored powder to celebrate Holi, the annual Indian festival of colors, spring and happiness on Chapel’s Field on Saturday.
—Emily Blumenthal
ANNOUNCEMENTS Faculty Discussions on Diversity: Colorism
We hope you will join us for these important discussions led by Mark BrimhallVargas, PhD, Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.We encourage you to complete the readings for each session beforehand to make the conversations more meaningful. Today from 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. in Gerstenzang 135.
Open Student Forum: Sexual Misconduct Response, Services and Prevention
The Student Union and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs are cohosting a series of three open student forums. The format for this event will include introductory remarks from the panelists followed by an open Q&A session. Our hope for each session is to engage in conversations with students about these important topics. Students will also have an opportunity to submit questions online prior to the event and we’ll strive to answer as many questions as we can at the forum. Tomorrow from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Napoli Room in Gosman Sports and Convocation Center.
7th Annual Lavender Graduation
Lavender Graduation is an annual celebration of LGBTQIA students, both graduate and undergraduate, to mark their achievements, contributions, and the degrees they’ve earned. This year marks Brandeis University’s 7th Lavender Graduation ceremony. It was originally established by Dr. Ronni Sanlo in 1995 at the University of Michigan to honor not just LGBTQIA students’ achievements, but their “surviving their college years.” Since then, LavGrads have been created in many universities nationwide. For graduating students, please RSVP by March 31 or as early as possible to account for refreshments and seating. Thursday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the Swig Lounge in the Intercultural Center.
1948: Seeking Social Justice - 70 Years of Brandeis University
The year of Brandeis University’s founding--1948--marks an epochal turning point in world history. In the aftermath of the Second World War and the Holocaust, distinct notions of promise prevailed and informed numerous visions of creating a
safer and more human world order, among them the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The evening’s discussion reflects on Brandeis University in the context of the postwar history of the American Jewish community. Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. in Hassenfeld Conference Center.
Culture X 2018: One Love: Between the Crossroads
Culture X is a major Brandeis production that seeks to celebrate the diversity that exists within the Brandeis community. Each year, individuals are given the opportunity to express themselves on stage through dance, music, poetry and other forms of expression, which makes Culture X one of the most powerful shows on campus. As part of the Intercultural Center, Culture X also seeks ways to unify the student body and effectively display the best the Brandeis community has to offer. Doors open at 6 p.m. Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. in Levin Ballroom in Usdan Student Center.
the justice
CAMPUS event
highlighted the effects of incarceration on two Hawaiian former inmates. By Maurice Windley Justice staff writer
As the United States continues to discuss the problematic history behind the prison-industrial complex, the Brandeis Asian American Task Force screened the documentary “Out of State,” which narrates the journey of two native Hawaiians, David and Hale, as they reconnect to their cultural heritage and struggle to readjust to everyday life as formerly incarcerated men. Native Hawaiian filmmaker Ciara Lacy’s first feature-length film, “Out of State” illustrates both the environment within Arizona’s private prison facilities and the lasting effect of the prison system, as past inmates struggle to relearn how to reintegrate into their communities. The documentary highlights how the struggles of surviving prison helped David and Hale find their cultural Hawaiian identities. While mass incarceration is an ongoing struggle in America as many are imprisoned for minor drug or theft offenses, the term “prison-industrial complex” denotes the rapidly increasing rate of minority individuals incarcerated in private prisons, which often use these inmates to maximize corporate profit. However, those incarcerated in the state of Hawaii face a unique consequence of this underlying issue. Due to overcrowded and understaffed prison facilities in Hawaii, many incarcerated individuals have been sent to private prisons in the mainland U.S. According to both the Honolulu Civil Beat and Kitv Channel 4 via independent research, this was the result of a July 1, 2016 contract between the Hawaii Department of Public Safety and the Corrections Corporation of America. This contract extended the 1995 mainland prison operation and outsourced Hawaiian prisoners to mainland private prisons, such as Saguaro Correctional Center, the facility where this documentary takes place. “I didn’t know who I was,” explained David, reflecting on his time prior to Saguaro. “You need to know your culture,” he added, a sentiment that was shared by other inmates in the prison in the documentary. Connecting and understanding one’s culture does more than just establish an identity, it connects one to a community and a historical legacy, the documentary suggests. Hale, another prisoner released from Saguaro, recounted that on the first day he was brought to the facility, he was taught the Ha’a Koa, a traditional type of Hawaiian Dance that represents the Dance of the Warrior, by the Ka’iana, the cultural advisor. Hale described the way he “was instantly drawn to the chant” involved in the dance. He realized that “he would not have learned that if [he] wasn’t [sic]
in prison,” and began to ask why he had not been exposed to his culture before. In his reflection, he noted that he “used to take from people; but the more [I] understood my culture, the more I understood myself,” asserting, “First and foremost, I am Hawaiian.” Inside the Arizona prison, the film notes that the inmates were separated based on their indigenous heritage. In one of the first interactions in the film, prison guards only permitted David to reside with Native Hawaiians, keeping other Native American prisoners separated from the Native Hawaiian prisoners. The film also sheds light on the difficulties faced by former inmates trying to rejoin the working class outside of prison and establish a new life. After being institutionalized for a significant portion of their lives, they struggled to find jobs and had difficulty supporting their families, despite being willing and determined to become mentors for their community. After the film, Prof. Leanne Day (AAPI), the University’s Florence Levy Kay Fellow in Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies, opened a discussion with Director Lacy. They discussed how the themes in the film can be seen in different aspects of society. In reflecting on the Q&A session, Southeast Asia Club’s vice president Chris Caroline-Calimlim ’19 explained that “it was especially powerful to be able to talk with Ciara Lacy,” as “she provided insight as to what the documentary meant within her community of native Hawaiians, as well as what she hoped the documentary would mean to people outside the community.” The documentary is especially powerful for Caroline-Calimlim because it “captures both the struggle that people face when trying to reconnect with culture that has been largely erased and the immense power that culture has to help people survive.” In an additional interview with the Justice, Day explained that the film “demonstrates the necessity and value of cultural practices through hula and learning Hawaiian for Kanaka Maoli men who are imprisoned.” She explained that she sees this as crucial because “it is only through being removed from Hawaii to the mainland and being incarcerated that they are able to find culture as a means of survival.” She explained that one of the more important messages for her is that “this narrative is not only applicable to indigenous populations, but also the high numbers of incarcerated people of color.” She explained that the audience is left questioning “how to re-enter the community, and how might cultural identity assist with this process.” The documentary was awarded the 2017 Liberty Bell Award, the Best Made in Hawaii Feature at the Hawaii international Film Festival, and the 2017 Hawaii Film Festival Award. This event was cosponsored by the offices of German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature, the American Studies, the Anthropology, the WGS and the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life.
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TUESDAY, April 17, 2018
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And then there were none
Film examines how prisons help inmates reclaim their culture ■ “Out of State”
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andrew baxter/the Justice
Brandeis community members shared their opinions on the controversy surrounding the Undergraduate Theater Collective’s performance of And Then There Were None.
Scholar explores effects of immigration policy ■ Elizabeth Badger discussed
the recent history of U.S. immigration law, specifically its treatment of minors. By Jocelyn Gould Justice editor
Drawing on 14 years of experience with immigration law, Elizabeth Badger examined the treatment of young undocumented immigrants in America in her lecture, “How to Protect the Dreamers,” on Monday night. Badger’s lecture was a part of the Joshua A. Guberman Lecture series and was sponsored by the Legal Studies program. Badger is currently a senior attorney at the Boston office of Kids in Need of Defense, a national legal services organization that represents unaccompanied minors facing deportation. She explained that she specializes in “working with immigrant youth, especially high-risk young men.” In her talk, Badger highlighted what she sees as a fundamental problem with our immigration court system: No detained immigrants, not even minors, have access to free legal counsel. This breaks with the precedent set by the other court systems within which children may end up. Legal situations as disparate as juvenile delinquency and family court matters share the practice of providing minors with free counsel, Badger explained. “Anything that deals with the welfare of youth, counsel is usually appointed. Not in immigration matters,” she said. Badger dedicated most of her lecture to examining the way immigration law treats minors who immigrated illegally to the United States at a young age. Although her talk addressed the of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, an Obama-era policy implemented through executive order, she began by defining the Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, the often-proposed but never-passed piece of legislation which inspired DACA. The DREAM Act was first introduced in 2001 by Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Republican from Connecticut, according to the bill’s text on Congress.gov. If passed, the act would allow qualifying immigrants to apply for conditional and then permanent residency, also known as a green card. The “Dream-
ers,” as those who would qualify are called, must be undocumented youth who entered the U.S. as minors and are pursuing an education. This would not be an “open door policy,” Badger said; the act specifies strict requirements for qualification. Following Congress’ repeated failure to pass the DREAM Act, the Obama administration enacted DACA by executive order, Badger explained. DACA provides “temporary, renewable relief to the same pool of young immigrants contemplated by the DREAM Act,” but unlike the DREAM Act, offers no pathway toward permanent residency. With DACA status, recipients can obtain renewable work permits, Social Security numbers and driver’s licenses; in some states, recipients qualify for in-state college tuition. According to Badger, DACA requires applicants to have immigrated to the U.S. prior to age 13; be at least 15 at the time of the application; have continuously resided in the U.S. since June 15, 2007; meet requirements for education; have clean criminal records and to pay a $495 fee. Recipients must reapply every two years. “I don’t think it’s very hard to make a case that the benefits to the U.S. in general outweigh the concerns,” Badger stated. Badger argued that DACA protects America by ensuring that immigrants pay taxes and allowing them to report crimes without fear of deportation, as well as to drive and work legally. She highlighted the last point, adding, “Authorized workers protect U.S. citizens, because then in the labor pool, there is not a preference for undocumented workers who might be willing to accept lower wages.” Badger refuted the idea that these laws reward lawbreaking, arguing that DACA recipients were too young when they entered to be seen as capable of committing a crime. Additionally, she noted that one must have entered the country before mid-June 2007 to qualify for DACA, disproving the argument that the law incentivizes illegal immigration today. Badger reflected on her experience immediately after DACA passed in 2012, describing how she visited schools and saw “emboldened” children applying for DACA. “Kids were not timid at all about applying. … They were coming out of the shadows,” she elaborated.
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Talking to these DACA applicants, Badger realized that they were often eligible for other pathways to permanent residency, but had lacked the resources to discover them. However, this environment of openness changed after Donald Trump won the presidential election in 2016. “A lot of advocates were telling people, ‘Do not apply if you haven’t already applied. Don’t put yourself on the radar,’” Badger said. DACA was rescinded by the Trump administration on Sept. 5, 2017, which meant that no new applications could be filed after Oct. 5 and that recipients would not be able to reapply. Two lawsuits were filed against this rescission, one brought by a group of students from the University of California system and another filed in Maryland, according to Badger. The result of both cases enjoined, or undid, the rescission, which means that renewals can now go forward, but no new applications may be filed. “Sadly, the downside of the injunctions is that it has taken pressure off Congress to do anything about it,” Badger said. She argues that legislation is “better for DACA than executive orders in order to avoid lawsuits and litigation.” However, Badger cautions against attempting to solve the problem all at once with a comprehensive immigration reform bill. Instead, this legislation will have to be done “piecemeal” in today’s political climate, as our Congress may only be able to agree on smaller immigration issues at a time. The most important road toward a solution, according to Badger, is “changing public opinion,” which she argued will require breaking out of one’s “bubble” and reaching out to those who hold opposing beliefs. She also discussed the importance of supporting scholarships that do not require American citizenship or residency in order to expand access to higher education for undocumented immigrants. Finally, she highlighted the need for “systemic funding of legal services organizations” for undocumented populations, so that immigrants can find out if they are eligible for pathways to permanent residency. Badger closed her speech by saying, “If we’re sincere about having diverse voices in our community and … providing equal access to opportunities, I think DACA is something we really have to solve.”
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TUESDAY, April 17, 2018
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‘open and honest discussion’
BRIEF Department of Student Activities hires Dennis Hicks to be director Dennis Hicks joined the Brandeis community last Monday as the director of the Department of Student Activities. Hicks has worked in higher education for the last 17 years and also has experience in graphic design and teaching art, according to an email to the Justice. He has worked with students and planned events at a number of universities. Looking toward his new role, he stressed the importance of learning about Brandeis and its community. “I plan to spend much of my first year in my role learning as much as I can,” Hicks wrote in the email to the Justice. He elaborated that this would include learning about the Student Activities staff’s strengths and deciding what kinds of activities and events already define the Brandeis experience. Learning about Brandeis’ campus culture is another goal for his first year, he wrote. Hicks already sees Brandeis as having a “passionate and dedicated community” that he is eager to begin working to
strengthen. To move toward this goal, Hicks expressed his desire to form connections and to collaborate with the University’s students, staff and departments. Hicks hopes that students will find him “accessible and approachable,” and stressed his open-door policy, inviting students to stop by his office or schedule meetings to discuss issues with him. He explained, “Throughout the next year I want to see what we currently do on campus and listen to feedback from students in order to increase opportunities for involvement for all students.” Finally, Hicks plans to go beyond leaving his door open. “It’s important to me to be a visible and active participant in the campus community,” he wrote. Students had an opportunity to meet Hicks at an informal gathering at the Shapiro Campus Center on Friday afternoon. —Jocelyn Gould
andrew baxter/the Justice
The Brandeis community shared its concerns about the firing of Men’s Basketball Coach Brian Meehan for racially biased treatment of players with the administration last Monday.
CAMPUS event
Panel discusses gender Artist examines roles in government
CAMPUS event
global refugee crisis in new documentary ■ Ai Weiwei’s documentary
was the focus of a discussion between students and faculty about humanitarian issues. By ECE Esikara Justice CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Brandeis English Department screened Ai Weiwei’s “Human Flow” Thursday night as part of its History of Ideas program. The documentary depicts the lives of the more than 65 million refugees who have been forced to leave their homes due to war, famine and climate change. Professor Emilie Diouf (ENG), who teaches the English class “Refugee Stories, Refugee Lives,” introduced the film to her students and other attendants before the screening. After the brief introduction, Professor Diouf talked about the widespread epidemic of migration and how people have ignored those who need help. “Human Flow” is directed by Ai Weiwei, a Chinese contemporary artist and activist. His official website for his famous sunflower seeds artwork in Tate Modern in London describes his work concerning Chinese history and contemporary society as “politically frank and aesthetically poignant.” Weiwei’s formal practice “changes in form and the materials deployed according to the diversity of activities his art embraces.” The 60 year-old artist has been openly critical of the human rights violations by the Chinese government. In an interview with the BBC in November 2010, he said, “This is a society that sacrifices people’s rights and happiness to make a profit.” He was detained, arrested and held captive for weeks by the Chinese government. Best known for his sunflower seeds exhibition and Beijing National Stadium, Weiwei currently resides and works in Beijing.
Weiwei described “Human Flow” as “his personal journey to understand the global crises ... and a study for himself” in an interview with online magazine the Upcoming. In an interview with the National, a news and current affairs program of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Weiwei explained what compelled him to make “Human Flow.” Weiwei said, “It is very hard not to act. … As an artist you need to find your own way, your own language to respond to this situation. I always have to find a language to build up this kind of communication between the people who are desperate, who have no chance to be heard, and people who are privileged … and turn their faces away.” The official website of the documentary describes it as “a witness to its subjects and their desperate search for safety, shelter and justice: from teeming refugee camps to perilous ocean crossings to barbedwire borders; from dislocation and disillusionment to courage, endurance and adaptation; from the haunting lure of lives left behind to the unknown potential of the future.” In the documentary, Weiwei studies the astonishing scale of the refugee crises and its effect on the lives of refugees. The documentary was shot over the course of one year in 23 countries including Bangladesh, France, Germany, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kenya and Mexico. Giving a strong visual expression of the biggest human displacement since World War II, the documentary follows human stories in these 23 countries including Afghans escaping from war and migrating to Turkey and Syrians crossing to Greece from Turkey. Emphasizing the urgency of the matter, the documentary poses a crucial question to the audience: Are we ever going to move away from self-interest, fear and isolation to a freer, opener, and more respected direction for humanity?
■ Female politicians spoke
to their experiences with the gender gap in politics during a panel with ENACT. By Emily Blumenthal Justice production assistant
Women have historically been under-represented in all levels of the U.S. government, and even with decades of advances for women in the workplace, this still holds true. According to a March 8, 2017 Vox article, the U.S. is ranked 104th worldwide in female representation in government. Recent events have spurred a new wave of female candidates for office, but, according to panelists invited by the Education Network for Active Civic Transformation (ENACT), a national expansion of the University’s International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life’s program Advocacy for Policy Change, many women are still hesitant to run. The panelists, former New Hampshire Speaker of the House and former President of the National Conference of State Legislators Terie Norelli and first-term Massachusetts state senator Cindy Friedman, discussed the current state of women’s political engagement during a panel on April 9. The panel was moderated by Prof. Melissa Stimell (LGLS), the ENACT academic coordinator, as Norelli and Friedman took questions about women in politics from audience members. The panelists opened the event by discussing their backgrounds and first forays into politics. Norelli explained that she had been a high school math teacher before she was recruited to run for the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Many women are recruited by political operatives to run for office, and Norelli’s volunteer work for NARAL Pro-Choice America and rape crisis centers interested recruiters, who saw her as a lifelong advocate for women’s rights. Norelli used her own story to touch on the frequent reluctance of women to enter politics. She had rebuffed the recruiters’ initial approaches, but after their persistent efforts decided to give politics a try. Norelli stressed that anyone “can become an advocate about any issue at any time, with any kind of background,” countering the fear many women have about being too inexperienced to become politically involved. For Friedman, a feeling that she
needed to “get out and do something” to solve problems in her community pushed her to enter the political realm. Friedman worked on political campaigns and in the technology sector before becoming chief of staff to former Massachusetts State Senator Kenneth Donnelly, according to a July 26, 2017 Boston Globe article. Now a State Senator, Friedman emphasized the importance of smaller, local elections. She explained, “What happens in your communities is more important … than what’s happening at the federal levels,” because local politicians “have so much more influence over your life than the federal government.” Norelli discussed the challenges women face getting their voices heard and being perceived as capable of solving the issues at hand, as she believes women often have trouble being the center of attention or having their voices heard. “It is a little more challenging,” Norelli expressed, “to be the one that’s out there, with the voice, trying to convince people that what you’re trying to do is the right way to solve a problem.” Continuing the discussion of specific challenges female politicians face, Norelli discussed press attacks and criticism from the opposition. She stated that in her experience, women “tend to take that a little more personally than men do, most of the time.” Friedman said that she copes with the stress of negative comments by remembering that she does not need to consider every critical remark directed at her. She explained, “If there’s something I can do about it, tell me about it,” but added, “If there’s nothing I can about it, and people are just being nasty … I don’t want to know about it, because there’s nothing I can do.” If she is nervous about any aspect of her job, Norelli said, it is important to know that she has a group of colleagues who believe in her, but emphasized the fact that it is ultimately her own work that keeps her going. Friedman echoed Norelli’s sentiment, stating, “I think the work is really important, that you care more about the work than you do about how you’re feeling.” Friedman added that she has also become used to the voice in her head that discourages her, and looks forward to her work to stay focused. Pivoting to discuss partisanship, Norelli reminded the audience that politics is all about relationships, and that reaching out to those with opposing views, while difficult at times, is extremely important. She explained
that when working on a piece of legislation, she would reach across the aisle and often find that a politician from a different side of the political spectrum supported her issue for another reason. But while Democrats and Republicans used to work together toward compromise, today, legislators on both sides of the political spectrum “come in with their attitudes,” and, Norelli stated, foster division instead. Norelli also offered advice for advocates seeking to approach politicians about important issues, listing certain tactics they should employ to convince legislators to lobby in their favor. She spoke of the importance of identifying the problem, describing the proposal and explaining why it would be the most effective solution. One audience member asked the panelists for advice on making the transition from doing advocacy work to becoming a legislator. Friedman said having experience in volunteering or advocacy work is important, and recommended becoming a staffer to learn about legislature. Norelli added that in the beginning stages of political careers, men are more likely to feel qualified for a job, while women feel they need to know “150 percent before [they] think [they] are able to move forward.” Another audience member asked about gender dynamics in politics. Friedman stated that the political system is male-oriented and centered around power, saying, “It is not by nature a team sport.” She mentioned that when serving on committees, she often felt that the men were talking over her, an experience she said was shared by her fellow female legislators. Friedman added that people expect men to have the power; when she is talking to advocates, for example, they often look at her male chief of staff for answers. Answering a question about women in advocacy work, Norelli stated that women are caregivers and fill most advocacy positions. She added said that women are advocates as part of their everyday lives for their children and communities. That advocacy, however, does not translate to legislative positions in government, which are still mostly filled by men. To solve this disparity between unrecognized female advocacy and male-dominated politics, she stated that the onus is also on men to encourage women to run for office. Addressing the men, she said, “Be out there and advocate as well. … Support and encourage the women that you know who would make great leaders to step up and be those leaders.”
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for Social Policy and Management. BEMCo staff treated the party with a signed refusal for further care, and University Police transported the party to urgent care. April 10—BCC staff reported that there was a party who needed a psychiatric transport to Cambridge Hospital. Cataldo Ambulance transported the party. April 10—University Police received a report of a party in Renfield Hall who requested a voluntary psychiatric evaluation. Cataldo Ambulance staff transported the party to Newton-Wellesley Hospital. April 11—An ill party in Usen Hall requested BEMCo assistance. BEMCo staff treated the party with a signed refusal for further care. April 12—A party in Gosman got a forehead laceration while playing sports. BEMCo staff treated the party with a signed refusal for further care. April 12—University Police received a report of a party in East Quad who began experiencing chest pains after using a treadmill. BEMCo staff treated the party with a signed refusal for further care. April 14—A party came into the University Police station requesting BEMCo assistance for a cyclist who had fallen off their bike in front of Usen Castle. BEMCo staff treated the cyclist, who was transported to urgent care by University Police. April 14—University Police responded to a call at Gosman regarding a party on the roof, who was crying and potentially attempting to harm themselves. Three individuals — who had climbed up the gate outside the Linsey pool — were brought down safely. The BCC issued a non-voluntary psychiatric transport, with Cataldo Ambulance staff assisting with transport to a facility in Cambridge.
Drugs
April 9—An area coordinator in Rosenthal Quad reported that there was a party smoking marijuana. University Police responded to the scene, and the Department of Community Living will follow up on the incident. April 11—University Police assisted DCL staff that had confiscated drug paraphernalia in the Charles River Apartments. University Police confiscated the contraband and compiled a report, and DCL staff will file a Community Standards Report on the incident.
Disturbance
April 2—A party in the Foster Mods reported that someone had entered their unlocked apartment and removed their laptop. University Police compiled a report on the incident. April 3—University Police re-
NEWS
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TUESDAY, april 17, 2018
7
‘Know Thyself’
POLICE LOG CONTINUED FROM 2
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ceived a noise complaint for the Charles River Apartments. Officers on the scene found it quiet upon arrival. April 4—A caller in East Quad reported that there was a couple who were possibly fighting in the building. University Police and DCL staff on the scene found a verbal disagreement, and University Police will compile a report on the incident. April 10—University Police received a noise complaint for Shapiro Hall. A small group in the common area was advised to quiet down. April 10—University Police received a noise complaint for the Charles River Apartments. The parties were advised to quiet down without incident. April 11—A caller reported that there was a party in the hallway of the Bassine Science Building who was being loud on his phone. University Police identified the party, who was having a verbal dispute over the phone. April 13—A party reported that there was a man banging on an exterior door in the Charles River Apartments. The man was gone upon University Police arrival.
Harrassment
April 7—University Police compiled a report on two non-threatening email messages received by Athletic Department staff.
Other
March 27—University Police received a report that controversial flyers had been posted throughout campus. University Police compiled a report on the incident, and the flyers were removed without incident. April 4—A party reported that there was an open backpack inside an unlocked utility closet in a bathroom at 60 Turner Saint University Police found that the backpack belonged to a worker in the area and took no further action. April 10—Staff reported that there were possible solicitors near Rabb steps. Upon arrival, University Police found that the individuals were filming in the area. The parties were not registered by the University and left the area without incident. April 11—University Police responded to a call in Shapiro Hall regarding an incident of past assault. BEMCo staff treated the party with a signed refusal for further care and gave a trespass notice to the involved party, a guest of a Brandeis student. DCL staff will follow up with the student host. April 13—A caller reported that there was a dog barking inside a parked vehicle in the East Quad lot. University Police checked the area and found the vehicle gone upon arrival. —Compiled by Abby Patkin
ANDREW BAXTER/the Justice
solidarity: Students wrote messages supporting sexual assault survivors at the Light of Reason during Take Back the Night.
TBTN: Students call for Univ. advocacy to protect survivors CONTINUED FROM 1 Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Misconduct, students who identified as transgender or as a gender other than male or female reported encountering higher levels of sexual misconduct than respondents identifying as cisgender male or female. McAllister also referenced the recent dismissal of men’s head basketball coach Brian Meehan and commented that, because of the intersectional nature of TBTN, it was appropriate for TBTN’s banner to be on the Rabb steps beside the banners from last Tuesday’s protest, which called attention to issues of racism on the Brandeis campus. Before beginning the march, the TBTN organizers communicated guidelines and expectations for the event and discouraged participants from taking photos, creating recordings, touching anyone without explicit permission or making assumptions about anyone present. “The group’s collective safety is our priority,” Sundaram told the group of approximately 60 attendees. Throughout the event, organizers wore black Take Back the Night shirts, and representatives from the Office of Prevention Services, the Rape Crisis Center and the Queer
Resource Center were identified by glow sticks worn around their necks. Sundaram encouraged participants to turn to these individuals for support if necessary. The TBTN organizers acknowledged that some sexual assault survivors may not have been able to attend Thursday’s march. “Take Back the Night is also for them. We cannot emphasize enough that taking space for oneself, either by not being at the event tonight or by stepping away at any time, can be a crucial act of selfcare,” McAllister said. Unlike in previous years, the march did not go through residence areas. Instead, participants walked directly across campus from the Rabb steps, between the Bernstein-Marcus Administration Center and the Shapiro Campus Center and past the Great Lawn to the Light of Reason. Sundaram explained that this change was to respect survivors who chose not to attend the march. Last year’s TBTN march did not pass through residence quads due to rainy weather. The TBTN organizers began the march shortly before 7:30 p.m., and participants followed McAllister and Sundaram along the route. Marchers carried electric candles and alternated between two chants: “Shatter the silence; stop the violence. Ignite the
light; take back the night,” and “Admins, we’re calling your bluff; what you’re doing ain’t enough.” At the Light of Reason, attendees participated in 17 minutes of silence. The time represented 30 seconds for each business day the Rape Crisis Center has been without a profesional survivor advocate, according to the TBTN organizers, who said that the position had been vacant for 34 business days. During the 17 minutes of silence, attendees wrote chalk messages on the concrete beneath the Light of Reason. Many of the messages focused on supporting survivors, with messages reading “empower survivors” and “believe survivors,” while others referenced larger societal issues — among them, “no means no” and “boys will be held accountable for their actions.” Some messages, such as “34 no more” and “Brandeis admin protects rapists,” placed emphasis on campus-specific issues. Others communicated hope: “I still grow,” “We are powerful” and “I survived.” The 17 minutes of silence concluded around 7:50 p.m., and the TBTN organizers invited participants to reconvene in the Carl and Ruth Shapiro Admissions Center for a “confidential space to share experiences.”
ANDREW BAXTER/the Justice
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features
TUESDAY, april 17, 2018 ● Features ● The Justice
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VERBATIM | CHRIS ROCK You can only offend me if you mean something to me.
ON THIS DAY…
FUN FACT
In 2013, New Zealand legalized same-sex marriage.
The technical term for the fear of being tickled by feathers is “Pteronophobia.”
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For Us by Us: The Untold Stories of People of Color on Campus
This is the fifth installment of “For Us by Us: The Untold Stories of People of Color on Campus.” I wanted to write this piece to highlight people of color on campus. To create a space for our accomplishments, hardships and experiences. To be recognized and acknowledged. To expose ourselves to other cultures, religions and to each other. To realize that we are not alone in our experiences or on this campus. To continue these forms of communication and to hopefully develop new ones. —Arlett Marquez ’20
“N U Y O R I C A N” By arlett marquez JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Nuyorican: A person of Puerto Rican descent, but born/living in New York City. Cassidy Van Cooten is a sophomore at Brandeis who is from Brooklyn, New York. At home, she lives with her parents and younger sister. Her mom, Doreen, is Puerto Rican and grew up in Red Hook, New York, with her parents and sister. Cassidy’s father, Louis, also grew up in New York. When asked about her father’s background, Cassidy said, “My dad’s mom is from Puerto Rico and my dad’s dad is from Suriname, which is in South America. My dad said that my grandfather immigrated through Ellis Island and that his name is in ‘the book.’ He grew up in Suriname, which was colonized by the Dutch. However, my dad recently did the ancestry thing, and it turns out we don’t have any trace of Dutch in us at all. Before, I used to say I was Puerto Rican and Dutch, but now I don’t really know.” AM: So what do you identify yourself as? Cassidy: I mean, I don’t know. For the longest time, I identified as that [Puerto Rican and Dutch]. When we would fill out applications for school and stuff, my mom would always put Dutch and not Puerto Rican. When you would want to get in some place, you’d want to sound “exotic,” so my mom would put Dutch. For example, to get into my elementary school, she put down that I was Dutch because it added some “diversity” to the school. It was more a “Oh, we have a Dutch girl here.” Mind you, I didn’t know any Dutch, and when you look at me, you don’t see Dutch. It was very interesting, so growing up, me and my sister would always say “oh yeah we’re Dutchericans,”but when my dad took this test it changed things for me. For sure I’m Puerto Rican, but I’m mixed with something else, and I don’t know what. I used to joke around with my parents and ask them, “What am I?” but deadass though, what am I? I really want to do the DNA thing to know more about myself. AM: Do you identify as Nuyorican, and how do you define it? Cassidy: I do. Basically, Nuyorican is a branch-off of Puerto Rican.
So it’s Puerto Rican as, like, a big culture, and this is like a subculture of being Puerto Rican. The term was coined up from during the time when — I mean there is still — but during the time when there was a lot of shit going on in Puerto Rico and a lot of them [were] coming to the U.S. While they were here, they had to assimilate because there was a lot of hate toward any immigrants coming in. We kind of had to adapt and conform into the New York and American lifestyle but also try to keep our culture. I know I’ll get heckled for this, but a lot of Nuyoricans don’t speak Spanish. I actually wrote a research paper on this. Through my research, I found that a lot of Puerto Ricans and a lot of Spanish-speaking people in general would get a lot of hate towards them when they speak Spanish outside of their household. They would get told, “Go back to your country. This is America. We speak English here.” When in school, teachers would force them to speak English, but they wouldn’t know English well because their parents only knew Spanish. This would result in them not speaking at all for a long period of time. They would not participate in classes, which resulted in them getting held back because the teachers and the school itself would think that the students were not capable of succeeding. These things continue to this day. It was a lot for Puerto Ricans, so parents would tell their kids to only speak Spanish at home as a way to protect themselves. From that point on, that generation would grow up and not teach their kids Spanish. Personally, my mom tried to teach me, but I was just a stubborn little kid. I remember at one point my mom told me that I said, “Oh this is America, we speak English.” I said that back to her when she was trying to teach me the language. I was probably in elementary school, so I was very young. I think what influenced me was the elementary school that I went to. It was very white, and all of my friends were white, and I wasn’t really surrounded by bilingual people, which is why I think I felt that way. Another thing [about identifying as Nuyorican] is the Puerto Rican Day Parade, which is a huge thing for us because we’re celebrating our Puerto Rican pride without being on the island. It is a way to connect us back there by coming together. For example, if I go to Puerto Rico, I’m not going to speak Spanish, and even though I might look Hispanic, they’ll classify me as some gringa. It’s frus-
trating because it’s like, “No I’m one of you, but I just have a different experience.” AM: How was it growing up in New York? Cassidy: Growing up in New York, honestly, I would say for the first couple of years of my life, I grew up listening to all pop music and had a lot of white friends. I was surrounded by that, so that’s why I can sometimes sound like a valley girl. I’ve had people tell me, “Oh you can’t be Hispanic; have you heard the way you speak?” Which made no sense, but alright. My house was very Americanized, but we still had Hispanic aspects. In my household, we keep our pots and pans in the oven, which is normal for me; like why you have your shit hanging out? I’m just saying. We have our rice in the little Keebler cracker tin and our sofrito in a little butter container. So we have some Puerto Rican traditions that have been passed down from my grandmother to us. It wasn’t until middle school and high school that I experienced going to a school that was predominantly students of color. In my graduating class for my high school there were probably five white kids. I was lucky enough to grow up in a place where I saw different kinds of cultures and was able to understand them. There is so much Hispanic culture in the city, and you get to experience that all of the time. For example, you could be going into the city and you see individuals playing traditional instruments. [You see] an African drummer or a Jazz player performing, so you don’t only get exposed to a variety of ethnic cultures but also different music. I feel that it helps round you out as a person, and everyone should experience that. It was a culture shock coming here and being in an environment that lacks so much diversity. I am so used to seeing different colors, different faces; different everything. AM: What are your opinions about the gentrification crisis in New York and hipsters? Cassidy: I have like a love-hate relationship with gentrification. A rough definition of gentrification, as I see it, is when individuals come to a lower-class, impoverished area and improve it so that middle class individuals can move in. I tolerate it because it makes the neighborhoods look nice and more modern. The bad part of it is that it is taking away from
the people who live there and pushing them out of their neighborhoods. I think they are trying to do this with Spanish Harlem. First of all, they are trying to change the name to ‘Soha.’ There is a place in Manhattan called ‘Soho,’ so they’re trying to do that with Harlem. Things like rent increases and redlining is forcing people out of their homes to make space for upper class individuals who can afford them, which are usually white people, hipsters and all of that. Hipsters are stupid. I cannot stand them. They need to go. They have found a way to use the diversity of New York to their advantage. Hipsters appropriate all different kinds of cultures. Going back to gentrification, I grew up in Gowanus, Brooklyn and I would go to this bodega all of the time. Once I moved out, I would go back there because my mom worked in that area. One day I go back and the bodega is gone, and the next day it’s replaced by this doggie daycare grooming spot. I was like, ‘Wait, where did my bodega go?’ It hurt so bad. I’m thinking they just kicked those people out by increasing their rent. They did the same thing all around downtown Brooklyn. It’s hard on my dad because where he grew up looks completely different now. I used to never understand why people of color would get upset when white girls would wear — you know — the box braids. I would just think, “Oh, it’s just a hairstyle” but then I saw how the U.S. is doing that to bodegas and other institutions, and I understand that fury. They’re just taking something that is not theirs and now, all of a sudden, it’s “so cool” and [they] want to bring it into pop culture. It’s not good, because you don’t understand the story, the heartbreak and the pain that went into just trying to keep these stores open. Instantly, for any Hispanic immigrants that just came from their home country to a new place, going into a community like that makes them feel at home. The fact that they are taking something like that and saying, “Oh yeah we’re just going to make an app called Bodega” — like what is that bullshit? I hate the fact that this is a constant thing in the communities of people of color. AM: Who are you, how do others perceive you and who do you want to become? Cassidy: Okay, who am I? I honestly don’t know. I’ve noticed that I am the type of person who fits into different friend groups and that, as a
person, I am diverse. I am also a people-pleaser, and I like to make people happy but along the way I have lost who I am. Some people can tell you directly like, “Oh I’m this type of person,” and can label themselves, and I can’t do that. I am known for being happy and energetic, but what kind of person am I? I don’t have an answer. If we’re basing it off of culture, I say I fit into the white community and the POC community very well. However, I am either too ghetto for the white community or too white for the POC community. It’s like I can never fit. I guess that’s one of the struggles of my identity. It’s hard to go through every day not knowing who you are when labels are such a big thing in our generation. Instantly, what someone will say about me is, “Oh her energy is great,” but when I have a down day, all of a sudden I am not allowed. I feel like people don’t take the time to really understand the levels that there are to me because they see [me] happy and assume, ‘Oh she must be this way all of the time.’ So nobody really takes a step back to be like, “Okay. Who are you really?” and I think that is one of the reasons I feel so lost. Also, I overthink things and want to be known as one thing but that’s not possible. Who I want to be? Oh God. Career-wise I want to become a college professor because I love teaching, I love educating people, and I love attention. I like working with people and having an impact on people’s lives. Personally, I want to be someone who can live with her mental illnesses. I want to be able to accept them because, right now, I live with the mentality of “I want it to be gone so I can be normal.” I have to realize that the only way that would happen is if I get a new brain put into my head. There’s no way this is going to go away, so it’s something I need to live with. I want to be accepting and realize that I am going to have rough days but I will overcome it. AM: Anything else you want to say? Cassidy: I guess last words would be, for those who feel like they don’t fit in anywhere on this campus, you are not alone. I am right here with you. It’ll get better. Remember that we are here for an education, and don’t let other people’s perceptions of you distract you from your main goal. You are going to be successful as long as you try your hardest and put your mind to it.
the justice ● Features ● TUESDAY, april 17, 2018
What do CAs Actually Do? Two CAs talk candidly about the ups and downs of the job
YVETTE SEI/the Justice
CA VALUES: CAs Brandon Hong ’19 (left) and Ruaidhri Crofton ’18 agree that while being a CA is a huge time commitment, the job is well worth the effort.
By leigh salomon JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
“CAs are like a box of delicious chocolates. You never know who you’re going to get,” joked Ruaidhrí Crofton ’18. He quickly clarified that Community Advisors fulfill all sorts of vital roles for students living in residence halls. “We promote a community that is accepting to everyone,” added Brandon Hong ’19, explaining the intent behind their title — Community (rather than Residential) Advisors. As Crofton and Hong revealed in an interview with the Justice, CAs are more than just a source of a cheesy quips like “keep growing this spring” and “you’ll be a popping CA!” They are peer advisors, relationship builders, residential programmers, community standards enforcers, supporters of the Brandeis academic mission and valued members of the Community Living administrative team. According to Crofton, CAs aim to be an available resource to students living in residence halls. “We’re not super scary people,” he promised. “We’re here to help, and we’re here to get to know you, and that’s our main job, so come say hi to us.” Whether assisting with job applications, roommate conflicts, sexual harassment or “anything that you can imagine,” CAs often act as the “first point person” students can come to for help. “We go through extensive training to help with these situ-
ations, and point people to additional resources on campus if we’re not able to help them satisfactorily,” Crofton explained. Crofton started as a CA in summer 2017 for Ziv 127, and is now a CA for the third floor of Shapiro B, located in Massell Quad. Having spent most of his life living in residence halls, he believes they are sometimes overlooked as a “forgotten part of the college experience.”He became a CA to foster closer connections with the members of his Brandeis community and make the residence hall experience a memorable one. Hong started as a CA in fall 2017 for the ground floor of Reitman, located in North Quad. He became a CA to help people through their struggles, big or small, and aid their growth as individuals. “I like helping people. I like meeting people,” he said succinctly. After gaining insight over his first two years into the aspects of dorm life that students struggle with the most, becoming a CA felt like the next logical step for his Brandeis journey. One of the many ways CAs make their halls feel a little more at home for residents is through door decorations that revolve around a certain theme. “You have the freedom to choose what your theme is,” said Hong. He chose to display city skylines on the doors for his first hall theme, eager to expose his residents to locations around the world that they may not have heard of and hoping to get them thinking about where they come
from. “There’s no real rhyme or reason behind them necessarily, [but] people do put thought into them,” Crofton shared. He put up the national parks on the doors for his first hall theme, hoping to give his residents cool ideas for places to explore. Another way CAs engage with residents is through programming. Passive programs, such as bulletin boards and goody bags, allow for indirect interaction between CAs and residents that can occur at the students’ leisure. Active programs, such as watching a movie or going on a field trip together, afford CAs and residents direct interaction but require them to be in the same place at the same time. Hong explained that CAs more or less have the freedom to use whatever resources they need, within reason, of course. “DCL gives you some money that you can play with for your event, but you have to have the spending approved, and I mean, I haven’t had anything unapproved, so they’re pretty flexible with what you want to do,” he remarked gratefully. In line with his international theme, Hong developed a passive program utilizing his hall’s bulletin board called “Where in the world do you come from?” in which residents could place pins on a map to show just that. Since he only had about 20 pins, they kept moving around depending on who had most recently placed them. Over the course of the semester, the pins migrated around
the map. “The program idea comes from me, which comes from Pinterest,” he deadpanned. This semester, Hong focused on exercise-themed events since most of his residents like playing sports. He recalled one event where the people on his floor went on a 2-mile run through downtown Waltham with a peanut butter party afterwards, and another where they lifted weights in Gosman. He also turned his “Where in the world do you come from?” map in a cultural calendar, but as his residents ended up mainly putting their birthdays onto it, he realized that “sometimes it’s better to go with the flow.” Crofton wanted to emphasize multiple themes last semester, so he created programs for his residents about health and wellness, environmentalism and multiculturalism. In one event, they made their own trail mix and took a hike through Sachar Woods. For another, he turned his bulletin board into a “Healthopoly” board, which contained useful facts about eating well, exercising and mental health. This semester, given the approaching summer break, Crofton turned “Healthopoly” into “Lego of your worries,” using paper cutouts of Legos to give his residents tips for applying to jobs and internships. He also built programs around recycling, ramen-making and, most recently, a Rose Art Museum scavenger hunt. Crofton confessed that pas-
sive programs are his favorite because they remove the scheduling pressure inherent in active programs. “It’s just that ever present issue of, you know … People have a million things they’re doing, so trying to find a perfect time for [active programs] to work is difficult and not always very successful.” Hong agreed, having a rigid schedule himself as a pre-med student. He understands that his residents cannot always attend his active programs. “They’re important,” he feels, “but if you’re studying for a test, then that’s way more important.” Crofton and Hong admit that aspects of the CA role, such as program planning, meetings and on-call hours certainly take up time. However, they maintain that the experiences they’ve gained more than make up for the time commitment — Hong believes that the connections he’s forged “could probably last a lifetime.” Hong sees the role less as a challenge and more as a “you get out what you put in” mentality, citing the flexibility the Department of Community Living gives CAs to shape their roles based on their needs and those of their residents. “It’s not like an 8-hour block. You can split up the time to however fits your schedule.” Crofton agreed, adding that the role has helped rather than hindered his work ethic by teaching him how to manage his time most efficiently. He avowed that “in the end, it’s pretty enjoyable, and a hundred percent worth it.”
9
10 TUESDAY, April 17, 2018 ● forum ● THE JUSTICE
the
Justice Established 1949
Brandeis University
Abby Patkin, Editor in Chief Natalia Wiater, Managing Editor Carmi Rothberg and Amber Miles, Senior Editors Kirby Kochanowski, Avraham Penso and Sabrina Sung, Deputy Editors Michelle Banayan, Abby Grinberg, Lizzie Grossman, Noah Hessdorf, Ben Katcher, Mihir Khanna, Pamela Klahr, Robbie lurie and Nia Lyn, Associate Editors Jocelyn Gould, Acting News Editor Victor Feldman, Features Editor Judah Weinerman, Forum Editor, Zach Kaufman, Sports Editor Hannah Kressel, Arts Editor Yvette Sei and Andrew Baxter, Photography Editors Morgan Mayback, Layout Editor, Liat Fischer and Devo Meyers, Acting Ads Editors Eliana Padwa and Lily Swartz, Copy Editors Jen Geller, Online Editor
EDITORIALS
Urge University to rethink staff accountabilty system
In light of the recent firing of men’s basketball coach Brian Meehan, this board urges the University to fulfill its obligation to the community by expanding its efforts to ensure every member’s right to be heard, as well as by furthering the goal of expanding fairness and inclusion on campus. We support the University’s decision to terminate Meehan and place Athletic Director Lynne Dempsey on administrative leave. The University should also be acknowledged for appointing independent investigators to evaluate its policies and procedures; this is crucial for preventing a repetition of the disgraceful administrative failures that shielded Meehan from discipline for nearly a year. Encouraging steps have been taken to ensure transparency throughout this process: A new website provides contact information for the investigators and guides those wishing to file a grievance, and a map leading to the investigators’ office has been posted in Farber library. This will enable community members to easily locate the office and meet with members of the investigation, which is crucial for amplyfing students’ concerns and re-establishing trust between them and the University. Furthermore, we support the town hall meeting held to allow anyone from the Brandeis community to voice their opinions and concerns. Providing an opportunity for community members to voice their concerns in person, and receive immediate reponses is a helpful first step for addressing campus concerns regarding campus culture. Moving beyond these necessary administrative actions, however, we are concerned about the toxic culture that persists on this campus. Thus far, the University’s focus has been to amend the policies and procedures that failed its students for the past year, but it is necessary to focus on creating constructive policies for the future, not just remedying flawed procedures from the past. While Liebowitz has pledged that he and his senior administrative colleagues will take part in extensive training on racism, sexism, inclusion and inequality and we acknowledge these actions as the right way to start, we encourage the University to expand this option to include other administrators, as well as faculty and students, in order to promote community-wide change. Furthermore, stricter policies alone cannot eradicate a culture of concealing wrongdoing. Training programs are a step in the right direction, but the University should not have waited for a public scandal of this magnitude to implement them. It should not have been the responsibility of the players on the basketball team to report the abusive behaviors of their coach, which senior members of the administration witnessed in person. As noted in the April 5 Deadspin article that first reported on this issue, Meehan’s verbal abuse was on full display in front of Dempsey, thenSenior Associate Athletic Director Tom Rand and then-Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel during the final home game of the season
Prevent further abuse last year. An investigation of policies and procedures, training sessions and open communication mean nothing if the administration actively allows despicable behavior to occur. In an April 12 email to the student body, Liebowitz wrote, “I came here because I was inspired by the values upon which the university was created just 69 years ago. Those values — rooted in the rejection of anti-Semitism and bigotry — are as relevant today as they were in 1948.” The University’s failure to address Meehan’s abuse calls into question how many administrators share Liebowitz’s vision. Admittedly, a situation like this is not always transparent or obvious, especially from one incident. However, there was a clear pattern of discriminatory behavior that should have raised red flags for the administration. According to the aforementioned Deadspin article, of the 20 Black players on the Brandeis roster since 2011, 17 of them either quit or were cut by Meehan before playing four full seasons. Furthermore, from 2013 to 2017, the average number of seasons played by Black basketball players was 2.22, while the number for white players was 2.9. Combined with anecdotal reports of Meehan’s abuse beginning over a decade ago, this discrepancy suggests that discrimination occurred long before the players filed their complaint. The University should seek to address this issue by improving the process by which individuals can report complaints to the administration. The new website dedicated to the investigation will help raise awareness of this option and begins to tackle the needlessly complex system that serves as a barrier to students seeking to redress grievances. If the University were to make its reporting process more transparent and easy to understand, long-term patterns of discriminatory behavior could be avoided in the future. Currently, few students or faculty know how to navigate the reporting process, let alone know of its existence. Implementing an improved reporting system for all departments could help ensure this behavior is eradicated throughout the entire Brandeis community, not just the Athletics Department. This was not an isolated incident in the athletic community; abuse of power is prevalent in many colleges and universities throughout the country. Brandeis, however, must strive to do better in upholding its values by making a real difference in the way students are treated. In doing so, the University would reclaim its status, earned nearly seven decades ago, of being a leader for social justice and equality. This board requests that Liebowitz and the University’s administration follow through on their promises to improve the campus culture. During the town hall meeting, many members of the community expressed disappointment in the University’s longstanding reluctance to change. We appreciate that the University fulfilled its responsibility to listen to its community, but the time has come to not only listen but to take action.
PERI MEYERS/the Justice
Views the News on
On April 5, Brandeis University fired men’s basketball coach Brian Meehan hours before the release of a Deadspin article detailing Meehan’s history of racist and unprofessional behavior and the University’s failure to address a formal complaint lodged by several players. University President Ron Liebowitz announced that the school has brought in an independent counsel to fully investigate the University’s process for handling complaints. How should the University handle the fallout from Meehan’s conduct, and what steps should be taken to ensure a fair and equal campus for all students?
Sam Weiss ’20 I think that it was the right decision for Brandeis to hire outside lawyers to investigate the University’s poor response to the complaints against Brian Meehan. Of course, the independent counsel is only necessary because the administration has already proven itself incapable of protecting its students and holding offenders responsible for their words and actions. In his latest email President Liebowitz stated that creating a more inclusive campus must be a top priority for Brandeis’ administration, and I take him at his word that his desire to address this problem is genuine. However, like many of my peers I currently find it difficult to place my confidence in the administration, and I think the burden is on President Liebowitz and other Brandeis leaders to earn back our trust by taking concrete steps to address the needs and concerns of marginalized students. I also hope that this incident will serve as an inflection point for all of us in the student body to consider what we can do to combat systemic racism on our campus. That means that we all need to play a role in holding the administration accountable for its promises and that we can’t let the burden of speaking out on issues of discrimination continue to fall so disproportionately on students of color. We also each need to consider what more we can do as individuals to make Brandeis a more just and inclusive place where everyone can feel welcome. Sam Weiss ’20 is a Politics major.
R Matthews ’19 I’ve spent a lot of time thinking through this recent incident involving former Coach Meehan for a while now. And to be honest, it’s not even tethered entirely to this specific situation. Racism exists on college campuses across the country, and yes, even at Brandeis. So, what frustrates me are these reactions of utter shock that something like this could happen at our socialjustice-driven institution. To address the question, I’d suggest that all those involved in the University — students, faculty, staff, administrators — stop addressing this as an isolated incident and consider it a byproduct of a larger issue of racism on campus. I’d then encourage the administration to keep speaking with the students as to action plans because lack of communication and transparency are what helped fuel the culmination of this and other racist incidents. Finally, to me, the most important thing I want to see done is actual action on this issue. Prioritize this. R Matthews ’19 is a Brandeis University Posse Scholar and is majoring in Computer Science and African & Afro-American Studies.
Mara Khayter ’19 I don’t think there’s a right answer to this-- it’s really difficult to maintain a campus that entirely addresses and takes action against something I consider too pervasive to prevent. It’s a matter of brevity that can’t be tackled by a single organisation. It’s also a general matter of keeping up with the thoughts and concerns students almost constantly bring up, which I don’t think is something the respective faculty has been doing well enough. The problem arises from the “what” to do, not in terms of keeping racists at bay, but in terms of how to espouse an environment that doesn’t allow such outbursts to occur in the first place. Even if they do, the confidence with which our students and faculty have in voicing their opinions and concerns should be such that they actually feel that the administration does something tangible with their words. Mara Khayter ’19 is a cartoonist for the Justice.
Photos: Sam Weiss; the Justice
THE JUSTICE ● fORUM ● TUESDAY, April 17 , 2018
11
Condemn intolerance and exclusivity on Brandeis campus By SCOTT HALPERN JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Two of the central goals on which Brandeis was founded are open inquiry and cultural diversity. In its mission statement, our University mentions that it seeks to renew the American heritage of cultural diversity, equal access to opportunity and freedom of expression. This is what we advertise to prospective students. It is what we tell students in their first week here,“This is our house,” a message of unity and equality. However, the events which have been uncovered in the last week shed a new light on how our University actually carries out these goals. On Thursday, April 5, University President Ron Liebowitz announced that Brian Meehan, the men’s basketball coach, was dismissed after multiple complaints were lodged against him last year and revived again this year. Later that day, Deadspin, a sports news website, published a lengthy expose detailing repeated instances of racially discriminatory behavior, including one instance in which Meehan told a Black player, “I’ll ship you back to Africa,” and another occasion in which he told a Black player that wearing a white jersey must have been a “dream come true” for him. These comments contributed to a culture in which only three of the 20 Black players who have been on the team since 2011 remained on the team for all four years of college. Only making this matter worse is Brandeis’ investigation. Multiple players reported Meehan’s behavior to Title IX Coordinator Linda Shinomoto in May of 2017, hoping to reach a verdict before the next season started. However, it took five months of hearing nothing before Vice President of Student Affairs Sheryl Sousa “made a decision on the matter.” Then, soon after this decision, Shinomoto left Brandeis without explanation. Ultimately, the six players who filed this complaint never learned what action was taken against Meehan, and they sat powerless as Meehan continued to coach through the next season. As a result of this story being released, Liebowitz placed Lynne Dempsey, the athletic director, on administrative leave. According to the Deadspin article, Dempsey, who is friends with Meehan, witnessed multiple events of misconduct at games and refused to meet with Dean of Students Jamele Adams after one player approached Adams with his complaints.
Coach Meehan’s behavior, and the administration’s response to it, have been appalling. Time after time, the University has failed to recognize the seriousness of this problem. It took the release of this article for President Liebowitz to hire independent investigators to look into how the University handled the situation. All of this comes on the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination. King was the spokesperson for a generation of Civil Rights leaders who fought to end segregation and defeat policies that prevented African Americans from competing on an even playing field. It is evident in light of this story that the fight King waged is still continuing today. America continues to have a problem with race. What makes this story all the more shocking is that it happened here. This school was founded by the American Jewish community to be a university where students who were excluded by racial quotas could achieve a world-class education. Yet the University did not uphold its values when handling this situation. Coach Meehan’s actions do not live up the “heritage of cultural diversity.” His statements and actions represent a disregard for the value of diversity in America and an ignorance of any sensitivity. His actions resulted in Black players being more likely to be cut from the team, denying them the equal opportunity to succeed. And the administration’s’ actions were not conducted in a fashion befitting of “open inquiry.” Instead, they relied on the advice of Meehan’s friends and failed to disclose to anyone what action had been taken against this coach. None of this can be accepted here. But I believe there is more than can be done. Brandeis, for all its efforts to be a model of diversity, fails to reach its potential as a truly integrated community. Many people will tell you that Brandeis tends to be “cliquey,” with people staying close to their groups of friends and occasionally reaching out to others outside of those groups. In the last month, some of this insularity among groups has come into the spotlight in the form of Brandeis Confessions, a Facebook page where anonymous students can post their thoughts on anything. Two comments in particular have focused on this aspect of Brandeis social life. One states, “As a person of
MARA KHAYTER/the Justice
color, I am considering threating [sic] because the presence of Orthodox Jewish men makes me feel uncomfortable.” The other states, “If Brandeis really cared about diversity, then Bethel would be performing at Springfest instead of two frat boys.” Both comments, to be clear, are wrong and should be denounced. But what if the sentiment behind these comments, that Brandeis doesn’t care about diversity, is real? I’m not saying that Brandeis is completely segregated, or that this problem is unique to Brandeis. But I believe that more can be done to alleviate tensions between the groups mentioned in these posts. If we had more contact between each other, we would be able to understand each other’s beliefs more and not feel resentment or distrust toward each other. These conversations are important to have because they allow us to reach common ground and understand each other’s point of view. Most Brandeis students who are Jewish tend to lean liberal, and many assisted in the Ford Hall 2015 movement. I also believe
that most Black students at our school respect the rights of Jews to pray and oppose anti-Semitism. However, our “cliqueness” is preventing us from achieving the goals of our school, to form a cooperative, multicultural community based on pluralism and equality. As I write this, I look back at an interview with Lauren Nickell and Akunna Eneh, two students who participated in the 2015 Ford Hall protest, in which they said: “But then you see that the people of color party with the people of color and the white people party with the white people, and there’s this dynamic that’s uncomfortable.” In light of recent actions, I think we, as students, need to ask ourselves: “Is this the best that we can do?” The answer is no. The administration can make some change, but it is on us, as members of the community, to rise up and talk to our neighbors, our peers, our fellow students and talk about our place on this campus. It’s time for us to define what this University means to us. This is our house.
Shed no tears over the departure of Paul Ryan LETTER TO THE Judah
weinerman chatterbox
Although insiders in Washington knew it was almost guaranteed to happen, the American public found itself shocked by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s announcement that he would not be seeking re-election, as reported by an April 11 Washington Post article. To the departing Ryan, I can only offer one piece of advice: Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. While one would hope that Ryan would manage to summon the barest amount of a backbone now that he’s no longer reliant on voter appeal, I suspect that he’ll remain just as craven as ever and enable President Donald Trump’s worst behaviors right until the very end. Since first being elected to Congress all the way back in 1999, Ryan has used the thin veneer of policy smarts and anti-debt crusading to push forth a mathematically and morally dubious version of government A career-long advocate for entitlement reform — a particularly loathsome euphemism for benefit cuts — Ryan spent most of his tenure in Congress proclaiming that robust aid programs like Social Security and Medicare needed to be partially privatized or scrapped altogether to avoid a mounting national debt crisis. As Ryan stated in a Feb. 22, 2012 interview with CNN, “What brings down empires, past and future, is debt.” Much like his mentor and fellow Representative Jack Kemp (R-NY), Ryan has spent his entire political career warning against the looming peril accompanying an increasing national debt. Yet Ryan found nothing wrong with pumping up America’s military budget to obscene levels,
and repeatedly condemned Former President Barack Obama for attempting to shrink the size and scope of the military. Remember: As long as the military-industrial complex gets their kickbacks, spend as much as you want. We’ll just cover up their cost by discontinuing Medicaid and throwing Social Security in the garbage for future generations. That’s the kind of effective policymaking that gets you elected Speaker. You know what else speaks highly of Ryan’s committed efforts towards true fiscal solvency? Adding nearly $1.5 trillion to the national deficit over the next 10 years in order to pay for tax cuts for the ultra-rich, according to the Congressional Budget Office. As Speaker, Ryan was the one largely responsible for scraping together support and amendments for the House’s version of the legislation. At no point in the process did he attempt to warn his delegation about the massive amounts of financial pain they would be inflicting upon America’s future. Appeasing his Koch and Mercer masters with a big tax cut clearly mattered more to Ryan than sticking to the principles he so loudly trumpeted on the campaign trail. When the national nightmare known as the Trump campaign began, Ryan was at first aloof, choosing not to throw his weight behind any one Republican candidate. When Trump claimed that federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel could not fairly judge the facts of his case because he was Mexican, Ryan said that Trump’s accusations were “the textbook example of a racist comment,” according to a June 7, 2016 New York Times article. However, he stopped well short of censuring Trump and eventually gave his full-throated endorsement of Trump. Writing for his hometown Janesville Gazette on June 2, 2016, Ryan wrote that he “feels confident [Trump] would help us turn the ideas in this agenda into laws to help improve people’s lives. That’s why I’ll be voting for him this fall.” Given the choice between an ardent racist and Hillary Clinton, Ryan threw his lot in with Trump’s brand of
race-baiting and authoritarian posturing. Even after Trump openly praised the “very fine” white nationalists who murdered Heather Hayer in the wake of the disastrous Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally, Ryan refused to disavow the president. Resolutely declaring that “There is no moral relativism when it comes to neo-Nazis” in an Aug. 21, 2017 Facebook post on his official Congressional page, Ryan still stopped well short of blaming the president for enabling and encouraging the kind of horrific public behavior that emboldened neoNazis in the first place. By the very next day, Ryan was defending Trump’s comments at a CNN town hall, firmly standing against censuring the president for his heinous comments. “That would be so counterproductive,” said Ryan, “if we descend this issue into some partisan hackfest,” according to an Aug. 22, 2017 Washington Post article. Apparently not siding with literal Nazis and murderers constitutes a partisan hackfest these days. History will not look kindly upon Ryan’s tenure as Speaker. Presiding over one of the most-hated Congressional majorities in history, with only 19 percent of respondents expressing approval of the House in a Dec. 14 Gallup poll, Ryan serves as the embodiment of much of the failures of the pre-Trump Republican Party. By sacrificing any semblance of competent governance of social decency for a shot at a Supreme Court seat and tax cuts, Ryan and his fellow Republicans should feel deeply ashamed of themselves. Selling out the barest semblance of values to Trump in order to get a unified Republican front wasn’t even really that effective at the end of the day. The Affordable Care Act is still alive and well, entitlement reform remains a far-flung Heritage Foundation fantasy and all governmental oxygen is currently being sucked out of the room by the Robert Muller investigation into Russian election interference. Perhaps the Faustian bargain Ryan and company struck with Trump didn’t account for his staggering legislative and executive incompetency.
EDITOR
I am writing to the community to apologize for the remarks I made at Monday’s forum, both for what was said and what was not said. I regret not stating unequivocally that the alleged statements in the Deadspin article are indefensible and completely unacceptable. They were new to me when I read the article last week, and I found them shocking. I regret my comments, which downplayed the obvious presence and pain of racism on campus. There is no place or excuse for racism, here or in society at large. I should never have berated the staff in the way I did. There are many competent and hardworking Brandeis staff. Students and faculty alike, we depend on them and appreciate their work. I should have only referred to specific individuals within HR, the Department with which I interacted during the investigation, rather than veering into an inaccurate and pejorative generalization. For what it’s worth, my comments may have reflected frustration and pessimism about the country we currently inhabit. However, Brandeis must be much better than this, namely, an institution within which community members deal with everyone equally and respectfully. I recognize that my comments had a very different impact; they did not reflect either my opinions or my feelings. The unfortunate situation that gave rise to the forum will hopefully lead to improvements, in our personal and institutional relationships as well as the way that transgressions are handled. As someone who believes strongly in the mission of the University, Mea Culpa, Michael Rosbash —Prof. Michael Rosbash (BIOL) is a Peter Gruber Professor of Neuroscience and one of the recipients of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Biology.
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Editorial Assistants
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TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2018 ● FORUM ● THE JUSTICE
FORUM
Promote adoption of universal basic income benefit program By JAMES PORKOLA SPECIAL TO THE JUSTICE
In March 2016, the Canadian province Ontario set out on an experiment to see whether the implementation of an universal basic income would help those affected by poverty. According to Ontario’s site for its Basic Income Pilot program, a basic income is “a payment to eligible couples or individuals that ensures a minimum income level, regardless of employment status.” Basic income differs from other social assistance programs in that it can be “given to anyone who meets the income eligibility criterion” of being unemployed or earning under CAN $34,000 annually, is “generally simpler to administer” because payments can be made through a tax credit model, and can consolidate separate welfare programs into one payment system. The experiment launched in June 2017 in several counties within Ontario. According to a Nov. 30, 2017 CNBC report, 4000 people are intended to participate in a year-long pilot program, with 400 currently participating. The way the experiment is set up, participants will be randomly assigned to either the basic income group, which will receive monthly BI payments for the three years of the program, or a comparison group, which will not. The goal of the experiment, according to Ontario’s Basic Income Pilot Commission, is to measure the effects of BI payments on the participants in several categories, including food security, health and well-being, housing stability, education and employment. The BI payments will be set up so that those in the payment group receive 75 percent of the Low Income Measure a year, coming out to about CAN $17,000 a year for individuals, minus half of total earned work income, and CAN $24,000 a year for married couples, minus half of total earned work income. Those with disabilities will receive an additional CAN $500 a month, and those receiving other benefits, such as child support, will still receive those benefits. While this experiment has been underway for less than a year, it has already begun to show improvement in the lives of those participating in it. According to the abovementioned CNBC article, the participants who were interviewed have all experienced improved quality of living thanks to the additional income. One participant, Tim Button, was able to receive medical and dental treatment he had been putting off, and plans to use the money to take courses to help him find a job. Another participant, Dave Cherkewski, said that the extra $750 a month he is receiving has eased the stress of daily life and mental illness that has kept him out of work since 2002, and will allow him to act on his goal of helping others who suffer from mental illness. Other participants stated that the benefits have given them relief from bills, and removed their worries of how to keep food on the table or a roof over their heads. The improvement in the lives of the participants in this program shows the potential of basic income programs to alleviate
AARON MARKS/the Justice
poverty and increase quality of life. The potential benefits of basic income programs have already been shown in just these first 10 months of the experiment. However, some express concerns about the practicalities and expenses involved in expanding the program to a wider level. Critics of the program fear the potential disincentive for beneficiaries of basic income to find work, per the aforementioned CNBC article, or raise concerns about the cost of the program and the prospect that it will wind up being a backdoor method to cut other benefits. To address the concern that a basic income program will not produce meaningful change or improvement in the lives of its beneficiaries, one need only look at the participants in the current experiment. Of those participants interviewed by CNBC, all reported improvements in their living conditions. Most experienced increased food security, alleviation from financial burdens of bills and mortgages, increased access to medical and dental care, and an overall rise in well-being. This reported increase in well-being from the BI program, contrary to the concerns of sceptics, has not disincentivized the interviewed participants from seeking work. The two interviewees who reported being unemployed, Tim and Dave, both planned to use their increased benefits income to assist them in their job search and the pursuit of their goals. In addition, according to the CNBC article, the system is set up so that those on the BI program are allowed to keep up
to half of what they earn from working. With the current welfare system, Canadians would have to subtract all of their earned work income from their monthly benefits, so the BI program gives more incentive for beneficiaries to work than the current system. Thus, the way the system has been set up, as well as the anecdotal evidence of the current participants, shows that the concern about a disincentive to work is not a serious issue. The issues of a basic income program being used as a method to cut other benefits, and the issue of paying for a universal basic income program, can be addressed together. According to the BI Pilot Commission, within the current experiment, those participants receiving other forms of aid, such as child support, continue to be eligible for those benefits under the BI program. While this is currently the case, moving forward it may be more practical to have other benefits factor into a UBI system in order to streamline the process. For example, within the current experimental system, those participants with disabilities receive an additional CAN $500 a month. This method could be applied to other benefits, such as child support, unemployment insurance or social security-style retirement payments, so that all welfare payments are made as a part of the UBI system. This could be more cost-effective, since the Ontario BI Pilot Program’s consultant stated that it is easier to administer given thathe BI payments can be done
via tax credits. Finally, to address the issue of cost for the program, the actual costs of administering a universal basic income program still need to be worked out, and the eventual results of this experiment will provide information on the specific costs. In the meantime, we can consider elements we have available to determine potential costs and benefits. If a UBI is able to consolidate all direct welfare payment systems into one, and that system is easier to administer, then the reduction in administrative costs by transitioning to the UBI may reduce overall costs of welfare programs. We should also consider that the benefits of running the UBI program, as shown by the increase in life quality among the current participants, can outweigh the costs of administering the program in terms of returns to the economy. The participants have been able to increase their financial security and find work due to this program, which means that more money will be flowing through the economy as these BI checks are used to purchase goods and services, or pay down debts so that participants are more freely able to spend money in the future. So if a moderate tax increase on wealthier citizens is able to fund this UBI program, which will distribute income among a large number of low income households, then there will be a net benefit to the economy as a whole from increased spending by individuals in their local communities.
Criticize lax response to administrative racism at Brandeis By ROLAND BLANDING JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Last Monday, three members of the Brandeis administration stood before a town hall of students, professors, faculty, staff and alumni of Brandeis University to discuss the investigation of basketball coach Brian Meehan, in the wake of an April 5 Deadspin article that revealed numerous derogatory practices. This town hall’s efficacy was as dubious as any town hall, but it has opened the floor to a nuanced discussion about what Brandeis stands for and the value of diverse voices on campus. Town halls have the potential to be powerful tools for members of a given community to have a voice. They provide a platform that allows marginalized groups to bring their issues to mainstream attention. The public nature of a town hall demands accountability from those who sit on stage to answer questions. The fact that Brandeis administration would hold a town hall to discuss this and leave their offices to engage in direct discourse with the community is a profound statement. It speaks to the character of an administration that has a sincere willingness to listen to the issues and work toward change. Conversely, town halls can be fruitless and counterproductive. They can open the door to a vitriolic breed of discourse. Well-warranted attacks on individual administrators can do the job of holding administrators accountable to all of their past wrongdoings, but crowd out alternative discussion about the potential for change from the present. Furthermore, the flames of discontent here are only fanned by apathetic administrative responses. As people in the audience pour their hearts out into microphones, they feel ignored and further discouraged from speaking out when they feel that every response is political and prewritten. This often manifests as questions going unanswered after a series
of qualified, sterile statements having more to do with maintaining the integrity of the image of Brandeis than providing redress for the aggrieved parties. That being said, Provost Lisa Lynch made a crucial point in saying that the issues that Brandeis faces are “problems with the culture, not the policy.” Her point was that the policies are not the problem, but the people executing them. This is false, and the reasons are twofold. One of the first questions that I posed during the town hall was about the clandestine nature of the investigation itself. The policy is to establish a lack of transparency about who the investigators are, what their qualifications are, and why — to Shaquan McDowell ’18’s point — they are more qualified to adjudicate the truth of the students’ claims than the affected students themselves. Second, even if it is true that culture is the problem, culture is nothing more than a combination of individuals. Given that the problem is about the individuals, the solution is to find more equipped people to fill these roles on campus. The question then becomes, “What are the criteria by which Brandeis hires and fires workers to ensure quality?” to which I was met again with no response. A better Brandeis and a better world is one where everyone questions themselves and their intentions in a way that opens up honest discourse. The first step to that is having an open discussion about practices which welcome everyone. At one point, Nobel Prize winning Prof. Michael Rosbash (BIOL) stood up, and after delivering several germane comments impugning the nature of the investigation and the process that lead up to it, he said “Brandeis really doesn’t really have a problem with racism.” The illiberal reaction is to try to silence sentiments like this. I think that it is better to analyze how we define racism through each of our individual lenses. Given every person’s unique life experience, I
think that it is impossible to expect everyone to have the same understanding of racism. Racism is a system of standards. It places people that appear differently into categories so that an observer can interpret the world around them without having to engage in a meandering dialogue. The institution of racism arbitrarily assigns value to people based off of these categories. The issues facing the men of color at Brandeis are not worthy of mainstream attention solely on the grounds that they are athletes. Division III athletes stand on a pedestal because they are the epitome of scholar-athletes. They come to a school like Brandeis not because of their capacity to entertain people with their athleticism, but because of their erudition. To say that the fight here is for basketball players is to completely disregard all the things that these young men have strived for their entire lives just to get to this point, and furthermore, the boundless potential they have to affect the future not only for themselves, but for people like Brian Meehan who treated them with all the contempt that a person could muster. The narrative of the minority on this campus is corrupted. The corruption starts when scholarship award letters are given to incoming freshmen. The letters are phrased as if students were accepted from a special pool of applicants, rather than having earned their acceptance to Brandeis University of their own merits. Many persons of color on campus are assigned brand names based on their scholarships. These brand names are not a problem in and of themselves. They represent a greater purpose beyond the individual student. The names of the scholarships, and the presence of the scholars themselves indicate that Brandeis is an institution that values diversity for the right reasons. Universities are institutions of higher learning. They exist to advance society and equip their
The opinions expressed on this page are those of each article’s respective author and do not reflect the viewpoint of the Justice.
constituents to be engines for change. Diversity is crucial to this effort because it provides for a twoway exchange. To import diversity is to adhere to the belief that the inherent differences between people offer space for a dialogue. On a college campus, this creates a unique mechanism for societal advancement, because the more voices that participate in framing what change should look like, the more effective the given change is. In conclusion, the movement for change first requires a recognition of the wrongs of the past. Nostalgia blinds people to the qualms of the good old days. This is because the good old days were when people were too young, too inexperienced, too immature — or whatever disqualification applies — to question the world around them. No one in their complacence would take responsibility for the ills of a world they did not create in the first place. This selfishness is both pernicious and exclusive, and the burden to fight against it is evenly distributed for every person that would dare to be the change that they want to see in the world. Majority communities have the burden of questioning thoughts, words and actions that they do not understand. Minority communities have the burden of providing the answers to these questions. This means communities of color have to attend town halls if they want the students and faculty of the administration to acknowledge their perspective. I say that it is not the burden of communities of color on campus to make people listen, but to give them the chance to hear their point. A better world and a better Brandeis is not one where white people perpetually walk on eggshells in shame of their privilege, nor is it a world where minorities constantly have to pray for reparations for their oppression. A better world is where we leave these pernicious vestiges behind, not by ignoring them, but by calling them out for what they are: the fruits of ignorance and intolerance.
THE JUSTICE ● Sports ● Tuesday, April 17, 2018
BASEBALL: Team in UAA cellar after 12 game slide
13
CELEBRATION TIME
CONTINUED FROM 16 heavy four runs. . Judges 2, Case Western 5 The first game against this UAA rival was a close game as the Judges were defeated by a score of 5-2. The Judges were on the board starting at the bottom of the first inning. Shortstop Victor Oppenheimer ’20 scored coming from first base from a double batted by center field Dan Frey ’21. The visitors responded in the next
half inning as Spartan Nick Glasser was brought home. However, the Spartans would pull ahead with three more runs in the 8th and eventually win 5-2. Judges 6, Case Western 12 Game two of the day brought similar challenges. At the beginning of the eighth inning, the Judges were trailing 9-1 before infielder Scott Ziegler ’21 hit a grand slam. However, this rally ultimately fell short.
WTENNIS: Judges have lost four of their past five vs ranked teams CONTINUED FROM 16 were defeated 9-7 and Cohen and Lehat were quickly shut down 8-1. However, in singles action, the Judges were dominant, taking 5 of the 6 matches. Judges 1, Tufts 8 The judges faced crosstown rival Tufts University on March 31st. Out of 6 singles and 3 doubles matches, the Judges earned only one point. This point came from a doubles win in which Bertsch and Khromchenko defeated Tomo Iwasaki and Julia Keller of the Jumbos. Bertsch and Leavitt were the only ones to take their singles matches into a third round
tiebreaker. The women’s team will conclude their regular season this weekend. They play at Babson College at 3pm on Friday. Following this, they will host Bates College at 10am on Saturday. The team will host Wheaton College in their season finale on Sunday, but the time of this game has yet to be determined. The following weekend, the team will travel to Altamonte Springs, Florida, where they will participate in the UAA playoff tournament against other schools in the conference. The team will have to wait another three weeks until the NCAA national championships on May 21, which will take place in Claremont, California.
YVETTE SEI/the Justice
TEAMWORK IS DREAMWORK: Brandeis softball players celebrate a win against Emory University on April 14.
SOFTBALL: UAA conference
play begins against Emory CONTINUED FROM 16 one walk on the day, improving her record to 3-5. Emory 10, Judges 1 In the second game of a doubleheader on Friday, the Judges could not get their offense going as they were outscored by nine. The team allowed a home run in the very first inning as Emory began their lethal offensive attack. The game was stopped in the fifth inning as the mercy rule was implimented to hand the victory to the Eagles. MacDonald recorded the loss as she allowed nine earned runs. Todd recorded the only run batted in for the squad.
Emory 2, Judges 0 Even though it was not the crushing defeat of the second game, the Judges did fall in a closely contested matchup. Pitching efficiently for the squad was Todd, who did not allow a run till the fourth inning. Todd also broke up a no-hitter attempt for Emory when she recorded a base hit in the fifth inning. However, the squad was unable to score a run in any inning of the contest. With the victories Emory improved to 19-7 overall, including 10-0 against UAA competition. Judges 11, Fitchburg State 3 MacDonald led the team at home against Fitchburg State on Wednesday, only allowing two earned
runs in six innings pitched. Shortstop Jolie Fujita ’21 hit a three-run home run with no outs in the first inning that gave the Judges a 3-0 lead early. Overall, the team hit four home runs in the game as they dominated offensively. Judges 7, Fitchburg State 0 Like MacDonald in the second game, Todd was dominant on the mound for the Judges. She only allowed two hits as she threw a complete game shutout. She also got on base in all three of her plate appearances. The Judges will next be in action today when they battle Eastern Nazarene College in a doubleheader.
PRO SPORTS BRIEF MLB Update: The Upstart New York Mets may be the team to dethrone the Nationals in the NL East Despite the massive hype surrounding the world series favorite New York Yankees coming into the season, the city’s other baseball team, the New York Mets, have quietly taken their place as talk of the town. Although the Mets didn’t make sexy, headline-grabbing free agent signings during the offseason, they seem to have put last season’s woes behind them. On the back of a recent 10-game winning streak, they have secured the best record in their division, as well as the entire National League. This development may be seen as shocking to the casual baseball fan, but die hard Mets fans have seen this coming for years — it was all a matter of health. For years, the Mets have dealt with devastating injuries to their starting pitching rotation at one point or another, as well as extended stints
on the disabled list for key players such as Michael Conforto. Finally, with the exception of their injuries at catcher, the team has been virtually injury- free. Meanwhile, in the Bronx, the Yankees are barely scratching .500 and are clinging to third place in the American League East. Although the season it is still in its infancy and the Yankees are still an excellent team, there is increasing room to be optimistic in Queens. While the Mets have remained in the middle of the pack in terms of their team hitting statistics, their pitching has truly shined in the first few weeks of the season. Currently, the team is leading the National League in ERA as well as in saves. Not only are their pitchers keeping them in ball games, but their bullpen has proven to maintain leads — a quality that Mets fans understand
the importance of after the lateinning horrors from their last World Series trip. Additionally, on the backs of flamethrowers such as Noah Syndergaard and Jacob DeGrom, the team is second in the National League in strikeouts. To add to the strikeout barrage, this past week, former phenom Zack Wheeler, showed flashes of brilliance versus the Marlins in his audition to rejoin the rotation. On top of this amazing pitching success, there will be added reinforcements in the near future with the eventual emergence of veterans Jason Vargas and Anthony Swarzak from the disabled list. The final reason for confidence in Queens is their new youthful spark, led by Amed Rosario at shortstop, Brandon Nimmo in the outfield and Dominic Smith at first base. After being heralded as a top-five prospect
coming into this season, Rosario is now an everyday player, with the other two surely making their own impact in the big leagues very soon. Rosario has had a slow start to his season, hitting only .223, but the season is still very young and there is still plenty of time for Rosario to come into his own as a producer in the Mets offense. This youthful spark, combined with the veteran leadership of Jose Reyes, Adrian Gonzalez, Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier, will make the Mets a scary team to face down the line. And of course, no one can forget about the centerpiece of the Mets’ lineup: notorious slugger Yoenis Cespedes. Although they are currently 12-2 with a commanding lead in the NL East, they will face some stiff competition as their season progresses. The Nationals have been
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a perennial world series contender for many years now, but they have always petered out in the playoffs. One has to wonder if their window is closing. With superstar Bryce Harper set to be a free agent after this season, the Nationals may have a greater sense of urgency when it comes to winning in the playoffs. Harper has been on fire thus far, slamming an MLB-leading eight home runs through just sixteen games. His most recent one came yesterday against Mets pitcher Jacob DeGrom, where, despite shattering his bat completely in two, he blasted a 406-foot bomb over the wall in right center field. If this resurgent Mets team is able to dethrone the Nationals in the NL East, they may send him to another division. —Brian Inker
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THE JUSTICE
● Sports ●
Tuesday, april 17, 2018
15
jUDGES BY THE NUMBERS
in-depth report: MEEHAN dismissed
BASEBALL
FIRED: Univ. admits flaws in harassment investigation process
TEAM STATS
UAA STANDINGS
Runs Batted In
UAA Conference W L W Case 10 2 23 Emory 8 4 17 WashU 4 4 15 NYU 2 6 21 JUDGES 0 8 2
Overall L Pct. 4 .852 15 .531 12 .556 7 .750 18 .100
UPCOMING GAMES: Friday vs. NYU Saturday vs. NYU (doubleheader) Sunday vs. NYU
Dan Frey ’21 leads the team with 14 runs batted in. Player RBI Dan Frey 14 Issac Fossas 11 Mike Khoury 9 Victor Oppenheimer 6
Strikeouts Greg Tobin ’20 leads all pitchers with 34 strikeouts. Player Ks Greg Tobin 34 Bradley Bousquet 13 Mason Newman 13 Kyle Shedden 11
SOFTBALL UAA STANDINGS
TEAM STATS Runs Batted In
UAA Conference W L W Case 11 1 20 NYU 7 5 20 Emory 1 3 12 JUDGES 1 7 6 WashU 0 4 8
Overall L Pct. 8 .714 7 .741 12 .500 12 .333 10 .444
Keri Lehtonen ’19 has a teamhigh 10 runs batted in. Player RBI Marissa DeLaurentis 14 Keri Lehtonen 12 Jolie Fujita 12 PJ Ross 7
Strikeouts Scottie Todd ’20 has a teamhigh 24 strikeouts on the hill. Player Ks UPCOMING GAMES: Scottie Todd 24 Today vs. Eastern Nazarene (doubleheader) Callie MacDonald 13 Wednesday vs. Wellesley (doubleheader) Sadie-Rose Apfel 4 Friday at NYU (doubleheader)
TRACK AND FIELD Results from the Silfen Invitational on April 14.
TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)
TOP FINISHERS (Men’s)
200-meter run
100-meter dash
RUNNER Regan Charie Lorenzo Maddox Matt Kimmelstiel
TIME 11.18 11.64 11.73
RUNNER TIME Kayla Fahey 26.95 Kanya Brown 27.35 Lydia Harris 28.65
UPCOMING MEETS: Friday at Larry Ellis Invitational (Princeton) Saturday at Larry Ellis Invitational (Conn. College) Saturday at Sean Collier Invitational (MIT)
TENNIS
CONTINUED FROM 1 retained former assistant United States attorney for the District of Massachusetts Walter Prince — partner in the Boston law firm Prince Lobel — and the Honorable R. Malcolm Graham, a retired associate justice on the Massachusetts Appeals Court who is now at JAMS, a mediation and dispute resolution provider. The two will lead an independent investigation, which will focus on this case and similar ones; review the University’s systems, climate and handling of complaints; and recommend actions and changes, acording to the April 6 email. The investigation may take some time, Liebowitz said in the joint interview. “You could have a quick review, but it won’t be thorough, and I think what you need is a thorough review,” he said. When asked in the interview who initiated the external investigation, Liebowitz responded, “I did. It was my decision to take this, because the more I learn, the more I see that there are issues, deep issues, here that we have to get at.” The investigators have set up an office in Goldfarb Library, where community members may go to give statements and information pertaining to this case and others. Pending the investigation, Athletic Director Lynne Dempsey ’93 was put on administrative leave, with Assistant Athletic Director and Swimming and Diving Coach Jim Zotz filling the position in her stead. Dempsey could not be reached for comment as of press time. “We have a responsibility to provide everyone with a safe environment,” Liebowitz wrote on April 6. “We must and will do better.”
‘If he targets you ... he will use anything.’
Updated season results.
TOP PERFORMERS (Men’s)
TOP PERFORMERS (Women’s)
MEN’S SINGLES David Aizenberg
RECORD 12-6
WOMEN’S SINGLES RECORD Lauren Bertsch 7-7
MEN’S DOUBLES RECORD Coramutla/Aizenberg 19-3
WOMEN’S DOUBLES RECORD Lehat /Zubrinsky 5-2
UPCOMING MEETS:
Men: Thursday vs MIT Women: Friday at Babson College
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While the recent complaints brought new attention to Meehan’s coaching, his behavior is not a recent development; students complained to administrators about the coach’s treatment of his players as early as 2014. At one practice in January 2013, Meehan called Ryne Williams ’16 a “motherfucker” for his performance, according to an April 10 Deadspin article. Williams suffered as a result of Meehan’s treatment, the article notes; his academics began to slip as he became depressed. “There’d be this inconsistency,” said Phil Keisman ’07, who served as a student manager under Meehan from 2004 to 2007. “You wouldn’t really know what to expect from him, though I got a sense toward my senior year how he would respond to guys.” Meehan could be capricious, often relying on intermittent reinforcement and public shaming to keep his team in line, Keisman said in an interview with the Justice. “For me, it meant that he would find opportunities — often public opportunities — to shame in ways that often never really had to do with work,” he said. “The feedback, which was always public, often had to do with religion — being a Jew — and also body type. I was the manager among athletes, so that was sort of an easy one.” As one of the few Jews involved in the team, Keisman earned the moniker “Jew Boy” from Meehan. While Keisman did not notice a
difference in Meehan’s treatment of white and Black players at the time, he said he was not surprised to hear of the allegations of racially biased harassment. “I could totally see how after 10 years of never really being called on it, that kind of stuff could be happening and coming out,” he said, adding, “In retrospect, as I look back, I’m like, ‘Oh, shit! There were guys leaving the team, there were guys who were sullen. What was he saying to them behind closed doors? How were the public shamings that he was doing with them landing?’ At the time, I was so focused on myself that I didn’t notice how it would have impacted other guys.” Meehan’s use of race-based harassment fit into his overall style of intimidation and abuse, Keisman said. “I think he’s a man who will ... — if he targets you, … he will use anything,” he said, adding that Meehan also kept players in line by reminding them of their place. “One of the things I think he did really successfully … is I think he set up an environment where, because compliance and hierarchy were so important, there was not even a thought of shaking up the order,” Keisman said. “And he was so in control.” “The unspoken sort of thing was if you leave your place, you risk not getting it back,” he added. On one occasion, Meehan told Keisman that he risked losing his team position if he studied abroad. So Keisman didn’t, instead looking forward to the team’s training trip to Italy in the summer. On the trip, everyone on the team — coaching staff included — received a bag of men’s basketball apparel and giveaways. In the airport on the last day, Meehan sent an assistant coach over to Keisman to collect only Keisman’s men’s basketball apparel, claiming that he wanted to wash it and give it to new recruits. “He wasn’t going to give them to anybody,” Keisman said. “It kind of felt like a way to remind everyone around me of my place, and to … sort of stick it to me one last time. It just felt like it was a cruel thing to do.”
Open Meeting
Moving forward, the University will look to improve the policies, procedures and campus culture that allowed Meehan’s behavior to go unchecked for years. Emphasizing the need for an “open and honest” conversation, Liebowitz announced in his April 6 email that there would be an open town hall meeting in Levin Ballroom on Monday, April 9. The meeting, attended by students, faculty, staff and some alumni, was helmed by Liebowitz, Provost Lisa Lynch and Board of Trustees Chair Meyer Koplow ’72. The investigation, Liebowitz announced at the meeting, will begin with the Athletic Department and trace back to other areas in the administration. Touching on the existing complaint policies, Prof. Michael Rosbash (BIOL) said at the forum that it was “absolutely ludicrous” that the investigation took six months, and that “everyone is a victim here” as a result of a drawn-out process. Rosbash, who served as an adviser to Meehan during the investigation process, added that he believes the problem on campus is not so much racism as inadequate employees and administrators. “With respect to the culture, …
I don’t see a tremendous plethora of racism on campus, and I include the Athletic Department,” Rosbash said. “That isn’t to say it’s zero. It’s not zero, it can’t be zero, it will never be zero.” “Is the goal to reduce the incidences of racism to zero on the campus?” he asked, prompting several cries of “yes!” from the audience. “Of course it should be zero,” Rosbash conceded. “It’s an abomination, there’s no question about it. Nobody disagrees with that.” In a subsequent letter to the editor submitted to the Justice, Rosbash wrote that he regretted that his comments at the meeting downplayed racism on campus, adding that they came from a place of “frustration and pessimism about the country we currently inhabit.” Shaquan McDowell ’18 also addressed administrators at the meeting, saying that he was disappointed but not surprised by the whole affair. He emphasized the importance of factoring student voices into the upcoming investigation process, explaining that students are experts in how campus culture can be improved. But the University has long promised significant change, and it has long failed to deliver, asserted Chari Kariyana Calloway ’19, who participated in the Ford Hall 2015 protest. “What are y’all waiting on?” Calloway asked. “Does somebody, like, actually have to die?” She asked what tangible actions the University has taken to improve the campus in recent years. “We have failed,” Lynch admitted in response. “The goal is zero, and the goal is not a goal that I hope we get to in 50 years’ time,” Lynch said, emphasizing the sense of urgency. “That goal is something that everyone in this room should be committing to and working to. … And we have not done it as a community.” In the joint interview, Liebowitz added that the University has taken some steps to make Brandeis more inclusive. Liebowitz stated that the administration would put up a website on the investigation and the issue at large that would feature some of these implemented changes. This website was activated on Tuesday, April 10. “As I think Lisa tried to explain [in the meeting], … several things have been done,” he said. “They haven’t been communicated necessarily all that well, but this website will have on it some of the things that have been implemented and that move towards some of the big challenges we face.” Other speakers expressed frustration with the University’s lack of transparency through the initial investigation process. “What am I missing about ‘zero tolerance’?” Daniel Parker ’21 asked Liebowitz, citing the discrepancy between the University’s stated harassment policy and the one-strike disciplinary action handed down initially. “What does it mean in Brandeis language?” Above all else, though, the community members who spoke at the forum emphasized that the issue of racism on campus extends beyond Meehan. This sentiment was made tangible the next day in the form of two banners, spread across the Rabb steps. One highlighted statistics about people of color on campus. “More Than Your Racist Coach,” the other banner read.
just
Sports
Page 16
METS SET TO TAKE OVER NL EAST The New York Mets are off to a red hot 12-2 start to their season, p. 13.
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
SOFTBALL
CRUSHING IT
Judges split their games over break ■ The team swept
Fitchburg State in a doubleheader, but lost three of four against Emory. By Noah hessdorf Justice Editor
The Brandeis capped off a busy week by falling to Emory University 10-1 on Saturday, recording a 3-3 record for the week. Besides for splitting the doubleheader with Emory, the Judges lost two more games to the Eagles on Friday, and won two contests against Fitchburg State University on Wednesday. Emory 10, Judges 1 In the final game of a four-game series, Emory walloped the Judges in a game that was ended the fifth inning. Brandeis was actually able to put a run up on the board first when catcher Keri Lehtonen ’19 scored off of a base hit from outfielder Marissa DeLaurentis ’19. The Eagles took control of the game for good in the third inning when they scored four runs off of a bases-loaded two out rally. In the fifth, Emory put up another
Waltham, Mass.
four runs, putting the game well out of reach for the struggling Judges. For the team, pitcher Callie MacDonald ’20 took the loss for the day, as her overall record dropped to 2-7 by allowing nine total runs, five of which were earned. Brandeis 6, Emory 1 The first game was a very different affair for the squad, as they held Emory to only one run on a dominant defensive performance. Both teams were held scoreless for much of the game, as the first runs were not scored till the fifth inning. With outfielder Bridget Cifuni ’21 standing on third base, second baseman Marysa Massoia ’19 bunted, allowing Cifuni to score the go ahead run off of the suicide squeeze. Pitcher Scottie Todd ’20 connected on a single a few batters later, plating Lehtonen. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Judges added four more runs as they blew the game open. DeLaurentis and Todd each had runs batted in during the inning. Todd also dominated on the mound in addition to her batting totals. She allowed only one run in her seven innings pitched, which was unearned. She gave up five hits and
See SOFTBALL, 13 ☛
Women’s Tennis
Team cannot keep up with stiff competition ■ The Judges have lost four
of their last five games, all of which came against ranked opponents. By ZACH KAUFMAN JUSTICE EDITOR
The Brandeis women’s tennis team had a busy week while the rest of the student body was on break. They were tasked with facing multiple nationally ranked opponents who gave Brandeis some stiff competition. After an incredibly successful start to their season, the Judges have now lost four of their last five matches, putting a damper in their season. However, it is important to consider their competition. Their last five matches have come against the No. 17 Skidmore College, No. 8 University of Massachusetts Amherst, No. 23 New York University, and No. 6 Tufts University. Stonehill college is also ranked 43rd in Division II. Judges 3, Skidmore 6 After a successful start in the doubles games, the Judges were defeated by Skidmore College in Saturday’s match. The duo of Olivia Leavitt ’19 and Lauren Bertsch ’21 defeated Ada Wiggins and Renee Karchere-Sun of Skidmore by a score of 8-5. Rachel Zubrinsky ’21 and Haley Cohen ’18 followed suit with an 8-5 win of their own against Alexa Goldberg and Jessica Ampel of Skidmore. The Thoroughbreds flipped the script in singles action, taking five out of the six matches to win by an overall score of 6-3. Judges 8, Amherst 1 The judges fell to No. 8 UMass Amherst by a score of 8-1. Brandeis’ lone point came at the
hand of Bertsch and Leavitt. They have been the most consistent and successful doubles team for the Judges this season and should be a force to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future. The Mammoths were utterly dominant in singles action, not allowing any Judge to score more than two points in a given set. The judges did not win a single set. Judges 4, NYU 5 The Judges were defeated by the NYU Violet on April 7th in an extremely close contest. Brandeis was defeated in the first two doubles contests of the day. Michele Lehat ’19 and Cohen were bested by Rupa Ganesh and Judy Kam of NYU. Soon after Leavitt and Bertsch were defeated by Anna Maria Buraya and Coco Kulle of NYU. In the third and final doubles match of the day, Sabrina R. Neergaard ’20 and Keren Khromchenko ’19 were victorious against Vanessa Scott and Flyora Shiyanova by a score of 8-6. The Judges and Violets then split the singles matches 3 games to 3. Olivia Leavitt, Lauren Bertch, and Michele Lehat were all the victors in their respective matches. Sabrina Neergaard, Keren Khromchenko and Haley Cohen were all defeated in their matches. Judges 6, Stonehill 3 The Judges overcame a 2-1 doubles deficit to come back and defeat the Stonehill College women’s tennis team 6-3. The doubles team of Bertsch and Leavitt dominated Alexandra Vo and Annelise Howick of Stonehill by a score of 8-2. However, the other two doubles teams did not share the same glory. Khromchenko and. Neergaard
See PRO SPORTS, 13 ☛
ANDREW BAXTER/the Justice
CONNECTION: Luke Hall ’21 crushes a Case Western pitch and puts the ball in play during their game on April 7.
Brandeis baseball’s season in shambles ■ With a 2-18 record
including an 0-8 start within the conference, the Judges can kiss their season goodbye. By JEN GELLER JUSTICE Editor
The Brandeis University baseball Team has had a rocky season and is currently in the middle of a 12 game slide. Their overall record currently stands at 2-18, including 0-8 in the University Athletic Association Judges 4, Emory 10 During the first game of a doubleheader, the Eagles were leading 3-0 after the first inning. However, the Judges would get on the board after Donnie Weisse ’20 was hit by a pitch, scoring Luke Hall ’21. In the fifth inning, the Eagles brought three more home and the Judges would eventually lose 10-4. Judges 2, Emory 5 The second game did not bring more luck to the team. After the Judges began with two walks and then a hit to load the bases, Issac Fossas ’21
bringing home infielder Mike Khoury ’21, to start the game strong for the Judges. However, Emory immediately answered back in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs of their own. The Eagles maintained this lead for the rest of the game. Judges 4, Emory 8 On Friday, April 12, the Judges dropped the first two games they played against their UAA competitor. In the first game, the Judges lost 8-4, finishing with four runs out of the eight hits that were made at play. In contrast, the Eagles had eight runs out of sixteen hits that were made. In this game, the Judges were held together by right fielder Dan O’Leary ’20. Judges 2, Emory 5 In the second game of Friday, the Judges lost 5-2. They outhit the Eagles 12-8, but stranded 18 runners on bases. The player with the greatest impact on the game was Frey who went 3-5 with an RBI; however, it was not enough to bring the team a victory. Judges 4, UMass Boston 11 The Beacons started off with a 5-0 lead after just two innings of play. The Judges were able to score single runs
in four different innings, including two sacrifice flies from catcher Luke Hall ’21. The UMass offense was dominant, forcing the Judges to cycle through 10 pitchers on the day. Judges 3, Case Western 8 In this game, the Spartans had a 5-0 lead after just three innings of play. In the fourth inning, Frey put Brandeis on the scoreboard with a sac fly. In the sixth inning, an errant pickoff attempt with bases loaded allowed for outfielder Donnie Weisse ’20 to make the score 5-2. However, in the ninth inning, the Spartans would widen the score gap to 8-2, an insurmountable lead. Judges 8, Case Western 14 The second game brought a similar fate to the Judges. The Spartans sprinted out of the gates, and by the end of four-and-a-half innings, led 10-1. By the sixth inning, the Judges fought back to achieve a score of 108, significantly closing the score gap. However, Case Western held the Judges here and left the score at 14-8. This ended the Judges competition against the Spartans and it would take a lot for the Judges to overcome these
See BASEBALL, 13 ☛
Vol. LXX #22
April 17, 2018
Vol. LXX #2
September 12, 2017
Brandeis by Night >>Pg.19 just
Fire
Arts
Air
just
Earth
Waltham, Mass.
Water
Artwork: An Tran. Images: Natalia Wiater/the Justice. Design: Andrew Baxter/the Justice.
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THE TUESDAY, JUSTICE April | Arts 17, |2018 TUESDAY, i Arts January i THE JUSTICE 31, 2017
theater review
By kENT DINLENC justice Staff writer
Shakespeare. Rowling. Tolkien. King. Seuss. What do all of these writers have in common? They are all eclipsed by the iconic Agatha Christie in estimated book sales, who herself is only outsold by the Bible. Christie’s renowned standalone whodunits, as well as her Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot series, have shaped the mystery genre since she began writing in 1920. Her novels have been adapted countless times into acclaimed TV series, feature films and stage plays. On April 14, the Undergraduate Theater Collective put on a production of “And Then There Were None,” one of her most famous novels, which she later adapted for the stage. It is currently the best-selling crime novel of all time. The production was directed by Merrick Mendenhall ’20. Due to the play’s controversial history, the production was only performed on Saturday night. I went in judging the way the story was adapted, as I am a big fan of Christie’s. The story revolves around a group of ten party guests staying overnight on an island. However, when one is murdered, and the rest of
And then there was one the guests discover they are stranded with no communication to the outside world, they suspect each other as they are picked off one by one. This play is one that relies on a strong ensemble cast. There are some characters that are more prominent than others, but they should be able to support each other. Some clear tourde-forces were Noa Laden ’20 as the suspicious Dr. Armstrong, Isaac Ruben ’21 as the over-confident Mr. Lombard and Amy Ollove ’21 as the religious socialite Emily Brent. Laden brought anxiety and caution, despite some unfortunate sound difficulties. Ruben dominated the stage by calming his castmates on-stage with his suave poise in Act One and unsettling them with his inappropriately lax attitude in Act Two. Ollove amused with her exaggerated intonation — it would have been overdone in a professional production but was acceptable in this setting. The environment of college theater lets you have more fun. Blake Rosen’s ’21 Judge Wargrave was a stern presence that calmed the cast down, and Kate Kesselman ’19 was sprightly and fun as the undercover cop Detective Blore. As the play progressed, it clearly improved. Act One dragged due to
some less-than-engaging performances. Lines were briefly forgotten and delivered poorly. However, I choose to attribute the shaky start to the immense pressure the cast must have felt amidst the controversy surrounding their show. But I will say that I was glad certain characters were killed off. I was very impressed by the overall set and production quality. Set designer Sara Gilbert ’21 made an immaculate set — the study that the characters acted in was well-designed and the space was used well. Kat Lawrence’s ’20 costumes were simply fantastic. They transported the audience back to the 1930s with apt style. These two crucial components really set the mood as soon as the play began. Mendenhall should be credited for her creative flashbacks, and the blood-red lighting designed by Jacob Bers ’20 was effective in making the mood tenser. One way to confirm that the cast and crew put on a good show was hearing the audible gasps by the audience. If you manage to fool your audience with a story as renowned as this, you’ve told it well. As someone who has read the book and knew who the murderer was, I kept my eye on that character and I have to say that the
good choreography was a very subtle touch. That character weaved around the room without being noticed, leaving the scenes of the crime unnoticed in plain sight. Overall, I would say that this was a fun show that definitely got better after intermission. It’s a shame that it was only put on once. To conclude this review, I would be remiss not to mention the controversy surrounding the play. The performance was followed up with a discussion about whether or not the play should have been produced to begin with, given that Christie had based a significant plot device on a racist rhyme. After unsuccessful deliberations with the UTC board and the African and Afro-American Studies Department, the failure to address the matter led to the abrupt cancellation of all but one performance. While I understand why there may be trepidation about putting on the play, I feel that cancelling it outright was not the correct decision. The Samuel French script, advertised on their website as appropriate for all audiences, came with a different rhyme but kept the underlying themes intact. One of Lombard’s lines, in which he reveals the extent of his racial prejudice, was cut. The
ending was changed to match that of the novel, which is the ending I prefer. Some characters were genderswapped, which is not uncommon, although one such swap changed a crucial dynamic between two characters. Namely, an abusive husbandwife relationship became a nonabusive sister-sister relationship. I feel that just because a play has controversial origins does not mean it should be proscribed. Protests should open a dialogue, not decide whether or not students can attend a production. We can acknowledge the play’s history while still recognizing Christie’s masterful writing. She was a product of her time — to dismiss her work on that basis alone strikes me as myopic. To punish the cast and crew by cancelling their shows, invalidating their hard work over the past three months, was a mistake. Has Agatha Christie, role model to writers everywhere, become persona non grata? Must we solely confine ourselves to the uncontroversial? Is this who we want to be as a community? —Editor’s note: Justice editorial assistant Maya Zanger-Nadis ’21 was involved in the rehearsal process of “And Then There Were None.”
rose art museum YVETTE SEI/the Justice
CHILL VIBES: Boston-based rock band Motel Black braved the cold to perform in front of the Rose Art Museum at SCRAM JAM.
Music and theater converge on the Rose By lIZZIE gROSSMAN justice eDITIOR
On Saturday night, Student Committee for the Rose Art Museum held their annual Rose Art Museum party, SCRAM JAM, an opportunity for students to explore the museum. Live music, student performances, refreshments and other attractions provided entertainment and students could enjoy these attractions while checking out the artwork that the Rose has to offer. This year, SCRAM JAM hosted two performances: The first was a Boston-based rock band, Motel Black, and the second was a collection of excerpts from “The Vagina Monologues,” which is produced by the Vagina Club at Brandeis. The first part of SCRAM JAM was more lightly attended than anticipated, most likely due to the weather, which was unusually cold for the middle of April. Motel Black even played some of their music at the Light of Reason, right outside the museum. While the band was certainly very talented, many museum-
goers did not listen for long and quickly moved inside. Nevertheless, Motel Black provided some great music, and even brought some copies of their newest album to hand out to audience members for free. There was also a food truck, as well as free cotton candy and popcorn, which were predictably popular among students. The number of attendees grew as people piled into the Rose to prepare for the preview of “The Vagina Monologues.” This performance had a very unique setup: audience members sat at the bottom of the stairs while the actors performed their monologues on the balcony, facing down at the audience. While some actors stayed up on the balcony for their monologues, other chose to walk down the stairs and interact with the audience. The “The Vagina Monologues” cast was undeniably talented and inspiring. Every performer brought extreme passion to their piece. My two favorite performances were a monologue about a woman who was very angry about the stigmatization of vaginas and a three-person act in which the ac-
tors answered survey questions about their vaginas. In the “Angry Vagina” monologue, the actor expressed frustrations about society’s views on vaginas, citing the products that exist to “clean up” vaginas and the pressure to make vaginas more “beautiful.” Her anger was palpable, but she also made the monologue humorous and enjoyable. In the threeperson piece, the actors answered questions such as “What would your vagina wear?” and “If your vagina could talk, what would it say?” I will not give away specific answers, but I will say that the actors did a wonderful job of answering these questions. Despite the cold weather, SCRAM JAM was a fun event and provided an opportunity to show off the Rose Art Museum to those who may not already be familiar with it. Most of all, I hope that those who came to watch the “The Vagina Monologues” previews were inspired to see the show in its entirety next weekend. —Editor’s note: Hannah Kressel ’20, the president of SCRAM, is an editor for the Justice.
YVETTE SEI/the Justice
MAGNIFICENT MONOLOGUES: Performers deliver their lines from the balcony above the audience.
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JUSTICE i arts i TUESDAY, January 31, 2017 THETHE JUSTICE i arts i Tuesday, April 17, 2018
culture
The‘Timeless Charm’of Vietnam
Photos by NATALIA WIATER/the Justice
FAN CLUB: Dancers performed beautifully and gracefully, using fans to supplement their choreography.
DRAGON DANCING: The festive evening featured multiple exciting dragon dances with costumes like this one.
MARVELOUS MOVEMENT: The talented VSA e-
board performed a self-choreographed dance.
By Eleanor Kelman justice contributing writer
There was plenty of charm to be found in Friday’s showcase, “Brandeis by Night: Timeless Charm,” put on by the Brandeis Vietnamese Student Association. The night was full of color and booming music, both traditional and modern. It was also wonderful to see the fruits of all the hard work VSA put into entertaining us and opening our minds to the cultural beauty (and delicious foods) of Vietnam. I knew the moment I saw Levin Ballroom that this would not be a typical performance; the room was set up with many colorful circular tables covered in paper
flowers and Vietnamese snacks. The show kicked off with an energetic dragon dance set to loud drumming. The opening speeches by executive board members got everyone hyped for the rest of the show. Then, the wisecracking emcees warmed up the crowd, introducing a “50 Shades of Grey” parody featuring the entire e-board signing contracts for free chicken. This was followed by a modern interpretive dance to a Vietnamese pop song and a traditional dance with nón lá, a Vietnamese conical hat. These hats, which I had only ever seen in movies, were beautiful and the performers used them as extensions of their bodies; their harmony created a type of dance I had never before expe-
rienced. The two dances complemented each other wonderfully, one showing off a new look at a country’s music and dance that fits right in with modern pop music, the other featuring the more classical traditions of Vietnam. VSA Vice President An Tran ’20 gave an emotional, heartwarming tribute to her late mother which brought tears to my eyes and showed the beauty of love and family. This moment of tenderness was followed by a sharp modern dance that lived up to its title, “Hot and Spicy.” Following an intermission that included tasty ice cream and sticky rice, the hosts brought us right back into the show by introducing a band that performed
a mashup of Coldplay and VPOP rap, and the two seemingly unrelated genres blended together surprisingly well! We were then treated to two performances, an intricate lotus dance and another, extra-acrobatic dragon dance during which the dancers even came out into the audience. We then enjoyed a fashion show of the Ao Dai, a traditional Vietnamese dress, which was as elegant as the evening itself. The next performance of the night was by Kayla Nguyen, the bubbly personality behind the YouTube channel “Vietglish Fun.” Not only did she interact with her videos to teach us numbers and animals in Vietnamese, but she also played games with the audi-
ence and sang parodies of the pop songs “What Do You Mean?” and “Look What You Made Me Do,” which were hysterical. She successfully drew on her own experiences (and accents) to entertain everyone. Finally, the VSA e-board performed a self-choreographed dance to finish the night on a high-spirited note, and everyone chowed down on pho for dinner. The time and energy that went into the night made for an amazing show. Tran told the Justice that the best part of the entire process was seeing the club come together as a whole, that their unity shined on Friday. I can’t wait for the next time VSA comes together to put on a performance — I’ll be the first in line to see it!
culture
KSA takes Brandeis to ‘Idol School’ By EMILY SEE justice Staff writer
If you walked into Levin Ballroom on the last night before spring break, you saw many tables covered in candy and origami planes. The cavernous room was cozy, covered in twinkle-lights and filled with friendly, sociable people. Almost immediately, my eyes were drawn to the stage as Tamara Garcia ’18 and Dong-Min Sung ’19 cleverly began to introduce the acts for the Korean Student Association’s annual K-Nite. The show started with videos introducing different executive board groups displaying their unique tal-
ents for the audience, who voted for their favorite group during the intermission. This also served as a short explanation of the night’s theme. Once the show began, Garcia and Sung made their way through the “Idol School,” which was modeled after Korean performing arts schools known to produce K-pop idols and creatively exhibited the different types of acts as “Idol school” performances, such as singing, dancing and even martial arts. For singing, Brandeis’ all-female a cappella group Up the Octave performed. The crowd enjoyed it but also seemed to be waiting for something to happen. I eventually found out what they were waiting
for — the modern dance act to come later in the show. Next up was traditional, nature-inspired fan dancing. The performers all wore matching traditional Korean dresses. These were great, but I think the coolest part was the sound that the fans made. It was so unexpected — the sudden snap of fans closing and reopening brought everyone’s eyes to different areas of the stage. Garcia and Sung came out onto the stage to introduce the next act, a band from Berklee College of Music. Berklee’s set included a combination of singing and rapping popular Korean musical hits, and everyone cheered in their seats at the fantastic performance.
Following Berklee’s performance was the most anticipated part of the night: modern dance. Starting off was an all-male group in black outfits, matching except for their range of colored jackets. The entire group was in-sync and effortlessly cool. The crowd went wild as the group danced on stage. Following the opening modern dance group were a variety of all-women and co-ed groups from Brandeis. The female groups were fun and upbeat in attitude, dancing energetically and skillfully. The co-ed groups ranged a little more in their dance style: The dancers had fluid motions at one point and were jumping all over the stage at another. All in all, the
modern dance portion of the show got the audience really excited. After the dancing portion of the night, students from Tufts University demonstrated their taekwondo skills. First they sparred with each other, but what really fascinated me was the board-breaking. The performers even jumped over each other to break boards, bringing the audience members to the edge of their seats. To finish off the night, there was a game show and an e-board dance, which was fueled by the audience’s energy accumulated from the previous acts. If you missed K-Nite, be sure to check it out next year; I am very excited to see all of the performances next spring.
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TUESDAY, April 17, 2018 | Arts | THE JUSTIce
INTERVIEW
Brandeis TALKS What are some small things that make your day better?
Viola Dee ’18 YVETTE SEI/the Justice
This week, justArts interviewed Viola Dee ’18, who co-directed this year’s performance of “The Vagina Monologues.”
Abhishek Kulkarni ’18 “Laughter.”
justArts: What was your first experience with Vagina Monologues? Viola Dee: My mom has always worked at universities. The first time I actually heard of The Vagina Monologues was on her campus, but I never was allowed to see it—I wasn’t old enough.
Lauren Liu ’19
YVETTE SEI/the Justice
“One of the things that I enjoy the most is to say hi to a friend who I haven’t seen in a long time; you give each other a hug.”
Lauren Kronheim ’20 “When it’s sunny and nice out, especially in contrast to today.”
Michael Harlow ’19 “Smiles from people that I don’t get to talk to enough.”
—Compiled and photographed by Yvette Sei/the Justice.
STAFF’S Top Ten
YVETTE SEI/the Justice
Bottom 10 (Objectively) By Judah Weinerman justice EDITOR
The point of this list is salt. 1. Ed Sheeran trying to be a sex symbol 2. Fascist a cappella clowns 3. Cargo shorts with solo cups printed all over them 4. That guy who always wears his cargo shorts with solo cups printed all over them 5. Definitely not the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender movie 6. White rappers in general 7. Womb-based interpretive dance 8. The inevitable Hog Uprising that will destroy the human race 9. That kid who always called “time out” as soon as he got tagged in freeze tag 10. Ayn Rand
CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 April, e.g. 6 Ipad _____ 10 Bro’s sib 13 Make one think of 14 Shoots the puck across the rink, in hockey 15 Santa ____ wind 16 2012 Kathryn Bigelow film 19 Hebrew prophet 20 “Fifty Shades Darker” character 21 “All Mixed Up” band, with “the” 22 _____ al Ghul, Batman villain 23 Citi Field player 24 Homer Simpson’s elated cry 26 Hardly a metropolis 30 Scrabble units 31 Give a damn 32 Texter’s qualifier 35 “To Live and Die _____” 36 Scandinavian inlet 38 Tater 39 These: Fr. 40 Airline to Tel Aviv 41 Out of style 42 Petty thieves 45 Go over 48 Musician Charles 49 City whose name is not spelled like its namesake hat 50 Highway through Houston 51 _____ Butterfly (“In-A-GaddaDa-Vita” band) 53 “Bye bye now!” 54 Nursery rhyme in an Agatha Christie play 58 Daughter of Hyperion 59 Show with a controversial ending 60 Medium for art in some cafés 61 Chicago-to-Miami dir. 62 Water under the bridge? 63 Belgian painter James DOWN 1 Theater seating option 2 Hypes up too much 3 One of Asta’s owners 4 Boxing victory, for short 5 Gardening tool 6 Swamp 7 Like a swamp 8 Spongebob uses one to catch jellyfish 9 “Sorta” 10 Press Secretary ____ Huckabee Sanders 11 Opening words 12 Final authority 17 _____ and crafts 18 Traffic cone, for VLC 19 A little steamy 23 Ways of handling a situation 24 Scrabble unit 25 Be in the red 27 “Isn’t ___ bit like you and me?” (Beatles lyric)
JA: What does it mean to direct The Vagina Monologues? VD: Running rehearsals...we are including some personal monologues in the show this year. So that means we’ve edited those a little bit. We provide feedback on everyone’s monologue … but with the personal monologues we did a lot of work with them, editing and [giving] feedback. JA: Brandeis seems to be known, at least in part, for its community’s progressive views. Is The Vagina Monologues as critical to the community here as it might be elsewhere, where women are underrepresented?
CROSSWORD COURTESY OF EVAN MAHNKEN
28 Reason for a food recall 29 Roadwork material 32 By its very nature 33 Porthos, e.g. 34 Ukrainian city in “Battleship Potemkin” 36 Metric by which freestyle rap is judged 37 Punch 38 _____ Paulo 40 It sounds just like you? 41 Do some digging 42 Fork part 43 1982 film with a sequel in 2010 44 Something wicked? 45 Some initiations contain them 46 Value system 47 It’s not prose 51 Rick’s love 52 “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold” director 53 Relatives of chickadees 55 Tree afflicted by a fungal disease 56 “This show stinks!” 57 Operate
SOLUTION COURTESY OF EVAN MAHNKEN
SUDOKU INSTRUCTIONS: Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.
VD: Definitely, definitely. Just because we say at Brandeis that we’re a social justice university, not everyone is coming from the same background. That means that not everyone is coming from a social justice standpoint. I think that this show gives a lot of people an opportunity to get to see a different perspective that they hadn’t considered. There’s one monologue that’s a story about an older woman, … and she has never experienced an orgasm. That’s not something you would necessarily think about in your day-to-day life and that’s not a story that you would hear. … That’s very personal. There’s another monologue that’s about birth and that one is very graphic, but I think that it’s very needed because birth is a natural part of life. We all were born! So, I think that it is much needed because it gives people an opportunity to get to do something really exciting and scary and empowering … It gives people a chance to experience those stories that they might not have heard before. JA: What were the highs and lows of the process from the start up until now? VD: At the beginning of the semester we actually had a different space and date reserved. … We found out that our show was taking place the same weekend as the POSI plus retreat. POSI is a scholarship program on campus and every spring semester they have a retreat … POSI is made up of a large number of students of color. We decided as a production staff that if we were to go forward with our show during that weekend, then that would mean excluding a lot of people of color from the show—whether in the cast or in the audience. We really wanted it to be an inclusive space for everyone … so that was a big struggle, getting a space reserved … at the last minute. JA: Is there anything else you’d like to add? VD: I think that everyone should come to the show regardless of whether or not you know anyone in it...it’s really entertaining, the stories are really meaningful and I think it’s a great experience for everyone to go at least once in their time at Brandeis.
Solution to last issue’s sudoku
Puzzle courtesy of www.sudokuoftheday.com
—Maya Zanger-Nadis
Published on Apr 17, 2018
The independent student newspaper of Brandeis University since 1949.
Published on Apr 17, 2018
The independent student newspaper of Brandeis University since 1949.