SPORTS | Page 16
SOFTBALL TEAM CLAIMS ECAC CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE The Independent Student Newspaper
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Justice
Volume LXVII, Number 28
www.thejustice.org
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
ADMINISTRATION
64TH COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
Epstein to take over as interim provost next year ■ Epstein will hold the
position while current provost Lisa Lynch is the interim University president next year. By Abby Patkin JUSTICE editor
Beginning July 1, Prof. Irving Epstein (CHEM) will become the interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, according to an email Provost Lisa Lynch sent to the community on May 7. Epstein previously served as provost from 1994 to 2001 under former University President Jehuda Reinharz. He was recently a senior advisor to former Provost Steve Goldstein
MIHIR KHANNA/the Justice
FORGING A PATH: Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering addressed the class of 2015 at Sunday's commencement excersises.
Pickering addresses need for public service ■ The University awarded
956 bachelor's degrees at its 64th commencement ceremony on Sunday. By MAx MORAN JUSTICE EDITOR
The University held its 64th annual commencement ceremony on Sunday, in which 956 students were awarded bachelor’s degrees, 756 students were awarded master's degrees and 100 students were awarded doctoral degrees, according to an email to the Justice from University Registrar Mark Hewitt. Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient Ambassador Thomas Pickering spoke on the importance and appeal of public service, while University President Frederick Lawrence reflected on his time at the University and with the class of 2015. Vice Provost, Chief Information Officer and University Librarian
John Unsworth opened the exercises and served as master of ceremonies. Profs. emeritus Raymond Knight (PSYC) and Barry Friedman (Heller) entered first as the grand marshals of the ceremony. Following them were the president’s councillors and fellows, the degree candidates for the graduate school of arts and sciences and the degree candidates for the International Business School— who chanted “IBS! IBS!” as they entered. The candidates for the Heller School followed, then the candidates for the Rabb School of Continuing Studies, the Brandeis faculty, the class of 2015 bachelor’s degree candidates, the Board of Trustees and the honorary degree candidates and the presidential party. Protestant Reverend Matthew Carriker delivered an invocation where he urged the graduating class to “seek to live with justice, compassion, humility and love” and noted that “knowledge without love is bankrupt.” Leila May Pascual ’15 then sang the national anthem to thunderous applause.
See COMMENCEMENT, 8
and was the interim Vice Provost for Research under Lynch. Epstein will fill the position as Lynch, the current provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, will become the interim University president next year due to the resignation of current University President Frederick Lawrence. “Irv is a widely respected researcher, an innovative educator and an experienced administrator, making him ideally suited for this position,” Lynch wrote in the email. “I am delighted that he has agreed to take on such an important role for the next academic year.” Epstein is the Henry F. Fischbach
See EPSTEIN, 5 ☛
STAFF
Labor referendum passes student vote ■ The Brandeis Labor
Coalition will use the referendum results as proof that the student body approves their new policy.
After Unsworth announced several faculty awards, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Perry Traquina ’78 welcomed the attendees to the ceremony, telling the graduating class that commencement is “a day of celebration and transitions, … one of the most significant transitions you will ever make.” Traquina noted Lawrence’s transition out of the presidency and particularly noted the Light of Reason art installation outside of the Rose Art Museum as an achievement of Lawrence’s tenure. Traquina said that the Light of Reason “symbolizes what Brandeis holds dear: the guiding light of knowledge, being bold and our dedication to making the world a better place.” Traquina then asked the attendees to thank Lawrence and his wife Kathy “for all they have done for Brandeis,” which led to an almost 40-secondlong standing ovation. Lawrence then addressed the graduating class. “Presidents are not supposed to have favorite classes,” he started, “but that
By Max Moran JUSTICE EDITOR
On May 3, the student body elected to pass the Brandeis Labor Coalition’s Just Employment Policy in a referendum vote, according to an email from former Student Union Vice President Charlotte Franco ’15. The referendum passed with 83 percent of the 608 respondents voting “yes,” 58 voting “no” and 46 voting “abstain” in response to the question “I vote in favor of the Just Employment Policy Referendum.” The referendum does not make the Just Employment Policy an official University policy but will be used by BLC as evidence that the student body supports the Just Employment Policy’s practices. In an interview with the Justice, former BLC member Andrew Nguyen ’15 said that the referendum came from Provost Lisa Lynch advising
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BLC to adopt the policy through the Student Union, as “we need[ed] to show that students supported this idea.” “I think we demonstrated that,” Nguyen said. “And so now we want to go back to Lisa Lynch and tell her, ‘Hey, what’s next?’” The referendum was first sent to the student body on May 1 in an email from Franco, but a second referendum had to be sent out by former Student Union President Sneha Walia '15 after it was discovered that the first referendum did not require a Unet ID to vote, allowing students to vote multiple times. A third referendum was sent out a few hours later by Walia after it was found that the second ballot allowed voters to again vote multiple times when using a private browser, such as Google Chrome’s “incognito mode,” according to Nguyen. According to Nguyen, the Just Employment Policy includes both practices that are not currently University policies as well as policies the University had already
See BLC, 5 ☛
A sit-down with Fred
‘Avengers’ sequel
New library norms
justFeatures interviewed President Lawrence about his time as president and the future of the University.
The much-anticipated sequel ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ took the superhero genre to a more personal level.
A student demonstration has led Goldfarb Library to begin establishing new rules about its spaces.
10 6
11
FEATURES 6
For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org
Waltham, Mass.
Let your voice be heard! Submit letters to the editor online at www.thejustice.org
INDEX
ARTS 23
ARTS SPORTS
17 16
EDITORIAL FEATURES
OPINION POLICE LOG
10 2
READER COMMENTARY
News 3
COPYRIGHT 2015 FREE AT BRANDEIS. Email managing@thejustice.org for home delivery.
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TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015
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THE JUSTICE
NEWS BRIEF
McKenna to take over as president of Suffolk University in the fall Prof. Margaret McKenna (Heller) has been appointed as the new president of Suffolk University and will be leaving Brandeis in June to begin her role there. Before coming to Brandeis in 2013 as a visiting professor and acting director of the Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy, McKenna served as the vice president of Radcliffe College from 1981 to 1985 and the president of Lesley University from 1985 to 2007. As acting director of the Sillerman Center at Brandeis, McKenna helped “[create] toolkits and guidelines in a variety of social justice areas to aid donors in making decisions on giving based on research,” according to a letter from McKenna on the Sillerman website. When asked why she chose to accept the position at Suffolk, McKenna said in an interview with the Justice that she’s “always admired the mission of Suffolk and the role it plays in Boston and in the state in particular.” According to McKenna, Suffolk University— which is located in downtown Boston—has “many graduates who are in the legislature, who are judges and who are leaders of the business community in Boston.” “It’s played a significant role in the public policy debate in the city and the state, so it’s sort of the model of an urban university involved in its community,” she said. “People really care and love the university and that made a big difference to me.” During her presidency at Suffolk, McKenna says she hopes to strengthen the collaborations between the university’s three schools (the law school, the business school and the school of arts and sciences) and create “even more significant partnerships with other colleges and universities, [as well as] with other nonprofits and businesses in the area.” McKenna will replace Suffolk’s interim president—Norman Smith—who had served since Sept. 2014 following the departure of president James McCarthy, according to the Globe. McKenna told the Globe that she will serve as an at-will employee, meaning that her continued employment is contingent on the Suffolk Board of Trustees’ opinion of her work. However, she has agreed to the board’s request for a five-year commitment, and while she did not disclose the amount of money she will be paid, she said that her salary had been negotiated “in principle.” McKenna was paid $635,000 in total compensation during her time at Lesley, according to the Globe. In a May 12, 2015 Boston Globe article, McKenna discussed her plans to prioritize fundraising in an effort to shift the source of endowment from tuition revenue to donor money. McKenna told Suffolk faculty at a forum last week that her business philosophy is only to pursue the fields and areas where her school can either exceed competition or at least stay on par with it, according to the Globe. Though she closed the profitable business school during her time at Lesley, McKenna promised Suffolk faculty that she would not close any schools during her presidency. She said that the closure at Lesley was due to her philosophy, as Lesley’s business school was not able to compete with other business schools. After leaving the Lesley presidency, McKenna served as president of the Walmart Foundation, the nation’s largest corporate philanthropic organization. When asked what she was most excited about, McKenna said she looked forward to “being on a campus with huge potential integrated into the city and being around undergraduate students again, which I have always enjoyed.” She also says she looks forward to “being thoroughly integrated into the life of a university, with all that it brings.” Although McKenna will be leaving Brandeis, she stressed that she remains “an admirer of Brandeis’ social justice mission and the Heller school’s role.” She added, “In fact, one of the reasons I was so attracted to Suffolk is because it has a long history of access and social justice as well.” —Grace Kwon and Max Moran
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Email editor@ thejustice.org.
Justice
POLICE LOG Medical Emergency
Apr. 27—A party in Shapiro Residence Hall requested medical assistance for a ring stuck on their finger, claiming the finger was swollen and doubled in size. The party was treated on the scene by BEMCo staff with a signed refusal for further care. Apr. 30—A party in Shapiro Residence Hall reported having a concussion earlier in the week and was currently vomiting. BEMCo staff treated the party and University Police transported the party to Newton-Wellesley Hospital for further care. May 8—A caller in the Sherman Dining Hall reported a party suffered a head injury but was conscious and alert. BEMCo treated the party on the scene with a signed refusal for further care. May 9—University Police received a call from the Waltham Police Department, who said they received a 911 call that a party in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center got in-
jured playing basketball. The party was treated on the scene by Cataldo ambulance, and University Police compiled a report on the incident. May 9—The Emergency Medical Technician on duty at Sherman reported a party with minor foot injury. The party refused further care with a signed refusal for continued care.
Disturbance May 3—Police received a complaint from a party in East Quad of a group of people playing ball in the parking lot behind the building, waking up Waltham residents. Police advised the group to stop playing and compiled a report on the incident. May 5—A party in the Charles River Apartments reported hearing a loud argument and then the sound of something striking the wall in the apartment above them. University Police checked the apartment in question and found two people in an argu-
ment over finals. Police took no further action. May 8—A party in the Charles River Apartments reported loud music coming from an apartment and the occupants unwilling to answer their door. University Police arrived, and the occupants came to the door and shut off music at the request of the police.
Other
Apr. 29—A Goldfarb Library staff member reported coming in contact with an individual who had defaced the Goldfarb lower level men’s bathroom. University Police were sent to the Goldfarb Library but could not locate the individual. Police compiled a report on the incident. May 4— A party in Pearlman Hall reported an envelope of money missing from their office. Police compiled a report on the incident and notified a locksmith to change the locks
CLEANING HOUSE
on the office. May 4— A caller near Chapels Field reported a party was trying to reach inside of a car that had a window slightly open. Police were sent to check the area and found the party gone upon their arrival. May 8—Police received a complaint of a group of six or seven parties in the Foster Mods setting off fireworks. University Police checked the area, but the parties were gone on their arrival. May 9—A caller in the Edison Lecks building reported the smell of smoke from the building in the second or third floor. Another caller reported a spill on the third floor of a compound called Thiols that was contained on site by staff. Police were notified that the compound is not hazardous to humans if it has been contained and compiled a report on the incident. —compiled by Avi Gold
BRIEF Gessel honored with dinner
MIHIR KHANNA/the Justice
Workers began gathering old furniture in Shapiro Residence Hall to be destroyed as part of renovations in Massell Quad. New furniture will be installed in Shapiro for the Class of 2019 in the fall.
On May 8, community members honored the retiring Prof. Ira Gessel (MATH) with a conference and dinner, according to a May 14 BrandeisNOW article. Gessel earned a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977, and joined the Brandeis faculty in 1984. In his nearly 31 years at the University, Gessel has taught a wide range of mathematics courses—from MATH 23b, “Introduction to Proofs,” to MATH 180a, “Combinatorics.” During the conference, Prof. Daniel Ruberman (MATH)—the chair of the mathematics department—praised Gessel as both a model professor and a model citizen, according to the BrandeisNOW article. “It’s hard to imagine the department without Ira,” Ruberman said. “Not only is Ira a great mathematician but he’s also been a great citizen of the department. He is always willing to sit down with students and colleagues. Every time I walked by his office, there was also someone in there with him.” Several students also stepped up to praise Gessel, with many noting his “way of gently correcting or pushing his students toward the right answer,” according to the article. “Ira was an incredibly patient teacher,” said Matthew Moynihan, Ph.D. ’12. “He would give me a problem to solve and suggest a few ways to solve it. Then, I would work on it for a month, finally figure it out and realize that Ira had suggested the right solution weeks ago but he wanted me to figure it out on my own.” Additionally, the mathematics department presented Gessel with a framed genealogy poster of Gessel’s mathematical decedents, or students. Speakers for the conference—which celebrated Gessel’s career and mathematic innovation— included Andrew Gainer-Dewar, a mathematics professor from Hobart and William Smith College; Kyle Petersen, a mathematics professor from DePaul University; Richard Stanley, a mathematics professor at MIT; Dennis Stanton, a mathematics professor at the University of Minnesota; and Guoce Xin, a mathematics professor at Capital Normal University.
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THE JUSTICE
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TUESDAY, mAY 19, 2015
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Faculty
Lawrence stresses importance of teaching ■ President Lawrence
announced two new policies and thanked the faculty in Thursday’s meeting. By abby patkin JUSTICE editor
At Thursday’s faculty meeting, University President Frederick Lawrence announced the adoption of two new policies—one stating the University’s minimum wage and one opposing conflict minerals—and thanked his colleagues for all their help and support during his four years at the University. Chairman of the Presidential Search Committee Larry Kanarek ’76 also announced that the committee will likely be naming the new president in the early fall, and this new University president will be starting in the summer of 2016. Lawrence began the meeting by acknowledging the professors who will be retiring this year, of whom Profs. Sarita Bhalotra (Heller), Barry Friedman (Heller) and Edward Kaplan (COML, ROMS) were in attendance. Lawrence then called up University Registrar Mark Hewitt for the awarding of degrees and honors. According to Hewitt, there are 956 undergraduate degrees in total for the 2015 commencement. 161 students are graduating with departmental honors, 7 are graduating with joint master’s and bachelor’s degrees, 776 master’s degrees are being awarded and 100 doctorates are being awarded, Hewitt told the audience. Additionally, Latin honors—which require a grade point average of 3.5 or higher—have gone up five percent. Departmental honors—though on the steady decline—have stayed roughly the same, and roughly 52 percent of the class will be graduating with a double major or triple major. Hewitt then made a motion to award honors to a handful of students due to last-minute grade changes. The motion to award the degrees passed unanimously. Lawrence then gave a brief president’s report, first noting the Board of Trustees members in attendance, including Chairman Perry Traquina ’78, Presidential Search Committee Chair Larry Kanarek ’76, Lisa Kranc ’75, Adam Rifkin ’97 and Cynthia Shapira. Lawrence then announced that he had approved two new policies that morning, including the employee minimum wage policy and a new policy regarding conflict minerals. The minimum wage policy stipulates that all University employees will be paid a minimum of $15.05 per hour, which Lawrence said is in the top tier of minimum wage rates at universities across the country. He noted that the policy is “an affirmation of what we have been trying to do” and involves “taking what has been a practice and making it a policy.” The policy on conflict minerals requires University administrators to
ask electronics suppliers to share reports on potential use of conflict minerals. Conflict minerals are minerals from areas where the proceeds from mineral sales are used to fund violent conflict, most notably in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The new conflict mineral policy, Lawrence said, “allows us to now put ourselves on the record in due diligence.” Both policies will take effect on July 1. Lawrence also announced that Jamaica Kincaid would be speaking at the School of Humanities diploma ceremony, while Yotam Ottolenghi would be at the Board of Trustees dinner. Lawrence then addressed the faculty to thank them and say goodbye. “It has been my great, great honor to serve as your president,” he said. “A president should never forget that first and foremost, a president should be a member of his faculty. … Professor is the highest title you can have at this institution. It has been an honor to be your president, and it has been an even greater honor to be your colleague.” Lawrence then presented the Wellington prize, which was created in 1993 by an anonymous donor. The donor stipulated that the money must be used for something non-scholarly, and thus the award is something of a “digression prize,” Lawrence said at the meeting. The award recipient’s name is chosen randomly from a paper bag, and Lawrence pulled out and read the name of Prof. Greg Childs (AAAS, LALS), who was not present. Provost Lisa Lynch then took the podium for her provost’s report. She began by acknowledging Prof. Irving Epstein’s (CHEM) agreement to take over as interim provost while she works as interim president. She also told the faculty that there will be “some stability on the academy side,” as Prof. Marty Krauss (Heller) will continue on as the Dean of the Heller School for Social Policy and Management for another year. Additionally, Lynch noted, she will be posting and emailing the final list of teaching and research innovation awards in the coming week. There will also be reports from faculty who have received those awards. According to Lynch, the administration hopes to move quickly to a conclusion in the search for dean of research, and they will also be setting up a website for emeriti faculty and creating an emeriti counsel that will select a representative for the University Advisory Committee. The University has also been working with Vice Provost, Chief Information Officer and University Librarian John Unsworth to set up some extra space in the Library for emeriti faculty who may not have offices. All these efforts, Lynch said, are in the interest of including emeriti faculty more. Lynch also talked about meeting with representatives from the diversity committee to discuss recent issues of race at the University. She briefly mentioned the possibility of creating a new position that would be somehow
LAST ADDRESS
MIHIR KHANNA/the Justice
WISHING FAREWELL: In his final president’s report, Lawrence discussed the importance of the role of professor. linked to the current Title IX position. To end her provost’s report, Lynch thanked Lawrence for his time and efforts while at the University. “Brandeis will always be part of you, and you will always be part of us,” she told Lawrence. Faculty Senate Chair Prof. Tom Pochapsky (CHEM) then took the podium to deliver the Faculty Senate report. Pochapsky congratulated newly elected Faculty Senate members and thanked those who recently completed their terms on the Senate. Pochapsky noted that this would be his last time addressing the faculty as the Faculty Senate Chair, as he will be on sabbatical in the fall and will be succeeded by Prof. Susan Curnan (Heller). Kanarek then updated the faculty on the presidential search process. He briefly reiterated the updates he had given at last month’s faculty meeting, mentioning the members of the presidential search committee and the recent hiring of search firm Spencer Stuart. Kanarek also discussed the committee’s desire to be transparent throughout the selection process. “Our plan is to be really transparent about this,” he said, “except [for] the names of candidates. You cannot breathe a word of that, or everyone will flee. The search committee has signed confidentiality agreements and we must stick to that.” Kanarek then opened the floor up to discussion. Some faculty members said they felt the past two University presidents have aligned themselves too greatly with Israel, citing the Uni-
versity’s mission statement, which says the University owes loyalty to no country. Kanarek responded that the religious and cultural identities of the University have been in a state of change recently, yet he added there are “healthy paradoxes that make Brandeis unique and … keep things in balance.” Kanarek noted the University’s largely Jewish sponsorship, and that it conflicts with the policy of having no religious alignment and celebrating differences. Finally, Kanarek told the faculty that the committee is looking for a candidate who has previous experience running an institution and who “resonates with” the University’s values, including free speech. “If you don’t tolerate really bad speech, then that’s not free speech,” he said. Prof. Carol Osler (IBS) then addressed the faculty to summarize what the University Budget Committee has been doing recently. Osler noted that the committee has “actively reviewed” University budget matters and has been involved the last two years in employee minimum wage research and preliminary recommendations. The committee has also been investigating presidential compensation, and gave recommendations to the board, she said. Lynch then discussed the issue of the University’s carbon footprint, noting that she wants to move “much more aggressively with respect to lowering our carbon footprint.” She said there will be a new Univer-
sity employee who will embed sustainability into “everything we do on this campus,” and one of this employee’s first tasks will be completing an audit to measure the University’s carbon footprint. “We must make progress with respect to reducing our carbon footprint,” Lynch said. “This is something I’m very committed to doing and I hope you hold me to [this commitment.]” Prof. John Ballantine (IBS) then took the podium to discuss the Brandeis University Exploratory Committee on Fossil Fuel Divestment’s recently-released 175-page report. The report advocates for socially-responsible investing practices, and strongly suggests that the University divest as much as possible from fossil fuels. The faculty heavily debated whether divestment—complete or incomplete—was the right way to approach climate change, and spent a great amount of time weighing the pros and cons of divestment. Pochapsky argued that the University and its faculty members should act as “active shareholders, activists,” and should attend shareholder meetings to get a better understanding of where the University is investing its money. Other professors argued that attending shareholder meetings wouldn’t be possible, due to federal regulations. After the debate had died down, Lynch addressed the remaining faculty members and dismissed the meeting, telling everyone to enjoy the sunshine and good weather.
Student Activism
Library protest results in new staff training ■ In response to a student
demonstration, Goldfarb library has announced the creation of new norms. By Max Moran JUSTICE Editor
Goldfarb Library will begin gathering student input on new norms for how its space is used in the fall, according to Vice Provost, Chief Information Officer and University Librarian John Unsworth. The norms will help establish “a shared community sense of what’s permissible where and when,” according to Unsworth. The new norms are part of the library’s response to a student demonstration on May 1, during which University librarians called Brandeis police, which generated backlash from participating students. Over the summer, University librarians will complete training on how to respond to civil disobedience, as well as training on “some of the issues that were behind the students’ reaction to the situation which I think have to
do with race and with the issues that are going on in the larger context of the nation right now,” according to Unsworth. In the fall, Goldfarb will also resume student exhibitions about social justice and “brown-bag lunch” roundtable discussions on a range of topics, including social justice, according to Leah Hoffman M.A. ’16. Hoffman, who was one of the organizers of the student demonstration, noted that the library held brown-bag lunches in the spring, but they were poorly attended, which she hopes will not be the case with the upcoming events. The demonstration was held in front of the library’s circulation desk, and was attended by between 20 and 30 students with 10 to 15 more joining partway through the event, according to Hoffman. In an interview with the Justice, she stated that the demonstration was “about the marginalization of students and the duality that students have to operate in. So talking specifically about students who may be part of marginalized groups and the stress that they have during finals.” Hoffman said she began planning the demonstration three days before
the May 1 action, alongside Sarah Gray Ph.D ’18 and Maya Cooper ’15. According to Hoffman, the demonstration was only “in a way” a direct reaction to the Baltimore protests in response to the violent arrest of Freddie Gray, which began on April 18. Hoffman said that Gray’s arrest and subsequent death “was very well something that we didn’t really anticipate,” but added that “our community, the African-American community was certainly under duress and in some serious pain again during finals, which happened last semester too. I would be remiss to say that it wasn’t in response, so it definitely was, but I think it also was in response to ‘this is finals, and this is what we are continuing to have to deal with.’” According to Hoffman, “We didn’t even think to notify the library about our action, it never came up as a thought from the three planners.” Hoffman said she wanted to make the event “a pop-up event. We wanted this to be understood as an opportunity and a voice for our community.” The students stood in a circle while holding yellow caution tape. Terrell
Gilkey ’15 spoke about his reaction to the death of Michael Brown, as he is from East St. Louis, Ill., which is about 12 miles from Ferguson, Mo. Rima Chaudry M.A. 16 spoke about her reaction as a Muslim-American to the shootings of three Muslim students in North Carolina in February, according to Hoffman. In between speakers, the students chanted “My community is crying, my community is dying” three times, according to Hoffman. At the end of the event, students listed the names of people killed by police officers within the past year as compiled by the Black Lives Matter website. In an interview with the Justice, Unsworth said that one of the University librarians called Brandeis police’s non-emergency phone number and asked the police to oversee the event. Unsworth, who was not in the library at the time, called this choice “a mistake…First of all, because it’s campus policy not to interfere with non-violent demonstrations but more than that ... [it was] a mistake just because of the larger national context. I think the student reaction to the presence of campus safety officers reflected that larger
context and they were upset by that.” According to Hoffman, two officers arrived as the students were dispersing. She was disappointed with the reaction “because we are talking about a community—communities—that have been certainly violated by police…At no time did a librarian come up to us, at no time did anybody come up to us and ask, y’know, ‘Who are the organizers of this?’ There was no sort of communication and so it was just handled through campus security which was unfortunate and disappointing.” Unsworth and Hoffman met on Monday to discuss the demonstration and the library’s new policies going forward. Unsworth relayed a personal apology at the meeting. Hoffman called the meeting “phenomenal,” and added that LTS staff undergoing civil disobedience training is “more than I honestly could have asked for.” Hoffman added that she hopes to form “a bigger collective” between undergraduate and graduate students, discussing the issues around and forming a community for marginalized students and their allies.
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TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015
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THE JUSTICE
STUDENT LIFE
Interim Dharmic Prayer Center to open next semester in SCC art gallery ■ Hindu, Jain, Sikh and
Buddhist students will use the center for prayers and meditations. By MAX MORAN JUSTICE EDITOR
On April 29, students of the Jain, Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist faith communities began moving supplies into the Shapiro Campus Center art gallery in the first steps to creating a temporary Dharmic prayer center on campus. The prayer space will officially open at a ceremony in “the first month of the college opening,” according to Hindu Chaplain Vaishali Gupta. The space will only serve as a prayer space “for the time being,” according to a March 26 email from Director of Student Activities Stephanie Grimes. In an email to the Justice, Dean of Students Jamele Adams
clarified that the current art gallery will be identified as the Dharmic prayer space, “but with the understanding that there may be a different space located as an assessment of space on campus takes place in the future.” Gupta stated in an interview with the Justice that there are currently no plans for pursuing a different, permanent space. Each of the four corners of the prayer space will be designated for each of the four communities—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Gupta said that she “[doesn’t] see any issues” arising from the shared space, due to the similar underlying philosophies of all the faiths. Erik Howden ’16—the co-president of Sangha, the non-denominational Buddhist-oriented club—agreed, noting that he “wasn’t expecting it to be as easy” as it was to coordinate with the other groups. Namaskar, the association for Hindus, Jains and Sikhs, will share the space with Sangha and
other students. Gupta said that the space will also be used for events focused on cross-cultural dialogue and that students who are not of Dharmic faiths are welcome to enter the center and join meditations. The Dharmic faith students have agreed to honor reservations for the art gallery from before the room was designated the Dharmic prayer center, meaning the group had to move their supplies out of the gallery on May 15 to honor a prior reservation, then move the supplies back. In September 2014, students petitioned the University to create a permanent Dharmic prayer space. Gupta and eight to ten of these students met with Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel shortly thereafter, and he suggested that the students consider the room currently occupied by the WRC. According to Gupta and Howden, the students were told that the WRC was “being moved to another
place either way” to become part of the office currently used by Student Sexuality Information Services, and neither Gupta, Howden nor any of the other students were consulted about whether the move should occur or not. In March, the space move faced vocal student outcry, as the WRC is the meeting place for the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, a political advocacy group. Students objected to the FMLA sharing a space with the non-political SSIS. According to a March 24 Justice article, FMLA Vice President Cecile Afable ’16 was only informed of the space move after a March 13 email, one week before they were instructed to vacate the space. According to Gupta, “when we realized that they didn’t want to move, then we didn’t want that space, because we didn’t want to displace anybody and get a space.” Howden said that FMLA members quickly reached out to him and “from the
very beginning, they were like, ‘we [FMLA members] want you guys to get a space, we support that space.’” FMLA members continued to check in on the students’ progress in finding a prayer space in the subsequent weeks, according to Howden. After the space move was cancelled, the Dharmic students began regularly meeting with Dean of Students Jamele Adams to locate a suitable space. Howden added, “frankly, I’m quite happy with our movement of space” to the former SCC art gallery, as it was a location “we had thought about in our first round of getting a space in general.” Gupta stated that she is eager to move into the space and begin working on new projects. “It’s much better than the space we were thinking of initially; it’s got a lot of light,” she said. “It feels really very beautiful to be able to go there and pray there. The students are happy.”
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THE JUSTICE
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TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015
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EPSTEIN: Interim
CELEBRATING SUCCESS
provost intends to support research CONTINUED FROM 1
GRACE KWON/the Justice
Prof. Kathryn Graddy (ECON) introduced speakers at the induction ceremony for the newest members of Phi Beta Kappa on Saturday afternoon in Spingold Theater.
Professor of Chemistry and has been teaching at the University since 1971. He worked to bring the first Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Posse to the University. According to the University’s information page for Posse, the program is “a merit-based scholarship program,” and the Science Posse “encourages students to pursue the sciences.” According to Lynch’s email, Epstein was also named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor for his “pioneering ideas to increase diversity in the sciences,” which includes targeting students from New York and Atlanta through the Posse program. Epstein will leave his current position as the interim dean of research. Administrators are interviewing the last finalist next week and hope to make a selection "shortly after that," he wrote in an email to the Justice. Lynch first asked if Epstein would be willing to serve as interim Provost earlier this year when Lawrence announced his departure from the University, Epstein wrote in an email to the Justice. Before the decision could be announced, both the Faculty Senate and the Board of Trustees needed to approve it. “I hope to continue the very positive steps that have been taken over the past several years to strengthen
research and teaching at Brandeis,” Epstein wrote. “In particular, I plan to work closely with the new Vice Provost for Research … to improve support for research across the university, to work with the Center for Teaching and Learning as well as other units to champion both new and traditional approaches to outstanding teaching, and to … work together [with community members] to make Brandeis an even better institution.” Epstein also wrote that he believes this period is “one of the most exciting” in his 44 years at the University. “In addition to outstanding faculty, staff and students, the university is now on a sound financial footing, and there is a sense of optimism as we search for our next president,” he wrote. “I look forward to serving in this position and to helping to facilitate the transition to the next stage in the life of the university.” Though he was scheduled to teach a General Chemistry class, 11b, next year, Epstein wrote that the “many responsibilities of serving as provost are not compatible with teaching a class of 200-250 students,” and as such, he will return to teaching once he has completed his term. Epstein wrote that he expects to hold the position until the Presidential Search Committee selects a new University president and Lynch returns to the Provost position.
BLC: The Just Employment Policy would create a new oversight infrastructure for all staff members CONTINUED FROM 1 enacted but which are compiled into one document for ease of understanding. If the Just Employment Policy is officially adopted, the new practices would include “a living wage policy for all staff,” according to the Just Employment Policy. This living wage would be calculated by the Crittenton Women’s Union’s Economic Independence Calculator, which currently calculates the living wage for a single adult in Waltham to be $15.05 per hour, according to a post on the BLC Facebook page. Staff directly employed by the University are already guaranteed a minimum wage of $15.05 per hour under the new minimum wage policy announced at this week's faculty meeting. Xerox and Sodexo employees, however, are not guaranteed a
$15.05 minimum wage; currently, Sodexo employees earn $12.51 per hour for their first five years of employment, according to the BLC. The Just Employment Policy also calls for “index[ing] living wage annually to keep pace with rising cost of living.” When asked whether students employed by the University would be guaranteed a living wage, Nguyen told the Justice that BLC is “not hard about living wage being universal,” but added that “students come from different economic backgrounds.” BLC member Marisa Budlong ’15 told the Justice in an interview that the policy is “specifically left pretty broad for the University and students to mold it.” “I think that’s something that would also come out at future meetings,” she said. “… Because this is something where we need to have collaboration with other people.”
The term “staff,” which is used in the Just Employment Policy includes student employees, according to the Rights and Responsibilities handbook. Other new policies would include “tak[ing] punitive action against subcontractors found to be violating union contracts,” according to the Just Employment Policy. As per Massachusetts law, the University does not intervene or prevent workers from forming a union, but the University does not have a policy that urges punitive action against contractors who violate union agreements, according to Nguyen. According to the BLC, Sodexo has cut full-time workers’ hours and ignored grievances procedures despite contracts stipulating that grievances be addressed within five days of being filed. BLC also claims that in October 2014, Sodexo workers reported a backlog of grievances dating back
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to April 2014. Sodexo General Manager Shawn Monaghan did not respond to requests for comment by press time. BLC was unable to work with Unite Here! Local 26—the union which represents Sodexo workers— on the Just Employment Policy because “it’s been difficult to actually contact them this semester,” according to Nguyen. However, he added that BLC had previously mentioned their plans for the policy to union representatives and “they seemed to like it.” The Just Employment Policy also calls for the creation of an oversight infrastructure to enforce its own policies. Vice President for Campus Operations James Gray told BLC in a meeting last Fall that the University currently has no oversight mechanisms for evaluating labor conditions, according to a BLC Facebook post. Gray did not respond to requests for comment by
the Justice
press time. Budlong told the Justice in an interview that “when we talked to Lisa Lynch, she seemed to emphasize the need to have infrastructure to enforce this, and basically told us that that should be our main priority. … The infrastructure is really the important part, because that’s how these things are going to get enforced.” “Just broadly, we want some sort of committee composed of faculty, workers, students [and] staff that will annually check up on labor conditions around campus and publish an annual report,” said Nguyen. BLC hopes to create the infrastructure through continued talks with University administrators. Nguyen added that “we don’t have as much experience or knowledge as many administrators, [but] I don’t [think] that makes the measures we want to implement illegitimate in any ways.”
CONTACT MAX MORAN AT EDITOR@ THEJUSTICE.ORG
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TUESDAY, May 19, 2015 | THE JUSTICE
just
features
Fred reflects
President Lawrence sat down with justFeatures to speak about his term as president and the University’s future. Below is an abridged version of the interview; the unabridged version can be found on the Justice’s website. MIHIR KHANNA/the Justice
END TO AN ERA: President Fred Lawrence spoke at the 64th commencement exercises about his time as president, before introducing Thomas Pickering as the commencement speaker.
After five years as Brandeis’s eighth president, President Lawrence will be leaving Brandeis University next month to return to full-time scholarship and teaching as senior scholar at Yale Law School. justFeatures: What inspired you to accept the presidency back in 2010 after Jehuda Reinharz had first stepped down? Frederick Lawrence: I think a couple of things. One is the overall reputation of the University, and the model of the University as a research university and a liberal arts college which was fascinating to me from the beginning and continues to be. And the way in which the school, without being a religious institution, is an iconic institution for the American Jewish community. It has roots in the American Jewish community, which, to me, was the opportunity, as I said at my inauguration, to tie all the threads of my life together. JF: Shortly after you entered the presidency, you announced the Strategic Plan, which came out in 2013.You said that you wanted to “make a lifelong community where prospective students are strongly drawn, current students are deeply attached and
alumni are enduringly committed.” We’ve seen record-high [numbers of] applicants and high class sizes. This is also coming at a time when more and more students are applying to college in general, but we’ve also had these record highs. Meanwhile, many are citing your low fundraising numbers as a reason for stepping down. How do you respond to that accusation? FL: They’re not low fundraising numbers. I mean, let’s just start with the numbers. The number of dollars raised as cash-in or pledges during my presidency is over 225 million dollars. And that compares very favorably with any comparable time in this University, or other universities. If you compare my first four years with the last four years of a capital campaign, not surprisingly, the numbers are not going to be the same. On the other hand, if you compare it with the first four years of any of my predecessors, or any other University, it compares very favorably. Most successful first four years of any president at Brandeis. In terms of the overall outreach, I think I was able to reach out broadly to alumni, and there’s a wide range of alumni who’ve reconnected with the University. There’s a lot more to
be done in fundraising, there’s a lot more to be done in alumni relations, but that’s always the case. So I’m very pleased with what we’ve been able to achieve in both those areas. One last question on the topic of the Strategic Plan: You said that “Brandeis will be innovative in order to lead in areas of strength. We must identify and support programmatic initiatives that advance path-breaking research, scholarship and creativity, and that enhance our undergraduate and graduate curricula.” What would say are some of those areas of strength? What are the initiatives that are breaking new ground? FL: I think in the sciences, continuing to fortify research opportunities both for undergraduates and, of course, graduate students—and a good example of that is we established a partnership with Israeli post-doctoral students in neuroscience to come to Brandeis. The fact that a small institution like Brandeis relative to other research universities was able to get that prominence in neuroscience is a good example where we make a big difference. I think the teaching innovation center that was established
during my time is a great example of a real commitment to teaching and the science of teaching. We take teaching very seriously here, and I think students are the beneficiaries of that. So I think that’s another good example. There’s a real focus both on the teaching side as well as on the research side. Unusual for a research university to take teaching undergraduates so seriously. JF: Some members of the administration have said that your legacy as a president will be that you pulled the university into the black after 2008….what do you think of that? FL: You take the challenges as you find them. I’m very proud of the fact that I came to a University with an endowment that was … $670, 680— today it’s over 900 million dollars. Highest in the history of the University. The draw rate, the amount we take out of the endowment, has gone dramatically down since I became president to a much more sustainable level and will continue to. We’re on a glide path now to bring it down even lower over the coming five years, ten years. The fact that we have a budget that, with a reduced draw rate in the endowment, actually shows a surplus,
When I think about walking around campus and the places that I feel have made a big difference, that part of campus—both the Rose Museum itself as well as the wonderful Light of Reason sculpture in front of it— the building of the Board of Overseers in the Rose, which had largely come to a standstill. We added 15 new members to that board who now play a major role in supporting it, so that’s something I take enormous pride in You mentioned applications before. It’s true that applications are up at other schools, but over my time, [they are up] well over 35 percent. That’s not true at most schools. So I’m very pleased with that. And all
Oct. 27, 2011:
Jan. 1, 2011:
A presidential term in review
not a deficit, is something I take enormous pride in. So, no, I didn’t come here with a finance background, but I had run a large complex law school where I was in charge of the finances among other things. I would add, by the way, when I think about my legacy that yes, it’s the financial side of the house, and I take enormous pride in the money that we raised for the growth of the endowment and the budget being on a sustainable course that allows us to go forward on a much better and healthier way financially. I also take enormous pride in the Rose Art Museum.
The Rose Art Museum reopens after a 1.7 million dollar renovation project.
Lawrence is named the eighth president of Brandeis University. MIHIR KHANNA/the Justice
Karina Wagenpfeil/Justice File Photo
Sept. 8, 2011: Lawrence announces Strategic Plan, focused on the future of the University.
Jan. 21, 2012: The Linsey Pool is officially reopened after three-year-closing.
THE JUSTICE | TUESDAY, May 19, 2015
Photo Courtesy of Mike Lovett
GRATEFUL GRADUATES: Graduating students from last year’s commencement exercises shake hands with President Lawerence amongst a crowd of soon-to-be Brandeis alums, marking his second-to-last time participating in graduation. the quality numbers of our students, however you measure these things, have certainly gone up. And I think the campus shows the look of what we’ve been able to do. In the time that I’ve been here, we’ve quadrupled the amount spent on deferred maintenance, which is something nobody likes to talk about since it doesn’t sound interesting, but boy, you sure can see the difference. On a spring day like today, the campus sparkles and it looks the way it’s supposed to look. Everything from the grounds to reopening the pool, to the new grounds center to the new Lemberg Center, to renovations in East, Ziv—a lot of the work that we have been able to do really changes the look and feel of campus. JF: If you had to pick one thing, what would you say is the greatest strength of the University right now? FL: You know, it’s hard to say a single thing. But I think it’s the people. It’s the students who we attract, the faculty who we attract and retain. People come to Brandeis to give, not to take, and that’s who we attract, and that’s what makes it the place that it is. JF: Conversely, what would you say is the greatest weakness? FL: I think a challenge for us and for all higher education is to continue to raise the funds that we’re going to need to be able to meet the needs that we have. One of the reasons that I launched that Catalyst Fund for Financial Aid, a hundred-milliondollar fund all designed to support financial aid, is that is a crucial need for this and any top-flight university. Now, we’re nearly halfway through that campaign, so that’s a very good thing. But that has to be completed, and we need to be able to maintain our historic commitment to be able to bring the best and brightest students to Brandeis regardless of their ability to pay. And that’s going to continue to be a challenge. It’s a good challenge, because we’re talking about raising funds to support a very strong program. But that’s going to continue to be an important challenge.
really think that that is the role of my successor—that given the fact from the time conversations started in the last months of my presidency, it would not be appropriate for me to make that decision. But I wanted to do two things that we’ve been able to do. One is to make a clear statement that given what happened, and given the reaction to it in Al-Quds, that we had to make some stand in terms of the nature of the relationship. Which is why, with pressure on both sides to do nothing and to sever, I chose a different course which was to suspend, to allow a conversation to continue. So that’s one thing. The second thing is to make sure that the channels of communication do remain open. And in the time since the suspension faculty have gone back and forth, and students have gone back and forth, with complete awareness and support from this office. This is about maintaining communication and maintaining that level of connectedness. And we’ll see what the future holds. JF: Tell me a little bit about the decision to rescind Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s degree last year. Why did you make that choice? FL: I made that choice, first of all, in consultation with others. It was not my decision in isolation. But I made that decision because information that came to my attention, subsequent to the invitation—and I wish we’d had it before—but subsequent to the invitation made clear that in addition to the many very impressive things she has done, that there were comments she was identified with and had never stepped back from that were delegitimizing in a way that I thought at the time, and still think, was inconsistent with the best values of Brandeis. And that’s why we had to make that decision. JF: On a similar topic, for the past two years now Brandeis has been listed on the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education’s list of the schools that are worst for free speech. Brandeis is getting a little bit of a reputation for being a poor school for free speech. What do you think of that?
JF: I want to talk a little bit about last year specifically. There was one major event where the University [suspended] its ties with Al-Quds University. … Do you stand by the choice to suspend that relationship?
FL: I’m not sure that that is in fact the reputation, but if it is, it’s not accurate. I think if you look at the range of discussion that goes on on this campus on every issue including the most controversial issues, it is a place that is safe to express those views.
FL: I certainly stand by that decision to suspend that relationship. I have been asked, particularly recently, whether we would restore the full relationship, and I have said that I
Students are able to protest in a whole range of venues and forums, students are free to gather outside my office, they’re free to be present when we dedicate the Light of Rea-
MIHIR KHANNA/the Justice
ALL SMILES: President Lawrence presents Suzanne Farrell, a legendary ballerina, with one of the five honorary degrees at this year’s 64th commencement exercises.
son, they are free to use this campus as a major free expression forum. I encourage that. And I think the people who by-and-large say on the outside that it’s not a place where free speech is protected, I think they ought to spend a little time on campus. My guess is you’ll find most of them haven’t spent a lot of time here. We’ve had speakers on almost every side of every issue on this campus, and certainly no speaker is restricted from campus based on that speaker’s views, and I get calls on a regular basis from people who want to know “How can so-and-so speak on this side of the issue? How can so-and-so speak on that side of the issue?” That’s what a university is about. JF: Do you see yourself being involved with Brandeis in any capacity in ten years? FL: Ten years is a long time out to think. I will always remain connected to this University wherever the road leads me. These have been very special years for me. So I will certainly always have a strong feeling for this school, and more directly, I will always be available to help in any way that I can. And as I step down as president, I remain a member of the faculty, a member of the Politics department and also an affiliated member of Heller School of Social Policy and Management. Any way I can be helpful. Right now I can tell you that I’m really focusing on next year at Yale Law School. I’ve got several projects I want to work on. That’s my short term focus. After that things will become a little bit clearer.
MORGAN BRILL/Justice File Photo
A WARM WELCOME: President Lawrence gives the last convocation address of his presidential term, welcoming the class of 2018 on Chapel’s Field this past fall.
JF: What are some of those shortterm projects at Yale? FL: I expect to take on a book-length project dealing with some of the issues that you and I have been talking about. Which is to say the challenges and the interrelation between free expression and civility, specifically within a college campus but even perhaps beyond a college campus. A lot of my earlier scholarly work in the area of bias-motivated violence dealt with the free expression issues that are implicated by hate crime law. So much of that has been of intellectual interest to me going way back. In fact, my law journal note that I wrote in 1979 to 1980 was about first amendment issues. So these go way back, they’re of great interest for me. So I think that will be an important part of what I’m doing. And I have no teaching obligations for next year, so it really will be a research time, and a thinking time and a writing time. —Max Moran
MIHIR KHANNA/the Justice
EMOTIONAL EMBRACE: Jamaica Kincaid embraces President Lawrence after he awarded her with an honrary degree during the commencement ceremony this past Sunday, for her inpsiring work as a literary writer in short fiction, essays and novels.
GRACE KWON/Justice File Photo
Nov. 18, 2013
April 2014:
Lawrence suspends academic partnership with Al-Quds University.
Jan. 30, 2015:
Lawrence announces that the budget is operating in the black.
Lawrence announces his decision to resign as president, effective Jul. 1.
Photo Courtesy of Mike Loveitt
Apr. 8, 2014: University rescinds offer of honorary degree to Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
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Sep. 25, 2014: “Light of Reason” installation opens in front of the Rose Art Museum.
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TUESDAY, May 20, 2014
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COMMENCEMENT 2015
2015 HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS SUZANNE FARRELL Suzanne Farrell is one of the foremost students of noted choreographer George Balanchine and the founder of the Suzanne Farrell Ballet in the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. She began her career studying under Balanchine at the New York City Ballet and founded the Suzanne Farrell Ballet in 2000. Farrell has danced in more than 2,000 performances over her nearly 30-year career and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2003 by the National Endowment for the Arts. Lawrence said to Farrell before giving her an honorary degree, “We are grateful for your brilliance as a ballerina, your generosity as a teacher and your aesthetic contribution to the culture of dance.” MIHIR KHANNA/the Justice
JAMAICA KINCAID
MIHIR KHANNA/the Justice
Jamaica Kincaid is an award-winning novelist whose works center on social issues, including race, class and colonialism. A professor of literature at Claremont McKenna College in California, Kincaid has written five novels and five non-fiction books and received the Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award for her novel See Now Then in 2014. She was also awarded the Ansfield-Wolf Book Award in 1997 for her novel The Autobiography of My Mother. Lawrence told Kincaid, “Knowing that words matter, you write with language that speaks to our minds and goes directly to our hearts.”
YOTAM OTTOLENGHI
GRACE KWON/the Justice
Yotam Ottolenghi is a chef, restaurant owner and writer based out of London. Born in Jerusalem, Ottolenghi moved to the United Kingdom to study culinary arts in 1997 before opening a restaurant, Ottolenghi, and a number of delicatessens in London. He cooks with a Middle-Eastern flavor and maintains a weekly blog about food for the Guardian. In 2013, Observer Food Monthly awarded Ottolenghi the “Best Cookbook award” for his book Jerusalem. Lawrence said to Ottolenghi, “In food you find not only a source of nourishment for the body but also an essential ingredient in the recipe for global understanding. … You create a table in which everyone has a seat … and it’s a beautiful table.”
THOMAS R. PICKERING Thomas R. Pickering holds the title of Career Ambassador, the highest title in United States Foreign Service, having been ambassador to Jordan, Nigeria, El Salvador, Israel, Russia and India, and was twice given the Distinguished Presidential Award. Pickering helped lead the United Nations Security Council response to the Iraq invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and helped repeal the UN Security Council resolution that had equated Zionism with racism. Lawrence told Pickering, “In a field that is, truth to tell, more art than science, you have elevated diplomacy to a fine art.” MIHIR KHANNA/the Justice
HELEN VENDLER
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Helen Vendler is a noted literary critic and English professor at Harvard University, who became the first woman to be awarded the title University Professor by Harvard in 1981 after first being offered the position in 1959. Vendler began her undergraduate career studying chemistry before earning a Fulbright Scholarship to study math and earning a PhD in English literature at Harvard. The National Endowment for the Humanities gave Vendler the honor of the Jefferson Lecture in 2004, the highest honor for achievement in the humanities. Lawrence said to Vendler, “We can learn great truths about ourselves when we refract our lives though that most aesthetic form of literature.”
MIHIR KHANNA/the Justice
REAL LIFE ORIENTATION: Bethany Adam ’15 was selected as the student speaker and spoke on lessons learned from first-year orientation.
What we do beyond these walls will define our four years here; taking the wisdom and lessons we have learned here and spreading them to the people and places of our future is where the real Brandeis experience begins. —Bethany Adam ’15
MORGAN BRILL/the Justice
COMMENCEMENT bids farewell in a CONTINUED FROM 1 said, how can I not feel a special connection to the class of 2015? ... In many ways, I feel I am a member of the class of 2015.” He recounted the class of 2015’s move-in during Hurricane Irene in 2011 and said he knew “the message was clear: your flexibility, your teamwork and your optimism could bring glorious results.” Lawrence then noted that both he and the class of 2015 are facing transitions—Lawrence’s term as University president ends next month. “Change is ... above all, about beginnings,” Lawrence said. “After all, today is not called conclusions, or even transitions. It is called commencement.” Lawrence then spoke on the challenges of the presidential role, including fundraising and political polarization on campus. He noted his pride in the “stunning renaissance and revitalization of the Rose Art Museum,” the increased budgets for campus maintenance and renovations, the elimination of the University’s budget deficit, a “renewed network of alumni and connections across the globe” and devoting $9 million toward financial aid, which is “the highest in the University’s history,” according to Lawrence. “I think I am most proud that our rearticulation of the message of what is special about Brandeis and the Brandeis education has borne fruit,” said Lawrence, citing that applications have increased over 35 percent over the past five years. Lawrence then reflected that the University was founded as an institution that “would reject all forms of discrimination” including that based on race, creed, color, national origin, gender and religion. “Today,” Lawrence said. “We add sexual orientation.” Lawrence
argued that the Universit flected the Constitution’s m men—today, we would also created equal.” He cited tha Kippur break-the-fast show sity of the student body and deep roots do not narrow u us … none of us is as smart, important as all of us.” According to Lawrence, B between being a small libera and a research university cr “special” which “cannot be dermined by proliferating What we have is essential a just and essential society fended liberal arts educati “Brandeis can and must res making American higher technical] and remain an a liberal arts model.” Lawrence finally addres free speech and civility on es. Noting Justice Louis Br opinions defending the righ Lawrence added that a righ not offer guidance as to ho be used. “An expression tha hibited may certainly be cr need not always be hono said. He stressed that deba for common ground, assume other and disagree withou other personally. Lawrence then presented grees. Suzanne Farrell, ball er of the Suzanne Farrell b doctorate of arts, honoris followed by writer and n Kincaid who received a doct letters, honoris causa; chef
Good luck, C
THE JUSTICE
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the honorary delerina and foundballet, received a causa. She was novelist Jamaica torate of humane f and food writer
TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014
COMMENCEMENT 2015
GRACE KWON/the Justice
BEAMING SMILES: Graduates used the commencement exercises as an opportunity to showcase their pride of student clubs .
GRACE KWON/the Justice
HEAD OF THE CLASS: Anna Bessendorf ’15 (left) and Caiwei (Alison) Zheng ’15 (right) presented the Class of 2015 banner on Sunday.
GRACE KWON/the Justice
TO THEE ALMA MATER: Members of the a capella group VoiceMale, including Elan Wong ’15 (left), Adam Jones ’15 (center) and Benjamin Udo ’15 (right), led the Brandeis Alma Mater.
T: President Lawrence address to Class of 2015
ty’s mission remessage that “all say women—are at the end of Yom wcases the diverd proves that “our us; they broaden , or as good, or as
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Yotam Ottolenghi who received a doctorate of humane letters, honoris causa; and Pickering, who was a United States ambassador for forty years and received a doctorate of laws, honoris causa. Finally, Helen Henessy Vendler, a literary critic and professor at Harvard University, received a doctorate of arts, honoris causa. Pickering began the commencement address by joking that “commencement speeches, like a strong arrow, should be short and sharply pointed.” Pickering spoke about the importance of public service to the communities and the world, whether through government, a nongovernmental organization, a religious community or some other format. “I believe that the opportunity for such service is something that all college graduates—all university graduates—should consider and adopt at some time in their lives,” Pickering said. “We are now engaged in an election process—indeed, it is rare in this country to find that we are not so,” Pickering continued to chuckles from the audience. He noted that public servants are occasionally called corrupt or inefficient by politicians, but that this does not match his experience after a lifetime of public service. He then discussed his time as an ambassador, calling the Foreign Service “an important service” and noting that he “was lucky to have the opportunity to contribute in many ways to the future of our country.” He discussed his service in El Salvador, saying he had “the unique opportunity of taking a policy which was overly mesmerized by the threat of Communism ... [and] turning that policy around so that it focused on the people of the country, their survival, their prosperity and their future governance.” He also
noted his role in “working on processes and activities” that led up to the ongoing peace between Israel and Jordan and his role in bringing judicial reform to Columbia. Pickering said that a life of public service will not provide “a lavish living” but does provide a life that is “both interesting and rewarding.” “In public service, you have one of those opportunities to serve the values you honor and cherish: integrity, honesty, self-sacrifice, knowledge,” said Pickering. Pickering was followed by the conferring of degrees. Graduates of the Rabb School of Continuing Studies, followed by graduates from Heller, IBS, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences were conferred degrees by Lawrence en masse. Bethany Adam ’15 then delivered the student address, in which she recalled advice Lawrence offered the class of 2015 during their orientation. She said that deep friendships “are not about convenience. These relationships are about the people you want by your side when life becomes inconvenient.” She also urged the class of 2015 to follow their ambitions, saying “there will be people telling us we can’t, and it’s now our job to prove them wrong.” Allysha Gayle Roth MPP ’15 then delivered the graduate student address, stating her belief that education is the key to alleviating poverty and solving problems and that Brandeis students “seek truth, share their knowledge and dream of leadership.” President of the Alumni Association Adam Rifkin ’97 then welcomed the class of 2015 to the alumni association, and Rabbi Elyse Winick ’86 delivered a closing benediction.
Class of 2015!
Public service is part of the common cement that makes us a great country and a leader in the world. But even more important, [it] makes great individuals even greater in both their service and rewards. —Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering
MORGAN BRILL/the Justice
BRIEF Prof. Gomes-Casseres delivers address to Phi Beta Kappa inductees On Saturday, Prof. Ben GomesCasseres ’76 (IBS) delivered the annual address to the new members of Brandeis’ chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa society. The Mu chapter of Massachusetts, Brandeis’ chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, inducted 90 new students from the class of 2015 and eight students from the class of 2016, representing approximately ten percent of the graduating class and less than one percent of rising seniors. According to Prof. Kathryn Graddy (ECON), master of ceremonies at the event, students were chosen based on faculty recommendations, the quality of their academic record and the variety shown in their chosen course load. University President Frederick Lawrence gave the opening remarks, congratulating the new members and expressing hope that they push themselves to achieve great heights. “There are moments to be your own greatest cheering section, and there are moments to be your own harshest critic,” Lawrence said. “The wisdom is to know which one is which.” Prof. Craig Blocker (PHYS) then presented a brief history of the society, expressing a belief that the “ideal Phi Beta Kappan has demonstrated intellectual integrity, tolerance for other views and a broad range of
academic interests.” Blocker expressed pride in the inductees, acknowledging that “membership in Phi Beta Kappa is a real mark of excellence and the highest honor you can get in an undergraduate career.” Gomes-Casseres then welcomed the new members and implored graduates to strive to add value to society, noting that the “potential to add value is immense, precisely because you have learned to think for yourself. The world is chock full of problems, difficult problems … tackling these problems is your job.” Gomes-Casseres questioned how to translate successes in the classroom to utility in the world ahead, coming to the conclusion that the key was the Brandeis education, “where we have a long tradition of producing minds that matter.” He left the graduates with one last bit of advice. “Swimming in the real world will be different from strolling in the Brandeis bubble, and it won’t always be easy,” he said. “You will swallow water. But remember that one learns more from failure than from success, and the water is invigorating; … the water is wonderful. Jump in and swim like mad.” —Morgan Brill
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10 TUESDAY, april 28, 2015 ● THE JUSTICE
the
Justice Established 1949
Brandeis University
Max Moran, Editor in Chief Avi Gold, Managing Editor Morgan Brill and Grace Kwon, Associate Editors Abby Patkin and Rachel Sharer, Acting News Editors Brianna Majsiak, Features Editor Jessica Goldstein, Forum Editor Noah Hessdorf, Sports Editor Brooke Granovsky and Jaime Gropper, Arts Editors Michelle Banayan and Mihir Khanna, Acting Photography Editors Emily Wishingrad, Online Editor Carmi Rothberg, Copy Editor Talia Zapinsky, Advertising Editor
EDITORIALS Farewell to Class of 2015 Justice alumni With the 2015 Commencement ceremony now behind us, this board wishes to commemorate and deeply thank the newest alumni from the Justice. Throughout the years, each of these incredible men and women have contributed enormous amounts of time, energy, patience and love to putting out this newspaper every week. This board’s current members can only hope to live up to the precedent of hard work and deep commitment set by our friends and mentors. Impeccable intelligence, inquisitive writing and supreme eyewear are just a few of the special qualities that describe Tate Herbert. Tate has been a part of the Justice in many areas, serving as a staff writer, News editor, editor in chief and senior editor. Even during her year as senior editor, she scrutinized every single PDF and is famous for finding on-average ten mistakes in the Sports section alone. Never did the esteemed Sports editor, who wished to remain anonymous, manage to survive a PDF screening without Tate fining an error hidden in a fascinating article about track and field or fencing. Her quiet demeanor but relentless dedication to the paper will be missed, and the void she leaves will be difficult to replace. We wish her the best of luck in all her future endeavors and hope she can come back and visit us. Hopefully she will be back to point out the egregious blunder in the picture on page thirteen—the second baseman is facing away from the text. Rachel Hughes was an invaluable player during her time on the Justice. Incredibly committed to the paper, she worked without rest to make sure that every week it was a product we could all be proud of. She was able to see the entire picture and the small details all at once and was obsessed with the quality of everything. But more than that, Rachel served as a mentor and friend to everybody she worked with—consistently providing her staff with care, support and advice. She was always up for a run to Dunkin Donuts to celebrate a birthday of a fellow editor and down to make everybody watch a Dexter’s Laboratory cartoon at four in the morning. Rachel, we will miss you, but we know you are set out for nothing but success. Sam Mintz has been a driving force at the Justice and has served to ensure stability and growth throughout his four years here. Starting as News editor as a first-year, Sam has served as production editor, associate editor and, most recently, deputy editor, proving his dedication and perseverance when we needed him most. Sam has provided unparalleled support to the Justice. He has proved that sometimes a joke, a smile and a quiet “How is everything doing?” can serve as the pinnacle of leadership. Always encouraging us to push harder and really question our convictions, Sam has forever been a grounding presence at the Justice, and one that will be missed. Glen “Chagi” Chesir left an indelible mark on the Justice through his outspoken opinions, natural leadership and
You will all be missed wry sense of humor. As Forum editor, Chesir’s careful reasoning and thoughtful, tough critique heightened campus discourse and led to a marketplace of strong-minded, differing contributing writers filling the section every week. Chagi’s own column weighed in on topics ranging from Israeli politics to campus happenings to economic policy, and his well-articulated perspectives earned the respect of students, faculty and administrators alike. As managing editor, Chagi guided the paper to a revitalized advertising section, regularly pushed editorials to higher quality and more nuanced stances and gently led the office through crises and triumphs alike. We’ll miss his wit and laid-back attitude, as well as his tremendous contributions to the paper. This board would especially like to recognize the walking encyclopedia of AP style and Brandeis trivia that is Brittany Joyce. We commend her on her dedication to the paper, her willingness to help with whatever section of the paper needs her and her subtle but hilarious sense of humor. In the future, we would like to see Brittany visit us as much as possible, as her irreplaceable presence will be sorely missed. Brittany is an integral part of the Justice staff, and we could not have asked for anyone better. Aliza Kahn stepped up to the plate to completely revamp advertising in the Justice as co-advertising editor. Aliza’s dedication to her job ensured that all communication between advertisers and the Justice went without a hitch and that every design was always made to perfection. Her people skills were on point, making the new system run flawlessly. Aliza’s presence will be greatly missed in the office. It won’t be the same without the friendly bickering coming from the advertising desk. Jessie Miller’s confident and tothe-point leadership style made her an amazing Arts mentor and deputy editor. From her position as Arts editor to that as associate and deputy editor, Jessie was always there to lend a helping hand. She was the Arts section’s go-to if there was a last minute event that had to be covered or article that had to be written. We will miss her charismatic presence and unexpected stories as much as we’ll miss her incredible and eye-catching writing. Additionally, we wish to thank the senior staff members who contributed impeccable content week in and week out to our paper. We wish Mariya Greeley, Alec Siegel, Jennie Bromberg, and Jeremy Perlman the best of luck in the future. The example set by these seniors has led to the paper you read today, and without their tutelage and friendship, indeed none of our current editors or staff would even know how to do their jobs. We wish all of our newest alumni the best of luck in their futures, and hope they’ll continue to treasure their memories of the Justice as much as we have treasured their company.
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GABY YESHUA/the Justiice
Views the News
As the commencement ceremony comes to an end for the class of 2015, members of the class can reflect on their experiences at the University—the ones created by their class and by those before them. How have members of the class of 2015 impacted the character of Brandeis University, and how will their experiences at the University help them impact the world?
Joe Lanoie ’15 The Class of 2015’s efforts definitely transformed the school’s character irreversibly. My class has, as many students today possess, a disdain for nonsense in their personal and professional lives. This intolerance fuelled many alumni’s efforts to quell what they saw as injustice during their past four years on campus. Campus activists reformed policies and elicited statements that set new standards for future classes. They have done so by action and by the written word, which is the realm I prefer to discuss ideas in. Like Mycroft Holmes, many alumni will be known in their own circles, using their talents successfully. Like his brother Sherlock, many will become known to all for their astute desire for change. Nevertheless, I know beyond a doubt that my class will leave a mark on the world, and I am proud to be among them. Joe Lanoie ’15 is a former writer for the Hoot.
Sneha Walia ’15 I think that the Class of 2015 has impacted this university in a multitude of ways. We have seen and supported the evolution of campus institutions such as ‘DEIS Impact and B.View, helped existing programming thrive, and participated in all parts of campus with vigor. We have started new clubs, run events, marched together, sung together, read poetry together, studied together and will, shortly, take on the world together. The unity of our class, and the drive of each of our members to bring light into the world through whatever field they are passionate in, amazes me. I believe that our solidarity and mutual learning at Brandeis will allow all of us to see the intersectionality of both the problems and the solutions of the “real world.” I also think that the comfort of knowing that we have an entire graduating class and university to support us and cheer for us will go a long way in helping us achieve our dreams, as well. Graduation is an immensely emotional time, but being a member of the Class of 2015 fills me with hope during this time, as well. Sneha Walia ’15 is the former president of the Student Union.
Sam Mintz ’15 As difficult as it is for any one class of students to leave a mark on an institution like Brandeis, I think the class of 2015 did have an impact. After all, we will be the class whose legacy is tied in with President Frederick Lawrence’s—he began at Brandeis as part of our class and graduated along with us. There were many in our class who tried especially hard to make their voices heard, like the protesters at the Light of Reason opening and the organizers of the Black Lives Matters movement on campus. The words and actions of them, and of other students who engaged in important activism, will be another legacy of our class and—I hope—a good reminder to the administration in future years that students’ voices matter. Sam Mintz ’15 is a former news editor, production editor and deputy editor of the Justice.
Brittany Joyce ’15 I think a key thing to remember is that as individuals in the Class of 2015, we all impacted the character of the University through our individual activities and study. Brandeis’ vibrant academic and extracurricular community wouldn’t be the same without the time and dedication of each of us to our own activities. Members of the Class of 2015 have created new clubs, led student protests and movements and accomplished too many things to list here that have shaped the Brandeis culture, character and future—all because of their individual passions and interests. I have no doubt that as much as we have affected the character of Brandeis, this character has affected us, and we will continue to follow our passions to impact the world outside the one we created for ourselves at Brandeis. Brittany Joyce ’15 majored in Classical Studies and Italian Studies. She was a copy editor and online editor of the Justice.
THE JUSTICE
READER COMMENTARY United States’ stance on Armenian Genocide should be dicated by facts In response to your question in “Views on the News: Armenian Genocide” (Apr. 28): When a U.S. Senator, Barack Obama claimed: “... the Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence ...” However, after becoming a President, he used all the possible euphemisms to avoid the ‘g-word’. Criteria defining a genocide are sharply set by Article II of the United Nations Convention No. 1021. According to the document, a genocide is an event that aims to destroy an ethnic, racial or religious group by at least one of the following: killing the members of the group, causing bodily or mental damage, inflicting conditions making the survival of the group impossible, preventing births among the group and forcibly transferring the children from one group to another group. As then - Sen. Obama said, all of these were used in 1914 to 1920 against Armenians. Interestingly, 43 US states have recognized the events as a genocide, and the process is ongoing (the latest were Hawaii, Vermont and South Dakota all in 2015), and it looks like we will end up in a situation when all the 50 states, but not the Federal government, have recognized the fact. The reasons were given by the Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg: “We do not recognize it as a genocide, since it would threaten our relations with Turkey.” By using its political, economic and military power, Turkey pressures governments all over the world to avoid the reparations and restitutions inevitable in case of a recognition. However, considerable progress has been made during the recent years: France, Russia, Italy and many other governments and organizations (among them the EU) made official statements urging Turkey to recognize what they call an obvious fact. In the United States, the attitude of politicians has been mixed. President Gerald Ford was the first one to address the issue, while President Ronald Reagan condemned it as a crime ‘never to be forgotten.’ Still, most of the American political spectrum lies under the Turkish influence. Thus, what is considered a genocide according to the international law and what is officially recognized as one has little to do with facts and a lot to do with the political climate. As Albert Einstein said: “The international law exists only in textbooks for international law.” —Vardges Tserunyan ’17
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TUESDAY, may 19, 2015
Generalizations of political parties hurt voters Dor
Cohen Elephant in the Room On April 21, Brandeis Conservatives tabled in Usdan to facilitate discussion on federal government spending and increase political critical thinking. Students were asked to describe their views on the spending and transparency of the University, the Board of Trustees and the Student Union. Results for the Student Union survey varied between not knowing enough about the Student Union to discuss the topic to “support for the current spending level” and “support for reducing it,” as well as a significant margin of “support for greater transparency.” Regarding the Board of Trustees and the University itself, however, respondents overwhelmingly voiced support for reduced spending, practical financial practices and increased transparency. These students, hesitant to take the survey at first due to the stigma attached to conservatives at Brandeis, were surprised when told that their views were in line with the conservative view on federal government, which espouses reduced spending and increased accountability. The students then engaged in conversation over the meaning of conservatism and its relation to them which left many with a markedly different impression of the political right than they had held beforehand and more willing to learn about opinions on the other side of the aisle. The results of Brandeis Conservatives’ tabling serves as an example for the removal of preconceived political notions on a larger scale as well. With the 2016 presidential elections coming closer, most college students have already begun using the hashtag #readyforhillary on social media or forming groups in support of Senator Bernie Sanders. At the same time, they are already openly stating their opposition to voting for any Republican candidate, before the presidential race even begins in full force and the positions of all the candidates come to light. However, voters and college students in particular should rid themselves of their preconceived notions of what it means to be conservative. College students have a tendency to label Republicans and conservatives as misogynistic, homophobic or participants in other forms of bigotry, according to a 2013 study by the College Republican National Committee. Such is not the case. Being conservative and being socially liberal are not mutually exclusive, although conservative candidates don’t tend to be socially liberal. Desiring a limited federal government does not mean one is against gay marriage, and wanting the federal government to reduce its spending does not go hand-in-hand with the marginalization of women or ethnic minorities. Conversely, that most Democrats are socially liberal does not guarantee the correctness
JESSICA GOLDSTEIN/the Justice
of their views on economic or foreign policy or other issues. If college students look past the wave of antiRepublican noise that is shoveled at them—the Buzzfeed and Upworthy articles, the viral videos of statements made by the most radical right members of the GOP, the poorly argued Huffington Post pieces or Daily Show skits that skewer conservative officials with ad hominem attacks rather than reasoned debate—they might notice that they might, in fact, share some positions with those on the right. Just this past Friday, Buzzfeed published an article chastising Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio for missing an intelligence briefing while in New Hampshire, stating that this hurt his message of foreign policy experience setting him apart from the current president and Democratic hopefuls. However, Rubio has historically prioritized foreign affairs and serves on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The article did not provide a credible argument against any of Rubio’s views or delineate facts that show that Rubio indeed lacks foreign policy experience, but rather attacked his person on a pitifully weak basis. These kinds of feeble rebuttals and the generalization of Republican candidates are common among college students, as well. For example, have students actually conducted a thorough inspection of Marco Rubio’s views before ruling him out? Do they know that he was one of the staunchest supporters of immigration reform— an issue usually considered dear to Democrats’ hearts? Moreover, instead of mocking his criticism of President Obama’s outreach to Cuba, have students considered that Rubio’s family suffered heavy persecution under Castro’s brutal dictatorship and that he is more qualified to speak on the subject than most? Generalizations of the right as dense contrarians devoid of intelligent and pragmatic ideas are further far-fetched. Conservatives espouse economic views proven to be sound when integrated correctly. Significantly raising the minimum wage does pose a distinct threat of an increase in unemployment rates; this view is based on facts and precedent, not mindless conjecture. The federal debt is currently at $18 trillion; federal spending needs to be reduced to offset its continuous increase. Republicans do not want to cut spending out of a desire to stagnate the political process, but rather due to legitimate concerns over the United States’ financial future and the
worrisome size of its government. Additionally, to disagree with such aspects of President Obama’s foreign policy as the Iran deal, lack of response to Syria and Iran’s violations of his red lines, weak response to Russia’s takeover of Crimea, the advancement of the Islamic State and insufficiency of support for Israel and the United States’ Gulf allies does not make one a brainless “neocon.” Many voters simply view the president’s lack of action when presented with various red lines, insufficiency of support for crucial allies, and failure to scale back aggressors as constituting a failure on the foreign policy front. These views need not be relegated to the right. Being pro-gay marriage or pro-abortion rights does not prevent one from thinking conservatively on other crucial matters of the day. Thankfully, many students have already started understanding this distinction. A Harvard University poll conducted in November found that 51 percent of voting millennials in 2014 planned to vote Republican and that an alltime low of 43 percent of millennials approved of President Obama. The Republican victories in last year’s midterm elections further showed a rise in support for the right, as more people came to the realization that their situation under the Democratic-controlled government was not being dramatically improved. That is not to say that Republican values apply to everyone. Many students will still disagree with the Right on the aforementioned issues or refuse to vote for Republican candidates due to a sizable divide over social issues. Republican candidates might make statements that do deserve to be condemned or scrutinized. However, before rejecting them outright, students and voters in general should make an effort to discern if the views of the candidates are truly incompatible with their own, or if they do not want to vote for them because of the elephant in their logo. Many students were incredulous during the tabling when they registered that they shared a position with conservatives. They might be intrigued to learn that they agree with conservatives and Republicans on other issues, as well. Thus, when considering potential candidates to vote for in the next elections, it is crucial to remember to vote based on the issues, not the party. Vote for someone whose stances are agreeable and appealing, not because they are associated with one party or another.
Establish international investigation of violence in Myanmar Jessica
Goldstein ubuntu
Behind the barbed wires, one can see the image of something reminiscent of a former time—a concentration camp. Although today’s concentration camps do not condemn their prisoners to extermination, our minds travel back to images of Europe’s Holocaust, where we saw true evil waged based off of identity alone. Heretofore, the international community failed to see this true image of the persecution so apparent in modern-day Burma, officially known as the Republic of Myanmar. The country was ruled by military junta since 1962, and it was characterized by a period of human rights violations and lack of democratic ideals. Today, Burma is a quasi-democratic state, largely due to the successes of Aung San Suu Kyi. The Burmese politician and head of the National League for Democracy helped establish the democratic state; however, her conscience remains silent in light of recent atrocities committed against the minority Rohingya Muslim population. This is so removed from her position as the stalwart pro-democracy leader we once knew who remained under house arrest for 15 years—
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The Justice welcomes letters to the editor responding to published material. Please submit letters through our Web site at www.thejustice.org. Anonymous submissions cannot be accepted. Letters should not exceed 300 words, and may be edited for space, style, grammar, spelling, libel and clarity, and must relate to material published in the Justice. Letters from off-campus sources should include location. The Justice does not print letters to the editor and oped submissions that have been submitted to other publications. Op-ed submissions of general interest to the University community—that do not respond explicitly to articles printed in the Justice—are also welcome and should be limited to 800 words. All submissions are due Friday at 12 p.m.
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missing her own children growing up. The Rohingya population are a minority Muslim group from the northern Rakhine state in western Burma. Although the Rohingya have been living in the country for decades, they are deemed an “immigrant” population by the Burmese government. This stigma, along with years of the creation of the sole Burmese identity, helped to develop violent relations between the Muslim population and the Buddhist population following the country’s transition into democratic governance in 2010. According to United to End Genocide, some 140,000 Rohingya live in quasi“concentration camps,” where access to basic medical care is unheard of, and some 100,000 have fled the country by boat due to lack of human and political rights. If that is not enough, prominent Buddhist monks like Ashin Wirathu have taken it upon themselves to espouse hatred. This man tags his name as the “Burmese Bin Laden,” and his hateful rhetoric has influenced the country since 2001, with a brief hiatus when he was jailed for inciting anti-Muslim hatred only to be released 7 years later based on a 25-year sentence. In an interview with Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times, Wirathu expressed, “Muslims are like African catfish. They breed rapidly.” Similarly, he told the Guardian, “In every town, there is a crude and savage Muslim majority.” This hateful rhetoric contributes to a largely held belief that the Muslim minority will overtake the majority Buddhist population. This claim is ridiculous, as the Buddhist population makes up some 90 percent of that country’s population.
Fine Print
The opinions stated in the editorial(s) under the masthead on the opposing page represent the opinion of a majority of the voting members of the editorial board; all other articles, columns, comics and advertisements do not necessarily. For the Brandeis Talks Back feature on the last page of the newspaper, staff interview four randomly selected students each week and print only those four answers. The Justice is the independent student newspaper of Brandeis University. Operated, written, produced and published entirely by students, the Justice includes news, features, arts, opinion and sports articles of interest to approximately 3,500 undergraduates, 900 graduate students, 500 faculty and 1,000 administrative staff. In addition, the Justice is mailed weekly to paid subscribers and distributed throughout Waltham, Mass. The Justice is published every Tuesday of the academic year with the exception of examination and vacation periods. Advertising deadlines: All insertion orders and advertising copy must be received by the Justice no later than 5 p.m. on the Thursday preceding the date of publication. All advertising copy is subject to approval of the editor in chief and the managing and advertising editors. A publication schedule and rate card is available upon request.
If that is not enough, this hate speech is infiltrating even rural populations. According to the Guardian, Wirathu presides over 2,500 monks. His YouTube videos have been watched tens of thousands of times, and his Facebook page has thousands of followers. Unfortunately, the “Burmese Bin Laden” has waged a war on the Muslim population in Burma, and he has indoctrinated the Buddhist population. He likely has influenced violent attacks against the ethnic Rohingya population. According to the Guardian, violence erupted in June 2012 between the Buddhist and Muslim populations, leading to the deaths of 200 people and the displacement of more than 100,000. The United Nations Human Rights Council has constantly looked at the case in Burma, citing “human rights violations including arbitrary detention, forced displacement, land confiscations, rape and other forms of sexual violence, torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, as well as violations of humanitarian law.” Unfortunately, the concept of ethnic discrimination is not new to the Burmese government, a government that fails to even recognize the existence of the Rohingya. They are either forced to seek refuge elsewhere or face life in a concentration camp. Other ethnic groups like the Kachen, the Shan, the Chin and the Karen have been targeted as well. The Kachin have been targeted for their Christian beliefs and been forced to convert to Buddhism. Government mining projects have destroyed the area where the Shan community lives. The Chin have been persecuted for their practice of Christianity. The Karen have been forcibly removed from their homes because they
The Staff
For information on joining the Justice, write to editor@ thejustice.org.
live in a resource-rich area. There have been attempts at cease-fire talks with various ethnic militia groups, but continued discrimination and violence may bring into question the extent of power the president has over the military—the power that formerly ruled the country. In order to ensure legitimacy and accountability, it is important to establish an international commission of inquiry to investigate the continual violence in Burma against these populations. International relationships should be based off of a benchmark system. Any political, economic or military cooperation with Burma should be contingent upon the human rights abuses. Additionally, the economic and political sanctions on Burma should remain. The “Specially Designated Nationals” sanction list should be updated to hold individuals accountable for recent acts of violence. The United States and the international community must do something to address this preventable genocide, not only because it is our moral obligation to do so but also because the U.S. has so much influence in the country. With the implementation of these policies we can trust that the barbed wires that enclose these concentration camps do not take on another meaning. The Republic of Myanmar has a history of ethnic discrimination and violent abuses against its own people. During the days of the military junta, the singular identity of the Burmese as Buddhist only developed the violence we see today. However, the international community must pay attention to the Rohingya cry before the world is faced with yet another Holocaust in modern times.
Staff
Sabrina Sung, Leon Daniel Thorne
News: Marissa Ditkowsky, Tzlil Levy, Saadiah McIntosh,
Layout: Corey Cohen
Nikki Nikova, Rachel Shaw,
Illustrations: Margot Field, Ben Jarrett, Gaby Yeshua
Sherry Simkovic, Arianna Unger Features: Rose Gittell, Mira McMahon Forum: Abe Clark, Dor Cohen, Aaron Dvorkin, Mark Gimelstein, Kahlil Oppenheimer, Kat Semerau Sports: Elan Kane, Daniel Kanovich, Dan Rozel, Colin Warnes Arts: Linda Maleh, Anna Stern, Vanessa Alamo Photography: Tommy Gao, Leslie Kamel, Amanda Nguyen, Abigail Rothstein, Heather Schiller Copy: Annie Fortnow, Yael Jaffe, Rebecca Shi,
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TUESDAY, May 19, 2015
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THE JUSTICE
FORUM
Engage in free and open debate on Brandeis campus Glen
Chesir chagi’s chop
Among the most meaningful aspects of graduation season are the collective good wishes and farewells that the more permanent members of the Brandeis community send off to those soon-to-be-alumni whom they have come to know over the years. One such professor graciously gave me a graduation gift along with some kind words. Yet this gift represents to me much more than a simple goodbye—instead, this gift is emblematic of what higher education should be, and what it most certainly is at Brandeis University. You see, I never took a class with this professor. In fact, this professor teaches in a department I’ve never spent a day in and his office is in a building into which I’ve never ventured. Rather, this professor and I met on a somewhat limited basis through interactions in my role as an editor for this paper. In fact, it wasn’t until March of 2014 that our relationship truly flourished through a seemingly counterintuitive process: We disagreed with each other. In public. In the March 11, 2014 issue of the Justice, I wrote a column on the nature of Israel Apartheid Week and how the language the organizers used, and speakers they featured, did nothing to further any sort of productive outcome for the causes of peace that they claim to stand for; a fairly typical opinion of a Jewish Brandeis student who was raised in the greater tri-state area. In the very next week, this professor responded with his own article, passionately disagreeing with my thesis. He noted the inordinate focus on our campus with what is commonly coined the “Zionist narrative” and how Israel Apartheid Week was an opportunity to highlight the road less spoken here—the “Palestinian narrative.” The two diametrically opposed articles fostered quite the discussion on campus. Many students reached out to me personally to discuss, and some submitted comments and reader commentary. The conversation continued with many other professors and was discussed on the now notorious “Concerned” Listserv. To be honest, I was loving it; I was contributing to a free exchange of ideas, and with a professor no less! And then something peculiar happened. I started to receive contact, all from people and organizations from outside the University, who were worried that I—a Jewish, Zionist student—was being attacked by a hardlined liberal professor. One conversation in par-
ticular comes to mind: A friend had an extra ticket for a formal pro-Israel dinner event and graciously invited me to come. At the event, one pro-Israel activist approached me, hugged me and hoped that I wouldn’t let this professor silence my free speech. I couldn’t hold back my laughter. The notion that my speech was, or is, in any way silenced at Brandeis is laughable. At the time that this dramatic acquaintance felt the need to comfort me, I had just recently, and perhaps luckily, been chosen as the Managing Editor of this paper. Until that point, I had been the opinion editor—certainly one of the more intellectually stimulating experiences I have had to date. In essence, I was the one who got to choose what opinion articles got printed; I was the one who helped hundreds of others express their opinions on paper. And in fact, the only impediment to getting published was, and still is, if the opinion is poorly expressed. The actual opinion being expressed has never been censored in my time on the Justice. Ironically, I was the editor who not only allowed but encouraged this professor to respond to my article! After all, what good is an opinion if no one disagrees? Is it really, then, an opinion at all?
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After all, what good is an opinion if no one disagrees? Is it really, then, an opinion at all? Discussing the concept of free speech on college campuses, or an apparent lack thereof, has become the new fad in the mainstream media. The author Wendy Kaminer posed these questions in a February article of the Washington Post, “How did we get here? How did a verbal defense of free speech become tantamount to a hate crime and offensive words become the equivalent of physical assaults?” A Dec. 2014 editorial of the Wall Street Journal proclaimed, “Colleges of all places should be encouraging free inquiry and debate. They betray their values, and America’s, when they fail.” A. Barton Hindle wrote in Reason Magazine, “Efforts to make the classroom a ‘safe space’ have made classes unsafe for those whose views deviate from the campus norm.” It would seem from these writers that protecting free speech on campus has already become synonymous with an exercise in futility. Clearly, I must be unimaginably lucky that despite being a white, Jewish, fiscally
MORGAN BRILL/the Justice
conservative male with aspirations of success on Wall Street, I managed to survive four years at the predominantly liberal Brandeis without my speech being curbed even a single time. Many would point to last year’s rescindment of an honorary degree to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, or the Wall Street Journal exposé on our apparent bullying problem from earlier this year as proof that I am unquestionably wrong in my assessment of our free speech. Call me naive, but I guess I still don’t understand how a speech that never happened or a spat of “he’s bothering me” have anything to do with the pursuit of a marketplace of ideas. Perhaps such are examples of people’s speech being unconvincing more than unheard. Brandeis has been an academic experience that I never could have imagined upon entering. But perhaps my most profound take-away from Brandeis is something about the nature of opinions. People can, will and should disagree, even given the exact same objective set of facts; after all, that’s what differentiates us
as people from being a collective person. And the ability to express our opinions through speech is what makes us human in the first place. To quote Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes in his landmark dissent of Abrams v. United States (1919), “The best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market.” Brandeis University surely has fostered this grandiose marketplace of ideas. In my four years on campus, opinions have ranged on every imaginable topic from every imaginable angle—precisely the way it should be. Ultimately, students and professors alike have the right to say whatever they choose, both in this paper and on campus overall. To those who claim their speech has been hindered: Perhaps alternatively, the market, like with any other commodity, is highlighting a lack of demand for your opinion. And to those whose fear has prevented them from speaking up, I assure you, the only one preventing your speech … is yourself.
Defend expression and diversity through Brandeis education By david getz Justice Contributing Writer
As graduation draws near, I would hate to depart this special community with unshared feelings. With the intention of originally molding my thoughts into a commencement speech, I’ve turned to writing this Op-Ed as a reflection on my past four years as a scholar, peer and champion of our university. I want to begin with a modification of what has become an international iconic expression of individuality and a celebration of diversity and free expression: Je suis Brandeis. Brandeis would not be the same without each and every one of us. We are each special. We are unique. Yet collectively—we are a most productive and focused community. And whether it was a reassuring nod at the start of an Orgo exam, the playful salute in passing on your way to the IBS or something as important as supporting a friend in their time of need, we have each made a difference. We are single, double and triple majors. We have over-committed to our passions—from scholarly disciplines to creative pursuits, social justice and community service. We are our first Brandeis kiss on the Castle fire escape. We are every brisk walk to Dartmouth Street. We are the best Waffle Fries … ever. We are the warriors of Waltham Group, guardians of the Green Room, sentinels of the SCC and champions of Chums. We are Brandeis. And Brandeis is us. Given the current global circumstances, now could not be a better time to be a Brandeis student. All over the world, there are troubling examples of societies intolerant to diversity, opposed to ideas of acceptance and corrupt in attempting to mask truth. I’d like to highlight one occurrence in particular: On Jan 7 of this year, 12 people were killed in Paris, France. Eleven of the victims belonged to Charlie Hebdo, a satirical French magazine advocating
freedom of speech and expression. Magnetized to controversy, the magazine made a number of enemies through mocking religious beliefs and extremism. The slogan “Je suis Charlie” emerged as a response to threats to a liberal democratic way of life, backing freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Ultimately it became a cry for self-expression and individualism, with other groups adopting the phrases “Je suis Juif” and “Je suis Volnovakha” to honor victims of similar attacks in Vincennes and eastern Ukraine, targeted for their religious views, politics, and nationalities. The “Je Suis…” movement represents the unity of all people through pride in diversity and defiance in the face of those who fight to take away freedom of expression. As Brandeisians, we are the catalysts for positive change, and we stand by our diversity with strength in understanding, strength in justice. Our education and our community have armed us with an acceptance of others, priming us to combat ignorance in the real world. Our appreciation for other cultures and our belief in truth span unto the innermost parts—it is the foundation of our education here at Brandeis. And though we embrace our differences—you might be the guy who wears his bathrobe to class, or the extra peppy Student Events coordinator, or the goalie for the Brandeis Judges—today, and from this point forward, we stand together as Brandeis students and alumni. Representing a community founded on the ideals of social justice and respect for diversity, “Je suis Brandeis” is our rallying cry. I am Brandeis. It is a movement, like “Je suis Charlie,” that requires us to be bold, to stand up to irrationally rigid views, intolerance and violent radicals in our society. It is a call for the college campus to be a place where all ideas and individuals have a voice that must be respected and heard. As Brandeisians, we’ve come together to realize this cause. Our orientation motto, if you recall, was “hit the ground running.” And starting day
one, we’ve done just that. To think, in addition to our board scores and the tireless hours we put into our college essays, we had to brave a hurricane in order to move into our freshman dorms. Since then, we’ve set the dial to achievement: we’ve cultivated ourselves to directly answer not what we want to be when we grow up but who we will become. We’ve incessantly grappled with squeezing another club into our busy schedules. We’ve watched a generation of driven, model students graduate, making way for our shining moments as club leaders, UDRs and Roosevelt Fellows. “Je suis Brandeis.” We are Brandeis, in that we’ve grown as the product of those before us, and currently, we shape this campus as newcomers aspire to be the mature, ambitious people each and every one of us has become. Sir Isaac Newton put it simply: “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Every freshman has heard the orientation speech, rattling off the names of the superstars who’ve walked these halls: David Crane, Marta Kauffman, Debra Messing and Mitch Albom, among many others. Yet, in my experience, it is not the giants-of-ego who will propel us forward but the giants-of-stature: professors, dedicated peers and doers who pass up credit to simply help us on our way. Consider the countless office hours spent, guided by the enthusiasm of a professor, eager to see his students succeed; or the patient encouragement of a close friend, selflessly pushing for your understanding within hours of a final exam. This winter, in particular, was saved by the troves of maintenance workers, shoveling snow, clambering up roofs and sprinkling salt hours before we hit the snooze button before rolling out of bed. Googling “Brandeis Facilities,” the list of hardworking individuals is endless. Without credit, each of our facilities staff, our diligent maintenance workers, and our colorfully tempered Usdan and Sherman employees have made our Brandeis experience. To them, we owe resounding thanks for
their hard work and lasting impression. And to each of us who leave these hallowed halls—we will not be forgotten. Our time here has mattered, and it has contributed to this special community. Together, we’ve inspired, aspired, and perspired as individuals and as a unified force. We’ve populated peace vigils, donated hours as BUGS tutors and TAs and pried laughter from entire audiences as Brandeis Jocks in a BK Sketch. As we move forward into our bright futures, it is the legacy that we leave behind that contributes to the growth of this community. Regardless of your final direction, remind yourself: “Je suis Brandeis.” As you prepare yourselves for the real world, remember the lifelong friendships you’ve made, the professors and administrators you’ve connected with, the community you’ve embraced and the community that embraced you. Remember the traditions of your classmates—engrain them in your memory. Hold fast to the pride you feel on the Brandeis Shuttle back from an Massachusetts Insitute of Technology party in Boston. Cling tightly to the victory of catching a Midnight Buffet T-Shirt or of enduring the cold as a dedicated Coven-Corner-Crusader. Consider the number of points you’ve spent on F’reals while crunching out Computer Science problem sets, the hours spent questioning why you thought working in Farber would be at all productive or the myriad of Einsteins’ bagel-and-shmear combinations you’ve tried. I encourage each and every one of you, as you come to your own, to reflect on the special community within which we’ve all thrived, the community characterized by courage and strength when faced with falsehood. Je suis Brandeis. I am Brandeis. You are Brandeis. And Brandeis is you. Stand for justice. Seek strong, genuine communities. “Hit the ground running,” and don’t ever stop. Congratulations to the Class of 2015 community!
SOFTBALL: Cote pitches five strong innings in title game CONTINUED FROM 16 RBI and three runs scored. Shortstop Madison Sullivan ’16 also went 2-3 for the game, scoring two runs to help the cause. Right fielder Madison Hunter ’17 was the third player to go 2-3 on the day while also adding one scored run for the squad. Sullivan was optimistic heading into the competition. She said that the team had “a very positive attitude going into the tournament. We had just won 8 of our last 10 games and we were finally starting to put things together as a team and play the way we knew we could.” Judges 10, Suffolk 5 The Judges ended the regular season sweeping Suffolk in a double-header 10-2 and 8-0 on April 29 at home. After Suffolk got the first run on the scoreboard, infielder Allison Hecht ’17 scored off of a Coleman single and two throwing errors from Suffolk in the bottom of the second inning. Hunter doubled to left field in the same inning to score Coleman and give the Judges the 2-1 lead. The team would never relinquish the lead as the entire squad contributed to the effort. Shapiro was the big hitter for the day, going 2-for-5 with a total of four RBIs off of an important double. Sullivan was also big for the Judges with two RBIs off of a 2-for-3 afternoon. Hunter, Kamber and first baseman Jordan Buscetto ’16 also each added an RBI for the team. Hunter, Novotny, Shore and Coleman all scored two runs apiece for the Judges. Cote got the start once again for the Judges, this time only going four innings while being unable to pick up the victory. Cote allowed one unearned run
on three hits and one walk while striking out four. Wroblewski came in again to relieve Cote and managed to pick up the victory in her three short innings of work. She allowed four runs, only one of which was earned, while giving up four hits and striking out a total of three batters. Every Judges starter had a hit in the Judges’ incredible total of 16 in the contest. Sullivan and the team recognized the adversity that they faced in approaching the championship game against Albertus Magnus. “Despite some injuries, we had strong practices leading up to the tournament. Our pitchers were able to keep runners off the bases and our bats started to really come alive,w” she said. The Judges closed the season at 21-14 overall, including an 11-2 record in home games. The squad performed well in big games throughout the long season. It was able to defeat conference foes, New York University and Case Western Reserve University. Along with the UAA victories, it was successful against regional competition such as Bates College, the University of Massachusetts Boston and Bowdoin College. Sullivan finished the year as the offensive leader of the team, compiling a team-high of 36 RBIs and seven home runs. The seniors on the team all played major roles, both on and off the field. Sullivan remarked that “Our seniors have played a huge part of this Brandeis softball program. They have been our leaders both on and off the field and taught us what it takes to be a successful athlete for the judges. We are going to miss having them as part of our softball family, but we hope to set the same example for underclassmen that they set for us.”
BRIEF Pauri Pandian named regional assistant coach of the year Pauri Pandian, the assistant coach for the men and women’s tennis teams, has been named the Division III Northeast Regional Assistant Coach of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, Brandeis athletics announced on its website on May 8. This season marked the fourth of Pandian’s career in which he has worked under head coach Ben Lamanna. Pandian has helped the Judges earn national rankings for the past three seasons. This season, both squads finished in sixth place in the University Athletic Association conference. The men’s team finished with a record of 9-11 this year, after important victories against Tufts University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and New York University. The Judges were only able to win one of three games in the UAA tournament. The team was able to put away the University of Rochester but fell to Carnegie Mellon University and Case Western Reserve University. The squad was led by No. 1 singles player Brian Granoff ’17—who finished the season
9-12, and No. 2 singles player Michael Arguello ’17, who compiled a record of 14-7. Arguello and Jeff Cherkin ’17 led the doubles team for the Judges, as they went 13-9 in an excellent campaign. The women’s team completed the season with a record of 1110. The squad was victorious over key regional opponents Babson College, Wellesley College and Trinity College. The squad won one of three games in the UAA tournament, defeating Rochester while falling to Washington University in St. Louis and Case Western. The Judges were led by No. 1 singles player Carley Cooke ’15 and No. 2 singles player Haley Cohen ’18. Cooke finished the season with a record of 12-8 while Cohen went 9-9. Playing doubles together, the duo compiled a record of an impressive victory of 12-8. During Pandian’s time with the Judges, the teams have earned 13 UAA Athletes of the Week, 11 second-team All-Association honorees and 33 Academic All-Association honorees. —Noah Hessdorf
KICKING IT AROUND
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During Senior Week, teams competed for the title of Intramural Senior Week Kickball champion. Stallion and the Kids defeated Watch Out For Bender Over in the finals.
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TRACK & FIELD
jUDGES BY THE NUMBERS baseball UAA STANDINGS
TEAM STATS
Final season results.
Ryan Pocock ’18 led the team with 24 RBIs. Player RBI Ryan Pocock 24 Ryan Tettemer 15 Nick Falkson 14 Connor Doyle 13
UAA Conference W L Emory 6 2 WashU 6 2 Case 4 4 Rochester 5 7 JUDGES 2 6 NYU 2 6
Runs Batted In
Overall L Pct. 13 .698 16 .698 15 .615 16 .620 20 .393 Strikeouts 23 .487 Sean O’Neill ’18 leads all pitchers with 34 strikeouts. Player Ks EDITOR’S NOTE: Sean O’Neill 34 The Judges concluded their Sam Miller 29 season on April 29 with a 4-3 Kyle Brenner 19 defeat vs UMass Dartmouth. Ryan Pocock 16 W 30 34 24 26 13 21
SOFTBALL TEAM STATS
UAA STANDINGS
Runs Batted In
Final season results. UAA Conference W L Emory 8 2 WashU 8 2 Rochester 6 4 Case 5 5 JUDGES 3 7 NYU 0 10
W 34 33 29 32 21 12
Overall L Pct. 9 .791 13 .717 13 .691 11 .744 14 .600 24 .333
Madison Sullivan ’16 led the squad with 36 RBIs. Player RBI Madison Sullivan 36 Anya Kamber 24 Cori Coleman 21 Leah Shapiro 18
Strikeouts Samantha Wroblewski ’17 leads all pitchers with 84 strikeouts.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Judges concluded their season on May 10 with a 9-4 victory against Albertus Magnus.
Player Ks Samantha Wroblewski 84 Nikki Cote 61 Sadie-Rose Apfel 12 Melissa Soleimani 8
track & Field Results from UAA Championships on April 26
TOP PERFORMERS (Men’s)
TOP PERFORMERS (Women’s)
200-Meter Run
400-Meter Run
RUNNER TIME Adam Beckwith 23.88 Adam Berger 23.94 Nick Wactor 24.29
RUNNER TIME Haliana Burhans 59.93 Gabriella Guillette 59.56 Ashley Hebard 1 :06.65
Judges compete at ECAC Championships
■ Kelsey Whitaker ’16 qualified for her third NCAA Division III Championship of the year this past Friday. By avi gold justice editor
UPCOMING MEET:
May 21 at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y.
TENNIS Final season results.
TOP PERFORMERS (Men’s)
GRACE KWON/Justice File Photo
FULL STEAM AHEAD: Kelsey Whitaker ’16 (left), shown at a meet earlier this year, took second in the 1,500-meter run last Friday.
TOP PERFORMERS (Women’s)
MEN’S SINGLES Michael Arguello
RECORD 14-7
WOMEN’S SINGLES Carley Cooke
RECORD 12-8
MEN’S DOUBLES Arguello/Cherkin
RECORD 13-9
WOMEN’S DOUBLES Cohen/Cooke
RECORD 12-8
EDITOR’S NOTE: The men and women’s team concluded its season at the UAA Championships on April 25.
The women’s track and field team closed its regular season at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Championships last Friday, hosted by Springfield College, where Kelsey Whitaker ’16 qualified for this weekend’s NCAA Division III Championships. Whitaker turned in a time of four minutes, 33.19 seconds in the 1,500-meter race—a personal best— and earned second place in the race. Her time improved her personal best by more than three seconds and placed her 17th overall among all Division III runners, earning her three total bids this year to the NCAA Championships. Whitaker previously finished in 17th place in the mile run during the indoor track and field NCAA Championships this past winter. In the fall she earned a 210th place finish at the cross-country championships. She went to both events in the 2013-14 season as well.
This will mark Whitaker’s first appearance in the NCAA Outdoor championship. Whitaker previously took home the University Athletic Association crown in the 1,500 meter run. Kristi Pisarik ’15 took 15th-place in the race, crossing the line at the 4:56.83 mark. Kate Farrell ’17 improved her personal best in the 5,000-meter run by turning in a time of 17:53.00, good for 14th place. The race was the first time this year she finished with a time below the 18-minute mark. Her previous best time came on May 8 at the Open New England Championships. Lydia McCaleb ’17 earned 23rd in the race, clocking in at 18:41.56. Halina Burhans ’18 took 22nd in the 400-meter dash, clocking in at 59.04 seconds. On the men’s side, the Judges’ lone competitor was Jarret Harrigan ’15, who closed his collegiate career with a 14th-place finish in the 5,000-meter run. Harrigan crossed the line at the 16:04.61 mark. The five runners also competed at the Open New England Championships on May 8, where Harrigan set a new personal best in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 15:06.36. Whitaker crossed the line in the
1,500-meter run at the 4:37.30 mark, good for 10th overall and second among all Division III runners at the race. The then-season-best time placed her 39th overall in Division III and three seconds out of a qualification spot before Friday’s important race at Springfield. Pisarik placed seventh among Division III runners in the 1,500-meter run, stopping the timer at the 4:46.81 mark. Farrell turned in a time of 18:00.87 in the 5,000-meter run, good for 16th overall and eighth-best of Division III runners at the meet. Burhans ran in both the 200-meter dash and the 400-meter dash, grabbing a top-10 finish among all Division III runners at the meet in the latter race. Her time of 58.73 seconds in the 400-meter dash was 30th overall, while a 26.42 finish in the 200-meter dash earned 26th place, 14th-best of all Division III runners at the meet. The men’s squad closed its season on April 26 at the University Athletic Championships, where Mohamed Sidique ’15 won the triple jump crown. The NCAA Division III Championships are scheduled to take place this weekend at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York.
pro sports BRIEF Lebron James leads Cleveland Cavaliers to Eastern Conference Finals over rival Chicago Bulls The Eastern Conference Finals of the National Basketball Association playoffs has finally been set, with the Cleveland Cavaliers ready to go against the Atlanta Hawks. The two teams were the top seeds in the East going into the playoffs. The series between the secondseed Cavaliers and the third-seed Chicago Bulls witnessed a couple of nail-biters that ended on a pair of buzzer-beaters. After falling in Game One of the series on their own home court, the Cavaliers were able to bounce back with a Game Two victory that evened the series. Game Three was a back-and-forth contest that would go down to the wire. With a few seconds remaining in the contest, the Bulls held the ball for an in-bounds play after Cleve-
land’s J.R. Smith tied the game with a three-pointer with ten seconds left. Chicago’s Mike Dunleavy gave the ball to point guard Derrick Rose, who had been inconsistent all postseason. After missing almost two entire seasons due to injury, Rose looked to right himself during some of these playoffs, but at other times seemed lost. All of his woes were forgotten when the Chicago native dribbled to his right and launched a 26-footer from the top of the key over Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson that would hit off of the backboard and in. The incredible shot gave Chicago the 2-1 series lead in the No. 3 seed’s upset attempt. Not to be outdone, James, the four-time MVP winner, would cash in on his own game-winning shot in
Game Four of the series. With the score tied at 84 a piece, Cavaliers head coach David Blatt drew up a play in the huddle that would feature James as the primary inbounder on the play. With under two seconds left in the contest, James would almost definitely not get a chance at the shot. The two time NBA Champion, respectfully disagreeing with his coach’s decision, proclaimed, “Give me the ball and get out of the way.” Guard Matthew Dellavedova would pass the ball to James who ran to the corner and hit a contested jumper that would find the bottom of the net. The buzzer-beater sent the Cleveland bench into pandemonium in front of a silent Chicago crowd. With all the momentum on its
side, Cleveland would steamroll over Chicago in the next two games and win the series in only six. The final contest would see the Bulls handily defeated by over 20 points on their own court. Even more impressive about the series victory was Cleveland’s resilience with some of its star players injured on the sideline. The biggest blow came in the final game of the opening round against the Boston Celtics in the form of a separated shoulder for power forward Kevin Love. Fellow starter, guard Kyrie Irving, played through knee pain throughout the series and was never completely himself. Although James carried the team in the absence of his fellow stars, other players stepped up the Cavaliers. In Game Six, Dellavedova
scored a team-high 19 points as Thompson led the team in rebounding with 17 total boards. The entire team will need to elevate their talents as their next opponent will impose quite the challenge. The Hawks took apart the Washington Wizards in only six games as they look to prove their worth as the No. 1 seed from the East. All year the pundits had been predicting a Hawks-Cavaliers conference final, but few could have seen the wrath of injuries that would hit Cleveland. For Lebron, it is his fifth straight appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals, the previous four of which ultimately landed him in the NBA Finals. —Noah Hessdorf
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RUNNING FOR MORE Kelsey Whitaker ’16 finished in second place in the 1,500-meter run to qualify for the NCAA Championships, p. 15.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
TAKING THE TITLE
Waltham, Mass.
BRIEF Falkson earns conference Rookie of the Year honors for Judges The baseball team had two players named to the All-University Athletic Association Conference Team on May 8, highlighted by Rookie of the Year honors for shortstop Nick Falkson ’18. Falkson earned the Rookie of the Year honors by being named to the Second Team All-UAA squad, one of four first-years to be named to the team. New York University freshman pitcher Matthew Millus and University of Rochester freshman infielder Tyler Schmidt were also named to a spot on the All-UAA Second Team. Falkson claimed the starting role at shortstop from the start of the season and went on to play in all 33 games this year. The rookie led the team in most major offensive categories, posting a .373 batting average, a .453 slugging percentage and a .548 onbase percentage. Falkson posted a season-best and team-high 16 game hitting streak to begin the season that earned him All-UAA Tournament honors in early March. Falkson posted his best line in a 12-10 loss to Emory University on March 11, going 4-for-5 with a double and a walk while scoring a pair of runs. He spent the majority of the year hitting in the number two spot, finishing second in runs scored (21) to outfielder Liam O’Connor ’16. O’Connor, the Judges’ leadoff hitter, was the only other member of the squad to appear in all 33 games, scoring 24 runs and collecting 44 hits. Falkson also finished the year with a .921 fielding percentage and helped convert 21 of the Judges’ 28
MICHELLE BANAYAN/the Justice
REACHING BACK: Pitcher Samantha Wroblewski ’17 pitches in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament on May 10.
Women claim ECAC championship at home ■ Second baseman Danielle
Novotny ’16 had four RBIs off of two doubles in the championship game. By NOAH HESSDORF JUSTICE EDITOR
The softball team won the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Division III New England Championship on May 10. The Judges went through three regional opponents during the tournament weekend, defeating Albertus Magnus College 9-4, the University of Southern Maine 8-0 and Suffolk College 10-5. The ECAC title was the second one in the softball team’s history, with the other title coming in the 2007 to 2008 season. Judges 9, Albertus Magnus 4 Pitcher Nikki Cote ’15 earned the Most Valuable Player award for the tournament as she picked up the
victory on May 10 while giving up three runs, including a home run, in five innings. Cote allowed six hits and four walks while striking out seven batters on the day. Cote went 2-0 on the weekend with an earned run average of 1.50 while striking out 18 in 14 innings. With the victories, Cote improved her record to 8-1 on the season. Center fielder Amanda Shore ’18 was the dominant player for the Judges on the hitting side, going 3-4 with two runs scored. Second baseman Danielle Novotny ’16 drove in four runs for the squad on the backs of two big doubles. First baseman Anya Kamber ’15 had two hits in the contest, one of which went for an important triple in the bottom of the third inning of the contest. The hit drove in infielder Leah Shapiro ’17 who herself had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI for the Judges. With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the second inning, the squad exploded for six runs to
give them a comfortable lead. The team would never look back after gaining the lead. In the sixth inning, pitcher Samantha Wroblewski ’17 came in relief of Cote to pick up the twoinning save, her first of the season. Judges 8, Southern Maine 0 Cote led the Judges to victory again, going the full five innings of the contest without allowing a run to Southern Maine. Cote only gave up two hits on the game while striking out seven in just 16 batters. Cote was able to complete the game in an incredible 55 pitches, 42 of which went for strikes. On the offensive side, catcher Cori Coleman ’15 led the squad with four RBIs, two of which came on a double to right field in the bottom of the third inning. Coleman also scored a run in the same inning when Shore ran out an infield single. Kamber had another big game for the Judges, going 2-for-3 with an
See SOFTBALL, 13 ☛
double plays on the season. He tied for second on the team by swiping three bases and smashed a trio of homers during the year. The award is the second time in three years—and sixth since it was first given out in 2001—that the Judges have brought home Rookie of the Year honors. Pitcher Sean O’Neil ’18 was named to the All-UAA First Team, one of only three pitchers given the award. O’Neil, the only freshman on the All-UAA First Team, made nine appearances on the year and finished with a 5-2 record and a 2.18 ERA. His 57.2 innings and 34 strikeouts both led the squad, and O’Neil finished the year surrendering just 20 runs and 16 walks. O’Neil was twice named UAA Pitcher of the Week, including after a complete-game four-hitter against NYU on Mar. 29. O’Neil tossed four complete games during the season, one behind pitcher Sam Miller’s ’16 five. O'Neill also led the team in strikeouts, with a total of 34 on the year for the Judges. He also posted an incredibly low 2.18 ERA while pitching 57.2 innings, the most on the team. He also fielded well the entire season, only making one error in nine games. Both O'Neill and Falkson will look to continue to lead the Judges for the next three seasons on the offensive and pitching sides. The squad closed its year with a 4-3 loss to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on Apr. 29, posting a 13-20 record overall and a 6-5 record on home turf. —Avi Gold
BRIEF Softball team lands four senior starters on All-UAA second team The softball team had three players named to the All-University Athletic Second Team on May 5, including the fourth-career selection for outfielder Amanda Genovese ’15. Shortstop Anya Kamber ’15 and catcher Cori Coleman ’15 earned their second and first honors, respectively. Genovese made a big impact in only 13 games, sidelined due to injury, swiping 10 bases to finish her career with 118 stolen bases, a school record. She batted .432 on the year with a .457 on-base percentage and a .545 slugging percentage, collecting 19 hits and scoring 13 runs on 44 at-bats. The outfielder also ended her collegiate career in the top five of all Brandeis players in batting average, hits, runs scored, triples and on-base percentage. Genovese went 2-for-3 from the plate with two runs scored and two stolen bases in an 8-0 victory over Bates College on Apr. 8, her best statistical line of the year. Kamber made appearances in 34 of the Judges’ 35 games, with a team-high .421 batting average, from all players with 15 or more appearances. She posted a .432 on-base percentage and a .612 slugging percentage, leading the squad with 51 hits, 28 runs scored and 12 doubles. Kamber also legged out one tri-
ple and converted each of the six stolen-base attempts on the year. Kamber twice went 4-for-5 from the plate, once in a 12-2 victory over Bates College and the other in a 9-2 win over Salve Regina University, and crossed the plate three times in the win over Bates. Coleman earned her first All-UAA honor with a collegiate-best .388 batting average. She backstopped 33 games for the squad collecting 40 hits and four home runs, while posting a .407 on-base percentage and a .573 slugging percentage. Coleman finished third on the team with 21 RBIs and seven doubles, and she ranks second in school history with an impressive .985 fielding percentage. The catcher posted her best day in a March win over Case Western Reserve University, going 3-for-4 with one double, one home run, one run scored and three RBIs. Her seventh-inning double broke a 2-2 tie between the Judges and Spartans and proved to be the difference in a 5-2 victory. The Judges claimed the Eastern Conference Athletic Conference Tournament championship with a victory over Albertus Magnus College on May 10, capping their season with a 21-14 record. —Avi Gold
JustArts Volume LXVII, Number 27
Your weekly guide to arts, movies, music and everything cultural at Brandeis and beyond
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Waltham, Mass.
Year In RevIew
»20-21
Interview Column—justArts speaks with Sarah Brodsky ’15, the 2014-2015 president of Hillel Theater Company » 18
Pop Culture
INSIDE
Take a look at the pop culture highlights of this school year from from Friends to Taylor Swift’s 1989. » 18
BTC Preview
The Brandeis Theater Company’s 2015-2016 upcoming year of productions. » 19
Editors’ Picks Justice editors choose and discuss their favorite pieces of art from museums and artists around the world. » 23
18
justARTS
TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015 | THE JUSTICE
CALENDAR
INTERVIEW
What’s happening in Arts on and off campus this summer
ON-CAMPUS EVENTS ‘Father Tongue’
Artist Milcah Bassel’s installation in the Women’s Studies Research Center draws a connection between the Hebrew language and visual art. The exhibit is a multidisciplinary installation that includes large-scale wall drawings, murals and a sound piece. Bassel manipulates the forms of only five Hebrew letters to examine themes of feminism, abstraction, language and space. The exhibit is on view until Jul. 16 and open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Kniznick Gallery in the Women’s Studies Research Center. This event is free and open to the public.
OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS
Sarah Brodsky ’15
‘A Celtic Sojourn at Pops Hosted and Curated by Brian O’Donovan’
Senior discusses time in Brandeis theater
Join host of WGBH’s A Celtic Sojourn Brian O’Donovan for a night celebrating Boston’s Celtic cultural heritage. The music extravaganza will include selections from the Boston Pop’s Grammy-nominated “The Celtic Album” led by conductor Keith Lockhart. Other performers of the evening include Carlos Núñez, Karan Casey, pipers and Irish step dancers. Wednesday, May 27th at 8 p.m at Boston Symphony Hall. Tickets range from $24 to $94 and can be purchased at bso.org.
JAIME GROPPER/the Justice
This week justArts spoke with Sarah Brodsky ’15. Brodsky was the president of the Hillel Theater Company during the 2014 through 2015 year and a double major in Theater and English. justArts: You were president of Brandeis Hillel Theater Group this year. What was that experience like? Sarah Brodsky: I loved it. I’ve been on the e-Board for three years. My sophomore and junior years I was the co-secretary treasurer of HTG, and this year, being president, I definitely learned a lot. I was accepted in the group right away. HTG really prides ourselves on being a family and being a safe space for people. I definitely felt that my freshman year, when I did a show with HTG—I did Footloose second semester, and that e-board kind of sucked me in and made me not want to leave. This year, as president, I definitely got a taste of what it feels like to continue bringing people into the group and continuing to make them feel like they are at home with HTG and make it feel like a family.
‘Mad Men with the Midtown Men’
Four stars from the original cast of Broadway’s Jersey Boys reunite for a concert celebrating the music of the ’60s. Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard, Tony Award-winner Christian Hoff and Tony Award-nominee J. Robert Spencer join the Boston Pops for music by the Four Seasons and much more. Performances run from May 19th to May 21st at 8 p.m. at Boston Symphony Hall. Tickets range from $24 to $94 and can be purchaed at bso.org.
JA: What was your favorite experience in theater at Brandeis? SB: That’s tough. I’ve done a show every semester for the eight semesters I’ve been here, and each one’s definitely taught me something different. I strive to have experiences in theater where I’m going to learn either from the people I’m working with or learn something about myself as an actor. For a long time, for three semesters, I did senior theses with seniors in the theater department, and that was really amazing— to watch people be really passionate about the projects that they were directing. With the UTC, watching underclassmen directors, underclassmen designers, underclassmen actors really build something from the ground up has always been really amazing. I was fortunate enough this past fall to be directed in a BTC play by one of my very favorite professors, so I’m a little biased, but it’s really hard to pick just one favorite, because I really loved all of them. JA: How did you decide to be a theater major, and what was your favorite aspect of the theater major? SB: I kind of knew since my junior year of high school that I wanted to double major in English and theater because those were the classes in high school that I was most passionate about and that I really did the most with. My first semester, I took the Intro to Literature class and the very first theater class, which is Theater as Performance, Theater 10a, and I just loved both of them so much and it kind of validated that I do know what I would like to be studying. I didn’t know what I would want to do with those degrees at the time, but I knew that’s what I wanted to be studying. I think in the Theater department itself, it’s the professors that get you. It’s a holistic program—it’s not just acting, or just directing, or just design. You’re required to take a little bit of everything—a little bit of the literary side of theater, a little bit of the design side, the creative management, directing side. I really appreciated getting the opportunity to explore within that, because coming in, all I knew that I wanted to do in theater was act, and I still love acting, but through this department I learned about dramaturgy and the literary aspects of theater. I learned about management and business and how to work within a theater company, so I really appreciated how much diversity the theater program provides. JA: What advice would you give to someone considering the theater major or to someone looking to get involved in theater at Brandeis? SB: In terms of the major, I would definitely say take a lot of diverse classes, even if it’s something that you don’t think that you’d be interested in. At the end of the day, I didn’t think I’d be interested in designing, directing or playwriting. ...When I did step out of my comfort zone of acting and take other classes in the department, I discovered so many other passions and I wonder what would have happened if I had allowed myself to take that [a] step further and explore things that I didn’t know as much about. So, I definitely recommend taking a diverse group of classes in the department. Talk to your professors; the professors in the theater department are some of the nicest people on this campus, and they really care about their students. —Jaime Gropper
‘Simply Sondheim’
The Boston Pops Orchestra honors the great musical theater composer Stephen Sondheim in a night of music centering on his body of work. Musical selections of the night will include the scores of Into the Woods, Follies, Sweeney Todd and more. Special guests of the evening include Broadway stars Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley. Performances run from Jun. 10 to Jun. 11 at 8 p.m. at Symphony Hall. Tickets range from $24 to $94 and can be purchased at bso.org
Ken Smith: “Fenway Deity”
“Fenway Deity” is part of the Garden Deities series by Ken Smith. The large, inflatable installation has a psychedelic spiral pattern and will hang off of the historic facade of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum from a gold chain. “Fenway Deity” will form a transect line through the museum, reaching the large wheel window on the other side of the Gardner building. The installation is intended to spark happiness and creative energy within the museum. On view from May 20 to Sept. 28 at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
‘Crossing’: A New American Opera
See the world premiere of a new American Opera composed by Matthew Aucoin and directed by Diane Paulus. Crossing is inspired by Walt Whitman’s diary that he kept as a nurse during the Civil War. The opera examines the ways in which the individual experiences of soldiers are remembered and told. The performance is produced in association with Music-Theatre group and features the Boston-based orchestra A Far Cry. Performances run from May 29 to Jun. 6 at various times at the Citi Shubert Theatre. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at americanrepertorytheater.org.
‘All at Once’
This exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston showcases the work of artist Arlene Shechet. Schechet is known for her experimental approach to sculpture. Schechet’s polymorphic sculptures examine the chance processes that happen when mutable materials become solid. The gallery contains over 150 objects that follow the evolution of her unique style over the last 20 years. This exhibition is on view from Jun. 10 to Sept. 7 in the West Gallery of the Institue of Contemporary Art/Boston. Admission to the museum is $15 for adults, $10 for students and free for members. Tickets can be purchased online at icaboston.org.
Freshlyground
Listen to the rhythmic sounds of Freshlyground, a band consisting of musicians from South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Formed in 2002, the band is known for their energetic live performances. The performance is on June 25 at 8 p.m. at Brighton Music Hall. Tickets for general admission are $25 in advance and $28 on the day of the show. This performance is 18+ and has standing room only.
‘Much Ado About Nothing’
William Shakespeare’s celebrated comedy follows a group of friends and rivals as they come together in preparation for a wedding. Chaos ensues as friends and family meddle in the lives of two pairs of lovers. The performance is directed by Anya Saffir and features graduate acting students in the American Repertory Theater Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University. This production runs from May 21 to May 29 at various times at the Ex. General admission tickets are $20, and member tickets are $15. Tickets can be purchased at americanrepertorytheater.org.
POP CULTURE n !
By Anna Stern
ww
Well, another school year has come and gone. We said goodbye to memorable TV shows and acclaimed films that we still haven’t seen, and, of course, we have obsessed over the private lives of our foremost celebrities. Here are some of this year’s highlights: We started off the school year in August with the biggest social media craze since the invention of the hashtag: the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The world poured buckets of ice water over their heads to raise awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. In November, Taylor Swift’s new album 1989 rocked the airwaves from Einstein’s Bagels to Dunkin Donuts. “Shake It Off” became stuck in everyone’s head, and we all wondered whether T-Swift had any “Starbucks lovers.” Around this time, sexual harassment accusations involving comedian Bill Cosby, known for portraying Cliff Huxtable on the Cosby Show, rose to the surface as more and more survivors spoke out against the star. The Sony Entertainment Pictures hack of 2014 also occurred in November, in conjunction with threats of retaliation by North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un over the release of the Seth Rogan/James Franco film The Interview. To preserve the American values of freedom of speech and expression, Sony released the film, which parodied the dictator, in select theaters and online. Though the movie wasn’t incredible, it still garnered huge reactions from around the world. The year of 2014 ended with a bang when The Colbert Report ended its run on Comedy Central. The year of 2015 started off on a good note when Netflix began to stream Friends on Jan. 1 and enhanced the procrastination of students everywhere. January also ushered in a series of award shows beginning with the last Golden Globe Awards hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Fey and Poehler finished out strong with plenty of topical jokes related to the Sony hack and Bill
CREATIVE COMMONS
SHAKE IT OFF: Taylor Swift (above) released in November 2014 her popular album 1989. Cosby. Amazon Prime’s subversive comedy Transparent about a transgender father and his family won Best Comedy. This was the first time an online show won an award for Best Comedy or Drama and the first time a show about a transgender protagonist was at the forefront of popular culture. February was a busy month in pop culture. On Feb. 15, Saturday Night Live celebrated its 40th anniversary with a star-studded tribute. Feb. 22 was the 87th Academy Awards. Though Birdman took home Best Picture, the real winners of the night were Lady Gaga’s emotional tribute to the 50th Anniversary of The Sound of Music and Common and John Legend’s powerful rendition of “Glory”
from Selma. On Feb. 24, Parks and Recreation ended its run after seven incredible seasons. In March, Fey’s new comedy Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt skyrocketed to popularity on Netflix, highlighting a new era of online television. On April 24, Bruce Jenner revealed on a 20/20 special with Diane Sawyer that, after months of speculation, he now publicly identifies as a woman, although he prefers male pronouns for the moment. Jenner’s interview stressed to the world the importance of being yourself. This year has been full of ups and downs, but I am looking forward to seeing what next year will bring. Stay tuned!
ARTS COVER IMAGES: The Justice and Courtesy of Alyssa Avis and Creative Commons and Geoffrey Chandler/Flickr. DESIGN: MIHIR KHANNA and MORGAN BRILL
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TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015 | THE JUSTICE
Chris Burden Passes Away Los Angeles-based artist Chris Burden passed away at age 69 on Sunday, May 10 of a malignant melanoma—an illness that Burden and his family had been keeping hidden from the public for 18 months, according to a May 10 article in the Los Angeles Times. Burden is the artist behind the University’s permanent art installation “The Light of Reason” that went up in September. His work was also shown in an exhibit at the Rose Art Museum in the spring of 2014 titled The Master Builder—an exhibit of Burden’s model bridges made out of Erector Set toys. The Brandeis community got to know Burden on September 10 of last year when he attended the opening of the new exhibits at the Rose and the unveiling of his “Light of Reason.” Although Burden’s pieces shown at the Rose thus far have been visual art, Burden is also well known for his early career in performance art. In his 1971 performance piece “Shoot,” Burden staged a scene in which his friend shot him in his left arm from 15 feet away. The performance was filmed on a low quality eight-second film reel. In “Trans-Fixed” (1974), Burden lay on his back on top of a Volkswagen Beetle with both his hands nailed to the car. Burden and the car were visible to the public for two minutes before being pushed back into a garage. First published on Instagram, the Henry and Lois Foster Director of the Rose Chris Bedford said “That Chris will go down [as] one of the greatest American artists of his generation is self-evident to all of us … A less well-known fact is how gentle, kind and caring he was. The bold artist responsible for ‘Shoot’ is the same man who took great care of all those fortunate enough to work with him, me included. He’ll be sorely missed.” —Emily Wishingrad
Brandeis Theater Company 2015-2016 preview ‘Songs for a New World’ Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown Directed by Rachel Liff ’16 Mainstage Theater
Oct. 15-18
‘Macbeth’
Dec. 4-6
By William Shakespeare Adapted and Directed by Zoe Golub-Sass ’16 Laurie Theater
‘Intimate Apparel’
Mar. 3-6
By Lynn Nottage Directed by Jacqui Parker Laurie Theater
CREATIVE COMMONS
Rose Art Museum gains five new board members The Rose Art Museum announced that five new members will be joining its Board of Advisors in a May 12 press release. The new members include Lazar Fruchter, Prof. Anita Hill (Heller), Cynthia Reed, Rivka Saker and Carey Schwartz ’87. According to the museum’s Board of Advisory Guidelines, the Board of Advisors for the museum will eventually consist of 40 members who will be appointed on a rotating basis. The University president and provost approve the appointments of members who are recommended by the director of the museum. Hill, who has been on faculty at the University since 1998, teaches Social Policy, Law and Women’s Studies. She was also awarded the title of University Professor in April. In the fall, Hill spoke at the Rose in dialogue with artist Mark Bradford about his exhibit on view at the museum, Mark Bradford: Sea Monsters, and about the African American realm of modern art. Fruchter, on the board of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, pioneered a joint endeavor between the museum and the Rose in 2014—the Chami Fruchter Video Prize. The prize, which is named after Fruchter’s wife, will be awarded to an outstanding Israeli video artist once every two years. The Fruchters are parents of a Brandeis graduate as well as of a current student. Schwartz currently works as an editor, but she is also an art collector and, in 2008, donated a collection of photographs to the Rose. Schwartz designated the photographs to be displayed in public spaces; this past semester, they were on view in the exhibit Disrupted Spaces in the Mezzanine of the Farber Library. The exhibit will close tomorrow. Reed currently serves on the board of Le Laboratoire in Cambridge, a studio that bridges art and science. Reed is also on the Council of the Arts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She also served as a trustee at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston from 2004 to 2011. Saker, a philanthropist and art collector, founded Artis in 2004. Artis is a non-profit that seeks to expand the opportunities for Israeli artists to go overseas. She also serves as a chairman of Sotheby’s, Israel—the Israeli sector of an international art auction that sells the work of young artists. Bedford did not respond to requests for comment by press time. —Emily Wishingrad
Senior Festival Laurie Theater
Apr. 15-17
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE LOVETT
RING RING ON THE TELEPHONE: Brandeis Theater Company staged a production of Dead Man’s Cell Phone in October.
Mar. 15-20
‘Shoes On, Shoes Off’ Created and Directed by Susan Dibble Mainstage Theater
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TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015 | THE JUSTICE
Springfest
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE LOVTT
‘The Way of Water’ Brandeis Theater Collective’s production The Way of Water highlighted the effects of the 2010 BP oil spill on the lives of those who lived near it. The intimate production in the Laurie Theater at the Spingold Theater Center followed couples in the Deep South who relied on fishing for their main source of income. The production, which opened on Thursday, Mar. 12, used staging to uniquely combine the two main settings of the play. Onstage, a fishing dock jutted out from the front of a backyard of a di-
lapidated house. Jimmy (Meir Alelov ’15) and his wife Rosalie (Jamie Semel ’17) were left in extreme poverty after the oil spill made it difficult to catch fish. Jimmy’s closest friend Yuki (Siddharth Mehra ’17) and his wife Neva (Jacquelyn Drozdow ’15) decided to join ongoing protests about the spill. Jimmy refused to take part in the protests because of his stubbornness, and, more importantly, his overarching belief that protests would not result in actual change
because few people care about the poor. In a talkback by Playwright Caridad Svich after the Saturday night performance, Svich explained the motivation behind writing the play. Svich said she was surprised that people had not created more creative pieces based on the gulf disaster, and, even more, that the story of the poorer people whose lives were severely damaged remained largely untold.
The sounds of Brandeis’ annual music festival Springfest could be heard throughout campus on April 26. Headlining this year’s Springfest was British pop-singer Jessie J. Food trucks from around Boston bordered Chapel’s Field for the occasion, keeping the concertgoers well fed. Stolen Jars, a band consisting of college students, started off the festival. Next came St. Lucia, playing a set that included their hit song “Elevate.” In between the acts, DJ ASmooth kept the music going and the crowd dancing. After St. Lucia came a crowd favorite: ILoveMakonnen. The rapper performed his hit song “Tuesday,” which rose to fame when it was remixed by rapper Drake. The final and arguably the most anticipated act of the afternoon was headliner Jessie J, who opened with her song “Ain’t Been Done.” The highlights of Jessie J’s set were her performances of her hit songs, including “Domino,” “Price Tag” and “Bang Bang.” In between numbers, Jessie J made her performance more intimate by making small talk with the audience and calling out specific audience members. Throughout the performance, Jessie J showed her Brandeis pride by changing into a variety of Brandeis apparel. This year’s Springfest was a success in bringing a variety of live music to Brandeis’ backyard.
—Jaime Gropper
—Jaime Gropper
GRACE KWON/JUSTICE FILE PHOTO
justArts 2014-2015
YEAR IN REVIEW
GRACE KWON/JUSTICE FILE PHOTO
“Light of Reason” The Rose Art Museum’s new installation features a series of repurposed lampposts painted white and arranged in rows pointing toward the museum’s entrance. The lights opened with a first ceremony, on Aug. 17, for orientation leaders and community advisors, and a second on Sept. 10, for students and the Brandeis community. On Sept. 10, speakers included Perry Traquina ’78, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, President Fred Lawrence and Lizbeth Krupp, the chair of the Board of Advisors for the Rose Art Museum. Krupp spoke about how the sculpture derives meaning from the campus and the student body. “It’s a social structure” she said. “And by that I mean that it’s one that derives meaning in its surroundings and lasting vitality by how it’s used. So let it become a hub for everyday social life and a constant canvas and community activity.” Krupp also referred to “Light of Reason” as a place where students could hold protests and rallies. This statement was a fitting reference to the circumstances, as students gathered at the ceremony to protest the way the University handled cases of sexual assault. In a talk about the sculpture in late September, Professors Gordon Fellman (SOC) and Chris Abrams (FA) made similar remarks. Both professors noted the installation’s ambiguity, highlighting the importance of the public’s perception in assigning the structure meaning. —Brooke Granovsky
GRACE KWON/JUSTICE FILE PHOTO
‘The ElectroAcoustic Piano’ The Electro-Acoustic Piano concert highlighted music’s evolving role in the digital age. The concert came to Brandeis on Oct. 18 and starred coordinator and performer Keith Kirchoff. The show was part of Kirchoff’s ongoing project to find works that unite the piano with electronic instruments and other music. Over the course of the concert, Kirchoff entertained the audience by emphasizing sounds not usually heard on stage, including screeches, walrus noises, slithering and slurping. Similarly, Kirchoff used unusual pieces of technology to make music. He relied on handheld versions of electronic music mixers and an Xbox Kinect to add to his piano playing. Alumnus Peter Van Zandt Lane’s ’13 “Studies in Momentum” (2014) stood out among the compositions. Many of Lane’s etudes used similar sound bytes and mixed them in different ways. This technique gave “Studies in Momentum” a unique relation to repetition; the sounds’ familiarity could be heard above their digital alterations, which produced a haunting effect that grew with each note. The concert, especially Lane’s piece, demonstrated music’s versatility. The show’s focus on digital alterations of music demonstrated a way for music to evolve in harmony with technology. At the same time, EAPiano showed that music’s ability to affect a tone or mood is universal, regardless of the instruments used or the convention of their use.
—Brooke Granovsky
THE JUSTICE | TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015
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‘Spring Awakening’ Tympanium Euphorium’s production of Spring Awakening showed how theater can address controversial themes—the show’s program billed it as a play about “everything we don’t talk about.” The play, which opened on Nov. 14, followed German teenagers as they learned about each other and experienced sexual awakenings. The show specifically focused on leads Melchior Gabor (Jason Theoharis ’17) and Wendla Bergmann (Sarah Steiker ’17), who inspired each other to break the rules of their restrictive society. Despite the play’s serious nature, the show held some distinctly comedic moments. The scene when Hanschen (Jason Teng ’17) and his friend Ernst (Rodrigo Alfaro Garcia-Gonzalez ’18) met in a clearing turned unexpectedly funny when Hanschen surprised Ernst by kiss-
ing him. Ernst pulled away, wearing a comical look of complete confusion. This element of comedy gave the pivotal and significant moment in the characters’ lives a lighter mood. One of the best parts of the play was the last song, “The Song of Purple Summer.” This number brought the whole cast together as they summarized what had happened to them over the summer. It was interesting to see all the characters on stage in a play in which so many of their storylines remained separate. The performance played to a mostly full house for every show, demonstrating that the 1990’s show’s timeless melodies and engaging plot can still hold a modernday audience’s attention. —Brooke Granovsky
‘Big Bounce’
JEREMY PERLMAN/JUSTICE FILE PHOTO
The Women’s Studies Research Center received a makeover courtesy of artist Leeza Meskin’s Big Bounce. The spandex and fabric-based sitespecific exhibit, part of which covered the front of the WSRC, opened on Oct. 24 and was on view through Dec. 16. Meskin is a Brooklyn-based artist who uses a variety of materials in unconventional ways to redefine our idea of conventional art. In her talk at the opening reception, she noted that her favorite material is spandex, a material that unifies all of her work to date. Spandex was used in a variety of ways throughout the exhibit. Each work in Meskin’s exhibit showcased
a different pattern, texture and color of spandex. The most extreme work in the exhibit was an installation that covered the side of the 32-foot tall WSRC building in brightly colored layers of spandex. The neon structure could be seen from as far away as the Brandeis/ Roberts train station on South Street. At a talk during the exhibit’s opening, WSRC docent Phyllis Shapiro ’56 commented that the exhibit’s interaction with feminist themes earns it a place at the center. Shapiro noted that spandex is often associated with clothing and housework, which are activities that many people associate with domesticity and, by extension,
GUILLERMO NARVEAZ/JUSTICE FILE PHOTO
meekness. Shapiro says that the exhibit changes this notion by using bright, exciting colors and different sized structures to give the spandex a renewed boldness and sense of dominance. According to Shapiro, Meskin’s work helps change the idea that domestic materials must always correlate with fragility or timidity. The exhibit allowed the viewers to take something commonplace—a common material and the common practice of housework—and find the beauty in it, reclaiming the everyday as art. —Brooke Granovsky
The 2014-2015 academic year welcomed a multitude of arts events. From musicals and plays to art installations and Springfest, JustArts takes the time to look back at the past year in Brandeis Arts.
24-Hour Musical: ‘Grease’ Grease was the word at Tympanium Euphorium and Hillel Theater Group’s 10th annual 24-Hour Musical. The Sept. 7 production had the Shapiro Campus Center Theater packed, with even more viewers watching from a live stream in the SCC Atrium. As is the tradition with the 24Hour Musical, Grease was presented just 24 hours after it was announced as the musical. The show’s costumes, sets, tech cues and rehearsals were organized
and executed only in the 24 hours leading up to curtain. Grease tells the story of goodgirl Sandy Dumbrowski (Gabi Nail ’18), who enrolls in Rydell High School and discovers that her summer fling, Danny Zuko (Jason Theoharis ’17), is at the school and is a part of the bad-boy T-Birds clique. Sandy joins the female counterpart of the T-Birds, the Pink Ladies. Throughout the musical, Sandy tests her relationship with Danny.
Grease was full of upbeat musical numbers and had intensive choreography, which was especially impressive given the limited amount of rehearsal time. Many scenes and musical numbers featured a majority of the cast, whose members practically filled the entire stage. The cast and ensemble gave great performances as if they had been practicing for weeks rather than hours.
—Jaime Gropper
JEREMY PERLMAN/JUSTICE FILE PHOTO
‘Shakespeare (Abridged)’
MORGAN BRILL/ JUSTICE FILE PHOTO
FIRST LAST/the Justice
Hold Thy Peace’s production The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) attempted to perform all of Shakespeare’s 37 plays in just over one and a half hours. The play, which opened on Mar. 12 in the Shapiro Campus Center Theater, accomplished this feat through a comedic and sometimes absurd retelling of all of Shakespeare’s works.In order to squeeze all of Shakespeare’s works into the limited amount of time, the plays were presented in unique ways. Othello was retold as a rap, Titus Andronicus was performed as a cooking show, and Shakespeare’s histories centering on royalty were stuffed
into a very exciting football game. Much of the play’s run time was devoted to two of Shakespeare’s most well known works, Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet. In Romeo and Juliet, many of the laughs were produced from the hesitance of the two male players to get intimate with each other. In Hamlet, the audience laughed as Hamlet took several tries to get his ‘To be or not to be’ speech just right. The comedic production succeeded in its overarching mission, and even managed to shed light on some of Shakespeare lesser known works.
—Jaime Gropper
Design by Grace Kwon and Emily Wishingrad/the Justice
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TUESDAY, MAY 19 2015 | THE JUSTICE
FINE ART
Editors’ Picks: Works of Art
Justice editors write about their favorite pieces of art “Ara Pacis Augustae”
‘Water Lilies’
CREATIVE COMMONS
Works of Alex Colville
CREATIVE COMMONS
“Pieta”
CREATIVE COMMONS
CREATIVE COMMONS
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By BRIANNA MAJSIAK JUSTICE EDITOR
My favorite art installation is the “Ara Pacis Augustae” in Rome, Italy. The “Ara Pacis” was commissioned by the Roman Senate in 9 B.C. to celebrate peace in the Roman Empire, an era of peace brought on by Emperor Augustus’ military victories in present-day France and Spain. The sacrificial altar was built from Luna marble and features the Imperial family as well as many other notable figures. Friezes, which are richly ornamented paintings or sculptures, make up the walls surrounding the altar. Many people believe that the sculpted friezes on the walls of the altar are reminiscent of the circle of life. They combine images of an abundance of life, (people, plants and animals) with the function of the altar: sacrifice. The numerous friezes of the altar symbolize the intricacies of Roman art and the iconic time of Roman history. There are many different interpretations of the significance surrounding the altar and it ultimately has been left open to interpretation. I personally like that the meaning of the altar has been left ambiguous. My overall favorite part of the monument is that it was said that on Augustus’ birthday each year, the sun would pass directly through the middle of the “Ara Pacis Augustae.”
By EMILY WISHINGRAD
By BROOKE GRANOVSKY JUSTICE EDITOR
By MIHIR KHANNA
JUSTICE EDITOR
The watercolor paintings from Claude Monet’s collection Water Lilies are some of my favorite works of art. Monet, to me, was a master of Impressionism, and his Water Lilies series is his masterpiece. These works of watercolor, although they do not demonstrate an incredibly complex composition or extremely intricate detail, are aesthetically breathtaking. The installation of these watercolors at the L’Orangerie in Paris is especially evocative. The expansive paintings line the walls of the circular room so that all viewers can see the subtle yet vibrant tones of the pastel-colored lilies on the clear water. Like with most Impressionist works, views from afar and from up close offer two distinctly different experiences. From afar, the water and the lilies swirl together creating a semi-abstract but mostly realistic image of a tranquil pond. From up close, however, strokes of varying thicknesses and sizes are visible so that the painting appears to be much more abstract. The strokes become strokes of color rather than something more representational. But standing back once again, the lilies and the glassy water become apparent once again, and Monet’s incredible genius becomes indisputable.
As the Justice’s lone Canadian editor, I feel a responsibility to highlight the incredible art museum that is the Art Gallery of Ontario. The AGO never fails to find exhibits that hold broad appeal and feature Canadian artists or themes. In December, the AGO hosted Alex Colville, an exhibition of the Canadian artist’s paintings and drawings. The exhibit was on view from Aug. 23 to Jan. 4. Alex Colville served several tours during World War II as a war artist, and many of his paintings evoke war imagery. One of his most famous paintings, “Soldier and Girl at Station” from 1953, shows a woman in a white dress embracing a soldier in an empty train station. The painting’s greenbased, dark palette contrasts with the woman’s bright dress, emphasizing the different worlds that the two people—a soldier and a civilian—inhabit. Alongside the painting, the exhibit displayed several preliminary sketches and studies of the work in ink and colored pencil. It was interesting to see the work that went into what appeared to be an effortlessly made picture.
While Michelangelo in his later years created many Pietas, the one considered to be his seminal Pieta is the enthralling sculpture he carved out of Carrara marble at the age of 24. Commissioned by a French cardinal for his tomb, the sculpture is Michelangelo’s interpretation of the Biblical scene depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the crucified body of Christ. Michelangelo takes a scene previously depicted in a very gruesome manner and presents it in a graceful, serene and beautified style. Michelangelo revelled in the glory of the human form and strove to exemplify it in the piece. In the work, Christ’s body lies naturally across Mary’s knees, his skin stretching across his rippling muscles and veins, the only blemishes in his hand where he was nailed to the cross and his side where he was stabbed. The youthful depiction of the Virgin Mary impresses upon her untouched purity. Michelangelo skillfully manipulates cold, unforgiving rock into warm, soft skin and cloth in a manner that evokes a flood of emotion akin to the piece’s title “Pieta,” meaning pity. The sculpture currently resides in a position of honor at the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.
JUSTICE EDITOR
FILM GIVE ME A HAND: Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.) uses the Hulkbuster armor, an enhanced version of his suit, to battle fellow Avenger the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) in a pivotal moment in the story. Photo Courtesey of Marvel/TNS
‘Age of Ultron’ personalizes the superhero story By AVI GOLD JUSTICE EDITOR
How do you follow up one of the highest-grossing films of all time, one that made more than $1.5 billion in box-office revenue? In Joss Whedon’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, the answer is, apparently, an overabundance of quips and one-liners. The plot of Avengers: Age of Ultron, the much-anticipated sequel to 2012’s The Avengers, is almost overly simple—a side effect of a film that attempts to give a healthy amount of screen time to all six returniwng heroes, three new recruits, a villain and at least seven other supporting characters who have glorified cameos. Age of Ultron centers on the actions of Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr). In yet another fine performance from Downey Jr., Stark creates the artificially intelligent robot Ultron, whose evil voice is performed perfectly by James Spader. When Ultron makes it his mission to
destroy the world, Stark gathers the Avengers to take down his creation. In addition to the original Avengers—Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson)—the team recruits twins Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Quicksilver (Aaron TaylorJohnson). Also joining the team is the Vision (Paul Bettany), which is the first acting role in the franchise for Bettany after voicing Stark’s Artificial Intelligence, Jarvis, for four previous films. Whedon struggles with giving significant screen time to the three new heroes—the Vision especially feels absent in the third act—while he works to still fit in all of the supporting roles of characters like Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) or Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders.) Age of Ultron spends a large portion of its second act examining where Hawkeye was between the original
Avengers and its sequel. Hawkeye is no longer just a side character, and Renner does a good job with the role. Renner portrays Hawkeye as the most humanized character who is caught up in the craziness of his work. He provides an easy character for the audience to identify with among the slew of heroes. In having Hawkeye as a center of emotional growth, Whedon prevents the film from totally collapsing under its own weight. The film goes back to check in on Hawkeye throughout the action, a reminder to the audience of how crazy the film’s plot is in reality. Whedon balances out the personalities of the core group of six heroes with his trademark use of one-liners and witty dialogue. However, in this film it serves to dampen Stark’s eccentric nature and causes the others to have out-of-character moments. When Captain America takes down a Humvee filled with bad guys by flipping over the handlebar of his motorcycle and then launching it into
the Humvee, he quips, “it slipped.” This characterization is out of place from the straight-shooting and serious Captain America that has been presented in previous films. Stark should be the only wisecracking member of the team, but Whedon uses—and needs—out-of-place oneliners to juggle the over-stuffed cast of characters. Shortcomings aside, Age of Ultron manages to capture all that was so exciting about its predecessor and present a new environment for its heroes. The action pieces are once again over-the-top spectacles that showcase how well the team works together and what happens when they get driven apart. In taking the time to explore the heroes who don’t get their name on the poster (Black Widow, Hawkeye and the Hulk), Whedon manages to thread the disjointed components of the film through the emotional growth of three characters audiences can care about. For a year plus, Marvel Studios
has prided itself on the slogan “it’s all connected.” This holds true for much of Age of Ultron—the film begins with the team dealing with the immediate aftermath of last year’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier. However, the film uses its larger universe as a crutch more than a boon. Knowledge of most of the previous films is required to fully understand each plot point and side-character in a glorified cameos, though not totally necessary. Amid shortcomings in cast size and an over-reliance on wisecracking dialogue, Avengers: Age of Ultron reminds the audience what was so beloved about its predecessor with fun action and over-the-top sets. Most importantly, using previously under-utilized characters as the emotional center provides a new window into the world of one of the highest-grossing films of all time and a stabilizing force for a film that should have collapsed under its own weight.
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TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015 | THE JUSTICE
TOPof the
PHOTOS CORNER
Brandeis TALKS
CHARTS for the week ending May. 17
Quote of the week “Presidents are not supposed to have favorite classes, but that said, how can I not feel a special connection to the class of 2015. In many ways I feel like I am a member of the class of 2015.”
BOX OFFICE
1. Avengers: Age of Ultron 2. Hot Pursuit 3. The Age of Adeline 4. Furious 7 5. Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 6. Ex Machina 7. Home 8. Woman in Gold 9. Cinderella (2015) 10. Unfriended
—--University President Frederick Lawrence (News pg. 8)
What will you miss most about Brandeis?
NYT BESTSELLERS
MICHELLE BANAYAN/the Justice
SCHOOL PRIDE: This photo was taken by Michelle Banayan ’18 on Wednesday, May. 13 during Senior Week. A student dressed as the Hulk in the Senior Kickball Tournament shows off a Brandeis tattoo.
Xu Gong ’15
“The friends I made at Brandeis during my four years here.”
FEATURING CREATIVE PHOTOS FROM OUR STAFF This new feature will showcase our photographers’ work capturing small moments around campus
CROSSWORD
Michael Rosenbach ’15
“The sense of community.”
Bethany Adam ’15 “The people.”
Linda Nakagawa ’15 “Friends and relationships.”
ACROSS 1 Cream, for one 5 Old lab burners 10 Julia’s “Ocean’s Twelve” role 14 Teeny bit 15 Repeat exactly 16 Bar __ 17 Wii alternative 18 Prefix with marine 19 Lawless role 20 WWII personnel from Rio? 23 Reds, on scoreboards 24 French pronoun 25 Yoko Ono, in spirit? 33 EPA standard 34 1986 Best New Artist Grammy winner 35 Kingdom 37 Accumulate 40 Rio maker 41 Leader’s prerogative 42 Place for sweaters? 43 Place Sundance liked 45 Illegal turn, maybe 46 Andalusian plains? 50 Joseph Smith’s denom. 51 __ hours 52 Brussels-born lumberjack? 59 It’s done in parts of Switzerland 60 Giant or Titan, briefly 61 VIII squared 63 Der __: Adenauer epithet 64 Island tubers 65 Foil relative 66 Techie, stereotypically 67 Wrigley brand 68 Fishing leader? DOWN 1 B’way pickups 2 Former Virginia senator Charles 3 “Like __ not ...” 4 Veracruz neighbor 5 Some dams 6 Rock’s Jethro __ 7 Claim of innocence 8 Gillette brand 9 Medium setting 10 Jed Clampett’s discovery, in a sitcom theme song 11 Suit 12 Without 13 “He’ll hae misfortunes great an’ __”: Burns 21 Cab cousin 22 Erodes 25 Shakes 26 Blue shades 27 Betty Grable, e.g. 28 Benefits 29 WWI first lady Wilson 30 Pulsates
Nonfiction 1. The Wright Brothers—David McCullough 2. Clinton Cash—Peter Schweizer 3. The Road to Character—David Brooks 4. And the Good News is—Dana Perino 5. It’s a Long Story—Willie Nelson with David Ritz
iTUNES
1.Wiz Khalifa—”See You Again (feat. Charlie Puth)” 2. Andy Grammer—“Honey, I’m Good” 3. Walk the Moon—“Shut Up and Dance” 4. Rachel Platten—“Fight Song” 5. Nick Fradiani—“Beautiful Life”
BILLBOARD
1. Mumford & Sons—Wilder Minds 2. Josh Groban—Stages 3. Various Artists—NOW 54 4. Tech N9ne—Special Effects 5. Zac Brown Band—JEKYLL + HYDE 6. Soundtrack—50 Shades of Grey 7. Soundtrack—Furious 7 8. Sam Smith—In The Lonely Hour 9. Tayor Swift—1989 10. Ed Sheeran—X Top of the Charts information provided by Fandango, the New York Times, Billboard. com and Apple.com. 28 Washer phase 29 Manager’s “Now!” 30 Early computer data storage term 31 Be wild about 32 Update, as a kitchen 33 Physically fit 35 Israeli diplomat Abba 38 Brownish-green eye color 39 Blog update 42 Scrolls source 44 “Pipe down!” 46 Spotted wildcat 48 Hightail it 51 Million: Pref. 52 Golfer’s choice 53 Unpleasantly moist 54 Medieval spiked club 55 Prayer finish 56 “No ice, please” 58 And others: Lat. 59 Clinton’s 1996 opponent 62 BP checkers
STAFF’S Top Ten
Summer To Do List By GRACE KWON JUSTICE EDITOR
Solution to last issue’s crossword Crossword Copyright 2014 Tribune News Service, Inc.
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.
Gloria Cadder ’15 “My professors.”
—Compiled and photographed by Mihir Khanna/the Justice.
Fiction 1. 14th Deadly Sin—James Patterson and Maxine Paetro 2. The Girl on the Train—Paula Hawkins 3. All the Light We Cannot See— Anthony Doerr 4. Memory Man—David Baldacci 5. Gathering Prey—John Sandford
Solution to last issue’s sudoku
Sudoku Copyright 2014 Tribune News Service, Inc.
Living in New Jersey, my friends and I have access to a wide variety of activities. Every summer we make a bucket list of about forty or fifty things that we want to do that summer. However, we never really get to more than five or six of them, so I’ve decided to put together a more reasonable list of ten things to get done this summer: 1. Go to Six Flags Great Adventure 2. Go to the Meadowlands Racetrack 3. Road trip down to New Orleans 4. Go to the boardwalk down the shore 5. Backyard Movie night 6. Go to the Lakota Wolf Reserve 7. Learn how to paddle board 8.Look for fossilized shark teeth at Ramanessin Brook 9. Late night Krispy Kreme runs 10. Go deep sea fishing