ARTS Page 19
FORUM End genocide in Darfur 12
HEALTH HISTORY
SPORTS Judges earn home win over Tufts 16 The Independent Student Newspaper
the
of
B r a n d e is U n i v e r sit y S i n c e 1 9 4 9
Justice
Volume LXVII, Number 5
www.thejustice.org
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
STUDENT LIFE
New handbook draft published ■ The 2014 to 2015 Rights
and Responsibilities handbook will bring several procedural changes. By tate herbert JUSTICE editor
The draft of the 2014 to 2015 Rights and Responsibilities handbook was released this past Friday and is “expected to be finalized” within seven to 10 days of the draft’s release, according to an email sent to the student body by Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel on Friday. Dean of Students Jamele Adams, however, provided a broader time frame for completion of sometime within the next two weeks in an email to the Justice. The most extensive changes, which Adams cited in an Aug. 23 email to the Brandeis community as the reason for handbook’s delayed release, are to University policies and procedures surrounding the issue of “sexual misconduct.” Major changes and additions include the introduction of a confidentiality policy for information learned during conduct processes, the addition of a victims’ bill of rights and the requirement that students
JEREMY PERLMAN/the Justice
DINING CONCERNS: Students organized a sit-in protest on Monday night to bring attention to issues that they have with Sodexo.
Students protest Sodexo meal plan changes and new dining protocols ■ Protesters gathered
outside of the Usdan Student Center to express their grievances. By Sarah scott JUSTICE contributing WRITER
Yesterday, students gathered outside of the Usdan Student Center in protest against Sodexo. There were also several students in Upper Usdan Dining Hall with signs that indicated the protesters’ grievances. Samantha Rockey ’17, who organized the protest, said in an interview with the Justice that “[t]he point of having a protest is to allow students a visible and effective and productive way to express their discontent, so there’s room for every complaint.” The protest, in which there were a variety of participants, took place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Students made signs, collected
signatures from protesters and other students and talked to students about the recent dining changes On Monday, the Student Union hosted a dining forum, at which numerous complaints and voices were heard—ranging from allergy concerns, vegetarian and vegan concerns, cross-contamination and a lack of variety and quality in food. Rockey said that while she is very supportive of the Student Union, she feels that Sodexo has not allowed the Union to be as effective as it should be. Many students have raised the concern that there is now a lack of quality and variety in the food at Sherman and Usdan. There were also grievances against the lack of flexibility in regard to where meals can be used. Katie Blocklove ’16 said in an interview with the Justice that she felt that the dining plans don’t “meet student’s needs, quality decreased, availability decreased” and because of this, have
found responsible for forcible, nonconsensual intercourse be sanctioned by dismissal from the University. The handbook outlines specifically what sanctions a student may face depending on what category of sexual misconduct he or she is found guilty of. The draft will be finalized, pending the completion of professional copy editing, according to a note on the Department of Community Rights and Community Standards’ webpage. Reacting to the late release of the handbook, chairperson of the Student Conduct Board Matthew Chernick ’16 said in an interview with the Justice that “[a]s a department, we were upset that it was taking a long time. It’s necessary, and it’s unfortunate for the community, but it’s the only way to make sure the code is good for our community.” In “Section 3: Sexual Misconduct, and other Forms of Interpersonal Violence” a list of definitions specific to sexual misconduct has been added. The definition of “consent,” for instance, states that it the person giving it must be “cognitively aware” and that it must be “explicit, affirmative, and free of coercion, force, or intimidation.” It does not accept silence as a mode of consent and does not require resistance to communicate lack of
See HANDBOOK, 7 ☛
FACULTY
Professors discuss Concerned Listserv
“crippled students’ ability to determine what they need.” Many of the protesters’ complaints stem from the renovation of Lower Usdan Dining Hall and the changes in the meal plans this semester. Protesters felt that the meals were overpriced and did not like the fact that even off-campus students would have to have a meal plan beginning in 2016. Additionally, Rockey and other students at the protest said that they felt that the renovations were not the upgrades or improvements that the University and Sodexo advertised. Many were frustrated by the new buffetstyle set-up in Usdan Café because protesters felt they were more limited in their food choices. Arya Boudaie ’17 said in an interview with the Justice that the renovations were a downgrade in terms of food quality, availability and flexibility in the dining plan. He said that he wishes that the dining sys-
■ Administrators and
faculty convened last Thursday for their first meeting of the year. By rachel sharer JUSTICE contributing WRITER
The first faculty meeting of the year was held last Thursday and included not only a summary of recent University changes, but a discussion of recent sexual assault issues and faculty arguments over the private Listserv discovered last summer. The meeting began with a memo-
See PROTEST, 7 ☛
rial tribute to Prof. Luis Yglesias, who was a professor of Spanish and Comparative Literature at Brandeis for 42 years and passed away last May. Lawrence reported that a search for next provost is underway after current Provost Steve Goldstein ’78 announced this would be his last year in the position. A committee began an internal search over the summer, but the process is still ongoing. Lawrence mentioned the importance of finding the right person for the job, as the provost plays a key role in building the University’s academic vision and the successes it has had both structurally and financially.
See MEETING, 7 ☛
The African diaspora
Power stroke
Taking precautions
A recent cluster hire initiative brings to campus two experts on the African diaspora.
The men’s tennis team defeated Colby-Sawyer University in a home meet on Saturday.
Threats made by one student toward other students are under investigation.
FEATURES 9 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
SPORTS 13 ARTS SPORTS
17 16
EDITORIAL FEATURES
10 8
OPINION POLICE LOG
10 2
News 5 COPYRIGHT 2014 FREE AT BRANDEIS. Email managing@thejustice.org for home delivery.