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T h e I n d e p e n d e n t S t u d e n t N e w s p a p e r o f B r a n d e is U n i v e r sit y S i n c e 1 9 4 9 Volume LXXVI, Number 5
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
PURPLE THURSDAY
Waltham, Mass.
POLITICS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Approaching the ArabIsraeli and IsraeliPalestinian conflicts ■ Three scholars, each
from different regions of the Middle East, shared their insight on the conflicts. By MINJUE KIM
JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
ELIZA BIER/the Justice
DISPLAY: Each purple flag on Fellows Garden represented Brandeis students who have been impacted by domestic violence.
PARC’s Purple Thursday event raises awareness about domestic violence ■ On Oct. 19, people around
the nation participated in Purple Thursday to advocate for survivors of domestic abuse. By ANIKA JAIN JUSTICE EDITOR
Across from the blue booths in Fellow’s Garden stood over 100 mini purple flags — each of which represent a certain number of Brandeis students who have disclosed that they’ve been impacted by domestic violence, in accordance with the most recently conducted campus climate surveys in 2019 and 2022. The Prevention, Advocacy, and Resource Center set up the flag display to stand in solidarity with survivors of domestic abuse on the nationally recognized Purple Thursday. In an Oct. 11 Instagram post, PARC wrote, “October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to acknowledge and honor the experiences of those impacted by domestic violence.” Congress passed the legislation that officially designated October Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1989. Over time, the third Thursday of October has come to be known nationally as Purple Thursday, for which people around the country wear purple to raise awareness about signs of abuse, uplift the stories of survivors, and advocate for larger policy reform.
This year, people around the country observed Purple Thursday on Oct. 19. To prevent the perpetuation of relationship abuse, PARC encouraged students to fill out tags with values related to healthy relationships, such as humor, trust, humility, honesty, and communication. They then attached the tags to purple flowers, which people could “give to a friend, romantic partner, or themself and get the conversation started,” explained Rebecca Van Spall-Hood, violence prevention specialist and survivor advocate, in an Oct. 19 interview with the Justice. The 2022 campus climate survey found that of the Brandeis undergraduate and graduate student participants, approximately 11% reported that they have been in a relationship that was controlling or abusive physically, sexually, psychologically, emotionally, or financially. The National Domestic Violence Hotline found that 69% of female survivors and 53% of male survivors of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner had their first experience with relationship violence before the age of 25. Additionally, 43% of dating college women report experiencing violent and abusive behaviors, and 52% of college women report knowing a friend who has experienced violent and abusive dating behaviors. These behaviors range from digital and verbal abuse to physical and sexual abuse.
“Relationship violence remains a prevalent issue for college students, and Brandeis students are not immune from this issue,” said Kate Richey, the director of PARC, in an Oct. 19 email to the Justice. PARC invited Brandeis community members to wear purple on Oct. 19 to start “the wider conversation of ‘How do we support folks experiencing domestic violence? How do we end domestic violence?’” Van Spall-Hood explained. Purple has long been connected with the domestic violence awareness movement. The association between the color purple and abuse advocacy is rooted in the significance of the color during the women’s suffrage movement. Since purple, white, and gold were the official colors of the National Women’s Party, many suffragettes often wore those colors as they advocated for their cause. During a march in Washington D.C. in 1978 in support of equal rights, more than 100,000 women wore purple to demonstrate their solidarity as well as to draw visual attention to their demonstration through a purple uniformity. On their Instagram, PARC wrote, “We would like to recognize the gendered history of the domestic and sexual violence movement and reaffirm that individuals of all genders and sexual orientations are impacted by this violence.” The National Institutes of Health
With the intensifying IsraeliPalestinian conflict, questions remain regarding whether ArabIsraeli peace can be improved. On Oct. 18, the Crown Center for Middle East Studies hosted a panel discussion in Rapaporte Treasure Hall addressing this theme. Profs. Shai Feldman (POL), Abdel Monem Said Aly, and Kahlil Shikaki were the three panelists. Feldman is the Raymond Frankel professor in Israeli Politics and Society and the founding director of the Crown Center for Middle East Studies. Abdel Monem Said Aly is the chairman, chief executive officer, and director of the Regional Center for Strategic Studies in Cairo, chairman of the Egyptian daily newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm,
and a founding senior fellow at the Crown Center. Khalil Shikaki is the director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah and a founding senior fellow at the Crown Center. The event began with the opening remarks of Marilyn Diamond, the honorary consul general for Morocco in Illinois and chair of the Crown Center’s advisory board, and Prof. Gary Samore (POL), the Crown family director and professor of the practice of politics department at Brandeis University. Following the opening remarks, the discussion’s moderator, Michal Ben-Josef Hirsch, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science and Legal Studies at Suffolk University and a former senior fellow at the Crown Center, initiated the discussion by acknowledging both Palestinian and Israeli victims of the latest attacks and the escalating violence that ensued. She also stated that the purpose of the discussion is only to explain but not to justify any aspect
See PERSPECTIVES, 5 ☛
BRIEF Health Center offers free flue vaccines With winter rapidly approaching, Brandeis has begun preparations for flu season. To combat the spread, the Golding Health Center is administering flu vaccinations to all undergraduate and graduate students. According to its website, the flu outbreak typically “peaks in January or February, with outbreaks occurring through May.” In a Sept. 15 email, the Health Center announced that it will be hosting flu clinics every Wednesday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., effective Sept. 27 until Dec. 20. Students can schedule appointments on their online patient portals or call the Health Center at 781-736-3677. The online portal displays a calendar with all the available dates and times. The Health Center also sends communication for seasonal vaccines to students through the Electronic Health Record, a repository of electronic records with patient health information. The Health Center is also hosting flu vaccine pop-ups on Oct. 17 in the International Lounge from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.; Oct. 24 in the Shapiro Campus Center from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.; Oct. 26 in Gosman Sports and Convocation Center from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.; and Oct. 31 in Feldberg Lounge from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Although registration is
recommended, walk-ins are welcome while supplies last. Massachusetts State Regulations 105 CMR 220.600 requires students to have documentation of required vaccinations or proof of immunity through antibody blood titers prior to coming to campus. Examples of required vaccinations include MMR, Hepatitis B, and polio. The influenza flu vaccine is not mandatory but recommended. The Health Center states that approximately 5% to 20% of the U.S. population is infected with the Influenza virus every year. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that people with the flu are most contagious in the first three to four days after they initially contract the virus. According to the World Health Organization, there have been multiple influenza pandemics throughout history, with the four most recent ones occurring in 1918-1919, 1957-1958, 1968-1969, and 2009-2010.
— Anika Jain
See ADVOCACY, 5 ☛
Student legacy
A royal review
100-day actor strike
Alumna Aly Thomas '18
Julia writes a fun critique on the film adaptation of "Red, White, & Royal Blue."
By MOMOCA MAIRAJ
returns to teach at Brandeis. By GRACE DOH
By JULIA HARDY
Student housing editorial By THE JUSTICE EDITORIAL BOARD
NEWS 3 FORUM 8
WNBA Finals recap Photo courtesy of ALY THOMAS
FEATURES 6
Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org
ARTS AND CULTURE 14
Make your voice heard! Submit letters to the editor to forum@thejustice.org
By JACKSON WU
COPYRIGHT 2023 FREE AT BRANDEIS.
SPORTS 12
2
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2023 ● NEWS ● THE JUSTICE
NEWS
SENATE LOG Student Union hears resolutions about Israel-Hamas conflict and free COVID-19 tests The Student Union Senate voted down a resolution to condemn the recent actions of Hamas. The resolution, which Senator Yoni Kahn ’24 introduced, would have served as the unified opinion of the Senate. Kahn said that the resolution was about “supporting Jewish, Israeli, Palestinian, and Muslim students,” many of whom he said had been affected by the recent violence in Palestine and Israel. He also said that while the resolution was condemning Hamas, it was not about the Israeli government or the conflict overall. “I stand with the Palestinian cause,” Kahn said during his presentation to the Senate. “But this is about condemning an extremist organization.” On Oct. 7, militants from the terrorist organization Hamas, which is also the governing body of Gaza, crossed the Gaza-Israel border and killed over 1,400 Israelis, most of them civilians, and took nearly 200 people hostage. In response, the Israeli government cut off electricity, food, and other necessary supp-
lies to Gaza, whose border it has full administrative control over. Hamas and the Israeli military have also been exchanging rocket fire since the incursion. Israel’s “Iron Dome,” missile defense system intercepts the majority of rockets coming into Israel, but Gaza has no such countermeasure. The Israeli military has also ordered the evacuation of over 1 million people from northern Gaza, resulting in what has been deemed by some as a “humanitarian crisis.” Senator Allison Weiner ’25 said that it was “ridiculous to call on an internationally recognized terrorist organization to do anything,” in reference to a part of the resolution which said that the Student Union “calls on Hamas to immediately release all hostages back to their families unharmed.” Senator Eamonn Golden ’24, who motioned to have the resolution added to this week’s agenda initially, said that the goal of the resolution was not to change Hamas’ actions, but to “show students that we’re in
solidarity with them in their time of need.” In addition to condemning Hamas, the resolution also asked organizations around campus to educate students about the conflict and promote “empathy, tolerance, and informed discussion.” The Senate went into executive session for over half an hour to discuss the resolution. After returning to public session, the Senate voted by anonymous ballot on the resolution. Six senators voted for, 10 voted against, and three abstained on the adoption of the resolution. Senator Sahil Muthuswami ’24 also presented a Senate Money Resolution, which the Senate will vote on next week, to order 90 COVID tests to distribute to students for free. Muthuswami said that the plan is to only order 90 tests because they will expire after only a few months, and he wants to make sure that there is enough student demand before ordering more. — Max Feigelson
POLICE LOG MEDICAL EMERGENCY Oct. 14—There was an intoxicated party. The party was transported to a local hospital. Oct. 15—A party experienced shortness of breath. The patient refused medical treatment. Oct. 15—A party experienced abdominal pain. The patient was transported to a local hospital. Oct. 16—An individual experienced dizziness and breathing complications. The patient refused medical care from BEMCo and departed the scene. Oct. 17—An individual fell down the stairs in a dining hall. The patient was transported to a local hospital. Oct. 18—A party felt light-headed. BEMCo requested an ambulance for an evaluation. The patient was transported to a local hospital via ambulance. Oct. 18—A party experienced flu-like symptoms. BEMCo requested the patient to be transported to a local hospital via ambulance. Oct. 19—A party felt ill. The patient refused medical treatment.
Oct. 17—The mail room received a suspicious letter. An investigation is to follow. Oct. 17—A party reported a suspicious person inside an office. Officers were able to identify the individual and cleared the case with no issues. Oct. 18—The Chief of Public Safety requested assistance with a check on a past employee. An investigation is to follow. Oct. 19—A party reported a suspicious person in their room without authorization. The area coordinator on call was contacted to inquire about room inspections. The room had been inspected earlier in the day. All appeared to be in order.
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES
MISCELLANEOUS Oct. 17—A party called to report that their laundry was removed from a dryer, and someone else placed theirs within the dryer. The reporting party was unable to locate their clothes. An investigation is to follow. Oct. 17—There was an off-campus assault. An investigation is to follow. Oct. 18—Newton Police notified Brandeis Police about a recent interaction with a Brandeis community member. An investigation is to follow. Oct. 18—A party reported vandalism in a quad. An investigation is to follow.
Oct. 13—A green bag that resembled a grocery bag had been left out for a couple days. All appeared to be in order. Oct. 13—A party reported a suspicious male walking near Lower Campus. Officers advised and investigated but the reports were unfounded. Oct. 13—There was an unattended backpack in a parking lot. The situation was cleared. Oct. 16—A party reported a suspicious package. Brandeis Police contacted Massachusetts State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialists to examine the package. An investigation is to follow.
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS The Justice welcomes submissions for errors that warrant correction or clarification. Send an email to editor@thejustice.org.
ACCIDENT/NO PERSONAL INJURY Oct. 16—A party reported finding damage to their car after parking it in a parking lot. An investigation is to follow. Oct. 17—A party reported a vehicle struck another vehicle in a parking lot. An investigation is to follow.
BRIEF Navigating the voting process: Important information to know for the upcoming national, state, and local elections While the next presidential general election is just over a year away, the 2023 off-year elections are primarily scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 7. This election cycle will include gubernatorial and state legislative contests, as well as various citizen initiatives, mayoral races, and local positions. To prepare for the upcoming national, state, and local elections, here are some things to keep in mind. Registering to vote The system for voter registration varies across each state. Certain states allow for online registration while others do not. Deadlines also differ from state to state, so it’s important to reach out to your state and local election offices or Vote.gov to become familiar with your state’s registration process.
ELIZABETH LIU/the Justice
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— Compiled by Anika Jain
Early voting allows you to vote in person before Election Day. Check with your state election office to see if early voting is an option. Methods for casting ballots vary depending on state laws. For information regarding the available voting options in your state, the deadline for requesting a ballot, and when to submit it, refer to your state’s election authority or the official state election website. Track your ballot To ensure your vote has been counted, it’s a good practice to check the status of your ballot. The tracking capabilities vary based on states, but Vote.org has created a ballot tracking resource by state website for voters to confirm their ballot has been accounted for.
Voting methods
Important dates and deadlines
If you plan on voting at the polls, make sure to locate your designated polling place in advance, be aware of its operating hours, and know the voter identification laws of your state. Polling locations are based on your place of residence. Eligible and registered voters can visit the National Association of Secretaries of State’s Find Your Polling Place page to be directed to your Secretary of State’s website to find the polling location they are assigned. Polling locations for both state and federal elections open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. If you are in line by closing, stay in line as you are entitled to vote and must be given the opportunity to cast a ballot. States determine individual voter ID laws. Some states may require a photo ID like a driver’s license, state ID, or passport to receive a ballot upon your arrival. Others may ask for a voter registration card, birth certificate, or Social Security card. If voting in-person on Election Day is not feasible, alternative ways to take part in the electoral process include casting an absentee or mail-in ballot or participating in early voting. Absentee voting requires eligible voters to request that a ballot be sent to them. Reasoning is required. Some acceptable reasons include: having an illness, injury, or disability that restricts your ability to get to the poll, being outside of the U.S., county, or city of residence on Election Day, or being a student at an out-of-state college or university. Visit the National Association of Secretaries of State’s “Absentee & Early Voting” page to be redirected to your state’s absentee voting page. Vote-by-mail allows for ballots to be mailed to every registered voter, without the voter needing to proactively request it.
Most of the 2023 off-year elections will take place primarily on Tuesday, Nov. 7, but it can vary based on the state. Visit the U.S. Vote Foundation or state election websites to find specific up to date federal, state, and local election-related info. What’s on the ballot? Whether you vote in-person on Election Day or pursue alternative methods, it is important to know the candidates and ballot measure you will be voting on, as it may impact you or your community. To learn about what will be on your ballot, Vote411.org can provide information on what races are happening and what policies are voted on. It’s never too early to be prepared and informed about the election process. Visit the USA.gov “Voting and Election” website for more information.
— Lin Lin Hutchinson
THE JUSTICE ● NEWS ● TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2023
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Silberman Series: “Jewish Girls and Women in Forced Labor” ■ Janine Holc discusses how her book “The Weavers of Trautenau: Jewish Female Forced Labor in the Holocaust” offers a historical and personal view on how survivors coped with imprisonment. By AMANDA CHEN
JUSTICE SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Content warning: The following article contains mentions of sexual assault and brutal events from the Holocaust. On Oct. 18, the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute held the Sandra Seltzer Silberman HBI Conversations Series: “Jewish Girls and Women in Forced Labor.” Joanna Michlic, an HBI research associate, discussed the book, “The Weavers Of Trautenau: Jewish Female Forced Labor in the Holocaust,” with its author Janine Holc, a specialist in Polish history and politics and political science professor at Loyola University Maryland. Michlic is a social and cultural historian as well as the founder of the HBI Project on Families, Children, and the Holocaust. She is also a senior honorary research fellow at University College London’s Centre for Collective Violence in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Lisa Fishbayn Joffe, the Shulamit Reinharz director of HBI, explained that the Sandra Seltzer Silberman HBI Conversations Series focuses on Jewish women’s history. Silberman first connected with the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute when her daughter, Debra Weinberg, was chair of the HBI Board in 2005. They started hosting a book conversation series in private homes that initially met in Weinberg’s living room. The program expanded to over 14 sites nationwide. In 2021, Weinberg named the program in honor of Silberman, who passed away a few weeks ago. “The Weavers Of Trautenau: Jewish Female Forced Labor in The Holocaust” focuses on the experiences of Polish Jewish young girls and women who were forced to labor in textile factories in the Czech Republic region of Trautenau during the Holocaust. The women’s ages ranged from 11 to 20 years old. Almost all of them were unmarried and childless. This event accompanies the art exhibition, “Lives Eliminated, Dreams Illuminated” by Lauren Bergman and Ella Milch-Sheriff. It will be displayed in the Kniznick Gallery in the Epstein Building until Oct. 25 at 4 p.m. Holc first gave a talk on the history into which her book delves. In 1939, Germany invaded Poland leading to the disempowerment of Jews in Poland, the seizure of their assets, and their loss of civil rights. Heinrich Himmler appointed Albrecht Schmelt to run eastern Upper Silesia as a labor reservoir to supply forced Jewish labor for war production businesses. Sosnowiec, Poland was a significant part of this plan; even though Jews there were able to live in their houses with their families rather than ghettos, they were required to register for the Jewish Council. Once registered, a person could be summoned for labor at any time. There were a wide range of labor placements; a person could be asked to clean someone’s office for an hour or to complete six months of back breaking work building a highway. In the case of the women in Holc’s book, they would be forced to work from 1940 to 1943, seeing the end of World War II.
The young women were taken from Sosnowiec and its surrounding towns in waves of hundreds to work in textile factories in a section of the Sudetenland. In three years, over 3,000 people were taken. Forced laborers made thread and fabric from flax. The area’s demographics included Czechs, Germans, and biracial people. The main labor camp was Parschnitz. Some of these labor camps became concentration camps in late 1943 and early 1944, adopting some of their characteristics: forcing laborers to stand outside for long periods of time for roll calls; deportations to Auschwitz-Birkenau for illness, pregnancy, or theft; and naked selections. An uncommon feature of the textile factories — which Holc noted could be typical and there is a lack of documentation — was that Jews and non-Jews worked side by side and formed relationships with each other. Some Czech non-Jewish workers left food and medicine in the factory for Polish Jewish girls, while others would be indifferent or hostile. According to the testimonies of survivors from Parschnitz, there were local female guards with little training, no men, and no members of the Schutzstaffel. Originally formed to be personal bodyguards for Adolf Hitler, the Schutzstaffel — the SS — grew to become the main security force and the architects of the Holocaust. They collected intelligence, managed German police forces, and ran the concentration camp system. Towards the end of the war, Germans fled from the labor camps because of the incoming Soviet army. There was no death march and the Polish Jewish women stayed in their barracks, unguarded and without food, information about the war, and lacking an authority figure. As Allied forces closed in, the SS forcibly evacuated prisoners from concentration camps in “death marches” to prevent them from falling into Allied hands and sharing what happened at the camps. SS soldiers forced inmates to walk long distances under harsh conditions, killing anyone who could not keep up. Many prisoners died from exposure, starvation, and exhaustion. When the Russian army liberated them in 1945, they brought food and alcohol, celebrating with them. However, the women feared the possibility of sexual violence and recounted that the soliders raped some of the former female Jewish inmates. Holc approached this book by gathering testimonial excerpts from the Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive and organizing their subjects’ reflections into themes. She conducted some interviews but primarily drew from a public collection because she wanted people to be able to do followup research. With this research approach, she illustrated a diverse range of reactions and coping strategies the young women used, while maintaining a coherent narrative about the events that occurred. “What I wanted to communicate is the daily life of the social world itself,” she said. “That intense collective shared social world that was created partly by the persecutory system — that infrastructure that the Nazi regime created. But also by the desires, fears, and frustrations of the many hundreds of girls and women who inhabited it.” One of the themes from the women’s testimonies highlighted the difficulty of the work, but also their pride in mastering it. The women believed that their work was saving their families back home from outcomes like deportation. Holc stated that “The fullness of their memory as adults is intimately connected with their senses of themselves as older siblings in a struggling family who are doing work that is dirty, dangerous, but it’s not degrading. They do not feel humiliated at least
as they remember it as adults.” Michlic’s first question for Holc dove into the intersection between Holocaust studies and women’s studies. Holc said that Holocaust studies continue to connect with more disciplines and encouraged people to examine how certain systems are gendered. For example, persecutory systems like the textile factories were already gendered before Jewish forced laborers came because they preferred female workers. Beyond researching the impacts of gendered systems on Holocaust studies, Holc also researched how war time disrupted behavioral norms. Jewish women’s behavior exhibited a contradictory quality, because on one hand they had a sophisticated awareness of their Jewishness, but on the other were forcibly uprooted from their cultural communities. Holc used the experience of a Jewish girl climbing up a tank to kiss a Russian soldier after the camps’ liberation as an example of the upending of norms. Moreover, there is a prevalence of risk-taking that Holc doesn’t see when studying women who are concerned about their children or elderly parents during the Holocaust. The subjects of Holc’s book are Jewish women who were younger, unmarried and childless, and thus had fewer responsibilities to protect children or elderly parents. They were more likely to engage in risky behavior. For instance, even though grocery stores run by Poles forbade Jewish customers, some Jews pretended to be Polish to buy food for their family. The young girls’ separation from their families deeply traumatized them. “The separation from their parents, some of them even say this, was the number one thing that continues to wound them, more so than sexual assault by soldiers, more so than almost starving to death,” stated Holc. The splitting of families was a historicized event, not a minor psychological phenomenon. The Jewish women coped with the harsh conditions by imagining family reunifications. In 1944, Polish Jewish girls learned what happened in Auschwitz when groups of Hungarian women from the concentration camp were brought to the labor camp. The Hungarian women arrived with shaved heads, wearing only thin dresses, and were visibly traumatized. Even when confronted with evidence of atrocities committed against Jewish people, the Polish Jewish women held onto hope that their family was the exception. A common saying was “I knew, but I didn’t know,” because they needed that self-delusion to function. Moreover, Holc described that “Their sense of themselves as part of a larger Jewishness, part of a Jewish presence in Europe [and] in Poland, part of a history of Jewishness that has a future … would just disappear if they admitted what was happening.” Michlic acknowledged how Holc’s work challenges postHolocaust narratives of redemption. Michlic referenced one of the testimonies; an interviewer asked a survivor if the past ever interferes with her life today, and she responded with “Every single minute.” Trauma from the Holocaust affects survivors to this day and influences styles of storytelling. Holc emphasized that there are experiences survivors are not going to talk about, and stories are the products of writers’ choices on what is intentionally left in and left out. Holc read out a testimony her book ends on that illustrates the difficulty of discussing the past; the interviewee said that there is “so much I can’t talk about, [and] there’s some things I won’t talk about. It’s very difficult. Even more difficult than being beaten.”
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Leaders of New England’s SAG-AFTRA Union discuss ongoing strike
■ Brandeis hosts a conversation to expand on the context and demands surrounding the ongoing Hollywood actors strike. By MOMOCA MAIRAJ CONTRIBUTING WRITER
With over 100,000 participants, the 2023 Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Hollywood actor strike hit 100 days on Oct. 22 — one of the longest strikes in the union’s history. On Oct. 16, Brandeis hosted a conversation with leaders of the New England’s Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Union on the Hollywood actors on strike. The event featured the New England President of SAG-AFTRA Andrea Lyman as well as the New England Vice President of SAGAFTRA Tom Kemp. Profs. Thomas Doherty (AMST) and Dan Breen (LGLS) joined the discussion to help provide context for the current strike. SAG-AFTRA is the combination of two labor unions, the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Since July 14, 116,000 actors have been on strike, 4000 of which are from New England, the branch that Lyman and Kemp head. Due to the creation of television and on-demand streaming such as Amazon Prime and Netflix, payment for an airing of a production, or residual earnings, for actors have significantly decreased. Furthermore, the development of artificial intelligence has led to controversial alterations of actors’ images and voice audio. While the actors may initially agree to be placed in a particular scene, through the use of Artificial Intelligence, producers manipulate the image to reuse their faces for multiple scenes without paying them for those extra scenes, since they do not qualify as working hours. According to Lyman, producers mislead actors into signing contracts that grant studios the ability to use their image indefinitely. Prof. Doherty explained the complexity of creating a contract on AI image: “There’s a tried and true doctrine, a contract law that you can’t alienate your rights to your body … That’s not something you could bargain away — certainly not any kind of a permanent basis,” he said. SAG-AFTRA’s proposals included a way to monitor the usage of the AI image of actors. “In our proposal, we have set a
minimum price that [the producer] would have to pay me for that per finished minute in the scene in the movie. So if that scene is two minutes long, then they would have to pay me the minute rate that we have come up with times two,” Kemp explained. Prior to the strike, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers offered to have a discussion to possibly amend these conflicts before the strike happened, delaying its start by 12 days. Despite the promise to negotiate, both the “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” movies premiered during this time, and the organization walked away from the table without considering the strikers’ proposal. A press release by AMPTP detailing SAG-AFTRA’s demands was published but did not match what the union was asking for. Initially, SAG-AFTRA’s strike overlapped with the Writer’s Guild Strike for America lasting from May 2 to Sept. 27 this year. The writers faced a similar problem to the actors as they were not getting paid sufficiently in residuals. For instance, despite the popularity of the show “Suits” — which had a rerun on Netflix this year — the main writer earned less than $300 in residuals. The writers eventually reached a deal with their contractors while the actors were still on strike, a result attributed to the different natures of the writers’ and actors’ work. “We have been criticized by the press for not accepting the writers’ performance-based residual ... We’ve been supporting [the writers]. They’ve been supporting us, but we all realize that we’re different,” Kemp said. While SAG-AFTRA covers a variety of jobs such as television stars, stunt actors, and voiceover actors, the writers’ strike focused on the top shows and thus had a different model of payment. The actors face challenges as they prolong their strike. There is an expanding impact on the industry that concerns more than just the actors and producers themselves which puts many workers with jobs related to the film industry out of work, as productions cannot continue without the actors. “The night of July 12, when we voted to go on strike, it was a very emotional room because we knew the impact that it would have on everybody else on the crew,” Kemp recalled. However, if producers agree to accept the conditions of the proposed SAG-AFTRA contract, strikers are permitted to work for that company. There is a large misconception of actors being paid well because of few highly successful Hollywood stars. Prior to the strike, this was the common perception of all Hollywood
actors; the publicity after the strike has since changed that notion. In fact, the average actor is working-class, like most United States citizens. In SAG-AFTRA, one must make $26,000 a year to qualify for health insurance, and only 13% of the members qualify. “If we can increase the minimum [residual payment], we also work on contributions to our pension and health fund, which would increase if we have residuals increase,” Kemp said. Producers are not paying actors residual earnings based on the success of the show because they claim to not know the show’s data. In Lyman’s words, when actors ask for a raise in residual earnings, the producers say, “We can’t afford to pay, and we wouldn’t even know how much we’re making, and we don’t even know how many people are watching.” Nonetheless, they are able to curate some sort of ranking of popular shows on their site, such as Netflix’s “Top 10 Most Popular.” Public opinion is in favor of the union because of the strike’s magnitude and social media coverage. Despite the strike lasting for more than a few months, the actors have maintained morale: “We’re doing something every week ... something happened that you never could have predicted, which was all these people that were in the union that were working and doing things. They’re all psyched, and they’re ready to get involved, and they’re ready to get other people involved,” Lyman said. The actors and professors also discussed the historical context of the strike. In a broader context of the culture of unions around the U.S., SAG-AFTRA was formed nine years ago, encompassing diverse careers, unlike other unions, which are typically separated by workplace or warehouse. The actors explained that there has been greater awareness brought to the income disparity’s accelerating growth. Prof. Breen highlighted the significance of having such a movement, saying, “It’s very inspiring that this can show how powerful, wellorganized labor unions under the right circumstances can be. It’s a shame that so many workplaces don’t have that kind of presence because they’re discouraged in so many ways.” Until the producers agree to meet with the actors again, the strikers do not plan to stop their demonstration. “We’ll continue to talk every year, but it’s got to be this protection, this consensus, [and] compensation, now,’” Kemp said. Producers will eventually have to come to terms with the actors as the strike continues to delay their projects, and actors are waiting for the moment the negotiations happen. Kemp added, “I don’t know whether I’m going back to Los Angeles tomorrow or in 3 weeks, but I’ll eventually do it.”
THE JUSTICE ● NEWS ● TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2023
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ADVOCACY: PARC starts the conversation about maintaining healthy relationships CONTINUED FROM 1 estimates that as many as one in four women and one in nine men are survivors of domestic violence. They also predict that family and domestic violence affects 10 million people in the United States every year. Furthermore, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence calculates that one in three women and one in four men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. However, this estimate includes a range of behaviors such as slapping, shoving, and pushing that “in some cases might not be considered ‘domestic violence.’” The NCADV also finds that one in seven women and one in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner. Domestic violence is proven to have intensi-
fied during the pandemic, the United Nations reports. According to the NIH, domestic violence is a “social and public health crisis, crossing lines of class, race, ethnicity, and sexuality.” The NIH also states that “there are many forms of domestic abuse which can be verbal, emotional, and/or physical, and it’s important to understand how these behaviors interact so that you know where to ask for help.” To support survivors of domestic violence, PARC offers a wide variety of resources. “Primarily, we have advocacy, so folks can make appointments with both professional staff and peer advocates to talk about a range of experiences,” explained Van Spall-Hood. “We’re also a resource center, so we can connect people to community resources and on-campus resources. We can walk folks through difficult
situations depending on what the scenario is. The other half of PARC is violence prevention. We have conversations with the Brandeis community about consent, active bystandership, prosocial bystandership, and a range of many other things.” In her email, Richey stated that PARC has added new content about healthy and unhealthy relationships to the Health, Wellness, and Life Skills requirement for first-year students. “We encourage returning students to partner with PARC for ongoing education; our violence prevention educators can come to individual student groups and speak about healthy relationships (along with bystander intervention and consent),” she wrote. Richey also explained that PARC is collaborating with the Office of Equal Opportunity and the Office of Institutional Research to facil-
itate the next campus survey to be distributed next spring. “I am very hopeful that we’ll have strong student participation in this year’s survey which will give us a more comprehensive look at the current student experience,” she wrote. “Students’ experiences in relationships in 2022 were still quite impacted by virtual learning throughout the pandemic.” “The more students that take this survey, the better we can use those statistics to support people,” Van Spall-Hood said. “We use those statistics when we train peer advocates, and it makes it tangible to understand this happens on Brandeis’ campus and many other campuses across the nation.” Once PARC analyzes the data, they will report their findings and host workshops about the collected data for students to ask any questions or express any concerns they may have.
PERSPECTIVES: Three experts in Middle Eastern politics discuss Israel-Palestine CONTINUED FROM 1 of the event. The discussion primarily addressed three aspects of the conflict: causes of the eruption of violence, short-term and long-term ramifications of the events, and prospects of IsraeliPalestinian or Arab-Israeli political settlement. Prof. Feldman explained that in order to understand the history of conflicts, it is crucial to evaluate the context on the international, regional, domestic, and individual levels. When analyzing international and regional aspects of the conflict, Prof. Said Aly emphasized the other Arab nations’ influence on the Paestinian-Israeli conflict. Said Aly commented that, for instance, despite the U.S.’ denial of Iranian relevance in the conflict, Iran is the main reason for the latest conflict. “Hamas could not and will not do anything without Iran involved. Iran saw that the geopolitical order of the Middle East is about to change, and it will change fundamentally. So that is regional change that you see, leading to where we are now in this crisis,” he said. Shikaki agreed with Said Aly’s remark on the systemic and regional factors, but he believed that those factors were only relevant with the timing of the conflict. “The most important driving forces were domestic,” Khalil Shikaki said. “What protects [President] Abbas and the Palestinian Authority in the West
Bank but does not protect Hamas in Gaza is the fact that economic conditions are much better than — not great — but much better than they are in the Gaza Strip,” Shikaki explained. For instance, unemployment in the West Bank is 15% and its per capita income is $4,000 whereas the unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip is 45% with a per capita income of $1,000, according to Shikaki. Although Hamas is more popular in Gaza than it is in the West Bank, according to Shikaki, that does not mean that the Palestinians in Gaza are favorable towards Hamas. In fact, according to Shikaki, 62% of Gaza rejects Hamas who governs Gaza as of now, and as a result, “just four months ago, demonstrations by young people in Gaza took place,” Shikaki said; the demonstrations were the result of unhappy living conditions in the Gaza Strip and targeted Hamas. Despite the Palestinian majority rejection against Hamas, Hamas still governs Gaza, which could be advantageous to Israeli propaganda. “This would be the ugly face of the Palestinians,” Shikaki said. “Israel can use it at any given moment. Even the most extreme Israeli right wing minister today in the Israeli government — [Bezalel] Smotrich — in 2015 said, ‘Hamas is a great asset for Israel. As long as it controls Gaza, this is the face we will present the international community with, so it serves our interests,’” he explained.
Feldman identified another domestic factor, the undermined democracy in Israel, when elaborating on the factors that led Hamas to launch their attack this month. “Israel created a window of vulnerability,” he explained. One of the windows was “an internal turmoil, which resulted from the most recent Israeli government that tried to limit Israeli democracy by changing the balance of power between the various arms of the governing system but in favor of the executive and the Knesset and against the judiciary.” When discussing the ramifications of the events, Shikaki prompted the question of who wants control of Gaza. “My answer is Hamas,” he said. Excluding any other outside forces, such as Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia Muslim political party and militant group backed by Iran but only regarding the bilateral IsraeliHamas war, “the immediate consequence is the ending of Hamas’s rule, and the beginning, in my view, of another Hamas rule,” Shikaki explained. “There is a zero chance that Egypt will be willing to do that. Abbas is not going to be able to do that, even if he's interested, and he's not interested; he will not be able to do that. No one in Gaza is going to be willing to do that. Israel is not going to be willing and able to do that in the long term. It might be able to stay there for six months, but it's not going to want to govern Gaza or control it in a much longer term,” he predicted. Assuming there is no wider regional conflict, six months
down the road, only Hamas would be willing to go back to Gaza, according to Prof. Shikaki. “You cannot move forward on the Arab Israeli dimension, as if there is no PalestinianIsraeli conflict,” Shikaki concluded when discussing the prospect of Arab-Israeli conflicts. “If you want peace in the region, [the] Israeli-Palestinian issue has to be addressed,” he said. “If you do not get it, the bloodshed that we have seen in the last few days is just a reminder of the horrible things that could happen if we leave this conflict as it is and just focus on the Arab-Israeli dimension,” he warned. “There is something that has to be done in terms of statecraft and political issues,” Said Aly emphasized. On the Arab side, he believed in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian Authority (PA). PLO and PA are the “original representatives of the Palestinian people” that “actually take care of the crossing points,” Said Aly stated. “My call in Egypt and my call in the Arab world is, those countries who got peace with Israel, got to sit together, make something reasonable on how to do that, and also highlight that nation building issue,” Said Aly said. Regardless of the different perspectives when approaching conflicts in the Middle East, the three scholars agreed that Hamas and other extreme groups cannot represent the Palestinian people and should not be settling conflicts in the Middle East.
ELENA GIACOLETTI/the Justice
Since the start of the semester, the Brandeis community has eagerly awaited the opening of Wok This Way, an Asian-inspired eatery in The Hive. On Thursday, Oct. 19, the longawaited restaurant officially opened. Students can choose a base of rice or noodles and a topping of orange chicken, tofu, or beef and broccoli. According to the Brandeis Hospitality website, "Wok This Way brings authentic Asian cuisine featuring both traditional and modern menu items right to you. This Asian-inspired menu was created by our talented chefs all over the globe to bring authentic, local ingredients to Brandeis with the ability to personalize your meal." In addition to Wok This Way, Brandeis launched two new dining locations this fall — the World Court Cafe in the International Business School and the 24/7 Costa Coffee Smart Cafe in the Heller School of Social Policy and Management.
features
6 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2023 ● FEATURES ● THE JUSTICE
just
VERBATIM | KATYA ZAMOLODCHIKOVA
I’m not going to panic because I don’t do that anymore.
ON THIS DAY…
FUN FACT
Britney Spears released the single “Baby One More Time”.
Britney Spears won her first talent show when she was six.
Alumna Alexandra Thomas returns to teach at alma mater Adjunct lecturer Alexandra Thomas (AAAS) reflects on her time at Brandeis and her return to campus for the fall 2023 semester. By GRACE DOH
JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Alumna Alexandra Thomas ʼ18 is an adjunct professor in the African and African American Studies department for the fall 2023 semester. A scholar of cross-disciplinary expertise in African diasporic art, photography and new media, Black feminist thought, and queer theory, Thomas was invited by the AAAS department to teach the course “History of African American Art.” While a Brandeis undergraduate, Thomas double majored in AAAS and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and minored in Art History and English. Following graduation, she went on to study at Yale University, where she is now finishing a joint Ph.D. in African American Studies and History of Art, with a certificate in Women’s Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Her dissertation “Afrekete’s Touch: Black Queer Feminist Errantry and Global African Art” examines how Black artists adopt aesthetics that are considered wayward, errant, non-normative, and fugitive in resistance to the pressures on them as Black artists. “My work is first and foremost Black feminist work,” Thomas noted while explaining the origin of her passion for art historical studies in a Oct. 20 conversation with the Justice. As a student at Brandeis, she saw herself as an emerging Black feminist scholar who was able to engage with a variety of disciplines from art history to English literature. Then, as she embarked on her post-grad career, she decided to lean further into art history, having had an affinity for visual culture, as well as many fond experiences interning at the Rose Art Museum — for example, meeting Black abstract artist Jennie C. Jones and other inspirations. To this day, Thomas continues to look to Black women’s literature in studying visual works as she does in her dissertation which references Afrekete, a Pan-African water goddess and an icon in Black lesbian literature. Alongside her research, Thomas has journeyed into curatorial work. Her exhibition, “Homecoming: Domesticity and Kinship in Global African Art,” is now open at the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College through May 2024 and explores ideas of home in Black art from the 19th century to the present day. In the past, Thomas has worked with numerous other museums and cultural institutions, including the Rose Art Museum, where she worked as an undergraduate gallery assistant and later interned. When asked about Brandeis faculty that have influenced her, Thomas credited her senior thesis advisor, Prof. Faith Smith (AAAS/ENG), as having given her a foundational knowledge in African and African American literature and culture. She remarks that Smith’s intensive literary training has provided her with skills that still aid her today in her doctorate program: “There are things she taught me in 2015 that are now still very present in my dissertation in 2023.” In her History of African American Art course, Thomas teaches artists like Ana Mendieta, Jack Whitten, Mark Bradford, Howardena Pindell, and Ellen Gallagher, whose works she both studied and viewed on display during her time as a Rose intern. She aims to give her students that same experiential introduction to art history by studying both the literature of the field and the physical artwork available at the Rose. “It really feels like a full circle moment to be at Brandeis now teaching about these artists,” she said. The course is designed to equip students with the vocabulary that is necessary to be immersed into the Black art world. Rather than structuring the course chronologically, all major themes in African American art history are embedded throughout the material. “Throughout the class, we talk about slavery and imperialism and queerness and feminism. That was important to me because it reflects what’s happening in the Black art world,” Thomas said. “These conversations are prescient.” Thomas also said she felt that the Rose has always been ahead of its time, especially as a university museum. She said that the museum has long held a commitment to showing Black artists’ pieces and the
Design: ANNA MARTIN/the Justice
nuances of Black abstraction. And, when asked about any observed changes in the Rose Art Museum since she was a student, Thomas noted a greater dedication to contemporary Indigenous artists such as Rose B. Simpson, Jeffrey Gibson, and alumnus James “Ari” Montford ’74 — which Thomas feels is a critical point of change considering the campus is situated on the unceded land of the Massachusett, Nipmuc, and Pawtucket peoples. As a member of the class of 2018, Thomas recalls the importance of being involved in Ford Hall 2015: “during this keen sense of uprising and resilience and in some cases, rebellion to the norms of the University.” Ford Hall 2015 encompassed a 13-day sit-in at the Bernstein-Marcus building, conducted by Black and other POC students who called for direct action towards racial justice on campus, after which students and the administration came to an agreement that resulted
in the recruitment of more underrepresented faculty and students of color, hiring a vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion among other actions. As a Brandeisian returning to campus on different terms, Thomas is able to see what has changed since the Ford Hall 2015 protests: from the role of the chief diversity officer being fulfilled by Dr. LeManuel Lee Bitsóí of the Navajo people to seeing that the other hired faculty this year consists of many Black, Latina, and Asian women professors. But she also noted similarities: one example being a radical political spirit in Brandeis students that reminded her of her own cohort. “Getting to see current students who have that oppositional consciousness and willingness to critique the world around them and try to build a new world that can be a better place for all of us is really inspiring for me.”
Justice file photo
WEDDING: Six students were married in lower Usdan.
Photo courtesy of ALEXANDRA THOMAS
SELFIE: Thomas poses for a selfie.
THE JUSTICE ● FEATURES ● TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2023 7
Veggie tales:
Students talk about being vegetarian on campus The Justice talked to students about their opinions on Brandeis’s tofu-oriented dining options. By RIA ESCAMILLA-GIL JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
There is no greater relief for a vegetarian at Brandeis University than to see the little “V” symbol while scanning the television screen menus in the dining hall. Similarly, for vegans, the little carrot symbol may provide comfort and excitement when trying to find dining options on campus. Seeing the rising concern for the global climate crisis, many people have been changing their lifestyle choices to include less red meat or no meat at all in pescatarian, vegetarian, or vegan diets. To investigate the school’s commitment to providing adequate meal choices for the student body, I set out to interview students and employees in Sherman Dining Hall. I first spoke with Kenny, a Harvest Table worker, who said the school is doing more than enough to ensure that students have enough options for their dietary restrictions. He said that, in reality, the problem is that Brandeis does not have many students who have significant food allergies or strict veganism lifestyles. He also added that they are doing well with the few people that actually need these specific accommodations. In general, Kenny said, they keep vegetarian and vegan options in mind when serving food and creating menus, and will normally group them together. I then spoke with a current student, Batya, who did not provide her last name or class year. Back at home, Batya was accustomed to the vegetarian lifestyle: She and her family have been vegetarian since she was eight years old. Batya generally uses the Kosher side of Sherman in order to get dairy products and not so much for protein that does not involve meat. Zoe, a freshman at Brandeis who also did not provide her last name, said that she could normally access vegetarian meals back at home. Zoe actually prefers the vegetarian selection choice at Brandeis compared to the options she had back at home. As someone who is vegetarian and not vegan, she would prefer that the vegetarian options remain separate, such as when vegan cheese is used on non-meat products. Overall, Zoe says that she can reliably find meal options on campus. I also met with a current freshman, who wished to remain anonymous. They are currently exploring becoming a vegetarian and determining if this lifestyle is right for them. “If I wanted a vegetarian option, I would have to cook the food myself. My family loves eating meat so it is hard making a dish without it,” they said. When asked about the availability of suitable meal options, they stated that, “There are always food options available [to them] and [they] can always completely avoid meat if [they] really wanted to.” Ava Repole ‘27, has been a vegetarian for about 4 to 5 years. They said that the options at Brandeis compared to the options back home are better and, “there’s more for [her] to choose from and on the meal plan, [they] do not have to prepare items themself. There’s a lot to choose from and [they] do not have to be stuck with a salad for every meal.” She also shared that before coming to Brandeis, they have not had many tofu options before. Adam Gould ‘27, has been eating a plant-based diet for over a decade. He began his new lifestyle at the age of seven because he “thought animals were ugly.” Becoming accustomed to his new eating habits, his family began making adjustments to his lifestyle and made an effort to include meals without meat products. Gould felt that there were times where the dining halls could easily provide a non-meat alternative to a meal they are serving, such as the breakfast sandwiches at Sherman’s Farm Table. He also told us that, “as someone who tried to both keep kosher and vegetarian, it is difficult to find options without carb loading.” Ultimately, most of the students I spoke with seemed satisfied with the dining options offered at Brandeis. Harvest Table’s Brandeis website states, “we take a dynamic, collaborative approach to meeting special dietary needs and encouraging active participation in making healthy choices,” implying that even for those dissatisfied with current options, offerings will continue to shift and change.
DINNER: A vegetarian plate sits at Sherman.
DINING: Fall veggies decorate the buffets.
SALAD: Leafy greens are often available.
Photos: RIA ESCAMILLA-GIL/the Justice. Design: ANNA MARTIN/The Justice
8 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2023 ● FORUM ● THE JUSTICE
Justice
the
Established 1949
Students need safer housing, both on and off campus Brandeis University
Isabel Roseth, Editor in Chief Smiley Huynh, Managing Editor Leah Breakstone, Dalya Koller, Lauryn Williams, Deputy Editors Sophia De Lisi, Anika Jain, News Editors Cayenn Landau, Features Editor Tibria Brown, Forum Editor Mina Rowland, Arts & Culture Editor Owen Chan, Ceci Xilei Chen, Photography Editors Julia Hardy, Jenna Lewis, Madison Sirois, Copy Editors Anna Martin, Layout Editor Elizabeth Liu, Ads Editor Zachary Goldstein, Eden Osiason, Online Editors
EDITORIALS What’s going on with midterm “season” at Brandeis “Midterm season” at Brandeis always seems to span an obscure time period starting as early as the end of September and ending with Thanksgiving break. Across many departments, midterms are scheduled at random points, and there is no set deadline or time period for midterms. Since midterms come in the form of exams, presentations, essays, assignments, and more, this period is a trying and stressful time of the semester for everyone, including students and professors. The finals period at Brandeis similarly spans a long period of time, but there is a more uniform schedule for the chaos of finals in comparison to midterms. A more decisive schedule would help to organize midterms, but due to the vast variety of midterms, it is hard to put them into one schedule. Additionally, more oversight over professors and their scheduling of midterms is desperately needed. In addition, the lack of a concrete span of weeks creates more complexity around studying and having blocks of study time. For students living on campus or off, being able to have quiet space in their space can feel like a luxury that is not always accessible. While the Department of Community Living mandates quiet time periods, that attention afforded for finals is lacking when it comes to midterms. Despite the lack of transparency around the span of midterms, this editorial board wishes to ease some stress through a compilation of resources that has been successfully proven to work by one of our board members. This editorial board compiled some resources on how to get through this seemingly
never-ending maze of midterms that have been proven successful in previous midterm periods. Extensions truly are your best friend, and some professors are more than happy to give you an extension. The worst-case scenario is that they say no, and at least you tried. Just ask for them as far in advance as you can, and the sooner you ask, the more lenient your professor will be. Depending on your department and major, professors are willing to be flexible as long as you advocate for yourself. It might not be possible for every department to be more lenient. However, going to office hours and meeting with professors can also give you extra brownie points, and clarifying a due date or part of the assignment is always welcome in Brandeis classrooms. Allison Weiner ’25 recommended, “For freshmen, one of the biggest tips I can give is to be gracious to yourself — this is a particularly stressful time of year, and if you are feeling incredibly overwhelmed that is so normal and you are not alone.” Staying diligent and organized with due dates and personal to-do items is another tip that Weiner gave, and reminding yourself to take care of yourself is critical to staying on top of your academics. Whether that be reminding yourself to do laundry, taking a shower, or washing out that bowl that has been out for four days, keeping up on the little things will truly help you get through that econ exam or bio lab. Small self-care moments truly make a world of difference. We wish you luck with midterms and hope that you find space and time to rest and relax throughout the next few weeks!
Since last semester’s tumultuous housing selection process, the issue of student housing has been at the forefront of our minds. Though worries remain regarding the potential of a housing shortage in the future, it is also important to acknowledge the housing problems that Brandeis students are facing in the present. As Brandeis students, it is not uncommon to hear horror stories about on-campus housing. Some may remember the flood in East Quad last year or the electrical fires in Ziv Quad and Ridgewood Quad in December 2021 and May 2021 respectively. However, aside from these larger housing disasters, students also face health and safety hazards in their buildings on the daily. This editorial board has been made aware of several concerning incidents in this year alone. One room in Rosenthal Quad was infested with wasps, forcing a student to live in temporary housing until the issue was resolved. Loose window screens cause bugs to crawl into bedrooms in the Charles River Apartments. A member of this editorial board found mold growing on the ceiling of their bathroom in Ziv Quad due to the lack of ventilation in the showers. There have also been reports of water damage on the ceilings of several dorms, including in Village, Charles River Apartments, and Ziv Quad. Most recently, the residents of Ziv Quad have been dealing with a mouse problem. “We are being plagued by mice,” Micah Heilbron ’24 said in a WhatsApp direct message to the Justice on Oct. 21. “We have caught five mice and have seen several more. Facilities came twice and gave us glue traps, which are the least humane way to deal with the infestation. “We now wake up to live mice congealed to glue traps and we have to bring them five floors down to the dumpster while they squeak and squeal. No one has filled the holes in our walls and vents that the mice are coming in from … Someone please help us or the mice will kill us, if not physically, then in spirit.” As Micah makes clear, problems like mouse infestations cause extreme discomfort for students. More than this, they’re safety hazards which can cause serious health issues if not properly resolved. Students are stressed enough as it is, balancing heavy workloads, jobs, and extracurricular activities. We should not have to worry about whether we are breathing in mold or stepping in mouse droppings as well. There is also the issue of heating and
cooling on campus. Earlier this month, student dormitories were sweltering because the heat had been switched on despite it being 80 degrees outside. Now that it has gotten cooler, students in the Charles River Apartments are struggling to keep warm due to the poor insulation of their campus accommodations. Students living off campus are facing health and safety hazards, too. Landlords are not always responsive when students express concerns about their living spaces, which forces students to live in unsafe environments. One member of this editorial board has experienced negligence from their landlord, who has failed to complete several repairs. The front steps have been crumbling since June. The range hoods in the kitchen are not effective, which causes the room to fill with smoke. Black goo seeps from the washer, which the students living there need to pay an additional fee to use. And when the heat in the house would not turn on, the students were forced to fork over $800 for oil because their landlord had failed to get it refilled. This landlord is likely just one of many taking advantage of Brandeis students living off campus in the Waltham area. With few other housing options available on the market, students have little choice but to put up with safety hazards and put their own health at risk. After all, they need a place to sleep. The problem here is clear: Both the University and off-campus landlords are failing to provide students with living accommodations that meet basic health and safety requirements — and they’re getting away with it because students have no other place to stay. It is reprehensible that the University has the funds to throw a 75th anniversary celebration, but will not allocate money in the budget to do something as basic as making sure student dormitories are mold and mouse-free. And it is equally unjust that landlords are failing to complete necessary repairs, taking advantage of the fact that many students do not have the experience, time, or funds to take legal action when it is warranted. Whether they live on campus or off, Brandeis students deserve to have safe, hazard free housing. Our living spaces should be places where we can sleep, work, and relax without worry. They should not be a source of stress on top of every other part of college life.
Justice file photo/ANDREW BAXTER
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
ASKING FOR A FRIEND
Dear readers of the Justice,
If you are interested in submitting advice for the upcoming column, follow our Instagram: @thejusticenewspaper.
This past Sunday, following a vote in the Student Union Senate against a resolution condemning the terrorist group Hamas, demanding the release of hundreds of hostages taken, and declaring solidarity with Israel in the wake of the attacks, I resigned from office as a member of the Student Union. The following is my resignation email as I addressed it to the senior leadership of the Student Union with all names removed. I urged the same and I urge the student body at large to make clear that the Brandeis community will continue to stand up in the wake of such terror, antisemitism, and other manifestations of cruelty, with or without the Union’s support.
Q:
In response to the Senate’s rejection tonight of a vital resolution condemning the brutal war of terror waged by Hamas against Israeli and international civilians, I hereby resign my post as a member of Student Union. This resolution posed the clearest and most effective manner in which Student Union could have proven its legitimacy as an advocate of the student body, including all students personally or indirectly impacted through those civilian-targeting atrocities. The Union failed to offer even the slightest level of recognition of the hardships currently faced by Jews — who witnessed their bloodiest day since the Holocaust — Jewish Israelis, Arab Israelis, Palestinians, and others in the region, along with all those with familiar, religious, cultural, or other personal ties to the land. The result of the Senate’s vote is a sincere disgrace to every member of the Brandeis community, and an evisceration of the legitimacy entertained by Student Union as a representative body. As a student on behalf of many, I urge each of you to pursue some brand of rectification for this deplorable spit in the face of these communities and others here at Brandeis. I am deeply grateful for the leadership more than 160 signatories brought to this fight, and for the leadership I know they will continue to bring as our community stands up for itself, together, notably without the assistance of a general advocative body. Sincerely, Stephen R. Gaughan Class of 2026 Student Representative to CEEF, Resigned
How can students effectively manage academic commitments while still participating in extracurricular activities and clubs?
A:
“University students can maintain a healthy balance in different ways depending on their previous life experiences and their current circumstances. A healthy balance is the basis for thriving in any environment. Finding the appropriate course load and academic schedule may be the first step. Academic Advisors are a great resource for this. Extracurricular activities including engaging in the community and employment can be added depending on the student’s desires and abilities to manage their time. Appropriate time management is critical to ensure that the student is not taking on more than they can realistically handle. In addition, being aware of and nurturing one’s mental health is essential, and establishing personal connections with students, Faculty, and Staff along with utilizing the BCC are great ways to do this.” — Karen Zuffante Pabon International Student Advisor, International Students and Scholars Office
THE JUSTICE ● FORUM ● TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2023 9
A cry for humanity: Examining civilian casualties during the Israel-Hamas conflict By ADIRA MUSKAT
JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Picture this: It’s Sept. 11, 2001. Planes just crashed into the twin towers. In the following months, Congress authorizes President George W. Bush to use any force he deems appropriate and retaliate against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. The “War on Terror” is announced and the U.S. begins airstrikes against targets in Afghanistan before invading. The Office of Homeland Security is created, new airport security measures are implemented, “enhanced interrogation” is authorized for suspected terrorists, and Iraq is invaded. The United States’ allies supported their response, even offering military support. This is what’s happening with Israel. On Oct. 7, 2023, the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah — simcha meaning happiness — Hamas launched a brutal attack on Israel. They murdered, tortured, raped, and kidnapped hundreds of civilians. More than 1,400 people are dead and over 200 are being held hostage in Gaza. There are reports of babies being beheaded, houses being burned with families still inside, and many other horrific forms of murder. Naturally, Israel retaliated. The international response has been mixed. At first, countries — including the US — have come out supporting Israel and condemning Hamas. However, many countries put out broad statements about limiting civilian casualties on both sides. As the siege around Gaza continues, countries and politicians have condemned Israel. The United Nations human rights chief has called the siege a violation of international law. This response is unacceptable. Hamas is a terrorist group that brutally attacked civilians including women, children, and the elderly. No matter your
political affiliation, beliefs, race, or nationality, the murder, kidnapping, torture, rape, and beheading of innocent people is indefensible. Refusing to condemn Hamas is supporting them. It perpetuates the notion that massacring villages and murdering people is acceptable. Condemning a terrorist organization should not and is not controversial. Who are we in our ivory towers to determine what a rational response is? Look at 9/11. Even President Biden said this is Israel’s 9/11, but proportionally it was fifteen 9/11s. When our own country is attacked — when our own civilians’ dead bodies are paraded through the streets — then we determine what a rational response is. Israel, not the international community, will decide the necessary actions to protect and defend itself. There were more Jewish deaths on Oct. 7 than there have been since the Holocaust. The Holocaust. This is what people are trying to excuse and rationalize. Some are calling Israel’s retaliation a “genocide” or “ethnic cleansing.” The United Nations defines genocide as “any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.” Israel has no intention of exterminating the Palestinians. The IDF warns Palestinians before missiles are launched so as not to harm civilians. Calling Israel’s act of self defense “genocide” is outrageous and minimizes actual genocides. Israel doesn’t want to kill all Palestinians. Israel wants to protect as many lives as possible, while fighting for its right to exist. If Israel doesn’t retaliate and protect its citizens, how will they ever feel safe again?
If Israel doesn’t show that there are consequences to terrorism, what is to stop Hamas from doing this again? Gaza is in charge of the welfare of their civilians. Israel has promised to provide humanitarian aid if Hamas releases the hostages. Instead of serving their own people, Hamas chooses to let them suffer. While I feel for the Palestinians, Hamas is to blame for the predicament they are in. Hamas knew when they launched this assault that Israel would retaliate and that Palestinian civilians would bear the brunt of it. These are the people that they are in charge of governing and in charge of keeping safe. Instead, they attacked Israeli civilians with the full knowledge that Israel would fight back. They use these civilians as human shields, knowing that Israel has and will continue to target their terrorist sites. Hamas takes advantage of public perception by placing these sites in dense civilian areas. Hamas is to blame for the Palestinian suffering. The recent hospital explosion in Gaza has sparked controversy. Israel claims it was Hamas; Hamas claims the opposite. I believe that Israel holds itself to a higher ethical standard, and they conducted an investigation instead of issuing an immediate denial. Israel provided evidence that the explosion was caused by Hamas. Hamas hasn’t provided any evidence to the contrary. In fact, they have refused to provide any evidence at all, yet people chose to believe terrorists over Israel. There is even evidence that Hamas significantly inflated casualty numbers. While any loss of life is tragic, this is a classic Hamas tactic to put Israel on the defensive and garner sympathy from the interna-
tional community. It is unthinkable that anyone would agree with Russian president Vladimir Putin comparing Israel to the Nazis. Israel, the Jewish homeland. Israel, the country that was created to protect Jews from anything like the Holocaust. Israel, some of whose very first citizens were survivors of the Nazis’ brutal and horrifying tactics. Putin does not have the moral high ground here. It is clear that the right side, the moral side, is Israel’s. Why do Jews, most of whom are already hurting because of this war, have to go through this additional pain? My friend, who talked with me for hours after my grandfather died, has received death threats, all because she wanted to write in her school newspaper about an Israeli who was beaten. The mental toll this war has had on the Jewish community is unfathomable. Why did my 14-year-old sister see a video of Palestinian children waving around the body parts of a toddler? Why are 20 year olds fearing for their friends’ and families’ safety? Why am I texting countless friends and family members in Israel to see if they’re even alive? Why, when my closest Israeli friend didn’t respond to me for days, did I worry that she was murdered or being held hostage? Why did an Israeli father call it a blessing when he found out his missing daughter was dead? Why was there an unmarked bag found in the Jewish chapel in this school? Hamas is the answer to every single question. Hamas bears the sole responsibility for every single atrocity, every tragedy, and every death in this war.
Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
Not in my name: A loss of humanity in discussing Hamas and Israel By ALLISON WEINER
JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
In the spirit of transparency — something that has been far too difficult to come across these past few weeks — I feel as though it is important to emphasize that this is a quasiresponse to a piece published in Forum last week. Coming to Brandeis, I was so excited to join a community built on inclusion as a core value. However, the discourse that has consumed campus since the violent escalation between Hamas and Israel on Oct. 7 has been disheartening, isolating, and frightening. First and foremost, I think it is a disservice to everyone to ignore the reality that being on Brandeis’ campus has given many of us a privilege we’ve never known before. I was born and raised in the Midwest, so coming to a place like Brandeis where Jewish students like me make up over 30% of the student body was unlike anything I’d experienced in my life. While I, and those just like me, are intimately aware of our marginalization in the world, I reject the idea that we are a marginalized “minority” on campus. According to Hillel International, we have the sixth highest percentage of Jewish students at any university in the country — second highest when looking at only non-sectarian institutions.
We are absolutely a university founded on Jewish values, and were thus created to provide a space for students impacted by historical prejudice in higher education. But let us not ignore the immense power we wield as members of the Jewish community on this campus. It is our job to uplift other students who are marginalized both on and off campus. And realistically, it is our job to do that regardless of what we may receive in return. The American Jewish community has a long and incredibly beautiful history of allyship with various marginalized groups and minorities. American Jewish women were heavily involved in the suffrage movement.We marched right alongside Civil Rights activists in the 60’s and we have historically supported LGBTQ+ rights. However, to invoke our name in the claim that we are owed some sort of activism in return is disgusting. We do not, and will not, engage in activism to receive something back in return. We fight for others simply because it is the right thing to do, regardless of whether or not they choose to fight for us. To imply anything else questions the integrity and sanctity of our allyship in the first place. As a proud member of the American Jewish
community, it is our guiding principles of “Tzedek” — justice — and “tikkun olam” — repairing the world — that have led me here. My Jewish roots do not command me to fight for Israel. They command me to fight against the violence perpetuated by both Hamas and the IDF. They command me to stand up for those in the West Bank being displaced by Israeli settlers. They command me to advocate for every civilian in the Gaza strip facing starvation, power outages, and a lack of humanitarian aid. And they command me to stand boldly against the use of chemical agents against millions of civilians. This is not a matter of indigeneity; it is a matter of rejecting violence being committed in my name against a people being charged with the crime of merely existing. For years I have joined my Jewish peers as we’ve screamed from the rooftops that Jews are not a monolith. The act of one is not the act of all or even many. Though we all gather every Shabbat to read the same text and chant the same prayers, we are millions of people with millions of independent thoughts. It has unbelievably pained me to see so many of my brothers and sisters arguing against this fact we’ve spent years trying to normalize. My
social media feeds have been flooded with self-righteous infographics asserting that “all Jews” notice your silence; “all Jews” want you to support Israel; “all Jews” are hurting right now. I am hurting. But my pain is rooted in this idea that I can’t hold space in my heart for my family in Israel while also holding space for Palestinians victimized every single day by the Israeli government. I’m hurt that so many members of my community feel dignified in the fear they have imposed onto our Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim peers in my name. I am hurting because my resistance to oppressors who look and sound like me has led some to question the validity of my faith at all. I have neither forgotten my roots nor am I “self hating.” It is precisely through a profound love for my religion that I disavow the “obligation” to stand on one specific side of this issue. And fundamentally, I am devastated that there seems to be no room in so many hearts to mourn for everyone. I too hope that Brandeis honors its namesake. I hope it stands on the side of justice and humanity. I hope it remembers that at the root of this war, before religion and land, are people. Just like you and me.
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Forum: Tasha Epstein, Jack Granahan, Stephen Gaughan,
Features: Grace Doh
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Sports: Rani Balakrishna
Sports: Josh Gans, Zachary Goldstein, Prateek Kanmadikar,
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10
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2023 ● SPORTS ● THE JUSTICE
Brandeis falls to Emerson College despite close match Emerson College beat Women’s Volleyball 3-1.
Photos: DANIEL OREN/the Justice. Design: ANNA MARTIN/the Justice.
11 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2023 ● SPORTS ● THE JUSTICE
STUDENTS AND ALUMNI ENJOY HOMECOMING
JUDGES BY THE NUMBERS MEN’S SOCCER UAA STANDINGS Emory NYU Chicago WashU Rochester Case JUDGES Carnegie
TEAM STATS
UAA Conf. Overall W L D W L D Pct. 5 0 0 11 1 3 .833 3 2 0 5 6 2 .462 2 1 2 7 2 5 .679 2 3 0 6 6 1 .500 1 2 2 7 2 5 .679 1 2 2 7 3 3 .654 1 2 2 3 7 5 .367 0 3 2 7 5 3 .567
UPCOMING GAMES: Saturday vs. Case Western University Sunday at New York University
Goals
Sancho Moroto Tobias '24 leads the team with 4 goals. Player Goals Sancho Moroto Tobias 4 Roee Maor 3 Rainer Osselmann-Chai 2
Assists
Sancho Moroto Tobias '24 leads the team with 3 assists. Player Assists Sancho Moroto Tobias 3 Aidan Chuang 2 Juan Vera 2
WOMEN’S SOCCER UAA STANDINGS WashU Case Carnegie Rochester NYU Chicago Emory JUDGES
UAA Conf. W L D 4 0 1 2 1 2 1 0 4 1 0 4 2 2 1 1 1 3 1 3 1 0 5 0
Overall W L D Pct. 13 0 1 .964 10 1 3 .821 11 0 4 .867 10 0 5 .833 11 2 1 .821 9 2 5 .719 7 4 3 .609 6 6 3 .500
UPCOMING GAMES:
Saturday vs. Case Western University Saturday (10/4) at New York University
TEAM STATS
Goals
Sydney Lenhart '24 leads the team with 5 goals. Player Goals Sydney Lenhart 5 Tanvi Raju 3 Yasla Ngoma 3
Assists
Rachel Watler '25 leads the team with 4 assists. Player Assists Rachel Watler 4 Lacey Mbugua 2 Zareena Mann 2
VOLLEYBALL UAA STANDINGS
UAA Conf. Overall W L W L Emory 7 0 16 1 NYU 5 1 20 4 WashU 5 2 18 7 Carnegie 4 3 16 7 Chicago 3 4 7 13 Case 3 4 17 7 JUDGES 1 6 8 12 Rochester 0 7 13 8
TEAM STATS Kills
Pct. .941 .833 .720 .696 .350 .708 .400 .619
UPCOMING GAMES: Thursday vs. Smith College Friday vs. Bowdoin College Tuesday (10/31) vs. Endicott College Thursday (11/2) at Wellesley College
Lara Verstovek ’25 leads the team with 279 kills. Player Kills Lara Verstovek 279 Anna Ertischek 236 Tatiana Wainer 86 Arianna Jackson 65
Digs Lara Verstovsek ’25 leads the team with 177 digs. Player Digs Lara Verstovsek 177 Ella Pereira 167 Ines Grom-Manseneca 155 Olivia Nirode 146
CROSS COUNTRY Results from the Connecticut College lnvitational on Oct. 14.
TOP FINISHERS (Men’s) 8-Kilometer Run RUNNER Lucas Dia Robert King TJ Carleo Henry Nguyen Willem Goff
TOP FINISHERS (Women’s)
TIME 26:16.5 26:34.2 26:40.1 26:45.2 26:57.4
6-Kilometer Run RUNNER Zada Forde Lizzy Reynolds Ella Warkentine Kyra Au Juliette Intrieri
TIME 23:12.9 23:35.2 23:56.5 23:56.8 24:06.9
UPCOMING MEETS:
Saturday, Oct. 28 at the UAA Championships at Case Western University Data courtesy of THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION and the BRANDEIS ATHLETICS WEBSITE; Graphics courtesty of CREATIVE COMMONS
GO JUDGES: Athletics sold old gear and jerseys to eager fans.
Photo courtesy of BRANDEIS ATHLETICS
Homecoming: A success CONTINUED FROM 12
was seemingly a fair result for both sides. Each team will feel happy to take away a hard-fought draw yet disappointed not to have won it at certain moments, as there were many close calls throughout the match. The Judges are on the uptick after a difficult start to the season. Despite a 3-5-5 record, they ended this game undefeated in the UAA, sitting third in one of the most elite conferences in the country. Co-captain Roee Maor ’24 acknowledges the momentum that his Judges currently have, and believes the group has a clear understanding of what it means to be a team. “Every
guy on our roster has upheld the standard of being a Brandeis soccer player and made sure that the teammate next to him is doing the same.” He displays confidence in the team: “As this continues, expect to see performances that continue to impress.” Fellow co-captain Sancho MarotoTobias ’24 asserts that this change in form was not the result of a specific turning point. Rather, they have been working since day one, and the results are finally showing. “Our mentality has been our biggest rival but we’ve been able to go over some bumps along the road that have honed our path.” Sancho stresses that they are
now approaching games with a different mentality– aiming to win, rather than to avoid losing. Since these games, the men and women each dropped their matches to both Emory and Rochester. The women fall to a 6-6-3 record, and the men fall to 3-7-5. This Saturday, Oct 28., both the women and men host Case Western Reserve University on senior day at Gordon Field — be sure to come out and support your Judges!
BRIEF Brandeis Hosts UAA Volleyball Tournament The Auerbach Arena and Shapiro Gym were bustling with energy and competitive spirit last Sunday, as Brandeis hosted the annual UAA conference volleyball tournament. Brandeis lost 0-3 to the number 5 seed Emory in their first match of the day. Emory, undefeated in the UAA, had several streaks in each set to get ahead of the Judges. Anna Ertischek ’26 led the Judges in 11 kills, her “fourthstraight match with double kills,” according to statistics from Brandeis Athletics. Lara
Verstovsek ’25, the team leader in overall kills, helped offensively while libero Ella Pereira ’24 and Arianna Jackson ’25 led the Judges on defense. The Judges won their second game of the day against Rochester with their best-hitting match of the season, taking home their first UAA win. Brandeis had the upper hand with 48-35 total digs in the match as the Judges took the match in three sets. Verstovsek once again led the team with kills and Ines Grom-Mansencal ’24 matched
the high intensity with 33 assists and a team-high 11 digs. Following the conference round-robin, Brandeis is 1-6 in the UAA with five non-conference matches coming up this week. Given the strong performance against Rochester and the tough loss to Emory, these upcoming matches leading into the end-of-season UAA Tournament will be critical to regaining momentum for the Judges.
— Rani Balakrishna
WNBA: Aces take the win CONTINUED FROM 12
care about each other.” Although Plum apologized and claimed that her words were misconstrued and brought out of context, the message of her words remains hurtful to the young Liberty team. “Honestly, to me, it felt kind of classless,” Jonquel Jones, the Liberty center and former MVP, responded. The feud between players from the two teams continues on “X” — formerly known as
ELIZABETH LIU/the Justice
“Twitter” — as Plum’s teammates joined the online chirping. Regardless, this is another successful season for not only the Aces but also the WNBA as a whole. According to ESPN, the viewership of the WNBA finals game four doubled from the finals game four in the previous year. The finals series attracted an average of 728 thousand viewers online — a 36% increase
from last year’s record, making it the most-watched WNBA finals in 20 years. The WNBA audience has certainly grown over recent years, and the games and competitive nature of the players are constantly living up to the fans’ expectations.
ELIZABETH LIU/the Justice
just Sports Page 12
BRANDEIS VOLLEYBALL PHOTO STORY The Brandeis volleyball team fell to Emerson College in three sets, p. 10.
Waltham, Mass.
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
BRANDEIS
The epic highs and lows of Brandeis Homecoming ■ Brandeis Athletics hosted Homecoming festivities, and the soccer teams faced University of Chicago in tough matches. By JOSH GANS
JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Last weekend was a lively one at Brandeis. Campus was bustling all weekend as the school hosted a special rendition of homecoming, celebrating the school's 75th anniversary. With dozens of events on campus for parents, alumni, and students alike, it was perhaps the most spirited, energetic, and passionate homecoming to date. On Saturday, Oct. 14, alumni and parents poured through the stands, tailgaters packed the beer garden, and food and ice cream trucks served delicious delicacies in the parking lot as the women’s and men’s varsity soccer teams played host to the Chicago Maroons. The women played in the morning, with hundreds of fans crowding the stands and nearby attractions. The Judges entered the day 0-2 in the University Athletic Association, coming off losses to Carnegie Mellon University and Washington University (MO.), ranked #1 and #3 respectively in the Division III national rankings. They nearly scraped out a result against the top-ranked Tartans, who boasted an 11-0 record at the time, narrowly dropping their first game of the season, 1-0 in front of the Jury at Gordon Field on Sept. 30. The Judges had resided 18th in the rankings at the time. For the first 85 minutes, the match was even. Chicago had 11 shots, six of which were on target, to Brandeis’ 10 shots, four of which found the frame. Tanvi Raju ’26 led the team off the bench with five shots and two on target. Brandeis had many opportunities to grab a much-needed three points before a heartbreaker in the 86th minute. The Maroons’ Hannah Ritten-
house notched a late winner, which proved a decisive blow to the Judges. After starting the season undefeated in their first eight matches — 5-0-3 — and a 16-6 goal differential, the Judges fell to 0-3 in the UAA on Saturday, rueing their misses in a game they wish they had back. All hope is not lost for Brandeis, but they now face an uphill battle to reach the NCAA tournament, which they last attended in 2021. Captain Sydney Lenhart ’24 is adamant that her team’s season is far from over, saying “We’ve all come together and set our minds to keep putting the work in. We’ve been training hard and want to translate all the work we’ve put in this season and show our skills off during the games.” The crowd continued to pour in throughout the day with the men’s game following in the afternoon, as they prepared to face off against the defending National Champions. The University of Chicago got the better of Brandeis 3-1 in Waltham last season, en route to a dominant and historic 22-0-1 season. The Judges did shock the Maroons on their own turf in 2021, before UChicago danced their way to the Final Four of the Division III NCAA Tournament. This season has looked more human for UChicago thus far, the team having faltered of late. With a 6-2-3 record, they were still ranked 17th entering play. Brandeis, meanwhile, entered the weekend off the back of a last-minute winning goal in St. Louis that downed WashU, thanks to the heroics of Rainer Osselman-Chai ’26, and nearly knocking off #8 Babson in a 2-2 draw. This was another highly intense match. UChicago commanded the shot chart 19 (6 on target) to 10 (3 on target), but couldn’t usher the ball over the line. Brandeis held their head in hands at times as well, after nearly breaking the deadlock themselves, with multiple scrambles near UChicago’s goal getting away from the Judges. The 0-0 draw did not reflect the excitement of the match, but
See BRANDEIS, 11 ☛
Photo courtesy of Brandeis Athletics
ACES HOLD OUT 3-1 FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP
SHOOT: A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, the MVP of the WNBA Finals prepares to shoot.
Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
WNBA
Las Vegas Aces Win back-to-back WNBA Championships ■ The Aces fended off the New York Liberty, completing the first WNBA repeat in 21 years. By JACKSON WU
JUSTICE SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Things did not look good for the Las Vegas Aces, who collected their first franchise title last year, as they entered the fourth game of the 2023 Women’s National Basketball Association Finals. The New York Liberty handed the Aces their first loss in the playoffs last Tuesday, 87–73, extending the final series and keeping hopes alive in New York City. Aces’ starting point guard Chelsea Gray, named the Finals Most Valuable Player last season, left game three with an apparent foot injury; and Kiah Stokes, the Aces’ starting center, showed up to the team’s Tuesday practice in crutches according to a CBS Sports report. The Liberty started game four strong and marched into the second half with a nine-point lead. The crowd in Barclays Center, the Liberty’s home court, was having a blast when Brenna Stewart — the Most Valuable Player of the WNBA this season — finished a layup and gave the Liberty a 12-point lead. However, the Aces came alive and responded with a huge 21–7 run to end the third quarter, leading 53–51. The Las Vegas squad was ready to celebrate when superstar power forward A’ja Wilson sank a turnaround fadeaway jumper and created a six-point buffer for the Aces with 90 seconds on the clock.
Courtney Vandersloot, a veteran guard on the Liberty, did not back off as she fired from downtown, made the shot, and forced a turnover on the Aces’ guard Kelsey Plum. Shooting guard Sabrina Ionescu lit the Barclays Center crowd up once again by making a mid-range jumper to close the gap to just one. A joint defensive effort from Ionescu and Stewart then successfully blocked Wilson’s layup attempt defensively. Ionescu secured the rebound, pushed to the frontcourt, and used the last Liberty timeout with 8.8 seconds left in the game. Ionescu in-bounded the ball. Stewart tried to work her way to the paint and drew the help-defense from the far side. The Liberty managed to find Vandersloot, who put up a shot from the left corner but did not hit the target. The Aces survived the momentum to win the 2023 WNBA championship, 70–69, and made history. They are the first reigning champion to complete a repeat since 2002, when the Los Angeles Sparks swept the Liberty thanks to hall-of-famer Lisa Leslie’s stellar performances. This is also the first time any WNBA teams won consecutive titles since the league changed its finals into a best-of-five format. The Aces achieved something no one has ever done with two starters injured in the final game, and a future hall-offamer — Candace Parker — sitting on the sideline. Wilson, without surprise, won her first Finals MVP award after scoring 24 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in the championship-clinching game.
She dominated the court on both offense and defense, averaging 23.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per postseason game. Wilson stepped up and continued to make tough baskets count whenever the Aces needed a basket. Despite being heavily guarded, the young WNBA superstar demonstrated great shooting efficiency in the playoffs. She is the only WNBA player to average 20 plus points and 10 plus rebounds while maintaining a shooting percentage higher than 55%. She also went on a roll in the earlier rounds against the Chicago Sky and the Dallas Wings and she became the first WNBA player to score more than 30 points in three consecutive playoff games. Wilson is only 27 years old, but she is already in the WNBA GreatestPlayer-of-All-Time discussion for her impressive accomplishments. “Aces versus Liberty” was the anticipated finals matchup for WNBA fans. There seems to be a rivalry in the making as things got heated both on and off the basketball court. First, there was the heated regular season MVP debate. It was a close race, but Stewart ended up receiving the ultimate season honor while Wilson was only voted third. Becky Hammon, the head coach of the Aces, lambasted the MVP vote in a press conference on September 26th. “People did not do their homework,” Hammon argued. The smoke has not gone away after the finals. Plum, after winning the championship, commented that the Liberty “are not a team” and “don’t
See WNBA, 11☛
Vol. LXXVI #5
Waltham, Mass.
October 24, 2023
Photos: Smiley Huynh/the Justice. Design: Eliza Bier/the Justice.
THE JUSTICE | TUESDAY, JANUARYI THE 31, JUSTICE 2017 OCTOBER| ARTS 24, 2023 I ARTS & CULTURE 14 TUESDAY,
FILM REVIEW
‘Red, White & Royal Blue’: A royal critique of the film adaptation BY JULIA HARDY JUSTICE EDITOR
I read “Red, White & Royal Blue” by Casey McQuiston for the first time the summer before I started college. I couldn’t put it down and it quickly became one of my favorite rom-com books. RWRB explores the romantic relationship between Alex ClaremontDiaz, the first son of the United States, and the Prince of England Henry George Edward James FoxMountchristen-Windsor — yes, that is really his name. As two of the world’s most prominent political figures, Alex and Henry must balance their growing love for each other with their responsibilities to their countries. Although there are many reasons to love “Red, White & Royal Blue,” some of my favorite aspects include the adorable emails that the two main characters exchange, the development of sibling relationships, and the mandatory happy ending that all good, fun rom-coms must have. When I learned that a movie adaptation was being released, I knew in my heart that the movie could never do justice to the book. However, as I watched the movie, I was stunned by just how horrible the adaptation was. I found myself aggressively pointing at the screen, absolutely appalled by all the mischaracterizations, inaccuracies, and plot discrepancies. I am cognizant of the fact that I was probably always going to hate the movie adaptation since I loved the book so much, but it was so much worse than I ever could have ever imagined. There were countless aspects of the “Red, White & Royal Blue” movie adaptation that I hated, but one of the most infuriating ones was the mischaracterization and omission of many of the crucial characters, but I want to talk about June, Zahra, and Ellen in particular.
Where is June? I think the most obvious character omission was Alex’s sister, June. With the erasure of June, the movie missed out on the heartwarming dynamic between Alex, June, and Nora. Alex and June are the children of President Ellen Claremont. Nora is the granddaughter of the vice president. Together, they make up the “White House Trio.” The three are best friends and their interactions bring levity and a sense of innocence to the book. Nora, Alex, and June are under increasing pressure throughout the book as they work on President Claremont’s reelection campaign and navigate being in the public eye. Their casual, relatable interactions are important, because they show that they are simply everyday young adults trying to figure out what to do in their lives. By omitting June, the movie loses this relatability and friendship dynamic that the three characters represented. In the book, June and Alex have such a relatable, loving brother-sister relationship and the movie decided to completely get rid of it. By failing to portray this relationship in the movie, we lose a lot of Alex’s childhood. I think the moment that I literally jumped out of my seat in indignation was when Alex found tabloids randomly lying in a hallway in the White House. I understand that the movie wanted to include the role of tabloid magazines to stay true to the book, but it misses
Design: MINA ROWLAND/the Justice
the entire point of the magazines. In the first few pages of the novel, we see June and Alex bond over the ridiculous things the magazines write about them. This is a fun thing that the two of them do together, but the silly pastime transforms into a more serious moment between the two siblings when Alex comes out to June as bisexual. It’s mentioned earlier in the book that Alex would sneak into June’s room when he was younger and look at a specific magazine with Henry’s picture in it. When June confronts Alex about why he hasn’t shared his relationship with Henry with her, she ends up throwing the old magazine at him, indicating she knows he was snooping all along and that Henry was more than just a crush. June knew that Alex was romantically involved with Henry, but it was sisterly love that caused her to confront Alex. Ultimately, she just wants Alex to be happy, and she’s worried that jumping straight into politics after college wouldn’t make him happy. She wants Alex to consider the importance of his relationship with Henry and understand there are other options besides politics. She says, “Alex, you don’t have to wonder. You don’t have to be our parents. You can keep Henry.” June isn’t saying Alex should abandon his ambitions, but she wants him to know that he doesn’t have to compromise in life like their parents did — that he can reach his goals in multiple different ways. This is such an emotional moment in the book and it’s a culmination of all the love in their brother-sister relationship. June is doing what older siblings do; she was looking out for her younger brother — always having his best interest at heart. I was so excited to see this scene play out on screen, but it was completely erased. In this moment, we understand the struggles Alex is going through as he navigates what to do after college life, but he always has June by his side to support and advise him. Practically all of June and Alex’s playful bickering reminded me of the relationship I have with my brothers, and it brought me a lot of joy to read about Alex and June’s brothersister relationship, so I was extremely disappointed when June was left out.
That’s not the Zahra I know and love Zahra is Ellen Claremont’s deputy chief of staff. In the book, Zahra is incredibly sarcastic, but she carries herself with an air of professionalism. She’s efficient and competent at her job, but there’s also determination and fire in her. This manifests in all the interactions she has with Alex. In one of my favorite scenes in the book, Zahra is tasked with waking Alex up after he had spent the night with Henry at the Democratic National Convention. As Alex and Henry are both scrambling to get out of bed, Zahra bangs on the door, adamantly yelling that Alex has a meeting to get to. When Alex finally opens the door Zahra is “standing there with her thermos and a look on her face that says she did not get a master’s degree to babysit a fully grown adult who happens to be related to the president.” There are so many things I love about this description, partly because it perfectly encapsulates who Zahra is as a character. Zahra is a highly educated, ambitious woman working for the President of the United States — of course
she has a thermos. She’s not afraid to speak her mind, but she is cool and collected in many cases. However, the portrayal of Zahra in the movie is completely wrong. I understand that June’s absence from the movie was a big deal and did a lot to disrupt the emotional backbone of the book, but I was also so amazingly upset about the mischaracterization of Zahra. In the movie, all the amazing parts of Zahra’s character are missing. The very first scene that Zahra was in, I was immediately shaking my head at the, shocked at the inaccuracy of it all. Zahra makes her first appearance after “cakegate,” where Alex and Henry ruin the cake at the Royal Wedding. Zahra’s reaction to this was to chase Alex around the Oval Office and throw a pillow at him. The Zahra in the book would never do that. As mentioned previously, Zahra is sarcastic and her disapproval comes in the form of cutting words, not anger filled throwings of pillows. In the book, this scene between Alex and Zahra is held at a boardroom table, and she chastises Alex with words, not actions. This shows Zahra’s professional but firm demeanor as she efficiently does her job. The movie completely destroys Zahra’s character. I nearly stopped watching. I was so annoyed.
Madam President Finally, there’s Ellen Claremont: the first female President of the United States in the “Red, White & Royal Blue” universe. The mischaracterization of Ellen began in the same scene where Zahra throws the pillow at Alex’s head, but I was just heartbroken that Ellen was not accurately portrayed in the movie. Ellen is a badass — simple as that. She is the president, serving the country with dignity and grace. Not to mention she’s balancing being a parent in the public eye. These are goliathlevel tasks and she doesn’t always get it right, but that’s kind of the point. No one should expect her to be perfect. She doesn’t have all the answers even though the press may want her to, but she does everything in her power to serve her country and be the best mom she can be. In many ways, Ellen reminds me a lot of my own mom who is always balancing being a mom, and running her own law firm; she always strives to be the best mom and lawyer that she can be. I have so much respect and admiration for her. I think this is why I really like Ellen’s character, because she reminds me of my mother’s dedication and loving actions. I think it’s really important to show realistic depictions of working moms, and this is why Ellen is the best character in the book. One of the scenes that Ellen shines the most is when she talks to Alex after all his emails with Henry are leaked to the press. Firstly, Ellen kicks everyone out of the meeting room, disrupting everything so she can talk to her son. The very first thing she says to Alex is, “Are you ok?’” As Alex puts it, “The president stands on the edge of a career-ending scandal, measures her breaths evenly, and waits for her son to answer.” This is a situation that has no right answer and all Ellen can do is assess her options and make a decision. Ellen perfectly embodies the challenges that many women face as they are expected to be perfect mothers and also have a career. This is an impossible task, but Ellen is
Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
NOVEL: Casey McQuiston is the author of the well known novel “Red, White & Royal Blue” that was recently adapted into a film in 2023. firm in her resolve: “‘You listen to me,” she says. Her jaw is set, ironclad. It’s the game face he’s seen her use to stare down Congress, to cow autocrats.” Ellen is decisive in her support of Alex, and she is dedicated in everything she does — whether it’s being the president or a mom. No matter what her decision is in this impossible situation, her dedication is admirable, and I don’t think I’ve ever respected a fictional character more. Now, the movie butchers all of this. I don’t have words to describe how poorly the movie portrays Ellen. It misses all the nuances and complexities of Ellen’s character, and I was literally screaming at my computer screen. I think the best representation of this is the difference between her acceptance speech in the book vs. the movie. The last lines in her speech in the book are, “My family. Your First Family. We intend to do everything we can, for the next four years and the years beyond, to continue making you proud.” Ellen takes such pride in her work and her family; all she has ever wanted is to do the best she can for her country and her children. In the movie, she doesn’t even mention her family in the speech. I have nothing against the content of the speech, but it misses an entire part of Ellen’s identity. The speech in the book made me cry, but the speech in the movie missed the mark by miles.
Let’s talk about badass women The book is filled with so many incredible, ambitious, and loving women. June leads the communications side of Ellen’s reelection campaign and does so with the
same dedication that her mother shows in her life. June attempts to find her role in her political family as an aspiring journalist, and she is passionate about her goals. Nora is going into law school and uses her talent of data analysis to help those she loves and cares for. Much like Ellen, Zahra aspires to be the best version of herself at her job. Ellen is literally the President of the United States. RWRB, of course, addresses sexual orientation and identity, and I think the movie does an OK job of representing this; it really shows the personal struggles that Henry and Alex face as their relationship develops and becomes public. However, the book also explores gender, particularly by including many strong women. The movie completely misses this part of the book. In essence, “Red, White & Royal Blue” is about finding one’s identity within America as we follow Henry, Alex, June, and Nora. They take pride in their country and believe that America can support their passions and identities. However, in the movie, there is almost no discussion on gender. This was so frustrating to me and I felt that it removed one of the main emotional cores of the book. I would never recommend this movie by saying that it was good or accurate to the book. There are countless inaccuracies, omissions, and plot changes that make this a terrible adaptation of “Red, White & Royal Blue.” With that being said, if you are a person who loved the book like I did, there is something entertaining about making fun of the movie. So, if you’re a fan and in the mood to tear a movie to pieces, then I would suggest watching this movie.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2023 I ARTS & CULTURE I THE JUSTICE
THE JUSTICE | ARTS | TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017
INCENDIO
15
CAMPUS EVENT
By ANNA MARTIN JUSTICE EDITOR
The Brandeis Latinx Student Organization held their annual culture show, Incendio, on Oct. 22. This show was complete with cultural performances, food, a raffle, art, and music. The theme of this show was “All Around Latin America.”
A GRITO: Undergraduate Mariachi Véritas de Harvard performs mariachi at Brandeis’ annual Incendio culture show.
BAILA: Northeasterns’ Kaliente shares their talent and the stage.
MIC’D UP: Dalia Moran ’24 leads Incendio into its next performance.
MARIACHI: Harvard’s Gabriel Ortiz ’24 plays the trumpet.
CULTURE SHOW: Taylor Rozetta, co-coordinator and Emcee introduces the show.
ACOUSTICS: Juan Jimenes ’24 plays guitar for Olas De Surya.
SING: Milena Ferreira ’24 performs.
BACHATA: Kaliente sways to the rhythm in their dance performance.
ROCKS OUT: Brandeis’ own indie pop-rock band, Olas De Surya presents original songs with Ana Perez ’25 on guitar and Vaishnavi Bulusu ’24 on keyboard.
STRINGS: Marco Hernandez ’25 plays with Olas De Surya.
Photos: SMILEY HUYNH/the Justice. Design: ANNA MARTIN/the Justice.
16 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2023 I ARTS & CULTURE I THE JUSTICE
STUDENT ART SPOTLIGHT
STAFF’S Top Ten
SMILEY HUYNH/the Justice
By CECI XILEI CHEN JUSTICE EDITOR
Top 10 ‘League of Legends’ champions As Worlds 13 started, “League of Legends” has been a popular game among varies countries for over 10 years. With more than 140 champions, here are my top 10 of League of Legends champion: 1. Zoe 2. Lulu 3. Lux 4. Irelia 5. Camille‑ 6. Talon 7. Kai’sa 8. Taliyah 9. Akali 10. Jhin
Graphic courtesy of AAMNA ZAHRA TIRMAZI
Aamna Zahra Tirmazi is a self taught mandala artist who mixes art styles from different cul‑ tures and eras reflecting their multicultured background and ethnicity. They also enjoy abstract art, particularly experimenting with colours, styles, textures and using collaging techniques.
HOROSCOPES By TRIONA SUITER
JUSTICE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
(June 22 - July 22): If you have been dreaming about something for a long time and have been looking for a sign to go for it, this is that sign. Now is the time to take action to make your dreams reality. Stay faithful to your vision and you will find success. If you have a good relationship with your mother, reach out to her for advice.
(March 20 - April 19): If you’re feeling untethered, try reorganizing part of your living space. If you’re considering studying abroad, you should take whatever the next step is to pursue that. A disruption to your plans could be a blessing in disguise. The arrival of a stranger may soon upset the status quo.
Libra
(Sept. 24 - Oct. 24): Take your time to make plans; rushing into things will backfire on you. If you have a significant community role, make it your priority this week. If you’re looking for a job right now, try going for something that will give you an opportunity to learn a trade or craft. You may find a new ambition.
Capricorn
Leo
Taurus
Scorpio
Aquarius
Virgo
Gemini
Sagittarius
Pisces
Cancer
(July 23 - Aug. 22): Having experience in something does not automatically make you the superior authority on that thing. Fixed opinions will lead to conflict. The pursuit of truth will always be the fastest path to justice. A streak of luck will soon turn.
(Aug. 23 - Sept. 23): Meditation may be a strategy to help you concentrate if you are struggling with studying. Be wary of trusting rumors and gossip, and don’t spread it yourself. Now is a good time to apply for scholarships. Treat yourself to something nice this week; you deserve it.
Aries
(April 20 - May 20): You may be feeling weighed down by sadness or grief. Allow yourself time to feel those emotions but don’t become lost in them. There are always good things in the world, just as there are always bad things, and it is important to acknowledge all of it. Try to remember that it is not always going to be as hard as it is right now.
(May 21 - June 21): Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many things at once. If you’re struggling to choose between different ways to spend your time, try making a pros and cons list to lay out what is the most important to you.
(Oct. 24 - Nov. 21): Whatever internal journey you may be on, you will soon find yourself reaching a milestone of success. Try to treat yourself with kindness through your challenges, especially when the people around you may be treating you harshly. Don’t let them bring you down; you’ve got this.
(Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): You may be finding yourself frustrated by experiences that are not living up to your expectations. Remember that others may not be as satisfied as they are acting either. If you are frustrated with yourself for some perceived failure, take a moment to look back at how far you’ve come. Hold on to hope; good things are on the way.
(Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): Someone new will soon be entering your life in an unexpected way. If you are at the beginning of a fresh enterprise, taking the necessary time to carefully consider every choice will be the surest way to bring about security and profit. Remember that public recognition is not the key to fulfillment.
(Jan. 19 - Feb. 18): You don’t have to put up with people who make you feel lonely or small, even if they are members of your family. You are allowed to set boundaries. It’s important to remember to respect others’ boundaries as well. If you find yourself looking for reasons to dislike something, try to reframe your mindset.
(Feb. 19 - March 19): Accept the next invitation you receive, even if you are hesitant; it may lead you to unexpected opportunities. Hold on to your passion, make everything you do heartfelt and genuine. If you are struggling to reconcile with your choices, you will find the most peace by being as honest with yourself as possible, take a moment to look back at how far you’ve come.
SUDOKU Puzzle courtesy of OPENSKY SUDOKU