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Stop threatening our language programs

 Recently, there has been talk of changing Brandeis’ language requirement from achieving “a certain degree of proficiency in the use of one foreign language,” a requirement that can be filled by passing a 30-level language course or higher, to completing two semesters of a language. Bilingual students, who formerly were able to test out of the language requirement, would now also be required to take two semesters of a foreign language. Two semesters are not enough to reach the intermediate level in any language, meaning many students would leave Brandeis without an intermediate level in any second language. This would make them less competitive in the job market and deprive them of the many benefits of language learning, as later elaborated on in this article. 

It's time to abolish ICE

Back in November 2024, I wrote in The Justice’s forum on the topic of immigration for its special 2024 presidential election issue. At the time, I laid out the case for Kamala Harris implementing a more compassionate immigration policy than the one she was campaigning on, should she be elected president. I described Donald Trump’s proposed immigration policies as “horrifying” and “fascistic in nature,” concluding that, “immigrants are not pawns to advance political agendas, they’re real people whose lives are affected by policy.” I will be the first to admit, the piece was optimistic, maybe even naively so, but I saw a real opportunity for progress if Harris won.

The weather outside is frightful: Concerns with the handling of the snowstorm and a thank you to facilities staff

This editorial board wants to express our gratitude to the facilities workers who plowed, shoveled and otherwise removed snow around the University campus, especially in light of the immense amount of snowstorm that crossed the east coast last week. However, this board also acknowledges that a snowstorm of this magnitude requires more than the standard number of employees to appropriately clear the snow. 

Letter to the Editor — Marc Sapir

Brandeis Alumni Newsletter Editor:

Letter to the Editor — Mike Sawyer

Dear Editor,

Letter to the Editor — Richard Sherman

Boston University Law Professor Raphael Stern’s discussion about any contention that may exist about Israel’s borders as reported by Chava Thiell appears to  ignore the controlling international law concerning   Israel’s status:  Article 80 of the United Nations Charter, an international treaty, that supercedes any resolution of the Security Council or General Assembly that may conflict with it.  (“Making Israel’s Legal Space: Discussions About International Law”).

Klein: Unrelated; AK’s Waltham’s pizza

A critical look at finals-induced academic stress

 Entering the Brandeis libraries at this time of year, you’re more than likely to see the building overflowing with people in all directions. Surprised that everybody had the same idea as you, you might settle for the last seat available on a couch in front of Starbucks or somberly retire to your dorm room to study in solitude. Sure, the library is a hotspot for socializing and productivity alike, but why exactly is it that there always seems to be such a surplus of people within its confines at all hours of the day, whether it be morning or even up to its closing at 2 a.m.? 

Forum, Unfiltered — Brianna Earle

Grad is not that bad.

Letter to the Editor — Micah Rothkopf

Winter senior send-off

 Farewells are always challenging, but as the end of the fall semester approaches, it’s time to say goodbye to those who are graduating early. Graduating and receiving an undergraduate degree is a remarkable accomplishment that takes endless hours of hard work, dedication and focus. With this in mind, The Justice Editorial Board congratulates all who are graduating in December, and wants to take this opportunity to honor Justice Arts and Culture Editor Maeve Coakley ’25 who will be graduating in the coming weeks.  

We may need fewer days off in the fall

 Every fall at Brandeis, students may wake up on a Wednesday with a Tuesday class schedule, or on a day when there are no classes for reasons unbeknownst to them. These days off may provide opportunities for relaxation and relief, but so much time off in October always leads to a messy midterms schedule, and this semester, it meant finals end on Dec. 22. While a secular university, Brandeis follows the Jewish calendar and gives days off accordingly. A small fraction of the student body requires all of this time off for religious purposes, leaving the rest of the student body to navigate the unclear class schedule. This editorial board believes that the unequal value given to some class times and the lack of organization for midterms could be addressed by a clearer class schedule regarding time off for religious holidays in the fall. 

In defense of the modern novel

There has been a recent discussion in The Brandeis Hoot about the downfall of the novel due to capitalism. To me, this seems like a surface-level argument. The novel chosen as the pinnacle of “pre-capitalist” peak literature in this debate is George Eliot’s 1871 novel “Middlemarch,” a novel that astute readers might point out was written and released at the end of the Victorian period, a time during which capitalism had already sunk its fangs deep into the anglophone world, as demonstrated by Mark Twain referring to the period in American history as the Gilded Age. So, is “Middlemarch” truly unaffected by capitalism? Probably not, but that is neither here nor there. 

Being busy is a social currency at Brandeis

At Brandeis, there seems to be an unspoken rule: “If you’re not busy, you’re not doing enough.” Every conversation seems to begin with a schedule rundown of every club meeting that has to be attended, the endless amounts of essays, homework and midterms — probably due within the next 24 hours and, usually, those conversations end with an apology since it is hard to find time to hang out in the midst of the endless flow of work. 

Letter to the Editor — Jon Hochschartner

To the editor,

Letter to the Editor — Jon Hochschartner

Historically, America has killed fascists

Calling for clear AI policy on campus

We have reached a point in our world where Artificial Intelligence is everywhere, bringing with it ethical and logistical challenges. In educational spaces, this new technology often means reckoning with multiple conflicting truths: On one hand, AI is a useful tool with increasing relevance in everyday life. On the other hand, it can be used as a false replacement for exercises in learning and critical thinking. As these considerations persist, the Brandeis community continues to grapple with its usage in our classrooms. 

Tips and tricks for humanities course registration: senior edition

With course registration on the horizon, I wanted to give a few tips, tricks and recommendations I’ve collected during my time at Brandeis. For more specific advice, you should meet with your academic advisor and consult your department head to make sure you stay on track to complete your major. 

College dating in the digital age

Dating apps have come a long way since the now-archaic computerized dating services that first rose to prominence in the 1960s. Since then, decades of digital advancements and software innovations have refined dating apps with highly efficient features designed to match the user to others based on specific dating preferences and common interests, creating a vast pool of people to choose from. However, the ubiquity of apps like Tinder, Hinge and Grindr, begs the question — are dating apps truly a good way to find a partner? With almost 50% of college students reporting using them, as of 2023, these apps boast convenience and speedy match-making, yet a laundry list of cons, risks and flaws are entailed in their usage. The spaces created by these apps can seem confusing and contradictory, with great disparity between intention and outcome creating insecurity and harm where the apps promise success.  

Letter to the Editor — Nathaniel Hyman-Metzger

Protecting the Global Fund and PEPFAR