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Brandeis University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1949 | Waltham, MA

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Views on the News: Vaccine nationalism, Big Pharma and the distribution vacuum in India

(05/04/21 10:00am)

On Tuesday, April 27, India reported 320,000 new COVID-19 cases and 2,771 deaths, as a second COVID-19 wave ravaged the country's healthcare system. The Indian government has responded to the crisis by restricting its own exports of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has had drastic repercussions on impoverished nations. Last week, President Biden defended the current ban on exports of raw materials used in vaccines in response to urgent requests to lift it, citing obligations to prioritize vaccinating the American population first. In a recent turn of events, the Biden Administration proposed a plan to export up to 60 million AstraZeneca doses to India when available, and countries such as the UK have sent ventilators and additional medical equipment to assist in navigating the catastrophe. In light of the situation, some physicians have alluded to ‘vaccine nationalism’ — when nations procure doses on behalf of national interests at the expense of other countries. How does vaccine nationalism or pandemic profiteering factor into the current nature of global and domestic vaccine distributions, if at all? Many of our own community also have loved ones in the impacted area. At a local level, how can the Brandeis administration and faculty support South Asian students at this time?



Views on the News: Derek Chauvin’s guilty verdict and the road to racial justice in the United States

(04/27/21 12:53pm)

*Trigger warning: Death of Black people at the hands of police violence and white supremacy* Email note: We understand and take very seriously the heaviness of this topic, especially for our Black community members. While we believe it extremely important to continue shedding light on the atrocities of racism and state-sanctioned violence in the United States, we also recognize the need for space to heal away from constant news of this violence. We deeply appreciate any thoughts our community has the space and energy to offer at this time.  Last week, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of second degree murder, third degree murder and second degree manslaughter for murdering George Floyd after violently detaining him on May 25, 2020. Given the ongoing police brutality against Black people in the United States, what do the results of this trial mean for the fight to achieve racial justice? What kind of cultural, legal and policy changes are necessary to achieve racial justice in the United States?  


Author Benjamin Talton discusses American and African relations

(04/27/21 10:00am)

The African Diaspora Cluster hosted the second annual M. Jacqui Alexander Lecture in African Diaspora Studies on Tuesday, April 6. Benjamin Talton, an associate professor of History at Temple University, gave a talk titled “Black Power, Human Rights and Humanitarianism in Africa and the US.” His lecture was drawn from his recently published book, “In This Land of Plenty: Mickey Leland and Africa in American Politics.”




University launches COVID-19 vaccination clinic for students

(04/27/21 10:00am)

The state of Massachusetts opened COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to everyone 16 years of age or older on April 19. Assistant Provost for Strategic Initiatives Morgen Bergman sent an email to all Brandeis students on April 16 announcing an on-campus COVID-19 vaccine clinic. The clinic was organized with the University’s pharmaceutical partner, PelMeds Community Pharmacy, located in Waltham. The clinic took place in the Zinner Forum, located within the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, on April 22 and 23, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., according to an email sent to the Brandeis community by Provost Carol Fierke and Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Stew Uretsky.


Administrators met with senators to answer student questions

(04/27/21 10:00am)

Though there were no club recognitions, charters or decharters, the April 11 Senate meeting was still full of activity, being just one of the few meetings from this semester to run the full two hours. The meeting was broken down into four blocks, during which University administrators were invited to answer questions submitted by senators — a deviation from the standard meeting procedure.



Senators propose five bylaw amendments, review of Union Constitution continues

(04/27/21 10:00am)

Executive Senator Joseph Coles ’22 and Director of Residential Life Nancy Zhai ’22 proposed a combined total of five bylaw amendments at the April 18 Union Senate meeting. The amendments were proposed in conjunction with the review of the Union Constitution, which Coles said is “going well.”



University continues transition from Sage to Workday Student

(04/27/21 10:00am)

The University is in the process of replacing its student information system,  Sage, with Workday Student. As with Sage, faculty, students and staff will use Workday Student to access and manage student information regarding class enrollment, grades and more. Workday Student is launching in phases: the Workday platforms of Human Resources, Finance and Payroll launched in summer 2019; the basic structure for Workday Student launched in fall 2020; class registration and advising will be made available in April and May; financial information will be available this summer and all remaining features will go live in fall 2021. As of April 20, Workday Student is available for students to use to manage their personal information. Student information will remain in Sage up to the 2021 summer semester, so students will access Sage to look up spring 2021 course grades and access Workday Student to apply for fall 2021 classes. By fall 2021, the University will have fully transitioned to Workday Student, and Sage will no longer be necessary. 



Brandeis Democrats host Profs. Breen and Lenowitz on a panel discussing the Supreme Court

(04/27/21 10:00am)

On April 21, the Brandeis Democrats hosted “The Supreme Court: Legitimacy and the Future,” a panel discussion featuring Prof. Daniel Breen (LGLS) and Prof. Jeffrey Lenowitz (POL). The panel brought the two professors together to discuss “all things Supreme Court,” according to the Brandeis Democrats’ weekly email. 




2021 Deis Impact event series explores Im/Migration

(04/13/21 10:00am)

This year’s annual Deis Impact festival of social justice showcased a wide variety of programs. Highlights from the event, which ran from April 7 to April 12, include: a workshop on the Migration of Caste, a keynote speech from Jose Antonio Vargas, a 7-Day Neurodiversity Challenge and a faculty panel that discussed immigration policy and social justice under the Biden Administration. This year’s Deis Impact theme was “Reflections on Im/Migration,” focusing on immigration, migration, asylum-seeking, refugee experiences, xenophobia, citizenship and nationality, according to the event website. Members of the Justice attended several of these events. 


Students reflect on their advocacy for recently passed bill supporting survivors of sexual violence in Massachusetts

(04/13/21 10:00am)

The Every Voice Coalition — a student- and survivor-led organization working to pass  survivor-centered legislation to prevent campus sexual violence — spearheaded efforts to pass a recent Massachusetts bill. After five long years of grassroots advocacy and organizing in which Massachusetts college students played a key role, the bipartisan bill S.2979, commonly known as the Every Voice Bill, was signed into law on Jan. 12, 2021, according to a March 25 email from Bella Fong, Every Voice Coalition National Development Fellow and National Communications Director for Outreach, to the Justice. 



Activist discusses role of veganism in combating climate change

(04/13/21 10:00am)

As climate change becomes an increasingly urgent issue, climate-friendly lifestyle choices are gaining popularity. On April 6, the Center for German and European Studies hosted “Could Veganism Cool the Planet? A Conversation with Vegan Activist ‘Earthling Ed,’ Ed Winters.” Ed Winters is the co-founder and co-director of Surge, an animal rights non-profit organization. Following his introduction, Winters discussed the role of veganism in the climate movement with the founder of 350PDX, Adriana Voss-Andreae, Surge Project Manager Tatiana von Rheinbaben and 18-year-old climate and animal rights advocate Juliana Voss-Andreae. The event was moderated by Prof. Sabine von Mering (GRALL).