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The debate for the second round of delayed spring 2020 Student Union elections was held over Zoom on Sept. 14. Union Secretary Taylor Fu ’21 led the event, and students discussed platforms for a collection of positions not covered in the first round of elections. Election results for this second round were released this past Thursday.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
On July 25, 2020, the United States celebrated the 30th anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA protects people with disabilities by prohibiting discriminatory behaviors against them in workplaces, government entities and private entities that are open to public accommodation (such as Brandeis). In 2008, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act passed, expanding the definition of “disability.” Although we as a country have come a long way in terms of disability rights, there are many areas in which Brandeis’ campus and its culture are not up to par.
Students and faculty met in a virtual assembly to discuss the ways that Brandeis and other higher education institutions are implicated in the continuation of racism, racist practices and racist policies. The assembly, hosted by graduate students of the Sociology Department on Sept. 9, was facilitated by Ph.D. students Sneha Gantla and Lauren Crosser.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, college students and professors have experienced a start to the academic school year that differs from those in previous years. At Brandeis, the beginning of the fall 2020 semester was met with virtual classrooms, club meetings and campus activities. For some, the fall semester is taking place off-campus or at home. Has the shift to online learning changed your relationship to the Brandeis community? If so, in what ways? Additionally, for those participating in the community remotely, whether that be off-campus or at home, do you still feel connected to those living on-campus? And for individuals either living or participating on-campus, do you feel connected to the virtual community being created?
This year, the Brandeis Mutual Aid Fund has emerged as a valuable resource for students in need of financial aid. The Fund is a student-run group created in March when the spread of COVID-19 forced students to leave their dorms and quickly transition to online learning.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
As students returned to campus following a roughly five month quarantine, many hoped to recoup some of the freedom lost over the summer break. However, rejoining campus life is not as easy for individuals who test positive for COVID-19 or for students who are deemed close contacts of those who test positive. Two students spoke with the Justice to share their stories of isolation and quarantine while on campus.
The University has made adjustments to accommodate social distancing guidelines on campus
Brandeis University is keeping the community informed about its COVID-19 statistics through an online dashboard. This dashboard contains information about how many tests were collected, how many individuals were tested, how many individuals tested positive, how many students are in quarantine, how many students are in isolation and the seven-day average for positive tests on campus. The dashboard also includes various statistics about areas in Massachusetts. The Justice will produce infographics each week, visually displaying the information that the University releases online.
Candidates met over Zoom to share their platforms and debate their opponents.
The Student Union held a delayed Spring 2020 election debate, postponed due to COVID-19, over Zoom this Thursday. Candidates discussed their goals for the Student Union during the debate, led by current Union Secretary Taylor Fu ’21. Since candidates are restricted to virtual campaigning for safety protocols, they used this chance to share their platforms prior to the election, which will be held today.
With the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement and continued protests pushing for combating racial injustice, many people have discovered and donated to bail funds through social media this summer. In a June 5 interview, the Justice spoke with Brandy Henry, a graduate of the Heller School of Social Policy, research fellow at Columbia University’s School of Social Work and internship coordinator at the Massachusetts Bail Fund, to learn more about the problems with the United States' bail system and the role of bail funds in addressing those issues. In the interview, Henry did not speak on behalf of the Massachusetts Bail Fund.
Brandeis University is keeping the community informed about its COVID-19 statistics through an online dashboard. This dashboard contains information about how many tests were collected, how many individuals were tested, how many individuals tested positive, how many students are in quarantine, how many students are in isolation and the seven-day average for positive tests on campus. The dashboard also includes various statistics about areas in Massachusetts. The Justice will produce infographics each week, visually displaying the information that the University releases online.
To promote social distancing, Brandeis has added some outdoor features to campus. Brandeis placed tents around campus — including outside of Skyline Residence Hall (pictured) and the Shapiro Campus Center — to add outdoor seating due to restrictions in dining hall capacity.
When a student is done self-administering the test, they hand it to a worker who ensures that the test meets the requirements set by the Broad Institute.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY