It was just five years ago when Natalia Wiater ’20 (2018-2019 Managing Editor) and I — entering my term as Managing Editor — arrived on the Brandeis campus for the 2019 Brandeis University Alumni Weekend. As the 70th Anniversary of the Justice, we met with many alumni of our newspaper in the Shapiro Campus Center (SCC) office, talking about the history of our beloved publication. We talked about areas of growth the Justice experienced over those 70 years, areas where nothing had changed, and areas where the paper still needed to develop. In many ways, that weekend feels like yesterday, and reflecting on my time at the Justice brings up so many positive memories and much appreciation for how the Justice led me to where I am today.

Amid the challenges of being a Managing Editor are the plethora of phenomenal memories. There are memories of traditions like April Fools editions of the paper that will forever be engrained as core parts of my college experience. Monday night midnight Einstein coffee runs during production were not only a training ground for my future career but also times when we were all so tired that we climbed the stairs of the SCC laughing so hard that we could not stop. All the while, I made friends who are now around the country with whom I continue to keep in touch and FaceTime monthly. 

In addition to the memories, my involvement with the Justice could not have prepared me more for my future career. The Justice instilled a passion for writing and ethics, which I have carried with me in medical school and will continue to use as I proceed into general surgery residency this summer. There is something extraordinary about considering the areas of journalism that were not easy “black or white” decisions. That grey area much informed my decisions as a Managing Editor when choices were not always easy. Many people ask me how my experience in journalism applies to medicine. The ability to navigate changing situations and work as a team to achieve a common goal could not be more applicable. 

All of this said, one thing is absolutely for certain: I will never forget to “Seek the truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently, and be accountable.”

Jen Geller ’20 

Managing Editor 2019-2020