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The Waltham Public Library begins a project to collect residents’ experiences with COVID-19

A crucial part of the Waltham community, the Waltham Public Library has continued to host virtual events for the general public — including yoga for kids, family concerts and book club meetings — despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Founded in 1915, the library is a “fully-funded community hub, fostering a healthy democratic society by providing a wealth of current informational, educational and recreational resources free of charge to all members of the community,” per their website. Recently, the library has also embarked on a new project focused on sharing the effects that COVID-19 has had on residents of Waltham and the Greater Boston area through the collection of multimedia submissions. The project, which began earlier in the summer, is headed by Dana Hamlin, the library’s archivist. 

The Prevention, Advocacy & Resource Center goes remote in response to the pandemic

The Prevention, Advocacy & Resource Center is the office on campus dedicated to “providing education, empowerment and support related to sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence and stalking.” PARC consists of two professional staff members —  Director Sarah J. Berg and Assistant Director Vilma Uribe — a number of undergraduate Peer Advocates and Violence Prevention Educators and four lead student staff members. PARC offers a wide range of free, confidential services, including bystander training sessions, individual meetings/drop-ins, an online chat feature and a 24/7 hotline. Prior to the campus shutdown last semester, PARC — like other departments and clubs — conducted many of its activities and programs in-person. With new social distancing policies and limitations on gatherings enforced as part of the University’s fall 2020 plans, staff and volunteers at PARC have worked tirelessly to reinvent the ways in which they offer their services virtually, while ensuring the same level of privacy, confidentiality and support granted in previous years. 

The Brandeis Orientation team welcomes the Class of 2024

Every year, the new first-year class is introduced to the Brandeis community through a number of Orientation programs and activities. “Designed by students for students,” Orientation typically takes place over the few days before the first day of class and includes a number of traditional events like “This is Our House” and the “Light of Reason.” Given the coronavirus pandemic, planning and conducting Orientation for the Class of 2024 looked drastically different. The Justice spoke to Jenny Abdou, Director of New Student Orientation; Scott Berozi, Associate Director of Community Living and Orientation; and Skye Liu ’23, a 2020 Orientation Leader, to discuss the challenges and upsides of preparing for and hosting a virtual Orientation. The Justice also talked to Ethan Kerstine, a member of the Class of 2024, about his personal experience with the program.

Brandeis students help their communities in quarantine: ‘Beyond the Pandemic’

No longer able to discuss issues face to face because of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals all over the world have turned to Facebook, Zoom, FaceTime and Instagram for social support and interaction. Sophie Phillips ’23 joined a Facebook group for college students affected by the pandemic soon after Brandeis announced its campus closure. Phillips realized that the group was not just about sharing funny memes; it also served as a platform for people to share their experiences, thoughts and opinions about the pandemic and other current issues. Inspired by the diversity and passion of the students in the group, Phillips began to wonder what it would be like if everyone could turn to “one place where they could share their ideas … and write about whatever was on their mind.” After discussing the idea with other members of the group, she co-designed and launched “Beyond the Pandemic,” a blog where college students across the country could submit pieces about what was going on in their lives now that they were back home. 

Menstrual Products for New Jersey: How a Brandeis student is helping her community during the pandemic.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, personal protective equipment has been a top priority for the American public, but there is also a growing need for other materials, such as menstrual products. In an effort to help her community during the pandemic, one former Brandeis student helped start an initiative to send menstrual products to areas in need, including the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, as stated in a recent post on Facebook.

Quarantine survival guide: Making your own face mask and hand sanitizer

Face masks: 

Brandeis donates much-needed supplies to fight coronavirus

At a time when social distancing is the new norm and many of us are staying inside, healthcare workers and emergency responders are working to keep their communities safe. According to a March 19 New York Times article, physicians are saying that there is a shortage of protective gear including masks, eye gear and gowns needed to keep them safe while treating the increasing number of patients in hospitals as a result of the coronavirus.

Debunking coronavirus myths

The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has been the center of public attention since the first cases were reported in Wuhan, China this past December. According to Johns Hopkins Medical, “Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).” Most of the viruses in this family are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted from animals to humans. At first, it was believed that COVID-19 was transmitted to humans via contaminated seafood at a market in Wuhan, China. Recent studies have shown, however, that the first patient to have contracted the virus did not visit the presumed seafood market. 

International Women's Day: Brandeis celebrates by hosting an educational brunch

International Women’s Day began in the early 1900s as a labor holiday honoring working women’s movements in the United States and throughout Europe, per National Geographic. Originally implemented by the Socialist Party of America, it became an important day of pacifist protest during World War I, and in 1917, International Women’s Day rallies in Russia contributed to the start of the Russian Revolution, as stated by Penn Today. In the 1970s, the United Nations formally recognized March 8 as International Women’s Day, and it has since been used as a day to “celebrate how far women have come in society, in politics and in economics,” per the BBC.

This Is My Brave: Ali Gold

International Women's Day: Bagels and Coffee

International Women's Day: PARC Booth

This Is My Brave: Ally Beard

This Is My Brave: Josh Ludwig

International Women's Day at Brandeis

"This Is My Brave—College Edition" performs at Brandeis

 The cast of “This Is My Brave — College Edition” shared their experiences with mental illness with the Brandeis community   in the form of poems and interactive stories last Thursday in the Shapiro Campus Center. The event aimed to “create a positive and supportive conversation around mental health through students sharing their personal stories using creative expression,” per the University’s website.  

Brandeis Body Positive is here!

The American Counseling Association defines body image as an “individual’s evaluations and affective experiences regarding their physical attributes.” Body image has become of particular interest over the course of the last few decades, with an increasing number of programs and workshops being implemented as part of high school and college curricula. The increased focus on promoting positive body image stems from societal standards and expectations around physical appearance — standards that deem thinness as more attractive and healthier than other body types. With the mass use of social media among teenagers, such standards have become more widespread, and young individuals are increasingly engaging in unhealthy eating habits and excessive exercise in an attempt to acquire certain looks. While issues with body image are more common among women — mostly because puberty, menopause and pregnancy are often accompanied by an increase in body fat — it is important to highlight that these issues can affect anyone at any point in time. 

Sodexo cooks with 50 future ingredients

Students walking into Sherman Dining Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 5, were able to partake in four dishes that were part of Sodexo’s Future 50 Ingredients campaign. These dishes — a wild rice, quinoa and lentil bowl (non-kosher lunch); a crispy hoisin tofu wrap with lotus root (kosher lunch); a cauliflower and amaranth risotto bowl (non-kosher dinner); and an ube maitake tartine (kosher dinner) — were created through a Sodexo partnership with the United Kingdom branch of the World Wildlife Fund and food brand Knorr Professional, per Sodexo’s Sept. 10, 2019 press release. Per the same release, the ingredients used in last Wednesday’s featured dishes were created from a set of 50 ingredients WWF-UK and Knorr had jointly identified as being nutritious and having “a lower environmental impact.” 

Chum's grand remodeling

On an overcast, chilly Sunday afternoon, Cholmondeley’s Coffee House (Chum’s) is mostly empty, minus a few students working quietly on laptops. Soft music plays overhead, jumping from Frank Ocean to one of those songs only heard on TikTok. Chum’s offers a cozy respite from the more traditional spaces available on campus. Over a $1 cup of hot chocolate, students can use the space to study, hang out with friends and attend shows ranging from concerts to improv.  

Reminder: You are resilient!