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Fear, courage and the sea

Despite having grown up fascinated with the sea, a budding patron of the water as a coastal Californian child, I have never been able to shake my innate fear of it.

Student Union swears in President and Vice President at State of the Union

On April 24, the Student Union held its annual State of the Union event in the Mandel Atrium. After delivering opening remarks, the former Student Union President Rani Balakrishna ’25 reviewed the Student Union’s accomplishments over the academic year. Before swearing in President-Elect Ria Escamilla Gil ’27 and Vice President-Elect Daniel Shin ’27, Balakrishna reviewed events the Student Union hosted, projects it sponsored, meetings held with faculty members and funding results from the Community Emergency Enhancement Fund and the Campus Sustainability Fund.

The Trump Administration's effect on the Univ.

On Feb. 1, the Trump Administration imposed a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on goods from China. Since then, President Donald Trump has continued to increase tariffs, having recently imposed a 145% tax on all Chinese imports. In retaliation to the administration's actions, China, the European Union and Canada have enacted their own tariffs: China began taxing American goods by 84% on April 10, Canada has matched the 25% tax on automobiles and the EU continues to develop plans on retaliation levies on $23 billion worth of U.S. goods. 

Soundproof call booths coming to library and student center

 Throughout the week of May 14, the University will be installing seven soundproof booths on campus, located between the Goldfarb Library and the Shapiro Campus Center. These soundproof booths will allow students to take private calls, interviews and meetings on a first-come, first-served basis, offering a convenient alternative to reserving rooms in advance. 

Brandeis’ own Zac Gondelman is chosen to be this year’s Truman Scholar

On March 28 Zac Gondelman ’26, was named a 2025 Truman Scholar. From a pool of 743 candidates, Gondelman was selected through a rigorous application process that involved recommendations from distinguished leaders to join the cohort of 54 students selected nationwide. He will be the 12th Brandeis student to receive this fellowship, and the second chosen in a row. Gondelman is pursuing a major in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, with minors in Politics and Religious Studies. He is currently studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

Roots with friends!

This past week, as Brandeis celebrated the 73rd year of the Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts, campus was transformed into a venue for all forms of artistic expression with a captivating array of performances and events that swept through every corner. One of the defining features of Brandeis is the incredible faculty and their work. This shines through in performances and events that celebrate the creativity and talent of Brandeis staff, one of which is Music at Mandel’s Roots Music with Taylor Ackley and Friends.

Letter to the Editor — Matthew Rushton

To the Editor:

“Every Death from TB is a Choice”: Brandeis community members join U.S. lobbying day for tuberculosis awareness

 When many Americans think of tuberculosis, they imagine a disease of the past — a relic of the Victorian Era, long since relegated to history books. But for the students, professors and activists gathering in Washington, D.C. on April 8 and 9, the tuberculosis disease is a present and pressing global crisis. 

President Levine on plans to improve the University

 On Monday, March 31, Interim President Arthur Levine ’70 held a second town hall for undergraduates students in Rapaporte Treasure Hall, just over a month after the last meeting, to provide updates on the changes to the curriculum and address student concerns surrounding university ranking, immigration law enforcement, new on-campus housing, the cost of attendance and other updates.

March Madness 2025: one shining moment

Klein, unrelated: Bloc Cafe

Klein: Good morning, Klein, and welcome to Klein, unrelated. 

Notes to newcomers: Everything we learned

As the end of another academic year draws nearer, the members of this editorial board have been reflecting on the rhythms of college life; the exciting new beginnings, the inevitable mistakes and the subtle self-assurance that can only develop with time and patience. For those who are close to embarking on their college journey, it can be nearly impossible to know where to begin or what to expect. To help with this transition, we’ve accumulated advice from various members of this editorial board as they offer candid reflections on the lessons they’ve learned so far. Whether it’s navigating the ups-and-downs of new friendships, figuring out your major or simply finding your people, it is the hope of this board that these words can serve as a guide — and, most importantly, a reminder that no one has it all figured out, but we’re all learning alongside one another.

Reflections on 'Building Americana: A Conversation with Hugh Hayden'

On April 3, Brandeis University once again welcomed architect, artist and visionary Hugh Hayden to discuss his ongoing collection at The Rose Art Museum, “Hugh Hayden: Home Work.” Joined by Dr. Muna Güvenç (FA) and Dr. Gannit Ankori (FA), the co-curator of the exhibition, Hayden explored the inspiration behind his works and provided an inside look at how he “built Americana.” 

Zeitouna, all-women’s Jewish-Palestinian peace group, speaks to Brandeis students at J Street U event

Mandel G03 is lit up by the projector screen as students pile in. It’s 7:30 p.m. Participants greet each other as they haphazardly cut chocolate babka from Bakey, and the president of J Street U, Ayla Wrubel ’25, does a sound check on Zoom. Once everyone has adjusted in their seats, quiet descends on the room. The two women on the screen, Leonore, an Israeli Jew, and Randa, a Palestinian, smile graciously. They are the founding members of Zeitouna, an all women’s peace group in Ann Arbor, Michigan that meets bimonthly to engage in dialogue on the Israel-Hamas conflict. The group is where Leonore and Randa have fostered a friendship that has lasted over 20 years, since they met in the summer of 2002. After some technological kinks are smoothed out, the students watch a Columbia Broadcasting System clip from April 2024 of a Zeitouna meeting with six Palestinian and six Jewish members, one of whom is a Holocaust survivor. The women eat together before sitting with reporter Lisa Lang, to whom they express how the group has supported them but also challenged them. 

"Porcelain War" and artistic resistance

Feb. 24, 2025 marks three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For the past three years, Ukrainian civilians have been fighting against Russian forces, striving to protect their freedom, their families and the future of their nation. Throughout these three years, Brandeis students and faculty have been holding events to share Ukrainian stories, ensuring the war’s impact remains relevant and present within our community. 

A New Era for the Patriots Offense

Fun fungi with naturalist Jonathan Kranz

On Thursday, March 20, around 25 Waltham residents, a small but eclectic crowd, gathered in the lecture hall of the Waltham Public Library for guest speaker Jonathan Kranz’s presentation on mushrooms. More specifically, the process of foraging, identifying and generally appreciating the fungal life forms that appear in the state of Massachusetts. 

Brandeis Hillel looking to hire new on-campus rabbinic educator couple

On Feb. 26, Rabbi Seth Winberg, the executive director of Hillel at Brandeis, announced that Dorit Cohen and Rav Ariel Cohen will not return as Brandeis’ Orthodox Union Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus couple. The two have served since 2021 and will finish their term at the end of this semester. The OU-JLIC couple serves as a resource to support Jewish life for Orthodox students on campus. They host Shabbat and holiday meals, offer learning opportunities and support the religious wellbeing of Orthodox students at Brandeis. The Rabbi announced that the community will conduct a search in the coming months for the next OU-JLIC couple, stating that “students will have opportunities to meet candidates and share feedback.”

Hold Thy Peace's "Argonautika"

This past weekend, Hold Thy Peace, the Brandeis Shakespeare and classics theater group, performed their spring semester show “Argonautika” by Mary Zimmerman. “Argonautika” is a modern adaptation of the Greek epic poem “Argonautica” written in the third century before the common era by Apollonius Rhodius. The story follows that of Jason and the Argonauts on their quest to retrieve the legendary golden fleece from Colchis and bring it back to Iolcus, Jason’s home. Set before the Trojan War, the Argonauts feature a star-studded cast of familiar heroes including Hercules, who joins the voyage in between his famous labors. 

Advice to a Brandeis underclassman

If you’re reading this, you might be a first-year student, still adjusting to life at Brandeis. At this point, you may be trying to figure out your schedule, debating whether to join certain clubs or wondering if you’ve found the right group of friends. The truth is, no one arrives at college knowing exactly how things will play out, and that’s a part of the experience. Over the past four years, Brandeis has taught us that flexibility, patience and a willingness to embrace the unexpected matters far more than having a perfect plan. With that in mind, the following is what members of this editorial board wish they had understood earlier.