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“Playing with joy and playing to win:" these are the goals of senior captain of the Brandeis University women’s basketball team Lulu Ohm ’25 as she heads into her final year playing collegiate basketball.
How do we create in moments of extreme suffering? What role does art play to placate or heal emotional pain? These are questions multidisciplinary artist and activist Daria Pugachova explores with her dynamic and interactive creations. Born in Rivne, Ukraine, Pugachova was always a creative. She studied architecture at Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, and for years played the drums with her band, Panivalkova. However, in 2019, when her band ended, Pugachova pivoted towards just as engaging and interactive works, exploring concepts of grief, dreams and community.
On Nov. 8, faculty gathered for their monthly meeting, eagerly anticipating the introduction of new University Interim President Arthur Levine ’70. The meeting began with comments from Chair of the Faculty Senate Jeffery Lenowitz (POL), who introduced a speech and moment of silence for the passing of Professor Emeritus Graham Campbell (FA). Following this remembrance, Wellington Prize winner Prof. Emilie Connolly (HIST) gave a presentation on her trip to Lisbon.
On Nov. 7, the Brandeis Jewish Bund hosted a Study-in For Palestine from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A promotional poster for the event encouraged students to “Join the Jewish Bund as we sit and study in honor of Palestine.” The event, which was attended by a small crowd of students, took place on the first floor of Farber library, around the corner from Starbucks. Organizers offered pro-Palestine reading material for attendees, though most chose to silently do their own work.
In the wake of a presidential election, the atmosphere on a college campus can feel charged. Regardless of the elected candidate or what policies prevail, each election cycle impacts students uniquely. This time can feel complicated and isolating for many, as a period of emotional processing and reflection. Now, more than ever, our collective well-being depends on offering support and understanding to one another, and taking care of ourselves is essential.
We’re not strangers to grief. It’s inevitable that we will all stumble through the five stages at one point or another, likely on numerous occasions. While loss is most commonly associated with physical loss — such as that of a loved one — it can also apply to more ideological dimensions. Political grief became a widely recognized phenomena in the wake of the 2016 U.S. presidential election when Donald Trump’s victory sent shockwaves through the nation. For millions of Americans, Trump’s victory wasn’t just a political loss — it was the loss of societal values, moral compasses, and, for many, the very idea of a future they had once hoped for. And now, on Nov. 6, 2024, those very same feelings of loss were echoed, if not intensified.
The Brandeis campus has been buzzing with election preparation all semester, as students have gathered to watch debates, register to vote and discuss policies. Many students are passionate about their beliefs, and the election has made its way into class offerings, club programming and more.
Elle Woods, the lead of the well loved films “Legally Blonde,” “Legally Blonde: 2 Red, White & Blonde” and the musical adaption, “Legally Blonde the Musical,” initially presents as the epitome of a stereotypical blonde sorority girl, embodying an image focused on fashion and social status. However, her bubbly demeanor is complimented by her highly determined and independent attitude, demonstrating how the films and musical develop a complex character that subverts social expectations and challenges audiences to rethink their assumptions about intelligence and capability. The various iterations of “Legally Blonde” develop a dynamic character with a robust backstory, allowing the viewer to gain a strong understanding of what makes up Woods, what she stands for and where she came from. Without these aspects of her personality, Woods would not be as nuanced nor be able to push back against female stereotypes within society and the male-dominated, conservative field of law.
To start off the new month, Brandeis’ most musically talented joined forces to present Bandapalooza on Nov. 3. Top Score, Music and Dance Band, Klezmer and the Guitar and Bass Club launched the event this year for the purpose of bringing recognition to student clubs, bands and musicians. The passion of the performers and organizers to connect with new audiences spanned Levin Ballroom. On one side, the Student Music Committee and WBRS shared a table, giving a glimpse into the everyday capacity of musicians on campus, and on the other, performers lined the walls awaiting their chance to present.
Election Day is officially one week away — Nov. 5 — and it’s important to know about what’s on your state’s ballot beyond just the presidential candidates. Massachusetts voters are tasked to vote on five ballot questions, all of which received a “No” vote by the State Senate or the House of Representatives before May 1, 2024. This time, the fate of the questions are up to MA voters. Text for the proposed laws for all the ballot can be found in its entirety on the Secretary of the Commonwealth Massachusetts website
Brandeis community members of all ages have been making a difference in the upcoming election. Brandeis Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is a community for individuals over the age of 50 who would like to continue their learning and community involvement surrounded by like-minded people. This program offers many different types of educational opportunities such as a “lunch-and-learn” speaker series during the fall and spring semesters. The summer and winter semesters consist of lectures and seminars offered by members of the Brandeis faculty.
At 2:00 pm on Oct. 18, the Brandeis faculty met in Rapaporte Treasure Hall for their monthly meeting. The meeting opened with Chair of the Faculty Senate Prof. Jeffrey Lenowitz (POL) giving a welcoming address, informing the staff of a change in timing of the next meeting in order to be able to accommodate an address from Interim President Arthur Levine, Ph.D. ’70. Additionally Lenowitz stated “Though leadership is changing at the University, the structural problems are not. So to this end, I want to assure you all that the senate remains dedicated to working with the administration to ensure that these are addressed in a manner that safeguards faculty interests.” He also discussed future plans to hear and address faculty concerns such as a survey and small group meetings.
For a school of less than 4,000 undergraduate students, Brandeis holds an impressive array of diverse dance clubs. Even more impressive is students’ palpable devotion to strengthening the already commanding presence that dance has on the Brandeis campus and creating a space for this unique form of physical activity and art. In the words of Ballet Club Co-President Lilliana Aspromonte ’25, the ultimate “goal is to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and is able to dance.”
— Content warning: The following article discusses natural disasters and hurricane devastation.
On Sept. 26, 2024 it was announced that Daniel Ricciardo would leave the RB Formula One Team immediately and would be replaced by Liam Lawson for the remainder of the season. Lawson previously stood in for Ricciardo when he suffered a broken hand after crashing during a practice in 2023. Lawson made his Formula 1 debut at Zandvoort, racing for RB for a total of five grand prix before Ricciardo returned. Ricciardo’s departure comes at a shaky time as there are only two unfilled seats left for the 2025 season and five current drivers without contracts. Although Ricciardo hasn’t officially announced his retirement, his inconsistent and low scoring performance this year makes his future in F1 uncertain.
The Brandeis volleyball team faced its first test against fellow University Athletics Association teams this weekend. The round robin tournament was hosted by New York University at the John A. Paulson Center in Manhattan. The UAA conference is notoriously stacked with talent – with conference rivals Carnegie Mellon University, Case Western Reserve University, Emory University, New York University and the University of Washington-St. Louis qualifying for the National Collegiate Athletics Association tournament. The NYU Violets even made an impressive run to the NCAA semifinal where they lost to Juniata College, ending their season in the top four in the country. This season, the Emory Eagles are currently ranked seventh in the nation by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Fellow UAA teams have also joined them in the AVCA Top 25: UWash is ranked eighth, NYU follows in 13th and Case Western sits at 21st.
Brandeis graduate students play an integral role as teaching assistants, researchers, and mentors, yet their experience is markedly different from that of undergraduates. While essential services like housing, meal plans, and comprehensive health insurance are often considered in undergraduate tuition, graduate students frequently find themselves navigating a more challenging experience at Brandeis. Graduate students, despite their importance to the University's academic operations, lack the same support systems that are readily available to their undergraduate peers. Many graduate students have voiced concerns that these disparities stem from a non-competitive union contract compared to comparable institutions. However, this sense of insecurity may be reduced with a new union contract.
As the singer and guitarist of the Lowell, Massachusetts based band The P.A.’s, Ellis Roundy’s role within the group exists at the intersection of music, storytelling and graphic design. With a distinct focus on world-building that is largely grounded in Hebrew, Tolkien-esque and other mythologies, Roundy and his bandmates — Joe Milia (drums), Ian Miller (synth and keys) and Liam Asselin (bass) — have weaved a continuous narrative throughout their last few projects.
On Wednesday, Sept. 18, Brandeis Hillel hosted a panel discussion featuring Shakara, an organization that seeks to promote peace within the Middle East and North Africa region, in the Shapiro Campus Center theater. Six panelist sat on the podium: Canadian-Israeli Ashley Waxman, Dalia Ziada from Egypt, Bedouin Arab-Israeli Tamer Masudin (IBS ’26), Youssef Elazhari from Morocco, and Iraqi-Israeli Dan Feferman. All six panelists represent Sharaka — meaning partnership in Arabic.