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Brandeis University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1949 | Waltham, MA

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Tell them I stand for everything 'Emilia Pérez' does not

(02/11/25 11:00am)

“Emilia Pérez” has been called many things: offensive, tasteless, a regressive and stereotypical portrayal of the trans experience, heinous, the list of negative adjectives goes on. Despite this, the film is critically acclaimed and has recieved numerous accolades at Cannes Film Festival, the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards, and multiple award nominations. The film is up for 11 British Academy Film Awards and three Screen Actors Guild awards. Most impressive of all is the truly baffling 13 Oscar nominations it has received, putting “Emilia Pérez” only one nomination away from joining “All About Eve,” “Titanic,” and “La La Land” as the most nominated films in Oscars history. 


Luka Doncic Traded

(02/11/25 11:00am)

 On the night of Saturday, Feb. 1, National Basketball Association fans were told of the most shocking  news they had ever experienced over years of fanatical fandom. Luka Doncic, the 25-year-old superstar  Slovenian guard for the Dallas Mavericks, a consensus top-five talent in the NBA and one of the league’s  top stars, was traded in a blockbuster move to the  Los Angeles Lakers.  The details of the trade are as follows: the Dallas  Mavericks traded Doncicć, forward Maxi Kleber and  forward Markieff Morris to the Lakers in exchange  for Lakers forward-center Anthony Davis, guard  Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick. Most shockingly, the Mavericks gave no indication that their  franchise cornerstone, a five-time NBA All-Star  and All-NBA selection with career averages of 28.6  points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists, would be moved. Doncicćwas widely viewed around the league as an  untouchable asset. Still, Mavericks general manager  Nico Harrison apparently had his reservations about  Doncic’s defensive abilities and his overall durability, with some injury concerns arising in the past  few months. Harrison shockingly only spoke to Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka about the details  of the trade and contacted no other teams about getting a potential return for an otherworldly player.  The soured attitude on Doncicć is a great departure  from previous Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who  was an avid supporter of Doncicć and infamously  remarked: “If I had to choose between my wife and  keeping Luka on the Mavs, catch me at my lawyer’s  office prepping for a divorce.” However, Cuban sold  his majority stake in the team in 2023, and evidently  new ownership does not share his devotion to the superstar. While the Mavericks are receiving a decent return  in this trade in terms of a top-10 player in Davis and a  competent role player in Christie, there are a couple  of glaring issues in their negotiating process. Harrison emphasized that the Mavericks made this decision looking towards the future, despite Doncicć being only 25 while Davis is 31 with an extensive injury  history that has consistently plagued him throughout his career.  Another significant problem was the Mavericks  were only able to grab a single first-round pick from  the Lakers, as L.A. did not even have to give up their  available pick for 2031. Traditionally, trades involving NBA stars or superstars come with the stipulation that the team receiving the coveted player has  to give a great deal in terms of draft capital. Mikal  Bridges (a starting caliber player not in the same  stratosphere as Doncic) was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the New York Knicks this past summer  at the price of the Knicks providing the Nets with a  whopping five first-round picks! The fact that with  that precedent, the Mavericks were only unable to  collect one first-round pick for a player like Doncicć  is utterly inexcusable. It is extremely likely that the Mavericks will regret  this decision in the future as an injury-riddled Davis  faces the end of his NBA career while Doncicć begins  to thrive, entering his prime in L.A. Mavericks fans  can only hope that this trade does not go down as  one of the worst in NBA history, as they lost a generational talent in his prime. Despite the greatness  Davis has shown over the years, Doncicć is essentially irreplaceable in basketball terms, with the potential exception of the world’s best, such as Denver  Nuggets center Nikola Jokić and San Antonio Spurs  Center Victor Wembanyama. This is not even mentioning the philanthropic work that Doncic has done  in the Dallas area with the Luka DoncicćFoundation  and his deep love of the city and state, even wearing a  cowboy outfit to one of his years a few years ago as an  homage to the state he played in. In fact, Doncicć was  about to close on a home in the Dallas area around  the time the trade took place.  The loss of Doncicć has fallen especially hard on  Mavericks fans, who have gravitated towards his  awe-inspiring play and on-court personality since  his debut as a rookie in 2018. Their displeasure and  ire at management for the trade has resulted in allout protests being staged at the Mavericks arena  (American Airlines Center). Fans were seen chanting “Nico sucks” in reference to General Manager  Harrison for his role in the debacle of a trade. Ultimately, only time will tell if this trade ages  horribly for the Mavericks, but Davis and Kyrie Irving are literally required to bring the team a championship because that’s the sole form of compensation that Mavericks management could provide to  the fans who lost the soul of their franchise. As for  Luka on the Lakers, LeBron James will ride into the  sunset of his career playing alongside a remarkable  talent, and Luka will usher in yet another era of Laker dominance anchored by a transcendent superstar 



Why advocate? ‘Waltham Inclusive Neighborhoods’ answers

(02/11/25 11:00am)

In her 71 years, Emily Szczypek has lived in many places. England, Australia and plenty of cities in Massachusetts have been home bases for her, but one spot eventually became home. Szczypek has lived in Waltham for 29 years, almost half her life, and she’s not hesitant to share her deep concern for the development  — or lack thereof — that she’s witnessed here. 




Message of support: Immigration policies & international students

(02/04/25 11:00am)

As the political climate in this country shifts, the futures of many feel uncertain. In moments of socio-political unrest, college campuses have served as both a place of refuge and a reflection of national turmoil, offering a space to seek security while simultaneously echoing the political struggles of the time.



‘Wrongs & RIGHTS’: A curatorial exploration of the historical battle for reproductive rights

(01/28/25 11:00am)

June 2025 will mark three years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a decision that set reproductive rights in America back decades. The exhibit “Wrongs & RIGHTS,” curated by Laura Dvorkin and Maynard Monrow, is framed as an intergenerational discussion about the fight for reproductive rights. “Wrongs & RIGHTS” can be found on display in the Kniznick Gallery in the Women’s Studies Research Center at Brandeis. On display in the exhibit are over 20 pieces of various media. Although the exhibit contains pieces that date as far back as 1968 the collection of works are meant to invoke a sense of urgency as a reaction to the 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Featuring 22 artists each piece in the exhibit touches on the topic of reproductive rights differently.  


‘The Color of Pomegranates’: The beauty of weirdness in crafting impactful narratives

(01/28/25 11:00am)

Sergei Parajanov’s film, “The Color of Pomegranates” is truly groundbreaking with its interesting filming techniques, storytelling choices and iconic overall aesthetics. Parajanov’s ability to mesh the story of Sayat Nova, a famous Armenian artist and poet, with historical aspects of his culture made the movie a staple in filmmaking and in the Armenian diaspora. His images and film style appealed to the many surrealist filmmakers at the time and yet his visions for the film didn’t align with the beliefs of the Soviet government, resulting in the ban of the film for over 50 years. Despite this, filmmakers all over the world today refer to the movie as one of the most influential of its time. No matter if you watch the first or second version of the restored films, Parajanov’s vision remains clear. The unconventional narrative techniques of Parajanov’s “The Color of Pomegranates” accentuate the weirdness and experimental nature of the film by adding depth and meaning that is only discernible by the audience themselves.


Turning a new page: A look at local bookstore JustBook-Ish

(01/28/25 11:00am)

Porsha Olayiwola grew up spending her weekends at her downtown Chicago Library. Every day after school she and her friends would go to Barnes & Noble and read. Her love of literature ignited an interest in writing, so it is no surprise that she became a poet and educator. The current Boston Poet laureate has been navigating the literary world as a consumer, creative and writer for years.  Now, she is writing a new chapter as the co-owner of a new bookstore.


Research spotlight: Undergraduate advising head makes a difference by helping the research of students

(12/03/24 11:00am)

Prof. Ellen Wright (PSYC) has had a meaningful impact on the education of many students through her role as the Undergraduate Advising Head for the Psychology department at Brandeis. Wright’s personal expertise lies in the area of the “intersection between clinical psychology, depression, gender, development, and emotional regulation.” Throughout her time at Brandeis, Wright has played a pivotal role in supporting a variety of honors and masters students, as well as teaching and guiding undergraduate students through the process of declaring and completing psychology majors, which is listed as one of the most popular at the University according to the U.S. News and World Report. 



MENA city transformation: Reem Kseibati discusses her work as a real estate strategist in Dubai

(12/03/24 11:00am)

Reem Kseibati is a real estate strategist who spent over ten years working in Dubai and is now a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Kseibati — who has lived in London, Beirut and Dubai — came to Brandeis to discuss her passion for real estate, her thoughts on development in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and lessons learned from working in the region as a guest and as a woman.



‘Clueless’: The Quintessential Teen Romantic Comedy

(12/03/24 11:00am)

Everyone seems to have a teen romantic comedy that holds a special place in their heart. For most, these films evoke a strong level of nostalgia, like the fond memories of watching “Mean Girls” for the first time at a middle school sleepover. Upon rewatching, however, these films tend to be a mixed bag. While some — like “Ten Things I Hate About You” — are able to remain on their pedestal, others fall flat when examined with a scrutinizing, grown-up eye — as seen with “The Kissing Booth.” For me, Amy Heckerling’s “Clueless” is perhaps the most nostalgic teen rom-com of all time. I first watched the film at 14 years old, and it’s been imprinted on my mind ever since. But, as time passes and our once juvenile tastes grow more sophisticated, does this film still hold up? For the most part, yes. With privileged, yet unconventionally wise female characters, eternally quotable dialogue and an escapist setting that borders on fantasy, “Clueless” is the quintessential teen rom-com to be enjoyed by viewers of any age. 


Relax, reflect, recharge: Make the most of break

(12/03/24 11:00am)

As winter break approaches, it’s time to finally take a much-needed break from life as a university student. After a rough and restless semester of daunting deadlines and what feels like endless projects and exams, winter break gives us a rare opportunity to relax, reflect and recharge on all the things life may throw at us. Spend quality time with friends and family and participate in activities that you truly enjoy. Opening Moodle and anxiously checking whether that one professor posted a grade you’ve been anticipating can wait.


Letter to the Editor - Dan Breen

(12/03/24 11:00am)

I am writing in support of Gonny Nir’s thoughtful and well-founded (if somewhat protracted) columns in The Justice regarding the current state of academic life here at Brandeis.  Like Gonny, I’ve often felt that the best features of campus life involve what she calls “meaningful experiences” that arise naturally between inquisitive students and caring faculty and staff.  I also agree with her that these experiences cannot be forced.  But I also believe, with the help of the Department of Student Affairs, that the essence of these experiences can be made a part of what Gonny refers to as the “infrastructure” of our university.  



Student filmmakers: Behind the scenes and on the screen

(11/19/24 11:00am)

Many student filmmakers at Brandeis are studying Film, Television and Interactive Media alongside other subjects, balancing exams and extracurriculars with the lengthy process of screenwriting, equipment rentals, directing makeshift crews and more. Nevertheless, these creators are hard at work orchestrating all the moving parts to producing their video projects, from far-out fictional stories to incisive documentaries. The Justice heard from three dedicated student filmmakers who are working on realizing their creative visions through audiovisual mediums.