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Let me begin by stating that I am aware my perspective is idealistic. Solutions are not black and white and are certainly not as simple as I may make them sound. As a Jewish student, I often feel as though I am expected to either be ardently pro-Israel and blindly defend all of their actions or be on the other end of the spectrum and condemn the country’s existence altogether.
Context: In 1973, following the landmark Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade — since overturned — which recognized a constitutional right to an abortion, President Nixon signed into law the Helms Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which bars the use of federal funding for abortions overseas for “family planning.”
In the aftermath of many complex developments on campus regarding the Israel-Hamas War, debates centered on students’ safety, the boundaries of First Amendment rights, and increasing tensions permeating discussions on campus.
Faculty members held an emergency meeting on Nov. 17 to further discuss the ideas that were brought up during the emergency faculty meeting last Friday, which met to discuss the derecognition of Students for Justice in Palestine. There was also an informal faculty discussion on the night of Sunday, Nov. 12 that had approximately 150 attendees. The purpose of this meeting was to consider the motions that groups of faculty members developed in response to these meetings and to decide if the motions needed any amendments to put to a faculty-wide vote next week.
Last year, catalyzed by the Year of Climate Action, an optimistic wave of climate and sustainability-related action — which included new courses, extracurricular programming, a new Decarbonization Action Plan, and more — took place on campus. This year, many of these initiatives have come to a grinding halt — not only because the Year of Climate Action has drawn to a close, but also as a result of former Director of Sustainability Mary Fischer’s departure from the University. As the only staff member of the Office of Sustainability, Fischer’s legacy is striking and simultaneously leaves many unanswered questions about the future of sustainability at Brandeis now that there is no one in her role.
For years, the Brown Social Science Center was seen to many students and faculty as a run-down piece of campus infrastructure with many issues, such as lead in the water. Brandeis administration has planned to renovate Brown for many years and the project is near completion as of this November. The design process began in the middle of 2021 and construction began in 2022. The process was the most comprehensive renovation at Brandeis in many years according to Senior Capital Project Manager Michael Bushey, although the University faced obstacles in their efforts to renovate.
On Friday, Nov. 10, Brandeis and Waltham Police arrested seven people, including three Brandeis students who were participating in a protest. Some doubts persist about the details of what occurred that day, and we support calls from our faculty colleagues for an independent investigation that lays out the sequence of events and institutional decision-making.
The “rookie” — a term used to describe a professional in their first year — can be accurately applied to many young athletes coming out of college hoping to have a long career. For the Houston Texans rookie quarterback, CJ Stroud, a more appropriate term would be “MVP” with how he has been lighting up the NFL in the early start of his career.
On the Nov. 16, 2023, the Rose Art Museum held the grand opening of its new exhibition, “No Ordinary Love,” a curation of works by Salman Toor. This exhibition represents a wave of exhibitions for the Rose as a continuation of an established theme for their exhibitions and collections. The Rose is seeking to uplift and raise the voices and works of intersectional artists, using both new and prior collections to challenge our perspectives on old concepts and preconceptions. Salman Toor, a queer Pakistani artist, exemplifies this intersectionality in his work by painting beautiful panels of maturing as a queer boy in Pakistani culture. Toor’s work can be seen in this exhibition, a living space organized by Dr. Gannit Ankori, the director and chief curator of the Rose Art Museum. The entire exhibit was curated by Asama Naeem, and Dorothy Wagner Wallis, Director of the Baltimore Museum of Art. Toor and Dr. Ankori both created a modern exhibition that recognizes the voices of queer people, Pakistanis, and queer Pakistanis. Throughout the exhibit, Toor’s voice is seen on the walls. The writing on the wall emphasizes the difficulties of sexuality, gender identity, gender expression, and cultural establishments. Those larger themes can be traced throughout his work, the exhibition guides you through each. Toor asks you to consider the feminine and the masculine the mother and the child; society and nature. His work forces the viewer into a voyeuristic perspective; you are an observer to the maturation of a man in conflict with his identities and his environment. Some examples of his art are shown to express these themes.
The exhibitions “Inventing Isabella” and “Fabiola Jean-Louis: Rewriting History” at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum both engage the audience in the many ways that art can change perception. Throughout history, art has been used to glorify, vilify, change, and create historical figures. Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924) was an important pillar of the history of Boston, especially in the arts scene. Gardener was an art collector and philanthropist operating out of Boston with many international connections.
For as long as I can remember, Diwali celebrations have been taken very seriously in my Gujarati family. Diwali is not just the festival of lights; it is the biggest and most important holiday for Hindus. The festival symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. This holiday also marks the beginning of a new year for us, and families often make homemade sweets to celebrate with their loved ones. My family, like every other Indian family, loves to go overboard and makes a variety of sweets every year. However, mohanthal is one sweet that has always been a staple in our Diwali celebrations. Ever since I can remember, my grandma has always made it during Diwali, and it has remained a constant favorite of mine and my dad’s. Mohanthal is a gram flour-based traditional Gujarati sweet that is often flavored with a variety of saffron and nuts. This sweet always reminds me of the chaotic but exciting days leading up to Diwali where my family works together to bring our annual celebration to life.
On Sunday, Nov. 12, Brandeis’ very own Adagio Dance Company presented their annual fall showcase. Filled with dances of all styles and skill levels, the showcase dazzled the audience, leaving them with a childlike wonder akin to what one would have meandering around a “Candy Land.”
On Friday, Nov. 10, Brandeis Women’s Basketball kicked off the Pancreatic Cancer Awareness tournament with a decisive 61-38 victory over Wellesley College. Brandeis hosted Oberlin College, Kean University, and Wellesley College in a four-game invitational tournament. The excitement in the air from players was accompanied by tabling from several student-athlete organizations.
On Nov. 7, the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies held the Annual Eleanor Roosevelt Lecture, entitled “Choreographies of Black Freedom.” Prof. Shoniqua Roach (AAAS/WGS) had a discussion with New York University Professor Aimee Meredith Cox about her book “Shapeshifters: Black Girls and the Choreography of Citizenship,” as well as the evolution of Black girlhood studies.
On Tuesday, Nov. 7, Jeannette A. McCarthy was re-elected mayor of Waltham, Massachusetts for her sixth consecutive four-year term, defeating Jonathan Paz, a second-term city councilor from Ward 9. McCarthy won 58% percent of the vote, with Paz pulling in nearly 40%. Voter turnout was consistent with previous years, with 11,395 voters casting ballots — accounting for only 32% of registered Waltham voters. McCarthy secured 6,628 votes as opposed to Paz’s 4,551; in 2019, 34% (11,790) of Waltham voters went to the polls, with McCarthy winning 3,770 more votes than all of her competitors combined. Paz and McCarthy were the only candidates for mayor; the election is non-partisan, though based on a Nov. 3 email correspondence with City Clerk Joseph W. Vizrad, the Justice found that McCarthy is “unenrolled” in a party, while Paz is a Democrat.
"There is nothing more efficient for changing people's perspectives than a good story, and I think murals are great stories."
On Friday Nov. 10, Brandeis held a special Faculty Meeting and Listening Session with President Ron Liebowitz and Provost Carol Fierke to address the dechartering of the Students for Justice in Palestine organization, the meaning of free speech, and the best approach to support students during this time. The meeting was moderated by Prof. Jody Gittell (Heller), the faculty chair of the Senate. Motions were not able to be made during this meeting, as none were submitted in advance.
On Monday, Nov. 13, nearly 200 students walked out of their classes at 11:30 a.m. to gather for a silent sit-in on the Great Lawn.
On Friday afternoon, students gathered in the November cold on the Great Lawn to protest the University’s continued support of Israel and the derecognition of the Brandeis chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine. Dressed in green, red, black, and white, the colors of the Palestinian flag, many left in shock and disbelief — and others left in handcuffs.
Hello Brandeis University administration,