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The University's updated COVID-19 regulations

Brandeis attends march in New York City to protest fossil fuel use

On Sunday, Sept. 17, about 50 Brandeis students and faculty took to the streets of New York City to demand an end to the expansion of fossil fuels. The March to End Fossil Fuels, organized by a broad base of NYC grassroots organizations, was the largest climate action since the start of the pandemic; event organizers estimate that 75,000 people were in attendance. The intent of the protest was to place pressure on President Joe Biden ahead of Climate Week NYC and the United Nations 2023 Sustainable Development Goals Summit, which took place in New York City on Sept. 17-24 and Sept. 18-19, respectively. The event organizers called for Biden to ban the usage of fossil fuels and protect communities’ rights to a clean and healthy environment by “stopping oil and gas projects, phasing down drilling, and declaring a climate emergency.”

Brandeis’ U.S. News and World Report ranking drops 16 spots

On Sept. 18, the U.S. News and World Report released its annual college ranking which revealed drastic shifts on the previous rankings due to a change in the metrics used to determine the rankings of colleges. As a result, Brandeis University dropped 16 spots on the list from 44 to 60.

Brandeis professors discuss the future of Affirmative Action

What’s the deal with college rankings?

Last Monday, University President Ron Liebowitz made an appearance in students’ inboxes, informing them of Brandeis’ substantial drop of sixteen spots in the 2024 U.S. News and World Report’s annual ranking of universities. He cited changes to the ranking methodology, specifically the exclusion of class sizes and the inclusion of recognition in research citations, as reasoning for the plunge from number 44 to number 60 in the nation. While lightly challenging the syntax of the criteria, stating that “our actual graduation rate is significantly higher than that of most other institutions, the focus on ‘expected graduation rate’ negatively impacts our score,” Liebowitz still narrated a concerted effort by Brandeis to adhere to the standards of the list. “We see other areas of opportunity,” he wrote.“We have been working with faculty to connect their scholarship profiles to Brandeis, as the number of research citations is now an increased part of the methodology.”

Sanaa Lathan’s ‘On The Come Up’ is ‘Bri-lliant’

It seems as though most of us spent our summer doing internships, working, or trying to relax before getting back into the groove of all-nighters, exams, and papers. If you know me, I love to find new films, especially at the intersection of music and poetry. I rewatched several of my favorite films like “Hidden Figures” and some cute Pixar comfort movies, but I enjoyed watching “On the Come Up” the most. I initially read the book “On the Come Up” by Angie Thomas last summer, but I was beyond excited when I heard it was being turned into a film, specifically as Sanaa Lathan’s directorial debut.  

The Devil’s Advocate: Debating the Abolition of the Filibuster

Context: By the end of the 117th Congress, a new high of 21 members of the U.S. Senate’s Democratic Caucus had voiced support for abolishing the Chamber’s unlimited debate rule, otherwise known as the “filibuster.”  Established in 1806, the rule was meant to eliminate subversions of Senate debate, while ultimately allowing any member of the Senate to delay a vote by continuing to speak for as long as possible. Currently, the rule enables any senator to hold up most Senate votes unless 60 members vote to advance invoking “cloture” without need for actual deliberation on the floor.

Campus dining is undercooked, but on the right track

Dining is an important part of campus life and discourse and has undergone many changes with the start of the year. One of the biggest updates was the switch from Starship to Grubhub as Brandeis’ main food order and delivery app, in addition to the new “All Access” meal plan. As with any new system, there is always room for improvement, and this editorial board would like to provide some suggestions regarding the new dining experiences.

Student Union releases fall election results and voter statistics

In the most recent round of elections on Sept. 14, students voted on candidates running for positions on the Senate, Allocations Board, and Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. Student Union Secretary Carol Kornworcel ’26 announced the results the morning of Sept. 18.

“The Summer I Turned Pretty”: It’s time to choose who’s best

Now that “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” — a show based off the book series by Jenny Han — is on hiatus, it’s time to debate: which brother is best? The show centers around Isabel “Belly” Conklin and two brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher, between whom she has to choose. It’s great, it’s messy, and it’s endlessly entertaining, but it also garners very, very strong opinions, mostly  concerning which brother is the best for Belly. 

Wrapping up the 2023 Basketball World Cup

The International Basketball Federation, or FIBA, held their 2023 World Cup, a two week global basketball thriller, from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10. This year’s World Cup was hosted by three Asian countries — Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines — and featured a total of 32 teams from all over the world. Cape Verde, Georgia, Latvia, and South Sudan all made their debut to the biggest international basketball stage and amazed the world with their talent. 

Nikola Jokic enthusiastic about everything but his 9-5

To many, the idea of playing professional sports is a dream come true. It is the ultimate aspiration of billions of people around the world. A pro athlete, especially at the highest level, often reaps all the benefits of what people strive for in life.

Aaron Rodgers’ Jets debut turned nightmare

The National Football League kicked off its season last week, concluding their opening matchups Sept. 11 with a Monday night showdown between the perennial powerhouse Buffalo Bills and the revamped New York Jets. 

The shutdown of Channel 781 and what it means for political literacy in Waltham

Editor’s note: Justice editors Cayenn Landau and Leah Breakstone were interviewed by Channel 781 in 2021. Neither contributed to the reporting of this article. 

Let's get into it: Hair care on campus

While it is true that the Black community is not a monolith, there is value in highlighting our shared Black experiences, as they unite us as a people. 

‘Jujustu Kaisen’: A Review

 With the long-awaited release of the anime adaptation of the mnga book series “Jujutsu Kaisen’s” Shibuya Incident arc, both manga readers and those experiencing it for the first time are steeling themselves for an especially dark point in the show’s storyline. This anticipation did not appear out of nowhere, however, and it was a previous arc’s handling that made it happen. The TV series “Secret Inventory” finished airing this past summer, a prequel to all other arcs taking place in the youth of Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto, the latter having been the main villain. They were hinted to have been allies in the past until Geto betrayed Jujutsu High, a story elaborated in this series. Being only five episodes long, “Secret Inventory” adds a surprising amount of context to the story, but most importantly creates a sense of expectation that enhances the arc that follows it. 

Former Brandeis employee wins discrimination lawsuit

A Middlesex Superior Court jury awarded former Vice President of Human Resources Robin Nelson-Bailey $2.46 million in her lawsuit against the University for racial and gender-based discrimination. The jury reached the verdict on Aug. 30 following a 7-day trial.

The University releases shuttle crash investigation report

Months after a fatal accident shook the entire Brandeis community, federal records provide some clarity. On Nov. 19, 2022, at 10:31 P.M, a shuttle returning to campus from Boston crashed, killing student Vanessa Mark and injuring 27 other passengers. In July, the University shared safety review records from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration which detailed the crash’ causes, including violations that Joseph’s Transportation committed prior to the accident. 

Abbott Elementary: The sweet season

Most of us have heard of the hit ABC show “Abbott Elementary.” For those of you who haven’t, the series is a fresh take on American sitcoms and the mockumentary television style that rose to prominence with shows like “The Office” and “Parks & Recreation”. Created by Quinta Brunson and set in Philadelphia, the series explores the world of public school through the lens of passionate and hardworking teachers and a dubious yet hilarious principal. What is most heartwarming is the focus on Black joy and Black womanhood through the series despite the setting being a poor, Black neighborhood in Philly. With 15 nominations and three Emmys, including Quinta Brunson’s Outstanding Writing for Comedy Series and Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Outstanding Supporting Actress, “Abbott Elementary” is doing quite well for itself.

The Devil’s Advocate: Debating Congressional Term Limits

Amid intense partisan, and often generational divides, the advanced age and extensive tenures of many of America’s leaders at all levels of governance has, over the last few years especially, become a topic of much passionate debate. One possible solution to this matter was proposed by Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in the form of a constitutional amendment , which would target heightened legislative seniority by limiting the service of Representatives to no more than three two-year terms in the House, and Senators to no more than two six-year terms, with certain caveats and contingencies. In this dialogue-styled column (which we’re calling “Devil’s Advocate”), Granahan will argue in favor of the amendment’s passage while Gaughan will argue against. With regard to this particular topic, both personally hold the views they have represented below.