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Back in March, the University sent an email outlining its financial struggles and the steps that would be taken to reduce the projected $2 million in debt. Among these are staffing cuts, drawing more money from the endowment and pausing progress on Science 2A — the plan to build the new science building.
On Sept. 13 at 2 p.m., faculty gathered in Rapaporte Treasure Hall to continue the tabled discussion regarding the potential vote of no confidence in Brandeis University President Ronald Liebowitz. Friday’s meeting marks the first faculty meeting of the semester, change in membership. Prof. Jody Gittell (HELLER) stepped down from the position of Chair of the Faculty Senate, with Prof. Jeffrey Lenowitz (POL) stepping into the role. Small changes to voting processes have occurred with the aim of preventing voting confusion and inaccuracies.
Naomi Brown-Jones, director of the Upward Bound program at Brandeis, joined the University in October of 2022 after serving as an academic and transfer counselor at Massachusetts Bay Community College. Having spent her entire career in higher education, Jones has dedicated years to helping underserved populations — from students of color to first generation students — see the purpose of higher education and find a passion for the educational environment.
The day after the beginning of the fall semester, all graduate and undergraduate students at Brandeis received an email from Vice President of Student Affairs Andrea Dine, advertising open office hours with the Brandeis Administration. These office hours were described as an “opportunity for you to get to know various members of the senior administration.” It was also an opportunity for senior staff to hear about students’ experiences at Brandeis.
Following the 2023-2024 academic year, the Faculty Senate met to discuss concerns with the recent leadership and actions of President Ronald Liebowitz. This May 30 meeting was a special faculty meeting, meaning that it was not scheduled at the beginning of the year through the Office of the Provost. According to the meeting transcript, Provost Carol Fierke responded to questions regarding administration attendance by stating that “[no] one in the administration was consulted about the timing of the meeting nor explicitly invited to this meeting” and that “President Liebowitz was not available at [that] time.”
This past summer, 12 students took their environmental studies to a new level as they explored the local landscapes of Puerto Rico. Associate Professor Sally Warner (ENVS) led the first study abroad program in San Juan, Puerto Rico where students stayed at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón and studied with local faculty. The five week program hinged upon immersive learning and gave students interested in climate science an educational experience built into the Caribbean landscape.
Every fall semester is a time for possibility and growth. Each year, we watch a new group of first-years eagerly explore the campus they now call home, excited to meet new people and embrace the change that comes with starting one’s college career.
In an Aug. 14 email to the Brandeis community, President Ronald Liebowitz welcomed students back to campus, sharing summer updates and upcoming changes to the 2024-25 academic year.
Visual art and storytelling are powerful tools for bridging the gap between our individual perspectives, offering unique ways to express, interpret and connect with shared human experiences. While many turn to artistic mediums to convey their own perceptions, Brandeis alumni Alissa Fagin ’20 utilizes documentary filmmaking to explore the subjective experiences of others. Fagin’s work is unique in that it blends science and art together through filmmaking, ultimately communicating “science in a way that’s nuanced and emotional” and capturing the subjectivity still prevalent in a concrete field.
In the afternoon of May 19, graduate students of the Brandeis Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis International Business School and Rabb School of Continuing Studies gathered in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center, where they celebrated the university’s 73rd commencement exercises. Giving the Graduate Student Address was Peter Thabet, a graduate of the International Business School, earning a masters in business administration.
On May 19 Ianna Gilbert ’24 addressed the Brandeis undergraduate Class of 2024 at the University’s 73rd undergraduate commencement ceremony. Gilbert has obtained a double major in computer science and environmental science, and plans on pursuing marine biology. Gilbert is a Roosevelt Fellow, Study Abroad Ambassador and Undergraduate Departmental Representative for the Environmental Studies department. She has also studied abroad in Bocas del Toro, Panamá, and has undergone an internship with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.
Content warning: the report includes mention of self-harm
On Tuesday, April 16, members of the Brandeis community, including undergraduate students, graduate students, staff, faculty, translators and union members of Service Employees International Union Local 509, SEIU Local 888 and 32BJ SEIU rallied outside of the Bernstein-Marcus Administration Center. The gathering was an effort to show union unity as all three unions enter contract negotiations for current contracts expiring on June 30.
On May 19, students, faculty, administration, family and friends came together to celebrate the Brandeis graduate school Class of 2024. The ceremony acknowledged students from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis International Business School and the Rabb School of Continuing Studies, as well as gave out honorary degrees to Rabbi David Ellenson and Ruth Simmons.
As a part of Brandeis University’s 73rd undergraduate commencement, acclaimed director Ken Burns received an honorary Doctorate of Creative Arts and gave an address to the Brandeis class of 2024. Burns is well-known for his historical documentaries and television series, which cover a wide range of topics in United States history. He is especially well known for his documentaries “Civil War,” “Baseball,” “Jazz” and “The U.S. and the Holocaust.” Over the course of his career, Burns has won a plethora of awards, including two Oscar nominations, 17 Emmy Awards and two Grammy Awards. In 2022, Burns was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
Hey! This is Scarlett, and I am bidding farewell to my Brandeis undergraduate career. I have 600 words to tell you about my college experience, and I am not sure where to start.
In the aftermath of World War II, the United States Congress set aside funds to create the Fulbright Program, a “flagship international academic exchange program.” Arkansas senator J. William Fulbright introduced the program through legislation in 1946 and President Harry Truman signed it into law. The goal was to promote the educational value of international understanding and collaboration. This vision is reflected nearly 80 years after its initiation into western society. Fulbrighters, as they are fondly nicknamed, come from all backgrounds from students and teachers to artists and professionals. The program, nevertheless, is not to be taken lightly. It is highly competitive and the lucky students that are accepted receive the opportunity to travel out of the country. In doing so, the program allows them to develop professionally and learn not only about other cultures but themselves as well. The Justice spotlights four senior fellows who will be pursuing their passions through Fulbright following graduation.
The fourth Dialogue and Action in the Age of Divides panel discussion was held on April 2, with the intention of discussing social media’s role in influencing modern discourse. Moderated by Deb K. Roy, the Professor of Media Arts and Sciences and Director of Center for Constructive Communication at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, sets the foundation of the conversation by denoting ‘constructive dialogue.’ “Those forms of communication … foster an authentic and accurate understanding of others,” Roy said. “We can contrast that with the various forms of communication that might amplify, inaccurate and overly simplify stereotypes of others.” After listing statistics related to the political divides in the country and clarifying the value of constructive dialogue with regards to strengthening communities and institutions, the panelists began to chime in.