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As Brandeis students return to campus for the new semesteIn September, Brandeis implemented the new learning management platform Moodle. LATTE, an extension of an already existing Moodle interface, was nearing the end of its efficiency span and the technology department began looking at other options.
The Senate convened on Oct. 6, where they began with the Senate hearing from two different clubs about name changes. Additionally, the Senate voted on director seat confirmations.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
Throughout her work as a trailblazing political philosopher and a proponent of education and community action, Dr. Danielle Allen has remained grounded in her belief that people should always have the freedom to ask “how" instead of “if.” As a self-proclaimed lover of “how” questions, Allen has tapped into the power of building spaces for conversation where collaboration and connection are paramount. Protecting the agency of individuals and their communities invests power in them as co-creators of our shared democracy: this philosophy motivates Allen to base her career around the idea of “democracy renovation.”
On Sept. 25, the Brandeis community was shocked as a new email entered their inbox. The email, written by Chair of the Board of Trustees Lisa R. Kranc ’75, was sent out at 9:42 a.m. and announced the resignation of University President Ronald Liebowitz. This email came just two days after the announcement of the faculty vote of no confidence and one day after the conclusion of the Board of Trustees fall meetings.
On Friday, Sept. 27 at 9 a.m., approximately 100 students, alumni and faculty of Brandeis University flocked to the Spingold Theater. David McCraw, Deputy General Counsel and Senior Vice President of The New York Times, took the stage to tackle big issues in contemporary media and politics. The event was moderated by a duo of Brandeis journalism professors: Prof. Neil Swidey (JOUR) and Prof. Ann Silvio (JOUR).
On Sept. 24, the U.S. News and World Report released its “Best National Colleges” ranking for 2025, revealing that Brandeis has dropped another three spots from its ranking of 60 in 2024. Now, the University finds itself tied at 63 with George Washington University, Michigan State University, Pennsylvania State University’s University Park campus, Santa Clara University, Tulane University and the University of Miami.
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.
The first poetry reading of the 2024–2025 academic year was held in Rapaporte Treasure Hall on Sept. 25 by poets Krysten Hill and January Gill O’Neil. The event was a celebration of O’Neil’s latest book, "Glitter Road.” The event began with a reading by Prof. Krysten Hill (ENG) of her previous and latest poetry, the creative approach and her reflection on identity, grief and education. O'Neil shared the creative inspiration behind her new book and read a few of the poems she is most proud of.
On Monday Sept. 23, Dr. Ramie Targoff delivered a lecture entitled “Proxy Weddings, from Shakespeare to Rubens,” in honor of her achievements as the Jehuda Reinharz Professor of the Humanities at Brandeis. Occurring in the Rapaporte Treasure Hall, the lecture was sponsored by the Office of the President.
On Sept. 19, the City of Waltham posted on their news page that State Health Officials have found a mosquito infected with West Nile virus in Waltham. The mosquito was found in the Northeast Quadrant of Waltham and tested positive on Sept. 11.
More than 15 years ago, Brandeis University had a bike share program that provided students with day-long bike rental services. Prof. Emerita Lara Goldin (ENVS) started DeisBikes in 2009 with students from her “Greening the Campus and Community" class. The program stopped about 10 years ago, but one Brandeis student is looking to revive it.
On Sept. 29, the Student Union Senate held its first official meeting of the school year. Vice President Ria Escamilla-Gil ’27 began the meeting. During the meeting, the senators heard from three clubs, voted on constitutional revisions, approved a mental health awareness event and voted for new positions within the Senate.
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.
Medical
On Monday, Sept. 23 at 8:51 a.m., faculty members received an email from Chair of the Brandeis Faculty Senate Prof. Jeffrey Lenowitz (POL) regarding the results of the vote of the motion of no confidence in Brandeis University President Ronald Liebowitz. This email stated “The motion has passed, with 159 votes in favor, 149 votes in opposition, and 26 abstensions.”
Content warning: mentions of violence against women, domestic violence and rape.
Student government can be an exciting way for students to practice civic engagement and to develop political skills. On Sept. 17, the Student Union sent out an email revealing the winners of their Fall 2024 elections. Hercules Zhang ’28 and Shelby Terry ’28 were elected as Multicultural Senators. Harrison Madnick ’25 was elected as a Class of 2025 Senator. Himanshu Sahore ’28, Monica Lopez Hernandez ’28 and Sarah Hasan Jafary ’28 were elected as Class of 2028 senators and Shyann Rampaul ’28 was elected as the Myra Kraft Achievers Program Senator.
In an open letter to the Brandeis community on March 28, 2024, University President Ronald Liebowitz called for an examination of the Principles of Free Speech and Free Expression. Liebowitz declared that Brandeis has a proud history of openness and said that the University is “at an appropriate juncture to conduct a review of these principles and how university policies and procedures relate to them.”
In 2022, Waltham Mayor Jeanette McCarthy unveiled a major development plan for the site of the Fernald State School which included an extensive recreational facility spanning across the northern portion of the Fernald campus. Although this development has been in the works since the city purchased the land in 2014, there has been little progress made on the site. With the lack of maintenance, there has been an uptick in vandalism in recent years and the city of Waltham has been unable to keep it under control. There has also been a lack of transparency from the city about the progress of the development program.