On Thursday, the University inaugurated its next president when Ronald Liebowitz took office. In light of a new administration, the Brandeis community can reflect on past leadership and consider future goals. In your opinion, what have been the strengths and shortcomings of past presidents, and what should Liebowitz prioritize during his term?
Tony Tran ’17I have high hopes for great years to come and for many critical changes to be implemented under his presidency. As a senior at Brandeis, I am deeply grateful for the educational opportunities Brandeis has given me. However, this experience has not come with struggles and issues which have directly affected me and hundreds of other students of color here. Issues that past presidents have pushed under a rug and shrugged off. For the past presidents, they have not done enough to create a deep sense of inclusion and community at Brandeis, especially for students of color here. They’ve left institutional structures and systems to allow for a sense of disconnectedness and exclusion to grow over the years which resulted into the protests we’ve recently seen on campus. In light of this, I implore President Liebowitz to learn from the shortcomings of the past presidents and to seriously prioritize issues of diversity, inclusion AND retention on this campus. A more understanding and socially just future cannot happen without understanding the invisible, forgotten and often untold histories of people of color in this country.
Tony Tran ’17 is the president of the Brandeis Vietnamese Student Association. He is also on the Brandeis Intercultural Center Programming Board.
Vineet Vishwanath ’18A president at Brandeis University must play in a novel playing field, one that is created along the game. A new president to Brandeis must be able to be sympathetic and empathetic to all sorts of issues and ideas even if those ideas go against his beliefs. A president to the University must be skilled in diplomacy and reaching a compromise while acting as not only a leader but as a mediator. Furthermore, for a special campus such as Brandeis, the president must be able to recognize that his role in the University is one of always providing the community perspective. This perspective must be that of the bigger picture of any institutional policy and, ultimately, a perspective that takes into account the thousands of students who have traveled from near and far to obtain a world-class and citizen-minded education in whatever field they connect with. I am confident that Ronald Liebowitz will serve really well, taking into account his own values, as well as those of others, in order to continue to heighten Brandeis’ reputation to the rest of the world.
Vineet Vishwanath ’18 is the events coordinator for the South Asian Students’ Association.
Emilia Ravn-Boess ’18During his presidency at Brandeis University, I believe that President Liebowitz should prioritize increasing our campus sustainability, whether it be through reducing energy consumption or simply encouraging the sustainability conversation. This university has both the room for sustainable development and the knowledge of the tools needed for this improvement, but it lacks the initiative to make this the priority. With several environmentally focused student groups on campus and with the dedicated Environmental Studies department among additional faculty, there is undoubtedly campus-wide student and faculty support for implementing sustainable practices. We have now been presented the perfect opportunity to give precedence on an administrative level. I believe that the initial step is to change the student culture and make environmental choices part of the University dialogue. If making the environmental choice becomes the default, sustainability will follow, but it requires both student and administrative collaboration.
Emilia Ravn-Boess ’18 is the president of Students for Environmental Action.
Ricky Miller ’17As Hillel president, I am elated to welcome President Liebowitz to the Brandeis family. Past presidents of Brandeis University have consistently demonstrated tremendous support for Hillel. We anticipate that President Liebowitz’s inauguration will revitalize this bond and strengthen the University’s nonsectarian and Jewish identities. In the coming years, we hope to grow Jewish life at Brandeis into an even more robust and accessible campus organization. Unity across Brandeis’ many communities is key to the University’s success in the future. Brandeis’ commitment to social justice, excellent academics and outstanding Jewish life have always been interrelated, and Hillel is excited for the direction in which President Liebowitz will lead Brandeis University.
Ricky Miller ’17 is the president of Hillel at Brandeis.
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