Welcome back to campus, and to all new midyear students, welcome to the Brandeis community! Whether you are a returning student or this is your first semester on campus, Brandeis has so much to offer. The spring semester provides a chance to join new organizations and embrace new opportunities. Beyond that, the new semester is a time of renewal. Take the time to focus on yourself before the semester picks up. Establishing good habits and routines will help you have a great semester. 

To guide your semester, consider setting both academic and personal goals. Whether it’s aiming for a certain grade, improving your health or building social connections, having clear objectives can help keep you motivated. Take advantage of resources like the Hiatt Career Center and mental health services to support your journey. Remember, success isn’t just academics — it’s about fostering a balance that allows you to grow in all aspects of your life. Start small, stay consistent and celebrate your progress.

With freezing temperatures comes peak flu season, so protect yourself by getting the flu and COVID-19 vaccines. The science is clear –– vaccines decrease people’s risk of contracting disease and spreading it to others. Becoming sick and falling behind in schoolwork could mean extra pressure on your immune system. Being vaccinated both helps your body fight illness and provides herd immunity for the whole community, vulnerable populations and others who cannot get vaccinated, such as immuno-compromised people. The Brandeis Health Center and CVS Pharmacies both offer flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Individuals may feel side effects from them so budget enough time to recover. Additionally, masking is another precaution people should take to decrease the chance of getting sick. 

Norovirus is also a concern and highly communicable in shared spaces such as dining halls, residence halls and classrooms. The Health and Wellness department recommends washing your hands thoroughly with soap, not sharing food and drinks, cleaning surfaces regularly and staying home if you’re sick. We also urge professors to offer remote options so sick students don’t have to choose between missing class or spreading illnesses to others.  

Finally, The Justice editorial board would like to give a huge thank you to the Brandeis facility workers who work to shovel and salt our paths to class. This Editorial Board implores you to invest in an insulated winter coat (no it’s not lame to be warm), and whatever additional accessories help to keep the cold temperatures at bay. Whether it be gloves, scarves, mittens or hats, it’s important to prioritize your health and well-being this season. Try to ensure  you’re wearing shoes with some traction to keep you from slipping. Salt only goes so far and the only thing worse than having to climb the Rabb steps is falling down the Rabb steps on your way to class. 

Overall, the start of the Spring semester brings a lot of anticipation and promise. With exciting events like SpringFest and graduation (for some) on the horizon, there’s plenty to look forward to. Until then, it’s important to do what you can to survive the winter. Drink tea, dress in layers, get a happy light for your seasonal depression and hang in there as the warmer months are soon to approach.