Use the field below to perform an advanced search of The Justice archives. This will return articles, images, and multimedia relevant to your query.
Brandeis is holding 14 separate sessions throughout campus today all relating to the continuing war between Israel and Hamas. The lectures are part of a teach-in organized to respond to increased polarization on campus over the last two months regarding various opinions about the war. These events will begin at 9 a.m. and continue throughout the day until 5:50 p.m.
Let me begin by stating that I am aware my perspective is idealistic. Solutions are not black and white and are certainly not as simple as I may make them sound. As a Jewish student, I often feel as though I am expected to either be ardently pro-Israel and blindly defend all of their actions or be on the other end of the spectrum and condemn the country’s existence altogether.
Context: In 1973, following the landmark Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade — since overturned — which recognized a constitutional right to an abortion, President Nixon signed into law the Helms Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which bars the use of federal funding for abortions overseas for “family planning.”
In the aftermath of many complex developments on campus regarding the Israel-Hamas War, debates centered on students’ safety, the boundaries of First Amendment rights, and increasing tensions permeating discussions on campus.
Faculty members held an emergency meeting on Nov. 17 to further discuss the ideas that were brought up during the emergency faculty meeting last Friday, which met to discuss the derecognition of Students for Justice in Palestine. There was also an informal faculty discussion on the night of Sunday, Nov. 12 that had approximately 150 attendees. The purpose of this meeting was to consider the motions that groups of faculty members developed in response to these meetings and to decide if the motions needed any amendments to put to a faculty-wide vote next week.
Last year, catalyzed by the Year of Climate Action, an optimistic wave of climate and sustainability-related action — which included new courses, extracurricular programming, a new Decarbonization Action Plan, and more — took place on campus. This year, many of these initiatives have come to a grinding halt — not only because the Year of Climate Action has drawn to a close, but also as a result of former Director of Sustainability Mary Fischer’s departure from the University. As the only staff member of the Office of Sustainability, Fischer’s legacy is striking and simultaneously leaves many unanswered questions about the future of sustainability at Brandeis now that there is no one in her role.
The “rookie” — a term used to describe a professional in their first year — can be accurately applied to many young athletes coming out of college hoping to have a long career. For the Houston Texans rookie quarterback, CJ Stroud, a more appropriate term would be “MVP” with how he has been lighting up the NFL in the early start of his career.
In light of the heightened state of emotions and stress, the last thing students should feel is unsafe. Historically and presently, the University represents a vulnerable community, and given the amount of media attention Brandeis has received in recent weeks, we urge the community to be thoughtful about what all students are experiencing.
We as a board have dedicated past editorials to expressing the concerns and needs of students during this difficult time. However, it is important to acknowledge that students are not the only members of the Brandeis community who are struggling right now. Faculty and staff are also under an immense amount of pressure — and they, much like students, are not being properly supported by the University.
On Nov. 7, the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies held the Annual Eleanor Roosevelt Lecture, entitled “Choreographies of Black Freedom.” Prof. Shoniqua Roach (AAAS/WGS) had a discussion with New York University Professor Aimee Meredith Cox about her book “Shapeshifters: Black Girls and the Choreography of Citizenship,” as well as the evolution of Black girlhood studies.
On Tuesday, Nov. 7, Jeannette A. McCarthy was re-elected mayor of Waltham, Massachusetts for her sixth consecutive four-year term, defeating Jonathan Paz, a second-term city councilor from Ward 9. McCarthy won 58% percent of the vote, with Paz pulling in nearly 40%. Voter turnout was consistent with previous years, with 11,395 voters casting ballots — accounting for only 32% of registered Waltham voters. McCarthy secured 6,628 votes as opposed to Paz’s 4,551; in 2019, 34% (11,790) of Waltham voters went to the polls, with McCarthy winning 3,770 more votes than all of her competitors combined. Paz and McCarthy were the only candidates for mayor; the election is non-partisan, though based on a Nov. 3 email correspondence with City Clerk Joseph W. Vizrad, the Justice found that McCarthy is “unenrolled” in a party, while Paz is a Democrat.
Dear President Liebowitz,
On Friday Nov. 10, Brandeis held a special Faculty Meeting and Listening Session with President Ron Liebowitz and Provost Carol Fierke to address the dechartering of the Students for Justice in Palestine organization, the meaning of free speech, and the best approach to support students during this time. The meeting was moderated by Prof. Jody Gittell (Heller), the faculty chair of the Senate. Motions were not able to be made during this meeting, as none were submitted in advance.
On Friday afternoon, students gathered in the November cold on the Great Lawn to protest the University’s continued support of Israel and the derecognition of the Brandeis chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine. Dressed in green, red, black, and white, the colors of the Palestinian flag, many left in shock and disbelief — and others left in handcuffs.
Our University was founded on the values of truth and justice, but within its only 75 years of existence it was the students who accrued its national credit and regard as a social justice institution. Brandeis has a rich history of campus activism; its students’ effort and persistence in demanding change has refined its programs, administration, and overall operation as a democratic society. In the name of preserving this tradition, we remember how our predecessors called for direct action in the Vietnam moratorium protests, the first occupation of Ford Hall, the Pearlman takeover, and Ford Hall 2015.
Hello Brandeis University administration,
On Oct 7, Hamas terrorists launched a progrom against Israelis, intentionally killing over 1,200 civilians, mutilating bodies, raping women, and taking over 200 civilians hostage. Hamas’ atrocities represented the most heinous and murderous attack on Jews since the Holocaust. Israel, as any other nation in similar circumstances would and should, has responded with an invasion into Gaza with the goal of rescuing its hostages and destroying Hamas. In recent weeks, anti-Israel activists, politician, and some Brandeis students have claimed that Israel is waging a genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. Such claims are false, and they demonstrate one of two things: an ignorance about the meaning of genocide or an intentional desire to spread blood libels about the Jewish State. Or perhaps both — of course, it is a profound tragedy that innocent Palestinians in Gaza are being injured and killed as a result of Israel’s just war against Hamas, who controls the Gaza Strip. I say this not as an afterthought but as someone religiously dedicated to the protection, to the best extent possible, of every innocent life. It is my belief, as an Orthodox Jew, that all humans are created in the image of God regardless of their nationality. The first response to any such tragedies ought to be sympathy and pain. However, because Israel’s detractors seek to exploit that pain to level Israel with accusations of genocide, it has become necessary to show how incorrect, backwards, and offensive that accusation is.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
For the past month, tensions on campus have been steadily rising as a result of the Israel-Hamas war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This conflict is not a new debate at the University, but it has been exacerbated by the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel and Israel’s subsequent declaration of war against Hamas. While President Ron Liebowitz has released various statements condemning Hamas’ attacks and expressing support for the community, the University had not taken decisive actions concerning the conflict. However, on Nov. 6, the administration derecognized the Brandeis chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, eliciting strong reactions from the community on multiple sides of the issue.