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T h e I n d e p e n d e n t S t u d e n t N e w s p a p e r o f B r a n d e is U n i v e r sit y S i n c e 1 9 4 9 Volume LXXVII, Number 11
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Waltham, Mass.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
LIBRARY UNION RALLIES
Library union rallies, calls for contract that recognizes seniority ■ After months of contract
negotiation, the Brandeis Library Workers Union rallied in front of Goldfarb Library to demand change. By ZOE ZACHARY AND LIN LIN HUTCHINSON JUSTICE EDITORS
On Jan. 23, the Brandeis Library Workers Union, braving the winter cold, held a demonstration outside of Goldfarb Library at 3 p.m. Attendants of the rally included librarians, other staff members, concerned students and members of other unions on campus. Demonstrators held signs with messages such as “We can’t cut our way to excellence,” “Respect our work / retain staff” and “fair pay = staff.” The rally comes after seven months of negotiations with the administration, with limited success. Members of other campus and Boston area unions attended the rally showing support to the Brandeis library workers. One math PhD student, who’s a union member of SEIU Local 509, expresses that they’re “very happy to be a member of one of the unions on campus,” as it provides them “power in a way that [they] do not have otherwise.” Lennie Donohoe, a SEIU 32BJ member for over 20 years and plumber at Brandeis, expressed the facilities union’s commitment to supporting the library workers, calling out the prolonged contract negotiations. Donohoe said, “Facilities are here to support the librarians. It's been too long for you guys to not get your contract,” thus emphasizing that the old contracts, which expired June 31, 2024, have been expanded since July. From Boston, a leader of Mas-
sachusetts College of Art and Design Local 26, which represents food service workers at MassArt, said “We here today to demonstrate you guys that we are with you and that will support you in this fight. Until we win, we will be here.” In the audience was Thomas McKeever, president of SEIU Local 888, who recognized the library workers’ “pioneering effort in bringing organizing rights to Brandeis University.” He emphasized the union’s efforts to produce universal contract language and “will give [the union] every resource of the Local.” Last to speak was Alexis Cooper, a two time Brandeis graduate and current staff member. Cooper pointed out that the Union was entering their seventh month of contract negotiations with the University. According to her, when the Library Workers Union brings up pertinent issues, they are often sidelined and delayed by the administration. “Year after year, library workers have asked and proposed different ways to build a structure that rewards employees for years of experience and that keeps experienced employees in their job,” Cooper said. She continued, adding “Year after year, we've been told by the university that ‘now isn't a good time.’ ‘We're facing hard times.’ ‘The university is already working towards a solution.’ Frankly, if we wait for a good time, we'll be waiting forever.” As a bargaining member, Cooper and her fellow union members ask the University to work with them. “Stop Ignoring our attempts to find a solution for a problem that you create,” Cooper said. During her call for collaboration, she requested that Interim President Arthur Levine ’70 and the Board of Trustees “commit now to addressing this deferred maintenance See UNION, 5 ☛
Brandeis alumna analyzes perceptions across political parties ■ University of Michigan Prof. Yanna
Krupnikov ’02 explored how political involvement can drive affective polarization and inaccurate views of people across the political spectrum. By AMANDA CHEN JUSTICE EDITOR
Political commentator Walter Lippmann described politics in his 1922 book “Public Opinion” as “pictures in people’s heads,” perceptions born out of information people receive and interactions with others. Those pictures influence how people view each other, as well as members of other political parties. On Thursday, Jan. 23, Yanna Krupnikov ’02, a professor of Communication and Media at the University of Michigan, presented a talk titled, “How We See Each Other: Perceptions Across the Political Divide” in Rapaporte Treasure Hall. Prof. Greenlee (POL) introduced Krupnikov, who studied politics and graduated summa cum laude from Brandeis in
2002. A distinguished scholar specializing in topics of political news consumption and polarization, she has co-authored five books, including “Partisan Hostility and American Democracy,” “The Other Divide” and “Independent Politics.” The event was organized by the Politics department with the support of the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Jeffrey Shoulson. The Abraham Feinberg Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation was also an event co-sponsor. Krupnikov worked with James Druckman, Samara Klar, Matthew Levendusky and John Barry Ryan on a 2022 study examining people’s misperceptions of others’ level of political discussion and ideological intensity. They asked select participants how often they talk about politics and to characterize their ideology and had others estimate how often someone from another political party talks about politics and their ideological intensity. Krupnikov and her colleagues measured the level of political discussion on a three-point scale: rarely, occasionally and frequently. Of the group asked to self-evaluate how much they talked about politics, 50 percent of respondents
See PARTISAN, 5 ☛
New Bookstore
HOUSING: A multi-level apartment complex is displayed.
New affordable housing units to be available in Waltham ■ Alexan Waltham is currently accepting
applications for an affordable housing lottery. By ANNA MARTIN
JUSTICE EDITOR IN CHIEF
Citizens of Waltham have a new opportunity as 53 new affordable housing units are opening to the public. Alexan Waltham is a new housing development next to the Wayside Walk and Bike Trail and half a mile from the Waltham Commuter Rail Station. The development is home to amenities such as “a large clubhouse with a resort-style pool and sun deck, a modern fitness/wellness center, bike storage, dog park and pet walking stations. This project will offer residents either surface or covered parking,” according to the SEB Housing website. The development has 210 units in total, meaning that 25% of the development is a part of the affordable housing initiative, a reflection of The Affordable Homes Act. This act was signed into law on Aug. 6 by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy. A lottery for the lease of these units will take place via Zoom on March 4. Applications to be entered into the lottery are currently available and will be open until Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. Eligibility for these units is calculated based on the area median income of Waltham and how the salaries of individuals compare. There are two different types of units available through this lottery, the first of which is 60% AMI units. The maximum household income limits for these units are
Ani Poghosyan analyizes the directorial techniques displayed in "The Color of Pomegranates".
By MIRABELL ROWLAND
By ANI POGHOSYAN Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
FEATURES 6
Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
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ARTS AND CULTURE 18
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$68,520 for one person, $78,360 for two people, $88,140 for three people, $97,920 for four people, $105,780 for five people and $113,640 for six people. There are three different types of apartments available under the 60% AMI category, and the rent for these is $1,741 for a one bedroom, $2,080 for a two bedroom and $2,395 for a three bedroom. Of the 53 affordable units, 14 of them fall under the 60% AMI category. The second category of available apartments through this lottery is 80% AMI units, with the other 39. The maximum household income limits for these apartments are $91,200 for one person, $104,200 for two people, $117,250 for three people, $130,250 for four people, $140,700 for five people and $151,100 for six people. There are four different types of 80% AMI units, and the rent price for those is a studio for $2,200, a one bedroom for $2,347, a two bedroom for $2,808 and a three bedroom for $3,235. In addition to rent, tenants of these apartments are required to pay for their own electricity. However, the costs of water and sewer are included in the cost of rent. Pets are allowed subject to restrictions in these apartments and each unit comes with a parking space. Second parking spaces for the two and three bedroom units may also be available. These apartments are expected to be ready for occupancy in March of 2025. When the leases for these units are up for renewal in 2026, there is the possibility of changes in rent. According to the information packet provided to interested parties, “Rents may increase if Boston-Cambridge-Quincy Area
See HOUSING, 7 ☛
Fire at the Fernald property
Cinema Critique
A bookstore cafe combo opens up in Dorchester.
Photo Courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS
By LIN LIN HUTCHINSON
Springing into the new semester By THE JUSTICE EDITORIAL BOARD
NEWS 3 FORUM 8
AFC and NFC championship games By EZEKIEL BLOOM SPORTS 12
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