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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 LXXVI, Number 18
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
CALL TO ACTION
Waltham, Mass.
LECTURE
‘Dialogue & Action’: War, Law and Civilians ■ The fourth Dialogue in
Action discussion, on the role of law in international conflict. By ZOE ZACHARY
JUSTICE EDITORAL ASSISTANT
ELIZA BIER/The Justice
CALL TO ACTION: Rally goers demonstrating, calling for changes from the Brandeis Administration to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Students call for the charges of “Brandeis seven” to be dropped ■ The Revolutionary Student
Organization and Students for Justice in Palestine urge Brandeis to recognize student voices on the Israel-Hamas conflict. By ZOE ZACHARY, ANNA MARTIN and SOPHIA DE LISI
JUSTICE EDITORIAL ASSISTANT, JUSTICE DEPUTY EDITOR AND JUSTICE EDITOR
On March 22 at 4:00 p.m., the dechartered Brandeis chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine and the Revolutionary Student Organization rallied on campus. According to a collaborative post on the SJP and RSO Instagram profiles, the rally’s main goals were to call on Brandeis to: “1. Request that the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office drop all charges against the seven people arrested while dispersing from the Nov. 10 rally,” “2. Provide financial transparency on all its expenditures and investments” and “3. Stop supporting the genocide of the Palestinian people by engaging with the Zionist occupation’s economy and institutions, and representing dissent on campus.” Additionally,
during the rally, members of the organizations presented a “Petition to End Brandeis University’s Attacks on Free Speech.” The rally started on the green outside of the Usdan Student Center directly across from the Rabb Steps. Members of these organizations started gathering shortly before 4:00 p.m., most wearing masks or other face-concealing clothing items and carrying posters. There were also several protest marshals stationed around the group’s perimeter, wearing blue identification vests and handing out masks. Organization members informed the group that these marshals were there for their safety, and if any member of the police were to approach, a marshal should be called over to handle the situation. A legal observer from the National Lawyers Guild was present and visibly identifiable with a piece of neon headwear. This observer remained for the duration of the event and took copious notes. An individual from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management was also present and informed The Justice that they thought it best for at least one member of faculty to overlook the event. Shortly after the rally began, select members of SJP and RSO gave their opening remarks. They reiterated the purposes of the rally,
expanding on Brandeis’ reputation as a “social-justice organization.” A speaker argued that the University uses recognizable names like Angela Davis ’65 — political activist of color — to cover up injustices such as this one. Speakers expressed that they felt that while this is a “social justice university,” the school administration “[hates] students doing social justice.” “Where is the safe space, where is the constructive dialogue [the University likes] to brag about?” a speaker questioned. “We have cops surrounding us, people around us attempting to dox us. Brandeis isn’t trying to protect us, it’s endangering you!” Various attendees advocated for the support of student voices regarding their perspectives on the Israel-Hamas conflict, with one member stating, “They told us it was to protect our Jewish students. But those Jewish students are right here.” One of the protest marshals reviewed safety protocols for the rally that had been posted on their Instagram accounts prior to the event, specifically the importance of not engaging with police, press or counter protestors. “It is not our intention to get you arrested … If we are told to disperse, we will be dispersing.” They also encouraged demonstrators to use the buddy sys-
What role does international law play in how states conduct themselves in times of war? Is international law respected or even an authentic reflection of human morality? Questions like these were discussed in the fourth installment of the Dialogue & Action series, titled War, Law, and Civilians. The talk was hosted by Northeastern University and took place virtually on March 13. Dialogue & Action is a series made to model constructive dialogue and is a collaboration between nine universities including Brandeis. The talk opened with a short note by David Quigley, provost and dean of faculties of Northeastern University. Quigley explained briefly the purpose of Dialogue & Action and thanked viewers and
panelists alike for their seriousness in engaging with the material. The talk was moderated by Dr. Devin Pendas, a professor of history at Boston College specializing in modern Europe. The two panelists were University of Massachusetts Amherst Professor of Political Science Dr. Charli Carpenter and Dr. Zinaida Miller, a professor of law and international affairs at Northeastern University. Pendas then went on to explain the framework of the dialogue. Each panelist gave an introductory remark, followed by questions and dialogue back and forth. Carpenter opened her remarks by asking an essential question: does international law even matter? According to Carpenter, the answer is “yes.” She said that data shows that international laws matter a lot, and furthermore, it is essential for citizens to understand national law. According to Carpenter, if citizens understand international law, they are empowered to identify when the laws are being violated and to add pressure on their own side to abide by international law when necessary. She explained that international law
See DIALOGUE, 7 ☛
BOOK TALK
Religious tradition and sexual assault survivors’ narratives ■ Dr. Keren R. McGinity
discusses her book and how religion influences a communities’ conversation around sexual assault. By KELSEY STEVENS JUSTICE STAFF WRITER
Content warning: This article includes mentions of sexual assault and harassment. "What if one woman told the truth about her life? The world would split open." This quote by poet Muriel Rukeyser is what Lisa Fishbayn Joffe, the director of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute at the University, opened their lecture "UsToo: How Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Women changed our Communities." As part of the lecture, Dr. Fish-
bayn Joffe highlighted the importance of women sharing their stories. The #MeToo movement gave women and survivors of sexual harassment and sexual abuse in the workplace the opportunity to speak out. The campaign inspired many to engage in public and personal conversations. This movement had a large impact on several fields, including religious communities. Dr. Fishbayn Joffe introduced Dr. Keren R. McGinity, a Mandell L. Berman Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Contemporary American Jewish Life at the University of Michigan Frankel Center for Judaic Studies. Dr. McGinity is an author of many books, including #UsToo: How Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Women changed our Communities, the topic of the event. Dr. McGinity opened by dedicating her talk to her mother, who "raised me to be the woman I am today." She noted that October 2023 marked the sixth anniversary of the #MeToo movement, a phrase
See RALLY, 7☛
RIVER SIMARD/The Justice
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Face reveal
Concert conversations
Geopolitics in East Asia
The creators of popular meme page Brandeis Chungles discuss their face reveal.
Read about the life story of Murial Gellert Chaslow as told through a series of musical compositions.
By SOPHIA DE LISI
By RIVER SIMARD
By ESTHER BALABAN
Shealy is NCAA champion
ARTS AND CULTURE 18
By RANI BALAKRISHNA
FEATURES 8 For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org
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NEWS 5 FORUM 10 SPORTS 16