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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 LXXVIII, Number 10
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Waltham, Mass.
PROTEST
DETAINMENT
Anti-ICE demonstrations carried out on campus garner support ■ The acts of protest embraced a theme
of community and connection amid times of nationwide tensions surrounding immigration. By CHAVA THIELL
JUSTICE NEWS EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
On Friday, Jan. 30 at 2:30 p.m., a group of about 30 individuals convened in the Shapiro Campus Center atrium to protest the escalating actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts. The event was preceded by another protest the previous week on Tuesday, Jan. 20, in what was called a “Free America Walkout.” This was part of a larger nationwide initiative led by the organizers of the Women’s March, which inspired Professor Sabine von Mering (WGS/CGES) to organize on campus. The protest was organized by Professor von Mering, who was arrested on Dec. 16 after attempting to bring care packages to an ICE detention center. At both protests, von Mering held signs challenging the federal government’s actions. “ICE out of MN,” “Keep ICE where it belongs” and “Fight ignorance not immigrants,” could all be read from her various signage. Professor von Mering shared that coordination for the Jan. 30 event was very last-minute, as information about the demonstration was shared less than 24 hours earlier. As a result, fewer people were in attendance than the Jan. 20 walkout which was held outside the Shapiro Campus Center. Inside the atrium, attendees gathered in a circle and began by passing out firsthand accounts of Minnesota residents, which touched on the escalating tensions following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents. Following the readings, people were encouraged to speak and share their thoughts. Professor von Mering emphasized the importance of fostering connections between community members when organizing protests and demonstrations in this manner. She had embraced a similar message the week before, when she noted that the purpose of the walkout was to “come together and express all the frustrations we have with the current moment” as well as “not feel[ing] alone in this moment.” von Mering also passed out papers with a quick response code, where attendees could note their interest to participate in similar events in the future. Both demonstrations included opportunities for
attendees to speak and share their thoughts. “Trump must go!” said Luke Farberman ’27, on Jan. 20. The crowd responded with rounds of applause. A week later, when asked why he wanted to participate, Hudson Ranney ’29 said in a Jan. 30 interview with The Justice, “I don’t want to tell my kids or grandkids I sat out and didn’t do anything while an authoritarian takeover was happening.” He concluded, “now is not the time to sit back.” ICE has come under fire nationally, especially following its escalation of operations, as well as the fatal Jan. 7 shooting of civilian Renee Good by ICE officer Jonathan Ross. As a result, protests have erupted across the country calling for the department to cease operations and greater protections for immigrants. On Jan. 23, thousands of people joined in the streets of Minnesota to protest ICE activity, and hundreds of businesses shut down in what Minnesotans called a “Day of Truth and Freedom.” Further outrage grew after ICE agents shot another civilian, Alex Pretti, in Minnesota on Jan. 24. The Jan. 20 event also included remarks from several faculty and staff members. Professor Irina Dubinina (RUS) spoke of her own experience being a Russian immigrant, and how the unfolding situation in the United States resembled similar events in her home country. “This is not a moment where we choose between right and left. This is a moment where we choose between right and wrong.” She was among multiple speakers who urged the group to look beyond politics and instead think about the greater implications for the country that this moment held. Both events included suggestions to become trained on what to do if attendees see ICE, as well as learning their own rights should they interact with federal agents. During the Jan. 20 event, she also mentioned that the site of their gathering outside the Shapiro Campus Center was where a “horrible event took place in November 2023,” alluding to the arrests of seven people during a pro-Palestine protest. She later said she felt it was time for Brandeis to “start healing as a community” in light of the University’s recent history. The Jan. 30 event concluded as von Mering encouraged attendees to convene in small groups and brainstorm action plans, such as ways they can become involved on campus and how to support the movement in the greater Boston area. She acknowledged that going forward, the group would need to do a better job of planning and announcing these events ahead of time, and reinforced messages about getting familiar with one another and building a sense of community. In a Jan. 20 interview with The Justice, von Mering
See PROTEST, 5☛
Photo courtesy of SARAH LUSCHE
AID: Professor von Mering and three others delivering aid to detained individuals.
“We can’t sit this one out”: Prof. Sabine von Mering reflects on December arrest ■ Massachusetts police arrested
Prof. Sabine von Mering and three others outside ICE's New England Regional Headquarters as the group was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid. By SOPHIA DE LISI
JUSTICE EDITOR IN CHIEF
On the cold morning of Dec. 16, Prof. Sabine von Mering (WGS/CEGS), Fred Small, Eric Segal and Roger Rosen arrived at Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s New England Regional Headquarters in Burlington with the intent to deliver aid to individuals detained inside. Within hours, the group found themselves in handcuffs, facing two civil court charges: trespassing and disturbing the peace. “We wanted to make sure that here in Massachusetts, we live our values and especially during
the holiday season,” Prof. von Mering said in a Jan. 23 interview with The Justice. The care packages included food, water, menstrual products, medicine, thick socks and hats. “It’s tradition. You give gifts, you bring things, you care for each other. You express your love for each other,” she said. Prof. von Mering frequently heard updates regarding dismal conditions inside the Burlington center, specifically through attending vigils hosted by Bearing Witness New England. These updates were informed by eye-witness accounts from U.S. Representative Seth Moulton’s visits in June and November, as well as news of an aid group’s September arrest outside the facility. As of press time, ICE has not addressed concerns from civilians nor representatives, having illegally denied Representative John Larson from entering the center on Jan. 29. The center is an administrative building that was not built to detain people for long periods of time and lacks washing, medical and sleeping facilities, leading to reports of “inhumane” and “humiliating” conditions. The above sources corroborated that the regional headquarters were not intended to be a detainment facility, a sentiment con-
See ARREST, 5 ☛
Bike Sharing Program on campus works to spread sustainable transportation ■ A new sustainable transportation option will
be available for the Brandeis community starting
By ASHHWIKA SONI
JUSTICE NEWS EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
After more than a year of planning and revisions, Brandeis has approved $25,500 in funding for a student-run bike share program that will be launching its pilot phase this April with 12 bikes. In a Jan. 23 interview with The Justice, the student organizers for this project, Ruben Seaman ’29 and Allan Feldman ’26 shared that they planed to expand the program to 20 bikes by the time the program “hard launch[es]" in the fall semester. The funding for this program came from the The Community Emergency and Enhancement Fund and the Campus Sustainability Fund following a revised proposal that addressed logistical and sustainability concerns that were raised in the previous application cycle. Seaman and Feldman said that the updated proposal focused
on long-term continuity, cost efficiency and broader student participation. The initiative was first reported by The Justice in October 2024, when they outlined early plans for a campus bike share program but had yet to secure funding. Seaman and Feldman submitted a detailed proposal to the funding bodies which outlined the goals of the program, proposed locations for bike storage, staffing structure and long-term vision. Their earlier plans included three possible docking locations, including a current place for docking student bikes in Massell Quad. “The one that got approved is the existing bike shelter in Massell Quad, and that one is the most cost effective for us,” said Seaman. “That’s something the allocation board really liked about this project,” he added. Seaman shared that a lot of the concerns last year were about how the program would be sustained long term, Feldman stated “recruiting younger students who could take on the program after we graduate was really important.” Student demand for a bike share program at Brandeis has remained positive and upward. Survey data collected by Feldman during the previous proposal phase in 2024 engaged more than 300 students, with nearly 90% indicating they would use the program in some capacity. “I think student demand was very clear,” stated Feldman. Additional data collected this year further shaped the structure of the pilot program. Approximately 140 respondents said they would use
Artist Spotlight A deep dive into Danielle Mckinney's exhibition. By SHELBY TERRY
SHELBY TERRY/THE JUSTICE
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Photo Courtesy of KEN YOTSUKURA
the bikes several times per week considering good weather. “The data showed that demand would way outpace how many bikes we would have, so starting smaller made more sense,” said Seaman. They added that rather than offering 24-hour multi-day rentals, the program would prioritize shorter and more frequent use to maximize access. When discussing the possibility of 24-hour rentals Seaman said that “wouldn't even cover half the demand.” The program is set to work in relation to a custom-built mobile app in contract with an electronic locking company named LINKA that is being developed by Christian Todorov ’28, Adrian Nykairu ’28 and Nathaniel Martin ’26. The app will function similarly to municipal bike share systems such as Bluebikes or Citi Bike. Seaman stated “everything [including] locking, rentals and maintenance requests will be handled through [the app]." The program will use electrical locks from LINKA, which secure the rear wheel and include an additional chain for attaching bikes to secure locations. Access will be limited to users with Brandeis affiliations and participation will require a signed waiver and a mandatory safety course. After completing these steps, students will have unrestricted access to the program, free of charge. The maintenance will be handled by students in partnership with the Brandeis Cycling Club. Gabe Mitchell ’26, a former bike shop employee, will serve as lead mechanic and train a team of student volunteers to spearhead
See DEISBIKES, 5 ☛
Perfect Portrayal
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An insightful account of Brandeis Theater's "The Baltimore Waltz.
By GRACE DOH
By LUKE BENANAV
By ESTHER BALABAN & MARK GAYSINSKIY
ARTS AND CULTURE 14
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NEWS 3
Responding to Brandeis' Reinvention
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FORUM 9 SPORTS 10