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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 16
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Waltham, Mass.
ICE SCARE
PROTEST
CHAVA THIELL/The Justice.
BLUE BOOTHS: A chalk message urges the university to cut any association with ICE.
Brandeis Public Safety dispels circulating ICE vehicle rumors Last week, various student organizations circulated rumors of a “confirmed” ICE vehicle on campus. In an exchange with The Justice, Chief Matthew Rushton verified that the vehicle belongs to Brandeis’ Public Safety team. By SOPHIA DE LISI
JUSTICE EDITOR IN CHIEF
On March 24, multiple student organizations reposted posted warnings of a “confirmed [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] vehicle on Brandeis campus” on their Instagram stories. The post described a black Ford Interceptor, its license plate reading, “2MVP48.” The Justice confirmed that the Ford vehicle is a Brandeis University Public Safety vehicle in an March 26 email exchange with the Associate Vice President of Operations and Chief Safety Officer, Matthew Rushton. As of press time, The Justice has not been able to verify the rumor’s origins nor who was said to have “confirmed” the sighting. “[The vehicle] belongs to our department, and it has no connection to ICE or any federal immigration agency,” Rushton wrote. His statement corroborated the Student Union’s March 24 Instagram story that first discredited the rumor. The post referenced a private statement from the Vice President of Student Affairs, Andrea Dine. The Student Union has not responded to The Justice’s March 25 and March 30 requests for comment regarding the rumor’s source and questions regarding the Student Union’s preparedness for supporting students. In addition, the Department of Student Affairs has not responded to The Justice’s media request. Rushton shared, “The Department of Public Safety does not detain or question community members solely based on their immigration status.” He confirmed that the department does not participate in civil immigration enforcement, which is the department’s long-standing policy, rather than a response to recent events. Brandeis’ position is aligned with guidance from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s decision in Lunn v. Commonwealth in 2017. Chief Rushton also highlighted his Feb. 2 “statement on ICE agents” to further clarify the Department of Public Safety’s stance. The statement confirms that “ICE agents are not permitted to enter non-public areas of our campus, such as dormitories,
offices and classrooms, without a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge.” The statement delineates that “administrative warrants issued by ICE do not grant authorization to these areas,” and Rushton added that a warrant signed by the Department of Homeland Security would not meet that standard. Additionally, he said the University would require a subpoena or judicial warrant before it would consent to sharing non-public personal information with outside law enforcement. If ICE officers were to come to campus, Rushton explained that University officers would immediately notify Brandeis’ leadership. "We would communicate with the community as quickly and as transparently as we possibly could,” he wrote. Rushton stressed that if any Brandeis community member believes they are being approached by an immigration agent, they should call Public Safety immediately at 781-736-3333. They should not accept any documentation from agents without first contacting the department, according to Ruston. He concluded, “I want the Brandeis community to feel safe, and part of that is making sure accurate information gets out quickly when rumors start.” Concerns of ICE presence at the University are not unfounded, considering there have been instances of ICE agents wrongfully detaining students on university property across the country. For instance, in a Feb. 27 article, The New York Times reported that ICE agents entered Elmina Aghayeva’s “universityowned apartment and detained her.” Aghayeva is a senior at Columbia University from Azerbaijan. Further, a Feb. 28 CNN article claims that the agents misrepresented themselves, entering the apartment building under the pretense of searching for a missing child. There have also been wrongful ICE detainments taking place off university campuses. Last year, Tufts University doctoral candidate Rümeysa Öztürk was detained outside an off-campus apartment building. ICE did not release Öztürk from her detention until last May. Recently, several instances of graffiti have also been seen on campus. The graffiti, which reads "Deis drop ICE," refers to the University's partnership with Enterprise Rent-a-Car, which provides vehicles to ICE. The Brandeis chapter of the American Association of University Professors has recently called upon the University administration to cease working with Enterprise, in addition to starting a petition. In this time of uncertainty and mistrust in the government, Rushton has affirmed the University’s commitment to protecting its students’ rights. However, student anxieties remain high as nationwide and campus tensions surrounding immigration persist.
Over 180,000 people rally in Boston Common for March 28 "No Kings" protest Eight million protesters nationwide marched in unison against the Trump administration as part of the largest peaceful protests in U.S. history. By SKYE ENTWOOD
JUSTICE DEPUTY EDITOR
On Saturday, March 18, protesters gathered in the Boston Common to raise their voices under one simple message: “No Kings.” Protesters united under views of anti-authoritarianism and against the alleged consolidation of power by the Trump administration. Fueled by the development of the war in Iran, “No Kings Day” saw 180,000 attendants in Boston and over 8 million protesters nationwide. This is an estimated one million more protesters than the previous No Kings Day that took place on Oct. 18. In Boston, the Common were crowded with people, activist organizations had information tables set up for their various causes, live bands played and speakers addressed the crowd. Security from the Boston Police Department was present, alongside additional protection from event organizers including metal detectors for the closest viewing section of the stage. Protesters held
On March 25, the Intercultural Center, collaborated with the Gender and Sexuality Center and the Center for Spiritual Life, to host its fifth “Be Curious Dinner." By ALLIE LADJEVA
JUSTICE COPY EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
On March 25, members of the Brandeis community gathered in the International Lounge for the fifth “Be Curious Dinner” — an event designed to spark conversations on complex topics. Academic settings can involve difficult conversations, which
A detailed account of Brandeis Undergraduate Theater Collective's "Alice By Heart."
A Waltham thrift store aims to work towards affordability and community. By BRIANNA EARLE
signs with anti-Trump messages, calling for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, condemning the war in Iran and advocating for immigrant rights. Notable speakers included Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, Governor Maura Healey and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell. Governor Healey opened her speech with the statement, “Basically, the bottom line here is that for 250 years we haven’t had kings in Massachusetts and we’re not going backwards.” Healey reminded the crowd of all the times both the citizens and government of Massachusetts have resisted the Trump administration. She asked everyone to keep fighting and to fight harder because “We know that Donald Trump is going to weaponize every agency in the federal government to steal this election.” She told the crowd that everyone needs to speak out and everyone needs to use their platform to raise their voice. In her final message to vote, she implored attendees to “get out and vote … We’ve gotta get young people voting who’ve given up on government and politicians.” Senator Warren delivered an impassioned speech encouraging protesters to keep raising their voices and resisting the Trump administration. She condemned the war in Iran, Trump's tax cuts, ICE deployment and alleged misconduct and
See NO KINGS, 5
A seat at the table: inside the ICC's "Be Curious Dinner"
Theater Showcase
Re/Chic
BRIANNA EARLE/The Justice.
REUBEN GARTENBACH/The Justice.
DEMONSTRATION: Thousands of people gather for March 28 "No Kings Day" protest.
is why the Be Curious Dinner created a more informal space for dialogue outside the classroom. The event focuses on a specific topic which is revealed to participants at the beginning of the dinner. The Justice reached out to members of the organizing committee and the attendees to gauge the event’s impact. Peter Rojas, Director of the Intercultural Center, explained to The Justice in a March 25 interview that the Be Curious Dinner was created in the fall of 2024 as an opportunity for students to discuss topics they felt were not being addressed in the community. He emphasized that the event fosters a space for the student body to engage with faculty and staff. This approach helps bridge gaps between students and staff, creating opportunities for open and effective dialogue. “I think the cool part about the event is that although it is an inclusive type of environment, it’s exclusive in the sense that, based on the topic, we
Journalists discuss billionaire ownership By ALLISON KETTLE NEWS 3 Horses aren't real By ASHRAM BHATTARAI
By LUKE BENANAV
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JULIA FAN/The Justice.
ARTS AND CULTURE 14
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See ICC, 5
Champions League shakeups By ELIJAH ROTH
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