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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 6
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Waltham, Mass.
TOWN HALL
WORKING DOG
Photo courtesy of Officer Dave Thompson.
SKYE ENTWOOD/The Justice.
BEST FRIENDS: Officer Dave Thompson poses for a selfie with Justice in a patrol car.
DISCUSSION: President Arthur Levine '70 speaks to an audience of students and faculty.
President Levine addresses how Paws for Justice: meet Brandeis’ new students will be affected by The comfort dog bringing smiles to campus Brandeis Plan in coming months ■ Justice and her handler, Officer
David Thompson, are supporting students one tail wag at a time.
■ Levine and administrators spoke
directly to an audience of students about concrete plans to move the University into the global digital economy. By MIRIAM GRODIN JUSTICE COPY EDITOR
On Wednesday, Oct. 29, University President Arthur Levine ’70 spoke to a crowd of undergraduates about the Brandeis Plan to Reinvent the Liberal Arts. He touched on the plan’s three major facets: reorganizing the graduate and undergraduate schools, remaking the core curriculum and creating a Center for Careers and Applied Liberal Arts. The event took place in Rapaporte Treasure Hall and featured small presentations from Levine, as well as members of the faculty and administration involved with the project. “When I got here,” Levine remarked, describing his own history as a Brandeis student, “Brandeis was 18 years old, and that was a golden era. I think we're about to enter another golden era as we build and think and plan for the future.” Levine claimed that this “golden era” will occur due to the changes he plans to make with the Brandeis Plan, which was approved by the faculty senate last semester. This decision prompted him to pose the rhetorical question: Why do the Liberal Arts need to be reinvented? And what changes are going to be made? He explained that the liberal arts were initially invented for students living in an “analog, industrial economy.” But students today are going to live their lives in an increasingly globalized, digital world, Levine said, and the education they are receiving should prepare them for it. He talked about the need to constantly update the curriculum, referencing the narrative of Henry Adams, the grandson of President John Quincy Adams, who went to Harvard College in 1850 and expressed his disappointment that he was receiving an 18th century education while preparing to enter a 20th century world. This exemplified, to Levine, how Liberal Arts curriculum has historically already been regarded as out of touch with the modern world. “I thought this marked an occasion … to think about what you need in your education,” Levine said, referencing the three areas of improvement the Brandeis Plan addresses. Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Carol A. Fierke Ph.D. ’84 then rose to the podium to describe the reorganization of the Uni-
JUSTICE NEWS EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
If you’ve spotted a wagging tail and a pair of eager eyes patrolling campus lately, you’ve already met Justice, Brandeis University Police’s newest and arguably most beloved team member. Justice isn’t your typical officer, she’s a comfort K9 with the Brandeis Police Department, here to spread a little joy wherever her paws take her. The idea for introducing a comfort dog to campus came from Chief Matthew Rushton, who recognized the growing importance of emotional support programs in law enforcement and higher education. “Seeing the success of similar programs at other universities and police departments, it was
Prof. Elanah Uretsky (IGS) on United States-China cooperation. By EMMY ZHOU
FEATURES 6 For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org
Photo courtesy of FAYTHE DALY.
See PUPPY, 5 ☛
Brandeis holds groundbreaking ceremony for new residence halls ■ Work on the new living spaces
has begun and they are expected to be ready for students to live in by the fall of 2027. By CHAVA THIELL
JUSTICE NEWS EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
On Friday, Oct. 31 the University held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new residence hall, set to be ready for use by either the summer or fall of 2027. Though construction on the site began in late June of this year, speakers noted the impor-
tance of acknowledging this new chapter and how this new living space will be beneficial for future Brandeis students. The ceremony for Brandeis’ modernized residence hall began with a brief welcome from the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, Shelby Harris. Harris mentioned that it was a busy weekend for the University, not only because of the ceremony, but Family Weekend as well, which is why they chose to hold the ceremony for a time when there were “a lot of folks around.” The event was attended by about 30 people, including staff members from the Department of Community Living, the Office of Marketing Communications, parents, alumni, students and student leaders, architects, construction workers and University President Arthur Levine ’70. Levine made brief remarks, beginning with a
See CAMPUS LIVING, 5 ☛
See ADMINISTRATION, 5☛
Global superpowers
Photo courtesy of CREATIVE COMMONS.
By ASHHWIKA SONI
versity’s academic schools. “Everyone knows that there is a vast need for education to be transformed,” she stated, “… and Brandeis wants to be a leader.” Fierke explained that the graduate programs and the undergraduate School of Arts and Sciences were now officially divided into the School of Arts, Humanities and Culture; the School of Business and Economics — which will contain the Brandeis International Business School; the School of Science, Engineering and Technology and the School of Social Sciences and Social Policy — which will contain the Heller School for Social Policy and Management. This change took effect on July 1, 2025, leaving some students wondering about the impacts of the reorganization on double majors, interactions between undergraduate and graduate students and the types of classes they can take. Fierke explained that this action was taken to limit barriers to students engaging across varied academic areas, and assured that “undergraduate students should not see a significant difference in their education based on the reorganization, except that there will be additional opportunities for their educational experience.” Next to speak was Prof. Jeffrey Lenowitz (POL), the chair of the Faculty Senate. He discussed how faculty have been and continue to be involved with the Brandeis Plan, and how, through conversations with his own students, he is aware of the doubt the student body holds about the changes. However, he stressed that despite any change to curriculum or organization, “this is still a place with a deep, deep commitment to liberal arts in all of its forms, to cutting edge research and to social justice.” Faculty are involved with brainstorming ideas for new majors, microcredentials and possible Masters programs or “four plus one programs” that they believe students will be interested in. The faculty senate is very interested in student feedback, and Lenowitz extended the invitation to come speak to him and other members of the senate with questions or concerns students may have that they are not comfortable asking administrators directly. “We’re all just trying to make this a better place for you all,” Lenowitz said. Next, Vice Provost of Undergraduate Affairs, Jeffrey Shoulson spoke. Shoulson previously served as the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, but has transitioned to this new position with the reorganization of the schools. He explained that the “repackaging” of the Brandeis Core will come into effect for the incoming class of 2030 in Fall 2026. Current un-
kind of a no-brainer. The chief saw how effective comfort dogs could be in creating connections and reducing stress, and from there, everything just fell into place” explained Officer Dave Thompson, Justice’s handler in an Oct. 30 interview with The Justice. Justice’s journey began at Boston K9 Training where she completed her initial obedience work. However, “her training is ongoing,” said Thompson. Currently, Justice partakes in small sessions weekly and formal training a few times per month to keep her sharp. Justice’s professional development includes revisiting basic commands and exposure exercises, all designed to help her feel comfortable in new and unpredictable situations. Once she reaches 12 months of training, Justice will be evaluated for official certification through one of many possible agencies, though most likely the United States Police Canine Association, one of the nation’s leading certifying agencies. This assessment will then determine her readiness for
“Due to circumstances outside of The Justice’s control, only pages 1, 8, 9 and 16 will be printed in full color. We invite you to review the paper in full color on our website, thejustice.org. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes for our readers and hope that our printing will be able to return to normal next week.” — Sophia De Lisi, The Justice Editor in Chief
Winslow's watercolors
Discussion on witchcraft
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston opened their Winslow Homer exhibit.
By HANNAH SHAPIRO
By MIKEY TERRENZI
By MARK GAYSINSKIY
ARTS AND CULTURE 15
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NEWS 3
Compensating student teachers
NFL midseason check-in By AKUOKOR SAI
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FORUM 9 SPORTS 12