Mike Pence is not normal
After Trump was elected, one sentiment that other students often expressed was that we were “lucky” that Mike Pence would be doing most of the political work of the presidency, rather than Donald Trump. This sentiment was echoed by a Saturday Night Live sketch that aired after the election. In the sketch, Pence visits Trump’s […]
The problem with pugs
Most people who know me well know that I love dogs. It is one of my dreams to raise my own dog. While I would prefer to adopt a dog from a shelter, this is pretty much impossible for me since I am allergic to most dog breeds. This means that I will probably have […]
The Nike Pro Hijab enhances inclusivity
This year, Nike announced that they planned to launch a “Pro Hijab,” a headscarf meant for Muslim women to wear while exercising. The Nike Pro Hijab, slated to come out in 2018, is made of stretchy, breathable material, has an extension on the back to prevent the hijab from slipping, and features the iconic Nike […]
The problem with proving racists wrong
Before I begin this article, I want to point out that while I am the editor of the Opinions section, I will not turn down an opinion because I disagree with it. I understand that perfectly reasonable, intelligent people will disagree with my views, and that they have every right to publish in this section. […]
College students should promote the Act Relative to Sexual Violence
Unfortunately, most people don’t pay attention to state laws. Especially in the current presidential administration, the public and media focus is understandably directed toward federal lawmaking. In some ways, this is a good thing, as the Trump administration should be met with as much criticism and oversight as possible. However, in America’s federalist system, state […]
The public health cost of political fear
In this new presidential administration, many Americans are angry. This is especially true of black Americans, undocumented Americans and members of other marginalized communities. The histories and reasons behind their fear and anger are too numerous to count, but one of the key reasons is the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back health care. Unfortunately, […]
Take kids to protests
A couple of weeks ago, a picture of a toddler at the Women’s March swept the Internet. This toddler was holding a sign that was clearly self-made, containing no words or recognizable designs, and rather was covered in crayon scribbles. The picture depicts the toddler hoisted on her parent’s shoulders, holding up the sign with […]
Our society needs hate crime legislation
On Jan. 29, Alexandre Bissonette walked into a Quebec City Islamic Cultural Center and opened fire. He killed six people and injured five. Twenty minutes after the shooting, Bissonette turned himself in to police. This was the most recent in a string of recent hate crimes encouraged by the rise of white nationalism. The shooting […]
Women’s Marches and the meaning of unity
The day after the inauguration, the largest march in Washington, D.C.’s, history began. The D.C. Women’s March included about half a million participants, and had smaller sister marches in almost every major city in the country. Naturally, a protest this enormous was involved in some controversy, mostly over women’s “unity” and the various identity groups […]
Anti-racists should reclaim Pepe the Frog
Earlier this year, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) declared the “Pepe the Frog” meme to be a hate symbol. The ADL, an anti-bigotry organization that dedicates itself to the issues of anti-Semitism, racism and white supremacy, has a database of hate symbols called “Hate on Display.” The database catalogues a wide range of hate symbols, including […]
How to fight for positive change during a Trump presidency
On this day, my heart breaks for the dream of a female president. My heart breaks for the dream of a president who supports racial equality, immigration reform and reproductive rights. Unfortunately, we learned that large portions of our population feel threatened by our country’s recent steps towards equality. This election has shifted the tide […]
Think twice before calling the police
On Oct. 12, in Dallas, TX, someone called 9-1-1 to report a “Hispanic-looking woman and black man with a suspicious white truck and camera.” The police arrived on the supposed crime scene, only to find the ethnically Indian NBC reporter, Homa Bash, and a black cameraman, presumably preparing to film a news segment. The “suspicious […]
The politicization of taco trucks exposes racist stereotypes
Last month, Marco Gutierrez, the founder of Latinos for Trump, famously remarked that Latinx immigration will lead to the presence of “taco trucks on every corner.” Gutierrez argued that Latinx immigration was forming a cultural hegemony in the U.S., stating that “my culture is a very dominant culture, and it’s imposing and it’s causing problems.” […]
Sexist Reproductive Health Laws Keep Poor Women from Attending College
Most of the straight and bisexual women I know at Brandeis use birth control. They have never had an unwanted pregnancy and have never experienced a pregnancy scare. They started using birth control before having sex for the first time, and they almost always use condoms. This is partially because of the accessibility of birth […]
Change Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day at Brandeis
If you’ve been on Facebook lately, you might have noticed a page titled “Vote to Change Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day at Brandeis.” This page has received a lot of traffic from Brandeis students and organizations, gaining endorsements from several clubs and individual students. The Facebook page connects users to a Change.org petition demanding […]
The school-wide benefit of Hispanic/Latinx organizations
Latinx and Hispanic activism is relatively rare in New England. Compared to states like Florida and California, where Hispanic/Latinx people make up the largest ethnic group, the Latinx presence in Massachusetts is tiny. Colleges and universities in the Boston area reflect this smaller Hispanic and Latinx presence. For example, Brandeis’s undergraduate population is only 7.1 […]
Reduced-cost emergency contraception should be available to students on weekends
Content Warning: Sexual assault and its psychological effects are discussed in this article. In America, women’s and reproductive health is in an uncertain state. Abortion clinics close and reopen without warning, birth control prices shift rapidly and sex education is at best problematic and at worst nonexistent. Fortunately, Brandeis provides a safe haven from most […]
Lemberg more akin to play than work-study
There are many interesting work-study opportunities at Brandeis University, a particularly noteworthy one offered at the Lemberg Children’s Center. Lemberg is a daytime childcare and early education center that serves young children, toddlers and infants. Brandeis students with work-study have the opportunity to be a teaching assistant (TA) for Lemberg staff. TAs are typically assigned […]
The Juggling Club isn’t clowning around
Juggling is no easy task. It involves intense focus and dexterity and requires hours upon hours of practice. Brandeis jugglers can have a difficult time finding a space to practice, since outdoor spaces on campus are usually freezing cold and indoor spaces are full of breakable windows and breakable faces. Luckily, the Brandeis Juggling Club […]
Stop complaining about ‘trigger warnings’ and ‘safe spaces’
This summer, the University of Chicago sent out a welcome letter to its students that many perceived to be offensive, insolent and outright disrespectful. The offending letter boasted the university’s “commitment to freedom of inquiry and expression.” It illustrated this commitment to freedom through its lack of support for “trigger warnings” and “safe spaces.” The […]
