First-years come together remotely for memorable This Is Our House

Dean of Students Jamele Adams welcomed the Class of 2024 to Brandeis during an evening of slam poetry and reflection.

This is Our House Zoom streamPhoto/Jenny Abdou

This is Our House Zoom stream

Brandeis o’clock has arrived for the Class of 2024.

Dean of Students Jamele Adams and this fall’s Orientation Leaders hosted This Is Our House over Zoom on August 5. The annual event is a memorable evening filled with slam poetry, school spirit, and reflections on social justice that usually takes place on campus in Spingold Theater.

Adams, who reprised his role as emcee, said that while public health circumstances have made an in-person gathering impossible, all who call the university home are connected as one Brandeis.

“Regardless of where you are, regardless of whether this time for you is good morning, good afternoon or good night  —  to every student, loved one, and friend present  —  all genders, all pronouns in this space: We say welcome,” Adams said. “Welcome. It is Brandeis o’clock.”

This Is Our House opened with contemporary hip-hop music played by Darryl David ’09, who is known worldwide as DJ DCaso. 

Adams, Kwesi Jones ’21 and Usman Hameedi ’12 performed slam poems about Brandeis, activism and the societal challenges brought to light by the coronavirus pandemic and the nationwide protests against racism.

“The world is a different place right now, but we will move as a community, move as one family, because even in our struggles we move together,” Adams said.

Categories: Alumni, General, Student Life

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