Office of the Provost

Progress on Student Concerns

Aug. 29, 2019

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

As President Liebowitz mentioned in his recent letter, we have been working this summer to respond to issues raised last spring by the #StillConcernedStudents group. We appreciate the group members’ collaborative spirit and the productive dialogue that has led to changes that will benefit our entire community.

Along with President Liebowitz, we attended a very constructive meeting at the beginning of the summer with members of the #StillConcernedStudents group at which we discussed issues of concern. One matter, in particular, underscored the need for our immediate attention. We realized in our discussion that the removal in late spring of banners hung on Squire Bridge by the demonstrating students had been mishandled. We acknowledged that we had not followed our protocols on banners and that, therefore, students were not treated in an equitable manner. At the meeting, President Liebowitz immediately committed to managing our administrative actions in ways that ensure fairness and equity for all our students, and pledged our vigilance in pursuit of that goal.

In the balance of this letter, we detail a range of activities currently underway that are meant to address issues raised by our students. These activities are at various stages of development, and we look forward to working with the Brandeis community to make significant progress on all these fronts over this academic year.

  1. Mental health

    1. Holistic review of mental health needs
      • We have asked Raymond Ou, our new vice provost for student affairs, to undertake a holistic review of mental health needs and support deficits on our campus, in consultation with key campus stakeholders.

  2. Ombuds office staffing, reporting of complaints and public release of data

    1. Ombuds hiring

      • As of the start of this semester, two of the three ombuds work exclusively as ombuds on campus. Any member of the Brandeis community (student, faculty or staff) may select the ombuds they wish to meet with. The ombuds process is always voluntary.

    2. Public release of data

      • The Ombuds office works with students and other members of the Brandeis community on all options for addressing specific concerns related to any racial-bias issues. It also tracks patterns of problems on campus. Everyone in our community is encouraged to look at the quarterly and annual reports on the Ombuds website. In addition, the newly established Office of Equal Opportunity will annually release data that indicates the number of issues raised with the office (the data released will not affect confidentiality).

  3. Student Conduct Board

    1. Membership outreach and training

      • Student positions on the Student Conduct Board are open to all students (undergraduate and graduate). Open positions will be advertised in September. Members of the Student Conduct Board receive training for hearings as well as in-depth training in how to serve as an effective resource for Brandeis students. This year, Alex Rossett, assistant dean of student rights and community standards, will work with key partners Leah Berkenwald, Allyson Livingston, Carrie Eichmann and Sarah Berg on training for Student Conduct Board members. There may be opportunities to add additional student advocacy services in coordination with other campus offices; this option will be reviewed during the fall semester.

  4. Policy on room inspections

    1. Scheduling improvement

      • The Department of Community Living (DCL) is assembling a student panel that will help reshape the room inspection process. If you are interested in serving on the panel, please respond to the call for volunteers that will be sent out in early fall. The student panel will review the inspection process and develop ways to improve scheduling to make it easier for students to be present during a non-emergency inspection of their room.

  5. Policy on banners

    1. Revision of the Student Handbook on posted notices

      • The policy has been updated in section 6.2 of the “Rights and Responsibilities” section (revisions shown here in bold text): Posted Notices: Posters, banners, handbills, or notices may be displayed only on spaces designated for that purpose, such as bulletin boards. Postings in campus buildings require the stamped approval of the Department of Student Activities. Postings in the residence halls require the approval of the Department of Community Living (see 9.8). Placement of posters, handbills, notices, and the like on trees, lawns, sidewalks, statues, motor vehicles, permanent University signage, emergency blue light phones, stairwells, windows, fire suppression equipment, or fire exterior doors is prohibited. Postings that violate other policy sections, including but not limited to Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct, and disruption of scheduled speakers or events, section 7.6, will not be approved and may be removed. All postings must have a group or sponsor identified. Failure to do so may result in removal of the posted material. If you are seeking to post in relation to a campus protest and/or demonstration in an approved location, please reach out to the Dean of Students Office to discuss prior approval.

    2. Changes in policies on campus protests and demonstrations

      Section 7, Campus Protests and Demonstrations, has been updated (revisions shown here in bold text): The University community is one of inquiry and persuasion. The University has a responsibility not only to promote a lively and fearless freedom of debate and deliberation, but also to protect that freedom when others attempt to restrict it. A member of the University community may protest, rally, or demonstrate, provided such protests or demonstrations do not disrupt University operations or obstruct physical movement to, from, or within any place on the campus, including University property located off the main campus. Though the campus must be open to the free exchange of ideas, the University may limit the time, place, and manner of demonstrations. All members of the community are expected to conduct dialogues with dignity and courtesy. Students must allow other community members freedom of movement on campus, along with the freedom to engage in the performance of their duties and the pursuit of their educational activities (see section 12). Public Safety may review and address any safety concerns occurring during a protest or demonstration. Please review Appendix H, Principles of Free Speech and Freedom of Expression.

      Section 7.1 Advance Notice: The DOSO must, with as much notice as possible, be notified in writing in advance of any planned demonstrations, and may instruct organizers regarding the guidelines for such activity. In asking groups and individuals to seek prior approval for schedule and location, the University’s goal is not to restrict free speech or peaceable assembly. Rather, it is to give the University the opportunity to provide space that accommodates the reasonable needs of both the University community and those engaged in acts of speech or protest. See section 6.2 to review the University’s posting policies.

  6. Brandeis policy on classified research

    1. This policy is posted on the Vice Provost for Research website: No classified work may be undertaken in the name of Brandeis University or using University facilities or resources, and the University will not, as a matter of policy, accept any contracts or grants for the support of classified work. For this policy, “classified” is a specific designation applied by an agency of the federal government to scientific and technical information. Classified work is work that uses or produces classified information.

  7. Increasing transportation equitability and accessibility

    1. Provide more sensitive transportation options (for instance, not a police cruiser) in instances when non-emergency and emergency care is required

      • Public Safety and DCL will work together to provide students with a comfortable transportation arrangement for routine, non-emergency visits to the Waltham Urgent Care facility. As situations arise, DCL will have to assess staff availability, medical condition, level of pain, the judgment of on-site responders and the number of medical requests that may be occurring during the same time frame. The final call on the appropriate method of transport remains with first responders.

        Ambulance transport services will be maintained in all medical and psychological emergency situations.

    2. Open transportation routes for students who do not have the financial ability to travel home during recess

      • Public Safety will contract with Joseph’s Transportation to provide a mini-coach vehicle for on-campus and Waltham service during defined holidays and recesses, from noon to midnight daily. This expansion in services will be instituted as a one-year pilot program, to be evaluated on the basis of ridership volume, and could result in ongoing use or a change in the service schedule to more appropriately meet student usage.

    3. Expand transportation routes between campus and Market Basket Plaza to reduce transportation costs and food insecurity for low-income students

      • Public Safety will provide a 12-passenger van to facilitate transportation to and from the Market Basket Plaza on Mondays through Fridays, between noon and 4 p.m. This expansion in services will be instituted as a one-year pilot program, to be evaluated on the basis of ridership volume, and could result in ongoing use or a change in the service schedule to more appropriately meet student usage.

  8. DCL and Public Safety accountability for the safety and overall well-being of students

    1. End the excessive policing of student of color organizations on campus

      • Public Safety is working with Dennis Hicks, director of student activities, to recruit, hire and provide training for peer graduate student leaders who would provide a positive interaction presence for students hosting social events at Chum’s (and possibly other locations, depending on the success of the program). A job description has been drafted for review and approval. Public Safety and Student Affairs will jointly interview and recruit candidates. These event monitors will also help ensure that events are being held within defined occupancy levels and will notify Public Safety if situations that could impact life and/or property arise. (Some campus events require uniform police staff; the event-monitor option does not affect that requirement.)

        Additionally, all public safety personnel attend cultural awareness training every year. Recent training topics include religion on campus, communication with members of the LGBTQ community and interaction with diverse community members. The focus for the coming year’s training will be on issues related to student mental health.

    2. Monitor social media sites that post disturbing content that appears to target members of our community

      • Public Safety monitors social media for threats or campus-related concerns. In addition, Public Safety works with local, regional and federal agencies to keep them up-to-date on matters of mutual concern. If members of the community see, hear or read something of a concerning nature, they should report it to Public Safety, and a follow-up will be initiated. If anyone feels they are in immediate danger, please contact Public Safety at 781-736-3333. If you need to report any kind of discrimination on campus, you can use the Reporting at Brandeis website.

As President Liebowitz emphasized, we aspire to the highest standards on behalf of Brandeis and each member of our community. We recognize the need for improvement and are confident that, as we work together to resolve issues, we will achieve this goal.

Sincerely,

Lisa M. Lynch
Provost

Stewart Uretsky
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration