The Justice

I?ve sat silent in incredulous amazement and ever increasing anger and outrage reading about the Darwish affair as it has been spun into a cause c?l?bre for ?due process? and ?student rights? in the Brandeis print media. But more repugnant I find Darwish?s protestations that his ?student rights? as well as his ?human rights? have been violated and ?his educational career?ruined.? Consequently I am compelled to speak out as a concerned parent.
Where were Darwish?s concerns for student and human rights when he physically attacked my daughter and spat on her? Where were his concerns for these ?rights? when he would take her cell phone way from her so she would not communicate with her out-of-state friends? Where were his concerns when he would send his friends to stalk and spy on my daughter while she was attending night tutoring classes to make sure that she was not too friendly with the tutor? Where were his concerns when he, in a fit of possessive and pathological jealousy, deliberately assaulted a young man, an incident that has been mischaracterized as a ?fistfight??
Because these two incidents were linked and involved violent assaults on two different students by the same person, the Brandeis administration had no choice but to take the original action they took. In today?s environment of campus violence, I, as a parent, applaud the administration?s pro-active, quick and decisive action. I am certain that most parents will agree that for the safety of not only the two victims but for the rest of the student body, the administration?s actions were the correct ones at the time. To have not acted had the potential of severe and adverse consequences for the student body and the school. It is unfortunate that my daughter dropped her charges as a result of extreme peer pressure and imposition of guilt feelings from Darwish?s small circle of friends as well as her unwillingness to subject anyone to any disciplinary action on her behalf no matter how well deserved.
I would admonish those who have rallied to Darwish?s cause?you have selected the wrong ?poster child? From my vantage point, Darwish remains a manipulative and cowardly thug hiding behind the veil of a few who are trying to promote a political agenda and the many good-willed students who support social justice.

This is ridiculous that Brandeis chose to let Darwish remain at the school. It is obvious that he does not care about the money being poured into his education or respect the social dignities that women deserve. Darwish is taking up a spot at Brandeis that could be filled by a more deserving body. This behavior should be punished and in my opinion the school is showing extreme cowardice. When faced with a discrimination charge it flees instead of stands of for what it knows is right. Kicking Darwish out of Brandeis would not be not an act of discrimination but an attempt to keep the campus a safe environment for its students.

How long has this story been going on and we finally hear a voice from the side that was attacked? Thus far it's been Mamoon and Walaa's word against the police's word. I'm not even any hints of this back story ever made the Hoot or the Justice. We owe a lot to this student's mother for posting part of the story that has yet to have been heard.

I encourage you to make this part of the story known so that perhaps Brandeis' powers that be will decide to remove a previously dangerous student from my next three years at this school.

Damn straight...Does everyone have to be given opportunity after opportunity to create problems because we're committed to this "social justice"?

As for the second poster: don't "Thomas Quasthoff" us. That name has already been heard in the campus media this year. On Nov. 18, I played a recording of this baritone on my show on WBRS (http://www.spinitron.com/public/index.php?station=wbrs&month=Apr&year=2008&plid=9398). Have the balls to show your real name. Then work on understanding ASCII character interconversion when texts are copied from some word processors to other text boxes. Which part was "inarticulate"? "Repugnant"? Maybe "pathological"? Brandeis gives free access to the OED, which may help articulate the inarticulate parts of Concerned Parent's description of the silent side of this case.

[I'm flattered that someone would pose as me. Fortunately it seems the Justice editors have removed the comment posted under my name at 1:06 PM 5/6/08.]

Fisticuffs don't happen very often at Brandeis, and when they do and get this much publicity, this is the just punishment for someone with a "history" of violence and social disruption at the school.

Violence is not a Brandeis value. It is not wanted here.

If Darwish truly wishes to "speak to students" he should apologize for making his school look violent on the front pages of the school papers that all alumni and prospective students read. He can also redeem himself by staying clean for the next 4 years should feel entitled to be at Brandeis.

I'd rather see accountability than deflection in Darwish's actions. This country is all about giving people second chances. This is his time to show how he truly reflects Brandeis' values.

Another Outraged Parent

As the parent of the other student assaulted by Darwish, I too have had to contain my anger as the Brandeis student community reacted to Darwish's suspension. Why in the world is the assault on my son being called a "fist fight"? Since when is an uncontested assault considered to be a fist fight? (My son, the victim, used his intelligence and athleticism to free himself from Darwish's grip and blows to the head and facein order to run away from harm.) Since when is telephone harassment a forgiveable intrusion? Since when does a University and a student body minimize the violent act of smashing on an innocent student's door while yelling out threats? It is pathetic that so many Brandeis students have blindly rallied around a student who has perpertrated acts of violence on two innocent students. If students wish to pursue social justice, they should advocate for the many law-abiding members of the Brandeis community who happen to also be minority students. My son was brave enough to participate in two university judicial hearings on campus because he felt strongly that Darwish is a threat to the Brandeis community. He also spoke with editors from "The Hoot" to make the truth known (April 4, 2008, "Darwish, Students Speak Out... paragraphs 10-15. This was more than a month ago, yet the student community and "The Justice" writers/reporters have given the account no publicity.
That, in my opinion, is shemeful.

Excellent! We now have accounts from parents of both of the victims in this case. Unfortunately, I don't think very many people read the online comments of the Justice. Maybe the parents and anyone else who expresses an opinion not heard in the campus media thus far in the case would consider writing letters to the editors of both of the papers? It would be nice to shove some of this "oppressed Brandeis students" garbage back where it came from and give an equal ear so the side of the story involving bloody lips and black eyes and beaten-down doors.

Please think about doing this. We need to hear more from your side of the story.

Gideon

So that's it, huh? We have two anonymous accusers who refuse to offer any verification of who they are or the truth of their statements being praised as a 'positive developement' in what seems more and more like a concerted effort to bring down Mr. Darwish, for reasons I don't know. Didn't feel like speaking up until now, eh? And this was the forum you chose? Every witness sided with Walaa and Darwish. Your whispeirngs on an online newspaper count for nothing. How very pathetic.

Choice of fora is essentially random. Darwish posted a letter to the community on facebook rather than responding to the plea within 48 hours.

Also, it's quite common for victims to remain silent for a period following the abuse as they sort through their options and cope with the pain.

Furthermore, I'm not quite sure I see where "El Rubio Indolente" is coming from talking about the previous anonymous posters. They are only more anonymous than I am because you can look me up on the directory while they are the as-yet-unnamed parents of as-yet-unnamed students. At least they detail the perspective from which they are contributing, unlike ERI who gives us no indication of who she is and why she knows the situation better than the victims' parents.

My impression would be that the poster who used Thomas Quasthoff as pseudonym is the same who later attempted to post under my name (in response to which I wrote the short bracketed comment). Then, having already been signed up to receive alerts when further comments were made, this person was able to respond within an hour to my previous post. There is still no indication of a true identity, though. Perhaps the Justice's online editors can use the "required" email address section to reveal the sources of this shadowy poster.

Gideon

Oh Gideon, your failures of logic are only matched by your failures of Spanish.

How do you all explain that every person who has actually come forward took the side of Sbeit and Darwish, whom you obviously despise? Did they steal your lunch money or something? It's not a secret that the campaign against Darwish was led by a group of Arab-haters and dishonest pigs constantly squealing persecution.

I am anonymous because I have no personal stake in the case. If I did, if I had information which could shed light on the issue, I wouldn't be as spineless and corwardly as these 'parents' (if they really are parents), especially in defense of my children.

I'm so glad the other side is finally coming forward. I was sick to my stomach to see over 300 ppl join the pro-Darwish group without knowing all the facts.

The truth is Darwish attacked another student out of jealousy. That was after he mistreated his girlfriend.

I applaud our administrators for being proactive in keeping everyone safe.

Violence has no place on the Brandeis campus.

Dear Lazy Blond,

I know neither of the victims, nor the agressors, nor the one named witness on the victims' side. I also don't know their parents, and only have a facial recognition of Darwish's co-witnesses. I wouldn't say that constitutes "obvious despisal"; you should be wary in attributing me my thoughts and feelings. And unlike you, who claims to be anonymous because you "have no personal stake in the case", I choose to put my name on my words. I also have no stake in the case.

I'm not sure I understand what evidence you want these parents to give. It's clear that the victims have chosen to remain nameless. Does that mean they aren't really there? Should the parents provide a list of their children's birthmarks? What about their SSNs? Would that be sufficient proof? Why assume someone with an agenda or an "Arab hater" or a "pig" would stand in and claim to be the parents.

I'm not even sure now to respond to those claims. While previous articles in both papers repeated Darwish's claim that he was mistreated because he is "of Palestinian origin", this article rightfully leaves out that bit of opinion. It's essentially irrelevant that his ancestors are Palestinian. Someone reading only this article wouldn't even understand the "Arab-haters" part of your comment.

People might be wary to come forward because they see what they're dealing with. A relationship dispute turned black and blue and bloody. I don't blame other students to know the other part of the story for not wanting to step into that potential situation. Also, you should check your statements about this being the first time anyone has stepped out for this story. Check the article in the April 4th issue of the Hoot.

Regarding the numbers here, I see one (or perhaps two, if Quasthoff and the Blond are in fact different people) voice supporting one position, and me, "the truth", "Emmitt", and the two parents arguing for further exposition of the story, in addition to Alan Royals who suggests the possibility that these letters may help right the story in the print media.

Watch your generalizations.

Gideon

Dear Lazy Blond,

Interesting that 20 minutes after I figured out who you really are I had it confirmed. Too predictable.

Just out of curiosity, Noah, were you also the one who falsely posted under my name?

Gideon

I'm really tired of everyone talking about all this bullshit. It's pretty much over so let Mamoon and the administration handle it. Thanks so much dad and andrea and everyone else who is somewhat directly involved with this, but everyone else, just please let it be. Especially both you childish assholes (Gideon and El Rubio)...Mamoon and Walaa are good people, leave them alone.

If you succumb to the temptation of using violence in the struggle, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness, and your chief legacy to the future will be an endless reign of meaningless chaos.

It is not my intent to become mired in an interminable war of words with pseudonymous advocates for Mr. Darwish. Earlier, I chose to respect my daughter's privacy because she has always been adverse to the spotlight whether in success or other circumstances. However, now that her name is in the public, I feel compelled to speak one final time so as to dispel any doubts (however manufactured) about the authenticity of my first note under the authorship of an "outraged parent."

First of all, I find troubling that there seems to be a continued and concerted effort to deflect and redirect the focus away from Darwish's misdeeds by a small, anomymous coterie of Darwish apologists and attempt to entangle the issue in the political brambles of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and ennoble it with the mantle of ethnic minority grievances. Well, as we say down here in Texas, "that dawg won't hunt."

As anyone can see by my name, I am Mexican-American. In earlier times I have confronted the very real and ugly face of overt bigotry and discrimination, not only because of my ethnicity but also because of my Catholic religion. So I take deep offense when anyone loosely and cavalierly bandies accusations of discrimination to advance a personal or political agenda. Moreover, the accusation of "Arab hater" holds no credence. During the winter break, Mr. Darwish was a welcomed guest in my home, he sat at my dinner table, we broke bread together. Needless to say, he betrayed the trust and hospitality that was extended to him and he is no longer worthy of it.

So once again, in my own inarticulate rant I will refocus on where the real issue lies in these infelicitous incidents. The issue, then, has been and remains one of violence. It's about the use of violence in general, it's about the use of violence as a means to coerce a desired end, it's about the use of violence to control a person, it's about the use of violence against a young man with no ill will towards anyone, and it's about the very real, cowardly and detestable oft-practiced use of violence against women. Moreover, it's not only about violence against women in the abstract; for me it becomes more egregious and personal because it's about violence against MY DAUGHTER!

Therefore, I remain steadfast in my repugnance of Mr. Darwish's attempt to portray himself as the aggrieved victim. It is very telling that he chose a campaign of misdirection and Face Book legerdemain to deflect responsibility and accountability for his misdeeds instead of accepting the consequences in a manly and honorable way. It is very telling because such a unrepentant person will more likely than not commit violence in the future.

Once again, I extend thanks, gratitude and continued support to the Brandeis administration for acting quickly and decisively in choosing to err on the side of safety for the sake of my daughter, the young man that was assaulted and the student body in general. Brandeis parents should rest assured that this administration considers the safety of the student body as one of their foremost duties and responsibilities. They have demonstrated this through their actions.

[To the editors of The Justice: If Mr. Darwish indeed returns to Brandeis in the fall, I would entreat you to publish this as a letter to the editor during the fall, so as to provide a more balanced and full account of this matter for all the student body and others who have followed it in your newspaper.]

Dear Mr. Gallegos,

Thank you for your excellently-worded future letter to the editor. Those of us who saw the absurdity of connecting this violent incident with the Israel-Palestinian conflict will surely welcome your comments next fall.

My remaining question is whether the commenter who posted under your daughter's name above is in fact your daughter, or whether it was one of the other commenters on this article, namely Noah Klinger/Thomas Quasthoff/El Rubio Indolente (who is scheduled to graduate Brandeis within the week and will presumably no longer find it necessary to make veiled attacks on others' characters, opinions, and names).

Gideon

Thank you Mr. Gallegos, for having the courage to come forward with your story. Finally, the students have access to both sides- unfortunately it seems most of them are determined to ignore it, but at the very least those of us striving for truth can now have a more complete understanding of the situation.