The Tufts Daily - Tuesday, November 17, 2020

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Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Tufts increases COVID-19 testing frequency to every other day, twice a week

by Madeleine Aitken

As of Nov. 16, Tufts had identified 21 cases in the previous seven days, with a positivity rate of 0.14%. Although the university’s positivity rate remains lower than the rest of Massachusetts, it has increased considerably since the beginning of the school year.

The email also repeated the guidelines that were sent in an email on Sunday, which say that students should only leave their residence halls or off-campus apartments to attend class, study, pick up food, exercise physically distanced, seek medical care, obtain COVID-19 testing and go to or from employment.

Students cannot leave their residence halls or apartments to attend any kind of social event, gathering or party, no matter the size.

“The increase in testing frequency that we are announcing today will allow us to catch cases even earlier and further protect our communities,” the email said.

Deputy News Editor

Tufts announced increased testing frequency and reiterated stricter COVID-19 guidelines around students leaving their residence halls and off-campus apartments in an email sent Monday, signed by Dean James Glaser of the School of Arts and Sciences, Dean Jianmin Qu of the School of Engineering, Dean Nancy Bauer of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Michael Jordan, university infection control health director.

The email explained that those who have been getting tested twice per week will now be tested every other day, and those who have been getting tested once per week will now be tested twice per week.

The email attributed this change in testing frequency to the rise in COVID-19 cases at Tufts, the cities of Medford and Somerville and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

AARON APOSTADERO / THE TUFTS DAILY

Tufts community members are pictured waiting outside the Medford/Somerville COVID-19 testing center on Nov. 16.

TCU Senate speaks about tiered housing, institutional change

by Sam Klugherz

surrounding Tufts’ tiered housing system, which the university implemented in the fall of 2019, and how the Senate was involved in voicing students’ concerns.

Senators were divided into five breakout rooms to discuss the questions in smaller groups and later rejoined as a large group to brainstorm ideas.

TCU Senator Claire Bolash said that the Tufts administration dismissed student concerns

Assistant News Editor

The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate discussed methods and tools for institutional change at the Senate’s disposal in planning for its initiatives and goals next semester in a virtual meeting on Sunday night.

TCU Senate President Sarah Wiener posed discussion questions about student activism

despite major efforts against the tiered housing system.

“One of the things that impacted this progress was Tufts admin itself,” Bolash, a first-year, said.

Other senators, including TCU Senator Hadiya Giwa, echoed Bolash’s sentiment.

“A big difficulty is the administration and Board of Trustees, and finding ways to really direct stusee SENATE, page 2

ANN MARIE BURKE / THE TUFTS DAILY

President’s Lawn is pictured on Oct. 18.

Azmera Hammouri-Davis named new Africana spirituality advisor

by Zoe Kava

Contributing Writer

The Tufts University Chaplaincy hired Azmera Hammouri-Davis in September as the Africana spirituality advisor. The role of Africana spirituality advisor, which in 2017 was called Africana community associate, was formerly held by the Rev. Lambert Rahming during the 2017–18 academic year.

Hammouri-Davis has spent eight years working in higher education, formerly serving as a residential advisor for the Center for Black Culture and Student Affairs at the University of Southern California, according to the University Chaplaincy’s website.

She has worked in several different communities around the world, including Oakland, Calif., Salvador Bahia, Brazil and Ramallah, Palestine. According to the Chaplaincy’s website, she is a teaching fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and the director of Break the Boxes, a social justice movement.

The University Chaplaincy worked with the Africana Center

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Immigrant writers analyze the word ‘crisis’ at Brookline Booksmith

Entrepreneurs network, engage during annual Ideas Competition

Sobremesa: The need to fight against hostile architechture

staff and students to consider and interview candidates during the 2019–20 academic year, according to Nora Bond, program manager of the University Chaplaincy.

Bond explained that Hammouri-Davis will serve as an important part of the University Chaplaincy and as a resource for community members of the African diaspora.

“The Africana Spirituality Advisor particularly serves Tufts community members of the African Diaspora, though the Advisor is trained to support anyone at Tufts. The Advisor also serves on the University Chaplaincy multifaith team, and contributes to University-wide programming for students, staff, and faculty,” Bond wrote in an email to the Daily.

Bond emphasized the importance of the role being filled this year after remaining empty for two years.

“It’s important to have someone in this role to add depth to the support we can offer community members, particularly Black see ADVISOR, page 2 NEWS

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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Tuesday, November 17, 2020

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Hammouri-Davis to serve as resource for community members of the African diaspora ADVISOR

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continued from page 1 and African American community members,” Bond said.

Bond explained that the University Chaplaincy had struggled to find a strong enough candidate for the position.

“The role itself is very unique in higher education, which can also mean that finding a good fit is not easy,” Bond said.

The search for a candidate to fill the role began last year, according to Bond.

Bond expressed her excitement about Hammouri-Davis joining the Chaplaincy and the Tufts community by recognizing her experience and her dedication to providing a comfortable space for students and faculty of the African Diaspora.

“Azmera creates space at Tufts for all students and faculty, especially those of the African Diaspora, to grow in worship, fellowship, and community,” Bond said.

Bond cited Hammouri-Davis’ immediate connection with the Tufts community as a promising indication of her future success at the university.

“She has a wonderful warmth about her. She connected with students, our staff, and community members, and we are lucky she chose to join us at Tufts,” Bond said.

Katrina Moore, director of the Africana Center, echoed Bond’s sentiment about the importance of the role, and explained how the Africana spirituality advisor is an exciting new addition to the Africana Center.

“Azmera will work in a partnership with the University Chaplaincy and the Africana

The Africana Center is pictured on May 11, 2016.

Center to provide opportunities for students to deepen their curiosity, and nourish their critical reflection around spiritual cultivation,” Moore wrote in an email to the Daily.

Moore cited HammouriDavis’ enthusiasm and dedication to providing a safe space for students to ask questions about their own spirituality and beliefs.

“We are excited about her enthusiasm for the work and felt that she would be able to help our students that may be questioning their values/beliefs as well [as] assess the needs and provide creative programming for our community members to engage them,” Moore said.

Hammouri-Davis expressed her content that she will be

able to serve as a member of the University Chaplaincy, and a resource for those involved with the Africana Center.

“This role entails showing up as a resource for students of African descent, and holding spaces for them to process, question and wonder about their own spiritual journey,” Hammouri-Davis wrote in an email to the Daily. “Being chosen for this role means it’s an opportunity to call upon the many teachings I’ve been blessed with and to share those experiences and teachings with students.”

Hammouri-Davis explained how she hopes to serve as a resource to help students explore their spiritual identities.

SOFIE HECHT / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES

“Students represent so many beautiful and varying traditions within our diaspora. This role entails an appreciation for this bountiful difference and a genuine curiosity to facilitate [students’] discovery as they arrive at new, or perhaps revisit old meanings for their spiritual identity,” she said.

Hammouri-Davis also expressed her goals for this year, hoping that students will learn more about what the University Chaplaincy has to offer.

“It’s my priority that, within the capacity that I have, I’m able to spark genuine interest and connection between students of African descent and the University Chaplaincy,” she said.

Stricter COVID-19 guidelines put many TCU Senate plans on hold SENATE

continued from page 1 dent needs and wants to the higher-up,” Giwa, a first-year, said.

TCU Senator Max Morningstar emphasized that students and the Senate exhausted their tools in calling for change, with little response from the administration.

“As far as our arsenal, this was sort of a full array of what we could do, and, obviously, we can see there wasn’t change that happened as a result of it,” Morningstar, a sophomore, said.

Morningstar remarked that Senate must come up with new tools to push for change.

“The question is, so how do we expand our arsenal to try and either provoke more reaction from admin, or at least force their hand in making meaningful change happen,” Morningstar said.

Senator Valerie Infante, a member of the TCU Allocations Board (ALBO), reflected on the group discussion and what it means for the university’s housing crisis.

“Having this conversation just further proves the urgency of the crisis, and also giving us potential ideas of what we could do,” Infante said.

Wiener, a senior, thanked the senators for their remarks, recognizing how their ideas will help Senate plan initiatives in the spring.

“Hearing you all ask the questions about how mobilizing and leveraging has happened historically, and [what] should we be doing differently is what I think Senate should be … next semester,” Wiener said.

Wiener also mentioned that having a student on the Board of Trustees, which is the subject of a resolution that she is in the process of writing, would help ensure that student concerns reach the level of decision makers.

Wiener then reminded senators to sign up for class year town halls, which will be taking place virtually later this week.

Sunday night’s meeting was overshadowed by Tufts’ announcement of stricter COVID-19 guidelines earlier that evening, which will impact Senate’s plans and events for the remainder of the semester.

TCU Diversity Officer Mathew Peña said that all Thanksgiving programming from the Tufts University Social Collective and the Office for Campus Life has been paused, as a result of the announcement.

TCU then heard two supplementary funding requests.

The BlackOut Step Team requested $200 to fund an audio speaker. Nine members of ALBO voted in favor of the request, with none opposed and none abstaining. The request passed TCU Senate by acclamation.

Tufts Students for Justice in Palestine requested $350 to host Eran Efrati, executive director of Researching the American-Israeli Alliance, to speak about IsraelPalestine relations. Nine members of ALBO voted in favor of the request, with none opposed and none abstaining. The request passed TCU Senate by acclamation.

Following the supplementary funding requests, TCU Parliamentarian Taylor Lewis introduced an abstract for a resolution calling for Tufts to extend Exceptional Pass policies through the spring semester.

Lewis, however, does not think the resolution will be necessary and expects the administration to pursue the Exceptional Pass policy next spring without the resolution.

TCU Vice President Grant Gebetsberger then requested reports about the status of committee projects from committee chairs.

In their reports, some committee chairs emphasized that the university’s announcement just hours before had put some of their ongoing projects up in the air, or suspended them altogether.

Avani Kabra, chair of the Services Committee, mentioned that the committee had planned to assemble self-care packages to be delivered to students, but was uncertain whether the committee would be able to assemble them with the new COVID-19 guidelines in place.

Chair of the Administration and Po l i c y Co m m i t t e e Ibrahim AlMuasher explained that the committee’s initiative to allow students studying music to practice their instruments in The Mods was suspended as a result of the tighter restrictions.

Before adjournment, Wiener shared a parting message with the senators commending them for their work.

“The fact that there’s still updates about people’s projects throughout all this is genuinely so inspiring and I feel very privileged and proud to work with you all,” Wiener said.

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Features

Students brainstorm business concepts in Tufts Ideas Competition

3 Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Jenny Lu Tuff Talks

Confronting parents

D CHRISTIE WU / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES

The Gordon Institute is pictured.

by Eileen Ong Staff Writer

The Gordon Institute’s Tufts Entrepreneurship Center (TEC) hosts its annual Tufts Ideas Competition in the fall, where teams propose a financially sustainable business venture that presents a solution to a problem of their selection.

Winning teams are eligible to receive cash prizes up to $1,000.

TEC Director Elaine Chen said that the center aims to help students “acquire an entrepreneurial mindset and skillset” by offering practical experiences through classes and events such as the Ideas Competition. The Ideas Competition is a feeder to the $100k New Ventures Competition, which occurs later in the academic year.

“The purpose of Ideas 2020 is really to be the entry point for a lot of people with entrepreneurial interests, and not particularly only those who are already building a venture,” Chen said.

This year, the Ideas Competition received 54 applications, each of which included a two-minute video pitch.

Finalist teams presented their ideas in a live pitch event over Zoom on Nov. 13.

The live virtual final was open to the Tufts community.

The finalists and winners were judged with a rubric based on seven factors: understanding of the problem and target customer, financial sustainability, impact of idea, team, presentation and impression.

This year’s panel of judges included: Karen Cassel (LA‘88), who is CEO of the MedicAlert Foundation, a senior care referral agency and a member of the TEC Advisory Board; Sarah Kugelman (LA’85), who is the CEO and founder of Servd Live, a virtual platform for cooking events with top chefs, and is also a member of the TEC Advisory Board; and Igor “Iggy” Moliver (LA‘10), who is managing partner and head of product and strategy at Remedy

Product Studio, an informational technology and services company. He is also the chairman of the Tufts Entrepreneurial Network.

Chen said the judges were chosen because of their different expertise and experiences in building or investing in ventures.

“All three of them would be a good place for students to expand their networks, right? Because then you can go ‘LinkedIn’ them to say, ‘Well, I met you, when you were judging’ … And then thereafter, you know, you’re only one degree removed from 5,000 people that Sarah knows, or something like that,” Chen said.

TEC offered a variety of resources to help teams prepare for the competition, including Jumbo Café workshops, pop-up, one-on-one coaching and a student-led pitch practice contest.

Chen said the workshop series was meant to help students who wanted assistance getting started, hence its name, the “Getting Started Series.” It condensed the ideas in the foundational TEC class, “Entrepreneurship and Business Planning,” and delivered the main lessons through five workshops, starting with brainstorming ideas and ending with how to make an effective pitch.

The coaches consisted of faculty, including Chen, and volunteer alumni.

Chen said there were about 20 students who met with the coaches in the week leading up to the application deadline.

“There’s no minute like the last minute, right?” she said. “I’m glad that people took us up on that because it was great just really getting to know people and learning more about what they’re interested in.”

This year, the Entrepreneurship Association of Tufts (EAT), an undergraduate student entrepreneurship club, held its first pitch contest as a way for other student entrepreneurs to receive peer feedback on their pitches. The seven participating teams each had three min-

utes to pitch over Zoom. President of EAT Matthew Alswanger said each team received initial feedback at the event and later got more detailed comments based on a rubric.

“Basically, I took the rubric, and I kind of modified it from other pitch competitions, from talking to professors who’ve done this. And I basically went off the rubric, and then my own experience, either doing pitches or watching pitches, as well as the feedback from my board,” Alswanger said.

Due to the pandemic, this year’s competition will be virtual. Alswanger noted how delivering a pitch through Zoom can take the personal aspect out of it.

“What you find is when people pitch, what separates, sometimes, the higher quality from the mediocre pitches is body language, which is kind of tricky to do online,” Alswanger said. “So for some people, that’s a benefit because now they don’t have to worry about fidgeting or moving around. And then for others, it kind of takes away because their body language can be a huge bonus in the pitch because a lot of it comes down to how enthusiastic you are.”

Juniors Dash Wedergren and Deepen Goradia participated in last year’s Ideas Competition and were a part of one of four winning teams. They pitched an idea for an artificial intelligence-based software that helps strengthen users’ data privacy, and they are currently developing their venture called Blacklight.

Wedergren said preparing for the competition helped start the basis of their venture.

“It forced us to ask lots of questions about the business itself, like what segments of customers we were targeting, what the product itself was, our five-year plan, and like vision. And so even, you know, in that process alone, I think it was helpful for us to sit down and map out and ask these questions,” Wedergren said.

TRASHING ONE EGG WASTES 55 GALLONS OF WATER

ear J: How should I go about telling my family that I’m thinking about quitting college?

J: You should definitely have this conversation in person.

Going home for winter break will be a great opportunity to bring this up.

The key word here is “thinking.” Let them know that this isn’t concrete yet, but make sure you are honest with your tone and how you present this to them. Are you “thinking” as in this is an option you just started considering, or have you been sleeping on this for awhile and the only thing left is getting your parents’ blessing?

They’re your parents so you probably have a rough idea of how they will react, but here are a couple of suggestions to help it go smoother: First, explain why you want to quit college and how those things have been affecting you mentally, emotionally, academically, etc.

Second, have a plan. What are you planning to do instead of college?

Are you sure that you are passionate about makeup so you want to go to cosmetology school instead? If you have a solid alternative, then that’s great! But if not, that’s totally OK too.

Not knowing what you want to do in life but knowing that college isn’t for you is completely valid. That being said, you’ll want to reassure your parents that you won’t just sit at home all day, forever, which is probably what they’re fearing when they think of a college dropout. For example, when telling my parents I wanted to take a gap year, I wasn’t completely sure how I wanted to spend it, but telling them that I would start out by working as a lifeguard and would work toward landing an internship let them know that I would at least be doing something.

Be prepared for some resistance and definitely listen to what your parents have to say. But, also set boundaries and let them know how much you are willing to compromise (maybe you’ll try one more semester in exchange for their support if your feelings still don’t change). Good luck!

Dear J: My mom is a grade A narcissist. Everything, good or bad, is about her. How do I call out her lies without hurting her feelings or our relationship?

J: As much as your question made me laugh, you should probably not call her a “grade A narcissist.” Saying generalizations like “ever ything, good or bad, is about her” is also a no-no. You can definitely sit her down,talk about specific lies and instances that you are thinking of and tell her how her actions have hurt you. Let her know that you still love and care about her. Tell her what steps she can take to improve your relationship.

Jenny Lu is a first-year who has not yet declared a major. Jenny can be reached at jen.lu@tufts.edu.

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Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Immigrant writers discuss the meaning of ‘crisis’ during COVID-19

by Aisha Catena Staff Writer

On Nov. 11, Brookline Booksmith hosted “Immigrant Writing in a Time of Crisis,” a conversation with Mona Kareem, Grace Talusan, Deepak Unnikrishnan and Ilan Stavans. Unnikrishnan is a writer from Abu Dhabi, whose book “Temporary People” (2017) won the inaugural Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing, the 2017 Hindu Literary Prize and the 2018 Moore Prize. Kareem, a poet and a Best Translated Book Award nominee, and Tufts alumna and author of New York Times Editor’s Choice “The Body Papers” (2019) Talusan (LA’94) both contributed to “And We Came Outside and Saw the Stars Again” (2020) — an anthology of works describing how lives have been transformed

by COVID-19. It is edited by Stavans, who is the publisher of Restless Books, a professor at Amherst College and has received a Guggenheim Fellowship.

The authors had incredibly valuable and diverse insights, ranging from the role of imperialism in language to the burdens of being labeled an immigrant writer.

Stavans, who is Mexican American, began the discussion by questioning how he conceptualizes the idea of a crisis.

“I used to think that the word crisis had been diluted … that the word no longer has any meaning. I don’t remember, at any point in my life, however, being in a crisis like the one we are right now,” Stavans said.

And he was not simply referring to the pandemic.

“I am on the other side of the border in a country, the United States, where I thought the democratic institutions were solid, where political transitions were respected and respectable. Now, I find myself being arguably close to a banana republic in the very place that has been critical of banana republics,” he said. He then transitioned to ask the other three speakers, “What does the word ‘crisis’ mean to you now? How are you experiencing this moment?”

Talusan answered the question by acknowledging the emotional impact that the conceptual idea of a “crisis ” can have on humans.

“A crisis is something very intense, and it’s something that I just [try] to get through,” she said.

But there is something specific about the pandemic that has allowed for a certain endless tension to engulf our daily lives,

VIA BROOKLINE BOOKSMITH

The cover of “And We Came Outside and Saw the Stars Again” (2020) is pictured alongside Mona Kareem, Grace Talusan, Deepak Unnikrishnan and Ilhan Stavans, speakers for the event titled “Immigrant Writing in a Time of Crisis.” and Talusan described that exact sentiment by acknowledging how descriptions of global chaos as an “ongoing crisis” have a distinct impact on our emotional health. Since March, Talusan has been trying to adjust to the pandemic and find ways in which she can distract herself.

“But then something else comes along,” she said. “And then it kind of tips the new normal.” Talusan concluded by saying that, through her immigrant identity, she has learned how to deal with these constant alterations of what is normal. In Talusan’s words, “getting destabilized and then figuring out a way to keep going” is what constitutes the immigrant experience at most times.

“We immigrants know crisis, we have at least a sense of being destabilized,” Stavans said in agreement.

“The word ‘we’ is interesting, right?” Unnikrishnan said, instantly questioning the collectivity that can be naturally imposed onto identity groups. Even so, he identified with Talusan’s comment. “[As immigrants] we were forced to be resilient for most of our lives … but then there’s also hope, at the end of the tunnel

… you’re hoping for something that you can really latch on to,” he said.

But with COVID-19 he has had a hard time finding hope in this ongoing, seemingly never-ending, crisis.

“I just want to hug people,” Unnikrishnan said with a saddened laugh. “I think we’re all trying and we’re coping, and we’re mad and tired. So for me, that’s what ‘crisis’ is … we’re doing the best we can and, sometimes, this is the sobering part: That isn’t enough.”

Stavans then prompted Unnikrishnan to discuss what exactly the role of the writer should be during a crisis: Should they be documenting the present or waiting to write reflectively on the past?

“Because I work in academia, the word ‘productivity’ gets thrown around a lot. And I have a great deal of respect for the word but now I just want to burn it if I’m being completely honest,” Unnikrishnan said. “What I’m doing is I’m observing.”

Kareem reflected on her role as a poet during this time of crisis.

“I was never the poet who is able to reflect on the current moment, I never concerned myself with that … the current moment really occupies me,” she said.

Kareem added that the world has reflected her crisis for the very first time. She is an asylee living in the United States who has not seen her family for almost 10 years.

After the pandemic hit and people began to talk about the value of family, their plan B and what safety means to them, she saw people experience what she has had to live with for nearly a decade.

“All this time living as an immigrant I tried to be temporary,” she said. “I tried to be easy to move around … no attachments,” she said.

But during this time of seemingly endless crisis, she has decided to root herself, to find some sort of geographical connection.

Apart from the actual role of being an immigrant writer, it is also important to consider the implications and significance of the label itself. Talusan described how she only started calling herself an immigrant writer after winning the Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing.

“I’m in such a place of privilege that if I could do anything with any of my writing as an immigrant writer, I’m happy to do it,” she said.

Unnikrishnan differentiated “immigrant” from “writer.”

First, he pridefully advocated for the powerful existence of the immigrant. When someone uses “immigrant” in a negative way, he answers, “Bring it. Yes, I am … I’m not ashamed of it … I embrace that.”

He explained that the issue he has with the moniker is related to the “writer” part of the expression.

“Individuals may feel as though immigrant writers can only write about the immigrant experience,” he said. “I am an immigrant writer … Do I only write about immigrant things?

No, it’s not an aisle at the supermarket. You can’t compartmentalize all of us. That’s why context is important.”

Stavans concluded that “The only thing that matters to me as a reader is the humility and authenticity that can come across in the page … No matter how you have dismantled language for the rest of us to enjoy, if you have dismantled it with care and conviction in an authentic and humble voice, then that message is going to come across … I just love the fact that writers take that leap of faith. Their work has fallen on some of our ears and we are better as a result.”

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Tuesday, November 17, 2020 | Arts & Pop Culture | THE TUFTS DAILY

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Crossover #1 is a fastpaced blend of style, substance

by Drew Weisberg Assistant Arts Editor

Here at the Daily, there is a tendency to review the first issue of a comics series. The real reason is most likely because a first issue, episode or the like acts as a jumping-off point, so a Daily reader won’t feel lost much like a comic reader might if they began with the second or third issue. My personal philosophy for this, though, is that a review of a first issue allows you to review not just the material presented, but also the series’ potential and the merits of the series’ premise. And so, if one was to judge the first issue of writer and current Marvel golden boy Donny Cates’ latest Image Comics-published work “Crossover” (2020) by the potential of the premise alone, then I would recommend anyone swayed by this review to demand a copy at your nearest comic purveyor at once. If one needs a greater incentive, I can say that readers will be hooked by the engrossing plot, bold art choices and stellar color work by the creative team.

Joined by artist Geoff Shaw and colorist Dee Cunniffe, Cates wastes no time before he asks the reader, “Who is more real: Us? Or Superman?” From this point on, Crossover #1 wastes no time in establishing a world where the state of Colorado has been lost to a superhero battle that has breached into

our world and turned the state into a domed citadel of nonstop battles between various supergroups. Cates’ creativity is something to behold, and while some lines are more heavy handed than I would have liked, most of the dialogue is strong enough to keep readers tuned into the quick pace without missing a beat.

Shaw’s art takes an inventive method for communicating the differences between denizens of the “real world” as well as the “comic within a comic” worlds that have collided that is far too interesting to spoil here. Cunniffe’s colors can’t go unsung, as they’re essential to pulling off the artistic magic trick that will no doubt be considered an “Ah, yeah” moment for any pop art aficionado. It’s refreshing for an art team to use such an “out-there” method that may alienate some readers unfamiliar with comic publication or art style, but will make lifelong readers positively giddy.

The first issue of “Crossover” reads like the opening line of Cates’ love letter to the wonderful hyper-reality that comic books allow readers to peek into each month. Its breakneck pace and occasional dips into cheesiness may be hard to swallow for some, especially strangers to the medium. For those with an open mind, a love for comics or the desire for an outside-thebox monthly read, I can’t recommend Crossover #1 enough.

The cover of Crossover #1 (2020) is pictured.

VIA IMAGE COMICS

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Learn at an intensive pace and adapt new skills to current circumstances. Listen to loved ones... especially children.

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Navigating a sharp landscape

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he United States approaches an unprecedented winter — one ridden with a ruthless pandemic. According to a 2019 government estimate, almost 200,000 people sleep on the streets of our nation each night. With high unemployment rates, rising housing costs and widespread food insecurity, the perfect storm is brewing for surging homelessness rates. However, our

Opinion nation currently does not have the proper infrastructure to respond to this growing number of individuals in desperate need of shelter. Rather, many of our cities are ridden with anti-homeless architecture.

Hostile architecture is often subtle. In New York City, it can be seen through a dearth of benches. But cities like New York and San Francisco also have some more overt forms of defensive architecture, including metal bars dividing public benches and “anti-homeless spikes” that discourage public sleeping.

While some states and cities have requirements to limit this type of architecture, there are many loopholes, as design is often left open to the interpretation of the architect.

In Boston, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

(MBTA) recently installed armrests on benches at T stops, an action that has been perceived as hostile architecture. While the MBTA framed this addition as an aid for elderly and disabled people, opponents argue that the armrests could have easily been placed at the end of the benches to allow people to still lie down. T stops are a safe haven for many homeless people, and it is imperative that rather than making it physically impossible for people to access shelter, we provide better alternatives, such as homeless shelters and public housing.

Previous hostile architecture in Boston has received extensive pushback. In 2019, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation removed spikes under a bridge where homeless individuals commonly resid-

7 Tuesday, November 17, 2020

ed. These spikes were originally installed to deter homeless individuals from trespassing.

Those in favor of removing the spikes pointed toward the need for deep rooted change and empathetic efforts in solving the many systematic issues that drive people to live under bridges in the first place.

Advocates’ understanding of this multifaceted issue ultimately allowed them to triumph against hostile architecture. Sadly, this isn’t always the case, given public resistance to helping the homeless and subsequent ostracism from society.

This example shows us that with continued advocacy, it is a tangible ask for the MBTA to reverse its decision to add armrests to T stop benches.

Hostile architecture harmfully targets homeless individu-

als, especially those struggling with addiction or financial insecurity. In order to combat this coldhearted movement, we need big-picture, systematic change. Rather than resorting to divisiveness, we must direct efforts toward inclusion, such as increasing funding to programs that provide shelter, job training, housing assistance, and treatment for addiction and other mental health conditions.

These deep rooted efforts will not be put into place overnight.

To best serve the community in the interim, we must design a more inclusive landscape in our cities, one that is free of hostile architecture.

Elizabeth Buehl is a first-year who has not yet declared a major. Elizabeth can be reached at elizabeth.buehl@tufts.edu.

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8 Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Nicole Setow Wonder Women

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Ashima Shiraishi

f you’ve bought a CLIF BAR recently, you may have noticed that the iconic brand has released limited packaging featuring six world-class female athletes. One of those athletes is Ashima Shiraishi, a remarkable 19-year-old Japanese American rock climber who many refer to as the future of the sport.

For those unfamiliar with the different varieties of rock climbing, the primary difference between sport climbing and bouldering is that the for-

Matt Goguen Keeping up with the 617

2020 Celtics Mock Draft

I

t’s only been a little over a month since the Los Angeles Lakers raised the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, and yet another NBA season is upon us; the highly anticipated free agency period begins at 6 p.m. on Friday and the abnormal 2020 NBA Draft will take place on Wednesday.

The Boston Celtics hold three first-round picks this year, which is not uncommon for general manager Danny Ainge; he loves to collect draft picks and believes

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mer involves ropes and safety harnesses while the latter only requires climbing shoes, chalk and crash pads to soften potential falls. Regardless of the presence of gear, both involve full-body awareness and an immense amount of strength, agility and mental prowess.

Rock climbing may be one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports that one could practice — and Shiraishi is an absolute beast with or without climbing gear.

She started climbing recreationally at just 6 years old on Central Park’s Rat Rock. Next thing she knew, at 10 years old, she became the youngest person to boulder a V13. A year later, she became the youngest to scale a 5.14c; climbs at this rating typi-

cally require years of experience and training. Yet, she didn’t stop there. In 2016, Shiraishi became both the first woman and the youngest person to send a grade V15 boulder when she climbed Horizon at the age of 14. For reference, the world’s most difficult boulders currently hold a V16 or V17 rating. Needless to say, Shiraishi’s ability to conquer complex rock walls shows experience and strength way beyond her years.

Considering that rock climbing was only recently added as a Summer Olympics event, it’s even more impressive that the 19-year-old climber is already a pioneer and respected legend in this young sport. While an immense pressure to continue pushing the limits could feel

like a burden to some, Shiraishi seems to take these expectations in stride, and her enthusiasm to continue to raise the bar is nothing short of inspiring.

When watching her climb, the first thing you may notice is that her 5-foot-1-inch frame offers a relatively limited wingspan.

Yet, she never fails to creatively maneuver herself to find the best leverage. This skill speaks to her remarkable vision when charting her routes, and her execution can be best described as a mesmerizing act of grace and athleticism. She handles crimp holds with deftness, she swings with purpose and sometimes it looks like she defies gravity when she launches herself across the wall.

Shiraishi approaches her sport with an admirable

amount of fearlessness that not many people display when they’re hanging precariously on a ledge 15 feet off the ground.

Yet, even more impressive is her ability to most literally fall and pick herself back up again. The visual of her standing up and sporting a wide grin demonstrates her resilience, her love for the sport and her willingness to constantly challenge herself. Now, with over a decade of experience behind her and plenty more difficult climbs to send, there is no doubt that Shiraishi will continue to take this sport to new heights.

that grooming prospects is the recipe to winning an NBA title.

With the Celtics’ championship window closing faster than ever, Ainge is looking for talent and depth this season, two traits that will be hard to come by in this weak draft class. Nonetheless, with three first-round picks in their arsenal, the Celtics will most likely be aggressive on Wednesday.

Round 1, Pick 14: Kira Lewis Jr., PG, University of Alabama After recently garnering some draft hype over his “high ceiling,” Kira Lewis Jr. is the perfect option for the Celtics.

He averaged 18.5 PPG and 5.2 assists during his sophomore year at Alabama. He adds experience from leading an SEC team as a sophomore, and combined with his agility and promising jump shot, Lewis would give the Celtics a solid role player.

Since Kemba Walker continues to struggle with injuries, this pick needs to be a guard that has similar traits to Walker and is able to run the point when needed — Kira Lewis Jr. fits this mold perfectly.

Round 1, Pick 26: Xavier Tillman, C, Michigan State University With extremely weak depth at the 4 and 5, the Celtics should look to draft a big somewhere in the first round — cue Xavier Tillman. Although Tillman isn’t known for explosiveness on the offensive side of the ball, his defense is elite; he was awarded Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and is able to defend all parts of the floor, specifically under the rim and beyond the arc. Currently, I’m not the biggest fan of Daniel Theis, who isn’t capable of starting on a playoff-contending team.

Also, Enes Kanter is a terrific scorer, but his defense is abysmal. Tillman would be able to provide a defensive spark for the Celtics and fit well in the rotation.

Round 1, Pick 30: Tyler Bey, PF, University of Colorado The Celtics do not need another power forward, since Jayson Tatum and Robert Williams III are both capable of playing at the 4. However, I love Tyler Bey’s game; he has an impressive seven-foot wingspan, which helps out on the defensive end tremendously. He’s relatively versatile on the floor and is able to “play bigger than his height.” At a small sample size, he was able to shoot at a 42% clip beyond the arc, but his stroke needs improvement. He does have some room to grow, and this would be a perfect developmental prospect for the Celtics.

The Celtics must approach this draft with an aggressive mindset; they are currently in a shrinking championship window and must make “winnow” moves in order to help their chances of another NBA Finals victory. In all honesty, Ainge will most likely boot on two of these three draft picks in order to stockpile for future years. In other years I’d support that move, but now is not the time to think about the Celtics’ future. The window for a championship is closing and could shut in the next few years, so Ainge must adopt some type of aggressive mindset in this draft, or Celtics fans will be calling for his head.

Nicole Setow is a sophomore majoring in biopsychology. Nicole can be reached at nicole.setow@ tufts.edu.

Matt Goguen is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major. Matt can be reached at matthew.goguen@tufts.edu.