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THE TUFTS DAILY
TUFTSDAILY.COM
Thursday, March 8, 2012
VOLUME LXIII, NUMBER 29
Where You Read It First Est. 1980
Friends of Israel ad causes controversy by
Patrick McGrath
Daily Editorial Board
scott tingley / the tufts daily
The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate last Monday published the first issue of the monthly TCU Newsletter, which will provide students with information about new Tufts events and initiatives.
TCU newsletter highlights Senate activities, campus events by
Leah Lazer
Daily Editorial Board
The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate on Feb. 27 published the inaugural issue of the monthly TCU Newsletter sent in an email to the entire undergraduate student
body. The newsletter is intended to serve as a means of providing students with relevant information about upcoming events and initiatives within the Tufts community. The newsletter included information on recent Senate activities and initiatives, a “Know
Your Rights” section about university policies and information about major campus events and opportunities. Future issues of the newsletter will be sent only to students who see NEWSLETTER, page 2
The inclusion of multiple Tufts Community Union (TCU) senators among the signatories of an advertisement in the Monday, March 5 issue of The Tufts Daily has stirred controversy among some students. The advertisement, which was sponsored by the Tufts America Israel Alliance and Friends of Israel (FOI), read “As a student leader at Tufts I support the U.S.-Israel Relationship” and listed a number of student leaders across campus who signed the advertisement alongside their specific leadership positions. The advertisement included a disclaimer at the bottom of the page that stated: “The views expressed are my own and do not represent the positions of my stated leadership role or organization.” “The reason why we chose the phrasing that we did … was because we wanted it to be completely uncontroversial,” Aaron Tartakovsky, a senior who helped organize the advertisement, said. “It is in no way a knock on any other groups, whether student groups or any other populations.” Cory Faragon, a member of
Japanese Culture Club pays tribute to victims of March 2011 earthquake by
Nina Goldman
Daily Editorial Board
The Japanese Culture Club (JCC) yesterday during open block assembled over 100 Tufts students and faculty members to create a photo message for those affected by last year’s March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Those in attendance wore red and white shirts and stood on the patio outside of Tisch Library for two photos: one forming the Japanese flag and the other in the formation of “Tufts,” a heart shape and the characters for the Japanese word for “Japan.” The photos were taken from the Tisch library roof. The photographs will be sent to media outlets, Japanese cultural clubs at other Boston-area schools and organizations in Japan, according to JCC Co-President Yuki Tanimoto. “We want to send this image everywhere,” Tanimoto, a sophomore, said. A major goal of the initiative is to keep people thinking about the disaster even though it happened a year ago, according to Tanimoto. “They’ll learn about it, hopefully,” he said. “That’s a big part of what we’re doing this year: awareness.” JCC does not want people to assume that just because Japan is a first-world country it has recovered completely in a year. “We want people to remember that
courtesy Misako Ono
The Japanese Culture Club yesterday assembled over 100 Tufts students and faculty members to form photo messages that will be sent to media outlets and organizations in Japan. people are still affected, people still haven’t gone back to their homes, people still don’t have homes,” Tanimoto said. The photo event was coordinated through a Facebook page and a Google Document, with colors pre-assigned to those who signed up in order to ensure the right balance of people dressed in red
Inside this issue
and white, according to Shuhei Miyasaka, a senior. Although 118 people had signed up to participate as of the afternoon before the event, the number of people who actually came was a pleasant surprise, accord-
Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), was among those disturbed by the use of senators’ names in the advertisement. “My problem with the ad and the problem that a lot of other people had was that by coming out in support of this … misleading statement, the senators and people affiliated with Senate at Tufts were in fact breaking one of their bylaws which said that they cannot endorse political statements unless it’s been voted on by the Senate,” Faragon, a senior, said. The Senate bylaw in question is Bylaw 2, Section 9, which states that “no individual may use the Senate’s name or logo in advocating on behalf of projects, ideas or initiatives without a supporting piece of legislation unless it is clearly stated that Senate has come to an agreement upon the issue” and that “disciplinary actions shall be filed against any member in violation of this provision.” “They shouldn’t have done this,” Faragon said. “It was against their bylaws. There should be disciplinary consequences.” TCU Senate Parliamentarian John Peter Kaytrosh said that see ADVERTISEMENT, page 2
Inclement weather leads to pedestrian accidents Last week, three members of the Tufts community were struck by cars while crossing streets on or near campus, all within a three-day period. The Tufts Department of Public and Environmental Safety sent out a campus-wide email after the first two accidents, explaining what had happened and offering pedestrian safety tips “in order to raise awareness of the hazards that pedestrians face while walking, especially after dark, and especially in inclement weather.” The briefs for the three accidents are as follows: A female student at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 29 was hit by a car when crossing Winthrop St. on her way to Carmichael Hall. She was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for treatment after reporting pain in her hip. A male student at 7:25 p.m. on March 1 was crossing toward campus at the intersection of Leonard St. and Powderhouse Blvd. when he was struck by a motor vehicle. He was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment. A Tufts professor at 7:25 p.m. on March 2 was struck by a car while crossing at the intersection of Powderhouse Blvd. and Packard Ave. She was taken to Somerville Hospital for treatment. —by Nina Goldman
see JAPAN, page 2
Today’s sections
Boloco remains a popular spot for busy Tufts students looking for a quick and tasty meal.
“Hamletmachine” gives a modern perspective on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy.
see FEATURES, page 3
see WEEKENDER, page 5
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