Matriculation 2017

Tufts Memes for Quirky Queens asks: Wot in Matriculation? see FEATURES / PAGE 9

FALL PREVIEWS

Jumbos gear up for fall after dominant 2016–2017

Orientation performers explore themes related to first-year experience see ARTS&LIVING / PAGE 11

SEE SPORTS / BACK PAGE

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VOLUME LXXIV, ISSUE 1

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Wednesday, August 30, 2017

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News roundup: top stories from last year

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Students are pictured at a Nov. 8, 2016 Election Night Extravaganza event in the Mayer Campus Center.

by Seohyun Shim News Editor

The 2016–2017 academic year was eventful at Tufts University, with everything from tension on campus in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election to shakeups in the Greek life system. The following is a rundown of the biggest stories on the Hill from last year.

September Tufts Student Services released the Tufts Mobile app in collaboration with Tufts Technology Services (TTS) and the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate. The app provides students with features such as a university shuttle tracker and a laundry machine monitoring system.

South Hall was renamed Harleston Hall, honoring former Professor of Psychology Bernard Harleston, Tufts’ first African-American tenure-track faculty member and a former dean of the faculty of Arts and Sciences.

October Almost half the members of Tufts’ Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII) Delta chapter dropped from the sorority, after AOII’s international organization demurred to offer a bid to a transgender woman.

Tufts announced that it will change its one course, one credit system to the widely-used semester-hour unit system, otherwise known as the credit-hour system, by fall 2018.

November After Donald Trump’s unexpect-

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ed election as the 45th President of the United States, Tufts’ political and activist student groups became energized. The election was followed by an anti-Trump rally in Boston and a post-election gathering on campus.

Tufts janitors voted to accept a new four-year-long contract on Nov. 3. The contract guarantees lower health costs, a $1.80 hourly raise by Jan. 1, 2020 and higher pensions.

Hundreds of students staged a walkout and gathered in front of Olin Center on Nov. 16, demanding that the university declare itself a “sanctuary campus,” which would protect and support undocumented Tufts students and community members in these spaces. University President Anthony Monaco also attended the gathering and reassured attendees of the university’s commitment to protect and support undocumented students, though he did not officially designate Tufts a sanctuary campus.

The Tufts Observer published an article detailing hazing and sexual assault at a Tufts fraternity in January 2015. The piece sparked calls for the abolition of Greek life at Tufts. Many public discussions and debates on the subject continued throughout the year.

December Following the Observer article and a subsequent wave of misconduct reports, recruitment for all Greek organizations, excluding organizations

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in the Multicultural Greek Council, was suspended for the spring semester.

Additionally, fraternities and sororities voluntarily suspended all social events, a decision affirmed by the university.

ResLife announced that the resident assistant (RA) position will be replaced with two new roles: first-year assistant (FYA) and community development assistant (CDA).

January In response to the Greek life controversy and the suspension of social events, Monaco appointed a Student Life Review Committee composed of faculty, students, staff, parents, alumni

and representatives from the Medford and Somerville communities to holistically examine undergraduate student life at Tufts.

A Boston Globe analysis revealed that the number of reported forcible sexual offenses on the Medford/Somerville campus had risen from 14 in 2014 to 25 in 2015, the most recent year for which data was available. Increased reporting was cited as the reason for this change.

February Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker visited Tufts to give a talk on civic engagement and public policy on Feb. 24. The event was disrupted by protests and walkouts.

The linguistics minor was reinstated after a year-long hold.

Four Greek life organizations regained the ability to recruit new members, though fraternities and sororities on cease-and-desist orders were not allowed to recruit in the spring. Later in the month, the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Council (Panhel) lifted their voluntary holds on social events for eligible Greek life organizations.

Medford City Council unanimously passed the University and College Accountability ordinance on Feb. 28, requiring Tufts to provide an anonymous list of the addresses of students living off campus in Medford.

March In a TCU Senate resolution, Students Advocating for Students claimed that Tufts’ Title IX procedures are unfair towards alleged perpetrators of sexual misconduct. Senators decisively voted down the resolution, with many warning that it could threaten sexual misconduct survivors.

School officials announced that tui-

SEOHYUN SHIM / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES

Students demonstrate at a fraternity information session in Aidekman Arts Center on April 12. see HEADLINES, page 3

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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Wednesday, August 30, 2017

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Class of 2021 matriculates, receives recordbreaking financial aid

by Arin Kerstein News Editor

University President Anthony Monaco will welcome incoming first-year and transfer students during today’s matriculation ceremony on The Green. The incoming class is comprised of 1,414 students from 44 countries and 45 states.

From the record-breaking pool of 21,101 applications, yield on admission offers this year was 45.2 percent.

The newly matriculated group of students is one of the university’s most diverse in history, according to a university press release. Almost 32 percent of domestic members of the class of 2021 identify as students of color, compared to 29 percent of students who matriculated in the class of 2020. Additionally, 4.2

percent of incoming students identify as black, 5.8 percent identify as two or more races, 8.2 percent identify as Hispanic and 13.5 percent identify as Asian. The class includes 163 first-generation college students.

The university awarded members of the incoming class a total of $21.9 million in need-based grants, up from $19.3 million last year. This increase has come along with a 3.61-percent tuition and fee increase from the last academic year.

The class also includes 51 students enrolling in the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts (SMFA). These students applied through the regular Tufts admissions process for the first time since the university’s 2016 acquisition of the school.

In addition to those matriculating today, Tufts’ 1+4 Fellowship program, a

gap-year community service program through the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, enrolled 24 students who will matriculate at Tufts following their fellowships abroad, in New York City and in Washington D.C. Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Karen Richardson commended the incoming class for its accomplishments and potential.

“Students in the class of 2021 are both highly qualified academically and extremely diverse in their backgrounds and interests, bringing intangibles that will make the Tufts community stronger and more vibrant,” she stated in the press release. “As our admissions team reviewed their applications, we were struck by these students’ unique aptitude for creativity and collaboration.

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Benjamin Hescott, former assistant professor of computer science, poses for a portrait in Halligan Hall. After being denied tenure by the Board of Trustees, he decided not to return to Tufts this fall.

Professor of Computer Science Ben Hescott denied tenure, students and alumni respond negatively

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Assistant Professor of Computer Science Ben Hescott was denied tenure and will not be returning to Tufts this fall, according to an email sent to computer science students

by Department of Computer Science Chair Kathleen Fisher on May 23.

The email emphasized that the decision was not made by the the computer science (CS) department. Instead, a faculty member applying for tenure is vetted in a multi-stage process, starting with a department vote, then going to the eight-member Faculty Committee on Tenure and Promotion, of which Provost David Harris is a nonvoting member, before going to the dean of the appropriate school who makes a decision in conjunction with the provost and the president, with the final decision handed down by the Board of Trustees, according to the Office of the Secretary of the Faculty website.

Hescott said he chose to leave the CS department after being denied tenure. He noted he was given no explanation for the decision, only a total vote tally from the Committee on Tenure and Promotion and the final “no” from the Board of Trustees.

While Hescott said he has been offered other opportunities during his 10 years at Tufts, it took not getting tenure for him to make the decision to leave the CS department.

Hescott added that he values the time he spent at Tufts.

“My 10 years at Tufts [have] been one of the highlights of my life,” Hescott wrote in an email to the Daily. “The faculty and staff in the computer science department are like family, and I thank them for their support. The students at Tufts have been absolutely amazing, I will miss working with them and I am proud to have their support.”

Over the course of his 10 years at Tufts, Hescott won seven awards for teaching and advising, according to his website.

Many members of the Tufts community expressed frustration at the decision. For example, Ashley Hedberg (E ’15), posted an open letter to the Faculty Committee on Tenure and Promotion, the provost and the Board of Trustees on blog website Medium, summarizing 271 reactions from members of the Tufts community.

The reactions described in Hedberg’s article portray Hescott as a professor committed to increasing diversity in computer science and mentoring students professionally and intellectually. In the letter, which was posted on Medium, community members criticized the decision to deny Hescott tenure as prioritizing research funding over instructor quality.

Collins Sirmah (LA ’16), who was one of Hescott’s advisees, wrote in an email to the Daily that there is no justifiable reason to explain why Tufts did not give Hescott tenure.

Fisher said she understands why the Tufts community may feel angry about the decision, especially since Hescott had a meaningful impact on many Tufts students’ careers and faculty members’ lives. “[Hescott] made a huge difference to many students and faculty members, including me, which accounts for the outpouring [of] support he received when he left,” Fisher wrote in an email to the Daily. “I know that many students, alumni, faculty and staff members are very upset.”

Tufts alum Eliza Schreibman (E ’17) told the Daily in an electronic message that she was incredibly frustrated and disappointed by the decision, a feeling that she said was shared by many of her professors and classmates in the computer science department.

“I felt as if we were all sharing our frustration together, since Ben had been so important to many of our experiences at Tufts and in the department,” she said. “He was the most charismatic, but relatable lecturer … He made the most abstract and advanced concepts comprehensible and accessible. He was so easy to talk to during office hours and truly wanted to see us learn and struggle productively, not fail helplessly.”

Schreibman, who was one of Hescott’s advisees, added that his impact on students was more than just academic for her and others. see HESCOTT, page 3

Wednesday, August 30, 2017 | News | THE TUFTS DAILY

News

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Tufts community react to beloved CS professor's denial of tenure HESCOTT

continued from page 2 “I first met Ben at an oSTEM [Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] panel where LGBTQ faculty who were out talked about their experiences in academia and industry. It was so amazing to me, as a queer computer science and engineering student who didn’t know many students (let alone faculty) who were out, to hear Ben speak,” Schreibman said. “He was truly a great role model and I am very upset that future students will not have the privilege of meeting him or just being in a department shaped by his advocacy for minority students.”

Computer Science Senior Lecturer Ming Chow also addressed the denial of Hescott’s tenure in a public post on his GitHub website.

He emphasized Hescott’s value to the univer-

sity and that the Department of Computer Science had no role in the tenure decision.

“I am posting this publicly [because] … it is absolutely necessary to communicate to our students that we were not the ones responsible for this decision,” he wrote.

Fisher said she could not provide details about Hescott’s tenure case publicly.

Harris explained that deliberations concerning tenure cannot be discussed publicly, but the process is designed to take into account multiple perspectives.

“One of the fundamental aspects of tenure is that it is a confidential process, and we have to honor that confidentiality out of respect for individuals’ privacy,” Harris wrote in an email to the Daily. “Decisions about tenure and promotion are made with great consideration and care. They involve extensive review

and input from students and mentees, external experts, faculty, deans, the Provost, the President and the Board of Trustees.”

Harris explained that the tenure process involves a holistic review of the several criteria, including scholarly productivity, evidence of independent scholarly contributions to the candidate’s field of study and teaching effectiveness and service.

Schreibman said she was disillusioned with the tenure process and that the decision to deny Hescott tenure was an example of her issues with it. “[The tenure process] places so little value on the things students care about most: professors’ ability to teach and connect with us,” she said.

In Hescott’s absence, Fisher said she and colleagues are working to ensure the CS

department is adequately staffed.

“We are working very hard to recruit new faculty members to the computer science department who will help us continue to provide wonderful learning experiences for our students,” she said.

In particular, in his GitHub post, Chow said there are four new faculty members starting in fall 2017.

Hescott will be joining the College of Computer and Information Science at Northeastern University as a teaching professor and Director of Broadening Participation this semester. Hescott said in his new job, he will continue to keep his role “student-centered” and work to make computer science accessible to all.

Liam Knox contributed reporting to this article.

Nurses strike at Tufts Medical Center, set to return to bargaining table

by Sophie Lehrenbaum News Editor

When staff nurse Mary Havlicek Cornacchia reported to Tufts Medical Center at 7 a.m. on July 12, it was not for the early morning shift. Rather, Cornacchia, along with nearly 1,200 of the Tufts Medical Center nursing staff, was joined by community members in what would be the first nurses’ strike in the city of Boston in over 30 years, and the largest nurses’ strike to ever occur in the state, according to the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), the union representing the Tufts nurses.

The strike came after the nurses attempted to parse out the details of their contract with Tufts Medical Center and make addendums to the existing agreement.

“Staffing, wages and our retirement plans are the three big sticking points,” Cornacchia, who is also the co-chair of the MNA bargaining unit at Tufts Medical Center, explained.

According to David Schildmeier, the director of public communications at MNA, the amount of participation from the nurses was unprecedented.

“Twelve hundred nurses were eligible to strike and I think by their account, only 13 did not participate, which is astounding,” he said. “That is a tremendous show of support.”

Schildmeier went on to explain that though the strike was only a day-long affair, the nurses were unable to resume ‘work as usual’ for an additional four days.

Tufts Medical Center hired replacement nurses from an agency with hiring requirements that necessitated the five-day lockout.

“Nurses who do choose to strike would not be able to return to work for five days,” Tufts Medical Center wrote in an online fact sheet, “the minimum guarantee we must provide the replacement nurses who will be here to care for their patients.”

For Schildmeier and some of the nurses at Tufts Medical Center, this was an alarming prospect, as many of these contract nurses had never set foot in the Tufts medical facility or worked in the specific positions to which they were assigned.

He said striking was a final recourse, noting that many of these issues mirror those that drove the Tufts Medical Center nurses to announce an earlier strike in 2011. However in 2011, nurses and administrators reached an agreement hours before the strike time, according to WBUR. According to Schildmeier, both parties will go back to the bargaining table on Aug. 31, with two more talks tentatively scheduled for Sept. 12 and Sept. 18.

In attempts to contact officials at Tufts Medical Center, Director of Communications Rhonda Mann said that the hospital would not comment.

“We are not talking about this topic right now, especially for a print issue,” Mann wrote in an email to the Daily.

Chief Nursing Officer Therese HudsonJinks wrote in an open statement that open dialogue with nurses is an important step moving forward for the medical center.

“I hope we can soon stop looking back and begin moving forward as one team, providing the absolute best care to patients and families in the best environment,” she wrote in the Aug. 1 statement.

Senior Teddy Cahill, who attended the strike as an intern for Massachusetts Jobs with Justice, a labor activism group, explained that he supports the nurses’ cause for its potential to improve labor rights.

“Supporting labor and strikes is important,” Cahill wrote in an electronic message to the Daily. “They are the only way workers can fight back against unfair treatment by bosses, who have substantially more resources and power at their disposal than workers.”

There were several other Tufts students who attended the strike rally on the nurses’ behalf.

The strike also drew support from several Massachusetts politicians. Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and Mayor of Boston Marty Walsh were among attendees.

Cornacchia said there was a monthslong effort to draw up a suitable contract that addressed the nurses’ desired changes.

Unlike the past two negotiation sessions, which Cornacchia described as primarily extensions of existing contracts with minor edits, the nurses from Tufts came to the negotiating table last April to solidify the contractual language with more heavy, structural changes.

Safe Staffing Ratios Cornacchia said a key demand was requesting compliance with a law signed by then-Governor Deval Patrick in 2014 that establishes a nurse-patient staffing ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 depending on patient stability. She said that the hospital ignores the legally imposed ratio “daily.”

“Initially, we asked for [a] specific nurse to patient ratio at every floor,” Cornacchia said.

“The hospital backed down at that,” she said.“It would be a huge expense for the hospital — it would be a lot to meet the staffing need we were asking for … so we backed off.”

Cornacchia laments the lack of consistency in the ratio of nursing staff in the Intensive Care Unit, as well as the patina of accountability the law provides, without any real mechanisms for enforcement.

“The [Intensive Care Unit] staffing law doesn’t have teeth … there is no way to hold [the hospital] accountable,” Cornacchia said.

Cornacchia believes that the hospital administration may have misconceptions about the nurses’ motives in seeking a codified shift in staffing ratio.

“[The hospital is] looking at nurses as whiney … or lazy, but in reality, that isn’t true,” she said.

Schildmeier emphasized the importance of these ratios, noting that studies consistently reveal that patients have better health outcomes when there is a lower nurse-to-patient ratio. A 2014 survey conducted by State Representative Denise Garlick (D-Needham) found that nearly eight in 10 registered nurses in Massachusetts reported quality of patient care is suffering due to nurse understaffing.

Cornacchia continued to detail the nurses’ demands, highlighting their desire to have two nurses on the IV therapy team from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Cornacchia explained that currently, staff nurses without expertise in inserting IVs are occasionally taken away from the regular patients. She noted it can take between 30 and 45 minutes to effectively insert the IV when some of these staff nurses without specialized training are assigned to the job.

However, on the online fact sheet, Tufts Medical Center maintained that patient care was a high priority.

“We continually assess our patient needs to ensure the right complement of staff – and make adjustments within the Tufts MC Clinical Care Team as necessary, as often as every four hours,” the online fact sheet read.

The webpage noted Tufts Medical Center has received several awards for medical care.

A Fair Pension Plan The nurses also hope to refine the contractual language surrounding retirement benefits. Cornacchia pointed to the hospital’s motion to freeze the pensions of those on the defined benefit pension plan, over 300 nurses. These nurses would be put on the higher risk 403(b) matching program, which would result in losses in retirement funding for most nurses, according to the MNA. Cornacchia and Schildmeier both emphasized that the Tufts Medical Center nurses have the lowest pension benefits of all the hospitals in the city.

Tufts Medical Center countered in its fact sheet that freezing the current plan would see NURSES, page 5

Biggest stories from the 2016–2017 academic year HEADLINES

continued from page 1 tion and fees will increase by 3.6 percent for the 2017–2018 academic year, which is the same rate of increase as the year prior. Members of Tufts Student Action criticized the planned increase, arguing that the university has given insufficient justification for continual increases in the cost of a Tufts education.

April Tufts received a record number of 21,101 applications and saw a slight increase in the overall acceptance rate from last year’s 14.3 percent to 14.8 percent.

In an uncontested election, senior Benya Kraus was elected as TCU president for the 2016-2017 academic year.

Tufts joined 30 other universities to file a joint amicus brief against Trump’s revised travel ban enacted on March 31.

T-Pain unexpectedly canceled his Spring Fling appearance eight days before the event, citing his son’s birthday.

Linda Furgala, an employee at Carmichael Dining Center who faced sudden dismissal from her job on April 19, returned to work after less than a week following an outpouring of student support.

TCU Senate passed a controversial resolution calling for divestment from four companies allegedly involved in

the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories on April 9. Shortly after the resolution’s passage, Tufts announced that it would not divest from those companies, and raised concern that the resolution was passed at a Senate meeting immediately before Passover.

R&B artist Tinashe headlined the annual Spring Fling concert. Other performers included up-and-coming rapper Aminé and producer Metro Boomin.

May The Peace and Justice Studies (PJS) Program avoided cancellation, but saw a planned reorganization and the departure of Assistant Director Dale Bryan.

A group called TuftsLeaks published confidential university documents online, including salary data for faculty, staff and students.

Tufts graduate students employed by the School of Arts and Sciences voted to unionize and join Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local #509. Tufts is now one of the few private universities where graduate students have successfully unionized.

Screenwriter and “Black-ish,” (2014-present) creator Kenya Barris delivered the 2017 Commencement address.

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Nurses strike at Tufts Medical Center over staffing, wages, pensions NURSES

continued from page 3 amount to significant savings for the hospital. This money can instead be reinvested into nurses’ wages. Additionally, the hospital noted over half of the cost of the current pension plan does not go to nurses, but toward administrative costs.

Tufts Medical Center also rejected the union’s proposed pension plan.

“We’ve offered [Tufts] a proposal that would actually give [the nurses] a competitive pension, and the way it is structured would save the hospital 85 million [dollars] over four of five years … it boggles the mind why they won’t work for this with us,” Schildmeier said. “It’s a great proposal, it’s a fair proposal and gives all the nurses a secure retirement — we just can’t understand why they won’t budge on that issue.

It makes no sense.”

In its fact sheet, Tufts Medical Center argues that the union’s plan provides fewer

benefits and creates greater risks for nurses, while costing the hospital more.

Wage Increases Schildmeier highlighted that Tufts nurses receive some of the lowest wages in Boston, averaging between nine and 11 fewer dollars hourly than their counterparts at peer institutions such as Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center.

Tufts Medical Center explained in its fact sheet that Brigham and Women’s Hospital and other Boston hospitals have a far greater operating margin than Tufts Medical Center. The website also noted that with the wage increases administrators proposed in contract negotiations, Tufts Medical Center would only be four percent below the hourly rates of nurses at Brigham and Women’s by 2020.

Cornacchia said that the hospital could have the funds to hire more nurses and pay nurses more, but are instead prioritizing construction and renovations.

“They are not having a financial crisis. They are having a priority crisis,” Cornacchia said. “[Modernizing] is all fine and good, but you need to pay your nurses. We have the most direct interaction with [patients], we are there 24/7. You need to compensate the people who are running the hospital.”

Cornacchia noted that new nurses are hired under flex hours, meaning that the number of hours worked per week can vary and may be less than 40 hours.

Cornacchia believes this policy, combined with less-than-competitive wages, impacts retention rates of new nurses and turns the hospital into more of a revolving door.

Tufts Medical Center said in its fact sheet that it had a 94 percent nurse retention rate.

For Cornacchia, who has nearly 30 years of experience at Tufts Medical Center, striking is a last stand to protect the patients she serves and the medical center she respects.

“Tufts is special,” she said. “It is a small community hospital in the big city. We do

big things. It’s the largest heart transplant program in New England. We do a little bit of everything.”

Cornacchia went on to reprove some of the cultural shifts that have happened throughout her time at Tufts Medical Center.

“There [was] a lot of longevity here, and it is because of the sense of community [that was] among us … 10 years ago,” she said. “Nurses were well-respected and staff was [too] … but we’ve lost that, that respect and collaboration.”

Schildmeier added that nurses decided to strike not only to improve their working conditions but also to deliver the best care possible for patients. “[Striking] is the method of last resort to try to convince the management to change things,” he said. “It’s an ethical problem, because the people who are suffering from [the hospital’s] corporate greed … are the people who go to the hospital with their lives on the line.”

Science and Engineering Complex opens to Tufts community

by Juliana Furgala

Assistant News Editor

The newly completed Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) between Boston and College Avenues will be open to students this semester. The complex consists of a 79,000-square foot addition attached to the existing Robinson and Anderson Halls, transitioning both halls into wings of the SEC, according to the Tufts

Construction website.

“The ground floor atrium space [is] … the connective tissue between the new component and Anderson and Robinson,” Barbara Stein, Tufts’ vice president for operations, said.

Situated among multiple departments, the SEC is designed to function as a dynamic center of research on campus, in addition to connecting Anderson and Robinson, which will still be used as teaching and office space.

Undergraduate student orientation sees changes this year

by Melissa Kain News Editor

Undergraduate orientation faces several major changes this year, according to Jason Rathman (LA’ 17), orientation coordinator for co-curricular programs and major events.

The annual event, from Aug. 30 to Sept. 4 this year, seeks to introduce first-year students to the Tufts community.

First and foremost, the Office of Residential Life and Learning staff are replacing traditional orientation leaders, according to Joe Golia, director of campus life. Golia said that first-year assistants (FYAs), community development assistants (CDAs) and academic and community engagement (ACE) fellows will be the leaders during orientation.

“They will be taking students from location to location, event to event, being the main peer mentor during orientation,” Golia said.

“These, obviously, are the same students that will be with the [new] students all year.”

According to Golia, CDAs will be replacing traditional resident assistants (RAs) in halls housing sophomores, juniors and seniors, whereas FYAs will be replacing RAs in first-year halls.

“The RAs really didn’t have a role in orientation [in the past] other than ‘being the RAs,’” he said. “With the changes in the role descriptions…I really feel like this is going to be a great start for the FYAs because they’re with the students right from the beginning.”

According to Rathman, there will also be some smaller changes to orientation this year.

One new aspect of orientation is the use of advice cards that were filled out by current Tufts students, he said.

“All summer we’ve been hosting events to try to get current and former students to fill out these Jumbo advice cards for first-years.

So, when [they] sit down for Matriculation, an… incoming student will look under their seat and see a tip or advice,” Rathman said.

“I think it’s a really sweet way to say ‘welcome to Tufts,’ and that there are people here that will help you.”

Rathman also said that the O-Show, an orientation-week performance put on by multiple student groups, will begin this year with a more inclusive rendition of the Tufts fight song. The word “boys” will be replaced with “‘Bos.” “It’s just a little change, but it’s the little changes, I think, that are important,” he added.

Also, unlike in years past, most students arriving to campus early for Orientation week programming are required to help move in first-years and transfer students, according to Rathman.

As in past years, O-show performers and leaders arrived on campus early to provide entertainment. Junior Emma Chu, a member of Tufts’ Jackson Jills a capella group, said that the group participates in performances during the week while meeting students who may be interested in joining a cappella groups through other events.

“Each of the groups performs three songs, so we basically learn the three songs during the week while we’re at school,” Chu said.

Rathman said that changes were made in order to continue making orientation a more meaningful experience that promotes building stronger connections.

“This is the first year that there are a lot of these changes… so this isn’t the ‘be-all, end-all’ for what orientation will look like at Tufts,” he said. “This is just the first wave in, hopefully, a series of changes that will make orientation a more welcoming, inclusive and meaningful experience.”

“[The SEC] provides a meeting place for students from different majors to interact. I fully expect that the SEC will be a hub of activities, both academic and non-academic,” School of Engineering Dean Jianmin Qu told the Daily in an email.

The Kindlevan Cafe will function as one non-academic meeting place for students. The cafe’s name was chosen by the donors as part of a naming gift and is a mix of their names, Director of Dining and Business Services Patti Klos noted.

The Kindlevan Cafe is set to open within the SEC this fall, according to the Dining Services website, following the closure of nearby Brown and Brew Coffee House on Aug. 11.

“We chose to portray it as if the Brown and Brew was closing and transforming into a new cafe … It’s a new era,” Klos said.

Klos explained that the Kindlevan Café will feel distinct from Brown and Brew.

“The [two cafes] are radically different in feel. The SEC is a very modern, sleek, clean building … The Brown and Brew had all that wood and it was a more intimate setting,” Klos said.

Klos added that previous employees at Brown and Brew will work at Kindlevan, and that student employees will be needed. Additionally, according to Klos, many of the same food options available at Brown and Brew will be served at Kindlevan alongside new drink options, including freshly-squeezed juices and smoothies.

Bruce Panilaitis, director of the SEC, expressed that the design of the building together with the cafe and atrium will allow for it to become a social hub.

“I can easily see this complex becoming almost a second campus center,” Panilaitis said.

Ashton Stephens, a junior studying electrical engineering and computer science, echoed the idea that the SEC and the new cafe will promote conversation among faculty and students.

“I think overall [Brown and Brew] was kind of a secluded place. This will be more centered,” Stephens said. “Ultimately I think [Kindlevan Cafe] will make the campus more social.”

Other new spaces in the SEC include four teaching labs, six lab neighborhoods, two imaging suites, a mass spectrometer suite, seven extra meeting rooms and numerous social spaces, according to the construction website.

The SEC also aims to generate many new research opportunities, including for undergraduates, according to the construction website. In particular, the complex will host interdisciplinary neuroscience and environmental science research.

The biology department has moved from Barnum-Dana Hall into the Robinson Hall wing of the SEC. According to Department Chair Sergei Mirkin, all lab sections for the introductory biology courses will be taught in the SEC labs, as well as many other biology lab courses in the coming semester.

The state-of-the-art equipment opens the way for the department to introduce new labs, Mirkin added.

“The facilities allow students to do research that they formerly would only be able to read about,” Mirkin said.

Along with the biology department, the chemical and biological engineering, civil and environmental engineering, math, biomedical engineering and earth and ocean sciences departments will also make use of the SEC, Panilaitis explained. Stein emphasized that the teaching labs, two introductory and two advanced, will be primarily used by undergraduates, such as for lab courses.

While the teaching labs are class spaces, the SEC’s six lab neighborhoods are focused on research, Stein noted. A lab neighborhood, she explained, is a set of labs centered around a common research theme to encourage interdepartmental collaboration.

“The idea is that there are faculty from different departments who share synergies and research interests,” Stein said.

One of the new labs will be the Nolop FAST (Fabrication, Analysis, Simulation and Testing) Lab, according to Qu. “The Nolop lab will be an interdisciplinary space open to all Tufts community members and will serve as a maker-space hub for the campus.” Qu said.

Unlike most of the facilities within the SEC, the Nolop FAST Lab will likely not be completed until May 2018, according to Qu. Stein said that not all of the other lab neighborhoods will immediately be in active use either.

Because space is often in short supply, the opportunity to have space reserved for later use is a rare one, Panilaitis said.

One of the shell lab spaces has already attracted an occupant: the Allen see SEC, page 6

6

THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Wednesday, August 30, 2017

tuftsdaily.com

Jerry Meldon, chemical engineering professor and narco-politics author, dies at 69

by Daniel Nelson

“I continue to pursue my interests in computational work that Professor Meldon helped spark into life.”

Jerry Meldon began his studies at Cooper Union, graduating in 1968 with a degree in chemical engineering. He then received a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1973, according to retired MIT Professor Kenneth Smith.

Smith taught Meldon, then his student at MIT, and assisted with his doctoral thesis on transport of chemical species across a membrane. He remembered Meldon for his ability to master many aspects of the scientific process.

“Most of us are good at theory or good at experiments, but not so good at doing both,” Smith said. “But Jerry was.”

Meldon completed his postdoctoral studies in the physiology department at Odense University in Denmark, Smith said.

Meldon joined Tufts’ chemical engineering faculty in 1978. During his tenure, he completed valuable research on topics from across the chemical engineering discipline, according to Qu. “Professor Meldon’s research, which focused on mass transfer with chemical reaction, mathematical modeling, carbon dioxide capture and separation processes, had a strong impact on the field through his journal publications, books and chapters, and patents,” Qu said.

Meldon also served on the international advisory board of the journal Indian Chemical Engineer and on the editorial board of Current Opinions in Chemical Engineering. Additionally, he

News Editor

Jerry H. Meldon, associate professor of chemical engineering at Tufts University, died at age 69 on July 18 after drowning while swimming in a North Carolina lake, according to a July 20 Tufts Now article.

Over his nearly four-decade tenure in Tufts’ Department of Chemical Engineering, Meldon produced and collaborated on highly-cited research into gas transport phenomena, according to Jianmin Qu, dean of the School of Engineering. He also became one of the School of Engineering’s standout educators, receiving the Henry and Madeline Fischer Award for Engineering Teacher of the Year in 2010.

Colleagues remembered Meldon for being a warm and dedicated professor who cared deeply for his students’ success.

“Professor Meldon will be remembered by students and colleagues as a brilliant instructor who taught and advised students, both graduate and undergraduate, with great empathy,” Qu said.

Anh Phong Tran (E ’13) remembered Meldon, his former advisor, as a compassionate and influential mentor. When Tran was applying for graduate school, Meldon asked him for assistance with a mathematics project.

“Despite the difference in stature, knowledge, and the occasional mistakes, he always made sure that my contributions [to the project] felt important,” Tran told the Daily in an email.

recently acted as a software development consultant for the petroleum and chemical industries, according to Qu. Meldon’s public work, however, was not limited to the study and instruction of chemical engineering. Throughout his adult life he nursed a fascination for foreign policy — particularly narcotics and espionage-related events — as a writer for the Boston Globe and independent investigative journalism site Consortiumnews, according to an article posted in his memory on July 29.

“He wrote frequently about the ugly trade-offs that the U.S. government and the West in general made during [the Cold War],” the article read.

Over 16 years of writing as an on-again, off-again contributor to Consortiumnews, Meldon explored the sometimes ugly consequences of American foreign policy. His first article, published in 1997, recounts a covert attempt by the CIA to smuggle cocaine into the United States. Most recently, an article published in June 2013 evidences how Wall Street insiders may have pulled the strings to allow certain Nazi

war criminals to escape persecution.

Meldon also translated the 1980 edition of “The Great Heroin Coup: Drugs, Intelligence and International Fascism”

by Danish author Henrik Krüger. The book maps out the shady global interplay of intelligence agencies, the drug underworld and fascist terrorists, according to an Amazon synopsis.

“In 1978 Jerry was doing research at the University in Odense, [Denmark], and contacted me to discuss [The Great Heroin Coup],” Krüger told the Daily in an email. “He was very interested in the subject [of ] drug-politics, and was interested in translating the book.”

Meldon’s work on “The Great Heroin Coup” continued with the 2016 release of an updated version of the book, which he translated and also co-authored, according to Krüger.

“Jerry was a co-writer on the new material,” he said. “So in fact, it was his book as much as mine.”

Meldon is survived by his wife, Robin, and their three children, James, Seth and Perri, according to the Tufts Now article.

SEC encourages new research and collaboration SEC

continued from page 5 Discovery Center, run by Professor of Biology Michael Levin. That lab was developed after Levin won a significant grant from the Paul G. Allen Frontiers

Group, Stein noted.

Stein views the SEC as an asset for Tufts, making the university more competitive in research.

“It’s open to everybody and will be a big amenity to the campus,” Stein said.

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Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Features

7 tuftsdaily.com

The Experimental College’s history Experimental College proposal was approved. It’s the first university community to include students on the board.

The Freshman Seminar program offers the first for-credit, peer-taught courses in university history.

Faculty approve full voting status for students on the ExCollege Board.

A recent Tufts graduate, Marty Blatt, offers the ExCollege course, "Zionism Reconsidered," which generates a heated campus debate about the rights and responsibilities associated with academic freedom.

Joanne Ross, a high school graduate and veteran community organizer offers the first Visiting Lecturer taught course in the Experimental Course, "Urban Poverty."

A movement spearheaded by the ExCollege to improve intellectual life on campus culminates in the formation of EPIIC (Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship).

The A&S Faculty grant the ExCollege a permanent charter.

The Communications and Media Studies program (housed in the ExCollege since its inception in 1980) is granted interdisciplinary minor status.

The ExCollege creates Perspectives, a second advising/seminar program for entering students. In contrast to Explorations, Perspectives will gather all of its seminars under an "umbrella" topic: the movies as art and industry.

ExCollege moves to its own house at 95 Talbot Avenue.

TuftsMediaLab, the Experimental College's center for digital film production is founded.

The ExCollege continues to present new courses including Circus and Society, Creation, Fabrication, and Problem Solving, The Refugee Journey, and Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Start Ups

The ExCollege celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Source: Tufts Experimental College ASTRID WENG / THE TUFTS DAILY

History on the Hill: The ExCollege transforms from experiment to Tufts institution

by Kenia French Staff Writer

There’s only one place on campus where students can participate in such wide-ranging and timely classes such as “Human Development in the Digital Age,” “Rethinking Disability,” and even “The Bachelor & Society:” The Tufts Experimental College (ExCollege). During the ExCollege’s 53 years on campus, it has become a right of passage for Tufts students to join in on at least one of its unique courses. Moreover, its long history as a testing ground for new departments, interdisciplinary learning and controversial topics has brought new ideas and perspectives that have shaped Tufts’ academia and learning environment into what it is today.

The Experimental College, as stated on its website, was founded by several forward-thinking faculty members in 1964.

According to its current Director, Howard Woolf, the ExCollege established its main purpose soon after creation.

“The core mission of the ExCollege was very quickly to bring in outside people to augment what was being taught by the regular department, and to … offer faculty in the regular department a way to test out courses,” Woolf said.

According to Robyn Gittleman, ExCollege director from 1975 to 2015, as the ExCollege became the main vehicle for departments to create and test new classes, the university saw the creation of team-taught interdisciplinary classes, where professors from multiple fields could come together to teach one course. “[ExCollege] … quickly became an incubator for innovation,” Gittleman said. “It started with different types of courses such as team-taught interdisciplinary courses …

Faculty from different departments taught literature courses together in English. Before that, the German department only taught classes in German, the Romance language or the French department only taught courses in French.”

Not only were new courses taught and tested in the ExCollege, but entire departments began as innovative ExCollege experiments. The Film and Media Studies department, for example was created as communications classes gained popularity amongst students.

“When I came in the 1970s, we already had courses on communications. First there were film courses, where you could study film. Then we started having filmmaking

courses — before there was any video. So it was really making a film on celluloid,” Gittleman said. “Then, slowly communications moved into the 21st century and here we are.”

According to Woolf and Gittleman, many other departments have followed the path set by the Film and Media Studies department — Peace and Justice Studies, Africana Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies were all first tested in the ExCollege.

Woolf asserts that such diverse fields of study could be created because the ExCollege has no limits on what could be taught inside its walls.

“Whatever students were interested in, we could do because we weren’t committed to only one set of issues, we were committed to provide the platform to deal with any issue that seemed important to our students,” Woolf said.

This attitude, Woolf emphasizes, meant that Tufts students had access to classes exploring political and social issues relevant to the current time period. In the 1980s, the ExCollege taught classes on apartheid and the anti-nuclear movement, as well as how to successfully navigate corporate America, according to Woolf.

In 1973, one of these classes, “Zionism Reconsidered,” provoked a controversy that, according to the ExCollege website, sparked heated, campus-wide debates on the nature of academic freedom.

“Zionism Reconsidered” was taught by Marty Blatt, who is currently a professor of the practice in history and the director of the Public History Program at Northeastern University, according to their website. At the time, however, he was a recent 1972 Tufts graduate with a passion for social justice. Blatt described the focus of his class as the role the Zionist project played in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“The class was a critical examination of the history of the Zionist movement,” Blatt said. “It also looked at Israeli policies … [and] the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians. We discussed and read about the difficulty in sustaining a democracy when there was such poor treatment of Palestinians by the Israelis.”

Blatt recalls that the class was controversial from its beginning — most of the students seemed to take a hostile attitude in regard to the material he was teaching.

However, neither he nor his students were prepared for what occurred a few classes into the semester.

“A half of dozen people from the Jewish Defense League … burst into the classroom and started chanting … ‘Long live Israel!’”

Blatt said. “They read a brief statement [stating] that this class was an anti-Jewish outrage and it needed to be shut down.

And actually one of them spit at me, I remember.”

The incident was resolved when a student slipped out to get Tufts Security, Blatt recounted, who informed the protesters they were trespassing and would be arrested if they did not leave immediately.

Blatt describes how the protesters were met with anger from the students in the classroom, even though their political views seemed to align more with those of the right-wing Jewish Defense League than his own.

“When these people burst in, it upset the majority of the students because this was a class and these people [protesting the class] were saying this is illegitimate,” Blatt said.

Not only were the protesters met with anger, but Blatt attests that in the aftermath of the protest, the students who had before taken a defensive attitude toward the class were newly open to what he was teaching.

“This kind of activity often — not always — but let’s say sometimes, can have the opposite effect,” Blatt says. “It did in this [case], because the students then going forward were interested and engaged in a genuine way, and felt like ‘Well, we may not like what he has to say,

wor everything that he has to say. But he has a right to say it.’”

While this high-level controversy may not be typical, according to Gittleman, this deep engagement with contentious topics is one of the main benefits of taking an ExCollege class.

“If you’d like to sit in the back of a large lecture, then the ExCollege is not for you,” Gittleman said. “But if you like to be part of the classroom discussion where you can say ‘But I don’t agree with that’ or ‘This doesn’t make any sense, please explain that to me,’ if you’re in a class of twenty or fewer that is designed to give members of the class a chance to fully participate, then the ExCollege is for you.”

According to Gittleman, the ExCollege is one of a kind — no other school has an experimental college that allows professors and students to collaborate. She asserts that Tufts University and the ExCollege have a symbiotic relationship. Tufts is special because it allows the ExCollege to exist, and the ExCollege is special because it helps create the world-class education Tufts students expect.

“Tufts was always a nice school, a good school, but it wasn’t half as competitive as it is now,” Gittleman said. “I always say we’re sort of the whipped cream on top of the sundae. The basis of the university is great, but when you put the ExCollege on top of it, it makes it so much better, because it allows you to try new things all through your four years.”

SOFIE HECHT / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES

Chef of Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns and author of “The Third Plate” Dan Barber speaks to Sarah Janover in a conversation hosted by the ExCollege on April 21, 2016.

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THE TUFTS DAILY | Features | Wednesday, August 30, 2017

tuftsdaily.com

BostonBRT aims to transform bus travel in Greater Boston

by Sean Ong

Features Editor

The bus might not be Boston commuters’ first choice for transit, but future plans for dedicated travel lanes, off-board fare collection and priority at traffic signals might change that.

Bus rapid transit (BRT), incorporating those features and more, is a system that according to some transportation planners, could offer subway-level performance for a fraction of the cost. BostonBRT, an initiative backed by the Barr Foundation, has been advocating for BRT across Greater Boston since September 2013.

Part of Barr’s work is to explore new transit solutions with the larger goal of reducing transport-related greenhouse gas emissions, according to Lisa Jacobson, program officer for mobility at the Massachusetts-based private foundation.

“We know that transportation projects take quite a long time,” Jacobson said. “We help to support leaders to make [transport planning] decisions through grant-making and partnerships. We bring people together for best practice learning sessions.”

Improvements to Boston’s transit system became especially urgent after record-breaking snowstorms in 2015 crippled many Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) services.

Tufts Lecturer in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Mark Chase shared that BRT’s potential to improve a city’s connectivity, congestion and livability makes it an attractive solution to Boston’s transport woes.

“Policymakers want to attract intelligent, innovative people to live and work in a city. To do that, we have to create beautiful cities that work well, and part of that [includes] BRT,” Chase said.

Senior Susan Hassan frequently uses buses to commute between West Medford and Tufts. Her preferred bus service sees high levels of ridership during the morning and evening rush hours, so she often has to squeeze into a packed bus on her commute.

“By the time [the 94 bus] comes to Tufts, I’m the last one on,” Hassan said. “I have one foot in front of the yellow line at the beginning of the bus, and one on the other side. There have been a lot of times where I am even at the rail that is directly in front of the windshield.”

Hassan noted that introducing BRT or elements of BRT in public transit may improve the experience of commuter students like her.

“There have been times where I get to class — especially during the snow — in an hour rather than 15 minutes, and you cannot really foresee that,” Hassan said. “It would be very cool to have buses that are more reliable and come more often, so [commuters] do not run late or get stressed out.”

BostonBRT lists five standard elements of BRT that make buses more effective: a dedicated right-of-way separated from regular traffic, proper busway alignment, off-board fare collection, efficient intersections and boarding platforms.

In particular, to demonstrate how offboard fare collection can create a better bus experience, BostonBRT, along with the MBTA and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), launched a pilot of all-door boarding on the Silver Line routes SL4 and SL5 for two weeks this summer.

According to Jacobson, these routes often face delays caused by the time taken for riders to board and pay their fares through the front door.

“Some may say that the Silver Line is the closest we have to BRT in Boston or Massachusetts,” Jacobson said. “Instead of

MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF TRAVEL & TOURISM / FLICKR

A silver line bus (MBTA) in Downtown Crossing, Boston, MA. everybody lining up at the front of the bus to pay their fares one by one through the front door, what if people were able to board the bus through all three doors?”

The success of the Silver Line demonstration has given the team momentum to continue collaborating with other municipalities on similar BRT pilots, which are in the works.

“We are figuring out now where those [demonstrations] will be, what we are going to test, and when we are going to do it — which frankly will not be until next year,” Jacobson said.

BostonBRT’s philosophy of collaborative advocacy extends into its cross-sector advisory committee, a station design competition that received submissions from the architecture and design community, as well as a ‘Beauty and the Bus’ contest that asked commuters to share photos of their daily commute, as described in its website.

Beyond pushing for improvements to bus services, Jacobson describes her work as giving commuters a choice between different modes of transit.

“We are providing a variety of options so each individual can make their own choices depending on their needs, as well as making every transportation option attractive,” she said.

Second-year School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts (SMFA) dual-degree student Colin Murphy appreciates having the option to take a bus into the SMFA campus when the subway is under maintenance or when there is a long wait for the SMFA/New England Conservatory (NEC) shuttle.

However, he notes that many gaps still exist in the MBTA bus system, making it a less appealing choice for his commute.

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Wednesday, August 30, 2017 | Features | THE TUFTS DAILY

F e at u r e s

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Tufts memes page navigates students’ opinions

by Jessie Newman

ing on stereotypes of majors and the Jumbos community.

“The memes that get a lot of likes are Disclaimer: Peter Lam is a graphics editor major [related] because they encapsulate and former executive graphics editor for the the commonalities between all students Daily. He was not involved in the writing of on campus, and not just a niche group,” this article.

Mandani said.

During a conversation at late night dinMandani said that memes which garner ing in Carmichael Dining Center last spring over 1,000 likes and those that spark conversemester, sophomores Leo Mandani, Mary sation are momentous events on the memes K. Kelley and Peter Lam created Tufts Memes page. Kelley pointed to the change of the for Quirky Queens, a Facebook page dedicat- name of the page to “Brown Reject Memes ed to memes about life at Tufts. for Broke AF Teens” on April Fools’ Day as a “We were talking about the [University big event in the history of the page. of California], Berkeley memes page [‘UC Mandani explained that the moderators Berkeley Memes for Edgy Teens’] and decided and admins also scroll through the page and we should make our own,” Kelley said. “We delete any memes or posts that they deem didn’t realize how much it would blow up.” “offensive or inappropriate.”

According to Kelley, the three founders In the June 12 article entitled “Statistical each added some friends and thought that Means for Tufts Memes,” posted on Tufts’ the page would be funny for a couple of Independent Data Journal, Tufts Enigma, a days and then die down. However, the page survey sent out by the authors of the article picked up momentum quickly. found that while 32% of respondents have “We reached 1,000 members within the ever been offended by the content on first 24 hours of making the page,” Kelley said. the memes page, 60% of the respondents Subsequently, they added a few more believed that the page should be moderated. moderators to deal with the growth of the The article noted that after the passage of page, says Kelley. The page currently has five the pro-BDS resolution by the TCU Senate, admins and five moderators. It hosts over many pro-Israel and pro-Palestine posts 7,100 members, surpassing the Tufts under- appeared on the page. The admins, regardless graduate population of 5,508 (as of Fall 2016). of the position of the person posting, deleted Tufts Memes for Quirky Queens has posts all posts related to this issue. According to commenting on controversial topics such Kelley and Mandani, they decided that this as socio-economic status, rising tuition was not the correct forum for that specific and Greek life. Timely memes appeared on discussion. the page related to the short-lived tenure “The ones that are controversial or spark of former White House Communications up debates, on one hand, they are used as Director Anthony Scaramucci. Additionally, opportunities for people to educate others the page hosts multiple memes focus- on issues that are usually swept under the rug,” Mandani said. “But on the other hand, they result in a division on campus especially during times of intense polarity.”

Jesse Littlewood, a former lecturer at Tufts and current adjunct lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, provided some insight on the two-sided coin of memes.

While the page is humorous and full of relatable content, its memes hold connotations that people can have trouble dissecting, according to Littlewood.

He explained that some of the best memes have an element of anonymity.

“While in the context of a small liberal arts college on a Facebook page it is hard to be anonymous, there is FACEBOOK still a degree of separation,” A screenshot from the Tufts Memes for Quirky Queens Littlewood said. “Some of Facebook page is pictured here. The page serves as a place for students to share ideas about life at Tufts, as one page our worst instincts come out when anonymity is involved member did here.

Features Editor

FACEBOOK

A screenshot from the Tufts Memes for Quirky Queens Facebook page is pictured here. The page has been active with comments about Tufts-related news, the Tufts community and college/student life.

— vindictiveness, homophobia, racism, anti-semitism…”

Littlewood explained that, in general, people feed off controversial posts. The Tufts Enigma article shows that some of the top posters said they make memes for reasons including: “validation,” “external validation,” “to make people laugh,” and “attention.”

However, Littlewood pointed out that it’s useful for people in a community to be aware that others in the community that hold these prejudiced and negative views exist. He provided the example of the “free speech” rally that occurred on Boston Common on Aug. 19 and the counter-protesters who spoke out against a group of white supremacists.

“On the other side of the coin, creativity can be unlocked and unleashed, and you get some fascinating, useful, bizarre and funny creations that come out of [memes and other anonymous creations on the internet],” Littlewood said.

Littlewood pointed out that sometimes it can be difficult to separate the two sides of the coin from one other. Although the balance of hateful speech and creativity are not always equivalent in each case, untwining the two can be quite difficult.

Another important aspect of the memes page that Littlewood mentioned is its use as a place for people to communicate and connect, especially for people with different interests and backgrounds.

“The internet can provide a space for people of marginalized backgrounds to show up without others judging them based on their gender, race, socioeconomic status, etc.,” Littlewood said.

On the other hand, Littlewood noted that people need to be aware of their level of privilege when walking into a conversation online.

“You want people to fully express themselves in a conversation, but, I, for example, someone with white, male privilege can go offline and all that privilege comes with me,” he said.

While people “meme” for a myriad of reasons and from a range of perspectives, Mandani hopes that the Tufts Memes for Quirky Queens page stays true to its intended purpose.

“In the end, the page was created with the intent of it being an outlet for people, and we plan on keeping it that way,” Mandani said.

Bus rapid transit hopes to alleviate student commute BRT

continued from page 8 “From where I get off the bus, it’s about a 15 to 20-minute walk to SMFA,” Murphy said. “In contrast, the New York City bus system has more opportunities to take buses, more buses available and more bus stops.”

When completed, the Green Line Extension (GLX) will give students a one-seat ride between the Medford/Somerville and SMFA campuses. Chase thinks that, even with the high costs of the GLX project, it is unlikely for the MBTA to consider BRT as an alternative along the GLX corridor.

“No one in Boston has seen a good BRT system,” Chase said. “Until we get a good BRT system up and running, the people in Boston are going to be skeptical about accepting BRT

when they could have a light rail, like the Green Line.”

Jacobson shared that BostonBRT has led multiple visits to Mexico City, to study how its Metrobús BRT operates in real life as part of its larger, citywide transit system.

“It’s one thing to watch a video or read about it in a report, but we brought elected officials, decision makers, transportation planners and advocates on three different trips to Mexico City to ride its bus rapid transit there and talk about how the city really relies on BRT to move a lot of its people,” she said.

Jacobson added that it is up to municipal planners to consider what mode of transit is most appropriate to implement in any given transportation project. The planners take many issues into consideration, including effi-

ciency, maximizing the number of riders and serving the community’s needs.

“There are some thresholds in terms of density, ridership demand, land-use conditions, street conditions and level of funding available — all of these things are factored in when planners decide what mode it should be in, where it should be running and who it’s going to serve,” Jacobson said.

With growing competing demands for road space from cyclists, drivers and curbside services like Uber, Lyft and AmazonFresh, one of BostonBRT’s roles is to continue building close partnerships with municipal agencies to make public transit improvements a priority.

“The cities and towns own and operate the streets, sidewalks and traffic signals — they have a lot of the levers that are needed to

make our bus system a lot better and see BRT become a reality here,” Jacobson said. “The challenge is hard decision-making in terms of trade-offs and how municipalities prioritize the use of space on their streets.”

Any BRT project in Boston will have to make a convincing case for a dedicated bus lane at the expense of car travel or street parking in the city’s narrow streets, but Chase thinks that this is not an insurmountable obstacle.

“We are not just looking at traffic congestion, but we are looking at how people move … The advantage of BRT is you can move many more people in a travel lane,” Chase said. “As long as we measure moving people over moving vehicles, we can make some smart decisions.”

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THE TUFTS DAILY | Features | Wednesday, August 30, 2017

tuftsdaily.com

RAYSE index tracks youth civic engagement through data

by Alex DeBellis

Contributing Writer

A May 16, 2016 NPR article proclaims millennials to be a rival political force to baby boomers — each generation makes up about 31 percent of the overall electorate. Political potential, however, is distinct from political influence — the same article notes that millennials “have the lowest voter turnout of any age group.”

However, with the help of a new tool created by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, civic organizations can be better equipped to engage youth in becoming active citizens in their community.

The tool, known as the Reaching All Youth Strengthens Engagement (RAYSE) Index, was created in 2016 and provides organizations and other interested parties with data on factors affecting youth civic engagement, according to CIRCLE Director of Impact Abby Kiesa.

CIRCLE Director Kei KawashimaGinsberg explained that the main purpose of the index is to help organizations identify and target the inequalities in levels of civic knowledge and participation between youths of different groups, as a means of equalizing opportunities for civic engagement.

Kawashima-Ginsberg explained that part of the goal was to help policymakers and practitioners on the ground identify gaps in resources.

Users who visit the RAYSE Index’s website are greeted by a comprehensive display that lists counties, each with five indices: education, close elections, potential youth influence on elections, quality of life and community civic culture.

Kiesa explained that in order to create the index, existing data on youth demographics and youth civic engagement were analyzed and applied to a theoretical model created by CIRCLE specifically for RAYSE. “One of the things it was really exciting for our staff to do was come up with this model that is the basis for the RAYSE Index,” Kiesa said. “It’s based on what we know about youth civic engagement from the research about the conditions in our communities that supports youth civic engagement. We broke that down

COURTESY CIRCLE AND TISCH COLLEGE

into five areas and then looked for indicators in each of those areas.”

Each county has an indicator of whether each of the five conditions has a low, medium or high potential for increasing youth civic engagement.

In addition to the five indices, users can narrow their search for counties by selecting criteria such as electoral history, poverty level and youth turnout.

As part of the team behind creating the index, Kawashima-Ginsberg mapped out a method to measure and categorize data in the five domains.

“For each of these indices there were a couple of different ways, in some of them — community civic culture, quality of life, and education — they were a standardized score, so they’re essentially how far above or below the median each community is based on a number of indicators that go into that,” KawashimaGinsberg told the Daily in an email. “With others though, like the election index and potential youth influence on elections … I counted a score, so it’s an addition of that score, so high low medium are defined by where they are on that spectrum, so it’s a little bit different.”

The “high, medium and low” index ratings are defined by where each country falls on each spectrum.

According to the interactive online RAYSE index, Medford’s own Middlesex County is scored as “high” on the community civic culture, quality of life and education indexes, but rated as “low” under the close elections index and youth influence on elections index.

Kiesa noted that the RAYSE Index is unique in presenting its users with highly specific county-level data on civic engagement.

“Practitioners across the country are looking for as much specific data as they can find,” she said. “The reality is that when you look at state data, it’s great because of huge differences between states, but within states there’s a great deal of difference as well, so we’re trying to look at a series of ways to think about strategies.”

Recognizing that practice and research must go hand-in-hand, CIRCLE is encouraging its partners to use the RAYSE Index to better facilitate discussion on local issues and encourage youth aged 18 to 29 to make their

COURTESY CIRCLE AND TISCH COLLEGE

RAYSE Index’s website provides data affecting youth civic engagement analyzed from five indices.

voices heard in political discourse, according to Kiesa.

While highlighting that the index’s data can be applied to many situations, Kawashima-Ginsberg emphasized that the index is simply one source of data among many.

“It’s a tool for problem solving, not a conclusive statement about a community and how well they’re doing,” KawashimaGinsberg said. “I think where it really comes alive is when we actually talk to community advocates and leaders who know the community well.”

According to Peter Levine, associate dean for research and Lincoln Filene professor of citizenship and public affairs at Tisch College, one obstacle that community leaders face when trying to mobilize youth is the lack of institutional strength.

“One relative deficit today compared to the past is that we have weaker ‘asking’ organizations,” Levine, CIRCLE’s former director, said. “We used to have unions, churches and political parties that would reach out to a lot of people to ask and encourage to participate, and those three are all weaker than they were.”

Levine noted that the availability of specific data, like what the RAYSE Index provides, can help bridge the gap between youth and civic organizations.

“The kinds of players that have resources to invest in young people need to know where to invest,” Levine said. “If you’re a political party, you need to know where to put dollars into driving up turnout to help your candidate. If you’re a national environmental movement, you need to know where young people are, and we are trying to give people the data they need to make those decisions.”

While the data presented by the RAYSE Index has a large impact on how organizations can approach youth engagement, Kiesa explained that there remains a vast amount of untapped potential in the field of civic engagement research.

“We see research as an ongoing conversation and process with our partners and other stakeholders,” Kiesa said. “It’s really about getting ideas and understanding what the field might need and then trying to figure out how we might contribute to that.”

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

ARTS&LIVING

11 tuftsdaily.com

THEATER PREVIEW

Sneak peek: orientation productions ‘[title of show]’ and ‘Stop Kiss’

by Cassidy Olsen

Executive Arts Editor

Between awkward icebreakers, Target runs and meals with your pre-orientation family, your orientation week can fill up fast. If you’re looking for entertainment and a peek into the campus arts scene, take some time out of your day this Sunday and Monday to catch one (or both!) of the orientation shows presented by Torn Ticket II and 3Ps (Pen, Paint and Pretzels), two of Tufts’ student-run theater groups. Here’s a sneak preview of what they have in store: [title of show] Torn Ticket II will greet the class of 2021 with two performances of “[title of show],” the one-act, post-modern comedy musical that chronicles its own creation as an entry into the New York Musical Theater Festival through the struggles of its author, lyricist and stars. After debuting in New York in 2004, “[title of show]” has been performed all around the world and

has found its way to the Balch Arena stage at Tufts. The show’s director, sophomore Jonah Greene, believes that its exploration of identity and musical theater is particularly valuable for incoming first-year students.

“College, and freshman year in particular, can be overwhelming and confusing, and you might be tempted to compromise part of who you are in order to find your place,” Greene told the Daily in an email. “This show emphasizes being proud of yourself and your art no matter what, and you should never compromise that.”

Greene believes the show is “silly, weird, and laugh-out-loud funny,” but also notes that it is earnest and unapologetically optimistic at its core, making it particularly appealing for those feeling overwhelmed by the “hectic world” around us.

“This is a story of friendship, creative expression, risk, and following your dreams,” Greene said. “We see a group of friends decide to make a piece of art

PHOTO SOURCES: FLICKR ASTRID WENG / THE TUFTS DAILY

by Justin Krakoff Arts Editor

Pop music is back with vengeance this summer, led by three women who are breathing new life into the moniker for the 2010s: Lorde, Lana Del Rey and Kesha. How do their latest albums stack up?

“Melodrama,” Lorde (4.5/5) Considering the cultural impact of Lorde’s debut album “Pure Heroine” (2013), evidenced by her minimalist sound currently all over radio, her follow-up was always going to be judged with intense scrutiny. “Melodrama” exceeds expectations by expanding the now 20-year-old’s sound as she documents the highs and lows of a single house party. This loose album structure allows Lorde the ability to navigate the uneven emotional terrain that comes with youth; capturing heartbreak, hedonism, isolation, sarcasm and resilience all within its 11 tracks.

While lead single “Green Light” is the album’s weakest track due to its structural inconsistencies and uninspired house influences, “Melodrama” shines in its following songs. “Sober” and “Homemade Dynamite” offer a one-two punch of ecstasy as Lorde captures the beginning of a night out, filled with lust and excitement. “The Louvre” follows, and it might be the most gorgeous track Lorde has ever recorded, weaving a simple guitar and lush synths to capture the thrill of love.

The rest of “Melodrama” sees Lorde descend back into harsh reality. “Liability” stands out as the requisite forever alone anthem of the album, lamenting “I know that

it’s exciting running through the night / But every perfect summer’s eating me alive until you’re gone.” The self-reflection continues on the euphoric “Supercut” as she attempts to piece together her musings on a failed relationship on the dance floor, similar to Robyn’s excellent “Dancing On My Own” (2010). By the time the album’s closing track “Perfect Places” comes around, the listener too is left to ponder, “What the f*** are perfect places anyway?”

Top Picks: “The Louvre,” “Supercut,” “Perfect Places” “Lust for Life,” Lana Del Rey (4/5) For a star whose biggest radio hit came from a remix of a song called “Summertime Sadness” (2012), Lana Del Rey has never been happier. Leaving behind the melancholy of her last two albums, “Lust for Life” sees the singer navigate Americana, politics and inspiration in an era where all can seem like lost causes.

The opening to Del Rey’s fourth LP captures the essence of the record as she offers optimism on the majestic, rock inspired “Love” and dream pop influenced “Lust for Life.” The cinematic “13 Beaches” offers a more realistic take on the complexities of fame, confessing “And I’d be lyin’, if I kept hidin’ / The fact that I can’t deal.” She makes a little bit of detour on the hip-hop inspired “Summer Bummer,” an update to the sound of her debut album “Born to Die” (2012), yet the collaboration with A$AP Rocky is a triumph as she and her partner play to the strengths of the woozy trap track.

The rest of “Lust for Life,” however, is not without its uneven patches as her experiment with American imagery on “God Bless

together, and although there are bumps along the way, they finally realize that they love what they’ve made together. They find the perfect balance between following their dreams and staying true to themselves, their friends, and their art.”

Stop Kiss Tufts’ oldest student-run theater organization, 3Ps, will take the stage with two performances of “Stop Kiss,” the dark and experimental 1998 play that focuses on the story of Sara and Callie, two women who are assaulted on the street after their first kiss.

Directed by graduate students Dan Ciba and Jenny Herron, Tufts’ “Stop Kiss” will explore the complexity of human compassion and emotion through the struggle of a few individuals, but at a particularly volatile time in the nation’s social and political history.

Senior Kristin Reeves, who is both the president of 3Ps and the actress playing Sara in the show, hopes that “Stop Kiss” will resonate with first-years

processing a time of deep introspection and change.

“This show deals with a lot of hard themes, homophobia and violence being the most notable, but it also looks at relationships, love, change, and fighting for yourself,” Reeves said. “The characters are all dealing with an incredibly difficult [attack] and are forced to go through a lot of self-reflection and growth in order to be able to cope with it. I know, at least for myself, freshman year was a time of growth and self-reflection because it was just so different from my life in the past, so it definitely connects [with the first-year experience].” “[title of show]” will be performed on Sept.

3 at 9 p.m. and Sept. 4 at 2 p.m. “Stop Kiss” will be performed on Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 4 at 4 p.m. The Sept. 4 show of “Stop Kiss” will be followed by a Q&A with current drama and 3Ps students. All shows will be performed in the Balch Arena Theater in the Aidekman Arts Center, and are free and open to the public.

America — and All the Beautiful Women in It” falls flat, and “Tomorrow Never Came” fails to allude to the Beatles wisely. Thankfully, closing track “Get Free” succinctly captures Del Rey’s overarching mission on the album, daring to break free of her negative mindset as she pushes “Out of the black (out of the black) / Into the blue (into the blue).”

Top Picks: “13 Beaches,” “Summer Bummer,” “Get Free” “Rainbow,” Kesha (4/5) Against all odds, Kesha’s “Rainbow” actually exists. In 2014, Kesha went public against her former producer Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, filing a civil lawsuit for sexual and physical abuse. While the three-year legal battle is still underway, Kesha finally released the follow-up to her sophomore LP “Warrior” (2012), which seeks to be an artistic and personal triumph for the singer who was once unfairly branded as just another party girl.

With the gospel-tinged lead single “Praying,” Kesha is able to release a ballad as a single for the first time in her career and

confidently sings of forgiveness, making it all the more devastating when she belts “When I’m finished, they won’t even know your name.” Despite the last few years of her life, Kesha sounds as joyous as ever, keeping on-trend with the electro minimalist “Hymn” and reggae-influenced “Learn to Let Go.” She also sounds inspired in her return to her Nashville country roots, especially in her duet with Dolly Parton on Parton’s famous track “Old Flames (Can’t Hold a Candle to You),” a song written by Kesha’s own Pebe Sebert.

Yet if there is one track on “Rainbow” worth listening to, it is the title track.

Written while she was in rehab for an eating disorder, the track draws inspiration from The Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds” (1966) and begins as a simple acoustic track, until it swells and swells to majestic heights. Following all these years of struggle, it seems Kesha really has found her “Rainbow.”

Top Picks: “Praying,” “Rainbow,” “Old Flames (Can’t Hold a Candle to You)”

FILM RETROSPECTIVE

Legendary Italian horror ‘Suspiria’ turns 40 as remake is announced

by Antonio Bertolino Assistant Arts Editor

Blockbuster horror movies in recent years have been undeniably political. This is the case with “Get Out” (2016), in which Jordan Peele explores a swath of current sociopolitical issues including anti-black racism and police brutality in the US. Both “The Purge: Election Year” (2016) and “The Handmaid’s Tale” (2017-present), the Hulu series based on the Margaret Atwood novel, depict dystopian futures that feel dauntingly plausible. However, this has not always been the case with the horror genre. Italian filmmaker Dario Argento attempted to do the exact opposite in his “Suspiria” (1977), in which he used Gothic architecture and unnaturally colored lighting to transcend modern life and every semblance of reality.

“Suspiria,” which was released in Italian theaters in 1977, turns 40 this year. On the occasion of the classic’s anniversary, Italian

director Luca Guadagnino announced he is filming a remake set to premiere by the end of the year. The cast includes Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton, as well as American stars Dakota Johnson and Chloë GraceMoretz. Jessica Harper, who played the protagonist role in the original version, will have a cameo in the 2017 movie. Guadagnino has stated that his remake, unlike Argento’s “Suspiria,” will be a much “darker” horror, and that the plot will develop around themes of guilt and maternity.

The original “Suspiria” tells the story of American ballerina Suzy Bannion (Harper).

Suzy decides to move from New York to Freiburg, Germany to attend one of the most prestigious dance schools in the world, the Tanz Akademie. The night she arrives at the school, she witnesses a very distressed dancer blabbering something incomprehensible while running away from the building (Argento presents the other dancers as puerile yet sexualized, see SUSPIRIA, page 12

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THE TUFTS DAILY | Arts & Living | Wednesday, August 30, 2017

tuftsdaily.com

MOVIE REVIEW

Despite intensity, ‘Dunkirk’ doesn’t know what it’s fighting for

by Tommy Gillespie Assistant Arts Editor

In the final scene of “Dunkirk” (2017), having finally escaped their stranded position in France and reached England, Tommy (Fionn Whitehead) and Alex (Harry Styles) board a troop train headed for London. After dozing off, Tommy receives a paper and reads aloud Churchill’s famous speech: “We shall fight on the beaches … We shall fight on the seas and oceans … We shall never surrender.” Pausing, Tommy looks briefly back at Alex before the film abruptly ends.

The scene makes for an unexpected ending to Christopher Nolan’s first film since his 2014 sci-fi drama “Interstellar” — it’s the first and only moment when politics and ideology are explicitly mentioned in the entire film. The famous Dunkirk evacua-

tion, in which 350,000 Allied forces cornered by the Germans in northern France in June 1940 were miraculously evacuated, is detailed with a marked austerity. Nolan weaves a stark survival story completely devoid of the inspired monologues and rallying speeches about good and evil we’ve come to expect from our war pictures.

“Dunkirk” is a story about men trying to cross a channel. Some of them die.

The austere storytelling of “Dunkirk” has spurred international debate since the film’s release. The Washington Post’s Richard Cohen critically called it “a war film for the Trump era,” branding Nolan’s decision to omit the historical context from the film as irresponsible. Much has also been made of the film’s apparent obliviousness to the efforts of French soldiers in holding off the German army. Le Monde’s

'Suspiria' stands up to test of time SUSPIRIA

continued from page 11 not an uncommon characterization in horror). In the days following Suzy’s arrival, several people affiliated with the academy are murdered, and the American ballerina becomes increasingly convinced that her instructors are witches.

The film’s plot is an undeniable afterthought to its visual elements, which are responsible for its position as a cinematic masterwork. What was truly innovative of Argento was his use of primary colors and Gothic settings as a visual metaphor for utter transcendence from reality. This is most evi-

dent in the opening scene of the film, when Suzy lands at the airport in Freiburg. In the arrivals terminal, the lighting is normal with no detectable filter on the camera, but as soon as Suzy exits the airport, strong blue, red and yellow lights permeate the atmosphere.

This change is also highlighted by Argento’s choice to focus on the mechanism of the automatic door, which eerily clanks shut, evoking a guillotine.

The strong lights act as warning signals throughout the film, often appearing right before a character is murdered or when the teachers/witches make an appearance. Although the red lights do act as

Jacques Mandelbaum asked, “Where in the film are the 120,000 French soldiers who were also evacuated from Dunkirk? Where are the 40,000 who sacrificed themselves to defend the city?” Manimugdha Sharmal of the Times of India also criticized the lack of representation by soldiers conscripted from the combatants’ colonial empires, pointing out that “Britain did not fight the Second World War, the British Empire did.”

The most obvious omission, however, is that of the Germans. The presence of German soldiers in the film is reduced to tiny specks seen through plane windows and to the unseen sources of bullets fired at the protagonists. They are not even mentioned by name; they are simply “the enemy.” Cohen posits that “dolts seeing this movie could conclude that the British and French were fighting the Irish or Latvians.” Rather than interweave the monstrosity of Nazi Germany and the ideology that spurred World War II, Nolan chooses to ignore the reason the soldiers were there: unprovoked Nazi aggression.

Despite these contextual concerns about “Dunkirk,” Nolan accomplishes what he appears to set out to do. Taken as a simple story of survival, the film manages to guide the audience through the range of emotions and experiences of the soldiers at Dunkirk with realism, compassion and gravitas. Indeed, many critics are already counting “Dunkirk” among the greatest war films of all time. Such accolades are not entirely unfounded — Nolan’s film portrays the nuts and bolts of the Dunkirk evacuation with steadiness and clarity.

Despite its intensity and visual feats, Nolan’s film seems oblivious as to what was at stake on those beaches in June 1940.

When those stakes — the fight against Nazi fascism, European domination and genocide — are a watershed of modern history, this omission by a filmmaker of Nolan’s caliber leaves the story peculiarly incomplete. As Cohen notes, the WWII politics he chooses to ignore were “about who shall live and who shall die.” The fighting portrayed in “Dunkirk” is intense and realistic, but what was all of that fighting for?

a sort of premonition for the audience, signaling the presence of evil, some critics have argued that the lights are the embodiment of evil itself. “Suspiria” was also chronologically one of the last productions to purposefully utilize Technicolor, which makes primary colors acquire flatter and more vibrant qualities.

The dramatic German-Gothic setting of an Italian film starring an American woman heightens the atmosphere of unreality, a dark fairytale uninterested in verisimilitude. Not only does the Gothic architecture abstract the characters from reality, it also acts as another tool of foreshadowing. The building in which Pat’s (Eva Axén) friend is killed by triangular glass shards presents intricate geo-

metrical motifs throughout that anticipate the girl’s death. Argento also draws a connection between Gothic architecture and the witches of the dance school — when Helena Marcos dies, the academy explodes with her, suggesting that the building was almost like an organism kept alive by the witch.

It will be interesting to see how many of the focal points of Argento’s original Guadagnino will keep or draw inspiration from for his “Suspiria.” Guadagnino has a tough legacy to follow, as Dario Argento has helped to redefine the artistic value of horror movies and set a precedent for future masterpieces of the genre. His films, “Suspiria” in particular, are a must-see for retro horror fans craving the otherworldly.

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Comics

LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY Zach: “I’m not ready for 9 [sic] more weeks of this.”

Comics

SUDOKU

Difficulty Level: Finding a dead cockroach in a Bush shower.

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BY JIM DAVIS

Difficulty Level: Not finding a dead cockroach in a Bush shower.

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Opinion

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Letter from the editor Pause. Take a moment. Think about where you are right now. And I’m not talking about the path next to the Cannon between Ballou and Goddard as you get ready to say goodbye to your family and friends who helped you move in this morning. No, I’m talking about this exciting new stage in your life.

Some of you are first-years while some of you are transfer students. Some of you spent your entire childhood in the same town while, for others, moving was common practice. Some of you drove 20 minutes down I-93 to be here while others flew halfway across the world. I make these distinctions because many of you likely took a few minutes over the last hour to scan the crowd of your new classmates while sitting through Matriculation, wondering who will become your closest friends.

Between pre-orientation groups, your hall or suite, classes and extracurriculars,

there will be plenty of opportunities over the next few weeks to figure out who you’ll spend your free time with. You’ll likely see eye-to-eye with many of them — after all, friendships do tend to form from a common ground. But I would be lying if I said you won’t meet at least a handful of people you disagree with as you settle into Tufts.

And so I challenge you to challenge yourself and have a conversation with one of these people. Whether it’s with a classmate as you’re leaving your Intro to IR recitation, a friend of a friend sitting at your Dewick table or the person you wind up next to at your first GIM next week, there are many opportunities to engage in civil discourse at Tufts.

Yes, it’s hard to hear something that goes against our beliefs and values, but it’s also important to keep an open mind and hear different perspectives on issues

facing our campus and the world today.

This allows us to reflect on the many sides and complexities every argument entails.

I’m not encouraging you to change your mind through these conversations, but I am encouraging you to engage in a broader discussion with others, even those you disagree with. Whether you end by agreeing to disagree is up to you.

The Tufts Daily is committed to representing the diverse perspectives held by members of the Tufts community on an array of issues in our opinion section. I hope many of you will take advantage of the space we provide for students to articulate their views by submitting an op-ed, and I hope many of you will also attend our upcoming general interest meetings. We offer a range of opportunities to Tufts students interested in journalism, regardless of the experience you bring to the table.

I also hope you will contact the author

when you read an opinion piece you disagree with, as we aim to provide an additional platform for civil discourse through the content we produce everyday.

So before you decide where to go next, I leave you with this: Enjoy these next few weeks as you begin to discover how you will prioritize your time at Tufts. But don’t be afraid if you find yourself somewhere you thought was unthinkable even a couple of weeks ago. Have conversations, ask questions and don’t be afraid to disagree.

Because, if nothing else, you’ll have a better sense of your class and your community at Tufts.

Best of luck in your first semester, and The Tufts Daily and I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas.

Sincerely, Gil Jacobson Editor-in-Chief

EDITORIAL

Tufts goes hard Welcome Class of 2021. We want to start by setting the record straight — the rumors are true. Tufts is pretty much a party school. Do we have tailgates? Yes, once a year. Do we have daytime parties? When the police don't shut them down, absolutely. Do we have frat parties? Debatable (and highly debated). But trust us, Tufts goes 'hard.'

Here at Tufts, we party pretty much all the time — in addition to dancing in Spirit of Color, volunteering in local public schools, researching cyanobacteria's growth due to global warming, fixing gerrymandering with geometry, eating and memeing. So basically 24/7.

One of the hottest spots on campus right now is Club Tisch [Library].

Instead of your mainstream elevated surfaces, Tufts students love standing on the desks and twerking it out to renditions of "you must now exit the building" playing over the loudspeaker at 1 a.m. Unfortunately, Club Tisch closes at 9 p.m. on weekends, which means you might have to find an 'actual' party.

Groan. There are refreshments in the Tower Café, like overpriced beverages and mediocre sushi. And prepare yourselves for finals week, Club Tisch's biggest week of the semester. You'll likely cry when you realize the wait time to get a table.

The Rez is a more exclusive club on campus, mainly because of their top-notch music selection. By day, it's a coffee shop located in the Mayer Campus Center but, by night, it's a jazz-bar-poetry-slam-competition-jam-session. 'Chill' vibes.

But among the best houses to visit every year is Gifford, home of University President Anthony Monaco. Just don't forget to wear a costume and say "Trick or Treat." Two years ago, he was dressed as Gumby — who knows what that wild guy will show up as this year.

The biggest social gathering at Tufts is either Spring Fling — where we've had artists like The Roots, Drake and Childish Gambino — or the meme page, Tufts

BY SHANNON GEARY The version of “4 Years in Review,” which ran in print on May 21, referred to Steph Gauchel as her. However, Gauchel now uses they pronouns. The article has been updated online to reflect this change. The Daily regrets this error.

The Tufts Daily is a nonprofit, independent newspaper, published Monday through Friday during the academic year, and distributed free to the Tufts community.

The content of letters, advertisements, signed columns, cartoons and graphics does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Tufts Daily editorial board.

EDITORIALS Editorials represent the position of The Tufts Daily. Individual editors are not necessarily responsible for, or in agreement with, the policies and editorials of The Tufts Daily.

OP-EDS The Op-Ed section of The Tufts Daily, an open forum for campus editorial commentary, is printed Monday through Thursday. The Daily welcomes submissions from all members of the Tufts community; the opinions expressed in the Op-Ed section do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Daily itself. Opinion articles on campus, national and international issues should be 600 to 1,200 words in length and submitted to opinion@tuftsdaily.com. The editors reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, space and length. All material is subject to editorial discretion and is not guaranteed to appear in the Daily. Authors must submit their telephone numbers and day-of availability for editing questions.

ADVERTISING All advertising copy is subject to the approval of the Editor-in-Chief, Executive Board and Executive Business Director.

Memes for Quirky Queens. Both attract huge numbers and bring copious amounts of joy to the Tufts population.

So do Tufts students go hard? Yes, but it's just not why we're here. We go hard debating politics, writing essays, supporting each other in extracurriculars, solving problems and sometimes yes, we go hard 'going hard.' But trust us, when you're closing every weekend using your late night meal swipe on chicken tendies and mac and cheese at the Commons, whether you've spent the night house-hopping on College Avenue or curled up in your common room watching Netflix (we've all done both), you'll know you're in the right place.

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THE TUFTS DAILY | Opinion | Wednesday, August 30, 2017

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OP-ED

by Benya Kraus

Class of 2021: Believe in One Another

My Facebook album from my first year at Tufts was entitled “Name, Hometown, Major” as a tribute to what were the most socially exhausting two weeks of my college career. I’m happy to say that the social exhaustion has lessened and that you will now find me cuddling with my housemates, watching Wes Anderson movies on the projector and attempting to make my Thai green curry spicier, despite the fact that I’m working with curry paste from Trader Joe’s. This all to say: Congratulations, you’ve made it to Matriculation, and now as you enter Orientation Week, remember there is a light at the end of the dark tunnel of icebreakers.

As you move through the icebreakers, however, remember that there is a purpose to all this madness. Class of 2021, you are entering four years of a delightfully obscene amount of intellectual, professional, social and health resources — make the most of it. I’m talking about endless free access to all the academic journals you could ever imagine, world-class professors waiting to point you to your next job, friends from all corners of the world, clubs that range from anime obsession to ice-climbing to martial arts jujitsu, and free mental and sexual health services to make sure you feel safe and supported as you move through these next four years.

There is a lot here for you, and as President of the TCU Senate, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t also say that there is still more to be done. With love and pride for the Tufts community fueling my critique on it as an insti-

tution, we must do better in supporting the work and demands of #TheThreePercent — a movement created and led by the black students on this campus to increase our admissions recruitment, enrollment and retention of black students at Tufts. We must continue to ensure that our decision to rename “Columbus Day” to Indigenous Peoples’ Day actually leads to greater accountability for our institution’s occupation of colonized land, as well as substantial support for and partnerships with Native students and local Native organizations.

We must invest our resources into ensuring that consent is not a one-time conversation, but an ongoing culture that empowers survivors and emphasizes zero tolerance for sexual assault and harassment. We must amplify the demands issued by the #HaltTheHike movement, understanding that rising tuition hikes, the need for financial transparency and addressing the widening socioeconomic gap amongst our community are issues important to all students.

The TCU Senate is committed to addressing and supporting the work of the communities already moving the ball forward on these issues. As initiatives of the TCU Senate, we’ve created a Swipe It Forward meal bank which allows students on meal plans to donate meals to students who might be experiencing food insecurity. We’ve created a program to distribute pads and tampons in bathrooms across campus. We’ve expanded JumboCash options to businesses across Davis Square and along Boston Avenue.

We’ve facilitated a textbook exchange service to provide students with more affordable textbook options. We’ve brought back

the Linguistics minor and supported students in securing a Hindi-Urdu language program. We’ve created more cost-effective and transparent affordable meal plan selections at Hodgdon. We’ve secured a printer in the Campus Center, and we’ve successfully budgeted and allocated over $2.3 million in student activity fees each year. We’ve done a lot, but there is always more to do.

I ran my presidential campaign last spring on a platform of “Rethinking Social Space,” which will be the centerpiece of my work as president this year. As an urban studies student, I’m passionate about place-making and the democratization of space, understanding that on this campus — and around the world — access to physical space gives us access to social power. We need to ensure that our university invests in alternative social spaces, that the physical spaces of our marginalized communities are better maintained and supported, that access to physical university space is a privilege dependent on one’s co-responsibility to the campus community and that we cultivate opportunities for place-making — aka bringing different people together in common, creative and shared spaces (@Campus Center).

These are big plans, and they absolutely cannot be done without you. Class of 2021, we need you. While you may feel like you’ve barely arrived, this is already your home and the decisions we make together this year will be crafting the future of your next four years.

So here are a few things you can already do: Donate five meals to Swipe It Forward!

When you’re on an unlimited meal plan, the cost of donation is FREE, and you can be part of a community effort to support one anoth-

er in times of food insecurity. Check the TCU Senate Facebook page to find the link online — we’ll also be tabling in the dining halls.

Run for the TCU Senate. There are seven spots reserved for the Class of 2021, and you absolutely do not need to have had prior student government experience. Come with a desire to listen, learn and make our student community better — check out the TCU Senate Facebook page to keep updated on important information and election dates.

Lean in to discomfort. Over the next four years, you will hear ideas that make you uncomfortable. Listen, learn and form your own opinions, but do not ever lose sight of the humanity inherent in one another. Once we refuse to see each other’s humanity, we lose any capacity for community change.

Envision a vibrant, inclusive, creative social community. As we push forward with our goal of #RethinkingSocialSpace, know that you have every stake in these decisions.

As a student working group will soon be formed, do not underestimate your role as a first-year student. We need your input and your engagement.

Care about student government but, more importantly, care about each other.

The first few months in a new place can be challenging. Be there for one another, keep each other safe and, as you move through the next four years, always remember: It’s cool to be kind here (Also, follow the TCU Senate Facebook Page and subscribe to our Elist! #ShamelessPlug).

Benya Kraus is a senior majoring in international relations. She is the Tufts Community Union (TCU) President and can be reached at benya.kraus@tufts.edu.

Hescott’s Army

by Owen Elliott At commencement, the head of the Board of Trustees Peter Dolan stated that Tufts is a student-focused research institution. On the same day, the Board of Trustees denied tenure to beloved computer science (CS) Assistant Professor Ben Hescott, winner of the Lillian and Joseph Leibner Award for Excellence in Teaching and Advising (2012), the Graduate Student Council Award for Outstanding Faculty Contribution to Graduate Studies (2013), the Professor of the Year award (2016) and the Recognition of Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award (2016). The latter does not follow logically from the former.

In theory, an application for tenure and its subsequent review should possess a balance between teaching, service and research. Service in this context is work related to advising, course offerings, reading graduate school applicants, faculty meetings, etc. However, according to a current CS professor who preferred to remain anonymous, in actuality, teaching and service do not factor into the decision.

Personally, Hescott was tremendously helpful to me during my junior year, when I was thinking about taking the spring semester off to do an internship.

Even though I am not one of his advisees, I talked with him multiple times over a three-week period about which classes were going to be offered in the upcoming semesters, the internship itself and why he thought I should not take the semester off from school. He said that he similarly took a semester off during his undergraduate years at Boston University and found it tremendously hard to get back on track when he came back, and it led to his own delayed graduation. In addition to this episode, Hescott has always been an available life coach and welcoming smile around Halligan. In context, the two actu-

al advisors I’ve had in the CS department, who are tenured, still do not know my name and have never provided me with anything other than a signature on my advising forms.

Looking at Ben’s record, it is clear his teaching and service are stellar and his research is good. However, he changed his area of research when he started the tenure track at Tufts from Complexity Theory to Computational Biology. Usually, an assistant professor who is up for tenure has a research history that includes their postdoc and Ph.D. research in addition to their completed research as an assistant professor; because Hescott switched his field of research, he only has five years of research in his portfolio in comparison to the usual 12. This makes his case unusual because compared to a normal tenure applicant his research looks small in quantity. However, this seems remarkably short sighted as a tenured professor could be a hire for the next 40 years, and the quality and quantity of his research since switching fields is above the bar for tenure according to the CS department.

To backtrack a bit, tenure track works such that an assistant professor gets a six-year contract from Tufts during which they teach, advise and do research. At the conclusion of the fifth year, the individual is brought up before the Board of Trustees to be considered for tenure. As described in Statement 11, the department from which the candidate is from then accumulates his or her research, has an anonymous vote of the tenured-department faculty to decide which way to give their recommendation and then writes a detailed letter explaining their support for or against tenure. In this case, the CS department gave very strong support to Hescott’s candidacy. Then that department recommendation goes to the Tenure and Promotion Committee, which is a collection of eight current faculty

members from the university and Provost David Harris, who is not a voting member of the committee. The committee reviews the candidate’s credentials and gives its own recommendation. In this particular case, it recommended against Hescott receiving tenure. From there those recommendations go to the dean of the school in which the person up for tenure teaches, who also writes a letter detailing his or her own recommendations on the case. In this case, Dean of the School of Engineering Jianmin Qu was supportive of Hescott’s candidacy. After that, the decision seemingly is made in a black box. The president and provost, in conjunction with the letters of the previously mentioned parties, present each case in front of the Board of Trustees along with their own opinions. And finally, given the financial responsibility a close-to-40-year hire entails, the Board of Trustees makes the final decision. If the decision is negative, the candidate is in effect fired as he or she is offered a one-year good will contract, so he or she has time to find a different job. As is usual, Hescott has decided to pack up and ship off without taking the one-year contract. It was announced on May 24 that he has taken a position at Northeastern University, which offered him a job instantly upon the news of his dismissal.

As a graduating senior, I have been witness to the CS department as it has transitioned from a Podunk little major of 121 students in 2013 to the largest major at Tufts in 2017 with 568 students, the latter figure of which is according to the department. The school has responded to the sharp increase in CS enrollment by increasing class size and limiting most classes in the department to only CS and related majors. It got so bad this past semester that many CS seniors found themselves locked out of required classes to graduate before their enrollment

time even arrived. Personally, due to the extreme scarcity of seats in CS electives, I have only ever gotten into one of my toptwo electives once in my four years.

In these strained times for the department, Kathleen Fisher took over as chair of the department under the condition that the school hires six new teaching positions: four professors and two lecturers. To me this sounded like the light at the end of the tunnel; the school and department acted swiftly to deal with the exponential rise in enrollment. However, this latest action to fire the best teacher in the CS department, if not the school, during a period of unparalleled hiring, because he possessed an excusably small quantity of published works, shows brightly what is going on in the mind of the school’s leadership. It is a clear message to all future tenure candidates that they should focus solely on their research. No level of excellence in teaching or service will help them. The poster boy for excellence in these two categories, who also possessed adequate research, was summarily rejected for tenure by the Board of Trustees.

The bigger story here is not Hescott. He will be fine and he is taking a tremendous job at a competing university. It is the incentive system the school is putting in place for all future tenure applicants. How can a school be student-focused when service and teaching are not factored into tenure applications? As I leave Tufts, if a parent or a child were looking to me for advice or recommendations about college, I am not sure I could recommend Tufts. Its disregard for quality undergraduate teaching becomes overwhelmingly damning when we are paying over $65,000 for a world class education. I recommend you take your money elsewhere.

Owen Elliott is a recently graduated senior who majored in computer science.

Owen can be reached at oellio01@gmail. com.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017 | PHOTO | THE TUFTS DAILY

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Summer Snaps Moments from Daily photographers’ summers During the photojournalism workshop Foundry in Mexico City, senior Sofie Hecht photographed the lives of one multigenerational family of artisans over the course of 1 week.

Production Director Evan Sayles spent 11 weeks in the white pine woods of central New Hampshire, working at Camp Belknap. One of the oldest summer camps in America, Belknap is technology-free. This makes for a total absence of light pollution in the night sky.

Junior Rachael Meyer visited Nebraska to spend three minutes in the path of totality of this summer’s solar eclipse.

Junior Ben Kim visited Busan, South Korea. Pictured here is the interior of a lighthouse in Taejongdae Park.

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Sports

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Jumbos remain productive in spring postseason SPRING SPORTS

complete novices how to row, to see talent where we often cannot, I am certain I would not be where I am today.”

continued from back Karamercan also made the All-Conference first team in singles action and the second team in the doubles.

Coach Berube Jumbos coach Carla Berube led the USA Basketball Women’s U16 National Team to the 2017 FIBA Americas Championship held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the championship game against Canada, the team went on a 20–0 run in the second quarter to establish its dominance, and in doing so, reclaimed the Championship which had been surrendered to Canada back in 2015. Assisted by Steve Gomez of Lubbock Christian University and Vanessa Nygaard of Windward School, Calif., Berube saw her team defeat the Canadians 91–46. Strong defense, so often a trademark of Berube’s Jumbos, was on display in Buenos Aires as Canada was limited to just 29 percent shooting from the field (18 of 62). They also gave up the ball on 31 occasions, converted into 36 points by Team USA. By going undefeated in the tournament, the team qualified for the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup. Women’s Crew Senior Sera Busse is the first to be recognized as an All-American first-team selection. Busse joined the team for the 2015-16 season as a walk-on, and worked her way up to a position on the varsity eight, rowing her first race with them in last year’s National Invitational Rowing Championships. Busse also worked her 2k ergometer time down to a 7:06, the strongest time the team has had in 10 years, showing how large a contributor Busse was to the team’s success. Busse is the second Tufts rower to be recognized as an All-American in as many years, since Rachel Siegler (LA ’16) received a second-team selection in 2016.

“To become successful, you have to identify the areas that most need improvement, and work to make them better, little by little,” Busse told the Daily in an email. “The ‘smart training’ ideology is something I learned at Tufts. It is something I cannot take any credit for, because it is the training plan that my coaches proposed to me. Without my coaches, without their unwavering commitment to our team and willingness to teach

Softball While the Jumbos were disappointed by not reaching the postseason with their 22–14 record (8–4 in NESCAC East) for the first time in 17 years, there was some consolation as Cassie Ruscz (LA ’17) clinched her third consecutive NFCA Softball All-American Accolade. Ruscz was once again named on the All-American second team, and was the only player from the NESCAC to be named to the top two teams. Ruscz, a Wolcott, Conn. native, led the conference last season with her 11 homers, which was good enough for 16th-best in the nation. She also led the team in RBIs (36), hits (44) and walks (19). Along with that All-American honor, Ruscz graduated with All-NESCAC and NFCA All-New England first team recognition as well.

Baseball Speros Varinos (LA ’17) capped off an impressive final campaign, picking up a plethora of accolades. These awards included the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America Third Team Honor, American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) / Rawlings Second Team All-American, D3baseball.com All-America Third Team and was also named as Div. III Pitcher of the Year on the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) and the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) teams.

Statistics wise, Varinos boasted an 8–1 record in nine starts, and led the Conference in terms of innings pitched (77.1), strikeouts (86) and was second in ERA (1.98). His performance helped the Jumbos finish top of the NESCAC East Division and clinch first seed at the NESCAC tournament.

“He [Varinos] was a role model for myself and everybody on the team,” said senior co-captain first-baseman Nick Falkson. “He showed us the way — the Tufts Baseball way — and he always worked hard and competed hard every time he was out there. I have a ton of respect for him and no one else deserves all of those accolades more than he does.”

Meanwhile, Falkson earned the NESCAC Player of the Year award and was selected for the D3baseball.com All-New

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Outfielder Casey Santos-Ocampo takes a swing at the bottom of the second inning of the men’s baseball home game against Bates on April 28.

England second team. Falkson boasted a uting to the team through forcing 26 turnovers .373 batting average, was good for 37 RBIs and collecting 38 groundballs. Juniors Danny and scored 33 runs on the season.

Murphy and Ben Connelly were also recognized for their performances over the Men’s Lacrosse past year with the receipt of United States The Tufts men’s lacrosse team had an Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) / uncharacteristically short-lived NCAA Nike Honorable Mention All-American accocampaign this year. Their May 13 loss to lades. Murphy led the team with 54 goals, the Wesleyan Cardinals ended their NCAA while his assists and points scored ranked in tournament run and meant that the team the top 25 nationally. Connelly also contributwould not be going to the championship ed with 11 man-up goals, good for 12th in the finals for the first time since 2013. Despite nation, scoring 30 goals and 17 assists in the the relatively early end to their season, the 2017 season.

Jumbos had much to be proud of. Tyler Olney (E ’17) was one of three students from Liam Finnegan and Savannah the NESCAC selected to the Academic All- Mastrangelo contributed reporting to this America Div. III At-Large teams, while contrib- article.

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THE TUFTS DAILY | Sports | Wednesday, August 30, 2017

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Fall Previews FALL SPORTS

continued from back Field Hockey After winning their first NESCAC championship since 2009, Tufts looks to build upon a season in which they posted a 19–3 record, making it all the way to the NCAA championship game before falling to Messiah 1–0 in double overtime. The Jumbos now have the task this Fall of replacing co-captains Nicole Arata (LA ’17) and Dominique Zarrella (LA ’17), and leading goal scorer Annie Artz (LA ’17).

Despite those losses, coach Tina McDavitt-Mattera expressed that the team is excited about returning nine of the 11 starters from last year’s team, including two 2016 All-NESCAC first team members, senior forward Mary Travers and senior defender Ellexa Thomas.

“I’m very excited for the season because we have so many great players returning and they now have a year of maturity,” McDavitt-Mattera said. “Every team is different. This year’s captains need to make it their own team and different from last year.”

Football Last year on the gridiron, the Jumbos went an impressive 7–1, second only in the NESCAC to undefeated Trinity. A big hole was left in the Tufts backfield by the departure of star tailback Chance Brady (LA ’17). Junior running back Dominic Borelli served as Brady’s backup last year, so he should be eager to get some more carries.v

Quarterback Alex Snyder (LA ’17) also graduated, and he is likely to be replaced by junior quarterback Ryan McDonald. McDonald platooned with Snyder under center last year, throwing for 487 yards and rushing for 647.

The defense will feature several key seniors, including linebacker Steve DiCienzo, who was second on the team in total tackles last year, defensive linemen Doug Harrison and Micah Adickes, who were both top 10 on the team in tackles last season.

Men’s and Women’s Crew Men’s crew capped off last season winning the men’s total point trophy at the National Invitational Rowing Championships (NIRCs). Senior Andrew MacMillan, a tri-captain from last year, will be returning to the team for his final season. He’ll be co-captain on this year’s squad with fellow senior Ashton Knight.

Women’s crew finished in sixth place at the NIRCs last season. The Jumbos have five seniors on their roster for the upcoming season, including Hayley Cohen, a tri-captain last season, and Sera Busse, the program’s first All-American First Team selection in history.

The fall season is shorter for crew, but one of the biggest highlights of the fall is the Head of the Charles Regatta on Oct. 22.

“It’s probably the most famous rowing event in the country,” MacMillan said. “It’s such a fun race to be a part

EVAN SAYLES / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES

The victorious Jumbos pose for a photo after the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Div. III men’s soccer tournament on Nov. 20, 2016. They later won the NCAA Div. III championship in December.

EVAN SAYLES / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES

Tufts quarterback Alex Snyder, LA ’17, attempts to avoid a diving Colby player in the game against the Colby College Mules on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. of, and it gets people more involved in crew who aren’t usually too involved.”

Golf The Jumbos showed their prowess on the links last season, as they finished in the top five in seven of their eight meets.

Seniors Aaron Corn and Taylor Nordan will be co-captains on this year’s squad. According to their teammates, they are no strangers to leadership. “[Corn and Nordan] have both been, experience-wise and skill-wise, leaders on the team even before their senior year,” junior Justin Feldman noted.

“They’ll be looking to build on the success of the team for sure, especially since it’s their last season.”

The Jumbos will begin their season at the Detrick Invitational on Sept. 9.

Men’s Soccer What more can be said about the 2016 season for men’s soccer? The Jumbos won the ultimate prize of Div. III with a double-overtime victory over Calvin in the National Championship game. This was the program’s second championship in three years, as they also won it all in 2014.

The Jumbos finished last season with a 15–5–2 record, leaving lofty expectations for this year’s squad. The Jumbo co-captains will be senior defender Conor Coleman and junior defender Sterling Weatherbie. Perhaps the biggest

void on the team was left by the departure of goalkeeper Scott Greenwood (LA ’17), who was a four-year starter for the team.

This year’s team will feature a stacked senior class that includes midfielder Christian Zazzali, midfielder Kevin Halliday, defender Stephen McMillian and midfielder Tyler Kulcsar, who scored the winning goal in the championship game last season.

Women’s Soccer Women’s soccer finished last season with a 7–6–3 record, capped by a tough 1–0 loss in the NESCAC quarterfinals to Trinity.

This year’s squad will be co-captained by senior forward Alex Scheman and junior midfielder Emma Ranalli. Along with Scheman, four other seniors will feature on the lineup, including forward Mariah HarveyBrown, who was second on the team in goals last year.

Harvey-Brown is optimistic that new leadership can step up in the absence of last year’s seniors.

“With any team, when good talent steps aside, that leaves room for others to step up,” the senior said. “There’s always gonna be a transition when any class leaves, it’s just about adapting quickly and having a strong team chemistry.”

Tufts will take on Emerson on Sept. 6 to start its season.

Jumbos storm to best-ever third place in 2016-2017 Directors’ Cup JUMBO ATHLETICS

continued from back

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America tabbed coach Josh Shapiro and his staff as the National Coaching Staff of the Year for the 2016–17 season.

The women’s field hockey team came about as close to a national championship as possible, falling 2–1 in a penalty shootout to Messiah College after double-overtime. The Jumbos have been perennial contenders since their 2012 national championship. Last year’s team featured three Second Team All-Americans in Annie Artz (LA ’17) and seniors Ellexa Thomas and Mary Travers. Artz also received Academic All-American at-large honors.

After finishing 10–0 in NESCAC regular season play, Tufts volleyball was upset in the NESCAC Championship

by Middlebury. They bounced back,

making a deep run all the way to the national quarterfinals.

Led by Tim Nichols (LA ’17) and Luke O’Connor (LA ’17), who finished third and 20th respectively in the NCAA Championship, men’s cross country placed 33rd at nationals. Nichols made the 2017 Academic All-American Team and was named the USTFCCA National Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Winter Tufts fell to third in the Directors’ Cup in the winter, as NESCAC rival Williams moved to second. A runner-up finish from Tufts women’s basketball added 90 points to the Jumbo total. Other contributing points were top ten finishes from men’s basketball and men’s swimming and diving, a 18th place finish from men’s track and field and top 50 performances for women’s swimming and diving and women’s track and field.

The 2016–17 season marked the

fourth straight semi-finals berth for the women’s basketball team and second straight national finals game.

Although the Jumbos weren’t able to take home the championship, two players, Michela North (LA ’17) and senior forward Melissa Baptista, earned All-American honors. Coach Carla Berube also led the USA U16 team to an Americas championship.

The men’s basketball team posted a 22–7 record in their 2016–17 campaign.

Tufts made it to the third round of the playoffs before falling 87–80 to Babson, which went on to win the National Championship.

Coming into the national tournament seeded 14th, Tufts men’s swimming and diving outperformed expectations to snag a 10th place finish. AllAmerican recognition included junior Kingsley Bowen, who picked up three All-American awards. Matt Rohrer (LA ’17) placed top eight in the 1-meter and

3-meter dive events to bring his total career All-American awards to six.

Tufts men’s track and field placed 16th at the national tournament. The Jumbos were led by Nichols, who took fifth in the 5,000meter race and fourth in the 10,000-meter race. Junior Josh Etkind’s eighth place finish in the 110-meter hurdles earned him All-American honors. On the field, senior Stefan Duvivier placed third in the high jump for his first All-American honor.

Spring In the spring, men’s lacrosse and women’s tennis were both able to secure ninth place national finishes.

Both men’s and women’s track and field added points to the Jumbos’ Directors’ Cup total. After winning the NESCAC championship, men’s baseball advanced to the national tournament. For an in-depth recap of spring sports, see Yuan Jun Chee’s “While we were away…” on page 22.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017 | Sports | THE TUFTS DAILY

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NESCAC who’s who

by Sam Weitzman and Caleb Symons Sports Editor and Assistant Sports Editor

Middlebury College

Established on the first day of November in 1800, Middlebury College is the NESCAC’s sole Vermont-based institution. Middlebury’s mascot, the Panther, is a relic of New England’s past, when the big cats were still present in the region. The school also boasts an impressive athletic tradition. Since 1993 — when the NESCAC first allowed all members to participate in national postseason tournaments with the exception of football — Middlebury is tied with Williams for the league lead in national championships with 33. From 2004 to 2006, both the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams won three consecutive national titles, a run unparalleled in any NCAA division. A perennial powerhouse in many sports, the Panthers have captured national championships in women’s lacrosse (2016), field hockey (2015) and women’s cross country (2010) in addition to numerous conference titles in recent years.

Williams College

Founded in 1793, Williams College shares the title of oldest NESCAC institution with Hamilton and claims an impressive list of alumni, including President James Garfield. The Ephs (a shortened version of founder Ephraim Williams’ name) have won 35 national championships in their notorious purple and gold uniforms. The women’s crew team is responsible for nine of those titles, having captured them consecutively from 2006 to 2013, while the women’s tennis team has won the national championship in eight of the past 10 years. 2015 was a banner calendar year for Williams athletics, as four Eph teams took home national titles. Of course, the biggest Williams sporting event of the year is the annual football game against its archrival Amherst College.

Colby College The northernmost member of the NESCAC, Colby College was founded in Waterville, Maine in 1813. The Mules (formerly the White Mules, with the school deciding to shorten the nickname in 2002) wear Colby Blue and Priscilla Gray uniforms. Of the school’s six team conference titles since 2000, the women’s lacrosse team has earned half of them, including their successful 2017 campaign. The only Mule squad with a national championship is the 2003 women’s rowing team.

Bates College One of three Maine-based schools in the NESCAC, Bates College (founded in 1855) is located in the city of Lewiston. The Bobcats don garnet, black and gray uniforms, many of which feature the school’s relatively new logo (adopted in 2013). Bates’ strongest programs, by far are its rowing teams, as both the men and women swept the NESCACs in 2015 and 2017. The women’s squad also won the national championship in both 2015 and 2017. Outside of crew, Bates teams have won just three conference championships since the turn of the century: women’s soccer in 2005 and men’s track and field in 2000 and 2012.

Hamilton College Located in Clinton, N.Y., Hamilton College is the NESCAC’s only nonNew England member and the campus that is farthest from Medford. The school, chartered in 1812, pays homage to its Revolutionary War-era roots in several ways. For starters, Hamilton is named for Founding Father, former trustee and current musical theater protagonist Alexander Hamilton. Additionally, its “Continentals” mascot (the term for a soldier in the Continental Army) and Continental Blue and buff color scheme (identical to that of the Army’s New York regiment) evince the school’s historical roots. With just one national championship under its belt — a 2008 triumph in women’s lacrosse — Hamilton’s athletic pedigree is considerably less substantial than many of its NESCAC rivals.

Bowdoin College Despite its Polar Bears moniker, Brunswick-based Bowdoin College (established in 1794) is the southernmost Maine member of the NESCAC. The school’s black and white colors evoke its ursine nickname, which was chosen to honor Robert Peary, a Bowdoin alumnus and leader of the first-ever expedition to the North Pole.

In recent years, Bowdoin’s most successful program has been its field hockey team. 2016 was just the second season since 2004 in which the team was not the NESCAC winner or runner-up. Additionally, between 2007 and 2014, the Polar Bears won the field hockey national championship four times. Another excellent Bowdoin program is its men’s tennis team, which secured the NESCAC title in 2017 after winning the national championship in 2016.

Tufts University Founded in 1852 on Walnut Hill in Medford, Mass., Tufts University has been a member of the NESCAC since the league’s official formation in 1971. The Jumbos (named after the world-famous elephant promoted by the legendary P.T. Barnum, a generous supporter of the school) wear brown and blue. Tufts teams have assembled an impressive record of success over the past 10 years, winning a combined nine national titles and 26 NESCAC championships. Highlights from last year included the men’s soccer team clinching its second national title in three seasons, the field hockey team claiming its first conference title since 2009 and earning runner up in the national tournament, the football team going 7-1 for its best showing in nearly two decades and the women’s basketball team reaching its second consecutive national championship game.

Amherst College

Trinity College

Wesleyan University

Trinity College, located in Hartford, Conn., may have the most unique mascot in a league full of them. The school’s ‘Bantams’ moniker (a relatively small yet aggressive breed of fowl) can be traced back to an 1899 speech by alumnus and United States judge, Joseph Buffington, in which he praised his alma mater for holding its own among Harvard and Yale — the big shots of the “collegiate barnyard.”

Trinity has enjoyed remarkable success in a number of sports recently. In 2008, the school’s baseball team capped off a 45-1 season with a national championship, while its women’s lacrosse team reached five straight national title games from 2012 to 2016, winning in 2012. The Bantams also consistently boast one of the NESCAC’s strongest football teams, having won the league last year for the seventh time since 2002. Perhaps most impressive, though, is Trinity’s men’s squash program. The team holds the record for the longest winning streak of any NCAA team in any sport — 252 games from 1998 to 2012 — and has captured 16 of the past 19 national championships.

The second largest school in the NESCAC by undergraduate enrollment, Wesleyan University is situated in Middletown, Conn. While Wesleyan’s sports teams have donned Cardinal red and black uniforms since 1884, the school didn’t officially adopt the Cardinal mascot until nearly 50 years later, when its football players made light of a newspaper derisively referring to them as “the mysterious ministers from Middletown” by wearing clothing with cardinal birds. Although Wesleyan teams have enjoyed limited success on the national stage, the school’s individual players include senior Eudice Chong, who has captured three consecutive NCAA Div. III singles titles in women’s tennis. The Little Three rivalry among Wesleyan, Amherst and Williams dates back to the nineteenth century, and the schools compete for supremacy every year. The Cardinals took home five Little Three championships in 2016–17, their second-largest haul ever.

Founded in 1821, Amherst College resides in its namesake Massachusetts town less than 100 miles from Medford.

The recently christened Mammoths — renamed after they abandoned their previous mascot, the Lord Jeffs, due to its connections with white oppression — sport purple and white attire, which have been the school’s official colors since April 30, 1868. Last year, Amherst’s strongest program was women’s basketball.

The team put up a perfect 33-0 record en route to a national championship victory over Tufts (whose only losses that season came at the hands of Amherst). Other prominent Mammoth squads include football (NESCAC champions or co-champions from 2013-2015) and men’s soccer (four conference titles in the past six seasons, plus a national championship in 2015). Amherst’s fiercest rival is Williams, and the schools’ football teams compete in “The Biggest Little Game in America” every fall.

Connecticut College By two measures — year of founding (1911) and year of entry into the NESCAC (1982) — Connecticut College is the youngest school in the conference. The New London, Conn. institution is also the only school without a football team, due in part to its being an all-women’s college until 1969 (the same year that the school adopted the Camels as its nickname). The school’s official colors are dark blue and white. Despite some success in individual athletics, just one Conn.

College team — the 2014 women’s soccer squad — has won a NESCAC title in the 21st century.

ASTRID WENG / THE TUFTS DAILY

Sports

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Teams to watch this fall

by Bradley Schussel and Sam Weidner Sports Editors

Volleyball Fresh off an appearance in the NCAA championships’ Elite Eight, just the second time in program history the team had made it that far, the Jumbos are eyeing even greater success. They return five of their starters, most of them concentrated in strong sophomore and junior classes including sophomore All-NESCAC libero Kelly Klimo and junior setter Angela Yu. Senior defensive specialist and captain Alex Garrett will have an important role in teaching her younger teammates how to step up into leadership roles.

It will be crucial to fill the vacancies of graduated middle hitters Elizabeth Ahrens (LA ’17) and McKenzie Humann (LA ’17) who received All-American honorable mention and All-Region honorable mention respectively.

Conference play will again be key for the Jumbos as last season they managed to post a 10–0 record against regular season NESCAC opponents.

Co-Ed Sailing Tufts sailing is coming off a year in which they found success in many different divisions. Having competed in three separate national championships at the end of the year, the Jumbos placed ninth in the Co-ed ICSA National Team Sailing Championship, fourteenth in the Co-ed ICSA Dinghy Nationals and fourteenth in the Women’s ICSA National Championship.

FALL SPORTS

Sophomore skipper Charlotte Lenz discussed the team’s goals for the upcoming season.

“We qualified for all three nationals last spring which we hadn’t done in 10 years,” Lenz said. “This year [our goal is] qualifying for as many nationals as possible.”

In order to meet those goals, the Jumbos will have some holes to fill this fall as they bring in a new recruit class and look for returning team members to step up.

“We had all three of our A-team skippers graduate, but there are so many good people coming up,” Lenz said. “We have a lot of depth on our team.”

Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Both Jumbo cross country teams capped off last season with some strong individual performances. Among those, standout co-captain Tim Nichols (LA’ 17) wrapped up his impressive career with a third place finish at the men’s NCAA Championship race and senior Brittany Bowman placed 18th at the women’s NCAA Championship race, both earning All-American honors.

On the men’s side, with Nichols and co-captain Luke O’Connor (LA ’17) having graduated, the Jumbos will look to breakout performers, juniors Brian Reaney, Christian Swenson and Dylan Jones, who all placed in the top 70 at NCAA men’s cross country regional, to lead the charge this season.

The women’s team graduated seven seniors, including three who competed at the NCAA Championships and helped the Jumbos achieve their best finish —

While we were away…

by Yuan Jun Chee Sports Editor

While we were away, many of our Jumbos continued to represent us at various sporting events. Here are some of the highlights.

Men’s Track and Field Tufts placed 16th overall at the NCAA outdoor meet held in Geneva, Ohio over the weekend of May 27. In some of the highlights, junior Josh Etkind finished eighth in the 110-meter hurdles final with a time of 12.37, breaking a 15-year program record and earning himself his first All-American.

On the field, senior Stefan Duvivier led the way for Tufts as he recorded six points for the team through his third-place finish of 2.1 m in the high jump event.

The program bade farewell to Tim Nichols (LA ’17) on the best possible note, as he concluded his career with his fifth-place finish in the 5k event. He picked up his sixth All-American honor in his career, with a time of 14:29.19 in the event. This is his second All-American honor for the 2017 NCAA outdoor meet, as he picked up his first with a fourth-place finish in the 10k a few days earlier. In total, the program concluded the school year with six All-American honors.

Women’s Track and Field On the women’s side, senior Brittany Bowman set a new program record in the 10,000 meter event at the NCAA Div. III Championships. She clocked in a time of 35:22.11 to finish fifth overall, improving on her qualifying time and her season best by more than 15 seconds. This is Bowman’s third AllAmerican performance as she smashed

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

SEOHYUN SHIM / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES

Sophomore Mina Karamercan waits in position during Tufts’ 6-3 win against Wesleyan on April 15. eighth — in more than a decade. Bowman and junior Natalie Bettez rounded out the five NCAA runners, and both upperclassmen will aid in spearheading this year’s campaign beginning with the Bates Invitational on Sept. 16.

Men’s and Women’s Tennis Women’s tennis is hoping to find some early success at their fall tournaments and invitationals as a way to gear up for the spring championship season after the team advanced all the way to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament last season.

They return key juniors Tomo Iwasaki, Mina Karamercan and Julia Keller as well as senior Lauren Louks. Karamercan is coming off a strong sophomore campaign that saw her post an 18-9 record in singles

play and earn All-American honors.

“We have a solid core of returners back – our top four from last year return this September … I expect many of the returners to once again make an impact,” coach Kate Bayard told the Daily in an email.

The men’s team will look to rebound this year after a disappointing 2016-17 season in which the team failed to earn a bid to the NESCAC tournament with a 4-5 record.

They had qualified for the tournament in the four seasons prior. It will be a tough task to qualify again, given the NESCAC is one of the toughest conferences with seven of the 11 teams ranked in the top 25 NCAA rankings. Tufts sits at No. 17. see FALL SPORTS, page 22

DIRECTORS’ CUP

an eight-year program record by more than 10 seconds.

Alongside Bowman, classmate Jennifer Sherwill and Lindsay Atkeson (LA ’17) also received United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region honors. The honors go out to the top five individuals in each event from each region as well the region’s top three relay teams. Bowman was recognized for her efforts in the 5,000 and 10,000-meter events, while Sherwill was recognized for her efforts in the discus throw. Sherwill finished third in New England for the discus throw of 41.56 meters she recorded at the MIT meet on May 12. Atkeson celebrated her graduation from the program with an accolade for her efforts, her time of 11:14.54 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on the May 12 New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association (NEICAAA) meet, which was good enough to finish fourth overall in New England.

Women’s Tennis Junior Mina Karamercan finished last season with her second All-American team nomination. While she was nominated for doubles play alongside senior Lauren Louks in her first year on the team, Karamercan was recognized for her individual display with this award.

Karamercan often represented the Jumbos in the top singles position throughout the 2017 season, completing the season as the 17th best player in Div. III. Some of the highlights of her season included defeating senior Bridget Harding of Emory University 6-4, 6-2, then the No. 1 player in Div. III. To cap off her stellar season, see SPRING SPORTS, page 21

The state of Jumbo athletics

by Phillip Goldberg Sports Editor

Tufts University is a Div. III athletic powerhouse. Last year, the Jumbos placed third in the 2016-17 Learfield Directors’ Cup with 926.75 points. The Directors’ Cup aggregates points for 18 different sports — nine women’s and nine men’s — over all three athletic seasons to rank universities by athletic success. Tufts’ third place finish is the best in school history and builds on the previous best of fourth in 2015-16. Williams College and Washington University in St. Louis placed first and second with 1335.25 and 1227 points respectively.

Tufts has been gradually climbing the rankings of the Directors’ Cup. Since the Cup began in 1995-96, the Jumbos have appeared in the top 10 nine times, last year marking the fifth straight year that Tufts has been in the top 10.

Baseball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director John Casey credits Tufts’ success to a collaborative spirit in the athletics department.

“This is all about people, it always has been, and I think we have a tremendous coaching staff,” Casey said.

“If you look around you see that our coaches actually have great relationships and care about each other. They want each other to win. There’s nobody saying ‘I’m bigger than anybody else.’

It’s a pretty cooperative environment and I think that goes a long way because we just want to give the kids the best experience we can.”

Tufts athletes are not just successful on the field, as the Jumbos boast plenty of academic All-Americans. The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) honored 23 Jumbo athletes in the spring and the men’s track program boasted the most honorees in Div. III. Across all Tufts sports, there were NESCAC AllAcademic selections. Baseball’s Speros Varinos (LA ’17) was a repeat NESCAC Pitcher of the Year and three-time AllAcademic selection over the course of his Tufts career.

“We tell our guys the most important thing is to graduate in four years and be sure you’re doing well in your studies,” Casey said. “But the other part is, this is your passion to play baseball. So we’ve got to make room for that. It’s just a balancing act. And I think it’s our job as coaches to put them in the best position to succeed. I think as a department, all the coaches are pretty much on the same page about that.”

Fall Tufts completed the fall season ranked second only to Washington St. Louis. The Jumbos benefited from a national championship in men’s soccer, second place in field hockey, top ten finishes in women’s volleyball and women’s cross country and a 33rd place finish in men’s cross country.

Tufts soccer earned its second national championship in three years, defeating Calvin College 1–0 in overtime. see JUMBO ATHLETICS, page 22