The Tufts Daily - Tuesday, November 6, 2018

‘Election’ echoes realities of modern politics with portrayals of sexism, conspiracy see ARTS&LIVING / PAGE 4

MIDTERM ELECTIONS

Full preview of today’s elections, ballot questions

Women’s soccer stumbles against Williams in rainy NESCAC semifinal see SPORTS / BACK PAGE

SEE ELECTIONS PREVIEW / PAGE 6

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T HE T UFTS DAILY

VOLUME LXXVI, ISSUE 41

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, MASS.

ELECTION DAY 2018

ELECTIONS PREVIEW PAGES 6–7 Student-led initiative builds digital libraries in Ecuador

by Kat Grellman News Editor

The Tufts International Development (TID) Ecuador team’s KoomBook digital library program was selected by Davis Projects for Peace as one of 16 outstanding projects from the summer of 2018, according to senior Cristina da Gama, one of the leaders of the Ecuador team.

Davis Projects for Peace is an initiative that encourages grassroots projects which “promote peace and address the root causes of conflict among parties,” according to its website.

The KoomBook is a “digital library designed to provide access to educational

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materials for individuals in remote and isolated areas,” according to the Institute for Global Leadership’s website.

“It’s a hard drive … The main idea is that it emits this signal to other computers in an area but there’s no Wi-Fi required,” Jacob Rubel, a leader of the Ecuador team, said. “So you can download a ton of educational content onto it in addition to content that’s already there, like Khan Academy, Wikipedia and a bunch of cool stuff like that. You can have a whole library in an area that has no access to Wi-Fi.” Rubel, a sophomore, explained that the KoomBook is a technology that was developed a number of years ago by

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Libraries Without Borders, an international nongovernmental organization headquartered in Paris that works closely with TID. According to da Gama, it came to Tufts when an alum from Ecuador who was involved with TID, Juan David Núñez (LA ’16). Núñez interned for Libraries Without Borders over summer 2015, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“When he was working at Libraries Without Borders, he realized they were doing all these great educational programs with technology, and it was technology that was portable and that was really innovative,” da Gama said. “So he got the idea to start a project in Ecuador because he

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VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

saw the need for it in several communities that are vulnerable. So his senior year, he started doing the research phase of the program to start determining how to bring the program to Ecuador, where to bring it and who to partner with.”

According to da Gama, the first digital library was established in Coaque, a rural town located on the Ecuador coast, in the summer of 2017 after a year of extensive research into local NGOs they could partner with to help facilitate the program.

Da Gama added that the program decided to build its first center in Coaque after teaming up with AVANTI, an Ecuadorian

NEWS............................................1 FEATURES.................................3 ARTS & LIVING.......................4 ELECTIONS PREVIEW........6

see DIGITAL LIBRARY, page 2

OPINION.....................................8 FUN & GAMES.........................9 SPORTS............................ BACK

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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Tuesday, November 6, 2018

THE TUFTS DAILY Seohyun Shim Editor-in-Chief

EDITORIAL

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Student project aims to expand access to educational materials in Ecuador

Sean Ong Caleb Symons Managing Editors Alexis Serino Associate Editor Daniel Nelson Executive News Editor Jessica Blough News Editors Connor Dale Charlie Driver Jenna Fleischer Juliana Furgala Kat Grellman Liza Harris Zachary Hertz Gil Jacobson Anar Kansara Liam Knox Natasha Mayor Cathy Perloff Minna Trinh Hannah Uebele Shantel Bartolome Assistant News Editors Austin Clementi Conor Friedmann Abbie Gruskin Noah Richter

Jessie Newman Executive Features Editor Constantinos Angelakis Features Editors Emma Damokosh Kenia French Ameenah Rashid Michael Shames Grace Yuh Sidharth Anand Kevin Doherty Assistant Features Editors Jacob Fried Justin Yu Tommy Gillespie Executive Arts Editor Antonio Bertolino Arts Editors John Fedak Libby Langsner Setenay Mufti Julian Blatt Assistant Arts Editors Stephanie Hoechst Christopher Panella Ruijingya Tang Deeksha Bathini Jesse Clem Maria Fong Shannon Geary Nasrin Lin Lydia Ra Rebecca Tang Emily Burke Carrie Haynes Yuan Jun Chee Ryan Eggers Liam Finnegan Savannah Mastrangelo Arlo Moore-Bloom Maddie Payne Haley Rich Brad Schussel Tim Chiang Sejal Dua Jeremy Goldstein David Meyer Josh Steinfink Ethan Zaharoni

Executive Opinion Editor Cartoonists

Editorialists

Executive Sports Editor Sports Editors

Assistant Sports Editors

David Nickerson Investigative Editor Rachel Hartman Executive Photo Editor Anika Agarwal Photo Administrator Erik Britt Staff Photographers Andrea Chavez Allison Culbert Mike Feng Kenar Haratunian Ben Kim Max Lalanne Christine Lee Julia McDowell Madeleine Oliver Evan Slack Ana Sophia Acosta Executive Video Editors Annette Key Asha Iyer Video Editor

PRODUCTION Alice Yoon

Production Director Aidan Menchaca Executive Layout Editors Daniel Montoya Amanda Covaleski Layout Editors Anna Deck Jordan Isaacs Maygen Kerner Omeir Khan Isabella Montoya Katharine Pinney Executive Graphics Editor Luke Allocco Executive Copy Editors David Levitsky Caroline Bollinger Copy Editors Mary Carroll Myshko Chumak Anna Hirshman Rachel Isralowitz Katie Martensen Ali Mintz Nihaal Shah Liora Silkes Hannah Wells Jiayu Xu Avni Ambalam Assistant Copy Editors Allie Morgenstern Yuval Wolf Ani Hopkins

Executive Online Editor Senior Online Editor

Ercan Sen Executive Social Media Editors Amy Tong Asli Akova Social Media Editor Elisabeth Blossom Assistant Social Media Editors Shaivi Herur Asha Iyer Lillian Miller

BUSINESS Joe Walsh

Executive Business Director

VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

KoomBook, a digital library project currently being implemented by Tufts International Development in Ecuador, is pictured.

DIGITAL LIBRARY

continued from page 1 NGO based in Quito. According to Rubel, the town was heavily impacted by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck in April 2016.

“This is something that you take with a lot of responsibility,” da Gama said. “You don’t want to go into a community that you don’t have strong ties with, and there was no way that we could develop the ties that we needed ourselves from the U.S. So we looked at the problem through the other end. We decided that we needed to partner up with an NGO that already has ties with a community and that wants to work with us.”

Da Gama added that TID continues to partner with local Ecuadorian NGOs that help facilitate and run the program on the ground.

Clemencia Pinasco, another leader of the Ecuador team, said that one of the main goals of the KoomBook program is to expand literacy and education to underdeveloped communities that don’t have adequate access to resources.

“One of our long-term goals is that the community adopts whatever project we do, so it’s not like we’re going to go in and tell them, ‘this is what you’re doing to do and this is how you’re going to do it,’” Pinasco, a senior, explained. “We need to go to the community and see what they need and what they want and … sort of work with them rather than imposing our own ideas and our own knowledge on them.”

Rubel noted the importance and significance of the KoomBook program in Ecuador.

“There are so many places in Ecuador where there’s a lot of interest and passion and desire — a strong social energy and ambition and initiative to do things — but there are no resources to actually get it done,” Rubel said. “People want to go to college, but they just don’t know how. People want to have more access to educational resources, but they don’t [have access].

So that’s what the KoomBook provides.

It’s tailored exactly to the needs of each community.”

The recognition follows a $10,000 grant given to the Ecuador team this past summer from Davis Projects for Peace to improve and expand their KoomBook Program, according to Pinasco. Da Gama said the money allowed TID to establish two additional digital library centers in San José de Minas and Jatumpamba, both located in the Pichincha province.

According to Rubel, four members of the Ecuador team, including himself and da Gama, traveled to Ecuador this past summer to check in with the Coaque center and establish these new centers.

“The main [goal of the trip] is getting to know the community and training them on how to use it,” Rubel said.

“So another thing is in [San José de Minas], the first time we implemented

in a school, we trained every single teacher in the school how to use it and how to use it for their classes. But we’re also just trying to introduce it in an exciting way to the community. And also a big thing is monitoring and evaluation, so we have to get data on the current situation so we can track how things change throughout our time there.”

Rubel explained that around 100 college initiatives receive grants, but only 16 of them are recognized as outstanding based on what the recipients do with the money.

According to Pinasco, a crucial aspect of the program is monitoring and evaluating the success of each center.

Rubel said each center has a local community member who helps run the program in addition to a partnership with a local NGO for each center.

“The main thing that we spend most of our time on is working with the communities and making sure the project is successful,” Rubel said. “So we have biweekly calls with project leaders.”

Pinasco said that the Davis Projects for Peace recognition will give the KoomBook program more leverage for receiving future grants.

“A lot about applying to grants is putting our name out there and making our project visible,” she said.

Da Gama noted the TID Ecuador is also looking for funding from other organizations to expand the program.

TRASHING ONE EGG WASTES 55 GALLONS OF WATER

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Henry Stevens The Weekly Chirp

Female power

H

uman history owes its success to women. While historically not occupying traditionally powerful roles, women have always held the true power in families and social groups, which are ultimately the major factors leading to the perseverance of our species. With the rise of the feminist movement and younger, more progressive generations, this power is finally becoming recognized publicly. My mom is the bread-winner in my family. Female senators are no longer a surprise to the public. Women in science are revolutionizing the field. Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in the presidential election but unjustly suffered from the outdated rules of old white men. I can’t wait to see where women take our world once all the sexist, racist, idiotic baby boomers finally die out — why is it taking so long?

Females in the bird world wield similar amounts of power, if not more. For a classic example of females dominating an avian population, simply look at the phalaropes.

The phalaropes’ three species — Wilson’s, red-necked and red — are mainly pelagic shorebirds, meaning they spend their non-breeding time at sea. Phalaropes also differ from the rest of the avian kingdom in a fascinating way: reverse sexual dimorphism.

In other words, female phalaropes are the brightly-colored ones, not the males, and the females court the males. That’s right, the spectacular females compete in these elaborate dances attempting to win over a drab, white male. And then once they mate, the female still does all the reproductive labor. As is the case for humans, males are only useful once during ovulation for about three seconds.

Even though most female birds are dull and don’t partake in courtship, they still hold the true power. Male orange-collared manakins, after spotting a female, will put up chaotic displays in a whiz of fiery orange, all competing for a couple seconds of attention from the female. Males from other species, like the screaming piha in the Amazon, will choose high, open branches from which to display — a phenomenon known as lek.

Upon the arrival of a female, the male piha will display from his lek while other males display from theirs, allowing the female to choose her preferred male. Meanwhile, the female can just sit back, relax and watch the hopeless males desperately compete. At the end of all their effort, the female doesn’t even have to choose a male — she can just fly away and look for someone better. She’s a beautiful, independent woman who doesn’t need to waste her valuable time on some mediocre male.

So ladies, when you’re sick and tired of all the male nonsense that exists in this world — and yes, I know I’m included in that nonsense — just take a step back and think of how irrelevant men are compared to you. Remember your power to control and manipulate the testosterone-inundated males that surround you. Never settle for mediocrity, because you know you deserve more than that. And, most importantly, embrace your inner phalarope.

Love, Henry ION OF STA IAT TE OC

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Henry Stevens is a senior studying biology. He can be reached at henry.stevens@ tufts.edu. Interested in birds? Email Henry at tuftsornithologicalsociety@gmail.com.

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ARTS & LIVING

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

MOVIE SPOTLIGHT

James Ray The Starving Aesthete

‘Election’ proves eerily relevant 20 years after its Our dining halls release

are an outrageous bacchanal

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here exist two buildings on this campus where you can eat as many cookies as you want. I don’t think we’ve really come to terms with this, as an institution or as a community. We’ve got the situation covered in the most logistical sense; there’s not going to be a run on the dessert counter anytime soon. But, we haven’t achieved a real cognizance of the situation, and don’t account for it in the way we live our lives.

In the past, food was never something taken for granted. In antiquity, the barest rumor of a regenerating platter of cookies would send fleets of triremes hurtling across the Mediterranean to scour the coasts of Asia Minor. But now, at Tufts, this sort of thing is a daily reality. It’s wholly feasible for any one of you to park yourself in Dewick at 8:30 a.m., rig yourself with some Rube Goldbergian flatware conveyor belt and eat until your body physically cannot handle the strain.

Of course, no one actually does this, and it’s easy to see why: they begin to feel full. The grand, doomed excess that lives in shipping pallets of chicken tenders and oil drums of pasta Alfredo is more or less sustainable here because supply follows demand, not the other way around. Satiation is an achievable goal, so no matter how much higher the pie is made, eating isn’t going to make you hungrier.

Right, what’s all this then, about the denial of the self? The Buddha lingers over Tufts’ campus like a church barbecue spinster, always smacking hands away from buckets of chicken. Everywhere I go I see people bemoaning the hopelessness of their plights, and always the response is the same — “Have you been getting enough sleep? How’s your schoolwork? Have you tried focusing on the positive parts of your life?” — always, in the end, self care. But what is self care but the diversion into simpler desires — giving up one’s real hopes as hopeless, hunkering down to erode like sand on the beach of life? The most pressing problem at this university is the number of people who subscribe to the belief that behind every desire lurks yet another, that to seek fulfillment beyond codified societal boundaries is pointless — that food may fill you, but when it comes to love or friendship, all bets are off.

As a social environment, this school is every bit as outrageous as its dining halls.

We’re a community of 5,000 individuals, all the same age, all with several hours per day relatively unaccounted for. Yet most people sit around at home, watching Netflix and thinking about how lonely they are — because without simple rules and clear boundaries, they are too terrified to look for the things they really want. Some day, when the AI constructs that descend from us visit the Tufts Validation Halls to drink their fill of other people’s love and support, they’ll take it as much for granted as we do Dewick. But until then, we need to have faith that there are answers out there. Otherwise, we risk sitting around, binge-streaming “Friends” (1994–2004) until the end of time.

James Ray is a senior studying political science and film and media studies. James can be reached at james_m.ray@tufts.edu.

by Setenay Mufti Arts Editor

Content warning: This article mentions sexual harassment.

In the original trailer of “Election” (1999), the narrator speaks the words, “if you are one of the millions of Americans who still believes that honesty, integrity and fidelity are the cornerstones of our democracy, we suggest you wait for another preview before getting your popcorn.” If the lessons in “Election” are to be believed, potentially the only things keeping our elected governments together are pride and anger.

But revisiting “Election” two decades later reveals some surprising way our political world has and has not changed.

The plot of “Election” centers around an election for high school president in suburban Omaha, Neb. which is presided over by the beloved teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick). Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon), an abrasive know-it-all who is clearly the most qualified for the position, runs unopposed until Jim convinces dimwitted but sweet jock Paul Metzler (Chris Klein) to run against her. Why? Tracy is frankly so annoying that it’s hard not to want to humble her, but more importantly, she had an affair with Jim’s best friend and fellow teacher Dave Novotny (Mark Harelik) which led to him getting fired. Jim still holds a grudge.

The election only heats up after Paul starts dating Lisa, the ex-girlfriend of his younger sister Tammy, and Tammy enters the election out of jealousy.

If nothing else, Tracy is the only one — besides Paul, who simply doesn’t know any better — who is using the political system for a reason other than vindication. She is arrogant and self-centered, the kind of person who becomes a leader only to force everyone else to pay attention to her. (“I volunteered for every committee, as long as I could lead it.”) She is stiff and artificial, but well-suited to leadership, engaging in multiple extracurricular activities while getting perfect grades and lapping up all the ambition passed down from her successful mother.

And because of that enviable perfection tinged with arrogance, she represents the quintessential female politician who men love to hate. Her character is likely how Hillary Clinton’s most ardent critics see her. Both women were qualified for the presidency, at least in terms of experience,

VIA IMDB

A promotional poster for ‘Election’ (1999), starring Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick, is pictured. so the parallel between the two is impossible to miss today. Clinton’s campaign was plagued by controversy, ranging from emails to the Benghazi attacks. But, as we see in Tracy, you cannot make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. The kind of person who would take enjoyment and motivation from defeating others, who works within a system and will mold their entire personality to reign it — indeed, the kind of person who is qualified for a popu-

lar position is rarely the kind of person we actually like enough to vote for.

Here and now in Massachusetts, Charlie Baker is the most popular governor in the United States and will stay that way after the election, if the polls are to be believed.

Yet, as a Massachusetts resident who typically votes on a Democratic ballot in the primaries, this writer has been bombardsee ELECTION, page 5

FESTIVAL SPOTLIGHT

Boston Jewish Film Festival celebrates 30 years with diverse lineup

by Libby Langsner Arts Editor

The Boston Jewish Film Festival (BJFF), which runs from Nov. 7–19, is celebrating its 30-year anniversary this year. The festival will give viewers an incredible opportunity to see rare and award-winning films from around the world covering all facets of Jewish life. This year’s festival looks to have a more diverse lineup of screenings than previous years. From short films to documentaries, feature films to binge-events of Israeli television and everything in between, there is sure to be at least one event that will interest everyone.

The BJFF will be an excellent space to facilitate conversation over what it means to be a Jew and how the answer varies depending on one’s piety, geographic location and other factors. While Jewish experiences and traditions may vary greatly from person to person, the festival offers an opportunity for those within and outside the community to connect or catch a glimpse into Jewish faith, life and culture. In these tumultuous times, when anti-Semitism is on the rise, film and other forms of art can help bring people closer together as a community.

The festival’s opening night at the Coolidge Corner Theatre will feature Samuel D. Pollard’s

documentary, “Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me” (2017). The screening will be preceded by a live musical event and followed by a conversation with Pollard. The film follows Davis’ life and the obstacles he faces as a black man in America, and how his life changed after converting to Judaism and becoming a part of yet another persecuted minority.

Besides the opening night, the festival will be anchored by two other events: a mid-festival event at Coolidge Corner Theatre on Nov. 14 and a closing night event at the Somerville Theatre on Nov. 19. The first event will see JEWISH FILM, page 5

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Tuesday, November 6, 2018 | Arts & Living | THE TUFTS DAILY

Film festival caters to wide audience with exploration of Jewish identity, culture JEWISH FILM

continued from page 4 screen the Austrian film “The City Without Jews” (1924), a work that was just recently rediscovered at a flea market in Paris after it was thought to be lost for many years.

Directed by Hans Karl Breslauer, the film is based on a satirical novel in which an anti-Semitic chancellor expels all the Jews in a particular town, leading to an economic and cultural decline. “The City Without Jews” is a seminal film, detailing the pre-Holocaust life of European Jews and the rampant anti-Semitism then present in Europe. This film could be especially informative for those unfamiliar with the context of the Holocaust and European Jewish life. The film’s exploration of Europeans’ attitudes toward Jews is sadly not too far off from Europe’s current political descent into right-wing nationalism; it is a must-see not only because of its rarity, but because of its historical significance and present-day relevance. This silent film will be accompanied with live music and fol-

lowed by a conversation with Tufts alumna Lisa Silverman (F ’97), currently an associate professor of history and Jewish studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, who wrote a book that discussed “The City Without Jews.”

The festival will conclude with a screening of the Israeli film “Redemption.” Directed

by Joseph Madmony and Boaz Yehonatan Yacov, the film follows Menachem, the former frontman of a popular band who becomes an Orthodox Jew. When Menachem’s daughter falls ill, he contacts his former bandmates to play at Orthodox Jewish weddings and raise money for his daughter’s treatment. A story of friendship and Jewish ingenuity, “Redemption” promises to be a beautiful ending to a vivacious and deeply rich festival of Jewish film.

No matter a viewer’s religious denomination or political beliefs, the BJFF is packed with events and screenings that will challenge beliefs and provide a comforting space for those who need it most.

VIA IMDB

‘A City Without Jews’ (1924) and ‘Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me’ (2017), two of the featured films at this year’s Boston Jewish Film Festival, are pictured.

The festival’s website has the complete calendar of events and screenings, as well as trailers for each film. Students can purchase discounted tickets for this festival. For readers who have wondered

what exactly a Jewish film is, how art can shape a community or simply what is means to be a Jew, this festival is an excellent opportunity to try and explore all possible answers.

‘Election’ resonates with themes of secrecy, sexism in politics ELECTION

continued from page 4 ed nonstop by ads for Charlie Baker on YouTube, in the mail and even through text message. If Tracy had run for high school president in the internet age, she doubtless would have run a more aggressive campaign — if an anonymous gossip didn’t spill the beans about her affair first.

That brings us to one of the biggest differences between the environment of “Election” and our current political climate: the role of secrecy. In “Election,” almost every character has a secret behind their ambition, usually involving affairs. In particular, the Jim who

lectures about morals and ethics and wins Paul over with rhetoric about the virtues of democracy is the same Jim who judges a teenage girl for sleeping with his adult friend, descending into corruption in every aspect of his life. If Tracy’s affair got out to the student body, her social reputation would be ruined, as Jim’s was when caught by students stealing ballots after the election. By that point in the movie, Tracy and Jim are all but blackmailing each other. The interlocking secrets and subterfuges of the characters add to the fun of the movie, giving legitimate — and juicy — stakes to a rather useless school election; the impression given is that if these secrets got

out, the entire facade of the school democracy would collapse.

The problem is that the world today is inundated everywhere with information.

It is getting harder and harder to hide scandals, and political parties have finetuned the art of digging up dirt on opponents — like in high school, Americans remain particularly intrigued when this dirt involves sex. But even in this age of information, the American people seem to handle it differently than they used to. When then-presidential candidate Donald Trump’s “grabbing” comments came out, this writer and her friends were

convinced that the scandal would be the final blow to his campaign. And yet, it was not. Even with the average person having more technological capabilities than ever in history, a growing number of people seem convinced the world is flat. Just recently, Trump’s lawyer and head cheerleader Rudy Giuliani admitted it best, “[t]ruth isn’t truth” anymore, but instead “somebody’s version of the truth.” Our country has a broken relationship with objectivity. But as long as adults in power sexually harass minors and women in power are perceived as annoying, “Election” will resonate.

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THE TUFTS DAILY | ELECTIONS PREVIEW| Tuesday, November 6, 2018

tuftsdaily.com

Battle for the Senate: Six races to watch

KATHARINE PINNEY / THE TUFTS DAILY

Source: RealClearPolitics

by Connor Dale and Charlie Driver News Editors

Texas: Cruz vs. O’Rourke Sen. Ted Cruz is facing a tough battle for a second term against Beto O’Rourke, an upstart Democrat representative who has gained national media attention for his progressive platform and cross-Texas campaign trips. O’Rourke made a name for himself by rejecting direct funding from political action committees and in-house pollsters — two hallmarks of the modern campaign — while hauling in $70 million in individual donations. Cruz has responded by doubling down on his conservatism, embracing the Trump platform and rallying alongside the president in recent days. RealClearPolitics Rating: Leans Republican

Missouri: McCaskill vs. Hawley Two-term Democrat Sen. Claire McCaskill is running against Josh Hawley, the state’s Republican attorney general, in one of the tightest Senate races in the nation. McCaskill, a moderate who has expressed little fear of going against her national party, is navigating treacherous territory as a Democrat in a state that Trump won by nearly 20 points in 2016. McCaskill has supported more Trump administration moves in the Senate than most other Democrats, though she voted against both of his Supreme Court nominees.

On the other hand, Hawley has painted himself as a fierce Trump loyalist, supporting tariffs and the practice of family separation for those who enter the United States illegally.

RealClearPolitics Rating: Toss Up

Tennessee: Blackburn vs. Bredesen Former Gov. Phil Bredesen, a moderate Democrat, and Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a far-right Republican, are contesting retiring Sen. Bob Corker’s open seat. Bredesen’s unusual electoral strategy showcases his conservative bona fides: He openly supported Justice Kavanaugh’s nomination, and touts the “A” rating he received from the National Rifle Association while governor. Blackburn, on the other hand, has sought to ally herself with the president to take advantage of the very partisan polarization Bredesen tends to avoid.

She invokes Hillary Clinton in her speeches and has anchored her campaign to Trump’s anti-immigrant message. RealClearPolitics Rating: Toss Up

Florida: Nelson vs. Scott Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson’s reelection campaign pits the Florida congressional delegation lifer against Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican. The race may hinge on several issues with local and national relevance — immigration and gun rights. It’s also complicated by Florida’s complex regionalism. Support from the Trump campaign machine has helped galvanize GOP stalwarts, but the Senate race may be most closely tied to the contentious gubernatorial election between Rep. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a Democrat. Gillum’s campaign has energized a young and diverse voter coalition, one which often fails to turn out in large numbers. Scott and Nelson’s bids may end up riding the coattails the gubernatorial ticket. RealClearPolitics Rating: Toss Up

North Dakota: Heitkamp vs. Cramer Incumbent Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is another Democrat seeking reelection in a state that traditionally favors Republicans. Since her consecutive “no” votes on the GOP tax bill and Kavanaugh nomination, Heitkamp has been considered the underdog in this race. Heitkamp’s vote against Kavanaugh produced her single biggest day of fundraising but also bolstered the rapid ascent of her opponent, Republican Rep. Kevin Cramer, in the polls. Now, Heitkamp’s campaign is walking a tightrope between appealing to progressive voters in the state’s eastern cities without neglecting the conservative-leaning sections of the electorate. Meanwhile, Cramer, who has made incendiary remarks ranging from dismissals of the #MeToo movement to verbal attacks toward Native American counselors with little impact on his polling, has largely parroted President Trump’s platform and has turned the election into a referendum on his presidency. RealClearPolitics Rating: Likely Republican

Indiana: Donnelly vs. Braun Sen. Joe Donnelly, a Democrat, has rejected party labels in his reelection bid against Republican businessman Mike Braun. This rhetoric has defined his reelection campaign as a Democrat in another state that President Trump won by double digits in 2016. As such, Donnelly has distanced himself from the more progressive voices in his party and embraced some of President Trump’s policies, including changing birthright citizenship, building a border wall with Mexico and voting to confirm Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. Donnelly did, however, vote against Kavanaugh. Braun, on the other hand, said he would have voted to confirm both Supreme Court nominees. He supports repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, preventing federal dollars from funding abortion procedures and demanding that businesses verify their workers’ immigration status.

RealClearPolitics Rating: Toss Up

A rts & L ivin g

Tuesday, November 6, 2018 | ELECTIONS PREVIEW | THE TUFTS DAILY

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Massachusetts races to follow

Senate: Warren vs. Diehl Sen. Elizabeth Warren faces reelection against state Rep. Geoff Diehl, a Republican. Warren has made her reelection campaign about “fighting back,” whether it be against the Trump presidency or tax and health policies that harm the middle class. She has criticized her Republican opponent for being too cozy with Trump; Diehl was the Massachusetts chairman for Trump’s campaign in 2016. On the other hand, Diehl, who is campaigning on a platform of putting the state’s interests first and lowering taxes, has faulted Warren for focusing on 2020 presidential aspirations instead of her Massachusetts constituents. Regardless, RealClearPolitics reports the race as safely Democratic and Warren has maintained more than 20-point leads in recent polls.

Massachusetts 7th District: Pressley (unopposed)

In a historic upset, Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley defeated 10-term incumbent Rep. Michael Capuano in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts’ 7th District, which Somerville is a part of. Pressley is running unopposed in the general election and as such, she is set to become the first African-American woman to represent Massachusetts in Congress. Pressley’s campaign has emphasized the importance of representing voters of color. Pressley’s platform reflects a progressive vision that ranges from legal protections for survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence to universal healthcare, ultimately seeking to serve underrepresented individuals. Since her primary victory, Pressley has rallied with progressive leaders across the nation, including Warren and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, heavy favorite to win New York’s 14th District.

Massachusetts 5th District: Clark vs. Hugo

Democratic Rep. Katherine Clark, who has represented Massachusetts’ 5th Congressional District — which includes Medford — in the House since 2013, is being challenged

by Republican John Hugo. However, Clark has a track record of legislative success in Congress: She has helped pass bills that address the opioid crisis and strengthen health care programs for women, among others, that has largely prevented her opponent from gaining any traction. Clark is the heavy favorite in this race.

Governor: Baker vs. Gonzalez

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is currently seeking reelection in his race against Democratic challenger Jay Gonzalez, who faces an uphill battle against America’s most popular governor. After securing the Democratic Party’s nomination for governor, Gonzalez, former Secretary of Administration and Finance in Deval Patrick’s administration, has largely criticized Baker’s acceptance of the status quo and claimed that Massachusetts needs to “aim high.” Gonzalez’s platform has focused on fixing Massachusetts’ “broken” public transportation system, revitalizing the state’s early education and childcare programs and ending the opioid epidemic. Baker, on the other hand, has continued to tout his widespread bipartisan support while raising questions about how Gonzalez plans to pay for his policy proposals. Even as Gonzalez has continuously faulted Baker for not speaking out forcefully enough against President Trump and for endorsing “radical, right-wing” Republican candidates in Massachusetts, RealClearPolitics rates the race as solidly Republican, with multiple polls predicting a Baker victory by margins of nearly 40 points.

Question 1

Massachusetts ballot questions

Massachusetts’ Question 1 concerns staffing levels for nurses at Commonwealth hospitals and certain other health care facilities. A “yes” vote would set limits on the number of the number of patients assigned to a nurse, based on the care the patients require and the type of unit. Those in support of the ballot question believe that the measure is necessary to ensure patient safety and that hospitals have the money to be able to cover the costs of more nurses. Opponents say that it would strap hospitals with unreasonable costs that could be passed on to consumers and potentially hire substandard nurses. Sen. Ed Markey and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh have endorsed a “yes” vote, while Gov. Charlie Baker and the Boston Globe Editorial Board have both opposed the measure. Tufts Democrats have endorsed a “yes” vote, while Tufts Republicans support voting “no.”

Question 2

Massachusetts’ Question 2 proposes the creation of a 15-member commission with the purpose of recommending constitutional amendments to regulate campaign finance.

The constitutional amendments would be designed to overturn the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, which ended restrictions on organizations using their money for political speech. The ballot measure would require the commission to report on public spending in Massachusetts and make recommendations for constitutional amendments.

The Globe has endorsed it on its editorial page. It has been opposed by the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. Tufts Democrats support a “yes” vote, while Tufts Republicans have endorsed a “no” vote.

Question 3

Question 3 seeks to overturn protections for transgender residents of Massachusetts which were provided by a 2016 law passed by the state house. The law, included in the text of the question, makes it illegal to discriminate against someone because of their gender identity. A “yes” vote on 3 will keep the law in place, while a “no” vote will repeal it. “Yes” on 3 has many official endorsements, including from Gov. Baker. Tufts Democrats and Tufts Republicans have both endorsed a “yes” vote. The Massachusetts Family Institute opposes the measure.

KATHARINE PINNEY / THE TUFTS DAILY

8 Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Aneurin CanhamClyne Red Star

The death of democracy

T

he United States is not a democracy. The Senate, the Electoral College, the courts, the unaccountable security state and the concentration of power in regulatory agencies staffed by the people they’re supposed to regulate means the political process and the state are resistant to popular pressure.

This is only going to get worse. Voting didn’t stop it in 2008 and it won’t stop it now. The scale of mass media, the expense of running a campaign and the fact that neither party has a mass base makes it impossible for the people to control either political party in any meaningful sense.

Once, the electoral left has argued, voting was the only game in town. This was never historically true, but the expansion of the franchise between 1865 and 1965 made it possible for liberals to claim that America was on the road to democracy, as the left secured important gains and democratic advances for tens of millions of Americans.

Since the Voting Rights Act, we’ve witnessed the erosion of democratic rights and the construction of institutions that remove political power from the working classes.

In a system where only those favorable to the rich have the resources for a large campaign, the ruling class does not need hammers and firing squads to build a dictatorship. Sometimes the best check on popular power is a limited expression of it.

Still, if voting mattered, they’d take it away, which many Republicans are doing. They are making it impossible for many people to vote using ID laws, address regulations or by closing polling places and purging hundreds of thousands of people from the voter rolls. They started this decades ago: Purging the Florida rolls was key to Bush’s theft of the 2000 election, but as Republican policies grew more hated and their party more despised, the Republicans began a new offensive against the franchise in America. In many ways, it’s too late to stop this. They have won undemocratic majorities in the House for the last eight years, the same in many state houses. The interference in our electoral system isn’t coming from Moscow, but from Sen. Mitch McConnell. All this is necessary because their party’s base — the racist upper-middle class and the right wing of the rich — have discarded democracy to protect their class interests. Dictatorship in America is legal and extant.

Voting has hard limits to it, especially as long as both parties serve the interests of the rich, but it can be useful for protecting rights, ratifying some gains or as a test of strength. Voting “yes” on 3 in Massachusetts or voting “yes” on public banking in Los Angeles are important acts to protect and expand what is possible with popular power in America. But these fights will be lost before they even begin without strong, organized movements behind them. We cannot win dignity for workers and oppressed people unless we are willing to confront the fact that our elections are rigged, that both parties are our enemies and that radical systemic change is needed before America can even approach ‘democracy.’

Aneurin Canham-Clyne is a senior studying history. Aneurin can be reached at aneurin.canham_clyne@tufts.edu.

OPINION

tuftsdaily.com

EDITORIAL

Tufts should reconsider eligibility requirements for Spanish, French minors In the past, the lack of opportunity to minor in Spanish or French frustrated many students in the School of Arts and Sciences (A&S). Starting Jan. 1, 2019, the Department of Romance Studies will offer a minor in both French and Spanish to all A&S students. This addition will be very beneficial to the university and to students wanting to study French or Spanish, but questions remain regarding the eligibility requirements for the program.

Brenna Heitzman, lecturer in French, and Anne de Laire Mulgrew, senior lecturer in Spanish, are both optimistic and enthusiastic about the addition of these new minors. They expressed that the motivation behind this new minor was discussed among faculty for several years due to immense student interest.

The main factor behind the addition of the minor was that it is extremely difficult for students starting in French or Spanish 1, 2 and 3 to major in the language due to the extensive course load. The minor now allows for students to pursue the language in a feasible way. Only students who started in Spanish or French 1, 2 or 3 are eligible for the minor. The French

minor requires 4, 21, 22, 31, 32 and a 100level course in literature or culture. On the other hand, the Spanish minor requires 4 or 5, 21, 22 or 23, two 30-level courses and one 100-level course.

Although this is an exciting new revelation, students who started in levels above Spanish/French 1, 2 and 3 are disappointed that they cannot pursue a minor in either language. Granted that it is easier for these students to major in either language, it is still 10 extra courses that they have to take and the major only begins to count at the 22 level. The major is extremely intensive, especially for people who are already double majoring in other demanding areas of study. The French major requires 10 courses: 22, 31, 32, four 100-level courses in literature, two 100-level advanced language and culture courses, and one course taught in a related field in any language or another 100-level culture or literature course. The Spanish major requirements are similar: 22 or higher, two literature courses, three 100-level courses, three additional higher-level courses and an additional course which may be in English and vary in topic.

There is a vast difference between the minor and the major which makes it extremely difficult for students who started above French or Spanish 3 to pursue their interest in the language, especially if they are already pursuing a difficult major or double majoring. This hinders their ability to pursue a passion that they have in Romance languages and can be quite frustrating and discouraging. Students should be able to get a degree in Spanish or French based on their proficiency rather than the number of years they have spent studying the language and where they started in their requirements.

This addition of a minor in French and Spanish is appealing and intriguing for many and it is true that it is not possible to please everyone, but the Tufts Department of Romance Studies should look into ways to make an exception for students who started above Spanish/French 3 who are extremely passionate about the language, but cannot feasibly manage a major in the language due to course overload. A slight shift in the eligibility requirement will be for the benefit of students.

CARTOON

BY MARIA FONG 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.

9

THE TUFTS DAILY | FUN & GAMES | Tuesday, November 6, 2018

F& G

LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY Alice: “I tried to run the other day, and I just stopped.”

FUN & GAMES

SUDOKU

LINDA C. BLACK ASTROLOGY

Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Use your power responsibly.

You’re creating a buzz. Call if you’ll be late. You can’t be two places simultaneously. Keep or change your agreements.

CLASSIFIED

Difficulty Level: Women ousting old white dudes who are bad at their jobs

2019 PreHealth Study Abroad Guide Spanish Immersion, Medical Shadowing, Gap Year, Summer, Short-Term, Argentina, Chile, Peru. Dates & Pricing: 2019PreHealthAbroad.com

Monday’s Solutions

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CROSSWORD

10

THE TUFTS DAILY | Sports | Tuesday, November 6, 2018

David Meyer Postgame Press

Ultimate question: GOAT or BOAT?

T

his is it. Today is the day. To all my avid readers: I know you have always wondered how I feel about the Jordan-LeBron debate. You must wait no longer.

Who is the GOAT? It is one of the most highly-debated topics in sports.

It seems inevitable that this will come up when a conversation brings up both Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

The same can also be said with Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. In fact, NBC has made an advertisement featuring Jordan about Brady vs. Rodgers that pokes fun at the LeBron vs. Jordan debate. The GOAT question is front and center in sports and a hill to die on for many people whose opinions are so strong that they cannot consider the other side.

For me, it is pretty simple. Jordan is the GOAT. Brady is the GOAT. LeBron and Rodgers? They are both the Best of All Time (BOAT). Bear with me.

The term GOAT means “Greatest of All Time.” Merriam-Webster defines “great” as “remarkable in magnitude, degree or effectiveness.” It also defines “best” as “excelling all others.” That settles the argument for me right there.

Michael Jordan has six out of six possible championship rings. His iconic “Jumpman” image is the logo for a $3 billion clothing and sneaker brand. He has the most iconic plays in basketball, from the dunk for the logo to “The Shrug” and “The Shot.” He is a legend, one whom LeBron admits he is chasing.

His footprints are felt on the court by every player who steps on it. Jordan is great. He is remarkable in magnitude and degree, in the sense that he fills NBA history as no one else has.

One thing though: LeBron is better than Michael Jordan at basketball. If we are talking about pure skill — from leaping ability to power — LeBron James has it all. He is bigger, faster and stronger. He is the best basketball player who has ever lived, playing in a time when many athletes have displayed peak physical condition. LeBron is the best. He excels beyond all others. Even with the amazing impact he has had on basketball, which I am truly trying not to diminish, he cannot catch the ghost who played in Chicago.

The Brady vs. Rodgers debate seems to be a more similar situation, but is more clear-cut. Brady is the GOAT. He has the rings and dominance. In terms of iconic plays, Brady’s Super Bowl comeback certainly helps but Rodgers has his own excellent compilation of Hail Mary successes. Brady also has more opportunity, having the GOAT coach on his side as well. Lots of football experts — and Brady — say Rodgers has more talent, though, making him the BOAT. No matter side on which you stand, the GOAT and BOAT separation should be clear. People tend not to take the definitions into account, but they make the most prominent question in sports easier to answer. Also, we could just not worry about who is better and be happy to watch some of the most gifted athletes to ever grace this earth. Just a thought.

David Meyer is an assistant sports editor.

He is a junior studying film and media studies. David can be reached at david. meyer@tufts.edu.

tuftsdaily.com

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Tuesday, November 6, 2018 | ADVERTISEMENT | THE TUFTS DAILY

The untold story of the City of God: Gender, politics, and non-violence in Rio de Janeiro’s most dangerous favela Co-Sponsored by Latin American Studies, the Leir Institute for Human Rights, the Department of Sociology and the Tisch College of Civic Life

Wednesday, Nov. 7th from 6-8pm in Cabot 206 The Fletcher School The City of God may be known for its brutal drug wars, but this is not the full story.

Between 2014 and 2017, Dr. Anjuli Fahlberg conducted extensive fieldwork in the City of God documenting the ways in which local activists— mostly women—not only survived violence and poverty but constructed a counter-sphere of nonviolent political action to fight for their rights and their neighborhood. If activism can emerge even in the City of God, where else might it be possible?

Dr. Fahlberg is Full-Time Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at Tufts University and Co-Director of the research collaborative “Building Together."

11

12 tuftsdaily.com

Sports

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Women’s soccer falls to Williams in NESCAC semifinals

by Onat Tarimcilar Staff Writer

Tufts (10–5–2) suffered a 3–2 loss to Williams in the NESCAC tournament semifinal on Saturday afternoon in Williamstown, Mass. It was the team’s second loss of the year at the hands of Williams. The Jumbos, however, received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament which begins this weekend.

Tufts came into the semifinal confident, despite Williams entering with an undefeated 14–0–2 record. Much like their first meeting, the two teams battled closely — it was by no means a one-sided affair. The Jumbos outshot the Williams Ephs, 17–15, and played their typical aggressive style from the first whistle. But an early deficit proved insurmountable. In just the seventh minute, Williams converted through sophomore midfielder Aspen Pierson, who finished off a rebound after a save from Tufts’ senior goalkeeper Emily Bowers for her third goal of the season. Despite conceding three goals, Bowers played an impressive game, coming up big in goal with three saves for the Jumbos throughout the match.

Tufts was able to get a goal back to knot up the score at 1–1 on an impressive display of personal skill from leading scorer and sophomore midfielder/forward Sophie Lloyd. Lloyd’s goal, her 10th for the year, in the 16th minute was the last bright spot of the first half for the Jumbos.

Williams converted two more goals in the final 15 minutes of the first half to put Tufts under pressure. At 33 minutes, sophomore midfielder Victoria Laino’s goal reclaimed the advantage for the Ephs. An unfortunate own goal two minutes from half-time then doubled Williams’ lead.

On a day when the field was muddy and the conditions made for sloppy play, the Jumbos knew they would have to fight to come back in the game. They were rewarded for their endeavor just a little after five minutes into the second half — junior midfielder Sarah Maloney, who has started every game at center back and has been a standout player all year, converted her second goal of the season when she beat everyone to a cross sent into the box by sophomore defender/midfielder Hannah Isenhart.

This was the first time this season that Ephs’ senior goalkeeper and co-captain Olivia Barnhill had conceded more than one goal in a game.

This set up an exciting final 40 minutes: Tufts on all-out attack and Williams squashing all threats. As the game trudged on, the field took a beating, lending way to unpredictable play. Overall, Tufts generated nine shots in the second half, compared to Williams’ four, and forced Barnhill into making three saves in the second half.

BEN KIM / THE TUFTS DAILY

Sophomore midfielder/forward Sophie Lloyd prepares to make a pass in Tufts’ 3–0 Homecoming loss against Amherst at Kraft Field on Sept. 29.

Senior forward and co-captain Alex Aronson spoke to the difficulty of playing in treacherous conditions.

“The weather made every pass, every defensive play, every shot just so unpredictable and, honestly, out of anyone’s control on both teams,” Aronson said. “It was a mess and everyone’s legs were just so heavy trying to rock through the mud.

But we do not blame the weather, it just made the soccer a little unrecognizable.”

Despite their efforts, the Jumbos were not able to convert an equalizing goal, bringing their NESCAC tournament hopes to an end as the Ephs were able to see off the Jumbo offense.

“We had some chances that we didn’t capitalize on that we could have and should have,” Lloyd said.

Though they were not able to take home the NESCAC crown, this team deserves to be immensely proud of their impressive season record. From starting

the season 5–0 to hosting a first-round playoff game, the Jumbos were a stingy NESCAC opponent for any team who took to the field against them.

“This is a very special team,” Lloyd said. “We are all so connected and everyone is dedicated. I know it sounds cliché but this team is really a family. I am so grateful just to get out on the field and spend time with this group every day.”

On an individual note, the Jumbos had one of the top goal scorers and top playmakers in the NESCAC throughout the year in Lloyd and fellow sophomore forward Liz Reed. Lloyd had the second-most points in the NESCAC with 25 and was NESCAC’s third top goal-scorer with 10, while Reed led the assists chart with seven. These two led a lethal Tufts attack nearly every game, filling the stat sheet constantly. The two will surely star for the Jumbos together for the next two seasons. And though the Jumbos

are graduating a packed senior class full of strong contributors, the class of 2019 leaves behind a junior class at Kraft Field that has been taught how to lead and a group of sophomores and first-years loaded with talent.

“I think we are jealous we won’t be a part of it,” Aronson said. “The juniors will be remarkable leaders and the underclassmen value camaraderie and putting the team first. It will take hard work and adjustment but they could be some of the best Tufts has seen.”

Fortunately for the senior class, its opportunity to continue sharing the field with the rest of the team will continue this weekend, as the Jumbos received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row. Tufts will travel to William Smith in Geneva, N.Y. to face the 13–6 Penn State-Behrend, hoping to extend its season into Sunday and the next weekend.

Field hockey, men’s soccer, women’s soccer receive NCAA at-large bids

by Yuan Jun Chee

Executive Sports Editor

Tufts’ field hockey, men’s soccer and women’s soccer teams received at-large bids to the NCAA tournament, as announced Sunday and Monday. The Daily will preview these matchups later in the week.

Field hockey The No. 4 team in the country received a first-round bye after its outstanding 16–2 season, only losing twice to defending national champions Middlebury. Tufts will face the winner of Wednesday’s match between Montclair State and Smith on Saturday. The winner of that matchup will play either hosts Salisbury, Washington & Jefferson or Rhodes on Sunday.

Men’s soccer The No. 2 ranked Jumbos received one of two byes in the first round, courtesy of their unbeaten record this season. This is the Jumbos’ fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament, including two national championships in 2014 and 2016.

Bello Field will play host this weekend, as Tufts will face off against the win-

ner of the matchup between Stevens Institute of Technology and Gordon on Sunday.

Women’s soccer Tufts will face Penn State-Behrend in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday at William Smith in Geneva, N.Y. The winner of the match will play either the hosts or Westfield State on Sunday.