The Tufts Daily - Monday, March 1, 2020

New club seeks to foster community among English majors, department see FEATURES / PAGE 3

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Jumbos play strong in NESCAC final, lose in rematch with Polar Bears

Lady Gaga’s new single returns to pop music roots see ARTS&LIVING / PAGE 4

SEE SPORTS / BACK PAGE

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T HE T UFTS DAILY

VOLUME LXXIX, ISSUE 24

Monday, March 2, 2020

MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, MASS.

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Men’s basketball wins championship Victory over Colby marks 1st NESCAC title in program history

by Alex Sharp

Staff Writer

March always delivers. In a double overtime thriller yesterday at Cousens Gym, the men’s basketball team defeated Colby to win the NESCAC Championship for the first time in school history.

With 11 seconds remaining in regulation, Tufts found itself with the ball trailing Colby by three points. Sophomore guard Tyler Aronson received the inbound pass and bolted up the court. He sprinted to the right wing and handed the ball off to senior guard and co-captain Eric Savage, who took one dribble with his left hand before losing control of the ball. As the clock ticked towards zero, Savage chased after the ball and corralled it where the volleyball court’s spike line and end line meets, calmly set his feet and made a deep 35-foot shot. Colby’s last-second three-quarter court heave fell short so the game went to overtime tied 74–74.

“Insane shot. Insane moment in my life,” Savage said. “We ran a play to try to get Brennan Morris open in the corner for three.

The play worked well but timing was a bit off so I wasn’t really ready to throw a pass when

NICOLE GARAY / THE TUFTS DAILY

The men’s basketball team is pictured after winning the NESCAC championship game against Colby in Cousens Gym on March 1. it was open. I made sort of a one handed attempt at it and the ball slipped out towards half court. I chased it down, didn’t really look at the clock. I wasn’t able to dribble again so

I turned and hoisted one up. As soon as it left my hand, I knew it was good.”

Down 83–80 in overtime with 1:03 remaining, Tufts again found its back against a wall.

Savage shot a three from the right wing, but it rimmed out. Sophomore guard Carson Cohen managed to grab the offensive rebound and kick the ball back out. With fewer than 40 seconds to go, the ball was swung around the three point line from first-year guard Dylan Thoerner to junior guard Morris to Savage, who put up a straightaway three-pointer. He was not going to miss twice.

“I knew somebody needed to hit a three,” Savage said.

With the score knotted up at 83, Colby first-year guard Will King broke through the Jumbos’ defense and converted a layup to put Colby ahead by two with 14 seconds remaining. Coming out of a Tufts timeout, Savage again had the ball in his hands with the chance to tie or take the lead. His contested pull up jumper missed, but Thoerner was fouled by Colby senior forward Dean Weiner while going after the rebound. The foul was Weiner’s fifth, disqualifying him from the game. Thoerner went to the line for two shots with five seconds on the clock and the weight of Cousens Gym on his shoulders. He calmly knocked down see MEN'S BASKETBALL, page 7

Monaco hosts local leaders for symposium on community partnerships

TCU Senate hears proposed referendum, supplementary funding requests

by Alexander Thompson

by Alexander Janoff

Staff Writer

More than 100 community leaders, students and administrators gathered to discuss the relationship between the university and local organizations at the 18th annual Presidential Symposium on Community Partnerships hosted

by University President Anthony Monaco at 51 Winthrop St. on Wednesday morning.

Monaco used the symposium to showcase the successes of the university’s projects in its host communities and as an opportunity to hear feedback from the local leaders about those programs.

In his opening remarks, Monaco highlighted the university’s commitment to pushing students off the Hill and into the surrounding communities to support the work of local nonprofits and public services.

“From the first time they step on campus until their final walk at graduation at commencement we encourage our students to be actively

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engaged, civic minded and volunteering in surrounding communities,” he said.

Alan Solomont, dean of the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, took the microphone next to tell the audience that Tufts relies on its community partners to help prepare students to play an active civic life after graduation.

“We have always known that acquiring that knowledge and learning those skills and values cannot occur solely in the classroom,” he said.

“We fulfill our mission by having students work in the community to practice what they learn from books and to learn some things that books don’t teach.”

Solomont set the tone for the rest of the program, as one speaker followed another highlighting various Tisch College initiatives.

Amira Al-Subaey (LA’19), a field organizer at the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), extolled the value of Tisch Summer Fellowships, which allowed her see SYMPOSIUM, page 2 For breaking news, our content archive and exclusive content, visit tuftsdaily.com @tuftsdaily

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The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate discussed a proposed ballot referendum from Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and heard 12 supplementary funding requests and Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) budget requests in their meeting last night in the Sophia Gordon multipurpose room.

The proposed referendum seeks to address Tufts University Police Department’s (TUPD) involvement with the Israeli police force and military.

“Students for Justice in Palestine and many other groups are disturbed by Tufts’ participation in the Deadly Exchange,” SJP’s letter to TCU Senate read. “We all believe that safety on campus does not start with military trained police, especially not those trained in a country that is deeply rooted in apartheid and human rights abuses.”

SJP held a seven-day action in November 2019 calling attention to the same issue, during which they sought to call attention to the alleged increase

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in police militarization on campus and end TUPD training trips to Israel.

TCU Parliamentarian Finn McGarghan explained that the referendum would only be put on the presidential ballot in April if they attain 300 signatures in the week following the official submission of the resolution to TCU Senate. If they fail to meet this requirement, TCU Senate will vote on the referendum as they would any other resolution, and it would not be included on the presidential ballot as a referendum question.

If this resolution is indeed placed on the ballot as a referendum question, one-sixth of the Tufts student body would need to vote in order for the referendum to pass. According to McGarghan, the referendum will fail if less than one-sixth of the student body votes or a majority of the voters vote against the referendum.

Elsewhere in the meeting, TCU President Shannon Lee announced that the school has begun the construction of an educational exhibit

NEWS............................................1 FEATURES.................................3 ARTS & LIVING.......................4

see SENATE, page 2

FUN & GAMES.........................5 OPINION.....................................6 SPORTS............................ BACK

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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Monday, March 2, 2020

THE TUFTS DAILY Ryan Shaffer Editor in Chief

EDITORIAL Alex Viveros Nathan Kyn

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SYMPOSIUM

continued from page 2 to join MIRA as an intern in the summer of 2018 while she was still at Tufts.

Marie Cassidy, the director of the Medford Family Network, highlighted the contributions of Tufts students who have worked with her organization for decades have made to the community.

“Every one of them who has been there has made an amazing difference and a sustainable difference not only for Medford families but for cities all around,” she said.

Two undergraduate students, William Lynn and Daniela Sánchez, both seniors, talked about their participation in two of Tufts’ marquee service programs, the FOCUS pre-orientation program and the Tufts 1+4 gap year experience respectively. Grace Talusan, a lecturer in English Department who teaches courses for the Tisch Scholars and the Civic Semester, rounded out the speakers.

After the speakers finished, each table held guided discussions on a variety of topics related to Tufts’ links with its partners. Monaco then listened to the comments of each table and added his own reflections.

In his closing remarks, the university president heralded Tufts’ partnerships as role models for other universities and paid homage to former University President John DiBiaggio, who oversaw the establishment of Tisch College and died earlier this month.

The Somerville Homeless Coalition was one of the organizations represented at the symposium. Ben Wyner, an assistant program manager there, said that the symposium was a great opportunity to hear from students about their experiences working for local nonprofits.

“This is a good time to get together and hear ways we can do things better, things that have worked really well for people and hopefully we

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Students, community leaders reflect on Tufts' relationships with community

ALEXANDER THOMPSON / THE TUFTS DAILY

University President Anthony Monaco addresses the Tufts Presidential Symposium on Community Partnerships on Feb. 26. work more with the Tisch Scholars in the future,” he remarked.

More than a dozen Tufts students also attended the symposium, many of whom are current Tisch Scholars, including Rabiya Ismail, who works with immigrant youth at the Somervillebased Welcome Project.

Ismail, who is also a Tufts Community Union Senator for the Class of 2022, said that the symposium shows that Tufts is engaging directly with its partners.

“It’s really good that people from a bunch of different places in the administration all show up so they can hear the complaints and the praise from the community partners,” Ismail said.

Shirley Mark, the director of community partnerships at Tisch College, wrote in an email that the university does not count how many students volunteer in the course of a year, but explained that the university works with more than 100 organizations annually and that the Tisch Summer Fellows alone contributed around 24,000 service hours last year.

Tufts held the symposium amidst year-long negotiations with both Somerville and Medford for new payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreements in which the university pays a portion of the property taxes it would owe the municipality were it not tax exempt.

Though unaddressed at the symposium, Tufts’ community partnerships play an important role in the PILOT negotiations because the university customarily pays part of the amount in cash while the other part is paid in non-monetary benefits to its host community. The university includes contributions to local nonprofits towards its non-monetary benefits total.

Ben Echevarría is both the executive director of the Welcome Project, which has worked extensively with Tisch College, and a member of Somerville’s PILOT negotiating committee.

He qualified the university’s relationship with its partners as “tensioned,” and said he hoped other nonprofit leaders took advantage of the symposium to relay their concerns to Tufts.

Echevarría also noted the burdens the partnerships can place on community organizations, emphasizing an issue he dubbed “parachuting,” in which students engage only passively with an organization, often associated with social justice coursework.

However, Echaverría said he saw progress being made at the symposium on Wednesday morning.

“There are some interesting conversations that need to continue to be had, not just the [once a] year event kind of thing,” he said.

Senate approves 12 funding requests, club budgets

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Rebecca Barker Jillian Rolnick Anna Hirshman David Levitsky Hannah Wells Abigail Zielinski Cole Wolk Sophie Elia Yiyun Tom Guan Makenna Law Grace Prendergast Mariel Priven Kate Seklir Ethan Steinberg Rae Sun Russell Yip Brendan Hartnett

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continued from page 1 in Tufts Medical School that will show the history of Tufts’ relationship with the Sackler family.

TCU Treasurer Sharif Hamidi led the body in reviewing weekly supplementary funding requests. TCU Senate heard a total of twelve supplementary funding requests and FY20 budgets from twelve different organizations.

The Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha requested $1,125 to cover the registration fees to attend a Zen Buddhist Retreat in Cumberland, Rhode Island on March 7. The Allocations Board (ALBO), however, only recommended $1,013.

TCU Senate passed the ALBO-recommended sum with 26 Senators in favor, none opposed and none abstaining.

The South Asian Political Action Committee submitted a request to fund two speakers who spoke on February 27 for a total of $328. This request passed TCU Senate by acclamation.

The Japanese Culture Club requested a total of $990 to host an arts and crafts workshop hosted by artist Mari Shibuya. This included $500 to host Shibuya and $490 to cover craft supplies and printing costs. This request passed TCU Senate by acclamation.

Women’s Club Basketball requested $1755 in total for its FY20 budget, covering entry fees, jerseys and referee payments. ALBO recommended $1605, and the budget passed TCU Senate with 26 Senators in favor, none opposed and none abstaining.

Club Badminton requested $675 in total for its FY20 budget. The budget, which covered costs for entry fees, rackets and practice birdies, totaling passed the TCU Senate by acclamation.

The Vietnamese Students’ Club requested $3500 to host Myra Tran, a significant Vietnamese performer who sang on American Idol, on April 18.

This request passed TCU Senate with 25 Senators in favor, none opposed and one abstaining.

The American Society of Civil Engineers requested $1,750 to attend their Regional Steel Bridge Competition in Norwich, Vermont in April. The request covers costs for lodging, transportation

and uniforms. TCU Senate passed the ALBOrecommended sum of $1,615 with 27 Senators in favor, none opposed and one abstaining.

Public Harmony requested $1,610 to fund equipment for their performances, including funding for a banner, cables, audio and visual equipment and a Cajon drum.

The Cajon cost $171, which caused some debate on whether such an expensive piece of equipment was necessary. ALBO members reassured the body that the sum of $171 was discounted and that the drum was meant to last for five or more years.

TCU Senate passed the request in full with 28 Senators in favor, none opposed and none abstaining.

Tufts ENVY requested $300 for lodging costs for a competition in Albany, NY on March 7. TCU Senate passed the ALBO-recommended sum of $270 with 28 Senators in favor, none opposed and none abstaining.

Headlines from off the Hill

by Jillian Rolnick

Executive Copy Editor

Trader Joe dies at 89 Joe Coulombe, the founder of the widespread grocery chain Trader Joe’s, died in his Pasadena, Calif. home on Feb. 29. His stores, known for their affordable food items and shopper-trusted private brand, revolutionized the way that people buy their groceries. The first store opened in 1967 in Pasadena and has since grown into a grocery empire of over 500 stores. Coulombe is survived by his wife of 67 years, three children and six grandchildren.

Pete chooses to drop out Pete Buttigieg, former South Bend, Ind. mayor and the first openly gay major presidential candidate, decided to end his presidential campaign followinvg the South Carolina primary election, according to reporting from The New York Times yesterday.

Buttigieg, the youngest candidate in the field, placed in a near-tie for first in the Iowa

Tufts Financial Group requested $399 to attend a networking event in Boston on March 6. TCU Senate passed the ALBO-recommended request of $344 by acclamation.

Students of Turkey requested $638 in total for its FY20 budget. ALBO recommended $310.

The final budget included $50 for speaker events, $100 for a Parade of Nations Week cooking class and $160 for an international food festival, passed TCU Senate with 27 Senators in favor, none opposed and one abstaining.

Tufts Economics Society requested $156 to fund their website fees. This request passed TCU Senate by acclamation.

Sino-U.S. Relations Group Engagement (SURGE) requested $608 in total to host speaker Brendan O’Connor on April 10 and April 11. This request included funds for both transport and lodging. The request passed TCU Senate in full by acclamation.

caucuses and finished second in the New Hampshire primary election, but was unable to appeal to a broader coalition of voters. This decision comes just two days before Super Tuesday, the largest voting day of the primary election cycle, when a third of the delegates are allocated.

Cannabis soda on sale in Massachusetts The Commonwealth Cannabis Company (CommCan) released SIP, a cannabis infused soda, for sale in Massachusetts on Friday.

According to reporting from MassLive, the beverage is the first soda made with marijuana to enter the commercial market in Massachusetts.

Made with THC distillate, fresh lemon juice and real cane sugar, each can of SIP contains 5 milligrams of THC, the chemical responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis, according to CommCan, a Massachusettsbased recreational and medical marijuana dispensary. The low dose allows users to feel the effects for between 10 and 30 minutes, according to CommCan.

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Features

New English club aims to build community within English department

CHRISTINE LEE / THE TUFTS DAILY

East Hall is pictured on Nov. 8, 2019.

by Amelia Becker

Executive Features Editor

With an array of potential courses and many ways to fulfill the major requirements, English majors can feel a lack of community within the major.

“The English major as a major is actually really disparate and has no clear track, so a lot of the students don’t end up seeing each other for more than a class or two,” senior Casey Zorn said.

There has always been a discussion among the English Department faculty members about how to best create a sense of community within the major, according to Ichiro Takayoshi, an associate professor of English.

“There was always a discussion among the faculty members about the best way to create some kind of common spirit among the students,” Takayoshi said.

Ideas about how to do this included hosting luncheons and other events for majors, as well as having a graduation party for English majors prior to commencement.

Having a club for the students had always been part of the discussion, Takayoshi said.

It was just a matter of finding enough student interest to get a club up and running. With a critical mass of interest, Takayoshi and other English department faculty felt the time was right.

Last semester, professors in the English department gathered students who had expressed interest and pitched the idea for the English Majors and Minors Society to the students. From there, it was up to students to take responsibility for launching the club, Zorn, an English and environmental engineering double major, said.

“It was an effort on behalf of the English professors to connect the English students because we’re small in numbers and we don’t know each other, which is kind of funny. [It’s] an effort to make us socialize,” junior Ethan Resek said.

Sophomore Harrison Witt was one of the students involved with the founding of the club.

“We had a meeting and [the English department faculty] pretty much immediately handed the reins to a group of students that wanted to form the executive

team,” Witt, the recently elected president of the club, said. “Then, from there, we started meeting almost every week.”

Since this initial meeting at the start of the semester, the students involved have been working to establish the club.

While the English Majors and Minors Society is not officially recognized by the Tufts Community Union, they still have plans for events this semester and in the future. The club holds weekly executive board meetings to brainstorm ideas and plan events for the week. Witt hopes the club will have events every week.

Some of these potential events include panels of professors and students before course selection, author visits and social events, Witt said. The club additionally has a budget from the English department to put on events, according to Zorn.

Resek, one of the co-executives of operations, said one of the biggest things currently in the works is a story slam with student performances.

So far the club has hosted a silent book club a couple of times. In this time, students do about 45 minutes of silent reading or writing, whether it be for a class or for pleasure. At the end, students engage in a discussion about what they respectively read or wrote.

“It gives everyone an opportunity not only to work on their own individual work, but because English majors are so broad in their interests, it allows people who haven’t taken, let’s say, a Milton class, to learn a little bit about Milton, or someone who isn’t as interested in 20th century literature to hear a bit about Hemingway,” Witt said.

It gives people an opportunity to broaden their horizons, Witt added.

The English Majors and Minors Society is for all those with an interest in English, not just declared majors and minors.

Witt added the club has an open board, so all those interested in having a vote have that ability.

“It’s very flexible, and we just want to create a sense of community,” Witt said.

As a senior, Zorn is hoping to establish this club for future generations of English majors and minors.

“I really think that it’s important to be able to meet people in your major and cre-

ate those connections and start networking, so I’ve really just been pushing to have more and more underclassmen take a role,” Zorn said.

In terms of goals for the club, all of the members interviewed shared an optimistic outlook.

Zorn wants English majors and minors to be proud of their major and excited about future opportunities.

“I want people to have the opportunity to discuss with each other what they’re planning to do with this major because it’s a major that doesn’t have a clear path after college,” Zorn said.

One of Takayoshi’s hopes is that students will be able to use this as a learning experience. He believes that a peer-to-peer teaching experience will be beneficial for the students involved.

“There is something very productive, lasting and real about the learning that takes place between peers, and I hope something like that will happen in all kinds of events,” Takayoshi said.

Witt believes that the club will serve as a place for students to connect outside of the classroom. It will also serve as a way for students to get involved with the English department as a whole.

“It’s like the liaison between the department and the student body,” Witt said.

Takayoshi also hopes students are able to build friendships through the club.

“I want the students to find friends through their major … I think there is something special about the friends you make through your major,” Takayoshi said. “Obviously you and these friends have some interest in common. You and your friends like reading books, discussing books and writing books.”

Witt echoed this sentiment, adding that the club will be a great chance to build community on campus.

“All of us have united under the fact that we all love being English majors,” Witt said. “It’s a really rewarding experience, and you develop a lot of skills. So, giving a space for major specific [programming] and people interested [in English] allows a community to develop and brings that community to campus that could be lacking a little bit.”

3

Monday, March 2, 2020

Ross Sonnenblick From seniors to citizens

Happy retirement

S

enior spring to social security. On the hill to over the hill. Graduation to … grandchildren? Here’s what seniors have to say before all is said and done.

David Meyer already feels old.

“I guess I’m living in retirement right now, honestly, as a part-time student.

Happy retirement,” he said.

In many regards, Meyer enjoys the unencumbered schedule of a person thrice his age: He wakes up late, takes one class, watches films and practices writing.

Unlike the typical pensioner, Meyer has a part-time job. This semester, he is working as an after-school assistant at a local elementary school.

“These kindergartners through fifth graders are so spry,” he said.

The students insist that he play basketball with them, that he play ever more basketball with them, that he continue playing with them even after they take dramatic tumbles that would force someone of Meyer’s advanced age out of athletic action for months.

Meyer is keenly aware that he lacks that kind of time, at least at Tufts.

“I love my solitude, but I’m definitely making a more concerted effort to make these moments count with my friends,” he said.

Along those lines, he recently decided to watch the National Basketball Association’s All-Star Game from the comfort of his friend’s couch as opposed to crashing on his own sofa at home.

Meanwhile, Meyer’s lease on his off-campus house ends in a matter of months, but he cannot search for his next place of residence quite yet.

“There is something disconcerting about all of my friends looking for their apartments while I’m looking for a singular job,” Meyer said.

“I’m going into the film and TV and entertainment market and that means that applications come out around right now.

I’m starting that process, as opposed to my friends who were done with it in October, so that’s a little stressful,” Meyer explained.

In the long term, Meyer hopes to make a name for himself in Los Angeles before returning to his native Chicago.

“I don’t wanna be famous, but I would like to be recognized,” he said. “If I got famous, it would probably be as a writer.”

Meyer emphasizes the social value of the shows and/or movies for which he would like to become known.

“It’s not in the box-office returns or any of that … [I want to] go to bed and feel good about not just what I made creatively, but what I made societally,” he said.

Meyer’s work has not yet won any Oscars, but his time at Tufts did produce at least one made-for-TV moment. He recounts one Valentine’s Day when he found himself in a crowded theater on a quasi date with his unreciprocated crush, watching a romantic movie and wincing at the smooching sounds from happy couples around him.

“Looking back, that’s one of my most cinematic memories,” he said.

Maybe Meyer will enshrine that scene in a film, or maybe not. Regardless, he would love to hear his future self say, “It’ll all work out. Retirement is great. Your life is great.”

Of course, not even an aspiring screenwriter can film the future, but he can hope for his Hollywood ending.

Ross Sonnenblick is a senior studying psychology. Ross can be reached at ross. sonnenblick@tufts.edu.

4 Monday, March 2, 2020

ARTS&LIVING

Aidan Menchaca Beginner Mentality

T

Folk music

he first piece I ever learned on the violin was a Romanian Hora — no “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and no Bach minuets. In fact, no sheet music at all!

For many violinists this would be a strange way to start. Yet, this unorthodox start has made such a difference to my development as a violinist and my entire view of the instrument’s capabilities. To start, everyone should be playing Romanian Horas!

The entire approach of folk music (in a broad generalization) is refreshing.

Folk music embraces the communal aspect of music making because it is situated at the heart of the community and relies on ties between people. Learning music like this keeps it in your bones and forever in your ear. It is uncomplicated by abstract (although necessary) notation which I’m still getting a feel for. Instead of “reading” my first piece, I learned it by ear, as it would have been taught in the Romanian tradition.

Learning by ear has caused me to listen more analytically and thoughtfully, counting the rhythms and homing in on each exact pitch. Violin playing is, of course, all about hearing yourself and others so this was a great way to sharpen my ear.

The Hora’s unique tonality and danceability represented a completely new way of hearing the violin which firmly existed in Central Germany for me originally. In fact, when I first heard my teacher play the piece, it was hard to believe the same instrument was used to play Beethoven because it produced such a different effect. This goes to show how the violin, popular all around the world, is a great window into the world’s music and cultures. After having played more Romanian music and Greek music on the violin, I’ve been more interested to listen and learn more about other musical cultures, especially Indian classical music, Arab music and Klezmer.

Playing in a new style is a way of speaking a new musical language which transcends human language. I may not be able to speak to a Hungarian violinist, but music says more than we ever could share. When I’m playing, I might not understand every stylistic choice or play in the exact idiomatic way, but I feel a deep human connection to those who have created the piece. Hundreds of miles and years separate us, but we both agree on the beauty of this constellation of sounds.

Every few weeks I dust off the short Hora. After two years, my bow is no longer shaking and my intonation has improved considerably. I can add the confidence of a few years of playing, vibrato and a deep passion for all the forms of violin music. My fundamental relationship with the music is unchanged, however. That sense of awe will never leave me and I will always be looking to expand my playing and conception of the violin.

Aidan Menchaca is a senior studying history. Aidan can be reached at aidan.menchaca@tufts.edu.

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‘Stupid Love,’ Lady Gaga’s infectious return to dance-pop

VIA PITCHFORK

The cover of “Stupid Love” (2020) by Lady Gaga is pictured

by Christopher Panella Arts Editor

With her new single, “Stupid Love” (2020), Lady Gaga returns to the blood-pumping, hair-raising dance-pop of her early career.

For many fans, Gaga’s new single is a welcomed comeback. It’s radio friendly — unlike much of her last essentially pop endeavor “ARTPOP” (2013) — and connects to the aesthetic of her Las Vegas residency show “Lady Gaga: Enigma” (2018–). The single is certainly ready for nightclubs and parties everywhere (although it’s probably been playing in them for weeks considering “Stupid Love” leaked back in January) and will usher in a new era for Gaga and her fans.

But how did we get here? And why are Gaga’s fans rejoicing at the return of Mother Monster? In reality, Gaga never really left the musicscape. After all, her soundtrack for the most recent film adaption of “A Star is Born” (2018) was incredibly popular, broke plenty of records and became an essential album for middle-aged mothers everywhere. And before that came “Joanne” (2016) and her Tony Bennett jazz duet release “Cheek to Cheek” (2014). So why the excitement? It’s not like there’s been a drought of new music.

If anything, being a Gaga fan in the 2010s was incredibly fulfilling; she released a consistent stream of great music.

The idea of “Stupid Love” being a comeback relates to our understanding of how Gaga’s sound and music have changed over the years.

It’s much more important and career-defining

than we might initially realize. With “Stupid Love,” Gaga returns to the dance-pop that made her famous and set the tone for much of the pop of the early 2010s. It’s not easy to forget that Gaga’s hits like “Just Dance” (2008), “Paparazzi” (2008), “Bad Romance” (2009) and “Poker Face” (2008) were incredibly popular when released (it’s inarguable that they still are). With singles like those and albums like “The Fame” (2008) (and its 2009 reissue “The Fame Monster”), “Born This Way” (2011) and “ARTPOP”, Gaga carved out an impressive space for herself in pop music and radio.

But it was after the lukewarm — and undeservedly harsh, considering “ARTPOP” is an absolutely brilliant album — reaction to “ARTPOP” that Gaga remade herself and her sound. That’s where the aforementioned jazz, country and film soundtrack releases come into play. So “Stupid Love” really is a comeback — a return to a form and style that Gaga has been relatively avoiding, save some standalone singles like “The Cure” (2017), tracks on “Joanne” and “A Star is Born.”

And we can expect “Stupid Love” to ride that fan excitement and dominate radios, something we don’t really think all that much about thanks to streaming, but it could really elongate this single’s lifespan. After all, songs like Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” (2017) still play on the radio even three years later. In this way, “Stupid Love” has got the legs to keep up the marathon; it’s a fun pop single with a catchy chorus and great vocals. There’s not much lyrical complexity — something to look forward to on Gaga’s upcoming album,

possibly titled “Chromatica” — but the beat is so infectious that it doesn’t really matter.

“Stupid Love” has a bright, ’80s synth-pop sound that’s wonderfully infectious. It’s more of a reminder of “Born This Way” than “ARTPOP,” although “Stupid Love” might feel too colorful to fit in with “Born This Way.” It’s fun and flirty and checks all the boxes for a hit. It gives us a Gaga that sounds older and wiser — she’s made dance-pop and electropop tunes, she knows the formula and now she’s confidently having fun — and ready to make some good music.

And the music video showcases that fun.

“Stupid Love” seems to follow a pink tribe, named the Kindness punks, as they fight for Chromatica (possibly the planet they’re on?) and settle a dispute between the other colorful tribes. It’s a hybrid of the Power Rangers, Gaga’s “Enigma” (2018–20) show, camp and great choreography. And hello, let’s celebrate that! It’s got great costumes — Gaga wears these futuristic shoulder pads with dangling pink metal ornaments and this plastic cover over her face that are just incredible — and it was shot on an iPhone 11 Pro! It’s breathtakingly fun and doesn’t sound like anything out there right now. With “Stupid Love,” Gaga is back and better than ever. She’s spent the last few years adding some genres to her repertoire, but there’s something about Gaga returning to her roots that feels both ripe and reassuring. As “Stupid Love” begins its pop domination, we can celebrate Gaga’s new era by dancing and wearing absurdly amazing costumes. Let’s hope the rest of 2020 is full of Gaga’s dancefloor bops.

Monday, March 2, 2020 | FUN & GAMES | THE TUFTS DAILY

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F &G FUN & GAMES

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LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY Jake: “I have participated in at least two paranormal investigations”

SUDOKU

LINDA C. BLACK ASTROLOGY

Pisces (Feb. 19–March 20)

Domestic conditions could seem chaotic. Misunderstandings come easily... forgive and forget. Ignore gossip or rumors. Focus on what’s best for family.

Relax and rest.

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Difficulty Level: Realizing there’s two more weeks until break

Friday’s Solutions

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6 Monday, March 2, 2020

Opinion

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OP-ED

Op-ed: The truth about beating Donald Trump

by Anthony Davis-Pait Throughout this campaign, Bernie Sanders has broken record after record. He has received the greatest number of individual contributions by any presidential candidate in United States history, and he is the first candidate in U.S. history to win the popular vote in all three first primary states.

In Nevada he won across almost every demographic — white, hispanic, female, male, union members and non-union voters who identify as liberal, somewhat liberal and moderate. It is clear that Bernie Sanders is the front runner going into March 3 with 29.6% support in an average of the most recent polls from RealClearPolitics. There is no doubt that we are running an unprecedented campaign. Yet, despite these milestones, the narrative that Bernie Sanders doesn’t stand a chance against Trump has continued to prevail.

Some argue that the policies Bernie has proposed are too radical for the American people to support, thus hurting his chances against Trump. But in reality, most of Bernie’s policies are popular with a majority of Democratic voters. A Data For Progress poll of Iowa caucusgoers showed 82% supported Medicare for All and 92% supported a Green New Deal. And this shouldn’t come as a surprise. We are living in unprecedented times of inequality in America. Two and half million student loan borrowers have student loan debt greater than $100,000. An estimated 530,000 families go bankrupt every year due to medical bills. Seventy-eight million Americans are either uninsured or underinsured. Forty-two thousand people per day are held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers at the border. Sixty-six thousand people are locked behind bars for drug possession. One hundred forty-three million people globally are going to face displacement due to climate change by 2050. Bernie understands that these unprecedented times call for unprecedented policies. Bernie is committed to cancelling all medical debt and student debt, passing Medicare for All, providing

meaningful immigration and criminal justice reform and passing a comprehensive Green New Deal. Voting for Bernie isn’t just about his presidency, it’s about proving to the Democratic party that we are ready for a national progressive agenda. It’s about proving that the success of Alexandria OcasioCortez and the squad’s campaigns are not just flukes but signals of a new era. It’s about proving that we are not willing to allow corporations to flourish while leaving millions of Americans behind.

Some have expressed concerns that Bernie’s identification as a democratic socialist will give Trump fuel to use against him in the general election. However, this would not be the first attempt to paint Democrats with this broad socialist brush.

In a number of presidential elections, from those of John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama, there have been attempts from Republicans to portray the democratic nominee as a “socialist.” Republican’s banking on this age old argument is both miscalculated because of its past failures and an insult to the ability of voters to see past blatant propaganda.

It isn’t hard to understand that there is a distinction between every single country in Europe and the Soviet Union. Bernie has made it clear that he has the ability to fend off attacks against socialism, as many of his democratic challengers have tried this approach on the debate stage. He believes that we must call these Republican attacks on socialism for what they really are — attacks on social security, medicare, veteran’s health care, roads, bridges, national parks, clean water and clean air. He also claims that the United States already practices socialism for the rich, as he says Wall Street recieved the “largest federal bailout in American history” in 2008. We save the one percent billions of dollars with tax cuts and subsidize their workers’ health care and food so that employers can pay workers less than a living wage. If the term socialism is placed on every politician who believes health care and education are human rights, then a majority of Americans are in favor of socialism.

The idea that Bernie can’t beat Trump is exactly what the fossil fuel executives, insurance executives, Wall Street executives, establishment politicians and billionaires want us to believe. They understand that a Bernie presidency poses a serious threat to their endless profits. Trump understands this, too, and his supporters would rather put a candidate against Trump who is guaranteed to lose than face the consequences of real reform, because, in reality, they have been thriving for the past four years. Most people understand, however, that valuing human life over profit isn’t a radical or socialist idea. Thus, we cannot fall prey to the illusion that a progressive candidate cannot beat Trump and give billionaires exactly what they want.

While we are facing a lot of opposition, we have history on our side. The United States has a history of standing up to those in power to achieve labor rights, women’s rights and civil rights. These bold changes were only achievable because of the mass movements of working class people that stood up to those in power. Bernie’s campaign is inspired by these movement making strategies, which is why we’ve been able to break so many records in United States history.

If we can secure the Democratic nomination, poll after poll has shown that we will beat Trump in the popular vote. Our path to victory is by giving voters a candidate to believe in. We have the chance to engage millions of Americans who have become disillusioned with status quo politics, and reasonably so. As Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez often discusses, the key to winning an election is expanding the electorate by increasing voter turnout among those under 40, as she experienced in her 2018 campaign. OcasioCortez showed that, along with the rise of progressive candidates running on policies like Medicare for All and a Green New Deal, we will see a massive rise in voter participation for underrepresented groups, including college students. If we are given the chance to vote for a progressive candidate, we will show up to the polls. Some may claim that

they believe more people would sit out in a Bernie versus Trump election than any other matchup, but the numbers say different. According to a Quinnipiac poll, the vast majority of Democrats, 93%, would vote for Bernie when paired against Trump.

Any other moderate candidate stands a real chance of losing the support of all of the young voters and voters of color that Bernie has created excitement among. Of eight polls taken, Bernie beats Trump in every single one, and by the largest margin.

Furthermore, Bernie reports he is the only candidate with more individual donors than Trump.

Bernie also stands the best chance against Trump in the electoral college. Bernie’s message is not only resonating with urban coastal voters, but he consistently fares best against Trump with midwestern and rural voters, likely because of his opposition to bad trade policies and determination to prove that he cannot be bought out by billionaires. In 2016, Clinton lost Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan to Trump, but in all three states, Bernie is beating Trump by the largest margins 47–45, 46–44 and 48–41. There is no question that Bernie’s extensive record will pose a stark contrast to Trump’s record. In a USA TODAY/Ipsos poll, a clear majority of Democratic voters admire Bernie’s character more than any Democratic candidate over Trump.

I am not advocating that you vote for a candidate just because you believe they can beat Trump. But if beating Trump is important to you, just like the majority of Democratic voters including myself, don’t write Bernie off. Vote for whichever candidate shares your vision of this country. I am voting for a country in which everyone has access to quality health care, a living wage, clean air and water, freedom from deportation, workplace democracy, reproductive rights, higher education and affordable housing.

Anthony Davis-Pait is a first-year who has not yet declared a major. Anthony can be reached at anthony.davis_pait@tufts.edu.

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Sports

Monday, March 2, 2020 | Sports | THE TUFTS DAILY

Men's basketball cuts down the nets at NESCAC Championship

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Matt Goguen Keeping Up with the 617

3 draft targets for New England Patriots

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NICOLE GARAY / THE TUFTS DAILY

Senior Eric Savage goes for a layup at the NESCAC Championship game against Colby in Cousens Gym on March 1.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

continued from page 2 both free throws and Colby was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer sounded.

“That’s something you dream about,” Thoerner said. “Obviously I was nervous, but I thought positively and told myself I was going to make these, and there was no way we were going to lose the game.”

“My good friend Dylan has ice in his veins.

Totally pure,” Savage said about Thoerner.

Savage began the second overtime with a pull-up jumper that put Tufts up 87–85; the Jumbos did not relinquish that lead. With Weiner fouled out, the Jumbos exploited a major size advantage down low, pounding the ball into junior center Luke Rogers. Rogers converted two layups and a free throw, stretching Tufts’ lead to 92–86 with 1:36 remaining. After Colby senior guard Sam Jefferson knocked down one of two free throws, Cohen was fouled on the other end and converted both free throws. Down seven with 1:10 to go, Colby elected to play the foul game. Savage, Thoerner, Morris and junior guard Will Brady combined to go eight for 10 from the line in the last minute, which was more than enough to clinch Tufts’ first NESCAC Championship in program history. The final score was 102–94.

Before the two overtime periods, regulation was a tale of two halves. In the first half, Jumbos completed 59.4% of their shots and held Mules to just 32.4%. Tufts constantly fed Rogers the ball, and he dominated on almost every paint touch. Rogers shot seven for eight in the first half, and when the defense collapsed on him, he kicked it to his open teammates, resulting in three assists. Tufts went into the break up 45–33.

“We were executing our game plan really well,” Thoerner said. “We had them right where we wanted them.”

In the second half, Colby employed a threetwo zone that did a much better job denying Rogers paint touches. After scoring 15 points and recording three assists in the first half, Rogers was held to one point on four shots and zero assists in the second half. Some of Tufts best shooters also went ice cold in the second half as Morris, Aronson, and Brady combined to shoot one for 14 from the field. Tufts as a team shot only 28.1% in the second half. Poor shooting allowed Colby to climb back into the game.

“Colby went to this strange three-two zone,” Savage said. “We knew where the open areas were, but we were struggling to get the ball to our guys in those areas to make plays.”

The catalyst of Colby’s comeback was sophomore guard Noah Tyson. Tyson hit three three-pointers in the first few minutes of the second half. With 4:23 to go in regulation, Tyson tied the game at 63 with another three.

On Colby’s very next offensive possession, Tyson was fouled on a three point attempt.

He converted all three free throws, giving the Mules their first lead of the second half.

Tyson scored 15 points in the second half and finished with 19 points. Along with Tyson, Weiner (23 points), junior guard Matt Hanna (21 points) and King (12 points) did much of the heavy lifting for the Colby offense.

With 27 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists, Savage led the Jumbos’ offensive attack. Rogers finished with 25 points and 19 rebounds. Morris and Thoerner finished with 16 and 13 points, respectively, while Cohen chipped in 9 points.

This instant classic is one that won’t soon be forgotten by players, coaches or fans that

had the pleasure of being at Cousens Gym yesterday.

“Legendary game,” Savage said. “I’ll never forget it.”

On Saturday, Tufts defeated Trinity 87–73 in the semifinals. After a slow start offensively, the Jumbos took the lead about halfway through the first half. Trinity cut the lead to 35–30 and appeared to be gaining momentum until Cohen took a big charge with about two minutes remaining in the period. Morris canned a three on Tufts’ next offensive possession, and Cousens Gym erupted.

In the second half, the Jumbos’ offense was simply too much for the Bantams to handle.

Tufts maintained a steady double-digit lead before finally delivering a knockout punch with a quick 8–0 run. Morris hit consecutive threes 16 seconds apart, giving the Jumbos a 20 point lead with about six minutes to go in the game. Then, on Tufts next offensive possession, Rogers caught the ball in the post, lost his defender and slammed home a two-handed dunk. In the last minutes, Trinity employed an effective full court press and knocked down a few threes, but it was too little too late as Tufts made late free throws and hung on to win.

Rogers and Morris led Tufts in scoring with 17 points each. Savage and Brady joined them in double figures with 15 points and 13 points, respectively.

With the championship victory, Tufts earns an automatic bid to the Div. III NCAA tournament. The seeds will be announced at today’s selection show at 12:30 p.m.

“We want to carry this momentum forward,” Savage said. “We’re very excited about NCAAs, and hopefully we’re going to take that home too.”

TRASHING ONE EGG WASTES 55 GALLONS OF WATER

s the NFL Combine kicked off last week, it seems like the perfect time to write about potential draft targets for the Patriots. The Patriots currently sit with nine draft picks, with six of them in rounds six and seven, so they are well prepared to make a splash in this year’s draft. As many players are set to leave in free agency, including Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins, the front office must prepare to refill the roster holes with rookies that they hope to develop in the latter years.

Let’s get to it.

Thaddeus Moss, Tight End, LSU Thaddeus Moss, son of former NFL wide receiver Randy Moss, exploded onto the scene after his two touchdown performance in the College Football Playoff National Championship game. His ability to bully opposing defensive ends has piqued the interest of many NFL scouts.

Not only is Moss a terrific blocker, but he is also able to penetrate underneath zone defenses and could be utilized in Josh McDaniels’ offensive scheme. Moss’ overthe-top routes will draw the free safety off Julian Edelman, who was consistently double covered last season. Additionally, due to his size and frame, Moss can win contested catches, making him a solid red zone target for the Patriots offense.

Kenneth Murray, Linebacker, Oklahoma As previously mentioned, the Patriots are likely losing a few key linebackers from their strong defense. In order to continue their high performances against run-heavy teams, the Patriots need to draft a linebacker who will be able to shed blockers and stop gaps in the run game — Kenneth Murray fits that profile. As a physical linebacker with a tall frame, Murray projects to be a downhill linebacker in the NFL, as his speed and strength benefit his playing style. Although the Patriots are usually competent at stopping the run game, Derrick Henry ripped through Belichick’s defense in the AFC Wild Card Game. Kenneth Murray will be able to fill the gaps and stop the power run styles of many elite NFL Running Backs.

Jake Fromm, Quarterback, Georgia This one hurts to write. Tom Brady’s “inevitable” departure continues to dominate Boston sports media outlets, and many scouts believe Brady is ready to test the free agency market. Additionally, I personally don’t think Jarrett Stidham is a good quarterback. From the limited time that Patriots fans witnessed him last season, he imploded during garbage time. However, Fromm’s skill set is very similar to Brady’s: very accurate within 10 yards, loves to utilize the running backs in the passing game and rarely puts the ball in jeopardy.

Bringing Fromm into the Patriots’ system would be a benefit for the team. Although there will be some growing pains, Fromm’s ability to adapt quickly into new systems will pay off in the NFL. In the meantime, let’s hope Tom Brady stays.

The New England Patriots are entering an awkward stage, as there is a plethora of doubt among the organization about whether or not Tom Brady and other key free agents will sign new contracts.

Hopefully, with a few solid draft steals this year, the Patriots could be prepared to move on without Tom Brady.

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

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Monday, March 2, 2020

Sports

tuftsdaily.com

Undefeated run ends for women’s basketball against rival Bowdoin

NICOLE GARAY / THE TUFTS DAILY

Sophomore Sofia Rosa goes for a layup at the NESCAC semifinal game against Williams in Cousens Gym on Feb. 29.

by Henry Molot

Contributing Writer

The women’s basketball team lost to rival Bowdoin in the NESCAC final — a rematch of last year’s — bringing an end to its undefeated run. En route to their first conference championship since 2009, the Polar Bears, who have only two losses this season, defeating the Jumbos in the NESCAC tournament.

It is the ninth NESCAC title in program history for the Polar Bears, who now hold the all-time lead over the Amherst Mammoths. The Polar Bears overwhelmed the Mammoths in the semi-final 76–60 after losing badly by a score of 59–46 in the regular season.

Their only other loss of the season came a month ago against the Jumbos, a 97–88 shootout that many predicted would be a preview of the NESCAC title game. On Sunday, the predictions came true, yet with a different ending.

The final was a much more cagey affair than the teams’ regular season meeting with the two national powerhouses battling for momentum and playing excellent defense. Sophomore guard Sofia Rosa had an excellent game defensively, plugging holes and blocking shots in the paint.

The Jumbos ran a starting lineup featuring senior guard/forward and co-captain Erica DeCandido, senior guard Sadie Otley, sophomore guard Molly Ryan, junior guard/forward Emily Briggs and senior guard Cailin Harrington, a unit that appeared to be tiring near the end of the half as the Polar Bears stretched their lead to eight.

Bowdoin held on tight to a two or three possession lead for most of the third quarter, but Otley gave the offense

life with some early buckets and key steals. DeCandido was her usual, unstoppable self for much of the game, making a number of plus-one buckets to bring the Jumbos within three points going into the fourth quarter.

As the Jumbos’ unquestioned most valuable player this season, DeCandido’s run ignited the crowd and provided real hope that the Jumbos were very much still in the game. In the fourth quarter, however, fouls became a major factor, and DeCandido was forced to sit with eight minutes to go after picking up her fourth foul. Bowdoin’s senior forward and co-captain Maddie Hasson also found herself with four fouls in the fourth, and with 6:57 left to play, both sides were without their star.

Much of the Tufts offense aside from DeCandido was hot and cold throughout the night, which made DeCandido’s foul trouble all the more impactful for Tufts, led by Bowdoin alumna Jill Pace.

Neither Otley, Ryan or Rosa eclipsed 10 points, and no one on the team shot well from beyond the three-point line. The Polar Bears also dominated off the glass, grabbing 42 rebounds to the Jumbos’ 29, and they also had 16 second-chance points to the Jumbos’ nine, snagging rebounds off misses late in the shot clock.

The game cannot be accurately surmised as a game that Tufts lost; Bowdoin played its style and never blinked when the crowd energy rose, and Tufts looked poised to take the lead.

“We really had to go on a run of our own in the fourth and take the lead,” Otley said. “Instead, it was kind of back and forth, and we had to play from behind most of the game.”

The closest the Jumbos got to winning was after Otley nailed a three in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 52. On that play, the Polar Bears called a double team on DeCandido, who had the awareness to find a wide open Otley on the wing. It felt as though the game was about to open up for the Jumbos. As it happens, DeCandido soon picked up her fourth foul, allowing the Polar Bears to single cover and force the Jumbos’ other shot-makers to step up.

Otley’s three-pointer was the Jumbos’ last of the game.

“We had been down against Amherst and Hamilton this year, but this was probably the biggest deficit of the season for us,” Otley said.

The anxiety levels were palpable in Cousens Gym, as the Jumbos started to come up empty on key offensive possessions. Being visibly outshot was a unique experience for this previously unbeatable Tufts team, which lost their first game since the NCAA Elite Eight in 2019.

“It’s definitely a bump in the road, but it put a chip on our shoulder,” Ryan said about the loss. “I think we are doing a good job being optimistic and keeping our heads up.”

The Jumbos found their way to the championship game after beating the Williams Ephs 69–63 in the semifinal on Saturday. While it felt like the Jumbos were in control for most of the game, they let the Ephs stay within striking distance until the final minute. Much of the game, however, appeared to be a good sign for Sunday’s final.

Pace and her guards, Ryan and Otley, excited their offensive cues with speed and accuracy. Williams couldn’t pick up on any of the calls, as rapid ball

movement and backdoor cuts pushed the Jumbos’ lead in the third quarter.

The Jumbos’ cornerstone, DeCandido, churned out 21 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Ryan, who played with energy from the opening tip, also had a double double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

On defense, the Jumbos had their hands full defending junior guard Maggie Meehan and senior guard Emily Chang. Chang, who had one of her best games of the season since erupting for 30 points against Trinity on Feb. 1, made a number of key shots in the last half to keep Williams close. Meehan put in a characteristically strong effort with 18 points but went cold from beyond the arc in the closing minutes, eventually finishing two for nine.

Following Sunday’s championship game, Otley said that the mood in the locker room was disappointment, but at the same time the players are hungry to get back to business in the NCAA tournament next week. Both Otley and Ryan were on the same page about how the team is handling the loss, a good sign for a bounce-back headed into the national competition.

“I don’t think it will be hard [to respond to the loss],” Ryan said. “If anything, this loss is going to push us to be better.”

Perhaps it will prove to be a blessing that the Jumbos learned how to lose before the NCAA tournament. Now, they no longer have the pressure of keeping up an undefeated season, but they do have the fuel to avenge their loss and bring home a national title to Medford.

The NCAA Div. III bracket will be released today at 2:30 p.m., with Tufts likely to get an at-large bid.